As promised! Enjoy!

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--Emmett--

I didn't believe him when he said he wanted to call a truce, and my doubts were well founded when he sicked Stanley and Mallory on me. Edward could be a mean son of bitch when crossed, and setting me up with those two was way beyond cruel. I couldn't be outright nasty to them, so I obliged them a dance. It was quite possibly the most painful experience of my existence as they moved spastically around me, and I was beyond grateful when I saw Edward being dragged across the floor by Alice.

"Excuse me," Alice tapped Lauren on the shoulder. "I'd really appreciate it if you'd stop dry-humping my brother. Lauren looked down at her. She sneered.

"Fuck off," she made the mistake of turning her back. Alice tapped her shoulder again.

"What part of 'fuck off' did you not -" Lauren stepped up to Alice and stopped short at the look on Alice's face. My little sprite of a sister was a scary sight when she was pissed. And right now she was bullshit.

"I'm only going to say this once," Alice said through her teeth. "And I'll use small words so your tiny brain will understand. Get OFF my brother and get the HELL out of my house."

Lauren looked genuinely frightened and took a step back. She composed herself and grabbed Jessica by the wrist.

"Let's go Jess," she scowled. "This place is a freak show anyway." They stomped off the dance floor and right out the door. I chuckled to myself.

"Em, listen," Edward began, shoving his hands in his pockets, "I just…ah… I want to…um,"

"Edward, goddammit! Just say you're sorry!" Alice shoved him hard and he stumbled forward.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" he scowled. "I just thought you deserved it after all you've done to Bella!"

"Nice apology, asshole," I punched him in the shoulder and stalked away.

"You are such a shit," I heard Alice mutter before she slapped him upside the head again.

He had eased off of me recently because I started disappearing during Bella's visits, but his actions tonight proved that he was still very angry. I was sick of it. Sick of his constant anger, sick of walking away, and sick of keeping the mental block up to prevent him from hearing my thoughts. Most of all, I was sick of hiding my feelings for Bella. I couldn't stop thinking about our night together no matter how hard I tried, and tonight had not helped in the least. She was an absolute vision, and Alice was right, the shoes made her legs look amazing. All I could see were those luscious legs wrapped around me as we made love and I was actually grateful when Alice pulled her away, because I almost grabbed her right then and there.

Now, as I stood and watched her from the doorway, I decided I couldn't do it anymore. It was too hard to stay away, and too painful to pretend I didn't care. I had to tell her how I felt, and hope that she would feel the same way. I walked silently into the living room and around the back of the couch. She was looking at the television, but her eyes were far away.

"Is this seat taken?" I asked. She jumped at the sound of my voice.

"Sweet Jesus!" she gasped. "Would you make a noise or something when you enter a room?! You scared the hell out of me!"

"I'm all about the stealth, baby," I chuckled. She blushed and ducked her head. She still looked absolutely beautiful, even in flannel pajamas and tucked under a blanket. I tucked a stray curl behind her ear and stroked her hair.

"You looked incredible tonight," I complimented her. "I couldn't keep my eyes off of you."

"Except when Lauren and Jessica took you out on the dance floor," she grimaced.

"Yeah, about that…" I rubbed the back of my neck nervously, not quite sure what to tell her.

"Don't worry about it," she waved me off. "I know Edward set you up."

"Good, because I'd never…"

"I know," she sighed. "But I still wanted to plant Jess' face into the floor when she put her hands on you."

"I'd pay to see that," I smiled. She giggled and blushed.

Okay, Emmett. Suck it up and tell her.

"Why are you here?" She beat me to the punch. "Shouldn't you be out hunting with the others?"

"I think we should talk, Bella," I finally sat down next to her. She looked down at her hands and the smile that lit her face fell.

"This conversation never ends well," she muttered and folded her hands.

"It's not that, Bella, it's just-" "Look, didn't we decide it was best to stay away?" she cut me off tersely.

"And that's proven to be impossible, hasn't it?" I snapped in return. Her eyes widened and she shrunk back.

You're not supposed to scare her, dummy.

"I'm sorry," I sighed. "That was harsh. It's just the tension between us is killing me, and there's still so much we haven't said."

"I know," she said softly.

