Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Stephenie Meyer owns it all. I am merely having fun with her characters. I also do not own Brothers and Sisters.
Chapter 9
EPOV
June 20, 2003: Age 18
I woke up this morning and the first thought I had was…happy fucking birthday to me! I wasn't even a hundred percent where the hell I was.
February was the last time I was home. I left after the night my friends attacked my sister. I couldn't deal with what I allowed to happen. She was so sweet and innocent…I only prayed to God they did not rape her.
I was in a stoned haze upstairs…and could hear her screaming and crying…I could hear them talking to her and being mean. And I was too fucked up to help her. I should get a fucking award for brother of the year.
They are better off without me.
As I became more awake…I remembered where I spent the night…Laurent's place. He was my new drug dealer at the moment. He's been supplying me regularly since I ran away…and he allows me to crash here at his place sometimes.
I met him right before I left home. Carlisle had cut me off…and I needed a way to get drugs. My other dealers wouldn't work with me. Laurent said his girlfriend, Victoria had seen me around and she had a thing for me. He told me he likes to keep her happy. He said as long as I slept with her and let him watch and video tape it…he would keep me in supply with drugs. That sounded like a win-win deal to me.
And that has been how I have paid him since. Although…now he wants me to start sleeping with other people…and making other videos…and he's going to sell them. I guess I don't care. It's just sex. I'm not good at anything else. But I told him absolutely no dudes! I will not do dudes!
I thought about Bella…every single day…her smile…her laugh…her body. And then I would remember how she murdered our baby and didn't even discuss it with me. And it wouldn't matter if she would have kept the baby anyway. I have nothing to offer either one of them. I spend my days sleeping and my nights fucking and partying. That's my life now. It's all good.
The door to the bedroom I was in opened. Victoria walked in buck naked and pounced on me. "Happy birthday Eddie! Ready for your present hon?"
"Yep…sure am. What is it?"
"Me…and all the blow you could want…and you get to snort it off of my tits. And no Laurent watching or videotaping this morning…just you and me."
"Yum…bring it babe!" I managed to say somewhat enthusiastically.
I couldn't say I loved my life…I pretty much hated it with a passion. But it's what I deserved for all the wrongs I have done.
Happy fucking birthday douche bag!
Emmett POV
June 20, 2003: Age 24
I thought about my brother today. He's eighteen. We hadn't heard or seen him since the night Ali was attacked in February. I remembered the note he left. It broke my fucking heart. I couldn't believe he blamed himself for what happened to Mom. He was five years old! There was nothing he could have done to save her.
I wondered what he was doing. I hoped he was happy and that he was doing something fun for his eighteenth birthday.
I haven't seen or spoken to anyone from the Swan family since the birthday party disaster. Alice has been spending a lot of time with Jasper. He said that Rose has been having a difficult time with these last weeks of her pregnancy and has been mostly at home. She hasn't been working and she hasn't been around the family.
I started questioning Alice. Something about that didn't add up with me. She seemed like she was having a perfectly fine and healthy pregnancy the last time that I saw her. What could have changed in just a month? I was not a doctor, but this just seemed strange.
Alice told me she couldn't answer any of my questions and if I wanted information I should talk to Rose myself about her condition.
I decided to give Brady a call. "Hello?" He answered.
"Hey Brady, it's Emmett."
"Hey man. Haven't heard from you. Look I'm sorry about the party disaster. Still friends?"
"Of course. How's your sister?"
"Which one?"
"Rosalie."
"Oh…she's…well we haven't seen her since the party. Bella is still pissed at her and won't talk to her. And we only talk to her when she calls. Every time we call her…Royce answers and says she's not feeling well. He tells us the same thing when we go see her. He let us in a couple of times and she was just lying around…didn't look like she felt well.
They said the doctor's told them it happens sometimes with women when they get this far along…she's due soon…so they just want her to rest. That's all I know."
"Hmmm…I see. When you guys have made it inside to see her…did she seem alright…other than not feeling well?"
"Yeah…she seemed fine. I'm sure she's just worried about her baby. Rose wants to be a mom so badly. And I know she's upset over this spat with Bella."
"How is Bella doing?"
"She's okay. The fight with Rose is bothering her more than she will let on. She finally settled on a couple to adopt her baby…so she's been moodier than usual the last month."
"So she's really going to go through with the adoption?"
"Yep."
"And she never did tell you guys who the father is?"
"Nope…she refuses to give us his name."
"Damn…dude this shit is heavy…and I thought my family has problems. So I guess my sister and your brother are getting pretty close hunh?"
"Yeah…they are together almost every time I see Jasper. He is smitten with her buddy…I'm thinking one day we may be brothers officially."
"That's cool by me. Your brother is a good guy. I'm happy for Alice…now if we could just get our other sibling straightened out."
"No word still from Edward?"
"Absolutely nothing. My dad is a mess. Thank goodness Alice has Jasper or who knows what a basket case she would be. Plus…her therapy has really been helping her."
"I wish I could say the same for Bells. I don't see her therapy helping her at all."
