Shout out to yayforshanghi check her stories out they all go together and they are seriously the best I've read they are amazing also check out liljen spin off from yayforshangei's stories it's called keep your hands to yourself you can find these under my favs let me know what you think. Also this chapter switches back and forth between POV's so hopefully it's not confusing.
Chapter 7
Leah's POV:
November 25th: Thanksgiving……..
Things were finally looking up.
Getting back to normal.
Sam and I hadn't been fighting we had decided just last week to move up the wedding to next fall, why wait?
I was so excited about this thanksgiving. I'd decided for a new start. To put the past behind me. A fresh start with Sam.
I loved him more then I'd ever loved anyone. He was the one. The only one.
I was wearing a green dress, one I knew I looked amazing in and I hoped he would rip off of me later.
I greeted him at the door. He looked amazing. The clothes I'd picked out suited him. We'd decided to push the college discussion to next fall after the wedding. As he explained to me, he wasn't saying that he would never go. Just not right now, he needed time.
Things between us were good but not great, last night we'd had sex for the first time in almost two weeks. It had been amazing, Sam was amazing.
I'd talked to my mom about our relationship.
She had some good advice.
Sam was going through a lot, a lot of changes and with his mother dying. I just had to give it time. No relationship was easy or perfect. As good as my mom and dad's marriage was they'd had their share of ups and downs, but that was what made it stronger.
What I had to ask myself was did I love Sam enough to fight, to put him first, did I still want him?
Of course I did.
So I decided to be patient. To give it time. I couldn't expect after all that had happened in the last year for things to just go back to normal, for Sam to just be ok.
It was the first real test our relationship had ever been through. Was I just going to fold at the first sign of trouble?
I loved Sam with my whole heart, the thought of losing him made me ache. When I'd thought for all those weeks that he might be dead, I honestly felt myself losing it. I couldn't, didn't want……to live without him. I couldn't bear the thought.
It seemed like I had a lot of worries these days, but as my mom pointed out, I'd lived a charmed life and it was time to join the real world, it wasn't always easy.
Emily was another worry.
It seemed to happen so suddenly. Just in the last few days. She was always in her head, quite. Thinking a lot, reading, keeping to herself, and yet she seemed happier, like she'd been dazed or drugged and was confused by it.
My mom had noticed it to.
I had planes to get to the truth if she didn't snap out of it by the end of the week.
On the upside my mom's words had proven true. Sam seemed to have taken a turn, happier, more relaxed and not so edgy. He just needed time.
In time everything would be back to normal.
I was going to marry Sam, share my life with him, and hopefully….one day, have a family with him.
Emily's POV:
I set the table, making sure everything was placed just so. My mind going a hundred miles a minute. Which was why I didn't hear Leah calling my name until she started snapping her fingers in my face.
"Emily!"
"What!?" I said looking up.
Leah smiled, shaking her head and rolling her eyes glancing up at the high ceiling. We were at the back of the house in the formal dining room, which was only used about five times a year, for special birthdays, thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Leah eyed me. "What's with you?"
I went back to the task of arranging the silver wear making sure the right pieces were on the right side. "What do you mean?" I said trying to sound exasperated.
"You've been in your head for the last two days. Come on, tell me what's wrong." She said sounding concerned.
I looked up at her, concern written on her face.
"Nothing." I said looking back down at the table.
"Em, "she said coming around the table.
We were having twenty, the usual for dinner. Sue always made a Martha Stewart worthy thanksgiving dinner, making sure to make more than necessary so everyone could take something home.
I wonder why I thought of that now.
"Em?" Leah said
"Yeah." I said looking up at her.
She put her hand on my shoulder. "You always tell me everything, what gives?"
I shook my head. "And don't say nothing." She said rolling her eyes.
"I'm just trying to work something out in my head, it's nothing important." I said fiddling with the extra napkins I was holding.
I looked Leah up and down she wore a beautiful green dress that hugged her in all the right places. Her hair down, perfect curls.
"Are you sure cause…." The bell interrupted her she smiled at me. I smiled back at her and nodded towards the door. "Go on. " I said grabbing her and shoving her towards the front door.
She smiled grabbing my arm and pulling me along.
As we entered the front hall Sue was opening the door, I held my breath.
It was only my Dad. I relaxed.
"Dad!" I rushed in hugging him.
