Sorry this chapter took longer than usual. I had a hard time getitng it out. Hope you enjoy and as always, please let me know what you think!

Characters you recognise don't belong to me and neither does the song. It belongs to Lifehouse.

Find me here, speak to me

I want to feel you, I need to hear you

You are the light, that's leading me

To the place were I feel peace

Again

You are the strength that keeps me walking

You are the hope that keeps me trusting

You are the light to my soul

You are my purpose

You're everything

I woke up to the feeling of Abby's back pressed completely against the front of my body, her head resting on the arm I had curled around her neck last night and her eyes focused on the rain falling outside. Her small, white hand was stark against the deep copper of my arm as she traced patterns across my wrist and her hair tickled the skin of my chest as she shifted her head slightly.

"Hey." I whispered softly. She didn't turn to look at me but I could see the smile on her face as I looked down at her and I could feel my face shifting to reflect hers. She had shrugged her jeans off sometime during the night and her slim, pale legs were caught between mine, her cold feet pressed against my heated calf.

"Hey back." She replied, her voice scratchy and husky from sleep. She coughed softly before turning towards me and smiling widely. "Dude, you should see your hair."

I chuckled and reached a hand up to smooth the hair back. I hadn't bothered brushing it or anything since phasing back last night so I knew it looked awful. Still, nothing was dragging me out of this bed as long as I could help it, not with Abby lying against me, so soft and warm and real. She yawned, her body arching against me deliciously and I smiled at her knowing grin as my hand slid down to her bare hip.

I looked over her face as she lay there, eyes closed and a completely relaxed look on her face. Her skin was returning to its normal colour and as she suddenly gazed up at me I noticed that her eyes had their sparkle back. She no longer looked like a shadow of herself but she was still too thin and I swore to myself that I would make her eat three huge meals a day until she was back to the way she was.

"Can I go back to my apartment to get some clothes and stuff?" She asked softly, her breath fanning against my skin as she spoke. I smiled and tightened my grip around her, sliding one of my legs over both of hers so that she was completely cocooned in my arms. If there was any way to keep her like this then I would.

The music from the night before was still on and I could feel Abby's feet tapping against mine as she listened to it and her mouth moved soundlessly against the skin of my chest. I didn't recognise the song but I couldn't help my grin as Abby's tapping foot got more insistent.

"When do you want to head back?" I asked her softly. Her tapping stopped momentarily and I smiled as she peeked her head out to look at me, a frown on her face.

"Whenever suits you, I guess." She replied. "Soon, though. I need to have a shower and wash my hair and feel like a human being again."

I chuckled and stood with a stretch, reaching a hand down towards her and pulled her to her feet, trying to ignore the adorable pout on her face as she frowned at me.

"I didn't mean now." She muttered as she pulled her jeans on. I chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder as we got ready to leave. I could hear Jared and Kim in the living room, talking over the sound of the TV. I held Abby's hand and led her in to the room to tell them where we were going, noticing the apprehensive look she gave Kim. I glanced at Kim to see her smiling softly at the two us, her eyes flickering from our faces to our entwined hands. I made a mental note to ask Abby what was going on later before I turned to Jared. Jared was sitting on the couch, his arm around Kim's shoulders. I used to make fun of him for his constant need to touch Kim and I felt stupid for it now because I was sure I was much worse. My week away from Abby had been complete and utter hell. Sure, I had seen for myself that she was alive but not being able to touch her, to make sure that there was nothing wrong with her was awful. I hadn't realised that imprinting came along with such an overwhelming need to be in constant contact with your imprint.

"Hey, we're driving into Port Angeles to pick up some of Abby's stuff. We'll be a few hours, you guys need anything?"

They both shook their heads and after saying goodbye, I led Abby out into the rain. She rushed to the car, climbing inside and slamming the door behind her before I had even opened the driver's side. The radio was on before I had even started the car and I smiled in amusement as she slipped her feet out of the shoes she wore and rested them on top of the dashboard, her toes moving to the beat of the song. I couldn't help but laugh as I realised her toe nails were painted a purple colour that sparkled when she moved them. She smiled at me and reached to take one of my hands in her own, her fingers stroking my skin as she sang. She stopped suddenly and turned to look at me, her eyes wary.

"What's wrong?"

"Can I ask you something?" At my nod she inhaled sharply. "It's been bugging me since last night but I don't want to offend you again…"

"Hey, you aren't going to offend me. Just tell me what's wrong." I assured her, tightening my grip on her hands.

