AN: Dedicated to everyone who followed me from "Endless Daylight" over to this one! I love you all!

Just to clarify, yes, this is set about a year and a half after "Endless Daylight." Which is a long time. Sam was exaggerating it a bit; it's closer to a year than to a full 18 months. I needed time to pass so that Nessie could hurry up and grow up. She's about 5 now. That should also explain why Leah's so incredibly sexually frustrated.. And yes, Leah and Rosalie sit around watching "Across the Universe" and then imitate it. You know they do.

PS: You may have noticed that, unlike "Endless Daylight," this one is rated M. Consider yourself warned. If that bothers you, skip the part where Jacob and Leah are alone together.


Nice timing, Jacob, but could you seriously have not gotten here five minutes earlier? Or five months?

He steps very carefully into the circle. Between me and Sam. That's good, because now I can use him as a shield after I execute the "kick Sam in the balls" move.

"Sam, what's going on?" Jacob asks, his voice lower than I've ever heard it. He sounds, well, dangerous (and kind of sexy, but I really need to not think about that right now. Not an appropriate time to be fantasizing, Leah).

Sam just laughs the sort of laugh that accompanies a sneer. Humorless. God, he must be really, really pissed. It's actually almost impressive, since when we were dating I'd always get mad and yell at him and he'd just stay calm and look at me. This new anger must be an Alpha thing. Me, I'm always angry anyway. I guess that makes me an ideal Alpha. Except for the no-testosterone part. Actually, I'd probably be better at it than Sam. I wouldn't pull a ridiculous stunt like this in the forest.

Considering how upset everyone is, I suppose it's pretty shocking that no one has accidentally phased. Of course that would kick off World War III, Quileute Edition.

"Oh, so the wayward boy has returned," Sam says, dropping his voice so he sounds as dangerous as Jacob (less sexy though. Well, it's hard to be as sexy as Jake…No, bad Leah!) "Going to take responsibility for your pack? Going to stop breaking our laws?"

Jacob's jaw tightens. Sam doesn't seem to be intimidated at all, but the rest of his pack is eyeing Jake nervously. Maybe it's because he's the only person taller than Sam, and everyone knows Alphas are identified by their size. Supposedly, at least. I still think I could do it.

"As I was just explaining to Leah," Sam continues, "you and your pack will come back. Jake, you've had your fun. We didn't kill Bella's child, and we didn't punish the Cullens for breaking the treaty. But you are clearly in no condition to lead your pack. Vanishing for a year and a half hardly speaks well of you," Sam's head is tilted back, like he's trying to look down his nose at Jacob. I guess that's exactly what he's trying to do. Seem taller than him. Must be some kind of weird Alpha domination thing.

And Jacob smirks. "Leah's a pretty capable woman, I'm sure she took care of everything while I was gone." He turns and smiles at me, an actual smile, not the smirk he's giving Sam. My knees get kinda wobbly. Can we just kick Sam's ass now and then go make out? "And anyway, I needed some time to think about my relationship with the Cullens. I thought you'd approve of that? Since, you know, I did imprint on one."

There's a hiss from the assembled wolves. No one here likes the idea of Jake with Nessie. To many of them, Jacob's imprinting on a half-vampire just proves that he's unfit to be an Alpha. I wouldn't be surprised if Seth and I are the only ones who support it.

Wait. No. What the hell did I just say? I don't support it! It's wrong! What happened to me? God damn, Jacob better not have planned this. Leaving me in charge of looking after his pet Spawn so that I wouldn't completely hate her.

I will say this, though, it isn't her fault. I reserve the right to blame Bella, though.

"Oh, right, your relationship with the Cullens. Is that where you were before you so kindly joined us for this little werewolf discussion? Over with your leech friends? Tell me, Jacob, do you let them drink your blood?" Another hiss from those assembled. I'm tempted to shout that the vamps don't want our blood but somehow, I don't think that would help. "Honestly, Jacob, you care more about the Cold Ones than you do about your pack. Or our Tribe."

Another rumble goes through the wolves. I'm starting to realize just how obviously Sam's pack outnumbers us. And how much they don't support Jake. 12 to 5 are not good odds. The chances of me managing to kick all of them in the balls before escaping are pretty slim.

"Is Bella so important to you that you would defile yourself this way?" Sam continues. Oh, boy's on a roll. I should have stuck that lollipop into his eye when I had the chance.

