PLEASE READ: This is Chapter 36. If you came here by accident, hit your back button. Hella spoilers below!

Leah sat in the parking lot, trying to build up the courage to walk inside the restaurant. The last two weeks played on her mind as she bit her lip to stop trembling. Her labor had been an absolute nightmare. Leah had been in and out of consciousness, only aware of instructions to push and stay with them. She did not have the experience other mothers boast about after giving birth. Leah did not experience the euphoria that made her instantly move past the pain. She could not recall holding her son. Leah did not hear him cry or see his tiny face. She did not count his fingers and toes or get to remark on how much he looked like his father. Leah did not get to see Quil hold him for the first time. Instead, she was greeted with silence as soon as the pain and pressure ended, wondering why she did not hear his cry. Within seconds Leah slipped into unconsciousness.

Leah had woken up in the dark hospital room cold, alone, hooked up to multiple IVs, and no longer pregnant. She looked around the dark, hoping to find her son nearby. Her belly already felt much smaller, heart-breakingly empty in a way she had never experienced before. She longed for her child, immediately missing the kicks and flutters that should be there. No one was with her, not even Quil. The nursing staff had found her a half-hour later, sitting up and sobbing in the dark, devastated.

Leah was furious to learn that Quil and Rose had been escorted from the hospital. Quil was not her husband, nor was Charlie or Rose her emergency contacts. Carlisle swore to them that she would be in excellent care and his presence was the only reason Quil reluctantly left. Despite waking up alone without her son, she had been in excellent care. The nursing staff took advantage of the early morning hours to get her decisions and signatures on paperwork. She learned that significant blood loss resulted in multiple transfusions. Later, an allergic reaction to an antibiotic she was given hindered her return home by a full day.

Returning home did not bring any peace. Rose spent a great deal of time with Leah as Quil's schedule became more hectic than ever. When Old Quil took a turn for the worse, Quil was overwhelmed. He broke down over the accumulated stress as funeral arrangements were finalized. Sue and Charlie checked on them often. Charlie stopped by daily, clearly traumatized by what Leah had experienced and worried about her mental state. Postpartum had left Leah frequently quiet, almost numb to all of the chaos going on around her.

Sue finally became supportive of Leah and Quil. She had been awestruck by the dynamics of their relationship and the calm, loving environment they preserved despite all of what they were enduring. A sort of peace fell between Leah and Sue, relieving months of strain between them.

The wolf remained with Leah, restless again now that there was not a fetus for it to protect. Although she had been relieved to feel its presence, Leah worried. She wondered if she would eventually start phasing again and dreaded the excruciating pain she knew would accompany the experience. Despite the depression and how difficult it had been, Leah began obsessing over wanting another baby right away. That was impossible for the time being, as her body needed time to heal from the trauma of giving birth. Placental abruption had been the cause of the trouble, likely brought on by all of the stress, high blood pressure, and lack of sleep. Carlisle advised her that a planned cesarean would be best should she have more children. It seemed there were some things that even the healing strength of the wolf could not overcome on its own.

A funeral potluck and cremation took place at the end of the second week. There on the beach, surrounded by family, the moment Leah had dreaded for weeks finally happened. A text alert went off on her phone, and she looked over at Quil awkwardly. Everyone they were close to was here. Hoping like hell it was Rose or even Tom, Leah pulled her phone from her pocket. Her heart raced as she stared down at the unknown number, and Quil leaned over to look at the screen.

He sighed defeatedly and grumbled, "You might as well get it over with, sweetheart." Tears pooled against her lids as she opened the message.

It has taken a while to work up the courage to send this, and I'm unsure where to begin. I have no right to contact you after all of this time, I know. I came back to the area with some help from Tom, and I am returning to work at the club. I hope you will meet with me soon so that we can talk. I owe you an explanation, at least. For what it is worth, I'm sorry. For everything. - Hodie.

Quil scoffed as Leah remained frozen, unsure of how to respond. He leaned over to kiss her cheek as he took the phone from her hand.

Leah asked, "What are you doing?"

