A/N: Please be forewarned that this outtake will contain spoilers for the story if you have not read it yet.

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Stephenie Meyer, the creator of Twilight.


Note: Takes place near the end of "Silence". EmmettPOV (1st person POV)


I glance one more time at the clock.

9:17

Only a half hour more and then I could get out of here and head to work. Thank God.

Rose is definitely pissed at me. Even though she knew why we were doing this and blindly supported me in it, she was not happy with what I was about to do. And for that, I couldn't blame her. I wasn't happy about it, either. I told Bella I'd take care of it and that's what I was going to do. It just...sucks. It's not a fun job. And definitely not a desirable one.

I've been where Edward is, where Jake has, and I can say without a doubt it's one of the worst positions to ever be in. Not sure if your woman still loves you, if she's giving it up to someone else behind your back, having it confirmed that she is, the proof staring you right back in the face, making it impossible for you to deny it. Like I said, one of the worst positions to ever be in.

Shit. If this was anyone but Bella, I would have steered clear of this situation long ago. But it is Bella and that means I'm going to be right in the fucking thick of it. Even if she didn't look to me for help, I would jump in with both fucking feet, no questions asked.

In all honesty, I'm not even sure I would have gone this far for Rose. No, that's not true, I would. I love her and I'd do anything for her. Just like Bella.

I look at the clock again.

9:18

Ah, fuck it. I might as well get it over with.

I get up from the chair I've been sitting in the last hour, watching Edward sleep. It's not as gay and creepy as it sounds. I honestly was just trying to think over what I was about to do. That's all. It's not like Edward's loud snoring is a sound I love to hear. And it's not like I can escape it anywhere else in the house. Wherever I go, it follows me. Like a constant loud chainsaw of a reminder of my sins against my friend. Well, my once upon a time friend. The only reason I even kept up the pretense of an existing friendship was because of Bella. And well...I still loved the man like a brother. Regardless. Just a brother I'm not too fond of and would rather the only time I hear from be on a yearly Christmas card and that's it.

Shit, now I sound like the asshole. Edward's a good guy, don't get me wrong, just severely misguided right now and still pretty fucked up from last year. I feel for the guy but my sympathy has run out. Like I told Bella, she comes first for me. And that's the thought that drives me forward to shake the shit out of Edward's body until he wakes up.

"WHAT THE-FUUCKK!"

I can't help but grin. "Time to wake up, pumpkin." Okay, yeah, I definitely sound gay. Got to pull back.

He stares up at me all bleary-eyed and pissed off.

I only grin wider and return to my seat as he watches me. He sits up in a huff and rubs his eyes. "Emmett, what the fuck? How did I-get here?"

I roll my eyes. Of course. But inside, I light up. Maybe this won't be as hard as I thought it would be. "You really don't remember, do you?"

Edward blinks and looks at me. "Would I ask if I did?"

"Well, kitten, it's like this. We met in a bar, you started to tell me how interesting you thought I was, how great I looked in the shirt I was wearing, we got to talking, you asked me if we could go back to my place and here we are, the morning after." I give him one hell of a cocky smirk.

"Wow, Em, you kill me. Ha ha." He yawns and covers his eyes with his right hand, still rubbing. "Shit." He drops his hand and closes his eyes in what appears to be pain. "I was supposed to go home last night. Fuck. Bella's going to kill me."

Time to go into character. I lower my eyes. "Yeah, she is, but not because of that."

"What do you mean?"

Fuck, here we go. Forgive me Lord for I'm about to sin...

I look at him in disbelief. Man, I should get a fucking Oscar with all of the performances I've pulled off in the last seventy-two hours alone. "You really don't remember?"

Edward looks worried now. "No. W-What happened, Em? What are you talking about? What does that mean, that she's going to kill me?"

He looks downright scared shitless right now and I know why. The thought has rage running through my veins and has me fantasizing about throwing an uppercut to his jaw but I swallow the anger back down. I need to do this, for Bella. Besides, this is just another thing working in my favor. The thought helps my body to subtly relax back into my seat. "Because of what you said, Edward."

Well fuck me and call me Emma, Edward's paler than normal. What a shock. "W-What did I say?"

I sigh and sit back, looking at him squarely. "Edward, I'm just going to be straight up with you. Man, you fucked up royally last night. You came here and said some fucking awful things to her. You really don't remember?"

I hear him choking. "O-Oh God! W-What did I say? O-Oh my God!"

I lean forward, my elbows on my knees, my hands clasped in front of me. "Relax. She's calmed down some so you should, too. Take a breath, or four. You came here out of your fucking mind drunk last night."

Edward looks at me helplessly. "Em, please. Tell me what I said. God, if I lose her, Em..."

