Ashley walked into her house and found her mother lying on the couch, asleep. Ashley went over and shook her awake.

"Mom, c'mon. You need to get to bed."

Terry agreed and went upstairs. Ashley turned off the TV and listened for her mother's bedroom door to shut before she shut off all the lights and ran upstairs.

Once in her bedroom, Ashley opened her window, just as Seth instructed and stood back. A few seconds later, his blurry figure came flashing though the window and stopped right in front of her.

"How did you do that?" Ashley whispered.

Seth shrugged. "Wolf thing."

Ashley smiled and shook her head. "You could have used the front door."

"This is more fun," he grinned.

"You're going to get hurt," Ashley pointed out, concerned.

"Like it matters, I'd be fine again in a few hours. We have accelerated healing too," he added when Ashley raised an eyebrow.

Ashley rolled her eyes "Of course you do. That doesn't make me any more comfortable with the idea of you getting hurt."

Seth scoffed and waved it off. Ashley changed the subject.

"So Paul has been doing this for how long?"

"A while, but they aren't here tonight. I guess they are at his house or something."

"Good," Ashley said. "Wait here, I'm going to go change." She collected her pajamas and walked to the bathroom. When her teeth were brushed and she was in her PJ's, Ashley returned to her bedroom and found Rosie whining outside of her door. Seth must smell different to her now that he is a werewolf. Ashley was a little surprised by how quickly she accepted the idea.

"It's still him, Rose. Come in and see." Ashley led the dog into her room. Seth was sitting on her bed and Rosie began growling at him as soon as she saw him. She ran out of the room quickly. "I'm sure she'll come around eventually."

Ashley sat down next to Seth. He shifted over and she crawled under the covers and shivered at the cool touch of the sheets, not yet warmed by her body temperature. She has been so used to Seth's warmth that these felt like ice packs on her skin.

Seth slid under the blankets and pulled Ashley to him, trying to warm her up. She was comfortable almost immediately. She loved sleeping like this, with Seth's arms around her. It made her feel so safe, like nothing could touch them.

"So what are your questions?" Seth asked. Ashley could feel the vibrations from his voice when he spoke due to the fact that his cheek was resting on top of her head.

"Well, Emily said something to me earlier, but she said she should probably let you explain."

"Go on," Seth said when Ashley paused uncertain.

"She said than Quil and Embry are technically a few years older than us, but she wouldn't explain what she meant by technically."

"Oh, that. Don't freak out, but I've kind of stopped aging."

Ashley pulled away from Seth to look him in the eyes to make sure he was serious. He definitely was.

"You what?"

"Not permanently! Only until I get a handle on the wolf thing. I mean, c'mon, Ash. Do I really look fifteen?"

"No, not exactly," she admitted. "That was the other thing I wanted to ask you about."

"Yeah, it's like we go through a super growth spurt and then just stop for a while."

"And I thought I was small in comparison before."

"You are small, and fragile, but it's okay, I still love you," Seth assured her, kissing her head.

"That reminds me, there was something else that happened at Emily's. When you had your arms around me, Sam gave you a look and you let go. What was that about?"

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot how observant you are. He was just trying to warn me to be careful not to hurt you."

"Hurt me?"

"Yeah, if you haven't noticed, super strength is another new thing I have. He was making sure I was conscious of how fragile you are. They think because I'm the youngest I need babysitting. Like I would ever hurt you."

"I know you wouldn't, I trust you." Ashley kissed his nose. "So what causes you guys to phase? Why does it happen?"

"Well, we are what we are to protect people from the blood drinkers, vampires. We hunt them before they can hunt people."

"Isn't that dangerous? Seth…" Ashley stretched out his name when he didn't respond.

"Not really. I guess it could be if a lone wolf tried to take on one or more, but not with a pack as big as ours if we work together."

"Why are you always putting yourself at risk?" Ashley hugged him tighter.

"I told you Ash, it's fine. Hardly even fun."

Ashley opened her mouth to argue, but closed it again. She hated the idea of Seth getting hurt, but she didn't want to argue about it now, when she had just gotten him back.

"Okay, then why did you specifically change? I know it's a Quileute thing, but what triggered it, and why you?"

"I don't know exactly. Maybe because I was best suited. Sam thinks it was my dad's death that triggered it. If I didn't have you, I probably would have changed as soon as it happened, but you kept me together. You kept me calm enough to prolong it. When you were gone, just after the funeral, it all came crashing down on me and I guess the stress and emotions caused it." Seth's voice sounded sad. Ashley took his hand and intertwined their fingers.

"Was it bad?" He didn't answer. "You can tell me, you know."

