A/N: Once again I want to send out a thank you to those who are reading and enjoying (hopefully) this fic. And to those extra special, amazing, wonderful souls who took the time to review, I send you my eternal gratitude. I brought a bunch of Freddo Frogs to reward my year 10 English class, and I wish I could something like that for you, as well.

There was a slight delay in uploading this chapter, and I apologise. It turned out a lot longer than I expected (I was actually worried that I wasn't going to have enough material to sustain a decent sized chapter, but it just kept coming and coming) so I hope that it makes up for it some way. Right now it is 12.55am and I have to be up for work at 6.30, but I am here uploading this chapter because I want to get it out so much. So, I hope that you all enjoy it and feel free to let me know what you think.

Music: Walking On a Dream- Empire of the Sun, Sweet Darlin'- She & Him, Who'd Have Known- Lily Allen, Two Kinds of Right- The Grates.

"Come in, come in," Sue ushered the figure in through her front door.

"Thanks Sue," Rachel Black said. "I was just after that recipe that we were talking about the other day."

"Oh right- come through to the kitchen," Sue directed, gesturing for Rachel to follow her. "So who are you trying to impress?"

Rachel laughed softly. "Paul and I are having dinner with our parents tonight. It's not so much impress, as wanting to serve up something other than the fish Dad always seems to eat."

Sue raised an eyebrow as she pulled a recipe book from one of the pantry shelves. "Paul doing a family dinner. My, my, have you been successful in taming the wild beast, Rachel?"

"No taming," Rachel replied. "Just bribery. I promised him that I would ensure there would be enough for seconds and thirds." She paused. "Dad asked me to ensure that he was full enough so he wouldn't raid the cupboard afterwards."

"Sounds like Seth- is was astronomical the amounts he ate...aha!" Sue pulled out a piece of paper with flourish. "Here it is. Let me know—"

She cut off as Leah breezed into the kitchen. "Hey mum...Rachel. Who are we gossiping about today?'

Sue reached out, swatting her daughter lightly on the head. "There is no gossiping."

"Right," Leah grinned. "You need Seth to do that, right?" She opened the refrigerator, grabbing an apple. "I'm just heading out, mum. Are we still on for Port Angeles tonight?"

Sue nodded as Leah kissed her on the cheek and then walked out the back door, almost bouncing with each step.

Rachel was watching, an amazed expression on her face. "Was that really Leah?"

Sue looked back at her. "Yeah...she's changed a bit, hasn't she?"

"What happened?"

Sue shrugged. "I have no idea, but she has been like this since she went to stay with Seth. It has been over a month she since returned. I don't know what happened while she was there, but I am so thankful for it. She is actually happy again."

XXXXX

Leah rolled onto the ground beside Jacob, trying hard to contain her erratic breaths. Glancing over, she saw that he was doing the same thing and could not help but laugh.

"Well," Jacob grinned. "I think that you should vent and get on your high horse more often. I can get used to you providing entertainment for me in return. Hell, I think you should start a full blown campaign."

"Hmm," Leah brought a hand up, lazily running it up and down his chest. "I was thinking of making t-shirts."

"Yeah, I can see the slogan now- 'Imprinting isn't love, it's mind control'," Jacob said. "I dare you to rock up at the next council meeting wearing one."

"If I walked in wearing something like that nobody would blink an eye," Leah pointed out. "Hell, they have probably been waiting for my public breakdown. You, on the other hand..."

"I don't think so...find me a different cause to fight for and I'll think about," he replied.

"Ok then," Leah propped herself up on her elbow. "What do you hate at the moment? What do you want to vent about?"

"Hmm..." Jacob closed his eyes for several moments. "You know how they use CGI to make babies on TV do things they shouldn't be able to do- like talk?" Leah nodded. "I hate that-they shouldn't do that, ever."

Leah's jaw dropped slightly. "Are you serious? That is your big vent topic?"

"Hell yes. Have you seen any of that shit? It's fucking creepy," Jacob let out and then shuddered slightly.

Leah's eyes widened. "You don't just hate them- you're scared of them!" she let out, pushing him. "You are scared of the CGI babies!"

He glanced at her, wondering if it was worth denying her claim. He decided it wasn't. "So what if I am- it is not normal."

"And having the ability to phase into a wolf is?"

