Chapter 48: Home

Edward's POV

It had been two weeks since I had woken up from my 'sleep.' The recovery process for a vampire was faster than that of a human being, but slower than that of a shifter. Two long weeks that had included physiotherapy for my arm, in order to regain full motion and battle training from my brothers, under Jacob's watchful eye before I was given a clean bill of health by Carlisle. And Jacob.

The past two weeks seemed to have aged him. While previously, he seemed like a sixteen year old trapped into a twenty-year old's body, now it seemed like his mental age had caught up to his physical age and that displeased me. A lot. I didn't want my Jacob to miss his teenage years. Not for me. He had grown up too quickly over the last few years; especially with his lupine heritage and now, I wanted to rectify that mistake. I planned on whisking him away for a tour of the world before he could start university.

We had no reason to stay back in Forks. Billy had Rachel and Sarah who were both living on the Reservation. He had Charlie to keep him company. Jacob was no longer in high school. We had enough money to travel and see the world. His pack had grown to be more understanding. Embry and Quil had reverted to being Jacob's childhood friends. It was as if nothing had ever changed for them. Jared was gracious enough to say hello and make polite conversation with me. Paul, surprisingly had made a complete hundred and eighty. He made an effort to be friendly; something I suspect had something to do with Rachel. But, I wasn't complaining. It was a nice change to not have to watch my back when I spent time at the Black's. Sam, on the other hand, was still a little stiff with Jacob and I, but it was progress nonetheless. We were not complaining.

Before travelling, though, I had another responsibility. Riley.

Jacob loathed him. I could feel and hear it everytime someone mentioned the new vampire. From what I had seen in everyone's mind, Jacob loathed him for almost killing me. For keeping his imprint away from him for so long. Objectively speaking, I knew Riley had done what he thought was right. He had been protecting his mate-his much fragile mate. I used to be overprotective of Bella for the same reasons; and she was only my girlfriend at the time.

Now, I knew that had Jacob been in Bella's shoes, I would have reacted the same way as Riley; and Jacob was a shifter.

I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration as I waited for Jacob. He had gone into the store in Forks to grab some food supplies for the cottage. We were ready to be on our own again.

I felt awkwardness shimmer through the bond. "Ed," came Jacob's mental voice. " Help. Please."

"I'll call you back," I said hurriedly into my cell phone before walking briskly into the store. It wasn't too hard to locate Jacob. He towered over most people, was the only Quileute in the store at the time, and the silver cord seemed to pull me to wherever he was almost automatically.

He stood with his back towards me and in conversation with someone. I gritted my teeth as I found out who. It was that insufferable Jessica Stanley. Her appreciative eyes roamed over Jacob's body. The plain white shirt clung to his now bulked up body and his jeans moulded his strong legs and ass as he stood with a shopping cart in the middle of the produce aisle.

Grabbing a bag of potatoes off the shelf next to me, I strode forward. "Jake," I said casually as I reached the pair and leaned forward to deposit the bag into Jacob's cart, " I found the potatoes. Oh..." I stopped, glancing at Jessica. " Hi."

Jessica's jaw sagged as she glanced between Jacob, me and the potatoes. " Ed, this is Jessica. She's a friend of Bella's."

Curiosity rang through Jessica's thoughts as she caught Jacob's nickname for me. " Cullen, I'm shocked you don't remember me. We've only been going to the same school for three years," she said rolling her eyes at me. " So, Jake," she continued; the sarcasm gone, instead her voice dripped with sweetness that made me want to puke, " A bunch of us are going to First beach this afternoon. Maybe, you can show me around?" she glanced down at her feet shyly before looking up at Jacob through her lashes.

"I'm afraid I can't today," started Jacob, " Edward and I are..."

"Moving into our place today," I finished as I wrapped an arm around Jacob's waist and tucked myself into his side, glancing up at him. He grinned down at me, "You had to go for the kill, didn't you?" he asked telepathically.

