Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, just my characters.

Renesmee Cullen

Winter break was almost over.

I had at least a day before I would resume human duties. I didn't mind though. My winter break was worth it. I had so many fun adventures, doing so much with my family and my Jacob that I welcomed the idea of normalcy because I was so spent.

We had just got back from our ski holiday to Iceland and Switzerland –which somehow had some hidden meaning between my dad and mom (I'd bet it was something gross).

Along with my own family, the wolves joined on the trip. Much to Rosalie's displeasure, because she spent the entire December scrunching her nose and taking shots at the 'slobbery mutt' scent she had to endure every day. The wolves weren't helping either with their corny blonde jabs at her.

Embry was a late addition since Jacob and Seth were always going to be on the trip with us. Alice and Esme had already planned this trip months before Embry came to Oakland Woods with the tickets already bought but Jacob felt it would be wrong of him to leave his best friend behind, all on his lonesome for Christmas. I personally just think he was mostly afraid of the crazy shenanigans he would get up to in his apartment while he was away.

I didn't mind at all. Embry was always one of my favorite wolves. He was the life of the party and whenever he and Quil teamed up together, they brought in the fun which Jacob always seemed to fall victim to as well. Those three were like the scrooges. Always up to no good. Even in their mid-twenties, they will always be kids at heart.

Alex also joined us on the trip, but only for a week and a half, before she boarded a connecting flight to Italy with her family when we were on our way to Iceland. I wondered what her dad thought of the fact that she would be spending Christmas with her vampire best friend's family. When I asked Alex this she told me 'not to fret about it' but I knew something had gone down.

To say Seth was thrilled about being with his imprint away from public glare was an understatement. I guess they've both never had to experience being together without having to hide their relationship. I've always asked Seth why he didn't just stop teaching so he and Alex could be together but I guess that would mean more time spent away from Alex which wouldn't have made any positive difference either. He did tell me that when Alex graduates, he'll follow her wherever she chooses to go.

I found their relationship so endearing to watch blossom this past year. I just thought they were adorable. With both of their different personalities and backgrounds, their union sort of balanced it out and made it ever more passionate and strong. Seth brought out the best in Alex and Alex brought out Seth's hidden gems as well. It was a very pure relationship.

We spent Christmas up in the glaciers of Reykjavik, Iceland with the Denali's –who came down from Alaska a week earlier – and we just had a blast. The Denali's really do know how to ski, I'll give them that. They brought my entire family, even the most skilled skiers like Rosalie, Alice, my dad and Emmett, to shame. Who knew Garrett was a championship skier and snowboarder. It made sense since he was always the adventurous type.

I couldn't say the same for the wolves though. Seth had multiple wipeouts, bless his soul. I think he was sort of glad Alex wasn't around at the time to watch his arguably shoddy coordination. Secondhand embarrassment was not what he wanted for his trip. Embry got the hang of it quickly though after a few tumbles and my Jacob…

"I tried, okay, honey!" Jacob moaned to me.

I rumbled in fits of laughter, cupping my mouth with my hands, and trying to hold back from roaring aloud.

He groaned and stared me down, although I could see his cheeks reddening.

"I'm sorry, yes you did. I agree. After your fifty-forth tumble on the slopes…" I trailed off to laugh at his cocked eyebrow. "You did manage rise above and power through. Hats off to you, babe."

He rolled his eyes, scooping up a big spoonful of froyo. "I've never skied before. Cut me some slack. At least I wasn't a dismal failure like Seth."

"No –No, of course not, babe." I crooned, gripping his freehand in mine. "Seriously, you really did get a lot better in the end I have to say. It was your first time. It's always hard when it's your first but you eventually got the hang of it and I'm proud of you."

He groaned. "You're just saying that to butter me up."

I chuckled. "I'd love to butter you up."

He rolled his eyes but eventually gave me that Jacob smirk I've always loved since I was born.

He took my hand and then threaded his fingers through mine, locking them tight. I smiled as I reciprocated the tight lock and then he planted a kiss on the back of my hand.

"I really enjoyed the trip though." He said to me.

