The Power of Three [Twilight/Charmed]

Part One - Chapter Twenty-Four: Shared Pain

Curled up in front of the television at Aiden's home, Leah smiled contently as she rested her head on his chest and listened to his content heartbeat; the two of them were home alone since Amelia and Alicia were out. 

"I love you," Aiden whispered making Leah look at him and smile, she knew that he loved her and she wanted to say it back; but she couldn't help but feel the hurt that Sam had caused after he had ripped out her heart. 

"You don't have to say it back Leah... I know you aren't ready," Aiden said making Leah sigh as she looked at him, he was everything that she could have ever wanted; he treated her like a princess and yet she couldn't say three simple words to him. 

Aiden trailed a hand down Leah's back and offered her a reassuring smile, he knew that she was still hurt by what Sam had done to her; he didn't expect her to move on until she was ready, he wasn't going to push her. 

"I know... but I feel horrible that I haven't said it back yet," Leah murmured making Aiden sigh as he sat up and looked at her; he knew that somewhere deep down inside of her, she still cared for Sam. 

He wasn't stupid enough to delude himself into thinking that he was her one and only when he'd seen and heard how much Sam had meant to Leah from the others. 

"I know you still care for Sam, I won't say that I don't mind... but we've both been broken in the past and now is our chance to put it behind us," Aiden reassured making Leah stare at him; she watched him closely wondering what he was talking about. 

Leah had never thought that Aiden had been heartbroken, he always seemed so happy about everything and was always positive.

"I used to have a girlfriend back in San Francesco, her name was Ruby. We were together for four years, she was my first and until I met you, my only," Aiden explained making Leah sit up as she listened to his story; she never expected that he had gone through such heartache, he was such a sweet guy that he didn't deserve it. 

Running a hand through his hair, he shook his head sadly at the memories; it was hard to think about Ruby who had meant so much to him. 

"When I came into my powers... a lot of things changed for me," Aiden said trying to explain what had been happening in his life to Leah all those years ago; he had been forced to grow up so quickly and he'd only been sixteen when his powers had activated. 

"I had so much responsibility placed on me... I have no idea how Amelia and Alicia coped so well; I struggled with my social life and school work, so I dropped out of high school," Aiden said making Leah nod her head understandingly as she watched him to her his story. 

The witch sat quietly for a moment as he thought back to how well his sisters' seemed to cope with becoming witches. 

Even if Amelia had withdrew into herself, she never seemed to show any weakness despite the fact that she had been fourteen. 

Alicia had only been twelve and it had been a lot to put onto her shoulders before a year later they became the Charmed ones; it had been something that had taken away their youth. 

"Ruby was annoyed that I didn't spend a lot of time with her. I was busy saving the world most of the time, but when I had the chance I was with her," Aiden murmured with a shrug making Leah nod her head as she waited for him to continue understanding what he meant.

"It was a year after we had come into our powers that I noticed a change into Ruby's behaviour... I didn't really think much of it until she announced her engagement to my best friend," Aiden whispered softly making Leah look at him sadly. Ruby had strung him along until she had found something better. 

"I'm sorry," Leah said making Aiden shrug as he looked at her, he knew that that time was slowly healing the wound that Ruby had caused and with Leah's help he had learnt to love again.

***

"So did you always want to be a teacher?" Leah asked as Aiden cooked them some dinner, he flashed her, a smile as she sat at the breakfast bar; he had decided to cook for them instead of going out. 

"Yes, I love children... there something about teaching them that makes my life a little easier to deal with," Aiden said checking on the pasta; Leah nodded her head as she watched him, she knew what he was talking about, being a teacher was his calling along with him being a Charmed One. 

Aiden looked at his girlfriend before he leant back against the counter and watched her. 

"What about you? If you hadn't have become a wolf, what would you be doing now?" Aiden asked curiously making Leah shift uncomfortable; because she had become a shape-shifter, she was now bond to stay at La Push for the rest of her life. 

"I wanted to be an art teacher... you know for people with disabilities," Leah admitted softly making Aiden smile, he could see his girlfriend doing such a thing; but he knew that she could never complete her dream if she was bond to stay with the pack forever. 

Leah blushed as Aiden smiled at her before he moved to finish dinner for them; he made her feel like less of a freak and not some bitter bitch that no one wanted around. 

"I think you'd make a brilliant teacher," Aiden replied plating the pasta and made them a drink; Leah smiled as he set a large plate of pasta in front of her, he had once told her that he had admired her appetite. 

Sitting down next to his girlfriend, Aiden watched her for a moment wondering what he could do to make her dream a reality; he knew that she deserved to live her life the way that she wanted, and he wanted to help her do that without magical intervention.

***

"What do you think will happen tomorrow?" Leah asked softly watching Aiden as they prepared for bed; she hadn't wanted to leave in case this was the last time that she got to spend time with him. 

Aiden sighed as he looked at her; he knew what his future held as he did with the future of his sisters, however he didn't know what Leah's future held and it scared him that tonight could be his last with her. 

"I don't know but whatever happens, I love you," Aiden murmured making Leah stare at him; she didn't know what it was but she had a feeling that he was keeping something from her. 

The she-wolf moved carefully as she wrapped her arms around Aiden's neck and kissed him softly, she knew that if this was her last night with him she didn't want to have doubts in her mind about what had happened in the past. 

"I love you too," Leah said softly making him smile at her, he hadn't expected his girlfriend to say those words to him; he had expected her to wait until she was ready and now she had, he didn't know what to say. 

Leah took a deep breath as she ran her fingers through Aiden's hair, she offered him a smile before she kissed his lips. 

"I mean it Aiden... I love you," Leah said making her boyfriend grin as he pulled her into another kiss. 

Neither of them knew what tomorrow would hold for them, there was a chance that one of them wouldn't return and it scared them; there was nothing they could do but hope that they both returned.