The One

Chapter Twenty: Miley

I arrived back in La Push from my weekend in Seattle. Christmas music was playing inside Sam's and everyone was laughing and smiling.

"Miley! Emily had her baby! Emily had here baby!" Brady was jumping up and down so fast and hard that I wondered if he was secretly gay. "Emily had her baby!"

"Miley, come meet my son!" Sam barked from the living room.

He came to me, holding a little bundle of joy. "Meet Alexander Colton Bronson Uley."

I smiled and took the baby. "Awe, Sammy, he's so cute!" I gushed over the baby. "He looks just like you!"

Paul and Leah came out. "Sam, Miles, you coming?" Leah asked.

"I am," Sam and Emily got into their car and Leah made me get in hers. Paul took his motorcycle.

*TWENTY MINUTES LATER*

We pulled into Charlie Swan's driveway. He had helped my mother with Harry's death. He was like a father to me and my biological siblings, even if we didn't see him or Sue much anymore.

"Charlie!" I ran across the ice and-after nearly slipping-I hugged him. "It's so good to see you again!"

"Hey Chief," Seth said. "Where's my mom?"

"Where's the baby?" Renesmee came dancing out of Charlie's. "Awe, baby Alex is so cute!" She cooed.

Sam didn't even supervise her once he gave Alexander to Nessie. He went inside, taking Emily with him.

I met Edward and Alice in the kitchen. "Su'up, leeches?"

Edward grinned and hugged me. "Merry Christmas, Miley."

Alice smiled warmly and pushed Edward out of the way and hugged me. "It's very nice seeing you and the pack better. Oh my God, Alexander is so cute!" She made her way to Nessie and cooed over the baby.

Alice stared at Paul for a few seconds before looking at me and smiling. Edward smiled too.

"Paul has something very special planned, and you'll...no, I better let it stay a surprise. You'll see in about twenty or thirty minutes." He grinned. "You'll love what he has planned."

I sat down next to Seth. "He's cute, baby Alex. He looks just like Sammy."

"I don't get how you get away with calling him Sammy." Seth told me.

I responded "Because I'm the best Clearwater there is" when Sam patted Seth's shoulder and said "She's my favorite, that's how."

"Dinner's ready!" Sue called from the kitchen.

I got myself a plate filled with turkey, chicken, potatoes, corn and steak.

"Sue, how can your kids eat so much?" Charlie looked puzzled.

"Harry was worse," Sue smiled. "Just don't let Seth get hold of the cheese."

Leah gagged. "Mom! Not while we're eating!"

Everyone laughed.

Seth grinned guiltily. "Or chilli."

"Seth Charles Clearwater!" Leah and I yelled and slapped Seth's arms.

Paul's laughed echoed throughout the house and my heart soared. It'd been awhile since I last heard that noise.

The only thing I could imagine was Embry laughing his head off at Seth's pained expression. That image alone made the day better.

I finished eating and was about to put my dishes away when Paul grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him. Sam gave him a reassuring look.

"Miley, in three years alone, you've made my life better. When I saw you that day in the field, I didn't think I'd ever meet you again.

"But then you accepted who I was right away. You protected me even when I didn't need it, just like I did you." He kissed my forehead. "You gave me a reason to live...and a reason to annoy Leah.

"You put up with me when I was drunk. You put up with me on my bad days, sick days, and even my good days." He kissed my cheek. "You even put up with me this year, you put up with all of us. If it weren't for you and Dr. Cullen, I guarantee you there would be no me.

"See, I lost my best friend. I lost my daughter. I lost myself." He cupped my cheeks as tears glistened in both of our eyes. "I found myself again because of you. What I'm trying to say, Miles...is..."

He got down on one knee. "Will you marry me?" He presented me with a diamond ring the shape of a dove, the symbol of love.

I cried and laughed. "Yes!"

Paul kissed me passionately. "I love you, Miley."

"I love you too." I whispered as everyone around us clapped.

Charlie got up and half-hugged Paul. "Welcome to the family, Paul."

I ran over to Sam and hugged him. "Thank you, Sam. For everything you've done for us. Without you, I know Paul wouldn't have grown the balls to do this."

Jared choked on his food. "Did you just use an Embry word?"

"Are you really surprised I would do such a thing?" I asked, taking a piece of chicken off his plate.

Renesmee attacked me with a hug. "Congratulations!"

"I'm going to help plan, right?" Alice added.

"No, you planned mine! I'm planning Miley's!" Bella argued.

"She's my cousin!" Emily argued.

"I believe she's my daughter!" Sue objected.

"Ladies, ladies, you can all plan it!" I told them.

Paul grinned. "You're very popular, Mrs. Lahote."

I blushed. "It's only five girls. And I am not Mrs. Lahote yet."

Edward and I traded smiles. His expression said it all.

Embry would be proud.

And that was the only approval I needed.