I do not own Twilight.

Tear me from the inside

[ X ]

…

"Mum, this is Leah. Lee, my mum" Embry smiled tugging her hand so she would come out from behind him. She'd been embarrassed to wander down only wearing Embry's shirt to meet his mother for the first time.

Leah peaked around Embry's wide shoulders and smiled. Ana Call had a warm smile on her lips as she stirred the pot of wonderfully fragrant food which had wafted through the house, waking them both. Her apron was strung loosely and she'd made smears of tomato paste on it, fingerprints closely beside them. Her hair was long and braided into a long plait and the small wrinkles in the corners of her eyes were kind of cute. She almost had a flash of her own mother doing exactly the same thing when she was younger only the tomato paste was replaced by flower and icing. Leah always loved the way her mother made desserts. Chocolate brownies from scratch or hazelnut and vanilla cookies. The house alway smelt so sweet when she wake in the mornings to find racks and racks, cooling on the bench top.

"Why hello Leah. I've heard so much about you" Ana beamed excitedly wiping her hands on the apron and embracing Leah unexpectedly. "Embry's told me so much about you. It's nice to finally meet you. Let me look at you"

Pulling away Leah let Ana see her and couldn't help the blush that crept over her face. Ana's hands first started petting her hair and then moved to her shoulders. Ana took in her bright eyes, while full of pain had a lot of potential, her full lips, her white teeth, all wonderful features on the golden tan backdrop of her skin. Leah was beautiful without a doubt and she was proud that Embry had someone to finally share part of his life with. He'd had a hard time growing up and he didn't posses many friends which often led to her worrying about her only son. He didn't socialise very much with any of the other young men around town and often went about being a loner. Embry was a good boy and deserved some happiness in his life.

Looking at her son she grinned. "You were right. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen"

"Mum!" Embry whined "Can we not like – do this right now?" He hissed, utterly flushing from head to toe. Leah caught sight of his ears turning bright red and she chuckled to herself quietly. She secretly loved the way Embry blushed and wore his emotions very much on his sleeve. It was refreshing to know not every guy in town was an utter asshole.

"Nonsense" She laughed flicking him off with her wrist. "Now both of you come and sit down, dinner is almost ready and I need you to set the table young man" Ana teased, pinching Embry's cheeks as she walked back to the stove.

Embry noticed the shit eating grin on Leah's face and couldn't help but to poke his tongue out at her. In return she flipped him the bird and smirked. Letting out a little growl Embry stalked forward and captured her in his long arms and hugged her tight. She was so warm and comforting, and every time he touched her he wanted to get lost in her aura. It amazed him how someone could change so suddenly and he was grateful that she actually wanted to spend time with him, that she wanted him.

"You're mom is so sweet" She whispered into his neck taking in his deep woodsy scent.

"Shut up" He chuckled kissing her hair and dragging her to help him set the table.

After they'd both laid out cutlery and bowls Ana began dishing up the hearty stew she had made for dinner. Beef and vegetables crowd the bowls and Leah licked her lips in anticipation. She couldn't cook to save her own life and she was always so grateful to enjoy a nice home made dinner. Sure she liked Seth's cooking and eating at the diner but this was so much better. It really wouldn't have mattered if it was onion soup, she was famished.

"So Leah tell me a little about your self. You're obviously Quileute... who are your parents?" Ana smiled as she place her apron on a hook and sat down at the table with the two who were already seated. She could already see this difference in Embry's eyes as he watched and waited for an answer. He looked brighter, much more happy, and much more like the sweet little boy that her son once was.

"Well – I – There's not really much to tell" Leah murmured placing her spoon into her stew and swirling the vegetables and meat around the bowl. "My dad died when I was eleven and then my mom passed away from cancer when I was 15. Harry and Sue Clearwater" She sighed placing the sliver spoon down against the edge of the plate. "I live with my brother Seth and I – I guess that's it" She shrugged feeling the pressure on her. She hadn't really achieved anything worthwhile and didn't really have any plans for the future – not anymore. Even before the cancer it wasn't like she had plans. She didn't have to luxury of planning out a life, she was just trying to stay afloat.

"That's terrible. I'm sorry honey" Ana gasped placing her hands in her lap and feeling bad for bringing up the subject. "I remember your mother and father. They were good people. Your father was on the council and your mother did great things for the kids around the rez"

"Yeah" Leah frowned, feeling the hungry in her stomach quell down. She didn't feel like eating anymore, the hunger had dissipated.

