Title: Legendary Travesty

Fandom: Twilight

Pairing: Leah/Esme, established Bella/Alice (Bellice)

Author: Mirandyscrow

Rating: R

Summary: AU Leah imprints in Eclipse. We follow her as she deals with denial, acceptance and the consequences that this extraordinary event causes. This story take place about two months before the beginning of Eclipse and will be a femslash pairing. If you don't like it then don't read it. Thanks!

Spoilers: Let's say everything up until Eclipse is fair game, but I'm twisting a lot of facts and timelines to suit my story.

Archive: Sure if you really want it. Lol, it would be a surprise to me, just ask my permission first. (It's nice when people ask)

Disclaimer: Did Bella and Alice hook up in New Moon? No? Well I guess that means Twilight isn't mine. Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer. Any and all other brand names belong to their respective owners. I do not make any money on this story. Please don't sue; I only have a box of Easy Mac as collateral. BTW Easy Mac is the property of Kraft. :P

Author's Note: I don't have a clue where this idea came from. I was actually focusing on going to sleep and this plus five other prompts popped into my head and played around in my skull until I wrote them down and attempted to give them a fair shot at being written. Now here we are.

Big thanks to faithlessfate for being an awesome beta and making this story worth reading! All careless mistakes are my own.

Chapter 12: Casualty of Love

In the early morning in the midst of a thick sheet of rain, Leah found herself standing underneath the awning of a small, less frequented diner on the corner of the main road running parallel to La Push. She had sent two text messages to Esme. The first one was to confirm with the vampire that they were still meeting this morning to talk about the previous night, and the second was the name of the diner she was currently in.

After several minutes, Leah only got two words in reply: We are.

Not knowing what to make of the text and recognizing that its best not to try and guess tone of voice from a text message, Leah made her way inside the diner and looked around. Nothing much had changed since she used to come here with her father. It looked much smaller than she remembered but still contained the same jukebox that played vinyl records.

Leah sat on the second stool at the counter, grabbing one of the mugs that rested upside down on a small saucer.

The man behind the counter came over to her and began filling her cup with coffee. Leah noticed his nametag read Greg. She smiled her thanks, grateful when the warm roasted smell permeated from the cup, calming her slightly. Greg stopped pouring the coffee about midway up her cup but before Leah had opened her mouth to protest, she noticed his distracted expression.

Greg was looking out the window at some figure, quickly making their way inside. Leah whirled around on her stool in elation, hoping that Esme was the one causing the man's dazzled appearance. Her face fell when she realized that this was not the case. An attractive woman, but certainly not as attractive as Esme, came stepping into the diner. She shook out her umbrella and looked up, her eyes finding Greg without a problem.

"It's always great to see you," Greg said casually as the unnamed woman made her way to the counter.

"It's great to see you too," The woman replied and leaned across the counter to greet him with a kiss.

Leah turned her head away, feeling like an intruder upon the tender moment. She picked up her mug and walked to a table in the far back of the diner, sitting with her back against the wall so that she could keep an eye on the door.

Picking up two small packets of creamer she emptied them into her mug and took a long sip from her cup. The female wolf slid the mug to and fro between her hands and sighed into her coffee. She then looked at her phone then the door to the diner nervously. She knew she needed to give time for Esme to get there but the waiting was proving quite difficult.

She listened past the rain drops on the asphalt and breathed in deep hoping past the grease and burnt food she could smell the lilies and nutmeg scent she was so fond of. "Refresh your cup, Hun?" the waitress asked her.

"Yeah, thank you," Leah mumbled. She watched as the waitress topped up her coffee and walk away before she pulled the mug close once again. She held the cup, staring into it as if it held all the answers to the universe inside its dark depths. "You ready to order yet?" The same voice asked her, effectively breaking through her thoughts.

Leah resisted the urge to check her cell phone before nodding. "I'll go ahead and get it to go." She quickly gave the waitress her order before checking her cell phone for the time again.

Esme was late.

As far as she knew, vampires were never late. She tightened the grip on her phone slightly as she wondered what could be keeping the vampire behind. Maybe the family talk wasn't going over so well and they had forbidden Esme from meeting her today. Everything in her wanted to go back to the Cullen's house and demand to see her mate.

