Summary; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Wow! Overwhelming response - for me - considering this story is only a few hours old. I'm on a roll, and have so much I want to put into this story, I'm really making an effort not to just pack it all in. That's not good writing, in my opinion. So, I hope you all enjoy more Embry Love!, as was the rally cry from last chapter.

"Where's Haley?" Embry asked curiously, as he and Jacob dropped by the pharmacy two days later for a visit. Amelia glanced over at them, something like relief crossing her face.

"Oh, I'm glad you two are here. Their phone was never hooked up, so I can't call her. She hasn't been here the past two days. Can one of you stop by and make sure she isn't sick?" she asked. Jacob's eyes narrowed – news had reached La Push of Daniel's midnight escape from Forks two nights ago, and Embry sensed his mood immediately.

"Sure, not a problem," Jacob agreed, keeping his voice neutral. He and Embry strode from the store quickly, and he glanced at his brother cautiously. "Don't go snapping, man. We don't even know what happened."

"I'm fine," he snapped, getting into the passenger seat with a growl.

As they pulled up to the house, they noticed nothing seemed out of place and jogged to the front door quickly. Jacob knocked on the door, careful not to put a hole through it, while Embry peeked through a window.

"Haley? You there?" he called. Sometimes it was a pain protecting La Push, and occasionally Forks, but Haley was Embry's imprint, which made her important to the Pack as well, no matter what went on. They heard footsteps, and backed away from the door as she opened it.

"Yeah, I'm here. What're you guys doing here?" she asked in surprise, and jumped visibly when a growl ripped from Embry at the sight of her. Her wrist was in a bandage, and a colorful bruise was on her left temple. Jacob gripped his arm to keep him from phasing, and practically dragged him in the house after Haley.

"What the hell happened?" the Alpha demanded, his own hackles raised at the obvious reason of Daniel's leaving.

"I threw him out," she replied calmly, shrugging a bit. "He didn't like it. I broke his arm, though, so it wasn't too bad," she added cheerfully, and their jaws dropped simultaneously.

"What?"

"I broke his arm. I was on the ground – he hit me," she added unnecessarily, and Embry tensed at the words. "He went to get Jeremy, and I guess I snapped. I jumped him and broke his arm," she admitted a bit sheepishly, and blinked when Jacob howled with laughter.

"What's so funny?" Embry demanded quietly, but he only shook his head.

"He deserved it," the young man managed through his chuckles, but another glance at Haley's injuries sobered him. He could only imagine what he'd feel like if someone hurt Nessie, and was sympathetic to Embry's feelings. "If you hear from him, let us know. He's ours to deal with," he promised her, and she nodded.

"I'm not in the mood to go beating on anymore guys anyway," she said with a shrug. Jacob got to his feet, patting her good shoulder lightly before taking a step back, Embry's glare enough warning.

"Well, we'll let Amelia know you're all right. Get a phone hooked up, for Christ's sake," he added with a groan. "It's been over four months now."

"I know, I know. I just never get the time," she replied with a grin, getting to her feet. "I've got to cancel Jeremy's doctor's appointment Thursday now, since I don't have a car. And I can't walk all the way to Seattle," she said with a grimace.

"How'd you make the appointment if you don't have a phone in the first place?" Embry asked in confusion, and she flashed a smile at him, unaware of the effect she had on him.

"Amelia's phone," she said simply, and they both nodded.

"I'll take you," Embry volunteered suddenly, as the boys made their way out of the house. Haley looked at him in surprise, and was so delighted she hugged him impulsively. Jacob tensed as Embry stiffened dangerously, but the shifter patted her on the head gingerly as he inhaled her scent.

"She smells clean…like cut grass and peppermint," he thought, and blanched as he felt himself about to phase. Rushing down the steps, he disappeared into the trees in a flash, leaving a confused Haley behind.

"Uhm…"

"He's never been one for hugs. You embarrassed the crap out of him," Jacob said teasingly, poking her arm lightly. "Now he's going to be a whiny old man the rest of the week."

"Sorry," she apologized, at ease once more. Jacob sensed Embry's phase and decided to let him blow off some steam before patrol that night.