Blue eyes widened at my words as she gawked at us. " You. You guys are...moving in together?"

Jacob and I nodded. " You're gay? But, you're only seventeen."

" Age has no relevance to our sexual orientation, surely you know that?" I asked with a quirked eyebrow.

" I meant...how can you move in together? You're only seventeen. I thought you lived on the reservation?" she asked Jacob.

" I did. Not anymore."

"Wait. But, what about Bella? I thought you both loved her." " You broke up with her for her best friend?" she said accusingly as she glared at me, all in one breath.

"Jessica," interrupted Jacob as he redirected her venomous and disbelieving gaze away from mine, " Bella is fine with it. You don't have to be offended for her sake."

As she opened her mouth to retort, Jacob held his free hand upward, " I know. I know. Girl code and all that. But, she's my friend and she knows we had no control over any of this."

"Well," huffed Jessica after a moment of silence, " If she's fine with it, then I don't see why I should be mad. Although, it does put me outside of the ring completely now. I have no chance with you now."

I stifled a growl at her suggestion as Jacob's arm tightened around my waist before lowering slightly, slipping into my back pocket and cupping the swell of my ass gently before squeezing possessively. " I'm sorry, Jess," he said and jealousy slashed against my chest at the nickname. " But, not while this one wants me," as he grinned down at me. His sunny smile made my chest decompress. I smiled shyly at him and tuck myself in his side, even further.

"Wow," echoed inside Jessica Stanley's head and I gave her a smug smile from where I'm standing. Jacob Black was mine. Forever and always.

As we made our excuses and left the store ( after paying for our groceries), I said " You know the whole town is going to know about us, right?" Jessica had been mentally calling people and telling them how Jacob Black had turned Edward Cullen gay. Or vice versa.

"I don't care," he said, " everyone who matters already know. Besides, now everyone will know that you belong to me," he grinned widely before pulling me close for a peck on the lips.

"I think you're forgetting that you belong to me," I said instead; moving my hand up to his collarbone, allowing my thumb to graze the bitemarks hidden underneath his t-shirt. His eyes dilated with desire and he suppressed a small shiver.

"Shall we?" he gruffed before tugging me towards the car.

A groan escaped my lips, instead of the 'let's' that I had been about to say. Almost simultaneously, a growl ripped through Jacob's lips and his head snapped backwards.

His arm tightened against my waist as he pulled me behind him; effectively blocking me from the intruders walking towards us. His body shook and I gripped his arm; projecting calm through our bond.

"Jake," I said softly.

"What is he doing here?" he growled loudly.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch, mutt," said Rosalie; a small smirk gracing her beautiful features as she approached us with the group in tow. " We're experimenting."

"I hardly think you should be experimenting with that leech here; especially not in Forks with the humans around," his voice was venomous.

"Jake," I said again as I tried to step around his bulky frame. But he would have none of it. With his left arm, he pushed me behind him again.

Rosalie sniggered and Emmett guffawed.

"Jacob," I said again, embarrassed at his behaviour. I was no child.

"Jacob," interrupted a new voice; a gruff but soft spoken voice; causing Jacob to snarl again. Riley's amber eyes widened at his animosity. He stepped forward, with his eyes planted firmly on Jacob. The shiver running up and down Jacob's frame increased and I clamped a hand on his forearm, grounding him to me.

"Step back," he yelled at me mentally. I shook my head even though I knew he couldn't see me. "Edward! Step back."

" I wanted to apologize..."

"Save it, leech," he spat venomously, " I don't want to hear it."

"Please. Jacob," pleaded Riley, " I had no idea what I was doing and I only wanted to protect Bella...I didn't know..."

"No, you didn't. But that doesn't change the fact that my imprint almost died because you..."

"I was only trying to..." " I didn't mean to hurt Ed..."

"Shut up. Shut up. Don't even. You don't know how it feels to have your heart ripped out and thrown to the ground infront of you."

