The Twilight Twenty-Five
"thetwilight25 dot com"

Blood is Thicker Than Water:
Cathy9
Emmett/Bella Friendship
Rating: M

I did not hesitate to volunteer my services when Edward asked one of us to stay behind with Bella while the rest of the family went hunting. I always had fun with Bella and she sucked at playing Assassins Creed. I laughed when Bella's stomach rumbled and accompanied her into the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of milk and took a bagel out.

I jokingly told her to be careful. She turned around, gave me a dirty look and two seconds later the sweet aroma of her blood filled my senses. "Bellaaaaaa!"

"Sorry Em, It's a bagel cut and I may have to go to the hospital. Can you go get me some gauze and a Band-Aid?"

I stopped breathing and dashed up to Carlisle's office bringing down what we affectionately dubbed the Bella Repair Kit. I opened it for her and pulled out a compression pad and handed it to her. Bella "the accident waiting to happen" Swan pressed it down on her cut left hand.

"I hope this stops bleeding. Em, I'll understand if you want to go outside."

"I should be fine. My control isn't as strong as Carlisle's or even Edward's but I like you Bells. You are family and I don't drain family members."

"No matter how deeply you are tempted?" Bella inquired with a smile.

"Who me tempted? Nope not an iota," I lied. There was a large drop of her blood sitting on the counter and I wanted to stick my finger in it and lick my finger clean.

"Emmett, it means a lot to me to know that you consider me family. I've always thought of you as my cool yet juvenile older brother. When I'm here, I'm no longer an only child."

"Of course not, you have three other siblings and another set of parents."

"Not really. Alice is my best friend, Jasper is my friend and Rose…. well she's my brother's annoying girlfriend whom I put up with. I agree with you about Esme and Carlisle though."

I was touched so I crossed the kitchen, leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek. "I love you too, Sis even though you are a puny, fragile little human."

"You are a big oaf, Emmett but I love you. I'm also going to kick your ass once I'm a vampire. I like the sound of newborn strength. Edward will be the fragile one for a change too."

"You can try but there is no way you are going to beat me. I'll arm wrestle you for the title of the strongest Cullen."

"I bet you a hundred bucks I'll win," Bella smirked.

"I hate taking money off a woman but you're on Bella."

After applying pressure for ten minutes Bella checked her palm and it started bleeding again. I dashed upstairs to get my cell from my room and called Carlisle.

"Emmett what did you do to Bella?" Edward growled.

"Nothing, it turns out my sister can't cut a bagel in half without cutting her palm. She needs stitches. Why the hell do you have Carlisle's phone?"

"When Alice told us Bella was hurt but not seriously I figured you got excited and hit her in the head with the game controller or something equally stupid that only you would do."

"I resent that Eddie now give me Dad," I replied as zipped back downstairs.

"Did Bella cut herself, Emmett?"

"Yeah she doesn't know the difference between her skin and a bagel."

"Emmett!" Bella yelled.

"You just keep the pressure on while I make fun of you, little lady. You are not bleeding to death on my watch."

"Idiot!"

"Walking disaster!"

"Emmett! Stop calling Bella names and tell me where she cut herself? Is it a classic bagel cut to her palm?"

"Yes."

"How long is it?"

"I don't know, long enough to still be bleeding. How long do you think the cut is Bells?"

"An inch or two. The smell is starting to make me feel queasy, can you prop me up please."

"Did you hear that?"

"Yes I did, I'm on my way. Emmett be very slow and tender while you wrap her palm for me."

"OK. Hurry up the smell is starting to get to me too."

"I'll be there in twenty minutes."

I stared at that drop of blood for a few seconds and then stood behind Bella, "Lean back in to me, I'll support you. Carlisle wants me to wrap your hand up. If I'm hurting you let me know. I don't want to crush the bones in your hand."

"OK."

