Confrontations
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters but a happy ending for Leah SM has NO claim over! *shakes fist* Hear me! HEAR ME! Hope she didn't hear me – she might still sue. But I make no monetary gain off of these chapters.
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Embry sits on a couch at Sam and Emily's watching Die Hard with the rest of the pack, save Paul and Jacob. Right now he would've much preferred that Leah opted to just go straight home and maybe bitch, yell and curse at everyone demanding to be left alone – then maybe he'd have a chance of talking to her. Ever since he arrived with Quil and Seth both wolves and imprints had been bombarding him with questions: were they secretly dating? And for how long? Was he going to challenge his Alpha? Who liked Leah first? Was he just biding his time waiting on Jacob to leave? That he and Jacob shouldn't even be doing this since imprints are always involved (thanks for the vote of confidence Sam). Just too many fucking annoying questions.
All Embry wanted to do was sort some things out with Leah first and move from there. He had given what his mother said some serious thought and he was prepared for the final outcome – at least he hoped. Getting up from the couch he heads to the kitchen to grab a beer. Surprisingly enough Collin and Brady had started a mini brewery and had concocted a beer with some actual kick to it – marketing was still an issue but everyone was OK with 'Wolf's Brew' for now. 'And some people say that science fairs are a waste of time.' Embry thinks with a dry chuckle but quickly sobers as he sees Sam approaching him. 'Great.'
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The ride over to the Uley's is anything but quiet Jacob soon realizes as he rides squeezed in the back seat with his niece and nephew. Rebecca and Robert had rented an Expedition for their stay in La Push meaning fewer cars had to be driven around. For some reason Paul wound up being the one lucky enough to get to drive with Billy in the passenger seat. Rachel, Rebecca and Robert were in the next seat. While Jacob? Well Jacob Ephraim Black, the true Alpha, the next in-line Chief of La Push was crammed in the very back seat sitting in between Amy and Adam, the Titan Two-some. "Mom," Adam whines. "Uncle Jake's legs are on my side."
"Can't help it." Jacob explains through clenched teeth. 'Oh my god, I should've run to Sam's place. Would've beat this hell hole. And I swear Paul is going like 5mph!' Jacob looks outside the window and turns his head forward to see Paul grinning at him in the rearview mirror. 'Bastard.'
"Uncle Jake can't help that he's a giant." Rebecca states matter-of-factly. Jacob rolls his eyes as he looks down at his knees jamming into the bench in front of him.
"You're like a beanstalk." Amy adds smiling at her uncle with a look that makes Jacob nervous. He loves his niece and nephew, really he does, but the two were definitely trouble. During Paul and Rachel's wedding Jacob had the fun task of going grocery shopping with the two. It seemed like an easy enough task because he had two hands one for each of them. Plus, he was 6'7" and they were what – 3 ft and some change? Easy job, right? Wrong. The two little hellions took off like bats out of hell in separate directions screaming like idiots. After overcoming his shock he had to spend 20 minutes searching for both only to find Adam surrounded by chocolate candy wrappers and later Amy with her whole entire shirt covered in chocolate ice cream. By that time both had a weird, glazed and crazy look in their eyes which then meant a serious sugar rush. Who knew kids could be such a handful? Let's just say some half eaten boxes of frozen fish sticks, clean ups in aisles 1 - 3, 7, 9, 18, and another seafood fiasco Jacob was more than ecstatic when Leah showed up. From there the two worked together finishing up the shopping and some how, only by the grace of God, Leah was able to calm the pair down and get them to nap. After everything had been said, done, broken and paid for Jacob promised Leah, 'I will never give our kids chocolate.' At the time she only laughed at his lesson learned but to his disappointment she never bothered to correct him on the 'our' statement he had made.
"Move Uncle Jake." Amy pouts snapping Jake out of his thoughts. Looking up he notices they are finally at the Uleys but now the rest of the car is staring at him.
"You okay, Jacob?" Rachel asks with a strange look in her eyes. Jacob can't help but groan because he knows that Rachel and everyone else is thinking about Embry. Jacob can't help but wonder what kind of relationship his beta and his best friend have developed during his pointless absence. Well, truth was it wasn't pointless. If the Cullens hadn't made him leave he would've continued on living his life keeping the secret that he was in love with Leah Clearwater.
