Leah

We arrived at the gala and quickly found the Cullens. After learning that Embry had a connection with Carlisle that stemmed from his teenage years, I still found his relationship with the rest of the family puzzling. Rosalie didn't often let new people in, but she treated him the same way she did her brothers.

Bella approached me as soon as we got there, dragging me along with her and Alice to take photos. We posed next to Rosalie and Esme, and once the photos started it seemed to be an hours long ordeal. I posed with all of the girls, and again with the entire family. I stood next to Embry, and I wondered if this is what it would be like if things were different. If I wasn't married to Sam, would I be with Embry? Would we fit in this seamlessly with the Cullens?

I had contemplated leaving Sam before, but it didn't feel right. Every time I was close to leaving, he'd remind me why I love him. I knew I couldn't abandon him. My fantasy of a future with someone else was a betrayal to him, and I hated myself for it. As cruel as Sam was to me, he'd never been unfaithful.

After countless photos had been taken, I followed Embry and Rosalie back to our table. Alice, Jasper, Bella, and Edward sat at the table next to ours. Carlisle and Esme were seated with other doctors and sponsors of the event. I'd noticed Carlisle's car parked next to Rosalie's as we walked in and knew she had lied. I wasn't upset, though. It allowed me to learn more about Embry, even if his story was heartbreaking.

"Does AAA deliver your car after fixing a flat now?" I asked Rosalie. "I noticed Carlisle's car parked next to yours."

She grinned. "I suppose they do. He'll be glad to know he doesn't have to ride back to Forks with us."

Emmett chuckled and changed the subject. I questioned myself for a second. Was I being paranoid? Did AAA deliver Carlisle's repaired car to him? I thought about asking Carlisle but dismissed the thought at the risk of sounding crazy.

Rosalie and Emmett left our table to mingle, but not before giving me both of their glasses of champagne. This would be a repeat of the dress shopping it seemed.

Embry gave me his drinks too. I wondered why he didn't drink. Rosalie had told me it was a cultural thing for Carlisle that their entire family respected, and I didn't push the issue. They didn't eat in public for the same reason. It seemed odd to me, but I wasn't one to judge them.

Embry stayed at the table with me. I debated going around the room and talking with some people, but after all of the champagne I didn't trust myself to walk in my heels.

"So, Leah," Embry's voice broke me from my inner monologue. "You heard my story, I think it's only fair if I hear yours. What made you want to get into medicine?"

I froze. I didn't have a moving story like he did. I'd never been a hero for a young girl who was battling cancer. My mother was a nurse, and her mother before her, and her mother before her. The women in my family were nurses going back generations. I didn't want Embry to think I was shallow, though. I enjoyed my work. I loved helping my patients and being there for them.

"It's not as grand of a story as yours, I'm afraid." I responded as I raised my champagne flute to my lips. "I followed my mother's footsteps. She is everything I've aspired to be, including a nurse. I do love my patients and my work, though. It's very fulfilling being there for people in what may be the lowest or highest points of their lives."

He nodded in agreement. "I'm glad to hear you weren't moved by a tragedy to get into the field. I wouldn't wish what Carlisle and I went through with Lucy on my worst enemy."

I wondered who his worst enemy was. If we looked back to his childhood, it was quite possibly Paul. In the present, was it Sam? Or could it be me? I am the villain in Sam's story after all, so it wouldn't surprise me to learn I was playing a role in the destruction of more than one upstanding Quileute man. Or, Makah, in Embry's case.

"You look beautiful tonight, by the way." Embry told me.

It should take more than a simple compliment to make my heart soar, but it didn't. Not from Embry, anyway. I thanked him in a soft voice and looked away. I felt his hand resting on mine a moment later and turned back to him.

"Would you come along with me to chat with some people?" He asked. "There's a man from Boston here that leads one of the top oncology departments in the country. I've always wanted to be a part of his program. He's over there, speaking with Carlisle."

He pointed out a tall man standing next to Carlisle and Esme.

"You should go without me." I suggested. "I've had so much champagne, I may fall and embarrass you."

He stood and held his hand out to me. "I'd never let you fall, Lee."

I knew I shouldn't take his hand, but I did. Sam hadn't been worried about my feelings for years, so I wasn't going to worry about his right now.

Embry kept his promise and held me tightly as we walked over to meet the doctor he wanted to work with. A small part of me hoped he wouldn't be able to move to that program. I'd only known Embry a short time, but the thought of him leaving had my stomach in knots.

"Dr. Austin," Embry greeted him. "It's wonderful to meet you, I'm Embry Call."

