• Note: This is only the first three chapters of the story, read the description for the link to the rest of the story!

    Also, I'm sorry that the wolf pack's thoughts didn't show up in italic like it's supposed to but it'd be such a hassle to do it all over again.


    Chapter 1: Where the Hell is my Happily Ever After Then?

    I’d been so sure that my days of being the bitter one-of-a-kind werewolf were over. That I’d be content to stay in Jacob Black’s pack until I really could hold my temper and stop phasing. I was sure that anything had to be better than being in Sam’s pack, but now I wasn’t completely convinced.

    Listening to Jacob always talk about the baby bloodsucker was one thing. He would go on and on about her in both of his forms. It was another thing entirely to realize that every thought he had really did seem to be about her. Wondering if she was safe, if she was warm, if she needed him… It was sickening. Of course she didn’t need him! Why would some pampered brat need him when she had eight amber eyed vampires watching over her every move. They didn’t sleep, didn’t eat, so when would someone not be watching her in everything she did?

    It was rare that Jacob was in his other form at all now, more intent than ever of spending every waking moment with Renesmee, the little monster he’d wanted to kill only months ago.

    The once (almost) proud alpha was reduced to a bloodsuckers play thing… Or perhaps ‘lap dog’ really was the best word for it. I’d told Jacob I would rather be a lap dog for the blood suckers than be inside Sam’s head again… But was it true? Somehow I wasn’t sure. It was like picking the lesser of two evils.

    Jacob was back to his wolf form for now, as thoughts of cuddling the very child that repulsed me suddenly entered my mind. I knew he’d only be here a few hours at best, long enough to sleep while Renesmee did and then be at that stupid cottage by the time she woke up. I directed my thoughts at him, hoping he heard every bitter word.

    Ouch Leah, that really hurt. The blood sucker’s lap dog? I prefer more of the term guard dog if you don’t mind. Jacob teased, seeming in an eternally good mood these days.

    I don’t see a difference, I replied angrily, laying down with a small huff. I couldn’t help wondering if Jacob was camped outside the blood sucker’s house or if he’d gone home to La Push tonight.

    I’m at home, Jacob answered my thoughts, a little more subdued this time. Is something wrong Leah?

    Of course not, I replied sarcastically, what would be wrong about watching my only friend degrade himself to a submissive pet?

    Only friend? Seth interrupted, clearly hurt. You annoy me sure, but you needn’t be so overdramatic Leah…

    I let a growl escape from my throat, silencing my intrusive brother. Stay out of this Seth.

    Sorry, Seth replied with nearly tangible exasperation. It’s sort of hard to ignore you two arguing when it goes on in my head. Makes it nearly impossible to sleep with you shouting all the time Leah.

    I’m not shouting, I replied with a little more force than was necessary.

    Just because you don’t say it aloud doesn’t mean it’s quiet, Jacob said wisely.

    Fine, then just ignore my shouting, I snapped. Wouldn’t be the first time you ignored me Jacob. I was back to my anger at Jacob, my little brother momentarily forgotten.

    What’s wrong Leah? Jacob repeated in a much softer thought.

    I considered that a moment, thinking about all the things wrong with what was going on. Everyone had gotten their ‘happily ever after’ except me it seemed. Bella and Edward were together forever as it seemed to be meant to be from the very beginning. Bella got to have a daughter, something I was sure I would never have, and that daughter had saved Jacob of all of his previous pain. That little blood-sucking baby had stripped Jacob of the only thing that truly seemed to tie us together.

    All of the blood-suckers were happy now, completely content in their forever paradise. Even Charlie was now content, dating my mother of all people. If they got married… But I didn’t want to even consider that. I couldn’t think about how that would make Bella and I sister-in-laws or how I would be related by law to a coven of blood-suckers. I couldn’t think that if Charlie married my mother Renesmee would be my niece-in-law and would make Jacob my… No, I wouldn’t think about it.

