thanks goes to mediate89 for betaing this, I'm so sorry its taken this long to update but we are both very busy right now so try and bear with us as we finish out these last few chapters.

Chapter 26

I glanced up at Embry, watching as he frowned and sniffed a little.

"Hi. I made dinner," I told him motioning at the table.

Embry shook his head and looked at me closely. "So, um... What did you do today?" he asked carefully.

I tried not to tense. For all I knew, wolves could smell fear and right now I was terrified. "We just hung out here. Watched TV and stuff."

Bridget slammed her fists down on her highchair. "Mama!" she demanded I look at her.

I smiled down at Bridget and pushed her curls back. "I'm right here," I told her happy for the distraction.

Embry was still looking at me when I glanced back at him. "Anyone stop by?" he tried again.

I knew I was making it worse by avoiding it. I knew he could smell Paul had been inside the house. He was wanting me to come out tell him the truth. I couldn't do that.

"Umm. Paul came by. He was kind of having a rough day so we talked for a little bit," I said biting down on my lower lip. I got Bridget out of the highchair and put her on the floor. She toddled off toward the living room, mumbling baby talk to herself.

Embry crossed his arms over his chest, staring me down hard. "And?"

I felt my lip start to tremble and I knew I was only moments away from crying. I felt my cheeks start to burn. "And…." I stopped there. The tears were welling up in my eyes and were spilling over. I wiped at them frantically. "And…" I tried again but couldn't go any further.

"And what?" Embry snapped, a hint of anger coming out now that Bridget wasn't in the room anymore.

I took off walking down the hallway, looking in at Bridget in her room. She was sitting on the floor playing contentedly with her toys. There wasn't anything in there that could hurt her. I sat on the edge of our bed which probably wasn't the smartest idea. Embry came in after me, his jaw tightening. I grabbed a pillow and held it against me, clutching at it. "And what, Sarah?"

I squeezed the fabric harder until my fingernails started to hurt. "And we... I... I'm. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," I burst out, apologizing without even saying exactly what I'd done.

"Say it!" Embry shouted, making me jump at the anger in his voice.

I let the tears pour down my cheeks. "I can't say it. I want to forget it ever happened. I don't want to think about it," I cried reaching for his hand.

Embry jerked his hand back from my touch. "Don't touch me. Don't touch me again. You can't even tell me what happened."

"Don't make me say it to you. I said I was sorry. Believe me. It just happened." I held the pillow over my face and cried into it.

Embry laughed harshly. "Fucking Paul doesn't just happen. Have you been wanting him this whole time you've been with me? All those times we had sex were you wanting it to be him?" He asked pacing back and forth.

I shook my head and looked up from my pillow. "No! Never! You know its not like that."

"No, I don't know that. I don't know anything right now. I never thought you'd cheat on me but you did. I guess I'll never be good enough for you. I never have been," Embry said looking straight into my eyes.

"No, that's not how it is," I pleaded with him. I felt like a hole was being punched through my chest. "I love you. I want you, not him."

Embry shook his head in disbelief. "If you loved me you wouldn't have done this to me. How could you?"

"I do love you!" I cried out, reaching for him again. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry and I wish it never happened. Just don't leave me. Please don't leave me." I'd promised myself I wouldn't do this, but here I was, begging.

Embry went to the closet and grabbed a bag, shock rippled through my body. He was throwing me out. "Stop! Don't!" I begged. "Just let me explain!"

He ignored me and grabbed a few things from the dresser next, stuffing them into the bag. "I can't stand to look at you anymore. I'm so… ugh!!" He left the room.

I followed after him still crying and as made his way to Bridget's room. He leaned down and kissed her on the head before he walked out to the front door. "I gave you everything and this is what I get," was the last thing he said before he stepped out and slammed the door behind him.

I spent 5 days without hearing anything from Embry. Bridget kept me up and going though. I didn't see Paul either. I dropped Bridget off at my parents or his parents for the swaps. I didn't want to look at him or worse, talk to him. My mom kept asking me where Embry was but I couldn't tell her. I didn't want anyone to know what I'd done. I knew the pack probably knew every detail by now so I avoided all of them too. I couldn't even bring myself to call Emily anymore.

I had no idea what I was going to do. This was Embry's house, not mine. I didn't pay the bills. I couldn't make it here alone. I missed him more than I'd ever missed anything before in my life. I missed waking up next to him in our bed. I missed hearing the sound of his voice. I wanted Embry back.

