A/N: Look, a relatively quick update! It's a miracle! Thanks to all of you for your wonderful reviews and for sticking with this story. Like I said, now that 'Finding You' is my primary story it should be updated more regularly. At least once a month, hopefully.

Please forgive any spelling or grammar errors I might have missed. And enjoy!

Chapter Six

'Jacob, Jacob, are you all right?'

Jacob blinked at the words that finally registered. He didn't know how long Edward had been trying to get his attention, but he hadn't been able to look away from the sight of his imprint.

He'd known Edward was handsome, but with his wolf controlling a part of his mind, Jacob could make out the soft glow of Edward's skin and the subtle colours of his hair. There was a heavenly smell of magnolia, bonfire, and grass, but Jacob could also make out scant traces of a horrible bleach smell. It lingered around Edward but wasn't coming from him which Jacob was thankful for.

'Jacob? Jacob!' Edward yelled and finally Jacob blinked again and realised where he was. He still hadn't fully entered the car yet, so he was hanging out of the door, mouth hanging open, and staring at Edward like an idiot. He didn't want to think about how long he'd looked like a dumbass in front of Edward.

Jacob blushed and quickly climbed into the car. Edward raised an eyebrow at him, but Jacob couldn't find his voice to speak. He stared out of the front window trying to sort through his thoughts.

Chief among them was: I've done it! I finally imprinted! And it's Edward, like I wanted, thank god.

However those thoughts were quickly followed by: how the hell am I going to explain this?

Edward tried to strike up a conversation during the ride, but Jacob could barely think about a response much less talk.

Before he knew it he was sitting in the diner, a soda and glass of water on one side of him and a large piece of lemon meringue pie on the other.

'You must be pretty out of it if you haven't already blown through that piece and ordered another by now,' Edward commented lightly, his eyes never leaving Jacob.

'Huh?' Jacob could only say.

Edward raised an eyebrow and nodded towards the pie. 'Are you going to eat that?'

Jacob stared at the pie and picked up his fork. He dragged the fork along the meringue while he tried to figure out what to say. Did he just jump in? Confess to Edward? Even in his imprint-muddled brain that didn't seem like the best approach, even if his wolf was one slip away from embarrassing him beyond anything he'd ever suffered before. In fact, if his wolf had its way, Edward would already be naked and pressed against him.

Jacob let out a strangled sound at that thought and his face turned beet-red. He couldn't help the flood of images that raced into his mind at that throw-away thought. Edward naked – it was a thought he hadn't truly let himself consider seriously. But now it was difficult to not think about a naked Edward. He wondered if his body was covered with the same brilliant copper hair, or if he was smooth. Did his skin glow under his clothes as it did on his face? How would his lean fingers feel around—

Jacob choked as the thought entered his mind and he felt his face heat up more than it ever had before.

Edward looked like he was trying to contain a smirk, but Jacob was too distracted to pay much attention or question Edward's odd behaviour. Why Edward would sit silently while Jacob was clearly having a mental breakdown, when anyone else would be pushing for information or trying to help, didn't register with Jacob.

All he could try to do was keep his hormone-rampant teenaged body in check long enough to figure out how he was going to tell his best friend, the person he trusted above everyone, that he was a hairy wolf-boy who was now magically instrumental in his life.

Despite all of the training he'd gone through when he first shifted, no one had broached imprints. Jacob really wished there had been some sort of class on how to tell your imprint. He wanted pointers. Or hand-outs. A hand-out would work – something he could thrust into Edward's hands, run far away, and then return in a week or so when Edward would have had time to read it and process everything.

Fuck, why did so many of their legends have to be told orally? He'd kill for someone to have written everything down in one handy guide. 'So You Find Yourself a Wolf-Boy' or 'Congratulations, You're My Imprint: a guide on human/wolf-boy mating habits'.

In fact, he'd probably be a hero to the coming wolves if he'd write that himself. Maybe he could get Edward in on the act… he liked geeky things like collating and referencing. It'd be like the weirdest form of foreplay ever. Or a really lame date.

Edward snorted and Jacob shook himself out of his thoughts. He blushed when he realised how long he'd been sitting their silently like an ass. His pie had been smashed to pieces, and now that it was butchered Jacob had to suppress a frown. He'd really wanted that pie.