I nodded, taking a sip of my milkshake. "Me too. I'm thoroughly surprised my dad allowed us to stay in the same cabin together in Switzerland."

"And in the same room with a whole bunch of vampires and wolves." He remarked.

I smiled. "Impressed with his level of control to, I would swear he would've made some type of remark about the whole thing for those two weeks. Not once did he do that throughout the duration of the trip."

He shrugged. "I think he was eventually going to come to terms with the fact that we will eventually be that way with each other when we're married so why not start now."

I couldn't contain my wide smile when he said that.

Married. To each other.

I couldn't wait for the day. And I loved how casual he said it. As if it was always normal to him. As if that's how it was always supposed to be…or will be in our case.

"I don't think he would've had the same control if it were anyone else though." I laughed.

"There will not be anyone else." Jake said strongly.

I rolled my eyes. "Geez Louise, I was just making a random reference."

He snickered. "Just reinforcing it."

"Such a drama queen." I laughed.

He just smiled at me as I laughed at him while he swallowed his portion of frozen yoghurt before dropping his smile.

I knew what he was going to ask me now.

"How are you feeling though being back?" I asked.

I sighed. I guess he was making reference to how I was feeling prior to our winter vacation when I went to New York for what was supposed to be a fun week exploring my potential base and where I would go to college.

I hadn't told him about my altercation with Nahuel because I know for a fact he would blow up. It was bad enough that we had an argument about him the week before. My dad knew about it though. I was usually able to control my thoughts around him but I don't think I wanted to this time. I needed him to know about it.

Nahuel had always been gracious to my family and always admired our reverence to abstaining from human blood that he had attempted to do it as well but he found it difficult. We didn't judge him for it though and my grandfather Carlisle accommodated it by offering blood bags to him, only requiring that he didn't hunt on the mainland which Nahuel agreed to.

However, clearly that wasn't the case as he had been the reason why I saw bite marks on one of my best friend's neck. He had been feeding on Felicity and I had no knowledge about it until now.

It made me wonder if she was in the know about the supernatural world all along. Why didn't she mention her acknowledgement? Was she in on this transaction with Nahuel? Was the transaction between them binding? Did she offer up her blood for something in return from him? Or did Nahuel take advantage of her human vulnerability in order to satisfy his needs?

Did she know I was one of him? Did someone tell her about me?

So many questions and I am just left confused.

Nahuel has been constantly trying to explain himself what with all the calls he has been giving me. I would be sure he attempted come pay a visit but I think he didn't knowing I would tell my family about it and the last thing he'd want is to leave my family disappointed in him.

My father was very sympathetic to my feelings about it as he knew how much Felicity meant to me as a friend. Carlisle was disappointed in Nahuel because he knew what he was doing could threaten our exposure, especially when we have vampire hunters in town and the Volturi being the leaders of the vampire world. If the Volturi got whiff of this, they will also find out about Carter and Charles. It would just be a mess.

Being the only people in the family who know about his escapades, they would confront Nahuel about it as soon as we returned from our vacation.

Jacob wasn't oblivious. He knew something was up. He knew something bothered me about the trip. And I wouldn't put it past him to figure out it was Nahuel but he did respect it enough not to bring it up.

Until now…

"Great. Looking forward to the final half of senior year and college acceptance season is starting so…" I replied, crossing my fingers in the air.

"I'm sure you'll get accepted to all of them." He smiled.

I shrugged.

"How many have you applied to so far?"

"Well obviously Columbia is my top pick but my backup colleges are Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Drexel and Dartmouth."

He blinked. "Those are some really top schools."

I shrugged. "I'm really just hoping for Columbia. The rest I could tackle in a few decades." I laughed casually.

"You'll get in for sure." He smiled. "Would probably mean you need to start looking at dorms in New York?"

"Well Felicity and I are hoping we do somehow end up being roommates but there's always the option of finding an apartment together. You'll help me look though, right?" I asked.

He nodded. "Sure sure."

I smiled.

"Didn't you apply to that school that sounds like a fish?"

