"You know, of all the things I thought we'd be doing, this was not one of them." Rachel looked down at the ground from the roof of the Cullen's house. Emmett swore the sunset was beautiful from up there and Rachel, never one to walk away from a pretty view, had to take him up on it. She looked at the side of Emmett's face, his skin lightly glowing from the last few rays. How many times had a pretty view gotten her in trouble? How much had a pretty view changed her life completely?

Quite a bit.

Emmett caught her stare, his signature dimpled smile finding his lips at the same time. His expression was exactly the same, her Emmett still in there. Edward had been right, though she hated to admit it. If she had been a vampire, she swore she would've been able to hear his cocky chuckling from inside the house.

Just in case she thought, Shut up, Edward.

Emmett's eyes crinkled in wonder, face changing as he tried to piece together the reactions from those in the house.

"Don't worry about it." She said, internally begging him to leave it alone. There was no way Emmett and Edward would let her live it down.

"Oh, I'm worried about it." He smirked, eyes narrowing slightly to try and get her to break. He knew her better than that though, and he laid back against the roof to stare up at the sky.

She glanced up at it as well, watching the gray slowly get darker. It had been such a weird day, yet the world outside still felt the same.

"So, what do you think?" Emmett asked. Never one to sit in silence very long that one.

Rachel smiled to herself, "About what?"

"This. Us. All of it." He gestured around before turning slightly more serious, watching her expression carefully.

"It is pretty up here." She started. If he thought she was about to talk about his family when she knew they could hear, he had another thing coming. Not that she had anything negative to say. They'd all been incredibly welcoming and kind, especially Carlisle and Esme.

Everyone made sure she felt comfortable and included, explaining family jokes and sharing stories openly. Rachel couldn't help but wonder if that came naturally or if they were used to interacting with humans on a closer level since Bella had joined their family.

Emmett groaned at her lack of answer, nudging her with his knee, "You know that's not what I meant."

"Well," Rachel shrugged, "It's hard to talk shit about Edward when he's right down there and can hear me."

"No, it's not. I do it all the time." Emmett smirked. It was just like him to carry Rachel's joke to the next level, making them both laugh harder than they had been.

Her heart swelled at the moment. Her giggling and Emmett's booming laughter mixed together in the air. His little dimples showing like the soft crinkles by his eyes. It was surreal, having him by her side again. Something she never thought she'd get to have ever again. How could she give that up? How could she give him up?

"I love you."

Emmett's eyes snapped over to her, widened slightly at her words, as though he'd never heard her say them before. It was a strange reaction. They had certainly told each other that phrase before. Multiple times. In fact, Rachel was certain that Henry still had the 'Number of Times Rachel and Emmett's Sap Killed Us' tally counter still on the fridge.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Even the trees knew to give them a moment of silence, wind just as void as Rachel's breathing. Then her mind ran into overdrive.

What if she messed it up? What if he wasn't ready for her to tell him that she loved him? Sure, she'd said it before when he was a human, but things were different. He was different. They were different.

When she dared to look at Emmett's face, a jolt of anxiety ran across her chest. He was almost awe-struck, like he was wondering how someone could be so darn stupid. It was a fair question. Telling a vampire that you loved them probably wasn't high on the list of things that should happen. Or high on the list of smart things to do.

Maybe she could play it off as a joke. Maybe she could say she was just waiting for Emmett's reaction and-

"Really?" His voice was soft. Not mocking or angry, but…amazed? He was surprised. The expression on his face hadn't been awe that she was ridiculous. It was awe that she loved him? That didn't make sense though….

Rachel exhaled as she shook the thoughts away, still trying to make sense of it all. "What do you mean?"

"You love me? Still?"

The edges of her lips curved upward. There had only been one other time in her life that she had seen the un-confident side of Emmett. She was glad that this time was for a happier reason. "If I say yes, are you gonna throw me off the roof?"

