Emmett: Thanksgiving Football Games

You never know what you have in till its gone, and you don't know what your missing in till you have, it. We learned that from the Denali Coven, they are like extended family, yet they always wanted more of one particular vampire that Rosalie and I did not want to leave our family. As you know woman in the forties, were getting pretty athletic. So that was when a tradition started, vampires can't have a big Thanksgiving meal every fall as humans do, but one thing we still can do, play football! So every year it be us verse the Denali. As you can imagine four female vampires who devoted centuries to attracting humans are not exactly athletic. So we switched things around to make it fair.

November 1942, Michigan

"Got it fixed" I asked Rosalie as I came in to find her under the car.

"Almost, this baby will be ready to make a trip to Alaska, anytime." She smiled coming out with a wrench covered in car oil. "Why don't you come under here, and double check for me?" She give me an angelic smile that made me crawl under their in two seconds flat. We were almost getting it on, when a familiar voice interrupted.

"Hey, can't you wait till I leave" Edward's voice boomed in which caused Rosalie to drop her wrench and come out excitedly. I came out to find him with a suit case and his coat on.

"Oh, Edward, I can't wait to show you what I done?" Rosalie went over excitedly lifting his car lid excitedly.

"You mean after I already did everything?" Edward asked.

"Well, I did it better" Rosalie pointed out as they both went to look under the hood.

"Where are you heading off, too?" I asked curiously.

"Alaska, Tanya thought it would be a good idea if I come up early" Edward answered.

'Why?' I thought.

"Because I'm going to be on their football team this year." Edward answered. "To even things up."

"I see" I thought to myself, this could be a high disadvantage for our team with them having one more player.

"You still have Carlisle" Edward pointed out. "Plus, I'm sure they'll give you one"

"But why do you have to leave so early?" I asked.

"Oh, Eleazar thought it would be nice if I come up and visit for a few weeks in advance. 'Just to have a friend up' he said." Edward answered.

"Does Carlisle know about this?" I asked, I drought he would want to give up someone as quick as Edward.

"He made the arrangements, when Tanya called." Edward answered. "Anyway, see you in a couple weeks."

"See ya" I answered.

"Rosalie, you did a good job. I promised Esme, I would say goodbye to her at the plant and Carlisle is doing his hours at the Red Cross so I can't go there. Tell him I said see you in Alaska." Edward said as he put his bags in the car.

"See you in a couple weeks" Rosalie hugged Edward.

"We won't beat you to hard." I then give Edward a quick hug as he left.

Two days later

"Rosalie" I came running up to her as she was talking on the phone.
"Kate, can you hold that thought for just a minute" She then pressed the phone against her shoulder and looked over at me. "Yes"

"Are you busy?" I asked.

"Is this important?" she asked.

"Yes, we need to get a strategy for the football game coming up" I explained.

"Can you hold on a minuet" She asked me.

"Alright, Kate can you describe the pattern for me, I might be able to help you when I get up there." Rosalie was silent for a minuet, then a large smiled came across her face. "Oh, I have the perfect nail polish to go with that."

"Rosalie" I said holding up my clip board, as she put the phone back to her shoulder.

"I am looking forward to doing things next weekend, too." Rosalie explained. "None of it evolves rolling around in the mud going after a ball, why don't you get Carlisle, he arranged the trade."

"Do you think he's busy" I asked her.

"No" She answered quickly, going back on with her phone conversion. "So what are Irena's favorite colors? I might have something she would like." I let her go, she rarely got to spend time doing these things that she seemed to enjoyed.

"Carlisle" I banged on his office door, it was silent, I knew he was in there. "Carlisle" I called again.

"What is it?" He finally asked.

"Are you busy? I need to talk." I yelled.

"You have to let him in" I heard Esme's voice.

"Come in Emmett, I'm not too busy." Carlisle answered as Esme opened the door.

"Good, we need to talk about strategy" I came rushing in. "Now, I understand it is normally Edward and I do the planning, but since he is gone, Rosalie suggested I go to you."

"Oh, that's sweet of her" Carlisle smiled. "So how much planning does it take to beat them as we do every year?"

"Edward and I normally take eight hours" I pointed out as Carlisle nodded. "But since they have an advantage of an extra player, than we might need some more."

"How lovely" Carlisle looked towards Esme, who shrugged.

