Here is Emmett!
I hope you all enjoy Emmett as much as I do – I loved writing his character so much! Just a slight warning – my Emmett is a little happy-go-lucky. It's just how I see him based on SM's writing. We don't get a whole lot of Emmett in the books, but this is how I see him. Being a vampire doesn't especially bother him, specifically if a certain someone *else* is there with him. I hope you all enjoy him!
Emmett – 1935
This is it old boy….last chance here. Get in his side, and get him good. Gotta make it count!
He gripped the hunting knife in his hand, trying his best to ignore how hard it was shaking. He winced as he tried to tighten the grasp on the small blade as the bear snarled and shook his head in fury at him. Emmett had already jabbed the large animal twice with the blade, his fear hampering his confidence and causing the knife not to go in far enough. The grizzly's layer of fat around his skin prevented him from getting any good stabs in, and the animal was more annoyed now than ever.
Froth fell from its mouth as it growled and coughed, angry at Emmett for stumbling across his path while hunting. He only got even more riled up when Emmett inflicted the multiple gashes in his side.
Today had not been a good day.
His little sisters had woke him up entirely too early, only for his mother to inform him that she didn't want him to go hunting that day because of all the chores that needed to be done around the house. When he finally did manage to sneak away, the game had been minimal and he had quickly grown bored. Emmett silently cursed himself for falling asleep against the boulder, his gun propped up beside him. The bear had easily swiped it out of his grasp before slicing him across the arm with its steely claws, a triumphant growl emanating from its throat. Needless to say, that was not a nice way to wake up from a nap.
"Fuck," he muttered, eying his loaded shotgun on the ground, twenty yards away. The bear howled, bits of saliva flying from its bared jaws. Emmett rolled his brown eyes and winced as blood began to drip steadily down the side of his arm, the sight of it making him feel dizzy.
It was hard to stay optimistic in a situation like this.
Emmett had never really considered himself a lucky man. Not in the sense of family or material things, but in the sense of finding trouble. He was always able to find a source for trouble.
The situation he was currently in was a perfect example.
For example, as a child, if there was a tree to fall out of, he would find it. Needless to say, he ended up needing stitches often. If there was a pie cooling on a windowsill, he would have no qualms about stealing a piece. As a young adult, if there was a new broad in town, he would find the time to coerce her into the backseat of his father's car. If there was a pint of sipping whiskey being passed around at a school dance, he would down it in front of his friends for a laugh. If there was an open window at a local bar, he would surely try to sneak in.
And he always got caught.
Hence, the bad luck in situations such as this.
His mother had begged him not to go deer hunting that afternoon, but as soon as she had left the house he had stolen away to at least check his traps. There was no way he was letting an entire Saturday go to waste.
It had taken him only a few hours to climb deep into the hilly countryside, where he was sure he could find a deer to shoot. He knew that his mother would be upset that he had gone into the woods to hunt, but he would surely be forgiven when she saw the fresh venison on the table for dinner that night. His family had never been very wealthy; he and his father worked at the same mill. His father had worked there his entire life, and Emmett was sure that he would continue to work there. Hunting, drinking, and causing trouble were his only thrills in life. And Emmett simply had to get his thrills.
However, this particular Saturday, things had not been in his favor. He glanced down at his wound on his arm that was seeping blood, and he rolled his eyes at his own stupidity for falling asleep while waiting for a deer to wander into the clearing.
If only I wouldn't have stayed out so late last night with Audra Mae….He was temporarily pacified to picture the dim-witted, curly red haired girl that had let him get further than he had ever gotten in the backseat of his father's Chevy. Emmett had never really had a 'steady' girl before, and Audra Mae was easily the closest thing to a girlfriend he had had so far. She had let him pull her bloomers down at least three times, and that definitely qualified as girlfriend material in his book. A slight smirk crossed his face as remembered all the girls he had fooled around with; he usually irked them too much for anyone to stick around long.
He was ripped back into reality as the large grizzly in front of him stomped at the ground, snarling ferociously. Emmett groaned and tried to remain still, even though he guessed that it was a weak plan of action against the giant, snarling animal. It was mid spring, and it had probably woken up a tad too early judging by its cranky demeanor.
"I am one dumb cookie," he muttered to himself, trying to freeze up and stay still.
Maybe the bear would get bored and walk away.
Another wave of fear shot through his body as he watched the animal fall to all fours and begin too approach him. Emmett groaned involuntarily at the pain that was shooting through him already and wished for it to be over soon. He knew that he wouldn't be walking away from this anytime soon.
"Fuck…"
The bear growled again before it began padding over to where he lay, now bleeding heavily. His plan abandoned, he winced in fear before the bear angrily swiped at him again, this time across his muscled stomach. Shards of his flannel shirt flew into the air as the claws raked across him. Blood spurted out of the gaping wound, further fueling the animal's attack.
"AHHH Sonofabitch….." he gasped through clenched teeth.
So this is it. This furry nightmare will be the death of me…he thought as he howled in pain. It felt as though his body had been ripped in two, his insides all exposed to the chilly spring air. The wound on his arm was long forgotten as the new gaping hole in his stomach burned and stung from the exposure. The blood seeping out of him was making him so dizzy he was sure he would be done soon.
Well at least this stupid grizzly didn't make me wait long for it, he thought sourly.
The bear paced around him, toying with him slightly as he grunted in victory. Emmett twitched and moaned on the ground, waiting in agony for the final blow. He expected the bear to bellow loudly in triumph. However, he soon heard something else entirely different.
x-X-x-X-x-X-x
A horrible, hair-raising hiss echoed in the stagnant air of the small clearing.
Oh lord, what now? Just my luck, probably something else much worse has come to finish me off….what the hell was that?
His mind fought with his eyes to stay alert and locate the source of the awful noise, but the pain was quickly becoming too much for him to handle with a conscious mind.
As he drifted in and out, he barely registered the awful shriek that echoed in the woods around him, causing the hair on the back of his neck to jump to attention. He wasn't' sure, but it felt like a jolt of electricity flew through the air at the same moment the growling bear was silenced with a sickening crack.
He could hear footsteps on the ground around him; something was approaching. They were too light though, soft and rhythmic. He winced, not sure if he should even bother opening his eyes to see what other atrocity awaited him.
Suddenly, he was aware of a cool gust of wind crossing over his body. He recoiled again as the air rushed across his open wound, making him gasp and his eyes open slightly. He fought to hold them open as he saw something very strange kneeling in front of him.
An angel?
The late morning sun framed her angelic, pale face that was accentuated by a halo of golden locks. The curls fell around her shoulders in a beautiful coif, and her glittering, golden eyes were saintly. She looked pained for a moment but quickly smiled when she saw that he was looking up at her.
I must be dead. Or about to be. Shit…
"A-a-are you...a-an…a-angel-l?" he gasped, trying to focus harder on her unearthly features. She smiled at him again, her perfect white teeth glittering in the light. She looked down at his stomach, pressing her plump, pink lips together in a concerned line.
