Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Tomorrow was christmas day, and I had an iron-clad promise from Embry that he'd be around. He said he'd come over to my house, which I'm looking forward to. I'd gotton him a present, it was a book on all mechanical vehicals, their origins, etc. I didn't really understand it but, I'm a girl, and as long as he likes it, I'm good.

Embry said that the gang from La Push were meeting at Bella's house; and he had said that we'd tag along after a while. I agreed, happy to spend time with my new friends, to just forget about the disaster that would be happening soon.

I woke up on christmas morning and rolled over to check the time. Nine o'clock. I smiled. I would be seeing Embry in two hours.

I sat up and got dressed, hearing my mother clanking around in the kitchen downstairs. I sighed, and walked down the stairs.

To my suprise, it was only her, sitting by our christmas tree.

"Merry Christmas, Lizzie." She smiled and walked over to me, to give me a hug.

"Merry Christmas Mum."

"Shall we do presents?"

"Okay." I felt happier that I could spend more time with my mum, seeing as we hadn't had some 1-2-1 time in a while.

"You first." She handed me a box.

"Great wrapping." She laughed, because it was terrible.

I unwrapped the present and found it was a new drawing set, with crayons and pencils. She remembered I loved to draw.

"Wow, thanks Mum! I love it!" She looked so happy, so I gave her a hug.

"Good."

"Your turn!" I picked my favourite present for her from under the tree and handed it to her.

I studied her face as she opened it, and I felt weak with relief when she opened her new sketch pad and crayons. We'd both got each other the same type of present - drawing materials. She was a designer, and so I knew it would be good for her.

"Thank you honey, I love it!" She gave me another big hug.

"I'm glad you do, Mum."

"Ah! What about your stocking?"

I laughed and grabbed it off the fireplace. Inside there was a new note-pad, some lipstick and a new purse.

"Thanks, Mum!"

"You're welcome honey. Now, open this one."

I gasped as I pulled off the wrapping paper. It was a new camera.

"Wow!"

"Yup. I just thought, what with you spending time with your boyfriend, you could take pictures and things."

I nodded. I was just about to reach for another present that I'd got for her when I heard a knock on the door. I squealed. "Embry!"

I thought I heard my mum chuckle as I jumped up and darted to the door. I opened it, and flung myself into his arms.

"Merry Christmas! Now, you're crushing your present."

I stepped back. "Sorry. I don't know what cam over me."

"It's okay."

"Why don't you come in?" I felt bad about making him stand there in the cold.

He stepped in, put the gift in his hands down and kissed me. I kissed him back as fully as possible, before I heard a throat clearance. I turned around and saw my mum standing there. I blushed.

"Sorry Mum."

"Well, I was going to take a picture, but I figured you'd never forgive me."

Embry laughed. "I doubt she would. Oh well," he said, picking my present back up and presenting it to me. "Merry Christmas!"

I gave him a hug. "Oh thank you! Here, come to the living room." I dragged him to sit down next to me on the sofa, grabbing his present as we sat. I gave it to him.

"Merry Christmas! Here, you first."

"Thanks." I watched the grin break out on his face as he unwrapped his book.

"Wow! Lizzie, thanks, I love it!" He read the card and beamed.

He kissed me on the nose before saying, "Your turn."

I smiled and unwrapped the present. Inside there was a necklace with a wolf on it, howling, and a bracelet that said, 'Team Werewolf."

I laughed and gave him a big hug. "Thank you so much! Help me put the necklace on."

My mum saw it and raised her eyebrows. "What's with the wolf?"

Oops. "Oh, I, uh like wolves now."

"Why?"

I looked at Embry as I spoke. "Because although people hunt them, they keep going. The gather their kind, and are not afraid to be heard. They show leadership, and courage. They are beautiful both inside and out. And most of all, for me, they are the most loving creatures in the world.

My mum stared at me, and Embry kissed my forehead. "Thank you," he whispered in my ear. I smiled.

"Okay," my mum said.

I laughed at her astonished face. I knew I'd suprised her.

"Is it okay if I borrow Lizzie for the afternoon? It's ok if you want to spend time with her."

