Chapter Eight: Just The Same

Emmett POV

"Why were you being such a dick to Bella this afternoon?" Rosalie snapped as she stormed into the apartment we shared together. "Her sons second birthday of all days."

"I snapped." I shrugged. "Sometimes it happens."

"Not with Bella." She whispered. "You've been in love with that girl since she told you her name. You don't just snap with Bella."

"Screw off, Rosalie!" I snapped again, throwing my shot glass at the wall. "It's been a rough week!"

"For me too." She agreed. "But you didn't see me snap at the one person who gives a fuck about me!"

"I'll call and apologize later." I whispered, sinking into the couch. "I just...I..."

"Want to push her away."

"What?" I asked. "No, I don't wanna push her away."

"Really?" She asked, crossing her arms to her chest. "Because every time she called, you ignored her and turned your phone off. You just blew up in her face at a two year olds birthday."

"I'm scarred if I get any closer, she'll figure it out." I sighed. I'd confessed to Rosalie after we'd moved into the apartment together. I couldn't take it anymore, and I knew Rosalie would support me...even if what I was doing was wrong. She did. She had never been happy about it, and everyday told me to turn myself in, but she kept her opinions to herself.

"Then why did you let yourself get close to her in the first place?" She asked, sitting next to me. "Em, the longer you hide this from her...the more it's going to hurt both of you when it comes out."

"It will never get out!" I snapped. "It can't!"

"It can, Emmett! You and I both know!"

"No." I shook my head. "I can't do that to her. If I wanted to destroy her I would have already."

"I'm done fighting you on this, Em." She sighed, standing up and grabbing her bag. "But you'd better grow a pair before someone gets hurt."

"Rosalie!" I called as she slammed the door shut. "Fuck!"

I paced around the living room for an hour before grabbing my keys and heading out to my car. I drove the familiar route to her small house. I sat in my car for about twenty minutes before gathering the courage to walk up to her front door.

"I'll get it!" I heard Aiden yell.

"We'll both get it!" I heard Jasper call as Aiden's giggles came over him. The door swung open, and Jasper was standing there, smiling broadly like always. "Hey, man. What's up?"

"Can I talk to Bella, please?" I asked as I twiddled my thumbs together. "It's important."

"Oh...I don't think that's a good idea." He whispered as he put Aiden down. "You really hurt her, Em."

"I know." I whispered. "Which is why I need to talk to her."

"It's okay, Jazz." I heard her say from the kitchen. "Let him in." I sighed as Jasper stepped aside and I walked passed him, but not without feeling the anger radiating off of him. I walked into the kitchen where her back was to me. "What do you want?"

"I wanted to say sorry." I whispered, perching myself on the corner of the table. "I was a pretty big.."

"Dick?" SHe asked, turning towards me. "No problem."

"Okay, you're upset...I get that." I whispered. "But, I'm sorry, Bella. It's just been a rough couple of weeks. Having to go back to Tennessee...it kills something inside of me and Rosalie probably told you that I've never tried to deal with their death and she's right. It's been eight years since I lost my parents and I've never once gone to see someone to talk to...hell I've never even asked Esme to talk and she's family."

"I didn't run away from Chicago, Emmett." She told me. "I came here so I could be with Jasper and so I could start a life where I didn't cry every time I walked into my home. I missed Jasper and Alice, and saw this as a good chance to come here and be with them. My family and Edward's family choose to come out here to spare me...I don't ask them to come."

"I know." I nodded. "I shouldn't have said that."

"No." She snapped. "You shouldn't have. Do you know what it's like...to here your fiancee get shot? To walk downstairs and see him laying in a pool of his own blood?"

"I don't."

"Exactly." She whispered. "I can't imagine what losing both of your parents on the same night would feel like. I can't imagine how it felt to go home after your graduation to find they'd died in a fire. I feel terrible that what was supposed to be such a great night..the best night of your life turned into your worst nightmare."

"Okay, stop, Bella."

"But can you imagine what it feels like...to be seven months pregnant...and to hear your fiancee shot and killed?" She asked, and I only looked away. "Can you imagine what it was like...walking downstairs to see the bastards who'd killed him got away, and to see him lying in a pool of his own blood? Bleeding out."

"No."

