Keel Over

"Seriously, where are we going?" Freja asked, tripping over the ground, though Embry caught her before she could topple over.

She had a blindfold on and honestly, Embry was shocked that everyone was staying as quiet as they were. So far, he was sure the only thing that she could hear was maybe the crackling of the bonfire and the waves of the ocean. Possibly. He now knew that Havsfru had amazing hearing underwater, but he wasn't sure how that translated on land.

Freja had given him a suspicious look when they got into his truck and he pulled it out. For a moment, he wasn't sure that she'd go along with it, but finally she turned and let him put it on. He caught her grandparents grinning and waving from the front door as he pulled out.

"Why are we at the beach?"

"Just, hold on," Embry said, looking over at the others. He walked a few more feet and then stopped her. Reaching up he undid the blindfold and pulled it off.

"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Freja's mouth dropped open as she took in the sheer amount of people there, all in party hats and some blowing kazoos and party horns. She turned looking back at him.

"You… you did this? For me?" she asked softly, her eyes tearing up slightly. Embry stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her cheek.

"You said you never got to have a big birthday party or go to any, so thought it was about time you got one of your own," he said. "Everyone else was more than willing to help and come. Told you that they all see you as one of us."

It was still a week until her 21st, but Embry spoke to her grandparents and they agreed that it would be okay to do a party. Truthfully, he didn't think they were all that sure, but Freja had been in good spirits and other than her arms continuing to itch there hadn't been any other signs of the impending Change.

More than anything, Embry wanted to do whatever he could to make her happy and feel somewhat normal. To try and take her mind off what was coming. With each passing day, though she put on a strong face, he could see the worry and fear starting to grow in her eyes.

He hoped that at least for tonight, she could forget about it. Hell, he was planning to forget about it all just for tonight.

"This is… wow," Freja whispered.

Before he could respond, Kimmie and Claire bounced up to her, pulling Freja over to a table that was laden with presents of all sizes, with Claire putting a plastic tiara on her head. He couldn't help but grin as he watched them interact. In the light of the fire, he could make out the faint blush that had come over Freja's face as she looked around, an overwhelmed expression on her face.

He then thought to his own present, safely tucked in his truck. One he intended to give to her later on when they were alone after he drove her home. The other, well, he knew he was about to embarrass himself royally in front of the entire pack, but he had been practicing on the old guitar and felt he finally gotten one song good enough to play for her.

Since she wasn't allowed to make any music for the time being, he figured he might as well do it for her.

"She certainly looks happy," Quil said as he stepped up to Embry's side, holding a cup out to him. "Good call on the surprise party. She seriously has never been to a real birthday party?"

"Well, sleepovers and stuff with her two best friends, but her grandparents never let her go to any big ones… just in case," Embry said before taking a drink. "Thought she would like this…"

He couldn't help but smile as Claire pulled Freja over to some of the other girls, another person putting a drink in her hand. Once again, she looked over, her eyes meeting Embry's as a brilliant grin filled her face.

"Yea… that smile says it all…"

OOOO

Embry finally made his way to Freja's side, an arm wrapped around her waist as she spoke with Quil. He then looked over, seeing a smiling Jacob walking up, someone at his side. His eyes widened, seeing Nessie with her arm looped through his, her eyes bright as she looked around.

He hadn't expected Jacob to bring her to the party, but then again, it wasn't completely that surprising. It had been awhile she last came to the reservation.

"Is that…"

"Nessie," Embry said, looking down at Freja. Her eyes were wide and fixed on the young woman as they made their way through the crowd over to them.

Embry chuckled, reminding himself that she had only just figured out two weeks ago that vampires were real. And though he had already given her a crash course in what they were really like, she was still probably looking for fangs or something. Even though Nessie was only half and looked for all intents and purposes just like any other human.

"How did Jacob manage to break you free?" Seth asked, cutting them off and giving Nessie a hug.

"Ah, I managed to negotiate the terms of a night out with the warden," Nessie said lightly. "Though Mom helped."

