A/N: So this is it, the epilogue. I really hope you guys enjoy it...

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, or the characters.

EPILOGUE

LEAH POV

I didn't want to leave.

I never wanted to leave the comforting warmth of Embry's embrace, but I had to tell Jake that I was moving before I was due on patrol. Finally, though it was the last thing I wanted to do, I slowly lowered my arms and stepped back.

"I'll see you soon," I mumbled quietly, trying to put a lid on my emotions but failing miserably.

Embry tried to smile, but it looked like a grimace. "I know. Now get going, I'm sure our oh-so-lovable Alpha is waiting patiently for your arrival."

My laugh sounded hollow even to my own ears as I stepped over the threshold. I couldn't help but peek over my shoulder at him one more time before walking off into the setting sun. I could feel Embry's eyes on me until I turned the corner at the end of his road. That's when I let the tears finally fall.

I'd cried when I said goodbye to him, but it was nothing compared to floodgates that'd opened now I wasn't with him. When Embry'd asked if he was going to see me before my move I'd been shocked. I couldn't imagine not spending time with him before I went to Seattle, especially considering the afternoon we'd shared. But I quickly realised that he had a point. I had so much to do in such a short space of time, how was I going to fit it all in? Then my mother would probably monopolise all of my free time, never mind Seth and Jake, who'd no doubt want to spend every waking moment trying to convince me not to leave.

Would I get to see Embry again, properly, before I left?

Did I want that?

Wouldn't it hurt more that way; seeing him, getting to be with him, but knowing it was on borrowed time?

I swiped furiously at my face, angry at myself for being so stupid as I tried to wipe the tears away. Why had I let it get so far earlier? If I'd simply waited and phoned him later then we wouldn't have done what we did. I could've avoided all the hurt I was going through now if only I'd been a bit more patient. I wasn't trying to fool myself; I knew that leaving Embry would've been tough, but sleeping with him, confessing my feelings to him, had just made everything so much worse.

By the time I reached Jake's door I was a complete mess. I forced myself to stand on the porch and take a few deep breaths to compose myself. I lifted the hem of my tank top and wiped my cheeks, soaking up as much moisture as I could. When I finally felt under control, I tapped on the door.

The only sound I could hear was Jake ambling lazily down the hall, and I was thankful that Billy wasn't in. I didn't think I could face telling both of them my news at the same time, and god love Billy, the crazy old fool, but he was a notorious gossip and I knew it would only be a matter of seconds before the whole reservation knew.

"Hey, Lee. Whatcha doing here? It's not patrol time yet," Jake called brightly as soon as he swung the door open, leaning his huge figure against the frame. He took one look at my face and frowned. "What's wrong?"

Those two words were all it took for me to burst into a fresh round of sobs and I launched forward to bury my face into Jake's t-shirt, partly for the comfort, partly to hide my face. I hated crying, I despised crying in front of people. Jake stumbled back with the force of my assault, before balancing again and, lightning quick, wrapped his arms around me, cradling my head against his chest.

"Shhh…shhh…hey, come on," he soothed, breathing the words in my ear. "Leah, hun? What's wrong? Talk to me?"

It wasn't a demand, I think he knew I couldn't form words right now. I heard the door click shut behind me and then Jake was guiding me to the sofa. He pushed me down gently and I slumped into the thick cushions, burying my head in my hands as I fought to control my breathing. I felt the sofa shift next to me and a moment later Jake's arm was wrapped around my shoulders. The room was quiet for a while, the only sound was my pathetic sniffling.

"Leah, you have to tell me what's going on before I go insane," he pleaded softly. "What is it? Did Sam do something, say something?"

I shook my head as my tears finally started to ebb. Why did everyone think all my problems stemmed from Sam? Didn't anyone but me realise I was over him?

"Then what is it?"

I took a deep, shuddery breath. "I don't even know where to start," I whispered through my hands.

