AN: Cyber hugs to all those who read, favorite and alert. Cyber hugs, kisses and much love to all those who take the time to review, compliment and give suggestions. Thank you all! Cyber high five and first chapter review shout out to thinker320. As always, much love to Lita of Jupiter the best (and speediest) beta in the world. Thanks to all my reviewers: nakala, and the tree was happy (congrats on your finals!), Jada91, Joleigh13, brankel1, LyssaLoo62, Inosolan, TheRYU, SethsMYwolf, Lovergyul, Babaksmiles, MissGracieKathy, PopcornGirl-Eva, and o0FLAM3So0S. Don't forget to review before you leave and make my inbox a happy place :-D

TRANSLATIONS:

piccolina: little beauty

donna testarda: stubborn woman

Disclaimer: I still don't own Twilight, I just like to play in the dark :)

Carlisle did a couple more tests on Leah before finally smiling at her reassuringly.

"Things look very good, Leah. I already asked Esme to prepare Edward's old room. You can stay there until you feel ready to return to your home."

Leah returned his smile with a sigh of relief. If she was never in another room surrounded by machines it would be too soon. Every beep and every monitor reminded her that at any moment something could go horribly wrong and she might lose her baby. Even if it was true, she didn't want to face that reality every time she opened her eyes. Before she could move or say anything, Demetri had swept her into his arms and strode to the door. Carlisle covered his laugh with a cough as he called after them,

"I'll bring the ultrasound photo by your room later!"

Leah wanted to growl at Demetri and inform him that she knew where Edward's room was and didn't need his help. Of course, her traitorous heart and the relentless power of the imprint would allow her to do no such thing. She had to admit that she was happiest when near him. She needed to savor every second he was with her because, deep down, she knew it could never last. Even though he showed no signs of leaving anytime soon, and actually seemed loathe to leave her side for any amount of time, she couldn't shake the feeling that one day he would walk away from her as he had before. As everyone she cared about eventually had.

Demetri's vampire speed had them at the door of her temporary room in under a minute. When he pushed it open, Leah could only stare out the floor length windows in awe. The moment Demetri set her on her feet she rushed over to gaze outside. The view was astounding! She threw open the door and slowly walked outside... spellbound. It was almost as if she could see the entire forest, the mountains and even the river separating Cullen territory from the Rez.

"I never thought I'd miss anything about running as a wolf but I was wrong."

The vampire was leaning against the door, wondering why he found so much enjoyment in watching the she wolf's pleasure. He found that, even though he had just held her in his arms, he still had an overwhelming urge to touch her again. Almost against his will, he walked to the balcony and slipped his arms around her waist, dropping a kiss on her neck and smiling when their son kicked.

"What could you possibly enjoy about turning into a huge, smelly dog?"

Leah just shrugged, deciding to ignore the insult as she leaned back against him and drank in the view, enjoying the perfect moment in the arms of her imprint.

"The freedom. Yeah, I was stuck inside the minds of teenage boys and, let me tell you, that was no picnic, but, when I ran no one could catch me. I was one with the wind whistleing through the woods... too bad I couldn't escape reality that easily."

She sighed and moved out of his arms, walking back inside and beginning to explore the hundreds of books lining the wall. Demetri followed her, watched her for a couple minutes. As he observed her, he considered many different ways to broach the next topic. All of the scenarios ended in a shouting match with a furious she wolf. Although never one to shy away from a challenge, Demetri decided to try a conversational approach rather than a confrontational one. Keeping her calm was neccessary for her health.

"You seem rather eager to leave here. Don't you think it would be best to be as close to Carlisle as possible?"

Leah shrugged and pulled a book from one of the shelves, starting to flip through it slowly.

"I feel like I'm under a microscope. If I breathe too hard Carlisle or Esme or somebody is rushing to my side, asking a million questions.."

"I fail to see the problem with that. Your condition is delicate, you need to be monitored."

Leah laughed humorlessly.

"Like the freak that I am..."

In a flash, barely without thought, Demetri had gathered Leah into his arms and kissed the top of her head.

"Piccolina..."

She pulled away from him with effort because the Gods knew the only place she ever wanted to be was in his arms.

"No. It's the truth. I'm like Frankenstein's mother... but none of that matters anyway because I've hidden long enough. I'll be going back to the Rez with my brother and Jacob tonight. I have to tell both packs about the situation and the baby."

Leah didn't look at Demetri for a few seconds after her announcement. She didn't need to. Even if his silence didn't speak volumes, she could feel his fury as if it was her own. When she finally did meet his eyes, his crimson gaze was incensed.

"You forbid me to set foot on your precious reservation, deeming me too weak to defend myself against your packs, yet now you plan to go there, without me, to inform my enemies that you carry my son?"

Demetri took a step away from Leah, fists clenched against the urge to shake some sense into the stubborn beauty.

"Why do you think I would let you out of my sight long enough for you to go back to that dog invested slum you call a home?"