"Okay. Don't be annoyed, okay? I have to ask or…"

"Spit it out already." I chuckled. She didn't crack a grin or laugh as I thought she would. Instead she became very interested in her jeans, her fingers picking at invisible pieces of lint.

"Did Quil imprint on Claire?" She finally asked. I looked at her, suddenly confused. Why had she been so nervous to ask me that?

"Uh, yeah. Why?"

"And no one is bothered by it?" She sounded shocked and slightly disgusted and I glanced at her quickly to see the horrified look on her face.

"Why would they be?" Was I missing something here? Hadn't I explained imprinting to her?

"Claire's parents don't care that some six foot something werewolf is in love with their six year old?"

"What? Abby, Quil isn't in love with Claire. Well, not technically anyway." I took a deep breath and shot her an amused and exasperated look that she didn't return. The smile slipped off my face as I thought of a way to properly explain it to her. "Quil doesn't love Claire in the same sense that I love you or that Jared loves Kim. When we imprint, the girl becomes the single most important thing in our lives and we strive to be whatever it is she needs at that minute in time. With Claire, she needs a big brother and that's what Quil is to her. He's a better big brother than a blood brother would be and when she's older he'll be the best friend she could imagine. He'll be her confident and her protector and if, only if, she chooses it he'll be her lover. It's not the horrible, seedy image you have in your head of Quil being in love with a kid. It's not like that at all. Abby, you mean so much more to me than you can imagine. There aren't words capable of explaining my feelings to you and the words that are available are trite and over used and not enough." I looked at her to see that mouth was open slightly, forming a silent 'o' in shock and her eyes were wide and innocent.

"Abby, you have to believe me. You are my everything now. From the minute I saw you in that bar you became my world. Nothing is more important than you, nothing matters as much. Every single thought I have is about you in some way and every dream I have is about you. I couldn't live without you if I tired. That's why I spent all of last week outside your window. If something had happened you because I wasn't there to stop it I would hate myself. I would throw myself off a cliff if I thought if would make you happy. If you ever decide that you don't want this… us… I could deal with that. As long as you let me stay in your life in one way or another. I have to be near you." I took a deep breath as I turned the car off. We had stopped in the middle of the road, a few minutes away from her apartment and we sat facing each other now, the music in the background the only sound apart from our breaths. I could hear Abby's heart racing beneath her chest and I cursed myself silently for being too intense and scaring her. Again. Her eyes were still wide as she gazed at me, an unreadable look on her face.

"I don't mean to scare you but you need to know." I told her softly, stroking my thumb against the soft skin of her hand. "You have to know what you mean to me."

"You didn't scare me." She whispered. "I'm just a little overwhelmed. I knew it was something… stronger than… than what I thought it was. I've known for a while but I could never have guessed that you felt so strongly… so intense." Her words were soft and as she spoke I felt my shoulders relax. "Paul I… I've never been in a relationship like this before. I always thought I loved Alex but I know it was more physical than anything else. And the boyfriends I've had since then barely register compared to this… compared to you. You make me feel things I never thought I would be capable of feeling." She stopped, her teeth biting into her soft bottom lip as she looked at me. I knew in that second that she loved me. Sure, she had told me last night but I could read the emotions in her eyes as easily as if I were looking into a mirror. She loved me and she accepted me in spite of my anger, my jealousy and possessiveness. She didn't care that I was so different from her friends, that I didn't play in a band or like a particular type of music. She didn't care that the only steady job I had was one I got to keep an eye on her or that I lived with my best friend and his girlfriend. She didn't care that I turned into a wolf at will. All she cared about was me. I had never felt so elated in my life; so free and easy to be myself. I started laughing in relief and happiness and sheer joy and after a few seconds she had joined in, her head thrown back as warm, husky chuckles spilled out of her parted lips.

"I love you." I whispered against her hair as I lifted her onto my lap.

"I love you back." She replied. I grinned and kissed her softly.

"Say it again."

"I love you, you big ball of silver fur." She teased gently. I chuckled again, sliding my hand up her neck and into her hair. Her lips parted immediately beneath mine and I lost myself in her; in her soft sighs and groans and the way her fingernails bit into my skin when I sucked her bottom lip between my teeth. She was so completely and utterly perfect beneath my hands that I hated to place her back into her seat and start the car again. She smiled at me, a lazy, knowing smirk that made me chuckle darkly as I drove.

"So what's the plan for the rest of the week then? Since you've kidnapped me and all."

I smiled and shrugged at her as I parked once more. The rain had stopped now and there was a weak sunlight as we climbed out of the car and headed inside.

