A/N: I'm speechless, completely and utterly speechless. It took this long for the internet to reopen… 5 MONTHS.

So I live in Libya and as you all probably know, they switched off the internet on us. These past months have been… I don't even have the words to describe how they've been. But I've been under siege and it was a nightmare.

However, I never gave up on this story of mine so here are the final chapters to it. Thank you all SO MUCH for your amazing patience. And if you don't want to continue reading this then I understand, it's been too long.

God bless.

Chapter 22: Expecting The Unexpected

"Nina," he whispered brokenly, sobbing into my shoulder as I woke up.

The first thing my eyes landed on was the moon peeking out from the clouds. Then as I took a moment to remember, I realized I was still in the woods. Except I was no longer in the clearing where it had all happened and it was no longer raining.

A low moan escaped my lips as I became aware of the burning pain in my right shoulder. The one Jacob's forehead rested on.

I couldn't remember much of what had last happened. All I knew was that something hurt me and knocked me out. In a way, it seemed like a dream. But unfortunately, it wasn't close to one. Especially with the throbbing in my head.

"J-Jake," I managed to force out, dropping my gaze to stare down at his head. His silky, black hair damp with the rain.

When he raised his head to look up at me, I gasped at the paleness of his face. "I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry. Please," he begged, tears streaming from his eyes. "Please forgive me, I'll never ever hurt you again. I swear. Please, Nina. I love you so much, I'm so sorry. So so so sorry."

"You didn't do anything…" I trailed off in confusion, glancing down at my shoulder.

Three long gashes were splayed there, red and raw. Dried blood smeared around the openings. It certainly wasn't a nice sight and it hurt like hell, but I was more concerned about his wound. He'd been bleeding last time I'd seen him and apparently hadn't done anything about it. Which worried me deeply.

"You don't remember anything do you?" he asked sadly, pushing stray hairs away from my face.

Leaning up on my elbows in the wet grass, I scanned his naked body from head to toe. "I remember that you were hurt. Are you OK?"

Biting down on his lip, he twisted sideways to reveal a circular shaped wound just above his left buttock. Dark red blood dried all around it, some still shimmering from the slit. It was far worse than mine and I wondered if he needed a doctor. A gunshot was serious.

"The bullet.. I managed to get it out.. with difficulty of course. But the healing process has slowed from the amount of blood I lost, I'll be fine within an hour or two," he explained.

"You lost a lot of blood?" I worried. "Maybe you should-"

He hushed me, tears still trickling down his cheeks although he wasn't crying anymore. "I promise you I'll be fine. This isn't the first time it has happened to our kind and it won't be the last. I'll be better than ever before you know it."

Trusting his word, I nodded. "Okay."

"Look at you," he said. "Worrying about me when I… I hurt you. You're so selfless at times honey, I don't deserve you. How could I do that.. why didn't I control myself.. I'm afraid I'm losing it. That I'm going to drive myself insane."

Much of what he was saying didn't make any sense to me, probably because whatever had happened was not clear in my memory. He was saying that he had hurt me, that he had caused me this pain. But I knew he wouldn't have ever hurt me purposefully, so I chose not to question him about it. Not then. Not when he was injured himself.

Reaching for his neck, I ran my fingers over his smooth skin before pulling him down to me with some effort. Our lips met in a kiss that didn't last long. I wasn't surprised though, his reluctance to touch me was evident in his body language.

Falling back against the grass, I watched the rain clouds move slowly with the wind, blocking the moons light. The pain in my shoulder wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, however it still stung and I was badly in need of a bandage. But I didn't want to mention it to Jacob, he was already miserable with guilt as it was. Bringing up the subject would only make him feel worse.

He paced the wood's ground next to me, taking in a shaky breath every now and then. There was no denying he looked awful. And although he had told me he'd be perfectly fine before long, I still worried that he wouldn't. I couldn't help it.

"We need to head back, Jake," I said quietly, still staring up at the sky. "Staying here isn't going to do us any good."

Instead of answering me verbally, he gathered me up in his arms in one quick movement and cradled me to his chest. Standing like that for a moment as he took his time to gather his thoughts. When he did finally start walking, a sweat broke out on my forehead; a result of all the worrying I was doing over him.

