AN: Okay Folks, this is the last chapter of Part One! Part Two will probably begin posting tomorrow.

*I should warn, there are two canon character deaths in this chapter (as well as reference to two previous ones you may have missed in the earlier part of the story). One of the ones in this chapter will be a big deal though, so hang onto your tissues!*

Thanks to all who fave, follow, review, and read!

Much thanks to catgrl, for reviewing last chapter!

And now I give you, Chapter 15!

Chapter Fifteen: The End of the Beginning

1988 ended up being a whirlwind year. Last Christmas, we had welcomed our youngest, George Charles, into the world. After that, the girls had gone back on birth control for a while. We weren't done, by any means, but we wanted to give the kids we already had a chance to grow up a bit before we had any more.

So, instead, we spent our time potty-training toddlers. By December of '88, RaeRae, Becks, and Willie were all fully trained, which was an impressive feat, since they were only two. Bella was starting to take an interest, but she'd only had her first birthday back in September, so she wasn't quite ready. And George Charles was content in diapers since he hadn't even turned one yet.

But there was another new addition in our extended family that we were all pretty excited about. After Suzie's hysterectomy, Junie had gone off birth control. It took a while but eventually, Harry managed to knock her up. Their baby, Julia Elizabeth, was born on December 18th, 1988.

In spite of all we had to celebrate, there was one thing we certainly weren't celebrating. There had been another vampire poking around the area.

He never stayed long, mercifully. And he never seemed to feed in the area. There had been no disappearances or anything like that. He seemed to be looking for something. Most of the sightings were nowhere near our land. It seemed like he would come, ask a few questions in town, and then leave again.

We were starting to wonder if he might be harmless. We'd heard about groups like the ones Ephraim had made his treaty with. Covens who didn't want to hurt people. There were notes in the archives from Ephraim's time that said there was another group like them in Alaska too. Maybe this one was like those.

It was tough to know what to do. Our method had always been, if we see one, kill it. But when we didn't know if this one was harmless, it didn't seem like 'destroy first and ask questions' later was a great approach.

Harry wanted to kill it either way. In hindsight, we should have listened. But I'd been reading Ephraim's journals and I'd learned a few things. The woman he'd married in secret under the watchful eyes of the ancestors...The pale one, from the song, with the understanding husband and the red-brown hair...the reason he'd feared the tribe's disapproval…

She was a Cullen. A Cold One. A vampire. And Ephraim had married her.

It certainly changed my opinion that all vampires were evil. They couldn't be. At least, not the golden-eyed ones who hunted animals. It seemed to me that they were just like us. And I knew what it was like to be painted with a certain brush myself.

So, I issued an Alpha command that no one attack this vampire until we knew for certain it was a threat. I really wish I hadn't done that.

There had been enough sightings over the past few months that we should have at least been more careful. But when Sue asked if it was safe to still have LeeLee's third birthday party, I said yes. We hadn't smelled it in a few days and even then, it was only faintly.

So, plans for the party went ahead as scheduled. There was going to be a clown and everything. All of the kids were very excited. Sue and June made a big cake. Unfortunately, none of us dads would be there to see it cut. It was much more important to us that all the kids would be safe at the party, so Billy, Harry, and I would all be patrolling.

We just told everyone there was important police work that needed doing and I had enlisted the boys to help me. That way our absence wouldn't be suspicious to the Uleys or anyone else who didn't know about us being wolves.

The party was on January 2nd, LeeLee's actual birthday. We slept in shifts the night before so that someone was always on protection duty and those sleeping would sleep in wolf form in case we were needed.

So that morning, we were all reasonably well-rested as we ran through the trees. Several times, I thought I might have caught a faint scent of the intruder on the breeze, but it was always gone before I could fully pinpoint a direction. Basically, we were chasing our tails (pun fully intended).

