A Day to Celebrate

Emily's house had turned into an explosion of pink. Literally.

Pink streamers and balloons lined every wall. They were even on the ceiling.

It was the next day, and like I told Sam, I was free to attend Claire's birthday party along with the rest of the pack and imprints. We came to Emily's early in the morning to set up. Quil was taking a walk with Claire in the meantime to distract her before bringing her here.

Emily clapped her hands to gather everyone's attention. "Okay, everyone. They should be here any minute so grab a popper and get into position."

Following her orders, everyone grabbed a popper off the bench. I surveyed the poppers and decided to grab a purple one.

"Is purple your favourite colour?" Asked a voice next to me.

I turned to smile at Embry. "Yeah, it is. What's yours?" Embry held up is blue popper. "Nice choice."

We both walked to the other side of the room. The pack formed a semi-circle around the entrance of the door.

Laughter could be heard outside. It was definitely Quil and Claire. Quil was making sure to talk extra loudly to alert us of their arrival. I'm sure he wanted this to be the best birthday for Claire more than anyone.

Everyone fell silent as the prepared themselves. The door slid open as Quil spoke. "Princesses first."

There was a small giggle before Claire wandered in. As soon as she was inside, we popped our poppers. "Happy birthday!" We chorused as the popper streamers flew in her direction.

Claire's face lit up as she stamped her feet in excitement. Emily stepped forward to her niece. "Every princess needs her crown." She placed a tiara atop Claire's head. "Happy birthday, Claire."

"Shall we get this party started." Asked Sam. "Presents are on the table in the living room."

Claire's smile turned into a grin at Sam's words. She ran to Quil, grabbing his hand and dragging him towards where her presents were.

Claire and Quil sat on the floor where it was easy to reach the presents. Kim, Jared, Embry, and I sat on one couch with Seth on the armrest next to me. Leah, Jacob, Paul, and Rachel sat on another. The final couch was for Sam, Emily, Brady, and Collin. It was safe to say the couches were a tight fit.

There were so many presents on the table that it was hard to see Claire peeking on the other side. One by one, she opened the gifts. "What do you say?" Quil asked Claire.

"Thank you." Claire shouted to everyone for her presents. Most of her gifts consisted of toys, like mine which was a stuffed animal. Quil got her a princess dress and when she saw it, she just had to try it on. She left with Emily to get changed.

As we waited for the birthday girl, I turned to Seth. "Are you comfortable sitting there?" I asked referring to his seat on the armrest.

"Yeah." He grinned. "I'm not squished like the rest of you guys."

Well, he had a point. The pack were big and buff guys. They took up a lot of room. "Are you sure?" I double checked.

Seth sighed with a smile. "I'm sure I'm more comfortable than dancing in heels."

I instantly realised he was referring to me dancing at Bella and Edward's wedding. I felt my face flush red. I gave a quiet 'shhh'. Nobody needed to know about it.

"You do realise we all know about it." Jared spoke up from the other end of the couch.

I glanced around to see everyone was looking at me. My head snapped to Seth. "You told them?" I said with a pout.

"No." Seth replied, waving his hands around. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. But the whole wolf telepathy thing." He trailed off.

My face dropped. How could I forget about that? "So basically everyone knows about how I can't dance."

Seth looked guilty. "Sorry." He said sheepishly as he scratched the back of his neck.

"We also know how you stepped on Seth's foot." Chimed Paul from the other couch.

"It was an accident." I pleaded my case. "Besides, Seth said he didn't even realise I did."

Jared, Paul, and Quil burst out laughing. Even Leah and Jacob chuckled but it could be interpreted as a scoff.

I had the feeling I wasn't going to like the answer to the question I was about to ask. "Why are you laughing?"

That question just made them laugh harder. Even Sam, Brady, and Collin were trying to hide their smiles and laughter. "What?!" I asked again.

Embry leant closer to me. "Seth lied." I turned to face Embry as he elaborated. "He knew you stepped on his foot."

I spun my head to Seth, raising my eyebrow. "I didn't want to embarrass you." He explained.

I nodded as I learnt all the details. "Feeling pretty embarrassed right now." I knew my cheeks and ears must be a deep red. I could feel them burning.

I felt Embry wrap his arm around me as he pulled me closer. He was so comforting.

"Hate to be that person but what are you guys talking about?" Asked Kim who was clearly confused.

Paul was happy to explain. "Seth tried teaching Maddi to dance at the wedding. As for how well that worked is up to interpretation." Paul screwed up his face, shaking his hand a bit.

Kim awkwardly smiled. "That well, huh?"

"Okay, I get it. Sorry, for my lack of dancing ability." I mumbled from Embry's arms.

