Leah stirred as the front door lock clicked. She knew the sound of Hodie's footsteps well, his sneakers squeaking on the wooden floor as he pulled them off near the front door. She grinned against a still sleeping Quil's shoulder and turned to greet him as Hodie stepped into the room. The butterflies in her chest took flight at the sight of his crooked grin.

Quietly, Hodie asked, "What is all of this?"

Quil groggily opened one eye to peek up at Hodie and chuckled. He teased, "Damn. Leelee. Your snoring put me to sleep. I came in here to make sure this sucker was comfortable, Hodie. She flopped down on me and passed out."

"Oh, please," Leah said, still grinning up at Hodie. "At least you know it's comfortable. It's for you, technically."

Quil laughed and said, "Can a guy give his chick's boyfriend a bed around here? Thunder thief. Shit."

Leah couldn't control her laughter as Hodie walked over to lay at her opposite side. "Hot damn," Hodie said and sighed as he relaxed.

Quil said, "Indeed."

Incredulously, Hodie asked, "Man, did you seriously buy me a bed for your house?"

"Yup. If you want to stay here, you two have your own space away from me if you want it, or whatever." Quil said, "My schedule is nuts, and she doesn't sleep well alone."

Hodie said, "You truly are fucking dedicated to making this shit work."

Quil said, "I am." Quil turned to meet her gaze and continued, "Leah is the only one for me. But the thing is, I'm not the only one for her, and that's okay."

Hodie grinned and said, "I get that. Leah once told me that everyone around here takes care of each other. I'm starting to understand how true that really is."

Quil sighed and said, "I guess I should get up and head to my own bed."

Hodie rolled to his side, braced himself over Leah, and said, "I think you should stay."

Assuming he meant Leah, Quil chuckled and sat up. Hodie said, "I think you should both stay." Quil smirked at Leah wickedly as she sat up and tugged her shirt over her head. Hodie laughed and followed suit.

Quil said, "Damn, sweetheart. Impatient, much?"

Leah tugged down her shorts and said, "Listen. I don't know if we are gonna fool around or go to sleep. Either way, these are coming off."

Of course, she knew that going straight to sleep wasn't what anyone had planned. She could smell, could feel the lust building rapidly in the room. She tossed her clothing to the floor and laid back down between them. Her naked body alone was enough for Quil to start getting hard but the need Hodie felt rushed over her in waves. Hodie was already sliding a condom on, and she practically gushed in anticipation. She reached for Quil, hoping his participation would be more than simply watching. Hodie kneeled beside her and lifted her leg. She cried out as he pushed into her from behind without warning. Hodie immediately began pounding into her, fast and hard.

"Oh, fuck me. Yes," Leah grunted, her voice shaking and gruff as she cried out. It was always how she loved to be taken most - rough and quickly. At times Leah had ached to be, to do whatever Hodie wanted. She could feel it now as the sensation of other hands blended with Quil's. Soft, warm caresses fluttered across her breasts and torso while Hodie's rough hands kneaded her ass cheek. Leah pulled Quil toward her, crushing her mouth to his as she yanked on the drawstring of his pants. Quil chuckled into her mouth as he pulled his pajama bottoms down, and she wrapped her hand around his erection.

Hodie pulled out of her abruptly, and she squealed as he flipped her over onto her stomach. Lifting her hips and suspending her lower half, Hodie pushed his way back inside her. He resumed his hard pumping as she stared down at Quil. He was openly stroking himself in front of them both, watching her writhing, her breasts bouncing with each slam of Hodie's hips.

He lowered her legs, wrapped his arms around her upper body, and pulled her upright on her knees. Hodie slowed his movements, pulling out of her languidly and steadily sliding back home in a torturous rhythm. His low, gravelly voice made her shiver as he whispered, "Do you like watching him touch himself, Darlin?" He thrust into her harder, and she nodded, whimpering as the head of his cock hit her cervix. Hodie's left hand wrapped around her throat while he slid the other along the front of her body, across her abdomen, and back up to caress her breasts. When she squeezed her eyes shut and moaned, Hodie commanded, "Look at Quil, Leah." Slowly, she opened her eyes, and his other hand slid to her sex. He began stroking her swollen nub as he resumed his rough frenzied rhythm. Leah yelled as her legs shook, and she came forcefully, clenching around him hard enough to push him out as he came.

Leah felt dazed as she was physically maneuvered away from Hodie and her back turned to face Quil. She vaguely registered the sound and her surprise as he rolled on a condom. Still quivering from her orgasm, Quil slowly pushed his erection into her. She whimpered again, painfully this time, as he stretched her.