"Oh, Yale? Eh…I'm not sure about it. Felicity and my other friend Luke really like it though, they're real geniuses. Luke already got early acceptance to Yale and MIT." I told him.

He nodded, uncomfortably. "Well you're all putting us average folks to shame."

I rolled my eyes and attempted to reply but got cut off by my phone vibrating in my bag. I dug into my purse and pulled my phone out to read the email I received.

Jake took my milkshake and took a sip of it whilst I read.

"Wow." I gasped.

"What is it?" He asked after he swallowed and set my drink down.

"I just got early acceptance to Stanford." I said.

"Wow, congratulations, babe." He cheered.

I grinned at him.

"What's going on guys?" Alex approached us, in her diner uniform, holding a blender glass of milkshake.

"Nessie just got accepted to Stanford." Jake told her, his eyes looking at me with adulation.

Alex eyes widened as she turned to me.

"Oh, wow." Alex replied. "That's awesome."

"Yeah but I'm not gonna go. Not the right time." I stated. "What are you doing still working? I thought your lunch break would've started by now?"

Alex shrugged. "Well you're the only two people here besides the old ladies over there who are the only insane people who would eat here when it's raining cats and mice outside, let alone eat froyo and drink milkshakes. Refill?" She asked me.

I laughed and nodded. "Thanks. I think we were just feeling like a froyo/milkshake date today."

She pursed her lips. "Mhmm. Anyway, with all the free time I had, I've already had my lunch. How can you two even have anything so cold on a day like this?"

"The perks of being supernatural." Jake whispered to her, as if anybody would hear him.

It was literally empty in the diner.

"God, I've always wondered why I hated you too." She joked.

Jake and I laughed at the girl.

"It's a moot point too because I'm the only waitress on call to so I have to stay here the full day."

"At least you have us as company." I told her.

She shrugged. "Have you talked to Felicity since you got back?"

I shook my head. "She's not answering any of my calls or texts."

"Me neither. In her defense though, she did say she would be detoxing and disconnecting from the world for winter break. But that's impossible for her." She snorted.

"I was thinking of stopping by her house later today."

"Is there something wrong with her?" Jake asked.

Alex shrugged. "We don't know. She's been really weird lately. I mean, I understand that her dad being in a coma for several months now could be the root cause of her problems but I personally think it's something deeper."

I fell silent but I agreed with everything she said. There was something deeper that she's keeping hidden. The last time I talked to her was when she told us she would be taking a trip with her grandmother to a location she didn't disclose to us. She was broken, I mean she lost her boyfriend Hunter and her stepmother all in one month and it looks like she could be losing her dad as well. We were trying to help in any way she wanted but it was hard when she didn't want to talk to us about it.

It makes being angry at Nahuel even more pertinent because I've confided in him about Felicity and yet he still went and took advantage of her in her vulnerable state.

"Let me know how it goes?" Alex said to me.

I nodded to her.

She smiled and walked away.

Jake stared at me, concern all over his face, matching my own facial expression. Part of the imprint bond.

"So she must really be going through it, then?" He asked.

"Yeah, I mean she lost her stepmom who was really her was like her real mom when her biological mother wasn't around. She lost her first love Hunter and her dad isn't looking great either."

"You want me to come with you to see her?" He asked.

I shook my head. "I'll be fine. I think too many people would just overwhelm her."

He nodded his head.

"You still going out with the boys later?"

He nodded. "Mike just moved in today so we're going apartment shopping for him. Plus I'm going couch shopping for myself after Embry destroyed mine. It wasn't even a full year's old." He moaned.

I smiled. "I think it's sweet you're bringing Mike into your little inner circle."

"Well, if he's going to be dating Leah, I sort of have to you know."

"They're dating now?"

He shrugged. "Not quite sure but I'm sure it's well on the way there. Leah doesn't like to talk about it. I think she doesn't want to jinx it."

"Wow. So how are they going to do the whole long distance thing if they are indeed dating?"

"They met up a few times when we were away. I'm sure they'll work it out."

"I'm really happy that she can finally be happy." I told him.

