"Babe, are you awake?"
Rosalie peeled open her lidded green eyes, but the sun's bright rays forced them closed. Emmett's firm and rough hands gently caressed atop of her smooth forehead, brushing her hair into place, "We have a big day today."
She adjusted herself in her familiar, puzzle-like position in lying across Emmett's chest. He breathed in the scent of her silky-like hair as her head rested against his hard shoulder.
Before Rosalie could respond, Emmett rapidly rolled their bodies over, positioning his soon-to-be wife's figure beneath his. Her once lidded eyes turned clear and wide from the sudden surprise.
"We should leave out early. I don't want to leave my mom in the same room with yours."
Emmett captured Rosalie's full and voluptuous lips into his own, intentionally cutting her off. His lips lingered on top of hers for what felt like hours. Rose knew she made the right decision. From the lingering kiss, she could feel the deep, sensualizing love radiating from her fiancé.
Her throbbing lips engulfed his earlobe into a pervasive kiss. She used her soft and pink lips to tug his earlobe downwards gently. As Rosalie passionately nipped at his ear, he held her body against his.
She suddenly pulled away. Emmett sighed at the loss of contact. Her firm lips parted and released his ear, "We have to get ready."
The lasting brashness of his eyes causes her to churn as she looks at him and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear "What if I say no?"
Rosalie's pearly white teeth flashed her fiancé a dazzling smile. She had no intentions of him saying no. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck as her lips pursed against his ear, "You'll be punished."
After that, of course, Emmett rolled his fiancée over, setting her atop of him. The weight of her body on his is entirely familiar. She leaned her flexible body forward and captured his mouth with an urgency of hunger and need. The parting of her lips was voraciously inviting. And Emmett's obliging response to the kiss was avidly accepted.
In a matter of minutes, other than their rapid breathing, the only other sounds that filled their master bedroom were the shedding of their clothes onto the carpeted floor beneath the king-sized bed.
Filled with excitement and anticipation, Vanessa Hale entered the foyer of her ridiculously large estate. Her pale blonde hair was tied up into a loose bun as her sky blue and brown sundress clung to her beautifully curved body.
Everything was finally going right in the world after so much trouble. When her first husband Richard Denali passed away, Vanessa felt like her life was over. The only reason she continued to live was for her four daughters, Carmen, Kate, Tanya and Irina. When she met her current husband Julian Hale, she finally saw a light at the end of a long and dark tunnel. Her husband not only blessed her with wealth, joy and security, but he blessed her with two more daughters, Maria and Rosalie.
All six of her girls were finally happy and healthy. Her eldest daughter Carmen is a 33 year old social worker for Child Protective Services. Eleven years ago she married a plumber who happened to be the man of her dreams, Eleazar Cortez. Four years ago, she beat breast cancer. And about two years ago, her husband developed stage two of diabetes. Although it's an incurable disease, their small family has come to accept it. Eleven year old Charlotte, ten year old Diego and seven year old Peter are all content and well and even assist their parents with some of the duties they aren't able to complete.
Her second daughter, Kate, is a 31 year old cardiologist at Manhattan General Hospital. Ten years ago, she fell pregnant with her eldest child Austin and dropped out of college. After marrying her son's father, Garrett Anderson, she re-enrolled, and four years later she gave birth to her now six year old daughter Marisa. Her storybook life wasn't always picture perfect. Three years after she wedded Garrett, who is a personal trainer, she had an affair with her college tutor. After the affair was revealed, it took time and a lot of counseling for the marriage to improve. When Marisa developed asthma, it only added more fuel to an already lit flame. And now the couple isn't only undergoing marriage counseling, but is in family therapy to help their children come to terms with a possible divorce settlement.
Vanessa's third daughter, Tanya, is a 29 year old journalist for the Forks Times. She married her high school sweetheart Benjamin a few days after her high school graduation. Ten years ago, before Benjamin got his job as a carpenter he fell into it with the wrong crowd and began using drugs. He was supposed to be a statistic. Five years later, when Tanya fell pregnant with their five year old twin boys Collin and Caleb, Benjamin knew he needed to change. Years later, after Benjamin lost his job and Tanya gave birth to their now two year old daughter Ciara; he uses every fiber of his being to not start using again.
