Chapter 20

Hermione did know what to make of Rosalie's outburst. It dawned on Hermione as Emmett helped her into a coat, which didn't belong to her, that coming to the Cullen's house meant more than she originally thought. Of course going over to anyone's house for the first time is significant. However, coming to the Cullen's was different.

Their house was a safe haven for them, as vampires it was probably the only place they could be themselves. Being invited to the place where Emmett and his entire family was most vulnerable was far more intimate than meeting your friend's parents or seeing their room for the first time. Self consciously, Hermione rubbed the juncture of her arm, stealing looks at Emmett.

His face was tight, and he was agitated. Was this visit for emergency purposes, or did it have a deeper meaning? Surely, Emmett could have taken her to the hospital in town, and any doctor could have patched up her hand, her mother could have patched up her hand.

"Stop thinking so hard," Emmett lamented as he started up hill. "Rosalie can just be that way sometimes."

"I'm not worried about Rosalie." It wasn't lost on Hermione, that Rosalie thought she knew they were vampires. Hermione didn't mind her thinking that way; it was true. But she didn't like Rosalie thinking that Emmett told her. As a witch, she completely understood the importance of secrecy, and she highly doubted that Emmett would so willingly toss around a secret that could very well get his family killed.

A part of Hermione wondered what made Rosalie so hostile toward her and Emmett's relationship. At first she was naïve enough to believe that even though Rosalie has broken up with Emmett, she was still harbored feelings for him. But as she really thought about the situation, it wasn't about Emmett.

By the way Rosalie spoke, something must have happened before she arrived that put the family in danger.

"Don't think too much about it." Emmett's voice her from her thoughts. "No one can make sense of Rosalie's behavior."

"I'm sure that's not true." Without thought Hermione cut Emmett a knowing glance.

The suggestion was not lost. "I beg to differ." He gritted his teeth walking at a faster pace up the steep hill. "If I hadn't been standing right in front of her when she saw him, I would have never seen our break up coming."

Jogging lightly, Hermione attempted to catch up with him. But Emmett's strides were clean and swift, obnoxiously unnatural. This far up the mountain a light mist has settled around the trees, wetting the grass and turning the already soft ground into mud. With every step her feet would either sink into the damp ground or slide backward.

The mist only served to get thicker as they climbed higher and at one point she could only recognize Emmett by his silhouette. Another determined step forward and one of Hermione's feet sunk deep into the earth. When she moved to tug her foot out, it caught a tree root and threw her to the ground.

From the ground of the forest Hermione could not longer make out Emmett's frame. She could feel her chest constricting and her heart beat racing. Placing a hand over her chest, she attempted to clam down. But the only image that Hermione could focus on was Emmett's figure disappearing amongst the mist, leaving her alone, abandoned.

Strong arms wrapped around her waist, her first though was to struggle but the arms held her tight. Adjusting his hold so that his arms were wrapped around the back of her thighs, and her back was pressed against his chest, he lifted her with ease from the ground. "Please forgive me." Emmett's voice was sincere and strained. "I don't know what came over me. Regardless of how I felt, I shouldn't have left you behind."

Uncharacteristically, Emmett pressed his face against the back of her head, barring his nose in her thick curls. This was the most physical contact they'd ever had. Relaxing in his hold, Hermione placed her warm hand over his ice cold one. "I'm fine."

Though she was still shaky, Hermione insisted that he place her down. The suggestion fell on deaf ears. Emmett moved through the forest with ease, the muddy ground not slowing him down one bit. When they finally broke through the fog and trees, they were over looking a large meadow, filled with tall grass and a brook not too far in the distance.

The beauty of the meadow was breath taking, so much so that Hermione completely forgot Emmett was still carrying her.

"I thought you'd find this calming." Emmett confessed, his cold breath ghosting against the skin on the back of her neck. "Maybe you can think of this place when you feel yourself falling into the past."

Speechless, Hermione turned in his arms and wrapped her arms securely around his neck. "Thank you, Emmett." She whispered against his cold skin.

Emmett wrapped his arms around her waist, allowing her warm body to press against him. "Hermione, there are things you don't know about me."

"I don't care." Hermione interrupted, "There are things about me that you don't know. What does that matter?" It took all Emmett's will power to separate from Hermione. Even though she didn't care, Emmett did. He could hurt her, far more than she was now. Rosalie was right in that aspect, look at what happened to Bella. Even though no one spoke it out loud, it was Edward that made Bella so attractive to James, nothing else.

Maneuvering down the hill, Emmett dropped his jacket to ground, spreading it out for the both of them to share. "You don't understand. What you don't know about me, its…" He paused, "unnatural." He finally produced. "Not something you could live with."

"I've lived with a lot, Emmett." Hermione pulled her knees to her chest, resting her head against them. "A lot more than what you think."

With a growl of frustration Emmett threw himself back into the large coat. "What are you trying to say, Hermione? Could you just tell me? This once, I don't want to have to decipher any clues or find any under lining meanings, just tell me."

Pulling his large frame into an up right position, Emmett rested his arm against his propped up knee, and his head against his bicep. Directing his eyes to stare intently at side of Hermione's curly brown head.

Why did she always find herself in these situations? Why she was the one who had to stand up and say something? She hated being vulnerable, just telling Emmett would make her vulnerable, so this time she would not budge. She'd set there until nightfall before she allowed Emmett control in this situation. Instead of meeting his eyes she stared into the trees, amazed at how green Forks still was in November.

When Emmett didn't budge or make a sound, Hermione felt herself become agitated. "I want you to figure it out. I want you to be sure whatever you decided is what you want."

From the corner of her eye Hermione could see Emmett fidgeting around, until he settled into a cross-legged position facing the side of her head. It was strange position to see such a large figure sitting in. Hermione could barely stop the smile the crept onto her face.

The silence continued as the sky started to darken, but neither budged. "Are you even going to look at me?"

Slowly, Hermione tilted her head in his direction and quirked her eyebrow. "You are the most infuriating human being I've ever met." Hermione attempted to mask her disappointment. "I don't want to hurt you, Hermione. The secrets you don't know about me could get you hurt, and not just mentally, but physically as well. You don't deserve that."

"I like you, more than I thought I'd like anyone after Rosalie. But I don't know how I'd live with myself if what am I lead to more pain for you." It was the second time that day that Emmett came close to acknowledging that he was a vampire, a secret Hermione wasn't sure that Emmett wanted or even should share at this point in their relationship. "All I want for you is for you to be happy."

With a light smile, Hermione turned fully toward Emmett. Reaching across the small amount of space that was left between them, Hermione placed her hands over Emmett's. It was usual for them both, to have such deliberate contact; but today was shaping up to be a pretty unusual day. "Emmett, don't you see how happy you make me?"

"You don't understand…" He started again, staring at the small, delicate, warm, hands covering his own. Turning his hands palm up, he interlaced their fingers. "I don't want there to be a time when I can't protect you."

With a cryptic smile Hermione leaned forward, "Should the time arise I may surprise you."

Emmett wanted to argue, he opened his mouth to argue, but the hard look in Hermione's eyes kept him at bay. "You really want me?" It was feeble and pathetic, and Emmett couldn't believe it had come from his mouth. He hated feeling vulnerable.

With no hesitation, she nodded, yes.

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OH YEA! TBC!