The following two weeks flew by for Leah. The fewer signs of the tick, the more at ease she became. The worry over Amara and Hodie, however, did not change. Neither ever answered her messages nor attempted to contact her.

Leah and Quil had quietly decided to make a real go of things, fully adopting the concept of taking each day at a time. Quil was doing his best to curb his jealousy and stay supportive where Hodie was concerned. Despite that, Leah could see the sadness behind his eyes any time he caught her checking for messages that didn't come. Leah eventually decided it was time to stop hoping, as she was only upsetting them both. She could not bring herself to delete Hodie's pictures and saved them to a private folder before clearing all messages from her phone. It did her no good to dwell, and yet she could not help but wonder about his true intentions when Hodie ran. Charlie said neither Amara nor Hodie had been located, and police had officially declared Hodie a missing person. Numerous tips had come in claiming one or the other had been spotted, though it could never be confirmed. The shared phone lines were disconnected. Credit cards had stopped being used, and Amara's bank account sat entirely untouched since she disappeared. Hodie had drained his account when he left town. It was as if both had simply vanished into thin air. As close as they had been, Leah couldn't help but wonder if they were together somewhere. At Leah's request, Alice watched for them in her visions. She could not figure out where he was, though she could tell he was alive. Any attempt to search for Amara brought Alice nothing but darkness. It was the same when she searched for others she knew were deceased, leading them to conclude that Amara was dead. Leah allowed herself to grieve for the tiny woman for a few minutes and forced her pain aside. The finality of death could not be altered. Leah knew firsthand that dwelling on loss only left a person in more pain.

With Christmas coming, the schedule at the shop remained overbooked. Customers flocked to the garage for needed repairs and tuneups before traveling for the holidays. Rose and Emmett came to help around the garage, creating more time for Leah to babysit. Sarah was thrilled with all the extra "Eeee" time, oblivious to the fact that Leah lived there now. Rachel was placed on medical leave with orders to rest until she gave birth to the twins. To Leah's annoyance, Rachel chose to spend her extra free time with her feet propped up while sitting at Bella's kitchen table. The endless gossip and constant opinion sharing left Leah grateful for the afternoon when the bitch finally ran out of hot air and went home to nap.

It was early Friday morning when Leah woke to the sound of Rachel prattling in the kitchen. Jacob was dutifully listening to his sister as coffee brewed. Leah could hear Bella beginning her day early, moving things around aggressively, and already annoyed.

Quil rolled over toward Leah and stretched before loudly kissing her cheek. Leah giggled at him, and he grinned back mischievously. "Listen, you're gonna wake someone else if you keep making noises like that," he whispered and softly kissed the side of her neck. The exaggerated moan Leah let out had Quil growling in her ear as his hand slid down her backside. He suddenly tickled the back of her lower thigh, and she shoved her face into her pillow to muffle an uncontainable peal of laughter.

"You're a dick," she said, still muffled by her pillow.

Quil said, "Yes, he is, and look what you did to him. Bad girl." He squeezed her butt cheek in his hand and ground his erection against her thigh.

"You are ridiculous," she said and laughed. "I'm starting to think you're a sex addict."

Quil gaped at her in exaggerated surprise. Feigning innocence, Quil gasped out, "Meee? You start it most of the time, ma'am." Leah giggled again and pushed him away from her. She stood and began getting dressed for the day. Quil followed suit, damn near falling over as he pulled his coveralls over his basketball shorts and sleeveless t-shirt. Leah shook her head, knowing all too well how hot too many layers were for all of the wolves.

Leah asked, "Why are you dressing for work so early?"

Grinning, Quil gestured toward the sound of Rachel's voice and said, "I'm going in early. I'm not listening to that bullshit all morning."

Jacob's laughter filtered through the wall, followed by a confused Rachel asking, "What?" Quil grimaced for a moment as he realized Jacob had heard him and then laughed.

Leah was having a difficult time getting her jeans buttoned and huffed. She gave up and shimmied them back down her legs. "I gotta start jogging or something," she said as she searched for a different pair of jeans.

"You have to eat to gain weight, sweetheart," Quil grumbled. "When was the last time you got sick from an anxiety attack?"

