@HotHeadSheWolf
< Call?’ He laughed. ‘I’ll give you some pointers if you want?’ he teased right back.

I responded by lifting three cases and following him into the stock room. “I think I’m good!” I laughed. I felt my phone vibrate but I didn’t want to stop until this was done.

‘Show off!’ He scoffed. ‘I could do that.. but… I’m not as tall as a tree so I wouldn’t see where I’m going.’

“Keep telling yourself that.” I laughed.

And then he started to ask about the open mic night… things >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< like why I never I could sing… and how shocked he was by Nessie’s voice. He wondered why neither of us ever pursued it as a career…

“Wait like… sing for a living?” I scoffed. “Nope! Were you not there that night? I about shit my pants on that stage!”

‘Only for the singing… I bet you’d get over that.’ He replied. Stopping the gulp down half a bottle of water.

I used the chance to reply to Leah. [𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚍… 𝙷𝚘𝚠’𝚜 𝚂𝚞𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐? 𝙰𝚗𝚢 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢’𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚝 >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< 𝚢𝚎𝚝?]

“Nah… what’s that saying about never doing what you love for a living? I think #Ness feels the same.”

‘There’s a saying about that?’ Mac seemed to think.

“Isn’t there?” I shrugged. “Feels like there should be.”

@BadBoyEmbryCall

‘How much stuff did Sue need for one night?’ Jay asked the moment the door was opened and I stepped inside.

“Ness.” Is all that had to be said, he smiled as he would knowing the meaning right way. We all knew the imprints so well, especially Ness. We all had spent time with that kid, as she grew up before our eyes. And now we knew how she would react, and this had her stamp all over it. Hadn’t I had this conversation already? -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I didn’t know it was all becoming one to me right now because my mind was on Ma in that locked bathroom.

‘I’ll take these down to the car and then be back to help.’ He said before lifting the page and heading out.

The sounds coming from the bathroom told me where Ma was, I gave the room a once over before turning to find #Billy right there looking up at me. ‘Well? How much was the bill?’

My eyebrows shot up with a roll of my eyes. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“I told you Billy, it’s covered. We are all good.”

This man had been one of the first to pick me up when I came home. I heard the stories from Ma and Da about Aunty Sarah and Billy coming rushing over to decorate our home to welcome. So, he always thought he could read me. And at times he could because I left him a few bread crumbs. But today wasn’t that day.

The door behind him opened with Ma coming out. ‘Fine, but this conversation isn’t over.’ -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

His voice low enough for me to hear but not for Ma.
“Yes, it is.” I muttered before worked my way around him to Ma’s side. “Are you really to go home?”

‘I am, I need a shower to get this hospital smell off me.’ I knew what she meant. It was something I was used to. Once I’d been around the Cullen’s for long enough everything else smelt like roses. (Not really but yeah.)

‘The doctor said he would be back with some medication, then we can take Sue home.’ Billy told me. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

The two of them began to talk about something but I tuned it out. Leaning on the back wall I crossed my ankles and arms over my chest to watch them.

When my phone went off, I pulled it out and rolled my eyes.

[𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚊𝚐𝚗𝚎, 𝚆𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜𝚎! 𝚆𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙼𝚊’𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚘𝚌, 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚑. -𝙻]

Hitting send, I shot off the same ish text to #TheKid, and #Jake too. just letting them know.

@HotHeadSheWolf
< the can and pulled out my phone.

[𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚛 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍. 𝚃𝚛𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎.]

Then I followed it up with another. Knowing we would both need to delete the message immediately. But it said everything that was needed to be said, I was here... No matter what she needed.

[𝙸 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞.]

‘What about your mom?’ #Mac asked. ‘How is she doing?’

“Oh...” it was a topic I want expecting, which was stupid considering the topic was sick >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Moms. “I'm... Yeah. She doing better. I mean the only cure is a new kidney. But the medical grant from the council really took the pressure off and bring less stress out seems to have had a major impact.”

‘Seems to have worked for you too... You hadn't been the guy I was used to seeing around here for the last few months.’ #Mac added with a knowing look.

“Yeah... Trying to keep the bills paid and mom looked after... It was... Hard. But now I can not focus on her.”

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I knew he was coming from the sound of his feet and his scent. Before he was at the door I opened it and stood back so he saw Ma sitting up in bed laughing with the doctor and #Billy. His heart was hammering in his chest, and I could tell he was trying and failing to control himself.

“She is going to be okay kid.” I said in a low voice as he came to the door and stopped.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -
“Looks like it.”

I took the prescription from the nurse giving it a once over. Letting the guys take Ma as I listened to the instructions of what was needed and when. Being told to keep the bandages fry for at least 72 hours, which meant we would have to be careful when we took her home, and she showered.

