“Is something wrong, Dad?  Did something happen on the hunting trip?”

“Yes,” Edward replied, nodding.  “You took off.  Mom said you were too tired to hunt, but you’re here with Jacob.  What gives?”

Renesmee slumped on the edge of the bed.  “Okay so maybe I fibbed about being tired, but I just couldn’t concentrate on hunting.”

“But you’re alright?”

“Of course, Dad,” she sighed.

He nodded slowly and joined her on the bed.  “Good.”

“I’m sorry I made you worry.”

“You know, Jacob’s recovery is going to be slow and painful.  You two can’t spend every waking moment together.  You need to move on with your life.”

“Jacob is my life, Dad.”

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.  “I know it feels like that right now…”

“No!  This isn’t a crush.  I won’t be over him in a week.  We love each other and there’s nothing you can say to make me change my mind about that,” Renesmee rose slowly and faced her father, her voice calm and never wavering.

“I’m not doubting how serious you two are about each other, but Renesmee…”

“No buts, Dad.  He is everything to me.  I can’t even breathe if I think he’s hurting.  And I can’t think straight when I can’t be with him.  So I’m sorry I bailed this morning, but Jacob needs me.”

“I just want you to be careful, sweetie.  Jacob is unpredictable right now.  He’s not in control of his body or his emotions.  And I don’t want you hurt.”

“Jacob would never hurt me on purpose.  He loves me.  Don’t you see that?”

“I don’t think he would mean to hurt you, but maybe a little distance wouldn’t do any harm.  You could start sleeping at home,” he suggested gently.

Renesmee crossed her arms over her chest and turned her back on her father.  She stared out the window and took her time to reply.  “Wherever Jacob is, that's where I'm gonna be.”

Edward nodded slowly.  “I know you love him.  And this whole experience has given me some insight into the way you feel about each other,” he paused to stand and join her.  “I guess I never dreamed you would feel as strongly as you do for him or that it would happen so quickly.”

“Okay, but…”

Edward raised his hand.  “Please let me finish.”  She nodded in agreement.  “I see what you’ve done for him, the way you saved him.  I know that was done out of love.  This hasn’t been easy for me, but I needed to see it.”

Renesmee glanced over at her father now, her expression softening.  “It’s not about the imprint.  Our feelings are real and I wish you would respect that.”

“I’m trying.  I’m just not ready to lose my little girl yet.”

“You won’t lose me, Dad,” she gushed as she pulled him into a hug.  “I’m right here.”

Edward chuckled as he hugged her back tightly.  “You’re growing up, Ness.  And I was the last one to see it.”

Renesmee held her father’s face in her hands. She showed him their memories together and some of how gentle and loving Jacob had been to her.  He smiled a little and nodded.  “Believe me when I tell you that there is no one who could love me more than he does,” she whispered.

“Maybe one other person,” Edward suggested.  She hugged him again, but pulled away quickly when Jacob emerged from the bathroom.  She swiped her tears and forced a smile.

Jacob sidled up to Renesmee and slipped his arm around her waist. “Is everything okay?”

Edward nodded.  “I think everything is going to be just fine.”

Jacob glanced between Edward and his imprint, his confusion was evident.  “Okay then.”

Edward slipped out as Esme showed up with Jacob’s dinner tray.  “Wow, Jacob.  You look great,” Esme gushed.  “I see you got cleaned up.  Feel better?”

“Much better,” he replied happily as he crossed the room to meet her.  He wrapped Esme up in one of his bear hugs and she gasped in response.

“What’s this for?” she chuckled.

“You’ve been taking such good care of me.  The food has been amazing and I just wanted to say sorry for being such a grouch earlier today.”

Esme pulled back and gave Jacob a hard look.  “Listen, you are family.  You have been for a very long time.  I’m just so glad you’re okay.  Renesmee would be a wreck without you.”

Jacob smiled at Renesmee, his heart bursting with love.  “I feel the same way about her.”

“I know you do, honey,” she replied, patting him on the shoulder.

Jacob glanced over Renesmee’s shoulder to see Jared, Quil, Embry, and Paul climbing the deck stairs.  Renesmee followed his gaze and waved when she saw them smiling at her.  “You should visit with your friends, baby.  I’ll be back.”

“I better go make some more food,” Esme chuckled.

“Can I help you, Grandma?”

“Of course, dear.  Come on.”

Nessie gave Jacob a quick kiss and stroked his chin appreciatively.  “Smooth,” she observed, noting that he had indeed shaved off his stubble.

He laughed in response as the wolf pack filed in and he watched her leave arm in arm with Esme.  “Where’s Nessie going?” Paul asked, shaking Jacob back to reality.

“They’re making us more food,” Jacob replied happily.

The boys all nodded in agreement as Jacob climbed into his bed and offered them the food he had.  “Go ahead, guys.”
….
Esme slid a pan of chicken wings into the oven and set the timer.  “I’m happy you want to help me, Renesmee, but I was wondering why.”

Ness was stirring a bowl of cake ingredients and trying to crack the eggs as expertly as her grandmother had.  “I need to learn how to cook and you’re the best.”

Esme smiled brightly.  “Well thank you, honey.  I’d be happy to teach you.”

“Can you write down your recipes for me too? Jacob just loves your cooking.”

Esme nodded.  “Of course, but the secret to making good food is cooking with love.”

Renesmee beamed.  “I think I can do that.”
……
The boys had polished off everything on Jacob’s tray by the time she returned with more food.  “I hope you’re still hungry.”

“Let me help you with that,” Paul offered as he crossed the room to meet her.

Renesmee smiled as he took three pans from her.  “Thank you, Paul.”

