Rosalie's point of view:
"Mom is going to love this," Emmett said as he inspected the picture frame of the babies. Each baby had their own picture with their hand and foot print under it.
"I hope she will," I replied as I set the wrapping paper on the floor and sat near him. "I got this for your dad."
I held up a picture frame that held three pictures, one of each baby and one of the both of them together. The word grandpa was written above the pictures in an elegant script.
"He'll love that." Emmett gave me his handsome smile.
"I hope so," I replied, taking the clear plastic wrap off of the Christmas wrapping paper that I'd bought at the store with the babies this morning. "I also got the same gifts for Brent and Sue, but I used the words nana and papa instead of grandma and grandpa."
"Thank you, Rosalie," he said gently. "Having them in my life is important to me; they're a piece of Emily."
"You're welcome," I replied, giving him a smile, which he returned.
"Did you already start wrapping without me?" he asked, eyeing the small pile of gifts that lay under the tree.
"Those are Bella and Edward's gifts to the family," I explained. "Since her and Edward are leaving tomorrow, I wrapped them for them while the kids were taking a nap."
"Did you see my gift?" he asked eagerly.
"Maybe … but I may have left any gift for you at my place," I told him, giving him a stern look.
"That's not fair!" he protested.
"It would be if I knew you wouldn't sneak a look."
"I would never do such a thing," Emmett objected.
I rolled my eyes at him. "You'd better start wrapping your gifts, Emmett."
"Yes, ma'am." He gave me the boyish grin I loved.
My stomach flopped as I grabbed Esme's gift. Ever since my confession of feelings to Alice and Bella, a mix of emotions ran through me. My affection and feelings for Emmett started to grow as we continued to spend time together. I loved our banter and conversations, and I felt as if he was quickly becoming one of my best friends. Plus he'd made me a part of his family, something I wanted and dreamed of having even before I lost Mom.
Any time I'd notice the wonderful things about him, my fear ran through me. What if he didn't feel the same and saw me a friend or like a sister. The thing that scared me the most was if he found out how damaged I was-I knew this would send him running in the other direction, leaving me heartbroken in the process.
We wrapped in silence while my heart and fear pulled at each other. I can't fall for him, I thought, pushing my feelings away. He'd find out how dirty I really am and leave.
"Are you okay, Rosalie?" Emmett asked, making me jump after I finished wrapping the second gift.
"Sorry, I, uh, was lost in thought," I said quietly.
"Okay," Emmett said slowly, eyeing me as if he didn't believe me. "I was wondering if you could help me," Emmett said sheepishly, holding up the first present he was wrapping; it was torn in places and bulging at the end he had wrapped, the other side wasn't wrapped since there wasn't enough paper to cover it. I held back a laugh as I took the gift and tore of the awful wrapping job.
"Oh, Emmett, what did you do?" I asked. "Have you ever wrapped a present before?"
He cleared his throat and looked ashamed. "I actually haven't; gift bags are easier."
I laughed. "You're adorable," I said, the words slipping out.
We stared at each other for a moment, but I quickly turned away and crumpled up the ruined wrapping paper.
"I'll teach you," I told him, getting fresh wrapping paper.
We walked through the steps, and I flushed as our hands brushed up against each other.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" I asked, inspecting the finished gift.
"Not really." She shrugged his huge shoulders.
"Here's a tag to put on it," I said. Our fingers brushed when he took the tags from me.
I bit my lip as I tried not to stare at his handsome face. I quickly grabbed another gift and started to wrap it.
"Is this better?" Emmett said, holding up the second gift he wrapped on his own.
"Much," I commented.
"This isn't so bad," he commented.
"Did you think it would be," I guffawed.
"I've never done this before," he admitted. "I'm a gift bag type of man."
"Figures," I muttered.
"What does that mean, woman?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Seeing that first wrapping job you did, Em, showed me you were a gift bag sort of man." I smirked at him.
"Hey now," he said. "We can't all be amazing like you are, Rosalie."
"This is true," I smiled at him.
He stared at me for a moment, giving me an uncharacteristic look before he grabbed a name tag. He scribbled on it with his large hand. We work in silence for ten minutes before Emmett asked, "Did I show you Mom's necklace?" he asked. "I picked it up a few days ago."
"No, you didn't. Did it come out like you hoped?" I asked as he opened a black box.
"Yes, and I'm sure she'll like it," he said, holding the box out. "I took a picture of it and sent a picture of it to Alice, and she'll think Mom will adore it."
"Oh, Emmett," I said. The three names encircled the elegant tree. "She's going to love this. It's beautiful."
"I'm really glad we picked it out," he said as I handed him back the necklace.
"Me too." I grinned at him. "So, what did you end up getting Alice?"
"I actually got her and Jasper tickets for a concert, and I bought them last night," he said. "It's for a group she really likes."
"I'm glad you got something for the both of them," I told him. "I told you Jasper was a great guy."
"I suppose he's decent for my sister," he said dryly.
"Would any man be good enough for her?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No," he said bluntly, causing me to laugh.
"I didn't think so."
"And I hope to teach Jordan that no man will be good enough for his sister too," he said. "Hannah deserves the best."
"She does," I agreed. "They both do."
"I was thinking the other day of what my kids will be like when they're adults, you know what I mean?" he asked.
"Oh?"
"Yeah-like what we'd do as a family. They're my everything now," he said. "I hope the three of us are as close as I am with my parents and siblings."
I smiled at him, loving the fact that he loved his family so much. "I hope so too," I replied. "You're a good father."
"Thank you, Rosalie." His blue eyes looked at me in a way I'd never seen before.
"You're welcome."
"So, what should we have for dinner tonight?" he asked.
