A/N: Hello! Firstly, I want to thank for the previous chapter's reviews. I couldn't reply to you, but hearty thanks!

And, thanks so much for your votes and opinions, and of course, waiting for this update. You'll see a new side of Emily here; I hope you understand her well too.

PS: Forgive my writing/grammatical mistakes, I haven't spent much time on this, I was too excited to keep it with me longer and just hurried to get it here.

Alright…happy reading!

Chapter 24: Surprises

Sam's POV:

Darren snapped at Alex without any hesitation, I froze for a moment. It had been a very long while since two fellow werewolves had actually fought, and this certainly didn't look like any playful things…this was serious. Darren growled and snapped at Alex once again…my son howled in pain.

Both of you STOP! I ordered them, Alex's howl acting as a catalyst.

Through Alex, I saw the Darren's knees buckled and he fell over, unable to ignore the alpha's order. Increasing my pace, I ran toward them.

What is wrong with you?! I shouted and growled as soon as I reached them.

Darren just let out another growl; and Alex thoughts ventured toward Adriana in a bitter manner. Darren snapped his head and growled ferociously, before he could move and attack Alex, I pulled him by the leg.

Darren, stop! Alex! You will not be unkind to Adriana! I ordered both of them. Neither of them replied, Darren…phase back…go home. I told him.

Without any reply, he just huffed and moved deeper into the trees, and within seconds his thoughts had left us.

Are you alright? I asked my son.

I will be…he grunted.

Instead of phasing back or continuing with my patrol, I waited until Alex healed. And when he was alright, we phased back together. While being in wolf form, I had managed to keep my thoughts hidden and now they broke the wall and rushed back in. I didn't know what to say…I was of course angry at everything Alex had said about Adriana, but I didn't know how to take things from here. Everything was such a mess!

Instead of trying to say anything, or rather not coming up with anything to say, we walked in silence. Alex kept glancing at me as if I would start talking any moment, but I remained quiet.

"Tell something!" he finally said.

"What?" I asked, vaguely.

"I don't know…" he answered.

Okay, I had to tell something now. He was obviously expecting me to talk, or even scold him. But scolding him would take our discussion no where. Alex was too stubborn and not a kid anymore.

"I don't like the change in you…" I sighed. "At least, we need to stick together now-"

"Whoa! What change Dad? I have always been like this! It's you who has changed!" he shouted at me, in disbelief.

Shocked, I realised that he indeed had always been this way. But I probably had changed, "I'm the same Alex…" I lied.

"Who are you trying to fool, Dad? You love your renegade daughter more than you love me…more than you love mom!" he shouted in frustration, trembling so much that it looked like he would transform into a wolf any moment.

"And we didn't leave you dad! Mom and I are still by your side! I bet she wouldn't have even bothered to come if her mother was alive! Just because she has no other means to live, she is here…this is better than an orphanage, right?!"

And then he walked away.

I stared at his leaving form, unable to move. His words stung, and I felt guilty. I was hurting him and Emily…they had always been with me and I was hurting them. I loved Adriana and I had hurt her too. She had every right of hating me now. I loved her still. But I had been distancing myself from my family. Emily was my imprint, I loved her…she loved me. And her thinking of her family was justifiable! What she asked me to choose was indeed wrong, but what else could she do when I was at fault? And Adriana was right at her side. It was me who was wrong! It was all completely my fault! I had ruined everything. I had a family, whom I had ignored; a daughter, whom I asked to leave, and the rest of the tribe were just disgusted by me!

In the end, it all came down to me. Things were wrong, because I had made them that way. I knew I couldn't change things with my daughter, not yet anyway, but my wife I could amend that.

I walked back quickly hoping Emily was home. I entered the house; Emily wasn't in the living room or the kitchen. I heard a slight moment upstairs, I ran up the stairs and reached our room. Emily was standing by the window, she turned surprised. I realised that she had been crying. I walked to her and placed my lips on hers; kissing her with passion and intensity. I hadn't kissed her this way since a long while, infact I hadn't even spoken much to her. She didn't respond for few seconds in surprise but then her lips moved with mine with the same feelings that I had for her.

I lifted her off her feet and got her to our bed not letting my lips leave hers. We were lost in each others embrace…touching, kissing, and feeling.

"I m sorry," I whispered breathlessly.

"I love you Sam," she replied.