He kissed me on my forehead pulling back to look at me. "Em, you look beautiful!" he said moving further into the house and pulling me along.
Even though it had been less than a week since I'd seen him I'd missed him, I'd gotten use to living with him. My mother came in, giving my father a slight kiss on the cheek, which he returned.
I was about to ask him how his drive up had been, when Leah shrieked.
"Sam!" I turned in time to see Sam step through the doorway.
He looked amazing, wearing a pinstriped black and white button down shirt and black slacks. I felt my heart skip a beat. My mother disappeared heading for the kitchen with Sue. I decided to make a break for it and started to follow them when Sam's voice stopped me.
"Emily."
I stopped dead in my tracks and took in a quick breath, putting on my happy face, I turned to face him.
Leah stood beside him, her arm wrapped around his waist, giving him a confused look.
"Hey Sam." I said trying to sound calm and collected, even though my heart was trying to escape from my chest, as it seemed to every time I was around him lately. I said a silent prayer of thanks that my voice didn't crack and give me away.
How was it possible to feel so calm and excited at the same time?
I let out a slight laugh. "Leah dressing you again I see."
Sam gave me an odd look smiling at me. I looked at Leah.
She looked at me smiling and then looked back up at Sam; she gave him another confused look before she managed to pull her smile back in place. "Come help me set the table?"
Sam didn't answer her, he was staring at me. My mind screamed at me to pull my gaze away but I just couldn't.
"Sam?" Leah said pulling on his arm.
"Hmm?" Sam glanced down at her.
She reached up kissing him on the cheek. "Come help me set the table?"
"Yeah….sure." he said sounding confused.
I made my escape heading for the kitchen, but not before I noticed the confused look on my Dads face, and the worried expression on Harry's.
I managed to hide out in the kitchen away from Sam and Emily for nearly twenty minutes before Sue booted me out and into the dining room to help Sam and Leah who were making a catastrophe, according to my mom out of the table settings.
I peeked around the doorway, Leah and Sam where nowhere to be seen. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Five minutes later I was struggling to remove the empty cherry wood silverware case that somehow managed to be heavy, despite the fact that it was empty, when Sam appeared out of nowhere catching it before it landed on my foot.
"Emily!" He said grabbing the case just as I managed to move my foot out of the way. "What are you doing?!" He said sounding upset as he placed it on the sideboard.
I shrugged my shoulders rubbing my wrist as it throbbed. Sam was at my side instantly, taking my wrist in his hands.
His large and amazingly warm hands.
"Are you ok?" he asked sounding overly worried considering the fact that I wasn't bleeding from a major orifice.
I tried to pull my wrist away but he held it tight turning it over in his hands. His touch surprisingly gentle.
I sighed, rolling my eyes. "I'm fine! I just bent it the wrong way when I dropped the box."
"Come on." He said wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me toward the kitchen. I stiffened, my heart rate speeding up and he immediately let me go.
"Sorry." He said. I shook my head.
"I'm fine." I headed for the kitchen and he followed.
"Sit." He said heading for the freezer.
"Woof." I said pretending to bark as I hopped up onto one of the stools that stood beside the island.
Sam froze, turning towards me, the strangest look on his face.
"What did you say?"
I gave him an odd look. "Woof? Ya know….you gave a command so I barked my obedience."
"Oh……. funny." He said, though his face was deadly serious. I couldn't help but laugh. He gave me a smile before turning back to the freezer.
Sue came into the kitchen just as Sam was putting the ice on my wrist. She set down the huge pan she was carrying looking worried as she made her way over to us.
"What happened?!"
I rolled my eyes. "I just bent my wrist….a little…trying to move the silver wear box and Sam….is overreacting."
Sue shot Sam a look I didn't quite understand, he met her gaze and then quickly looked away.
It was strange, but I was seriously beginning to get use to the strange going on's around here.
"Leah's looking for you."
Sam sighed, moving the ice around my wrist. He looked up at me, "Are you sure…"
"I'm fine." I said grabbing the ice pack from him.
He stood up as Leah came around the corner. "Here you are." She said coming over to the island. She noticed the ice pack. "What happened?"
I shrugged. "Just hurt my wrist, no big deal." I heard Sam huff under his breath.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes, when I saw the look on his face. It was comical. He looked so worried and upset that his worries weren't being taken seriously.
