A/N: Thanks for the beta work Ashtwi.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Twilight or its characters. STILL. What gives with that?

Chapter 8 No, Really?

I cradled Nahuel's head against my chest trying to hear his heart beat but I couldn't be sure it wasn't my own. Focus was beyond me, all of my movements seemed sluggish; I couldn't move fast enough. I screamed out of sheer frustration. "Help! Help me dammit!" I could hear thunder in the forest. There was no attempt at stealth, my brothers were coming. Thank God they were coming; the sound took the edge off the hysteria as I tried to keep a clear head.

William's head rolled to his motionless, still standing body. I didn't know if I could put my life down on the cold hard ground to discharge my duty. "Hurry up!" I screamed into the night knowing my cries wouldn't be unheard.

"Come back to me baby! Please wake up!" Pleading with him I rubbed his cheek through the heavy weight of fog surrounding me. My limbs felt heavy, clumsy. I was unable to do anything to save my imprint. I would die right along with him; I couldn't exist if he did not.

Unable to take my eyes off Nahuel, I noted the arrival of Carlisle, Edward, Jasper and Emmett by scent and sound. Carlisle crouched beside me, putting his hand on my shoulder. I didn't bother to shrug against his chilly touch, it offered comfort where none was to be had.

Carlisle spoke in his gentle manner, "Leah. Leah, look at me." How could he be so calm? Didn't he see the world was about to end?

I lifted my head slowly to meet Carlisle's golden gaze, "You have to save him."

"He's fine, truly he is." Carlisle was gentle but firm.

"He sure as hell doesn't look fine!" My words came out with rather less force than I intended.

The packs arrived at the scene: Jacob and Seth from my pack and Sam, Jared, Brady and Colin from the other pack. Sam and Jacob phased with no thought of modesty as they crowded beside me to peer at Nate.

"He's just asleep Leah. His thoughts are consistent with deep sleep." Edward Cullen, walking MRI spoke.

"Then why won't he wake up?" I shook him gently hoping for some sign of life that those of us without superpowers could sense. "Please wake up." I pleaded desperately with Nate's limp body.

"This is how he sleeps. He was past due for a rest period but he couldn't bear the idea of you being alone on patrol. He's pushed himself too far but he's going to be fine." Edward's tone was soothing yet cocky and I longed to believe him.

Nate's words played back in my head, 'You will never face anything alone again'. I didn't realize he meant it in such a literal sense.

"So he's just tired. Are you sure he's gonna be okay?" It was hard to believe this was normal.

"It is normal for him. He wouldn't normally stretch his limits this far but what you see is only exhaustion," Carlisle confirmed. He gave my shoulder a quick, cold, gentle squeeze before getting to his feet. "I promise you he will be fine."

"Jake, you can't let him continue going on patrols. He's a liability we can't afford." Sam's grave bass rumbled in my ear.

My head whipped to my own alpha who simply nodded, considering Sam's point. Men are so dense, Nate might run with my pack but he didn't answer to an alpha. What were they going to do? Close the forest? I wanted to rip Sam a new one but that could come later. Nate was my priority now; I needed to get him off the cold forest floor. I adjusted my hold to stand with him when two hot hands pinned me back to the forest floor.

"Seth! Grab Leah's bag will you?" Jacob called out in a panicked tone. Naked. I kinda hadn't noticed. Seth tore himself away from the William and unnamed consort fire to toss my bag over. Jake poked in the bag delicately as though a stray tampon might attack, "Um Leah, what do you want to wear?"

Did he think I had a special preference for when I'm naked and surrounded by men and/or monsters? "I don't care, whatever, just grab the first thing." He held out the slim blue skirt from earlier. "That's not going to work. Get a dress, something loose."

Jake grumbled and went back into the bag. "Why didn't you just say that when I first asked?"

Sam fingered his chin and gave me that look, the look that said 'I really dodged a bullet; I could have been stuck with that crazy bitch. Thank the gods for Emily'. I assumed that's what the look still meant; he used to think it or a variation at least daily when I ran with his pack. He was sweet and kind at first but after my telling everybody how he never once got the hang of an unguided entrance his attitude changed. Still, I contend hoohahs don't move, they are remarkably stationary. Out of frustration I once offered to get him a flashlight and a compass. Trying to make him hate me didn't help me love him less, but it did decrease his guilt; it was a victory of sorts. The involuntary comparisons of his sweet wonderful Emily versus the mouthy bitch Leah did however make Leah all the more mouthy and bitchy.