If his stomach wasn't ripped open at the moment, it surely would have been fluttering with a nervous determination to win over this girl. She was easily the most beautiful thing he had even laid his eyes on.
He sputtered and gasped in pain as he laid there, waiting for her response. Her eyes darted from his stomach to his face, her distraught emotions clearly displayed on her angelic face.
"I have to save you," she murmured, reaching up to stroke his face softly. He leaned into her cool, perfect touch, the corners of his mouth turning upwards into the biggest smile he could muster through the searing agony of the bear's claw marks.
Anything to stay with this broad…he thought to himself. He was probably dreaming, but he would take it.
"Do you want to come with me? I can save you, I can!" she whispered to him desperately, stroking his face and hair.
He nodded, full of happiness for the offer she was presenting him.
She must be an angel….
He winced and moaned as he felt himself being picked up into steel-like arms. She began to walk with him, and he mentally said his good-byes to his life and his family because he was almost certain that this was the end.
This angel came down to earth to take me to heaven…will she be there when I get arrive?
He didn't have much more time to think as the cool arms tightened against his body, securing him snugly. Soon, they were flying.
x-X-x-X-x-X-x
He could hear voices murmuring in the background as he was placed on the hard table. Voices shouting, then talking, then whispering.
Where on earth am I? Where is that angel? Why aren't we in heaven yet? He wondered.
"Rose, you'd better explain some things to him. Ask him one more time while he can still think somewhat clearly," a male voice said sourly.
"Of course I will!" came the chimed response from a female voice. That was the voice he recognized…
"He thinks he's going to heaven for hell's sake, Carlisle. The least she can do is…I know, I know….but really? Is that fair to let him think that?"
"Carlisle, tell Eddie to shut up before I detach his jaw."
"How would like if I shaved your head, Rosalie? Hmm?"
"Children!"
There was a long silence in the room, and then people started moving again.
"He knows your voice Rose. Please at least ask him. And quick. That smell…"
"If I ask him will you stop your muttering and go bother someone else? How can you even think about your thirst at a time like this?" she hissed.
"How can you not?"
Soon he felt the cool hands return to grasp each side of his face softly, and the angel spoke again.
"Are you still there?" she asked meekly. "I found you in the woods and I couldn't bear to leave you…My father can save you, but you have to want to be saved," she murmured. "Do you want him to save you?"
Emmett didn't have time to respond before the male voice returned. "Tell him the real side of the story, Rosalie. You found this poor sap in the woods and thought he was almost as pretty as you, and now you want Carlisle to damn another helpless soul to this life, just so that you can have some petty company," he snarled.
He heard a hissing sound and a loud crash, but the pain was quickly becoming too much for him to bear.
"Hurry, Rosalie. He's fading. Carlisle will have to bite him soon," the male said.
Emmett let a groan escape his lips as his wounds began to seep more blood and his whole body began to shake from the large quantities he was losing.
Why won't this angel save me? He thought frantically. All he wanted was to see her face again.
"Hurry it up, Rose…."
"Do you want to become what I am? Do you want to live forever with me?" she wailed softly, clutching his shirt. He winced at the pain, but his mind briefly wondered what she was talking about.
"Explain it to him."
"You see…" she said quickly. "I'm immortal…I'm a vampire. My family are vampires. We are not monsters, and you wouldn't have to be either. Carlisle can save you, if you'll have me," she whispered urgently. Emmett groaned again and nodded.
Anywhere this dame is couldn't be too bad. I don't want to die, either….
He heard some shuffling around, and then another set of cool hands was at his side. He could feel his shirt being removed, and the second hands briefly assessed his wounds.
"Dear boy, I am going to help you. This will hurt, but it will save you and it will all be over soon," a different male voice assured him. This voice was different; softer, silkier, and older than the first. Emmett groaned in response.
Just help me…this is agony…
"You have no idea," the first voice said.
His mind lingered briefly on his angel's melodic, chiming voice before the second set of hands grasped his shoulder and head.
"I'm sorry, my boy," the older man whispered. "Please find it in your heart to forgive me when this is over."
His mind was torn away from his ripped up arm and torso the second his body was able to register the feeling of razor sharp daggers sinking into his neck.
And then the real pain began.
x-X-x-X-x-X-x
It felt like his neck had been injected with fire. Fire mixed with every stinger from every yellow jacket bee I've ever met…and that's a lot.
His mind traveled back in his memories of accidentally stepping on yellow jacket bee hives that were housed underground. The vindictive bugs would chase him down and sting him repeatedly, each one burning more than that last. This was that, only a hundred thousand times more painful.
The pain enveloped him. His gaping wounds in his torso seemed to heave and throb with pain as he lie there, gasping and twitching. For a moment, he felt like all hope was lost as his body heaved with agony at the fire ripping through him.
And then, a numbing relief washed through him suddenly. It seemed to temporarily put out the fire, but the embers still glowed underneath, singeing him.
"That should help a little…I gave him practically triple the normal amount for a human," the older male said softly.
"Can't you give him more? The morphine should help him…Please, Carlisle…give him more. We know it won't hurt him, just give him more! Before it's too late!"
"It's helping him a little…he's calming down a bit," the younger voice said.
"Rosalie, talk to him a little. Maybe try to explain things," a new female voice encouraged.
The angel returned to his side, running her glassy fingers down his arm soothingly. "I just wish I knew his name," she said wistfully.
Emmett struggled to stay with it. The pain was overwhelming, but there was nothing he wanted more than to tell this lovely broad his name.
"He can hear you Rose, just ask him," the younger male said. "I'm Edward," he said, leaning down into his ear. "I can read your mind…." He paused, audibly unsure. "I…I know that sounds strange, but I can really hear your thoughts. Can you think your name for us?"
Emmett frowned internally and debated what this 'Edward' had just told him.
He couldn't possibly read my mind! What kind of circus trick is that?
"I assure you I am no trained monkey…and this is no circus," Edward answered flatly.
Holy cow! It IS true….well now smooth talker, my name is Emmett. Let's hear you repeat that, he thought arrogantly.
Whether or not the other boy could really read his mind was irrelevant to him at this point; really anything to distract him from the pain was a welcome aspect.
"Emmett," Edward replied smugly.
Holy shit, he wasn't lying. What's the angel's name? What's going on? Where are we?"
Edward laughed out loud, clearly amused with Emmett's questions.
"What is it?" the second female asked.
"He's glad for the distraction from the pain. He's got a whole slew of questions for us. Rose…maybe you should talk to him. Introduce yourself," Edward said.
The angel cleared her throat carefully, and Emmett could sense that she was leaning closer to him. He heard a chair scoot closer to the table where he lay, and soon her sweet breath was blowing across her face as she began to speak to him.