I let him trail off; it's obvious that he's not intending to finish that sentence. He doesn't need to. He knows he'll be in a world of shit if Bella ever decided to leave him. I see his vulnerable broken scared little puppy look and decide to put him out of his misery. I'm not that much of an asshole, I do feel for the guy. So, I recount every detail to him including what he said to make Bella so upset.

He doesn't say a word, doesn't make a sound. Hell, he doesn't even move. He just stares off into space as he listens, never once meeting my eyes. When I finish, he finally looks up at me and says one thing. "I need to talk to her. Apologize to her. I was horrible and completely out of line last night. I'm surprised you didn't kick my ass, Em."

I laugh. "Yeah, I'm surprised I didn't, either. Must have something to do with that beautiful wife of yours. I had no interest in making her a widow this early on in life."

He winces in response and I don't blame him. Okay, I am that much of an asshole. Way to be a fucking heartless prick, jackass. Good one. "Sorry, man. I didn't mean anything by it."

He shakes his head and looks down. "Don't apologize. I deserve it."

I sigh and rub my head, leaning back. "No, you don't. I'm sorry. It's just...man, what the fuck were you thinking last night? Getting trashed like that? I don't mind if you come here to crash every now and then. Hell, I'd prefer it so Bella doesn't have to see you like that but...what the fuck were you thinking?"

He places his forehead into his hands, closing his eyes tiredly. "I wasn't. I just...I screwed up, Em. I had the worst fucking day you can imagine. That whole fight with Ness over me staying an extra day really took a lot out of me. And then quitting on top of it. I mean, I was so happy. I finally felt free, you know. Free of all the bullshit. But at the same time, it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I've been there so long. And I have so much invested..."

I glare at him. "Let me make something clear to you. Since you obviously haven't gotten it the first forty eight times I've told you. I do not want to talk about that. Ever. I'm your friend, Edward, and I'm here for you for anything. But that. And as far as MegaBitch goes, don't even fucking mention her name to me. After all of the bullshit she's put us through, I might just go down there today and finally drop her evil ass out of a window twenty six stories high. Get my meaning?"

Edward nods. Smart guy. Most of the time.

I sigh again. "Alright. Now, here's the deal. Bella is still going on her trip with that friend of hers. I spoke to her this morning and she told me that the woman is picking her up earlier than expected. I guess around 9 or something."

Edward drops his head, looking sad. "I was supposed to be with her. I wanted to be with her." He sighs and wipes a hand down his tired face. "I'll call her right now." He looks around for his phone.

"Don't bother."

He looks back up at me in surprise. "Why?"

My lips are in a tight line, as if my body doesn't even want me to spin this huge lie. Oh well. My girl comes first. Get over it, lips. "After what you put her through last night, she needs some time. I know that what you said, you didn't even really mean to say, or even in that way but it really got to her. You fucking hurt her. Badly."

He looks so pained when I say this that I'm almost tempted to turn away rather than see the devastation and guilt there that I'm helping to cause. But I don't; I'm staying strong. This is for Bella. Bella's all that matters to me. And this is what pushes me ahead.

"You did a number on her, Edward. She was really upset. I tried to tell her that you didn't mean what she thought you did but she wouldn't listen to me. And you know she always listens to me." He winces. "She eventually calmed down, thank God, and when I talked to her this morning, she sounded a little better. But, she just wants to get away, be left alone, take some time. And I told her to. She needs this vacation, Edward. You know she does. The store's a good distraction but that's all it is. She needs some time to regroup. I told her to enjoy herself and that I would let you know she left."

Edward looks like he's in agony. Stay strong. "Where did she go?"

Fuck, I hadn't thought of that. So instead, I turn it back on him. "She didn't tell you when she made the plans with Angela?"

He shakes his head.

"Oh." I leave it at that and don't answer him.

He opens his mouth to speak but I cut him off, trying to distract his train of thought. "Listen, she has her phone on her. I know she was turning it off for a while but she does have it on her. But Edward, if I were you, I'd take this time to relax, sort through some things, decide what I really want, like whether I want to save my marriage or let it keep going down the tubes..." I glare at him again.

To his credit, he stares right back at me, not blinking once. "Thanks, Em, but I think I can handle this quite well myself."

He says it so curtly I almost want to put him into the wall behind him. Instead, I just give him a wiseass reply. I can't help but sneer at him. "You haven't been handling it. That's the fucking problem. And last night was a prime example, you fucking idiot!" I practically spit it at him. Is he fucking kidding me? See, this is why I can't fucking be friends with this guy anymore. Why he doesn't have my full sympathy. He still won't fucking accept his role in all of this, his responsibility and how much he fucked up last year. Unfuckingbelievable!

He looks away and takes a deep breath, torn between sadness and anger. "Fine, Em. What do you suggest I do? How should I handle it?"