After applying two more compression pads I secured them with a gauze wrap and then a tensor. Bella was looking a little paler than normal so I forced her to drink a bottle of orange juice.

"Em, you make a great wall but I'm feeling faint."

"Don't you dare slide down me. Raise that left arm and relax," I ordered. I had Bella in my arms in less than a second and carried her into the living room away from the intoxicating smell of her blood. I was going to place her on the couch but she wanted to stay in my lap. I extended my left arm so she could rest hers on mine.

"The cold feels good, thank you for taking such good care of me."

"Anytime Sis. Are you sure you don't want something to eat?"

"I don't think my stomach could handle it right now. I take it Edward blamed you."

"Yes, Mr. Anal Retentive figured I bopped you in the head with the game controller."

Bella giggled, "I shouldn't be laughing but that is funny. Also you have hit me a few times with the Wii. Is A.R. coming back too?"

"I'm sure he will since he thinks he's the only one who can take care of you. How are you going to explain this to Charlie?"

"Simple, tell him the truth and that Dr. Cullen stitched me up. My injuries don't faze Charlie. I think he'd be shocked if I went a month without hurting myself."

"I bet you had the thickest file in your Doctor's office in Phoenix."

"Thickest in the local hospital too. The admitting staff in ER knew my information off by heart."

I couldn't help chuckling, "You and gravity have some serious issues Miss. Swan."

"Cute, Em it's not as if you haven't done or said some pretty bonehead things."

"True but I can walk and chew gum at the same time if I wanted too."

"Bite me, Emmett!"

"I'd like to Bella but then Eddie boy would rip me to pieces."

"He'd have to catch you first."

"He's faster and can read my mind, I'd be safe for maybe a minute before I thought something that would give my location away. How's your hand feel?"

"It's a little sore, would you mind putting your right hand underneath it? Your cold skin will numb it."

"Sure, you have to let me know if I hurt you."

"I will."

Bella had just dozed off when I heard Carlisle and Edward approaching. I looked down and smiled. She had curled her body in to mine and was using my chest as a pillow. Edward gave me a dirty look and Carlisle smiled at me.

"How is she doing Emmett?"

"She said it was a little sore and asked me to be her ice pack. She just fell asleep," I whispered.

"Let's see if I can do this without waking her up for as long as possible. You did a great job wrapping it."

"Thanks, but I'd do anything for my little sister. We really bonded over this. Edward, you have to admit I'm good at taking care of her."

Edward grumbled and muttered something that I took as a thank you. Carlisle had his suture kit ready before he sent Edward in to clean up the kitchen. Bye, bye tasty blood; I thought to myself as I watched Carlisle unwrap my work. The second compression pad I applied was clean but the first one was stained with blood and the original one was soaked right through.

"Emmett, Bella is going to feel this when I remove the pad. Get ready to distract her."

As careful and gentle as Carlisle was Bella woke up hissing. "I know Bells, how shall I distract you?"

"Tell me some stupid jokes."

"What's Bella's favorite season?"

"Summer."

"Nope, fall." I chuckled.

"Ha, not funny. Ouch!"

"Sorry Bella, I'll be done cleaning your cut up in a minute."

"Thank you for coming so fast Carlisle. Is it OK if I stay in Em's lap?"

"If you are comfortable then sure. Emmett don't move."

"I make an excellent couch potato."

"You are a multi purpose vampire: great wall, ice pack, strong man, first aid attendant and excellent companion. Edward would have freaked out, you stayed all calm for me."

"Thanks Bella Boo Boo. By the way, Eddie boy is in the kitchen cleaning up."

"Bella Boo Boo? Ouch, I prefer Bells."

"Sorry but Bella Boo Boo entertains me."

"I don't like it Emmett."

"Too bad, so sad."

Carlisle looked at me and tried valiantly to remain stoic but he cracked and grinned at my verbal antics. Before I could respond another little gem occurred to me and I started to sing, "Bella Boo Boo went to town riding on a pony, stuck a feather in her hat, fell and broke her hiney."

