A/N: Okay, seriously, if last chapter took me forever, this one took me forever and a day. I have been so extremely busy. I know that's a shitty excuse that's probably been used thousands of times, but it's true. Finals are this week, and when you have advanced classes, finals are like a death sentence. I have been getting to school AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE THE BELL IS EVEN SUPPOSED TO RING. I hate my life. -_- You know you're going to school at an ungodly hour when the streetlights are still on. UGH. But enough complaining, here's the chapter! (:

The name of the chapter means "His Imprint" in Latin.

Chels, xoxoxoxo.

Chapter Song: Hard Sun, by Eddie Vedder.

"I brought children into this dark world because it needed the light that only a child can bring."

~Liz Armbruster

Seth POV

Shit.

Fuckity fuck fuck.

Embry imprinted. Embry Call imprinted. On Allegra. Allegra as in Allegra Black, as in his best friend's daughter. As in, Embry was going to be in deep shit.

I think Sera passed some of her foresight on to me.

Because in deep shit he was.

As soon as it happened, I knew. Sera knew. Bella knew. Edward knew. Carlisle knew. Rosalie knew.

And Jacob knew. Oh boy, did Jacob know.

Everyone stopped growling as soon as Embry imprinted. He stood there, staring at Allegra Sarah Bella Black like a blind man stares at the sun for the first time. For a brief second, he didn't look so frail or emaciated anymore. He looked...alight. He looked like he had finally found hope. He looked happy.

And then somewhere during all of this, the growling started again.

Jacob crouched low in front of his best-friend-in-question. Jacob looked positively furious, and I immediately snatched Sera into my arms and backed way from them. I then handed Sera to Rosalie, just in case I had to jump in between the fight brewing.

"I hate you," Jacob growled, backing Embry out the door, his face in that of pure rage, "I hate you so fucking much. Best friends my ass. My fucking daughter, you worthless piece of shit!"

"I can't fucking control it! You didn't control it when you imprinted on Renesmee!" he defended, backing away. I noticed how there was no animosity in his voice when he mentioned Renesmee and imprinting in the same sentence. One step forward, two steps back, I thought tiredly.

I followed them out the door, trying to be unobtrusive. My hands were shaking with the tension and rage in their air, and I ducked my head low as I felt my Alpha's fury.

Embry stumbled down the stairs, and Jacob stalked after him, shaking faster and faster. Embry was shaking too.

"Dude, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for everything-"

"Everything?" Jake snapped, "You fall in love with my imprint, nearly ruin my wedding with your damnass moping, ruin my honeymoon, almost kill my baby, and then you imprint on my daughter and think that everything's cool between us? Sorry doesn't even fucking cover it, you asshole." Jake had stalked him out to the front lawn. I could feel the pursue of the other family members behind me. Emmett started to chuckle silently.

"I didn't think everything between us was cool. I realize that I'm in the wrong, but I still want to fix things-"

"And why would you want to do that?" Jake said sarcastically, "Want good relations with your future father-in-law?"

Embry shook his head fiercely. "No, I don't see her like that at all-"

Jake snarled.

"Jacob!" I yelled, "Stop-"

I didn't even get my sentence out when Jacob abruptly shifted in mid-lunge at Embry. Embry phased as well to protect himself.

And so ensued the fight between Embry and Jacob.

Jake launched himself at Embry, connecting his teeth with the meat on Embry's flank. Embry let out a loud yelp, and when Jake withdrew, blood was gushing from the bite wound left behind.

I shifted to protect my two friends.

I was immediately bombarded with images of Jake's fury and Embry's sadness, despair, but ever-prevailing hope. This angered Jake even more.

I lunged in between the two, and Jake's body hit mine as we tumbled to ground. I felt something pop in my shoulder.

Seth, Jake growled.

Jacob, you're losing it! Is it so bad he imprinted on Allegra? I pleaded, wincing around the pain in my already healing arm. I swiftly popped it back into place, trying not to yelp.

My daughter, he growled, and set his eyes again on Embry.

It was always meant to be! Embry argued.

Shut up, I yelled at Embry in my head. He wasn't making anything better.

Jake got even angrier, if that was possible. He lunged again at Embry, this time aiming for his throat.

"STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!" Sera trilled from the porch.

Jake fell to the ground, like he was given his own Alpha command. Embry whimpered. I felt a surge of pride and fear from my imprint standing on the porch.

I was going to be in trouble when she got older.