Her fourth daughter, Irina, is a 28 year old therapist. Her husband Riley is a struggling musician and alcoholic. He fights internally each and every day to not take a drink. After Irina's two year battle with depression, she overcame the mental illness and focused on raising her daughter. Their daughter Gianna recently started pre-school at the tender age of four.
Vanessa's fifth daughter, and first child with her new husband is Maria. Maria is a 25 year old head-chef at a fancy five-star restaurant on the upper east side of Port Angeles. After one year of marital bliss, she and her husband, Jackson, a hotel manager, remain in the newly-wed stage. The young couple has spent the last six months trying to conceive. The struggle with wanting to become pregnant soon began to place heavy weights upon their marriage.
Her last and youngest daughter is 24 year old Rosalie Hale, soon to be Cullen. Two months ago, she made her parents proud and graduated from law school. Now, she's moving onto bigger and better things, one involving marrying Emmett, her college sweetheart. By this time tomorrow, Vanessa's youngest daughter will be walking down the aisle.
Vanessa forced a wide grin onto her face, as Joseph the butler, swung open the front doors, "Welcome to my home."
Everyone included in the wedding party pushed their way inside. Emmett's parents Carlisle and Esme Cullen entered the house with their eldest son Edward, and their daughter-in-law Bella; however their seven year old grandson, Robert wasn't present. Behind the soon to be in-laws were Bella's younger sister Renesme Swan and her fiancé Jacob Black.
The fake smile stitched into Vanessa's face fell as the doors closed behind the middle-class family. Julian entered the foyer; with a smile matching that of his wife's and placed his rough hand on the back of her lower waist, "Amelia will lead you all into the dining room. The food will be served when Rosalie and Emmett arrive."
The Hales' forged smile turned truly genuine as they met Carlisle, Edward and Bella's brown eyes. The Cullens' walked past them as both Vanessa and Julian stood in the hall, waiting for their girls to arrive.
"How did I get so lucky?"
Rosalie raised her curled blonde hair in order to allow Emmett to clasp the necklace around her neck. She turned in her beau's large arms, and smiled, "Mr. Cullen, I should be asking you that question?"
Emmett's tepid arms rested on the slender lower back of his fiancée. Her slim fingers carelessly played with the top three buttons of his dress shirt. "Do you know how much I fucking love you?"
Rose nodded her head, "Of course." She smiled. "The feeling is mutual."
His luscious lips enveloped Rosalie's plump bottom lip. He used his lips to gently tug on hers in a desperate attempt to show her just how much he cared. Her bottom lip was sandwiched between Emmett's. From the single-lip kiss, she can feel a sensationally strong and romantic sign Emmett must have been giving off. He's the only man who has ever made her feel like this.
Rosalie ran the tips of her fingers flirtatiously up Emmett's arms, "You know what I enjoy?"
"What?"
"Long, romantic walks," her stomach growled, "to the fridge. I'm starving!"
His deep, intimidating chuckle sent a broad smile onto her face.
Emmett's soft, brown eyes bore into his fiancée's. He took hold of her feminine hand, and pecked the engagement ring secured around her ring finger, "You're marrying me. You must be crazy."
"Just for the record, I never claimed to be sane."
Emmett's toothy grin stretched across his attractive face. Rosalie leaned into his mouth, before the abrupt blaring of her cell phone sounded through their bedroom.
Rose continually stood in her fiancé's arms, as she dug into her pocket for her cell, "Hello."
"Get your asses over here! It's getting awkward! You know your mother and Esme don't like each other and right now your mom has no problem with making that known."
"We're leaving out in five minutes."
Alice nodded, "You better Rose."
"Bye beautiful." Rosalie smiled.
"Yeah, yeah. Love you too!"
Emmett sighed contently, understanding that their moment must come to an end. By this time tomorrow, she'll be walking down the aisle. And afterwards, he'll have her all to himself.
