Posting 37 and 38 together - so if you came here first, go back a chapter.

Thank you for reading - we are FAR from finished with this story, but I have to devote a few more weeks to FAGE.

I hope you all are still enjoying this story. It is STILL a Bella/Leah endgame, but keep in mind that Bella is letting herself experience things and learning about herself. This story is about more than just Bella/Leah. 3

Also, all comments, questions, critiques, and complaints are welcome. You're only giving me that 'tackling fuel' LOL.

Enjoy, and please review!

Bella was unsure how long she dozed, but she opened her eyes to Paul's smiling face. Her cheek lay against Leah's naked abdomen, both firm and soft - and so warm. Leah's scent held a hint of coconut from her body wash, giving her an almost sun-kissed smell. Bella inhaled deeply before pressing a light kiss on her stomach and sitting up.

Leah chuckled. "You okay, Swan?"

Bella blushed and nodded. "How long was I out?"

"Just a few minutes," Paul said. "Do you need anything? Water? To pee?" Leah laughed, but he chuckled and said, "I'm serious. You've been drinking. You don't need to get dehydrated, or you'll feel hungover very soon."

Bella carefully climbed over Leah's leg and stood. She hesitated to leave the room, feeling more than a little odd about walking through the house naked, even if Charlie wasn't supposed to be home. She walked over to pick up Paul's shirt and slid into it. It covered her ass, but just barely.

She turned back to find him watching her as he chuckled, but his hand was creeping up Leah's side. Bella took a deep breath as his hand slid over Leah's breast, and she closed her eyes and moaned.

Knowing she'd stay rooted to the spot if she kept watching them, Bella darted for the door. "Feel free to start without me. I'll be right back."

Paul chuckled as he smoothly climbed over Leah and captured her other breast in his mouth. Again, Bella had to force herself to move and headed toward the kitchen to grab water for everyone. She heard a loud moan come from Leah as she reached the foot of the stairs and smiled.

I can't believe this shit.

She screwed Paul Lahote, her childhood bully. And now he was doing god knows what in her bed to Leah, and she was happy about it. Surprisingly, stunningly, and blissfully happy for a change.

Bella grabbed the water bottles from the fridge and hurried to her room, realizing why she should have cleaned up first as the remnants of their activities ran down her thigh.

Leah's whimpers greeted her as she entered the room. Bella nearly dropped the bottles at the sight of Leah braced on her shoulders, her legs high over Paul's shoulders. His face buried at her apex, and after how it felt for herself, Bella could easily imagine what he was doing. It sent an instant flood of desire through her, and she squeaked in surprise at the growing mess on her thighs.

Bella set the bottles on her desk and turned to leave the room and clean herself up. Paul pulled his face away from Leah and growled.

"Don't you dare, Little Duck. Get your ass over here."

Bella let out an involuntary "Eek!" and froze. Leah looked at Bella, panting as she tried not to laugh.

"Think that's funny, huh?" Paul smacked Leah on the ass, and she turned back to him, wearing a rueful grin, squeezing his neck between her thighs. They wrestled for a minute as he tried to break her grip, his face turning red… but he was grinning. Paul cackled and leaned down to tweak Leah's nipple before tickling her ribs, making her gasp, and loosening her grip.

They are playing? It was adorable, in a way. It was also incredibly mesmerizing, and speechless, Bella was unsure what to do.

She turned toward the door again, and Paul yelled, "Ducky, get your ass over here. Don't make me come and get you."

Bella blushed, cringing as she walked toward them, trying not to laugh. Leah let go of Paul's neck as she chuckled, letting her legs fall to the mattress on either side of him. When Bella reached him, Paul leaned over to clutch the hem of his shirt and pulled it up. Bella helped raise it over her head and crawled onto the bed, kneeling beside him as he flung his shirt back to the floor.

