"All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
As long as I'm laughin' with you
I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after
After the life we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you"

-Life After You, Daughtry

Days go by, and then weeks, and before I know it a year has passed, and here I am at another wedding.

And as my past has shown, weddings aren't really my forte. Things always seem to happen at weddings that no one really plans out for.

Sure the bride and groom get married, but that was planned, that's the plan when it comes to weddings.

But for me? Somehow regardless of whose wedding it is, something always seems to happen to me. It's not like I plan for these things to happen, because honestly I would love to go to a wedding and not have anything happen to me.

But as I learned as a teenager, I can't control the things that happen to me.

But you know who does control me?

Sue Clearwater.

And it's not like anyone can really judge me for it, because really, she's my mother, and she's scary. I'll admit that I'm afraid of her, and you'd be an idiot if you think no one is.

Now if I thought that Rachel was a crazy loon when she was planning her wedding, I was sorely mistaken. I thought that I was going to feel awkward and angry at the thought of my mother getting married, but that wasn't the case when she told us.

The day that she sat Seth and me down, we knew something like this was going to happen. To say that we were surprised would be a lie. We weren't surprised. But after she told us, Seth and I were a little bit surprised. Not at the fact that they were getting married, but because Charlie hadn't warned us.

The last time Charlie and I had a conversation about him and my mothers, situation, I was given the impression that he'd check with us before making any other major changes in our lives. I think I was more worried about Seth. While my mom was staring at me, I was staring at Seth.

His face was blank. I knew he wasn't in shock. This was a long time coming.

His brain was probably on over drive.

"Seth?" I call out to him.

After all I don't want him exploding in our kitchen.

But then Seth has always been the leveled headed of the two of us and something comes to him, he smiles and turns to our mother and say, "It was you."

There wasn't any sound of accusation in his voice, it was a statement.

It takes me a moment to understand what he's actually talking about, but I get it.

And I can't stop the laughter that comes out of me. The reason that Charlie hadn't warned us was because it wasn't his idea. It was her's.

And by the smile of triumph on my mother's face, I knew Seth was right.

And it's not like we could really be angry about it, because she was happy, and that's what really mattered. That's what both of us have ever wanted. Besides we talked about this, at least in passing. We've had conversations about it, and it was bound to happen. We both knew that if they were, ever going to get married we would be okay with it, because Sue was the best mother in the entire world, and with everything she gave up for us, she deserved to be happy, and if Charlie Swan made her happy, then god help him.

I just never thought she would give us the house.

Alright give is the wrong word. We bought the house from her, and buy bought I mean we are from now until we die her personal slaves.

But then again that's what children are, or at least that's what Rebecca tells me. Since she can't wait for her brat to be able to stand on its own two feet without falling on its face.

But hey, she was the one that popped out a boy, and boy do the Black genes run deep in him.

She isn't one of the lucky few that are at attendance at this shindig. Not because she wasn't invited, because she literally called me screaming when she got the invite. It's just that her little brat has some unnatural fear of flying, or maybe it was just airplanes, but regardless she can't very well leave him with her husband and come gallivanting back to La Push, Billy would kill her for not bringing his little grandson with her, therefore she had to stay in Hawaii. I think she just didn't want to expose little Aidan to La Push, which I don't blame her for.

I think she knows deep down what being in this place means. She may have been the only one that escaped the knowledge of living in this other world, but deep down I think she can feel that it's safer for her to stay away.

It's still home for her, everyone and everything she has ever known is here and I doubt that she would be able to bring her child here, and not want to stay.

If I could I'd run far, far away, alright that's a lie, because I did run far, far away, I just ended up back here again.

Its home and everything that really matters is here. Why would I ever want to leave?

But that's that, let me tell you putting a wedding together in three months, I don't know what the hell my mother was thinking.

I never thought that putting a wedding together would take so much effort.

But Seth was thrilled, and I was thrilled, and honestly that's the best anyone could hope for.

