I'm baaack! Sorry it took so long folks. I'll be honest and tell you that I fell out of love with this story and put it on the back burner for a very long time. I rekindled the affair, however, when I began work as a beta for a good friend. Helping her with her story inspired me to finish mine. Here is the long anticipated Chapter 7, and I'm almost done with 8. I hope you will enjoy it and leave me some love.

xo

A

7.

The wind howled outside the window and despite her proximity to the wood stove, Rose shivered. Jake whimpered beside her and laid his head on her lap. She scratched behind his ears.

"I know buddy, I know," she whispered and snuggled in to the couch, tucking the blanket about her knees. "I miss him, too. But he… he…" she trailed off and choked back a sob. "How could he do that to me?"

She didn't expect the dog to answer, but appreciated his sympathetic whine just the same. He huffed as she sighed.

"You wouldn't do that, would you?" she looked down at the dog, who gave her his best happy, slobbery, doggy-grin and licked her hand. She laughed. "Nah, I didn't think so."

She wiped her hand on the couch, then held both hands out to the stove for warmth. She couldn't let him get to her. No. She wouldn't let him get to her. He was a self-absorbed, arrogant prick who used his fame to get dip shit groupies in the sack. Nothing more. But he had confessed his love to her. In that one, exquisite moment he had told her he loved her.

"But he said the same thing to that flea-bitten whore," she seethed out loud. "And probably every other good-for-nothing-piece-of-trash he's ever had in his bed. It's a line, Rose. Don't fool yourself. He doesn't love you. He isn't capable of love. He only thinks with one thing…"

A sudden knock at the door interrupted her mid-rant. Jake's ears perked up and he growled softly.

"Mike's not due for another two hours," she mumbled and pulled herself up off the couch. Not to mention, he wouldn't need to knock. She frowned as she unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door. Shock and refueled anger filled her at the sight of her unexpected guest. Emmett huddled there on her front stoop, shivering and covered in snow. He wore no jacket and hugged himself for warmth, his lips blue and quivering.

"M-m-m-may I c-come in?" his stuttered words froze as they hit the air. A sudden gust of wind blew a drift of stinging snow in his face and he jumped. "P-p-please?"

Rose scowled and opened the storm door, yanking Emmett in by the collar. He stumbled over the threshold and barely had time to move before she slammed the door and re-bolted it. She turned to assess him and scowled again. He was an absolute mess. His sweater clung to him like a second skin and his jeans were soaked up to the knees. His boots were untied and she could see he wasn't wearing any socks. She pursed her lips and was about to lay in to him when she saw his swollen and bloodied fist. She drew near to him and picked up his injured hand.

"What did you do?" she asked, studying it carefully. She blew on it gently and he winced in pain.

"I p-punched a w-wall," he stammered, still shaking from the cold. Rose grimaced and shook her head. She dropped his hand and snatched her blanket off the couch.

"Strip," she ordered and threw it at him.

"What?!" he gaped, catching the blanket and staring at her incredulously.

"You heard me, dumb ass. Take off those wet clothes before you catch pneumonia," she said slowly and deliberately. "Wrap yourself in the blanket and I'll get you something dry. I'm sure some of your shit is still upstairs."

She abruptly turned and stormed off to her room. Emmett stared after her for a moment, then kicked off his wet boots and peeled off his saturated clothing. He enveloped himself in the oversized down blanket and settled down in front of the wood stove. Jake growled at him from the couch.

"Oh, shut up, dog," he muttered as he began to rub warmth first back in to his frozen feet. "I'm in enough trouble as it is." Rose returned and dropped a clean pair of his pants and a fleece sweatshirt on the floor beside him. She threw down a pair of wool socks as well, barely missing his head.

"Put these on and keep that blanket around you," she ordered, her voice flat and emotionless. She picked up his wet garments and promptly left again. He quickly pulled on the dry clothing and re-draped the blanket about his shoulders. Jake snuffed and Emmett flipped him off.

"Leave my dog alone," Rose spat and sat down next to him, opening her first aid kit and arranging the supplies on the floor. She turned to him and held out her hand, beckoning him to show her the injury. He placed his damaged hand in hers and she studied it again. She picked up an antiseptic-soaked cotton ball and began dabbing at the oozing cuts on his knuckles. He flinched and tried to yank his hand away, but she only tightened her grip. He returned the glare she gave him with mirrored ferocity, quickly relenting when he realized he wouldn't win. He grimaced when she again began treating his wounds, but didn't try to pull back.

"Are you nuts, going out in this kind of weather?" she asked, reaching for the gauze. "And don't tell me it's not that cold, McCarty. You're dumb, but not that dumb." She proceeded to wrap his hand in the soft cotton bandage. After several circulations, she snipped the end and held it down with one finger. She looked up at him, her expression blank. "Hold this here," she commanded.

He held down the loose end while she ripped off a piece of surgical tape. She brushed his other hand aside and secured the dressing firmly. He flexed his fingers and frowned. Looks like he wouldn't be playing for a week or two.

"You're not too bright sometimes, are you?" she asked, turning her attentions to cleaning up her mess. "Punching a wall, then going out in a blizzard with no socks and no jacket. You're a goddamn genius."

"Oh cut the crap, Rose," he snapped. "I didn't come here to be lectured or insulted."

"Then why did you come?" she pushed the medical kit aside and held her hands out to the stove, refusing to look at him.

"I was angry," he responded.