His face was still wet from Leah's sex. Wondering how he'd react, Bella impulsively leaned toward Paul and swiped her tongue across his chin. Again, she could have sworn his eyes changed, the pupils slightly changing shape. He laughed, but it was more like a growl. It sounded almost vicious, and damn it if she didn't turn to jelly the second his lips met hers. Everything around her faded as he kissed her passionately, leaving her breathless. Bella could taste Leah on his lips and tongue. It made him taste better, somehow.

He pulled away and moaned loudly, throwing his head back. Bella looked down and gasped as Leah kneeled on all fours with her mouth wrapped around Paul.

I didn't even feel her move! Bella gasped again as Paul swiped his hand between her legs, gathering the wetness there. Leah continued to work him as he lifted his finger to his mouth and sucked. He closed his eyes and hummed as he cupped the back of Leah's head with his other hand. Bella nearly fell over from the erotic display, so much more intense than she'd expected.

Was sex always like this? It couldn't be, could it? It was almost too much. Almost.

He shuddered as he looked down at Leah, holding her face flush with his groin. Bella's hands slid to her breasts as Leah swallowed around him. Paul's eyes rolled back and fluttered shut, his mouth hanging open as he jerked and moaned. Leah opened her eyes as she released him and wiped her mouth with her thumb and forefinger.

Paul chuckled as he slowly opened his eyes and looked down at Leah. " That… " he panted, "Was the best… head I've ever had… You deserve an award."

"Heard that before." She laid back on her side and reached for Bella.

Bella hesitated. "I'm a sticky mess right now."

Paul chuckled as he climbed from the bed. "Yeah, we're all a sticky mess right now. But you still smell so fucking good."

Bella shrieked and squeezed her eyes shut as he scooped her up from the bed into his arms. When she opened them, she lay firmly snuggled between him and Leah, enveloped in warmth with the thick smell of sex in the air. The breeze through the open window made her shiver as it kissed her skin, and Leah's arm around her tightened.

Everything took a surprisingly tender turn after that. The three languidly kissed and explored. Bella gave herself over to each sensation, forgetting everything else but this. And while Paul's touch was thrilling and passionate, it was Leah who Bella continued to reach for.

Eventually, she fell asleep between them, sore, exhausted, and satisfied in a way she had never known was possible.

When she woke the following morning, she and Leah remained wrapped around each other, but Paul was gone.

Bella tried not to wake Leah as she crawled out of bed. Both were still completely naked, and Bella felt like every inch of her body had gotten slathered in dried sweat and spit. It had been an incredible mess in the making, but now she just felt gross. Bella couldn't help but take one last, long look at Leah's backside before covering her with the sheet and leaving the sleeping beauty lie.

She scoffed as she spotted Paul's shirt on the floor, though he'd certainly taken his pants and shoes. Bella wondered if he'd left it behind purposely, perhaps as an excuse to return. She pulled it on, gathered a bra, clean panties, and cotton shorts, and hurried to the bathroom to shower.

What soreness Bella felt from the night before faded under the hot water. She quickly washed her hair and scrubbed her body down, anticipating Leah would want to shower, too. Bella squeezed the water from her tangled hair with a towel, ran her fingers through it with some leave-in conditioner, and redressed quickly. She hurried through brushing her teeth, slipped on some eyeliner, and said to hell with the rest. Her face was blotchy from never removing her makeup the night before, and she hoped she didn't break out.

Bella froze in the hallway at a noise downstairs and hovered at the bathroom door to listen.

"Well, one of them is out of the bathroom."

Sue? What the hell was she doing here? Unless something happened to-

Charlie's voice halted that thought as he asked, "Can you just go talk to them? If I find what I think I might…"

Sue chuckled, sounding slightly hysterical. "That would be our luck, wouldn't it? After all this time?"

Charlie snorted through an awkward laugh and then sighed. "Yeah. I guess. At least we know they aren't related."

"Because we were lucky. Honestly, Charlie, do we have to tell them?"

It was Sue! Sue and Harry had been Charlie's odd love triangle? Had they once suspected Leah was Charlie's daughter? The thought nearly sent Bella into a mental spiral until she firmly reminded herself that he'd just said they weren't related.

