"Ethan," Leah called as she chased the giggling toddler through the backyard. Come here, you little shit. Leah looked over her shoulder and through the kitchen window as she stopped to catch her breath. Super healing or no super healing, the wolf could not do all the work, and Leah felt out of shape. "Why did I agree to this again?"

Bella said," I was just asking myself the same question." Bella sat in the chair nearest the window to watch Leah, Ethan, and Sarah play while she fed Julien. "I mean, I know you're healed, but being a new mom is exhausting."

"No shit," Leah said and chuckled. "But, you are too clumsy to be running through the yard."

"Amen," Bella said and giggled.

Her legs were suddenly plowed into as Sarah and Ethan clung to Leah and sat on her feet. Leah walked around the yard dramatically as they held on, making growling-monster noises as the toddlers cackled. She turned to the sound of a vehicle pulling up and stopped in her tracks as she gaped in surprise.

Bella asked, "What? Is something wrong?"

Her voice shook as Leah said, "Uh, Hodie is here. He just pulled in."

Jacob bellowed, "Seriously?"

God damn, he heard me from the living room? Leah could swear his hearing was getting stronger, somehow. Leah looked up to see Hodie exit his truck as Jacob walked outside grinning.

"Eee!"

Leah smirked down at her niece, demanding to finish her ride. Leah laughed and resumed her wide steps and monster noises. In her peripheral vision, she watched Jacob approach Hodie and welcome him back with a hug and firm pat on the back.

"Glad to see you, man," Jacob said and gestured toward the house. Hodie followed him, looking as nervous as he had the first time he had come here. As Leah stopped again, Ethan let go of her and took off across the yard. He stopped near Hodie and looked up at him quizzically. Leah hoisted Sarah onto one hip and darted after Ethan. Lifting Ethan onto her opposite hip, she grinned up into Hodie's face. His hair remained long, though he had gotten it trimmed. His beard had been buzzed off, leaving a short, clean goatee in its place. His light blue ocean eyes captivated her for a moment as the wolf rejoiced from his presence. Leah longed to set the children down and throw her arms around him instead.

"Hey," Leah said dumbly, nearly stumbling over the simple greeting.

Hodie said, "I, uh, hope this is okay. I was hoping I could see Julien for a little while."

Leah answered, "That is what the invitation was for." She chuckled, looking down at Sarah's curious face. Leah asked her, "Do you remember Hodie, babygirl?" Sarah smiled at him shyly and buried her face in Leah's shoulder.

Jacob barked out a loud laugh and said, "Well, that is a first." He reached to hold her tiny hand with his index finger and said, "This is our friend, Hodie, Sarah. You have met him before." Sarah ventured to look up at him a second time and grinned bashfully before hiding her face again.

"It's time for these two to get a nap, anyway," Leah said. Ethan grunted on her other side, fully aware of what the word nap meant. She kissed his forehead and chuckled as Jacob held the door open for her. Leah stopped for Bella to hand both children a bottle and carried them to the nursery. Ten minutes and a lot of fussing later, Leah walked into the kitchen to find Hodie holding his son. She sat down at the table and asked, "So, how does it feel?"

Hodie looked up at her, and her heart melted from the happy tears Leah found welled in his eyes. He said, "Holding my son?" He grinned at Julien and said, "Amazing. With everything going on the other day, it was a surprise to meet him. I didn't expect that at all. I guess I'm appreciating it a little more at the moment." Julien whimpered against his chest, and Hodie lovingly patted his back. Hodie looked back up at Leah and asked, "Does that sound bad?"

Leah smiled at him and said, "No. Makes perfect sense to me. Your first meeting was pretty stressful." Hodie gave her a grateful smile and stared back down at his son. Leah shifted in her seat restlessly, silently reminding her wolf to have patience as it nagged at her for contact. As if sensing her need to touch him, Hodie slid his hand underneath hers, threading their fingers together. The wolf immediately began to relax, and she took a calming breath.

"Thanks," Leah said.

"Anytime."

Hodie held her hand for a solid ten minutes before letting go to adjust their son. He chuckled and said, "I think he might be wet, Leah." She reached for him instinctively to go change him, and Hodie stood. He asked, "Do you think you could show me how?"

Leah chuckled and asked, "Have you never changed a diaper, Hodie?"

He grinned bashfully and said, "Uh, no. No, I have not."

"Come on," she said and beckoned for him to follow. She quietly instructed him on his first diaper change before having him lay Julien in the cradle Jacob had made. Hodie rocked his son gently, watching as his tiny eyelids slowly drifted shut. She left him alone in the nursery for a while and went to sit back down in the kitchen.

Finding Bella alone, Leah asked, "Jake go back to work?"

Bella answered, "Yep. I think he wanted to give Quil a heads up about Hodie being here just in case."

Leah chuckled and said, "Good plan. I probably should have done it myself."

