7.

We eventually returned to the others. Although it was becoming harder to stay away from Rose. She stayed close by, but the need to touch her was growing stronger. I just wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her, and just stay like that. But we couldn't.

Alice had had a vision while we were 'falling in love'; she had seen us back in Gatlinburg but couldn't figure out why.

So, we were currently flying back there, hoping she'd have another vision whilst we where there. Well, even Alice didn't see what was going to happen.

It felt great coming home, back to the area I knew. We came across the creek, I used to play in. I saw the shadows of my childhood play in front of me; they were soon shaken from my mind when I saw my reflection. At least my eyes were fading; they were a strange amber-orange colour. We carried on to where Alice had seen us, and to my surprise. It was the clearing.

The clearing I had 'died'.

It was only small, even a human could easily see from one side to the other. The grass was a luscious green, even in this dull weather. The faint smell of blood lingered in the green smell of the grass, I could tell by the faces of everyone. It was my blood.

A gasp escaped from Alice, the vacant expression on her face only meant a vision. Her eyes focused and found my face, I could feel Edward's on me too.

"We have to go. Now." She said.

"Why?" I demanded, this was about me.

"Just go." She tried to push me out of the clearing. I jumped away from her touch and face them all.

"I have a right to know." She growled at me.

"Emmett stop being stubborn, let's go."

"Not until you tell me why." Alice opened her mouth, but the sound of female voices stopped her. I was still facing the vampires when they all gasped and two little gasps came from behind me.

Slowly, I turned. I froze, unable to speak, think or move. I'm not sure how long we stood there just staring at each other.

"Mum....Abby..." I mumbled.

"Be careful Emmett, don't forget they're fragile." Carlisle whispered too low for my mum and Abby to hear.

Stumbling forward, I collapsed at my mother's feet and sobbed tearlessly.

"Oh mother." I hugged her waist gently. She stroked my hair, whispering words she used to say when I was upset as a child. I felt her kneel before me.

I looked into her tear stained face, her grey eyes shining with happiness, her face crinkled with her smile.

"My boy." She swung her arms around my shoulders and we sobbed as we held on to each other. After a few minutes she pulled away and held my face in her hands.

"You're so cold." She said so motherly. I chuckled; of course she cared about my temperature.

"How are you not afraid?" Now it was her turn to chuckle.

"I could feel it in my heart that you weren't dead." The curiosity was growing in her eyes. "What are you?"

"A vampire." Now, she looked shocked.

"Where are your fangs?"

"We don't have any."

"We?" She peeked a glance at the others behind me. "The blonde one is beautiful." She whispered, not knowing they'd hear her. I helped mother up as I chuckled. I hadn't realised that Abby had been unnaturally silent, until I faced her.

Her face was just sheer terror. Her sapphire eyes, which normally were friendly and welcoming, held the look of disgust. I moved to her and she moved back.

"Stay away from me you creature." My mother gasped.

"Abigail, this is my Emmett. Don't you dare call him a creature." Abby turned on my mother.

"Patricia, Emmett died two months ago. This is not Emmett." She turned back to me. "Emmett had grey eyes, the colour of slate; he had brown skin from working on the railroads. He had a crooked nose from football." Tears were forming in her eyes. "This is not the Emmett I had fallen in love with."

That was it. My still heart shattered into a million pieces. I reached for her, she tried to move but I was faster. I held her face in my hands and leaned down and kissed her. She tasted of chocolate as well as salt from her tears. At first she resisted, then gave in and kissed me back.

I finally pulled away and stared into her eyes as I spoke.

"Abigail, I have loved you for years. I still loved you when I changed. I always will."

"Oh, Emmett." She put her hands against my chest and pushed herself away. "You're not the same anymore – "

"I'm still the same person inside Abby, I've just changed outside, that's all." She shook her head.

"I can't." She turned to walk away, but I stopped her.

"Of course you can!"

"I stopped loving Emmett the day he died." She screamed into my face, I loosened my grip enough, so she could get away from me. "You are dead. You are dead! YOU ARE DEAD!" She screamed as she ran away from me.

I watched as she ran into the woods further and further away from me. A small hand touched my shoulder.

