So I have bronchitis…ick.

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BPOV

"It's so nice to meet you, Bella." Tanya said, hugging me gently as Edward and I walked in the front door of the house. "Edward told Emmet and I all about you, and you sound like just what he needs." She said sweetly, and Edward tightened his grip on my waist and smiled down at me. "If you guys would just wait a minute, Emmet should be down here in a minute. He's still getting dressed" Tanya explained, slipping on her grey coat over her deep green evening dress.

Tanya was beautiful, with hazel eyes and strawberry blonde hair. She was obviously very well off, because she had an air of self confidence and grace, but also a very sweet quality. I could tell right away that I was going to like her.

"So, Edward, how is Anna doing?" Tanya asked, sticking a tube of lipstick into her purse. "We haven't seen her for a few weeks now."

"She's doing really good." Edward said, a big smile instantly stretching across his face. It was obvious that he loved his daughter very much. "Mom is watching her again tonight for me."

"That's good to hear." Tanya said just as I heard heavy footsteps on the spiral staircase. "Oh, Emmet, there you are." She said, holding her hands out to the amazingly tall and muscular brunette that appeared at the foot of the stairs.

"Sorry, I had to get pretty. I guess Edward here got the pretty boy genes." He guffawed, slapping Edward on the back and slipping an arm around his wife's slender shoulders.

"Do me a favor, Emmet, and just shut the hell up." Edward said, rolling his eyes. "This is Bella. Bella Swan." He added with a charming smile, gesturing to me. Emmet's face lit up and dimples appeared on his cheek; looking out of place on his adult face.

"Hi, Bella Swan. It's nice to meet you." He said, taking my hand and shaking it vigorously. "You picked a good one, Edward." He said in stage whisper. "I can tell."

Edward, Tanya, and I laughed, but I couldn't help but be hopeful. I wanted this relationship to work.

"You're thirty six years old, Em. Thirty six." Edward scolded, but the twinkle in his eyes gave him away. Emmet stuck his tongue out and Edward shook his head. "Are we going, or not?" He asked, raising his eyebrows at Emmet.

"Now, boys, let's calm down." Tanya interjected, and gave me an apologetic smile. "Let's go before these two rip each other's heads off." She said to me, and I laughed weakly.

This was going to be a long, interesting, and hopefully wonderful night.

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Despite his brawny, impressive size, Emmet Cullen was definitely somewhat of a lightweight. He had two beers with dinner, and was already a little tipsy. Tanya had three glasses of wine, and she was surprisingly sober. Edward had downed a beer, but remained perfectly sober as well. I, however, had somehow consumed three glasses of wine as well and was definitely feeling the effects of it.

"You okay?" Edward asked in my ear, noticing my strange behavior.

"I'm a little tipsy." I admitted, and Edward chuckled.

"Come on, I'll take you home." He said, offering me his hand. "Guys, we're going to get out of here." He said to Tanya and Emmet, who had been engrossed in their own private conversation.

"Okay." Emmet slurred, nodding at me. "Bye, beautiful." He winked and Edward smacked him across the back of his head.

"Bye, guys." Tanya laughed and waved as we headed out of the restaurant.

"So?" Edward asked, helping me into the car. I kicked off my heels and slumped down in my seat, giggling.

"That was fun." I said, watching in rapt interest as Edward got in the car, buckled in, and pulled out of the parking lot. "I like your brother, he's a riot."

Edward cast a wary look at me and laughed. "You are so damn drunk." He said incredulously, and I laughed drunkenly.

"No I'm not."I protested, and Edward kept quiet, his pink lips twisted into a smirk.

The whole drive home, I didn't stop thinking about Edward. His lips, his muscles, his hands…mmm. All I wanted to do was kiss him. Repeatedly. And maybe some other grown up things too…

"Bella? We're here." Edward said in a soft voice, and it wasn't until then I realized he was standing there, holding the car door open for me, and we were parked in front of my apartment building.

"Oops." I slurred, stumbling out of the car and very nearly falling over. Edward caught me easily and supported my weight as he walked me inside the building. "I had a lot of fun tonight." I said drunkenly as soon as we got out of the elevator and reached the door to my apartment. "Do you want to come in?" I asked, gesturing inside and wobbling slightly.

Edward hesitated for a minute, then shook his head. "I should go, Bella." He said gently, and my shoulders slumped. So much for my plan to lure him into my apartment and have my way with him. "I'm sorry." He added, gently removing a strand of hair from my face and pushing it back behind my ear.

"It's okay." I whispered, blushing an even more embarrassing shade of red, which I hadn't thought was possible.

"Goodnight, Bella." Edward murmured. "Make some coffee, okay?" I nodded numbly and tilted my head up, waiting for him to kiss me goodnight.

When he did, my heart soared. Thanks to all the alcohol I had consumed, my entire body felt like it was tingling and I felt completely carefree and weightless. Kissing Edward only intensified the blissful feeling that was coursing through my body.

I moaned quietly when his smooth tongue slid across my bottom lip, and I eagerly opened my mouth slightly, shivering when Edward's tongue started to gently massage my own. I was getting into it fully when Edward put his hands on my shoulders and gently pushed me away.

"Get some sleep, Bella. I'll call you tomorrow, alright?" He said, and I nodded stupidly. "Sleep tight, beautiful." He whispered, and then he was gone.