Second Chances

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: This is just a sad chapter, but the idea behind it is a cute one. If you can pick up the subtle hints that I have placed in the chapter, I swear that you are a genius… Genio! Anyways, here is a hint:

Time Away From You

I sat by the shoreline, throwing pebbles and shells back at the ocean, hoping that time would quickly pass and my anger would subside. I didn't want to be home. What Madison had said earlier, really hurt me. How could she say that I would phase in front of her and someday cause her scars like the one Emily had? I mean, have I not proven myself to her. I have loved her, protected her, kept her safe and I don't know what else I have done to prove how much she meant to me.

I wanted to scream at her for saying those things. She did hurt me. If I was a girl, I would be telling her how she hurt my heart and shattered my soul. Damn, she was good at hurting people. Her words were sharper than a knife, eviscerating my fucking soul.

I needed to move out of her house and spend less time around her. Maybe that was what our relationship needed. We needed distance. A few days away from each other, until we learned to appreciate one another, again, was what we needed...

"Em," I heard a soft voice behind me. I knew it was her. She was quiet as she stood a couple of feet away from me. Heck, she probably knew that I was able to detect her from afar. I didn't really want to talk to her. Madison's words still stung and I didn't want to take my anger out on her. What if she was right and I ended up hurting her?

"What, Madison?" I said curtly, digging my fingers into the cold and wet sand.

"I want to speak to you." she said softly, walking closer to where I sat. "I am not here to argue or hurt your feelings again."

I sighed and turned to face her. She was wearing my large flannel shirt and had her rain boots on. Her dark hair was pulled into a messy ponytail; with lose strands of hair falling over her beautiful face. Her lips were pout and I wanted to kiss them, but I refrained myself. I noticed that her nose was red and her face was flushed. She looked like she had been crying and I just wanted to calm her heart and soul.

"Embry," she began, biting her lower lip nervously. "I do know that my words are sharper than knives and that I speak without thinking if I might hurt someone's feelings… I wanted to apologize for hurting you… but, I will not apologize for hurting Sam's feelings. I am sick of his attitude. I understand that he is your alpha and…"

"Madison," I interrupted. "I don't want to speak about that matter. I understand your fear." I paused, and turned to look at the horizon. "I have been thinking and I came to the conclusion that we need to give ourselves some time away from each other… Just for a few..."

"What?" she asked aghast. "Time away from each other? But…"

I nodded and stood up. "I need a few days away from you." I said without looking at her. I didn't want to see her sadden face. "I am moving into my mom's old house. The guy that was renting it moved out and she asked me to live in it. I'm going to fix it and…"

"Why?" she choked. "I'll move in with you, but, I… don't leave… god, baby. I can't believe this… you aren't doing this to me!" she cried, turning around to wipe her tears.

"I'm not leaving you." I said, touching her slender shoulder, but she quickly jerked my hand away. "I just need time away… Damn it, Madison, your words truly hurt me!"

"But it's true!" she shouted. "You snap so easily and you tremble whenever…. I can't do this now." she said, clasping her hand over her mouth. "Embry, I don't want you to go. I barely get to see you, because you are either at work, with your friends or busy doing school work." she said, wiping her tears. "I'll try to change… damn, I am pregnant! I have all this fucking hormones playing with my emotions. I am a rollercoaster of emotions. Fuck… you know what… if you, ugh, if you leave, don't come back."

"See that's your fucking problem. You want to control everything." I yelled. "If something doesn't go according to your ways, you lash out and start fighting. I am tired of your attitude. I love you and damn, I have done so much for you. I know that you didn't ask me to do them, but I did them, because I love you and I want you to be happy. But nothing is ever good enough for you." I paced around her, raking my hand through my hair.

"Don't go Embry!" she pleaded, crying. "I will try to change. I promise, but don't leave me, baby."

"I am not leaving you." I said, as I stared at the ocean. I could see the dark clouds forming over the horizon. "I just need time. We need time away from each other to assess our feelings, Mad. I won't stop loving you, but I need to be away from you, or I will do something that I would later on regret."

"Like what?" she asked.

"Like hurt your feelings." I mumbled, unable to look her in the eye. I needed to put everything in perspective.