Rose gave herself a once over in the mirror, before grabbing her purse. She was ready to get this breakfast out of the way. Rosalie had a bachelorette party to prep for, and a mid-morning brunch with her family and future in-laws was going to take up precious time in her temporary single-life.
"I'll drive!" Rose announced, taking the keys from her future groom, "I'll get us there in half the time."
"Do we really want to get there in half the time?"
Rosalie buckled her seat belt, "Of course we do."
"Whose going to be there?"
"My parents, your parents, your brother," Rose fingers tapped melodically along the stirring wheel as she waited for the light to change, "your sister-in-law, Renesme, Alice, Jasper, Jacob and all of my sisters and their husbands."
"Wow, it's going to be a full house."
The waxed eyebrow rose on Rosalie's face, "Emmett, I have five sisters, a father who is an entrepreneur and works from home, and a mother who was a stay at home mom and housewife for my entire life. Not to mention the butler, the cook, the pool boy and the maids. It has always been a full house."
"I just feel bad for your dad."
Her suspicious eyes adverted quickly from the road, to Emmett, before landing back on the wet street, "Why?"
"I can't imagine living in a house with seven women all PMSing."
Emmett jumped in surprise from the sudden pain that shot through his arm. His fiancée could definitely take up for herself. It was the years of karate, jiu jit-su and kick-boxing she begged her mom to put her into that provided her with the strength it takes to put a dent into Emmett's well-built, muscular and over-powering statuesque.
"Luckily, our house was big enough where we didn't have to be up under each other."
Emmett sat still, and sighed to himself as he stared forward at the large historically-modern home his fiancée was raised in. The spacious acres of land that surrounded the well-built manor provided plenty of room to host family gatherings. The wrap around drive way circles in front of the house, before leading to the two car garage located beside the house. The four-floored, ten bedroom and nine bathroom mansion was the residence of the Hale family for 26 years.
While the outside of the Hales' home was stunningly modern, the house earns its historic aspect from the inside. Vanessa decorated her lavish home with beautifully old-fashioned artwork and furniture. From overpriced vintage dining room furniture to an antique living room decor, her home is the epitome of a Victorian mansion of the 1900s.
The sensibly priced house Emmett was raised in was a quarter of his fiancée's home. The two bedroom house he grew up in was considered average if placed next to hers. While he shared a bedroom and bathroom with his brother, Rosalie and all of her sisters each had their own bedrooms and bathrooms.
It amazes him each and every day how a future lawyer and heiress to Julian's multi-billion dollar company could have fallen for him. A woman, who has more money to her name than the three richest men in the world combined has actually dated Emmett for five years and accepted his marriage proposal. She was a beauty who could have had any man she wanted, and she wanted him.
Emmett reached across the arm rest, and took hold of her hand, "Are you ready?"
"Yeah, I was actually waiting for you." She replied, grasping his warm hand in return, "I was watching you stare lovingly at my parents' house."
He used his free hand to unbuckle his seat belt, "Stare lovingly?"
"Oh shut up."
"On a serious note," he turned to face her, "I was just thinking about how lucky I am. Look at you Rose, you just graduated from law school, you're not even a lawyer, yet you have billions to your name."
Rose shook her head, "My parents have billions to their names, not me."
"Same thing, when your parents die, you and your sisters will inherit everything." Emmett reminded, watching as she unbuckled her seat belt, "I just can't help but wonder why me? Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve you."
"You don't give yourself enough credit Em. You're a handsome, warm-hearted and ambitious detective." Rose pushed herself over the arm rest, and sat on her fiancé's lap. His chocolaty brown eyes looked into Rosalie's eyes contemplatively. Emmett could read her very well, and through her green eyes he could tell she spoke whole-heartedly and honestly. "You have a big heart. You're supportive of all of my endeavors. Okay, yeah you're a little messy, extremely over-protective and egotistical sometimes, but that doesn't take away from your bravery, faithfulness and the fact that you're smart…very smart. Any man who chooses me to be their wife is one smart ass man."
