God you guys are just so great! I really appreciate your reviews! And that you love this little fic as much as I do! Only two more chapters after this and then the epilogue though. I really wanted to write more, been trying, but the words are just not coming so it is what it is! I have two other fics I wrote but abandoned before this so I hope to get back to finishing those at least. Thanks again for reading! I love you guys!

I do not own Twilight

NINETEEN

They decided to go for pizza, choosing the largest table so that everyone could fit. Billy had come along sans Julie. Nessie sat in between her two fathers, with Bella and Leah on the opposite side, facing their partners. Leah could easily see the differences between the two men beyond the physical. Edward focused more on preventing messes and ensuring Nessie kept clean and ate her food, he corrected her grammar and spoke gently. Jacob on the other hand, goofed off at every given moment, making her smile with straw teeth and making funny faces and loud voices. One could say he was more like a clownish big brother. But to anyone truly watching the bonding take place, it was obvious that Jacob was the apple in Nessie's eye. Leah felt satisfied in that, hoping that Bella would see it for herself and realize that she couldn't really separate them and expect her daughter to thrive.

"So how long have you been seeing Jake?"

Leah turned to her right to look at the woman who was patting the grease from her lips. "Not long. We met in September."

"How?"

"Well, he stopped and helped me fix my car at the side of the road and realized that I was Seth's sister."

"You're Seth's sister?" Bella confirmed, clearly surprised.

"Yes."

"Aren't you married to some money man?"

"We're divorced now."

"Ah, sorry."

Leah snorted. "I'm not." Why would she when she had a man like Jacob Black?

"So you're serious about Jake then."

"Yes. Quite. If it were up to him we'd be married by now, which is crazy I know but Jacob seems to always know exactly what he wants," Leah gushed, smiling over at her love. He'd been quietly listening to the conversation, his hand absently stroking Nessie's head while she chatted with Edward and Billy about her future puppy. He smiled and winked at her in response, with a loving look on his gorgeous face that made Leah's bones tingle.

"So soon?" Bella's face was masked in surprise and doubt as she looked over at Jacob.

"Yeah, but you know what it's like though, right Bells?" Jacob joked, giving Bella one of his winning smiles. It was clear that he was referring to Bella's rushed marriage with Edward, but Leah knew he wasn't trying to offend.

Bella rolled her eyes and snorted. "Yes I do know, but my situation wasn't the same. I knew Edward for years."

"You knew him as kids, not as an adult," Jacob snapped back quickly.

"Still-" Bella started, ready to argue but Edward quickly interrupted. "Love?"

He flashed her a smile and nodded toward Nessie who was watching everything going on.

Bella took a deep breath and smiled sweetly at the table. "Well, I'm happy for you Jake, you deserve to be with someone who can give you their all." She sat back with a sense of self-satisfaction that made Leah's blood boil.

Jacob's expression sobered at the dig, and he nodded in acknowledgment of her well-wishes, his eyes falling to the table.

Incensed at the way Bella seemed to cause Jacob to shrink, Leah couldn't help but jump in with her own two cents in support of her man. "Well it certainly isn't hard to give him my all Bella - Jacob's amazing. He's so sweet and fun, and his devotion to his family never ceases to amaze me. He'd do anything for Nessie or Billy, and I love that about him."

"Stop trying to sell him to me Leah, I've known him all my life. I know Jacob's great - I know that better than you! That was never a question in my mind," Bella retorted hotly.

"No need to get offensive Bella, you wanted to know about our relationship and I answered. It's serious, yes. And it really doesn't matter how long we've been together, we're happy." Leah said matter-of-factly, faking a tone of sweetness for Nessie's sake. This really wasn't a conversation to have in front of the little girl anyways, and by the look on Billy's face, Leah knew he was thinking the same thing.

"And we are more than happy for you both," Edward said smoothly, still trying to push his olive branch between Bella and everyone else. Leah almost pitied him if he was bound to such a duty for the rest of his life. She wondered if Bella was always like this or just around Jacob.

Bella pouted and focused her attention on her daughter. "Nessie, sweetie? Ready to go now? Edward wants to take us shopping!"

