The Power of Candy Hearts

Summary:

This is an entry for the Epic T Rated One-Shot Contest that is hosted by Bronzehairedgirl620 and (in memory of) Daddy's Little Cannibal.

The Rules are simple:

1. No lemons. Must be rated 'T.'

2. Has to have a line or reference to a cannibal.

3. Has to have a line or reference to a fireman.

4. All canon pairings.

5. Has to be a one-shot, but is allowed to be continued once the contest is finished.

6. Must copy/paste these rules to the top of your submission. Two entries per person. Collaborations acceptable.

7. Must PM Bronzehairedgirl620 to alert them of your entry so we can add your story to the C2 if it fits the requirements.

The contest will run until June 6th, 2009 11:59 MST (Mountain Standard Time)

Original Publish Date: May 16, 2009

Updated Publish Date: May 17, 2020

Rosalie Hale

The incessant ticking of the clock was driving me insane, more so than the utter silence of the room. Alice was on the couch across from me, her face carefully blank. It was long enough that when she shifted, I startled.

"Let me get this straight. You're in love with my brother?" Alice asked, a slow smile crossing her face. I could only nod. "Lord knows why, but I'm happy for you."

My chest relaxed. I wasn't sure why I felt obligated to tell Alice first. Maybe because she had set us up in the first place. Maybe because I was completely and utterly terrified. It'd been easy to fall in love with Emmett… far, far too easy. We hadn't been dating for long enough to feel such powerful emotions so quickly and yet here I was, a lovestruck girl with no clue how to handle herself. Keeping those three precious words in had been surprisingly easy up until two weeks ago when I had been nearly bedridden with a cold from hell.

I had already rescheduled our movie date once, then again two days later with a red-nosed selfie as an explanation. He was at my door an hour later, brandishing Gatorade in one hand and a bag from the pharmacy in the other. He didn't bat an eye at my baggy sweatpants or unwashed hair, his only concern getting me back to bed and wrapped in a blanket.

Without a word he cleaned up my mountain of tissues, telling me I was more than welcome to start another one if I felt so inclined. He unpacked the pharmacy bag on the temporarily clean bedside table—more boxes of tissues and a package of pills that promised to help ease my headache, stuffy nose, and sore throat were quickly followed by mounds of candy. He sectioned off the necessities from the sugar with careful exaggeration.

"This is for now." He opened a fresh tissue box for emphasis. "That is motivation to get better."

I eyed the selection of treats, ranging from chocolate to sugar coated gummies, to a package of conversation hearts. Admittedly it was good motivation; he was already keenly aware of my weakness in that regard.

He stayed with me all day, taking care of me so I could rest as much as I could. It was entirely heartwarming, though his admirable, yet catastrophic attempt at heating up chicken noodle soup made my survival instincts kick into gear. He could've been anywhere but he was here with me.

Alice's voice broke me from my memory. "When exactly were you going to tell him? Don't get me wrong, I'm flattered you told me first, but I'm not the one who needs to hear you say it."

"Eventually…" It came out more as a question.

Alice snorted, shaking her head. "When have you ever been indecisive? When has that glorious confidence of yours ever wavered?"

I brought my hands to my face, smooshing my cheeks together. "Can you just tell him?" I was joking. Sort of.

Alice barked a laugh. "Absolutely not. You're on your own with this one." She glanced at her phone, unfolding herself from the couch. "I have to run. Hell, tell him tonight. Just like ripping off a Band-Aid."

I groaned, burying my face deep in my crossed arms. There were light footfalls before her small arms wrapped around me. "He may be a goofball but his heart is pure gold. He won't care how you tell him," she said softly. With that, she released me. She tossed on her coat, not bothering to button it as she swung open the door. "Just tell him. What's the worst that could happen?"

An unmistakable voice answered before I could. "Tell me what?" Emmett's handsome face appeared before the rest of his body followed. He had come straight from work, his blue button up shirt a few shades darker than his eyes and his charcoal pants leaving none of his muscular body to the imagination.

"That your snoring could cause an earthquake." Not missing a beat, Alice manoeuvred around his tall frame. It was comical really, siblings separated by less than a year yet so very genetically different. Though both dark haired and blue eyed, Emmett stood well over six feet, while Alice was barely pushing five. She thumped the door shut behind her, and Emmett turned his full attention to me.

He cringed as he approached. "It's not that bad, right?"

My heart was lodged in my chest, heavy and burning. I shook my head and forced myself to take a breath. "Only sometimes."

