So these chapter are starting out quite short - I want the story to continue for a bit. I promise though as things start to pick up the chapters will be longer. I hope you enjoy them anyway ^_^

It's so much better having short hair. I would never have thought that before, but sitting here on the beach with the wind whipping like a freaking hurricane, I'm relieved I don't have my hair stinging my face along with the sand. I can see out over the ocean if I squint...it sucks doing this by myself. Jacob and I used to moan and whine here together all the time after Quil imprinted, now...now it's just me. Trying to recreate that whole male bonding moment. Yeah right. Isn't it funny how you totally take something for granted until you're left without it? I feel that way about Jakey boy. And I guess Quil, too. We used to be like the three musketeers, the two bean poles and me. God that was good. Before, when I thought my Dad was someone else entirely, before imprints, before vamps, before freaking phasing. When we used to think Sam and his friends were into something serious...ha. Something serious all right. I shove my feet forward further into the sand, lean back against the driftwood behind me, lean my head against it. It's gonna rain soon, I really should go somewhereelse, under cover, but why?

Soft footsteps interrupt my personal tirade.

Emily.

"Hey, Embry." She kicks up dirt when she sits next to me, covering me in it, but it's hard to be mad at Emily, she's too good, and I'd hate to miss out on one of her meals.

"Hey Emily. What are you doing out here in this crappy weather?"

"Looking for you."

Great. "Sam send you?" I can't help the exasperation slipping out.

"Nope."

Hmm. Interesting.

"What is it?"

She has the good grace to look slightly uncomfortable.

"I know how you feel, Embry."

Hmm. Elaborate...

"Missing Jacob. I know how that feels." She looks like she's waiting for my answer.

"Oh?" Wow, top rate conversationalist I am. Mr. Intelligent.

She looks out over the water with me for a while.

"Leah and I used to be so close, we were pretty much sisters, you know. Then when I came to visit and Sam imprinted, and she found out... It was a long time before she even spoke to me again. And now...well, we all know how Leah feels now. I lost part of my soul when I gained Sam."

I nod at her words. Yeah, I can see how that was very like how I felt, although...

"I know you don't have an imprint to make up for it, but then, you know it won't be forever. It's not even your disagreement..."

"Yeah. Thanks Sam."

She continues on as if I haven't spoken. "...so you have the benefit of knowing things will fix themselves up, and he doesn't hold anything against you..." she drifts off into a silence that makes me question whether she was still thinking of me with her last words.

It's nice to sit here with Emily. She's like the big sister I wish I had, she's been like that for all of us. The perfect imprint for an Alpha.

"You should go and see him." I snort at that, surely she remembers I have been expressly forbidden to do that by said Alpha.

"I'll speak to Sam." She says it so quietly I wonder if I heard her properly. I look at her face again. We've all seen the scars but this time I really look. The scars across the side of her face...I think she actually believes she deserves them. For the first time, I look past the perfect housewife veneer and see the raging river underneath. The heartbreak over Leah, her absolute love of Sam, her fear, her pain. I wonder what it would be like, to have someone mean so much that you would find a way to stay standing through the tempest. I've never really thought of Emily as strong, but just now, my eyes are opened a bit.

"I'm making spaghetti; I know how you boys love it. I'd better get back."

"Woo-hoo!" I do love Emily's spaghetti.

She laughs and finally looks at me as she stands.

"It'll all work out, Embry, don't worry so much."

"Huh, me worry? I'm just bored is all."

Her mouth curves up, accentuating the scars, but it seems sad.

"Yeah. Bored. Dinner will be ready in an hour."

She wanders off back up the beach, and I stare off again, wondering if she might be my sister-in-law, finding that oddly enough I like that idea.