Emmett broke into a grin, a light chuckle shaking his chest. "Hmm, not quite. But if you say yes, I'm keeping you around for a long time, Rae Rae."

"I hope you keep that promise better than you did last time."

"I'm one with the bears now."

Rachel giggled, shoving his arm despite the fact that she knew he wouldn't budge. "You're terrible. I take it back. I hate you."

"I love you."

"Whipped." She replied automatically, and they both busted out laughing at the all too familiar phrase.

"That came from Tennessee, across the continental US, and right out of your mouth." Emmett wiped his face with his hand. "I could hear Henry's voice in the undertones, I swear."

Her lips pressed together as she thought about his words. Her voice sounded like Henry's? That did not sound like a compliment. In fact, she might as well rip her vocal cords out if they were going to do that to her.

"That's the meanest thing you've ever said to me. I sound like your brother." Rachel shuddered dramatically, leaning back on the roof so she could better avoid eye contact with Emmett. If she looked at his face, she knew she'd crack and start laughing again.

He knew her far too well to let her get away with the act, rolling over onto his stomach so he was closer. "Oh please. You're much prettier than Henry."

Dang it. She broke, covering her face with her hands as she was forced to face the fact that this was the man she loved. "Emmett, I swear."

"Swear you love me?" He gently pulled her right hand away to reveal her face. She watched his throat as he swallowed hard, a sure sign that the extra blood in her cheeks was not doing him any favors. Still, he sounded normal as added a cheeky, "Hmm?"

The concern for Emmett overpowered any playfulness then and she fiddled with his hand to distract him from her cheeks. "Swear I love you." The whisper from her voice was easily heard, even if the trees had tried to cover it up.

He swallowed once more, eyes closing briefly before he leaned in, just as slow and careful as the first time they'd kissed. Rachel didn't worry about her heartbeat; that had picked up naturally the moment she knew Emmett had crossed into 'peckish' territory. But just like last time, it was completely forgotten the minute they connected, cool meeting her warmth in a way that made her stutter and lose track of the outside world.

His eyes were black when he pulled away and she couldn't help but wonder exactly which thirst of his caused such a rapid decline in his eye color. Regardless, she didn't think it safe to stick around and find out.

"I should take you back." Em whispered, casting a quick glance up at the sky over Rachel's head. "It's getting dark, and I don't want Ashley to think I kidnapped you."

Alone in a car together. Was that safe?

"You need to take a break first?"

Emmett shook his head, "Nah. I'll be okay. Hunt quick when I get back. The drive isn't that far."

She supposed that was true, at least not the way Emmett drove. If she didn't die from falling off the roof or from being vampire dinner, maybe Emmett's horrific speeding would seal her fate.

"Ready?" He sat up then, far more graceful than Rachel could ever be. His large hand carefully took her own, just until he knew she was steady before he quickly pulled back.

Her eyes scanned his body, carefully watching for any signals on how he was doing. Maybe she was just over thinking it and things were fine. She worried too much. Wasn't that what he told her all the time?

She nodded and he held out his hand once more, turning slightly so he could, presumably, put her on his back again. Rachel took it eagerly. Emmett jumping up there had been a rush she hadn't experienced since their last cliff-diving adventure. Surely jumping off of a house would be the same.

"You're crazy." Emmett teased, carefully adjusting her onto his back while Rachel mentally told Edward to shut up and stop judging her. If she wanted to jump off of houses with her vampire boyfriend, who was he to stop her?

Once he was set, he asked if she was ready once more. Then the rush came. Her stomach dropped and she lightly squeezed her eyes closed in glee. It was good thing Emmett wasn't breakable.

"We should do that more often." She told him once she was back on the ground. Her fingers carefully ran through her hair to get the knots out, hoping to at least keep it presentable before she faced Carlisle and Esme again.

"Oh, we are so going on a walk through the woods next time we hang out. We can jump from all the trees! It'll be awesome!"

As stupid as it sounded, Rachel couldn't wait.

