(Thomas POV)
I threw the last bit of rice that was in my hand over the retreating couple. Bella and Edward, both in travel clothes, headed to celebrate their honeymoon at Esme Island. Everyone watched them drive off with different expressions on their faces.
Charlie was standing at the back of the group, his face a mix of emotions only a father would understand. Sue was standing close to him, close enough to be beside him, but not so close that people would start questioning their relationship. I was fairly certain something was going on there, but Sue is apparently working slowly. If Charlie had noticed how naturally she'd drifted into his orbit, he didn't seem ready to admit it just yet.
Rene was as I expected her to be, she was crying and laughing at the same time. She and Esme had struck up a friendship over planning the wedding ceremony. Esme was telling Rene about the island the newlywed couple was headed to in an effort to distract her from being sad about her only daughter growing up.
At the tree line, there was a commotion that only those with more than human eyes could make out. Jacob had shaken off the restraining hand of Sam and shifted before he began to run after Edward's car. I sighed at that. Jacob was starting to annoy me with his fixation on Bella. There were only so many excuses I could allow him before I took action to curb his behavior.
Edythe's fingers were laced through mine as her eyes shifted from where she had last seen the Volvo to the group around us. Leah stood on my other side, shoulders a little tight, face composed. She'd smiled when she was supposed to. She'd laughed when Seth forced it out of her. But her color wasn't quite right.
If I hadn't been paying attention, I would've missed it.
She caught me looking and rolled her eyes like I was being dramatic.
"I'm fine," she said, automatically.
I didn't call her on it.
Edythe exhaled slowly. "Well," she said, light on the surface, "that's one more ceremony done."
I snorted. "One more?"
Edythe nodded, "Yep. Soon it will be Rosalie and Emmett again, then Jasper and Alice. We do this in every town we move to, it helps entrench us in the town's mind."
I just smiled and shook my head, having nothing to offer at the revelation. After that movement, my eyes settled on Carlisle, who was talking with the Denali coven. No one had missed the look of hatred she threw at anyone from the tribe who was present at the wedding. Leah had to be talked out of a towering rage by Edythe when Irina focused her hate filled eyes on Seth.
It finally calmed down when Jasper and Alice joined the group, but there was no doubt that Irina still held the tribe accountable for the death of Laurant.
I was pulled from my thoughts by people drifting into little knots. Goodbyes, hugs, and the last obligatory photos. Followed by the promises to visit soon that were half-hearted at best.
After about twenty minutes, Edythe leaned into me, closing the space like a quiet shield. "We should go inside," she said lightly, as if it were about cleanup and not about Leah.
Leah wasn't falling for it, "You two worry too much, a little discomfort isn't worth this much attention."
"Okay," I said, keeping my voice casual. "House. Water. Sit down for five minutes. Then you can go back to pretending you're invincible."
Leah's eyes narrowed. "I am invincible."
Edythe's smile went sweet in the way that meant danger. "You're also stubborn."
"And you're both ganging up on me," Leah shot back, but there was no real heat in it. Just… lethargic.
We headed inside with the flow of guests, the Cullen house absorbing everyone like it always did, warm lights, clean wood, and a kind of practiced domesticity that fooled humans into not realizing they were in a predator's den.
The kitchen was in full "post-wedding" mode, food laid out buffet-style, Esme moving with calm authority, Carlisle quietly managing whatever needed managing without letting anyone see the edges of it.
Leah made it three steps into the kitchen before something on the food table drew her attention.
The sharp bite of lemon, the clean brine of seafood, the kind of dish people called "light" and "refreshing."
Leah stopped.
Her face didn't change much, Leah didn't do dramatic expressions unless she meant them, but her shoulders went rigid like her body had decided it hated the idea of breathing.
Edythe noticed immediately. So did I.
Leah's mouth tightened. "Who made that?"
Esme glanced up, cheerful and oblivious to the reason behind the question. "The salmon? I did. Why?"
Leah's eyes flicked once to the platter and then away, as if looking at it too long would be a mistake. "No reason."
Her voice was too flat.
She turned her head a fraction, swallowed once, and then forced out, "Just… suddenly not a fish person, I guess."
I watched her hands. They flexed once, then settled.
Edythe's fingers tightened around mine, a silent I see it too.
Carlisle's gaze moved to Leah, quick, clinical, quiet.
