A/N: The inspiration just about hit me today, and here's what it dictated. It's long.

X.

As Leah descended into the realm of darkness and dreams, I felt my breath being swiftly taken from my lungs.

Watching Leah sleep felt even better than riding my second-hand dirt bike for the first time. In fact, just seeing her erased the thought completely off my mind. Her long hair, blacker than the night, was lightly tucked behind her shoulders, trickling down with the rain. Her eyes were closed, of course, and behind her soft lids I wondered what dreams she may be in. Both her nose and her mouth were relaxed, neither crunched up in annoyance or pursed in suspicion as they usually were. She breathed in an even, well-spaced manner, taking me by surprise at first, to which I almost reacted with a panic. But Leah took one breath after the other, though slow, sending me following every heave her chest took, merely to ensure she was alright.

I slowly twisted her hair to squeeze the water out, and kept it neatly to one side so the remaining water wouldn't trickle to her face--serenity must not leave her tonight. Jacob had once complemented, though it took me three days to gauge it out of him, that a scowling Leah was still rather captivating. Unsurprisingly, a sleeping Leah was even more enchanting. Every minuscule movement she made--be it the fluttering of her feathery lashes, the heave of her chest, or the twitch of her mouth--every single darn thing was beautiful. I could watch her sleep endlessly.

Leah in my arms easily overshadowed my life's happiest moments. When she snuggled closer, inching her face to my neck, I almost forgot how it felt like to feel the adrenaline blazing through my veins whenever the weather accorded me the chance to use my bike. I could feel my heart thump excitedly within the cages of my chest; so strong I was worried it might wake her up. Leah remained asleep though, shifting once in a while in a subconscious-led attempt to gain comfortability, looking as angelic as when she had first closed her eyes.

My body was willing me to rest; but despite the obvious need, my eyes failed to comply, as if they were too astounded to function. I couldn't help it; Leah sleeping in my arms, though it was the epitome of perfection, remained as surreal as when I first laid eyes on her (after phasing, of course).

As the dawn approached, I found myself magnetically close to Leah's lips. Though it was the sudden and overwhelming wash of her scent that made me realise how I had inched too intimately to her, I could not help but linger there--where our breaths swirled with each other, where if I but move my lips--perhaps for a word--it would touch hers, and where I could feel the warmth of her lips beckoning me even closer--it was where I belonged after all. Still, I painfully pried myself away, leaning on the sodden soil for support. A debate in my mind ensued; after the contemplation, I decided to gave her a chaste kiss on the forehead, to which I found myself not wanting to pull my lips away.

My head snapped up as I heard the panicked yells of 'Leah? Leah!' of Harry and Seth. Simulteneously, the thought of needing to lead them to Leah opened my mouth, but my voice never left. Instead, I gently covered Leah's ears and sheltered her further against the wretched rain in my hopes of not disturbing her sleep. However, as the voices grew louder and closer, Leah groaned, shifted her weight while yawning gracefully, and then opened her eyes. Disoriented, she looked surprised seeing me greeting her. "Good morning," I smiled.

I sounded like an extremely gleeful jackass, according to Leah.

As another set of Leah's name rang through the woods, my dominant priority became getting her found, cleaned and dried. She had endured a night under the crying skies and slept through wet clothes, something far too horrid for me to know had I not been with her. Arguably though, it was worse seeing her through the storm and not being able to help. My shoulder, still in the process of healing, and my newly broken ankle, courtesy of falling through my well concealed pit, were both trying to kill me. More so when Leah's legs was leaning on my ankle. I hoped she didn't notice its odd angle and the swelling the water concealed.

I couldn't think after that, because the most shocking, the most atrocious and perhaps the most monstrous of revelations was so cruelly poured on my imprint.

It started with Seth's curious head peering over the opening, and his eyes almost gauging out of their sockets when they landed on our frames entwined so closely with each other. He squeaked, throwing his voice sky high, and trembled so violently that before I could wrap my hands around Leah's eyes, he phased.

Phased, of all fucking possibilities.

I felt both of our hearts stop. Seth, who due to his first phasing was probably confused and muddy, started growling and crouching, ready to pounce on us. He was livid. I immediately shifted so I was on the front line, while I called upon a higher power for one of the pack to phase to stop Seth from further endangering his sister.

