So chapter seven at last. Sorry about the delay, I know I promised it earlier but hay ho, I'll try to do better. I am trying to change my as currently everything goes to my husbands computer, and he is getting a bit annoyed. So just incase I can't work out how to change it on my profile, my new is .uk.

I initially thought that this would be a shortish fic, but it seems to be taking longer to get to the E/B action than I had anticipated, so it may well end up longer. I hope that is OK?

By the way we have a new kitten in the house and he is called 'Ed', naturally he has green eyes and I have no doubt that he will sparkle in the sunlight

Chapter 7

BPOV

Pushing my key into the lock and swinging open the door, the relief I felt to be home washed over me. I kicked off my shoes carelessly, adding to the growing pile at the bottom of the stairs and walked barefoot into the kitchen. I couldn't think of anything that would be able to make me feel better. After all there is no pill that you can take to relieve acute embarrassment, no magic elixir for the cure of continued rejection and to cap it all I remembered the bloody batteries in my 'Rabbit' had gone flat; so it seems that I was doomed to remain completely wound up and frustrated- at least until I could make a quick trip to Wal-Mart. Aaagh! I yanked open the freezer door, pulling out one drawer after another. There had to be some ice-cream hidden in here somewhere. But it seems I could be mistaken about even that, nothing, not even the crystalline scrapings at the bottom of a long forgotten tub. I can't believe this; can my life get any shittier?

I slammed the freezer door shut in sheer frustration. There was nothing for it; I needed a really good cry. I had felt it building in my chest and behind my eyes for the last half hour, so I might as well get it over with before Alice and Jasper get back to witness my misery. Grabbing the box of tissues off the kitchen counter, I slumped my way up to my room- ignoring the shoes- and shut the door.

Slumping down on the rug, I lay my head against the soft, cool cotton duvet. I was surprised that the tears had not started, not so much as a sniffle yet. Shit, I can't even cry right…I am just a pathetic excuse for a girl.

I was distracted from my wallowing, by a faint buzzing coming from my bag that hung on the back of my door. It could only have been one of two people as they were the only ones to have this number. I reached in and pulled out the small silver phone, flipping it open.

"Hello, Em?"

"Bells, hey little sister, how are you doin'?"

"All the better for hearing your voice, what's up, is everything Ok?" I asked, it was rare for Emmett to ring outside of birthdays and other major events, so I was naturally curious.

"Everything is great Bells, better than great actually...um where are you?" his voice sounded funny.

"At home in my room, why?"

"Just checking that you aren't in harms way."

"Em, I don't understand what you are talking about? I'm sat on the bed now," I huffed crawling up onto the mound of pillows by the headboard… "Happy?"

"Yep, Ok, here goes… Bells I've got some news."

"Well…" I huffed "what is it… It must be important if you are ringing me at..." I checked my watch… "10.47pm on a Tuesday evening?"

"If you stopped interrupting me I would tell you." There was a pause, a long pause and then he dropped the bomb "BellaI'mgoingtobeadadandRosalieandIaregettingmarried."

"Oh…" I wasn't expecting that.

"Bella?"

"That's amazing Em…but who is Rosalie?"

"Rosalie…I've told you about Rosalie, Bella; she's my girlfriend…well my fiancée now."

"No Em, you have never told me about a girlfriend called Rosalie. I know that I can be a bit forgetful sometimes, but really something as huge as you having a girlfriend?.

"Are you sure?" Emmett checked.

"I'm pretty sure that I would remember those sorts of details Em… That's the sort of detail that a girl like me remembers."

My mind was racing with this new information. Emmett was going to be a dad… a dad to a little, tiny, scrap of a baby… well perhaps not tiny, as somewhere along the genetical lottery Emmett seemed to have inherited the 'gigantic gene', but a baby. I was going to be an aunt.

"So what do you think Bella? A new member of the Swan Dynasty… it's cool right?"

"Yes Emmett, it's cool, I'm really pleased for you. So when do I get to see my big brother and his new fiancée?"

"Well there's the other reason I rang right there… um… we were actually wondering if we could drop in and see you, you know, introduce you to each other before the baby is born."

"I'd really like that Em, how about you both come down for thanksgiving?"

