Leah never said anything about feeling the imprint snapping back into place. She had no doubt that it had. It felt more amplified than ever. Clearly, the Council didn't know their asses from a hole in the wall where imprinting was concerned. Leah had begun wondering yet again if the female wolves got to decide for themselves.

Hodie and Quil had been busy through the week. By Wednesday, the wolf was driving Leah bonkers, missing them both. She was working in the garage that day, with Bella taking care of Julien, Sarah, and Ethan on her own.

Up and moving before dawn, cleaning the waiting room and Jacob's office had taken most of her morning. She cleaned up the bakery display and took out the trash, finishing up in time to organize a pile of neglected receipts and invoices for Jacob. She was concentrating and just about to take her lunch break as a customer came in.

"I will be right with you," she shouted.

"Well, damn, I thought you would be more pleased to see me than that, Darlin." Leah jumped up and rushed to Hodie, merrily crushing her lips to his. Hodie laughed as he pulled away. Shocked, Sam leaned in the doorway between the garage and waiting room.

"Uh, hey, Hodie," Sam said awkwardly. He frowned in confusion and looked back into the garage for Quil.

"Hi, Sam," Hodie replied before turning back to Leah. "How is your repair schedule today?"

"Slow," Leah said. "We have some openings, though. Don't you work today?"

"Nah," Hodie said and wagged his eyebrows at her. He leaned closer, lowering his voice as he confessed, "I told a little fib and said you needed someone to watch Jules today. You know Tom will do pretty much anything you need."

"Slick." Leah turned to grab the papers Sam needed from the front desk and handed them over. "I see you have adopted Quil's nickname for our son."

Hodie grinned and nodded. "It grew on me."

"Hey!" Quil happily greeted Hodie as he walked around Sam and into the waiting room. He slapped Hodie on the shoulder playfully as he reached for the phone.

"Don't you dare get grease all over that receiver, and you better use a fucking penc-" She growled as he pushed the buttons with his dirty fingers. He chuckled at her mischievously as she unconsciously wrapped her hand around Hodie's. She turned toward him and asked, "So, are you here to spend time with Julien?"

"Actually," Hodie said, "I was hoping one of these guys could take a peek at old blue. Something is wrong with her that I can't figure out by myself."

Leah said, "I didn't know you knew anything about auto-mechanics."

"I don't. That's the problem. It was hell getting her back here from Kentucky. I'm surprised that the truck still turns over, to be honest."

Quil chuckled as he hung up the phone and held his hand out for Hodie's keys. There was no hesitation as Hodie slapped them into Quil's hand and said, "Thanks, man. How much is it to get it looked at?"

Sam scoffed as he finished shuffling through the stack of papers Leah had handed him. "Dude, the family doesn't pay for that shit around here. You might have to cover some parts, but other than that, we got you." Quil smirked, and Hodie nodded his thanks.

Leah said, "Come on," and pulled Hodie toward the door. "I'm going on lunch, guys."

Sam asked, "Tell Em I'll be there in about a half-hour, will you?"

"Yep," Leah hollered back as the door swung shut behind them.

Bella and Emily both hugged Hodie when he followed Leah into the house. Leah eagerly glanced around the room for the crockpot she knew was waiting as the smell of Emily's chili hit her.

"Emily, I could kiss you," Leah said as she located everything she needed on the island. She laughed and asked, "What are you guys doing today? Handing out bowls of chili through the window? Hodie, are you hungry, Babe?"

He chuckled and rubbed his belly, shaking his head no. He gestured toward the hallway and said, "I'm gonna go grab Jules and hold him for a bit." Leah grinned at him as she sat down with her food and watched him head toward the nursery. Bella darted over and slid into the chair next to Leah at the table.

Leah nearly choked as Bella whispered, "Spill it!" Emily cackled conspiratorially, and Bella grinned.

Leah held up another spoonful of chili and said, "Spill what? Everything is good."

Incredulously, Emily said, "Yeah, you look fine. Flirt much, Babe?" Leah chuckled and took another bite.