She stood, unable to take to tolerate her thoughts any longer when Esme breezed in. She was in less than her immaculate beauty. Leah had to stifle her gasp. Her hair was just a bit a skewed, the dark circles underneath eyes were darker than usual and her pupils were a tainted bronze with hints of black. The vampire did a quick scan of the diner. Her eyes lit up when she found Leah in just a couple seconds. She hurried forward and launched herself into Leah's awaiting arms.

The wolf held her tightly, breathing in the scent that served to calm her warring emotions. The few patrons of the diner erupted in hushed whispers not that either woman cared. Everyone in town would most likely be finding out about the gossip soon enough.

"Order for Leah!" the cook shouted and rang the order bell, breaking through the moment.

Leah went to the counter and picked up the two bags bursting with food. "Let's get out of here." She said, following Esme to the silver Mercedes parked outside.

"You look tired," Leah said as soon as they pulled out of the parking lot of the diner. "What happened when I left?"

"We talked," Esme answered after a moment. "There was so much talking," She whispered brokenly.

"And yelling I bet," Leah guessed, picking at the plastic handles of the take out bags.

Esme nodded and quirked a tiny smile, her eyes held a steady gaze on the road ahead. "Mostly on Rosalie's end."

Leah stifled the urge to roll her eyes at the response. It figures that Rosalie would be the one to be the drama queen. "Did anything come out of the yelling?" she asked curiously.

Esme's hands tightened on the steering wheel slightly, the wood and leather creaking in protest. "It was finally decided that we'd finish the threat of Victoria and Carlisle will live in Alaska with our cousin coven."

Leah's brow furrowed. "For how long?"

The vampire finally glanced away from the road. "Until it stops hurting or until something changes," she intoned tiredly. Her eyes shimmered with tears that refused to fall.

"Hey," Leah said, wishing desperately that she could take the vampire in her arms "It's going to be okay. I promise you," she declared sincerely.

Those two sentences seemed to open the floodgates for Esme as all her emotions came rushing forth. "The house is split. Edward and Alice are leaning toward my side, but Alice still feels contempt for you because your treatment of Bella. Rosalie sides with Carlisle and Emmett just follows her lead. Jasper doesn't know where to stand. He can feel everyone's emotions and knows that no matter what, someone will be hurt," she revealed. "Its just like a human divorce. I can't lose my children, Leah. I just can't." she sobbed. "Not again."

Leah listened to her mate, feeling her fear and sadness through the bond. She vowed then and there that she would go and see the Cullen 'offspring.' "Again?" she questioned softly.

"I think now is a good time for you to know the story of my turning," Esme said and pulled over to the side of the road, shutting the car off. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply before she spoke. "I grew up in a time where women were expected to be loyal and obedient to their husbands. Beyond that, you were supposed to have numerous children and be happy to be granted the chance to do so. I was delighted to get married because I loved children; it's why I became a schoolteacher." The vampire smiled sadly and continued, "I thought I'd found an excellent catch in Charles Evenson but the honeymoon was over before we'd even said 'I do.'"

The wolf studied her imprint closely and watched as a barely there shiver, traveled down her frame. "Was he abusive?"

"It's in the past," Esme said softly, avoiding the younger woman's eyes.

"Was he?" Leah insisted, grabbing a hold of the vampire's hand. She squeezed it gently, hoping that it would give Esme the strength to continue.

"He was," The vampire confirmed. "I could do nothing right in his eyes and as the years passed without me bearing a son the abuse only got worse until finally I was with child. The abuse tapered off slowly but I suspected it had more to do with the fact that I was carrying his precious son more than his love for me growing. It finally seemed that we could be some semblance of normal until…" golden eyes shimmered and fell shut.

"You don't have to continue if you don't want to," Leah said gently unable to take the feeling of anymore of Esme's turmoil.

"I have to," Esme breathed, her voice cracking. "I was outside in the garden when it happened. There was so much blood and so much pain I just remembered grasping at the growing ruby stain spreading across my dress. Charles found me passed out on the grass but it was too late to save my baby boy. After that I just couldn't bear living. I tried to end my life."

"And Carlisle stopped you," Leah guessed. It would be completely in character for Peroxide Cullen to swoop in and save the day.