Hodie grinned at her as he pulled his condom off, tied it closed, and carefully set it aside. He reached for another one, and she stretched forward to flick her tongue at the tip of his cock before he could grab it. He moaned and shuffled toward her as she guided him into her mouth. She could taste the bitter mixture of his semen and latex as saliva pooled in her mouth around him. Quil increased his rhythm, and she moaned around Hodie's cock. He threw his head back in pleasure and damn near whimpered as the head hit the back of her throat.

"God, baby, your mouth feels amazing," Hodie said, gently holding the sides of her head in his hands, his fingers buried in her hair.

"Mmm, just like this fucking pussy," Quil growled out and thrust hard, forcing the head of Hodie's member further into her throat. She increased the pressure of her mouth and held her breath as Quil pumped harder, rocking her toward Hodie to push him as deep as he could. It wasn't long before Hodie came again. He bit down on his lip to keep from yelling as he spilled into her mouth. Quil's steady thrusts did not stop as Hodie pulled out, and she sucked in a deep breath to swallow what was not dripping from her lips.

Hodie chuckled and leaned to kiss her, tenderly licking his seed from her lips before sliding his tongue across hers. His mouth consumed hers aggressively, leaving her mind floating in space when he finally pulled away. He guided her upright, and Quil cupped her breasts as he held her flush against his chest, continuing his steady rhythm. Hodie lowered onto all fours, pressed his mouth to her sex, and pulled her clit between his lips.

"Oh my fucking god," she gasped as he buried his mouth against her sex while Quil continued thrusting into it. She was practically riding Hodie's face, staring down at him as Quil clamped onto the back of her neck with his mouth. Her whimpers sounded more like a continuous humming as wave after wave flowed through her. Quil rolled, stroked, and tugged her nipples, the added stimulation almost too much on top of their combined machinations. She cried out as Hodie bit down on her clit and came hard, pulling Quil with her. All three were panting as Quil pulled out of her, and she collapsed on the bed between them. The lingering haze washed over her, leaving her feeling both euphoric and physically spent. Both men chuckled like idiots as she promptly closed her eyes and tried to catch her breath. Before she could stop herself, she asked them both to hold her. Her wolf remained a frenzied mess inside her, refusing to calm down until she was snuggly tangled up between them. As soon as she felt content and her breathing slowed, Leah swiftly fell into a deep sleep.

She woke again before dawn as Quil leaned down to kiss her goodbye. He seemed almost sad to leave as he glanced down at her body still tangled up with Hodie on the new bed.

"I love you," Leah said as Quil's lips lingered on her forehead.

"Me too," he said, forcing a smile at her. "I'll see you later. Make sure you get Hodie up with you so I can show him shit on the truck before it gets too busy."

"I'll be there," Hodie mumbled groggily. Quil chuckled and kissed her one more time before he left. Hearing the back door close, Leah snuggled closer to Hodie and fell back to sleep.

A half an hour later, Leah woke up chilled. Naked and alone, Leah crawled out of bed carefully and crept to the bathroom. The door was cracked open, the shower running as Leah knocked. The water shut off abruptly and the shower door opened as she peeked inside.

"Hey, Darlin," Hodie said cheerily, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. The beautiful ocean eyes she searched now were red-rimmed and dull, the despair behind them clear to see.

"I don't mean to rush you, Baby, but it was either knock or piss in the kitchen sink," Leah said. His grin was genuine as he wrapped a towel around his waist.

"Not like you have never peed in front of me before," Hodie said as she darted inside and sat down.

"Yeah. Well, you made me back then," Leah said and laughed.

Hodie asked, "Can you blame me? You had just been … well, I guess mauled isn't the right word."

Leah laughed again as she stood and flushed the toilet. She moved around him to the shower and turned it back on. She gave him a dazzling grin as she stepped inside and under the hot water. His towel dropped to the floor as he moved to follow her inside. She giggled as he wrapped his arms around her from behind and pressed her backside against him. Everything about his body fit hers exactly, and Leah wondered how she had not realized it before. Her wolf whimpered uneasily as his lips peppered kisses along the side of her neck. She wasn't sure if Hodie was trying to distract her or himself, but she could feel his lingering sadness despite the laughter on his lips.

"I love you," she said softly. His hands slid across her abdomen, and Hodie buried his face into her neck.

"I love you, Leah. I love you so goddamn much it's fucking painful," Hodie said sadly. Leah turned around to face him, and he forced another smile.

"Please talk to me, Baby," she said. "Something is obviously wrong."

Hodie hesitated before he said, "I have so much guilt. Everything I missed. All that time. All the time I spent jealous of Quil when he was the better man for you all along."

