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"Is Emmett alright?" Violet asked Edward as she followed him inside. The stoic vampire only nodded. He couldn't believe the tirade of worry clouding her thoughts right now. She'd almost just been vampire food!

I guess this must have been what Bella was thinking when we were together. Edward sighed knowingly, reminiscing about his time courting Bella when she was human.

These are just like Bella's thoughts when she… told me she loved me.

That night, when Emmett didn't come home, Violet sat in her bed, wringing her hands.

I should leave. I already know what's wrong with me, so why should I stay here and cause these nice people all this pain?

Life was so unfair.

God… I have to leave… have to get away so I don't hurt him again. But I can't imagine life without seeing him ever again. But he's a vampire, and I'm a mortal, sort of, so I guess it just isn't supposed to be. But I have to make sure he's alright first. Then I'll go. Then I'll be out of his life forever.

Edward groaned. He never should've keyed in on her thoughts. Now he could hear them wherever he was in the house. He also knew she planned to go out and find his brother. He knew it was dangerous, but at the same time, he knew she had to do this for herself.

"Emmett, where are you?" she called into the dark, stomping through the woods in a pair of rain boots and brandishing a silver flashlight. Drops of beaded moisture dripped out of the leaves that had been collecting them all throughout the storm earlier in the day and left Violet chilled.

… and she was getting no where, and probably never would. He was a vampire with super-heightened senses. If he didn't want to be found, he wouldn't-

"Over here," he called out, summoning her to a small gathering of trees near the river.

"Hey," she responded, making her way over and taking a seat beside him on the fallen tree he sat on.

"Hey," he coughed uncomfortably. He felt stupid; like a teenager on his first date, not being able to come up with anything to say.

"I'm surprised you even want to talk to me… after what happened today."

Emmett felt childish pouting like this, but he didn't want to put her in anymore danger. Not when he was so clearly, irrevocably in love with her.

"Water under the bridge, as long as it's okay with you," Violet cleared her throat and rested her hand on top of his pale, cold one. Emmett nearly flinched at the contact. She was touching him. She wasn't afraid.

"Look Emmett. I don't want to put pressure on you or anything, but I knew from the moment I saw you that you were my, uh, master or whatever. And I know my blood was made for you." Emmett didn't look up right away. He had no idea she was aware of his intense yearning.

"I know about the nature of vampires, and I don't care that you almost drank my blood. It's for you anyways." This time, he matched her stare slowly so that he could get used to the idea that this small, fragile creature wasn't going to run away from him on instinct. She wasn't like everyone else. She was made just for him.

"You've already eaten I guess, so as long as you want to-" Violet trailed off, flipping her blonde hair casually off her neck so that her blood filled arteries were completely exposed to the predator. He hesitated before moving in for a taste.

When his teeth penetrated her skin, she felt the urge to pull away, but Emmett's large, reassuring hand cupped her neck against his lips. Once the prick was made, she relaxed and allowed him to drink his fill. He wasn't that hungry, but the taste was so alluring, so arousing that he could hardly stop when she began to crumple in his arms.

"Violet?" he whispered in her ear to make sure she was okay. She couldn't die, but she could be drained. She gave a small muffled whimper in response as he sat up and wiped his mouth on his sleeve, feeling more satisfied than he'd ever felt in his life. He knew he shouldn't have taken her up on her offer, because now, he'd never let her go.

"I'm okay Emmett. Just tired."

As the large vampire carried her in his arms back to the house, Violet couldn't help beating herself up mentally.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Now you're head over heels for him! What happened to leaving so you wouldn't hurt him?

She wouldn't worry about it now. Right now, she was at ease with Emmett as he laid her down on Edward's dark bed, pulling the covers up over her petite form. Violet was surprised by his gentleness as he brushed some loose strands of her blonde hair out of her face before leaning in to say good night, as if the words were meant only for her.

Violet savored those last few moments before she fell into a fitful sleep.

The next morning, Violet found she was acting very bashful around Emmett as he arrived in the kitchen with the most boisterous attitude he'd had since Rosalie's departure.

"I can smell it in you," Edward warned his brother as he sat down and allowed Renesmee (who was still part human and sometimes chose to eat) and Violet to enjoy their breakfast.

"I know, Edward," Emmett responded through gritted teeth, trying not to let this obvious fact drain his good mood.

"Edward, Emmett, good morni-" Carlisle stopped mid sentence, his eyes darting from Violet, who's guilt was written on her face, and Emmett, who pretended to be innocent of the whole affair.

Much to their relief, Carlisle remained silent and only sighed.

"Violet… as long as its okay with you," he said, his fatherly concern prevalent in his voice. Violet looked up from her cereal that Renesmee was already poking through with a spoon. She responded with a fervent nod.

