Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer, all characters etc. are hers. The story below is an original piece of writing that belongs to me. No copyright infringement intended and I do not profit from fanfiction.
A/N: Sorry it's taken so long, but I hope you will think it was worth the wait. I hope you don't find this too confusing but (without giving too much away) Emmett's POV are just 'snippets' or 'snapshots' if you like, so we are cutting in and out from his experiences. PM me if you have questions, or leave them in your review. Thanks to PTB and my beta's Scorp112 and xochina.
Chapter 2 – Finally Woken
Emmett
There was blackness. There was only darkness and pain. The pain gave way to more darkness; the darkness gave way to more pain. I writhed inside and screamed. My body felt as if it was on fire but I couldn't move. The tears wouldn't even flow from my eyes and nobody heard my screams. What was happening to me? The blackness descended again in a swirl of agony. I was so frightened.
Edward
Twice, Emmett went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing. The medical team rushed in and surrounded him, forcing me out of the way, so they could stabilize him. I felt so helpless, just standing there as my poor Emmett nearly died over and over again in front of my very eyes. I couldn't even cry any more; I was empty. If Emmett died, then I wanted to die too. My wounds were superficial, nothing that wouldn't mend. I had a thick, angry scar on the side of my head that could easily be covered by my hair if I had been vain enough at that moment to care. Emmett, on the other hand, was mutilated. We had no idea if he would even wake up, let alone walk again.
Every day was torturous, watching Auntie Esme fret over her only son and Uncle Carlisle trying to project a brave face by taking the practical route of keeping busy, doing everything he could for his boy. My parents, Elizabeth and Edward Sr., visited him every day, of course. Emmett was their godson and his parents their best friends. It destroyed them too, seeing the people they counted as family in such turmoil and grief.
Guilt consumed me. I prayed and prayed to every god and deity I could think of.
Just let him be okay.
Emmett
I was starting to hear noises, but I couldn't understand what they were. So I stayed in the dark, alone and in pain. Still frightened.
Edward
Every day I sat by Emmett's bedside, holding his hand and whispering to him how much I loved him. I didn't know if our parents noticed or took my words as more than just brotherly love, they never said, and either way, I really could not have cared less.
The weeks stretched by and I healed. Emmett stayed asleep, but he was eventually moved to his house when his condition was more stable. His parents had the money and the medical know-how to be able to care for him there. Auntie Esme quit work so that she could care for him full-time, but Uncle Carlisle continued to work at the hospital. His coping mechanism was to stay busy.
September rolled around, and it was time for me to head to New York so that I could attend Juilliard. Just the name of the place reminded me of what a terrible person I had been; throwing a tantrum and leaving Emmett to fend for himself. I wanted to relinquish my place altogether, but my parents convinced me to defer until the following year.
I couldn't bear to leave Emmett's side; I just couldn't leave him again, not when he needed me more than ever.
Some of our friends came to visit, which was nice, I guess. Emmett's room was constantly filled with flowers, stuffed toys, and balloons from his many adoring female fans. It irritated me, the way Jessica Stanley leaned close to him, pressing her bosom provocatively against his arm to whisper god-knows-what in his ear and kiss him on the mouth.
I wanted to shake her and scream: Those lips belong to me, you whore!
Instead, I said as venomously as I could manage, "Get your tits off him! As amazing as you think they are, they aren't going to wake him up, you empty-headed moron – he's in a coma! Are you normally this stupid or are you making a special effort today?"
The bitch-whore shot me the dirtiest look she could muster as I unceremoniously kicked her out.
"Whatever, piano-dork," was the brilliant retort Jessica yelled at me as she left.
If that girl's brain was chocolate, it probably wouldn't have filled an M&M.
Emmett
"I love you Emmett"
My eyes snapped open. I looked down eagerly into a pair of warm honey colored eyes staring back up at me. I flinched in confusion, not seeing the golden-greens I was expecting. Confusion replaced my fright.
Who is this? I wondered, as I took in blonde hair, and a shapely figure. Rosalie Hale? Where the hell is Edward?