But hey, at least Bubs the Clown was able to blow his balloon animals without interruption, so that was the plus side. We knew we'd find it eventually unless it moved on entirely. If it planned on continuing to visit the area, it was only a matter of time until we caught up to it. And maybe then, we could find out what the deal was because its behavior seemed odd at best, almost calculated and that was not a very good sign. We knew we needed to be extra vigilant.

Harry's POV

A little over a week after LeeLee's party, my brothers-in-law asked if I would bring LeeLee and meet them at First Beach because they had Sam for the day while Emmie and Allison were shopping in town and Sam was begging to "see his girlfriend". I had a good chuckle at that one. But I ran it past Sue and Junie and they had no plans for us for the day so they said they'd keep Seth and Julia at home.

I was relieved to only have one of our three kids to watch. Not because the others were a nuisance or anything, they were great, of course. But since there would be more adults than kids, we could toss around the ol' pigskin. LeeLee and Sam knew better than to go in the water in January, so they were content to play on the beach.

Josh and Lukey were thrilled that I'd brought a football, and I was thrilled to get to show off a tiny bit of my super speed.

"Go long, Man!" Josh yelled, tossing the ball as far as he could. I ran at what would be considered a really fast human speed and zoomed down the beach in time to catch it perfectly. Josh was a good toss so I was quite a way from them down the beach and had started walking slowly back when a man came up to me.

He was wearing a long, dark grey cloak and he looked very European. I could smell right away what he was. His eyes were black with hunger, so it was impossible to tell if they would be red or gold normally. But he smiled and shook my hand. "Greetings, Friend. My name is Demetri. A couple of friends of mine traveled to this area a few years back on an extended vacation. They were supposed to come back a few months ago, but they never did. Their father was very worried about them. So he sent me to investigate.

"But you see, the funny thing is...when I got off the plane in Seattle, I was unable to pick up their signature. Anywhere. Now, you may not understand what I mean by that, but let's just say that a man of my...abilities, should have been able to find them. Provided they were...alive. And I have simply been wracking my brain as I've scoured the area, trying to find a scent of anyone who might have done this. But there doesn't seem to be anyone else of my kind in the area. Or anywhere near the area.

"Which means...I have to assume it was one of your kind. So tell me...was it you?" He smiled jovially.

Shit! Think fast, Harry! If you tell him it was you, he'll probably try to kill you. But if you tell him it was really Charlie, he'll go after Chuck next and the kids could get hurt in the process. You can't allow that, Man, you know you can't. I thought to myself.

I took a step back and pretended to be thinking.

"Was it a little blonde girl with angry eyes and a dark-haired boy who just seemed disinterested? Those are the two I killed but they weren't wearing clothes like yours." I frowned.

When his eyes showed recognition, I knew it was now or never, so I phased, determined to at least attempt to fight him. Maybe it would give the boys a chance to get the kids to safety. Just maybe.

I launched myself at him but he just wrapped his arms around me in a hug and squeezed tightly. I felt an excruciating pain shoot through my entire body and everything sort of went crunch.

"That's because you killed them on a fucking holiday, you asshole!" He hissed and took off running. I wondered why he was running, as I fell to the ground in a broken heap. But as I looked back down the beach, I could see a wolf I didn't recognize running after him. Based on the fact that I could also see Lucas huddled up with the kids consoling them, I knew it had to be Joshua.

Josh, Man, don't give chase! You can't take him by yourself, he'll just mess you up too! Just howl. The boys'll come back you up. I told him through the mindlink.

The boys? He frowned confused.

Chuck and Billy. Chuck is the Alpha. We're not supposed to call him Chuck but I don't answer to their women. Oh shit, speaking of women…

Josh, I need you to promise me something. I'm not gonna make it, Man. But a while back, I just had a feeling, and I made Chuck promise me something. He knows what it is. So you just tell him, he'd better keep his promise, okay?

Josh frowned. Harry, stop talking like you're gonna die, Man! I'm gonna howl right now and get help. Just hang in, Buddy! He said, proceeding to send up a loud howl.