"That's not true!" Oh god. It's my brother. My brother has entered the discussion again. "Jake is a great Alpha! And the Cullens are people, too! There's nothing wrong with not having baseless prejudices!"

Okay, I need to have a talk with Seth. Because he should know better than to think a speech like that would go over well with this crowd. And someone should tell him that those prejudices aren't really "baseless." Most bloodsuckers, do, in fact, kill people.

"Do you hear him?" Paul calls to the rest of the pack, indicating Seth. "He thinks the vampires are people."

I've been quiet for too long. Haven't mocked Sam lately. "Sam, this has gone far enough," I say, dropping my own voice. What is this, my beta voice? It's the voice I used to use in our arguments, the ones I regretted so much after he left me for Emily ("maybe if I hadn't been such a bitch he would still love me.") Except that I am about five times the bitch now than I ever was when I with Sam. "Seriously. You can stop challenging Jake to his ridiculous male pissing contest, or whatever the hell it is, because you cannot honestly be contesting his right to be an Alpha. He's Ephraim's great-grandson."

"First of all, Leah, there is no such thing as "an" Alpha. There is the Alpha. Secondly, of course you'd say that about this. This is serious wolf business, and you can't understand it because you think it's a guy thing. This is exactly why there aren't supposed to be female werewolves."

I snarl. Yes, an actual snarl. While in human form. Jacob puts his arm out and stops me from charging Sam. His fingertips touch my stomach and I feel like I've been shocked. I stop, so I guess it worked, him holding me back, but I swear to god, if we were alone right now, I'd be on him so fast…. What's going on with me? Why is him standing up to Sam so freaking hot to me? This is too weird.

"I'd be careful what you say to Leah, Sam," Jacob growls. Sam flashes a humorless smile and opens his mouth to speak.

I don't know why that's what pisses Jake off, but it is. The smile. Because Jake's flying toward Sam and boom, two horse-sized wolves are on each other, one red, one black. Jacob tries to bite Sam's neck, but Sam wriggles away. They circle each other for about two seconds before the Sam wolf ooks over at Emily, who is standing frozen behind Colin and Brady. And then they're off, breaking through the circle and chasing each other into the forest. Sam's the faster runner, but Jake is right on his heels. It's terrifying. Or it would be, if I wasn't a werewolf too. If I wasn't completely used to horse-sized wolves running around.

Jared and Paul are the first to phase, and they barrel off after their Alpha. Seth and Embry growl and explode into a wolf form, tearing off after Jared and Paul, and trying to bite at Paul's legs. Ha, nice one, boys. Quil is next, after only a momentary pause. Sam's entire pack is phasing too, except for Colin and Brady, who can't decide what to do. They make eye contact and nod, and then Colin turns to Emily and says, "stay here" and two more wolves explode out of boys' bodies.

Emily is just staring at me, now. I'm the only one left. She takes a step toward where the boys disappeared but I snarl at her. "Colin is right. It's too dangerous for you," I tell her, and then I'm gone, too, off after the boys, the ruined shreds of my clothes falling to the forest floor. I can hear my cousin shouting "Leah!" after me, but it just makes me run faster.


I'm fast enough that I pass all of the boys on the way and am the first to get to where Jake and Sam are fighting. They are both bleeding, but it doesn't look too serious.

The others start to arrive, their thoughts giddy, thrilled that their Alpha has at long last returned to them. Jake, yeah! Kick his ass! That's Embry.

Jacob just snarls at Sam and thinks Guys, this would be so much easier if you'd shut the hell up. His thoughts carry so much rage with them, too. I know he's not mad at us, but at Sam, but still, it's scary. Jacob's always been, well, a nice person.

Hey, if we're annoying you, just think what the million other wolves must be doing to Sam right now, thinks Seth, sending little happy waves over toward Jake.

Sam does look a bit distracted as he and Jake circle each other. I guess you can't command your pack to not think. Although if anyone would try it, Sam would.

Jake and Sam keep snapping at each other, but don't seem to be inflicting too much damage. God, they are huge!

That's what she said, thinks Embry.

Shut up and let Jake get his throat, I fire back.

Sam seems to be limping a bit from where Jacob got his leg and when Jake charges forward to attack, Sam smacks his face with his paw, drawing some serious blood, and gets his teeth into Jake's neck. I'll give it to Sam, it was a pretty good fake.