Rosalie looked better than ever, actually, but I wondered what the hell had happened to her eyes. I could have sworn they were normally blue.
I frowned at her but she just grinned stupidly right back at me. Everything around me was so bright and loud.
"Emmett, welcome to the family!" she said, waving her arm. I suddenly realized that we were not alone. Automatically, I flipped into a defensive position, a low deep growl rumbling in my chest, my hands clawed as if it was second nature to me.
Edward
"Edward," Auntie Esme said, sitting down next to me. "Can I talk to you about something?"
She sounded hesitant, as if she were unsure how to talk to me. I turned to her and just nodded and smiled.
"So, you and Emmett..." she trailed off for a moment and I waited patiently for her to continue. "What is he to you?"
Crap. That was a tricky one.
"He's my best friend," I replied truthfully.
"And you love him, don't you?" she pressed, "as more than a best friend."
I didn't know what to say to her. This wonderful woman, who had changed my diapers as often as she had changed Emmett's and had been like a second mother to me, would she hate me? Would she want me to stay away from her son?
I stuttered, lost for words.
Tenderly, she brushed my hair back from my face. "Edward, darling, it's okay. You can say it."
"I'm gay," I blurted. It was the first time I had said it out loud, and it felt both liberating and terrifying. I looked at her, wide-eyed and afraid. "Are you gonna tell my mom?"
"I won't tell her. I don't think I need to," she said, smiling. "Mothers know these things; we pick up on things no matter how subtle you think they are. What I am trying to say is, don't be afraid to be who you are. We won't love you any less."
She smiled at me so sweetly that I couldn't help but hug her like my life depended on it.
"You're not mad?" I asked, hopefully. "You don't mind that I love him in a different way?"
"Of course not, sweetheart. He loves you too," she said with absolute certainty.
My jaw nearly crashed to the ground, I was so surprised.
How had she known that? I wondered. I hadn't even known. Mother's intuition I guess.
She ignored my gaping and said, "I hope you had a chance to let him know."
I broke down in tears as I told her we had realised we felt something stronger than just friendship (obviously leaving out the details) and about the petty argument we had had by the river.
"I never said the words," I sobbed into her shoulder as she stroked my hair soothingly.
"Oh, sweetness, love isn't just about words; it's how you express it," she said comfortingly. "You have so much to learn."
I sincerely hoped I had expressed my love to Emmett with my touch and my kisses. I really hoped Auntie Esme was right, and he knew how I felt.
Shortly after, I left the Cullen's beautiful house and went to my own for the first time in days.
I sat on the sofa, snuggled up to my mom with a cup of hot chocolate and a blanket, just like when I was sick as a kid. I told her about Emmett and I, and her reaction shocked me even more than Auntie Esme's had.
She simply said, "Well, Edward, it's about time!"
Emmett
So, as if this shit wasn't confusing enough, I was a vampire.
Yeah, seriously, that's what I said.
I was only vaguely aware that I was dreaming or maybe dead, but this shit seemed so real. Rosalie was all over me like a rash on a baby's butt. It was cool I guess. I liked her quite a lot more than I had when I was alive or whatever.
I got major kicks out of hunting. I'd always loved hunting, but it was WAY more fun this way. I didn't have fangs, like in those horror movies, but my teeth were razor sharp and venomous anyway. I put them to good use and made short work of that damn bear that attacked me. Well, quite a few bears actually.
Edward was a moody jerk here; always disappearing off to be alone, or smirking because he had a special little power. Whoop-de-fucking-do. That pussy still loved the piano though.
He held no attraction for me here; Rosalie was all I wanted. I guess I should have been happy, after all, I had wished I could feel that way about a girl. But damn, I had to be a vampire to do it?
Edward
I nearly collapsed with laughter when my mom handed me leaflets titled: "Ten Fabulous ways to come out to your Parents" and "It's A-OK to Be Gay!"
She looked at me with a serious expression and said, "Honestly, Edward, I thought I was going to have to slip these under your pillow or something, you kept me waiting so long!"
Her serious expression transformed into a grin as I almost choked on my hot chocolate.