Jake held up a dress for my acceptance. It wasn't ideal but whatever, I would take it. This situation was becoming more awkward by the second.

"That won't do Jacob." Jasper abandoned the fire to help intensify the weird. "She needs something she can slip over her head." Jasper took the bag from Jacob, "I'm sure Alice packed something that would work better." He gave the black dress Jacob was holding a look of dismissal. A fashionista's husband would take dress selection far too seriously. To dial up the weird, after Jasper chose my dress he proceeded to dress me, pushing the dress over my head. "Now put your arm up. Now the other one. Sam, you or Jake hold Nahuel for a moment while Leah gets to her feet." Inner Leah was confused as to what the hell was going on, she wanted me to react but instead I complied docily. Inner Leah was so disappointed in me.

"We aren't sure but it appears to affect her too." Edward spoke to who knows who.

Sam took Nate from my arms which I guess was fair since he had already seen the goods. I laughed out loud at my lame mental joke. I was losing it. Did Jasper Cullen really just dress me?

"You're just a little disorientated. We'll help you back to the house." Edward was addressing me now; I was sure of it...almost. My dress fell beautifully to my knees. Kudos to Alice for knowing what to wear when you find yourself naked and surrounded by men at a vampire burning party.

The next morning I awoke in the golden bedroom that was beginning to feel more and more like mine. The trip back to the house last night was a complete mystery. Someone had put us to bed and thoughtfully opened the window letting in a pleasantly chilly breeze. Nate was next to me, curled on his side sleeping soundly. He looked rather sweet, not at all like the deadly killing machine I knew him to be. I ran my fingers over the smooth skin of his face, tracing each of his features before kissing his forehead, then the tip of his nose, and finally letting my lips linger lightly on his. I curled into him, hugging him tight and just lay there accepting that wake up sex was not on the menu this morning. Bummer.

I finally understood why Huilen had to stick so close all these years. Nate was completely defenseless when he rested; left unattended he was a vampire meal waiting to happen. The thought of a vampire finding him prone and unable to defend himself gave me chills and triumph simultaneously. Nate needed me, not that I did much last night, but still, it gave me a real purpose in his life.

I had to be thankful that he and I were still alive. There was no excuse for me to let my guard down. We would have to work in private time to talk some other way but I wasn't sure how. Privacy would never be had in this house where you couldn't hear a pin drop due to someone hearing it move through the air and intercepting it like an hour before it hit the floor.

UGH! This would be so much easier if he could come home with me. Mom worked and Seth went to school, immediately followed by his daily Cullen devotional time. We would have plenty of time to actually talk at my house; heck it was empty right now. I lay there thinking of new things to stress about. I needed a job. Nate needed a job. Would Nate ever fit in? If I stopped phasing could I have his baby? Was he even capable of fathering children? Did he even want offspring? If I stopped phasing who would keep him safe when he slept? Round and round the worry go round whirled in my head until I finally had enough.

I sprang from the bed, trying to escape my circuitous thoughts. I let my eyes caress my angel, his lips were parted softly and his inky black wavy hair fanned out on the pillow. My vicious sleeping angel. In the adjoining bathroom I showered and dressed from the magically bottomless bag. I choose the zip up dress Jasper rejected last night. When I returned to the room the bed beckoned, looking warm and inviting. I could climb back in, curl up beside Nate and wait for him to wake up but who knew how much longer that would be. He was dead to the world and I needed some answers.

I headed downstairs to find a know-it-all vamp who would give me the answers I needed. Tickles wouldn't work with then but I suppose I could threaten to never leave their humble abode...hmm, that might be playing right into Esme's hands though.

"Good morning Leah. Sleep good?" Jake was sprawled on the sofa watching television.

