I Love You

Disclaimer: Once again I do not own these characters.

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Leah sits outside on the Uley porch watching white puffy clouds slowly move across the blue sky. It certainly has been a very interesting day aside from the awakening from a coma, talking to Carlisle about her period, learning that she's immune to venom (can't wait to rub that in) and to top it all off Jake's back. Leah had finally made her rounds greeting everyone which whenever the cubs and Emily are involved can be very time consuming. But she finally had a quiet moment to herself; time to think and plan. Embry had made his declaration of love for her and considering the report Sue gave about Embry's ever presence by her bedside it seemed he was genuine. However, some how she had fallen for Jacob Black the man who was her Alpha and one of many best friends. All she wanted to do is tell Jake how she feels about him and then go on from there. Jacob Black was, after all, an imprinted man meaning that he could never return her love. But on the other hand, Embry had the potential to imprint but Leah Clearwater was now tired of living in fear: fear of the wolf inside of her, fear of pain of the past, and worries for her future. Taking a deep breath Leah stretches, "Come Hell or Leah Clearwater." She whispers quietly repeating a saying that all of the wolves had adopted for a trying situation.

"Sounds like you've made a decision." Leah leans back to see Embry standing behind her with a smile. She smiles back at him and scoots over making room for him on the steps. "Not interrupting, am I?" Embry asks as he sits down. Embry can't help the content sigh that escapes his lips as Leah rests her head on his shoulder.

"No, just thinking." Leah admits.

"About?" Embry asks his tone growing serious as Leah turns her head to look at him. Her chin is resting on his shoulder and Embry swallows the lump in his throat looking into her hazel eyes.

"Pick one." Leah says sitting up straight as she wraps her arms around her knees.

"Our kiss." Embry says looking straight ahead down at the road.

"It was nice. Hadn't been kissed like that in a while." Leah admits and blushes biting her bottom lip.

"Sweet," Embry says chuckling, "and then what was said after that?" Embry asks turning to face Leah. Leah still continues watching the clouds roll by but Embry can tell she is seriously thinking over his question. He had told her he loved her and she said it back…but there was something missing when she said it. He knew she meant it but the intensity was off.

"Embry," Leah began but was cut off by Embry.

"Lee, I've liked you for a long time now." Embry says taking his opportunity to tell Leah truly how he feels – she can let him down afterwards. "And, and the fact that you've confided in me means so much to me. I know we've shared things with one another that not even Jake, Quil or even Seth knows about. When we kissed it was like a dream come true for me and I would love to be the one man who you'll allow to hold you, hug you, kiss you and treat you the way you deserve to be treated." Embry says taking Leah's hands in his own.

"Oh! Wow!" Leah can't help but blush at Embry's declaration and desire. Looking at him she sees the man that has become one of her closest friends. Despite her darkest moment when she turned on Embry just because she hated herself and Sam – he never held it against her. He sat back taking her verbal abuses and only left when she was finished. It was Embry who hugged her when she apologized for her behavior. In his arms she felt his forgiveness, kindness and love for her. It made her breakdown crying promising Embry that she'd never hurt him again. Embry only stood holding her tighter when she cried harder whispering in her ear that it was okay; saying that there was nothing to forgive. He stroked her hair and rubbed her back calming her down in a way she thought only her father had been capable of.

"Don't be sad, Lee." Embry says snapping Leah out of her thoughts as he wipes away tears she wasn't even aware had started to fall. Leah knew why she was crying – she was going to break her promise and hurt Embry. She wasn't in love with Embry Call. "Leah, I love you and no matter what I'll always be here for you." Embry says smiling at Leah and pulling her into his arms.

"Embry," Leah whispers out, "I, I love," Leah bites her bottom lip finding that warm security that Embry's presence brings.

"Just say it, Lee." Embry encourages giving her a knowing smile.

