Time was such an irrelevant thing to vampires. Life always moved forward, humans always progressed, and vampires always remained untouched by time. Bella had once thought that eternity with the one you loved would be romantic, never having to watch them deteriorate both physically and mentally and never having to say goodbye. Now, being older and wiser, she could see that her once thoughts on the matter were silly and reeked of naivety. While she wouldn't say that having eternity to spend with Emmett was a bad thing, there was just no progression. There weren't the basic ideals present that were drilled into the human mind, date, marriage, kids, death. She now wondered how vampiric relationships worked out so well, like Esme and Carlisle but then the same thought of stagnancy bubbled up in her mind. Or maybe that was why they played human so often, to disrupt the monotony that could become of the vampire lifestyle.

So engrossed in her thoughts she didn't realize that she had company in her room until his scent forced all the wayward thoughts away.

"Now who's the one that's withdrawing?" He joked referring to his previous behavior. Bella smiled. "I guess we are both just deep thinkers." She mused lightly.

He sat in a chair close enough but entirely too far away for her liking. Her brows scrunched in thought. Ever since they had openly declared they were mates; nothing more had come of it. They had spent more time in each other's company, but no moves were made, no kisses or touches were exchanged, nothing.

Emmett leaned in closer to her spot on the windowsill. "Everything okay? You look a little upset."

Bella opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to formulate the correct words that wouldn't make her sound like a needy little bitch in heat. "I…uh…I mean-did you ever want to marry me?" If she could've, she would have been fifty different shades of red and still she didn't get out what she intended to ask him.

It was Emmett's turn to flounder. "I guess I-well I didn't really put much thought into it." Bella deflated a little before he was frantically waving his hands, looking horrified at his own words. "No, I swear, not like that! Its just, I never thought you would want that from me, even after we confirmed we were mates because I wasn't there for you. I left you alone, knocked up, and unable to rely on me. I just kinda thought the whole actually being together thing was out the window and that's why I settled for being your friend."

Bella looked at him in shock putting together the pieces. He hadn't made a move because he had thought she didn't want him to, that she wouldn't want him to because of something that was out of his control the moment she left Forks and never said a peep to him about the pregnancy. Didn't he realize it was a two-way street. That her not saying anything didn't allow him to do anything about the situation. And to top it off she still wouldn't have done anything about it had it not been for her son. She would happily gone on with her nomadic lifestyle, forever staying out of his way while he stayed none the wiser. Her shock morphed into incredulity.

"Emmett, you couldn't have done anything about the situation because I didn't let you. I didn't let Peter or Char or anyone else give you the chance to do something about it. Yes, we had sex and you left but you didn't know that it could even lead to a child, neither of us did. The only thing that you can be held responsible for is your actions. Yeah, maybe you didn't act on your feelings or inclinations that I may have been your mate, but you looked at the whole picture with Rose and the family and I can't fault you for that."

Emmett looked taken aback. He noticeably gulped as he leaned forward in his seat. "So you mean to tell me that you don't blame me but are you actually insinuating that you want to have a relationship with me other than friendship?"

Hope blossomed in his chest as Bella moved from her spot on the windowsill and crouched down in front of him. He tilted his head down to keep her in view. She looked as if she was debating on something internally before a look of resolve crossed her features and her dainty hand slid up to meet his cheek.

"No, I don't blame you. I never have. And…if you're willing…" Her eyes bashfully rose to meet his and all rational thought flew out the window.

He quickly leaned in and pressed his lips to hers gently, almost cautiously at first. When she returned the kiss with gusto, Emmett's instincts kicked in and he knew there was no turning back. He finally had his mate where he wanted her.

A/N I know that this is like the worst possible place to stop but I promise the next chapter will be a steamy one right from the gate. I just wasn't feeling it for this chapter for some reason. So enjoy this little tease because, let's be honest, that's all it is.