Chapter 13: Reset (revised)

*Reset*

The drive home to Forks was peaceful and quiet. The sound of the road speeding beneath them and their hearts beating was enough to fill the car.

Jacob held Renesmee's hand as she slept with a smile on her lips. Every few minutes Jacob would find himself looking at the beautiful woman beside him. The butterflies of her dreams added beautifully to the landscape of Western Washington. Part of Jake wanted to just run away with her and forget school completely.

The thought of running away entertained Jacob all the way back to the familiar driveway that was home.

"Nessie, wake up, we're here," he said gently nudging her. She was so very sound asleep, so Jacob took the liberty to get out, hop over the car, lift her from the seat where she slept and carry her inside.

She could always sleep like a rock.

Jacob was faced with a new revelation, here with her sleeping in his arms, she was the girl he knew since she was born, but now she was so much more. The joy that filled his heart made it feel like he would explode.

"Guess you guys worked it out after all," Edward said, coming down the stairs with a smile. Jake rested Renesmee down on the couch and greeted Edward.

"Hey Jake," Edward said extending his hand.

"How are you my friend?" Jacob asked accepting Edward's offered hand and pulled him in for an embrace of fire and ice.

"Looks like the old Jake is back." Edward said noting his sweatpants and no shirt.

"Ah, yeah," Jake said, running a hand through his hair, "it's been a long night."

The morning light pouring through the windows was testament to the fact. There was a certain comfort here. A comfort that Jake was used to, but at the same time was ironic. Funny how time and chance changes everything.

"Well, you're at home, so don't mind us, we're heading out for a Rainer hunt. If you care to join us, I'm sure you can pick up the trail. We're starting on the eastern slopes this time." Edward said smacking Jake on the shoulder before heading to the door.

"Is Bella gone?"

"Nope, right here Jake." Bella said peaking from around the corner at the top of the stairs.

"Bells! Hey," Jacob said jumping over the rail of the stairs and meeting Bella half way. He caught her up in a bear hug. "I missed you Bells."

"I just saw you yesterday Jake…" Bella said pushing him away, rolling her eyes, and straightening out her clothes laughing.

Edward laughed his crooked smile laugh.

"Yeah, but it's different there. Everything feels so different. We're so lost there. Here feels natural. It seems like I haven't been home in more than a year."

Edward smiled understanding immediately. "Yes, I suppose things are getting back to normalcy now aren't they," he commented.

"Yes and no." Jake said, "In some ways yes, Nessie and I are much better, but we're also more… so that's why I wanted to ask you first…" Jake looked down, "I guess I shouldn't be doing this in a pair of sweats and no shirt, but whatever."

"Jake what is it just spit it out. You've spent the past seven years in sweats and no shirt." Bella said with a grin.

"I wanted to ask permission of you both for Renesmee's hand in marriage…"

"Jake really?" Bella said excited.

Jake looked over his shoulder to see if Nessie was still sound asleep.

"She's sleeping your okay." Edward reassured him.

"Well, I have to convince her first, but I wanted your permission before I start…campaigning."

Edward smiled, "Of course Jacob. There is no one I would rather. You are a good man." He said embracing Jacob.

Bella smiled. "Well of course, but don't look at me. You have Edward's full approval. Of course you have mine, too. You already knew that though. There was no one I'd think of trusting her with other than you since I put her on your back and was ready to have to say good bye, that day out in the woods so many years ago, Jacob."

Jacob embraced his soon-to-be in-laws and sighed in relief. "Well I don't want to keep you," Jake said with a smile.

"Well alright, you should come join us; the whole family will be there." Bella said taking Edward's offered hand and headed out the door.

Feeling the stress of the previous days, Jacob took Renesmee, still sleeping, and placed her on her favorite couch in the big family room, then lay down on the floor at her feet, and dozed off.

By the time Renesmee finally woke up she saw a sleeping Jake beneath her, sprawled out on the floor and she smiled. He looked so much like the boy she grew up with and then she remembered herself, there in the dimly lit family room. She looked around her and realized Jacob must have carried her down the stairs to the big family room. The whole day had passed and it was twilight.

Watching over him from the couch, she suppressed the laugh at his gentle snore. So many evenings they had spent on this couch watching Television or reading, sometimes writing, doing homework…drawing. Nessie stretched and drifted back to sleep, memories of her and Jacob fluttered behind her eyes as she dozed off.

'Nessie, get down from that tree and come eat.' Renesmee had found herself almost transported back to a memory and she remembered it clearly as if she were living it again…

** Flashback**

'Don't want it!' I rarely shouted, but this was unbearable!

'Why do you have to be so adorable when you're whining?' Jake asked me. Humph, he wasn't going to sweet talk me into eating THAT! 'There would be nothing so distasteful to my delicate senses as that wild beast.' I pouted. 'I'm a lady, I drink from a glass.'