"Emmett…what a lovely name…I...I'm Rosalie. It's very nice to meet you Emmett. I wish you could talk back to me…" she said sadly
There was a silence in the room, and soon the older male voice spoke. "Perhaps we should leave them for a few hours. Let's go for a quick hunt…we could all use it after this afternoon."
Emmett couldn't hear anyone leave, but the only voice he could hear now was Rosalie, and that suited him just fine.
x-X-x-X-x-X-x
The hours passed, and the pain continued on. It was nice to have Rosalie talking to him, but he drifted in and out of consciousness as sometimes the pain was too much for his mind to bear. It almost felt like his brain was trying to run into the corner of his head and hide so that it wouldn't have to process what was really going on.
The fire raged through him endlessly. He felt like he was being burned alive; however, that would have been much less cruel in his mind. If he was really being submerged in a real fire, he would have been charred to ash hours ago. Instead, this satanic blaze was only fueled by time. It engulfed him.
His only respite was Rosalie.
Whatever numbing drug her father had given him had worn off hours before, and every hint of fire was now crystal clear as it burned through his body.
"Emmett, it will all be over soon. And then…then you'll be like me. Nothing can hurt me…well…physically. You will have diamond hard skin that can't be pierced by any bullet or knife. I know you'll love that," she said softly, stroking his hair. He wanted to open his eyes and smile at her, hopefully dazzling this dame like he did many others, but the pain kept him in check. He was useless.
"I know what we'll do!" she said, her voice an excited whisper. "We'll go back to the mountains where that pesky grizzly lives, and we'll hunt more of them together. They'll get their payback. Would you like that? We'll find one exactly like the one who did this to you and we'll teach him a lesson."
Emmett rejoiced at the thought of paying the irritated bear back for what he had done. Nothing except for that and Rosalie's smile would make him happier.
"I'm sorry…but I did kill the one who did this to you. I just left him there…I couldn't stand it to let him live."
Her tone had changed as she talked about the bear, he noticed. It lowered an octave and almost sounded…sinister. It was still heavenly sounding to his ears, but he noticed the change right away. It was almost as if…something had changed within her.
He was sure that she was some angelic creature, even though she claimed to be something else. As the fires in his body raged on, burning every bone, organ, muscle, tissue, and cell, he was certain that her voice was the only thing that kept him sane. He was teetering on the edge of going mad from the burning that continued to race through him. Rosalie's cool hands and soothing voice were the only thing that kept him secured within his sanity.
In the back of his mind, he wondered why she never left him. He had to have been there for days now. He had no idea how much time had really passed, but the torture had to have gone on for some time. In the back of his mind, he was eternally grateful that the angel that called herself Rosalie never seemed to eat, sleep, or leave his side for anything else.
She continued to talk and soothe him as he laid there, waves of agony and anguish washing over him. She told him that she was a vampire, and her entire family were vampires as well. He was certain that he was dreaming; they couldn't be the monsters he envisioned. He had seen picture shows at the cinema the depicted vampires and monsters, but he simply could not match Rosalie's face with the face of anything from his memory. Time passed, and he repeatedly struggled to picture her as he had briefly seen it when she found him.
Rosalie explained that her family - Carlisle, Esme, and Edward - were all turned into vampires at one point or another in their all too short lives. She told him that they did not murder humans like the monsters in the books and movies; in fact, hardly anything that was thought about vampires was even true. Most of the 'facts' about their kind were simply tales thought up to scare people. She quickly insisted that they were in fact dangerous, but tried very hard not to be.
"We do try to blend in as much as we can…I just started going to school last year. Oh, I never thought I would beg to go to class! It was nice after being pent up in this house for a full year though," she admitted sadly. "Oh, I forgot to tell you…I'm sorry Emmett, but you'll have to spend a year away from other humans. That makes it less likely that…accidents will happen. But you'll do just fine, a guy like you…" she said softly.
"I bet you're a force to be reckoned with. I hope you'll like living with us…I sure hope you do, really. We'll do our best to help you through the first year, I swear. I'll be there every step of the way Emmett. We'll take you hunting five times a day if we have to! Not that you'd mind…you were hunting when I found you, weren't you? I suppose you won't mind hunting all the time then…" she finished, stroking his arm with her cool, smooth hands.
He could hear another person softly enter the room, his loping footsteps drawing closer.
"He can hear me coming…his senses are developing. Won't be long now," the voice said. Edward. He could recognize it.
"Yes, Emmett, it's me," Edward called to him, walking up to stand on his other side.
How much longer? Emmett thought at him. The pain had grown to an exhausting point, and he wasn't sure how much longer he would last.
"I can't know, Emmett. Not long," he said.
"What does he want to know?" he heard Rosalie ask.
"How much longer….he's having difficulties…."
"Oh Emmett," she wailed softly, leaning her cool forehead down on his arm. He groaned, wincing at the pressure.
"Are you going to keep babbling to him?" He asked.
Emmett heard a hissing sound, followed by Edward's chortled laughter. "He doesn't mind it. You might want to….help him clean up a bit," Edward said before he could hear his footsteps leaving the room. The door shut, and a few minutes later, he heard different footsteps, lighter and almost melodic.
"Here you are dear," another female voice said. Emmett recognized her to be Esme, the woman Rosalie referred to as her mother.
"Thank you," Rosalie somberly replied.
"Something the matter?"
There was a silent pause, and finally Rosalie sighed softly. "I just hate to see him suffer. This must have been what it was like for Carlisle when you were changing. It's torture for me…and I have to admit I remember in too much detail what this was like for me, as much as I've tried to forget."
Emmett concentrated, trying to draw his mind away from the pain that was slowly moving away from his fingertips and toes. Was it ending? Is it really almost over?
"I wish this was over for him…I hope he doesn't hate me when he wakes up," she said softly, stroking his large hand carefully.
"It will be fine, Rose. Why don't you wash him up, and I'll go get Carlisle soon. I'll have to ring him at the hospital. He'll be happy to come home soon and see the progress," she said to her.
Rosalie then began to wipe down his burnt body with a cool cloth. She carefully removed all traces of blood and dirt from his face and neck, moving down to his torso. Emmett tried to concentrate on the feeling of the cool water on his blazing chest, for that was where all the pain was disappearing to. It seemed to be being drawn out of his legs and arms and into a gaping wound on his chest.
His heart began to frantically throb as he laid on the table and moaned in agony. He began to move and shift, trying to ease the searing pain in his chest as the wild thumping began to quickly get out of control.
"Carlisle!" Rosalie yelled, startling him slightly. He couldn't be sure, but it seemed that his senses of hearing and smell were growing more and more acute with each passing second. He could hear the tiniest of movements, every breath, and every step, even the crickets moving on the leaves outside the window.
He gasped and gritted his teeth as the fire roared up his chest and began to attack his last line of defense. He could hear his heart start to stutter, and he panicked when a thought entered his mind; what if this wasn't right? What if something was wrong?
