AN: I had a slight laugh with your responses to my question last chappy. Honestly, when I said 'not completely between Em and Bells', I mostly meant if you want to see some self-lovin' ;] Though, other people might get involved sooner or later because life is a bitch, sorry :P

And, FadeDruid, don't be bringing religion into this - someone might get offended, hehe ;]

Disclaimer: I have no ownership over these lovely, fucked up characters :'(

January 12th 2005

Emmett stormed into his bedroom and slammed the door shut. His shoulders were tense, the muscles strained, his jaw clenched, teeth gritted. He was angry.

His bad mood was both appropriate and not. After all, when overhearing from one of your mates that your little sister is going out on a date with some guy on Saturday, you as a big brother have the right to be furious. Except, it wasn't because of their relation that Emmett found himself annoyed with Bella. No, it was because she was his; his soul mate, his girl, his lover, his.

Even if she didn't quite know it.

She should not have been agreeing to dates with idiotic high school boys (or any male, for that matter) that only had one thing on their brains. The utter need to claim her was overpowering and made him stand a little taller, but he knew it would be wrong to make any sexual advances right now. Long, lonely nights where he'd lain in bed, staring up at the ceiling in silence, had been spent thinking hard about his situation. His desperation to have her next to him always, to lean into the crook of his arm or into the side of his neck where he knew she fitted perfectly, was enough to fight off sleep. His bed felt cold and his heart hollow during those nights. Mornings were always nice – she'd smile at him brightly and give him a kiss on the cheek before making their breakfast, another kiss and a big hug before she hopped out his Jeep to attend school, wishing him a good day at work. He depended on those moments.

Evenings were normally varied. Sometimes she would go around Angela's house to hang out or help babysit the young Webber twin boys, and after he'd drive up like a knight on his steed to pick her up. There'd be another smile and hug, and then they would spend their nights separated until she said goodnight with another kiss. Other evenings he'd have some friends over and she'd perhaps cook everyone dinner before leaving him to goof around with said mates, often only waving and smiling to bid him sweet dreams. Hardly ever did they both stay at home alone in the evenings; if they did, Bella usually spent the time studying for exams, alienated in her room. But he looked forward to days where she'd curl up into his side (another place she fit so well into) and they'd watch a movie, inevitably leading to her falling asleep on his shoulder with him carrying her upstairs and tucking her into bed.

Yesterday had been such an evening where they'd sat together in front of the TV and she'd dosed off. Somehow, the fact that she'd been with him nearly all day previous and hadn't mentioned any such date irked him something fierce. To hear it from his friend earlier today when they joked around and drank beer made a part of him twinge inside. It hurt that she didn't tell him. Surely she'd understand that he'd be upset about a date. Whether because of good brotherly intentions, or the actual reason.

He closed his eyes, trying to breathe calmly. Leaning his head back onto his pillow, he collapsed onto the bed with a bounce. Why hadn't she told him?

A timid knock on his door made him look up. He cleared his throat. "Yeah?"

Bella tipped only her head inside, obviously hesitant to enter after his loud display of anger. She smiled slightly. "Hey, Em. You okay?"

"What you doing Saturday?" he stared at her, ignoring her question.

She faltered, uncomfortable, "Uh, not much, why?"

"I thought we could go out for the day. You know, bonding." His baby blues still burned into her intently, watching her every move like a predator does its prey.

"Oh, uh, I actually have to pop round Ange's that evening."

His throat closed up and he felt no air pass through his windpipes. She was lying to him. She never lied to him. Or does she? How could he tell anymore? What if she regularly lied to him and he didn't even know it? No, he assured himself, she's a terrible liar. I would have known.

He knew he sounded pathetic, even in his own head.

She shifted uneasily when he didn't respond to her statement at all. Her foot edged into the doorway and slowly she made her way over to his bed. His eyes stay locked onto her figure, even as she carefully perched on the mattress and took his hand.

"Maybe we could go out on Sunday?" she suggested nervously. His bit the inside of his cheek. They hadn't really bonded in a while. Yesterday evening was the first in two months bar Christmas that they had some quality time together. Upset as he was with her lying and agreeing to a date, he grasped onto the idea of a day with her.

"Sure," he said finally, forcing a smile onto his face.

She smiled back, not as bright as normal but genuinely nonetheless. Her fingers played with his, her soft skin so sinful in the way it slid over his palm, his digits, the veins and blond hair on the back of his huge hand. She seemed to glow in the artificial light of his room; the vision angelic to him. He smiled again, this time without effort, and reached his free hand up to her face, stroking her cheek tenderly, his eyes searching hers when the brown shot up to meet blue. Her pink lips curved into a shy smile as she ducked her head away from his gaze, but he captured up her chin with two fingers.

His head still lay on the pillow, his back still resting flat on the mattress. Slowly he took back the hand she was fiddling with and slipped it around her small waist, gently pulling her down to his side. And, yes, there she fit just as he knew she would, contorting her little body to his big frame like placing two jigsaw pieces together, her arm hung over his toned stomach, her head snuggled into the crook of his arm.

Heaven.

He smiled once more, awkwardly manoeuvring his head so he could kiss hers. "Sleep with me tonight," he whispered into her ear, hot breath blowing gingerly at the wisps of brown hair around it. He heard her own breath catch in her throat, but she nodded against his shoulder. Tightening his grip on her in an attempt to both keep her warm and protect her as they had no cover or blanket, his closed his baby blues and fell into a deep sleep, the serenity of the moment and the feeling that this was right carrying him into happy dreams.