A/N: Chapter 20… whoa.

Thanks for your reviews, and for weighing in on the ratings issue. As you can see, I've changed the rating of this story to Mature. I tried to rework what I had written, and it just didn't feel right anymore. I think that the physical part of Jacob and Nessie's relationship is hugely important to the story, especially in future chapters, and I think it feels really inorganic to leave it out. So I'm changing the rating, and leaving the scenes in.

That said, THERE IS SEX IN THIS CHAPTER. It's not really graphic, and I personally think it's tasteful enough not to offend, but if that sort of thing bothers you, you may want to stop reading after Jacob and Nessie finish their conversation. But DO read the conversation… it's important!

Thanks for reading, as always! Please don't forget to review!

Enjoy!

~Crit.

Chapter 20: A History Lesson

Two weeks passed unbelievably quickly. Renesmee continued to go to class as usual, although her coffee runs with Rideau quickly morphed into lunches and shopping trips with Clara. At night, she returned home to Jacob, as she had before, except that now a certain amount of careless joy hung over her head as she walked to the loft, and her heart was light and unencumbered.

Their evenings were full of each other, and they were both surprised and delighted that, even having known each other so long, there were still things left to discover about one another. The ticklish spot on Jacob's side, for example, or the fact that Renesmee sometimes transmitted images of her dreams while she slept.

And Jacob was happy. He was almost crazy with his own happiness. Most of the time, he was able to keep it in check and act like a regular, sane person. But every so often, when Renesmee would look at him a certain way or do something to remind him that yes, this was all real, he would turn in to a complete lunatic, and his love for her would explode out of him in ways that usually resulted in him tackling her to the ground. He thought to himself that it was fortunate neither one of them minded staying in a lot, otherwise they might eventually run into some trouble with regards to public decency.

There was still the matter of the abrupt split of Renesmee and Rideau's friendship. Jacob kept expecting the usurper to show up and start harassing them again, but it didn't happen, and finally he had to ask Renesmee about it, unable to handle the suspense. He kept it pleasant, putting it forward as though he was concerned on her behalf over her friend disappearing, but she saw right through it.

"You don't have to worry about him anymore," she said rather sullenly, "We are no longer speaking."

Jacob tried not to look too pleased. "Aw, Nessie. Is he ignoring you?"

She nodded, her expression pretty dark. "Not even a phone call. And then on Monday, instead of sitting at our regular desk, he sat near the back, next to the girl with the terrible hair and eyeliner. They were chatting and laughing, like old buddies."

"What a jerk," Jacob said sympathetically, rubbing her back gently while dancing a mental jig. He knew that he'd long since won, but that didn't mean he'd stopped playing.

"Oh, and you'll be happy to know that I did break his hand. He's got a cast that goes up past his wrist." She gave a small, joyless smile. "At least he hasn't tried to sue me yet… that would involve him actually contacting me, which he doesn't seem all that keen on doing."

Jacob felt his cruel sense of victory fading. Renesmee was clearly unhappy at the loss of her friendship, and as much as he didn't care whether he ever saw the little twerp again or not, he knew that she did. It made him feel bad to know that she was worried over the situation, while he was so consistently happy all the time. "You shouldn't beat yourself up over it, Nessie," He said in his most soothing voice. "He kinda had it coming, hitting on you like that when you'd already told him no." Something in his memory twigged at that, and he debated for a moment over whether or not to tell that particular story, before deciding that she could probably handle it. It might even make her laugh. "I'm gonna tell you something that happened a long time ago. It's a bit weird, but I think you should know." Her angry expression had turned to one of interest, and Jacob took that as an encouragement. "Okay, so you've hinted to me a couple of times that you might know about the history between me and your mom."

Renesmee made a face and drew back slightly. "I don't, not really. But I sort of pieced a potential history together from things you and her and the rest of the family have said over the years. It doesn't exactly fill me with joy, but I kind of figured you two were… involved? Somehow, at some point. I can't really figure out how it all fits together with dad and everything else, though."

