I don't think I mentioned this, but when I first got the idea, Emma and Carl (like my last fanfic) were still together. And I did like them together, though I've always known that Wemma was 'endgame', as the fandom says. Just a little disclaimer. Anyways. Hope you like it. Or hate it!

"Carl, nice to see you." Carl smiled as he shook hands with a few men. "Good to see you guys." He turned to Emma. "Gentlemen, this is my wife, Emma. Emma, this is Ted, Greg, and Hank." She shook their hands and smiled politely. "Nice to meet you," she said quietly. "You, too. We've heard so much about you. I didn't know he could get a girl so pretty!" The men laughed as Emma smiled. Carl put his hand on the small of her back. "Emma, honey? Will you grab me a drink?" Emma nodded before turning to the men. "Can I get you gentlemen anything?" The men hesitated. "Uh, no, we're good, thanks." Emma nodded and walked off. The men turned to Carl. "What the hell, Carl?" Hank hissed. "Where'd you find her? Is she a mail-order bride?" Carl chuckled. "Of course not." Greg shook his head, flabbergasted. "Man, where can I trade in my old woman for one of her? Did you see the legs on that girl?"

Emma headed over to the buffet table and grabbed a glass of wine. "You're Carl's wife, right?" a voice said from her side. She turned and saw a group of older women standing there. She nodded. "Yeah. I'm Emma." The women looked her up and down. The woman who asked her, a blonde with a stocky build, started. "I'm Mary, Ted's wife, and this is Janet, Greg's wife, and Darcy, Hank's wife." Emma smiled. "Nice to meet you." The women said nothing, but continued looking her up and down. "You're not eating?" Janet asked. Emma, who had begun walking away, turned back to them. "I'm sorry?" Janet pointed at the food. There were platters of chicken, barbeque, steak, fish, lobster, caviar, pork, veal, lamb, and a bit of salad and pasta. "Oh, I'm not that hungry."

"You look like you could use a pork chop, honey. Come on, try one." Emma glanced at the food. "I-I'm a vegetarian," she said. Darcy snorted. Emma shifted uncomfortably. "Well, at least have some pasta, darling. It's delicious." Emma bit her lip. She really wasn't hungry, but she didn't want to be rude. "Oh... Okay." She grabbed a plate and put a little portion of pasta on it. "No, like this." Mary took the plate from her and filled it with pasta. Emma watched in awe. There was no way she could eat all of that. Mary handed the plate back to her, then gave her the glass of wine she originally came for. "Nice meeting you," Mary said. Emma smiled and walked away.

"So, did you marry her for her ass, or is this one staying around?" Ted asked. Carl laughed. Since Emma had been gone, they had been throwing in their two cents about his wife, how she seemed so sweet and compliant. He loved the men drooling over his wife, even if they were a bit toasted. "She's staying around." Emma walked over and handed Carl the glass. He took a swig, then leaned in close to the men. "But I married her for the ass." The men burst into a fit of laughter. Emma blushed. She hoped Carl was joking, but she wasn't sure. Carl looked at Emma, then down at the food she was picking at. "What's that?" Emma looked at the food. "Pasta. Ted's wife said I should try some..." She looked up at Carl, who had an eyebrow raised. "Do you really think you need that?" he whispered in her ear. Emma's jaw slightly dropped at the comment. "I mean," he continued, "A moment on the lips, forever on the hips, right?" Emma gulped, then nodded. "Yeah..." Carl took the plate from her and gave it to a waiter. He turned to Emma and winked. She looked down at herself. Does he think I'm fat? She thought to herself. She was definitely thinner than the rest of the women here, but... she thought could always stand to lose a few pounds.

Emma could tell Carl was getting a bit tipsy. He was laughing a little more than usual, and slightly louder. The group had moved to a secluded booth away from the party to sit in, and the wives had rejoined their husbands. Carl put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her, leaving a bit of alcohol on her cheek. Emma smiled, but she wasn't having a good time. She was uncomfortable, and was hoping Carl had forgotten about what he said earlier at home. "I love you so much, Emma," he growled into her ear. She smiled. Emma knew that he was drunk, but she liked to hear him say he loved her. In a way, she kind of believed it. "You two act like newlyweds. How long have you been married?" Mary asked. Emma looked at Carl, offering him the floor. He took a swig of his third glass of wine. "About a year now." Mary nodded. "And how is the married life?" Carl grinned. "I love it. It's perfect. She's perfect." He kissed her cheek again. "And you, Emma?" Emma looked at Mary. "Oh... I love it. Carl's amazing. I'm really lucky." Mary rolled her eyes. "Bullshit." Emma looked at her curiously. "Excuse me...?"