"Thanksgiving… that might be a bit late Bells," Emmett hesitated, he was obviously struggling with what to say, "you see My Rosie, well she is already six month pregnant… so by the time Thanksgiving comes around, little Em will be gurgling."

"I don't believe you Em, how could you keep something like this a secret from me for so long you of all people know how I feel about family."

"Actually Bells, that's exactly why I didn't tell you before. To be honest, I was scared how you would react."

"Why, what did you think I would be angry, or upset that you were getting married? Why in the hell would I be upset that something good was happening in your life?" I sobbed; my own brother thought that I would be jealous of his happiness. "Look Em, really this is the best news, and you and Rosalie are welcome anytime you want to come- just give me a day or twos notice so I can sort out the spare room."

"How about Saturday?"

"What this Saturday?"

"Would that be Ok…it's like four days away, and we wouldn't be able to get there before noon?"

I could hear the desperation in his voice, he really wanted this, really wanted me to say yes.

"Saturday it is then Em, I can't wait to see you both."

"Thanks Bells, I can't wait to see you too… I love you."

"I love you too."

The line on the other end went dead. Emmett was coming… on Saturday… I couldn't wait.

One thing was for sure the call from Emmett certainly distracted me from my previously maudlin state. I could focus on what I was getting, a new sister in law and a niece or nephew to spoil rotten, and I could try to forget that Edward was infatuated with someone else.

Even though it was still only early, I shrugged out of my clothes and dressed ready for bed. Shuffling along the corridor and into the bathroom I caught a glimpse of myself in the large round mirror at the top of the stairs. My eyes were red rimmed and puffy, it only added to the ugliness of my swollen face. God what a joke, how could I dream, that even on a good day, someone like Edward Massen would be interested in me?

I squeezed a generous blob of striped toothpaste onto my toothbrush, and sat down on the toilet to delicately complete the task of brushing my teeth. I began on the good side, but by the time I had finished having a wee I had no choice but to attempt the poorly side of my mouth… it was no good… partly cowardice, but also a genuine fear of more pain prevented me going any further. Standing up, I rinsed my brush and reached for the less scary option of medicated mouth wash- it was better than nothing, at least my breath wouldn't be bad enough to melt plastic! After washing my hands and face with soothing warm water, and patting it dry with one of Alice's new fluffy cotton towels, I shuffled back into my room, leaving the door slightly ajar, before crawling under the duvet and into bed.

There really was no point in shutting the door, Jasper and Alice were going to come in and check on me no matter what.

Pale silvery moonlight was filtering through the partially closed curtains, a thin shaft of light illuminated the solitary picture frame standing on my over-stacked bookshelf, my most precious possession, the only visual reminder of the four of us and Jake. I clenched my eyelids tight shut, trying to brand the happy image into my brain.

APOV

The house was in total darkness by the time we got home from Carlisle and Esme's house. As Jasper had predicted Cyggi had made a swift retreat to her bed. Ever since we first met, it was always the first place she would go if she was unhappy. I wouldn't mind betting that she is now completely submerged under her duvet, and won't come out again until nature makes it impossible for her to stay there any longer.

"I wish she wouldn't do this." Jasper sighed.

"It's hardly a huge surprise is it? You know Cyggi as well, if not better than I do… the only thing we can do now is to wait until the morning, by which time hopefully she will feel a bit happier , and you can coax her out of her nest with some eggy-bread and those fabulous sausages you bought."

"Bribery?" Jasper raised his eyebrow and winked.

"Certainly, you know as well as I do that Bella loves those sausages, and once she smells them cooking, even her stubborn ass won't be able to resist the smell."

"So it looks as if I am on breakfast duty in the morning then?" Jasper laughed. "What time do you want her up by…just so I know how long you're going to let me lie in before you force me out into the cold at stupid o'clock?"

I tried to look horrified… "Force you jazz? I would never force you to do anything, you know that. You will get up at seven to make breakfast tomorrow morning, because you love me without reserve… don't you?"

"Minx." Jasper laughed, switching off the lights as we headed up the stairs quietly.

The door to Cyggi's room was open just a fraction. There was no noise coming from inside.