"No problem. And get a phone installed!" he called to her, pulling away from the house. She waved at him cheerfully, apparently at ease despite recent events.

"You okay, man?" Seth asked with concern, as Embry joined the group for patrol that night. The wolf shot him a glare, but didn't deign to respond. Seth shrugged it off, but Paul snickered.

"Don't go phasing in front of her. I don't think she'd like Fluffy much," he taunted, and Jacob pinned Embry down before the wolf could attack.

"Would you shut the fuck up and give the guy some space?" Leah demanded, to the surprise of everyone. Paul stared at her for a moment before flattening his ears, looking slightly abashed and most definitely shocked. Smirking, she trotted over to Embry and shoved Jake off him with a grunt. "Don't worry, we'll cool it."

"Just don't go tracking the asshole without us," Quil demanded, and the entire Pack grinned at the idea. "I mean, we're sure as hell not missing out on that much fun."

"I hate every one of you, you know that?" Embry muttered, but couldn't hide his gratefulness from their meld. Snorting, Paul shot ahead with Seth on their patrol, deciding running and then laughing was the best thing to do.

Haley yawned and stretched her arms and legs out in a cat-like manner before pushing her alarm off the bedstand with her usual carelessness. She enjoyed having the large bed to herself, especially since she was able to keep all the blankets to herself.

"Oh crap…" she groaned, seeing what time it was. She had forgotten to put her alarm forward to account for Embry's driving them that day and didn't have too much time. Muttering to herself sleepily, she shuffled to the bathroom and stepped into the shower, the cold water waking her up.

Drying off minutes later, she managed to pull on her black underwear, bra, and lavender turtleneck before hearing Jeremy moving around. Dashing into his room, she smiled as he cooed happily at her.

"You're more of a morning person than I am," she informed him with a grin. "Don't worry, my laziness will become a bad influence as soon as you can walk. Trust me." Dressing him in clothes warm enough for the weather outside – one glance revealed a light dusting of snow on the ground – she was about to return him to the crib when the doorbell rang. Forgetting about her current state of dress, she rushed from the room with Jeremy still on her hip and flung open the door to see Embry waiting, wearing nothing but jeans, sneakers, and a T-shirt.

"Oh, hi!" she said brightly, as he swallowed thickly. "Sorry, I forgot to reset my alarm and I'm still getting ready," she apologized. He opened his mouth to reply, and a strangled sort of noise escaped instead. Clearing his throat, he tried again.

"No problem. I'll take Jeremy so you can get dressed," he hinted, reaching for the baby. She handed him over easily before running off again, and he sighed.

"Your aunt is going to do me in," he confided to the baby, who gurgled happily and pulled Embry's shoulder-length hair. He didn't even wince, and instead grinned down at the happy person on his lap.

Haley returned several minutes later, having put jeans, sneakers, and light makeup on. She pulled on a fitted black coat that reached her knees before reaching for Jeremy, but he shook his head.

"Nah. Get your purse, I'll put his coat on," he offered, and she nodded.

"Don't forget his mittens. And hat!" she called, going into the kitchen to fetch said purse, along with a baby bag. Embry relieved her of the large bag without a word, and she took Jeremy from him with a laugh.

"Aren't you so cute?" she cooed, her nephew in a bright red hat and mittens. Embry rolled his eyes in amusement before realizing something.

"I don't have a car seat," he began, but she waved at him dismissively.

"Don't worry, Daniel still has the car seat in the car, that idiot," she told him, and the look of confusion plainly asked how that helped. "I've got a spare. I put it on the dryer when I do laundry – it helps Jeremy take a nap," she explained patiently, and he nodded.

"Oh."

"If you can grab it, I'll lock up," she suggested, and he complied without protest.

"She could ask me to change his diaper and I wouldn't say a word," he thought with a sigh, abhorring diaper duty ever since Quil forced Claire on him. Apparently, the shifter wasn't allowed to change his imprint's diapers, something that made no sense to any of the Pack. But, rules were rules to them.

Hefting it to his shoulder easily, he returned to find Haley waiting outside for him, keys in hand.