As I continued to kiss her…the only thing I knew was that I loved her. I had just forgotten that. But tonight was the night to make up for the pain I had given her.

"I love you, Emily," I told her, sincerely.

I woke up next morning and my mind was filled with what happened last night. Emily lay next to me looking peaceful as she slept. I bent over and kissed her on the forehead.

After taking a shower and getting dressed I went down to make some breakfast, I had to settle things with Alex and I wanted to speak with Adriana too, but I didn't know how to take things with her. I was sure she would never forgive me for what I had done to her and Leah, but I had to try.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't realise that Emily had entered the kitchen until she wrapped her arms from behind, around my waist.

"Good morning," she greeted merrily.

"Good morning Em," I replied, turning and placing a kiss on her lips and then he forehead.

We stood there for a while, unmoving. Her head lay against my chest and I continued to pat her without any thought.

Then, we a sigh Emily moved away, she took out the plates and omelettes and placed them on the dining table. Taking the carton of orange juice from the fridge, I asked her, "Is Alex home?"

"I don't think so, I checked his room, it's empty," she shrugged.

"I have to talk to him too…I have made a mess of everything," I told her, sitting down opposite her.

"He'll understand…I'm sure," she smiled, placing her hand on mine.

"Yeah, I hope so," I smiled back, hoping sincerely that Alex would be supportive.

"Sam?" Emily called.

"Yeah," I looked at her. She was biting her lip hard; it was something she did when she was nervous.

"Umm…I have been thinking something," she mumbled.

"Go on," I encouraged.

"I was jealous," she whispered, staring at her untouched omelette.

"I…I don't understand," I said, confused.

She took a deep breath, then looked up at me and said, "I was jealous of Adriana."

I raised my eye brows in surprise and stared at her, trying to comprehend what she had just confessed. She continued to watch me with a resolute expression.

"Oh…" I finally muttered, and just waited for further explanation.

"I know it stupid, but ever since she came here…you changed. Before, things between us as a couple and with Alex as a family weren't great but they were fine. But as soon as she entered our lives, it didn't just affect you, it affected all of us. You started acting differently, I mean, the way you used to act…it felt like your life revolved only around your daughter and her needs. Alex and I didn't seem to exist…and I just started feeling very insecure. I was afraid that she was stealing you away from us…I was scared of loosing you." Her eyes pierced into mine at the last sentence.

I let out a whoosh of breath.

"I know it's too much to take in, I'm sorry I behaved that way," she spoke.

"Emily…you don't have to feel worried! I love you. You and Alex are the family I have known throughout, and when Adriana entered our life, I wanted to know her, and fill up those years that I had missed and make it up to her, I didn't realise that I was hurting you two in the process," I explained, feeling sad.

"I m sorry I made you choose between her and me," she apologised, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry too," I shrugged. "But can't be undone now, she hates me," I placed my head in my hands.

"We don't know that," she said, softly.

I didn't reply, knowing that she did.

"I never hated her Sam, trust me, I never did. I have just never known how it feels to lose you. And Leah felt that, everything worse seemed to happen to her, and Adriana…she just reminded me too much of Leah, I loved Leah, but watching Adriana all the time…I just didn't want to feel guilty.

"I'm sorry I let the worst part of me win, I should have handled it better…"

I took in her words, and to be honest, I actually understood her. "I know Em…I understand." I whispered, wishing we had spoken it all before, and then nothing dramatic would have happened. Adriana would be still living under our roof, and we would be a happy family.

"Thanks," Emily sniffed.

"I just wish I could make things better, you know?" I sighed again.

"We should get her back, we must talk to her," she said suddenly,

"Really?" I asked, eyes widened.

"I was wrong before, I just want to make things right," she smiled warmly.

Overwhelmed at her decision, I asked, "You think she will listen?"

"We will try our best," she replied.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"There's no need for that, we are a family, and she is a part of us," she shook her head.

Unable to come up with any reply, I simply watched my amazing wife in front of me. Yes, she was human…she did make mistakes, but she set them right too. That's why I loved her. And the words she just spoke brought nothing but peace to me.

"We'll bring her home," I said, determined.

I would try my best and never give up, until my daughter believed in and trusted me as her father.