Nessie's eyes brightened as she turned to her biological father. "Can we get the puppy today?"

"Uh, not yet my love. I was thinking we could go to a music store and see if you'd like to try an instrument?" Edward replied, running his hand lovingly over her curls. Leah watched as Jacob shifted uncomfortably and brushed her foot against his as a show of solidarity.

Nessie pouted, an act which made her look just like her mother, seemingly confused by the suggestion.

"Edward plays the piano marvelously, we were wondering if Nessie might have a musical talent as well." Bella explained proudly.

"Knowing my girl, she'll want the drums," Jacob joked and he and Nessie immediately started banging on the table together.

Bella sighed, clearly at her wits end. "Jacob, please."

Jacob stopped and raised his hands in peace. "Sorry. Ness, I'll see you on Monday after school honey. You enjoy your weekend with Mommy and Edward okay? You can always call me before bed and I'll tuck you in."

"On the phone Daddy?" Nessie giggled.

"Yeap, I'll make sure you're snug in bed then Eddie here will read you a story. How's that sound?" Jacob asked. Leah's heart broke as she could tell how hard it was for Jacob to fake it. She loved and admired him so much more in that moment, knowing he'd do anything for his daughter, blood or not.

"Alright Daddy."

Leah noticed Edward sigh in relief.

"Have fun shopping, try not to buy the entire store okay?" Billy joked.

Nessie giggled but then launched herself on her father's lap hugging him tightly around the neck. "Can you come Daddy?" she begged, apparently no longer willing to go without Jacob.

Bella sighed and stood abruptly from the table, her patience clearly done for the afternoon. Edward rose too. "Bella, love, let's wait by the car." He reached for her hand and turned to the table. "It was a pleasure meeting you all. I look forward to doing this again sometime."

"Nice to meet you too Edward," Leah reached out and shook his hand, ignoring his glowering wife.

"See you around," Billy called nonchalantly, sipping on his water.

Solemnly, Jacob stood with his daughter in his arms and carried her out to the car himself.

"I'll go pay the bill," Leah offered, "be right back Billy." Today had been progressive but they still had a long way to go. This was clearly a battle to win Nessie's loyalty more than her affection. Leah was glad that Jacob still carried the upper hand at least. He was the one with the most to lose and he needed these small victories to make it through the next six months.

…..

Jacob drove her Mercedes back to his house to drop Billy off and grab a few items of clothing. Leah waited in the car while he got his father settled and then they went over to her place. As she waited she called her mother and Seth just to say hello.

"So…. What are we going to do about this temper of yours? It's obvious now that it's worse than mine," Leah started as soon as they got back to her house.

"Uh…yeah. Dad calls it my inner wolf."

"You've got to learn not to let 'the wolf' get out so easily Jake. It's only making this worse for you. Bella's really had it and you don't want her to take you to court – or worse, get a restraining order. At least, not until you've got your own lawyer sorted out."

Jacob grimaced as he grabbed a beer from the fridge.

"But Edward seems like a genuinely nice guy, I think that makes this easier. He truly cares for Nessie, you've got to give him a chance."

"But he's so stiff, so straight-laced, it's annoying. Nessie's a kid not a grown up, she doesn't need to be perfect," Jacob whined.

"No one needs to be perfect. Teaching her how to be a little lady isn't bad. She can learn to be fun and carefree and still have good manners Jacob."

"So you're saying I'm doing a bad job?"

Leah rolled her eyes. "Stop it. You know I'm not, you're the king of her heart, no one can make her love you any less. You just have to allow her to develop a relationship with Edward."

"I AM. I'M the one who convinced her he was okay to be around. I'M the one saying nice things about those two so she'll spend time with them! Bella's acting like a spoiled bitch. She's not the same person anymore and quite frankly it's driving me nuts. Nessie's going to change too, I can feel it."

Leah went over and wrapped her arms around his waist while he took a swig and set the bottle on the counter so he could hug her back. She eyed the bottle wearily but sighed in relief when she felt him relax in her arms. "You just need to relax and take this day by day, please? For me? And Ness? Just try Jake. I hate seeing you like this. I hate feeling like I have to walk on eggshells when you get upset."

