Author's Note: I've been waiting to give you this chapter. It's time to kiss and make up, right? I think that's what should be happening. I can't keep these two apart. Also, I just want everyone to know I DO read the reviews. They make my life and it's cool to see what you guys think and stuff. Side note, I haven't forgotten about the companion piece based on Javan. I know I mentioned it in Lily Flowers and Eternity and I have started it, I just don't like working on multiple fics at once because I find it effects the quality of the work since I'm distracted. But know it will come. I promise.

Enjoy :)

"What are you even doing here?" the question came out less steady than she had hoped it would.

"I have to talk to you." Pale hands pried the items from her hands and in a few short seconds all the groceries were put away and he was tossing the bags into the garbage. Anala pressed her hands against the cool countertop, taking a slow breath. He was suddenly in front of her again.

"I need to talk, and you're going to listen." Anala stared up at him. The hard look in his eyes sent fear up her spine. He looked like he did the day she had gone to see him, had kissed him then watched him explode at her in fury. She stepped away from him and crossed her arms protectively, unnerved by his intense stare. What could he possibly have to say that she already didn't know? He had made his point, what more was there?

"Since you've come back all I can think about is how much I hate you." Anala swallowed thickly, hands tightening on her arms. "every time I look at you I want to rip the world apart and I just wish I hadn't come back, that I had left after I'd gotten my proof and never thought about it again, because you don't make sense Anala, you've never made any sense!" The pain in her heart grew with each word. Emmett's hands were clenching at his sides. "Do you know how fucking crazy that drives me? You lied, you kept secrets, you ruined my life and I'm the one who feels like total shit."

"Is this why you're here?! To make me feel even worse?" Anala moved out of the kitchen towards the stairs. She couldn't listen to this. She had already lost him, how much more did she have to suffer through? Warm hands stopped her at the top of the stairs, turning her around and she pulled away from his touch, unable to stand feeling it and hearing the words that came from his lips, to have them cut into her deeper than any blade.

"Get out!" she yelled, tears blurring his face into a pale smudge with two red points. She wiped away her tears, determined to make them stop. "Please, I can't listen to this anymore."

"No. I'm here because despite all of that, I physically can't keep thinking that way. I don't hate you, and as much as I want to throw it all on you I can't." His eyes became pained. "You were right. I was angry, yes, but there was more—is more—to it. It wasn't just you I was angry at. I was angry at myself and I was so unfair to you."

"What are you talking about?" Anala was so confused. She just wanted to be left alone, she wanted him to go away because he was so painfully beautiful and it was taking everything to not touch him.

His warm wands were cupping her face. "Damn it woman, how are you this oblivious?" Emmett stared down at her, thumb brushing her cheek. Anala wanted to pull away, it was only making it harder for her to stick to her decision to go, to leave him be, but his touch was so warm. It was gentle and it felt like the night she had awakened in his bedroom and saw him in the hall, the first time he had ever taken her hand in his. It was almost like how it used to be, before she destroyed them. Her eyes fluttered, wanting to close and commit the touch to memory and she fought it.

Anala moved away from him. "I don't know what you want from me Emmett."

She had just reached the doorway of her room when there was a frustrated growl from behind her and she was pushed against the wall, a large, strong hand grasping her jaw. His hold gentled. He was so close, his body brushed hers and his sweet scent was making her heart race.

"I still love you."

She lifted her eyes. "What?"

"I love you Anala. I can't not love you. I tried, and look where it got me! Right back to where I started. With you."

Anala shook her head. "Emmett I'm the reason for yo—"

"—and you're the reason I'm still here today. From Carus and from many chances for suicide. I know what I was missing before you and I know what I became without you. You are my raison d'être," he whispered, a slight smile on his perfect lips. His face was inches away and Anala was afraid to believe this was real. Burning crimson depths were consuming her and Anala was at a loss. Emmett's smooth lips caught her own and a small cry left her at the sensation that flooded her at the sudden contact. His lips lingered on her own. The instant hung for a long, precious moment and the strange insistent tug on her heart he had always evoked returned with a vengeance. He was drawing her in. A face entered her head, causing her to pull back as her body protested the distance, however slight.

"Kate," she gasped, unable to catch and keep her breath in the vampire's powerful presence.

Emmett shook his head. "Our relationship has never been deeper than friendship. Kate's family and a good friend and I love her but there could never be more between us, and we recognized that a long time ago."

Anala reached out after a long moment and slowly laid a hand on his pale cheek. Hesitation made her pause. "What if this is wrong?" she murmured. "What if this, us . . . what if it's wrong?"

Emmett's eyes lowered as his hands slipped to her sides. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against him and Anala's body molded against the rock-solid warmth of his. His other hand lifted and his finger hooked into the band that was holding her hair in a messy bun at the back of her head. Anala felt it slide away and her hair fell around her loosely, a large pale hand running through it unhurriedly. Emmett looked at her, his soul clashing against hers.

"look me in the eye and tell me this feels wrong to you."