"First off, let me start by saying I understand why they would need an extra player, but if you were going to give them one. You should of given them Rosalie or Esme, over Edward."

"I think I'm going to leave this conversion." Esme nodded towards Carlisle. "I'll come in later" she smiled and left.

"Wait a minuet" Carlisle started. "The teams are still even."

"I thought you give them, Edward" I now was confused. "That is why he went up early."

"No, no, no, Emmett" Carlisle explained to me. "Tanya is the one who offered, she thought to even things out Edward would play for them, and Carmen would play for us."

"Oh, and how does Eleazar feel about this?" I asked confused.

"It was his idea" Carlisle answered. "And at Christmas we'll probably do the same thing."

"But they beat us at hockey." I pointed out.

"I know Emmett" Carlisle smiled towards me.

"Why did they ask for Edward?" I asked, I was the athletic one.

"I don't know" Carlisle answered. "Anyway, Edward agreed to it."

"He what?" I asked confused.

"Why don't you call and talk to him?" Carlisle asked picking up the phone. "He can do the explaining.

"Rosalie, are you still on the phone." I heard her on the line talking with Kate.

"Oh, hi, Emmett" I heard Kate's voice.

"Hi, Kate is Edward there" I asked her kindly.

"He came in last night" Kate answered.

"Can Emmett talk to him?" Rosalie asked.

"Right now, he is skiing with Irena, Tanya and Eleazar, Carmen and I are just getting ready to head up." Kate answered. "Do you want me to tell him you called?"

"No, I'll call him some other time." I answered. I wanted to ask her why they chose him over me, but that would be a little rude. The truth was, I was wondering that myself.

The Next Week

"I drought they chose, Edward for his athletic ability" Rosalie as she drove the car happily on our way there. "Its obvious isn't it."

"What?" I asked confused.

"The reason they want Edward is because he's single" Rosalie said as if the revelation came to her.

"What" I asked. "That has nothing to do with football."

"They could care less about football, I bet that's why they invited him early." Rosalie seemed astonished. "It all makes perfect sense now, they want Edward to fall in love with one of them."

"Wait, then why would they give us" Then it all made sense. "Carmen, of course Eleazar would let her be on our team, he wouldn't a single one of those girls to miss out on a chance to be saved from a tackle by him."

"He has been living with those girls for an awful long time." Rosalie pointed out.

"Do you think Edward would fall for it?" I asked.

"Who knows" Rosalie answered, I could tell she was concerned. We stopped at a gas station, I had to go and talk to a pay phone and call their clan.

"Hello" Carmen answered, go figure.

"Hi Carmen, its Emmett" I started naturally.

"Oh, hey Emmett, how are you doing?" Carmen started naturally.

"Fine, you" I asked.

"Splendid, when will you get there" Carmen answered as I smiled.

"Sometime this evening, is Edward there?" I asked.

"Yes, he's playing volleyball in the pool. Do you want me to get him?" Carmen asked as I heard Irena let out a screech.

"No" I answered angrily. "I'll get him later."

"Now, what's wrong?" Rosalie asked. "Did you get to talk to him?"

"No, he's to busy splashing around in their pool" I answered.

"That traitor" Rosalie said sarcastically.

"I can't believe he'll fall for this, he can read minds, he knows what their thinking" I said as we drove off.

"I can't believe they'll fall for this" Rosalie said. "Maybe it's not what you think, none of them are right for him. "

I looked over, I didn't know she cared. "Oh, really, I didn't know you cared"

"I don't" Rosalie answered. "Its just that sometimes I wished he had a mate, so when your off doing what ever it is that you do, I can have someone around to do things with."

"Alright" I said as she placed her sunglasses on and drove the car. I understood what she was saying. "If you had to find a mate for Edward, that was design exactly for your benefits what would she be like."

"Well, she would have to like shopping, no offence your horrible at picking out clothes with" Rosalie answered.

"Can't argue with that" I answered.

"But not like the Denali clan, who think they know everything. I won't someone who'll take my advice." Rosalie went on. "I would like being the older sister."

"Don't blame you" I answered.

"She'll be your sister, too, what do you think" Rosalie looked towards me.

"Optimistic" I answered. "We could use some optimism in the house." I shrugged as Rosalie nodded. "Only one problem, those"

"What?" Rosalie asked.