"Mom, it kinda defeats the point if you have to give me the leaflet yourself!" I giggled. It felt good to laugh; I hadn't done it in so long, but my guilt washed over me, quickly sobering me up. My laughter had been near-hysterical, and my mom looked at me curiously when I suddenly stopped.
I cast my eyes downward and sighed.
"Edward-," she began.
"I know mom; if I want to talk then we can go to your office blah, blah, post traumatic stress, blah," I interrupted, rolling my eyes. "I don't need psychotherapy; I need Emmett to be okay!"
My eyes welled up and a huge lump wedged itself in my throat.
My mom wrapped her arms around me and kissed the top of my head.
"I can't promise that he will be okay, darling, but I can promise you that anytime you need to talk, I will be here to listen, just as your mom, nothing else," she said, resting her chin on top of my head.
We sat quietly for a few moments, until the sound of the telephone ringing interrupted the silence. My mom jumped up to answer it in the kitchen.
"Hello?" she said. "Hi Esme … oh my gosh. Calm down; I can't understand you … okay, okay, hold on. We will be right over."
She came back into the living room and said flatly, "We need to go next door, right now."
I stood up abruptly, panic swelling inside me.
"Is it Emmett?" I gasped, feeling as if I might pass out because I couldn't breathe.
Emmett
Everything was fading away. One minute I was talking to Rosalie, and the next I couldn't see or hear her properly. It sounded like she was talking to me through a wall and looked like I was seeing her through a frosted glass window.
I felt sick and dizzy as once more, everything went black.
But this time, the pain didn't return.
Edward
We raced next door, and I was extremely alarmed to see that Uncle Carlisle must have come home with several other doctors in tow.
I pushed my way into the downstairs reception room that had been converted into Emmett's bedroom, fearing the worst.
Instead, the sight that greeted me was one of pure joy. Auntie Esme and Uncle Carlisle were standing beside Emmett, each holding one of his hands and each smiling with happiness for the first time in weeks.
My father stepped in behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. He must have rushed home as soon as he heard too.
I exhaled, unaware that I had even been holding my breath, and it felt as though my heart started beating again. I couldn't believe it - I didn't dare to believe it, at least not until I saw for myself.
Emmett's eyes flickered open and immediately found mine. I collapsed onto my knees with relief, tears streaming down my face.
"He's going to be okay. He's a bit disorientated and we need to make sure there are no signs of any brain damage," Uncle Carlisle beamed. "He can't speak just yet, but he can blink twice for yes and once for no."
The doctors buzzed around for a while longer, performing tests so they could make sure he had everything he needed. I was in the way again, so I just sat in the living room until they left.
Uncle Carlisle joined me after the doctors left and sat opposite to me, smiling.
"When can I speak to him?" I asked eagerly.
"It will still be a little while yet, I'm afraid, but things are looking promising," he replied.
My face fell. "Oh, but I thought he was awake now?" I said, confused.
"He won't regain full consciousness immediately son. At the moment, he is only awake for a few minutes at a time, but gradually, he will wake fully," he explained. "It may take, days, weeks or even months, but this is progress," he reassured me.
"Can I see him, though?"
"Of course you can. Esme and your parents are in there with him now," Uncle Carlisle said. "Oh, and Esme told me about your little chat earlier today."
"Yeah?" I said, nervously.
"Well, I don't know," he said, scratching his head. "Should I be asking you what your intentions are towards my son?"
I laughed and he grinned back at me, eyes twinkling.
"Whatever makes you both happy Edward," he said.
I left Uncle Carlisle in the living room where he slumped in the chair, looking exhausted, but far happier than I had seen him a long time.
My dad passed me in the hall as I headed back to Emmett's room. He clapped me on the shoulder and smiled broadly as he went to join Uncle Carlisle in the living room for celebratory drink.
When I entered Emmett's room, my mom and Auntie Esme were fussing over him, fixing his blankets and pillows. They shared a knowing look as I approached, and both stepped forward to kiss me on the cheek.
