All Edward POVs written by MyLifeandHis and all Bella/Emmett POVs written by sadtomato.

Chapter 3: Edward

Our food comes quickly, and Bella sets up the small table while Emmett pours wine for all of us. I excuse myself to the restroom where I pull on a pair of cotton pajama pants and a ragged tee shirt from college.

"Hey! Lookin' good, Edward," Emmett teases, whistling as I take my seat to join them.

"Fuck off, man. This is the best sleeping shirt I'll ever own."

The food is excellent. I ordered a medium rare steak covered in bleu cheese crumbles with a baked potato covered in cheese and bacon, and every bite is delicious. I stay fairly quiet as I eat, letting Bella carry our end of the conversation.

"So, how was your conference, Em?" she asks after swallowing a bite of her Monte Cristo.

"Ahh, it was fantastic, but I'm pretty exhausted myself. It's been a very long week."

"Do you have to return to work first thing Tuesday?"

"No, no," he replies. "I'm off until Thursday now that this event is finished."

"Oh, that's great! You'll have time to recover then." Bella blushes, as she realizes all the ways Emmett and I could be taking what she's said.

Before she can backpedal though, Emmett jumps right in to tease her. "Oh I fully intend on recovering once I'm home," he says with a wink.

"No, um, special someone waiting for you to get home?" Bella is reaching, and I nudge her elbow with my own.

Emmett takes it in stride however. ""There will be nothing but peace and quiet awaiting me at my house. So, a fall wedding is in order, I hear?"

"That's right. September will be here before we know it." Bella launches into several details of our plans, pausing no less than three times to remind Emmett of the date and that we can help pay his way over for that week.

"Bella, calm down. I wouldn't miss it for anything in this world, okay?" He reassures her.

"Okay ... but there won't be a wedding to miss if this one keeps killing himself at work day in and day out." She kicks my leg under the table, and I realize I've nearly fallen asleep face first into my plate.

"I'm so sorry guys. I was up all night long, literally. I think I logged a hundred hours this week. If I'm gonna be any fun at all tomorrow, I need to hit the sack." With an apologetic glance in Emmett's direction and a kiss on Bella's forehead, I go into the bedroom and collapse under the blankets.

I drift off quickly to the sound of Bella and Emmett's voices from the other room.

"I didn't realize how late it's gotten ..."

"... should probably get going. Long day tomorrow ..."

"... just stay here ..."