He smiled back and I knew he was just as happy for his comrade and second-in-command too.

… …

Jacob Black

I was out with the boys for the remainder of the day after my breakfast-turned brunch-date with Nessie. We would be helping Mike grab a few things for the new apartment he leased right across the hall from ours. I thought it was awesome that he would be staying close by. Seth and Embry thought he was cool and he sort of integrated well into our 'pack' and quickly became an honorary member of the Black pack –without the theatrics of it all.

And now that he was moving into a two bedroom apartment right next door to mine, it made perfect sense for one of us to share it with him. Thank god Embry volunteered as tribute. It was kind of getting annoyingly crowded with him in the mix.

I really wasn't going to continue to handle him bringing random girls in every night and having him infiltrate his filth on my couch that I regretfully sit on any longer.

So it was Seth and I living in the one apartment and Mike and Embry in the other. Almost like a Chandler and Joey with Ross and Mike situation going on.

Which is why I was all too thrilled to go couch shopping today.

I jumped out of Embry's pickup truck as we pulled into the parking space whilst Mike parked his Jeep beside the truck as we arrived to the pawn shop.

"I'm telling you, Jake. You're going to miss me." Embry said to me.

"Highly doubtful, Em." I replied, shoving my wallet in my back pocket as all four of us strolled to the pawn shop.

"You will." Embry replied.

"Embry, you live right across the hall from you. You'll probably be stopping by for food every night anyway." Seth told him.

"No way, Jose! You're staying the hell away from my fridge. You're not going to scrounging over my food."

"What happened to bros before pizza?"

"There is no such thing!" Seth gasped dramatically as if Embry committed a serious crime in saying that.

Mike laughed as Seth and Embry continued bickering.

"Is this how it's always going to be?" He asked.

I nodded. "They're always finding ways to get under each other's skins. More so Seth than Embry though."

"Humph." He said.

"But it's a lot worse back home. Paul used to tick all of us off." I added.

"So did Leah. Never forget Leah."

"Hey, that's my sister!" Seth retorted, slapping Embry on the shoulder.

Embry flew his fist in the air toward Seth. He raised both his hands as a shield and playfully yelped.

Embry rolled his eyes and dropped his hand.

I opened the door to the pawnshop and entered with the rest of the guys following after me.

"Good day, sir." The lady approached us. "How may I help you?"

"Hi, I'm actually looking for something for my apartment." I told the sweet lady with short greying red hair. She appeared to be in her mid to late 50s.

I then went on to explain the kind of couch I was looking for and she directed me to a few that the shop had.

"Thank you." I said to her.

"So what are we doing here anyway?" Mike questioned, his focus preoccupied with the old record player.

"I'm looking for a new couch for the apartment given the way Embry manhandled it these past four months." I shot him a glare.

He rolled his eyes. "You can't blame me if I'm the only one getting some on the regular."

We all ignored him. "Well yeah but why a pawnshop? Aren't you going to find couches in worse conditions?"

"I'm just running through my options before I decide to buy a brand new couch. Couches don't come cheap."

"Right." He nodded.

"Why don't you give Nessie a call and ask her advice. I'm sure whatever she suggests you'll agree to in an instant. She could say get an ugly couch sack and you wouldn't hesitate."

"That's not a bad idea actually since you're no help at all."

"Hey! I just helped Mike pick out curtains for our apartment. My work is done!" He told me.

"Roller blinds." Mike corrected.

"Same thing."

I rolled my eyes. "So how are things going on with you and Leah?" I asked Mike.

"Mike and Leah? What?" Seth asked obliviously.

I ignored him.

He inhaled a deep breath.

"Just asking because I'm curious." I told him.

"No –It's okay. It's just…I don't know. She says I shouldn't say anything about our relationship but honestly, I don't even know what I would even say. Are we together or not? She hasn't quite made it clear."

"Didn't you say you two hung out a couple of times in December? And spent New Year's Eve together?"

"Wait? What?" Seth asked, confused.

"We did. We had a great time together, I think. But she's been giving me mixed signals ever since."

"Can someone tell me what is going on here?" Seth questioned.