"Let me just check on her," Jazz whispered softly in my ear, "I won't be a second, I just want to… you know … make sure she's ok before we go to bed ourselves."

Jasper silently pushed the door open. In the moonlight the outline of Bella's body was clearly visible under her duvet. She's the only adult I know who could sleep in that position- like a baby on its knees, head down, with its ass in the air. Jasper knelt down by the bed and gently stroked the small lump where Cyggi's head would be.

"Night, night baby," He cooed gently "we love you, you silly girl."

As he stood up I saw his eyes flick to the nightstand, and a frown deepen on his brow.

"What's the matter?" I asked as he left the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

"Cyggi didn't take her pills before she went to sleep, they're still where you put them before we left for the party… doesn't she want to get better?"

"Of cause she does Jazz… she just forgot, we can make sure she gets them in the morning. There's nothing that we can do about it now other than waking her up and I really don't want to be the one to do that."

BPOV

I heard the front door open and close and the murmur of soft voices down in the hall. I lay there trying unsuccessfully to make out what they were saying. There were quiet footsteps on the stairs, and I heard my door brush open. Jasper's large hand rested on my covered head, rubbing gently as he whispered goodnight. God, I love my friends. It was as the door closed behind him that I heard him tell Alice I had forgotten to take my pills. I waited until I heard their bedroom door shut, and then uncurled, kneeling up slipping the duvet from my shoulders. I reached out for the light switch at the side of my bed, allowing me to see the two tablets and the bottle of water Alice had left there for me earlier. I broke each of the tablets into four pieces and swallowed the carefully, grateful that I would not be without the pain killer in my system during the night. The last thing I wanted right now was to have to go back to the dentist still red and swollen. If I am perfectly honest, I don't intend going back anyway, as long as my jaw doesn't feel painful by the time the pills are gone, I am just going to pretend that there was never any mention of the need for return visits. With Em and Rosalie arriving in just a few days, I am going to be far too busy to visit the dentist anyway. Turning the light off again I snuggled down under the duvet again… mmm bliss.

My stomach rumbled loudly. There was the most delicious smell wafting up the stairs from the kitchen and it was beginning to make my mouth water. Thinking back to last night, I realized that having left the party in such a rush , I had actually gone to bed with nothing past my lips except a few sips of fruit juice; no wonder I was so hungry. Sitting up slowly, I stretched out my stiff body and swung my legs around to sit on the edge of the bed. I wiggled my jaw cautiously… there was no real pain, just a dull ache, that had to be good news. Perhaps my plan to evade a repeat visit to the dentist might work. Wrapping myself in the old fleecy jumper that I kept for breakfast 'a la pajamas,' I crept down the stairs and in to the kitchen.

Jasper was stood at the stove wearing nothing at all except the boxers that I brought him back from my exchange visit to England years ago. They were originally red, but had now faded to a very pretty shade of pink. I remember buying them at a Sunday market somewhere in Wales, the stall was dedicated to all things 'Rugby' and this particular pair of boxers were emblazoned with the words 'NICE TACKLE' across the front. They were as much a gift for Alice as Jasper, for even back then she couldn't help singing his praises in that department.

"Morning Japer, that smells good, and I have to say the view of the chef is quite delicious too." I laughed.

"Huhum, do you mind?" Alice giggled from behind me, "That particular delicacy is only for my particular enjoyment Miss Swan… find your own!"

"Believe me Alice, I am trying, but all of the ones worth having seem to be taken." I sighed heavily before sitting down.

"Can you eat some of everything Cyggi?" Jasper asked turning around and waving his spatula in the air artistically.

"And everything is?"

"Eggy-bread, sausage, bacon and fried mushroom."

"Can I have everything but the fried fungus please?" Alice chirped before I got a chance to answer.

"Me too Jazz," I replied, "but heavy on the fungus, fried mushrooms are my favorite. Did you add any garlic?"

"Ugh, not for breakfast Cyggi that's gross." Jasper grimaced, passing Alice her plate, "surely you are joking right?"

"I never joke about something as serious as food Jasper you should know that… garlic and mushroom is a marriage made in heaven."

"That is as maybe," he answered putting my plate in front of me, "but not at eight in the morning, that is just wrong."

