She Loves Me, She Loves Him?

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters but the greatest form of flattery is imitation.

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After dropping Seth off at his home Embry makes the silent drive home his mind a hazy fog of thoughts, feelings and memories. Taking in a deep breath he tries to calm himself suddenly realizing that his whole body is shaking and wonders if he was shaking like this when he dropped Seth off. Leaning his head back he stares at the ceiling of the car, Jacob's car, the car 'he' had given to Leah. Taking a couple of slow deep breaths Embry gets out the car and trudges slowly up to the door praying to God that his mother is asleep. Cursing silently Embry walks in and sees his mother sitting in the kitchen staring at the phone. He frowns knowing that she's been waiting on his phone call to update her on Leah's condition. Embry shuts the door startling his mother who quickly jumps up and looks at him in surprise. "Embry?" Mattie calls as she quickly walks towards him. "Embry is everything alright? How's Leah? Is she, is she? Oh God." Embry feels guilt well up inside him as tears starts to well up in her eyes.

"No, no, no. Mom she's okay." Embry says quickly snatching his mother into a tight hug. "Leah's alright. Sue said that she's practically healed – just her back is still a small issue." Embry explains gently rocking her back and forth. Leah had finally had enough of Embry arguing with his mother about his late nights and sudden disappearances. For years Embry held out on telling his Mom the truth about his wolf transformation fearing that she would tell him who his father was. But with Leah by his side he finally told her the truth and even though she asked him he declined on accepting the knowledge of who his father is or was. Leah had come to mean a lot to his mother – like the daughter she never had.

"So she'll be okay?" Mattie asks with a smile on her face and Embry nods his head. "Well that's a load off my mind. So are you hungry?" Mattie asks heading towards the kitchen. Embry frowns slightly at his mother's reaction. Over the years she's learned how to just move past the things that a normal person would dwell on – in a way she was letting go of everything she couldn't control and just accepted them. Probably a result from his father leaving her to continue his perfect life with his perfect wife and – he won't finish the thought. Embry often asked Leah if his mother's reaction to things was healthy or something that he should worry about. Leah only shrugged her shoulders and in her usual manner responded back with, 'hell if I know but she ain't bitchin' out so why sweat it?'

"No." Embry says and without another word head directly towards his room.

"Embry?" Mattie calls behind him and with a groan Embry falls on his bed the springs groaning under his weight. "Embry what's the matter, dear?" Mattie asks as she stands outside his room. She can't help but chuckle lightly as Embry mumbles something into his pillow – a sign he's upset. Sitting down on Embry's bed she gently rubs his back waiting for him to organize his thoughts and answer her. Things involving her son she's always had a hard time just letting go.

"Jacob's back." Embry states as he lifts his head and drops it back down again.

"Jacob? Jacob Black?" Mattie asks as her eyes widen slightly. Mattie knew that Jacob had imprinted on the Cullen child and had left with them a while ago. What she didn't understand was why Embry would be upset with his best friend's return. "Well, that's great isn't it? I'm sure he came back because he was worried about Leah, right?" Mattie watches as Embry shrugs his shoulders and nods his head answering each of her questions respectively. "So then why are you upset?" Again another muffled response. "Embry Call you will sit up and speak to your mother." Mattie states as she slaps Embry on the back ignoring the sting in her hand.

"Mom I really don't want to talk about this right now." Embry groans out as he sits up in bed.

"And what would Leah say about this attitude?" Mattie throws back with a frown although her eyes sparkle with the power the simple name holds. Mattie smiles as Embry sighs deeply and throws his legs around to sit with his mother.

"She'd tell me to suck it up and answer your damn questions." Embry mutters rubbing his face roughly.

"Alright, so now we're getting somewhere. Now what's wrong with Jacob coming back to see Leah? Didn't some of the Cullens already come back?" Embry nods his head and taking a deep breath runs his hands through his hair staring down at the floor.

