Title: Missing Something
Genre: Meddling Bella with a slashy twist
Rating: T (if even that)
Pairing: Bella/Quil/Embry…
Words: 522
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Prompt: It all started with a dare.

AN: I have to pay homage to mrstrentreznor, because I think this is actually a fanfic of her story Best Friends Share Everything. This is my version of what could have happened if Bella and Quil were together first. (No, you don't have to be familiar with that story to read this, but it definitely influenced this piece).
This does have boy/boy but nothing graphic. At all. I wrote this to help me on another slash pairing and it clearly didn't get me anywhere.

~oOo~oOo~oOo~oOo~oOo~oOo~

Missing Something

It all started with a dare. That was always the easiest way to get Quil to do something, and Bella knew her mate better than anyone—or almost anyone.

She and Quil were happy, as imprinted couples were, but she always felt that little niggling doubt that there was something missing. So she decided to watch.

Bella sat back and watched her pack as they moved through their days interacting with one another. She watched Sam and Emily, Jared and Kim, Jake and Leah—even Paul and Rachel seemed blissfully content in their volatile relationship. She couldn't quite put her finger on what was different about her and Quil.

Someone else caught her eye as she observed the wolves in their natural environment. At bonfires, pack dinners, even just hanging out on the beach, there was one wolf who kept himself apart. Embry.

Embry had always been quiet—that was nothing new. Bella just assumed it was a natural result of his shy nature and having Jake and Quil for best friends. She understood how hard it was to get a word in edgewise with those two.

But as she watched, she noticed that Embry watched as well. More specifically, Embry watched Quil. It wasn't something that was easy to see, but as his imprint, she was also watching Quil. She slowly began to notice how many times she was lifted into her mate's arms and looked over his shoulder to meet Embry's longing gaze.

She noticed other things as well. Embry was normally somewhere close to Quil, but he was also close to Quil. He would sit closer to his friend, and he seemed to relax when Quil would throw his meaty arm around his shoulders. She could have sworn she saw him breathe a sigh of relief a few times.

Everyone noticed that Embry didn't date, but he placated the pack by pointing out that he didn't want to break someone's heart when he imprinted. Every time he said the word, his eyes would invariably cut over to Quil. Every time, without fail.

So Bella began to consider things. It was clear to her that Embry liked Quil—as more than a friend, that is. He was actually quite devoted to the burly wolf—quick to defend him when the other boys teased, or always ready to entertain him when Bella's patience was running low. Quil was a bit high-maintenance when it came to attention. He needed a lot of it.

A quiet conversation with Leah gave her insight into Embry's mind, and confirmed her half-formed suspicions. Leah agreed with her observations and offered her support if Bella decided to move things along.

That's how Bella came to be sitting on the couch in her and Quil's apartment, looking between the two boys. "You heard me, Quil. I dare you to kiss Embry."

Quil shrugged at her insistence, then turned to his oldest friend. Embry looked terrified, but also hopeful. The hope was what did it.

Bella was holding her breath as the boys' lips touched gently, but she felt that restless something finally settle into place. Embry was home.