Renesmee sighed when Jacob continued down the path still carrying her. At first he had swooped her up to avoid talking about Seth, but now he rather liked holding her this way. She was close enough for him to smell her hair and it made him stifle a smile.

Jacob's smile turned into a scowl when Ness started asking about Seth again. "I don't know what your problem is..."

Jacob shook his head and replied, "I like Seth. He's like my little brother."

"You didn't like him the night of our party," she reminded him.

Jacob pressed his lips together as the memories of that night came flooding back. Six months ago, the two of them planned a party in his new home. Renesmee made all the arrangements and made sure all of the pack was invited. They cooked out, on the grill and had a huge bonfire to celebrate Jacob buying his first home. He had done all the renovations with some help from his tribe and she could not have been more proud.

The party had gone smoothly until later in the night when the pack start rough housing and Renesmee had been knocked to the ground. Jared didn't mean to do it, but Jacob didn't care. Jacob grabbed Jared by the throat and threatened him. Seth put his arm around Ness, picked her up and dusted her off, making sure she was okay. But she was horrified seeing Jacob so angry. Then he took that anger out on Seth, who had done nothing wrong.

Jacob pulled Seth away from Ness when he had left a protective arm around her during the fight. And before Jacob could take a swing at Seth, Renesmee shoved Jacob back, exclaiming, "Don't ever talk to me again!"

No one could believe the she had stood up to Jacob. Jacob and Renesmee had never had a fight...ever. They all agreed that Jacob's behavior was ridiculous, but the guys tended to battle out their differences physically, so no one was shocked about Jacob's hot-headed nature.

Jacob quickly apologized to Jared for flying off the handle, but when he tried to tell Renesmee he was sorry, she basically told him to stuff it and asked Seth to drive her home. Ever since then, Ness had kept her distance from Jacob and Seth didn't seem to trust Jacob anymore. Renesmee hadn't been on the reservation much since that night, which made last night's appearance that much more surprising.

"I've told you how sorry I am, so many times," he began.

She nodded quickly, "I know, I just never understood why you acted that way. I mean, those are your brothers," she emphasized.

Jacob swallowed thickly and stopped to place Renesmee back on two feet. "I was an ass, plain and simple. I was jealous and stupid and I know I scared you. I don't know what else to say."

Renesmee made a face and repeated, "Jealous? Of Seth?"

Jacob sucked in a deep breath and sighed as he raked his fingers through his hair. "I can't explain it. It all happened so fast and if I could take it back, I would."

Ness pulled back from him, still confused as ever. "Can you just promise no interference in my love life?"

Jacob scowled and repeated, "Love life?"

