Disclaimer: All the recognizable bits aren't mine. Thanks to SM for letting me borrow.
A/N: Sorry it's been so long since my last update. And fair warning, the next update may not be up for a week or so. I have family flying in tonight for a stay, so writing/editing time may be in short supply. Apologies in advance. Thanks as always to those of you who are sticking with this labor of love. I appreciate the reviews, follows, and favorites so much!
Chapter 25
As Victor and I drive away from La Push Sunday morning, I feel the tears streaming down my face. I had packed a whole box of tissues into the car because I knew I'd be a mess.
Victor doesn't try to comfort me because he's not really happy to be going either.
The feast yesterday had been a success. Once all the families arrived at the school and sat down, I grabbed Charlie to stand in the front of the cafeteria with me. Both of us were blushing at being the center of attention, but we were the hosts, so it had to be done.
"Charlie and I just wanted to thank all of you for welcoming us so readily over the years into your families and homes. One feast doesn't even begin to repay the love, friendship, and kindness you've shown to the Swans over the years. But please enjoy this humble offering and know that all of this was purchased, planned, and prepared with our deepest gratitude. I'd especially like to thank all those who've been busy in the kitchen with me over the last few days, Mrs. Ateara for discounting the groceries, Mrs. Fuller and Mrs. Littlesea for their invaluable catering tips, and Billy Black for getting us permission to use this space. I'd like to especially thank my Dad who helped heavily subsidize the whole thing. And lastly, I'd like to thank Embry Call who gave me the idea in the first place. Planning this trip home and this feast was a beacon of light for this very homesick girl away at college for her first semester. We hope you enjoy the meal."
Charlie spoke up then. "Grab your plates and head over to the kitchen, folks! All the food is lined up in there for you to take what you need. Drinks are over on the side table, there. And it's not time for dessert yet!" Charlie had added. "Quil Ateara, I see you loitering with intent near that dessert table!"
The gathered crowd laughed as they moved into the kitchen. And then he pulled me into a hug. "I'm really proud of you, Bells. This all looks great, and I saw more than one person out there wiping tears away while you were talking. We're all glad you came home this weekend. Although, maybe him the most?" Dad lifted his chin as if to direct my attention over my shoulder. When I turned around, it was to see Embry. I couldn't stop the big smile that spread across my face.
"Chief," Embry said, nodding his head and sticking out his hand to shake my Dad's.
"Embry," Dad said, puffing up just a little and going into his 'big, scary cop-mode'.
"Just wanted to thank you for helping to make all of this possible, sir."
"Happy to do it," Charlie answered him gruffly.
I beam at them both. "Let's go eat! I want to sit in between my two favorite guys."
Later when dessert was served, Tiffany found me and hugged me with tears in her eyes. "Thanks for making those pies, Bella. It was a taste of my childhood." As she pulled me closer she whispered, "And thank you even more for bringing my son back to me for a few days. With you around he's been himself again. I missed my boy so much. Thank you." That got me all teary, too. Life hadn't been easy for the little Call family ever. I was glad she felt like I had helped. Granted the whole thing made me even more unhappy with the council of Elders. I couldn't wait to talk to Sam to give him a piece of my mind AGAIN on the matter.
Everyone who had come to dinner helped clean up. Once it was all done, Charlie found me again. "Bells, I hear there's going to be a party at my house tonight."
"What?" I asked, confused. I hadn't heard about a party.
"Yeah, Swan! Our movie night with everyone that we can't do at Sam and Emily's because they're getting home tonight and won't want to deal with this pack of wolves over at their place right away." She looked at me with a 'just smile and nod' kind of look.
"Oh, right! Sorry, Dad. I've just been so busy today. I almost forgot it was even Saturday already!"
Charlie raised an eyebrow at me, so I hugged him. Mostly because I wanted to, but also to distract him. "Thank you for making all this possible, Daddy. It's going to be so hard to leave again tomorrow."
"I know, sweetie, but winter break is just a few weeks away. And then we get you for a whole month," he squeezed me, "I mean, unless you were going to go visit your Mom."
"Maybe. If I do, it won't be for long. I only ever feel calm when I'm here," I admitted.
He squeezed me even tighter. He didn't have to say anything, but I knew the words I'd just said were some that he'd wanted to hear. When I'd first arrived back in Forks a couple of years ago to live with Charlie, I confess it was with a bit of a chip on my shoulder. But living with him, he showed me every day how much he'd missed me for all the years I'd been gone. Charlie and I were meant to be in one another's lives more than just a couple of weeks each summer and every other Christmas.