But Jacob's bigger, so he throws his weight and Sam goes flying. Into a tree. Which breaks. Guess trees weren't made to withstand humongous wolves being thrown into them.

Sam rights himself and attacks instantly. But this time Jacob's ready and he pounces on Sam while Sam is till running forward. He knocks Sam back and stands over him, his teeth now at Sam's neck. Sam whimpers.

Jacob lets out a pretty scary snarl, and I he's thinking God damn Sam, leave my pack alone, don't you dare come near them, don't you dare come near her.

Embry, Quil and Seth all think he must just be looking out for his beta. Sam of course can't hear his thoughts, but the snarl Jacob is giving him is pretty clear.

And then Emily appears. I snap my head around to look at her, and so do most of the wolves. Jacob's entire attention is focused on Sam though, and Sam's trying to right himself, but Jake's still holding him down, snarling. "Jacob, please," says Emily quietly. At last he turns his massive head toward where she's standing. "Please, he's my husband," she says.

There's a pause, and in one quick movement, Jake jumps off Sam. Sam stands up slowly, limping now in earnest. Both wolves are spotted with blood, their own and each other's.

Leah, Jacob's thoughts say in my mind, You're going to want to go phase somewhere else, because there's about to be a lot of very naked boys. Everyone, we're having a meeting. My house?

Paul might be there, Seth thinks, We've been using our house as base while you've been gone.

Alright. Clearwater house. As soon as we find clothes.

I turn and run toward La Push.


Thank god I keep some emergency clothes out in the forest. One bag's worth is by the Cullens' house, the idea being that if I stash my clothes at home and run over to the Cullens', there's stuff for me there. In a canvas bag tied to one of the trees. That way I don't have to bother tying clothes to my ankle, which is much less practical for me than for the boys. The point is, I manage to find one of my stashes before heading home. Granted, I live right by the woods, and I'm small enough (normal wolf size) that I can actually phase in the house. But it's hard getting in the door when you don't have thumbs to open it with. (Mom should really just get a wolf-sized doggie door for me and Seth).

Mom's not home. Must be at work. Or out with Charlie, picking out… what? Flowers? Horrible matching dresses for me and Bella? God only knows. I debate going into Seth's room and grabbing some of his shorts and throwing them into the forest for the boys, but I remember that Seth, Embry and Quil must have clothing stashes too. This will spare me from having to go into Seth's room which is a) messy and b) smells like most guys' of his age rooms. That is to say, gross.

Or Jacob could just show up at my house naked. That's a plan too. Probably my favorite plan.

The door bangs open and in runs Seth. He's practically glowing, whether it's because his beloved Jacob is home or because of the fight, I don't know. Quil and Embry show up next and go over to sit with Seth in the living room. "Yo, Leah, you have a first aid kit or something?" asks Embry. Why he doesn't ask Seth is beyond me.

I nod, "Yeah, why?"

"Jake's still bleeding. Wolf-induced wounds heal slower than regular ones," he says. Huh, I had forgotten that. Guess it's been awhile since there was a wolf vs. wolf fight, or even a wolf vs. vampire fight.

"Okay, yeah, I'll go get it," I go into the bathroom to find the damn kit. I hope to god that Jake's alright. He should be back by now.

I get the kit and head back into the hallway. Someone knocks on the door. None of the pack bother knocking anymore. Oh god it better not be freaking Sam or something—

Wait. There's someone else who might actually knock.

Jake. I open the door and stare at him. He stares at me. I can feel my breathing starting to speed up. What the hell is wrong with me that just looking at him, standing two feet from him, just barely being able to smell him, is making me this aroused? I feel tingly all over. And he's injured and bleeding too.

"I missed you," he breathes, eyes boring into me.

"Yeah… I missed you too," I say.

"Was I really gone a year and a half?" he hasn't looked away from my face yet.

"No. I mean, sort of. Closer to a year than a year and a half. But more than a year," I say, in a rush. God, is he really here? His cheek is bleeding and he has some gashes on his chest and legs. His shoulder looks pretty bad, too, where Sam bit him. I know he'll heal soon, but I should clean the wounds or something.

Or we could just have sex right here in the hallway.

"Leah…" he whispers my name and all the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Oh god I wish he wouldn't say my name like that (I wish he would, again and again, while he's thrusting into me. Oh shit, Leah, focus!) Fortunately before I fantasize any more Jacob starts talking again, "I didn't mean to be gone that long, I just…"

"Did you get it figured out?" I ask. (will not think about sex, will not).