"Back off," I growled, hoping that since Seth was a newbie he would at least be under me in the chain of werewolf command. His reply was a shuddering roar, echoing from deep within his chest. I crouched defensively, teeth bared, and arms extended protectively over Leah. I couldn't care less if he was her baby brother. The fact that Seth was frightening and endangering Leah by simply being within her sight enraged the hell out of me. "I said back off, Seth."

Seth roared, his hackles rising. Leah whimpered behind me.

As I felt her quivering hands tugging my shirt, my patience audibly snapped. "I don't care if you're her brother, Seth. If you don't get away from her, I'm going to kill you."

He howled in fury.

I felt the familiar shudder erupt deep within me, and the accompanying warmth searing across my spine. My senses heightened; slowly, I could feel the heat erupting from the centre of my being. In the seconds that spanned that reaction, my eyes were set on Seth alone.

I was a second away from phasing when Seth's animalistic growl became lost into a soft whimper. A feeling of perfection left me suddenly; Leah had withdrawn her hand and transferred her terrified gaze on me. I felt her disgust dragging me far beyond the bottom of where we stood.

Horrified, I turned to Seth to ensure he was no longer attempting to attack me within Leah's vicinity. His face was blank, though his eyes were aflamed with aggression. Seth backed away slowly, and sending another howl ripping through the trees, retreated to the shadows of the woods.

"Paul!" Jared suddenly called. "They're here!"

I tore my eyes away from Seth just in time to see Jared take his place. Paul, along with Harry, jogged by with a rope ten seconds later. "God, Embry," Paul gasped, disgusted. "A pit isn't exactly what a girl considers a romantic place to spend the night, you know. "

I understood the irony, but now was not the time for a playful discourse. Despite Harry's presence, I found myself cursing Paul. "Fuck, Paul. Just help her out!"

"Leah?" Harry poked his head into the opening. "Leah! Embry? What the--? Let's get them out, boys. Quick!"

I spun around, and in horror, found Leah frozen. She didn't show any signs of movement or of any plans of moving from where she stood rigidly, slumped against the wall of wet soil. Her eyes displayed shock; seeing her like that gnawed at my stomach. Her breathing became laboured, so terribly nightmarish that mine almost stopped. Her stillness frightened me. It resembled a vampire's, almost to every degree, including their dominant feature--cold, marble skin. I shivered with the thought, and craddled her as we ascended.

She was too quiet. Her stony stare was becoming far too uncomfortable for me. I held her face and searched for her eyes. "Leah? Leah, it's okay. Don't be afraid, I'm here. I'm going to tell you everything." Though of course, frankly speaking, there was little to add to make the fact that half the boys in La Push were half-wolves a little less shocking.

Harry mumbled something about me stealing his dialogue and redeemed himself by playing doctor and giving Leah an on the spot physical check-up. I doubted Harry's medical qualifications but a quack doctor was better than no doctor, so I kept my lips together. He held Leah at an arm's length and checked that everything from her head to her toes was in the right places. "Feel anything, Lee? How 'bout here? Does it hurt?"

After his hermit role-play, Harry eyed Leah carefully. She clutched her father's arm and whimpered. He embraced her warmly. "It's okay, honey. I'm here. I got you. Daddy's got you. Let's get you dried up and warm, alright, Lee?"

Our eyes met when she crossed our path. I quivered at the intensity. Her glare was piercing and arctic cold; enough to extinguish all the warmth the night created.

Harry slung the frozen Leah into his arms and simultaneously threw a fit. "Who did this? WHO DID THIS?"

I was about to raise my hand in guilt when Paul leaped on me. "Dude, how thick can you get?"

"If I ever find out who did this..."

"Stop squeaking!" Paul whispered.

"To my daughter!" Harry bellowed. "Where's Charlie? I am making a complaint! Let's see what they make of that. God damn it," he stomped. "What were these kids thinking? Don't they know how dangerous the woods are? We have fucking vampires roaming around--"

Sue Clearwater suddenly appeared out of thin air. I was beginning to think she was actually Harry's conscience. Wagging a finger in front of his gobsmacked face, she cautioned him firmly. "Don't you use those words in front of the kids!"