Adriana's POV:

Seth and Hazel had taken Leah to Forks hospital; she had developed an ear infection. Darren had to go for his shift at the store in Port Angeles so he couldn't hang out with me. Anyway, Hazel and I had decided that we would go and get few groceries, and probably watch a movie or something, but since she had to take Leah to the hospital, our plan had been cancelled. I decided to walk around La Push and get some groceries by myself, knowing that Hazel wouldn't have time later. After getting ready in chequered shorts and a tank top with a jacket, I walked out carrying some money with me.

Locking the door after me, I headed out hugging my coat. I plugged my ears with my ipod earphones, in an attempt to not get bored. I had to walk quite a while until I reached the grocery store, I met Robin (one of the imprints), and she told me that she worked at the store part time. We spoke as I searched for things and placed them in the trolley, after getting it billed and packed, waving her bye I came out and continued to walk back.

Humming to the familiar tune, I walked ahead, lost in my thoughts. I should start hanging with some of the girls too, I didn't have much friends here apart from Darren and Derek, though I didn't really mind, it would be nice knowing some girls of my age. I missed having some girl time; I had those so regularly back in Phoenix.

I didn't realise I had taken the wrong way until I noticed a couple of abandoned sheds. The road was much narrower over here than the others, and the area of quite lonely. Crap! I was such an idiot! I didn't even have a cell phone, not that I would have been successful in asking directions and getting back, since I had no idea where I was. For all I knew, there were hundreds of abandoned sheds here. Okay, no need to panic. I can just walk back the path I came, then I would reach a familiar part of the town, hopefully, from there it wouldn't be a problem.

I turned back to retrace my path, just when I walked a few feet back, I noticed a running truck standing on the opposite side of the road. Should I check if anyone is there and ask for directions? Or should I just continue walking? But what if it was someone I knew?

Before I could deicide, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Startled, I turned.

My eyes widened in fear as I recognised the man.

Ross.

I licked my suddenly dry lips, and tried to calm the frantic beating of my heart.

"Lost?" he asked, eerily.

"N-n-no," I stammered, taking a step back and regretted it at once.

"Sure?" he pressed, closing the distance between us. He didn't look sweet and nice as he had done before, infact he actually looked dangerous.

"Ye-yeah," I nodded fervently.

"I tried finding you…for such a small town, you were quite hard to find," he said.

"Oh," go away creep! I wanted to shout and run as fast as possible. But for some lame reason, my feet my gummy and stuck.

"I—I have t-to go," I continued to stammer. I racked my brain, thinking of some defensive moves.

"Do you want me to drop you?" he asked.

If I wouldn't have been scared, I would have rolled my eyes. He was like some thick skinned guy who believed that if he continued to repeatedly as me out, I would say yes. But he wasn't. Infact, he was someone worse. A lot worse.

"No, thank you," I mumbled.

"Oh it's alright. Considering how long it took to find you, I think you owe me," he said.

"You were searching for me?" I asked, completely scared. Oh my god. Not once had I assumed that he would still be pursuing me.

"Of course," he said at once.

"I have to go," I told him, hurriedly.

"Sure, I will drop you," he stated.

"No, its fine," I was really scared now. My heart was thudding against my chest…god.

"Come on," he was too close now, he touched my cheek.

Dropping the bags, I jerked away. "Don't touch me!" I spat.

"You know about me don't you?" he asked.

"No…" I whispered.

He stared at me for a while, feeling more confident than before, I took it as a chance to run and moved away from him.

I started running toward the opposite side of the way I came, having no idea where it would lead me.

He followed me, obviously, I hadn't got much far even though I ran before him, he pulled me by my hair and I screamed in pain.

"I m not going to let you go away so easily," he growled and held me against his chest roughly.

I started screaming for help, he placed a handkerchief over my mouth muffling my cries…I inhaled a sweet lingering smell. I could feel my senses beginning to dull. The last thing I saw was his triumphant face with an evil smile and fierce eyes.

As the blackness took over, I thought of Darren, his warm protective self, if only he was here…

A/N: *runs away before you throw stuff at me*

Umm…so sorry for the cliffhanger! But…it had to be done. :P

Anyway, yeah…Ross was the mystery guy. I'm sure many of you had guessed. But few did think, it would be Shane. I get a little sadistic at times right? *yeah, I do*

Also, we see quite a new Emily, and I hope you do see her side too.

What do you think of it?

Review?

Btw…are you guys aware of any active Twilight Fan fiction Challenges here? I have been writing a lot of drabble/one-shots for Harry Potter (I really feel inspired then), I tried searching for Twilight, but couldn't find. So if you do, let me know! =)