A/N: Can't wait for New Moon! Here's a filler, sort of. Enjoy!

XV.

"So, Embry..."

I kept my hands under the table, disturbed by the fact that they were cold (for a werewolf, at least) and trembling. Mum sat across me, seeking my eyes which I had to make sure were looking at anywhere but hers. My feet rattled helplessly against the table leg, and shifting them was no use for my size. An uncomfortable itch that had begun crawling along my throat was beginning to be unbearable. I refused to cough and bit my tongue instead. I knew any sound I would make would merely encourage my mum to torture away.

It seemed she need not any encouragement at all. She threw Quil's present on the table, and the bloody thing skidded right under my nose, as though taunting me. The classic print of Trojan lay so visible on the front of the packet it seemed to dominate the room. Worse still, my mum's eyes were glued on that thing. She breathed. "I know this is difficult for you..."

Difficult! This is mortifying!

"...but I am your mother and it is my responsibility to ensure that you're not engaging in any sexual activities at an age so young when there are so many responsibilities--"

I cut her off, horrified. "Oh my God, Mum, can we please not talk about my sex life?"

"So you have a sex life?"

She looked like she was about to faint. I raised my hands and waved them frantically to signal her mistake before she whoozed off to panicland. I still held on to my chastity belt after all, although I knew who I would end up losing it to. In fact, I think I might have given away the key already. "I don't," I stammered. "It's not like you think."

"So you are still a virgin?"

I winced. "Yes, mum."

"SO WHAT IS THIS THING DOING IN YOUR ROOM???"

Fuck you, Quil.

I bowed my head and kept silent, a move which infuriated her more. "It's a condom, Embry! You're hiding a condom in your room! And it's...it's..."

Please tell me she's not looking at the size!

"I'm not hiding it!" I defended, before she could begin to state a string of any other mums-should-never-know-this facts. "I didn't even know it was there! It's Quil! He was the one who left it there, I swear he did!"

"Quil? Quil Ateara?"

"That reincarnate of Satan, yeah."

"Are you telling me that the condom I find in your room was from Quil Ateara? Quil, the only boy I know who takes care of his grandfather without any complain, and the same friend of yours who has always given me flowers on Valentine's day?"

I didn't know mum thought of Quil in his most innocent state, one that was only ever accurate sixteen years ago. I couldn't quite picture Quil at the present without horns, a tail and a pitchfork on his hand. I rolled my eyes. "Mum, Quil steals Old Quil's pocket money when he has lured him to sleep, and the flowers you have been receiving have always been given to Quil by this girl he doesn't like. Quil Ateara is the devil."

She huffed. "Embry, I have not brought you up to talk about your best friend like that!"

Oh my God, Mum. "He is!"

"Are you trying to disrepute Quil to make your excuse more reliable?"

Disre-what? "No! I was...I was...well, you asked me where the condom--" I flinched at the word, while a big fat Trojan skidded across my mind. "--came from, and I told you!"

"So you're telling me Quil gave you this, instead of admitting you bought this from...God knows."

May Quil burn in hell.

"It's true! Why don't you believe me?" I cried. I was starting to get jealous of mum's attention to Quil. Aha, more reasons to set him on fire.

"And why would Quil give you a condom?" she demanded skeptically. Then she put on her 'concerned mother' face on again. "Are you...are you having sex with Leah?"

Uh, well that... I could feel the blood pool around my cheeks at the guilt surrounding my thoughts. "No!"

She raised her eyebrows and tapped her feet. Her fingers were set to point and accuse me. "You don't seemed too convinced yourself."

That's because I may have thought about it...maybe. "Muummm! "

She looked at me once, and when our eyes met, her face became awash with dread. Her voice was that of dread too. "Oh dear, oh dear..." she mumbled faintly, closing her eyes and holding her head as though she was suffering from a headache. "You're in love."

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair.

"You're in love," she repeated. "With Leah."