I hoped Leah was a little too stunned at her untimely discovery of Seth being part dog to even pay attention to what her father had just blatantly confirmed. She already had enough on her plate to cope with.

Harry pointed at Leah. "But Sue! See this?"

"There is no need for swearing, Harry. No--no, no. Don't you argue with me!"

Harry was still pissed. "This is injustice! "

"Injustice or not, screaming your head off will not help our daughter."

He harrumped, defeated, then stomped after Sue towards the reservation. I limped behind them, eyes focused solely on her.

"Holy cow," Paul pointed at my ankle. "That is bad!"

It was actually not hurting until he mentioned it. Now that he did, the sting shot madly, sending me hurling to clutch my foot. It was twisted in a gruesome sort of angle and was swollen, not to mention that it probably healed all wrongly. I ignored the nagging pain and refocused my thoughts on Leah, who, on her father's arms, had gained distance from where I knelt.

Wet and sloppy, and under the pelting rain, we jogged towards the nearest house--Emily's. No way. I liked Emily, but she had her part in breaking Leah's heart; something that had wiped down my affection.

Emily turned green as she held the door open. "Oh my God. What happened?"

"I wish I know," Harry mumbled. "Something warm, Em. Fast!"

Paul's voice floated to my head as I hovered around. Annoying how I couldn't escape from him even as a human. "Is he related to Bella Swan? A long lost cousin or something? I mean it! He can't even spend three days without injuring himself!"

"That happens when you imprinted on Leah Clearwater," Jared cocked his head to our direction.

"Queen of all things demo--"

"I dare you to finish that sentence Paul, because once you phase, Embry and Seth would fight to the death for the honour of ripping you apart."

"Don't worry, Paul, I'll make sure I win," I assured him with passion.

"Wanna bet on it, Jared? Ten bucks. I say Seth wins. He's her brother."

"I wouldn't bet on it if I were you," Jared snorted. "Embry just so happens to be her imprint."

"Seth phased when he saw them. And they even had their clothes on. Can you begin to imagine how the poor brother will vie when they finally throw their clothes off? Make it fifteen."

Jared eyed me wearily, which made sense because I was still disliking Seth, but otherwise ignored my grumbles. "You're on. Just you make sure you have the cash, dude. You still owe me five from last night. "

"You better have the cash. Have you not seen Seth prowl outside her window, Jared? He's worse than a midnight stalker." He lowered his voice. "Harry and Seth are a team. Every girl's nightmare."

"Well, Embry would rather die than not kill you. Maybe Seth can have your intenstines hanging on his window as a runner up trophy."

"I don't really like where this conversation is going," dismissed Paul.

I ignored both Jared's and Paul's machine gun mouths and stood waiting by the couch as Harry handed Leah to Sue and Emily to keep her dry. Harry pacing around made matters look serious; it gave me a headache. Plus, it was disorienting having two chatty werewolves stand on either side of you yammering away with their daily mouth exercise.

It felt like a painful eternity had swept past me before Leah stumbled out, cleaned, dried and warmed up, but still unbelievably motionless. As she sat on the couch, staring at Emily's fridge, I floated behind Harry and Sue, meaning to ensure she was okay. I got as far as opening my mouth, but the words refused to be accessible.

"You look dreadful, Embry," spotted Emily, walking over to me and handing me a fresh set of Sam's clothes. "What happened?"

Jared sighed, stuffing his mouth with a stolen muffin from the kitchen and pulled Emily's offerings away from my lap. "Trust me, Em, we tried. If this idiot wanted clothes, he would have grabbed one of these--" He threw her the clothes they had seemed to have been offering me."--and thanked us. Don't waste your time."

"Look at that ankle! How humanly possible is it to walk on that thing?" Paul cried.

Who cares? All I wanted right now was for Leah to move.

"Embry, I think you need medical attention," Jared diagnosed. "Come on, dude."

"Don't need to," I refused, shrugging his hands off my shoulders and turning back to Leah. "Leah does." She was turning blue.

Apparently, Harry noticed too. "I don't like the colour she's turning. Let's get her to the hospital," he decided, grabbing the car keys from his pockets and jiggling them about. "Embry, you too."