Bella said, "I know something is up. I could see it on Jacob's face the other morning. Then when Quil picked up Julien later, he absolutely refused to talk about it."

Leah teased, "You really hate not knowing things, don't you? The next time you tease Dad and Billy, I'm gonna tell them you're just as bad." Bella glared at Leah, though she couldn't hold back her grin. Leah laughed as her step-sister rolled her eyes and huffed in aggravation. Leah held her hand up for Bella to be quiet as she listened to what Hodie was doing. She grinned as she heard the diaper wipe container pop open and gestured for Emily to sit for a moment. Emily dropped down in a chair, and Leah leaned closer to them.

"Everyone will find out eventually, but I don't want a huge deal about it. I'm not trying to hide anything. I just want to let people catch on… gradually and on their own. I don't want to walk into the house one day this week and overhear Rachel telling Kim how unbelievable she thinks my life is. Again."

Emily rolled her eyes at the mention of Rachel, and Bella nodded in understanding.

"It is already an … adjustment," Leah whispered and sighed. "But, we are together. Me and Hodie. Me and Quil."

Bella's jaw hung open in surprise as Emily asked, "Both of them? Like … both of them?"

Bella grinned and shrugged. "I think it's great as long as you're all happy."

Leah leaned over to nudge Bella with her shoulder and said, "I had a feeling you would say that."

Emily glanced toward the hallway and whispered, "Wait, wait, wait ... " She giggled, waved her hands, and said, "Back up a second. Is this kind of like an open relationship thing?"

Leah laughed and said, "Emily, I love you, but do you really need specifics?"

Emily froze. Leah watched as happiness flooded her face, and Emily's eyes welled with tears. She blinked them back quickly and laughed as she said, "Yes. Yes, I do."

Leah said, "I am with them both, and they are okay with it. Hodie is my boyfriend. Quil is my boyfriend. They are actually kind of friends now."

Emily shook her head, grinning. She said, "I wouldn't have expected that from Quil."

"Neither would I, at one time," Bella said and chuckled softly. "He was a real ass about Hodie for a long time. Now she has him wrapped around her finger."

"I think we have all changed quite a bit over the last year," Leah said, and the others nodded in agreement. "I know me and Quil have, at least."

Hodie discovered them leaning together conspiratorially as he entered the kitchen with Julien in his arms. They pulled apart, each sitting up and chuckling as he eyed them suspiciously. He looked down at Julien and said, "Well, shit, buddy. I think we interrupted a secret, huh? You ladies want me to go to the other room, or?"

Leah said, "You're fine. Have a seat." He seemed unsure as he sat down at the table. Leah looked up at the clock and grinned as she said, "Uh, Em, I forgot to tell you Sam will be in here in about twenty minutes from now."

"Shit," Emily said and laughed. "I need to finish up these pies."

Leah asked, "Are you leaving early today?" She took a large bite, needing to hurry if she wanted to get back from her break on time.

"Yeah," Emily said and gave her a dazzling smile. "I have an appointment at one."

Leah asked, "So you're both leaving?"

Hodie said, "I can give Bella a hand with the kids for a bit if needed."

Bella grinned and asked, "Are you sure? I'm used to keeping Sarah and Ethan alone. Just taking care of Julien and giving me an adult to chat with would be great."

Hodie grinned and said, "Well, I can do that, too."

Leah went to check on Sarah and Ethan for Bella before going back to work. Both were sound asleep in the living room, surrounded by scattered toys and cartoons playing quietly on the television. Bella and Emily adamantly said not to move them. Both had been cranky and in dire need of a nap all morning. Leah kissed her son's forehead and then Hodie's cheek before leaving quietly through the back door.

Sam was walking toward the house as Leah headed in the opposite direction. She was pulled to a stop as he caught hold of her hand in passing and turned her to face him. His tone was affectionate as he asked, "Is everything okay with you and Quil?"

"Of course," Leah said. "Better than ever." She turned to leave, and he pulled her back again. She asked, "What is it, Sam? Are you okay?"