Leah cupped his face in her hands and said, "You are both amazing in different ways. Quil has grown so much in the last year. I've changed, too. You haven't had the chance yet to live your life without looking over your shoulder for a vamp, but I already see you changing, too. You are free for the first time in years. I can only imagine how hard it is, adapting to a whole different life. Again."

"I'm so afraid of overstepping. Of not knowing my place," Hodie said. "I feel like Quil is trying so, so hard to make all of this work. You are giving everything you fucking have, too. Meanwhile, I feel as if I'm floundering around, unsure of what to expect. I have had this kind of relationship, but I was always running. There wasn't a kid involved. Leah, I'm terrified I'm going to do something wrong, fuck everything up somehow. I feel like if I fuck up, I'm going to lose you for good. I don't want to do that again."

Leah briefly pressed her lips to his in a delicate kiss. She said, "I understand more than you know. I feel that way with you and with Quil. With Julien in some ways, too. I want to make the right decisions to make his life the best I can. I'm afraid I'll fuck it all up, too. I still want to try." Leah ran her hands up his chest and the sides of his neck to eventually, lovingly, cup his face. She asked, "Do you still want to try? It's all so, so new to me. I know it doesn't look like it, but I think Quil is struggling. He was so sad this morning. I don't think he wanted to leave. The wolf and I didn't want him to go, either. It is happiest between you. Quil has more willpower than me. I don't know if I could handle crawling out of bed to leave him sleeping in Claire's arms. I'm still a jealous bitch, you know? It doesn't come around as often, but that jealousy is still there."

Hodie's brow furrowed in frustration despite his laughter as he said, "I didn't want him to leave, either. You know, sometimes it's shocking to remember how young he is. He looks and acts … well, he is more mature than I fucking am, that's for damn sure."

Leah chuckled as she reached for her shampoo and said, "Maybe in some ways. Otherwise, he is very much the twenty-year-old he's supposed to be. He manages to amaze me every day. I was so blind, Hodie. With both of you. I think I see you both more clearly now. I still love you just as much as I ever did. More so. It's the same for him, though. Without one of you, I feel… torn. And guilty."

Leah chuckled as Hodie took her shampoo from her hands and gently lathered her hair. She sighed as his fingertips massaged her scalp and tilted her head toward his hands.

Hodie asked, "What made you feel guilty, baby?"

"I couldn't keep my word. I mean, I could have. Maybe. I don't know, but the point is I didn't," Leah said. She turned to rinse the shampoo from her hair and continued, "I felt like I was hurting you both. I didn't know I was pregnant, and Quil loved me so damn much. I finally decided I wanted you both, but I wasn't giving either up again. I planned that if you ever came back, I would tell you so. Give you the option for what we are trying now." Leah chuckled awkwardly and added, "Well, maybe not exactly what we're doing now."

Hodie grinned, his smile genuine and finally reaching his eyes as he kissed her forehead.

Leah said, "Then when Julien was born, and you finally did come back, I was afraid to do it. To approach the subject, I mean. Quil is the one who brought us all together, Hodie. He coaxed me to stop fighting my feelings and give myself the chance to be happier."

Leah pushed the excess water back from her face and scalp before sliding her arms around his shoulders. She said, "I want to ask you something, but I'm afraid to."

Hodie raised an eyebrow at her mischievously and said, "Well, I will probably have an answer."

Leah asked, "Are you …" Leah faltered, not entirely sure she wanted the answer to the question that had quietly nagged at her since Hodie had asked Quil to stay. Finally, she blurted out, "Are you attracted to Quil?" Hodie gaped at her wide-eyed and burst out laughing.

Embarrassed, she groaned, "What? You asked him to stay last night, and I just ..." She huffed in frustration.

Hodie kissed her nose, still chuckling, and said, "Quil is awesome, Darlin, but I did that for both of you. He's trying really fucking hard here. I'm not sure he's ready to hear you spend the night with me without him. I'm not so sure you are either. I appreciate his friendship, though. From everything I've seen from him over the last few weeks … Quil is a damn good guy. Also, if you could see how hot it is to see you like that, you would understand. You completely lose yourself. Like the rest of the world just stops. Watching you fall apart is the best part of it, every time. I can understand how Quil can be content just watching." He pulled away and smirked at her suspiciously. "Why did you get the impression I was getting the hots for Quil, anyway?"

She felt her face flooding with heat as she said, "When we first started spending time together, you kept asking me to stay with you. It was pretty clear why you wanted me to stay over, so asking Quil made me wonder. I guess I am just worried your needs aren't being met. You were upset when I came in and everything …" Leah grabbed her body wash and lathered up quickly now that the water was turning cold.

