Twilight characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.
Imprinting...
Ian's POV
I woke to the smells and sounds of cooked breakfast, I dressed and joined the main room, kissed the girls and was offered a seat next to them by Edward who was cooking up the eggs. He did not speak to me directly but was engrossed in in-depth chatter with the girls. My plate was presented at the same time as the girls were placed, I went to get the ketchup from the fridge, to find it now there in front of me, I'd no idea what I'd done to get the silent treatment but this was not comfortable.
Alice was feeding little Alice her egg and soldiers, "Aw Edward give him a break, she twisted her ankle it was not his fault" she said
"It was his hormonal distractions meant she went to the girls and" Edward replied,
"Alice gave them the buckets and spades do you want to blame her or the girls for asking to use them too?" Emma said from her doorway with the effort of moving clearly in her voice.
"Does she ever listen" Edward said looking at me as Emma hung on the door frame as he headed to her.
"Nope" I said assuming he'd asked her to stay in bed? She never does, even when we were students in the same house she would not let me pander her on her birthday, a birthday gift we started when funds were tight.. Nor when I moved in with them for a while after the attack, she'd battle on.
"give it a rest, he is my friend and I will heal" Emma said "it seems to be giving you reason's to pick me up without asking" she continued and a rye smile spread across his face, yes I understood that unspoken discussion, she hates being picked up and carried, but I have to say in Edwards arms her aura screams how much she loves it.
"Alright, I'm Sorry, you know how much I worry" he said. "I'm sorry I was not there"
"Like you could have been?" Emma said "and I did try to get you to join us" she said into his neck, his head bowed and a low murmur of conversation between themselves occurred, there was too much background noise for me to make out all of it. Words such as 'killed you' and 'your crazy' when they raised their voices slightly.
Alice leaned across the table and tapped my plate with the tea spoon she was using to feed Alice, this brought my attention back to the table "he's very protective of her, don't worry, it will be fine by tonight" she smiled at me, feeding another spoon of egg into the open mouth of my ward as she marched her cut toast as if they were real soldiers. I looked back to the couple in the middle of the room, Emma had a mug of tea in her hand now, and when I looked back there was a fresh steaming mug in front of me.
"Spend the day with us" Alice said "the girls would love to show you their den" she added. How can I resist a day with them, I've longed to do this for years, but work and life don't always make it possible. As the girls finished their breakfast and headed to Jasper to put their coats and wellies on so they could play outside.
The door closed and Edward suddenly appeared at the table with Emma, I'd not seen them move nor did I hear them pass me, shivers went down my spine as open examples of what vampires can do were played out in front of me, Jasper's voice to my rear came as a shock but he advised I sit down which I did on command, shock I guess but I felt better as soon as I sat and looked at Emma smile back at me, now with her breakfast in front of her.
"What do you want to do today" she said to me,
Edward answered before I could "I want to take you to our meadow" he looked from me to Emma and continued "if you want that is?"
"What about Ian?" she said
"Oh that's sorted" Alice piped up and at that the girls burst in
"Uncle Ian can we show you our den?" they chorused "Please" begging.
"Right that's sorted then" said Alice handing me my coat.
I left the house wondering how the Emma I knew coped with the dictated ways of her friends.. she normally rejected such, but when Alice spoke no one argued the point, alright I could feel she was right before she said the first word but it was still a weird drama to watch.
I watched Emma and Edward kiss the girls good bye and him put a back pack with food on his back and sweep Emma up into his arms and start to walk into the forest. Seconds later the crunching of twigs was no more. I followed the girls and Alice into the woods, or at least to the edges, Beatrice gave me some woodland rules. "we are not to go past the big tree's unless Uncle Jasper or Auntie Alice are with us."
It was a good den they'd build and while we were sitting in it eating the biscuits they had been given, they told me that their Uncle Emmett had build a tree house back at the family home out here they told me that tomorrow morning they are all heading back home. A strange use of the word home for the house out here, the girls could not tell me where it was located, they did not know but told me that Jasper and Alice will drive us.
When I got back I found my car and the other one gone, it was just the black Merc and the Aston Martin out front when we headed in for a warming drink and a loo stop. I settled the girls down with a hot chocolate and put the telly on now rain had set in. With no sign of Alice or Jasper I sorted something for lunch for us and we had a picnic in front of the telly.
