A/N: So, once again, here I am offering a completely inadequate thanks to all my fantastic readers. I am so grateful that you are sticking with me through the recent events of this story. To those who have taken the time to review, you rock my world. It is as simple as that. You make the dark days bright and make me want to write, write and write some more.

I really struggled emotionally when writing this chapter. Again, the events that occur have been planned since before I started writing this story. That being said, I have been going back and forth over these ideas, wondering if I should continued with the plot lines. In the end, I decided to stick with my instincts, with my original plan. I did not want to shy away from something because I was too 'chicken' to write. That being said, it was difficult to write Leah's point of view. I guess that you will see why. All I can say is, please don't abandon this story. I do have more planned.

Warning: Sensitive content included in this chapter.

Music: Wake Up- Arcade Fire, Wolf Life Me- TV On the Radio, These Days- Powderfinger, Carbon Monoxide- Regina Spektor


Leah forced a smile on her face and looked into his eyes. "I don't need that," she said, pushing his hand away. "All I want is you."

And that was the truth. She wanted to want him so much. She had come here, determined to prove something. Determined to prove that she was stronger, that her fate was in her own hands. But instead, it was Sam's words that had been proven true. Everything was different. She loved Jacob, she did not doubt that, but it was different. It wasn't a love that could keep them strong and together, forever. It was a kind of love that had the ability to break a person's heart.

Just as hers had been broken.

Leah squeezed her eyes shut. She was such an epic screw-up. It had to be her that went and fucking ruined everything, didn't it. It was she who had changed, not Jacob. It was she who had imprinted, not Jacob. And it was her feelings that would not be enough to keep them happy.

She considered her options. She could leave with him, anyone. Surely she could pretend that nothing had happened. She could so that, she could make Jacob happy. She didn't matter. This was her monumental fuck-up, she would just have to live with the consequences.

"I knew that it would hurt you and so I tried to ignore it. I couldn't bear the thought that I would hurt you...I didn't want to be that person...I was lying to you and I was lying to myself. It wasn't right."

Whatever she and Jacob had, it was now gone. The only question was, what was she going to do about it?

"Hey Leah." She felt Jacob's hand brush along the side of her face and she opened her eyes. He was gazing down at her, his expression concerned. "Is everything ok?" His thumb swiped at her cheek, and she felt that it was wet. She had started crying without even realising it. "Tell me, what's going on?"

Leah turned her head away from him slightly, as she brought her hands up to furiously brush away at the tears. She owed it to him to tell him the truth, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. She could not inflict the same pain she had suffered onto someone else. What would that make her?

Forcing a smile on her face, she looked up at Jacob. "It has really just occurred to me that this time tomorrow it will be just you and me. As much as she has infuriated me lately, I am not going to see mum for a long time. And...I am really going to miss her."

Jacob's brow furrowed as he took in Leah's words. He knew that there was something she was holding back and it worried him immensely. "Leah, if you don't want to go, you can tell me. We won't go. We can stay and figure something out here. I am not going to cart you away if it is against your wishes."

"No," Leah shook her head. "It is not that," she responded, looking him directly in the eyes. "I want nothing more than to leave with you. I am just facing facts here- it is not going to be easy. But that does not mean that I want it any less." There was an air of truth to what she was saying. Leah wanted nothing more than to be able to spend her life with Jacob. It was just now...she couldn't.

However, Jacob picked up on the underlying sincerity to what she was saying and his expression softened. "I know what you're saying," he said, pressing a soft kiss onto her forehead. "But we will be together. We can work through it together. We are not going to be left alone, are we?"

Leah swallowed hard, and then shook her head. "No," she whispered. She pushed herself up into a sitting position. "I'm going to go for a run...last round of the forest before we go," she said with a small smile. "And, it's probably best I get a phase out of my system before we board a plane. Who knows what sort of jackass we might come across in that enclosed space?"

Jacob laughed, and leaned forward so that he could press his lips onto hers. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah," Leah's voice was barely a breath. "I'll see you later."

XXXXX

Bella watched as Edward glanced at the clock on the wall again. He thought that he was being covert, but to her it was completely obvious that he was waiting for something. Quietly, she closed the book she had been reading and placed it on the small table beside the couch.

"Edward," she said quietly, keeping an ear out for their daughter who was sleeping in her room not far away. "You are not as sly as you think you are."

