Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, they were created by the talented Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 3 Cullen Arms

"How is it possible Carlisle?" My mom leaned forward, intent, wanting to know how my impossible 'union' could have taken place without any ill consequences, like immediate death. Carlisle steepled his hands as though in deep thought before he made his pronunciation. The abrupt absence of noise in the house was alarming. Everyone wanted to know the answer to the million dollar question.

"Sue, I've checked Leah over as thoroughly as I'm able to here. Her blood, saliva, and urine show no trace of the venom her in her system." Carlisle was delicately leaving out the thorough gynecological exam. I swear, I should be able to give the annual pap smear a pass for the next five years based on it. "There is only one possibility," Carlisle paused and leaned back, "magic."

I scoffed, "You poked and prodded me for two hours and that's all you came up with? Magic?!"

"Leah, you weigh one hundred forty seven and a half pounds or so," (vampires suck at estimates), "and on the drop of a dime you phase into a thousand pound wolf, the concept of magic should not be surprising." Valid point, but I wanted something complicated with lots of big medical terms to back it up.

"Does this mean the legends about vampire venom being lethal are false?" Mom asked. Despite my request I had not been able to tell my Mom about Nahuel first. Jacob told Billy, who wanted my Mom to know, so he told Charlie that I had a new South American beau. Charlie didn't mention it until he called Mom at lunch time to confirm their nightly dinner plans. He called everyday to confirm, it was one thing to not take a lady for granted but damn Charlie, show a little confidence. After all, their dinner plans more and more often included breakfast plans too. One mention of South American boyfriend and my Mom, no dumb bunny, put two and two together and got four. She came over straight away. Well played Billy.

Carlisle shook his head. "Not at all Sue. I took blood from Jacob, Seth and even Jared's younger sister volunteered, and consistently their blood cells die on contact with the venom." Jared's little sister Kara was one of the new wolves we picked up in the expansion draft. Finally there was another female, but as angry as I was about being a wolf, she was ridiculously happy about this shit. "The legends aren't wrong, this is the magic of the imprint at work. Magic has decided that these two should be together so it has provided an exception." Carlisle was pulling this out of his ass, but he looked smooth, confident, and good looking while doing it. Carlisle looked good while doing pretty much anything, spewing bullshit was no exception.

Mom nodded digesting this, "If not for the magic my foolish daughter would be dead."

"Mom! I didn't mean to......it was too strong to resist." I tried to infuse the right amount of outrage in my voice. I wanted to gloss over the whole sex with a stranger thing by using the imprint phenomenon as a convenient excuse. It was a pretty good excuse in my opinion. Besides if Nahuel and I had not jumped straight into sex, would we have ever done it? It was not an argument that would sway Mom.

"What about reproduction? Will Leah be able to have children? Could she be pregnant now?"

Carlisle and I discussed this before Mom came in and I had suspected as such anyway. He looked at me, waiting for my permission to continue. Finally, someone was treating me like an adult. I nodded my consent. "Without further tests I can't be totally sure, but every indication from today is that Leah is not ovulating. It is highly unlikely that she will ever have children." Carlisle had offered me emergency contraception but I refused, it would just be a twisting of the knife. A tiny irrational part of me hoped against hope that the magic had provided more.

It was still hard to hear a second time and like the first time, my Nate held my hand. This time I managed not to cry. Mom gave me a sympathetic look and took my other hand. "Carlisle, I do not doubt your findings but you and I both know that some conditions take time to manifest. I would like it if you consent to keeping Leah under observation for at least a three day period, just to be on the safe side."

Carlisle's eyes widened in appreciation,"I suggested that to Leah, shortly before you arrived but she declined."

"She changed her mind," Mom stated with authority. Geez, I guess I just changed my mind. This fucking sucked. It seemed there was no end of people in my life to tell me what to do, my Alpha Jake, my former Alpha Sam with the right inflection, my imprint and my original Alpha, Mom. I really wish I could have kids so I could boss somebody around for a change.

I couldn't stand to worry Mom anymore than I already had today so I sucked my teeth, rolled my eyes and huffed, "Whatever makes you happy," giving in as graciously as possible.

