Chapter 10: Just Wanna Hold You

Emmett POV

As I turned the water off in the shower, my stomach began to churn. This was it. This was the date that would define my relationship with Bella. She knew about James, and the bad crowd I'd been in...and even knew that I knew what he was up to. She didn't hold it against me. She told me we'd find the bastard and put him in jail for all the pain he'd cause.

I walked into my room to find Rosalie in my closet and a new outfit on my bed.

"Ummm, hello?" I laughed as she turned around. She'd been holding it together pretty well since we got back from Chicago and I was proud of her. She'd lost too many people because of James.

"Hi." She said, not really paying attention to me.

"I already had an outfit planned." I argued as I pulled a pair of boxers on, dropping my towel. "You didn't have to do this."

"Yes I did." She laughed. "This is a grownup date, Emmett. With grownup people. You aren't taking her to some little diner like you did in high school."

"It was one of the best in town and I could afford it." I defended.

"Yes, it was great. For high school." She pointed out. "This isn't high school anymore."

"You know, I was already nervous about tonight." I huffed. "You didn't have to bring up that I haven't been on a date in...eight years!"

"What?" She asked, sounding surprised.

"Yeah." I shrugged. "I mean, I've slept with girls since then...but just on one night stands."

"You resorted to one night stands?" She asked, almost sounding hurt. Rosalie was my sister, and I promised her I'd always respect girls. No matter what. I'd had two girlfriends in high school, and I lost my virginity to one the night of our junior prom. How cliche. But, regardless, I suddenly felt guilty for all the woman I'd slept with and just left in the morning. I was using them partially for sex, but most of the time if was just a hearted apartment and a warm bed.

"I had a bad couple of years, Rosalie." I shrugged. "I'm sorry."

"What's done is done, I guess." She whispered, shaking her head. "Either way, this is your date with Bella and you're wearing this."

"I guess it isn't too bad." I sighed, looking down at the light blue button up, khaki pants, and grey converse. She left the room so I could change and came back as I was finishing snapping my watch into place.

"That looks good on you." She smiled, looking down at the brown leather watch on my wrist. It was the only thing I'd kept of my father. It was safe in a lockbox at the bank the night of the fire. It had been passed down from McCarty to McCarty, from my great-great-grandpa all the way down to me. I promised my father I'd take care of it, and I was keeping that promise.

"Thanks." I said, giving a soft smile. "How do I look?"

"Ya look good." She laughed as she looked up and down, side to side, making sure nothing was out of place. "Perfect." She smiled as I looked at the clock.

"I'd better get going." I sighed. "I'm picking Bella up from Carlisle and Esme's."

"Where are Jasper and Alice?" She asked, following me out of my room and shutting the door.

"They went to see some Disney on Ice thing with Melody." I shrugged, grabbing my keys from the key rack. "You're sure this looks good?"

"Positive." She smiled, leaning into hug me. "You be good tonight."

"Yes, mom." I laughed, opening the door and heading out. I ran out to my jeep, becoming overly excited. I hadn't even thought about the fact that I hadn't been on a real date since high school, and I had already fallen for Bella. I took a deep breath as I saw her car packed in Carlisle's driveway and parked on the street.

"Hello?" I called as I entered the house. I heard Aiden's squeals and Esme's laughter coming from the kitchen and headed in that direction.

"EM!" Aiden called out, kicking to get out of Carlisle's arms and racing towards me. I was becoming quite attached to this little guy, and I tried putting the fact that he was my nephew out of my head.

"Hey, Aiden." I laughed as I picked him up. "I'm gonna take your mommy out tonight."

"Can I come?" He asked as he pressed his small hand to my face.

"No, Aiden." Esme said softly. "It's a grownup kind of night."

"But," Carlisle said. "We're going to have an awesome time tonight. Pizza. Finding Nemo. And...brownies." He whispered and Aiden's eyes lit up.

"Where is Bella anyway?" I asked, giving him back to Esme.

"Right here." I heard he say from behind me. I turned around and lost my breath. She was always gorgeous but, she was absolutely stunning tonight. It wasn't even anything special that she had on. A black dress, jean jacket, and boots. But, just the way it hugged her curves made me go weak at the knees.