So Jacob gave her a brief version of how it had happened, just the bare bones: Edward and Bella fell in love, Edward left Bella for her own good, Bella turned to Jacob in her time of need, Jacob fell for Bell –hard—and she didn't exactly discourage him, Edward came back, Bella went back to Edward. Wedding, pregnancy, baby, imprinting, the startling realization that his feelings for Bella had been due in large part to his future imprint on her daughter. Renesmee listened to him wide gradually widening eyes, until he reached the end of the tale.

"Whoa," she said softly. "You were right… that's pretty weird, Jake."

He shrugged. "I've come to embrace the weird in my life. I like the weird." She laughed at this, and Jacob felt a small sense of relief. She was taking it all in stride. He'd figured she would, but it was still a bit nerve-wracking. "Anyway, that wasn't really what I wanted to tell you, but it was important to set the scene first."

"Okay…" She was looking at him warily, like she wasn't sure how much more crazy she could handle. Jacob just shook his head.

"Don't worry. It all works out in the end." He gestured between them, and Renesmee chuckled and nodded. "Okay, so after your Dad came to his senses, your mom found herself with a big decision to make. Now, your dad figured he'd play it cool and let her make the choice for herself… although if she'd chosen differently, I'm not sure how long that would have lasted. Anyway, I wasn't about to give up. And as it became more and more clear that she was gonna choose him, I got more and more clingy. I hadn't exactly figured out at that point how to take 'no' for an answer, and so I sort of… tricked her into thinking she was in love with me, too. I pushed pretty hard… I cared about her, and I also wanted to win. I tried to convince her to love me, confessed all my feelings for her, slandered your father left right and center… in other words, I acted pretty much exactly like Jerkbag did to you last week." Renesmee was just staring at him, slack-jawed. Jacob gave her a wry smile. "I was a total turd, and I way overstepped my boundaries. And it worked… for all of fifteen minutes. That was about how long it took for your mom to realize what was going on. And when she had it all sorted out, she chose your dad. And I was pretty upset. But it all worked out, right?"

Renesmee looked at him, incredulous. "I can't believe she just let you get away with that!"

"Well, she didn't… not exactly. The first time I really put the moves on her, she yelled at me so loud it nearly took my head off, and then she punched me in the face."

"Oh my god! While you were in human form?" Renesmee's hand flew to her mouth. "That could have killed you!"

Jacob laughed. "No, sweetheart… not in a million years. Your mom was human then, remember?" Renesmee registered this information with a look of surprise.

"Right. I forget sometimes that she ever was." She shook her head. "Well, I hope she at least left a bruise."

"Actually," Jacob said sheepishly. "She broke her hand. BUT, isn't it the thought that counts? My point is, She was furious with me, and I was heart-broken and upset with her, and yet here we are, still friends, and everybody is where they should be." He gave Renesmee a meaningful look. "The universe has a way of shaking things down until they settle right. I guess that's what I'm trying to say."

"Wow, Jake," Renesmee said sarcastically, "You thought you make me feel better with a story about how you put seriously injured my mother with your hard head?" But there was an amused expression on her face, and Jacob knew his plan had worked. She was feeling better.

"Well, if she hadn't wanted to take the risk, she shouldn't have gone and attacked someone three times her size, with super-human DNA." He looked smugly at Renesmee as she tried not to crack up, and then snaked one arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him, sighing into her hair. "Anyway, I'm sorry it upsets you so much, but if that story tells you anything, it's that relationships can change, and sometimes something that hurts real badly can end up turning into something better than you thought it could be." Renesmee looked up at him.

"That was a pretty wise little monologue, Jake," she said, half-mocking and half-adoring. He laughed and kissed her on the forehead.

"Well, I'm a pretty wise guy." Now she laughed outright. "What?" he said, mock-offended.

"I love you, that's what," she replied, shaking her head. And just like that, Jacob knew he'd made it better, at least for the time being. Her grin only got wider as he grabbed both of her hands and pulled her up the stairs, walking backwards so that he didn't have to take his eyes off her. If things worked out in his favor, he was hoping he wouldn't have to look away, preferably not ever again.

