***Many thanks to ashtwi for beta reading. Enjoy and review.
Disclaimer: As always these characters do not belong to me but are creations of Stephenie Meyer
The wedding I had dreaded with all that was in my soul, like about a month ago, was finally upon me. Evidently a month is forever in my land of bizarre. One month ago, okay more like six weeks ago, but you have to admit it was a fast turnaround, I defined the love of my life as the big headed bastard standing at the altar radiating hostility at the gorgeous devil standing beside him.
I kinda wanted to blow Sam's attitude off as simple jealousy, after all a groom should want to be the most handsome man at the wedding, I mean if dudes actually cared about stuff like that. Instead Sam was definitely outshone by my Nate who cleaned up well. During a typical 'take me to my happy place' moment when the kids' screeches on the playground got to be too much, leather Nate - you know, leather pants, long hair swinging and barefeet- stalked from my fantasies to take me to our tree. I still loved that tree.
Until today, leather Nate was as good as it got, but from now on tuxedo Nate was going to rescue me James Bond style... and still take me to our tree. Nate and I lived together but it was increda-weird to have sex with Charlie in the house, or when Charlie and my mom were in the house or worse contemplate having sex of any kind when Charlie and Mom were thinking about being intimate. Believe me, in that situation fine tuned senses backfire like a motherfucker. There are so many things I could have lived the rest of my life not knowing. I don't think when I'm Nate's age I'm gonna look back on this time and smile and say, "You remember when Mom and Charlie used to go at it like awkward old rabbits? You remember how she smelled when she was in the mood for some good old Charlie loving? Remember how the moustache always made her giggle? I didn't even know my mama could giggle like that."
However I could see Nate answering,"Charlie loved nothing better than your Mother's breasts. Remember the way he used to caress her in the kitchen. I never knew one could fondle loudly, yet Charlie managed to do so." My Nate would go there with me for sure.
We still went to Esme's to train and hang out, it was more fun since the visits were voluntary but there is no polite way to phrase, 'Um, if that golden bedroom is available do you mind if we fuck for a bit. Promise we'll be quiet.' So yeah the tree was still our spot, that and our Oregon tree. Who knows maybe one day we might have trees in every state simply because horny old people are gross.
Today Nate's hair was smoothed and tied, the infamous waves cascading down the back of the elegant black jacket. His profile was... I don't think there was word in my English or Quileute vocab to do it justice. Hmm. Lickable... that was it. His profile looked so good I wanted to taste it. Now that would make people stand up and pay attention.
At the very least it would give them something new to talk about. Oh my god! Could they get over it already? Yes, I used to love Sam and he used to love me; it was old news. I used to fucking love Barney in all his huge, purple singing dinosaur glory but I grew up and moved on. When any of the kids in my class needed comfort in a heartbeat I would break out a verse of "I love you, you love me" but I didn't need to see Barney to sit still and behave. I moved on. Both of those big headed bastards still had a place in my heart but never in my bed again. I mean Barney might, I still had a weak spot for him but Sam? Never.
Everybody in La Push was comfortable with the new status quo; Leah was getting some. They had seen me gradually getting over myself but more importantly they had seen me with Nate. We couldn't be doubted, or rather his sexiness couldn't be doubted. It was fucking epic. Not my words, it's that super sensitive hearing coming in to play. Just know this; old women don't forget what they want to do to a fine young man. It has something to do with denture removal and chicken bones. I can't go there with the rest but like I said, fine tuned senses backfire like a muthafucker. Ugh.
Now with everybody in Makah, where my mine and Emily's family lived, it was a different story. You would think Emily-Sam-Leah had just happened. On the bride's side there were hushed whispers a plenty.
"Look at her prancing down the aisle, like this is her wedding. I can't believe Emily forgave her after the hell she put her through. Umph, I tell you what, if she steps one foot out of line I'm gonna tell her about herself." One of Emily's Makah's girlfriends was ticked off that I was even there... and ticked she wasn't in the wedding party. Jealous much? She should be. I wanted to show her the red bottoms on my designer shoes to see if she could get greener.
"I saw him coming out of the woods, dick just swinging, carrying Emily. I felt so bad for Leah." One of my cousins was telling her date, I honestly wanted to stop and ask if she felt a little bad for Emily since she was the one bleeding and gashed open. However logic should never impede a good story and besides I was busy taking my stroll down the aisle following in Amelia's wake. It wasn't a good time to stop and rip her a new one.
There were other conversations centered around the past being furtively whispered on the Makah side, and to be honest I started most of that crap. I was young and dumb, nah to be honest I was young but I sure as shit wasn't dumb. All the trouble I caused had been on purpose. I had it in for Emily with a passion. I almost insisted everyone had to be for me or against me. It wasn't until Claire's 3rd birthday party that Emily and I were in the same room in Makah. It was ugly; I was ugly, they supported me and I turned on them. I got back together with Emily which was a slap in the face for Team Leah and vindication for Team Emily. I wasn't exactly welcome by either. Oh well, they could hate me now but eventually they would get over it, something juicier would come along.
The other side, the grooms side, had a whole different gossip goldmine and wasn't whether or not the guys were in Armani. The significance of the groom's choice in best man was the hot topic.
"I'm telling you, look at his hair. That's Josh Uley, all day everyday," One male gossip monger was getting started. I don't think for a minute that they came because of a desire to see a union of two people into one, so much as they had come to be sure that if anything newsworthy happened they would be first with the story.
"Fool, Josh ain't the only man with wavy hair," Logic argued back.
"Well it's not exactly a dominant trait on the res and Delores said it was just like Josh's, and you know she knows hair." I bet Delores rued the day she stuck her pudgy fingers in Nate's hair and asked if it was curly when short like her ex-husband's. Everything you say can and will be used against you... everything.
"Whatever, its just hair," Logic tried again with simple reason.
"Man, he's in the wedding party. He's Sam's best man, no less."
"Leah and Emily are thick as thieves again. You know how girls are? They match up things. Leah's the maid of honor so her beau has got to be the best man." That sounded right even to me and I knew the story.
