Author's Note: Hi hi hi!!!!!! I'm really excited to bring you all this chapter. Leah FINALLY goes home!! I'm getting really stoked as November grows near! Jake is my favorite character of the series. It took me to Breaking Dawn to realize this, but when he stood up to Sam, I was in love!! Did anyone else watch the VMA's? I think Lautner should have kicked Kanye's ass. Poor Taylor Swift, but she'll be fine! Enough of my babbling, here's the chapter. Also kinda sad, as this story is nearing its end.
Chapter 14: Reunited
She had arrived. Leah stood just a foot off of the Cullen's property. The long winding drive to the sprawling house snaked its way to the base of her feet. The estate did not seem bright and welcoming like her mother's house would have, this estate was large and foreboding. The house seemed off; it did not match with the dampness of Washington. Perhaps it was a warning to everyone: Here be monsters. Vampires resided here. Honest to God vampires. Would they help her? She did not deserve their help after the way she had acted, she knew that. But her son had did nothing wrong. They could look past how she treated them, surely? She looked down at little Jacob, chaffing her hands against his cold body. He needed the Cullen's help, and she was willing to do anything for their help. She'd put on a dog collar and pull a sled if they wanted. She took a step forward, and found it was easier as soon as she got herself walking.
She stopped at the base of the steps. A strong gust of wind blew a sickening sweet vampire smell that would have made the old Leah ruffle her nose. She had to do this. She could do this. She climbed the steps, and was now face to face with a lovely red oak door. Memories and memories invaded her mind. God, she had acted awful to them... she had refused them, ridiculed them, had done every hurtful thing she could think of. She had no idea that one day she would be in this predicament.
Leah had stood with them against those Italian blood--- she had to stop calling them that. It was a derogatory term that she would no longer use. Vampires. It was what they chose to be called. And she had sided with these vampires in their time of need. It had to count for something.
Leah banged on the door of the Cullen's house. Only the sound of her ragged breathing filled the silence. It was very eerie here; it was as if the animals knew to avoid this place. No birds flew overhead, no crickets chirped from the trees. It was complete silence... like a graveyard. Technically, dead people resided in this house, this mausoleum. She supposed one could see it that way. Someone on the outside who didn't know what had happened in the past. Moments later, she heard footsteps approaching the door. This was it. A large lump caught in her throat. Leah couldn't help herself. Tears glistened on her cheeks. If they wouldn't help her... she was all alone. There was no one else she'd be able to turn to. She could run home to her mother, and they'd try to help little Jacob together, but what good would it be without a doctor? As far as she knew, little Jacob was the first of his kind.
Another blast of the vampire smell grew close, and Leah heard the lock on the door turn. She stared up into the face of Edward Cullen, Bella's husband. Leah was surprised; she hadn't noticed how incredibly human he looked. His skin was flawless and chalk white, in stark contrast to his auburn hair. Were they really so different afterall? Each species, vampire and werewolf had a secret they kept from the humans, yet deep down, each just wanted to be... normal. Accepted. How many times had she looked at Edward without really looking at him? Embarrassing enough, she couldn't think of one time in their previous encounters she had looked him in the eye. That was before, when she saw vampires as things, as vermin. It all seemed so trivial. That was all in the past now. She had come to repent. She had come for her son. She looked down at the baby in her arms. Words had failed her. She could only imagine what he was hearing in her head as he took in the image before him: a werewolf mother with nowhere else to go carrying the ill infant son whose father was destined to be his son-in-law. There was no greeting between them, just a small whimper that escaped Leah's lips.
"Help me," Leah begged, tears running down her cheeks, "I think he's dying." With trembling arms, she held forth her son. He was still asleep, and he gave a tiny shiver, being away from his mother. Leah gasped and clutched him close again. "He won't cry, he won't eat... all he does is sleep."
Edward opened the door wide, processing everything more clearly. "CARLISLE!" He cried, not even bothering to call over his shoulder. He took a step toward her, and Leah fought the urge to take a step back. Stop being a baby. You have to get used to them. She scolded herself.
His large golden eyes surveyed the infant, and he's long white fingers lightly brushed across the child's forehead.. He looked at Leah for a moment, and then opened his arms for the baby.
Leah hesitated. Would they hurt little Jacob? Would they take him and...
"I would never do that. I can help you." Edward said.
Leah looked up into Edward's eyes. The golden pupils seemed to radiate warmth. She had no other choice. Leah gave little Jacob a kiss, and handed him over. Edward made an expert cradle in his arms and looked down at the baby, and his lips curved into a smile. This shocked Leah. She wouldn't expect Edward to be so understanding... She did not deserve his hospitality, but was eternally grateful he was offering it.
"Don't mention it," Edward whispered. He turned and lead the way into the house, glancing back once to see if she would follow. She hesitated for one second in the threshold, and entered.