Quil messaged him back, asking when and where he would like to meet. Leah gaped at him in surprise.

Quil said, "This needs to happen, sweetheart. No point in putting it off any longer." He went back to eating and chatting with Embry. Leah was given an immediate response with a time and place. She agreed to the plan and shut off her phone entirely. Quil chuckled as she tucked it back into her pocket and asked if she was alright. They managed to endure the rest of the evening peacefully, grateful for the love and support of so many family and friends.

Four days later, Leah stared across the lot at the Mexican restaurant she and Hodie had gone to once before. She had watched him walk inside as she arrived, looking somewhat different from the man she had known briefly. He was thinner, his hair was much longer, and his full beard covered the dimples that had been passed down to their child. Carlisle had been astonished by how much her child resembled Emmett with Hodie's features, blue eyes, and Leah's black hair.

Why the hell did I ever agree to this? Leah took a calming breath for what must have been the twentieth time since arriving and climbed out of her car. She suddenly regretted the short, flowing sundress and sandals that she wore.

I didn't expect to see a full beard. I'm sure he's not expecting to see me in a dress. It had not been a year since meeting Hodie, yet she felt entirely different from the woman he had fallen in love with. She had her own house, a healthy relationship, and she had carried a life inside of her body. She had almost been murdered, abandoned, and had to release the ashes of loved ones as well. She rarely lost her temper now unless provoked. She didn't even fight with Paul anymore. She was thinner than she had been, though her hips had widened from pregnancy. Leah could not recall when she had last worn combat boots. Leah had grown a great deal over the year, and Hodie had left it all for her to do alone. Why, then, was she suddenly so nervous about how he might perceive her appearance now? Leah glanced back at her Nissan anxiously and quickly crossed the street. She adjusted her purse strap over her shoulder before forcing herself to walk inside.

Leah scanned the room as she searched for Hodie, finally finding him sitting quietly in a private corner booth. She froze as he stood, gaping at her. She had no doubt now that he had truly believed her dead. He looked as if he was seeing a ghost. Slowly, a relieved smile spread across his face. Her legs trembled as she approached the table, and they both stood silently for a moment, taking each other in. Her wolf was overjoyed at the sight of him. So much so that Leah had to fight the urge to throw her arms around him and kiss him senselessly. She took another deep breath and blinked back tears. They sat down as their server approached them for drink orders. Leah chose soda, as she was already exhausted, and coffee was not an option. His stare was unwavering, focused on her as he ordered a beer. Hearing his gruff voice sent a shiver through her just as it had done the night they met. The server smirked at them suspiciously as he walked away, and Leah swallowed nervously. The wolf was practically clawing at her to get to Hodie now. She needed to touch him, if only for a moment. If she didn't calm the bitch inside her down, they would never begin a conversation. Leah laid her arm across the table and held her hand out as she forced a smile at him.

"If you don't mind," Leah said quietly as her voice shook. "It is the only way the wolf will shut the hell up." Hodie did not hesitate to reach across the table and grab her hand, eagerly threading his fingers through hers. Her skin tingled where he touched her, the shape of his hand fitting perfectly around hers. Leah blinked back tears again and silently reminded herself to unclench her jaw. She sighed and visibly relaxed as her wolf calmed down considerably.

"I'm sorry," she choked out. "The, uh, the wolf really missed you."

Hodie said, "Just the wolf, huh? I deserve that, I guess." He looked up at her suspiciously and said, "You feel different, Darlin."

Leah chuckled bitterly from the thrill his words gave her and said, "Yeah, I do. I feel very different. My body temperature is almost in the normal range. The wolf is still with me, but I don't phase anymore."

Hodie leaned back in his seat and asked, "You don't?" He lowered his voice considerably and continued, "You don't become the wolf anymore? Why? I mean, I remember that you wanted to stop someday."

Leah said, "I couldn't. I mean, I can't. I haven't phased since the morning after you left."

He asked, "Is that my fault? Is it because of the imprint?"

Carefully, Leah said, "It was the wolf's decision."