"He might be Leah's boyfriend. I've seen them all hugged up, but tell me this: have you ever seen that young man without Sam? They're practically joined at the hip. Look at them now. Guys don't stand that close together unless they're blood. He comes looking for his dad and now he's Sam's best man. Come on, that's not coincidence." The official story that Nate's father may have been one of the indigenous people of this area had leaked out via Charlie, directly to Billy and put on blast all over the res. We Quileutes weren't by far the only tribe in the state of Washington and I'm fairly certain Josh wasn't the only man known to step out on his wife but as I said before, logic has no place in a good story.
"You may have a point there. Come to think of it, I've never seen him without Sam." Logic was finally swayed by circumstantial evidence with as much substance as cotton candy.
I didn't turn my head to see who the speculators were but I could hear them loud and clear the same way I'm sure every wolf and half vamp in the room could.
Sam's wasn't happy with his best man, but it was his own fault. I asked Sam if I could bring Nate to the wedding. It seemed proper protocol to ask him because you know he's just chief of whole tribe. He said "No" almost before I finished talking which wasn't a total a surprise.
I dismissed him, he wasn't the boss, just a figurehead, "I was trying to be polite."
I shrugged and then asked Emily who said, "Of course."
Sam whined a little, "Aw come on Emily, I don't want to have to babysit him the whole time I'm at my wedding."
"My wedding will be in Makah, so your self-made tribal rule doesn't apply. You don't have to escort him. It's my wedding, my rules. Leah can bring Nate."
Sam started to protest again but Emily got him with the look. Her look was this kind open-hearted thing that threatened to be crushed if you said no. I have never seen it fail her once with Sam. It rarely failed with me which is how I ended up agreeing to be the maid of honor in the first place. Sam was giving in so fast it was funny but he tried one last time, "But Emiiileeee..." Seeing Sam wheedle was strange yet delightful. I paid rapt attention so the guys could enjoy the playback.
Emily, ever one for thoroughness, pulled out the guilt sledgehammer, "It's the least we could do for her Sam. She shouldn't have to come our wedding alone."
Total capitulation. With a slight slump of the shoulders Sam sighed, "Oh all right." After he caved he quickly saw his advantage. "Man, I'll have to keep up with him the whole time." Feigned deep thought was followed by, "There's no other way, he's going to have to stand in as my best man. Shucks, I guess Paul and Jared will have to understand. I mean they can help me out right? The guys will be disappointed but it is what it is." False graciousness followed, "That's fine Leah, I'll do this for you. You can bring Nate to the wedding. Can Alice get him a suit in time?"
Did Sam think he was fooling anybody with that concession speech? He didn't want to choose between Jared and Paul for best man since Embry turned him down flat. Nope, he'd rather have Nate do it than hurt either guys' feelings. It was sweet yet moronic.
Emily stood in her kitchen wiping her hands while we smirked together. "I'm sure Alice can manage a suit." Even Sam and Emily were beginning to believe clothes came from Alice. That had been the way of this wedding. Emily communicated her vision to Alice who made it so. There was no shopping, only fittings, and absolutely no opinions allowed. I thought there would be some dissent, coming from me mostly, but actually it was huge relief. We had Operation Run Tell That, Nate's new job, and adjusting to living with Charlie to deal with, the last thing we needed to worry about was, well, anything else.
"Thanks, Sam," I injected as little sarcasm as possible, then much lower reminded him all pettiness aside, "I truly need him there."
Sam had Nate as a best man. The groom agenda of only showing up and saying the right words when told to was completely destroyed. Sam and his groomsmen had their hands full because Sam couldn't say no to Emily. The guys say it's an imprint thing but I have an imprint and I tell him no all the time, otherwise I can assure you he would have killed a person or two by now at this wedding or at the rehearsal party last night.
Today people whispered furtively, last night they whispered drunkenly, which is like a stage whisper, but louder. The words 'bitch' (that would be me) and the word 'whore' (that would be Emily) got tossed around liberally and that's when they were being nice. When they were being nasty or creative they speculated if Sam was doing both of us at the same time or how Emily was prettier than Leah until her face got all fucked up. I was holding it together. Mom explicitly asked me to hold my tongue and keep my hands to myself. Sam was fuming and had given up speaking with the effort of keeping it together. I saw the occasional tremble but he had enough bad press in Makah, plus he had the responsibility of representing our entire tribe. I could see the anger boiling beneath the surface on all of us Quileutes but we were maintaining, being mature.
It was the oldest member of our party who lost his shit. Different people stood to speak, mouthing platitudes and well wishes that sounded right. It was tedious but the evening was coming to a close so people were compelled to draw it out with pomp and circumstance. Uncle George, Emily's father, said a few words to commend himself for throwing this highly disruptive party in the same community center the wedding reception would be in the following day. He had to throw some money around to upstage the actual event since it was promising to be an elegant affair that he had nothing to do with. It also soothed his conscious for treating Emily like shit when she shirked college to shack up with Sam. His insurance would have paid for some reconstructive surgery until he dropped her from the policy.
Uncle George spoke, generally patted himself on the back, and since he noted the respect the tribe had for Sam he took a moment to appreciate that Sam would make a good husband for his youngest daughter.
Delores, Sam's mother, said a bit about how lucky Sam was to have found such a nice sweet girl like Emily who genuinely loved him. She was fond of Emily but she also wanted everyone to know, without exactly saying my name, that Emily was better than me. She also took some time to let everybody know in her own words how great her son was. How he single-handedly reduced the drop out rate of the tribal school. She left out the part that in La Push there was a notion among the youth that you attended school or you might get beat down by a gang. It was highly motivational. "Come to school or else." Sam never said what the or else was, but there was something about half-naked muscle bound men showing up at 7:30 a.m. escorting truant kids to school that just alluded to violence.
One of my Mom's four sisters said a few words about the bright future of these young people, subtly reminding people to move on. There were others, self-important people who had to make sure their voices were heard because an event couldn't truly be important unless they had some say in it.
I wasn't catching one word in twenty; tuning out skills coming in to play. When Nate stood up I felt the appropriate amount of dread although as best man it seemed natural that he would speak. Even I thought he would mash up and recycle the crap that had already been said. No, really, I honestly thought he would. I told him he might be expected to say a few words. I thought we were of one mind, that he would keep it brief and ultimately meaningless.
