A/N: Any wolves you recognize from The Twilight Saga belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Basically everything else, including past and present wolf pack members, imprints, wolf families, and additional characters in this story belong to the universe created by the amazing, brilliant, and wonderfully talented yay4shanghai! She even has dibs on the plot… I just wrote it :)

Happy Holidays! I hope you enjoy this. I'll update this once a week, probably every Friday.

As always I recommend you read the other spinoffs by liljenrocks, ari11990, AsagariMelody, Guzhong, and twihardcaligurl. They are fantastic and worth taking the time to read.

Also, thanks laurazuleta18 for asking me to write this!

Thanks for being my beta yay4shangai, you truly are absolutely fabulous!

I Have Always Loved You

10 December 2028

The moment I woke up I felt it. It's what woke me in the first place; the aching gnawing sensation that was tying my stomach up in tight clenching knots. It was earlier than I usually woke. I was sure of that because my room was still dark and generally when I get up it's brightly lit from the sun shining in through my window or there is at least a muted grey glow during overcast and winter days like this one. I also knew because other than the soreness in my tummy, I was still sleepy and I was never sleepy in the morning.

I curled up in a ball, very slowly inching my legs up against my chest with my knees bent under my chin and slipping a hand in between to place on the source of my discomfort attempting to hold it in place from where it was surly withering to escape. Even moving that much was excruciating and I fought the urge to cry out.

My head was throbbing too. A dull ache between my eyes and on the sides that felt like a steady build up of pressure pushing outward punctuated with intense pulses crushing inward. It seemed like my skull was a balloon being filled with periodic gushes of water and it was at the point where another surge would pop it, releasing its contents to spray everywhere.

I turned my face to bury it in my pillow, seeking the residual warmth from where my cheek had just been. This offered little relief when it was nothing more than a poor imitation of the true comfort I sought; the familiar and warmer heat that Taylor's touch provided. Not to mention the pillow did nothing except add a feeling of suffocation to the list of aches plaguing me this early morning.

It wasn't getting any better the longer I lay in bed. I wasn't sure what to do, but I couldn't get up to look for my parents either; it was too painful. I took several deep breathes, inhaling the scent of the yellow and orange butterflyweed flowers Taylor brought over for me a few days ago after I mentioned thinking they were funny looking, but very pretty. He said the reminded him of the sun and that always makes him think of me; I giggled and blushed a warm red when he told me that. I focused on breathing in more of their light fragrance while trying not to start crying. I had a feeling that would only make the throbbing worse.

"Mommy," I eventually whined, barely louder than a whisper. It hurt to talk any louder and even that much made me whimper.

My door opened seconds later and the overhead light switched on. From my position I only needed to pry my eyes open from where I had them scrunched tight against the on slaughter of brightness, to see my mother framed in the doorway. I blinked a few times then squinted with a frown while I looked at her because the added light made the thumping in my head worse. She had a headband on to keep her short cropped hair out of her face, but a few tangled strands had come loose and were plastered across her wrinkled sweaty brow like streaks of dirt. There were dark circles under her concerned eyes which were alert, despite her overall tired appearance. She was still wearing one of dad's old Quileute Tribal School grey gym shirts that I had seen her in the day before only now it was a little more rumpled and there was a suspicious maroon stain dribbled down the front of it.

I was the youngest of the triplets and my big brothers, Levi and Dev, had been sick with some sort of stomach flu for the last two days so she and dad were taking care of them. Mom made me stay away from them as much as possible, since I hadn't gotten it with them. She and dad were hoping it would skip me all together. I hated being apart from them. We usually did everything together, but this time I was left out.

Mom did most of the nursing because dad was busy with me. It was winter out and there had been a lot of snow this year so I was stuck inside, alone, unless he would take me out or play indoor games with me. I would rather Tay have been the one to keep me company, but he is taking college classes in Port Angeles so he's too busy during the day. He's like another big brother and he's my favorite one because he's also my best friend.

He comes over all the time and always hangs out with me. I love that he gives me lots of big cuddly hugs. They're the best kind of hugs too; they make me feel all warm and gooey inside like chocolate chips in fresh baked cookies. When he can't come over he calls and we always talk until mom or dad make us hung up. Tay never tries to end the conversation first.

