*

She was soon fast asleep against me, her head on my shoulder and the rest of her body curling up against mine. I sighed, content to just stay here for the rest of my life, our bodies almost entwined together. She was unnaturally cold, which worried me. Checking that she was fully asleep, I quickly scoped her up in my arms, hugging her tiny frame close to my own heated body.

And then I couldn't stop grinning.

She had said that I was hot.

I shook my head, warning myself. I had to be careful with this girl. She didn't know who I was, and she didn't know what she had become to me. Equally important, Sam, her protective uncle, didn't know what she had become to me. I had to take this slowly no matter how much I ached to take it quick. I wanted to take the highway instead of the side roads. But we all knew that there was less traffic in the side roads.

I groaned, staring with frustration down at the girl who was cuddled up like a baby against my chest. Her long black hair flowed around her face, her doll's face serene and totally at peace. Her lips glistened in the shining moonlight, her long eyelashes creating long black tick marks against her lightly tanned skin. The light natural blush on her face that never seemed to leave creating a lovely contrast to the dark hair, and when she opened her eyes, I could only imagine how much more strengthened the effect would become. Her darling face lighting up the whole room, the entire universe…

I mentally slapped myself.

I started at a quick jog back to Sam's house, hoping that the two were still asleep so I wouldn't look like the creepy guy who steals sleeping girls and then returns them later. I already knew that we weren't on the best page after he guessed that I had started to have extra feelings of his niece, and I could only imagine his reaction when he learns just how much of those feelings I possess.

I easily scaled the wall up to her open window, gently laying her on the small mattress they had out and piling all the blankets I could find on her without making a sound. It didn't help though, I could tell just by looking at her frowning face as she moved deeper into the covers. Nothing compared to my own body heat. I smiled happily at the excuse I would get for being closer to her. I would just tell her that she looked cold and that I was naturally warm, and that I was just worried about her wellbeing. I caught my face in the mirror, frowning at it. The face had looked hopeful and deliriously happy.

Nice.

I easily hopped out the window, flying into the forest. None of the guys would be up at this time, especially if Sam was giving them this one night off. They would probably be with their imprints…at night…in a house…possibly on a…I shuddered. Methodically, I ripped off my t-shirt and my pants, rolling them each up and tying them securely to my ankle, quickly welcoming the shudders up and down my back. Before I knew it, my eyes were much higher up than they were before, and the forest floor was flying in a blur of green and brown below me.

Oh my God Embry. Sam is going to kill you.

I nearly tripped over a fallen log, my run faltering to a stumbling walk that got me nowhere.

Jake! I yelled at him mentally, holding back a howl of regret. I SWEAR IF YOU TELL HIM…

He didn't let me finish my threat. Geez. Chill man. I wont tell him, I'll leave the death trap to you.

I sighed, starting back up with a slower jog so I had little bit of time to talk with him. I hardly ever saw him nowadays; he was always at the Cullen's house, spending as much time as he could with Nessie. Thanks. And I mean it. Where are you?

On my way home.

From the Cullen's…

Yeah. I'm sorry. So much for being a natural leader…

Jake, you are a leader. You're just never…there.

I knew that he barked out a laugh as the trees whizzed by in his vision. Isn't that part of being a leader? Being there for your pack? You guys have been running with Sam forever while I haven't been doing anything except hang out with Renesmee. His thinking ran in a different direction. Who is she, Embry?

I showed him.

Not bad my friend.

I growled.

He laughed. Take it easy, I was just teasing.

I groaned heavily, flopping out on the forest floor. What am I going to do? I asked, desperate for any help with the precarious situation.

He had to think about it for a minute, his own feet slowing. Become friends with her first. That's what's most important. And…break it to Sam slowly. Very slowly. Baby steps, Embry. That's what this chick is going to make you do. But trust me, it's all worth it. His thoughts drifted off to Renesmee, something I didn't want to intrude on. I started up with my sprint again.

thanks man.

Always welcome. It's kinda nice to see you get paired up with someone. You always were the quiet one, he joked, grinning a large toothy wolf smile.

I shook my head at his joke. Ever since Emily had said something about me being the quiet one, which I had to admit that I was, the guys were constantly riding up on it, much more than necessary, I might add. I was still loud at times, but compared to the others, I was a mouse. They didn't need to point that out to me…constantly.

Night Jake I said glumly, phasing quickly and slipping my clothes back on. I quickly went through the window into my room, collapsing into bed without putting on any pajamas. I closed my eyes, almost immediately ripping them back open.

Her eyes were memorable I guess.

I flocked to Sam and Emily's house with the other guys for breakfast as usual. Jake joined us as well, an added bonus; he was one of my best friends. The other guys clapped him on the back, happy to see him in a happy mood.

I walked in silently behind Jake, who was talking animatedly with Paul, probably reliving some fight. I fought the urge to roll my eyes, and was easily distracted when I entered the house, the dreamy scent of chocolate chip pancakes hitting my nose and my drooling mouth. I rushed to the tiny kitchen along with the other guys. Emily must be trying out new recipes.

But she wasn't by the stove by the time I fought my way to the front. She was sitting at the tiny table, enjoying a big stack of steaming chocolate chip pancakes.

"Emily!" Quil whined. "Couldn't you have whipped us up some?"

She grinned, answering after swallowing. "I didn't make them," she said.

"Who did?" We all asked eagerly, in search of the saint.

"Thea," she answered with a smile. We all watched with wide eyes as she pushed another bite into her mouth.

