So here's the last chapter to be posted up before this site is caught up with Twilighted (where I originally posted this fic). Thanks for all being so lovely about it, in reviews and favouriting and story alerting. At some point I will reply to all of them, but am a wee bit busy just at the moment.

Thanks and much love and hugs once again go to my awesome beta ms_ambrosia (she rocks) who does all the hard work on this fic – I just write it, she makes it good.

Enjoy and thanks for reading.

The Human in the House

EmPOV

"...such jealousy to be quieted? How was the truth to reach him? How, in all the peculiar disadvantages of their respective situations, would he ever learn her real sentiments? It was misery to think of Mr Elliot's attentions. – Their evil was incalculable."

Finishing the sentence, I closed the book and looked down at Bella propped up against me. Her breathing was deep and her eyes half-closed as she listened to the story.

"I think we're done for tonight, Bells. You're going to fall asleep if we aim for another chapter."

A small sigh and a nod were the only indications that she had heard me and hadn't already drifted into unconsciousness. Moving carefully, I placed the book on the bedside table and slid out from under Bella. Supporting her head with one hand, I tried to dislodge her with as little disruption as possible.

Finally making my way off the bed, I leaned over to brush a kiss to the top of her head, brushing a few stray hairs away from her face. "Night, Bells. Sweet dreams."

Ah, yes. Bella's dreams. Vastly entertaining to torment her with, particularly as she never remembered exactly what she had said in her sleep.

I was halfway across the room before her small voice, croaky with sleep, stopped me.

"Emmett..."

"Yes, Bells?" I asked, making my way back over to her.

"You like me right?"

I frowned slightly, trying to work out where she was going with this. "Of course I like you Bells. I don't just read Jane Austen for anyone, you know," I joked, trying to lighten her mood.

"And Jasper likes me, too? And Carlisle? And Esme, even though I'm mean to her sometimes?"

Bella still hadn't particularly warmed to Esme in the last two months. Jasper had assumed that she was trying to push the boundaries she had been set – to see how far she could push us before we snapped, with Esme being an easy target. He was still ordering her around, telling her what to do and when to do it, but she didn't seem to mind. I think she liked not having to make the decisions for herself. So she ate when Jasper told her to, took showers and brushed her teeth when he told her to, did schoolwork that we collected for her when he told her to and even went to sleep when he told her to. Carlisle theorised that Bella found the structure comforting amongst the turmoil that she was suffering over her parents' deaths.

He also theorized that that was why she hadn't bonded with him or Esme as much as she had with Jasper or I. Bella was brought up as an only child; she had never had brothers, therefore it was easy for her to accept us as such. On the other hand, she had had two loving parents and was in no hurry to have their position in her life usurped by Carlisle and Esme. Carlisle didn't push, understanding that she would need time and space to heal before seeing him in a parental light, but Esme...

Esme just couldn't help herself. She was a natural mother, fussing over all of us. And when she tried to fuss over Bella too, she was usually met by stony silence, scathing contempt or an abundance of tears. She was trying to hold back on her affections towards Bella and our little sister was slowly coming around, but every now and then there would be another misstep and Bella would snap once more.

Returning my attention towards Bella, I answered her question. "Yes, Bells. Jasper and Carlisle love you, and so does Esme, even if you are a wicked old witch to her sometimes."

Bella flushed at my gentle rebuke, her eyes darting away before returning to mine. "Why doesn't Edward?"

"Why doesn't Edward what?"

"Like me."

And there was another ongoing issue - my absentee brother. In many ways I understood where he was coming from, having twice experienced the same spike of lust for a particular human's blood. But Edward wasn't just scared of accidentally feeding on Bella and destroying our family. He was actually completely petrified of Bella herself.

I personally found this hilarious, the poor little virgin. He skulked around the house, clearly used to the scent by now, avoiding Bella's room and ducking and weaving out of sight whenever she ventured into the rest of the house. He wouldn't talk to her, no matter what Esme said, or however much Jasper and I ragged on him.

"What are you talking about? Of course Edward likes you, Bells. Who wouldn't?"

"But I never see him," she whispered. "He never talks to me or comes to see me or anything."

I snorted loudly in amusement, causing Esme downstairs to mutter "manners" at me.

"That's not because he doesn't like you. It s just because he's a giant puss... pansy. Edward's never had to live with a girl before is all."

Bella huffed at my explanation and sat up, staring at her hands twisting together in her lap. "He lives with Esme though and she's a girl."

"Yeah, but not a real one," I explained cheerfully.

Sudden silence descended upon the house and I could tell that everyone had stopped what they were doing and were now avidly listening to this conversation. A hiss from downstairs was growing rapidly louder to the point where any second now Bella would be able to hear it. Shit!

"I mean... she's like a mom to us, yeah. So we don't look at her as being like a proper chick, yeah. 'Cause she's our mom... she's not like a real woman or anything to us... Well, maybe to Carlisle... but not to us, like me or Edward or Jasper, so it's not really the same thing is it?" I was frantically back-pedalling with no clue as to whether or not it was actually working.

