Disclaimer: Still don't own Twilight or the characters.

Here's chapter three! Keep reviewing and rating; I do read them and take what you all say into consideration.

Chapter Three.

Five years later…

Over the last five years, I'd helped raise my imprint. I watched her grow in awe; surprised at how fast the years have gone by. It's like one minute I'm changing her stinky diapers, and the next, she's getting ready for her very first day of school. I'm excited for her, yet extremely apprehensive about the whole thing. I know she has to go, but it doesn't make it any easier than I'm going to go from spending almost every waking moment with Leah, to spending only four, maybe five, hours with her. Fears and worries run through my head constantly, unrelenting. What if the other kids make fun of her? What if they don't want to be her friend and she becomes miserable and loses her shine? What if the teachers are mean and treat her badly? I know my fears are slightly irrational because everyone on the rez knows everyone and Leah's met like almost everyone who's going to be in her class and all of the teachers are neighbors and family friends. I just worry for her.

"JAKEY!" I turned around from my spot on the beach and quickly held out my arms for the running blob. As soon as her little body made contact with my much larger one, I picked her up and spun her around. Her sweet giggles filled my ear as I waved to Seth who ran into the forest for patrol. Harry and Sue wanted to spend some alone time together, so it was decided I would watching Lee for a little bit.

I sat down with her still in my arms and sat her in my lap. She immediately curled into my warmth and watched the waves crash against the shore. I loved when I got this opportunity with her; to just be comfortable without saying anything and to just hold her.

"Are you nervous to be starting school Monday?" The imprint told me she was worried about that. It was helpful like that. I knew from my pack brothers' minds that they didn't sense their imprints that strongly, and so I assumed it was just the fact that I was Alpha that allowed me to have such a great bond with her.

"Hmm…no." Her voice was small; she was lying.

"Uh huh? LIAR!" I tickled her and she burst into laughter.

Once we had settled she amended her answer, "Well…maybe a little. I'm more excited though. I can't wait to learn more. And then maybe I can read to you at night!" Her excitement had become palpable.

"Oh, I'm sure!" I tickled her again and then became more serious. "You know, if any of the kids at school bother you, or are mean, just tell me Lee and I'll take care of it."

"Ja-ke! No! You can't! That's embarrassing! All the kids would hate me!" She pouted and slumped against my chest.

"Aww Lee-Lee! Don't be upset. Don't think of it as me trying to embarrass you, I just want to protect you and make sure the kids aren't going to be mean to you." I hugged her to me reassuringly.

"I know that Jake, I just want to do this myself. I'm not a little girl Jakey!" And yet she continued to pout and even took on a whiny tone.

I grinned at her, "Of course you are Lee. How about we build some sandcastles?"

Our evening consisted of building castles, splashing around in the ocean, going to the diner to replenish ourselves (and to treat Leah to all the sweets she could possibly want), and finally, back to the Clearwater home. Saying goodbye to Leah was always the hardest part. Yeah, I'll be in wolf form outside her window checking on her periodically through the night, but I won't be able to physically be with her. After reading her favorite bedtime story, Peter Rabbit, I tucked her in, and bound my way downstairs to start my shift of the patrol, relieving Seth.

Sunday past by too quickly, filled with a bonfire for the kids going back to the school, as well as kids like Lee who would be starting school for the first time. I spent time watching Leah interact with the kids who would be in her class, while simultaneously keeping a close eye on my sisters and their imprinters. I scowled as Rachel not-so-inconspicuously flirted with Paul, who was soaking it up with a mischievous glint in his eye and smirk on his face. I glanced at Becca who was sitting awkwardly next to Embry who was stealing glances at her. I hated this age; the age where they were too aware of boys. From being inside both Paul and Embry's heads, I knew my sisters were harboring crushes on their imprinters. I was able to sleep at night with the thought that Dad had set strict rules for them, stating that they weren't allowed to be romantically involved with either boy until they were at least 16. Knowing Rachel, she would not last that long especially because Paul was her imprinter. I knew Em would respect my father's wishes enough to wait for Becca. Both girls knew what the imprint meant and were both eager, one more so than the other, to be able to actually be with their imprinters. I had decided from day one not to expose Leah to my wolf or the imprint to give her the opportunity to choose. That was really important for me; that she had a choice. Yeah I'd be devastated if she decided she didn't feel that way for me, but I'd be content to be alone for all of eternity so long as she was happy.