Nick had no right to be wandering the woods with a shotgun, shooting at Jacob. It was wrong in so many ways. And he wasn't going to get away with it, I wouldn't let him. He was the reason why Jacob was in such a bad state and things could've been worse. I wondered briefly whether Jacob knew it was Nick who shot at him.

All the thoughts and questions left my head when Jacob fell to his knees on the ground, still managing to keep hold of me somehow. He took in a ragged breaths and as my eyes met his face, I was overcome with so many emotions that my head started to spin.

"The beach.. it's nearby, but I… I'm too weak to make it," he whispered hoarsely through near-purple lips. "Keep walking straight ahead.. and.. and get Sam. Quickly."

Moving to sit on his thick thighs, I held his face in my hands. Holding back my tears so as to not frighten him. "Promise me you'll be OK out here, Jake. Promise me that when Sam get's here, you'll be OK."

He smiled weakly. "I promise. Now go, before it rains again."

"I love you," I told him before I scrambled away and onto to my feet. "Stay strong for me."

"I will, Nee. Love you."

Running as fast as my feet could carry me, I made it to Sam Uley's place fifteen minutes later. It had started to rain again on my way, so I stood at the doorstep soaked to the bone. Clothes dripping onto the pavement.

Shape-shifters were meant to heal faster than humanly possible. That you could even see the skin close in on itself before your own eyes. But Jacob's body wasn't functioning properly and I noted mentally that his temperature had dropped. Which wasn't a good sign. At all.

I prayed with every passing second that he'd be OK.

"Nina? What-" Emily started, eyes widening at the sight of my bloody shoulder. But I cut her off.

"Where's Sam, where is he? I need him. I need him now. Where is he?" I asked frantically, pushing past her into the house. "Sam!"

Her hand came to rest upon my shaking arm. "Nina, calm down. What's going on?"

But I hadn't got time to answer her question, because Sam had just come running down the stairs. "Did someone call me?"

"Sam!" I ran to him, desperately grasping his hand. "Sam you need to come with me, Jacob's been shot and he's lost a lot of blood and he's weak and he can't walk and he looks so bad and he needs help and he wanted me to get you because you're the only one he trusts in and-"

"Slow down," he said softly, shooting a nervous glance towards Emily. "Jacob was shot?"

I nodded, tears building up in my eyes once again. "A while ago and he's not healing fast enough. Please come with me before… before.. we just need to get to him."

However, against my protesting Sam made me stay with Emily so she could tend to my wounds. There was a sadness in her eyes as she examined the gashes and sometimes she'd get lost in her own thoughts. I assumed it was because she had been attacked by a wolf too. Luckily, Jacob hadn't done me much damage. Unlike her.

We never spoke a word to each other during the whole fifteen minutes we spent together. But the silence was oddly comfortable and once a bandage had been wrapped around my shoulder, she sent me up to the spare bedroom to get some rest. Lending me one of her tank tops so as to avoid putting pressure on my wound by pulling on a shirt.

Laying there on the twin sized bed, I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around myself. Thinking back to the day's events. Jacob's injury worried me to no end and every couple of minutes I'd feel the panic rise up my chest. He may be strong, but not strong enough. Not like the cold-ones.

Whoever that had been, whispering into my ear and dragging me to my wolf, had most certainly been one of them; a bloodsucker, the pack liked to refer to them as. His marble-like skin had been so cold and so very pale. And the strength he had was impossible. It was almost like he was a statue come to life. How I didn't pass out in his presence was beyond me.

Who had he been anyway? And why was he there in the first place? I couldn't make up my mind whether he was doing me a favor by taking me to Jacob or not.

With a million questions swirling around in my mind, sleep didn't take long to overcome me.

"Do I displease you?," he asked, placing a hand on my hip as I lay with my back to him. "Is that the reason why you've been distant towards me?"

"No," I whispered in response. "It's not you, it's me."

"Would you like to explain the meaning of that to me or should I just wait another month for an answer? Perhaps longer?"

Rolling onto my back, I stared up into his guarded gaze as he propped himself up on an elbow. "Ethan I'm sorry. I'm sorry for hurting you and becoming more of a stranger to you than a wife. I truly am sorry."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Before I had the chance to respond, little Noel appeared at the doorway. His big brown eyes glistening with tears. It was a regular occurrence every night, he simply couldn't sleep alone and cried for his mommy and daddy until they allowed him to sleep in their bed. Your heart would go out to him.