He tried not to think, as they began to undress each other, about how this was their last night in the loft before they had to go back to the Cullen Compound and face their respective clans. The vamps would be harder than the wolves, since none of them were allowed to find out what was going on. The wolves already knew, of course, and aside from some bitter and biting comments from Leah, everyone was thrilled. But the vampires would be more difficult… and Edward would be next to impossible.

Of course, he didn't want to worry about that now. Not when his beautiful soulmate was naked in front of him and lowering herself seductively onto his bed.

"Jacob…" Renesmee muttered his name as Jacob ran his lips gently over her throat, ghosting from earlobe to clavicle. He knew that she was craving a firmer touch, but he wanted to provoke her, tease her to the point where she had to make him do it by force. She knew exactly what he was doing, too… they'd done this before, this test of wills. It always ended well, regardless of who finally gave in, but they still made it a virtual fight to the death every time.

They were both completely naked, Jacob holding his body so that it hovered ever-so-slightly above hers, every now and then making contact in strategic places. As she breathed in and out, heavily, her chest met his, her breasts brushing tantalizingly across his skin.

"Jacob… please… no teasing, not this time." He grinned down at her. A concession, already? She was looking up at him with the oddest expression, needful yet hesitant, unsure. She'd never been unsure with him when they were making love, and Jacob felt a surge of fear, which he did his best to push away.

"What is it?" He said, lowering himself onto the mattress beside her. He ran one hand up and down her side from armpit to hipbone and back again.

"I've been thinking of something I want to try, but…" she shuddered slightly. "I'm not sure how you'll feel about it." Jacob grinned as a thousand possible thoughts went through his mind.

"Show me," he said, taking her hand. Renesmee resisted.

"I don't kn—"

"No," Jacob said firmly. "Just show me."

Renesmee took a deep, uncertain breath before putting her hand to his cheek.

She was hovering over top of him, auburn curls falling down to fill the curve between his shoulder and chin. They were both writhing in the most sensual way, but there was something foreign about the motion, completely new and more than a little exciting. Jacob's face was contorted with a mixture of ecstasy and… something feral. Suddenly, Renesmee lifted her head and threw back her curls, revealing lips stained a brilliant, blood red.

Jacob's eyes flew open, and he was staring at a very different expression on Renesmee's face than the one he'd just seen. She looked unsure and more than a little nervous. He just stared back at her, dumbly. Her face fell even further.

"Oh God," she said, "I'm sorry. It's disgusting, I know… I don't even—"

"Do it," Jacob said suddenly.

"What?"

He grabbed her hand and brought it down to his mid-section, wrapping her fingers around himself. She let out a small, involuntary moan, and he knew she could feel exactly what he could: he was burning up, pulsing needfully, and so hard. "Do it," he said again, and this time it was clearly a command.

Renesmee sprang suddenly, flipping them over (Jacob went willingly) and landing on top of him with her knees on either side of his hips. She sat there for a moment before leaning forward and bring her hips further away from his and her shoulders closer. She looked into his eyes, and he saw something animalistic there, but he was not as frightened as he probably should have been. Their lips met, and then she broke away, kissing her way down to the soft flesh at the side of his neck.

"Jacob," She whispered desperately against his skin. He felt the beginnings of a growl deep in his chest.

"Ness," he breathed, suddenly needing her to do it. "Please… I need… I want you to…" He broke off suddenly as a sharp, searing pain hit him, radiating outward from his neck.

And then she began to drink.

It was like nothing he had ever felt or imagined. He could feel each milliliter of blood as it left his body, the stream out of him and into her sending off tiny shocks to his system. He was completely without control of his own body, writhing helplessly. He wanted to cry out something: more, or harder, but he couldn't form the words. He was just barely aware of Renesmee's entire body shaking as she hovered over him, joined by the mouth to his neck. Then, without warning and with her teeth still embedded in his flesh, she sank down onto him, and he was buried in her. A moment later she raised her head and her bloodstained lips parted in a wide 'O' as both of them cried out their release, first Renesmee and then Jacob following closely behind.

