Edward's POV

When I walked into the livingroom, Rosalie was just carrying Nessie inside. She gave me an amused/angry look. I took her out as soon as I heard the first groan. We went hunting.

I nodded in a silent thank you, a little ashamed that Nessie hearing us had been the last thing on my mind.

Hundred bucks bro, Emmett thought loudly. I looked to him, sitting beside Seth and Jacob on the couch. His smile was smug and triumphant but I was too satisfied to be angry.

I rushed down the steps and slapped the bill I'd brought into his hands. "Here." I was a little irritated that I'd lost but I couldn't keep the smile from my face. "It was worth it."

"So...it was a bet." Seth started slowly. His tone was surprisingly vicious. I looked him in the eyes and could see, as well as hear, how angry he was. And it was up there, too near, with the Sam incident.

"The bet was about my resistance. I lost because I couldn't resist her." I told him. "I'm not playing with Leah's emotions or anything."

"Why Leah?" Seth asked suddenly. "You could have pretty much whomever you want."

I was confused by this. "I thought...that you liked me Seth."

"I do!" he exclaimed.

"This isn't going to ruin our friendship or anything." I tried to console him. "If that's what you're thinking, you're wrong."

"I'm not worried about that. I don't want her with you." he ground out. The hurt must have been evident on my face. It isn't because you're a vampire, he added.

"Then what is the reason?" I asked, my own voice showing my rising anger. I was not going to freak out on Leah's little brother. He was a good kid. A great kid actually. And she'd hate me.

"She just got back!" he cried. "Just the other day. And you're already-" he cut himself off, but in his mind he finished the sentence. You're already taking her away from me.

"What are you jealous or something?" Rosalie asked from the stairs, coming down from where'd she'd put Nessie back in bed. The exact wrong question to ask, because he sort of was. But no one ever admitted to things like that.

"Yes!" he exclaimed, once again surprising me with his honesty. Seth was always like that. Saying what he thought, just like Leah...although his thoughts were usually much kinder. Wierd that I liked Leah's cynical and critical outlook on life...I was the mopey one normally, but cheering her up also cheered me up. "Leah doesn't get along with many people." Seth continued. "And I'm the only person she actually loves. And now you have to come along and... You're-" he stopped talking, this time because he was clueless to how to finish the sentence. He was just so hurt and worried and angry.

"What?" I asked, spurring him on.

"Leah isn't an openly emotional person." he finally said with a long-suffering sigh. "But believe it or not...she has them. She has alot of them. And with her, they're very intense."

"..." I didn't know what to say, but I nodded in encouragement for him to finish.

"I know for a fact that I am never going to hurt her." he told me, meeting my eyes. Those soulful brown eyes that Leah shared with her younger brother. They were filled with concern and heartbreak that he hadn't even experienced first hand. I felt like my own heart was breaking by looking at them. So similar to his sister and yet so different. He was purposely showing me this. He wanted me to see how concerned he was. Leah would be the first person to turn away, to keep everyone from seeing those things in her eyes. "How do I know that you won't hurt her?" Seth's voice broke when he spoke and I felt a stinging in my eyes like I would cry. But thank God it was impossible for me to do it. "How do I know you won't hurt her the way Sam did?"

There was a long pause, as I tried to think of a way for him to know I wouldn't. For me to prove it. But there was no way. And even if I could think of one...I knew it wouldn't be enough for Seth. He loved Leah too much. He'd seen her hurt already and he didn't want anything to happen again. It seemed like the only thing that was going through his mind, right now, and sometimes just randomly when he would look over at her I'd catch the thoughts. "Seth...right now, Leah and I are at the very beginning of a relationship. Not even labeled yet...hell, if she even wants a relationship with anyone, let along me." I told him. "But you know me. And I'm not the cheating type. And if Leah and I were to actually start dating...I would never, ever hurt her like that." I rose my brows, pleading for him to belive me. "You'll just have to trust me. And trust your own judgement. And Leah's."

He stood from the couch, shaking his head slowly as he made for the stairs. "I'm going back to bed. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Edward."

I nodded solemnly, respecting that he wanted to think it over. His thoughts were a whirlwind of contradictions. He'll hurt her. No, Edward's a good guy. The tribe won't like this. Fuck the tribe! Sam's going to freak. Sam's a bastard! Leah might get too attached. Edward might get attached. What if he hurts her and she leaves? What if she hurts him and he makes us leave? God!

