Summary; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Ah, the song lyrics in the beginning are from Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics. I'm glad everyone seems to like Haley so much, since she's grown on me. I'm developing the plot slowly, since I want this to be a nice, long fic, so enjoy!

"Sweet dreams of this…and who am I to disagree?" she sang, dancing around with Jeremy on the porch. "I traveled the world and the seven seas, everybody's lookin' for something…"

She paused when she heard an amused snort behind her and turned to see Embry leaning on the railing, laughing.

"Sorry. I didn't take you for a pop rock star," he apologized, and she rolled her eyes indignantly.

"Of course! I've traveled the world, remember?" she said teasingly, pausing the music on the boombox with a grin.

"My apologies. I forgot," he replied, leaning down and kissing her softly on the lips before striding inside, hollering for Leah. Haley stared at him for a moment before picking up the boombox and following, already carrying Jeremy.

"Where's Seth?" she asked, interrupting the two shifters.

"He's on his way," Embry told her, glancing over his shoulder. She got the feeling she was interrupting and narrowed her eyes, sure it was about her. Pointedly remaining in the room, she lowered Jeremy to the floor and blinked when he crawled right for Embry, grabbing onto the jeans the young man wore.

"Looks like the pup's gotten attached," Leah remarked with a wry grin, hands resting on her hips calmly. Embry chuckled and swung the baby into the air, watching Haley carefully. She only watched them with a laugh, appearing completely at ease once more.

Seth appeared next to Haley the next moment, and slung his arm around her shoulders with a grin.

"Miss me?"

"I actually have food in my refrigerator," she replied pointedly. "I thought shifters in general ate a lot – it must just be because you're men, because Leah didn't empty out my fridge."

"Hm," he sighed, but pleased at being called a man. Leah snorted in amusement and elbowed her brother playfully as she strode toward the door.

"Well, I'm gonna go get some sleep before things start up, so catch you later," she called, waving briefly before disappearing down the street. Haley shook her head as Embry bounced Jeremy up in the air, but suddenly narrowed her eyes. She knew Seth had been late for a reason, and wanted to know why.

"So, what did you have to say to Leah?" the Imprint asked casually, causing Seth to choke on a laugh. Embry paused to look at her before turning away again.

"Nothing."

"Tell me," she insisted, moving closer. "I think it has something to do with me, doesn't it?" At this, the shifter frowned and handed Jeremy to her, folding his arms across his chest stubbornly.

"It's nothing."

"Fine. If you don't want to tell me, don't. Just don't bother talking to me until you're ready to spill it," she said calmly, bending down to pick up her nephew before striding out towards the television. They heard a children's show playing moments later, and Embry groaned.

"It's okay, man," Seth assured him, patting him on the back. "It's better she doesn't know."

"Don't know what?" Her voice floated through the air to their ears, and they both stiffened.

"Nothing!"

"I see."

"Well, maybe you should tell her," the boy amended, seeing how miserable Embry looked at the fact his Imprint wasn't speaking to him. "After all, she should know."

"Some help you are," he muttered, shooting a glare at his friend. The other shifter only shrugged, and opted to remain in the kitchen as Embry loped to see Haley.

She looked up as he sat on the couch behind her, as she was on the floor with Jeremy, but quickly returned her attention back to the baby.

"Fine. I'll tell you," he whimpered. "I'm not supposed to."

"Tell me what?" she repeated, twisting around to rest her gaze on him. He swallowed, and she softened slightly at pathetic expression. "I'm not mad. Just annoyed. I'm not a child."

"The Pack caught a few more bloodsuckers last night. Three," he admitted, and she blinked.

"Where?"

"A few blocks away."

She paled at this news, and instinctively reached out for Jeremy. Embry caught her up in his arms before she reached the baby and held her on his lap close, tucking her head under his chin.

"Don't worry. They went a different route than before – we'll be ready next time," he soothed her. "They were sloppy anyway. Leah could've taken care of them on her own if it came down to it."

"That's not really helping," she muttered, surprisingly comfortable in his warm grasp.

"Sorry," he apologized. "But you have to believe me. We would never let anything hurt you. It doesn't matter how many times they try."

"I know. It's Jeremy I worry about," she admitted, snuggling a bit closer as if it comforted her. "He's just a baby, completely defenseless."

"Trust me, you're completely defenseless against them too," he reminded her, and she shifted to reward him with a dry look.

"Thanks so much. I get that," she informed him, but sighed when she was pulled back into his grasp.

