Turmoil [Emmett Cullen] (3)

[10- Return to Forks]

It was mid afternoon at the Sea Tac domestic arrivals hall. It was unusually sunny, so I was sitting away from the light that filtered in from the west facing windows.

My eyes were glued to the flight board that counted down the minutes until Emmett, Esme, Carlisle, and Jasper landed from Anchorage. They deserved thorough explanation, particularly Emmett. I couldn't imagine the pain and stress I put him through by leaving him in Denali.

Finally the flight status changed to landed. Shortly after, I spotted Emmett. Our eyes immediately locked, his mouth widening into a huge grin.

It took an enormous amount of self control to stand still. Every fiber of my being, every muscle wanted to sprint and leap effortlessly to get to him sooner.

Without hesitation, he pulled me into his chest, folding his arms around me. I could tell he was desperate to pull me tighter, safer, closer.

"Emmett, I want to —". I stopped talking as the rest of our family approached us. Emmett noticed and unwound his arms. Our conversation would have to wait.

"Eleanor," Esme said, fiercely hugging me. Jasper and Carlisle smiled warmly.

"Alright, lets go home," I said.

I drove us all back to Forks in the rental I picked up earlier. Carlisle told me everything that happened in depth. It turns out that when they returned from hunting, Alice and I were already on the plane so all of their calls bounced. A few hours later, Edward, who was trying to get in touch with Alice, called Jasper. He told her she had left hastily to go down to Forks. Edward then, for some reason, feared the worst and called Charlie. It was such a horrible coincidence that the one time Charlie went to a funeral lined up exactly with Edward's call.

"So what happens now?" Esme asked nervously. I knew that these past months were tough for her, especially the last 48 hours.

"Hang around Forks until they come back. But we'll probably have to go back to Ithaca," Carlisle replied resigned. Jasper nodded in agreement. A small part of me wanted to believe that perhaps we could stay in Forks. But with everything that happened, it seemed like a long shot.

The car ride back to Forks was pleasant. For a fleeting moment, it felt like nothing that changed, like we had never left. I didn't know how much tension and fear I was carrying until being with my family made it completely disappear.

I parked the car in our driveway.

"Our spot?" Emmett asked as we clambered out.

I nodded and with our hands entwined, pulled him into a run towards the woods.

Our spot. Perched on the top a mountain was the place we came to talk in private. To me, it was perfect; the complete serenity and uninterrupted view of the Pacific Northwest. During winter, it was even more beautiful with the snow capped mountains.

We sat down and Emmett's arms tightened around my shoulder and waist, lips brushing over my forehead. I hugged myself closer against him, my head resting on his chest. We stayed there for a few moments, savouring each others presence.

I looked up at him and took a deep breath to steady myself.

"Emmett, I need to apologise," I started. Just saying those words alone, the words I had been meaning to say since I left, lifted the weight off my shoulders.