Four Years Later
Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight characters although after much planning, scheming and praying...I feel confident that one day! One day...ah, who am I kidding. I'll never get the rights.
Its funny how things have a way of working out. When I was 19 I phased into a giant grey wolf the size of a horse. Around that same time I suffered some of my most painful moments in life; my fiancé dumped me to be with my cousin, Emily, who was like a sister to me. Then my father passed away; the only man I was certain would never leave me when I needed him the most and would love me unconditionally. Back then I was angry, resentful, spiteful and without a doubt vengeful. What, or rather who save me was Jacob Black, the tribe's future chief and the true Alpha of the 'La Push wolves'. Jacob broke away from Sam's pack along with Seth to protect Bella Cullen and her unborn fetus. He imprinted on the baby and there was a very anti-climatic meeting between two armies; one consisting of the vampire ruling family and the other consisting of the Cullens, their 'associates' and the wolves. Afterwards, that was it.
The end seemed to be written out where Jacob would leave to follow his imprint for all eternity and I'd…well…I'd just live out my existence. But then something happened and I fell in love with my Alpha, Jacob, despite the obvious fact that he had imprinted. I loved him unconditionally; something I, secretly, felt certain I was incapable of. I secretly loved him from afar accepting his attention and affection as nothing more than just normal interactions between two friends. As a girl I love getting hugs and from a hot guy like Jacob Black? BRING ON THE HUGFEST! That's what I held onto and for a moment had convinced myself that this is how it'd always be; Leah and Jake, Jake and Leah. But he left just as it was written into his destiny. I knew the day would come but knowing didn't help lessen the pain when he finally told me. The pain only intensified when he asked me to come with him. I wanted to; I really did but he wasn't meant for me. I had to let him go so I could heal and move on with my life just like with Sam. I did that too; move on. I had friends this time to talk to. I didn't have to go it alone; I had Seth, Quil and Embry. Embry. I'm certain that if neither of us had phased, as was expected, we'd some how wind up together. I would've gladly given my heart to him but I had to free it from Jacob's hold first.
Imagine my surprise when instead of giving me my heart back Jake held it closer and gave me his. Jake confessed loving me and wanting to be with me. Unlike Sam, he actually had the freedom to do so. Jake and I became a couple, an item. When Seth, Quil, Embry and I went off to college as planned Jacob came too. We lived together and did everything together. It was the same as before except we told each other how much we loved one another. There were no more just 'hugfests' but serious hot cuddling, kissing and lovemaking. Sure everything wasn't 'imprint perfect' but we had unconditional love for one another. He was still my 'Almighty Alpha' (minus the sarcasm) and I was his 'Beautiful Beta'.
"Leah Michelle Clearwater." I hear my name called and a thunderous uproar of cheers, applauds and wolf howls erupt as I walk up to accept my diploma. I'm graduating from college after 4-years. I have my BS in Business and a minor in Info Tech. I blush as I shake the Dean's hand and she shakes her head at the noise; all applause and noise, in general, should wait until after all names have been called. But no one ever listens to that no matter where you are or what is going on.
"Embry Call." The same uproar starts again. Yea, the Renegades have quite the turn out for our graduation. Embry and I make our way around turning our tassels and getting our final 'professional' picture taken before retaking our seats.
"Finally done." Embry says wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me in for a quick kiss on the forehead. I can't help but giggle and lean into the embrace; Embry is still my best friend. Embry's graduating with his BS in business, also, and a minor in Accounting. Sitting through class with Embry is what has got me this far. We helped one another out and if one fell short the other was there to pick up and go on. Hearing a deep growl we both look up to see Jacob, with a deep serious frown on his face, and Quil. Embry and I both wave at Jacob innocently as Embry leans in and mock whispers in my ear, "I think he saw us."
"I think so too." I mock whisper back. We're at the very end of the row and Jacob could easily snatch Embry up – if it wasn't our Graduation Day.
"I think he's mad."
"I don't care." I boldly declare grabbing Embry by the front of his gown and pulling him closer to plant a wet kiss on his cheek.
"Oh, a real wet one." Embry teases with a wink pulling me closer and eliciting another growl from Jacob.
"That's not all that's wet for you." I say throwing my own wink back at Embry. He and Quil immediately choke back their laughter but Jacob only shakes his head.
"It's that kind of bullshit that got you on the cover of Paul's newsletter." Jacob growls out as I immediately sober up.
"And I'd like to stay out of the doghouse tonight." Embry says giving me one more quick hug before removing his arm. I watch as Jacob and Quil move on down awaiting their names to be called. Both Jake and Quil are graduating with an Automotive Tech degree while Seth is getting his in Journalism.