"I understand you went through a lot of pain when they died...and when Rosalie's family died it was almost lie you were reliving it. But, don't try and tell me your pain is more or worse than mine."

"I wasn't trying to say that." I argued, even though it was a lie.

"Oh...and also...do you know what its like to be sitting in your fiancee's funeral service five days after he was killed, and go into labor?" She asked. "Because, I do."

"Look, I'm sorry, Bells."

"I think it'd be best if you just left, Emmett." She sighed, turning her back to me. "Now."

"Bella..."

"Go, Emmett." She ordered. I brushed away the tears that had formed in my eyes and slowly backed up. I ignored Alice's calls to me, and just got in my car and drove to the house. I used the key they'd let me keep and just let myself in, and regretted it. I walked in on a family dinner, with Diego and his small family.

"Oh, sorry." I muttered, backing up again and tried to leave. But, again Carlisle was quick and smart and stopped me before I could leave. "I can come back."

"Why?" He asked. "Come on back inside. Sit down. Eat. And enjoy a family dinner."

"This looks like it should be between you and your family."

"You are my family, Em." He whispered. "How long is it going to take you before you figure that out?"

"I don't know." I mumbled as he dragged me into the kitchen and heated a plate for me. He carried it out to the dining room, and put it at the place next to Diego.

"Haven't seen you in a while, Emmett." Diego commented. I just looked at him and snickered before going back to my roast beef. "What?"

"I've been here for two years, Diego." I pointed out. "The only reason you haven't seen me is because you never bothered to come around."

"It's been busy." He whispered. "With Ruby and everything."

"Oh. Yeah. I get it. Have a baby and cut my parents out of my life."

"Emmett." Esme warned. Both of their kids had left Forks with only a short goodbye. But, at least Diego had the decency to actually say goodbye, other than Bree who just left when she was seventeen. I hadn't seen her since my parents funeral after Carlisle went to great lengths to find her and drag her to Tennessee. The three of us never got along, but Diego continued to push that out of his mind and pretend he'd done nothing to me.

"No, Aunt Esme." I smiled at her. "It's all good. Juts talking to my dear, dear cousin."

"Screw you, Emmett." He finally snapped. "At least I wasn't some loaner on the run who came to my parents as a last resort."

"No, your only a trust fund baby who comes to his parents because he feels obligated." I remarked. "I came here because I needed family. You probably come here when you wanna get Ruby off your hands."

"Enough, Emmett." Carlisle told me calmly. I knew that I was done and I just sat back and played with my food some more. Diego and I said nothing for the rest of the night, but just continued to glare at each other. I'd moved here two years ago and he never showed his face. He had a baby a year and a half ago, and if I was in his situation, I'd be wanting my parents to come all the time.

I was glad when he left two hours later, just needing Carlisle and Esme to myself. I slumped down on the couch and Esme brought me my favorite tea. For a while, they just sat with me and let me drink my tea, and didn't pressure me into talking about why I'd been such a dick to Bella, and then my cousins.

"I screwed up with Bella today." I finally sighed, just wanting to get the conversation over with.

"We know." Esme whispered. "We heard your little outburst at Aiden's birthday party."

"I just snapped." I sighed. "I don't know. With all the stuff going on with Rosalie and the rest of the Hale's...it's making me a little on edge."

"That's understandable, Emmett." Carlisle spoke up. "I know it must feel like everything is falling apart."

"Everything IS falling apart, Uncle Carlisle. I was finally in a good spot with Bella, and I just ruined that."

"You pushing her away for a very good reason."

"I don't want to push her away." I admitted. "But, sometimes I think..."

"It'll be easier?" Esme asked, going into her therapist mode.

"Yeah."

"Emmett, the truth is the only thing that is going to rid you of your guilt." She whispered. "You need to make a choice. Take Bella out of your life and tell her the truth, or continue keeping things from her."

"I have to make that choice?" I sighed.

"Yes." They both answered at once.

I knew they were right, but I couldn't. I didn't want to hurt Bella anymore than I already had. I was being selfish. I wanted to keep her all to myself. But, doing so was hurting her more than any words I could say to her.

"How long you think Bella's gonna give me the cold shoulder?" I asked Jasper as we walked through the park with Aiden and Melody while Alice and Bella were shopping. "I mean, it's been like a month."