"Did you seal the deal?" Embry asked.

Mike looked slightly flustered and as he was about to answer, Seth stepped in to make himself heard.

"Hold on a freaking minute." He waved his hands about. "You and my sister?" He asked, turning to Mike and all of a sudden assuming a protective stance.

"Lay off, kid. You're probably the one hoping and praying she'd finally get some and get off your case." Embry told him.

"Yeah but…she's still my sister, Em."

Embry rolled his eyes. "Good for you bro. And on behalf of all of us, thank you for finally getting the girl off our backs."

Mike smiled sheepishly. "I really like this girl, guys, but I don't know how she really feels about me. Like I said, mixed signals."

"That's Leah. It takes time for her to open up. I mean I'm sure she told you what a crapfest her last relationship was?" I pointed out.

He nodded.

"But you don't need to worry about this, the girl likes you." I assured.

He chuckled. "Hope so."

"Is she crazy in bed? I bet she is."

Seth, Mike and I glared at him, all of us for different reasons. He shrugged at the attack.

"What?"

"We haven't slept together in that sense anyway. Not yet. She says she wants to take it slow. I don't mind, for now, at least but, I mean she has to give me something to work with here. She's coming down here next week though."

"Continue breaking down her walls, she'll eventually open up." Embry advised him.

Seth was still dumbfounded as ever.

"Unbelievable." He muttered to himself.

"What about you and your girl? Last time, you and her weren't on the greatest of terms?"

Oh. He was referring to the week she went to New York.

Flashback

I waited.

And waited.

And waited…

For an hour, two hours…three, I had no idea, but all I know is it felt excruciating. I needed her in my arms so I can feel sane again. So that I could shake this pain off.

The second Edward pulled up the driveway of the Cullen compound, Nessie jumped out of the car and charged for me inhumanly fast.

When she reached me on the porch steps, she threw herself into my arms.

I quickly embraced her, tightening my grip on her, keeping her snug and I was soon breathing in her lilac scented bronze locks, breathing in her whole scent, to make her presence so real to me. I felt the thrumming of her beautiful heartbeat against my chest.

She was real.

This was real.

She was really in my arms again. Where they were always meant to be.

"I missed you so much." She cried into my neck, her arms firmly wrapped around it whilst her fingers laced through the back of my jet-black hair and gripping it ever so snugly.

"God, I missed you." I whispered into her hair. "I'm sorry." I muttered regretfully.

"You're sorry? I'm the one who ran off without talking to you. I didn't answer your calls. I'm the jerk, not you." She said to me.

I kept quiet.

I just wanted to feel her close to me.

Who knew a week felt like a whole millennium?

I pulled away after a minute, but only slightly, so I could see her gorgeous chocolate brown eyes bore into mine.

I saw that her face was puffy, tears filling her rosy cheeks and the eyes I loved glistening with water. I moved her hair to the side with my large hands and wiped all the tears from her cheeks with my thumb, biting my lip as I stared at her ruddy lips.

"I don't want us to ever argue like that again, okay? It was torture having you being annoyed with me for that long."

"It was torture for me too." She told me, staring into my eyes as I held her up to my level.

I nodded. "Are you hurt?" I said, all of a sudden staring down at her body to ensure there were no bruises on her.

Thankfully there wasn't any.

"I'm fine. I'm just…"

"He didn't hurt you did he?" I demanded, not even wanting to say his name until I knew the facts before I had to kill him.

"No. No. He didn't. He's nothing to worry about. Not anymore anyway." She muttered the last part, mostly to herself, but I could tell the disdain in her voice.

I didn't think to ask anything further. I didn't want to rile her up.

I noticed Edward watching our exchange with a blank face. I had no knowing if he found it disturbing, boring, annoying or all of the above. But I couldn't care less. I had years to watch him be like this with Bella, he can at least be fair enough to endure it when it came to me and his daughter.

I think what I thought gave him a cue to leave.

"I'll be inside," He mentioned to us, not really expecting an answer, he walked past us and into the house.

