Chapter 2

Couldn't Have Seen That one Coming if I Could See for a Million Miles

It was as if ever since I lost Sam to Emily my world had been in fragments, and the fragments scattered over a million, million miles. Everything was just confusing and bitter and wicked painful. It was as if there was no sun in my sky any more, and I was having to make due with a constant drizzle.

Until I saw him.

I turned, and suddenly it was as if the fragments flew back and came together with a resounding crash! As if everything was suddenly right in the world. As if the sun had just burst forth in all its glory, and there were no clouds any more. It was disorienting and heady and dizzying.

Suddenly, it didn't matter that Sam as with Emily. It didn't matter that I was the only female werewolf ever. It didn't matter that I was a biological dead end, a freak among freaks. None of it mattered except him.

He smiled at me, and I could almost feel the warmth of it on my skin.

"Hi," he said. His voice was a deep bass, strong and masculine. I felt slightly faint. His features were familiar, but I was sure I would have remembered him anywhere. How could anybody forget that level of handsomeness?

"Um. Hi," I managed. I was in shock. I was in a daze. He was… and then…! Wow.

He smiled again uncertainly.

"You probably don't remember me. I'm Steve Uley. Sam's brother."

Oh. Oh.

Steve, Sam's older brother. Of course he was familiar. I'd seen him before, tones of times. He had always sort of been there in the background. The quiet, bookish brother. He had been away at university most of the time Sam and I had been dating.

I struggled to pull some coherent thoughts together. He must think I was an idiot!

"I'm… ah… Leah. Leah Clearwater."

He held out his hand, and I hesitantly shook it. The places our skin touched burned, like nothing I'd ever felt before. It was a spark like an electric shock pulsing through me.

"Yeah, I remember," Steve said, dropping my hand. "You used to date Sam."

The sudden reminder that Sam used to love me should have hurt. But I barely registered it.

"Yeah. A while ago. Before he met Emily." There. That seemed like a coherent sentence. I felt absurdly pleased with myself.

"I was sorry I wasn't back for their wedding. I was in at a conference in England, and couldn't get back in time,"

I remembered, belatedly, that Steve was one of those fancy, private school teachers.

"It was a nice wedding," I murmured, not remembering till after I had said it that I hadn't even been there. I had stayed home, so as not to ruin Emily's big day. My wedding present to Sam.

Steve scrutinized my face.

"Are you ok? You look a little flushed. Do you want to sit down or something?"

A look of concern washed over his features. I must have looked more dazed than I felt.

"Um, yeah, maybe I should sit down. I'm feeling a little lightheaded," I said. He grasped my forearm, and led me to a chair. Gently, he placed a hand on my forehead.

He hissed in surprise.

"You're burning up!" he exclaimed.

I shook my head.

"I run hotter than normal. It's nothing weird," I said.

"Then what's wrong?"

I shook my head again, trying to clear it. I knew what had just happened – I'd seen it in enough of the others' heads to know. I could just hardly believe it.

"I think I just need a moment to readjust my perspective on life," I mumbled.

Steve was gone, and then returned with a glass of water.

"Here, see if that helps," he said.

"Really, I'm fine," I said, but I took the water. Actually, it helped.

"Drink the whole thing, slowly," he instructed.

"What are you, a doctor?" I asked.

He smiled.

"I know drinking something never hurts."

I utilized the time it took the drink the water to peek over the edge of the glass and study him. I could tell that he and Sam were related. They had the same almond shape to their eyes, the same quirk to their smiles. Steve even had the same sort of easy-going demeanor that Sam usually exuded, although Sam's was contrived, and I knew that he had worked very hard on it after he had hurt Emily. Steve's relaxed manner seemed to be natural. He was nearly as tall as Sam, but slighter, less burley. He looked like he would be more comfortable in a library than running around chasing vampires, although he was still muscular, I could see under his brown long-sleeved t-shirt. On his straight nose rested a pair of black-rimmed glasses that gave him a scholarly look.

"Feeling better?" he asked, as I drank the last of the water.

I nodded.

Wow. So this is what it felt like. I never thought that imprinting would happen to me. And to be honest I wasn't sure that it could. After all, if Sam was right and imprinting was a way to pass on the werewolf gene, and I wasn't even sure if I could do that, then why would I imprint? And this was like nothing, nothing I had ever felt before. This was like… like… like I was put back together again. Like just looking at him made life ok again. It was like every cliché in the book about love at first sight, right in front of me.