"The beginning would help," Jake replied dryly.

"It would help if I knew where the beginning was," I snorted.

"You're confusing me now."

"I'm confusing myself," I muttered as I sat up, pressing my back into the cushions.

"Leah, I love you, but if you don't spit it out, I'm going to kill you."

I waited until his hands stopped trembling− I knew he was pissed at whatever had hurt me− taking the opportunity to think, before I started. "I came early to tell you something. I-I−" I breathed deeply. "I'm leaving."

"You're WHAT?" Jake roared, leaping from the sofa before spinning around and staring at me as if I'd just announced I was having a sex change.

I'd expected that kind of reaction from him, I knew he wouldn't exactly be thrilled with my departure− after all, I probably did as much for our little pack as he did− but after the day I'd had I really didn't have the patience to put up with it.

"Sit down," I sighed, watching him pace back and forth across the lounge.

He ignored me. "Why? Why are you going? Did someone do something? If it was Sam, you know you can tell me. I'll kick his ass. I'll, I'll−"

"Jake, shut up, it's not Sam. It's not anyone. I'm not leaving La Push because something bad's happened."

"Then what is it?" he asked as he finally stopped pacing.

"I…got a job. A really good job…up in Seattle," I tacked on after a minute. "It's at the Seattle Times."

I didn't have to say any more before a huge grin broke out on Jake's face. "Leah, that's fantastic. Are you going to be a reporter?" he asked enthusiastically as he sat on the coffee table in front of me. I was surprised the old wood could take his weight, but it did, albeit with a groan.

"Not quite. It's a junior position, but there's a lot of opportunities to progress, and some freelance work."

"That's great!" he smiled, but it quickly turned into a frown. "Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you tell me?"

I smirked as I gestured towards the place he'd just been pacing frantically.

"Good point," he conceded. "Leah, this is great for you. I know− we all know− how much you want to be a journalist. Your dream's finally coming true. And I know you'll miss us. Me especially," he grinned, puffing out his chest− not that he needed to, the guy was built. "So why are you sad?"

That brought me back down to earth with a thump, as I cursed myself as I felt my eyes well up again.

Get a fucking grip, Clearwater! I scolded myself. You haven't cried in front of anyone in years, why the fuck are you starting now?

I could see the panic flash through Jake's eyes before he moved, far more swiftly than someone of size his should be able to, to kneel down in front of me, placing his hands on my knees, squeezing slightly.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's fine. It's just…just…" I didn't know how to get my next sentence out. I didn't even know what my next sentence should be. How the hell was I supposed to explain what had gone on between me and Embry? "It…it's just…different now."

"What's different?"

"Everything," I whispered as he looked up at me, concern etched on his face. "It's Embry." I let the two words hang in the air, not knowing what to say from there. Though I needn't have worried.

Keeping his hands on my knees, Jake rocked back slightly on the balls of his feet, a small, knowing smile played on his lips.

"You love him," he stated.

I instantly went to protest, but I stopped short. "Yeah. I do," I replied after a minute.

Jake's booming chuckle made me jump out of my skin, and I could've sworn I heard the window panes rattle with the force.

"I knew it," he laughed. "I fucking knew it!"

His smug grin was really starting to get on my nerves. I pushed his shoulders and he toppled back, knocking into the coffee table as his ass landed heavily on the floor, though he never stopped smiling.

"How the hell would you know about it, if I've only just realised it myself?" I spat.

Still laughing− used to my frequent mood swings− he held his hands up in surrender. "Calm down, Clearwater. You're just too obvious. You can't help it."

I opened my mouth, ready to deliver one of my cutting comebacks, but nothing came out. I snapped it shut, breathing heavily as Jake roared with laughter below me. Finally my brain came back to me, though I only managed a, "Fuck off, idiot."

Yeah, original, Leah. Well done.