"I bet you changed your mind," Jared raised an eyebrow. I jumped up and nodded.

Sue shook her head in displeasure after eyeing me with a motherly look. "You better get dry, Embry dear. Sarah's not gonna be happy." Oh wow. Even Leah's mom was already on first name terms with my mom. Funny how imprinting helped with the parents. I wondered shrewly when the two bonded.

Since Leah seemed to be in an out-of-body experience, and everyone in the light about me being a werewolf, I took to the bathroom fast, shredded my rented suit which now resembled the soaked earth, and slipped on a fresh new set of, out of all people, Sam Uley's high school P.E. shirt. Riiight, as if Leah needed a more poignant reminder why she loathed me.

When I stepped out, they were already bluckled in the car. I merely looked at Leah, whose unbreakable stare was still resting on the faraway fridge, just visible in Emily's open doorway. Lucky darn fridge. I mean, what the hell does that bloody thing have?

We then skidded into the slick road, racing towards the hospital when Harry's breathing ceased to be normal. Apparently, it was only detected by my sensitive ears, because neither Sue nor Harry was alarmed. I blamed it on the sudden rise of his temper. "Party?" he screeched. "Party? Is William barking mad? This mess! Have you seen the house? Have you seen what that genius has done? I can't even sleep in my room!"

When Sue did not reply, Harry fretted. "I am going to call Charlie!"

"You better mind the phone bill next time you do, Harry. The last time you called the sheriff, you ended up in the Pacific and the phone bill reached the moon."

He rolled his eyes, totally Leah-like. "But you loved the trout."

Their dosmetic discussion lasted the whole of the short ride to the nearest hospital. Distracting it had yet to be, as I was itching to get Leah under medical attention and even under a microscope if need be. Her hints of staying conscious was becoming few and far between, so I stood by her side in the emergency room in case the doctor took his eyes away from her. Dwelling on my searing anger at Seth and my heartfelt concern for Leah occupied my time, repressing the panic that was bubbling closer and closer to the surface of my emotion cauldron.

"Oh, and doctor, Embry here needs his ankle fixed."

It took me some time to realise that it was Sue handing me to the doctor. As I glued my eyes on Leah and turned my feet towards the attending doctors, an awfully cheery voice called my name.

"Back again, Embry? You don't happen to pass here for me, now, do you?"

I couldn't imagine making more obvious the fact that my eyes simply couldn't leave Leah, and that she was the sole reason for my presence. It was that nurse who attended to my then broken shoulder--actually, she wasn't supposed to; I had the feeling she usurped her way through me--and she was now horridly waltzing her way to where I sat, oblivious to the fact that practically everyone around us had noticed that I was taking over the job of Leah's shadow.

"What happened here? Do you want me to help, love?"

I saw Leah's ear twitch,but afterwards she remained as still. I originally planned to not take my eyes off her, but the hand that was seductively tracing patterns on my shoulders needed some glaring. "My ankle," I shrugged away. "Not my shoulder."

The nurse smiled. "Just checking, sweetheart."

Leah flinched, and so did I.

She ignored Leah, much to my annoyance, and frowned. She looked like my mother's damn cat. "It must hurt. Want me to relieve the pain for you?"

"Morphine, please."

"Too strong, honey."

I was getting tired of seeing Leah flinch whenever the nurse spoke and too sick of the zigzagging conversation which seemed to be inevitably ending in Leah wincing too much and hurting herself so I gave a resigned sigh and tore my eyes away from her to face the revolting nurse. "Well, I need something strong enough to get your face away from my own!"

Her eyes widened and her mouth slacked. I knew being rude was uncalled for, but with Leah in such a terrible state, I really couldn't care less. She stomped away, swaying her hips, while I breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to Leah as Harry strode in.

He caressed her head. "How's she doing?"

"Still shocked," Sue whispered, with a grin still evident from witnessing my temper. "But the doctor said she can rest at home. We just have to sign some papers."

"Well, that's good. Seth's breaking trees outside," Harry reported. "Apparently, he disliked the idea of seeing Leah in Embry's arms."

Sue didn't sound so dissappointed. She reacted almost indifferently. I wondered vaguely if she fully understood that Seth was breaking trees as a werewolf. "Seth always had terrible tantrums," she muttered nonchalantly.