"No, I didn't die but I was in a comatose state near death and pronounced dead. Carlisle changed me in the morgue as soon as he found me," Esme finished.

Leah reached across the seat and pulled her mate into her arms, kissing the vampire sweetly. "You won't lose your family, Mé. I won't let that happen."

"What will you do?" Esme sniffled, looking up at Leah with shimmering eyes.

"I'm going to talk to them," Leah said with a matter of fact tone.

Esme's eyes widened at once. "Oh no, you can't. Everything's too fresh and-"

Leah placed a calming finger over Esme's lips. "It's going to be fine. In the midst of everything they know you care for me and won't harm me."

The vampire nodded, letting her eyes slip close.

Leah removed her finger and replaced it with her lips. Esme let the tension fall away as she poured her gratitude and love into the kiss. Their lips brushed sensually together once, twice before Leah flicked her tongue across Esme's lips, seeking entrance. Distantly a twig snapped though both women chose to ignore it.

"This definitely isn't what I pictured I'd find when I had a vision to come out here," Alice said standing next to the driver side window.

Leah pulled away from Esme and growled. "Shouldn't you be in school?" she said once she rolled the window down.

"And miss you making out with my mother?" Alice chirped amusedly with a smirk. "No way." She crouched down, peering through the crack in the tinted window with her chin perched on her hands.

"Go away," Leah said, getting increasingly frustrated and tamping down on the urge to put her fist through the plate of glass separating her and Alice.

"Not until I've found out why I'm here," Alice said, fluttering her eyelashes adorably.

"I thought you couldn't see visions involving wolves?" Leah asked the edge in her voice not receding a bit.

"I didn't see you I just saw myself coming to this location," Alice clarified, twirling to sweep her hands at the area. "So I'm obviously here for a reason. Is there anything you need to say to me?"

Leah paused, mulling over her next words carefully. She figured if she went ahead and told Alice what she needed to hear, then the small vampire could leave her and Esme to be together for a little while longer. "I need to talk to you all tomorrow night before my shift at work."

"It must be pretty important for it to show up in a vision of mine," Alice said thoughtfully tilting her head slightly. "Why can't we meet tonight?"

"Because thanks to you I have to take command over patrol," Leah said with an irritated huff.

"I thought that was Jacob's job?" Esme asked a little confused. "Didn't you tell me he fought Sam and became the new Alpha?"

"It was until he decided to go into the woods after his smack down with Tinkerbell over there," Leah said tossing her head toward Alice.

Esme nodded. "Does that mean you're acting as Alpha?"

"Yes," Leah rubbed her temple as she felt an oncoming headache. Someone was trying to force her back into the pack link with their insistence. She may as well try and get a feel for the pack while she had the energy. "I better go," She told Esme regretfully and opened the door, exiting the car. "There's a lot to do today," she said and turned to go.

"Wait!" Esme called out, stepping out of the car immediately. "What about your breakfast?"

"I've lost my appetite," Leah said dully before coming around the car to give her vampire a lingering kiss to her forehead before sprinting off toward home. Suddenly, Esme was in front of her with a displeased expression.

"Mé," Leah said with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I really am but I've got so much to do today. Believe me, I don't want to go."

"I know." Esme said and immediately embraced Leah, holding her tight. "I just wanted a few more moments with you." She breathed in Leah's familiar scent and purred at the comfort it brought her.

Leah felt the sharp jolt of the pack connection needling its way through her skull. "Bitch…Beta."She only got the random snippet of someone's conversation before she ignored the rest and erected her mental barrier. "It's going to be okay and if it's not we'll work until it gets better." The wolf caressed Esme's back and nuzzled her nose deep into her hair.

"I know that now," Esme said with finality and slowly, reluctantly released Leah. "Go protect your tribe." She said with a small grin.

"Not just protecting them anymore," Leah mumbled and turned, running for home.

It wasn't until she was halfway to La Push when she realized that she still needed to retrieve her truck from in front of the Cullen's home. She hoped none of the vampires, specifically Carlisle and Rosalie, trashed her vehicle in their 'home wrecking wolf' hating rage.

