If that dream had been as powerful I think, Ben would've also experienced it. And now he's definitely not going to touch me even with a ten foot pole.

The thought of facing the day and fake smiling through Duffer's bullshit proved too much, and I found myself calling into take the day off. I need to get to the bottom of this venom dilemma.

Grabbing the remedy books, I headed out in search of Carlisle. This couldn't wait much longer. Luckily, Carlisle had started his own small clinic on Main Street a block from my place. I burst into his office, his assistant, Rhonda trying to stop me.

"I take it that this is urgent.", he said in greeting, gesturing for me to sit down. Pulling the books the books my mother gave me from my bag, I shot him an apologetic nod.

"Sorry for bursting in like this. I hope you can find something in these of use.",I said as I handed them to him. It was still strange to talk to these people, who I had once called bloodsuckers and hated so vehemently. It took everything in me to stamp down the instinctive impulse of saying something rude or sarcastic.

"Yes, I'm sure I'll learn much. I know you don't give this knowledge to a vampire lightly. Thank you for your trust, Leah", he said he examined the worn, leather bound exterior of both journals with avid interest.

"I...thank you, for doing this I mean. It would be kind of hypocritical of me to hold onto my prejudices now, right?", I said sheepishly. This whole nice-Leah thing is just about as awkward and uncomfortable as walking in my Alice's six inch stilettos.

"We're all happy for you, Leah. Truly. Before you go, I would like to get a blood sample from you. I'll get a venom sample from Ben and see how they react together. Is that alright?", he asked politely.

"That's cool, I guess." I said, taking off my thick winter coat and finally taking that seat he had offered earlier.

I left Carlisle's clinic feeling more accomplished than I had in awhile. At the very least I was actively doing something to ensure my happiness, our happiness.

Propelled by this energy, I decided to take a long walk to think about the whirlwind of the past few days. A week ago, the biggest excitement I got was new episodes of Game of Thrones. I considered it a good day if I didn't have a suicidal thought. I had been standing still while everyone around me seemed to be happily flitting by. And it all changed with one glance.

With one glance, I found the love of my life, the hope for children, the drive to push my artistry. Hell, with one glance, I have a sex drive again. As I entered a frost-covered park, I felt a pang of longing in my belly, my thoughts drifting back to the sexual nightmare I had last night.

I've never had a dream that intense, that real before. Never felt pain or pleasure that consuming. It was frightening to say the least, everything I've ever experienced in comparison now seemed numb in comparison. And that had only been a dream…

"Leah!"

A distantly familiar, female voice had pulled me out of my thoughts, like a glass of cold water to the face. I looked to source only to find Emily waving me over. I now noticed the children skating on the natural ice rink in the distance.

Weird. I looked at her face and felt nothing. Well, nothing in comparison to the pure animosity, pure jealousy, pure guilt I used to feel when I saw her. Instead all of those feelings had washed away, leaving behind just sheer awkwardness.

Normally I would've ignored her and kept it pushing, but I found my feet moving towards her on their own accord. Instinct was telling me that this confrontation was necessary, fated even.

"Uh...Hi Emily…", I greeted as I approached her. A soft, hopeful but tentative smile appeared on her face.

"I heard about your imprinting. Is it appropriate of me to offer a congratulations?"

Huh, I had forgotten that little quirk of my cousin's. Growing up she had always been terrified of ruffling feathers and stepping on any toes, she was all passive and without an ounce of aggressive. No wonder she took all of the shit I had hurled at her since she swept in and mistakenly stolen my boyfriend. It must've been her worst nightmare.

"Yeah, thanks. It's...definitely strange…", I began, the intense need to apologize swept over me like a tsunami. I thought about if our situations were flipped and if Ben had been her boyfriend that I had mistakenly imprinted on. I couldn't imagine the thought of giving him up for anyone, and for the first time since imprinting, I remembered how beautiful fucked up this gift/curse is.

"I...I'm sorry for everything, Emily. I didn't fully understand then, but I do now." It was probably the longest sentence I've spoken directly to her since I was 15. How petty of me.

"Oh! Please don't apologize, Le-le!" she immediately responded sweetly. I had forgotten the nickname that she alone was allowed to call me. Horrifyingly, I felt tears sweep up in my eyes. Emily, never missing a beat to hug, quickly pulled me into her embrace. The tears kept a-fucking-flowing. I hadn't cried since, well, I can't remember the last time I had a good, legitimate cry. I couldn't deny how good it felt and I started to laugh. And soon she was too, was swept up in controllable giggles. I'm not sure how long we stayed that way, hugging and crying, but I am sure that all the years of stupidity, on my end, seemed to melt away on that semi-cold moment in the park.

After I said my goodbyes to Emily and her children, my young 'nieces and nephews',I strolled confidently to my apartment. One weight had been lifted from my chest, one that I hadn't realized how heavy it was. I wanted to see him.

I unlocked my phone to find 15 text message notifications, a new record for me. A few from Carlisle saying that he had read through the entire recipe book and didn't find any definitive answers, but something promising. One from Ben, asking whether I wanted to, in the most sarcastic way possible, Netflix and chill, two from Alice about scheduling another make-over and one from Jacob asking me to 'unblock my brain'.

Huh...I hadn't realized it had been locked this whole time, but now that I thought about it, it's definitely been quieter and more peaceful in my head from the moment I imprinted. Don't get me wrong, I still occasionally heard my pack's thoughts, but it had only really been during really salient moments, like Seth stubbing his toe.

Somehow, I instinctively knew how to 'unlock my brain' and I reached out mentally to Jacob.

"What's so important, pin head?",

"Phew! I thought you'd had gone quiet because you'd lost your mind…", Distantly I heard Seth start chuckle at Jacob's words.

"What?! How dare..." I began

"You must've if you hadn't thought to come to Renesme and I about our...intimacy"

"Ew, and officially checking out…", declared Seth's voice.

"I'm with Seth. Jacob, why in all hell would I ask you about...Oh. I'm an idiot."

AN: Shoutout to one anonymous reviewer who knocked a little bit of sense into me, plot-wise! My life has changed so much since I began this story, when I was in undergrad. I've since gone to grad school and now work as an art director, so I'm super busy. But I'm making it a goal of mine to finish all of the stories I began so long ago. I'm starting with this one.