Second Chances

Yes

"Añorando que regreses y te quedes conmigo." the words were in Spanish, but they held so much feeling. My feelings of loneliness, were constantly present in my journal. "… Hoping that you will come back and return to me." I translated, as I placed my journal back in the drawer. I had been writing all my feelings, since Embry moved back to his mother's house.

He would come by every day and eat dinner with me. Sometimes, he would stay late at night, until I felt asleep. But to be honest, I felt like I was losing him. I felt alone and I cried a lot when I knew that he was far away and could not hear my sobs. I didn't like living in the small yellow house, anymore. Everywhere I turned, the ghost of Embry followed.

Everything made me cried. The couch where we would snuggle on the weekends to watch television, held so many memories of him. His scent still lingered in our room. His work boots still sat by the backdoor entrance and his towel still hung by the bathroom sink.

Every time I cleaned around the house, I would find something that would remind me of him. Everything around me, reminded me of him. The bed where we once slept together, was cold and the memories of him didn't help to keep me warm at night.

I had enough with this imposed time period of separation. I needed my boyfriend back! Hell, I needed him. I flopped on the bed and felt my tears strolling down my face. It was useless, my brain didn't have control over me. My heart was the one that decided my life.

"Ugh," I growled, placing my pillow over my face. "Embry! Embry you idiot!"

I hated screaming his name and not getting any answer. This loneliness was taking its toll on me. I tried to live like I did before I met him, but it was useless. My growing belly was a sign that it would never be the same.

I tried to spend all my available time with my mother, Mercury, Cheyenne, Elisha and Theo, but I couldn't shake Embry's ghost away from me. He followed me and made me suffer more than the real Embry could. He was punishing me for my mistake and I just couldn't take it. I wanted my Embry Alexis Call. I wanted him!

"That's it!" I shouted, getting up from the bed. "I'm getting that idiot back."

I threw the pillow against the headboard of the bed and reached for the night table to retrieve my journal. He needed to read how suffocating it was to be without him. Yes, he needed to know that he wasn't helping me by being away from me.

I understood his intentions and I swear that I tried to respect them, but that wasn't working. His time away was breaking and tearing up my heart. He was hurting me and there was no way that I could survive another day without him. I walked out of my room, down the narrowed hall and down the staircase, until I stood in the middle of the living room. OK, now where were my keys? Ah, I found my keys next to the coffee table and walked to the door.

I was determined to get my man back! Yes, I was getting him back and if he didn't want to come back home with me, I was moving in with him to his new home.

Truly, there was no use to suffer so much. I asked for his forgiveness and I pleaded with him. I asked him to stay, but he was determined on moving out. What kinda shit was that? He was always in my house, we ate dinner together. We did the same things together… except the things that mattered the most. I needed him desperately. I wanted to kiss his lips every night and touch his body. Oh, his damn body. It had gotten even more perfect.

Shit, working everyday was good for him. He was getting stronger and if I wasn't mistaken, he had grown a couple of inches more. When he would come to visit me, he had to duck just to enter the front door. But it wasn't the same. He always left and that's where I didn't like the way our relationship was going. We were friends. There was nothing that made us lovers. OK, the baby that was growing inside me, indicated that we were once lovers. But, where was the love, the sweet and genuine smiles that he offered me.

I got in my white SUV and ten minutes later, I was parking in Embry's driveway. There were many cars parked too, and the sound of laughter was coming from the front door. Why was he having so much fun, while I was sad and lonely?

I stopped by the door and held my breath most of the pack was in the living room, talking and laughing. I turned around and marched down the porch steps. It was a mistake. Embry was busy and there was no need…

"Hey," I heard a deep husky voice. I trembled as I turned around. "You just got here, don't go."

"You have friends and family over… I don't want to bother you." I said, hiding all my emotions in the front pockets of my pants. "I can come back another day, Em."

"But," he paused and walked down the steps. "You are my family." he smiled. My heart started pounding hard against my chest. I felt my blood pumping through my veins. I felt alive. Damn, idiot! Your smile can resurrect my broken heart.

"I, um, haven't seen you in four weeks." I said, changing the subject. "I mean two weeks!" I laughed nervously. "It feels longer, though. How are you? You look good. Healthy. Strong. Tall. Taller. Word vomit! Stop me, please! Rambling. Nervous rambling."

