Chapter 5
Disclaimer: see previous chapter
AN: Love to hear your thoughts.
It wasn't long before she fell right to sleep. Good, this girl deserves her only moment of peace, Edward had thought to himself. He would stay until the others gets back. They wouldn't be gone too long. It was hard enough to get Rosalie to leave for a good feeding. Rosalie and Leah have grown close since Leah's arrival. On the second night Leah asked why she cared what happens to her. Rose spoke about her own experience. Edward thought best for him to go for a hunt so he wouldn't intrude. Hours later when he returned, he heard laughter coming from upstairs only to be followed by a loud smack.
"Ow. What was that for baby?" Emmett feigning hurt.
"Come on Emmett, you were asking for it." At first Edward was curious and intrigued by gentle joyous voice coming from the room. Then he realized it was Leah. It was an odd unfamiliar tone from the she wolf. Though, he did not know her well enough to have come to that conclusion.
"Whose side are you on she wolf? I thought we were buds."
As the week went on, his family has grown attached to the she wolf and her pups in such a short time. Though the situation was horrendous, it was a nice his family had turned their attention where it would benefit. He was left to brood without any pity and anybody tiptoeing around him. It's has only been a month since the fight with the Seattle newborns. A month since Bella agreed to marry him. A month since she left him.
It was what he wanted. He even told Jacob he'll stay as long as she wants him. But after her close calls, the burning bodies, Jacob getting hurt, Bella couldn't do it anymore. She didn't want to. She loved us both, but couldn't handle a life of the "supernatural". The upside was she left Jacob as well. In the end she went back with her mother and will be attending college in Florida. She had missed the sun.
It was what he wanted. Didn't mean it didn't hurt any less. Though surprisingly it didn't hurt as much as he thought. He took it better than Jacob did. All was left was the uncomfortable pity he received from his family, but he didn't have the heart to leave them.
Now he's babysitting and not being babysat. He felt oddly comfortable laying there beside the Quileute beauty, even with the awkward distance between them. It reminded him of the time he laid with Bella, though there are noted differences.
Leah's sun kissed skin is quite contrast to familiar fair skin that of Bella's. He reached over to brush tresses away from her face. Her velvet hair felt warm and soft through his stone cold fingers. He went again to comb his fingers through her hair when he saw her mind. He saw his actions through her thoughts. He didn't mean to disrupt her. He pulled his hand away and then the vision disappeared. Selfish he went again to caress her hair because that was the first solid stable moment Edward was able read her mind.
Again, he saw the fingers combing through her locks. As he continued with his action, he noticed the distinction between his own hand and the one Leah was envisioning. Instead of his marble white youth, they were callused hands influenced by wisdom. He hadn't woken her; she was just dreaming or rather remembering times with her father.
Times when they would all play in the snow. Leah was visualizing showing a bubbly Seth how to make a perfect snowball, only to have him throw at their father. The action started a war, the Clearwater children against their father. It went on for a while then halted as Sue Clearwater stepped out with a tray of what appears to be hot cocoa. Her stern look would deter anyone who would think to attempt attacking her with snowballs. It was what some might call a Hallmark moment. He enjoyed seeing moments like this from the others. Occasionally, at least one member of the pack relives that surreal night but they pushed it aside and replace it with a happy memory of Leah before they became wolves. But now he was seeing in her point of view. He sat there watching her happy moments.
It wasn't until he heard quite of a loud growl coming from the doorway he noticed their positioned has changed. Leah had curled herself against Edward's form, almost clinging herself to him. Leah's head was curled up in Edward's chest and a free hand was laid across his stomach and the other hand were clutching one of his close to her own chest while his other hand was wrapped protectively around her waist, his head was resting on hers. Pulling away from the sight before him he directed his stare to the trembling body of Paul Lahote standing in the threshold.
"What do you think you are doing bloodsucker?"
Edward saw that if he did not untangle himself away from Leah, Paul would attack, possibly endangering Leah. As he stood Leah began to stir in her sleep. She was feeling too hot which explains why she had attached herself to his cold body. He went to caress her forehead when Paul growled at him again.
"Don't touch her."
"She has a fever." Edward paused to detect who just got home. "Esme." Within seconds she stood beside them.
