Welcome to my real life

I stood outside our truck in front of Sam and Emily's house. I felt Embry take my hand. He started to tug me towards the house but I stood still.

"You don't need to be nervous"

"Right"

"These are the same people that we have been friends with always.

"This is going to change everything"

"Yeah-You ready?"

"I don't know"

"There will be no more secrets between us, it's been a long time coming. I 'd give you a preview but I figure it would be easier if you hear it with everyone else" I nodded and began the seemingly long walk towards the door.

One Year Earlier

"I cannot wait for you to meet everyone!" Embry was practically bouncing. I laughed at him.

"Is it totally childish to say I am nervous?"

"Well, I know you met my mom, but these people are my real family-my pack so to say- so ,no it's not silly. But they already love you so you don't need to worry a bit"

"Whatever you say" I said doubting him. I walked into the small house and was greeted with some very large, happy faces.

"Lacey- this is the group. Sam, Jacob, Quil , Seth, Jared…" he kept going but I was in shock. All of these boys were huge and looked like Embry's brothers.

"Hi! It is really nice to meet you all" I said trying to sound confident. My voice was a far cry from that. They all stood beaming at me. Jacob reached forward and grabbed me into a hug.

"Thank you for making Embry so happy" I returned it but knew I was blushing furiously.

"Thank you, for uh letting me borrow him" I said jokingly. The whole room shook with laughter.

"Now, let's introduce you to the girls" Embry said putting his hand on my back to lead me to the other room where a group of girls stood laughing at something funny the little one did.

"Guys, this is Lacey" I spotted a beautiful girl first but was shocked that she had a huge scar on her face when she turned.

"Lace- this is Emily, she is Sam's fiancée" She too, pulled me into a hug.

"Oh we are so glad you could come"

"Thank you for inviting me" She smelled really sweet and was so nice.

"This is Kim, Jared's im" she hit him "girlfriend"

"Hi" she said brightly "We'll have to have girl talk later, I know how Embry can be" I smiled at her and nodded.

"Nice to meet you and he is great"

"This is Leah"

"Hey"

"Hey"

"Welcome to the –" I saw Embry nudge her. "I was going to say family dinner but I could go somewhere else with that."

"Thanks Leah- you are Seth's brother right?" Trying to show I'd listened.

"Unfortunately"

"This is little Claire, who is Quil's- uh favorite person in the world" I waved at her.

"Hi Claire"

"Hi Wacey" she came and gave me a hug around the legs. She motioned for me to pick her up and I did. She kissed me on the cheek. "I'm susoped to make you fweel welcome"

"Well you did a good job" I looked over at Embry who was beaming at me.

Present

We hadn't gotten together with the whole group since the last time. It had felt like something was missing. We walked into the door and the familiar scent of Emily's cooking rushed at me.

"Lacey!" I hit with a solid object, also known as Kim.

"Kim-you are squishing me"

"I don't care, I am so happy you came. Jared- Lacey's here"

"I can see that Kim, maybe if you would let her go I could actually see her" She let me go and sheepishly smiled.

"Can we talk later?"

"Course" Jared came over and hugged me tightly. Next came a huge line with Sam bringing up the rear.

"You are a good girl, Lace"

"I missed this"

"We felt like something was missing"

"Me too"

"I know you may still be upset at us as a whole-"

"I'm not"

"Then why have you avoided our dinners?"

"Settling in?"

"You only spend one on one time"

" It's just me being silly, but I am here. " I felt someone slip their hands around my waist. I smiled up at my husband.

"I hate to cut the chatter short, but I am hungry and Emily says I can't eat anything until Lacey has her plate so I am just going to take her" He lifted me and brought me into the kitchen.

"Embry I asked you to ask her if she was hungry not take her hostage"

"Well, she is and so am I, so I figured I would save her a trip" he said grinning at me. All the boys were done in ten minutes and already lounging on the couch. They seemed to be talking seriously. I followed all the girls into the room and sat on the floor in front of Embry. I felt him lift me up onto his lap.

"We still haven't caught the leech, so the double shifts are going to need to continue"

"Ugh" I heard the entire room respond at once.

"I know, but we still don 't even have any idea why the leech is here. I contacted the Cullen's but they didn't know. They are checking into it. It appears to be dancing between here and Forks. It hasn't fed here …yet" I felt the once happy mood become upset.

"It would be easier if we knew what it wanted" Jared said.

"Maybe it just wants to aggravate us" I heard Quil mutter.

"Whatever it wants-we need to catch it. We aren't going to pretend it's a friend. If it isn't a friend of the Cullen's it isn't a friend of ours" Jacob spit.

"From now on, we all travel in pairs. Quil's idea is interesting. We don't know what this thing will do" Sam said. Everyone around the room nodded.

"What do we do about everyone else?"

"I have to talk to the elders" After that everyone broke off into their own conversations. I felt the uncomfortable mood begin to lift a little.

"So, let me make sure I understand this" I said to Embry "There is vampire running around Forks and La Push but it hasn't eaten anything?"

"Yeah"

"So we don't know what it wants or anything about it?"

"That's what is making everyone so nervous; it could strike at any time. We are completely blind here Lace. Even the Cullens don't know this one."I think he saw my face change because he said, "But don't worry, I am here will protect you. You come first above everyone else. What are you thinking?"

"Have you tried making contact, other than chasing it?"

"No"

"What if-"

"No"

"Yeah but-"

"Lacey, leeches are not friends"

"The Cullens?"

"They are different"

"Maybe this one is too?"

"No- I have a bad feeling." I nodded "But I guess I could, well should bring your idea up to Sam. You are part of the pack" I smiled at him.

"It means a lot"

"To me too"

"I feel like we are closer right now"

"You know everything about me- and what you don't know you'll learn."

"Ditto" we both laughed.

"I love you"
"I love you too"

We stayed and chatted for a while with everyone. Kim attempted to disentangle me from Embry to pull me outside. However, the second our hands touched the door, we were both grabbed from behind.

"Kim! God- don't scare me like that" Jared said.

"Sorry, I just wanted to talk to Lacey"

"Fine- but please stay in the house where I can see you" Simultaneously I was given a similar talk.

"Lacey, please stay where I can see you- It makes me anxious to be away from you"

"Oh, sure honey. "

"I know this is difficult, this is just the beginning but-"

"If it makes you feel better, it's fine" I meant it. Embry had enough to worry about without wondering where I was.

"LACEY" I heard Kim hiss at me. I followed her into the other room and was greeted with her and Emily. "I have big news, news I haven't even told Jared. I don't even think I can"

Sorry about the lack of Lacey and Embry in this one. Kim's news may just throw a wrench into their newfound communication. Well anyways, thanks for reading and please review- it makes me smile to the point of no return.

I disclaim----duh