Chapter Twenty Two
Alright. This is a warning: Breaking Dawn ends with this chapter but the story is not over! More at the end.
Disclaimer – I do not own Twilight but I do own Hetani.
Christmas: a time of presents, laughter and plenty of food. I adored the holiday more than my own birthday because it was a time of family and sharing. We gathered at Charlie's house – all of Jake's pack along with Emily, Sam and Sue. I was cuddled on Embry's lap as Quil and Seth jammed themselves into what room was left on the sofa. Of course, all the wolves were jazzed about the upcoming fight, so much so that it made the atmosphere even more exciting. I was not pleased that they would be risking their lives, especially against opponents as formidable as the Volturi. But I had learned from experience that arguing was pointless and, as the threat applied directly to a wolf's imprint, it was completely useless.
I watched with a smile as Jacob shared a Quileute promise bracelet with Nessie, much like the one I wore from Embry and she adored the gift more than anything else she'd been given. Over the course of the previous month, I had finally accepted her presence and we bonded quickly. It was nice and she really was an insanely adorable child.
"Hetani?" a hesitant voice asked and my head whipped around to see Bella looking like she wanted to fidget as she stood by the arm of the couch.
"Yeah?" I replied, hoping I didn't sound too rude. I would never truly accept Bella but I tried for the sake of the company we were in. She held out two box shaped presents wrapped in shiny red paper and I hesitantly took them. An excited chirp alerted me to Nessie skidding over to me and she sat cross legged in front of me. I looked between mother and daughter in complete bewilderment.
"Renesmee insisted we get these for you as soon as she saw them," Bella explained and I looked at the giggling girl with a raised eyebrow. She just looked at me with wide eyes, begging me silently to open the gifts. Conceding, I gently tore the paper off the smallest present. Inside was a velvet box that I cautiously opened. Smiling, I eyed the delicate ring inside. It was designed to look like many leaves and vines wound together made of silver. It was beautifully simple but stunning and I carefully placed the piece of jewellery on my right middle finger. Nessie seemed to sigh in relief.
"I love it, really," I insisted and she nodded happily. I proceeded to rip the paper off the second present and carefully opened the white box underneath the wrapping. Happy tears filled my eyes as I saw what was in it. A silver photo frame with a similar leave design to the ring sat on a cushion of tissue paper and a picture of me with Embry rested within the glass. His arms were wrapped tightly around my waist from behind and we were both clearly laughing in front of the river that ran near the Cullen house. The picture just screamed out our love for one another and how happy we were, making the tears filling my eyes increase.
"Tani?" Nessie had adopted Rachel and Jake's nickname for me and I looked up to see everyone staring at me with concern. I shook my head quickly.
"It's perfect, Nessie. Really," I assured her and everyone relaxed upon realising they were happy tears. Nessie, not caring if Embry was beneath me or that there really wasn't room, clambered up onto my lap and hugged me tightly. Laughing through the tears, I hugged her back gently. Then she bounded away to Jake and Christmas resumed with almost forced cheer (at least for Bella and Edward).
XXX
28th December
Jake decided to screw patrols and let Leah, Seth, Embry and Quil do whatever the hell they wanted as the fight was two days away and they wouldn't have the day before because it was for preparation. Sam had come to the same conclusion and it was for that reason that we were all gathered on First Beach like the old days. The guys were throwing around a football and I sat with the other imprints (minus Nessie, who was with her family). Jake clearly missed her but he insisted this was family time. My eyes followed the ball as they all tossed it about then they landed on Rachel, Kim and Emily. Claire obviously didn't know what was going on, so her tiny self was just laughing delightedly at Quil who occasionally pulled faces to amuse her. But the three others were clearly upset, although they did a great job at hiding it. I was upset too but I found myself looking at the situation very differently than I had about the newborn fight where Jake had gotten his bones mulched.
"How are you so calm?" Kim breathed from next to me and I recognised the effort at keeping her voice from reaching the boys. I wasn't sure if it worked or not. I glanced at her and shrugged.
"The chances of it coming to a fight aren't very strong."
"Normally you're royally irritated at this kind of thing," she argued and I shrugged again. Emily and Rachel shuffled closer across the sand so that they could join the conversation.
"Yeah, but that's because of Bella. If I was being picky, I could blame her for this too but the fact of the matter is: she didn't know it was possible. I understand the pull of an imprint and we just have to accept that Nessie needs protection." All three looked stunned at my approach to the situation.
"You really care about that little girl, don't you?" Rachel asked, her curiosity evident in her wide eyes. I nodded.
"I do. And she doesn't deserve to die," I insisted in a tone that ended the conversation. Recognising the conclusion, they all turned to lighter topics and I relaxed against my towel, trying not to think of my wolves in deep danger.