Thankfully, school was no longer an issue for the Cullens, considering they were all supposedly away at "college." So, when the weeks turned into months, nobody noticed that the beautiful house tucked away in the woods was still full of people.

Violet sighed as she stared at the calendar.

"I got here just as the snow was starting to melt in the springtime… and now it's almost Christmas," she mused, whirling around as the first flakes of winter began to fall.

"I can't remember ever feeling as happy as I am when I'm with you." A large pair of cold, solid arms enveloped Violet's small frame. The embrace pulled her off her feet and into Emmett's strong chest.

"Then it's a good thing you found me then, huh?" Violet responded with a sly smile, before Emmett captured her lips with his in a soft, sensual kiss that seemed only fitting with the wintry back drop.

"Violet, Carlisle sent me out to find… oh." Edward stood with a suspicious expression as Emmett took no notice to his brother's voice and simply continued holding Violet close to him, stroking her hair as he rested his chin on her head.

"Emmett, let's go," Violet persuaded the large vampire towards the house. Edward hadn't moved, but he had read what had been on Emmett's mind.

"Stop reading my thoughts Edward, and yes I can tell when you're doing it," Emmett accosted his brother as they walked behind Violet back to the Cullen abode.

"I just don't think you realize the consequences of what you're future actions could be… if you pursue this course," Edward responded cryptically, trying not to rile his brother up with his punitive words.

"This course? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Emmett hissed in response, trying to keep his voice down so that his Violet couldn't hear his words of anger.

"Emmett, she's still human, despite how many times you bite her-"

"So you're saying you and Bella were fine because you're stronger than me? Because that's exactly-"

"Emmett, you're a younger vampire, gifted with exceptional physical strength and I'm not sure how well you'll be able to control yourself once the need sets in. I just don't want to see you hurt her."

Both vampires' eyes locked in a heated stare that threatened to melt the ice that began to form under their feet.

"I would never hurt her," Emmett said definitely, ending the conversation as he caught up with Violet, scooping her up in his arms and racing her back to the house at vampire speed.

"Hey… what's wrong? Don't think that just because I don't have super human hearing I can't tell Edward upset you. What is it?" Violet stood on the porch with her warm palm rested on Emmett's cool, alabaster face.

"It doesn't matter," Emmett replied aloofly, taking Violet's concern in stride, but not wanting her to worry.

"If you say so," she whispered as he entered the house.

"I'm not a mind reader Edward, but I know you said something to Emmett that really hurt him. Even if you didn't mean to-"

"Perhaps you should talk to Emmett then." Edward sat coldly unresponsive as he prepared a meal for Renesmee. Violet crossed her arms indignantly. Out of all the vampires in the whole house, she got along with Edward the least.

"No, you know he wont' talk to me. That's why I'm talking to you," Violet responded through gritted teeth. Vampires were SO finicky.

"And, like I said, it's something you should talk to him about. It's a matter that concerns the both of you." At this, Edward slipped out of the kitchen with vampire speed. He was obviously avoiding the confrontation.

The weekend was fast approaching, and Emmett had avoided nearly all but verbal contact with Violet. It was driving her to the brink of frustration.

As she sat on her bed watching the snowfall, she thought of him. He sat on her bed transfixed by her luminescent blue eyes that entranced him the moment he saw her. He then averted his gaze as she turned to him, moving closer.

"Don't shut me out like this," she spoke no louder than a whisper, but she knew he could hear every word crystal clear. "It hurts."

Before she continued, she reached out and placed her hand on his which lay still on the bed… until that moment. Emmett withdrew his hand in a flash as though her hand had caused an unbearable flame to come between them at the contact. Violet looked at him with glassy eyes.

"I'm sorry."

Emmett looked up as she began, the first glimmer of tears in her innocent stare, pleading, yearning for his affection.

"I- I'm not a mind reader like Edward. I can't sense how you're feeling like Jasper! I wish I could be a vampire. Then I would understand you," she hastily wiped the tears out of her face, sliding off the bed in one quick motion and heading for the door.

Before she could go any further, Emmett had grabbed her hand and pulled her back onto the bed.

"Don't ever say that! You… you're perfect the way you are! I wouldn't change anything about you for the world." Emmett clasped her face between his hands as she lay facing up on the bed, breathing heavily from the passion that had just poured from Emmett's into her soul.

"Then why are you mad at me?" she pleaded again, hoping this time, she'd get a real answer to her questions.

"I could never be mad at you. I'm mad at myself."

Once again his heart was pounding. Being on top of her, holding her down beneath him with that primal instinct swelling inside him. He had to get out.

Rolling off of her, Emmett stood up and pulled his jacket tighter around his neck, trying not to look too uncomfortable about the questions that were sure to ensue.