Harry pouted. "But he never broke trees before!"

"He never saw Leah in Embry's arms before either, Harry."

At this point, I decided to stop looking at Leah and actually opening my mouth to answer their unmouthed question, since I owed them an explanation about what happened and the only other person involved was incapable of talking. Besides, I was getting sad at the thought of not being able to hold Leah before last night, something Sue reminded me so starkly, thought she probably did not realise she did. "I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to turn out that way. When we dug the pits it was only for fun."

"Should I call Charlie?" Harry asked, trying to intimidate. I bowed my head. "William was supposed to be the victim. We thought it would be funny."

"It wasn't," Sue reprimanded, her tone changing. "Even if it was William who got trapped, it was very irresponsible of you to not carefully foresee the danger, Embry. If a vampire caught you..."

The only tangible regret that I had in mind while explaining the journey from planning the trap (I accidentally-on-purpose forgot to mention it all begun when Leah sneaked into my room) and digging throughout the night with rusty shovels to saving Leah from William's party and falling prey to evil Karma, was not that Leah discovered our supernatural capabilities, but the fact that she did in such an atrocious way and that the person in question was, though beside me, frozen in sheer disbelief.

Sue was cool with me. Or at least that was how I would have said it to Quil, who had then passed by the emergency room and did a double take to question the fact that I was sitting with the Clearwaters. When Harry shooed him away with a clever mention of Old Quil, my best friend grumbled out, stowing his curiosity and did whatever he was supposed to be doing in the first place. I sighed. I missed Quil.

While Sue began attending to Leah, Harry took me aside. I followed him to a nearby bench and stuttered in thanks as he asked me to join him. My heart fluttered nervously. He stared at the expanse of vast sky and a small smile crept to his lips. I did not understand why until he spoke.

"When Leah was born, Embry, nineteen years ago, I vowed to take so many roles in her life. I wanted to be her protector, her guardian, her confidant...I wanted to be the best father for that delicate little baby I held in my arms. I even remember the first breath she took, kid. She was a tiny little thing," Harry reminisced. His smile deepened, and in it I could see--almost feel--the overwhelming affection he had for his daughter. "So tiny I was so afraid I'd hurt her." Harry blinked a few times, seemingly to push the tears back. Cruel how I could listen to someone's father talk about his love for his child but would never hear mine.

Harry's lips curved even more. "When I first saw her I thought she was the most beautiful baby I have ever seen; but I think Leah was angry she was born. Hell, her eyebrows were squished up together before she wriggled her nose and took her first breath. God knows I was so proud. Then her tiny mouth opened and..." His smile turned into a little chuckle. "All hell broke loose in that maternity room."

"I'm sure she made an impression," I chuckled along.

"Oh she did," Harry agreed. "I don't know if I ever fulfilled those vows I made, Embry. I tried, but you could never really know, you know?"

"Don't worry," I told him. "You mean the world to her." I guessed Leah would have preffered saying that than the usual 'she loves you'. It was true. The fact that Leah was strongly opposed to the relationship I had with my father, or lack thereof, showed just how much she appreciated her own.

"I certainly hope so," he mumbled. "Time changes everything, kid. Leah is now grown up and before I can even cope that my little girl is no longer so little...you imprint on her, of all God forsaken things."

A stony silence lingered where we sat. My breath itself did not dare disturb the stillness. Harry didn't seem to mind, though he glanced at me. "That's my daughter we're talking about here, Embry. I know you will never put her in harm's way, but imprint or no imprint, Leah is my daughter. It was hard enough crying myself to sleep to will myself to accept the claim you now have on her. Now I have to watch you love her and take the place I once held. I was enough for her not long ago, you know?"

A tear was only just visible in his eyes. "Remember this, Embry. A place in my heart will always be for my little girl. Someday, maybe you will yourself go through the same pain of watching your own daughter in the arms of another man. And I tell you, it better not be any time soon," he said sternly. I should have replied, perhaps a nod or a bout of disagreement, but my mind was anything but capable of an answer. Fatherhood was, for me, an unfamiliar realm.

"You're a good kid, Embry, but it's still hard to give her away."