"I'm sorry. Hey…I've got to go…but listen, can I get Rose's number?"
"Why would you need that Emmett?"
Shit…I didn't think he would question me about wanting the number.
"Um…well…I wanted to call their house and talk to Royce. I wanted to apologize for my behavior at the party. I am sure I overacted."
"I'm not so sure that you did…but if you want to make nice with them be my guest."
He gave me the number and we said our goodbyes. Now…one more phone call to make.
Rose POV
June 20, 2003: Age 24
My life has been a living hell since the day of my birthday party. Royce was livid to say the least when we got home that day. He yelled and cursed at me…called every foul name he could think of to shout at me. He did hit me…twice. He slapped me.
Thankfully…I was able to calm him down with oral sex…to get him to stop before going any farther. I have to protect my baby. I can't leave because I know he will find me. He's too powerful. His father is the fucking Mayor for Christ's sake! There is no way I could ever get away from him. He's made that perfectly clear every time I mention it around him.
Maybe if I had some assurance that me and my little girl would be alright…I could leave. But she's got to get here first. We found out I'm having a girl. I've already picked out a name for her…Peyton Isabella King. Royce was pissed about the name. But for some reason he caved and told me that he would allow me to keep that as her name.
He has made sure that I stayed away from my family over the last month. They've come by a couple of times. We tell them the doctors have me on bed rest…we explained it away with some sort of pregnancy complication.
Royce warned me about what would happen if I didn't follow along with his wishes. And he was embarrassed beyond belief about what happened at my birthday party. Royce King doesn't do embarrassed.
Today was a rare occasion where I actually answered the house phone when it rang. I wasn't allowed to answer the phone…but Royce was in the bathroom so he yelled out that I could this one time. He told me to make sure I enjoyed it while it lasted.
Fucking bastard. I hated him so much.
"Hello?" I answered on the fifth ring.
"Rose?" A man's voice asked.
"Yes…this is Rosalie. Who am I speaking to?"
"This is Emmett…Cullen. Do you remember meeting me at your birthday party?"
Oh…my…how could I forget that voice?
"Y…yes…I remember you. What do you want Emmett?"
"I just wanted to…apologize for my behavior that day. I am very sorry that I upset you Rose…but damn it! I'm not sorry for what I did! That husband of yours is bad news. We all saw what was going on up in that bathroom. You and I both know that if we hadn't gone up there when we did…he would have raped your little sister! That's sick Rose! And then in the kitchen…the way he spoke to you. I wanted to kill him! And I would have if your brothers hadn't pulled me away from him."
"Emmett…please let this go…stay out of my life…out of my…business…please I am begging you!" I would never forgive myself if Royce did something to him because of me.
"Rose…I feel…very…protective of you. I can't explain it and I don't understand why…but you mean something to me. I care about you so much."
"You don't even know me," I whispered.
"But I want to know you…so fucking bad Rose. Please let me know you. Let me show you how much I care."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Em…"
I didn't get to finish that sentence. Royce came out of the bathroom and snatched the phone away from me.
"Em…hunh? Isn't that nice…my whore of a wife has a fucking nickname for you! What the fuck are you doing calling my house?"
I didn't know what Emmett was saying on his end of the phone. I tried to walk away from the situation but Royce grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled me back to him.
"Is that so? Well I dare you to come over here and try it big man! You won't know what fucking hit you…you two bit heathen!"
After that, he threw the phone against the wall. He pulled me closer to him by my hair. I could feel his foul, hot breath in my ear. "You're going to pay for that sweetheart. You should never have answered the phone bitch!"
I refused to cry anymore for him. There were no tears this time around. "Royce…you told me…I could answer the phone," I reminded him…treading carefully.
"Yes…but you should have hung up when you realized who it was. Didn't I just fucking tell you that you were not allowed to fucking talk to that loser ever again?"
I didn't say anything.
He pulled my head back, still grasping tightly on my hair. After he pulled back he forced my head forward down onto the bar in front of us…hard.
I screamed and when he pulled my head back again I was bleeding from my nose and mouth. "I asked you a fucking question Rosalie!"
"Yes…you told me…never to speak to him again…I'm sorry Royce. Please forgive me."
There was no stopping him this time. He threw me across the room…and I felt the pain. Shit…Peyton. He wasn't going to relent no matter what I did to try and distract him. And the searing pain was too much.
I hoped everything was okay with the baby. He was on top of me…pulling my head up…banging it into the floor. I don't remember screaming…but I knew that I was. And then he was gone…and my knight in shining armor was there.
Emmett Cullen had come to my rescue…and then I blacked out in his arms. I had never even noticed him coming into the house.
Emmett POV
June 20, 2003: Age 24
Talking to Rose on the phone…hearing her voice…was amazing. I could only imagine what type of woman she was for real. This was Royce King's creation I was talking to…with a little glimpse of the real Rose here and there.
I wanted all of her though and I would take what I could get. I had never felt this way about another woman…ever. She was making me feel things I thought only happened in the movies. I've never been one of those guys to believe in all of the sappy 'love at first sight' kind of crap.