Hodie released her hand and rubbed his face anxiously. He said, "I gotta say, Leah, I was told to expect a very different you."

Leah scoffed and asked, "What?" Oh. Tom told him I was pregnant. She sighed and said, "You expected me to look like a beached whale, huh?"

Hodie asked, "Were you pregnant, Leah? Is that why you stopped phasing?" The server returned before she could answer. Leah stared at the tabletop silently and nodded instead. She pulled her arm back and sat up straight as their drinks were set down. She needed a moment to calm herself and bit down on her lip to stop it from trembling.

"Ma'am? Are you alright?"

Leah glanced up at the concerned server and forced a smile at her. She gestured to Hodie and dead-panned, "We are divorced. Can I get a beer?" Hodie couldn't help but chuckle as their server flushed red with embarrassment.

She said, "I'll be right back with that."

"Take your time," Leah called after her, making Hodie laugh harder. She wiped tears from her lashes and sighed.

Hodie composed himself quickly and said, "I really am sorry, Leah."

Leah said, "I have something for you." She opened her purse and removed a small metal urn. Leah placed it on the table in front of him just as their server returned with her beer. The server gasped at the sight of the small urn and set the bottle down before hurrying away.

Hodie hissed, "Are you fucking serious, Leah?" He was staring at the urn angrily, his ears turning pink.

What the hell is he mad about? Does he think...? "Hodie, it's not …" Leah chuckled awkwardly and said, "That is not the baby, Hodie."

Hodie huffed and relaxed against his seat again as he quietly hissed, "What the fuck, Leah? What is in the fucking urn?" Despite the seriousness of the situation, she could not help but want to push his patience a little. She had waited for the other shoe to drop for almost nine months.

He can wait two more minutes.

Leah grabbed her beer and took a swig. She moaned at the taste of it, ignoring Hodie as he waited for her to respond. When Leah looked back at him, he appeared caught somewhere between pissed off and turned on. She had forgotten how easily each could affect the other sexually, and his interest made her and the wolf happier than she wanted to admit. She chuckled awkwardly and said, "Sorry. It has been a long time since I have tasted a beer."

Hodie sighed heavily and asked, "Who is in the damn urn, Leah?"

She answered, "Your fucking tick, Hodie. You know, the one you ran away from? The one that tried to fucking kill me?"

His jaw dropped open, and he shook his head in disbelief. "How? How did you do it?"

Leah said, "I didn't do shit, Hodie. I told you. I haven't phased since you left. The tick didn't chase you this time. It fucked with my mind and my life for months instead. She messed with my memories and dreams. The pack finally caught her. Jasper took her head off."

Incredulously, Hodie asked, "Her?"

"Her," Leah said and nodded. She reached back into her purse for the necklace and said, "She decided I was more fun to play with than you were for a while. Those were her words, too." Leah tossed the necklace onto the table and watched his face turn red as he instantly recognized it. He stood abruptly and walked toward the men's room without a word. When he finally returned to the table, his eyes were bloodshot, but he seemed much calmer.

Hodie said, "So Amara is dead, I'm guessing? I knew there was a reason she ghosted my ass."

Like you fucking ghosted me. "Amara was the tick, Hodie," Leah said. "It could change its shape. Look like anyone it wanted to. It created Amara to keep an eye on you." Before he could react, a different server approached to take their orders. She hurried away afterward, blatantly ignoring the urn on the table.

Hodie grabbed it and the necklace, removing them from the table and setting them out of sight. "You are getting way too much enjoyment from fucking with the waitstaff," Hodie said and shook his head. "I can't believe this shit. Are you absolutely sure of this?"

Leah said, "I watched it change shape, and that necklace fell off when her fucking head came off. I have a ton of witnesses to prove it if you don't believe it."

"I have no reason to not believe you, Darlin." Hodie took a swig of his beer and asked, "Why did you keep the ashes? Keeping the necklace, I get. For proof, right? Why the ashes, though?"

Leah chuckled and said, "That was actually done as a kind gesture for you."