Dr. Austin beamed at Carlisle. "This is the son you've told me so much about? Your reputation precedes you, Embry."

Son? Did he just call Embry Carlisle's son? Neither of them corrected him. I had drank a lot of champagne, so it was possible that I was confused.

I was spaced out for most of the conversation until Embry nudged me. I hadn't realized how drunk I was until then.

"You haven't introduced me to the beautiful girl on your arm, Dr. Call." Dr. Austin said with a grin.

Embry tightened his grip on me. "This is Leah Clearwater. She's a nurse, and works alongside Rosalie."

"Nursing is quite a noble profession, certainly not for the faint of heart." He responded. "I tell my nurses every day that their job is much harder than mine."

I bit my tongue so hard I tasted my own blood pooling into my mouth. The doctor was right, our job was more difficult but we were paid much less than them and often with no appreciation. I was grateful to have always reported to Carlisle and seldom worked under other doctors.

"Dr. Austin pays the nurses in his unit a much higher salary than industry average." Carlisle informed me. "We agree on the value of having a well trained and sincerely appreciated staff of nurses."

The doctor smiled and patted my shoulder. "It was quite amusing to see the look on your face, young Leah. You wouldn't make a good poker player, but I'm sure you're a hell of a nurse." He turned to Carlisle. "If you and your family decide to relocate to Boston, please know you'll all have positions in my clinic waiting for you."

Embry's eyes went wide and he shook the doctor's hand before we walked away. I hadn't missed what he'd said. You and your family. Was Embry a Cullen? If he was, what else was Rosalie hiding from me?

Everything that had felt right with this situation tonight suddenly felt wrong. Each word Embry said felt disingenuous, tainted by this lie. It wouldn't have changed anything for me to know, but why wouldn't they tell me? The pieces fell into place in my mind and it all made sense. Embry was only seventeen when his mother died. That must have been when Carlisle adopted him.

My head was swimming from the alcohol and the new information I was trying to process. I took my phone out and debated on who to ask for a ride home, Sam or Seth. I knew Sam would be angry, but he'd help me. Sam's friend Jared was also an option. He was much kinder than Paul, but still let Sam's behavior slide.

Edward appeared at my side suddenly, snatching my phone from my hand.

"Are you okay?" He asked me.

I didn't understand how he knew I was upset. Did I really express my emotions so obviously on my face?

"No." I answered honestly. "I'd like it if you and Bella would take me home."

Embry tensed beside me. "What's wrong, Leah? Is it something I said?"

I should've bit my tongue, but alcohol had always made me bolder. "It's more like something you didn't say." I answered honestly.

I stumbled as I started to fall, and Edward caught me.

"Bella and I will take you home. I'll walk you to the car and then go get her." He said.

Embry followed behind us. "I can take you, Leah." He offered. "I'm ready to go anyway."

I sighed. "No, thank you. I'm more comfortable with Edward and Bella."

I regretted the words as I said them. Embry looked just as crushed by my words as Paul had when Bella called him a lowly bully. I was confused and my head was swimming. How could I already feel so strongly for Embry? Why would he hide anything from me? And why did him hiding this from me hurt so badly? I stumbled again, falling this time before being swept up in Edward's arms.

"Can you do me a favor and make sure Bella gets home?" Edward asked Embry. "I'm going to take Leah back to Forks, and I believe Bella and Alice were chatting with one of the sponsors. I don't want to interrupt her."

"Yeah, sure," Embry agreed. "Please be careful. I'll see you tomorrow, Leah."

He wouldn't see me tomorrow, and I didn't respond to him. I'd never called in through all of my time at the hospital, but I would be tomorrow.

Edward carried me to the car after I tripped again. If I was sober, I would've been embarrassed. He sat me down in the front seat and buckled me in. I felt like a child.

He was quiet at first, but after fifteen minutes of silence Edward spoke.

"Leah, tell me what's on your mind."

I sighed. "Is Embry your brother? Did Carlisle adopt him?"

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Why do you ask?"

His non answer was an answer in itself. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Carlisle didn't divulge the information to any of us until long after it had been done. Embry was going to have to come home and go into the foster care system. He would've lost everything." He explained. "You have to understand, Leah, that it wasn't our place to tell you. How do you think the people on the reservation would treat Embry if they found out he was part of our family? He'd be lucky to be allowed on Quileute lands again."

He wasn't wrong, but I still felt betrayed. "Does Rosalie know?"