"He's in love with her too." Embry states as he hangs his head, his elbows resting on his knees and his fingers intertwined on the back of his neck. Mattie frowns as she processes the short sentence and feels a slight anger well up inside of her.

"He loves Leah?" Mattie repeats skeptically.

"Yea, so he said." Embry answers his focus still on the floor.

"But, he left because he loves the Cullen child though. That's what you told me." Mattie states and Embry growls remembering the long and drawn out explanation he had to give for why Jacob Black had up and left with the rich, white kids on the other side of Forks. "Did, did you know he loved her?" Mattie asks feeling worry and concern quickly replace her anger and skepticism.

"Yes. Maybe. Possibly?" Embry whispers as he sits up fully looking down at his mother with sad eyes. "Leah, Leah told me that he asked her to go with him." Embry admits frowning and his muscles tensing. "He's apparently been in love with her for about two years now. But he left. He chose his imprint and he left. He, he can't come back and just love her…can he?" Embry asks as he feels his throat dry up and his stomach churn.

"Well Jacob can only do what Jacob feels is right." Mattie answers watching her son's face closely. "Embry look at me." Mattie asks as she gently rests a hand on Embry's cheek encouraging him to look at her. "Embry I know you love Leah. I see it on your face whenever you think about her. I hear it in your voice whenever you talk to her or about her. The last four years there's been a huge strain on our relationship and thanks to her we're close again. I have my son back." Mattie says smiling at Embry as tears well up in her eyes. "She's brought about a change that no one else was able to. Love can bring out the best in us."

"Mom?" Embry whispers as he quickly turns around and wipes his mother's tears. "Don't cry Mom. Please?"

"But in the end, Embry, there's nothing you or Jacob can do. The final decision belongs to her. Who does Leah love?" Embry looks at his mother startled by her words – was she telling him to just give up? Is he supposed to fight? Try and beat Jacob to the punch? Mattie's tears still continue to fall because she knows all to well the pain and confusion her son is feeling right now and found herself there almost 21-years ago when she found out she was pregnant with him. She loved Embry's father with all her heart but in the end it was his decision to either stay with her or go back to his home and family in La Push. How often she thought about what she could've done better, what she should've changed and was it all in the 'timing'.

"Is our timing just that off?" Embry asks with a weak smile and Mattie laughs wiping away her tears.

"I used to think so." Mattie admits still laughing as Embry gives her a hug and kisses her forehead. "But, I don't think anything is wrong with our timing."

"But, I love Leah." Embry states as he pulls his mother towards him allowing her to snuggle into his warm embrace. "But Jake's my best friend and I don't want to loose that."

"Embry do you really truly love Leah?" Mattie asks looking Embry in the eyes. "Think before you speak Embry." Mattie orders sternly as she points a finger in his face silencing his initial response. Quickly her frown becomes a smile as she kisses Embry on the cheek and gets up leaving him slightly confused.

"Mom?"

"Just think long and hard on my question, Embry. Has Leah always been like this?" Mattie asks with a knowing smile.

"She was before Sam." Embry states with a growl at the mention of Sam's name. "She's definitely more sarcastic and can be very cynical."

"What about at her worst?" Embry looks up at his mom and sighs looking away. "You never told me anything after your transformation but you did talk in your sleep a lot." Mattie laughs at her son's surprised expression. "When you're stressed or upset about something and don't want to talk about you talk it over in your sleep." Mattie admits with a sheepish grin. "You talked about Leah a lot then. She upset you quite a bit. You didn't like her – you hated her for a while. So the question is Embry do you love Leah for better and for worst? And her worst isn't the sad Leah you comfort. Good night, Embry." Mattie says as she turns off Embry's light and walks away.

"Good night, Mom." Embry calls and flops back down on his bed. Staring up at the ceiling Embry thinks over his mother's question. 'I love her now, isn't that enough? I hated the mean, bitter bitch she was after her break up with Sam but she's not like that anymore. Or is she not like that when I'm around? What side of her does Jake get to see?' These questions and more plagued Embry's mind as he tries to drift off to sleep his eyes focused on the spinning ceiling fan. Embry growls deeply as he thinks about how close he came to losing her but wasn't his anger enough to prove his love.

