A/N: Ok, so as Karji pointed out in her lovely (& threatening) PM, it has been almost 6 months since I updated this last. That is some sad shiat, & I'm sorry! I love this story. Hard. I told callmechloe a few weeks ago that I was trying to write as many chapters of this story as possible so I could get them out asap. I am trying to do that, things are a little hectic right now but I do want to try and wrap this story up over the next month or two.

Leah sat in the now familiar window seat, a stack of books placed at her side. She propped herself up in the quiet corner, her knees bent upwards, as she adjusted the large, satin cushion behind her. This routine was how she had spent her last two days. The books were nothing more than decoration, though. She would open them with the intention of losing herself to a fantasy world, but each time, before the end of the first paragraph, her mind wandered into thoughts of recent events.

If she was lucky, they were thoughts of the pain Jacob had caused her. Thoughts of him breaking his promise, of falling for another one of Bella's lies. Of him not caring enough about her to be stronger, to fight whatever it was that he had left her for, days earlier. They were painful, sure, but she could handle that level of pain.

If she was unlucky, they were thoughts of Sam. Revolting thoughts, accompanied by a tightening of her chest and the burning of bile sitting in her oesophagus. The worst part was the speculating. Though the bruises had almost completely healed, she could still see every one of them clearly on her skin. They were a map. A map that she would follow, knowing that she would never get the answers that she deserved. Unfortunately, that was where her mind usually wandered, because the act itself was mere minutes, but the effect would torture her whenever she allowed herself more than a minute of peace.

She would never be able to enjoy 'peace' again. He took that from her. He took everything. But she knew Sam was just a puppet. Bella's puppet. And she would make sure Bella got her 'peace'. She would make sure Bella was resting in it.

"Leah?" Edward asked, as if he had calling out to her a few times already. Maybe he had. She pulled herself from her daze and glanced upwards to see a look of concern on his face as he stood above her. He was holding a mug of something she could smell before she even saw its contents. It was that shitty chamomile tea he had been forcing her to drink in the hopes she would sleep.

"It's not helping, Edward...but, ah, thanks." She took the mug from his hands anyway and he smiled, moving her legs slightly to make room for himself. He placed one of his hands gently on her knees and she shivered slightly. He didn't remove it, though. He was trying to get her used to his touch; he had been trying since her small meltdown only two nights earlier.

She stretched her legs out in front of her, leaving Edward's hand lingering in the air before he dropped it with a quiet, but defeated sigh. She kept her focus on the golden liquid in the mug that was now burning her hands, but flashed her eyes apologetically to him so quickly she was certain he missed it.

But he wasn't giving up.

She saw two, pale hands wrap themselves around her own caramel fingers, spreading them and removing the cup from her. He placed it on the floor as he stood up and now offered her his hand. She took it, standing hesitantly as he helped her up by running his finger tips along her shoulders and stopping at the slope of her waist.

For a moment they were pressed against one another, his large cool hands holding the broken pieces of herself together. Then his body shifted and he asked her to trust him with his eyes, as he took the seat she had previously occupied. He held on to her hand tightly, and pulled her towards him. She shook her head, but he tugged at her hand once again, insisting upon it. She scowled in frustration. Frustration with herself, that this was more difficult than it should be, and frustration with Edwards's insistence that she comply.

But she liked it.

He knew it. All she really need right now was for someone to watch over her, to keep her company and distract her from her thoughts. All she wanted was her Jacob, but three days had passed and the only person who had been there for her was Edward. The only person she could rely on in the world, had somehow become Edward Cullen.

And so she took his hand, and she squeezed herself on to the seat beside him. He repositioned her gently, like she was a fragile porcelain doll, sliding his arm around her waist in support so she could relax herself into him. He then ran his fingers lightly over her head and guided it towards his chest. She lifted her legs herself, finding comfort in his slight, but strong frame, holding her so closely. Holding her together.

His fingertips moved lightly through her hair and slowly began to relax into his body. She could tell he was happy, as she heard the smile in his voice as he spoke.

"Do you want me to read to you?"

"No, thank you."

"Do you want me to sing to you, maybe? I don't just play the piano you know."

"No, I'm fine."

"Then what would you like me to do?"

"Just hold me. And don't leave me, please? Don't hurt me, ever. It's so exhausting being in this much pain, and I don't think I could take much more of it. Stay with me? And help me through this, and don't rush me. I need to do things in my own time."

She said it all so fast that her words didn't start to sink in until it was too late. She was met by a heavy silence. The weight of his answer meaning more to her than she realized. It was rare for her to expose herself in such a way but she really had almost nothing to lose now, thanks to Bella Swan.

Edwards hand ran along her neck, tilting her head so he could look into her eyes. He leant forward and kissed her softly and she let herself enjoy it. No, he wasn't Jacob, but he was here, and he was showing her that he cared enough about her to help her through this. The least she could do was to let herself fall for him just a little.

