Chapter 1
Quil craned his neck impatiently, sitting on the windowsill and peering out the window. He stared down the long, winding roads of La Push, and didn't stray his eyes.
"Oh god, Quil, she'll be here soon," Emily sighed. "Relax."
Sam nodded. "And whatever you do, don't get mad that she's not here yet. It's not her fault. Probably traffic from the airport to here."
"Quil, I don't know if I'm really okay with this," breathed Emily. "It's a little—"
"Early," finished Quil. "Listen, Emily, I'm not going to try to kiss her or anything. I'm imprinted." He glanced around, making sure nothing else was lurking in the room. "I love her."
"Right." Emily frowned. Suddenly, Jacob's mouth fell open. He'd been silent in the corner this whole time, but suddenly he jumped towards the window. His gigantic feet landed with a thud.
"Emily's here!" he reported. Quil couldn't suppress his scream of delight as he scurried to the door. His hands were quivering madly as he opened the door to reveal Emily's sister.
Emily's sister, Bridgette, was much like her, look-wise. But personality-wise, there wasn't two people so different. Bridgette was wise and adventurous, never content to sit still for long. She wasn't made for motherhood.
Emily, on the other hand, was sweet and caring, willing to clean or cook. She didn't mind a quiet, serene life, as long as she shared it with somebody she loved—like Sam.
"Oh, Bridgette!" screamed Emily with the delight, burying herself in her sister's bulky arms. "How are you, sweetheart?"
"I'm great!" flush-faced Bridgette responded. "Claire? Ivy?" Claire came waddling up the stairs, and Quil felt his breath catch in his throat.
She was even more adorable that he remembered. Her little, pudgy body was wrapped gently in a pale pink blanket. Her red cheeks bulged like a little chipmunk's and her long, blue eyes were watering with drowsiness. A soft coo escapd her lips, and then she came waddling towards Emily. "Emma," she said. "Emma, Emma, Emma, Emma," she continued squeaking until the words interlaced and became "Emmaemmaemma."
Quil watched, his eyes soft and his heart racing. Bridgette took a glance at his face and then back at Claire's. Slowly, her head swiveled back and forth, back and forth, gaining speed as she went along. "Why are you looking at Claire like that?" she suddenly asked, looking suspicious.
"Cute kid," said Quil, trying at nonchalance.
"Oh." Bridgtte eyed him anxiously, but—not being the brightest of things—didn't seem too nervous. Emily, however, wasn't so oblivious to the matter. The entire meet-and-greet in the hallway, she was watching Quil, to prevent him from going to Claire or hugging her—for now. She didn't want Bridgette to get the wrong idea.
Finally, it was time for Bridgette to leave the kids and leave. With a few tearful hugs and kisses to her children, she was off. Emily turned to Quil, her face desperate. "Can't you fight it?" she requested.
"Emily!" he screamed. "I'm imprinted! Claire is my gravity. I'm not in love with her! Not romantically, not yet. I'm her big brother." Instinctively, he reached down and gathered her up in his arms. "Whatever she wants, she gets, from this point on."
Emily glanced apprehensively towards Sam, but Sam only wrapped his arm around her. "Really. It's nothing weird. He's just imprinted; not romantic, not yet."
"Fine." Emily wasn't very reluctant anymore. In fact, she was smiling a bit. "This is one lucky kid."
Claire was so drowsy that she didn't notice the grown-up's conversation was revolving around her.