Monday morning came, and with it, an anxious Leah. I made sure to be at the Clearwater's bright and early so I could eat breakfast with her and walk her to school. When we arrived to the Rez elementary school, I squeezed Leah's hand and when she turned her nervous gaze to me, I gave her a reassuring smile. She gave me a bright one back and hugged me around my waist.

I bent down so I could look in her eyes, "Now remember what I said Lee, just be yourself and be good. You know everyone, so there shouldn't be any awkwardness, but remember, they're all feeling exactly the way you are. Ok?"

She nodded her head vigorously, "Ok!"

I hugged her and stood up, and watched as she skipped her way into the building, more confident than before.

After that, the day dragged on slowly, with me patrolling, running to the grocery store and auto shop, working on the Rabbit I'm rebuilding, and finally, finally, it was time to pick up Leah from school. I went wolf to make the trip to the school quicker. Dawning on a shirt and shoes with my jeans to keep up appearances, I made my way through to the entrance to wait with some of the parents for the first-graders to get out. I shifted from foot to foot anxiously waiting. Groups of kids started filing out of the doors, all of them smiling. I looked about, but couldn't see Leah. And then out of nowhere a little ball of energy was connecting with my body, my arms immediately going around the Leah ball. She giggled as I lifted her up in my arms. I set her on my shoulders and turned and took the road home.

"How was your first day pretty girl?"

"It was great Jake! I did exactly as you said to and it was so much fun! You were right, I know everyone and don't have to be worried about making friends or not liking the teacher. Mrs. Lightfoot is really nice and she made us cookies! Jake, can we make cookies too?"

I grinned as she rambled on about her day and all the kids she played with. No one seemed to stick out so much and get the best friend title, but I figured that'd happen sometime in the next year or so. Instead of taking her to her house, I took her to mine since I knew her parents were most likely still at the hardware store they owned and her brother was just getting out of school and headed for patrol. Seth was two years younger than me and in his last year of high school.

The second I set her on the ground in my house, she bolted off to find my dad. He was like a second father to her and he spoiled her to tears. I walked further into the house after taking off my shoes and found Leah in my dad's lap, giggling and recounting her first day. He was grinning at her fondly as he rolled them into the kitchen. Commotion could be heard by the front door as it was thrust open and in stepped my sisters, as well as their lapdogs. I glared at Paul and he grinned back at me and wrapped an arm around Rachel's shoulders. She looked up at him and blushed as she giggled. Rebecca rolled her eyes at her sister as her and Embry made their way back outside to sit on the steps. Rachel and Paul made a hasty retreat to the back of the house toward the girls' room and I cleared my throat. Paul looked back at me and held his hands up in surrender. Despite Paul's Paul-ness, he respected me not only as his Alpha, but as the brother of his imprint and knew to abide by me and my dad's rules.

When I turned back to Leah and my dad, I saw that he was trying, and failing, to sneak her one of the cupcakes Embry's mom had brought over. I rolled my eyes at them and decided to chill outside with Becca and Em.

"How was your day Bex?"

"It was fine, one of my teachers is going to be unbearable; I can already tell, but despite that, ok. Kim wanted to know if she could stay over this weekend, and I told her I'd get back with her. I like the girl and everything, but sometimes she can be extremely annoying." Me and Embry nodded our heads understandingly.

"You should hear Jared if you think Kim is bad. All he does is talk about her constantly. Me and Quil almost pummeled him the other day because all he thought about was Kim, Kim, Kim. The dude needs a life outside of her."

"I agree, but they've liked each other for forever, the imprint just gave them a chance to actually act upon it."

Me and Em nodded our heads in agreement. Jared was a newly phased wolf and was ripe in his teen years at fifteen. We sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before the screen door slid open and Leah tumbled outside with a giant smile on her face and vanilla icing all over her mouth. Bex chuckled and pulled Leah to her.