"Is everything alright?"
"Leah fever has spiked again, do you mind?"
"Poor dear." She went into the room to lie besides Leah in hopes of cooling her down. Edward was focusing on Paul making sure he wouldn't attack Esme. But Esme wasn't Edward. Though Paul didn't want Leah here at all, he rather have Esme care for her than Edward.
"You filthy bloodsucker. What fuck did you think you were doing?"
"Paul, you need to remember you are a guest in this house and if you are not going to control your language and temper I'm going to have to ask you to leave before you phase indoors." Edward told him in a calm patronizing tone. Edward knew he was provoking the hot tempered wolf standing before him, he just wasn't sure why. "Let's step outside before you burst out of your skin."
"Who do you think you are telling me what to do."
"It's my home."
"That doesn't explain why you were in her room." A gentle voice broke through to their argument.
"Ed...Esme? Where's...What's all the noise?" Leah asked sleepily.
"The boys just have the television a bit loud. They'll keep it down." Esme said more to the gentlemen in the hallway than to Leah's sleeping form.
Edward nodded Paul towards the exit. Paul followed grudgingly.
They remained silent until they reached the front lawn where Jacob joins them.
"Hey! What's going on here?" Jacob walked up to the two tensed bodies stepping out of the Cullen's home.
"Jacob, you need to remind your pups that they are guest here." He nodded towards Paul.
"Fuck you. I caught this bloodsucker laying in bed with Leah. The leech's hands were all over her." The shaking shifter yelled out as Edward quickly put up his hands to show Jacob he would explain himself though Paul was exaggerating and Jacob mind went to think the worst.
"Jacob you know Leah has a fever. She had asked for me to cool her down so she can better rest."
"Then why didn't you just give her a glass of water, some medicine, or just run her a bath with ice." Again Jacob's mind went to think the worst. "No never mind." Jacob went on to shake his head of a visual of Edward being in the same room as an unclothed Leah. "Where's everyone else."
"Hunting, Carlisle is working and Esme just got home. And you left Seth and everyone else at your frivolous meeting..."
"Stay out of my head!"
"She may be your pack member, but she's their family."
"Stay out of it!"
It was a long time coming. They both knew it. They both blamed the other for their Bella's departure, more so Jacob. They're still fighting over ghost. Edward didn't need his gift to see Jacob was going to attack. So as Jacob anger took over, Paul' instincts went to help his alpha.
"He's mine!" Jacob told the dark silver wolf with an uncharacteristic malice tone. He didn't intend for it to be command, but Paul felt the strain and he backed off still in his warrior's form. Jacob charged at his adversary but Edward was quick and allowed Jacob to slam himself into a tree. After several dodges of the wolf's advances, at the next lounge Jacob took Edward held Jacob's jaw apart before tossing him away. Without much force he pushed him into the side of the house.
They both leaped towards one another only to meet mid-air. There was to report of thunder that day but it rang throughout the region. As they both landed with stable feet on the ground. Suddenly their anger had subsided with the help of Jasper. They heard distance voices. It was then they noticed they were surrounded by the Cullen siblings and the pack, all with disapproving glares. They both realized the disapprovement wasn't of their fighting; it was of them putting the only she wolf in danger.
Leah laid there in the rubble of the living room, before Rosalie picked her up. Seth dusted his sister off of the glass and dust that were imbedded to her of where she fell.
During the commotion she ran downstairs ignoring the protests of Esme. She was screaming for them to stop through the very window the russet wolf was hurled towards. Esme shows her true vampire side with inhumane speed as she pushes Leah out of the way. Standing a few feet away they saw the wolf shake of the debris before leaping towards a white blur. Leah collapsed onto the wreckage at the shock of the clash.
Everyone made it in time to witness the fight. Seth called Rosalie to inform her of the situation and luckily they were already on their way home. Jasper was able to use his gift though he was only able to focus to calm the contenders. However the other angry bodies, including himself, wouldn't act on their anger.
Calm enough Jacob was able to shift back into his human form. He and Edward both rushed to Leah's side, but were deterred by Rosalie and Seth's protective stares. The silence was almost palpable. They all watched as Rose carried Leah back to her room with Seth on her heels.
Silently they all began cleaning up the wreckage.