She said, "Over a week ago." She carefully withheld that she had been sick on two other occasions where anxiety had nothing to do with it. The wolf was calmer than ever since the leech had stayed away and yet still had no desire to phase. Leah could not figure out why it stayed with her if her time as a shifter was finished. She had stubbornly argued against the idea of consulting Carlisle for weeks and was slightly embarrassed now to admit she was considering it. There was obviously still something wrong with her. She believed it had to be something the tick had done when it messed with her mind.

Maybe there is permanent brain damage from the fucking skull bashing he gave me. Her energy levels were lower, and Leah still had the urge to sleep often. Her appetite slightly improved yet remained much less than before. Leah found herself losing her train of thought more often and forgetting routine things.

Pulling her from her thoughts, Quil asked, "You okay?"

Leah forced a smile at him as she easily buttoned the second pair of jeans and said, "I'm good." Her smile was genuine as she pulled up the zipper. "Maybe I shrunk the others somehow."

"Maybe," Quil said, though he sounded doubtful. He gave her a soft, lingering kiss that nearly made her toes curl before leaving the room.

The genuine smile she gave Jacob when entering the kitchen helped her retain a forced smile toward Rachel, too.

Jacob appeared almost relieved as Sarah cried out from the nursery.

Jacob said, "I got her," and booked it from the kitchen so quickly that Bella snorted.

As she poured her coffee, Leah asked, "Sis, do you need help with anything?"

Bella said, "Nope." She began cracking eggs into a large bowl, and Leah grabbed her creamer from the fridge. She doctored her coffee and sat down at the table opposite Rachel. "So," Leah asked, "why are you here so early today?"

Rachel glanced over at Bella nervously and said, "I hoped we could chat for a bit. You are always so busy."

Busy avoiding your loud ass. Leah asked, "You're braving my presence before coffee? Oof. Is something wrong?"

Bella cackled and said, "It's true. Quil doesn't even test her temper before coffee."

Rachel asked, "Where is he, anyway?"

Leah said, "He, uh, went out the front and straight to the garage. He wanted to get a head start. Things are overbooked right now."

Rachel said, "I'm surprised he's up so early after being out so late."

Leah leaned back and scowled, confused. She glanced toward Bella, finding her sister glaring at the back of Rachel's head. Leah asked, "What are you talking about?" Quil had patrol on Thursday nights. Leah had gone to bed early, but Quil woke her when he came to bed. As they had nearly every night since the porch incident, they had made love for close to an hour. He had left the room to shower afterward, and Leah had fallen into a contented sleep. Could he have left again while I slept? Carefully, Leah asked, "Where did you see him? Where was he?"

"Out on the beach, I guess," Rachel said. "We saw him walking the trail toward his house from the beach on the way home from the bar. I had to pick Paul up from work, so it was only three hours ago or so."

After two in the morning? It was at least a five-minute run from Jake and Bella's house. Leah said, "I don't recall him leaving again after patrol. He took a shower and came back to bed, as far as I know. He could have gone to check on Old Quil, I suppose." What the hell? What if it was the tick out there? Leah's stomach rolled as dread washed over her. It couldn't have been in here, right? Leah knew the feeling of his body, his heat, all too well. The familiar rumble in her stomach began, and Leah's mouth watered.

Rachel narrowed her eyes at Leah suspiciously and asked, "Are you alright?" Leah didn't have a chance to answer as she bolted for the bathroom. As she ran, she heard Bella sigh in aggravation.

Bella hissed, "I asked you not to say shit that would get her worked up, Rachel. Ever since the attack, she gets sick when she gets overwhelmed."

Rachel asked, "How was I supposed to know seeing Quil on the trails late at night would be upsetting? He lives out there. He used to be out there late at night all the time."

"The vamp makes itself look like Quil. Not to mention, Quil stays wherever Leah is now. Everyone knows that," Bella said. "I love you, Rach, but sometimes you need to think before you speak." Leah reached the bathroom in time to lean over the sink as the heaving began. Had she not been so busy turning her guts inside out, she would have cheered her sister's speech. The wolf complained, irritated by her already empty stomach.

You know what? I can't fucking control it, Leah snapped back in aggravation. When the heaving stopped, Leah was out of breath. She cleaned up the sink and brushed her teeth before walking back to the kitchen.

Rachel said, "Are you alright? I'm sorry if I upset you. I didn't mean to. I don't even understand why it did."

