Restless as the Sea

Embry pulled up outside the store in Forks and turned off the truck, glancing over at his best friend Quil.

"We should stop and get lunch before we go back," Quil said as he got out on his side. "Take a long lunch. We've earned it."

"Didn't we take a long lunch yesterday? And the day before that?" Embry asked with a chuckle as he met Quil at the back of the truck.

"We can never take too many long lunches," Quil shot back amicably. "Like you think Gramps is going to fire us?" Embry snorted.

"He might. Once he realizes he's got a lazy-ass bum for a grandson," Embry shot back with a smirk. Quil only rolled his eyes.

Embry knew Quil had a point - there was hardly anything either one of them could do to get fired from Gramps' custom woodwork and furniture repair shop. But at the same time, Embry already struggled enough with feeling like the job had been a handout. And he had always naturally been more responsible than Quil, often acting as the voice of reason over the years whenever he attempted to talk him and their other best friend Jacob Black into some sort of hairbrained scheme.

"Besides, I've got a few pieces that I'm working on that I should finish up," Embry said, half-heartedly trying to talk Quil into going straight back as they started to unload the cabinet they were delivering.

Granted at this point, from the grin Quil was shooting him, Embry knew he was fighting a losing battle.

"Yea, but you could use a break," Quil countered. "It's decided. We'll stop by Lou's before going back." Embry rolled his eyes.

He supposed that the last six years or so with absolutely no supernatural events of any sort could have something to do with Quil's attitude - he was bored. The whole pack was a bit bored and restless, to be honest. Since the mini vampire convention surrounding the Cullens and Renesemee, life had gone back to normal in Forks and La Push.

For the most part, Embry had welcomed normal and boring. But as more time passed, he couldn't help but feel a growing restlessness.

There was no longer a need for patrols with the only vampires in the area the Cullens, though at least they were still phasing. Embry, Quil and Jacob took to shifting for runs a few times a week just to let off a bit of pent off energy. Some of the other guys would join them from time to time, but for the most part, they were all busy with their own lives.

Sam had his shop and was now focused on the family he and Emily were building. Jacob spent most of his free time when he wasn't working at the garage up at the Cullens. Paul had moved to Seattle with Rachel, though they were currently back to visit. Jared was working at Sam's garage as well and he and Kim had married a couple years ago and settled down in La Push. Seth, Brady and Colin were all attending Port Angeles Community College and lived there during the week but came back on weekends, not wanting to be too far from their imprints. Quil was fairly settled as well. He was learning to take over his grandfather's shop someday while his imprint Claire was about to start her third year at college.

Even Leah had settled into a relatively peaceful existence, finally getting over her anger issues and now living and working in Portland as a kick-boxing instructor, though she came back to visit from time to time.

It was only Embry who felt adrift, being the only one besides Leah who hadn't imprinted yet. Though she was more at home with this than him, somehow accepting that she might never imprint and being okay with it. Embry had told himself he was, but he knew deep down that he wasn't. And that the others knew whenever they shifted, though thankfully no one brought it up.

But rather than leave and see what was out there, Embry stayed in La Push and took the job at Gramps' shop right after he graduated, hoping he would figure out something to do. However, it felt like time was slipping him by. He knew rationally that 23 was still young, but it was hard to focus on that when everyone around him - older, same age and younger - seemed to be settling down.

"Don't forget about the beach party coming up before everyone leaves," Quil said, pulling Embry from his thoughts as they walked towards the door of the shop.

"Though that was still a couple months away," Embry replied, frowning slightly. Quil chuckled.

"You been living in La La Land? It's in two weeks," he replied.

"Oh," Embry replied, looking over at the shop owner who was holding the door open for them and thankful for the distraction.

He couldn't help but feel as though he had, once again, lost time. Where had the summer gone?

After putting the cabinet where it was meant to go and settling the invoice, the two walked out and started down the street to the diner. Though rather than keeping up a constant stream of commentary, Quil was being uncharacteristically quiet, glancing around the town.

"Something wrong with Claire?" Embry asked, assuming the two had gotten into some sort of argument. While it didn't happen often, Quil did on occasion put his foot in his mouth.