He nods. "I think so. I need to see her, of course…" He seems like he's going to say more, to describe it to me, how he thinks about how it will work out with his imprint, which could be okay because talking about Nessie the Spawn will probably get me to stop wanting to sex him up….

But anyway, I can sort of guess what he's going to say about being gone. I always figured he was gone so long because he needed that much time to weaken the imprint or whatever. But instead, he swallows and says, "But I came here first…"

"Good thing, so you could deal with Sam," says Seth, behind me. We both startle. Shit. There are other people in the house.

Embry has come up behind my brother, leaning against the door from the kitchen. "Yo, Jake, you going to come in, or is Leah making you stay out there and bleed all over the porch?"

I jump back and let him in. "Um, Jacob, let me clean you up," I say awkwardly. I hope that Seth wasn't standing there long, that he didn't notice that I was looking at Jake like he was a cupcake… a sex cupcake.

Jacob walks past me and follows Seth and Embry into the kitchen. "I'll heal okay," says Jake as we all sit down in the living room. I have to move the Xbox controllers in order to sit down. Scott, meanwhile, has pranced into the room and is sitting between Seth and Embry, looking all happy. Huh. I guess there are 6 members. Not that Scott is going to come in at all handy in any future pack-on-pack fights. He must only weigh ten pounds.

Jake comes to sit beside me, even though Quil has to scoot out of the way. He looks at me expectantly and says, "I thought you were going to patch me up?"

"Oh. Right. Thought you'd heal okay on your own?" I say, trying to sound bitchy, to cover the fact that my hands are shaking.

"Leah, show some respect to Jacob!" says Seth, who is simultaneously president of the Leech fan club and the Jacob fan club.

Jacob just gives me a really obnoxious grin. I get out the hydrogen peroxide and dab some on his shoulder. He hisses. "Shit, Leah, that hurts."

"I'm sorry, oh mighty Alpha."

He grits his teeth and turns his attention to the guys. Or at least pretends to. I hope he's still thinking about me. I try to touch him as much as I can while getting the blood off of him. But not enough for anyone else to notice. Jesus, I can smell him.

"Okay, so what the hell is going on?" Jacob asks. "Why was he trying to steal my pack?"

"He's pissed about everything. That we're the pro-Cold One pack," I say, and Embry and Quil recoil. "Okay, I know we don't love them, but we don't all hate them, either. 'specially Seth and, well, you, Jacob."

"Oh, and you getting all friendly with the blonde one doesn't count?" Embry snaps.

"Whatever. Anyway, he's pissed that we phase so much, since 'the gifts of our ancestors are not meant to be used for personal enjoyment,' I say in my most Sam-esque voice. (aka obnoxious and arrogant and generally annoying). "He is worried that if none of us age, our secret will get out."

"Okay, that's ridiculous," Jake says.

"It sort of sucks that half the Rez doesn't know what's going on," says Seth, for once in his life saying something intelligent.

"Anyway, Jake, I was going to ask you what was going on," says Embry "I mean, Leah's diplomatic skills were majorly sucking back there, but seriously, dude you went for his fucking throat!"

"I don't know," Jacob says, sighing. He throws his head back and shuts his eyes. "I just lost it. Shit, it was freaking scary too... He seems tired.

"Of course you fought him," mumbles Quil. When we all look at him, he straightens up and says, "My granddad said something like this would happen if, I mean when, you came back."

"What do you mean, 'if?'" asks Jake. I've gotten most of the blood and forest grime off; he should heal cleanly.

Quil looks embarrassed. "I heard that a lot of the Elders weren't sure about whether or not you'd come back… it's why I think Sam pulled this today. He convinced the Council that you'd abandoned your responsibilities…"

Jacob hisses, "I didn't abandon anything! I had to deal with this Nessie thing." Quil shifts and looks at the floor. "Quil, what's wrong?" Jake asks. Quil is looking even more uncomfortable.

"Nothing, Jake. I'm glad you're back. Just in time, too."

"Quil?" he presses. Quil shakes his head so Jake says again, "seriously, what is it?"

Finally Quil shrugs and says, "I just wouldn't have been able to leave Claire like that. When Leah told us, I didn't really believe it."