I silently wondered whether Harry had received the wrong news. I debated with myself whether or not I was going to ask him if someone misinformed him that I proposed to his daughter, but in the end, I did. He appeared to be confused, then upon comprehension, he explained casually. "I know it's only a matter of time. You grow closer every day. One day, Embry, Leah will be lost in the love you have for her. And when that day comes, I can't promise I won't try to skin you alive. Letting her go is both a nightmare and a dream."

Harry sighed, rested his hands on my shoulders and turned my stare from the ground unto him. "Take good care of my girl, Embry. And never ever hurt her."

There were a couple of things my mind took notice of. First, that the gratitude and admiration I had for Harry, as an elder and as a father, trebled. And second, that my curiosity was desperate to know whether Sam ever had this talk with Harry, and whether his threats were far better or far worse off than 'skin you alive' (clearly, Leah was Harry's daughter).

I planned to assure him of my love and devotion for his daughter, but his son burst through the trees, trembling violently and raising his fists forward. Both of us jumped.

"YOU!" Seth roared. "I AM GOING TO KILL YOU! MY SISTER! HOW DARE YOU!"

"Seth..." Harry warned. Seth ignored him. He stomped around, screeching. "Daaaadddd! How could you? Leah? Our Leah? Why?"

Before his father could even answer, Seth started blurring at his edges. I did not even had enough time to strip my clothes. So with a resigned sigh, I bade my clothes (and my human body) farewell and exploded. I limped into the cover of the dense forest before anyone could see, as Seth took the bait and chased me down. I caught a glimpse of Harry throwing his hands in dejection and yelling after us. "Go on, take matters into your own hands! Leave an Elder!"

Seth's anger poured into my mind and the rest of the pack who happened to be in patrol, while the pain that was biting at my ankle left me hobbling. He was seething. TRAITOR!

I did not touch her, I swear.

You imprinted on her, Embry! IMPRINTED! Why my sister? Why you? Seth was beyond angry.

Jacob tried to dissuade him by explaining how I could not control it and that fate itself played Cupid. Seth was firm. But I don't want him to imprint on my sister!

Too late, Paul commiserated.

You can't control who you imprint on, Jared added. Sam agreed with conviction. Seth picked up his thoughts and cursed him for not imprinting on his sister and consequently breaking her heart. I growled in disapproval both at his plea and as the pain in my ankle took for the worse.

I thought you were mad at Embry for imprinting, Paul thought. Why are you begging Sam to imprint on Leah?

I'm not begging. But Sam how could you not tell her?

Tell her what? Tell her this, Seth? Tell her we're shapeshifting dogs? Are you out of your mind? Laws are in place for a reason, Seth. We exist not to parade our tails, but to protect the tribe.

You could at least tell her you imprinted on Emily!

How?

I don't know, you're the alpha!

Paul snorted. Sorry to burst your bubble, Seth. But Leah found out anyway, and where did that land her in? Hospital, isn't it?

Emily knows! Sam told her!

Sam cringed. I owed her an explanation after the attack...I can't--

What if Embry attacks Leah too? He should leave her alone!

I won't do that to her! I swore.

Seth noticed my anger directed at him and wondered how I could have had any goddamn right to get mad at him when it was his sister I imprinted on. You phased, dude. She's in the hospital, traumatised because you freaking phased right before her eyes! What the hell were you thinking?

That's immature, Embry. No one can control phasing too. Jacob remembered his own experience.

How do you think I felt? Seth winced. All I knew was that I wasn't feeling too good after the party. Then I see you two like that all entwined and...I want to vomit but I have a snout instead of a mouth and...I can't believe you didn't tell me. You could have warned me. I nearly attacked Leah! He shook his head. While he was busy blaming himself, which he totally deserved for endangering his sister, I slowed my pace down.

My fault, because Seth closed in quick and bit a good chunk of my leg. It damn hurt. Let go!

Take back your imprinting! Seth cried.

It's irrevocable!

No! It can't be! Imprint on someone else!

Wow Seth, Jared laughed. You are desperate.

Come on, Seth. Will you calm down and hear me out?

Will you stop laying a claim on my sister?

