Nahuel's Visit...Jake's Breaking Point Pt2

My Family was all scattered about, busying themselves, being overly enthusiastic in their attempt to give us some privacy, trying to give Nahuel and I time to get to know one another and talk.
My Mother and Father were out back watching the river and forest and "talking", my Father was probably narrating the entire conversation we were having, what we were saying and what we weren't saying, I thought rolling my eyes.
As I glanced at my Father through the back glass he slightly nodded his head, moments later he and my Mother walked out of sight.
Most of my family were out hunting, Carlisle was in his study and Esme was cooking a steak in the kitchen for Jake, who had planted himself on the couch in front of the television, refusing to leave...
"So are there any questions you would like to ask me?" Nahuel said smiling.
"Well, I don't have a formal interview prepared," I said smiling, when actually I had thought about alot of questions, and if he knew me at all he'd know that I wasn't being honest, I was a terrible liar, but something about the way he was looking at me seemed to make me nervous, and I rarely ever got nervous, so maybe Jake had picked up on that, hence the volume being lowered on the television.
I knew that Jake could hear when my heart accelerated, all he had to do was look at me and know I felt uncomfortable, because he did know me..

"Why don't you just tell me a little bit about yourself", I said.
"Okay, I was the result of a passionate, forbidden affair between my Mother and Father, he of which was a vampire, my Mother unlike yours, sadly didn't make it through my delivery..." ,he said lowering his eyes.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Nahuel, I had no idea.." I said sympathetically placing my hand on top of his on the table.
He turned his hand over to hold mine and I slowly pulled my hand back, smiling so as not to hurt his feelings, feigning an itch on my neck, just then I saw Jake shift uneasily in my peripheral vision.
"Well it's okay really, I had siblings who always tried to care for me, guide me, teach me right from wrong, I guess you know how rare that is in our world, so for that I am thankful", he said smiling, "I do wish I had gotten to know my Mother, as I so admire your Mother for being so strong, maybe if she'd had different, more knowledgeable circumstances, who knows.." he said removing his eyes from mine.

"So when did you stop growing and realize you had become an adult?" I asked trying to subtly change the subject.
"I guess probably around the age of 10, it seemed to be the same for my sister's as well, I guess I don't have to explain to you how odd it feels to hit puberty at the age of 7", he said laughing, looking me up and down.
I shifted uncomfortably, and at that Jake slightly coughed under his breath, expressing what I took to mean that  this wasn't his idea of an appropriate conversation for us to be having...
"No I totally understand what you mean it's definitely unsettling to say the least, but I have been blessed with a Doctor for a Grandfather and a very unique family, so it's not so bad..." I said smiling.

"Would you like to walk around the grounds, maybe through the forest where this doesn't feel quite so formal?", he asked.
"Sure, that would be nice this does feel a little stoic doesn't it..." I said standing out of my chair relieved to, hopefully end the tension I was feeling, I needed some fresh air and maybe the conversation would feel a little lighter outdoors.
Jake suddenly jumped up and walked around the couch to the back table we were sitting at, placing his hand on the top of my arm slightly pulling me closer to him,
"Ness how about I join you outside, I wouldn't want you wandering away to far from the house, it could be dangerous, you never know what could be in these woods.." he said eyeing Nahuel.
"Oh don't worry dear friend, I'm fully capable of keeping her safe, yards from her home", Nahuel said, placing his hand on Jake's forearm..
I could feel Jake start to tremble, see the careful mask come across his face that he only applied when trying to keep his cool, to keep from transforming.
When he had himself under control he said, "Well, we'll let Nessie be the judge of her own safety",so he did hear that I was uncomfortable, uncomfortable yes but in harm, I didn't think so and besides my Father was protective enough for the both of them, I didn't need Jake thinking he was "in charge" of me as well.
"No, really Jake it's fine... it would be nice to walk around a bit and get some fresh air", I said smiling.
He eyed me with a wary expression, an expression that I didn't quite understand, I had never seen him like this before...Did he know something about Nahuel that I didn't? Surely not, besides if their was any cause for alarm my whole family would be hovering, right?
He hugged me very tightly, I could still feel the tension in his body, see it all over his face, especially in his eyes, I don't know why he was so worried my family was all around the house, I knew without a doubt that my Father would be sporadically listening in, there was no cause for alarm. He gently kissed me on the cheek, and apologized to Esme for having to leave so quickly.

"Okay, Jake I guess I'll see you later then",  I said smiling, noting that he still hadn't let go, "Yep", Jake said glaring at Nahuel, I pushed back, and Nahuel held his arm out as I laced mine through his we walked out the front door.

We spent most of the afternoon talking just getting to know one another, it did feel better to be outside, I always preferred to be outdoors anyway, he talked alot about his childhood, and I felt truly blessed to be a part of my family.
He had faced so many hardships in his life, and I felt so sorry that he'd had to deal with so much as a result of something that was totally out of his control, I gathered that he felt responsible for his Mother's death, and noted that that could've all to easily been the result of my birth as well, I couldn't imagine having to look in my Father's eyes everyday if something had happened to my Mother, and I couldn't imagine my life without her either.
Meeting someone who was so like me in so many ways, meeting so much adversity because of that, and still becoming such a positive person he was very special..
I could definitely see us becoming good friends with one another, outside in the lighter atmosphere he was much easier to talk to, maybe it was the absence of Jake's weird mood today lingering over our heads..
I noted that I would have to talk to him later, something was wrong, but I tried to push that to the back of my mind I only had a limited amount of time with our visitor, so I wanted to gain as much insight as possible...

