A/N: Okay, I know, I know, it's taken forever to update but you should know that I've been very busy with rehearsal and an art show and completing college applications. I haven't just ignored you all. :)
Hope everyone is having a good holiday! I know Rosalie is ;)
Enjoy the chapter. I plan on doing a sister chapter to show you how Edward's holiday is going. His brother, Carlisle, and his sister in law, Esme, are visiting him. Should be juicy.
I went ahead and made Alice and Emmett Mason's. Rosalie is a Hale. They can't be Cullens. That would be very confusing. I haven't decided on Jasper's surname though.
NEED TO KNOW: This chapter takes place two months after the last chapter. It is not the morning after.
Disclaimer: This isn't really mine. It's Stephenie Meyers. Yeah, yeah, the usual.
Chapter Five
"Hello is this Rosalie?"
"Yes... May I ask who's calling?"
"It's Charlie. Is Bella there?"
"Yes she is," Rosalie put down her fork and paused a bit, to kill some time. "She's in the shower, but I will tell you she called."
Charlie sighed into the earpiece. "That would be fine. Merry Christmas, Rosalie."
"You too."
Emmett, who was chewing the last of his omelet with his mouth open, asked, "Who was that?"
Rosalie stirred some milk into her coffee with her finger. "It was Charlie."
Emmett, literally, licked his plate. "More toast?"
"No thanks."
Emmett excused himself to rummage through the Hale's kitchen, which he knew all too well. "Why was Charlie calling? Looking for me?" He joked.
"No," Rosalie dabbed at her mouth with her napkin, "he doesn't know you spend the night here."
"Oh," Emmett popped the bread into the toaster, "but he thinks Bella does?"
Rosalie shrugged but did not answer.
"Where has she been lately, anyways?"
"Around." Rosalie considered getting up to put her dish in the dishwasher, but was too comfortable in the chair. She pulled out her shiny, new iPhone to send Bella a warning text.
Emmett was making a racket at the counter, taking out knives and butter holders and honey jars. "Why are you covering for her? You never seemed to like her much before..."
Rosalie was spared having to make up an answer to Emmett's question by her mother's entrance. "Hello Emmett, dear... Rosalie... Have either of you seen my keys?"
Rosalie filled up her mouth with coffee and resorted to a dramatic head shaking no.
"I haven't," said Emmett. "How was your night last night, Mrs. Hale?"
"Just wonderful. The Taylor's were smashed. It was positively hilarious. I've never seen old Christine so happy!" Mrs. Hale continued on like this for the next few minutes, completely unaware that her audience had become absorbed with the toast now ringing from the toaster. "Oh here they are!" Mrs. Hale jingled her keys in delight, "Don't know what they were doing in the breadbasket. Anyways, Rose, dear, don't forget to pick up your room. I don't want Greta to have to collect your thongs. Speaking of which," Mrs. Hale's voice dropped to a stage whisper. "I refilled your BC prescription. You can pick it up from Walgreen's after noon."
Rosalie nodded and resumed the tedious task of cutting up her omelet into a million pieces.
"Well, I have to leave. Luncheon. Tell your father, if he calls, that I'm at the Oppenheimer's, will you?"
Mrs. Hale blew Rosalie a kiss and then patted Emmett on the back in a way that confirmed Rosalie's opinion that her mother had a certain fondness for Emmett that she did not have for her own daughter.
"Bye Emmett, and Rosalie, be safe the two of you!"
The door shut with a thud.
Emmett returned to the table with his second breakfast and peered up at Rosalie from behind his milk glass. She was bright red and staring pathetically at her plate. "Oh come on now, she's gone for the day."
"Yes, but, God, she is so embarrassing."
Emmett paused his feeding to hold Rosalie's hand. Rosalie continued, sadly, "I'm sorry you had to hear that."
"Hear what?"
"Her talk about my birth control. She is so clueless."
"It's okay, Rosy. I mean, I already know you're on The Pill..."
"It's not that, it's that she can talk about it so easily. And in front of you. Really, she wouldn't care if I humped you for a month straight!"