At this point, the butterflies in my tummy got all excited. Mum apparently did not feel such a thing. "In love with Leah," she mused. "Completely head over heels in love with Leah Clearwater. Why would Quil give you a condom if you're not having sex with Leah?"

All this because that stupid, horny bastard decided to give me an early Christmas present. I'm going to break his jaw, snap his wrists and hang him naked in front of Old Quil's room.

"Because...be--cause...because he...I don't know."

"Are you or are you not having sex with Leah? Embry, tell me the truth. If you do not, you're forcing me to ask Leah herself," she threatened. She began tapping her fingers on the table along with her feet on the floor. A clear sign of impatience.

Meanwhile, I got these swirly thoughts on my head that could only be from the side of Embry that was now impure due to Quil's influence. Mum, stop inducing those thoughts in my head. Ever heard of self-fulfilling prophecies?

I haven't even gotten past kissing her yet," I pouted. "And here you are accusing me of sleeping with her. Your son is not that lucky." Okay, I've said it. Let me go now, please!

I watched in slight horror as she reacted with paralysing disbelief. Only after she had recovered did she ponder for a second, her features unreadable. And then, she nodded. I grabbed the chance to capitalise on her silence and scrambled for the door, but she only said "sit," and I plopped back to the chair, scowling. Evil mother.

Waiting for the grand lecture, I let the thought of killing Quil sustain me. I'm going to wring his neck when I see him.

"I didn't say you can go, young man. We still haven't discussed the fact that Quil has smuggled you a condom."

"I thought we just did?"

"You're not making this any easier for me. I suggest you listen so you can go frolic around afterwards."

I scratched my head and averted my eyes from the evilest little packet ever made. She continued. "I know you're at the age where everything seems so carefree. No responsibilities, easy. I'm not saying you can't have sex honey. I wish you won't, but I know you will. I just want you to consider every possibility before you decide to throw away your chastity belt."

"Mum," I pleaded. "There's something called sexual education I could have gone to for advice if I wanted one, and I think there's always confession..."

"Quit being sarcastic, Embry. I know it is difficult for you. I remember when I first had it with your grandad. I was scarred for life, quite frankly..."

Holy shit. This just keeps getting worse and worse!

Babble, babble, too much information, and then she said, in a hopeful voice, "Honey, I really wish you can postpone this until you're ready. I don't think you're old enough to be having sex--"

Quil Ateara be damned.

"--just yet. Don't force yourself. Sex is an expression of love, dear and you should never feel pressured into having sex."

Cringe. "I'm not pressured."

She returned with a knowing chuckle that made my heart palpitate terribly. It was a laugh that alluded to her knowing something that I did not. In times like this, it could only mean trouble. Like I hadn't suffered enough? "Honey," she looked at me tenderly. "It's not as if I don't hear you moaning at night and in the shower."

And there's my cue to die.

When I didn't answer, she failed to guess that I was far too traumatised to reply. "I know you love Leah, Embry. But you're still young. Things can change. I want you to make sure that you won't regret whatever decisions you will reach and that Leah is the right girl for you."

She is! She is!

"It's a two way decision, Em. Make sure that before you do anything, Leah is ready and willing too."

I found my voice in defense of that. "I won't ever force Leah to do anything she doesn't want to."

"I'm glad to hear that. Now, I know you're not taking things for granted and that you're being safe. Taking precautions is good, but being safe doesn't always mean safe sex. Remember, condoms can break, and they do. You might want the pull-out method to avoid chances of conception. Is Leah on the pill?"

I think I'm gonna be sick.

She noticed my horror and reprimanded me sternly. "Now do not start wincing immaturely like that. If you're old enough to know what sex is, you're old enough for this talk."

"Mum, we were not planning on anything. I don't know," I sighed, defeated.

She nodded as if I she was talking to some other invisible entity. "I might ask Sue, then."

"NO! If you want me to have a normal life, mum, please I beg you, don't!"

She swivelled her head to look commandingly back at me. "Just promise me you won't be irresponsible, okay? I know you love Leah and I will try to respect whatever decision both of you will make, but relieve me this once and promise me you'll stay safe, okay?"

