'Information is the resolution of uncertainty.'

Claude Shannon

"So what do you think?"

I blinked, peering at Red over the top of the shower curtain. "About what?"

"Christmas? It's in five days. I'm up to my ass in cookies, if you haven't noticed." She sighed, smiling exasperatedly. Doing a quick mental countdown, I frowned. How had December 20th come so quickly. "Helena wants to do Christmas at her house. With Charlie and um...Michelle, Embry, andyourdad." She looked away, but the foggy mirror betrayed her nervous expression.

I sighed. I knew what she said, of course. I'd long-since become an expert in Red Mumble Speak. Still. "Excuse me? What was that last part? I missed it."

Glaring weakly, she huffed. "Helena wants to invite Joshua to spend Christmas with the girls. Just dinner, she promised. She said you guys have morning traditions. Honestly if I hadn't come to Christmas dinner at Billy's when I was younger, I would have assumed you didn't celebrate it either."

"Eh. Christmas is less offensive to our people and shit. Red..." Instinctively, I wanted to say no with my usual resolution when it came to Red. But then I caught sight of Red brushing her teeth in the mirror, wearing nothing but the leather cuff on her left ankle and couldn't.

She sighed, and nodded as if that was answer enough. "Alright. Didn't think it would hurt to ask." I wasn't surprised she let it go so easy; Red knew when to let shit go.

"M'not buying him a gift," I grumbled, squawking girlishly when she tore back the shower curtain, pausing only to tug the cuff off so it wouldn't get wet. "Whoa, Red. Not that I'm adverse to a naked, wet you, but this shower is small."

"Shut up. You're really trying with your dad, and I am just...I know you don't like him and he makes you mad, but you're trying Sam. I think if he sees you trying hard, he will too. You're being the bigger man, and...well. I'm just proud of you, I guess." She dropped to her knees, hands running down my thighs. "You deserve like, a gold star or something."

Instead of a gold star, Red gave me a blow job. A man could get really used to the reward system.

Later on, as we cleaned the water off the floor, Red smirked. "Somehow, I don't think that's what your mom meant when she suggested how to convince you."

I lurched upright, banging my head on the exposed ceiling beam. "What?" The idea that my mother had anything to do with the very first blow job Red had ever given -very first, very sloppy, wet, noisy, awesome and all mine blowjob- disturbed me deeply.

Snorting, Red grabbed a towel of the back of the toilet. "She uh...she told me to blow you and then ask you but I couldn't work up the nerve. Also, your mother is really comfortable talking about your sex life. More comfortable than me, and it's my sex life too. "

Boggling a little, I'm sure I looked like a spastic owl as I blinked at her. "Yeah well...you seemed to work up the nerve! Oh my God." A thought occurred to me, a horrible, awkward thought. "Red, did my mother give you blowjob tips?"

Red's face flushed, even beneath the faint pink left from the heat of the shower. "Uh..."

Cringing, I couldn't help the horrible, crawly sensation that skittered over my skin. "That is so wrong. There are so many things wrong with that. Best blow job ever and you ruined it by...dear God, that was my mother's blow job." I was pretty sure I was going to be sick. Beyond that, the pack would probably never let me live it down. Quil already had an unhealthy obsession with my mother; this wasn't going to help.

"Hey!" Red snapped, throwing her towel at me. It was a testimony to my distraction that I didn't bother to catch it. "I'm pretty sure it was my mouth on your cock and if you ever want it to happen again, you can just get over your mom...um. Yeah. Telling me things. Look! It's not like I have a lot of female friends! When she suggested I do that...I uh...I told her how I'd never done it before and she just got...really forthcoming. Your mom is...yeah. You don't need to know. You know how your mom gets when she's on a roll! You can't shut the woman up."

Grimacing, I shook my head, still unable to form words. "Gah."

To my horror, Red pouted. Full on lash-fluttering, lip-out pouting. It was adorable and effective. "It wasn't like I could even do half the things she said. Honestly, half her suggestions went out the window as soon as my knees hit the floor. I did alright, though? I mean, I don't have any experience, and you're awesome at everything you d-"

The insecurity sealed it for me, and I was on her in a second, pulling her up into my arms. "It was awesome; you are awesome. Seriously. The only thing that can really go wrong during a blow job is too much teeth." Carrying her out of the bathroom, we puttered naked down the hall. "I have no complaints, Red. You took it like a champ. Plus, I have...you know...an unusually large dick."

"Not so unusual around these parts I'm sure."

"Hey!" My mouth fell open, indignant at my manhood being challenged. "I'll have you know, I am the biggest wolf in the pack, little Red."