"Okay, okay. Sorry," Jake spluttered, eventually managing to control his laughter. "You're just too funny when you get pissed." I went to swing at him, but he easily caught my fist in his hand, not even batting an eyelid. "And don't worry, you weren't that obvious. I only figured it out because I found out Embry liked you. After that I watched the two of you. It was easy to put two and two together from there."

I wasn't sure what I was more stunned about; the fact that Embry had obviously liked me for awhile− maybe as long as I'd liked him− or that Jake had actually paid attention to something for more than five minutes. Something other than his imprint. My mind was buzzing with all this new information, and I was still trying to comprehend the fact that I loved Embry, not just liked− loved. I hadn't considered it before Jake'd mentioned it, but it was true, I did love him. How could I have been stupid enough to miss that? Especially as Jake hadn't? Clearly my Alpha knew me better than I thought.

Oblivious to my internal struggle, said Alpha continued talking. "Now, I'm going to take a guess here and say that you're upset about moving because you don't want to leave him behind. Am I right?"

I nodded mutely, and Jake burst out laughing, again.

"What's so funny?" I hissed.

"Oh, Clearwater. You truly are an idiot."

I raised my eyebrows. "Get to the point."

"If you don't want to leave him behind, then why don't you take him with you?"

I snorted. I hadn't even considered that before, but I could already find a million reasons why it wouldn't work. "Please, as if Embry would actually want to come with me. Even if he did, there's still too much in the way. What about the pack? His mom? School?"

"Leah," Jake tsked, moving to kneel in front of me again. He leant forward, taking my face in between his palms. "Embry would follow you anywhere. Anything else doesn't matter."

He smiled before kissing my forehead as I remained stone still on the couch.

Would Embry follow me?

Would he really leave his life here behind? For me?

How would I know unless I asked?

I threw my arms around Jake's neck, bear hugging him with enough force to decapitate a human before pressing a firm kiss to his forehead.

"Thanks, Jake!" I called as I ripped myself from his arms and jumped up. I could hear his deep chuckle as I darted out the little red house.

I tore through the now dark streets of La Push as quick as my legs would carry me, only slowing slightly when there were humans around, though I was probably still going faster than anyone thought possible. My feet slapped the concrete frantically as I hurtled myself toward my goal, towards Embry, all the while mentally kicking myself for leaving him earlier. I also cursed the fact that his house was on the complete opposite side of the reservation.

I turned onto the next street− only two more to go− and I almost slowed down when I saw someone taking out their trash, but I quickly realised it was Sam. He wouldn't bat an eyelid at the speed I was doing.

I nodded at him as I came closer before passing him. He just stood there, eyebrows quirked, as he watched me. The little grey house− the one I'd always thought would be mine− blurred passed me as I raced toward Embry. I smiled as I realised the symbolism of that one seemingly insignificant thing. I was leaving my past, the little grey house, Sam, and the future they represented, as I ran headfirst into my future. One that would hopefully contain the man waiting at the end.

My breath was heavy, and my heart was beating furiously against my ribs− though I wasn't sure whether that was through exertion or nerves.

I turned onto his street.

What if he said no?

What if he didn't want to come with me?

I realised then that I would have to tell him how I felt, exactly how I felt, if I was to stand a chance of convincing him to go with me. He would have to know I loved him. How else would he be able to make the choice? Surprisingly, I knew it wouldn't be difficult for me to open up, I wanted him to know.

But what if I was just some meaningless fuck to him?

I pushed that thought down as I barrelled up his path. Embry didn't have it in him to treat a woman like that, and I knew I hadn't been imagining the emotion he'd poured into everything this afternoon.

I didn't have time to collect my thoughts, or plan what to say as I skidded to a stop in front of his door, banging on it so hard I hurt my hand. I heard scuffling and two seconds later the door opened to reveal Embry, in all his perfection, staring at me with an utterly confused expression on his face.

How did he get to the door so fast?