The afternoon rolled by and Alice fell asleep on my lap and Beatrice took herself off to the table with her colouring book and the small box of paints Alice has so obviously left out for her to do. I sat contented with the company, half watching Pocahontas and Beatrice I noticed she was rubbing her head, I'd seen both girls do that in my time and it normally meant their heads were hurting, I extracted myself from the sleeping Alice and headed over to ask if she wanted medicine, she nodded and looked at me, tears in her eyes she was in pain poor lamb, I had just given her a dose when there was a knock at the door.
Through the glass I recognised the doctor from yesterday, he'd come round to see how his patient was doing, but I had to tell him that Emma went off with Edward this morning and they've not got back yet. It was easy not to give details and seeing as my car was not there it was plausible that they went by car and not on foot, although I did wonder how far Edward would be able to carry her as she was still a little saw with her ankle.
As Seth turned to leave, Beatrice fell from the table and started to fit, I'd not seen this before at least not first hand, I was shocked as we both rushed to her, Seth got there first checking her vitals and asking me a whole host of questions I really did not know the answer to, he snapped open his phone and called, there was a brief exchange for words in Quileute and hung up as Alice and Jasper both entered in a blur and replied to the questions I could not, it was all a bit of a daze and I was grateful but also feeling very inadequate at the same time.
The little girl bit her tongue and Jasper vanished. We could do nothing but weight it out, Alice was so apologetic to the fitting Beatrice that she miss calculated not expecting me to give her some medicine which relieved some of the pain from the swelling but also delayed pressure build up that triggers the fits. I watched as she worked fast protecting Beatrice from hurting herself as her arms flayed, if I'm to be correct Alice looks like she'd be crying now if she could the remorse for not being there was etched on her face and in her words. I wondered, can't vampires cry?
Little Alice lay silently asleep on the sofa totally unaware of the situation being played out, it was like I was living in slow motion both Seth and Alice worked so fast, Seth was slightly slower that Alice but all the same both much faster than I could ever have moved. Alice updated Seth on the strange smell about the girls, I never noticed it myself, I heard her recount parts of the attack, the way she spoke was not as if it were recanting, it was as if she was Emma and had experienced firsthand what the bastards...
I watched as a single tear rolled down Seths face as he examined the now still child, she was so floppy and dripping with sweat, Alice's arms pulled the child into her and she cradled the hot child in her arms rocking her as she came round.
I did the best thing I could, I did what Emma does in a crisis and put the kettle on, I could also feel her worry and it was getting closer as the minutes rolled by, I felt several entities with her, indicating it was not just her and Edward at speed. Tea in my hand and one in Seth's re-evaluated the little limp body that was now so much cooler and shivering in Alice's arms. They swapped cradler, ignoring me completely as Alice went to get fresh clothes and changed her, showing off the body of patchwork scars to the doc who asked more questions to which Alice refused to answer, "there were things only Emma should tell" she told him but I knew that the marks did not cause the girls pain or create the fits and Emma finds it very difficult to talk about the marks on the girls, the fact that they get sick like this and will die is over bearing enough.
My frustration at being ignored over took me "how do you think she got them?" I blurted out, both Seth and Alice looked at me, it was as if they'd seen me for the first time, "Ye Hello, I am here"
I was about to go on but Edward came in carrying Emma followed by some of the gods from the Beach, don't they ever wear tops?
Emma hobbled the two feet from Edward to Beatrice and took her from Seth's arms, Edward looked at me and smiled awkwardly, he took Seth's hand and helped him up from the floor, "Thanks" he said "trainings paid off then" he said in a light manor.
He watched Emma cradle and rock the dazed Beatrice and headed in my direction. In a low voice he spoke to me "Thank you and I'm sorry I was rude, I could see what you were thinking and I saw how you feel for her and it" I looked at him sceptically "ye I read minds, didn't Bella tell you?" I shook my head.
"Well I was jealous, there I've said it" he looked at Emma who smiled nodding back at him, I must have been the topic of discussion while they were away. "look I'm glad she found you and I owe you more than my gratitude for being there for her when she needed a friend most, Bella explained and I am grateful, especially at Christmas that first year we found her" I smiled and passed it off as nothing, to me it was nothing but I guess if you've found the love of your life a little push to break that gap is needed I knew how stubborn she is.
