Suggested Listening: "I Found" by Amber Run

Author's Note: Soooo, there is a chance this three part series may (read: will) be extended to five. The muse is complaining that three chapters won't be enough to adequately portray the events of Paul and Leah's lives, and I'm her bitch. When she talks, I listen. ;)

One thing I want to give you guys a heads up about is that this story is entirely centered around Paul and Leah. What this means is even though there will be others mentioned or referenced by the two main characters, no one else will have any time in the limelight. Also, the entire series spans about five years. So, five chapters, five years. :D


Recrossing Lines


A storm was coming.

The wind whipped off the churning ocean and blew her short hair in wild patterns, but did nothing to wipe his scent from the air.

Leah's back was to the others. She'd walked off; she needed a little time…a little space.

It was his son's first birthday, and Bella wanted to celebrate on the beach. But didn't she know a storm was coming? Couldn't the one-time, disco-dick lover tell?

God, all anyone had to do was look toward the water. Was it really like the black clouds hanging over the angry bitch of sea twelve miles out didn't give some kind of clue? There were at least ten supernatural wolves at the kid's party for the Spirit's sake! But, no. If Bella wanted it, Bella got it.

Including him…

Goddamn fucking Lahote.

Goddamn fucking storm.

Goddamn fucking tear that just fell off her stupid, goddamn chin.

This was all too much. Too much emotion still pouring out of her after they made peace sixteen months ago atop that mountain—the day she told him Bella was pregnant.

The day she convinced him to return to La Push.

Leah swiped at her cheek, clearing the trail from the runaway tear, determined not to allow another misguided one follow suit.

Damn, she hated vulnerability…and old wounds.

Because old wounds made her vulnerable.

It wasn't her fault every man she ever trusted, every man who promised to cherish her love and keep it safe, had suddenly and inexplicably broken that bond. Whether he vowed to protect her through his words or through his actions mattered not. What did matter was she believed each of them—starting with Sam…

Ending with Paul.

And she couldn't forget her dad.

How many years had it been since he collapsed on the lawn in front of her?

Because of her.

Regardless what the doctor said, regardless that his heart was a ticking time bomb, she only had herself to blame. One slip—one uncontrolled outburst—and a wolf that she never knew resided in her bones came flying out, overlaying its form onto her skin, and pulling the hairpin trigger on her father's heart.

One. Uncontrolled. Outburst.

So, yeah. She wiped away the errant tear's track.

So another wouldn't follow.

"Leah."

Not big on surprises, her wolf stirred—a warning snarl issued to the trespasser standing behind her, but the rumbling thunder in the distance camouflaged the sound.

"Are you coming back? People are asking about you."

Gritting her teeth, she clamped down on the beast and spun on her heel. "Who's asking, Paul? Is it Bella? She asking about me?"

He still flinched every time Leah said her name.

Unable to hold her stare, he looked to the ocean. "A storm's coming. She wants to wrap up the party before it hits land." He tossed his glance back to Leah in a half-hearted apology before becoming immensely interested in the broken shells underfoot. "She said we could cut the cake at our house if we ran out of time…ya know…before the storm."

"I do know, Paul. But the storm's already here. Can't you tell?"

"What?" Confusion wrinkled his brow but he kept his head down.

"What the hell do you think we've been living in for the last several years? You think we all transform into magical unicorns and shoot rainbows out our asses?" Her nostrils flared; she closed her eyes to temper her tone and regain her composure before continuing. "Shit, Paul. What do you think your kid's gonna turn into in another fifteen years, give or take? This storm's been here a while, and I've been caught in it too long. It's time I find some shelter."

That did it.

Foregoing the shells and pebbles littered around his toes, his eyes jumped up to search hers. He hoped those words were just empty threats—she could see this need reflected back at her—and yet she watched as he slowly realized the truth she spilled.

The creases that feathered from the corners of his eyes dissolved. The plane of his forehead smoothed. His stern jaw slackened when he took the slightest step toward her—his hand lifting with intent, the back of his finger desperate to brush away the strand of hair resting against her sunken cheek.

But he stopped short, his stuttered words picking up where his actions failed. "Yuh- you're leaving?"

"There's nothing here for me anymore."

"But, Lee… Where will you go?" This was Paul begging. Reasoning. Trying to get her to reconsider. They both understood. Given the current situation—his son… Bella…his desire to be a better father, the role model he never had—this was all he had left for her.

These fleeting moments in time when their eyes met and the love still passed between them.

But it wasn't something Leah could live with any longer. He taught her how much she could take, how much weight she could carry…and she found her breaking point.

"Maybe I'll go see what captured your attention in Canada last year."

"I…" Pulling his hand back to run it through his hair, he tried again. "This is all my fault. I- I'm sorry I did this to us."

She shook her head. "You gotta stop. No more apologies. We can't keep this up, acting like there's nothing between us. It's not fair to anyone. You chose both of them, so you have to be present—mind, body, and spirit. Your kid deserves all of his daddy." Looking over Paul's shoulder, Leah watched his wife pack up miscellaneous birthday supplies. "And Bella deserves a fair shot at your heart."

"But she'll never be you, Lee." His whisper was quiet and would've easily been lost in the whipping wind had her hearing not been sharpened by the wolf.

Grazing a finger along his forearm, she told him everything would be okay, that her decision was for the best. She consoled him with empty promises and featherlight touches meant to last a lifetime, before turning to leave the beach, running in the opposite direction of the gathering.

"One day I hope we'll both be as happy as you pretend to be when you're with them."

The last words she spoke haunted him as he returned to his son's first birthday, a grin plastered on his face but no light shone behind his eyes—his mask in place to appease the masses.


*Alright, hit me with your thoughts and feels—if ya wanna. ;)