"Care to elaborate?" Violet asked flustered, craving the feeling of his touch. Emmett almost told her 'no,' but then decided that… it concerned her too.

"Me and Edward… had a fight," he began, running his large hands through his hair and taking a seat beside her once more. This time, he allowed her to move in and comfort him. She rested one hand on his knee and placed the other on the back of his neck, stroking it tenderly.

The feeling was back, roiling inside Emmett, but this time, he was determined not to push her away. He had to learn to control it… before it controlled him.

"He… insisted that I wasn't strong enough." Emmett chose his words carefully. He didn't want to divulge the whole meaning of the conversation, for fear it might embarrass his Violet.

"What's he talking about? You're so strong-"

"No. I'm not." Emmett interrupted, his eyes glowing from their usual dark brown to an ornate gold. In one swift motion, the vampire had grabbed her wrists in his hands and pulled her close to him, his lips just barely gracing Violet's skin. He rested his teeth on the pulsating flesh of her neck and let them gently slide in. The gruesomely slow speed that the fangs penetrated with prolonged the pain Violet normally felt before the blood began to flow.

The venom sank in slowly and caused her to pass out.

Jasper had been feeling anxious all day. He'd been in the surrounding forest when he'd first picked up his brother's strong emotional turmoil, and gone to seek it out. With the bits of conversation he picked up from the interaction between Vie and Emmett, he finally realized what all the fuss was about.

Emmett wants to make love to Violet.

Bella was resting on the porch swing with Renesmee when Violet approached from the woods, trying to look casual, but at the same time, she couldn't hide the curiosity shining in her eyes. Over the past few months, Violet had become closer to all the members of the Cullen household, but especially Bella. Something in their similar situations seemed to just click, and Violet found it easy to confide in Bella with all her problems, vampire related and otherwise.

"Bella, Renesmee is half human correct?" Violet started off with an easy one. Confirming information as opposed to assuming it.

"Technically yes, but they call her one of the vampire children."

"So… you had her when you were a human?"

"I would be the human half, yes." Bella's eyes narrowed as Violet began to look uneasy.

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

"All the questions you've asked have been personal Vie," Bella smiled, rocking the three of them in the swing. All vampires had amazing, super human hearing, but that wasn't the reason Violet was leaning in to ask her next question. She was blushing out of her mind.

"So you, um, had s-e-x with Edward… as a human? What happened?" Violet whispered hastily, looking over her shoulder and back towards the house as to assure herself no one else was listening.

"What happened? The best night of my life, and my little girl," Bella responded softly, lifting Renesmee up on her knee so that Violet could revel in her beauty.

"Ugh, then I don't know what got Emmett so mad yesterday! Edward said that he wasn't… strong enough. What does that even mean?" Violet was exasperated. Obviously Bella turned out alright, so what made her relationship with Emmett any different from that of Edward and Bella?

Bella furrowed her eyebrows and shooed Renesmee of the bench to play in the snow. She sighed before continuing.

"Sleeping with me on the night of our honey moon was the toughest decision Edward ever had to make… and that's saying something. It's not just about their will to protect us, you know, their 'mates,' but-" Bella trailed off, trying to find the right words to break the situation to Violet.

"-our blood can drive them crazy. Edward destroyed the bed to keep from biting me."

Violet's blue eyes lowered under her hood, staring at the white wood panels on the patio. So it was as dangerous as Edward and Emmett implied.

"Look Violet. I don't want you to be discouraged. If you love Emmett like I think you do, everything will be just like you imagine. It was for me at least." Bella's comforting assurance flowed through Violet. She was invigorated.

Now that she knew the truth, there was no way she was going to keep it from Emmett.

"Thanks Bella. Thanks a lot!" Jumping up on the porch in a very childish manner, Violet raced down and danced in the snow.

That's a load off my mind. Wait till I tell Emmett. NO! I'll have to pick the right moment. Make it romantic and sweet, tell him how I feel-

"What're you thinking about?" Emmett whispered in her ear suddenly. The blonde haired girl before him nearly collapsed with shock.

"Oh my god Emmett, you scared me," she laughed, taking his hand as she flopped down on the Cullen's front yard. Renesmee zoomed around their still forms, chasing snowflakes and playing her imaginary games.

"You seem like you're in a good mood," Emmett whispered suggestively in her ear as they lay side by side, panting warm breath into the frigid air.

Sitting up, a look of suspicious intent crossed Violet's blue eyes.

"Can we go somewhere?" she murmured back, locking gazes with the large vampire seated before her.

"Your wish is my command."

Aw, cuteness. I added that little snippet scene where Emmett drinks Violet's blood and it sounded kinda sexual… oh well. REVIEW!

~Dmaressence