"She does now. She didn't until recently. Embry begged us not to let anyone know when he returned. That's why he acts like he doesn't know us. He wants everyone to think he's just another coworker of Carlisle's."

It made sense, the mindset behind it all. What bothered me is that I felt like I was a part of their family, and that they'd tell me things they didn't tell anyone else. There was one way to test my theory. One other person they considered 'part of the family'.

"Does Bella know?"

Edward laughed. "Are you kidding me? She can't keep a secret to save her life. If we were going to betray our brother's trust for anyone, it would've been you, Leah."

That made me feel a little better at least.

"Is that why Rosalie and Emmett have been pushing me towards him?"

He chuckled. "I see they aren't as subtle as they thought they were. It's not because he's our brother, it's because he's a good man. I know you love Sam, Leah. I can see how he treats you, though, and I want better for you. I want you to be in a happy, safe relationship. I don't want to have to worry about you after I drop you off tonight, but I will. All of us will, we always do."

I knew they had picked up on more than they let on, but to hear him say it out loud was unsettling. I hadn't ever seen myself as a victim in my marriage, but more of an instigator. My constant trying, and failing, to have a child is what brought out this side of Sam. I couldn't blame him for a situation I'd created.

Edward didn't mention my marriage again. We weren't silent by any means, but all of our topics of conversation were lighter. He told me Bella was excited to start a friendship with me. I was excited too after the way she put Paul in his place.

"Am I taking you to Seth's house? You're in no shape to drive."

I pulled my phone out to text Seth and saw a new text from Sam.

You need to get home tonight. We have to talk.

I felt my anxiety building and my breathing becoming uneven. Edward was used to my panic attacks, and he held my hand and talked me through some breathing exercises until I was able to calm down.

"Seth's house is fine. I'll get him to take me home."

Seth's house wasn't far and I pulled out my phone to text him.

911. Need a ride home right now. I'm pulling up at your house.

Edward parked in Seth's driveway but didn't get out of the car.

"I'll stay with you until Seth gets here." He insisted.

I didn't argue. It wouldn't have made a difference if I had. Edward saw me as one of his sisters, and he was equally as protective of me as he was Rosalie and Alice.

Seth pulled up in his cruiser and Edward walked me over to his car. He said goodbye to Seth and we peeled out of the driveway.

"You going to explain yourself?" Seth demanded. "What's the big emergency? Embry said you got really upset and left the gala, and now you send me a 911 text. I need to know what's going on with my sister."

I groaned. I hadn't expected Embry to tell on me to my brother.

"Embry pissed me off, and I was going to stay at your place but Sam asked me to get home. I'm drunk, so obviously not driving myself home, and Edward can't take me to my house on the rez."

"Embry pissed you off? What the hell did he do?" Seth wondered.

Embry's secret wasn't mine to tell. I wanted to know if Seth knew, but decided not to ask in case he didn't.

"Nothing, don't worry about it. It's over now."

Seth didn't speak again until we pulled up in my driveway. He asked if I was okay to walk or if I needed help in my house, and I told him I was fine. For now, I was. I didn't know what Sam's wrath would look like because I didn't know what I did.

I stopped before I opened my door to check my phone. Bella had sent me some photos from the gala and Embry had sent three texts.

What happened, Leah? I'm sorry I upset you.

Did you make it home okay?

I'm really sorry for whatever I did. I had a great time with you tonight.

I didn't respond. Embry would be a problem for sober Leah tomorrow.

Paul, Jared, Sam and my dad all sat at my kitchen table. I couldn't imagine why all of them would be gathered here together. Paul looked like shit. His face was red and his eyes were bloodshot. I'd never seen him like this.

"What's going on?" I asked in a small voice.

Sam came over to me and wrapped his arms around me. "You look gorgeous, Leah." He didn't even comment on Rosalie's smell.

The guilt in my stomach grew. I hadn't cheated on my husband with Embry, but I knew he'd be upset about some of the things I'd done. The way I held him when he cried over the loss of Lucy. The near constant hand holding. I tried to push the thoughts aside, but my guilt felt like acid coursing through my body.

"Is Paul okay? Why is my dad here?"

Sam was probably being kind because of my father being here. He leaned down and whispered in my ear.

"Be kind to Paul, he'll be staying here awhile."

My worst nightmare was coming to life. I couldn't call in tomorrow if Paul would be in my house all day. I couldn't expect the old Sam to ever shine through with Paul here. I would've sank to the floor if I wasn't in Sam's strong arms.

Paul looked up at me. "I left Rachel, Leah. We're getting a divorce."