Naw, Man, I'll be gone by the time help comes. Make sure you tell that sister of yours that I love her. And make sure June knows just how much I love her too, okay? And my kids...make sure my kids…

...Oh, hey, Granny Amelia...oh okay. Bye then, Joshie. She says it's time. Be good to that boy of yours. I think he's gonna be my son-in-law one day.

Josh's POV

What the fuck had just happened? I watched in Harry's mind as a bright sparkly woman came to him and told him he had to leave with her. Then I felt him fade and he just wasn't there anymore.

Then, I felt two new minds join me and soon realized it was Charlie and Billy.

Josh? Did you phase? Shit, Man, welcome! Where is Harry? Wasn't he with…

He trailed off as the images of Harry's last moments came to me unbidden. They must have been seeing it too.

No! It can't be! What the fuck happened, Josh? Where are the kids, are they safe?

I looked back down the beach and saw that they were still with Lucas.

They're safe, but I think they saw everything. I admitted reluctantly. The idea of my son watching his uncle get killed was pretty hard to stomach.

Fuck. We're on our way. Stay at the beach until we get there.

I felt the authority in his words right down to my bones. I knew I couldn't have left if I'd wanted to. I didn't want to though. I wished I could have stayed at the beach forever so I'd never have to tell my sister that Harry was gone.

Don't worry, I'm gonna be the one to tell her. Charlie corrected. I'm his Alpha, it should come from me.

I just nodded.

Just then, Charlie and Billy arrived on the beach

Josh, I need you to phase back to human form now because the kids are gonna need you after what they just saw. Billy and I will hunt this fucker down and we'll howl if we need you. Can you and Lucas take the kids out for ice cream in town and make sure they understand that all this supernatural stuff is a secret?

Yeah, sure, will do. I nodded and felt myself becoming human once more. Just in time to see Billy and Charlie as wolves take off through the trees.

I ran to the car first and grabbed a pair of swim shorts out of the trunk. I was totally warm in spite of it being January so that was all I needed.

Once I was decent, I headed back down the beach to where Lucas and the kids were. I got down on my hands and knees beside Sam and LeeLee. Sam had his little arms wrapped around her and she was crying. "I am so, so sorry you two had to see all that," I told them.

"Is my daddy dead?" Leah asked matter-of-factly.

"I won't lie to you, Honey, he is." I sighed, trying to keep it together. "But your daddy is a hero. He died protecting his family and friends and the whole tribe, understand, Sweetheart?" I tried my best to explain.

"Tan I see him? Tan I say bye-bye?" She asked quietly.

I looked back down the beach and saw that Harry's body had turned human again. I knew this wasn't Leah's first brush with death. Sue had the kids with her at the hospital last year when mine and Lucas's mom had passed away. I remember they'd let Leah say goodbye to "Aunt Mirabelle" then, so I slowly nodded.

"Yes, I can take you," I told her, holding my hand out for her to take. She took it but didn't let go of Sam with her other hand.

"You come too, Sam. Gotta say bye-bye," she insisted. I was tempted to tell her my son didn't have to do anything, but she'd just lost her father and I knew she needed the support so I let her have this one. Sam looked at me and I slowly nodded.

The three of us walked down the beach together until we came up beside Harry's form. We stood quietly for a minute until Sam said: "He looks cowd."

Leah yelled back up the beach. "Lutas! Tan you pwease gab a banket?"

Lucas went to our car and got one out of the back seat. He brought it and little Leah Clearwater covered her father and then she laid down and hugged him.

"What do I do, Dad?" Sam asked me.

"Rub her back, Son. She just needs comfort right now," I suggested.

Sam got down on his little knees and rubbed LeeLee's back. He hummed that song Emms was always singing, O-o-h Child.

The lyrics said that things were gonna get easier, but standing on the beach with my sister's dead husband and their distraught little girl, it was hard to see how the song could possibly be right.

Lucas's POV

We had taken Harry's body and temporarily moved him to a little cave we knew of nearby until we could find out the family's plans. Then we had put the kids in the car and gone into town for ice cream. It was a cold day in January and not a lot of places had ice cream, so we bought a pint and spoons from the grocery store and headed to Forks Elementary to sit on the swings.

