Author Notes:

Dedicated to everyone who has bugged me for an update. Especially, my forum gallies iciri-piciri, tallulahbelle (who has the BEST fanfiction called Elemental), RoseArcadia, conty (who is THE A&J fanfiction aficionado), and dont_run.

And there is a special shout out to Phileas whose email made me get off my behind and actually publish this chapter.

Caution: this chapter deals with a date rape drug and the possibility of rape (no rape occurred). I understand some people may not want to read it (and I will send you a summary if you want to skip this chapter—just request it in a review or email me directly). I do not take the possibility of rape or the use of a date rape drug lightly. There will be serious consequences. Nor do I think rape or the use of a date rape drug is funny.

Jasper POV

"Come in you two!" Esme exclaimed. She pulled reached out and pulled me and Emmett through the door. She'd quickly stripped us out of our coat jackets, ushered us into the sitting room, and served us cocktails.

I took a large gulp of my very strong Glenlivit and soda. It had been a very trying week. And now we were at the obligatory Saturday Cullen dinner. Joy.

"So you have to tell me everything," exclaimed Esme. "I promised Carlisle that I wouldn't pester you with questions until Emmett was out of the hospital, but now I have got to know why my eldest child ended up getting drugged with a date rape drug at his birthday party."

Emmett visibly choked at his mother's mention of his hospital stay. I pounded him hard on the back until he was able to breathe again.

I remember walking up the stairs last week after cleaning up Rosalie's little gift for me in the foyer. Since I'd never, ever seen her lose her composure before, I hadn't been too upset. Actually, seeing her actually do something as human as vomit had been highly amusing.

I'd gone upstairs, expecting to find Emmett extremely hung-over. Expecting to find out what mayhem he had allowed Rosalie to involve him in.

I hadn't been very concerned when I'd seen him passed out on his bed.

Being the dutiful best friend who'd gone through this routine many times before with Emmett, I'd poured him a glass of water. It was important to keep him hydrated after he pulled a bender. It lessened the length of his hangover greatly and made him easier to tolerate.

What had concerned me was the fact that no matter how hard I tired, I could not wake Emmett. I'd even resorted to pouring said glass of water over Emmett's head and I still could not rouse him.

This had been out of character enough that I'd decided to call 911. That makes me sound rational. Actually, I had torn up Emmett's place looking for a phone, before I remembered I had a cell in my jacket pocket.

When the EMTs arrived, I'd been absolutely shocked to find out that Emmett was going into septic shock. It took at lot to take down Emmett. And then later, when Carlisle had returned with the lab work and we'd found out that he'd been drugged with the date rape drug Rohypnol, I was shocked again and so very angry.

I guess no one ever expects a man to be given a date rape drug. Especially a big, muscular guy like Emmett.

The police had been called in even before Emmett had even woken up, and they'd started an investigation. I'd, of course, tried to get a hold of Rosie right away, but she did not answer her cell. I'd hoped she could tell me who might have drugged Emmett. Whether anyone had had the opportunity take advantage of Emmett while he was fucked up.

Stupid me.

It never occurred to me that she might be the idiot… be the reason Emmett almost died.

Emmett had been so freaked when he finally woke. He couldn't remember anything that happened after he got to the bar. His entire evening was a blur. Emmett had to be poked and prodded everywhere so that a rape kit could be put together, to preserve evidence of…

And he'd asked me to be there with him while he got scraped and prodded. How could I deny him my presence when I should have been at the party to watch his back? He's one of my best buds. If not for my stupid, fucked up feelings for Alice that I couldn't seem to get a lock on, I would have been there. Watching his back. Instead of feeling up his younger sister in the back of a seedy nightclub. I'd failed him on so many levels.

The police were especially interested in the fact that Emmett was gay. As if that fact made him more a target for some sick fuck. I'd been so pissed off at their attitude I'd said nothing about our charade. Well, I also kept up the charade because it meant that I had 24/7 access to him so I could protect him while he was so vulnerable, trapped in that hospital bed, because Carlisle and the hospital thought he and I were together.

The police had been able to interview the bartender at the Club, some chick named Leah, who'd admitted to spiking a drink meant for Edward. I guess karma had finally gotten back at Emmett for his drink stealing ways. In some ways it was good news; it meant that Emmett probably wasn't targeted by some gay rapist. Although the anal swabs he endured had been negative, I knew he was really worried he'd been raped.

We'd just found out, right before we entered the senior Cullen' residence, who had provided the drugs to Leah and the instruction to spike Edward's drink.

My fair cousin, Rosalie.

The police were right now interviewing her as we were speaking to Esme. I sincerely hoped they locked her up and threw away the damn key.

