Leah

My wrist ached and I struggled. The morning after he broke it, Sam had looked horrified when he saw what he'd done. I wasn't used to remorseful Sam.

"LeeLee," he said when he saw me that morning. "Did I do that to your wrist yesterday? When I grabbed you?"

I teared up as I hung my head and nodded. "I promise I won't tell anyone, Sam. I'll ask Rosalie to look at it and I'll tell her I fell."

I knew she wouldn't believe me. She'd see the fingerprints just like I did. She wouldn't say anything to anyone, though. Neither would Carlisle. Sam wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head.

"I love you, Leah. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Sam grabbed my arm and trailed kisses from my hand to my elbow and back again.

"I'll make it up to you tonight. We can go out, anywhere you want to go."

We hadn't went out. The council needed Sam to work to cover for Jacob that evening. He had come right home to me, and even slept in the guest room with me despite Rosalie's 'scent' being so prevalent there.

With the gala quickly approaching, I was hopeful Sam would change his mind about going, but he didn't. I was off the day of the gala, but we were all meeting at the hospital to leave together. I was having trouble trying to do my own hair when my phone buzzed with a text. It was Bella.

Hi Leah! I was wondering if you needed help getting ready for the gala. Alice told me about your broken wrist. I'm pretty clumsy too, lol.

I would usually turn down Bella, but her help sounded nice and I could definitely use it. Her own hair was always done beautifully, so I had faith that she could get the job done.

I'd love that actually. Would you be able to bring my dress with you? We can get dressed at my place. I haven't seen yours yet.

She agreed and told me she'd be here in a few minutes. I sent a quick text to Sam, remembering what happened the last time I had a guest I hadn't told him about.

Bella Swan is coming over to help me get ready. I'll probably be gone for the gala when you get home.

His response came quickly.

It's busy here today, but I'll send Paul over to check on you and see that Bella doesn't overstay her welcome.

I dreaded seeing Paul. He was horrible to me, even more so without Sam around. I assumed he'd pretend to be kind for Bella's sake, or at least I hoped he would.

She must have already been on her way with our dresses when she texted me, because Edward's Volvo was in my driveway in no time.

Bella Swan ended up being a godsend. We had a few hours before we needed to leave for the gala so she did all of the house work I'd been trying, and failing, to do. She made a casserole we could leave in the oven for Sam and did both of our hair and makeup with thirty minutes still to spare. I was in awe. I also felt slightly guilty for never giving her a chance before. Bella was a good friend.

I was on edge the whole time waiting for Paul to show up. Bella and I had struggled to get along before and I didn't want him to ruin my new friendship before it had even begun.

Alice surprisingly hadn't went too crazy with the dress she'd chosen for Bella. It was a deep royal blue a-line dress with a sweetheart neckline. The color complimented her pale skin and dark hair beautifully.

I had given up on Paul showing up and followed Bella outside just as he was pulling in. Paul hadn't seen Bella in years, and when he got out of his truck he stopped in his tracks and stared at her.

"What's the matter, Paul?" I teased. "Never seen a pretty girl in a dress before?"

Paul and Rachel had a courthouse wedding, and they'd both worn jeans. She was a very casual, laid back kind of girl. Bella usually was too, except for tonight.

I expected him to glare at me, but he never took his eyes off Bella.

"I don't know if you remember me, Bella. I'm Paul Lahote."

She sneered at him. "I do, actually. You're the asshole that bullied Jake and Embry when we were kids."

She wasn't wrong. Jacob was more secure than Embry, and he let Paul's comments go in one ear and out the other. Embry grew up with just his mother, and Paul constantly reminded him that he was an outsider from another tribe without a father. Paul's father also wasn't around, so it didn't make sense for him to harass anyone else about the same thing. He called Quil, Embry, and Jake 'the one parent club' without acknowledging that he and Sam were also members.

Paul looked defeated at Bella's insult. "I was a different guy back then. Leah can tell you."

Bella looked at me and I nodded. Paul was right, he was different back then. He wasn't nearly as cruel as he is now and I told her that. "Yeah, he's worse."

Bella chuckled. "Well, Paul, if you want forgiveness I suggest you look elsewhere. I have no interest in being in your presence any longer than necessary."

I fought the urge to smile. Bella was the only one I've ever known to put Paul in his place. Paul looked like Bella had ripped his heart out and stomped on it, which made little sense to me since he was married to Rachel.

He turned to me wearing a pitiful expression I never imagined he'd have. I almost felt sorry for him.

"There's a casserole in the oven if you're hungry." I told him. "I'll be late getting back tonight so I may stay at Seth's."

He nodded. "Sam anticipated you'd do that. I'll probably be here in the morning, Rach is out of town visiting her sister."

