Leah woke up in her old room, but it was different now. It looked like a generic bedroom, not her room anymore. Bella was on her chest, just where she needed to be for maximum skin-to-skin healing. Leah smiled and sighed.

Bella licked her neck.

"Morning, baby." Leah said.

"How long will it be before I can suck on your neck again."

"I don't know, we could ask my mom."

Bella giggled. "No, that's ok. How are you feeling?"

"Honestly, amazing. I don't feel like there's anything wrong with me."

Bella grabbed their shirts from last night. "Seth!"

Paul popped his head in. "I'm Seth today. What's up?"

"Leah said she feels perfectly fine. Can you spot her while she goes to the bathroom? Then we can go have breakfast."

"Of course. Can you stand on your own, Leah?" Paul asked.

Leah glared at him as she stood without holding onto anything.

"She just needs a spotter." Bella explained. "Stay within arms reach in case she gets light headed."

Paul nodded and followed Leah into the bathroom. Leah felt like she didn't need him there and was annoyed that he had come with her, but she allowed it because it made Bella feel more comfortable.

Bella was surprised to find Jared frying bacon and eggs in the kitchen with a huge stack of toast on the counter. "Morning Jared."

"Good morning, Bella, how's our girl?"

"She's doing much better, but I still worry."

"We all worry, hun, but we have to hide it from her or else she'll get mad at us."

"Damn straight I will, Jared." Leah said after finishing in the bathroom. "Thank you for understanding that."

"No problem, boss." Jared smiled at her.

o.~*~.o

After breakfast, Bella volunteered to do her physical for Sue's records. It was just like any other physical except with a blood draw that Sue would use to determine her blood type.

"You kept her on her back last night?" Sue asked.

"I did. She's tough to keep down but you can trust me to take care of her."

"I know it, Bella, but she's stronger than you."

"She listens to me, though. She's a wonderful partner."

"I'm glad. We're done here. You can go back to her."

Bella smiled. "Thanks."

o.~*~.o

Leah insisted on going to the library. She wanted to carry Bella just to prove that she could but no one agreed to that. The whole pack was at the library except for Embry and Seth.

"Quil, Jake, can you relieve Embry and Seth?" Paul commanded. "I want the border patrolled until we know that they are gone."

Everyone got to work. Leah felt like everything was fine but the pack kept on glancing at her, looking her over to make sure she was ok. It made her uncomfortable and more than a little annoyed. "Can you guys just pretend like yesterday didn't happen? Stop looking at me like that."

"Fuck no, Leah. We almost lost you." Paul said.

Seth and Embry came through the door, having heard what she said outside. "Leah, you can't make us stop caring." Embry said.

"I'm not asking for that. I'm just asking you to stop being so weird." Leah said.

"This isn't weird for wolves, just humans. Maybe you need to phase. Commune with the wolf so you are more comfortable with our behavior." Paul suggested.

Leah closed her eyes and thought about that. She accepted that might be true. "Call Sue. See if it's too soon for me to phase."

Billy pulled out his phone. After a few minutes, he said, "She wants you to wait 12 more hours. She said if it was something very important, life-or-death, she'd let you phase now but she doesn't want to risk it for this."

"Thanks Billy, I'll cope." Then Leah heard Charlie's cruiser pull up to the library.

When Charlie stepped into the library, he did not expect to see so many men built like Sam Uley, including Sam Uley, all huddled around old books. "So this is the security team?" He asked Leah.

"Well, Jacob and Quil are out doing rounds, but yeah, all the guys here are on the team."

"Paul said you were hurt."

"Mmhmm. I'm on the mend now. I'll be in tomorrow."

Charlie sat next to her and lowered his voice. "I want you to take the day off tomorrow. Officer Bradford will be back tomorrow and I expect he's going to kick up a fuss. I don't want you there for that, especially while you're recovering. As long as you can get most of this week's work done by the end of next week, I won't have to dock your pay for missed days."