Red snorted. "I've seen Jake and he's almost as big as you."

"What?" Thoroughly derailed, I nearly dropped her, stumbling into the wall instead. My fingers clenched on her ass as I gripped her tighter against me. "When did you...how did I not...What do you mean you've seen Jacob!" There was no way in hell I couldn't have known that. If she'd seen Jacob's dick and he didn't think to tell me...I'd have to hurt him.

"His wolf!" She squealed, clinging to me. "I meant his wolf, not his..uh. Little Jacob."

Smug satisfaction ran through me. "I'll make sure to let Jacob know you called his dick Little Jacob. I'm sure he'll love that."

"Oh please don't." She grimaced. "Jacob will kill me."

"My dick is seriously bigger than his." Not by much, from what I'd been forced to see, but bigger was bigger, and I was bigger than them all. Although, Embry came in a close third which made me uncomfortably speculative of my dad. "Seriously."

She laughed, patting my chest when I sat her on the new counter top. We hadn't had sex on it yet. We probably needed to fix that. I pushed her thighs open, and she leaned back, propping herself on her elbows. "I'm sorry I impugned on your masculinity, baby. I'm sure Jacob's dick is perfectly adequate, but yours is the only cock for me."

To my horror, but not my surprise, the door slapped open to reveal the man himself. "I'm not at all comfortable with this conversation."

"Well, it's a good thing you weren't a part of it, Jake." Sighing, I waited for Jake to turn around before helping Red off the counter. "Grab me some shorts?"

"Sure," she laughed, still red in the face.

Jacob snorted as he turned to face me, my genitals tastefully concealed behind the counter. "You'd think she'd be more flustered."

Giving him a dark look, I grumbled. "I think she's getting used to it. So, what's wrong now?"

"What?"

Giving him an exasperated look, I shrugged. "Every time you interrupt us you have some sort of bad news. Every single time. And it's always vampires. Shit. It's vampires isn't? You scented something?"

His grimace said enough. "You know, I shouldn't be able to sneak up on you."

"You're the only one that can, you sneaky little shit. From now on, send Jared. Even if I don't hear him, for some ungodly reason, at least he knocks!" Swiping my hand down my face, I waved my other hand at him. "You've seen more of Red than I really want to think about. Go on, tell me the bad news."

Jacob split into a grin. "Nah man, I'm just fucking with you. I was actually needed a favor. Dad has a check-up in Forks, but I'm supposed to be leaving for Sappho to work on the Rouglin Property. So unless you can reschedule me...I need a favor."

Quickly, I calculated the shifts in my head and swore. This was the first time I'd taken on two contracts at once, one just off of Lake Pleasant, and one in Sappho. Our men were stretched but the prospects were good. I'd doubled in employees in under a month; a solid quarter of the Rez was working with me. Be that as it may, we were still stretched. "Sorry Jake; I'd take the shift, but I'm showing the new guys around the Lake Pleasant house. Does Billy need a ride?"

"Yeah. Think Bells can take Billy to Forks for his appointment?"

"Of course I can." Red reappeared fully dressed with shorts in hand. "When does he need to leave?"

Jacob's answering smile was sheepish. "Uh... now-ish. I forgot to leave my schedule on the fridge so he hadn't thought to figure out another ride. It's not a problem?"

Red laughed, slipping her feet into her boots without another word. "Of course not. Does Billy need me to go in with him?"

"Eh, probably not. This isn't the kind of appointment you'd want a pretty girl to sit in on, if you know what I mean. He's getting the full physical; x-rays, blood check, heart-check, other things...checked. Might take a bit."

"That's fine. I should probably get Charlie some groceries anyway; the man would live off pizza and beer if I let him. Your dad is no better. Do you need anything while I'm out? Do we need anything?" she added, looking at me.

"I think we're good, Bells," Jake laughed, smiling at her fondly. "You could always ask Billy though."

"See if you can borrow momma's car. It'll be easier for Billy to get in and out of." I tugged the list off the fridge, and laid it in her outstretched hand, curling my fingers over her palm before she could escape. Tugging her close, I kissed her deeply, paper crinkling between our fingers. "That's all I need."

Red smirked, and kissed me again. "You're a filthy sap, Sammy."

They watched her go, disappearing through the back door of my mother's house first. Jake turned to me and smirked. "You really are a filthy sap, Sammy."

"Don't call me that." I grimaced, slipping on my shorts from my place behind the counter. "Only the women in my life get to call me that. And I might be a sap, but I'm a sap who just had shower-sex, so fuck off, virgin."

