Turn the Corner

Embry couldn't help but walk over and glance into the living room, a worried expression on his face. Everything seemed to be going okay in there, but you couldn't always tell with his mother. She was smiling now as she spoke with Freja's mother and grandfather, easily believing that Ingrid was Freja's older sister.

While the Havsfru hadn't been all that happy to introduce herself as anything other than Aleksander and Freja's mother, even she had understood the necessity - there was no way humans were going to believe that she was old enough. They had then concocted a story about her and Aleksander living in Sweden for the last several years with some other relatives for… reasons. Embry only hoped his mother didn't get too snoopy with that.

Now that he was thinking about it, maybe they should have come up with a more detailed story. And he was now realizing that it was probably time for him to come clean to his mother about everything - being a shapeshifter, the imprint and Freja's family.

He should have told her before now. That would have made this first gathering of their families a hell of a lot less stressful.

"This isn't going to work. She knows we're lying. It's too soon," he stated, sensing Freja at his side.

"It's fine. Mama knows how to be around humans. And she knows the story well," Freja whispered to him. She studied them a few moments. "I think they're getting along well."

"Yea, well, Mom is good at hiding what she's thinking," he replied. His mother looked over at him at that moment and he turned, walking back over to Astrid, who was in front of the stove, cooking.

"You know we do not need your help," she said, a small smirk on her face.

"I want to help," Embry said a bit too eagerly, causing the old woman to chuckle.

Though now that he was really looking at her, he noticed she had fewer wrinkles. It had only been a couple weeks since Michael had given her and Oscar back their true forms and already they were both appearing and acting younger, more spritely. He made a mental note to ask Freja about it later.

Shit. One more thing to come up with a story for. Unless he finally told his mother the truth. Why hadn't he told her back when Sam gave him permission? Oh, right that whole business about his birth father. But now was not the time to think about that.

"Help me with the table," Freja said, getting his attention.

He turned to the island and took a stack of plates that she handed him. Aleksander was perched at the island watching them and still not quite comfortable enough to join the conversation in the living room.

While he was adjusting to life on the land, the younger Havsfru still had trouble with some things as he hadn't been all that exposed to it before. And he was still coming to terms with the fact that everything he previously knew about himself was a lie. But thankfully, he and Freja were becoming closer, the two of them often spending hours alone or with their mother, getting to know each other. And Embry had to admit that the more he got to know him, the more he liked him.

But at the same time, it was less time he spent with Freja. While Embry wanted to spend all of his time with her, worried that Sven could still show up and try something again, he knew that he needed to give her this time with her brother and mother. Besides, they had the rest of their lives together.

He and Freja worked quickly and by the time they had the table set, Astrid was informing the others that dinner was ready.

They all settled around the table, with Tiffany and Oscar at the opposite ends. Embry sat next to his mother, with Freja next to him and then Aleksander. Ingrid was opposite him while Astrid was next to Oscar.

"This is amazing," Tiffany said, taking in the feast before her. "I take it you've learned just how much food my son can put away."

She glanced at him, smiling slightly. Embry choked a bit on his drink as the others chuckled. Little did his mother know she was in the company of four full Havsfru and one half-Havsfru who could put away just as much now that they were all regularly taking to the sea.

"We have enjoyed Embry's company and see him as part of the family," Astrid said, beaming at him. "He has been good to our Freja. And we are so happy to finally meet you."

Tiffany's eyebrows rose slightly as she took a drink of her wine, glancing at Embry again and causing him to squirm a bit. Okay, so maybe he hadn't been completely honest with her on just how much time he had spent at the Larssens' house.

"Please, eat," Oscar encouraged and soon they were busy filling their plates.

"So, Embry tells me that you plan to travel soon," Tiffany said, looking towards the older Larssens and attempting to make small talk.

"Yes, it has been a long, long while since Astrid and I have had some time to ourselves," Oscar said. "Freja is more than capable of running the shop in our stead. Especially now that our Ingrid has returned." He smiled softly at his daughter and then looked over at Aleksander. "And I am sure Aleksander here will help. Perhaps learn more of our trade."