Even though he had known her six years, Embry still found it slightly unsettling how quickly she changed. And how much she looked like Bella before she turned. Despite her unconventional life and upbringing, she was very much down to earth and appeared like any other person around their age. Nessie then turned her brown eyes to Freja.

"This must be the woman of the hour. Renesmee. Or Nessie for short. Though don't let my mom hear you say that. Still hates it," she said cheerfully as she held her hand out. Freja looked down at it and then up at Nessie, a bit shocked.

She then reached out and shook her hand.

"Freja," she said.

"I told Jacob it was about time I meet the other one," Nessie said, looking up at him with a playful scowl then back at Freja. "Half human, that is."

"Yea… sorry… I don't mean to stare, just… I never met, well, never knew… I mean," Freja stumbled through her words.

Nessie laughed and Embry noticed that Freja relaxed slightly.

"It's fine. I didn't know that your kind existed either. Though it's created a bit of a tizzy. Grandpa's been trying to find anything and everything he can on mermaid lore," Nessie said, rolling her eyes slightly. "He actually asked me to ask you if he could come by and meet you and your grandparents…"

"Grandpa?" Freja asked, glancing up at Embry, likely thinking that Nessie was talking about Charlie Swan.

"Not that one. Carlisle Cullen," Embry explained quickly, though even he found it funny to hear him referred to as such. Carlisle had been about his own age when he was turned.

"Ah, right. The vampire grandfather," Freja said. Though she then snapped her mouth shut as her cheeks turned pink. Nessie only laughed.

"It's fine," she said. She then looked around. "What's a girl got to do to get a drink around here?"

"Nessie," Jacob said in warning.

"Oh, please. It's not like it'll really affect me. He'll never know," she scoffed. Jacob only held his frown. "I meant soda, anyway."

"I'll be back," Jacob said, leaving Nessie to go over to a cooler.

"God, sometimes that protective thing gets a bit much," Nessie said with a huff. "But it's fun to mess with him sometimes…"

Embry chuckled as the two launched into a lively conversation, with Nessie telling the many stories of pranking Jacob, her family or the other wolves, that had Freja laughing rather hard. Even Embry had to admit that he enjoyed having Nessie around, though she didn't come to the reservation all that much. But he wasn't surprised to see the two hit it off, considering their similarities.

But before he knew it, Nessie had hogged up nearly an hour of Freja's time and Embry was pulling her aside to a spot where they were relatively alone. At least for the time being. Freja was, as Nessie put it, the woman of the hour, and there was already a call for cake and presents to start up.

"You having fun?" he asked, looking down at her as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Freja nodded as she looked around and then back up at Embry.

"This is honestly the best birthday I think I've ever had," she said. "Thank you."

"You know I'd do anything for you," he said softly, staring down into her eyes, watching as the blue and green swirled together. He was starting to pick up on it, knowing this meant she was very happy.

"I know," Freja replied, grinning up at him. "Same here, you know."

Embry chuckled as he bent down, brushing his lips against hers.

"Get a room!" someone shouted, likely Seth. Embry rolled his eyes and looked over, shooting a mocked glare at the wolf in question, who was only grinning in return.

"Yo! Who's ready for cake and presents?!" Brady shouted.

"You only want cake," Colin replied.

"No one gets cake until after Freja," Emily said, shooting both of them her best mom look.

"It is my party," Freja said, looking up at Embry. "Best get to the cake before those two eat it all…"

OOOO

Embry pulled the guitar case out of the trunk and sighed heavily, his nerves starting up. Even though he knew that if he was horrible, Freja wouldn't mind, he couldn't help but be anxious. The others were never going to let him live this down. They were likely to make fun of him until the end of time even if he managed a halfway decent performance.

But the party had been going on a few hours now, and Quil had finally nudged him towards the truck, knowing that if he didn't do it now, he'd lose his nerve and never do it.

But as his eyes found her next to the fire as he walked back, Embry knew that he didn't care. He would do anything for Freja.

