We talked for an hour or two, but she insisted I couldn't stay longer due to the amount of magic I was using. But it was nice to talk to her once again. The anger I felt was nearly behind me, though it still lingered in the corners of my mind. She also promised to search through the history books we had in the house, hoping to find any mention of this happening before and a possible way to help.

As I reopened my eyes, I saw the flicker of the flames in my sight. With a deep inhale, the flames were snuffed out, as if an invisible wind had swept over them. As I lifted my head, I noticed Emmett leaning on the opposite side of the piano, his eyes fixed on me. It seemed he had been waiting there since I had left.

"You waited for me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. He just smiled, those dimples appearing on his cheeks.

"Just wanted to make sure you were safe," he replied with a thin smile, straightening up from his position against the piano. "How did it go?" he asked, moving around the right side of the piano. I stepped around to meet him halfway.

"We talked," I began softly. "She said she was sorry and that it shouldn't have gone down like that." In a few seconds, we reached each other, and we both sat on the piano bench. "She agreed to look for any mention of a vampire baby in her books... That's a win at least," I said with a smile, feeling thrilled that she was willing to help in any way she could.

"I'm glad it went well," Emmett said, genuinely pleased that I had reconnected with my Grams. "It feels like we've hardly had a minute alone," he remarked, chuckling briefly, making me laugh too.

"Because we haven't," I replied. "When this is over and Bella is safe, I want you to take me away to that place you won't tell me about." I leaned in close, my breath warm against his face as we were inches apart.

Emmett flashed a boyish grin before he spoke. "I would love to take you," he said, his voice low and deep, sending shivers down my spine. He leaned in the rest of the way and kissed me on the lips. I sighed into his kiss, melting into his embrace, feeling the tenderness and passion in every moment.

After the passionate kiss ended, I gazed into those deep black eyes, captivated by their hue, knowing I loved him. I felt secure with him, regardless of the thirst he might have felt.

"What did I do to deserve an angel?" he asked softly, his eyes fixed on mine. I lifted my right hand to his cheek, and he leaned into it instantly, as my cheeks flustered with his comment.

But how could I top that with a reply? I couldn't think of anything, so instead, I leaned back in and kissed his smooth lips. But he welcomed the kiss, as I felt him smile against my lips.

"I should compliment you more often," he joked playfully, his smile fell against my lips, mirroring my own.

"I wouldn't complain," my smile remained, and he chuckled before leaning in to kiss me once more.

Our lips moved in sync, the air heating up around us as my cheeks flushed and a deeper longing stirred within me. The simple kiss turned hungry and passionate. With a swift movement, Emmett lifted me into his arms and placed me on his lap. I straddled him, our kiss remaining unbroken.

I felt his large hands press gently against my back, a blend of softness and roughness in his touch. I wanted nothing more than to take our relationship to the next level, cherishing these heated moments we shared.

Emmett broke the kiss, and we stared at one another, the desire and lust in his eyes unmistakable—I'd seen that look before when we reached this point. He raised his large hand, gently brushing my hair away from my neck, and gazed at my supple skin. Without hesitation, he leaned forward and began showering my neck with kisses. I couldn't help but moan at his actions, tilting my head slightly to give him better access. And never once did I fear he would do anything but show me love.

The kisses on my neck gradually faded, like the last light of a setting sun, signalling the end of our heated moment. I couldn't help but chuckle as I leaned against him, my hands anchored on his firm chest. Emmett placed a final kiss on my neck before pulling back, and our gazes locked instantly. I gently hit his chest with my fist, frustrated with myself that we couldn't take things further.

"I'm sorry," I breathed out, my voice low as I averted his gaze.

"What for?" Emmett responded swiftly; his tone incredulous. He knew I had no reason to apologize and didn't hold it against me.

"Because we can't do this," I said, meeting his waiting gaze and gesturing with my eyes to our intimate interaction. "All we have are these intense, heated moments, and sometimes I wish we could have more," I said, my words burning with the longing for physical intimacy that he understood all too well.

"I love these moments we share," Emmett said, his eyes softening. "And yes, sometimes I do want to rip your clothes off," he added playfully, making me giggle at the thought. "But I don't want to hurt you. Even thinking about it pains me," he explained gently, his distress evident at the thought of his strength causing me harm.

"My big softie," I remarked with a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "Then I guess we'll have these moments, and I'll treasure them." I leaned down and planted a tender kiss on his lips, feeling him smile against mine.

"My angel," he murmured through the kiss, before pressing his lips to mine with even more intensity. Perhaps our desire for one another will be difficult to contain...

...............................

