A/N: Buckle in this is going to be a long note but I promise it will be the only long one. First let me start by saying I DO NOT OWN THE TWILIGHT CHARACTERS I AM USING THEM SOLELY FOR MY OWN PERSONAL ENJOYMENT. ALL CREDIT TO THE WONDERFUL SM FOR CREATING CHARACTERS THAT I CAN HAVE SO MUCH FUN WITH IN FIC WORLD AND DREAM LAND.
I started this story because I really wanted a story that has E&B but a main focus on Emmett. JSYK I believe in canon pairing and you will get plenty of E/B but I just needed this Emmett fic for me. I'm from Chi-town a Chicago Bears fan so of course I would write them as the team Edward, Emmett and Jasper play for, don't hate if I make them sound like the best team in the NFL, let me live in my fantasy world mkay (although this season has been wonderful). The title for this story is a football term if you're not familiar, controlling the clock means: "Keeping possession of the football for long periods of time, giving the other team's offense less time to operate with the ball. It also helps a team's defense by allowing them to rest for longer periods before having to go back out on the field." (It's an internet definition, what I'm lazy don't judge lol) I promise not to throw too many into the story b/c there won't be too much game time and besides I would hate to have to explain a million of them.
This is my first time publishing a fic and I can't promise that it will be great but I just needed to get this story out. I don't have a spectacular outline I only have about 15 points for short chapters where time goes quickly but that's what I want to keep this story short and all around fun.
Please review. Leave me love, show me hate, just let me know what you think and if it's worth it to finish this short story.
Emmett POV
Today will be my first day of practice with the Chicago Bears. I have been playing football professionally for three years now; my first contract was with the Seattle Seahawks. I had been playing for the Seahawks until I was picked up by the Bears in the latest off season. I am a damn good defensive lineman and following a severe injury to their starting player the Bears needed someone to come fill their open spot. I was excited but nervous at the same time to be starting with a new team that was coming off a stellar season. They always get a lot of flak for not being a very good team but I can tell this will be a good thing… I think. I grew up in a small town outside of Seattle so when I made it into the NFL I was extremely grateful to be near my family and hoped I could stay with the team until I retired. I should have known that wasn't going to happen but you can't blame a guy for just thinking it.
Knock Knock
There were two timid raps on my door, and I knew exactly who it was.
"Come in." I grumbled waiting for Rosalie to enter.
Rosalie is my… well I don't have a specific definition for what she is to me. She is my housekeeper/cook/phone operator/day planner basically she is everything I need.
She started working for me back in Seattle and I had to practically beg her to come with me to Chicago. I knew she would be leaving her life behind, but so was I, and frankly I was selfish and needed her with me. I would never tell her this, but I have loved her from the moment she strolled into my apartment back in Seattle to apply for my housekeeping position. I need this woman in my life and if the only way I can keep her around is to pay her to keep my shit clean and organized… well I guess I was willing to do just that. I did feel horrible that I was keeping her from her little boy though. He was a cute kid; took after his mom in the looks department. Bright blue eyes, blonde hair and a smile that lit up his whole face. He wasn't going to be away for long, just until we got settled, but I knew it was going to be rough on her until her sister flew in with Luke in a few weeks.
Rosalie pushed through my door with a tray of food in her hands and a huge smile on her face.
"Wake up sleeping beauty." She chuckled as she set the tray down over my lap. "You need to be at practice in an hour and a half so I wanted to make sure you ate and had plenty of time to battle traffic to make it to practice on time."
"Thanks Rosie, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you kicking my ass into gear every day." I said with a lopsided grin.
You'd never get anywhere on time and starve. She mumbled under her breath with a roll of her eyes. She turned slightly to face the open curtains with a huge smile on her face. "Yeah McCarty I really have no idea."
I just laughed at her because I knew she was right even though she would never say the things she thinks out loud to me in a serious way, she was most definitely correct with her little jabs though.
She left the room so I could eat in peace then get ready for my first day. I don't know why I'm nervous, I guess it's like the first day at a new school; you know what to expect because you have been there before at your previous school only now you have to impress a new set of people and just hope they like you and want to be your friend.