She turned and met his eyes, almost as though she knew instinctively where he would be. Her eyebrows raised slightly as she took in the guitar and a playful smirk appeared across her face. Embry chuckled and shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers.

But then, Freja froze, her eyes widening slightly before she looked to the ground, her hand going up to her chest to grip her shirt. Embry stopped for a moment and then sped up, seeing a grimace of pain sweep over her features. She looked back up, terror filling her eyes before they rolled back into her head and she started to collapse.

"FREJA!" he shouted, dropping the guitar and sprinting the last few feet.

He shoved the others out of the way, barely catching her before she hit the ground. Her entire body began convulsing as a sheen of sweat broke out across her brow. He put his hand to her cheek, noticing that she had gotten clammy and her skin was suddenly burning up.

"Freja! Talk to me! What's going on?" he shouted, feeling the others moving closer.

"She was fine just a second ago," Emily said, worry lacing her voice.

Freja reached up, her fingers clawing at her clothes as she struggled to breath. Embry felt his heart stop for a moment, as he realized what was going on. But it couldn't be. It was too soon. They had a week.

"It's happening," he said, easily lifting her up into his arms.

"She needs a hospital," someone shouted.

"What about Carlisle?"

"I don't think he knows what to do…"

"No, I need to get her to her grandparents," Embry shouted in return, not caring who he was talking to.

He ran to the truck and gently laid Freja in the front seat before running around to the other side and hopping in. Gravel flying, he pulled out of the parking lot and sped towards her house, reaching over every so often to touch her. A sort of slimy residue had started coating her skin as she began to whimper in pain.

"It's okay, I'm here," he said soothingly. "You're going to be fine."

Freja shouted in pain, her body contorting in odd angles as strange pops filled the truck, turning his stomach slightly. Embry couldn't help the fear coursing through him.

"Hold on, we're almost there."

It could have been minutes, seconds, or hours, Embry wasn't sure, but finally, he pulled into the lane leading to the beachside cabin. He didn't even bother to turn it off as he launched out of the driver's side and ran over, pulling the door open and then gingerly taking Freja into his arms.

"HELP!" he shouted.

Before he reached the front porch, the door flew open and her grandparents ran out.

"I don't know what happened… she was fine one second and then… she just collapsed," he shouted.

"Come, bring her upstairs," her grandmother said urgently, stepping aside to let him in.

Embry moved through the house quickly, making his way up the stairs to her room and laying her down on the bed.

"What do we do?" he asked frantically, turning to her grandparents. "It's too soon, right? Is something wrong?"

Astrid stared at Freja, no doubt in shock over the way she was writhing around on the bed, her eyes wide in fear.

"Please!" Embry shouted.

Astrid jumped slightly and tore her eyes away from her granddaughter, looking up at him. She seemed to snap out of it as she looked back into the attached bathroom and then down at Freja.

"Oscar. Get the salt from the kitchen. Embry stay with her. We need to get her in water," Astrid said firmly, already turning towards the bathroom as Oscar started for the door of the room.

"Will that help?" Embry nearly shouted. Astrid stopped and looked back at him.

"I'm not sure, but we should try," she said before continuing into the bathroom.

Embry turned back to the bed and knelt down, taking Freja's hand. Her eyes were closed as she kept tossing her head back and forth, murmuring something over and over again, though he couldn't understand it.

"It's going to be okay. I'm here," he said, reaching out to soothe her brow. She settled a bit under his touch, though she was still gasping for air. "It's going to be okay…"

"Quickly! Bring her in!" Astrid shouted.

Embry stood and picked Freja up, not realizing that much time had passed. He walked into the bathroom, Astrid and Oscar moving away as he lowered her into the tub fully clothed. Water splashed out, drenching his clothes. Freja gasped loudly, her eyes flying open as she became submerged in the water. She then seemed to settle down, her eyes drifting shut again.

"Is this… is this supposed to happen? It's a week away," he asked, looking over his shoulder at her grandparents.

Astrid was nearly in tears and Oscar wrapped his arm around her soothingly.

"I don't know," she said, her words hollow. "I… I really don't know."

