Marcus answered the door while I let the jets of the tub massage the knotted muscles of my legs. I'd held on a bit too tightly a bit too long during that last session. Ice didn't seem to be helping, but the heat with the jets was working wonders. He set the platter on the edge of the tub. "Are you going to get out to eat?"

"Are you nuts? Feed me," I demanded and reached out a hand to the plate. He knocked it away and climbed back in the tub beside me.

"As you wish," he lifted a spear of asparagus and held it out to me.

"Hmm, what does that look like?" I teased before biting off the tip of the spear.

"Oddly, I feel uncomfortable now." He sank a little in the tub.

I laughed loudly and grabbed the rest of the spear from him and munched it down quickly. "What else is on there?"

"Little that I can 'feed you' easily. It's a fish filet with rice on the side." He held the plate just above the water and handed me a fork.

"This works." I flaked off a bit of the fish. "Oh, that is good." I took a larger bite.

"I'll take your word for it," he said wrinkling his nose.

I giggled and ate more quickly. I sat back when it was gone and sank a little myself. "Ah, full tummy makes a happy wolf," I murmured. I closed my eyes and felt ice on my lids.

I heard a pop and opened them. There were two flutes but I knew in the end they were both for me. That was all right.

"To a bed?" he asked with a grin.

"To a tub," I said and clinked his glass.

"Indeed." He set his flute back on the side of the tub while I held mine. He ducked under the water and started kissing my breasts. The water had warmed him nicely so it wasn't startling at all. Until he didn't come up a minute later.

I laughed loudly as he continued to kiss me under the water. I gasped when his fingers started rubbing me though. He lifted only his eyes from the water, kissing my collarbone. I chuckled again and relished the feeling as I twitched on his fingers. "Show off."

He came up to kiss my lips then. "Well. You weren't coming out for food. I certainly wouldn't ask you to come out for me."

He pulled me over him and I slid on gratefully. I reached past him to put my now mostly empty wine glass next to his.

"So," I said, not moving from my perch. I gave a little squeeze; he gave a little twitch. I grinned. He put his lips under my chin. "What did Carlisle have to say?"

"You don't want to know what Carlisle had to say," he murmured against my throat.

I squeezed him again. "No, I just like what talking does to my insides." I turned my head to find his lips and bit the bottom one viciously. My human teeth didn't leave a mark, but he growled all the same. "I want to have a conversation," I said rocking on him once. "Tell me what Carlisle had to say."

"He said that he would gladly help me establish an anonymous account. He even offered to put an initial deposit in it." He was breathless, and I knew he was having trouble speaking. It turned me on; sadly, the information turned me off.

"He's giving us more money? I'm going to feel owned by him soon." I reached quickly past Marcus' head and swallowed the last of my bubbly. Then I grabbed Marcus' flute and took another swig.

He took the glass from me. "It is of small amount to him, and he knows it will help us in our start. Don't be angry." He kissed my ear.

"It is of great amount to me." I was being sulky. As soon as I realized it, I squared my shoulders and swivelled my hips. "I will pay him back. Every penny." I thrust on the last words.

Marcus groaned. "Be angry," I thought was what he whispered, but it was hard to hear. "We will pay him back. Though I'm sure he won't expect it. And we should do it in a manner other than money. He has that. Perhaps something for his family?"

I laughed, and that did interesting things where we were connected. "Well, while we're dreaming big. How much do we owe him I wonder? Are we looking at a car or a house?" I giggled again. I'd never had much more money than covered my expenses. The idea of buying a car or house for myself was luxurious. Come to think of it, I had left a car in La Push.

"What's on your mind?" he asked when I was still for a moment.

"Silly things. I left a car with my brother. I could ask him to sell it for me, put it in the account." I smiled at the thought of adding my own meagre funds to our pot.

"That is hardly silly. I still wish there were something I could contribute. Even if I asked Caius, I doubt he'd give me anything. Wait..." A smile bloomed on his face. "I thought of something of the Volturi that did come to America. And I am fairly certain Bella Cullen wants nothing to do with it." He kissed me then and slid us to the other side of the tub, my back pressed to the edge now. He slid in and out of me and I was thoroughly distracted from any discussion I may have tried to initiate.