"Umm, thanks Charlie. I'll be sure to get everything done next week. I won't leave you hanging."

"I know you won't Leah, that's why I'll do whatever I need to to keep you on staff." Charlie stood and gave Leah a kiss on the top of her head. He went into the children's room to say hi to Bella and let her know that he's given Leah the day off.

Then Charlie sat down next to Billy. "What is this translation work you're all so engrossed in?"

"Didn't the girls tell you? Old Quil found some untranslated texts while showing Bella around."

"Yeah, but what are they about?"

"Indian magic." Billy said with a straight face.

Charlie looked at the page in front of him. It was in English in Billy's neat handwriting. "This looks like it is about two girls running through the woods."

"Yes, Indian magic, as I said."

Charlie rolled his eyes and got up. "See you later, Bells, Leah." He called as he went out the door.

"What's the story with this Officer Bradford?" Sam asked.

"Oh it's nothing, just some jerk at work." Leah brushed him off.

"Leah had to file a sexual harassment claim against the guy," Bella explained.

"What?" Paul looked ready to break something, or someone.

"It's no big deal. I handled it. Charlie helped. I was obviously not in any danger, but this guy was in my way, preventing me from getting my work done and coming home to Bella. I couldn't let that stand. But I also couldn't beat the shit out of him at the police station, so I filed a report."

"Do you want me to rough him up?" Paul offered, dead serious.

"No! Definitely not. I don't want you getting in trouble Paul. Jeez! I need you here, helping me with the pack, not behind bars." Paul accepted that. It made him feel good that he was needed.

Less than fifteen minutes later, Jake burst through the door. "They're gone. The Cullens are really gone!"

Now there was a loud uproar of celebration.

Leah silenced everyone. "How do you know, Jacob?"

"I watched them from the woods. They finished packing up everything in their rental cars and locked up behind them. The empath waved at me but I think none of the others saw me. Quil is still on the border and I can go back if you want. I just wanted everyone to know."

"Jacob, phase and have Quil come back." Leah ordered while everyone else celebrated quietly. "Guys, I don't know why you're all so excited. This was a sure thing."

Bella came over to Leah and straddled her lap. "It was a sure thing to you, Leah, but the rest of us needed this confirmation. We're safe, baby." Bella threw her arms around Leah's shoulder and kissed her. "This is huge."

Leah kissed her right back, then said, "I want to take you upstairs over my shoulder when you sit on me like this."

"Later." Bella promised, wiggling in Leah's lap.

o.~*~.o

Paul walked Leah up the stairs when she and Emily went up for their playdate at ten.

"You can go now, Paul." Leah said, annoyed. He nodded. Now that she was safely up the stairs, he went back down to help with translations again.

Leah brought Uno cards to the kitchen table.

"How's the pregnancy?" Leah started.

"Honestly, I don't feel very different, just hornier."

Leah laughed. "No kidding! Sam must love that."

"He's always trying to be gentle, though. I'm so glad you're alpha now, Leah. It makes it way easier for me to dominate him."

"Oh really?" Leah had just finished dealing and picked up her cards.

"Yeah. I just couldn't do it when he was alpha, I don't know why."

"Hmm. Bella doesn't have that problem with me."

"I bet she doesn't. She's a firecracker."

"Oh, I know." Leah grinned.

"Were you always into girls, Leah? You didn't talk about guys much when we were younger, only Sam."

"What has Sam told you?" Leah put down a wild card. "Yellow."

"Dammit." Emily picked up a card. "Sam said that you had a crush on Bella, and that he saw you looking at a girl once in a way that made him jealous."

"So, yeah. I guess I was always into girls. But I'm bi, not gay. I found other guys attractive besides Sam. I just didn't talk about it because that's not really who I am. I had a little crush on one of the bus boys when I worked at the diner."

"Cool. How long did you work at the diner? That must have been after you and Sam broke up."

Leah smiled. "Yeah, after we stopped talking. We can't dance around it, Emily. I'm not mad at you for taking Sam."