"Yea, I'm okay." Jacob answers as he slides over and maneuvers to get out of the vehicle. Stretching his legs he frowns allowing his senses to take in his surroundings – majority of the pack has already arrived, Emily and Kim are already cooking, the Wolf's Brew is already on tap and there's a hint of excitement and tension in the air. Jacob watches as his family heads towards the house but he quickly calls Rebecca back motioning her with his hand.
"What's up?" Rebecca asks coldly and Jacob sighs knowing it's a good thing he caught her now instead of later.
"Don't go in there and start shit with Sam and Emily." Jacob orders crossing his arms across his chest and glaring down at his older sister.
"Pfft, who do you think you're talking to?" Rebecca asks cockily placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm talking to the same woman who not even a year ago made Emily cry and Sam phase. This all during the rehearsal dinner." Jacob states matter-of-factly.
"Well she's a whore and he's a two-timing man-whore – just like his father." Rebecca states angrily. Jacob sighs and shakes his head. There was a reason why Rebecca and Leah were always the closest of friends and it was their anger. They weren't angry girls rather they just didn't like seeing people being mistreated. So after her hiatus from La Push Beck came back to find out that her best friend had her heart broken by her boyfriend because he turned around and cheated on her with her cousin. That then said break up upset Leah so much that she went from being the happy, smiling and caring Leah to the bitter, angry and bitchy Leah. Beck was enraged to learn that Sam 'is-way-over-due-for-a-serious-down-home-welt-causing-can't-sit-on-his-sorry-worthless-no-ass-having-poor-excuse-for-a-male-specimen-beating Uley (seriously her words) was the reason for Leah's unhappiness. Beck, in fine form turned on Sam and Emily, both participants in the wedding, like a rabid, starving dog after the choicest grade A meat and tore into each of them mercilessly. Needless to say everyone was shocked but Leah could only laugh out loud with tears in her eyes – whether they were tears or joy or humor is still up for discussion. Anyway it took every pack member involved to break up the brouhaha before it got too out of hand and Beck got hurt. Jacob knew that Beck loved Leah as if she was her own sister and, right now, seemed incapable of forgiving Sam and Emily for the pain, insult and injury they caused Leah.
"Beck, Leah has let it go and so should you." Jacob adds hoping to avoid any more confrontations. "And besides you said so yourself 'Sam was never good enough for Leah anyway'."
"That is true but she deserved to find that out sooner and then dumped his sorry ass instead of him dumping her." Rebecca snaps angrily narrowing her eyes at Jacob. "You don't get it but he wound up with the upper hand. Thus, meaning he controlled their interaction." Rebecca explains coolly. "If anything he should've encouraged her to break up with him! But the fuckin'-jack-off decided to take that from her as well as her dreams for her future."
"But she's happy now." Jacob states with a smile.
"She should've always been. And technically she can't be happy now because she's just woke up from a leech-venom induced coma, found out she has to come to this stupid, sad, sorry excuse of a happily-ever-after-twisted-Disney-princess-fairytale cottage where she will bombarded with pointless questions and forced to watch the happy couples gush and ah over one another. But, I know she will be happy to see me…and maybe you." Beck adds as an afterthought as she carelessly waves at Jacob's form.
"Okay, fine. Look 'if you don't have nothing nice to say'," Jacob growls out.
"Don't say nothing at all." Beck quotes looking up quite sheepishly and twirling her foot. Jacob nods his head and wraps his arm around Beck's shoulders as they head towards the house. "So does Leah know that you have Disney's Bambi memorized forwards and backwards?" Rebecca laughs as her brother tenses up.
"Actually, yes, yes she does. But none of the guys do." Jacob whispers harshly through clenched teeth his eyes looking around wildly for anyone that may have overheard. "And we've both done a good job of keeping it between us."
"HA! And how you swing that with Lee-Lee?" Rebecca asks now mildly interested in how Jacob has been able to get Leah to keep such a juicy secret to herself.
"Because Leah has The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Milo and Otis memorized." Jacob adds grinning evilly down at a shocked and stunned Rebecca.
"Get the fuck outta here." Rebecca gasps as the two walk inside the house. Jacob laughs out loud earning some strange looks from the pack but throwing a quick glance at his sister he knows that both his and Leah's secrets are safe.
"Jacob and Rebecca welcome." Emily greets warmly walking towards the too.
"Ever the gracious whore-tess." Rebecca mumbles through clenched teeth as Emily approaches them earning a few snickers from the nearby cubs and a rough shove from Jacob.
