Chapter 10: As long as we Have

The day after Bella's party, Emmett and Bella were inseparable. While Bella was at school, Emmett was doing his homework, but he was constantly staring at the clock waiting for Bella to come back home. When he heard a door close, he looked up. "Emmett, calm down son," Carlisle chuckled.

"I just can't wait to see her," Emmett answered.

Esme smiled, patting his arm gently. Sue smiled a little. "You and Bella seem to be pretty close," she commented.

"Yeah, I took care of her at the last foster home," he replied.

Emmett glanced over at the door. "She's the most important person in my life," he added. He smiled when Bella walked in from school. "Hey Bells," he greeted.

"Hey Em," she answered smiling.

"Where's Leah?" Sue asked.

"I don't know she just dropped me off then took off," Bella replied.

Sue let out a frustrated sigh. "That girl is going to be the death of me," she muttered. Emmett got up from his chair.

"Want to head out somewhere?" he asked.

"Sure, for once I have no homework," she replied.

"You guys come back by six please," Sue called to them.

"I agree," Esme put in.

"Promise," Emmett replied as they left.

After they drove around for a while, Emmett pulled over in the middle of the woods. "And what are we doing here?" she asked quizzically.

"Just trust me Bells, I found this place this morning after you left for school," he replied.

She gave him a quizzical look as they got out of the truck and Emmett pulled Bella onto his back so she wouldn't fall.

As he climbed up a hill, Bella wrapped her arms tightly around Emmett's torso. "We're almost there," he told her.

"Okay," she answered, keeping her grip on him.

When they finally stopped, he helped her down. Bella looked out with a gasp. "Wow…" she whispered. They had a perfect view of the mountains, the treetops, and a river. "You found this, this morning?" she asked.

"Yeah, went jogging through here and you know me, I like a challenge," he replied.

Bella smiled as they sat down on the ground. "I missed you," she told him. Emmett wrapped his arm around her waist.

"I missed you too Bells," he answered.

He rested his forehead against the top of her head. "And I really don't want to go back to Alaska," he added. Bella moved her hand up and down his arm.

"Well…you have family there," she pointed out.

Emmett let out a deep breath, closing his eyes. "I don't want to leave you behind," he told her.

"I don't want you to leave," she answered, tightening her arms around him.

Closing his eyes, he rested his cheek on the top of her head. Biting her lower lip, Bella closed her eyes as she suddenly felt the same ache she had felt four years ago return to her chest at full force. She was once again feeling like someone was punching her in the chest with an iron fist.

Emmett suddenly felt moisture on his neck and pulled back to see that Bella was crying. "Bells…" he murmured.

"Sorry, I'm sorry," she told him.

"Hey," Emmett said quietly, stopping her short.

Reaching up, he gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Don't ever apologize for showing what you feel," he told her. Sniffling, she rested her hands over his. Her brown eyes suddenly locked with his bright blue eyes.

Before Bella could react, Emmett leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. After sitting there stunned for a few seconds, she slowly closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to where she was almost sitting in his lap.

They pulled away after what felt like forever, both breathing heavily. Emmett was grinning from ear to ear while Bella's face was blushing deep red. "Bells…" he started.

"Yeah," she answered, still trying to catch her breath.

Holding her smaller hand in his large hand, he stroked her wrist with his thumb. "Bella…would you consider being my girlfriend?" he asked. Bella smiled a little, entwining her fingers with his.

"I'd love to," she replied.

Feeling like a boulder was lifted off his shoulders; Emmett placed his hand on the back of her neck, kissing her again. Bella smiled into the kiss as she kissed him back, her hands resting on his shoulders.

When they went back to the Swan household, they walked in on shouting. "Mom you're being so unfair!" Leah exclaimed.

"Why because I said you're not moving out until you're eighteen?" Sue answered.

"You've always been unfair! You're so selfish!" Leah exclaimed angrily.

"How am I being selfish?" Sue demanded.

Bella bit her lower lip when she saw Charlie leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen. Leah spun around to see Bella standing there. "You! You've ruined everything!" she snapped.

"What did I do?" Bella asked stunned.

"Just by moving in this house you just made everything worse!" Leah snapped.

"How?" Bella exclaimed.

"Because now you're all everyone talks about in this damn house! Even though there's nothing even special about you!" Leah snapped.

Feeling her face burn with shame, Bella rubbed her hands together. "Leah, apologize to her," Charlie ordered.

"No! You're not my dad!" Leah snapped.

Leah glared at Charlie. "You…YOU are the one who ruined EVERYTHING! You moved in on this family as soon as my dad died! You didn't even wait until the dirt on his coffin settled! YOU BASTARD!" Leah screamed. Bella suddenly felt her blood boil.

"Take that back," she ordered.

Looking over at her, Leah crossed her arms over her chest. "No," she answered. Letting out a deep breath, she took another step to Leah.

"Take…it…back!" Bella snapped.

Laughing, Leah just easily pushed Bella back. "Make me," she challenged. Locking her jaw, Bella's eyes were shooting daggers at the girl.

"TAKE IT BACK!" Bella shouted before lunging at Leah.

Leah let out a scream before both girls landed on the kitchen floor. "TAKE IT BACK!" Bella shouted grabbing Leah's hair. Leah let out a scream as she grabbed Bella's hair.

"MAKE ME! IT'S TRUE!" Leah screamed.

"NO IT'S NOT!" Bella shouted.

Leah screamed as the two girls kept fighting on the floor. Emmett ran over, grabbing Bella off the girl. "TAKE IT BACK! TAKE THAT BACK ABOUT DAD!" Bella screamed fighting against Emmett. Sue had a hold of Leah.

"NO!" Leah shouted.

She pushed Sue away from her and ran upstairs. "Bella calm down babe," Emmett told her, hugging her close. Bella let out a sob.

"That's not true! It's not true," she insisted.

"No it's not, babe, it's not," Emmett answered still hugging her close.

Charlie walked over to Bella and Emmett. Emmett immediately let Bella go and the girl hugged her father tight. "It's okay kiddo," Charlie assured her. Bella let out a shaky sigh, closing her eyes. Charlie looked over at Emmett. "You take care of my girl when you come around here," he told the boy.

"No problem Chief," Emmett answered.

Bella smiled, letting out a deep breath. "I'm sorry that she said those things Bella," Sue told her.

"It's not your fault," Bella answered.

Sue rested her hand on her husband's back, letting out a deep breath. Once Charlie let Bella go again, Bella hugged Emmett, closing her eyes once she was back in his strong, comforting embrace. Emmett smiled softly, stroking her hair. Enjoying every minute he had with her until he had to go back to Alaska with his family.