Xxx

Emmett has this strange belief, really an obsession, that if he keeps trying, he'll eventually be able to either scare me or catch me off guard in some way. He spent all of Jasper's bachelor party trying to knock me into the swamp we found and ended up falling in it more times than he'd like to admit. It was one of the things that made Jasper's bachelor party bloody brilliant.

I didn't think anything could top that, but given Emmett's obsession, I knew Edward's had potential. Especially since Carlisle could make this one. He wasn't able to go for Jasper's because the hospital he was working at had a major emergency when a mine shaft collapsed.

Carlisle will never admit it aloud, but he finds Emmett and I's antics hilarious and he had been disappointed that he only got to see the end result of Jasper's party. IE the four of us walking into the yard covered in mud and Alice, Rosalie, and Esme yelling at us for our immaturity, more Alice and Rosalie than Esme, I think our mother just couldn't believe us.

So after we had our fill of critters, Emmett started in, there were no mud puddles or anything of that sort in the general area, but there is a river and we were heading that way.

Emmett tried to grab me a few times and I easily maneuvered away from him each time. My brother has the attention span of a squirrel and the patience of one as well, so he gave up annoying me pretty quick, at least for the time being as he went for an easier target. He decided to go for Edward.

Edward, who was clearly overthinking his upcoming nuptials was deep in thought and didn't even notice Emmett's maniacal grin nor did he notice our brother slip off the path as we walked towards the river to go clean up a little bit.

Of course Emmett was so concerned with tackling Edward he neglected to notice I had slipped into the trees. Carlisle glanced up and chuckled when he spotted me jumping from branch to branch, just above my brothers.

We reached the river and as Edward bent over to wash up, Emmett took his opportunity and pushed him into the river. Edward came up spurting water and glaring at our brother

"Em what the hell!" he shouted as Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett started laughing.

"You were looking a little stiff, thought you might need to cool off."

"So you push me into a river?"

"Ye-" Emmett was about to reply when I jumped out of the tree, landing on his shoulders and taking the both of us into the river next to Edward.

"Mwahaha!" I shouted when I came up, I grinned at Edward "see Ed, I've got your back."

"Dr. Doolittle!" Emmett shouted, he reached over and pushed me under "you little traitor!" he kept me under for about thirty seconds before letting me back up, when I came up and took a mouth full of water and shot a stream of it at him.

"That's a good look for you Emmett, the drowned rat look." Jasper said with a grin as him and Carlisle began laughing again.

Emmett, Edward, and I exchanged a look and looked to the top of Emmett's head. A pile of wet leaves were sticking in his hair. I looked around and realized the river was full of them.

"Shuddup," Em shouted at Jasper, then he took his hands, held them together and whipped his arms around, grazing the top of the river and sending a wall of water at Jasper and Carlisle.

"Over kill much son?" Carlisle asked as the water dripped off him

"Er, sorry Carlisle," Em replied

"Don't worry dad I've got him!" I exclaimed and jumped onto Em's shoulders again, taking him. "For England! For King and Country! Rule Britannia! The British shall never surrender!"

"Get off me you little twerp!"

"We shall never surrender, especially to you Yanks!" I replied. "Long Live Briton! Scotland Forever!"

While Emmett and I were arguing back in forth, Edward returned to the shore, trying to dry his drenched clothes. I knew I could count on Jasper to side with Emmett and I as he grinned at Edward and shoved him back into the water.

What really surprised us though was Carlisle, who as soon as Jasper pushed Edward in, tackled Jasper into the river.

Now all five of us were in the river, we were soaked, and we were having a great time with it. Emmett sent a wall of water at Edward and me, we both saw it coming and ducked so it sprayed Carlisle again.

Jasper swam under the water and grabbed Emmett's leg, pulling him off balance and sending him under the water. As he went down Emmett grabbed my shirt and the pair of us went down together.

It's been a while since the five of us have had this much fun, certainly before the battle with the newborns, even further back than that. We're talking years since we've had this much fun, not a care in the world, just four brothers and their father having a good time.

We knew the girls would kill us if they had seen us swimming around in our clothes like this, but none of us cared. This bachelor party was quickly shaping up to be better than Jasper's. I climbed out of the river, scampered up the nearest tree and inched my way out on the thick branch. I made sure to aim and jumped off the branch, tucking my legs under me,

"Cannon Ball!" I shouted landing right in between Emmett and Edward, drenching my brothers.

