Disclaimer; Leland is an original character, therefore I do claim ownership to her. However, I do not own Twilight, blah blah blah...
The soft hum of the cruiser's engine was comforting, comforting enough to lull Jake to sleep. His obnoxious snores, radiating from the back seat, weren't enough to break me from my spell of contentment as I gazed out the window, letting the endless greenery hypnotize me as my mind replayed the conversations I'd had during the long trip from Port Angeles with my boys about everything I had missed while I was in Scotland.
Charlie was still Chief of Police, protecting and serving, solving mediocre crimes like robberies and handing out speeding tickets, but I was still proud of him. In the months since I've been away, my son has been working on my 'cover story', so to speak. Apparently, the town was aflame with talk of his new rediscovered 'daughter'. Starting next Monday, I was already scheduled to attend the local High School, which I was absolutely not happy about, but it was a necessity and everyone - apparently - couldn't wait to meet me. Charlie was positively loving the idea of playing the part of my father, and I could already tell he was planning on taking full advantage of that power, in public at least.
Apparently, Jake's pack had acquired a few more members, raising the original five - Sam, Paul, Jared, Jacob and Embry - to a strong ten. I was shocked to find out that Leah, who I have an incredibly complicated history with, had shifted, as well as her younger brother Seth. Sam had imprinted on Emily, which was a scandal in itself, and Leah was suffering for it. Despite our...shaded past, I couldn't help but feel bad for her, but I knew my pity would be far from welcome. Perhaps most shocking of all, however, was Paul's Imprinting on Rebecca, Jacob's older sister and a good friend of mine.
Oh, the drama in La Push...I couldn't wait to get in on that.
"We're here, Mom," Charlie said softly, breaking me from my thoughts. I turned to look at the familiar house. Over the years, this had become the only home I knew, one place I could always count on. It was nice to be back after being away for so long.
There was an unfamiliar car parked in the driveway between Jake's Honda dirt bike and Charlie's cruiser, and I passed a curious look toward my son. "Is someone here?" I asked, nodding my head toward the older model black Toyota Camry.
Charlie smiled. "Someone had to stay with Leland while I went to pick you up," he replied simply. My eyes narrowed, and I pierced him with a harsh glare.
"I thought she was going to stay with Billy, like always?"
"Yeah, well I didn't feel like driving all the way down to the reservation to pick her up, so I just called in a friend to watch her," Charlie shrugged nonchalantly, as if there was nothing wrong with that.
There were only a handful of people that I trusted with Leland, and none of them drove a Toyota Camry. "Who the hell would that friend be, Charlie?" I hissed under my breath, trying not to wake the sleeping werewolf in the backseat. "You know you can't just hand her off on anyone!"
My son threw his hands in the air in surrender. "Easy! I didn't leave her with just anyone! They're trustworthy!"
"And who would that be?" I asked, a bit too harshly.
"Why don't you go find out," he said with a secretive smirk, "I'll get your stuff and wake up lover boy. There's someone waiting to see you."
"He's not my lover boy," I snapped, pulling the handle and forcing the passenger side door open a bit too forcefully and slipping easily from the leather seat. I flashed him another glare before whirling, moving across the short distance from the cruiser to the front door, stomping up the steps and practically ripping the handle off. Yes, a teenage temper tantrum wasn't really my style, but, technically, I was a teenager, and I was supposed to act the part, right?
I could hear Charlie's chuckle behind me as I swung open the door, my eyes narrowed as I searched the kitchen with a scathing glare, only to be met with a very familiar and very welcome face. A smile broke through my harsh facade and my anger all but disappeared. The figure approached me, an answering smile on her face and her deep brown eyes looking me over fondly.
"Isabella," She said softly, her tone warm and welcoming. "You still look stunning, as always."
"Sue," I replied, closing the few steps left between us and pulling the older woman into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry to hear about Harry. He was such a good man."
Sue Clearwater wrapped her arms tighter around me at the mention of her deceased husband, burying her face in my neck. "Thank you, dear. Its good to see your doing okay. We were worried about you."
"Oh come on, Sue. You should know better than anyone that I can take care of myself," I chided, a teasing smile on my lips. Sue laughed softly, squeezing my shoulder fondly before her eyes drifted toward the stairs. I knew what waited on the top floor, and didn't even bother hiding my excitement.
"She's been waiting for you all day," Sue said with a smile, moving toward the base of the stairs. "Leland! It's dinner time!" She called, flashing me a wink. I could hear an whine of disappointment followed by the opening of a door, and I stood patiently in the small corridor as the sound of little feet stomped down the stairs.
"Come on, darling. I made your favorite; Chicken fingers and mac n' cheese," Sue said in encouragement, calling to the stubborn little girl. Another wine could be heard as the steps grew louder.
"I wanna wait for Mommy to come home before I eat," The girl wined, and I couldn't help but smile as my heart swelled with love.
"I know sweetheart, but she won't be back for a little while. How about this, go in the kitchen and grab your plate, and we can watch TV and sit on the couch while we eat and wait for your mom to come home," the older woman offered, winking in my direction even as my groaning daughter complied.
"Okay, Auntie Sue," Leland replied dejectedly, finally hitting the ground level and turning toward the kitchen, her head bowed and her eyes fixated on the floor. My eyes meeting Sue's for a split second, I helpfully cleared my throat and waited for my little girl's eyes to meet mine.
Leland looked up, a look of surprise on her face. As she spotted me, however, that surprise morphed into such happiness that my heart leapt in my chest. "Momma!" She screeched, hurling herself into my arms. I laughed, lifting her from the ground and spinning her around a few times before I pulled her to me, one arm hiked underneath her bottom as she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and buried her head in my neck.