Every weekend something needed to be done. One week it was food, then it was the flowers, and then another it was place cards, I kept my opinion on that particular subject to myself. Obviously everyone knows their own names, and it's not like it would take that much effort to sit next to someone you actually like rather than being stuck next to someone you loathed.

But then again the vamps were coming, and I highly doubt that Sam would find it funny if I put him and Edward Cullen at the same table, although I'm sure that Emmett would get a kick out of it.

So here's the thing about weddings, Weddings are sort of anti-climatic.

Well at least my mother's one was. I remember Sam and Emily's wedding. The anger I still had then, and just the fact that I knew I was leaving. I had something to look forward to then, leaving. I can't think about leaving now, but then I remember wanting to get things over with.

At Paul and Rachel's wedding from hell, I remember the anxiety I had over seeing Ethan again, and the fear I had at the possibility of feelings for Jacob. And now here I am happier than I can remember being in years.

And it doesn't seem like it's really happening. My mother is getting married. I mean really? Married. I don't think the idea has even affected Charlie. Or maybe he's really just that level headed. It's a quality that seems to skip a generation in his family, because Bella sure as hell didn't get it. Still regardless, I'm glad she's marrying Charlie. I like Charlie.

Now my mom is smiling at all of us, the Cullen's included, you know seeing as how my mother is going to be somewhat related to a bunch a blood suckers, and telling us to play nice.

Clearly she either has an amazing sense of humor that skips a generation, or she's hopped on drugs.

At that I can't help but roll my eyes, as if she really expects me to play nice, she's making me actually be related to Bella.

I still cringe at the thought. It's not like we're gonna start braiding each other's hair or anything. Man that would suck.

I wait for the glare that I'm expecting Edward to throw at me, but instead he just chuckles.

Alright so maybe the bloodsucker isn't that bad. It doesn't mean I'm gonna start calling him bro or whatever.

At that he laughs.

Apparently he does have a sense of humor. Who would've guessed his corpse actually knew how to smile?

Not me that's for sure.

Jasper—yes I've actually started to use his name, mostly because it was the only way to get him to stop using my whole name, that and we kinda understand each other— looks between the two of us, and actually cracks a smile. It's probably because he asked his—ugh, our—creepy brother—

I hear Edward fake a cough, apparently he's getting a kick out of my thoughts, because Bella's glaring at me, and I can't help but smirk. Any day that I get to annoy her is a great day, although I should try to be nice, seeing as how she's my, ugh, step-sister.

At least there is one person here that I can somewhat stand.

Because Nessie is here, she's standing by my side, and god is she beautiful.

I won't lie and say that a part of me still worries that she'll wake up one day and want Jacob, but at sixteen—that's the age she's going by—at an age where everything is supposed to awkward and frightening, she's so sure of herself, and I can't help but be a little jealous.

She has everything I would have killed for at her age, and she still has a sense of gravity on her.

I'm sure Bella would blame that on me, and I'd take full responsibility for that, because I promised Nessie that Jacob would always be in her life, and she took that as me promising that I would always be in her life.

She's too smart for her own good, and I worry about her, but Seth seems to be keeping a close eye on her, although Jacob doesn't seem too thrilled with the idea, especially after he caught them holding each other asleep at the beach.

I thought it was innocent fun. They fell asleep and they were spooning, it's not like he caught then doing anything. They're too good for that.

I'm not sure who was more upset, Jacob or Bella. Edward just growled a lot, but couldn't really be mad, because he knew it was innocent... It's not like he had a leg to stand on, seeing as how he used to sneak into Bella's room every single night and hold her as she slept, now that was creepy.

But Edward just huffs and walks away, and I smile.

Everyone's taking their place now, and the ceremonies began.

And in a blink they're married. Actually married. Charlie's my step-father. Bella's now my annoying step-sister, and Nessie, after all these years of her calling me "Aunt Leah", she's actually my niece, and the leeches are kind of my family.