I didn't have time to ponder that as I blurted the first thing that came to mind.

"Embry!" I cried, grasping his forearm tightly. "Come with me?"

"What?"

"Come with me. Come to Seattle with me," I panted.

He just stared blankly at my face. Not the reaction I'd been expecting. "Leah, what're you talking about?"

"I want you to come with me. I want to take a chance on you. I took a chance when I applied for this job, and it paid off. I'm hoping you'll say yes and this'll pay off for me too," I rushed out, my words blurring into each other as they tumbled unchecked from my mouth.

"What do you mean?"

"For fuck sake, Embry, you can be thick as pig shit sometimes," I barked, growing impatient. I admit that I may have overreacted− just slightly− but I felt like I was going to explode if he didn't answer my question soon. "I want you to come with me. I'm totally fucking in love with you! And I don't want to go…I can't go without you."

Embry didn't move, he didn't breathe, and I just stood there waiting for a response. Suddenly, my impulsive decision to ask him to come with me and to confess my feelings didn't seem like such a good idea anymore and I mentally cursed not only myself, but Jacob Fucking Black too.

EMBRY POV

There hadn't been a day in the past six months where I hadn't mentally thanked Jacob Black. In fact most days I vocalised it to him as well, but I had to watch the phone bill. But no matter how many times I thanked him, there was no way I could ever re-pay what my best friend had done for me.

He'd been the one to make Leah confront her feelings about me. He'd also given her the idea of inviting me to move in with her. But we'd have never even got to that stage if it hadn't been for Jake in the first place. Leah was− and still is− strong, stronger than anyone else I've ever known. She would've eventually managed to cope on her own, but Jake's decision to split the pack gave her the escape she'd been dreaming of. No longer would she have to be tortured with the constant presence of her ex. Instead of just merely coping, Leah'd thrived in Jake's pack.

"Are you ready?" I called up the stairs.

"Just a minute," she called back.

I walked back into the lounge. Rolling my eyes, I turned towards the mirror that hung over the mantle, straightening out my tie. The damn thing felt like it was choking me. Women were right when they said men were idiots− we were the one's who willingly wore nooses around our necks. Well, I wasn't wearing one willingly. Leah'd threatened a bitch fit if I didn't wear it, and though our strength had almost gone back to normal as a result of not phasing for so long, I really didn't want to risk it.

Quitting our wolves had been surprisingly easy. In fact, we only ran one more patrol after she asked me to come with her. We ran together, for the first and last time enjoying being in each others minds with all our walls down. Leah'd let me in easily after she'd confessed her feelings and her mind was lighter, more free, after she'd put herself out there and I'd accepted. For four hours we got to see exactly how we felt about each other, no holds barred.

I still kicked myself for just standing there as she poured her heart out to me that first time on my doorstep. I knew she'd taken a huge, huge personal risk when she'd come back. For the first time since Sam, she'd put her heart on the line, and what did I do? I stood there like a mute. She'd turned to leave, tears already pricking her eyes when I finally came back into myself, and I'd scooped her up in my arms, kissing her passionately before agreeing to move with her, not pausing to consider how my life would change, or what I needed to do.

The next day we announced to the packs and the elders that we would be leaving for Seattle in two weeks, together. There had been shock, plenty of it, but eventually everyone came around to the idea. It wasn't like they had a choice. Sam had confessed to me a few days later that he was torn. Half of him was happy for Leah, pleased to see that she was happy. It was all he wanted for her. But he was nervous, scared that I could imprint and leave her. I didn't have a response for him− it was a concern of mine too− but Leah heard him, and she had plenty to say on the subject.

"While I appreciate your concern, Sam," she stated calmly, a small smile playing on her beautiful lips. "It's totally unnecessary. Yes, there's always the risk that Embry could imprint one day, as could I, but life is full of risks. If everyone went around avoiding risks, or anything that could hurt them, then no one would experience anything. I'm tired of living a half-life, Sam," she sighed. "Sometimes, no matter how hard you try and avoid it, you're going to get hurt. But hurting is better than feeling nothing. And besides, could you resist this face?" she asked, chuckling as she cupped my face, giving me a small kiss.

