AN: So I know I left this story as forgotten for quite some time, but I missed this story way too much to leave it unfinished. So sorry to keep everyone waiting, and I will do my best to keep this going and not abandon it again.

Chapter 20. Learning Confidence

"Leah?" Will emerged from his car, looking at where Lee sat on a bench at the park waiting for him. "What's going on? Why'd you call? Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine, Will." Lee waited until Will had sat down next to her on the bench before she continued. "It's just, I've had some time to think about you and me, and I'm sorry for everything that happened."

"Sorry?" Will raised an eyebrow, confusion etched on his face. "Leah, you don't have to apologize for anything. There's no hard feelings whatsoever."

"I never understood why you thought I was so great," Lee confessed.

"Because it's the truth." Will's voice held no humor. "And I know you don't see it. Quite frankly the only reason I feel like you are so blind-sighted is because that Ethan-guy doesn't see it. Or maybe he does, but he does a hell of a bad job showing it, or treating you with the greatness you deserve. But, Leah, it's about time you acknowledged this and moved on already."

"I wanted to believe I was something to him..."

"Please don't settle on being just 'something' to someone, when you can be everything to someone else." Will sighed, and reached out to grasp her hand. "Leah, believe in what I'm saying. I know you don't want to be with me-I understand that now-but please believe what I'm saying about this."

Silence passed between the two as they both looked down, as if acknowledging what Will said was the truth. Leah tried not to cry, lost between thoughts of Ethan and Will. Why couldn't Ethan be the man to say these words? Why couldn't he have been the one by her side through the years, holding her hand, comforting her, helping her grow and mature?

When Leah looked up at Will, there were no tears in her eyes. His round blue orbs gazed down at hers and appeared so large, so inviting to her, full of a sincerity that was hard to ignore or deny. She wondered why things with them never worked out. Will had been an amazing boyfriend when they were together, so attentive, understanding, loving. People had asked, Will had asked, what had gone wrong and the truth was nothing did. He had never faltered, and never been shy of perfection. The truth was, Will was not Ethan, and every great thing he did was a reminder that Ethan would not do the same for her. The thought tore Leah apart so much that she could never fully appreciate how amazing Will was to her. When she realized that, she did not feel right being together anymore. If that was how she thought, she knew she was not ready for a relationship until she worked this out with herself first.

"I would not be so sure of that." Leah broke the silence, pausing as she considered every word she uttered. "Will, I appreciate your patience. I appreciate everything that you have done for me. Even though we were not technically together, in a way I feel like we were through these years. I could always count on you."

"You know I would do anything for you, Leah," Will answered.

"I'm sorry I broke things off with no explanation," Leah shook her head. "I don't even think I myself fully understood why I did the things I did."

"Yes, you did." Will replied frankly. "You still loved Ethan, and you weren't ready to let that go."

"Every time you did something for me. Every time you went out of your way or were accommodating or proved time and time again that you would always be there, it reminded me of how Ethan couldn't do it for me. He wouldn't do it for me." A few tears cascaded down Leah's face as she said it out loud. "It was the wrong way to think about things, but I couldn't help it."

"The guy might have been great once upon a time, Leah, but please realize he can't give you what you want. What you need."

"But why? Why couldn't I have been enough? What am I missing?"

"Never think like that." Will placed his hands firmly on Leah's shoulders, his voice serious. "His inability to see what a wonderful person you are is only a reflection of what he's missing as a person, not you. Never you. Leah, you are worth it. Everyone who meets you thinks you are nothing short of amazing, and that's because it's the truth. You are a beautiful person, and you are worth every effort in the world to win over."

"Why are you so good to me, Will?" Leah looked down at where his hands rested on her shoulders, and she placed her hands over his before looking back at him. "How can you be so patient with me when I am so lost and frustrating? I drive myself crazy, so I can only imagine how I am to everyone else."

"Do you really have to ask, Leah?" Will chuckled. "You might be lost or frustrating or whatever you would like to call it, but you will always be worth it to me. I would do anything for you, whether it's driving you and Jay around to the latest party or event, or coming to meet up with you at ungodly hours of the night to talk about some other guy."

"You don't have to be so nice."

Lee smiled, and Will felt his stomach tighten at how such a small gesture could light up her whole face.