Edward whirled around to face her. "What are you talking about?"

"You have been watching the clock all afternoon. Who or what are you expecting? Has Alice's worrying finally influenced you?"

Edward shook his head. "No, this isn't anything to do with the coven's arrival. I am just waiting...for something."

He fell silent and Bella looked at him expectantly. "What sort of a something?"

Edward let out a loud sigh, running a hand through his already unruly hair. "This stays between you and me, ok? You cannot breathe a word about this to anybody."

Bella's brow furrowed with concern. "Do I need to be worried?"

"Not in the slightest," Edward replied. "You know how Jacob and Leah broke up?" Bella nodded. "Well, that's not actually what happened. That is just what they wanted everyone to believe."

Bella's expression turned to confusion. "I don't understand..."

"They're leaving the country tonight. They were never going to be accepted on the reservation and so they made the decision to leave. They both had wanted to travel at some point, and it seemed like their only way out. It is getting close to the time that they're leaving. I am just hoping that they get out without any problems."

Bella was silent as she took in what Edward was telling her...and there was one thing truly bothering her. "How do you know all this Edward?" she asked, working hard to keep her tone level.

He paused before answering. "Because Jacob came to me for help. They needed passports, ID...he knew that I would have connections of some sort. I agreed and organised it all for them."

Bella stood up abruptly. "And what? Are we keeping secrets from one another now?" she demanded.

"Hey," Edward held up his hand. "It was not my secret to share. Jacob confided in me...right now I am breaking his trust and I shouldn't be."

"Well, if you can trust me now, why couldn't you trust me all along, Edward? If this had been me and Jacob keeping things from you, Edward, you would have—"

"Completely understood, given the situation," Edward cut in. "Now, I know what has really got you upset. Do not take it out on me."

Bella exhaled loudly. "I have no idea what you are talking about," she replied, her voice faltering slightly.

"Yes, you do," Edward said, taking a step towards her. "You are hurting that Jacob came to me, because Jacob confided in me. Because he still hasn't spoken to you."

"I...I am...that is..." Bella trailed off. "I'm a selfish bitch, aren't I? Jacob and Leah feel compelled to run away and I automatically go to 'Why didn't he tell me?' And then I try and pick a fight with you to boot." She noticeable slumped and Edward was beside her in less than a second.

"You're still adjusting to him not being around. It's ok."

"No, it's not," Bella replied. "It's just...it's just, he is going to leave tonight without saying goodbye. We were best friends. I guess I just thought..."

"You are best friends, Bella. Think about this from his perspective. It is going to be hard for them to leave everybody they care about behind. At the moment they are furious at their families, which may be easing the pain somewhat. But you? You and Jacob will always love one another. If he were to face you, to say goodbye, he would be facing all the things he would leaving behind. He is not saying goodbye because he doesn't want to, I think that it is because he can't. Think about what is at stake for him and Leah."

Bella was silent for several moments, before a small smile broke out on her face. "Jake's gonna get his own happily ever after, isn't he? Well, some form of it anyway."

Edward nodded. "Yes...and it won't be forever. They will be back here one day. Don't forget- you've got eternity to wait for him to be..." he trailed off, groaning. Bella raised her eyebrows and he nodded towards the door. "Alice is on her way."

Moment later Alice burst through the front door of the cottage, her usually chipper demeanour a lot more darker. "Oh, good. You're here," she sighed, flopping down on the couch.

"To what do we owe this pleasure..." Edward stopped, cocking his head slightly. "Oh..."

"Yup," she said. "They were sick of my fretting and told me that I needed some air." She looked at Edward, her expression pleading. "You believe me, don't you? You don't think that I am turning into some crazy freak?"

Edward sat down next to her. "Look, I don't see anything in your thoughts that makes me worry. The coven's arrival appears to bring no ill-will. But, you are worried. And you are usually right. So, until they leave, we keep on our toes, ok?"

Alice nodded fervently, obviously placated. "Good, so I am not crazy."

"Well, now I didn't say that, did I?" Edward pointed out, a mischievous grin on his face.

XXXXX

Billy was quiet, his conversation with Jacob playing through his mind. Something was not right, something was off in the tone of his son's voice.

He turned to his good friend. "Charlie. I'm sorry to do this, but do you think you could take me back to La Push now?"