Emmett gently pecked the corner of his bride-to-be's mouth, "You're the best boyfriend I have ever had. You're a good man Emmett. Like seriously, if I had a double shot of tequila for all the good men I've dated, I'd still be sober. Your mom raised a great and loving man and I love you so much."
A knock on the window interrupted the love birds' heartfelt conversation. Emmett's best man, Jasper Whitlock, stood grinning ear to ear as he waved for the couple to exit their vehicle. 25 year old Jasper Whitlock is married to Rose's maid of honor, 24 year old Alice Brandon. Jasper has had a rough life, with his father dying in a car accident at the tender age of five and at the age of fourteen, his mother passed away due to breast cancer. Until he reached the legal age of eighteen, he was passed around from foster home to foster home. Jasper met Emmett in college, and the two instantly became friends. Now Jasper is Emmett's partner at the precinct.
Alice Brandon and Jasper Whitlock met a year before Emmett Cullen and Rosalie Hale did. Although her husband's life wasn't smooth and carefree, Alice has had an easygoing one. Her father was an electrician and her mother was a registered nurse. She met her best friend, Rose, in high school. The two instantly hit it off after wealthy Rose took middle-class Alice under her wing. Working with young children for her career as an elementary school teacher, caused Alice to hold off on any plans for kids in the near future.
Jasper opened up the passenger door, "Come on inside. Rose, your mom won't let us eat until you two are present."
Rosalie prepared to slide off of Emmett's lap, before his hand held her onto him, "Breakfast is going to consist of our moms arguing. How about we ditch breakfast and go back home? I have an idea of something we can do to pass the time."
"As tempting as that sounds, we can't." Rose sighed, and pulled herself off of his lap, "We have to play buffer."
Joseph opened the front entrance doors and allowed them to enter. He nodded his head towards the 24 year old girl he helped to raise. Once again, Emmett couldn't help but to embrace his surroundings. He has been to this house plenty of times, and each time he couldn't help but to admire the setting.
Emmett grabbed Rose's hand, and walked with her to the backyard, "Are you ready for this?"
She shook her head, "I'm never ready to be in the same room as your mom and mine."
Once Jasper opened the back door, Vanessa's voice could be heard over the soft music, "You thought I wanted your approval? You really did? That's so cute." She unfolded her napkin, and laid it out across her lap.
Esme's hazel eyes glared deeply into Vanessa's soul. She disliked that woman with a passion and it showed. Vanessa has never really given Esme a chance. She automatically disliked the woman once Esme decided to offer her two cents in the planning of her daughter's wedding.
"Oh great, you're here!" Alice exclaimed, patting the seat next to her, "About damn time."
Rosalie released her fiancé's hand as she walked towards the table, "Hi Daddy." She leaned forward and pressed a mediocre kiss to her father's wrinkly forehead.
Vanessa grabbed her napkin off of her lap, rose from her seat, and opened her arms, "Darling!"
"Hi Mom!"
Rose enveloped her mother into a casual, but loving hug. She loved her mother dearly, but when Vanessa spoke it always reminded Rosalie of a stereotypical rich woman on television.
"How are you Rosie?" Irina asked, leaning into her husband's arms.
"Good."
Tanya leaned forward, "Are you nervous?"
"Of course she is!" Maria answered, watching Amelia bring out the food, "She's getting married tomorrow!"
"That doesn't mean anything." Carmen rolled her eyes.
Rosalie looked to her fiancé and saw he was in a full conversation with his parents, Edward, Bella and Jasper. Renesme and Jacob were mindlessly texting away on their cells. Vanessa was directing Amelia on where everything should go on the table. Julian rose from his seat to make a quick and private phone call to the office. And all of her sisters were continually questioning her, well everyone except for Kate.
Rose snapped her fingers in her older sister's direction, "Kate, what's wrong? You're quiet. You're never quiet. You usually talk just as much as Maria."
"Hey!" Maria raised her hand in the air, reminding her sister she's right in the room.
Kate sighed, "Life was much easier when boys had cooties and I took naps."
"Isn't that the truth?" Julian added, approaching his seat.
Kate flashed her step-father a genuine smile, before turning back to face her sister, "Me and sleep have been having an on and off relationship. Some nights we get along just fine. Other nights we fight until the wee hours of the morning."
