A/N: Okay, I'm going to admit something. This is my weakest chapter of this story yet. I beg your forgiveness, but today has not been good and I just wanted to write something to distract myself. Take this as you will. I tried.
OOOOOOOOOOOOO
Emmett threw down bear that he'd just finished feasting on and took a deep, unnecessary breath. He glanced to his left when Jasper came into view and offered him a smile.
"Feeling better?" Jasper asked, almost like he didn't already know.
"Yeah, yeah I feel better," Emmett said, nodding. He turned his hat backwards and let out a little laugh. "Sadie came back in the nick of time, didn't she?"
"Big time," Jasper agreed. "You were so close to breaking out of the house and anyone that crossed you…" He drew a finger across his throat. "That wouldn't have ended pretty for you. Or us."
"Well, it didn't happen. So be happy. I know I am." Emmett's smile grew. "Sadie's back. And she's safe. And I'm going to have some fun with that."
Jasper made a face and held a hand out. "Don't bring me into that. Keep that emotion to yourself." He shuddered. "Just a hint of that and bleh."
Emmett laughed and turned, clapping his adopted brother on the shoulder. "Sorry man, but you're in for a rough time. I don't envy you."
"Gee, thanks."
"So what do you say we start the fun and get our asses back home?" Emmett rubbed his hands together. "I've got a girl waiting for me and you've got, well, Alice."
"Hey!"
OOOOOOOOOOOOO
Sadie moved around her room and sighed, trailing her fingers over familiar things. There was no dust on anything, but she had to remind herself that this was the Cullen's house. They wouldn't let dust happen. And with Emmett probably never leaving her room, she didn't think anything would have been left alone to fester.
Except for him, she thought. Emmett was wasting away for as long as I was gone. Am I really worth that much? How can I be worth his life? His sanity?
Sadie's hand stopped on a bouquet of dead, dried flowers. She imagined that they had once been beautiful. That Emmett had brought them for her to make her feel special. Her heart ached as she thought of him coming home with those flowers and finding her missing. Gone across that border that they were not supposed to cross.
He must have been so heartbroken. I lied to him. Sent him on a goose chase for some random bunch of shit that was just an excuse to get him out of town while I left. I left him without saying a word. No hint. No warning. Just picked up what I could carry and left.
Why am I always running?
"So Little Miss Mutt is back," a voice that Sadie didn't want to hear said from the doorway. "Pity. It was starting to stink less like wet dog here."
"Rosalie," Sadie said slowly, turning to face the blonde. "I am so not in the mood to deal with your shit right now. I'm sore and I'm tired. And dealing with your attitude is going to give me a headache. So take it and shove it up your crystal ass."
Rosalie rolled her eyes. "You talk big and bad, but everyone knows what a coward you are. I mean, you did run away when there was absolutely no threat."
"Yeah, I did run. But guess what, bitch? I came back." Sadie took a threatening step closer. "And guess what else? Emmett doesn't want your skanky, bitchy ass. He chose me."
"He chose wrong," Rosalie sneered.
"No, he did that when he decided to play your games. Because all you wanted was a big, strong trophy to show off to the world like some kind of prize horse. Well, that's over now. He's free. And oh yeah, you're still a bitch."
Rosalie hissed, flashing her fangs.
Sadie yawned. "Was that really supposed to intimidate me?"
"I could easily tear you apart, Mutt."
"I'd like to see you try. It'd give me an excuse to throw your ass down and give you a beating like you've never had before." Sadie flexed her fingers. "Might help deflate your ego some."
Rosalie opened her mouth to say something, but the door opened downstairs and she disappeared. Sadie watched as Emmett appeared at the doorway, sniffing the air. Concern lit up his eyes as he stood there.
"Yeah, yeah, she came here to bug me," Sadie muttered, taking a seat on the foot of her bed.
"She's been bugging me all this time," Emmett told her, looking a little uncomfortable.
"Bitches be crazy," Sadie said, watching him. "Hi. I'm one of the bitches."
"You? Nah. Never." Emmett entered the room and closed the door behind him. "You just have an attitude that I've missed around here."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Sadie mumbled, looking down at her hands. "I just – I just got so stuck in my head about that other pack coming here or some kind of danger happening because I came here that…I'm a coward."
Emmett shrugged. "I'm an idiot. There, we're even."
Sadie shook her head and heard him shift in front of her. His hand landed on top of her head and started petting her hair. She let him without complaint. It'd been so long since he'd touched her, she didn't want him to stop.
"Still as soft as ever," Emmett commented, almost to himself. "God, I missed your hair." He paused. "I missed you, Wolf Girl."
Sadie rested her forehead against the flat of his stomach and breathed in his scent. Her heart was still aching, but at least it wasn't crippling pain.
"I missed you too," Sadie whispered, trying to keep from crying.
Emmett cupped her chin and tilted her face up so that she was looking into his eyes. "No more running away, okay? Except when we're messing around. Neither of us can take another trip like that."
"No more running," Sadie agreed.
A slow smile crossed Emmett's lips. "So, now that I have you back, I guess that means we're a thing and I can make out with you any time I damn well please."
Sadie shook her head and pushed herself farther back on the bed. "Uh-uh. Nope. Not on your life."
"Well, up until several hours ago, I didn't have much of a life," Emmett said, crawling onto the bed and following after her. "I think it's time to celebrate."
Sadie made a face. "Emmett, I'm tired. I haven't had a decent night's sleep since I crossed that border. Can't you give a girl a break?"
Emmett hovered over her and grazed his lips against hers. He laughed and fell to the side, gathering her in his arms. "Yeah, I can give my girl a break." He squeezed her around the middle gently. "I want to see you back to full strength in no time. You're more fun that way."
"Gee, I'm sorry to disappoint right now," Sadie mumbled, staring at the wall. "I'll try not to die of a bleeding heart next time."
OOOOOOOOOOO
Emmett smoothed his hand over Sadie's stomach. "That's not what I meant." He sighed. "I want you, no matter what condition you're in. The fact that I'm just holding you again, that means a lot to me."
Sadie took a shallow breath. "I didn't want to hurt you. And all I did was that. None of you should forgive me for what I did…almost did…whatever."
The vampire could smell the salt of her tears as they fell. He turned her around in his arms so that her cheek rested on his chest and he felt the cold drops fall on his skin. His arms tightened around her and he kissed the top of her head.
"Hey, hey, hey. It's all right," Emmett murmured, stroking her skin. "Sadie, c'mon, don't cry. I'm not mad. You coming back – that's made a difference. All I wanted was for you to be safe and happy." He blinked. "I love you, Sadie."
Sadie muttered something against his skin, sliding an arm around him.
"What did you say?" he asked.
"I said I love you too, you big dumb idiot," Sadie said, lifting her head to glare at him wetly. "But do not think for a moment that you're automatically going to woo me over. I'm still me…and…" She shook her head and laid down again. "There's a lot to figure out between us."
"The big question is…how do we safely have sex?" Emmett asked with a smirk.
"You figure that out. I'm going to sleep." She snuggled closer to him. "Just like a big teddy bear."
"Yeah, yeah I am." And I will figure out something. There has to be a safe way for shifters and vampires to have sex. Her sister and her sister's mate must have found a way. Otherwise their relationship must have been very boring.
Sadie let out a little sigh. "I never asked her how she did it…"
"Shh…sleep now. We'll celebrate your homecoming properly soon enough."
God I hope so.
OOOOOOOOOO
A/N: Not much happened. But I tried. I couldn't think. I love you all. See you later. -Scarlet