Hey, guys. I'm just going to warn you now that this is going to be a bit of a filler chapter. But I wanted to show how the other imprints were being affected by their "impending doom". The wolves aren't really distraught, but everyone around them is. The end of the chapter was just fun to write, so sue me. :)
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Twilight Saga.
"Don't be out too late, all right?" Charlie called as I hurried out the door.
"Yeah, Dad," I replied. "Bye, love you!"
I shut the door behind me before he could reply. I jumped into my car and pulled out of the driveway quickly. When I was safely out of Charlie's sight, I pushed the car faster and sped my way to La Push.
I was officially out for Christmas Break. I'd finished all my finals and passed everything. Then, I'd had to wait a few hours for Charlie to get home before I could leave. Now, I was going to enjoy myself for the next few days. The Volturi weren't expected until the snow actually stuck, so I had at least another week before my family was sentenced to die.
I pulled up to Emily's and grinned.
Inside, Emily was standing at the stove, cooking again. It truly was her passion. Kim was watching a movie, dabbing at her cheeks with a tissue. She was on the ground in front of the couch because Rachel was sleeping, taking up the entire thing. Claire and Hannah - her mom - were sitting at the kitchen table, Claire with a coloring book.
"Hey," Emily smiled in greeting.
"Auntie Bana!" Claire exclaimed. She hopped down from her chair and sprinted over to me. I smiled and scooped her up, kissing both of her cheeks.
"Hiya, little girl," I said. "Whatcha doing?"
"Colowing!" she exclaimed. She squirmed and I put her on her feet. She ran back into the kitchen and clambered back onto her seat. I ruffled Kim's hair as I passed, she ignored me, continuing to watch her movie.
"Hello, Bianca," Hannah said.
Hannah resembled Emily greatly, and was just as beautiful. She and her husband, Aaron, were from the Makah reservation, but when Quil imprinted on Claire, they'd moved down to La Push. Both of them had been a bit leery in the beginning, but they'd come to know Quil, and they knew there was no better person to protect their daughter.
"Hey," I replied. I leaned around Emily and snatched a muffin. "Emily, do you know when the guys will be getting back?"
She shrugged apologetically. "I'm not sure."
"All right," I said, sighing. "I'll just settle in and wait for them."
I went back into the living room and settled on the ground beside Kim. I took a bite of my muffin and held it out so she could take a bite, too.
"So, what are we watching?" I asked.
"Well, you just missed It's a Wonderful Life," she said, dabbing at her eyes. "I think . . . The Family Stone is on next."
"Good," I said. "I need a laugh right now."
When the movie began, Kim took another bite of my muffin and glanced at me.
"So, how'd your finals go?" she asked.
"They were fine, I guess. I expected them to be a lot harder, but they weren't too bad. I'm just glad they're finally over."
"I hear you," she replied. "Mine took forever. I was glad Jared was there, though. Made me feel a bit better."
I nodded. "I'm just glad that I've got some time with Embry before . . ."
"I know," Kim murmured. We both grew quiet, and I could tell it was bothering her as well. It had hit all of us pretty hard. We were forced to sit on the sidelines and wait while the wolves went off to fight. And if something happened to them . . . I didn't want to think about it.
Kim sighed and I turned to see her with misty eyes. I bit my lip, fighting my own tears, and put my arm around her. Kim drew in a ragged breath and a few of her tears spilled over.
"Here," Emily said. Kim and I glanced up to see her holding a box of tissues. She looked like she was about to cry, too, but she was better at being strong than the rest of us. Her tears didn't spill.
Kim and I each took a few tissues and began wiping our tears away.
"No," Rachel groaned. I turned around to see her sit up groggily. Her hair was a mess and her makeup was smudged a bit. "I can't take any tears. I've been here all night, waiting for Paul, and the last thing I want is to start bawling right before he gets here."
"No, no," I said, wiping the tears away and quickly blowing my nose. "We're fine. Promise."
Kim nodded.
Rachel still looked at us suspiciously, but she nodded. She stood up and went into the kitchen for some food. She came back a few minutes later and laid back down on the couch
Kim and I watched the movie. I laughed along with, glad that something was stopping my tears.
Halfway through the movie, the front door opened and two wolves came inside. Sam was first, and he visibly relaxed when he saw Emily. Paul came in right after him. When he saw Rachel, sleeping again, he went over and gently shook her shoulder.
"Hey, babe," he said. "C'mon."
