Chapter 12. Halcyon Days

Pairing: Leah/Jacob

Soundtrack choice: Halcyon by Ellie Goulding

(Note: Forgive me for any lingering errors. Enjoy. )

They had walked back in human form; hand in hand, lackadaisical and warmed by the afterglow . It came as no surprise that their discarded clothes were now folded neatly in separate piles next to two steaming mugs of coffee. Leah smiled and looked past the porch, and although she couldn't see her mother, Leah was certain that Sue was already up and buzzing around prepping for the wedding.

"Come inside." Leah smiled, pulling on her jeans, "Come have breakfast with us."

Jacob stopped buttoning his shirt and considered the proposition, "I'm not sure your mom would be down with that. I don't want her to feel awkward on her wedding day."

Leah bit her lip. It made sense. Billy and Sue had already had one hell of an altercation; her mother didn't need to be reminded of that over the breakfast table.

"Is it weird that I wish my mom was marrying your dad today?"

"Yes." Jacob smiled, "But what's weirder is that I've been wishing the same thing."He grabbed Leah by the waist and pulled her towards him until they were chest to chest, body to body. "It'd make us siblings."He whispered against her lips.

Leah wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. "Well, I've never wanted to do any of the things I just did to you with my brother."

"Do you know what I want to do to you right now?" Jacob asked, mischief twinkling in his sleep deprived eyes.

Leah groaned as his lips made their way to her neck, "I think I have an idea…"

-x-

A short while later Leah watched Jake drive off on his motorcycle before she went inside. When she finally got inside, she put the two empty coffee mugs on the side board and rested her back against the front door, revelling in the memories of their bodies entwined. If she closed her eyes she could swear that she still felt his warmth and smell on her skin.

"Where the hell were you?" Miguel dropped his fork and cast a discerning eye over Leah's dishevelled appearance, "You look very…hmm,I don't know…different."

Sue who stood by the sink with rollers in her hair, sipping a cup of strong coffee smiled. "Everything OK?"

Leah blushed slightly, "Everything's good."

Sue nodded knowingly. "Good."

There was knock on the front door."That'll be Felicity, she's doing my make-up."Sue put her mug in the sink and walked towards Leah.

"You should have invited Jacob in for breakfast."Sue whispered and gave Leah a good natured squeeze on the arm as she headed to the door.

Leah picked up a plate and handed it to Angel who spooned scrambled egg and bacon onto it. "More."

Leah felt ravenous, not like she could literally eat a horse, but just hungry for life, for love. Her thoughts wondered back to Jacob and she marvelled at the way she felt when she thought about him. She had gotten no sleep whatsoever but still managed to feel so vital and ready to face the day and he was a huge part of that.

"Well someone's got an appetite this morning." Angel noted as he spooned some more egg onto her plate. Leah smiled.

"What's that?"Angel reached out and pulled a few blades of grass from Leah's hair.

"Stone cold Busted!" Miguel laughed.

Leah blushed.

"I went for an early morning run." Leah picked up a fork and began to eat.

Angel rolled his eyes "In Jeans and flats? You can't kid a kidder. Been there done that."

Miguel got up and hugged Angel from behind, "Yep, when we first started dating we used to go on 'early morning runs' all the time."

The three friends laughed and ate until they were interrupted by a groggy toddler who decided that she'd much prefer an ice cream sundae for breakfast and not some wholegrain cereal. Leah was in such a good mood that she willing obliged her daughter's outlandish request of two scoops of vanilla ice cream, strawberry syrup and sprinkles.

Within the hour the house was filled with people helping prep for the wedding, as well as Bella and Nora who had to be the living, breathing definition of excited.

Nora's non-stop talking and gushing didn't irritate Leah like it had before; in fact she quite enjoyed Nora's enthusiasm.

After they had bathed Harri, gotten her dressed and adorned her pigtails with flowers and feathers, Leah took Nora aside.

"Nora, I wanted to apologise for being a bitch." Leah began.

Nora fiddled with her fingers, "That's a strong word. I wouldn't say 'Bitch' exactly."

Leah smiled which in turn made Nora smile. It was easy to see why Jacob loved Nora, she was just so naturally warm and such a good person. Leah was glad that they had found each other.

"Jacob told me what you did for him. I wanted to thank you."Leah said.

"Oh I didn't really do anything."

Leah leaned forward and hugged Nora tightly which surprised them both. "You kept him safe for me, you kept him safe for Harri. Thank you."

Nora got a little choked up, "You're welcome."

"I hope we can be friends." Leah said sincerely.

"I'd like that."

The women separated and smiled at each other, until Bella came along. "Why aren't you dressed yet?"

Leah looked down at her jeans, then at Nora who wasn't dressed in her bridesmaid gown but had her hair and make-up already done, which put her ahead of Leah by a long shot.

Seth came in, only half dressed and looking slightly confused "Does anyone know how to do a bow tie?"

