Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with the Twilight series.

Chapter 2

The next morning I was up at eight and unpacking so I could get to my wool socks that were at the bottom of my bag when there was a soft knock on my door. "Come in," I said and Mom stepped inside. She was wrapped up in her robe and her long black hair was pulled back in a clip. "Morning," I said before I tucked my last sweater into the tall dresser.

"Good morning," she said and I pushed the drawer closed. I went to pick up my towel to head into the shower when she stopped me. "Amanda," she said and I looked at her. "It's breakfast, medicine, then shower. Your Grandpa can wait for you." I sighed before I walked over to the door and the two of made our way downstairs. I checked my scarf to make sure my head was still covered as I sat down at the table.

"Morning, Amanda," Grandpa said as he sipped on his coffee. "I thought you'd be dressed by now."

"I had to unpack to get to a few of my things," I said as I poured myself some orange juice. "It took longer than I thought and Mom said I had to have breakfast before I took a shower. I'll hurry so we're not late."

"No need," Grandpa said as Grandma sat a bowl of oatmeal and a plate of toast in front of me. I smiled my thanks and she quickly went back to the kitchen. "Sam and the boys will be coming round soon and they're going to check the seals in the windows upstairs first." I nodded as I started to eat. It had been rather drafty in the room last night, but I thought it had just been my fluctuating temperature so I just added a few more blankets to the bed. "You sure you don't want to come with us, Derek?"

"No thanks, Grandpa," Derek said as he picked at his food.

"Did you bring your medicine down with you?" Mom asked when she brought her own plate and cup of coffee to the table. Derek scoffed from his seat across me and I ignored him. Dad was probably still getting dressed because he wasn't at the table.

"No, but I promise I'll take it," I said after I swallowed my bite of toast.

"Where's your medicine bag?" she asked from her still standing position.

"On my nightstand," I said and she turned and went out into the hall and up the stairs. I sighed and shook my head as I looked at my Grandma as she sat down with her own breakfast. "Why does she think I'm incapable of remembering to take my medicine?" She gave me a small smile and patted my hand on that was resting on the table.

"She just worries about you, Amanda," Grandma said. "I think she's scared you'll end up back in the hospital," she finished as she settled back her chair.

"I know she worries and I'm grateful that she does, but it's getting to be a little much. I haven't been really sick for the last six weeks and my hair is starting to come back," I said. Grandma smiled at me and shrugged before she started eating. I returned to my breakfast only to have Mom suddenly appear and put down the pills I needed to take that morning before she too sat down. I sighed as I looked at the eight pills before I took a bite of my oatmeal. I couldn't wait to leave. I was almost done with my breakfast when there was a knock at the door.

"That must be Sam and the boys," Grandpa said as he stood. I quickly finished off my eggs and then started to take the pills, two at a time. I'd gotten used to taking them but if I took more than two at a time they'd get stuck sometimes.

"Relax Amanda, they're not going to leave without you," Mom said with a light laugh. That was the first time I heard her laugh in a while and I couldn't help but smile back.

"I know, but I've got to shower still and I look a mess," I said, which made both her and Grandma chuckle and Derek rolled his eyes as I stood from the table and headed into the hall. I tried to sneak upstairs because I really didn't want them to see me in my pajamas and with no make up to hide the light dark circles I had cooking that morning only to have Grandpa call out.

"Amanda, come say hello to everyone," he said and I winced before I placed a smile on my face and went into the living room only to falter at the door when I saw the three rather large men standing with Grandpa.

Now, Grandpa wasn't a small man at six feet one inch and he was sort of stocky; but the men standing with him made him look small. Not one of them was less than six feet four inches and all of them were broad and their defined muscles were east to see under the t-shirts they wore under their jackets. I easily recognized Sam, but I had forgotten just how tall the man was. I was barely five feet four inches and if they towered over Grandpa like they did, I couldn't imagine what I looked like standing next to them.

"Hi," I said with a small wave after I came to my senses and walked over to stand next to Grandpa.

"You remember Sam, don't you Amanda?" Grandpa asked and I smiled at Sam as I nodded. The man smiled back as he inclined his head. "And these two brutes with him are Jared and Paul," he said gesturing to the man on Sam's left and then the man on Sam's right.

The man on the left smiled at me and nodded his head but when my eyes met the eyes of the man on Sam's right, I suddenly felt uncomfortable. Paul, as Grandpa introduced him, was staring at me. His dark eyes were very intense and he was looking at me in a way that no one had ever looked at me before; like he was looking at something amazing. It was unnerving, so, I frowned and looked away from him and at Sam.

"It's nice to see you again Sam," I said. By the look on his face it was obvious Sam knew Paul was staring and I hoped he could see that I was uncomfortable. I realized he did when he turned slightly so he was partially blocking me from Paul's intense gaze.

"You too, Amanda," Sam said, his voice was also deeper than I remembered. "It's been a while." I laughed lightly at that and nodded my head.

"Yeah, and don't mind my pajamas," I said gesturing to my sweatshirt and sweatpants. "I just finished breakfast and was heading upstairs to get dressed. I shouldn't be long though."

"Don't worry about it," Sam said. "We promised your grandpa we'd check the upstairs windows."

"Were you cold last night, Amanda?" Grandpa asked as he looked down at me and I looked at him with a small shrug.

"A bit, but when am I not cold anymore?" I asked with a smile. "I just grabbed a few of the extra blankets from the closet."

