A/N: Well, I got myself a bit more organised with this chapter :) When I started writing, the whole thing just flowed really easily.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has read this story. And an especially enourmous thank you to those who reviewed. These messages at the start of a chapter seem completely inadequate, they do not really represent the hugs and cookies and lollies and loud thank yous that I actually want to send.

A couple of reviewers mentioned the evolvement of Jacob and Leah's relationship, and I just have to say, I cannot wait to share the evolvement with you! I have know how this story would play out before I even started writing it, and I can only hope that I can actually pull off my ideas, and that you all enjoy them as much as I hope you do.

Anyway, enough prattling from me, and here is the next chapter.

Music: Not Now But Soon- Imogen Heap, Words- Kate Miller-Heidke, Relapse- Little Birdy.


Jacob drew in a deep breath as he approached the large house. What he was about to do was going to be difficult, incredibly so. But he had to do it. He needed to do this if he was going to be able to move forward with his life.

He stopped, a few feet from the front door, knowing that Bella would appear before long. With Edward, there was no keeping anybody's arrival a secret. He wondered if Edward would inform Bella of the nature of his visit. A small part of Jacob hoped that he would...because he had no idea how he was going to do this.

It was only a few moments later that Bella stepped out of the front door, a large smile on her face. Jacob groaned inwardly- she just had to be smiling didn't she? Edward obviously hadn't given her all the information.

"Jake!" Bella ran down towards him. "I am so glad that you are here. I have wanted to see you since the beach. I am so—"

Jacob held up his hand, silencing her. "You do not need to apologise, Bells."

Her smile widened. "You are way too good to me, Jacob Black."

"Yup, that's me, the perennial good guy."

"And you say that like it's a bad thing," she commented. "So, Edward said that you wanted to speak to me about something. I'm assuming that it's important..."

Jacob nodded. "Not talk, as in discuss. I need to tell you something." He paused. "You know that you're my best friend, right? And that I would never want to upset you?"

Bella's eyes widened slightly. "Why do I get the feeling that you are about to tell me that you're dying or something?"

"Not dying...but just tell me, the friend's thing. You understand?" She nodded and so he continued. "And I know that you care about me and don't want to hurt me."

"Of course I don't."

"But, you see, that's the thing Bella. Being around you does hurt me. Like the other day at the beach. Now, I know that there is absolutely no intention on your behalf...but you hurt me, Bella. And more than that, I allow myself to be hurt." He paused, raking a hand through his hair. "And I need to take some sort of action to stop that from happening anymore."

Bella's mouth had set itself in a firm line. "What are you telling me, Jacob?"

"I am saying that I can be around you anymore. I can't see you anymore. The last thing I want to do it upset you...but...."

"Jake," Bella took a step towards him. "Don't say this. I need you in my life."

"Bella, stop," he interjected. "You don't need me. You want to have me in your life, but you don't need me. A want is a selfish thing, but a need is...desperation. And I need to have you out of my life at the moment. I am not saying that this will be forever, but if I don't start looking out for me, I am scared that I am going hate the person I will become. This hurts so fucking much to say, but you have to stay out of my life."

Bella was staring at him, her expression unreadable. "Ok," she said quietly.

Jacob blinked. "What?" That wasn't exactly the reaction he had been expecting.

"I'll do whatever you want, Jacob," she said. "You have done so much for me...and you're right. We need to start putting you first. However you want this to play out, I will go along with it."

A small smile broke out on Jacob's face. "You are a good friend, Bella."

She reached out a hand, placing it on his arm. "I am only doing what you would do for me. Besides," she winked at him, "I am going to be around for a lot longer than any other person. I have eternity, Jacob, and I will wait that long if you need it."

XXXXX

"Hey mum," Leah said, walking into the family kitchen. She stopped, taking note of the salad Sue was covering with cling wrap. "Where are you going?"

"There is a barbeque at the Uley's this afternoon. I volunteered for salad duty," Sue replied.

"Oh. Well have fun."

Sue looked up at her. "You are going too, Leah."

Leah let out a short laugh. "I don't think so, mum. I am not ready to watch the newlywed show just yet. I don't need my gag reflex to be kicked into high gear."

"Now, Leah, don't be like that," Sue replied lightly. "You are not that person."

Leah sat down on one of the stools at the bench. "And what type of person might that be?"

"Bitter," her mother replied bluntly. "I know you and you are so much better than that."

Leah felt her muscles tense, surprised at the surge of anger that coursed through her body at that moment. She had no idea why Sue's words has affected in that way, but she was furious. "Well, isn't that nice."

Sue blinked at the acidity in her daughter's tone. "Leah?"

"It is so nice to have people telling me who I am. I am just so thankful for that," Leah spat out. "But what I would like to know, is how these people can know me so well, when I don't even have a clue about who I am! You tell me that I am strong, but I don't know if I am. How can I know if I am? What does it mean to be strong anyway? And why is it always strong? Surely a person is more than one quality? But I don't...I don't know how to identify myself. I used to be Sam's girlfriend, now I am the scorned woman." She paused, drawing in a deep breath. "But what does that mean? I don't know who I am supposed to be."

"Oh sweetie," Sue took a step towards her. "Of course you do. You are just going through a tough—"

"Stop mum!" Leah yelled. "I don't need a pep talk. I don't need sympathy. And most of all, I don't need pity! What I need is for people to leave me alone. To stop scrutinising me. To stop watching and waiting for me to lose control."

