Chapter Nine

Running Away Isn't The Answer

Nessie

I awoke with Nahuel snoring practically on top of me, his arm thrust out against my chest and his leg over mine. I liked Nahuel's snore it was soothing to listen to, but I really needed to use the bathroom and he wasn't helping matters with that leg. I sigh and gently place Nahuel's hand on my forehead, asking him to shift. He mutters something in his sleep and rolls over. I smile at him before I get up to use the bathroom.

Business over with I check on Alex and see that he is sleeping peacefully. I gently pick him up and carry him to the other room. Nahuel is still asleep his eyes roaming in his dreams. I smile and lay down next to him putting Alex down next to me. I wrap an arm around him and he smiles in his sleep, turning towards me and sighing, he smells so good to me. I smile as he puts his face close to mine without waking.

I gently stroke his hair but his snoring doesn't even change pitch for a moment, he's so deeply asleep. I sigh and feel as though I'm drifting on air, closing my eyes I let myself drift between dreams and wakefulness. I reach out my hand and touch Nahuel's forehead lightly. A meadow, she's there so beautiful, I take her hand and she smiles at me, the sun comes out and shines down on us. We gleam together hand in hand, she touches the place above my heart lightly and I do the same. She holds something in her hand and smiles at me she holds my heart in her hands and I hold something in mine, a light so wonderful and bright that it warms me.

I smile and gently press his hand to my own forehead, telling him how much I love him, it seems impossible in such a short time but it was true. I loved him and would gladly give him my heart. I let my hand drop from his forehead, sending him love and affection. His eyes slowly open after a time and he smiles at me. "I thought it was you." He says and even though its sleep fogged every word rings of love.

"I just wanted to let you know I love you too." I replied and he touched his lips to mine gently.

"Well it was an interesting way to be awakened, but I can't say I mind as it was next to a goddess." He says and kisses me again as I blush. He wraps his arms around me more solidly now that he was awake. "You smell so good, like Lavender, cardamon and vanilla."

"You don't exactly reek to me." I reply and he laughs shoving me lightly on the shoulder. I accidentally bump into Alex waking the little guy and he lets out a startled sound before crawling onto my stomach. He sits there looking into my eyes smiling.

"Mama." He says and Nahuel and I stare at each other alarmed. He has always called me Ess'i never Mama, and I don't want him to.

"Abigale is your Mama remember her?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"Mama." He replies and his startlingly blue eyes stare into mine.

"I am not your mother Alex, I can however be your Auntie if you like, Auntie Essie." I reply and he nods and his little hands splay out to either side of me.

"Ove Essie, 'ove Nahool." He says to both of us and I smile at him.

"Well buddy maybe your Mama is back today." I tell him and he actually starts to cry.

"No!" He says and thrusts his hand onto his forehead. I am in a warm safe place the world outside is unsafe, someone is out there speaking strange words that I can barely understand. "I can't believe he left me to raise a monster."

"Your child isn't a monster Abbie. He's you everything good about you will continue to grow.

"You say he isn't a monster, coming from the man who killed his own mother?" I don't like the loud voices and I kick, they stop and I hear a gasp of pain but at least there aren't any more voices. I hear a sound, it sounds uncomfortable. "Oh Nahuel, I'm sorry."

"Its alright Abbie your my little sister and I'll love you no matter what you say or do, I promise." I took my hand away from his forehead reeling.

"Well little guy are you thirsty or hungry?"

"No! Ady Ram'." He replied and I smiled remembering that we started Lady and The Tramp last night.

"Alright then lets watch it." I reply and pick him up. We go into the main house to see Jasper and Alice embracing but no sign of Abigale.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't see her and didn't know she would want to get away." She said when she saw us. "She left a note for you Nahuel." She fished in her bag and brought out an envolope giving it to Nahuel, I read over his shoulder holding Alex and resting an arm around Nahuel in comfort.

Dear Nahuel,

I can't be a single mother, I'm just not that sort of person. I know you love Alex so please take care of him, your sister Abigale. I stare at the letter as Nahuel's eyes shine with tears. "Its not that I wasn't expecting it, I love my little sister but I know that she's shallow as a sink." I smiled at the expression before setting Alex down. "

"Could you start the movie Alice?" I ask and she nods as I take Nahuel into the kitchen. "Alright, I don't have much experience with people disappointing me but I think you need something to cheer you up. Lets go hunting or something, some nice grizzly bear would halt the damper to anyone's spirits." I tell him and he laughs before embracing me.