'And are you back from la-la land, now?' Edward asked.

Jacob nodded and tried to put his pie back together with his fork.

'We can just get you another piece,' Edward suggested.

Jacob shot him an affronted look. 'And waste a perfectly good piece of pie? I don't think so. I'll eat this one. And then we can get another.'

'Of course.' Edward grew quiet and Jacob distracted himself by eating up his destroyed pie. Once he was done he ordered a piece of coconut cream, and then finally looked up at Edward, meeting his eyes for the first time. 'Are you ready to talk now?' Edward asked.

'Talk about what?' Jacob evaded.

Edward let out an undignified snort – something Jacob had been sure Edward would never be able to do; an undignified Edward just seemed wrong, somehow – and leaned back in his chair.

'Talk about what's on your mind. Where you've been for the past few weeks? Take your pick.'

Jacob grumbled and suddenly became very interested in a crack on the table. He wanted to tell Edward, he really did. But what the hell could he say?

'I don't know how to start,' Jacob finally admitted. 'I mean, it seems like you know, but I don't really know if you know and if you don't know, I don't want to…'

'You've just said a lot of loaded nothing,' Edward pointed out with a smile. Jacob didn't resist his urge to stick his tongue out at him, and when Edward cocked his head and narrowed his gaze in a challenge, it was like those last few weeks had vanished.

'I'll help you out,' Edward said, quietly so they wouldn't be overheard. 'I know what you are. Just like you know what I am. I'm sure you were told about our previous visit.'

'Yeah' Jacob nodded, 'I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that you supposedly met my grandfather. Did you?'

'I did,' Edward confirmed. 'We were here for a few years before leaving again. I hadn't wanted to leave, there was something about your grandfather that drew me towards him.'

Jacob tried hard to stomp down on the sudden jealousy that welled up in him at Edward's words. It was ridiculous to be jealous of a fleeting moment between his imprint and his long-dead grandfather… but Edward was his imprint dammit, and he didn't want there to be strong connections between anyone that wasn't him. It wasn't rational, but the wolf didn't care. Edward was his.

'Oh?' he said, mentally wincing at how tight and angry his voice sounded.

Edward chuckled and nodded. 'Yes. I didn't know why, but there was just something about him. Then we came back because Esme, my mother, loves it here and loves our house. So then I met your father. I was confused when I felt the same pull to him as well.'

Jacob practically ground his teeth together at that thought. His wolf was going crazy – wanting to claim Edward so no one could take him away. And to make it worse, Edward had this all-knowing smirk on his face that pissed Jacob off. Here he was suffering and Edward was having fun!

'I didn't know why I felt drawn to them until I met you,' Edward ended softly. Jacob vaguely heard what Edward said, but his mind was too filled with horrible images of Edward leaving him for his father, or worse, his grandfather!

His wolf was plotting ways to get back at his grandfather in the grave. His human mind struggled for control, but he couldn't help the growl that slipped out of mouth.

'You're not listening to what I'm saying,' Edward said. It was only his soft, melodious voice that broke through Jacob's thoughts of patricide.

'Oh, I heard you just fine,' Jacob tried not to growl out.

'No, you're getting caught in your head like usual and creating elaborate fanciful ideas of what you think is going on even though they have no basis in reality. You always exacerbate things in your head.'

'I do not.'

'You have a wild imagination. Most of the time it's lovely, but then you worry, doubt yourself, and make things worse.'

'This isn't just something I can spit out,' Jacob said.

'Tell me, Jacob. You'll feel better when it's out.'

Jacob sighed and began fingering the faux wood grain of the table and running his finger along the crack again. He froze when Edward's hand suddenly covered his. He looked up into his imprints eyes and suddenly wished that Edward could just know what he wanted to tell him. He couldn't vocalise it. He didn't have the words. Edward had always been the one with the words.

Something in Edward's eyes changed and he nodded at something. He leaned forward and rested his chin on the hand that wasn't covering Jacob's, studying him. Jacob just sat, waiting for something.

'Did you know that before we first moved here I studied some Native American legends? I remember some Quileute legends I read. My favourite was the story of the Mount Storm King ending the battle between the Quillayutes and the Klallam tribes by killing all of them with a giant rock, causing the valley to turn into a river and then into a lake that became Lake Crescent.'