Ethan wasn't too soft on him, ordering him back to his room sometimes. But I couldn't find it in me to ever do that. Just one look at my son's face and all I wanted to do was make him happy. Happy like his father had always been.

With a sigh, Ethan pushed himself up against the headboard. "Come here, son."

And so he did and there was a lot of crying, but I already he knew Ethan wouldn't allow him to stay with us tonight. There were things we needed to discuss. Things I desperately needed to tell him but couldn't find it in me to do so. Because they'd destroy him.

"Mommy please, I can't sleep," Noel begged through his hiccups. Rosy cheeks drenched in tears.

Taking him from Ethan, I cradled the four-year-old to my chest. "Will a lullaby help you sleep?"

He nodded in response, sniffling lightly.

It only took five minutes before sleep consumed him and I made no move to take him back to his bed. Ethan's irritation showed on his face, but I ignored it. My mind was set on other things, more important things. Like how I was supposed to tell him after all these years. And how disgusted he'd be. He'd hate my guts.

"If you insist on keeping Noel here then I suggest you speak up. You're not using him as an excuse to postpone this conversation," he said firmly, grey eyes piercing mine.

My mouth opened to speak, but the words were impossible to force out. "Ethan I….."

He pursed his lips. "I need to know now, please."

With a shaky breath, I glanced down at the sleeping child in my arms and back at him. My heart hammering against my chest. It was now or never. I had to tell him, even if it ruined everything. Things were never going to work out between us either way.

"Ethan, I need you to know that I care for you and that I appreciate your kindness and your love," I told him slowly, my voice barely a whisper. "But you need to know that… that-" the words caught in my throat, choking me, but I forced them out, "- Noel isn't your son."

There were no words to describe the look that took place on his face and I fought hard not to look away. I needed to be strong, even if it hurt me terribly inside. Ethan deserved to know the truth. No matter what.

Studying Noel's face for a moment, he glanced up at me. Lips quivering with the news. "I never… there was a time I thought he looked different… but I shook it off. I never thought that you… you'd elope with another man! How could you? How could you do this to me?"

Burying his face in his hands, he sobbed openly. Shoulders shaking with the force of his cries. It was such a rare thing to see a man cry that I was overcome with shock. But as it slowly faded away, my heart broke into a million pieces for him. He didn't deserve this. All he had ever been was good to me.

"I'm so sorry," I choked out, holding Noel tighter to me.

"Who?" he asked, bringing his hands down from his tear streaked face. "I deserve to know."

That question alone brought back so many memories. From the moment I saw him in his breechclout, long black hair flowing with the wind, deep brown eyes burning into mine. To the moment we forgot about the world and lost ourselves in one another. Such a wonderful experience, so unforgettable. That I could still feel his large hands on me when I thought of him.

In this world, the year 1799, my family would forbid me to marry a Native. Even though him and I had known each other a very long time. Even though we loved each other. Even though he was there before Ethan ever came on the scene. They refused and I was made marry the wealthy land-owner.

Never to see, touch or kiss my love ever again.

But having his child kept us connected and my cheeks burned as I began to tell Ethan who the father was…

"Jacob," I whispered, half-asleep. Reaching for him on the empty bed.

The next morning I awoke to the sound of lashing rain hitting against the windows and voices coming from the kitchen downstairs. It took a moment for me to gather my thoughts, and when I did, I sat up so suddenly that my head spun. Which resulted in me rushing to the bathroom to throw up everything I'd eaten the previous night.

Emily, Sam and Embry were waiting on me in the hall when I came down the stairs. Their eyes zeroing in on the bandage on my shoulder. There was no point in covering it up, it'd only hurt trying to pull material over it, so I decided to borrow Emily's tank top a little longer. Despite the freezing weather.

"Is he OK?," I asked once I reached the bottom. Glancing between each of them.

Sam nodded. "Yeah, he's alright. Weak, but alright. He'll survive."

Breathing a sigh of relief, I sat down on a step. "Where is he now? Can I go to him? Did you take him to a doctor?"

"No, he didn't need a doctor as he'd already managed to get the bullet out. Basically, the only problem he has is the fact that his healing process has slowed. He'll be back to normal sooner than you know. Give him a few days to recover. Less than a week even."