Hodie chuckled and asked, "Come again? Why would I want the ashes of the person that ruined my life?"

Leah said, "You messaged the tick on my phone. You told it that one day you would watch it die and piss on its ashes. Well, you didn't get to see it die, but we figured helping you piss on the ashes was the least we could do." A genuine smile spread across his face as he laughed. Leah took another long swig of her beer and moaned. She was unsure if he did it on purpose or not, but the mischievous, lust-filled glance he shot her at that moment nearly consumed her. Her wolf wanted to curl itself around him, reminding Leah yet again of how needful the two had been for one another. Insatiable.

His face fell as he looked away, and he asked, "We? Is that 'we' the pack or..."

Leah glanced away from him guiltily and admitted, "Quil, actually. Quil was the one who kept the ashes for you. He went through a lot with all of this. The bloodsucker kept pretending to be him to get to me. She pretended to be him when she beat the fuck out of me."

Hodie asked, "So, we is you and him?" He looked up at her pleadingly, the hope that it meant anything but what he feared plainly written on his face.

Leah said, "Look, Hodie, I can't say that I'm sorry for it outside of knowing it might hurt you to hear it, but I am with Quil."

His expression became bitter in an instant as he nodded and said, "I see. I suppose that is my own fault."

Leah said, "Partially your fault, yes, but I take some of the blame for that, too. I blame Amara more than anyone. Quil took care of me. After I had the shit beaten out of me, Quil saved my life. He nursed me back to health, not just physically but mentally as well. I couldn't fucking function without him. There were some days that I could barely get out of bed."

Hodie nodded and said, "It's my own damn fault, Leah. I ain't mad at you or him. I don't have any right to be."

"You're right," she said bluntly. "For months, I wondered why the hell you never came back or tried to reach me. You didn't even call anyone to ask if I was alive. I convinced myself that it was because you believed I was dead." Her voice broke as she added, "After a while, I started believing you just never really gave a damn."

Hodie said, "I did believe you were dead, Leah. You don't understand how much I fucking died inside believing that. It was my fault for involving you in my life in the first place. I fucking hated myself because I thought the vamp had killed you."

Leah said, "Hodie, I get that, but you never even tried to make sure you weren't wrong."

Hodie said, "I was told you were dead, Darlin. I didn't just think you were dead, I was told."

Leah scoffed and asked, "By Amara?"

"No," Hodie said before taking a calming breath. "By Quil. At least I thought it was Quil. I guess not now, but the point is I believed it. The vamp sent me a picture of you. You were beaten to hell, covered in fucking blood. I got a phone call from an unknown number the next morning. I hoped it was someone calling to say you were alright. Instead, he told me you were dead and to keep fucking running." Leah could feel the blood draining from her face as she sucked in a deep breath. Hodie brushed tears away quickly and said, "I had no reason to doubt who it was, Darlin. You asked me to come back after a month. I didn't think I would even make it that long. Then suddenly, you were gone, and I could not stand the idea of going to La Push without you there. I didn't know you were alive until I called Tom. By then, I was fucking desperate to get out of the situation I was stuck in. The club was the only stable situation I had ever had."

Leah blinked back angry tears of her own as she pictured Amara as Quil, calling Hodie to tell him she was dead. She said, "Amara is lucky I didn't piss on her ashes. Amara came to me as Quil and beat the shit out of me and then stole my phone to harass you. I only got my phone back because she ran from the pack and dropped it in the woods. Jasper found it and brought it back to me. She had blocked your numbers on it, which I didn't know for a full fucking month. I knew you thought I was dead, Hodie. I just knew. I tried to tell you that I was alive. You kept changing numbers, apparently. I wish that bitch was still alive so I could watch Jas rip her head off again." Hodie tried not to chuckle and failed. Leah said, "You are taking all of this rather well."

Hodie said, "It's all just so unbelievable. Everything I have been through in the last eleven years is ridiculous. I wasted close to a fucking year, Leah."

Leah asked, "Are you ever going to tell me what happened? Why did you need help from Tom?"