"Good night, Seth." I called to him. Jacob followed Seth up the stairs after a quick warning glare to me and I was actually taken aback. I was usually the one to throw those glances. I mean, he was practically willingly betrothed to my daughter.

I turned to the remaining occupants of the livingroom...my family. And despite that little show down, Emmett still looked pleased. You finally got you some. When was the last time you were with Bella? Like a month after the honeymoon? I blanched at his blatant thoughts of how my marriage spiralled into nothing so quickly.

Jasper also looked happy and sated (although those were probably my emotions rubbing off on him) and he was thinking of how good it felt not to have me moping around for once. For once, everyone was happy at once.

Carlisle was happy that I was happy. I hope it works out.

Esme was smiling sweetly, her mind buzzing with possibilites of another daughter and son...two more additions to the family. She also realized that with them, Jacob would be more part of the family. Her mind was filled with images rather than thoughts. Images of family dinners where we all had significant others and we all-especially her normally brooding son-were happy.

Alice was much the same, but thinking of having a new sister to shop and talk to and Seth to tease. She vaguely thought that it would take awhile before she could see visions around Leah, but then got happy again when she realized that when her visions were too much, she'd have three shifters to help dull it down.

And most surprisingly, Rosalie was also envisioning Leah and Seth being added to the family. And Jacob too. Someone to understand her and bicker with her. Someone to fight with and have fight with her against others. She was recalling her fight with Leah and thinking of new strategies. Rosalie could kick ass but she wasn't the type to have fun rolling in the mud. But she wasn't letting Leah be known to be better than her since it would take her down a rank as one of the top fighters. But truthfully, with Alice's visions and my mind reading and speed, Jasper's skills, and Emmett's strength, she was only above Carlisle and Esme because of her viciousness and their over-caring hearts. Another thing she had in common with Leah. But Leah had the strength and speed over Rosalie and it didn't bode well with my sister. And then she started thinking of having Seth and Jacob around. A little brother to baby a bit. Jacob to tease. Just fresh faces in general.

Hmm...a coven of seven vampires, a half-vamp half-human, and three wolf-shifters. It would be odd but I could see it too.

"So?" I asked, waiting for them to actually say something. Whether I could read their thoughts or not...I wanted to know what they wanted everyone else to know. Would they admit to the others what I knew from being in their heads?

"If she's going to mellow you out that much...please keep her." Jasper said first. "I feel better than ever...you're usually so uptight." I laughed a little and nodded in agreement. "Even with her anger...it's a fair trade-off. Not to mention that she's one of the strongest shifters and a great fighter." Of course, Jasper was thinking of advantages that she could bring to the family. I sighed.

"Hell...Leah's cool. Better than who-should-not-be-named." Emmett joked. Everyone knew he meant Bella. Emmett had been one of the first to accept Bella fully, after Alice, and he'd been utterly shocked that the clumsy, teasing human I'd had an infatuation with had become a mean, snipey newborn. But then again, the change didn't alter your personality. So that sweet, clumsy human...that had been a charade that she couldn't keep up all the time. "And if she can help you get over that bitch-"

"Emmett!" Esme chastised. I smiled when she looked back to me. "You already know how I feel. I think she's a lovely girl."

"She's great." Carlisle said simply, a nod of approval sent to me.

"A little rough around the edges..." Alice started, "But I can fix that. And I like her."

"Whoa!" Rosalie interrupted. "You and Bella were BFFs or whatever. Leah is totally more on my side of the spectrum Alice. And you know it. So back off."

"She can be friends with us both, Rosalie." Alice snipped.

"I know." Rose said quickly. "I'm just saying..." Don't try to hog her. I laughed.

"Wow, Rose. You like Leah better than you like me." I accused. She shrugged and for a second, I could hear her trying to decide in her head. "Jeez! I've been your brother forever. You just met her."

"Don't be jealous." Rosalie smirked. "I love you Edward, you know that. But I like her better. She's a kindred spirit."

"You mean a bitch." Jasper stated.

"Hey!" Esme started. "That girl is not...what you're saying." she finished, fumbling as to not curse.

"Yeah, Emmy, I take offense to that." came Leah's voice from the steps. I whirled around, completely startled. How the hell did she just do that? She laughed at my face. "You guys were a little too busy with your little family feud. Didn't mean to sneak up on ya. Thought you'd hear my-" She stopped, fully aware of what she'd been saying, and trying to brush it off as a slip of the tongue. "Oh yeah...forgot. Does it piss you off that you can't hear my thoughts?" she asked. I growled playfully and her smile got bigger. She straightened her clothes a little more and started down the steps. "I'm guessing that everyone knows...pretty much everything." She actually looked a little embarassed.

