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Rosalie used Emmett's distraction with his friends' arrival to slip quietly into the house and Alice cast a glance at Jasper and quickly followed her. Once the greetings had died down a little Emmett turned to the others and a slight frown appeared on his face when he saw Jasper was now alone but he covered it quickly.
"Jazz, these are good friends of mine," Emmett introduced and pointed to each person as he said their name. "Darius, Claudia, Eliza, Jarvis, Conrad and Chrissie. Guys, this is my brother, Jasper."
"Nice to meet you," Darius nodded.
"You too," Jasper replied politely.
"We can't wait to help you fight these other vampires," Jarvis added.
"Have any of you ever fought our kind before?" Jasper asked as he stepped closer to the group.
"Not seriously," Darius admitted. "We've wrestled amongst ourselves but that's about it."
"We can include them in the training group though right Jazz?" Emmett asked.
"We should," Jasper nodded. "But we only have four or five days. It doesn't give us a lot of time."
"We are quick learners," Claudia assured him.
"And maybe Jazz and I could do some extra sessions with you in the evenings?" Emmett suggested.
"I'm working with Oliver in the evenings," Jasper reminded him.
"Surely he is ready by now," Emmett sighed.
"I can work with you guys until midnight," Jasper offered. "But I'm not blowing off Oliver so after that you're on your own."
"Okay," Emmett agreed.
"Where did Rose get to?" Eliza asked as she realised for the first time that Rosalie and the woman that had been with her had disappeared.
"She went inside with my wife," Jasper said quietly.
"She isn't impressed we are here?" Claudia frowned.
"She's fine with it," Emmett assured her.
"We didn't exactly part on good terms last time," Claudia reminded him gently.
"I'm sure Rose is over that by now," Emmett smiled at her.
"Really?" Jasper murmured and raised his brow at Emmett.
"Well, she will get over it," Emmett shrugged, suddenly realising it might not have been the best thing for Rosalie for him to have invited his friends.
"Maybe I should talk to her," Chrissie whispered.
"You?" Emmett echoed. "That probably isn't a good idea Chrissie."
"I am the reason she hates us," Chrissie sighed.
"She doesn't hate you," Emmett argued.
"Come on Emmett," Chrissie laughed. "I tried to steal her husband, of course she hates me. But all that is in the past now. If I talk to her maybe we can clear the air."
"I agree," Emmett admitted. "Just not now Chrissie. Rose doesn't need the stress. The baby is due in two days. She needs to stay calm."
"I won't upset her," Chrissie promised.
"All right," Emmett agreed reluctantly. "But make sure you don't." Chrissie gave him a smile and turned and headed into the house to find Rosalie and Jasper and Emmett shared at worried look, hoping that Chrissie wouldn't upset Rosalie while she was in such a delicate state.
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Chrissie found Rosalie sitting in the living room with Alice and she looked between the two women warily as she entered the room.
"Rosalie, I was wondering if I might have a word?" Chrissie asked softly. "In private?"
"You can talk to her," Alice replied before Rosalie even had the chance to say anything. "But I'm not leaving the room."
"I think its best if we speak alone," Chrissie murmured.
"I don't care what you think," Alice growled uncharacteristically. "I know who you are. I'm staying with my sister."
"Okay," Chrissie sighed. "I didn't realise you were Rosalie's sister. You don't look anything alike."
"Just say what you want to say," Alice snapped.
"Rosalie, I just wanted to apologise," Chrissie started as she took a step closer to them.
"For what?" Rosalie frowned. "Being rude to me? Luring Emmett into drinking human blood in some desperation attempt to turn him again me? Or trying to steal my husband?"
"All of it," Chrissie sighed. "It was wrong Rosalie, all of it. I'm not here now to try to do any of those things again."
"You better not be," Alice warned darkly.
"I'm not," Chrissie assured them. "Look Rosalie, when you were with us we had only been vampires for five years. We were still new to this life and trying to control ourselves. I didn't know where Emmett was and if he was okay until the day he appeared on our doorstep with you by his side. I reacted badly, I know that now. But in the last seventy years I've grown a lot and a lot of things have changed. I realised what Emmett and I had was over. He is with you now. And I've moved on too. I'm married to Conrad now and we are happy together. I'm not a threat to your marriage any more. I don't expect us to be good friends but I was hoping we can be civil, if only for Emmett's sake."
"I can do that," Rosalie nodded.
"Thank you," Chrissie smiled and turned and walked back out of the house and Alice turned to look at Rosalie.
"I don't know how you can forgive her like that," Alice admitted. "If someone tried to steal Jasper from me the way she tried to steal Emmett I don't think I could do it."
"I'm only doing it for Emmett," Rosalie murmured as she rested her hand on her swollen stomach and Alice offered her a soft smile as she put her arm around her shoulders and hugged her.
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Jasper helped Emmett get his friends settled in the last two remaining huts at the back of the house and then the two men headed back towards the house together. When they reached the porch Jasper stopped and Emmett turned to look at him.