Hodie said, "I got robbed in this shit hole town in Kentucky. Started working at a bar to save up and leave. Ended up stuck there. Just couldn't get ahead enough to leave."

Leah said, "That's not nearly the action-packed story I thought I was going to get."

Hodie laughed bitterly and said, "We always do this shit. We blurt shit out, get all bent out of shape, and then we tell the whole damn story later like calm fucking adults."

"It's true," Leah admitted and chuckled. "I'm sorry I upset you earlier. With the urn." They both looked up as their food was delivered. The waitstaff was much calmer with the urn put aside. Still, the server would not look either in the eye. Leah and Hodie ate in silence for a few minutes. She chuckled as she realized they had ordered the exact same entrees as the first time they had come here. They had come full circle, it seemed.

Leah said, "You will have to come to LaPush soon, I suppose. I take care of all the pack brats now, so getting time to come to Port Angeles is not as easy as it used to be."

Hodie looked up at her in surprise. Incredulously, he asked, "You want me to come to LaPush? W-well, I mean. Why? Why would you want me to?"

Leah took a drink of her beer and sighed. She said, "That is not up to me. That is up to you. If you ever want to see your son, that is."

His jaw dropped in surprise. Hodie stammered, "I thought …it seemed like..."

Leah interrupted with, "As if I had lost him? I almost did. I didn't even get to hold him when he was born. I woke up thinking he was dead."

Hodie leaned across the table to snag her hand in his as he said, "Fuck, Leah, I'm so sorry. Please tell me about him. Darlin, if I had known…" Hodie hung his head shamefully as tears rolled down his cheeks.

Leah said, "I'll tell you about him on one condition, Hodie. No more running. Not from me and never from Julien. If some other tick comes after you, come to us and let us protect you. I want you to be in our lives, Hodie, but if you don't intend to know him and stay in his life, he doesn't need you in it."

"Wow," Hodie said, staring wide-eyed down at his plate.

Leah said, "I am not trying to be a bitch here, Hodie. I want to protect our son. I don't want him to ever spend a single day wondering where his parents disappeared to. Or, wondering if he has been orphaned and is going to end up alone if something ever happens to me."

Hodie said, "Leah, I understand. Don't forget how I grew up. I've never even met my father."

"Okay, then," Leah said. "Then please don't do that to your son. Don't enter his life just to duck out of it." She chuckled and added, "Imprint or no imprint, I'll beat your ass myself."

The mischievous, crooked grin he gave her damn near made Leah swoon. He teased, "Don't threaten me with a good time, Leah. I'll call a fucking cab right now." She could not help but burst out laughing as her cheeks flushed pink.

"Seriously," Hodie said softly, "Tell me about him. Please."

Leah told Hodie about the crazy circumstances of her labor. When she described waking up in the dark, alone, cold, and no longer pregnant, Hodie had to brush away sympathetic tears. He continued to hold her hand as she described the last few weeks of her life. Adjusting to having a new baby while dealing with Old Quil's death would have been much more difficult had it not been for Rose's help. Rose was more than happy to bundle Julien up to protect him from her cold touch as she held him for hours. Their son had also brought Quil a great deal of joy. He already loved Julien as his own and bragged about him proudly. Leah described Julien, teasing how strong the McCarty genetics must be.

Tentatively, Hodie asked, "What is his full name?" Leah smirked, having already anticipated his question. Though the legal copy of his birth certificate had not arrived yet, Leah had requested copies of the forms she had filled out when he was born. She pulled papers from her purse and handed them to Hodie across the table.

Leah said, "You can keep those if you would like." Hodie opened the folded bundle and openly wept as he stared at the prints of their son's tiny feet.

Hodie grinned happily and said, "Julien Michael Clearwater McCarty? That's a mouthful, Darlin."

Leah laughed and said, "That is what most of the pack said, too. Julien was the first thing that came to me when I saw him for the first time. It just felt … right."

Hodie asked, "Michael?"

Leah said, "It has two meanings, though I'm not sure you will like it. I can just give you the safe one if you would like? It is my brother's middle name."