Embry turned back to Freja, a grimace flinting over her face.

"It's going to be okay…"

OOOO

Freja didn't know where she was. One second, she was at the party, having fun. And then the next, her body was filled with searing pain. It felt like all of her bones were breaking at once and then realigning themselves. She was certain she had passed out from it, but then the fever had set in and she wasn't sure if she was awake or dreaming.

She heard Embry's voice, but couldn't make out what he was saying. Then she was certain she heard her grandmother and grandfather. She was being carried - or she was flying. But that didn't make sense.

Then the pain abated a bit, though the fever didn't let up. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

It's going to be okay… stay with me, Freja… I'm here... It's going to be okay…

His voice. Embry. Even in her delirious state, Freja latched onto it like an anchor keeping her from being lost in the swirl of colors, sounds and images currently bombarding her mind. But then just as she felt the calm coursing through her, she was swept up in it again.

Blue-green swirls filled her mind, making her think of the sea. The smell of salt and fish. Waves and currents, pushing her around, her body somersaulting through the water. Or space. She wasn't sure. Freja reached around, frantically trying to find something - anything - to keep her from getting swept away.

She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out as she continued to reach frantically.

Then she heard it.

A soft melody that Freja knew well. One that she only ever heard in her dreams. Freja stopped struggling, turning her head this way and that though she could make out nothing around her.

"Mama? Mama!" she shouted. "Mama! I'm here!"

The singing grew louder, and Freja turned her head in the direction it was coming from. She could see a soft light forming and immediately she tried to swim towards it. A warmth filled her as she began to make out a form in the light. Eyes just like hers. A soft smile. A hand reaching out to her.

Everything will be fine, my sweet girl…

"Mama… I'm scared," Freja said, fighting to reach the woman, who's hair fanned out around her in the water.

Do not be afraid…

Just as Freja was about to reach out and touch her fingertips, she was pulled back suddenly, away from her.

"NO!" Freja shouted, struggling to reach her again but instead being pulled into the technicolor swirl.

She couldn't make heads or tails of anything or where she was. For a time she had thought she was in the ocean, but now she wasn't sure. Then suddenly, everything came to a stop and there was nothing but darkness around her.

Freja stilled, her heart pounding in her chest. Was this it? Had she finally died? There was no more pain. No fever. No nothing.

"Hello!" she shouted, her voice echoing in the abyss.

I'm here, Freja. I'm here. It's going to be okay…

She looked around, recognizing the voice.

"Embry," she whispered.

Hold on, Freja. You can survive this.

She wasn't dead. Not yet. It wasn't over. But at least she knew she wasn't dead.

"I can do this," she whispered to herself. "I can do th-"

A guttural shriek left her lips as another round of pain wracked her body. She screamed and twisted, then gritted her teeth.

She was going to survive this.

OOOO

Okay, so I didn't finish another chapter today, but I went back and did a WHOLE LOT OF EDITING. I realized there were several inconsistencies in earlier chapters. Which I would have caught had I not been all "LET'S POST EVERYTHING NOW" and taken the time to go through and edit more thoroughly like I usually do before I start posting a story (or gotten a beta for this one... probably should have done that...). So chapters 1-11 have been reposted, though some chapters have only minor editing while others have a whole 200-300 words added and such. (Namely, I forgot that I changed it to where Freja didn't know how her parents had died and in earlier chapters she had more of an idea... had to get rid of that... and well, just some general cleaning up with dialogue, adding in more detail, etc.)

Anyway, as such, I thought I would go ahead and post the next chapter, though, as you can see, things are getting pretty dramatic. Sorry for the cliffhanger, but if I get another chapter written tomorrow and another round of editing on chapters 16-20 finished, I'll post the next chapter. Trust me... next chapter is a big one... I'M giddy about finally posting it, to be honest.

.2020 - I know, right? I mean, I still LOVE Embry and Mara (my other Twilight series), but Embry and Freja are super cute.

Guest - Thanks! Hope you liked this chapter as well!

Thanks everyone for reading and following!