"You came here because you were angry?" she laughed mirthlessly. "Amazing. You risked frost bite and pneumonia coming over here, just to let me know that you were angry. Yet another stroke of brilliance on the part of our hero!"

"Would you stop?!" Emmett spat and turned to face her. She still wouldn't meet his eyes and continued to stare at the stove.

"And what, let you explain?" she responded sharply, pulling her knees up to her chest.

"It would be a start!" he shot back.

"If you had just told me about her in the first place, we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we?" she replied smugly.

"Rosalie…"

"Don't do that. Don't use my full name like you have a right to say it," she fired at him.

"I do have a right to say it, damn it!" Emmett shouted, raising his fist to smack the floor. Rose caught it before it could hit.

"Think before you do that," she said calmly. "That's only going to make it hurt more." She dropped his hand.

"Now will you let me talk?" he asked, exasperated.

"Not sure that I should. I'm having a hard time believing anything you say right now," she rested her chin on her knees.

"I deserve that," he cringed.

"Damn right you do," she mumbled. Emmett remained silent for a moment, then let out a long, slow breath.

"Well. Go on." Rose urged after a few more minutes of unbearable silence.

"Lauren and I…well…we sort of have a history…" Emmett began.

"Sort of? That's the understatement of the century," she muttered.

"Rose!"

"Sorry. Continue."

Emmett proceeded to recount every sordid detail of his relationship with Lauren. He left nothing out, even swallowing his pride and admitting his own blind stupidity every time he took her back. When he finished he looked over at Rose for a reaction. She stared down at her feet, her brow creased and lips pursed.

"So, that's it?" she asked, resting her chin on her knees.

"Yeah, that's it."

"Hmm," she sighed and got up. She picked up a fresh log, tossed it in the stove, then sat back down. She still refused to meet his eyes.

"What?" he inquired, leaning over in an attempt to catch her eye. She turned away from him.

"And there's definitely a reason why you didn't tell me this earlier," she said to the wall.

"I didn't think it was relevant," he shrugged.

"You didn't think telling me that you loved someone else-" "I told you I was wrong. I never really loved her! I love-"

"But you still said it, Em! Christ, you just don't get it, do you?" she finally turned back to him, and he was struck to the core by the sadness in her eyes. "Love is so much more than a word, Emmett. Love is a state of being. It surrounds you, envelops you in it's penetrating warmth. It holds on to your soul and never lets go. To have someone tell you they love you is a life changing moment. It's like finding the missing piece of your heart that you never knew was gone."

"Rose, I-"

"Then," she swallowed hard. "Then to find out that he's already said it to someone else, well, that's a completely different experience. It's like someone ripping out your heart and stomping on it in front you. It's like having your dreams ripped to shreds right before your eyes and not being able to do a damn thing about it. The scar it leaves never goes away, and never stops hurting."

"Please, Rose," he said softly, reaching out to her. "Don't do this."

"I'm not leaving you, Em, if that's what you're thinking," her voice faltered when his hand touched her cheek. "But you can't expect me to just forgive you."

She stood up and walked over to the bay window. She folded her arms and tried to discern the shape of the trees in the whiteout conditions just beyond the tempered glass. A silent sob shook her frame and she lost herself to a wave of tears. Emmett turned her and pulled her into his arms, and as much as she wanted to she didn't resist. Instead she just let him hold her and cried into his chest. His pressed his lips to the top of her head.

"I should have told you right from the start," he murmured into her hair. "I should have told you everything and maybe things would have gone differently. Maybe we wouldn't be here right now. But I didn't, and you're hurting, and I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am for that. I know that words can't heal a broken heart, and neither telling you I'm sorry nor how much I love you is ever going to be enough." He pulled back and brushed the hair from her face, tucking it gently behind her ears. She looked up, her tear stained face shattering his heart all over again.

"But I swear, I will spend the rest of my days doing whatever it takes to prove my love to you. I'm not asking for a commitment, but I just want you to know that I will be here for as long as you'll have me."

She took a long, quivering breath as she gazed back up at him. His sincerity went deeper than his words, and she found herself unable to form a response. Instead she wound her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest, breathing in his warmth. He returned the embrace, just happy that she was willing to be in his arms. After a while she stepped back.

"In the future would you do me a favor?" she asked, her voice losing it's quiver.

"Anything," he said with a gentle smile.

"Remember to put your damn socks on before you jump in the snow. You want frostbite, you big dummy?" she slapped his chest and laughed, her violet eyes twinkling with mirth. He chuckled pulled her to him again, nuzzling her neck as he held her. He laid a chaste kiss at the hollow of her throat. She pushed against him lightly.

"Don't start, Emmett," she warned. "I haven't forgiven you yet. And don't you start pouting, Mister! I won't have it! Now let me go, I have to get your stuff out of the dryer."

"What's your rush? It's not going anywhere," he smirked and kissed her deeply before she could answer. He released her when she patted his chest, a signal that she needed air. Her eyes glossed over momentarily and she shook her head to clear it.

"Don't do that," she muttered, half kidding. "It makes me dizzy."

"Why not? Aw, come on!" he laughed as she danced away from his grasp. She shook a scolding finger at him and he grabbed it, kissing the tip. She smiled fondly, squeezed his hand and released it. She swept out of the room to retrieve his now dry clothing. Emmett half smiled as he watched her leave. He knew he wasn't forgiven quite yet, but this was a good start. At least she didn't completely hate him.