"God, you are beautiful." It took all of Will's will-power not to pull Leah into his arms and embrace her fully right then. "Leah, I would wait for you forever, if only for the chance for you to consider me."

Will's heart beat furiously as Leah leaned forward, pressing her body against his as she curled up against him. Her body's warmth made his own feel flushed and hot, and he noted how perfect it felt, as if their bodies were meant to be molded beside the other. They sat like that for a few minutes, neither saying a word, until Leah lifted her head and looked up at him. Will moved slowly, cupping a soft cheek, and smiled before he leaned forward to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. He saw her exhale slowly and close her eyes, and he proceeded to kiss her eyelids, taking ample time in case she wanted him to stop.

Her disapproval never came though. Her body never tensed, and instead he felt how relaxed and at ease she felt in his arms. He moved with care, as if dealing with something extremely fragile and valuable. To Will, Leah was. She was priceless, and he wanted to do everything in his power to keep her whole and happy.

"Why won't you let me take care of you?" Will asked. "Let me give you what you deserve, Leah Lewis-Hall. I would offer you the world if I could, and if you asked I would do everything in my power to make that happen. You will never find someone as loyal or devoted."

"I don't want to hurt…"

"Leah, you couldn't hurt a fly if you tried. I would know, I've seen you let them live. I'm a big boy, and I can handle any punch you throw at me. I'll gladly take them all, so long as it means I have you in my life."

"I make things so difficult. Why would you want that?"

"Do you really need to ask me that?" Will laughed. "Leah, no amount of difficulty could push me away. I love you. I always have. I always will. You might as well call me your own because I'm not going anywhere."

"Ethan?"

Leah found Ethan sitting on the curb in front of Mrs. Hendrickson's house, his head downcast.

"Leah, you should not be out here." Ethan looked up at her and tried to contain himself. "You have guests here to celebrate with you. You should be with Will. He will wonder where you have gone."

"I told Will I was stepping outside to see you," Leah replied. "I've always been honest with him, and I have nothing to hide from him now. Why are you here, Ethan?"

"I…" Ethan paused, thinking about how he should answer. "I left because I needed time to think about what I planned to do with my life. I have spent many years pondering this question."

"Ethan, I know I was not enough for you." Leah's voice was devoid of emotion as she said this. "I understand and accept this now. It took me awhile, but I've came to terms with it and realize I need to move on from my girlhood fantasies. We're both adults now, and I shouldn't be upset over something not working out years ago. You don't need to explain why I wasn't enough. I know family means the world to you."

"Yes, my family means a lot." Ethan felt flustered at how Leah responded, and he took to heart what she said. "But I need to make my own. I would like to be more than just what my family expects from me. I would like to live for myself. I left home, Leah."

"…left?" Leah tried not to show her surprise. "You left your family?"

"I knew I did not belong; I think I always knew, but I was scared of losing everything - at least everything that I had grown up with." Ethan explained. "But I would like more. I would like the chance to have more, and be more than what I would be."

"What will you do?"

"I am not sure," Ethan sighed. "I have no plan, unfortunately. This has been ill-thought out, I'm afraid."

"Well, if you need a place to stay, you are always welcome here." Leah invited. "Mrs. Hendrickson is more than happy to help out, and you know I will do all I can as well."

"Leah, I could not ask that of you."

"You don't need to; I'm offering." Leah smiled. "Let me help. At least until you get on your own two feet."

"You have your own life to think about. You have a wedding to plan…"

"You have no where to go, Ethan. I'm not going to let you roam the streets."

"I couldn't possibly…"

"You're a very talented person, Ethan. I'm sure it wouldn't take you that long to be able to stand on your own."

"Would you… would you mind this?"

"Of course not! I wouldn't say otherwise."

"I… never congratulated you on your engagement, Lee." Ethan smiled wanly at her. "I am very happy for you."

"Thank you, Ethan." Leah ignored the ache in her heart as she said it. "Will has always been there for me."

"Yes, he has." Ethan agreed, though it hurt to.

"Well, we should get inside." Leah held out a hand, which Ethan took. "I'll let Will know what's going on, but I'm sure he'll be okay with it."

"Will is a lucky man." Ethan commented, trying not to sound too broken.

"Yes," Leah looked him in the eye seriously, believing it for once. "He is."