Alas, I was too far away. Emily and I were returning to our table, still half way across the room. Moments ago I was busy soothing Emily after she overheard someone saying Sam would always love me, he was just stuck with Emily because of those hideous scars. It burned to hear my own words come back at me.
Nahuel had the crowd's attention easily. One, because vampire's are gorgeous, its a rule. Two, angry vampires are sexy, at least mine is. Three, the insidious melody in his voice was an irresistible predatory tool. When he said "Good evening" in his lilting accent, I could smell the panties wetting around me. Literally, I could smell my grandmother's neighbor Miss Bertie warming to the idea of getting it on with my Nate. It is as gross as it sounds. More so really.
"For those of you who do not know me I am Nahuel, the best man. More importantly I am Leah's lover."
He continued just to be sure even Gran knew what kind of girl I was, " She does not spend her nights with me pining for him." He gestured towards Sam in an offhand dismissive manner.
It seemed every woman in the room turned to look at me. Invariably some threw me looks, envious, spiteful and even worse bewildered looks like 'how the hell did she pull him?' I didn't give them the usual 'Ha Don'tcha wish' smirk. My concentration was on getting through the crowd quick like.
"This lovely lady," he gestured to Emily," is the bride to be, you may call her Emily. The pretty girl supporting her is my very own Leah." He said my name with a caress that made my spine tingle... with fear. Tonight I wasn't Beautiful, I was Leah, his very own Leah. Heads rolled for his very own Leah, literally rolled across the forest floor.
I smiled briefly to the room with my arm still firm around Emily as I hustled her through the crowd to our table. The dreamy looks even on the face of some of the men was an indication of the danger. Nate was pissed. The more deadly he was the sexier he was. It's a vampire thing. It didn't work on me and when we were only around our own unnatural kind it wasn't noticeable since the predatory sexy didn't work on other vampires, or werewolves, and imprinted chicks were too besotted. Live and learn.
He paused for dramatic effect, drama being a prime directive of vampire kind. "Do not call them outside their names again. I will not tolerate it. Emily and Leah, not hateful bitch, nor immoral slut..." I heard a gasp or two, or six.
Uncle George, Emily's dad chortled as if something was funny, interrupting to smooth things over, "We get the picture... I had you pegged for a lover not a fighter." He tried to joke, throwing a few fake punches at a clearly unamused Nate. I groaned. I was not in the mood to save Uncle George's life tonight.
Nate raised one eyebrow, a mannerism he picked up from me but now wasn't the time to gush. His raised brow meant 'Are you stupid?' He clarified, "You are mistaken, I am a killer not a fighter. There is a distinction." His gaze roamed the crowd, visually calling people out. Women and a few men boldly met his gaze. My people are not punks but they were ignorant of the threat level. A few guys muttered the basic, "Who the hell does he think he is?" Others knowing full well what they said pretended to look around to see who it might have been saying such awful things. The gossipers could try to ignore Nate but when a vampire lays his gaze on you, you know it. That cold sensation on the back of your neck is certain death saying, "Hello" with a promise of goodbye.
Emily and I finally arrived at the head table. Emily ran to Sam, tugging his arm exclaiming, "Tell them he doesn't mean it Sam!"
"But he does. You know he means everything he says." He could have been more help but clearly he was enjoying this turn of events. A broad grin cracked his face and Jared and Paul had the nerve to fist pound with satisfaction. They truly didn't understand the danger level. Nate's calm delivery had them fooled.
In double time I took the mic and ran an arm around Nate's waist pinning him to my side. He was tense. "We invite you all to have a good time and enjoy the wedding festivities. Just don't be rude to Emily, this is her special day we are celebrating." I smiled with false cheerfulness. I used every ounce of my strength to man-handled Nate outside and make it look like snuggling. It wasn't. There was no affection just brute force.
See, I had experience in telling my imprint "No."
"No, you can't kill any of the guests to set an example."
"No, I don't have a least favorite relative that wouldn't be missed."
"No, Nate, even if you don't drink the blood, it would still be wrong."
It wasn't the tempting smell of people that made Nate's transition into society difficult. It was the nature of people. People and the things they say. Horrid chatter that Nate wasn't used to coping with. He could easily withstand ugly words about himself; strange, dumb, rude, or so sexy I want to rip my panties off and do him on the counter. Okay, the last one wasn't so bad unless you knew which waitress at the diner said it, then it became clear. Of that last one Nate said, "As though taking her panties off would induce me to do anything other than put them back on her, perhaps with a hammer and nails."
That stuff aimed at him didn't make him flinch. Words said about me and my nasty attitudes, Emily and her scars, my mom and Charlie and how neither had any respect for my Daddy or his memory, the Cullens being stuck up, or pretty much anybody in our circle but Sam made him angry. For the first time in his long life he couldn't handle his anger by having a quick meal at the transgressors expense.
Today Nate was an armful. The groom and his groomsmen stood there arms locked at the elbow with each other. It looked like a show of solidarity but it was a restraint tool. Nate was angry and you simply couldn't make the announcement, "The best man is a freaking vampire so don't piss him off. He will cheerfully kill you. Mind you, he won't drink your blood because that would be wrong but you'd still be dead."
We didn't anticipate his level of ire correctly. Frankly none of us had experience in taming a vampire but we had all suffered from hearing far too much. Half the reason young wolves are angry is because of something they heard, about themselves or worse, their mothers. Example, Paul's mom is an uber bitch therefore Paul was the angriest wolf. He imprinted on a girl ballsy enough to confirm that it was true his mom is actually a very unpleasant person and he had to believe her therefore he was no longer mad at the world. We had, over time learned to deal with the negativity but Nate was still learning to cope. Nevertheless, I still needed him here with me.