"I love Jake." She whispers blushing and watches as Embry nods. "I know I shouldn't." She continues feeling the need to get all of her remaining hidden thoughts and feelings out. "He's imprinted – hell he's practically married to another. I've learned from Sam that I can't compete with an imprint and so I know I'm just going to make a fool of myself when I tell him how I feel." Leah says wiping away her tears and frowns as Embry smiles down at her. "I'm sure he'll say something sweet like, 'I love you too' but that's all it'll be. Then he'll hold me and tell me something pointless about missing me only to then go back to her." Leah finishes in a huff and crosses her arms.

"Well how about we make a deal." Embry suggests laughing as he lightly pokes Leah's pouty lip. "You tell Jake how you feel and go from there. If it doesn't work out you let me in and we'll live happily ever after." Embry says winking.

"Deal." Leah says laughing and kisses Embry on the cheek. "Sorry about all of this." Leah apologizes as Embry kisses her forehead.

"Eh, don't worry about it." Embry says waving his hand dismissively. "Besides you two get along pretty well. Who knows what might happen." Embry says shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. "Plus, you are already a member of the Black family. Beck and Rachel have always loved you like a sister. You call Billy, Dad, and you're his 'little girl' and even Paul treats you like family. You've got a big family, Lee." Leah smiles weakly at Embry's words knowing that a complete family is all that Embry has ever wanted. More than just him and his mom to share birthdays and anniversaries with – just like now.

"Paul's an ass." Leah says trying to change the subject to something lighter.

"True, but you all are family – imprint be damned." Embry admits standing up and pulling Leah up with him.

"Speaking of damned imprint, where is Nessie?" Leah asks wiping off her bottom.

"Dunno about that. You'll have to ask Jake." Embry says leading Leah back inside the house. Leah only shrugs her shoulders and quickly hugs Embry's arm tightly before he releases her hand. She watches as he heads for the kitchen knowing that she'll always have her big 'teddy bear'. Looking around Leah notices a free space on the couch – very rare. Quickly she makes her way past long legs and tight squeezes past wolf boys until she finally claims the space as her own and settles back with a content sigh.

"Awe, Leah-palooza. Look at you, just so happy to bask in my awesomeness, huh?" Leah groans as she opens her eyes to see Paul sitting next to her…rather that she is sitting next to Paul. Paul laughs out loud as Leah sticks her tongue out at him.

'Note to self: pay more attention to where Paul 'jackass' Meraz is sitting.' Leah says to herself as Paul wraps an arm around her shoulders and hugs her.

"So…how was your talk with Embry?" Paul asks quietly so that only she hears.

"You nosy bastard." Leah whispers back harshly. "How do you get this kind of information?"

"I have my sources." Paul admits with a wink and before Leah can snap back a growl silences her. Looking up she sees Jacob glaring down at her and Paul. "You're in his seat." Paul says tightening his hold on Leah.

"Move your feet and lose your seat." Leah sings smiling up at Jacob who only rolls his eyes.

"Sure, sure." Jacob says as he picks Leah up and sits her in his lap. "Or this can work." Jacob says smirking at Leah who rolls her eyes.

"Move over, Paul." Leah orders and to Jacob's disappointment settles in between him and Paul.

"So…Leah?" Paul says his shit eating grin on full blast. "Have you finally decided who's gonna 'father' your cubs?" Paul asks and chuckles darkly as Jacob spits out his beer spraying the back of Seth's head.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Seth cries out as his hand wipes the back of his head. "Jake?! That's nasty man!"

"Damn Jake. Beer bitter?" Paul asks as laughs erupt throughout the house.

"What the fuck you talking about, Meraz?" Jacob demands turning his attention looking at a grinning Paul and a blushing Leah.

"You mean you don't know?" Paul asks in mock surprise. Leah groans and hides her face in her hands and Billy chuckles from his spot nodding at Jacob. "Our Lil' Lee-Lee here is in the market for a baby's daddy!" Paul declares loudly.

"JAKE, QUIT IT!" Seth yells as Jacob spits his beer out again. "Nasty sonuva," Seth grumbles getting up from the floor and walking towards the bathroom.