"Hey there, Baby Girl. I missed you so much," I whispered in her ear, pulling her as close as I could without hurting her.
"I missed you too Momma. I prayed for you every night when I went to bed. Charlie said that if I prayed hard enough that you would hear me. Did you hear me, Mommy? Did you hear my prayers?" My little girl spewed out in one breath. I smiled, reaching up to tweak her nose with my free hand.
"Of coarse I did, Lee. Didn't I tell you that I'm always looking out for you, even when I'm away?" My daughter beamed, once more burying herself in my shoulder.
"I'm so glad your home, Mommy," she whispered, so softly I almost didn't hear.
"Me too, Sweetheart." Just as I said the words, the door behind me opened and Charlie stepped through, Jake trailing behind him as he tiredly rubbed his eyes. They both smiled brightly when they saw the two of us, and I winked.
"You're here for good this time, right?" Leland asked, the hopelessness in her voice breaking my heart. My Baby Girl would never know just how hard it was for me to leave every time, and every time I came home, she would always ask me if I was back to stay. It broke my heart even more having to tell her that I had to leave again, but this time I wouldn't disappoint her.
"Yes, baby. I'm here for good this time."
She beamed, squealing happily. "Really!" She screeched right in my sensitive ear. I winced a bit, but the smile never left my face. Her excitement was contagious.
"Really," I beamed right back. A wide smile decorated both Charlie's and Sue's faces, and Jake chuckled even as he made a beeline for the fridge, no doubt ravenous. Leland clung to me as hard as she possibly could- which, by the way, was pretty hard for a five year old, bouncing in my arms happily.
"I'm surprised she's still up. She's been bouncing off the walls all day long. I was sure she'd be asleep like the dead when we got here," Charlie teased. Leland lifted her head only long enough to stick her tongue out at her brother, and Sue and I chuckled.
"It's not funny. Charlie isn't kidding...Kid damn near killed me today she was so excited. Do you know how much energy she ha..." Jake trailed off as he straightened, the apple in his hand his prize, only to be met with glares from Sue and myself as Charlie tried desperately to hide his amusement behind a stern look of disapproval.
"What..?" the bulky Quileute asked, glancing between the three of us cautiously. Leland giggled and buried her head in my shoulder.
"Uncle Jakey said a bad word, mommy," she declared happily, her voice muffled as she spoke against my neck.
"Yes, sweetheart, he did. And mommy's going to punish him for it later," I warned, glaring at my best friend.
Jake gulped, his eyes comically wide, and Charlie lost what little control he had over his guffaws. Sue's lighter, softer laughter joined his, and the Quiluete blushed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry Bells...it slipped..." He grumbled, his eyes refusing to meet mine.
"Your still paying for it," I warned and Jake groaned, knowing full well just how unpleasant his punishment would be. I bit back a smile and my free hand idly caressed my daughter's thick brown locks, my fingers twining through silky curls contently. The world seemed to disappear with Leland in my arms, and I buried my nose in her hair, deeply inhaling the soothing scent of her green apple shampoo. "Come on, Sweetheart. Eat your dinner so we can get you a bath and put you to bed," I said as I leaned down to place the five year old on her feet, already preparing myself for the pout I knew was coming.
"But Mommy, you just got home..." she whimpered, her beautiful face, almost a complete replica of my own, scrunching up in, as predicted, a pout.
"I know, love, but I'm not going anywhere and we have the rest of the week to hang out before Momma has to go back to School." I practically groaned at the word, in no way happy about repeating High School...again. "I'm all yours all week. We can do whatever you want," I promised foolishly, but I hadn't seem my daughter in almost eight months, and I was willing to do just about anything she wanted just to spend some much-missed time with her.
Leland, apparently, took my offer quite seriously, for her entire face light up in delight. "Anything!" she exclaimed, hopping excitedly from one foot to the other and clapping her hands with enthusiasm. The gathered adults couldn't help but laugh at just how adorable she looked in her excitement, and I nodded. My daughter's energy level and almost constant state of happiness never ceased to amaze me, but she never failed to cheer me up, no matter how foul my mood.
"Anything, Baby Girl. Now, ask your brother to fix your plate while Mommy talks with Aunt Sue, okay?" I asked, giving Charlie a grateful look as he held out his hand toward the five year old. Leland nodded and took her brother's hand, and together they made their way into the kitchen.
"Can you fix me a plate, Charlie?" Leland asked sweetly, the sound of her voice reaching us from the kitchen.
I smiled warmly, just as Charlie replied. "Sure thing, Sweety."
I flashed Jake a glare as his eyes brightened at the prospect of more food, sauntering up to him and poking one bony finger at his muscled chest. "There better be some food left when I get back, mister." I warned, my eyebrows raising and a smirk curving my lips.
"Yes ma'am!" He saluted, chuckling as he made his way to the kitchen.
"Don't call me ma'am!" I objected, scowling as his laughter, accompanied with Charlie's, floated back to me. I smiled, turning to look at a very amused Sue, and I hadn't realized until that moment just how much I had missed my family.
I held out my hand to the older-looking woman, mimicking Charlie's earlier gesture, and she took it without hesitation, twining our fingers together. "Come walk with me outside," I requested, already pulling her toward the door, but Sue didn't object.
Parting Words; Yes, Bella has another kid! Leland does have a purpose...she's not just there for the hell of it, but her character's importance won't come into play until later. I know some of you have questions about how Bella has two kids if she's Lesbian, but this, too, will be explained. Patience, my dear readers! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and don't forget to leave me a review and let me know what you thought! Much love, Luxor.