What she could wait for, was the dreaded pop quiz in her English class. She'd barely made it through the final three chapters of that book – not that it helped her grade much. At that point, she considered whether or not she even cared. English had always been a bland subject for her. She would've rather watched a play or movie on the thing than read it. Besides, it wasn't like she couldn't read. And wasn't that all a nurse really needed to do anyway? Who cared why the type of flower in the book was important?

"At least we don't have to watch you suffer anymore." Ashley teased at dinner that night. "Did you ever figure out your holiday plans? November's coming up quick."

Rachel internally grimaced. Or outwardly grimaced based on Ashley's expression.

"What's that face for? Can't leave your dream man?"

She rolled her eyes, but there was no annoyance in her expression. Ashley wasn't exactly wrong.

Sure, Thanksgiving wasn't that long. It'd be a few days break at most. But Christmas break…that was an entire month. Rachel didn't want to be gone from Emmett that long. She needed to stay and help him keep up with his 'don't drink Rachel' training. If she was gone for a month, what would he be like when she came back?

Or, the more important question, would he be around when she finally came back?

Emmett wouldn't leave her. That didn't seem likely. But Emmett was…reckless, especially in his vampire state. And he had to be the unluckiest guy she knew when it came to wildlife, despite his great love of it. Who was to stay that he wouldn't encounter something else, a witch or Big Foot or cyclopes or something, and meet the same fate he had as a human?

But she couldn't exactly decline to go back. Her parents would be upset, at least Theresa would. And Henry would pester about it for days or years, in all honesty. And she did want to see the McCarty's again….

Her heart was even more torn when Henry sent her the stupid Thanksgiving invite:

You are legally required to attend the McCarty Family Thanksgiving. Failure to comply will result in:

Me sending you 47 texts a day until you say yes.

Momma getting on the phone and using her Mom Voice.

Briar bitching every five minutes (I will record and send to you every time. Don't test me.)

Me personally flying to Seattle, breaking into your dorm, and dragging you home.

As usual, the event will feature:

Questionable turkey (Heidi says it's fine, but you and I both know it's a toss-up)

Pie (which I WILL be guarding with my life)

Dad and Nolan getting way too invested in football and yelling at the TV

Jackson talking smack, followed by me whooping him in an unnecessary but essential physical altercation

RSVP IMMEDIATELY. I have taken it upon myself to be the official invite coordinator, and my reputation is at stake. Don't let me down.

P.S. If you don't come, I'm telling Momma you hate her cooking. Good luck explaining that.

"He's the literal worst." Rachel muttered, despite Emmett's laughter.

"Of course, he's the worst. He's Henry."

"And here I thought there could be no one else in the world that would be up to your level of…"

Emmett was quick to cut Jasper off, "Awesomeness."

Rachel snorted, eyes still scanning Henry's message. Part of her wanted to reply with a 'no' just to spite him. Part of her wanted to say 'no' just because she wasn't sure she wanted to go.

"Remember our plan, Rae Rae." Emmett nudged her. "You and me head down there. You sneak pie. You can't abandon the mission."

"We don't even eat." Jasper mumbled, earning another sharp look from Em.

"Irrelevant."

Rachel failed to see how such a thing was irrelevant. Though Emmett going down to see his family was likely a bad idea. Their luck, he'd get caught and blow it all.

"Rachel has a point." Edward interjected. For once she wasn't even mad he read her mind. "It's not a good idea for you to go down there. What if someone sees you?"

Em scoffed, waving a hand at his new brother. "Nah. I'm stealthy like a ninja."

"You're the biggest and tallest one here. How the hell are you stealthy?"

"Vampirism."

"You'd find a way to screw it up." Jasper chimed in again. "Besides, you realize there will be lots of humans there. It is a family gathering."

Emmett paid them no mind. Once his mind was set, it was pretty well set. All Rachel could do was wait for the disaster…or pray Carlisle could talk some sense into him.