Leah carefully placed the book she had been half heartedly thumbing through back on the shelf before she gave in to the desire to fling it at him, trying to take deep breaths and remain calm. As usual Demetri had rendered her speechless. The ability to insult her in so many ways without taking a single breath had to be a special skill. One at which her imprint was determined to be a master at the earliest opportunity. She gritted her teeth.

"That slum, as you so delicately put it, is my home, do you even know what it's like to have a home? And since I'm a dog too aren't you concerned you might have already picked up fleas?"

"I'm concerned that your rabid brethren might attempt to harm our child! Or are you so desperate to get away from all vampires that you don't care?"

The sound of the slap that Leah delivered to Demetri's cheek was like a gunshot. The only other sound in the room that of her angry breaths.

"How dare you! When you were in Italy trying to forget the smelly, filthy dog you had deigned to touch, I was here, alone, dealing with this baby! How could you even suggest that I would let any harm come to our son!"

Demetri admitted to himself that once again he had miscalculated, something which he seemed to do way too often with the temperamental she wolf. It was as if she knew every button to push to ignite his fury. Without another word, Leah pushed past him and headed toward the door. He grabbed her arm.

"You may not harm him, but who will stop an angry wolf bent on destroying a vampire's half-breed spawn? You haven't phased in months! Your brother and Alpha are but two!"

Leah wrenched herself out of Demetri's arms and wordlessly turned towards the door. Before she could touch the knob, the door swung open revealing a grinning Alice Cullen. The petite vampire had an armful of clothes and was looking Leah up and down with a critical eye even as she swept past her into the room.

"Good, you're up! I had an epiphany yesterday and realized you probably need new clothes since you're...well, no offense, but you're not getting any smaller...and you can't hang around in that nightgown all day so I took a quick trip into town and got some maternity clothes. What's your favorite color? You know what? It doesn't matter. I'm pretty sure I got something in practically every color. Now strip."

Both Demetri and Leah stared down at Alice in shock. Demetri shook his head, reminded of the time she had waylaid him in the forest. At that moment some doubt had lingered, now none remained. The woman was mad as a hatter, probably even madder.

"Perhaps you fail to realize that you are interrupting something. A private conversation. Please leave."

Leah still refused to look at her imprint, instead she gave Alice a huge grin.

"What perfect timing you have! Demetri was just leaving."

Demetri had been many things in the long centuries of his life: soldier, tracker, and killer... but never a fool. The look in Leah's eyes warned him that he needed to retreat, regroup and rethink his approach. He definitely needed to calculate his next plan of attack with much more care and finesse. The tall vampire bowed slightly and moved towards the door. As he passed his furious female he paused, leaning close and bringing his lips close to briefly caress the shell of her ear.

"This is not over mi bellezza testarda."

Alice watched Leah watching Demetri leave with what could only be described as a mixture of raw hunger, just a touch of anger, and a healthy dose of absolute despair in her gaze. She threw the clothes on the bed and poked the she wolf hard enough to get her attention.

"You should give him a break, you know. In his time women were protected and coddled like pets. Then he became a vampire and spent the majority of his existence in Aro's thrall. Needless to say, he has never had a wife and he has never had a real relationship with a woman, or even really witnessed one. He treats you the only way he knows that does not involve slaughtering you."

Leah had wandered to the window, already feeling bereft without her imprint and fighting the desire to call him back. Alice's words only made her feel worse.

"I'm grateful that he's staying for the baby and already cares so much...if anything happens...if I don't make it...I would rest better knowing that he is in his son's life. But I can't lose myself to him."

Alice smiled at her sadly.

"I wish I could tell you that there is no chance of that, but he is a Volturi. For centuries he has been a commander, answerable only to Aro, Caius and Marcus. You cannot expect him to defer to you...little more than a mortal, a female who has not even lived an entire lifetime. A human whose life might be measured in weeks and months rather than centuries."

Leah sighed, never taking her eyes from the woods.

"I know. It doesn't help that the Imprint is always tugging at me, urging me to do whatever I can to make him happy."

Alice smiled at her and started pawing through the pile of clothes until she found a blue dress and held it up critically.

"That's your problem right there, wolf girl. You should focus on making him want to make you happy. He already doesn't want to let you out of his sight. Now you just need to ensure that he can't think straight when has you in his sights. Now... strip!"

La Push Reservation

Sam and the rest of the pack were gathered around Emily's table, boisterously having lunch, when Paul burst into the room. Once he had phased, he had only paused long enough to pull on a pair of shorts before racing into the room. Consequently, he was breathing so hard he could barely get a word out. All activity immediately ceased as Sam got to his feet and went to Paul's side.

"What did you see?"

Paul shook his head and started to speak haltingly as he still tried to catch his breath.

"You... were... right, Sam. Leah was still... at the... Cullens place... but she wasn't alone."

AN: One last shameless request before you go. Voting opens today, January 29th for the Sunflower Awards. It would be a huge compliment if you guys would vote for me (if you think the story is worth it). Leah's Imprint was nominated in the Romance category. If you're interested just check out THE SUNFLOWER AWARDS, there are many great Twilight stories in many different categories. That's it, shameless self promotion over. Have a great week and don't forget to review!