"You really hurt her, Em." He sighed as the toddlers ran over to the big grassy field. "She'd be upset if I had something like that. Edward for her is like bringing up the movie theater shooting to the victims families. It just hurts too badly."

"I know that I was wrong and a complete asshole." I said. "But, I'd hoped she'd come around by now."

"She might come around eventually."

"Might?"

"Bella's a really sweet, and forgiving person." He explained. "But, not when it comes to Edward. You'll be lucky if she ever says another word to you."

"Great!" I sighed and just sat back in the bench. We stayed at the park for a while longer until it grew windy and dark, signaling a storm was coming. When we got to the house, both of their cars were there and I smiled, knowing I'd at least be in the same room as Bella again. I carried Aiden inside and he immediately demanded I put him down when he heard Bella's voice.

"Mommy!" He screeched as he jumped into her arms. I stood at the doorway and smiled as I watched them together. But, her smile faded away when she looked up and saw me standing there. "Em and Jasper took us to the park!"

"I know, baby." She smiled, kissing his cheek and letting him down. "Thanks for helping Jasper today."

"It wasn't a problem." I sighed, smiling at her.

"You can cut the act, Emmett." She sneered. "Aiden isn't here."

"What act?"

"The act where you pretend to be all nice and willing to take him to the park."

"It wasn't an act, Bella." I whispered. "I didn't mind helping Jasper out today."

"Whatever." She sighed as she began to walk past me, but I grabbed her arm to stop her. "Emmett."

"Look. I'm so sorry for what I said about Edward." I sighed. "It was wrong and I shouldn't have done it. But it had just been a really bad, long week and I was tired. I snapped. I didn't meat to."

"You've told me this before."

"Yeah, I know." I sighed. "So when will you believe that it's true?" I asked as there was a loud clap of thunder, causing both of us to jump. I heard Melody and Aiden's screams and let Bella go so she could be with him. It began to downpour and I knew that I wasn't going to be able to get home until the storm passed. I sighed as I walked upstairs to see if I could help with anything.

"He seems really sorry, Bella." I heard Alice whisper. "He seems to be a genuine guy who didn't mean to hurt you."

"I don't care, Alice." She sighed. "I was wrong for thinking something could ever happen between us, but now I don't have to deal with that anymore. I don't have to continue to wander what it'd be like to be with Emmett."

"You shouldn't easedrop." I heard Jasper whisper in my ear. "Come on."

"But..." I sighed as he pulled on my sleeve so I'd follow. I followed him downstairs as he carried Melody to the kitchen to give her a drink to calm her down. "Alice isn't coddling her?"

"There are a lot of things she cries for Alice...but thunder...she calls for daddy." He smiled, handing her a juice box. "Look, Em..."

"Spare me, Jazz." I said, sitting down next to Melody. "I shouldn't have been listening."

"That isn't what I was going to say." He stopped. "What I was going to say is you'd better make a move soon or she really will move on from you."

"Oh."

"She really cares about you, Emmett."

"It doesn't seem that way anymore."

"Well, she was looking for a reason to cut you out just like you were looking for a reason to push her away." He explained as he put a bowel of pretzels in front of Melody. "She's afraid falling for someone else is going to tarnish Edward's memory or something. She wants you and has a for a while now."

"I should just...go for it?"

"Well, isn't that what you did in high school?" He laughed.

"Yes." I agreed. "But, that was eight years ago."

"So?" He asked and I just sat back in my chair.

"What do you think I should do Mel?"

"Kiss!" She laughed before another clap of thunder ruined her fun. Jasper took her back upstairs to keep her calm and I went upstairs to get Bella. Jasper was right. If I didn't do anything soon, I'd never do anything. I walked into the room her and Alice were in before and found only Alice was there, rocking Aiden back and forth.

"Where'd Bella go?"

"She went to get Aiden's blanket from the car."

"You let her go out there?" I asked as I ran back downstairs and then outside. "BELLA!" I called as I saw her in the backseat of her car.

"Would you just leave me alone?" She asked as she slammed the car door and began running up the walk. I looked up and saw a tree branch shaking violently and then, heard the crack.

"BELLA!" I called as I ran to push her out of the way of the killer branch that was about to fall on her head. I'd used more force than I thought and ended up pushing her down to the ground. "You okay?"

