2000

Fourteen year old Leah was sitting on her bed, sighing as she thought about what she just discovered; she was gay. She shook her head, "What will my father say?"

There was a knock on my door then, revealing Sam Uley. He smiled and I waved him inside. Sam was my best friend, my confidante, and I trusted him above everything else.

He walked over to my bed and sat down next to me, a little closer than normal, and I wondered what he was doing. He slowly took my hand and smiled, looking me in my eyes, and said, "Leah, would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?"

If I was straight, I'm sure I would have totally melted and kissed him right then and there, maybe even more, but I'm not…so I didn't. But, I did have a choice? Do I, Leah Clearwater, pretend to be straight and date Sam Uley? I mean, he is my best friend, and knows me better than others, but still…I don't want to misuse our friendship and pretend to like him more than I do.

No, my inner voice shouts, Don't use him!

I shake my head and sigh, "Sam, trust me, I would if I was into men…but, Sam, I'm gay," I looked into his eyes hoping for acceptance.

He sighs, smiling a little bit, "Okay," he says a little dejectedly, "I believe you."

I smile sadly, "Sam, trust me, if I was straight I probably would have jumped your bones by now."

He laughs a little, shaking his head, "Sure, sure," he guffaw's, "stroke my ego, since you won't stroke anything else," he winks.

I laugh, pushing him a little, and just like that, we're back to being best friends.

He smiles, "So," he sighs, "Not to ruin the moment, but you need to tell your dad."

I nod my head, "I know," I sigh.

It was two weeks later that I finally had my chance, I was sitting next to Sam and my family was on the couch in front of us; my dad, Harry, my mom, Sue, and my brother, Seth.

"Dad," I said looking into his eyes, "I wanted to tell you and everyone else at the same time," I sighed, "I'm gay," I squeezed Sam's hands, the same time I squeezed my eyes shut, afraid of the possible rejection.

It was a few minutes later, a pair of strong hands lifted my chin and smiled, "Beautiful child," he said in Quileute, and then switched into English, "I will love you for all time, my child, my Leah, and I will always accept you for who you are," he smiled, "never be ashamed of who the spirits have blessed you to notice. We all are attracted to other people, and I will never stop loving you."

I nodded my eyes, tears in them, as I was wrapped in my father's strong embrace, "Thank you papa," I whispered.

It was then that my mother and brother also joined in the hug, Sam just sitting on the couch, watching and taking everything in. I knew what Sam was thinking, hoping really, he wanted someone to love him as much as my family loved me. He had his mother, Allison Uley, but she worked so much to provide for them that he barely saw her.

I smiled and held on tighter to my family; my family.

2005

Nineteen year old Leah Clearwater smiled, sitting next to her brother and her parents. Her cousin, Emily Young, was coming into town today. Emily was very girly, the complete opposite of Leah, but they were still close friends.

She chuckled as she thought about what started it, it was back is 2003, when her father first had a heart attack. The whole family had pulled together, with Emily visiting from the Makah reservation and helping them with everything.

Emily was a real godsend, and helped her mother and father, along with her and her brother, settle and get back to some amount of normalcy. She even convinced her father to eat better, and since then, Harry had been doing much better. In fact, the doctors had recently given him a clean bill of health.

Anyway, it was around that time that Sam and Emily had begun to date. In fact, they were still dating to this day. Speaking of Sam, he wasn't doing so well lately. He was sick for a while, and now he was rather subdued and, when he did come around, didn't speak much. He had also cut his hair, which was completely unlike him; Sam loved his long hair!

Anyway, she was hoping that Emily and her could get to the bottom of it. Speaking of Emily, there was a knock at the door and Emily waltzed in and started hugging everyone; finishing with her. She smiled, hugging her cousin back, "Hey Em, how are you doing?"

Emily giggled and said, "Great! I hope Sam comes around, Lea, I have missed him," she sighed, shaking her head.

I raised an eyebrow, motioning my head to the door.

Emily nodded, grabbing my hand, as we left the house to go speak outside.

Once we were alone, I looked at her, "What's up Em?"

She sighed, "I don't know, Lea, I've been feeling like Sam is hiding something from me. What if he's cheating on me?"

I shook my head, "Sam would never cheat on anyone, let alone you, I've got the feeling that he wants to marry you," I shake my head, chuckling, "I think he really loves you," I shrug my shoulders, "mind you, I could be wrong, but he sure acts like it. Has he said it yet?"

She smiles a little goofy smile, "Just last week, he called me, and said he loved me. He's said it before, but this time, it was like he really meant it." Her smile grows, "He kept going on and on about how much he misses me," she laughs a little, "I feel like a piece of me is missing lately," she sighs.

Just then a twig snaps from the edge of our property, and we both look over to see Sam standing there. I smile a little, his eyes are big, like he can't believe Emily is really there, and then I look at her and she looks the same. Both their eyes are big, like their staring into the sun, and I chuckle a little.

I look to Emily and whisper, "Well, go to him already," I smile when she finally starts moving. It seems to spur him on too, and next thing I know is they're both in the middle of my yard kissing like a bunch of teenagers.

I chuckle and head back inside to see my dad standing there. He seems shocked for a moment, then shakes his head slightly, "Well," he says with a smile, "It looks like the happy couple are going to be awhile."

I chuckle, shaking my head a little, "Yeah, it seems like they're going to be alright."

Author's Note:

Well, Leah just witnessed an imprint happen first-hand, but doesn't know it. Her father does, of course, but Leah won't realize that until later.

Any requests?

SNolon. ^_^;