How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, n how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, n how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind,
The answer is blowin in the wind.

Chapter One

The last of the sun's rays flickered through the canopy of the forest and reflected on the windshield as Leah cruised the highway. It was a muggy afternoon, the temperature was just right for a thunderstorm and she was excited to get home.

Her fingers tapped in time to the music playing on her iPod as it echoed off of her speakers. A leather brown bag, packed full to the brim sat on the passenger seat and she glanced at it briefly, it held most, if not all, of her possessions.

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Among those possessions were the gifts she'd brought with her from California for her mother and brother. Her brother, Seth would love the necklace she had found for him, some surfy sort of symbol thingy, he was right into all of that now days and she hoped her mom would like what she'd brought for her too.

Three years had passed since she had left La Push, Washington, for good. She'd seen her family when they had come to visit at Christmas the year before, but other than that, it had been too long. School had been going well, she'd embraced the Arts and was a natural dancer.

That was part of the reason she was now visiting her family. School was over for now and summer was here; she had some important decisions to make about her future and wanted her mother's opinion.

A flash of red and blue lights caught her attention in her rear vision mirror and she snapped from her dreaming and back to reality.

With a sigh, she reluctantly pulled her truck onto the side of the road, and brought the engine to a stop and awaited her fate.

She put her face in her hands and moaned. She knew she was going too fast, but had hoped she wouldn't be caught. She could hear the crunch of the gravel as the cop got out of his patrol car and walked up to her window and tapped on it, motioning her to roll it down.

"License and Registration please miss."

Leah looked up sheepishly as she fumbled through her purse. She had to do a double take.

"Chief Swan?"

The Police Chief raised an eyebrow, his mustache twitched slightly as he recognized the question her voice.

"Who's askin'?" he quizzed cautiously.

A smile brightened Leah's face, she may just get out of the speeding fine that was surely about to head her way.

"Leah Clearwater, Sue's daughter, from La Push!"

A sudden flash of recognition crossed his face and his eyes lit up as he gave her a great big smile.

"Well, well, Leah Clearwater! Aren't you all grown up? What are you doing back in these parts, didn't you take off to college or something?"

Leah laughed, "Yes, I did. I study dance down in California now days. How are you? How's Forks? Have you been keeping an eye out for my family? I hope Seth hasn't been in any trouble..."

"I'm good. I'm good," he nodded, relaxing his police chief posture and leaning against her truck. "Forks is same old, same old. Not much new. Had a bit of trouble with bears in the spring and the occasional drop-kicks who like to fart about with flares and the sort on holidays, but everything else is fine. Your family seems to be ok. I don't see much of them these days. You're mom's pretty heavily involved in the Quileute tribe stuff now. Seems she's taken up some of your Dad's old duties and the likes."

Leah wasn't sure, but for a moment, she thought she heard a tinge of regret in Charlie's voice. Charlie had been there for her family when her father had died five years ago, even when she had left home, he was still pretty close with her mom. Leah had even thought that their friendship may have gone further that plain support and comfort, but her mom had never said anything than that, she was always a very private person. Obviously, things hadn't worked out.

"And Seth? The rest of the gang? They haven't been causing any chaos or havoc?"

Charlie stopped reminiscing on the past and returned her curious smile with an answer, "Nope. Young Jacob Black's been gone as long as you have, Billy's spending more time at home, now that the Rebecca has moved back with her family, which I think is good. He hears from Jacob occasionally, I think. Your brother mainly hassles Embry and Paul and helps Rachel take care of the little ones. Did you know Paul and Rachel have kids now? Twins..."

Charlie rambled for a little longer, she was a little surprised. Everyone had changed so much since she'd left. Her mom had mentioned something about Paul and Rachel's wedding, but she guessed it had slipped her memory about the twins. Seth hadn't said anything either, that was strange.

After a few more moments and questions about her time away at school, Chief Swan allowed Leah to continue on her way, giving her a light warning about speeding and a small wink before driving off towards Forks.

Leah was once again alone. Her music played softly and she stopped to think a little before she started her engine to be on her way.

Were things really that different in La Push?

'Rachel was a mom, and iPaul was a father?' She huffed, that was a surprise.

Her heart ached a little at the thought of Jacob. They'd grown to be great friends before she had left. More than great friends, she was his other half for so long, and he hers, just not in the romantic sense. She hadn't seen or heard from him in years. She really hoped he got his happy ending, even if it wasn't the way he had originally planned it to be.

Chief Swan hadn't mentioned anything about Sam or Emily, but that was ok. She heard from Emily every couple of months. Sam had turned out to be a great father, and they were expecting their third child by Christmas.

Leah was glad. Her life had definitely not been easy, and the whole Sam/Emily triangle had been like walking in slow motion through hell with nails stapled into her feet, but things worked out for the best.

She hadn't been with anyone else since Sam. She never saw any need. School and Dance were the large contributing loves in her life and she had initially moved away from La Push to get away from all that relationship crap and sort her own head out. She had figured, that if she could leave La Push, she could leave behind and forget about all of what had happened, forget about the heartache that went with it.

Now she wasn't so sure.

She took a deep breath, started the ignition and fastened her hands tightly to the steering wheel.

She was different now, and so was everyone else. Sure, some thing might still be the same, but there was going to be enough that was different, that things would be better this time. She was sure of it.