"Edward would never go for a girl like that we would have to get another brother to go with her" I explained.

"True" Rosalie looked towards me. "Alright, Emmett, your turn, if Edward decide to stay in Alaska, and we had to get another brother, because you would drive me crazy, What would he be like?"

I had to think about that one, but I spoke anyway. "Someone, who won't cheat at poker" I answered as she smiled. "Charismatic, and knows how to keep it cool when I joke around with him."

"Interesting" Rosalie answered as we crossed the boarder.

That Evening

Tanya owned a large stone house painted white with green shudders that was tucked away in the mountains and very hard to find. We knew were it was anyway, she owned a large piece of property that had a two stories garage were they parked cars and kept their ski, and hokey equipment. To the right of the grange was a forever frozen pond they used for skating, behind the garage was a dirt path that led to the top of their ski slope.

Tanya, Irena, and Kate came rushing out with Edward following behind. "Rosalie" They smiled as Rosalie embraced them and each of them got one her empty suitcases. Edward came and helped me with the filled ones. 'Little traitor' I thought when I saw him.

"Emmett it's just a game." Edward said calmly as he grabbed my suitcases and we went inside, were Esme came out from the den with Carmen who was holding their cat. "About time you came, we thought you got lost" Esme hugged us both.

"How could we get lost" I joked. "Happy Thanksgiving, Carmen" I then give her a hug.

"I hope the girls give you a chance to get settled." She said as I looked over to see Rosalie already upstairs. "They wanted to wait for Rosalie to get Black Friday mapped out."

"That was nice of them" I said as I went upstairs to our room. I came back down to find Rosalie sitting with Irena, Kate, and Tanya sorting through store ads on the living room floor, listening to the radio, while Esme and Carmen chatted in the kitchen.

"Where's Carlisle?" I asked.

"He is downstairs playing pool." Esme answered.

"Why don't you go down, too?" Carmen suggested. "Eleazar is determine to have a rematch with Edward"

"Sure" I answered heading down to find Carlisle aiming at the white ball.

"We should play against each other." I shouted as Carlisle accidentally knocked the ball over and place the eight ball in the pocket causing him to loose.

"Emmett" He smiled at me. "When did you get in?"

"About a half an hour ago" I answered. "Are you finish playing?"

"Now we are" Eleazar smiled. "Do you want to do teams?"

"Sure" I answered.

"Good, how about Edward and I against you two?"

'Of course you want to play with Edward, and take him form me' I thought as Edward came down stairs.

"I got a better idea, how about Emmett and I against you two?" Edward suggested, like that will make things better.

"Fine with me" Carlisle shrugged as we started to play. They beat us in the first game, then it was Carlisle and Edward against Eleazar and I we lost that one. After that it was Carlisle and I against Edward and Eleazar, we won that one. Then Edward and I played against each other, one on one. Rosalie came down and rooted for me along with Kate, Tanya and Irena who all rooted for Edward. That broke my concentration! That was probably why he won. Carlisle and Eleazar then had a rematch were Edward and I rooted for him while Irena and Kate rooted for Eleazar. Carlisle won! Then Esme and Carmen played against each other, were I coached Esme. She didn't do single thing I said, but she won anyway. Than she insisted on playing against me, Carlisle just watched as she beat me. Carlisle and Edward played against each other and won. Then I played against Eleazar, and lost, when I was hoping to beat him. Eleazar and Edward than had a rematch, that was when Rosalie and Tanya came back down. Rosalie rooted for Edward, while Tanya rooted for Eleazar. Edward, won again. Finally Edward and I had a rematch and I won against him. That was were the night ended.

The next morning was Thanksgiving, we came up from the long night were I found Rosalie with Irena, Kate and Tanya pouring over a map of Alaska. It was filled with dots and times along with highlighted highway routs. Then at each dot was a paper marking a store and their sale. I didn't want to interrupt her, she seemed to be having so much fun. It was rare when she let herself enjoy life with others besides me, I liked it when she just let herself free. Sometimes, I did wish Edward have a mate so she could have someone to do these things with.

Carmen, Eleazar, Esme and Carlisle were in the kitchen listen to the radio, they seemed to have a real intense conversion. So I ignored them, normally I would be making plans with Edward on our plays but he wasn't on my team this year so we played the card game of war (since that was the only one he couldn't cheat at) in till all ten of us went hunting for our Thanksgiving meal. It was a good day to go hunting, with no humans around to risk temptation. We were able to get a mountain lion, a bear and three dear. Then we went to a clear off meadow to begun our annual Thanksgiving Football game.

