Hi friends! I am back on Christmas break, crazy since it's been a year since I started this story but I am now determined to finish this story before I go back to school so expect a lot of updates before Jan. 12 hopefully. Anyway, I reread the books so now I have refreshed the details of the novels in my mind so I can stay on track.

I also made big plans for Annalise so expect a lot of action and slight drama come up as we are a few chapters away from the end of Eclipse. I am planning on finishing this story at the end of Breaking Dawn, so we have those chapters but Annalise will be dealing with some issues of her own and her and Sam's story will continue.

As always, pleaseeeeee review since it makes me super happy and literally you can say anything you want. And I will be posting the best review from this chapter at the start of the next chapter so may the best review win!

Last chapter's best review goes to Carly:

"Another option for Sam other than Eddie Spears could be a younger Rick Mora." I like it;)

Chapter 14

"Annalise, it's moments like this that I am envious of your life."

Annalise places her phone on the bed as she listens to Bella talk on the speaker.

"Why is that?"

"Because I can't deal with Edward and Jacob always fighting." Bella's voice came out as a shrill. "Jacob kissed me! And I broke my hand after I punched him in the face. And then he is determined he is going to save me from my death as a vampire and doing everything in his power to annoy me."

"I'm sorry, Bella. You know Jacob means well, and I haven't mentioned it yet to Sam because I am afraid of his reaction."

"Thanks, Annalise. I don't want to get in between you and Sam, but I also really appreciate your support. Are you still planning on coming to my graduation ceremony?"

I give a slight laugh. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Charlie already invited me out to dinner with you afterward."

"Great, I guess I'll see you then."

"Bye, Bells."

I hang up the phone and continue to lay on the bed, pondering my thoughts. The last few weeks have flown by and the issue with the deaths in Seattle has substantially increased, the news claiming a mass serial killer or gang. Sam has been running double shifts on the border to guarantee that Victoria won't reach either me or Bella, yet she hadn't been seen in a long time. And my love for Sam grows every day. When he comes home from work, my heart explodes, when we go to the store to pick up groceries, my heart explodes, when he lovingly caresses my cheek, yes, heart explodes. Even now, as I wait for him at home, my head swirls with unavoidable love.

The pack is coming over tonight for dinner, so I pull myself off the bed and head into the kitchen to begin the prep work.

After creating two giant lasagnas and placing them in the oven, I set off to clean up the counter space, wanting everything to be neat when the pack arrives. The house is lonely and I wish for Sam's company. It was more and more difficult to spend time with him as threats continued to pour in. And when he did arrive at home, he was always exhausted and needed his rest. However, my biggest concern was the fact that he was out risking his life against dangerous vampires who were hunting me and there was nothing I could do about it. If anything happened to him, I already knew the hole in my heart would never be full again. There would be no point even existing. Sam was my life, my purpose, and I needed him like oxygen.

I inwardly scoff at myself. What a mess, Annalise.

The loud grunts from outside signals that the pack is arriving. I hastily clean up the rest of my mess and place the lasagna's out so the boys can have easy access to them. I can't believe how much time has passed since my call with Bella.

Jared and Embry were the first to enter, roughly bumping into each other as they make their way towards the food. Laughing, I duck away from the kitchen table to avoid the slaughter just as Paul enters. He politely nods in my direction and I smile back. Our relationship was definitely improving since the accident. Quil enters next with Jacob and I instantly notice a somber mood to Jake. I know Bella is having it rough but Jacob looks dead on the inside, whatever conversation they just came from couldn't have been good. Quil, on the other hand, was bouncing off his feet. He imprinted last week and though it caused quite a scandal because Claire was two, I know Quil was a child at heart and would be the best friend he could possibly be until she ages.

I am surprised as two new faces enter, the Clearwater siblings, Seth and Leah.

Seth, young and innocent, rushes forward when he sees me.

"Annalise, you'll never believe what happened! Leah and I shifted! We're part of the pack now."

Leah and him? I look to the beautiful girl with smooth tan skin and straight black hair. I thought the werewolf gene was only passed down to male descendants?

"That's wonderful, Seth!" I rush forward to hug him, laughing when his large frame instantly covers me. Even at fifteen years old, he was a giant.

I turn to Leah and go to hug her, but she turns before I can and heads towards the kitchen.

"She will need some time to warm up to you," Jared says as he comes up next to me with a plate full of lasagna. "I don't know how much Sam told you, but he and Leah were high school sweethearts and she hasn't recovered from it since he found you."

"Oh." I feel a heavy weight sink into my heart. I never meant to cause trouble between the pack. I knew about Sam's past, but I never estimated Leah's pain.

"Don't worry about it," Jared assures me. "You are Sam's imprint, his perfect match. She finally understands that now that she joined and she will just need time to take it all in. Give her some space, but she'll warm up to you. I don't think she has many female friends."

The weight disappears and a new pain of empathy enters. I see Leah with a new light and see how tense her shoulders are and the tightness of her jawbone as she stood next to the boys. She must feel so alone.

My thoughts are distracted when a familiar pair of hands wrap around my waist and I spin around, the joy radiating off of my face as I throw my arms around my imprint.

"Sam!"

He chuckles at my enthusiasm and begins to kiss my forehead, trailing soft kisses down my cheek, to my nose, until finally reaching my lips.