"You look..."

"Pretty!" Aiden finished, getting down from the chair and running to Bella. "Pretty, mommy."

"Thank you, baby." She whispered, kissing him on the cheek. "I'll pick him up in the morning?"

"The room is all ready." Esme beamed as she took Aiden from Bella and walked with us to the door. Bella kissed Aiden one more time before letting Esme close the door so we could get going.

"You know, we won't be home that late." I told her as we pulled onto the road. "You could probably pick him up when you get your car."

"I know, but he'll be asleep by the time we get home and he's kind of a light sleeper." She shrugged. "If I jostle him to take him to take him to the car, he's going to wake up and he'll be very cranky and won't go back to sleep for a while. This ways just easier."

"Sounds good to me."

"So, where are we going?" She asked as we were half way there. "A strip club?"

"Better." I laughed. "I was thinking of taking you to the Landings Art Gallery, and then out to eat."

"Sounds perfect." She smiled as our hands brushed across each other. It was another twenty minute ride before we were sitting in front of the gallery and I took her hand in mine as we walked inside. We paid the small fee and began walking through. Bella 'ooed' and 'awwed' at all the paintings displayed, and I just smiled at her, wandering how I got so lucky.

"Oh, Emmett, look at this one." She whispered and I walked up closer to her. It was a simple, outdoor painting of a small porch, surrounded by pots of pink flowers. "It's beautiful."

"Yeah." I sighed, bringing her hand up to my lips. "It is."

The two of us spent almost two hours walking around the gallery before we made it to the main lobby again. We thanked the woman at the desk and headed out to my car.

"Where next?" She asked as she buckled her seat belt.

"I was thinking we'd get something to eat." I told her as I pulled out of the parking space. "Anywhere you'd like."

"Do they have an Olive Garden?" She asked and I only smiled at her. "What? I've been craving good italian food and it's hard to get out with Aiden...even to an Olive Garden."

"Olive Garden sounds perfect." I whispered, making the turn onto the main road. The place wasn't crowded and we were seated within ten minutes of getting there. Being with Bella was so...easy. There wasn't anymore tension between us, and she'd really just let go and began to really enjoy herself. She was cracking up by the time the breadsticks got to the table.

"Can I ask you something?"She asked softly as she picked at her salad.

"Maybe." I laughed, trying to ease the tension that suddenly formed.

"Why did you run?" She asked, causing me to tense up. "From home after...after the fire?"

"I...it was hard. Everywhere I looked, I was reminded of them. Surely, you get that."

"I do." She nodded. "But, I also accepted my family and friends help when I lost Edward. Their help got me here today."

"Honestly, I didn't want to deal." I explained. "I didn't want the check for their life insurance because that only meant they were gone and I didn't want the money we got from out hour burning down because it was just a reminder I'd lost everything that night, not just my parents.

"I grew up in that house. Everything I was...everything I'd become was in the house that night it burned to the ground. Little League trophies. All my report cards. Every picture I had with them. That was all gone and I didn't want to be reminded of it if I were to move in with Rosalie for a while before college."

"Then, why didn't you want to move to Forks with Esme and Carlisle?"

"It was just another reminder they were gone." I told her. "If I moved in with them, it was only because both my parents had died. It would have been too painful."

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "For everything you've lost. Losing Edward was...it was really hard and having Aiden didn't make it any easier...but I couldn't imagine losing my parents. Both of them at once."

"It's apart of life." I tried to shrug it off.

"Yes, it is." She said, bringing her hand across the table and touching mine. "But, that doesn't make it any easier."

"What does?"

"Nothing." She whispered, taking her hand away and going back to her salad. After that, the conversation lightened and we were laughing again within minutes. We were both completely full by the time we left the place, and I began to feel sad. This first date we'd just shared together had been amazing and I never wanted it to end. I was afraid that this would be it for our romantic life together.

But, when she turned towards me when we reached the car, I saw something spark in her eyes. Love? Lust? Sadness? I wasn't sure. All I was sure about, was that I wanted to kiss her.