Bella glanced toward her cracked bedroom door, where she knew her dearest friend slept, oblivious to the conversation downstairs. She blinked away angry tears, wondering if Leah knew or not. Even if it didn't have to affect their relationship, the late revelation would sting them both.

Charlie said, "I suppose not… it's just. Awkward, I guess. I'm glad they've gotten closer. I just didn't expect them to get that close."

They knew. Somehow or another, they knew. Had Charlie come home early and found them? Bella wondered what time Paul had left - and without his shirt, which Bella now wore without a second thought.

And then Bella remembered that her bedroom window had been open, and… her stupid-ass nosey neighbor.

She wanted to scream in frustration. She'd woken up blissfully happy for once, and now their parents planned to confront them about something. That was obvious, at least. Bella hoped it had nothing to do with Harry's medical state as she snuck to her room and slipped inside.

She sat beside Leah, intending to wake her. Instead, Leah rolled over, looking as angry as Bella currently felt.

Bella whispered, "You heard all that?"

"Everything," Leah whispered. "Probably more than you did, but the shower muffled some of it."

"Charlie told me he had a love triangle in his youth but wouldn't tell me who."

Leah scoffed. "I guess we know why my parents always drove him home, huh?"

Bella's eyes widened in surprise. Wait… The three of them? "What, like, us, last night and Paul..?"

Somehow, Leah simultaneously cringed, smiled, and silently conveyed 'duh.'

Bella shook her head and sighed. "This is too weird."

Leah joked, "And to think, I was thankful we weren't cousins." Each stared at the other in surprised silence before covering their mouths and muffling their laughter.

Bella whispered, "Wanna go as Joe Dirt and Kicking Wing next Halloween? Think I can rock a mullet?"

Leah snorted as she tried not to laugh. "Where did that come from?"

Bella mocked, "Yer muh sister, yer muh sister."

She covered her mouth again as Leah slammed a pillow over her face and cackled into it.

Once Leah could finally stay quiet again, she pulled the pillow away and whispered, "Bitch, that's so wrong. I love you dearly, Swan, but I am so glad you are not my fucking sister."

"Same." Bella held back another laugh. "I think the neighbor heard all the noise over here last night. The window was open… I'm pretty sure they think we're…"

"A couple?" Leah tried not to giggle. "I mean, I am naked in your bed, Bells. Do you think Charlie might have seen us while we were sleeping?"

Bella's cheeks flushed as she nodded, trying not to grin like a fool. Leah sat up, clutching the sheet over her breasts, and sighed. "I guess we should go clear that up. Not that it's any of their business…"

It wasn't supposed to be anyone's business. Still, Bella worried. "You're not regretting it now that they might know about it, are you?"

Leah smiled affectionately at Bella and leaned to kiss her cheek. "You're my best friend, dumbass. I regret nothing. I told you I do nothing I don't want to do, and I will never regret that, either. Last night was the most fun I've had in ages."

Bella gaped in surprise as Leah boldly threw back the sheet and climbed out of the bed. She gathered her clothing from the floor and peeked out toward the bathroom, back toward the kitchen, and then darted, buck naked, to the bathroom.

Bella tried not to giggle as Leah hurried to shut the door. Bella tiptoed to her bedroom door to listen as she heard the shower turn on and the sound of Charlie's sigh downstairs.

Sue chuckled. "Well, they're both awake now, at least."

Charlie sighed again. "I hate waiting. You're taking this too well."

"How else am I supposed to take it? I think you're making more of it than it probably is. Sometimes young women get drunk and do experimental shit like sleep with a friend. Or two."

No wonder he'd been so willing for her to drink and stay at Jacobs, she realized. Either Sue or both had brought him home… Bella gulped, cringing at the mental picture that was provided. She supposed she was happy for him if it was what Charlie wanted.