"It's fine," Leah said hesitantly. "I just… I don't think you saw Quil, is all."

Appearing worried, Bella said, "You can lie back down if you want, Leah. I can wake you back up in an hour or so."

Leah shook her head no and headed straight out the back door. She jogged to the garage and went inside, searching for Quil. He took one look at her and dropped the tools in his hands before walking over to embrace her. They clattered to the floor, echoing across the space, making Leah cringe. Jacob poked his head out of the office, and Leah wondered if he had snuck out the front as Quil had. Leah laughed, sounding slightly hysterical as she visualized Jacob stealthily creeping through the living room to avoid Rachel.

"Hey," Quil said softly, "What's wrong?"

"Hang on," Leah said suspiciously. "Jake? Thought you went to the nursery?"

Jacob said, "I changed Sarah, and she went back to sleep, so I came out here. Bella has the baby monitor on in the kitchen. What's wrong?"

"I kind of wish you had come back in the kitchen," she mumbled. Leah turned to Quil and asked, "Did you leave again last night?"

"No," Quil said as his brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would I?"

Leah said, "Rachel just told me she and Paul saw you on the trails between the beach and your house a few hours ago.

Quil instantly became flustered as he yelled, "What?" He yanked down the zipper on his coveralls and began wiggling out of them.

Jacob asked, "Quil, what are you doing?"

Quil snapped, "I don't know why that bastard was near my house, but I need to check on Grandpa and Mom. Now." Quil tossed his coveralls onto the hood of the car he was working on and charged toward the door. As he opened it, someone else's howl ripped through the air. Quil charged across the lot and into the woods.

Jacob stood and yanked off his t-shirt. He kicked his shoes into the office floor and froze as he spotted Leah panicking where she stood. Leah could feel herself becoming clammy as her stomach rolled. Jacob grabbed his chair and trash can before guiding Leah into one while placing the other in her lap. He pushed her, chair and all, into the office. "Lock this door," he ordered. "And call Rose when you calm down. Tell her to bring Carlisle, or I'll do it myself, Leelee!"

Goddamnit. Leah was grateful to have the trashcan in her lap as the heaving began again. Jacob huffed and locked the door before pulling it shut. Leah heard bones snap and the rip of shifting flesh as the outside door swung shut. The wolf snarled protectively as it curled tighter into itself. Leah growled back in aggravation. You know, maybe if you were less snappy, I would calm down faster. The wolf huffed and became silent, ignoring its host. You won't let me phase. You give me nothing but attitude lately. I know you miss Hodie, and so do I. You care about Quil, too. Or, you care for his Wolf, at least. You're obviously trying to protect me from something, but until I figure out what that is, stop bitching and help me.

The wolf whimpered mournfully, and Leah sighed. Her eyes and nose watered from heaving and her abdomen hurt from the strain. Leah found a box of Kleenex on the file cabinet and grabbed several to clean up her face. A knock on the office door startled her, and she shrieked before spinning to look out the window. Rose smirked at her and waved. Leah looked into her eyes carefully, searching for the slightest ring of red around Rose's topaz irises. Finding none, she sighed with relief and opened the door.

"No need to call Carlisle," Rose said. "I just talked to Jacob and a very naked Quil, by the way. Just between you and I?" Rose guffawed and shook her head. "I definitely see part of the attraction."

Leah burst out laughing. I did not see that coming. At all. If it were possible for Rose to blush, she would have.

Rose laughed and asked, "How do you even walk after that?" Leah sat back down in Jacob's chair, still laughing as she covered her face with her hands.

Rose grinned and said, "Seriously, girl. Can we not tell Emmett about this conversation? Poor guy will get a complex. He already thinks it's unfair that you all get to run around naked and we don't."

Leah sighed as she tried to catch her breath. Grinning, she said, "I seriously needed that laugh. Thank you."

Rose teased, "He could do porn, Leah."

Leah burst out laughing again and said, "Please never tell him that. He's more than aware. He's cocky for a reason."

Quietly, Rose asked, "Is it very different? Between him and Hodie?"

"Uh. Yeah." Leah answered awkwardly. "But not because of that. More of a mind thing with one and physical with the other." Through her laughter, she added, "Each has their talents."