"Everything okay Jazz?" Emmett asked instantly.
"Yeah," Jasper nodded. "Do you really think it's a good idea having them around when Rose is so fragile right now?"
"There is nothing fragile about Rose," Emmett laughed.
"I'm being serious Emmett," Jasper sighed. "She is going through a lot right now. She doesn't need any more stress."
"Chrissie said she sorted everything out with Rose," Emmett pointed out.
"Okay," Jasper murmured. "Just be careful Em. Don't upset Rose."
"It really isn't your business Jazz," Emmett said firmly. "You weren't around back then, you don't know everything about what happened."
"I know enough," Jasper sighed. "Rose told me all about it."
"When?" Emmett frowned.
"Years ago," Jasper shrugged. "Rose tells me a lot. Until Jackson arrived I was the only brother she felt close to."
"Yeah I know," Emmett nodded. "Don't worry Jazz. Rose is my first priority."
"Good," Jasper smiled, his worry easing a little and the two of them headed inside to find their wives.
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The next morning Jasper and Alice were the last to arrive at the clearing where their group was training. As soon as they got there Jasper could feel the slight uncomfortableness coming from Rosalie and he looked straight over to where she was standing with Emmett and his friends.
"Oh," Alice whispered beside him and his eyes snapped to her.
"What do you see sweetheart?" Jasper asked instantly.
"Rose," Alice murmured. "She's a little upset."
"I know," Jasper nodded with a smirk. Alice grinned at him, realising he would be feeling Rosalie's emotions, and she reached over and took Brandon from his arms.
"I'll go save her," Alice whispered and as Jasper moved over to join Jackson, Oliver, Stella, Angelina and Marcel, Alice raced over to the other group.
"Rose, Jazz wants to get started," Alice announced, ignoring the rest of the group. "Let's get you and Brandon settled."
Rosalie gave Alice a relieved smile and the two sisters headed over to the shade near the line of trees. Alice spread out a blanket and helped Rosalie sit down and then she left Brandon with Rosalie and walked over to where Jasper was calling the group together to get the training started. Rosalie watched as Jasper called the group to order and then her attention was taken when Edward and Bella arrived with Renesmee.
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For the entire morning Rosalie sat playing with Brandon and Renesmee as the group in the clearing trained. She kept glancing at the others and it was obvious Jasper was focusing the session on Emmett's friends since they had so little experience and training. Rosalie was watching as Darius fought with Emmett and she had to admit they were picking everything up quickly. Suddenly her attention was taken as Brandon tugged at her arm and she turned and smiled at him.
"What's up my little man?" Rosalie asked.
"I'm hungry," Brandon announced.
"You've already eaten the snacks Mommy brought out here," Rosalie sighed. "And you have had two blood bottles. There isn't anything left now."
"But I'm hungry," Brandon pouted.
"It won't be long until they finish," Rosalie smiled at him. "And then we can go back to the house and you can have a sandwich."
"Eww," Brandon said as he crinkled his nose.
"I agree," Rosalie laughed. "How about a sandwich, and a bottle of blood."
"Yes!" Brandon squealed.
"I'm going hunting for lunch," Renesmee announced. "Mommy promised."
"That's nice," Rosalie grinned at her. "You are one very lucky girl. But Brandon can't hunt yet, he is too little."
"I'm a big boy!" Brandon frowned.
"Yes you are," Rosalie smiled at him. "But you don't know how to hunt yet. I'm sure Daddy or Mommy will teach you soon."
"I'll teach you to hunt!" Renesmee giggled. "Come on."
"Nessie…" Rosalie started.
"Only pretend Aunty Rose," Renesmee grinned and grabbed a large teddy bear and threw it a fair distance away from them. "Come on Brandon, we are going to hunt teddy."
"Yes!" Brandon giggled and Rosalie laughed as she watched Renesmee take Brandon's little hand and pull him over towards the teddy bear. She watched in amusement as Renesmee led Brandon to circle the bear and then showed him how to pounce on it quickly. Suddenly her senses picked up the approach of another vampire and her head snapped to that direction. She groaned when she saw Maria step from the trees, not far from where the children were.
"No!" she screamed out, as she jumped to her feet and lunged towards the two children now looking at her wide eyed. Maria was a little closer to the children but pure fear for their safety drove Rosalie and she reached them a fraction of a second before Maria.
"Stay away from them!" Rosalie hissed as she shoved Renesmee behind her and snatched Brandon into her arms possessively.
"Maria!" Jasper roared behind them and Rosalie could sense the entire training group rushing towards them. She turned to place Brandon on his feet behind her with Renesmee, her eyes staying locked on Maria. As she turned back to face the other woman again she felt something inside her give and a sudden bolt of pain shot through her. She stumbled back as her hands clutched at her stomach and she fell back on the ground near where the children were standing.
"Emmett!" she screamed in terror as a wave of pain washed over her and she curled up in a ball of agony.