I do not own Twilight. Thanks for the reviews! If you're interested I posted a Christmas oneshot for Sam and Leah. "Christmas Without You."

SIX

Jacob called the following Monday morning to invite Leah for an early dinner and drinks. She agreed to meet him after work at a popular sports bar and at a quarter to six, found him already waiting at the bar. He looked incredibly sexy in a black leather jacket and dark washed jeans. His long hair fell loosely around his shoulders and his tanned skin seemed to glow. Momentarily Leah was tongue-tied.

"Leah," he beamed, getting up and taking her hand in greeting.

His warmth immediately flowed through her fingers, causing her heart to race. "Hello Jake."

"I hope traffic wasn't too bad?" he asked.

"No. Nothing out of the ordinary."

"What are you drinking?" he asked while flagging the bartender. There was a slight crowd but nothing like what it would be on the weekend.

"Um, a red wine please." She hoped whatever they had wasn't the cheap stuff, Leah just wanted to relax.

With their drinks in hand, Jacob led the way to a booth that would give them some level of privacy. He gently placed the glasses down and reached for Leah's coat, helping her shrug her way out of it before also taking off his own jacket. He was wearing a long sleeved black shirt under it and Leah found the color really suited him, like his name. She was glad she'd worn a sleeveless chiffon blouse and black pencil skirt, so that she didn't feel too overdressed. After tucking her handbag into the space beside her Leah finally sipped at her drink.

"How is it?" Jacob motioned to the glass while sipping his own beer.

"It's alright," she smiled briefly, taking another generous gulp. She was still a bit nervous about this "friendly date."

"So, how are you doing these days, yuh know…with the divorce…"

Leah nodded. "I'm alright. I've been going to the gym and burning off the stress. It helps. I get so wound up that I just need to sweat it out." She blushed at the slight sexual innuendo he could have taken from that.

"Makes sense. Has he called or anything?"

Leah shook her head. "Definitely not. Sam does his best to keep his distance. It's like we never even had a marriage." She looked down at her rings and pushed them around her finger.

"I'm sorry, that sucks." Jacob offered, his voice gentle and kind.

"Yeah, I'm forcing myself not to care though, it doesn't make sense torturing myself over something I have no power to change."

"I know you're a strong woman Leah, you WILL be fine."

"How are you and your family doing?" she asked, effectively steering the conversation away from the dark side. She wasn't sure if his statement was true.

"Good, thanks. I uh, talked to Seth yesterday and he said he didn't mind us getting to know each other. Of course he threatened to have my balls if I messed up," Jacob scoffed.

"Wow. Seth, threatening someone? I'd have paid to see that," Leah chuckled. Her brother was the nicest, gentlest person alive. He couldn't hurt a fly. She found it strange he hadn't called and asked her what was going on though.

"Well, he's protective of you, so I wouldn't put it past him, although I wouldn't exactly make it easy for him to catch me." They laughed and Leah settled back in her seat, the banter and warm alcohol in her veins setting her at ease, finally.

"So you really haven't dated since your divorce?" Leah asked, wanting to know more about his love life.

Jacob's eyebrows raised at the question and he nodded. "I've been so busy with trying to keep things normal for Nessie I haven't had the time. I meet women all the time but I've never actually wanted to ask any of them out until I met you."

Leah blushed, the warmth of the wine making her head feel a little light. She looked around and saw a nearby waitress and motioned for her to come over. "I need to eat, I hope you don't mind."

"No, of course not, it's my fault for not ordering already."

Leah asked for the salmon plate while Jacob got the ribs. They both got drink refills in the meantime and continued to discuss the dating world and their mutual inexperience with its modern customs.

"There're so many shows about dating on television now that make the whole thing seem ludicrous. The things that people are into, it's like there's nothing really romantic or sacred left to the institution of falling in love," Leah reasoned.

Jacob smiled. "So you're saying you want to be romanced?"