"I just don't want to freak you out."

"Really? You think I'm going to get scared now?" Ashley laughed.

"I guess not. Okay, it was one of the scariest things I've ever been though, which is saying a lot considering what I've been through this past month. Between that, and losing my dad and you, those make up the top three."

"It's okay, I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere."

"I know," Seth said, breathing in deeply. "Anyways, it was terrifying. No one warned me, I had no idea what was going on, I thought I was going crazy, especially when the voices came. When I could start hearing the rest of them in my head, Leah especially, I thought for sure I had lost it. Then it was over. I remember looking in the mirror for the first time and freaking out. I looked so different and I had no idea why. Leah explained it to me that night. I'm thankful that I have her, but I wish it didn't happen to her, especially the way it did."

"What happened?"

"Well, you first have to understand that before her, everyone thought only males shifted. No one ever even considered the fact that it could happen to her. When it did, she was in the middle of the living room with my mom and dad the day I was over here with you. Everyone thinks the shock triggered the heart attack. Leah blames herself for what happened to him."

"Poor Leah. She seems to always get the worst of everything and hardly anyone can help her."

"Well, you did try," Seth chuckled.

"What?"

"At the funeral, when you stood up to Sam. He told us about it later."

"Oh yeah, that." Ashley blushed, embarrassed.

"She does appreciate it, in her own way. She was a bit upset that you were so mean to him, but I think she realizes that you're right."

"I felt so bad about it later, but I was just so tired of seeing Leah hurt. I care about her, and I know she doesn't really like me, but I still felt like someone had to stand up for her. I had no idea Sam would tell you, not that he really had a choice," Ashley tried to explain.

"I know you did. I didn't think I could love you anymore than I did, but when I heard that, I did. Sam realizes that you were only trying to help, and he doesn't blame you. And Leah does like you, she just doesn't like the fact that she does. One because that would mean I actually have good taste, and two because she is scared to get attached, to anyone. She is worried you will leave, just like everyone else, or worse, you'll hurt me."

"Seth, I have already told you. I would never-"

"I know that, and so does she, but she still isn't used to letting people in. hopefully things will be better now."

"I hope so," Ashley yawned.

"Go to sleep," Seth whispered in her ear, pulling her closer.

"I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm worried that you won't be here when I wake up. I don't want you to leave me again, ever."

"I'm not leaving, not without you. I love you, more than anything. I can never leave you again."

"Okay," Ashley agreed, too tired and happy to argue. "I love you, too."

"Goodnight, Baby."

When Seth gently woke Ashley up the next morning, she was very tempted to just say "screw it," and skip class, but she couldn't do it two days in a row with it going unnoticed.

"I have to go, before your mom checks in on you. I will see you at school." Seth leaned down to kiss her. "I promise."

Ashley sighed. "Okay."

Seth was gone in an instant, and Ashley rolled over, hugging the warm pillow next to her, inhaling the scent. She got out of bed after a minute or so and got ready for school.

Ashley finished getting ready, and found her mom and sister downstairs in the kitchen, chatting.

"Good morning," Ashley said, smiling.

Terry looked very surprised to see Ashley happy, but Daphne seemed unfazed. Ashley figured Paul told Daphne about her and Seth.

"Good morning to you too," her mother said carefully, handing her a cup of tea.

"Thanks. Hey Daph, can you drive me to school today?" Ashley asked after looking out the window to see the rain coming down in sheets.

"Sure Ash."

"Well I have to leave for work now, I'll see you girls later," Terry said, kissing each of her daughters on the head.

"Bye, Mom," the sisters said in sync. The second they heard the front door close, the girls turned to each other.

"How much did he tell you?" Daphne asked.

"Everything I think. There are still a few things I'm not exactly clear on, but I think I've got the gist of it."

"And you're okay with it?"

"Why wouldn't I be? He's still the same person he was before. Nothing's changed."

"Well, other than the fact that our boyfriends are werewolves," Daphne laughed.

"Other than that, of course."

Both girls were lost in thought for a few minutes before Daphne spoke again.

"So when do you want to leave?"

"Soon. Five minutes?"

"Why so early?"

"I have a few things I want to ask Seth before school starts," Ashley said, putting her plate in the dish washer. "Speaking of school, how's Washington treating you? Sorry, I haven't really been very involved recently."

"It's okay, I totally understand. It's been going great, I'm trying to convince Paul and Leah to join me there next year."

"You really think Paul's going to go for that?" Ashley asked, spectacle that her sister's boyfriend would go to university.

"I think he would if I asked him to," Daphne said knowingly.

