Disclaimer: Twilight is all Stephanie Meyer, I own nothing.

AN: Thanks for reviewing everybody!!! So, I stayed up very late last night to write another chapter, very tired now, but I think it was worth it, you can be the judge of that tough ;)

I will

~*~

POV: Nadira

~*~

After thirty minutes we got to my house, we had taken a detour so I had the chance to calm down a bit, the guys walked in with me. In the living room Embry was sitting on the couch with some woman with his arm around her shoulder, while she had her face buried in his chest, that's when I flipped!

"Who do you think you are!? First you show up at school like that, then you get mad at Taylan for sticking up for me and now you're cozying up with some woman!" with that I walk up the stairs, I suddenly get the strong urge to try and make him jealous, so halfway up I turn and say "Taylan are you coming?"

Who looks baffled at my outburst and more importantly at my invitation to my bedroom, he started walking up the stairs behind me. Never had I asked a boy up to my room and I had no other intention behind it than to get my point across, Embry looks at me like just slapped him across the face, but I was too angry to care.

Once in my room I sat down on my bed not knowing what to say, as Taylan sat down next to me.

"Uh, I'm sorry for doing that, I am just so mad at him, I wanted to make him jealous, not that it'll work though"

"Oh it'll work all right, trust me, but he kinda deserves it, with the way he treated you. But I do think it's better if you talk to him, I'm sure he didn't mean it like that, there has to be a reason for his behavior" I hoped he was right, but I wouldn't find out anything up in my room.

"Yeah you're right, better head downstairs again" just when I turned the corner from my room to the hallway, Embry was walking towards me, his face was contorted with pain and I suddenly felt sorry for hurting him like that. Before I could rationalize I crushed into him and held him like my life depended on it, he quickly wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him.

Taylan walked past us "I'll leave you two alone, I'll be downstairs"

"Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry, I was so mad when I went to pick you up, I know I shouldn't have taken it out on you. It only got worse when I saw you with Taylan" his voice was breaking "I'm sorry Nady, but we need to talk, Leah and Tom are also downstairs"

Reluctantly I released one of my arms and walked downstairs with him, not wanting to let him go , I kept my arm around his lover back and held on tightly. When we got to the living room Tom was sitting on the couch with Leah on his lap, she had obviously been crying. Next to them was sitting the woman, who I know recognized as Susan my former social worker, she was also very upset, this had to be big, so I sat down.

"Ok, we have talked about your father's impending case and that the chances that he got out were very slim. He seems to have gotten someone to make a false statement, which said that he actually the one who committed the crime" Tom told me, he appeared to be the only one able to make coherent sentences.

"S-so, he is getting out?" no, no, no ,nooooo…

"No sweetie, he already is" Leah added sorrowful "and from what I understand, he's very likely to come looking for you." I reached out a blind hand to find Embry, he understood and seized it scooting closer to me, I clamped on to him, trying to hide myself in him. He was gently stroking my back and held me close with his other hand, holding his chin slightly on top of my head.

We stayed in the living room and eventually Taylan, Logan and Suzan left, Embry was still sitting next to me holding me close to him. Exhaustion crept over me, it wasn't late but fear has a way of wearing me out, Embry notices my pointless efforts to stay awake.

"Nadira you're practically asleep already, you need to get some rest. Come on let's get you in bed" he stands up and scoops me up into his arms, hmm so warm, so strong, I nuzzle into the crook of his neck.

When we get to my room, I get changed quickly in the bathroom, he's holding up the covers so I can slide right in, bending down he places a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Sleep tight, Nady" he whispers to me. Just when he gets up to leave I grab his hand and look up at him pleading.

"Please don't go, stay with me" I'm not thinking anymore, I let my instincts take over, they are speaking loud and clear 'Embry needs to stay'

"I'll just let Leah and Tom know ok" I let him go reluctantly and he steps out of the room. Within minutes he's back in some shorts and a T-shirt, I recognize them as Tom's, then he starts pulling a chair up next to my bed.

"Em, what are you doing?" he looks at me in confusion as I pull away the blankets as a silent invitation to join me. He takes of his T-shirt and slides in to bed with me, it's a fairly big bed, but it's still too small for him. When he lays down, I snuggle into him and place my head on his warm chest, he pulls me close and starts drawing soothing circles on my back, within moments I fall into a deep sleep.