"I'm trying but Rome wasn't built in a day," he grumbled, then pulled her chin up so that they were facing each other. "But I promise I won't hurt you again Lee. I don't want you to be scared of me ever again. How about this? From now on, no more bottled beer in our houses, okay?" he grinned and she couldn't help but smile back.

"Okay." Leah reached up and kissed him on the lips, tasting the bitter tang of the ale.

"Thank you for handling things between us today. I know I shouldn't have made a scene, but just the thought of Nessie crying herself to sleep made me lose it. I'm so lucky to have you Lee."

"You're welcome. I loved sticking up for you actually. Those two are a lot to deal with, especially her."

"You know, I seem to recall you promising me something if I was a good boy?" Jacob wiggled his eyebrows with a cheesy grin.

Leah giggled and nodded. "That's right, come on." She led him up the stairs to her bedroom suite and spent the rest of the night giving Jacob Black multiple reasons to behave.

…..

Waking up together two days in a row was bliss. Leah and Jacob decided to have a lazy day together, forego soccer, and then cook dinner and carry it over to eat with Billy. Leah couldn't remember the last time she'd spent the day in bed with Sam, making love at will, touching and teasing, talking about a future life.

"Where do you see yourself in five years?" she asked Jacob, while stroking his arm and leaning against his chest. They were now having a bath, which had become Jacob's favorite couple's activity apart from sex.

"Hmm, I dunno. Richer…less stressed. I'd like to move back home but I don't know how I'd do that with Dad and all."

"You could always hire someone to run the shop and get him full time care. You could see him on the weekends."

"I guess. But I need to bring in some accounts first. I was thinking of applying to a few places, yuh know, construction companies, car dealerships. They could hire us to fix their vehicles for a good price. We just need more than drop-ins and the few loyal customers we've scrounged over time."

"How about expanding to customizing? That seems to make a lot of money?"

"Hmmm, I'd have to take out a loan and the bank doesn't want to give me more money. I would need more space and lots of equipment."

Leah paused for a beat before saying, "I could give you the money…"

"Leeeee…" Jacob sighed. "I couldn't do that and you know it."

"Well, if I'm your wife you'd have no choice."

"Oh so you'll marry me to force me to take money?" Jacob teased.

"Well it would be ours. If we sold the house we'd get a couple million."

"MILLION?"

Leah laughed. "YES Jacob! Why do you think I got it in the settlement? Sam knows I can sell it for the money. He didn't give me anything otherwise. What was mine stayed mine, what was his, stayed his."

"Oh. Shit…so you're a millionaire then."

"No, but I could be if I sell. I do alright at the practice, I've got a good savings set up. Do you?"

"Uh….I've got life insurance so Nessie will be okay?"

"That's not bad, but you should have a savings too."

"I don't usually have money to save Leah. It literally passes through my fingers."

"We can change all of that Jacob, if you trust me. I can help you. Donna's a great accountant. She can give you sound advice on managing the auto-shop so that money will actually stay in your hands."

"Serious?"

"Yes. Let me do this for you, please? You deserve to have a business that actually benefits you. Don't you think?"

Jacob sighed. "Yeah…it's what I want. Sometimes I feel like I work like a dog and I have nothing to show for it."

Leah nodded. She knew. "I'll call Donna and set it up, so just make sure you get all your files in order."

"Errr. I'll talk to Embry. He usually handles that stuff."

Leah chuckled. "Alright, I guess I'LL talk to Embry and get him ready then. I can help sort everything." Leah figured the office was a mess. Jacob didn't have a secretary that she knew of. The shop clearly needed to be run like a legitimate business if it was to grow.

"Thank you for caring Leah. I love you."

"I love you too Jacob."

"You've made my life so much better, you know that?" he whispered into her ear before kissing her lobe.

"I feel the same way." She wrapped his arms around her chest and sighed.

"I can't wait to marry you and make a baby. That's a huge part of my five-year-plan by the way."

Leah's eyes widened in shock and she turned around to look at him. The teasing smile did nothing to hide the sincerity and desire in his eyes. It made her want to weep but instead she pressed her lips to his and allowed herself to believe that with Jacob, anything was possible.