Hodie took a deep breath and asked, "What is the unsafe one?"

Leah said, "Michaela."

Hodie scowled at her and asked, "Why? I … you know what she did. You don't even know her, Darlin." Bewildered, he looked into her eyes and asked, "How did you even find out her full name?" Leah watched as Hodie shifted between angry and confused. "I need to know, Leah. What the hell do you know that I don't?"

Leah said, "There is never an easy way to tell someone shit like this, but I will try my best." She pulled out her phone to send an alert. Her meeting with Hodie had been discussed with others and planned in advance. She began telling Hodie about the final confrontation with Amara while waiting anxiously for their surprise visitors to arrive. Hodie would be getting much more than he had bargained for when requesting they meet. She had finished the story without revealing anything about Gem or Mike. That part of the story was meant for someone else to tell. Leah smiled as the bell over the door dinged and turned to face it. Hodie glanced up at Quil in surprise before gaping at the car seat he carried.

Leah said, "Before you say anything else, I just want to say this. I chose to include your friend in his name as a reminder that sometimes life is just … unpredictable. It never goes the way we plan."

Quil held his hand out to Hodie, who stood and shook it warmly. Quil asked, "Would you like to meet our son?"

Sarcastically, Leah said, "Well, that is one way to say it, I guess."

Quil laughed and glanced back at Hodie as he unbuckled Julien from the car seat. He said, "Hey, it is what it is. Hodie is Julien's dad, but so am I. We have to be a team about this shit."

Looking both astonished and relieved, Hodie said, "That's a good way to look at it, I suppose."

Quil chuckled as he handed Julien carefully over to Hodie before sliding into the booth next to Leah. Softly, Quil said, "Look, man. Leah is … everything to me. That automatically includes him." He nodded toward Julien and grinned. He said, "I have thought about this situation over and over. For months now. I had some freakout moments and a whole lot of conversations with Embry, Jacob, and Paul over the psychological shit with all of us."

Leah scoffed and said, "Paul? Really?"

Hodie and Quil both chuckled, and Quil said, "Paul is smarter than he lets on. Trust me on this."

Leah grinned at Quil and asked, "So what does Doctor Paul have to say?"

Quil smirked at her and said, "That we all need to put Julien above our own needs and feelings concerning each other. Whether he has two dads or no dads, his needs and health come first."

Leah chuckled and said, "He got that shit from Bella."

Quil said, "We have to work to communicate and decide together what is best for him until he is old enough to make those decisions himself. Whether we agree or disagree on shit concerning Julien, whatever decisions we make, Julien comes first. We will be the biggest influences on his mental health and the person he becomes. And - Paul said he could not stress this enough because of his own parents - we need to do our best to not fight in front of him or make him feel stuck in the middle should that happen. I am more than willing to do that."

Hodie nodded in agreement as he smiled down at his son. "You are being a hell of a lot cooler about shit than I expected," he admitted. "I may not have the right to say so, but I appreciate you being there for both of them. I really do."

Without missing a beat, Quil said, "You are her imprint and the biological father of our son. You have every right to say whatever. You two are tied. That automatically makes your life and what happens to you important. Not just to Leah but for our whole pack." Quil relaxed somewhat as he looked at Hodie sympathetically. He sighed and added, "You can think I am full of it if you want, but I really do wish you would have come to us instead of running."

Leah said, "It's true. Quil said from the very beginning that he would protect you, Hodie. He meant it. He still means it."

Hodie looked Quil in the eye and said, "A few weeks ago, I believed Leah was dead. I had no idea we had made this little guy. Everything I should have done for them, you did. I can't thank you enough for that, man." Hodie shook his head and looked down at his son. "I just wish I hadn't missed it all." Hodie gently traced Julien's cheek with his thumb and blinked back tears. The tiny smile Julien wore for a moment revealed his dimples. Hodie laughed in disbelief as he said, "He looks like Emmett."