"She shocked that's all. You know she loves you and now she knows you love her. Give her time. I best get after her. I love you Emmett, my son.

"I love you too Mother. Take care." I kissed on the cheek and watched as she followed Abby.

I could only watch my mother walk away for a few seconds because of this feeling in my chest. Turning to the others, I noticed Rose had gone. Alice pointed to where she had gone and I was after her, following her scent. She hadn't gone far.

She had decided to beat a tree up. I watched in amazement as the tree just disintegrated under her fists.

"Now, what did that tree ever do to you?"

"Well since I named it after you. A lot." This twinge in my chest got worse. I stepped towards her and held her fists.

"I'm sorry you had to see that. But you know how I feel about her." She tried to tug her hands away but I held hard.

"Yes, and you know how I feel about you." The twinge in my chest was pushing up onto my ribcage as if it was trying to break out.

"Of course. That's why I'm sorry." She had relaxed her fists and I put my hand on her face, my thumb caressing her cheek as she leaned into my hand.

"You can't love me if you love her." I realised the twinge was trying to reach out to Rose.

"Oh, but I can." Her golden eyes shimmered and her bottom lip quivered.

I leaned down and, ever so gently, pressed my lips to hers. Once, twice, three times. This sensation in my stomach made me forget to breathe, luckily I didn't need too. All I could feel was Rose and it washed all thoughts and feelings for Abby away. I think, she felt this and pulled away.

"Emmett..." I put my finger on her lips.

"I can love you because I don't love Abby." She threw herself around me and I held her against me.

"This makes me ecstatic, but sad. Abby loves you."

"No love, she used to love me. She loved the breathing Emmett. She doesn't anymore. Even my mother didn't care that I'm a vampire, because she honestly loves me. Abby didn't really love me, not like you." She lifted her head from my shoulder and her sweet face was shining.

"Emmett... I love you."

"I love you." I said at the same time as her. She beamed at me and I kissed her, this time with more enthusiasm.

Three different screams of terror made us break away. The next second we were standing over Alice and Edward, they had collapsed to the floor and Jasper was trying to coax the vision out of them.

"Emmett..." They whispered.

"Emmett!" The scream of my Mother came from the woods.

"Go!" Carlisle demanded. I threw all my newborn-ness into my legs and ran to where the scream was coming from.

"Mother!" And then, I saw her collapsed by a tree. I froze. Blood.

"Carlisle! You're a doctor right!" Two seconds later, he was beside me. Another second later he was at my Mother's side.

"Patricia. Patricia. What happened?" I didn't move any closer, so I used my eyes to see her face. Tears were silently falling down her face. She couldn't keep her gaze on Carlisle, and her head wobbled as it was heavy. When she finally spoke, her voice was merely a whisper.

"It was so fast. A man was stood there talking to Abby, she tried to get past him but he hit her and she collapsed. He flung her over his shoulder, like she was a ragdoll. I called for Emmett. Then one second he was nowhere near me, then the next he had hold of my arm. I think he broke it, it hurts so much, and then I'm flying into this tree." Carlisle touched her head. "I smacked my head, and I saw him disappear with Abby still over his shoulder." I growled.

"What did he look like?"

She frowned. "Brown hair, pale skin and red eyes." She shivered. "I won't ever forget those eyes."

"Take care of her Carlisle." I said, as I ran back to Alice.

"Alice! Was it Simon?" She turned to face me, her face crumbled in sorrow. All she could was nod.

All I could see was red. Anger spiked in my veins. Rose held my hands, only then did I realise I was shaking.

"He's dead. He got what he wanted. I'm going after him."

"That's what he wants Emmett! He'll kill you!" Alice shrieked. "I saw it, you went after him and he kills you."

"He almost killed my mother. God knows what he's done to Abby. She's my best friend!"

"Just please don't do anything rash." She begged. I pulled her to me and squeezed her.

"Of course. But I've got to get Abby back before he kills her or turns her into a vampire."

"It's too late Emmett." Alice voice was so quiet; I actually had to strain to hear her. "He's already bit her."

There was silence for a full minute and then I roared with all the anger and pain I had inside. I hoped my Mother had passed out, so she didn't have to hear the words that were falling out of my mouth.