Chapter 18: The Arctic Village.

Morning came and with it another unexcused absence from Elcrie. In the past when Elcrie had left without an excuse it didn't bother me, I used to enjoy the peace that being on my own brought me. Ever since I imprinted on him knowing where he was or the bare minimum of knowing if he was safe was something I would appreciate. I knew I was overreacting but the feeling of not knowing was essentially eating me alive. If I left to go look for him however I would never find him, he was too fast even with tracking his scent it would take forever to find him and by then he would be back and confused as to where I went.

Thinking about how badly I wished I knew where Elcrie was reminded me that I really need to find my way to a phone to call my mother. If I was right it must be sometime in April now. Their wedding was set for the end of May, Mom and Charlies. You don't need to go there, they can get married without you but you should at least call and let them know you're alright. I stood in the kitchen and ate sweet bread for breakfast alone and then decided to search through Elcries things cleaning up somewhat as I went. At first as I shuffled through his belongings it was incredibly uneventful but just as I was wishing I could flip on a television screen and watch just anything I found a deed to a very, very large piece of land within the arctic circle, where I assume we are now, with Elcries name one it. How the hell did he afford all this? Does he have a job? Is that where he disappears to?

I sat down to examine the documents and went to his library and dug up some maps and found out where I was. Elcrie was honest when he said we were way, way up north in Alaska. It would take me at least two weeks of straight travel to get home on foot… Wonderful. Well, it's settled, I'm definitely not going now.

"I'm home!" Elcrie shouted as he walked through the door.

"I'm coming." I replied as I started cleaning up the mess I'd made digging though Elcries paperwork.

"Did you eat?" Elcries asked as he loaded fresh groceries into the house through the door.

"It's noon, of course I ate." I replied as I stumbled over a small pile of books on my way out of his library. "You really should consider decluttering some of these- Um, why do you have so many clothes on?"

Elcrie was fully clothed down to the boots. I had never seen him wear more than a pair of pants and a t-shift before it was like he was hiding from me. His hair was even tied up in a low bun. My eyes almost didn't recognize him.

"Well, humans tend to prefer when you come into their towns that you wear them."

Whoever these "humans" are don't know what they're missing out on.

"What town did you go to?"

"The Arctic Village, there's a farm on the outskirts. A family who's lived there for generations trades with me, you know, eggs, vegetables, fruit, jams for game or money whatever they're most in need of."

"Do they know?"

"Know what?" Elcrie replied puzzled as he bit into an apple.

"That you're… Not human." I whispered as if they might overhear.

"I'm sure they have their assumptions but they've always been kind. The people of Alaska this far north don't much care for the ways of the lower 50, they keep to themselves, stay out of others affairs. A way of life they pass down to their offspring and the peaceful cycle continues." Elcrie replied as he continued to load more groceries into the house.

"So for 175 you've been visiting the same family looking the exact same way and no one's ever said anything?"

"Nope. Any chance you could help me put these away?"

"How did you even get all of this here on foot?"

"I have a sled."

"So you went to and from on a sled through the mountains in what 7, 8 hours?"

"I'm fast. Now are you going to help me or not?"

I laughed in disbelief though I knew if anyone could do it, it was Elcrie. I was happy that Elcrie was talking to me though. Yesterday he seemed pretty upset with me over me not wanting to budge on telling him who I was or where I came from still. I wish it could just be forgotten, though knowing I needed to tell him that I wanted to call my family was definitely going to bring up the conversation again. I decided I'd put it off for long enough, I'd give him enough information to put the conversation to rest and that was all. Elcrie tried to show me where everything went and was surprised when I hardly needed instruction. What does he think I do here when I'm all alone? I'd actually reorganized some things since the last time he brought food home and he was more lost than I was, which made me laugh. Once we finished Elcrie cooked us lunch and I decided I couldn't wait till we finished eating to start asking questions.

"So… this Arctic Village, do they have a phone?"

"What is a phone? Why do you keep asking about that?"

"You're telling me in all these books you've never read about a phone?"

"No."

Great.

"It's an electronic device used to communicate with people throughout the world."

"There's a post office where you can mail a letter. If you'd like me to take you, I imagine that's about the same thing." Elcrie replied with a smile, happy to help as always.

"If there's a post office they have a phone."

"Win win, you can send a letter and a phone." Elcries smile grew proud of himself as he started to eat.