I knew in a way though, that he would come back. All of his stuff was still here after all. I didn't know where he was staying unless he was with his mom which meant I was being called a tramp and a slut all over town. It was actually true this time though. I'd done something very slutty. I walked back down the hallway, crawled into bed and flipped the TV on. Bridget had finally fallen asleep after crying for Embry for a few hours. She didn't understand why he wasn't home.

Bridget was attached to Embry like she was to me and Paul, she saw him as a father figure and she wanted him with her. I laid my head down on the pillow and watched TV for a while, letting my thoughts run wild. I needed to talk to my mom about moving back home and I needed to talk to Paul about keeping Bridget more so I could work a second job. I felt my stomach churn at the mere thought of Paul. I didn't feel an inch of remorse for Rachel in this situation even though I probably should have. I didn't like Rachel and I never would. She was the person that had ruined all of this for me.

I dozed off after a while, sleeping soundly while the rain beat against the roof. This was what emptiness felt like, what it felt like to lose everything. There was no excuse for what I'd done and not a thing I could say would make it better. "Mama!" I heard Bridget cry out.

I groaned, not wanting to do anything but stay in bed and cry, mourn my Embry; Bridget had other ideas though. She wanted to start her day. "Mama! Up now!" I conceded defeat, nearly falling out of bed before walking to Bridget's room and picking her up. She smiled at me, but her eyes were sad. She was trying to make me feel better.

I needed something, something to get my mind off the fact that I was now most likely going to be raising my child alone. I fixed Bridget breakfast-- oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar. I didn't eat; I couldn't. It felt like my heart was permanently stuck in my throat. After I finished cleaning Bridget up and putting her down for her morning nap, I hopped in the shower. I couldn't get enough of the hot water, maybe it was because I felt so dirty, but it also felt very comforting.

Bridget was awake by the time I'd dressed and put my hair into a ponytail. She was talking to herself and turned to look at me as soon as I walked in. "Go?" she smiled. I had no idea what she meant, but I assumed she was tired of hanging around the house and, God, I could use Emily right now. I knew she was pissed at me, Sam was, everyone was. I was pissed at myself.

"You wanna go see Emily?" I asked her, running my hand over her hair.

"Em-ry!" Bridget pouted.

My tears sat on my bottom eyelid. "I'm sorry, baby. I can't…Embry had to…"

"Em-ry?" Bridget's stuck her bottom lip out as I picked her up. I had to get out of here, I couldn't stand it for one more minute. I walked her to the car and strapped her into the seat. I needed Emily, even if she didn't anything to do with me.

I knew I was taking a chance setting foot on the Uleys' yard, but Emily was a good person, a good friend and I hoped it would be enough for her to at least talk to me. I heard Emily humming to Adam through the open window as I knocked softly on the door.

"Bridget, sweetie, go find Adam. Mama needs to talk to Emily, okay?" I kissed her cheek but she didn't run off. Bridget stayed by my side, holding my hand.

"What are you doing here, Sarah?" Emily asked, trudging into the kitchen, as Bridget and I followed her.

"I can't stay in that house, I can't look at that bed, I can't sleep, I can't eat, I cant…"

"Maybe you should've thought about that before you let Paul…" Emily stopped herself and put her head in her hands. "Why would you do that?"

"He was crying, Emily, and he…Rachel…UGH! I don't know! I don't know why I did it! I'm sorry, okay?! It was the biggest mistake I've ever made, ever," I choked on my words and literally fell on the floor.

"Stop it," Emily glared at me. "I don't feel sorry for you, I'm sorry, I don't. You made this mistake, Sarah and you have deal with the consequences. I will tell you this, though, Paul's pretty miserable himself."

"Why? Did his precious Rachel yell at him? It's not my fault she broke his heart and killed his baby!" I screamed.

"Just shut up, and try to act like a grown up, please," Emily was emotionless. "Paul feels bad about all the shit he's done, and he hates seeing Embry so upset and he hates that he screwed things up between the two of you."

I scoffed. "He more than screwed things up. He cost me everything." I sobbed into my hands.

"In all fairness, sweetie, it's not all his fault. You could've said no," Emily's voice was cold, and while I wanted to yell at her and tell her to stop being a bitch, she had ever right to do what she was doing.

"I know, I know…I've told myself that about a billion times each day," I threw my hands up.

Emily was quiet for a minute and then tucked her hair behind her ear. "So are you going to fight for him? Try to get him back?"

I scoffed again. "I only want Embry, Em. I need him, he saved me and I love him. I literally ache without him. But I don't know what to do to make it better."

