Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Stephenie Meyer created it all.

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Chapter 18: Laurent- Fate

Can you imagine be so fated to someone? Not just bonded and bound, but fated? I was completely in awe. I thought back to what Edward said about fate having big plans for me. Suddenly, I realized- Edward knew! How could he be just so blasé about overhearing something like that? He listened to my crazy thoughts all week and couldn't have given me something? No, no, wise Edward said 'be patient and wait'. I'd like to smack the shit of him. Or at least try to, it didn't work out so well the last time I threaten to kick the shit out of him. I felt lighter, happier, and floating. My thoughts bounced back and forth between my boy and smacking the shit out of Edward. My boy was winning, of course.

He left to go on patrol, he hadn't been out for the last week as he figured out everything in his head. No, I was not 'stunned stupid' as he put it, but I'd miss the kid when he wasn't around. I loved how funny he was, he made me laugh so hard. He was genuine and crafty and had such a happy disposition. Maybe it was just for me, but his honesty was so raw. More than once I wondered if he'd meant to say something aloud. That's what I found so endearing about him, his uncensored mind.

If I had met him 150 or 200 years ago and he would have told me he loved me, there was no doubt in my mind that I would have gone with the flow. Not saying that I wouldn't now, but now I was old enough to know to take my time. Take things one at a time, not because I was unsure, but to cherish them. To completely immerse myself in the feeling of falling in love, especially knowing that this time was the real thing. I did say I had time, right?

I was anxious to talk to Bella, she and Edward were going to be back anytime now. I got up from the porch steps for the first time in hours to go inside. I laughed to myself at how when Jacob got up he had to stretch. It was one of those humans things I didn't personally remember. Sure, Bella would stretch, but I never really watched her body as it moved.

"Laurent, can you help me with something?" Alice asked.

"Sure."

"Can you get that book down for me? You know, I can run and have all this super strength, but I still can't reach," she chuckled to herself. I reached up and grabbed the book she was talking about.

"Thanks," said as she swiped her hand over the cover and nodded to herself, "So, I'd love to ask you all about your chat just now, but I know you want to talk to Bella. I know that we didn't start off on the right foot, but I wanted to know if you could forgive me."

"I already have." She had a huge smile on her face and wrapped her arms delicately around my waist, "You really do have a peculiar scent."

I pulled my arm up under my nose and smelled my own skin and then shrugged, it smelled normal to me...

~o~x~o~x~o~

I waited in my room. It was still relatively empty, but it did have a couch. In the privacy of my own room, I smelled my hand that I held Jacob's with. His scent was still there.

Soon, Edward and Bella came back from their trip to the meadow. Alice anxiously sent Bella up to see me. I listened as Bella's footfalls traveled up the stairs and closer to my room.

"Come in."

She opened the door and backed in and shut the door gently. As she turned around she jumped back again and looked alarmed.

I looked around to be sure, then asked, "What are you doing?"

She was backed up against the door and was almost primal in her confusion and fear.

"Don't you smell that!" She half-yelled. "It's those wolves, I smelled one of them outside and I was a little worried, but I smell it in here, too. It's faint, but it's there."

I couldn't hold in my laughter.

"Why are you laughing at me?" She said looking hurt.

"I'm not laughing at you, really. More of the difference of how they seem to smell to you. I like it," I finished with a laugh.

She looked at me like I had just sprouted another arm or two, but came to sit with me. Subtly, and comically in my opinion, she leaned forward and sniffed me.

"So... I found my mate today." I wondered if she's make the connection so quickly, or if she would but would dismiss it.

"Just like that? Gees, I leave you alone for one day and look at that!"

I shrugged with mock nonchalance.

"Oh no! Not my dad!" She said playfully.

"Definitely not," I said with a growing grin. "Actually, you're on the right track. Ever since that last kiss with Irina, I had been tossing some things around in my mind, and I'm sure it's nothing that wasn't already there, but I've come to terms with my sexuality. Then just a few days later, he shows up again..."

She didn't even bat an eye after all I had said, further confirming my suspicions that she would be supportive.

"You know him," I hinted.

She took another sniff and wrinkled her nose, "One of the wolves?" She asked a little unsure.

"Jacob." My boy. I told her about him, which was silly because, as I said, she knew him. To be honest, I was letting myself feel the giddiness for a moment as I remember how it lit up Jacob's face.

"Wait a minute, this is the same Jake that had a crush on me before everything happened? I didn't know he was gay." She had a look of concentration on her face, maybe she was looking for the 'signs' that she missed.