Rosalie reached across the table to hold her sister's perfectly manicured hand. She didn't want to question Kate in front of the Cullens. It wasn't really their concern. Kate appreciated the gesture. Rose was the only sister who doesn't have the knowledge of Kate's impending divorce. She didn't want to damper her sister's wedding.
Amelia sat the last bowl down before brushing her hands across her apron, "Bon Appetite."
The Cullens, the Swans and the Whitlocks all admired the assortment of foods and drinks lining the table. There was a serving of bacon, eggs, toast, bagels, donuts, ham, crumpets and muffins. A heaping of cinnamon buns, biscuits, orange juice, milk, sausage and fresh fruit graced the table with their sweet smells and alluring colors.
Tanya opened up her napkin, "Wow Mom, I don't know why I'm surprised, but you really went all out."
"Of course Tanya, my youngest is getting married!" Vanessa proclaimed, struggling to contain her excitement, "My little Rosebud has bloomed into such a beautiful flower."
"Time sure has gone by." Julian added, glancing up lovingly to meet his daughter's gaze, "I remember when Maria was born. She was technically my first child, and the other love of my life. It amazes me how much love a person really has to offer. From Vanessa to my girls, I didn't think I had anymore love to give, that was until Rosalie came. My baby girl will always be my baby girl. And I'm trusting you Emmett," he turned to face his soon to be son-in-law, "to not break her heart. I will give you the same warning I gave all of my other son-in-laws, if you hurt my daughter, you hurt me, and I can promise you that if that happens you will not have a good outcome. My name carries a lot of weight in this town and I will use that weight to destroy you. And with all of that said, welcome to the family."
Emmett nodded his head confidently because he knew it would never come to that… at least not intentionally. Eleazar nodded his head in assurance towards him, "You actually got it a bit easier than I had. Even though Carmen isn't biologically his, he's the father figure in her life and I was marrying his oldest daughter. Julian tormented me for weeks."
Carmen smiled as her husband rehashed the memories of meeting Julian for the first time. Maria bumped shoulders with her, "Yeah, our little Rosie is getting married."
Rose covered her face, bashfully with her hand, "That nickname was supposed to stop years ago."
"Sister hug!" Irina exclaimed, rising from her seat.
Since the girls were little 'sister hugs' became their way to nip a possible argument in the bud. If they weren't talking to one another, they were forced to hug it out. Now, years later from childhood, 'sister hugs' are used to not only fix disputes, but are a way to cheer up, comfort, support and love one another.
"Toast," Alice called out, raising her glass of orange juice, "As the maid of honor," she glanced at Rose and smiled, "it is my duty to make sure my best friend gets the bachelorette party and wedding she deserves. I've known Rosalie for over a decade, and while I'm an only child, I can't help but see Rose as a sister…a very close and loving sister. Rose was my maid of honor, and because of her everything was perfect. I just want to return the favor. We've had each other's backs through the good times and the bad times. We've danced on top of tables and bars, we've sang karaoke, we've shopped, laughed, and cried together." Alice wiped the tears under her eyes. Rose struggled to keep the bright and contagious smile on her face, as tears threatened to ruin her makeup. "I know Rose is close to all of her sisters, but there are just some things you can only confide to a best friend in rather than a sister. Embarrassing things, like the time we went to California during spring break and tried to surf in order to impress those two jerks, and we wiped out. And tear-jerking things, like the time Royce tried to attack you in the girls' locker room, and I happened to walk in. Those stories aren't even half of the things we've been through together. As best friends…and sisters, I just want you to know, I will always have your back. I had your back ten years ago, and I have your back now. I love you Rose."
Rosalie wiped her eyes as she mouthed I love you too. Julian set his cell phone down, and looked between his daughter and Alice, "When did you go to California? Who is this Royce guy? Did he really try to attack you? Why didn't you tell me?" he glanced at his wife, "Did you know about this?"
Vanessa shook her head, "No."
"Oops." Alice smacked her forehead with her hand, "I guess I got a little carried away with my toast."