"It's totally fine." Encouraged Paul. Maybe he does have a soft side. "After all, Embry has to be the one to watch out." Never mind.

Paul laughed to himself, Jared and Quil chuckling too.

Rachel slammed her elbow into his stomach as he let out a 'ugh' sound. "Like you can talk." She spoke. "You have two left feet and dropped me once. I haven't danced with you since."

The room erupted with laughter.

"Oh, this is news to us." Quil smirked.

"Yeah." Paul chuckled as he bit his lip. "I pushed it so far out of my memory but thanks for reminding me, Rachel."

Rachel smiled to herself. "Someone gotta keep you in check."

Jared laughed. He opened his mouth to speak but Kim spoke first. "I'd watch what you say, Jared. I know things too."

Jared's mouth clamped shut, any trace of a smile was gone. He seemed to be reliving every moment of his life.

Once again, the room roared with laughter.

"Sounds like everyone's having fun." Emily appeared at the doorway with Claire. She was dressed in her pink princess costume Quil got her.

"We are." Said Sam, who gave her a kiss at her return.

"Quil, look!" Claire ran up to the boy, twirling to show off her new dress.

"You look good." Complimented Quil as he watched his imprint having fun.

Emily spoke up. "So, who wants cake?"

Claire's hand shot up into the air as she jumped up and down. This wasn't surprising but everyone furrowed their brows at one other hand that shot into the hand.

"What?" Questioned Paul under all the stares. "I'm hungry."

The cake was a pink cake with flowers decorating it. There was even a princess picture on it. Claire loved it. And it tasted delicious. Emily really was an amazing cook.

The pack were scattered around, laughing and eating. I was on the floor with Claire and Quil as she thoroughly showed me each of her presents.

"This is a fairy." Said Claire as she held up the toy figurine.

"She's pretty." I told the little girl. "Where will she live?"

Claire contemplated this question and seemed to be struggling with an answer. Quil decided to give a helpful suggestion. "How about in your dollhouse?"

Claire nodded enthusiastically as she crawled to the dollhouse nearby, happily placing the figurine inside alongside her other dolls.

"Can I ask you a question?" I asked Quil.

"You just did." He replied smartly, still looking at Claire. "I'm just messing with you." He joked before looking at me. "Fire away."

"It's about you and Claire." I started. I saw Quil instantly turned more serious. I guess he takes anything regarding his imprint seriously. "I understand how she's your imprint and how you will be anything she needs." Quil nodded along as I continued. "I was just wondering about in the future, when she's much older, how will you feel about the age difference between you two? Like, there's over a 10 year age gap."

Quil was quietly watching Claire as he processed how he would answer. "Well, right now I don't see her the way the other imprinters see their imprintees." He turned back to me. "But maybe in the future, if that's what she wants, I don't think there will be a problem with our ages." He said with a confident smile.

I was confused where his confidence came from. "Why's that?"

Quil seemed to be confused by my question. He went to speak but closed his mouth again. He didn't seem to know how to put his next sentence. "You do know that us shapeshifters don't technically age, right?"

It's like my body froze. "W-What?"

Quil realised I was clueless about this. "As long as we keep shifting, we won't age." He explained to me. "In my case, I just need to keep shifting until Claire catches up to my age. That's why I'm not concerned about our age difference in the future, because it won't be that different."

"Oh." I absentmindedly said. "So, right now, you and the pack aren't ageing?"

Quil shook his head. "No, we aren't."

As I contemplated this, Claire came running up to Quil to show off some more of her toys. "Quil look!" She cried out in happiness.

I zoned out as I thought about what Quil had just told me. The pack wasn't ageing. Embry wasn't ageing. He never mentioned this to me when he explained everything. I mean it's understandable to miss some things when explaining but I would have thought this was a big part.

I glanced at Embry as he was messing around with Jared and Paul as they ate. Does this mean I'll be much older than him while he remains as he is now? The thought spread fear and worry throughout my body.

Suddenly, the phone began to ring as Sam moved to answer it. He seemed to have a serious face and nodded as he responded to the person on the other end.

I pushed my thoughts out of my mind as I stood up and walked to where the rest of the pack was just as Sam hung up. "It was Billy." Sam explained. "He wants the pack to lend him a quick hand. It shouldn't take long."

The pack began making their way towards the door. Embry walked over to me first. "Guess I'll be back soon."

"Have fun." I grinned at him.

"Always do." He smiled at me before leaning in close. His face next to my ear. "But I have more fun being with you." He whispered before pulling away. He let out a little huff of a chuckle. I can only imagine his reaction was from the face I must be pulling from his comment. He said nothing else as he left with the rest of the pack.