See not too long after Jake's grand return and Beck's even grander return (the girl had the whole Rez celebrating her like she was the Second Coming of the Messiah) Paul started a small newspaper, or sorts, which was basically gossip about 'The Protectors' and other residents of La Push. Initially, there wasn't much interest in Paul's Quileute Gazette but then his 7th issue featured a blip about me and Jacob. What was the eye catcher was a picture of me on the cover. It was a picture courtesy of one Emmett Cullen; yea the one I sent to Emmett when Jake and the Cullens moved to Alaska. To say I was livid would be an understatement; I was rabid! First, I ran Paul and Emmett out of the state with thanks to the cubs and then had to run around La Push and Forks destroying as much of the damned newsletters as I could. And through it all Jake only shook his head and said, "I told you not to play with Emmett. That's what your ass gets. Now the entire male tourist population has a half naked picture of you." Believe it or not that was our first argument as a couple. I later learned that he had 'confiscated' as many as he could using Charlie's 'borrowed' police badge calling it 'child pornography'.
We eventually overcame this hurdle and let our relationship go from there. Oh, by the way, Paul and Emmett were allowed back after a month but that was only because Rachel was due with the twins any day at the time. It was after all of this and the death of Paul's newsletter (although I have heard whispers that it still exists like in an 'underground' type of way but I have no evidence – yet) that we all learned that Seth had been Paul's informant for the longest which explains how Paul would've gotten the photo from Emmett. Needless to say, Seth became one of my least favorite people.
Graduation continues on finally coming to a close. We all cheer because we are done with school…for now. We all file outside and the excitement in the air is palpable. I smile and wave at friends and classmates on my way to meet my own. It's bittersweet seeing the others being hugged by their mothers and fathers. Right now I really miss my daddy because I know he'd be so proud of me – proud of us; Seth and I. I feel a warm arm wrap around my waist and I smile up at Jacob weakly. I know he's feeling and thinking the same thing. In fact, we all are; Jake with his mother, Embry and his father, Quil and both of his parents with Seth and I missing Daddy. "They're all proud of us." Jake whispers before gently kissing my forehead. I nod my head in agreement because it's true but it'd've been nice to actually see how proud they are of us. I find myself caught up in a tight hug between Quil and Embry and then finally Seth.
We quickly find our families and friends and split up to greet immediate family first. Seth and I are quickly caught up in a tight hug from Mom. We both fight back tears as she whispers to us how proud she is of us and 'your father is smiling down on both of you'. I feel Seth's hug tighten around us as she begins telling us how we'll be successful at whatever we strive to accomplish. After Mom bestowing some of her attention on just me she then turns to Seth. I get a hug from Sam, Emily and Levi before getting caught up in tight hugs from the rest of the wolves, imprints, humans and vampires present. Yea, the Cullens have shown up too for this momentous occasion. I smile at Nessie as she's happily chatting away with Alice while holding the hand of Nahuel; turns out that she'd eventually fall in love with him. I still don't understand what happened to the imprint but everything seems to have worked out for everyone. Daddy always told me that 'sometimes things happen for a reason. Sometimes good things and the rest of the times it's bad. Just because you don't immediately see the good end result doesn't mean that it won't happen'. Maybe Daddy died so that I'd learn to stand on my own two feet first and then learn how to lean on others? And maybe Jake imprinted just long enough to develop a bond with the Cullens for some other reason. "Very deep thoughts for graduation, don't you think?" I look up to see Eddie-boy standing beside.
"Was it the deepest thought here?" I ask with a smirk. He looks around at everyone standing around and looks down at me.
"Yea, pretty much. At least out of the graduates; the parents are a different story."
"Whatever mind-rapist." I snort before turning my attention back to my family. Seth is standing talking to Sam with Levi bouncing around wearing his graduation cap. There's a girl standing beside him holding his hand and having a conversation with Emily and Mom. She's short at about 5'2" with shoulder length cut straight black hair, her skin is a dark red; she's Native American from the Morongo tribe. She's wearing a light yellow summer dress with light brown wedges. Her name is Amber Wilds and she is my little brother's girlfriend. Amber is a sweet and loving girl who is a veterinarian in Forks and is a perfect match for my brother. It's funny but when he first saw her he was immediately 'smitten', or at least how Mom described it, with her that we all thought that he had finally imprinted but it was just 'love at first sight'. They've been together for about 2-yrs now. She graduated from college during the winter and has been living with us since.
Jacob is surrounded by Billy, Rachel, Paul, Rebecca, Robert and his four nieces and nephews. Amy and Adam are now 8 and Peter and Phillip (Paul and Rachel's twins) are 4. it's odd how the twins each had twins and now, for some reason per Beck, I'm expected to have a set as well; but both girls. Whatever, if you haven't guessed by now Beck is crazy and that craziness is slowly passing on to her daughter, Amy, since every time she sees me she runs to me and whispers to my belly, 'please be girls, please be girls'. Jacob catches my eye and winks at me before turning to laugh at something Rob has said. Shaking my head with a smile I notice Quil is laughing with Old Quil and a now 11-yr old Claire standing next to him. Claire is hugging Quil tightly as he has his hand resting on top of her head and is now rolling his eyes at something Old Quil has said.