When I took my place beside Emily's sister Amelia, I was swamped in the distinct odor of impending baby. Billy had a theory, it was an ominous one. Quileute magic was preparing. From the smell of things it was preparing for a war. All of my fellow bridesmaids were expecting. Kim, Rachel and Amelia too. I had a theory too, when a woman is sure she's going to lose the love of her life in a few days time she might try to preserve evidence of his life and love by holding onto him in the only way possible. But that's me thinking it might not be supernatural. Foolish right? Rachel was pretty sure she and Kim were having wolves and that Mom and Amelia were carrying imprints.
We had talked extensively about it last night. Emily started it. The moment we got to her parents house to spend the night she hustled me into her old room to tell me her secret. "Leah, don't tell anybody, but I think I might be pregnant." She was so happy and excited and I was simply pleased that I could smile and hug her without flinching. However I couldn't pull it off with a poker face. Em was so cute, letting me in on her secret.
"What's with the smug grin?" Emily looked at me in suspicion.
I tried diversion, "Pregnant just like your mom when she got married, right? But nowhere near as far along."
She narrowed her eyes making me nervous. She could read me like a book. She went on, "I'm not gonna tell Sam until we get to Hawaii. You know he would insist on me getting checked out by a doctor before we made the trip. What is it?"
She caught me grinning again. Tell Sam? Get checked out by a doctor? This was too cute. She got checked out like all the time and she didn't even notice. Sam had switched her multivitamin with a prenatal one. Carlisle even had Sam telling Em he had a taste for liver and onions once a week to boost her iron. Alice and Rose recorded her vitals every time she came by to talk wedding and get fitted into her dress. Rosalie wanted to get an ultrasound done but couldn't convince Carlisle who opined it wasn't in any way necessary at this stage. He had been delivering babies before ultrasound and he would still be delivering them after the next fad. Yeah, he had a bit of an ego about his medical expertise. He said Emily was fine and had given the okay for the trip directly to Sam, who just as Emily predicted, insisted she get checked out first.
"What's up Leah?" She twisted her lips then said, "You knew already didn't you?"
I didn't say anything while Emily talked it out. "If you knew, then your whole pack knew which means the Cullens knew too. They aren't big on secrets. You would think supernatural beings would be better about secrets." She speculated, "It's like they have one big secret and that's the only one they can be bothered to keep." She was silent for a moment..."Lee, tell me something, am I the last one to find out?"
"Pretty much. Don't be mad, though. Sam was gonna tell you on your honeymoon as a big surprise and no one wanted you stressed out before the wedding." I tried to explain the rationale behind it.
"Sam was going to surprise me with my pregnancy? That's sorta sweet and bizarre." And just like that Emily was cool with being lied to.
When Rachel and Amelia joined us we talked on into the night. Rachel had gotten pregnant on purpose, as did Amelia for different reasons. Amelia's husband was old so she was popping them out while he could still enjoy them. The moment Rachel found out about the Volturi invasion she worked at getting pregnant. "I felt charged with an important mission for my people, doing my part and what not, but all I did was flush some pills down the toilet and lay on my back. It's not really hard to get pregnant..." She giggled then clapped her hand over her mouth. "Oh God, I'm so sorry Leah." There are no secrets.
"Girls it's okay. I went a little off the rails. I had been down so long I forgot to how to be any other way. I'm taking Rose's advice and I'm not going to let tomorrow's worries ruin today. Right now I get to enjoy your pregnancies without any of the weight gain and morning sickness." Somehow I successfully downplayed my incident, not wanting to turn their joy into sadness on my behalf. They bought it and to an extent so did I after I reached out to feel Nate. Since my 'incident' it was easier for me to find our connection and draw on it, pulling him into me like an embrace, a caress to my soul.
Today, I didn't get misty eyed or act the fool because I was left out. I had an important chore ahead of me. I looked into Nate's eyes and he stared right back into mine. Vows were exchanged. I breathed deeply, slowly, in-out. Snipes were made, incidental nothings. I let them roll off my back, staying focused and calm still looking into Nate's eyes. I passed Sam's ring to Emily. Nate passed Emily's ring to Sam. I was the picture of serenity and calm. Nate kept his eyes on mine. The words 'you may kiss the bride' were pronounced and as Sam raised Emily's veil, some son of a bitch said, "Look it's the Bride of Frankenstein." It took everything, absolutely every fucking thing in me to stay calm, to keep Nate calm. Every instinct wanted to unleash my fury. If I slipped just the tiniest bit, so much as rolled an eye or lifted my eyebrow, my fury would be free to do as he pleased.
Last night when we took a breather after his speech I tried to be rational, "Nate you can't kill everybody with an unkind word to say. That would take forever."
"It would only take a minute, a minute and a half if they scatter." He breathing was jagged from the effort of controlling his anger. "Emily is such a sweet girl, how can they say such awful untrue things? I don't understand." I didn't point out that I was sweet too. Now wasn't the time to address my shortcomings in my imprint's eyes.
I gathered him into my arms hugging him and holding him all at once. "They say it because it entertains them. They say it because they don't know or care what truth is. They don't really mean any harm. Most of them wouldn't say half of it if they thought they were being overheard. Let it go. It's human nature. Relax darling." Eventually he relaxed, clinging to me. The majority of the people had know Emily and I our whole lives and were happy to see us together again but it only took the few with a running commentary full of venom to cast a pall on the room for those of us with highly tuned senses. Nate had been around gossipping people before but for the first time he had people to care about. Huilen didn't mix with people except for feeding time so those who spoke of her typically said, "Ahhhhhhhhhh! Argh...vampire" and maybe some gurgling sounds.
As the happy couple was presented as Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Joshua Uley, Jared and Paul smoothly locked arms with Nate. My brothers were awesome.
Although as they turned I heard Jared say, "I saw the dude who said it. When Leah's not looking will you tag him in the mouth? Superfast like, so we don't get in trouble."
"I will not leave a mark and no one will see me." I heard Nate agree readily, his voice low.
I saw the briefest scowl cross the groom's face and his words floated on the wind, "Just make sure it hurts."
"Sshh. She might hear you." Paul was the voice of caution. I decided to turn a blind eye this one time. My brothers were still awesome even if a tad irresponsible.
