A/N: Let's get this party started!

That Friday night found Bella and Edward at a bar downtown. No sooner had they stepped in the door than Bella found herself being engulfed in a bear hug and twirled around. "Bella, hey. Glad you could make it." He set her down and slung his arm around her shoulder and guided her inside.

"Hello to you too, Emmett," Edward said, falling into step behind them. "I'm only your brother."

Emmett glanced over his shoulder. "Oh, hey, Edward. You made it too. What a shame. I mean. Nice to see you."

Bella looked back at Edward and winked before she wrapped her arm around Emmett's waist. "So. How drunk do I need to get you to tell me all Edward's embarrassing secrets?"

"Pfffft. Half a glass of water."

"Excellent." Bella pounded her palm on the bar as she passed. "I need a shot of your top shelf water please."

The bartender gave her a cool look. "And?"

"And three shots of tequila on my tab," Emmett said.

"Who's not drinking?" Edward asked.

"Me," Bella said at the same time Emmett said, "Rose."

"Since when does Rose not drink?" Edward asked.

Emmett's grin was blinding. "What do you think?"

"Oh, shit."

Bella thumped Emmett on the back. "Congratulations. I recommend opening a savings account as soon as possible."

Emmett looked perplexed. "You mean like for college?"

"No. Psychiatry bills. Any kid of yours is bound to end up in therapy."

Edward giggled. It was a girly giggle. Bella was sure Emmett would have been teasing his brother about that giggle if he wasn't too busy staring at her, mouth agape. She flashed them both an innocent smile before she turned back to the bartender. "Whatever is the most fru-fru drink you have, I'll take one of each, with extra cherries, for my friends here."

She felt a hand at her side and Edward's warmth pressed up against her back. "Just a friend, hmm?" His lips brushed her ear as he spoke.

"Oh, well." She reached her hand back to thread her fingers through his hair. "Preferably pink fru-fru drinks for my boyfriend and his brother."

~0~

"Come on," Emmett said an hour later. "Loosen up. Have a drink."

Bella shook her head. "Someone has to drive."

Emmett pulled his wife closer. "Built in designated driver, man. Take advantage."

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Oh, you don't want to have sex again ever, do you?"

"See? I don't want to be responsible for anyone losing their nookie privileges," Bella said.

"I know you drink because you downed that tequila shot like a champ. No wincing. I was looking forward to that little squeal girls tend to do."

Bella raised her eyebrow. "I don't squeal." She took the Jäger shot he'd bought to tempt her and downed it. "I just don't want to drink."

"You don't have to abstain. I've only had two beers," Edward said. "I can take us home."

"No, you should enjoy yourself. I don't have to drink."

"I'll pay for the cab. Just relax a little," Emmett said.

"I'd rather not. Besides, why is it so important to you that I drink? Are you trying to get me drunk?"

"Hell yeah, I'm trying to get you drunk." Emmett spread his arms over the back of the booth. "I already told you about when baby Edward discovered his baby peepee."

"You were sober when you told me that story."

"Well, yeah, that story is hilarious. I like telling embarrassing Edward stories. That's big brother privilege."

"Just wait, Emmett. I have plenty of dumb-ass big brother stories," Edward said.

"Try it, kid. I can still end you." Emmett turned back to Bella. "Anyway. Tit for tat, sister. It's your turn to tell me something I don't know about my little brother."

"A lady doesn't kiss and tell."

"I don't want to hear about his kisses. Ew." Emmett took a swig of his beer. "I want to know about this LARPing business."

"Emmett." Edward's voice held a note of warning. The amused expression disappeared from his face.

Bella clenched her fists beneath the table. People tended to be judgemental about her weekend pastime. As though their hobbies were the pinnacle of maturity. Why anyone had to look down on her, on any of them, for having fun, Bella never could understand, but it happened.

She took a deep breath. Even though this was only the second time she'd ever seen Emmett, Bella could tell he had no intention of being malicious. Her smile was tight as she looked at Edward's brother. "Nothing to be embarrassed about there." She stood. "I'll get the next round."

At the bar, she hopped up on an empty stool and leaned forward, trying to catch the bartender's eye. A low whistle to her right drew her attention. There was a man sitting alone on the stool next to her. His eyes raked her body. Bella rolled her eyes, but she smiled before she turned away from him.

"What, no hello?" the man said.

"I'm sorry, do we know each other?"

"No, but I think we should."

"Ah, I see. Well, sorry about that, slick. I'm here with someone. My boyfriend to be specific." And he's a lot hotter than you.

He scoffed. "Well, Christ. You don't have to be a bitch about it. Your loss."

"Oh, obviously."

The bartender strode over then. She stopped in front of the obnoxious guy. "Hey, Officer Milligan. What can I get you?"

Bella's back stiffened. She straightened up and kept her eyes facing forward.

"Beam and coke. Same as usual."

"Great." The bartender turned to Bella. "How about you, hon?"

"I, um." Bella cleared her throat. "Can I get a couple of appletinis?"

"Two-fisting it, huh?" Officer Milligan scoffed. "Classy."

Bella ducked her head. "They're not for me."

"Sure. They're for your boyfriend."

She swallowed hard. "Look, I didn't mean to be disrespectful before."

"Getting twitchy around a cop? That's not suspicious at all."

"I'm not twitchy."

"Sure you're not."

Bella bit her lip. She searched for something to say, but the bartender came over with her drinks. "Put the drinks on my tab. Under Swan," Bella said, sliding a few dollars tip over.

"Better keep your nose clean, princess. I might be off duty, but I have my eye on you," Officer Milligan said as she turned away.

"Yes, sir," she murmured.

Bella hadn't taken more than a few steps before she ran straight into Edward. The drinks in her hands sloshed, but thankfully she didn't lose much. She hadn't even seen him there since she'd been looking down at her feet. "Hey," she said, leaning into him.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. "What was that all about? Was that guy bothering you?"

"What? No. He was a cop." She felt Edward's eyes on her and shrugged. "I was rude to him, I apologized. No big deal."

"Why were you rude to him?"

"Because I didn't know he was a cop."

"But-"

"Whatever, Edward. It's fine. Let's get back to your brother." She handed Edward one of the appletinis. "Drink up."

His grin returned in full force and he laughed. "Not going to let us get a real drink in, huh?"

"What are you talking about? There's still vodka in here. Tasty, tasty vodka."

"True." He pulled her against his side as they made their way through the bar. "I talked to Emmett. He's not trying to judge. He's curious about the LARP thing, and I'm sure he wants to make fun of me for dressing up and playing pretend, but it's good-natured, you know?"

"You know how I feel about what I do."

"Of course I do."

Bella pushed up on her tiptoes. "Okay, fine. We'll talk about it. What would be even better is if we got him to join. Emmett would make a perfect ogre."

A/N: Hehehehe. Emmett would be a choice LARPer, right?

Thanks to Barburela, songster, and Bella, of course.

How we doing out there, baybees?