"Is Daddy goin' to heaben?" LeeLee asked.

"Something like that, probably." I nodded.

"Actually, I'm pretty sure of it." Josh smiled. "A lady he called Granny Amelia came to get him and take him there with her."

"Whoa! What did see wook wike?" LeeLee gasped in awe.

"Well, she was very beautiful. And sparkly," he explained.

"Spahkwy wike dat bad wampire man?" Leah asked, her eyes changing from awe to terror.

"No, Sweetheart, not like that at all! I'm sorry I said sparkly. I guess she was more...shiny. She didn't glitter like they do, she sort of shimmered," he clarified.

I didn't really see what the difference was between a glitter and a shimmer personally but I guess it made a whole lot of difference to Leah because she calmed down instantly.

"Oh. Otay den." She nodded, seeming to mull it over.

"Hey, Leah, look at what I bought when we were at the store!" I grinned, pulling out an inflatable beach ball.

"Oh wow! Dat's a big one!" She beamed, watching intently as I blew it up.

"It sure is, why don't you two kick it around for a bit?" I suggested, hoping to prevent any more questions for now.

"Let's do it, Sam!" She cheered, jumping up to chase it.

I sighed once they were out of earshot. "I hope Sue doesn't get mad when she finds out we didn't bring them home right away."

Josh shrugged. "Charlie's my Alpha now. Apparently, that means I have to do what he says."

"Yeah, I guess. I can't believe you're a wolf now. I seriously never thought those legends were true," I admitted.

"Just be glad it's not you, Brother. That's all I can say." Josh frowned, probably thinking of Harry.

"Daddy, da bawl went in da twees!" Sam yelled.

I realized they were waay over by the treeline. "Come back and have some more ice cream, Kids. I'll grab it!" I offered, preferring ball retrieval duty over answering more of the kids' questions.

I ran into the trees in search of the ball. I was still looking for it when I smelled something sickly sweet. I overheard Josh telling the kids to get in the car and lock the doors and hide on the floor.

I shouldn't have been able to hear him from so far away. But I didn't have time to dwell on that because the smell got much stronger. It was making my eyes water. And then, something happened.

All of a sudden, there was a sharp ripping pain and then I wasn't me anymore. I looked through the trees and saw the source of the smell. It was the asshole vampire.

I heard the patter of little feet and the car doors slam and lock from across the field behind me and then I heard Josh howl.

Josh, my brother, who was now In my head?

Hi, Buddy! Let's get this fucker! He grinned as we chased the vamp through the trees. We split up and came at him from two directions. He was fast but there was only one of him and two of us and soon, we had him cornered.

We both lunged at the same time in a coordinated attack so that he couldn't get his arms around either one of us. Josh bit him in the neck but he was still alive.

You have to rip his head off. And his limbs! Another voice in my head yelled. It was Charlie. Josh tore the creature's head off while I bit his arms off. Next we each took a leg. Nice work, Boys! Bring the pieces back to the parking lot, we'll meet you there.

We did as he told us and headed back to the parking lot where he and Billy were waiting in human form, having started a fire in a barrel. "Throw the parts in here. They don't die until they burn," he explained.

We complied with his instructions, tossing the creature in one part at a time. Charlie said to save the head for last so he would suffer for killing Harry. Through the screams of pain, the head seemed to be muttering something that sounded like "The vultures will come for you." but we just ignored him.

Josh phased back and once I saw him do it, I was able to figure out how.

"Now what?" I asked.

"Now we get some clothes on you boys and we go break the news to the girls. We chased this fucker around the area long enough, we would have smelled if there were any more in the vicinity. I think we're safe for now. At least until his friends come looking for him." Charlie shrugged.

"Uh...hey Charlie?" Josh began, clearly wanting to say something else before we left the area.

"Yes, Joshua?"

"Um...Harry, when he...well, before he...anyway, he had a message for you," he stumbled.