    Even the werewolves had their happily ever after. One by one they seemed to imprint, more by the day. The new additions were enjoying their supernatural power with no fear of actual danger interrupting. There was no tension with the Cullen’s anymore, because after all, no one could go after them once Jacob had imprinted. Was there anyone but me who didn’t have a fairy tale ending?

    Jacob listened to my frustrated thoughts in an uncharacteristic silence. Finally he seemed to regain his composure, obviously a little flustered to have intruded on such private assumptions. At my last words however I could hear his let out his barky laugh, obviously finding something quite funny.

    What’s so funny? I demanded defensively.

    You’re upset because you didn’t get a fairy tale ending? What are you… Five? I thought you were more realistic than expect the knight to come and rescue from this monstrous situation Leah.

    I growled darkly, not at all liking how comical Jacob thought my pain was.

    His laughter stopped, replaced by a more serious mood. Leah, you’re still young… Very young for a werewolf. Give it time… You’re ‘happily ever after’ might just not be ready yet. Someday you’ll have someone you love and who loves you and you’ll never remember the bitterness you’re feeling now.

    Very insightful, Seth complimented.

    Stay out of this Seth, Jacob and I thought together.

    Yes sir, Seth replied, deliberately only listening to Jacob. I could hear Jacob sigh internally.

    That wasn’t an order, he clarified, determined to keep his record clean.

    I know, but I’ll do as you wish… If I can… You two really are very loud. Seth said, his thoughts suddenly disappearing as he changed back to his other form.

    I could see the sun beginning to rise slowly over the horizon, and found no more joy in the sunset than I would have anything else. There just wasn’t anything to be happy about when you were a dud genetically and mentally. It was just plain sad when you were the only one in a fairy tale who didn’t live ‘happily ever after’. Did that make me the villain then? The only one who lost in most fairy tales.

    Look Jacob, I’m sorry, I said at last, staring at the ground. I know you’re happy, and you have every right to be… Even with a half-blood-sucker. I hope that-

    I stopped, realizing the complete emptiness of my mind. That’s right… Sunrise. He must have seen it too, though to him it would just mean Renesmee would be awake soon. So he’d phased back… Completely forgetting the conversation we’d been having moments before.

    Thanks for your concern, I muttered to myself. It really means a lot Jacob...

    -

    Chapter 2: Vampire In-Laws? Not If I Can Help It!

    Awkward… That was the only name for it. Sitting in the Swan residence had always been almost natural to me, but those who took residence there now made it as uncomfortable as it could get. Charlie of course, was the only one who really lived there, but you’d never know. It was nearly every day that my mother was there cooking for Charlie, talking to Charlie, or just plain spending time with him. It was like she’d forgotten completely about her family. Her real family. Not the father of the bloodsucker and his sickeningly sweet granddaughter.

    “Lighten up Leah,” Seth called from across the room, smiling at me hopefully. I glared at him, hoping he felt the full annoyance of my gaze.

    Sue being there wasn’t the strangest part though… It wasn’t what made things so awkward. After finding out that he was a grandfather, Charlie could never seem to get enough of his bouncing no-longer-a-baby granddaughter. Due to his ‘need to know basis’ Charlie still had no idea why Renesmee seemed to grow at such a rapid speed, but he pretended not to care. Still, realizing how fast she was growing only made Charlie (like every other insane person in the world) want to spend every moment he could with Renesmee.

    As if it wasn’t awkward enough to see the very source of my renewed pain each and every day being fawned on by my mother, the brat’s parents were always by her side. Naturally the house reeked of vampire, a fact that no longer seemed to bother Jacob or Seth.

    Bella and Edward sat across from me; both wearing the same dopey grin that I suppose came from eternal happiness. Everyone had it these days… Even Sue.

