I do not own Twilight

ELEVEN

Donna met Leah for lunch at a deli two blocks from work. She was doing the books that day and Leah had a cancellation so they took advantage of the extra thirty minutes to have some seafood.

"So how are things with you lately? You seem good, you look good."

"I've started seeing someone." Leah admitted with a blush.

"WHAT! Who?" Donna squealed.

"The mechanic from the club?"

"OH MY GAWD! NO!"

"Yes," Leah giggled at Donna's excitement.

"Leah, stop! Are you for real?"

"Totally. It's recent. We've just been hanging out as friends but last night I told him I'm ready for it to be more."

"Didn't you just sign the papers with Sam though?" Donna asked, her face tinged with concern.

"Yes, and Jacob's been there for me through this. Last night he came to be with me and I didn't realize how much I needed him. He's a good friend and I know he'll be a wonderful boyfriend. He's just so kind and honest. He really cares about me, I never have to second guess that he's invested in us."

"Wow, does he have any friends? I could use me one of them." Donna joked as she ate her shrimp pasta.

"He does actually, a whole bunch. My brother actually plays soccer with them every week. I had no idea."

"That's nice, so it's like 'all in the family' already."

"Yeah."

"Well I'm really happy for you Lee. You deserve it. I mean, I never thought Sam would do this to you, so I am glad you found someone who will treat you better – I hope."

"Yeah. Sometimes I still get scared but it's all in my head right now. Jacob has been great."

"As long as you remain strong for you Leah. Don't forget that part."

"I won't. I am."

"Then I hope we can get together so I can meet him soon too – and his friends."

Leah raised her juice in agreement. "Noted."

When Leah got back to the office there was a single red rose waiting for her on her desk.

Thinking of you -JB

Was the note attached. She smiled and picked up the phone to call Jacob, holding the flower to her nose.

"I got your note and the rose, it's lovely Jake."

"Not as lovely as my girl though." Leah could hear his smile through the phone.

"I can't wait to see you later," She admitted, biting her lip as she remembered their make-out session the night before.

"Me too honey. You're all I can think about, literally. I'm driving myself nuts over here looking at cars when I really want to be looking at you."

Leah giggled like a school girl. Only Jacob Black could make her act so silly. "Well, I'll be counting down the hours til we can both do what we want."

"It's a date honey. See you soon." The husky promise in his voice made Leah tingle.

"Bye Jake."

Leah put her phone away, feeling all warm inside. She buzzed in her next patient and got back to the task of cleaning teeth with a huge smile on her face.

Despite having spent time with Jacob and his daughter before, Leah knew she shouldn't be nervous, but she was because she was also meeting Jake's father.

That evening she chose a simple pair of boyfriend jeans that hung low on her waist and a white long sleeved t-shirt with Chanel in gold lettering. With a pair of simple gold hoops and a pair of white canvas shoes, she felt like she could impress without being overdressed.

When she came home from work she'd seen about baking a whole chicken and a macaroni pie that was to win Nessie's favor. At Jake's she would do the salad and some green beans. Truthfully she wanted to spend time with the family, not cooking.

She packed up the car, being careful not to forget her mother's cookie recipe that she'd emailed earlier. Sue had been quick to ask Leah about her new love interest, if she was being careful. Leah of course shut it down, promising her mother to let her know how things went.

She arrived at the Black residence easy enough, the directions from Jake being simple and precise to follow. The house was small, likely three bedroom two bath, but it was clean and well kept. It was painted a sunny yellow with green and brown trim which added to its charm.

Jacob came out before Leah could pop the trunk and sprinted over, scooping her up in his arms for a hug. Leah squealed in surprise. "Jake! What are you doing?"

"Telling my girl hello, what does it look like?" he quickly planted a kiss to her lips before letting go, with a glance at the door where Nessie could appear at any moment.

"Your girl huh?" Leah teased, really liking the sound of that.

"Yeah, get used to it. You can't get rid of me now Uley."

Leah cringed and faltered for a moment before closing the trunk.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it's just…I think it's time to change my name back to Clearwater, whenever someone calls me Uley I feel a little sick to my stomach."

Jacob nodded with understanding. "Maybe you should keep it honey, just so you won't have to change it twice."

"What?" Leah asked as she followed him up the path to the door.

Jacob wiggled his eyebrows. "Oh you know what I mean. Just think about it."

It took Leah a moment before she fully grasped what Jacob was implying and it made the hair on her skin raise. Surely he couldn't mean?

"I'm not talking about next week or anything, relax, but if in a year's time you're still by my side, don't be surprised when I pop the question. That's all I'm saying."