Rosalie felt Emmett's leg brush against hers from under the table. None of this was a surprise to him. Like Alice said, there are some things you can tell a best friend, but you can't tell a sister. Emmett wasn't just her husband-to-be, he was a best friend that she cherished and loved with all of her heart.
"It happened like in 11th grade." Rose shrugged her shoulders, deeming it not a big deal, "I didn't tell any of you because me and Alice handled it."
Bella decided to break the intense stare down between Rose and her parents, "How did you two meet anyway?"
Emmett dropped his fork and smiled up at Rose, "I met her junior year of college."
"I went to a frat party with Alice and Jasper." Rose added, grabbing a cinnamon bun off of the platter, "Emmett was there to meet up with Jasper. I'll never forget what he said. Emmett came up to me and said you want to know something, you look a lot like my next girlfriend."
Edward smirked and nudged his brother with his broad shoulder, "She agreed to date you after that? You must have a way with words."
"Yeah," Rose reached across the table to pat her fiancé's hand, "he stole my heart and I'm stealing his last name."
Vanessa clasped her petite hands together as she watched her youngest daughter pawn over her soon to be son-in-law. They reminded her so much of her and Julian.
Mrs. Hale handed her empty plate to Amelia, "Rosalie, darling, I sent the seating chart to Francesca. She's making the name plates as we speak. I also sent in the song requests we listed the other day to Roberto."
"I didn't get to look over the seating arrangements… or the song list." Esme announced, earning an eye roll from Vanessa.
"It's because we didn't need you to look over it."
Esme rose from her seat, "I'm the mother of the groom."
"Well, I'm the mother of the bride…and I'm paying for the wedding!"
"I have just as much say so as you Vanessa!"
"Do you really think that? I would hate to disappoint you."
Alice elbowed Rose in the gut, "You have to do something." Rose nodded.
"I just accidentally mixed I can't believe it's not butter with my regular butter," she sighed as she glanced down at her buttered bagel, "now I don't know what to believe."
Everyone at the table stared confusedly at the bride-to-be. Alice covered her face, and lowered her voice, "Really? That's the best you got."
"It worked though." Maria added, patting her sister's knee, "Good job little sissy."
"Sweetheart," Vanessa stood from her seat, "does butter really take importance over the details of your wedding?"
"No, but it seems your dislike for Esme does."
An awkward, foreboding silence fell across the table. Amelia gathering the silverware, plates and empty dish bowls was the only sound heard through the family brunch. Rosalie stood from her seat, flattened out her sundress, before irritatingly walking into the house. Out of instinct, Emmett dropped his fork onto the plate and mounted after her.
Carmen tossed her napkin onto her empty saucer, "Nice job mom." She went in after Emmett and Rose.
Rosalie's springy walk pulled her up the stairs and into her old bedroom. Nothing about her room is different. It still remains the same while everything else in her life was about to change. Her snowy white painted walls and her lusty red carpeted floor gave her that sense of normalcy. A king-sized canopy bed was positioned against the back wall of her bedroom. The posts connected to her canopy extended high and was adorned with a soft red cloth draping around the large and comfy bed. Hanging on her wall, above her bed, was a large black and white shaded portrait of teenaged Rosalie holding a bouquet of roses. In the portrait, scattered around her feet are more wild roses.
The red polka dotted curtains hung up at both of her windows matched the fabric and design scheme of her comforter. The pillows that graced her comfortable bed coordinated with the dark black of her futon. Her black futon rested adjacent to her bed. A matching black ottoman, which doubles into a storage space sat diagonal of her futon. A red bean bag chair was positioned in the corner beside her white computer desk. A black and red closed laptop sat in the center of her desk, with a white desk lamp perched at the corner. A few pictures in frames were scattered around her lengthy workspace with a stack of index cards, books and post-its organized in neat spaces. A bulletin/dry erase board hung behind her desk, with an unfinished to-do list, graduation pictures and a few phone numbers pinned and written onto it. A lamp in the shape of a red rose rested on both white end tables positioned on each side of her bed. The end table to the right of her bed rested a decorated jewelry box with a variety of jewelry and charms inside of it.
