Plain Sailing

Embry straightened his shirt as he walked up to Freja's front door, suddenly feeling rather nervous though he knew there was no reason to be. This was his imprint. And in the days since everything had come out, he felt closer and more connected to her, comfortable now that she wouldn't reject him.

But still. It was their first date. And he was still intimidated by her grandparents.

He walked up to the door and cleared his throat, then knocked, waiting. Thankfully, Oscar opened it, a wide grin on his face.

"Ah, Embry," he said, pulling him into a hug. Embry's eyes widened in shock, but before he could do anything, the older man had stepped back and was motioning him inside.

Embry walked in and looked around the large, open living room, finally taking in the many photographs that were up and finding it rather cozy.

"She will be down in a moment. Please, have a seat," Oscar said, motioning to the sofa. Embry nodded and walked over, sitting down and trying not to jiggle his leg. "There is no need to be nervous."

Embry felt his cheeks heat up as he looked over, seeing that Astrid had walked into the room. She stayed on the other side, regarding him with a serious look on her face, though at least she didn't look outright angry this time.

"It's nice to see you, Mrs. Larssen," he said, jumping to his feet. She looked him up and down.

"Not too late," she said.

"MorMor," a voice chided.

Embry looked over, finding his breath catching in his throat. It was a simple blue cotton dress with white flowers on it, but he thought Freja looked amazing, her long hair in an intricate braid that went over her shoulder.

She stopped, her eyes widening slightly as she looked at him. She then looked away, reaching for a cardigan that she pulled on as her cheeks turned pink and started looking around for something.

"It'll be fine, Astrid. Let the young people have some fun," Oscar chided. The older woman frowned at him.

But then her expression softened when she looked at Freja, finding that she had a hopeful look on her face. She sighed and hugged Freja.

"Just… be careful," she said, looking over at Embry.

"Of course, ma'am," Embry said quickly.

Freja then slung a purse over her shoulder and walked over to him.

"Ready?" she asked. He only nodded and led her to the door.

He didn't look, but was sure that both of her grandparents were watching them from the window as he walked over and held the truck door open and then helped Freja in. He then quickly ran around and hopped into the driver's side, starting it up and pulling out.

"So…" Freja started shyly, glancing at him. "Where are we going?"

"Though we could go to Port Angeles," he replied. "Seeing as there's not so much around here."

"Sounds good," Freja said, now looking out the window, playing with the hem of her cardigan nervously.

Embry felt his heart speed up and his hands getting a bit sweaty, though he then shook his head. He was being ridiculous. They weren't in high school. And they were imprints. There was no need to be so nervous. Right?

"How was your day?" he asked, glancing over at her as he drove, suddenly feeling like Port Angeles was an incredibly long drive. What if he couldn't fill the silence? He heard Freja take a slow, deep breath and let it out before she laughed softly.

"This is weird, isn't it?" she asked.

Embry glanced over at her and found himself smiling as well.

"A bit, though… I'm not sure why," he replied. "I mean… considering everything…"

"First date jitters, I suppose," Freja said. "But I yea. It's just me. And you." She laughed again. "My day was the usual. Though, Papa and I are working on this old baby grand that he picked up at an estate sale. Got it for practically nothing."

Embry listened, trying to remind himself that he needed to be watching the road more than her, but it was hard. He couldn't help but be fascinated by how passionate she was about fixing up old instruments. While he didn't understand a lot of the mechanics of the instrument bits, he offered a few bits of advice here and there on the construction. He had never built a piano before, but he knew how to work with wood.

Soon enough, they were pulling into one of the few fancier restaurants in Port Angeles, the drive seeming to fly by. Freja seemed to be taking in everything as the host led them to a table and they sat down.

As they looked over the menu, Embry realized he had no idea what kind of food Freja liked. Perhaps he should have taken her to a seafood restaurant. A soft laugh got his attention as he looked across the table at her, an amused smile on her face.

"You look concerned," she replied.

"Just… realized… I should have asked what you like to eat before I chose the restaurant," Embry said. Freja laughed again.

"This place is perfect," she said. "It's fine. Really." Embry took a deep breath and smiled, looking down at his menu.

The server came and they both ordered. Embry nearly got a bottle of wine before remembering that Freja was still 20 and ended up getting water. After the server had walked away with their menus, he turned his full attention back to her, starting to open his mouth to speak.

