(Thomas POV)
The drive home was quiet, other than the Green Day CD American Idiot, which Leah was obsessed with, playing at low volume. My mind kept jumping, first to my "sister" up on the mountain, trying to lure the newborn army into our trap, then it went back to the fight Jasper had planned out. He'd said that while plans rarely survived first contact, you still needed one to start with.
It had been decided that if Victoria wasn't taken out during the battle, the whole family would begin hunting her. None of us accepted the idea that she wasn't involved. Bella's theory just made too much sense.
"You got a recipe for this Elk, Thomas?"
Leah's question pulled me back to the present. "I was thinking thick-cut bacon wrap, oven roast. With bacon, you don't need to go crazy on spices. So just some salt and pepper."
Leah looked intrigued, "That sounds interesting and new. But I guess you can't go wrong with bacon."
I smiled; it was nice to have another meat-eater around. "Well, an Elk roast this size will dry out if you cook it too fast, and we don't have time for a slow roast in the crock pot. So, I figure a nice wrap in thick bacon will hold in moisture and add some good flavor mix. Maybe some rosemary potatoes as a side. How's that sound?"
"Wonderful, I am getting hungry already."
A comfortable silence fell between us once again until I pulled into the driveway. As Leah got out and walked with me to the door, she spoke again.
"I think I am going to hop into the shower while you start dinner. My hair is starting to feel a bit oily."
Walking into the kitchen, I resisted the urge to jokingly ask if she wanted some company in the shower. Edythe's parting comment about Leah and I being alone colored my thinking, just as she planned, I am sure.
"Okay, I am just going to start this roast cooking and then get into my comfy clothes. Maybe a little light reading while waiting for dinner to be done."
She smiled at me, "Sounds good," and made her way upstairs.
An hour later, we both ended up in the living room reading. I had The Sapphire Knight open on my lap, the third book in The Elenium. The series was a bit slow, but still enjoyable. Leah was reading The Children of Dune. I'd have to ask her what she thought of it; I have yet to read that series.
When it started to get dark, I got up to check on the roast and potatoes and pronounced it done.
"About time, the smell has been driving me crazy." Leah groused as she placed her bookmark and went to set the table.
After dinner, and mentally noting exactly how much Leah had enjoyed the thrown-together recipe, I started to gather my plate, only for her to take it from me.
"You cooked," she said. "I'll clean up."
Not really feeling like going back to my book, I nodded toward the sink. "We can do it together."
"I wash; you dry and put away." She suggested, "I still don't know where everything goes yet."
"Sounds good to me," I said as I followed her into the kitchen.
I started to gather all the dishes as she turned the faucet on, she tested it with a finger every few seconds. When she noticed me watching her, she commented.
"I am waiting for the water to get hot. I hate washing dishes in lukewarm water."
I opened a drawer to pull out a towel to dry with, "I am a firm believer that lukewarm water leads to salmonella sadness. So, by all means, we are in no rush."
As we worked, my attention caught on the little details the soft living room light had hidden. Leah's hair was still slightly damp, the scent of her shampoo layered with something spicy I couldn't place. She'd changed into a loose T-shirt and soft shorts. Nothing fancy, but Leah had never needed effort to look good.
She must have felt my eyes on her, because she turned to look at me and caught my eyes admiring her backside. When I just gave her a half smile at being caught staring, the tops of her ears went a little red, and she turned her eyes back to the pan she was washing. Unfortunately for her, she accidentally used more force than necessary, and a splash of water and bubbles soaked her right breast.
She must not have realized the implications of it beyond her frustration of getting wet. Because when she turned to hand me the clean pan, the wet white shirt showed the color of her areola and a hard nipple.
After taking a quick look, I was careful not to give any sign I had seen it, and thankfully, she was too absorbed in her thoughts to notice it before it dried quickly due to her naturally high body heat.
I was careful to keep my lower body turned away from her so she wouldn't notice the effect that little sneak peek had on me.
My mind had settled into a normal, almost domestic state by the time we were done, wiping down the stove and counter.
When I went to hang the towel from the oven handle, Leah bumped into me seemingly by accident.
"You, okay?" I asked her.
"I'm fine," she started automatically, then stopped mid-word like she was tired of her own script. Her eyes stayed on the dishes. "I'm… jittery."
"Tomorrow?"
She shrugged noncommittally. "I hate this… anticipation. The wait before the fight, all the questions it brings."
She took a deep breath, and I tried not to stare at the swell of her breasts as she did. "It's not fear for myself so much. Or even for Seth, now that Sam has put him with Bella and Edward to keep him out of the fight. But maybe fear of failure more than anything. It's hard to put into words."
I felt like pulling her in for a hug, but held back the impulse, "Would it surprise you to know that I am feeling it too? This is also my first planned battle. All my fights before have been a spur-of-the-moment thing, no time for real planning."
Leah's voice came out quietly, "I don't want to lose anyone. Even as annoying as the guys in the pack are, it would tear us apart to lose someone."