"This is my dress." I stated as I held up my phone. With the boys gone, it was the perfect time to talk to the girls. Skylar had taken a picture of me in my dress on my phone. I sat at the table showing Emily, Kim, and Rachael.

"It's so pretty!" Kim complimented me as soon as she saw it.

Emily agreed. "You look so beautiful." She commented before making her way back to the kitchen. "Has Embry seen it yet?"

"No, not yet." I replied with a small blush. "He won't see it until the night of the dance."

Rachael took a more analytic approach. "The colour suits you."

I nodded my head. "Skylar told me the same thing." I mentioned as I brought my phone back to myself and turned it off.

"Did you buy heels to match it?" Rachael asked as she took a seat at the table next to me.

I tilted my head. "Sort of. Skylar has a lot of heels and had one that matched the dress so I'm going to borrow them." I explained to the girl. "Although, it's probably not as important since you won't be able to see them under the dress."

Rachel looked offended. "The heels are always important." She told me as she held up her index finger.

"Seems like you upset the fashion expert, Maddi." Kim joked with a chuckle.

Rachel smiled. "It's basic knowledge."

I turned to Kim. "How about you? Do you have a dress?"

Kim nodded shyly. "Yeah. I have a few at home so I just need to work out which one I'll wear." She explained.

"If you need help, just yell out." Rachel stated with slight excitement. Any opportunity she got she would take.

"I might have to take you up on that offer." Kim grinned as Rachel looked happy.

"When even is this school dance of yours?" Asked Emily from the kitchen as she packed some food in a bag to take down to the beach when the pack returns.

"In a weeks' time." I answered. Saying it aloud made me realise how close it is.

Suddenly, Claire stood up from the floor where she played with her new toys and ran over to Emily. She had got out of her dress and put her normal clothes back on so we can go down to First Beach afterwards. "Aunty Emily." She muttered. "Where's Quil?"

Emily rested her hand on top of Claire's head. "He will be here soon."

Claire pouted before running back to her toys. Guess she was missing her imprint. The pack left an hour or so ago but should be back any minute now.

Kim sighed. "I'm with Claire." She folded her arms on the table and rested her head against them. "I know it hasn't been long but I miss Jared."

Rachel placed her chin on her hand. "It always gets me how much I miss Paul." She agreed. "What has imprinting done to us?"

I let out a happy sigh. "Helped us found our soulmates." The girls all grinned at me. "That and brought us into a whole new world."

"Right." Rachel commented as she leant back in her seat. "Who would have known my brother and boyfriend were werewolves. Still can't believe it sometimes."

"I think it's comforting to know they're protecting us." Kim thought happily but fear creeped into her eyes. "From vampires…" She trailed off.

Rachel agreed. "Especially knowing the Cullens live nearby." Rachel turned to me. "I can't believe you went to the wedding. Paul wouldn't have let me anywhere near them." She began to mumble slightly. "Not that I would want to go near them."

"I think Embry let me go because he trusts them and Seth was there just in case." I admitted to the group.

Kim glanced at my wrists. "Does he regret that choice."

I sighed. "I don't know. I told him it wasn't the Cullens."

"Do you trust the Cullens?" Rachel suddenly asked me.

I thought about it briefly. "I dislike vampires, especially after what happened." I unconsciously touched my wrists. "But, I don't mind the Cullens. They're nice."

Rachel and Kim looked hesitant. They haven't actually met the Cullens so they couldn't say the same. Emily spoke up. "For now, the Cullens aren't a threat due to the treaty."

The treaty. Embry told me about it. The Cullens would not prey on humans or turn them. The Cullens and Quileutes would stay off each other's territory. And there was a mutual agreement to not reveal what each other were. The treaty had been held for years.

Whistles and whooping alerted us that the pack had returned. The door opened and the boys came flooding in.

The boys instantly went to the side of their imprints. Embry was no exception as he walked to my side, placing his hands on my shoulders. "Miss me?" He teased.

"Every second of every day." I told him causing him to smile. "Is that what you want to hear?" He quickly pouted. "I'm joking. Of course I missed you."

We grinned at each other until Sam called out to everyone. "Alright, let's head to First Beach."

Sam, Jared, and Paul picked up the bags carrying food and equipment as we all began to walk to the beach. They were happily walking next to their imprints.

Brady and Collin chatted with each other as they followed along. Quil was carrying Claire on his shoulders as she giggled in fun.

Jacob was at the back. He was still upset about Bella and was moping around. I don't think he wanted to come today. Seth was trying to cheer him up but it was futile. Leah was just calling him out on his 'obsession'.

As for Embry and I. We just held hands as we made our way along the trail. Words weren't needed as we enjoyed each other's presence.