Emmett's eyes grew stony. "At least your mom's here. And she wants you to be safe. My mother? She's not even around long enough to ask Alice if she needs it!"
They had reached a touchy subject that neither of them wanted to dwell on. There was a silence as Emmett slurped down the last of his milk. He picked up his glass and his plate, and said, as if the past conversation had not even occurred. "Why don't we see a movie today, huh? Get out of this house?"
Rosalie nodded and joined him at the kitchen sink as she received a text back from Bella: Thanks.
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Bella slammed her car door shut and shivered against the cold. Charlie was waiting for her on the stairs, his arms crossed nervously across his chest. "Hey kiddo," he said as Bella walked through the door, "I was nervous about you."
Bella shrugged off her winter coat and peeled away at her hat and gloves.
"I get nervous about you driving in that snow."
"Dad, I do it every year."
"Yes," he pulled her unwillingly into a one-armed hug, "but that doesn't make it any safer."
"Did you get the apples?"
"Yes. I already sliced them up."
"Oh, thanks."
Bella smiled at her father and then walked into the kitchen. They were preparing for their big Christmas Eve feast, which they had prepared for the past few years. The Swan's weren't really located in Forks, nor was Rene's—Bella's divorced mother—family, so Bella and Charlie made dinner for their own friends for the holidays. The past few years the guest list had grown from Billy and Jacob, Charlie's friends from Port Angeles, to include Emmett and Alice Mason. Emmett and Alice typically had their large house to themselves, seeing as their mother and father, very rich entrepreneurs, sought their business dealings and fun on brighter shores. So, instead of leaving the children alone, Charlie had, in a sense, adopted them for the holidays.
Every year the meal was the same: roasted turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade bread, and, for desert, Bella's famous apple pie.
And this year would be the same. Except, that Billy and Jacob were traveling to Alaska Bella was contemplating the whereabouts of her anatomy teacher and wondering which of the foods would be the best aphrodisiac.
Bella's wandering thoughts were brought back to reality with the sound of the doorbell. "Are they here already?" Charlie asked. "It's only two."
Bella shrugged. She had a feeling that Emmett wanted to head back to Rosalie for...nighttime activities...and that he might wish Christmas to be a little earlier this year.
"Hey Alice, Emmett."
Alice jumped up and down, squealed, and nearly dropped the presents in her hands. "Bella, gosh, it feels like I haven't seen you for forever!"
"I know!" Bella couldn't help but smile with Alice's enthusiasm.
"What about me?" The neglected Emmett asked from the steps.
"I missed you too, Emmett."
"Good. Alright, can we get inside? My goddamn balls are even shivering."
Bella walked them inside and lead them to the tree—even though they were very well familiar with the layout of the Swan household. Charlie entered from the kitchen and insisted on hugging Alice and Emmett, who playfully acted embarrassed. They looked like a real family.
"What are you making?"
Bella shrugged. "Some pies, mostly. I'm making Charlie roast the turkey."
"Mmm. Smells good." Alice bounced on her toes and began to set the table, even though they weren't eating for hours. "So, where have you been lately? You weren't at Jasper's recital."
Bella frowned. She remembered Jasper telling her specifically not to come. That he hated the piece of music his instructor was forcing on him and had already tried to talk Alice out of it. "I thought he hated that music."
"He's growing to like it."
"Right."
"So... what did you do instead?"
"That night?" Bella reeled her brain. She couldn't remember exactly where she had been that night, and doubted that she had even been with Edward. "Mom called and we just talked for a few hours." This was not untrue. Renee had called once that weekend, though she couldn't remember the precise date.
"Oh." Alice sounded almost disappointed. Bella got the impression that Alice was trying very hard to catch Bella doing something and, to Alice's chagrin, talking to her mother was a perfectly acceptable excuse.
"I think Charlie wants to use the bell napkins, if that's alright. They're new."
"Yeah, yeah, of course. Can we use the goblets?"
Though Charlie was not, by any means, rich, his somewhat wealthy extended family had once given him large, almost golden, goblets as a gift. They usually collected dust in the cabinet, but Alice was rather fond of them.
"Sure. I don't care."
