Jaq, Embry and Nathan picked Connor up from Ben's and brought him over to Emily's where most of the wolf pack was already eating up all supplies of chocolate chip cookies. The Cullens were there too, Carlisle deep in conversation with Sam about something to do with wolves and genetics and Alice deep in conversation with Kim about some top model. Sam and Leah hadn't arrived yet - they were probably talking. They had a lot to talk about…
Jaq watched with a ridiculously big smile on her face. She watched Connor chatting away happily to Emily and Nathan having an extremely shallow conversation with Paul about how hot Taylor Swift was. It was nice seeing him get on so well with someone he wouldn't have trusted the day before.
Embry let go of her for a second to lean forward for another cookie.
"I swear you've had like a million of those already."
"I'm a growing boy." He grinned. "I need it to feed these muscles." He hit them like a gorilla to show his masculinity.
"You know you have something stuck in your teeth right?" She giggled.
"Oh…" He blushed and licked his teeth. "Is it gone?"
"No I-"
The room fell silent and Jaq looked up to see Leah and Sam walking in. Everyone watched as Leah hesitantly made her way over to Emily. They stood still for a moment, awkwardly, avoiding eye contact. Finally Leah took deep breath, stepped forward and hugged her cousin. The room cheered.
Connor jumped off his chair and skipped over to Jaq and Embry.
"Who's that?" He whispered.
"That's Leah." Embry said and Jaq realised this was the first time he'd actually seen her. She hadn't exactly been social around the vampires before. "She's in Jacob's pack."
"She's pretty. Why does she look so sad though?"
"She… had a very big argument with Sam and Emily."
"Oh…" He quickly snatched the cookie out of Embry's hand. "Mine!"
"Hey!"
"Outwitted by a twelve year old." Jaq laughed.
"It was intentional really." Embry defended himself. "I knew what he was up to."
"Sure you did…" Connor grinned.
"Jaq," Leah was standing in front of them smiling. It was the first time Jaq had ever seen her smile properly. Connor was right, she did look pretty, but with a smile she looked amazing. "Jaq, I just want to say thanks. You were right."
Jaq smiled. "It's alright."
"You know you're really not so bad… for a leach." Leah grinned.
"Well you know what?" Jaq laughed. "You're not too bad… you know… for a dog…"
Leah laughed too and hugged her.
"This doesn't make us friends by the way." She joked.
"Of course not." Jaq laughed again. "Anyway, this is the kid you were fighting for earlier. I know you haven't met him before."
Connor stepped forward and grinned. "Hi! I'm Connor."
Leah froze and stared at him in shock. Jaq frowned confused. Leah had a strange expression on her face… Where had she seen that expression before?
She looked up to Embry to see if he knew what was going on and he looked back down at her with a smile. He had exactly the same expression on his face… She looked back to Leah. She had the exact same expression that Embry had every time he looked at her. The same expression Drake had when he looked at Prudence, how Jacob looked at Nessie, how Emily looked at Sam…
Jaq grinned, realising what was going on.
"Are you okay?" Connor asked Leah, frowning.
"Yeah I'm fine, I … just err… realised something…" She looked at Jaq who gave her a look of encouragement. Leah smiled back, true happiness on her face, and turned back to Connor. "So Connor, what Xbox games do you like?"
"Wanna get out of here?" Embry whispered in Jaq's hair. She nodded and he led her out the door into the garden. They kept walking until they reached the beach.
"Can't believe Leah just imprinted on Connor."
"Me neither." Jaq smiled as they sat down on a piece of driftwood. "I'm glad they'll both be happy now though."
"Me too." He slipped his arm around her and pulled her against him. "Guess he's gained another big sister."
"And another person to help decide if he's going to stay human."
"You know Leah'll vote for human right?"
"That's what I'm counting on." Jaq grinned.
"'Course it figures you'd make friends with Leah though." He snorted.
"What do you mean?"
"Well you seem to go for the ones no one else likes much." He ticked them off his fingers. "Colin, Brady, Rosalie, Leah…"
"Huh, and what makes you think people like you much?" She joked.
"Well what can I say? I'm amazing."
"Yes, and your head is the size of a beach ball."
"Are you trying to say I'm big headed?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Well it was something to do with the words head, size and beach ball…"
Jaq rolled her eyes. "I'm so glad this is all over and we can finally relax."
"Me too." Embry smiled. "We can just look forward to an eternity together."
"Forever…" Jaq smiled, knowing that in their case the words were actually true.
"Forever and Always." He agreed.
She leaned his head against his chest and watched the sun set. Tomorrow it would rise on a new day. Delano was dead, Nathan had accepted Embry, Emily was reunited with her cousin and Leah and Connor could look forward to a happy life together. It would be a day for so many new things, a new dawn…
Okay, so now go listen to Rocket - Yellowcard on youtube or something and imagine a film montage of .... Connor and Leah playing Xbox together.... Embry and Jaq skipping along the beach.... Connor growing up and starting High School..... Nathan, Jaq, Embry, Leah and Connor playing bundle on the beach..... Jaq and Embry get married....... Leah donating her car so Connor can take a girl out on a date.... Connor telling Jaq that he's a little freaked out 'cus he thinks he loves Leah even though she's like thirteen years older than him...... Connor telling Leah.... then Leah, Jaq, Embry and Nathan waving bye to Connor as he takes his first steps into college......
(yeah you get the picture)
Now go read the Epilogue......
[Sorry, just HAD to finish with the title... it was too tempting... and yeah didn't mean to be too terribly cliche with Leah but it just happened. I never planned it. Ahh well at least she gets a happy ending]
Loves ~
PepperX