Quil shook his head, chuckling softly.

"No. Or, well, it does have to do with Claire," he started.

"What's going on?" Embry asked, wondering if Quil was finally proposing to her. A weird churning started up in his stomach.

Quil had imprinted on her six years ago, but they had only been dating the two years or so as Claire was only 14 back when he imprinted while Quil was 17. Her parents hadn't been all that keen on the relationship at the beginning, but seemed to have finally come around. Though Embry had a good feeling they would have a few choice words about Quil proposing while Claire was still this young. In fact, Embry was surprised he'd even been thinking about it. From the way Quil had talked, it sounded as though both of them wanted to wait a few more years until they were older, often teasing Jared for settling down so quickly with Kim.

"Well… so you know she's thinking about transferring… been applying," Quil said, not looking at Embry. "She's been accepted to the University of Washington, and… I'm thinking I'm going to go with her."

Embry stopped, his eyebrows rising slightly. Quil was thinking about leaving La Push?

"But what about the shop?" Embry asked.

The last few years Gramps had been training Quil to run things and had long made clear that he'd get the shop someday. Embry thought Quil was happy with this, though now that he thought about it, he could see the signs. Claire had made a few comments here and there about wanting to leave La Push and Quil had gradually stopped trying to talk her out of it.

And just like that, Embry's best friend was now leaving down because of the damn imprint. Jacob long made it clear that when the Cullens eventually left - which was likely coming up soon as Renesmee was near ready to start university. He had to admit that hurt a bit.

"It'll still be here when we get back," Quil said with a smile. "Besides, Gramps has you to help out until we come back… I mean, I'm sure we'll come back… eventually… Just want to see what's out there and all while we can… And Seattle isn't that far away..."

Embry rolled his eyes and started walking again, huffing slightly.

"Right. I'll always be here," he muttered.

"Come on, Embry. We both knew that this day was coming," Quil said, starting to follow him. "We've talked about it before…"

"Yea, but you said that you would most likely stay," Embry replied.

While he knew he was taking out his own frustration on Quil, it still hurt that his best friend was considering leaving. And that he was still stuck here. With no idea of what he wanted to do or where he wanted to go.

"You know, you could always leave too," Quil said, already sensing the direction of Embry's thoughts.

"Yea, and then who will take care of Mom?" Embry asked.

"We both know your mom is more than capable of taking care of herself," Quil shot back.

"And the shop?" Embry said.

"He can hire someone else from town. Though really, no one is as good as you are," Quil said. "Even me… sometimes I think it would be better if Gramps gave the shop to you."

Embry stopped again, sensing something in Quil's voice. He turned, looking at him and seeing Quil looking at the ground. He then looked up, a sad smile on his face.

"We both know you're better cut out to run that business than I am. Everything I make falls apart. I get the finances wrong half the time. Gramps is only doing it to make Mom happy and keep her from knowing," Quil replied. "He'd be better off giving it to you."

An uneasy silence settled on them, the two not outright mentioning the elephant in the room. That the reason the older Ateara had taken Embry under his wing was because Quil's father had had an affair with Embry's mother that resulted in his birth. It had caused a bit of strife when they all figured it out after Embry phased the first time (and before Quil), but Embry thought they had long-since gotten over it. Quil's father had been dead a long time and Quil's mother still didn't know - all parties seemingly in agreement that it was for the best she never knew. Even Embry hadn't brought it up around his own mother, though he had a feeling that she knew he knew.

Embry sighed and shook his head, his frustration dissipating as he smiled slightly. He was still upset about Quil leaving, but he wasn't about to hold his best friend back. Nor be angry about Gramps leaving him the shop - as it was, Embry felt like he had no right to it anyway. Even if it was his grandfather too.

"I think if you want to go with Claire… could be good. Maybe you could enroll and finally learn something," he said wryly as he started walking again.

Quil frowned in mock hurt, catching up to him.

"Hey, I learn stuff," he shot back, shoving Embry slightly. "I'm smart!"

"Yea, right…"

And like that, they were back to best friends, joking around in the same way they had since they were little. Shoving each other back and forth and throwing around half-hearted insults. They never could stay mad at each other for long.