He could hear Edward rush to his side. "No Emmett…you're doing just fine. Just a few minutes more…you can do this, Emmett. It won't be long," he reassured him.
It ached. It throbbed. It pounded in his ears. There was no way to escape the stinging fire as it gleefully seized his heart. The flames sent one offensive wave after another on his already frenzied heart. They crashed and burned, launching one assault after another, after another. The organ in his chest pulsated painstakingly hard a few times, then faltered. It beat one more time, and then fell silent.
He could hear four people in the room suck in a breath of anticipation, holding it tightly. The room was completely silent at last as he felt his body harden and seem to almost cool.
Emmett opened his eyes.
x-X-x-X-x-X-x
He spent a few moments on his back, just reveling in the feeling of his body not feeling like was going up in flames. Keeping perfectly still, he tried to gauge whether or not the fire would return if he were to move or jostle himself around.
"The pain is over, Emmett," a voice said.
With a violent hiss, he sprang up to stand in a defensive crouch on top of Carlisle's operating table. The table groaned at the sudden violent movement and crashed to the ground, making him spring across the room to stand, ready to pounce.
Wow! How is this possible? How am I moving like this? I feel like a an iron grasshopper…holy crow…his thoughts ran together in a jumbled blur, nothing staying long enough for him to even really contemplate it.
"Emmett," Edward said slowly. He walked closer to him slowly, his hands up in a signal of peace. "Emmett, you're awake now. The pain is over for good. Do you remember us talking to you during your change?"
Emmett stood there, his nostrils taking in all the smells while his eyes darted around the room wildly.
It smells sweet, but…good. Like spices…rain…flowers…fresh cookies…fresh cut grass…leather….
His new senses made his head reel. Everything was so sharp, so clean, and so crystal clear. It was almost like he was truly seeing things for the first time. He looked out the window next to him, noting he was able to look far off into the distance but still see each individual blade of grass, each bug on the ground, the molecules of mist that made up the low-floating clouds. Looking down, he realized that he was still in his ripped up, bloodied blue jeans, and his shirt was gone.
Looking down at his naked chest, his hands reaching down to grasp his perfectly healed stomach. Not only had it healed, but it had…improved? He frowned, looking again. Everything about him was bigger, paler, and perfectly sculpted. His arms were larger around with more defined muscles, and a perfect set of abdominal muscles covered his stomach. He was trim, but still impeccably muscled and well formed.
"Emmett?"
He saw Edward, who was speaking to him. Behind him stood a tall, well-built muscular blonde man, and behind him cowered a curvy but petite brown haired woman.
Then, his eyes found her.
She, the angel who had found him in the woods. The silky voice that had comforted him and soothed him while he burned. The goddess who had kept him from falling off the edge into insanity.
She stood off to the side, completely frozen. Her golden eyes bore into him, and she was clearly holding her breath as she watched him come to life. Her hair hung in golden ringlets, one side pulled up with a clip to reveal her elegant neck. Her lips were stained red, and her thick eyelashes closed and opened quickly, clearly looking at him in question.
The silence in the room stiffened as the four vampires across from him stood frozen, almost paralyzed as they waited to see what the gargantuan sized newborn beside them would do.
Emmett only had eyes for her. That girl, that dame who had saved him and kept him from harm…
"Rosalie?" He asked tentatively. He looked away in amazement at the sheer volume and capacity of his newly enhanced voice.
"Emmett," she said happily. She spared a moment to cast a smug glance at Edward, who simply rolled his eyes and wove a pale hand through his disheveled mop of hair.
"Rosalie," he repeated, his first vampire smile crossing his face. His large, sharp teeth seemed to glitter as the smile reached his glowing red eyes.
Emmett was ecstatic. Not only was he not dead, but he would get to be a powerful creature forever and live with Rosalie, who was easily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
What a classy broad she is….
He continued smiling at her and Rosalie took a tentative step forward, Carlisle blocking her with one arm in caution. They were acting like they were unsure what he would do.
"Is everything alright?" he asked suddenly, reading their faces.
They all looked at each other, clearly confused, but mostly relieved.
"Emmett…we aren't here to hurt you. You're safe with us," Carlisle said.
Emmett looked at him for a second, his face blank. They all looked at him cautiously again, and he suddenly burst into a loud laugh.
"I know!" he laughed. "You're all looking at me like I'm gonna go murder a bunch of kittens and then burn the whole shack down!" he guffawed.
"Well not exactly..." Edward muttered, looking over at Rosalie, who was still staring at him in amazement.
"Emmett, do you remember me?" she asked excitedly, stepping closer.
He smiled at her again, knowing that his charming dimples were showing.
I'm gonna charm this dame like she's never been done before. I gotta get this girl to like me…I just gotta…he thought.
"Of course I remember you, Rosie," he said, smiling at his own creation of a nickname for her. "How could I forget? You're my angel, doll."
Edward rolled his eyes, and Esme and Carlisle exchanged a knowing look. Rosalie clasped her hands together and smiled her dazzling smile back at him, casting another pointed look back at Edward.
"Laying it on thick, aren't we?" Edward teased. Emmett grinned at him, wanting to show that he could be a good sport.
"Just want to make a good impression on the angel that saved my life," he replied, meeting his eyes with hers. Rosalie smiled broadly again, batting her long eyelashes at him.
"Emmett, we couldn't bear to let you die. Rosalie explained that you can never go back to your family for their safety, did she not?"
Emmett nodded, his expression somber for a moment. "I wouldn't want to hurt my family. Rosie here told me that I…I'd have to distance myself for awhile," he replied.
"Yes, Emmett. Like I said…Rosalie couldn't let you die. She begged me to help you, and I complied. I hope you're not angry with me," Carlisle repeated.
He looked at the young, blonde doctor and nodded. "I wouldn't want to hurt my ma and pa…nor my little sisters. I couldn't do that…as much as it kills me to stay away. I wouldn't be able to live if I hurt one of my little sisters," he said sadly.
"We want you to stay with us," Esme spoke up, shyly tucking a piece of her brown, shiny hair behind her ears. "Edward and Rosalie are like children to us….please don't feel like you have to think of us that way, but…"
"You're welcome to stay with us," Carlisle said quickly, grinning at his wife. "Our home is your home now," he said. "We have a somewhat normal, happy life here, Emmett. You can too."
Emmett nodded. He was very sad that he wouldn't be able to go home; his mother would be a wreck. He frowned as he tried to picture her soft, round face. He was having trouble already….
"So you're not mad that I…I had Carlisle change you? You do know what you are, don't you?" She asked tentatively.
Emmett nodded. He looked at Edward, Esme, Carlisle, and then his Rosalie. "I know. You made me a vampire," he said, nodding at them. "But…" he walked forward, reaching out to take Rosalie's dainty hand in his own. He took a second to marvel at the feeling of her smooth, ivory hand as it rested now in his.