Quil laughed and said, "Yeah, he does. Rose thinks he's the most beautiful baby in the world. I don't know why we bothered getting a bassinet for him. She never puts him down."

Leah leaned back in her seat, watching them eagerly. Her wolf was at peace inside of her, happier than it had ever been with its imprint and most trusted companion peacefully conversing beside her.

Quil said, "Are you okay since you got back here? Do you have somewhere to stay?"

Hodie said, "Right now, I'm on the couch at the club. Boss is being very generous, trusting me to be there all the time."

Leah dropped her jaw in surprise as Quil said, "Well, a few of us have spare rooms. I bet Emmett and Rose would offer their guest house since you are family. There are plenty of other options, too. I'm sure we could find you something better than a couch, even if it's temporary. You don't have to be homeless, Hodie. As an imprint, you will always have a home somewhere among the pack."

The doorbell clanged, and Leah turned around to see who had walked in. One of the people she had waited for stood just inside, waiting for her signal. Leah urged Quil to stand and said, "I hate to cut this short, Hodie, but we have to be going."

Hodie reluctantly handed Julien back to Quil and stood nervously. He asked, "Is that Jasper at the door?"

Leah glanced back at Jasper, who waved at Hodie and then winked at Leah. She said, "There is a surprise coming for you, Hodie."

Incredulously, Hodie asked, "For me? What is it?"

Quil was buckling Julien into the car seat as he said, "Hodie, there is some shit about your own life that you don't even know, man." He turned to look at Hodie sympathetically and said, "Someone is on their way to explain some shit that you have deserved to know for a long time."

Leah said, "I just hope you aren't pissed at us when you see who it is. Quil and I discussed this for a long time the other night and called Jasper to set it up." Hodie stared down at Julien sadly as Quil reached to shake his hand again.

Leah hesitated for a moment before boldly embracing Hodie. He returned the hug tightly, both reluctant to let go. The doorbell chimed, and Hodie gasped as he looked over her shoulder. His breath quickened as his eyes welled with tears, and Leah knew that Gem had arrived. Leah cupped Hodie's face tenderly as he turned to look into her eyes. She said, "Listen to what Gem has to say. What he has become? It is not his fault. Please keep that in mind." She wiped his tears away with her thumbs and gave him an encouraging grin. Hodie chuckled nervously and hugged her again. Leah said, "I'm glad you're home. Call me soon, or just come out to La Push. We have a house sort of tucked back in the woods next to Bella and Jacob now."

Hodie asked, "You wouldn't mind if I just showed up?"

Leah said, "I'm trusting you to make an effort for Julien, Hodie. Right now, you are more than welcome to come to see your son as much as you want. I take care of seven kids. Eight, if we include Julien. Having another pair of hands on deck would always help." Leah pulled cash from her purse and tossed it on the table for the bill. As Hodie began to argue against Leah paying, Leah hushed him and carefully tucked a twenty into his front shirt pocket. He glanced down at it as a flirtatious grin covered his face.

"In case you need some gas money," she whispered and grinned as she squeezed his hand for the wolf one more time. Leah let go and followed Quil as he carried the car seat toward the door. She could feel Hodie staring down her body, and she shivered as Gem and Jasper greeted her.

Quil smirked at Leah as he pushed the door open and asked, "Everything okay?"

Leah said, "Everything is fine." Everything is more than fine. She turned back to see Hodie hesitate before throwing his arms around Gem. "Let's go home."

Well, loves - That's it. The end - for now. I truly hope you have enjoyed this story. Things are going to get a little messier for Leelee. With a love like theirs, life is bound to get a little dirty. Keep your eyes open, because new Quil/Leah/Hodie content will be coming soon.

PS. I still have hopes for getting a story written from Rosalie's POV. Like Leah, it will heavily involve past canon and non-canon events and relationships in the Watermelon Sugar AU. I had intended to get it finished next, but I still have Leah on my mind.

Please do not forget to REVIEW. I want all of your thoughts, questions, and critiques. Maybe even some thoughts on stories you would like to see from this AU. You guys keep me going!

#TITSOAK