Jacob's POV

I had taken me about 2 hours to calm myself down enough to phase back in human form. Now that (some) of my anger had passed, guilt was creeping in for the way I had reacted at the beach. I couldn't wait for tomorrow to talk to Nessie. Thoughts churned in my mind like a whirlpool of emotions, making me almost sick to my stomach with anger and worry. Letting myself in her house, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease. Maybe I should have waited until she answered my phone calls instead of barging in? Maybe. But the pull I felt toward my imprint right now was stronger than reason. I needed to be near her, to see her, to know that she was safe.

Despite my inner turmoil, I couldn't shake the feeling of relief that washed over me when Nessie finally appeared in the doorway. She stepped out of the steam-filled ensuite bathroom. She looked younger than she usually did, her wet hair twisted into two was wearing checkered pajama pants and a simple tank top. Her brown eyes were a little puffy,and the tip of her nose red. Guilt twisted in my gut as I realized I had messed up earlier. I should've stayed, made sure she was okay, but instead, I had let my anger get the best of me.

"Hey," she said softly, breaking through my thoughts. "I'm sorry for dropping that bomb on you back there. I was a bit inconsiderate, I didn't think about how it would affect you so much."

Her apology only made me feel worse. How was she appologizing to me right now?

"It's not your fault," I beginned to say, though the words felt hollow.

"And I'm okay, really," she reassured me. She was a good liar,but she must have underestimated just how much I knew her by heart. After a summer spending nearly every day together, i had learnt to read behind her pokerface.

I pulled her into a hug, feeling the weight of her against me. "I hate that I wasn't there to stop it."

"We didn't even knew each other. And you're here now," she whispered, resting her head against my chest. "That's what matters."

"If I ever see him, he's dead" I muttered, my voice thick with anger

"Jake, it wasn't entirely his fault," she began tentatively, as if trying to justify her ex's actions. "I mean, I knew there was a risk I would get a little hurt. He just... lost control, it got out of hands."

My blood boiled at her words, anger bubbling up inside me like a raging inferno. "That's complete bullshit" I spat out, unable to contain my frustration. "He only cared about himself. Vampire or not, any decent person would have stopped, no question asked. It's not sex if the other person is in that much pain, it's just… disgusting".

Nessie met my gaze with a mixture of understanding and uncertainty. "I'm not sure if that makes it any better" she replied softly, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "That he didn't love me enough to stop."

I let out a string of curses , rage coursing through me like a wildfire. What a complete idiot this bloodsucker was. She let out a little laugh, a sound that seemed to ease the tension in my vein.

"Jacob," Nessie began, her voice soft but determined, "It's in the past.I know it's...but ive came a long way since then." Her words carried a sense of closure, a subtle hint that we were done talking about this. She flashed me a wry smile, a glimmer of her usual sarcasm breaking through the seriousness of the moment. I couldn't help but feel a small sense of calm wash over me. Being here with Nessie, despite the weight of the conversation, felt right. The pull of the imprinting was strong; I could sense that she needed me here, even though she was putting on a brave face and pretending to be okay. And to be honest, I didn't want to go home, either.

"Hey, Ness," I murmured, breaking the comfortable silence between us. "Do you mind if I stay here tonight? I can crash in the guest room."

Her eyes met mine, a flicker of gratitude and understanding passing between us. "You don't have to ask, Jake," she replied softly "Do you wanna stay with me, here ?"

My heart raced at her offer, but I knew it wasn't about anything more than comfort. Still, I couldn't deny the happiness that flooded through me as we settled into her bed. I tentatively wrapped my arms around her, unsure of the boundaries. She shifted closer to me, burying her face in the crook of my neck. I couldn't help but marvel at how perfectly she fit in my arms. Her hair brushed against my cheek and I burried my nose in it, inhaling the familiar scent that always brought me comfort.

This felt was safe.

Nessie's POV

As I stirred awake, I found myself cozied up in Jake's arms, his warmth like a security blanket wrapping around me. It was a relief to have him here, especially after bringing up the event of last march to the group last night. It was not a memory I liked to rehash often. The heartbreak had been excruciating, and the burden of keeping it hidden from my family had been even harder. My parents would have killed Felix if they knew, and that would have been enough for the Volturi to give us trouble Rosalie knew the truth about what had really happened between us.

Looking over at Jake, I couldn't help but feel grateful for his unspoken offer to stay the night. I doubt I would have had the courage to ask him myself. His willingness to stay with me was touching. With him by my side, the night had passed without the usual torment of nightmares that usually haunted me.

With the soft light of morning filtering through the curtains, I found myself gazing at him, studying the lines of his face and the way his chest rose and fell with each steady breath. And, okay, I couldn't help but notice how strong and muscular he was. Not that I was ogling him or anything, but it was hard not to appreciate. I mean, who wouldn't? Mentally, I rolled my eyes at myself – definitely not the time to be noticing stuff like that.

With a gentle touch, I reached out, my fingers tentatively tracing the contours of his bicep. His muscles responded to my touch, tensing ever so slightly, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth flood my cheeks at the unexpected intimacy of the moment. Quickly, I withdrew my hand, embarrassment coursing through me.

As I pulled away, I felt his grip around me tighten, and he buried his face into the curve of my neck. His breath, warm against my skin, sent a shiver down my spine. "Don't tell me it's morning yet," he groaned softly, his voice laced with sleepiness.

"You're tickling me," I chuckled softly, my fingers tracing light patterns through his hair. "How about you catch a few more Z's? I'll whip up some breakfast. I have a feeling the smell of sizzling bacon will do the trick to rouse you."

Jake responded with a contented grunt, his arms tightening briefly around me before he settled back into the depths of sleep.

I made my way downstairs and set to work in the kitchen. Anticipating his voracious appetite, I decided to go all out: pancakes, crispy hash browns, eggs cooked just the way he liked them, and of course, the unmistakable aroma of bacon sizzling in the pan filled the air. As I busied myself in the kitchen, the sound of Jake stirring from his slumber reached my ears, followed by the gentle creak of the bed as he shifted his weight. I couldn't help but smile whenI heard the familiar rhythm of his footsteps descending the stairs, each thud echoing through the quiet house. I glanced towards the doorway with a knowing grin, already anticipating his arrival.

"Hey there," I greeted him as he entered the kitchen, his expression eager and hungry. "I hope you're ready for a feast."

Jacob's POV

Stumbling into the kitchen, amidst the mouthwatering scent of breakfast wafting through the air and Nessie pilling up food unto plates, something clicked inside of me. I was completely, irrevocabelly in love with Renesmee Carlie Cullen.

Maybe it was the sight of this huge breakfast. It was my favorite meal, and well, we all know the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. But it was more than that. It was the way she put so much care and effort into making it, just to please me. It made me feel special, cherished even.

Maybe it was also the way she looked absolutely stunning, even after having just woken up. Loose curls had fallen out of the braids she slept in, framing her face. I was trying hard to not stare too long at how her loose pajamas pants were hanging low on her hips.

Or maybe it was the fact that she had finally opened up a little to me last night, giving me a glimpse of those things she usually kept to herself. Her vulnerability, her trust—it was a gift I never expected, and it touched me in a way I couldn't fully explain.

It was probably all those things. And so, unable to contain the overwhelming rush of emotion that flooded my heart, the words slipped out before I even realized it.

"You're perfect, Renesmee Carlie Cullen," I murmured, the weight of those words carrying a significance that I couldn't yet fully comprehend. But as she smiled brightly at my words, it felt like the most natural thing in the world to say.