"Wha, what?!" Jacob sputters out looking down at Leah with wide eyes.

"You mean during your phone sex you never thought to bring it up?" Paul asks smirking down at a blushing Leah.

"Okay, first of all," Leah says and narrows her eyes, "what you think has been going on for so long…hasn't." Leah says and nods her head in agreement with her statement. It's 98% true. "And I never told any of you losers either."

"What are you talking about?" Jacob asks desperate to know why there's a market for Leah; let alone for a 'baby's daddy'.

"Well your beta started her period sometime ago." Paul fills in as Leah hangs her head.

"Per, period?" Jacob whispers looking down at Leah his eyes wide and a small smile tugging at his lips. Leah nods her head in agreement still refusing to look up from her hands. "That's great news, Lee, right?" Jacob asks wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "That's what you wanted, right?"

"There's a catch though." Leah whispers silently. "The moment a vamp shows up Aunt Flo cancels her bus ticket and decides to stay in Spink, SD." Leah sighs sadly and can't help but laugh internally at her luck. She, Leah Michelle Clearwater, can finally have kids but only without the threat of vampires around, vegetarian or not. Which is fine but the fact that the man she loves is forever tied to a coven of vampires means…AFTER THREE REMATCHES – THE UNDISPUTED FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE SUPERNATURAL WORLD IS…THE LEAN, MEAN, WILL-KICK-LEAH'S-ASS-AGAIN-AND-AGAIN…F~ATE!! 'And the crowd cheers as I stand in a corner shaking my head, eyes narrowed and vowing to one day catch that bitch in a lone, dark alley and shove her foot so far up her ass she'll have to roll her eyes into the back of her head to see her feet.'

"Oh." Jacob says snapping Leah out of her thoughts. She rolls her eyes because what else can he say? Leah watches as Seth comes back and reclaims his spot on the floor and smirks darkly to herself as Jacob takes another sip of his beer his eyes deep in thought…but,

"But, on the plus side as long as the Cullens are in town it means I can have as much sex as I want without worrying about birth control." Paul falls out laughing as Jacob spits out his beer and starts choking. Seth sits just shaking his head.

"I don't even know why I came back." Seth growls out as he turns around to look back at a grinning Leah and Paul high five one another. "And that's totally gross, Lee." Seth scolds as Rebecca and the cubs all hoot and holler at Leah begging her to pick them. "Especially you, Beck."

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The rest of the day moves along turning into night as families and cubs start to call it a night. I wave at my family as the drive off heading back to Billy's. I've opted to spend sometime with the pack before heading home. "Ready, Almighty Alpha?" Leah asks and I turn around smiling at her – I've missed her so much.

"So where are we ambling off to tonight?" Quil asks walking up followed by Embry and Seth. I shrug my shoulders and look at Leah as she stretches cracking some bones in her back and neck.

"Well I think the Alpha should tell us." I say bumping Leah playfully with my elbow.

"Uh-uh, you're back home. Admittedly who knows for how long but you're Alpha again." Leah says yawning as a few tears gather in the corner of her eyes.

"Well let's get you home before you fall asleep in the middle of the street." I say grabbing Leah by the back of the neck pulling her towards me in a hug. I've missed just being around her.

"Again, you mean." Quil says chuckling lightly.

"Oh, puh-lease." Leah says rolling her eyes as we head towards the Clearwaters. "As if none of you haven't been so tired that you haven't fallen asleep where you were. Quil I believe you feel asleep outside Claire's kindergarten class." We all laugh because actually Quil dozed off and was leaning on the door to the class. When the teacher opened the door Quil fell into the classroom pretty much like a dead body and the little dears started screaming and crying. It took little Claire screaming out that is was just her Quil and he does a lot of drug running at night. After that Quil awoke to find himself in the police station because the teacher, of course, called the police for the drug dealer that had come to take one of her charges home. The only way Quil got out was all thanks to Charlie who blamed the whole thing on a friend's daughter, namely Leah Clearwater, who had a really sick sense of humor.