Screw God helping Charlie. He needs to help me.

***

My mom is married.

I can't believe that she is someone's wife.

That still blows my mind. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it because I can still remember a time when just the thought of that even happening pissed me off, but now maybe it's because I can actually appreciate how happy she is, or maybe it's because I'm so happy, but I know that I couldn't be happier for her.

I know that she'll always be Sue Clearwater, no matter who her husband is. And more importantly, I know that my dad would be happy that she's happy again.

We're standing outside of the tent, the camera is in my hand, and I'm snapping random pictures of my mom and me, and some of Charlie, Jacob and Seth smiling at one another as Charlie whispers things to the two of them.

Men. I can't help but roll my eyes.

Seth's laughing as Charlie says something to Jacob, and the face Jacob is making makes me want to laugh as well.

My mom is standing next to me, and she is radiating happiness.

"Congratulations mom." I say hugging her.

"Thanks honey." She says hugging me back.

"I'm so happy for you."

"Yeah me too!" Seth says grinning from ear to ear, coming up next to us.

She hugs us both and tells us how happy she is, and how proud she is of the two of us. She didn't need to tell us that, it's written all over her face, but she smiles solemnly and tells us how lucky she is to have us as her children. Seth and I grin. We're awesome. I don't need to be in Seth's head to know that he's thinking the same thing.

We love our mom, and we love the fact that she's smiling the way that she is. Because she's beaming, and we know that's it's not just because of Charlie, it's because we're here too.

"We did good baby bro."

"Yeah we did." Seth says high-fiving me.

"Did what good?" Charlie asks walking up next to us.

"At being awesome!" Seth answers laughing.

"Yeah well I hope your dancing skills are just awesome." My mom says laughingly.

"As long as it's not a slow dance." I say. "I hate slow dancing."

My mom glances at Jacob and nods, then smiles.

I look at him questioning and he just grins

"I'm not slow dancing." I tell him.

He just laughs and kisses me on the cheek.

It's probably because I'm blushing that I don't see the wink that Jacob gives my mom, before dragging me inside to the monstrous crowd that is our family.

***

We're twirling around the dance floor, Jacob and I that is, when a low song hits, and Jacob has me pinned against him in a death grip.

I roll my eyes and give into dancing to a slow song, although I remembered precisely saying that I hated slow dancing, and there was no way in hell I would do it.

But Jacob's supposedly stronger than I am, and we've been having such a great time together that I let it slide, one dance wouldn't kill me after all.

So I give in and lean into him, because really slow dancing isn't all that bad and I'd take any excuse to be pressed up against Jacob.

"This is nice." I mumble into his shirt.

"Yeah it is." He says kissing the top of my head.

I don't need to see his face to know that he's smiling, his breathing gives it away, or maybe it's the fact that we know each other so well.

My eyes are closed and I'm just listening to his heart beat, when it starts to beat oddly fast.

"Jak—" I start to say, when he cuts me off.

"leahiloveyouiwantyoutomarryme." It's not the way he wanted it to come out, because he's cursing under his breath. He says it in such a rush that I'm not sure if he actually says what I think he says. Because the word marry is all I can hear.

I'm frozen against him, but we're still moving. I'm not really sure if he's just said what he says when he pulls away from me, and just stares at me.

"Did you—did you just ask me—" Words are failing me as I look up at him.

He looks so hopeful, so happy that I'm not sure what's going on.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls a small pouch out. He holds his hand open and empties the pouch out.

It's a ring. A fricking engagement ring. And I'm still standing there speechless, like a damn idiot.

He's holding it out for me to examine, and I don't need vampire vision to know that it's beautiful.

Because I know that ring.

As a kid I used to stare at that ring, I used to beg his mother to let me try it on whenever Seth and I were over at their house. She always would. I loved that ring. She used to joke and say that someday it would probably be my ring, if only Sarah knew how right she was.