"Jake, do you ever go home? Yeesh, Nessie isn't even over here yet." Threatening to never leave wouldn't work. Jake never threatened, he just didn't go anywhere and everyone seemed fine with it except Rose but hell, she didn't seem fine with anything except Nessie.

Jake rolled his eyes at me. "I could say the same for you but I'm actually here for you this time. You know, keep an eye on you and your imprint, and make sure you guys are okay." Jacob straightened up on the sofa, sliding over I presumed to make room for me but I really needed to talk to a Dr. Cullen, any Dr. Cullen.

"I guess we'll be fine." Did he really want to get chatty now? I glanced around and listened for turning book pages or any sign that might be a Carlisle clue. "Hey, I was hoping to run into Edward or Carlisle. You seen either of them? I have a few questions."

Jake patted the empty spot on the huge white sofa; it was an order of sorts. Ungraciously I settled on the other end. "Ask me anything, we didn't talk about anything else when we came back to the house. Which reminds me, we need to cover a new rule. No sexing on patrol. It's official." Jake didn't slip into the treble, there was nothing he abhorred more than robbing us of our free will, but I would obey him nevertheless. "You let your guard down and that cannot happen again."

I nodded with understanding and a pinch of shame. "Understood. You...you aren't going to go along with Sam's demand about Nate are you?"

"Nah, of course not. Nahuel's not a liability; he's an asset to our squad. Sam's probably just jealous, ignore him. I'm your Alpha right? You can disregard him. Okay?" Jake flexed his shoulders instinctively bristling at the idea Sam had any authority over his pack. Take that Sam! My alpha was the coolest.

"Easily done," I nodded. "But I need to find out how often Nate goes down dead to the world and how long he's gonna be out."

"Every 14 to 21 days" Jake answered me proudly. "Told you, I got all the deets. You know I got your back. He's usually unconscious for ten hours, fourteen max."

"Do you want a cookie?" I arched an eyebrow at his stellar student performance.

"Sure, now that you mention it, chocolate chip or peanut butter. Do you want my info or not?" The cookie was sounding rather good right about now. Esme did say she would put some brownies aside for me. I might have to go sniff them out unless the black hole on the sofa next to me got to them already.

"I suppose you'll do since there's no one qualified around." I glance around hoping to spot a stray Cullen; I would even settle for Emmett right about now, he might heckle me but I could give as good as I got. "How long has he been up this time?"

"Qualified?" Jacob scoffed. "I know as much about half-vampires as anyone else around here. He was going on about 25 days this stretch. He was worn out but I guess too excited to sleep. The confrontation, meeting the Cullens and Nessie, the whole Leah experience, there's been a lot going on for him." Jake looked me directly in the eye, "Going forward I expect you to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't over do it."

Jake was really assuming his alpha mantle, making me somewhat proud to be his beta. "Done. Anything else I should know?"

"Probably." Jake shrugged and slouched back into the sofa, "That's the important stuff though." I struck pride from the record.

"Probably? What kind of answer is that?"

"Chill Leah, they kept talking and talking after that about brain waves, circadian rhythms, dreams - he dreamed of you by the way but Edward wouldn't say what, and they just kept going on and on. Did you want to hear all of that?"

"Jake, if it was about you, then no, but Nate's my imprint. If it were Nessie wouldn't you want all the details? Even the stuff you didn't understand?"

"Yeah, I would," he admitted sheepishly, or as sheepish as a wolf gets. Damn right he would. His head used to be full of Nessie's undecipherable medical details. He worried, we worried. We all Googled our asses off trying to figure out what no one could understand. Nate changed that for us too, in his brief testimony he removed the uncertainty from Nessie's future. Even on the field of battle we were all relieved.

I wasn't going to get anything else from Jacob. "Where are the Cullens anyway?" They don't make much in the way of noise but the house felt empty.

"Oh, do you care?" Jake teased me.

"Come on man, I need some answers."

"I know you're all a flutter with why little Nahuel is sleeping but you know there are more serious matters to consider."

My mind hadn't shifted from Nate and his well being since I woke up. "Like what?"

"Leah, two nights in a row you ran into two separate vampire attacks. Don't you think that merits some attention?"