No one said anything.
Because people were still filtering through, and because Leah would rather bite her own tongue off than be handled like glass in front of witnesses.
We let it pass.
Leah moved away from the buffet and picked up a bottle of water like she'd meant to do that all along. She drank half of it in one go, then set it down with a little more force than necessary.
"I'm fine," she repeated, like repetition could make it true.
Edythe didn't argue. She just angled herself so Leah wasn't trapped against the counter if someone wandered too close, and she changed the subject out loud for anyone nearby.
"Charlie," Edythe called lightly, "Esme's sending you home with leftovers. Don't bother fighting it, you can't win."
Charlie grumbled something that sounded like surrender.
Sue's laugh followed, soft, warm, and close enough that I caught the way Charlie glanced at her without meaning to.
Leah's eyes tracked that for a second, then she looked away, like watching other people almost figure their lives out was too much effort today.
We didn't leave early.
Leah wouldn't allow it.
But when the last guests finally thinned out, and the house exhaled into quiet again, Leah's restraint started to crack at the edges.
Not emotionally.
Physically.
She didn't sit so much as drop into a chair at the kitchen table like gravity had gotten heavier.
Edythe moved a glass of water toward her.
Leah took it, drank, and then stared at the tabletop like she was trying to decide whether she was angry at her body or the world.
I kept my voice calm. "Is it just the fish thing?"
Leah's answer was immediate. "Yes."
Her tone said no.
Edythe didn't push with questions. She pushed with options. "We can go home."
Leah's jaw tightened. "I don't need to be escorted."
"I didn't say escorted," Edythe replied smoothly. "I said we can go."
Leah's eyes narrowed. Then she exhaled. "Fine. Home."
Carlisle's voice came from the doorway, gentle but firm. "Before you go…Leah, are you in pain?"
Leah shot him a look. "No."
Carlisle waited, unbothered. "Nausea?"
Leah hesitated. "Not nausea. Just… wrong."
Carlisle nodded once, filing it away. "All right. If it changes, you tell me."
Leah stood carefully, as if standing required extra thought. "Sure, Doc."
The next week was spent at home, with just the three of us. We were making plans for college, deciding on majors, and just relaxing overall. Though Edythe and I were keeping watch over Leah. She didn't seem to be getting worse, but she wasn't getting better either.
We had both noticed a new pattern forming for her.
Fish or any kind of seafood was an instant no…one whiff and Leah's stomach turned like it wanted to climb out of her. One afternoon, I made myself some tuna sandwiches, and she refused to be in the same room as me until I had both showered and brushed my teeth.
And then the opposite showed up.
Meat. Specifically rare meat.
And lots of it.
It started late one night, just before she normally went to bed. I noticed her standing at the fridge like she was fighting the desire for a late snack.
"Feeling snacky this evening, love?"
She sighed as she stared longingly at a roast, "Actually, I feel like I'm starving. But it would take forever to cook. I was debating shifting into my wolf form, so eating it raw wouldn't sound so weird in my head."
Edythe wandered into the kitchen, acting like it was a coincidence. She walked behind Leah, wrapped her arms around her, and kissed her neck.
"If you would like, I can cut some off the roast and fry it up for you. There is no reason to be hungry if we have food in the house. How does that sound?"
"That sounds wonderful, love," Leah replied quickly.
Edythe pulled the roast out and grabbed a knife, "How much do you feel like?"
Leah moved Edythe's hand until it was a little more than an inch into the roast. "That looks good."
Edythe nodded and cut about a pound and a half off the roast, "And how do you want it cooked?"
Leah thought for a moment. "Let's go with about a minute on each side in olive oil. That sounds wonderful."
Knowing that Leah was going to feel awkward about this whole thing, I spoke up, "How about making me one of those, Edythe? I am suddenly feeling hungry myself."
Leah ate hers so fast I ended up offering her half of mine, and she took it with no hesitation.
The next morning, things got worse. Leah sat up in bed, out of a dead sleep, and ran for the bathroom. The sound of retching followed immediately, and Edythe ran in to check on Leah.
I opened my mouth to ask if everything was okay only to hear another bout of vomiting, and wisely kept my mouth shut. After about five minutes of thinking about what I could do to help, I finally settled on something useful that was least likely to get me hurt. I grabbed my phone.
"Hey Carlisle, could you come over? Leah may need your help."