I do not own Twilight, SM does but I love playing with the characters so enjoy!

11. Not My Little Sister

EmPOV

I could tell the minute Bella awoke from her sleep, even though she refused to open her eyes. I'd been stroking her cheek trying to wake her as gently as I could. Happiness, contentment…confusion, those were just some of the feelings I felt when I saw the smile spread across her face. Why did that smile bring me such joy? I couldn't help but tease her a little. The eye roll she gave me at my teasing was perfect and I couldn't help the laughter that followed.

When the phone began ringing, I followed her downstairs and listened as she talked with her dad. I actually felt a little sad that he would be returning tonight, and I wouldn't be able to have as much uninterrupted time with Bella as I wanted. I was really beginning to enjoy just being with her, no pretenses, no interference, and no family; just two friends who needed each other.

When she smirked at me as she offered to make breakfast, I held back my laughter and excused myself to take a shower. I showered quickly and changed into the clothes I'd grabbed from the house yesterday. I could hear Quil talking as I opened the bathroom door and his words brought me to a standstill.

"I'm not sorry Bella…I know I shouldn't feel this way, but it just feels right when you're in my arms. I don't expect you to feel the same, but I can't deny it either. Just the thought of you calms me when I feel like I'm losing control."

If my dead heart could beat it would have stopped at that moment. I could tell he had feelings for her but I thought they were just friends. Did she feel the same about him? If she did would it bother me? Why was I worried about Bella's love life? I was just trying to protect her from getting hurt…right?

"Quil…I'm sorry…" I heard Bella say just before the back door opened and slammed shut. I walked quickly down the stairs to find Quil standing by the sink looking out the window into the back yard.

"What happened, Quil?" I asked trying to fill in the blanks that had started the conversation I'd overheard. He sighed heavily but wouldn't turn and look at me. "I screwed up Emmett…I kissed her…again. We'd decided to just be friends but I couldn't help it." Quil sighed again watching Bella standing by the edge of the forest. I wasn't sure exactly what to say to him. Did I really want to encourage him in his pursuit of Bella?

I clasped his shoulder trying to comfort him. "I'll go talk to her. Don't worry it'll all work out Quil. Bella's pretty smart…she'll figure out what she wants. Just give her some time," I said as I walked out the back door to Bella. I could hear her crying and my dead heart broke just a little. How much grief would this poor girl have to go through? Every time she turned around someone was asking her for more than she was ready to give. I hated seeing her so torn up over not being able to make everyone happy.

I wasn't surprised she didn't want my comfort. She was so used to taking care of those around her I didn't think she knew how to let someone else care for her. At least when I bumped her with my elbow causing her to trip over her own feet she smiled. If nothing else I could still make her smile through all of this junk she was facing.

We hadn't had a chance to even discuss what conclusions she had come to concerning Jacob Black and his secret, when she offered to tell Quil what she thought. I knew it was her way of apologizing to him for her reaction to his kiss, but I also knew this couldn't end well. I tried to protest but Bella wouldn't hear of it. At least she acknowledged Quil's trembling arms and agreed to call Jacob while I escorted Quil outback.

"Why does she need to call Jake? He's the one who caused this screwed up situation. What's taking her so long?" Quil said pacing back and forth in the yard. "Quil you need to calm down man. B will be out in a minute, so just relax," I said reassuringly. I heard Bella come outside, but kept my focus on Quil until she said she'd gotten a hold of Billy. I turned and smiled at her as she walked towards us.

Bella led Quil over to the stairs while I stayed in the yard to give them the appearance of privacy. I kept my eyes focused on Quil's arms and his demeanor. I knew from Jacob that when the trembling started in his arms, he would phase if he couldn't calm down. I listened intently as Bella talked to Quil about the Quileute legends, hoping he would come to the same conclusions she had. She really was very observant. I should've known she'd figure out what was happening with Jacob. I had to hold in my laugh when he began looking between me and Bella and asked if I was a vampire. Bella recovered quickly and was able to keep our secret while still being honest with him. When he finally came to the conclusion she had, that Jacob was a wolf, he laughed.

I chuckled at the shocked look on Bella's face. She couldn't believe he didn't believe her. She shook her head in disbelief as he basically told her she was crazy. I shrugged my shoulders slightly when she looked to me for guidance as to what to do. Bella composed herself quickly when Quil said he was going to head home. I tried not to watch as he embraced her and whispered to her. I could see the desire in his eyes as he looked at her and the resignation in her eyes as she spoke to him.

I averted my eyes before Quil turned towards me and caught me watching them. "Would you mind giving me a ride back to the reservation?" He asked me. My eyes darted to Bella unsure of what to do. He didn't believe her story and I couldn't cross the treaty line. Yet there was no way to tell him that without confirming everything Bella had been trying to make him see. Before I had to answer I heard a car stop in front of the house and I said a silent prayer that it was Jacob.

I sighed in relief when I saw Jacob walk around the corner of the house. He looked from Bella to Quil and finally at me. I shook my head to let him know that Quil didn't know yet, and he gave me a nod of understanding. He told Quil Billy thought he needed a ride home and thankfully Quil bought the story. I was shocked when a low hiss escaped my lips accompanied by a menacing growl from Jacob as Quil kissed Bella's cheek. Bella's eyes locked on Jacob and I thanked whatever god was watching over me that she didn't seem to hear me. What was that about anyway? Why did I care who kissed Bella? Oh because you want to be the only one to kiss her you idiot! I shook my head. Where in the hell did that thought come from?