Bella started to giggle and I had to still her hand. I watched Carlisle run the needle through her skin for a few stitches before I thought of something else and leaned over to whisper something in her ear, "Bella and Edward sitting in a tre G, first comes love then comes nothing cause Eddie is a prude and he won't have it." I was a little off the tune but I scored a hat trick with it. Bella blushed then chuckled and Edward came out of the kitchen with a very pissed off look on his face.

"Emmett!" he hissed.

"What? I'm just keeping my little Sis entertained."

"You are making her uncomfortable!"

No, I'm making you uncomfortable and you can't stand the fact that Bella wanted to stay with me instead of you, I thought.

"Edward, don't chastise Em, we were having fun until I hurt myself and he's taken excellent care of me. I'm a big girl, I can handle some teasing."

"All done Bella. Let me just bandage you up. Don't get it wet for at least 48 hours. I'll change the bandage for you tomorrow and it will be about ten days before I'll consider removing the stitches. I'll write you a prescription for codeine tablets. I'll call the hospital and let them know Edward is coming to pick the prescription up."

"How does she take a shower Carlisle?" I asked.

"I put a bag on my hand, tape it shut and then shower as usual," Bella answered.

"Right, I forgot this is an everyday type thing for you Bella Boo Boo."

"Em, if I wouldn't end up shattering my elbow you'd get such a sharp jab in your gut right about now. I'm going to start making a list and I'll get you back when I'm a Vamp."

"Bring it baby Sis. Do you want Edward to kiss your boo boo and make it all better?"

"That would be nice."

Edward rolled his eyes at me and got down on one knee. I couldn't have helped myself if I tried, it just came straight out of my mouth, "Edward, I'm flattered but I'm already married and frankly you're not my type."

Bella started laughing so hard that tears trickled down her cheeks. I started laughing too and when Carlisle joined in Edward stormed out of the living room. It took us a few minutes to all calm down. "Edward, stop being a pussy and get down here and kiss your woman or I'll do it for you."

I think he broke the land speed record getting back to the living room. He gave me the finger and bent over to kiss Bells lightly on the lips and then placed a peck on top of the bandage. How chaste, she got six stitches Ed, that's all you've got for her? Edward whacked me in the head, Bella yelled at him and forced him to apologize to me. It was the tersest apology I ever heard but I accepted it knowing it was driving him nuts to have to do it. He gave Bella a better kiss and then left to go get the pills for her.

"Alright Emmett what did you think that got you the smack upside your head?"

"I told him his kiss was too chaste considering you got six stitches."

"Oh, my hand is burning a bit can I have my personal ice pack back?"

"Of course, Bells."

It didn't take Bella long to fall asleep again and she curled her body around me once more. I asked Carlisle to put a warm blanket over her and move the coffee table over so I could prop my feet up on it since I didn't plan on moving until the morning. Carlisle called Charlie to tell him what happened and that since she was asleep on the couch, he thought it would be best if she stayed over. Charlie agreed and Carlisle set a fire to burn the kitchen towels Edward used to clean up and the medical supplies that were tainted by blood.

"Emmett, I'm very proud of you. I know it must have been very hard to resist her blood. You took excellent care of Bella. You were a lot calmer than Edward would have been too."

"It was a little hard. There was one big juicy drop of blood on the counter that was singing to me but there was no way I was going to risk Bella's safety. We really bonded over this Carlisle. I always liked Bella and she always liked me but we became siblings today and I love her as much as I love Alice. Actually probably more than Alice, Bella doesn't criticize my fashion sense."

"You know that Edward and Rose will not be happy to discover that you will be her mattress for the night."

"Rose not speaking to me for a few days won't be a hardship and Edward will just have to deal."

"I hear Edward's car and the rest of the family."

"I'm ready. Blood is thicker than water and Bells and I are blood."