"We can do whatever you want to." I told her as she unlocked her door.

"Oh really?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. I was wary when the smirk broke out suddenly on her face.

"Uh oh." I muttered as she pulled me inside. She chuckled and threw her jacket onto the chair.

"God it smells like someone died here." She muttered. "Will you crack a window? I need to have a shower. Can you start throwing clothes into my bag?"

I followed her down the hallway, kissing her softly before allowing her to head into the bathroom. Her room was exactly how we had left it yesterday morning and I sighed, rooting around under her bed for the bag.

I threw in everything I could think of, wanting to be prepared for every eventuality. By the time Abby was finished in the shower and standing in front of me in only a towel, the bag was overflowing and I was staring at it, trying to figure out where I had gone wrong.

"Wow. How long were you planning on keeping me for?" She asked in amusement. I glared at her before turning back to the bag. I could hear her soft rustling behind me and I knew she had unwrapped the towel from her pale body. My pulse quickened as my blood slowly stirred but I didn't turn around. If I looked at her I would be a goner and I needed to get us back to La Push as soon as I could.

After what seemed like eternity, she came around to stand beside me, clad in jeans and a thermal shirt, her feet bare and her hair wet against her neck and face. I smiled at her, brushing a stray hair out of her eyes and leaned down to kiss her.

"Never send a man to do a woman's job." She sighed as she pulled away. I chuckled and shrugged, watching as she quickly rearranged the case. Suddenly all the clothes fit, along with two thick books, her IPOD and dock, a toiletry bag she had brought out of the bathroom with her and a spare pair of Converse. After a quick glance around the room she nodded and pulled a hat down over her wet hair.

"Let's go."

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The trip back to La Push was quick and quiet, with Abby singing along to the radio while trailing her fingers up and down my forearms as she watched the trees blur past. I swung the car into the dirt path next to the bungalow and climbed out, easily lifting Abby's bag over one shoulder and wrapping my free arm around her shoulder.

I could make out voices from inside, loud laughter spilled out as I opened the front door and I smiled when I saw Claire standing in the hallway, holding her thick Harry Potter book and smiling widely as she caught sight of Abby.

"Hi Abby! Hi Paul." She greeted us, balancing on the balls of her feet. Quil had obviously told her to let us get inside the house before accosting Abby. I gave her five seconds before she turned on the charm and used it to enslave Abby as her story teller for years. That's how it had happened with Embry last year and Billy Black the year before that. No one could deny Claire anything and she knew it.

"Abby, will you please read another chapter of my book to me?" The eyes had widened and the lips had formed a polite, hopeful smile. Abby was powerless and nodded her head, allowing Claire to take her hand and lead her towards the kitchen.

"And another one bites the dust." Quil chuckled from behind me. I shook my head in amusement and headed towards my room, to dump Abby's bag. When I reached the kitchen, Abby and Claire had been joined by Emily and Claire's sister Hannah. Emily stood at the stove, making something in a pot as she watched Abby reading to her nieces. Hannah and Claire were listening intently as Abby spoke, her voice perfect for reading aloud. I sat in the seat next to her, reaching over and dropping a soft kiss on the skin below her ear and smiling when she shuddered. She shifted her position so that her back was against the back of the kitchen chair and her legs were lying across my lap. I slipped her shoes off and rubbed my thumb against the soles of her feet, smiling when her head dropped back slightly as she relaxed.

"I want to marry Ron when I grow up." Claire sighed happily when Abby had finished the chapter. Abby and I exchanged amused looks as Hannah shook her head.

"I want to marry Harry." She argued. "He's so much braver."

I ignored their argument and reached over to Abby, tucking a strand of her still damp hair behind her ear. She smiled at me, leaning her cheek against my burning palm and closing her eyes. It was as if no one else existed except for the two of us; there was no world beyond this room, beyond the feeling of her hand as it stroked through my hair. I wanted to stay like this forever, just the two of us lost in each other's eyes with the world kept outside.

"I love you." She mouthed at me with a smile. I grinned and moved closer to her, pushing her hair away from her ear and kissing the shell softly.

"I love you more."

And how could I stay here with you

And not be moved by you

And you tell me, how could it be any better than this?

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Team Space Heater, sometimes i pick the songs and write the chapter around them and other times i'm writting a chapter and a song will come into my head. I'm so glad you think they match the characters feelings because that's what i'm aiming for.

Aurora66 you'll have to keep reading to see if there'll be more drama!

Thanks to everyone who reviews the story. you're all amazing.