I don't own them. I just like to play with them. ~ Riney

Chapter Eleven

EmPOV

Bella had disappeared into the kitchen when her phone started ringing.

I looked at the Caller-I.D and saw a picture of her and Edward.

Why was he calling her?

Okay stupid question; he was her room-mate and probably was just worried that she was out in this weather.

I grabbed the phone and hit the answer button.

"Hello?"

"Hel...Hello?" the voice on the other end faltered.

"Is this Edward?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied. "Is Bella near by?"

"She's in the kitchen," I replied. "Is something wrong?"

"It's storming out," he said.

"I'm aware, and?" I asked wondering where he was going with this.

"Bella hates storms," he said. "She gets really freaked out by the lightning and thunder."

Big Bad Bella was afraid of something? Interesting.

"Thanks for the heads up," I said.

"Please take care of her," he said finally after a long pause.

"Sure," I said clicking end.

I got up to go to the kitchen with Bella when there was a brilliant flash of lightning and the lights flickered.

Oh great.

I sped up but when I was halfway there, the lights went out just as the thunder boomed. It almost covered Bella's scream. Almost.

Luckily I knew my house like the back of my hand and I was able to get to the kitchen quickly.

"Bella?" I called.

She didn't answer.

"Bella? I can't see anything, answer me please," I tried again.

"I'm here," she said, voice whisper soft, fear lacing it.

"Where? Be specific honey," I said moving forward.

"Fridge," she said softly again. The rain was pouring so loudly, I had to strain to hear her.

Ok I had to keep her talking, ease her nerves a bit.

"Edward called," I said conversationally, inching forward.

"He did?" she asked.

Good. She was talking.

"Yeah, called to check on you," I said.

"He loves me, you know," she said, her voice nearer this time.

Why did my mother insist that the kitchen I hardly use be so freaking big?

"He does?" I asked, not even wanting to understand why that statement made my stomach clench.

"Yeah and I love him," she said.

Clench.

"That's...nice," I said through gritted teeth. I hated the little copper haired freak a bit more.

"Emmett?" she called.

Her voice was just ahead of me, I was sure if I reached out, I'd touch her.

"Yeah?" I said taking another step.

"I'm scared."

I reached out and she was there, I reacted without thinking, and pulled her into my arms. "It's just a storm."

She buried her face in my chest, and I was bombarded with a light fruity scent. Her entire body was shaking, and her skin was ice-cold.

What the hell? She really was afraid. I thought she was just, you know, over reacting.

Boy was I ever wrong.

I rubbed my hands up and down her arms, trying to warm her.

"I got you," I said hugging her close.

"The lightning..." she said.

"I know, come on, let's get you back to the living room," I said moving her to my side.

"It's too far," she said still shaking.

I had heard that fear was really irrational. I wasn't afraid of much, and not to this extent.

"The fire is still going, so we'll have light in there," I said reassuringly.

"Can't walk," she said with a death grip on my bicep.

'Okay. Let's try to be rational here Emmett,' I thought to myself.

"I'll carry you okay?" I asked.

I felt her nod into my shoulder and I bent my knees and scooped her into my arms. She instantly buried her face in my neck, sending a shock through my system. She settled comfortably in my arms, which welcomed the weight as if it were always there.

I made my way gingerly out of the kitchen, another flash of lightning helping to light the way; Bella burrowed closer to me and I felt her entire body tremble. I gripped her body a bit tighter as I walked out the door and into the hall. The glow from the fireplace on the walls, as we continued. When I reached the living room I put her on the couch and sat down beside her. Her eyes were shut tight, her breath coming out in erratic spurts.

I reached over and brushed her hair out of her face, "Hey," I said tilting her chin up. "It's ok. You're not alone."

"I hate it so much," she said inching closer to me.

"Are you gonna be ok if I go grab a few pillows and a blanket from my room?" I asked.

"You're gonna come right back?" she asked, her big brown eyes looking up at me.

I nodded, "Right back."

"Ok," she said with a sigh and snuggled into the couch.

-.-TA-.-

BPOV

And now I was a sniveling fool afraid of lightning and thunder.

Earth swallow me whole now please.

Where was my phone? Ah, there it was. I grabbed it and dialed Edward's number.

"Sweetcheeks are you ok?" he asked sounding frantic.

"I want to crawl into a hole and never come out," I whispered into the phone.

"Aww honey, what happened?" he asked.

"I freaked out. In front of Emmett," I said sinking deeper into the chair.

"And that's a problem?" Edward asked, and I could hear the interest in his voice.

"I'm just embarrassed Eddie," I said.

"Where is he?" Edward asked.

"Gone for pillows and blankets," I told him.

"Okay, well try to get some sleep ok? They said on the news that this storm will last out the night," Edward went on.

Until morning? Oh joy.

"Thanks for calling earlier hon," I told him.

"Love you," he said making me smile.

"Love you too," I replied going to hang up.

"Bella?" Edward said just before I hung up.