Rose sat down in the other office chair. She looked down and scowled at the trashcan by Leah's feet. She asked, "So, you're still getting sick?"

Leah explained, "Yes. It's the reason everyone keeps nagging me to see Carlisle." Leah leaned down to tie up the trash bag and sighed. She said, "My appetite is still shit, and I can't phase. I feel physically fine. I think it's just psychological shit."

Rose was completely silent for at least a full minute. Tentatively, she asked, "Do you remember what I asked you at the house? About certain risks?"

Of course, Leah remembered. The topic was touchy for her, and the idea of getting pregnant only made Leah long for what she feared she would never have.

"It's not possible," Leah insisted. "I can't get pregnant, Rose."

The look on Rose's face as she glanced toward Leah's abdomen and back made it clear that she believed otherwise.

Sadly, Rose said, "Babe, I hope you understand that I wouldn't ask if I didn't sincerely think it was possible. I know how it feels … wanting children that I can't have."

Leah said, "I haven't bled in over a year, Rose."

Rose argued, "A lot of women don't for some reason or another but miraculously get pregnant at some point. You and both of your partners are technically supernatural, even if one is human. I think we have all learned anything is possible at this point. Fuck, Babe. I'm like ninety years older than you and could pass as the same age. Is the idea of ovulation without a period really that far out?"

Leah sighed defeatedly. Rose had made a fair point. After all, Leah had not truly believed she would ever imprint, either. Didn't the elders claim that the purpose of imprinting was to create future wolves?

"Come on," Rose said as she stood.

Leah said, "Jake told me to stay here."

Rose grumbled, "Please. I would kill a mother fucker. Let's go." Leah followed Rose from the garage and into the house, dumping the trash bag into the dumpster along the way.

Busily working next to Emily, Bella's face fell as soon as Leah walked in. Bella said, "I'm sorry about that shit earlier."

Rose visibly sniffed the air, her nose scrunching up in distaste. "When did Rachel leave?"

"Paul came charging in here after the howling started and told her to get her ass home with Billy," Emily said, trying to hold back her amusement. "Sam and I had just got here. We were putting the babies in the nursery."

Rose gave Emily a dazzling smile and asked, "Can I see them?"

Emily laughed and said, "Of course, you can."

Rose snagged Leah's elbow and tugged at her. Leah followed her down the hallway, only for Rose to stop in front of the bathroom. She opened the bathroom cabinets and quickly located a multi-pack of pregnancy tests. Leah cackled as Rose yanked the cellophane away and handed her a box.

Rose said, "I shoved those in here months ago. So many fucking puppies around here." She turned and pulled the door shut, leaving Leah in the bathroom alone.

Well. Here goes nothing, I guess. Leah followed the package directions and turned the test upside down on the counter. She washed her hands and waited silently. She had no doubt it would be negative. It had been six weeks since she had phased, but no period had come. The wolf was still with her. Her temperature had lowered, though it remained too high for a human. Pregnant women were known to run a slight fever, but the wolves ran a toasty 108. A normal human couldn't survive that.

A howl ripped through the air again, and Leah quickly opened the door. Rose flew past her and out the front door just as Sam walked in through the back. He looked positively green, his face filled with concern as he said, "Leelee." His voice cracked on the second syllable, and he swallowed nervously. "I need you to come with us now."

Without another word, Leah hurried behind him and out the door. Sam ran straight to her car just as Rose appeared next to it. Jacob was jogging up to them, yelling incoherently.

Sam frowned at Rose and said, "You know I can't take you into La Push, Rosie."

Rose hissed, "If anyone thinks for one fucking second that she's going without me…"

Jacob screamed, "Hey!" Everyone went silent and turned to him, listening. Jacob said, "Fuck the council. Rose has explicit rights to cross the Rez in times of emergency. Get in the fucking car." Sam nodded, and Rose grinned triumphantly.

Leah said, "my keys are inside on the counter."

Sam said, "I grabbed them."

Jacob yelled, "Remember to keep back and touch nothing! I'm going to get Charlie."

As they climbed into the car, Leah's wolf became restless. It had been weeks since she had been overwhelmed with dread from the tick's proximity. Trembling, she snapped, "Will someone tell me what is wrong? Where is Quil? Is he okay?" The thought of him being injured made her stomach roll. Leah pressed her window button and leaned into the cool air as she focused on her breathing.

