Moonlight in Forks

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Leah Clearwater

The next day Bella was deemed fit enough by her doctors to go home. A plan had already been put in place (after all, it wasn't the first time she had been in this position) where she would be fully supervised for the first few days. Renee had agreed to move in temporarily to assist her daughter with showering and her other intimate needs.

Charlie was finding being around his ex-wife very stressful, but for Bella's sake he put a brave face on it. Of course, he was grateful for Renee's help, it was just difficult being in her company all the time- and it was not because they didn't get along-but because it was a painful reminder just how things might have been had Renee not taken off and they had stayed married.

Jacob insisted on being the one to pick Bella up, much to Charlie's chagrin. "It will give you more time to get things ready." He said to soothe the police chief's nerves.

"Ren has taken over the place." Charlie grumbled, as he shoved his hands deep in his pockets. "She's on some sort of alternative medicine kick. She's been watching all these podcasts about natural remedies that can heal the soul and whatnot."

"Is that such a bad thing?" Jacob felt quite sorry for Charlie.

The police chief wasn't as experienced as Bella was at dealing with her mother's foibles. Renee could be fun-loving, creative and artistic, but also flighty and inconsistent. Bella had told him often how her mother would jump from one project to another, obsessed one minute, then quickly becoming bored and moving onto something else.

"I don't know, son." Charlie sighed. "I just hope she just doesn't try any of this homeopathic stuff on Bella while she's trying to recuperate."

"Bella can take care of herself." Jacob said reassuringly. "Anyway, I better go."

"Are you sure you want to do this? I can – "

"Charlie, its all arranged." Jacob cut in before the older man could wangle his way into accompanying him.

Jacob wanted some time alone with her before he had to head off to this infernal meeting about Leah. He was already annoyed that he wouldn't be able to stay with Bella to help settle her in. He was going to have to take off right away.

"Alright, son." Charlie agreed grudgingly. "I'll see you later."

"Bye, Charlie." Jacob slid into the front seat of his car and gave Charlie a quick wave goodbye.

Now that he owned his own business, Jacob had managed to source a vehicle that was much more suitable to his needs: a second hand Grand Cherokee Jeep. Although he had been fond of the Rabbit-it had been his first major restoration project-it was too small and uncomfortable to drive, he needed something with much more leg room now that he was so big and tall.

Jacob was so used to dealing with Billy and his disability, that catering to someone in a wheelchair was like breathing to him. Jacob found it easy transferring Bella from the wheelchair into the front seat of the Jeep. She was so much lighter than his dad anyway, he hardly felt her weight as he placed her down gently. He had used Billy's handicapped parking tag, so he had been able to park really close to the front entrance to the hospital.

Once he was sure that Bella was comfortable, he stowed her gear in the back and climbed into the driver's seat. "You okay, honey?" He asked before starting the engine.

"I'm fine." Bella mustered up a smile.

"You sure?"

"I am, really." When Jacob gave her one of his 'I don't believe you looks,' Bella sighed. "Okay, my leg aches a little, and I feel a bit tired."

"Do you have your pain meds?"

"They're in my bag. I won't take any yet. They make me drowsy. I want to be fully alert in the time we spend together. When I have to deal with Charlie and Renee in the same house, then they'll come in useful."

Jacob watched her face carefully, making sure she wasn't downplaying the pain she was in. After a minute he was convinced that she was telling him the truth. She had made a joke about her parents, that had to mean she wasn't feeling that bad.

"Okay, honey, tell me if anything changes."

"I will." Bella promised.

Jacob's face relaxed the tiniest bit as he started the engine. He reached out, his hand cupping Bella's cheek, his thumb stroking along her jawline. He tilted her chin up so he could see into her eyes. "I wish I didn't have to go to this meeting." He admitted, his tone full of regret. "I wanted to be able to stay and help settle you in."

"Don't beat yourself up about it, Jake. You can't be everywhere all at once." Bella rushed to reassure him. She wished he could be there too, but she understood how important it was that he attend this meeting. Leah's place within the pack needed to be decided. "Anyway, I'll probably go straight to sleep anyway."

"I love you, Bella." Jacob's expression softened. "And I want you to know you always come first with me. I'll always be there when you need me. Nothing can keep me away. Do you remember? Even a direct order from Sam couldn't keep me from you."

Bella smiled, leaning into his warm palm. "I remember." She murmured, thinking back to the time that Jacob was initially forbidden by Sam to see her before she knew all about the werewolf stuff. All of that seemed so long ago now, like it had happened in another lifetime.

As Jacob drove, he held tightly to Bella's hand. They didn't speak much after that; both being lost in their own thoughts. His was centered on the upcoming meeting, feeling dread building up inside him, knowing that he was going to have to make sure that he was fully in control when confronted with the she-wolf face to face. He had no idea what possible excuse Leah could give to explain her actions. As far as he was concerned, she didn't have one. It was going to be a tense meeting. He wished he could sit it out. He had already made his feelings clear. Nothing Leah was going to say would change his mind.

It wasn't just the upcoming meeting that was troubling him though. There was also the Edward problem. The leech's obsession with Bella was bordering on psychotic. He was practically stalking her every move, using every available opportunity to slip through the net and force his company on her.

Bella was right, he couldn't be everywhere at once. Unfortunately, unless he got the pack involved again in keeping watch on her while he was occupied with other things, made it an impossible task. Even if he suggested it to his brothers, he knew that they wouldn't go for it. Bella was not his imprint. The newborn battle was over. They didn't see the Cullens as a threat. As far as they were concerned, she was out of danger. The only way he could see to solve the problem was to move her onto the res permanently-but even if by some miracle that did happen-was the treaty enough to keep Cullen away from her when everything else had failed?