We were all in our usual line up, Carlisle and I took center, against Eleazar and Tanya. Rosalie and I took on defense while Carlisle and Esme played offence. I considered myself the quarter back. Carmen was now our new kicker and Edward was now kicking for them. I wanted to defeat them badly. We won the coin toss, Carlisle was the linemen started by passing the ball to me and I held it out as Carmen came and kicked it to Esme. She ran as fast as she could who in till Tanya and Kate stopped her after a good twenty yards from a touch down causing her to fumble.

I wasn't surprise when Edward was able to grab hold of the ball in the next play. I tried to tackle him, but he was too good and got the first touch down. This was the first time they were actually winning. It was the second quarter when the score was two to one when I called for a time out. I couldn't believe we let Irena score. I simply told Carmen to block Eleazar at the thirtieth yard line, so Rosalie and Esme can take on Tanya and Kate then I'll get Edward and Carlisle can get a touch down before Irena got him. Instead it was Carlisle who got Eleazar and Carmen who got Edward letting me make the touch down. Finally it came down to it, the score was tied 30-30. They were huddled across the field as we huddled for our final play. Carmen made the plans, she informed us the best play would be for Rosalie and Esme to chase after Edward, and let Carlisle block Tanya, she then said Eleazar would try to block Esme and Rosalie that would be when I got Edward took the ball, and try to just run for it, while Rosalie stopped Irena. She then said Eleazar wouldn't even try to block her, that was when she'll get Kate.

So we came up for our final play, the score was the closets it's ever been, they surprised us this year. Kate had the ball, we went as plan for Esme and Rosalie chased after Kate instead. Carlisle tried to tack Tanya, who was blocked by Edward so she could retrieve the ball from Kate. Esme then tried to tackle Tanya who threw the ball to Edward. Carmen then tried to tackle him, and she was blocked by Eleazar. That was when I got him, and was able to take the ball. I had to run across the field, I saw all of them running towards me as Esme and Carlisle tried to block them. I threw the ball as far as I could right into Rosalie's hands. To my surprise she caught it and ran the rest of the way making the touch down. I was so proud of her.

That Evening

Piano music was booming through their house, I came down to the living room. To see Edward at the piano surrounded by the Delini clan, who were all dressed up in cocktail dresses, while Edward played some music. It was some form of jazz mixed in with swing. Carlisle and Esme were there too, beside Carmen and Eleazar. I came to sit beside Rosalie and listened. Then I saw Tanya slide in right next to him, she was the leader so she had to live in Alaska. I notice the way she looked at him, then Tanya took over the piano as Edward danced with Kate, followed by Irena. I danced with Rosalie but couldn't help but notice the way Tanya looked at Edward made me nervous. Carlisle and Esme danced, they didn't seem to notice. Unlike Carmen and Eleazar who watched Edward happily as he danced with all three of them, this made me nervous.

As soon as the clock struck twelve Rosalie went off with Irena, and Kate who were being led by Tanya for their annual after Thanksgiving shopping trip. Esme and Carmen headed out the next morning, finding no need to be there when the store was opened. Carlisle and Eleazar played a game of cards.

The Next Morning

"Emmett, do you want to play some hockey?" Edward asked.

"Sure" I answered, there was nothing better to do.

I couldn't help but throw the puck at him, I was so mad at him then. He was seriously considering moving up to Alaska with them. I threw the puck in the goal net as Edward stopped it.

"What's your problem?" Edward asked. He then read my mind.

'Why on Earth would you want to move here' I thought.

"That's what's been bothering you, you thought I was going to move in here?" Edward asked as he smiled. "I've been trying to read your mind since Wednesday, you must of thought that before."

"Well are you?" I asked.

"Are you kidding me" I asked. "With them bring home their human lovers every night, Eleazar's thoughts on one of them finding a vampire. He's worse than Esme and Carmen constantly asking me if I'm comfortable. Not to mention, you can't organize a single practice with out one of them thinking of something else. Besides that, sports are never on the radio, they are find for a couple of days, but I'd go nuts living up here."

I smiled, now all was right.