"Promise me we'll always be comfortable to tell each other things. That we will never hide things from each other, okay?" I was the first to say something after a long period of both of us just gazing into each other's eyes.

"Of course."

I nodded.

She embedded her luscious lips onto mine, both our hot breaths exchanging in harmony. I heard her moan as the kiss intensified and she placed both her hands on either side of my face whilst my arms found her back.

As my tongue begged for entry into her lips to which she granted, I hastily lifted her off the ground with ease and felt her legs drape around me and I took a step back, falling onto the verandah loveseat with both my hands groping her behind.

Our lips not once left each other for minutes, I'm sure but it felt like hours. It was only when I found her fingers fiddling with the buttons of my shirt I realized I needed to have my lips elsewhere, so I moved her long hair over her shoulder and to the side to reveal her exposed neck and implanted my lips onto the nape of her porcelain neck, whilst she continued to work my shirt down.

She hummed at the feeling of my lips against her skin. And I guess because of her impatience, she replaced the feeling of my mouth on her neck to feel those same lips on hers against instead.

I could vaguely hear whispers inside the house with a deeper voice mocking our exchange. Probably the big guy Emmett. I made a point to punch his head off later.

I then realized we had an audience even though no eyes were on us.

Nessie was the one who beat me to it.

As she pulled away she said, "We should probably head back to my house…or your apartment?" She suggested breathlessly.

"Your house sounds better, mine's a bit crowded." I smiled at her.

She returned my smile with that familiar crooked grin I love so dearly.

End of flashback

"We're great. Better than ever actually." I told him.

"And annoyingly gross as ever." Embry commented with a shudder.

I ignored him. One of these days I'm gonna punch him right in the neck. He has become almost worse than Paul. Almost.

"I never asked but I know she's still in high school. Wouldn't that make your relationship kinda illegal? You're like seven years older than she is."

Technically I'm sixteen years older than her.

But I sure as hell wasn't going to correct him.

"She's eighteen, though and almost through with her senior year." I told him.

He nodded.

"You think Jake's jailbait? Well then, I guess that would make Sethy boy over here prison food." Embry smirked stupidly as he patted Seth on the shoulder.

I chuckled, which earned a glare from Seth. I tried to stifle my fits of laughs as I covered my mouth with the back of my hand as I continued walking around the shop.

Right. He was in a relationship with one of his students. Sort of makes my relationship with Nessie less sickening to public perspective.

"What are you talking about?" Mike asked Em.

Seth was quick to answer. "He's not talking about anything! Right, Embry?! You're not talking about anything at all!"

Embry shrugged his shoulders.

Mike looked puzzled at the hidden inside message exchange between the three of us.

"I don't get it." He replied.

I snorted and shook my head.

"Don't worry about it." I said, patting his arm. "Embry's just pulling Seth's tail. We made fun of him all the time back at our hometown."

"Correction: We still make fun of the little rascal."

"I'm not a little rascal. I earn a better salary than you." Seth countered, confidently.

"Yeah, a teacher's salary would surely bruise my ego." Embry teased, rolling his eyes.

"You know what…?" Seth trailed off, staring at Embry before shaking his head. "Forget it."

"No. Go on. Say it! I can take it, little man. Hit me!" Embry provoked.

"Em…I swear to god!"

"You don't have your big sis, Leah protecting you now. You feeling hurt, baby bro?" Embry laughed.

"Ow!" I heard him moan after what I presumed was Seth's famous kicks to the shin.

"You felt that?"

"Stop it, you guys. You're scaring the old women away." I whispered as I watched as two old ladies looked at us before shaking their heads and leaving the shop.

"Oops." Seth replied.

"When does our shift start again, Jake?" Embry asked.

"In about an hour and a half."

"Awesome. Guess we can grab a grub when we're done."

Embry got a slot as a mechanic at the autoshop I work for with Mike. One of our guys, Bob had to leave because of a family crisis in his hometown of Tennessee. His mother isn't doing so great and she needed help with keeping the family ranch up and running. I felt bad for the dude. He lost his father as a teenager to a vehicle accident, like my mom and his mother was battling cancer whilst also taking care of the rest of his five younger siblings.