"Be nice." Jacob orders.
"Emily." Rebecca greets with a huge toothy grin and brushes past a nervous Emily.
"Hey Emily." Jacob greets giving Emily a huge hug.
"She still doesn't like me, does she?" Emily whispers and Jacob frowns noticing the tears in her eyes.
"Not that she doesn't dislike you…it's just…that," Jacob begins to rub the back of his neck roughly trying to find the best way to describe his sister, Beck. "She's always liked Leah. Hell, I think she loves Leah and just likes me. She's funny like that but she can hold a grudge. Just give her time and space." Jacob strongly recommends hoping that Emily will follow his advice and not push his sister. Emily only nods her head and heads back towards the kitchen cautiously.
"Jacob." Jacob turns his head and notices David and Ezekiel sitting on the steps by the door. Jacob growls his annoyance because they've both obviously picked this location so that they'll be the first ones to greet Leah when she shows up.
"David. Ezekiel." Jacob greets dryly and shakes his head as he moves further into the house. 'Little punks. They can kiss their hopes of ever getting into my pack good bye.'
"Jacob." Jacob's shoulders slump as he recognizes the deep, husky voice calling his name.
"Sam." Jacob greets turning around as all eyes are now on the two Alphas. Even over the last four years the two have managed to be amiable to one another but even that sometimes was a stretch. The two would have their good days, good moments – maybe even some seconds. But truth of the matter was that two Alphas in a small house was always a volatile situation – especially now with Leah being involved.
"I need to have a word with you." Sam states his fists balled up tight and his shoulders squared.
"Have you talked to Beck yet?" Jacob asks looking for a distraction – anything to avoid having the 'Leah talk' with Sam. Jacob can't help but smirk as Sam blanches at the thought of Rebecca Black and quickly shakes it off.
"Outside…please?" Sam says and Jacob raises an eyebrow noticing that his words originally start off almost as an order but quickly becomes an almost polite request. Shaking his head Jacob turns and leads the way towards the backyard. Walking past pack mates, playing children and other familiar faces he cuts through the kitchen. Jacob pauses for a second and notices Embry standing in a corner of the kitchen talking to Rebecca. The two males lock eyes and seemingly size one another up. Jacob snaps out of his trance when Sam clears his throat and the two continue outside.
"Have at it." Jacob sighs as they head towards the fire pit and sit down in one of the folding chairs.
"Look, Jacob, I, I'm…I'm impressed that you've come back without your imprint." Sam says glaring at Jacob with a tone that sounds more like he's trying to convince himself of the fact then agreeing to it.
"Well thank you, Sam. I always love taking the opportunity of making the impossible possible." Jacob says smugly earning a growl from Sam.
"But, this thing with Leah," Sam continues on.
"It isn't just some thing or a phase either. I love her and I've come back for her." Jacob states while straightening himself up to sit at his full height.
"You can't love her." Sam growls out and Jacob notices Sam's fist clench open and close quickly. "You've imprinted. Although I'll never understand why you imprinted on a half-leech, the simple truth is that you did."
"And it's broken and it's possibly because she is a half-leech." Jacob states never breaking his cold glare with Sam. He knew this was coming but he definitely didn't see the point in arguing with Sam over who should be with Leah. 'It sure as hell won't be him – EVER.'
"Jacob look,"
"No, you look Sam. I did something that you weren't able to do. I broke my imprint and I am going to choose Leah to be mine." Jacob states as he takes a few shallow breaths to calm himself down. 'If she'll have me but I won't admit that.' Jacob states in his head as an image of Embry flashes across his mind. "I love Leah and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Don't sit there and try to act like you know what's best for her. If you knew what was best for Leah you wouldn't have hurt her the way you did." Sam flinches at Jacob's words and his tremors begin to slow down. "I helped her get over you. I helped her find the freedom she needed – freedom from being under you. You've done nothing for her since this whole wolf shit started. Leah is strong enough now and sure as hell smart enough to make her own decisions without your selfish, convoluted ideas and expectations. I'm going to do everything I can to prove to her that I will spend everyday of my life making her happy and feel loved in a way she's never even imagined. So either shut the fuck up about whatever kind of relationship, you think, Leah wants or needs. Or you can just admit it that you're a selfish bastard who can't let go of the past. Then that way we can go out into the woods and I can kick your sorry ass." Jacob growls out and the glint in Jacob's eyes lets Sam knows that he'd definitely get the most enjoyment out of the latter option.