I woke from another brief nap to see Marcus on my lap top again, sitting in a chair this time. The sun was bright against the mountains outside the window. He glittered like the snow. He hadn't noticed I'd woken yet, or he hadn't acknowledged me at any rate. I walked to him and looked over his shoulder.

"You really don't need to be researching that." Even I knew what the Kama Sutra was. Of course, this was loosely related to that. More like the stick diagram version. "I'm sure your experience and mine are more than sufficient." I tugged on his ear with my teeth.

"Yes, but it is amazing what I've missed."

"Can I check those messages before you ravage me again? I must write my mother, or she'll take a strip out of both our hides."

"Never let me come between a woman and her mother," he vowed, rising from the chair.

I chuckled as he went to turn on the television. He must have watched that a bit while I slept as well. He quickly flipped to a news channel, knowing what he was looking for.

I looked at my inbox. He'd left the messages from Edward Cullen. I opened a couple out of curiosity, but they were simply links and instructions. The newest one for me was from my mother, not surprising.

I have your things. Are you coming back for them or should I just sell the lot? Seth tells me you're happy, and I hope he's right. Still, I'd like to hear it from the horse's mouth. Running off with one of them. I am still in shock. Well you always were your own person, and woe to the fool who tried to stand in your way.

And now that you are happy, I'll tell you. That is the reason you and Sam would never have worked. He wasn't willing to stand in your way. You need someone to stop you in your tracks once in a while. Otherwise there isn't give and take. One gives and one takes. I love you, sweetie, but that was one I never could teach you.

I love you.

Wow, that was insightful. She was absolutely right. Sam wouldn't deny me anything, until he denied me everything. Huh. I really didn't get that before? Did she ever tell me that before? Yeah, she had. When she was trying to make Dad stick to his diet, or go to the doctor. She hadn't used those words, but she'd made the same point. Marriages were partnerships, each had to need the other.

I looked to Marcus, on the sofa now, his eyes on me. I blushed a little and there were lips on my neck as quickly. "I didn't know you were watching me. I thought you were watching the TV."

"I was doing both. You aren't finished," he said seeing my screen. "Don't let me distract you, unless you're ready to be distracted." He grinned wickedly and moved back to the sofa. His whole body glittered and I admired him for a minute until he arched an eyebrow. Right, sooner finished. I turned back to the screen.

Mom, you know me too well. I found a great glittery rock that is exceptionally good at standing in my way. That's not quite true, and I don't know if we will work. I'm going to try damned hard though. Hold my stuff, yeesh. I didn't pack it up just so you can hock it. We're going to set up somewhere and you can send it to me then. But I think I am going to get Seth to sell my car. I can use the cash to buy something wherever we go.

I wish I had a better idea where we were going. Just North and East. I'm going to keep going until the pack falls silent. That's where we'll set up shop. I'm tired of having a bunch of boys in my head. If I'm going to spend a significant portion of my time as a wolf to keep my new mate from killing anyone, I'd rather not have to share my head space. Also, he seems to think Washington is raw and rugged. I want to take him somewhere no one has been. Ever. That's northern Canada if ever I've heard of it.

Right now, we're in Banff. Mom, you and Charlie have GOT to take a vacation up here. It's bloody gorgeous.

And yes, Seth told you right. I'm happy. Is it him? Maybe. I don't think that's all of it though. I was happy when I left for Italy too. I just have a new plan for my life, but it was good the way it had been going. Am I happier? I think I am. I have real purpose. That was missing before.

Now I'm going to go take some more from him, or give some more to him, or any other disgusting way you want to put it. LOL

I sent that and opened the next. It was from Renesmee Cullen of all people. Where did she get my address from? Stupid question – her father, obviously.