Alice brought over a tray of tea, having passed it round the three half dressed hunks that stood to the back of Seth. "is someone going to tell us what's going on, You know who's due back in three days, we need to have something more than what's in our heads seeing as these guys will be gone by then" one of them said.
"Quiet Embry, it's not our place to ask" The large one said
"Sorry B.. Emma it's just..." Embry said
"it's OK.. it's hard to explain and who's back in three days?" Emma said back to him kissing the top of Beatrice's head.
Alice woke up at that point and climbed off the sofa, she's got a straight on off switch I think she sat up and said "Bea had a fit?" then she answered her own questions with "Oh" and came and hugged her mother and sister, she jabbered on about going to hospital when she has them, and asked if Bea was going too? This made Bea scream I don't think she liked that idea, Edward looked at Alice as if waiting for an answer as if she'd know?
Emma's question was lost in the moment as Seth shook his head "no she does not need to go to hospital, not this time" he said checking her over with his eyes, as if he were looking for signs of her next fit.
"GOOD" little Alice said, "the foods horri bbble" she said stumbling quite cutely over the last word.
Jasper came back with a large pile of Pizza Boxes it looked like he was feeding an army, there was more than enough for everyone and then some, the kids ate their Margareta and Emma and I tucked in to the boxes of various varieties that were now open on the table. I managed to get to Emma's side to say I was sorry Bea had her fit, not that it was my fault, but she was feeling just as guilty as both Edward and Alice came over to reassure us that it was no one's fault, it was due to happen and as Alice reconfirmed she'd miss calculated me giving her medicine or she'd have been here, but my actions saved the day.
While we were eating I heard snippets of conversation, everyone seems very relaxed except Brady who was stood to the back of Sam most of the time, he kept looking in my direction, I'd no idea why, except he was just as hot to look at as the others from the tribe in the room, I let my eyes scan the room again feeling my way with my senses, the colours of each person's aura glowing with a friendly hue, I clocked Edward looking at me to Brady and back and a rye smile spread on his face as he leaned into Emma's ear and she looked up at Brady from another bite of pepperoni, she flicked a look at me and nodded, kissed his neck and headed over to me.
Emma pulled me to one side and whispered "someone likes you"
I looked up scanning the room and the aura's, I'd have to be the first to admit I was a little smitten with the hunks in the room but it was hard to tell who from everyone present other than the girls had an aura of desire, Edward, Jasper and Alice aside, the latter two I'd got used to the burn of their passion for each other, if Emma and Edwards combination was bright and intensely rich hues were enough to make you sick then theirs was well.. It screamed lust, passion and a need to find a room.
Nope no one in the room had anything that resembled a liking... at least the Indian guys natural hue was difficult to read as I'd not come across a human with the darkness of well 'animal' colourings before.
"Over there behind Sam" she said "Brady Fuller's got his eye on you"...
That's all she said and she swooped off round my back leaving me facing the lad and yes he was looking in my direction... Oh my he did have the colours of... Oh OK.. I'd pulled... he was younger than me by a fare way but as long as he was of legal age I don't have a problem with that... and I grinned.
One of us had to make the first move, I so hate it being me, I love to watch them walk, gives me time to check them over before I have to make my mind up or not but this felt... yep I needed to make the move before I lost this one... to my surprise in the somewhat crowded room was easy to get through as I got to him it felt like I was missing some secret or other, were my fly's done up? Was I drooling? Could anyone else spot my want for this guy in my trousers?
I hit him with my best 'Come with me' stare and walked out the door, he followed like a pup.. 'good boy' I thought as I heard the door close behind him, he was at my side in an instant and we walked side by side into the forest, not sure if this was a wise move but.. There are things I don't like sharing with strangers..
We passed the first line of trees and stopped, the look in his eyes was of a love sick pup, so cute it drove me insane. Brady lowed his eyes and blushed sheepishly and spoke for the first time, his voice was like music to my ears, "I'm sorry, I've Imprinted on you" he said.