"It wasn't easy. It hurt like hell."

Quil just looks away. Finally he says, "Then why'd you do it?" he asks, seeming genuinely interested. Like Jake did the impossible. I guess he did, though.

"I had to. For both of us."

"Maybe Nessie wanted him to go," says Seth. "Maybe he could only leave because she wanted him to?" I have to give it to Seth; he's pretty good about giving people the benefit of the doubt. Especially his Dear Jacob the Great One.

"Anyway, Quil, I don't think Nessie and I are like you and Claire," Jake says quietly.

"Oh man, Jake, I am so glad you're back!' says The Dweeb. "That was so awesome when you threw Sam into the tree!"

"Shit, yeah," Embry says.

"About that, Quil, you were going to tell me what your grandfather said?" prompts Jacob.

"Oh, yeah, he said that Levi Uley used to argue with Ephraim sometimes, and Ephraim would like, smack him down or whatever. Actually, he said that Ephraim would pin Levi until he'd stop struggling."

"Sounds familiar," says Embry.

"But I thought betas couldn't argue with Alphas?" Seth says.

Jacob just rolls his eyes, "Oh man Seth, haven't you been paying attention? Your sister argues with me all the time."

"Shut up, I do not," I say.

"You just did,"

"Don't make me pour more hydrogen peroxide on you."

"Oh, I'm really scared."

"Um…." Embry is looking from me to Jake and back.

"So anyway, my granddad said that when," nice recovery, Quil, "you came back, there'd probably be a fight between you and Sam eventually. He said he's surprised it hadn't happened before, after the packs split."

"That's because we stayed out of each other's way and tried not to be in the same room at the same time," says Jacob. "I can't explain it. Something about him just really, really pisses me off."

This, to me, sounds like more of this ridiculous male testosterone Alpha "blah blah look at us, we're so manly" crap, but I probably shouldn't say anything because I'm outnumbered here. Oh wait, I'm always outnumbered. Because I'm the only female wolf. But actually, I can't really blame Jacob for wanting to rip out Sam's throat. Sam is kind of a jerk.

"You weren't actually going to hurt him though, were you?" asks Seth quietly.

"Did you not hear what I said about 'going for the throat'?" Embry demands.

Jacob just sighs. "I don't know. If Emily hadn't come—"

"Yeah, can I just say, what the hell was Sam doing, letting his pregnant wife wander around with a bunch of wolves?" says Quil, "Seriously, I'd never let Claire any of us."

"Dude, shut the hell up about Claire already," Embry says. "You're worse than Jake in his Bella phase."

I try not to growl or anything. Bella….ugh.

"Emily's pregnant? Ah. I thought maybe she was just getting chubby," says Jacob. I smack him. Everyone else ignores him.

"Or worse than Leah in her Sam phase," snaps Quil. "Oh wait, that's still going on!"

"Yes, I am so madly in love with Sam, Quil," I say, "that's why I was throwing myself between him and Jake today. Oh wait, no I wasn't! And I almost killed him with a grape sucker the other day." Everyone just stares at me and deposits this information into the "things Leah says that we don't understand" file.

"Plus the Romanian vampire threesome comment," Embry adds, smiling. "Leah, I told you not to bait him."

"Holy shit," Jacob says, "are you two actually getting along?"

"Yeah, usually they just call each other 'bitch' and 'bastard' over and over and over again. It's horrible," says Seth.

"Less horrible than listening to you two play Halo all freaking day, every day."

"Shut up, Leah! We run patrols, too!" I am pretty sure The Dweeb just says this for Jacob's benefit. Because he smiles hopefully at Jake as he says it.

"Can I just say, Jake, what the hell?" I begin. He looks at me. I stopped cleaning his wounds awhile ago and now he's leaning back on his hands. My own hands are out behind me, and they're pretty close to his. Close enough that every few seconds one of our fingers twitches. God I wish I could touch him.

And yes, we have furniture. I don't know why we're all on the floor.

"Were you like, standing behind a tree waiting for the perfect time to jump out? Seriously? Because if I had known you weren't in Canada but were instead living in a bush, I would have gone out and dragged your sorry ass home a long time ago!" I say, laughing.

"She does have a point," says Seth. "For once."

"Shut up, Dweeb."

"No. I got back right before then," Jake says, "I mean, it took me a second to phase and put on pants. I didn't think walking out naked would be good."

Yes, actually it would.