"People do not want that to happen," Sue said. "I have no idea what you believe that, but your family and friends want to see you happy."

Leah scoffed. "Oh please. People love that sort of stuff. Me walking out of the wedding would have had them all salivating."

Sue was shaking her head. "Leah, I have no idea where this is coming from."

"And you know what, mum? If I wanted to be a bitter person then nobody should hold that against me. Sam fucked me over—"

"Language, Leah."

"And if I am bitter now, I know that I am not going to be that way forever. Do you know why?"

Sue shook her head slowly, concern written all over her face. She had started to believe that Leah had been making process, after leaving to join Jacob's pack. However, it was becoming clear that that was obviously not the case.

"Because when it all comes down to it, Emily is more than welcome to Sam. She married him, knowing who he is and what he does, and now she is going to be stuck on this reservation for the rest of her fucking life, playing happy wife and mother. And that is last thing I want to happen to me." Leah looked up and saw the stricken expression on her mother's face. The implications of what she had said suddenly dawned on her. "Oh, mum. I didn't mean you—"

"I understand perfectly what you meant, Leah," Sue cut in, her tone clipped. "Now, I have been nothing but patient and supportive with you, but enough is enough. I don't care if you are going through the worst period of your life, it does not give you the right to belittle the life of the people on this reservation. It does not give you the right to disrespect the life that I led with your father."

Leah's stomach was churning. The last think she ever wanted to do was hurt her mother. "Mum, I—"

"I really don't want to hear it now, Leah," Sue cut her off. "Now you are going to come to this barbeque with a smile on your face. I don't care if it's an act, but I will not allow your misery to infect the people I care about."

XXXXX

Leah observed the large group of happy people and wondered if torture was too strong a word. It was taking most of her energy to keep some semblance of a smile on her face. The only thing keeping her from leaving was the residual guilt she felt from her conversation with Sue.

"Hello."

The quiet voice broke Leah out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Emily standing hesitantly in front of her. Keeping her mother in mind as inspiration, Leah smiled warmly. "Hi Emily. How are you?"

"I'm good." She paused, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Um, could I speak with you about something?"

Leah nodded. "Sure."

Emily gestured for them to move away from the rest of the gathering. "I wanted to tell you this in person before Sam and I announced it to everybody today..."

In that instant Leah felt the air rush out of her lungs. 'Oh no, not now. Please don't tell me this now. Please just keep your mouth shut. Please don't.... "Tell me what?" she managed to get out.

"We're having a baby," Emily replied. Even though she was keeping herself restrained, Leah could hear the pure excitement seeping through her voice.

'Don't freak, don't freak. You have no reason to be upset by this; you have no reason to be upset by this...' "Uh, congratulations, Emily. You must be thrilled," Leah managed to get out.

"Yeah, we are," Emily replied, relief starting to wash over her face. Leah felt a wave of irritation at this. Emily had obviously been expecting her to blow her lid. 'Just like I said, mum.'

"Yeah, well, all the best for the two of you," Leah said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom."

Emily nodded. "I'll see you around, Leah."

Leah walked off, her steps hasty. She waited until she had gotten around the side of the house, well out of range of the guests, before exhaling loudly. She did her best but was unable to stop the choking sob that followed. She hated herself for reacting like this. She knew that this would be happening sooner or later...but just not so soon. It felt like a sucker punch to the gut. Just one more thing that Emily was able to give, that she never would.

'Stop it, Leah,' she told herself. 'Stop the self pity. You are better than this. Just get yourself together and get back in there." She inhaled several shaky breaths, feeling the need to cry dissipate with each. However, the lump in her throat remained.

"Leah."

Her head jerked up at the sound of Jacob's voice. He was walking towards her, his steps almost...buoyant?

"Good, I was hoping that you would be here. You are never going to guess what I did today. I took charge—" He cut off abruptly as Leah grabbed the lapel of his shirt, yanking him close so that she could press her lips into his. She wasn't comprehending his words. All she could think of was what he could do for her. After a few surprised seconds, he pulled back. "Leah, what..."

"I don't want to talk," she whispered, fumbling furiously with his fly.

"Leah!" Jacob couldn't help but laugh. "Nearly the entire community are within very close range. I don't think that—"

"Sssh," she said, yanking down his pants and boxers. "Please. They are all going to be very occupied very soon. Can we please just do this?"

"My dad, your mum..." Jacob trailed off as he looked into Leah's eyes. They were wild with an almost desperation.

"Please Jacob," she asked, pressing her lips into his once again.

Even with a voice in his head screaming at him to say no, Jacob found himself returning the kiss with fervour. He pushed Leah up against the side of the house, pulling up her skirt so that it sat around her waist. Slipping his hands around her, he shifted her upwards so that she could wrap her legs around his waist. He ground hips into hers, causing Leah to respond with a loud moan.

"Yes, Jacob," she said, her voice husky. "Please...please..." She sighed into his ear as he brought his hand between them to push her underwear aside. He let his hand linger there for several moments, rubbing and teasing her with his thumb. "Just do it, Jake," she pleaded, grabbing his ass so that she could shove him closer to her. "Please.

She let out a small cry as he entered her, her hot muscles tightening around his hard cock. "Yes...yes...please..." she muttered as he began to move in and out, thrusting her up against the wall. It was hard, fast and furious.

Exactly what she needed.

"Please....yes...." she continued moan into his ear. 'Please make me forget, Jake. Make it go away,' the voice in her head was screaming as he continued to move inside of her. 'Please, make me forget...'

'Please...'