Part 2
I sat on the edge of the bed and slipped my shoes off. My feet weren't too happy with the prolonged tottering about on heels but I had looked great. Nate sat on the other end of the bed. He held out his hands, inviting my feet with a, "Give me." I plopped my feet in his lap without delay.
"I don't understand why you torture your feet so." His warm hands caressed the soles of my feet, his fingers slipping between my toes working the tension out.
"You gotta admit my legs looked awesome." I flexed my calf muscles for emphasis.
"Your legs look awesome when you are barefoot and splattered in mud. Those torturous stilts don't change anything." He raised my foot and kissed each toe.
"Keep it up, flattery will get you everywhere," I chuckled, my voice already getting husky with intent.
Nate's hands stopped as he caught my eye, "Will it get me back to the rain forest and away from this insanity?"
"Technically you are in the rainforest. Besides if you left now, your father would be so disappointed." I laughed again this time with mirth.
Nate groaned, getting to his feet to remove his clothes in an agitated state. "That idiot. I do not find it amusing Beautiful. No, not at all."
Alice had worked miracles to pull off the wedding in two weeks. Finding vendors was a challenge and she finally chose, i.e threw a bunch of money at and pleaded, a catering company out of Vancouver to take on this job. What are the chances she would find an outfit that happened to have one Josh Uley on payroll as event staff? Slim to none. Sam wasn't pleased to see his own father circulating with a drink tray. Josh may be many things but unpleasant wasn't one of them. His presence would have been negligible if it wasn't for the rumor about Nate.
Seeking to put it to rest, Delores, the high priestess of gossip, waylaid Josh. She didn't like too many rumors not of her own creation floating about. She found this rumor particularly insulting due the stated closeness in the age of her son and Joshua's alleged bastard.
I didn't notice their exchange until Delores flat out asked Joshua, "There's been a lot talk going 'round and I want to know if that's your son?"
I turned to see if she was pointing out Nate or if was it Embry. He was the only other member of my pack at the wedding. Operation Run, Tell That required a wolf presence. The Cullens would be gone soon and we had to make vampires fear us, so any confrontation required the presence of a furry La Push native. Embry got a pass since he had to drive his mother up for the wedding. He was currently hanging out with the bridal party talking to Sam and Nate.
"No, I remember his mother. Ellen, wasn't it? Quiet little thing that moved into her grandma's house on the res. She never would give me the time of day, threatened to tell you if I didn't stop pestering her. Kid looks just like her."
"No, not that one. And she did tell me." Delores was irritated but at least Embry was vindicated.
He nudged Sam to let him know, "Your daddy would have made one hell of a wolf because he's one hundred percent dog." Embry laughed at Sam's sheepish expression. Joshua didn't exactly fill his son with pride. Josh wasn't a my dad can beat your dad sort, he was more of I bet my Dad you could do your mom, in fact he probably already did.
"See that boy next to Harry Clearwater's daughter?" Delores attempted to get Josh on the right track.
"His little girl grew up real nice. Wonder how old she is?" The leer in Josh's voice made me roll my eyes up slightly. "Where is old Harry anyway?"
I steeled myself while Delores passed on the sad news. "He died last year, bad heart, you know?"
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Harry was a good man. Poor Sue. She must be broken up." He paused then asked, "Is she around here anywhere?"
"Josh focus," Delores snapped. "Leah's too young for you and Sue would cut your liver out. She doesn't want your kind of comfort."
"I was only going to offer my condolences." Josh sounded wounded.
"Uh uh...tell me another one." Delores sucked her teeth and pushed on," See that boy next to Leah Clearwater. I've been trying to tell people he couldn't possibly be your son."
Joshua craned his neck in exaggerated speculation, "That's a good looking kid. He has my hair, too. How old is he?" You could see the child support wheels spinning in Josh's irresponsible head.
"Nineteen, you would have been living at home with me." Delores stated pointedly.
Josh sighed with audible relief and disregarded Delores' strong hint. "His mom must have been a real looker. Sorta built like me too." It was an unfortunate truth. Josh was shaped like Nate: lean muscled, medium frame and about the same height. Sam got his build from his mom; broad shouldered, big-boned and thickly muscled and dare I say, a slight facial resemblance to a horse.
"Yeah, but do you know his mother?" Delores pressed. She was playing her trump card, after all, Nate's mother, Pire lived and died a century before Josh took his first breath. There was an actual audible silence from her audience. She was going to put this one to rest.
"I've known lots of women, if you know what I mean." Josh chuckled as though his joke was clever. I'm sure even 3 year old Claire knew what he meant.
"Joshua!... Do you know that boy's mother?" Delores was getting impatient.
"How the hell should I know? I've never laid eyes on that kid. He does look a lot like me. Damn, where's Maury Povich when you need him?" Josh spared a fake search for a film crew. " His mama must have been a real beauty. I've had a lot of those." Josh stated again proudly as his vanity won out. He wouldn't disavow Nate. "Sorry Delores, good looking kid like that and I was working in Seattle a lot in those days I just can't say for sure he's not mine."
Delores sucked her teeth yet again, enraged knowing she couldn't tell the truth, that the 'boy' was more than three times his age. "It's a blessing I'm still alive and not in the grave from some nasty woman's disease."
"Now Delores, don't be like that. They got medicines for most everything except the AIDS and you only get that from lying with another man. You know I'm not into that," Josh contrived to sound hurt.
Nate had leaned forward to say to Sam, "Your father is an ignorant whore."
"Our father, don't you mean." Sam returned with disgust.
Nahuel was genuinely perplexed, "Surely, people will not believe he is my father based on his mentally challenged assessment?"
Sam nodded and I confirmed, "Yeah they will."
"That is ridiculous." Nate scoffed giving Joshua a look of pure disgust.
"I've been trying to tell you babe, that is the nature of gossip." Oddly enough that helped Nate more than anything else to ignore the backbiting chatter. He assigned it all to the category of insane babble like the very idea he might be Joshua's offspring.
"Where am I supposed to put my clothing? Nate stared at the packed closet. The state of the closet was not my fault. Seriously, when I was in high school I used to stand in front of my closet wondering what to wear, shuffling things about like I didn't know what was in there. Now that I'm out of school I still do it, the only difference is I honestly don't know what might be in there. It was like... someone was breaking into the house but instead of stealing, they left stuff like clothes with just the perfect accessories to match. That's not possible right?
