She had moved him to her room somewhere around eight the next morning, the kitchen table stained and dirty with mud and blood, she would have to buy a new one for Esme.
His large body covered the double bed easily, sheets creasing and staining with the fluids seeping from his body. Esme had left to buy clothes in the next county up, stating that it would be unwise to look for clothes so close to where they had found him. It would be too suspicious if they were seen suddenly purchasing a whole new wardrobe for someone who didn't fit anyone in their family.
He had finally fallen asleep the second day into his transformation, his body in a constant cycle of spasms as it rode through the pain, hands clenching and reaching for solace and only coming in contact with her own grip. He was cloaked in a light sheen of sweat as he struggled and failed to fight off the transformation, and she listened intently to the angry pumping of his heart till finally his body gave out, stopping instantly, too quick for her to comprehend. It had been frightening to watch his eyes roll back, then the silence, no breaths, nothing to let her know he was going to wake up. She had been thankful to see him fall into slumber, it made it easier to handle than seeing the grown man look like he was about to break out sobbing into her chest, she couldn't handle that, she didn't like the transformation process and could remember her own painful transition, to know he was enduring the same ate at her with guilt. But then again, watching his body go still, hearing his heart finally give out, that wasn't any less heart breaking either.
She left in the late afternoon, wandering to the county she guessed he had come from, and judging from the countless 'Lost' Posters being hung up on every post and Bar-house, she guessed right. His name was Emmett McCartney, bar owner of the county Gatlinburg, and thankfully had no wife or children, much to the disappointment of most of the town's woman she spoke to. She had asked around, speaking to a few, asking questions but remaining innocent enough to avoid suspicion. She learnt that he was apparently a people's person, seemingly everyone loved him, it made it a bitter retribution that he was being stolen from this life.
Nearing that night, she had snuck into his home, it was only a small room above the bar he owned, nothing extravagant, yet it held a warmer feeling than her home with Carlisle and Esme and she felt guilty for breaking in. She pictured living there, waking up every morning to the sound of the cockerel's cry, the business of the street's below as people sold their goods, the smell of fresh air... She found her mind wandering unwillingly to the fantasy of waking up in that bed, wrapped in warm arms, with a life and hopes and dreams, being human, being normal, but such disillusioned and ungrateful thoughts were easily dismissed. She was thankful to Carlisle for saving her, thankful to Esme for giving her a home, and she didn't mind where life had drawn her and if Emmett survived the transformation, she wouldn't pressure him for anything, if he wished to leave, then she would let him, as mush as she hoped he wouldn't, she wouldn't hold him to any expectations, for all she knew, he could be single for a reason, she didn't even know him, he could be an asshole, a womanizer, he could be like Edward. She was stupid for getting her hopes up when she didn't even know if he would live.
She had come hoping to perhaps retrieve a few of his personal items to give to him if he awoke, make his transition into his new life a bit easier. He owned a guitar, so she decided it best to take the instrument home with her, although it seemed a bit worn for wear, judging from the indents and scratches, she guessed he must've used it quite a lot, the strings were hand-strung, meaning he had either made the guitar from scratch, or had broken the strings and had to restring new ones. She discovered a few books, although their pages had hardly been touched, she decided to leave them behind, the Cullen's had cash to throw, if he needed books, then she would happily buy him all the books he wanted. Just a few clothes, his guitar and a few images she found in his drawers, all of which seemed to be of family, the rest she left behind. She debated burning the house, removing evidence, make it easier for him to leave this behind, but decided against it, she had enough history with fire to know how heartbreaking it was to see your home disintegrated into ash.
It was early into the morning of the third day that she finally came home. Esme had filled her room with items for him and had got to work preparing a room on the same floor as her own, just down the corridor, she could hear the quite sound of furniture being moved and replaced. Carlisle was still in his study and from the music coming from the dining room, she guessed Edward had returned.