Charlie nodded. "No problem. Is something wrong?"

Billy shrugged. "I'm not sure. But I just get the feeling that I need to see Jacob, as soon as possible."

XXXXX

Almost subconsciously Leah had found her way to her and Jacob's clearing. The desperation she has been feeling while with Jacob was gradually being joined by an intense anger. She was furious- at herself, at the plumber named Doyle and at the world. She wanted to love Jacob. She wanted to be with Jacob. She wanted her and Jacob to be happy together. And all of that had been taken away from, without any fucking consultation from her.

"The whole thing is just wrong. That one of the biggest decisions you will ever make- who you are going to spend the rest of your life with- is taken completely out of your hands. You have no say. You have no choice."

The one thing she had so desperately craved- a semblance of control over her life- had just been taken away. Sam leaving her, her father dying and her transitioning into a wolf had all been out her control. But Jacob, what she and he had together, that had been a choice of hers. She had consider her options and made the decision to be with him. And that made what they had all the more real. Because it was what they truly wanted.

"Imprinting isn't love...It's mind control. It is not romantic, it is not beautiful. I couldn't live with it...the rest of them are too blissed out to realise how sick it really is. I could not live everyday looking at somebody who I didn't choose..."

Could she do that? Could she really live the rest of her life knowing that deep down it wasn't what she wanted. Could she allow herself to take the easy path, let herself be overcome by pseudo-love and go about the rest of her days? What would she do to her sense of self if she willing gave away the one thing she should have complete control over.

She knew that there was no way. She couldn't do that. She would despise herself every day...and if she made herself stay with Jacob, he would eventually end up despising her too. He would figure it out. He would realise her feelings had changed, that she no longer loved him...and he would resent her for keeping it quiet.

But, if she told him...He had already been played around by Bella. She could not knowingly hurt him. What would that do to him in the long run? Would he turn away from the world, or would he react with aggression and anger like she had.

Leah choked out a loud sob, and her body was soon convulsing as the hard tears continued to fall. This was not how things were supposed to turn out. She was never meant to imprint. Why the fuck had she gone and ruined everything. She was going to hurt Jacob...

But that really wasn't the worst of it. She would hurt him. But she, herself, had proven that he could eventually move on. What she really could not move past was the puppet strings she now felt attached to. She did not want to live this live. Why the fuck should she have to follow some whacked out fate? She wanted to live the life that she decided, that she outlined.

'I can't...I can't...I can't...' she thought over and over in her mind. Her stomach churned nauseatingly. She felt dirty and used, like there was something innately wrong with her. It was all her. This was all her. She had caused this to happen. Her body was starting shake, similar to when she was going to phase. Her mind was spinning and she could not focus on anything. She didn't know what to do. She felt completely out of control. Like the world was turning at a faster speed, preparing to throw her off. She wanted to grab onto something, wanting to feel something solid. Everything that was her had been taken away and it had left her with nothing.

"I can't fucking do this!" she screamed out loud. The only response she received was a few leaves fluttering down from the surrounding trees. That only made her cry even harder, thinking herself stupid that she could receive a magic just from yelling the problem out loud. So fucking stupid.

"That coven of vampires are arriving tomorrow. It means that we are going to miss out on all the fun."

Leah inhaled sharply as Jacob's voice floated through her mind. Her mind stopped its crazy motions and left her with something. It had just occurred to her that there was a decision she could make for herself...

XXXXX

Leah breathed deeply as she made her way through the trees. They were close, as the icy, cloying sweet scent assaulted her nostrils. She stopped for a moment, her legs feeling shaky. This was it. This was point where she could continue, or turn around. Taking in a deep breath, she straightened up and took a step forward.

It had scared her, as she contemplated her thoughts in the clearing. She could scarcely believe that she, of all people, had gone to such a place. She would not be sparing Jacob from hurt, she was well aware of that. But she felt a peace at the thought that he would have the knowledge that she loved him. He would never know any different. And that surely had to be better for him in the long run. After all, no matter the ending, she was going to lose him, and he her.

But what kept her walking what that this was her choice. This was her doing. This was her doing. She could not bring herself to think about what this would do to everyone outside of Jacob. She was being selfish, she knew that. But the thought of living when...

Her thought stopped abruptly when three vampires stepped into her view. Keeping her hands at her side, Leah dropped her head and waited...