I don't own anything but Erin.

A week later, I was at Emily's, hanging out with my fellow imprints and Emily's nieces, Claire, age two, and Bailey, age four.

"We should have a party." I casually suggested with a coy smile, putting a puzzle together with Bailey while Claire ran between Kim and Emily.

Emily gave me a look, "And why should we do that?"

"In two days, I officially complete my freshman year. That is cause to celebrate!" I said, turning to Bailey, "Right, Bay?"

"Where's the corner piece?" She asked, clearly more focused on our puzzle than me, and I just shrugged.

"You can't have Emily throw a party." Kim reminded me.

"Why not?" I whined.

"Momma says whiners gets spanked!" Claire yelled, inches from my face. I flinched back, ears ringing a little. Children are loud.

"Because," Kim asked, ignoring Claire, "You're going to Bella Swan's graduation party, aren't you? At the Cullen's?"

I shrugged, "I want to go, and Seth seems okay with it, but Jakey, BreeBree, and Quilly are all against it. They ruin everything."

Emily laughed at my nicknames and rolled her eyes. "I have Claire and Bailey for a week, no way is a party happening with our Pack of boys when there is a four and two year old around."

I rolled my eyes, "No fun! You're so mean, Emily!"

"Yeah, Aunt Emily. You're mean." Bailey complained, trying to shove two puzzle pieces together that were obviously not matching. Children are kind of dumb.

"Mean! Mean! Mean!" Claire yelled, again way too damn close to my ear.

Emily glared at me, "Thanks, Erin, love you too."

I grinned and shrugged, "Not my fault children are so impressionable."

Kim and I laughed and Emily eventually gave in and giggled a bit. I gasped, remembering something, looking at Kim, "Oh my god, Kimmy!"

Kim gasped too, eyes wide, "What, 'Rinny?"

"You'll be a senior next year!" I gasped. "You're so old!"

Kim started to object but Claire interrupted her, yelling, "Kimmy's owld! Kimmy's owld!" Claire paused, turning to me, "Does that mean she'll fawt a lot? My gwandpa fawts a lot."

Ah, potty humor. I lost it, rolling on the floor. Kim turned red as a tomato but laughed too and Emily was trying to correct Claire's behavior, while giggling. I got control of myself, "I don't think Kimmy farts a lot, but I don't really pay much attention, Claire-Bear."

Bailey asked me a question about the puzzle and I tried to help while Emily got up and went to the kitchen and Claire climbed onto Kim's lap. We were all just sitting there when the boys ran in, laughing and shoving each other like always. Well, except for Jake, but he was always depressed these days with Bella remaining with Edward.

Seth came over and sat on the couch behind me; I reflexively settle back, leaning against his legs. Embry stumbled over, plopping on the floor by Bailey and I and instantly began to work on the puzzle as well. Claire wiggled out of Kim's grasps and fumbled unsteadily over to her sister. Jared kissed the top of Kim's head and sat on the arm of her chair while Paul and Sam went to the kitchen, trailing Emily. Quil sat cross legged next to Embry and Jacob threw himself down next to Seth.

"Hey boys." I greeted, smiling at them.

"Who are the kids?" Embry asked, jerking his head at Claire and Bailey while keeping his main focus on the puzzle. I was about to answer when Claire interrupted in her usual shrieking.

"I's Cwaire Cowa Young! I's two!" She held up three fingers, to prove her point, at which I just cocked an eyebrow.

Laughing at the perplexed expressions, I jumped in to translate, "She means she's Claire Cora Young. And the other little lady is Bailey. They're Emily's nieces." I glanced back around and froze.

Embry had an easy smile on his face but it was Quil I zeroed in on. He stared at Claire like he was seeing the light for the first time, like she was water in an endless desert. He was completely awed by her, like everything in his life had just clicked into place. I blinked and felt realization settle over me, with a jolt of shock and slight horror, that Quil was looking at little Claire exactly how Seth looked at me that day in the high school parking lot, the first time we'd seen each other after he shifted.

"Oh my god." I whispered without thinking. "Quil!"

Everyone snapped to look at Quil. He didn't seem to care, or even notice. It was like he was incapable of taking his eyes off Claire as she trotted over and handed him a block, a huge grin on her face. Giggling, she pointed to the block setting in his palm, "Yours."

Oh boy.

"Emily!" Jared yelled, getting up, "Sam! Paul! Come here!"

They all ran into the room and stopped looking around, frantically. Finally, Emily asked, confused, "What?"