~*~

My eyes flutter open at the sunrays sneaking their way down to my pillow, why aren't the curtains closed, then the horror of last night comes back to me, directly followed by the memory of Embry getting into bed with me. He is laying behind me, with my back to his front, his arm is holding me pressed against him and I can't help but smile.

Slowly and very carefully I turn under his arm and rest my head on my elbow to get a better look at him, his face looks so peaceful when he sleeps, he really is beautiful, hot yes, but he has this rugged handsomeness. His high cheekbones, beautiful eyes, even though they are closed now, I can see them without trying, and full luscious lips.

Without thinking I trace his jaw line with the tip my finger, following along his chin, down his neck and on to his collarbone, all the way down to his chest and abs. That's where I start thinking again and realize what I'm doing and pull back my hand, what would he think if he woke up with me touching him like that, I chuckle to myself.

He's stirring and his breath changes rhythm, finally his eyes open slowly, a smile creeps on to his face when he sees me, I blush because he caught me looking at him. He sighs deeply and he looks… happy, he pulls me to him so my head lays down on his chest, I let out the breath that I'd been holding and relax myself against him.

"How did you sleep?" he breaks the silence.

"Great, thanks to you. And you, did you sleep well?"

"Well, just when I was falling asleep you started talking, so I stayed awake to listen to you" talking? Did we talk, how do I know nothing about that? He chuckles at my confusion.

"You talked… in your sleep" what?!

"I-in my s-sleep, what d-did I s-say?" I'm so embarrassed I can hardly talk.

"Well, not so much unfortunately, but you did mention my name" my head whipped up to look at his face, he was smiling so widely I thought his face would break.

I grabbed a pillow "nah, you're making that up" and I hit him in the head with the pillow in my hand.

"You're so gonna get it now!" he was just about to hit me back, when a knock sounded on my door, Tom's head peeked in.

"You better make sure Leah doesn't find out you two slept in the same bed!" he grinned at us. Ooh, I was so humiliated by finding us in bed like that "Embry, the meeting is in an hour, so you better hurry up" he said before closing the door.

Embry was ready to start up the pillow fight until he saw my face.

"What meeting?"

"Oh, don't worry baby, please. We're just gonna talk about our options, you know, since it's our job to protect everyone on the rez, that's includes you now" he tried to keep the conversation light by joking a little bit.

"Will you be back straight after?" doubt had gone out the window yesterday, I had fallen for him so hard, sure I was still frightened of all that could go wrong, but it wasn't enough to stop me from speaking my mind any more.

"Of course I will" he exclaimed "I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you, you know that right" he said anyone, but meant my father, and I trusted him.

~*~

POV: Leah

~*~

Nadira and I were both sitting in the kitchen waiting for them to return, I thought about everything that happened yesterday. Tom was worried sick over me not feeling well, I had to practically force him to go to work. Looking back on it now, I was so glad I had stayed home, if I had been at work when Susan found me I would have certainly broken down.

After she had told me what was going on I called Tom and Embry to explain, Embry would pick up Nadira afraid that her father might go there, Tom came home immediately. Susan had started crying, this was personal for her too, since she was a close friend of the family. but I didn't know what to do with her, I am so bad with stuff like that.

Luckily Embry walked in and I gestured to him that he should comfort her, he looked at me with a face that said 'do I have to'. While she was sobbing in his shirt he was trying to get her to calm down he was shooting irritated glares at me. That's when Nadira walked in and freaked out at the sight of him with Susan, oh great Leah, you've done it now. Guilt consumed me at the sight of his pain depicting face, when she made Taylan come upstairs with her, I was fully aware that she was doing this out of spite.

Susan whipped her face around to take in the scene that had played out in the hallway, and muttered something about how nice it was that Nadira had a boyfriend, meaning Taylan of course. Embry shot up from the couch growling at her and headed to the stairs, with the intention of hauling Taylan back down again, but with great effort Tom and we were able to restrain him.

After explaining to him that his angry reaction was precisely what she had aimed for, but was definitely not what she needed right now, he calmed down a bit. Reassuring me that he would go upstairs, simply to talk to her, to straighten everything out and within minutes he had came back to the living room, with Nadira by his side.

Without fully realizing it, Nadira had clung to Embry in her hour of need, in a way I had not seen her do before today. She had let him comfort her before, but this was different, she had searched for him blindly knowing that he would be there and had literally clamped on to him, as soon as she came to the realization that this was serious.