Bella waited for Leah to finish showering, listening, but Sue and Charlie seemed to have nothing else to say. When Leah emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed in her outfit from the night before, Bella met Leah's gaze as she swung the bedroom door open. Leah nodded, glancing toward the stairs, and they went to face the music together.

Charlie looked up at them as they came downstairs and rolled his eyes. "Whose shirt is that, Bella?"

"Paul's. I kind of highjacked it."

Charlie scowled, but before he could respond, Leah asked, "What are you two doing today? I figured you'd both still be at the house."

Sue and Charlie gaped at her in surprise, and Bella spun toward her, biting back a worried grin. She mouthed, "What are you doing?"

Sue stammered, "L-Leah…"

Leah held the smile on her face like a mask, but her eyes were wild. Despite trying to be okay with it, Leah was angry. About having never realized it before? About the secrecy of it all? The hypocrisy?

Probably all of those things and much more. Bella reached for Leah's hand and squeezed it. Leah gestured between them with her other hand and crossed her fingers. She didn't have to explain it was a symbol of trust. They were united, regardless.

Bella said, "Leah and I figured you three out, Dad: you, Harry, and Sue. We don't know what your love triangle entails, but we don't care. Do we, Leah?"

"Nope." Leah kept her storm-cloud eyes on Bella's. "You three were happy this long. Something had to be working."

Bella turned back to look at their parents. Charlie looked astonished. Sue looked like she might cry. Both were slack-jawed, however.

Bella said, "Leah has become my best friend. Honestly, the best friend I've ever had. I don't feel the need to pry into your relationship. I just want my dad to be happy. I want to keep my friend and to know as little as possible."

As Sue and Charlie laughed awkwardly, Bella added, "I hope that whoever I choose to be with one day will be given the same respect."

Charlie frowned. "Not Paul."

Bella and Leah both laughed. "No, Dad. But, Paul has become a good friend."

"He actually seems weirdly protective of her. It's… strange." Leah laughed.

Charlie nodded and hesitated before gesturing between Leah and Bella and asking, "Are you two more than friends now, or..?"

Leah's laugh was genuine as Bella scoffed. Avoiding the answer, Bella asked, "What brought you home, anyway? You said you wouldn't be home this morning. Did you think you'd catch me with a house full of boys, or?"

Charlie's cheeks reddened as he admitted, "Well… someone said screams were coming from the house this morning and then some fighting noises behind the house. Lots of growling, apparently."

Someone, as in Mrs. Caldwell? It pissed her off. "Your stalker is nuts. Seriously nuts, Dad. You get that, right? She calls you about everything. Now she's making shit up?"

Charlie sighed, exasperated, and glared at her incredulously. "Making things up, now?"

"Yeah. Leah, did you hear those things? Growling and fighting outside?"

As genuinely confused as Bella was, Leah scoffed. "I heard nothing like that, Charlie. Definitely no fighting. What the fuck?"

"Leah," Sue warned.

"What? Growling and fighting? What is that about?" Leah shook her head at Bella and laughed. "Did you look for like… scuffle marks and stuff?"

Charlie chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, and I didn't see a damn thing out there. Nothing under Bells' window. No more dents in my siding from giant teenage feet."

Aggravated further by the implication, she scowled at her father. Bella tugged at Leah and said, "Come with me."

As they headed to the front door, Charlie asked, "What are you doing?"

"Don't worry about it," she said as she stepped outside and, barefoot, ran toward the neighbors.

Leah easily kept up as she asked, "What are you planning, Bella?"

"Just watch."

Leah giggled as they reached the neighbor's porch. "Your hair is everywhere. You look crazy today."

Bella said, "Perfect." She pounded on the door like cops always seemed to do, hoping the bitch assumed she was Charlie.

Sure enough, the front door swung open to reveal the older woman's eager grin. Nosey wasn't unattractive per se, but the woman had nothing on Sue. Bella could understand why Charlie had never fallen for the woman's constant flattery. Her smile quickly faded as she asked, "Yes?"

"Ma'am. I know you have the hots for my dad, but he's unavailable. Okay? Stop running to tattle on me over every peep I make."

