A/N Twilight and the affiliates are not mine, only Naleigh.

Present day. NPOV.

The winding roads that lead to First Beach were overstuffed with trees on the side of the main road. I looked to the side, not being able to see past a few feet into the trees when my eyes flitted back to the road again. The trees were huge, very green and healthy, the air crisper than I remembered.

Her face in the water. I awoke screaming.. at times crying Natalie's name, my body covered in sweat as I shook in fear from the nightmare again. I rolled over and hugged my pillow. Her hollow blue eyes have haunted me ever since. Nina and I were no longer close friends, through the years we distanced ourselves from each other when I had to move from California to Oregon. We still talked of course but it wasn't the same. We had our own lives and problems to deal with.

Today I had gathered up the courage to come here again. My fingers shook on the steering wheel, my knuckles turning a creamy white. Green eyes flashed on the rear view mirror as my shallow breathes came out in white icy looking puffs in front of my face. There wasn't a car in sight, so I drove at a normal pace if not a bit slower, I wasn't in a hurry to get there at all, I wasn't in a hurry to be there at all.

Today was the 11th year since Nat's death. I had called Nina beforehand to let her know I visiting again, she sounded a bit dismissive yet sad at the same time, she claimed she couldn't meet me here because of financial reasons, yet I've seen her twitter timeline filled with "cute ass dress I bought or omg, such a great party last night!" And so I guess people have different ways of coping..

I missed her. I missed Nat and I missed my childhood, after the incident I kept to myself, hardly talking at all unless spoken too. Throughout the years it had made quiet and reserved, your typical shy girl. I had friends, but not many, the ones I went to concerts with, the ones I met when I moved or had study dates with but I had never told them what happened that day. Nobody but my parents knew.

I heaved out a shaky sigh, my eyes searching for the sun who was no where to be seen, it was a cloudy day, light sprinkling peppered my windshield, with the bitter cold wind biting at my cheeks and fingers, I stopped the car on the side of the road and breathe deeply. I shook all over.

I was finally here.

My eyes roamed the grayish sand, the same whitish grey I remembered and the murky blue water up in the horizon and the green trees all around. I vaguely noticed a group of people sitting by the fire, watching. I was too lost into my own thoughts. How much I missed her.

How much I loved her.

I pulled out a yellow rose and crouched slowly seeing that my leg was still giving me a bit of trouble after all these years, it had stopping me from going on my high school track team, cheer-leading, any sport that involved running, dancing, much less walking. My vision blurred I set it in the water as I let the waves lick it up, carry it out and away.

"Natalie" I whispered, My fingers dug themselves into the sand, as I cried softly. "I'm so sorry love." The guilt and regret I felt was overwhelming. Memories sprang up like weeds, pretty soon I could control myself and cried and cried. After what seemed like an eternity, still crouching I made no movement to wipe my tears away as I heard soft footsteps coming from beside me. I remained in my position and kept my head low.

"Hey" came a voice. It was surprisingly female's. Gentle sounding. Soothing. In my numbed state, I said nothing, did nothing to acknowledge that voice. "are you alright?" she said again slowly, almost tentatively. Like she didn't want me to break out in tears. It hurt too much, the pain I felt intensified now with the thought that she could of been with me, be here with me. My hand shook badly as I pushed my hair back and nodded a no. Sobs threaten to shake me again, I bit my hand in the efforts to control myself. I heard shuffling, heard her sigh. The sound of her voice was right next to me now. She must of sat down beside me. She remained quiet. Oh god, how pathetic I must of looked, having a breakdown in front of a stranger. "don't hold it back" she said softly after a while. "you'll feel better if you let it all out"

I trembled with the need to cry and now her words rang true. I cried like my heart was breaking as tears fell into the wet sand once again in a never ending stream of sadness I never felt before, shaking me to the core.

The mysterious stranger stayed with me, I was making a fool out of myself, but I needed this, a part of me was okay with the company she provided in such a dreary situation. I inwardly thanked her.

After I felt like I couldn't cry anymore, I began taking long slow breaths. "thank you" I finally said after a while, my voice sounded gruff and raw. I looked up to see her, my silent companion, and was met with the kindest brown eyes I've ever seen. Concern was written all over her face then at once replaced with shock as she took a very long slow breath as she studied me, in that moment I felt safe, I felt good. I felt something. I just didn't know what it was. But it made my heartbeat rapidly and the blood rush in my veins.