Even when he carried her upstairs to her room she had let him, without any form of protest, she was satisfied as long as he was close. So when Embry had come down to ask me if he could stay in her room, on the chair of course, I granted him permission. Simply because I didn't have the heart to refuse them the comfort Tom and I found in each other, even if I knew perfectly well that he would not be sleeping on the small sofa she had in her room.

A sound outside brought me out of my thought, not much time after that we heard the door open and footsteps entering the house . Directly I dialed Tom's number, he picked up his phone after one ring and I whispered in the phone that we needed them here now. Nadira flew to the door but skidded to a halt when she saw who it was, slowly but surely I saw her backing up. I took three quick strides so I was right behind her and she bumped into me "I've already called Tom" I whispered in her ear and set myself in front of my girl.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my home?" I demanded.

"I have come to claim my daughter. You are relieved from your duty miss" he said to me, he hadn't come alone two men that are clearly from Arabic origin.

"Haven't you gotten the paperwork, she no longer is your daughter, she is ours now"

"I do not care what your law says, she is mine by blood and always will be, so hand her over to me now!" he was getting angry now, I felt myself starting to shake and Nadira grabbed my hand.

"No Leah, you can't phase, you've waited so long and then you would have to start all over again!" low enough for her father not to hear, but her voice sounded scared, which only made me angrier.

"I will if I have to, even if it means starting over" I wasn't going to let her get hurt, no matter what.

"I do not have the time for this nonsense, nor do I have the patience!" her father stepped forward and reached out for Nadira's hand, but I pushed him away, or rather I tried, but he simply flung me to the ground. What was this, how could this be but I didn't have any time to think about it as Nadira's father now had a firm grip on her and started pulling her outside.

I tried to phase, I was angry enough, but it didn't work. Oh my god! Tom, you better get here fast! I pulled myself up from the floor and ran outside, were a relief washed over me. They still had her, but were surrounded by six big wolves that I recognized as Tom, Embry, Jake, Seth, Taylan and Logan.

"Let me go now!" Nadira had lost her fear and I saw anger manifest itself on her face. Her father seemed shocked by this and let go of her hand.

Embry and Tom broke the line and as Tom headed for me, Embry stepped forward in wolf form so he stood next to Nadira. There he put his head on her shoulder, she turned and buried her face in his thick fur. With Embry so close to her she gathered all her courage and started talking.

"This is my home! You can't take me anywhere, my family won't let you! Never will you have anything to say over me ever again!" she kept her hand twirling with Embry's fur the whole time she spoke.

Her father changed tactics "Nadira, my child, you know I love you. I will never hurt you again, I promise" a low growl came from Embry "look at what you are doing standing there with that wolf, that thing will kill you, it's dangerous!" still growling Embry bared his teeth at her father.

"Shh, it's ok, let him talk, I don't care what he says" Nadira was stroking the soft fur in his neck and he relaxed again, soon he and Tom disappeared in the woods, while the other wolves held ground and within moment they emerged from another part of the forest, trying to be inconspicuous.

They quickly returned to our sides, Tom was concerned, he knew something didn't add up, but now was not the time to talk about it. Embry took his place by Nadira and protectively put his arm around her waist, she leaned into him and put her hand on his bare chest. Her father's face colored red and lost his patience again.

"Nadira, remove your hands from that man, I have found a suitable husband for you! You are in obvious need of one, even if you if this one has already defiled you!" clearly disgusted with the idea, he pulled one of the men he had with him to the front "here, this is your cousin from Lebanon, he will be a good husband for you, make you see the error of your ways!"

Nadira's eyes turned wide in shock, sinking more into Embry with each word. Embry on his turn started shaking violently, but remained in control of himself and the shudders faded again.

"She does not belong with you, she is not yours to give away!" he roared "She belongs with me!" he gazed into her eyes and lovingly he placed a kiss on Nadira's forehead.

"You are nothing to me, don't ever come back to my home or disturb my family ever again!" Nadira shouted at him. Grabbing Embry's hand she walked back to the house without looking back, Embry at her side.

"Well you've heard her, get out of here, before we make you!" Tom threatened him with disdain seeping through his voice and the wolves baring their teeth at the men growling with fury. Finally admitting to the fact that they were seriously outnumbered, they gave up and got in their car. But Tom stopped them before they drove off, making them swear never to return, having learned enough of their culture to know that they would keep to their promise.

~*~

The wolves headed for the woods the moment the car disappeared from our sight, to return in human form. Once we were inside, we found Embry and Nadira on the couch in the living room, she was staring of into nowhere while Embry was gently rocking her. He had a look of desperation on his face, asking me what to do with one look and I sat down beside her.