The woman wrung her hands, glancing toward Bella's house. "Well, I only meant to be helpful, Isabella. It was brought to my attention you were having a rough patch. I know your father was worried."

"You heard it through town gossip, maybe," Leah grumbled. "Not from Charlie. Charlie doesn't talk about that shit."

The woman's eyes widened in surprise, and Bella almost laughed.

"Ma'am, I want to be clear. Stop harassing my father. Stop harassing me. Otherwise, Charlie won't have enough handcuffs to deal with all the stalking, harassment, and slander charges I'm going to send your way through the state police… since I can't technically report you to him."

That was a bald-faced lie, but Nosey Caldwell didn't know that. Bella continued, "Please deliver that message to anyone you gossip about me with, too. I am an adult. My activities aren't your concern. You people and your big mouths don't know shit, and it's keeping me from finding a job. I am very coherent, ma'am, regardless of how it might seem. So, from now on, unless you hear me scream rape or fire, I will expect you to mind your business."

"Surely your father doesn't want young men climbing in and out your window and fighting over you in the backyard."

Bella said, "I don't know what you think you heard in my backyard, but I was asleep with the window open and heard nothing like what you told Charlie. And the only guys that come and go from my house, Charlie knows. Probably better than he even knows me. I am an adult. If he doesn't care what I do, why the Hell do you?"

Mrs. Caldwell scowled angrily. "What would you do if you heard a bunch of yelling and growling coming from your neighbor's house while his mentally ill daughter was supposed to be home alone?"

Leah grinned and said, "I'd assume she was having great sex and mind my own fucking business."

Bella pursed her lips together as she tried not to laugh. It only made Nosey angrier.

It took a moment for Bella to school her features before saying, "Now, I'm not trying to ruin your day or be a jerk, Ma'am, but please respect what I'm asking. I started my day with Charlie literally waiting to lecture me because of your interference. So, in the future… Whenever you think you heard me? It was the wind. If you think you saw something? No, you didn't. Whenever you call my Daddy to tattle on me, you waste the Taxpayers' money, his time, and my patience. Have a good day."

Bella turned and hooked her arm through Leah's, leading her to Charlie's house without looking back.

The further away they got, the harder it was to keep the laughter at bay. The sound of Nosey's door slamming shut shattered the last of their resistance as they lost it.

"I can't believe you just did that," Leah said as she tried to catch her breath.

"Well…" Bella said, panting. "I'm tired of it, you know? She calls Charlie over everything ."

Charlie and Sue waited for them on the porch as they reached the house. He asked, "What did you say to her?"

"The truth. I'm an adult, and she can mind her own business."

"Uh-huh."

Bella grinned as she watched Sue side-eye Charlie, trying not to smile. Charlie glanced back at Sue and harrumphed, instantly relaxing. Bella could sense some of Leah's anger fading as she watched the exchange.

Leah sighed. "How about… I take Bells back to the house with me for the day, and you two can hang out here. I'll even feed Seth when he gets home."

Bella caught on immediately to what Leah was trying to do, generously offering to give them more time together since the nosey neighbor's phone call had interrupted theirs. "We can take my truck and leave the car for your mom. I'll head home when she gets home?"

"Perfect," Leah said, shrugging.

Sue asked, "Leah? Are you sure about that?"

"Yeah. I mean...I'm still wrapping my head around it, but if you're happy and Dad was happy…" Leah's eyes widened as something clicked for her. "And I won't say anything to Seth. It's none of my business. As Bella said earlier, I'd like to just… not know more than necessary?"

Charlie cleared his throat awkwardly and said, "Uh, Leah, we were gonna go up to see your dad in a little while. Did you want to go?"

Leah shook her head. "No. Not today. Seems like you two might need your time with him today." She reached for Bella's hand and tugged. "Come on, Bitch. Let's go make sure all my shit is back in the car before we take off."

Bella winked at Charlie as they moved around him to climb the steps and enter the house.