"I know, it just still feels raw somehow."

"I don't want it to. It doesn't feel raw to me at all. Like, I remember being mad and hurt, but at this point, I'm so glad you have him. What if I had imprinted on Bella when I was still with Sam? That would have been such a mess. I'm really thankful that it happened the way it did."

"Ok, well I'm not. I hated hurting you and losing you." Emily put down a draw four wild card. "Blue."

Leah picked up four cards and rearranged her hand to accommodate the new cards. "But you only lost me temporarily. Even though you didn't know that then, it's what happened. We're on the other side now."

Emily changed the subject. "So things are going really great with you and Bella, we all see that. Are you going to push to get married?"

"We've talked about it and I want to. But it's not legal in Washington so I guess we have to wait for that to happen."

"Leah, I actually looked into it. As long as tribal law allows it, you can legally get married. It doesn't matter what the state law says. You'd just need an amendment by the council."

Leah was stunned. That made sense though. "Thank you for looking into that. Can you share whatever book or site you found that from?"

"Of course. It's not something that happens much because homophobia is common on a lot of reservations, but I found a legal case online from a small tribe in Utah. Of course the state fought against it because the state doesn't support gay marriage there. But the tribe backed the couple and won in court. I'll get you the link."

They continued chatting and playing like nothing had ever been broken between them.

o.~*~.o

Paul insisted on following Leah upstairs again during their lunch break. "I won't stay, but I'll be in the library with Rachel, so I'll hear when you start coming down the stairs."

"You'll be hearing more than that if you insist on staying in the library." Leah warned.

"I'm prepared. I lived with Jen and Jake and they were disgusting, even by my standards."

"Ok, go away." Leah shut the door in his face and turned toward Bella like she was prey. "Bella."

"Leah?"

"Baby, come here."

Bella stepped closer. Leah reached forward and grabbed her, taking all of their clothes off in seconds. Leah laid Bella on the table, legs spread. She got between Bella's thighs and lifted one of her feet onto the table next to Bella's elbow.

Leah started slamming and grinding into Bella. She went faster than Bella had ever felt before. "Oh God, Leah! Is this a good idea? Oh wow! Leah!"

Paul was just about having a panic attack downstairs. He wondered what they were doing that wasn't a good idea? Was Leah ok?

"You like it like this, baby? You like it rough? I'm not damaged. I can still fuck you like this."

"Oh Leah, you're not damaged, oh god Leah, right there, you're so strong, oh my god, my fierce protector."

"Yes, I am your protector! Yes, I fuck like a fierce warrior! No one can stop me."

"Kiss me baby, kiss me." Leah slowed down to kiss her lover. "My goddess." Bella whispered. Leah suckled the mark on Bella's neck while slowly grinding against her. Bella screamed in pleasure but Leah did not stop. She kept going until Bella was ready to come again, then she came with Bella.

The continued voices comforted Paul downstairs. At least Leah was still conscious. Rachel was sitting with him, eating her lunch nonchalantly

Leah carried Bella to the bed. "No, don't Leah! All your blood is in your hoo-ha, it might not be safe," but Leah was already at the foot of the bed. She tossed Bella onto the bed and pounced, causing the bed to bounce them both up and down. Bella was giggling. "Leah, we have to eat." She insisted.

Leah grumbled, then her tummy rumbled. "I just want to eat you."

"I know, I know. But if you don't eat, Paul will keep following you around. Do you want him to sleep in the library tonight?"

"I'll do it." They heard from the stairwell.

"I'll order him away." Leah was suckling on Bellas neck, making her way toward the mark.

"Leah, I'm hungry."

"Lies." Leah did not stop.

"Humor me. I barely ate yesterday because I was too worried about you."

Leah considered that. She only saw Bella eat a few bites of casserole and a piece of toast for breakfast. "Let's go. I'll make you my famous grilled cheese."