I just wanted to thank you again for coming with Jacob to Italy. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been there, or if you hadn't imprinted on Marcus. I don't want to think about how badly it might have ended. I went there expecting to die. Even though I believed my family would follow, I honestly hoped they wouldn't. I went there hoping to make everyone safe. It would have been pointless if everyone ended up fighting anyway. Granted, it ended up being pretty pointless overall.

I also wanted to apologize for you coming and imprinting on Marcus. You had a life, you had a pack, and you've left them all behind. I'm sorry for what I've cost you. I hope one day it proves to be worth the cost.

Well, I wasn't about to reply to that sappy crap. I moved on to the next; it was from Doug. I was surprised.

Leah;

I hope your family appreciates all you do for them. They are lucky to have someone so willing to sacrifice themselves. I don't hate you for going to your family – that's ridiculous. I do hope I see you again some time.

Keep in touch,

Doug

I felt a chill on my back just before cold lips found my cheek. Damn him and his quiet step. "They do." he whispered in my ear.

I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck. He lifted me from the chair, slipping my laptop to the floor. "They appreciate everything about you, everything you do. Everything you've given." The words were getting lost in my breasts as he laid me down on the bed again. He continued to stand over me. "Never think I don't. Even though I don't understand what all you've given to be with me, I appreciate all of it. All of you."

I was having trouble focusing on his words. His cold hands held my legs and he pushed into me. His legs collided with the frame and I felt the bed shake. I quivered with it. He thrust again, just as hard. I gasped and my legs tightened on him. His ice was melting quickly as it rubbed against me. My blood was soon boiling. He continued to whisper endearments, but I couldn't hear them against the rush of my blood in my ears, my pulse, my panting breath. I was falling apart again.

How many times could he tear me apart and still rebuild me from what was left? That was what it felt like. Like I crumbled to pieces, and his cold arms scooped them back together just do it all over again. And I didn't want him to stop. I didn't want him not to break me. I would have never said that of Sam. I had been holding so tightly to myself when I was with Sam, but now... now I was nothing, and yet I was everything. I was everything to Marcus. But ME was nothing. It didn't matter who I was. Not because I didn't matter, just because Marcus would take whoever I was.

This was love. I hoped I lived through the next few minutes so that I could really experience my epiphany. As it was, I felt like I was being macerated. My body was being bruised and beaten, even as it writhed in pleasure. My insides were raw with heat and friction, my chest burned from panting, and my hips were turning red from his grip on them.

I didn't ask him to stop; I never even thought of it. I watched him instead; my brain detached from my body. Part of me could still feel the pain and the pleasure, but part of me was revelling in the expression on his face, the need he displayed now. He was aching for what I was giving him. He was as lost in the moment as I was, and his lips were moving again. But it wasn't his prayer this time. It was name. Over and over, my name. I still couldn't hear, but I could see.

Then the moment passed. I was in full faculty again, and I hurt. He was climaxing inside me and I was being crushed to him. I felt bone crack and I screamed.

"Oh no. Leah, Leah." He began to weep as he let go. He pushed me by the shoulders so that my legs were now on the bed too.

Tears of pain were leaking from my eyes. "Come here," I whispered, opening my arms.

He climbed onto the bed, careful not to jostle me. He laid beside me, within my reach. "I never meant. I didn't-"

"Shhh." I stroked his hair while I soothed him. I could already feel the bruises fading. The bone would take longer. "I could have stopped you. I didn't. Just let me have my moment."

He looked at me quizzically.

I took another breath, ragged with pain. "I love you, Marcus."

He was suddenly over me again, placing light kisses over my face, careful not to move me any way.

"You've broken me."

"No, no, please, don't-"

"And you've remade me." I put my hands to his cheeks, making sure he was looking into my eyes. "That day, everything broke away, and it all tied to you. Ever since then you've been doing the same. Breaking me, over and over, and every time, you tie me back together, tighter, better. Tied to you. I love you, Marcus."

He had no answer. He just put his lips very gently to mine again. He held himself there until I was able to move my legs without pain. Then I rolled him over and tried to break him instead. After all, my mother told me to give and take.