Finally! Now I can go hunt Ateara down. "Promise, mum. Can I go now?"

"Are you going to Leah's?" she asked, rising to grab a glass of water. I shook my head and decided that my toes were interesting. "No," I frowned. "I don't know what to say to her."

"She'll understand, sweetie," mum smiled, before picking up the condom and throwing it for me to catch. Where's the match? Where's the fucking match? "Don't forget what I told you today."

I nodded, scrambling on my feet to get to the hand before she could quite pull me back. The door was just a few feet away...

I wasn't fast enough, and I still heard her. "And oh Embry? Do me a favour, stick with the hand."

Holy shit. Run, Embry, Run!

I did, and I wasn't so certain I still had the courage to go back home. As I ran as far as I could from my sadistic mother, I pondered upon my three options. One, find Quil and kill him. Two, find Quil and set him on fire. Three, find Quil and nail him on door. I could not decide which would befit him more, and even the thought of phasing horrified me. No chance in heaven or on earth am I going to endure the pack with the kind of permanent replay going on in my head.

Of course, I decided to go to the Clearwater's.

"Hi," I waved at Sue, who had answered the door for me. "Is Leah in?"

"Back again, Embry?" she asked, ushering me inside and pointing to the direction of Leah's room. She resumed the task she was doing. Cooking, of course. "She's in her room."

I gaped unintentionally. Was she really okay with the prospect of leaving me inside Leah's room after the lecture I had just received from mum? "Uhm...okay? Can I go see her?"

She laughed. "Go on."

"Thanks!"

I tiptoed and knocked twice, straightening my shirt and combing my hair in a last minute attempt to look my best. "Leah? It's me, Embry."

No answer. "Leah?"

Silence.

My heart hammered nervously in my chest, and my mind was slightly panicking. I opened the door slightly to be relieved of seeing her nervous pacing, but another form of panic washed over me when Leah shrieked and ran to slam the door shut before I could get any further.

I attempted to talk to her on the other side of the door. "Leah, are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Go away!"

The uncertainty was starting to choke me. "Are you hurt? Is there something wrong? Did I do anything wrong? Is it my fault? What did I do? I'm sorry! Please talk to me?"

"I don't want to talk to you!" she snapped.

"Why?"

"Because!"

"Please?"

"GO AWAY!"

Although my intentions were primarily to ensure she was okay, it was partly due to the heavy guilty that had weighed down my chest that I crept out of their front door and with a silent prayer of forgiveness, clambered on to Leah's open window to see her behind the door, slowly opening it and peering over the small crack, as if ensuring I was gone. I cleared my throat to announce my uninvited arrival and Leah jumped, clutching her chest in apprehension.

"EMBRY!" she cried incredulously. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"I have to make sure you're okay," I explained, taking a step towards her. She leaped back. "Are you okay?" I asked, scanning her body for any physical damage. Aside from a powerful blush I elicited from her by doing so, nothing seemed to be out of place. My sigh of relief was cut short when Leah decided to play cat and mouse.

"Don't come near me," she commanded, moving away from me. Bewildered, I did the opposite. Leah quickly scrambled behind her bed, allowing it to be her shield. "Stay away!"

"Why?"

"Because!"

She gave my torso a quick glance and tore her eyes away, that elusive blush revealing itself again. Something clicked.

"Is it because of the--uh, Quil?"

"Quil? What's Quil got to do with me?"

I winced. "Uhm, the uh, condom?"

Leah was red in face, and was avoiding my eyes again. She held on to much pride and refused to answer, so I continued, stammering. "Uh, yeah, Quil. That. He uh, gave me that--but I wasn't really--I don't know why! It's not like I was thinking..."

I had to bite my lips and stop, because I would only incriminate myself further and I couldn't lie. I have thought about it. Leah, it seemed, was on the same boat. We didn't know what to do or say, and the awkwardness seeped through my pores.

"Have you...?" she asked in a whisper.