I shook my head, trying to clear it of these strange thoughts, and Steve watched me with a curious expression on his lean face.

"I guess you weren't feeling well enough to join the snowball fight," he said, nodding towards the window. "I just came back from it. Those kids are insane."

I nodded, a small smile forming on my face.

"Let me guess," I said. "They play dirty."

"Actually, yes. I was hiding in the trees and it seemed like they could hear me breathing. Three of them ganged up on me and tackled me to the ground before stuffing snow down my jacket. I'd had enough after that and came in to get warm."

I grinned. Using werewolf senses against someone who didn't have them was cheating. He had guessed right, they could hear him breathing. That and his heart beating. It wasn't hard to hear it now, actually, if I concentrated on it. I tried not to get distracted.

"I hang around with those guys too much," I said, thinking of my pack as I answered his original question. "I don't need to give them an excuse to whip ice balls at me."

Just then, Nessie gave out a peal of laughter at something Jake had said. Her laughter was like silver bells tinkling through the still air, and Steve and I both turned just in time to see her beautiful face alive with amusement.

"She's a pretty little kid, isn't she?" Steve said.

I looked at Nessie, and nodded. She was more than pretty. Even in her pre-adolescent state, she was beautiful. Stunningly so.

"I don't remember her being here before," Steve continued. "And you'd think I'd remember someone like that. Did she just move here?"

My mouth quirked into a smile.

"The Cullens have been here for a while," I replied.

Steve looked startled.

"She's a Cullen? As in, Dr. Carlisle Cullen? She's his kid?"

"Not his kid," I corrected. "His granddaughter. She's Edward Cullen's niece. He adopted her when his biological brother died in a car crash." I gave the public story that everyone was supposed to know, instead of the truth. I didn't think he was ready for that yet.

"What's her name?" He asked, curiously.

I felt a stab of irrational irritation and jealousy. Both emotions I was all too familiar with. Why was he so interested in Nessie? I mean, I know she's beautiful, even so young, but he was supposed to be paying attention to me. I stifled my anger. That wasn't fair to him. He was probably just curious. After all, who wouldn't be curious about Nessie?

"Renesmee," I said drawing out the long and ridiculous name. Really, what was Bella thinking? I mean, I know she was pretty out of it when Nessie was born, but Renesmee? Not a name you would want to curse any child with. Even Jake, who was crazy about Nessie in every way imaginable still thought her name was dumb. 'a bit of a mouthful', he has said. It certainly was that.

"Renesmee Cullen," I continued. "But we usually call her Nessie."

"How old is she?" Steve asked.

I counted in my head, trying to remember how old she was supposed to be now. It's not like I could just come out and say three.

"Twelve or thirteen, I think. Jake's really good friends with her mom, so he usually looks after her. She's sort of an honourary member of the gang."

Steve looked over at Jacob's huge form.

"He's a babysitter?" he asked, amused by the thought.

Wouldn't Jake just love to be called Nessie's babysitter? I thought, grinning.

"Well he and Ness are pretty good together. They're darn near inseparable these days."

Steve's eyebrows knit together.

"Isn't that a little bit weird?" he asked.

I shrugged. I had actually never thought of what it would have looked like from someone outside: Nessie being just a kid, and Jake looking like he could be in his late twenties, even though he was still only nineteen.

"Nessie's really grown up for her age." That was an understatement!

Before he had time for any more questions, the door opened and Sam came in, shaking water from his hair.

"You missed a good fight, Steve," he called. "We pummeled 'em good." Sam trooped into the kitchen, laughter in his eyes. Which halted when he saw Steve sitting beside me.

"Hey Leah, you ok?" he asked, his face worried.

Steve answered for me.

"She said she was feeling a little faint. But it seems like everything's ok now. Right, Leah?"

He turned his full attention to me once more, and I felt the warmth of his gaze. I lapped it up, like a thirsty person on a hot day.

"I'm fine, really," I said, looking at Sam but speaking to Steve.

Sam's eyebrows knit together the same way Steve's did. It must be a family trait.

Steve smiled at me, and placed a hand on my arm in a comforting gesture. My heart rate sped up again.

