DISCLAIMER: Stephenie Meyer, along with Little, Brown and Company, owns all the rights to the Twilight Saga. I own nothing and profit nothing from this story.

Author's Note: Hello all! So this story got put on hold way longer than I expected. But its return has finally come. Thank you for being so patient with me. To get the story going, we're skipping two years into the future.

Recap of last happenings in Following Fate: Embry and a pregnant Bella are married and living in Olympia expecting their twins. Then John, Bella's once friend turned stalker, kidnaps Bella. After a week, she goes into labor while trapped. Just in time, Edward saves her from John and takes her to the hospital. There she gives birth to Masen Emmanuel and Emmalynn Marie Call on Halloween.

Pack children with ages for this chapter:

Sam and Emily – Brayden, about to turn 3

Jared and Kim – Jordan and Jamey, 2 years and 9 months

Embry and Bella – Masen and Emmalynn, 2 years old

Two years later –

The bell rang and Winter break had arrived. Thank God. I wanted to hurt a few kids the last couple of days before the break. My fifth graders crapped out on me, not wanting to do any work the last week. I understood the feeling. Especially since, because of the weird academic calendar, the last week would count on the upcoming third nine weeks that would mostly fall after the break. But I didn't want us to fall behind, so I had to push them. I treated them to a party on the last day as incentive to get them rolling that limbo week.

After cleaning everything up, I headed out to my car. I loaded my things in the seat next to me and started the engine. I made the drive to Kim's house. She was my savior. She watched the twins every day for me, in addition to watching Brayden and her own two boys.

Over the last two years, I had grown to appreciate my family, which certainly included the pack, very, very much. Embry and I would have gone crazy without all of their help.

The day after the twins arrived, Renée arrived in Olympia. I thought for sure after missing a week of classes and now having to take car of the twins that I would have to drop the semester. But my mom came to the rescue.

"Bella, I know this all happened so quickly that you probably haven't a chance to really think about it, but do you know what you're going to do about the rest of the semester?"

"I guess I'll have to drop," I said, while nursing Emmalynn. I concentrated on my daughter and avoided eye contact. This was what Charlie and Renée were both worried about – that school would somehow get pushed aside.

I could feel Embry's stare, so I looked up. He had a remorse look on his face as he rocked back and forth with Masen in his arms. No matter what I said, a small part of him blamed himself for not being there. I knew it was something he'd have to work out himself.

"Can't you just make up the work, Bella? I mean, it's not like you don't have a good excuse."

"Sure, I can make up that work, but what about the rest of the semester? I have to go to class, but, Embry, we can't afford a babysitter, especially since I'd probably have to quit the job at the library."

"There has to be a way, Bella. You can't quit. This is your last semester."

"Maybe by January we can have a plan and I can finish then."

"Wouldn't you have to redo all the work you've already done?"

"Yeah," I said weakly.

"I think I have a solution," my mom said, looking pensive.

"And what might that be?" I asked, weary of her answer. Renée had weird answers to things growing up, and I doubted that characteristic of her had changed any.

"I can come live with you until you graduate," she said, smiling.

I lay there a second, with my jaw slightly ajar, trying to process what my mom had just suggested.

"That's perfect," Embry exclaimed loudly, waking a cranky Masen. "Oh, hey, buddy. Daddy's sorry. I didn't mean to wake you," he cooed to our son. I turned away from them back to Renée.

"Um, Mom, we live in a one bedroom apartment. There's not room for the twins, much less you."

"I can see on the couch. I don't mind. And I'm sure we can work to find room for the babies."

"What about work, and Phil?"

"He'll understand. And, honestly, I was thinking of quitting already. The place is a little too stuffy for me."

"It's a law firm, Mom. There're supposed to be stuffy. And I thought you like that job."

"I did the first couple of months, but then things slowed down and now it's just boring." My mother, the perpetual child, everyone.

"Can Embry and I talk about it alone for a second?"

