Chapter Eleven:

Leah's terrified last scream cut through the air like a knife and Jake felt as if he were about to die. He was overwhelmed with emotion. Mainly love for Leah, and a hurt deeper than imagination could hold. She couldn't be gone. It was impossible. Without thinking about it, Jake phased and dove off the bridge after her.

"Jacob, what are you doing? Are you trying to kill yourself, too?" Embry called to him. Jake didn't care if he died. If Leah was dead, then he was, too. He fell swiftly, but he wasn't afraid. This was just like cliff diving. His eyes continuously moved back and forth, looking for Leah's small form. He couldn't see her anywhere. He hit the dark water with a massive splash and he propelled himself around underwater, looking for her. It was hard to see, but he kept looking. He wasn't going to give up. However, he still needed oxygen, and his breath was giving out.

No, he thought, I have to find her…I have to save her. He held in sobs- he didn't have time for that now. He needed to bring Leah out, alive.

"Jacob!" a sickly melodic voice sliced through the water to reach the werewolf's ears. He perked up. "I have her!" Jake nearly laughed with relief. He kicked his way to the surface and saw none other than Edward Cullen, standing on the shore with an unconscious Leah in his arms, holding out a pair of sweat pants. Jacob phased and took them gratefully, despite the metallic stink. Edward gently set Leah on the ground and shook out his wet hair. "I assume you can take it from here," he said with a slight smile. Jacob nodded, but didn't look up at him as he kneeled next to Leah.

"Thank you," he responded fervently-he truly meant it. Before he had time to say more, Edward had vanished. Out of nowhere, Sam appeared behind Jacob.

"We could start a war, you know. He was on our land." He said. Jake growled.

"He saved her."

"I know. I didn't say we were going to do it." He sighed and squatted next to Jacob. "Do you really love her?" he asked.

Jacob looked up and smiled. "I really do."

"But what about Bella? Didn't you imprint on her?"

"Yeah, I did. And for a second, she was all I could think about. But then, after I saw Leah…I don't know. It's like my love for her is stronger than all of that. It's stronger than imprinting's trap."

"That makes me wonder, Jake." Sam looked away thoughtfully. "It makes me wonder if maybe, my love for Leah was stronger than my imprint. I hate myself for breaking her heart like that."

"No, Sam. I think you were meant to be with Emily. Leah was meant to be with me." He chuckled and Sam joined in.

"Well, I guess now that I know she's taken care of, I can finally let her go. I do still love her. More than anyone knows." Sam sounded so sad, it was impossible for Jacob not to believe him. He nodded and Sam stood. "I'll be jealous of you, by the way. For the rest of my life, I'll be jealous." And he left. Jacob stared at Leah's face. She was still unconscious, but she had a steady heartbeat and there didn't appear to be any broken bones. She had a small cut on her forehead, but that would heal. The worst thing was probably that she smelled like a leech. But Jacob was past caring at this point. He scooped her up easily into his arms and began making his way to her house. When he made it to the main street, Seth met up with him.

"Let me do the talking." Jake said, and Seth agreed. He opened the door for Jacob when they reached the Clearwater house, and they walked inside together. Sue was at the table, but she hopped up in alarm when she saw her daughter.

"Oh, my word, what happened?" she cried. Seth kept to the agreement that Jake would speak and kept his mouth shut. Surprisingly, Jacob laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Oh, you know Leah. Trying to show off by cliff diving off the high jump. She's fine, she just needs rest. Tell her when she wakes up…that I'm waiting for her." He walked to her room and set her down on the bed, covering her with her comforter. Then he left her to go for a walk.

He strolled down the long dirt road leading to the beach. He didn't feel like going home, not now. There was so much for him to think about. How come he didn't feel anything for Bella, his imprint? How was it possible? But really, the reasons didn't matter to him. He had Leah, if she would take him. He prayed she would. At that moment, he heard pounding footsteps coming after him. He turned and saw Leah running, panting and out of breath, at full tilt after him.

"Jake!" she cried. "Jake, wait!" He did so, with a huge grin in her face. He caught her in his arms when she reached him, and kissed her, laughing when they pulled away. He set her back on her feet. "You saved me." She whispered. Jake shook his head.

"I wish I could take credit. I was looking and looking for you, but I didn't see you anywhere. I wasn't about to give up though. I was going to keep looking until I died down there." Leah slapped his arm.

"Don't be an idiot." She laughed.

"Hey, I'm serious." He replied. "Edward saved you, and I took you home. I never thought I would actually owe a parasite."

"Why do you owe him?"

"Because he brought you back to me." He nudged her playfully, but that reminded her…she frowned.

"Yeah, he brought me back so we can be friends." The disgust in her voice was unmistakable. Jake shook his head.

"No, not just friends." He corrected her. Her mouth dropped open in surprise. This couldn't be happening.

"What about Bella?" she asked him incredulously. Jacob shrugged.

"I don't know. I know she's my imprint, but…I'm in love with you. Not her." Leah laughed.

"Is that even possible? To over power the imprinting force or whatever?"

"Apparently." He took her hand and they started walking aimlessly down the road.

"Do you still want to go back to her?" Leah whispered after a moment. Jacob sighed in response.

"Honestly? Yeah. Deep, deep down I have this urge to go back. But it's not so bad anymore. I can resist it."

"Jake, you don't have to try and fight this for the rest of your life-," Leah began to protest, but Jacob stopped her.

"I don't mind. It's worth it."

Aeri was sleeping. Marlene and Rainy crept carefully and silently into her small bedroom, hardly daring to breathe. They couldn't wake her now- it would spoil everything. They knew there would be a heavy price to pay whenever the Forger did awaken, but for the two Choosers, they were willing to pay it. All of it came down to the power of love. Cheesy, but true. Marlene put a finger to her lips, as if Rainy needed a reminder, and signaled for her fellow Chooser to freeze. When she did, Marlene tiptoed forward and reached two long, bony fingers into the sleeve of Aeri's robe. She felt the small glass and she gently tugged it out, being cautious to avoid touching Aeri's skin. When she held the vile in her grasp, they turned and quickly made their way out of the room, shutting the door behind them. Meanwhile, Aeri sat up in bed, smiling.

"I knew they were worth it." She whispered to herself, then went back to sleep.

The Choosers hurried to Jacob's life strand, where it was barely clinging to Bella's. Marlene cocked her head. It didn't even seem as if they would need the mystery liquid. She slowly reached forward and peeled the two strings apart. They shimmered for a moment on their own, but then they were still and perfect.

"I've never Forged before," Marlene muttered, looking around for Leah's strand. She finally found it and pulled it close to Jake's. "I think this is how it's done." She whispered, then held the strings very tightly together. After a moment, they shimmered again, and they were bound, forever.

"Leah, the strangest thing just happened."

"What?"

"I don't think I'm bound to Bella anymore." They both looked up at the same time, into each other's eyes, and they each felt their worlds shift to revolve around the other.

"It's impossible." Leah breathed, then giggled. "I think the imprinting force is bipolar or something."

"I really don't care anymore." Jake replied. He had imprinted on Leah, again, and he was actually happy. The imprinting force-whatever that was-couldn't have mattered less. Finally, he had all he ever wanted. But, he needed to be sure of one thing first. "Leah, are you happy now?"

She hesitated, before smiling as wide as humanly possible. "Yes." And strangely, she meant it.