Paul's eyes followed Bella as she walked past him and slid into Edward's Volvo. It didn't make sense to me why he was so engrossed in watching her every move, but I didn't ask questions and honestly didn't care.

I got in my car and drove to the hospital. This was where I was meeting Rosalie and Emmett to ride with them. I waited for about thirty minutes, and pulled my phone out when a text came through.

Hey Leah, it's Embry. Carlisle had a flat tire so he and Esme have to ride with Rosalie and Emmett. Do you want to catch a ride with me?

My heart fluttered for a moment but the feeling was quickly replaced with guilt. I knew Sam would be furious if he found out. I didn't want to drive to Port Angeles alone, though, and I had planned to spend a lot of the evening with Embry anyway. I hadn't been keen on the idea at first, but decided he could be my stand in date as Edward had been before. Certainly not a real date, just someone to keep other men away from me. I couldn't help but wonder if Carlisle actually had a flat tire, or if Rosalie was just trying to push me toward Embry. A quick phone call with Alice confirmed that his tire was in fact flat, and there wasn't room for me to ride with her and Jasper.

That sounds good. I'm at the hospital if you can pick me up here.

His response was immediate.

Already on my way.

I knew I needed to be careful around Embry. When I was around him, I found myself having thoughts and feelings, as a married woman, that I shouldn't have about a man who isn't my husband. He seemed so angry when he saw my broken wrist, but he didn't push me. Seth had more or less told him my marriage was in trouble the night he came to my family dinner, but he hadn't mentioned it in conversation again. He kept his distance from me for the most part and it made it hard to tell how he felt. He almost seemed to purposely avoid me.

I found myself wondering if he had a girlfriend while he was away. Is that why he'd suddenly come back to Washington? From what little I knew of Embry, I knew he didn't like it here. I couldn't imagine wanting to come back to the town where I'd been bullied relentlessly and buried my mother in if I were him.

Embry was comfortable with the Cullens, and that surprised me. Most of our tribe despised them, but he interacted so easily with Jasper in the hospital. Jasper and Rosalie were the most standoffish and difficult members of the family, yet Embry had such easy exchanges with them. It didn't make sense, but I didn't push the issue.

Embry's solid black jeep pulled up and I marveled at it for a moment. I wasn't a car person like Rosalie, but I could appreciate a nice vehicle when I saw one. He stepped out and opened the door for me, catching me off guard a bit as I was not used to it.

I had expected the ride to be silent and awkward since he'd been so distant, but it was exactly the opposite. Embry was an open book. We talked about his college days, growing up on the rez, his friends, his mother and even his passion for medicine. I soaked in every word he said, especially the stories of Jake, Quil, and him growing up.

Embry had so many stark differences from Sam. He was more like the man Sam used to be, but somehow even better than that. His kindness knew no bounds and he had such strong morals. I tried not to swoon, but he was making it difficult.

"Would you tell me more about what inspired you to go in to medicine?" I asked him.

His face became stoic and I felt my heart ache. I hadn't meant to unlock a painful memory for him, and I started to apologize when he cut me off.

"Leah, you can ask me anything. Don't apologize. It's just a difficult story for me to tell." He explained. "I volunteered at the hospital when I was a teenager. Volunteers didn't do much, mostly just cleaned and showed people where specific clinics were. One day, Carlisle asked me to help out in the cancer treatment center. It's small, but we had some patients that couldn't make it all the way to Port Angeles or Seattle for treatment. He said they mostly needed me to sit with the patients that were alone and keep them company. I helped the nurses too, if the patients needed snacks or anything."

His hands were gripping tighter on the wheel as he continued. I thought back to when Rosalie and I had worked in the cancer center for awhile. I think I'd only spent a month or two there before I was ready to leave. It was too hard for me emotionally.

"Most of the day went fine. Older patients came in, told me how kind and handsome I was, you know how they are. One of them gave me her granddaughter's phone number." He chuckled. "At the end of the day, though, a social worker brought in this little girl. She was in the foster care system, bouncing between foster families because none of them wanted to take on the responsibilities of a sick child."

He choked up, so I placed my hand over his and gave it a squeeze. He seemed a bit shocked at my actions, but as he laced his fingers with mine it felt right.

"Her name was Lucy, and she had leukemia. Her last scan had shown it had spread to her lymph nodes and spleen. She was beautiful with large brown eyes and long black hair. She definitely seemed to have Quileute genes. Lucy had nothing. Her parents both abandoned her, none of the foster families wanted to accept her, and she was dying. None of that could taint her positivity. It didn't make sense to me. I had spent years living in negativity hating who I was, where I lived. Yet this small, sick child still had joy in her soul."

I felt my eyes welling up hearing the heartbreak he still felt. He took a moment and wiped his eyes quickly.