Finally there's Embry and his mother, Mattie. Embry is talking to his mother, who is also in tears, and has a beautiful woman on his hip with his arm wrapped around her waist keeping her close. She's tall 5'9", leggy, with a very short hair cut (that looks so cute on her); her skin is a rich brown with a hint of redness to it. She's wearing a green and white flower printed summer dress and some white flip flops. Embry leans down and captures her full lips with his own. That's the reason why I'm glad I chose Jacob. Her name is Tatiana Nyota Williams and is Embry's girlfriend, his love, his 'Chocolate Thighs'. She showed up on the Rez 3-yrs ago looking to learn more about her heritage as a shape shifter. Yea, turns out that she's a distant relative of the Clearwaters and she along with her brother and about 8 of her cousins all phased 4-years ago to handle 'a leech-gang war' near their grandmother's neighborhood. Embry was hooked the moment he laid eyes on her and has done all that he could to make sure that she was his. Embry loves me, I know, but he is 'in love' with her and I couldn't be happier for him especially considering how he's opened up a lot since she's arrived. Embry's always been very quiet and reserved; he was the kind of guy who went with the flow and didn't stand out much. Tati has inspired a lot of…passion in him. I shake my head with a laugh as their kiss deepens and a tall, dark man clears his throat to break them apart; that's 'Tank', Tati's brother. Embry always wanted a big family and that is exactly what he's gotten with Tati. She's still in college studying medicine looking to become a pediatrician with one more year to go.
After everyone has made their rounds and received their 'congrats', 'way to go' and from Beck 'I can't believe your ass sat through 4-years of college' (God, I love that woman). We all group together for our photos; the combination always rearranging from just the Renegades, to the all the wolves, family photos, couples photos, candid photos, the usual corny rabbit ears thrown in and whatever else these boys can think of. It is while I'm busy talking with Tati, Amber and Beck about our summer plans (more like 'our' summer plans minus Beck because she always winds up bringing the twins with her; supposedly she's not learned how to beat Rob at the simple game of Rock, Paper, Scissors) in between accepting and opening my graduation gifts that I hear someone clear their throat. I turn around only to see just Dave and Eli standing off flirting with some girls but not anyone else. I hear an 'oh my gawd' from Tati and feel someone take my hand. Looking down I see Jacob kneeling down and smiling back up at me. My initial thought is 'what the hell are you doing?' but then realization dawns on me as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a diamond engagement ring. I hear a gasp; whether it is my own or someone else's, I don't know. "Lee, will you marry me?" Jacob asks me and I, I'm stunned. Sure we had discussed getting engaged after college but, but it was after we opened the garage together and, and I definitely didn't pick this up in his head – he's been keeping secrets from me.
I look up with a smile closing my eyes and taking a deep breathe. I love Jacob Ephraim Black with all my heart, body and soul and I do want to spend the rest of our lives together as his wife. When I open my eyes they are met with a pair of gorgeous gray eyes belonging to a strongly chiseled face with that rugged stubble; the guy is…damn. He smiles at me with a nod in my direction and I blush turning my attention back to Jake who is calling my name. "Lee? Leah?" Jake calls standing up and following my line of sight. "Did, did you just fucking imprint?" Jake demands angrily with a look of murder in his eyes. I'm suddenly aware of how quiet it is now, or at least out of our group, as Jake angrily glares at the gray-eyed stranger; who seeing a huge, Indian shooting daggers at him with his eyes makes a hasty retreat. "Leah." Jake calls again as I smile up at him.
"Nope, I didn't imprint." I declare laughing as I wrap my arms around Jake's neck quickly kissing his lips.
"You bitch." He growls as the others laugh and I shrug at his comment; after all I do turn into a giant canine.
"Yea, but I'm your bitch." I say quietly gently kissing him again. "And my answer is 'yes'."
"Damn right." Jacob growls out hugging me tightly and then placing the ring on my finger. We share a sweet kiss as people buzz around us with the excitement of another La Push wedding. Our tender moment is short lived as Alice bounces up excitedly (obviously because she thinks she's planning my wedding; I think my Mom, Beck, Tati and Amber may have something to say about that; but they'll most likely have no problem with the Cullens fitting the bill) as she hands Jake an envelope.