'Nessie, you can't anymore. Your dad said you had to be a big girl now and eat like the rest of the family.'

'Momma will go get me more from the bank. All I have to do is wait long enough.' I smacked my hand to my face to cover my mouth, how did he always trick me into telling him the truth. I had no intention of telling him. 'And you better not tell momma or daddy what I said.'

'Baby, will you come down from that tree and eat with me?' Jake pleaded. He was so cute when he pleaded with me. I felt the frown crease my forehead, I wasn't a baby anymore. I was tall enough to reach my own glass out of the cabinet in the kitchen even if it was only on the lowest shelf, and I could serve myself from the refrigerator anytime I wanted. I was a big girl and I was tall. 'I'm not a baby anymore Jake,' I pouted.

'That's right honey, I'm sorry, you're big girl now. Come and eat with me, like a big girl. Pretty please pretty girl?'

It wasn't fair. He was making those big pleading puppy eyes at me… He knows I can't resist that.

Hopping down from the highest branch of the tree and landing softly on my toes I continued to pout, 'no fair cheating with puppy dog eyes.' I scowled at the distasteful scene in front of me. So what that it was a lion, and that it was perfectly clean. Jake had killed it without breaking the skin. He was so perfect. He came at it from above and about startled the thing to death. When he put his big wolf arms around the thing he crushed the life out of it. I couldn't help clapping with delight. He looked so strong and so big. The little lion looked like a poor house cat. Jake now stood beside his kill in his grey sweats and without a shirt begging me to take a bite.

'You won't get dirty,' he promised, 'besides I think you'll like it. You may even enjoy yourself.'

'Fine, just for you Jake.' He smiled my favorite Jacob smile and I was helpless. Kneeling down beside the dead beast, I gave him one last disapproving look. I picked the animal up by the jaw and the shoulder and bid hard into the sinew of its neck. To my utter surprise it wasn't as bad as I thought. The blood tasted different, but it was warm. It was hot! I was used to drinking it chilled. I pulled the beast closer and drank harder. There was a definite difference in this beast than what came in a glass, but this made me feel something while I was drinking. Like primal almost. It was intoxicating. I didn't even realize how quickly I drained the beast. Jake laughed at me when I finished because I had gotten its juice all over my face.

'Wait' he said and pulled out a cloth napkin from the pocket of his sweats, which explained the reason his pants looked bulkier than usual. 'Let me.' Coming over, her gently wiped my mouth off and smoothed out my dress. 'There, my pretty Nessie.'

There was no way I was going to admit how much I actually enjoyed it, but I wouldn't fight so hard next time he wanted to take me hunting. Momma had been bringing me hunting since I could run, but I always skipped the actual eating part till I got home and grabbed a cold one from the fridge. I don't think momma ever really noticed though…

'Be right back kiddo.' Jake said and disappeared. When he came back he was my big wolf.

He threw his head for me to hop on his back. I knew it was time to go home. Momma and daddy would be watching the clock. They never gave Jake a time limit, but daddy said he would be watching and I had spent a long time in that tree…

I hopped on in one movement and grabbed two handfuls of fur, as Jake took off for the house. We were much further than usual. He said he wanted to find me a pretty lion for his pretty Nessie. Little did he know he would have to come practically to Mount Rainer? Uncle Emmett and Daddy must have been hunting recently for daddy's favorite game. Now I know why he likes it so much. I'll have to come with him next time and watch him catch one.

I never actually hunt for myself, someone is always doing it for me so I wouldn't 'ruin my pretty dress'. Next time I came hunting, I would wear jeans. Fix that. Stop treating me like a baby.

Jake flew like the wind and I loved the speed, he was amazing. There was no thrill like this. We moved as one creature now. I never bounced and I could lean into his back and fit so easily in the long lines and curves as he was running. Almost like I was made to ride him, he was perfect, and I was perfect for him. I urged him to go faster with my legs, 'faster Jake', I said while I pressed and laughed. I always thought he was going his fastest, but somehow whenever I urged him forward and faster, he was able to kick it up a gear. Whenever I pressed him too far, he would always fall out in a knock out nap when we got home. Then I felt bad.

Renesmee opened her eyes from the dream and saw Jake sleeping. Realization settled upon her like an anvil slowly being rested on its post, how far she must have pushed him this weekend? This past week, the past three and a half weeks since she returned… My poor Jake, I'm sorry I put you through hell. I'll be better I promise.

Getting up silently from the couch and flipping over the back she disappeared before he could notice. She was careful not to wake him. She decided to do something special for him. Listening throughout the house, it was completely empty. She bounced into the kitchen and looked through the fridge. Completely stocked as usual; Esme was a wonder.

Taking out a dozen eggs, a full package of extra thick sliced bacon, sausage, peppers, cheese, and some potatoes, she prepared to make Jake breakfast. She couldn't remember the last time he ate. The smell of the bacon brought a groggy Jake from downstairs to the kitchen counter.