I knew what she meant. "No."

A silent no echoed from her lips, but nothing followed. Her eyes touched on everything in the room except for my own. Say something, please.

"I'm sorry I upset you," I finally said, breaking the long silence. "I uh, really don't know what to say! And I can't even promise to deliver Quil's head to your doorstep, though I really want to."

To my surprise, Leah sighed and sat on the edge of her bed. I did not follow for fear of her leaping and avoiding me again. "It's that, Embry. That's what upsets me. Don't you see? I'm going to corrupt you." She bit her lips and looked at me again. "This is what I do to you. Destroy you. Take away your innocence. I don't want to do that."

"It's that? Well, take whatever you want. I don't care!"

She shook her head grumpily. "You're too young. You don't know what you're saying."

"I do know," I insisted. "And I'm turning seventeen soon. I'm not so young any more. I don't even look seventeen."

"And you're not even helping!" she snapped back. "I tell you to go away for your goddamn sake and what do you do? You sneak into my window looking like that and put yourself in the same room as I am! What are you, suicidal?"

"I have never been morally promising," I shrugged. And to prove the point, I flung my shoes off and threw myself on Leah's bed, arms and leg spread wide open. When Leah gasped, I turned my head to gaze at the expression of shock that characterised her face. "Here, take me. Do whatever you want. Hit me, mutilate me, slice me, dice me. Do anything you want. I offer you my soul."

"You've gone mad," she mumbled, turning away.

I clasped her arms and pulled her back, settling her against my chest. She froze at the contact, but her heart was telling another story. I could it feel it beat strongly against my skin. "No, I mean it. I really can't put it any more plainly, Leah. I'm here. If you want to take me, by all means, do."

"You're sixteen!"

Feeling a little braver, I traced the length of her back and up along her spine to serve as my answer. She shivered, arching to my touch. "Embry..."

"I'm only saying," I went on, relishing in the sensation of her fingers tiptoeing lazily along my chest. "that I'm yours. Every part of me is yours. You can take my innocence if you like. If you're not ready, I'm willing to wait. Even if you don't want to, I will unders--"

She stopped me with her mouth, both to my joy and surprise. "Of course I want to," she corrected. "Hell, I want to. Blimey, isn't it obvious to you yet? I'm practically trying to get into your trousers at every given opportunity. But you're still so young..."

"Look at me," I urged. "Do I look young to you?"

"That's not the point. You know what I mean."

I rolled my eyes. "So what if I lose my innocence?"

"To me," she pointed out, as if it was something I should be weary of. I was anything but weary about that, if she only knew.

"To you," I repeated, my tone different. "You. No one else."

"You don't want to wait for the right one?"

"You are right one. You're the only one."

Her tone became serious. "But Embry, I cannot give you anything as precious."

"Whatever you choose to give me is precious," I dismissed. "I'm not asking for anything in return."Sam kind of...well, we share minds, right? I intruded on his once to find out more about you and so...yeah, I found that out."

"I thought Sam was the one--"

"You don't have to explain anything. I told you, it doesn't matter."

"Don't you feel that it's unfair?" she began, detaching her hands from tracing invisible lines on my arms. "For you?"

"No. Why would it be unfair? It's not a one man show, right? It's for me and you. Nothing's unfair 'bout that."

She lifted her head from my chest and smiled. All I had to see was a flash of her teeth and I was gloating. "Are you sure? I'm not exactly the perfect girlfriend."

Yes you are! "Positive."

"Liar."

I poured all the sincerity I could muster in one long gaze, from which she seemed to have been convinced. "Fine," she conceded. "But I still don't--"

"What do I need to do to make you believe me?" I asked impatiently.

She snuggled closer, and I held her by the waist. "For one, we should wait," she proposed. "Until your seventeenth at least. I don't think I can de-virginise a sixteen year old even if he did look inviting."

Provoked, I flipped us over and began kissing along her throat. Her scent...her scent... It was burning. Leah bit her lips when I reached her ears. "Inviting? What inviting?"