Sera stood there, an angel of fury, staring on at what was happening with outraged eyes. Jasper was trying to hold her back, but she was having absolutely none of it. I immediately cowered, and so did Embry and Jake.

"Jacob Black, you are going to kill Embry!" Sera yelled.

Jacob whined in protest.

"Don't argue," she snarled. Jacob shrank back.

"He's your best friend! He's suffered so much, and now he's finally found happiness! You're going to take that away from him?" Sera growled. She pulled Allegra out of Rosalie's arms. Allegra's brilliant green eyes were locked on Embry's figure, and she looked scared. Sera kissed the top of Allegra's head. "See? She's terrified. And all she wants is Embry."

Jacob internally frowned at Sera's assessment, and Embry's thoughts were smug. I just didn't understand why Seraphina was suddenly Team Embry all of the sudden.

I slinked in between Embry and Jacob, and Jake growled at me. Get out of my way, Clearwater.

Sera snarled, and Jake immediately sank back. "Mine. My Seth," she growled.

I instantly swelled with pride for my imprint. My inner wolf was rejoicing at the fact that she said I was hers, and the happy-go-lucky Seth in me did a little happy dance. Embry rolled his eyes at my thoughts.

Sera's way-too intelligent eyes met mine. "Go phase back," Sera said. Or, er, commanded, if you wanted to get technical. Everything she told me was a command in its own way anyways. I would have died on the spot right there if she wanted me to-

Jake nipped at my flank. His thoughts were abashed. You're a pussy. Let's go phase back; it might keep Call alive.

For once, Embry had nothing to say. His thoughts were a whirlwind of Allegra and sadness and fear.

Sera's arms crossed defiantly in front of her chest, and Emmett's laughter boomed around us. "God, this little girl. I'm proud of how she turned out," Emmett said with a shit-eating grin. Edward smacked the back of his head.

We ran to one of the many emergency clothing bolt-holes scattered around the property in the Forks days. Wearing two-year old pants did not smell the best, but it was better than nothing, and I wouldn't have cared either way. Embry and Jacob couldn't even look at each other as they pulled on their pants. I noticed that Embry's shoulder had healing bite marks all over them, while Jake didn't have a single scratch. I sighed. As much as Embry had pissed me off earlier, I knew that Embry would not have harmed a single hair on Jake's head.

Jake obviously didn't feel the same.

We all walked back to the house. To say that it was an awkward and tense walk would be an understatement. I walked in the middle of the two, and at one point when Embry snuck a glance at Jacob, Jacob returned his look with a snarl and a "you better look away if you know what's good for you."

I sighed heavily. "Jacob, please. This isn't good. It's not you. You're not an angry person." I shot a look at Embry, who was trying his hardest not to look in our direction.

"And how do you know that?" he shot back.

I raised my eyebrow at him. "I spend every day in your head. You're one of my best friends. I know."

He shook his head at me. "I don't need your words of wisdom right now, Seth."

I was going to say something back, but I bit my tongue. My word vomit probably wouldn't help the situation.

The tense atmosphere dissapitated a little bit as we walked back to the house. A little bit, not much.

Jacob strode over to Sera, where she was holding Allegra still, and lifted her into his arms. His eyes met Embry's, daring him to differ.

Embry sighed, his eyes were locked on Allegra's. Allegra was reaching out towards Embry, but Jacob was pretending she wasn't. Embry frowned in discontent, a mirror image of Allegra's face. He hadn't even held Allegra yet, and they were already so connected it was crazy.

"Why don't you like Allegra having a wolf?" Sera asked Jake, confusedly.

"Because's Embry's a jack-"

"Oi!" I yelled over Jacob, "She's eleven-months-old."

Alice mouthed "thank you" at me.

"Sorry," Jacob muttered. "Anyways, I don't want my daughter having a wolf like Embry."

"What's wrong with Embry?" Sera asked again, but almost defiantly. Jasper's eyebrows raised.

"Well, before Mama Seth cut over me, he's a certain word that I'm apparently not allowed to say."

I rolled my eyes at his nickname. "I'm not that bad," I muttered.

"But he's your best friend," Sera stated.

"No he's not."

"Yes he is," Sera shot back.

"No, really. He's not."

"And why is that?" Sera retorted, crossing her arms.

Jacob's eyebrow raised at her. "You don't take no for an answer, do you?"

"Not when it's ridiculous," Sera said, her eyes glinting.

Jacob sighed. "Well, he imprinted on my daughter, for one."

