Rekindling What's Meant to Be

JacobxBella

Rated T

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers

Rekindling What's Meant to Be

Chapter 15

Leah gently shushed Sam in comfort as he laid his head on her chest and cried, slowly lifting her free hand and placing it on his head. Her eyes shifted from the man crying on her to her mother's and brother's elated and tearstained faces. Smiling softly at them she greeted hoarsely, "Hey mom, hey Sethy."

A happy sob escaped Sue's mouth as she moved closer to her daughter and said, "My baby girl, you're finally awake. Oh, how I've missed looking into your eyes and seeing your smile."

"Hey sis," Seth said, his voice rough with emotion, happy though it was.

"You've grown more," Leah told him.

"Yeah, I guess I have. You've missed a lot, sis. We've got a lot to catch up on."

"I'm sure." Leah turned her attention back to Sam who had calmed down his crying and was sitting up, though he refused to let go of her hand and instead stared at her with a smile. Leah's already recovering breath hitched a bit seeing the smile, the same smile he used to wear when they had been together oh so long ago. Not only that, his eyes were full of pure love, all of it directed towards her.

Sam lifted the hand he was holding and kissed it before whispering, "I knew you would come back to me."

Leah said nothing in response, just stared at Sam in silence. She honestly didn't know what to say in response to his words. Yes, she knew he had been trying to win her back before Emily had hit her with her truck, but she had thought he would forget about her and move on with his life, especially with how long she had been unconscious. Wait, exactly how long had she been unconscious for? And why the hospital? It was obvious to her now it was a long time, but how long exactly? Before she could question it, Seth announced that he was going to call Jacob and Bella and let them know she was awake before leaving the hospital room.

Bella? Bella Swan? What was she doing back in Forks? And why was she with Jacob? Looking up at her mother and Sam in confusion, Sam smiled and said, "I know, I was shocked to see her back, too. But things have changed between the time she left and came back."

Sue nodded, having caught up with Billy about Bella's return and her daughter with Jacob upon the young woman's return after a week of her living with the Blacks. She also knew they were there to stay, especially with her son having Imprinted on Jacob's love child. However, it was better for Leah to hear it from Seth, Jacob, and maybe even Bella rather than her.

Leah nodded before asking, "How long have I been here? The last thing I remember was Emily barreling towards me with her truck, and then a lot of pain in my body. What happened after that?"

Sam and Sue looked at each other before Sue said softly, "You fell into a coma and have been here for the past six years, honey."

Six years?! Leah stared at her mother incredulously about the same time the doctor stepped into the hospital room, a shocked expression on his face. He walked over to her and began looking her over, checking her vitals on the monitors and such before saying, "Wow, Ms. Clearwater. I must say I'm surprised that you woke up. We weren't sure if you were going to after so long."

Sam glared at the doctor before growling, "We know, especially with you insisting we pull the plug every damn month, asshole."

"Sam!" Sue admonished, though Leah softly laughed despite the surprise of hearing that the doctor wanted to just end her life.

The doctor cleared his throat, his ears turning red in response to the Quileute man's words and hard glare. Blinking a few times he said, "Yes anyway, we will start Ms. Clearwater on a liquid diet during lunchtime in the hopes she can keep food down after six years, and start up physical therapy in about two to three days. As of right now, the nurse and I will run a few tests to make sure there won't be any lasting damage or something we may have overlooked previously."

Leah nodded and thanked the doctor, watching as he left with her mother following, probably to ask more questions. Once they were gone, it was just her and Sam left in the hospital room. Turning to look at him she asked softly with her hoarse voice, "Have you been here the whole time?"

Sam looked into her eyes, seeing a slight glimmer of hope shining in them. Smiling he nodded answering, "The whole time. I couldn't leave your side, not when I was the reason you ended up here. That, and I love you too much to walk away. And I promised myself that if you ever woke up again, I was never going to leave your side, no matter what. I know I've caused you so much pain and heartbreak—more than what was fair to anybody, more than anyone should have to go through—but I know for certain that my love for you will never go away and should you give me another chance, I promise to give you all the happiness I could never give you before and more. But only if you'll have me, of course. If not, then I accept that, but please allow me to stay by your side, even if we never get back together."