Jacob looked across at Bella tenderly. The smooth rhythm of the Jeep had lulled her to sleep. Her lovely face was fully relaxed, her lips parted slightly as she breathed. Even in her sleep she was still holding tightly to his hand. He felt so full of love for her that he could hardly contain it. He thought of all the happy memories that they had already made together, and those to come. It was the happy memories that would sustain them, he thought, that would carry them through the difficult times, and remind them of their loving bond.

Bella mumbled something in her sleep, lips curling around words he couldn't quite make out. At least, not until she whispered his name, following it up with pursed lips. He smiled, slipping his hand out of hers, he brushed his fingers across her face, and she kissed his palm without waking.

Jacob looked out of the windshield at the grey clouds gathering in the sky. It was raining again, the large droplets testing the wipers endurance. He rested his hand back in Bella's, slowing down, just so he could prolong the time he had with her, once again cursing Sam and Leah in his head as his mind drifted back to the upcoming meeting.

Jacob gave Bella a long kiss goodbye before handing her over into her parent's care. He longed to stay, was almost on the verge of backing out of the meeting, but one look at her face told him that she wouldn't let him do that. Anyway, he could already feel the pull of the Alpha order impinging on his free will, forcing him to obey.

"I have to go. I love you, Bells." Jacob bent down and kissed her one last time.

"It's going to be okay, Jake." Bella squeezed his hand. "I'll see you soon."

"Don't worry, handsome." Renee gushed, causing Charlie to roll his eyes. "We'll look after her."

"Mom!" Bella hissed in embarrassment, her cheeks turning red.

"What?" Renee feigned innocence. "I'm only speaking the truth." She glanced to the side, noting Charlie's scowl. "Aww…are you feeling left out?" She teased, patting him on the cheek. "You're handsome too."

"Oh, stop it, Ren." Charlie complained, his cheeks turning as rosy as his daughter's.

Renee just laughed as she took hold of the handles of Bella's wheelchair and pushed her inside the house.

"See what I have to put up with?" Charlie complained to Jacob.

"You'll be fine." Jacob laughed. "I'll see you later."

"I'll order pizza when you get back." Charlie called out as he waved goodbye.

"Look forward to it." Jacob called back as he headed for the Jeep.

Jacob was running late, but he was in no hurry. He would get to the meeting place when he was good and ready and not before. He had just stepped onto his front porch when two howls pierced the still morning air. There was no mistaking the urgency of the tone.

"Dammit." He snarled, hurling his body off the porch, letting the fire rip him apart midair. There was a sharp tearing sound as his shorts shredded. He landed on his paws and took off at a fast run.

"What is it?" Jacob shouted in his head.

"Leah!" Seth answered, he sounded out of breath.

"What?"

"She's gone!" Seth gasped, his voice trembling. He was completely distraught.

"Gone where?" Jacob started running toward Seth at a fast pace. He could feel the air huffing through his lungs as he pushed himself at an incredible velocity. The forest whipped around him. "Are you saying she's run away?"

"Yes." Seth cried in anguish. "All her stuffs gone."

Other voices joined in now.

"What?"

"I can't believe this."

"She can't have just taken off!"

"Too afraid to face us."

"Coward!"

"Have some empathy. She is scared."

"Huh, Leah, scared?"

Jacob tried to sift through the babble, trying to ascertain where the others were. It looked like most of them were already at the meeting place. He absorbed the impressions around him, the faint soundless shimmer of tension rising in the air.

"Someone's phasing?"

"Feels like it."

Suddenly a big black wolf flew into Jacob's path. Sam's mind was a whirl of activity, his thoughts hellbent on confrontation. "What did you do or say to her, Jacob?" He accused at once.

Jacob drew to a halt, his flanks heaving with each breath that he took. "I haven't done anything!"

"I don't believe that." Sam snarled suspiciously. "Leah wouldn't have just left under her own steam. You must have had something to do with it."

"I have been with Bella this whole time." Jacob retorted, feeling his anger building at the unfounded accusation. Images spilled from his head, of Bella, mixed with those of Renee and Charlie.

Sam had no choice but to believe him. He could feel that Jacob was telling the truth. His anger died down to be replaced with worry. "Where is she? Something has happened to her? She would not disobey a direct order."

"Wouldn't she?" Jacob snapped. "Because it seems to me that Leah has her own agenda these days."

"I'll get it." Renee sang as she answered the front door. She pulled it open to reveal a stunning young woman standing on the front porch. "Hello." She said, marveling at the young woman's perfect copper skin and long, thick eyelashes. She was beautiful in an exotic way, her sleek black hair was styled in a short pixie cut which accentuated her high cheek bones, making Renee feel quite envious.

"Hi." The young woman answered boldly. "Is Bella in?"

"Are you a friend of hers?" Renee asked curiously.

The young woman was slow to answer. "Um…yes." She said eventually.

"Oh, okay." Renee pulled the door open wider. "What's your name? I'm Renee by the way. Bella's mom."

"I know who you are." The young woman answered quite rudely, ignoring the hand that Renee offered her. She stepped inside, dwarfing Renee, who suddenly felt like a midget compared to the beautiful Quileute woman. "Where is Bella?"

"In the kitchen." Renee was completely taken aback as she pointed vaguely toward the kitchen. "Who did you say you were again?"

"I didn't." The young woman said curtly. "I'm Leah…Leah Clearwater."

A/N-thanks for reading!