A/N: Hello all! I've spent the weekend having an early Christmas with my housemates and because I'm in the festive spirit I decided to write an update! And I did leave you on a bit of an evil cliffhanger :P Yeah, I still have 4000 words to do by Friday but hey, it's Christmas- what would Santa do?

Thankyou to PhsycoPenguan64, NeedCoffeeINeedItOrI'llExpload, EvilEyeBeads, Andreagirl1234, the newest daughter and TeamPaul15 for reviewing the last chapter! Also special thanks to TeamPaul15 because you were my 64th reviewer and 64 is my all time favourite number!

Andreagirl1234- you officially read my mind! I was writing this update when your review popped up and I was like :O PSYCHIC! So I write this chapter for you! Hope you enjoy it!

Also, don't worry about Amos people! I have big plans for him but they will mainly happen when I write the sequel. If you want a hint... just ask PhsycoPenguan64 or Andreagirl1234, you get my drift? Goooood! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own anything except my own characters.

Chapter 21: Please Come Back

Paul's POV

"What's taking so long?" I growled for the millionth time as I paced outside the door of the bedroom.

"Paul, just let him do his job" said Sam wearily.

I huffed a breath and carried on pacing. That Doctor Cullen was trying to find out what was wrong with my little Maiyah. He'd been with her for half an hour already and not come out. I was going mad. When I had seen her collapsed in the cafe it had been one of the worst moments of my life. The worst part was that I couldn't do anything to help her.

We had brought her to Sam and Emily's because it had been closest. Luckily there were a couple of spare bedrooms and Embry had laid Maiyah on one of the beds. She had looked so tiny and fragile just lying there unmoving, her eyes half open, not responding to anything.

Embry was torn up, maybe more than I was. He hadn't said a word, just sat stiffly on a chair, tears running silently down his face. I let out an aggravated growl and slumped against the wall opposite the door. My heart was pounding and nothing anyone did calmed me down. I just wanted to see Maiyah perfectly healthy, pulling pranks and making fun of me like she always did.

My head snapped up as the door opened and Doctor Cullen left the room. He headed down the hall and I followed him to the kitchen where everyone else was. My nose was aching from the smell but if he could help Maiyah then I would put up with it.

"Well?" I growled, my body starting to shake with frustration.

"Maiyah will be ok" said the doctor which calmed me slightly.

"What's wrong with her?" asked Embry in a cracked voice.

"I'm surprised this hasn't happened sooner" he sighed and my shaking increased, "her Quileute blood is fighting, for want of a better word, with the vampire venom inside her. Her body is undergoing some sort of internal battle between the two genes"

"But will... is she... she'll be ok though, right?" gasped Embry, his face pale.

I felt the anger surge inside me. I didn't want Maiyah to suffer, she was my imprint, I would do anything. I would take all the pain she's in and have it myself, just so she could be alright.

"Yes, I'm pretty sure that she will be fine" said Cullen.

"Pretty sure?" I snarled. I wanted Maiyah to be fine as a definite point.

"There is no knowing if there may be after effects. I don't know how much longer she will be in her current state but please let me know when she wakes and I will need to ask her a few questions" said the doctor pleasantly, as though Maiyah's life wasn't important. I stepped forward with a snarl.

"Paul" said Sam pushing me back, "go and see Maiyah"

With one last growl at the doctor I jogged back to the bedroom. I pushed the door open a crack and felt a lump rise in my throat. Emily was sat next to the bed stroking Maiyah's forehead. I felt my lip tremble and I wiped roughly at the tear that rolled down my cheek.

"Emily" I whispered, stepping forward. Emily looked up at me, her expression so sad it made my heart twist.

"I'll leave you alone" she said in a strangled voice before getting up and leaving.

I shuffled round the side of the bed and sat in the chair that Emily had just vacated. I took Maiyah's small hand in mine and stroked her hair softly.

"Please come back Maiyah, please, come back, for me. I can't live without you, so please, please, just come back" I whispered into her ear, hoping and praying that she could hear me, "I love you so much, and I'm so glad it was you, but Maiyah, I need you to come back. Can you open your eyes for me?" I waited, nothing, "no? That's ok squirt, I'll wait for you, but please make it soon. I'll stay with you, I'll stay until you're back"

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I spun round to see Sam standing behind me. I wiped at the tears that I hadn't noticed falling and cleared my throat. I knew Sam and Emily saw Maiyah as a daughter and it must be tearing them both up. You couldn't tell by just looking at Sam but his eyes, when you looked at him properly, there was a great sadness there.

"She's going to be fine. I know it" I whispered with certainty in my voice.

"I know. She's strong" said Sam quietly.

We both turned as Embry slipped into the room. His eyes were puffy and red. I tried to smile at him but it came out as more of a grimace. Embry nodded and went to the other side of the bed, taking Maiyah's other hand in his.

We must have sat like that for another three hours before anything happened. I felt Maiyah's hand twitch in mine and my eyes shot up to meet Embry's gaze. He must have felt it too.