"I'm sorry Lee" Embry whispered, kissing the side of her head and grabbing her hand. He realised that though he didn't grown up without a father, it wasn't anything like having one and then them being taken away from you. His mom had always been there for him, from the black eyes in high school to the childish taunting on the playground. For her to lose her mother as well must have been crippling.

"It's fine Embry." She smiled back offering him a little solace. She didn't want Embry to feel bad, he would have found out sooner or later.

"You know Embry and your brother went to the same school?" Ana said trying to shake the uneasiness in the air. "They weren't in the same class but I remember your brother when he was a boy. Didn't you all have ties with the Black family?"

Leah nodded, her hand still firmly inside Embry's. "My dad and Billy Black used to fish a lot, or something like that. My mother always used to tell me how they would spend a whole day down at the river and then demand that mom fry the fish as soon as they got home. She made the best fish fry."

Talking soon becoming easier and Leah could feel the tension leaving her shoulder's due to Ana's warm hospitality. Her huger also returned and she enjoyed the warm thick texture of the stew. After the dessert of warm southern baked cheesecake Leah was treated to Embry's mothers collections of baby photos which were vast to say the least. Both women were highly amused as Embry washed the dishes and grumbled about something under his breath.

"Embry would always carry this tiny blue blanket around with him. One day I tried to wash the blanket and he cried for hours while it was drying. It took him five years to finally give up his 'blankie'"

"Mom" Embry scolded, snatching Leah by the hand and dragging her out of the kitchen. "That's so not cool" He couldn't believe that his mother had dragged out the baby pictures. He'd only just managed to get Leah to like him and now she was being brainwashed by his mother. He didn't want her to run off because of the mother that was Ana Call.

"I think its cute" Leah laughed as Embry growled and pulled her towards the bedroom. She couldn't help but laugh at his antics and she loved that he was getting so red.

"At least someone else thinks it as well. I told you it was cute!" His mother laughed from the kitchen as the door to his bedroom clicked shut.

"You're such a spoil sport" Leah grinned up at Embry who returned the smile. She noticed for the first time he hand tiny little dimples in his cheeks and wondered if they'd just appeared or if it was just that she hadn't noticed them before.

"Yeah well it's embarrassing Leah" He chuckled running a hand through his hair to shake his blush. Glancing at the window he could see the afternoon light begin to leave, replacing in its stead darkness. Taking her up in his arms Embry hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. "You want me to take you home? It's getting late and I bet your cop brother will be wondering where you are." He sighed, squeezing her a little not at all wanting her to go. He'd only just got her and now he never wanted to let go. Of course he wanted to sleep with her, have sex with her, but he knew she wasn't ready for that. He knew that once they were together in that way, he wouldn't be able to go back to the way things were before. He wanted to be her everything and he wanted her to feel the same way.

"Okay" Leah murmured back, digging her face against his shirt to find some kind of comfort in his scent. He smelt nice, like cool rain on a warm day mixed with that woodsy aroma, but it was nothing like Seth. She hated that Seth was all she could think about and she knew with out a doubt that he would be angry when she got home. "Plus I don't want him coming here and riling you up" She laughed as she tightened her grip around his waist. He was so much taller than her and she felt like a small child in his arms. Looking up at him she noticed the slight frown on his face.

Glancing at the window Embry noticed the flash of light from a cars headlights pulling into the driveway. Knowing and hearing his mother had trotted off to bed made him curious about the unknown person. Letting go of Leah he walked to the window and hoisted it up wondering who it might be. His heart dropped into his stomach as his eye locked with a furious looking Seth Clearwater who was scrambling out of the car and slamming the door behind him. His eyes were scorching and if they wouldn't have been so black they would have be red like flames. This was the last thing Embry wanted. Seth Clearwater always had a temper about him, especially when it came to his baby sister. Leah didn't know that one night down at a bar, Seth had almost changed the structural shape of one guys face with his fists. He'd been talking about how beautiful and young she was and how great it felt fucking someone who wasn't his boring wife. Seth had gone absolutely crazy and it was lucky that the guy didn't press charges.

"She up there?" Seth yelled out, clenching his fists open and closed to try and calm himself down. His anger felt like a large snake, hisses and coiling, ready to be set free on the nearest person. He'd been out of his mind the whole day worrying about her. He'd searched all over town and asked everybody if they'd seen his sister and they all offered him no information. It wasn't until he stopped by the store that he noticed Embry Call wasn't at work which was strange because the kid usually worked the weekends for the extra cash. Then like an epiphany he remembered Call had been waiting at the hospital the day Leah was taken in. It hadn't clicked at first as to why Embry was at the hospital but now it made sense. Plus then there was the 'date' they'd been on.

