On Board

Embry carried out a table that he and Gramps had just finished to the main part of the shop and put it down. He stepped back and looked at it a few moments, then adjusted it, hearing the front door chime.

"You seriously haven't lost that damn goofy grin since the party," Jacob said, walking up to him. Embry frowned slightly but found he couldn't keep it for long.

"Give him a break. He's imprinted and she's finally accepting it," Quil said, walking over to the two from the cash register.

"Find anything more about her?" Jacob asked, suddenly appearing a bit serious. Embry chuckled. Seemed he would never lose his alpha-ness.

"A bit," Embry said. "I mean… we mostly talk about movies and TV and all, but… she opened up a bit more about her family. Seems her grandparents are super protective of her…"

"Seems a bit strange at our age," Jacob said. Embry just shrugged, not really thinking much about it until then.

"Said it's because her parents died in a boating accident," he replied, but even as he said it, he couldn't help but find it a bit odd as well.

It wasn't all that often that people their age stuck around the area. Besides the wolf packs, but they had their reasons. Everyone else from Forks seemed to - at the very least - go off somewhere for college. Even Freja's best friends had. But she had stayed. At first he thought it was to help out with the shop, but from what little bit he had heard that day at the school, it was obvious she was at least a talented pianist. Surely she could have gotten into some music school. Or any school. Already he could tell she was intelligent.

He then shook his head, deciding it didn't matter to go down that track. If she had gone off to school or elsewhere, he wouldn't have met her when he did.

"Right, she works at their shop," Quil said. He looked over at Jacob. "Not unusual around here. Lots of business owners like to pass it down. Case in point." Quil pointed at himself.

"Okay, but really… you said she had to sneak out of the house. What if her grandparents are some sort of crazy church people?" Jacob replied.

"Would you stop! She's Embry's imprint," Quil said, now frowning slightly. "I thought you liked her."

"I do! Just… there's a lot we still don't know about her," Jacob said, now looking expectantly at Embry. He sighed and rolled his eyes.

Freja's life wasn't really any of their business, though everyone would know when they phased. Embry had hoped to keep some of their interactions to himself for the time being. They weren't supposed to go out for a run for a few more days.

"Look, I think they just want to look out for her," Embry said. "Her parents died when she was really young. Her grandparents and mother moved to Forks from Sweden because of her father, so they have no other family here. I mean… is it so weird? And it's not like we have anything to say. We turn into wolves."

"He makes a point," Quil said, pointing at Embry. Jacob just continued to study him.

Embry long ago adjusted to the alpha side of Jacob. Helped that years of being best friends meant that he wasn't all that intimidated by him. And the fact that Jacob rarely - if ever - passed down alpha orders. But he couldn't help but get a bit annoyed with Jacob's questions.

"Okay, fine," Jacob said, finally relenting. "Just… make sure she can handle the truth before you go blurting it out."

"You think I'd just casually mention that I turn into a giant wolf on a date?" Embry retorted, crossing his arms in front of him. While he knew Jacob meant well, this was a new level.

Freja was his imprint. That meant something. And Jacob knew that there was nothing that could undo the imprint. Whether Jacob liked it or not, she was going to be a part of Embry's life from here out.

"Dude, chill. I'm just making sure that you're being careful. Yes, she's your imprint and we've all accepted her - myself included - but you're my best friend and I want to make sure that you don't get hurt," Jacob said. "And you have to admit, there is still a lot to learn about her."

Embry stared him down a few moments before smiling slightly. He nodded.

"It's cool," he said.

"Right, so tell the truth. Her hair really that blonde?" Quil then asked. Embry snorted as he looked at his other best friend.

"Yea, why wouldn't it be?" he said. He then realized he had never thought to ask. Though why would he? Quil just shrugged as he walked back over to the counter.

"Just never seen any that light before," he replied. "It practically glowed in the dark."

"Her family is Swedish. Sure a lot of people over there have hair that blonde," Embry said as he started towards the workshop.

"Where are you going?" Quil shouted at him.

"Got work to do," Embry shot back with a smile.

While he appreciated his friends' concern - and knew they were just curious about Freja - it had all reminded him that despite the fact they were talking every day and Freja had opened up to him more, there was still a lot he didn't know about her. She never spoke about playing music even though that was how they met. While she spoke here and there about her mother, she was always guarded with how much she said and never really mentioned her father.