"I've no idea what that means but if I you don't kiss me in the next second I'm going to explode" I my need pounding in every cell of my body. I felt myself pushed into the nearest tree by the strength of this young one, the passion caused through him so much he shook, it was heavenly. When we came up for air we headed further into the forest, not much was said between us but I knew I'd found my soul mate and I wanted him now.
It was dark and late when we emerged from the forest heading back to the cabin, "The children are asleep" my love said to me, "and the others have gone" he continued. My heart lurched to which he stopped us "its OK I don't have to leave you" Phew my brain screamed then he bowed his head "unless you want me too?"
"What after that? Hell no, I have no idea how you knew what I like but DAM, I'm keeping you" I said and promptly found myself up against the side of the cabin lip to lip, hip to hip with him again, Oh I was so much in heaven, he was an animal and I loved him... Hold the presses I do, I LOVE HIM... OMG..
Emma appeared round the side of the cabin "would you two find somewhere else to... well to... Bea has finally gone to sleep and I'd like her to stay that way and your right next to her bed guys..come on.. be fare" Ah she has a point... she looked from Brady to me and back to Brady "you've imprinted?" she said with scepticism and distain in her voice... my love just nodded staring at me as my heart melted. "Wonderful! ... I see what everyone means now... would you both just go away and well.. Congratulations and Ian.. enjoy" she finished and walked back inside.
"What does she mean Imprinted?"I asked the warm god at my side..
"imprinting, its what we do when we find the 'one' for us, we have no control over it" my sweet man said.
"is that a tribal thing?" I said trying not to sound like being too nosy or anything as I flapped my hands in such a gay way, dam I hated it when I fell into these habits when I was with a much younger guy, but the age thing was not really an issue he fitted what I wanted and needed in a guy so much, I was suddenly feeling very cared for and safe, I guess I understand some of Emma's comments when we spoke of her love for Edward.
"No its a Wolf thing" he said..
I just looked at him, Wolves – OMG I just love those creatures, I had posters of them on my wall as kid, I'd get taken to Dudley Zoo weekly to see the pack there. "What do you mean 'wolf' thing my love"
"I guess I should show you, it's easier than saying" he said "By the way I love you" he said and kissed me.
Something was up and I felt panic in me at the way he was behaving, OMG was he going to tell me he was married? "I love you too but..." he put his finger on my lips to silence me, and looked over his shoulder to where Emma and Edward walked up behind me.
"There is something about me you should know" he said walking away from me, I wanted to follow not letting the cool of the air chill me without the heat from him to warm me. Emma took my hand and held me fast, Edwards' arms were around her waist and I could feel the ice cold from them, it made me shiver but I was glad she was there, I needed her support.
"Do you love him?" she asked
"yes – even after such little time, I want no one else" I said
"Good" Edward and Emma chorused together. "Watch"
I looked and watched Brady walk into the scrub at the edge of the forest. I stepped, no I staggered back trying to turn and run as HUGE creature stepped out, Ice cold hands on my shoulders held me fast. I tried to speak but no words left my mouth..
Edward's voice to my ear whispered "No Brady has not been eaten. That is Brady, he's concerned you'd not like him if you saw him as a wolf and wanted to show you before you leave for New York"
"Th Th That's Brady" I stuttered, I swear the creature nodded its head, and I stared as the moonlight eliminated him, the colours of his fur matched that of his hair. I wanted to touch him, stroke him?
"Go ahead he won't hurt you" Edward said and let me go.
"Go on, it's alright, Go" Emma said backing me up.
I hesitated and went forward a few steps and stopped, struggling to move as my head was flooded with panic and fear of this creature, my senses told me that it was Brady as his glow was in the same location as this creature. Edward spoke again "He's scared too" and with that I took my few paces forward wanting to reassure the man who'd just loved me in ways I'd not experienced before at least not as one night stand, this was permanent and as soon as I felt his kiss I was his.
I reached my hand out and the creature took a few tentative steps forward, my hand was lost in fur, the heat pouring of it was immense and yet it was still where I'd have expected to see Brady's glow if he were here, this is so weird. Conversations in my head of introducing Brady to my family 'Hi mom this is Brady he's a werewolf'
"nope just Wolf" Edward said to me as Brady's wolf form and I made eye contact, my heart lurched again yes it was Brady the life and soul in his eyes glinted back at me and I smiled, my fears were gone and I hugged my wolfy love. "we will see you two later then" Edward said as he and Emma turned and went inside, I watched the last of their colourful glow vanish and felt the glow from their orbs in my mind settle, I understand now why they breathe each other in so, the smell of Brady like this was so intoxicating, I thought the scent of his skin was enough but this is so much more...