"Nadira sweetie you're safe with us, he's gone and he's not coming back"

"Yes, I know" she said calmly and a small smile appeared "I knew he would, I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that I will never have to deal with him again"

"Well, you better get used to it, little one" Embry said into her hair, she looked up to him her eyes full of gratitude, hope and understanding.

"Come on guys, I'll make you something to eat, Nadira will you help me?" she nodded to me and we walked into the kitchen, but Tom grabbed me before I could get to the fridge.

"Not so fast you!" turning me in his arms to look at him "what was going on out there?" he was eyeing me suspiciously "I thought you would have phased before he could get to Nadira!"

"I couldn't" looking down and barely making a sound.

"What do you mean you couldn't?!" the rest of them were looking at me now too.

"Well, I tried to shove him away when he wanted to grab her, but he pushed me off without much effort. Then I tried to phase, I was angry enough, but I couldn't, it just didn't happen"

Everybody was looking at me in shock and Tom started pulling me towards the door, of course I had no way to match his strength now, which made my struggling futile.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?" I almost yelled at him.

"You're tired, you feel weak and now you can't phase?! We're going to see Carlisle, something is seriously wrong with you!" fear was dripping from his voice, then Nadira ran to me and wrapped her arms around me.

"I'm so grateful for everything Leah, thank you so much" her words brought tears to my eyes "but I'm worried for you, this does not sound good, please go with Tom so Carlisle can make sure you are ok" pleading with me.

"All right, I'll go" he finally refrained from pulling me "Nadira can you make something to eat for the guys?" she nodded and returned to the kitchen.

~*~

We had been at the Cullen's for an hour now and the waiting is driving me crazy, I didn't want to admit it to anyone, but I was honestly concerned that there was something very wrong with me, after what seemed like an eternity Carlisle came back into his office.

"Well, I've run some tests on the blood I've drawn from you earlier and it seems congratulations are in order" confused we waited for him to explain "you two are going to be parents!"

"A-are you s-sure?" Tom asked him, my mouth was still hanging open.

"Absolutely positive, by the level of HCG in your blood I'd say you're about 5 weeks along" Carlisle smiled at us.

Tom jumped up from his chair, seized me and twirled me around in the air "oh, Tom put me down" I giggled "I'm gonna be sick"

That made him stop instantly of course "I'm sorry are you ok, do you need anything?"

"Yeah I'm fine, that works like a charm though!"

"You tricked me?" he gaped at me.

"Hmm, o sure" but other thoughts entered my mind.

"Carlisle, how would a pregnancy explain all the symptoms I'm experiencing?"

"Well, I've got a theory about that, it seems like this is your body's manor of protecting the fetus, phasing might damage the baby. So I think in order to keep you from phasing your body, your body disabled you to prevent it from happening"

"That sounds logical to me" Tom said and looked at me hoping that this would put me at ease, since it did sound reasonable my worries were put to rest, at least for now.

"Thank you Carlisle, could we make another appointment for next week, I would live to get home and tell Nadira, she must be worried out of her mind by now."

"Of course, just give me a call when you're ready" we shook his hand and walked hand in hand to the car. Tom pulled our intertwined fingers to his lips and placed a soft kiss on them.

"I love you so much Leah, words simply aren't enough"

We drove back home constantly smiling at each other, we were actually going to have a baby, so long I've wanted this, I placed a hand on my lower belly, it was so unreal to think that there was a life growing inside of me. Back home I quickly got out of the car, wanting to share our good news, I grabbed a grinning Tom and pulled him inside.

They were all sitting together so quietly, as soon as we walked in Nadira jumped up from her seat, confused at our happy faces.

"Nothing's wrong!" my statement was loud and abrupt and created more questioning looks.

"What is it then?" Nadira was looking almost… irritated, Embry grabbed her hand and stood behind her shushing.

"You're gonna have a baby brother or sister!" I exclaimed. Embry let her hand go and his jaw dropped, he wasn't in on our attempt to add a member to our family, but Nadira started squealing and jumping up and down.

"Really, really, this sooo cool you guys! So how long have you been pregnant? Does this have anything to do with you phasing problem? Is that why you were sick?" Nadira was bombarding us with questions, I had no idea she was going to be this excited.

"Wow, Nadira calm down" Embry said from behind her.

"Are you kidding me, I'm gonna be a big sis! This is 'shouting it of the rooftop' stuff!"

AN: Hope you liked it!