"Damn." she muttered quietly. Did she look pissed.. confused? I saw her ran a hand through her hair, it was dark brown and wavy. I looked away. I must of looked like total crap. I frowned before running the sleeve of my hoodie across my eyes and cheeks. "I'm sorry" she said softly, her face turned to me, staring. I saw her huff a breath and stand up beside me all grace and balance. I remained sitting on the sand, hugging my knees. "Come, a lil distraction and heat would do you some good right now, you're shivering pretty bad." she took my wrist and hauled me up easily. Damn, she was strong. I stood shocked, I usually never let people touch me, the warmth felt nice and it distracted me, sending tingles up my arm and back down again, like a million ants crawling inside my skin. I rubbed at it. It felt.. Strange.

I sat next to a guy who introduced himself as Jared and his girlfriend Kim. "Are you okay?" she asked. I nodded. "I'm fine" I looked down, swallowing the sadness in order to appear normal, the movement brought my hair to my face like a curtain as I stared at my hands folded on my lap, I pushed against my knuckles in a habit of nervousness. Leah, I found out her name was, introduced me to Sam, Jacob, Seth, Paul and his girlfriend Rachel alongside Jared and Kim, who I already talked to. They all had the same russet colored skin and dark hair, I knew they were Natives by the telltale sign of their tattoo on their shoulder I've seen as a child.

A man in a wheelchair followed by a woman around the same age, came by a moment later, as the man stopped by the fire and took a long good at each of them, stopping when he got to me. "Ah, I see we have a newcomer, welcome" he said softly. I shuffled, I didn't like being the center of attention. "thank you." I murmured quietly and turned to Leah. She must of read the question in my eyes because a "you'll see" was all she said.

The man known as Billy who was part of the elder council began to tell the story of "The Cold Ones" I listened intently, legends that were told by elders were hard to come across, as a little girl I always wanted to experience something like this, since I found out through my mother that my grandmother was Native, so I paid attention and formed questions in my head to ask Leah later. I looked around, Jacob caught my stare and smiled kindly. I looked down again. Pale faces? Cold ones that drink blood? Does he mean.. like vampires? They were cold, or assumed to be and they also drank human blood..

I turned to Leah and saw her staring at me intently almost as if in a trance. I felt heat bloom over my cheeks as I looked down at my fumbling hands again when I felt cold roll over my whole body and stiffen when I remembered the way Natalie looked at me that day. Like I was the only person in the world that could put a smile on her face. I frowned Will it get easier? Will I need more than just closure? "Did you enjoy your time with us?" I heard Billy ask someone, my eyes snapped to his, he was looking directly at me.

"Ah, yes I did. Thank you." I said quietly. He nodded apprehensively. "well, enjoy the rest of your night, don't stay out too late." the guys in the circle murmured their goodbyes. The woman beside him smiled kindly at me again before saying goodbye to the rest. A few other people, also Native seemed to come out of the woodwork, behind trees and the other side of the beach mostly males, and some with females beside them, arm around their shoulders protectively. I noticed the couples looked happy. Some sitting on the sands doing what couples do, kiss, hug, cuddling, but always smiling.

I sighed. I felt so out of place. An outsider among love sick Natives. It made my stomach churn.

I stood up looking for Leah when I didn't see her I decided to just go to my car and turn on the heater for a bit, when I felt a hand encase my arm almost to the point of pain, I turned suddenly and who I saw was not Leah, or any of the people I met before. "Hello there" said the guy, he was tall about Leah's height with a stare that put me on edge, I couldn't see his face but I felt it, his lean body blocked the flame.

"What are you doing here all alone hmm?" I stiffened. " Do you want some company? Yeah? I got some right here" he thrusted his hips lightly as he laughed and pulled me closer. I mentally gagged. "u -um no thanks, I'm not interested." I tried to pull my arm away yet he would let go. I begun to panic, tremors amplifying by the second. Breathing slowly like my therapist told me too in order to calm myself.

He breath harshly in my ear. "c'mon baby, don't be that way" I shut my eyes tightly, two.. three.. four.

I'm here for five seconds and I'm already causing problems. Instead of being scared, I willed myself to get angry. I wasn't about to be pushed around..