"I asked Carlisle if I could start coming in every day to the cancer center. I had to volunteer for school, so I got permission to come over for the last period of every day. I sat with Lucy every single day, and every time she came in she'd give me pictures she drew. Some would be for me, and some were for Carlisle and his nurses. She always had a smile on her face when she saw me, and she told me I reminded her of her big brother. Lucy mentioned him only the one time, she said her daddy brought him over to see her once before he left. She looked sad when she told me she couldn't remember his name, but she knew his face. Carlisle couldn't share her medical information with me, but the looks he gave, I just knew. Lucy started declining quickly. They eventually stopped her treatments and started to focus on keeping her comfortable. She was sleeping a lot, talking less, and just didn't want to play anymore."

Now I wasn't just tearing up, I was crying. My heart was breaking for this little girl I'd never even met. Embry dropped my hand for a moment and grabbed some tissues from the center console, taking one for himself and handing one to me.

"I'm sorry, I get really upset when I talk about her." He said.

I grabbed his hand again and gave him another gentle squeeze. I wanted to reassure him, but wouldn't interrupt the story.

"I begged my mom to take her in as a foster child, but she didn't qualify. They said Lucy needed a family with two parents, and that my mom's work schedule wasn't conducive to caring for a sick child. I was devastated. I asked Carlisle if there was anything he could do, but there wasn't. I was desperate to find a way to save her. I was in class one day and the principal called me to the office. Carlisle was there and he broke the news to me gently. Lucy had declined rapidly and she was alone, scared, and asking for me."

He pulled over to finish his story. His composure was gone. He held back sobs as I leaned over and tightly embraced him. Sam would be furious if he knew, but I didn't care. Embry pulled back slowly after regaining control of his emotions and continued talking.

"I tried to bring her as much comfort as I could. I catered to her every whim. We had her favorite ice cream when she was able to eat, watched the movies she loved and when she was too weak to do much else, I read her fairy tales. I even told her the legends that Billy shared with us at bonfires. Carlisle had pulled some strings and I was able to stay by her side until she passed. I slept in a cot next to her bed and many nights fell asleep holding her hand. The weaker she got, the more she slept until she was barely awake more than a few minutes at a time. She smiled every time she opened her eyes and saw me still there. I promised her I wouldn't leave here there alone. No family, not even her former foster parents came to see her, only me and my mom. After a few days she whispered to me, 'Embry, I'm so tired. I don't want to be in here with the doctors anymore.' My heart broke. I held her hand and brushed her hair back gently and told her 'Lucy, it's ok to rest. It's even ok if you want to stop fighting.' Her big eyes opened wide as she asked 'Do you think I'll get to see the wolves? Like in your stories?' I nodded sadly. 'I'm sure of it, Lucy. There are so many wonderful things waiting for you, sweet girl.' She gave me a small smile as her eyes closed. 'I love you, Embry.' I heard her whisper as her breathing slowed. 'I love you too, Lucy.' I watched as she quietly slipped away. Carlisle came in a few minutes later to check her pulse and confirm what I knew. She was gone. I broke down sobbing with her hand still in mine."

"Carlisle and I got to see her before the visitation. We picked out her clothes, her family wasn't interested. My mother used to make jewelry, and she showed up right before the viewing started with two bracelets. I put one on Lucy's wrist, and I wear a matching one. After the service, Carlisle pulled me aside and told me the potential he saw in me. He said the empathy that I have would make me an amazing doctor and advocate for my patients. He offered to sponsor me and pay for my schooling. I took the chance to leave the rez and all the bad memories behind, even if that meant I'd be leaving her behind, too. I left and I've never regretted my choice. There's a photo of me, Carlisle, and Lucy hanging in his office at the hospital. The same photo is on my nightstand at home."

I hadn't recognized a young Embry in that photo, but I'd seen it dozens of times. Carlisle had told me it was of two people that were very special to him and had never offered to elaborate.

"Carlisle was right, Embry." I told him. "Most teenage boys wouldn't have done what you did for Lucy. She was lucky to have you."

He nodded. "I think about her every day. Carlisle suggested I go into oncology, but I don't think I can do it here. I'd love to help patients like her, but the cancer center in Forks holds too many painful memories for me."

"Why did you come back to Washington? It sounds like this area holds nothing but painful memories for you."

He didn't hesitate in his answer. "I did it for Carlisle. I owe everything to him. But I've found a few other reasons to stay."

Embry's story made me think. I found myself drawn to him even more than before, even though I shouldn't be. Comparing Sam to Embry was not even possible. Even back when Sam was the man I fell in love with, he never would have sacrificed his time for someone else like Embry had with Lucy. Sam didn't even stand by ME, his own wife, as I went through emergency surgery. My throat became dry and my stomach flipped as a realization poured over me. I was falling for Embry.