As the days dragged on, the summer was nearly over. The few sunny days Forks got was a blessing and made it a bit humid, though everything bloomed and everyone seemed to be happier when the sun was out.

Leah and Zach had been dating officially now for over three weeks. They had gone slow, but they were both okay with it. As long as they were both happy, none of them suffered. Zach had admitted that he too felt the imprint bond stronger than he liked,
but at the same time, if they were on the same page and either of them tried to avoid the other, nothing really happen. He wanted to get to know Leah, for real. Not just her favorite color and food, but everything. And the same is said for Leah. And
this time she was certain that her longing for wanting to get to know Zach was only because of her, and not the imprint bond. She had to convince herself of that in the beginning, trying to experiment a little with the imprint bond.

A daily routine had been formed for Zach. Each morning, at nine o'clock, Zach would wake up, make and eat breakfast while still in in his PJ's, shower and then sit down for a couple of hours of studying. He'd bought all the textbooks he'd need for his
online classes, also purchasing a few PDF's. Then, around one or two, Esme or someone else would swing by and chat with him while they were making a lunch. Usually Esme brought lunch for him. The Cullens were going to move after Zach's master degree
was taken – that was at their excuse at least. In reality, they wanted Zach to move with any of them so they could watch him. Also they hoped Leah and him would go on as they were and maybe the two of them would move in together. And if Zach moved
away, Leah would probably come with him. And if any danger came sniffing around the house corners, she'd know and immediately phase and alert the others. After lunch, Zach went back to studying, watching video clips, chatting with others who also
took online classes, discussing live through Skype and even meet up with some of the students from the public college, usually accompanied by Bella, Edward, Alice, Jasper or even Esme. They didn't hang around him, but they always knew where he was.
Though he felt their constant presence and their eyes making holes, he learned to ignore them as they appeared to ignore him, just to give him the rightful privacy. Twice a week the Cullens would invite Zach over for dinner: Sundays and Fridays.

Between the hours of five and nine p.m. Leah would come by after her shift was over. They were talking, watching movies and she sometimes helped him with studying for his tests, making flash cards and also hearing him.

"What are you majoring in, again?" she asks him one afternoon. They're sitting in his study room and he is trying to focus on the flash cards rather than her.

"Uh, in criminology and Arabic. I'm trying to enter the CIA program," he says. "I have to wait until I get my degrees first of course. Now I'm majoring in Chemical Science, and I am also doing Criminology and International Relations."

Leah whistles.

"Impressive. How's it possible that you can study so much while you're so young?"

"Oh, I've got years of high education behind me. Besides, I graduated from high school the year I turned 16. I went straight for college and got my bachelor in Criminology."

"But you could apply now, or do you have to wait?"

"I could have applied when I was 18, but I didn't want to. Not at that time. Then I was thinking of becoming something like a policeman. And yeah, then I changed my mind."

Another evening they were talking about their families. It was a late fall evening and they were planning to go out on a date the following Saturday. Zach told Leah about his family, knowing that she'd wanted to know ever since they became friends.

"I didn't know that I would feel like this after almost a decade."

"Like what?"

"Like it's… Like if I forget them, or if I feel too happy, then I'm embarrassing them. Or maybe not embarrassing them, but more like I disappoint them, their memory."

Leah stays quiet for a minute, debating on what to say.

"When I first shifted, I was terrified and extremely confused. And then, when the guys told me everything and I could see into Sam's mind, I felt hurt and betrayed, but also understanding. I had run away from home the second I shifted, so I didn't know
anything about my brother or our father. I could feel everyone's presence, but I couldn't recognize them as whom they were."

Zach sits still, listening to her story.

"When I finally understood everything… It was a relief, even though I hated the fact that I wasn't the chosen one for Sam. But I did feel pity for him when I understood what he'd gone through for so long. And then I had to phase back. And I saw what I
had done."

"Wait! Back up, what do you mean by 'what you had done'?"

She sighs, her head is slumped down.

"I killed my father."

It was dead silent for a second before Zach opened his mouth. Only Leah beat him to it.

"And no, of course it wasn't intentionally and no, I didn't know what I was or that if I became a big wolf someone would have a heart attack. But I knew Dad had a bad heart. When I phased, I killed him. The shock, you know. It was too much."

Slowly Leah looks up. Zach meets her eyes. He touches her face, dipping it upwards so she can't look away.