God I sound like a complete ass.
I know I won't be the only new guy there today. Jasper Whitlock was just traded from the Dallas Cowboys; he is a new wide receiver that just finished his rookie season with some impressive stats. He might not get to start for some time because the Bears have Tyler Crowley. Crowley is a machine; I swear that guy has never missed a pass a day in his life. I know that's not entirely accurate but the guy is impressive, it's like he has pine tar stuck to his gloves so he won't ever drop a pass.
Whitlock and I are the only two new acquisitions for the team that are coming from other teams within the league, the rest of the new guys are college grads that were picked up in the post season so they'll be flying blind. I just hope we can all get along; a cohesive team is a winning team, that's my motto and I'm sticking to it.
Hopping in my black Bentley I had just over two and a half hours to make it out of the city to get to training camp in Bourbonnais. This would be my first trip out there and although it would be smart to get a room out there and stay for the duration of training camp, I couldn't leave Rosalie alone in the city for extended periods of time considering I was her only companion right now.
Barreling down the Dan Ryan I guessed I was making decent time and once I made it to I-57 it should be smooth sailing so I would have plenty of time to meet with the guys before practice started.
I strolled into the locker room a little over an hour later and it was packed with guys. I spotted Jasper Whitlock right away. It's easier to make friends with the new guys when you are one yourself because you are all in the same boat at that point.
I have been told that my personality is a little overbearing at times but I could just tell Whitlock and I would be great friends. With a smile on my face I walked straight up to Whitlock to introduce myself.
"Hey Jasper. I'm Emmett McCarty. Great to meet you."
"Hey man you too." He said with a thick Texas drawl.
"Looks like we're the two neubes here today."
"The what?" He asked with a great look of confusion on his face.
"The newbies, neubes, ya know the new guys."
"Sure man I guess you're right, we are the neubes." Jasper shook his head and chuckled.
"Well I'm gonna go make the rounds, see ya later today?" I asked with a grin
"Yea see ya round."
I headed over to the defensive side of the locker room to meet with the rest of my D-Line. I made sure to check up on these guys during my down time so I could know who they were before officially meeting them as teammates. I had already met Mike Newton when he played for the 49ers. Mike and his wife Jessica were kind enough to invite some of the players from the Seahawks to dinner after we stomped the 49ers with a 38-3 victory.
That's the thing about pro sports players that not most people know about. We can beat the hell out of each other on the field, taunt each other and talk shit about the game but at the end of the day there is no one better to unwind with than a guy who knows exactly what you are going through; being on the road so much and giving your body to a sport you all love with the same passion.
"Mikey!" I shouted as I saw Mike come in to the locker room.
"McCarty, dude what's it been two years or some shit?"
"Yeah man, how's the old ball and chain?"
"Don't let my wife hear you call her that. You know she can throw down with the best of 'em so you better watch what you say." He said trying to hold a serious face.
"Pu-lease." I said with an exaggerated eye roll. "That chick couldn't hurt a fly."
"Shit man you know you're right." Mike patted my shoulder. "Yo Cullen." Mike shouted
"Mike, what's going on? Ready to get this camp started?" Cullen asked
"You know it, this shits gonna be rough!"
"Hey man good to meet you." Cullen turned slightly and stuck his hand out to shake.
"Emmett McCarty, great to meet you." I said shaking his hand
"Edward Cullen."
Edward Cullen is the star QB for the Bears and has only been with the team a short while. He was traded from the Broncos for the Bears second string quarterback and a hella lot of money. Their starter had left a few seasons ago and the team was struggling with their second string moving up to the starting position. The best decision they made was to get a new QB with better accuracy. I felt bad for the guy his first season with the Bears, fans and sportscasters were pinning all their hopes for a winning season squarely on Cullen's shoulders. Cullen did fairly well his first two seasons with the Bears; I mean they were no Superbowl champs but better than they had been in awhile.
"So Emmett you excited to whip this D-Line into shape?" Cullen asked with a chuckle
"Oh come on now Cullen they don't need me to whip them into shape. This D-Line was strong before me; I'll just add to the brute force necessary to knock out some pussy QB's."