"Fine." She huffed as she tried to push me off of her. "Emmett, let me go!"

"Bella," I sighed as we locked eyes like we had so many times before. "Please."

"No, why should..." She began to ask before I brought my lips to hers. She fought at first, but soon, she was wrapping her hands around my neck. I slowly caressed her lips with my tongue, and she gladly gave me access. Our tongues intertwined and we both moaned with the contact. It'd been so long since I'd kissed someone I really cared about.

"I HATE TO INTERRUPT!" I heard Jasper call. "BUT THERE IS A HUGE STORM COMING! SO I SUGGEST YOU GET INSIDE BEFORE YOUR A VICTIM!"

"OKAY!" I yelled back as I helped Bella off the ground. We ran back inside, and once the door was closed, we could barely keep our hands off each other.

"Guys!" Alice laughed as Bella through my jacket on the ground. "Let's keep it PG for the night."

"I hate you." Bella laughed as I backed off. She kissed me one final time and walked upstairs to dry off.

"Told ya so." Jasper mocked from the living room after I'd dried off and changed into his clothes.

"I hate you." I laughed, throwing a pillow at him.

"You two can crash here tonight." He offered. "But, really. Keep it PG."

"We will!"

That night, Bella and I stayed up all night and just talked. We talked through all the issues we'd been having lately, and came to a better understanding of each other. Waking up, and hearing Bella's voice in the kitchen made me feel happier than I had in years. I got up off the couch and followed the smell of fresh coffee.

"It's about time." Alice laughed as she cut up pancakes for Aiden and Melody. "You want some coffee?"

"Please." I sighed, sitting down at the table. "Where's Jasper?"

"There was a big storm in Chicago last night." Bella explained as she handed me a plate. "He's trying to get in touch with his mom and family."

"Okay." Jasper said as he came back into the kitchen. "Yeah, we'll be there to help. Love you too."

"What was that all about?" Alice asked as he sat down next to me. "She okay?"

"She sounded really shaken up." He sighed. "It sounds like they got hit pretty hard."

"You gonna go help out?" I asked.

"Yeah." He whispered. "But, I was wondering if you and Bella could come too? It's a big mess and my brother's all the way in England for his semester overseas."

"What about these little guys?" Bella asked, ruffling Aiden's hair.

"I can see if Esme and Carlisle can watch them for a few days." I offered.

"Alright." She eventually sighed. "If they can watch them then yeah, Ill go with you."

The four of us decided to fly to Chicago to save time and since we didn't have the babies with us, it'd be easier to go through the airport. Jasper kept quiet for the most part. Worrying about his mother. Rosalie decided to tag along since she was his sister, and this storm affected them both. As we neared the Chicago airport, I got a terrible feeling in my stomach that this was just a set up by James. But, I shook it off as Bella's hands touched mine. There really had been a bad storm, and the house probably was a mess.

We got a couple of cabs and headed to the rural neighborhood where the Whitlocks lived. Bella and I stared in shock at how bad the storm really had been. Trees were down. Power lines were down. Deprise was scattered everywhere. We pulled up to the place Jasper grew up and starred in shock. This was the worst house we'd seen all day.

"Oh my god." Jasper cried, running inside. "Mom!"

"Mrs. Whitlock?" Bella called as we followed him inside. I took her hand in mine, and jumped at the thrill shrieks of Rosalie. We followed the screams, and stopped dead in our tracks when we saw her laying dead on the ground, blood surrounding her, and a gunshot wound to the chest.

"MOM!" Jasper cried, pushing past us and kneeling beside her. "No."

"What the hell?" Rosalie cried. "She called just a day ago." I turned around, not wanting to look at her any longer, and found a piece of paper. I walked closer to it, and found EMMETT written on the front.

I told you I'd kill everyone you or someone else love. This time I went easy on you. Watch your back.

"Fuck." I muttered. This was Jame's work and it was my fault. Yet again. Now both Jasper and Rosalie had no one.

"Where's Peter?" Jasper asked.

"I haven't seen him." Bella said as she opened a closet. "OH MY GOD!" She yelled as a body fell out out.

"Peter?" Jasper asked, running over and turning the body over. "What the hell? Who's doing this?"

Now, it was even more personal. James wasn't going to get what he wanted. He was going to pay for what he's done to everyone he'd murdered.