"No… That is not… How it works." I rolled my eyes and rubbed my forehead.

Elcrie shrugged and continued to eat. As I looked across the table from him I realized I was still unsure if he was upset with me. He was being kind, but he was always being kind. I got up and sat next to him moving my chair to be right next to his body just till our legs were touching. I wanted to ask him to take off his clothes but that seemed like too much. Plus he was eating and after running for that long, eating was more important than him dealing with my stupid requests. I decided to save the rest of my questions for when we were finished eating so he could enjoy his meal uninterrupted. Elcrie ate himself into a food coma of course and I decided to clean up the kitchen, sweep and mop his floor and tidy up his library while he slept sprawled out on his sofa. I set the fireplace even though his body was plenty warm, my feet were getting cold. Once I finished I decided he had slept long enough so I wrapped myself in a blanket and threw myself on top of him. Immediately he wrapped his arm around me, still asleep and turned his body into the couch and I was comfortably pinned by his weight. Well, that didn't go as planned.

"Elcrie?" I whispered. "Elcrieeee?" I said once more trying not to startle him. "Elcrie! Wake up!" I shouted now, losing my patients a tad.

"No." He whispered back.

"Please?"

"No."

"What if I said that I maybeee, wanted to apologize for being short with you yesterday… About who I am and all that annoying stuff."

"All is forgiven, go to sleep."

"Elcrie."

"If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to. I trust you, it doesn't change anything. You have your reasons and even if I don't know what they are, I accept them."

Of course you do…

"Okay well… I am sorry. Um… My name, my full name, is Leah Clearwater. I'm a member of the Quileute tribe and I'm from La Push, Washington. Long story short, when you found me, well before you found me, I was kinda just out wandering around on my own but I should call my mother, and I would really appreciate it if we could go to town tomorrow. If that's not too much for you.."

"Okay, we'll leave in the morning."

"That's it? No follow up questions?"

"Are you going to answer if I ask any?"

"Uh maybe…"

"Why were you so far away from your home?"

"I just wanted to be alone."

"Why?"

"Sometimes people want to be alone…" I whispered, knowing it wasn't the full truth.

"Umhm."

Stop being so, perceptive old man.

"Next question." I replied, not willing to go into further detail on that topic.

"Do you want to go see your mother? Does she want to see you?"

"No. I just need to call her. That's all." This was a full lie and Elcrie would easily know it. Why the hell did I answer that…

"Convincing."

"Go back to sleep." I ordered, tuning my body away from his to fit more comfortably up against him.

"I have more questions though…" He whispered half awake.

"Like what?" I replied as I nestled my body up against his until I was completely comfortable.

Once I settled he continued, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Ew! What? Do you even know what that means old man?" I shot back in surprise.

He started laughing at my response, still half asleep. He knows what it means… Is he testing me? Of course he is…

My cheeks turned hot and red as I continued, "Elcrie, shut the hell up and go to sleep."

His laughing was contagious and I joined in for a moment and then finally we both fell fast asleep. By the time we woke it was morning and Elcrie was up cooking a large breakfast. Yummmm. It smells so gooood! My mother wasn't going to recognize me if Elcrie kept feeding me the way he does. If I ever get around to going to see her. Eventually Leah, for now your focus is strengthening your relationship with Elcrie. I took a deep breath as I woke myself up and went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth and threw on a dress.

"Good morning." I said to Elcrie as I sat to eat. "Thank you for making breakfast, this smells amazing. Ugh I can't wait!"

"I don't know how to respond to that." Elcrie said, locking his eyes on mine, confused. "Um, thank you? Oh and good morning to you too."

You have never once said something that kind to him in the morning Leah… You're terrible but move on. I laughed uncomfortably at the thought of how terribly I'd treated him even after I imprinted, I still find it hard to remember to be kind after so many years of being bitter.

"So are you ready to travel to town today?" Elcrie continued.

"I am, but are you sure you are up to going again? I mean that's a long trip to make two days in a row."

"I'll be fine besides, what's the alternative?"

"I mean I could go alone, I'll make it there and back on my own, might take me a tad longer but I'll be okay if you'd like to stay home and rest."

"Well, actually, I'd rather die than go with that plan but thank you for "caring about my rest"." He replied with a laugh.

I laughed along with him remembering how rude I was to him when I spoke those words before but happy he seemed to recall them fondly.