Observation time, or Carlisle and Edward's Fun Time as I called it, was a supposedly three day observation of me. Instead, it was more like those movies where the alien fears capture because the humans will experiment on it. Take all the humans out of the equation, replace alien with werewolf and her vampire hybrid lover, and replace the government doctors with vampires. It would make an awesome horror movie. I know it would scare the shit out of me.

Carlisle took the opportunity to explore my wolf physiology under the guise that maybe the venom was affecting my wolf side and not my human side. I could have believed that if he didn't look so eager when he said, "Please phase so I can get a x-ray." He was just as happy about blood samples, a few hairs of my coat, and pretty much anything related to my wolf side.

Nahuel was of great interest to them as well but they were completely up front with him. "May I exam you to get a better understanding of my daughter's physical make up?" Edward simply asked. Edward was upfront with me too after I had that thought, "Leah, time for me to check your temperature because your mother told me to. Now be a good girl or I'll have to tell Sue." The vampire had me on that one.

I had never been so un-lonely in my life. I was watched at all times and Nahuel was with me every step of the way. When a vampire doctor puts you under observation in his home infested with other vampires, all of whom seem to have medical degrees like other people have a drivers license, its like being under a microscope. They had nothing better to do but watch me all the time, but not just watch, they took notes too. If they used cameras they could pass for my personal paparazzi.

If it wasn't for the the vampire stench and the never ending exams, I would say Cullen Arms was a vacation destination of choice. The food was fantastic, the accommodations comfortable, the entertainment equipment was top notch, and then there were the shoes.

Alice Cullen finally had me in her clutches. We were mutually not fond of each other and we were both fine with that, but there I was with my one dress and there she was with a disturbing collection of clothes and shoes exactly in my size. The clothes I could have resisted, but I stood no chance against the shoes. The hard shell that protected me melted under the high gloss glare coming off a pair of patent leather Jimmy Choo court shoes. Devious damn vampire found my weakness. I had never indulged in shoes of this caliber, having never robbed a bank, but footwear was sort of my thing. I didn't understand Bella's hang up; I am a girl ergo I like clothes.

Tonight's dinner outfit was chosen by Alice like everything else I had worn since yesterday. It was a soft mauve color in a chiffon that reminded me of the more vibrant purple dress Aunt Debra and Emily designed and made for my junior prom.

Prom was something I had looked forward to every day of my high school career. I was going to be the most beautiful girl in the room. I remember thinking the world would end if I didn't get chosen as Prom Queen. Prom Queen was my "big deal" issue. That's why I had to pull out the big guns and insist Emily skip school and drive down to help me get ready for prom. I remember my words, "Oh Em, no one does my hair up the way you do. Please, you haven't seen Sam since he was lost, you know you want to see him, safe and sound, besides, Sam would love to see you too, you guys get along so well." Seriously I had begged for it, hell, even scripted it and since Emily never denied me anything she came, see saw, and I must admit she conquered. Boy did she conquer.

I sashayed down the hall knowing my family and Sam were waiting for my grand entrance. My daddy had the camera ready, Seth and Mom were standing by too, but my attention was on Sam. Until he disappeared I never knew how much I loved that boy, since his return from the abyss he was my everything. The way he watched me enter the room confirmed that he felt the same way about me. He was awestruck staring at me. If he thought the front was special he should see the back. I did a slow dramatic twirl letting everybody get an eyeful of me, and there was Emily standing in the door to my room staring at Sam.

Being so ever so brilliant I came to the conclusion that Emily was shocked to see the changes in Sam. He was visibly altered; taller, broader, bulkier. I often wondered what he ate lost in the forest that would put so much weight on him, a natural plant steroid, high fat berries, bears? We but we never talked about that time. Even if Em noticed she shouldn't be so rude as to stare. Brilliant. How could I be so full of myself to misread the imprint? The first words out of Sam's mouth had been, "Hi, Emily." He sighed her name and I heard Daddy say, "Oh shit." Sam collected himself though and escorted me to prom where I was crowned Prom Queen and he was Prom King, it was my last hurrah in the coveted position of Sam Uley's girlfriend.