Now that Jacob mentioned it, it did seem odd. I didn't really think we would encounter anything last night, or to be honest, even the night before. "Yeah. What gives?"

"Last night Edward... I wish that dude had a nickname... Anyway, Edward read some of the stuff going through the minds of the two you and Nahuel took down last night. Nahuel was right. They're coming for sport. The vamp world knows the pack is here and they have nothing better to do but come test us."

"Of course Nate was right." I hadn't even considered doubting him. Although I should question why he would expect such a thing to come to pass. "Hey, I thought those vamps got burned right away?"

"Pssh, what do you really remember? You were totally out of it. You fell asleep standing up right after you said, "Don't you dare put panties on me Jasper Cullen." Jake mimicked my voice as though I spoke in a really bad southern accent. Seriously, where did he come up with that crap? "They burned the bodies right away but Jasper and Emmett set the heads aside for Edward to 'question' or whatever it is they call it. Edward's concerned about what he saw. Most of them are out scouting the area beyond the normal patrol area now. Carlisle is at the hospital and Esme's around here somewhere. Bella and Ness are at the cottage."

I would wait for Edward or Carlisle to talk in more depth, besides, I had as much non-Nate time as I could stand for the time being. In the interest of being cool I managed to sit there another ten seconds fidgeting before I announced, "I'm gonna run up and check in on Nate. I'll be right back."

Jake looked incredulous, "Are you really gonna go peek at him, pull his covers up, and make sure he's still breathing?"

It sounded silly when he said it but since I was still going, I had to respond. "You do it for your imprint!"

"My imprint is an actual baby in case you hadn't noticed."

"Dude, maybe two months ago but she's like a regular kid now, just in case you hadn't noticed."

"So? She's still just three months old, that's a baby no matter where you are. Nate's like a 150 years old, I'm sure he can sleep on his own."

"Nessie is almost four months old and if you hadn't noticed in Forks, four months is the new 5 years old. Besides, did you see him last night? He can't sleep on his own, he's far too vulnerable. So like I said, I'm gonna go check on my imprint."

Whirling on my left foot, I dashed up the stairs. Nate was sprawled on his back, still knocked out but he had at least moved. Seeing his chest rising and falling steadily made me feel better. The open window I was thankful for earlier now gave me a reason to worry; Nate's scent would carry on the breeze. Surely a vampire wouldn't be so bold as to come to the Cullen house. Alice would be on top of the whole peninsula today but she couldn't see the damn house with me and Nate here. But with the Cullens out there in the forest nothing would slip by, right? I mean, if it wasn't safe would Jake be here with Nessie at the cottage? But it's Jake, what does he know about these things? I looked out the window, over the river, gazing into the dense forest wondering what could be lurking out there. What the hell was wrong with me? I slammed the window down; tempest in a teapot averted.

Jake hadn't moved an inch when I plopped back down on the sofa. "Was your baby okay?" Jacob smirked at me.

I answered him as though it were a serious question. "He's good. I put his window down to keep his yummy smell inside," totally downplaying how worried I was about it.

"So, um Jake, do you ever think about Nessie growing up?" I returned to comparing my imprint to his. Jacob had seven years to wait on a proper imprint relationship. Nate and I had a thirty second courtship, maybe. Seven years was comparably a lifetime.

Jake swung his head around to look at me, "Yeah I thought about it, but I try like hell not to. It makes me throw up just a little in the back of my throat. Bleck! One day it's supposed to change but right now the idea makes me nauseous." Jake actually looked a little green around the gills. "For now Ness is my baby, I couldn't love her more than if I had given birth to her myself."

I rolled my eyes at that, talk about overstatement. Jake caught my look, "Don't laugh, it is like that and me giving birth is just as irrational as her being her in the first place. I love her with everything that I am but the idea that I will love her a different way...in a 'like that' way. Man, it creeps me out more than the Dracula twins. More than that time I walked in on my sister and Paul...Blech!" Jake shut up and collapsed back into the sofa with one hand on his stomach. I warred between offering comfort, which I didn't know how to do, or I could use this as mental leverage in my never ending campaign to get him to go back to school. I chose mental leverage. I was thinking of how to best phrase the nag while Jake blankly stared at the huge screen in front of us. Suddenly he blurted out, "WE WILL NEVER SPEAK OF THIS AGAIN." Dammit, he went Alpha on me.