"No, no, it's fine. I was going to go out too." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. She was going out with James. I felt hurt, but happy that I could spend my time with Embry.

"Thank you."

"It's ok. Have a nice time."

"We will."

We walked to a car, and I looked at Embry. "Car?"

He shrugged. "I'm allowed one, so, I though that we could drive in one that doesn't always threaten to break down."

I smiled. "I'm telling Jake you said that!"

We climbed into the silver car, and it smelled new.

"Are we going to Bella's house?"

"Yup. Unless you wanted to go somewhere else?"

I shook my head. "It's ok. Besides, I've never seen it before."

"Great."

Bella's house was white, and around the same size as my house. Well, it was her dad's house. Embry had informed me that her dad was human, because obviously I couldn't tell between human and werewolf. I was pretty certain who was a vampire though. I knew her dad was Chief Swan, a police officer.

Embry knocked on the door. It was opened by Bella.

"Hi, Embry, hi Lizzie." She tried to smile, but I could tell it was forced. She was probably stressed.

"Hi, Bella."

"Come in. Merry Christmas by the way!" She gave me a hug. Her skin was hard, and cold. Vampire, I reminded myself.

We walked into her family room, and I was suprised at how many people were there. There was Bella, Jacob, Nessie. Chief Swan, Leah, and lots of boys I didn't know, plus a woman. That was weird, where was Edward?

"Hey, man."

"Hey Seth!"

"Hey, and, oh, hey Lizzie."

"Hi Seth!"

"Merry Christmas."

"Thanks, you too."

"Lizzie," Embry whispered, "Do you want to talk to Kim for a minute? You might find it helps."

I nodded, not sure what he meant, but headed over to the pretty girl sitting by herself on the sofa.

"Hi, I'm Lizzie." I sat down next to the girl.

She smiled. "Hi Lizzie. I'm Kim. I'm Jared's...girlfriend."

I smiled. "I know. Are you his girlfriend, or, you know...imprintee?" The word sounded strange coming from my lips.

She laughed. "Both. What about you? Well, Jared told me you were Embry's imprintation."

I smiled. "Then Jared would be right. It's tough, sometimes though. When things happen."

She knew what I meant. "Are you worried?" She whispered.

I nodded my head. "Most definitely. It's almost, killing me inside. What about you?"

She nodded too. "I know what you mean. It's worrying, not knowing if they'll come back."

"Yeah. But we have to have faith, don't we?"

She smiled. "Yeah, we do. Thanks Lizzie, and...merry christmas."

"Merry christmas, Kim. Here," I gave her my mobile number. "So we can keep in touch, especially when we're all alone in this madness."

"Thanks. But," She smiled fondly, "it's where we belong."

I nodded. "You're right. I love it too."

"Hey." I hadn't heard them come up behind us, so when Kim jumped, I happened to too.

"Hi," I smiled as Kim and I were wedged inbetween Jared and Embry. Great.

"How are you?" Embry asked me at the same time that Jared asked Kim:

"Are you okay, you look sad."

We both just nodded and said "Yeah, we're fine," laughing because we both said the same thing.

For a while we all chatted witlh different people, just getting to know each other and having a good time, before Embry came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and whispering into my ear, "Do you want to go? Or stay a bit longer?"

"Um, I'm okay to leave, unless you want to stay." To be honest, I was finding it hard to keep up the pretense and be really cheery, as I was growing wearier and there were knots in my stomach, worried about when the fight would be.

"It's fine, whatever you want to do, I'm all for it."

I smiled as we said our goodbyes, and I noticed that Bella had disappeared, we headed out the door towards the car.

"Did you have a nice time?" Embry asked me.

"Yeah."

He wasn't fooled. "Lizzie," Embry complained, sighing," Stop worrying, honestly, it's starting to bug me. I'm going to be fine, they're no match for us anymore."

I nodded. He was right, I needed to chill. So I sucked in a deep breathe and calmed down. "You're right, and I'm sorry."

He smiled. "It's ok. I just don't want you tearing your hair out."

A/N: Ah, Merry christmas - I know it's like two weeks away, but hey, that's what the chapter's about :P