"I…I figure that…with how you all are….kind to save my life, explain everything to me, and take me in like this…ya'll couldn't be that bad," he said, jamming his hands into the pockets of his ripped blue jeans.
"And besides…it can't be a bad life if I've got an angel beside me," he said, tossing Rosalie a wink. She smiled slyly at him, obviously overjoyed that he was going to stay. He took another step forward, raising her hand to his lips to place a kiss on her small knuckles when suddenly, he stopped.
His lips…his mouth…his throat….fire. The fire had returned…
His eyes widened as the flames seemed to ignite in his throat. He dropped Rosalie's hand quickly, both of his hands flying to grasp the part of his body that had re-ignited.
"He's thirsty…we need to go," Edward said quietly.
Emmett barely heard him. He gasped as the fire increased again. It was like gasoline poured on dried leaves and pine needles with a box of matches lit on it. It was like swallowing the hot grease used to fry food in a diner that had been down the street from his house. Basically, it was hot. And it burned.
He looked around, trying to find something to quench the flames that had re-ignited in his mouth and throat. It was unbearable.
He flew from the room, his newborn legs making him into a pale, jean clad blur. Spotting the white porcelain sink, he grasped it tightly as he stuck his face under the faucet to drink straight from the tap. He barely noticed when the porcelain shattered where he grasped it, or how the floorboards creaked in displeasure at his stomping.
He guzzled the water down his throat, but the foul-tasting liquid did nothing to even begin to pacify the flames. If anything, it fueled them. With a dissatisfied grunt, he attempted to shut off the faucet with a casual swipe of his hand, sending the silver fixture sailing across the room to go crashing through a glass window.
The rest of the family flew into the kitchen to see what he would do next.
"Emmett!" Edward called, but he could not hear a word the boy was speaking to him. He instead flew to the cupboards on the opposite wall of the kitchen, clumsily running into the island that was in the center of the room, knocking a large chunk of wood and tile off of it with a loud crash. He ripped open the cabinets, his eyes searching for something, anything that would help him put the fire in his throat out. Cabinet doors fell to the floor and splintered as he ransacked them quickly, opening random jars and cans with his fists.
He barely noticed the rest of the family wincing as he shoved almost an entire can of something that looked soothing into his mouth.
"Emmett, no!" Rosalie trilled, covering her mouth with her hand. He looked at her briefly before spewing the disgusting food out onto the floor.
"Ulgh!" he coughed, wiping his mouth with his arm.
"Emmett, food won't help!" Carlisle said with a wince as he watched the struggling boy. This was all happening so fast, even for vampires to watch.
"Oh Emmett," Esme said, pressing her hand to her cheek as she watched the newborn vampire ransack her kitchen. Emmet stopped finally, panting in frustration.
"We need to hunt Emmett…now," Edward said. He looked at them, desperate for help. Edward motioned to him, and he quickly followed the boy he trusted.
"Emmett, let's go!" Edward called, opening the front door. He raced out in the lead, Emmett right behind him, and the rest of the family followed. Emmett tried to keep his mind straight as an influx of new sights and smells hit him. His newly enhanced senses were in overload as he tried to run behind Edward into the woods. He wasn't quite sure what hunting as a vampire entailed, but he was willing to give almost anything a go, especially if it made his throat feel better.
"It will," Edward called over his shoulder.
"Whatever you say!" Emmett replied, his legs churning beneath him. If he wouldn't have been so upset with his fiery throat, he would have been completely enamored with his new speed and strength. In all honesty, he still was, but figured he would have plenty of time to worry about all that later.
He ran through the thick forest behind Edward, and he laughed when he could clearly hear and decipher who was running behind him just by their footsteps. He was temporarily distracted from his thirst by thinking of his speed and his new life with this strange, new family. Rosalie patted along right behind him, Esme behind her, and Carlisle brought up the rear of their run.
Edward suddenly halted, and Emmett fully expected to crash into him, however, the moment he even considered stopping he was frozen in a perfect halt. He laughed excitedly and it echoed through the forest like a thunder clap. Edward glared at him sourly and Rosalie and Esme giggled. Carlisle just stood there, obviously amused by his newest family member.
"Holy shit!" Emmett guffawed excitedly, his crimson eyes wide.
"Well I had stopped us to let you know that there were some deer nearby, but that herd is long gone now, even for us," Edward mused flatly.
Emmett just shrugged danced in place eagerly.
Is that what smells so….so….appealing?
Edward nodded slightly at Emmett's thoughts, and watched as he grinned before darting towards the herd of mule deer.
The smell wasn't exactly enticing; it was like being starving and expecting Thanksgiving dinner but only having a peanut butter sandwich waiting. He frowned slightly as he charged through the forest. Somehow it smells like it would stop this damned fire in my throat though! This sure is strange…I like it, but it's strange, he thought to himself.
He continued further up the hilly incline, running up swiftly, pausing to sniff the air. His instincts soon took over as he spotted the source of the aroma that promised relief. Soon, the rest of his hunting party arrived at scene, ready to offer instruction.
"He'll do fine, I know he will," he heard Rosalie say.
"Perhaps you should go help him, Edward. He might not know-"
Emmett only paused for a split second before springing into the air, roughly pouncing on two deer that were standing too close to each other.
"Yes Emmett, that's the idea!" Carlisle called. "Now, simply snap-"
Emmett cut him off by lithely snapping each of their necks, one in each hand. The animals both fell slack, and he continued to let his instincts rule as he bit into the first, draining it quickly. He gasped a few times in surprise before draining the second. Throwing them to the ground, he stood up slowly, a little unsure of what he had just done. He looked at the slack mouthed group of vampires around him, and he instantly felt stupid.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked slowly, wiping his mouth again. Carlisle, Edward, and Esme were still gaping at him slightly, but Rosalie stood in front, her hands grasped behind her back, beaming at him.
Carlisle was the first to speak.
"Absolutely not, son. You did very well – much better than I've ever seen a newborn vampire do, in fact," Carlisle said. "Um…much better than most of us have ever done…I'm afraid."
Emmett beamed proudly at the compliment, his eyes immediately going to Rosalie to see if he had earned her approval. Her white teeth glittered in the clouded sunlight, her eyes ecstatic for him. He grinned at her and wiped off his bare chest and blue jeans again, looking over at Edward.
"Can we do that again? I think…I think I want more."
Edward nodded, gesturing to the rest of the family. "Sure, we certainly can. I smelled something you might be interested in a few miles back," he said with a grin.
"Do you feel better Emmett?" Esme asked. He nodded and gave her a lopsided grin.
"Yes, ma'am, and I promise I'll fix up that kitchen. I…I had no idea…" he trailed off, gesturing to himself.
She shook it off quickly. "No no, it's fine. We'll fix it up in no time," she assured him. "Let's go hunt some more now…although it won't be anything compared to the pickled beets you tried to eat earlier," she said, a sly grin appearing on her pink lips.