And he definitely thought there was more to the story with her grandparents. What sort of grandparents were so protective of their grandchild that they only allowed her to have two friends growing up?

Embry frowned as he walked over and stared at the rocking chair, his thoughts about Freja's history swirling around in his head. What if Jacob was right and her grandparents were in some sort of crazy cult? Freja seemed normal - outside of the whole seclusion thing. She hadn't said anything to make him think that they were religious nuts or anything.

And he didn't think religious nuts would have filled Freja's mind with stories about Norse mythology.

Sighing, he pulled his phone out of his pocket, seeing that Freja had responded to a joke he sent her earlier. Immediately a smile filled his face and a warmth spread throughout him. Though at the back of his mind were the nagging questions thanks to Quil and Jacob.

It was about then that he realized he hadn't even asked Freja when her birthday was or how old she was. There really was a lot he still didn't know.

Sighing, he replied to the text, asking if she could meet up after work. It only took a few seconds for her to reply, telling him to meet her on the beach near the cliffs.

Suddenly, Embry couldn't wait to get off work.

OOOO

"Wow, you're right on time."

Embry couldn't help the grin that came over his face as Freja walked up to him, once again wearing a long sleeve shirt, though the weather was warm. She stopped about a foot away, her hands in her pockets as she shifted slightly on her feet.

"I try to be," he replied. He motioned back behind him towards First Beach. "Walk?"

"Sure," Freja replied.

The two started out, an awkward silence settling on them as they moved at a leisurely pace. Embry tried to keep from watching her, though he couldn't help but glance at her often, then try and pass it off as though he was looking out to the sea. Freja's eyes were fixed on the beach in front of her.

"How was your day?" Embry asked. Freja glanced up at him.

"The usual," she said with a sigh. "Got up. Went to the shop. Worked on some instruments. Sold a violin. Came home. You?"

"Got some work done on a few pieces I have going," he replied. Freja looked over at him.

"Anything near finished?" she asked. Embry shook his head. "Anything you can show me?"

His heart sped up slightly at the question. While he didn't think he was all that great at what he did, he really wanted to show her the pieces he was working on. Finally share that part of his life with her. Just share more with her in general.

"I think there are some," he said. "The shop's closed up if you want to go now. My truck's just up here."

Freja came to a stop as she looked back behind her towards her house and then back up ahead. Her smile slipped away as she seemed to be seriously considering the suggestion, though Embry wasn't exactly sure why it was such a weighty decision. Then again, he remembered her grandparents.

Finally she looked over at him and nodded, her smile reappearing.

"Yea, let's go…"

OOOO

Freja took a deep breath as she walked into the shop, her eyes closed for a moment. While the ocean was her favorite, she always loved the smell of wood. She then opened her eyes and looked around as she slowly wandered, taking in all the various pieces of furniture and woodwork, lightly running her fingers over their smooth surfaces.

"You made all these?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in Embry's direction. She had to admit she was impressed.

"No, not all. Pretty much all of this is Gramps' work," Embry said, his cheeks flushing slightly. "The stuff I'm working on is in the back."

He quickly walked towards a door and Freja followed. Pushing it open, Embry flipped a few light switches and the workshop became illuminated. There were various work benches and tables, covered in tools and sawdust. Several pieces were in various degrees of completion.

Embry then walked over to a table at the back. Freja followed, her eyes traveling over the plans and sketches tacked up to the wall. There were a few photos as well - one of Embry with an older woman that she assumed was his mother and the others were with Quil and Jacob. Her eyes then traveled over to an unfinished rocking chair that was lying in pieces on the work table. The beginnings of a carving were clear along what she assumed was the top of it.

Freja reached out, lightly running her fingers over it. It looked as though it were churning waves so detailed, she was almost surprised that she didn't feel the spray of the water. It was obvious that Embry had put a lot of work into it, though she was curious about his choice of motif.

"This is beautiful," she murmured, moving nearer so she could get a closer look.

"It's not finished," she heard him say behind her.

"But still… the detail… you have a lot of talent," Freja replied, turning to look at him. "Dare say those hands could make a fine fiddle."

Embry smiled bashfully and glanced around the workshop, scratching the back of his neck.

"I don't know about that… I'm still learning," he said.

"What made you decide to do this?" she asked, now back to studying the chair.

