Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight nor do I own the poem or song that are used in this chapter. The poem is called Beginners and it is by Walt Whitman and the song is called Angel and it's by Sarah McClaughlin. I hope her last name right. lol

With some very careful planning Emmett decided that the next phase of Bella's transformation couldn't be held off any longer. The reserves that Carlisle had gotten for her had lasted a week. Bella could go without feeding for longer than anyone the Cullen's had ever seen. She was too composed and in control of her instincts to be considered a newborn. Emmett often found himself asking if she needed more and telling her that it was normal for a newborn to constantly feel the urge to feed.

No one knew how to explain what was going on. Bella seemed to shatter every preconcieved notion that came with being a newborn.

"I knew you were special the first time I saw you, but I didn't plan on this," Emmett marveled.

"Am I really that rare of a breed?" Bella asked in confusion.

"Sweetheart, I am almost four hundred years old and I have never encountered anyone like you," Carlisle praised.

"I think it's time that we saw just how cool and calm you can be," Emmett said.

"You're letting me come?!" Alice asked, clapping her hands excitedly.

"I'm going to need you to keep an eye open," Emmett explained.

"You've got it boss," Alice said mock saluting him.

"We're going hunting?" Bella asked, her interest piqued.

Emmett nodded with a smile while Alice took a glimpse into the future.

"Everything looks great. We can venture as far as Spokane if you'd like big brother."

Edward cast a look at Alice who shook her head to let him know not to say anything. Emmett and Bella left to get ready to go but Edward stayed behind to question Alice.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm possitive. If it posed a threat I would have told everyone so," she reassured him.

He gave her a stern look, his lips forming a tight line. He had seen it himself but he wasn't so sure that Bella wouldn't change the outcome.

XXXX

Trees surrounded them on all sides. Emmett had led them into the heart of the forest. He had sent Alice off to hunt by herself so that he had Bella could have some privacy. He stood behind her now with a hand resting gently on her hip.

"Close your eyes and tell me what you hear," he said gently.

Bella did as he asked and focused on her surroundings. She heard a nest of baby birds chirping high above them then farther away she heard a squirrel chittering as it ate. She waited patiently as more sounds floated through the air. Her eyes snapped open when she heard human voices two miles to the west. She turned her body in that direction but Emmett didn't take his hand off of her. Her body shook as fire licked at her lungs. Emmett tightened his grip slightly as she fought the urge to go after the humans.

After a minute she had herself under control and the hikers who had been bold enough to venture so far off the trail drifted farther away. Emmett loosened his grip on her and she relaxed against him.

"You did great," he murmured against her hair.

She closed her eyes again and focused once more on her surroundings. Soon she heard a scraping sound not far from where they were. She put all of her attention on that after hearing a low snorting sound. Her lips curled up at the corners slowly revealing her teeth as she opened her eyes.

"It's not exactly what I would have chosen for my first kill but whatever floats your boat," Emmett said indifferently.

"Not all of us had a personal vendetta against a bear," she reminded him.

Less than two hundred yards to their right a buck was rubbing his antlers against a tree to get bark for a doe and fawn who where just inside a clearing less than twenty feet away. Bella could not only smell their blood but hear their hearts beating so loud that it rang in her ears.

She crouched ready to attack once Emmett gave her the okay. She looked over her shoulder at him and he nodded with a smile. Bella sprang through the air landing on the buck's back, twisting his neck to snap it instantly. The doe and fawn ran away but Bella didn't notice as she drank. Emmett stood where she had left him watching her proudly. He had never seen anyone show as much restraint as she did. She was cautious yet focused.

Once the deer had been drained Bella finally pulled away. Her eyes met Emmett's and she smiled broadly. She had a trail of blood coming from the corner of her mouth as she walked towards him calculatingly. He pulled her to him then brushed his thumb across her chin then licked the blood from his thumb slowly.

"Shouldn't you hunt too?"

"I hunted this morning while you were with Esme and Edward."

"Next time we should hnt together," she said quirking an eye brow.

"Next tiime," he agreed with a smile.

Alice came through the trees ahead of them and clapped silently as she beamed at Bella. Bella bowed dramatically with a gracious smile. Now that she'd had her first kill she didn't know what she had been worried about.

XXXX

Emmett wasn't the type of person who got nervous, ever. He shifted from foot to foot as he waited for Charlie to open the door. Alice had promised to keep Bella occupied while he was gone...whatever that meant. He had a feeling that Alice had something up her sleeve, which was never good. He had a feeling that she wouldn't heed his warning and check to see what he was planning.

Charlie opened the door once Emmett finally gathered the courage to knock. He gave Emmett a once over, surprised to see him acting so out of character. Emmett gave him a tight lipped smile before sighing. Charlie opened the door wider and Emmett stepped in. He hung his jacket on the coat rack before going into the kitchen where Charlie was making himself something to eat.

"What's for dinner tonight?"

"I'm making myself a fried egg sandwich."

"Is Sue busy tonight?"

"It's Parent's Night at Seth's school."

"I didn't realize that school was so close to starting again," he said with a shake of his head.

"Seth's only got a week and a half before he goes back. Something tells me that you didn't come over to talk about Sue, Seth, or when school starts again."

"You're right I didn't. I wanted to ask for you permission to marry Bella."

Charlie turned off the burner and took the pan off the burner before turning to face Emmett. He leaned against the counter and placed his hands on the counter.

"I won't ask her if you don't want me to," Emmett reassured him nervously.

"You would wait until after she turned eighteen to get married, right?"