"How about take out or delivery," I suggested. "I'm making a big meal for when Sue and Brent come over tomorrow, so I'll be cooking all day."
"What are you making?" he asked curiously.
"I'm going to try my hand and your mom's spaghetti recipe, so the sauce will be in the slow cooker all day."
"Good. I love her spaghetti, and you're a great cook too," he said, rubbing his stomach. I tried not to stare how his shirt moved across the muscles of his abs. "How about Mexican food tonight? I'll order some when we feed the babies again."
"Sounds like a plan," I told him.
"I know of a place," he said.
"You always know of a place, Emmett."
He shrugged again. "I do love good take out." He grinned and leaned forward. "Besides your cooking."
The compliment warmed my stomach and I grinned at him. "So, what time are Sue and Brent getting in tomorrow?" I asked.
"About five, about the time I get home," he replied, "but I may try to get home early so I'm here when they get here."
"I bet Hannah and Jordan will be excited to see them," I told him.
"I'm sure they are. I can't believe Christmas is in a few days," he said, pausing in his work.
"I know. It seems to come fast and fast each year."
"This is true." He sighed as he set aside another gift. "This wrapping is taking forever, Rosalie," he whined.
I laughed. "What did you expect?"
"If we did it my way, we'd be done by now?" he muttered, grabbing another gift, "and we'd be ordering Mexican food by now."
"Maybe after you wrap a few more gifts, Emmett, I'll let you order the food. I hate it when you get crabby because you're hungry."
"I don't get crabby," he argued.
"Uh-huh." I smirked at him. "And this isn't you being crabby?"
"I don't know why I talk to you sometimes," he replied dryly.
I burst out laughing. "You'd miss me, Emmett. You know you would."
He winked at me and said, "I guess I would miss you."
I turned red.
"Bushing, I see." He smirked. "You'd miss me too, babe," he teased.
"I think this is why you get on Alice's nerves," I shot back, not wanting him to know how much his words were true. "You're so cocky."
"But adorable, right?" His booming laugh filled the air as I blushed again.
"Silly man," I grumbled.
"And you love me for it."
"I tolerate you for it." It was my turn to smirk as he pretended to be hurt.
We worked in silence for the next twenty minutes as I wore a smile across my face. I frowned when I realized that I allowed myself to fall for him again. This is silly, I thought as I pushed my feelings away again.
"I think I'll order Mexican now," Emmett said. "Would it be okay if you finish the rest?"
"Sure." I shrugged, eyeing the few gifts that were left. "I'm guessing that you have a menu?" I continued when he nodded. "I'd like to look at it before you order."
"No problem."
I heard him walk into the kitchen, where the sounds of opening a drawer and ruffling soon followed.
"Found it," he called out.
I placed the last piece of tape on the gift I was wrapping before looking up to see Emmett approaching, a menu held in his outstretched hand.
"Thanks." I took the menu, my eyes scanning it. "I'll have an order of fajitas."
"Any sides?" he asked.
"No." I shook my head. "They will be enough."
"Okay. Dinner will be served soon, Rosy." He gave me a charming smile, and butterflies assaulted my stomach.
"That man," I muttered myself as I watched him walk away.
"What was that?" he asked, looking at me over his shoulder.
"Nothing." I shook my head.
By the time I finished, Emmett handed me a warm bottle before we grabbed a baby each. I held Hannah as she ate. Her brown eyes looked up at me as her lips formed the nipple.
"You're so beautiful, Hannah. Are you excited to see Nana and Papa tomorrow?" I asked her. Hannah smiled up at me, which I returned. "That's my girl, huh?"
"You know, I was thinking something," Emmett said, distracting me from Hannah.
"Oh?" I asked, looking up at him.
"How about we watch one of those Christmas cartoons with the babies tonight?" he said. "I looked and there are a few on soon, I think."
"I think that would be great," I told him. "Is this something else you wanted to do with the kids, a tradition?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "I know they're a little cheesy …"
"I don't mind, Emmett," I said, cutting him off as he started to burp Jordan. "I'll do anything to help make this special, you know."
"I know." His blue eyes searched mine, and I noticed his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. "And I appreciate it, Rosalie."
"You're welcome, Emmett," I replied quietly.
The doorbell rang, and Emmett stood. "Will you take him?"
I nodded, balancing Hannah's bottle as I held Jordan to my shoulder. "I'll be quick."
"Alright," I replied.
Within a few moments, Emmett returned, carrying a plastic bag filled with two styrofoam containers and a paper bag that was filled with chips. Emmett quickly put the bag down and took Jordan, allowing me to finish feeding Hannah. While Hannah ate, I watched Emmett pull out the containers and chips before he pulled out two cups.
"Soda?" he asked.
"Sure." I moved Hannah to my shoulder to burp her. I sighed, placing my nose to Hannah's hair and smelling her sweet sent. I laughed when she burped loudly.
"It was good, it sounds like," Emmett said. His blue eyes sparkled.
"It does." I grinned.
"Dinner is served," he said as he held up on of the containers. "I believe this is yours, my lady."
"Thank you, sir," I replied playfully. "Shall we?"
He nodded. By the time we got settled, the sound of singing characters filled the air.
"Thanks for doing this, Rosalie," Emmett said. "This is sort of cheesy."
"But cute," I admitted. "And I don't mind. Are you excited to get some time off of work?"
"Very," he said. "I hope I can finally have some down time. I haven't had any really."
I nodded. "You deserve it."
"You do too," he said. "You spend most of your free time here with me. You could always go home, you know."
"I don't mind spending it with you or the kids," I told him while looking into his eyes.
His large blue eyes studied mine for a long moment. I saw the emotion that I couldn't place again, and no man had ever look at me the way he did now; it made me feel warm and weak at the same time.
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