"Drape the suit on the back of the chair. It needs to go to the cleaners anyway." There was something so mundane about this moment. Nate stripped down to an undershirt, boxers and black socks. Undressed he had on more clothes than he was used to wearing.
"So did you have fun today? I held my hand out to him to rejoin me on the bed. I was mentally and physically exhausted from the wedding. Most nights I run a solid six to eight hours, sleep maybe two hours, work all day and repeat yet this wedding had kicked my ass.
"I had a great time. I did not expect such enjoyment. Leah, I cannot begin to tell you how sexy you are when you dance." The bed swayed slightly as he joined me, gathering me into his arms.
"I think you showed me better than you could ever tell me." I giggled as though I was a little embarrassed but I wasn't really. I should have been ashamed for having made a spectacle of myself at Emily's wedding but screw it. Emily said have fun and I did, oodles and oodles of fun.
Nate kicked it off. As best man he had to give a toast and after his rehearsal speech, Nate's toast was a more highly anticipated event than the throwing of the bouquet. I heard someone say, "Look, I'm running outside for a quick smoke, if it looks like they are going to start the toasting, text me will ya? I wanna see what Sam's brother's gonna say today." Heck, Embry had promised to record it on his phone for Emmett.
When Nate's turn came up people literally stopped chewing. Having learned my lesson I was by his side when he took over the microphone. "Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. My congratulations to Sam and Emily. I understand that my duties as best man are more than just defending the honor of the bride and the maid of honor." He squeezed my waist pulling me even closer to him. Nate, it turns out is a toucher and does not shy away from public displays of affection... I was finding out at the same time as the rest of my entire extended family. I wondered if they noticed his hand slipping from my waist to my hip?
There were a few snickers before he continued,"It seems I am to also say something to either embarrass the groom or tell everybody just how much he loves his bride. The former I covered last night, so I shall concentrate on the latter with the help of Beautiful. Sam please take your bride to the dance floor."
Sam and Emily complied, taking to the dance floor in complete confidence. After last night's speech I made sure that Nate had a completely scripted piece for today. Emmett could laugh at something else and everybody else waiting to chuckle at my boo could kiss my ass.
The band struck up and on cue, Nate's clear baritone voice sang out,
My love,
There's only you in my life
The only thing that's bright
Of the few things I brought from home to Charlie's was Daddy's music. It was sorta our thing. We couldn't share sports because I had no interest. We couldn't share fishing refer to the latter, multiply by 10 and add five for good measure. Music though, was different. Daddy loved blues best but he loved all music. We listened to it together; in the house, in the car on the long drives to Makah, in the late evenings when my heart was sore and broken and Daddy tried to soothe me with his beloved blues. It wasn't a good plan, listening to some poor sap, sadder than me but it did matter that my Daddy loved me enough to not pretend he couldn't hear me crying, to come sit with me instead, play a few records and share a beer or two. Through Daddy's music I introduced Nate to my father, sharing melodies and memories. It was only natural we would choose something of Daddy to inject into the ceremony.
Nate and I had sampled some of everything in the collection to pick just the right song. We decided it was "At Last" by Etta James, but due to my boyfriend being insane, we switched it last night to a duet for the safety of the guests. My cousin Gib's good friend Roger, was already sporting a fat lip that came out of nowhere. A wedding couldn't afford but so many unexplained facial injuries and still be considered a success.
I sang out Diana Ross' part of Endless Love thinking of Emily.
My first love,
You're every breath that I take
You're every step I make
My voice wasn't all that great or even good for that matter but you know what, neither was Diana's. Seriously.
I couldn't think of anything more appropriate for Emily. Sam was her first love and her only love. She never had eyes for anyone else. That's what Roger held against her. He tried kickin'it to Emily for years but never got anywhere. Emily dated some but her heart always belonged to Sam.
There was some disappointment that Nate was not currently threatening the lives of the wedding guests but I think most people watched with pleasure as the newlyweds danced and exchanged tender kisses in their own little world swaying in the middle of the floor.
You'll be the only one
'Cause NO one can deny
This love I have inside
And I'll give it all to you
Ah, cue the waterworks. Sam's face contorted as he tried to keep the tears from flowing but he couldn't. Yeah it was touching but also funny to see Sam crying at his wedding. He said he wouldn't; real men don't cry. I looked up then to catch Nate's eye. He winked at me and I knew he found it entertaining too. Maybe we weren't nice people, but at least we could be un-nice together.
Nate and I finished the song on equal footing. He kindly did not flex his vocal range, letting me hang with him to the very end. Even toned down though, his voice was a thing of wonder. Sure all vampires can sing but Nate's voice had a warmth that they couldn't match. Vampire singing was usually that operatic crap that honestly hurt my wolfie ears. Nah, I couldn't stand opera before, now I could make it sound legit.
There was enthusiastic applause as Nate bowed deeply taking me down with him, fully accepting his accolades. As he rose, he caught my eye and winked again smiling at little ole me. It hit me, it me hard, like a ton of bricks, or an anvil or a piano or some other ridiculous cartoon thing that flattened a person. I... I loved him. I was in love with him. I was in love with my imprint. It seems like a 'well duh' but I thought imprinting was as high as a person could go with love and commitment. I did love him from the moment I saw him with the eyes of a woman and knew I would give my life for him but to a great degree I felt the same way about Seth or any of my pack. I had desired him, my body was made to make love to his, his venom didn't kill me so that was proof if ever it was needed but I was stunned to find that imprinting, love and desire were actually different from this feeling that was rapidly turning my bones to mush. I loved that man. I lurved him. Heart and soul.
He stepped off the stage and crooked his finger at me, mouthing, "Come dance with me."
Usually he crooked his finger to piss me off. He had a thing for kissing the wrinkle between my eyes, but today I didn't give him 'tude. Today I had to suppress the urge to fucking sigh and whimper. I stepped into his arms and we glided around the room to whatever the band was playing. The la-la land I was in didn't allow me to note anything other the smell of his neck, the feel of his hands on the small of my back, his lips brushing against my ear. I had accepted forever with him. That was part and parcel of who we were but now my heart rejoiced. Forever, I could spend forever with him. I tightened my hold wanting to climb inside him.