I was over the moon with the fact that he was OK, but knowing that he wasn't well made me feel uneasy. If only Nick hadn't been socareless. He was spoiled rotten and seemed to think he could get away with anything.

Luckily for him, Jacob's injury hadn't been serious.

"Nina? Are you alright? You're looking a little on the pale side," Emily noted, moving to lay a hand upon my forehead.

"I'm fine, just got up too quickly this morning is all," I told her, giving her a weak smile. "Worried about him, you know?"

She gave me a smile of hers in return. "He'll be happy." Her eyes twinkled. "To see you and all."

"That's if he's awake," I pointed out.

The walk to the Black household was short and refreshing. Helping to clear my mind and focus on the good of the situation. I wondered briefly whether my parents were worried about my whereabouts, but something told me that my mother knew where I was and that she'd make up an excuse for my father. My thick-minded father.

I couldn't look at him in a good light any longer. No matter what I said or did wouldn't help change his mind about Jacob. In a way, he reminded me of the dream I'd had set back in the 1700's. When it wasn't acceptable for a white to marry a Native. I knew that that wasn't anywhere near the reason he didn't accept Jacob, but it still stung to think he didn't approve. No matter what.

Speaking of the dream, it left goose-bumps on my skin every time I remembered it. The whole thing had felt so real and so very miserable. I'd even felt guilty about hurting my 'dream' husband when I'd woken up. However, like all of my dreams, the meaning behind them I could not understand.

Or perhaps I wasn't meant to.

Billy opened the door with a broad smile. "Didn't think it'd take you long to turn up. Not for a second."

"As long as he's willing to see me, I take that as a good thing." I laughed lightly.

Jacob lay awake in his bed, a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead under the rays of sunlight that peeked in through the open window. A white sheet covering him from the waist down. His skin had taken back it's natural russet tone, though there were dark circles under his deep set eyes that weren't normally present. All in all he looked better. Much better.

Closing the door behind myself, I made my way to him slowly. Kneeling next to the bed when I reached him, so that our faces were level with each other. My nostrils filling with his musky scent instantly.

"Hi," I said softly, pressing my palm to his cheek.

"Hi," he repeated, offering me a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I was so worried about you last night, but I knew you were in good hands."

Frowning, he glanced down at my shoulder. "I was worried about you too. So worried that you'd hate me for what I did to you."

"Jake." I sighed. "It's nothing really, you were just trying to protect me from… who was he?"

"A Cullen, his name's Edward."

My jaw dropped. "Isabella's husband?"

"Yeah, him. Putting his filthy hands on you. I'm so sick of him and his family, it's like you can't escape them. They're everywhere. Always causing problems. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have hurt you like that. Filthy bloodsucker."

"What was he doing out there anyway?"

He shrugged. "Hunting probably, but as usual he had to interfere. Can you believe he thought he was protecting you?"

"Protecting me?" I asked confusedly.

"Yeah." He chuckled darkly. "From me, can you believe it? He saw me get shot so he thought that I'd attack you because I wouldn't be thinking 'rationally' with the injury. And then what does he do? He flings you across the clearing right after my claw connected with your shoulder. You hit your head pretty badly off the ground. Probably why you don't remember much. You're fine though, it wasn't serious."

From the bitter look on his face and the faraway look in his eyes, I knew there must be more to the story. However, his reluctance to finish put me off asking. He either didn't want to remember or couldn't be bothered talking about it any further. So I didn't push the subject, even though a part of me was extremely curious.

Scooting over to the far side of the bed, a brown hand patted the space next to him, inviting me to cuddle. It always amazed me how he could make room being the massive man he was, in fact I still couldn't get over how much he'd grown since that 'Spiritual Journey' he'd been on. The tattoo was an exception; It was art with a meaning and I grew used to seeing it with each day.

I slipped into the bed, rolling onto my side to face him. Losing myself in his loving gaze. "Have you healed properly?"

Instead of answering me, he sat upright and twisted around, revealing a small circle of a scar. Pink in color. It looked nothing like it had the previous night and to an outsider it'd probably just appear as a burn. Nothing too serious.