"Aw. Low blow, dude." Jacob made a face, half-scowl and half-smirk. "I'll get there. Actually, I was thinking about asking Leah-"

I blanched and gave him an incredulous look. "Just because I'm dating your ex-girlfriend does not mean you should date mine." My feelings for Leah were pretty much nonexistent but there was no way I wanted to be tunnel buddies with Jake, along with all the other possible issues. "Seriously, date outside the pack, please. What if you two broke up? How awkward would that be? Plus, Seth does not need to see what his sister's o-face looks like. Spare the boy and pick a different chick."

Snorting, Jake waved me off. "Kidding, dude. Leah probably has a whole second set teeth between her legs." Still laughing, he pushed open the door. "Later, Momma Wolf!"

"Don't call me that either!"

I had only just pulled on my work belt when my cellphone chimed with a text message. I slid it out of my back pocket, and smiled when I saw Red's name.

'Need U ASAP.' - Red

My heart jumped in my chest. Red never abbreviated anything when texting. It annoyed her when anyone else did. Something was wrong. I threw my work belt onto the bench and yanked my keys out of my pocket, already heading to my truck. My fingers danced across the screen.

'On my way.' -Sam

'Not home. Market.' - Red

'15 min, tops.' - Sam

Scanning my crew while I jogged to the truck, I swore when my eyes landed on my father. I'd forgotten I'd hired him for the project. It pained me to admit it, but he had more experience than most of my crew. "Joshua!"

His head snapped up at once, and he met me at my truck door. "What's up?"His hand curled over my arm and I sucked in a sharp breath. "Christ Sam, you're shaking all over. What's happened?"

"Red needs me in Forks. You're in charge." I yanked the door open, climbing inside the cab. "The list is on the desk in the office. You got any questions, call Jacob."

He shut the door behind me, slapping his hand against the hood with a worried look. "No problem, Sam. Do what you gotta do."

"Thanks, Dad."

I didn't understand the choked noise Josh had made as I left, or the stunned expression that never left his face, even as I peeled out, spraying gravel and dirt with my tires, until much later.

Thanks, Dad.

Huh. Two things I never thought I'd say to the man.

I dialed Red's number as I punched the gas. The call went straight to voice mail and my heart went straight to my stomach. When my phone pinged, I nearly crushed it in an attempt to open the message.

'Can't talk.' - Red

The steering wheel cracked in protest where I squeezed it, swerving to the side of the road. I cut the engine, and locked the doors. I'd get there faster if I ran.

I cut through the trees behind Forks High, and kept to the back roads as I made my way to the Thrift-A-Way. Momma's car was parked near the door, but empty. Red was still inside.

'I'm here. Can't come in.' - Sam.

She didn't reply, and I held my breath until the moment I saw her emerge from the double glass doors. She was in my arms in an instant, face buried in my chest. "Oh God," she breathed, curling up against me. "Someone's watching me Sam I was afraid to call you, in case they were following me too.."

I felt my hackles rise as she whispered against me, every muscle in my body pulling taught. "Where?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "But I can feel them. I was putting my groceries away, when I just felt...I don't know. It was like chills. My heart started beating, just like it used to when...when I was around them. I acted like I forgot something, and went back inside. I figured that was smarter than letting them follow me home. You believe me, don't you?"

"Of course, I do. And you did the right thing. Public places, lots of people; it's always safer. More importantly, you called me for help." Old Red never would have even thought to. I would never doubt her. Sniffing at the air, I scowled. Nothing. "I can't find a scent though. They must be in one of the cars."

Red lifted her head from my chest, and peered around the lot. Her eyes narrowed and I followed the line of her gaze. "The Silver Mercedes parked at Newton's. The tinting is darker than normal, and that's something the Cullen's would drive. Plus, they knew I worked there." She shuddered, pressing her face back against my chest. "Dammit Sam, I don't want to see them. Please don't let them-"

Crushing her tighter to me, I lifted her straight up off the ground. "Never, Red."

She nodded, pressing her mouth against my neck. "Um...was it necessary to call for that much back up? I didn't even tell you what was wrong."

"What?" I looked up to find my pack all but crawling out of the wood work. Embry was crammed into Jake's Rabbit, and Paul and Jared had obviously ran here. "What the hell are you guys doing here?"

Embry snorted, grinning sharply. "I got a call from Josh. He told me to get my ass to Forks and help you with whatever was wrong. I got to hand it to the man. He's definitely Team Sam." I thought I could see a hint of pride behind Embry's eyes, that Josh had thought to call him first. "So here I am."