"I.. I.. I was only trying..."
"How would you feeling if it had been Bella that was lying on that ground?"

Riley blinked surprised at the bluntness of Jacob's question and the myriad of emotions that it brought. I knew how Jacob had felt. It had been the same I had felt when I had seen him dangling like a piece of meat in the dance studio in Washington.

"I'm sorry, Jacob," said Riley; his voice almost meek as he looked up, pleadingly at my mate.

"Fuck you," replied Jacob after a moment before clasping my hand in his, turning us around and walking back towards my car.

"Jacob," I said. I didn't appreciate him manhandling me. " Jacob. Stop. Wait. Jake." Fuck.

"Jacob. Stop," I cried, pulling my hand away from his grasp and digging my heels into the ground.

A flash of pain stabbed through my chest as wounded brown eyes turned around to meet mine.

Shit.

"Jake," I started.

"Don't call me that. Not if you're going to defend him."

"Jacob. Will you please, listen?"

"Why?" he croaked finally. " You're only going to defend him," he added as his jealousy licked inside me.

I stepped closer to him and grabbed his huge hands in mine. "Baby," I whispered as I looked up at him, " I'm fine. You didn't lose me. I'm right here."

"But, I could've. And it would have been his fault," he thought at me. The vulnerability was not voiced but I could hear, nonetheless. I could feel it like it was my own. And my heart went out to him.

"Like I could have lost you that time in Washington," I pointed out softly.

"And you," he said with a pout, " got to kill James. I'm supposed to be buddies with this guy?" as he jerked a thumb towards Riley.

Jacob and I both knew Riley could hear his words. I could hear Riley's incredulous thoughts as he thought that I would turn on him to make my mate happy. And while, I could pick the moon for Jacob, I couldn't let him kill someone. Especially not the mate of his best-friend.

"Different situation, love," I said, trying really hard not to smile at Jacob.

"Potato. Po-tah-to," he grumbled.

I smirked at him before pushing myself up on my toes and kissing his lips. " For me?"

He sighed and I grinned at him.

After the little debacle in the parking lot of the store, Jacob had gone back to shake hands with Riley; albeit stiffly and with a grimace on his face. A grimace that had turned into a delighted smile when Alice had let it slipped out that Riley was moving to Denali to train with the other coven for a while. Before moving back to be with Bella.

His mental "Tell me we won't be here when he comes back" had solidified my plans of moving with Jacob. We would both go off to college and be on our own, coming back to see the pack and Billy during the holidays. I had given him a little smirk before joining the group. We spent the following half an hour making sure Riley was not a threat to any humans before we headed home.

Our home.

The little cottage hadn't been abandoned per se, but it hadn't been lived in by us. So, we spent an hour cleaning before collapsing onto the couch.

After Jacob's little nap, we went out for a run. After an hour lapping around the forest of our cottage, exploring our surroundings like 'normal' folks would do, we ended up making out in the living room.

I groaned as Jacob shifted from besides me onto my lap. His hips slid forward automatically, joining us at the hips. My moan was lost in his mouth as I lifted mine from the couch and followed his. My hands slid up his naked chest; his cutoffs were still opened at the front from when he phased back.

"Why are you still clothed?" he thought at me as he pulled away from the kiss. His lips were red and swollen as large tanned hands gripped my denim button down shirt and pulled.

"There goes another shirt," I thought as little buttons flew in every direction. Jacob really wasn't patient at all when he was horny. But, then again, I shouldn't complain-I had more clothes than I should or cared about.

Swollen lips lifted in a self satisfied smirk. " So fucking beautiful." Desire rose inside me like heat. A heat I could only ever associate with Jacob. I reached for him but he moved, avoiding me. My eyes widened in indignation as I watched him slide off my lap, turn away from me and walk out of the living room like nothing was the matter.