"I can." Bella smiled "Alice made me practice like a million times." She took Seth's hand and led him out of the female changing area.

Leah looked over at her mother who seemed displaced. While all the women buzzed around her and fussed over her she seemed like she wasn't completely present, as though her thoughts had carried her miles away. The expression she wore on her face wasn't the one of an elated bride but of a woman who was heavily burden.

"Mom?" Leah asked, gently touching her mother.

Sue jumped slightly as she came back to herself. "Hmm?"

"Are you alright?" Leah asked, studying her mother's demeanour.

Sue feigned a smile, "Never better. Could you pass me my Champagne please?"

Leah nodded and handed her mother a Champagne flute that had been resting at her side as her hair got styled. Leah watched her mother demolish the liquid in one huge gulp.

Something was clearly wrong. Her mother lacked the frothy bouncy zing that she had possessed a few days ago, but before Leah had time to properly analyse the situation Bella came bounding towards her, her bridesmaid dress on a hanger. Leah took it with a smile, and then went to go get dressed.

-x-

Leah slipped on her heels and made her way downstairs, dodging the last of the tribe members carrying trays of food and floral arrangements out of the house. She shrieked slightly when a set of strong arms pulled her waist from behind. It was Jacob, dressed in a black tuxedo. His hair was slicked back and he smelled good enough to eat. Leah could feel her body involuntarily react to him. He was holding his finger up to his lips to signify that she should be quiet. She laughed and playfully slapped him.

He took her hand and led her towards the garage door. Once they had gone through into the garage he gently closed the door and in one svelte move had her backed up against it. His kisses were hot and urgent, first on her neck and then on her lips.

"You're going to mess up my make-up.." Leah giggled, half-heartedly trying to dodge Jacob's amorous advances.

"I missed you." Jacob said against her lips.

Leah stroked the side of his freshly shaven face, "I missed you too." she let out a soft groan as Jacob's wandering fingers slowly found their way north of her thighs.

Hearing Leah moan was all the permission that Jacob needed. Taking his cue, he hitched up her skirt, and hoisted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he balanced their weight. "How long do we have?" Jacob asked stealing another kiss.

"About ten minutes." Leah moaned.

Jacob grinned devilishly, "Just enough time."

-x-

Ten minutes later Leah and Jacob emerged looking flustered and slightly dishevelled but blissfully happy, their fingers intertwined as they made their way into the living room.

There in an expectant huddle stood Bella, Angel, Miguel,Nora and a blushing Seth.

"Stone cold Busted!" Miguel laughed for the second time that morning. Bella smiled warmly and Angel tried his best to stifle a laugh.

Jacob and Leah smiled at each other and then at their friends with not an ounce of shame on their faces. "Where's Harri?" Leah asked, catching a sight of herself in the clock on the wall. She quickly smoothed a few fly-away strands of hair.

"Upstairs with mom." Seth replied still blushing while avoiding eye contact at all costs, " Mom's been asking for you…"

Leah immediately let go of Jacobs hand and made her way quickly up the stairs. She knocked gently before pushing her mother's door open. She clutched her heart as she looked at her mother, luminous in her cream coloured wedding gown. Sue Black was a beautiful woman and a heavenly bride .Leah brought her hands towards her mouth in amazement, ready to gush but stopped herself the moment she saw the look on her mother's face.

"What's wrong mom?"

Sue put her hands together as if in prayer, "I can't do this…"

Leah paused. "What do you mean 'you can't do this'?"

Sue shook her head ferociously. "I can't go through with this…"

Leah could feel her heart stop in her chest; she slowly sat down on the edge of her mother's bed to steady herself. "What are you saying?"

Sue looked Leah straight in the eye and spoke with frightening Clarity. "I can't be Mrs Swan. I can't marry Charlie today."

Leah felt like she was going to be sick. Nearly 250 guests were currently arriving , expecting Susan Clearwater to marry Charles Swan. "You love Charlie, he makes you happy."

Sue nodded, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "I do love Charlie but I think…" Sue stopped talking unable to dislodge the words from her throat.

"You love Billy too."Leah said, feeling a wave of compassion. She knew what it was like to battle between her head and heart.

Sue nodded as tears fell down her cheeks , taking her mascara with them. "I think I need to go see Billy again. Will you drive me?"

Leah opened her mouth in astonishment, "Your wedding starts in about 30 minutes, we don't have time!"

"Yes we do…"Sue said with a steely resolve, "Let me go get my keys from my purse, meet me in the garage in 2 minutes."

Leah silently watched he mother leave the room in search of her car keys. She glanced over at Harri who sat on the bed quietly singing to herself and playing with her grandmother's jewellery box, oblivious to the rising sense of doom that Leah felt. By the end of today someone was going to have their heart irreparably broken. This wasn't good, this wasn't good at all.

To be continued.