"Yeah, he got mom on the phone as well," Jared groused. "Please tell me I did not get my ass out of bed to watch you two cuddle in public. I get enough of that shit in your head."

I shook my head, forcing myself not to look across the street. "Red spotted a vampire. Mercedes, twelve o'clock." They didn't need to know she hadn't actually seen it. "She's not sure who it is, but it was watching her." Instantly they were on alert. "Embry, I need you to go pick Billy up at the hospital. You two, take Red back to the Rez. One drive, and the other follow on paw."

"Can do, Captain." Paul gave me a mock salute and a wicked grin. "What about you? Sure you don't need back up?"

"No," I denied, shaking my head. "I'd rather it didn't come to blows. There is a very good chance that this is one of two families we were expecting in Forks. Neither of which I'm looking forward to dealing with, but neither of which I want to unnecessarily provoke."

"But if it is the Cullens, or their cousins or whatever," Jared said, cocking his head to the side. "Shouldn't Red stick around? I mean, she knows them."

Red sucked in a sharp breath, and I pressed a kiss against her hair in reassurance. "Absolutely not. Should you come across any leeches while taking her back to the Rez, I want Red out of there, ASAP. I don't care if you have to carry her on your fucking back. No vampires; Cullens, cousins, or not. Got it?" They murmured their ascent, each springing into action. "Paul, I want you on paw. Stalking is officially considered a threat. Should anything start following you, you have permission to attack. Attack, not kill. Got it?"

"Got it."

Letting my pack go, I waited 'til they were completely gone before turning to the road. My eyes locked on to the Silver Mercedes, and I felt a chill run through me. Stalking across the road, I caught the scent of them as I hit the Newton's parking lot. Unfamiliar; it wasn't a Cullen.

Somehow, that did very little to ease my worry.

Rapping my knuckles against the darkened window of the driver's seat, I clenched my jaw. The window lowered with a mechanical whirl, to reveal the unfamiliar face of a yellow-eyed man. Beside him sat a beautiful woman, with long flowing hair, and a deep frown.

"Eleazar and Carmen Denali, I presume?" His eyes widened in surprise, but he nodded. "We need to talk."

"I agree, but perhaps somewhere a little less...bright?" Eleazar Denali suggested, staring out the window where the sun shone brightly against the crisp white snow.

Snorting, I looked down at him. "No, I don't think so. See, I don't have much to say to you, Mr. Denali."

A wind tore through the air, and I watched both the leeches flinch as their car filled with my scent. "Carlisle spoke of your kind once," Eleazar said after a fashion. "But he told me he believed you to be extinct."

"We are made as we are necessary," I replied vaguely. "You're looking for your Kate, aren't you?"

"Irina," the woman breathed, golden eyes turning sad. "Not Kate; Irina. You've seen her."

Licking my lips, I forced myself to remember that these vampires did their best with the lot they were given in life. Their daughters' mistakes were not their own. Sympathy was called for, if only a modicum. "I have. I must apologize, Mr. and Mrs. Denali, but she attacked my pack and we were forced to respond in kind."

Elezar took his wife's hand into his own. "She's dead."

I nodded. "She crossed the borders into our land, and she came with red eyes. These are things we will not abide by; it is our duty to protect. Had she come with your eyes, we might have been more lenient."

"Oh, Irina," Carmen Denali cried out, her face crumbling with despair. "She came looking for her mate, Laurent. Is he-"

I felt my lips curl back in a snarl and they both froze, eyes fading to black in response. "Also dead. I assure you, that while your daughter might have been new to feeding from humans, he was not. He attempted to kill Bella Swan before my eyes. You know Bella Swan, don't you? You were following her, after all. She told us we might expect you."

"Edward's mate," Carmen murmured, blanching when I snarled at her. "Oh dear. Is she what Laurent came for? That poor girl. Edward would be terribly upset. We didn't know-"

"Bella Swan is mine," I snapped, narrowing my eyes. "She is a protected member of the Quileute, and considered not only an honorary Tribe member, but also the Chief's wife, and an Alpha's marked mate. What happened to your daughter is a misfortune, and you have my condolences. However, should you seek revenge, know that my pack numbers are far larger than what you've seen today, and we protect our own. But heed my warning, Mr. and Mrs. Denali; if I ever catch you near my wife again, I will not hesitate to act. She has been hurt far too often by your kind."

Eleazar nodded humbly. "No harm was intended, Alpha. We were only curious. Much has been said about the infamous Bella Swan. Once upon a time, we expected her as family. I can see now that things have changed considerably. We understand your actions against our daughter were necessary. Irina had been...unstable...for some time. We seek no revenge, and accept your condolences."