My cousin had gone too far this time. She was beyond help.

But I knew Emmett was going to everything in his power to help her. The idiot.

Fuck.

Emmett POV

"So you have to tell me everything," exclaimed Esme. "I promised Carlisle that I wouldn't pester you with questions until Emmett was out of the hospital, but now I have got to know why my eldest child ended up getting drugged with a date rape drug at his birthday party."

I choked, suddenly unable to breathe.. What could I tell my mother? That the woman I loved might have tried to drug my brother. That I didn't know the reason behind her actions.

That I'd spent the last three days desperately trying to remember what happened on my birthday night.

That I wanted to be anywhere but here right now. Because pretending to be normal made me feel claustrophobic in my own damn skin.

That I wanted to be in the polite station demanding answers from Rosalie, right along side the detectives. That I wanted to protect my Rosie from their accusations.

"What happened, Emmett?" my mother persisted.

I set down the alcoholic beverage she'd trust into my hand. It would be a while before I felt like drinking anything with alcohol again. Plus, it would be a while before my liver and kidneys could handle it. It was probably a testament to how upset my mother was that she'd hand me my normal Saturday dinner drink, rum and coke.

I shuddered as I looked at the glass. It would also be a while before I drank anything that someone else poured for me. Even if it was my own mother who was doing the pouring.

"Emmett?"

"Edward must have pissed off someone at the club. The bartender was paid to spike Edward's drink."

My mother gasped and covered her face in horror.

"And I, being the lovable jerk that I am," I continued stoically, "I stole it out of his hands before he could have more than a sip and downed it myself. It's a good thing too, because we know that with Edward's pansy ass allergies, it might have killed him."

"Oh, my poor babies," my mother gasped. She reached over and pulled me into a hug.

It felt really good to be in her arms, even if she had to yank me down to be able to give me the hug.

"How are you doing, sweetie?"

I pulled my mom onto my lap and sat down, so she could keep her arms around me and I could lean into warmth her strength. It was the first time in a week that I felt safe.

Thank God for my mother.

Jasper excused himself and left the room. I was grateful that he'd given me some privacy to have my breakdown. I hadn't cried on my mother's shoulder since I was a kid, and back then I sat on her lap.

She rubbed by back and whispered sweet, soothing platitudes.

After a while I felt myself relax, and I was able to actually think for the first time in a week. How could Rosie have done this to me? What had Edward done to deserve having his drink spiked? Was I supposed to be an intended victim as well? It looked doubtful now that someone had raped me while I was incoherent, but I couldn't be sure because I couldn't remember.That evening was a blank hole in my memory.

I kept circling back to why. What was Rosie's reasoning behind spiking Edward's drink with a date rape drug? Revenge? Was Rosie so psychotic that she thought it was a good idea to actually harm someone?

I started to softly sob again. Because on top of the fear and anger I felt, my heart was breaking. How could I love a woman who would do this to my brother? How could she violate our friendship like this? I knew she didn't love me, but this was proof that our friendship meant so little to her.

Again, my mind circled to the why. And I knew what I needed to do. I'd spent a week wallowing in fear and anger, really leaning on Jasper to get me through the day: to make my decisions, to make sure I ate, slept, etc. This was the most emo I'd ever been in my life, damnit!

It was time for me to shake off this shit, and take action. I needed answers, and I needed them now. I raised my head and looked into the warm, concerned eyes, reddened by tears that were freely flowing down my mother's cheeks.

"Mom, the police think they know who did it," I told her. "They're questioning the person now at the PD."

My mother gasped, and the fingers that had been gently stroking my hair suddenly yanked it hard.

"Ow!" I exclaimed.

"Sorry," my mother murmured, and the stroking commenced. "Who did this?" she demanded fiercely. "Who hurt my babies?"

"I don't know much," I hedged, even in my present state unable to blame Rosalie. "Thank you for letting my have my nervous breakdown. I've realized I need to get down to the station and find out exactly what happened."

"Emmett, I am always here for you," my mother squeezed me hard. Or tried to, since her slight frame barely encircled my chest. For the first time in a week, I smiled.

"I feel better," I admitted. "And I am tired of feeling afraid, I want… I want to stop being a victim and start doing something."

"I don't know if storming off to the station is really going to give you the answers you need. The police tend to be pretty close mouthed when they're in the center of an investigation."

"Mom, wow, since when have you become an expert on police procedure?"

She blushed a little. "Law and Order is my guilty pleasure. I think Sam, the prosecutor, is hot."

Wow, my mother had hidden depths.

"I've got to something, mom," I murmured. "I am going crazy just sitting here."