"Absolutely," Emmett answerd with a nod.

"I don't have a problem with it Emmett, just promise that the two of you won't up and leave without letting me kow."

"I can do that."

"Good. Now, I have to warn you that some of the guys from the station are coming over to play cards. You're more than welcome to join us if you'd like."

"That's alright, I'd better get back to the house. Alice has probably already seen what just happened. She's more than likely chomping at the bit with the urge to tell Bella what happened."

Emmett left and sure enough when he got home Alice was waiting for him. He gave her a hard look and she smiled impishly before throwing her arms around his neck.

"You didn't show Edward did you?"

She shook her head once she let go of him. They parted ways and he went up to his and Bella's room where she was reading. He sat on the floor with his back against the couch and she tangled her fingers into his hair.

"How they are provided for upon the earth, (appearing at intervals). How dear and dreadfull they are to the earth. How they inure to themselves as they go much as to any- what a paradox their age. How people respond to them, yet know them not. How there is something relentless all times. How all times mischoose the objects of the adulation and reward. And how the same inexorable price must still be paid for the same great price."

Emmett closed his eyes in contenment as Bella read aloud. He had never been much of a reader, but he could get used to being read to.

XXXX

Bella was flipping through channels, waiting for Emmett to finish helping Jasper and Rosalie work on Jasper's car when her phone rang. She stared at it alarmed. She thought that only the Cullen's had her number. Emmett had given the phone to her a few days after she had been changed. It more than likely had cost three times more than her old phone had. It rang a second time pulling her from her thoughts. She reached for it like someone reaching for a hot branding iron. She looked down at the screen seeing Jacob's phone number. She presssed answer before quickly putting it to her ear.

"Jake?" she asked, her voice cracking with excitment.

"Well, you sound the same," he dead panned.

"You know?" she asked quietly.

"My dad told me."

"Well, my voice is the only thing that hasn't changed. How are you? I miss you," she said with a sad sigh.

"I'm alright I guess. I miss you too. My dad says that I can see you whenever you feel ready."

"How are Embry and Quil?"

"Embry's Embry, he's resilient but Quil's taking things pretty hard. Quil Sr. won't even let him talk about you anymore."

"Tell them both that I miss them."

"I will," he promised.

"What's new with you?"

"Not much. Schools starting pretty soon so my dad said that I won't be able to work as much."

Jacob had started working for a body shop in Forks at the start of summer. Bella had taken her truck in and he'd readjusted her alignment and changed her break pads.

"Can I talk to your dad for a minute?"

"Sure."

The phone was passed then Bella could hear Billy's deep breathing come over the line.

"Yello?"

"Hey, Billy," Bella said with a chuckle.

"Hey Bells. Whatcha need?"

"I need a couple of favors."

"I'll see what I can do," he promised.

"I want to see my dad soon but I wanted you to be there. I can make dinner for you guys."

"I can do that. When were you wanting to do it?"

"This weekend maybe."

"I'm free Sunday."

"That'll work. What I'm about to ask you to do will mean that you'll have to go against Quil Sr.'s wishes."

"Do you want Quil and Embry there?"

"If it's possible."

"I can make it happen. I'll explain everything to the two of them before then."

"I appreciate it Billy. Thank you so much, for everything."

"You're welcome Honey. Don't you worry, everything's going to be fine."

She hung up after talking to Jacob again for a few minutes. She felt better now that she'd had a chance to talk to him. She didn't know how he had gotten her number, but se was glad hat he'd called.

XXXX

Carlisle announced on Friday that the rest of the family would be leaving that night. They had been there for two weeks and Edward had been spotted in town by Jessica and Mike. They had no reason to stay now that Bella had transitioned completely. Carlisle, Edward, and Jasper loaded the cars while Esme, Alice , and Rosalie said goodbye to Emmett and Bella.

Esme looked between the two of them sadly before hugging them both at the same time.

"Group hug," Alice said joining the circle.

Rosalie was pulled into the circle by Esme and she settled between Bella and Alice. They finally pulled away once Carlisle came into let them know that it was time to go.

"You two take care," Esme said.

"Yeah, don't turn the house into a pile of rubble," Jasper warned with a sly smile.

"We level a small log cabin and it haunts us for the rest of our lives," Edward said to Rosalie with an exaggerated eye roll.

Bella looked up at Emmett with questioning eyes.

"It's something you'll understand very soon," he promised.

"Bow chicka wow wow," Jasper sang under his breath.

Alice giggled before blowing them both a kiss then she walked out the door. Soon everyone was gone and the house was quiet.

"Well, what do you want to do now?" she questioned.

"Come with me," he said wrapping an arm around her waist.

He led her into the living room and left her standing in the middle of the room. He instructed her to close her eyes and she did so with a dramatic sigh. She heard the flick and hiss of a lighter lighting something then the smell of Magnolias filled her senses. Emmett brushed his fingers down the side of her face to let her know that she could open her eyes.

He held the remote for the stereo in one hand and took one of her hands in the other. He pressed play and a song Bella knew well started. The slow piano intro covered her like a favorite blanket and she smiled.

"How did you know that this was my favorite song?"

"Your dad told me."

The song continued and he waltzed her around the living room.

You're in the arms of the angel

Far away from here

From this dark, cold hotel room

And the emptiness that you feel

You are pulled from the wreckage of you silent reverie

You're in the arms of the angel

May you find some comfort here

She rested her head on his shoulder as the song ended and let him lead her around the room as the song started over. She couldn't think of anywhere else that she wanted to be.