But as they were walking, out of nowhere, a strong scent instantly came over Embry, stopping in his tracks for a moment. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, almost feeling the salt on his tongue from seawater and the ocean breeze against his face. His mind was filled with images of a stormy sea.

"Something wrong?" Quil asked, breaking him from his momentary reverie.

Embry opened his eyes, looking around for where the smell was coming from. It reminded him of La Push Beach, but yet, it was different. Wilder, almost.

"I smell something," he said. Quil chuckled.

"Yea, not a stretch," he said. "Sure you're just smelling someone coming back from a fishing trip."

Embry shook his head, finding his feet were moving. He had to find the source of the smell. He could feel it deep down in his bones. But what he didn't understand was why Quil didn't smell it.

"It's not that," he murmured. "Something else… I need to find it…"

He started moving faster as the smell started getting stronger.

"Embry!" Quil called out, but Embry ignored him.

There, it was coming from around that corner. But just as he started to turn it, Quil caught up to him and grabbed his arm, stopping him. Embry turned to glare at him, though out of the corner of his eye, he saw the swish of white-blonde hair disappearing into a building.

"What's gotten into you?" Quil asked, giving him an odd look.

"I just… I smelled something," Embry said, looking back into the now empty alley. "It was like… this sounds stupid, but it was like the ocean…"

"Not sure why you'd want to smell that…," Quil replied. "All fishy and shit." Embry turned back to him, his brow furrowed.

"Not fish. The ocean, like the air and… you know, just forget it," he replied with a sigh, turning to head towards the diner.

"Okay…" Quil said, sensing he had hit a tender spot, though he looked confused by the whole exchange. "So… that was weird, but sure it was nothing… Let's get lunch and get back before we piss off Gramps."

Embry nodded as they kept walking, but he couldn't help but glance back into the empty alley a few times, wondering just what it was he had smelled.

OOOO

Freja sighed as she walked into the shop, finding it completely empty save for all the secondhand instruments out on display. Her grandfather was likely in the back, up to his eyeballs in broken instruments while her grandmother was hopefully at home working on lunch to bring in for them in a bit.

She had had a busy morning tuning pianos all over the county and her stomach had been growling near constantly for the last half hour.

At first glance, one would probably think a shop that repaired and sold secondhand instruments was an odd choice of business for a town like Forks, but her grandfather had long ago proven his skill and people came from all sorts of surrounding towns for his work - sometimes to place orders for custom built instruments, which was his speciality.

While they weren't rich by any means, Freja had grown up comfortably and never really in want for anything. And the shop had stayed open when many others in the area had not.

Staying still, she listened closely, hearing nothing. There were no customers and her grandfather was probably buried deep in his workshop in the back, his own music playing. Smiling to herself, she walked over to an old upright piano, dropping her heavy bag of tools to the ground next to it and sat down, for a moment drinking in the sight of the black and white keys. She then gently placed her long, slender fingers on the keys, enjoying the smooth ivory underneath. Taking a deep breath, she started playing a soft tune. She wasn't sure if it was something she had heard somewhere or if she was making it up, but that didn't matter. She started softly humming along a melody.

Freja had always enjoyed music. Had always been able to play whatever instrument she picked up, though she preferred piano and guitar, seeming to have a natural ability. But no one really knew this about her. It was a secret her grandparents had forced her to keep, though on occasion she would play a little something on the guitar for her two best friends.

In fact, despite being born and raised in Forks, no one really knew anything much about Freja, save that she was the granddaughter of Oscar and Astrid Larssen, who ran the only instrument shop and mostly kept to herself - something that came out of necessity. And was a feat in and of itself.

Freja had always been friendly and somewhat outgoing, wanting to be friends with just about everyone though her grandparents had always been a bit protective. This was all good and fine until Freja hit puberty and things began to change. They began instituting new rules to the point that by high school, the only people Freja was allowed to go out with were her two best friends Amy and Natasha.

It didn't help that she stuck out among the people of Forks with her translucent skin, hair that was so blonde it was practically white, and eyes that were constantly swirling in various shades of grey, blue and green. She had often been teased for her hair as a child.

But as with many things in a small town, the kids eventually forgot whatever it was that had made them curious about Freja to begin with, so that by high school, she was just some kid in the background.