I watched as he slid the cutoffs off and aimed them at me with a smirk. I stifled a groan and got up to follow him. My cock throbbed in the confines of my pants and all I wanted was to bury myself into the tight heat of Jacob's body. My hips jerked minimally at the thought as I heard our bedroom door bang shut behind a now naked Jacob.

Fuck.

I ran after him and nearly tore the door off its hinges. He was sprawled on our bed with the bottle of lube opened next to him. His oily hands slid down his chest as he met my eyes. Restraining a moan when he pinched his nipples, I gripped the doorjamb tighter.

He lowered his hands, leaving a slick path behind. I watched as the oil matted the soft hairs on his stomach, and all I wanted to do was lick the oil off his skin because if anyone could mark Jacob, in any way, it was me; and only me.

His eyes were hooded as he finally reached and bypassed his cock. I felt my eyes widen and my lower body tightened with want as he reached for his furled hole. My mouth was dry. Long, tanned fingers circled his entrance and played with the ridges as he watched me. Pushing past the barrier, his finger entered his body. I imagined the way Jacob's body pulled his finger in. Imagined the way his heat was surrounding his finger.

He pushed a second one; slowly scissoring his fingers inside his body. I pressed a palm against my cock as he slowly started to fuck himself over his fingers.

I was so close to cumming. But, I didn't want to. Not yet anyway.

"Are you gonna stand there all night?" interrupted Jacob's thoughts into mine. I blinked from my lust induced haze and watched him again.

He was flushed; either from the exertion or from embarrassment. I couldn't tell. The bond was over flooded with lust and need.

I growled at him and the fucker gave me a slow crooked smile. I wanted to fuck him so hard that the smile fell off of his face. Slowly, I reached down and flicked the button of my pants opened, and lowered zipper down. I watched as Jacob's movement on his fingers slowed down when he realized that I had taken a page out of his book and gone commando as well.

He keened from the bed and I smirked at him before approaching him like I would a mountain lion-my favourite prey.

His fingers slipped out of his body with a small squelching sound and the anticipation of having my cock up his lubed ass made me twitch.

He reached a hand out towards me when I approached the bed. The gesture so soft and so loving that I pulled his hand towards my mouth and kissed his knuckles before kissing the pads of his fingers. His flush deepened.

"Beautiful," I murmured against his fingers. He averted his eyes from mine for a split second before pulling on my hand, causing me to fall down besides him. Propping myself up on my elbow, I leaned forward and kissed him deeply. "I love you, you know that, right?" I asked against plump lips.

"Love you too," he replied after giving me a nod.

"If I could I would bring the moon to you, Jacob," I whispered with our faces inches apart, " I..."

"I don't need the moon, Ed," he replied softly interrupting me. " I only need you," his face burning with heat.

I placed a kiss on his lips, " I know that. But, I want to share the world with you," I replied, " will you travel with me? Will you come with me?"

"Always and forever," he replied; his voice held a softness that I never knew Jacob possessed; a depth that I never thought I'd ever be lucky enough to encounter.

Twisting around, I reached for the second and sparse drawer of my night table. I pulled out the small velvety box that I had been carrying around for months.

Jacob's eyes widened in surprise and he pushed himself on both elbows. A strange fear pushed through our bond. His. And mine followed suit.

I gulped.

Swinging my nude body across and over his, I straddled his hips. Pushing a damp lock of hair out of the way with shaky hands, I tried to find my voice. " This isn't a proposal. Not yet anyway," I said; my voice shaky like I didn't have decades of eloquence or elocution in me. " I want you to see the world, go to college or university, and find a place in this world before," I swallowed, " anything...This is just a promise. An affirmation of my love for you. Today, tomorrow and forever."

I flipped the lid open nervously; aware of Jacob's intent stare. He wasn't interested in the box. No. He was watching my face. My face that would have been beet red if it would have been physically possible.

I fingered the cool metal for a moment before lifting my eyes to meet his. His eyes were dark and intense. They held a depth that I had only seen thrice on Jacob. The day he imprinted on me (even in his lupine eyes); the day I came home from my hunting trip after the James debacle; and the day I woke up from my coma.