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about our night together." I paused for a response, but she went silent and cast her eyes down. "About you," I continued. "The way you looked. The way you touched me when we made love, and the way you felt in my arms," I closed my eyes and smiled at the memory. "God it felt so good to hold you. It was like all was right with the world."

"Oh Em…" she whispered.

"I called you my love, and it was as if it had always been. Like you were always mine. But you…you never said anything. When I left you were still silent and those unspoken words have been gnawing away at me since. I have to know what that meant. Do you resent me for what happened? Or do you feel the same?"

She remained quiet and refused to make eye contact.

"Bella look at me," I commanded gently. I slid a hand onto her cheek and she finally looked up. Her eyes were filled with angst and confusion. "Please. Just tell me. Was it just a one night stand or does it mean more to you than that?"

"It means so much more than you will ever know," she finally spoke, then took my hand from her face and held it between her own. "But nothing more can come of it, Emmett."

"Why?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Because of Edward," her tone was laced with sorrow. "I can't scorn him like that…and…"

"And what?" I prompted, trying not sound angry.

"And I can't let him hurt you," she whispered and stared down at her hands again.

"Stop looking away from me!" I couldn't hide the frustration anymore. Her eyes were now brimming with unshed tears.

"I- I can't," she stammered

"You can't what?" I asked.

"I have to look away," she croaked, her chin quivering.

"Why?"

"Because…" she trailed off again.

"Dammit, Bella, why?!" I swore.

"Because I can't look at you without feeling the way I do!" she cried.

I was floored at the desperation in her voice. But I couldn't let her stop now, not when she was so close to letting go.

"How do you feel?" I forced her to keep her eyes on me.

"I… I'm not sure…" she sniffled.

"I think you are," I said gently when she shook her head. I took both of her hands in mine. "This is futile, Bella. We can't ignore this anymore."

"No, no, no! You don't understand!" tears spilled onto her cheeks. "I can't hurt Edward and I won't have him hurt you! Dammit, Emmett, please! I can't do this!"

"This fight is useless -"

"This is just as hard for me as it is for you!" she cut me off. "Shit! Don't you think I want this just as much as you do?! Do you know how hard it is being in love with two people?!" She was just as shocked at her words as I was and wrenched her hands free of mine. She buried her face and began to sob.

"Bella," I pulled her hands away. "Stop."

"I can't!" she cried again. "I can't just let him go! It would break his heart and I won't do that to him! And what will happen when the family finds out? They'll hate me, I know it!"

"They won't hate you, and it doesn't matter what they think," I could see her resolve beginning to crumble. "It only matters how we feel."

"No," she sniffled. "I can't hurt him. I won't. He's in love with me and I…I'm in love…"

"With someone else," I finished for her. She nodded and swiped at her eyes. "Isabella," I laid a hand on her cheek, "Sometimes you just have to follow your heart."

"It's just so hard," she murmured and leaned into my hand. She opened her eyes. "I really don't want to hurt him."

"I know," I said quietly. "But we can't keep doing this to ourselves."

We didn't speak for what felt like an eternity. She inched closer to me and began to trace a burning trail along my jaw line. She worked her way up until her fingers were running slowly through my hair, her eyes never leaving mine. With more confidence than I knew she had, she straddled me. I let my hands slide to her hips and she held my face in her own.

"You're right," was all she said, and then tenderly kissed me. I slid one hand up her spine and laced my fingers into her soft curls. She took this as a cue and parted her lips, granting me the entrance that I had craved since that night I left her the month before. I had missed her taste and greedily accepted her offer, twining my tongue with hers. She wrapped her arms around my neck and I slipped my other arm around her waist, holding her tight against my chest where I could feel her heart racing. She smiled as she pulled away.

"Human moment, " she laughed as she took a breath. She curled her little fingers into my hair and my eyes rolled back in pleasure. "Open your eyes," she commanded and I willingly obeyed. "I want to see them when I say this."

"Say what, love?" I asked and watched the grin follow the blush that spread across her face.

"Emmett, I-" she was abruptly cut off by an ear splitting crash.

I should have heard him coming.

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Ooooo!!! Cliffie!! Are you itching to find out what happens? My only request is 70 (or more?) reviews!! Until then, you must wait! ;-) I look forward to your responses!