Tears streamed down her face as she followed Edward. Where was Jacob? He should know, at least... she hated to think of the thought. If anything happened to little Jacob... (her tears increased)... Jacob should know he is a father.
"Jacob's in the yard with..." Edward's voice trailed off.
Leah halted in her footsteps. Jacob. She should have figured he'd be here.
"Go to him," Edward said, when Carlisle had entered the room from a staircase. He gave Leah a small smile
. "He's just outside. Let us look him over." Edward continued.
Carlisle gave Leah a sympathetic look, and she was once again struck by the beauty of the Cullens. He followed Edward up the stairs with her son. It had all happened very fast, and she was standing here alone.
Leah looked around the deserted Cullen house. It was large and airy, and very grandiose. She heard shrieks of laughter coming from the back yard, and Leah followed those sounds. The back walls of the house were made of glass that looked out onto the lush woods of Washington, and a few panels stared out into the large back yard. Jacob had a grin on his face, and he was chasing Renesmee while Bella watched. Leah felt like such an intruder. Here she was, about to deliver a blow that none of them would recover from. Looking out on the scene made Leah think that she was looking at a family.
Leah sighed. She pushed open the back door, and stepped out into the sunlight. Jacob looked up, and froze. Bella's eyes were full of shock. Noticing Bella Cullen in the sunlight was an odd experience. The girl shimmered like a diamond, casting rainbows on the ground where she stood. It was honestly beautiful. It was like an embodiment of the goodness of the Cullens. Renesmee ran straight toward Leah. She hit Leah's leg and circled her small arms around it.
Leah stared down at the small girl. She looked deep into her chocolate brown eyes, her large cheshire cat grin. The little Cullen was completely adorable, and Leah felt layers upon layers of guilt and dread consume her. This wasn't right. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen...
"You're Leah," She said.
Leah was shocked that the little girl knew about her. She wasn't sure how she felt about that, afterall, she was the one who was destroying Renesmee's happiness. Renesmee didn't know it now, but she would soon find out, and hate Leah in a split second.
"Yes," Leah whispered.
"You're sad." Renesmee added. Her lips frowned, "Why?"
Leah opened her mouth, trying to find something, anything to say.
"Renesmee," Bella said, walking forward, "Renesmee, don't bother her..." As she walked, the rainbow from her skin shone on the ground as if she were following rose petals.
Leah patted the little girl's soft head. "Go to your mother." She said.
Renesmee grinned up at her, and lopped to Bella who gathered her in her arms. Bella walked to Jacob who was still frozen where he stood. "We'll be right inside." She said. She walked past Leah without making eye contact. Leah knew she deserved that. Afterall, the last encounter she had with Bella had not been a pleasant one. She had chewed her out for playing with Jacob's emotions. It seemed so long ago now. "Thank you," Leah told her.
Bella stopped for one second, mumbled a "You're welcome," and continued inside.
The bright rainbow vanished inside with Bella, and it seemed awkward and lonely in the yard. It was just the two of them, and someone had to be the first to start talking.
Once Bella and Renesmee were in the house, Leah started walking toward Jacob. By the time she reached him, the tears had returned. He still seemed shell shocked, and when she told him what she had to say, he might very well faint. This news was going to kill him. It was going to destroy everything he had here, but what other choice did she have? She hated herself for this... "I didn't want to have to come here," She sobbed. If only there had been another way, where she wouldn't have to hurt him like this...
Jacob seemed to defrost. His eyes moved to her face, and he saw something there that scared him to his core. Something was very wrong here. Leah was gone for weeks, and then suddenly she shows up at the Cullen's of all places, crying her eyes out?
Jacob always had a way of relating to people, and right now she needed him more than anything. He reached out, gently taking her hands, and lead her to the back of the Cullen's yard to a small log. They sat down together, under the shade of a maple and Jacob studied her face. She looked exhausted, like she had the shit beat out of her. "Leah, what's wrong?" He was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that she was physically back here with him. What had scared her enough to make the trip?
"I didn't want to have to come here," She repeated, "I swear I didn't. But he's sick and I didn't know where else to go..."
"Who's sick?" Jacob asked. "Seth?" He tried to think back and remember if Seth had said he had been coming down with a cold or something, but nothing rang a bell. Billy would have told him if Sue had caught the flu...
"No," She whispered. She buried her face in her hands.
Jacob did not understand this girl. Why didn't she just tell him what was wrong instead of beating around the bush? He hated when there were problems. He was always so eager to know everything so he could fix things or at least try to come to a conclusion. "Leah, talk to me."
She turned her head, and looked him straight in the eye. These words were going to destroy him and everything he had with the Cullens. But he had to know, he had a right to know what was happening. "Your son is sick." She whispered.
Jacob felt like the earth was spinning, and he instantly felt nauseas. What the hell was she talking about? Jacob did not have any kids; hell the first time he had sex had been with...