It was wonderful to see Auntie Esme smiling again. She was normally such a happy and caring woman, but this had almost destroyed her. She left, arm-in-arm, with my mother to join their husbands.
I stared at Emmett for a long while, just taking him in and thanking God he was going to be okay. A little color had even returned to his cheeks. Gently, I kissed each cheek, carefully avoiding the long row of stitches that curved from his left temple to his jaw.
I crawled onto his bed, careful not to jostle him, just wanting to be close to him for a little while. I didn't intend to, but I promptly fell asleep. It was as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and I could finally rest.
# # #
Over the next few days, Emmett drifted in and out of consciousness, gradually managing to stay awake for longer periods of time. He grew tired very quickly and was only able to say a few words at a time.
As I bent to kiss him softly on his lips as he slept, his eyes fluttered open. I smiled warmly and reassuringly at him. Emmett frowned back at me, and my heart sank. Was he angry with me?
"What are you doing Edward?" he mumbled, almost incoherently. In fact, it actually sounded a lot more like, "Whaa doin' Ewarr?"
When I didn't say anything, he said, "Where's Rosalie? I want my Rose."
For the life of me, I could not understand why he had woken up wanting to see Rosalie. The stupid bimbo hadn't even stopped by to see him in all the time he had been in his coma.
Emmett's eyes were growing heavy, but I could see he was fighting it, trying to stay awake.
"Shh, go back to sleep, love, it's okay, I'll be right here when you wake up," I said soothingly.
"I don't want you, I want Rose," he mumbled, sounding like a child. That hurt. A lot.
He kept repeating it until I gave in.
"Fine," I said stiffly, "I'll go get Rosalie."
So, I phoned the whore and told her to get her skinny ass over here. She flounced in twenty-minutes later like she owned the place, her big hair taking up most of the space in the room.
It sickened me to watch her fawn over him, just like before. I didn't understand what was going on; my only guess was that he didn't want to be with me any more.
The thought hit me like bullet in the eye. My ever-present guilt over what had happened to Emmett worsened. I shouldn't have been surprised that he wanted no more to do with me; after all it was my fault.
I turned to leave, tears starting to pool in my eyes. I don't think they even noticed I had left.
Emmett
I came out of the terrible blackness to find myself surrounded by my family. As I drifted in and out of consciousness, I did not dream.
When I woke, I became conscious enough to understand that I was badly injured. I couldn't remember why or how. I didn't think vampires could be hurt by anything other than fire and being torn apart. So why was I in these casts and bandages?
Edward was constantly there. Nearly every time I woke up, he was present.
It bothered me, the way he kept kissing me and holding my hands. What was his problem? He knew Rosalie was my girl. Why wasn't he with his little human, Bella? They were normally inseparable.
So eventually, when I felt strong enough, I asked for Rosalie. I hadn't seen her yet, but maybe she had come while I was sleeping?
I had so many questions. It was so frustrating not being able to just speak clearly and say what I needed to.
When Rosalie came in, she looked different. My Rose was graceful and well-dressed. This impostor looked, well…trashy, to be honest.
"Why are your eyes blue?" I managed to say, eventually. She just looked at me and giggled nervously.
Carlisle had just walked into the room, and she turned to him and said, "Is he a bit crazy now, you know, what with being beaten up by a bear and all?"
I just stared at her. What the hell was she on about? She was the one who saved me from the bear and turned me into a vampire in the first place.
"He's just a little confused at the moment, it will take a while for him to be back to his usual self," Carlisle said, ever the gentle doctor.
"Well, how soon can he have plastic surgery on that ugly old scar? I'm sorry, but my boyfriend can't be looking like a pirate," Rosalie prattled.
Carlisle looked at her with disgust. "He's not your boyfriend, you silly little girl! Now GET OUT!"
I had never heard him raise his voice before, so it came as a shock when he practically man-handled her out of the room.
This exhausted me and I fell back to sleep.
After that, I didn't have any other visitors for days, only Esme and, Carlisle, and two other people I didn't recognise, although one looked an awful lot like Edward. Edward didn't come by either.