Sam's eyes widened. There was no way he had missed that. He looked from me to Steve, and then back again. Then realization flooded over his features. He stood frozen, dumbstruck, for a long minute. Then, after a few awkward seconds, he seemed to regain his composure.

"Leah? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

No, I wanted to snap. Go away. Haven't you caused enough trouble in my life? But I bit my tongue. Sam didn't need yet another reminder of how much he had screwed me over.

"Um. Sure, Sam."

I lurched unsteadily to my feet, and Steve shot out a stabling hand. His smile made me feel warm right down to my toes.

"Steady there," he said softly, almost like a caress. I fought back a shiver at the intimate note in his voice.

I didn't want to leave him. I didn't want to let him out of my sight. I wanted to go on sitting beside him forever while we talked about nothing. Once, I would have treasured any time alone with Sam, but now this was just a bother that pulled me away from Steve. Whatever Sam had to say, I wished he would just stuff it.

With one regretful glance over my shoulder, I walked away with Sam. He led me into his and Emily's tiny bedroom. This fact once would have wounded me. Now I couldn't care less where I was, only that I was away from him.

"What, Sam?" I asked, crossing my arms defensively as he shut the door behind him. Prying werewolf ears and all that. Not that they all wouldn't know eventually.

"It's happened, hasn't it?" Sam asked, searching my face.

I felt a blush rise in my cheeks. Was I really that easy to read? Maybe to Sam.

"And if it has?" I asked, sounding harsher than I felt.

"Has it?" Sam asked again.

I sighed, and ran a hand through my short hair.

"Yes, ok Sam? Yes, I imprinted. Happy?"

A huge smile broke out over Sam's features, making them radiant.

"Yes. So much, Leah!" He grinned, and I couldn't help but smile back at his expression. His eyebrow quirked up. "But to my brother?"

"I know," I said ruefully. "This wasn't what I expected to happen when I came here today."

"No kidding," Sam agreed.

"No offence, Sam, but shouldn't Jacob be the one having this conversation with me?" I said. "You're not my Alpha after all."

"I know," Sam replied. "I may not be your Alpha any more, but Steve's my brother. And I recognized that look on your face right away."

"What look?" I asked.

"That look you used to give me," Sam said quietly.

We both winced.

"Well you don't have to worry about that any more. I'm not going to go running after you any more," I said firmly.

Sam put a huge, warm hand on my shoulder.

"I'll be glad to have you as my sister, Leah," he said softly.

I snorted.

"Isn't that jumping the gun a little bit?"

"Destiny, remember?" Sam said.

I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, whatever. Listen, I would appreciate it if you not say anything just yet. I wanna tell my pack first before all the others know." I saw the worried shadow in his eyes. "Except Emily of course," I amended.

The shadow disappeared.

"Thanks. You know how much I hate keeping secrets from her."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, destiny," I grumbled. Then I looked up at him. "You don't care that it's your brother?" I asked, a little hesitantly.

"I want you to be happy, Leah," he said sincerely. And I believed him. It seemed strange, after all the hurt that he had caused me, but I could see that he was in earnest. He really truly wanted me to be happy. Weird.

My surprise must have shown on my face, because he gave me a wry smile.

"I know you don't think that I do, but really, I do."

I shrugged.

"Guess it doesn't matter any more," I said.

There was a knock on the door.

"Sam, are you in there?"

Sam cleared his throat.

"Yeah, Em, I'm here. Just… ah… changing my shirt."

"Ok, but hurry back. We're opening presents soon."

"Thought we weren't doing that till after," Sam replied.

"Yeah but it's almost time for Claire to be home, and Quil wants her to be here for that."

Sam and I traded amused glances.

"Imprints," we whispered at the same time.

Author's Note: Don't you guys just love Steve, Sam's bookish brother? I'm kinda jealous of Leah: I want that guy! LOL. Why Sam's brother? Well I have a theory about that, but you're going to have to wait till next chapter to hear all about it.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter. It's a good motivator to write more :-) This story is a lot of fun to write. I love Leah's attitude. So surely and sour, but really it's because she's unhappy and lonely.

The coolest thing happened to me while I was taking the bus home for Christmas. The girl sitting across the aisle from me was reading 'Twilight'. I normally don't talk to people but this time I thought 'why not'? So I started talking 'Twilight' with her, and we didn't stop for the entire 5 hour trip. It was great! Twilight really does bring people together, LOL.