I continued to help with the research, combing through Carlisle's centuries-old library. It felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. We persevered, but by the early hours of the morning, I was exhausted and fell asleep on a book. I vaguely remember Emmett carrying me to a couch, laying me down, and covering me with a blanket before I drifted off completely.

Throughout the day, I helped Bella before she went to be examined by Carlisle. He had set up a mini hospital room filled with equipment to check her over and determine what was broken. After she finished, Bella told me what had happened between her and Edward and what Carlisle had said. He warned that she was too weak, and her heart would give out before she could deliver. My heart ached at her words; she looked frail and almost skeletal. Carlisle even said that Edward's venom might not be enough to save her.

After a while of talking, Rosalie came and escorted Bella to one of the bathrooms so she could wash up. I stayed behind and dove back into the books, hoping to find something, but had no such luck.

I groaned aloud and then buried my forehead in a book, my groans muffled by its pages. Nothing was yielding results, and my hope of finding another way to save her was fading with each passing moment. I wanted to believe in this alternative approach, but doubts clouded my thoughts.

"Charlotte," a feminine voice echoed in my ear, and I recognized it as Alice's. I lifted my head, brushing my blond hair out of my face as I looked at her. She held the house phone in her hand. "It's your grandmother. She says she needs to talk to you," I furrowed my eyebrows, suddenly alert, and straightened in my seat as Alice passed the phone to me.

"Grams?" I spoke into the phone once it was at my ear.

"I need to speak to you right now in person," her urgent voice came through the line. "I might have found something," she said, the words I had been desperately hoping to hear. My spirits lifted instantly. Without another word, I ended the call and set the phone on the table. Alice had already disappeared.

Closing my eyes, I focused on summoning all my magic, muttering the incantation under my breath. Within seconds, I felt a swirling sensation. When I reopened my eyes, I found myself sitting at the kitchen table in my grandmother's house, with her seated across from me. The table was covered with books of varying depths and ages, scattered in chaos.

"It's not much," my Grams began, lifting her gaze from the book she was reading to lock eyes with me. "There's a small passage in this book that one of our ancestors discovered during her travels," she explained, lifting the book and turning it around to place it in front of me.

My eyes skimmed over the words on the page, my lips moving silently without producing any sound. She wasn't exaggerating when she said it was a small passage; there were only three or four lines of text.

"So, basically," I began, lifting my eyes from the text, "our ancestor encountered a woman who claimed she had been seduced by a vampire and now carried his child?" I questioned, arching an eyebrow. "Is there nothing in here that explains how she helped or what she did?!" I exclaimed, trying to keep my tone even.

"That's all there is for now," my Grams explained. She had just begun reading the book and wasn't even halfway through it yet. "There might be more," she added, holding onto hope, probably more for my sake than hers.

My eyes averted from hers as she took the book back and placed it in front of her, sensing that something was troubling me.

"What's the matter?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

"Carlisle says the baby isn't compatible with Bella's body, and that her heart will give out before she can deliver," I admitted, my voice trembling as my eyes met my Grams's, tears welling up and prickling at the corners. "And that Edward's venom might not be enough," I choked out, struggling to hold back my tears at the thought of her dying.

"Oh honey," my Grams said softly, reaching out to clasp my hand, rubbing her thumb gently on the back of it. "I'm so sorry," she said, and I could tell she truly meant it.

"What do I do?" I pleaded with her, a tear rolling down my rosy cheek, conveying the pain I felt in facing Bella's potential death.

"You be there for her," my Grams stated, her own tears held back. Seeing me distressed always pained her; it made her feel helpless, unable to shield me from such sorrow. "You spend every second loving and cherishing her, and be there when she goes into labour," my Grams urged, her voice filled with empathy.

"Her baby needs her," I replied, tears streaming down my cheeks. "No one should grow up without their mother," I added, speaking from personal pain. My Grams had been wonderful in raising me, and I will always be grateful to her. But I had never experienced the bond between a mother and daughter. We never got to connect, and never had those typical moments like talking about boys, doing our nails, or shopping together. I missed out on all of that, and it broke my heart.

"I know," my Grams replied, squeezing my hand, understanding the depth of my pain. "We can't predict the outcome of this, honey, nor can we stop it." She chose her words carefully, and I had no energy left to argue with her. "I'll keep searching through the books here. Go to her and show her how much you love her," she said softly, giving my hand a final rub.

I nodded, then blinked, feeling the shift as I returned to my physical body. The library of the Cullen's house came into focus around me. Tears streamed down my cheeks, a physical reaction to the emotions my astral self had experienced. With trembling hands, I wiped away the salty tears.

My Grams was right; I needed to be there for her and show her how much I loved her. I didn't know how much longer we had together...

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