OMG, shut up! Just pure word vomit coming out of your mouth, Madison!

He laughed and took a step closer to where I stood. "I have been busy, Madie-love." he said, smiling. "Yeah, I have been working hard." he said nervously. "I was going to visit you today."

"I should get going." I said, unable to move from where I stood. "I haven't seen my mother in a while. I should go visit her. Elisha and Cheyenne wanted to go to the movies and invited me." Liar, you barely call your family!

"Oh," he paused. "So, um, you are six months pregnant today?" he asked awkwardly.

I nodded and smiled, placing my hand on my belly. "Six months." I said gawkily.

There was an awkward silence and I just wanted to be able to run, or better yet, waddle towards him. "Oh, um, I have a sonogram picture. I went to the doctor this morning. The baby is still sucking on his thumb. He looks so cute."

"You did! Awesome!" he smiled, taking a step closer to where I stood. "Um, how about you? How are you doing? School? Work?"

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed. "Oh, well, I sort of stopped going to school." I said, smiling mischievously. "I'm being home schooled by my mom."

"Oh, that's, um, good." he gulped. "Aren't you scared that you, um, forget it!"

"Scared of what? That if I go into labor and they smell the blood..." I trailed off.

He played with his hands and looked around nervously. "Yeah, that's what I wanted to asked." he said sheepishly. "But hey, you trust them, right? I should trust your judgment."

"Yeah, even when it doesn't seem coherent, right?" I asked, smiling sarcastically.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked me and gave me a pointed look.

"Ah, um…" I sighed and turned around. "I'll see you around. I think coming here was a mistake."

I walked down the entrance path and down the driveway. I was tired of feeling so incomplete. Oh, damn, I hated feeling so impotent and scared all the time.

I felt his hand on my shoulder and I spun around. Before I could say something, Embry's hands were cupping my face and his lips were against mine. I reached for his face and touched him, unable to believe that I was finally kissing him. He tasted like heaven. I bit his lower lip and savored it. I explored every corner of his mouth with my tongue, until I was satisfied.

"I love you," he whispered against my lip. "Do you still love me?" he asked, pulling away from our kiss.

I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling his face closer to mine. "I never stopped, idiot." I said, a tear streaming down my face.

"Do you want to come in?" he asked me, his hands caressing my back lovingly. I nodded and he took my hand in his and kissed it. "I have a surprise for you. I know that it might not be perfect, but I have been working on this for the last three weeks." he laughed, guiding me towards his house.

"I know that I'll like it!" I said, smiling for the first time in almost three months. "Well," he began and stopped in the middle of the front yard. "It's more of a gift from the pack to you."

"To me?" I asked incredulous.

"Yes, dummy, to you." he laughed heartedly. "It's more from Paul, Seth, Quil and Jake. They were the one that came up with the idea… or concept. I had the idea, but they helped me turn it into a reality."

"Ok, now I am curious." I said, squeezing his hand gently. He bent down and kissed me softly on the lips. I smiled at him and he nodded and together we walked into his living room.

I have never been inside Embry's new house. It was much bigger than mine and our friends fitted perfectly in the living room, without making the place seem small. The sofa, couch and love seat looked new. The kitchen was large and it looked that it had been recently renovated. The color scheme that was in the living room was also in the kitchen and dining room and througout the entire house. The soft cream walls were perfectly painted and the white carpet on the floor matched perfectly.

"What do you think of the house?" Embry asked. Paul, Seth and Kim were trailing after us, as he took me on a tour around his house.

"It's beautiful!" I exclaimed. "Your mother is going to be so happy with her new house! It's beautiful. You guys did an awesome job."

"Well," Paul said arrogantly." I am good at everything I do."

"Shut up, Paul." I heard Rachel, but Embry dragged me into a different room, before I was able to answer.

"Do you like it?" Seth asked, as he took my hand and smiled down at me. I looked around the bathroom and gasped. It was a beautiful bathroom. Everything was perfect.

I smiled at him and then turned to Embry. "You guys should open your own construction company, Em." I said, smiling at him.

"You think?" he asked incredulously and pulled me to him in a sweet hug. "I don't know. I just did this for fun and for…"

"You should." I said honestly, interrupting him. "You are very good at things like this."