Tears that had built up in Leah's eyes silently slid down her cheeks at Sam's heartfelt confession. She knew he wasn't lying, that he was telling the truth. She could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice. He really did love her, maybe even always had when he tossed her aside for her cousin. He was vowing to not go anywhere, that he was choosing her above any Imprint that was possibly still there—it might have been, she didn't know, but she also didn't really care either.

In a soft voice she simply said, "Okay."

Sam smiled and leant forward, softly pressing his lips against his love's cheek in a sweet kiss. Leah smiled in response before moving over a little, lightly patting the empty space next to her. Without a word Sam moved onto the hospital bed with her, lying next to her and wrapping his arm around her, holding her close. He smiled with Leah turned a bit to place her head on his shoulder, her hand coming up to rest on his chest right over his heart. The two of them laid there in silence, content in just being in each other's company. And that was how Sue found them when she returned, staring in shock at first before smiling at the two of them together. She silently hoped that this time around, Leah would truly be happy with Sam and that Sam wouldn't break her little girl's heart again.

Jacob grinned happily as he got off the phone. He had just gotten the news from Seth that Leah had finally—finally!—woken up from her six-year coma. Moving from the garage where he had been working on a car, he headed back to the house where Bella and Sarah were. Billy had left not too long ago to visit Rachel, saying something about talking to her about her hardheaded boy threatening children, A.K.A., Paul. He hadn't the slightest what that was about, but he left that alone in favor of not having to deal with Paul. Entering the house he headed towards the kitchen, stopping at seeing Bella and Sarah in the midst of baking what looked to be chocolate cream pie. Even though the pie wasn't assembled or in the oven, it was already making his mouth water. Momentarily forgetting why he entered the house he said, "I already know that pie is going to be delicious."

Bella turned her head to face him as she whipped the homemade whipped cream with a hand whisk. Smiling she said, "I thought you were working on your latest project in the Taj."

"I was, but I just got a call from Seth with some good news. Leah has finally woken up today."

The brunette stopped whisking at the news, her chocolate brown eyes wide at the news. In an elated voice she asked, "Really? Leah is awake?"

"Yeah, she is Bells. She woke up while Seth, Sue, and Sam were visiting."

"I'll bet Sam is really happy. I mean, I know Sue and Seth are too, but from what Seth told me, I know Sam is beyond ecstatic. You know, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a happy moment and jumped around in joy."

Jacob gave Bella a deadpan look. "That'll never happen."

Bella laughed knowing he was right. Sarah looked up at her parents and asked, "Who is Leah?"

"She's Seth's older sister. She's been in the hospital for a long time," Bella replied.

"Sethy's sister? I want to meet her. Can I, mom and dad?"

Jacob grinned and nodded. "Of course, you can. I'm sure Seth would definitely want you to meet his big sister."

Bella nodded and said, "Yeah, I think you should meet her. But we should finish the pie and put it in the fridge to chill first. Then after that we can go."

Sarah nodded and returned to helping her mother with the chocolate cream pie. As the two of them continued with their task, Jacob sat at the table and watched them work, his eyes shining with love for both of them; Sarah, his little girl that he loved from the moment of learning she was his, and Bella, the love of his life. He never thought he would be here at this point in his life, in a very domestic setting as a father with a child and a…not-wife. Sometimes he still had a hard time believing he had gotten Bella pregnant, and yet the proof of it was standing next to her. He wondered how his life would be had he never known about Sarah. Well, he hadn't known, not until Sarah showed up on his doorstep and he really looked at her features. Sure, Bella had only come to Forks to get her and take her back to live with that damn Cullen clan, but he was glad he was able to convince her to stay. He knew it was a risk of having them stay, especially with how adamant Bella was about going back to those leeches in the beginning and the threat Edward imposed to Sarah, but he couldn't let them go. He couldn't let go of the child he hadn't known had existed in the past thirteen years, and he couldn't let go of Bella, not again.

