Seventeen Days to Make Things Right

Yes I'm alive! I apologize for not having this out sooner… I have no excuses…

Without further ado please enjoy this chapter! Also please note I haven't editied it yet but I want to post it! And even though I can someone how manages 10 pages of this story I can't manage the last 2 pages of my paper… oh well I have until midnight tomorrow… If I don't update something else… lol

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

I heave a deep sigh as a gaze about the room before me, the sunlight is filtering in and all is peaceful for a few more minutes. I have decided that I'm going to have a girl's day with Carry and then talk to her about what she wants to do about her aunt and uncle. The coffee in my hands is cooling quickly in the morning chill and although it's keeping my hands warm I'm not really up to drinking it. The sound of thunderous footfalls alerts me to the sound of the boys arriving. It's odd that they just come in when they get here now; they have a key and everything. For a moment I reflect on how much my life has changed over the past few months.

'I'm the den mother to a pack of wolves…' I think with a sardonic smile on my face before there is a harsh rap on the sliding glass door that leads to my balcony.

"You have anything for breakfast Meg?" question Collin as he peers at me with a sheepish smile on his face.

I roll my eyes and get up and head in the house and then toward the kitchen.

"When we move into the new house and I have a larger kitchen I'm teaching you boys how to cook!" I exclaim as glare around at them.

"When is the house going to be finished?" questions Brady from his position on the other side of the island.

"I'm not sure… ask Paul."

"Ask Paul what?" Paul questions as he comes into the kitchen his hair still slight damp from his morning shower.

"I thought you patrolled last night?" I question as I smile over at him.

Things are still a little strained between us, it's hard to accept that people have the ability to shift into wolves!

He gives me a soft smile, "I wanted to see you this morning."

He then walks toward me and envelops me into a hug. He's warm and the musky sent of pine trees and soap fills my nose as I can't help but breathe in his scent.

"But you've already showered… how did you get here so fast?"

He just shrugs and gives me a mischievous smile.

"Are you working on the house today?" I question as I continue to mix the ingredients for the breakfast Burritos that I intend to make this morning.

"Yep, I'm hoping to finish up the excess room and get the plans laid out for the other one as well," he says as he pulls the orange juice out and takes a swig from the carton.

"Not the carton Paul!"

He just winks at me as he continues to gulp down the juice.

I roll my eyes and turn back to my eggs.

A few moments later both Carry and Tommy come rushing into the kitchen. Seth is almost immediately by her side asking her how she slept, if she finished her latest drawing, how she did on her history test etcetera. She smiles shyly as she answers each and every one of his questions, and although she is quiet I can see the excitement in her eyes at having Seth talk to her.

I quickly serve everyone their breakfasts and after the chorus of praise that comes with them I turn to Carry.

"Carry, how would you like to go shopping today?"

"I would like to but I have school…"

"You won't be missing anything will you?"

"Well…no…but…"

"Well I thought that we could have a girls day, you know go shopping go to lunch to see a movie…"

"You've never kept me out of school to do fun stuff…" pouts Tommy sending an envious glare over at Carry who shrinks back. Seth growls over at Tommy and puts his arm around her shoulder in a protective gesture.

"You've missed more than your fair share of school Tommy and you know why… Carry has perfect attendance. Plus she needs new clothes and I'm off today so I figured that we could go ahead and get her shopping done and beat the weekend crowd."

Tommy huffs but relents, he knows I'm right.

"Where are you going Meg?" questions Paul as he shovels the burrito into his mouth.

I grimace at his table manners but otherwise ignore it, "I'm heading into Lafayette. You know that place has the best shopping around."

"Take one of the boys with you…"

"No way… I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself Paul…"

"Meg I would feel better if you would take of the guys with you."

"Paul I don't know why you've been so over protective of me lately but I don't need it."

"Meg!" Paul says as he puts his burrito down, which is when we all know that Paul means business.

"I'll go with her…" pips up Alexis as she looks between the two of us.

"But what about school? I don't think that your mom would like if I take you out of school."

"My mom's dead… I live with my uncle…"

"Oh…" I say in shock.

"It's ok… Look I'll call him, he'll probably be happy that I'm going shopping he's always saying that I need a female role model or something like that…"

"Ok well if he says it's ok then its fine by me…" I say with shrug.

I glance over and see that Paul seems to still be tense about the situation.

"What if I called Leah?"

I scratch the back of my head, I've only met Leah a handful of times and although I don't think that she's a bad person I don't think that she likes me very much…

"I don't think she likes me very much…"

"She doesn't like anyone very much..." grumbles Seth as he digs into his hash browns but I can tell that he's worried about something.

"Paul?" I question sternly, "Is there something else that you need to tell me?"

I stare hard into his eyes, I've been a little suspicious of him lately but can you blame me? He kept the fact that he is a shape shifting wolf from me for a while!

"Nothing that you have to worry about if you will just take Embry with you."

I frown as I glare over at him.

"Why do you want me to take one of the guys with me so badly?"

"I wish you would just trust me on this!"