"Let go of me." I stated sharply. He leered again, a nasty chuckle breaking free. " feisty" He murmured, coming closer. I did the only thing that came to mind, I swung my arm back to gain momentum as I clocked him the nose. And heard a sickening crack. Before I heard another crack followed by a yell and insults thrown all around. I hadn't realized I'd fallen, the pain of broken knuckles must of dulled the pain I felt with the impact to the ground. In the next moment I heard Leah's voice and blurry figures stand in front of me. Speaking low, while all around me were growls and threats. "You fucking asshole she said she wasn't interested! " What Leah said next was too low for me to hear but I saw the guy's eyes go wide as he mumbled a quick apology and scrambled to his feet.

I was able to make out Leah's body crouching in front of me examining my hand. "shit.. c'mon, let's get you to the hospital." she said harshly as she picked me up gently by my waist and drove me to the La Push's Reservation Clinic.

"Leah, it's cool" I said quietly for the third time in the darkness of the car. I could handle it, I had worst happen to me. The pain was just a dull throbbing in my hand now but every little movement made me wince. She looked over at me, running her thumb over my bruised knuckles gently. "no, you need to get that treated and I'm taking you." she said shortly, as her body quaked with shivers, she looked like she was going to break the steering wheel in half.

I hissed. Damn, I think one of my fingers is broken. She gave me one hard look. I sighed. "what is he made of?" I murmured quietly. I heard her mutter as she turned to the clinic's parking lot. I got out and walked over to the clinic's entrance when I stopped suddenly, Leah bumping into me. "How am I going to pay for this?" I motioned to the clinic and turned to look at her in her light tan tank top and blue shorts, with full lips and dark brown eyes paired with a strong jaw. She was classically beautiful.. and super tall at my five feet nothing to her 5'11 she was almost a foot taller than me, I had to crane my neck up to see her eyes. "it's okay, I got friends that work here, they could help me out." she said confidently as she brushed past me before sending me a small smile. My heart skipped a beat. I rubbed at my chest, what the hell..

What's with this woman making me feel all sorts of things to me..

I huffed a breath and tried to steady my breathing as I followed suit behind her.

"We could always sedate so you wont feel pain." said Tracy, one of Leah's high school friends. I glared. Her light brown eyes were wide as she saw my reaction. "you are not going near me with that needle." I said quickly in the most menacing way I could so that she knew I was being serious. As I pointed to that contraption in her hand, on the tip of it welding a needle about four inches long. I heard Leah snigger on the chair closest to the window. I glared at her too.

"What?" I grumbled. She looked over at me from her chair "hmm, nothing." she said. Her voice was smooth and low, like she was whispering sweet nothings after a rough round of sex. I didn't know a voice could be so sexy, somehow it made me shiver. I hardly remembered anyone having a voice like that.

In the efforts to ignore her, now was not the time. "just do it, no knock out sauce.. please" I held out my trembling hand, doctors weren't the kind of people I wanted to hang out with very long, not with my past experiences.

"okay your choice" said Tracy. "3. 2. 1." she counted backwards and proceeded to set my middle finger straight. I cried out in pain as a few tears slipped out and some whimpering. The strangest thing happened next, I saw Tracy wrapping my hand but I couldn't feel it. My bones felt strangely heavy when I noticed my knees buckling beneath me, it was blurry and I wondered why the floor felt so warm when I saw Tracy had an empty syringe beside her and Leah was looking down at me. Was she holding me up? I couldn't feel her anywhere. I felt angry at Tracy, not a Leah.

"You'll feel better, trust me." Leah spoke softly. "no" I murmured quietly. "Put me down, I can walk." I slurred. Leah laughed. It was a nice laugh. "you can barely stand by yourself." I huffed and struggled against her, but it didn't seem to last very long.

I distracted by the distorted variation of voices I kept hearing as I fought to stay awake, I could tell by the upside down view I was having of the nurses in the hospital, that I was in her arms. I noticed she carried me like nothing, as if I was feather light. "the world is falling.." I murmured absently and laughed slowly. She stopped and adjusted my head so I was staring at the ceiling. At her.

"Sleep tight" she spoke softly as she made her way out to my car before my world faded to black.

Damn them, back stabbing doctors..

Tomorrow will be Leah's take on how she feels about her imprintee, Naleigh seems to be a bit oblivious to everything and a bit in denial. I can assure you this isn't gonna be easy for Leah or Naleigh. Sorry for any mistakes you may have seen, This Chapter and possibly all my chapters will be un-beta'd, but I'll do my best. -K.