I am so, so, so, so, so, SO a million times sorry it took me so long to update! I had MAJOR writer's block, and my computer was being a spoiled brat...Other than that, I'm totally fine!

Thank you, the people that reviewed! I love you so much!

~SashaFierce12.0

Chapter 28

Leah's P.o.V.

I sat and waited for Jacob to come back inside. He never did. Even after most everyone had left, he still didn't come. Seth stayed with me as I waited. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

"Seth. I'm going to find him. Stay with Jayah," I commanded. Seth swallowed and nodded. I walked outside, but not before grabbing an umbrella. It had started to pour, and it was a little chilly. I held the umbrella over me and wrapped my free arm around myself. "Jacob? Jacob!" I called. I heard a crash of thunder, and lightning flashed. "Where are you?" I paused and looked around. I closed my eyes and tried to feel where he was. My wolf senses were coming back one by one, and I sniffed the air to find him. "Crap." The rain had washed away everything. "Great." I tried to listen for him, but my heightened hearing hadn't come back yet. "When all else fails..." I closed my eyes again. I started walking. The imprint was pulling me towards him. I knew that I was close. I looked around some more and saw a dark figure sitting against a tree. I slowly walked towards it. More lightning flashed and I saw that it was him. Relief washed over me like water from a shower head. "Jacob!" I exclaimed. I hurried over to him and leaned my umbrella towards his body. He didn't move. I touched him. "Jacob?" he still didn't move. He was shivering violently. I threw my umbrella to the side and kneeled down so I could see him better. I lifted up his head. His eyes were open, and he stared straight at me. But it was as if he was staring...

Straight though me.

I smoothed his wet hair back with my hand. His lips were in a thin line, and he kept staring at me. I put my finger under his nose, just to make sure he was breathing. Thank goodness he was.

"Jacob...C'mon, speak to me," I pleaded. He continued staring. He didn't even blink. I tried to get him to stand up. But I was too weak. I needed help...But I couldn't leave him here. I called out some of the Packs' names. Maybe one of them was on patrol. I waited a few minutes and called their names again. Then I even called all of the Cullens'. I finally gave up and kneeled back by Jacob. "Please! Talk to me! Do something to let me know you're okay!" I cried. Jacob murmured something. My eyes widened. "Louder. Say it louder, Jake."

"...E...Line" he said. I knitted my eyebrows together. What was he talking about?

"Leah!" I heard my name being called. I whipped around, and wiped my wet hair out of my face. I had only been out here for a little bit, and I was already soaked. "Leah! I heard you calling me." Collin explained, clearly out of breath. I started to cry happily.

"Help me. Please. Jacob..." I looked at Jake's blank face. He was still staring through me. Collin kneeled down by him.

"What happened?"

"I-I don't know. I came out to look for him...And..." I covered my mouth with my hands.

"I'm gonna' get someone to help me get him back to your house. Stay here," he instructed. He phased and ran out into the forest. I stayed next to Jacob, his hand in mine the whole time. I occasionally kissed his knuckles, something that he did to me when I was anxious. He didn't respond at all. I heard a twig snap and a shot up.

"It's okay. It's just us," Sam held up his hands. I sighed and stood up. Sam looked at Jacob. "Jake..." he kneeled down. "Jacob." Sam waved a hand in front of his face. Jacob didn't do anything. "Jared. Come help me." Jared nodded and bent down to help Jacob up. I followed them back to the house. When we got inside, they carried him upstairs to our room. He was still shivering really bad. I rushed towards him and rubbed his hands with mine, trying to get him warm.

"There's some towels in the linen closet. Go get them," I commanded. I heard someone's footsteps as they rushed to get them. A second later, I was drying Jake off with a towel.

"I called Carlisle," Seth told me. "I thought that he'd be able to help." I smiled appreciatively at my brother.

"Thanks." I continued rubbing my hands in his, and wrapping the towel around him, but he still continued to shiver. I looked at his face again, it was still blank. The door opened from downstairs. A few footsteps later, Carlisle was in our room. He instantly headed for Jacob, and I stood up to give him room. Carlisle shined a light in Jacob's eyes, and felt around his arms and neck.