"Be careful, Leelee," Sam said. "Don't make my mistakes."

Leah bit her tongue as she told herself to remain calm. While she knew his words came from a place of concern, she was hardly making the same decisions that Sam had made. She took a deep breath and said, "Sam? Quil, Hodie, and I don't have any secrets."

Sam chuckled, the look he gave her feeling far too intimate and his voice low as he asked, "So you kiss Hodie like that in front of Quil?"

"Sure do," Leah said as she pulled her hand free from Sam's grip. She shook her head, and he laughed in disbelief as she walked away.

Quil had Hodie's truck on a lift by the end of the day. It remained there when it was nearly time to close. Leah was getting the coffee pot ready for the morning and telling Embry goodnight as Quil came out of the garage, unzipping his coveralls. He stepped out of them, shaking his head at her worriedly.

Leah asked, "What? What's wrong?"

Quil said, "Come on. Let's go chat with Hodie."

Hodie was sitting in the living room with Bella, Jacob, and the kids. Sarah shrieked as Jacob crawled on the floor with her on his shoulders, holding tight to his hair. Leah took her son from Bella's arms and sat down next to her. Julien was wide awake, staring up at her as she talked to him. Sarah climbed off of Jacob's back and moved as fast as her little feet could carry her to Leah's side. Leah shifted Julien to one arm as Sarah climbed into her lap and snuggled close.

Leah hugged her niece and asked, "How is my little monster?"

"Hi Eeee," Sarah said and glanced over at Quil bashfully.

"Go hug him if you want to," Leah said, and Sarah slid off her lap to run at Quil. He lifted her, and she flung her tiny arms around his neck.

Sarah leaned back after a long hug and put her hands on each side of his face. "Hi," she said and grinned.

"Hi, baby girl," Quil said back and chuckled as he put her back down. Curiosity satisfied, she toddled off to play with her toys, her diaper-covered butt plopping loudly on the floor as she sat down near Ethan.

Hodie turned to Quil and asked, "So what is the damage?"

Quil said, "Man, you weren't kidding. That truck needs a lot of work."

Hodie asked, "What is the most important thing to be fixed for now?"

Quil said, "If you want to stay down here tonight, I can go over everything important with you in the morning."

Not wanting him to feel obligated, Leah said, "If you have to go back home tonight, you can borrow my car and drive it back tomorrow. I don't have anywhere I need to go but here."

Quil asked, "When was the last time it had a regular tune-up?"

"Too long," Hodie said sheepishly. "I can change the oil and tires on my own, but that's about it."

Jacob chuckled and said, "Believe it or not, that's more than most these days."

Quil said, "Don't worry, man. We will get it fixed up. I'll help you out with the parts if you need it."

"Thanks, man. I appreciate that," Hodie said.

Jacob watched them interacting closely, still baffled by their new, seemingly easy friendship. He shook his head and said, "I hope this shit works out the way the three of you hope it will. I might not get it, but I don't have to. It's not my relationship. I just hope it works out how you all want it to."

Quil laughed as Leah flushed with embarrassment.

"Jake," Bella grumbled, softly chastising him.

Jacob barked out a laugh and said, "I have been trying to forget what I heard for fucking days, okay?"

Leah said, "Yeah? Consider it payback for all those nights I had to guard Bella while you took her to pound town." Jacob's face instantly turned red, and he sputtered, sending the rest of the room into hysterical laughter.

Jacob said, "I got that payback when Embry sent me that video of you from last Halloween." Quil snickered and reached for his phone.

"Shit," Leah said. A moment later, Hodie's phone went off, and she rolled her eyes. She heard her song choice begin and could visualize every step of the choreography as it played.

Hodie said, "Damn. I should have stayed inside." He grinned wickedly at Quil and said, "Thanks, bro."

Jacob joked, "Does Embry know he has been replaced yet?"