"If you can get it in the back seat – facing the rear windshield – I'll lock up," she ordered, bouncing Jeremy on hip absently as if a habit. He nodded obediently, and she met him at the car in seconds. "Looks good," she admitted, surveying the black two-door car. "Where'd you get it?"

"A junk pile," he replied with a grin. "Me and the guys like fixing up cars. Jake's a genius at it. It was a present from them for my birthday last year."

"Wow. Wish someone would get me a car," she joked, and shook her head. "But I'd get fat from no exercise, so never mind," she added teasingly, securing Jeremy in his seat and sliding in next to Embry. "Do you know where to go?" she asked, and he nodded.

"I asked Quil. Claire goes to the same pediatrician, so it's all good," he replied, and she looked at him.

"Who's Claire?"

"Quil's Im-Jake's niece," he checked himself quickly, and she didn't seem to notice. Embry made an effort to keep from speeding as he was used to – bloodsuckers weren't the only ones who liked fast cars – and managed to keep it below ninety once they hit the highway. He stole glances at Haley every few seconds, and she either didn't notice or was too wrapped up in turning around and checking on Jeremy to notice.

"I hate waiting rooms," she griped, and he laughed at her expression.

"I was wondering if there was anything that put you in a bad mood," he joked, and she glared up at him before cracking a grin.

"Of course! I'm not some robot," she replied, bouncing Jeremy on her lap. "I need to use the bathroom – hold him, please," she requested suddenly, plopping the baby onto Embry's lap and heading towards the bathroom without another word. He blinked in surprise, and occupied himself with making faces at the boy until she returned.

"What was that about?"

"I really shouldn't have drank that coffee," she said without elaboration, and he snorted. He decided to hold onto Jeremy for a bit, something which seemed to delight Haley. She watched them while laughing, and turned when the nurse finally called her name.

"Want me to wait here?" he asked, getting to his feet to hand the baby over.

"Sure. We shouldn't be long," she agreed, gesturing to her purse and the baby tote. "Watch those."

"Yes, mon capitaine," Embry shot back with a grin, mock-saluting as she followed the nurse into the back.

"Healthy as a horse," Haley said in satisfaction, as Embry was stuck carrying the bag back to the car after almost an hour of waiting. "Not surprising. Except for chicken pox, his mom and I never got sick a day in our lives."

"Was she your older sister?" he asked hesitantly, not wanting to hurt her, but she shook her head calmly.

"No. She was sixteen when she had him. Our parents are rather…intolerant," she told him, settling Jeremy in and then buckling herself. "I suppose that's a nice way of putting it. His father's a good kid, but too young. And his parents are no good at all. So, I took him."

"That's an amazing thing to do," Embry complimented her, and she looked at him in surprise.

"Is it? He's my sister's baby, after all. I couldn't let him be adopted and escape my evil aunt clutches," she said with a laugh. "I mean, just think of all the ways I can corrupt him!"

"Yeah, I mean, who wants a kid to grow up happy and loved and cheerful?" Embry agreed sarcastically, waving his hand dramatically. "We all know kids these days are supposed to be jaded, cynical brats." He paused when he saw a look on her face, and a frown instantly crossed his. What did he say to bring that look in her eyes? "What's wrong?" he asked anxiously, but she shook her head with a shaky smile.

"Nothing at all, Embry," she reassured him. "Just…thanks. For that vote of confidence. It's been pretty damn hard the past year, you know?"

"I believe it," he agreed, a bit relieved but now angry at what she must have gone through just to love her own nephew. "You've got us now – we're like a big, annoying family," he told her cheerfully, and she peered at him in confusion.

"Who's us?"

"Huh? The gang, of course!" he replied indignantly, and she blinked.

"I've only met you and Jacob. Why would they care about me?" she asked honestly, and he had to see her point. Except she didn't know a shifter's Imprint was second-to-none to the shifter, and the Pack only second to their own Imprinted.

"Yeah, but Jacob's kinda the leader of our gang," he said, trying to explain in a way that didn't sound stalker-ish and creepy. "And you live here now."