"You didn't sleep last night, did you," he stated, knowing the answer. She shook her head reluctantly, and shrugged as much as she was able. "Why?"

"I missed you guys," she said after a pause, blushing at the admission. He seemed happy about that, however, and she gasped as her air supply was suddenly cut off by a group hug.

"You do love us!" Seth crowed triumphantly, behind the couch with his arms around the couple. Embry sighed, hiding his face behind a big hand, but Haley laughed.

"Yes. How can I not? You're so cute, Fluffy," she said teasingly, and Seth paused when he realized she was talking to him.

"Wait…me?" he asked incredulously, straightening and pointing at himself with wide eyes. "Fluffy?"

"Well, he's Pooky-butt, so you have to have a name too. Until you Imprint, then she can decide," Haley amended, and blinked when Embry began to shake underneath her. Seth looked a bit alarmed, and then cracked a relieved grin when the shifter burst into howls of laughter.

"I win!" Embry howled, and Seth frowned.

"Win what?" she asked, confused.

"I said you'd give him a nickname in a week," her shifter chuckled, outstretching his hand. "Pay up, kid."

"When we get back to La Push – I don't have anything on me now," Seth grumbled, vaulting over the couch and bouncing next to them. Haley looked between them in amusement before glancing back at Jeremy, who seemed content with the television.

"I guess I can trust you two not to throw him through a window or my ceiling," she said with a sigh, and Embry blinked as she snuggled closer. Seth remained silent for once, but grinned as the young woman fell asleep on his lap.

"I told you."

"Shut up," Embry growled, one hand around her lower back as the other rested on her legs. "This is hard enough without your remarks."

"Sorry, sorry," the boy shot back, hands raised in a peaceful truce. He got down on the floor with Jeremy and wondered how much Haley would mind if he tried to see how fast he could catch the kid. Deciding against it, he contented himself with playing with the large Lego-like blocks, thanking God the kid didn't play with Barbies.

"Aren't you bored yet?" Embry asked. It was closer to evening than afternoon by now and Seth was intent on building a Lego recreation of La Push, despite Jeremy's occasional destruction. Haley was still sound asleep, something which surprised both shifters.

"Nope," he replied, concentrating on the task at hand. Embry rolled his eyes in amusement and began to channel hop again, as the movie on the station had ended. Dracula was on another, and he made a disgusted face before quickly skipping over it.

He glanced over at his Pack brother when he realized he was being spoken to. "Huh?"

"Wanna help?" Seth asked, leaning back on his heels hopefully.

"Nope. I'm comfortable, thanks," the shifter told him with a grin, and it was Seth's turn to roll his eyes.

"Of course. Want some food, at least? I think the pup's hungry," he said, picking up Jeremy and heading into the kitchen.

"Since when do I pass up food? Gimmie whatever's in there, man," the other called, and grinned as a bag of chips fell into his outstretched hand. "Awesome."

"How you doin', man?" Seth asked suddenly flopping back onto the floor with Jeremy, who seemed happy to try to grab the shifter's ears for the moment.

"Fine," he shrugged. "It's hard to explain."

"Yeah, I got that already," the boy said dismissively. "I don't think keeping the Imprints locked up forever is really the answer, though."

"It's the only thing we can do right now," Embry informed him, but the other shrugged.

"Right now," he agreed. "I can't wait until we find the leech responsible and rip them apart."

"That is going to be fun," the older shifter said with a wolfish grin, baring his teeth at the idea.

"So, now that you've eaten everything I have, can I leave the house to get food?" Haley asked sarcastically, peering around the corner to eye the two guilty shifters. She had woken up shortly after their conversation and gone in search of something to eat, but was unsuccessful.

"Maybe," Seth began in an uncommitted tone, but paused when he heard what sounded like a growl. Glancing at Embry, the other shifter looked just as confused. Turning around to look at Haley, he grinned when she blushed.

"I'm hungry!" she insisted, crossing her arms stubbornly. Embry grinned, and hauled himself to his feet.

"All right. Get dressed, and I'll take you," he informed her. "Seth will stay here with Jeremy. He'll be fine," he added, noticing her hesitation. That was all she needed before she rushed off to the bedroom to fix herself up again.

"You sure?" Seth asked, and Embry shrugged.

"We'll walk through town. Check up on Amelia – it'll be fine. I need some exercise," he muttered, stretching with a yawn. "I'll get fat."

"I doubt that," she remarked, returning with the same coat and boots she had worn the last time, with jeans and a bright aqua scarf obscuring her shirt. "You guys'll never get fat," she continued enviously. "Unlike me."