She sighed, completely exasperated, and added, "I don't have one yet and if you and my parents don't give me some space, I never will!" She didn't mean to yell, but her frustration was through the roof. It seemed like no one in her life wanted her to grow up.

~~~~~~~~

They were almost to Sam and Emily's now. Jacob used the last few steps to think about just what he wanted to say to her. He squeezed her shoulder and she turned to face him. "I know," he paused to take a deep breath so he could get out everything you he wanted to say, "that I screwed up. I really miss you and I being so close, like we were before, so at this point I would agree to almost anything so I can have you back in my life again," he blurted quickly.

Renesmee furrowed her brow and asked, "So...you'll help? With the fun and freedom and boys? And help me convince my parents to ease up too?"

He crinkled up his face at her request, "You want my help with boys?"

She playfully punched him in the arm and sighed, "No, just not stand in my way if I want to..."

Jacob's eyes grew wide as he waited for her to finish.

"I just want to be normal and meet someone and fall in love," she breathed wistfully. "But you have to let me!"

As they ascended the steps to Emily's front door, Jacob finally agreed, "Okay!" He was totally exasperated with her earnest request.

A huge smile spread across Renesmee's face as she grabbed Jacob's hand and pulled him through the front door...and right into the middle of Sunday brunch with the whole pack.

..................

Jacob and Renesmee stood frozen in front of all of his brothers as they enjoyed their typical weekend breakfast at Emily's house. Renesmee dropped Jacob's hand and scurried to Emily's side, whispering in her ear about needing to borrow a change of clothes to wear home. Emily nodded quickly and added, "Of course, whatever you need!"

Renesmee gave Emily a quick squeeze before she bounded up the stairs, two at a time. Emily had always welcomed everyone with her huge heart and Renesmee was no exception.

With Nessie upstairs changing, the wolfpack now turned their attention to Jacob, who was looking a little sheepish. "You dirty dog!" Jared howled as the others joined in.

"Way to go, stud!" Paul called as Jacob scowled and crossed the room.

As Jacob grabbed a biscuit from the table and began polishing it off, even Sam approved. "It's about time, Jake...."

After a few more minutes of their collaborative jeering, Jacob finally broke his silence. He didn't want to betray Renesmee's trust, but he couldn't stand letting them think something had happened when in reality, it was nothing. "It's not like that..." he began.

Quil now joined in, finally realizing that Jacob had lied to them last night. "But when me and Embry came over last night, you said no one was there. What kind of shit is that?"

Just then, Renesmee glided down the stairs suddenly and sidled up to Seth. She had chosen a pair of slim fit, light blue jeans from Emily's closet and she paired that with a bright red tank top. Jacob furrowed his brow, wondering how much of their conversation she had heard.

Renesmee swiped a piece of bacon from the table and turned to face Embry and Quil. "Don't be mad at Jacob. I asked him not to tell anyone I was there," she explained, matter-of-factly even though she didn't really ask him to hide her presence from his friends. She honestly wasn't sure why he had asked her to go hide, but she couldn't ask him now so she played along.

Jacob didn't want to tell everyone what had happened to her because he wasn't sure if she really wanted anyone to know. But when Seth asked her if everything was okay, she opened right up. Jacob cringed when she started the story because he knew how strongly they would react. And they didn't disappoint.

"Are you serious? That little..." Embry trailed off, completely fuming at this point in the story. She hadn't told them the ending yet.

Jared and Paul were swearing and balling up their fists at this point. Then Renesmee finished the story, shocking everyone with her toughness and bravery. Seth was the first to congratulate her, wrapping her in a big hug and congratulating her on being able to take care of herself.

Jacob clenched his jaw and took a deep breath as Ness glanced over at him from behind Seth's massive shoulder, shooting him a look that reminded him that he had promised not to interfere. Jacob finally said, "We really need to get going, Ness."

Renesmee sighed dramatically and shot back, "I thought maybe Seth could take me home?" she asked hopefully, punctuated by a squeeze to Seth's bicep.

Jacob glanced at Seth, who surely steeling himself for another battle with Jacob and then back to Renesmee, who thought she would get her own way due to the promise he had made earlier. But he just couldn't do it. "I have to take you home. I promised your parents I'd get you home safely."

When Renesmee opened her mouth to argue her point, Jacob slowly added, "Maybe next time...Seth could take you home, but not today." His voice sounded like a robot. For a moment, Jacob wondered if he had really said that.

Jacob's friends all stared at him, eyes wide with wonder, completely confused about Jacob's change in attitude. "What the hell..." Jared whispered, speaking for mostly everyone there.

Renesmee decided not to pout and instead turned to Seth and asked, "Will you call me...later?"

Leah, who had been silently scowling in the corner, finally interjected, "Oh come on! What kind of mind game are you playing with my brother? Not to mention what you're putting Jacob through..."

"Leah!" Seth scolded his older sister as she stood there seething. "Keep your mouth shut," he warned.

Everyone knew that Jacob's imprinting on Renesmee was a huge secret that was not theirs to share. They knew how hard it had been for him to keep the secret. Hell, none of them had been able to keep something that big from their imprints. Well all except for Quil and Claire because she was still so young.

Renesmee shrugged her shoulders, completely and utterly confused. "I don't know what I did wrong..."

"Are you kidding me?" Leah sneered. "You're gonna put Jacob through some mind game bullshit and lead my brother on just for the hell of it?" Leah scowled and added, "Over my dead body..."

As Leah lunged across the room to attack Renesmee, Sam sprang up and caught her by the arm, stopping her from doing any more harm. "I want you out...now!" his deep voice thundered.

Leah squirmed under Sam's tight grasp and as he forced her out the front door, she looked right at Jacob and hissed, "Some imprint she turned out to be..."

Jacob froze and scanned Renesmee's face for a reaction. Now any other human probably wouldn't have heard Leah's snide comment. But Renesmee wasn't like any other human. Her hearing and vision and speed were far superior to a normal human. She rivaled nearly every wolf in the room when it came to superhuman skills. But right now Jacob just prayed that her ears had failed her.

But when he saw the hurt in her eyes, he knew.

"Imprint?" she repeated numbly.