"Well, Kim and Emily helped with the color scheme and the kitchen floor pattern. If it was for me, the floor would have been a nasty green color that would destroy the harmony between the rooms of the house." Embry laughed.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head against his chest. "Cool! They should join your company as the designing team."

"That's a great idea!" Kim shrieked.

We continued walking around the house, and I was enthralled with every room. Everything was beautifully coordinated.

"How many rooms does your mom's house have?" I asked, leaning closer to his body as he rocked me gently.

"Three bedrooms and two bathroom." he said softly, as his hands moved up and down my back. "Do you want to see the rooms?" he asked, pushing me away. "There is one in particularly that I want you to see."

"Yeah, let's go!" Seth said excitedly, taking my hand and pulling me away from Embry. "I think it's the best room in the entire house."

I looked back at Embry, before Seth practically dragged me up the stairs. It was difficult to walk at the same speed of a kid with superhuman powers and abilities. I held my stomach and managed to speed walk, but carrying the extra weight wasn't so much fun.

"Seth," I whined. "I can't walk as fast as you. Hello, preggos!" I said, pointing at my stomach.

Seth grinned and slowed down. "Sorry, I forgot."

"How can you forget? The belly is like huge!" I laughed. "You see me all the time!"

Seth shrugged and we walked slowly down the upstairs hall. He stopped in front of a soft blue colored door. He turned around and smiled down at me.

"Madison," he said softly, taking my hand in his. "You are going to have to close your eyes, OK?"

"Why?" I asked, but it was useless. Two large hands covered my eyes and I knew that it was Embry. I could smell his glorious cologne, mixed with the earthy scent that drove me crazy with want. "Embry, don't let me fall!"

"Never." he said gently. There was so much emotion in his voice. I loved him and I always wanted to be with him.

I heard the door being opened and Embry slowly guided me into the middle of the room. "Can I see now?" I said, placing my hands over Embry's hands.

"No, not yet!" Embry laughed softly. He turned me around and then laughed. "Alright, ready, baby girl?"

I nodded happily. I didn't know what the surprise was, but I didn't care. As long as Embry and I were able to be together, I didn't mind what it was. I would love anything that came from him.

The moment my eyes looked into the room, I felt my heart swell with pride. The tears began to fall copiously. All this for me? I didn't deserve it. Not when I had been such a bitch to him!

"I don't deserve this." I cried.

Embry placed his hands on my shoulder and kissed my cheek. "You deserve the world and more." he said, grinning. "Welcome to our baby's room!"

I sobbed, the tears creating a distorted figure of Embry's beautiful face. "It's beautiful." I sobbed, opening my arms to him.

"I told you she was going to cry like a baby." Quil said, extending his hand to Embry. "Pay up, idiot."

"Shut up, Quil." Embry hissed. "I didn't bet on her crying. I knew she was going to. Madison is too emotional."

"You still gotta pay!" Quil laughed.

"So," Embry said, kissing my forehead. "Do you like our new house?" he said, slowly rocking our bodies.

"Our…new…" I sobbed, lowering my head. "But, you needed time away from me…"

He lowered his face to mine and kissed my nose. "And I did. I needed time away to think and to analyze about our future. My mother gave me her house, after I told her that we were going to have a baby. She gave me a sermon about being young and having children, but then at the end, she was ecstatic and happy to be a grandma. This is her gift to you. The room is my gift to you. Madison, I know that we have done everything wrong, according to society standards. We…" he trailed off and looked around us. "Guys, leave, now!"

"Sheesh, talk about being hormonal. Those two are meant for each other." Jake said, as he exited the room.

Embry turned to me and smiled brightly. We kissed for a few minutes. I looked around at the baby's room and furniture. Everything was perfect.

"We made love, before I even knew your name. We moved in together, before even getting married. We have been through so much and yet, we always come back to the same place. At least, I always come back to the same place… to your arms. I have been so caught up in this project. I want us to be happy, together, in this house that saw me grow. I want our child to be raised here. I want us to create a life togehter. Baby girl, in your arms is where I belong, princess."

"I belong in your arms, Embry." I whispered, smiling happily at him.

"Marry me, princess." he whispered, kissing my lips. "Marry me and make me the happiest men in the world."

"Embry," I sobbed, taking his hands in mine and kissing them. "I do."