Sam said, "Quil isn't injured Leah, but he's… Paul and Jared found a body on Third beach, Leah. It looks like it was washed in."

Her voice shook as Leah asked, "Who is it?" She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself as her mind wandered toward the memory of Hodie's lifeless body in her arms.

Sam said, "It's not Hodie, Leah." Leah instantly broke down in tears as relief flooded through both her and the wolf. She didn't press any further for who it was. She knew she would find out soon enough.

The ride felt as if it took forever. Leah was trembling so badly that she nearly fell out of the car when they arrived. Rose was at her side instantly, ready to challenge the first person that came too close. Jared, Paul, and Embry looked up simultaneously as they neared the scene. Utterly devastated, Quil stood and briskly walked straight to Leah. Rose stepped to the side to let Quil embrace Leah as angry tears rolled down his cheeks. He reached for Rose's hand simultaneously and squeezed it warmly. Leah knew without looking that the friendly gesture was enough for Rose, and the vampire visibly relaxed somewhat at her side.

Quil pulled back and kissed Leah's forehead. He said, "You don't have to look. You can stay right here."

Leah's voice broke as she asked, "Is it Amara?"

"No, baby. No," Quil said as he stroked her hair affectionately. He sighed deeply and said, "It's Chelsea."

Leah jerked away from him in surprise as grief slammed her. Despite her newfound dislike for Chelsea, the truth was that Leah had unfairly put a lot of undeserved blame on her out of jealousy. Though she had run her mouth about Leah, her suspicions were logical. It certainly hadn't been her fault that she didn't know Quil's history when she took him home. The poor girl certainly didn't deserve to die. Quil pulled her back into his arms, attempting to soothe her as she sobbed against his chest.

The sound of a siren filled the air as it drew closer. It cut off abruptly, and Leah pulled away from Quil.

Leah said, "I need to see her."

Quil and Rose both glanced at each other doubtfully. Rose was staring toward the body from where she now stood, the utter sadness of the situation evident on her face. Quil asked Leah, "Are you sure?"

No, I'm not fucking sure, but I can't fully believe it is her until I see it for myself. Leah said, "I might regret it, but I have to." Quil led her over as close as any of them were allowed. Jared, Paul, and Embry made a wide arch around the scene, guarding it silently. Leah spotted Seth and Colin further down the beach. At fourteen, Colin was too young to see such a traumatic view. Seth was simply too softhearted and didn't need the memory. Leah did not doubt that neither Jacob nor Sam would allow them any closer than where they now stood.

Despite having been underwater at some point, she looked as if she had slumped against a large piece of driftwood and fallen asleep. The blue tint of her skin and the gash in her throat were the only proof that anything was amiss. Chelsea was nearly naked and still had a platform pump strapped to her ankle, though it was no longer positioned on her manicured foot.

Quil swallowed hard and said, "She probably thought it was me. I think he snatched her right from the club."

"It makes sense," Rose said behind them. "We don't need to breathe. He probably dragged her through the water the whole way here and may have even hidden her underwater for a few hours."

Quil cursed under his breath angrily and began pacing. He yelled, "Why the fuck is this bastard still pretending to be me?" Angry tears rolled down his cheeks as Quil pointed at Chelsea and said, "Why the hell would he target her? What the fuck did she even do to deserve that shit?"

Leah rushed to pull him against her again, silently taking her turn at comforting Quil.

The sound of running behind them made them pull apart. Charlie and Jacob hurried closer to the scene as Charlie held his hand up in warning. He lifted his radio to ask for backup and asked, "Who found her first?"

Everything was explained quickly from what Rachel had said, leading up to Jacob calling him. Quil told Charlie his theory. The gash in Chelsea's throat was proof enough, and Charlie admitted an anonymous tipper had found similar bite wounds on bodies drained of blood in the woods near forks only a few days before. Charlie had gone to help collect them himself. He paled as he turned to take a better look at the dead woman and recognized her from Halloween.