    Of course, Bella and Edward weren’t the only ones I had to endure by having Renesmee around. Like all imprinted wolves, Jacob was obsessed with staying beside Renesmee at all times. There he was on the floor beside her, reading a book that she could have easily read herself with twice the speed and grace. It had been the bloodsucker’s decision to make Renesmee seem younger than she was around Charlie though. They’d agreed that in around a month she would supposedly learn to read. Originally it had been a further away date, but Renesmee had been irresistible when she pointed out she wanted to show Charlie what she could do.

    That was the thing though, wasn’t it? Everyone was irresistible too… Bella was irresistible to Edward. Edward was perfect to Bella. Jacob was fascinated with Renesmee, and everyone intrigued Renesmee… Everyone but me. Everyone was obsessed or fascinated by someone except me. Maybe I was the only one with a brain… or maybe I was just the only defective one.

    Even to Renesmee, I was just a werewolf. I couldn’t blame her for not liking me, as I detested her, but I kept wondering if things would change if she did. Maybe Jacob would realize that Renesmee is only a baby… Maybe he’d realize that I’m here, the same age as him and the same species as him.

    I knew such a thought was ridiculous though. Jacob had imprinted, and I would never be more than a nagging at the back of his mind again. So what if I’d accomplished my goal of being less annoying than Paul… It wasn’t like that was hard these days.

    Renesmee was walking now, stumbling a few times as her mother and father had suggested before coming to Charlie’s. It was an attempt to look more human, more normal. They would never be normal though, they could never fit in.

    Looking down I was startled to see Renesmee standing beside me, reaching her hand up in her preferred way of talking to people. I was expected to lean down and allow the disgusting bloodsucker to touch my face… I’m sure anyone else would have cuddled and loved her until her parents took her back. I’m quite pleased to say that I am not ‘anyone else’.

    “You can talk,” I reminded her coldly, not in the mood to make the slightest attempt at liking Renesmee. I could see from her expression that the full meaning behind my words had been taken in by the small girl. She knew I didn’t like her, and she knew I wasn’t going to put up with any of her ‘adorable overly beautiful vampire baby’ nonsense.

    Jacob was immediately by her side, giving me an accusatory look before distracting Renesmee with something else. Still, even as Jacob teased and played with Renesmee, the same uneasy look was in her eye. Finally she reached her hand up to touch Jacob’s face, and he willingly leaned down so she could reach.

    His eyes went unfocused for a moment before he pulled away in surprise. Looking up at me he looked confused, almost worried. Finally he looked back at Renesmee, shaking his head. Even as much as I hated the girl, I felt sorry for her when the look of explicit sadness crossed her face.

    Bella and Edward knew that they had any number of babysitters available to them, but they had decided to leave Renesmee here of all places while they ran an errand. I snorted, trying to imagine anything important enough to draw the Cullen’s from their precious baby.

    “Be good Nessy,” Edward said, kissing his daughter on the forehead. Bella no longer seemed to mind her daughter’s nickname, bending down to hug her tightly.

    “Mind Jacob,” She said as sternly as her bell-toned voice could sound. Renesmee nodded that she understood, watching her parents curiously as they left the house.

    Jacob went back to playing a guessing game with Renesmee, giving hints while she made her guess by touching his face. Sometime in the next half hour Charlie and Sue wandered to the kitchen on the pretext of dinner. This left me in my least favorite way… Surrounded by Seth, Jacob, and the smallest bloodsucker.

    Renesmee stopped her game with Jacob, still seeming preoccupied. She stood, moving gracefully to stand in front of me. There was a strangely determined look in her small face that even I had to admit was rather adorable.

    “You don’t like me, do you.” She said. From her tone I knew it was a statement, not a question.

    “No,” I agreed, ignoring Jacob’s furious look.

    “Why?” She asked quietly.