The hissing downstairs was now loud enough that even Bella could hear it and she clapped a hand over her mouth, giggling quietly into it. I was in so much deep shit by now, I knew there was no chance of saving myself, so I decided to finish answering Bella's question before Esme came up here and tried to take an arm off in punishment.

"I think Edward just hasn't spent time with you yet because he doesn't want to intrude upon you, Bella. He's never had a little sister before and so he's just keeping his distance until he knows how to act around you. It doesn't mean he doesn't like you, we all love you Bells. If we didn't you'd have been breakfast already."

She stuck her tongue out at me at this, before smirking. A sign of progress: we could now joke about having Bella as a snack without her believing that it really was going to happen.

"I think you've just got to remember that living with a human is as strange for us, as living with vampires is for you, ok?"

Bella nodded before sliding back down under her covers. "I don't think I'm tired anymore now," she announced.

"You need to go to sleep now Bella or you'll be worn out tomorrow." The voice came from behind me and I turned to glance at Jasper, only to do a double-take when I saw Edward standing slightly behind him.

"But I was talking to Emmett before and now I'm not tired," Bella whined. "Can't Emmett stay and read me some more of my book 'til I fall asleep again?"

A slow smile that I immediately didn't like crossed Jasper's face. "Emmett can't read to you anymore this evening." He turned to face me, his grin becoming more pronounced the longer he held my gaze. A paralyzing shot of dread filled me and I glared at its maker. "Esme asked if you wouldn't mind speaking with her downstairs, Emmett."

Looking around the room, I saw that all of them, even Edward, now had the exact same grin on all their faces and I was tempted to wipe it off. Esme was waiting though, so I decided to settle for getting my own back on at least one of them. I was going to be damned if I was the only one to feel uncomfortable this evening.

"Seeing as I have to go and speak to Esme urgently, why don't you read Bella another chapter Edward?" His grin had now turned to a glare and I mentally stuck my finger up at him. If I was going down, I was taking someone with me. "I sure she'd have no problem falling asleep to your voice, would she?"

Edward looked set to decline before he caught a glance at the pleading look on Bella's face. She was so desperate for him to like her.

"Of course," he agreed through gritted teeth. "I'd love to."

Jasper crossed over the floor to kiss Bella's forehead, whilst I fetched the book from the table where I'd left it. "Goodnight Bells. See you in the morning."

She waved at Jasper and then me as we left the room, and as I walked past Edward I slammed the book into his chest.

"Chapter Twenty-One, brother. And make it good."

Whistling my way down the stairs, I turned the corner into the lounge only to bring my body to a complete halt at the look of fury and disdain that I was greeted with.

"Not really a woman, Emmett?" Esme wasn't even trying to hold back the snarls that ripped through her chest and I winced back, holding my hands up in surrender.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Carlisle smirking at me behind his wife's back. Smarmy bastard.

"Well, I think I might go for a hunt now," he announced blithely, standing up and throwing his paper onto the coffee table. "Jasper, would you care to join me?"

That's right; abandon me in my hour of need.

They both waltzed out the back door as Esme began screeching at me about proper respect and what would Bella think and...

...and I heard one of the best sounds in this house for a long time.

Edward's clear tones rang down the stairs to where I was standing.

"Anne recollected with pleasure the next morning her promise of going to Mrs Smith; meaning that it should engage her from home at the time when Mr Elliot would be most likely to call; for to avoid Mr Elliot was almost a first object."

Emmett: 1, Edward: 0.

CPOV

It was late; the house was quiet for once and I welcomed the calm.

Bella was finally coming to terms with living with us and we were all better for it. Now we just had to deal with the everyday issues that came from having a human in the house.

Emmett was in his element, playing the role of a big brother to perfection and winning Bella's trust as he did so. I reminded myself to have a quiet word with him after Christmas. Bella was starting school with the others in January and I was concerned over how his overprotective behaviour would appear to Bella's peers. While she understood that we would have to move on again after a few years to protect our identities, I also didn't want her to miss out on any human interactions and relationships that would have been formed if she had had a normal life.

Which meant that I would also have to speak with Jasper. Bella relied on him completely as an authority figure and whilst I was happy that she felt she could turn to him for guidance, I also realised how strange it would appear to the humans that she would rely on her brother, but not her parents.

I could tell by Esme's increasing excitement as we got closer to the New Year that she was looking forward to having the opportunity to properly take on a motherly role towards Bella. I tried to restrain her – I could see that Bella was more comfortable with us in the role of an uncle and aunt – but she was unable to completely reign herself in. It was her natural instinct to mother. At least Bella was no longer screaming at her.

"Bella's asleep now." My youngest son entered the room.

That was another remarkable change in the family dynamic. Through Emmett's intervention, Edward was now alternating with him on reading to Bella before bed. He was not yet relaxed enough around her to sit on the bed with her as Emmett did, but he was no longer avoiding her and had apparently contained his bloodlust enough to remain in a closed room with her for a prolonged period of time.

"You shouldn't have read to her for so long," Jasper commented, looking up from the textbook he was studying. "She should have been asleep half an hour ago. You indulge her too much."