"Wow, that was mature," Emmett muttered

"What's the matter Em, can dish it out but can't take it?" Jasper asked pushing him a little, Emmett grinned and moved to tackle Jasper into the deeper part of the river, but Jasper knows Emmett's moves and easily side stepped so our brother went face first into the river. He came up laughing and that got the rest of us going.

We were having such a good time just pushing each other into the water and wrestling that we didn't even notice the sun starting to come up. Not until Carlisle cleared his throat and nodded at it.

We exchanged a look and grumbled that our fun had been cut short. None of us wanted to admit it, but we did have a lot to get done for the wedding. It wasn't like Jasper and Alice's wedding or any of the renewals for Emmett and Rose, there was actually stuff us guys were responsible for other than just showing up, that was Edward's job for the day.

Jasper and I had to drive to pick up Bella's mum and step-father, and Emmett was in charge of directing the catering people where to go for the reception.

I still think Alice was insane to put him in charge of that, but it's not my wedding and I'm not in charge. I've got my assignments and will complete them as expected.

We began the trek back and to be honest we took our time. Carlisle, Edward, and Jasper walked ahead of Em and I. About half a mile into the walk, Emmett gave me a gentle nudge with his elbow.

"What's up?" I asked and he smiled at me "what?" I repeated raising my eyebrow "what's that look for?"

"Missed you kid,"

"I've been right here Em," I replied

Emmett kind of sighed, he looked at our brothers and father for a second, before looking back at me.

"We really thought we lost you kid," he explained, Emmett doesn't do serious, it's never fun when he does and it kind of freaks me out because I'm not used to it.

"Em, it's history, just forget about it." I said "please,"

"It's not that easy Chris, do you realize how freaked out we were that night."

I winced, everyone had made it a point to NOT talk about that night around me, after all that had to happen to get me back here, back to normal in some sense, no one wanted to make me go back there.

The problem is, aside from Esme going overboard in the mothering department, and my siblings and father constantly asking if I'm okay, no one has looked me straight in the eye and asked me about that night, not even the Denali clan.

Deep down I've known that the discussion would probably rear its ugly head, but I was also hoping that it wouldn't. The whole Lion King idea, Hakuna Matata, it's in the past deal.

"Look, Em, I'm sorry, I'm sorry about everything. Seriously can we just." Em shook his head and I sighed, running my hand through my damp hair "fine, yes I know how freaked out you guys were, I wasn't so gone that I couldn't hear you guys, couldn't see you guys. I just…I just couldn't do anything."

"While you were in Alaska, we tried to go as if things were business as usual, but it was impossible because a big piece of the house was missing. You."

My shoulders slumped and I lowered my head

"Em, I really don't want to do this, I don't want to hear this" I muttered, "please Em, just let it go."

I felt Emmett hesitate, like I said he doesn't do serious and I could see how uncomfortable he was with this, probably even more than I was.

"You know I carried you home? You couldn't even walk, you weren't even moving, I've never seen that happen to anyone, let alone…let alone my little brother. I've never really felt fear Chris, even the night that Rosalie found me. Dealing with a pissed off bear wasn't a new thing for me and I was so out of it after he attacked me I didn't really feel pain or fear, especially after Rosalie came into my line of sight." Em paused "but a few months ago I got a taste of real fear, my little brother who is just as tough as me was suddenly laying on the ground defeated. I looked in your eyes Chris you were gone, I didn't see any life in your eyes at all." Em paused and nudged my shoulders again "I'm not telling you this kid to bring you back down or guilt you."

"Then why Em, I've moved past what happened, why are you dredging it back up again after I've tried so hard and come so far to forget."

"Because I don't ever want to see you go through that again." Em grinned at me gently "I know I'm the goof off of the family and I don't take much serious, but there are a few things. My relationship with Rose is certainly one of those, our family is another, but you know what comes right after Rosalie?"

I shrugged

"No,"

"Being a big brother, especially to you. And that night I felt like I failed as your brother. I couldn't protect you."

Now the level of uncomfortableness had spilled over for both of us. But I could also see that Em wasn't going to let that stop him from saying what had to be said.

"I don't blame you Em, I don't blame anyone except J…" I started to say, the name caught in my throat, Bree's face flashed in my mind, the sound of her terrified screams, the fire devouring her, Jane's satisfied laughter.