"I wish you would just tell me the truth!"

"Damnit Megan!" Paul says as he slams his fist down on the table.

"Damnit Paul!" I yell just as angry as I slam my own fist onto the table, "See I can do that too!"

He glares hard at me and I hold my ground glaring equally as hard back at him.

"Take Embry with you."

"No."

"Yes."

"No. Not until you tell me why."

"Because I want you to be safe! There is a lot of danger out there and I don't want anything to happen to you…" his tone softens as says the last thing.

I heave a sigh, "Fine…"

It doesn't take long for Embry to get there and for us to all pile into my car. Embry is grumbling the entire time clearly wanting to be someone where else entirely instead of tagging along on our 'girls day.'

The day is relatively normal and although Embry isn't the most willing of guardians he lightens up after a while and begins to have some fun. With the car loaded down with bags the four of us make our way back to my apartment. Embry leaves quickly after we get back after helping us carry in all of the bags and Alexis decides to lounge around on the couch. I am happy with how well the two girls are getting along. Clearly they are beginning to become friends, and I'm happy. Carry needs a girl to talk to and hang out with at school. I get the impression that she is a bit of a loner and doesn't have many friends.

"Carry… Can I talk to you?" I question as I ease the door to her room open.

She looks up from the sketch she is working on and nods quickly closing the book but not before I get a glimpse of what she is drawing. From the looks of it she is drawing a picture of Seth…

"What do you want to talk about?"

"I got a call from your social worker… apparently your father has relatives in Texas."

"So?"

"So they are willing to take you in… they are flying up in a few days to meet and talk with you."

"What?" She questions getting up her eyes widening, "But I don't want to leave!"

"I'm sorry…"

"Can't you do something?" she questions with desperation.

"It's out of my hands Carry… the only way you can stay is if your aunt and uncle decide to turn over legal custody to me and allow me to be your temporary guardian."

She tears up and begins to sob, "but I don't want to leave! I don't want to go to Texas…"

I pull her towards me and hug her allowing her to cry on my shoulder.

While all of this is going apparently I don't hear the front opening and the boys coming home from school. The door bursts open and there is a very worried Seth standing in the doorway.

"What's wrong?" he questions as he runs into the room, "Carry what's going on are you hurt?" he asks in a panic trying to check for injuries but all he can do is catch her as she throws herself into his arms.

Seth looks up at me eyes wide in panic and confusion, silently asking me what's wrong.

"Seth… I need to talk to you…" comes a voice from the door, standing there is Sam and Paul.

Seth shakes his head no and holds Carry tighter to him.

"Now Seth," commands Sam as he turns and walks away.

Reluctantly he untangles himself from Carry, but before he leaves he catches a snippet of the otherwise indiscernible murmurs that escape her lips during her sorrow.

"Don't let them take me Seth…" She sobs as she latches onto his arm.

His eyes widen in panic and all of a sudden is clutching her to him again, "What? What do you mean? Who is going to take you? I WON'T LET THEM!"

"Seth! Let her go and come with me," commands Sam as he comes farther into the room.

I watch helplessly as Sam and Paul wrestle Carry out of Seth's grip. I grab her and pull her toward me holding her as she grabs for Seth as he is literally carried kicking and yelling from the room. His eyes never once leaving Carry's as she clings to me desperation clearly visible in her own orbs.

I know that Seth is dangerous right now, I know that until he calms down and gets a grip on himself that he can transform and possible hurt Carry. After a few minutes I hear a feral growl coming from the other room. Carry looks up at me her eyes wide with fear.

"Stay here."

I rush out of the room and almost run into Alexis, "Take care of her okay?" I question as she nods and runs into the room.

When I get into the living room I gasp at what I see.

Seth grips his head as he tries to control the pure rage coursing through his body.

"What's happening to him?" I yell as Paul jumps in front of me and stands in between Seth and I.

"He's losing control… He's about to transform…"

"Not in my house!"

"That hardly matters to him Meg…"

I frown as I watch Seth shake, he's practically vibrating. I can hear Carry screaming from the other room demanding to know what is going on in here. At hearing Carry's voice Seth begins to shake harder and I can hear the animalist growls emanating from his throat. I grip Paul's arm in pure fear, I feel his large hand grip my hand in his in comfort. He turns around and kisses me on the forehead.

"Go into your room and lock the door."

"But Carry…"

"She'll be fine we won't let anything happen to her."

"Paul?"

"Everything is going to be fine."

"But…" I murmur as tears well up in my eyes.

Paul then does something that shocks me; his hand reaches the back of my head to hold me in place as his lips crash down onto mine. For a about ten blissful seconds he kisses me passionately, more passionately than any other man has ever kissed me before. When we break apart I'm in a daze and I blink a few times before Paul literally picks me up and carries me into my bedroom. He sets me down gently and gives me a meaningful look before he locks the door and closes it.

Ugh.. Please excuse the mistakes in this… I decided to post it without editing it first… I intend to later though! So please Review! I'm excited to know what you all think!