Okay, that topic was off limits for now and forever more. "Hey, do you think Esme would mind if I cooked myself some breakfast?"

"Nah, she wouldn't mind at all but she might be offended if you didn't let her cook for you." There was a hint of a warning in his tone.

"Why does it matter? It feels weird enough as it is, I don't want to mooch off them."

"Leah, have you ever asked any of them for anything ever?"

"Well, no. But still Jacob, it feels wrong."

"Let it go. You may as well. I'll let you in on a little secret." Jake waved me in close and put his lips practically on my ear. "Esme loves you."

"What the hell?" I jumped back.

"Be cool, it's not like that." Jake shuddered. "It's her vampire gift or weakness or however you see it. She loves us. My whole pack and my sister too." Rachel and Esme were something of shopping buddies. Rachel worked in Port Angeles and Esme shopped there frequently. Rachel, having balls of steel, made herself known to Esme. Paul didn't like it but that didn't hold sway with Rachel. She wore the apron in that family and with a wolf, she who held the spatula held the power. "She can't help it; we're here like all the time. She doesn't normally get to know people so well but she didn't stand a chance with us here so much. Tread carefully. Okay?"

My life was getting stranger in leaps and bounds. "Don't let it get to you, pretend they're family." Jacob stopped flipping through the channels settling on the History Channel.

"Really? Dude, the History Channel?"

"Sam rubs off after a while and this Navajo Code talker episode is pretty interesting." Jacob defended his viewing choice. The History Channel was Sam's network of choice and if he saw something particularly interesting he shared it with the pack. Enforced education. It gave a new meaning to my Grandma's phrase 'I'm gonna learn you something'. Sam learned us something all the time and not just which stroke Emily preferred, typically it was history. The Jake experience was different; I had a new found appreciation of fine automobiles and motorcycles to prove it.

"It never rubbed off on me and he tried to indoctrinate me for years." I shuddered just thinking about those long afternoons and evenings I spent by his side being bored into a coma.

Eventually I made it to the kitchen where I let Esme cook a huge meal for me. I could only assume Edward had a talk with her about portion size. She sat with me the entire time I ate; her eyes watched each forkful travel to my mouth. Either she was eating vicariously through me or she had poisoned me and was making sure I got my dose. She questioned me minutely about the flavors and textures, wanting to make sure everything came out just right. I would never understand what motivated vampires.

With my shoulders set and in my best beta voice I told Esme I would be cleaning the kitchen and lo and behold she allowed it, although she insisted on helping. While wiping the counter-top down I worked up the nerve to ask, "Esme, why do you take such an interest in me? Not that you aren't nice to all of us, it's just that you seem to be especially interested in me." She busily taught the boys manners from a bye gone era but she seemed to choke with pleasure anytime I allowed her to do anything for me.

Esme stopped in the middle of bagging the trash to cover my hand with hers, kinda gross but I didn't snatch my hand away. Note to self, vampires don't worry about germs. She studied our hands touching for a moment. I ignored my discomfort in the face of her obvious satisfaction. "We took everything from you dear, just by being here. All the things a girl looks forward to; getting married, having children and a home of your own to care for." She looked so serious that I dared not to giggle. Everything a girl looked forward to more than fifty years ago...or eighty rather if I had my vampire facts correct. She truly was from a different time. I looked forward to going to college to party but to be perfectly honest I hadn't mapped my life out before wolfing out. Even when Sam and I had been hot and heavy I hadn't given a lot of thought to china patterns and baby names. I wanted a kick ass wedding and that was as far as I had gotten.

"It's okay Esme, really. I'm fine. I do have Nate now and you know that changes things."

"Nahuel does change everything. Unlike your brothers you won't grow old, you will choose to keep phasing to be with him. Like us you will remain frozen in time forever. What about children, Leah? It may seem easy now but I didn't get over losing my son and Rose has never gotten over the babies she couldn't have. The price has been too high for you." Esme's amber eyes were full of self-loathing and now I felt bad for her sadness over turning me into a freak of nature. Maybe I could teach her to blame Bella too. Nah, then she would feel even worse. I chose a different tactic.