She did an abrupt about face at the thought and stripped down as fast as she could, tying her clothes to her legs before phasing. She took off across the forest in a gray blur. Skidding to a stop just a few yards outside the Cullen's home, she came face to face with a scowling Rosalie.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked none too kindly.

Leah snarled and huffed a hot breath of air right at the blonde, rustling her long locks about her face.

Rosalie wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Your breath is even worst than your normal smell," She complained.

The large wolf rolled its eyes in annoyance before ducking behind a tree. Leah emerged just a couple of seconds later in human form, walking determinately to the house up ahead. "Don't any of you go to school anymore?" she grumbled under her breath.

"I'll ask again, where do you think you're going?" Rosalie stepped in her path. "Don't you think you've done enough damage to my family?"

"I need to get my truck," Leah said, continuing around the vampire.

"Oh you mean that bucket of bolts that's only marginally better than Bella's deathtrap? Have fun with that," Rosalie said in a sweet tone.

Leah ignored her but quickened her pace just incase her tone was one of warning. She almost fell to her knees in relief when she saw the faded blue paint of her truck. All too soon her happiness fled when she saw that the truck was sitting on the ground with all four tires neatly stacked beside the driver's door. "Really!?" the wolf yelled. Her head snapped to Rosalie.

"What?" The vampire asked in an innocent tone, though her eyes sparkled with hatred and mischief.

Leah snarled, fisting her hands at her sides as she count backwards from ten. She didn't have time for this. She needed to get home so she could rest as much as possible before patrol tonight. "You know what?" she told Rosalie. "You're not even worth my time. I've got too much on my plate today."

Of course, Leah knew how to fix a flat and several other things dealing with automobiles. She and her father used to bond by fixing this very truck when it was in its prime. She took a deep breath, gathered her tools and set about fixing her vehicle.

Unfortunately, Rosalie stood practically right over her the entire time snickering at her misfortune and making derogatory remarks. Leah just let the words fuel her determination to finish the chore.

Once she was done she placed the jack and lug wrench calmly back inside the tool box located right behind the rearview window. She turned around slowly, staring at Rosalie with derision.

"Color me impressed," Rosalie said with a smirk. "The stray can actually do something besides get beaten up and have her nose buried in my mother's panties."

Leah let her own smirk cross her face. "Do you expect me to be afraid of you or to be sorry for imprinting on Esme?" she asked in a low tone. "My apology will come the day you stop acting like you have steel wool shoved up your snatch."

Rosalie's eyebrows jumped up her forehead while she squawked in surprise.

"You're a bigger bitch than I am and that's saying something. I'm not going to cater to you but I'm also not going to be your doormat nor your punching bag so you can be here tomorrow to have your questions answered. Until then, Twinkie." Leah hopped into her truck without another word and drove away. She smirked at a fuming Rosalie becoming smaller in the rearview mirror.

-x-

Seth was tossing free throws at the homemade basketball goal a little ways from his home. It was a half-court sized patch of concrete that he, Leah, and their father formed one day over a barren area in their yard.

He smelled his sister even before he heard the rumble of their father's old truck coming up the road. The boy grinned, throwing the ball to the ground and running to tackle Leah to the ground just as soon as she exited the truck. "Hey, Lee!" he shouted in glee.

"Ugh!" Leah groaned at his weight. "Aren't you getting too old for this?"

"Not until it stops being fun," Seth said with a cheeky grin and stood, holding his hand out to help Leah from the ground.

"If you think you're going to be jumping on me in your thirties, you've got another thing coming." She grabbed Seth's proffered hand and let him pull her to her feet. "Thanks," She said, dusting off all her clothes.

Seth went to grab the deserted ball that rolled to a stop just beside the porch to the house. "You want to play Horse?"

Leah raised an eyebrow. "Horse? What are we seven?"

"Okay what about Extreme Horse?" Seth asked, throwing the ball at his sister.

Leah caught the ball with ease and smirked, glancing at Seth slyly. "Now we're talking. What are the rules?" she asked tossing the ball back to him.

"None," He answered.

"Where's mom?" Leah asked quietly, glancing toward the house.

"She said she wanted to take a quick nap before lunch," Seth said tossing the ball back and forth between his hands impatiently.

"In that case, should we use wolf strength?" Leah asked bending to get into position.

