The Life We Live

Chapter 11

Pairing: Bella / Leah

Rating: T for Language and Content - Subject to Change

I tried to sneak back onto the reservation and back into my house without detection, but it seemed that fate had other plans. As soon as I closed the back door, a light turned on in the kitchen and I turned to see my mom standing there with her arms crossed, a small smile on her lips. "So, where were you so late at night?" I looked sheepish, rubbing the back of my neck, awkwardly.

"Do I really need to tell you?" Mom laughed.

"I suppose not. And tell me, how is Bella?" I gave my mom a lopsided grin at the mention of my mate.

"She's… something else." My mom cocked her head to the side.

"Baby, you're glowing. Did you two…." She trailed off, though I knew what she meant, and as much as it horrified to me to talk about that with my mom, I shook my head.

"No, but we did kiss," I said, biting my lower lip. My mom laughed as she approached me and drew me into a hug. I sputtered a little bit as my mom wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

"My baby is growing up." I rolled my eyes.

"Mom, I've kissed people before Bella." She scoffed.

"Yes, but this is special, she's your mate. You truly belong with her." I could hear the tears threatening to fall from her eyes, so I wrapped my arms around her waist.

"She's the best thing that's happened to me in a long time," I whispered. My mom pulled back and went to sit at the counter as I followed her.

"So, what did you two do? Besides making out." I blushed a little bit.

"We talked mostly. She's my mate, but I hardly know her. There's so much about her that I want to learn." I could tell I was gushing, but I couldn't help it. I found Bella's history and past life incredibly fascinating.

"What did you find out?" I was hesitant to tell my mom what I knew. It wasn't that I didn't trust her, but a lot of what Bella told me felt personal. My mom must have sensed my reluctance to tell her. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I understand." I smiled gratefully at her.

"Thanks, though, there is something I want to ask you, get your opinion." My mom raised an eyebrow. I rarely ever asked her for advice. So when I did, it was usually a big deal.

"What is it, baby?" I sighed.

"Bella wants me to take a trip to Greece with her." My mom raised both her eyebrows.

"Wow. On vacation? Or…"

"Sort of a vacation yeah. We'd be coming back, don't worry. But I don't know mom. Can I really just leave the pack? And you and Seth?" I asked, voicing my concerns about leaving. My family was important to me, and while Bella was family, I didn't know if I could bear to disappear with her without asking for my family's blessing.

My mom placed a hand on my forearm. "Leah, you're an adult. You don't have to ask your brother or me to take a trip. Do you want to go with her." I nodded.

"More than anything."

"Then go. Seth and I will be fine. I'm sure Sam would say the same thing about the pack. The loss of one wolf won't make or break anything right now." I had to remind myself that my mom and no one outside the pack knew about the threat Jacob posed. Including his own father.

"I… I just don't know. Mom, is this moving too fast? Happening so soon?" My mom rubbed my forearm.

"That's between you and Bella. You two define how fast your relationship goes and how comfortable you are. If this is truly bothering you, shouldn't you talk to her about it?" I sighed but nodded. She was right. My uncertainties were something we needed to talk about. "Baby, I just want to see you happy. If she makes you happy, then it's not too fast." I smiled slightly.

"Thanks, mom. I love you." She reached over the counter to briefly hug me.

"I love you too Leah."

The next morning I had patrol with Sam. We met in the forest near his place. "So, all went well?" He said through our mind connection. I nodded.

"She is… incredible." Sam let out a wolfish laugh.

"Considering I've seen first hand what she can do, I'd be inclined to agree with you."

"She wants me to take a trip to Greece with her." Sam cocked his head to the side, which looking a little funny in wolf form.

"For?" Sam probably had a right to know of Bella's suspicions.

"She thinks that Jacob and Paul might be… getting help from someone. She wants to do some research, which she need to go to Greece for." I replayed the conversation I had with Bella the previous night in my mind.

"This is a disturbing development. I can't imagine who Jacob would be in contact with who has that kind of power. While you're gone, we'll keep a close eye on our borders." This time, I was the one who looked a little confused. "Leah, go with Bella. I know you want to. We can handle the reservation for a couple of weeks without you. Go, be with your mate. Just come back in one piece."

"You're really okay with me just leaving?" Sam nodded.

"Of course. She's your mate Leah. And it is critical that we get to the bottom of what's going on with Jacob. Besides, going to your mate's homeland, it would be a great opportunity for you to get to know her better." I smiled.

"Thanks, for being understanding about this Sam."

"Of course Lee Lee, we're family. Bella too. I'm just glad you'll have someone to take care of you." I huffed.

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself!" I protested. He just laughed.

"I know you are, but it doesn't hurt to have an all powerful Lycan on your side either." I chuckled.

"I suppose you're right. But don't think that means I need her help to kick your ass if necessary."