Mom took in my appearance with a single assessing glance and rushed over to crouch beside my bed. She gently brushed the thick mass of straight shiny ebony hair I inherited from the Varn side of my family away from my face; I also got my lighter russet skin from them. The warmth of her hand was soothing and I sighed softly as it settled on my forehead and eased the pounding I felt there. Her hand was small and rough with calluses, but at least it was the right temperature and lovingly familiar. It was no more than a weak substitute for the solace I really wanted, but it would do for now.

"Oh honey, not you too." She leaned over me and lightly kissed my right temple next to my hairline then continued stroking my head as she sat back on her heels.

"I don't feel good Mommy," I groaned out pitifully. Saying the words made me wince as a stab of pain sent shocks radiating from my gut. I pulled my legs up even tighter hoping to stop it and prevent more of them from happening again.

"I know hun. I've got something that will make you feel better," she reassured me as she stood up. I followed her movement with my eyes, afraid to move or talk again in case that made it worse. "I left the medicine in the boy's room… I'll be right back with it," she explained as she quickly flew from the room.

Without her, the hammering come back twice as bad as before. I shut my eyelids to block out the piercingly bright light. It didn't really help. Precious seconds ticked by while I waited for her to return and I remained frozen until she did.

Hearing her footsteps beckoned me to search her out again until my gaze landed on her youthful and petite, for a wolf, frame. She was standing just to the left of the doorway in front of my short wooden dresser; it was painted white to match my toy box and nightstand. I watched as she poured some dark crimson syrup into a tiny clear plastic measuring cup. She looked at me and smiled before setting the brown glass bottle down on my dresser.

"Mel, I need you to sit up for me. Can you do that?" She asked quietly as she screwed the lid back on the bottle with one hand, the other still holding my medicine.

I nodded when she looked at me and carefully rolled my torso up then scooted back to lean against the wall with my legs pulled up and my arms wrapped around my middle again. My twin bed didn't have a headboard; I didn't want the walls covered. They were splatter-painted in various shades of orange, bright red, and white on a sunshine yellow background. Mark, Tay, and their friend Jace helped us redecorated mine and my brothers' rooms a few months ago for our fifth birthdays and they let us help with the painting in here. I love the room and loved getting to help. It was a lot of fun, especially since Tay let me sit on his shoulders so I could reach the higher parts and didn't get mad when I dripped paint in his hair or anywhere else on him.

Mom walked over and sat next to me on the edge of the bed. She reached the little medicine cup out to my lips, holding it for me and tilted it up when I opened my mouth. The cherry flavored liquid was thick and coated the inside of my mouth and throat as I swallowed it. It was strange, but not all that gross.

After setting the cup on my nightstand, mom helped tuck me back under the covers. Once I was settled, she started running her fingers through my hair. It made my scalp tingle and lessened my headache a bit, but it had no affect on my twisted, compressed abdomen.

"It'll take a little while to kick in… I'm sorry, baby," mom told me looking worried and in pain herself. "Do you want to try eating something—crackers or bread?"

"No, it hurts too much," I moaned, holding my belly tighter at just the thought of trying to keep something down.

"Okay… I wish there was something else I could give you to get rid of it." Her eyebrows drew together and the creases above them deepened further.

We sat in silence for a little while and I watched the wall across from me as natural light gradually filtered through the haze outside to trickle in.

"Do you want Daddy to come sit with you?" She spoke, breaking the silent spell. When I shook my head, she added, "or is there anything else that I can get you?" Mom asked, but looked like she already knew the answer.

"Yes—I want Taylor," I whimpered, thinking about how I knew he would make me all better if he were here. She sighed and I gave her a pleading look, hoping she would get him for me.

Tay always took care of me and fixed my bumps and bruises. He was my protector and he was good at it. He was always close by when we went to the beach, so I never even had a change to fall down because he would catch me first. When I fell off my bike and skinned my knee, he cleaned and kissed it making all the pain disappear. And last time I was sick he rubbed my tummy and the heat of his hand made me all better.

"He can't come right come right now. Mel, you know he's got classes all day, but he was planning on stopping by tonight. You'll get to see him then, alright?" She carefully explained, upset about not being able to give me something that I wanted when I was in pain.