Having graduated a little over two years ago, she spent her time helping at the shop while Amy and Natasha were off at school, the two of them roommates at Stanford. While she kept in touch often, Freja could already feel them pulling away. She supposed that was all well and fine, anyway, considering what was coming...

"Freja!"

Immediately, Freja's fingers left the piano as she spun around on the bench, her heart pounding. Her grandmother stood just outside the door back to the workshop, her hands on her hips and a frown on her face. Even though she was nearly 21, her grandmother still had the ability to strike the fear of the gods in her.

"What did I tell you?" the old woman scolded, now walking towards her.

Astrid Larssen may have appeared old - truthfully, Freja wasn't sure just how old considering her grandparents never spoke about their age, only that they were far, far older than they looked - but she was spry and youthful in a lot of ways, still rather statuesque, her long silver hair often in a braid that she wrapped around her head to keep it out of her way. Her eyes were a stormy grey as she glared at her granddaughter and her voice was strong, making Freja feel as though she were a child again.

"But no one was around. I checked," Freja replied, frowning in return and trying her hardest not to sound like she was whining. Astrid sighed and shook her head.

"You cannot be reckless, Freja, not anymore," she said, looking back at her. "It could be dangerous. You know this."

Freja huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms in front of her. While she knew it came from a place of love - her grandparents really did only want to protect her - years of following the long list of rules was tiring.

Don't play music in public.

Don't travel too far from the ocean.

Don't get too close to anyone - especially boys.

Never tell anyone the full truth.

And never - ever - let anyone hear you sing.

"Even when you were a child, you were not so difficult," Astrid complained.

"Perhaps because I'm not a child anymore," Freja shot back, still scowling.

Her grandmother studied her a few moments, her eyes softening slightly. She then sighed and walked over, placing her hands gently on Freja's cheeks.

"Every day, you look and sound more and more like her," she murmured.

Freja felt her glare start to slip off her face as she thought about the mother who had died when she was still a baby. The woman she only knew through songs, stories and photos.

"I know that it's not easy, mitt hjärta, but it's only for a bit longer," Astrid said softly. "Soon it will all be over with…"

Freja nodded, seeing the deep love in her grandmother's eyes. She knew how important the rules were. Why her grandparents had been so strict with her - especially lately. But it still didn't make it that much easier. Of course, now that her thoughts were veering in the direction of her 21st birthday, Freja couldn't help as a small spike of fear struck her heart.

Astrid patted her cheek and stepped back over to the counter that held an ancient computer and cash register.

"Now, I think your grandfather could use some help in the back," Astrid said, turning her attention to a pile of invoices on the counter.

Freja nodded and started back, though began absentmindedly scratching at a patch of skin on the inside of her wrist that was starting to peel. Astrid looked up, catching the motion. Her eyes widened slightly as she stepped around the counter, reaching out and gently taking Freja's wrist in her hands. Though they were aging, they were still agile and strong.

"When did this happen?" she asked, looking down at the rash.

"I woke up with it," Freja said, not sure why it was significant. Just a bit of dry skin. She then caught the look in her grandmother's eyes which told her it was anything but.

"I have a cream that will help. Remind me when we get home," Astrid replied.

Freja hummed in agreement, pulling her arm back and inspecting it, frowning slightly at yet another sign of what was coming. Before she could walk to the back room, her grandmother enveloped her in a hug.

"It won't be long," she said softly.

Freja couldn't help as a sudden wave of dread swept through her, thinking about how little time was left until her birthday.

"I know…"

OOOO

I just can't get away from writing about the wolf packs. Seriously. Anyway, I'm not exactly sure where this story idea came from - just one day I was daydreaming about various mythical creatures and then started wondering what else there might be in the Twilight universe (again, not sure why my mind went to Twilight… haven't read the books or seen the movies in ages) and then this came to me. Hope you enjoy!

One note - I know in the books/movies, Quil imprints on a 2-year-old, but I just… couldn't. He's a major secondary character in this, and I just… yea. So Claire is 20 in this story - meaning she was 14 when he imprinted on her when he was 17 and they started dating after she got older...