"Your mom's ring." I whisper at him.

Jacob smiles. He looks confident again. Gone is the unsureness in his voice as he speaks.

"It's yours Leah. She used to say that it would be yours. And I want it to be yours. Marry me."

I'm not sure what to say. It's not like I haven't thought about what this moment would be like. Never in a million years would I have thought that Jacob would be proposing to me at my mother's wedding.

But we never really discussed being married. Being Leah Black wasn't something I wanted to get too attached too, even after all this time I still held Jacob at arm's length, waiting for the bottom to fall out.

"You...you drive me crazy, Leah. You say things before thinking, and you never back down. You are the toughest person I know, and sometimes that drive me insane. But I can't imagine my life without you. I love you so much, you asked me once, why I was in love with you, and I gave you a list of reasons, but the one reason I didn't give you, is the reason why. I love you because you're you. And that may not make any sense, but you and me, we make sense. It's you. It's always been you. You're my forever Leah, we can have forever—Just say yes."

He's not pleading, but I can hear a trace of it in his voice. He wants this. And if I've learned anything about Jacob Black it's that when he wants something he goes after it.

But this? Marriage? Saying yes—it would mean forever. And I wanted forever with him. At least a lifetime.

And I wasn't ready—or was I?

"Oh just say yes already!" Some screams.

I would know her voice anywhere.

It's Emily.

This past year has actually been really good for us. Having her in my life without all of the pressure of being friends, or even being nice, I think it's actually made us closer. Not like things are back to where they use to, but they're better than they have been, and I guess that's the most any one could ask for. At least we've finally reached an understanding.

I turn to glare at her, when I realize that everyone is staring at us.

They're waiting for my answer, they all knew about this.

I find my mother's face, and she's beamingly so much harder now. I can see her urging me to say yes, she's giddy with anticipation.

I make it a point to shot every one dirty looks until I'm face to face with Jacob.

He's still staring at me, holding out his mother's ring. Waiting. Smiling, just like he's always done. He's always been that guy, the person in couples who just knew, the one that never gave up. I can feel his eagerness. He wants to put that ring on my finger.

And I want him to. It's taken me a long time to get to this place, and if Jacob is the person that always knew, I was the person that was always trying to catch up. Until now. I've finally caught up, and I know that this is what I want. I want this. I want him, I want to be his wife. I can't stop the smile that's somehow found its way to my lips.

But I won't be taken down without a fight.

My hands are on my hips, and I'm glaring at him in a very Leah like way.

"Smooth Black. Very smooth." I say grinning.

He smiles and takes a step closer to me.

I raise an eyebrow and Jacob takes another step closer to me. I hold my left hand out expectantly, and Jacob eagerly slides the ring onto my finger.

He breaks out into a grin and kisses me.

Jacob picks me up and spins me around until I'm hitting him to let me down. Once I'm on the floor I turn to look at him and say loud enough for everyone, non-wolf and all to hear,"This doesn't mean I'm taking your last name." I snap.

"We'll see." He says slamming out lips together.

When he finally lets me up for air, he turns to crowd and says, "The future Mrs. Jacob Black." and kisses me on the cheek.

All around, I hear the bursts of cheers.

The first ones to reach us are my mom and Seth, Charlie and Billy are close behind them and smiling proudly.

"You knew didn't you?" I say turning to my mom.

She just smiles mischievously at me, and laughs.

"Of course I knew!" She says rolling her eyes, now let me see your ring.

I hold my left hand out to her, and she examines the ring.

"Well at least you had good taste when you were younger Billy." My mom says turning to Billy.

He laughs and tells me that Sarah would be glowing if she knew that I had her ring on my finger. And I can't help but smile.

I feel bad that I'm taking attention off of my mom's wedding, but she's hugging me so tightly that I know she doesn't mind. She helped Jacob plan where he was going to do it, so I'm sure she can't be angry.