"It is a hell of a lot more normal than watching an imposed mouth on a baby talk," he retorted. "And what about you? You're giving me shit, but you have got to be scared of something. And don't even try to worm out of this one- I'll find out one way or another."

Leah sighed. "You have to promise not to laugh."

Jacob rubbed his hands together. "Ohh, must be a good one."

"Don't get too excited, it's not so much funny as ironic...well, actually, if we look at it, it isn't actually ironic, it is actually expected."

"Leah," Jacob held up a hand. "Cut the crap and tell me."

"I am scared of cats."

Jacob stared at her for several seconds before bursting into loud laughter. "So the big bad dog is scared of the iddy widdy kitty."

"I was a little girl, there were claws involved. There has been long lasting results," Leah replied. "And if you ever call me a dog again, Jacob Black, it will be the last word you ever utter."

"I don't doubt that for a second," he replied solemnly."I promise that if one of those four-legged evil demons cross our path, I will take care of it."

"Good," Leah said. "And if a talking baby appears on the television I will change the channel."

"Sounds like we have a deal."Jacob said. Leah did not respond, her brow furrowed slightly, as if she were concerned about something. "What?"

"Nobody else knows about the cat thing, well except for mum and Seth," she replied. "I have never told anybody else...I didn't even tell Sam in the time that we were together."

"Why did you tell me?" Jacob asked, his voice considerably lower.

Leah shrugged. "I guess I just felt that I could...does that make sense?"

Jacob nodded, reaching out his arms and pulling her close to him.

XXXXX

"There you go, Billy," Quil said as he jumped off the chair, a burnt out light globe in his hand. "All changed and fixed. You should be able to see what you're doing now."

"Thanks." Billy took the globe from Quil. "My children seem to have disappeared off the face of the planet. They are never here when I need them."

Quil's head cocked to the side. "Children? I know Rach is all into Paul at the moment, but where is Jake? He is usually around isn't he?"

"Usually has turned into used. I have barely seen him this past month. The strange thing is, the times I do ask him where he is going, he says that he is heading out to the Cullen's."

Quil frowned, slightly confused. "I got the impression that he was backing off from Bella....but, I suppose Seth is there. He's probably just checking up."

Billy shrugged. "I am not going to probe him too much. Whatever he has been up, he is a lot happier, and for that I am grateful."

XXXXX

"Oh god," Jacob moaned, as he pulled Leah into his garage and pressed his lips into hers. "I thought that I was going to go crazy."

Leah laughed as he continued to pepper her lips with kisses. "It's only been two days since we saw each other."

Jacob's head reared back slightly. "Are you kidding me? Can you tell me that you find being apart an ease?"

No," Leah admitted. "I thought that I was going to have to start taking up knitting or something to keep me occupied. You?"

Jacob nodded towards the car behind them "The project has been keeping me busy."

Leah brought a hand up, fiddling with a button on his shirt. "Are we going to be able to keep this up? I mean, we've only been... whatever we are, for a week. Trying to find time is going to be so fucking hard."

"So," Jacob replied bluntly. "Who gives a flying fuck? It's all worth it, in the end, isn't it? And to be honest, I think we will be able to get time each day if we try."

Leah raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, because the last two days have been a walk in the park."

"And that was because of the minor complication of Dad being sick. He hasn't left the house," Jacob replied. "Think about it- if the weather permits, he spends 90% of his time fishing. The house is empty then."

"And mum visits Seth regularly- plus her lunches and dinners with friends. Our house is free then."

"Then, if we need a reason to get out, we can always use the Cullen's as an excuse," Jacob pointed out.

Leah snorted. "Yeah, because everyone will believe that I am socialising with parasites."

"Who cares what they believe. Edward and Bella will back us up. They kind of owe us, you know, given that we kind of saved their daughter's life."

A large grin had broken out on Leah's face. "We can make it work, can't we?"

Jacob smiled back. "Of course we fucking can."

*****

Leah glanced down at the trolley that was rapidly filling, and then looked back at her mother. "Mum, why do we need all this stuff? It's only the two of us."

"Don't forget your brother," Sue replied, as she grabbed two loaves of bread off the shelf and placing them in the trolley. "I like to make sure that he eats right."

Leah laughed softly. "Mum, I was there two weeks ago and he is eating plenty. Besides, he has basically moved out of home. Why can't he look after himself?"

Sue stared at her for a moment, an eyebrow raised. "Maybe he will when his older sister starts to," she said, with a smile.