I'd spent months trying to forget, why was Emmett making me remember. Emmett of all people, of all my family was the last one I'd expect to do this to me.

"Chris," Em whispered, he put a hand on my thin shoulders "oh kid I'm sorry I seriously didn't mean it."

"It…It's okay Em," I took a deep breath "it sucked for me, I…I didn't even think about how you guys felt, what you guys went through. I'm sorry."

"Okay, I think the both of us are going to a depressive place we shouldn't be."

"Agreed,"

"I'm sorry for bringing it up kid."

"It needed to be said I guess. It was kind of the elephant in the room…" I looked around "forest, whatever" I paused "just out of curiosity, why did you bring it up now? I mean we're talking a couple of months later here, why now?"

Em took a deep breath

"All of us goofing at the river, it reminded me of how things have always been. But you were only half into it."

"So you decided to bring up my long term space out as a way to complete the half?" Em looked at me panicked for a second and I grinned "just kidding,"

"I just don't want to see you like that again Dr. Doolittle,"

"Believe me I don't ever want to be like that again myself." I replied

"That's good to hear kid, because you were starting to act way to much like Edward, I was getting really concerned."

My eyes went wide

"dude not cool!" I exclaimed

"You were. Seriously I'm outnumbered if you go to the dark side." Emmett's grin widened "I'm just hoping the honeymoon is going to de-tense our brother."

"Lovely thought," I replied

"Emmett shut up!" Edward shouted from up ahead as he read Emmett's thoughts.

"It's really too bad you guys aren't going to Hawaii," I added and Edward's glare intensified, Carlisle and Jasper exchanged a look, unsure what Emmett and I were up too, but both knowing it wasn't a good thing.

"And why is that Chris?" Edward growled, Emmett looked at me his eyes full of pride as he waited for my answer too.

I sighed, Carlisle was not going to like this, but I couldn't disappoint Emmett, not when he looked like that.

"Because at least in Hawaii you get laid." I said as quickly as I could, Emmett burst out laughing as did Jasper, Edward I'm sure if we were able to would be turning bright red, and Carlisle seemed stunned for a second as his eyes went wide.

"Really Chris?" he muttered

Emmett slapped me on the back

"He said it! The Brit said it! Way to go Chris, welcome back!"

"I'm going to kill you both!" Edward shouted, running at us.

Emmett looked down at me with a panicked look, he reached down and lifted me up under his arm like I was a football and bolted into the woods, all of us except Edward laughing. I'm not entirely sure why he picked me up, I'm way faster than he is, but I wasn't going to argue, not with Edward barreling after us.

Xxx

Edward stopped short behind us as we jumped over the river, crossing into our backyard where Esme was standing there, arms folded over her chest, tapping her foot. Of course Emmett had put me down half way home so I bolted ahead of him, but I screeched to a stop when I spotted our mother so Emmett rammed into me, when he was unable to stop.

Edward managed to stop before hitting either of us, but all three of us had the same deer in the headlamps look in our eyes. I didn't think it was possible for Esme to look THAT menacing, but she did.

"It's so nice of you boys to show up." She explained, another crash in the woods alerted us to Jasper and Carlisle's arrival. All five of us trying not to look sheepish as Esme looked at Carlisle disapproving, but I could see the twinkle in her eye as Carlisle smiled at her.

On the porch Rosalie stepped outside, she had the same look on her face as Esme, even more so when she spotted the fact that we were all still soaked.

"Now what did you guys roll in?! Last time it was a mud puddle."

"Er," I started, looking at my brothers and father for help.

"Emmett?" Rose demanded

"The river," he admitted looking everywhere but at his wife.

"Honestly, the five of you are ridiculous."

"It was a bachelor party!" I exclaimed "and an awesome one at that."

"You know we were this close to sending the dogs after you guys?"

"Bloodhounds or shape-shifting wolf pack?" I asked seriously, Rosalie growled at me and I winced back. "Er, never mind, not important."

"Good choice," she paused and threw her hands up in the air "honestly," she added before heading back into the house.

Esme rolled her eyes at us and pointed to the garage, none of us were going in the house the front door apparently, not even Carlisle.

"Chris, Jasper you both have to pick Renee and Phil in an hour and get them back here, driving human speed, I highly recommend you both change and leave, NOW."