"Yeah, I'm aware. I saw it in your memories. And don't worry. I'm a man of my word." He nodded, slowly. "Now, let's go reassure those scared kids and get over to Harry's house."

I had to wonder if this was what being a wolf would always be like.

Death and loss.

Billy's POV

Charlie and I decided to run back to the Clearwaters house in wolf form while the Uley boys drove there with the kids in their car. There was some shit we needed to talk about.

I dunno which is worse. Losing Harry, or gaining two new pack brothers. It really feels like they're supposed to be his replacements and that just feels wrong. I sighed.

I know. But you gotta admit, patrols will be a lot easier with four of us.

They would have been even easier with five though. I just can't believe he's gone. And what's worse...his daughter saw it. I mean, can you imagine if that was one of our girls?

It is.

Huh?

It is. One of our girls, Billy. I made a promise.

I saw through the mindlink as Charlie replayed his conversation with Harry about what if something was ever to happen to him.

Okay, I'm not saying I object, but that's a huge thing. We have to talk to our girls before anything gets decided.

I know. But you know our girls. What do you think they're gonna say?

Renée will start squealing and jumping up and down and Sarah will calmly set the extra places at the table.

Exactly. Which means, it's basically a done deal.

Not necessarily, Brother. Sue and June have a say in what happens here too.

Yeah, but I don't see them going against his wishes, do you?

Well, maybe not, but I still think we're putting the cart before the horse here. First, we have to tell them he's gone.

Yeah. That's the part I'm least looking forward to.

I hear ya.

We ran the rest of the way in silence. Harry had a stash of shorts he kept in his backyard and we threw some on before heading inside.

Sue met us at the door. "Where is he, is he hurt again?" Josh and Lucas just pulled up and they have both kids with them and no Harry, and they won't get out of the car, they said it needed to wait until you got here. But we heard the howls and I need you to tell me where my husband is!" Sue cried, pounding on Charlie's chest in frustration and anger. It was clear she already knew. It was clear because of June.

Renée and Sarah were with her. We weren't expecting them to be here but Sue had obviously called them. They were restraining June who was shrieking and howling and bawling her eyes out begging them to let her go.

We'd never seen what happens to an Imprint when their wolf dies. Apparently, it's not a pretty sight. I went to her immediately while Charlie held Sue.

"Shhh, it's okay. You're okay, shh." I took June gently from Renée and Sarah and just held her. It only took one of me to restrain her where the girls had barely been able to. They looked appreciative but they also seemed curious, like they might already know where all this was headed.

We'll talk later. I mouthed. They both just nodded and went to put the tea kettle on and prepare some food. Sue's screams eventually turned to sobs and June was whimpering quietly like a newborn pup.

Once Sue had calmed, Charlie attempted to speak to her.

"Suzie, look at me. I need you to be strong right now. You obviously know that Harry is gone. But you don't know the circumstances. It was the vampire and he is not a threat anymore. Your brothers killed him. They are wolves now. But Sue...your daughter is out in the car right now. She and Sam saw the whole thing. She needs you," he informed her.

Immediately, both Sue's and June's demeanor changed. "Fuck." Sue whispered, going into what I knew to be 'mommy mode'. She grabbed June from me and took her to freshen up. When they came back you could hardly tell they'd been crying.

They headed out to the car and by the time Sarah and Renée had lunch out on the table, they had a sobbing Leah between them.

"Josh and Lucas are taking Sam home and they'll fill Emmie and Allison in and then they'll all head back here. Sam needs his moms right now, so I hope it's okay that they tell them everything?" Sue asked, deferring to Charlie.

"You bet. I would have suggested it if you hadn't." He nodded.

"Thank you." She smiled sadly. "LeeLee, look, there are sandwiches, your favorite!" Sue said, pointing at the table trying to muster up some enthusiasm.

"I'm fulled up fum da ice keem!" Leah grinned. "We ate da whowl pint in da caw!"

Oh boy, that kid was gonna be bouncing off the walls. Just what they needed.