Leah grinned "Touché, mum. Hey, what do you say we grab some of the unhealthiest food we can find and then we can stop by the video store on the way home. I am in the mood for a girl's night."

"One step ahead of you, darling," Sue said, as they turned down the chip and soft drink aisle. "Take your pick. Me, I am in the mood for...oh, hello Jacob."

Leah's head whipped up and she saw that Jacob had just entered the aisle. She could tell from the deer in headlights expression on his face that he had been planning on avoiding the two of them. Sue had obviously put a stop to that.

"Hey Sue," he said, stepping towards them. "Leah."

She nodded at him, a smile forming on her lips as Sue stepped in front of her, in Jacob's direction.

"How have you been Jacob? I haven't seen you in a while- what have you been up too?" Sue asked.

Leah could not help it. Jacob's eyes had involuntarily glanced towards her when Sue had asked that loaded question. Meeting his gaze, she scooped her two hands under her breasts pushing them up while giving him a suggestive wink.

"Uh—" Jacob coughed loudly. "Not a lot- I've been keeping to the garage lately."

"Oh, speaking of that- my car has been making some strange noises lately. Would I be asking too much for you to take a look at it?"

Jacob shifted his glance to Leah once more. She made a big show of fanning herself and unbuttoning the top few buttons on her shirt. She could see his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard and felt a sweet thrill run up her spine.

"Um, no...that would be fine, Sue. Just tell me when a good time."

"Would tomorrow be ok? Will you be busy?"

This time Leah feigned a yawn, stretching her arms up so that her shirt shifted up, revealing her stomach. As she dropped her hands down, she brought a finger to her lips, before trailing it between her breasts and down her stomach. When she reached her shorts, she dipped her finger slightly, so that she could run it along the inside edge of her waistband.

"Tomorrow will be just fine, Sue. I drop round mid-morning?"

"Fantastic," Sue said and then turned to Leah. "I am going to grab some dips. You get the chips and meet me in the confectionary aisle."

Jacob watched as Sue disappeared around the corner and then faced Leah. His eyes were blazing, but not with anger.

"You are going to pay for that," he said, his voice low.

Leah grinned. "Am I?"

"Most definitely. There are going to be some serious repercussions for you."

Leah sidled up to him, bringing her lips to his ear. "I can't wait."

XXXXX

Sue hesitated slightly before knocking on Leah's door. At the sound of her daughter's assent, she pushed it open and peered into the room.

"Yeah?" Leah asked, sprawled across her bed, book in hand.

"Um, I wanted to let you that the Ateara's are having a get together this evening. You don't have to go," Sue added, remembering Leah's reaction the last time she had forced her to attend a gathering, "but I just thought that I would tell you."

Leah felt a tug of guilt, knowing exactly why her mother was so hesitant. "I'd love to go. What time are we leaving?"

Sue's jaw dropped slightly and she could not help but stare incredulously at her daughter. "Around 5."

"Great," Leah replied, her tone light. Sue remained standing in her doorway, and so she waited for a reply. But there was nothing. "What?"

Sue blinked. "I don't know if I should say this, but...Leah, you cannot know how wonderful it is to see you happy again. I am not going to probe or question, but this is such a positive change. I love seeing you this way."

A faint smile crossed Leah's face as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I kind of love being this way, too."

XXXXX

"So my absent son has decided to grace me with his presence," Billy said, throwing his hands up as Jacob walked into the living room. "I think the shock might actually kill me."

"Ha ha," Jacob grinned. "Tell me Dad, why did you never go into stand up comedy? We could be living the high life by now."

"I thought it best to stick with a day job," Billy replied solemnly. "I like to keep it real."

Jacob broke out into a loud laugh as he threw himself down on the couch. "Please don't ever say that again. If you do, I might have to crawl into a hole and never come out."

Billy shrugged. "Meh. It's not as if you are around here much anyway. If you are going to keep away, I might as well have some fun with it."

Jacob's expression fell. "Aw, dad, when you put it like that. You know—"

"No, it's ok," Billy said. "I have my suspicions as to why you are disappearing- and those suspicions are leaning towards those relating to a female—" Jacob went to speak, but Billy held up a hand, silencing him. "But I am not going to sit you through an interrogation. I am going to let you live your life and revel in watching you enjoy it."