I borrowed Mom's material, the material she used to put my self-pity into perspective, "I am Quileute," I started Esme on the Leah experience, keeping my tone grave. There was no point in telling her that mostly I'm not, three quarters of me is Makah but that quarter Quileute was a real kicker. I had spent most of life tuning out when Daddy started droning on and on about our proud heritage and forcing me and Seth and even Emily to take Quileute language classes at the community center during the summers.

After an appropriately dramatic pause I continued. "My blood calls me to defend this land and these people. What is the price I paid compared to all the families that lost loved ones to the red-haired witch? You don't know how many times I asked myself 'what if I phased sooner'. I just know I would have been fast enough to catch her." Yeah I could have caught her but I don't know what I would have done with her. I was beginning to think combat wasn't my forte. "What if we could have stopped her before the blood bath in Seattle? What is my price compared to the suffering she caused? I don't regret what I am; I only regret that it didn't happen sooner."

I laid it on thick, the same way Mom had given it to me. She made me feel petty and small about losing my hair of all things. That's what I was crying about when she came into my room while I tried to style my raggedly cut hair into something presentable. Making an enemy of Delores, Sam's mother, and the only beautician on the reservation had not been a good move. Sam didn't inherit her skill; he gave me the same cut he gave the boys but longer so the chopped with axe effect was a lot more noticeable.

Mom showed me the obituaries of the hikers and vacationers who had been lost right here in our own backyard; we didn't know the connection with Seattle at the time. She read each one aloud to me and made me see them as people whom I could have personally saved. Mom wielded the guilt like a sword, cutting me down to size. Mom evened up my jagged edges and in a show of support, she had her hair cut severely short but perfectly styled. After all she wasn't the one who spread hateful rumors about Delores' son. That conversation changed my perspective and it seemed to work on Esme too. She looked at me with slightly less sad eyes and smiled a long suffering smile before patting my hand. She took the garbage out and I washed my hands and finished wiping down the kitchen.

Eventually the Cullens came in from scouting. They didn't find anything interesting or helpful. Carlisle assured me I wouldn't always collapse when Nahuel did. He was sure it was only because Nate was exceptionally tired and his system was dangerously close to shutting down. I was alarmed, "Shutting down as in death? You didn't mention that last night!"

"It would have hardly been the time or place," he justified. I began to think lying is a vampire reflex. "I believe at most he would have slipped into a coma which he would have recovered from in time, but the truth is Leah, I can't be certain." Like Jacob had in the morning, Carlisle charged me with monitoring Nate to make sure he got his proper rest. I couldn't imagine anything more important.

I made the journey up the stairs about a million times, talked to Emily on the phone to let her borrow a pair of my fuckawesome shoes from the Alice collection and had a quick functional chat with Mom when she called to check on Nate's condition. Of course she knew about his collapse but it wasn't the wolf network this time; Carlisle told her about it at the hospital. Even vampire men gossip.

"Leah!" the sweetest voice called out. Nessie was excited to see me when she ran into the house early in the afternoon. She hurled herself into me with not inconsiderable strength. I was winded but I didn't want to show it. A few coughs escaped before I could speak though.

"You're awfully happy to see me. Does this mean you want to play dolls?" I took her hand to lead her to the toy box. Playing dolls would be a welcome change to being worried. I was really close to seeing if I could get my hands on a baby monitor.

"I do, I do! I thought of names for my dolls!" She glanced up at me, smugness and excitement warred on her tiny face.

We settled on our knees in front of the toy box before taking out the two Barbie dolls we played with last night. "This one can be Elizabeth Bennett," she held up the brunette Barbie, and then held up the blonde one, "and this one can be Jane Bennett."