XXX
"Happy New Year's Eve," I whispered miserably. It was almost three o'clock in the afternoon and none of us had any idea whether or not our boys were ok. Emily, Rachel, Kim and I were all securely in Emily's house with Claire taking a nap in the corner. We hadn't really said much, exchanging simply words now and again but nothing to keep up a conversation. We were waiting for a phone call or the arrival of a wolf to tell us the good or bad news. Maybe someone was injured. Maybe they were dead. Oh God, I didn't know what I'd do if any one of them was dead. Sure, I wasn't close to all of them but they were all my family. I had a sudden vision of Renesmee being killed for something she hadn't done and winced violently at the onslaught of pictures that followed, each one consisting of someone I loved dead.
"Hetani, please stop thinking about it," Rachel pleaded. My older sister was so damn good at reading me that it annoyed me.
"Sorry," I mumbled, looking at my knees. They tried to hide it but each one of them had worry and pain in their eyes, just like I did. I thought back to my goodbye with Embry.
"I'm not going to argue this time," I said lightly, trying to keep the pain from my voice. Embry's arm, wrapped securely around my shoulder, squeezed me in reassurance. We were sitting cuddled up together in our spot (firmly on the ground and not at great height on Embry's insistence).
"Should I be hurt?" he joked back and I smiled weakly, twisting my head so I could see him. He gazed back down at me unwaveringly.
"I'm worried. I'm scared. But I'm also hopeful. I know that the Volturi are formidable but when someone wants something badly, they will do just about anything to get whatever it is – even stop for a second and listen." I was referring to Alice, who had run off after informing everyone of the Volturi's imminent arrival. Embry nodded then smiled at me with a little wonder.
"You are amazing, you know that?" he asked and I just shrugged.
"Common sense is a gift." We sat in comfortable silence with Embry's thumb rubbing circles on my shoulder, just contemplating the tides. Then we both looked at each other and the facades were gone – there was the raw pain and the sheer worry we both felt for each other.
"I love you," he breathed and my smile was genuine in return.
"I love you too. And I know you'll come back to me." He grimaced at the hope behind my statement but I could feel it underneath all the concern that I wouldn't be losing him.
"I'll try my best."
I sat with the other girls in silence for at least another twenty minutes before the piercing ring of a phone jolted us all. Kim's leg jerked up and she hissed as it made contact with the coffee table. Emily's head snapped around so fast I thought I heard a crack. Rachel slid off the arm of the couch in her haste to stand up and I leapt up and grabbed the phone.
"Hello?" I gasped, out of breath with worry and from moving so fast.
"It's over." Sam's reassuring voice filtered into my ear and I laughed in relief. "Sue's going to come and lead the way up to the Cullen place." And then he hung up, leaving me stunned from actually trusting the Cullens enough to let all the imprints be around them. Then I slammed the phone down and whirled around.
"It's over. We're going to the Cullen place." And they all burst into motion, grabbing little things and pulling on shoes. I hopped around on one foot as I attempted to pull on my second purple converse and then I was the first out of the door when Sue pulled up outside. Her car could only fit four extra people, so Emily took Claire in her car and I leapt into the passenger seat as Kim and Rachel hopped in the back. Never before had I been so edgy but the drive to the Cullen residence seemed to take three times as long as it normally did. Even Rachel and Kim, who had never been there before were so tense they were tapping their fingers against their knees and seats
"Thank God," Rachel said and she bolted out the door before the car had even fully stopped. Knowing I could be particularly clumsy, I waited for the vehicle to stop moving completely before I undid my seat belt and got out of the car. Kim ran into Jared's unharmed arms with a relieved shriek just as Rachel was swept into Paul's welcoming embrace. It only took me a second longer to locate Embry and, when I did, I leapt at him and wrapped my legs round his waist as his hands caught my waist. After that, I didn't pay attention to anyone else and focused solely on peppering Embry's face with little kisses.
"I'm so happy you're alive!" I cried between pecks, clutching his shoulders with a dangerously tight grip. His arms surrounded me as he held me as close as possible and placed his lips over mine. I didn't care if people were watching, I didn't care if Jacob saw – I only wanted Embry in that moment and kissed back with every ounce of love I had for him. He reciprocated easily and we melded together like two pieces of a puzzle.
"TANI!" shrieked a cheerful little voice and I laughed as Embry put me down. I was suddenly hit by the force of Nessie as she flung herself at my waist and hugged me. I picked her up with a little effort and she clung to me like a koala bear.
"I can honestly say I'm glad to see you, little girl," I told her and she snuggled into me. I stroked her hair happily, truly thrilled that she was alive and well. Jake appeared on my right and wrapped an arm around us both.
"I was scared but I'm ok now," she insisted and Embry, Jake and I laughed at her cute pout.
"You're going to have to tell me all about it." And she instantly perked up as she prepared to tell her story. I caught Bella's eye across the lawn and, in a unique moment of acceptance, smiled at her just slightly. She smiled and nodded at me before Nessie recaptured my attention and described everything in detail. Everything was good again.
I was going to do a sequel for this but I've decided to just continue this story where it is – with more drama that you probably won't expect. I'm not sure how long it'll go on for though – that remains a surprise! And thank you so much for the reviews/favourites/alerts – I appreciate them more than you know! Let's see if we can make it to 77? Of course I'll still update if we don't but that's a challenge for you! Love Bianca :) x