"What was it you said that you were studying in Stockholm?" Tiffany asked, looking over at Ingrid.

"Music," she said easily. "Piano specifically. They have a great conservatory there…"

Embry had to admit that despite being locked up somewhere in the ocean for the last 20-something odd years, Ingrid was doing really good at blending in. With her injury healed, she started going into the shop again, helping out and teaching Aleksander about repairing instruments as well as about Forks and the land. It was almost as though she had never left at all.

"So music really does run in the family," Tiffany replied with a smile as she glanced around the table. "Embry tells me that Freja is a talented pianist and guitarist."

Embry couldn't help but smile at Freja in pride as she blushed slightly.

"He might be exaggerating a bit," she said shyly.

"You should hear her sing," Embry added.

"But we are not supposed to sing," Aleksander said, frowning slightly.

Embry whipped his head over to him, silently urging him with his eyes not to say anything else that would sound weird to his mother.

"And why's that?" Tiffany asked with a chuckle, though when Embry looked back at her, he noticed a hint of something in her eyes. Oh shit. She was suspicious.

"Oh, well, we had a bit of the flu in the house recently. We shouldn't sing until we're completely well so that it doesn't damage our voices," Ingrid said, coming to the rescue. Embry had no idea if that was true, but he was willing to believe it and hoped that his mother would as well.

He really wanted to glance at his mother and judge if she had bought it, but thought too much of that would definitely have her suspicious. He saw her nod her head slowly out of the corner of his eye as he forced himself to calmly eat.

"There's been a bit of that going around lately," Tiffany said. "Definitely had a few more people than usual coming into the hospital sick.."

He almost breathed a sigh of relief as Ingrid began peppering Tiffany with questions about working as a nurse at the hospital. At least it would keep his mother from asking the Larssens any questions for the time being. Looking over at Freja, she gave him a smile and he lightened up a bit.

Yea, there was nothing to worry about. This was going to be fine.

Soon enough, Astrid and Ingrid had cleared most of the dishes away and were bringing over dessert while Oscar poured Tiffany another glass of wine. They were in the home stretch. And Embry felt like his mother actually did seem to like Freja's family, which was a relief. He wasn't sure what he was going to do if she didn't get along with the rest of the Larssens.

He was going to marry Freja someday, that he knew. And it wouldn't do if the two sides of their family didn't get along. Right, stop it. He needed to be focused on right now and getting through this dinner, not dreaming about the future that was still pretty far off.

"That was delicious, Astrid. And I really wish you would let me help," Tiffany said.

"Nonsense, you are our guest," Astrid said lightly as she started dishing out plates of peach cobbler and passing them around, starting with Tiffany.

Embry couldn't help as his mouth started watering. There was nothing he loved more than Astrid's peach cobbler and homemade whipped cream. He had just picked up his fork to dig in when movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Looking over, he saw Aleksander with a blob of whipped cream on his finger, staring at it intently. Oh, god, what was he doing now?

"What is this?" he asked.

Wait, had he seriously not had whipped cream in the two weeks he had been here?

"Whipped cream. You'll like it," Ingrid said gently to him. He looked over at her, his eyes wide. "Go on."

He finally stuck his tongue out and tested it. Blinking a few times, he smiled and stuck the entire glob in his mouth, apparently deeming it edible.

Embry held his breath slightly as he looked over at his mother, an amused expression on her face that said she seemed to have not found the moment all that strange. Conversation once again settled around normal topics, with Astrid and Oscar talking about their upcoming trip and Aleksander thankfully saying nothing.

Finally, dessert had come to an end and Tiffany was up, this time insisting that she help with the clean-up. Embry was smiling as he sat back in his chair. It had worked. He wasn't sure how, but it did. Oscar led Aleksander into the living room, probably to avoid any other odd moments or questions as Freja walked the leftover cobbler to the island.

"Mama, could you give me the tupperware?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the dessert.

Embry near spit out his drink as his eyes widened and Freja froze slightly. Astrid had turned to her, but before she could say anything, Ingrid reached into a cabinet and pulled out the tupperware, then held it out to Freja.

