6

This is the last chapter so there are a few things to say. One is that I have had a blast writing this story and receiving your comments. Really, if it hadn't been for the awesome reception of this story, I don't know if I would have finished it. Secondly, there will be a sequel and I'm going to tell you it's called "Nadir." Now I'm not sure how common these words are, so I think I might explain. A zenith is a sun or star's highest point in the sky. A nadir is the lowest. Anyway, I'm sure you're more interested in what it's going to be about. Well, it is set at the same time as New Moon and the events of Bella's birthday happen similarly to that book, but with Charlie present. One reviewer said something about Charlie getting a vampire girlfriend. That might happen. Anyway, the rest is a surprise, but I can guarantee that Emmett will not be as annoying as Edward. All right enjoy the last chapter.

Chapter Eleven "Home is Where?"

BELLA

I woke to the glaring sterility of a hospital room. My head felt hazy and I noticed a dull pain in my leg. My right hand was wrapped up and I could feel the cut on the back of it. It didn't hurt very much. I opened my eyes wider and saw another matching pair staring back at me.

"Mom?" I said, with some difficulty. I wondered what kind of drugs were in my system.

"Bella. We were worried about you for a while there." she said. "You lost a lot of blood."

"What happened?" Or rather what did they tell you happened?

"Don't you remember? You fell down a flight of stairs. Into a window."

"Oh, yeah, sounds like me."

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming for spring break? I would have been here and let you stay with me."

"We... uh, wanted to surprise you."

"Well it's a good thing Emmett and his father came with you."

"Where is Emmett?"

"Right there."

I looked over and saw him pretending to be asleep on a small cot. It was far too small for him.

"He hasn't left your side the whole time."

"And Charlie? Is he okay?"

"Yes, he's fine. He had a slight concussion. Very slight. And a few bruises. And I thought you got your clumsiness from me."

"Hmm... so how is everyone else? You and Phil and..."

"We're doing great. We found a place in Jackson. Looks like we're gonna stay there for good. Oh, you'd love it Bella. You'd even have your own bathroom."

"Mom... I can't go with you. I... I belong in Forks."

"You don't have to decide that right now."

Mom's phone vibrated. She pulled it out and began typing a message.

"You're texting?"

"Yeah, it's Phil. I'm gonna go call him back."

"Don't rush."

She left the room, but I didn't immediately turn to Emmett. I knew he had been listening the entire time.

"You were very convincing," I said.

I heard him get up and come over to sit beside me.

"Are you angry?" I asked.

"Why would I be angry?" He spoke slowly and quietly.

"Because this was all my fault."

"You did what any person with a conscience would do. There was no other choice."

"I put you in a horrible position."

"Yeah, well, it made me have to reevaluate some things."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you and Charlie aren't going to be safe until... Well, that remains to be seen, but I think you should go to Jackson."

"What? No! I can't be away from you."

"It's something you should think about. Maybe some time apart—"

"Stop. I already know what I want. You can't leave me."

He turned his face closer to mine. "Where would I go? You are my life."

"Then don't say such silly things. Don't even think them."

"As you wish." He planted a soft kiss on my forehead. "Rest, my Bella. We can talk later."

It seemed like a good idea.

EMMETT

It wasn't a matter of what I should or should not have done. There was no choice when it came down to it. My reasons were sufficient to risk... everything. Seeing Bella writhing on the floor awakened something in me I didn't know existed. To that point I understood love but not this sick altruism that Edward was so good at. I saw what Bella would become and I didn't want that for her. At least not until the last possible moment. I knew she wanted to be a vampire and I wouldn't deny her that when it came time, but that was just it; it wasn't time.

There were so many overwhelming reasons that I couldn't let the change take place that the choice almost made itself. Or rather, there was none. The only option was to do the unthinkable, that thing which I had been trying so hard not to do for the past several months. I had never started and stopped. It wasn't natural for one thing and I had no inhibition anyway. I didn't see why this would be any different. People talk about mind over matter, but I know quite well that my matter is much stronger than my mind.

The only explanation I can cone up with as to why it worked is that even my animalistic impulses wanted to save Bella. I don't think it would have succeeded under any other circumstances.

I knew Bella would want all these explanations at some point. I just hoped I would be able to make more sense of them then.

After a couple of days in the hospital, Bella was released and we all got ready to return home. She convinced her mother that staying in Forks was her best choice. Something about finishing high school and such. Charlie had recovered from his head injury and all Bella had to worry about were crutches and changing the bandage on her hand.