"Aw, I think you're perfect," Seth told her with a sudden seriousness as he bowed his head in her direction. She blushed a bright red, but laughed at him.

"You would. I think I'm the only female who feeds you as much as Emily does," she replied teasingly, getting her bag as she headed towards the door, obviously eager to get out of the house. "Ready? Don't you even have a coat?" she asked, as her shifter made no attempt to put anything more than his shirt on.

"Nope," he said, and she rolled her eyes before sweeping out the door with a blown kiss towards Seth and Jeremy, who waved back with a smile.

"At least it's not raining. Or snowing," Haley amended, looking around at the overcast sky with what seemed like relief. "Not that it'd matter. I thought I was going to go crazy in that house," she confessed, and Embry slung his arm around her shoulders with a laugh.

"I could tell when you locked us out," he reminded her, and she laughed sheepishly.

"Sorry about that, by the way."

"No, I guess we earned it," he said thoughtfully. "Although it was probably Seth's fault more than me. What're you doing about work, anyway?" he asked, and she shot a wide grin up at him.

"Amelia put me on maternity leave."

Embry would have asked something like, why, except he choked on his spit and had to stop to catch his breath. Haley laughed at this reaction, and shook her head tolerantly.

"Stupid, I'm not," she informed him. "But it was the easiest thing to do. I still get a paycheck this way. And everyone already thinks I'm some loose wild city girl, so having them think I got knocked up again by an absent boyfriend won't matter much," she added a bit moodily, and Embry's eyes widened.

"No on in La Push will think that," he promised her, and she looked up at him in surprise.

"Why not?"

"Be-because we'll tell them," he stuttered. "Besides, it'll be obvious soon enough anyway that you're not. Don't worry, I won't let anyone hurt you," he promised, landing a soft kiss on her head. She flushed, but smiled at him.

"Thanks, Embry," she said softly, before rolling her neck. "Come on, I don't want to be out real late. But I need a lot of food. Good thing you're here to carry it all," she added, and he could only manage a sigh at this blatant way to take advantage of him.

"Glad to see you doing so well, Haley," Amelia remarked as they stopped in to visit.

"Yep. I'm getting taken care of as best as men can do," she replied cheerfully, and Embry began to protest at this remark. The old woman's laughter drowned him out, however, and he was forced to be quiet. He had asked her what exact excuse she had given Amelia, and Haley admitted she told the woman she was being stalked by someone from the city. Judging from the old woman's opinion of city people, this appeared to be a perfectly-feasible reason.

"And I'm sure they're eating you out of house and home," she continued, and Haley nodded.

"I'm going into debt today when I get groceries," she said cheerfully.

"And where's Jeremy?"

"He's at home with a friend," Haley said. Amelia's face registered shock that the girl had left her precious baby in someone else's care, but she quickly recovered.

"I see. I'm sure he's having a lot of fun," she remarked, and the girl nodded.

"Plenty. He loves tormenting them," the young woman confessed with a laugh. "Not that I'm any better."

"Well, if you've got shopping to do before dark, you should probably get going," Amelia reminded her, and Haley sighed.

"I know. I just wanted to stop in to say hello," she said, and perked up when the old woman smiled tolerantly at her.

"Come in anytime. I'll be glad to watch that precious boy for you whenever you need a break," she added, and Haley laughed at the idea, which seemed to please her.

"I promise, I'll bring him in soon," she said over her shoulder, trailing after Embry, who had begun to edge toward the door before the old woman could manage anymore jabs at him. He escaped unscathed, and his expression made Haley laugh again.

"You don't know what an old bat she is," he grumbled, but softened when she patted his arm.

"Oh, relax. She's such a sweet woman to me," Haley reminded him. "It's only because you're a big boy who doesn't have any manners."

He groaned at the teasing, but was satisfied as long as he was with his Imprint and only smiled down adoringly at her the rest of the walk.

"That's a lot of shit," Seth said in astonishment, as Embry staggered under the weight.

"It's your fault," Haley reminded him, following Embry the house with a few bags of her own. "No one will tell me when you're going to leave, so I had to prepare."

"I see," the boy replied with a grin, and relieved Embry of some of his bags. "Here, lemme take 'em," he offered, and Haley looked around as she unwound her scarf.

"Where's Jeremy?"

"Taking a nap," he called, he and Embry already in the process of putting things where they thought they should go. "He finally started to wear me out, and then himself before he got a second wind," he continued with a laugh, and Haley shook her head in amusement.

