Red Room ₪ Breaking Dawn Fanfiction

𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭

Chapter Six — 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭

I thought my fire was out,
and stirred the ashes....
I burnt my fingers.
—Antonio Machado, Times Alone: Selected Poems

Three Weeks Later

"You know, Althea, I wouldn't be surprised if you were already pregnant."

Charlie said it like he was talking about the weather, completely unfazed, as he sat at the kitchen table, drinking his coffee while I scrambled eggs.

I nearly dropped the spatula.

Embry half asleep and hunched over next to the kitchen island with his head in his hands, groaned like he'd just been stabbed. "Kill me now."

To be fair, Embry was in hell. Charlie had walked in unannounced that morning using his emergency key, right as we were mid... well, mid everything. Now, he wouldn't stop talking about it.

"Barefoot and pregnant. After the scene I saw this morning," Charlie muttered, glaring at Embry over the rim of his mug. "I wouldn't be shocked if you managed it."

"Okay, we get it, Uncle Charlie," I said, spinning around to give him a warning glare. "You've said it three times already."

"And I'll say it again," he grumbled. "Are you two at least using protection?"

"Yes. Of course." I lied smoothly, keeping my back to him and focusing way too hard on flipping the eggs.

Embry coughed behind me, and I could practically hear the guilt leaking out of his skin.

"Good," Charlie said. "I'm too young to be a grandpa."

I turned around with a smirk. "I think you're at the perfect age, actually."

Charlie gave me the kind of glare that could make a grown man cry. Embry squirmed.

"Thank you," Charlie said flatly as I placed a plate of food in front of him. "But I'm serious, Althea. No babies until I'm ready."

"So let me get this straight," I said, cocking my head. "I have to wait for you to be emotionally ready to be a grandfather before I'm allowed to get pregnant?"

"Exactly."

Behind me, Embry chuckled.

Charlie narrowed his eyes. "Is there something funny, Embryo?"

I stifled a laugh, biting down on my lip as Embry looked like he wanted to crawl under the table and disappear.

"It's Embry. And no, sir," he mumbled.

I walked over and placed his plate in front of him, kissing his cheek.

"He's only messing with you," I whispered.

Embry smiled shyly, while Charlie just continued to stare at us like we were some kind of science experiment.

"Yes, Uncle Charlie?" I asked, already bracing myself for whatever snarky comment was coming.

"You two remind me of Sam and Emily."

Embry and I exchanged a look.

"I guess that's a compliment?" Embry tried, voice unsure.

"It's not," Charlie replied, deadpan.

Later that day, Embry and I were back at Sam and Emily's house, sitting in the living room while we told the rest of the pack what happened.

"So let me get this straight," Quil said, trying not to choke on his drink. "Chief Swan caught you two in the act and compared you to Sam and Emily?"

Leah, Seth, and Jacob were already howling with laughter.

"It's not funny," I insisted. "Charlie can be mean when he wants to be, especially when it comes to me. You all know he's like a dad to me. And after losing Bella to the sparkly undead, the last thing he wants is Embry taking me away too."

"Poor Charlie," Seth said with a smirk. "One daughter makes a stupid life choice and he starts clinging to the only relative he's got left. Good luck, Embry."

"Maybe he should move in with Billy," Jacob suggested.

"Why would he do that?" Embry asked, frowning. "You and Rachel still live with Billy."

"Nah, Rachel moved in with Paul," Jacob replied, shrugging. "And it'd be a good way to keep the old men out of our business."

"That's... actually not a bad idea," Embry admitted.

"How are you going to convince Billy to invite Charlie to move in?" Seth asked.

"I'll find a way," Jacob said confidently.

Meanwhile, Leah was still shaking her head, smirking. "I'm sorry, I just can't get over Charlie saying you two act like an imprinted couple."

Embry looked down at his hands while I raised an eyebrow.

"Wait," I said, scanning the room. "Do you guys actually think we act like we imprinted?"

Seth nodded. "I mean... sometimes. I've honestly wanted to ask, but I know we'd feel it if it happened."

"You guys definitely act like a couple," Quil added.

"Yeah, you're always touching or looking at each other like you're in a cheesy romance movie," Jacob said.

I looked over at Embry. His face had flushed a little, but he didn't deny it.

"Maybe I'm pregnant," I said suddenly, leaning back on the couch. "That would explain the clinginess."

"You think?" Embry asked, straightening up.

"I mean, it's been three weeks since we started sleeping together."

"Maybe you should take a test," Embry said.

"Maybe I should."

"Just make sure not to buy it locally," Leah warned.

"Yeah," Embry said quickly. "There are already enough rumors floating around."

I groaned. "Ugh. I hate the rez sometimes."

"Well," Leah said, stretching, "we'll all know the minute your scent changes."

"Thanks for that reminder," I muttered.

"So what happens if you are pregnant?" Quil asked.

I looked around at the group, suddenly feeling all their eyes on me.

"I guess... we figure it out," I said. "Embry and I would raise it. With or without a perfect plan."

Embry looked over at me, a small smile playing at his lips. "Together?"

I smiled back. "Together."

That night, as Embry and I lay curled up in bed, I stared at the ceiling, the moonlight streaming in through the window.

"Do you think Charlie will disown me?" I whispered.

Embry tightened his arm around my waist. "No. He loves you. He'll come around."

"Even if we're making a baby?"

Embry was quiet for a moment. Then, "Especially then."

I closed my eyes, trying to imagine a tiny, warm bundle in my arms. Someone who had both of us in them. Someone with my stubbornness and Embry's sweetness.

It didn't feel like a nightmare. It felt like... a beginning.

"Okay," I said softly. "Tomorrow I'll take a test."

Embry kissed my shoulder. "I'm with you no matter what."

And I believed him.