"In Forks, not La Push," she reminded him, and he shrugged while making a dismissive noise.

"Big deal," he informed her calmly. "The others'll love you, promise. Besides, they're suckers for babies."

"Only not love too much," he thought warningly, having already had a certain discussion with the other Pack members on how they were to treat Haley once they met her. Or rather, what they weren't supposed to do. They already knew the main rule from experience anyway – no over-familiarity and there'd be no throats ripped out.

"I'm beginning to regret taking you out for lunch," Haley lamented, as the shifter consumed enough food to easily sustain five grown men. "I should've just got your gas."

"Hey, hey, I'll pay for my share," he protested, waving his hand calmly. He had suggested a small restaurant he knew of, cheap and nice. "We all eat. Emily's used to cooking a lot."

"Who's Emily?" she asked curiously, handing Jeremy another bottle absently.

"Sam's wife. Sam's one of the gang," he explained, refraining from using the term 'Pack' just yet. "She's the one who just had the baby."

"Boy or girl?" she asked eagerly, and he was taken aback for a second.

"Uh…girl. Her name's Rose."

"That's such a pretty name," Haley said wistfully, and Embry grinned at her.

"I think your name's plenty pretty too. It reminds me of Halley's Comet – something wonderful and sparkling," he said a bit wistfully, and turned red underneath his copper skin when he saw her expression. "Uh, sorry, didn't mean to get all mushy," he apologized, but she laughed it off.

"That's actually what my dad named me after. I was his untouchable baby girl, and Christ in Heaven help whatever guy tried to be friendly," she said with a chuckle. "I swear, I think you're a mind-reader."

"No, that's Edward," he muttered under his breath, and grinned when he saw her peering at him. "It's nothing. If you're done, we can get back before it gets dark."

"That sounds like a plan," she agreed, beginning to get her wallet. She narrowed her eyes when money was suddenly on the table, and folded her arms stubbornly. "What was the agreement?"

"Deal's off. This counts as a date," Embry told her teasingly, and her jaw dropped open in amazement.

"Not fair!" she protested, but surprised him by not arguing about the date aspect. "I mean, you snuck that one up on me."

"All right, all right, next time you can pay," he said agreeably, ignoring the appraising look of the waitress as he peered at Haley intently, trying to memorize every inch of her face.

"No, that's not fair since you tricked me," she shot back calmly, lifting Jeremy out of the booster seat. "You can just pay the next time, so there. And be on diaper duty for a week."

"Oh, c'mon!" he protested, following her to the car with his – figurative – tail between his legs. "Not that! Anything but that! Please?"

"You can stop giving me those puppy eyes, because they won't work," Haley informed him primly, finishing strapping a happily-gurgling Jeremy into his car seat. "I grew up with my sister giving me that look all the time, sorry."

Embry grumbled half-heartedly under his breath, and rolled his eyes in mock despair.

"So, she's coming over tomorrow?" Emily asked that night, amusement obvious in her tone as she held her tiny baby in her arms. Sam constantly tried to steal Rose from her, but a look was all it took to cow the shifter.

"Tomorrow night," he corrected, lounging on the couch next to Jacob and Quil. "Unless you mind," he added, backtracking quickly. He kicked Paul in the back of the head as the young man snickered, eliciting a snarl.

"I don't mind," the woman said, interrupting the ensuing fight. "Is she bringing her nephew?"

"They're inseparable," he told her with a nod, and a weak grin.

"You're like a whipped mutt," Seth said with a sigh, shaking his head in mock despair. "Poor guy. I hope I never Imprint."

"Oh, I'm sure you will," Sam said casually, trying to grab Rose and sighing when Emily evaded his grasp.

"God help us all when he does," Leah added, avoiding a half-hearted swipe from her brother with a grin.

"I think it'd be nice to meet her," Kim said, volunteering her opinion from the safety of Jared's lap. "I mean, I've heard some about her. She seems like she's a nice woman."

"I dunno. Fluffy's so pathetic around her, maybe she's some domineering ruler of the world," Quil snickered, and yelped when Embry punched him in the arm. "Hey!"