"Leah, I want you to listen to me and believe me when I say this: it was not your fault. It really wasn't your fault. Don't go around and blame yourself for something you cannot and couldn't control. Your father knew that no new wolves can ever possess
such self-control the first phasing, because it's an instinct. And it continues to drive you and steer you until you're more confident. That's when your inner wolf knows you've accepted who you are, that's why you can phase at will and control your
emotions now."

She doesn't respond. Her eyes twinkle with unshed tears. Zach holds her closer to him. And then she lets it all go. All the pain, the regret, the anger, the sorrow. Everything flows through her. The tears are a never-ending stream of salty water dripping
from her puffed eyes.

Zach wakes up feeling himself bathing in sweat.

God, it's hot!

He turns his head to the left and smiles. Leah is lying on her side, breathing steady with her eyes closed and mouth half open. She looks peaceful. And beautiful.

Of course. It's her that makes me sweat out thousands of calories.

Carefully he nudges her. Her eyes fly up meeting Zach's lazy gaze. Her lips tuck upwards and Zach mirrors her.

"What time is it?" she whispers.

"Only eight-thirty. When do you have to patrol?"

"After dinner. So, around five or six."

"No hurry then," he states with a smirk and leans forward. The kiss is just a peck on her lips, but her smile widens.

"Indeed. I'm hungry."

He groans and laughs.

"I've been hearing that too much lately. Why can't you make food too?" he complains, but with a smile. She shakes her head.

"Nope. I don't want to get food poisoned. You do know that I'm the worst chef in my tribe?"

"I don't believe that for a second."

"Okay," she gives in, cracking up in fits of laughter, "I'm the second worst. The worst one is Old Quil. I don't know if it's true or not, but there's a rumor within the tribe saying Old Quil once burnt down his kitchen trying to cook dinner for his family."

"Oh, I believe that. Okay, come on. I'll make so breakfast, but you'll have to do the dishes."

"Fine."

They get up dressed and hurry towards the kitchen. After Leah's story and her emotional breakdown, Zach helped her to bed and made her hot chocolate with marshmallows. They didn't fool around yesterday night, only talked softly about nothing and everything.
It wasn't until way past midnight that they fell asleep.

"How many eggs do you want?" Zach asks, holding up the three eggs in his hand.

Leah holds her fingers to indicate the quantity.

"Five shall be. You like the yolk whole too, right?"

This time she nods. Leaning forward with on the kitchen bar counter, supporting her upper body on her arms she smiles as she watches Zach fry eight eggs. He has to use two pans, one for the eggs and one for the bacon.

"Could you set the table? Or just put it there?"

Leah jumps up and finds two plates, two glasses, two forks and knives.

"Milk, juice, water…what?"

"Coffee. Always coffee. You know that."

She scoffs and rolls her eyes.

"What are you doing today?" he asks her, holding the frying pan over the plate and scoops the five eggs on her plate. She answers between her enormous mouthfuls of bacon and a slice of toasts.

"Uh… I'm not doing anything until I got patrol. Might have to sleep a bit again, seeing I got the night shift. What are you doing today?"

Zach shuffles food into his mouth too.

"I'm not studying. That for sure. I'm in need of a hell of a break."

"When's your exams coming up?"

"First one is… Eh, I believe I heard it was sometime mid-November. I'm getting Christmas holiday the tenth or so I think."

"And we're just entering September. You're studying way too hard," she mock-criticizes.

"Hey!" he pretends to act defended. "Just for you information: but I'm a top grade student and I like to keep it that way."

"Right, right."

She doesn't sound convinced.

"Do you…want to do something else today? I mean, we're just studying for the most part. We could take a drive up to somewhere? Or we could do some tinkering on the car?"

He pauses and waits for an answer. Inside in his chest his heart is beating. He knows she can hear it and that makes him even more nervous, not to mention slightly embarrassed.

"How about we tinker some and then we head to the rez? I can then give my mom the satisfaction of finally letting her meet you and everything. Also, I guess the rest of the pack and the tribe wants to know you. Don't worry, it won't be a family
gathering, but it will be lots of people of course. Everyone wantsto hear the latest gossip."

Next chapter will be up within a week or so - Zach's meeting Sue and Charlie & Alice get's a vision of an unknown vampire sniffing around...