Disclaimer: Once upon a time a little girl read four books at three in the morning, Christmas Day. Subsequently, she decided that when she grew up to be big and strong, she would own a immensely popular book that would bring in millions of dollars each year. Currently, that is still a work in progress, seeing as that same little girl (no longer little) doesn't own any book series, Twilight included.

Chapter Eleven

Truths

I was trapped in my own dreams, unable to ever escape. I was here, in his domain, trapped.

I opened my eyes, expecting the woods. This, I looked around, this was so different. I wasn't scared, I was strangely calm. I wouldn't be calm while he was coming, but I was okay. What was going on? I looked around me again, why was I here? The woods looked like they had before, but, happier.

A woman stepped out from between the trees. She was dressed in the clothes that the Quileute used to don, before the Europeans came. Wavy ebony hair cascaded down her back, she was tall, like me, but her skin was flawless, nothing like me with my scars. She seemed to glow golden light from within. Her eyes were strange, silver, as if they were the eyes of the moon. A tattoo spanned around her right eye, like the center of a dream catcher was the center of her eye.

"Who are you?" I asked, I wasn't afraid. This woman in front of me was good, I just knew it.

"I am the Dream Catcher" she said. I was confused, dream catchers were just strings wrapped around a ring. They weren't women who jumped into my dreams. She read my face and continued. "I protect my children from those who do them harm. When they are most vulnerable, I am strong. This is not your father's domain. It is mine, no one can touch you, you are safe here."

"But this is a dream, this isn't real." I told the woman. This was just a dream, not real life, she couldn't help me. When I woke up she wouldn't have existed. Tomorrow I wouldn't have the dream again. "You aren't real. I'm dreaming."

The woman laughed, "The new world has poisoned the people's minds. You can no longer understand the spirit world. Anna, just because this is a dream doesn't mean that it isn't real. You're ancestors would have much to teach you."

I stared at her. "But a dream is just a dream. It's just a figment of my imagination." I said, getting more

confused by the second. "Dreams are just my imagination"

The woman sighed, "If this was a normal dream then I would agree. This is anything but normal.

You are everything but normal. I would not have been drawn to you otherwise." Her entire body flickered like a candle flame in the wind.

I was beyond confused. "Drawn

to me?" I asked her. "How could you be drawn to me?"

"You are one of my daughters." She said cryptically. "I always protect my children and forever more shall. You were in pain from a being that I could stop. Soon you shall have much more to fear than dreaming."

That scared me, a mysterious warning, those are never good. We've all seen the movies. "What do you mean? What's going to happen?"

She laughed, "My daughter, I cannot tell you the future. It is a mortal's blessing and a mortal's curse. We cannot tell you."

"What?" I said. "But-"

"Remember your tribe, my daughter," she interrupted, flickering with golden lights. "Do not ever forget who you are. Now peace, you shall be safe from dreams tonight. No one shall harm you.

She walked forward and kissed my forehead. Then she stepped back and faded away in golden light. The forest faded with the same light and I was falling into it. The light was warm, peaceful. I closed my eyes and floated away into the lights. I was safe.

I must have slept for hours, the most I've slept since the tragedy. When I woke I was still at the Cullen's. I sat up and saw the one with brownish hair, Edward, staring at me strangely. I looked around to see everyone up and about. I looked at my watch. It was nine o'clock, that was strange, I usually couldn't make it past six.

I looked around for Carlisle. I wanted to go home. Everyone here kept looking at me strangely, like they knew things they shouldn't. Had Alice told them? She should have known she had no right. She had backed out of her promise. But you don't know that. I thought to myself, Maybe Carlisle told them something.Although, what he could've told them I had no idea.

I walked into their strangely clean kitchen. Carlisle was talking quietly to Esme. They both swiveled around and looked at me. Nervous I spoke up, "Could someone drive me home, Sue's probably worried."