Embry began rambling on about an older woman he met at a bar the other night and he started rambling on about his plans to woo her.

"Seriously, I'm telling you. She's really hot."

"How old is she?" Mike asked.

Embry asked. "35 or 40. Not sure. But she's hot."

"You know, Em. There will come a time when your womanizer ways will come back to slap you in the face." Seth warned him.

"Who said anything about womanizing? I'm just having fun. Like any guy his mid-twenties would do. Ain't that right, Mike?"

Mike nodded. "Right."

"Thank you!" Embry said to him.

Seth turned to him.

"What? We've all wanted to have a little fun like that once in our lives."

"Not me." I shook my head.

"Yeah because you've been whipped since the dawn of time." Embry told me.

"I used to be like that but I'm different now. All my friends back home are settling down and making lives for themselves. Made me reflect a lot about myself." Mike said.

"Don't tell me you're whipped too. Don't think you'll get any fulfillment from Leah Clearwater." Embry scoffed.

"Actually she thinks about it too. She wants it too." Mike said.

Embry gagged. "Not you too. Ugh! Aren't you supposed to be the youngest among all of us?"

"By a few months," He chuckled.

"And I'm actually the youngest." Seth raised his hand.

He rolled his eyes and ended the conversation right then. Probably afraid of being outnumbered.

As all four of us did our own thing, a thought came into my mind.

I chuckled.

"What is it?" Embry asked.

"No – It's just what we were talking about… I was just reminiscing about the time Bella, when she was human, and I were talking about supernatural aging. We talked about my werewolf growth spurt and how I looked twenty-five, that in seven years she wouldn't be too old for me, turns out in those seven years I ended up with her daughter instead." I chuckled at the thought.

I was rambling now but I just wanted to voice it out. It was quite weird and funny yet convenient how things turned out. This was a few months before Nessie was born, a few months before Bella even married Edward, we were having a conversation about I was pining after a girl who was totally charmed – or should I say cursed – by a vampire and then when I thought all hope was lost, I laid eyes on the product of Bella and her bloodsucker husband and boom, instantly found my purpose for living.

I wouldn't change it for anything though –obviously. I didn't regret anything I had with Bella before Nessie because it eventually lead me to her.

Embry seemed totally disinterested in my reminiscent rant about.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

I chuckled. "It's nothing."

"Ooh! Look at this golden unicycle!" Seth laughed like a kid seeing an ice-cream truck. "Bloop!" He squeaked as he blew the small horn on the unicycle.

As I was walking through the pawn shop whilst the rest of the guys fell into their own conversation with each other, I stumbled across an eye catchy section.

Between the glass case counter, I saw an array of shiny rings. Rings that looked to be the ones you'd use to pledge your love to someone. Engagement rings.

I saw red rings –think they're called rubies– emerald rings, sapphire rings, rhinestone rings, and most popular of them all, diamonds. I had no idea what type of ring Nessie would like as an engagement ring, I knew she liked sparkly things though. As a kid, she loved playing with her mom's necklace pendent she got as a gift from Aro but I knew she also liked simple jewelry. She didn't like things that were overtly gaudy, but she did like the nice simple things. Elegant I think she'd put it.

There was one ring in particular that caught my eye.

"Looking for something in particular, sir?" The shopkeeper asked me with a smile.

I stared at her and then back at the ring.

"Um…" I replied before pointing at it. "What do you call that kind of ring over there?"

She lifted her glasses that were hanging across her chest and wore them over her nose.

She smiled. "Good eye," She said as she opened the glass case and reached for the ring before pulling out.

She set the ring on the counter in front of me.

"This is a rose gold halo diamond and emerald ring. 2.5 carat. You see the tiny emerald stones surrounding the bigger diamond part, that's the halo covering. This is one of very rings I designed myself. It isn't pawned. I owned a jewelry store years ago. Although it is stunning on its own, you can also add a few more diamonds on the side to make it stand out." She told me.

