Chapter 8: Gravity

grav·i·ty

noun /ˈgravitē/

The force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other physical body having mass. For most purposes Newton's laws of gravity apply, with minor modifications to take the general theory of relativity into account

The degree of intensity of this, measured by acceleration

Extreme or alarming importance; seriousness

Pairing: Leah/Jacob

Soundtrack choice: Maybe by Emeli Sande youtube watch?v=8QU58Nm8Hqs

Note : forgive me for any lingering errors. Enjoy.

-x-

Leah studied Billy from a far. He didn't look angry or even slightly affected by the charge she had laid against him last night. Instead he happily sipped sparkling water as he chatted to the deputy Sheriff and his wife Karyn.

Leah had known the minute the words had left her mouth that she had been out of line, she had no right to attack Billy like that, and he had only been trying to help. Everything he'd said had been true; but being confronted with the truth when you didn't want to be was terrifying, so she had done the only thing she had known to do, and that was deflect.

Billy hadn't denied anything, he couldn't. It had been written across his face. Leah bit her lip, remembering last night. She had wanted to apologise immediately, the minute she had entered the house she had automatically turned around, ready to march outside again, lay her pride at his feet and beg forgiveness for her smart mouth but stopped herself. She had told the truth.

It had taken Billy quite a while to collect himself and come back to Harri's party but once he had it was almost as if nothing had happened, except the steely look he had given Leah as she bent down to peck him on the cheek as they said goodbye. She hadn't known how to read it, but it wasn't anger or hatred, it belied complicity between them.

Letting her eyes drift past Billy Black, Leah surveyed the rest of tonight's guests. The wedding rehearsal dinner hadn't yet begun but everyone was armed with champagne and seemed to be having fun. Leah caught sight of her mother who gently wrapped herself around Charlie Swan as he kissed her gently on the cheek. Leah smiled, Sue looked positively radiant and whilst Leah didn't particularly care for her mother's choice in soon-to-be husband, Charlie was a good man who seemed to make her mother happy.

It was the sound of familiar laughter from behind Leah that made her recoil and cringe then turn around. Nora. How she despised playful, smiley, shrieky, lovable Nora.

Following Nora's gaze, she watched as Jacob nonchalantly walked into the rented restaurant space. For a few seconds Leah was rendered speechless, Jacob wore a navy blue suit, she hadn't seen him in too many suits when she lived at home, but this one seemed to fit him like a second skin, his hair had been gelled back and he held himself in a way that was completely reminiscent of a GQ cover. He had made an effort. He was so beautiful it almost hurt. Leah seethed as she watched the ease with which Nora and Jacob interacted.

"Hey Frodo." Nora said playfully, reaching out to Jacob for an embrace.

"Hey Miss piggy." He smiled and pulled her close. "You look gorgeous."

"Oh, this old thing." Nora Laughed.

Leah heard the silly pet-names and watched them embrace then immediately felt sick to her stomach. She would have immediately turned away had it not been for Harri who seemed to emerge from nowhere bobbing and weaving in between dinner guests in her poofy pink party dress and shiny new shoes ,slipping and sliding over to Jacob, arms stretched wide . "Jay-cup!"

Jacob immediate laughed and swooped her up into the air, much to her delight. "Hey Beautiful .I missed you."

The warmth and sincerity in his voice was evident for all to hear.

"Wow, she looks just like you."Nora commented with a smile, gently stroking Harri's cheek.

"Harri, this is my friend Nora. Can you say hi Nora?" Jacob asked.

"Hi Nor-wa" Harri said, adorably, prompting everyone in close proximity to say 'Awww!".

Rebecca, Paul, Bella ,Renesmee and Edward gathered around to greet Harri.

The thought of Harri being so close to blood sucking vampires irked Leah. Rationally she knew that the Cullens did all they could to avoid drinking human blood but it made her uneasy, no matter how at ease Jacob seemed palming his defenceless child over to them for kisses and hugs.

Leah took a deep breath before walking over to them.