"Yeah, I guess he would do anything you ask," Ashley said, thinking of Seth's description of imprinting. How they would do anything the girl wanted.

Seth wasn't at school yet when Ashley arrived. The only familiar face she could find was Kim.

"Where is everyone?" Ashley asked.

"Sam called a meeting, I have no idea why though. They could be back by second period if it isn't anything serious," Kim answered every question Ashley was going to ask.

Ashley spoke again after a moment of silence. "So how are you? I feel like we never talk anymore."

Kim laughed. "I guess not. How am I? How are you?"

Ashley sighed. "I don't even know."

"I know, it's a lot to take in. It took a lot of convincing from Jared to get me to believe him. I still didn't fully believe him until I saw Paul burst."

"Saw him what?"

"Shift. He does it pretty often, whenever he gets angry, and you know Paul, he isn't exactly the best at anger management. I mean, all of them have trouble controlling it, but he is the worst. He got upset over something one day and fazed. It happened really quickly. One second Paul was shaking, the next, he was a huge wolf."

"Does this happen often?" Ashley asked, suddenly concerned for her sister's safety.

"More often than the rest of them."

Just then, first bell rang. The girls stopped talking about it after that, worried that they would be overheard.

About half way through class, Seth came in, carrying a late slip. He handed it to Mr. Strouds and walked silently to his seat. Ashley never noticed it before but Seth made absolutely no sound as he walked, which was strange, especially for someone his size.

When he got to his seat, he looked over at Ashley, grinning. She figured nothing bad happened at the meeting, but she was still curious. She gave him a questioning look, and he pulled out a piece of paper. Seth began scribbling an explanation on it before he folded it up and handed it to Ashley. She unfolded it and it read:

It's nothing, the Cullens are just back in town and Sam thought we should know. Don't worry about it, really. Do you know where Paul is though?

She wrote back.

Okay, if you say so. And no I don't. Daphne said something about going to see him today, but that's the last I heard. Why?

He wasn't at the meeting. Sam said he talked to him earlier, but he wouldn't tell us why. I thought I heard Sam's thoughts flash to you for a second and I was wondering if you would know.

No, sorry. I will ask Daph about it tonight though.

Okay. What are you doing next Saturday?

Nothing, I think. Why?

There is going to be this bon fire thing. It's technically a council meeting, but there is this huge bon fire, and tons of food. Theyre apparently really fun, and youre invited.

It sounds fun. Who's going?

People.

Ashley rolled her eyes.

Yeah, I'll go.

Great.

Ashley took the note and folded it up. She put the paper in her bag and turned her attention back to the lesson. Just as she did that, the bell rang.

Seth walked her to her next class. The entire time, he was chatting excitedly about the upcoming plans.

"This is going to be great! All the guys say it's awesome. The stories are really cool too. I've heard bits and pieces of them, but never all of them together. And having you there will make it that much better."

Ashley couldn't help but smile at her boyfriend's excitement. This was the happiest she had seen him in a while.

When Ashley got home, she saw Daphne's car in the driveway. Ashley was glad she could ask her sister about Paul sooner rather than later. She had been thinking about it all day. Ashley figured she was overreacting, but she felt as though it was something important. The rain had stopped and Seth had walked her home. He paused awkwardly at the front door.

"Should I come in?" he asked, unsure.

"I don't see why not. I'll end up telling you anyways, and Daphne knows that. Besides, if it's something really private, we can just go to another room or something."

"You sure?"

"Uh huh. Come on."

Ashley opened the front door and towed Seth behind her. Seth closed the door and she called out.

"Hey, I'm home."

"Hey Ash, Seth." Daphne's voice came back from the living room.

Ashley and Seth removed their coats, shoes, and bags, and walked into the living room. Daphne and Paul were sitting on the couch together, his arm around her.

Paul looked nervous, and Daphne looked ecstatic. Ashley made eye contact with her sister before flashing her eyes to Seth. She knew her sister understood this as asking if it was alright for Seth to be here. Daphne smiled and Ashley took that as a yes. The younger couple sat down across from the older one.

"Okay, this is killing me. What's going on?" Ashley asked, breaking the silence first.

Daphne laughed and looked at Paul.

"You tell her, she's your sister. Plus, this is why I couldn't go to the meeting isn't it?" Paul asked in a surprisingly loving tone for the words he was speaking. Daphne just rolled her eyes and took his hand.

"Yes, and I appreciate the sacrifice you made." Daphne kissed Paul quickly and his face softened.

"Well?" Ashley asked impatiently.

"I'm pregnant," Daphne finally said.

A/N: Sorry I've been slacking on my updates recently. I've had a lose of inspiration. I'm trying though. Enjoy! :)