Charlie asked that everyone but Paul and Jared leave the scene. The authorities would flood the beach shortly, followed by EMTs and the coroner. There was nothing else to do but wait and let the evidence be collected. Charlie pulled Quil to him for a hug in an unexpected affectionate gesture. "I'm so sorry, kids. You two going to be okay?" Quil nodded as Charlie hugged Leah, laying one hand on the back of her head as she pressed her cheek to his shoulder. It was the same kind of hug he had used to comfort her as a child. Leah took a deep breath and squeezed him a little tighter. His familiar embrace comforted her as only a parent could.

"I love you, Dad," she said.

He squeezed her hand firmly and said, "I love you too, kiddo." Charlie looked at Quil and said, "You two go home. Take care of each other. I'll check on you guys a little later, alright?"

As Leah finally pulled away from Charlie, Jacob announced, "Quil is off patrol until further notice." Everyone turned to gape at him in surprise. He explained, "I want there to be no further confusion by anyone as to which Quil is the real one. He needs to have an alibi at all times until we capture this fucker. If this psycho intends to fuck Quil's life up as he has done to Hodie, we need to protect him the best way we can. I don't want any arguments about this. We will figure shit out."

Charlie smirked at Jacob, nodding his approval. Jacob pointed to Quil and Leah. He said, "Go home. I'll be there soon." Sam handed Rose Leah's keys, and the three of them left.

The ride home was entirely silent as Quil held Leah against him in the back seat. It felt eerily reminiscent of the night they had fled to the guest house. Leah's mind was on Tricia, hoping she was safe and sympathetic for the loss she would be feeling when she learned her girlfriend was dead.

Quil went straight back to work, needing the distraction. Rose decided to stay and pitch in, telling Leah to go be with her sister for the day. Leah walked into the house and slumped down into a kitchen chair. As she filled them in on what had happened, Bella set a fresh cup of coffee and creamer in front of her. Emily carried over a tray and began filling the bowl on the table with muffins. The banana nut smell made Leah's stomach growl, and she snatched one right off the tray. She started picking small bites as she contemplated the many what-ifs of their situation.

Had the leech gone into the club pretending to be Quil? Had Chelsea realized it wasn't him at some point? Had she died in pain? Had she tried to fight back? Would this be the final straw for Tricia to quit the club? Tom was losing all of his best employees, it seemed. Had Tom ever heard from Hodie? Would Quil end up sitting in jail for something he had not done like Hodie had so many times before?

Before she realized it, Leah had finished off the muffin and was absently stirring her coffee. She had not even noticed Emily had left the room until she shrieked from the hallway, and Sarah began crying.

Emily rushed back to the kitchen carrying a tear-faced Sarah, who immediately wanted her mother. "I'm sorry," Emily said quickly. "I didn't mean to wake her."

"It's okay," Bella said, "she slept in today anyway, didn't you, baby?" Bella took Sarah from Emily and sat her in her high chair. She immediately gave Sarah a sippy cup of juice and dropped some yogurt snacks in front of her. The reason behind her tears forgotten, Sarah grinned happily and shoved one into her mouth.

Bella chuckled and said, "She's pretty easy to please. Just give her food, like her father."

Emily turned to Bella and said, "Sooo …"

Bella pulled eggs from the fridge and asked, "So what?" She removed one egg and grabbed a small pan to make breakfast for her daughter.

Emily scoffed and said, "If that wasn't your test I just found back there, whose was it?"

Leah's breath caught in her chest, and she groaned as Bella glanced at Emily in confusion. Bella began whisking the egg in a bowl and asked, "What test?"

Leah confessed, "It's mine. I forget about it during all that chaos." She looked over at Emily and smirked. "Let me guess? Negative, right? I told Rose it would be."

Wide-eyed, Emily slowly shook her head and said, "No, Leelee."

Leah sat up straight and took a deep breath. It couldn't fucking be. "It's not possible," Leah insisted. She shot out of her chair and rushed for the bathroom. There on the counter, her test literally read 'positive' on the result screen. Hmph. Didn't want any confusion, did they? Leah shut the door and searched for the pack of tests in the cabinet. She quickly opened another one. Three minutes later, Leah stared down at a positive test in each hand. Tears of disbelief dripped off her chin before she realized she was crying. How ironic for Leah that the only blessing she ever hoped for could come at the worst possible time.

