I know in the past I said I would try and keep my two stories coming out equally. But I've got this one stuck in my head right now. There are some things that I really want to get going on this. I'm not stopping Secrets. Not by a long shot. I'm just currently trying to work the next one on that out correctly. It doesn't seem to be coming out right at the moment.

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Now. Two thing before the story starts. One: the song, if you don't already know it, like the sample I put at the top here, is Naked by Avril Lavigne.

Two: I had a review from a guest and I would like to respond to that. Thank you for being honest. I do appreciate it and take that into consideration. The idea I had when starting this story was going along with the books but throwing in my own events along the way. I am trying to get it to be a bit more original than just following the books completely. I know it may not seem like it now but it will change a bit more later on. I'm just working on a way to do that. In response to the Alexa/Bella relationship comment, things won't always be perfect. I never wanted it to. I don't want to say too much and give anything away on that aspect though. Again, whoever you are, thank you for your honesty.

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So with that said, I always do try to take what readers have to think into consideration. I want to make the story better. It may never be perfect but I do try. So as I have always said, constructive criticism is always welcome. I like to know where I need work.

One little added side note, (I know one more than I had mentioned) this and the next one aren't quite as long as usual. This one is a bit longer than the next one though. It's just because I wanted things to end in a certain way in the chapters.

Now that's the end of my note this time. Onto the story we go!

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I'm trying to remember
Why I was afraid
To be myself and let the
Covers fall away
I guess I never had someone like you
To help me, to help me fit
In my skin

~Naked by Avril Lavigne~

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Waking up that morning was no easy task for me. I happened to have a really good dream about Emmett and myself. Didn't want to wake up but I knew if I didn't, I would have to face the wrath of Alice. Not exactly something that I wanted to see. So I got ready and had my breakfast. I didn't have to wait when I was done. Alice had gotten there right at 8. Never to be late that one.

With my little bag and wallet together, I just grabbed them and headed out the door. Alice was smiling. Surely it couldn't be a bad day. I knew if things got to be too much then she would calm it down. She may be a shopping fanatic but she wouldn't push me past what I could handle.

The drive was quick. Quicker then I could have imagined. But then again there was a vampire in the drivers seat. The first shop was this little locally owned place. As soon as we entered the store, Alice got into that mode. I was looking at a couple things when Alice, who had a bunch of things on hand, pulled me into the dressing room area. Everything she handed me to try on I actually liked. She got into my head somehow. Tops, jeans, a skirt here or there, and even a couple of dresses.

After two hours in that one store, we were almost ready to head to the register. There was no way I was going to get all of it. Not like I could afford it. But there were a couple of thing that stood out. Just as I was picking them out of the pile of clothes, Alice grabbed my hand. "Alexa."

"What? It's not like I could afford them all, even though I like them."

"You're not paying for them. I am."

"Alice...not again. You already gave me that dress. You don't need to do this."

"No, I don't have to. But I want to. You are a part of our family now Alexa."

"But this is too much. I couldn't."

"No arguing. You belong with Emmett. You don't know him like we do. We have seen the change in him since you came to us. Emmett, he doesn't feel so lonely now."

"But he had you all, his family."

"Yes but he wanted someone for himself, someone to be with. He was starting to think he would never find someone. Though he would never admit it to us. So I want to do this. You are like a sister to me already. I want you to feel like you belong."

I couldn't stop it. I actually cried.

Alice hugged me. I wanted to say something but I didn't know what to say. So we stayed like that for moment, until I could speak again. "Thank you."

"You are welcome. But why the tears?"

"I...it seems like its been a long time since I had family, since I've had people that...It's just..."

"To finally feel it again is a lot to take it. I get it."

"Thank you Alice. I mean it."

She smiled, picked up a lot of the clothes and said, "Now, pick up the rest of them. We are getting you these clothes and you are not going to argue."

"Yeah, how can I argue with the pixie fortune teller?" I said with a slight laugh.

I did as I was told. I picked up the clothes that were left and we headed to the register. To say the cashier was surprised at the sheer mass of clothes would have been an understatement.

All throughout the rest of the day, Alice would not let me pay for anything. Not even when I needed something to eat. Even though I knew they had enough that it wouldn't matter what she bought me, it was more than I could have imagined. Then there was something I saw.

A last minute decision, that hopefully she wouldn't know about. I grabbed it and bought it quickly. Before she even had a chance to do anything I handed her the box. "Alexa."

"You wouldn't let me pay for anything. Consider this a thank you. It's not much but I hope you like it. You can always add more to it."

She opened the box to reveal a charm bracelet with just two charms, a heart and a dress.

A look of shock came across her face. For once she was actually surprised. She hugged me. There was an unspoken moment of thanks. "Alexa."

"You're welcome Alice."

"You really didn't need to. But thank you."

"Just like you didn't need to buy everything for me today. I didn't have to. I wanted to give you something, though it wasn't as much."

"It means just the same to me. And to have someone actually surprise me is a shock too. I haven't had anyone surprise me in a very long time."

I gave her one more hug before we finished putting the last of our things in the car and heading home.

A week had passed. Nothing crazy. Just school and work. Just that one week got me crazy. There didn't seem to be much of a break to relax. But Saturday arrived and I was excited. Emmett and I were getting to spend time together, alone. We were planning on a movie marathon. Emmett, for whatever reason, was a little late. So keeping myself occupied, I grabbed my acoustic. There was one song stuck in my head and it was all to do with Emmett.