I calmed myself with effort. Okay, that's bullshit, he was calm, ergo I was calm, but I would have been excited if I could have been. His lips brushed my ear again, "Beautiful, just like this I wish to claim you. Before all your family and friends, I wish to make it known that you belong to me. We shall be married."
What's a girl to do with a marriage proposal that wasn't really a proposal? It was an edict and who was I to dispute him? There was nothing to be said but I wanted to hear it, I wanted to hear him say he loved me. I was hoping that maybe through our connection he felt it the moment I did, that the same piano fell from the sky and hit us both. We sang Endless Love. Fucking Endless Love at a wedding no less. The concept of romantic love was not foreign to him. I fished, "Why? Why do you want to marry me?"
He chuckled in my ear and held me tighter as the music changed to a faster pace. We picked up the tempo but I clung steadfast, music wouldn't rob me of this moment.
"It is only natural that we marry, that I stake my claim and extend to you my protection in the human world not just the supernatural. You are mine for eternity."
Stake his claim? Did he want to own me like a piece of land, with the right to bear arms against intruders? It sounded that way to me. It was slightly confusing but I chose not to probe. It was enough for the moment that he wanted me as his wife to defend and protect even if not to love and cherish. He wanted me for his wife. He was in my arms and I was in his. I had been loved by a man who wanted nothing more than for me to just disappear, to cease to exist. That kind of love hurt like fucking hell. Love wasn't everything. Nate wanted me and that's what mattered. I could be patient for the rest.
Soon joy and a good beat were too much to resist. In no time our embrace was lost as we picked up the rhythm of the band. I had never had a dance partner like my Nate. He could more than keep up with me, he read my body, anticipated my movements. He didn't go all dude on me acting like he was too cool to move. We didn't just dance, we performed, as in the crowd backed off in a circle to watch us tango. Nate learned a little something something back home. I couldn't help myself, I reveled in the attention.
We took a breather from the dance floor, not that we needed it but Alice had cautioned me to remember things like appearing tired when it was warranted. After the 'Leah's lover incident' last night I was loathe to introduce him formally to my Gran but respect had to be shown.
"Gran..." She didn't hear me so I tried again louder, "Gran," she craned her head in my direction, "I'd like you to meet my boyfriend Nahuel. Nahuel this is my mother's mother, Gran."
"Nahuel? I thought your name was Nate. Everybody said it was Nate. Are you sure it's Nahuel?" Gran gestured for us to sit down.
"Quite sure, ma'am. It is the name my mother gave me." Nate assured Gran but seriously Nate is a lot easier to say than Nahuel. I called him Nate, everybody referred to him as Nate. People only called him Nahuel to his face and then that was only the people in our circle. He had given up correcting people to Nahuel since they butchered the pronunciation so badly. He just rolled with being called Nate.
"Ah, your mother... the Brazilian beauty pageant contestant that Josh disgraced." Gran leaned forward to whisper to me, "She was here competing in the Miss Teen Universe when Josh knocked her up. Poor thing had to go back home, you know she lost her title behind it." I just cocked my head in wonder. Why did the Cullens even bother giving Nate a backstory when it was obvious that my family was much better at it?
I ignored her comment which didn't bother her in the least because she just went on. "I enjoyed your speech last night. Standing up for my girls. I like that a lot. Got a kick out of it too. Leah, I'm glad to know you're being nice to this one. You know if you had been nice to Sam he wouldn't have gone to Emily to be nice to him." She looked pointedly at Nate and went on, "I tell all my daughters once they reach a certain age, you gotta be nice to keep a man, cause if he doesn't get it from you he'll get it from someone else. Um hmm. I made it a point to be nice to my husband at least once a week, sometimes more if he deserved it. Or if I deserved it." She laughed bawdily and nudged me in my ribs as horror dawned on me, the images of Gran and Poppa... No she couldn't mean that, "But child I can understand why you weren't nice to Sam. He's ain't much to look at is he? "
Nate wrapped his arm around my shoulders and leaned forward conspiratorially to say, "Lee-ah," He savored two those syllables making them linger like sex in the air, "is very nice to me. Very often. I will not stray."
She patted my hand, "Good girl. Keep him happy."
Someone please tell me I wasn't getting brownie points from Gran for... being "nice." If I were a vampire I would take out every memory of Gran saying that word to see just how much I missed out on my entire life. Was 'too nice' a euphemism for whore? I couldn't do that but since Gran was going in that direction and honestly I didn't think she could embarrass me more I had to ask, "If Sam is so unattractive why did you want me to be 'nice' to him?" I had no desire to tell her I had been 'nice' to Sam. I feared she would give me pointers on how to be nicer. 'Reverse cowgirl, you ever try that one Leah? Menfolk like that one.' I could image it too easily.
"Cause he's the marrying kind. He was so nice to you, never an unkind word and lord knows you deserved a few." She leaned to Nate again to say, "Her Daddy spoiled her rotten. It's not her fault so don't you don't you go holding that against her. And he'd look me in my eye when he talked to me. That's a youth planning on being a man. Like I said, the marrying kind."
"Yes Grandma, the marrying kind just like his Dad. I mean Joshua married too." I said dryly watching Josh, currently on the floor bumping and grinding with Delores. She was laughing and obviously putty in his hands.
"No, he ain't the marrying kind. Now Delores' daddy was the marrying kind. She got pregnant and he got 'em married. Big man, huge fists, he didn't need a shot gun to get his point across." Gran chuckled. "Now this one you got here. He's real easy on the eyes. I ain't so sure he's the marrying kind but you shouldn't be worried about that right now. Have some fun with him. Young girl like you should have two, three boyfriends." She shared with me just like Nate wasn't even there.
"No," Nate interrupted Gran, because he was in fact there. "She can only have the one, me. In fact, Leah and I are going to marry." He told Gran of our impending nuptials.