I focused back on the yard in front of me and watched Quil walk towards the front of the house while Jacob moved quickly to Bella's side. I kept my eyes focused on the ground at my feet and listened at their quiet exchange. I couldn't help but laugh when Jacob referred to me as a leech. I guess I'll have to remind him what happens to puppies that aren't house broken. We'd come to an understanding since my first night back here and then the run in with Victoria. I was surprised by the reappearance of the wolves but glad that they were at least willing to work with me in protecting Bella.

Things spiraled out of control so quickly that if I wasn't a vampire I would have missed all of it. I saw Quil come around the corner of the house at the same time that Jacob decided to pull Bella into a close embrace, and crush his lips against hers. Quil instantly burst into a huge chocolate brown wolf and charged straight for Bella and Jacob, growling fiercely. I didn't hold back the hiss that burst from my chest at the sight of not only Jacob kissing Bella but Quil in wolf form heading straight for her.

I used my vampire speed to pull Bella from Jacob's arms and run straight for the Cullen house. I assumed that Jacob phased also since I heard two sets of growls coming from Bella's yard as I ran. I looked down at the scared girl in my arms and knew that there was nothing in this world that I wouldn't do to protect her. As I ran I thought about the fight between Jacob and Quil that would, no doubt, last well into the night. What was it about this girl that not only attracted supernatural monsters but also caused them to fall in love with her, I wondered.

When we got to the house I stopped and set Bella down in front of me. In classic Bella form she stumbled forward and fell into my arms. As she grabbed a hold of my biceps my hands gripped her waist to steady her. When I looked down into her scared, confused eyes I wanted nothing more than to make her happy. "I knew you only wanted my body B," I chuckled teasing her. She lightly smacked my arm and stepped away from me with a grin playing on her lips. "You know me so well Em," she laughed lightly but the action didn't quite reach her eyes.

"What happened, Emmett?" She asked quietly not meeting my gaze. I put my arm around her shoulders and led her towards the house. "Come on Belly Bean. Let's go inside and I'll tell you what I saw." I grinned down at her hoping to make her smile with the nickname. She gave me a sad smile and laid her head against me as we walked. I could feel the warmth from her skin through my shirt and sighed. Where did that come from? I thought to myself. Why was Bella bringing out all of these possessive, protective feelings in me? This is definitely not what I expected when I came back to Forks.

We walked into the house and I led Bella to the living room motioning for her to sit on the sofa. I sat a few feet away facing her so I could gauge her reactions to my words. "B, I didn't come here to interfere with your life, so if I say or do something wrong, please tell me," I said sincerely hoping she'd see I was being honest. She nodded, "Emmett I've missed you so much. Don't ever think you're interfering in anything. I want you in my life." I gave her my biggest grin before recounting what happened at her house.

"Jacob and the pack have been waiting for Quil to phase for a while now. I think Quil would have been fine if he'd stayed in the car but he didn't. When he walked around that corner and saw Jacob so close to you, he got angry and began shaking. Before I could even process what was happening with him, which took just a fraction of a second, Jacob kissed you and Quil lost it. He wasn't trying to hurt you but I'm pretty sure he wanted to kill Jacob. That's why I grabbed you from Jacob's arms and ran. I knew Jacob would be phasing to help Quil, and I didn't want you to get hurt." I finished quietly awaiting her response.

I watched as she thought about everything I'd said. "Thank you Emmett," she whispered still not making eye contact with me. I couldn't stand it anymore I needed to see her eyes. "B…" I said lifting her face towards me. She had tears in her eyes that I could tell she was trying to keep in. "Oh Belly Bean," I whispered pulling her into my side and wrapping my arm around her. I felt her hot tears begin to wet my shirt and closed my eyes. I should just take her away from all of this…some place where it's just the two of us…no outside influences. Whoa! I can't just run away with Bella…it's not like that between us. My stomach clenched at that thought. Did I really want it to be like that between us? I shook my head slightly to clear my thoughts and looked down at the fragile girl next to me.

I stroked her hair lightly. Amazingly soft! I thought to myself and just as quickly pushed the thought out of my head. "Hey B, what do you say we forget about this whole mess and go do something fun today? Your Dad won't be home until later, right?" I said trying to sound enthusiastic. I lifted her chin towards me and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks with my thumbs. So soft…so beautiful! I pulled my hands back quickly. What was going on with me? Stop, stop, stop you idiot! This is Bella…little sis…definitely NOT my little sis. I groaned to myself.

I jumped up off the couch and pulled Bella up with me. "Okay this is not up for discussion. Let's go B! I'm taking you kayaking," I stated firmly. "What! No way Emmett! I can't even walk without tripping over air. I am NOT going kayaking!" She practically shouted at me while trying, unsuccessfully, to pull away from me. I dropped her hand and looked down into her eyes. "Belly Bean, have I ever let anything bad happen to you?" I asked with a smirk. She shook her head fiercely and I gave her my best puppy dog eyes and pouty lip.

"Fine, but I swear Emmett if I catch pneumonia or drown, I'll never speak to you again," she spat vehemently. My laughter rumbled throughout the room at her attempt to threaten me. "That's my girl! I knew this would be fun!" I said leading her out to the garage. She looked up at me questioningly when she saw my jeep parked there. I shrugged my shoulders, "I guess I knew I'd be back here at some point." I had never wanted to leave to begin with so leaving my jeep was just a way to ensure that at some point I'd be able to come back. There was no way I was going to tell her how angry I was at Edward the night of her party when he told us we had to leave Forks. Leaving my jeep was my own silent protest to his decision.

She smiled down at me as I helped her into the jeep. "Thanks Em. You always seem to know how to cheer me up," she said just before placing a quick kiss on my cheek. I froze momentarily as the feel of her warm lips on my cheek flowed through my cold dead body settling in my groin. That's definitely not what I was expecting!

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