"Sure, why not? After Sam…" she cut herself off and shook her head.

"You can talk about him Leah, I don't mind. That's what friends are for."

Leah smirked at his tease and decided to just relax and say what was on her mind. This was what friends did anyways. "It's just been so long. I don't remember what feeling special feels like," Leah grimaced at the confession. She'd definitely had too much to drink on an empty stomach if she was saying things like that. And yet she couldn't stop herself. "I mean…he always bought me gifts and nice things, don't get me wrong. But that doesn't compare to one-on-one, and you know what? Gifts don't always equate to the kind of special where you're the only woman in the world and he'd literally die for you."

"Die for you huh?" Jacob smirked while taking another sip of beer.

Leah hid her face with an embarrassed snort, knowing she sounded stupid and a little tipsy.

"Come on, I'm listening Leah." Jacob urged, his foot nudging hers under the table.

She sighed and took her hands down, placing her elbows on the table, leaning closer. "We grew apart – HE grew apart from me. He cheated for years – two and a HALF! I felt like shit after I found out. There's nothing special about knowing your life is a lie, your marriage is a lie, that you're just not good enough to have fidelity – the most important part of the vow you made in front of God and your family!"

Jacob reached over and squeezed her hand, just as the food arrived. Leah wasn't sure if it was for comfort or to calm her, as she'd gotten a bit loud. He waited until the waitress was gone to collect another round of drinks for them before continuing. "Would it be out of line for me to say that I want to make you feel special again?"

Leah looked at him for a moment, assessing his sincerity which she already knew was unnecessary. "I want it but I'm scared to be hurt again. And I don't know when I will ever be ready for something like that again. I miss it but I'm just…."

Jacob nodded. "I know, trust me I do…Bella really did a number on me too. What she did…." He shook his head. "She made me feel like the biggest ass in the world, yuh know? She lied for much longer than two years."

"Two and a half years!" Leah interjected.

"Right, sorry." Jake chuckled. "It fucks with your mind. I felt scared to get back out there because I couldn't trust anyone. But I also just didn't want to because I was too bitter. But when I met you, that kinda fell out the window. I felt so attracted to you that nothing else really mattered but getting to know who you were. I guess when you know you're ready, you just know. It's like, you can just finally breathe again and focus on something else, the possibility of something or someone better."

Leah took a bite of the salmon and thought about his words. It seemed simple enough. And she did feel an attraction to Jacob too, but she was still hung up on her pending divorce and the inadequacy she felt because of Sam's rejection. "What if I don't have anything to give back? The timing is so awkward, I have seriously mixed emotions about myself, about my life, what's next for me? I just don't know what I want, who I am…"

"I know Leah, that's why it's good that I'm a patient man. I meant what I said, we're just friends, I respect you. This-" he motioned back and forth between them, "Is casual. But if you want romance, I can give you romance too…all you have to do is let me know."

Leah looked over at him shyly. He was so forward, so sure. But how could he want her when she was so lost and bitter and angry?

"Whatever you're thinking you should stop." Jacob said, pointing his fork at her. "This doesn't have to be complicated. I like you Leah. That's all."

"I'm a mess. Sam broke my heart into a million pieces when he flushed our marriage down the toilet. How could you be attracted to that?"

"Cause that's not who you are, that's just something that happened to you. Come on Leah, don't be so hard on yourself. You've got a chance to start over, to find something better. I just happen to be here, wanting the same thing in my life too. It's a little coincidental don't you think?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you believe in Fate? The Spirits of your tribe?"

Leah sat back and picked at her food. "I used to...but I dunno. Maybe not anymore." It had been years since she'd even thought of such a thing. She'd once thought that meeting Sam was fate, that he was her soulmate, but clearly she'd been wrong. It was a bitter feeling.

"Well I was raised to believe that Fate presents us with gifts to make life beautiful. I believe that we met at a time that would help us both overcome something tragic."

