The Pack

Without Saying a Word

Jacob's POV

It had been about a week since I had kinda asked Leah to marry me in the bar. We really hadn't said anything else about since that night. I will say we may have broken our record for the amount of times we made love in a day. There was no denying that I would never love another woman like I loved Leah. I don't know what made me wait so long to propose. I guess I wanted to really date her. The first time we were together we were trying to heal our wounds. When she left I realized the old wounds from past lovers had healed. Her leaving Forks created new wounds. The wounds were so deep I didn't think I would be able to heal. Yet I did. I grew into the man I thought she deserved in hopes she would come back. So here I was sitting with her brother looking at rings ready to put the past in the past and focus on our future.

"Thanks for doing this man. I know there were better ways you could be spending your Sunday," I said as I picked up one of the rings I had narrowed my decision down to.

"No worries man, I'm returning the favor. You and Embry came with me to pick out a ring for Ness remember?" I nodded. Of course I remembered it wasn't that long ago that Seth decided he couldn't wait. Ness and him they had this odd thing … it was almost as if my imprint shifted and he fell like I was "supposed" to.

"Jake, I hope you don't think I'm prying but I always wondered how you picked my sister. Don't get me wrong I get Leah is great but, how were you strong enough to break a sensation as strong as an imprint?" He wasn't the first to ask me this question with most people I just brushed it off but Seth had been my best friend for a really long time so I wanted to give him the truth.

"I imprinted on Ness when she was a baby and as hard as it was I knew I needed to tell Leah as soon as it happened. I pulled myself from Ness' presence to tell Leah what had happened. I saw the broken look on Leah's face. I still remember the look in her eyes at that point we'd never talked about love or anything like that. We were so young and still just doing … well you know."

"Yeah, trust me I know. You two thought you were quiet but you really weren't," Seth complained and cringed.

"Yeah anyway. When I looked in Leah's eyes it was the first time I realized we were so much more than we were pretending to be. It was like she confessed to loving me and needing me without saying a word. My decision was effortless she needed me and I needed to be there for her. I didn't know if there would be repercussions for altering my fate. I knew that I would have to answer for my decision and I didn't care. I knew as long as Leah was in my life I would be happy forever." I looked down at the dainty platinum ring and imagined it on Leah's finger. Leah had a hold on me much stronger than some imprint and I didn't want her to let go.

"I choose this one," I said as I gave the ring over to the sales associate. Hopefully tonight would be one of the best nights of Leah's life. I wanted to give her a moment she would never forget.

I pulled into Sue's driveway Sunday dinner. I was late it was a usual thing for me but I hadn't intended to be tonight. Nancy apparently forgot that I didn't want to have our regular meeting today because she called repeatedly. My will broke and I answered on her fourth call after I dropped Seth off at home. The call took much longer than I anticipated. I expected to see everyone at the dinner table when I entered the house but instead I was greeted by something that caught me off guard. Leah was sitting in the middle of the couch holding little Eden. Leah put her finger to her lips. I closed the door quietly and looked at her in confusion.

"Emily's sick and she doesn't want the baby to get sick. My mom's been taking care of the baby for most of the week. She went to take Emily and Sam something to eat," Leah whispered. Ness came out of the kitchen with Seth.

"Yeah Eden started crying and the only one she would be quiet for was Leah," Ness explained. "Sorry Leah, I know how uncomfortable it is for you."

"It's not as bad as I thought it would be. It's the first time I really looked at the kid and she actually pretty cute," Leah chuckled a little and then looked up at me. "I thought you weren't working all day today?"

"I wasn't planning on it but Nance called so I was suckered into a meeting against my will," I joked. "You want me to hold her?"

"She may cry," Leah warned.

"If she does I'll hand her back to you," I said playfully but I was serious.

"Oh great thanks." Leah chuckled as she handed me the baby. Eden fussed a little in her sleep but calmed down and nestled into my chest. Leah was right Eden was very cute. It made me wonder … what it would be like to be a dad. I imagined a little baby that was a perfect mixture of Leah and me. I looked up at Leah and her eyes met mine. Yet again she spoke volumes without saying words. I took her hand in mine and kissed her fingertips.

"Patience beta girl all things happens in time," I whispered. Sniffles from afar made me realize we had an audience. Ness was wiping tears away and Seth was holding her. He rolled his eyes yet kissed her head. Ness was really sensitive it was one of the things he loved yet hated about his wife to be. The door opened and shook us all from our thoughts Sue, Edward, and Bella entered. They must've pulled up at the same time and everyone was so deep in thought that nobody noticed because of the tone of the room. Sue gasped at the sight at Leah and me with the baby.

"Leah honey, this is a good look for you," Sue cooed. Leah sighed and rose to her feet.

"Mom it wasn't a big deal the kid was crying I helped calm her down don't make it a thing," Leah said dryly. I knew why she was doing it. Her mom was going to try and fill her head with ideals that she wasn't sure she would be able to make reality. She didn't want to hear it because she still felt as though she was letting her family down. I gave Eden over to Sue and allowed her to get her situated in her mini crib.

After a little more commotion we all settled at the table for dinner and things went back to normal. My dad joined us as did Embry, Quil and their families. It was one of our bigger crowds for Sunday dinner. I had actually began to get a little nervous. I took a big swig of my water and Leah looked over at me and rested her hand on my upper arm.

"You okay you looked like you've seen a ghost?" Seth glanced over at me and chuckled and Edward was now focused on what was about to happen. I saw him whisper something to Bella I assumed he told her because her eyes doubled in size. I didn't appreciate it.

"Jake?" Leah refocused my attention to her this was the moment. I was going to do it now I already knew her answer I didn't understand why it was so hard now. I decided to make it simple. I placed the little black box on the dining room table by her hand. Her eyes widened at the box she slowly picked up and opened it. I heard her gasp she looked at me with already watery eyes. I scooted my seat back and did the right thing. I kneeled and I asked.

"Leah Clearwater, I know I have kinda did this before. Kinda isn't good enough," I started and I heard Sue whisper something excitedly in the background.

"Leah, you are … I'm just captivated by you. I don't think you understand how much I love you. I know I've said that a million times. I want you to understand that by saying yes to being my wife you are completing my life. You are making me whole." I took the ring out of the box and grabbed her right hand and slid the ring on her finger. "So Leah will you still marry me?"

"Of course Jake, nothing would change my mind!" She wrapped her arms around me and kissed me. "Thanks for the spectacle by the way," she whispered before she kissed my ear.

"Oh yay!" Ness cheered and so did everyone else. This was much more like the moment I envisioned for Leah. I wanted to declare my love of her to the whole world. She deserved to be celebrated and adored. I planned to spend my life doing just that.