"Maiyah? Maiyah, keep fighting, please keep fighting" Embry whispered, wiping his eyes on his sleeve.

There were a few moments pause in which I held my breath and time seemed to slow down. Then Maiyah seemed to stiffen and her face scrunched up before she let out a loud gasp as though gulping for air. Her body went limp but her eyes flickered open, staring at the ceiling.

"Maiyah" I breathed, stroking her cheek with my thumb.

Maiyah turned her head slowly and looked up at me. I smiled softly at her and her lips twitched into a half smile.

"Paul" she whispered, "don't leave me"

"Never" I whispered with a smile.

Maiyah turned to Embry and Sam giving half a smile to both of them.

"I love you guys" she mumbled, rolling onto her side, "my Paul"

I choked out a sort of laugh as she tried to wriggle towards me. I pulled her into my arms and rocked her gently, watching as her eyelids fluttered closed and the soft breathing of sleep started. I gazed at her little face which was so much calmer now and smiled to myself as she clutched my t shirt in her hands.

Maiyah's POV

It was weird. Everything had been black and it had felt like there was a weight pressing down and squashing me. It seemed to last forever but then there was a snap and a rushing sound filled my ears. Then I was back in reality. I vaguely remember Paul, Embry and Sam being there but I just wanted to sleep.

When I woke up, I was very warm and I looked up to see Paul smiling down at me. I looked around and realised I was in Sam and Emily's front room. Then I started to panic. I tried to wriggle out of Paul's grip, my eyes wide and flailing my arms. I hit Paul. A lot.

"Maiyah, please calm down, please. It's ok, you're safe" pleaded Paul, his grip tightening on me.

I stopped trying to escape and just stared at him in fear. I had no idea what had happened. Nothing was fitting into place. The last thing I remembered was eating ice cream with Amos.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice full of panic.

"Hey, hey, it's ok" said Paul softly, pulling me close, "it's nothing to worry about"

"Nothing to worry about?" I said, my voice cracking and I pushed away from Paul, "it felt as though something was trying to crush the life out of me, and you're telling me it's nothing to worry about?" I ended up yelling the last bit and I leapt off Paul's lap.

"No, I just-"

"Why won't you tell me? I hate you!" I screamed before running towards the door.

I was so confused. I had no idea what was going on or how I had got to Sam and Emily's. My head was spinning. I needed to get out but then, I wanted to stay. I ached all over and I was regretting what I said to Paul but I had to leave.

I didn't get far. I ran into a warm wall in my state of panic and a pair of strong arms grabbed me before I hit the floor.

"Maiyah! You're up!" said Seth placing me on my feet.

"Leave me alone" I yelled before racing outside.

I had no idea where I was going but I kept going, bursting into a tiny ball of light brown fur as I shot through the trees. I cut off my thoughts as I heard Embry and Jacob enter my mind, their thoughts full of worry. I pushed my legs faster, not even caring when I crossed the boundary line.

I saw two white streaks running alongside me and as I emerged from the forest at the Cullen's, I saw Alice and Emmett appear a few feet away. I stood in the clearing breathing hard, feeling really lightheaded. I felt my legs buckle beneath me and I rolled onto my side in the grass, my eyes squeezed shut. I flinched when I felt a cold hand on my neck.

"Maiyah, what's happened?" asked Alice quietly.

I just whined in response, too worn out to even try phasing back.

"Edward, Carlisle, Maiyah's here" said Alice a little louder.

I heard a soft rustle as the two vampires came out of the house. Their smell was painful on my nose. Not to the extent that it hurt the pack, but just enough to be very uncomfortable. I realised I needed to talk to Carlisle. He would know, I had smelt his scent at Emily's.

I concentrated on my happiest memory. It wasn't anything special to an outsider, but to me it was a great day. I had won a prize at school for improvement in behaviour and taken it to show Paul. He had been so happy that he'd gone round for the rest of the week with the biggest smile on his face. But that memory just made me feel really upset. I had told Paul I hated him. It was the worst thing I had ever said to him. I never told him I hated him. I was a horrible imprint.

"Maiyah, Paul will forgive you" said Edward quietly. I had sort of forgotten he could read minds.

I whined softly and blinked back the tears that threatened to roll down my face. I half nodded my head and thought of something else. Painting pictures in art class. Yes, that was a good memory. I quickly phased back and took the clothes Alice was holding out to me. I pulled them on and followed them into the house. Carlisle sat me in his office and I fiddled with the arm of the chair while he sat down.

"Did you talk to any of your pack?" asked Carlisle softly. I shook my head, completely ashamed of my actions.

"No. I yelled at them and ran away" I whispered, guilt rushing through me.

"You were confused and disorientated. I'm sure they will understand" said Carlisle with a smile, "Maiyah, what happened today was very unusual. I have never come across a case like yours, but I did half expect something like this would happen"

"Am I going to die?" I asked quietly, my imagination running wild.

