Hello! I wasn't going to post this until I finished Downfall Of The Playerette, but I've written a lot of this already, and just couldn't help but post it. I hope you guys like it, because I think it's my best work yet!

Song of the Chapter

Protecting Me ~Aly and AJ

Whenever, where ever baby
You'll protect me
No matter what
Hold me tight,
with all your might,
And you'll never let me go
Protecting me

Chapter 1: Homecoming

"I'm nervous." I said as scenic Washington State passed us by. We were nearing First Beach, and it was making my stomach flutter painfully.

"Why? They're going to love you! Everyone does." said my best friend, protector and, more recently, my lover.

"They tried to kill me, Jake."

"Only because they thought you were going to be sort of all-powerful mystic being. Ness, they will love you just as much as I do. I can just feel it." He leaned over to give me a quick peck on the lips, but it quickly turned into a heated kiss. Knowing he was trying to change the subject, I turned away in order to speak.

"You're forgetting the fact that I'm half vampire."

"I do that often. You barely even smell like one. And you're not venomous."

"I think your sense of smell is a little off, considering you live with nine vampires."

"Eight and a half, Nessie. You don't fully count." He flashed me a gorgeous Jacob smile.

I sighed. He wouldn't understand. Just because he loves me doesn't mean that the pack would. I've learned in my seven short years on this earth that things don't always work out the way you want them to.

Jake put his arm around my shoulder and hugged me closer. "Don't be worried, Ness. It's okay." He continued to whisper sweet nothings into my ear.

The sound of his voice lulled me into a comforted state. In his arms, I couldn't help but feel safe.

After a little while, I drifted into a light sleep…

~0~0~0~0~0~0~

"Nessie, baby. Wake up. We're here." Jake whispered into my ear, making me shiver with a mix of unease and delight.

I blinked once, twice, three times to clear my vision. I glanced out the window and saw a gray ocean churning waves and steep cliffs in every direction. But somehow, it felt like home. I guess I was born for the cold and dreary settings I'd lived in my entire life.

Jake opened my door, and I nearly fell out. I found out early on in life that I'd inherited my mother's poor coordination, of all things.

"Whoops." chuckled Jacob as he lifted me out of the cab, "You should have told me you were leaning on the window."

I shot him a quick glare, and he laughed his deep belly laugh that couldn't help but make you crack a smile.

He grabbed my cool hand and pulled me into the small reservation his past was set in.

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

Within moments we had arrived at the door of a quaint cabin at the edge of the water.

Jake knocked raptly, and the door opened wide.

An older man in a wheelchair sat waiting, and he smiled softly at Jacob. Jake bent down and hugged the man gently.

"Welcome home, son."

"Thanks, Dad."

The man's eyes fixated on me, and I immediately felt colder than I ever had before.

"You brought her here?"

My eyes opened wide with comprehension. He didn't know? "Jacob Black, you didn't tell them I was coming?" I gasped, fury slowly building up in my small but capable body.

"Um… Well… not… not exactly." He stuttered. I smacked him on the arm. He flinched.

The old man's eyes closed, and I backed away. "I'm sorry to have surprised you, sir. Jake, I'm going back to school. I can't believe you didn't tell him I was with you!" I scolded him.

I felt Jacob's warm hand wrap around my wrist as I turned back toward the car. He pulled me nearer to the house, and spoke clearly but softly in my ear, "Don't leave just yet. It's all going to be okay. I promise." I surrendered to his pleading, as I nearly always did. He turned back to his dad and introduced us formally.

"Dad, this is Renesmee Cullen, my… my fiancée." He said after a pause, "Nessie, this is my dad, Billy Black."

Billy's eyes opened. "Please excuse us, Renesmee. I need to speak to my son in private." He said, suddenly very civil and calm.

Jake began to protest, but I interrupted him. "I'll be fine on my own for a few minutes." I severely hoped I would.

He sighed heavily, knowing the battle was lost.

"Make yourself at home." Billy said, motioning to the small living room and kitchen surrounding us. His dark eyes never met mine.

They walked to the back of the house, and into a back room. Jacob shut the door tightly, though he knew it wouldn't help much to muffle my hearing.

I sat on the couch to listen in intently.

"Does the pack know?" Whispered Billy.

"Know what?"

"That you brought her along? And that you're getting married?"

"I haven't phased since I proposed." Billy sighed at this comment.

"And when was that?"

"When we got to Seattle University a little over a month ago. I thought it would be a nice surprise."

"No surprise is nice around here."

"I see that now. But she is completely harmless. She doesn't even drink blood anymore. And she's not venomous."

Before I could hear Billy's reply, I was roughly tugged from behind.

A gruff voice asked, "Who the hell are you?"

Startled, I jumped off the couch. Standing before me was a very tall and angry looking man. his skin was darker than Jacob's, and his hair was a deep brown. His fists were clenched tightly. I was suddenly very, very scared.

"I-I-I'm… Ness! I'm Ness." I stuttered.

"You're one of them." He glowered.

"One of who?" I asked, my concentration lapsing,

"A vampire."

"Oh! Right. Er… about that…"

He began to advance towards me, looking very menacing, and I backed up until I was surely cornered.

I shut my eyes tight, but opened them when I heard it. The noise that sounded like the ripping and tearing of fabric, combined with a smell so vile it made my nose sting. I opened my eyes, for all seemed silent.

In the place of the chilling man was an equally terrifying gray wolf, crouched low to the ground. He noticed my eyes were open, and began a horrific growl that sent shivers down my spine. Forget Billy's icy stare, it was at this moment that I was the coldest I ever had been.

I wanted to close my eyes, make the tragedy unfolding before me disappear, but every muscle in my body froze. I forced myself to breathe.

Before I knew it, the gray wolf had been joined by others. Five of them, all frighteningly large. One looked oddly familiar. He was lighter than the others, a sandy, soft color. His expression looked off, not quite as menacing as the others.

The wolves were closing in, and I felt detached from my body. I could think clearly, now that I was sure to die in moments. I realized the irony in it all, that Jacob was only a few yards away, and yet he wouldn't know until he stepped into the room that I was dead.

I struggled for control of my body. It was slipping away, becoming darker and dimmer. I was fading, fainting.

The last thing I fought to do before I succumbed to the night inside me was whisper a single word,

"Jacob…"

A/N: So? How did I do? Is it going too fast? I'm addicted to reviews!!!! Please give me some help here!!

I am resurrecting my "thought for the chapter", so here it is!: Yesterday was the past, tomorrow is the future. Today is a gift... that's why they call it the present.