Leaving the room behind he others my phone went off and I ready the two messages. A rush of calm came over me, -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

and I knew I should delete that last part. Three little words, and it was so much more that I heard from it.

[𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 -𝙻]

I didn’t need to say ‘thank you for helping Mac, for steeping in for the Kid and me, so that we could be here for Ma. Thank you for saying you have me. That no matter what, you will be beside me.’ Because he knew it was all inclusive.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -
Hitting send I rushed down the stairs as the rest went to the elevator. Running down then four steps at a time, I made it to the pharmacy on the ground floor. Showing then the discharge papers and prescriptions. Gathering them just as the others arrived in the lobby.

‘Sis, it maybe best to take Ma home in mine, Jay is going to take Billy home, and…’
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“I will drive Ma’s car back. It’s a good plan.” The porter rolled Ma out into the waiting area as the Kid came around. Only once they had all left, did I make my way to the parking lot to follow them back to La Push.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I helped Mac restock the bar… but they seemed to get most of that done after closing. Then I said goodbye to #Mac telling him to text me if he needed anything else.

I headed straight to #Billy’s I knew he wasn’t there but #Nessie’s had offered to stay so she could take my phone and the hospital beeper while I did my run. When I got there she was sitting on the porch at the top of Billy's wheelchair ramp staring out at the road instead of the trees… that is how I knew something >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< was wrong.

I stood next to her and squeezed her shoulders. “What’s on your mind little one?”
I asked.

‘I just.. it’s…’ she sighed. ‘Their all going to die.’

I flinched, tact was never her thing. But neither was malice. Her hand flew up to her mouth. ‘Oh my god!’ She stood up in a flash and hugged. ‘I’m so sorry… I shouldn’t have said that… not to you… I just…’

“It’s okay Ness. You can say these things. I know how you feel.” I hugged her back. “I know its hard for you >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< to see them sick or hurt.” Them being the humans she loved. “It make sense… mostof your family is essentially indestructible. But you love harder than anyone i have ever met Little One. And every single human you’ve ever met is the better just for knowing you.”

She sniffled now and I squeezed her a little. ‘But what do we do when they’re gone?’

“We hurt… until remembing them doesn’t hurt as much. And we love them anyway. We make them proud to have loved us when they were >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< with us and remember everything they taught us.”

She sniffled again and pushed me away. ‘I hate you sometimes, you know that.’ She wiped away her tears, but a weak smile broke through I could tell she was breaking through the dark cloud.

“No, you don’t.” I teased her.

‘You should go before you’re late.’ She swiped at her face again.

“Do you need me to call someone to keep you company? #Kim id home today…” I offered but she cut me off.

‘Quil is bringing Claire over… >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< We’re going to make jewellery.’ She laughed and I started the optimistic Ness again.

“As long as it's not leather…” I pointed to the cuffs on her wrists. “I think Quil would kill you.”

She shook her head and laughed. ‘No… she had a beading project for school. I said I would teach her since #Emily is so busy.’

“Awesome… Get her to make something pink and sparkle for Leah… she could use the laugh and she can’t say no to that girl.” Then I headed for the trees with the >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

With Ma settled in bed, I left her with #TheKid to get started on making some dinner. I knew that even one night away from home would had been hard on her. So, it would be best not to make her eat anything from outside. And really, I wanted to cook. Ma had always been in love with cooking, for her it was a art form that she would feed those who she loved with. She never backed down from feeding anyone who stepped foot into her home, or if she found out they were -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

under the weather.

She had a fresh chicken and vegetables in her fridge, which meant I got to work on a soup. The chicken went into the oven to roast with some herbs, onion, garlic, and butter. And the veggies I began to clean and chop.

#TheKid came down some time into the day to take ma up some tea, and then returned to help. ‘Ma’s sleeping. She cannot keep her eyes open.’

“It’s been a lot on her body. Sometimes… I guess we forget just how human she really is.”
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

We didn’t say anything else. I cooked and he baked. He wanted to make something, anything, it was more about doing something without time, because if we stopped, we would think, and if that happened. Then we would… I didn’t want to think about it.

Two hours later there was a knock on the door, we found #MsC and #Emily came in with a bag filled with food.

‘Leah. You should be sleeping. We have dinner made.’ I could hear the sounds of a kiddo in the bad, and then -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

he was rushed in on the shoulders of #TheKid making my lips curl up into a smirk.

“I needed something to do.” I told them shredding the chicken.

‘Let’s face it. This house is going to be busy for the next few days. It will add be eaten.’ #MsC said as she was about to sit down on the table. I stopped her.