"Definitely," Seth said and bounced the ball hard against the ground.

It soared up over their heads and quickly fell toward them. Leah used her height to an advantage and simply smacked the ball over Seth's head and ran around him, leaving Seth looking at her in annoyance.

Leah caught up with the ball dribbling it lazily with a triumphant smirk on her face. "You playing this game or sleeping through it, little bro?" she teased.

"Oh, I'm playing it," Seth said, his hand shooting out to knock the ball from his sister's hand. As soon as he felt the rubber in his palm, he bounced the ball right through his sister's legs and ran behind her before she could react.

Seth bounced the ball stepping forward and back, goading Leah into reacting to his every move. He faked shooting the ball and dropped to the ground, snatching the ball once more when it bounced waist level. He caught it and tossed it back and forth, twisting his body to catch it all the while with his thumb and index finger holding his chin.

"What the hell are you doing?" Leah asked, confused at the little display that her brother was putting on.

"Just thinking about how I'm going to kick your ass," Seth said and struck. He tossed the ball forward, tapping his sister's forehead with it and grabbed it back before jumping as high as he could and shooting the ball. Seth barely waited for the swish of the basket before he proclaimed. "H."

"So it's that kind of game?" Leah asked, grabbing the ball from underneath the goal. She frown, a little miffed at being bested by her brother.

Seth just nodded, "Can you keep up old woman?" he taunted.

Leah's eyes narrowed playfully at the insult. "I'll show you old," She said and tossed the ball to him. "Just try and get past me."

Twenty minutes later, both siblings were still engaged in an intense game. They were both up to the letter 'S' by now and were each willing to do just about what ever it took to seal their victory. Leah held her arms out around Seth, boxing him in. Her brother wretched the ball back and forth trying to get away and Leah followed his every move closely. Suddenly, Seth faked right and lurched left accidentally elbowing his sister in the face.

The female wolf felt the blood trickle down her chin before the pain blossomed across her lip. "Shit!" she said, touching her fingers to her swelling lip. She crossed her hands in a 'T' sign. "Time out," She said, using her sweaty shirt to dab at her split lip.

"Don't do that!" Sue exclaimed emerging from the house with a bag of frozen peas in her hand. "It will get infected." She smacked Leah's hands away and pressed the peas against her face.

"Aww, Ma! It will be fine in like ten minutes," Leah whined at the attention and tried to shrug out her mother's hold but found her head held in an iron grip.

"I don't know why you riled your brother up anyway. You know how he gets," Sue reprimanded her daughter.

"Me?" Leah asked indignantly. "He was right there with me playing Extreme Horse and enjoying every minute."

"That's no excuse. You're the elder sibling," Sue started and her eyes narrowed. "Did you just say Extreme Horse?" she asked in a low tone.

"No?" Leah replied with a cringe.

"Are you asking me or telling me?" Sue lifted an unimpressed eyebrow, looking her daughter square in the eye.

"Telling you?" Leah said with the same uncertainty, looking to her brother for support. He shrugged, unwilling to come to his sister's rescue when their mother's voice took on that tone. "Maybe?" she tacked on helplessly.

Sue pressed down on Leah's lip sharply.

"Ouch, Ma!" Leah yelped. "What was that for?"

"I told you no more extreme sports after you two snapped the Redstorm's maple tree in half," Sue said.

"That was an accident," Leah insisted.

"Accident or not I said no more and I meant it," Sue said, snatching the defrosted peas away and walked back into the house.

Leah licked at her now healed lip. She and Seth followed their grumbling mother into the house with forlorn expressions. "Good going, Seth." Leah nudged her brother roughly.

"You were there too!" Seth said shoving her back.

"Stop hitting each other and come clean up for lunch!" Sue called out.

They exchanged grins and chuckled, hurrying into the house.

After lunch, Seth and Leah retired to the latter's room to catch up on happenings of La Push and the pack.

"I'm so sorry I haven't been around as much as I should have." Leah said guiltily.

"It's okay, Lee. You've had a lot to deal with. You're here now aren't you?"

"Yeah I am," She said with a thoughtful grin. Leave it to her brother to give her yet another out. "Have they been treating you alright?" Leah asked at once. She still felt guilty about pulling her brother into that battle to drive her out of La Push and she wanted to make sure no one was still carrying grudges.