Before long the chocolate cream pie was assembled and in the refrigerator to chill and set. Sarah left to go wash up, as she had gotten chocolate all over herself, leaving her parents alone to wait for her. Silence flowed between Jacob and Bella for a moment before Jacob asked, "Hey Bells, you remember how last night you said your wish was that it lasted forever?"

"Yeah," Bella replied.

"What is it that you want to last forever?"

The brunette didn't answer at first, though she did blush a bit. Jacob thought she probably wasn't going to answer at all until she finally spoke. Taking a deep breath Bella answered, "I want this happiness to last forever. I haven't been this happy in years, Jake. I thought returning to Forks would be the worst thing possible for me, but it has really been a blessing. Not only am I happy, Sarah is happy too. And you're a big part of that happiness. I'll admit, I've never been truly happy, not unless I was with you, but my mind was so clouded with Edward, wanting to become a vampire, afraid of growing old, and dealing with Victoria and everything else, I could never fully acknowledge that happiness and what it could mean for me in the long run. Not only that, but I was also running from my love for you."

She paused for a moment before continuing. "When I told you I loved you but just not enough, that was a lie. I did, but I was afraid to allow myself to acknowledge that at the time. And I had been through so much with Edward, it was just logical to me that he was my best option, even though now I know he was just my safe option, especially with the threat of the Volturi hanging over our heads. Even when I walked away with the intention to let you go, I couldn't do it. And I know I bothered poor Seth in badgering him about you when you ran away. Of course I was elated when you returned, but so scared when you said you were walking away from me. I didn't want to let you go, but I knew it was my fault for having you come to the decision you did. And though I knew it wasn't fair to Edward and it was selfish of me, I wanted to have one more night with you. It was wrong—we both know that—but I never regretted it, especially when I was gifted with Sarah. My baby gave me so much happiness, but Edward took it away with his threats against Sarah, though Sarah doesn't know about them. I would die to protect her, and I knew the only way to keep her safe was to stay with Edward. Now I see how silly thinking that was, but I felt I had no choice. I just hadn't counted on Sarah wanting to meet you so badly that she'd go to Rosalie to get here." Bella chuckled in humor. "Am I glad she did, though. Her making that decision and coming here to La Push, making me come after her, was the best thing to happen to me—after Sarah, of course. For once in my life, I am finally happy and even more so because I'm back here with you. And seeing Sarah happy and you two bond makes it even better. I don't want this happiness to end ever."

Jacob stared at Bella for a moment before smiling lovingly at her, reaching towards her to tuck her hair behind her ear. Taking her hand in his he kissed her knuckles before saying softly, "Nothing made me happier than finding out about Sarah, and then you coming back and staying. I've always known this, but you're the love of my life, Bella. It killed me when you married your leech and left, even after we gave ourselves to each other. But if all the pain and shit we went through was to bring us back together at this moment, then I don't regret a single thing that happened. I love you Bella, and I still do. And it may have just been the moment last night, but I'd like to think that you kissed me because you still love me as well."

Bella's cheeks turned pinker than they had before and she bit her lip before nodding her head, confirming Jacob's words. In a soft voice she replied, "Yes, I still love you. I just don't want to hurt you again."

"You won't."

"You don't know that. I've hurt you more times than necessary, I don't want to add to that."

Jacob gently took Bella's face in his hands. "I read somewhere once that the person you love the most will hurt you the most, and I'll be real, loving you hurts. But I believe the pain is worth it. If you think so too, then it won't be so bad to try this romance thing again. What do you say, Bells? Want to try again and rekindle what we had?"

Chocolate brown eyes stared into dark brown ones for a moment before a soft smile appeared on her lips. Jacob smiled in return and slowly leant forward, pressing his lips gently against Bella's. Bella kissed Jacob back, their lips melding against one another's naturally, like they were meant to fit together. As the two of them sat kissing each other softly, Sarah stood watching them from the hallway, grinning happily at the development between her parents.