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The pack had been out in the wilderness for almost a week still trying to finish off the stinking leeches that had invaded their territory. Leah was already angered because two girls had already been killed and there still seemed to be at least one more left. Embry was sitting anxiously waiting for Leah to come back from her patrol so that then they could figure out who was taking the first watch. They all couldn't all fall asleep at once and as if on cue Leah walks into the small clearing pulling down her dress. "Took you long enough." Embry mumbles as Leah sits down next to him with a huge yawn.

"Whatever." Leah says wiping the sleep from her eyes.

"So I guess that means you're out for the first watch." Quil asks sitting across from the pair.

"Yea, thanks." Embry responds back before Leah can even protest. Quil salutes the pair and nudges Seth's shoulder waking him up.

"What?" Seth groans out annoyed.

"We're up first. Let's go." Quil says as Seth gets up to follow. Leah lets out another yawn as Embry pulls her close to him and she mumbles to herself. Embry smiles to himself as he lays down taking Leah with him pulling her back close to his chest.

Embry wasn't sure of how long he slept but it seemed no matter how hard he tried he couldn't wake up and it made him question whether or not he was even awake. His body craved the warmth that was suddenly gone from his stomach and chest but as much he tried to wake up he was unsuccessful. His senses seemed attuned to the entire world around him except for his sight. He felt Leah leave his side and his initial reaction was to sit up and relieve Seth and Quil from their watch, 'wait? They never did wake us up. Is it morning?' His ears picked up the light footfalls of Leah walking away. 'Shit she's wandering off by herself? Wake up, Embry!' For Embry the torture only continued as if he was in a horror flick his imagination taking over as his senses painted a picture of what was going on. He picked up a faint whiff of Ezekiel's scent coming from the same direction Leah went. 'At least she's not alone.' But then his nose burns as he picks up the sweet, stinking stench of a leech – the one they had been searching for. His ears pick up Leah's howl that is quickly moving away. He pictures Leah phasing and running across the river that divides the two packs but why? 'That Zeke kid better NOT let anything happen to her.' Embry growls still unable to awaken. Then fear gripes his heart as he smells blood and a whole lot of it. Its wolf's blood and it has tainted the familiar warm, sweet, intoxicating scent of Leah's presence. He hears her voice yelling at Ezekiel to run away and the nightmare only continues to grow as Embry hears Leah cry out in pain and his ears distinctly hear the sound of bones breaking. He feels sick to his stomach and so weak and worthless. 'What the fuck is wrong with me?! GET UP, YOU SORRY SACK OF SHIT! LEAH!?' And suddenly Embry awakens quickly sitting up looking around praying that everything he has envisioned has been nothing more than a horrifying nightmare. Embry pales as he looks over to see Quil and Seth's faces both are mirroring his desire for whatever they experienced to be a nightmare.

"LEAH!" Seth yells as he quickly phases followed by Embry and Quil. 'What the hell happened?' Seth demands as the pack digs down deep quickly following Leah's scent.

'Fuckin' leech! Faster, we gotta move faster!' Embry orders as he digs down deep quickly pulling ahead of Seth and lets out a monstrous roar as he breaks through the trees. His eyes widen in anger and horror as he sees a woman, Native American, scratch that a leech, a goddamned, soulless leech kneeling beside Leah.

'She's been bitten.' Quil states as the entire pack mind sees red. Embry's muscles tighten as he locks eyes with the leech as she pulls her fangs out of Leah's neck leaving a shimmering trail of venom. A smile plays on her bloody face as if mocking them for even bothering to show up.