We are so absorbed with each other that we fail to remember the audience as a round of applause breaks out.

Pulling away, I laugh at the hoots from Quil and Embry. I press my back against Sam's warm chest and he wraps his large arms around me, engulfing me in a warm embrace as we stand and watch the on slaw of food.

"So Leah and Seth?" I ask innocently.

"They changed yesterday and I've been with them ever since. They are still new, so be careful around them for a time, but they are showing a lot of restraint."

"That's good. I still can't believe how many are shifting. Wasn't there only three the last time the Cullens were in Forks?"

Sam tightens his grip. "Yes, but we have more recipients of the gene, and the Cullens have remained here for longer. Plus, with the danger of unknown vampires running around, it's good to have extra bodies."

I frown at his phrase. "I don't like how having more in the pack stands as extra bodies. It sounds like more to slaughter."

"You know I didn't mean that," he turns me around to face me. "I would never let anything happen to anyone of the pack. It's just nice to have more wolves to run patrols so we can take more time off."

I give a small smile. "I guess more time off would be nice."

He gives a deep chuckle that sends goosebumps over my arms. "And that means that I can get more time with the love of my life."

Fulling smiling, I stand up on my tiptoes and plant a kiss on his lips. "I promise never to complain again."

The meeting begins as I retreat to the back to begin cleaning up as Sam runs over the reports for the pack. I love seeing this side of Sam. He leads with determination and everything about his screams power. The rest of the pack respects him and appreciates him, even Jacob, whom Sam told me is supposed to be the leader of the pack but pleads that he isn't ready.

I go into the sitting room and pick up my favorite book, Jane Eyre. I get lost in the words so I didn't notice when the meeting ended, and I was startled by the sudden burst of noise as the guys left the house, peeking into the room to shout their goodbyes and gratitude for the food.

I notice Jacob still in the kitchen and I quickly race over to where he stands, eager to talk to him before he leaves.

"Hey."

He glances over at me. "Hi, Annalise."

"Bella told me earlier about your little fight. Are you okay?"

He gives me a shocked smile and shakes his head. "So you heard I kissed her, and she punched me. And then broke her hand."

I shrug. "She's been through worse. I'm not saying what you did was right, but I also care about you and want to make sure you are alright."

"I love her, and it kills me to see her with the leech. Gosh, why can't she just choose me!"

I sense his pain and place a gentle hand on his as he continues.

"How can you be okay with this? She's your cousin and she's with one of them. Has she even told what her plans are for graduation?"

I nod slowly. "I can't accept or condemn her choice, but I can choose to love her. She loves Edward and wants to be with them. I know it's hard to grasp, but you know what happened when Edward left, she was near suicidal!"

"But she loves me too, I know it. And I can be just as good for her if she gives me the chance."

"I know you can. But you have to respect her wishes. Bella will choose what her heart tells her."

Jacob goes silent again and I know the matter isn't over. I try to change the topic.

"Are you planning on going to her graduation tomorrow?"

"Yes. You?"

"I wouldn't miss it. Maybe we can drive together? I still need to ask Sam, but I'm assuming he won't go because the Cullens will be there. But he might be less reluctant to let me go if you're with me."

He gives a cheeky smile. "We'll see, I doubt Sam ever wants you away from me. But yes, if he doesn't want to go, then I got your back."

I give him a big hug and am happy to see he responds to it, wrapping his arms around me. I see Jacob as my brother and it's always nice to have his support.

When he leaves, it's just Sam and me left. He is sitting on the couch and I happily stalk over to him and place myself on his laugh, loving that he is near.

"I can never get enough of you," I whisper since I am close to his face. "There will never be a moment that I wish I was away from you."

I stare deep into his eyes and I feel the intensity in his gaze.

"Marry me."

My mouth pops open at his words, completely caught off guard. "What?"

He gently takes my hand. "Marry me, Annalise. I've been preparing for the last several weeks of all the ways I could ask you, but sitting here with you now, I want this forever. I want you forever. I want our kids to run through the house, and if this house isn't big enough to fit them all, I'll build another one but most importantly, I want you. You are my perfect everything, none will ever compare or even be recognized. Now, what do you say? Will you marry me?"

Tears formed in my eyes as my heartbeat ran rapidly in my chest. I knew this was coming, it didn't make sense not to get married soon, but this was special. This was my Sam the exact way that I love, with me in our safe little world and nothing can distract us or bring us apart.

"Of course I will marry you, Sam. I would marry you right now if we had a pastor close by, I'm contemplating calling one over now."

He laughs and pulls me in for a soul-searing kiss, the raw passion is so intense I feel my body floating in the air, never wanting to come down.

He moves me off of his lap, gets off the couch and gets down on one knee, pulling a small box from his pocket.

"I didn't know you had the ring now?"

"Annalise, I've had this ring the week after I met you. I've been saving it ever since. It was my mother's and now I want it to be yours."

He opens the box and I gasp at the beautiful diamond with a thin gold band. A string of emeralds wrap around the diamond in an intricate way and the sunlight catches the sparkle beautifully.

He slips it on my finger and I love the delicacy of the ring and the perfect fit upon my finger. I kiss him again and we are lost in the bliss happiness.

Dangggg crazy things are about to happen. Please review to share suggestions or inspirations, drawings, anything you want. Just let it out. See you guys soon!