My mouth was now too full to argue. Jasper is the king of breakfasts and this has to be appreciated in reverential silence. As I chewed enthusiastically on the good side of my mouth, I noticed that there were 'looks' passing between Alice and Jasper. They were going to ask about last night and I wasn't ready for that yet. I needed to distract them, and then I remembered… perfect.

"I had a phone call when I got home last night… from Emmett."

Alice and jasper both put down their forks and looked at me.

"He wants to come and visit."

"Hell yeh!" Jasper punched the air triumphantly. "That's brilliant news Cyggi, when is he coming?"

"Saturday."

"What Saturday, as in three days time Saturday?"

"The very same, he's keen to see everyone as soon as possible."

"I sense that there is more to this than you are letting on Cyggi," Alice observed, "what else did Emmett have to say?"

"He's not coming alone." I added.

"Sooo who's he bringing, is it a girlfriend?" Alice asked excitedly.

"Kind of…"

"SHIT!" Jasper exclaimed "He's bringing his boyfriend… that's it isn't it?"

"No Jazz he is definitely not bringing his boyfriend." I smirked.

"Well stop being so evasive, and tell us who in the hell he is bringing with him all the way from Chicago?"

"His fiancée, Rosalie."

"What Emmett is getting married? I don't believe it, he is the world's biggest bachelor."

"Well apparently not for long." Alice shouted dancing up and down, "Did he tell you what she was like? Is she beautiful? What does she do? How old is she? Ho…."

"Stop Alice!" I shouted "I don't know the answers to any of those questions, I'm sorry."

"Well you're a fat lot of use then… I need information Cyggi, specifics, and not wishy washy generalizations like 'girlfriend'."

"Well I do know she's quite, how should I put it…?" I hesitated, "Pregnant?"

"Holy fuck!" Jasper and Alice exclaimed together.

"Yeh, big surprise for me too. Apparently they are engaged and Emmett wanted Rosalie to meet us all before the baby is born… in about three months."

"What? Rosalie is six months pregnant and they are only just letting us know now?" Alice fumed. "What in the hell was he thinking keeping something like that a secrect?"

"Alice." Jasper warned, his eyes flashing, "I can kind of understand his concern, look at it from his point of view." He hissed under his breath.

"So I am going to be an Aunt," I added breaking the tension that was building in the air. "The rebuilding of the Swan family begins at last." I added with as genuine a smile as I could manage.

Jasper left for work straight after breakfast. Alice and I sat down on the deck, still in our pajamas, enjoying the last of the coffee.

"So," I began, "You don't mind them staying?"

Mind them staying?" Alice repeated "Why would I mind them staying, I love your brother as if he were my own, and even if I did mind, it's your house Cyggi, you can have just who you want to stay here."

"It may be my house in name Alice, but it's our home, you, me and Jasper. You helped me chose it and if it wasn't for your amazing artistic talents, there would still be woodchip paper on the walls and not a stick of furniture that matches in the place."

"God, that paper was hideous wasn't it, do you remember the weeks it took to steam off in those tiny pieces that got everywhere?"

"I do, and the chocolate brown bathroom with the mirror tiles."

"Mmm, gorgeous." Alice laughed, "I really have done wonders with the place haven't I?"

"Yep," I said smiling broadly and then regretting it as a sharp red hot stabbing pain shot through my jaw. "Ow!"

"Damn, I knew there was something that I forgot." Alice said jumping to her feet and pulling me with her. "You didn't take your tablets last night and I bet you haven't had any yet this morning."

"Don't panic Alice, you're right about this morning, but I was awake when Jasper came in last night, so I heard him tell you about the pills. I took them then before I went to sleep."

"That's a relief, go and take the others now and then we can begin to sort out what we need to do for the weekend."

"Haven't you got work to do?" I asked, "I thought you were really busy."

"Cyggi, I am never too busy to help you, come on let's get started, and while we are working you can tell me all about what went on between you and Edward last night…" she grinned. "You surely didn't think for one second, that I was going to let you get away without explaining to me what happened, did you?"

Let me know what you think please, especially if you enjoyed it or want to suggest improvements in style.