Like putty in my hands. Forgive me, Bella. "First, you should go and get your fucking job back, asshole. You have a wife and a mortgage, not to mention two cars, you need to pay for. You can't just quit your main source of income just because you and that psycho have a stupid fucking fight over a change in flight times. You need to be more responsible than that. You've got Bella to think about, for Christ's sake."

He sighs and looks down at his hands. "I can't, Em. I said some pretty serious things to Ness yesterday. She's not going to take me back."

I snort and he looks up at me. I hide the shiver I get in reaction to the chill that goes down my spine at that name. God, I hate that fucking bitch. "Bullshit. You and I both know that if you go to her and fucking beg, apologize until tomorrow, on your knees, she'll take you back in a heartbeat. You're too valuable to the team, to this account. You know that. She knows that. She'd take you back before she'd take me."

He sighs again and leans back against the couch, staring straight ahead. "Em, if I do that then-"

"It doesn't fucking matter. Bella comes first. You know that."

He sits up in a flash and stares at me exasperatedly. "I do know that! Why the fuck do you think I quit in the first place?! Ness and that fucking place were sucking me dry! I mean, the crazy bitch threatened to fucking fire me because I took a later flight time so I could spend some time with my wife before she left today! What was I supposed to do? Of course, I chose Bella! Bella's my life, Em! You know that!"

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying to him what I really want to. I sit up and stare right at him. Bella. "I do. But you have to deal with this. You don't have to go all out and be her bitch, but you do need that paycheck. Come on, man, you're good at what you do and you've invested a lot of time and energy in that company. Regardless of that whore, you need to think of that. This is for you and Bella, nobody and nothing else. Got me?"

Edward sighs exhaustedly and places his face in his hands. He groans loudly. Then he lifts his head and nods, not looking at me.

"Now, as far as Bella goes, give her some time, man. Give her a couple of days before you call her. She'll be alright, but give her a chance to get away from some of this bullshit. She needs it. Agreed?"

He nods again. He knows I'm not really giving him a choice on the matter. Like I said, smart guy.

"You good to drive?"

He turns to me and nods one more time.

"Alright, man. Take my car, go home, get cleaned up and then come back and get me and we'll go in together. I'd say shower here but you don't have any clothes. You're going to want to look extra good today. Maybe you'll get lucky, maybe the bitch will have gotten laid and she'll be cool as a cat and you won't have to grovel too much." I get up and slap him on the back, chuckling for good measure.

Then he gets that look in his eye and he looks straight at me. Well, it's about time. I was wondering when he was going to pull this one out. "That reminds me. Just what exactly was Black doing here? And with my wife?"

I didn't leave Jake out of the equation when I went over the story for Edward before. On purpose. As fucked up as it is, it's much better to tell the truth and manipulate it in such a way that it's hard to dispute rather than tell a flat-out lie and get caught when the stupid fucking drunk remembers through flashbacks at some point later in time. Then he realizes you lied and then his trust in you is shot to shit. Like I said, it's fucked up but it is what it is. If he doesn't trust anything you say anymore, then you can't take care of her anymore. And that was just not fucking happening. Not on my watch. Here goes nothing.

"Simple. He's been staying here since we got back on Sunday. He left the bitch. About time, too. But you already knew that. Hard to miss after that episode down the shore, right? He's got no other place to stay. Come on, man, don't give me that look. I'd do the same for you if Bella ever wizened up and kicked your ass out. Anyway, I called Bella to ask her to come over for dinner, knowing you wouldn't be home right away." I look at him pointedly and amazingly, he doesn't blink once. "She did and Rose kept her busy like I asked. Jake got back from the garage around the time we all sat down to eat. We hadn't even made it past the garlic knots before I got the call from you, slurring all over the fucking place. Right then and there, Rose and I decided to get Bella out of the house so she wouldn't have to see you like that."

Now he winces. I smile. I have him.

"I'm just looking out for you, man. Looking out for you both. If she saw you like that, you know there'd be questions and you were in no shape to answer them. You know it. And I'm not going to have her hurt. At least, that was my intention." I look at him again pointedly. He doesn't meet my eyes. Oh yeah, I so fucking have him. "So, I asked Jake to take her and Rose to get some ice cream. A lame excuse but one that worked that didn't give away what was really going on to him or the girls. Even though, I've got to say, Rose really knew. Sorry, man, but I had to tell her. Like I said, it was a lame fucking excuse. Anyway, they were on their way out when you showed up."

Edward looks up at me in confusion. "Yeah, but you said he was getting into her car when they saw me. Why were they going in her car?"

I look over at him like he was insane. "Dude, what the fuck does it matter? My car and Rosie's car were blocked. Jake's car is a two-seater and I was not gonna have Rose and Bella trying to squeeze into that thing. Do you have any idea how much Rose would want to fucking kill me if she got stuck sitting on the stick shift next to Jake of all people? Fuck, I don't even want to think about it." I throw in a shudder for good measure.