But she was making me believe.
Then that fucker had to get on the phone and ruin things.
"Em…hunh? Isn't that nice…my whore of a wife has a fucking nickname for you! What the fuck are you doing calling my house?" He sneered at me.
What a fucking faggot…I really wanted to teach this dirty bastard a lesson.
"Don't fucking call her a whore you piece of shit! Have some respect for your wife! And I was calling to talk to her. Actually, I was trying to convince her to leave your sorry ass. I would be more than happy to come over and help her pack…because while I am there…I can kick your ass!"
"Is that so? Well I dare you to come over here and try it big man! You won't know what fucking hit you…you two bit heathen!"
Then I heard noises. I think he probably threw the phone somewhere in an attempt to break it. But I still heard everything that was happening.
I called Brady immediately and got the address. They didn't live far from me at all. I drove over there in a flash. I didn't bother knocking…I could hear the yelling…screaming…and crying from the driveway.
I just barged right into their home. And thank goodness I did. When I walked into the area between the kitchen and the living room…that fucker was kneeling down over her…banging her head into the fucking floor!
I grabbed the wine bottle sitting on the bar and broke it over that fucker's head. He went down and I threw him away from Rose.
She looked at me briefly…whispered something about me being her knight in shining armor and then blacked out in my arms. And there was blood between her legs. Oh shit.
Thankfully I had enough sense to call the cops and an ambulance on the way over here. They should be here any moment.
"Hang on Rosie…reinforcements are on the way baby," I told her as I cradled my goddess in my arms.
BPOV
June 20, 2003: Age 15
I was lying on my bed…trying to take a nap when James burst into my room. "Bella…we've got to go."
"Go where J?"
"To the hospital. Brady just called. Something happened over at RoRo's…Royce is being arrested and Rose is headed to the hospital. There is something happening with the baby…and she needs to be checked for…other injuries."
"That bastard!"
"Yes…he's a fucker and we've got to go now get off your fat pregnant ass and move!"
He pulled me from the bed and we rushed out of the house. Once we were in the car…he seemed sad. "What is it J?"
"I didn't mean what I said back there. You know I'm a moody bitch right? I didn't mean to call you fat."
"It's okay. I am fat…but I am also pregnant…therefore I have a reason to be fat."
He smiled at me and we went back to our comfortable silence. I looked out the window. Before James came into my room…I was thinking about the date.
Today was Edward's 18th birthday. I knew it was because I overheard Alice telling Jasper yesterday that she really wished she could wish him a happy birthday today.
I wondered where he was and what he was doing. Or I guess…who he was doing?
Then my thoughts drifted to our baby. I placed my hands gently on my stomach. James noticed this gesture.
"Mom told me you picked a couple Bells."
"I did," I said quietly.
"Bella…I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Alright…what is it big brother?"
"Well…little sister…you know that…obviously…Steve and me…we can't have kids of our own. Things are serious between us. We are in a committed relationship. I am going to be moving all of my stuff out of the house finally and we are making it official…that I am going to move in with him."
"Okay…and?"
"Do you think…you might consider…letting us adopt your baby?"
Hunh…didn't see that coming. I hadn't even considered that. James has been with Steve ever since he came out to everyone. I knew they were serious and in a real relationship. So they wanted to adopt my baby?
That might not be such a bad idea. Then I would be able to see her. I found out at my last appointment…that Edward and I will have a little girl.
"Never mind…I'm sorry…I shouldn't have bothered you with this. Steve just thought that maybe…it's silly…never mind sis. Forget I said anything…I'll tell Steve he was being foolish."
"No…wait…maybe I do like that idea J. Maybe it's not silly. But if we decide to do this…I have a condition."
"Alright."
"I want to name her."
"Her?" He asked longingly.
"Yes…her. I just found out and I haven't told anyone yet. You are the first to know."
His smile grew. "I could have a daughter if you agree to this."
"Yes," I said hesitantly. I didn't really like the sound of that. She was my daughter.
No…she wasn't.
"Alright…what name do you have picked out?"
"Camilla…Rose."
His breath hitched. "Oh Bells…that is beautiful!"
"Thank you."
"Obviously I know that Rose is for our sister…which surprises me since you are so pissed at her."
"James…it's what we do…you know that. She let me down…but I'm sure she had a good reason for it…and I love her…nothing will ever change that. And before you have to ask. I looked up the name Camilla…it means perfect in Italian and in French it means free-born. And I am setting her free to live a better life than the one I can provide for her right now…and I know she will be absolutely perfect."
"Oh my god…Bella you're perfect! You are the most beautiful person for loving your baby enough to do what is best for her."
"Well…I don't know if letting her be raised by two homosexuals is what's best for her…but I will think about it."
"Hey!" He said but then smiled.
He nodded finally in understanding and we had arrived at the hospital.
I was not looking forward to this…but we had to find out how Rose and the baby were doing. I prayed that we got good news when we walked through those dreaded double doors.
A/N…Review people and you get a snippet of the chapter coming your way Saturday 6/13.
Thanks to keepingupwiththekids!