"I want to go for a walk before it gets really dark out," she told them suddenly, as the sky was only beginning to melt into dusky twilight. "I really need the exercise," she added with a grumble. Embry stepped in her line of sight, and his face was all she needed to see.

He crossed his arms stubbornly as she moved up to him, trying not to give in as she looked up at him pleadingly.

"Please?" she begged. "I'm so sick of being inside! I'll be good! I'll listen. Just let me have a walk!" she pleaded, and he sighed.

"But –"

"Aw, just take a walk around the back," Seth suggested, poking his head around the corner. "There aren't too many houses, so if you need to phase you don't have to worry about anyone watching."

"That's a comforting thought," the shifter grumbled, but sighed as she tugged on his arm.

"Please, Embry?" she repeated, and he groaned.

"All right, all right," he said, giving up on having a backbone where his Imprint was concerned. Seth chuckled, but quickly ducked back into the kitchen.

"I'll be here," the boy called, as she dragged the shifter out the back door.

"Thank you," she said after a few moments, when they were father from the house. "I'm just so…I can't just hide," she managed. "I want to do things, not live the rest of my life in that house."

"You will," he assured her, and she smiled weakly at him.

"Not if you keep acting like that," she pointed out, and he blinked.

"Huh?"

"I'm an adult. I know you want to protect me…but I get to decide too," she said firmly. "If I want to go run around naked singing Bon Jovi, I will."

"I won't object to that," he managed, howling with laughter at the image. She frowned at him, but was unable to keep that face up for long.

"That wasn't quite the point, but okay," she sighed, shaking her head. He sensed she wanted to ask something else, and gazed down at the young woman patiently.

"What?" he finally asked, and she shrugged.

"It's stupid," she said in embarrassment, but he took her hands in one of his gently.

"Nothing you ask me will be silly," he promised in earnest. "Never."

"Well…can I see your wolf form?" she asked, and then looked away. "I told you it was silly. I just…never got to really see you the last time," she explained awkwardly, and he grinned.

"That's all?" he asked. "Sure."

"Sure?" she repeated. "Just like that?"

"All the others shift near people. Only if they're in control," he added absently. "But there's no rule to say we can't phase near our Imprints," he continued, and noticed the eager look on her face. "What?" he asked, suddenly self-conscious.

"I just…well, I like dogs. And you looked fuzzy," she admitted, and his jaw dropped at this confession. Shaking his head, he handed her his shirt. He wasn't wearing shoes, having kicked them off in the house, and she turned around quickly before he stripped completely.

"What, shy?" he asked teasingly, before shifting.

"No, I saw enough stripping the…last…time…" Her voice trailed off as she turned around and realized that in Embry's place was a gigantic wolf staring down at her. He nudged her shoulder gently, having to crouch down to so, and she smiled.

Embry grinned wolfishly at her as she hesitantly patted his head, forced to stand on tiptoe to reach even when he bent down. Scratching behind his ears, Haley blinked in surprise when she saw his tail wagging and laughed.

"You really are a mutt!" she accused him, but he only licked her cheek shamelessly. "Oh, ew!" she groaned, wiping it off. "That was gross!"

The wolf only whined at her as he padded further towards the trees, looking over his shoulder to see if she was following. Haley picked her way through the path to keep up and looked around when he stopped.

"What's here?" she asked, and could have sworn he shrugged. He flopped to the ground on his belly, looking pointedly at her, and she shook her head. "I get it. You want to snuggle," she said teasingly, but obligingly lowered herself to the ground. Settling herself against the warm wolf's stomach, her head right on his shoulder, she sighed. "You're very comfortable, Embry. And you're a lot softer."

He rolled his eyes at that remark, but nuzzled her hair gently with his muzzle before curling up, his tail resting on her waist protectively. She smiled and enjoyed the view of the stars she received, happy it was a clear night.

"She's pretty warm," Embry thought with slight frown, but attributed it to his own body temperature affecting her. Shifting slightly, he nudged his nose until it was under her hand, and frowned again. "She doesn't even have a coat, and she's not cold at all."

"I'm fine," Haley informed him, hearing a whine. "Just a bit tired." She yawned, and snuggled against the shifter with a contended sigh. Closing her eyes, a few minutes passed before she opened them at hearing a rumble in his chest. Thinking it was a growl, she started to ask what was wrong before realized he was performing the wolf equivalent of a purr. Smiling, she settled herself once again and shivered briefly before falling asleep.

Embry, for his part, was surprised there were no leeches to be smelled. "Seth was right. They're not going to do anything until they've got a plan," he thought, reluctantly giving credit where it was due.