Rosalie came by again; I think she must have sneaked past Carlisle and Esme to get in. I was pleased to see her; I had felt so lonely the last few days without any company. It felt like something was missing.
She sat there, chatting to me for a while about nothing of any consequence, but something still didn't feel right. I couldn't put my finger on it.
"Kiss me," I managed to slur. I could have sworn I saw her wince, and I realised she had hardly made any eye contact with me at all, as if she couldn't bear to look at my face.
She pressed her lips to mine, and I managed to raise my bandaged arm to pull her into the kiss properly. It felt empty, passionless … and wrong. Disappointed, I let my hand fall away from her, and she stepped back, only for me to see Edward standing in the doorway.
Hurt filled his face; I think I could even see tears. I was so confused; why wouldn't somebody tell me what was going on?
He turned to leave. "Wait!" I called out to him.
Edward reluctantly came back, shooting daggers in Rosalie's direction. She sidled out of the room, and I was oddly glad she had left.
He looked awful; dishevelled and the dark rings under his eyes suggested he hadn't been sleeping. My heart thumped strangely at the sight of him looking so unkempt and unhappy.
"What's wrong with me?" I whimpered to him.
Edward
Walking in on Emmett kissing Rosalie made me feel like shit. I had come by to try to talk to him, to see if he would think about forgiving me. I turned to leave, figuring he had made his decision already; my heart soared when he asked me to stay.
The look in his eyes when he asked me what was wrong with him was one of confusion laced with fear.
So, I gently took his hand and began to explain.
"Em, we were camping in the woods and you were attacked by a bear. You were in a coma."
He looked at me incredulously.
"No! Rosalie saved me!"
"Em, love, Rosalie wasn't there," I said patiently.
"She was! She turned me!" he insisted.
"Love, you're wearing yourself out. Just listen to me, you've been in a coma; and you're still badly injured."
He looked down at himself, taking in the sight of his legs and right arm in casts, and the bandages every where else, and began to sob.
"I was dreaming?" he wept.
"I don't know what you were dreaming Em, but I've missed you!" I said. In an attempt to comfort him, I stroked his cheek gently and pressed my lips to his, his tears wetting my face too.
He pulled back for a moment, uncertain, his eyes searching mine. I gazed back at him steadily. I wasn't going to miss this opportunity again.
"Emmett, I love you. I'm sorry we fought. I shouldn't have left you," I said, my voice deep with regret. I lightly touched my lips to his again, but he didn't respond. I so badly wanted him to forgive me. "Please, Emmett." I brushed his mouth with mine one last time, and this time he closed his eyes and kissed me back. Tentatively at first, even more so than the first time we had kissed, then rapidly he began returning my kisses with his old vigour.
His eyes popped open with surprise when I moaned a little, and he paused momentarily, like he was trying to remember something. He placed one last sweet kiss on my lips and pulled away.
"That's what was missing," he said with a small smile. I had no idea what he meant, but it was so good to see him smile, I didn't care. His dimples were still there, despite the wound that marred his features, and to me, he was still my gorgeous Emmett.
It had taken a long time, but it seemed like he was finally starting to return to his old self again.
"What were you dreaming about, my love?" I asked, curiously.
He looked at me shyly. "It's silly," he said, sheepishly. "We were vampires, and I was in love with Rosalie and you had a human girlfriend."
I just laughed, and smiled at him indulgently. "You're right, that is silly; I don't even like girls, especially not human ones!"
Emmett smiled at my crappy joke, and I started to feel a lot better.
"Do you remember much about what happened to you?" I asked.
"Not really, just bits and pieces." He replied with a big yawn.
"Well, don't worry about it too much; I'm just glad to have you back. All you need to remember is that I love you," I said to him tenderly. He looked up at me, and he looked so vulnerable, in a way I had never seen before. It made my heart melt.
"It didn't feel right with Rosalie. I thought that was what I wanted, but I know now that it's you I want." He smiled.
"Trust me, love, it wouldn't be the first time you made that mistake, but it will hopefully be the last," I replied. "If you will have me, that is," I added tentatively.
"It's you, Edward, only you," he said it with such certainty.
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