"Sam, check Amanda's windows first, please," Grandpa said looking at the other man. "We don't want her getting sick, not after-," he started but I stopped him from continuing.

"Grandpa," I said quickly and rather sharply as I grabbed his arm and he looked down at me. "It's not something that needs to be broadcasted to the world. Please don't say anything," I whispered softly so the others wouldn't hear.

"All right," he said gently before he looked back at the guys. They were looking at me curiously, but Grandpa drew their attention to him. "Since Amanda's still got to get ready, why don't you guys start in Derek's and Molly's rooms?" When they nodded in agreement, I gave them a smile and said a quick 'bye' before I rushed up the stairs. However, as I did so, I could still feel Paul's eyes on me and it was a little disconcerting.

By the time I had showered, carefully dried my hair, dressed, and ensured my hat and make up were in place there was a swift knock on my door. For some reason my stomach felt like it jumped to my throat, but I pushed it down and walked over to the door and opened it. Thankfully, it was Jared standing on the other side and he gave me a small smile. "Mind if I check your windows?" he asked and I shook my head negatively as I smiled and opened the door further for him and stepped aside.

"Come on in," I said and as he walked in, I noticed a bag in his hands. "Is there something wrong with the windows?" I asked and he looked at me with a grin.

"Nothing a little weather stripping can't fix," he said. "The temperatures and moisture around here cause the wood to expand and shrink and small gaps appear around the windows. When I'm done, tonight when you sleep you'll be nice and toasty." I laughed at that as I sat down on the full sized bed and pulled on my snow boots. I probably wouldn't be toasty, but definitely warmer than I had been the night before.

"So, how long have you worked with Sam?" I asked, making small talk while he worked and while I tied up the laces of my snow boots.

"Since I was seventeen; that's ten years in case you were wondering," he said and I smiled. "He's sort of taught me everything I know." I looked at him and there was a grin on his face that was telling me there was a double meaning to his words, but I wasn't going to ask what that second meaning was.

"He can't be much older than you," I said and Jared chuckled.

"He's not, but his uncle taught him and Sam taught me and a few of our other friends," he said.

"What made you want to go into carpentering?" I asked as I finished tying off my left boot and stood, making sure they weren't too tight.

"You ask a lot of questions, you know that?" he asked and I smiled as I looked up at him. Apparently, it was quick fix because it looked like he was cleaning up the small mess he made.

"I'm naturally inquisitive," I said. "You can ask Sam if you want. I practically talked his ears off while he worked on the house three years ago." Jared laughed at that and I laughed with him.

"So, you ready then?" he asked and I nodded as I moved to the closet and grabbed my warm black wool coat and my dark blue scarf and gloves that matched my hat.

"Ready to go," I said as I draped my coat over my arms and he nodded his head as he picked up his bag and the two of us headed downstairs.

Dad was up and moving now and drinking coffee as he sat at the table in the kitchen with Grandma, Mom, Grandpa, and Sam. Derek was probably upstairs in his room and Paul was standing off to the side, leaning against the kitchen island. When Jared and I walked into the room, Paul's eyes were instantly on me and I felt my cheeks heat as I held his eyes for a fraction of a second before I looked at Grandpa with a smile.

"Ready?" I asked him and he nodded. Mom stood then, walked over to me and pulled me off to the side. I knew what was coming before she even breathed a word.

"I want you to take it easy," she whispered. "Don't let them rush you along the trail and if you start feeling the least bit tired, I want you to rest for a bit."

"Okay," I whispered back as I looked up at her. She wasn't much taller than me, but she was taller all the same.

"Promise me," she said and I sighed.

"I promise," I said looking into her eyes.

"You took-," she started but I interrupted her.

"Mom, you watched me take them all this morning and I've got the ones I need to take at noon in my pocket just in case we're not back by then. I just need to get a bottle of water," I said as I patted my jeans pocket were the small round pill case rested and she nodded before she turned and went further into the kitchen and towards the fridge. I shook my head as I pulled on my jacket and wrapped my scarf around my neck in the time it took her to come back with a small travel bottle of water. "Thanks," I said as I took it from her and tucked it into the pocket of my coat. I kissed her cheek before I turned around and walked into the foyer where Grandpa, Sam, Jared, and Paul stood waiting. They had made their way past Mom and I as we talked; I just hoped they hadn't heard anything we said.

"Let's get going," Grandpa said as he pulled on his gloves and opened the door. Sam and Jared followed him outside and as I took a step to do the same a hand was suddenly on my shoulder. The heat of said hand seeped through my coat and warmed my shoulder instantly. I turned my head to the left and looked up curiously at Paul, whose hand was resting on my shoulder.

"Are you going to be warm enough?" he asked. His voice was slightly deeper than Sam and Jared's and it was huskier. It suited his sharp and handsome features. I forced a small smile at the slight concern I heard in his voice and nodded. I had enough people fussing over me, I didn't need a guy I didn't even know doing the same thing.

"I'll be fine," I assured him before I walked outside, effectively removing his hand from my shoulder. It wasn't as cold as I was expecting, but it was still cold and thankfully it had stopped snowing. Sam had Grandpa's axe resting on his shoulder as they waited for Paul and I, and I quickly charged over to them, pulling on my gloves as I did so. As we started into the woods, I noticed that Paul stayed close to me and kept to my slower pace. I didn't know whether to be annoyed or flattered, however, my stubbornness was leaning me towards the first emotion.