I ignored his whines and simply showed him my sincerity, much to Jacob's dismay. The guy had a problem coping with imprinting, the poor thing. I just hoped it worked on Seth. I laid out everything for him; that compelling pull and the undying faithfulness that I would never break. He momentarily went crazy feeling a different love for Leah but finally submitted with gritted teeth, under one condition. Whatever you're up to with my sister, please, I'm begging you, don't let me know.

Paul hollered, Jared congratulated me, Sam didn't react, and Jacob praised Seth, but I remained skeptical. That's it? After screeching and trying to bite my leg off, that's it?

What's wrong with you, man? Paul wondered why I always had to make my life more difficult.

Well, you said it's irrevocable and no one else seems to mind, so...

Thanks bro, you're an angel.

Eeeww, whatever you do Embry, please don't call me that!

Fortunately, Seth seemed ot have regained his angelic self and composure after that, because I was able to ran back home to grab fresh clothes and play hide-and-seek with my mother. Before I left, I heard mum hysterically talking to Sue on the phone and asking what the hell happened and why on earth her son was not on his bed when she checked earlier. I didn't let it bother me; instead, I phased, ready to ran back to the hospital. Seth wanted to come along too, but Sam adviced him against it. He was yet to be stable; besides, he had tons of questions he just couldn't wait to blurt out, including one which was along the lines of if we cut all four of our legs, when we phase back do we lose our arms too?

Who cares? Paul shrugged.

Do you really want to know, Seth?

Yup!

Try it on yourself, Jacob challenged.

I left them to figure out if we really do lose our arms to themselves and limped to the hospital entrance. The Clearwaters were just getting ready to head home when Sue spotted me (and my ankle) and towed me back in to get it attended to. It was the same annoying nurse who treated me, but this time she was uncharacteristically and preferrably cold. I whistled while my ankle was put on a brace to try to distract myself from the compulsion of jumping out of the bed and running towards Leah in the car.

After my ordeal, I found my mother, as hysterical as ever, wailing at Sue. As much as I tried to be discrete, she still spotted my exit, left Sue midsentence and grabbed me in a vise-like embrace.

"Oh Embry!" she cried. "Are you okay? Sue was just telling me--oh are you hurt, my baby?"

Oh, shame. I might have just turned tomato red. Leah would have probably been embarassed being called her father's 'little girl' as he got sentimental. But my mother calling me her 'baby' in front of the Clearwaters was far more than embarassing. It was embarassing and humiliating and mortifying.

So, to save myself from further humiliation, I nodded my head and prayed that my mother would just leave it at that. But she just had to give me her own medical check-up anyway. "Does it hurt, Em? Can you walk?"

"Do you have medical qualifications, mum?" I stopped her. "I'm fine. Really."

I hopped to convince her but it only made her yelp in worry. A few minutes later, when Sue herself intervened to save my shredded dignity, we were finally on the way home, and I was ready to wedge myself between Seth and Leah's room to guard her if that was what it took to ensure she would be safe from her own brother.

Harry carried her to her bedroom as I ignored my mother's disapproval and even competed with Seth as who gets the privelege to stand by her doorway and peek into her room as Harry tucked her in.

I won.

"Urgh Embry, I'm her brother!"

"So?"

Seth nudged me hard on the ribs and attempted to get past me in vain. "I won't endorse you!" he threatened breathlessly.

I rolled my eyes, and merely smirked back. "I'm your sister's imprint. Sorry."

Seth opened his mouth once again, but his voice never went past its silence. Instead, it remained open, and his eyes stared staight ahead, apprehensive. I followed his anxious gaze; it landed on Leah. Nothing unusual caught me by surprise in the few seconds I followed his lead--there was Harry tucking Leah in bed, humming as he did, just like when Leah was younger. It only hit me when I gazed into Leah's despising eyes. And when it did, it me hard.

It also didn't escape me that her emotionless stare was at me.

The pain was fleeting, but deep. Something you immediately know will scar you no matter how much time tries to fade it. Leah's yell echoed like flying bullets in the night.

"Stay away from me, monster."

A/N: I felt awful for the ending, you have no idea! But even if I rewrite it over and over again, it would end up the same anyway. Worry not, the kiss is coming. I was planning it while I wrote the end bit. Foreshadowing in here somewhere too. Reviews are appreciated! Do tell me what you think about this one, I wasn't so sure. Thank you :)