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It's All In the Game of Love
Chapter 1. In the Beginning, There is Just Me

Emmett's POV

I sat on my bed, idly studying a picture of Bella from she and Edward's wedding. It had been just a few short months ago that I had realized my feelings for Bella Swan -- now Bella Cullen. But even though she was on the cusp of celebrating her second anniversary, I still clung to the thin strands of hope that maybe -- just maybe -- Bella would come to the realization that she had fallen for the wrong Cullen brother.

It was then that Rosalie pranced into the room carrying several bags from a day's shopping with Alice. All I could think about was the fact that this meant Bella was home as well. I could almost smell her sweet, floral fragrance -- see her full, pouting lips.

"Emmett!" Rose yelled, snapping her fingers in front of my face to get my attention.

"Huh? Sorry, Rose. What were you saying babe?"

"More like what am I wearing," Rosalie purred, walking toward me. She was clad in a pale yellow silk teddy with a matching thong. As she reached me, she climbed up onto the bed, straddling my waist and rubbing herself against my manhood, peppering kisses along my neck. She slowly started to unbutton my shirt, trailing a line of kisses down the center of my chest.

"Mmm, Rose. Babe. You're amazing, but I just can't right now," I started as she began working on my neck. "I...I promised Jasper I would go hunting with him as soon as he brought you girls home." I tried to look remorseful, but truly I just felt no desire for Rosalie any longer -- no desire for anyone but Bella.

"What?!" Rosalie squealed, leaping off the bed. "I offer you this," she continued, gesturing to herself, "and you want to go hunting?! UGH! Emmett! You've been like this for months!! I can't remember the last time you fucked me properly!" With that she threw on a light grey sweater-dress, tied it tight around her waist, and stormed out of the room.

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Rose's POV

I was just thinking about how easy it is to shop with Alice when I walked into the room I share with Emmett. A little excited, I zoomed into the room and changed before my husband could even acknowledge my existence. I've noticed that a lot lately -- that he's in another world. Refusing sex, staring off, taking random hunting trips. There is something wrong with my teddy bear. I'm almost a foot away from him before snapping my fingers in front of his face .

"Emmett!" He looked up finally. He has to look! Who can't? I'm gorgeous in this yellow teddy and thong ensemble that i saw today in Victoria's Secret. I just had to have it, hoping in a last ditch effort to save my relationship with Emmett and finally catch his eye with something appealing and too sexy to resist.

"Huh? Sorry, Rose. What were you saying babe?" What was I saying?! I didn't say anything! My husband must be losing his marbles. I'll have to ask Carlisle if it's possible for vampires to lose their marbles.

"More like what am i wearing?" I said, purring into his ear, i climbed up on to the bed straddling him, I was practically throwing myself at him, grinding myself into his manhood. I was unbuttoning his shirt and starting to attack his neck when I heard his voice again.

"Mmm, Rose. Babe. You're amazing, but i just can't right now" looking at him, I could swear the pause was for dramatic effect as he continued, "I...I promised Jasper I would go hunting with him as soon as he brought you girls home." He must have planned this and I was absolutely furious! I leapt off the bed and screamed at him.

"WHAT?!?" Breathing heavily and growling I continued, "I offer you this," I started, running my hands down my body. I'm gorgeous and I'm sure he can't resist me if I play up my charms, "and you want to go hunting!? UGH! Emmett! You've been like this for months!! I can't remember the last time you've fucked me properly!" I walked away from the bed and grabbed my adorable grey sweater dress, tied it quickly and growled, walking out of the room --I can't believe that big stupid fucking dumb bear of a husband!

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Emmett's POV

"Jasper, can I tell you a secret? I mean like a take-to-the-death-by-burning-keep-it-from-Edward kind of huge secret?" I used all those words in hopes that my brother would understand the importance of the secret; if there was anyone in this family I trusted it was Jasper. He's been through it all: war, true vampirism, love, lust -- the whole kit and caboodle .

"Sure Emmett?" I could hear the question in his voice, but I knew he would understand. He has to understand I mean, come on, he's my brother. We were walking toward the normal hunting spot when I stopped. I couldn't be walking when I told him this. I couldn't think hell I don't think I could even breathe, but I had to tell someone. I had to let my secret escape my lips, and of course by the time I did I knew that his wife, Alice, would know but she wouldn't tell anyone, or at least I hoped she wouldn't.

"Jasper," he paused, "I have feelings for Bella!" I said it in such a rush that I thought I was slurring my words together. Watching my brother look at me after finishing that sentence I could only come to the conclusion that he thinks that im crazy or stupid -- which ever one came into his mind first is probably the right one.

"Are you crazy?!?! You can't be in love with Bella! She's married to our brother. You remember, Edward?" He certainly knew how to put instant guilt into my mind.

"Jasper, I can't help it. She just invaded my mind one day and I have to get to her. You don't understand, Jazz. I don't think she truly loves Edward any more. I need to know that she doesn't have feelings for me. I've found myself refusing Rosalie because of her man, and I just..." I trailed off and sat on a stump for something to do and to try to collect my thoughts. I watched my brother as he watched me in sheer disbelief.

"Well Emmett, as your brother and Edward's, I can't condone your trying to seduce his wife, but as a friend I can say that I know how it feels. I've been in that boat once before a long time before I joined this family. It was over Nettie when I was Maria's "toy." I can still remember how it felt -- the lust, the intrigue. I can definitely tell you its fun and exciting, but is it worth the risk and damage to your relationship with Rosalie?" he stopped looking at me and I knew he would ask me if I knew what it would do to his sister Rosalie, my wife, my beautiful blonde goddess, but I did know, because I haven't thought of Rosalie that way in months. My mind was haunted by, daydreamed and fantasized about only Bella.

