A/N: Thank you for the reviews. I know my Bella and Rockward are entangled in the usual misunderstandings, but please keep in mind, they've just met and they both have heavy baggage.

Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight.

Bella's POV

I was drunk. Rosalie had been feeding me a straight flow of margaritas since we arrived at the bar. Emmett's last text informed me he would be arriving in an hour. Rosalie had called him earlier using my phone and had convinced him to stay for at least a day "to rest". I knew she'd just gotten too interested in my brother as soon as I told her he was in the army.

I liked Rose. I'd never had a girl friend besides Alice. I wasn't good with girls. Girls intimidated the hell out of me. And girls who looked like Rosalie never mixed with girls like me. The afternoon we'd spent together was the most relaxed I'd been in ages. The spa had melted away all my defenses and I found myself telling her everything about James, about dad, about her own brother. She in turn confided in me her own worries for Edward, how he had changed after Anne's death. There was bitterness when she spoke of Anne but I was not brave enough to ask. When I'd told her Emmett was picking me up, and how upset he'd been to know I was staying with Edward, she offered to book me a room in a hotel downtown. We'd spent the rest of the afternoon moving my stuff and talking. I'd also called Jasper to update him, Emmett had also called him, but his company was sending him to Thailand on a business trip, and he and Alice would be away until New Year.

I was never one to drown my sorrows in alcohol, but here I was drinking margaritas to stop me from remembering all the horrible stuff Jacob Black had said to me. He had even called me a bitch in heat and offered money for me to go away. I'd stormed out of the room to the ladies room and left Rosalie screaming at him. When Edward arrived I was just embarrassed he saw me upset with something so stupid as a date. Of course he could go on a date. I was nothing but a silly fan with a crush. And he didn't even seem upset with Jacob, instead he sat down to have dinner with his friend. I was crushed.

Now, at the bar we had taken possession of one of the red pods on the terrace. We sat relaxed leaning against the red plastic that gave us privacy from the patrons' ogling eyes. Rosalie was doing her best to cheer me up, telling me about her childhood in Port Angeles, asking about mine in Forks.

I was downing my fourth margarita when I felt someone caress my shoulder. I didn't have to turn around, I felt his energy. Seth moved in my line of sight and nodded at his sister who left. Edward sat behind me and pulled me so I leaned against his chest. I felt my body react to him and I blushed. Rosalie smiled at me, but frowned at her brother. She pulled me up and hugged me.

"Now, little brother, it's past your bedtime and you should go home to get some sleep before tomorrow's tv appearance."

"Bella's coming home with me." he informed us calmly.

"No." I managed to turn to look at him. I was still biting back tears but I had some liquid courage in me. He was startled at my response. He sipped his corona contemplating what to say next. He was always careful, never carefree around me. He was studying the situation. "No, thank you Edward, for everything, for saving me, for looking out for me... but I think it'll be better if I stay." he placed his beer on the table and stood up, pulling me up with him. Some female singer was singing a slower version of his dance tune. He pulled me to the dance floor and we danced slowly, as if they were playing a ballad. He pulled me to a dark corner and kissed the base of my neck.

"I know you feel it too." He whispered in my ear. I blushed and was thankful he couldn't see it. "So how can it be better to be apart?"

"I need... I need to think, I'm sorry. I'm upset." I bit my lip, he cupped my chin and made me look in his eyes.

"You can have some time. But come back to me." he kissed me then, I closed my eyes, when I opened them again he was gone and Rosalie was smiling at me.

"Let's go Swan, your brother is at the front desk asking for you." She held out her hand and I took it, grateful for her being there.

A few minutes later my big brother who I hadn't seen in two years was smothering me with a bear hug.

"Bella, I've missed you so much!" He kissed my hair. He wasn't crying. Emmett was all macho. Buffed up, wearing his dog tags under his white shirt, standing taller than anyone else. In his arms I felt safe, at home.

"Emmett, this is my friend, Rosalie." I introduced them. Neither spoke. Emmett held out his hand and Rosalie took it and they stood there in the lobby, for a full minute before Rosalie smiled and Emmett turned the awkward handshake into a holding hands grip and finally managed to mumble that it was nice to meet her. I had the warm feeling of watching a romance develop right before my eyes. We made our way up to our room and I fell asleep to the sound of Emmett and Rosalie talking.