A/N: Sorry before these last few chapters they were all so short, and that the characters didn't sound like they should've. I'm trying harder, and I promise it'll get better as I go.

Chapter Nine

Leah began unpacking her bags after calling her mother saying she needed to stay in Nappanee for a while, and even offered for her mother to come stay with her, but she declined. It's been three days since she got here and her mother pulled a lot of strings to get Leah a nice apartment by the bed and breakfast she'd be working at once again. The only thing bad about the location was Jonah Dewberry lived right above her. Just my luck.

She still doesn't feel right about Ethan being out of her life, for now at least. Doubting she ever will. She remembered dropping him off at the farm.

"I will never forget you. And I will never love another as I loved you"

"Your fling is over. You'll be baptized. You'll marry an Amish Girl." She said with resignation.

"You were not part of my fling." He said fiercely. "You were part of my life. You will always be in my heart, Leah. Until angels close my eyes."

His face blurred through her tears. "Go." She said. "Go back. Go home."

She still couldn't believe she let him walk out of her life forever without putting up more of a fight then she wanted to. Love is a funny thing. But Leah was still determined as ever to get Ethan back to her. She loved him too much to let him go.

She was walking out the apartment when she heard her name being yelled.

"Leah?" A girls voice shouted. "Hello, Leah."

Leah turned to face Martha Dewberry. "Oh, Hi." Leah greeted Martha.

"I have heard about you and Ethan." Martha said. "I am truly sorry."

I'll bet you are. Leah thought to herself.

"Thank you." Leah simply said.

Martha smiled at her before saying. "My brother is having a party tonight. Would you like to come?"

Leah had to think for a minute. What if Ethan was there? What would he think if she was at a party he was attended. Before she could answer. "Do not worry about Ethan, he will more then likely not be there. But Charity probably will."

"Alright. I'll be there." Leah said with a smile.

"Wonderful!" Martha said with a smile like she truly wanted her to be there.

Leah was almost inside the grocery store when she saw Ethan and Charity. They were surprised to see her. Leah could tell.

"Hello, Leah." Charity said running to catch up with her friend. Then greeted her with a hug.

"Hey, Charity." Leah said tightly. "Hello, Ethan."

Ethan turned a red color when she said hello to him. Which surprised her a bit. He hadn't done that since they met.

"Leah, you must come to the farm for dinner. I have some exciting news to tell you! Let us talk in private, Ethan, I will be back in a few minutes." Charity tugged at her friends arm and led her into the store. "Me and Jonah are back together! And he said, soon enough his fling will be done and over with!"

Leah was surprised by this. "Oh really? That's wonderful, I'm happy for you Charity."

Charity looked so happy. "Leah?"

"Yeah?" Leah replied.

Charity took a minute to answer. "Why are you back here?"

The question surprised Leah but she went ahead and answered her friend. "Well, after my step-father died I thought I needed a break from my mom, and even though me and Ethan broke up, I wanted to spend some time down here."

Charity nodded. "I see."

"Yeah, because honestly, it's the only place I've ever felt happy." Leah looked down and picked up a box of cereal.

Charity sighed. "Leah, I must tell you this."

They went down another aisle to get some bread, and some instant food. "You must tell me what?" She looked at Charity. Soon Leah's cart was filled with some foods.

"I don't think Ethan made the right choice. It's too soon to tell, yes. But, he has been grouchy and rude ever since he came back." Charity said. "Leah, I think he's still in love with you."

"Uh, wow. I mean, I still love him." Leah said quickly. "But you guys are Amish, and I'm English it just wasn't meant to be, I guess."

"Leah, I have an idea."

"And that would be?" Leah looked at her friend curiously.

Charity laughed. "You may this is stupid and that you would never do this but, what if you joined our community."

Leah was picking up a box of assorted snacks when Charity suggested this and Leah ended up dropping the box. "I don't think I could actually do that." Leah nodded her head no. "No matter how much I love him, I just don't know."

"Will you at least consider it? I mean, I want to see both you and my brother happy. I know it's a sin but it would make me proud to have you a Longacre." Charity said.

"I'd love to be one, but, I just…" Leah looked at her friend. "I'll think about it."

Charity clapped her hands. "Wonderful!"

Leah quickly paid for her things, and carried them out to her car. There were several bags so Charity helped her.

"What on earth took you so long in there Charity?" Ethan demanded. "Jonah came looking for you."

"Oh Leah needed a few things because she will be working at the place she worked at last summer." Charity told her brother.

Ethan then turned to Leah. "Is this true Leah?"

"Yeah…I needed to get away from home since well, everything." She said.

Ethan looked her in the eyes, his eyes smiling on their own, but not his mouth. "So this means we will be seeing a lot of each other again, no?"

Leah nodded. "Yeah, I guess we will."

Charity clapped. "I'm so happy you are here, Leah."

Leah smiled at her friend. "I am happy I am here to."

They all stood there in silence for a while, before Leah broke the silence. "Do you guys want to go see my new apartment?"

Ethan looked around. "I do not know if we have—" He was interrupted by his sister.

"Of course!" Charity shouted.

They all headed for the car. "Let's go." Leah said turning on her car radio blasting the song "Never Again" By Kelly Clarkson.

When they arrived at the apartment building Leah could tell Ethan felt uncomfortable sitting in the back seat of her car next to his sister. But yet at the same time he seemed, happy? Excited? Was it that he too was happy to even be near her?

"I will help you carry your things in." Ethan said.

"Is this not the apartment my Jonah lives in?" Charity exclaimed. "Oh my gosh, Leah! I could visit you both at the same time! How exciting!"

While Charity and Leah walked up the stairs to her room, Charity said. "I think I'm going to pop Jonah a surprise visit really quick. Maybe invite him to come down to your apartment."

Leah laughed. "I wouldn't advise that, I mean, I'd feel weird. You and your boyfriend. Me and my ex." Leah shook her head. "Well, maybe just for a while. We could watch a movie."

Charity squealed with delight. "Wonderful, Leah!" As she was leaving she turned to face Leah again. "Don't forget, think about joining our community. It'd be wonderful."

Ethan struggled carrying the groceries up, but he finally made it up to Leah's apartment. "Leah, I've got your—" He tripped and feel into her doorway.

She came out in a sweatshirt and short, shorts. "Oh gosh, Ethan are you alright?"

He looked at her, he couldn't help himself. She was so beautiful. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was going to miss being with her so much…he loved her so very much.

"Ethan? Earth to Ethan, come in Ethan." Leah joked.

"Sorry." Ethan turned beet red and shrugged. "What did you say?"

Leah had to laugh. "I asked if you were okay."

Ethan picked himself up and grabbed the bags. "Yes, I will be fine."

Leah looked around. "That's good."

"Where did Charity go?" Ethan wanted to know.

Leah quickly explained that she went to go visit Jonah and that he would possibly be coming downstairs to Leah's place, and that they might watch some movies.

Ethan simply nodded.

"Ethan…" Leah started.

"Yes?" He looked at her.

"I think…"

"What?"

Leah continued. "I think that I'm going to join your community."

Ethan stood there, his mouth hanging open. In complete shock. "What did you just say?"

Leah looked as if she'd been slapped. "I said I was going to join your community…but I guess I shall not do that…I mean, it's not what you want."

Ethan shook his head. "No, I would like that."

Leah looked him straight in the eyes. "Really?"

He nodded, then grabbed her for a hug. "I would like that very much, Leah Lewis-Hall.