"Oh, I have no doubt that you could." We both laughed. This was nice, just being able to joke around with Sam and not have it hurt anymore. When Bella came into my life, it's like she stole that piece of my heart that Sam held, and took it for herself. "But seriously Leah, go. Just be careful. We don't know what Jacob and Paul are up to, and we know that they have it out for you and Bella. Whatever this magic is that he has, we have no idea what it can do. Just be safe." I nudged his black fur covered body with my head.

"Don't worry Sam. We'll be fine. Take care of the reservation while I'm gone."

"Deal."

After my patrol was over, I headed over to Bella's place. I shifted back and pulled on the set of clothes I had with me. I approached her front door, but it opened before I could knock to reveal my smiling mate. She pulled me inside with strength that she didn't look like she possessed though I knew she did.

"Is someone excited to see me?" Bella rolled her eyes but nodded.

"Is it sad that I missed you?" I smiled and shook my head.

"No, I missed you too. I talked to Sam and my mom." Bella raised an eyebrow. "They both want me to go with you, to Greece." Bella grinned.

"Great! This will be an awesome trip. I think you'll love the council buildings. Full of history and stories to tell. I'll be sure to take you on some of the tourist strips too." I smiled as I rested my arms on her shoulders.

"I'm sure it'll be amazing, whatever we do. I could say something cheesy like 'it'll be great as long as I'm with you,' but I'm sure you know that already, so I won't." I said cheekily as Bella laughed.

"Good, because you're right. That would be cheesy." I snorted.

"Please, you love it." Bella smiled but nodded.

"You're right, you caught me." I pumped my fist in victory. Bella chuckled, took me by the hand and pulled me through to her kitchen. I sat at the counter while Bella grabbed herself a water, handing me one as well.

"So," she said, opening the bottle and taking a drink. "This weekend okay for our trip?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You're able to make arrangements that soon?" I asked. Bella nodded.

"There are perks when you're an all powerful member of the supernatural government."

"Touche. But seriously, what are we going to be looking for there?" Bella sighed.

"As I said, there's a massive supernatural library housed there that is probably the key to our problem. Jacob and Paul are getting help from someone. The only question now is who. If all else fails, Thanatos will probably be there. I can ask him for his advice." I nodded though a little intimidated at possible meeting a reaper. Bella must have noticed my hesitation and uneasiness. She laid a hand on mine.

"Don't worry about meeting him. He might look a little scary, but he's really a sweet guy. He practically raised me when I returned to the council to take my position. He's family. He won't do anything to you." And while that was meant to be comforting, it actually made me more nervous. It sounded like this guy was her second father. I really didn't want to screw it up now.

"I just… don't want to embarrass you I guess." Bella gave me a comforting smile.

"Leah, don't worry. You're my mate. Nothing you do will make that any less true. Even embarrassing me in front of the council." I nodded slightly. The reassurance was something that I needed to hear. And she was right, if our positions were switched, I wouldn't even care what she did in front of the council elders. I would be proud to call her my mate.

"What's the council like?" I was still insanely curious about her world. I knew so little, about her and her life. Bella looked thoughtful for a minute.

"They're… I don't know exactly how to put it. They're like a big family. We're the governing body of the supernatural world, but they're not cruel. When Thanatos took me from my parents and sent me out on my own to find myself, it wasn't out of malice. It was because I had to go through everything I did, to be a good leader myself. And when I got back, he welcomed Jaymen and me into the fold, as one of their own." I nodded.

"You said you met Jaymen early on in your life?" She sighed.

"Yes, she was and remains to this day, my closest friend in this world. When I met her, she was… tortured and broken. I helped her through a dark patch in her life, and in return she would help me through the dark times in my life. We came to rely on each other, for better or for worse." I smiled.

"It good to hear you had a friend like that. It hard to imagine a friendship like that." Bella cocked her head to the side.

"Have you never?..." She trailed off. I shook my head.

"Not really. I've begun to build that with Sam, but I was hurt by him for so long. He was the cause of the darkness in my life. Though, I have to admit, you brought the light back." Bella's expression softened at the admission. I continued. "Seth and Sam are the only ones in the pack that actually like me. The rest either despise me or tolerate me. It's hard to try to build a relationship with people that can hardly stand you." Bella rubbed my hand gently.

"Then that's their loss. You are an amazing person and I'm lucky to be mated to you. I'm happy that Sam has his mate, but he has no idea what he lost out on." I gave Bella a small smile.

"I'm sure you've had your fair share of relationships," I said though Bella shook her head. I raised an eyebrow. "None?" She shook her head again.

"I've always known I was destined to be with one person in my life. Everyone else seemed like a waste of time. I was so involved with my life with the council that other men or women seemed like distractions. And then when I struck out on my own again, I never found anyone catch my fancy. Perhaps because I knew that I was destined for something great." I gave Bella a skeptical look.