"You know, I really don't think he is, I think he just loves me." He said he'd try to come by later. I couldn't go see him on the reservation, but I was okay with that because I knew he couldn't stay away. He said so himself.

"Back up a minute, how does that happen?"

I repeated everything he told me about imprinting and the legends.

"So he just saw you and knew? When did this happen?" She asked in disbelief.

"When Edward stopped him and the other wolf from eating us. You were a little busy making goo-goo eyes at Edward." At that she smacked my shoulder and shrugged, she couldn't deny it.

"That's crazy how the legends prophesize about 'that the wolves and the cold ones will unite in an unbreakable bond'," she quoted. "How do you feel about it?"

I let out a loud laugh that I'd been holding. "When Jacob confessed to me that, in a way, he felt angry and used by fate, I had to hold in my laughter. No, never would I laugh at his love for me, but that my boy felt overprotective of our love. I'm not sure what he's protecting it from," I said as my laughter died down.

"Your boy? That's sweet, although I'm not sure I'd use the word 'boy' to describe Jake. He's so big."

"It's not about him physically. It's his mind, he's so innocent and untainted and... young." I thought back to his physical size, he was taller than me. An anticipation grew in me.

"I guess the only thing I worry about is your safety. Maybe it's just because I'm a newborn, but his scent just puts me on edge. I feel like my instincts are so acute right now."

"I know he misses you, maybe if he comes by later you can say hi? By the way, we need to talk about Edward. He had to know, did he say something to you?"

"No, he didn't say a word, but he kept getting this goofy smirk on his face anytime your name was mentioned."

It was as I suspected, Edward knew.

I had an idea come to me, but I heard footsteps and a heartbeat running towards the house. Jacob was coming earlier than I expected. Bella and I walked downstairs, arm-in-arm the way we always did, to see him. As we stepped out of the Bella stood slightly behind me, like she said, it was just her instincts.

"I was patrolling with Embry today," Jacob starting explaining, "but I was getting on his nerves. He told me I should come see you for a bit, so here I am," gesturing to himself as he finished. His hair was cut short and he wore nothing but those black cut-off shorts. His eyes darted to Bella.

"She's okay, come here." They both seemed to have a mutual fear of one another. I walked so that we could all sit on the steps, it felt like an area of comfort for me. I sat in the middle so that Bella sat to my left and Jacob sat to my right. I put my hand over his like I did early today. Really, I wanted to snuggle right up to him and feel his warmth all over.

"Bells, I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before, I wanted to but I can't go against the Sam's orders like that. He said he did it to keep you safe. Part of me thinks you would have been safer if you'd have known, you wouldn't have run away."

Bella changed me when she came with me. If I would have run into Jacob before Bella, I wouldn't have not have been the same person and he wouldn't have imprinted on me. I would not have been worthy of his love before Bella's friendship. He didn't realize yet how important it was for Bella to come with me, I was only just realizing it myself. Beyond all of that; without Bella, I wouldn't have been under the protection of the treaty and he would have killed me anyway. Talk about tragedy averted. Suddenly, I was becoming a big believer in fate. I squeezed his hand a little. I was a little overwhelmed by it all.

"It's okay, things worked out the way they should," Bella said and she was more right than she knew. "I'll let you boys have some time alone, don't do anything I'm not allowed to do," she grumbled as she stood. I guess she didn't make any progress with Edward today.

"Hey," I said.

"Well, I wasn't missing anything with being out all week. It feels good to stretch my muscles." Suddenly, I was anxious to stretch a bit myself.

"You want to go somewhere? We could run..." and get some privacy, I finished in my head.

We took off running down the long Cullen driveway. Jacob wrapped his shorts around his leg and phased to run. At the end of the drive way we leapt across the highway and continued to run halfway to Seattle. We stopped deep into the forest, the trees were thick and the air was tinted green from the weak sun shining through the leaves. He phased back and dressed and we were completely alone.

What better time than now?

I stalked forward with purpose, my eyes never left his. We I reached him I took his left hand in my right and pulled him close to me. I knew he wouldn't reject me, he couldn't. I quickly dropped my gaze to his lips and back up again as to silently tell him my plans. A huge grin spread across his face as he angled it towards mine so that we could meet in the middle.

As his lips brushed against mine, his warmth spread through my body and I needed more. I deepened the kiss carefully and pulled his body closer to mine. Our love was an enigma, as much as I wanted to take things slow and enjoy every sensation, he made me want to abandon those ideas. I just wanted him.

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