So I did.

I leaned into her, slowly, making sure this is what she wanted me to do. But, when she grabbed my collar and pulled me into her, I knew it was what she wanted. Our lips met with this passion that I'd never had before. I was soft, sweet, but it was also passionate and needful. I wrapped my hand around her waist as she wrapped hers around my neck.

We pulled away when we were both gasping for air and she smiled. Really smiled.

"I don't wanna go home." She confessed as she hugged me tightly. "I mean, I love Aiden to death, but I just don't want to go home. Not yet."

"You wanna come back to my place?" I asked and I felt her body tense up. "To watch a movie or something?"

"A movie or something sounds great." She smiled as she let go and turned around to get into the car. There wasn't much traffic on the road and we were able to get to my apartment building in no time. I led upstairs and it was only as I was turning the doorknob that I realized she'd never been here and I prayed that it was clean.

"This seems cozy." She laughed as she walked inside. It was a smaller apartment with only two bedrooms. But, it worked with the budget Rosalie and I had and we were comfortable here. Thankfully, Rosalie had also cleaned up and I sighed relieved when I saw this.

"Okay, so we have..." I said, moving towards the cabinet we kept the movies in. "The Godfather...all of them...The Dark Knight, Fight Club, Casablanca, Back to the Future..."

"Back to the Future sounds perfect." She said, smiling at me.

"Good choice." I said, standing up and moving towards the DVD player.

"So, do you have anything that isn't action related?"

"Yes...but they're in Rosalie's room." I sighed. "She doesn't want me messing with her movies."

"And why would you do that?"

"Because, one time we got into a really big fight about what movie to watch and...I...I walked up to her and broke the tape in two." I said, feeling my cheeks turn red.

"You did not!"

"Yeah, he really did." Rosalie said as she came out of her room. " It was one of my favorites too."

"What was it?"

"When Harry Met Sally." She said, sticking her tongue out at me. "And then, he wouldn't pay for a new one."

"I didn't have money!" I defended. "And my parents weren't just going to give me the money to replace something that shouldn't have to be replaced."

"How old were you?" Bella asked, sitting down on the couch.

"Eleven?" I guessed.

"Yeah, around that age."

"Well, all boys are terrible at that age." Bella laughed as the menu came onto the screen. "You gonna watch it with us, Rosalie?"

"No, I'm going to retreat to my room for the night." She said, winking at me.

I opened my eyes and was blinded to the sun shining through the window. I looked around, bleary eyed, and finally noticed Bella's head still lying on my shoulder. I smiled down at her and softly shook her until her eyes pried open.

"What the?" She asked, sitting up. "Did we fall asleep?"

"Looks like it." I laughed, rubbing my eyes.

"What time is it?" She asked.

"Just after nine." I said after looking at my phone. "Do you need a ride to Esme's?"

"That'd be great." She smiled. "But, can we eat first? I'm starved."

"Sure." I nodded. "But, neither of us actually cook very often...we only have granola bars and cereal."

"Do you have eggs?"

"Yes."

"Bread?"

"Yep."

"Milk?"

"Yeah."

"Syrup?"

"A little."

"Great." She smiled. "Then we can have french toast."

"You don't have to."

"No." She sighed. "But, I want to. Rosalie still here?"

"She should be. Rosalie?" I called. I heard a bang from behind her door, indicating she threw one of her shoes at it to shut me up. "She's here."

"Will she want any?"

"Probably not." I sighed as we moved to the kitchen. "She doesn't really eat breakfast."

Bella and I spent the next twenty minutes, dipping bread into eggs and cooking the bread. We sat down and shared another meal together, and I was said when I took my last bite of food. I felt like the date had just started and I didn't want it to end.

"I wish this didn't have to end." She whispered. "I love my son, but dating would be a lot easier without a two year old to take care of."

"Dating...is never easier." I joked as I stood up and grabbed her plate, taking it to the sink. She followed and stood next to me as I ran water over the sticky plates. "At least, not for me."

