As it happened Jacob didn't end up sleeping on the couch. Not that Bella forgave him or felt bad about telling him to, no he simply flat out refused to.

If Bella had bothered to ask whether Jacob was in love with Leah rather than if he loved her perhaps she'd be acting at least a little less bratty. But she'd chosen to ask if he loved her and he was being honest when he said he did. But that immature brattiness was so very Bella, and it was part of what had drawn him in. Leah had never been so bratty, not even as a kid.

How could anyone not love Leah? Aside from her physical attractiveness she just had a certain vibe that made her instantly likable if not instantly lovable. She was kind and unwaveringly loyal and generous and selfless and really funny in her own bitingly sarcastic way. Jacob couldn't pin it on any one thing why he loved her, why anyone just should really. Besides he'd watched her grow up and been there with her through it. Even if they didn't have their obligation to the tribe she was considered in the family.

Jacob started to wonder if he could be in love with Leah. He'd known his duty to his tribe and often thought about fulfilling it by marrying and making a home and family with Leah, but since she'd run away just as they were about to begin fulfilling their roles he'd never had to actually consider what they were doing, being made to do that is, and how it'd work.

Arranged marriages, though not entirely common anymore, still happen all around the world. It's not like they were being made to do something completely unheard of or unnatural.

Still, could Jacob fall in love with Leah? Would he? Would she fall in love with him? Jacob knew he wasn't the easiest person to deal with. But hey, he had a heavy burden on his shoulders. Not only was he meant to fulfill the elders wishes and make them proud as chief, being chief meant having many peoples futures and, ultimately, their lives in his hands, especially with the constant threat of vampires. Plus he'd had to do all of it while chasing after her. Stressful for anyone, he'd say.

Dragging himself out of bed, he got dressed and ready for a long day. Integrating Leah into the community wouldn't be hard, but getting her to adjust, recognize her new duties, and not attempt to run away again would prove to be a challenge.

He just hoped she hadn't already managed to slip off in the middle of the night. He'd sent out Jared to patrol Seth's house and watch out for Leah, but he wasn't the most competent of the pack. Well, that and Leah was pretty elusive. She'd gotten really great at slipping through peoples fingers and staying just out of reach since she'd run away.

With some apprehension Jacob made his way over to Seth's. Seth crankily answered the door. He was fresh out of the bed judging by the little bit of drool he had at the corner of his mouth.

"¿Qué tu quieres?" he mumbled as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He let Jacob in and gestured for him to follow him to the kitchen. Seth promptly started on a pot of coffee and some breakfast.

"Leah. Obviously."

"Yeah well I guess it wasn't enough that you forced her to run away the first time. Now you've gotta put enough pressure on her to make her contemplate it again. You know, if she hasn't already after meeting Isabella and having to deal with you being a jackass all day. Oh, not to mention waking her up before 8 is a major no no. Always has been, always will be."

"I'm well aware Leah doesn't like to be woken up early." Jacob snapped. He knew Leah just about as well as she knew herself, which is how he knew a cup of coffee and a donut was all it took to cure her morning grouchiness. "And I'm well aware of the posed risk of her running away again or buckling under the pressure. Learn your place, subordinate."

He understood why she'd run away, he respected it, he just didn't have much of a choice but to get her back. they had duties to fill. and if she really, really didn't want to (which is how it seems) and she really hates Jacob that much then they'd need to prepare for a council before the elders to get their betrothal dissolved. it was nearly unprecedented and very, very difficult to obtain but he had no qualms with helping her do it. like he said to Bella, he loves Leah. she's family. He also didn't have much of a choice but to bring her back because as chief it just wouldn't be right without her here, this is her home.

Jacob pushed past Seth and into the room he knew Seth had set aside for Leah even before they'd gotten any chance in hell at finally catching her. He gently opened the door and slipped in as quietly as he could. She was cuddled up on the bed, tangled in several blankets. She looked like she'd had a rough night and could really use the sleep. Jacob sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

He'd leave her alone for now. Seth was right it was best not to overwhelm her by jumping right into things. Although it would be nice to get a head start on all the things they'd have to iron out, she definitely needed some time to adjust to being back home first. He'd just take it slow and ease her into all the stuff on their agenda.

He sipped at the coffee he'd gotten her and tossed her cinnamon apple donuts to Seth for when she got up. He'd gotten her three, to sweeten her up. One was to cure her crankiness and two usually was just in case she was extra cranky.

"When she wakes up I want you two to spend some time together, give her some peace of mind and some time to rest and get used to being home again and then send her my way. I expect her no later than 2, Seth. Am I clear?"

"Crystal."

"Good. Colin will be here soon. Don't even try to object. I know you'd help her run away again."

With that Jacob took off and locked himself away in his home office. For now he could go through piles of paperwork.

Leah woke up with a start. she hadn't had a very good rest. her mind was all cluttered with new information. like the fact that she was home. the fact that spencer had moved on quite quickly to fall in love with another girl. the fact that her little brother was practically grown now and was going to be a father. the fact that Jacob and Seth and the rest of them they all turn into huge beasts. and that they think its normal. and lets not forget Rosalie and Edward, strange new acquaintances.

She stretched and went to see if Seth had thought to leave her any clothes to wear. She'd never admit it but a drawback to running away was her limited outfit choices. She'd bought a t-shirt or two to shake it up every once in a while but she could only have what she could carry anything else would take up space and slow her down.

She had little faith her jeans and a tee little brother had anything of hers ready for her but sure enough when Leah opened the closet it was stocked. It looked just the same as it had when she was here. She was so happy she could cry. She picked out a comfortable crop sweater and some nice jeans to pair with her timberland boots. It felt good to have an array of options again.

Leah fumbled her way to the kitchen. Seth's house wasn't very big but it was definitely different with its sharp turns into mini-hallways that only had one door. When she finally did get to his stupid kitchen he was already there with his girlfriend with some coffee. A plate of cinnamon apple donuts sat in front of them and her stomach rumbled.

"Thank you," she took his coffee and picked up the plate of donuts to put in the microwave for a few seconds. "and thank you."

"How'd you sleep, Lee?"

"Not well, not bad. Just sleep."

"Jacob brought those over for you by the way. He was gonna wake you up so y'all could start clearing your full plates but decided against it. You should visit him."

Leah pulled a deep grimace. That nearly ruined the taste for her. She didn't want anything from Jacob except easy passage to leave again. If he promised to stop chasing her she could stop running, maybe go back to Texas and build a life for herself. She'd liked it there. She could attend some night classes or maybe some online ones to leave room for a full time job. It'd be great.

"No, thank you."

"He's chief, Leah."

"He's Jacob, Seth." On some level Leah knew with all her heart that Jacob respected her enough to listen to her opinions and understand what she did and did not want. He'd never make her do anything she didn't want to, whether it was math homework or apologizing to cousin Emily after Leah had cut half her hair off on one side. She just knew he wouldn't, but this begged the question of why he didn't respect her leaving so much so that he chased her down and brought her back. It didn't matter because it had no affect on her actions now. Retrieved or not she would by no means abide by Jacob's rules, be they personal requests or not.

"Leah," the room got quiet and Leah stared at her little brother. His features were stern, sterner than his voice had just been. "Stop being childish. You need to see Jacob."

Leah looked down and briefly composed herself. This was insane. Everything and everyone was so different. She'd known that he'd grow up and that things would move on and change without her but a complete 180 was not what she expected.

"Fine."