Hodie stepped out of the shower to give her more space and said, "Darlin, did I ever once say that you are not enough for me? Or that anything was lacking with us physically?"

Leah said, "Well, no, but..."

Hodie interrupted her and said, "No buts. Believe me. I've got a little pity party going on in my head over my own flaws and feeding my damn insecurities. Everything is fine where sex is concerned. It is for me, anyway. So, no buts." Hodie opened the shower far enough to slap her ass, and Leah shrieked in surprise. He teased, "No buts except that ass."

"That is a terrible pun," she said, chuckling. Soon he'll be sharing Dad jokes with Charlie, she thought and rolled her eyes. "Hodie," Leah asked as she stepped out of the shower, "have you had any warnings lately?"

He turned to look at her suspiciously and said, "No. Why?"

Leah said. "I just wondered. You didn't have one last night with a strange vamp nearby, so I wondered."

Hodie said, "I also wondered about that, too. I think Seth lied to get Quil alone to talk."

After finishing dressing, Hodie pulled on his shoes as Leah combed the tangles from her hair. "Hmmm," he said thoughtfully, "I wondered about something else last night. I could tell Quil was serious about your mom, but I could feel you holding back." Leah instantly tensed up, and he chuckled. "It's okay if your mom doesn't like me, Darlin. Won't be the first time a mom disapproved of me."

Leah sighed and said, "It's not that. She was angry I got with Quil. What he said was true, but Mom also thinks we're idiots because of you and Claire. She even asked Quil flat out if he plans to go back to Claire when he's more or less bored with me. He never even mentions Claire. Mom was right about one thing. She insisted you would come back one day."

Hodie nodded and said, "Because of the imprint, I guess?"

Leah said, "Yeah. She thinks it's inevitable for Quil and Claire to end up back together. For you and I, too. When she found out I was pregnant, she was furious with me. When I told her it was yours by a long shot, I think she thought it was more proof that you would come back eventually. I had heard you were in Virginia, but it came from Amara. I wasn't sure I could trust it. Turns out you were in Kentucky. I think she wanted to throw others off somehow. She had been reported missing, and the cops were looking for you. I think Charlie got all of that cleared up, though."

"Wow," Hodie said and let out a deep breath as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I will have to tell Charlie thank you for that. That is the last shit I need."

"Yeah, we all thought so, too," Leah said as she reached for her toothbrush.

Hodie leaned over to kiss her cheek and said, "I'm going to the garage to see what Quil needs to show me about the truck. I'll see you over at the house in a while?"

Brushing her teeth, Leah nodded at him, and he left. She finished getting ready, filled up her spare diaper bag with items for Julien, and made a point to lock her doors before jogging down the path to her sister's house. She walked happily into Bella's kitchen and was met with equal grins from Bella, Jacob, and Emily.

Sam, Jacob, and Embry were eating breakfast at the kitchen table. Bella happily turned to make another plate. Leah waved at no one in particular and darted toward the nursery to see her son. He frequently stirred near sunrise, cranky, wet, and wanting his bottle. Sarah was sound asleep, Evan and Beth were nestled together in the cradle, and the nursery was otherwise empty. Leah carefully walked back toward the kitchen as the sound of Quil's chuckle caught her attention. He was sitting out of sight of the doorway and reclined back on the couch as Julien laid contentedly on his chest. As she rounded the corner into the room, she found Hodie a few feet from Quil, holding a drooling Ethan.

She smiled and said, "Well, I guess someone found him a buddy for the morning."

Hodie chuckled and said, "Yeah. He came straight to me and wouldn't let go."

Leah said, "Well, hell, guys. Did you have breakfast?"

"No," they said in unison and both laughed.

Leah said, "Well, I have a bottle ready to go for Julien, and Ethan loves to sleep on the couch anyway. Why don't you guys go get breakfast?" Quil sat up carefully and handed Leah their son. Hodie was in an awkward position where he sat, unsure of how to move Ethan without waking him. Quil carefully moved Ethan to the couch for him and laughed as he walked to the kitchen.

"He's a real teamwork kind of guy," Hodie said as he stood.

"That's just how we all are around here," Leah said as she swayed, rocking their son. "You hop in and help with things all the time, too. You fit in pretty well around here."

Hodie kept his voice low, stepping closer to her as he said, "We had a quick chat a minute ago. Me and Quil."

Sarcastically, Leah said, "Well, that was kind of the point of coming over early, wasn't it?"

Hodie said, "Nah, he hasn't shown me the truck yet. I couldn't wait to see Jules. He couldn't either."

Leah glanced down at Julien and asked, "Do you want to hold him now?"