"Ed," he croaked; his voice deep with emotions. " Edward, I..." His eyes flickered down to the platinum band that I was fingering before meeting my eyes. The bond was blank, and I wished I knew what he was thinking.

" I'm not even legal yet," he croaked. My heart jumped into my throat at the idea of him turning me down.

My emotions must have been apparent because he continued quickly, " I'm not saying no. Edward. I'm not. It's just that I'm a teenager. And I love you so fucking much. There's no one else that I could ever love, or that I'd ever want to love. It's just...I'm too young to be married. Or thinking about getting married," he shifted his body awkwardly underneath mine. His now flaccid cock brushes against my crack and the need that I would normally experience didn't flare up. At all.

My cold heart was tight.

"What are you saying?" I whispered.

" I don't want to get married right now, Edward. Not even in five years."

"I know that, baby," I said softly as I reached out to caress his cheek with my thumb; fear swooning inside my stomach. " I want you to have something tangible of our commitment for each other."

"Why, Edward?" " I don't get it. Why do you need that...something tangible? We fuck almost every day. We live together. You've marked me with your venom. I fucking imprinted on you. I'm your mate. Then, what? Why do you need something more? Is this not enough?"

" No. It isn't. You have no idea how hard it is sometimes for me to control my beast. Sometimes, I just want to climb inside you and never leave. I can't stand being away from you in anyway. I can't... The imprint; being mates; the mark that's something that's sacred in our world only. Humans don't get it."

" Humans?" he asked puzzled.

" Like Bella didn't get it. Before. She didn't understand our need for each other. Like Charlie. Like that Stanley girl. They think we're young; too young to have such a commitment. She wants you, Jake. She hopes that one day, we will break up and then, she'd have a shot."

" Why the fuck does it matter what she thinks?" he asked with a frown, " I know I won't leave you. You know that. We belong to, and with each other."

" I know," I groaned, running a hand in my hair, tugging at the ends. Jacob reached for my hands, pulled them away and held them inside his. " I just need something to show the humans as well. I can't lose you, Jacob. I can't. I need them-everyone-to know that you're mine. Solely mine."

" I am yours."

"I know that. Look, I'm not asking you to marry me right away. I'll wait. Ten or fifteen years. Whenever you're ready. It's just a promise. That's all it is."

Jacob blinked up at me before looking down at the small box resting on his stomach now. The elegant artcarved band sat peacefully against the velvet, reflecting the light that shone throughout the room.

A long finger caressed the metal. Jacob's eyes fluttered minimally at the touch of the metal against his skin. He groaned softly inside his throat before offering me his left hand. Unsure of what he wanted me to do, I waited until dark eyes met mine. He blinked once and glanced down at the ring.

"Really?" I whispered.

" Yes," he whispered back, licking his lips.

I smiled at him before plucking the ring and slipping it on his finger. " I love you," I said as I thumbed the ring on his ring finger.

" I know," he replied with a smile. " I love you too." Apprehension echoed through our bond and I leaned down to kiss him, " I'm not trying to bind you to me, you know that right? Not like that anyway. I just want everyone to know you're mine; even the humans."

" I know, Ed," he whispered softly, " I'm just scared of screwing this up. We're already too far deep and if for some reason, it didn't work out for us, then I wouldn't know..."

"Hey," I whispered into his ears; my lips grazing the shell of his ear, " hey. It's not going to happen. I promise you. We're not going to mess this up. We were made for each other. Fire and ice. Hot and cold. We can't exist without each other, Jake." I allowed my lips to slide down the tanned column of his neck until I reached the junction of his neck. Mouthing the skin, I sucked and nipped on it until a red bruise was starting to form.

Jacob was mine and only mine. I wanted everyone to know.

