I slowly open my eyes to the dreary day outside. I reach for him but find myself alone in the bed. I sit up, yawning, to see Emmett come out of the bathroom in all his naked glory. I lick my lips and wink at him. "Good morning Papa Bear."

He's using a towel to dry his hair. "Actually honey, it's past noon."

My eyes bug out. Past noon? Fuck, my mom's going to be worried and maybe a bit pissed. Maybe not since Seth's been having a rough go since the newborn battle. I haven't even checked my phone. Hell, do I even have my phone? I get out bed, muscles sore that I didn't even know existed. I groan and am in his arms in seconds.

I'm being laid out on the bed as his cold hands cool my aches. I can't stifle the sounds of contentment that escape my lips. His mouth covers mine, making me want him yet again. He pulls away, a teasing smile playing upon his lips. "Nah babe. You have to chill with that or we'll never fucking leave this room."

I nod, wishing we didn't have to. Here we're good. It's just me and him and fuck the world. Outside of this room, it's me and him plus a coven of leeches and 2 packs that are going to flip out about us. I get up, stretching, "I'm going to shower. Can you or-"

He just smiles, "Already taken care of. It will be up in a few." I nod and head towards the bathroom. He calls my name. I turn around, his face a bit too serious for my liking. "Who we telling first?"

The Cullen House - - -

We turn onto the street that leads us to his family's house. I enjoy the feel of the new leather under me. I turn to look at him incredulously, "I cannot believe you bought a fucking car."

He quirks an eyebrow at me, "This is not a car she-wolf. This is a goddamn machine. Let's show her the respect she deserves."

I laugh as I settle back. Yeah, a 2011 Challenger is sweet. And in black is even sicker. My stomach starts doing flip flops the closer we get. I might actually be as pale as Emmett right now. His hand finds mine and gives it a firm squeeze. I look at him. "It's going to be okay Leah. Just...just let me do the talking."

I nod and squeeze back. I know he means to tell them about Rose's suicide. That's going to be hard enough to hear without throwing me into the mix. I suggested that we wait just so his family could deal with the news about Rose but he punched a hole straight through a wall to quickly dispel that notion. Seems vamps are a tad possessive and don't mess around about their mates. Holy fuck, I'm a vampire's mate.

We pull into the long driveway that leads us to their, his, house. I know that they know I'm with him yet no one comes out to greet us, him. He turns off the car and we're just sitting in silence.

Fuck this. I'm a werewolf. I have never been afraid of the Cullens and have no plans to start doing so now. Em's face lights up when he sees the determination on mine. His voice is low so to be unheard by those inside. "Now there's the she-wolf I adore. Let's do this."

We both get out and head up the stairs to the front door. Before he can open it, it's thrown open by Esme. The apparent relief on her face makes the corners of my mouth twitch. She really does think of him as her son. She wraps her arms around him, "Oh sweet lord, Emmett, you're home." She releases him and offers me a warm smile. "Leah, how are you? Oh, forgive me my rudeness. Please come inside."

We enter and I smell them all, down to Bella's ex. Emmett just grabs my hand and I hear Esme's gasp of surprise. He pulls me towards the family room where everyone else is convened. Jasper offers me a warm smile. Carlisle greets me cordially. Edward's eyes are blank. There's no hiding the animosity in the pixie's eyes though.

Through gritted teeth, she asks, "What is she doing here? Where were you yesterday and all night? And why to heaven's gates, do you look like you've fed from a herd of elephants?"

At her last statement, I take a gander at Emmett. No lie, he's huge. Massive even. He's gained back the weight he's lost the past couple of weeks and put on some more. Wow, I'm like a vamp protein shake. I give him a small smile.

He returns it a wink before answering her, "I've fed. Not from a herd of anything though."

Edward sighs in his long sufferable way, "Please tell me you haven't."

Alice asks bewildered, "He hasn't..." Her voice cuts off before she turns her death glare on me. I can understand why Bella has such difficulty standing up to the small sprite of a female. She can be daunting. Her voice is filled with such contempt, "You've fed from her? Are you mad?"