"In--vi--ting," she repeated breathlessly. Her hands were stroking my hair, and I could not quite figure out if the gesture was meant to pull me away or guide me towards a goal. "What--are you--doing?"

"Define inviting," I wheezed, intoxicated by the intensity of her scent. My lips shifted to the soft skin of her shoulders, my tongue daring to play along.

"I thought we're going to wait until your sevent--EMBRY!"

"Seventeen is a long wait," I whined.

"You just said you're turning seventeen soon...oh damn..."

"Hmm?" I lifted my head only to realise I had descended from Leah's ears, which I had quickly teased, to the base of her neck, and my hands were free to do their bidding. The adventurous pair were subconsciously attempting to unbutton her top and had clearly made some progress. I cleared my throat, only to return to whisper to her ear. "Was that inviting?"

I imagined she would have said yes. Would have, if Seth had not so recklessly barged into the room without knocking and completely oblivious to the fact that her sister has a boyfriend and hello, it was a private moment. When he did realise it, Seth turned white.

"MUUMMMMM!!!! EMBRY'S ON TOP OF LEAH!!! ON HER BED!!!"

Leah cursed. "Shit, moron."

I scrambled to decency while Leah glowered at Seth, who looked faint, but otherwise delighted at the prospect of ratting Leah out. Leah closed her top and reached for the closest throwable item, an old book, and aimed at the younger Clearwater's head. She missed.

"Fuck off, Seth!" she growled. "Get the fuck out of my room!"

"No!"

"OUT!"

"I'm not--ouch, Leah!"

"Get out! Out, out, OUT!"

"MUUUMMMMM!"

While she scrambled to close the door against Seth's strong hold, I picked up an unused mug from the window pane and mouthed "let me," before flinging my wrist to hurl the mug at Seth. I aimed well; it collided with his head with a satisfactory thud, echoing the emptiness inside.

While Seth hopped around and waited for the pain to subside, Sue arrived with her laddle. "What's going on here?" she demanded, glaring accusingly at Leah.

"What?" Leah cried disbelievingly. "It's not my fault! It's Seth who's poking his nose into my room without even knocking!"

"She was all kissy-kissy with Embry, mum! He was on top of her and everything!"

Blood rushed to my face, to Seth's obvious excitement. He pointed a finger at the new evidence. "See, mum? He's blushing! That's guilt! And Leah. Look at Leah!"

I did, as did Sue and Seth, and I noticed how she was not in so much a better state. Sue watched us with disapproval, frowning and pursing her lips. Her eyebrows twitched, and I wasn't so happy with the way she held that laddle. Seth started to anticipate in delight.

To my surprise, Sue did not attack either of us. Instead, when she spoke, her voice reminded that of Harry--patient and aware. "Seth, why don't you go to your room now?" Leah's head snapped up and the smile on Seth's face vanished.

His jaw dropped. "MUM!" he protested. "Iwasn't the one latching myself on Embry!"

"Go Seth," Sue continued. "Leave your sister alone."

Muttering a short gratitude, Leah slammed the door to Seth's dumbfounded face and we snickered in glee upon hearing him throw a fit. "Are you shooing me, mum?"

It was only when Seth decided to be a good boy did Sue open the door slightly to summon Leah outside for a 'quick talk'. Sue's quick talk lasted a good half an hour, time enough for me to wonder incessantly what secrets hid behind the drawers and closets that lined Leah's room. I looked up from where I had been sitting when the door slammed shut.

"Hey," I greeted. Leah didn't look too well.

She crossed her arms and grunted, leaning against the door. Too far from me, from my judgement. I shot her an sympathetic look when she continued scowling, and reached out a hand for her to take. "What did your mum say?" I asked gently. "Should I be leaving?"

Her reaction was automatic. "No, don't."

She took my hand and settled between my thighs, her back leaning against me. A dangerous position. "Mum prattled about safe sex," she cringed. "And babies. Eww."