'My father told me that one,' Jacob whispered. 'He told me it was meant to teach that beauty and peace can come from terrible things and that war and violence must be punished. He took me there as a child and we'd offer prayers to the Mount Storm King who is supposed to still guard the lake.'

'It's a wonderful story,' Edward agreed. 'I was also interested to learn that the Quileutes believed they were descendant from wolves. Imagine my surprise when I learned that they're still protected by wolves.'

Jacob ripped his hand away from Edward's and stared wide-eyed at him.

'But how did you know?' he asked.

'You were told what I am,' Edward said. Jacob didn't answer, they both knew it wasn't necessary. 'Cold Ones, I believe your legends call us. That is certainly true, you've felt me; I'm quite cold, though I don't feel it anymore. When we moved here we met with Ephraim to tell him about us and I saw it. Your tribe's warriors turning into wolves to protect the tribe. It was fascinating. I felt early on that you would become one as well.'

'You saw? How is that possible? According to the legends people didn't start shifting until after you got there. Cold Ones are supposed to trigger the ability.'

'You're right. I saw it in Ephraim's mind.'

'You what?'

'I read his mind. It's a gift of mine – a rare one, I've discovered.'

The concept that Edward could read minds should have shocked Jacob. He should have rejected it outright, called Edward a liar or crazy, and run as far away as he could. But despite how ridiculous it sounded, that little extra fact made everything fall into place. Suddenly the odd looks Edward would give him, the secret smiles, his ability to know exactly what Jacob wanted, needed, and was thinking made perfect sense.

He was torn between being upset at the lack of privacy and thrilled that he'd never have to vocalise an uncomfortable thought again.

'I really try hard not to hear your thoughts, but I'll admit sometimes I indulge myself. You have fascinating thoughts and I enjoy understanding how your mind works.'

'You mean I'm as much of an idiot in my mind as I am out loud?' Jacob asked, horrified that Edward had been privy to every awkward, uncomfortable though.

Edward grabbed Jacob's hand again and gave him a stern look. 'You most certainly are not an idiot, Jacob. And I don't like it when you belittle yourself.'

'So you heard me earlier when I was thinking about…' Jacob made a vague gesture towards Edward, hoping Edward would know what he was talking about.

'I did, though I don't understand what it meant. I've never heard you use the word "imprint" before, so I don't know what you were upset about.'

'Not upset,' Jacob quickly corrected. 'I was just… confused and I don't really know what to say to you about it. But I'm not upset.'

'Then why don't you start by explaining what an imprint is,' Edward suggested. He tried to remove his hand from Jacob's to sit back in his chair, but Jacob held tight to the cooler hand. It was a comfort of sorts to know that even with their odd situation, Edward wasn't repulsed enough not to touch him.

Jacob quickly looked around the diner to make sure there wasn't anyone close by. They were completely alone in their corner and he trusted that between the two of them they'd know if someone was nearby.

'Right, so you know about the wolves,' he started, softly. 'Not every male in my tribe has the ability to shift and it's only when our enemies – the Cold Ones – are nearby.'

'Am I your enemy, Jacob?' Edward asked.

'No,' Jacob firmly stated, shaking his head for added emphasis. No, Edward could never be the enemy. Even without the imprint, even just as his best friend, Edward would never be anything other than Edward. He'd never be a leech or bloodsucker, as he'd heard Sam and Paul hatefully spat out. He was just his Edward.

'Even though I'm a vampire?'

It was the unspoken word between them. Until then, Jacob's mind had provided handy euphemisms to dilute just what was going on in his life. But he wasn't just a 'shifter' and Edward wasn't just a 'Cold One'. They were werewolf and vampire. Two things that shouldn't exist, but did. But to Jacob, that made them more alike than different. Besides, he knew Edward better than most of the guys in his pack. Why would his loyalty to Edward be diminished by the opinions of people he barely knew and traditions, no matter how deeply he loved and respected them, generations old? It was possible to love his tribe, history, and traditions while still making his own choices.

'Even if you're a vampire and I'm a werewolf,' he said. He knew that was the moment. It was the moment he admitted that he wouldn't be following the rules of the pack to the letter. He would always put something before the pack, and that something was supposed to be his mortal enemy.