"Oh...ok...." Jacob was not sure what to say. He had been getting so use to the inquisition. "Well, what are you doing tonight? There is a game on- we could have a night in."

Billy shook his head. "No can do. I'm heading over to the Ateara's. Why don't you come along?"

XXXXX

Jacob lounged back on his bed, his arms folded beneath his head, watching as Leah pottered about in his room. She had thrown on one of his t-shirts and then taken it upon herself to go through all of his belongings. She had said that it was because she wanted to get to know him better, yet when Jacob scoffed and said that she was simply a sticky beak, she had simply smirked and continued what she was doing.

At this point, Leah's head was buried in his wardrobe. "You can give up now," Jacob laughed. "I can tell you now that there are no skeleton's in there."

"Yup, no skeletons," Leah's reply was muffled, "but there is this!" she announced triumphantly, as she stepped back, a worn out Pound Puppy in her hands.

Jacob sat up straight. "You found Max."

Leah looked down at the toy in her hand. "You named it Max."

Jacob grinned. "Yup. Max was my first foray into business."

Leah made her way over to the bed. "What do you mean?"

"He was originally Rebecca's. I bought him off her for half a packet of chicken chips."

Leah laughed. "It sounds like Rebecca bribed you into giving her the chips, by offering you an old soft toy that she probably didn't even like in the first place."

"Probably," Jacob shrugged. "But he was the best deal I have ever made in my life."

"Really?" Leah asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "An old, stuffed brown dog?"

Jacob nodded, his expression suddenly serious. "It was only a few days later that mum died. Max became a security blanket of some sort. She wasn't there anymore to tuck me in, so I had to make do. I took him to bed with me every night for years."

Leah moved so that she was pressed up beside him, Max still in her hands. "I forget sometimes," she said quietly. "She died so long ago, that I sometimes forget that you another parent, other than Billy...but then I forget about what happened to dad, at times. Something will happen and I will go to tell him and then it hits. He is not there."

"I forget too," Jacob murmured, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Not that she's gone, but just her. I'll be going about my day and then it will hit me that I haven't thought about her in weeks. I was young when she died, my memories are so vague, but I still feel so guilty."

Leah nestled her head into his shoulder. "I guess we have more in common than we originally thought."

*****

Leah curled her toes in the sand, inhaling deeply. She could hear the waves of the ocean crashing loudly, but the darkness prevented her from seeing it. She loved it. The sounds of the ocean and the dark enveloping her, making her feel content, of all things. Of course, the person sitting beside her added to that as well.

In the past week, she and Jacob had taken to meeting on the beach in the early hours of morning. It was always deserted, giving them time to just be.

"You've got your serious face on," Jacob commented, running a hand over her hair.

"I was thinking," she replied. "Did you realise that it has almost been a month?"

He nodded. "I knew that."

"Almost a month with no fighting. Almost a month of the two of us working together. Six months ago, if somebody told me this is where I would be, I would have laughed and then hit in the face."

Jacob laughed. "Wow, I love to hear how much you think of me."

Leah looked up at him. "I'm here, aren't I. Yes, I am surprised, but that doesn't mean that I am not happy. You make me happy."

Jacob nodded. "I know what you mean...who would have thought..."

"...that we could be so good for one another," Leah finished.

Jacob paused for a moment. "Are you still scared?" he asked, a large part of him fearing her answer.

"Yes," Leah answered truthfully. "A part of me will always be scared..." Even in the darkness she could see the expression on his face fall. "Now, don't be like that. Being scared is a completely normal part of letting someone in your life. Even you have fears." Jacob was frowning, clearly indicating that he did not believe what she was saying. "You do," she insisted. "You're scared that I am scared, scared that I am going to freak out again. And that is a good thing. It means that you are invested, it means that you will fight."

Jacob reached up, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Am I?" he asked.

"Are you what?"

"In your life?"

"Things are still so new..." Leah trailed off, a smile breaking onto her face, "but I think that it might be heading in that direction."

XXXXX

Jacob was standing with Sam, Quil and Embry off the side of the Ateara's crowded yard. It would appear that the majority of the reservation had shown up. The other three were deep in conversation, but Jacob was not entirely sure of the topic. He had only been half listening, instead choosing to concentrate on one person in the crowd.

He knew that Leah was well aware that he was watching her. She kept flicking glances and small smiles in his direction, and he was now fighting a desperate urge to walk over and envelope her in his arms. To kiss, taste and feel every inch of her body.