"Sometimes you are so cheesy yourself Bella." I laughed. Bella smirked.

"Hey, I'm telling the truth here." I leaned over the counter to place a kiss on her nose.

"I never said I didn't like it." Bella just stuck her tongue out at me. I laughed at the childish behavior. "You're such a kid sometimes." Bella just shrugged.

"Hey, you don't want boring, old, stuffy Bella all the time, do you?" I grabbed Bella's outstretched hand.

"I don't think you're boring. Or stuffy. Or old." Bella laughed.

"I'm a couple thousand years older than you." She had me there.

"Okay fine. I was trying to be nice. Maybe you are old. But you're not stuffy or boring. I can't stand either of those traits. I find your history endlessly fascinating." Bella furrowed her brow before she came around the counter to sit on a stool next to mine.

"Really?" I nodded.

"Really really. Bella, you don't realize how amazing it is to hear of the world out there. I had always resigned myself to living my life out on the reservation. To hear stories of the supernatural out there. It's mind blowing."

"Then what else do you want to know?" I ponder the question. There was so much out there, and I didn't even know how to answer that question. So I just shrugged.

"Anything." Bella rested her chin on her palms.

"Hmm. You know, your pack wasn't the first pack of shape-shifters I've come across." I wasn't exactly surprised based on how long Bella had lived and how much she had seen.

"Were they wolves? Or something else." I asked.

"They were all big cats. Though, their shifting wasn't genetic. Maybe a better term would be werecats, but they were not bound to the cycle of the moon like conventional were-creatures. It was endlessly fascinating to study them. They each able to transform into a different cat, and it didn't matter who changed them. They all had a different form."

"Kind of like how we all have different colors of fur?" I asked, trying to understand the significance. Bella waved her hand to signify that I was partially right.

"In the world of were-creatures and most other beings that were bitten to receive their animal, they take on the form of their sire. Example, if a black werewolf bit a human, that human would be a black werewolf. It is a strange thing for the gift to manifest itself in different ways, no matter who turned you." I raised an eyebrow.

"So, did a large, black Lycan change you?" Bella shook her head.

"My case was different; special. Thanatos gifted me with my wolf. My form took on the essence of his reaper."

"So, he is your sire?" Bella nodded. "How does that affect you?" I was curious.

"He is like my second father. Though, not all those who are turned feel this. Many of my kind are abandoned as soon as they are turned, or they are used and abused by their masters. Thanatos does inspire loyalty within me, but he would never use it." I tried to drink in as much of this knowledge as possible. It was mind boggling how much information was stored inside Bella's head. I wondered how there was room for all of it.

"There's just so much I don't know of this world." Bella smiled as she wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to her.

"And you will learn, in time. I've been around for centuries. I've had a lot of time to learn it all." I chuckled.

"It intimidates me a little bit," I admitted.

"How so?" She inquired.

"Just that you're this centuries old, insanely powerful Lycan. And I'm just… A lonely shapeshifter from the Quileute tribe." Bella reached up to touch my cheek and turn my face to meet hers.

"Leah, please. Don't belittle yourself. This was one of the reasons I waited to tell you about me. I didn't want to scare you off. I wanted to you come to terms with yourself and me. To realize that I will care for you no matter what. It doesn't matter to me. I… like you for who you are. Not what you are." I could feel a tear run down my cheek. Bella wiped it off my face with her thumb. "None of that matters," She whispered.

I locked eyes with my mate. I could see the sincerity in her words. I didn't know why the hell I was so insecure about everything. I wasn't usually a weepy little girl. But Bella did that to me. The knowledge of our mutual mating only did so much for my self-esteem. Maybe it was because I had so little time to actually process of all of this. We hadn't really known each other for very long. But this Jacob thing had forced our relationship move faster than probably both of us had planned.

Maybe once things settled down and I had the time to really spend time with my mate; go out on a date with her, walk down the street holding her hand, kiss her in public places, the little stuff, I'd really start to feel it. But for now, our mating bond would have to do. I could never leave her, nor her me. I'd have to take comfort in that.

A/N: Oookay. Well. I er. Yeah. The ending of the chapter, I'm not really all that happy with. Maybe I should have waited to write this until I was free of my Mitchsen feels since I'm writing weepy, kind of angsty stuff for it. But I really needed to update this.

Mostly filler. The real fun will be in the next chapter when the couple takes a trip to Greece. So I don't feel too horrible about the crummy chapter. I'll make up for in the next one.

I apologize also for taking a little longer than originally planned on this one. A little bit of writer's block and as I said this is more a side project than anything. So anyways, I hope you enjoyed this filler. Mistakes are mine, leave a review if you'd like. Thanks.

A Charmed Vampire