Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga.

He found me on the beach, sitting on my board.

It was three in the morning. I hadn't been home since four that afternoon.

One look in Brady's eyes told me he had been worried sick. I wondered why he hadn't looked here in the first place.

Where else would I be?

But I didn't ask him. I didn't say anything at all. Not even when he sat beside me, slinging his arm over my shoulder and pulling me closer.

He kissed the top of my head, and I could almost feel the relief he felt. I didn't even flinch.

I continued to stare at the crashing waves, my eyes becoming scarily unfocussed.

"Skylar?" He was worried, even more worried than before. I had to smile a little at his concern.

He cared so much. And I knew he cared, I always knew he had. But I didn't know how much. And I don't think I'd ever know how much Brady cared for me.

"Hm?" I turned my head towards him, but didn't take my eyes off the water.

If I wasn't such a sap, I'd probably have run off my now. I could have. Jessie would have been glad to have me over. Probably.

"What's wrong?" Everything around me seemed to freeze as his question left his lips.

What was wrong with me?

There had to be something wrong. Why else would I be sitting on aa beach at three in the morning?

Why would I have willingly run away from the people who loved me the most?

Why would I be hurting myself in the most vicious way possible?

I tore my eyes away from the water and immediately felt vulnerable. Weak.

The water had been my anchor for so long. The water never laughed at me when I fell off my board. It always seemed to shield me from my worldly problems. I always felt so free when I was in the water, like I was on higher ground.

But maybe, I was relying on it too much. Maybe it was time to let go...

I blinked at Brady. "I don't know."

He stared at me, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a tissue. He held it out to me, but I just stared at him like he was crazy. Or maybe I was crazy...

It wasn't until I felt a warm tear drop hit the back of my hand that I took the tissue from him

I was losing it. Or I had already lost it. Who would know?

"Skylar, are you okay?" I balled the unused tissue up in my hand, refusing to look at him.

"No, I'm not. Something's wrong with me. I just..." My voice broke off, and I was sobbing before I knew it.

I wrapped my arms around my shaking body, and Brady wrapped his arms around me.

He murmured words I couldn't understand in my ear.

I knew they were Quilleute and that they were meant to comfort me, but that just made me cry harder.

I didn't deserve Brady, and Brady sure as hell deserved better than me.

Here he was, wasting his life on a girl who was broken beyond repair.

And it took me years to realize just how true that was.

My wounds were too deep.

Deeper than abuse, deeper than losing my brother and deeper than some stupid scar.

I had lost myself, a long, long time ago. Trying to please everyone around me, trying to be the person everyone else needed me to be.

And once I found the person who needed me to be me, I cracked.

Because there was no me.

I was just a shell. Full of different personalities and personas.

But none of those were Skylar.

None.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry," I muttered into Brady's chest, squeezing my eyes shut.

He hugged me closer to himself, stroking my hair.

"You have nothing to apologize for." I didn't respond.

If only he knew. If he only he knew that our whole relationship before coming to California was a lie. Well, almost everything.

"Brady, I love you. I hope you know that whatever happens, I'll always love you. And be grateful for everything you've done for me." I pulled away so I could see his face.

He frowned at me.

"I know you love me." He smiled. "And I know you've been through a lot. But I hope you know that I'll always be there for you. Or at least I hope you know you can't get rid of me." I smiled. A broken, half-hearted smile, but I smiled.

And the way Brady's face lit up when he saw that almost made me want to cry again.

He was the most perfect person I could ever ask to have in my life.

And I honestly hoped I'd never have to lie to him, or anyone again.

"I have something to show you." I frowned, but Brady only smiled, reaching into his back pocket.

He pulled out his phone, switching it one and searching for a picture. He held the screen out to me.

I squinted at the black and white picture. It made little sense to me. Although, it kind of looked like one of this pictures you get after an x-ray.

I stared at Brady questioningly, waiting for him to explain.

He smiled at the picture.

"Sam sent it over a couple of hours ago." I just continued to stare at the picture, unsure as to what that was supposed to mean. "It's the first ultra sound picture." I squinted at the picture, but with new eyes.

I could now see a little peanut shaped outline. I was sure that was the baby... And maybe even the shapes of a pair of arms and legs...

I looked up at Brady again, he was watching me.

"Don't tell Emily, but it's a boy." My face cracked into a smile again.

A boy.

Em was going to be one the most motherly mothers out there. And Sam...

Sam would be the most proud father in the world.

I didn't realize I was crying again until Brady started wiping tears from my face.

I stared at him and he shrugged.

"It seems you don't like tissues, so..." I looked away, at the now lightening sky.

"Emily's going to be so happy."

"I know." I glanced at Brady just as he was looking at me. "Sam wants to retire once the baby's born, become a family man. He says it's going to be like a new beginning for him." I nodded looking away again.

A new beginning... That's exactly what I needed.

"You could have a new beginning too you know." I glanced up sharply at Brady. It was like he could read my mind.

"How?"

"We could go back to La Push, you can stay with me and my mom for a while. Until you're ready to stay with your parents again. I'll protect you Skylar, I swear I will. Just come home with me. Please?" I stared at him for a while, the idea of going home taking root in my mind.

If I left, I'd be leaving my brother and Sonya and the ocean and the sun... There'd be no more surfing, or swimming...

All the things I really loved. But it's not like I'd never see them again.

Maybe Brady was right.

Maybe I should go home.

~MRS*SC~

It was different this time around, going to La Push.

There was no welcome party, Brady made sure of that. He said it would be like I never left.

He drove me to him place in his truck, which was magically waiting outside the airport... But it made me feel at home, I almost didn't want to get out of my seat.

Mrs. Campbell greeted the both of us with hugs and kisses. She was almost in tears when she saw us at the door. It was nice. Being missed.

Kole came over less than five minutes after we arrived, and for the first time ever, he hugged me. He'd been worried. About me. It was weird.

Brady wouldn't let anyone else see me, not even when Danie threatened to break the door down. Not even my parents, not that they even bothered to come over.

Brady told me that they hadn't been told, but I knew how news spread around here. They had probably heard by now.

"So, how do you feel? Being home?" I frowned at him, he hadn't left me alone since we got back. He probably knew how I felt.

"Kind of overwhelmed, but happy. I missed La Push."

"And La Push missed you!" I laughed.

"I love you," I told him, hugging his side.

He chuckled, squeezing me closer to his side.

"I love you too. And welcome home."

I've done it ! *insert Little Giants montage*. You guys have seen that movie, right ?

Anyway, I'm done ! Woo!

Thanks for the reviews and support, this is my fifth completed fanifc, and I think my writing's getting at least a bit better, right ?

Anyway, one last time for Brady & Skylar

Review ?(: