Multifandom X Reader Stories

"Goodbye to Forever" Emmet Cullen final part

It's been weeks now of staying at the Cullen house, and I'd be lying if I said I haven't grown comfortable here. The wedding is tomorrow, and while Bella is as nervous as I've ever seen her, the house feels warm with anticipation. Everyone's excitement makes it hard to think about anything but the wedding... well, almost anything.

Over time, Emmett and I have found a strange sort of balance. We talk, laugh, and flirt—but never too far, always keeping a boundary, unspoken but painfully present. Some days, his gaze lingers a little too long, his hand brushing mine in a way that makes my heart race. But we always pull back before anything more can happen.

The night before the wedding, Bella and I are helping Alice hang up lights outside the Cullen house when we hear footsteps behind us. I turn to find Jacob approaching, along with a couple of his friends from the reservation, all here to wish Bella well. Paul, one of Jacob's friends, catches my eye, and I offer him a polite smile. He's friendly, his grin easy and confident as he comes over, striking up a conversation with me while Bella chats with Jacob.

"You must be (Y/N)," Paul says, his voice low and smooth. "Jacob's told me a bit about you."

I laugh lightly. "Good things, I hope."

"Oh, yeah," he says, his gaze lingering. "But I think he undersold it a bit."

I'm about to respond when I feel a familiar presence nearby, and I glance to the side to see Emmett watching us, his jaw tight. He leans casually against the doorway, but his expression is anything but relaxed.

"Anyway," Paul continues, flashing me a grin, "it's rare to meet someone so... easygoing around here."

Before I can respond, I see Emmett straighten and push off from the doorway, making his way over. He doesn't say a word to Paul but slips his arm around my shoulders in a way that makes my breath hitch.

"Hey, (Y/N)," Emmett says, his voice calm but with an edge to it, his gaze flicking briefly to Paul. "Alice was looking for you inside. Said something about the... lights." He gestures vaguely, clearly pulling an excuse from thin air.

Paul looks between the two of us, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth, but he just nods and steps back. "No problem. I'll catch you later, (Y/N)."

I'm about to answer him when Emmett gently steers me away, his hand lingering on my arm. "Guess you're making new friends?" he asks, his voice light but his jaw still set.

I raise an eyebrow, amused. "I was being friendly, Emmett. Is that a problem?"

He meets my gaze, his expression softening, though there's still a flicker of jealousy in his eyes. "I just don't want you to get the wrong idea," he says, his tone softening. "Some of us aren't so great at keeping our intentions to ourselves."

He lets go of my arm, giving me a small, hesitant smile. My heart aches with the urge to reach for his hand, to tell him he doesn't need to be jealous, that he's the one I want. But I hold back, forcing myself to smile, to keep things simple, no matter how complicated they feel.

The Next Day – Bella and Edward's Wedding

The Cullen house is transformed, decorated beautifully for Bella and Edward's wedding. My reflection stares back at me in the mirror, and I hardly recognize myself. Alice's careful hand has made every detail perfect, from my curled hair down to the delicate, flowy pink dress that cascades down my figure.

As I step into the main hall, my eyes fall on Emmett, standing in his tux with his back to me. The way he fills out a tux is, frankly, distracting. He turns, and his gaze finds mine immediately, his eyes widening as they drift over me. For a moment, it feels like we're the only two people here, the hum of conversation and music falling away.

"(Y/N)," he breathes, his voice reverent. "You look... stunning."

I feel warmth rise to my cheeks, my pulse racing under his gaze. "Thank you," I manage, trying to keep my voice steady. "You don't look so bad yourself."

He takes a step toward me, his expression softening, but before he can speak, I see movement from the corner of my eye. Paul has arrived, his gaze landing on me as he breaks into a grin.

"Well, don't you look like the belle of the ball," Paul says, striding over with an appreciative smile.

I give him a polite smile, a quiet thanks, but before I can say more, I feel Emmett's hand on the small of my back, guiding me to the dance floor.

"Dance with me," he says, his voice leaving no room for argument, though there's a hint of nervousness in his eyes, as if he's unsure if this is crossing a line.

As we step onto the floor, his hands find my waist, his touch warm through the fabric of my dress. I place my hands on his shoulders, feeling the strength beneath my fingers, and I can hardly breathe.

"You're beautiful," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper. His gaze is intense, and I can see the hesitation in his expression, the struggle to hold back. "I know I shouldn't... I shouldn't keep saying these things, but... you should know."

My heart feels like it's caught in my throat, and I can't help but smile, a soft, genuine smile just for him. "Thank you, Emmett," I whisper, letting myself fall into his gaze, letting myself feel the warmth of his hands on me, just for this moment.

We sway together in silence for a while, the world falling away as he holds me close. "I know we've both tried to keep our distance," he says finally, his voice low, filled with the emotions we've kept buried. "But sometimes... it feels impossible."

His hand moves up to brush a loose strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering near my cheek. "You're all I think about, (Y/N). I'm sorry if that's crossing the line, but... I need you to know."

I close my eyes, leaning into his touch despite myself. "You're all I think about too, Emmett. I've tried to keep things simple, but... every time I'm near you..."

He looks down, his forehead resting gently against mine. "I know," he murmurs, his voice a quiet confession. "It's hard to keep pretending I don't feel this way."

The music fades, and I feel a tug of sadness as I pull back, letting my hands slip from his shoulders. "I'm not sure where we go from here, Emmett," I whisper, my heart aching as I look up at him. "But I know that... that I don't want to keep pretending either."

He holds my gaze, his expression filled with an emotion so raw it makes my heart skip. "Then let's not pretend," he says softly, his voice barely a breath. "Not tonight."

As the music picks up again, he holds out his hand, a gentle, open invitation. And for the first time in a long time, I don't pull away. I let myself reach for him, letting go of the distance, just for now, just for tonight. Because in this moment, in his arms, everything feels right.