Someone, meanwhile, is knocking on the door. "Who the hell is that?" asks Quil.

"I don't know, why don't one of you useless boys go and answer it?" I say. Seth gets up and bounds through the kitchen to the hallway. I hear him saying hi to someone, but he sounds strained.

"Who is it?" I call. He appears seconds later with Jared behind him. Great. Just what this day needs.

"What are you, Sam's errand bitch?" snaps Embry. I laugh. Jacob's lips almost twitch into a smile. I guess he's trying to be professional and Alphaey.

"Actually, I'm Sam's beta," Jared says. "He gave me a message to give to you."

"We gathered that," says Quil. Usually he's the nicest to the other pack. He must be emboldened by having his Alpha home.

Jacob's on his feet. He's about 6'8 now, and Jared's only like 6'4 or 6'5. I wonder if Jared is intimidated. "Sam wanted me to tell you that he and you should have a meeting with the Tribal Elders."

Jake shrugs, "Yeah, I'd be happy to go to the Council. When?"

"Next week."

"Fine."

Jared just sort of stands there awkwardly before finally saying, "Okay, I'll just be leaving then."

"I think that's a good idea," says Jacob. Seth starts to walk Jared to the door, and Jacob follows, and the rest of us follow after him. As soon as Jared's gone, he turns to us all and says, "I should probably go see my dad. Um."

"Jake, promise me you'll talk to my granddad before you meet with the Elders?" says Quil. I wonder why it's so important. Quil Senior is on the Council, so he'll be there anyway. But Jacob agrees. Quil moves toward the door and says, "It's nice having you back. I sort of have to go see Claire… her elementary school is doing an art show and I promised her I'd go look at her picture…"

"Of course," says Jake. They do that funny awkward thing guys do when they are trying to hug. Quil leaves and Jacob turns to Embry and Seth. "You guys have plans?" Does Jake think he's being subtle?

"Yeah, we'll probably just play Halo," says Seth.

"Oh."

"Is that not okay? If you want, we can run patrols!" Seth asks. I can almost hear Jacob's thoughts. How immoral is it to send a poor kid like Seth on a patrol just so you can get his big sister alone?

Finally he says, "No, that's okay. There's no reason. But, um…."

"Jake, you should totally come!" Seth enthuses, "Seriously! Mom's staying over in Seattle tonight getting stuff for the wedding, so we were going to have an all-night Halo party!"

Oh. That's where Mom is. I like how much attention I pay to things around me.

"Wedding?" Jake asks.

"Yeah, our mom is marrying Charlie," I say. Jacob's eyebrows shoot up.

"Really? Damn," he says. I decide not to mention the Bella/Leah matching dresses scheme. Too awkward, given his history with her. Ew, my future stepsister and I made out with the same guy. That's gross. "Anyway, thanks guys, but I really don't like Halo," he finishes. "So you guys are going to be here all night?"

What the hell? How do Embry and Seth not know what he's trying to ask? How do they not notice that we are seconds away from jumping each other?

"We were actually thinking of going to my place for a bit," says Embry. "Since my house has food, and we already ate everything Sue left for us."

"Oh yeah, that's right," Seth says.

"That's a great idea!" I say, too loudly. Everyone flinches. "Seriously! You should go to Embry's! Then I can do all of those at-home spa treatments Alice gave me!"

"Leah, you are such a freak," says my stupid brother.

"Yes. And then I am going to listen to Shania Twain's 'Man, I Feel Like a Woman,'" I add.

Embry tries to keep from laughing. "There's an obvious comment I could make here about your non-femininity, but I won't."

"Dude, do you wanna just go you your house now so my lame sister doesn't bother us?" Seth asks. Yes, Seth. This is a good plan. A very good plan. I almost cackle.

"Okay, well, I'm going to go see Billy. See you all later," Jacob says, leaving. What the hell? I thought I was getting some? I guess it is important that he see his dad, but still.

Seth and Embry head into the living room to get the Xbox and their game or whatever. I go to my room and lay down on the bed. And I was soooo close, too.


I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I know, it's two hours later and someone is pounding on my door. I run to open it. It's Jacob. Shirtless. Dripping wet from the rain.

"Hi…" I breathe.

"Going to let me in, this time?"

"Yes," I say, moving just barely to the side. He brushes against me as he comes in.

