The rain pounded down on the roof of his house the way his head pounded from this alcohol. Jacob sighed and stared out the window, watching the patterns on the glass from droplets pelting down. He held a small, clear shot glass in his palm and rolled it back and forth between his fingers. Normally the brown liquor wouldn't have had much effect on him, but he hadn't eaten today. He was supposed to be over at Emily and Sam's house for the pack's weekly "family" dinner, but his mood was foul and he thought it better if he just sulk at home. Alone.

Jacob reached for the nearly empty bottle of whiskey and poured himself another shot. He stared at the glass for a moment, holding it up to the fire before him. He loved having a fireplace in his home. It reminded him of all the bonfires and council meetings and good times the pack had shared. But now the dancing flames only reminded him of her. Her.

Now his thoughts drifted back to her. He cursed himself for being mad. He had no right. She wasn't doing anything wrong! Jacob sighed even more deeply when he glanced at the clock and wondered if she was still out on her date.

Don't think about it.

Jacob knew there would be many more nights like this, so why was he torturing himself? Maybe because he saw how excited she was when she picked out her dress, because he was there. And he saw her face when her date arrived, because he was there. He was always there, but not because she wanted him there. Not anymore.

Her parents wanted her to have normal experiences like parties and dates and dances. She had never been allowed to attend a regular school, so when the opportunity arose for her to join a theater workshop six months ago, she begged her parents to let her join. Now she had a small group of friends to hang out with and a boy who was a little too interested for Jacob's taste. Last weekend, the group put on their first real production and tonight was the wrap party. There were no chaperones and needless to say, some people were nervous.

Nervous didn't really even begin to cover what Jacob was right now. Miserable was more like it. But again, he knew he had no right to feel this way.

Jacob slowly pulled himself from his oversized, worn leather easy chair and carefully made his way to the kitchen. There was no food in the fridge, but he hoped to find another bottle of the strong brown liquid he desired. He began loudly pulling open cabinets in his small kitchen until he found his prize.

There you are...

Jacob stumbled back to the living room with the bottle in hand. He paused briefly when the pounding started up again. He pressed the bottle to his forehead and considered whether or not drinking anymore tonight was a very good idea. The pounding persisted until Jacob realized where it was coming from. Someone was at the door.

He growled. His surly mood wouldn't improve because the pack had come to pay him a visit. He leaned his forehead against his front door and considered ignoring it. His house was dark except for the fire and a few candles.

Maybe whomever it is will just leave?

Jacob fumbled with the lock and clumsily opened the front door to see if anyone was still there. His porch light was broken and the rain hadn't let up, but his eyes let him know that someone was indeed still there.

"Hey," he whispered, his voice still gruff from the alcohol. The lone figure seemed to be retreating into the night. He stepped out a little further and waited for her to turn around.

"Renesmee?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Jacob held his breath as his imprint turned to face him. He had seen her earlier in the night. Her hair and been pinned up and her makeup flawless. The satin baby blue halter dress that everyone at the Cullen house admired, had fit her figure perfectly, even if Jacob and Edward thought it was way too short. Now her hair was hanging in her face, wet from the rain and curling from the dampness. Her eye makeup was smeared from crying or something else? Her dress was torn in the front and was that a bruise on her arm?

Renesmee approached Jacob slowly as his eyes poured over her. By the time he noticed the rip in her dress, he was seething. "Where is he?" he growled, his voice so low that any one else would not have heard him. But she did.

Renesmee raised her head slowly and locked eyes with Jacob. "I got a ride," she whispered. "Not from him," she added quickly.

Jacob opened his mouth to respond, but he saw the tears welling up in her eyes and he thought better of it. He reached for her and closed the distance between them. "Come inside," he breathed.

He pressed his hand to the small of her back, feeling her ice cold skin through the thin material of her rain soaked dress. He silently cursed himself for letting her stand outside so long. "I'm sorry," he grumbled, as gently guided her into his small, but thankfully warm cabin.

Renesmee moved away from him quickly, making a beeline for the warmth of his fireplace. He stood in the doorway and got lost in his thoughts for a moment as he watched her rubbing her hands together in the glow of the flames.

Just like that night at the bonfire...

He shook his head quickly and willed himself not to get lost in his thoughts again. He moved to shut the front door and keep the wind out where it belonged, but he heard a noise outside and turned to see who his next visitor would be. His blood began to boil when he pictured her date rolling up to his house.

Oh, he has no idea what's in store for him...

Jacob's thoughts trailed off as he listened again and realized it was his friends coming up the walkway and not the boy who had undoubtedly hurt his girl. As Quil and Embry bounded toward the house, Jacob turned back to Renesmee and urgently whispered, "Hide."

Renesmee furrowed her brow and glanced out the window. "Is it Seth?" she mused, craning her neck for a better look.

"Go!" he ordered, causing her to make a face as she slipped away and hurried to his bedroom.

Jacob turned to shut the door slightly but his friends were having none of that. "Jake!" Quil called as Jacob slumped a little. Boisterously, Quil added, "What's going on?"

He lingered too long on that last word and Jacob furrowed his brow as leaned forward and asked, "Are you drunk?"

Embry grinned, laughed and asked, "Are you?"

Confused, Jacob began to shake his head until he noticed them both looking down at the half full bottle of whiskey he didn't realize he still held in his hand. Slowly, he began to nod and chuckle, "Yeah...it's been a rough night."

Quil and Embry glanced at each other and then back at Jacob, waiting for a better explanation than that. "Because..." Embry prompted.

Jacob drew in a sharp breath slowly and glanced back towards the hallway, assuring himself that Renesmee had not returned. "Tonight was Ness' wrap party," he began, "And her date was such a little..." Jacob trailed off as both guys began shaking their heads and sighing.

"Oh, man," Embry began, "that had to be rough."

Jacob nodded and leaned against the door frame. Both of his friends seemed to feel guilty for not knowing about his foul mood, but Jacob had purposely not phased after he returned earlier because he didn't want the pack to have to endure the pity party going on in his head all night long. One of the drawbacks of being a wolf was never being truly alone in your thoughts.

"So," Jacob said slowly as he nodded and scrunched up his face. "I stayed in tonight so I could wallow." He quickly added, "I didn't want to bring anyone down."

They both seemed to accept his excuse, but when Jacob started to shut the door, they both protested. "Can't we come in?" Quil asked, slightly annoyed that Jacob was trying to send them home so quickly. Quil had been annoyed but Embry was curious.

"Have you got somebody in here?" he quizzed as pushed past Jacob and poked his head in the doorway.

All three guys stepped just inside the doorway and scanned the living room. Jacob didn't put up a fight because he knew this would only fuel Embry's curiosity further. As would a denial, so he let them see for themselves and silently prayed that Renesmee wouldn't reveal herself while his friends were still here. "Nobody's here," Jacob insisted when Quil started for the entrance to the hallway.

Quil and Embry glanced at each other and nodded, seemingly agreeing that this was silly and Jacob had no reason to lie. There was only one person they both knew Jacob would be eager to be alone with and she was out on her date.

The three men shoved each other around in favor of a handshake or hug and after Jacob was sure was they were both out of earshot, he called for Renesmee.