Bella said, "You were doing everything you should have. Quil is a big boy, Sis. Besides, he wanted this connection for Julien, too."

Leah nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, he did. He is being great about everything."

"He grew up a lot over the last year," Bella said. "It is time for him to get his lunch, too."

As if on cue, the screen door swung open. Quil and Embry walked into the kitchen, grinning. They sat down at the kitchen table as Leah got up to grab their lunches from the refrigerator. Hodie entered the room as she sat their food down and seemed pleasantly surprised as both men greeted him happily.

Leah asked, "Hodie, are you hungry?"

He teased, "For Bella's cooking? Hell yes."

Bella blushed and laughed as she continued her chore. "Thanks," she said as Leah grabbed a sandwich and drink for him.

"I have searched for almost a year to find lasagna half as good as yours," Hodie admitted as he unwrapped the sandwich. "Emily's muffins, too. I swear, the town where I was stuck in Kentucky … Those poor bastards think everything needs to be breaded, deep-fried, or out of a box. One restaurant in the whole town, and the cook used artificial cheese slices on their breakfast skillets. That was the healthiest damn choice there." Bella burst out laughing as Hodie shook his head. "Pitiful," he added before taking a big bite. He moaned and double-checked his sandwich before taking another bite.

"What," Bella asked him. "Is something wrong with it?"

"No," Hodie barked out with his mouth full. "It's awesome." Quil and Embry both laughed at his enthusiasm while Quil discreetly watched Leah.

Embry said, "Bella knows it is good. She just likes the compliments." Bella laughed and tossed a dishrag at his head.

Leah teased, "Bella, are you going to coach little league? Pretty good arm over there."

Bella laughed and admitted, "I don't know when the hell it happened. I can barely chop vegetables without an incident, but apparently, I can aim well."

"I'll say," Embry said as he tossed the rag back at her and took another bite.

Gaining their attention, Hodie asked, "So, how is everyone doing? The pack and imprints?"

Quil laughed and said, "Aside from the kids and our house back here?" He pointed his thumb in the direction of Leah's house and said, "The same, man." Quil glanced over at Leah and said, "Well, maybe not exactly. Shit is pretty peaceful these days. Leah and Paul don't even fight anymore."

Hodie smirked at Leah and asked, "Really? How about that, Darlin? You and Paul are friends now?"

Leah laughed as she nodded. "It's fucking weird. It's a nice change, though. He's crazy about Julien, too. When he drops the twins off here before work, he hangs around to hold Julien for a few minutes. He loves to tell him how Uncle Paul will teach him to kick butt someday. I will be damned if Julien doesn't smile every single time."

Hodie asked, "He will probably be a wolf one day, huh? Julien."

"Or a singer. Both or neither. We won't know until the day comes, if it comes," Quil said. "I hope, for his sake, that he gets to just be a normal kid. Not everyone in our families inherits the genes that make us wolves."

Hodie nodded in agreement and said, "After the shit way that I grew up, I hope he gets to just be a normal kid, too."

"Well, he is lucky, either way," Embry said. "Kid has two dads. No one in the pack grew up with both parents except Leah, Seth, and Colin. All of our kids are breaking cycles already."

A loud thump sounded from the other side of the house, followed by a chorus of crying children. Leah jumped up and ran to the nursery with the others following behind her. Ethan sat on the floor crying as Sarah stood in her crib, staring down at him. Julien's tiny cries immediately ceased as Quil scooped him up and laid him gently against his chest. Leah was already looking Ethan over as Embry crouched next to them at her side. He immediately reached for his father, and Leah picked Sarah up out of the crib.

"I guess somebody finally learned how to climb out of the crib," Embry said as he soothed his son. "My little monkey has been working at it for a few weeks."

Quil asked, "Is he hurt?"

"Nah, he's fine," Embry said and kissed Ethan's forehead.

Leah said, "You guys wanna let me do my job, or do you want to babysit while I fix the cars?"

Quil and Embry cackled to each other and left the room with their children. Leah followed and placed Sarah in the living room to play. As she stepped back into the kitchen, Quil handed Hodie their son. He walked over to place a quick peck on Leah's forehead.

Quil said, "See ya in a couple of hours. Are you coming to the gig tonight?"

Leah said, "I'll have Billy and Bobby at our house. Mom and Charlie are picking Sarah and Ethan up around seven. It will still be late when I get there - if I come. Rachel and Angie both get off work at nine, and I will need a shower first."

Quil said, "Well, I hope you do. Charlie has been wanting to keep Julien overnight anyway. He is having way too much fun being a Grandpa."

"Yeah, he is," Bella interjected, "and I love it. They love him, too. The more time he spends safely at home with the kids, the less time I worry he is in danger somewhere."

Leah said, "Listen, I never said overnight. Julien is not even a month old yet." Quil chuckled and pulled her in for a hug.