I'm not sure what surprises me more, the fact that Sam actually looks thrilled at the fact that I'm getting married, or the fact that Bella actually comes up to me and congratulates me with a smile.

I chalk it down to her trying to be sisterly, seeing as how that's what we are now.

A soft clinking of glass stops the murmur of congratulations that have spread from all around the room. I scan the room for the source of the sound, only to find Seth and the podium with a smile on his face, and a mic in his hand.

"So I'm really no good at this," He says laughing, "But it's probably expected of me now, seeing as how it's my mom's wedding, and the fact that my sister just got engaged in front of all of us. But since I'm the only sane person in my family—I want to propose a toast, well actually two toasts, the first, of course to my mom and Charlie, you guys have been dancing around this for years now, and all I can say is that it's about time. I know that I can speak for Leah here when I say that Leah and I wish you nothing but happiness for whatever years you have left."

Every one laughs at Seth's joke.

"To Sue and Charlie." He says raising his glass.

The room follows and drinks to their happiness.

"Now," Seth says, "The second is to Leah and Jacob—you guys are idiots. But no one in this room can deny the fact that you guys make each other happy. I've seen the two of you at your best, and at your worst. And no one is more perfectly matched than the two of you. My sister is amazing Jake—the best you'll ever get, and you know what I'm capable of if you hurt her, but more importantly you know what she's capable of if you piss her off. So here's to the two of you, may you continue to drive each other crazy so you leave the rest of us alone."

Seth laughs, and I find myself laughing along with him.

"Thanks bro." I say hugging him.

"Dad would be so proud of you." He says in my ear.

"You too." I tell him tearing up.

"Love you sis."

"Love you too."

"Okay enough of the sappiness, let's start celebrating!" Seth says into the mic.

The music starts again, and I'm lead onto the dance floor by a smiling Jacob.

"Best wedding yet?" He asks smugly.

"Till ours of course." I say winking back at him.

As the music starts and Jacob pulls me further onto the dance floor, I've come to realize that after all of this, after all the crap that I used to blame on fate and destiny—I've come to terms with the fact that after every single bad thing that has ever happened to me, amazingly good things have happened as well. And that after all this time I realize that the person I want to be does exist, I know this because I've actually become that person—the one that I always wanted to be, and I can't blame fate and destiny, or even Sam and Emily anymore, because without all of that I wouldn't be who I am today, and I like who I am, and that's all that really matters.

—-

THE END.

***

A/N: I really can't believe that this is the end. It still hasn't fazed me that it's over. It's taken me a little less than a year, a few days short of a year actually, and 37 chapters, but I've finally done it. I know most of you must be disappointed with the lack of Blackwater babies, but as a good friend pointed out to me, this story didn't start off with any Blackwater intentions. The story is about Leah, and about her finding herself again, and she just happened to pick Jacob up along the way, not a bad thing to have if you ask me. Now that doesn't mean that babies are out of the question, I just saw it ending this way.

I've been asked by a couple of of to write a sequel, and honestly I could say that I'm going to get on that right now. But that would be a lie. All I can tell you is that I know that I'm not done with TWWND world. I've left many things open, and insinuated some relationships that could develop, but all I know is that I'll want to come back to it. Here's where you bug me with PM's an reviews. haha, but don't be too disappointed there are Outtakes that I'm still editing, and if you have a special request, feel free to ask.

I wanted to give personal thanks, but somehow there was this feeling that there was someone that I would forget, and after all of this it would literally kill me to forget someone. So instead here I am trying to type out how much it means to me that you've all stuck by this story. Somehow typing out a heartfelt thank you doesn't seem like enough, but it will have to do, and I hope you all know that to the reviewers who have stuck by me through the year, I really do appreciate every single one of you. This story has been one hell of a ride, and without all of you I really would've given up on this story way back around chapter 8, and I'm sure you all would've hated me for it.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being a part of this journey.

-xtapx