"And this is from us." Alice says as Seth, Quil and Embry quickly gather around to see what the Cullens have given us. The boys' didn't get anything for graduating from high school because Jacob didn't feel right about accepting expensive gifts from his imprint's family and that I wouldn't be receiving anything seeing as how I'd already graduated two years earlier. But this time we could reap the benefits without our Alpha feeling guilty or anyone within the pack being left out. Jake opens the envelope and I can hear Quil quietly mumbling wishing for an island; what he'd do with an island I don't even want to know. I'd pass on the island since the last non-vampire that went to the Cullen's island came back pregnant with enough drama worthy of TLC; 'I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant With A Vampire's Child 5'. I chuckle to myself as Edward sighs and rolls his eyes at my thoughts which I'm entitled to, thank you very much mind rapist.
"Plane tickets?" Jake asks with a frown drawing my attention back to the matter at hand.
"Not just plane tickets, Jake." Embry says snatching the envelope from his hands. "Round trip plane tickets to Europe."
"We're going to Europe?" I asked excitedly. Okay, yea, they may stink like 2,300 beds of roses watered with high karate cologne but man they seriously know how to give a gift. I mean backpacking across Europe can't be too hard considering how majority of us probably going are wolves.
"And depending on where you guys would like to visit we will have arrangements set up for you." Carlisle says stopping my hostel thoughts. Oh my God! I've heard Rosalie mention a castle somewhere in Spain,
"Madrid." Edward clarifies for me. "And there are 8 tickets." Sweet, a couple's retreat...well for most of us anyway. I can't help but notice out the corner of my eyes Quil throw up his hands meaning I guess he's out. But before we can even begin to hash out who's all going, when, where there's a loud shout that silences us all.
"OH HELL NO!" Beck growls out as she walks up to stand in between us and the Cullens glaring angrily at them. "We had a $50 gift limit agreement." Beck states matter-of-factly with her hands on her hips.
"We never agreed to that." Rosalie says with a frown.
"Uh…yea, yea you did." Beck says with a harsh laugh and an air or superiority. "Bella, in fact, agreed."
"Bella?" Rosalie repeats as everyone turns to look at said vampire. I swear that if she had a drop of blood left she'd be blushing.
"Yea, Bella handles your legal, or rather 'illegal'," Beck says inserting in hand quotes, "dealings with your crooked lawyer. Thus making her your acting executor of the Cullen estate and fortune. In other words you all have retracted on our agreement." Uh-oh here it comes. "And thus must reimburse me for my time, pain and suffering." And there's the angle. Ever since Beck has come back to La Push she's been trying to get a cut of the Cullens' fortune…thus far with no succes - no surprise.
"Uh…what pain and suffering?" Jake asks with a hard frown.
"Haven't you been listening? The pain is, obviously, from the realization that our verbal agreement has been broken. The suffering because now despite all the work, love and care I put into your gift,"
"You gave each of us 10 bucks." Jake growls out narrowing his eyes.
"Exactly. I mean these are hard times, Jacob. I don't have money to just throw around like, like I was a Cullen. Don't you want your niece and nephew to go to college?" It is around this time that I tune Beck out already sensing that this is going to take a while. I love Beck and I'm mildly sorry that she feels one up'd by the Cullens but truthfully I'm really looking forward to going to Europe! WOOHOO! LEAH CLEARWATER HAS GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, JUST GOT ENGAGED AND IS GOING TO EUROPE! YAY!
A/N: There is FINALLY my epilogue. I'm sorry that it took so but I couldn't find the right voice to use. I had one for Billy then Jake then Sue then Beck (for some odd reason that hit me at like 2:30 in the morning but I lost 'cuz it was 2:30 in the morning and I feel asleep in mid-sentence which wouldn't have mattered anyway because after 2-paragraphs it became just purely chicken scratch and garble) but then ItsCuzOfTheFame gave me the idea of doing Leah or Embry. Thanks, Taji! I love you for that because then it finally hit me as I was debating over whether or not to get on Twitter at 11pm which meant I wouldn't get off until about 3am. I've been away for 2-days but for a good cause.
But, I won't lie after some point I had to go to work and really lost my flow...so sorry if it sucked but just wanted to get it out there. And Ozzie since I, apparently, now keep track of my days through Twitter I'm sorry if I missed your birthday. Happy Birthday! And a quick shout out to all my Twitter girls especially you Britt because for the last 2-days I've been singing old R&B songs just at random moments throughout my day.
But you all know what to do. This is the final installment and I'm thinking about doing a short 5 shot of Embry and his girlfriend, Tati, before continuing with my Blackwater story. Summer Love will be the title for Embry's story and Never Letting Go for the sequel to Missing You. So you gotta review the final chapter those of you who alerted and fav'd me but never bothered to say anything. I can't find you so it's not like you have to live in fear of me retaliating against you. But it's late I"m rambling so...yea, REVIEW! NOW!............THANK YOU \(^o^)/