"Yeah. Vampires remember?" Emmett asked. "Banging headboards against the wall isn't very sneaky."

Her blush got deeper. "Shut up, Emmett. You got your money, didn't you?" Emmett's mouth fell open, along with mine. "I've been awake for a few minutes. And I'm sorry about Seth's reaction." She sighed. "That boy has to know that I've never loved anyone as much as I love him. I love him like I suspect a mother would love her son."

"He does." I told her truthfully. "He's just afraid that you'll love me more."

I could see how that made her uneasy. She wasn't ready to bring feelings into any of it. But she still came down the rest of the steps to stand beside me. She leaned into my side a little and grabbed my hand. She looked up at the room of vampires. "So...you guys are sure that you're okay with this?"

"Definitely." Carlisle said, at the same time Esme said, "Of course."

"Hell yes." Emmett said cheerfully.

"You got my vote." Jasper rasped.

"And I already heard Rose and Alice fighting for my affections." Leah quipped with a huge smile.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, mutt." Rosalie said. "I was ju-"

"Can it, Leech. I like you too." Leah laughed to which Rosalie blushed and then scowled. But I could hear the relief in her thoughts. She had actually thought Leah would refuse her friendship. "You too, Pixie." Leah added to the somber Alice, who perked up immediately. Leah shook her head and smiled. "And that whole mutt thing...can you really call it good banter if you keep using the same word over and over, Rose?"

Rosalie had to smile at that one. "I could just say dog. Or mongrel. Stray. Wolf-girl. Bitch. She-wolf."

"Wolf-girl, she-wolf? Those are just stating what I am. Dog...really? Mongrel is a little better." she laughed. "But I'll let you study up a little okay? Leech, parasite, blood-sucker...they're all common. It's harder to think of derogatory names for a shifter...I'll give you that."

"Okay, mongrel." Rosalie quipped.

Leah started to pull me to the stairs with a raised brow. You up for a round two, Cullen? I nodded and I suspect everyone knew about what. She looked to them as we started upstairs. "We'll be much quieter this time. And Rose...stick to Mutt. It's just more affectionate, you know? Gives me the warm fuzzies inside."

I still could hear the sound of Emmett's booming laughter as Leah closed my bedroom door behind her. "We really do have to be more quiet this time. Do you think they can hear us right now?"

"Yep!" came a chorus of amused voices from downstairs. I knew they had to be actually listening for it to have heard her though.

"Perverts." Leah muttered, taking the word from my mouth. "We just won't talk at all okay...if-okay, who are we kidding-when I can't be quiet anymore...cover my mouth. But remember, Cullen, I have increased lung capacity, but I still need to breath sometimes." I knew I was smiling hard at her ramblings because she slapped my chest and then sauntered back to the bed. "Okay...no more talking...I don't want to wake Nessie or Seth. Now, since I can talk to you in my head, do you have anything you want to say first?"

"Hmmm...can't think of anything." I joked before springing at her on the bed. She let out a little squeal of laughter to which I promptly cut off with my hand. She calmed down and then motioned with her hand that she was okay now. I removed it, raising a brow.

She leaned in to run a hot mouth along my jawline, kissing and licking her way up to ear. I groaned when she bit down on the lobe, a little rougher than a human would like. But in a way that sent me to heaven. She scooted up, pulling her legs out from where I was stradling them, and then spreading them to accomodate me. She pulled me down, my cold chest pressing against her intense heat. "Okay..."came her husky voice, barely a whisper, in my ear, "Action."

I vaguely heard Emmett's laughter again before all background noise, anything other than Leah's ragged(and oddly arousing) breathing and rapid heartbeat, was swept away. It didn't stay that way for long though, and I tried my best to kiss or cover her mouth when it escalated from sighs and whimpers to moans and what I could only call little feminine grunts.

In my mind though, she was screaming. Right there, Cullen. Yes. Right there. You got it. Harder. Faster. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Fuck! Sorry...forgot about your prude mind.

I had to laugh that she managed to think straight at that moment and still be unwittingly funny. The coherent thoughts didn't last much longer though, her mind filling up with only my name over and over. Cullen! God, Edward. Edward! Cullen!...right there.