"God, I forgot how good you smelled," he says softly. Huskily. We're so close that we're almost touching.

"Jacob," I say his name with desire, and relief—relief that he's finally home, relief that he came here first, instead of to Nessie, and relief that he is here now.

And then he's kissing me, pressing me against the closed door and standing between my legs. I bend one knee and brace my foot against the door, trying to give him more space, trying to get us even closer together. I tug on his hair and he kisses me harder. His hand is on my face, caressing it, but then he reaches down and grabs my hips and pulls me up higher so he can kiss me more easily. Keeping me pinned against the door with his body. My legs are dangling—a nice feeling for a girl as tall as I am.

And Sam sure as hell never kissed me this way.

I'm melting in his arms. God I'm aroused. There are lots of things Jacob and I should probably be saying to each other right now, about what he figured out in Canada, hell, even about what happened today. But right now all I want to do is finally have him…

"Jake…" I pant. "My room…." And that's all I can get out because he's kissing my mouth again, and my neck, and oh god the tops of my breasts above my tank top. I wrap both legs around his waist and he carries me down the hall to my bedroom. The lights are off, but there's light coming in the window. Is the moon up already? Wow. I guess when werewolves have sex then the moon is sort of necessary.

"In a hurry, Leah?" he asks, smiling at me.

"Sorry. It's just… been a really, really long time…."

He laughs and sets me down on the floor. "So you're okay with me being here?"

I'd be more okay if you were naked and on top of me Jacob Black, I think. But instead I say, "Did you get it figured out?"

"Yeah…."

"So when you make love to me, it's going to be you, and not just the parts of you Nessie hasn't claimed?" I ask, staring at him.

He blushes and nods. "Can I?"

"Can you what?"

"Make love to you…" his blush deepens. It's really, really cute. "I mean, no pressure. We can go slow."

Okay, fuck going slow. I haven't been dreaming about screwing him for freakin' months for him to waltz into my room and play that stupidass "going slow" card.

So I take off my shirt and let it fall to the floor, my necklace going with it. Jacob's mouth drops open. "Oh god you're hot," he says in a rush and then the next thing I know I'm on the bed underneath him. Well, this is certainly progressing well.

His hands find my breasts almost immediately and he's back to kissing my neck. He seems to like that. I arch my back up and moan. I wish he'd take off my bra, my nipples are hard and need attention. If he doesn't do it soon I am going to tell him. But no, he's pushing down my bra and god his massive hands are cupping my breasts and I'm moaning and whimpering and straining up off the bed.

He just takes one hand and pushes me back down. "Jake, please, don't tease me," I say as I squirm under him.

"You're teasing me too, pressing against me like that," he smirks down at me. The mark on his cheek is almost healed, and his shoulder is passable but still pretty raw. Wow, he was hurt pretty badly.

I put my hand on his neck and pull myself up to him, licking his mouth. His eyes open wider. "God, Leah… I want you…." And his thumb rubs against my nipple as he says this and I gasp.

And then he's covering my face with kisses, and my neck, and collar bone, and god, lower, on my breasts and then his mouth and tongue find my nipple and I'm in heaven. One hand is tangled in his hair and the other is on his back, digging my nails into his skin.

"Jacob…." I pant, "I dreamt about this…."

He stops and looks up at me. "Really?"

I nod. He's between my legs, but honestly, this would be better if he were up higher. I can feel his arousal pressing against my leg, though, and it's driving me insane.

"Yeah, but in my dream we were naked," I say.

"Is that a hint?"

"I was trying to be subtle."

And then his hands are on the waistband of his pants and I have a very, very naked Jacob in my room. Oh god. I might actually hyperventilate.

"Your mouth is open," he says, smirking. Damn the male ego! But I forget to yell at him because he reaches his hand under me and tugs at my bra clasp. Nothing happens. I giggle.

"Oh my god, Jacob, you are such a guy," and then I reach around and undo the clasp. It's finally off.

He bites his lip. "I feel like it shouldn't be that hard, getting those things undone…" he turns his attention to my jeans. I help him pull them off of me.

Holy shit. I'm almost naked in my room with Jacob. If this gets dragged out any longer, I will explode from sexual tension and unfulfilled lust. And not explode in an orgasmic way, but a dead way. And then I will be dead and unable to come ever again and that will suck.

Jake, meanwhile, is staring at my panties. He makes a little whimpering noise. "Leah…." And then he puts his fingers under the waistband and pulls them off me. And stares at me. "You…."