"Low blow dude." Cullen shook his head and walked off to the other side of the locker room.
Practice was brutal and I couldn't wait to get back to Rosalie. She was the highlight of my day. I don't know how much longer I can go without telling her my feelings. I don't want to scare her. I know she has had it rough since the death of Luke's dad; it's horrible that he never got to see his son. James was a decent guy but took some risks like riding a motorcycle in the middle of winter in Washington, that's how he died; the reports say the truck never saw him. It has been only a little over a year since James died and I know Rosalie isn't ready to jump into anything especially when she has her son to think about, but I love her and her son; they are my family. I think she has a suspicion that I'm in love with her and has been trying to keep me at arm's length so I think I'll tell her before this season is out, it's about time she knows for sure.
I parked my Bentley next to Rose's new BMW, I know she loves the new one but bitched about wanting her old one from back in Seattle the one that she spent hours fixing and changing to her specifications but I wanted her to have this new one because of the sacrifices she made just to follow me to Chicago. What I didn't tell her was that I was having her old one shipped here so she could have them both.
Getting up to the condo I was practically vibrating with excitement knowing I was coming home to Rose I wouldn't doubt she has dinner waiting, even though she doesn't have to do it, and the house ready for our first guests. I didn't put a timeline on how long it would take to get the condo ready for Luke to get here but I was secretly hoping we would be ready soon; I already miss the little guy.
As I stepped through the door I could see that half of the boxes that were lining the entry way when I left this morning were gone and the condo had started looking more like a home.
"Hey Rose, you in here somewhere?" I shouted
"Yep in the kitchen."
I knew she would have dinner ready, she could always anticipate what I would need after a long day at practice.
"Ah you know Rose…" I started while scratching the back of my neck "You don't have to always have dinner waiting for me."
"I know I just like to do it." She said with a shake of her head.
Rose always looked beautiful but never more beautiful when she doesn't get all glammed up. Don't get me wrong she is a stunner when she dolls herself up and wears heels that make her legs and ass look out of this world but when she's at home in simple yoga pants and a t-shirt five times too large for her without any make-up on and her hair in a messy ponytail she looks simply amazing.
"Raided my closet again I see." I say pointing out my old high school football t-shirt she was wearing.
"Of course. I wouldn't want to ruin a perfectly good outfit of my own doing manual labor."
"Right, of course what was I thinking?" I said with a laugh.
We sat down at the breakfast bar in the kitchen since we didn't have the dining room table delivered yet and began eating the pot roast Rosalie made. I swear there wasn't anything this girl couldn't do. She was handy with a wrench, could keep my ass in line, and could cook for an army which was a good thing considering I could eat like one.
"Have you talked to your sister yet? Ironed out a date for her to bring Luke here." I asked trying to feign nonchalance.
Rose got a faraway look in her eye and I thought she might start crying.
"I mean I miss the little guy and was thinking she could come as soon as you'd like."
Her mouth lifted at the corner in a half smile "She was thinking of bringing him out in a month or so."
"What? Why is she waiting so long? We could just fly out and get him."
She dropped her fork and it clanged against the counter.
"I mean you. You could fly out to get him; I could fend for myself for a few days if you want to go get him sooner."
"No, Emmett that's okay I can just wait for Bella to bring him. I want him spending as much time with my parents as he can before I move him away. Bella is planning on moving her business here so she just needs to finish up some things back in Seattle before making her permanent move so I want Luke to be with his grandparents."
"Okay if you're sure."
"Yea I'm sure…" She trailed off still looking quite upset. "And Emmett?"
"Yea?"
"Thanks for wanting to get him early… it really means a lot to me that you care about my son."
"How could I not, he's a great kid." And I love his mom. I thought to myself.
We finished up dinner and I was exhausted from practice today so I showered and crashed. Only a few more weeks of training camp and we would be having our first game of the pre-season. I have a good feeling about this team. I can't wait to get Luke here and tell Rosalie how I feel about her; this is going to be a great year. I just know it.