Leah scoffed, "So you're saying this is Fate?" She wanted NOTHING to do with fate. Her temper flared at the notion of magically falling in love again. She'd been down that road once before and had no desire to return. Thoughts of Sam flooded her brain, both the good times and the bad. NO, Leah had no time for this. She wasn't going to let another man fuck with her heart or her head.

"Isn't it?" Jacob shrugged.

"Jacob…" she started, pushing her plate away and reaching for her bag and jacket. Her stomach suddenly felt unsettled as the anger and resentment seemed to boil beneath her skin. She knew she wasn't really upset with Jacob, but with Sam. But right now, the lines were too blurred to keep her cool. She couldn't have this conversation, or any conversation dealing with love or fate or romance. She regretted ever bringing the topic up in the first place.

"You're leaving? Wait, Leah, I'm sorry, please don't go!" Jacob begged, his eyes wide with horror and disbelief.

"I just…you're a nice guy and all but this is just too much too soon. I'm not ready for what you want. The timing is all wrong for this."

"But you said you want romance I'm just trying to show you that I can be that guy to give it to you!"

"I know what I said Jake, but I just can't right now!" Leah snapped.

"Leah, I didn't mean it that way. I just…ah fuck!" Jacob hissed under his breath as he watched Leah fish a couple bills out of her wallet and drop them on the table. He got up and tried to stop her. "Leah please don't go yet, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to push you, I know you just want to be friends I was just making it clear-"

"I have to go." Leah told him firmly, barely looking him in the eye. She spun on her heel and quickly marched out of the restaurant, ignoring the call of her name.

Once inside the safety of her car, Leah banged her fists on the steering wheel as the tears fell.

Later that night Seth called. Leah contemplated ignoring him but decided she shouldn't. She was bundled in bed watching Sex and the City reruns.

"Leah, you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. As good as I can be."

"How are you holding up with the whole divorce thing…"

"I'm trying not to go crazy Seth, but I don't think it's working."

"Lee, no one expects you to be perfect right now. We all know you're hurting."

"Who's we exactly?" Leah spat, suspicious of his true intentions for calling.

"Me and Mom of course…" Seth started.

"And?" Leah prompted.

"Oh come on Lee, he didn't mean to upset you!" Seth whined in defense of his friend.

"He told you what happened?"

"He called me sounding a mess. He knows he fucked up, he didn't mean to push so hard."

"Seth you can't seriously think that I should start dating Jacob right now. I can't do that. He's nice and all, and I like him but I also think he's crazy to think this is some kind of love connection between us! He doesn't even know me!"

"Look, I'm not telling you what to do okay Lee? I know you're hurting and I know you need time to work through your stuff with Sam. Jake knows that too, I told him he should just give you space if that's what you want. But the guy's just trying to be there for you, sis. That's all."

"He wants too much," Leah insisted.

"He's willing to take whatever you want to give him. I know Jacob, he'd never force anything to happen. That's not the type of guy he is Leah."

"I just want to be left alone okay. He'd be better off without me. I can't do this."

"Leah…" Seth groaned. "Would it hurt you to talk to him? You need someone who can relate!"

"Don't 'Leah' me! I've made up my mind. I can't be friends with him right now. I can't be anything to anyone."

"Okay…I'll tell him." Her brother's defeated tone made her feel bad but Leah pushed the feeling of guilt aside. She had to keep her head on straight. She needed to focus on herself.

"Thanks, night Seth."

"Night."

Leah was convinced she was right to end things with Jacob before they got complicated. He was too nice and too ready for something she couldn't give him. Men and women just couldn't be friends once there was a slight attraction between them. It didn't make sense pretending that he didn't want more when he obviously couldn't hide it. Jacob was just blinded by his attraction to her. Because she liked him Leah was certain that he didn't deserve to be with someone who was so messed up in the head right now. She was doing him a favor.

He'd get over her quickly, Leah was sure of that.