"Like Pride and Prejudice?" She nodded with enthusiasm. What the child lacked in creativity she made up for in knowledge of the classics. Playing with Ness was a wonderful distraction. With her little hand on my face, Nessie shared her imagination. It was the coolest immersion experience ever. Our dolls walked and talked and interacted in a world of Nessie's creation, it was her version of 17th century England which looked a lot like the Pacific Northwest. Being Barbie dolls they still couldn't bend their elbows but Disney had nothing on animation Nessie Cullen style. Would there be any reason to tell Jacob that Mr. Darcy, the romantic hero, was a hell of a lot taller and darker than Jane Austen ever intended? Heck, I could tell him; there was no danger of that high school dropout knowing what I meant. He might not be thinking about Ness growing up but it was already on her mind. Playtime was the perfect soothing balm until Bella took her off to try coercing food into her.

Pretty soon my pack streamed in after school to take their places around the television. Each of them asked about Nahuel as though they didn't know nothing had changed. They didn't fool me but it was nice to know they cared. I resolved to go back up stairs and climb back in bed with Nate when Sam and Emily arrived. Sam and Emily!

"I thought this was an exclusive hang out, looks like they're letting any old riff raff in." Quil greeted Sam from across the room when Carlisle opened the door.

"I'm taking Emily out tonight to Port Angeles and thought we would check on Nahuel's condition on the way. Has there been any change?" Sam spoke in his formal tones to Carlisle, ignoring Quil, pretty much like everyone else did. Nate had exceeded his maximum time of about fourteen hours and was going on sixteen; it was the elephant in the room no one had spoken of. Carlisle shook his head in answer to Sam.

I focused on Emily instead, "Looking good Ms. Young." I held her at arm's length, admiring her sweater and skirt ensemble instead flinging myself into her arms to whine like I longed to do.

She laughed, "It's the shoes." My ever modest Emily replied poking her toe out to show me my black pumps.

"No, it's not," I insisted, although they did look good on her. Shoes were the only thing we could share now. We used to be the same size but I gained three inches in height and went two sizes in muscle mass. She was slender and graceful and I was what Amazons aspired to be.

Emily arched one eyebrow at my fake ass smile, "Lee, what's wrong?"

"I'm worried about my imprint of course but he's just sleeping. There really isn't anything to stress about," I lied, vampire ways rub off after a bit. I had to downplay my concern because if I didn't, Emily would cancel her plans to hold my hand until the crisis was over. "I'm sure he'll be up before too long. Now enough about me. What's got you so happy?" For once I tried to not make things all about me.

"Sam and I set a date!" Emily couldn't suppress her excitement. "We're going out to celebrate. I won't be 'Ms. Young' much longer."

"Hey, that's fabulous! When?" Not even a twinge of pain remained to trouble me from my past. It was plainly obvious what the catalyst was for Sam and Emily to finally set a wedding date so I felt a little guilt, but no pain.

"April..."

"LEAH!" Nate's voice rent the relative peace of the house. I whipped around without apology to fly to his side.

Again my breath was knocked out of me by a half vampire as Nahuel collided into me wrapping his arms around me tightly as I barely managed to remain upright. He dropped to one knee and forced my shirt up; thank goodness it was a bra day. "You...you are unharmed." He ran his finger tips along my rib cage studying me for damage.

"Well sure," I could barely remember sustaining the injury when the vampire raked her nails down my sides. Her tiny nails on my massive wolf body did little damage especially when compressed down as I phased. The resulting injury didn't even leave a scar. I removed the bandages in the shower because I am a wuss about bandages. "The healing comes with the shapeshifting gig. See? I'm perfectly fine."

He got to his feet but didn't release his hold on my ribcage, his fingers still searching for any sign of damage. "You're fine now! Leah what were you thinking? You were in no way prepared for combat last night!"

Wasn't he stealing my line? I tried to keep a rational mind about it, which was hard because I was pretty sure I wasn't the one who fell asleep mid-fight. "What are you talking about?"

"You charged that vampire with no thought of defense! You could have been killed! I insist you give up these patrols. You are unskilled in the ways of combat."

Jacob and Sam, who were prepared to be entertained spectators, reacted. Jacob got to his feet and joined us by the door in a flash but Sam was the first to speak, "Hold on a minute there..."

Nate didn't let him finish, "Why is she not better prepared to fight?" He was incensed, his voice was louder than I had ever heard it. "Why has she not been adequately trained?"

"You fell asleep in the middle of a fight and you criticize Leah's skill?" Jacob was incredulous.