"Unresponsive...But he still has a pulse..." Carlisle murmured to himself. I wrapped my arms around myself. This was so scary...Not knowing what was wrong with Jacob. "Jake," Carlisle said loudly, but his voice was calm. "Talk to me, Son." Jacob didn't say anything. "Can you hear me?" Carlisle stared at Jacob some more, and Jacob stared back. Finally, Carlisle stood up. "I don't know what to tell you guys. I guess the best thing to do is wait." Carlisle shrugged. "I'll come by every day to check up on him." I nodded.

"Thanks, anyway," I said quietly. Carlisle smiled sadly at me and walked out. I sat back down next to Jacob and took his hand in mine.

"Leah, go change into some dry clothes. You must be freezing," Seth said to me. I hadn't realized that I was shivering until he said that to me. I nodded and stood up to leave, but not before planting a kiss on Jacob's knuckles. I rubbed his cheek then walked to my drawer. I took some clothes out and went to the bathroom.

After changing into my pajamas, I went to Jayah's room to check on her. I walked in and paused when I saw Jared inside. He turned to me and smile sheepishly.

"Sorry, I thought you wouldn't mind," he said truthfully. I laughed a little.

"It's okay!" I replied. He smiled and continued rocking Jayah in his arms. I closed the door and walked back to the master bedroom. Collin had left, I could see, and Sam was standing next to Seth. Both of them were staring at Jacob.

"What do you think happened?" Seth asked. He stared at Jacob with a pained look in his eyes. I sat back down next to him and took his hand in mine again.

"I don't know..." I answered. I massaged his knuckles and listened to his steady breathing. I watched him close his eyes and go to sleep.

"Whatever it was..." Sam whispered, turning to the door to leave. "...It had to be pretty bad."

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I woke up lying on Jacob's back. I stretched and frowned. Jayah hadn't woke me up like she usually did. I stood up and walked downstairs. Jared was in the kitchen making something. Jayah was inside her baby seat, sitting on top of the breakfast nook. I walked into the kitchen with a smile.

"How long have you been here?" I asked, taking a seat nearest to Jayah. I rubbed her cheek with my finger. Jared turned to me and smiled.

"All night. I thought that you guys could use the help," he replied. He turned back around. I almost choked on my saliva.

All night?

"Did you sleep at all?" I asked. Jared shrugged his shoulders.

"Nah...I didn't feel like it." I smiled again. "I already fed her, burped her, changed her, and, as you can see, I put her down for a nap. I'm making breakfast now." My eyes bugged out of my head. He really did all that...By himself? I reached forward and put my hand on his forehead.

"You sick, or something, Jare?" I joked. He rolled his eyes at me.

"I grew up with two younger siblings. My parents worked a lot. What do you expect?" he shrugged his shoulders. His eyes roamed to the stairs.

"He still isn't talking...At all," I said. I looked at Jayah. She looked so much like her daddy, especially when she was sleeping. Jared kind of smiled, then sniffed the air. He cursed under his breath and turned back around to the stove. "Oh, yeah. The pancakes are burning," I said in a flat voice. I stood back upstairs. Jacob laid on the bed still, where I had left him, he was awake. He stared at the wall. I sat on my knees and took his hand. "Hey. You're awake," I said quietly. He didn't respond. "Aren't you going to talk to me, Jacob?" He didn't say anything. I sighed and thought back to yesterday night. The only clue that I had was the word 'gone.' It was all he had said. I heard the door open from downstairs.

"Last day of school!" Jazmyn exclaimed, loud enough for me to hear it. "I'm so excited!" I smiled at Seth as he came up here and kneeled next to me. He looked at Jake.

"He say anything yet?" he asked quietly. I shook my head and sighed.

"Silent as a mouse." Seth and I stared at Jacob some more. All of a sudden, Seth stood up.

"Time for me to go. I'll see you in a few hours." I grinned at him.

"Have a happy last day!" I said. He leaned down, pecked my cheek, then went to retrieve the others.