"Hmm?"

"Play nice," he said then hung up.

What did that mean? I always play nice. Well okay, not always but the majority of the time, I did.

Emmett came back then, his face buried behind a sea of fluff.

I stood up and helped him with the bedding; I wasn't as shaky as a few minutes ago.

"Thanks," he said smiling at me. "But you just sit your butt down and let me get this sorted out."

"Edward said its going to last the night," I told him, sitting back down and watching him make a make-shift bed.

"He called again?" Emmett asked without looking at me.

"No. I called him," I said noticing how the muscles in his neck tightened.

"Oh," was all he said, then returned to his task.

"I brought you a shirt to sleep in," he said when he was finished.

"Thank you."

He handed me the shirt and I hugged it close to my chest, I wasn't sleepy. I doubted that I was going to get any sleep tonight anyway.

"No problem," he said. "So you gonna tell me why you're so afraid of..." he gestured to the outside with his hand. "...this?"

"I'd rather not," I told him, my hand going around my stomach in a defensive way. I watched as his eyes took in the movement, and he shrugged.

"That's cool," he told me. "I'm gonna get ready for bed."

What? He was gonna leave me out here alone?

"Calm down," he said looking at me.

How did he know I was freaking out?

"I'm sleeping out here with you," he said taking off his shirt.

Well hello.

"I'll turn around so you can get dressed," he said lying down on the comforter and facing away from me.

I stared at his muscular back for a moment, before jumping up and taking off my jeans and shirt. Emmett's shirt was ten times my size, yes, that was a major exaggeration...still. It was huge. The thing practically swallowed me, and fit me like a dress.

"You can turn around," I said quietly.

"You can come and lay down," he said turning to face me, his eyes clouding over momentarily when his eyes perused my body. I blinked and the moment passed, he looked normal again. Well if by normal, I meant exceptionally sexy with the shadows that the flames were casting on his face.

I went down on my knees and crawled over to the bed, as he raised it so I could crawl under.

It was warm under there. I felt as snug as a bug as the covers settled around me. I could hear the rain beating steadily on the roof, the thunderstorms were still going on, but it was considerably far and few between now. So the room was quieter, I liked that.

The lights were still off, and the fire was dying down.

No one said anything for a while, but I knew Emmett wasn't asleep. His body was too tense next to me.

"Emmett?" I whispered as a sudden boom of thunder shook the room.

He grunted something incoherent and turned his body, "Come here," he said opening his arms.

I hesitated for a minute or two, then the lightning flashed again, forcing my hand so to speak. I was in his arms in a heart beat.

Ohhh he was so warm.

"Quit fidgeting," he said, his voice sounding husky in my ear.

His arm was thrown over my stomach, pinning me to him. My ass was firmly against his groin.

Oh my.

Hormones. Hormones. Hormones.

Yup, I'll keep chanting that.

Or it was the storm that had my emotions out of whack.

That had to be it, because there was no way in hell I was attracted to the man lying behind me.

I could feel his every breath and I wiggled a bit; oh God was he hard?

"Bella," he growled sexily. Okay, it was definitely the storm.

"Yes," I squeaked.

"Go to sleep," he said.

"Okay. Good night Emmett."

He sighed, "Good night."

It was quiet again, with the exception of the flames dying out in the fireplace and the thunder rolling in the distance.

My eyes drifted close, and I focused on the sound of Emmett's breathing as I fell asleep.

A/N: I did it! Emmett is MINE! Tash, send him over...mama's missed him soooo much. For all of you looking for them to get it on during the black out, sorry if I disappointed you. I want this to be as realistic as possible, although if it were me, I would've jumped his bones a longggg time ago. Anyways, as I was saying, they did NOT like each other, so we can't go from intense feelings of dislike to screwing like hamsters...it's a process. Sooo that said, just bare with me ok? Spank you :D

JessJess76: I'm completely torn...teehee. I look forward to the 'bonding' myself ;)

KCLutz4475: Deadline met! Riney FTW! Woot :D

MoeBop: LOL kidnapped you huh? Lovely...I'm now a drug dealer AND a kidnapper. My parents will be so proud :D

: Thank you sweetie :)

Mickeyluver33: LOL you can have him when I'm done...God knows when that will be. I need him for 'research' purposes ya know...so he and Bells can get their 'bonding' on. :)

jessa76: LOL it'll get there...I'm not fast fowarding that...this'll take time, but don't worry, I won't keep you waiting for too long. The five yr deal is not over yet...lol...hasn't even begun. Time will tell ;)

danimcket: Aren't they though? And yes...black outs...

Marie One: Thanks babe :)

brosserrat: Thank you honey :)

Nonita: Glad you're loving it hun :D

KimberlyAnnT: But of course :)

emma217: Thanks darling, more soon.

That said, I'm going to bed...I have not one, but TWO SMEXY men waiting for me *winks* Until next time girlies... that was said in Maury's voice (yes I'm crazy) love you all ~ Riney