Edward clucked his tongue and squeezed Jacob's hand to get his attention. 'So melodramatic. I want to get back to what's so embarrassing for you. Come on, just what had you blushing so much earlier? You had too many thoughts running through your head for me to catch it specifically, but I do know that your face hasn't turned that red since we first met and you thought I was cute.'

'Wait, you knew?'

'Oh yes, it was adorable how much you'd try to impress me.'

'I – I…' Jacob sputtered, unable to find the words. He had so many opinions on what Edward had done, but one was more important than the others. 'Then why the hell didn't you fucking do anything?'

Edward shrugged. 'You were too young. I'm not keen on statutory rape. And I wanted to get to know you first.'

'What do you mean, too young? We're only a couple years apart.'

'Physically, yes. But when you're over a hundred years old and the object of your affections is fourteen, it's best to take things slow.'

'Wait a minute,' Jacob sat up straight in his chair and closely studied Edward. 'Are you really saying you're over a hundred years old?'

'I was born in 1901.'

'Shut the fuck up,' Jacob said. He tried to mentally do the math, but he was too shocked.

'You're swearing a lot today,' Edward commented.

'I've just found out you're over a hundred…'

'One hundred and twelve. In human years. In vampire years I'm a quite young ninety-five.'

'Jesus Christ, you're old,' Jacob said.

'I don't appreciate your commentary,' Edward drawled. 'Anyway, yes, so I'm older than you—'

'A whole fucking lot older than me,' Jacob interrupted, earning himself a glare.

' – but compared with my father who is over four-hundred years old, I'm quite young.'

'Oh my god, I'm beginning to think this is just the weirdest dream I've ever had,' Jacob muttered.

'Trust me, this isn't a dream. I'm experiencing this with you and I haven't been able to sleep since I was turned,' Edward said. Jacob opened his mouth to speak, but Edward held up his hand. 'We can talk more about me later. There's plenty of time. But now I want to hear what this imprint thing is and why it's so hard for you to talk about but so important you do so.'

'Right, an imprint,' Jacob muttered. 'Well, an imprint is… well. It's like a connection. Between two people.'

'A connection?'

'Like a soul mate,' Jacob whispered. He felt the blood rising to his face and he could tell from Edward's raised eyebrows that he'd heard what he said.

'I see,' Edward said. 'So you're saying that according to this imprint thing, I'm your soul mate?'

'It's not like a romantic thing,' Jacob quickly rushed to explain before slouching down as if in hiding or defeat. 'Or, at least, it doesn't have to be. It can just be a strong friendship. Basically, it's the wolf finding it's other half and we're willing to do anything, be anything for that person.'

'Do you want this to be a romantic thing, Jacob?'

Jacob's mind was screaming Yes! Yesyesyesyesyes! But even though he knew Edward could hear that, he still said, 'I just want what makes you happy.'

'I see,' Edward said again, and Jacob had to resist the urge to throttle him for giving such a vague, unhelpful response. How the hell could he gauge 'I see'? What did that mean? Was that a 'Yes, let's be friends for life' or, what Jacob hoped, 'Yes, let's make out and fuck like bunnies for the rest of our lives'. He wasn't even mentally ready to examine what he really wanted from Edward – he was too young to fall in love, wasn't he?

'Did you know,' Edward said, breaking into Jacob's thoughts, 'That you wolves are not the only ones with the concept of a soul mate?'

'What?'

'Vampires also have mates, though whether they are destined as the term "soul mate" seems to imply is debatable. But we have mates. That one person who, once we find them, will become our world and spend the rest of existence with us.'

Jacob knew there was something Edward was trying to tell him. But he was too tired and overwhelmed by everything to try to figure out what Edward's sly words were implying. He knew what he thought Edward was trying to say, what he hoped he was saying, but he didn't want to read into it something that wasn't there. He was anxious and terrified all at once.

'What are you trying to say, Edward?' He finally asked.

'Are you done eating?' Edward asked. Jacob nodded and Edward took out his wallet and threw a handful of bills on the table. 'Perfect, we're going on a little trip.'

'Where are we going?'

Edward smiled and took Jacob's hand. 'I'm going to show you where I realised that you were my soul mate.'

A/N: I hope you liked it! Next chapter will get back to Edward's point of view. Please let me know what you think. Thanks for reading! R/R. ~A.J. Kelly