Over 400 reviews! I cannot thank you enough! This chapter took longer than I thought it would, and it's the first time I blame a dose of "Writer's Block" on the wait. I warn you that this is a shorter chapter and more of an in between phrases sort of entry. As seen in the past few chapters, the concentration has been all concerning Leah and Vinnie's relationship. But by the end of the chapter, the story's concentration will switch. Don't worry; you'll see what I mean. Enjoy!

Vinnie's POV

Chapter 21

By the time we decided to go back into the house, Leah and I were soaked to the bone. Both of our clothes seemed to be matted to our skin, weighed down by the heavy buckets of rain which seemed to be spilling out from the sky. Not either of us seemed to care that we were wet; we were both serenely happy once we decided to make our way back through the vampire's mansion.

I could see Jacob coming up to us from around a corner. Once he was in front of us, he threw two towels at Leah and me. "Go dry yourselves off and get a room," he said annoyed. Even though he seemed outwardly irritated at us –he probably somehow knew we were… having a fun time out in the rain –something about him seemed almost happy.

Leah let her grip on my arm loosen as she walked over to stand in front of Jacob. "He's here because of you, right?" she asked him, her hair still dripping against her face. "You brought him here?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'm the mighty, most highest alpha," he laughed, seeming to share an inside joke with her. "And I'm your brother."

"Thank you," she said quietly up to him.

He chuckled, taking the towel from her hands and rubbing it in her hair playfully. "Don't sweat it, squirt." He began to walk away.

She frowned looking towards his direction. "Um, excuse me, but I'm the older one!" she called out angrily.

"Yeah, but you're still shorter!" He turned the corner and left, his laugh echoing off the walls.

"Ass," I heard her mutter as I walked behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and drawing her near me. To be able to hold her like this –no secrets, no built up walls, and with complete and utter willing surrender –was something I could never get tired of.

Her back rested against me, her head turning up to look at me. Her eyes drifted shut, and a small smile drifted onto her face. She looked as happy and at peace as I felt, which was saying something; I had never felt like this in my entire life, and I was glad that she seemed to be feeling the same way.

Her eyes slowly opened after a moment and looked at me, her dark brown irises making me forget that I was still in the vampire's house. "We should get you out of these clothes," she said quietly, her hand tugging on the collar of my shirt.

I chuckled and leaned down to her ear. "I thought that part would come later, Leah," I whispered to her. "I was hoping this would happen in a more private setting."

I felt her shiver, then laugh quietly. "Oh, it will. But I was actually referring to you walking around in these wet clothes. I think Jake has a few clothes upstairs where he stays."

I stared down at her quizzically. "He lives here?"

"Well, occasionally, what with Nessie being here and all. He can't seem to stay away form her."

I nuzzled her neck. "I think I can relate to that feeling."

She sighed contently, then pulled on my hand. "C'mon. You're distracting me again."

I chuckled as I followed her up the staircase. The electricity flowing through our hands wasn't something I could ignore, and seemed stronger than ever, even compared to how her lips felt on mine when she had first kissed me weeks ago. I thought that would be the most intense thing I ever felt, but now, it seemed like comparing static to a lightening bolt.

We came upon the door that must have been Jacob's, seeing as how she knocked once, then proceeded on inside without any hesitation.

Before I could ask her what the point of knocking was when she was going to simply walk in anyways, she said, "I only do that to see if anyone else is in there. I walked in there earlier without notice and Esme was in here cleaning."

I chuckled. "Oh, so being polite to Jacob is not needed?"

She smiled. "Exactly." She walked over to the drawers and started ransacking them. "I mean, what's there really to hide, anyways? He's imprinted on Nessie, so he's not going to be making out with a girl. And I doubt he'd bring his issues of Playboy over here." She laughed. "Besides, I've seen him naked, he's seen me naked. It's no big deal."

When I didn't say anything to that, she turned around and looked at what must have been a confused -or maybe even a sad -expression. "Well, come on, Vinnie," she chuckled, "you have to take your clothes off to shift. Sam taught you that, didn't he?"