"Alright," she sighed. "Given the circumstances, you are excused from Saturday dinner. But you're going to miss meeting Alice's young man."

For a second, I was torn. Between my desire for the truth and my need to put the fear of God into Alice's boy friend. The need for answers won out, but I promised myself a good smack down once this was resolved.

I gently placed my mother on her feet and bellowed for Jasper.

"I am so glad you have Jasper, baby," my mother said with a laugh. "He has been a real rock through this whole thing, hasn't he?"

"I definitely owe him big time," I replied, without really thinking about the ramifications of what I said.

"I'm sure he'll find some way to repay me, Esme," the smartass said with an exaggerated Southern drawl as he entered into the room. He sent me a quick air kiss and then winked at my mother. She dissolved into giggles.

"Oh, I'll repay you alright," I replied, my shit eating grin that had been absent for so long springing onto my face. I welcome its feel and the feeling of joy that I got from ragging on Jasper. I stuck out my tongue and let it shimmy around a bit.

Jasper actually blanched. In disgust, I know, but I knew my mother would completed misinterpret it for lust. See why this is so much fun?

"Too much information!" my mother cried. And then she smiled as us both. "I am so glad this… situation hasn't made things difficult for you two. That you two can still… do that kind of stuff."

Strike. Me. Dead. Now. My mother was taking about me and Jasper having sex. My mother talking about sex period was disturbing, but now she was overjoyed that Jazz and I were getting it on.

"Mo-om," I complained, totally mortified.

"Don't worry, Esme," Jasper said. Oh, shit, I recognize that look on his face: I am definitely in for it now. "I still find Emmett as sexy as I did when we first hooked up."

Bastard.

My mom actually simpered, as if this was the most romantic declaration ever.

"You bellowed for me, my love," Jasper asked. His face was turning a strange shade of red, and I knew that he was trying to keep from busting out laughing.

Strangely, I felt the exact same way.

"Baby, mom has excused us from Saturday dinner," I told him. He raised an eyebrow in surprise. Saturday dinners were mandatory, and there were very few excuses (practically none) that allowed us to miss out.

I went to stand beside him and started to rub his lower back. Jazz turned his head so my mother couldn't see his face and shot me a death glare. Ah, revenge is sweet.

"I need to go to the police station to find out what is happening." I replied.

"Yeah, let's go kick my cousin's ass, baby," Jasper replied. Anger radiated out of his gray eyes.

"Y-your cousin?" my mother asked.

Ah, shit.

"Yeah, my bitch of a cousin, Rosalie," he replied.

It just happened. Jazz had insulted my love, and I just reacted, the need to defend her honor deeply ingrained in me. Without thinking, I took a swing at him.

Thank God the craziness of this week meant I hadn't eaten much (or slept or bathed), because my normally coordinated muscles were rusty and my reflexes were markedly slow. Jasper must have seen my punch from a mile away, because he was able to sidestep it easily and bring his arms around me. He then swept me down onto my back, so that I looked up at him.

He lowered his head so that his mouth was at my ear. I am sure the whole thing looked to my mother as if we were passionately embracing, because I didn't hear any protests from her.

"Tell me you're not still thinking you're in love with that bitch," Jasper demanded softly.

I growled in response.

"Emmett, I am doing this for your own good," he replied.

He then lowered his head and gave me a hard kiss. Thank God there was no tongue. Because we had an audience, I allowed him to do it without any struggle. I was really, really glad he had to tolerate my BO this close up. It was a small revenge, but it was all I could manage.

Jasper swept me back up onto my feet, but he kept his arms locked firmly around me. Coward.

"Esme, I have some great news for you," he exclaimed with a huge grin. The bloody fool was a great actor—he sounded excited and happy. "Emmett has just agreed to become my husband. We're getting married!"

My mother squealed. Loudly.

Fuck.

Happy New Year's!

Go ahead and throw tomatoes. I will be updating this story when I am able. I am now a junior validation beta for Twilighted and I love guiding new fanfiction authors more than I ever thought possible! But it is eating up a lot of my writing time. Don't worry, though, this story keeps haunting me so I will continue to write it.

For people who love A&J stories (like me) or who want to enter a contest about A&J, check out www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/u/2128870/ The deadline for entries is January 15, 2010.

Lastly, for recommendations and reviews on fanfiction stories, I love www(dot)rosearcadia(dot)blogspot(dot) com/?zx=e84dabd00cd17bb7 Of course, it is run by my best friend, RoseArcadia, but I really respect her taste. Along with each review is a cool banner she's created for each story.

Next chapter will be told from Rosalie's POV. Can I redeem her? Should she be redeemed?