Across her room, hanging on the wall was a large, flat screen HD television. On the stand below it sat an Xbox and DVD player. Floating red shelves nailed into her white walls held more picture frames, movies and unfinished novels. Connected to each window were matching white window seats with red and black throw pillows.
Her room was always clean and tidy. It remained organized and clutter-free. Her tidiness and Emmett's slight messiness constantly conflicted with the other. Rosalie drew open her closet door. The lighting in her closet was automatic. Once the door opened, the light involuntarily turned on. Her walk-in closet was ridiculously large enough to fit all of her clothes, shoes, purses, and hats. Each outfit was organized by color and season. Her shoes were systemized by color, formality and date of purchase. Color coordinated hangers provided her with the insight of which season the article of clothing belonged to. Red hangers meant fall, blue hangers meant winter, pink hangers meant spring and yellow hangers meant summer. A blue umbrella stand sat in the back of the closet holding her black yoga mat inside of it. A matching blue foldable laundry hamper sat perched next to the umbrella stand. In the storage space built into her closet, located her designer suitcases.
The sudden heavy repeat of knuckles rapping against the door pulled Rosalie out of her closet.
"Come in."
Emmett opened the door and led him and Carmen inside of her room. Emmett's known Rose for five years, and has never seen her bedroom until today. The surprised expression plastered onto his face reminded him that the Hales were no ordinary family. He allowed for Carmen to talk to her sister, as he silently analyzed her bedroom.
"Mom's sorry." Carmen informed, taking a seat on Rose's futon, "You know how she gets sometimes. She likes to be in charge of everything. She thinks because she has the money and the prestige that whatever she says goes, she doesn't like it when her authority is questioned, especially by a middle class woman."
Rose nodded, "Her arguments with Esme are a waste of time. She's my mom and Esme is Emmett's mom. They'll be seeing a lot of each other."
Carmen pulled her youngest sister onto her lap, "When I was first pregnant with Charlotte, mom and Eleazar's mother Carol argued over how I would deliver my baby. Carol wanted me to have a home birth in the bathtub. Mom wanted me to go to the hospital, get an epidural and be looked after by the best doctors the state of Washington has to offer." Carmen smiled as she rested her chin onto Rose's shoulder, "It was neither of their decisions to make. It was my baby. It was my right to decide. I was a 22 year old grown woman; mom couldn't dictate what I wanted, even though she tried her hardest."
While sitting in her sister's lap, Rosalie turned to face her, "Didn't you end up going to the hospital and getting an epidural?"
"That's beside the point." Carmen corrected, "The point is I came to that decision on my own. If I wanted to have my baby at home in the bathtub, I would have. If I wanted to have my daughter in the middle of a safari ride in Africa, I would have. If I wanted to give birth to my child in the middle of a shark infested ocean, I would have." Carmen crossed her arms as Rose stood from her lap and smiled, "Oh, and the next time a boy tries to attack you, you better tell me. If you don't, and I find out, when I'm done burying his ass, I'm coming to beat yours."
Carmen always knew how to make her feel better. Emmett approached his fiancée and gave her hand an assuring squeeze. From that small show of affection, Carmen knew Rosalie made the right decision. Emmett made Rose's heart flutter just by flashing a dimpled smile. It's no question what a gentle tug of the hand did for her.
"Knock" Alice called out, cracking her best friend's door, "knock."
"Go in." Maria urged, pushing Alice along.
"We can't just walk into her room."
"Oh, yes we can." Maria entered her sister's room with a bright smile, "We did it all the time as children. Nothing changed."
Kate, Irina and Tanya all piled into the room after them. Emmett stood in the center of the group of women, holding his girl's hand.
"I should go."
Rose lifted herself to the tip of her toes and pressed her glisteningly thin lips against her fiancé's. Her hands drifted from his back side and down towards his buttocks.
Tanya closely approached the couple, "Get a room."
"I did." Rose broke away for a quick second before returning towards him.
"That we aren't in." Irina added.