She returned the kiss, extending herself to lean into it further, but he made sure to pull away first. A sign of respect, as per her request to not be rushed. She appreciated it. She appreciated him. She wasn't ready to feel the way she knew he wanted her too about him, but she could at least let him feel that way about her, and with time...who knows.

She returned her head to his chest, placing a hand on his stomach as her ear rested just above his heart. The steady drumbeat was melodic, and with each evenly spaced beat, she sunk further into him. She began drifting closer to sleep, and in Edwards comforting arms, it didn't seem as terrifying as it usually did. And so she indulged, as she slipped into unconsciousness for the first time in days.

Leah sat in the front seat of her father's old pick up, awaiting her first ever driving lesson. She was only twelve, and barely able to reach the pedals, but she had asked himwith those big black eyes of hers in that way that she knew he was unable to say no to.

And so they sat, while he ran over the basics and she tried to concentrate on his words rather than the keys that were tempting her, dangling from the ignition.

"Alright, Lele, off you go."

He smiled at her excitment. The large, empty field meant she could navigate her way around with minimal chance of causing any sort of accident and she took advantage, her foot heavy on the accelerator.

"Whoa! Slow down there, Lee. Why are you running away?" He asked.

Her eyes darted between him and the green grass ahead. "I'm not running. I've just detoured from the road I was going to take."

"He can't be trusted."

"You don't even know him, dad."

"Neither do you."

"I know he can take care of me."

"I raised you with more strength than to rely on some boy to take care of you. When you start depending on them, you invest too much of yourself, and look where it gets you. Look at Jacob."

Leah was suddenly in the middle of the busiest highway she had ever been on. Two large trucks blocked both her left and right lanes, locking her into place.

"I'm stuck, but I need to go, now. I need to overtake."

Her hands started shaking on the wheel, causing the car to swerve just inches from the surrounding trucks. Her blood suddenly ran cold as she realized the severity of the situation she was now thrown into.

"You need to get out of here." Harry instructed, calmly.

"But I can't! I can't drive, I'm only twelve. How did you let this happen? How did you let me end up here, alone?"

"You did this yourself. You let this happen. But you can change it..."

She let go of the steering wheel, and took her foot off the pedal, but the car only moved faster.

"How?" She screamed, hysterically, "How dad?"

Harry's head turned slowly towards her, but he didn't make eye contact. He was looking over her head, behind her.

"He's been lying to you, Leah. Go ahead and ask him why."

And then she felt the impact of the car in front as everything went a bright white.

"Leah, LEAH!" Edwards fingers were gripping at her arms, as he tried to shake her out of her dream. She forced her eyes open, feeling the tears that streaked her cheeks, and was about to tell Edward she was fine, before she noticed that something was wrong. Edward was whispering, and his face was whiter than usual.

"What is it?" She whispered back, her voice matching his own volume. And then she heard it. There was a heavy knocking at the front door of the Cullen family's cottage. Heavy and urgent. She started to panic as she tried to figure out who it could be. Sam? No, there was no way. Bella? It was too loud to be coming from her.

"Could it be Emmett?" She asked, knowing the answer was no before she finished her question. He had a key, Rose had a key. Neither one would be knocking. Edward shook his head before turning towards her, his arms at her sides, as he gestured for her to hide in the bedroom.

"No," She whispered defiantly "I'm staying here, with you."

He looked at her disapprovingly, but she could tell he didn't have time to argue. He looked genuinely scared of whoever was behind the door and didn't seem to have any plan other than to stand frozen in place until they went away.

But she was sick of hiding.

"Fuck this." She said, as her feet pulled her forward.

"No, Leah, wait!"

But it was too late. Her hands had unlocked the door in seconds and she pulled it open, only to barely catch a glimpse of Jacobs face, before feeling his whole body wrapped around her. He was pushing her backwards, as he tried to hug her tighter, almost breaking her in his arms.

"Leah." He whimpered, his lips on her forehead, his arms running up and down her back, her shoulders, everywhere he could touch, as if he didn't believe she was real.

She was stunned.

"Jake?"

"God, I've looked everywhere. I've been looking everywhere, for days and days. I haven't slept, I was just, I was so worried about you. No one would tell me anything and then Paul, and then..." He pulled her into him once again, his lips kissing at the top of her head just as he had done before he disappeared on her.

She pulled back, confused. "You were looking for me? You didn't ask Seth where I was?"

"He didn't know. I asked him, as well as everyone on the Reservation. I asked everyone in Forks too, strangers even. No one knew where you were!"

"But, Rose knew. You didn't think to ask her?"

"She didn't - Leah, Rose has no idea that you're here."

"But, I mean, she's been in contact with Edward this whole time. She has been updating him with news about Charlie and..."

Leah stopped as she saw Jacob look over her shoulder and snarl. "He's been lying to you, Leah."

She was hit with a wave of déjà vu as she remembered the dream she had almost already forgotten.

"What? No. Edward has been taking care of me Jake."

But Jacob's face was serious.

"He's been lying to you, Leah," He repeated, "Go ahead and ask him why."

She turned slowly to face Edward, and was greeted with a smirk.