Seth shrugged as he answered. "Jared and Paul are a little more hostile than usual and Sam's just quiet and cold. They call me a suck up and junk but I'm not letting it get to me," He said in a reserved tone.

Leah suspected it did bother him more than he was willing to let on but she wasn't going to push him.

"I have noticed something kind of weird though," He said after a beat.

"Oh yeah? What's that?" Leah asked intrigued.

"You haven't been in the pack link… at least I haven't been able to sense you on the best of days unless I'm exerting nearly all my energy to find you."

"Yeah about that," Leah said and scratched the back of her hand. "I've kind of got a telepathic connection with Esme."

"You do?" Seth asked with wide, astonished eyes.

"I do and I don't know why," She revealed with a small shrug.

"When did it start?" Seth asked curiously.

Leah took a moment to ponder his question. "I think it's always been there. But I didn't ever hear her until I collapsed under that tree."

"Is that how you've been talking to each other?" He asked excited for his sister.

"I wish but no it would have made everything so much easier. We can't seem to master it yet. It takes a lot of energy to keep the mental connection going," Leah said, looking into space contemplating everything that's happened.

"Ma told me the Cullens found out," Seth reported with a touch of sadness in his voice. "She said it didn't really go well."

"Oh yeah," Leah said with an eye roll. "They found out alright and me and Carlisle had a fight to commemorate the event," She said bitterly.

"You're really going all out with this whole imprint thing aren't you?" Seth asked in surprise.

"To be honest, I don't remember much of the fight at all." Leah scrunched up her forehead in effort trying recall more memories of the night but none came. "I blacked out and suddenly Esme was there holding me back and the Cullen's home was trashed."

Seth nodded. "What are you going to do now?"

"I don't know." Leah picked at some non-existent lint from her comforter. "There's so much going on right now. I just wish life would slow down long enough for me to catch up." She tugged at one of the stray strings, bunching up the stitching underneath her fingers.

Seth placed a comforting hand on his sister's shoulders. "Don't worry about it. It's going to be okay." He said.

"You think?"

"I really do," Seth said with confidence. "You've been happier and calmer than I've ever seen you and that's because of Esme. You two are meant to be together," He said with a smile. "So forget everything else is inconsequential," He finished with a shrug.

Leah smiled at her brother's speech. She had to admit, it did make her feel better. "You've got to stop reading the dictionary," She ribbed him lightly.

"Whatever," Seth said dismissively. "My point is if you want her then keep at it if she's worth it."

"How did everyone get so wise around here?" Leah asked in a bit of astonishment.

"When you were off being Grumpy Smurf," Seth said with a grin, pinching his sister's cheeks.

"There's the Seth that I know. Stop it," Leah said chuckling, slapping his hands away. She fell silent, letting his speech marinate for a few moments.

"It's hard, huh?" Seth asked softly, looking at his sister's face. It was obvious she was engaged in some deep thoughts.

"What's that?" Leah asked coming out of her stupor.

"Not knowing what to expect with Esme," Seth clarified his earlier statement.

"It is," Leah agreed. "Most of the time its exhilarating and joyful but at other times I'm terrified with how much I just want to be with her."

"I'm pretty sure that's what love is," Seth said deadpanned.

Leah felt her face heat up and shoved her brother slightly. "Shut up," She said, ducking her head to the hide the reddening of her cheeks.

"You haven't told her have you?" He jumped on her bed, landing on his knees. "Aww look at your impression of an apple," He cooed, teasing his heavily blushing sister.

"Shut up, Seth," Leah repeated, a small growl tinting her speech and covered her face with her hands.

"Or what you'll sic your girlfriend on me?" He asked in a sing-song voice.

"This is why I tell you things, because you handle it with such maturity," She replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she reclined herself on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Hey," Seth flung himself backwards on the bed, lying beside his sister with his arms crossed behind his head. "I tease because I love."

"I'm sure," Leah said. "I love you too little bro."

Seth smiled then frowned as he felt himself toppling to the floor. "Lee!" he whined then mock pouted.

"Oh suck it up. I'll see you during patrol later. Right now I'm getting a well deserved nap, Muhammad Ali," Leah said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"That was an accident," Seth said contritely.

