Disclaimer: Twilight isn't mine and none of the characters are mine - I'm just borrowing them.
Author's note: This chapter may not be as good as want it to be, because I can't write happy moods very well, so please tell me what you think. I would have plowed straight ahead with the story, but it wouldn't have given enough weight to the events that follow.
Love and Pain Go Hand in Hand
Leah's POV
Chapter 4 ~ Together forever
I often considered how unreasonable I had been and how, even though I said to Jacob that I had wanted to forget my feelings for Sam, I still loved him too much to let go. I had loved him too much and yet always too little - I loved him too much so I couldn't let go, too little to make any difference to his choice. I lived with him, blind to the tales and legends of the Quileutes and yet putting too much trust in them - I never listened to the stories detailing the strength of an imprint as they always spoke of its rarity. So difficult were those times and so long they lasted, I didn't want to think about them, but to not think was to deny the longest period of my life ever existed.
But it mattered less and less with the passing of each day; I had Harry now.
Harry and I were now inseparable; so much so that it hurt even to go to different places to eat. This was a lot stronger than any other imprint ever seen or spoken of in legend and I acknowledged the luck of it - had it been any weaker, I doubted I would have been fully healed of the wounds inflicted by the beginning of the werewolves.
We often ended up walking on the beach, hand in hand, like the scene I had witnessed between Sam and Emily so many years ago. This scene was one I obviously preferred. I couldn't believe I had put off all of these special moments, all of these precious memories that wouldn't exist without Harry. I had been so obtuse and what had it done? Nothing but cause me more pain.
It was on the beach that I normally dwelt on such things, but not that day. That day, Harry had looked rather over-excited at something, the light in his eyes betraying his calm exterior mask. I had no idea what that was about and decided that he must be excited about something in his family that I didn't know about. Though, the rez was so small, that was unlikely, but anything else was preposterous. It wasn't like we knew each other extremely well, despite the connection we had - the ability to read Harry's face quickly was a gift I was so glad to have.
The glint in his eyes never relented in the walk to the beach and he was practically bouncing all the way. It was so unexpected I started to wonder what was coming next - a breakdance, including a back-flip into a cartwheel then a windmill?
"Harry? Are you OK?" I had to ask on more than one occasion; in return, a reproaching look before we walked on again. I even thought over what he had eaten to see if he was hyperactive, strange as it was in a nineteen, nearly twenty year old.
We finally got to the beach, where I hoped this mystery would be solved - or I'd force it out of him in some way.
The evening was starting to get cool and people were heading home after their day at the beach. Harry and I were the only ones actually arriving and the sense of isolation on arrival at the beautiful beach was incredible.
"Will you tell me yet?" I asked, whilst Harry tried to create a driftwood fire in the half-light.
"What's to say I didn't want a nice evening with you at the beach?" he answered cheekily, getting his matches out.
"That look in your eye," I replied. Then Harry, very immaturely, started giggling. He was worse than Emmett at times. And now I was comparing my one and only to a vampire. That shows how dramatically Harry had changed my moods.
With him in this mood, I wasn't even going to mention that he looked excited.
"So, what is it?" I asked again, as we sat on the logs. He wasn't very warm so I snuggled closer to him, wrapping one arm around his waist.
"Nothing," he replied, quickly. Too quickly.
"So why are you keeping it from me?"
"I'm not keeping anything from you," he said in mock offence.
"Uh-huh. Right. Why are you trying to stop laughing?" His body was rocking with a silent laughter and his grin could have been used for a lighthouse.
"I'm not!"
"Of course not, darling. What are we here for?"
"Will you stop it with the questions, please? I only wanted a little peace and quiet with you, and here you are, second-guessing everything! Can't I just have a spontaneous and very romantic moment?"
I stared at him for a minute, before opting to follow his plan - whatever he wants to say, he'll say it. Annoying as it may be, he just wants to be nice.
We sat for a long time, very comfortable in one another's presence, just watching the sunset as the colours played across the sky. We had talked about travelling lately, and discussed where to go and what to see and whether to avoid anywhere that vampires may appear - he was arguing against that, but I sure as hell wasn't going to let him be wolf with me. We had half of our route planned by the end of the night, but if we went everywhere we wanted to go, it would take several years.
"Is there anything you want to do before we go?" I asked. I could tell this was what he had been hiding from me because he shifted uncomfortably and nervously as I said it.
"Well...um...yes...actually. I...well, I was wondering...if...if..." He trailed off. His nervousness, though unfounded, was keeping him back.
"It can't be that difficult to say, Harry. Come on. You know I won't be able to resist it, whatever it is. So, just say it." I watched as the set of his face became more certain and confident as I said it.
"Well, do you...will you marry me?" he asked in a rush.
I gasped. This was the secret? This was what he kept from me? Marriage?
"How could you think I'd say no?" I whispered through the happy tears that welled up in my eyes.
He beamed, his whole face lit up and glowing with a ferocious happiness. We whiled away the hours in a passion.