    I was quiet, trying to sort this out. Why didn’t I like Renesmee exactly? I couldn’t exactly say it was because she stole Jacob from me… Someone couldn’t steal something you never had to begin with. Besides, it had been me that told Jacob to imprint and get on with his life. I had told Bella to stop acting so happy every time she saw him. I should be overjoyed for my friend that he now had eternal love just like every other couple that surrounded me. I should be like Seth, happy for everyone even though I had virtually nothing to make me that way.

    Thankfully, I was saved the trouble of answering. At that moment Charlie and Sue returned, matching smiles of delight on both of their faces.

    “Seth, Leah, we have something we want to tell you.” Sue said, her voice happier than I could remember it being since my father had died.

    She didn’t have to say it… I knew what was coming. From the way Charlie was supportively holding our mother’s hand and the dopey smiles of happiness on their faces there was only one choice. All the same, I listened reluctantly as my mother delivered her news.

    “Charlie has proposed to me,” Sue said, taking further delight in Seth’s expression of first surprise, and then matching happiness. “And I’ve accepted. We’re going to be married.”

    Seth leaped to his feet, embracing both my mother and Charlie in the same hug as he allowed a similar smile of pleasure to slip on his face. His was different from theirs in only one way though… It wasn’t his happiness he was smiling about, it was theirs. Seth could be happy even if the world was coming to an end… I was sure of it.

    The other thing I was sure of though, was that I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t thrilled by this news. Even though he’d never say it, would probably never think it, Seth didn’t like the idea of our mother getting remarried. Even into the bloodsucker family he loved so much, Seth thought Sue was forgetting Harry much too soon.

    Though we had different reasons for disliking this idea, I knew we’d be together in trying to stop it. If she really thought I was going to be vampires for in-laws, she didn’t know me very well.

    -

    Chapter 3: Preparing For A Wedding Can Be Difficult… Stopping One Is Worse.

    I still don’t think we should try to get in the way Leah, Seth thought hesitantly. Mom seems really happy… If Charlie’s helping her get over dad’s death, maybe it’s for the best.

    Sue doesn’t know what makes her happy. It’s just because she’s lonely. We’re never home anymore so she turned to the only other person as lonely as her right now. I argued patiently. I had known from the beginning that Seth would be difficult to convince on my plan. He wasn’t one to stop someone else’s happiness, especially our mothers.

    I dunno, you seem to be pretty lonely, an intrusive voice spoke up teasingly.

    Stay out of this Jacob, no one asked you. I snapped.

    Really Leah, breaking up your own mother’s wedding? Why can’t you just wait patiently like everyone else for your “Happily Ever After” to come? Why ruin someone else’s? Jacob asked sternly.

    Watch it pup, I’m still older than you. I reminded him.

    And I’m still the Alpha. Just listen for a minute Leah.

    No.

    I started to phase back into my human form, but quickly returned to a wolf as Jacob began a hurried defense anyway. I refused to be like him… I’d finish a conversation before phasing back no matter how preoccupied I was.

    Leah, Seth, just think about it before you go ruining your mother’s bliss. Harry’s gone… I’m just as sad as you two to say that, he was a wonderful person. But he can’t come back, and Sue isn’t the type to sit around looking for pity. She doesn’t want to be thought of as a mourning widow the rest of her life. She has a life, a spirit still, and Charlie brings out all the best aspects of her.

    I could practically hear Seth listening to this reason, realizing too late how hard Jacob was making my job of convincing him. Jacob, I don’t think that proves anything.

    It does though, it really does. Charlie and Sue love eachother… You can see it in the way they move, the way they talk. It’s not quite as strong as what Bella and Edward have, and can’t compare to imprinting, but it’s there.

    I started to argue, but he hurried on.

    If humans could imprint Leah, they would imprint on each other the moment they first saw one another and you know it.

    I wanted to tell him he was wrong, but I couldn’t. I did know that my mother hadn’t been happier in years than she was right now. I did know that their love went as strong as the non-supernatural could. I knew it, but I wouldn’t admit it. Unfortunately, you didn’t have to admit anything when two other people shared your thoughts. The silence coming from Jacob’s mind was somehow smug, realizing he’d won the argument. As if to drive his point home, he continued.

