Leah POV

I had just walked in the door from dropping Seth off at his friend's sleepover birthday party thing, and the phone was already ringing.

"Ugh, alright hold on." I yelled to the phone as if whoever it was could hear me. I dropped my work bag and ran for the phone. "Hey, it's me. Don't hang up." I answered.

"Hey me, I'm you, and I didn't intend to." Sam answered. "I'd like you to open the back door now please; I'm too lazy to go to the front."

Rolling my eyes, I balanced the phone on my shoulder and picked up my bag and threw it on the counter. "It's unlocked, so come on in. What, did you become a vampire and can't enter a house without being invited first."

"Actually no, and vampires don't work that way. It's a myth sadly."

"The illusion is shattered." I hung up the phone and walked to the back of the house and opened the back door by the laundry room. I could see why Sam couldn't do so himself. He was balancing the phone the same way I had been, and in his arms seemed to be enough pastries for an army. "Wow. I see you're not a vampire, you're the Pillsbury Doughboy."

"Shut up, and move aside. Can you grab this?" He jerked his head, indicating for me to take the phone. "You hung up on me."

"Sure did." I took the phone and turned it off. "What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious? For the heartwarming hospitality of course. Emily decided you could not be counted on to provide dessert for your date tonight."

"Did she think I was conducting an orgy? Because this is way too much for just me and Athan."

Sam walked to the kitchen and dumped the load on the counter. "She couldn't decide which one to go for so you are to choose one then I get to be a hero and divide the rest between Paul, Jared, Kim, and me."

I looked at the selections and pondered. "I'll take the brownies. I think that would go well with the chicken."

"That's bullshit, you don't know what goes well with chicken, you just want brownies."

"Shoot me. What do you care, I know you want the chocolate cream pie."

"That's true." He nodded and instead of taking the rest of the desserts and leaving, he settled on a stool.

"Sam, get out."

"Sister I aint going anywhere. I'm here to supervise."

"My entire date." I rolled my eyes at Sam as he leaned on the kitchen counter. "I have been on dates before Uley, I can handle this."

"Dates with me, and that guy before me."

"Greg Roth." I sighed thinking back at the innocent date at the movies.

"Doesn't count."

"The hell it doesn't."

"You were thirteen." He said as if it were an explanation. "Anyways, I just want to make sure you don't screw this up."

"I thought the whole point of this imprinting thing is it doesn't matter if I screw up, it's meant to be."

"Yea well, it still doesn't help. Have you decided what you're going to tell him?"

"Well no offence but I'm not gonna to use your approach. I don't see the point in telling him anything yet. I know nothing about him. I have to get to know him first and then once I know him I can decide to tell him." I explained and took out the chicken I had been marinating all day. I noticed Sam smiling at me. "What?"

"I just like you that's all. Sometimes it's hard to believe that you're like this."

I dug out the sautéing pan and raised a brow at him. "Like what? A mental patient?"

"No. I don't know how to word it. Strong I guess. Look at all you've been through and you can still juggle all this, and maintain a rational state of mind. I mean you got keeping the house in order, Seth's life, the store, your friends which are your family, being a werewolf, and now an imprint. It's impressive is all."

I grinned. "Well thank you. Good to know hiding my craziness is working."

"Sure is." He stood. "Alright I'll go now. I trust you."

"I love how you make it sound like it's your life I'd be messing up if this goes wrong."

He walked over and tugged my hair. "You would be. Cuz it would mess you up and you're me. If you hurt I hurt, sister."

Sam and I had many nicknames for each other. Now that we were pack members, we started calling each other brother and sister. But there were always two nicknames we preferred more than the others. Probably because we were the only freaks who had them.

When Sam and I were younger and Sam's mom worked nights, I would call him to keep him company. And every time he picked up I'd say "Hey, it's me." He would always laugh and say "Hey me, I'm you." Thus beginning our nicknames of me and you. It went on for years, but we hadn't said them for a way, until today. It was the final step in us not only getting back to normal, but realizing having our new relationship didn't mean things had to change.

"Thanks, you." I said and hugged him. "Now leave so I can make myself pretty before I start cooking."

