TWENTY-SEVEN

JACOB

Last night things with Seth and Embry were tense at first, as I apologized to them for leaving, and for how I'd acted towards them both before then. It was a humbling moment, which is not so easy for an Alpha to submit to, but I was honest and sincere. Embry was pretty easy to win over, and apologized for not telling me that Leah was leaving. He admitted that he would have wanted to know his girl was leaving him too, if the roles were reversed. He asked me to come back to the shop, because they weren't as good as I was, and missed my guidance.

I admitted to needing my shop back too, not just for the money, but because I missed my life with my pack. It was the reason I left Spain, after all. Embry warned me that Quil would be a hard sell, but I already expected as much. Seth and I gave him a run-down of everything that was going on with Nessie and Leah being back as well.

Seth surprised me, though. He came right out and told me that he's been staying with Nessie over in Forks. At first, I wanted to punch him in the mouth again, but I held back this time, barely. He explained that it wasn't a romantic thing going on between them, but that he needed to make sure that I'd be okay seeing them together.

My mind is still reeling from that honestly, but, what else could I do at the time, but agree and give my blessing? The reality is that Nessie having her own love life is my golden ticket. While I never expected her to like Seth, it's happening.

It makes me uncomfortable and almost guilty to think that he's being to her the kind of wolf that I can't. I don't want him to be my stand-in, but maybe that's not what he is at all. Maybe he's just a guy who can treat her right, plain and simple. At least, this is what Embry tried to reason with me. I did kinda lose it with the growling when Seth implied that it could be more eventually, if that was what they decided.

It'll just take some getting used to, but I'll keep my promise. Seth knows it's not romantic with me either, it's just me being overprotective of her in general. We'll be fine, eventually. We all will be. Honestly, I've got more important things to worry about right now – and Nessie's made it clear that she's her own woman.

When I make it to the Cullen residence, I take in how neglected it looks compared to its former glory when the coven was here. I keep driving past the main mansion and head deeper into the woods until the little cottage that is Nessie's first home, appears in the distance. It's got a bunch of vines covering the walls which gives it this fairytale charm. I put the Rabbit in park, and knock on the door.

"Come in Jake," Nessie calls from inside. I open up with a scowl.

"Why don't you have the door locked? You should be more careful." I scold her.

"I only just unlocked it, I knew you'd be here soon."

I find her in the small living room on the big off-white sofa with a book on her lap. She gets up and we move to one another, and embrace, and it still feels like the most natural thing in the world. I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that she's here and safe.

It doesn't escape my notice that Seth's scent is everywhere. And all over her. I try not the think too hard about it. I'm not angry, but it feels weird, and I'm going to have to exercise an enormous amount of self-control until I get over the shock and unease of them being so close. Biting my tongue is going to be hard as fuck.

She's wearing a simple white long sleeve shirt and jeans, with socks. Her red-brown hair falls around her shoulders in a mass of curls. I can see how relaxed she is and it makes me feel grateful for that small mercy.

"How have you been settling in?" I ask her, as we move to the couch and sit together, hands entwined on her lap.

"Good, really good. Seth has been keeping me busy – we've gone hiking, we drove down the coast to this bar, we went to a concert, the beach. It's been a great vacation so far."

"That's good to hear, I hope he hasn't been getting you drunk," I grumble under my breath.

Nessie laughs. "Of course not, Seth's just as overprotective as you can be when you're ready."

"Yeah, I guess."

"So, is everything okay? With you and him? He mentioned you went for a run last night."

I shrug. "Yeah, we talked, and Embry too. Tried to settle things between us. I think we'll be alright eventually."

"That's good, you have to starting mending fences with the pack somewhere."

"True."

"Speaking of," she squeezes my hand before releasing it back into my possession. "Are we still on track to talk to your father?"

I nod, biting my nail. "Yea, are you still up for it?"

"Yes, I want to meet the pack and visit First Beach. I'd like him to know I'm here."

"Alright, tomorrow. We'll have dinner on the Reservation, I'll bring you over."

"Good. And I hope that you're okay with Seth staying here with me, and us hanging out."

I start to respond but I stop. I really don't know what to say to avoid upsetting her. "I'm trying," I admit after a breath, with an apologetic smile.

"Thanks Jake. Seth's really helped me get back on my feet, and being home as well. I guess I never really knew how much I missed it til I got back."

"Well it's true what they say, there's no place like home."

Ness smiles in agreement, but it's wistful. "It's going to be hard going back to Paris, too."

I stiffen at the implication, that I'm not sure she's even making. "Why?" I ask.

"Because, I don't know if a couple weeks is enough. But I mean, I probably shouldn't stay longer than I said I was. We all have our lives to get back to. You're having a baby, Seth will be looking for work, I have school. It doesn't even make sense me wanting to stay."