"Here you are," she said with a smile before she took in Freja's expression and realized her mistake. "I mean… I was much closer."

"Thanks," Freja said, her cheeks coloring as she turned her attention back to packing up the dessert.

Tiffany looked back and forth between Freja and Ingrid, an odd look on her face.

"She was speaking to me," Astrid explained with a chuckle. "We raised Freja and sometimes she calls me Mama."

"I can understand," Tiffany said, the awkward moment passing. "It must have been hard. Taking in three kids like that."

"I would change nothing," Astrid said, glancing over at Ingrid and Freja with a soft smile. "They are my joy..."

OOOO

The beginning of the drive back home was quiet, though somehow Embry kept himself from glancing at his mother every so often. But he knew her silence could only mean one thing. She suspected something was up and was currently deciding the best way to ask about it.

Already, he was going through a million ways to explain things, but he kept coming back to the same thing: Maybe it was time.

"So, Ingrid, Freja and Aleksander seem really close despite being apart for a long time," Tiffany said, her voice casual. "Why did Freja stay here?"

"She just wanted to," Embry said with a shrug. "She's a bit of a homebody while Ingrid and Aleksander like to travel. And well, as the oldest, Ingrid's always been looking out for both of them." Okay, that was easy.

"How old are they again?" Tiffany then asked.

"Uh, Freja's 21. And Aleksander is 19, almost 20. I think Ingrid is… 25," Embry said, panicking slightly because he couldn't remember how old they had decided Ingrid would be. He hoped that was right.

Tiffany was silent again, but Embry still kept his eyes on the road. Finally she sighed.

"What is it, Embry? I know when you're keeping something from me. You've been a nervous wreck all night and it's not just about the dinner tonight," Tiffany said. "Is it something to do with Freja?"

Embry didn't say anything at first, wracking his brain for words. He should have known that his mother would pick up on everything. She was smart and perceptive. He could never lie to her growing up. He finally sighed.

"Actually, yea… there's… something," he said a bit reluctantly.

"Sweetie, you know you can tell me anything," she replied softly. Embry glanced over, seeing a slightly worried look on her face.

"I know, but… I wasn't sure how you would take this," he continued, gripping the steering wheel slightly. He then took another deep breath, preparing himself.

"How far along is Freja?" Tiffany asked dryly before he could say anything.

Embry was so surprised, he swerved slightly as he looked over at his mother, mouth dropping open.

"Embry! The car!" Tiffany shouted, grabbing the wheel. He managed to get them straightened out on the road, but glanced over at Tiffany in shock. "Really, I don't know how you think I wouldn't know… I am your mother. You think it wasn't obvious what you two were getting up to that day I met Freja at the house?"

"Mom, that's not… we're not… It's," Embry stuttered, his cheeks turning a flaming red. "Freja's not pregnant. We haven't even slept together yet." Tiffany snorted.

"Seriously, you can stop lying," she said with a chuckle. "I mean, I saw how much she put away tonight. If that's not eating for two, then-"

"Mom, Freja has a high metabolism like me. Her whole family does," Embry said, cutting her off. "I swear, she's not pregnant."

He glanced at her again, seeing her staring at him with a furrowed brow.

"Okay… then what is it? Oh, god, do not tell me that you're getting married. Embry Taylor Call! You are only 23!" she shouted.

"Wait, so you were fine when you thought Freja was pregnant, but you don't want us to get married?" Embry asked, frowning.

"That's not it! I like Freja and her family even if they're a bit… odd… but seriously, Em. You guys are so young. And you haven't been together that long. I'm just asking you to wait a bit and really think about it," Tiffany urged, which was pretty much what he expected she would say on that topic.

But that wasn't the secret.

Embry looked at her again, noticing her expression had changed.

"Wait, that's not it either, is it?" she asked. Embry shook his head. He was finally pulling up in front of their house.

Turning off the engine, he sat for a moment and then looked over at his mother.

"Mom, there's something I've been hiding from you for about six years," he started.