"No Maiyah, you are not going to die" said Carlisle, chuckling, "your wolf genes and vampire genes are completely different. Your body went into overdrive, the two sets of genes were fighting against each other. Both sets were trying to gain complete control of you, that is why you temporarily shut down. It was safer for you to close yourself off from the world while your body had this little 'episode'. Did you feel anything before it happened?"

"Umm... I had sort of tingly hands and feet" I mumbled, trying to take in what he was saying.

"Ok, now I want you to remember that feeling. Something like this is very likely to happen again and I want you to be prepared. If you get that feeling again, tell someone in your pack so that they can be with you and help you. Is that ok? Do you understand what I'm saying?" said Carlisle, concern all over his face.

"I think so. So my body can't decide if it wants to be vampire or wolf? So I'm going to keep collapsing?" I asked nervously.

"Not regularly, but I would expect every once in a while it may just happen. You promise to let someone know if you feel tingling in your hands again?"

"Promise" I said nodding my head.

"Good girl. Now I'm sure your family are wondering where you are. I'll have Alice drop you at the border" said Carlisle opening his office door and leading me outside.

"Thanks Carlisle" I said giving him a quick hug.

He smiled and went inside. I followed Alice to her shiny yellow car and climbed in. The drive to the boundary line was quick but silent. I hopped out and thanked Alice when we did get there and she sped off. I took a deep breath and started the walk back to Sam and Emily's.

Paul's POV

"She hates me so much, I'm the worst imprint ever" I sobbed into Emily's kitchen table.

I wasn't one for crying but what I was feeling was painful. My heart ached for the little girl who had run away from me. The girl who hated me. It was the worst feeling in the world. I needed her so much and she was rejecting me.

"I'm sure she didn't mean it" said Emily, patting my shoulder. I raised my head from the table.

"You didn't hear her Em, she hates me and she meant it" I whispered in a cracked voice.

"Paul, I know nothing I say will make you feel any better right now, but Maiyah was very confused. You would be the same if you woke up after something like that, she'll come back, she always does" said Emily comfortingly, except, it didn't really comfort me.

A few minutes later my head shot off the table. I could smell leech. I raced towards the door, all ready to rip its head off. It might make me feel a little bit better about Maiyah. I nearly fell over when I saw my little Maiyah stumble down the path.

I stood rooted to the spot. The pain surged through me again as I remembered the way she had left earlier. It seemed like an age ago but couldn't have been more than a couple of hours. I dropped to my knees as her eyes met mine. My breath became ragged as I tried to gulp in the air, tears rolling down my face.

Maiyah stepped forward slowly, almost nervously, making my heart shatter just that bit more. I didn't want her to be nervous with me, I wanted her to be happy and care free. She walked forward painfully slowly but finally made it to the front of the house.

There was so much pain and sadness in her eyes that I just wanted to hold her and make all of her problems go away. But I couldn't move. I didn't want to scare her away again. My heart lurched when she started to slowly lift her arm. Maiyah seemed to be searching my face with her gaze, looking for something. She placed her hand on my cheek and brushed my tears away with her finger as I let out a shuddering breath. Her face crumpled slightly and she raised her other hand and placed it on the other side of my face. I locked eyes with her, willing for her to forgive me for anything I had ever done that would have made her hate me. Maiyah leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on my nose.

"I'm so sorry Paul" she whispered. I choked on a sob that threatened to erupt.

"I'm so sorry for saying that I hated you and I'm sorry for hitting you and I'm sorry for running away and... and... and I'm just so sorry" said Maiyah, her voice shaking, "I didn't mean any of it, I swear. Please don't hate me"

"Maiyah, you have nothing to apologise for. I'm sorry for not explaining anything, I was just so worried about you. I don't want to lose you, you're the most important person in my life and I don't know what I would do without you" I said softly, resting my hands on her shoulders, "so please, please, don't leave me again"

"I promise" whispered Maiyah.

I pulled her against me, wrapping my arms around her and listening to the sound of her heart that was beating in time with mine. The pain from earlier had disappeared and been replaced with relief and the overwhelming need to protect the child in my arms.

"I love you so much" I whispered in her ear.

"I will always love you Paul. You're the best friend I've ever had and cross my heart I'll never leave you or tell you I hate you because I don't and-"

"Maiyah, it's ok, but I'm holding you to that promise" I chuckled lightly as she rambled on.

I pulled back and looked at Maiyah's tear stained face. She sniffled quietly and wiped her hand across her face. I stood up and held out my hand which Maiyah grabbed hold of tightly. She smiled up at me and I couldn't help the smile that crossed my face. We were going to be ok.

A/N: There you go folks! It was a bit soppy but I couldn't help it! And I hope you're happy that I didn't do a cliffhanger again :P also I actually mean it this time when I say I won't update for a while. Maybe a week before I can possibly write?

So, is there any chance of getting 10 whole reviews for this chapter? I promise to give you something good in all of my stories when I next update if you do!

Please review!

-Lem x