"Ha. HA! So funny," Quil said and laughed. He shrugged, gestured toward Jacob, and joked, "Jesus, you would think a guy couldn't be friends with his girlfriend's boyfriend around here. Damn."

"HA!" Sarah yelled, and Quil cringed as the others laughed.

Bella said, "Well, it wasn't a cuss word, at the least."

"Speaking of that," Quil said as he stood and pulled cash from his pocket. He slapped it against Jacob's chest and sat back on the couch.

Jacob asked, "What is this for?"

Quil said, "The swear jar. You might hear some bad words coming from the neighbor's house later." There was more collective laughter as Jacob sputtered again and groaned through his laughter. Quil gave Leah and Hodie a dazzling smile and said, "That will teach him to not give us any shit, huh?"

"Yes," Jacob snorted.

Bella asked, "Does Embry know yet?" Leah looked over at Quil, now wondering the same thing. Sam had seen her kiss Hodie and Emily knew now, too. Leah didn't doubt Sam had possibly said something to Embry already. The only secrets Sam Uley kept most often were his own. As it were, Leah knew her coming words would aggravate Quil. Though he had kept his promise and remained peaceful, he still wasn't happy with Sam.

Tentatively, Leah said, "Sam knows. Emily, too."

Hodie said, "Yeah, Sam saw Leah kiss me when I got here today. He didn't say anything, but he looked really damn surprised."

Quil said, "I wondered why he seemed so damn off this morning. He didn't say anything to me."

"Well, he did to me," Leah said and told them what he said to her outside. The scowl on Quil's face was expected, but the one on Hodie's surprised her.

Hodie asked, "Was he flirting with you, Leah?"

"Fuck yes, he was," Quil complained before she could answer. "He called her Leelee. Most of us have called her that since we were little kids. Sam only called her that when they were together. Sam only calls her Leelee when she gets seriously hurt, or he wants to manipulate her somehow."

The observation was more startling than she wanted to admit. She glanced up at Quil, who was staring directly at her. She could see the anger burning behind his eyes as he said, "I pay attention, sweetheart. You know this by now."

"I know you do," she said.

"I feel like it was a dig at you somehow," Quil said. "It doesn't sit right. I don't like it." He turned to Bella and said, "By the way, yes. Embry knows. There isn't a damn thing I can't tell that man. Even if he thinks I'm being an idiot, he has my back. It has always been that way."

Leah asked, "So what did he say? Embry?"

Quil immediately softened and smiled at her sweetly. He said, "Embry said that if I ever lose you again, I'm the biggest fool on the fucking earth. He said that you make me a better person."

Leah felt as if her heart would burst as she glanced between Quil and Hodie. Both grinned at her as if the sun shone out of her ass. She chuckled happily and said, "Come on, guys. Let's go home and get out of their hair."

Bella said, "Why don't you leave Julien here? I have Ethan until Embry gets done with patrol, and Seth plans to spend the night. Sarah and Jake will be asleep soon, but I'll be up for a few hours."

Leah said, "You don't have to do that, Bells."

Bella said, "I know I don't. I want to. I'm rather fond of the little squirt. He looks so much like Emmett, I can't take it. Besides, Rose is supposed to come by in a little bit, and I'm sure she would love to see him. Seth, too."

Leah hesitated for a moment before kissing her son's forehead. He was passed lovingly around the room, where Jacob promptly tucked him into the crook of his arm and kept him.

Jacob grinned happily and said, "He likes his uncle Jake. We're good pals, aren't we, Jules?"

Leah huffed and rolled her eyes. That damn nickname has already stuck.

Quil said, "You know, Julien and Sarah are the only ones out of the kids so far."

Leah and the others looked over at Quil in confusion. Leah asked, "The only what?"

"Half-singer, half-shifters," Quil said, still staring at his son. "Kind of neat that they belong to step-sisters where one is a shifter, and the other is a singer. Weird how shit works out, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Jacob said, nodding. "It sure is."

Pst. More smut coming soon. This story will have a plot eventually. I think lol. How do you think it's coming along? Hit me with that feedback 3