"Are you g-"

"I'm not gay!" he shouted, causing his mother to snap her mouth shut. "Would you let me tell you so you can stop guessing?" Tiffany nodded her head and then reached out, taking his hand. Embry swallowed and then looked her straight in the eye. "You remember all those old stories about the Quileute spirit warriors? Turns out they're true… and I'm one of them…"

OOOO

Freja stood on the beach, Embry at her side as they watched her grandparents fuss over Aleksander a bit. She wasn't exactly sure why, seeing as he and Ingrid were going with them. It was Freja they weren't going to see for a month.

But she couldn't help but sigh and chuckle as she leaned against Embry, finding her heart couldn't be fuller. And finally - FINALLY - everything was as it should be.

Her mother and brother were home with them for good. Her grandparents had their forms returned. Sven was never going to bother them again. And she had Embry.

Looking up at him, she found he was more relaxed than she had ever seen him. Probably because after years of hiding what he really was from his mother, he had finally told her. Well… showed her was more like it. Tiffany had laughed at him when he first told her he turned into a wolf. Then screamed and nearly ran off when he actually did it.

Thankfully, she adjusted quickly, being as no-nonsense as she was. He told her about the Cullens and what he had been involved in while in high school. All of it. But that had then led to a more difficult conversation - Embry's father. While it had not been easy, at least he now knew the story. What Tiffany Call had though was love at first sight was merely a fling for Quil Ateara III. Which she found out the hard way when she showed up pregnant in La Push to find him happily married with a kid on the way. Feeling there was no way she could go back to the Makah reservation and face that humiliation, she stayed, hoping that someday he would acknowledge his son, but he never did.

Though she had suspected that Old Quil knew something about it when he took Embry under his wing.

But the air had finally been cleared between mother and son, though Tiffany was hurt that he hadn't asked her about his father before - she would have told him everything - and that he hadn't felt as though he could tell her about the packs. She loved him no matter what. The two vowed no more secrets and in line with that, Embry then told Tiffany the full truth about Freja.

The imprint. What she and her family were. That Ingrid was actually her mother. Everything that happened over the last several months from Freja nearly dying as she went through the Change, to Sven showing up, discovering her mother had been kidnapped and not killed, then Freja's kidnapping and the discovery that she had a half-brother.

To say it was a lot for Tiffany Call to take in would be putting it mildly. But she had finally started to wrap her head around it. And well, any gatherings they were at together went much more smoothly now that no one had to hide anything. The first time Tiffany had been present for a gathering of the packs and Havsfru, well, that was certainly memorable.

But finally, things had settled down, bringing them to today.

Her grandparents were taking to the sea for a well overdue, extended vacation. While her mother and brother were going with them for the first bit of it, they planned to come back after a couple weeks to help Freja with the store. She supposed she could have gone with them as well, but after the last month or so, Freja just wanted to stay home for a bit.

She smiled, seeing how happy her grandparents were. Finally they had their true forms back and were ready to fully put them to use.

"Take care, my love," her grandmother said as she hugged her and then kissed her cheek. "We should only be gone a month at the most."

Freja could sense a bit of worry in her eyes.

"I've got everything under control," Freja said. "Besides, Mama and Aleksander will be back to help." Astrid nodded and then stepped over to hug Embry.

"Look out for her, yes?" she said.

"Don't worry. We'll be fine," Embry said with a chuckle. They then both hugged her grandfather and stepped back from the group.

Quickly, they all began to shed their clothes, with Embry looking away as he cleared his throat. Freja laughed softly as she gathered up the clothing and then watched as her family made their way into the water and then four tails flipped up.

"Yea… can't unsee that," Embry said, turning back to the ocean.

"After everything, you're still embarrassed by this?" she asked with a grin as they turned back to the house.

"Nudity doesn't bother me anymore. But seeing your grandparents naked… yea," he replied with a chuckle. Freja rolled her eyes and picked up the pace, jogging up to the deck.

They walked inside and she quickly dropped off the clothes in the laundry room before walking into the living room and taking in the now quiet home. She had the entire house to herself for the next two weeks. And as it was Saturday, she still had two almost full days before she needed to go back to the shop.