"No I need to tell Embry, if this imprinting thing is as serious as you say he needs to know." Nahuel said his voice still marred with grief, tears trickling down his face and I nodded not knowing else to say for a moment. Then I realized how crushed Embry would be to have her leave.

"I'll go with you." I replied and he nodded taking me by the hand. We walk to the car and tears are still streaming down his face, his feelings so clearly displayed, I wasn't used to this from guys especially the pack but I like how he could be open in his grief around me. We drove together to Jake's house in silence and I took his hand going to the door together, we knocked and Leah answered.

"What's wrong?" She asked us upon seeing the tears on Nahuel's cheeks. "It isn't Alex is it?"

"No, Abigale, I need to talk with Embry." Nahuel replied and she stared at us.

"Embry?" She asked us.

"Abigale, well I can't say she ran away exactly but she decided she couldn't handle it. Pretty much gave Alex to me too, who am I kidding, why did i think she would be responsible for once in her life? She's been alive for longer then me and she never takes responsibility for anything."

"How does Alex feel about this?" Leah asked conserned.

"He doesn't really know but as he called Nessie Mama, I think he isn't too broken hearted." He replied and Leah stared at me, I shrugged.

"Well then come in, Embry had dawn patrol so he's sleeping on the couch." She tells us and we enter together. I go over to Embry and gently shake him, putting a hand to his forehead and trying to get him to wake up. He sat up groggily.

"Hello Nessie."He says smiling.

"Hey Em." I reply and Nahuel goes over to him.

"Abigale left." He tells Embry and his face contorts with shock. "She said she couldn't handle it, being a single mother."

"She wasn't going to be, I would have taken her as my wife." Embry said.

"She, well Abigale has always been a free spirit, I don't think anyone can bind her. I knew that I would most probably have to look after Alex, she's really sweet and cares but she's wild, unbondable and who would ever want to. Its what makes her, her."

Embry started to sob, I had never seen any of the pack cry before. I put an arm around him as Leah looked uncomfortable. "Its alright." I said knowing that it wasn't, Embry who was so cheerful who always cracked jokes was crying and shaking like a leaf against me. I gestured at Nahuel and he came over, he had stopped crying but he was as badly in need of comfort as Embry. "It's alright." I said again and Nahuel leaned against me, resting his head against my shoulder.

Quil woke up and looked around seeing instantly that something was wrong, he came over. "What's up?" He asked Embry and Embry can't speak his body is shaking so badly.

"Abigale left." I said to him and he stared at Embry before sitting besides him.

"If Claire left I don't know what I would do." He told Embry and he nodded. "Can I get you anything?"

"I just want the pain to go away." Embry replies and Quil nods.

"I will get you some sleeping pills." Quil says. "Is that what you want?" Embry nodded and Quil went into the other room coming back a moment later with five pills and a glass of water. Embry takes the water and the pills, nodding his thanks at Quil. He shakes against me and I gently put his head in my lap. stroking his hair, his thoughts so riddled with pain growing more foggy. I continue to stroke his head as he starts to snore watching him as he sleeps. He was so broken inside at the moment, I know he needs me.

I stand in a meadow, she's there so beautiful, but moving further and further away from me. "Abigale." I cry reaching my hand out but she continues to go away from me.

Embry starts to moan and I gently place his hand on my forehead sending him thoughts of comfort and warmth. He relaxes against me and I smile. "You like to help people don't you?" Nahuel asked and I nodded not knowing how else to respond. I put Embry's arm back down on his chest as he sleeps, he's not dreaming anymore instead when I touch his forehead I see only darkness.

"He's not dreaming now." I said glad that he had a pause from the pain in he was feeling. "I think he needs to know who he is related to, it will help him if he knew who his brother was." I said and Quil nodded.

"We would do anything for him gladly, he's our pack brother." Quil replied and I nodded smiling at Quil, all the pack felt like family. I smiled as Paul snorted in his sleep rolling over onto Seth. Seth being Seth even in his sleep smiled and put an arm around him, I couldn't help but giggle both would be embarced when they woke up. The guys might act tough but they were all just big softies. That didn't mean I didn't believe that they didn't get mad every once in a while. Or they weren't not capable of doing what was necessary to protect the village and the tribe.

Quil glanced at me and also laughed. "Oh this is too perfect, I will get the camera." He says and goes to the dresser drawer taking a picture of Seth and Paul.