    They’re not immortal Leah, they don’t have forever. The longer you prolong their happiness the less time they’ll have to enjoy it. You’ve got the rest of eternity to be bitter if you want, but don’t take the few years they might have had real bliss.

    A thick silence followed this as I thought desperately for some argument. I knew it was a fruitless effort though, Jacob was right no matter how I looked at it.

    What type of gift should we get mom for a wedding present? Seth interrupted the silence at last. It seemed this was his way of letting me know which side of the argument he was on.

    Maybe a necklace? Jacob suggested.

    I ignored the two them as they discussed presents, my thoughts hovering around the approaching wedding. It was hard to stand just knowing that it was coming.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    “I think it makes the most sense for Leah to be the Maid of Honor, don’t you?” Charlie said later that day, discussing the wedding tenderly with his soon-to-be bride.

    “Of course,” Sue agreed easily. “So then, who will be the Best Man?”

    “Billy,” Charlie replied firmly.

    “And of course Bella will be a bridesmaid,” Sue went on, “And the ring bearer should be…” She hesitated, thinking about this.

    “Seth,” Charlie prompted quickly. “He’s the youngest male, and he’d look dashing doing it I’m sure.”

    “Then the flower girl will be Renesmee, right? She’d be absolutely adorable doing it.” Sue gushed.

    “I’ll have to ask Bella of course, but I’m sure that could be arranged,” Charlie said with a nod.

    I listened, finding myself completely bored by this conversation. Though Seth had full enthusiasm in the wedding now that Jacob had pointed out its good points, I wasn’t convinced. Renesmee was my own personal reminder for what was to come. I would be related to the bloodsuckers.

    “Oh, Sue, I have something to ask you.” Charlie said, his voice becoming uncomfortable. I sat up suddenly, hoping it was a topic that could lead to arguing.

    “Yes?”

    “Well… You remember Alice, right? Edward’s sister, short black hair… rather outgoing?” Charlie said hesitantly.

    “Of course I do, Alice is a lovely person.” Sue said with a nod. I thought I could detect an unease discussing the vampire, something I enjoyed.

    “Well… I quite like Alice. More than Edward quite honestly. She’s helped in some very rough times, and she’s quite good at persuading people. You see, she rather likes planning things. Parties, get togethers… Weddings…” Charlie continued.

    “Alice asked to plan our wedding?” Sue summarized with a sigh.

    “Sort of,” Charlie admitted. “Rather, I agreed to it. I’m still not entirely sure how it happened… one minute I was telling her that I needed to talk to you first, and the next I was agreeing to let her handle ‘everything’.” Charlie said sheepishly.

    Sue considered this a moment, and I hoped more than anything she was angry.

    “That was nice of her,” Sue said at last, “That’s alright Charlie, she did a lovely job on Bella’s wedding. I trust her to do the same on ours.”

    I knew my mouth was hanging open, though I couldn’t make myself care. Seth’s accusatory gaze was on me, though I ignored this too. I couldn’t accept that this was really happening… That they were getting married and not even a vampire running it could change my mother’s mind. It was possibly then and there that I really accepted it. I wasn’t going to be able to stop this wedding… Not without making my mother miserable.

    And if I did that? If I threw a fit like I was five years old again and convinced her we would all be miserable if she married Charlie, then what would I be?

    I knew the answer to that. I would indeed be the villain… I would be the one without the “Happily Ever After” just like I deserved. I would be the one ruining the little happiness that was left in a world of discord and hate. Just because all of the love left in the world seemed to be in the area I lived in didn’t mean I was the only one who hadn’t found their true love. I refused to cast myself as the villain of a fairy tale though. From now on I would be like Seth… Happy just because everyone else was.....