After they left, it was pretty quiet. I spent a long time staring at Jacob, who was staring at me. I searched his face for any insight to what might have happened.

Nothing.

Carlisle and his family came by a little while later. Carlisle and Edward were upstairs with me, looking at Jacob.

"Are you going to talk to me today, Jake?" Carlisle asked. Jacob didn't move. He sighed and glanced at Edward, who looked like he was in deep concentration. "What do you have?" Edward frowned some more.

"His mind is completely blank," Edward said, clearly frustrated. I jumped a little when Jacob blinked.

"He blinked," I whispered. "Jacob. Jacob, listen to me. Tell me what's wrong." I stroked his face. He continued staring ahead and didn't answer me. I groaned.

"Still...Nothing. Did he say anything to you last night?" he looked at me in confusion.

"Uhh...He murmured something. Kind of like...'E-line...?' But I didn't know what that meant." He nodded and turned his attention back at Jacob. He concentrated again, and then groaned when the door opened and Claire made her presence known.

Loudly.

I stood up and ran down the stairs to her. "Claire-Bear, it's quiet time now." I put my finger to my mouth.

"Mousy time?" she asked. I nodded.

"Mousy time. Why don't you go color with Kim and Jared? I'm sure they'd like that." Claire nodded and wiggled out of my grasp.

"Sam told me what happened. How is he?" Emily asked. I shrugged.

"Edward and Carlisle are working with him now." I went back upstairs. Rachael was in front of him now, her face sad.

"Please don't do this to me, Jake," she was saying. "I've got enough to worry about as it is." She looked down. I knitted my eyebrows together, unsure of what she was implying. Paul looked at her...I hadn't even realized he was here.

"Rachael...What's going on...?" I asked. I looked at Edward. His mouth twitched. Rachael blushed and looked at Paul. He gave her a small smile.

"I...I-I'm pregnant," she replied shyly. I fell to the ground beside her, smiling ear to ear.

"When did you find out? How far are you?" I asked. Rachael looked at Carlisle.

"They found out a couple of weeks ago. She's two months," Carlisle answered. I squealed and hugged her.

"I can't believe it! I'm gonna' be an aunty!" I exclaimed. "I'm so happy for you guys. Did you tell Billy?"

Rachael nodded. "Yeah. I...We...We told him yesterday. You should have seen how he lit up, Leah! He was so happy...!"

Soon our excitement died down and we sat in silence, waiting for any sign that Jacob could still hear us. I sat there for a while before turning to Rachael again.

"You wanna' help me make lunch? The rest of the Pack is going to be here soon," I added, looking at the clock on the side table. It was 10:17. Seth and the rest of them would be here in...Thirty-eight minutes. Rachael nodded and we stood up to go to the kitchen.

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He was like that for two days. No one knew what was wrong with him. Edward tried every day to read his mind, but he really had nothing to read. I stayed by his side every time that I could, but when Jayah needed me, I had to go. The Pack and the rest of the Cullens were supportive, and were over every single second of the day to cheer me up. It would work...For that moment in time.

I closed the door to mine and Jacob's room with a sigh. It was late at night and I was here alone...Well, Jake was here...Yet he wasn't here. Jayah had started crying again. I walked to her room and picked her up out of her crib. She'd already eaten...I changed her...What else could be wrong?

"Shhh...Jayah, stop crying...Please?" I asked. I mentally slapped myself. Why would a three week old baby answer me. Jayah continued crying. I patted her back and walked downstairs. "What's wrong with you lately?" I asked. It seemed like she'd been crying more these last couple of days. I set her down in her baby seat to see if she'd stop crying. She didn't. I put her seat on the ground across from my place at the couch. "Jayah...Please!" I sniffed. The volume of my voice only made her cry louder. I put my elbows on my knees and started to cry, too. I sat up and laid back on the couch. I put the palm of my hand on my forehead, still crying. "Jacob...I need you."

Jayah and I were still crying when the door opened. I wiped my eyes quickly and stood to pick Jayah back up.