Emmett laughed loudly again, holding his stomach. "Was that what I ate? Good golly, that was gross!" he said.
"Yes, I'm out of practice with my grocery shopping I suppose," Esme teased.
"Out of practice?" he asked.
She nodded. "We don't eat food, Emmett. I barely remember going to the market as a human, and that was years ago! I'm afraid I don't have much of a clue when it comes to human food or what to buy!" she giggled. Carlisle took her hand, swinging it lightly as they walked.
"No food? Hmm…that will be different," he admitted somewhat sadly.
Edward laughed. "You get used to it. It smells disgusting and looks even worse after awhile."
"You won't miss it…I don't," Rosalie finally spoke up. She walked beside Emmett, a few feet away, casting a few shy smiles in his direction. Emmett grinned at her again, and found himself even a little shy.
This dame already has me wrapped around her finger….
Edward snorted and gave him a disgruntled look at the thought. He walked faster, discreetly gesturing for Carlisle and Esme to speed up their gait.
Slowly, Emmett and Rosalie fell back a bit from the other three, and he was glad for an opportunity. Emmett cleared his throat, eager to speak more to the golden haired girl walking beside him.
"I never did get a chance to thank you," he said softly. "I'm sorry I went a little crazy there…it was just a lot to handle."
She laughed, and his dead heart swelled when he heard how the sound bounced off the nearby tree trunks like music. Tucking a stray curl behind her ear, she gave him another one of her shy smiles that he was quickly growing to love.
"It's okay, Emmett. I remember all too well what it was like to wake up and have my throat burn like that. It's…it's awful. All of us were newborns once," she said.
Emmett laughed again, clapping his hands together absently as he walked. "I just…I feel so out of control. But it's a good out of control…I feel really powerful and a little crazy."
She laughed again, and he realized that he loved the sound of the soft tones of her voice. She began to nervously twirl another section of her golden blonde hair around her finger as she watched him. "You'll feel like that…for awhile, unfortunately. It's hard to get your emotions and instincts under control."
"Oh…" he said softly, suddenly embarrassed. She pressed a soft hand to his forearm and he jumped slightly, both of them laughing nervously.
"Don't feel bad Emmett. We were all newborns and we've all been through this before, no one blames you for anything. You didn't know that you would be that strong when you woke up."
He smirked and shook his head. "No, I certainly did not," he laughed. "I was just glad to wake up from that…whatever it was…change…"
"I'm sorry about that."
"Nah, it's alright. As long as I don't have to do it again," he grimaced. "I should be thanking you for saving my life."
"It was nothing…I...I just couldn't leave you there with that awful grizzly. I've always hated those things anyway, and you looked so desperate for help."
He nodded. "I was…I fell asleep, I think…and when I woke up…it was too late. He had already tossed my gun all the way across the clearing."
She giggled. "I know, I saw it. I was so mad at that bear, I almost took him out before I left with you, but you didn't look like you had much time left, so I went home."
Emmett stopped suddenly, completely horrified at the idea of the cherubic creature beside him wrestling with an irritated grizzly bear, especially the one that had nearly killed him.
"You gotta be joking me, Rosie! You don't fight those damn crazy things, do you? Especially in the spring time!" he said.
She laughed, turning to face him. "Emmett, your skin might as well be steel. That bear could swipe at me all day with his silly claws and it would feel…well…" she trailed off, slowly snaking her smooth, ivory arm out to lightly tickle his own arm with her perfectly filed nails.
She laughed as he flinched slightly, a laugh escaping his lips at the feeling of being tickled as a vampire. Everything just felt better, more alive, and ten times more amazing. They continued walking through the dense forest, him asking more questions as they continued on their hunt.
"So Carlisle and Esme are your…mom and dad?" he asked. She nodded, looking down at the ground as she gracefully hopped across a stream.
He followed quickly, the two of them falling back even more. "Yes, for the most part. Esme is more like a friend sometimes….but…they make great stand-in parents. I've enjoyed being their adopted daughter," she said.
"And Edward?"
She laughed again, covering her mouth. "He acts like my brother," she said. He winked at her playfully, and she let another nervous giggle escape her mouth.
"How long have you…?" he asked softly.
She looked at him sideways, offering a sympathetic smile. "Almost two years. I'm eighteen….well…twenty, I guess now. I was eighteen when I was changed, so I'll be eighteen forever I suppose."
He laughed again, scratching his stomach out of habit. "I guess I'm frozen at twenty then!"
She looked at him strangely, and he frowned suddenly. "What's wrong?"
"You…you don't mind this, do you? All of this…being a vampire, being frozen, living forever….do you?"
He thought a moment, not sure how to answer her without looking like a total goon. "Well…I didn't want to die. I just remember thinking that when that bear was comin' at me...It just wasn't my time. And besides – you found me, so how bad could that be? Everyone seems nice, and besides the thirst...I might miss food and beer, but it doesn't seem all that bad."
He looked at her, and she seemed to be surprised at his honesty.
"What about you?"
She thought a moment as he had, but her answer was entirely different. "I…I just always felt like it wasn't my time, you know? For so long I wanted to…I'd rather be dead. Or, at least I used to want to just be dead. I didn't want to live like this for forever."
"Really? But don't you have any fun?"
"Yes, I do…" she said slowly. "But it's a lonely life. Very isolating at first. It's gotten better since I was able to start school this year, but the first year can be very long, I'm afraid."
She looked at him skeptically, like she was afraid he would change his mind. He flashed her a smile again, and she mimicked the action.
"I won't' lie and say I'm not nervous about this whole 'first year' thing. From what you told me when I was changing, it can be pretty rough. But…I'm up for it. And hopefully this dull little 'vampire' life of yours will get a hell of a lot more exciting now that I'm here," he said, waggling his eyebrows at her. Rosalie laughed, louder this time, and the two quickly broke into a run to catch up with the rest of the family.
x-X-x-X-x-X-x
They ran together as a family for several miles until they had reached a desolate meadow that was a few miles long. Emmett marveled at how far his new eyes could see, and stood at the edge of the clearing taking in the new scents. When he picked one up, Edward flitted over and gave him a pointed look.
"Smell anything?" he asked. Emmett raised his nose into the air further, inhaling the scent. The burn in his throat heated up slightly, but it was nowhere near the multitude of pain he had felt when first waking up.
"It won't be as bad unless you go a long time without feeding," Edward said. "We won't make you go long at all your first year, so try not to worry about it."
Rosalie and Esme both gave him encouraging smiles, and Carlisle nodded. "Yes Emmett, we'll take you hunting anytime you get uncomfortable."
Emmett gave him a curt nod in thanks, and turned back to Edward. He wanted to give Rosalie more attention and continue their talk, but at that moment, the aroma wafting through the air was almost too appealing to his new senses.
"What is that?" he asked slowly, trying to decipher the scent. It was almost…familiar.