"Are you taking out those dog bowls, Alice?"
"Dog bowls?" Emmett followed Charlie into the room drumming on his stomach. "Those are very fancy dog bowls."
"Well, whatever they are, put them back."
"But Charlie, they're beautiful!"
"No," He shook his head as he checked on the turkey. " They look pretentious. We're not using those phony cups."
"If you hate them so much, why do you still have them?"
Charlie shrugged, but Bella could see behind his visage. Charlie was not in contact with his family and those goblets, however "pretentious," were some of the only ties he still had with them.
"Okay, fine, we'll use the 1999 World Series cups, like last year."
"Now that's my girl!" Charlie set the timer for an hour, "So, where are Frank and Gloria this year?"
Frank and Gloria were Emmett and Alice's parents. They had married when Emmett and Alice were at the awkward age of thirteen, which had made both of the kids uncomfortable until high school. The newlyweds got married and had their honeymoon during the winter holidays and later began a tradition of spending their anniversary in foreign places. They usually had enough tact to fly home for Christmas day, but usually spent Christmas Eve away, leaving the kids with Charlie.
"Bermuda?"
"Bahamas?"
"Brazil?"
"I dunno, somewhere that starts with a B."
Charlie frowned with his back facing Emmett and Alice. Charlie had once been a good friend to Frank—they even played racket ball together for a period of time—but he changed drastically after marrying Emmett's rich mother. "I received your holiday card. It's beautiful."
"Thanks!" Alice singsonged. She was a Photoshop master and had edited the picture. It was beautiful, and it was sitting on the kitchen counter.
Dinner went smoothly—the turkey, though a little overdone—was edible and the gravy made everything taste better. Bella had managed to whip up some buttermilk, mashed potatoes and, feeling a little experimental, added some asiago cheese. Alice made a vegetable dish; her green beans were always delicious. And Emmett, not a very good cook, filled the plastic cups with water.
When they were too full to have dessert and too anxious to clean, the group headed into the living room to open up presents.
Alice, acting as Santa, passed out the gifts. "This one's for Emmett.... Charlie... Me.... Emmett... Bella..." And when they were all passed out Emmett leaned over to whisper something to Bella. "There's another present to you, Rosalie sent it, but she doesn't want you to open it in front of Charlie."
Bella furrowed her brow. "What?"
Emmett shrugged.
"Alright... who wants to go first?"
Bella hated their system of opening presents. Because there were only four of them, and few presents each, Alice had always insisted on people opening their gifts one at a time. This made her feel very awkward, as though she had to make every moment genuine. It was tough work.
Alice went first. She opened a knitting book from Bella (Alice had always had a desire to knit, but never knew how) and incense from Charlie.
"I heard you're into aromatherapy," Charlie commented.
"Yes, I am!" Alice squealed and asked Charlie if she could light one, to which he replied. "No."
Emmett went second. Charlie got him some M-Rated video game that looked very violent. Emmett was very excited about that. Bella had originally planned to get Emmett a football, but his recent concussion had resulted in his removal from the school team. So, instead, she got him Anchorman.
"No way!" He shouted. "Open yours!"
Bella found a present labeled To: Bella, From: Emmett, which she ripped open eagerly.
It was Anchorman.
The two of them flew into a fit of hysterics, leaving Alice and Charlie very confused and taken aback. A few weeks ago, when Edward was on sick leave (real sick leave), Bella had joined Rosalie and Emmett on their movie night. They watched Anchorman, which Bella had begged not to see, and then ended up loving. By the end of the night, Bella and Emmett were reciting funny quotes from Will Ferrell and Steve Carell until Rosalie screamed for them to shut up.
"That's so funny," Bella laughed, dabbing at her wet eyes.
"Why don't you open your next present," urged Alice, who did not find this very amusing.
Bella did. Alice gave her the complete works of Jane Austin, collector's edition.
"Thank you so much, Alice! Aw, I love it."
Alice smiled, "you're welcome. There's also a gift certificate in there."
"Aw, thanks Alice!" Bella hugged Alice hard. She had a feeling Alice needed one.
"And Charlie!"