Jacob scowled, but began grinning when she glanced at him.  “It smells really good.”

“Well I just got my first cooking lesson from Grandmas Esme, so tell me what you think,” she offered, opening the lid to a large pan of wings.

“You made these?” Quil questioned as he dug in and looked over the food carefully.

“Yeah,” she shrugged, “What’s wrong?”

“You don’t cook, Ness,” Jared replied skeptically.

“That’s why I’m learning, you bonehead.”

Jacob reached for her wrist as she held a wing in his direction.  “I’ll try it.”

He took a bite as she held it up to his mouth.  She giggled when the bbq sauce dripped on his chin.  “Well?”

“Mmm,” he murmured, pressing his lips together and nodding.  “That is amazing.”

Renesmee was bursting with pride.  She kissed his lips, taking care of the sauce dripping on his chin.  “Yummy,” she mumbled when she tasted him.

The wolf pack decided it was safe to eat so they served themselves a plate and chowed down.  Renesmee watched happily as they devoured her food and complimented her endlessly.  Jacob pulled her onto the bed with him and squeezed her to his side.  “I love you,” he breathed into her ear.

She leaned into the sound of his voice and murmured, “I love you so much.”

“Alright, you two,” Embry scowled.  “That’s enough of that lovey dovey stuff.”

“If you don’t want to see it, then why do you keep coming back to visit?  Twice in one day even,” she giggled as Jacob attacked her neck with kisses.

“Yeah, Embry.  What’s the deal?” Jacob asked.

Embry shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I was hoping Nessie would come out with her shirt unbuttoned again,” he smirked.

“Oh you little…” Renesmee sprang off the bed and chased Embry around the room.

The other guys looked on, laughing.  “So you’re finally getting somewhere?” Paul quizzed, looking skeptical.

Jacob crinkled up his nose and gave Paul a devilish grin.  “Dude, I’ve been turning her down.”

“I heard that!” she called as she chased Embry onto the deck.

“Why would you turn her down?” Jared asked incredulously.  “Have you seen her?”

Jacob sighed, his eyes never leaving her.  “I just wanna wait until I can phase again.  She deserves to be with someone who can share their life with her.  If I stay this weak, I’ll never live as long as she will.  That’s not fair to her.”

“Did you tell her yet?” Quil demanded.

“No.  And none of you better say anything to her.”

“Jake!  You can’t be serious.  You would just give her up like that?” Paul argued.

Jacob nodded slowly, still watching her out near the tree line.  His eyes were sad as he replied, “Yeah.  Because it's the right thing to do.”

“Bullshit, that’s your imprint,” Jared interjected.  “You couldn’t just walk away.”

“I could if I thought there would be someone to care for her when I’m gone,” he replied stoically, his jaw clenched.

“Embry?” they replied in unison.

Jacob nodded again.  “Look at him, he’s crazy about her.”

“We’re all crazy about Nessie,” Quil clarified. “But this is nuts.”

Jacob sighed deeply and looked at his friends with a serious gaze.  “Don’t tell her.  Or Embry.  Promise?”

They looked at each other and then back at Jacob skeptically.  Begrudgingly they all finally agreed.  They took turns shaking his hand and swearing they wouldn’t share his secret.  “I just want to go on record as saying this is a horrible idea,” Jared added as Embry carried Nessie in over his shoulder and deposited her on Jacob’s bed.

“Please take her back.  She’s crazy,” Embry declared breathlessly.

“You just can’t keep up with me,” she announced happily as she returned her attention to Jacob.  “What’s wrong, baby?” she asked, sensing the mood in the room.

“Nothing,” he replied, brushing her hair away from her face and kissing her lightly.  “Quil’s ready for dessert.”

“Oh!” she jumped up quickly.  “I forgot the cupcakes!”

They watched her race out of the room as Embry noticed their somber mood.  “What did I miss?”

“Nothing much,” Jacob retorted.  “Can’t you keep up with her?  I mean, she’s a girl.”

“Easier said than done, my friend. She’s pretty feisty, that one.”

Renesmee came prancing in with a box of cupcakes and presented them to the group proudly.  “I made these all by myself.”

The group passed them around, obviously impressed with her skills.  “These are great,” Jared commented, reaching for another.

Renesmee tasted one and nodded, smiling widely as she was pleased with herself.  Jacob reached for her and kissed the frosting from her lips.  “Delicious,” he agreed.

“I think that’s our cue, guys,” Paul joked lightly.

“We’ve got patrol later,” Embry explained as he gave Renesmee a quick squeeze.

“You guys be careful,” she called as they filed out the patio door.

“You too,” Quil replied sadly, waving to Jacob as he left.

“Are they okay?” Renesmee sighed as the door closed.

“Just tired probably,” Jacob commented as he pulled Renesmee into his lap.  “I missed you.”

She slid her hands around his neck and held him tightly.  “I’ve been right here.”

“Still,” he added sadly.  “I like having you all to myself.”

“I like that too.”

“Are you tired?”

“A little,” she murmured against his neck.  “You?”

“Yeah,” he sighed.  “Today was a big day.”

“I know,” she agreed.  “I’m really proud of you for putting in so much hard work with your therapy.  I know how difficult your recovery is going to be, but I’m not giving up.  I know you’re gonna be back to 100% in no time at all.”

She slid off of his lap and gathered him in her arms. He sighed as he rested his head on her chest and he felt her heart thudding in her chest.  She ran her fingers through his hair and in no time at all, she had lulled him to sleep.  “I love you, my darling.  More than anything.”
......
A/N: please leave a comment and let me know what you think!  Feedback means a lot! Thanks