Emmett took that as his queue to leave. He knew when a guy wasn't welcomed, especially in a room with more than six women. Emmett couldn't wait to have this woman all to himself. He pulled away and watched her slowly lick her lips, "I should go. I have a bachelor party to get ready for."
"Are you having strippers?" Rose wondered, walking him to her door.
"I don't know. Jasper planned the whole night out."
Emmett brushed his hand against the side of her face, and gave the temple on the other side of her head a soft and lingering kiss, "Be safe. Don't do anything that's going to cause for me to come beat someone's ass."
Rosalie saluted to him, "And the same goes for you."
Kate's strong hand wrapped around Rose's forearm and pulled her back into the room. Maria closed the door behind them, "It's now one o'clock. We need to grab Bella and Renesme. I think if we start getting ready, we should be able to leave around seven."
"With you getting ready, we'll be thankful if we're able to leave within the next 24 hours." Carmen remarked, earning a high-five from Tanya.
Maria smirked, "Screw you." In response, Carmen stuck her tongue out.
Alice opened Rosalie's bedroom door, "Sometimes I wish I wasn't an only child, but then when I see you guys argue and purposely get on each other's nerves I thank my parents for only having me."
"You don't know what you're missing!" Irina kicked her heels off of her feet, "Our dresses are hanging in the guest room. There are enough showers for all of us to take one. Alice, can you get Bella and Renesme?"
She nodded her head, "Be right back."
Rosalie stood in front of the mirror, hanging on her closet door. Each sister squeezed into the frame, and pursed their lips. Maria pulled out her cell phone, "Everybody say Instagram!"
"Instagram!"
The flash caught each of them off guard, and in response their lashes batted. Maria silently uploaded the photo to her account, "Hmm, me and my crazy sisters. Upload."
As each sister moved from in front of the mirror, Kate remained, "I think I'm going to wear my hair up."
"You have a pretty heart shaped face that deserves to be accentuated through your wavy blonde hair." Carmen responded, pulling her sister from in front of the mirror, "Wearing your hair up makes your face look fat and long."
Alice re-entered the room, "Rude much?"
"Being a good older sister Alice means tearing down an ego, yet being supportive at the same time. It's a hard job to do, but I think I do it well."
Kate's nod backed up her sister's comment. It's been plenty of times Kate needed to be offensively honest to one of her sisters. Some things just needed to be said. It was better to come from a trusted and loved sister, than a rude and uncouth stranger.
"I just saw the picture you uploaded to Instagram" Renesme held her phone up as she entered the room, "All of your eyes are closed."
Bella entered after her sister, "I'm actually excited about tonight. I don't really get out much."
"You should be." Irina added, "We're going to have so much fun. You have not lived until you have hung out with the Denali/Hale sisters!"
Rosalie nodded in agreement, "She speaks nothing but the truth."
"Oh, which reminds me," Maria whispered, slowly approaching her sister, "Tanya about those shoes you let me borrow. Prada and Versace got to them. I had to throw them into the trash."
"Your dogs chewed up my thousand dollar shoes?!"
Tanya had to make sure she heard her sister right. Those heels were new and they cost more than a person's minimum wage check for a year.
Rose rubbed comforting circles into Tanya's back, "Stay calm. Don't freak out."
"Sometimes I wonder how much I could get for you on eBay." Tanya growled, tapping her foot anxiously, "I'm really tempted to find out."
"Hey!" Maria exclaimed, backing away, "You can't sell me, I'm your sister!"
"I have four more. I'll be okay missing one."
"I'll buy you a new pair. Those weren't a cute color anyway."
"I liked the color."
"Fine, I'll buy you an exact replica. You won't even know the difference."
Tanya pressed a wide Cheshire grin to her face, "I knew there was a reason we haven't sold you yet."
"I love you too!" Maria remarked.
Bella clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention to hers, "You guys are one interesting bunch."
Rose opened up her closet, and pulled out her dress for tonight, "And with that said, we're going to have fun, this interesting bunch can guarantee that this night will be unforgettable."
A/N:
Review and tell me what you think. This will be a six chapter story all taking place during one night.
-Tiffany.