He was still asleep when she arrived, although there were significant changes to his appearance, she wouldn't call them negative, but slightly shocking compared to the man described in her visit to Gatlinburg, the one in the Photo's she had salvaged, the man she had saved. His cheeks were rounder now, fuller and more pronounced, and the mess of bone, muscle and flesh on his chest had filled and healed over, forming a perfect structure of muscle, although at closer look she could see light scars from where the bear had ripped out chunks of his skin. His complexion had turned lighter, but he still held that rugged, devil-may-care look about him, and his hair had seemingly become shiner and more bed-ridden, she was thankful to see the stubble on his chin remained. His skin had abandoned its tanned complexion in exchange for the usual paleness people of her kind undertook. He looked beautiful, if that was the appropriate term for him, strong and firm, she was happy to see the he still looked like himself, she knew how troubling it would feel to see himself and not recognize his own reflection
"Why are you doing this?" Her peace was interrupted by the demanding tone of an intruder, her body turning to face the entrance of her room, the doorway filled with Edward's lean form, his arms crossed over his chest, amber eyes narrowed. She offered a smile, feeling generous, but none were returned, she had obviously pissed him off.
"I like him." She said easily, shrugging. "Carlisle wants me to try and settle down, and he was dying, so I thought maybe I could settle down with him." It sounded selfish, but it wasn't as if she was going to force the newborn to stay with her, or even like her in that way, but he reminded her off home, with her childhood friends, and if that wasn't as close as one got to affection, she didn't know what was, she may not love the man as Carlisle might've preferred, she didn't even know him, but it was a good place to start, she cared for him, he provoked a feeling of protectiveness within her, she might be lucky and gain a companion out of him.
"So you'll have a him, but not me." Edward said flatly, staring across at her as if seeing her bit not really looking at all, and she knew he was somewhat insulted by her rejection, despite her continuous refusal to have him, but it didn't chase away the guilt like she would've liked.
"You don't love me Edward." She said softly, and before he could interrupt, she raised a hand. "You don't love me, If I were to choose you, then you would try changing everything about me, the way I love to have fun when I hunt, my tendency to sing songs you dislike, my disrespect when talking to people you may like, I don't want to be changed, and you don't want to keep those things about me, so why don't you let me go and focus on finding someone you'd be happy with, that way you and me can be friends without these constant arguments, because when he wakes up, I don't want to deal with any complications like jealousy."
His eyes had flickered away, an unhappy frown on his face, and she could see he was battling his pride, that was the whole problem, She was a challenge he wanted to achieve, and she didn't want to be a prize, and if she was going to be one, she would decide who the victor was, not Edward and not Carlisle.
She didn't get any response from him, only a nod and then he was gone, leaving only a empty gust of wind in his place, she hoped he had accepted his words, although she doubted he wouldn't be a problem in the future.
He still hadn't woken by the time twelve struck in the afternoon, and her stomach was stating to twist into sick knots, the type of feeling you get when doubt sets in and there's nothing to dissuade and stop it from drowning you. Was it possible for vampires to be sick, she hoped not, Esme had cleaned the carpets a few days before, she wouldn't like it of they were ruined again. But he wasn't waking up, not a single movement, and it was driving her insane with worry, she had gone through all the effort to save him, he couldn't be dead, she wanted someone to talk to, she wanted him to wake up, even if he hated her for saving him, which at this point seemed very likely.
"Carlisle." She called leaving the room, pulling herself up from her seat and walking across the threshold, back turning on her patient.
Time passed slowly in a slow-motion as wind brushed the bare skin of her arms, her eyes widening as her senses picked up movement behind her, hand lodged around her throat, pulling her back against a solid surface, fingers too tight for even her infinite strength to pry away, and despite her lack of the need for oxygen, she still felt the uncomfortable stirring her mind conjured as her airways were crushed. she recognized the scent, and as much as she feared his newly-born strength, she was euphoric with relief that he was alive and moving, or as alive as one could be in his state.
She grasped his hands, but didn't struggle, she could imagine his fear, and her struggling wouldn't help, nor would the growing crowd of men that suddenly appeared before her in the hallway. She reached out a hand as Carlisle and Edward crouched, teeth glinting against the dimming light coming in through the window, Esme following soon behind them, her amber eyes widening in shock but not panicking when she saw Bella's ease.
"Emmett..." She felt his body jolt behind her at the mention of his name, and then a low growl, but she swallowed, blinking and continuing.
"Emmett, I know this must all come as a shock to you, but we're here to help you. My name is Isabella." Edward straightened, grinding his jaw at her words, but they seemed to work because the hand around her neck eased but enough for her to breathe.
It was silent, Bella's chest rising and falling steadily, the hand staying curled around her neck, she almost thought he had frozen and crept back into his dead state, but the silence was broken by his voice, rough and despite his size, fear crept into his tone, a wobble to his words which made her chest constrict painfully.
"Where am I? How do you know my name?"