"Please… just call and tell him I'm sick," I begged in a whisper already knowing she wouldn't, but trying anyways because I knew he would come if I asked him to.

"Why don't you try and get some rest, honey. We'll see how you feel after a nap then decide… how does that sound?" She questioned, obviously wishing I would agree with her suggestion.

"Okay… will you ask Daddy to sit with me then?" I went along with a nap because I was tired and if I couldn't have my Taylor medicine right now, I was hoping sleep would help me forget about my belly, but I didn't want to be alone and dad was a closer alternative for Tay than mom was. I was also knew that he would call Tay when I woke up, so arguing was just going to make me have to wait even longer to see him.

"Of course… I'll go check on the boys and send him back here." She patted my head one last time and stood up. I watched her grab the medicine cup and bottle as she made her way from the room.

I closed my eyes while I waited, but I was anxious to hear how they were feeling today and without mom's warmth, I hurt worse.

"How are they?" I asked when dad entered, opening my eyes again to see him pause in the door to turn off the light before making his way over to me. He looked just as tired and rumpled as mom did.

"Fine, honey… they're much better, so don't worry about them… just close your eyes and go to sleep," he whispered softly as he climbed in bed with me and wrapped me in a little heated cocoon made out of his arms. It helped me drift off while breathing in his familiar fall and pumpkin pie scent.

I didn't feel any better when I woke up. I had uncurled my body and my back was pressed against my dad still. Considering he was still watching over me, I don't think very much time had past or he would have probably needed to leave in order to relieve mom and check on Dev and Levi.

I went to roll over but it felt like my entire abdominal area was being wrung like a wet towel. I gasped at the suddenness and clutched at my stomach, folding in half again.

"Mel? Honey, are you okay?" His concerned voice sounded a little frantic and his hands rapidly moved over me to check for himself.

"Daddy, my tummy still hurts… really bad… I need Tay—he always makes me feel better," I groaned through clenched teeth and between whimpers. I was on the verge of tears because I wanted him so much and was certain he would take the pain away. There was nothing Taylor couldn't do.

"Okay, Mel. I'll call him and let him know you're sick… see if he can make it here as soon as his last class gets out instead of waiting until dinner, but I can't promise anything. Be right back," he told me tenderly then disappeared out the door.

A few minutes later mom came in and told me Taylor would be over as soon as he got done. I was disappointed I had to wait and I didn't want my belly to keep hurting until he got here. When I said as much, mom made me take some more medicine. After that, she tried, unsuccessfully, to convince me to eat a few saltines or sip some ginger ale. She was in the middle of begging me when she stopped then shook her head smiling at me.

"Looks like you're in luck, Mel," she said as she walked out of my room, closing the door behind her.

I was confused about what she meant by that. It had only been about twenty minutes, so he wouldn't be here yet. A knock sounded at the front door just after I thought that. Taylor! It had to be him, it just had to be.

Just thinking about him being here and getting to see him made me feel a lot better. Not enough to get up and see for myself, but better than I had. I heard voices in the hallway and I strained to make out the words. I didn't have to try for long because they were getting louder, as if the people were walking towards my room and stopped just outside my door. I heard another door open and shut.

"Hey Michael… how are they doin' in there?" The voice was still too muffled to make out clearly. It made me want to call out for him to see if he was really here.

"They're good. I think they'll be over it by tomorrow," I heard dad say. "You sure got here fast…but aren't you supposed to be in class right now?" He asked, chuckling. It must be Tay, what he said wouldn't make sense for anyone else. My heart rate sped up in anticipation.

"She's more important—you know that," Tay said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I love him so much for that. He's the most important person in the world to me too, although I would never admit that to Levi or Devlin, they came in just behind him—tied.

"I know and I love you for it, but don't mess up your schooling. You have finals next week and flunking out won't help her any…not to mention what Kim would say if that happened," mom told him affectionately, softening the serious words. I could have told her that would never happen; Tay was way too smart to fail.