"You'll come to Sue's when you're finished up here? I feel like I haven't seen nearly enough of you this weekend."
"Yeah, I'll be there soon."
Embry had been wiping down countertops while Seth swept and Collin and Brady were loading up any leftover ingredients into my truck. I'd asked them to take the leftover fruits and veggies to Billy's, so he could distribute them to anyone in the tribe who might be able to use them.
"The cafeteria is all done, Bella!" Kim called as she and Jared walked into the kitchen.
"Thank you so much for your help, guys!" I hugged them both.
"Anytime you want to feed me a feast, I think I can manage a little sweeping in exchange," Jared teased. "We'll see you down at your house later!"
I turned back to Leah, who was sweeping in the kitchen. "Okay. What's going on, Leah?"
"Everyone is coming down to your house for a movie night. But then we're all leaving and you're staying."
I looked at Embry. "Leah, I don't want to stay there alone."
She looked smug. "You won't be there alone."
"Huh?" I said. I am so super eloquent sometimes.
"I talked to Embry's Mom earlier, and she has authorized him staying over after the big party we're all having."
"Did you tell her that people would be spending the night?" I asked. I didn't want to betray the trust she'd show us.
"Kim is going to spend the night!" she said. "And Victor and I will be right outside."
"Kim?" I was confused.
"I don't have super hearing, so I don't mind. Jared is going to stay with me, too, but we'll camp out downstairs, and if necessary he'll wear earplugs."
I blushed. Embry hugged me to him to help shield my embarrassment. I love how well he knows me.
"That's really nice of you to get us some extra time together, Leah. Thank you for talking to my Mom and making it so we don't have to lie to her about anything," Embry said. Then looked at Jared, "Do I get earplugs, too, so I don't have to listen to you?" Jared just grinned.
Leah shrugged, "You two deserve a break. And besides, Bella certainly made it so my back was scratched plenty this weekend," she leered over at Victor who had just come in from taking out the trash. "Literally."
Amidst a blush, I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, "Yes, there are clean sheets on your bed!" Leah yelled.
And I blushed some more. I wasn't sure how excited I was to have the entire pack involved in my love life. But then again, when you're with a wolf, that's just how it goes, I suppose.
"It sucks to drive away, doesn't it?" Victor finally breaks the silence in the car. I stopped crying about 20 minutes ago and started checking my phone.
I miss you already. -E
I wish we didn't have to get out of bed this morning. -B
We did a good job making memories this weekend. :) -E
I love you so much, Embry Call. -B
Love u 2. -E
I turned to look at Victor who looked miserable, too.
"It really does!. I keep feeling like I'm being pulled back in the opposite direction!" I bury my head in my hands and groan, "How am I going to get through the rest of the semester, V?"
"I keep reminding myself that it's only 4 more weeks. And between cramming and finals, it's gonna fly by. Doesn't mean the night time won't suck," he lapsed back into silence with a little scowl on his face.
"So….what -um- are you and Leah?" I ask tentatively.
"Good. We are good together," he replies with a determined look on his face.
"She won't talk to you about it, will she?" I ask sympathetically.
"No. I think she would have, except the conversation at Sam's was rough," he grizzled.
"It was certainly awkward at times," I add.
It's not easy being friends with Sam and Emily AND Leah. Up until a few months ago, I was careful of Leah's feelings, but not super invested as a friend, so it wasn't as big a deal. Now, though, I needed to be there for Leah.
"He was certainly happy to see you, Chum," Victor notes. "How do you have ALL the wolves wrapped around your finger?"
I ignore that. "I told you. Sam found me in the woods after Edward, my undead boyfriend, left me. I tried following after him and got stupidly lost. It was cold and dark and I was heartbroken and dehydrated and realized just how very human I was. So when I tripped the last time, I just didn't get back up. I couldn't. Everything inside me was frozen. Sam found me and carried me back to my Dad.
Sam was the first bit of warmth I'd felt in so long. He and Emily kept checking up on me, and I think he even encouraged Billy Black to have Jacob be friendly with me. So Sam has always felt protective of me. I think he feels protective of Leah, too. For all that the whole thing was terrible for all of them, he did love her. He still does, but differently. It's probably hard for him to see Leah with you," I quickly held up my hand, "not that I'm excusing him. He needs to get over it. But Leah's never brought anyone home before, either. You probably noticed the whole pack watching the two of you closely. It's new to see Leah so happy."