Edward gave him a smirk. "Grizzly."
Emmett laughed loudly again, an amused smile growing on his face. "You're kidding me! Naw, man!" he slapped his thigh, enamored with the idea of hunting a bear like the one that had nearly killed him. Rosalie gave him another one of her dazzling smiles of encouragement, and he beamed back at her.
"You weren't lying when you said I would get my grizzly!" he said quietly to her. She nodded, her eyes going back to the meadow where the scent was coming from.
"Then go!" she said with another persuasive smile.
The family stood to the side as they gestured Emmett to lead the hunt. He took off, tentative at first, but as soon as the smell of the carnivores came closer, he easily picked up speed. He noticed that it was easy to let his senses and nature take over once the scent hit his nostrils.
"That's right," Edward called out behind him. The rest of the family ran several hundred yards away, giving the newborn space for his second hunt.
Emmett charged almost silently through the tall prairie grass that covered the meadow, his feet barely touching the soft earth as he flew. He was driven by the smell of the moving grizzly bears; the carnivores smelled much more delectable than his first meal of deer. He had to admit, even though the burn of his thirst hac been awful to endure, this whole vampire thing wasn't half bad.
He had a place to stay, some good people to support him, and of course Rosalie. He was powerful and fast, and virtually indestructible. Maybe being a vampire might actually be a good thing, he thought happily.
He had always been a well built human, but now he resembled a Greek God. He had always enjoyed the thrill of hunting wild game, and he had also loved to spend time outdoors as a human. He was mostly relieved to know that he still pretty much felt like his own human self, only better.
However, he quickly discovered that these were not the only traits he had brought over from his human life.
Emmett had also brought with him his uncanny ability to find trouble via his bad luck. Being a vampire did not change this.
Suddenly, the wind began to shift in the large meadow, bringing with it a very different scent from the east. If the smell of the grizzlies was ten times better than the mule deer, then this new scent was ten million times better than the scent of the grizzly.
Without even a pause, he quickly sped up, his strong newborn legs began to churn in a blur beneath him as he ran.
"Emmett, no!" Edward called out from behind him. But Emmett barely registered the panicked tones of the younger boy's shout, or the ones of Rosalie and Carlisle as they chased after him.
No, Emmett wasn't even thinking about his new family as he moved in on the source of the scent. It was absolutely intoxicating, and it lit up his throat in a torturous but excruciating manner. It became stronger and stronger as he got closer, the footsteps of his panicked followers falling to the wayside.
It all happened in a blur.
A bloody, screaming, awful blur. One second, he was running, enticed by the new aroma in the air, the next he was pouncing on something warm and throbbing, drinking as fast as he could. When he finally came to, he dropped the last of the bodies on the ground with a sickening 'thump'.
It was over.
His new family rushed into the small clearing on the side of the meadow, their faces drawn and worried, clearly sickened at the sight before them. Esme covered her eyes, retreated to the other side of the clearing, Carlisle at her side for comfort. Edward stood frozen on the other side, his eyes surveying the scene.
Rosalie stood in the middle, staring at him blankly, her face void of any emotion. The only thing between her and Emmett were the bodies of three teenage hikers, probably not any older than they would have been, should they have been human.
He looked up at her in horror, completely disgusted by what he had just done. He had let her down.
Rosalie let a panicked sob escape her lips as she looked down at the empty faces of the drained teenagers. Her eyes then moved up to look at Emmett, the golden orbs full of panic.
"What have I done to you?" she whispered. He stared back at her, unable to answer.
x-X-x-X-x-X-x
Emmett groaned and buried his face into the bedspread. Night had fallen on his first day as a vampire, and he couldn't help but feel like he should be sleeping. They had assured him that sleep was indeed impossible for their kind, but he still felt like he shouldn't be awake. He had looked incredulously at Carlisle when the soft-spoken man told him he hadn't slept in almost three hundred years.
He growled softly to himself, the sound still startling him a bit. As much as he hated to admit it, he couldn't stop thinking about the taste of his last sinful meal.
He felt horrible about the crime he had just committed. Edward and Carlisle hadn't wanted him to help dispose of the bodies, but Emmett had insisted he help burn them and bury the remains as a sort of punishment to himself. Edward had looked at him and given him a pained expression as he listened to Emmett silently berate himself for what he had done to the three human campers.
It was the most horrific and yet satisfying thing he had done in his entire life. The feeling of drinking their blood so quickly and unabashedly haunted his every unnecessary breath.
He could hear the four other vampires downstairs as they talked in whispers about what had just happened, and his guilt increased by the second. Part of his new mind dwelled on the satisfied feeling in the pit of his stomach while the other part relentlessly shamed him like his mother would for coming home late, reeking of liquor.
"I hate to say 'I told you so' Rosalie, but in this case, I believe it is highly necessary," Edward chided her downstairs. He spoke in a hushed tone, but Emmett could hear every syllable spoken.
He heard a violent, awful hiss that made the hairs on his arms stand up. Rosalie.
He had learned that the lovely angel he had been enamored with from the start had a violent, ill tempered side that showed when she was cornered or upset. It gave him chills to watch her spar with her brother; she was magnificent to watch, and even listening to her fight for him gave him another chill.
He was waiting upstairs in the guest room that would become his as the rest of the family decided what to do downstairs. Carlisle had offered that they move right away to avoid suspicion. They had only been in the house a little over a year, but he had no qualms about leaving already.
"It would be an easy task to leave, son," he heard Carlisle say softly.
"Yes, maybe it would be good to start off fresh again…what with our new family member and all," Esme piped up.
Edward growled shortly, voicing his distaste. "So we pack up and leave with our tails between our legs? Is that what happens every time Rosalie decides to bring home a stray pup?" he sneered.
Rosalie echoed his comment with another violent growl, clearly agitated. "Edward, I had no choice! I couldn't just let him die! I'd like to see you in that situation."
"May I remind you of your own feelings about this life? I would have let nature take its course, Rosalie. People die every single day without your haughty interference."
"Edward," Carlisle warned.
"No, Carlisle, I want to know. You hate this life and make no secret of that opinion. Day in and day out, we have to listen to you mope and carry on about how unfair it is that you're like this, yet you wasted no time selfishly damning another human being to join it with you!"
"Shut up, Edward! You would do the same!"
"I beg to differ, sister. This life has damned me since 1918, and here it is nearly two decades later and I have not felt the selfish need to trap someone else like this for the self-seeking need to claim a mate," he growled.
So that's why she changed me? She wanted a ….mate? Emmett thought to himself. He wasn't angered with her at all. In fact, he was intrigued. He felt…chosen. Special.
Edward wasn't finished. "And now…now we have a gargantuan sized newborn on our hands who is upstairs , fixatedly thinking about the taste of a few teenage campers. What do you think about that?" Edward spat, his voice raising.