"Fine." Sam says with a sigh. "Do whatever the hell you want. But know that I've had a similar conversation with Embry," Sam chuckles dryly noticing how Jacob has tensed up. "And Embry seems to have similar feelings. He loves her too." Jacob swallows the lump in his throat and cracks the bones in his back. "But don't forget. That you may have helped Leah after me but who was there to help Leah after you?" Jacob growls in frustration as Sam gets up from his chair chuckling smugly as he heads back towards the house.
"God-damn, mother-fucking, worthless, sonuva," Jacob growls as he sits mulling over Sam's seemingly last stand while trying to control the fire shooting up and down his spine.
"UNCLE JAKE!" Amy and Adam yell in unison running towards their uncle. Jacob takes a few calming breaths and stands up as he catches them each in an arm.
"What is it?" Jacob asks gruffly as he tucks them under his arm.
"AUNT LEE-LEE'S HERE! AUNT LEE-LEE'S HERE!" They both yell excitedly as Jacob hears the house erupt with excitement. Running around the side of the house Jacob freezes as he watches Leah step out of the car. He feels his breath hitches as Leah stands looking strong, proud, healthy and beautiful – the hurt and vulnerable Leah now only just a bad memory.
"LEE-LEE!" The cubs all yell as Jacob watches annoyed as his beta is quickly surrounded by the cubs caught up in massive group hug – each boy vying for a spot to cling to. "How are you feeling, Lee-Lee? We missed you. We won't let another filthy leech touch you. See that's why you need us in your pack." The cubs shout over each other.
"Alright, alright." Leah requests laughing as she gives each of the cubs the hugs and attention they are desperately shoving and fighting for. "I'm alright and that's all that matters, right?" Leah asks and they all cheer back with a gruff 'right'. Jacob stands back transfixed as Leah works her way out the crowd and is greeted with a huge hug from Seth as more and more people rush to greet her. He watches Leah's beautiful smile and can't help but chuckle at the annoyed glint in her eyes.
"Thought you were a goner for a second there, Lee-Lee." Paul sneers pulling Leah into a back breaking hug.
"Whatever, Paulie." Leah snarls as she wraps her arms around Paul's neck and wrestles him to the ground. "EMBRY!" Leah suddenly yells as she looks up and sees him quietly standing back. Jacob growls and storms forward as Leah jumps into his arms hugging him more tightly then anyone – save for Seth and Quil.
"I missed you too." Embry whispers to her but still loud enough for any wolves to hear. "But don't ever wander off like that ever again." Embry orders sternly as Leah only rolls her eyes.
"Hey, let's not forget who the Alpha is around here." Leah says smugly and looks down confused as Embry tenses. "Embry?" Leah whispers but something tells her to look up and Leah feels her heart skip a beat as she sees Jacob Black walking towards her. "Jacob." Leah breathes out and slides down out of Embry's hug.
"Lee." Jacob greets feeling his anger disappear now that the woman he loves is no longer pressed against some other man.
"JACOB!" Leah greets excitedly as she runs up and wraps her arms around Jacob's neck. Jacob holds her tightly burying his nose in her hair taking in her old, familiar scent – the scent he's missed since the moment he got into the Cullens' car and rode away. He missed holding her, the warmth of her body so close to his, the sound of her voice saying his name over and over again. Jacob fights back tears realizing how close he came to losing her forever and as his arms tighten around her waist he promises never to let her go again. "You're home. You've come back home." Leah whispers into his neck and he feels her warm tears on his shoulder.
"That's right. I'm home now, Lee." Jacob whispers planting soft warm kisses on her exposed neck and shoulder. Reluctantly Jacob lowers Leah back to the ground and pulls away to look at her. He chuckles warmly as she quickly wipes away her tears and smiles up at him with those hazel brown eyes he could stare into for eternity – if she'll let him. "Lee, there's something I need to tell you." Jacob begins and clears his throat.
"WE'RE HERE AUNT LEE-LEE!" Amy and Adam exclaim excitedly as they run past their uncle's legs and tackle Leah into a double-teamed hug.
"AMY AND ADAM!" Leah cries excitedly as she kneels and hugs the twins and gives both of them kisses. "Which means that," Leah gasps out looking up at Jacob her shining with excitement.