You're an ass, Leah told her wolf. It huffed at her smugly, and Leah scoffed right back. She asked, Is this what you have been protecting? Is this why you won't let me phase? The wolf seemed irritated by the questions, indicating the answer should have been obvious all along. How long have I been pregnant? Jesus Christ, I'm pregnant. This can't be fucking happening. It had to be Hodie's baby, she thought. The lack of desire to phase, the vomiting, and the dizziness all began long before she began sleeping with Quil again. Leah had thought it was all from her injuries, had not even allowed herself to consider the possibility. What if it is Quil's, though? What if the lack of phasing made it possible, just as she had always suspected? Leah's head was swimming. Stunned and unable to cease her steady flow of tears, she slowly walked back into the kitchen. Emily and Bella both looked up at her in concern as she sniffled. Leah held the tests up and said, "They are both positive. How the hell am I going to tell Quil? I don't even know whose it is." The realization seemed to dawn on her all over again and she said, "Oh my god, I don't fucking know who the father is." Leah let out a sob as she sunk back into her chair and buried her face in her hand.

Emily rushed around the table and bent down to hug her cousin. She kissed Leah's cheek gently and said, "If he loves you, it won't matter, Leelee." Leah sobbed again, and Emily pulled back to look Leah in the eye. Vehemently, she said, "He or she is going to be so damn loved, Leelee. And, so lucky to have you." For the first time in three years, Leah yanked Emily against her chest and hugged her tight.

Leah said, "It's going to be fine, right? I love them both, and I'll love this kid anyway, right?" The encouraging smiles on Bella and Emily's faces assured Leah that her child would be loved. By the women in this room, at least, regardless of its parentage or absolutely terrible timing. Leah pulled away from Emily, sniffling. As Emily sat in the chair next to her, Leah stood from hers.

Bella asked, "Where are you going?"

Leah said, "To the garage. To tell him."

Emily asked, "Now? Are you sure it's a good time?"

Leah said, "No secrets with Quil and me. Not anymore. I don't …" Leah hesitated, unsure of what she should do. She looked up at the clock and groaned. "Seriously, what the hell else can happen today? It's not even nine am."

Bella chuckled as Emily shook her head. Leah said, "Guys, my head is spinning. If I wait, it will never be the right time. We're together, so we need to deal with this together, right? He needs to know now, right?" Leah groaned, hating her lack of confidence yet again. This was what she had always wanted, wasn't it?

Bella said, "I hated that everyone knew when Jacob didn't. Quil is who you're with now. Go tell him. He'll be glad to know you trust him enough to go straight to him. He should know before anyone else."

My mother is going to shit her fucking pants.

"Don't tell anyone else, though," Leah said anxiously. "Rose is going to know. She made me take the first one. Jacob and Sam can know, I don't care. Nobody else."

As if knowing exactly what she was thinking, Bella said, "I remember the Crap, I have to tell Charlie, feeling. I get it."

Leah nodded, took a deep breath to prepare herself, and walked out the back door. She assumed Rose spotted her from the lobby as she rushed out to meet her. Leah had done her best to calm herself, but her tears had not ceased. Her emotions were in turmoil, her fear of Quil's reaction quickly returning.

Rose asked, "It's positive, isn't it?"

Leah said, "They," and held up both. "I have to tell Quil."

Rose put her arm around Leah's waist and guided her to the door. She said, "Boy when you have a crazy day, it's really a crazy day."

Leah grumbled, "Tell me about it."

Jacob had returned from the beach at some point and now sat in his office. He was arguing with someone on the phone as Leah walked past him and straight to Quil. Quil slid out from under the car and scowled as he looked up into her tear-streaked face. He was on his feet quickly, asking, "What's wrong? Something else happened?"

"Come with me," Leah said and led the way to Jacob's office.

Worry painted across his face, Quil followed her inside and quietly shut the door behind them. Jacob grumbled into the phone and slammed the receiver down angrily. He took a deep breath and turned toward them as he did his best to calm down. He forced a smile up at Leah and asked, "What's up?" Leah held her hand up, silently revealing both positive tests. Jacob and Quil both glanced at each other in confusion for a moment.

When neither said anything, Leah said, "They're mine."

Jacob glanced at her abdomen and back to her face before asking, "You're pregnant?"