His arms slid around me, his lips pressing into my forehead. "Sorry, Rosie. I understand if I mysteriously get smothered in my sleep."

"Good to know." Just like that I was relaxed, laughing as he pulled back enough to silence me with a quick kiss.

"How was work?" Emmett asked, rolling his shirt sleeves to his elbows on his way to the kitchen.

"Long," I admitted. I moved to the couch, watching the view as he walked away. "Ready to enjoy the weekend. You?"

Emmett scooped ice cream in a bowl, grabbing two spoons from the drawer. "Same."

He met me on the couch, and we sat in comfortable silence. By the time the bowl was empty, we were settled snugly in the cushions. I flipped on a new episode of the show we were watching together, a trashy reality show I got Emmett hooked on. Wordlessly, Emmett picked up my feet and started rubbing them. It was my undoing. I lost the battle with my heavy lids, the exhaustion of the week taking its toll.

I woke to Emmett's arms around me, lifting me from the couch. "It's okay." His voice was quiet, soothing. "Just moving you to your bed. You'll hurt your neck sleeping on the couch like that." He reverently placed me on top of the covers. The three little words almost tumbled from my lips. I didn't know why I hesitated, but whispering them half-exhausted felt like cheating.

I didn't lay down on the bed. Instead I scrubbed at my face, pulling myself to a sitting position. "I'm awake. Just let me shower quick."

He nodded, grabbing my hands to help me from the bed. "You sure? I'll make dinner."

I grinned. "Make or order?"

He carefully walked backward through my room, his arms up in surrender. "There will be food of some sort ordered and on its way by the time you get out," he amended.

True to his word, food arrived shortly after my shower. We dumped the contents of the take-out boxes onto my favourite pale blue plates and settled ourselves at the kitchen table. The food was heavenly. After a tough week at work, noodles, a nap, and a long shower were enough to help ease me into my weekend. Almost enough.

"Do you want a second dessert?" Emmett asked, rising from the table.

I tented my hands under my chin. "Are you on the menu?"

"That, my darling, is cannibalism." He walked away with our plates, his hips dramatically swaying. I let out a low whistle. Emmett didn't acknowledge me, so I started humming an upbeat tune.

"My occupation does not require a pole, Rosalie," Emmett scolded, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

"My mistake, sir," I drawled, moving to join him in the kitchen. "Here I thought a nice, strong man like yourself might be a respectable fireman."

He snorted. "Not where I was going with it, but I appreciate it nonetheless."

My eyes caught on the plastic bag on the counter near him. I froze. The unopened bag of candy hearts Emmett had brought me when I was sick sat innocently in the corner. Mustering my courage, I took the bag, trying not to cringe at the loud sound as I pulled it open.

I sorted through the bag, amazed at the sheer number of hearts that said Be Mine and Kiss Me. I was giving up hope, my chest deflating. The plan wasn't going to work.

"Rosie?" Emmett asked, finally turning his attention from washing the dishes. "You okay?"

Finally. I found it. The three simple words looked so small, so insignificant on the pink heart, and yet they were too powerful for me to say out loud.

I slid my arms around his waist, holding the candy tight in my first. I waited until Emmett wiped his hands on the dish towel before opening it. He froze, his hand moving painstakingly slow to retrieve it from my hand. He turned in my arms, wrapping me up tight.

"Rose. What's this?"

My face was sufficiently buried in his neck. I made a noncommittal sound that only seemed to amuse him more. "A note?"

"Can you say it?" I could feel his smile against my head.

"Can you read it?" My voice was muffled in his neck.

I felt his rumbling laugh. "Maybe I can't actually read, and I've been faking my way through life for the past twenty-five years."

"I love you," I finally said. It was like jumping off a cliff. But instead of crashing, Emmett was at the bottom to catch me.

"And I love you too. Ever since you polished off a whole plate of chicken wings in front of me."

"Emmett," I groaned, moving to pull away. He didn't let me, moving one hand to my hip and the other threading through my hair.

"It. Was. Impressive." He punctuated every word with a kiss.

I loved him. I loved his teasing. I loved his big heart and beautiful mind.

He swayed me gently in his arms. "I told Alice I was falling in love with you after our date under the stars."

I'd never forget it. It'd been a beautiful date—it was our third one and it ended with us laying in the back of my pickup truck under the stars for hours.

"You told Alice?"

"Of course. She's tiny and terrifying and can sniff out a secret a mile away," Emmett admitted, unabashed.

Alice. Our Cupid. Our mischievous little Cupid with a heart as pure and loving as her brother's.