Carlisle scolds her, "Alice bite your tongue."

Emmett moves to stand in front of me. Whatever man, I can rip that short stack's head off before anyone can blink. Edward just raises an eyebrow at me. And you too, mind fucker. His nose wrinkles in annoyance. Emmett just nods his head.

Alice explodes, "How could you? And I can smell her all over you. God, you fucked her as well! You're such an asshole. What would Rosie say?" Emmett tenses as if slapped. I place a hand on his shoulder to calm him when Alice barks at me, "Don't you dare touch him bitch."

Oh the hell she didn't. Before I can go off on her, Emmett does. "Don't you dare speak to her like that Alice or I'll rip your fucking tongue out." The room falls silent. He turns his head to Edward, "And don't try to read my thoughts. I already put my shield up."

Shield?

Edward gawks at him, "You're..."

Emmett just laughs a hollow snicker, "Yeah man. I'm really not the moron or perv or whatever you all think of me. I'm a shield but I never use it. Don't feel the need."

Esme speaks softly, "Oh honey, we never thought you to be any of those things."

Alice grumbles, "Speak for yourself."

That's it. I'm over playing the quiet female, "Oh shut the hell up. Let him say his piece before you pass judgment on him and his actions."

Before anyone can speak, Carlisle does. "She's right. It's quite apparent there are things Emmett needs to say." He then stands in front of Emmett, forcing my lover to look at him. "I have never thought you to be a moron. That would imply I think you to be stupid and we both know that's not the case. It saddens me to believe you think I feel that way about you."

Emmett looks properly chagrined. "Sorry Carlisle. That really wasn't aimed at you or Esme."

Carlisle looks at his other children, "So be as that may, you must admit you have caught us off guard by bringing Leah here." Carlisle turns his attention to me. "I do not mean that rudely. Just stating a fact dear."

I nod, trying to plaster a smile on my face. It feels more like a look of constipation but whatever. I nudge Emmett's shoulder. He twists to look at me. I lean forward to press my lips gently to his cheek. "It's time."

Alice is crouching ready to pounce until Jasper grabs her and deposits her onto his lap. "Now sugar, you're just being rude."

Emmett looks at his family, knowing he's about to rip open their wounds. His shoulders sag slightly before he squares them. In a strong quiet voice, he begins, "You don't know the truth about Rose's death."

He tells them what he told me on the cliff yesterday. It's hard to believe it was only yesterday. My life feels so different from a short 24 hours ago but I wouldn't change a thing. I watch as the looks of horror and resignation play upon their stone like features. Alice looks away as he goes on.

When he finishes, Esme speaks first. Her voice is full of emotion. "Oh that poor child. She...oh how...I don't know whether to be upset that she didn't confide in me, us, or glad that she's finally found some peace."

Alice says nothing. She just acts like the small petulant child she is and gives us her back. Whatever. Carlisle's head is in his hands. Jasper's eyes are closed as if asleep. I turn to look at Edward who's positively shooting daggers at us.

He growls at Emmett, "This is all your fault." I can actually feel Emmett falter at the loathing in Edward's voice. Each word cutting Emmett down. "If you had been enough, then Rose would still be here. If you loved her the way she should have been, she would have gotten..."

Yeah, he might be the fastest but so am I. I am yanking his albino ass up off the arm of the couch to slam against the wall. A few paintings fall to the floor. A vase crashes and breaks into pieces. Do I feel bad? Nope.

Edward struggles in my arms but I am not having it. I lean in real close, so pissed that his repulsive smell doesn't even bother me, "You listen to me you little shit. Don't you ever talk to him like that again. Don't ever let those words pass your lips or even enter your head. He loved, loves, Rose. He always will regardless of what you're thinking. He loved her as best he could and in the end she knew that. She died knowing that. So don't you fucking dare try to insinuate anything else. Don't you fucking dare try to cheapen what they shared. That's more of a disservice to Rosalie than anything else. It was her life and she lived it her way."

Edward's eyes are black. "Release me."