"You cooking?" He smiled comprehending.

"You must be starved." She said sliding the eggs onto the plate with the piping hot food. There were five plates laid out on the counter. "I figured after you eat, we can go for a hunt. There's no O-positive in the fridge anymore." She smiled and stuck out her pouty lip.

Jake roared a laugh. "Oh my little Nessie, we'll go hunt some lions like a big girl." He soothed, and she clapped her hands in glee.

Jacob saw the girl who had left him those many moons ago.

Jake scarfed his breakfast down with a huge grin. 'This is amazing Nessie' he had said over and over again.

Renesmee washed up the dishes and put them away in a blur of motion and in minutes the kitchen was as perfect as when she came. You could only tell anyone had been there because there was food missing. "Be right back," she had said when finished and flitted up the stairs and was back in moments in a pair of low rise jeans, and a pullover hoodie. "Now, I won't 'ruin my pretty dress'" she said mimicking the condescension she was used to as a child. Jake cracked up and scooped his Nessie up in a bear hug. They found it comfortable to share a kiss and were out the door, or more appropriately to say, the window that led to the trees.

Jake flew down the air to the ground in a single bound, and was phased by the time he hit the ground. Nessie clapped in joy, something she used to do a lot in the old days. Jumping onto Jake's back she found that she fit with his wolf body even better than she had a year or so earlier. "Take me for a ride Jake," she purred in his ear and urged him forward with the grip of her legs.

Jake seemed to fly unlike he ever had previously, Nessie laughing into the wind as they were a blur to any eyes that may have happened to see them.

Jake ran for miles and miles and miles without ever stopping or losing his pace. They found themselves at the foot of Mount Rainier in attempts to catch up with the family, as far as Jake could tell they had crossed the summit and they caught up to them on the western slopes.

Renesmee flew from Jake's back into the trees in a spiral flying through the air. Nessie caught the trail of her uncle Emmett and stalked him and his prey. As could be expected, Emmett was on the trail of a grizzly, which made Nessie happy. She followed stealthy behind undetected and as a split second presented itself from high above where she watched, she dove down through the trees landing on the back of the great bear to Emmett's astonishment, but even more to the bear's astonishment.

The bear reared up on its haunches and growled in anger and defiance at this creature that dare to bind him. Letting it go she flipped backwards into the trees. "Now he's pissed, have fun Uncle Emmett." She said and disappeared as quickly as she had fallen from heaven.

Catching the trail of a lion, she dove in another spiral move, trapping it with her arms and crushing it to death before taking her leisure from its neck.

Jacob came up to the scene laughing. "You remembered."

"The first time." Renesmee said smiling, and pulled a napkin from her mouth and wiped her face and winked at Jake.

Jacob caught her up in another bear vice hug. "Lucky you aren't that lion," he purred in her ear.

"Lucky you weren't that bear."

A smile spread across Jake's lips and she kissed them sweetly, "let's go visit our other family now." She suggested. Jacob's eyes lit up, realizing her meaning. "I miss my wolf boys too you know." She said smiling and pecking his lips again.

"See you later Momma and Daddy." Ness said, knowing wherever they were, they would hear. They were bound to be close. They always were. Then she turned from Jake and covered her eyes.

He barked a laugh and she could feel the tremors from him as he phased back to his animal self.

They rode back in the same fury of speed that had brought them there and as the sun was rising they approached La Push. The air smelled different here. The thick forest was filled with the smell of his brothers, the sea air mingled with the smoke of fires and the smell of cooking. Here he felt a different kind of home. A home he had left behind and now he felt like a visitor to someone else living in his home. Now he was accustomed to a different scent.

Running up to the door of his old house, it seemed so much smaller to him now, he pushed it wide.

"Is there any food in this house?" Jake asked loudly announcing his arrival.

"Is that you Jake?" a girl voice called out from the bedroom.

"Rach!" Jake was so excited to see his sister he caught her up and swung her around several times before resting her back on her feet.

"Nessie, hey, nice to see you!" Jake's sister greeted her. They hugged gently and Paul bounded out from the room. Nessie ran over to him and jumped in his arms in a brotherly like fashion.

"Nessie! Jake! What's up bro! Quit college already aye?"

Jacob smacked his forehead realizing it was Monday morning already, where had the weekend gone?

"Howdy Stranger." Jake's father said wheeling into the mouth of the little hallway from the living room.

Jake staggered back. He looked so old, skinny and sick. "Dad," Jake choked kneeling at his father's chair giving him a warm embrace. Renesmee noticed how haggardly Billy was looking as well. The color drained from her face and a fear grabbed hold of her heart. What if one day she would be looking at Jacob the same way, and she still stood in her glorious, never aging, never dying self.

Tears sprung to her eyes and she bent down to embrace the old man, also a safe place to hide the tears.