Chapter 4 Smile

Leah lightly pressed her face to the little window as the plane came to a stop on the tarmac. She looked towards the terminal of the tiny Port Angeles airport where groups of people were huddled together, waiting for their friends or family members on board the plane. She easily zeroed in on her own family. Her mother was smiling and nearly bouncing where she stood while clinging on to Charlie's arm. Seth, who was so tall that he towered over his mother, was laughing and waving both his hands at the plane. She laughed quietly to herself. Her little brother was such a fool sometimes.

The "fasten seatbelt" sign finally turned off and the flight attendant gave the okay for everyone to get out of their seats. Leah waited impatiently for the passengers in front of her to deplane. Fresh, cold air splashed her face when she reached the doorway. As she descended the stairs a shiver ran through her. She knew her zip-up hoodie was not going to be enough for the weather in this state. She pulled her zipper up a little more and shoved her hands in her pockets as another shiver ran through her.

Leah followed the other passengers from the plane to the terminal. Seth broke away from the waiting crowd and jogged right up to her. She busted out laughing when he wrapped her in a bear hug and spun her around once. She had missed her sweet, goofy little brother.

"I'm so glad you're home, sis'! It's about time!" Seth exclaimed happily.

"I'm happy to see you too." Leah told him as she let him go.

He was still the sweet looking young man that she had left behind four years earlier. Freakishly tall and a bit too thin, but he still had an honest and innocent face.

Leah turned around and found her mother standing there, waiting for her turn to hug Leah. She missed her mother too. Her mother was possibly the most kind and understanding person Leah knew. Sue smiled proudly at Leah, her eyes shining with tears.

"Oh, my girl!" She exclaimed and hugged her daughter. "I'm so happy you are home."

"Me too, mom." Leah said as she tried to fight away her own happy tears. "I've missed you."

Sue pulled away, but kept her hands on Leah's shoulders. She looked over Leah from head to toe.

"Look at you!" Sue said proudly. "You look great! Your hair is so cute. Growing your hair out was a good choice."

"Thanks, mom." Leah replied.

Leah saw that Charlie was hanging back, letting Sue and Seth have their time with Leah. He stood there politely watching them, with his hands in his pockets. She liked Charlie Swan, she may not be the biggest fan of his daughter, but she respected Charlie. He made her mother happy and that's what mattered.

"Hey, Charlie." Leah greeted him. "It's good to see you again."

Charlie grinned and stepped forward so they could shake hands. "Welcome home, Leah. Good to have you back."

"Thanks."

After retrieving Leah's suitcase and duffle bag, the family left the airport terminal. They packed themselves and the luggage into Sue's car and took off towards home. To be more exact, they headed towards Leah and Seth's childhood home on the Quileute reservation. Sue had actually moved in with Charlie after their wedding, however, she found that she did not have the heart to sell her home that she had shared with her children and first husband. She had rented it out to a couple of people, but as soon as she found out that Leah wanted to come home, she gave the tenants a fair warning that they should start looking for a new place. Since Seth and Quil had become roommates after high school and moved in a two bedroom apartment on the reservation, Sue wanted Leah to have the house.

The drive took about an hour and Leah felt the nervous excitement build more and more as they neared the reservation. She watched the forest blur by outside. Finally they were on the familiar highway that led right into the reservation. The little town was the same as it's always been. The same tired looking shops lined the main street and the same old Stop-'n-Go gas station sat on the corner. It was all comforting to Leah though. She didn't realize just how homesick she was until now.

As they turned onto the street that led to her childhood home, she felt relieved. One of the neighbor's children were playing in their front yard. A little boy and a little girl laughed as they splashed in muddy puddles and it made Leah smile because they reminded her of herself and Seth when they were little. Seconds later they stopped and parked right outside the house. Leah sighed and got out of the car and into the cold air.

What she saw next didn't really surprise her, but she laughed out loud and shook her head. Sitting on the steps of the porch was Jacob Black. He smiled back and stood up.

"I should have known." Leah said loud enough for Jake to hear from across the yard.

"Did you really think that I would miss one of my best friends finally coming home for the first time in 4 years?" He said and laughed.

Leah slammed the car door shut and started running towards Jake. Jake jumped off the porch and jogged towards Leah. They met in the middle of the damp front yard. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he hugged her around her waist. He briefly picked her up off the ground and she slapped him on the shoulder and laughed when he put her down.

"Look at you!" Jake said as he held her at arm's length away. "I mean seeing you through Skype was one thing, but in person! You look awesome!"

"Aww, thanks Jay."

"Come on kids, let's get inside." Sue said and ushered everybody towards the house.

Hanging out with her family and Jake was the best homecoming she could have asked for. They ate dinner together, talked, and joked for hours. At the end of the night Leah looked around the room and she knew that these were the people who could always make her smile. The only person missing was her best girlfriend, Mandy. She was going to have to see about flying Mandy up here soon.