"So… how did you find out that you were… what you are," Freja asked, beating him to the punch. Embry chuckled.

"Well… we didn't know about… the others," he said, glancing around. While the other tables were far enough away that he was sure they wouldn't overhear them, he also wanted to be careful. "But… some of the guys started acting strange. First it was Sam. Then Paul and Jared. They didn't come to school for a week - acted weird. They started some sort of… crew, I guess. At least that's what it looked like to us. And then… one day I got into a fight with my mom and…"

Embry stopped, glancing away from Freja.

"If it's too hard," she said, her face immediately the picture of concern. He offered her a reassuring smile.

"It's okay. It's not difficult to talk about, just… back then when I first phased, a lot of it was connected to anger. I had been feeling crappy for a few days - which I found out afterwards was part of it - and then we got into that fight and I ran off… I phased in the woods and… I didn't know what was going on. Or how to phase back. Sam found me and talked me down. Managed to get me back to normal and filled me in on everything," he said. "But then he told me that I couldn't tell anyone. Not Jacob or Quil - though we were sure they wouldn't be far behind me - and not my mom."

"Oh," Freja said, frowning slightly. "So… she still doesn't know?" Embry shook his head.

"Sam said I could tell her, eventually, but I didn't want to worry her. Or complicate life more than it already was," he said.

Freja's eyes widened slightly.

"That's how you found out about your dad," she stated. Embry nodded.

"It's only the Quileute tribe that has this trait. And my mom is Makah. There were only about three options - all three married at the time I was born," he said. "Sam's dad, Jacob's or Quil's."

"Holy shit. That must have been… I mean… I can't even imagine. To go through that and then find out that one of your best friend's dads could be yours," Freja said, her brow furrowed.

"It was… confusing. And difficult. But when Gramps found out that I had phased, he was the one that figured it out. He had known that Quil's dad had… messed around with someone, but he didn't realize it was my mom or that I was a result of the affair," Embry said, finding it surprisingly easy to talk about it with Freja. Much easier than it had ever been with the others. "Not until I phased. And then, well, it was easy for him to put two and two together."

Freja continued to study him, her expression soft and sympathy in her eyes.

"But it's all good now. Really," Embry said. "Sure, there were a few tense months. We were all getting used to this new part of ourselves. And then having that bomb drop. But… we got over it. Or well, moved on. Quil is still one of my best friends and we both realized we can't be angry at each other for something our parents did."

"And you never… spoke to your mom about it?" Freja asked. Embry shrugged and shook his head.

"I didn't want to get into it. The fact that she lied my whole life and all. But then she would want to know how I found out, and, again, I wasn't sure I wanted to tell her about the packs," he said, reaching for his water.

"It can't be easy… keeping a secret like that from your mother," Freja said softly.

"It's not so bad," Embry said. "And we have a good relationship despite that. I've even told her about you. Well… not everything, obviously, but that I've been seeing you."

Freja's eyes widened slightly as color filled her cheeks. Embry couldn't help but chuckle.

"Relax. You don't have to meet her yet, but she is eager to meet you. When you're ready," Embry said.

Freja looked down, fiddling with her fork.

"I… yea… maybe in a month or so… after… you know," she said softly. She glanced up at him, an embarrassed smile coming over her face. "Sorry… just. It's a bit overwhelming. I've never even been on a date before, and now I'm dating someone and maybe meeting your mom…"

She then snapped her mouth shut, almost as though she hadn't meant to say that. Though Embry wasn't surprised. From everything he knew about Freja, he had surmised that this was probably her first first date. And he already knew that he was her first boyfriend.

Reaching across the table, Embry took her hand, gently caressing it with his thumb.

"It's okay. It's… new to me too. With, you know. But we can move at whatever pace we want. Just because of that doesn't mean we have to get married next week or anything," he said, a nervous laugh following.

Shit. Get married? Why would he mention that? That was the worst thing he could have said right now.

Freja's eyes widened slightly before she started laughing.

"Right," she said. "Sorry, sometimes I just worry that I'm doing or saying something wrong. I don't really know how this goes. But you're right. Despite everything, it's just you and me."