"Jasper, I wish I could show you what is going on in my head right now." I said grimly. Looking up slowly I saw Jasper's head turn toward a clearing and within seconds I heard what he was hearing off in the distance: this small voice audible only to vampire ears.

"Emmett Dale McCarty-Cullen, How come you couldn't entrust your sister with this information as well? I should really --" before her last sentence was even finished my pixie of a little sister came into our view. Smiling, Jasper walked over to her side but she didn't stop to kiss his cheek like she always does. Instead, she walked straight toward me and smacked my face as if she was a scorned lover.

"You know for a pixie you do pack a mean punch." I rubbed my face trying to make it look like she hurt me so she wouldn't be so mean to me. I hated when Alice was mad at me because she is truly a mean pixie when you cross her; I didn't want to be on her bad side.

"Emmett Cullen, what gives you the right to talk to Jasper and not me?!" she gave me a pouting face. I was a sucker for my sister when she did stuff like that. She looked like a sixth-grader who was selling candy for a school field trip.

"Alice, its Bella. I can't get her off of my mind. It's like she's embedded there forever -- permanently. I think I might be in love with my brother's wife." I looked from Alice to Jasper and then to the ground. God, I think my family's going to hate me after this secret really starts to spread. Finally getting up I looked at my siblings again and sighed. I knew I could trust them. I put all my favorite signed football jerseys on it that they wouldn't tell Edward, Bella or even Rosalie. Again, Rosalie. I can put her face in my mind but it just doesn't hold the flame in my heart that Bella's does.

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Rose's POV

Tromping down the stairs, I was fuming. Who was Emmett to deny me? ME?! I'm too beautiful to be denied anything, let alone sex from my own husband! Turning the corner at the end of the staircase, I bumped into Bella. She murmured an apology as if her thoughts were elsewhere and I simply huffed at her and told her to get out of my way in a less-than-kind manner. In fact, I was probably pretty snotty to her, but what did I care? She didn't even really belong with our family. What did Edward see in her anyway?! Sure, she's kind of attractive if you like that whole country bumpkin can't-dress-to-save-her-life look. But if I couldn't have Emmett, I was sure going to have someone pays attention to me, and Edward was as good as anyone.

I walked into the living room and there was the object of my momentary desire. He was sitting at the piano, picking idly at the keys. But just as soon as I turned on the charm and started to walk over to him, my hips swaying ever so gently, Alice, Jasper and Emmett burst through the front door. Foiled!

"Hey guys!" an all to perky Alice called, bouncing over to me. That cursed little pixie must have seen my intentions and brought everyone back just in time to stop me from getting my groove on. "Jasper and I were thinking about going on a little camping trip and we wanted to invite the whole family! Who's in?" she asked, bouncing around like a little school girl.

"We'll go," a soft voice said from the stairs. I turned and saw Esme and Carlisle stepping softly down the staircase, stopping at the landing, their hands entwined and smiles on their faces. Presumably, they must have just shared in an amazing lovemaking session. Inwardly I bemoaned the fact that people in this house were getting some and I wasn't getting any!

"Yeah, sure, I'll go too, since someone left me out of the hunt this morning," Edward replied, glaring at Emmett and Jasper, who both looked rather sheepish at leaving their brother out of a group activity. "I don't know about Bella, though, I think she'll look forward to some time alone to catch up on some reading."

Oh, no way was I going to stay home with her! She was about the worst company I could think of to spend a weekend with. I know, I know, she's been my sister for almost two years now and all, but I still held a grudge against her decision to be turned on her honeymoon. Luckily, no children came out of their union or I really would have flipped a shit!

"I'll go!" I said a bit too hastily, hoping that Emmett would stay home because of his own recent hunting trip. I didn't want to be within ten miles of that asshole after the way he rejected me just hours before. He didn't even deserve to be in my presence after that little display! Thankfully, I got my wish.

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Emmett's POV

"I'll go!" Rosalie said rather quickly. Maybe she thought if she sounded excited about the camping trip it would make me want to go, too. Well, nothing doing. I already had my share of excitement on our "hunting" excursion earlier in the day. Besides, if Bella was staying home – alone – there was no way I was going to miss out on a chance to spend some quality time with her away from the rest of the family. Mmm…Bella and I. Alone. Together! In this big house while everyone else was far away in the Olympic range camping.

My mind must have wandered farther than I thought because suddenly Alice was nudging me – or more like punching me – in the arm to bring me back to reality. "Oh, right, um…I guess I'll stay home. I'm kind of wiped from our hunting trip and besides," I chuckled, "someone has to keep our little danger magnet out of trouble while Edward's off duty."

Edward laughed and clapped me on the back. "Hey, she's all yours, man, but I'm telling you, she's pretty dull company when she gets her nose into one of those Jane Austen novels of hers. But I do appreciate you staying back to look after her. It's a real nice thing for you to do. Thanks, Emmett."

If only he knew my true intentions for Bella this weekend Edward wouldn't have thought I was doing such a "nice thing," but hey, let the man think what he wants. It'll make it easier for me to keep up the ruse that I'm just the cuddly teddy bear of a brother, when what I really want is for Bella to see that she fell for the wrong Cullen, and should really be with me. ..

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