"Jacob, you've seen me naked before," I remind him.

"Yeah, okay, phasing doesn't count. You…. Oh god….." He's running his fingertips up and down my body and I don't know how much I can take. I was already soaked through my panties, and now he's teasing me more? What the hell? Why can't he just fuck me? But actually, it's kind of nice. I relax my muscles and close my eyes, enjoying it.

He leans down next to me and kisses me softly. "Leah, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen,"

"Uh huh. Sure. You have been up in Canada chillin' with the mooses."

"No, I mean it." He bites his lip and blushes. "I can't believe I'm here with you."

I look at him and put my hand on his cheek. "You know, I almost tried to do this with you that day when you were napping at the Cullens'.

"I dreamed about doing this with you that night we were sleeping at the Cullens," he answers, his voice as husky as I've ever heard it.

"You'll have to tell me about it sometime," I say, as his hand trails along my stomach. And then lower. And…oh. Hello.

"Leah…" he almost growls. I spread my legs a bit because oh does that feel nice. My eyes roll back in my head and I just sort of pant. "Leah, you're wet."

"Mmmm."

"I mean, damn."

"Mmmm. I've been…. wanting this, all day….. ever since you….. appeared." I bite my hand to keep from moaning too loudly. His other hand grabs my mine and pulls it down to my side.

"Don't. I want to hear you moan," he says hoarsely. He's panting too, and I wonder how long he can take this. Actually, I don't know if I can take this any longer. I spread my legs even more so Jake gets the hint and then I tighten my muscles around his fingers. His eyes get big. "Wow…I…wow…."

I reach down and grab his wrist. "You want me to stop?" he asks as I keep squeezing him. I hope to god he's imagining what it's going to be like when he's inside me.

I shake my head. "No, I just wanted to tell you something. I meant what I said when I joined your pack. You're worth following." I look up at him and he trembles. That's my version of romantic sweet-talk. But it seems to be enough.

I arch up and kiss him again, pulling him down on top of me. I put my lips against his ear, "Jacob, I want you…" I nibble his ear and he moans and presses his hardness against my thigh. God. "I want…" I'm almost blushing to say this, but I'm so far gone with lust that I don't care. And it's true. "Jacob, I want to feel you inside me."

He makes a little choking noise in the back of his throat. "Wait," he says and then rolls off of me. What the hell? What is he doing? Not okay. He grabs his jeans and fishes in his back pocket until he produces, wait, a condom? What?

"Have you seriously been carrying that around with you?" I ask.

"I got it when I was at home," he shrugs. "I mean, not to be presumptuous…." He's clearly embarrassed that he told me that, but whatever. We did sort of say that as soon as he got back from Canada we were going to have sex. "Emmett put a note in the box about how everyone thought Edward was infertile and," he shrugs again, "I don't know. You're not even really infertile, are you?"

Okay, we should be screwing right now, not talking about my fertility. But no, he keeps talking, "I mean, you could still have an egg lurking around up there from before you phased."

"You're worried that I have an egg lurking?" I ask.

"Did I upset you?"

I smile at him. "No, it's actually really sweet." And then I put one of my feet on his chest and he moans and comes back over to me.

We're kissing again, and I'm trembling with anticipation. He, meanwhile, seems to be trembling with nervousness. He pulls away from my mouth and says, "Just so we're clear on this, I have no idea what I'm doing."

"It's not that difficult, Jacob, Your instincts will take over," I say, rubbing my body against his. I brush his arousal with my fingertips and he makes that little noise again.

He blushes and looks down to watch me touch him. "Yeah, I know, but girls are, you know, complicated."

"You're doing a very good job so far," I whisper. And then he's inside me and I can't think about anything.


AN:

Thank you to everyone who reviewed Chapter One! And thank you to everyone who is going to review Chapter Two (possible hint….). I wasn't joking about the whole "reviews make me update" thing. I was definitely going to take some time off after "ED" but then Chapter One happened. Actually, I was doing outlines of "Red Sky" while I was supposed to be writing "ED" so I'm glad to be on this one at last.

I am, however, going to be very, very busy soon, (flying to the UK tonight!) so updates will be sparser, but they will still happen! I promise! The good news is that because of the outlines you can rest assured that I won't forget where this is going and accidentally write a Jacob/Nessie fic.