"Don't worry," he chuckled confidently then rushed to add, "I emailed my afternoon Profs letting them know it was a family emergency…I'm good to go." He explained simply, opening the door as he said it. I saw him shrug at my parents before his head turned to see me. He didn't have a shirt on and I could see little water spots from where the snow flakes had melted against his skin.

My room was small, but once he stepped in, the room shrank further, until his tall toned body became the focal point. This always happened; it didn't matter if the room was the size of a broom cupboard or if we were outside in an open meadow, there was just something about his presence that dominated over everything else.

"Mellie! Hey sweetie… how are you feeling?" He sounded so very worried, as his long lashed gaze roamed over my entire person. In that short amount of time all of the water managed to evaporate from his skin.

"I don't feel good, Tay. I need you!" I exclaimed holding my arms out for him. He was there in a flash, carefully scooping me up and sitting down half-reclining himself with me in his lap huddled close. I buried my face in his neck sucking in deep whiffs of his refreshing aroma.

"I heard about that… that's why I'm here," he whispered, gently and lovingly stroking my hair. "Where does it hurt sweetie?" He urged me to tell him so he could help.

"My belly," I said pointing to it. He moved his other hand to the spot immediately and lightly traced small circles. The warmth was incredibly soothing. I sighed in relief feeling a little better with each revolution of his hand.

We sat like that for a while before Taylor asked, "how's that sweetie? Are you feeling any better…is this helping?"

"Thanks, Tay," I said nodding into his neck.

"Will you eat some crackers for me?" He asked, reaching for some when I nodded. I knew I could with him here and that it would make him happy if I did.

I munched on crackers while he told me about his morning, including walking out in the middle of a lecture when my dad called; that even made me giggle.

Taylor stayed the rest of the day with me. I made him tell me stories because I didn't feel up to talking, but most of the time was spent quietly lying in his arms where his comforting heat worked to loosen the bound and tied loops of my stomach. He didn't leave me once, not even to check on my brothers, whom I know he adores almost as much as me.

In the early evening, usually when we have dinner, I was beginning to dose off. Tay made me take some more medicine and waited in the hall while I changed into a clean night shirt. It was one of his old t-shirts and it fell down past my knees and my little hands only just stuck out past the ends of the sleeves. He gave me a bunch of them after I told him I needed something of his to help me sleep at night and keep the bad dreams away when he couldn't be here.

My parents came back to tuck me in and wish me sweet dreams and Tay slid in with me after changing out of his low hung denim jeans and into a pair of my dad's navy basketball shorts; the blue jeans chaffed my skin and Taylor got upset when that happened. He rubbed my belly again like he had off and on all day, knowing the extra moving around and being away from him had made it worse again.

"Will you stay with me tonight? I need you to watch over me… you keep the pain away; it makes me feel better," I whispered up to him heavy-eyed and punctuated with a long yawn. I blinked several times very slowly, each one taking longer than the last as I waited for his answer.

"I'll always be here if you want me to be," he promised simply, but I heard the strength behind the words and knew that he meant it and I could always trust him to keep that promise.

"I love you, Tay." I told him sweetly.

I reached up to link my arm around his neck and pull him towards me. He let me pull him until his face was only an inch from mine. My tired eyes refocused when they locked on his and my half closed lids opened fully. I was sucked into the dark depths of his loving eyes and I smiled a charming little adoring grin and he returned it fondly.

Closing my eyes I smelled his fresh clean scent and appealingly sweet breath as I felt each exhale surge against my face. Using my hooked arm, I pulled myself across the gulf separating me from him in that final inch and allowed my slightly chapped lips to gently brush his in the lightest of caresses. He didn't move, so again, my dry lips touched his full, silky smooth, moist lips with a little added pressure for the briefest of moments before I leaned back against my pillow.

"I love you too, Mel," he leaned in to whisper in my ear. He released the words to float on the humid air that fanned over the shell of my ear and sent chills down my arms leaving goosebumps in their wake.

He slid an arm under me and pulled me to him so I could snuggle close so I could use his chest as a warm pillow and listen to his steady heartbeat as I felt the rise and fall of this chest with each breath he took. I sighed in content as he rubbed gentle circles on my back, lolling me to sleep.

Just before sleep claimed me I heard him mutter, "cherry."

~*~ ∞ ~*~