"But you shouldn't leave if you really don't want to."

She looks up at me in shock, "What do you mean? I've got my apartment and school."

"True, I know." I take a deep breath. "Don't mind me Ness, I just meant that there's no one forcing you to leave. If you change your mind about Paris, that's okay. Whatever you decide, I'm going to support that. I just don't want you to think that I wouldn't want you here. Whatever makes you happy, okay?"

"Really?" her eyes brim with tears and I'm caught off guard at the sight of them.

"Yeah I'm sure, Ness. Don't cry. This is your home, here with us. Maybe that's what you truly need from me as your imprinter, to give you some place you knew that you could always return to, when you're in danger, or when the world around you changes. I'll always be here, this is where I belong, but maybe that's true for you too. My Dad might have been right about that, funny enough."

"What do you mean?"

"He said that you belong with me, here, not with the coven. I told him this wasn't the kind of life you would ever want, the Res being so run down and dreary and wet and cold."

"Well, I don't know about the Res, but I love it here in Forks," she gestures to the cottage. "I don't know Jake, but thank you for giving me an option to consider. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome, Bug. Anytime."

Ness rolls her eyes and giggles, nestling her head against my shoulder and hugging me around my waist. I feel like I've done right by my imprintee: to truly accept her into my life rather than always trying to fit into hers. It makes me really happy too.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I spend another hour with Renesmee to have lunch, then make it over to the hardware and furniture place nearby. I check out the prices for the appliances we'll need for the kitchen, writing down the prices as I go. It makes me feel like shit because I can't actually purchase anything, but I'll figure it out. I know I can.

I may be broke, but I have no doubt that our little one is going to be the most loved human being on the planet. I hope it's a boy so that I can teach him how to swim and surf and fix cars and be a good wolf. But even if we have a daughter, it won't matter. I can do those things with her too. I just can't wait to see that little face, to count those ten little fingers and ten little toes, and smell that baby-soft skin.

Man, I've turned into such a sap for them, for my family. Now I truly know how Paul feels, why he happily lets Rach and Lotus wrap him around their fingers so tightly. There's really no greater feeling than knowing that Leah and the baby are mine.

I'm so fucking relieved that they are on the Reservation now, where I know she'll be safest. Although there's a lot of shit I'm going to have to deal with, regarding Sam and the Council, I truly believe because of our growing baby, that everything will be alright. We have a new life coming into our world soon, and there is no way that I will let anything stop us from raising him or her together with our family.

Marking Leah was the best decision for me the man, and for my wolf. It was the only way I could prove to her, the pack and Council once and for all, that I love no one else but her. I've given her something that she never thought she'd have, our child and our bond, so I can only hope she trusts me. I'm grateful that the wolf allowed me to do it.

After the store I head back to the Reservation and pop in by the autoshop. Quil is there, changing an air filter.

"Hey," I call out.

He stiffens and turns around, seeming surprised. "Didn't know you were back."

"I came yesterday."

"Oh."

"I just wanted to apologize for everything that has happened between us in the last few months. You're my cousin and my brother Quil, I don't want there to be any beef between us. I want us to respect each other's decisions and move on."

Quil scoffs and shakes his head. "So what's changed?"

I shrug. "Leah and I are having a baby."

His jaw drops. "What? But HOW?"

I shrug again. "Who knows Quil? It just happened, and we're very happy about it."

"So…where is she?"

"Here. So is Becca and Renesmee." Quil's jaw drops again and his face is now red. "I haven't told my father or anyone else but our pack, so please just…don't say anything until I speak to Billy. I just didn't want you to think that I value Seth and Embry more than you."

"I'm not a part of the Black pack anymore. The Black pack doesn't even exist anymore Jake, wake up, you left. Sam's the only Alpha now."

His words sting, and I clear my throat, refusing to let Alpha pride make my temper flair. "I'm back now, there will be only one pack and only one leader Quil, and it will be me, not Sam. I'm trying to make things right between us."

Quil shakes his head at me, seeming to finally catch himself. "What are you trying to pull here, Jake? You bring your mistress and your imprint back to the Res?"

I growl in warning. "Watch it Quil!"

"You have no authority over me, and I prefer it that way."

"You're being ridiculous. I'm with Leah, end of story. Nessie has her own love life. You have no reason to hate me Quil!"

Quil shakes his head again, as if he doesn't believe me. I know he doesn't, but he will see it for himself.

"Anyways, I'll be coming back to work as soon as Monday. I'm looking forward to being with you and Em again, like it used to be."

Quil scoffs. "It's never going to be like it used to be Jake. Maybe I'll find work somewhere else."

"Oh come on, man! Don't be like that Quil. Why won't you tell me what the fuck is really going on?"