"Alright well let's eat then, the sun will be up so if we wanna make it back before lunch we should probably get going as soon as we're done." I replied.

"Alright. Um… Leah?"

"Yes." I looked up at Elcrie as I drank a sip of my tea, his face was sad now as he spoke.

"Why didn't you want to tell me about where you came from before? I know I said it doesn't matter and it doesn't but-"

"I don't want to share you Elcrie."

"What?"

"It's as simple as that. I like you a lot and I don't want to share you with anyone, yet."

"You don't think your family would like me?"

"They would love you and they'd never want us to leave and I'd be stuck right back where I started."

"We couldn't just visit them?"

"No, I… I just, I don't want to bring someone to my family when I'm unsure of the… Nature of our relationship is all." I started eating hoping that would deter him from continuing the conversation.

"The nature of our relationship?"

"Yea I mean… are we friends, strangers, more? Less?" I said letting the words trail off as I took a large bite of food nervously.

"Well, I intend to marry you." Elcrie said as if it was something I should already know.

I immediately began to choke on the food in my mouth as he spoke those words. In an instant Elcrie was knelled beside me rubbing my back till my throat was clear. He then offered me my tea and I drank it and assured him I was alright.

"Sorry… I just… Wasn't expecting you to say that." I replied finally as he sat back down across from me.

"What were you expecting me to say?"

LITERALLY ANYTHING BUT THAT! Not even Sam was ever that blunt about our relationship, we dated for years before he proposed I'd barely known Elcrie for half a year.

I took a deep breath to clear my mind and slow my heart as I continued, "I don't know… Just not that. Why would you want to marry me?"

"You're my person." Elcrie said in a matter of fact tone, as if he couldn't understand why I was still so surprised.

"So my name, where I come from and a terrible attitude… That's enough to make you wanna marry me?" I laughed slightly in disbelief that he could be this serious.

"Leah, I've known you longer than you've known me, I know you are rough around the edges but I like that. You're a challenge, and you're my best friend. You could have left weeks ago but you've decided to stay, no one's ever decided to stay with me. Outside of the family in town my face, my stature, my strength has scared off everyone I've ever known in the human world. Why do you think I choose to live as a recluse?"

"So you've known other women before?"

"I've helped other women and other people before in passing. Once they see my scar, my white eye and my size, they call me a monster and run away. Everytime. That's why I was so… Afraid when you ran from me once you gained your vision fully. Usually I'd be sad for a moment and it would pass quickly but when you took off into the bedroom my whole world went black and I just hoped our friendship prior was enough to convince you that I wasn't a monster."

My heart was racing and my mind focused on one single task. I couldn't take the distance any more and I stood up as his eyes followed mine and walked till I was at his chair.

"Leah?" Elcrie asked, confused as to what I was doing.

I brought my arms around his neck and slid my hand down his chin as I brought our lips together, our first kiss. I lost my mind as my emotions exploded as we held each other in the most intense embrace. I realized we were both still wearing clothes and began to slide my hand down the buttons on his shirt. Elcrie moved my hand back to his neck as we continued to kiss. I decided he must not understand what I wanted and moved the table back so I could sit in his lap as we continued and tried again for his shirt.

"Leah." He warned lightly breaking himself away from our kiss.

"What?"

"I said that I intend to marry you, but not today."

"What's the difference between today or tomorrow?"

"Today you've not handled what you need to, back home."

"I am home." I replied in defiance.

"You are, and you know that's not what I meant."

"So what? There's conditions to our potential marriage now?" I replied, annoyed that he was ruining the moment.

"Yes but only one. You fix whatever is causing you pain back home and I'm all yours. Don't think that I don't know that you need to go home and make things right with your family." Elcrie replied with a smile pulling my hips toward his groaned.

I stopped breathing for a moment as he kissed me and looked deep into my eyes as if he was about to destroy me in a way that I really REALLY wanted him to.

"Or… We get married and THEN-"

"Nope." Elcris said as he quickly sat me back in his chair, returned the table to its position and began to start eating again.

My cheeks were on fire from how hard I was blushing. The last 10 minutes of my life felt like a dream come true. A dream Elcrie was aware of now, with the knowledge that he unfortunately had more control over it than I did. Way to show him all your cards Leah… Well jokes on him anyways, once I called my Mom and she didn't care if I came home as long as I was safe he'd see and I'd have my way with him. Well not like that but… Oh my god, Leah, just eat your food.