"That's right! Your favorite person in the world, Beck, is here." Rebecca declares proudly as Leah jumps up and smiles at her.
"BITCH!" Leah and Rebecca yell at each other pointing at the other. "BITCHES!" Both girls yell while laughing and hugging each other desperately. Jacob's shoulders fall realizing that his perfect window of opportunity has been slammed shut and then a ball thrown through it leaving nothing but shattered glass and frustration. Jacob watches as the two friends laugh and talk catching up with one another.
"So I hear you gotta nasty bite." Rebecca states as Leah nods her head and shows off her war wound.
"The bitch caught me off guard." Leah grumbles as Rebecca runs a finger along the cold scar as the twins jump up and down around their mother and aunt. "But can't believe you came all the way from Oahu to here? What thought I'd check out without seeing you again?" Leah asks with a harsh laugh but is cut off as Rebecca yanks her down to squat down beside her.
"Go away children." Rebecca orders as the twins run off to go play with Levi. "Don't joke about this." Rebecca orders harshly in a low whisper. Jacob frowns as he watches Lee and Beck whisper lowly to one another both squatting. He recalls when he was just a little boy that whenever the girls were caught in that position it meant something private and not to interrupt.
"Hey! What about me?" Rachel cries waddling over to the whispering pair.
"What about you?" Rebecca asks with a frown.
"I'm part of this too." Rachel says in a huff her hand over her pregnant belly.
"This is a non-imprint conversation." Rebecca states with an evil grin causing Rachel to gasp. "Plus, you couldn't get down here even if your life depended on it."
"I can't help that I'm pregnant." Rachel snaps in her defense stomping closer.
"Uh, yea. Yea, you can. It's called birth control." Leah says laughing enjoying torturing Rachel.
"Oh just shut up and stand up so I can get in on this too." Rachel demands as both girls remain squatting looking up at her. Rachel's nostrils flare as Rebecca and Leah place their hands on the others shoulders, whispering and either nodding or shaking their heads. Obviously discussing the situation at hand of either including or excluding Rachel.
"I don't know." Rebecca says loud enough for Rachel to hear her voice dripping with fake skepticism.
"She is married to Paul." Leah adds and they both look up at Rachel scrutinizing her form before going back in again.
"But he always has such juicy gossip." Rebecca says somewhat in Rachel's defense.
"Yea but she's married to Paul." Leah plainly states again only annoying Rachel more.
"Yea, but she is like a sister." Rebecca adds with a weak smile.
"I AM your fuckin' sister!" Rachel shouts stomping her foot causing Leah to fall over into peals of laughter.
"Alright, alright, alright. If you're gonna stand there and throw a tantrum." Rebecca says rolling her eyes as Leah gets up still laughing.
"I'm sorry, Rach." Leah apologizes wiping away her tears and trying to calm herself down.
"Yea, well you should be. Keep this up and I won't tell you the BIG news." Rachel says smugly as Leah quickly sobers up. "Yea, I knew that would get your attention." Rachel says as she turns and heads inside the house only to be held up by Leah.
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Billy sits on the front porch watching his children's interactions as Sue walks up to him with a warm smile. Each parent greet one another and watch as their daughters stand around in a tight circle laughing, talking and whispering while their brothers stand on outside with hard frowns. Billy chuckles as he recalls seeing the same face on Jacob's face almost 15-years ago. Then he thought it was Jacob's own frustration of being left out of the girls' secrets but the look in his eyes makes Billy wonder if his son didn't always love Leah then – just didn't know how to tell her. "So what do you make of all of this?" Sue asks waving her hand at the now arguing Black and Clearwater children.
"Well I know who I'm rooting for." Billy answers as he watches Rob walk over to greet Leah with a hug and a kiss. "Embry's a great kid…but,"
"Jacob's your son." Sue finishes for him.
"Well not only that but you know we've all always hoped that Leah and Jacob would get together some day." Billy adds.
"It was always Sarah's dream." Sue adds her eyes glistening with unshed tears for their passed spouses.
"OH GROW UP!" Jacob suddenly roars making Leah and Rebecca laugh even harder.
"It's something that just can't be helped." Rebecca says shrugging her shoulders.
"Well why don't you just marry each other then?" Jacob growls out his face turning a beet red. Billy and Sue both exchange confused glances and always hate coming in on the tail end of their children's conversations.