"Jake."

He blinked as fingers clicked in front of his face. He looked to see Sam staring at him, confused.

"What?"

"Where are you? You've been off in la-la land all night."

"Sorry," Jacob ran a hand over his face. "I'm just tired...." he trailed off as he caught sight of Leah once more. She was gesturing towards the shed that sat on the edge of the Ateara's property. "Umm, excuse me. I need to talk to Billy about something."

Leah had already disappeared and was waiting inside for him. As soon as he closed the door behind him, her arms were around him, her lips pressed into his. "Now that," she murmured against his lips, "was driving me crazy. Who the fuck do all these people think they are, keeping us apart?"

Jacob grinned. "Um, I don't think that they are aware that they are doing it."

"Who cares," Leah replied. "We can still blame them, right?" Jacob nodded and she crushed her lips against his once more, pushing her tongue into his. His groan reverberated through her body, and she responded by bringing her hands up to unbutton his shirt.

"Wait," Jacob grabbed her around the wrists. "We can't do this here."

"Fine," Leah dropped her hands, pursing her lips into an exaggerated pout. "If you want to say no, then you're the one missing out." She turned and started to walk away from.

It took all of a second for Jacob to growl and grab her. He pushed her up onto the workbench that ran along the wall of the shed, gripping her tightly by the hips. "What the fuck- nobody is going to coming in here, anyway."

Leah raised an eyebrow, as she bucked her hips into his groin. "Now, I don't know about that..."

"I like the way you think," Jacob whispered, bringing their lips together. Leah moaned as she felt his tongue press into hers, and she wrapped her legs around him, wanting to pull the two of them closer together. One of his hands made its way up her shirt, cupping one of breasts. "Why, Miss Clearwater, you have failed to wear a bra today."

Leah shrugged. "I had a feeling that I would not be needing it. The same reason why I went with a skirt...pants just get in the way." She inhaled sharply as he pinched one of her nipples. "More," she breathed. He complied, pushing her shirt up and bringing his mouth down. He flicked his tongue out against her nipple several times, before lowering his lips completely, taking her in his mouth. "Fuck, yes..." Leah moaned, grasping her hands around the back of his head.

His lips left her chest, and trailed up to her neck. She whimpered softly, at the loss of the sensation of his mouth, but was soon consoled when she felt one of Jacob's hands trail up the inside of her thigh. He paused, pulling his head back so that he could watch her face as he lazily ran a finger along the outside of her underwear. A smug grin grew on his face as she thrusted her hips, wanting to feel so much more. "What's the matter, Leah?" he asked, his face now a picture of innocence.

She grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Do we need to have another discussion about teasing and its resulting consequences?"

"As I remember," Jacob said, dipping a finger beneath her underwear, "you quite enjoyed the repercussions last time."

"And you should remember that I am not as lenient as you," she shot back.

Another smile formed on Jacob's face as he slid his fingers into her hot, wet folds. Leah moaned, wrapping her hands around his neck, and moved to kiss him, but he stopped her. "I want to see you," he whispered, pushing his fingers into her.

Leah gasped, throwing her head back, as he starting moving them, in and out, curling his fingers slightly. She unwrapped her legs from around his waist, planting the soles of her feet on the edge of the bench, widening herself to him even more. "Don't stop..." she groaned, thrusting her hips to meet each of his movements.

Jacob brought his thumb to her clit, rubbing it as he continued to pump her with his fingers. He watched as her breathing increased and she struggled to keep her eyes open. She looked so fucking beautiful, and she felt....

"Ugh..." she moaned. "You feel so fucking amazing."

Jacob grinned. "Ditto," he said.

"Please....more....Jake....oh....oh....oh." Leah's thrusts grew more frantic, and he could feel her start to tighten around her fingers. He kept his pace, pushing and rubbing. He watched face contort slightly before she cried out. "Oh fuck!" She thrust against him, milking the climax for all that it was worth. "Jake....oh....god...." She let out a loud sigh, bringing her head down to rest in the crook of his neck. "I think that—"

"Oops!" A familiar voice interrupted whatever she was about to say. "Sorry...I didn't....nobody..." they stammered before stopping short. "Leah? Jacob?"

Leah looked up and her stomach dropped when her eyes met the shocked ones of Emily Young.

It looked like that the secret might be out.