He had the nerve to just go on about his task of unpacking the food as if he hadn't just promised to propose in a year. Leah would never get used to Jacob's inability to not be totally honest – or blindside her almost daily with his affections. And did he seriously NOT understand what taking it slow meant? Sam had been the complete opposite, saying little, expressing nothing, yet he too had been good at being charming when he needed to be.

"You're incorrigible," she finally said with a huff, already knowing it was pointless to reprimand Jacob for talking about marriage the day after they were officially a couple.

"You like it." He confirmed with a confident wink which prompted Leah to smile but roll her eyes at the same time.

"I hope you don't mind that I cooked already, I just didn't want to take away from our evening. I'll just need to steam the beans and chop the salad." She was unpacking her things at the kitchen counter, noting how small and cozy the room was with bright white cupboards and pale yellow walls.

"It was a good call, I want some time alone with you before you leave anyways." He rested his hands on her hips and leaned in to kiss Leah's neck. "You smell good honey. I think I know what I want for dinner instead."

Leah shivered violently as her nipples instantly hardened in response. Yes, he had the power to take her breath away when she least expected. He was good. Leah turned and looked at him, knowing there was hunger in her eyes. Jacob leaned in and gently sucked and bit her bottom lip before nuzzling her ear again.

"That was a line, by the way," he whispered before backing away with a satisfied smirk on his face. Leah chased him down with the dish towel and swatted him a few times as she giggled uncontrollably. "I warned you didn't I? I told you wouldn't know when it was a line!" he laughed in response to her attack.

"You snake!" Leah shot back.

"You fell right into my trap. I felt it when you shivered, Clearwater."

Leah blushed at how he used her maiden name and called her out on her horny shiver at the same time. This man was really impossible. And wonderful. Jacob made her feel wanted and beautiful and sexy and happy all at the same time. Yes, she didn't want to be scared of him, her feelings for him.

"Daddy?" Nessie was standing in the doorway, staring at the two of them.

"Hey Ness, look who's here, and she brought you mac n cheese and the recipe for cookies," Jacob said lovingly, holding his arms out for his daughter to join them. Leah would never tire of the adoration written all over his face.

"Hi Nessie, how are you sweetie, can I have a hug hello?" Leah bent low but the little girl walked right past her and into Jacob's arms.

"Ness, that wasn't very nice? Leah wanted to greet you." Jacob looked up at Leah, fear and worry in his eyes. Had they been seen being too friendly with one another? Leah knew they should have set boundaries until the child knew they were seeing each other. She'd been too careless and distracted by Jacob's affections.

"I'm not hungry," Nessie mumbled into her father's gray t-shirt.

"What? Course you are, we need to have dinner. Leah cooked for us. She came to bake cookies and meet Papa."

"I don't want to bake cookies with her! I want to bake cookies with Mommy!" Nessie screamed before bolting through the kitchen and down the hall.

Jacob grimaced and went to Leah, who was standing there in shock. "Lee, she does this sometimes. I promise it's not you. You didn't do anything wrong, she chooses the worst times to demand Bella's presence, that's all."

"I don't want to hurt her Jake. We don't know what she saw."

"I know honey, I know. I'll go talk to her, you can finish up dinner okay, just make yourself at home. I'll send Dad out to keep you company."

Leah nodded and accepted the warm hug and kiss that Jacob offered before he disappeared down the hall too. Moments later the sound of a squeaky wheel distracted Leah from the swirl of panicked thoughts rushing through her head.

"Good evening Miss Clearwater, welcome," Billy held out his hands to her and Leah went over and allowed him to plant a kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you Mr. Black, it's so nice to meet you."

"Call me Billy my dear, and it's nice to meet you too. My son can't stop talking about you, so now I can make up my mind for myself."

Leah blanched at the comment for a moment before going back to her beans on the stove. "Okay, well I hope I don't disappoint."

"No, I'm sure you won't he's said very nice things as has Nessie."

Leah sighed and shook her head. "Is she okay?"

"She'll be fine, don't worry. The fact that you care makes me know already that you're good for my son."

Leah smiled. "I care about them both, not just him."

"Thank you, it's what Jacob needs. He's been alone for too long. Even when he was married, it wasn't a happy union. Bella never loved my son the way he deserved. She used his kind heart and took what she needed."

Leah nodded, having already figured as much. "I have no desire to be dishonest with Jacob."

"I hope not."

"I want to be happy, and I want to make him happy. You can trust me Billy. I don't want to hurt him, ever. The thought of that makes me sick to my stomach. He's been through so much…"

"He has, and I'm afraid it isn't over yet. He has a long battle ahead of him when Bella returns."

"I'll be here."

Leah couldn't imagine being anywhere else.