Anala couldn't. Her entire body yearned to stay there, against him. She shifted, hands bracing on his thickly muscled arms. Fingers were against the side of her neck and Emmett was leaning down, flooding her with his dazing scent as his lips touched her jaw. They moved along her skin to the sensitive spot beneath her ear. Anala's head tilted back reflexively and her hands faltered on his biceps. Emmett's arms tightened around her. His hand slipped under the hem of her shirt, pressing lightly on her lower back. Anala's eyes fluttered shut. A scared voice inside was saying she shouldn't, what if she ended up making things worse for him? Too many unanswered questions filled her head. Where would they go from here, if they even made it far enough? This didn't change the fact she had hurt him, that he had changed and Anala often felt she was looking at a completely different version of the man she loved wholly and helplessly. Goosebumps rose on her skin as his lips lightly grazed her pulse. Anala wavered, mind torn as her body responded instinctively to his proximity.

Emmett sensed her hesitation and his voice turned pleading, the vibration against her throat challenging her focus. "I know this doesn't . . . fix everything, but I need this, Anala." His hands tightened on her flesh. "We need this."

Her breath came out in soft pants. "I . . ."

Anala pressed her hands to his broad chest. She slid her hands up his wide shoulders and neck and into his soft, brunette curls. Just like before, Anala couldn't let go. She knew what she should do and the exact opposite was what she wanted. There were a lot of things left unsaid between them. There was too much pain, and anger and unanswered questions. They couldn't go back and Anala didn't know how they'd move forward from this but he was right. They needed this, she needed him. Her lips were on his and the whirring thoughts silenced. Emmett's hand on her back tightened and she was lifted slightly. Her feet touched down inside her bedroom and her hands pushed under his navy blue shirt, needing to have skin to skin contact, fingers pressing to his unbelievably warm abdomen. Emmett's lips pulled back, leaving her own tingling.

"You're shaking," he whispered.

His forehead touched hers and his hand moved to rest over her quickening heart. Their eyes met and Anala lost herself in them. There was an edge to the crimson depths but this was still Emmett. She cupped his face as her heart slowed considerably. She moved her hand to the back of his neck.

"I love you," she murmured, pulling him closer.

A loud tearing filled the air and the remains of her top were on the floor. Anala led him to the bed and he lowered to sit on the side, eyes never leaving her face. She pulled his shirt upwards, heat filling her lower belly as his powerful form was revealed to her. Her eyes followed each hard line and ridge of his pale arms and torso and that heat rushed south, pooling between her thighs, creating a dull ache that spread through her body. Strong hands made quick work of unbuttoning her jeans and she was suddenly on her back as he made quick work of pulling off her chucks and jeans. Anala sat up, pulling off her bra and watched as he kicked off his shoes and pulled off his pants.

Anala hadn't forgotten how he never wore underwear.

She bit her lip.

Emmett was a work of art. He was perfectly sculpted from the purest of marble and his inhuman eyes burned lustrously. Anala's heart swelled at the sight of the inky markings on his flesh. He carried the mark of a Mate over his heart and Anala was both happy and saddened to see it there. His full, heavy cock protruded from a smattering of soft dark curls and his strong thighs flexed as he moved. She scooted back as he climbed towards her. She could nearly feel his gaze moving over her body like a physical touch and the heat in her core rose. Emmett kissed her gently and she whimpered as his slightly-rough tongue moved along her own. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his lap, lips trailing over her skin. Anala moved her hands up his broad shoulders, sighing. The hands on her back held her tenderly.

"Beautiful," he breathed. "So beautiful."

Anala was drowning in him. Emmett's hands created trails of heat on her skin, her bare breasts were pressed against his chest, and nipples hardening to sensitive points as his lips trailed along her collar. She couldn't take it, she could feel him deep in her being. The wild, overwhelming power in his body flowed through her and she wrapped her arms around him as she slowly lifted her hips. Anala looked into his fiery eyes, pausing. She loved this man. He had pulled her in and she'd fallen endlessly. Her heart was his. A breathless moan escaped her as she sank onto him, thighs spreading as her body was forced to stretch open to accommodate his solid girth. She trembled as she felt him fill her completely, thick and lengthy. A stinging pain accompanied the rush of desire and Anala welcomed it.

"Em," she pushed her hand into his hair. Anala prayed this was real.

If it wasn't, she hoped to never know.

Emmett groaned against her skin, lips on the underside of her jaw and Anala felt a tremor move through his frame as their lips met once again. Their bodies moved at a painstaking rhythm. Each touch, each kiss, was a balm against their bruised hearts, an apology, an endearment. They were soothing the pain, repairing the hurt and cracks little by little as their bodies' reacquainted.

She moved her fingers along his jaw.

I'm sorry.

His arms wrapped around her tightly.

I love you.

She kissed the markings on his skin.

Forgive me.

A low rumble moved through his chest as his hips swayed, pushing deep into her before she raised up and lowered onto him again. He slid a hand into her hair and a smooth mouth was taking her own as he lay her back onto the bed. Their kiss was warm and sensual and Anala relished the taste of his lips. Her body climbed higher as they moved together. Emmett's body pressed to hers, her body rocking into his passionate thrusts. Tears burned behind her eyes. Her body had become a live wire, the sweet, torturously slow build driving her into bliss. She clung to Emmett, pulling him as close as she physically could. It was irresistible. She could feel the muscles in his great body shift and tense as he moved. Her legs pressed against his sides and Anala's hands tightened on his flesh as her body sang at the feel of him laying between her thighs, pushing deep into her. The vampire's name fell from her lips like a prayer as the concentration of heat burst through her, leaving her crying out and moaning. The sensation of Emmett pulsing and burying deep within her as he came sent shivers up her spine and for the first time since Anala awakened in the forest, her world was complete.