"So, she's a lot different around me?" he fishes.
"I didn't really know her pre-wolf. We met a few times as kids, and once right after Sam disappeared, but there's always been this intensity to her. I adore Sam, but I think Leah burns a little too brightly for him. I don't think he really ever understood what to do with all of her," I held up my hand again, "Do NOT make that a sexual joke. Sam is practically my big brother, and I will vomit in your car if you do!"
"No vomiting!" he yells.
"I just mean that Leah is a fierce woman; powerful and intelligent and intense. Sam is gentle and a caretaker. He never would have been bored with her, but I don't think he ever would have fully appreciated her, either. So, he would have been intrigued, but also exhausted."
"You on the other hand are chill. Your word, not mine," I add, smiling. "That's different than gentle. You're calm when you need to be, but it's an intense quiet. You and Leah are like Air and Fire together. Both strong and separate, but able to make the other one even more intense and beautiful."
Victor smiles. "Bella Swan. I officially name you Poet Laureate of my car."
We both laugh and are able to leave the tissue box on the floor for a while longer.
Embry POV
Sam finds me sitting on the cliffs. He doesn't say anything, just sits down next to me.
Watching Bella drive away this morning just felt wrong. Everything inside of me was screaming that I should run after her, pull her out of the car, and take her home. Instead, I stood and watched as she hugged and kissed and said goodbye to everyone else. When she finally turned to me, she looked so fragile. I know Victor and Alex will keep her safe, but they don't love her like I love her. I should be the one protecting her. She jumped up into my arms for one more hug and a hit off my scent, much to my wolf's delight. We'd spent most of the night covering one another in our respective scents through kissing, holding, and touching. I was definitely going to have to do something nice for Leah to thank her for arranging that sleepover.
"You'll write to me every day?" she whispered with her lips still on my neck.
"And text," I promised. "And we'll talk on the phone when we can."
"You won't fall in love with anyone else while I'm away?" she asked.
"Never. I choose you. Every time."
I could feel her smile and I hugged her a little tighter in reassurance. She has nothing to worry about, so it's weird to me that she still feels insecure. But it's no hardship to me to remind her how important she is to me.
She sighed, then leaned back to kiss me one last time. "I love you, Embry Call."
"I love you, too, Bella. So much," I whispered pressing my forehead against hers.
Charlie cleared his throat, unsubtly, and we both smiled as Bella hopped down and gave her Dad one last hug, too. "Bye, Dad. I'll be back in just a few weeks."
And with that she climbed in the car and Victor took her away. I watched until she was out of sight and then ran to the woods to phase and follow along through the woods. Once they reached the highway, I circled back to La Push and came to the cliffs.
"How are you doing?" Sam asks, finally breaking the silence.
"Better than I thought I would be, actually," I answer. And I'm surprised to realize that it's true.
"I'm sorry if I upset you or Bella last night with my questions about the mate situation. I'm flying blind here, and I just- I wasn't expecting anything like that," he admits.
"Yeah, I can see how it would be a lot of information to get all at once. Bella and Leah ended up in heaps on the ground crying when they found out," I tell him, hoping that neither girl will find out I mentioned it. Leah would kill me.
Now it's Sam who is quiet. "Are you okay?" I ask.
He remains thoughtful for a moment as he looks out over the water. "Yeah." He breathes heavily. "I don't want to spend my life thinking 'what if', but seriously, how can any of us not?"
"Leah was right, Sam. She wasn't right for you. And you never would have left otherwise. She says it's because you would never want to be your father. But Emily makes you whole. She may not challenge you like Leah did, but she loves you and shows you that a million times every day."
Sam rolls his eyes. "I'm in love with Emily, Embry. You don't need to try to sell me on her," he pauses before continuing. "I guess I wonder if the wolf thing hadn't happened, would Leah have eventually left me? Somehow it makes me feel better thinking that, because I can actually see it happening. It would be nice to not be thought of as the asshole who left his fiancee for her cousin, but it is what it is, I guess."
I look at Sam. I knew the whole thing had been difficult for him, but it was rare that he let any of us see his vulnerabilities like this. He tried so hard to not be like his Dad that having everyone on the rez, including Leah, accusing him of leaving her like that must have been hell. And then he still had to deal with a bunch of new wolves and the Elders at the same time all that was happening. I do not envy Sam's life.