Pushing on his shoulder gently, I moved closer to him as he took the hint and lay down on his stomach. The white sheet falling over his smooth skin. His scar appearing a lighter pink under the rays of sunlight. For a moment, I forgot about Billy and bent forward to kiss my way down his spine. Pecking his scar lightly.

Jacob shivered before rolling onto his back, grasping my chin between his thumb and index finger. "Someday we won't have to worry about people walking in on us."

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, blushing furiously. "I got carried away…"

"There's no harm in that." He smiled. "Now come cuddle with me, I've missed you."

We lay there talking about unintelligent things. Our laughter and chatter echoing throughout the wooden walls of the tiny room. It was when I began to tell him about my strange dream, that he fell asleep. A peaceful look on his young face.

I wanted to stay there with him all day and forget all of our problems. But I knew I couldn't, not with how I walked out on my family last night. They were most likely wondering where I was and I'd have to show my face whether I wanted to or not. So pressing my lips to his high cheekbone, I slipped out of the bed as quietly as I could. Careful not to wake him.

"Nina," he whispered just as my feet touched the floor. "Don't leave me."

I turned to look down at him, a sad smile on my face. "I wish I didn't have to, but my parents will be worried."

He moved to sit up, reaching for my arm. "Just this once, please."

"Jake." I sighed miserably. "I can't, I really can't."

But he was stronger than me and before I knew it, I was laying beneath him as he peppered my neck with kisses. No evidence of his sleepiness present. The Quileute words he murmured against my skin reminding me of our first time.

"Your dream," he said, running the back of his hand down my cheek. "You were unhappy with another man because you wanted me. You loved me. And so I'm here with you now. Take this opportunity to touch me like you needed in your sleep. Because I'm yours and nothing will ever tear us apart."

Leaning up, I captured his lips in a kiss. "I'm so glad this isn't 1799."

"And another thing," he said against my mouth. "Your dream got me wrong."

"What do you mean?" I asked, looking up into his eyes from under my lashes.

"I'd never ever allow my child to be taken away from me. Ever."

The way he'd said that, so seriously, so firmly. Making him look an even stronger man to me. There were so many guys out there who'd leave their pregnant girlfriends without a backward glance. My Jacob wasn't like that though, couldn't ever be like that, and for a split-second I felt the need. The need to be with him completely. But I pushed it away as quickly as it came. There would be a time and place for that.

However, my mind filled with another thought. A thought I'd pushed far away because it was ridiculous. It was also impossible. Periods weren't always regular, were they? I remembered Kara telling me how hers had been two months late. So it was completely normal, nothing to jump to conclusions about.

What worried me was that I hadn't bled since the night Jacob and I made love. Twelve weeks ago.

But he'd used protection, it wasn't possible for me to become pregnant. The delay was probably just a coincidence. It was silly of me to even let my mind wander that far. Childish really. Jacob would probably think me crazy if he knew what I was thinking. And I wouldn't blame him.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, eyes searching mine.

I blushed. "Nothing really."

"Let me guess." He gave me a wolfish grin, flashing white. "Me in nothing but a breechcloth?"

Oh, I wish it were that simple. I really do.

"The thought has crossed my mind," I teased half-heartedly. My mind still clinging to images of myself swollen with his child, breaking the news to him, of his reaction. Good or bad? Indifference maybe? I didn't know.

A warm hand ran over my tummy, stroking me there. "I'll wear one for you sometime." Lowering his voice, he continued. "When we're alone."

"Is that so? And tell me, where would you get one?" I smiled.

"Well considering the fact that it is the twenty-first-century, I wouldn't say it'd be too hard to find one. You've got fancy dress stores, the internet, I'd have it in no time. Maybe I'll surprise you one day, when-" he winked. "-we're alone."

Alone, as in living together. As in the upcoming months. As in after graduation. I was sick to my stomach thinking of next month and how things would turn out. Would my parents let me go without a fight? Surely not. And most importantly, would I have to leave La Push? Obviously, I didn't want to. Never wanted to. But decisions come with consequences and the more I thought about staying, the more I began to see things for what they really were.

Lost in my thoughts, Jacob pulled me out of them by brushing hair out of my face. Our eyes met and I knew in a second that he had picked up on my mood. His playful expression replaced with a far more serious one.