"Welcome to the club," I comforted, recounting my horror. "I hope Sue didn't start talking about her sex life. Mum wasn't as forgiving."

Leah gave a hearty laugh and threw her head back into the open curve of my neck. Her laugh vibrated against my body, and elicited a firm response from another part of my anatomy. I just hoped she did not feel it. "Oh, that really sucks. Did she talk about her first time?"

"Okay, gross."

She laughed again. "It is. I need therapy."

"And you bailed on me," I pouted, nauseated at the memory. "It was hell back there."

Her laugh grew louder. "Figured your mum might have wanted a one-to-one with you after your uhm, less gallant display of sexual readiness."

I stuck my tongue out. "You got karma."

She flinched again, and turned herself around. "That karma will get you laid. So shut up and behave."

"Impossible," I replied, as she threw me back on the matress. "How can I, when you're doing that to me?"

She threw me a disapproving look and snorted, moving away. "Don't get too ahead of yourself, virgin boy. I'm not straddling you, if that's what on your mind. I'm just going to have a shower."

"A cold shower?"

"Ha. Go get some rest."

I turned around to lie on my stomach, peering over my shoulders to watch her snatch some clothes from her wardrobe. "Hmm, you're already inviting me to sleep on your bed. I've made good progress," I boasted.

I asked for a quick kiss before she headed off, and was rewarded with a kiss on the back of my neck. Leah whispered in my ear before prancing away. "Don't be naughty."

"You too," I mocked.

I was able to sprawl myself on her bed and relax, until my ears picked up a strange howl from the nearby forest. Frowning, I headed off to Seth's room to investigate. He met me at the door, excitement playing in his eyes. He seemed to have forgotten being upset. "Did you hear that?"

"Yeah. That's not someone I recognise."

"Someone new must have phased!" Seth quipped gleefully. He must have been relieved to have a new newbie.

Another howl erupted, this time coated with joy more than confusion. We stoped and listened together before reaching the same conclusion.

"Quil."

"Quil," I nodded, frowning. "Quil..."

"AHA! QUIL!"

Thank you, Lord.

I patted Seth on the shoulders and quickly withdrew back to Leah's room, grabbing the pen that sat lonely at her desk and scribbling on a scrap of paper I tore from a nearby notebook.

Off to murder Quil. -Embry

And just in case Leah missed my note, I told Seth to tell her too.

I skipped away, ready to burst into a murderous furball when I caught Billy wheeling into the yard. He waved to stop me in my tracks, beckoning me towards him. I jogged and smiled. "Hey Billy, did Quil just phase? I thought I heard something."

"He did. Jacob went to talk to him a minute ago," he pointed to the green trees behind him.

Time for death, Quil! "I'm just about to phase to meet him. I can't wait."

"Oh, can you spare me a minute? This old man is becoming a little too frail to wheel himself home."

"Sure," I agreed. My hands were on the handle bar when I realised I had to turn him back. "I thought you're heading to the Clearwaters?"

He kept his back firmly on me before answering, "Nah, I didn't want to disturb Sue. Besides, it's rather chilly out here. There's nothing like the warmth of home, boy."

"Alright, then."

There was nothing to talk about for some time, and only the sound of the wheelchair scraping against the rough ground dominated our inexistent conversation, if I was to ignore Quil's incessant barks floating from the trees. The fact that this man could be my father creeped me out, and the fact that today was like sex talk day made me think of him and my mother making me. It was the grossest, most disturbing image anyone could have ever conjured. I tried to banish the thought from my mind, but I still ended up severely disturbed.

When we finally reached the house, Billy barricaded the door and spoke in a unfamiliar, non-chalant voice. "I passed by your house earlier and Sarah said..."

Oh shit.

"Why don't you stay for a while, Embry?"

You planned to lure me into this trap, you evil man!

He even served me some beverages and patted the couch, a knowing smile plastered on his face. "Just a quick talk, I promise."

Oh Jake, I hate your dad, man.

A/N: Quil was so verbally abused in this chapter, the poor thing. Please review :) Danke!