"Did you finish setting the table?" Sue asked
"We're on it" Leah said grabbing Sam's arm and pulling him towards the dining room.
"I'm coming." I said hopping off the stool. Sam turned reaching out to catch me.
I rolled my eyes laughing. "Oh for heaven's sake! I'm not a walking disaster."
Sam smirked at me. "I wouldn't be so sure."
I frowned at him. Leah shot a look between us and then rolled her eyes. Heading for the dining room and pulling Sam behind her. I sat the ice on the counter and headed for the dining room. Before I made it through the doorway. Leah turned to me
"We've got it." She said her face expressionless. She shot me a smile that didn't reach her eyes and turned, disappearing around the corner. I made me way back to the kitchen.
I stood in the kitchen, helping Sue and my mom put the finishing touches on dinner. I tried to focus and join in on their chatter but my mind kept wondering.
My head had been crazy for the last two days. I couldn't stop thinking about Sam. Just in general nothing specific. I'd seen him only once in the last three days. I'd been doing inventory for Harry and he'd stopped by and helped my lift the heavy boxes. We hadn't said much to each other but as pathetic as it sounded. It was one of the best day's I've ever had. It was perfect and just…….content. Something about being around Sam just made me feel whole, like it was where I belonged.
I'd made a decision though.
He wasn't mine to have. It wasn't his job to make me whole and it wasn't my job to make him happy, which I seemed to do.
It was Leah's.
Every time I had that thought. It made me feel nauseous.
It made my heart ache in a way I wasn't use to, like it went deeper than that.
I wasn't sure how I felt about Sam. I didn't understand it and I couldn't put it into words.
. I had this urge, this thought in the back of my mind to be there for him and make him happy just as a friend, but it scared me.
It could easily turn into more.
I had this need to just be near him.
So I made a decision, a promise to myself. To stay away from him. He was Leah's.
I had no right to want to be around him.
It still didn't stop the overwhelming emotions.
Like last night when I knew Leah was with him at his house. Part of me was happy if it made him happy. That worried me, for him, not for them, but for him? Why did Leah feel second all of a sudden?
Second to someone I barely knew.
I didn't want him sexually, yes he was beautiful, amazingly so, but for some reason there was a block there and I only wanted his attention, I only wanted to be his fiend and spend time with him, but I wasn't going to act on it.
When Leah had told me the other day that they were going to move the wedding up to next year. I'd honestly had a slight panic attack. My heart had started beating, trying to escape from my chest. The tears threatening to spill over. Luckily Leah hadn't noticed.
This morning she'd mentioned it to Sue, moving up the wedding. Sue had been happy.
"Well," she said "We'd better start making plans after Christmas."
After Christmas, after Christmas, after Christmas.
It was thought that played over and over in my head.
But I said nothing, I pushed it all down.
He wasn't mine, he isn't mine, isn't mine.
I felt him coming.
It was so eerie.
Sure enough not two second later he walked around the corner.
His face lit up as he spotted me. I tried not to return the smile but it broke across my face anyway.
"Emily." He said coming instantly to my side. "Can I help?" he said looking around.
It always threw me.
How sincere he was, like his life depended on him helping me, the way he always greeted me just by saying my name, like he'd discovered something priceless.
He looked at me smiling as I stared up at him, way up at him. He looked amazing the top two buttons of his shirt were open.
Nice.
His smile faltered as he studied me. I wanted to look away. It felt private, just the two of us. Like it had for the last three days every time I was near him.
"What's wrong?" he said his eyebrows scrunched his voice serious, like he was about to seriously kick someone's ass. I had the urge to reach up and smooth out his expression. My hand moved but I caught it in time moving it back to rest on the counter.
I shook my head. "Nothing." I said moving away from him. He said nothing.
I looked back at him. He looked upset and sad. I looked away and moved to the other side of the island. That look on his face made my heart throb slightly.
"Emily," he said leaning over the counter.
Do not look at him, do not, do not do not….
I met his gaze. "Tell me what's wrong." He said his voice serious.
I opened my mouth to answer him, not sure what to say, luckily I was spared by Sue coming into the kitchen, she had great timing.
Sam turned to her. "Need help with anything?"
She shook her head smiling at him. "No, you can go join the other escapees in front of the TV."
Sam smiled at her nodding.
I love his smile. It's perfect, slightly crooked.