"You're thinking of next month aren't you?" he asked, but it wasn't really a question at all. "You're imagining the worst possible scenarios and worrying yourself sick, like I told you not to time and time again."

"It's not like I can switch off my own thoughts, Jake," I muttered.

With a roll of his eyes, he said. "Why? Why do you torment yourself by thinking ridiculous things? Is it that you want to go? Is that it? Am I too blind to see the obvious?"

Taken aback and stung by the words that had just left his mouth, I shoved against his chest. "Get off me. Now."

"No!" grabbing my face in his hands, he forced me to look at him. "Tell me that I'm right. Tell me."

"Get off me, Jacob! Get off me right now!"

"You want to leave-"

"Jacob let me-"

"Don't you, don't you-"

"Let-"

"You're having second thoughts-"

"Stop it-"

"And you wanted to hide your decision from me, but in the end you knew I'd find out. I thought you liked it here? That being with me was all you wanted from life. But now you see that I'm just what your father calls me, maybe he's gotten to you-"

Giving his chest one last shove, I screamed into his face. "Get off me you heartless bastard! Get off me now!"

Jacob instantly froze and within a second, was laying on his back next to me.

I didn't even bother to get up. Instead I lay there next to him and stared up at the ceiling. My mind blank. Not a thought was running through my head. The only thing I could acknowledge was the deep hurt I felt by what he'd said to me.

How could he have assumed that that was why I was constantly thinking about leaving? Didn't I tell him how much I loved and cared for him? Didn't he remember the promise I made to him the night we made love that I wouldn't leave? Didn't he listen to a word I said? Didn't he believe in me?

Didn't he know that he was all I had?

A hiss suddenly escaped his mouth and I instinctively snapped my head around to look him over. But he turned his face away from me, staring directly at the pale wall with his teeth clenched in what looked to be pain. Red blotches appearing on his neck.

Within a second I knew that it was his wound effecting him, it explained why he'd been so tired when I first came into the room. However, a part of me couldn't let go of the hurtful things he said and so I remained still. Even though it was killing me inside to see him that way.

One thing that bothered me to no end was the dirt that clung to his skin from the previous night in the woods. Angry or not, he was in desperate need of a bath.

To help clear my mind and focus on more important things, I slipped out of the bed and headed for the door. The bed creaked behind me and Jacob made a disapproving noise in his throat. But I ignored him and headed on out towards the bathroom.

As I filled the bath with warm water, it occurred to me that Billy was no longer around. Obviously, he'd heard me shouting at his son and decided to give us some privacy. Which I greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, my parents were nowhere near as understanding as him...

"What-"

"Please just… don't say anything," I told him quietly as I took his hand and brought him to wash.

For a moment I was about to leave him alone and give him privacy, but then I thought better of it. There were no boundaries between us any longer. We'd given each other all there was to possibly give and although we'd had a little fight, I could still help him. Didn't mean I had to talk to him, did it?

Lowering himself into the bath, a relieved expression settled onto his face and he let out a sigh of contentment as he lay in the soothing water. "Nee-"

"Jacob, please."

"I can't, Nee. I can't stay quiet for any longer or I'll go crazy. Let me talk to you, let me explain myself."

"You don't need to…"

"Yes I do." A wet hand cupped my cheek, love filled eyes gazing into mine. "What I said back there, I didn't mean one word. I know that you don't want to go- to leave me. And I'm not making excuses for myself but I'm tired of waiting around, not knowing what's really in store for us. Especially you, I don't want to see you hurt or let down. I wish things were just simple, and that you and I could… dunno, run away together? I know, stupid right. But it'd be much easier than having that 'talk' with your parents. The one you dread."

I managed a smile, despite my miserable state. "It would, but then I wouldn't be facing reality would I?"

"No, you wouldn't be. That's the point. Reality sucks."

"Oh, Jake." I sighed miserably, reaching out to comb my fingers through his still-dry hair. "Oh Jake, Oh Jake, Oh Jake. You need to open your eyes and see, really see what life- this life, is all about. You're so mature in your looks that I forget you're as young as myself. That although we may know what we want, we don't know how to achieve it because we're ignorant to the realities of life. And we're that way for a reason. But we've found each other now, way before most teenagers find their true love and that's the problem. We're still too young to be thinking of moving in together, of starting a life together, of-" I bit my lip and shook the thought away. "There's only so much we can do, Jake. It's so very confusing."