"Well, yeah."

"But?"

I shrugged. Really, it shouldn't have been a big deal to me; it was her job. But she was my love, my imprint. I didn't like the thought of someone getting to see what I haven't.

She got the clothes and dropped them on the bed, walking over to me and wrapping her arms around my neck. She kissed my throat, and a rush of air I didn't realize I was holding in escaped from my lungs. "Does it mean anything that you're the only one I want to see like that?" she said quietly, her voice making me quiver.

"Oh, yes, it means something," I managed to say. We weren't in high school, and we most certainly were not two horny teenagers. We loved each other completely; of course we would mean it physically as much as we did emotionally. And when the time was right, I was sure going to prove that to her.

Of course, I really didn't think either one of us wanted to pursue that idea in this house, of all places.

"I think Jacob must have left or something," she finally said. "You can use his bathroom and take a shower. The clothes are right on his bed." She pulled away from me.

I grabbed her hand before she left. "Where will you be?"

She shrugged. "Putting on something dry. I didn't know how long I would be staying here, so I packed whatever I could fit in my bag. I'm not too sure how much clothes I have left."

"Are you going back home tonight?" I asked her.

She looked deep in thought a moment. "I don't know. I mean, I don't like this place. It's like my nose is permanently in an acidic perfume department at a mall."

"But?"

"I don't wanna go back there," she said quietly. "I acted rudely to my mom."

I entwined her fingers with my own. "I'm sure she'll forgive you, Leah. She's your mother. She loves you."

"I know. It's just… Well, she's always in Forks, and Seth is always here or at Jake's. I'm in that big house by myself all the time. I grew up in it, but I'm starting to think it's time to move on."

"You want to move out?"

She nodded. "I've been thinking about it for awhile, but since I've been here, it's only reinforced the idea." She chuckled dryly. "Who knew staying with a bunch of bloodsuckers would expand my mindset."

I could tell she seemed a little overwhelmed, and said to her, "There's no rush. I don't think they'll kick you out or anything. The doctor seems nice enough, and so does that lady who was outside with you and Renesmee."

She smiled. "Esme is great. I never thought I'd say it, but I really like that leech. She's very kind. She hasn't even tried to throw me out yet."

"Why don't you go take a shower and I'll take mine? We can relax afterwards."

She nodded. "You can come to my room when you're done. It's the second room on the left in this hallway."

I nodded. Before she left, she kissed me quickly on the lips. "I love you," she said quietly. "I don't know if I've said it enough."

My heart melted at her words. "It won't ever get old."

She smiled brightly and made her way back through the doors and left.

I took the clothes and took them into the bathroom, finding some towels in a cabinet that was in there. Taking a quick hot shower, I got back out and put the basketball shorts on that she had laid out for me. Looking on top of the bed to try and see if I was mistaken, I found that she had neglected in giving me a shirt. I smiled at the prospect.

Suddenly, I heard my phone go off in the jeans pocket of the pants I was wearing before. I was surprised it still even worked, what with the amount of water damage it must have gone through.

I didn't recognize the number, or even the area code. I picked it up warily, anticipating for some telemarketer to be on the other line.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Um, hi." It sounded to be a woman on the other line. "Is this… Vincent Call?"

"Yes," I said slowly. Telemarketers didn't usually call me by my name.

"Oh. Well, hello."

There was a pause. "Can I help you with anything?" I asked. "You know my name. Are you trying to sell me something or what?"

She chuckled nervously. "No, I'm not trying to sell you anything. I think you've been looking for me, actually. I somehow managed to get this number through a few sources."

I was getting nervous now. What woman was I looking for? "And this would be…?"

"My name is Anna Diaz, but I think you know me better as Anna Saddler."

Oh. I guess I have been looking for her.

And so the plot thickens. I wonder what will happen next? What will Anna reveal, if anything, to Vinnie? Well, I of course know, but I love hearing your speculations. This story isn't quite over yet, though it is nearing the end. I think about three more chapters will be fit for this. But who knows.

Cocoa