They lay there afterwards, neither one wanting to move, in stunned silence. Jacob was completely mystified. It had been the most powerful sensation of his life, it was as if nothing could ever compare. It seemed to have taken hours, the endless pleasure stretching on and on, but when he looked at the clock, only a few brief minutes seemed to have elapsed.

Renesmee was almost completely still on top of him. It seemed like forever before she rolled off of him to lay beside him on the bed. He looked at her face, which looked about as dazed as he felt. She must have at some point licked her lips clean, but there remained a small trail of blood at the corner of her mouth; his blood. Jacob lifted his thumb and wiped it off, and then let his hand hover in front of her lips. Renesmee quickly enveloped his thumb with her mouth and then released it, clean, once again. She smiled sheepishly.

"Waste not want not," Jacob quipped. He'd meant to use his normal, joking tone, but his voice came out thin and wobbly. He felt a little giddy.

Renesmee slid over so that she was curled against his side, her face beside his. "Are you okay?" She asked, a tiny frown line appearing between her brows.

"OH yeah," Jacob replied, kissing her lightly on the forehead. "I'm good."

"I didn't over-do it?" He shook his head.

"Nope. You could've kept going… I wouldn't have minded." It was true; he felt a little shaky from the slight blood-loss, but it had felt so good at the time that he would have risked going on for much longer, if either of the had possessed the will.

"That was the most incredible thing," Renesmee said, sounding no less unsteady than he did. "Jake, the way you taste…"

"Not like wet dog, then?" He said with a grin. Renesmee gave his shoulder a light swat, and then kissed the place where her hand had made impact.

"Not a bit," she replied, sounding and looking a little bit dizzy. Her cheeks were pinker than usual, and her eyes a bit darker, with a very slight reddish tint. Jacob tried not to feel too uneasy about that, hoping it would simply fade over the course of the next twenty-four hours, before Edward and Bella had a chance to notice. As if she'd read his mind, Renesmee groaned and said, "My Aunt and Uncle will be here tomorrow. I guess we'll have to get all of this—" she gestured at the bed, the tangled sheets, their naked bodies, "—out of our systems now."

"Yeah," Jacob said doubtfully, "That won't be a problem at all. Piece of cake, in fact."

Renesmee sighed, but he could tell she couldn't get far enough past her giddiness to be too upset. "It'll be tough. But Jake, we'll manage. We can sneak away from the big house, if we need to…"

"No," Jacob cut her off. "No way. I can't do anything even close to that on your parents' property. Not within a thousand feet of you father. Not a chance." Renesmee gave him a look that clearly spelled murder.

"You mean we're just going to… go cold turkey? For the whole three-day weekend?"

"Well, it is Thanksgiving." She smacked him, which he supposed he deserved, and he caught her wrist on the upswing and held it like some small, tender thing. "Believe me when I tell you that I hate this just as much as you do. Maybe more. Probably more, in fact. But I just can't, Nessie. Not unless you're really looking to get me killed."

She made a very unimpressed face, but nodded. "You're right, I guess. They'd be able to smell it, and I'm not sure I'd have any more control over my thoughts than you if we were doing that right under their noses." Then she made a small, angry noise. "Ugh! How am I going to stand it?"

"It's only three days," Jacob reminded her. "Hardly much, next to the rest of eternity."

"Good point," she allowed. "But you have to promise me, if I give you these three days, that we get to do it at least twice a day until the end of time." Jacob just laughed and nodded.

He could certainly live with that.

In the Next Chapter:

"Too bad," Renesmee said tersely, grabbing the fitted sheet on his bed and pulling it over the rest of the bedding, pulling the whole mess into a tight bundle. "I need you to throw these and the other sheets in the washer while I put new ones on the beds. Then you need to shower… thoroughly. With lye, if you have to." Jacob was on his feet by this point, and he stepped around the bed to hold her shoulders in his hands.

"You need to calm down," He said, a hint of amusement in his voice. Renesmee glared up at him.

"Evidently, Jacob, you're new at this whole relationship thing, or you'd know that the worst thing you can possibly tell a girl when she's in a panic is to 'calm down'."