Sera shook her head. "That's not a reason. I like having a wolf. And besides, Daddy likes Seth. Why can't you like Embry imprinting on Allegra?"

"Because he's my best-" Jacob stopped short, realizing what he was about to say. Sera looked smug.

"Finish your sentence," Sera told him, grinning.

"I don't have to if I don't want to," Jacob muttered childishly. Sera sounded older than he did. That was just sad. Jacob Black, renegade pack Alpha wolf, great chief of the Quileute nation, pwned by an eleven-month-old child. Edward laughed at my thoughts, and Bella and Rosalie raised an eyebrow at him.

Sera turned to Edward. "Uncle Edward, what was he going to say?"

Jacob glared at Edward, but Edward pretended that Jacob didn't exist. "Best friend."

"See! Embry is your best friend! That's why you're angry?" Sera shot at him. This was like a tennis match.

Jacob looked desperately in between Sera, Edward, and Embry. "I – uh – I don't know! I'm angry because...because...he fell in love with my imprint, and then proceeded to imprint on my daughter."

"I couldn't help it, Jake," Embry murmured, "I had the connection with Nessie. I had the connection with Bella too. I guess...I didn't care much about your imprint, because every girl I've really liked, you've taken," Embry said, and then awkwardly added, "I guess."

"Bella? Really?" Jake asked incredulously.

Embry and Bella exchanged glances. "Yeah. I had a crush on Bella for the longest time. Up until she became a lee – um, vampire."

"And Nessie?" Jacob asked.

"I had a stronger connection with Nessie than Bella. I saw her grow up and everything. I saw everything you saw, everything she was, and I was jealous of how close you were on multiple occasions, but I never said anything. I also learned to hide it pretty well. And then she got older. And prettier. And when you watch someone grow up before your eyes and see them become the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, well...it's hard not to love them." Embry added a shrug.

"Yeah, well. Seth saw her grow up too, and he didn't fall in love with Ness." Jacob shot me a look, and I was left wondering how I came up in this conversation.

Nevertheless, I fought the urge to gag. "Okay, sorry to butt in, but ew. Nessie's like my sister. That's like talking about Leah."

"That's because there was never any Allegra in the equation for him," Embry piped in, almost completely ignoring me.

"Even if Seth had an Allegra, I doubt he would have fallen in love with Ness," Jake added. When I didn't agree, Jacob spun around to me with an incredulous expression. I shrugged.

"Imprinting is strong," I said, "Who knows what could have happened."

My imprinting wasn't exactly normal. Seraphina was a half-vampire, for one, and an orphaned one at that, which was pretty much an anomaly among anomalies. And it was in a supernatural world too. But my bond with Sera, however supernatural, was as strong as any other imprinting bond. As if to validate my point, I walked across the lawn to pick up Sera. It seemed that all the arguing and action wore her out. She yawned tiredly and smiled at me with a sleepy expression.

"Don't worry honey, I got you. You can go to sleep," I said, and she smiled sweetly and closed her eyes. I kissed the top of her head.

Jacob watched us with tight eyes. His hands balled up into fists, almost as if the idea of imprinting made him angry, even though he had done it himself. "I hate when you're right, Clearwater."

"He usually is, even though he's dorky," Sera muttered sleepily, and I laughed out loud, joined with a couple of Cullens.

"Claire giving you a few words to use?" I asked. Maybe hanging out with girls roughly her age would make her act younger. I would have to take her to La Push way more often, I thought.

"Well, I could have said facetious, but I like dorky better," she said into my neck, already dozing lightly.

I smiled. "Okay, Smartie."

"Okay, Dork."

I chuckled. "Sweet dreams."

Sera smiled, and began to doze off even more.

When I looked up, I saw Embry and Jake having a silent conversation. Embry was staring at Jake, pleading, and Jake's eyes were guarded, but slowly giving up.

Everything was completely silent. The vampires all held their breath, and even those who had to breathe might as well not have been. But upstairs, there was a slight rustling of sheets.

"Jake," Nessie whispered, and her breathing slowed back down again, signifying that she fell back asleep.

And that was all he needed.

Jake blinked a couple of times, and then looked back at Embry. "Do you promise to never hurt her?"

Embry looked shocked, but nodded. "I would kill myself before I harmed a hair on her head."

"Will you be everything she needs you to be?" Jake choked out.

"Everything," he promised.

"You won't ever leave her?" Jake asked again.