"I was in the area...Thought you'd need help." My back was turned, but I could tell that the voice was Paul. I was kind of embarrassed to have him see me like this. I was only wearing an overly large t-shirt and my hair wasn't brushed. I sniffed again and turned around. He flashed me his famous half smile and I looked back down at Jayah. She stopped crying just long enough to suck in another breath and let out another piercing shriek. I flinched, and Paul chuckled.

"It's, like, two a.m...What were you doing 'in the area?' Did you have patrol, or something?" I asked. Paul's smile faded a bit. I barely saw it when he shook his head.

"How about the 'or something' part?" he suggested sheepishly. I sniffed and raised an eyebrow. "What about you? How come you're crying?" I sighed and looked at Jayah again. From the looks of it, she wasn't going to stop. I patted her back and tried shushing her again. To my relief, her screaming fell a few octaves.

"To be honest...I..." my shoulders slumped. "...I just want Jacob back." I looked at Paul again, waiting for him to show me his signature smirk. But he didn't. Still patting Jayah's back, I narrowed my eyes. "But don't change the subject, Mr. Lahote. If you weren't on patrol, what were you doing outside this late at...Early in the morning?" Paul huffed out a breath and looked at the ceiling. It was almost as if he was shy to answer my question!

Is the world ending already?

"...Well...I was thinking about Rach..." he shot his eyes at me. "Don't laugh, 'kay?" I nodded, still patting Jayah's back. "I guess it's just all hitting me that in six months...I'll be a...A..."

"A dad?" I finished for him. I barely saw it when he nodded. I smiled.

"You promised you wouldn't laugh!" he said angrily. I frowned and shrugged my shoulders.

"I smiled. There's a big difference there, Paul," I retorted. Paul rolled his eyes. "It's okay. You know, I bet you Rachael's probably feeling the same way. I know I had my doubts..." I looked down at Jayah and grinned, seeing that she had finally fallen back asleep. I set her back in her baby seat and raked my fingers through my hair. "...But when you hold your baby in your arms for the first time...After all those months you waited...Something just, you know, changes in you." I looked at Jayah as I said this, and kissed her forehead. I turned back to Paul, he was silent for a few moments.

"It's just...I'm kind of...Scared..." he eventually muttered, his face turning a faint shade of red. My eyes widened.

"What could you possibly be scared about, Paul?"

"Everything! What it means when they cry...If I'm gonna'...Drop em' when I'm holding it...If I'm gonna' get out of control and phase," he got quiet. "I don't want to hurt my own kid, Leah." I listened intently as he explained this all to me, and was surprised he'd felt this way. "And I don't want to be like my parents." I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm gonna' save you the sorry sob story that was my life and just tell you that they didn't like me," he answered quickly. "'Sides, I should get going."

"You don't have to...I have time to spare." I sat down on the couch and patted the space next to me. After a few moments of hesitation, he sat on the cushion. Again, there were a few seconds of silence. Finally, he took a breath and started.

"The only time they paid attention to me was when they needed their own personal punching bag. That was often, and I really don't want to get into it. But one day, someone must of heard my cries and called the police. They made a run for it. Leaving me. I was nine...All alone in that beat up old house. No food...No money...Only the address and phone number to my aunt's house. I didn't know why they left that greasy piece of paper on the kitchen table. We didn't have a phone...I couldn't drive...At the time, I was living in California, and had never been to La Push. I knew that I had an aunt somewhere, though. And I knew that she lived on this reservation, here in Washington. I'd just never met her.

"I wandered around for days...I stayed out on the streets forever. I met a few people, but when I felt like I was getting too attached, I got scared and ran away. See, I'd grown up learning that I shouldn't trust people easily. Sure, someone would take me in for a couple of days, but I always left before they tried anything else...It took me months to get enough money for a bus ride to Seattle. I walked around for hours, before gathering enough courage to use the phone at the bus station.

