AN: Yay birthday update! Thank you for the reviews/happy birthday's. I've been a little sick, so the updates might be a bit slow for the next week.

Since someone asked: Emmett's repressed/human memories were triggered by the traumatic event of seeing Alex like that. It paralleled his own accident and jogged his memories of his human life... At least, that was my premise lol.

Chapter Eighteen

The Aftermath

I groaned through the fogginess of my mind. I couldn't tell if I was flying or sinking. Everything hurt, and my body was heavier than I remember. For the first time in almost a century, I was cold. As if I had spoken it, I felt someone cover me with another blanked. It didn't seem to help the chills that I was trying to keep at bay. What had happened? I remembered Nicolas laying on the ground… then, nothing.

"I think she's waking up." That was Emmett's voice, and he was close. I could smell him around me, but just barely. There was a heavy stench of leech in the air too… Was I with the Cullens?

After what seemed like years, I managed to peel my eyes open, wincing at the way the light made my head ache even more. I was surprised to find not only Emmett peering down at me, but Carlisle Cullen as well. I meant to blink, but ended up keeping my eyes closed for several seconds before opening them again.

"Alexandria?" Carlisle looked down at me, placing his cold hands on either side of my head. "Perhaps giving her seven doses of morphine was a bad idea." He mumbled to himself as he checked my vitals. "Alexandria, you're going to be a little sluggish for a while…"

"I feel like I got hit by a truck." I managed to slur out as he finally took his freezing hand off of me. "Strike that, I got hit by a truck once and it wasn't this bad."

I winced as Emmett's booming laugh echoed inside my skull. "Sorry, sorry." He calmed down a bit. With a few parting words to Carlisle, we were left alone. "How are you feeling, Doll?"

The nickname rang odd to me, but in my fog-heavy mind I couldn't figure out why. "How's Nicolas?"

Again, he chuckled. "He's doing just fine – better than you. He had two broken legs and a rib. He'll be healed by nightfall. You on the other hand have a fractured skull, broken collar bone, three broken fingers – though I think those have healed already." He ran his fingers over my hand. It was odd, but for a second, he felt warm. "You're cold." He frowned. "Almost a human temperature." I was trying to understand what he was saying, but I was already drifting off to sleep again. "You rest, Doll. I'll be here when you wake up."

It was on the brink of sleep I remembered why that nickname was so odd. He hadn't called me 'Doll' since the 1930's.

New Year's Eve

1933 – Gatlinburg

"Emmett, are you sure you don't want to go see your parents?" I asked with a frown as I slowly lowered myself onto the couch next to him. His sad blue eyes moved from the fire just long enough to meet mine.

"I don't think I'm really up for it."

It had been almost four months since Bridget's passing. Most of the town still mourned her in their own way, but the McCarty's hadn't even seemed to process it yet. Over the last month, I moved in with Emmett, especially when I noticed he wasn't eating. Most of my shifts at the diner were covered these days so I could stay home and keep an eye on him. Emmett spent a lot of his time out hunting or locked away in his study. I think he liked getting lost in another world. I would have done anything to take his pain away. Although to the rest of the town he was stone-faced and shut off, I constantly felt his sadness. Most nights I would just cradle him the best I could while he sobbed about the unfairness of it all. It broke my heart every time.

"Well then, I guess we're staying in." I gave him the best smile I could. Pulling the throw from the back of the couch, I wrapped it around his broad shoulders and crawled onto his lap. Immediately, his hands wove around me and his face buried in my hair.

He hummed in content. "You're always so warm… It's weird but it keeps me grounded." I knew it was partially due to the imprint, but that was a story for another time. After all, we had all the time in the world. "Have I told you today that I love you?"

I could feel his smile against the skin of my neck. Pulling back far enough to place a soft kiss on his lips, I smiled. "I don't believe you have." I hummed as I laced my hands around his neck.

"Well I do, Doll."

I nearly winced at the nickname. "I thought we agreed on no pet names?"

He chuckled lightly. "It's not a pet name, you are a doll, Doll."

I laughed and rolled my eyes, just happy to have this light moment with him. "Anything you say, my big strong man."

Present Day

When I woke up the second time, I was much more coherent. My head still throbbed a little, but other than that, I felt fine. I stretched lazily, a loud yawn making its way out of my throat. A deep chuckle from my right reminded me that I wasn't alone. When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to find the room dark. I must have slept all day. I sought Emmett out almost immediately, his eyes already on me. In his hands, he held a thick book with something about physics written on the front. I made a mental note to ask him about it later, but I had more pressing matters.