Leah.
Their night together.
His pupils dilated.
You have to be freaking kidding me...
This was just so utterly insane he was about to ask her if Sam had put her up to this. But then he remembered that Sam didn't have any sense of humor that he was aware of. So who could be the culprit? Embry? Paul? "What are you talking about?" He asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"I'm sorry, Jacob..." She said softly.
Jacob got up and started looking around for the guys; a rogue shadow, a snicker on the wind, but he found nothing. He was starting to get annoyed. The gig was up, he clearly wasn't buying it. He turned when he saw Leah trembling on the log, her head lowered, water from her eyes flowing down to the forest floor. Leah never cried in front of anyone. That was, unless she was really, really really upset, like she had been that night before she ran away.
Holy hell...
Realization hit him as he sank back down to the log. This was not a joke. The guys were not going to jump out from the forest. This was real. Leah had come here, to the Cullen's with their son. His heart began to thump loudly and his breath was coming up short. "Leah...." was all he managed to get out.
"All of this time I've been away, I've been pregnant with our son." She confessed and sniffled, "I was planning on coming back before I had him, but time must have got away from me." She sighed, "I never planned on telling you..."
Jacob had to take a few breaths to calm himself. He had a son. With Leah. A son he may have not known about. His temper took over in one second flat. She was going to keep the news from him? What the hell..."What do you mean you weren't going to tell me?!"
Leah pulled herself together as much as she could so she could speak evenly. It seemed completely obvious in her eyes. "You have your whole life here, Jacob. Did you really think I'd mess that up?"
Jacob gritted his teeth. Oh here we freakin go again. This girl needed to get her priorities in order. Didn't she know that people cared about her? How the hell did she think he would react? She just strolled up here with a baby after being MIA. "You royally screwed it up now!" He raked his hands through his hair, "Dammit, Leah!" If she had only done this differently, if she had told him, he would have been able to handle the backlash... somehow.
"It's not like I planned on this!" She screamed. She got up to look him straight in the eye. What she saw there was fear, and anger. "As far as I knew, I couldn't get pregnant!"
Jacob didn't know what to say. He remembered how upset she had been when she had told him that she could not have kids. He had felt so bad for her.
"So, you can imagine when I found out..."
His hands balled into fists. She was not doing this. She was going to own up on dropping this bomb on him. "Do you know how this looks? Leah, you come back here after weeks and weeks of no contact with a sick baby that is my son!"
"I couldn't let him die!"
"I NEVER MEANT THAT! What the hell do I tell Bella? How the hell do I look at Nessie?"
"This is what I mean! This is why I wasn't going to tell you!"
"If you had told me, we wouldn't be in this mess!" He yelled, "If you had told me, we would have worked this out together!"
Leah's breath caught in her throat. They would have worked this out together? Just what the hell was he talking about here? It wasn't as if having his kid suddenly made him see her in a new light! She was beyond irritated with him, and she wanted to see little Jacob. She needed to get away from him to compose herself. Being this close to him made her wish that they would stop fighting, that he would wrap his arms around her like he did that night and tell her everything would be okay. She wanted to hear that he was hopeful. "Jacob Black, I..."
"What?" He snarled, "You what, Leah? What else can you say to me?"
Leah turned on her heel and headed back to the house. She couldn't deal with this now, not when her son was sick. She had said her peace and told him about the baby.
Just. Wait. a. freakin. Minute. She was not walking away from him. Not now. Not again. He gritted his teeth and jogged after her. He grabbed her arm and forced her to a stop. "Don't you dare walk away from me." His deep brown eyes bore into hers. They were going to stick together and discuss this. She wasn't going to go run again.
Leah pulled her arm free. "I have to check on my son!" She turned and dashed into the house.
Jacob stared after her, his anger boiling over. He sat down on the grass, and raked his hands through his hair. What the hell was he going to do now? Ten minutes ago, he found out Leah was back, and that he was a father. Just ten minutes ago.
Bella was going to kill him.
Edward would re-kill him.
Renesmee would be broken hearted.
Seth would suffocate him in his sleep.
Sam would rip him to pieces.
The guys would never speak to him again.
And underneath it all was a tiny little baby boy who hadn't even seen his father.
And all of his anger began to fade. There was a little baby in that house that was sick. A little baby who had done no wrong, and here Jacob was being an idiot wasting time being angry. Anger would have to wait. He took a deep breath. Could he really be a father? He never expected to be one, not now at least. Since Renesmee was born, he figured she would want children, but he had banked on having so much time. He didn't think he'd be a father at seventeen. A year ago, he didn't even think he would have a girlfriend at this point. It was insane to think how much things could change in so little time. He looked up at the Cullen's house. His son was in there. His son. And right now, it was all that mattered; at this moment his son needed his father.