Emmett cowered into the bedspread, gripping the sides of it. He felt awful and guilty for even thinking about the taste of the campers, but he couldn't help it.
Instead, he aimed his thoughts at Edward. I'm sorry, Edward. Please tell them I'm sorry. I'll let you lock me in the attic for a year if it means I can't do that again. I feel awful…I don't want to let Rosie down….I won't do it again…I want to live like you….I'll stop thinking about the blood….
He heard Edward sigh repeatedly, his hands weaving in and out of his hair. He also heard when Edward left the house, the front door slamming behind him. The three remaining vampires all looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
He heard the soft pitter patter of footsteps coming up the steps, and he raised his head to look up as Rosalie entered. She left the door open, carefully stepping over to crouch beside the bed where he lie face down.
He almost shivered as he felt her soft, warm hand on his arm, stroking it like a mother would a crying child.
"Emmett?" she asked timidly, patting him softly. It felt like the wings of a butterfly on his forearm, and he found himself fighting to resist. Lifting his head, he looked at her sourly for a second, but instantly changed his expression when he was met with her un-earthly face just as few inches away. His breath caught in his throat as he looked first at her, then at her hand that was still ghosting up and down his arm.
"Why do you feel warm to me now?" he asked.
"What?"
He gestured to her hand. "When you found me in the woods, you were so cold. Now you feel warm to me. Why is that?" he asked again.
Her face softened, and she smiled at him. "It's because we're the same now, you and I," she said quietly. She looked down at her lap, smoothing the wrinkles out of her pretty, bluish purple dress.
"You look nice in that color," he said awkwardly, propping himself up on his elbows. He wanted so badly for her to approve of him, and he was determined to earn her trust back any way possible.
She looked up at him, shyly tucking a strand of hair behind her ears. "Thank you…I like it too. My eyes used to be this color, or at least that's what Esme tells me."
"You knew Esme as a human?"
She nodded. "I would see her around Rochester. I was always so jealous of how beautiful the Cullens were. They were the only people in town that I thought were more beautiful than I was. You see, I was a very conceited girl, Emmett. I…I still am."
He looked at her expressive golden eyes as she spoke, sensing that she wanted to continue. "You see, I've always been stubborn and selfish, and I guess those are a few things I brought with me into this life. I…I was selfish…to change you, Emmett. I begged Carlisle, knowing that he would do anything to make me happier."
Emmett shrugged, immediately sad that she looked so forlorn and unhappy. "You didn't seem too unhappy when I first saw you. I have that pretty smile burned into this new vampire brain of mine, and that's just fine with me," he said, reaching out to touch her cheek. She smiled, looking back down at her lap.
"Yes, well…you make me happy, but that's not the point. I selfishly had Carlisle change you for me, and unfortunately that's something I can never undo, Emmett. Edward was very right- I damned another human being to this life because of my own unhappiness. I'm very sorry for doing this to you…and…" she choked up, her large yellow eyes growing undeniably sad. "And I hope that someday you will forgive me for doing this to you…this...this awful thing."
"Hey now," he whispered, scooting closer to her. "You can't beat yourself up over this, Rosie," he said. She smiled at the new nickname, her eyes coming up to meet his again.
"You can't think that I think like that. Because I don't. I mean…I liked my life well enough, sure. But…I would be dead right now if you hadn't saved me from that oversized teddy bear," he laughed. "I wasn't ready to die. That's the last thing I remember thinking when I was layin' there Rosie. I wasn't ready. There's so much more to do and see and explore…it wasn't my time."
"Yes, but-"
"-But nothing. I'll get through this newborn thing well enough. If you're here to help me, I'll prolly be alright," he said. "But after that…we could have a good enough time of things. Hell, we got everything we could ever need here!" he said, gesturing to the large house around them.
"So...You're not angry with me?" she asked in wonder. He shook his head.
"I'm gonna make the best of this vampire thing…We gotta get me through this year, but I'm sure I can do it with a classy dame like you by my side. Heck, a guy would have to be a fool to not want to spend time with a girl like you. You're a catch, Rose."
She grinned at him, and he reached for her arm, careful to be gentle. He pulled her up to sit beside him on the bed, and tentatively extended his arms for a hug. She looked at him strangely, then slowly wrapped her arms around his in a tight embrace.
Emmett closed his eyes and breathed in the smell of her; she smelled like the inside of the flower shops he used to go to for flowers to give to his mother. She smelled like fresh rain and the best perfume he had ever smelled. Holding her there against him and breathing her in only further confirmed in his mind what his heart had already told him.
He belonged to her.
He broke their embrace, reaching down to hold her small, pale hands in his own larger ones.
"Rosie, if you promise to help me through this first year, I promise I'll help you enjoy this life…if we have to do it as vampires, then so be it. I'm not mad about being changed. I'm willing to give this whole thing a real shot."
"Really?" she asked, her hopeful voice just above a whisper. He nodded, a determined air about him. "I'm no quitter. If this is what life tosses me…then…I'll make the best of it. I know it's going to be hard…cuz at much as I hate to admit it…the human blood was good," he admitted.
She nodded, her eyes growing sad. "But I won't do it anymore if I know it makes you sad. I'll…learn to live without it. It's not worth it to me. I'll never forget that look on your face when I…." he trailed off, and this time it was her turn to touch his cheek lovingly.
"I won't do it again Rose. Edward and Carlisle can chain me to the floor if that's what it takes. It if makes you unhappy, I don't want anything to do with it. Nothing to upset my angel," he added, giving her a dimpled grin.
She gave him another glittering smile, clearly elated with the words he was saying to her.
"Just promise me you'll let me show you a good time for…well…I guess we have awhile," he said sheepishly.
She grinned at him widely, her dazzling smile once again crossing her lips. She grasped his hands in hers, and he could almost feel her coming back to life in his grasp.
"I promise."
x-X-x-X-x-X-x
Alright, I hope you guys enjoyed Emmett! This was a great piece that I cranked out in almost one sitting. Emmett was an absolute blast to write, and I hope you guys enjoyed him too.
Please read my explanation for Emmett!
My inspiration for him came from the Twilight DVD – the making of the movie where Stephanie Meyer is discussing each vampire. When she gets to Emmett, she says something along the lines of, "Oh Emmett…he might be a vampire, but he's going to make the best of it and just have fun with it."
So that was why I made him an agreeable character when it came to becoming a vampire. I always got the impression that once he laid eyes on Rosalie when he was dying, he was willing to do almost anything to be with her. I made him happy-go-lucky at first because I thought that was a good way to bring him into the Cullen's life. Of course, they are all horrified when he kills the campers, so that is really where the conflict comes in. They realize that Emmett is this HUGE new born vampire that they probably cannot control – it's all going to be about choices and doing what he thinks will please Rosalie in this one.
Remember, I will be adding onto the stories that get the most feedback/likes/input. So if you particularly enjoyed a certain character, voice it!