After laying Leah back on her bed, Rosalie decides to leave the room. If there was anybody she could trust Leah with other than herself, it would be Seth. Her new found friend was in good hands.
Edward was leaning against the opposite wall. Rosalie gave him an inquisitor look. Her silence spoke volumes. "All you had to do was to make sure she was okay. Not cause her any stress. "
Edward followed his sister back down stairs to help the others clear up the damages. But his focus never strayed too far from the room above.
Leah was finally coming to consciousness.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like hungover, like I should been feeling a major headache. What happened?"
"You fainted."
"I...They were fighting..." She quickly sat up only to be pushed back by her brother.
"Calm down, Sis. They were sparring and it just got out of hand."
"That was not sparring. There's a hole in the side of the house." She didn't allow herself to lay back down so she settled on sitting up with her back against the the headboard. Seth joined her. He didn't want to upset his sister so he tried to fudge the truth. He knew better than lying to her so he decided to change the subject.
"I heard you sent Collin on his first date."
"Well I don't think its an official date, probably a group date if nothing else."
"He's been wanting to hang out with her, but thought she was too smart for him. Well maybe not that smart, since she likes him."
"That's not nice Seth. Funny, but not nice. I'm happy she likes him though. I could tell they liked each other when weren't getting any work done. " She caught her brother's concerned face.
"What? You didn't have a crush on her too, did you?"
"No. It's not that. Aren't you worried? What happens when..." Seth couldn't finish his thought. He didn't want to and he didn't need too.
"He shouldn't stop living for a "what if". Besides, No fate. There's no fate but what we make for ourselves."
Seth looked at his sister. "Did you just quote John Conner."
"Yeah." Leah grinned
"But you said the third one was a slap in the face."
"Do you have to remember everything I say."
They stayed silent, enjoying their sibling moment. Seth rested his head on Leah's shoulder and she in return laid hers on top of his.
Soon after Leah broke their comfortable silence.
"Jeremiah was a bullfrog" Leah said quietly. Seth just stared at her.
"Was a good friend of mine." She smirked at him.
"I never understood a single word he said" She starting singing.
"But I helped him a-drink his wine""They both sang in harmony.
And he always had some mighty fine wine
Singin'...
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls now
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
If I were the king of the world
Tell you what I'd do
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the war
Make sweet love to you
Sing it now...
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
You know I love the ladies
Love to have my fun
I'm a high life flyer and a rainbow rider
A straight shootin' son-of-a-gun
I said a straight shootin' son-of-a-gun
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the world
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls now
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
I wanna tell you
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
"You miss him?" There would be no question who Seth was asking about.
"Every day. I see him every day." She smiles at the thought. Before Seth can state his confusion Leah clarifies. "There's so much of him in you." Seth could only respond with a smile.
Again, they sat there in silence for a moment before being joined by Brady. They decided to watch a movie, the Terminator no less, while they wait for Colin to return. Hours later when night fell and after two Terminator movies, Colin came home. He quickly acknowledges everyone who was around with a quick 'Hey' before he went straight upstairs.
Embry wasn't so lucky to quick escape, and unlike Colin he noticed the tension in the air and the empty spaces where the windows and furniture would stand. Jacob just glared him as the stepped outside expecting Embry to follow. He did. The punishment was expected. Embry didn't expect a mild punishment of just double patrol for two weeks. As surprised as he was he will take in stride, believing it was well worth it. Jacob wanted to be so angry at Embry for leaving Leah alone, but found himself more in an envious anger that she asked him for a favor where as she cried out in fear towards him to stop fighting.
Edward ignored all the minds around him that were shouting and placing his focus upstairs. He could see through the youngest members of the pack, they were all seated in a makeshift circle on the bed. What intrigued him the most about the scene before him was Leah's smile. He could tell it wasn't a facade or forced. Edward couldn't tell if that's just the way the younger men portray her. No, she was genuinely happy to hear about Colin's day as they all snacked on their carnival bounty. He just never realized that's what has made her beautiful. Her smile.
"I forgot they had churros." Brady said while his mouth was full.
"Enough with stuffing our faces. So how it go?" Leah said before taking a bite of her own candy apple. The rest of the night they were uninterrupted.