Stirring Hearts

The brothers remained in front of Emma's room for a long time after she had asked her curious question. The humor in her voice did ease some of the tension which seemed to restrain them all, but then the quiet stretched, and there was an invisible weight again. Emma's expression softened, but there was a glimmer of something new in her gaze, as though she sensed a hidden undercurrent in the behaviour of the brothers.

Dan was the first to break the silence, and in his voice was an attempt to lighten the mood. He laughed-a little forced. "I suppose we got a little… carried away there."

Emma only raised her eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint smile. "A little?" she teased.

The brothers laughed sheepishly, looking at each other. Dave scratched the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed. Emma's smile had something comforting and yet hypnotizing in it, heated and for some few seconds, each of the brothers felt his eyes entrapped in hers.

Dean was always the charmer, leaning casually against the wall as he studied her. "It's not every day we have someone as unique as you in our home," he admitted, his voice soft but sincere. "You were… Well, you were a surprise, Emma.”

The smile fell from Emma's face as her eyes turned contemplative. "A surprise?" It was as though she spoke the word, rolling it over in her mind, almost as though it were a taste, considering what it meant to her. "I'm… not sure how to respond to that.”

There was another brief, awkward silence again, and then Dave sat down in a chair beside her bed, trying to make it a little more comfortable. "We mean it as a compliment, truly," he said softly. "We don't often meet people from outside our pack. Let's just say we're not used to anyone like you, and we want to make you feel as welcome as possible.”

Emma nodded again, her face softening once more, but her eyes retaining a shade of doubt. "Thank you," she whispered, her gaze flickering from one face to the other. After a moment's hesitation, as if there was more on her mind, she added, "I really don't know why you all are being so nice. You don't even know me.”

Dan stepped forward and spoke in a warm voice. "We're happy to help, Emma; you don't have to worry about anything while you're here."

Emma met his gaze, and for a fraction of a second, there was a shadow of doubt crossing her face, but it masked itself without any show of reluctance into a nod of politeness. Yet, in her eyes, there was a flicker of something guarded. She seemed to be withholding, holding a piece of herself back in reserve, as if trust were a thing she could not quite afford to give away liberally.

Dean broke the silence, clearing his throat and obviously changing the subject. "You must be exhausted. Sleep would likely be just what you need most." His eyes gentled, the intensity soft and reassuring in the quiet of the room. "We'll be here if you need anything."

The brothers nodded once more in her direction, the glance an unspoken vow of protection and care, and took their leave from the room.

In the hallway, once they were well out of range so Emma could rest, the brothers exchanged silent, contemplative glances; each of them felt the same pull toward her-the same overwhelming urge to protect and care for her. But they all knew that was a shadow over them: only one truly could have her. Not that they'd all decided to cool it and let Emma take her time coming to a decision of her own, a streak of competitiveness had already begun to sprout in each of their chests.

It was Dave who first piped up, his voice lowly murmuring. "She's… different, isn't she?"

Dean leaned against the wall, letting his weight go with a soft sigh. "She is. And I don't know how to explain it, but she feels like she belongs here… with us.”

Dan was always the wit, but now he frowned pensively. "I felt it, too. It's a connection there-something we can't help but be aware of." He turned to his brothers-the mirth in his eyes now subdued by a glint of seriousness. "I just don't know what to make of it."

The brothers fell silent, each in the cocoon of his own thought. None of them favored ringing the truth in words, but the pull they felt toward Emma was nothing like anything they'd ever felt. It was more than attraction; it was an inner power, something deep in their bones.

After a long pause, Dean spoke up in a quiet tone, firm. "Whatever happens, we can't let this get between us. No matter how we feel, we have to respect her choice."

Others nodded, though ripples of reluctance tugged at their facial muscles. The words sounded so easy to agree to, yet deep down, each brother knew that he wasn't ready to step aside so easily.

In a little while, the brothers wanted to check on Emma, who had been left alone for some time. They entered the room with a few gentle comforts: an extra blanket, some soft pillows, and a cup of hot herbal tea.

They entered to find her sitting up and staring out of the window with an abstracted expression. The golden tint of the dying sun lent its rays to her face and made the soft curve of the cheek and the slight furrow of the brow so salient. She seemed-almost otherworldly, a vision from a dream, at least.

Emma turned to them, smiling slightly. "You're back.”

First Dean spread the blanket and pillows out over a chair nearby. "We thought you might like a few more things to make you comfortable."

Emma's gaze softened, and for a moment, she looked as though she might say something more. But then she only nodded, mumbling, "Thank you. You've all been so considerate.”

Dave leaned forward with the cup of tea and reached it out to her. "Here," he said softly. "It's herbal tea. It will help you relax and get some rest."

She reached for the cup; her fingers brushed against his. It was fleeting contact, but he felt an electric tingle in a place that he managed not to betray on his face, since he did not want to betray such a reaction over so simple a touch.

Dan was leaning against the wall, not wanting to be left out, with an easy grin. "So, what do you think of our little home?" he asked light but curious. "It's not much, but we like to think it has its own charm.”

Emma smiled as she scanned the room. "It's. nice, soft, and gentle," she said, though her eyes seemed to cloud with sadness. "I don't know if I have ever felt this…restful."

The brothers exchanged a brief, understanding glance; each knew from the tone of her voice that there was much sorrow hidden beneath her words. They said nothing, knowing she would say more when the time came. Instead, each tried to bring some semblance of warmth and lightness with them into the room.

After a few moments of comfortable silence, Emma turned to them, a questioning look in her eyes. "Can I ask… why did you all decide to help me? I mean, you could have just left me there."

Dean caught her gaze, his eyes intent. "We couldn't do that. We were raised to protect anyone in need, and-" His voice came softer as he obviously hedged. "There was just something about you. it felt like we were always supposed to find you. Like it was a matter of fate.”

Emma's eyes arched slightly, dropping as if she searched for an explanation of his words. There was a quiet intensity etched in the lines of her expression, something unsaid between them. Her brothers watched her; each felt the same pull-the same inescapable connection then tied them to her.

Finally, Emma looked up, her eyes locking with each of theirs in turn. "I-I don't know what to say," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't understand what's going on, or why I'm here… but thank you. Truly."

There was a coldness betrayed in her words-a warm underlying factor in the brothers that filled them with purpose and determination. They knew they would do all it took to protect her, help her find answers she sought. But beneath that resolve, each of them felt the stirrings of something deeper-something that made them want to be the one she trusted most, the one she chose to confide in.

The silence came, again, into the room and through the opened window a soft breeze fluttered and ruffled the curtains, carrying along with it the woodsy scent of the forest. Emma closed her eyes, a soft smile setting on her face while the brothers watched her, each feeling an ache of longing in his chest that he could hardly explain.

Then, as the sun, hiding behind the horizon, sent gold rays through the room, with each of them, he silently vowed to conquer her heart.