A/N - Happy Thursday! Spent the morning with my dad! Thanks so much for reading! Enjoy!


Chapter 48 – Cullens

Wednesday, June 29

"I can't believe I'm looking for an apartment, today," Emmett said. "With a hot girl."

"I can't either," Edward said. "I still remember sleeping with you in your bed at the hospital when you were six and had your tonsils taken out."

"You ate my popsicles."

They laughed together and Edward patted his brother's shoulder.

Emmett, Edward and Jasper were all lounging on the couch at the Cullens' place, eating cookies and laughing, while we waited for Rose and her family to come over for brunch before we left for Port Angeles. Her parents had taken the day off work, as had Carlisle.

I was currently snuggled on the love seat with Alice, who 'had missed me so much, it wasn't even funny.' I also had my baby in my arms. Robbie was contentedly purring while I scratched him between the ears. It felt good to have my kitten back. He was my first child. My only child for now, and I was happy, content.

I truly felt bad about yesterday. I hadn't meant to get upset about the baby thing, again. And even more, I hadn't meant to make Edward so sad. I was glad he talked to me, finally. Admitted that he wanted a baby right away, too.

It was good to know that we felt the same way. That we were both struggling with the same conflicting emotions. I felt closer to him when he opened up. I still didn't know what we'd decided about the baby, but I knew it wouldn't be now.

But, I was confident in fate. When the time was right, we would know. It was just when I'd met Edward. I knew he was it for me. I was going to trust in our hearts for now and see what happened. But, for now, our focus was on Em, Finley and the wedding. That was enough.

"Em, you're still gonna live at our house on the weekends, right?" Alice asked, her mouth full of cookies.

"You know it, babe."

She giggled. "Yay."

"What are you doing, tonight, Alice?" I asked, tucking a lock of her long hair behind her ear.

Her hair was down past her shoulders, now. She'd been growing it out for the wedding, because she thought that a flower girl should have long flowing curls and flowers in her hair. I agreed and she'd been combing it one-hundred strokes each night before bed to make it extra shiny, too. I loved her so much.

And more than anything, I was happy to give her something fun to focus on. Another of her big brothers, her heroes and protectors, was moving out soon. I was trying really hard to involve her in all the plans, too.

"I don't know. Why?" she asked, smiling.

"You want to sleep over at my house?"

"Really?"

"Yep. I promised that as soon as you were done with school, we'd do it, right?"

"Until Edward kidnapped you."

"I know. Boys."

She laughed. "Mikey's never kidnapped me."

"Maybe when he gets a car," I said. I kissed her cheek. "Should we watch movies, bake a cake or braid each other's hair?"

"All three," she said, smiling.

"That's my girl." I squeezed her tightly with my free arm. "What kind of cake should we bake?"

"Um. Something with strawberries. For Em and Rose and their new house."

"Aw," I said.

"Now, that's my girl," Emmett said. "How many layers of cake do I get?"

"Ten," Alice said. I snorted as I laughed and Edward shot me a sexy wink from across the room.

"How about three?" I suggested.

"Six?" Alice asked.

I giggled. "Done."

"Really?" she asked, again. "How are we going to do that?"

"It's a secret. I'll show you, tonight."

The doorbell rang and Emmett jumped up to get the door. I heard him laughing and smiled at how happy he was. Edward and I had done the apartment thing last summer. I loved that I could be a part of this experience, again.

"Hey, guys," Rose said, as she walked in the room, Emmett attached like a koala to her back.

"Hey, Rose," I said.

"You look beautiful," Edward said. And she did in her pink maxi dress and white blazer. Her blonde hair was braided neatly on the side. She was going for grown up and mature and she'd nailed it.

"Thanks. I'm nervous."

"Don't be," Edward said. "You guys will find something."

"I just want to find somewhere clean."

Edward laughed. "Should you really be moving in with Em, then?"

She giggled as Emmett flipped off his brother. "We don't need anything big."

"One bedroom, one bathroom," Emmett said. "I'm hoping not to pay anything over seven-hundred a month."

"Way cheaper than Seattle," Edward said.

"And, therefore, I can buy more pizza," Emmett said. "You see the genius of going to Peninsula College?"

"I'm glad to hear you're making important life choices based on your stomach, son," Carlisle said, walking in from the kitchen.

Emmett laughed. "Just don't tell mom. She won't let me move out."

"She still might not," Carlisle said, a smile on his face. "She was looking at your baby book this morning."

"Aw," Rose said, rubbing her hands over Emmett's forearms.

"Shit," he said. "Is she going to cry?"

"It's more than likely," Carlisle said. "But, we're proud of you both. I think her saving grace in that you'll be home on weekends."

"I'll be able to sweet talk her into doing my laundry, right?"

Rose laughed. "Emmett."

"What?"

"You can wash clothes."

"I had to teach Edward," I added. "And I honestly wouldn't trust him alone with my clothes."

Emmett laughed. "He has a fetish?"

I blushed. "I meant that he might shrink something."

Carlisle shook his head and laughed. "Should we eat? Rose, sweetheart. Are your parents coming?"

"Yeah. They should be here. soon. I wanted to drive my new car. And Maria is practicing for her licence, so she followed me."

"But, she drives like an old lady," Emmett said.

"She's cautious," Jasper added. "It's cute."

"She's terrified behind the wheel," Rose said.

"Sounds like me," I said.

"You just need to drive more," Emmett said. "Take Edward up on that truck he keeps offering to buy for you."

"If someone was going to give me a car, I'd take it," Alice said, making us all laugh.

Edward smiled at me. "Ooh. A date to a car lot."

I giggled. "Maybe."

"Tomorrow?"

"Way to go, Emmett," I said.

He laughed. "What? I just think it's logical that we have as many possible vehicles to move my stuff to P.A."

"How much stuff do you have?" I asked him.

"He has more clothes than I do," Rose teased.

"Not more than me," Alice said. Emmett let go of Rose and ran over to us to tickle his baby sister and make her laugh.

We heard a car pull up and Jasper jumped to his feet. "Maria's here."

"He has better ears than a dog," Carlisle said.

"Aw," I said. I stood up to pass the cat to Edward. "It's love."

Edward slipped his arm around my waist and kissed my hip. I ran my fingers through his hair and smiled. I loved days like this: just time spent talking and giggling with the Cullens. These were the kind of moments I would always cherish. Family was everything.