Jacob's POV:

I gasped when he pressed open mouthed kisses down my stomach. My senses were over stimulated. I couldn't think straight; all I could do was feel. Feel him above, around and in me.

His mouth was cold against my happy trail as he nuzzled the little hairs there. The fingers of his right hand pushed against my already loosened entrance and I keened as he touched a place inside me where no one had been able to reach. I pushed my hips down to fuck myself on his fingers, but his left hand pressed my hips into the mattress again. I could feel the cold of his ring digging into my flesh. A cold that was so different from his body temperature. Turns out he had gotten a ring for himself that was identical to mine. Because it was a promise ring-it didn't matter that he had gotten that one himself. It was his promise to himself and to me. Somehow, knowing that he had gotten himself a ring made me feel better too. I knew Edward was committed to this relationship and to me, but it made me feel better about the whole commitment thing.

Besides, we had already made a commitment, hadn't we?

We were already to far into our bond to rethink our relationship now. Wearing the ring now, or ten years down the road made no difference, I thought as molten amber eyes looked up at me from behind my cock. He ran his nose along the edge of my swollen cock and smirked at me. He had heard my thoughts. Of course he was listening.

"Mine," he whispered. His lips formed the words against my cock and I shuddered at the possessiveness in his voice and in his eyes.

He kissed the bulbous end of my penis, " Yours," I said softly, before he took me into his mouth.I moaned low in my throat. "Edward. Please." " No more teasing." "Just fuck... Just fuck me."

Pulling away from my cock with a slurp, " As you wish," he grinned at me. The fucker. He makes me so mad sometimes. Mad with want. Mad with need. And just plain mad.

Aligning his hips against my stretched entrance, he paused with the head of his cock teasing my hole. Running my heels against the back of his thighs, " Come on, Edward," I whined as I dug my heels into the globes of his ass.

He tutted, " So impatient, baby." I growled at him before tightening my hold against his waist and pushing his hips forward. He slipped into me easily. I groaned yet again at the contact. There was nothing better than having Edward slide home. Into me.

Edward's POV

"No. Stay," he said softly over his shoulder as sleepy and slightly glazed brown eyes looked back at me, when I started to slide out of his body.

"'kay," I whispered softly, leaning over his shoulder to graze my lips against the shell of his ear and simultaneously allowing me to slide back into his body; the tight heat griping and pulling me, like Jacob did everyday. Pull me in until I was breathless with want, need and love.

Buried to the hilt in his body heat, I could feel the pulsing of his body, the rush of his blood through the vessels as they tried to return to their normal pace.

"This is how it's supposed to be."

"What?" he drawled huskily, his voice slightly muffled from the pillow; only then making me realize that I had spoken my thoughts out loud.

"This. Us. This is how it's supposed to be," I whispered, my body still draping his.

"Hmm" he mumbled sleepily.

"This is where I belong," I replied softly into this ear. Jacob mm'ed his agreement again. Glancing down at the boy who had stolen my heart, I noticed he had slipped into a much needed sleep. His face relaxed and open, a soft smile pulled the corners of his lips. The picture of innocence.

"Home," I thought. After a century spent looking, I had finally found my home. "Where my heart was," I whispered into the night at the sleeping figure.

Author's Note

Hello everyone,

Here's the final instalment of Where the Heart Is. I hope you liked it; I've had some reservations about one part of the chapter. So, please let me know how you liked this chapter as a whole and if I made justice to the story and the ending.

It's been an immense pleasure writing this story. I started this story on a whim. It was an idea about a scene that I had and it all kinda went down from there. But, what was more surprising and gratifying for me was the overwhelming response I received from all of you. So, thank you very much. For reading, reviewing, giving me feedback which was one of the best way for me to learn and grow as a writer.

I wanted to wrap this story up along with the year. So, I'd also like to take this moment to wish you guys all the best in the new year.

Happy New Year.

Thank you for reading as always,

Lisa

p.s. I made good on my promise. It's still 2013 here :)