"We need more girls in this place," Emily said mockingly, sharing a wink with Leah. Collin and Brady high-fived each other at the thought of more girls to torment, earning sighs from Sam.

"There are too many damn kids here to begin with," he began to complain, but was silenced when Emily dropped Rose into his lap. He instantly shifted to a doting, obsessed father mode the others had learned to both know and fear.

"What were you saying?" Jacob asked, trying not to snort from laughing.

"I think it might be nice to meet Embry's Imprint," he said absently, handing his daughter a bottle.

They couldn't help it – the entire Pack began howling with laughter, causing Emily to clap her hands over her ears in protest. Rose whimpered, and Sam shot to his feet, daughter in his wife's lap.

"OutI!" he roared, and clothes dropped to the floor as the young adults shot through the door, phasing as soon as they were outside. Slapping his face in exasperation, Sam followed suit, going after whoever was dumb enough to lag behind to laugh.

"Do you think you brought enough?" Embry asked in shock, seeing the folding playpen and huge tote bag Haley had packed. She gave him a resentful look, and he quickly capitulated. "Never mind, it looked like more from far away," he corrected, moving two more inches closer. It actually looked like more close up, but he'd be damned if he said anything.

"Sorry. I get a little crazy," she apologized. "I just want to make sure he won't get in the way and break something."

"Does he do that?"

"Well, no, but,"

"Then don't worry about. It's all baby-proofed anyway," he told her with a shrug, and she stared enviously as he hefted the load to his shoulders as if they weighed next to nothing. "Come on. You look nice, by the way," he added appraisingly, and she turned red.

"I didn't overdo something, did I?" she asked anxiously, and he grinned at her question. Sneakers, faded jeans, and a sapphire-colored figure-hugging baby-doll blouse that hung to her calves was hardly overdoing it with the Pack. Well, the girls at least, considering the males ran around half-naked anyway.

"No. You look gorgeous, plain, and cute," he assured her, and she wrinkled her nose at him.

"I never know whether you're complimenting me or teasing me," she complained, and he shrugged.

"Sorry."

"No you're not!" she exclaimed, rolling her eyes. She was pleased she and Embry had such an easy friendship, and obviously had no idea the Imprint was a large part of it.

"No, I'm not," he agreed, shutting his door. "Now, get in the car so I can turn the heat on. Don't want the pup getting cold."

"No!" Haley jumped into the car almost as fast as a shifter could move – when it involved Jeremy, her speed impressed Embry, who considered it pretty damn fast for a human – and shut her own door. "Don't you get cold?" she asked, and he shook his head. "Silly question, I know how hot you are," she amended, and he shot a wolfish smirk her way.

"Why, thank you!"

"N-not that way! You arrogant male," she muttered under her breath, blushing again. Embry only flashed a white grin her way as he revved the engine.

Seth was waiting on the porch, along with Collin and Brady – if they were wolves, Embry would swear their tails would be wagging in anticipation.

"Seth, Collin, and Brady," he told her as they got out of the car, pointing to each in turn. "They're the kids of the group. Like kid brothers," he explained, but stopped as they rushed over.

"Hi! Nice to meet you. Hope Embry's on his best behavior around you. He can be a real dog sometimes," Seth began, and whimpered when Embry backhanded him.

"Seth!"

"Nice to meet you," Haley managed between giggles, Jeremy shaking in her arms because of them. "I'm Haley, and this is my nephew Jeremy."

"We've heard a lot about you," Brady said slyly, dodging Embry this time. Collin remained wisely silent, but burst out laughing as a howl burst from the forest.

"What was that? A wolf?" she asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Just a lousy mutt that hangs around," Embry muttered, recognizing Quil's laughing bark.

"I like dogs," she offered, a remark which was too much for the three youngest shifters. She looked at them in confusion as they fell on the ground, rolling and holding onto their sides, only pausing when Embry kicked Seth in the ribs.

"Get up and help me!" he ordered furiously, and Seth obliged by laughing at him some more before rushing off in a blur.

"I like them," Haley said, to Embry's great surprise – and relief.