"Leah." Jacob nodded in greeting, not exactly coldly but stilted enough to disrupt the atmosphere amongst the group.

"Jacob." Leah nodded politely. She held her arms out towards Harri "If you don't mind, I want Harri to go meet my Great Uncle Walt."

Jacob grimaced but handed Harri over to Leah. He had known the minute she had said Uncle Walt that she had simply wanted to get Harri away from him and The Cullens. Her great uncle Walt was as blind as he was deaf and teetering on the brink of senile dementia.

With Harri on her hip,she turned on her heels and stalked across the restaurant to her Uncle Walt who sat in a wheelchair accompanied by a nurse who was making polite conversation with a very pregnant Emily.

With a heavy heart Jacob watched her walk away for the umpteenth time; all she left behind was the smell of her perfume. Her scent was intoxicating.

Leah took Uncle Walt's hand and stroked it gently as she balanced Harri on her lap. Uncle Walt was catatonic in his demeanour but seemed happy. How she envied him. No more pain or frustration just contentedness that would eventually fade into nothingness. Leah kissed him softly and smiled as Harri did the same.

It was Carlisle who tapped a glass to signify that the guests should take a seat around the dinner tables that had been superbly decorated by the owners of the restaurant. Unfortunately Leah had the misfortune of being seated with the rest of the Bridal party, more specifically the bridesmaids and consequently their dates. It was her, Harri, Nora, Jacob, Bella and Edward all seated around one table.

The first course was served, and whilst Edward and Bella didn't touch their meals, Nora and Jacob tucked into theirs, even occasionally picking bits and pieces from each other's plates.

Leah couldn't believe how inconsiderate it all seemed. Jacob sat there parading his new girlfriend in front of her like she was a non-entity. She could feel the rage forming in the pit of her stomach and took a sip of champagne. Leah wasn't prone to homicidal tendencies but right now she wanted to pick up her butter knife and lodge it in both their craniums.

"Mama. Drink." ,Harri tugged on Leah's elbow.

"Let me…" Nora reached for a glass and a jug of water at the centre of the table.

"No it's fine, I've got it..."Leah said, reaching for her own glass.

"It's okay...I don't mind."

"I SAID I'VE GOT IT!" Leah growled with full force an octave or three higher than she had intended.

Nora immediately put the glass down. For a second she looked like a wounded animal. Leah could feel herself burn as every eye settled on her and her overreaction. "Sorry, but like I said, I've got it." Leah picked up the abandoned jug and poured Harri some water and held the glass to her daughter's lips. She could feel Jacob's questioning gaze, but she refused to respond, she refused to let him see her embarrassment, her jealousy or how uncomfortable she was, so she concentrated on her daughter.

After the main course had been served, speeches and well wishes began. There were hoots and laughter as friends and family made toasts and gave the occasional roasting of Charlie or Sue in funny anecdotes.

When it was Leah's turn to speak she stood up, smoothed down her dress and took a deep breath. "Mom, Charlie …"Leah paused, suddenly overcome with emotion. "I am so honoured to be here tonight to witness this. This love that you guys share. It makes me hopeful, because for so long I had believed that there was a finite supply of love in the world and that you only got one chance at being happy ,and if you blew it or lost it… you might as well call it a day, but seeing you both here on the eve of your wedding makes me want to believe that there are second chances, that love doesn't ever really go anywhere , that it has the ability to transform and regenerate itself for those who are willing to be brave and claim it." Leah paused, suddenly she felt vulnerable. "..Khalil Gibran once wrote "Love...it surrounds every being and extends slowly to embrace all that shall be.", and I feel safe in saying that tonight we all feel it, maybe some of us have been inspired by it but whatever the case, we love you and wish you all the best as you embark on your new life together." Leah picked up her glass, "…To Sue and Charlie."

Sue got up and hugged her daughter tightly. "Thank you sweetheart." She whispered in Leah's ear, as everyone raised their glasses too.

Leah sat back in her seat, she stared down at her plate, so afraid to look up. She didn't need to look up to know that Jacob was watching her intently, trying to gauge the sincerity in the words that had just left her mouth.