"Me either." She said as I turned the water up too high, causing it to spray everywhere, including all over Bella. "Well then."

"Sorry." I said sheepishly. She smiled at me as she grabbed the hose, and turned the water on. She pointed the hose at me, and her smile grew devious. "Don't you dare!"

"Too late!" She laughed, turning the hose on, completely soaking me.

"That's it!" I yelled, picking her up and throwing her over my shoulder. "You're going to pay."

"Emmett!" She called as I turned into the bathroom. "Emmett, what are you doing?" She asked as I unhooked the shower head and pointed it at her.

"This!" I laughed, turning the shower on and spraying her, soaking her through her clothes. "Whoops."

"Yeah?" She asked, taking the shower head from me. "Well, how do you like this?"

"Like what?" I asked before she turned the water on, soaking me even more. I smiled at the sound of her laughter, and looked at her, her beautiful smile shining. I turned around, turing the water off and turned back to her. She was still laughing, and I grabbed her hips.

"Emmett?" She asked as I pulled her close to me. Her smile quickly faded, but the excitement in her eyes did not. I slowly leaned into her, bringing my lips closer to hers. Suddenly, she grabbed the collar of my shirt, again, and pulled me to her. Our lips met with great passion and I pulled her impossibly closer.

My hands roamed down her body, and lifted her into my arms, her legs wrapping around my waist. She began moving her body as I pushed her against the far wall of the bathroom. Our lips parted when we were both out of breath, but my lips immediately moved to her neck, causing her breath to hitch.

"Ummm, hello?" I heard Rosalie's voice say from the door. Bella and I broke apart and I set her back on her feet. I turned towards Rosalie who was blushing pink. "What happened in here?"

"Nothing." I sighed. "What do you want?"

"I need to use the bathroom...if you don't mind."

"Fine." I huffed, grabbing Bella's hand and pulling her past Rosalie. I knew the minute Rosalie said anything, the moment had passed and nothing would be happening between Bella and I for a while. We cleaned up the rest of the breakfast mess and I gave her a pair of sweats and a t-shirt to put on.

"Hello?" I called through the house once we'd gotten to Carlisle and Esme's. "Uncle Carlisle?"

"In here!" He called from the kitchen. We walked in, and I could tell Esme was spoiling Aiden. Pancakes, orange juice, and I saw a bag of open chocolate chips on the counter.

"Mommy!" Aiden screeched after he'd swallowed.

"Hey there!" She said happily, going over and picking him up. "What are you eating?"

"Pancakes with chocolate in them!"

"Yummy." Bella cooed, kissing him on the cheek. Aiden finished his breakfast and Bella got him cleaned up and ready to go. "Thanks again for watching him last night and letting him stay."

"It wasn't a problem." Esme whispered. I knew how much it hurt her not to play a big part in Ruby's life as her grandmother, and then both of Bree's kids. Aiden was helping her fill that void. "He's a sweet boy."

"Well, thanks again." She said, picking Aiden up.

"I'll walk you out." I offered, opening the door. I followed her out to her car and waited as she strapped Aiden into his car seat.

"Thanks for last night...and this morning." She whispered after she'd closed his door. "I had an amazing time."

"Me too." I smiled. I leaned into her, and this time it was just a soft, sweet kiss. Passion, but it wasn't overwhelming us. I heard Aiden's squeals and looked passed Bella to see him smiling at us.

"Bye." She smiled, getting into the car.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I heard Carlisle ask. "For either of you?"

"Is what a good idea?" I asked, not turning to face him.

"Getting involved." He said. "You know the truth, Emmett. She doesn't. Someday, this is going to blow up in your face."

"It might not."

"I'm glad you can be optomistic about it." He said. "But, you and I both know the truth always comes out. Truth always wins over lies. Someone is going to get hurt."

"That's the last thing I want." I whispered.

"I know." He sighed. "But, you have to be honest with her."

He was right. Carlisle was right. The truth always won. My mother had taught me that, and ten times out of ten...she was right. Bella was going to get hurt and it would be my fault. But, I was selfish and I couldn't let her go. Not yet. Not ever.