"I fell asleep but not before annihilating the threat. Leah attacked an unknown vampire in a full frontal attack leaving herself completely open. You two have much to answer for!"

"I trained Leah myself." Sam defended, his hostility growing. Emily slipped behind Sam, she never forgot herself when wolves got angry. I broke the painful grip Nate held on my ribcage before he gave me the injury to justify his over-reaction. I planted my hands fully on his chest to keep him from advancing.

"You didn't do a good job!" Nate gave no quarter, his muscles tensed beneath my hands. He was ready to spring. "Were you trying to get rid of her?" Good gracious those were fighting words.

Before Sam could react Emily grasped his ear in a death grip from behind, snatching his head back at an awkward angle.

Nate scoffed, "Even she knows to attack from the back." Sam fumed but didn't say another word. Emily had pretty much neutralized him. He vowed to never lose control around her but she wasn't taking any chances. I would have laughed but Nate's pointed look at my frontal attack stifled the urge.

"Nahuel, what's your problem dude? Why the hostility?" Jacob tried to be the voice of reason. He held his hands palms out in the universal, 'we don't want any trouble' gesture.

Nate was not appeased, "Right before my eyes Leah could have died because she obviously does not know how to fight."

"We spar all the time. Leah is just as good as anyone in the pack." Jacob insisted. We did work out a lot in anticipation of the Volturi invasion but all of us had been slacking off this week with the crisis over.

"That speaks poorly of your whole pack, and when do you spar? I have not seen this sparring except on the television screen. You do understand that will not help you in an actual fight."

"I admit we don't practice as much since the Volturi have come and gone but we do practice, mostly on the reservation though. Wouldn't want vamps, even the Cullens seeing our super secret moves." Jacob smiled a little still trying to diffuse the situation.

"You are sparring only against each other?" Nate's response was bitingly derisive. "You are not under attack from werewolves! How exactly is that supposed to help?"

"We can't practice with the Cullen's. The natural animosity would be too much even in friendly sparring. Someone could get hurt." Jacob answered rationally.

"Natural animosity? Natural animosity!" Nate's right hand swept to take in Embry, Quil, Seth and even Kara crowded on the sofas with Emmett and Jasper. "You are here more than Carlisle!" Nate jerked his thumb towards the silent Carlisle still hovering at the door wearing the observational study-mode expression. "Natural animosity. I have seen no evidence of..." And he was gone with one word echoing in the wind of his departure, "Coffee."

"What the hell just happened?" Jacob was the first to speak in the now silent room.

Emily released Sam's ear and took his hand. "Sam and I are going to go now." Emily scuttled out the door dragging Sam, who looked at me with a face full of thunder. Lord knows what he thought I had been telling Nate. Em gave me a look of sympathy and amusement.

"Please come again," Carlisle called out at Sam and Emily's retreating backs. The whole room observed a moment of silence to try and decipher what happened.

Carlisle took the first crack at it, he started off slowly, ponderously, "Huilen mentioned something about Nahuel being at his most dangerous when he first awakens but..." Carlisle fell silent when Nate strolled back into the room carrying a huge steaming white mug.

"Please forgive me. I'm not quite myself until I've had my first cup of coffee." He sipped from the mug and rejoined the fracas he started, slipping his free hand around my waist as though he hadn't just accused Sam of trying to get me killed.

"Huilen mentioned that you liked your coffee ..." Carlisle trailed off because there really are no words for a caffeine addicted vampire.

"This is true. There is nothing like the first cup of coffee to get the day started right. This is not what I usually drink, but at least it's Columbian. It will suffice." Nahuel took a gulp and inclined the cup at Edward who smiled slyly as he joined us in the room. "Thank you Edward. Your mind reading does come in handy."

Nate turned his now warm and open gaze on Jacob, "Now where was I? I forget how truly young you all are. I will be training Leah myself from now on. Last night was the most terrifying experience of my long life and I never wish to see the like again." He drained the cup. "Now come along Beautiful, I need to retrieve my belongings from Oregon, I believe it was." Nate didn't give anyone including me time to react. He whisked me out the front door and off to Oregon. Oregon?