Pulling myself up into a sitting position, I groaned. Okay, so maybe I wasn't completely better. Emmett was immediately at my side, carefully helping prop me up. He froze only when he noticed how close our faces were. "Hey, Doll." He breathed, his hand reaching up to cup my cheek.

"Doll…" I mumbled, trying to distract myself from how inviting his lips looked. "You keep calling me that… Did you remember something?"

He slowly sat on the edge of the bed, taking my hand in his. "Alexandria … I remember… everything." He looked so torn. "I don't know how I forgot – how could I ever forget you?" It felt like someone splashed me with ice water. It must have showed on my face, because he quickly continued. "But I meant what I said before! I do want to get to know you again. We're both different now."

Giving him a light smile, I leaned in and placed my lips against his. He remembered. The thought didn't seem to register correctly in my mind. "Where am I?" I asked looking around the plain room.

"You're at our house." He took my hands in his, absentmindedly running his thumb in circles on my palm. "We were going to put you in mine and Rose's old room, but Alice pointed out that you probably wouldn't like that." He gave me a sheepish grin. I guess I owed the tiny leech a thanks.

"Your eyes are dark." I frowned and ran my fingers across the shadows underneath. "They were gold when I fell asleep."

He chuckled lightly. "Yeah, Alex, that was like two days ago."

I was shocked. I had been knocked out for two days? And he had stayed the whole time? I kissed him lightly again, not sure how else to convey my gratitude. "I'm sure the pack wants to talk to me. Why don't you send them in and go hunt?"

"Are you sure?" He looked nervous, like he didn't want to leave me.

"Of course, my big strong man." I winked. We shared several small kisses before he did as I asked.

When the pack filed in, I answered their questions about my health – assuring them that yes, I was fine. Apparently, the Cullen's had been very hospitable in my absence. They fed the pack and gave up their spare rooms. I think we moved in without my knowing. Nicolas said that Esme all but insisted that we do. She got a look at our rental house while picking up some spare clothes for me, and decided to move the rest of my stuff while she was at it. I had mixed feelings about that. I wasn't crazy about living with vamps, but it meant that I could be closer to Emmett, and the pack seemed to like it.

"So, I wanted to talk to you guys." I breathed when all the initial questions were out of the way. "Emmett told me today that he remembers everything."

"Wow, that's so great!" Lilly smiled widely from her cross-legged position at my feet.

"Seriously, now we won't have to kick his ass for not remembering you." James and Matt gave me matching smiles.

"Why are you upset?" Chase's question caused everyone to sober.

Sighing, I readjusted myself. "I'm going to be with Emmett, and in turn, the Cullen's for a while. That means where they go, I'll go." I licked my lips. It felt like I was breaking up with them. "It's not fair to drag you guys along with me… Which is why I'm handing the alpha position over to Chase."

I was met with stunned silence and looks. "No." Chase was the first to speak. "I refuse it." What?

"Yeah, no offense to Sasquatch, but I didn't sign up to be a part of his pack." Ty crossed his arms, his look final.

"There's no way we're leaving you." Nicolas frowned and sat on the edge of my bed next to Lilly. "You're our alpha."

"You're not getting rid of us that easily." Matt smiled now.

I fought back the sappy tears that pushed at my eyes. "So, you're okay with following me wherever I go? What about if you imprint? Lilly, you already have."

"I'll stay with you as long as possible." She nodded her head, agreeing with her own statement. "When the time comes, I'll figure something out."

"So it's settled! No one wants to follow Chase." James clapped, sending a smirk towards the taller wolf. "Now, who's hungry?"

With kisses and hugs, they all left one by one until it was just Chase and I. "So… Nicolas."

He nearly groaned, like a teenager whose mother just asked if he had a crush. "Yeah."

When he didn't continue, I rose a brow. "That's dangerous territory, isn't it? What if he imprints?"

Sighing, Chase threw himself unceremoniously into the chair Emmett had been using. "I don't know what I'll do… I love him."

I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Then I hope you two are together forever."

AN: Reviews are loved! (For my birthday and all ;D) Sneak Peak for the next chapter:

"It's me…" Rosalie's voice called as she carefully opened the door. "Do you mind if I come in? I think we should talk."

"Now?" I gaped as I peaked around the shower curtain in time to see her close the door behind her. Okay, I guess we're doing this now.