"I wake up in the morning
Put on my face
The one that's gonna get me
Through another day
Doesn't really matter
How I feel inside
'Cause life is like a game sometimes
But then you came around me
The walls just disappeared
Nothing to surround me
And keep me from my fears
I'm unprotected
See how I've opened up
Oh, you've made me trust
Because I've never felt like this before
I'm naked
Around you
Does it show?"

I stopped in mid-song. Emmett had got there. I put the guitar down. "Alexa," he said immediately at my side. "Why's you stop?"

"I...I usually never play in front of people."

"Start again. I want to hear it."

"Em..."

"Please."

"Not the puppy dog eyes. I can never seem to say no to you when you do that."

His smile reached epic proportions.

After hugging me, he sat down right across from me. Sitting cross legged with his elbows on his knees and hands under his chin, his eyes would not leave me. "Come on now, I'm waiting here."

"What if I don't want to?"

"But you said you would. Don't make me beg again."

"Ahh...bite me." I said wiggling my eyebrows.

It got him to laugh for a moment before he got back to the idea and pointed at the guitar. Picking it up, I played the song in its entirety.

As soon as I finished, I put the guitar away on its stand. I had no chance of sitting down before He was at my side. Looking up into his eyes, there was something else there. His lips reached mine and there was nothing else that mattered. Everything disappeared. It was just me and him. His arms reached around me, pulling me as close as could physically be. Our kiss only broken when I needed to breathe. Lucky for Em, he didn't need to breathe.

One quick kiss on the lips before I moved slowly along his jaw. with the very first movement, Emmett stiffened slightly. But a slight groan told me I was on the right track. "Alexa..."

His voice told me more than just my name. His grip on me tightened. Had he been human, his heart would have been racing, like mine was. Each touch to his skin felt like bliss. This man was more than I ever expected I would find, more than I thought I deserved. Reaching his earlobe, I knew I had reached a touchy spot. I could feel in his body that he was holding back. No question that he was having a tough time doing it.

Restraint didn't last. Reaching the crook of his neck, that was it. Instantly, we were on the couch and I was pinned beneath him. His lips found my neck just as soon as we were on the couch. My heart beat even faster at his touch, like it might jump out of my chest. His touch...soft and cold but so incredible. It reached me in placed I never imagined. A small moan escaped my lips. "I can hear your heart going."

"You have that affect on me, Em. Always."

Ever so slightly he moved. Just enough so he could slip his hands just under my shirt. His touch made me shiver, bringing me closer to him. A trail of coldness was left where his hands moved. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Bite your lip Alexa. I want to be the one to do that."

His lips were back on mine for just one moment. I tried to pull him back but I wasn't strong enough for that. His eyes never left mine until after he moved his hands and pulled my shirt off. A blush crept to my cheeks as his eyes roamed.

While he was distracted, I took my chance. Turning shocked him enough that we rolled off the couch with me landing on him. It was my turn. Lifting up his shirt, I could see something in his eyes. I went to kiss his stomach. With what he thought was gentle, he grabbed onto my shoulders. Inadvertently, a small gasp of pain escaped me.

And just like that, he moved. I was lying on the ground and he was standing a few feet from me. No doubt there sadness in his eyes. "Emmett."

"I hurt you."

"Emmett, please." I said standing up.

"If we went further, I would hurt you. I could possibly kill you. I can't, I won't. You went through enough with your parents. I will not hurt you too."

I wasn't going to change his mind. Not then. Feeling the defeat, I sat back on the couch and just looked at the floor. Emmett was by me instantly. "Em, it would be like when you were overpowered by my scent. Once it happened and you were stopped, you knew you could handle it. This could be like that. You hurt me then but you now know the limit of your strength and what I can handle."

"I can't Alexa. Not right now. I will not be the reason for hurting you, no matter how much I want you right now."

"It's bound to happen. Sure there might be bruise and soreness when it eventually happens but that will heal. I've been through way more pain from what happened in my past than what you would do. You have more control than you give yourself credit for."

"You..."

"You do want to though, right?"

I could feel the couch move as he laughed lightly. "Oh trust me. I do. I may be a vampire but I am a guy. You are gorgeous. I'd be an idiot to not want you like that."

With a smile, I turned to looked at him. "You affect me too. Especially when you smirk. Or those puppy dog eyes."

"I'll have to remember that." his smirk making an appearance.

"Damn you. Keep doing that and I'll try again."

Shaking his head, he got up.

For a moment, it seemed as if he was going to leave. But he didn't. All he did was grab my shirt and handed it back to me. Putting it back, we both knew the moment was gone. "By the way this conversation isn't over, we will talk about this again. Since that isn't happening again today, let's get this movie marathon underway. You brought some with you?"

He nodded. "So we take turns. And since we are in my house, I get to go first."

"But I'm your guest."

He was purposely trying to use those eyes of his. "No mister. My choice. I will not fall for those eyes again."

"But you know you love it."

Giving him a quick kiss, I laughed before getting up to choose the first movie.

Thought there was the one hiccup, the rest of the day went rather well. With the occasional break for me to eat and whatnot, we spent all day talking and watching movies. It was our time. And it was good.