We headed back into the scrub when Brady changed back, totally nude before he turned to pick up his shorts from the branches, I stopped my love in his tracks and pulled him deeper into the forest, enjoying the living embodiment of my longest running fantasy play out once more.
I woke in the arms of my snoring love, we were curled in a root hole, the bottom of which he'd pulled moss and bracken into so we were not curled on the dam earth, his body heat was amazing, we'd been naked all night and not once had a I woken to reach for the covers like I always do. I stared at the morning sky, our clothes draped over the tree we'd up rooted, well he'd up rooted, but that's a different matter and one I am re-running. Today I have to leave for New York, my heart hurts at the idea of leaving Brady. Who'd have thought me and a guy named Brady add to that that my best friend's man and family are vampires and mine is a huge wolf.
How do you put this in the end of year summary? 'While in Seattle on the concert tour of the year, I bumped into Emma Graham and girls, was introduced to her vampire fiancé, and I fell in love with Brady a human/wolf changeling, we uprooted a tree having great sex deep in the forest' Perhaps not.
I have to say, Brady's orb of light is burning so brightly in my mind and heart, its sitting in the dark empty space the original Emma in my life used to occupy. I hear her in my head now, she's so pleased I've found love, a bit shocked to find me like this but, hay she's a spirit and the locations I'd pick her up after a night out and the states I walked in on her over the years before her death, somehow I think I'm owed this one.
I try to move but Brady pulls me back into him tighter, how can I leave him, how will our lives pan out if I'm in the UK and he's here? Can a loan wolf live in the UK? I have to be the bigger man here and I kiss him awake "come on hun, we have to get back" I whisper..
He nods and whispers back "five more minutes then I'll run us back, I promise"
I don't actually have much choice, his iron grip tightens and there is nothing I can do. I listen to him breathe and loose myself in his warmth as the morning air is cool around us. After ten minutes I'm impatient to get back and he's up like a shot, he watches me dress and hands me his shorts. "hold these and climb on my back"
"what?" he pulls me to his back and picks me up in a piggy back style and transforms, he waits for me to hold the scruff of his neck and he takes off, its like riding a Shetland pony only so much faster. Within moments we are within sight of the cabins and he stops, I slide off, burry my face in his soft fur not knowing when I'd get back to be consumed by that aroma. I step back and he changes back to his human form, puts his shorts on in double quick time and we walk from the cover of the forest hand in hand.
The last few meters to the door were hard, tension between us was incredible. One last kiss and I watched Brady run off in the direction of the reservation. Pain filled my heart as he vanished out of sight and I headed in.
No one else was up just Alice who was waiting at the kitchen table, grinning from ear to ear "dirty stop out..." she chirped.. "Told you it would be alright" she said smugly
"Ye thanks but now I have to leave"
"That's true but there are two tickets to New York here" she said brandishing the envelope. "and he'll be back before you have to leave. So you'd better get packing wolf boy"
I showered, changed my clothes, and packed, by the time I was done Emma and the girls were up, their bags were by the door and four breakfasts were set out and three bowls were neatly being placed in the dishwasher, I was seeing through the charade now and seeing the sleight of hand and suggestion that all went to camouflage the fact the three vampires don't eat.
I ate my bacon sandwich and kissed Emma and the kids good bye as a car pulled up, "we got you a car to the airport, I hope you don't mind" Emma said kissing me again. "Brady's already inside, he'll explain when you've got some space, but first you need to go and sing your heart out and we will see you back in the UK in a weeks time?" she continued tears rolling down her face "it's been great to see you again and good that you know so much about who I am now, I feel a weight lifted off, and now you're a part of it too, if feels easier now and I don't have to go through the games when you visit. Take Care, Love you" she added and hugged me one more time as I returned the take care and love, I kissed the girls and left to find a limo outside, inside was my man...
Please review I'd love to know your comments.