"You know we've already tried it and it wouldn't work." Rebecca says wrapping Leah into a tight hug.
"Yea, but then think how much more fun we'd have." Leah says winking at Rebecca suggestively.
"Imagine all the fun Rach would be left out of." Rebecca teases holding Leah possessively and eying Rachel.
"And the sex!" Leah adds drawing more attention and only succeeding in upsetting her Alpha more.
"I'd like that." Rob adds with a huge grin on his face. Rob runs off laughing as Jacob stiffens and growls at him.
"She and Paul both have done so much for my family." Billy comments as Jacob starts wrestling with Robert and the twins. "I had only dreamed of seeing my kids back together like this." Billy turns his head and watches as Leah jumps in to aid the twins.
"LEAH! CARLISLE SAID DON'T OVER EXERT YOURSELF!" Sue yells from the porch stopping Jacob short in his attempt to try and pin her. Sue shakes her head as Leah rolls her eyes and Embry intervenes placing her carefully back on the ground. "Funny thing is that she doesn't even know how important she is to everyone." Sue comments as Leah is quickly pulled away by Rebecca and Rachel from Embry and Jacob as they glare at one another.
"I disagree. I think she does but chooses not to think too much about it. Right now she's just enjoying life and this kind of gathering is too far and in between." Billy adds as Jacob and Embry walk around the back of the house.
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Jacob walks around to the back of the house followed by Embry as Levi runs around with the twins while being tailed after by a bossy Claire. They sit down by the fire pit and are both silent neither making eye contact but well aware of the other's movements. Embry leans back in the chair forcing the chair to balance on the back legs as he stares up at the sky. He smiles thinking how it's just too perfect for Leah to awaken on a rare, perfectly clear and sunny day. Embry never imagined he'd find himself in this situation – vying for the affection of a girl against his best friend. As kids, Embry always looked up to Jacob Black and admired him because he was always confident, outgoing, carefree, popular and always spoke his mind and heart. Embry was quiet, reserved and shy – he never imagined he'd have the courage to ever talk to Leah one-on-one but he did. And then the fact that he kissed her too! The moment Jacob sensed Embry's anger at the hospital he was expecting Jacob to…well slam his head into a table much like David. Yet, here Jacob was being the quiet one. He was avoiding the conversation and Embry couldn't piece together why. Maybe he should keep up with this courage thing that Leah has inspired – stop underestimating himself.
"I've got a blonde joke for ya." Embry says letting his head roll over to look at Jacob. Jacob who has been sitting with his elbows resting on his knees trying to figure out what kind of relationship Leah would've developed with Embry finds his interest piqued. Sitting up he looks at Embry and waves him to continue on. "An airline captain was helping a new blonde flight attendant prepare for her first overnight trip." Embry starts off as Seth and Quil join them, bringing chairs with them and set them up across from pair. "Upon their arrival, the captain showed the flight attendant the best place for airline personnel to eat, shop and stay overnight. The next morning as the pilot is preparing the crew for the day's route, he notices the new stewardess was missing." Embry smiles as he notices he has Jake's full attention and a small smile on his face. "Well he knew which room she was in at the hotel and calls her up to find out what happened to her. So she answers the phone and just crying – bawling and says, 'I can't get out of the room!' She's hysterical. 'You can't get out of your room?' The captain asks confused. 'Why not?' She replies, 'There are only three doors in here,' she cries out, 'one is the bathroom, one is the closet, and one has a sign on it that says 'Do Not Disturb'!'." Embry smiles proudly as Jake, Quil and Seth all fall out laughing at the joke.
"That's a good one. I like that." Jacob says nodding his head. "I'm gonna hafta use that on Blondie when I see her again." Embry runs a hand through his hair just glad that he's broken though the tension.
"I got one for ya." Quil says pointing at Jacob. "A blonde's driving down the road listening to the radio and she gets upset when she hears blonde joke after blonde joke. A little ways down the road, she sees another blonde out in a field rowing a boat. The blonde stops her car and angrily jumps out because she's had enough. She is sick and tired of everyone thinking blondes are dumb. So she starts yelling, 'You dumb blonde bimbo! It's blondes like you that give the rest of us a bad name! If I could swim I'd come out there and kick your ass!'." Here again the boys erupt into laughter over the joke.
"Man, what is this all you guys have been doing while I was away?" Jacob asks looking around his friends realizing how much he's missed them too.