"Sitting here crying isn't gonna solve the problem," Emily said. "Take Bridget home, get a good's night sleep and wake up tomorrow ready to fix this problem."

I nodded to her, agreeing with every word she said. Bridget and I stayed for awhile longer before I took her home, the home riddled with the memories of my lost love.

Two days later, making it exactly 13 days without Embry, Paul showed up on the doorstep. He was looking down at the cement when I opened it up. "Go away." I snapped and started to push the door back shut.

Paul pushed it back, keeping it form shutting. "You can't avoid me forever Sarah."

"Oh yes I can." I retorted and shoved as hard as I could on the door. "I don't want to see you."

Paul pushed it harder, forcing it open enough to come inside. "Don't be like this."

"Like what? Angry? Bitter? Repulsed? Heart broken?" I shot at him, holding my ground so he couldn't come in any further.

Paul sighed and crossed his arms over his chest, giving me a look. "And you don't think I have feelings? I feel like everything is my fault. I tried to talk to Embry but he didn't want to hear it. Rachel's pissed, but not as pissed as Embry."

I rolled my eyes at him, wishing he would just leave already. "It is your fault. Now go."

"Fine. But only if you start communicating with me again." Paul bargained.

I waved him off. "Fine. Whatever. Just go. Bye."

He hesitated and then leaned in and hugged me. I pushed him away, my hands shoving on his chest. "Ughh.. don't touch me." I complained.

Paul laughed a little bit, waving as he left. I felt a bit better even though I didn't want to admit it. I didn't want to actually give Paul credit for helping me heal. I piddled around the house, cleaning and packing a few of my things up. We couldn't stay here much longer. I couldn't afford to. I packed here and there through the evening, stopping to feed Bridget and take care of her when I needed to. She was still crying for Embry. I knew after this, I would never date again. It wasn't fair to get her so attached to someone like this and then take it away.

I put her in her crib, hoping she'd lull herself to sleep and padded back into my room, packing some of my clothes up. I leaned against the footboard, dozing off after a while when I stopped to rest. I was half asleep when I thought I heard something moving in the house. I opened my eyes up and pulled myself from the floor. I didn't even have anything to help protect us against a burglar. I peeked at from around the doorway, but it was dark. I saw the nightlight in Bridget's room turn on and felt my stomach flip flop.

I crept down the hallway to hear her squealing. "Em-ry" she was cooing I realized. I peered inside and there was Embry standing beside the crib, Bridget in his arms with her chubby arms clasped around him. "I missed you Bri bear." He whispered touching her curls.

Bridget laid her head down on his shoulder, spotting me. "Mama!" she said loudly.

Embry turned around, his eyes piercing me. He didn't speak to me, he just looked and kind of frowned before he turned back around, rubbing Bridget's back. He kissed the side of her face once more before he laid her in the crib. "I'll see you later precious." He whispered to her, tucking her in.

He walked past me, our shoulders brushing as he went into our room and turned the lights on. I was following after him like a lost puppy, hoping he'd say something. Anything really. "Embry?"

Embry opened up the closet door and grabbed a few pairs of jeans. "What?" he said tonelessly.

"I'm sorry. I know you don't want to hear this, but I'm sorry. I've never been more regretful in my life than I am right now." I said softly, happy his back was to me.

Embry paused, not grabbing anymore clothing. "I'm sorry too." he finally said.

"I don't like this. I don't want you to hate me. It hurts to know you're mad at me. I miss you. I miss everything about you. I even miss your mother." I said tip toeing closer to him.

Embry turned around, his features had softened after my apology. "I.. Sarah. Why did you do it? Just tell me why."

I bit my lower lip, not looking at him anymore. "I think a part of me... missed Paul and wanted him to love me like that again, but I know now that its not the same thing I have with you. I don't want him. I want you." I felt tears start to sting my eyes and willed them not to spill over.

"I can't handle you cheating on me again. I can't. I gave you everything. I love you and you did this to me." Love. Not loved.

I dared to move closer to him, standing just inches away. I knew it was a risk, talking to a werewolf in this state, this close. "I won't cheat on you. I swear. Please take me back. Please be with me again. I love you." I whispered, looking up at him.

He sighed and then hesitantly wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer to him. "Honey… I missed you. Everything's not okay… But we… I need you as much as you need me."

I hugged him as tightly as I possibly could, breathing in his scent. "I won't mess up. I won't. I love you. Don't leave me."

We stood there holding each other for the longest time until we had to pull away so I could go get Bridget. Then it was the three of us again.