She then gave him a brilliant smile that had Embry's heart skipping a beat and a fluttering starting up in his stomach. While part of him wished he had met her sooner - had imprinted sooner - he couldn't help but think that everything happened the way it was meant to. Suddenly, warmth enveloped him and for a moment he got a bit lost.

I'm falling for her…

Embry nearly started at the thought. While he knew he cared about her and that was ultimately where this was going, it was still a bit jarring to have it hit him finally. But then he smiled, settling into the realization.

Yes, he, Embry Call, was falling in love with Freja. And the thought made him happier than he had ever been.

"Yea… it's just you and me."

OOOO

Despite her earlier trepidation about the date - her first ever date - Freja had to admit that it was going rather smoothly. Especially for someone who had never been on a date before. But then again, this was Embry. They had already spent hours talking to each other at this point. And he knew. Everything.

There was something freeing in that. Finally, Freja could be herself. Her true self. No lies or half-truths. And even with everything looming over them, she found it easy to push it from her mind and just enjoy being with him.

For the last 15 minutes, Embry had been talking about the projects he was working on and Freja couldn't help but sit back and watch him. She enjoyed listening to him, letting his voice flow over her. Watch the light in his eyes when he spoke about his work or anything he loved. She wasn't sure if it was him, her or the imprint, but she liked it regardless.

"So how did you get by with the no dating thing?" Embry asked, glancing up at her from his plate of food. Freja chuckled and looked down at her own.

"It's not like the guys were lining up around the block to ask me out," she admitted. She looked up, finding Embry frowning slightly.

"I don't see why they wouldn't. I mean… you're… amazing," he said, before blushing slightly.

"To you, but to everyone else in Forks, I was the weird girl who kept to herself and was never allowed to go to anyone's birthday parties," Freja said. "I suppose when I was younger, yea, I got a bit of attention. I mean… no one had seen hair like mine before. But as we grew up, it became old news. Soon enough, I was just there in the background."

"Wait, really?" Embry asked. "None?"

Freja shook her head.

"I mean, I could go over for sleepovers with Amy and Natasha, but big ones, nope. My grandmother was worried I'd compel someone just by singing 'Happy Birthday,'" Freja said casually. "She drilled it into me from a young age that I was never - ever - allowed to sing in public, and it caught on. But when I was younger, well, it was a bit harder. I didn't really understand the full repercussions. And… I loved singing."

"Well, I for one, can't wait until you're allowed to again," Embry said. Freja blushed slightly. "I mean… what was that song you sang on the beach? I couldn't understand the words, but… it was beautiful."

That day felt like a lifetime ago.

"It was a lullaby that my mother used to sing to me. At least I think it was. I hear it in my dreams and like to think that it's a memory of her," Freja said. Embry nodded.

"So that's what it was. I can't really explain, but I felt that's what it was about. It was… maybe you can affect me, now that I think about it. It was so subtle that I forgot until you mentioned it now," Embry said. "But I could almost picture it in my head."

Freja's eyes widened slightly. This was news. He hadn't mentioned anything like that before. But then again, it was still different.

"Why didn't you mention this before?" she asked, frowning slightly as she began to worry again. "How do you feel now?"

"I feel fine. Like I said, it was like I was having a memory, but it wasn't my own. A mother with hair like yours singing to a baby, and… the ocean… And I felt… loved. Safe. But as soon as you stopped, it was gone," he said, a look of contemplation on his face. "I mean, I don't have the uncontrollable urge to make you sing again or anything… Should I be worried?"

Freja thought a few moments. Her grandmother had told her that they could control humans with their singing, depending on what they sang and the intent behind it. How they could become addicted to them and go crazy trying to hear more. But Embry seemed completely in control of himself. And usually the effects lingered, but he felt none of them.

But at the same time, he said that he could almost picture the meaning of the song in his mind. A mother and a child and the ocean. That's what she had been thinking about when she was singing the lullaby. Imagining her mother holding her and singing that even the wild waves of the ocean couldn't keep them apart. It was so very different from what she had been told.

"I don't think so. Though… I don't know... I've never heard of anyone, well, seeing what we see when we sing," Freja said. Embry's eyes widened.

"You mean… that's what was going through your head when you were singing?" he asked. Freja nodded. She thought it over a few moments.