It was in that moment that I realised she'd truly put Sam and her past behind her. After that, I told my mom. She wasn't too impressed that her 'delinquent son was now running off with an older woman, and all before he graduated.' I reassured her that I wasn't running off, and that I'd do my senior year of high school in the city. She didn't believe me, but it was the truth. Not only was I attending the local high school, I was actually getting higher grades than I had in La Push, mainly because I had more time now that I didn't have to patrol.

"Ok, I'm ready!" Leah announced dramatically as she started to descend the stairs.

I still found it weird that I couldn't hear her unless she shouted, so used to having wolf senses. I tugged my tie one last time before turning around, ready for her grand entrance.

"Wow," I breathed, fully aware that my mouth was hanging open, but totally unable to do anything about it. Leah looked…beyond breathtaking. Stunning wouldn't even begin to cover the vision in front of me. "You…you look…"

"Thank you," she giggled when she realised I wouldn't be finishing that sentence anytime soon. A soft blush rose on her high cheekbones. "You don't look so bad yourself."

"I look like an idiot."

"You do not," she insisted as she walked towards me. It looked more like she was floating, the way the emerald green fabric of her dress swished around her legs.

She reached up and fiddled with my tie, making sure it was to her liking before she walked towards the mirror, moving her fingers over her curled hair, which she'd fastened with some sparkly clip thingies. I moved behind her, wrapping my arms around her slender waist as I pressed a firm kiss to the nape of her exposed neck, never taking my eyes from hers in the reflection.

"You look perfect."

She shivered slightly at my breath on her neck. "Thanks. You ready?"

"I've been ready for half an hour." I chuckled as she rolled her eyes.

We made our way to car and I did the gentlemanly thing over opening her door for her, gathering the fabric of her dress to help her get in. It earned me a scowl but I didn't care. Leah looked like a princess and I was determined to treat her like one.

We talked about random things as we started the long drive, but when we passed the city limits, the houses slowly dissipating, replaced by the forest, we went quiet, Leah leaning her head against the passenger window, watching the world go by.

I continued driving at the same pace, occasionally flicking the wipers on when the Washington sky couldn't decide if it wanted to rain or not. Secretly I was worried about Leah. I wondered whether this day would be too much for her. Watching your ex get married wasn't easy for anyone, never mind when it was to your own cousin and you were the bridesmaid.

I knew Leah had put Sam behind her, but I suspected that there was still a place in her heart for him. I didn't mind, I knew she loved me, she'd proven it again and again over the last six months. Every small gesture, every kiss, every touch, every night when we lay in bed together let me know just how much I meant to her. But I couldn't stop that niggle in the back of my head, the one that told me that today could push her back towards the girl she used to be, it could ruin everything she'd achieved over the last year and a half.

"Leah?" I asked tentatively.

"Hmmm?"

"Are you ok?"

I took my eyes off the road as she grasped my right hand in hers, linking our fingers together. She smiled brightly at me. "I'm great."

And I knew from the way her eyes sparkled that she was telling the truth.

A.N: It's over : ( I'm so sad that it's come to an end, I've had so much fun writing this story and I really, really hope you enjoyed the final instalment.

I just want to say a massive, massive thanks to everyone who's reviewed, fav'd, or alerted this story. I'd give each and every one of you a hug if I could. Better yet, I'd send Embry round to give you a hug. Though, if I had that kind of power over him I could think of a million other things I'd do first ;)

I'm really to hoping to at least equal the same amount of reviews on this chapter as I had on the first, so if eleven of you would be kind enough to review that'd be awesome! In fact, if everyone who has this story on alert were to leave me a little review, I think I'd explode!