"Where is she?" I was the first to ask. Jake nudged me playfully, but I slapped his hand away, hoping nobody saw.

"Went for a walk with Sam on the beach. They should be back soon. You all will just have to be patient for the time being," she swallowed. I could tell that she was enjoying this. "She's quite the little cook, I must say, whipped these up from scratch."

We all groaned in unison, dispersing among the house to anxiously await her return. Of course, I was waiting anxiously for another reason, but I wasn't about to share that with everybody. I had determined last night that I was going to follow Jake's advice, and first become friends with her before slowly introducing the whole imprint fall madly in love part.

We all gathered in the living room when we heard her steps echoing to our eager ears. I waited impatiently to see her beautiful face. She'll probably be surprised to see us congregated in the tiny living room, begging her for her pancakes.

"Oh!" She said, the grin from something Sam said wiping off her face when she opened the door, seeing us all for the first time. "Hi!"

Sam closed the door, a happy smile on his face as he proudly put his hands on the shoulders of his niece. "Guys, this is Thea. My niece." He lifted his nose in the air, grinning as the heavenly smell floated to his nose. It still filled the house, making my mouth water even more.

"Hey," we all chorused. She fluttered her fingers nervously.

Sam chuckled at our faces and Thea's dumbfounded face. "I think they want food. Chocolate chip pancakes, to be specific."

She laughed breathlessly. "I guess I can make more," she said slowly, her eyes tracing over every huge guy in this room. Finally they landed on me, and I was filled with pleasure when I saw an extra glint of happiness. She lifted a corner of her mouth in a smile.

"Good," Sam said, pushing her towards the kitchen as her stomach grumbled. "And hurry. Please," he added after receiving raised eyebrows from his wife as she waddled up the stairs, probably attending to the still-sleeping kids. The rest of the guys settled on a baseball game that was on the tiny television, and I slipped away to the kitchen, catching Jake roll his eyes at me. I stuck me tongue out childishly before disappearing.

Her back was to me as she stood over a bowl, mixing. I silently crept up behind her, stealing the bowl away at the last minute. She gasped, quickly turning on me. Her scared face transformed into a grin when she saw me. She held out her small hand.

"Bowl please," she requested, flawlessly polite.

I shook my head, taking it back to the table and stirring absently as I took her in. she was wearing jeans, Converse, and a hoodie. Nothing out of a normal girl outfit. Yet she had…flair.

"I like your hair," I offered.

She immediately blushed, turning her back on me to turn the oven on and grab the spatula. She concentrated on washing it off while talking with me.

"Why are you here so early?" She asked.

I shrugged. "Early riser, I guess."

She turned the sink off, toweling off the spatula before returning it to it's spot by the stove. She turned to me, leaning against the counter with an peculiar expression. It was almost…expectant.

"What?" I asked cautiously.

She stared at me with her eyes, which were carefully blank, not exposing any emotions. "What were you doing last night?" She asked casually.

"Sleeping?" I made it sound like a question, as if I was asking for her approval.

"Really? Have any interesting dreams?" She asked, walking towards me.

My breath hitched in my throat. I quickly cleared it, "Uh, no. I don't usually have dreams in my sleep."

"Really?" She said, easily stealing the proficiently stirred bowl from my hands.

What was she getting at? "Yeah…" I said, my voice trailing off.

"Hm." Was all she replied.

"Hm?" I repeated.

She nodded, turning her back to me and making little circles on the pan. The delicious smell, even better now since it was fresh, filled the air again. I heard the guys start to lose concentration on the game in the other room.

She turned back to me, squinting her eyes as she read my expression.

"Something making you uncomfortable?" She asked innocently, a tiny smile on her lips.

"No. No. 'Course not."

She grinned, turning around to focus on flipping the pancakes. I stared at the back of her head, trying to unsuccessfully decipher whatever she was attempting to get out of me. Soon there was a steaming pile of pancakes on the large party plate, and I stood up, unconscious of my actions. I stood right behind her. She didn't even flinch when she felt the heat of my body. I made careful to keep an inch between us.

She turned in the tiny space, our bodies facing each other defiantly.

"Yes?" She asked in a lilting voice. It reminded me of a human vampire.

I shook my head, my thoughts in a muddle with being so close to her. I didn't want to do anything…beyond allowable at the moment. I quickly headed back to my seat. I froze when I absently scooted out my chair, and feeling it stop against something. Slowly I turned, looking right into ice blue eyes.

Suddenly, she pushed me gently, not loud enough for even werewolf ears to hear, against the wall and pinned me with her hands. I was aware of how she didn't keep careful space between us. Our legs were touching, and her hands were touching my arms. My breathing came out in quiet gasps, but she seemed perfectly at ease, almost smug. Her face got close to mine, her craning upwards and mine unconsciously leaning down, almost as if to meet hers.

"Did you go for a late night walk last night?" She asked, her voice a whisper. "Around nine or ten?"

I nodded.

"And did you meet up with me on the beach?"

I nodded.

"And did I fall asleep against you?"

I nodded.

"And did you carry me back to the house, climbing up into the second story window and putting me in bed with eight blankets?"

I nodded.

"And then you went back home and went to sleep a dreamless night?"

I nodded.

She smiled sweetly, her face getting even closer. "Okay." She breathed against my lips. Before I knew what I was doing, I leaned my head in as if I was going for a kiss. Luckily, she didn't notice, pulling away before I composed my face and walking off with a little wave.

"Pancakes are ready," she said simply, heading up the stairs to help her aunt out.