But Sam and Paul had seen it right away, they'd witnessed or, in Sam's case, felt enough imprintings to recognize the instant connection. They both watched with wide eyes, as Claire continued to giggled at Quil, completely carefree. Emily looked even more confused by everyone's silence.

"What is it? Why's everyone…" She trailed off, looking at Claire and, in extension, Quil. She gasped, stepping forward, "You didn't! Quil Ateara, she is two years old!"

Quil, startled, looked away from Claire, almost unwillingly turning his eyes to Emily and began stuttering, "I- I- I-"

"Get him out!" Emily snapped, spinning on Sam. I knew that tone, it was the same shape one she used whenever she needed Sam to follow her directions. "Sam, get him out, right now!"

Sam frowned but begrudgingly went to over to Quil, "Come on, let's go Quil. Guys, now!"

All the boys remained where they were for a moment, only moving when Sam turned to give them a hard look. Grumbling and looking a little guilty, they all slowly followed after Sam and Quil. I swallowed hard, looking at Claire, who did not seem very happy with this development.

She looked at Emily, frowning, "Why's he have to go?"

Emily was shaking as she replied, "Because, Claire-Bear, he did something bad."

"Em-" I started but she cut me off.

"This has nothing to do with you, Erin!" She snapped, glaring at me.

I gaped at her, faltering back. Emily was always kind and gentle. I didn't know she even could snap at someone. Then I steeled myself, wiping the shock off my face, "Emily, I've known Quil since I was born, so I think I have the right to say something when you insult him without reason."

Emily looked at me like I was crazy, "Without reason? He imprinted on my niece! She's two!"

"So?" I asked, "Taha Aki married a woman that was probably not even born when he should have died. Remember the Third Wife?"

"That's completely different!" Emily hissed, not meeting my eyes.

I raised an eyebrow, "Oh really? Now, think Emily, one of first things Seth told me about imprinting is that the Wolf is anything the Imprintee needs or wants. Quil just wants Claire to be happy and safe, like a big brother or a guardian. He'll be someone who'll protect Claire at all costs, without hesitation. How could that be a bad thing?" I asked, getting up.

"It's just wrong. Toddlers don't need werewolf soulmates! They need dolls and Dora the Explorer!" Emily said, exasperated.

I sighed, "That may be true, but everyone needs someone who'll always be there when they need them. That's all Quil will want to be for Claire."

Kim stood up, "She's right, Em. Even if I wasn't in love with Jared, I couldn't imagine just not having him around."

Emily took a deep breath, picking Claire up and putting her on her hip. She rocked the little girl back and forth a bit, playing with the toddler's silky, black hair. Closing her eyes, she sighed, "Go get the boys. It's probably already killing Quil to be away from her."

I smiled at her and bounded outside, yelling, "Guys! Come back! And you can bring Quil!"

Within seconds it seemed a fully clothed Quil was rushing out of the woods, past me, into the house. I didn't take his shunning personally, knowing exactly how it felt to catch Seth's eye from across a room and watch everyone around us disappear. I followed him while the others filed out of the trees. Quil slowed and took careful steps toward Emily and Claire.

Emily glared at him, then Claire spoke, "You back!" She shouted, grinning at Quil. She reached out for him, wiggling in Emily's arms.

I guessed she felt that pull too, I knew I always did. Seth can never sneak up on me, because it's like I can feel him anywhere in a room. I watched as Emily's expression softened and she grudgingly passed Claire over to Quil.

The little girl rested her small hand on my friend's immense shoulder and gave him a smile that shone, "Waz your name?"

"I'm Quil." He introduced with a laugh, visibly relaxing upon holding his imprint. He turned to me, smiling, "Thank you, Erin."

I guessed he probably heard Emily and my fight. I shrugged and waved him off, casually, "I got your back, Quilly."

"Qwuil!" Claire yelled and shoved his face over to meet her eyes. Barely an hour in and already demanding her Wolf's attention, sounded about right.

I felt that familiar tug that had become a part of me over the last few months and turned to see Seth come through the door, grinning over at me. Falling into his unavoidable gravitational pull, I moved towards him, lacing our fingers together.

"What are you smiling about?" I asked, looking up into those beautiful brown eyes, always warm and kind.

"You're so understanding and amazing and sweet." Seth answered, ducking in swiftly to kiss my nose.

I giggled and tried to will away my bashful blush. Hopping on to my tip toes to kiss his cheek, I reached up and playfully ruffled his hair, "Trust me, I'm nothing compared to you when it comes to being understanding."

Seth kissed me for real this time, taking my breath away as usual as his hands tenderly squeezed my hips.

"Absolutely not true." He whispered against my ear, while I bit my lip and felt like my heart was melting in my chest.