"When I saw Aunt Lucile pull up in that old Toyota...Something...I dunno'...Something happened. I immediately knew that I could trust her. I didn't want to believe it at first...She was so nice, and treated me like the 'son that she never had.' But in my little ten-year-old mind, I thought that it was all an act." he chuckled half heartedly at this part, then continued. "But as I spent more time with her, I loosened up, and we became really close...So close, that it almost killed me to see her go." Paul's eyes glossed over, and I braced myself to see the almighty Paul start crying. But he didn't, and kept going. "...She died from a brain tumor the doctors didn't catch soon enough. It was the same day I phased for the first time. That's when, I guess, I stopped, you know...Feeling...? You just gotta' get over the tragedies and live your life, you know? I ended up inheriting her house and all that crap. Blah. Blah. Blah," he chuckled again, and I giggled with him. Then he sucked in a breath. "I think that's when I made the promise to myself; to never be like my parents. I told myself, if I had a kid...Which, of course, I am...I would be the best dad any kid could ever have. Those years that Aunt Lucile was with me, I secretly looked up to her. Never in my life did I have someone like her.

"And that's how I want to be. I want my kid to see me as someone they can look up to. I don't want to be seen as a...Monster, or something. And I definitely don't want them to be scared of me. It would kill me, Leah." He was looking down during this part of the story, and he looked up at me now. His eyes were glossed over, and I knew that at any moment he could crack.

But honestly, I didn't know what to say. He had just shared practically his whole life's story with me. Me. Of all people. So, I did the next best thing. I hugged him. He looked like he needed it. He didn't hug me back, and I knew that it was nothing personal; he just didn't want to hurt his tough guy reputation any more than he already had. After a couple of seconds, I pulled away.

"I...I don't know what to say," I started. "I mean...You just shared, like, your whole life with me. A person who, by the way, you couldn't stand back when we were in school." Paul smirked and shrugged.

"Only 'cause you were an annoying little brat," he retorted. I rolled my eyes; he was baaack!

"Way to ruin a moment, Paul," I said sarcastically. Then I stood up to get the stray blankets and bottles lying around. When I stood back up, I stared at Paul, a mound of blankets and pacifiers in my hands. He laughed.

"Need help?" he asked, and I took the opportunity to throw some blankets into his outstretched hands.

"Laundry room," I ordered, and we walked to throw our things into the baskets. Before he left, he turned to me, holding the door open with his hand.

"What happened here, will stay here, got it?" he asked me. I looked up and bit my lip, pretending to be in deep thought.

"Hmmm..." I added for emphasis. Paul growled and I smirked. "I was joking, Pauly!" I reached up and pinched his cheek. "Dang, you gotta' lighten up!" I laughed again.

"Shut up, Clearwater," he said, but he laughed in spite of himself. "I guess I'll see you later, then." I nodded and watched him jog back into the forest. I'd never forget about tonight. I had seen a whole other side to Paul that I'd never seen before. And...

And...It was kinda' creeping me out...

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Seth's P.o.V.

('Cause I haven't done one for a long time! o(wO))

I opened the door to Leah's house, Jazz, Embry, Quil, Brady, Collin, Jared, Kim, and the Cullens trailing behind me.

"Lee?" I called. I looked around and spotted her asleep on the breakfast nook. It took almost all of me to not burst out laughing right then and there. She was standing up, and her head rested in the palm of her left hand. Her right hand was holding a half empty milk bottle, and was extended out towards Jayah's baby seat. Jayah laid asleep in it. Collin snorted from behind me. I turned and glared at him. He shut up immediately.

"You shouldn't be talkin', Seth," Jared said, but amusement was clear in his voice. "I saw you trying not to laugh." I rolled my eyes and walked over to Leah. I poked her cheek.

"Leah," I said quietly. She murmured something, but didn't wake up. "Leeeeah," I said again, drawing out the 'e' in her name. Still nothing. Jazmyn groaned from behind me and pushed me out the way.

"Yo, Leah! Wake up!" she shouted. Leah jumped.

"What? Is it the baby?" she slurred sleepily. She turned to Jayah, and frowned when she saw her still sleeping soundly. "Why'd you wake me up?" She leaned back into the palm of her hand, closing her eyes for a few seconds and then opening them again.