Charlie opened his baseball jersey and a another baseball card for his collection. "Thanks guys, you know me well."
"Who's up for dessert?"
Everybody raised their hands and then began their way towards the kitchen.
Bella grabbed Emmett's arm and pulled him back. "Is this it?" She pointed to the bag behind the tree.
"Yup. I have no idea what it is."
He looked vaguely distracted, his hand fiddling with something in his coat pocket. "Yeah, well, tell me what it is will you?" He headed into the kitchen.
Bella frowned. She wasn't sure she wanted to open a gift not suitable for Charlie's eyes.
Bella bent forwards to pull away at the tissue paper. She found a card that read:
Dear Bella,
Have fun with this.
Happy Holidays,
Rosalie
Rosalie was not one for words.
"Have fun with this?" Bella could see the fuzzy collar of something under the card. She grabbed at the red and white garment in shock.
It was Naughty Santa lingerie.
"Bella are you coming? You should slice the pie... you know I have trouble with straight lines..."
Bella quickly hid the bra/underwear combo back into the bottom of the bag and behind the tree. She kicked it further, for good measure.
"Coming," Bella called and walked into the room of people who were smiling jovially at her and had no idea what naughty things she was doing with her anatomy teacher.
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"Thank you for coming," Rosalie hugged Emmett and nuzzled her head into his shoulders. "Oh, it was so awful. I'm never spending another Christmas with my mother again."
"Shh, it's okay." Emmett reassured her. "Is she home now?"
"No, she and my father are still at the party." She looked miserably at the floor, "I was supposed to be their designated driver."
Emmett rubbed her back. "It's okay. I can drive out to pick them up whenever they call."
Rosalie kissed Emmett long and hard on the mouth. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas."
Emmett picked nervously at his jacket.
"Are you cold?"
"No, no, I'm just perfect. Why don't you, err, go sit on the couch. Your present is outside. Let me go get it."
"Okay," Rosalie started to walk away but decided against it, "but I haven't wrapped yours yet... it's in the bedroom." She let her hand linger for a moment on his southern regions.
"Yeah, fine," Emmett said unevenly. He turned around and walked away without another word.
Curious, Rosalie headed into the television room where she curled up on her couch. She pulled a blanket up to her nose and shivered beneath it. Damn, she wished he would hurry up.
Rosalie closed her eyes and pushed her face into a plush pillow. She heard the noise of Emmett closing the door in the foyer but, instead of hearing his footsteps, Rosalie heard a soft tinkle and the sound of padded feet on wood. Her head skyrocketed and she turned to face the doorway, where a small Westie greeted her.
"Oh my God! Emmett! She is so cute!" Rosalie swooped the puppy up into her arms and began dancing with it.
"Oh my God! Emmett! You got me a DOG!!!!"
"Well," he was looking green, almost, "it's ours actually."
Rosalie grinned. "Who says I'm going to share her?"
Emmett paused and took in Rosalie's happiness. She squealed and then asked, "What's her name?"
Emmett coughed. "Maybe it says on the collar."
Rosalie set the dog next to her on the couch and began to inspect the collar. But she did not find the dog's name there. She found a beautiful, diamond ring.
A/N: I stole this from my friend. When we were, like, 10, me and my friend were talking about the best ways to be proposed to. I don't remember my answer—basically, anything other than a baseball big-screen... I would prefer to remain ANONYMUS—but she said she wants to be sitting on a couch, eating ice cream when her boyfriend gets her a cat (I took my creative licence and made it a dog... I'm more of a dog person), and the cat is wearing a blue ribbon that acts as a chain to the engagement ring. I've remembered that for years. It's beautiful.
So now Rosalie gets to bask in this poeticness.
Anyways, this is not a very B/E chapter, but the next one will be. I guess I just wanted to establish the relationships of the other characters more. Sorry there wasn't much Jasper. But don't worry. I haven't forgotten him.
Hope everyone loved it. I want to thank EVERYONE for the wonderful feedback and the great reviews! I love that you guys enjoy it so much and I really wish I could post more often. Thanks for being so patient and reading!
Love,
redireas
P.S. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