"You're not going to," I said, and I meant it as much as any man could mean something he couldn't control. "And if the universe tries, it's going to have to fight all of us for it."
Leah's mouth twitched, but her eyes brightened.
"Thank you, Thomas… Not just for this, but for everything. For accepting me and making me feel a part of this crazy relationship thing we have going. All these things I feel," She started to fidget with her hands, like she didn't know what to do with them. "I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you and Edythe to share them with."
I reached for her hands and took one in each of mine, lightly drawing her in for a hug. She could have easily pulled back, but with just the slightest encouragement, she quickly came forward and wrapped her arms around me.
Leah's fists clenched the fabric at the back of my shirt, and she spoke into my chest.
"Damn that girl," she muttered, and I could hear the reluctant fondness buried under the words. "For putting thoughts in my head."
Then, softer:
"But… I want to feel alive tonight."
The words hit me hard because they weren't seductive.
They were honest.
I reached for her chin and lifted her face until I could look her in the eyes, "Okay."
Leah's throat worked again. "And I don't want to regret it."
"Then we go slow," I said. "And you tell me to stop whenever you need."
She stared at me like she was memorizing my face.
Then she raised up on her tippy toes and kissed me. It was not our first kiss, far from it, but it was the first one that felt…hungry. She had always been so cautious before, as if waiting to be pushed back or even as if ready to pull back herself. But this time was very different; there was no caution at all in this kiss.
I kissed her back, slower than she started, on purpose. Giving her a pace she could choose to match.
Leah made a sound in the back of her throat…frustrated, relieved, hungry…and then she broke the kiss just enough to rest her forehead against mine.
"Tell me this isn't just… pre-battle stupidity," she breathed.
"It's not," I said. "And even if the timing is awful, the feeling isn't."
She closed her eyes for a second, like she was bracing. Then she opened them again and looked right at me.
"Take me upstairs," she said.
I didn't move immediately. Not because I didn't want to. Because I wanted her to hear me.
"Are you sure?"
Leah's mouth twisted, half annoyed, half grateful that I asked. "Yes."
"And you'll tell me if you change your mind?"
"Yes."
I nodded once. "Okay."
I took her hand, and we went up the stairs.
At the bedroom door, Leah stopped, fingers tightening on mine. Her confidence flickered.
I didn't push. I just stepped closer and kissed her again, gentler this time, slower, steadying.
"You're still in control," I murmured against her mouth. "Even if you don't feel like you are."
Leah exhaled. "I hate that you're good at this."
I smiled against her cheek. "I learned from the best. Your girlfriend is a professional menace."
That got a real laugh out of her, quiet, breathy, but real.
And the tension in her shoulders loosened enough that she let me pull her inside.
Break
When Leah finally fell asleep, curled into my side like she'd always belonged there, I stayed awake long enough to listen to her breathing and made myself a promise.
Tomorrow, I will bring her back. For myself, for Edythe, and just as importantly for Leah herself. There was so much more life that I wanted us all to live and share together.
Sometime deep in the night, the bedroom door opened with the softest click.
A familiar scent, cold and clean and impossibly comforting, slipped into the room.
The mattress dipped on the other side of Leah.
Edythe's hand brushed my shoulder, then Leah's hair, gentle as a blessing.
Her voice was barely a whisper. "My lovely girl. Finally, allowing yourself something you want."
Leah shifted in her sleep, instinctively reaching…finding warmth on one side and cool silk on the other, before settling back into deep sleep.
Edythe settled behind her, careful and quiet, and pressed a kiss to Leah's temple before she leaned forward to kiss my cheek.
"Good," she breathed, like she'd been holding her own tension all evening.
I let out the smallest exhale, smiled, and sank back into sleep with a smile.
The next morning was truly wonderful. There was no shyness in front of Edythe, no morning regrets in Leah's eyes. Just comfort and happiness as we moved about the house.
Edythe chose black jeans, a long-sleeved black shirt, and simple running shoes. She sat in front of Leah while Leah braided her hair for the battle, fingers careful and practiced.
Leah and I had both just put on shorts and a t-shirt because we planned to shift once we stepped outside. Though Edythe had some clothes in a backpack for us, just in case there was a need. She planned to set it aside long before the battle, not wanting to wear anything the newborns could get hold of.
Once Leah and I had finished breakfast, it was nearly nine o'clock. We would be early, but sitting here wasn't going to do anything for us; we might as well wait near the battleground and get more familiar with it.
I was first out the door, with Leah behind me and Edythe last to close and lock the door. When I stepped off the porch and started to pull in the heat to shift, I heard three loud pops and then felt three separate impacts to my chest.
Blood sprayed.
I was knocked onto my back.
My mind went blank in surprise and shock.
A.N.
Not particularly happy with this chapter, felt rushed and choppy to me. If I don't get my mind straight soon, the story may go on a short break after this battle. See you all on Monday.