"There's no way you two are so madly in love. What was the last thing you fought about?" Emma bit her lip and glanced at Carl. "Well..." Carl put his other hand on her thigh and squeezed it. "We were actually arguing before we got here. I was asking her if she was cheating on me." The group looked at her, making her blush. "Wha... what made you think that?" Ted asked. "Yeah, she looks so innocent," Greg added. Emma looked at Carl. Why'd he tell them that? she asked herself. And he didn't even tell the whole story. Now she looked bad, while he looked like the innocent victim. "Well, she had a bit of a history with some guy she works with." The women at the table looked her up and down as only they could. Emma felt her face getting hot. "Thank goodness she wasn't."

"How do you know?" Greg asked simply. Carl looked at Emma. She knew what he was thinking. "Well, I don't. But I trust my wife. If she tells me she's faithful to me, I have to trust her. And she has to trust me." Carl looked Emma dead in the eye when he said this. She smiled weakly. Hank raised his glass. "I propose a toast." Everyone (except for Emma, she wasn't drinking) raised their glass. "To happy couples!" Everyone toasted. "Come on, I wanna dance," Janet said, before pulling her husband out of the booth. Darcy and her husband followed, leaving Mary and Ted. They cuddled together and whispered. Emma felt very uncomfortable. She knew the group would talk later. Carl pulled her closer to him and kissed her neck. "I'm sorry about that, baby." Emma nodded. "You're mad, aren't you?" Emma glanced at Mary and Ted. "No."

"Yes, you are." Emma looked in his eyes. "I'm not mad." She could tell he didn't believe her. Why should he? She didn't believe her, either. Still, she didn't want to make him sad. Even though he treated her like shit sometimes, she still loved him. She smiled and kissed him. "I'm not mad." Mary stood up. "We'll be right back," Ted said. The two walked away. Carl grinned and kissed Emma. She could taste the red wine on his lips. Emma held his face in her hands as the two kissed. "Let's go to the bathroom." Emma pulled away. "What?" Carl smirked as he breathed heavily. "I want you, right now." He kissed Emma again, this time more forcefully, and pulled her into his lap. "You're drunk." Carl ignored her and ran his hand up her thigh. "Carl, we're in public..." That didn't stop him. He moved to her jaw as his hand toyed with her underwear. "You like that, Em?" she bit her lip and pulled her head away from him. "Carl -"

"Was I wrong, Emma?" Emma looked at him curiously. "A-About what?"

"You and Will. Are you still seeing him?" Emma shook her head. Carl blinked slowly. "Don't lie to me, Emma..." He reached for her shoulder and rubbed it gently before moving his hand to her neck. Emma felt his grip getting tighter as his eyes bore a hole into her. "Tell me." Emma pressed her eyes shut and winced in pain. "I'm telling you the truth."

Out of the corner of her eye, Emma saw Ted and Mary walking toward them. "Carl, they're coming back." Carl quickly removed his hand as they sat back down. "Hey, guys," Carl said hastily as they walked back. Emma rubbed her neck. "Oh, my God, Emma," Mary gasped. She pointed at Emma's thigh. "What happened?" Emma looked down at where she was pointing. On her inner thigh was an enormous red and brown, bruise that resembled a handprint. Emma glanced at Carl, who looked her up and down. They both knew it was from earlier. Emma blushed and pulled her dress down. "I, uh..." She glanced at Carl. He watched her intently. "Um, I fell."

"Off of what?" Mary asked curiously. Ted snorted as he drank his wine. "Off Carl's dick," he muttered. Emma looked at him in shock. She knew what he thought. She was sure all of the men and their wives thought it. They thought she was a whore. Her dress, Carl's accusation, the brief foreplay in public... Anyone would think so. "What was that?" Carl asked angrily. He protectively yet roughly gripped Emma's knee, making her wince in pain yet again. Ted chuckled. "Look, Carl, no offense, and no offense to you, doll," he added, "But I know you. You're having some kind of weird mid-life crisis, and she's... Well, to be honest, she's too nice for you." Carl stood up angrily. "Don't you dare, Ted!" he shouted. Emma got up and stood in front of Carl as Ted stood. "Carl -"