"Well, in that case, why don't you show Aunty Sarah your toys, okay Baby Girl? That way your mommies can eat," Sarah offered.

"Otay!" Leah grinned pulling Sarah into her room without delay. Sue looked very appreciative. She was clearly having a hard time keeping it together. June was barely even coherent, she just stared blankly at the wall. Sue walked over to June and took her in her arms and they just held each other. Two lifeboats floating in a sea of loss.

Renée pulled us into the kitchen.

"When you boys went to them, there was...something. What exactly did Harry say on his deathbed? Anything we should know?"

Charlie sighed. "There is, but we shouldn't talk about it right now."

Renée nodded. "That's fine, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't reading too much into it."

"You aren't. You've always been very perceptive, Babe." I smiled, kissing the top of her head.

"Now you're just tryna butter me up." She smirked.

"Sure, sure. Is it working?" I snickered.

"Maybe a little bit." She shrugged. "I'm gonna go see if Sarah needs help with Leah. Try to at least keep it PG in here," she teased.

I rolled my eyes. Harry wasn't even cold yet. It's not like anything would be happening right away.

Charlie's POV

Harry's funeral was both modern and traditional with a few tribal elements thrown in. As per his wishes, everyone wore black and his women even wore the traditional widow's veils. There was traditional drum music as well as canned modern music from a cassette deck. Old Quil performed a purification ritual with smudging and prayers to the ancestors. Carl Weber spoke Christian prayers as well and preached a little from Scripture.

Afterward, there was a potluck luncheon because as Harry had said in his last requests, "People gotta eat."

Speaking of Harry's last requests...there was a separate page that was supposed to be read in private to only his wives and his pack brothers and their Imprints. Old Quil said that it was up to us if we wanted Josh and Lucas (who had Imprinted on Emmie and Allison respectively) to be present for the reading.

Suzie asked us to include them, even though they weren't his pack brothers yet at the time Harry had written it because she said she knew what it was about and that her brothers would want to hear first hand what was going to happen to her and June and the kids going forward.

The instructions said for Old Quil to read it out loud to us so that we had an elder present. After the funeral, we left the kids in the main room, where everyone was chowing down, under the watchful eyes of aunts and uncles while we sequestered ourselves for the reading. Once we were settled, Quil began reading right away.

"Dear Chuck and Billy. Yes, I said 'Chuck' not 'Charlie'. Renée and Sarah, you gals can't get mad at a dead man, so ha, take that, neener-neener! Anyway, let's get serious now. I'm sure you both know me well enough to know I don't get serious very often. But if there is one thing I am very serious about, it's the well-being of my family. And honestly, Boys, I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have taking care of them than the two of you.

"But before you go thinking this is some hokey arranged thing where the women don't have a say in the matter, I want to assure you that isn't the case. My gals and I talked about what would ever happen if I croaked. Where they'd go, what they'd do, if they'd remarry. So I know their wishes. Let's just face it, Boys. You two are chick magnets!

"Anyway, I know what I'm asking here is huge. Not only am I leaving two wives behind, but probably a handful of kids too. Heck, I've already got two and another on the way as I'm writing this. So I get it. You've got a lot to think about. But if you're reading this right now, I've already bit the big one, so you'd better get crackin'!

"Sincerely and with way more sappy, brotherly love than I'd care to admit, your brother in wolfiness, Harry Clearwater."

There was silence for a good long while as everyone looked around the room at everyone else. The Uleys seemed surprised, though they didn't seem concerned. Everyone else already expected it. The question was...would everyone agree to it?

For my part, I knew, the answer was yes.

AN: I know, I know, leaving off on a bit of a cliffhanger!

Thankfully, Chapter One of Part Two (aka Poly World: Family Album) is finished and I will be posting it today or tomorrow.

It will appear as a separate story though, so you'll have to find it listed under my stories once it is up!

Hope no one is too mad about the ending here but it was planned all along!

Faceclaim for Baby Julia will be: Emilia Clarke (the way she looked in Terminator Genisys)