"Well… after school I was looking for a job. Something to do until I could figure out what I really wanted to do. Gramps offered to let me work here," Embry said. "And then after I was constantly watching him as he worked, so he started showing me things… teaching me."

Freja glanced at him as she moved over to inspect a bench with intricate vines carved into the legs.

"Suppose he just wanted to teach someone. Tried with Quil for years, but he never was that good, but then with me… it just kind of… came to me, I guess," he said. "But Quil's the one taking over the shop someday."

Freja looked at the wall, finding a photo of Embry standing with an old man.

"Is this him? Gramps?" she asked, intrigued by Embry's life and everyone in it. She could sense something in his voice - a hint of sadness. Perhaps because he never knew his father.

"Yea," Embry replied.

Freja tilted her head to the side as she studied the two, wondering if she really was seeing similarities between the two or if her eyes were tricking her.

"Are you and Quil related?" she ventured to ask, still looking at the photo.

There was a span of tense silence and Freja looked over her shoulder back at Embry, worried she had just asked the wrong question.

Embry smiled slightly and nodded.

"He's actually my half-brother. Neither of us knew until several years ago when… that's when we found out," he said softly.

Freja's eyes widened as she snapped her head back to the photos, heat polling in her cheeks.

"Nice going, Freja," she mentally scolded herself before frantically trying to think of a way to change the subject.

"It's okay… it's not a huge secret. I mean, my friends know, though… Quil's mom doesn't and I've never really talked about it with my own," he said softly.

Freja looked back down at the table, taking in the various pieces that he was working on, still too embarrassed to look at Embry. They all had some degree of carving work on them. And it all looked intricate and detailed.

"Really, Embry. This is amazing work. I can tell that you love what you do," she said, reaching out to touch what looked to be a quilt rack.

"How?" Embry asked with a chuckle, the relief clear in his voice to not be talking about his father anymore. Freja looked back over at him, smiling.

"You don't put this much effort into something you don't love," she said simply.

For a moment, they only stared at each other as Freja saw something begin to enter Embry's eyes. A softness and warmth. She wasn't completely sure what it was, but it set her heart racing in a good way.

"I guess not," he said softly.

Freja gulped and looked away, the thought that this was dangerous flitting across her mind.

"Do you love it? Working on instruments?" Embry asked.

"I do," Freja replied, keeping her eyes on the work table and pretending to study the various tools there. "There's something about taking a thing that someone else threw out and making it new again. Or, well… as close to new as I can get it. Definitely make it usable again."

"Like the guitar I bought," Embry said. Freja glanced back at him and nodded, a small smile on her face.

"It was one of my favorite projects. Put a lot of work into it," she admitted. "Hope you're giving it a good home." Embry chuckled.

"To be honest… I haven't really played it much… Don't know how," he said. It was Freja's turn to chuckle. She had long ago figured out he only came in and bought it as an excuse to talk to her. "Do you play guitar?"

"Sometimes," Freja said, turning her attention back to the tools.

They were veering towards very dangerous territory. Hopefully he didn't keep the guitar here and was about to ask her to play.

"You think maybe you could… give me lessons?" he then asked. Freja looked back at him, her eyes wide. His expression was so hopeful. "It's just… I'd hate for the guitar to sit and gather dust… and I haven't had much luck on my own."

"I… I don't think I'd be very good at it," she said, stumbling over her words.

"You never know… and if you're as good at guitar as you are on the piano, I think we'll be okay," he replied, taking a step closer to her.

"Yea, but playing and teaching are two different things," she said quickly.

"Please?" Embry pushed.

Freja stared at him a few moments already feeling her resolve waver. She finally sighed and nodded.

"Okay," she said.

It would be okay. She was only teaching him. That didn't mean she had to actually play it. It would be fine. And she was already in this deep, what was a few more inches of give?

Looking down at her phone, Freja noticed it was starting to get late. She would need to get home soon or her grandmother would know she was up to something.

"I should get you back to the beach," Embry said, almost as though he read her thoughts.

Freja looked up at him and nodded. As he started towards the door of the workshop, she cast one more look around his work station, memorizing everything he was working on before quickly following him out.

The ride back was quiet, but Freja was glad to see Embry get out of the truck as well after parking, intending to walk her part of the way back. They fell into step, the silence turning more comfortable.

"Just why are your grandparents so protective of you?" Embry then asked, breaking it.