Being full of myself didn't keep me from having a niggling doubt in the back of mind. Sam never "looked" at me again. He didn't comment on my appearance and he actually took me straight home after prom. Straight home, no clever cover story, no innuendo, I was returned with nary a hair out of place.

Butterflies danced in my stomach when I left the 3rd floor bedroom in my new Jimmy Choos. Grand entrances had not been kind to this chick. I blew on my sweaty palms because I certainly wouldn't risk messing up this dress. I descended the stairs slowly, taking in the sounds of the house. Four heartbeats; two fast, Nate and Nessie, and two slower, Seth and Jake. Someone whispered, "Compliment her the moment she walks in. Don't ever delay, they never let it go. More than fifty years running and Rose still brings up I didn't say she looked nice at our first wedding."

Leah this is not prom night, calm your yourself.

Nate stood, putting down his video game controller. He looked at me with his full attention, not caring about the game he had ruined for Seth. He smiled at me,and I did a quick shoulder check, no Emily lurking in the wings, so I returned his smile. The man who was the center of my universe was looking at me and only me. I felt beautiful again, pretty, feminine, restored. The tight strapless bodice molded me just so and the long clingy skirt swished prettily about my ankles as I descend the final steps, sparing a glance at the play of my dress against my ankles which managed to look delicate in my fabulous fucking heels.

"Ah, Leah," Nahuel's lilting accent caressed my name making me tremble, "Your breasts are plump sensual orbs of perfection, second only to your eyes."

I paused a millisecond wanting to spin on my heel and run before the laughter started but I have a rep to live up to so I held my ground. The room paused, stunned, and all eyes that were not suddenly on me were on Emmett who seemed caught off guard by Nate. Emmett was looking as stunned as the rest of the room and before his mouth opened Rosalie gave him the warning look. Rose was an ally of sorts, she commiserated with me, "Mine was a hillbilly when I got him. He still wrestles bears but we've made some progress." My darling was adjusting to society at large. He and Huilen did not mix with people a great deal and Nate didn't even have human memories to guide him so sometimes he said that which should not be said. I forced a smile at his compliment.

"Leah has pretty breasts, I hope mine are pretty like that when I grow up." Nessie took a moment out of her piano lesson to help everyone remember why a 4 month old shouldn't speak. Four month olds and one hundred fifty year olds say the darndest things.

I rolled my shoulders back and sauntered forward. "Yes, my twins are the best." The dress had my boobs pushed up to my neck so its not like they were meant to go unnoticed.

Esme glided forward a smile playing about her lips,"Don't forget your lovely eyes dear. Now come this way, your dinner is ready." Nate and I followed Esme to a room near the dining room, I don't know the room's original purpose, it was just an extra room that rich people's houses tend to have. Whatever the purpose before, it was apparent it was now a private dining room set for two.

I would like to pretend otherwise but I knew I was Native American Barbie on a date with South American Ken. Somehow Esme got the idea that Nahuel and I needed time to get know each other, to "date", which roughly translated to 'since I was stuck here, she and Alice would have as much fun with the experience as possible.' Alice dressed me for my date and Esme had an excuse to cook haute cuisine. There was no other place I could go and be with my imprint so I stayed and put up with it while enjoying the clothes, food, shoes and the not being called a bitch or bitter harpy. Esme won't tolerate that kind of talk within her hearing, so I was covered for about five miles.

Nate strolled forward to pull out the chair for me at the table, a custom he thought was ridiculous. I took a seat dressed in red carpet attire and Nate took a seat barefoot in jeans and an open button down shirt. Wearing a shirt was a major concession for him and Alice could not force more on him. She tried, but he had a special brand of stubborn that could not be persuaded or intimidated by a fashion conscious pixie.

I didn't know what to say to start the evening. We made many attempts at conversation over the past two days. Half-vampires have complete recall so saying,"Tell me everything about yourself" is a huge mistake. He started with his first memories which naturally went back to being in the womb. His mommy sang to him and then she slurped some animal carcass and on and on and so forth. I was made to understand in those few days that he could remember prior to his birth that he loved his Mom. When he got to the story of his birth I was in tears. The burden of his guilt had weighed on him for over a century until he saw Edward and Bella and understood it wasn't his fault.