Embry doesn't remember much after that except the sweet and satisfying sound, taste and feeling of hearing the leech slowly being ripped apart between the three massive wolves. The attack only lasted a matter of about two minutes but he knows they each tugged on her like a chew toy – vying for a piece. The sound of her bones popping out of their sockets, breaking like twigs under their jaws and the feeling of bittersweet revenge as they slowly skinned her. Embry doesn't even recall who started the fire but they burned her body saving her head for last after Quil broke the jaw and Seth chewed on it ripping the flesh away. Turning their attention back to Leah they were all shocked, sickened and quickly angered to see Carlisle Cullen's mouth latched to Leah's neck and would've attacked him in their mad, blind rage if Sam, Paul, Jared, Collin and Brady hadn't intervened.

Looking around Embry notices ever wolf pacing back and forth, snarling and growling as the two Cullens work quickly and desperately on Leah. Embry takes a step closer straining his ears to catch even a slight heartbeat – and he sighs in relief as he catches it. Her heartbeat is weak, light and faint but there – definitely there. "We have to get her back to the house." Carlisle says out loud and without a second thought the two packs immediately take off in a rush to catch up with Edward Cullen who has already taken off running. The silence of the forest is broken as the cubs howl out in anger, sadness and frustration and Embry groans as Seth joins them. A ferocious growl from Sam silences the howling and everyone quickly phases throwing on their pants and shorts as quickly as possible before bursting through the door. Embry pushes past Sam with a growl and stands next to Billy Black who is on the phone – again. Shaking his head he moves in closer as Edward lays Leah on the bed that's been set up in the middle of the living room – obviously because there's no way so many shape-shifters can fit in any room upstairs. Looking over Embry feels his stomach churn begging to release the remains of his dinner from last night out on the Cullens clean marble floor.

"That fuckin' bitch!" Embry growls thinking back on the female leech as his body begins to tremble violently at the sight of Leah's arms twisted and mangled.

"Why aren't her arms healing?!" Seth demands on the brink of tears as Embry takes a closer look noticing that the kid is right. Usually their bones would have at least fused together but it clearly obvious that her bones hadn't even – what? They were still broken, the fractured bones still sticking out and then even her complexion was paling.

"We have to get her to the hospital. Now." Edward explains looking straight at Embry.

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'Edward had looked to me about her welfare. Not Sam. He can read minds, isn't that enough to proof that I love her? Love her more than Sam Uley and Jacob Black.' Embry growls as he sits up in bed. David and Ezekiel had a valid point – Jacob left but Jacob did ask Leah to come with him. He didn't want to leave without her. Embry's mind wanders to his mother's words – it was true that Leah wasn't always his favorite person in the world and he did strongly dislike her once but did it really equate hate? Leah wasn't that bitter, spiteful, vengeful bitch anymore. She was still sarcastic but he grew to love her witty sarcasm. Embry sighs deeply wondering if Leah still had that side of her and if so did Jacob still see it? Were there still sides of Leah that neither of them had ever seen? Or were their different sides for different guy? Could Embry Call love Leah when she was at her worst? Could Jacob? Embry groans as he looks over at his phone. He has to talk to Jacob about this and figure out what to do next. Embry sighs as he falls back down on his bed dreading the conversation – he doesn't want to lose one of his best friends but he definitely doesn't want to lose Leah either. "Will I really lose her though?" Embry asks out loud as he yawns and drifts off to sleep promising himself to talk to Jacob Black, no Jake, about this.

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Well here goes the next chapter. Sorry for the delay and short chapter but the end of the month has been a BEAR! A freaking, massive, grizzly-polar bear-Kodiak hybrid mix that just woke up from its hibernation and found out a whole hive of wasps just stung him. I'm just glad it's over and I think I may wrap this story up in another two chapters. But thanks for taking the time to read my fic. A big thanks to all the people who've added me on their favorites and alert lists. But c'mon you gotta at least give me ONE review. I know I would've hit 100 a while ago if everybody would've taken the time. *sniffles* BUT I HIT 100 REVIEWS!! AND OVER 3100 HITS!! THAT'S AWESOME! Yea, yea, yea! And, oh, don't worry. Leah will wake up in the next chapter. And please don't hate on the Callwater love. Hehehe, in the end don't we all want Leah to be happy?