"'Cause. We were hungry. Emily wouldn't let us in. Said something about 'needing her privacy,'" Embry answered, rolling his eyes. Leah glared at him, rolled her eyes, and started nodding off again. I chuckled.

"How long did you sleep last night?" I asked. Leah shrugged her shoulders lazily, already falling back to sleep.

"Dunno...Four...Maybe three..." her head relaxed into her hand again. I looked at the others.

"Seconds?" Kim asked.

"Minutes?" asked Jared.

"Hours?" I finished. Leah sighed, and I could tell that she was barely paying attention.

"...Maybe two..." her head clonked down on the hard marble and she shot back up again. "Oww...That hurt..." she rubbed her head.

"Dang...She is so out of it," Collin whispered. I smirked and walked around to help her before she collapsed onto the floor.

"C'mon, Sis. Time for bed," I commanded, dragging her to the living room. Leah murmured something, but I didn't hear it. I set her carefully on the couch, and then went back to the kitchen. Esme was already in there, cooking away. I sat down at the breakfast nook and stroked Jayah's cheek. She opened her eyes and started kicking around when she saw me. I smiled and picked her up. "Hey, Baby Jay," I cooed. Jazmyn slid into the seat next to me and sighed.

"You are so cute when you're playing with your niece," she giggled. I laughed back and rocked Jayah in my arms.

"It's not my fault if she's so darn adorable," I retorted, crossing my eyes at her. We laughed again, watching Jayah suck on her fingers. My head whipped to the living room when I saw Edward jump out of his chair. He was sitting on the same couch Leah was sleeping on, and Leah screamed and fell off. She sat up, shooting daggers at him.

"What the heck, Edward?" She rubbed her shoulder.

"He's thinking..." he said quietly, and then rushed up the stairs. Leah rushed up the stairs just as fast, and soon she was gone. I looked at Jazmyn and handed Jayah to her.

"I'm going with them," I told her. She nodded and I went upstairs.

In the master bedroom, Leah was on her knees, kneeling at the side of the bed looking at Jacob. His eyes were closed, and his head tossed around a little.

"His thoughts are all mixed around and jumbled up...I...I can't get all-" Edward was cut short when Jacob shot up off the bed with a sharp intake of his breath. Then he slapped his hand to his forehead and laid back down again.

"Crap..." he murmured. He squeezed his eyes shut in pain. "What'd I do last night?" Leah threw herself on him and started crying. She pulled away and slapped him. I turned away to keep from laughing. "What the heck, Leah?"

"Don't ever do that to me again!" she wagged her finger at him. I looked at Edward, whose face was serious.

"You don't remember anything?" he asked. Jacob sat up, leaning on the headboard.

"Umm...I remember walking...Some rain...And then..." he groaned, putting his hands on his forehead again. "I don't know...! I have the worst headache in the history of the world right now!" Leah and I exchanged a glance, but she looked away quickly.

"You want me to get you some Tylenol?" I offered. I started to back away towards the door, ready to get some. Jacob shook his head and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

"I think I can manage," he said sarcastically. He stood up. He took three steps and then tripped over his fumbling feet. Leah and I practically died laughing. "Not. Funny." Jake said, but he was smiling and shaking his head.

"Here, let me help you," Leah said, giggling. She grabbed one of his arms and pulled him onto his feet. She led him out the door. I looked at Edward staring after them.

"You okay, Man?" I asked, slapping his shoulder.

"I didn't expect for him not to remember a dream that he just literally had two minutes ago," he replied quietly. "I still don't know what happened...But I did catch a name," he added, we were walking out now. I stopped, and he stopped, too, staring at me.

"Well?" I asked.

"...Evangeline." I cocked my head to the side.

"I...Don't know an Evangeline," I said. I was really confused. "Is that all you got?" I didn't miss Edward's moment of hesitation. "...You...Did." He looked away and was silent for a few moments before turning back to me.

"She's a vampire."

Ha! Cliff hanger! Review. That is all. Have a nice FanFic reading day!

~SashaFierce12.0