"I don't know what this means, but… I like to think it's because of the imprint. Because, well, we were meant for each other. Or it could just be how we affect wolves," Freja said, a blush entering her cheeks.

It wasn't as though the phrase "meant to be" hadn't been tossed around since she was told about the imprint, but it still felt strange to say out loud. Especially when there were still so many things about this whole situation that they were trying to learn and find out. But the way Embry was looking at her now - not like a man obsessed, but rather like a man in love - helped put her at ease a bit.

And tonight wasn't supposed to be about worrying over the future.

"Well, I already know that we're meant to be," Embry said, though he too began to blush.

Freja chuckled as she shook her head, feeling a bit foolish. But at the same time, it was a nice feeling.

"Right, so… anything else about me you want to know?" she asked, reaching for her water glass.

"Have you seen anyone else like you?" Embry asked. He then stopped and looked down at his plate. Freja chuckled.

"Yes, we have tails, if that's what you want to ask," she said. He looked up at her and smiled sheepishly. "But… no, I've never actually seen one of us in our true form, so I don't really know what they look like. My grandparents can't. And up until MorMor told me the truth, I thought it was because they spent so much time on land. But now I know it's because they were stripped of it."

"How are you dealing with that news?" Embry asked, his brow slightly furrowed. "And about your mom and dad?"

Freja looked down at her plate, pushing her food around slightly. She had spent time talking with her grandparents on it, but not much. Her grandmother would still get rather upset whenever their deaths came up.

"I'm… not sure," she admitted. "I mean, it seems like the most logical explanation. That my father died because of my mother. But at the same time, none of us can really accept that she would do something to hurt him. Maybe there was some sort of accident and…" She stopped and sighed, looking up at Embry. "We'll never know, I guess. They're both gone."

Embry reached across the table and took her hand, and immediately his warmth began to flow through her.

"I know it's hard, but… you're not alone anymore, Freja. You never have to be alone again," he vowed.

Freja took a deep breath and kept herself in check. Every time she heard it, it made her want to cry, but she didn't want to ruin their date. So instead, she smiled at him, hoping he could understand just how much that meant to her.

OOOO

As Embry walked Freja to her front door, she couldn't help the butterflies starting up in her stomach. The night had been wonderful and she hadn't wanted it to end, but knew if she didn't get home soon, her grandparents would be calling. Even now, though the house was dark, she wouldn't be surprised if her grandmother was watching from somewhere.

They stopped and turned to face each other.

"I had a really wonderful time tonight," she said, shyly looking up at him.

"I did too," he replied.

He stared down at her and in that moment, Freja knew he was going to kiss her. She had been dying for him to kiss her again like he had that day on the beach. While there had been a few stolen kisses here and there, none had carried the same passion as that day. It left her dizzy and wanting more.

He bent down towards her as her heart rate increased. Her eyes drifted closed as his lips met hers. It was warm. And sweet. Freja reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck as his hands came to rest on her waist, then pulled her closer. She felt the warmth that radiated from his body surrounding her. And it only made her want more.

She parted her lips, inviting him in. Within a moment, she felt she was on fire as he pulled her flush against him and he deepened the kiss. She thought her heart might explode, but she didn't want it to stop.

Suddenly, there was a loud thud on the door and the two flew apart, their faces flushed and breathing heavy. They stared at each other wide-eyed before Freja looked towards the shut door. She knew it was likely her grandmother, warning them.

When she looked back at Embry, he was smiling and she was sure she had her own deliriously happy grin on her face.

"I take it that's my cue," he said, scratching the back of his neck. Freja nodded, still too breathless to speak. "I'll call you tomorrow. Goodnight, Freja."

He stepped over and left a chaste kiss on her cheek.

"Goodnight," she breathed.

She then unlocked the door and stepped in, giving him one last smile before she shut the door. Leaning against it, Freja took a moment to catch her breath and allow her heart to slow a bit. Her grandmother was nowhere in sight, which she was grateful for. Her smile only grew as she thought back over the night.

Not that there was a doubt before, but it became even more clearer in that moment. Freja was falling for Embry. And loving every second of it.

OOOO

Okay, so I just can't stop posting chapters... but I did get another one done today so I'm still pretty far ahead in writing. But yea, this one was just sweet, so I wanted to go ahead and get it up.

Thanks everyone for reading and following!