"Oh alright." He grumbled and started going towards the door. "Be a good girl and have him wear a rubber. I'm not ready to be an Uncle."

"Funny I say similar to Emily."

"Har har." He said, kissed my cheek and left.

After he was gone I realized I didn't have enough time to shower but threw on different clothes and let my hair down. I broke into Emily's room and raided her make-up supply since all I had was moisturizer, blush, and chapstick. I thought eyeliner might be a nice idea.

I was officially frazzled by the time my look was completed and I was left to just wait. The chicken, rice, and sauce were all simmering in the pan, so after setting the plates on the island, I took up pacing.

What on earth was I thinking? I was completely unaware how to date. And that thought was making me angrier and angrier.

I yanked open my cell phone and dialed the most used speed dial number. Emily picked up.

"I need to yell at your man."

"So do I, I told him he should leave you the pie, it would have complimented the chicken well."

"Not his fault, I wanted the brownies."

"Of course you did. Why do you need to yell at my man?"

"Because he's ruined me for other men. Don't take that the wrong way."

"I insist on only taking things the right way."

"What'd you answer his phone for? Have you become one of those psycho spy girlfriends?"

"Not yet. I will next Tuesday. Actually I just wanted to let you know that Athan wanted me to tell you that his phone died and he doesn't have his charger, so he couldn't call to tell you that he has to make one stop before going there. He already left though so he should be there soon. I was actually just calling you when you called Sam. Freaky."

"That's how we roll. Ok that sounds fine. Was he nervous?"

"He kept rearranging books, checking his watch, and biting his nails all afternoon."

"Aw." I smiled. "Ok enough cute girly talk. Give me the alpha so I can rip him a new one."

"Absolutely." I heard her shout to Sam. "Sam stop looking at the sports section and get over here, Leah's on the phone."

"Hey kid, what's up?"

"You fucked me up."

"Hold on, a reverend is near me, and I don't think he heard you clearly."

"Don't get smart with me. I'm serious. You spoiled me. I never had to be all nervous and crazy around you because I had known you my whole life. I got comfortable. Now I'm all worked up cuz I don't know what I'm doing, and it's all your fault."

"Is not. You did the same thing to me. But the nerves are good. No offence to you, but I think its saying something that we never gave each other butterflies. We shoulda known."

"Yea yea, but still it's your fault."

"Alright fine, how dare I. What am I supposed to do about it now?"

"Well you seem pretty at ease with Emily now. How did you do that?"

"I was myself, and I love her, it came natural and it will for you too."

I heard an aw in the background and knew Emily was doing her girly swoon. "Go make out with your woman. I'll kill you later."

"I appreciate that. Talk to you later." He hung up and I tossed my phone back on the couch.

I heard a car and sure enough there was Athan getting out. I took a deep breath and opened the door for him. "Hey." I said lamely and then blinked when I saw the flowers in his hands. "Wow."

"Sorry I'm late, did Em call you?"

"Actually I sorta called her to yell at Sam, but the message was received. Is this why you were late then?"

"Yea. I hadn't planned on it because it turns out I am not the gentlemen I thought I was, then the idea came to me."

I walked with him to the kitchen to get a vase. "I love roses. Good touch." I looked back at him and got another surprise. He was wearing black jeans and a dark blue shirt. For him that was new. He always looked like a hippie to me, which I found charming. This was also…appealing. "You look nice." I said, again, lamely.

"So do you. Listen I suck at this sort of thing. I haven't been on a date in a long time. And never with a werewolf." He sat at a stool and I laughed.

"You know I was thinking the same thing about dating earlier…." I trailed off and felt my hands shake. "What did you say?" I looked him straight in the eye, feeling comfort in the stability I somehow found in his eyes.

"About you being a werewolf. Yea, I sort of figured it out. I have no particular problem with it." He glanced around the kitchen and turned to see the living room. "I like your house."

I dimly heard the buzzer for the chicken go off, but I couldn't move. Why did I think this would go normally? It's me after all.

This chapter is dedicated to my best friend Jonathan, my inspiration for Sam, and Athan's name. I love you YOU, mtmlawamhas.

Read, review, and enjoy.