"Nah, pretty much still laughing at Seth here." Quil states as he juts his thumb out in Seth's direction.
"Hey! I don't get why I always have to butt of your jokes." Seth grumbles out as Embry and Quil suddenly start laughing even harder.
"It wasn't even our joke. It was Leah's." Embry adds in their defense. "You missed it Jake. Leah finally did the Rick James bit on Seth." Jacob starts laughing knowing how long Leah's been waiting for the opportunity to slap Seth, Paul or even Sam.
"Hey, hey, hey Seth," Quil says in a fit of laughter as he tries to remain sitting in his chair. "What'd the five fingers say to the face?"
"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Seth yells as his face turns red obviously still remembering the slap that Leah served him. "It hurt." Seth pouts as all three men start laughing even harder.
"Say it, Seth. It was 'cold blooded'." Quil says as he roughly shoves Seth earning a growl. "You missed out on a whole lot." Quil says turning his attention back to Jacob. Jacob quickly quiets down as he bites on his bottom lip.
"You know I've always looked up to you, Jake." Embry says speaking up again. Jacob turns his head and looks at Embry with his brow furrowed. "You always spoke your mind, never afraid of anything and never took 'no' for an answer." Embry states as he leans forward resting his elbows on his knees. "I love Leah," Embry sighs as he watches Jake tense up his body starting to shake from the tremors. "And she already knows." Embry is cut off with a growl from Jake. "I kissed her too." Embry admits as he watches as Jake's eyes narrow dangerously and his nostrils flare.
"You, you kissed her." Jake growls out as Seth and Quil both shift to sit on the edge of their seats readying to get in between the two at any second. "When?"
"The night you, the night the leeches showed up." Embry states finding his hairs standing on end readying himself for the fight. Jacob growls threateningly at Embry well aware that is the same night that he had gotten a rise out of the Leah – twice. He had the hottest phone conversation with her but she quickly turned on him saying she never wanted to talk to him again. Embry had kissed her while she aroused and angry – his two favorite situations for Leah to be in.
"What did she say?" Jake asks as his shoulders slump his throat suddenly dry and his whole body feeling as if it's made of lead.
"She loves me too." Embry answers flatly as he looks down at the ground. The sudden intake of air by Seth is not overlooked by either man as they both allow the statement hang in the air in between them.
"I love her too, you know." Quil says shrugging his shoulders earning cold hard stare from Jacob while Embry looks on with a weak grin.
"What?" Jacob demands through clenched teeth.
"I said, 'I love her too'." Quil repeats just a bit louder and more slowly.
"We all love her and want her to be happy." Embry adds confusing Jacob even more so. "And she loves all of us but," Embry says taking a second to run his hand through his hair. "There's only one man she really loves." Embry admits turning to look over at Jacob.
"Who?" Jacob whispers harshly his voice betraying the desperation in knowing the answer. Embry only shrugs his shoulders and as Jacob looks around he receives the same response back from Seth and Quil. "Ask her, huh?"
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A/N: Well here goes the latest update. Yea, yea I know I had originally planned on wrapping this story up in like 2 chapters but right now that doesn't seem like that's going to happen. I started thinking about Beck's character and the gathering and decided why the hell not. And from there confrontations just started popping up with Sam/Embry, Embry/Jake, Jake/Sam etc, etc, etc. So I won't make any promises on how soon I will finish this story but thanks for being patient with me while I worked this story out. Big hugs for all my faithful reviewers and a Twilight (imaginary) gift basket for my newest reviewers! ^-^ It'd be sweet to hit over 200 reviews before the story ends. But you all know what to do and it's that little button right there. Just click, hit a couple of keys and tell me what you think. Next up Embry gets some one-on-one time with Leah, Paul spreads his gossip and Jake gets stuck with…bitter beer?!
OH! And before I forget lemme put a quick plug out there. There's this new author called hilja who has two stories that I am absolutely loving called Daughter of the Night and Storytelling. I love them because she just has the cutest little flashbacks of Jake and Embry about their crushes over Leah. If you love the flashbacks in New Day (update coming soon) then you need to check them out. I swear I just want to smother them both in hugs and kisses they are so cute! But it's like 2 in the morning and I got a weekend party to pull together, get my hair done, try and write more while at work. Just wish people would quit expecting me to work! Gawd, I have things I'd much rather be doing besides answering the phone. Just selfish.