I nodded. I always liked my mom's ring but I thought the two diamonds on it seemed a bit too small on a hand on someone so special like Nessie. I knew she'd love it either way but I think she needed something better, something she can call her own, something that resembled my love and devotion for her.

"Are you looking for something for a special lady in your life?" The lady asked me.

I blushed.

I chuckled. "Is it that obvious?"

Of course it is, Jacob! Which guy in their right mind would randomly be looking at engagement rings just for fun?

She smiled and nodded. "What is she like?"

I huffed. "Where do I even start?" I laughed.

She cooed.

"She's absolutely amazing. Wonderful. Incredible actually. There are no words. She has the kindest heart and a selfless spirit. She's stubborn, very stubborn in fact –" I joked. "But I just love that about her. Her smile, god, her smile just colors my world and her eyes just make my life worth living. Every time I look into her eyes, I see a new day rising, like nothing else in this world mattered that day. Every day and every night she is in my arms, I just envision a world where only she and I existed. She doesn't make my heart skip a beat, she makes my heart wish it had a beat. I thank my lucky stars every day that she's part of my life and I can't wait to build a life with her, to build a family with her because I have no doubt in my mind she'll be incredible when the time comes. I just can't wait to spend the rest of my existence with her." I rambled to her.

She blinked out tears in her eyes.

I realized I might have overshared.

"Sorry for being mushy about it."

"No. Do not be, son. I have never quite heard any man talk about the woman they loved like you just did. Wow." She gasped to herself.

I smiled.

"Well then this is the perfect ring for her."

My smile dropped then.

Did I want to propose to Nessie? Yes, definitely. Did I want to do it now, when she's on the verge of finishing high school and about to start college? I don't know. Bella and Edward did it, but in their defense, they were both giving each other ultimatums. For Edward to turn Bella into a vampire, he required them to be married. And I'm sure something Bella wanted required them to be married first.

I shudder at the thought.

It's different with Nessie and me. We didn't need ultimatums. We were committed to each other and bound together in all aspects of the world. None of us wanted something from each other without some umbrella barring. We gladly gave each other whatever we needed.

But she was eight years old. She hadn't experienced the world much. A marriage wouldn't hinder her from doing that because I would follow her and support her decisions no matter what but, I see what marriage does to people. It isn't intentional but marriage does something to people, it makes them feel like they need to settle. And I didn't want Nessie to feel like she had to settle after we were married. Edward warned me about her thinking about it and I didn't want her to feel that way.

I was so confused.

But I knew for a fact that I wanted to marry her one day. That's not a mystery anymore. It never really was but now it's clear as day.

It's just a matter of timing.

The lady saw my contemplation. "Tell you what, I'll leave this here for safe keeping. I won't let anyone purchase the ring until you come back."

It was as if she was confident I would return.

I guess I was grateful she was.

"Our anniversary is a week away." I told the lady.

"More time to think about it," She said as she locked the case and tapped my hand lightly.

I smiled back as I watched her walk to assist another customer. I just stood there staring at the ring.

It was a really nice ring.

"Looks a little delicate for your hand." Seth said to me.

He tapped my shoulder.

That brought me back to reality.

I slightly flinched. "Um…What?"

He cocked an eyebrow and smiled widely. Oh god. Here we go.

I stood up maladroitly. "Don't get crazy, big shot. I'm just looking." I told my fourth-in-command before giving the ring one quick glance before walking away.

Although I knew I was lying about that one thing.

"You know what, this isn't working. Let's get outta here. I'm ready to try Sears."

"Finally!" Embry moaned.

I suddenly gasped in the spot when a vision flooded in my brain. Although it wasn't a vision. It felt like a memory. My memory.

I was trapped and tied in some dungeon for nothing sewer. It smelled disgusting but my pain blooded the scent. Then a leech or something approached me. Eyes bloodshot and ready to kill.

"Who are you ?" I snarled.

"The names Cassia," She laughed vindicatively. "And I'm your worst nightmare"

And then the flash of memory ended.

I stumbled maladroitly.

"Jake?" Seth asked.

"That was so weird..."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. Next chapter will be really good and where the drama will really begin.