"You know I had the drug division cops tailing me for two weeks after that." Quil growls out pushing Leah. From there we all continue walking on laughing, talking and recalling past stories and memories – I've missed this so much. Once at the Clearwaters we all take our regular seating in the small living room and with Leah tucked under my arm it feels as if I've never left – as if things are just picking up where they left off. Just the five of us watching TV while Sue is putting in another graveyard shift at the hospital. Guess that old saying is true, 'The more things change, the more they remain the same'. Letting out another yawn Leah excuses herself to go shower and change. I watch her disappear up the stairs and really, really hoping she wears my favorite pajamas.

"So you going to tell her, Jake?" Seth asks snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yea, no time like the present, right?" Quil adds winking. "Especially since Beck isn't here to sick the twins on you." At my surprised look both Quil and Seth fall out laughing. "Yea, dude, didn't you notice? Beck told the twins to run up at the moment you were getting ready to make your declaration."

"That bitch." I growl out wondering how many times Beck has told the twins to torment their uncle. "Yea, I will." I say thinking back over the grocery store.

"Alright that's all we needed to hear." Quil says standing up and stretching.

"I say let's hit the bar." Seth says smiling jumping up from the floor.

"And then crash at Embry's." Quil throws out.

"Why my place?" Embry growls out getting up nonetheless with a small smile.

"Well you still got the Rabbit and besides Grandpa always wants to talk like 4 in the morning. I swear old people are weird like that." Quil says and heads out the front door followed by Seth and Embry. "Good luck, Jake." Quil calls.

"Watch out for that mean right." Seth warns laughing out loud.

"Don't say something stupid." Embry adds while shaking his head and closes the door behind him. With that I'm left alone in Leah's home, getting ready to tell her how much I love her and want to be with her. I groan quietly as I hear the shower water turn off and bite my bottom lip trying not to think about Leah wearing nothing but a towel. Her hair wet, her skin glowing – and I turn on the TV. Sports or the Food Network will help; hell even Lifetime will help – some crazy shit happens on Lifetime. Sweet, Holes in on. How Shia LeBeouf managed to escape his Disney contract I'll never know.

"Where did the guys go?" Leah asks and I whip around to see her walking down with a frown. I feel my chest constrict looking up at her – she's wearing my favorite tank but instead of those tiny shorts she's wearing black jogging pants. Her hair is tangled from the shower but she looks so beautiful and right now the only thing I regret is not telling her a long time ago how I felt. "Sweet, Holes." Leah says and runs up to sit next to me on the couch. We sit together on the couch watching the movie and every once in a while I venture to steal a quick glance at her as she brushes out her hair.

'Don't say something stupid.' I repeat to myself trying to think of something to say.

"So when you taking off again?" Leah asks smiling up at me and I see the sadness in her eyes.

"Don't know." I say with a shrug and she rests her head on my chest. "Lee, you know that video you made me?"

"Yes." She says laughing. "What about it?" She asks suspiciously.

"Do you really want all that crap?" She sits up and punches me in the chest.

"Of course, I wouldn't ask for them if I didn't want them." She states plainly with a small smile.

"Well how about me and you travel the world together." I say holding her tightly. "That way we can collect the postcards, the outfits and the black sand together." I kiss her forehead lightly.

"Jake?"

"No Cullens. With no Nessie anywhere in sight. Just the two of us," I whisper gently stroking her neck marveling at the softness of her skin, "seeing the world together, Lee. I've learned that I don't want to experience anything without you by my side." I say looking into her warm hazel eyes. Her eyes narrow for a brief second as she processes what I'm saying to her and I rest my forehead against hers. Our noses touch and I sigh enjoying the closeness.

"What, what are you saying?" Leah asks and I smile.