"Are you sure about him baby?" Gran was content to ignore his presence when it suited. "He's awfully pretty, and you're pretty enough. That won't bode well for your daughters. Look at Emily, too pretty for her own good. Boys won't let a pretty girl alone. Now Emily's daughters won't be having that problem." Gran chucked again, this time Nate joined her.
"Laugh now, but it would be even worse for your sons. Look at Ellen's boy. Pretty as a picture. Pretty mama, prettier daddy and the boy is downright beautiful."
There wasn't a moment to feel bad about the kids I wouldn't have, "Ellen's boy? You mean Embry? You know who his father is?" I sat up to attention, leaping all over that. "Is he here? Is he Makah?"
"No, he ain't Makah. He's from La Push." Grandma confirmed what we thought had to be true.
"It's not my Dad is it?" I asked about my own fears.
"No, baby, I said his father was pretty. Your daddy wasn't much to look at either, you got his strong jawline. Good husband material, though." I should have been insulted on behalf of my Dad but I was so close to knowing. "He was a tall handsome boy used to come up to Makah to do his skirt chasing."
"What's his name Gran?" I asked eagerly for me and Embry who was watching and listening with close attention.
Gran cocked her head to one side, "Let me see." She fell silent which would have been pleasant if it had come five minutes ago. "I can remember what he looked like but I can't for the life of me think of his name. His face is right there but what was his name?"
"Is he here?" La Push was definitely in the house today. I looked around, but I don't know what for, Embry looked just like his mama to me.
"No, I don't think so. It might come back to me, it might not. The boy sure looks like him.
Bah. My memory ain't what it used to be but that's to be expected at my age. Come take me out to the dance floor young man. I might shake it loose." Gran began to levy herself up from the table and Nate rose to help Gran gain her feet.
There was no contingency plan for this. My gran was with my vampire. I met Emily's panicked look. It was one thing for her to go all Alpha on Sam and insist that Nate come to the wedding, it was quite a different one to see Gran in a vampire's arms. Sam followed her gaze and immediately jumped to his feet grabbing Emily's hand only to have her snatch away. "Get Leah!" Emily is a smart girl, what could she do other than scream?
Sam and I took the floor to shadow Nate and Gran. We all understood Gran was guaranteed to say something offensive about practically anybody. She had been filter free as long as I could remember. We had nothing to worry about though, Nate lifted Gran onto his feet and danced her about while she giggled girlishly and said things that made him throw his head back in laughter.
The words slipped from my lips before I knew it. "I love him so much. Look at him." I was watching the line of his neck, his even white teeth, the play of his hair swishing on the jacket and listening to his laughter, full and rich while Gran flayed Charlie's feeble attempts to dance. Seriously she said, "For my daughter's sake I hope he can keep a better rhythm in the bedroom."
"I'm looking at him." I was so wrapped up in Nate I had almost forgotten Sam's presence. The only thing I had said to him was, "Don't step on my feet!"
"I thought it was all one and the same, man. Being in love and being imprinted, I mean at our age and what not." I had to allow for the way my brothers imprinted on kids. "But it's not is it?" I asked our elder statesperson wolfman.
"Nope. Not at all. I needed Emily like I needed air when I kept slipping off to Makah but when she left the hospital, signed herself out to come be closer to me because she was worried about me and my well being, it became something else. I fell in love then. Up until that point the imprint was almost like a burden, like an unwanted obsession. When she came with me that day, put her hand in mine, nothing else mattered. I would do, will do anything to justify her faith in me. Besides, Emily thinks I'm cute even if your grandmother doesn't."
I roared with laughter then and laughed a little coming back in the bedroom from a much needed relaxing shower. I climbed into the bed assuming the snuggle position, my head on Nate's shoulder, my thigh thrown across his body, my arm curled on his chest and his arms around me while he laid on his back. We were in the ready sleep position. I insisted Nate sleep at least an hour every night. It was working out well. My theory was if I could get him into routine sleep he wouldn't need to sleep so soundly every couple weeks. His nightly rest wouldn't be so deep allowing him to stir quickly in case of danger.
"Today was good day." I sighed contentedly but one thing still bothered me. Okay more than one thing but I dealt with the easy stuff. "Last night you said Emily was a sweet girl and wondered how people could say such things. Don't you think I'm a sweet girl too?"
His chest rumbled with laughter beneath me. "Of course not. Fierce, kind and loyal, yes. Sweet, no."
"What!" I sprang to a sitting position. "You don't think I'm sweet but Emily's so sweet you had to defend her honor!" Nate sat up and pulled me back down with him.
"Beautiful, last night you stared down no less than two women and one man. There was also that young man you stared down then feinted towards. He flinched and covered his face. Seth filled me in on that one. It seems you punched him out at a retirement party which is why your Mom asked you to keep your hands to yourself. Does that sound sweet to you?"
"Well no, I suppose not." I relaxed in his arms unable to refute his words. I gave him a quick squeeze, loving his complete lack of bullshit.
"The vile words people spew about you do not distress you. You get that wrinkle between your eyes." He kissed the spot between my eyes. "Sometimes you chuckle." He traced my lips with his finger tips and went on, "What bothers you is when people say ugly things about Emily. She cannot hear them, you can and you wince every time." His hand feathered across my face skimming the corner of my eye. "I hate to see you in pain."
"Last night when you were returning from the kitchen and that girl commented on Emily's scars, I felt your hurt right here." He placed my hand over his heart. "I saw your nostrils flair and your hand trembled when you pulled Emily close to you. Your eyes narrowed into angry slits when you met that girls eyes and your chin lifted to challenge her to say anything else. She put her hands on her hips to challenge you right back. I think your people are brave, too brave and a little foolish."
"Did you think I didn't notice how hard it was for you to hold it together? It hurts you because you love Emily. It hurts me because I care about you more than anything in the world. It made me angry too."
"I would not say you are a sweet girl. You are my fierce, kind and loyal Leah. You are my perfect mate." His lips found mine with one tender kiss. One kiss which lead to many as we made love and fell asleep in each others arms. One tiny mar on the surface of otherwise perfection lingered; the one missing little word, love.