Jasper and I exchanged a look, grinned at our mother and headed for the garage to use my back stairs to get inside. Just as I was heading to the stairs, Edward grabbed my shirt collar and I winced.

"Er, yes Ed?" I asked he rolled his eyes at me and gave me a gentle shove.

"Get laid?" he asked "really was that necessary?"

I shrugged

"Seemed appropriate, I watch the travel channel, as soon as you land in Hawaii they put those lei thing on you, isn't that called getting laid?" I grinned mischievously

To my surprise Edward smiled

"Emmett's right you know, welcome back Chris."

"Thanks Edward." I replied.

Xxx

The half hour drive to the hotel was relaxing. Jasper let me drive, he had drafted up a permit for me which gave me full legal permission to drive Esme's Audi with my licensed brother. This was seriously our only job for the wedding besides showing up at the alter with Edward as his ushers.

"Do you think Edward is nervous?" I asked Jasper, it wasn't really a question more like a statement, we both could see that he was as nervous as they come, Jasper could sense it and I could read it on our brother.

"I was," Jasper replied, he looked over at me as I pulled off the highway towards the hotel "and you will be too."

"You're starting to sound like your wife, I hope you realize that." I said

"and you're starting to sound like Edward." Jasper shot back

"Touché," I replied

"Nerves are a good thing Chris, it happens to everyone. I bet even Emmett still gets nervous each time him and Rosalie renew their vows."

"I bet no one is as nervous as Bella," I added grinning

"You felt it too?" Jasper asked

"Felt it, heck no I could smell it, though I think Alice had her locked in the bathroom doing who knows what to her, so that could've been where the fear was coming from."

I pulled the car down the road and around the circular driveway in front of the hotel. We both stepped out and waited patiently for Bella's mum and step-father. Neither of us had met them, so we weren't really sure what to expect.

With all the wedding planning that Renee, Alice, Esme, and Rosalie have been doing throughout the house, I've made sure to make myself as scarce as possible. So when Renee and Phil flew in a few days ago, I wasn't around to meet Renee. Besides, I could tell just from how Bella was acting, she wanted to spend as much time with her mum as possible. Of course I knew why, she was trying to say her goodbye and realizing that it was tougher than she realized.

I knew that Phil was a baseball player for some minor league team in Florida and that Bella's mum had many different career and hobby interests, but had been a teacher and was a current substitute teacher.

"Oh, you must be Jasper and Chris!" Renee exclaimed coming out of the hotel, trying to balance in her heels, while carrying her dress. Phil came right behind her, already in his suit and carrying a small bag as well as a gift. "It is so wonderful to finally meet you boys." She said hugging me first and then Jasper, catching my brother by surprise. I glanced at him carefully just to make sure he was okay, but surprisingly he was doing really well.

"Er hi Mrs….Dwyer," I started when she let Jasper go, Phil held out his hand to Jasper first and Jasper shook it, then he did the same to me.

"Wow, you guys must have the AC blasting in there, your hands are freezing."

I nodded

"Mum doesn't like us running the AC too much so I blast it when I get the chance." I replied "I like it cold,"

"Bella was right you do have an accent!" Renee exclaimed hugging me again "oh it is so adorable. Chris what part of England were you from?" she asked as Jasper and Phil put the small bags and the dress carefully into the boot."

"Er, I was born in Scotland, just outside of Glasgow, but we moved to London when I was about three or four." I explained sliding into the driver seat, Phil and Renee went to the back seat.

"Phil and I are planning a trip to Europe next year, during the off season. I've heard England is so beautiful."

"it is, but Scotland more so." I exclaimed as we pulled out of the hotel and towards the highway.

"So tell me boys," Phil said leaning forward between us "you guys like baseball right?" Phil grinned

"We both do," Jasper explained "Chris is more of a Cricket fan though," Jasper gave me a sly grin

Phil however looked confused

"Cricket?" he asked "like the bug?" that got Jasper laughing as I rolled my eyes, my poor sport gets no respect.

xxx

A/N: Okay guys I really am trying to be punctual with this fic. Breaking Dawn was not one of my favorite books when it first came out and I had to reread it a few times to actually enjoy it, so I'm really struggling here with this fic, so please be patient with me. Once I get over the wedding and pregnancy hurdle and Nessie is a part of the fic things will really start picking up. It's just going to take some time to get there. Thanks as always for the support I'm receiving with this fic, you guys are so important to me!