"I'm saying that I love you, Lee." I admit grazing her bottom lip with my thumb. How long I've desired to touch those lips and taste to them – no guts, no glory. "I love you, Leah Clearwater." I lean in and kiss Leah's lips and just with the slightest touch it feels as if my heart has suddenly become healed – all the small cracks are being sealed together again. I feel whole, for the first time in a long time I sincerely and genuinely feel as if I've finally the place where I was meant to be – here with Leah Clearwater. Hearing Leah moan into our kiss is the most beautiful sound in the world and I desperately want to cling onto this moment forever. My heart begins to race as her hands move up my chest and around my neck. I grab her hips and pull her into my lap tired of there always being space between us. She giggles as my hands tickle her sides before slipping under her tank.

"Jake, Jake." Leah breathes and it takes many years of practiced self-control to keep from kissing her. "What about your imprint?"

"Broken." I breathe out heavily my pants feeling tighter with every heave of her chest.

"When?"

"Two, two years ago." I say running my fingers through her hair.

"Two years?" Leah repeats and I nod my head. Then all of a sudden that is when the 'right' that Seth warned me about makes it appearance. To my horror and relief it is her knee but instead of kneeing me in my groin she catches me in my stomach. She starts cursing to herself as I hunch over trying to control my breathing and collapse on the floor.

"You asshole!" Leah yells at me from the couch. Guess I failed in not saying something stupid – well at least instead of feeling the need to vomit I just want to hack up my liver. "I can't believe you've loved me for TWO YEARS! TWO YEARS AND YOU'RE JUST NOW TELLING ME?! YOU LEFT!" With a grunt I roll over onto my back so that I can at least look at her. I smile up at her as she glares down at me – she's aroused and she's angry, my two favorite combinations.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure that when I said it I could back it up." I explain sitting up and wincing in pain. The girl kicks like a mule. "I'm sorry, Lee. I know I never should've left and I was being selfish when I asked you to come. I just needed time to sort out this imprint and with the Cullens leaving…I, I, God, Lee. You know I didn't mean to hurt you, baby. You're the woman I love and I don't want us to ever be apart again." I say getting to my knees as she stands looking down at me with her arms crossed tightly across her chest. "Listen, I know about you and Embry and I, I just want you to give me a chance, Lee." I plead reaching out for her hands and pulling her towards me. "Please, that's all I ask. Let me make everything up to you." I say wrapping my arms around her thighs and kissing her stomach. "I know that you may not love me like I love you but," I begin desperate for words to make her see my heart, my truth and my desperation for her. This is only my second go-round in this dating thing and the first time I never even had a chance (she chose death over me). Nessie doesn't even count. So while some guys may have had like 3 or more girlfriends by now I've never had one and she knows it.

"Jake, I do love you." My eyes and smile widen as I hear the words come out of her mouth. And I thought her moan was beautiful – this is just wonderful! "I've loved you for a long time too, Jacob Black." Hearing her say it again I jump up taking her with me holding her in my arms and as gay and corny as it sounds I spin her around laughing. She loves me! Leah Clearwater loves me! Not only that but she's chosen me and I've chosen her. I bring her down and kiss her again my hands touching every inch of her body.

"Did you really have to knee me?" I ask covering her neck in kisses and sharp little nips.

"I wouldn't be your Beta if I didn't punish you for being stupid and a coward." Leah moans out as I grab her legs and she wraps them around my waist.

"Well damned if I do and damned if I don't." I whisper attacking her lips yet again. She laughs as we break apart to look into each others eyes. "I love you." I whisper to her again holding Leah tightly taking in her scent, her warmth, her presence and best of all her love. She's my perfect match and I'll never let her go.

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A/N: Well there goes the final chapter for Missing You. WOO! I finished a story but there's going to be a sequel that I'm working on pulling together the Epilogue for where you all find out what's being going between Jacob and Leah and what's become of Embry. ^-^ I love Embry too much to leave him hanging like that. This was really hard to pull together because i wasn't sure how to end it. I mean Leah wouldn't be Leah if she didn't attack Jacob for waiting for so long. *shrugs shoulders* I mean I did when some guy told me how long he was crushing on me. But thanks for reading and I will call the story complete once I upload the Epilogue. GO TEAM BLACKWATER! Still love Embry!!