"Lee, has dad been sneaking you goodies again?" Leah nodded her head enthusiastically and sat still as Rebecca wiped the icing off with her sleeve. "How about me and you play tag? Would like that Lee-Lee?" At another nod from Leah, she and Bex raced out into the yard. Me and Em leaned back and watched our imprints play in companionable silence. Rachel and Rebecca were very fond of Leah and took her under their wings as their little sister. They accepted the imprint as quickly as I had, which honestly was a big relief. My sister and I were close and I'd be devastated if my imprint and my sisters couldn't get along. Leah looked up to them as role models and practically worshipped them. It was cute and nauseating.

"You know Paul's wolf has been thinking about Rachel in a more…sexual light right?"

I sighed and rubbed my hand over my face. Of course I knew. Ever since Rachel had 'become a woman' as my dad had called that special time in a girl's life where she bled every month, Paul's wolf has become increasingly aware of her maturing body. I'd be more worried if I didn't see how flip-floppy his wolf was. One second he was thinking of her in that way, and the next he was caring for her like a brother would, acknowledging the baby fat she still had around her face. Paul and Embry were seniors, like Seth, so the age gaps weren't as that of me and Leah. It still seemed a little early for the guys' wolves to start thinking of Rach and Bex as anything more than sisters or friends. Well, at least Paul's wolf; Embry's wolf was still in the platonic stage of the imprint. It may have been because Paul has always been more than a little friendly with the female population, while Embry is a virgin.

"Yeah, I know Em. I'm not too worried about him overstepping his bounds before she's 16, but I'm scared she's going to speak to his wolf that way and he's not going to be able to resist. You know Rach's never been good at following rules or listening to others." We both chuckled at that, and fell back into another companionable silence.

Me and Lee spent another hour at my place then left, with promises of seeing her again tomorrow. As we made our way to her house, we swung hands and I cracked jokes, filling the wind with her sweet giggles and peals of laughter. In no time at all, we were making our way up the Clearwater drive. When Leah burst through the door, she ran straight into the arms of her father.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! It was great! I love school! Can I stay in school forever?" She was more than a little excited.

"Baby Girl, I'm so glad you loved your first day at school! Ah, forever? But what about Daddy? I won't be able to stay with you at school; wouldn't you miss Daddy?" I heard Sue sigh from her place in the kitchen, as I rolled my eyes. It was no secret that Leah was a complete daddy's girl.

I watched as her eyes got big and tears started to gather at the corners, "No Daddy! I don't want to go to school no more! I don't want to leave you!" And then she proceeded to burst into a big ball of tears on Harry's lap. He smiled and rubbed her back, shushing her. I shook my head and went into the kitchen and sat at the table.

"How ya doing Jake? Are you staying for dinner or should I pack up some food for you all?" Sue was always looking out for me and my family. Without her, me and my sister, or my father, would be as level-headed or mentally healthy as we are now. It helps that I'm also her future son-in-law.

"Thanks Sue! I'm doing pretty well. Any day I get to spend with Lee is a great day. Um, if you could pack up some food for everyone that'd be great."

She smiled at me fondly and came over to place a hand on my cheek. "I know Harry and I don't say it very often, but we're very proud of you Jake. Proud and so, so grateful for everything you've done for us, Seth, and most importantly Leah. We know she's in good hands with you. Now that doesn't mean that Harry isn't going to be just willing to thrust her onto you when she's old enough; she's still our baby, but we trust you." She pulled me up and into a hug, and I willingly fell into the hug.

We then felt little hands pushing us apart, "Mommy! Stop hogging Jake! There are others of us who want to spend time with him too!" We pulled apart and looked down to see Lee with her arms crossed and eyes narrowed toward her mother.

Sue laughed warmly and placed a hand on her daughter's head, "Now little lady, have you not been with Jake the last few hours? Is it not time for us to have some time with you?" Sue didn't wait for an answer, and instead looked up into my eyes, "Don't worry Jake, it seems she's already quite taken with you and accepting the you-know-what without even knowing it." She smiled at me again and went back to cooking. As Leah turned her eyes towards me, I saw affection, love, and warmth in her eyes. I knew Sue was right, but it still felt good to see it for myself. Hopefully Leah won't lose any of that adoration she has for me as she grows up.