So… I'm sorry for abandoning you guys… again. I have a legitimate reason for this time though. My library was having a fanfic contest that I was writing for. I'll be posting my entry sometime soon. Its what happens to bella and Edward after BD. The winner wins the NM soundtrack and 4 tickets to the NM movie. I interwove it with my other two stories Full Moon and Crescent Moon for those of you that read those two. Getting back to IS though, I'm sorry and it won't happen again because the next chapter is the epilogue, haha. Hope you enjoy this chapter and please remember to comment!!!

Chapter 36 - Dixie P.O.V.

When I was finally able to will my eyes to open I realized my surroundings were dark. I could hear the light hum of the motor and a random station on the radio. From the grayish tint outside I decided it was either early morning or just turning dark. I glanced at the clock, it was a little after five. I guessed it was morning.

I sat up straighter and wondered how long I had slept. Was it really morning? I slept that long? I looked around the car and saw Embry beside me and any confusion I left seemed insignificant. Embry made me realize that none of that mattered, because I had him. I was still curious, though. "Where are we?"

He smiled and looked at me, "Almost to Forks. Sleep well?"

I ran a hand through my hair which was now sticking out in random places. I smoothed it self-consciously. "I guess. I slept for a long time."

All Embry did was nod. "I'm gonna have you drop me off near the Cullen's house; then you need to go to your parents house and tell them your home."

"Why?" I asked, "Why can't I stay with you?"

"You need to be with your family right now." He took a deep breath and adjusted where his hands were on the steering wheel. "Something happened back in Kentucky."

"Did they not find Donovan?"

His brow furrowed at the mention of the name, "No, they found him. He's gone; you don't have to worry about him. But he did some damage."

"Rhett?" I gasped; fear flowed through my veins like ice water.

"No, he's… fine. It's your grandparents. Donovan murdered them. Dixie, I'm so sorry." He grabbed my hand and held it like he was afraid I was going to break apart right then. I felt like I could. I had just been at their house. Were they dead when I was packing my car to run away from them? An even worse sickness settled in my stomach. I had led Donovan to them. All of the trouble I had gotten myself into had not only affected Embry and me but also them and Rhett. I had pulled my entire family into this because of my selfish ambitions. A choked sob escaped my throat.

"Oh, Dixie, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry this happened." Embry soothed in a slightly panicked voice.

"Why are you sorry?" Asked, my voice now filled with tears. "This wasn't your fault. I did this."

"Dixie, this wasn't your fault. Please don't think it was."

I clenched my eyes shut as the grief began to overwhelm me. "It isn't your fault either." I managed to say.

Embry didn't say anything to that. He kept holding my hand, making small circles with his thumb on my palm. "Do you want to call your brother?" He asked quietly.

I nodded, unable to say anything. I didn't know what I would say to him but I needed to talk to him. I needed to hear that he was ok.

"He knows everything." Embry said, handing me my phone. "He saw my pack and put two and two together."

"He knows your secret?" I asked, the tears pausing momentarily at the new discovery.

Embry only nodded. I waited for him to say something else but he didn't. He turned his head to look out the window. "I'm gonna drive to your house and I'll just run to the Cullen's house. You shouldn't drive right now."

I wasn't focused enough to answer to that. I just mumbled a 'mhm' as I searched through my recent calls for Rhett's number. I pushed the send button and put the phone to my ear as it began ringing. Leaves scattered in front of us as we sped down the now familiar roads. We were almost there.

***

The dirt was cool in my hand. I rubbed it through my fingers before releasing it. It fell on the first casket with a soft patter. It made the same sound as I tossed some more on the second. The Reverend's words rang in my ear. "It was a good thing that they had gone together. Separating two creatures who loved each other so much would have been a crime in itself." What he said was true. I was extremely sad that they were gone but at least they had departed this world together. It made me feel slightly better about the whole 'this is my fault' thing.

I glanced at my brother who looked rather dapper in his neat black suit. I don't think I've ever seen him so dressed up. His eyes met mine with a silent knowing. He knew the secret now and it has changed him. It has also changed me; it felt good to talk about it with someone who wasn't a mythical creature themselves. I walked towards him and he put a strong arm around my shoulder. It was not the warmth that I craved, however.

While Mom, Dad and I flew back out to Kentucky for the funeral, Embry had stayed home. He was fully recovered now but it would have been odd to see him there. Despite that, I wished I could have him hold me right now. His presence always made everything easier. Rhett, however, was the next best thing, so I leaned in and inhaled the sweet smell of his Old Spice cologne.

I could hear Mom and Dad's footsteps behind me. Saying that they were surprised to see me on their doorstep with a suitcase and eyes filled with tears would have been an understatement. They were shocked and slightly horrified. Grandma and Grandpa's murder was still being investigated by the police. Rhett had told them he had returned to find the house broken into and our grandparents dead. The coroner said that they had died of broken necks. They were unable to trace any finger prints they found in the house but they weren't giving up. The most confusing pieces of evidence they had, for them anyways, were tufts of hair stuck on the broken window that, after DNA testing, turned out to be a new species of canine. They also found large prints in the front yard that resembled that of the Timber wolf… but they were three times as large. Rhett told them he never saw any dog-like creatures except for poor Rocky who was now always terrified and slowly adjusting to his new home with Rhett.

"How is Embry?" Rhett asked in a quiet voice.

"He's healed." I answered in the same tone. "He was out running patrols when I called last night." I had called his house phone and talked to his poor mom who was still confused and depressed about her son's behavior. She had told me she didn't know where he was, meaning he was with his pack.

"That's good." Rhett replied then was silent. We had reached the road where our cars were parked. He shifted to look back at our parents. "I'm going to talk to them. Try to convince them to let you stay up there." He looked me straight in the eye then. "I listened to what the Reverend said. Separating you two would be a crime."

I smiled and rested my head against him. "I love you, brother."

A small laugh shook his chest. "You're welcome. Just be careful."

Later that night after the guests had gone home I heard Rhett talking softly with them. The original plans were that just dad would go back and I would stay here with mom. Rhett was trying to tell them to let me go back. I didn't know exactly what he was saying but he promised he wouldn't give anything away. Mom and dad were silent the whole time they were talking. I lay on the downstairs couch and shivered. I knew it didn't matter what they said. I was still going back. I just wished that I could keep both my family and Embry. But I knew which of those two I couldn't live without. I would be going back to Embry no matter what.