Author's Note: It took me a while to write this chapter, considering it's the smallest so far. I'll try not to do the same for the following 2 chapters :)

I don't own any character in this 're all originally Stephenie Meyer's.

CHAPTER 3: Good-bye

"Beth could not reason upon or explain the faith that gave her courage and patience to give up life, and cheerfully wait for death. Like a confiding child, she asked no questions, but left everything to God and nature, Father and Mother of us all, feeling sure that they, and they only, could teach and strengthen heart and spirit for this life and the life to come."

in Little Women, chapter 36

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT

I get home after work and I find my mum on the sofa. She's been crying, a lot. She's not alone. Billy Black and Charlie Swan are with her. Something inside of my brain flickers immediately.

The two men turn around to look at me and those four watery eyes, full of pain , freeze me. I know something has happened…

After 2 seconds – long painful seconds- I move. I run to my mother's feet and try to see her face. She's looking to the floor. Her head in her hands , tears all over her cheeks and clothes.

"What is it?" I whisper … trying to get my mother to look at me. She doesn't.

"Leah, sweetheart… I'm so sorry…" Says Chief Swan.I look at him with sudden anger running through me.

"What is it?!" I scream and then turn to look at Billy Black, who is also looking to the floor. One of his hands is on my mother's back.

" It's Harry. He," Charlie wasn't able to finish. "… had a stroke. We took him to the hospital." I hear my heart race.

"He died." Billy says at last.

My heart skips one, two, three beats and then starts racing again. I could feel my own heart attack coming. "No…" I say … my eyes go blank and then everything is dark.

A whole week passed. We are not anywhere near alright. My father is gone. My mother is depressed. Seth is … He is just not around. Checks in once a day, no that my mum would notice, showers … barely eats and leaves again.

I am not crying. I don't think I can anymore. I've cried in the past seven days more than what seven people can cry in their entire lives. I just run out of tears. I've quitted my job and rejected all the colleges I had been admitted.

I start playing over and over all the memories I have of my dad but I can only find recent memories. I don't recall any special moment with him further back than 5 years ago. I'm surprised and mad at myself, for not remembering my father as I am supposed to. I wonder if that means I am – among many other negative things – a terrible daughter.

My bed feels warm, and I'll soon fall sleep. I still hate myself for not loving him more. My Daddy, my father…

We're camping. My mum is trying to get some water from the river. Little Seth is asleep inside the little rented cottage and my father is fishing.

I have been walking around the trees, looking for pretty flowers. I have many and they are beautiful. Different shapes and colours, bright colours.

I approach my dad to show him my findings and as I get closer to him, I notice he is asleep.I keep walking and sit next to him and rest my head on his head is barely over is elbow. This wakes him up and he switches his fishind rod to his right hand and finally looks at me.

"Hey there my little beauty. Look at what you've got there" He says.A smile across his face and his dark eyes happy.

"Daddy, I have flowers! And they are to pretty. Look!"

"Yes, are very pretty but you are by far more beautiful."

I am seven, and this isn't a dream, it's the memory I had been looking for.

He pulls me to his lap and says "This river ends in lake a few miles east. We can be there in no time and be back before lunch. I want to show you something."

I smile at him a big smile and we get on our feet. Once we are in the boat I can see my mum smiling at us from the cottage.

We get there quickly and the lake is very small, but it is beautiful, and the surprise my father gives me is ore beautiful than the landscape.

"Now, my princess, look at this." He takes one rowing and moves with it the leaves of a tree. A hundred million butterflies come out of the tree and they fly away spreading their amazing colours all over the lake. I am mesmerized. They sparkle with the sunshine and it reflects on the lake. One of my flowers is blown bye the wind and ends up in the water. It sends ripples all over the lake and I know this image is perfect, it's a gift, a great one.

My father and I stay there, looking at the show of glitter and colour.

"Leah," He says suddenly.

"Daddy?"

"Listen, Leah. I love you."

"I love you, too. Daddy. Thank you for today."

"Thank YOU, for today. I want you to know that I will always love you like this, like my little girl. I don't expect you to understand this now…"

"I understand. I love you like this, like my daddy. For always." He doesn't look at me, we're both looking at the sky. The colour show is almost over.

"I know you do, sweetie. I will always 't worry about that."

I wake up, and I look through the 's sunny. I know it's my dad. I go to the my little cliff and find my brother had found my sad spot. He looks at me with watery eyes and I hug him.

" We're going to be OK, Seth.I know he is right now." He bursts in tears and hugs me back.

"I. Didn't. Tell. Him. How much I loved him…"

"Me neither."

I pull away and look at him in the eyes.

"But he knew, Seth. He's always known and he still does. He knows exactly how much we love him, because that's exactly as much as he loved us."

Months pass, my mum is better. My brother is better and, although we're still grieving, the difference is noticeable.

I feel better , because I know now that he died peacefully, happy.I also know he could've diedthe tiniest bit happier if I had been happier or happy at all. I feel a bit guilty about that but I've let him go.

There's still a lot of pain. I miss him. And I know that wound will only heal on the outside, but I also know I'm bitter now, even more. I am also sad, even more. I am nostalgic now, even more. But it all will be buried in the deepest part of my heart. I'm damaged beyond repair.I can just hope for things to be better, or at least not as bad.

I could love, and I still can. But I can't be loved, not anymore. I'm broken. I miss him, and I always will.

Y really need feedback on this chapter. Actually, for the whole story. I tried - quite unseccessfully I must admit- to put into the Clearwater's pain as much emotion as possible, but Death is not something I have experienced with ant close relative - and for that I can't be more greatful.

Please, please, please review!!!!!! I haven't caught the eye of any Beta yet... I'm really looking forward to that :)

Comment on the plot so far, or give suggestions.I don't mean to discourage you, but remember I'm trying to stick to the original turn of events... What else can Leah undergo before bursting into a powerful she-wolf???