Paul helped a groggy Rachel get her coat and shoes on. It was extremely sweet to see Paul, the most temperamental of the wolves, be so gentle with her. Her eyes were half-open, and she kept stumbling, but he caught her each time. When she tripped trying to go through the front door, Paul just leaned down and picked her up, carrying her bridal style. She wrapped her arms around his neck and settled her head against his shoulder.
Sam kissed Emily sweetly and then kissed her scars. He pulled her into his arms and she wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head against his chest. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Emily's eyes closed for a brief moment as she hugged him, and I noticed that she held him tightly, as if she never wanted to let him go.
"Where's Quil?" Claire asked in a high voice, looking around. "Uncle Sam?"
"Quil will be here in a little while," Sam replied.
Claire sighed dramatically and began to pout. "But I wanna see him now."
"I know, sweetie," Hannah said, smoothing her daughter's hair down. "I know you do."
She stood up and stretched. "Well, Emily, since Quil can't babysit, could you?"
Emily nodded, her head still against Sam's chest. "Sure, Hannah."
"Thanks," Hannah replied, smiling. She turned back to her little daughter. "Bye, Claire. I love you."
Claire kissed her mother and allowed a quick hug before going right back to her coloring. Hannah waved at the rest of us before heading out the door.
When she was gone, I turned to Emily.
"Does she . . .?" I left the question hanging, not wanting to ask if Hannah knew that the wolves were doomed.
Emily shook her head.
"And her . . . ?"
I glanced at Claire.
Emily shook her head.
I sighed. "I figured."
"We decided it was too much for them to handle," Emily said. "Hannah would never be able to understand it. She'd probably freak out and take Claire away, trying to protect her."
I nodded.
Just then, the door opened and Quil came through. He saw Claire and his face stretched into a huge grin.
"Heya, Claire-bear," he said, holding his arms out.
"Qwil!" Claire shrieked.
She moved to get out of her seat, but Quil was already there. He scooped her up and hugged her. She wrapped her little arms around his neck and hugged him back. Then, he tickled her and she screamed, beginning to giggle. She was happy, and Quil was practically glowing as they played.
I glanced at the clock and realized that it was almost my curfew. I sighed sadly.
"Well, I've got to get home soon," I said. "I guess I'll just see Embry tomorrow."
I quickly said goodbye and headed out to my car. I shivered against the cold, wishing Embry were there to keep me warm, and started my car.
I was waiting for a minute or two, letting the car heat up. Suddenly, the passenger door opened and a familiar person slid into the seat.
"So," Embry said. "Where are we going?"
I smiled, but rolled my eyes as I pulled out of the driveway. "I'm going home. Since you decided to take forever."
Embry leaned over and kissed my cheek. "I'm sorry, baby."
A thrill went through me, as it usually did whenever Embry called me 'baby'. I sighed.
"I guess you're forgiven," I said dramatically.
He grinned. "Yay."
He reached over and put a hand on my knee. "So, I was thinking that maybe we could make a stop over at my house. . . ."
He leaned over and kissed my jaw. He kept kissing, moving to kiss just below my ear.
"Embry," I said breathlessly. I bit my lip and tried to focus on the road. "Embry, I'm driving."
"That's okay," he said huskily, kissing my neck. "We'll be there in a second."
I used one arm to push him gently away. "No, we won't. I told you. I have to go home."
He pulled away, settling back in his seat.
"Why?" he whined.
"Because I have a curfew," I said.
"But then I'm not going to get to see you in forever," he said.
"What about tomorrow?" I asked.
"I'm on patrol tomorrow," he said, sighing. "Sam's doubled it ever since the Cullen 'guests' arrived."
I groaned. Embry groaned. I groaned louder, not to be outdone. Embry sighed.
"I know," he said. "This sucks."
"It does."
When we pulled up to my house, I was surprised to see the lights weren't on. Charlie's cruiser wasn't parked out front, either.
"Where's Charlie?" Embry asked.
I shrugged. I got out of the car, as did Embry. I turned to say goodbye to him, but he was looking at the house.
"It's empty," he said. A sly grin spread across his face.
"You're ridiculous," I said, rolling my eyes.
When we got inside, Charlie had left a note on the kitchen counter.
Going out. Will probably be out late. Don't wait up. Love, Dad.
I glanced back at Embry who was reading it over my shoulder. He was already grinning.
Review, review, review! I'm hoping to get another chapter up today, or at least by tomorrow night.