"As if I'm not clumsy enough already," she said, as she was getting ready to leave the hospital.

"You want me to carry you?" I asked.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"That's like saying, 'Emmett, I think you should be Edward today and Alice on Fridays'."

"Sorry. I'm not looking forward to this."

"Hey, don't worry about it. The cast will be off in a couple of months and I will carry you if you want."

"Thanks. How about you just carry my stuff for me?"

"Deal."

We didn't drive straight back to Forks, but made a few stops along the way. I thought that since this was supposed to be a spring break trip, we might as well have some fun.

When we got back home, everything went back to normal. It was eerie. I was beginning to wonder if it hadn't all been my imagination. Bella never did ask me to explain why I had sucked James' venom out of her hand. The only reminders were her soon to be removed cast and the scar on her hand that would last forever. It was strange to see where my bite marks overlapped James'. My mouth was bigger, I guess.

There is little left to tell before the summer of happily ever after began.

BELLA

We'd been home for a month when Alice came over one Saturday morning with a huge grin on her face.

"What?" I asked, letting her in.

"You're coming up to our house to get you ready for your date tonight."

"Alice, Emmett and I don't have plans."

"Not that you know of, but Emmett has been planning this for weeks."

"What?"

"Well you didn't think I was going to ruin the surprise."

She began dragging me out the door and there was nothing I could do about it.

"Alice, it's ten AM."

"Yes, we're so behind."

She pushed me into Edward's car and drove us at breakneck speed back to her house.

"You couldn't have called?" I said as we went in.

"I told you. It's a surprise."

Alice led me up to her room where Rosalie was waiting. On the bed lay two dresses which I didn't get a good look at, because they immediately ushered me into the bathroom.

"You can take a shower first," Alice said and handed me an armful of hair products she expected me to use. After that, they put me in a fluffy robe and sat me down before a large mirror. Rosalie began drying my hair, and Alice started on my nails.

I must say, there is no better treatment in any salon.

By the time Alice had finished my last toe, Rosalie was still trying to get my hair dry.

"I think we need reinforcements," Alice said.

Eventually, Rosalie, Edward, and Jasper all wielded hair driers while Alice prepared rollers and makeup. Every so often, she would say something like, "this will compliment the dress," or "her eyes," or "her skin-tone."

Finally, my hair was dry and I was allowed a short break for lunch. Then it was back into the thick of it.

By the end, I felt at least five pounds heavier. I tried to ignore the mirror, thinking I must look absolutely ridiculous.

Alice took me out of the bedroom and Rosalie held up my dress. It was a dark blue halter style with a ruffly skirt. I had to admit I loved it.

"You'll only be able to wear one shoe," Rosalie said, holding up a rather dangerous looking stiletto.

"I cannot wear that," I argued. "Even if my leg weren't broken."

"Don't worry about it." Rosalie dismissed me. "Emmett will make sure you don't fall over."

His comments about carrying me a month ago came back to me. It might be necessary.

Alice helped me into the dress and stood back. For a few moments, she said nothing and made no expression of satisfaction or disappointment.

Finally, she said, "I'm a genius."

Rosalie rolled her eyes and took Alice's dress and disappeared.

"I'll be a minute," Alice said. "Take a look while you're waiting." She gestured at the mirror and left.

I turned to asses the damage. What I saw was not what I expected. Everything Alice and Rosalie had done to my hair and face just made me look more me. It all fit my personality and physicality. I've never been perfect, but this little makeover was perfect for me.

Very soon, Alice returned looking her usual beautiful self. Finally, I began to wonder what exactly we were doing tonight. Alice looked me over one more time and then we headed downstairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, Emmett and Jasper were waiting. Their eyes widened as we approached. I began to feel the familiar blush creep into my cheeks. Alice reached the bottom and looked back at me. I couldn't move very quickly with these crutches and the extra tall shoe wasn't helping. Emmett noted my embarrassment and came up to meet me.

"You look as beautiful as you," he whispered in my ear as he lifted me up and carried me out the door.

Outside, he took me to an unfamiliar car (which I later learned was Edward's special occasion vehicle) and buckled me in. he drove less fast that evening. We returned to my house for dinner with Charlie which Esme had made for us. Emmett said he enjoyed watching us eat without having to participate.

Then we left the house again, but Charlie came out after us.

"Tyler Crowley is on the phone," he said. "Says something about taking Bella to prom?"