I shake my head. "Not until you apologize for being a complete asshole." Yes, I feel softer and all around more happy because of Emmett but I'm a bitch through and through so I can't resist, "Just because Bella dumped your pale, non dick working ass, is no excuse for you to be so rude to Emmett or the memory of Rosalie."

He's shaking in my arms. "Leah, let me go."

I growl at him, "Not until you apologize you shithead." He says nothing. Well, fuck this. If he wants to be act like a bitch, let me school him in the art of it. "It pisses you off doesn't it? That even though Emmett lost Rosalie, he still found someone. That what it really comes down to. Bella dumped your ass like a used condom and went to Jake. An actual living being who knows how to use the appendage swinging between his legs. And I mean swinging. Don't know how that monster fits inside Bella's coochie." I lean in closer, not caring that everyone else can hear. My voice is breathy, "Ohh, but it must hurt so good. And damn, is he a cre..."

Too many things happen at once. I am thrown back, almost toppling over an armchair. Edward's crouched about to maybe bite me. Then Emmett gets between us, looking angrier and never more gorgeous than ever at this very moment. Okay, maybe now is not the time for wet panties. Amid all this jazz, Esme is screeching for them to stop. Carlisle is trying to reason with them. Alice is hollering this is all my fault. Jasper? Just moseys on over to me to help me to my feet.

Emmett's voice is all power as it fills the air. Yep, can't help the flood that coats my knickers now. "If you dare raise your hand to her, I'll fucking kill you. Then when Rose finds you in the hereafter, she'll kick your ass for being a douche all over again."

Edward's livid, "You'll side with her over your family?"

Emmett roars. Yes, like a fucking lion, "Family? You? You ballsy motherfucker! You just basically told me it's my fault Rose is gone and then you try to attack the woman I love? Fuck you Edward. You know what? Leah was right about every damn thing she said. Now, let me end your misery."

I take a step towards them and place my hand on Emmett's shoulder. I just squeeze, letting him know I'm here for him. That I'll always be here. The anger flows from his shoulders. I can hear the others murmur at how my touch is calming him. They're amazed. Fuck them. All I care about is my Papa Bear and I know that if he kills Edward is a fit of rage, he'll never forgive himself. I would lose him and that is so not what I want.

Edward's tense stance relaxes as he looks past Emmett at me. Then his eyes move back to Emmett. His shoulders droop, "I am sorry. For all that I said. I know how stubborn Rosalie was. Once she made up her mind, there was never any going back. I just wish..."

Emmett just nods, "We all do dude but then again..." His words trail off as he turns to embrace me. His lips find the top of my head. He speaks and it's to the whole family. "I'm with Leah for as long as she'll have me. Rose told me at the end that she wanted me to move on. To find that someone who accepts me and all that I have to give. The way she couldn't. Leah's that someone. I would never trade any of the time I had with Rose. I'll always remember our time with love but Leah's my future now. She's got me twisted in ways I didn't think existed. Now, you can all accept this and we can move forward. If you can't, well, then I'll make other arrangements but I will be with her."

I sigh a breath of relief. I had been nervous that if they made him choose, he would side with them. After all, they're his family. No matter how selfish or fucked up they are. I smile against his chest as he waits for their response.

Carlisle speaks first, "You're our son no matter who you love. I'm sure Rosalie would find a way to come back to destroy us if we let you leave. Son, you're welcome here as is Leah."

Esme adds, "Leah?" I move back enough to look at the woman Emmett sees as a mother. "I am grateful that..." Her voice cracks, "I'll always miss Rosalie but I am glad Emmett has found you."

Edward is next, "They're both right. Who am I to pass judgment on who you love? I just want you to be happy brother."

Jasper just shrugs, totally indifferent with the whole thing. Alice? Well, this skank's a different story? Her eyes are wide as their gaze sweeps the room, "Are you all insane? She's a wolf? Sure, we fought with them but it's time to go our separate ways. I mean, how the hell is this supposed to work? Is she going to live with us? With Emmett in the room he shared with Rose? And what about the fact that she's still alive and we're not?"

She faces me. Her voice is sugary sweet when she asks, "Will you let Emmett turn you? Will you become what you loathe most shape shifter?"