"Sure, baby. I'll go get some coffee. Either of you want anything?"

"Hot chocolate would be great, thanks."

"Embry?"

"No thanks, Renée."

"Okay, be back in a bit," she said, walking out of the room.

"Bella, why won't you let her come?"

"I don't know. It's just going to be so cramped."

"Well, your lease is signed until the end of December. And another place would make you sign a new lease for at least three months. We only need a month and half. It would be stupid of use waste that money."

"I know," I sighed. I noticed Masen wiggling around in Embry's lap. "Here, switch with me. He's probably about hungry again." He handed me Masen and I handed him Emmalynn.

"Hello, baby girl."

"So you think we should accept her offer?"

"Yeah, Bella, it would help tremendously. We wouldn't have to pay for daycare or a babysitter, you would get to go to school and we would help from someone who's done the baby thing before."

"What about work?"

"I wish I could say you could quit, but having that extra money would help out a lot. I hate to dip into our savings. That's supposed to help us secure a place in La Push when we move back. Maybe you could just work Tuesdays and Thursdays all day and give up your normal weekend shifts."

"Yeah, maybe that could work. So Renée has them all day by her self from when I leave around seven-thirty…"

"…until I get home around three. Then you'll get home around eight on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and around five on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

"I'm never going to be home to see them," I whined.

"You'll get the weekends with them completely and the very long nights as well. You'll be running out the door to get peace in quiet after the first week, I bet. And it's only for six weeks, Bella. Then, when we get back to La Push, things won't be so expensive and you can stop working until the school year starts."

"You're right. That's pretty much how things need to go."

"I can see if my boss has any overtime-work available. Sometimes he has jobs on the weekend. I could take a few of those shifts to get us a little extra saved up."

"You don't need to overwork yourself, Em."

"Bella, I'm a wolf. I can handle a little manual labor."

A knock at the door sounded. "You guys decide anything?" Renée asked, walking back into the room.

"Yeah, we'd greatly appreciate you coming to stay with us," I told her. Her face lit up with a big smile.

"Good, because I want to see my grandbabies as much as I can before I go home."

There's no way Embry and I could have done it without her there. We all struggled, especially me, but we made it to my graduation. I proudly walked across that stage and received my diploma. I had never had to work so hard for something in my life. I felt exhausted pretty much twenty-four seven, but tucking the twins into bed each night made it all worth it.

I pulled up to Jared and Kim's house. Hearing the laughter, I walked around the house and into the backyard. There I saw my babies trying to run after their older friends. Each toddler struggled running with the many layers they wore.

"Bella," Kim greeted me.

"Hey, Kim. How did they do today?"

"Good like always. Unlike my two who decided that finger paint goes in each other's hair."

I snorted, picturing that image.

"What color?"

"Jordan wore red, while Jamey sported the blue."

"You should learn to control your children, Kim. I don't want them corrupting mine," I laughed.

"Oh stop," she said, swatting me with her hand.

"Momma," a little voice squealed. I turn to see my Emma running toward me. I catching her in my arms, I gave her a kiss.

"How is my baby girl today?"

"Good. We paint," she said, showing me her still slightly stained yellow hands.

"I see. Did you paint a pretty picture?"

She nodded.

"Me up," a demanding voice sounded from below. My Masen stood tugging on my jacket.

"You're too big to hold at the same time. Emma, let me get some sugar from your brother." That bottom lip came out, but unfortunately for her, it was her father that only fell for that lip every time. "You say good bye to the boys and to Aunt Kim."

"Yes, 'am." I sat her down and picked up my son. He giggled while I showed him with little kisses.

"Were you a good boy?"

"Yep," he grinned.

"You ready to go home?"

"Yep."

"Can you say something else?"

"Yep," he said, laughing.

"Silly boy, what am I going to do with you?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Go say good bye and we'll leave."

Masen ran off to Jordan and Jamey. I saw Emmalynn giving Kim a hug and I looked down to see Brayden staring up at me.