Carlisle nodded, "Edward can drive you." Edward heard and stood up. He walked to the kitchen and stood at the door. I walked towards their garage, he followed behind me. I opened the door and stared. Inside was five of the nicest cars I'd ever seen. I wasn't raised in the poorest neighborhood but I'd never met anyone with this many cars. Jesus, did they rob a bank, or twentybanks?

Edward smiled as if something was funny, then he walked past me and led me to the shiny volvo. Silently, I sat in the passenger seat. The drive home was dead silent. He kept looking at me strangely, as if I was a riddle he couldn't solve. I shot him a look that no one could misinterpret, stop it.

He pulled over at a small gas station. I looked at his meter, full. Why was he stopping? We were just outside La Push. I looked towards the parking lot and saw Embry's old truck. My heart jumped at seeing him. As soon as Edward parked I jumped out and walked (okay, I kind of ran) to Embry. I threw my arms around his broad chest. He smiled.

"I'm sorry." I whispered to him. "I don't know what happened to me."

He patted my hair, "It's okay, no one's mad at you. We don't understand but we're okay with it." I smiled and buried my head into his chest. We walked together to his car. He opened the door for me with a flourish. I giggled, he smiled again. For the first time in my life I managed to get into the car gracefully.

He drove me the rest of the way home silently, but it wasn't uncomfortable silence. It was so perfect we didn't need to say anything. Then a thought froze my blood, I love him.I realized it was true. I was in love with someone I had only known for a week. How did this happen? How had I not stopped myself? I, of all people, knew not to get to close to people to fast.

Embry looked at me in concern. "Are you alright, Anna?"

I looked at him and smiled, I couldn't help but smile, "Just thinking about something." I had to tell him, but what if he turned me down? How much pain could I take until I shattered? I looked at Embry, he was looked at the road. My heart leaped, he was so beautiful. How long could I ignore my feelings?

We pulled into the driveway at Sue's house. She was sitting in the kitchen. When I walked in, she jumped up and hugged me. "Welcome back, Sweetie. Do you want anything?"

I shook my head. I just wanted to apologize to Leah and the guys. Leah ran downstairs. She grabbed my hand and started to drag me upstairs. Embry cleared his throat so she added, "It's girl stuff, you wouldn't understand." We walked into our room and sat facing each other on the two beds. "I'm not usually the nosy type, or the girlie type, but what happened?"

I sighed, I would have to explain it to everyone eventually. "I only want to have to tell it once. Where are the guys?"

She looked at me strangely. "You don't have to tell anyone."

"I need to." I told her. "They all deserve the truth."

"They're at Emily's house." She told me, standing up. "Do you want to tell them now?" I nodded. Together we walked back downstairs. I grabbed Embry's hand as I walked by. I needed his strength. We got in Leah's car and drove to Emily's.

All of the boys were outside. When we pulled up, they all swiveled around and stared at me. I got out of the car, still holding Embry's hand, and walked inside, where Emily, of course, was cooking. Everyone silently followed in behind me. I sat on the couch and looked at everyone. They all sat in a circle around me, Leah on my right and Embry on my left.

Emily walked into the living room with a worried look on her face. I took a deep breathe and began. "When I was a little girl, my father became an alcoholic..." and I told them the whole story. Everyone had looks of horror one their faces when I got to the reason I have the scars. "I couldn't show you, it would just let him hurt me to much. I'm so sorry."

Emily came and hugged me, "It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong." she told me. "Come on, let's eat." At the barest mention of food all of the boys jumped up. We all crowded into the tiny kitchen, eager to get a bite before they ate it all up. I stuck to Embry like a bur. We all ate like a giant family crowded onto every inch of seats in the living room. Everyone was smiling and joking around, for the first time in a long time I was happy.

After lunch everyone decided to go walking on the beach. I walked side by side with Embry. Towards the end of the walk I pulled him to the side. I rested my head on his chest. I opened my mouth to speak but he put his finger on my mouth. "Shh," he told me. "Me first."