Quil gaped at her silently, very much resembling a deer in headlights. Leah turned to Quil and shook her head apologetically as a sob escaped. Through her tears, Leah forced out, "Quil, I don't know h-how far along it is or …who-whose it is. I'm so sorry." To her immediate relief, he seemed to snap out of his state of shock and embraced her. Jacob let out a slow, deep breath and ran his hand through his hair nervously while Leah sobbed against Quil's chest. Jacob and Leah looked up at Quil in surprise when he began chuckling.

Leah pulled away from Quil as he laughed a bit louder and asked, "How is any of this funny?"

Quil leaned toward her and kissed her forehead tenderly. He sighed deeply and said, "Everything is about balance, beautiful. This day needed a fucking blessing."

Leah could only stare back at him in silent awe. Did he just call this a blessing? It's fucking official. I will never stop underestimating him. Leah hoped it would remain true for the rest of her life.

Jacob smirked and said, "Care to elaborate, man? No offense, Leelee, but the timing…"

Quil rolled his eyes and grinned down at Jacob. He said, "The timing of things never works for any of us, Jake."

"Oh, I know," Jacob said and laughed. "Youngest Dad of the group here, remember?"

Leah asked Quil, "Are you sure you are okay with this? What if it isn't yours?"

"Doesn't matter," Quil said. He pursed his lips, shaking his head.

How the hell can it not matter? Does he have any idea what he is saying?

As if reading her thoughts, Jacob asked, "Are you sure about that?"

Quil was oddly at ease as he told Jacob, "I don't care whose baby it is. This is a blessing for Lee. If Hodie is the dad, at least he brought something good to her life." Quil reached up to cup her face affectionately and said, "I'll raise him, Leelee, even if Hodie does come back. He will at least have one dad that won't run. He can be safe here, with a huge, crazy family." Leah chuckled as Quil wiped her cheeks with his thumbs, accidentally streaking her face with dirt. "Oops," he said, and Leah laughed as he grabbed a tissue to wipe it away.

She was speechless for a moment, taken entirely by surprise at his enthusiasm and unwavering support. She worried, however, that he might not understand the depth of his promise. Becoming a parent was a life-changing decision and not meant to be taken lightly.

Leah said, "I can't believe you right now. I mean, just this morning-"

Quil interrupted, "We will figure this out together. We will."

Leah said, "You are taking on a huge responsibility if you want to be a Dad, Quil. I could not blame you if you don't want to, even if it is yours."

Quil scoffed at her, insulted. He said, "I know you want kids, sweetheart. I didn't know if this would happen for you or not. I thought you may even want to adopt someday. I would do any of it. Even if it ended up being just us, I would do it, Leah."

Leah said, "You are only nineteen, Quil."

Quil joked, "I'm fucking thirty-five, and we all know it." He gave her another dazzling smile.

Her heart was in her throat, her smile almost painfully plastered on her face. "I love you," Leah said. She glanced down at Jacob and snorted at his red face. He was grinning like an idiot and blinking back tears as he sighed.

Leah teased, "You are your fucking father." Quil turned to look at Jacob and laughed.

Jacob waved them off as he turned back to his computer and said, "Get the fuck out of my office."

Leah teased, "Love you, alpha."

Jacob grumbled, "Love you guys, too. Quil, walk her back to the house. Go on."

Quil grabbed Leah's hand and led her through the garage. Sam leaned out from under the hood of a truck and grinned at them.

Sam said, "I'm happy for you, Leelee."

Of course, he had either talked to Emily or overheard already. Leah wondered how soon it would reach her mother before she did. Leah paused at the doorway and said, "Don't tell anyone else yet." Sam crossed his heart and winked as he went back to work.

Quil walked Leah inside the house and leaned in to say hello to Emily. Leah gave him a kiss that rendered him stupid as he hovered in the doorway. When she pulled away, she laughed as he stumbled backward out the door.

Emily smiled and said, "Looks like he took it well."

Leah nodded and said, "I'll let Jake tell you about it. His gossiping ass is probably dying to get over here now. The fucker even cried." Leah pulled the last of her cash from her back pocket and shoved it in the swear jar. She said, "It has been one hell of a morning."

Bella teased, "Better quit cussing, Leah. Kids are expensive."

Leah said, "My kid's first word will probably be shit, Bells."

"Shitbells," Emily said sarcastically. "Beautiful."