Freja sucked in a quick breath, knowing that she should have expected this. And well, she had just pried into his family life, so it was only fair to allow him the same. Granted, there was a lot about her family life that she couldn't actually tell him.

"I mean… they aren't… you're okay, right?" Embry said, coming to a stop and looking down at her in concern. "They aren't keeping you locked up or anything?"

Her eyes widened slightly, not expecting him to take that route.

"No," she said, laughing slightly. "Obviously I'm not locked up, I'm here. I told you… they're just really protective because my parents died and I'm all they have left." Embry continued to study her, his concern still evident. "I swear, they're just your normal, average grandparents who want to make sure I stay safe. They even drive me crazy on occasion. I'm sure your mother does the same."

Embry started to open his mouth and then stopped, seeming to think it over.

"Really, it's nothing to worry about. They just… want what's best for me," she said, starting to walk again and hoping that Embry bought the excuse.

"I guess I can understand that," he said with a sigh. "My mom was pretty protective when I was younger…"

"And now?" Freja asked, glancing at him.

"Now she's the same, though she knows I can take care of myself and can't really tell me what to do anymore. Doesn't stop her from worrying," he replied, smiling slightly.

"It's kind of their job… to worry," Freja responded.

"Yea," Embry said.

Freya looked over, finding him staring straight ahead, his brow slightly furrowed.

The waning rays of the sun hit the side of his face, causing him to squint slightly, but it turned his skin a warmer tone of russet. Freja really wanted to reach out, to brush the hair back, to ease the furrow from his brow.

But she didn't, instead turning to look forward as well, her hands tucked behind her back as they walked on in silence. She also tried to ignore the beginnings of a tune starting to play around in her mind. One that she had a feeling would help soothe him.

"So… when do you think we can work on that first guitar lesson?" Embry asked, his tone lighter.

Freja glanced at him, starting to smile.

"Tomorrow work?"

OOOO

"Where have you been?"

Freja stopped in her tracks, her eyes meeting her grandmother's as she stood in the kitchen obviously cooking dinner. Freja had been so caught up in her thoughts about Embry and seeing him tomorrow that she hadn't even noticed her standing there as she walked in from the deck.

"Just out hiking. Sat on the cliffs for a bit," Freja said, starting towards the stairs.

"The cliffs near First Beach?" her grandmother called out, stopping Freja yet again.

"Yes," she said, turning to her. A look of concern came over her grandmother's face. Freja rolled her eyes already bracing for another lecture on safety.

"Be careful about La Push," her grandmother said.

"There was no one ther-"

"I'm serious, Freja. We're not the only creatures out here. There are things in La Push that are dangerous," her grandmother continued. She then turned her attention back to her dinner preparations. "Go get cleaned up. Dinner's almost ready."

Huffing slightly, Freja turned and made her way upstairs and to her room. She then stepped out on the terrace and leaned on the railing, watching the sun slip behind the horizon. A soft smile came over her face.

Even though there had been some awkward bumps, she had enjoyed spending time with Embry today. Felt as though she knew him better.

But just as the happiness had settled in, it started to be overtaken by worry.

"You must stay away from all human boys, Freja! You could hurt them! We don't know what you're capable of… I'm so sorry, but there is no other way…"

The warning had been in her mind since she was a little girl. That because they were unsure of just what she could do and how strong her ability would be before The Change, it wasn't safe for her to sing in front of human boys or men. She could accidentally enthrall them. Cause them to go mad.

But in all the time she had spent with Embry, he hadn't seemed worse. Sure they texted a lot, but it wasn't more than one might expect between two people getting to know each other. He appeared perfectly in control of himself whenever she was around him. And the more time she spent with Embry, the more solid her connection with him felt.

Perhaps this wasn't her… perhaps this was actually love…

Freja gasped slightly as the realization hit her. That she might actually be falling for Embry. It was impossible. She wasn't falling for him. There was no way.

Her phone suddenly buzzed in her pocket, causing her to jump. She pulled it out and looked down, a smile immediately filling her face.

Can't wait to see you tmrw. Sweet dreams.

OOOO

Getting more finished up so thought it was time to post another chapter. About to get into some drama, but this is definitely another cute chapter.

.2020 - Thanks!

0825 - Haha, for sure! Packs for the win. ^_^

Thanks everyone for reading and following!