If possible, Leah's eyes narrowed even more. "On who?"

"You."

"Damn it, Jake!" she screeched, instantly hitting him on the head the second the syllable left his mouth. He winced, rubbing the spot where she'd hit him, though not altogether surprised by her reaction.

"You imprint? On me?! Seriously, Jake! And here I was thinking maybe, just maybe, you were here because of your own free will! Even if you'd said you were here because Sam made you, even that I could accept, but this?!"

"Leah, c'mon, don't..."

"Don't what?! This is ridiculous!"

"I'm here because I want to be here, Leah!" he said, grabbing onto her shoulders, forcing her to look at him as she struggled against him to stand and, he guessed, flee.

"No, you're not. You're here because you imprinted. Because some funny little feeling is forcing you."

"No, it's not, I..."

"See, if I had imprinted, that I could handle. But not. You have to go and imprint on me! You know you're pathetic when even fate feels the need to set you up on a pity date," she said sarcastically, throwing her head back to yell into the air. "Thanks, fate! Thanks a lot! Really appreciate it! But if you're really serious about making up for screwing me over, try sending Orlando Bloom next time!!"

Jacob couldn't help himself from rolling his eyes at her theatrics, a move Leah didn't miss. "Honestly, Jake. What were you expecting?"

"Exactly this, I guess."

"Well, what am I supposed to do? Fall into your arms and forget about Sam? Pretend like I'm suddenly madly in love with you?"

"No..."

"Well then what, Jake?"

He sighed. "I don't know."

"Neither do I."

How long they sat there in the clearing, each in their own thoughts, neither could tell. Jacob knew there were no easy answers, but he also knew he was bound to her, plain and simple. The longer he sat with her, the more he knew that, fate or no fate, he wouldn't want it any other way. Finally he broke the silence.

"Maybe there's a reason for all this."

"How so?"

"Maybe... me being me... and you being you... maybe I'm supposed to help you, or we're supposed to help each other."

"Meaning...?"

"I... I guess... Well, I know how you feel. When I ran away a couple weeks ago, when I was running from Bella, the pain I felt... and now..."

"It all melts away when you look in my beautiful eyes?" she snorted.

"Well, no. I mean, your eyes are beautiful. Yes, even when you roll them like that, but the point is, even with the imprint, thinking about Bella still hurts some. I think imprinting made it duller, but it's still there. And I think that's the point."

"What's the point?"

"That I know how you feel. It's like I have to feel that pain, I had to go through all that so I could be what you need. I don't think you're supposed to fall in my arms and forget about Sam. We're not supposed to be Sam and Emily. I think it's more like... Quil and Claire in a way."

"You're supposed to make me peanut butter sandwiches and play tea party with me til I turn eighteen?"

"No, smartass," he laughed as she grinned at him. "What I mean is that imprinting's not always about love, at least not at first. It's about being whatever that person needs; brother, friend, lover, whatever. You don't need a knight in shining armor right now, Leah."

"Really. Then what do I need?"

"...I think you need a friend."

"Yeah," she said softly. "One of those might be nice."

"I have every intention of being a hell of a lot more than that when you're ready, but for now, you need a friend, and that's what I'll be."

"I'm broken, Jake," she said, gazing down at the ground. "I've been pretty broken for a while. Are you so sure you can fix me? Are you sure you even want to try?"

"Yes," he said firmly, lifting her chin to look her in the eyes. "I'm going to help you. And maybe helping you will help me, too. We can help each other."

"How do you know this isn't just going to blow up in our faces? How can you be so certain?"

"I'm not, really. All I know is you're it for me now. Everything. It's you. And, hell, we've both tried everything else."

"I guess..."

"So. Friends?"

"With the possibility of more when I'm done crying over Sam?"

"With the possibility of more when you're done crying over Sam."

"I cry over Sam a lot, you know."

"I know," he said, taking her face in his hands gently, brushing away a few stray tears from her cheeks.

"And you don't mind that? Nor the fact that I'm not sure when it'll stop?"

"Nope. Well, it kind of makes me want to rip his face off a little, but no, I don't mind, as long as I can hold you when you cry."

"Cheeseball."

"It's magic, baby."

"Such a loser," she said with a groan, though a little smile had appeared on her face. "And you're still not over Bella?"

"Not completely, but I will be."

"So, friends for now?"

"Friends for now."

"I feel like we should shake on this."

"I've got a better idea," he said with a grin. Cupping her face, he leaned over to kiss her. It was a short kiss, simple, but deep and full of promise. When Jacob pulled away, Leah was embarrassed to find herself a little breathless.

"Yep, cheeseball," she said, though there was no denying the fluttering in her stomach.

He just smirked.

"Oh my god, you're such a guy. Don't look so proud of yourself, I might have to hit you again."

"I might find you more threatening if you weren't blushing and naked."

"What?" she said, looking down at herself, and then back up at him and his smirk, her eyes wide.

"SHIT! I didn't put my dress back on after I phased! Shit! Quit laughing, Jake, it's not funny!"

"Aw, c'mon Leah, it's a good look for you."

"Shut up! And turn around, will you?! Why the hell didn't you say something earlier?!"

He looked her up and down, appreciatively. "Can you blame me?"

"Jackass!! Didn't I tell you to turn around?! And stop smirking like that!"

Jacob laughed as he stood up. He picked up her dress and held it out to her, his other hand covering his eyes. "Here. I won't peek, I swear."

"Jackass."

"What can I say? You're beautiful."

She just smiled and shook her head. "You know what? I've got a better idea," she said, pulling his hand away from his eyes, beckoning him with a smile and a jerk of her head. "Come on."

She phased back into wolf-form and took off though the trees. Grinning, Jacob took off his shorts, fastened them to his leg and, phasing, took off after her through the woods for the second time. "Right behind you," he thought.

"Always?"

"Always."

As they ran through the forest together, they could hear Sam's thoughts coming through from somewhere in the distance.

"Take care of her, Jake, or I'm going to have to break my own rules and pummel you."

"No problem, Captain."

"Leah, I'm sor.."

"I know, Sam. I know. And hey, do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"Tell Emily... tell her I changed my mind... that is, if she'll still have me."

"Of course. And Leah?"

"Yeah, Sam?"

"Welcome home."

"Thanks."