Leah made a stack of grilled cheese sandwiches. She wanted Bella to eat two. She refused to eat a third until Bella finished her second. Then Leah polished off the rest of the stack, washing it down with a soda and an apple for dessert.

"Thank you, Leah. I'm satisfied."

"I'm not, but we'll get back to that later." She kissed Bella one last time before heading to the stairs.

Paul was waiting at the bottom."You don't have to follow me everywhere, Paul."

"Did you carry her to bed?"

"Nunya." Leah brushed him off.

"Did Sue say that you could?"

"Are you going to tattle on me, Paul Lahote?"

Paul raised his hands in surrender. "Nope, but I'm assuming that's a no."

"I didn't ask her." Leah said, unashamed.

"Didn't ask what?" Sue said, striding across the main room of the library.

Paul said nothing. "If she could carry me around the apartment." Bella volunteered the information.

"Obviously not." Sue exclaimed. "You could pass out and drop her."

Leah lifted Bella and put her on her hip like a child. Bella smiled at her. "What are you doing? This feels kind of nice."

"Oh yeah?" Leah wiggled her hips into Bella's groin.

Bella groaned. "Put me down. We can try that again when we're not with your mother."

"I was just proving that I could." Leah said as she put Bella down.

"What the hell Leah? Maybe you should come home tonight, too." Sue scolded.

"I'll be at my home tonight, upstairs, with Bella."

"Sue, can I give her neck hickeys again?"

Sue circled Leah, examining her neck from all angles. "That should be fine. Just stop if anything opens up, ok?"

"Of course."

"And if you're fine with running around carrying Bella, I guess you can phase when you're ready."

"Thank you, mom. I'm going to go upstairs and do that now." Leah gave Bella a kiss on the forehead then ran up the stairs.

Bella returned to work on the library software. She saw Leah pass the door about half an hour later. Leah sat next to Billy in the children's room. "Leah, how can I help you?" Billy asked.

"Can I read your translations? I just want to know everything that we know so far."

"Of course, Leah. You don't have to ask. These are yours." Leah smiled at him, then started reading.

"Leah," Emily approached her with a pan in hand. "Can I put this in your freezer?" Embry, Rachel, Kim, and Quil all got up then too, all with dishes of food.

"We have stuff for your freezer, too." Quil explained. "I thought you might not have the energy to cook tonight."

"Fine, take it up. And thank you!"

Leah quickly became engrossed in the texts. Finally, she said. "Billy, Paltima was a woman who took a wife. I am going to do the same."

Billy took a sharp breath in. "Yes, you are, but give me some time to prepare the tribe, ok?" Leah nodded her consent.

At five, Leah addressed the group. "Tomorrow is the bonfire. I want you all to stay home tomorrow. We'll be roasting hot dogs on the fire, so we only need stuff for the snacks table. Still you deserve a day off. Tomorrow is a celebration. We'll start setting up for the bonfire between five and six, so that's when we'll meet on the beach. Enjoy your day off." Leah then tossed Bella over her shoulder and ran up the stairs faster than anyone could protest.

As soon as they were alone in the apartment, Leah was kissing Bella all over, slowly removing her clothes, one garment at a time, allowing time for the library to empty out this time. When the door finally closed for the last time, Leah took Bella against the wall, then on the table, then she brought her to bed.

"I thought you were going to do me all over the house there for a second. Against the tv," Leah giggled at that suggestion, "on the toilet, in the shower. Hey, why haven't we done it in the shower?"

"I'm philosophically opposed to shower sex." Leah stated plainly.

"You're kidding! Why? Too slippery?"

"No, not slippery enough. It washes away our natural wetness and replaces it with water. It's ok for hetero sex where only the internal wetness matters, but not gay sex."

"Hmm. I never thought of that, but I guess you're right. Shower sex is homophobic." Bella said with humor.

"I did not say that at all."

"Maybe gay sex is hydrophobic?"

"That is closer, I think." Leah agreed.

"Mmmm, okay. We should put one of those casseroles in the oven."

"Yes, then I'll fuck you against the tv."