"Liar," she said, laughing sarcastically. "You are already hurting me, Embry Call. Is this your cheap way of breaking up with me and pushing me and your son away. Don't spare my feelings if you are too much of a chicken to face your responsibility! Be a man and tell me that you are bailing on your son, just like your father did!"

How could she be such a pain? I was not running away from her or my child! I would never be like that fucking man, my father was!

"Madison," I said, turning around and grabbing her arm. "Why do you have to be so spiteful? Is that your fucking way of protecting your heart? By hurting others and saying things that are not true? I am not my father! I will never be that fucking asshole! He left my mother with a broken heart and a son that he never considered worthy to call a son! I would never do that to our child. I love you and because I love you, I am taking some time away from you. I am not abandoning Zeus or you! So get off your fucking high horse and start listening to my words." I paused, when I heard how unpleasant my words were coming out of my mouth.

Madison was sobbing quietly. Her brown eyes were cast downwards. I could see her shoulders moving as she sobbed. Damn, I was such a fucking dick! I made her cried. I had really ruined the last threads of hope.

"Madison," I whispered, resting my chin on the crown of her head. "I, I don't want to hurt you. I am sorry. I didn't mean to be so harsh on you or use such an acrimonious tone with you. I am just tired of all this shit that goes on around us. We were meant to be happy, but it's like you don't want us to be happy. You push me away and I have to take your insults and when…"

She pulled away and took a few steps away from me. "How long do you need to stay away from me… us?" she asked softly, placing her hand on her stomach.

"A few days? A few weeks? I don't know." I muttered, staring at her. "I really don't know."

"Well, will you still come by the house to check on us?" she asked, silent tears streaming down her face. "Are we breaking up? How will I keep in touch with you, to, um, let you know that I have an appointment with the doctor or if any emergency arises?"

I sighed when I heard the pain in her words. "I'm not abandoning you, Madison." I said, taking a step closer to her. "I am just moving out of the house. I'll check in on you every day. I will try to ask for time off from work to go with you to your appointments. I want to be involved in the baby's life and yours. I-we need time away from each other."

She nodded and turned away and started walking down the sea shoreline. She stopped and turned around and walked back to where I stood.

"Before I leave," she whispered, clearing her throat. "I wanted to tell you that I love you and that I am so sorry for hurting you." she smiled, placing her hand on my chest.

"I know you love me, Madison." I said, taking her free hand in mine and kissing it gently. "And I love you and our son so much."

"After you left…my father called and I told him that I was pregnant. He screamed at me for getting pregnant. He insulted me for wasting his time and money and called me the worst names in history. He told me that he never wanted to see me and that if he knew how much of a bitch I was… um, going to be… he would have asked my mother to abort me." she said, forcing a smile. "That would have been better, right? That way, I would not have fucked up your life, his life and now our son's life."

"Don't say that, Madie-love." I said, cupping her perfect face in my hands. "Don't say such things. You are the best thing that has happened in my life, baby."

"Then, why are you leaving me?" she cried. "Why are you leaving me, baby? Why?"

I ran my thumb over her cheek and wiped a few tears. "I am not leaving you! I am taking a few days away, but I am coming back. I am confused. I am hurting. Your words really hurt me, Madison. I just can't take it any longer. We argue every day. It's not fair, for you, the baby or for me. We are still going to be together. The only thing that will change is our living status."

"Don't go, please." she whispered, leaning her face against my hand. "Don't be like them! They left me, too. My mother, father, my brothers, Thomas… Don't leave me… like them… please."

"I'm not leaving you." I said softly, kissing her cheek. "This period of distance is so we can grow. I am not leaving you. I-I gotta go."

I had to go. My mind was made up. I was leaving the little yellow house. It wasn't a farewell or a goodbye. This was just a period to adjust loose ends and become stronger. I needed space, to think and ponder about life.

I turned around and didn't look back to see her crying. I could hear her crying and slowly breathing, as she whispered my name, with such pain. My heart broke, but it was important that we took this step. Because in the end, we always come back, stronger and able to appreciate those we love.

AN: They aren't going to be separated for too long. It's just an idea that came to my head. It kinda ruined the whole plot I had going on, but in the next two chapters you will understand why I wanted it to happen like this. Anyways, let me know whatcha think!

Serenity