"Who is it?" Leah asked Embry, placing her hand on his shoulder and peeking out the window down to the parked car. Her breath caught immediately as Seth's head snapped towards her, with his teeth clenched. His eyes narrowed and she knew he was pissed. "Oh shit" Leah hissed back pedalling from the window to find her jeans. "Embry help me find them" She panicked, searching around the room.

"Find what?" He whispered watching as she ransacked his room throwing clothes and magazines from there resting places. She looked insane as she through bits and pieces around and if Seth wasn't standing on the grass looking ready to kill someone, he would have found it amusing.

"My jeans, damn you!" She snapped bending down to pull the covers away and look under the bed.

"Oh right!" He mumbled sifting through a pile of clothes, trying to snap him out of the daze of watching her bend and twist.

"Got em'" She whispered back, slipping the dark denim on and trying to tie her hair back or at least tame it down. Sleeping all day had given it that messy bed hair look and she knew what it would look like to Seth.

"LEAH!"

She didn't have time to find her shirt, so she grabbed Embry's hand and pulled him down the stairs with her. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she was scared to death Seth would try and hurt Embry, being the overprotective brother he was. Standing in front of the door, Leah kissed him quickly and rubbed his cheek with her palm. "Today was fun, we should do it again" She smiled at him trying to seem as calm as possible.

"You sure you want to go Leah? I could always tell him that you're going to stay here – with me?" He replied nervously glancing at the wood of the door like he could see through it to the crazed man on the other side.

"It's fine Em. I'll see you tomorrow?" She nodded, not giving him enough time to answer as she fled out the door.

Leah bounded down the steps and tried not to look at her brother as she made her way to his truck. She was looking down at her feet when she caught a glance of her jeans. "Damn it" She mumbled reaching to fix the button together and pull the zipper up.

"Having fun I see" Seth snapped, reaching for the passenger door to allow her to get in. He noticed the dishevelled look she had about her which only meant one thing. She was sleeping with the kid and he was going to come back in the middle of the night and blow his head off with his shot gun. Maybe he'd make him beg first and then pin him down to the floor boards with his boot on Embry's neck as he loaded the gun.

"I-" Leah started but was swiftly cut off.

"Get in the car" Seth growled, attempting to help her into the car making Leah slap away his hands.

"Don't touch me. I don't need your help" Leah hissed, pushing against his chest and stepping into the cab of the truck.

"You think it's wise to be seeing him? Have you told him what's wrong with you?" Seth chilled making Leah shrink back in her seat. Turning her face away she looked over to the drivers seat while he stood dangerously close to her, so close she could feel the heat of his breath against her neck. Her feelings were conflicted. On one end she wanted to slap him and tell him he was being an asshole and on the other she wanted to feel his breath against every part of her skin, his lips dragging across every plane of her body.

"There's nothing wrong with me" Leah whispered, wrapping her arms around her torso and laying her chin against her chest. She couldn't believe Seth had just said that.

Taking a deep breath Seth tried to quell his anger "You know that's not what I meant. I just – I was so worried, I couldn't find you and I-"

"Can we just go?" Leah mumbled, pulling her seat belt down and making sure not to look at him.

"Sure" He nodded, closing her door softly and walking over to the drivers side. As he open the door he glanced back up at the bedroom window and noticed Embry standing there. He could feel the jealous anger biting into him noticing the look on Embry's face. Nessie had the same look when she looked at him, and the fact the Embry was staring at Leah made him uneasy.

It was unfair that Embry Call could love his sister. It was unfair because if he had it his way, he would be the only man for her. He loved her before this boy and he wasn't going to give her up without a fight. Nessie of course was beautiful and perfect for him but he didn't want perfect. He wanted familiar, he wanted memories they'd already made, he wanted Leah waking up beside him and falling asleep against him. He wanted her long dark locks to pay with, her smooth bronzed skin to touch. He wanted all she had, and he wouldn't allow Embry Call to take it away.

Glancing up at the window Seth glared as Embry caught his eye once again. Giving Embry a silent message he dragged his thumb across his throat.

Embry was surprised and raised an eyebrow at Leah's brother. He wasn't sure what that was about but he read the message loud and clear.

'Stay away or I'll kill you'