He continued on with his tale and I was fascinated at first until about ten days after his birth and four hours into his tale. I distracted him with a foolproof method used by women the world over, sex. Turns out it works on women too which is why we had to have this date night. Our "conversations" tended to end with orgasms. We weren't making much progress at getting to know each other outside of the biblical sense.

"Where did your Aunt Huilen get to?" I had not seen her all day, he has just the one relative around so the least I could do is ask.

"She is going on a much needed vacation."

"A vacation from what? She doesn't work." Her life was a vacation, was it not?

"According to her she's been stuck in the jungle caring for me. She saw some of the world as we journeyed here and she wants to see more."

"Aren't you worried about her? Won't you miss her?"

"She is not fearful of death and desires freedom, I don't begrudge her this."

Nate's cool nature scared me just a little. He and Huilen had been together every day for more than a century and he didn't seem to feel her absence at all. If something happened to me would he make a wolfskin rug and go on about his life? Strange how wolf fur works, I wash and condition my hair and my whole coat gets shiny and more manageable, and a bad hair day is hell all over. My coat would make him a good soft rug, because I use an excellent conditioner.

His hand lifting mine pulled me out of my rug musing. "She is my aunt and she's been stuck with a promise she made for decades, hiding out from both humans and vampires alike. She did not abandon me; she thinks of it as turning me over to you for safekeeping."

Yesterday Huilen said something to me that I thought strange at the time but it made sense now,'Good luck kid, you're going to need it.'

"Do you know where she's headed or what she wants to do?"

"She wants to get laid. Hopefully she will find a mate soon. She is looking for a tall pale mate therefore I assume she will roam the North," I coughed choking on the wine trying to go down the wrong pipe. When would I learn not to drink or eat when he was speaking?

He was patting my back in a flash, day two and we had this routine down. "I am sorry, what did I say that I should not have this time?"

Bella interrupted biting back a smile to serve the salads. Everybody liked having my Nate around.

Nate looked at his salad in distaste,"It's a bowl of leaves, it looks so unappetizing, we could graze for this like cattle. It is prettily arranged however."

I chewed thoughtfully, "Really as far as salads go it's pretty good." I detailed the different lettuce types and the various vegetables and how each tasted to me. Let the education of Nahuel begin, my own Eliza Doolittle. I felt sorry for my imprint, having me to guide him. What did I know? What would he know? He would know what I liked and truly what was more important than that? I shrugged, flimsy reasoning but I didn't have anything else.

"As far as human foods go, I believe I only like the meat," Nahuel said later as he was working his way through a cut of prime rib. "Maybe it is a vampire trait."

"First, don't refer to it as human food and secondly the meat-only tendency is a man thing so avoiding your vegetables is fine but you do want to eat your potatoes." I hated to bring up the bad things but they weren't going to go away. "My observation period here will be over soon, I will have to return to my own home." I dreaded bringing up our upcoming separation. "I don't want to leave you but this isn't my home."

"Nor is it mine, we will need our own dwelling. I must secure employment. Until then I will just be around. You have a rather nice forest here, not quite what I am used to but it should be sufficient." He was going to just be around, outside in the forest somewhere? I had done this myself for a few days right before Nessie was born but I don't consider the Olympic Park a hotel.

"That's not going to do, you'll get cold. You should stay on here." I whined a little with my request. It was how I used to get my way with Sam. Nahuel wasn't fond of the cold although it would cause him no harm. I hated the thought of him out there in the elements.

He looked at me strangely, "I may consider that, I will let you know what I decide."

Let me know? Time to introduce a new concept,"We could discuss it."

"No. You will be with your mother as you informed me so I shall decide where I will be." He had me there. He leaned forward and pitched his voice very low. Ah, he has learned this house pretty well. "If the Cullens were to extend an invitation to me it is unlikely they would not extend you one as well. However, unless they volunteer one I will not ask for one." He was barely audible to me and I hoped Edward's focus was elsewhere. He did not wish to be seen as trying to finagle an invite and I had to respect that. I nodded my understanding.

"Let's finish up here; we take over for Quil in less than an hour." Carlisle had cleared me for resuming patrol tonight and I was eager to get out and give my legs a good stretch.

A big thanks to Ash and Mskohl for pulling beta duty.