"I know little bro. I tease because I love," She repeated his exact words from earlier before pulling him from the floor into a hug. "Thanks for listening," She whispered into his shoulder.

"Anytime, Lee Lee," He replied just as quietly and squeezed her just a little tighter. "Get some sleep. It's time for me to go on patrol," He said, looking out the window, taking note of the late afternoon sun. He paused in the doorway for just one more moment. "Lee, no matter what happens tonight. I know you'll do a good job," he said sincerely and left, closing the door behind him quietly.

Leah smiled and settled into bed, thanking the heavens for a little brother like Seth.

-x-

Leah ran to the treaty line, dreading meeting up with Sam. Jake had already spent a week drilling the patrol schedules into everyone's heads so she knew them backwards and forwards. She phased just before she got there got there and felt the pack link become more insistent in her mind.

"So, the pack gossip is true. Jake named you as his Beta," Sam said bitterly, his lips pulled back in a snarl showing his sharp teeth.

Leah reveled in the confidence the title gave her and didn't even think of flinching away from Sam as she once would. "What did you expect? Were you hoping butting in at every turn would put you in his favor?"

"You're one to talk, always hounding him about his love for Bella." Sam retorted smoothly.

"She isn't his imprint. We both know how well that works for everyone." Leah said flatly.

"Yeah we do." Sam looked away, shame painting his features as he pawed the ground awkwardly. "How's Esme?" he asked suddenly.

Leah growled fiercely, advancing on him. "Don't speak her name!"

Sam actually looked apprehensive as he said, "I mean no harm. It's general curiosity."

Leah narrowed her eyes slightly in suspicion but did not reply to his so-called 'general curiosity.'

"And Emily wants to know," Sam confessed in a low tone, embarrassed. He wished his fiancé had just taken his advice and given Leah numerous phone calls until she answered. He really didn't know how to deal with the nearly bi-polar emotions of his ex-girlfriend.

"Tell her she's fine," Leah said, turning and going deeper into the forest effectively dismissing him. "Everyone check in." she called out.

"Nothing in the northwest quadrant, Lee," Seth said.

"No sign of leeches in the south quad," Paul said in a clipped tone.

"Nothing northeast," Quil reported.

"Okay, I'm heading out for Bella duty," Leah said.

"Be careful, Lee."

"Always," She said before darting through the trees toward Bella's house. She came to rest beneath the window of Bella's window.

"Hello, Leah." A baritone, melodic voice said above her.

"Hey," Leah replied, eyeing Edward uninterested then extended her senses slightly. She frowned when she realized she could not feel Jared anywhere close by. "Where's Jared?" she asked the vampire.

Edward looked down at her. "He left literally about forty-five seconds before you got here."

"Anything could happen in forty-five seconds!" Leah said in outrage. "Jared, you are in so much trouble."

"The nosy, brooding vampire said he had it covered until you got there," Jared said in a defensive tone.

Leah growled at his hostility. "I don't care what he said, you're supposed the number one defense against the leeches in Forks or have you forgotten why you're even a wolf to begin with?"

"Alright, I'm sorry okay? Is that what you want to hear?" Jared answered in irritation.

"That's a start expect an extra bout of patrolling with Jacob when he returns." Leah only heard a low groan in reply and smirked internally.

Edward chuckled lightly, hearing the whole conversation. "Careful there, someone may think you care."

"Don't mistake my anger for affection. When I send a wolf on assignment I expect it to be done to the letter," The gray wolf said sternly with a roll of her eyes. "This is a life or death fight," She finished and began walking the perimeter.

-End of Chapter Twelve-

Well now we're getting a bit deeper into the Eclipse side of the story. Leah is taking her leadership role to heart. What did you think of the chapter and how I handled the morning after between Lesme? Let me know in a PM or review!

Thank you all readers of new and old! I love seeing an alert for the reviews, follows, and faves it fuels me to crank out the chapters quicker. :) I know its been awhile since I've posted but a lot has happened in RL the biggest event is that I've gotten married! So yeah it's been hectic on my end of things. No matter how long it takes me to update just know I'm not abandoning this story.

Thanks for reading! Until next time!

~MC