"So your wolf is okay now?" Sam asks. "Settled?"
"Well, I don't think he's realized fully that she's going to be gone for weeks yet, but, yeah, we're okay. Sam, you should have seen her! She finds out that we can choose mates, cries for everyone who has been hurt, runs back to fix a feast, and in the middle of it all pulls me out and tells me that if I want her still then she's all mine for life," I say in a rush.
Sam smiles. "You feel like she's all in?"
"I really do," I say, and feel the smile on my face. "And I apologize in advance for the upcoming weeks of nothing but her in my head while we're phased."
Sam snorts. "Yeah, 'cause that'll be so different for you."
"Hey!" I protest, punching him in the arm.
We both chuckle and go quiet again while looking out across the water.
"I have a meeting with the Elders tonight to update them on everything Victor told us. You might eventually be called in to be asked more about this whole mating thing."
I nod my head.
"They might ask some -uh- personal questions," he hedges.
"Like how personal?" I ask.
"Like about sex," he says, looking uncomfortable.
My laugh surprises him. "Well, that will be easy. We haven't gotten that far."
His face is blank for a minute. "Oh. Okay. Good. I mean, it's good you're not rushing into anything," he says looking relieved.
"Damn, man. You really do think of her like a little sister," I laugh. "The look on your face!"
Sam looks sheepish and rubs the back of his neck, "If it makes a difference, I kind of think of you as a little brother, too. But, yes, I do feel protective towards her."
"Would you have punched me if we had gotten that far?" I ask.
He looks at me shrewdly. "No. Because I know how you feel about her. And from what I've heard from everyone else about this weekend, it sounds like she's sure of her feelings, too," he stops for a minute. "Doesn't mean I'm giving permission or anything. You're not ready until she's ready, got it?" he warns.
"Got it. At least you didn't threaten to kill me like the rest of the pack. Even Paul is jumping up to be on Bella's side. I'm going to get a complex," I joke.
"I'll never forget the way she looked that night, Embry," he says with such seriousness. "I will bury anything that makes her look like that again. Paul and Jared were there with me. For all his bluster, Paul cares more about her well-being than any of us know."
"It won't be me, Sam. I won't ever do that to her."
He looks at me again. Studying me. "No. I don't think it will. C'mon. Emily has food made."
"Thanks, Sam," I say, feeling more grateful than a simple thank you could possibly convey.
He claps his hand on my shoulder. "Any time, Embry. I'm here anytime you need to talk."
"That brother thing goes both ways, you know," I say, briefly meeting his eyes.
He nods slowly, with a solemn look in his eyes.
And we head towards his home, hearth, and heart.
Mine is driving away from me right now.
Bella POV
"Do you think your council will let the pack start going to school or work off rez?" Victor asks, interrupting my memories of being with Embry in my bed. How am I going to sleep without him?
"I don't know. I hope they'll take everything we told Sam into consideration. Any chance your people can talk to our people?" I waggle my eyebrows at him and he laughs.
"I'll ask Alex," he shrugs.
"I hope Alex likes his leftovers. I had to hide those from Quil- three different times!"
"Three?"
"Well, first, I just had them and Sam and Emily's. Then I took them with me to Sue's when I went to visit Charlie last night. Then back to Sam's and then finally down to Forks. Even there, I had to keep slapping his hands out of the fridge!"
"I'm sure Alex will appreciate all your efforts," Victor smiles. "That really was a special thing you did, Chum. Hosting a feast like that to thank everyone? That was a pretty great thing to do."
I blush, but say, "Even if it forced you into spending your weekend cooking?"
"There were other benefits to being there this weekend."
I raise my eyebrow with a smirk.
"Not just that, Chum. Get your mind out of the gutter. I mean, it was great to see you with your people."
"Technically speaking, they're not my people," I say. "I'm the interloper. The token paleface. The mere mortal who isn't even deemed worthy by the Gods to be an imprint."
"Don't start that again,"he chastises mirthlessly, "You know better now. No Gods needed to intervene for you and Embry. You'd already mostly figured it out. And trust me, Bella, they are your people. Not by blood. But by spirit and love. You all belong together. It was beautiful to see."
My heart warms at his words. "Dammit, V! Now I'm going to cry! I'd been doing so well," I grouch, grabbing the tissue box from the floor.
"It feels like we're driving the wrong direction," he mutters softly again.