I groaned. "Is he still holding out for that?"

"Let me talk to him," Emmett said.

"Be nice," I warned.

Emmett turned to me and grinned. "Always."

He went back inside and I could hear him on the phone.

"Tyler? Yes, this is Emmett Cullen. Bella is unavailable this evening, or any evening for that matter. She is flattered by your attentions but fervently wishes them to cease... all right then, you have a nice evening too."

Emmett came back out to the car with an even bigger grin. I rolled my eyes and shut the car door.

"Where to now?" I asked as we pulled out of the driveway.

"Haven't you guessed?"

"No."

"Well, you'll see in a minute."

My heart sunk when Emmett drove straight to the school. I turned to him with a look of pure disgust.

"Prom?" I spat. "This is the big secret?"

"Don't hurt yourself, Bella."

He was trying to be funny, but I wasn't going for it. I crossed my arms and stared out the windshield.

"Come on. It's a once in a lifetime thing... sort of. And you don't have to dance; I'll do it for you."

I looked at him again. "How are you going to do that?"

"Well, you'll have to come inside and see."

"You will pay for this."

"I know. Alice already told me."

Sometimes I wished I could tell what was going on in his head. I mean, he was usually his loveable Emmett self, but then there were times like these when he did something totally unexpected.

We went inside and mingled for a while. Alice and Jasper were there, dancing to their own beat and I saw most of my other friends. Finally, Emmett said,

"Let's dance."

"I thought you were going to do that for me?" I said.

"Well, you at least have to stand there."

He took my arm and led me to the floor. Then he put his hands around my waist and lifted me a few inches of the floor and set me back down on top of his feet.

"See?" he said, and began simple dance steps. "You just have to sit there and look pretty."

I did see and was a little annoyed that I didn't have any more reason to be upset. I never told anyone, but it was actually kind of fun.

As the night wore on, we drifted outside. My feet never left Emmett's

EMMETT

"Who is this?" Bella asked as a new song started playing.

"Muse," I said. "The song is called Resistance."

It fit us perfectly and I think Bella noticed as she listened to the words. By that time, we were alone.

"I have a question for you," Bella said.

I nodded.

"Why did you stop it? If I'm going to be a vampire eventually, why take the risk."

I knew this was coming and I had decided what I was going to say, but when the question was put to me, I realized only what made sense to me would make sense to her. None of that rationalizing or justification. Only the truth.

"Two reasons," I said. "First, it wasn't time. I couldn't let it happen like that. You still had over a year in this life and I didn't want you to be taken away from your family so soon."

"And the other reason?"

"Is kind of silly."

"I won't laugh."

"Not that kind of silly. The ridiculous, stupid kind."

"Emmett, nothing you did for me could be silly."

"No, but my reason could. But you have to know. I stopped it because I didn't want it to be him. When the time does come, I want it to be me. I want to change you myself."

She didn't say anything at first. I knew how childish it was. But she didn't seem to think so.

"It's not silly at all. It's very serious," she said. "Do you know what it means?"

"That I'm a controlling ego maniac?"

She laughed. "No, that's not it."

"Yes it is. I mean it's true. I don't know what you think my motives mean."

"It means that you love me so much that you want to create me. Think about it. You were created by someone who loves you like a son. It's like Carlisle and Esme and... well, you see my point."

"Yes. I knew that, it's just..."

"Then don't you understand what that means to me? How I could never think it was silly?"

"I... I guess I didn't think you would think there was a difference."

"There is. James was trying to take my life, but you are going to give me a new one."

"Sometimes I forget that in spite of all appearances, you're just like me."

"Am I supposed to feel offended at that?"

"No." I laughed and pulled her closer to me. It was much easier now. "No, it just means that we're made for each other. That this is forever."

She looked up at me and smiled. The hand that had been resting on my shoulder came up to my face. She stared into my eyes as if looking for something.

"You're going to have to come down," she whispered.

Then I kissed her, like I never had before. It was easy and we could tell the difference. I wasn't hesitant like all the times before. I knew I could never hurt Bella.

I knew I was safe.
"Love is our resistance. They'll keep us apart and they won't stop breaking us down. Hold me. Our lips must always be sealed" ~Muse

The End

Special Thanks To: My sister for reading this and pushing me to keep writing. The Reviewers. I am grateful to each of you for taking time to read this and comment. To all the Emmett/Bella fans out there, you give me hope for humanity! And to S Meyer, for giving us these characters to play with. See you next time! Lynn