Inordinately pleased by the speedy and bloodless victory, I let myself breathe a little easier. "You'll be leaving soon?"

"Now," Eleazar intoned, squeezing his wife's hand. "We found what we came for. Thank you for your honesty, Alpha. We had worried that she might have...well. It is easier to know she is at rest now, than in pain as she was. I suspect she felt it when Laurent died. She hasn't been well for some time."

Immediately I was taken back to only a year ago, when I found a girl in the woods, curled in on herself and not well. I swallowed, pushing away at the niggling of guilt building at the back of my mind. Irina had attacked, and she had fed from humans. From what I was hearing, the vampire we killed was not the Kate they had loved, but a wicked version instead.

"If it helps, it was as quick a death we could offer," I said lowly. "Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Denali."

As I watched them drive away, I knew without question that this wouldn't be the last of it.

Letting Paul know the coast was clear and asking him to spread the word, I ran back to my truck,phasing and grabbing my phone of the seat where I left it. I stared dumbly at it for three minutes before I realized I didn't actually have Josh's number. I settled for calling my mother, and begging her to relay a message that everything was fine. I wouldn't thank him again (though I was surprised he cared enough to call for back-up). Once in a day was more than enough.

Red was frantic when I finally arrived home, launching herself into my arms the moment the door closed behind me. "Shhh," I hushed her, crushing her against my chest. She wrapped her legs around me tightly, and sighed against my neck. "It wasn't a Cullen, Red. It was the Denali's, just like you predicted. Everything is okay."

"They weren't mad?" She leaned back just enough to look me in the eye. "About Kate? It was Kate, right?"

"Irina. And I think sad is probably the more appropriate word here," I told her solemnly. "But they accept what happened. Apparently she hadn't been right in the head for a while. They've already left though, back to Alaska, or wherever."

"Just like that?"

Setting her on the counter, I pushed myself between her thighs and hugged her close. "Just like that."

She breathed out, slow and noisy. "I don't know why I freaked out. I shouldn't have, you know? I thought I was over him...them. All of them! But the idea of having to see them scared the shit out of me."

Snorting, I smiled, peppering her face with kisses. Sappy; so what if I was? "Which is actually a perfectly logical response to vampires, you know?"

Red nodded, shoulders slumped. "I know, really I do. I have no idea why I flipped. I just...really do not want to see him. The thought of having to look at him, after...after everything, makes my insides consider becoming outsides. It literally makes me want to puke. Edward turned me into some kind of...of BellaBot. I don't know what it was about him that made me believe I was delicate, but I did. I really believed I was a fragile fucking flower Sam, and he did that. He watched me sleep like a creep, and had me babysat. But you...wow, you. My perfect jerk. You give me power-tools and build me houses."

"Just the one," I laughed, kissing her on the nose. "Unless you need another. Please don't need another."

"You're all I'll ever need." Red snorted, and rolled her eyes. "God, who's the sap now? Freaking Edward. I want to decapitate him, I want to set him on fire, I want to watch himchoke on his stupid hair, but I really just do not want to see him." Her mouth turned up into a smile. "It's you and me, Sam."

"Forever." Kissing her suddenly, I bent her over backwards, burying my hands in her hair as I licked my way into her mouth. She grunted in surprise, circling my neck with her arms and clinging tightly. As I held her to me, tangling her legs in mine, I realized that with every reassurance I'd given her, every word I'd spilled about she and I forever -all those desperate words I'd whispered in her ear, night after night - that I had wanted her to know. I hadn't wanted to tell her, but I wanted her to know.

I wanted her to see it slowly, imprinting in all its glory, not in its horrifying suddenness. I wanted her to see that I loved her for her, but know that she was mine forever. I wanted her to see it like I did. Imprinting was like someone taking a book, opening it for you and telling you to read. They could make you read every single word, but in the end, it was your choice to love it or not. Imprinting showed me Red, but it had been my choice to love her, and her choice to want me.

I wanted her to know she was my soul mate so she'd know that she wasn't his. I still wouldn't tell her, but I wanted her to know. It occurred to me in that moment, an epiphany of sorts, that this was how it should be, how it was meant to be between us. If I believed that the gods had a hand in this - how could I deny it at this point - then I believed this was what they intended. Every moment of indecision, every time I opened my mouth to tell her and found that I couldn't...it all boiled down to this. The sensation of rightness settled in my stomach, letting me know that this was the right choice. I was never meant to tell her; it was always up to her to see.

Come on Red, it's all right there in front of you.

You and me.

Forever.

tbc