"I could fucking kill you!" he shouted. Ted tried to grab at him, but Mary held him back. Emma grabbed Carl's face gently and forced him to look at her. "Carl. Calm down." Carl looked at her and gulped. "You love me, right?" he said in a low voice. Emma could hear Ted shouting at them, but she focused on Carl's voice. She nodded and blinked back a few tears. "Yeah." Carl nodded and leaned in for a kiss. Emma turned at the last minute, making him kiss her cheek. She didn't feel so close to him right now. "You should get the car," she said softly. Carl looked at her intently before turning and walking away. Emma sighed and turned back to the table. "Thanks a lot, Emma," Mary said sarcastically, before storming off, leaving Ted and Emma. Emma glanced at him and grabbed her purse and Carl's tuxedo jacket. She began to walk away. "Emma." She turned around to face Ted. He took a sip of his wine, then walked over to her. "Look, I don't know you. I'm sorry if I insulted you." He looked her up and down and stepped a little closer. "You know, I'd do the same thing if I was him. You're a great catch." As he said that, he trailed his hand down her back and ribs to her hip, then her rear. Emma looked at his hand. "What are you doing?" Ted smirked and squeezed her ass. She pushed him off. "Emma." Emma turned and saw Carl standing there, watching. Emma looked at Ted once more before walking to Carl. Carl looked her up and down, then wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out.

The two sat in silence as the driver took them home. Emma looked at Carl. His jaw was clenched, and he stared straight ahead. She reached for his hand, but he moved it. "Carl... I'm sorry." Carl looked at her, then turned back ahead. "We'll talk at home."

Emma got out of the car as Carl paid the driver. She waited for him to get out. As soon as he did, he pushed past Emma and went into the house. Carl stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door. Emma sighed. She knew he would let her have it tonight. She took off her heels, then went into the kitchen and put two spoons in the freezer before heading to the bedroom. Carl was undoing his tie. He turned to Emma. "What the hell was that?" Emma scanned the room quickly, making sure there was nothing close to him to hit her with. "I... He just grabbed me, I didn't..." Carl slowly walked to her. "You didn't what?" Emma hesitated, unsure how to handle the situation. "I didn't mean to make you mad..." Carl shook his head and walked away. Emma didn't know what to do. She walked over to him and lightly touched his shoulder. "Carl, I'm sorr-" He turned around quickly and backhanded her. She shrieked and fell onto the bed behind her. Carl turned around and looked at her evilly. "You're gonna leave me, aren't you?" Emma buried her face in the bed and trembled in fear, terrified of what might happen if she got up. It didn't matter. Carl grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her up. Emma looked at his chest fearfully. Carl jerked her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "Answer me." Emma shook her head. "No."

"No what?" Emma gulped. Don't be stupid, Emma... "No, I'm not going to leave you." Carl trailed his index finger from her chin down her torso. "Why not?" Emma thought about the question. Because she was afraid of him. Because she had nowhere to go. Because she was afraid to be alone. "Because I love you." Carl looked down at her with anger in his eyes. "Show me..." Emma gazed into his eyes. "I didn't forget, baby," he growled. Emma licked her lips. She didn't want to do this. Still, she'd rather have sex with her husband than be beat by him. With trembling hands, she took off his tie, then began to unbutton his shirt. She slowly pushed it off of him and looked up at him. She could tell he was getting a sick and twisted joy out of this. Still, she knew this was all her fault; she should have defended their relationship. Besides, this was her husband. What kind of woman didn't want to make love to her husband?

Emma stood in front of Carl, not sure what to do next. She breathed shallowly and looked down. Carl grabbed her waist and pulled her close to him before kissing her. He tangled his hand in her hair and forced their mouths closer. "My pants, dear," he whispered in between kisses. Emma paused, then undid his slacks. Carl grinned and pushed her dress up with one hand. She closed her eyes as he reached up and lightly touched her underwear. "Carl, I'm really tired." Carl pushed her backwards against a wall before biting hard on her clavicle. "Ow! Stop!" Emma pushed him back with all her might, catching Carl (and herself) off guard. She immediately regretted it; his wild look of rage and lust frightened her. He stood in shock for a moment as Emma panted. "Take off your dress." Emma didn't move, angering Carl. "I said take off your fucking dress." Emma didn't know what to do. There were only a handful of options, if that. But she knew that sex was the farthest thing on her mind. She sighed and unzipped the back of her dress, then took it off, leaving her only in her underthings. Emma began folding it, but Carl snatched it away and tossed it on the ground. "On the bed." A tear slipped down her face. "No."

Something went off in Carl. She saw it. Still, she knew that he would never force her into copulation, no matter how close he got, or where he touched her. They both knew that.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't hit her. Again, that was something they both knew. Carl grabbed her throat with both hands and pushed her against the wall. Her feet barely touched the ground. She pulled at his hands, but to no avail. "Don't test me, Emma." He slammed her against the wall once more. She leaned her head back, hoping to get some air, but... Her eyes rolled back in her head. Carl loosened his grip briefly, allowing her about 3 seconds of gasping before tightening his grip again. She tried to push him away with her leg, but he forced his knee into her thigh, sending a blunt pain throughout her leg. "Carl..." The room began to spin, and everything got dark as her breathing went a mile a minute, then stopped...