Jacob watched me, a serious expression painted onto his handsome and tired face. The corners of his red, full lips drawn down as he lay there in the tub, digesting all the words I'd spoken to him.

There was nothing left for me to say, so I took his wash-cloth into my hand and began to wipe him down.

"I think you're the one who needs to be catered to," he said after a while.

I shrugged in response, mumbling something nonsensical to myself as I ran the cloth down over his chest.

"Nina stop," he said, grabbing my wrist to stall my movement. "You know I'm capable of doing this myself. Something's on your mind and I know it, tell me. Confide in me, you know I'm the only one who won't judge you."

"No, there's nothing. Really," I said, not quite so convincingly.

But Jacob wasn't having any of it and before I even realized what he was doing, I was pulled down into the tub on top of him. My head falling against his heaving chest. Our legs tangling together and my clothes completed soaked with soapy water.

Not what I imagined him ever doing.

"Jacob Black!" I screeched, struggling to push myself up.

His arms wound around my waist in a vice-grip. "You're not going anywhere missy. Not until you start talking."

"Jacob your father might-"

"Shh, he's gone to the Clearwater's. He of all people knows when a couple needs time to talk, trust me."

Billy may know that, I thought to myself bitterly, but he certainly wouldn't want to know what was on my mind.

"Why do you insist on knowing everything?" I asked him, my body stiff in his arms. "Perhaps you wouldn't like everything you hear? Or… or maybe I want to keep things to myself. Have you ever thought of that?"

He clicked his tongue. "I thought we held no secrets from each other?"

"Not every thought you and I have is a secret, some of them are just things we'd like to keep to ourselves…" I trailed off.

Jacob's hands slid up my sides until they reached my underarms. For a second, I thought he was about to tickle me but he only lifted me upwards, so that our faces were level. In his eyes I could see the underlying hurt I must've caused him by my refusal to speak my mind, however I couldn't find it in me to feel any sympathy towards him, simply because I found him to be overreacting. Sometimes I wondered whether the imprint's effect on him was stronger than mine.

"There are things we keep to ourselves, Nina. But whatever it is you're tormenting yourself about isn't just in your mind, but on your face and your body. I can see it, feel it-" his brows furrowed together in confusion, "-hell, I can even smell it off you. Your scent is different, slightly stronger and a little sweeter. There's no hiding any of this from me anymore, sooner or later the pack may pick up on it. So do me the honor and tell me before anyone else, you know you can count on me."

My lips trembled with the information he'd given me and suddenly, I was overcome with a sense of fear I'd never experienced before. Each and every single thought or secret I ever had didn't seem nearly as important as to what he was going to have me confess. And I started to panic as a rush of scenarios flooded the front of my mind, none of them in the least bit reassuring.

What would he say? What would he do? Where would this put us?

"Jake," I said pleadingly, shaking my head. "Give me time, please."

"There's no such thing as time, not now. Tell me."

"You'll hate me if I tell you."

His eyes widened. "That's nonsense, how could I ever hate you?"

"Oh trust me you will… you'll hate it… especially now. The timing is all wrong."

"Look at me," he ordered softly, causing my eyes to lock on his. "Really look at me. Can't you see it?"

"See what?"

"The love I feel for you. It's right there, plain for the whole world to see. I'll always feel this way for you and I'm the only one in this whole entire world who will ever feel this passionately about you. So look me in the eye and tell me what's been plaguing your mind,I promise I'll make you feel better."

Truth was, I did feel and see and sense his love for me every minute of every day. It was even stronger as I lay there atop of him in the too-narrow tub, his naked skin igniting a fire of utter devotion within me through the layers of my clothes. One of my most treasured feelings. Yet, it didn't make me feel in the least bit better about what I was about to tell him, in fact it made me feel worse.

Why, you ask? Because I was afraid he'd grow cold beneath me and in turn, destroy me inside.

But I hadn't really got a choice anymore, either I told him or we ended up having an unnecessary argument. I decided to go with the former, since the words were already threatening to spill from my lips at any moment.

Don't let him be mad, don't let him be upset, don't let him hate me….

Leaning in, I kissed him chastely before whispering against his soft lips. "Jacob, I'm pregnant."