“No. In the living room. Or you can go and climb into bed with Ma. Your choice.” She smiled patting my cheek.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘With Sue.’ She said. #The Kid handed the kiddo over to me and helped #MsC up to settle her with Ma.

‘Leelee.’ The Kiddo asked.

“Hmm?”

‘Where Ulisi Sue?’ (Grandmother)

“She’s not feeling well kiddo. She’s resting. You can play with Uncle Seth for now, and then later you can see her. Okay?”

‘They—’ I cut #TheKid off.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“Want tea.” Handing the kiddo back over I let #Emily do, her thing I told her she should be resting. And she said the same back to me. As I got to boiling some water for the tea and finish off the big pot of chicken soup.

@HotHeadSheWolf
After my run, I spent a few minutes with Claire at the Black's house, with ended with me covered head to toe in glitter and sporting a fabulous new red and black bracelet.

I made my way home to shower and shave (which I really needed). I knew I wouldn't need to leave out food for #Quil, he mostly ate at Emily's when he had #Bear. Then I changed into my uniform and shot off a text to Leah.

[𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙹𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚎. 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚖 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚒𝚔𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚎𝚢𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎.]

I took my bike to my Mom's but the house was locked up and there was a note on the fridge - she was just as bad at texting as I was - saying Emily had taken her to #Sue's the help 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓚𝓲𝓭𝓼. I laughed and stuffed that into my pocket because would get a kick out of being called a kid. The note also mentioned a language and specific instructions to reheat it in >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< The oven and not the microwave. So. I naturally put a 𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕖 (half) of it into the microwave for five minutes. How had fifteen minutes to wait for a lasagna?

I poured a glass of milk and sorted through the mail. checking on Mom's pill organisers and checking to see which of her prescription needed to be refilled. Until the timer went off and then I sat at the table to eat with my music as loud as my phone would go.

I fucking hated eating alone. Guilt crept in at the >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The mom’s ate their dinner in Ma’s room. The two were catching in low whispers the last time I listened to see if they needed anything. It was a little tricky with #MsC here, Ma couldn’t just say she needed some water and then have me or #TheKid show up with a bottle. So, we had to listen and then go up asking if we heard them in need.

‘I cannot believe even Sue’s frozen soups taste this good.’ #Sam said standing from the table. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

He has arrived here from his run, to check in and then take his wife and son home. However, with dinner on the go. He wasn’t going to leave without eating.

‘No matter what she makes, it’s like eating in the land of the spirits.’ #Emily tasted her husband.

#TheKid glanced up at me from where he stood refilling his and #Sam’s bowl but didn’t say anything to the two. ‘Yeah, The Clearwater’s have magic in their hands.’ He finally said sitting down with the two bowls. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Once dinner was over, Sam said that he would drive #MsC home, however I frowned. Going upstairs to the two. “Hey Beautiful, why don’t you stay here the night? I can make up my bed for you. It would help the Kid and me a lot as your friend here will never listen to us.” Giving her the biggest ‘You would be saving me’ look I could. She had her evening meds with her, and I could drive her back home in the morning in time for her morning ones. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Telling the others of the change of plans, I set my room up for #MsC, giving it a quick dust, changing the covers, and making sure she had everything she needed for a comfortable night. I didn’t know why, But knowing that Embry was working tonight, I just needed these two women where I could see them.

‘I’ll take them up some tea.’ #TheKid told me when I came back down, the house was quite again with the little one gone. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Giving me a moment to check my phone. It had buzzed which I was changing the bed.

Glancing over my shoulder, I stood reading his reply once again before replying.

[𝙸𝚏 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝, 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚝. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙺𝚒𝚍 𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚠, 𝚜𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚔𝚊𝚢. 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚖 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘. 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖. 𝙳𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍. -𝙻]

Unsure how he would take the fact that I have kidnapped his mom, my eyes were on the back yard and the shed. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Slight scent of blood still in the air, however #Jacob and #Ness had done a good job with the clean-up. I knew I would have another go at cleaning in the morning.

‘Hey, are you heading home?’ #TheKid came back into the kitchen with the used cups from the Moms.

“No. I am staying,” I told him.

‘Sis, you were at the hospital last night. Go home, shower, change, sleep. I will be here all night. I am not going anywhere. I got this.’ I knew he did. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

But I couldn’t leave. I just couldn’t.

@HotHeadSheWolf

I looked down at my phone reading her message as I slide the rest of the lasagna back into the oven. The only reason I left any; was so mom would have food when she came home.

[𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚘. 𝙻𝚎𝚝 𝙼𝚘𝚖 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚍. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚍𝚘... 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚘. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎, 𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚑.]

I cleaned my plate and glass and scrawled

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓈 𝑀𝑜𝓂, 𝐼 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊.

On the back of the note that she had written for me.... because I >