Billy coughed and raised his own wine glass, "You'll have to forgive me for not standing to make my toast…"

Everyone laughed and smiled good-naturedly.

"Susan Clearwater, you are a gracious beautiful woman. When my Sarah died I didn't think I would ever recover but because of you I pulled through and so did my children, for that I will always be indebted to you, Charlie Swan you have been a wonderful friend for more decades then I can remember ,we've been through bad times but we've been though some wonderful times and I have no doubt that our friendship will sustain itself through whatever life continues to bring us…"

Leah's stomach suddenly dropped. She could feel the mood change, the waves of sudden determination emanating from Billy Black.

"…and since quotes seem to be the flavour of the evening I think I'll quote the great philosopher Lao Tzu, who very wisely once said "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage".. So it is with this in mind that I find my own courage, here tonight amongst you all, my friends and neighbours…"

She couldn't believe what she was about to witness. She closed her eyes, clutched Harri closer to her and hoped that Billy would wrap up his toast .She wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole because if Billy continued to talk and it all went the way she foresaw it going then she was to blame, she had pushed him into this and that was a huge burden to bare especially when the repercussions were so far reaching.

Everyone stopped moving. You could hear the metaphorical pin drop as everyone struggled to make sense of what was being said. Leah looked over at Sue and Charlie who wore broad smiles, completely unaware of the bomb that was about to be dropped in a few short sentences.

"Susan Clearwater, I have loved you passionately, in every way a man can love a woman for what seems like an eternity."

Leah's heart skipped a beat, her mouth was completely dry as she looked over at her mother who sat, eyes wide and mouth agape. Charlie on the other hand seemed to be silently processing the unexpected declaration. Time seemed to stand still for a second as a single bead of sweat ran down the side of Leah's face.

Billy cleared his throat and continued, "It is with this passion that I ask you to please reconsider your choice to marry Charlie and marry me instead."

As the last word left his mouth and everybody gasped in shock, time seemed to speed up again for Leah and before she could so much as blink, Charlie lunged at Billy, knocking him down out of his wheelchair onto the floor. A table, plates, food and cutlery all went crashing to the floor. Members of the wedding party jumped out of the way to avoid the skirmish.

It was Jacob, Seth, Edward and Carlisle who leapt up to separate the two men rolling around on the floor trading blow for blow.

"I can't believe you! You're supposed to be my friend, my best man!" Charlie yelled as Edward and Carlisle restrained him.

Seth erected Billy's wheelchair and Jacob lifted him and put him back in it. Billy wiped a smidgen of blood away from his lip. "I'm sorry Charlie but I had to speak my truth."

"How about I speak my truth all over your face?" Charlie tried to release himself from Edwards grip but couldn't.

"Calm down Charlie." Edward said.

Leah could feel tears spring to her eyes as she looked at the remnants of what was supposed to be a wonderful evening. The rupture between the two men would be irreparable.

Sue stood up slowly, the shock written all over her face "Billy, why would you say such a thing today of all days?"

"It's how I feel Sue. I had no choice." Billy said resolutely. "I love you."

Sue nodded slowly. "I think you should go. I want you to leave right now. This minute. Please."

Billy nodded. He wheeled himself out with Jacob, Rebecca and Paul close behind him. The rest of the wedding party descended into whispers and gossip. Sue looked over at the mess that was Charlie Swan, shook her head with disappointment in the way he had handled the situation, and then fled to the women's restroom.

In Leah's eyes Billy had just committed the ultimate act of bravery. He had openly sacrificed his reputation amongst their friends, relatives and neighbours and even his longest lasting friendships in Charlie and Sue for her and Jacob. He had looked fear in the eye and proclaimed 'Fuck the consequences'. He had been brave in the hope that it might inspire her to be. Leah was both humbled and terrified; the ball was officially in her court. Looking around at the shocked wedding party, Leah swallowed the lump in her throat, handed Harri over to Angel who sat close by and got up to find her mother.

TBC.