"Rachel." Paul mutters and snuggles closer to Seth.

"Man Embry is going to love this!" Quil says. "It might even cheer him up a little." Paul wraps an arm around Seth and starts to snore loudly, although he is almost droned out by Jake, even though he is asleep in the bedroom. Seth wakes up and without opening his eyes stretches hitting Paul in the mouth who opens his eyes and shoves Seth off him both of them are quivering. "Oh come on you would make such a cute couple." Quil says and I can't help but laugh.

"Nessie!" Seth comes over and gives me a hug then realizes that Embry's head is in my lap. "She's gone isn't she?" He asks and I nod. He stares down at Embry a look of horror and pity on his face. Paul comes over after he stops shaking and also looks down at Embry.

"I don't know what I would do if Rachel left." Paul says, I never saw him look like that before. Paul always showed his emotions clearly, but not like this. "Nahuel, could you go to Port Angelos and get about five DNA tests?" I ask and he nods as I give him my keys, lately they had actually managed to make a five minute at home test.

"Why don't we play motor cross?" I ask and Quil nods we start the game together and I manage to beat him five times before Nahuel returns. "I got the tests." He tells me and I nod, opening one and gently opening Embry's mouth. I put the test into his mouth and take it out again, I then hand it to Seth who puts the other end in his mouth. I set the test aside and give Paul the other one. In five minutes the tests are done and we all stare at Paul's, it shows positive.

"He's my brother?" Paul asks dismayed but then he smiles. "I have a brother, I always wanted a family. Well this proves my dad would stuff his stuff anywhere as my Mom said but still." He blushes at the last and I smile at him.

"Well I am a bit surprised that it was Paul. It means that none of our fathers were unfaithful in this case." Paul starts to tremble.

"I know my Dad was never in my life alright you don't have to remind me of that cousin!" He said shaking with anger.

"Calm down Paul." I said. "Please?" He stops shaking and looks apologetic.

"Sorry." He says gruffly and I grin.

"Its alright." I reply and smile at him. Embry mutters and his eyes open slightly before closing again, resuming his snores. I smile as Jacob emerges from his room hair messy. He stares at us before coming over.

"What's wrong?" He asks.

"Embry, Abigale left." I replied and he stares at Embry, his eyes containing none of the warmth that I usually saw in them. They seemed haunted or dead compared to the life that was usually in them. Jake nodded glancing over at Embry and sitting on the couch above him. The rest of the morning was spent in silence, until Paul's stomach dispelled it. It practically roared and I smiled at him.

"Hand me a pillow?" I ask and he nods giving me one. I gently lift up Embry's head supporting it in my arms as I slide the pillow under him. I got up and went into the kitchen, boiling enough noodles to feed the pack and opening a jar of marinara sauce was the extent of my cooking abilities. They were finished and I put them on plates before coming back into the other room and handing them to the pack. Paul and Seth get up and take the rest of the plates into the kitchen. I gently remove the pillow from Embry's head and slid under it slowly. He shifted in his sleep but other then that gave no sign that he had felt the movement.

I continued to watch over Embry for the rest of the day and we left together as the sun started to set. We drove back to the house and smiled at Rosalie who was holding Alex fast asleep in her arms. "Thank you for letting me watch him." She said and I smiled.

"Anytime." Nahuel replied taking Alex from her and we walked together back to the house, I felt exhausted and I could tell Nahuel was tired as well. I changed into my nightwear as Nahuel put Alex into his crib. I smiled waiting for him, after a while I decided to check on him, Nahuel was asleep leaned over the cradle. I smiled and gently took his hand in mine.

"Nahuel?" I asked and he didn't respond I smiled at him. I gently put his hand to my forehead telling him to wake up. He didn't even raise his head, I knew then that he must be even more tired then he seemed on the drive back. I tried not to bang his knees on the crib that he was leaning over as I picked him up and put him on the small bed. I got into the other one and listened as his breathing lulled me into sleep.

AN Disclamer:

Seriously guys this is so lame but I didn't know that we had to disclaim chapters I generally skip over authors notes. So I do not own, nor wish to own any of the characters in Twilight because they might be awesome but in the last book they were so OOC. I mean Leah was like whiny going on about how she didn't want to be a bitch. Well a bit late for that Leah because your already a female dog and everybody knows it. I love Leah she's so funny and her bark terrifies the other guys. Its really funny because in this case her bark is really worse then her bite. Anyway sorry about the rant now you know I officially do not own Twlight.