"Can I help you, Bray?"

"Mase and Emmy are coming to my party?"

"Yes, we'll all be there." Brayden turned three the next day, and every day for the past week, he would ask to make sure my two were coming to his birthday party.

"Good. It no fun without them."

"Don't worry. They wouldn't miss it."

"Emmy didn't eat all her lunch." The ever responsible Brayden. The boy took his job as eldest very seriously. He reminded everyone of a miniature Sam. The serious toddler took the lead, the responsibility and even the blame for his mini-pack.

"Oh really?" Emmalynn approached us.

"She ate the bread and not the meat."

"Brayden," my daughter whined.

"My dad says you eat all to get big."

"You not my boss."

Kim and I both raised our brows as we watched amused as the argument between toddlers continued. Emily, Kim and I had all agreed that we should let the kids work out any problems they have by themselves and only intervene when needed. We figured if we started when they were young, they would develop into more independent, mature teenagers and then adults. At least, that was our hope.

"I just help," Brayden huffed.

"I no want your help."

"But, Emmy–" The other three had slowly made their way to the two in dispute

"Brayden, leave Emma alone," Jordan said, taking a step in front of Emmalynn. "You not the boss of all us. Emma can do what she wants."

"I'm the oldest."

"So?" Jordan questioned.

"Fine, don't eat," Brayden said, stalking off to the porch. He sat by the door with his back facing us.

"Well then, I guess I'd better take these two home before any other fights erupt."

"Yeah, I guess so. We'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Kim. Bye, boys."

"Bye, Aunt Bella," Jordan and Jamey said together.

I buckled the twins into their seats in the back. Then we drove the short drive to the house. After getting them out, we walked inside. I put a movie on for them in the living room so I could start on dinner.

An hour later, I was setting the table. I heard the front door open and close.

"Bella?"

"Kitchen," I called back.

"Daddy!" Both twins squealed loudly.

"Hello to both of you," he said. He walked into the kitchen with one under each arm.

"Hello to you too, baby," Embry said, leaving a kiss on my cheek.

"Hey, Embry. You got home later than normal today. Anything wrong?"

"Nope, just the opposite."

"Really, what happened?"

"I got a promotion," he said, smiling brightly.

"You got a promotion to what?"

"You're looking at the new assistant site manager."

"What does that mean?" I knew very little about construction.

"It means more money, more responsibility. I'll be paid salary instead of hourly, which is great because any day it rains too much and we can't work, I'll still get paid for it. Boss wants me to take the contractor's exam in the next few months if I do a good job with this."

"And that would mean…"

"I would be site manager, running my own site. And that, my dear, would be an even bigger pay raise."

"Like 'buy a house of our own' kind of raise?"

"Exactly like 'buy a house of our own' kind of raise."

"Oh my gosh. This is fantastic. Now I wish I would have cooked something a little more extravagant to celebrate."

"We're not at 'buy a house of our own' yet. Just at 'we can start a college fund for the twins' with the current raise."

"Still, Embry, even this assistant promotion sounds great."

"I hungry," Emma complained.

"Maybe if you ate all your lunch, you wouldn't be."

"Stupid Brayden," she muttered.

"Emmalynn Marie Call," Embry snapped.

"Yes, Daddy?"

"We don't call people stupid."

She nodded with her eyes cast to the ground. Embry shot me a look, questioning his daughter's words. I mouthed, 'I'll tell you later.' He nodded.

"Well, let's get to eating to then," he said.

We all sat down at the table and began to eat. Just the first day of what would be a long winter break.

Author's Note: I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to finish this story. I know what the next few chapters will entail – the ups and downs of winter break. But beyond that, I don't know if I'll stay with this timeline or kind of skip around, so we get a look at how the lives of the Embry, Bella and the pack progress over a larger amount of time. Let me know what you think. Just stay in the now for this story or spend a couple of chapters each on certain times in their lives.