He glanced at me hesitating before he left.
Leah entered a few minutes later.
"Where's Sam? I looked up but she wasn't talking to me.
"He escaped with the rest of them. He's in front of the TV."
Leah rolled her eyes. "Typical."
Sue laughed, wiping her hands on the dish towel. She nodded towards me. "Will you help Emily finish arranging those appetizers? You can place them on the bar an then join the guys."
"You don't need us to help set up the table?" I asked
Sue shook her head. "Your mother and I can handle it."
Leah came over and started helping me. Not saying anything. I glanced at her a few times but she said nothing.
It was not a comfortable silence.
"So," Leah said finally breaking
the silence. "My mom and I were thinking we'd start with the
wedding plans….officially in the second week of January. Dress
fitting and such, but some of the other stuff we need to start now to
be on schedule like picking out the settings and stuff like that,
color schemes and then we can start all the actual ordering in
January. That should put us on schedule for November don't you
think?
I nodded smiling even though I felt sick to my stomach. I
wanted to scream or something. "That's a good idea. Less stress.
Do you know what color you want for the dresses?"
We continued to chat about the wedding and gossip about some of the guest who were coming.
We placed the appetizers and then joined my Father, Harry, Seth, and Sam in the den. Leah plopped down next to same on the chase lounge, squeezing herself in next to him and resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her.
I sat next to my dad; my back ridged and focused my attention on the football game.
As the evening wore on I was able to relax. Maybe I was reading too much into the whole Sam thing. I mean maybe we would be great friends. His mom and he had been really close maybe that was it, maybe he just need a friends, someone to fill that space.
Shouldn't that be Leah?
I pushed the thought down.
Dinner was fun I was sitting in between Seth and one of Sue's friends from work across from Leah and Sam just like every other year. I talked with Leah but as the evening wore on I found myself chatting more with Sam. I hadn't realized that I was doing anything wrong or odd until I caught Sue looking at Sam from down the table. Giving him another odd look. I glanced at Seth
He gave me a small smile and returned to his plate. His smile was unsettling not his usual full-watt smile Sam broke through my thoughts.
"What's wrong?" He said.
Damn him! Must he notice everything? Right in front of Leah?
"Nothing." I said trying to keep my voice light. I doubt he brought it. I grabbed my fork and shoved more food into my mouth. Forcing it down. Thankfully Andrew, Sue's friend Shandra's son broke into the conversation asking about some sports game, engaging Sam and Seth's attention. I breathed a sigh of relief.
I didn't look at Leah.
Later that night or rather early morning we set in the living room talking, Sue, Harry, Leah, Seth, Sam and I. Talking and joking. I'd decided to ignore Sam after dinner. Keeping our conversation to short three second conversations just like we use to.
He seemed as usual to understand what I wanted, but he'd gotten more and more quite as the night had worn on, Leah had barley said more than two words at the dinner table but now as we set there she kept her voice and laughter low only talking to Sam.
I tried to act normal but I was so tense I felt like my back was going to snap even as a joked and laughed with Sue, Harry and Seth.
"Well, "Harry said it's about that time."
Seth hopped off the couch, kissing Sue on the cheek. "Night mom, night dad."
Harry and Sue headed off to bed and I head to the kitchen for seconds. I few minutes later Sam and Leah came in. Leah grabbed the brown bags Sue had packed for Sam; they were large and very full.
I felt Sam's eyes on me but I refused to meet them.
"Seconds?" he said
I looked across the kitchen at him and couldn't help but return his smile.
Damn him!
I nodded. Out of the corner of my eyes I could see Leah watching me.
She pulled on her coat. "Emily," I looked at her. "Will you make sure to unlock the back door after dad goes to bed?
My stomach twisted. I nodded licking the spoon clean of sweet potatoes.
Why she just couldn't take her keys was beyond me.
She smiled grabbing Sam's hand.
Sam reached down grabbing the bags.
"Goodnight Emily." He said.
I managed a small smile and nodded. "Night."
I watched them go and then stood in the kitchen staring at the door.
And for some reason I couldn't understand or even begin to comprehend,
I burst into tears.
Sue's Pov….
I removed my jewelry. Staring into the mirror. I sighed.
Harry came behind me, wrapping his arms around me and kissing my neck.
"You alright?"
I nodded.
