…Hi. Sorry for the time lapse. Do we ever get tired of me saying that? I've been putting it off because after this, there are only two chapters left and that makes me so sad. I remember starting this story. So much has happened since the beginning, not just to our lovely Jasper and Bella but to me as well. I was a completely different person, living a completely different life when I started this story and as Bella grew and found herself, I was following the same journey. So without further ado, let's see what happens when Emmett comes through on his promises.

The song for this chapter is arms by Christina Perri. It's always been this song. From the very first time hearing it, I saw this whole chapter go down and it's never been anything else for me.

Disclaimer: As stated, I own nothing. I can't afford a fancy, secluded cabin. I did find a cool house kit for about $30K. Now I just have to knock over a bank.

Chapter Twenty Five: arms

BPOV

I moved my foot up higher on the rock face and repositioned my hands, pulling myself up. The wind whipped through my hair, blowing tendrils in my face and attempting to pull me off the mountain. I huffed a frustrated sigh as my boots slipped a little on the wet stone. The boots slowed me down but if there was one thing I'd learned since joining the Cullens in eternal life it was that appearances were everything. No one would see me climbing up the mountain. But once I got to the top, there was a higher chance of meeting hikers and campers. Hence the boots. I started to move up the rock faster, tired of trying to make accommodations for my ridiculous footwear. I made it to the top in record time and sat on an outcropping of rock, surveying the expanse of forest around me.

I sighed, resting my head in my palms. I'd futilely hoped that getting away from the house would distract me, keep me from noticing the big, loud, obnoxious void left by Emmett's absence. I appreciated his optimism and determination to try and 'fix' my life but life without him was even more miserable than before. As a vampire, time seemed to pass to differently. It almost seemed slower to me and without Emmett it felt like it was crawling at a snail's pace. The four weeks he'd been gone seemed like years to me. Perhaps that was because I was already miserable before he left though. Maybe being without my brother only exacerbated my loneliness.

My thoughts inevitably turned to Jasper.

I wondered if Emmett had found him yet. Would he listen? My mind recalled with some effort the fuzzy memory of his face, disgusted and betrayed as he turned away from me.

"I can't even look at you."

I shuddered, pulling my arms closer though it wasn't the biting wind that chilled me. Four weeks hadn't helped change my opinion that Emmett's mission had been a fool's errand. Even if he managed to find Jasper, he couldn't convince him to come back. There was nothing he could say that would convince him to love me again. Hell, I didn't think he could talk him into not hating me, let alone agreeing to face me again.

I felt the familiar tendrils of emptiness move through my frozen veins to my dead heart. Pain gnawed at the useless organ like acid and I closed my eyes, still unused to the absence of tears. My mind raced with memories, so foggy and dull compared to my vision now, and the pain only intensified. I recalled the feeling of resting my head on Jasper's shoulder, the Ferris wheel moving around slowly while I basked in the woodsy scent of his body and the comfort of his arm around me, holding me to him.

I was broken from my heart-rending reminiscing by the sound of my phone chirping cheerfully at me. I pulled it from my pocket and answered without looking.

"Hello?"

"You know, I'm gone for a month thinking that I'll come home and get a great, big, warm welcome from my favorite sister and imagine my surprise when I show up and she's not here!" I jumped up, excitement coursing through me tempered by a strong wave of nerves.

"Emmett!"

"Who else would it be? Now where are you?"

"I went mountain climbing. I'll be right there. I'm already coming," I said, hurriedly jumping off the cliff's edge and watching the ground approach. I landed and began running towards the house.

"That's more like it. Hurry it up, little sis. I didn't come all this way without a souvenir for you," he said cheekily before the line went dead. If my heart had still been beating, it would have skipped and then gone into overdrive at his words. Had he done it? Had he convinced Jasper to come back?

Did I really have a second chance?

Hope surged through me, making it seem as though I was flying through the forest and not running. I felt warmed, impossibly, by the knowledge that in a few minutes I would see him, touch him, smell him. I pushed myself to run faster, wishing for the first time that I could actually run faster. The trees flew past me in a blur, the wind beating against my face like a hurricane. I didn't notice any of the passing scenery. My mind was focused on one thing, one thought.

Get home to him.

I finally saw the break of the backyard approaching through the trees and there he was, standing by the house, eyes moving across the forest, searching. I was overwhelmed with the sense of homecoming just from seeing his familiar, beloved face again. His hair was still the beautiful shade of blonde, his jaw the hard line of sculpted perfection. His eyes, so expressive, met mine as I broke through the trees and suddenly his face was transformed. I didn't realize how empty and tortured he'd looked until he looked at me and suddenly, it was like he was a blind man seeing the world for the first time. Wonderment and adoration transformed him until it was almost like he was glowing. I could feel the intensity emanating from him from where I stood, suddenly unsure of myself.

And then he was moving.

He was running for me and I launched myself at him. He caught me, holding me to him until I thought we'd merge into one person. His lips covered mine, and I felt every painful, terrible moment since he'd walked away melt away. I returned his kiss passionately, gripping at his hair and shoulders, desperately trying to pull him closer despite the fact that there wasn't a single millimeter between us. I could feel the intensity of his love filling me, overflowing until it spilled around us and I could do nothing but try and match it with my own until it felt like I could burst with it. His hands weaved themselves into my hair and he slowed his kisses until his lips were brushing against mine with aching tenderness. He finally broke the kiss, resting his forehead against mine and breathing deeply.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered fervently, golden eyes staring into mine.

"Shhh," I murmured, cupping his cheek gently. "I can't believe you came back."

"I shouldn't have ever left," he said softly. "I can't believe I left. Seeing you, holding you, I don't know how I stayed away so long."

"I'm just happy you decided to come back to me. I'm sorry for not telling you about Alice. I shouldn't have kept it from you."

"Bella, you have nothing to apologize for. You were right; it was your last promise to Alice. I had no right to be upset that she asked that from you. And then Edward," he said, voice growing angry at the mention of his brother.

"Edward did what he did. I hated him for it at first but being with you here, feeling your arms and hearing your voice… I almost wish I could thank him. I can be with you forever now. That is, if you still want to be with me." He stared at me, eyes melting with emotion.

"Forever is a start," he whispered before brushing his lips against mine and I smiled into the kiss.

"So do I get a thank you or should I just make a list of ways you can repay me?" Emmett's cheerful voice pulled me from my bliss and I laughed.

"Email it to me," I said before pressing my lips against Jasper's again and diving into the warmth of his presence.