"You wanna know what's going on? I don't respect you Jacob Black. And I don't need to be friends or brothers with someone I don't respect. We might be related, but that's all."

"All because I wanted something different to you?"

"You don't care about her, you just toss her aside like she's nothing!"

"That's not true Quil! I've tried my best, but I needed time to myself, to just be here at home. You can't fault me for that."

"You don't get it! She's yours, how could you ever need a break? How could you need time away?"

I have no clue what he wants me to say.

"And that's not all. You didn't just abandon her, you abandoned this tribe. Do you know how much Sam has done? He's gotten the government to give us the money finally, after all these years of promises. Everything's going to change, and he'll probably run for some type of office when it's over."

I'm floored by the revelation, but it doesn't surprise me, when considering the type of man that Sam has become over the years. He's very good friends with the Mayor of Forks. He's made all the right connections. He could do it, be in politics, and I'd be proud in my own way.

"I'm glad that Sam could do that Quil. I'm back now, and I hope that we can all work together from now on."

He snorts and shakes his head. "Whatever Jake. Welcome home." Quil turns his back on me and goes back to his work.

"See you Monday," I tell him, even though it's possible that I really might not if he's still angry by then.

I know making amends won't be easy, all that matters is that I tried.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"How are you?" Leah asks when I finally get home. She's stretched out on the old couch reading her baby book, an empty bowl of what smells like pie next to her.

"We have pie?" I ask her, instead of answering.

"Yeap, Sue brought it," she chuckles as I go hunting through the containers on the counter. There's food left over and so I fix myself a plate before I indulge in the blue berry pie.

I go over to Leah, sitting in the spot that she makes for me. "Today was fine honey," I finally reply.

Leah wrinkles her nose at me, and points to my shirt. "You smell like her."

I quickly take my shirt off and throw it across the room. "Sorry, I forgot."

"It's nothing, I'll get used to it eventually, I guess. Seth smelled like her too. I don't know which one is more disturbing."

"I hope that you two can become friends Lee. She and Seth seem to mean a lot to each other."

"I know, and honestly, I don't even want to talk about that." She gives me what I know is supposed to be a reassuring smile, but her eyes don't hide that the idea of being around my imprintee freaks Leah out a little bit.

"On my way home I stopped at the shop. I saw Quil and he wasn't ready to accept me back into his life, so, there's that too."

"Sorry about Quil," she rubs my thigh affectionately.

"It's okay, I expected it anyhow."

"Well, I've got some good news?"

"What?" I look over at her, while devouring Sue's lasagne.

"Mom told me about a college savings she'd made for me, says I can have the money to do what I want with. So I was thinking we could fix up the house."

My brow wrinkles at the thought of her using her college fund for this dump. "Leah, you can always go to college some day, don't spend that money on my account."

"It's for OUR future Jake. Baby Black's future. Who knows when I'll be able to go to college?"

"You could go when the baby's old enough for daycare Lee. We have one right here, Kim runs it, so it'll be fine."

Leah shakes her head and gets up off the couch. "Don't be mad," I call behind her as she storms into the bedroom.

I continue to eat, because I know that this conversation isn't over. As if on cue, Leah comes back out and faces me with her hands on her hips. "I thought that we were supposed to be partners, Jacob Black."

"Of course we are, babe." I maintain eye contact with the hormonal she-wolf, because I know that if I even think about looking at the hard nipples that are waving to me right now from her chest, she'll bitch-slap the shit out of me. It's been like this recently, where she barks, bites and then cries, eats and sleeps. Rebecca cautioned me to maintain my cool, and make her see reason only when necessary – otherwise, let her have her way for the sake of peace. I'm not sure which way this particular conversation should swing though. I'm only trying to look out for her future, I want her to have options.

"So why won't you let me help you - help US! I've got the money we need, we can buy the furniture and the baby's stuff. Charlie will ask around to find me a job. We'll be okay. I really believe that."

"But I told you I don't want you to worry or exert yourself Leah. This is our miracle, we have to protect him."

"And I will, I promise. But I'm not made of glass Jake. I worked in Hawaii, I can work here."

"But you'll get bigger, and it'll be harder to manage."

"Then I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Look," Leah seems to soften, and sits next to me again, folding her leg under. "Just let me buy the stove, fridge and a couple other small things for the house, just enough to make us comfortable. Let me help you with this Jacob, please? You're taking on too much stress and I have a way to fix some of that. This is me loving you." She plays with the hair at the back of my neck, which Leah knows causes me to shiver with arousal.

I huff. I know when she's got me beat, and man does she know how to play dirty. "I'll agree but only if you promise to leave something back for college."

Leah kisses my cheek and rests her head on my shoulder. "Deal."

AN: Sorry I took so long to update, I literally forgot lol. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next up we hear from Rachel and Rebecca.