He said, "I know, I know. You need to get out of the house, though. You haven't done anything fun in a while."

Leah said, "I was just out a few days ago."

Quil laughed and said, "Lunch with Hodie does not count for that."

Hodie burst out laughing and said, "No, Darlin. Definitely doesn't count."

Leah looked at Bella and scowled. "They will end up ganging up on me, won't they? I can see how this shit is going to go already."

Biting back his laughter, Embry pat Hodie on the shoulder and said, "I gotta get back to work, guys. Hodie, it's great to see you, man. Don't be a stranger."

"Thanks, Embry. Good to see you too," Hodie said as Embry headed for the door with Quil behind him. Hodie followed Leah into the living room and sat down carefully. He yawned loudly and then chuckled as Leah looked over at him. "I don't know what it is about this room that makes me sleep, but I get drowsy in here every time."

Leah laughed and nodded, remembering the numerous times he had fallen asleep on the old couch. She teased, "Maybe it's the food."

Hodie said, "Maybe it's the people. Everything is just … peaceful in this house. There is a lot of love here." Leah nodded again and turned her attention back to Sarah and Ethan.

At some point, Hodie had dozed off on the couch with Julien sleeping peacefully on his chest. His hand was splayed across his son's back, both of their heads facing Leah despite their slumber. She sat on the floor staring at them for a long time, comparing Julien's tiny features to his father. Bella called softly for Leah from the kitchen, breaking her attention away from them. "I have food ready for the kids," Bella said, and Leah quietly guided the toddlers into the kitchen.

Leah woke Hodie later so she could change and feed Julien. Instead of handing him over, he asked if she minded letting him before he went home. Hodie carried Julien and his bottle to the nursery while speaking softly to their son. Leah found herself finding things to stay busy as she fought the urge to join her son and imprint in the next room. She checked to make sure Hodie knew to burp him and was almost relieved to learn that she needed to teach him how. He resumed feeding him afterward, and Leah reluctantly went back to work. When it was time for Hodie to leave, he knocked on the door frame to get her attention.

Hodie said, "I guess I should be heading out of here. I need to be at the club in about an hour."

Leah put on the happiest face she could muster. The wolf whimpered inside of her mournfully, distraught to see him go. I'm not exactly thrilled, either. He will be back, she soothed the wolf.

He asked, "You okay, Darlin?"

Her lip trembled at the term of endearment, and she nodded. She said, "I'm glad you came today. Come out again soon, okay?"

Hodie hesitated before asking, "Is it crossing a line to ask for a hug?" Leah let out a sigh of relief and flew at him. Her arms snaked around his shoulders as he buried his face into her neck. Hodie chuckled as she hugged him tight, and he instinctively pulled her a little tighter.

Leah said, "You are my imprint, Hodie. You can always ask me for a hug, okay?" Slowly releasing him, she admitted, "It helps, actually. Helps calm the wolf and I both."

Hodie said, "I appreciate you letting me spend time here. I really do."

She said, "I know things are awkward right now, but we will find our balance, Hodie."

"I am sure we will," he said, sounding hopeful.

As he pulled away, Leah said, "Be careful, okay? I'll see you again soon?"

Hodie gave her a genuine smile and said, "You can count on it."

Leah watched him walk away to give his goodbyes to Bella and shuddered as the screen door shut behind him. Leah ran for the bathroom and locked the door before squatting against it to cry. She had handled his presence well, she thought. Almost as well as she had done at the restaurant, despite weeping the entire ride home. Still, his return had both healed and hurt Leah and the wolf. She missed him already and had forgiven him so easily. The hug he gave her had been precisely what she needed from the moment he arrived, and she had fought to ignore it the entire time.

This isn't going to be easy for us, is it? The wolf whined back in response. We can put a brave face on for everyone all we want, but it still fucking hurts.

A soft rap on the door made her huff in aggravation, and she hurriedly wiped away tears. She slowly opened the door to find Quil leaning against the wall in the hallway. Silently, he held his arms open to her. Leah collapsed into them and sobbed against his chest as Quil tried to soothe her.

"It will get easier, sweetheart," he said. She nodded against his chest as she tried to pull herself together.

Leah said, "I'm sorry. I didn't expect it to hit me so hard. The wolf didn't want him to leave, and I was anxious the entire time. God, I'm a mess."

Quil continued to rub her back tenderly as he kissed her forehead. "He's your imprint, Leelee." He tilted her chin upward so she would look at him and said, "You don't have to apologize for anything. I understand." He kissed the tip of her nose and said, "We are about to head out to set the equipment up at Paul's. It's okay if you don't come tonight, but I hope you do." Leah buried her face against his chest again and squeezed him to her, remaining silent. Quil held her for a few more minutes, hesitant to let go. He kissed his son before he left, and Leah rejoined her sister in the kitchen.

Please review. Xo