She opened her mouth to ask Embry what he wanted to do as she turned to face him, but before any words could come out, his lips were against hers in a hungry kiss. All rational thought left her mind as one of his hands tangled up in her hair while the other pulled her against him. Placing her hands on his chest, she braced herself and then slid them up until she had her arms wrapped around his neck, finding her knees going slightly weak.

Finally, Embry pulled away, the both of them breathing heavily as they stared into each other's eyes. Freja definitely didn't need to ask to know what was on his mind. And really, it was pretty much all she had been thinking about for the last week as well.

She had the house to herself for two weeks.

"God, I've been dying to do that all morning," he said, causing her to chuckle.

"Em, I'm pretty sure there's something that we've both been dying to do for a really long time now," Freja replied. A mischievous glint entered Embry's eyes as he looked down at her a moment before lifting her up into his arms.

Freja laughed as he started up the stairs, quickly making his way to her room before gently placing her on the bed. Freja once again, wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down until he was on top of her.

"Wait, Freja are you-"

"Embry Call, if you don't get your and my clothes off in the next 30 seconds, I will scratch you. We have been interrupted far too many times and I am not about to pass up this opportunity," she said sternly, though there was a twinkle in her eyes.

Embry raised his eyebrows, amused by her outburst, before bending down and kissing her in such a way that her back arched and Freja swore her toes curled, as his hand wandered down her side. When his lips traced a hot trail from her mouth to her neck, Freja was completely breathless.

"I promise," he breathed into her ear, sending more chills down her spine. "No interruptions…"

OOOO

Freja stirred hours later, blinking open her eyes and finding her room awash in moonlight. Shifting her head slightly, she looked up, seeing Embry's profile as he slept, his chest slowly rising and falling with each breath.

Truthfully, she was surprised that she was even awake after that. Part of her was even tempted to wake him up for another round, but she didn't, not completely sure if either of them could handle it. But still, now that she was awake, she found she couldn't go back to sleep.

Moving slowly so that she wouldn't disturb him, Freja somehow managed to untable herself and get out of bed, pulling on her robe. Pausing, she looked over, seeing one hand resting on his bare chest while the other was stretched out across the bed. For a moment, she was a bit overwhelmed.

In all her life, Freja had never thought she would have this. She had never been normal and there was always the fear that she could hurt someone. But now that was all behind her. She had found Embry and knew that she was deeply, madly in love with him.

Smiling to herself, she stepped over to her balcony, staring out over the ocean thinking over everything. Embry. Finding her mother. Learning she had a brother. It was all so much more than she had ever dared to dream or hope for.

"Is everything okay?" Embry asked softly as his arms came around her waist, pulling her up against his warm, bare chest.

"Yea, I'm fine," Freja said, still smiling. "Just thinking…"

"About what?" Embry asked, a hint of a smile in his voice. She looked up at him.

"You. Us. The future," she said with a chuckle. Embry bent down and gently kissed her.

"Well… one thing I can tell you is that whatever happens, I'm not leaving your side. I love you, Freja," he said. Freja blinked, feeling happy tears filling her eyes.

"I love you, too…"

OOOO

And here we are at the end. Everyone's together like they should be. And Embry finally told his mother about everything. I admit, I'm not as happy with the last few chapters of this story as I usually am. It feels a bit rushed to me, so I apologize for that. But honestly, it's taken me a lot longer to write than stories usually do, and I was getting burnt out. I just wanted to get it finished so I can move on to focusing on other stories that I have going. But still, I like where everyone ended up. Freja's grandparents get to enjoy being Havsfru again. Freja's got her mom and an unexpected brother. Ingrid is home with her family.

And I got to have a funny Embry-Mom moment, which I honestly cracked myself up writing. Though that scene completely took me by surprised. This last chapter was originally planned to go completely different, but then I got the idea for the dinner party and decided to go with it.

But it did end how I originally planned... Embry and Freja FINALLY get their moment... And as I promised, I didn't get into the details. Didn't really seem to fit with the story, to be honest, to have a smutty scene.

Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed this story! Thanks for reading and following!