"C'mon, dude. I imprinted on her. Just the thought of leaving or hurting her is excrutiating."

Jacob looked back down at his sleeping daughter. She looked so peaceful and pure.

"Fine. I'll forgive you...this time," Jacob said. I had to stop myself from letting out a joyous shout. It was about time!

"Thank you," Embry said feverently. Jake rolled his eyes.

"You can hold Allegra. I'm going to go sit with Ness. That means you're on diaper and food duty. It's not my issue if she bites you," Jake warned.

Embry looked too damn happy to care. "That's fine with me."

Embry was almost bouncing with joy as Jake handed ove Allegra. Allegra's eyes instantly opened.

Her eyes and Embry's eyes met, and I could practically feel the bond those two shared. Her small fingers automatically wound around his finger, as if he was her security blanket.

Jake couldn't help but smile ever-so-slightly, before slinking out of sight.

And I knew by the look on Embry's face that he had finally found happiness.

I emerged into the office where Ness was a little while later, hoping to catch her awake. But she was still in comatose with an IV sticking out of her arm. Thanks to her fast healing, her stomach had already gone flat again, as if nothing had ever been growing inside of her for the past month, but I could still see the outline of stitches through her hospital grub. Jake was sitting next to her, staring at her face with a mixture of hope, love, and desperate confusion.

I knocked softly on the door frame once, and Jake's head shot up. He openly sighed in relief when he realized that it was me, not a vampire or Embry.

"How is she doing?" I asked, pulling up another chair next to her. I took her warm hand in mine as I looked down at the girl I considered to be my kid sister. I shuddered as I remembered my part in this birth, holding her down while she was passed out in pain. The way her face had been marred into an expression of pain and desperation as Allegra clawed her way out.

At least she looked peaceful now.

"Stop that," Jake sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. I raised my eyebrow.

"You act like she's dying," Jake muttered, "I can't stand it."

"Jake, she almost did die-"

"No, she promised she would never," he growled fiercly.

I sighed, but decided to let it go. "I know. I'm just glad it's over."

Jacob sighed too, but it was a mix of a sigh and a growl. "So what happened while I was passed out in the corner?"

I scratched the nape of my neck in awkwardness. "Well, you passed out...so I took over your spot. Nessie was out cold, and then in a matter of seconds, Allegra was born. You woke up after that." I didn't mention that watching Allegra's birth was probably the most gruesome sight I ever witnessed.

He shook his head. "I can't believe I passed out."

I stiffled my smile. "You probably passed out because she passed out. Imprints are connected like that."

Jacob shuddered. "She was in so much pain. Carlisle didn't have time to administer the pain medication properly, so she felt everything. I did too."

I shuddered as well, and looked back down at Nessie. It was hard to believe that someone who had such little life experience could have gone through something so horrific. Nessie hated when we used her technical age against her, but it was hard not to in situations like this.

I leaned back into my chair. "You did a good thing, you know."

Jacob looked back at Ness. "He looked happy, at least."

"Of course he was. He has a happy ending now."

"You know, I might actually begin to trust him again one of these days," Jake muttered.

"It might not be so bad, having a permanent babysitter. I do plenty of that," I said, chuckling.

"That would be nice," he mused.

We sat in companionable silence after that. Sera was down the hall, snoring softly. She was out in seconds after I put her back to bed.

Edward walked in the room. "Seth, she's dreaming of you."

"Is she?" I asked incredulously. "What's in store for my future?"

Edward smiled. "Nothing. For the first time, her dreams are just that – dreams."

Edward must have felt my amazement, because he chuckled. "Go be there for her."

I didn't need any further encouragement. As fast as I could go without making noise, I stole from the room, into Alice and Jasper's old room.

Sera was curled up in a ball, snuggling Remus with a ligth smile on her face. She felt my presence because she immediately began stirring.

"First Beach, Seth," she murmured, "Let's go play on the beach."

I smiled, and crossed the room. I tucked myself in right next to her. "Whatever you want, kiddo."

And that was the last thing I remembered before falling alseep.

A/N: And there concludes the subplot of Embry, Jacob, and Nessie! (: As much as I liked writing about them, I will enjoy writing about Seth & Sera more. ;)

Sorry this chapter was shorter than the other ones. I just wanted to conclude the E/J/N story as quickly as possible.

I know you guys have been chomping at the bit to get some romance, but it'll happen. Nothing will happen overnight. It'll be gradual, but I promise, there WILL be lemony goodness.

Until next time,

Chels.