We walked through two large, ancient trees, they were my favorite trees actually because they outlined the meadow that my Mother, Father and I liked to go to, especially in the spring when it was full of wild flowers, it was a beautiful place and I loved to see the happiness light my Mother's eyes when we came here, I had always found it spectacularly, amazing to watch the sun glisten off of my parents skin on a warm, sunny spring day.. We had often brought a book of poetry and a blanket to this very meadow, spending all afternoon together..
Nahuel reached down and took my hand, I didn't mind really, I felt like we were friends, especially after everything we had shared today, I smiled at him and he smiled back. I did however note somewhere in the back of my mind that the electric current that I felt when Jake held my hand wasn't there with Nahuel it was different...
"Renesmee, I know you probably don't remember the last time I visited here to Forks, you were so young", he said smiling, "But, I've thought about you ever since that fateful day..." he said looking into my eyes.
I turned away from his glance, "Oh, I do remember, that was a very scary time, and I remember you being there to stand with my family it meant alot to all of us, and on behalf of them I would like to thank you.." I said smiling returning to his gaze.. he looked slightly confused.
"Well, I'm certainly glad of the outcome, but I knew that one day we would meet again under happier circumstances, I felt a connection with you that day, I mean to the best of my knowledge, you and I are the only man and young lady of our kind that aren't related.." he said implying with his eyes that this statement should have more significance than I felt it held..
"Nahuel, I'm very glad we got to know one another today, and I think you and I will be the best of friends, I will forever be indebted to you for what you risked for my family", I said smiling, "But, that's all that I'm ready for right now."
He looked like he was slightly upset.. confused, I didn't quite know what significance he felt would come from this visit, I stood up letting go of his hand, "We really should probably be getting back, the rest of my family will be back soon, and I'm sure they would all like to get there chance to visit with you as well." I said smiling.
I turned away from him as he grabbed my wrist, I thought I heard a sound through the trees behind me, "Renesmee, I came here today to let you know that I have true feelings for you, we are perfect for each other, there are no two people better suited, I know that with time you would feel the same for me, trust me I've put alot of thought into this".
"Nahuel I barely know you, and simply because we are two of a kind doesn't mean your entitled to be the love of my life, I have my own brain, my own soul, I know what my heart wants, and my heart wants to be your friend.....nothing more." I had been trying to subtly break his hold on my wrist, but he didn't seem to be getting the hint, I pulled a little harder..
He stepped in closer, and leaned his face closer to mine slightly closing his eyes, I had seen enough movies to know what this was a preamble to and I could picture what my face must look like right now, this was absurd, and in no way was I giving my first kiss away to someone I had just gotten to know that day...
Just then I felt the wind rush by and an ear splitting, spine tingling growl rippled through the air...
Jake landed right beside where we were standing with a loud thud, everyone of his teeth baring, just as I felt my Father's cold, hard arms around my waist the wind rushing by as he pulled me away from where Jake and Nahuel stood.
I felt the wind rush by as Emmett and Jasper, sped by... putting themselves between Jake and Nahuel. I looked up and seen my family positioned all around the meadow. I tried to break free of my Father's grip, obviously with no luck. I couldn't let this happen, Nahuel was obviously totally misguided in his attempts to create a romance between us, but he was someone I would call a friend and I couldn't let anything happen between him and Jake, Jake was not this irrational person, and if anything happened between them he would be shattered, "No!!" I screamed. Suddenly Jake turned to me, a look of shock evident on his face, even in this form. "Jake what are you doing, I can handle myself, everything was under control!"
Everything stopped, Nahuel stumbled a step backward, Jasper and Emmett relaxed the tiniest bit, and Jake retreated through the woods.
He returned a few minutes later in his human form, a look of shame and a mask of pain across his face, everyone slowly retreated, my parents, especially my Father making sure Jake had his emotions in check, left last taking Nahuel with them.
"Jake, why did you do that, I knew what was coming but...but, I can take care of myself, nothing was going to happen." I said, "And what does it matter to you anyway Jake, we're just friends, just like Nahuel and I are just friends, you can't jump in and do something like that, I'm not a child, it's not bad enough that I have my Father listening to my thoughts and the thoughts of everyone around me, but you have to barge in on an innocent conversation with a family friend like a... like a well, like an animal!!"
I was pacing all around the meadow, fuming with rage, I could take care of myself!! Why did everyone around me insist on treating me like a child, I don't even think I was mad at Jake, I was just upset at feeling like a caged animal, like everyone around me was watching my life play out with bated breaths, like a movie on a big screen somewhere, and then it hit me, up until today everyone had the expression on their face, that they were waiting for something, knowing it was going to happen, with Jake's declaration came the realization,this was a movie that everyone already knew the ending too... How could I not have seen it myself, just then I looked up at Jake...Jake, everyone did know the ending to my life, everyone knew why Jake and I were the way we were, everyone knew what significance our relationship held, I was the only one who hadn't seen it. I had hoped in the back of my mind, wished, wished that he thought of me that way, and not like an annoying little sister, I met Jake's eyes, and he dropped them to the ground kicking his foot through the dirt..
I slowly walked to him closing the gap, he was still looking down, I wondered if he even realized the connection that our hearts had just made.... I hoped...
I put my hand under his chin, lifting his face so his eyes met mine, "Jake, it could never be Nahuel, it could never be anyone, it could only be you...
It was at this moment that I felt our hearts join and I knew, I knew what everyone had always known Jake and I would be together, I wasn't the annoying little sister, although I loved him all the more for being that when I needed it, for being a friend when I needed it... and he always would be, first my friend and now my husband...

I looked up into the eyes of my Husband, and softly kissed him lightly on the lips wrapping my arms around his neck, as I leaned back he said with a choked voice, "And, the last quote, I added on our Wedding Day...

            "Life's not the breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away..."



As Always With Love Renesmee Cullen-Black as interpreted by Elizabeth Queen