Edward bristled, as Emmett glanced up from a replay of the game on TV. "Chill, Jasper. I read to her this late yesterday and she was fine."

"She's fine at the moment, but she's starting to become more tired during the day and it'll get worse when she's expected to go to school. You both need to stop pandering to her whims all the time. It's not good for her health. Carlisle wouldn't you agree?"

Everyone was now engaged in this conversation, our individual pursuits all abandoned.

I sighed heavily, unwilling to enter the argument which I knew was brewing. "I think that we should trust Bella to know when she needs to sleep." Jasper was now glaring daggers at me. "However," I added, "I do think we'll have to look at set bedtimes when she does go back to school." I saw this as an opportunity to bring up the parenting issue. "I'm sure when that happens there will be several household rules that Esme and I will have to think about implementing in order to ensure that Bella doesn't become... distracted... when dealing with the change in circumstances."

Edward smirked at whatever thoughts he had just purloined from my mind, whilst Jasper cocked an eyebrow. Emmett was busy muttering to himself about how he was helping Bella to 'have fun' rather than 'distracting' her.

"And what if she chooses not to listen to Esme and yourself? So far she's looked to me for guidance. Are you suddenly going to tell her that that's no longer acceptable?" Although his words were challenging, Jasper looked crestfallen at the thought that he would be shunted to the side when considering Bella's welfare.

Edward was starting to fidget uncomfortably, probably due to the mental bombardment he was almost certainly being subjected to. This argument was quickly beginning to escalate and the distress that Jasper was beginning to emit was heightening the room's discomfort.

My lovely wife, ever the peacemaker, decided to try and calm him before we all got so upset that complete carnage erupted. The last time that had happened we had completed destroyed our house and several of our neighbours' in New York State and had to swiftly relocate to avoid suspicion. "Jasper, no-one's trying to dismiss the influence you've had on Bella while she's been staying with us. We just think..."

She paused, and then froze, her head slowly turning to face the stairs that she was standing close to. Esme's hesitation was out-of-character and fearing that Jasper had sent a strong spike of emotion at her I took a step towards her and then also stopped.

Blood.

Upstairs.

Bella.

About to run to check on her, I turned sharply upon hearing a snarling whimper, bracing my body for the attack I knew I was about to stop.

But it never came.

I had to peer around Emmett, who had taking up the same crouched guarding position as me, to see Edward huddled upon the floor, the source of the pained noises which resounded though the lounge. His body was violently trembling with the obvious effort it took to keep him from attacking; his hands were clawed, fingers easily tearing through the wooden flooring.

Jasper, by contrast, remained on the sofa but was now deathly still, his hands clenched into tight fists. He appeared to be concentrating intently and after a tense five seconds calm began to spread heavily through all of our bodies.

Edward slowly stopped whimpering, taking a deep breath before sprinting out the glass patio doors without opening them.

Emmett shuffled his feet, ducking his head in embarrassment. "I might go join Edward hunting, you know, make sure he doesn't get into trouble."

I nodded then smiled at him, understanding what he was trying not to say. "Of course, Emmett. Make sure you take as much time as you need."

He inclined his head towards me, grabbing Jasper – who still hadn't moved – and practically throwing the two of them out the already broken window.

I turned back to my wife. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I just..." She wrung her hands together. "I need to check and make sure she's alright."

"Of course," I immediately complied, taking her hand and running up to Bella's bedroom.

We entered cautiously, uncertain as to what we might find – which was nothing.

Bella was fast asleep, curled into a small ball in the middle of her bed. Yet I could still strongly smell blood. Taking a step towards her, I was stopped by Esme gently but forcefully placing her hands on my chest.

"I think I'll take care of this Carlisle."

I gazed down questioningly at her and she smirked up at me.

"Think of how old she is, love. This is a conversation best kept between us girls."

Comprehension followed by embarrassment was swift. "I think you're right. I might go and catch up with the boys, let them know what's going on and how they're going to deal with it. The last thing we'll want is Emmett unconsciously making crude remarks in front of Bella. I don't imagine she'll be too happy about the situation... or the pitfalls involved with living with vampires."

Esme pressed a soft kiss on my lips before smacking my ass as I turned to leave the room. "Go. Do damage control. We'll be fine."

Reaching the hall, something suddenly occurred to me. "Esme? Just... I know you'll do your best for her, but don't let her take advantage of your kindness."

"I won't," she promised.

Making my way out the house, I couldn't miss the horrified shriek which rang out from the second storey.

"What do mean you can smell me!?"

Picking up speed, I began to track down the boys and caught up with them just in time to see them take on an entire herd of deer. With the burning in my throat increasing every moment, I happily threw myself into the fray.

When we later returned to the house Bella was asleep again and the smell of fresh blood was now significantly reduced. To this day I never knew what Bella and Esme had talked about, my wife refused to tell me. This was one of those occasions when I almost envied Edward his gift. Whatever was said had obviously made a positive impact as from then on the tension in the house between the two women was practically non-existent. Whilst still not entirely at ease with Esme's motherly overtures, Bella was at least not violently rejecting them anymore.

The house was almost peaceful for once. I wondered how long that would last when Bella finally joined the boys at school next year.