He kissed me again and headed for the bathroom.
He had warned me, but it still broke my heart.
I wanted to hate her, to be angry with her.
Emily
But I couldn't, I loved her like a daughter and it wasn't her fault.
It wasn't really anyone's fault, there was no one to blame, unfortunately.
It was so odd and unsettling and yet somehow so special.
Why couldn't he have imprinted on Leah. It was amazing to see it in action.
It would have been so much more enjoyable if it were my daughter.
My daughter who would be so loved, and cared for.
My daughter who would have someone so devoted to her, someone who would die for her without a moment's hesitation.
What made Emily so God Damn special!!!
Nothing! Nothing other than a cruel twist of fate, or whatever you wanted to call it.
Watching them tonight it was so obvious, unsettling. I wanted to hate it, the obvious connection between them, it was palpable, in the air, you could feel it.
Leah had noticed how could she not. Who could miss that?
I wanted to hate the connection, how special and rare it was, but I couldn't. You couldn't help but admire it.
Leah's heart was going to be broken. I was sure of it.
Sam wouldn't be able to resist it, he already loved her more than he had ever loved Leah, I wasn't sure if it was the same type of love……yet, but it was definitely stronger.
Leah
My daughter, planning her wedding.
Sam wasn't hers.
And he never would be
He was Emily's
I wanted to hate her.
She didn't deserve my hate.
Neither of them did.
Sam's POV…..
I held Leah in my arms after we made love.
I stared at the ceiling thinking, thinking of Emily. Something was wrong; at first she'd seemed nervous and anxious. That was usual; lately she was always nervous around me, her heart rate elevated. She always relaxed after a few minutes.
Tonight was different, she seemed distracted, and something was bothering her.
Was it me? Was I hurting her?
The thought of hurting Emily was a new experience for me. It was emotional pain that was worse and more intense then any physical pain I'd ever felt.
I'd talk to her tomorrow. She had seemed sad by the end of the night, down.
I'd wanted to hold her so bad, make it better. It had almost taken more will power then I possessed to not hold her and make her tell me what was wrong……so I could make it better, but I had to think of Leah. She had seemed uneasy with the new dynamic between Emily and I.
I had to be careful. I didn't want to hurt Leah. I didn't want to give her any reason to worry. She had no cause to, but there was no way I could explain why I had the urge to help and protect Emily, not without revealing my secret, which was forbidden by tribal law. I could tell Emily since she was my imprint but I had not intention of telling her. It wouldn't be fair to Leah.
I sighed running my hand through my hair which was finally growing back, but I still had to keep it short.
I would have to talk to Emily, but when? She was leaving at the beginning of the week to go stay with her mom for the rest of the break and then she was heading back to school.
My stomach heaved at the thought of being away from her. I flinched, lifting of the bed slightly. Leah stirred and I froze.
I relaxed once I realized I hadn't woken her up. It was getting worse.
This need.
This ache to be near her.
Her smell, her warmth. My insides twitched at the thought of her. It was almost as if I could feel the wolf inside. Yearning to be wherever she as at.
Emily.
I needed her
It couldn't really be considered a want anymore.
Not when it ached so bad.
Leah's POV…..
I woke up at six……and Emily and Sam were the first things on my mind.
Last night had been…..weird. It had unsettled me. There was this new…something between them that was just weird…..it was more like they were to parts of a whole then two separate people. I hadn't really noticed the extent of if until the evening was almost over.
Sam was so aware of her, overly so.
His eyes followed her every move, like he was worried she was going to disappear or meet with a catastrophe at any moment, and there was something…….reverent in the way he look at her.
They way he spoke to her….it was like he caressed her without touching her. It made me feel sick.
I watched Emily to.
She didn't seem so aware of Sam, but it was different. I just couldn't tell how she felt.
I didn't think…..no, I was pretty sure they weren't fucking. They didn't seem like they were in love with each other.
That fact unsettled me even more, it was just weird.
One thing I knew for sure, I wasn't going to lose Sam.
He was mine. I loved him and he loved me, and I'd be damned if I was going to let another woman come between us, even if it was just in friendship or whatever the hell was going on, and even if it was Emily.
Sam was mine.
We were meant to be.
He was my heart.
AN:? Just realized today I totally forgot to put the pics for my characters on my profile, they're up so let me know what you think! R&R please.