Hodie grinned, shaking his head no. He said, "I've got all day, Darlin."

Leah teased, "How many women have you called Darlin over the years?"

Hodie tried to stifle his laugh as he said, "You and my Mama. I didn't even call Gem that. It was kind of a special thing with my mom. I know that sounds really fucking weird, but … She and I loved each other unconditionally. I knew the moment I met you that I would love you that way, too. Does that make sense?" Hodie wrapped his arms around her waist, gently pressing Julien between them as he held them both.

Leah grinned and asked, "And Julien? Him too?"

Hodie leaned in to kiss the tip of her nose and said, "Probably so. Depends on how he feels about getting called Darlin in front of his pals one day, I guess."

Leah laughed and said, "I want more kids, Hodie. Not anytime soon, of course. If it doesn't happen, that's okay, I guess. Julien is amazing all by himself. I want a little girl someday, too, though. I always have. I've always wanted a little girl I could teach to dance with me."

Hodie said, "Maybe Jules will want to dance with you."

Leah grinned down at her son and said, "Maybe? I'll teach him if he does. I still want a girl, too, though."

Hodie said, "Well if that happens, she can be Darlin too."

Carefully Leah asked, "What if the next one isn't yours? What if it's Quil's?" Would I even want to know next time? It wouldn't matter to me, but will it matter to them?

Hodie said, "Hmph," and grinned down at Julien again. "Well, then I guess our next kid will look less like me. She can still be a little Darlin, just like Jules." Hodie playfully patted her butt as Leah breathed a sigh of relief. He had said what she hoped to hear, but Leah knew that when the time came, he might feel differently. The truth was, Leah hoped she could have another baby with Quil one day. She and the wolf both still hurt over Julien being born the way he had. They had both been robbed of the experience of his birth. Leah was in and out of consciousness and unable to hold him when he had taken his first breath or opened his eyes. They had not even heard his first cry. She could vividly remember the feeling of loss that consumed her when she woke up alone, believing her baby was dead. She wouldn't wish it on her worst enemy. She wanted that experience, and she wanted to give Quil a baby. A houseful of them if he wanted.

Staring at her son, she quietly asked, "So, what did you two talk about?"

Hodie said, "Um, the possibility of me moving down here before Christmas."

Leah looked up at him in surprise and grinned as she asked, "Really? You're really considering it?"

Hodie said, "Well … yeah. I need to pay Boss back first. See if I'll still have a job option with Paul by then or find something else."

Leah asked, "And in the meantime?"

Hodie said, "I'll just keep coming to see you guys when I can. We can give this a little time first to test our situation. If living together by then is not a good plan, I can search for something in the area or keep visiting as I do now."

Leah carried Julien into the kitchen and sat down to feed him. Bella sat a plate down on the island and held her arms out for her nephew.

"Let me do it so you can eat while it's still hot," Bella said as Hodie sat down next to Leah. Emily quickly carried over another plate for him. He grinned and said thank you just as Jacob, Sam, and Embry rose from the table.

"I'll be right there, guys," Quil said around a mouth full of bacon. After swallowing, he added, "Hodie is coming over so I can show him the truck."

Jacob said, "Yeah, I gotta go get our part order in for it, first thing, but I'll be out to help you with it as soon as I'm done."

Hodie said, "You're ordering the parts this morning? How much is it going to cost?"

Jacob said, "Dude, don't worry about it for now. We'll figure all of this shit out. Every time you come over, Bells talks about how good you are with the kids. I know you come to see Julien, but you practically deserve a paycheck for chasing kids around here. I'm ordering the parts, and Rose will pick them up." He gave Hodie a wide grin and added, "She wants to get her hands on your truck. Believe me, there is no one better to help with that. Honestly, I'm surprised she didn't fix it while you slept since it's been in their driveway." The others chuckled and nodded.

Sam said, "Rosie works circles around us, and she loves a challenge. She won't even let Jacob cut her a paycheck. She likes to come to do this shit for fun."

Jacob laughed and said, "Blondie is a total grease monkey. She and Emmett should hopefully be here by noon or so. If we can't get the truck done today, Emmett will leave his jeep here for you to drive it home."

Surprised, Hodie asked, "Seriously? Man, that's … thank you."

Leah said, "Yeah, Jake. Thank you, guys. You and Quil are always two steps ahead."

"That's our job," Quil said before shoveling in his last bite of food. He stood and gathered all of the empty plates and carried them to the sink. The others waited at the door for him as he loaded them into the dishwasher.

Leah looked around at her happy family optimistically. She hoped that maybe, just maybe, their situation would work out even better than she had believed possible. Only time would tell.