He nods but keeps staring at me. "But why wasn't Bella driving? Why was he?" Oh, he remembered that part, did he? I wondered what else he would soon remember. Nothing I hadn't helped to spin, I hoped. I wasn't in the big leagues of advertising for nothing. "And you said Rose wasn't outside yet? Why?"

I shake my head at him. "First of all, I have no idea why Jake was driving instead of Bella. I wasn't there when they worked that out. Maybe Bella didn't want to. Maybe Jake wanted to get the feel of an actual nice car for once. Maybe Bella hates driving at night, fuck, I don't know. It's not something I'm going to worry about, though. If it's really something you feel like worrying about on the other hand, you go right ahead. Not everybody has an ulterior motive for every little thing." I shoot another pointed look at him to drive it home, no pun intended. "Secondly, not that you remember this, but when you and I came into the house, Rose had her jacket on and was about to go outside. I asked her to drive Bella home, make sure she was okay, and to have Jake follow her in his car so he could bring her back home. And that's what they did. Anything else, Sherlock?"

He shakes his head. "No."

Okay, granted, Rose did have her jacket on and was about to come outside when Edward and I walked in. Stumbled in is more like it. But only because she heard the shouting and the commotion outside and she was coming to make sure Bella and I were alright. She later disappeared upstairs into our room while I placed Edward in the guest room and never came back out so for all he knew, she actually did what I said.

"And thanks to you, Jake had to crash on the couch because you were sleeping it off up here."

Edward's eyes flash. "I don't give a fuck where that piece of shit had to crash."

I chuckle and shake my head, looking away. "Oh, Edward, it's funny how you see things sometimes."

He scoffs and turns away from me. Yeah, whatever.

I clapped him on the shoulder. "Now, if you're done interrogating me, Columbo, then let's get you going so you can come back to get me and we can go in together." I looked quickly at the clock.

9:31

Not bad. They must be at the garage by now. My work was done here and quite effectively I might add. He looks like he's so fucking mired in guilt and regret because of what he's said to Bella. And just like that, I put another pin in. "Come on, man. I called the office already and she's in today. Guess she didn't have to leave for that business trip as early as she thought after all."

He nods and sighs. "Yeah."

"It won't be as bad as you think. Just keep your wits about you and you'll be fine."

He looks up at me hopefully. "You'll help me out?"

I grit my teeth but give him a smile. "Yeah, man. But I highly doubt you'll need it." I give him a wink and he nods, feeling much better and sure of himself.

He gets up off the bed and follows me downstairs to where Rose has coffee already waiting in the pot, though she's nowhere to be seen. Like I said, she did not like what I was going to do today. And I couldn't blame her for it. This was hitting close to home for the both of us. Too close.

After a quick cup, Edward grabs my keys and heads out to my car. He pulls out of the driveway and honks his 'see you soon'.

I watch him drive off, feeling guilty about what I've done but reminding myself of what I know to be true. I'll do anything for Bella. And if that includes what I just did, then so be it. I'll do whatever it takes to protect her, take care of her, keep her safe.

I see him turn the corner. And the Oscar definitely goes to me. It always does. The thought makes me let out a heavy sigh.

Rose's arms appear out of nowhere and wrap around me. "Are you alright, Em?"

I nod, stroking her arms tenderly with my hand. "Yeah, babe. I will be."

She kisses my shoulder and we stand there like that for a few minutes, just staring off into the distance.

I know Edward. What he's about to do will occupy his mind for the next couple of days. If that bitch takes him back and I know she will, he'll go on that business trip. But after a while, he'll try to call Bella. I know he will. And even though I told her she has the upper hand and can do what she wants, there can be no doubt now. Edward's not going to keep buying my bullshit much longer. He's suspicious now. His questions confirmed that. And the worst thing in a situation like this one is the suspicion, the paranoia that builds and whispers to you that maybe, just maybe, something really is going on. Rose and I know that best.

I really just hope that Bella makes up her mind soon. I wasn't lying to her when I said I think Jake's good for her. Rose sees it, too. He makes her happy, helps her to forget. And he did get through to her last night, even when I couldn't. I saw it with my own eyes. The way she let him hold her as I talked to her, the way she was able to reassure him when he was upset. She wasn't pushing him away. She was letting him in. The only other person she's ever let in since her world went to shit is me. And that's because she feels safe with me. After all, I was there. But now, she feels safe with Jake, too. She has to or else she wouldn't have let him get close to her again like that last night. That right there tells me Jake's the right move for her. And if he is the cure, the very thing that makes my girl happy again, then by God I will do whatever it takes to fucking protect it.

It's an added bonus that it just happens to be one of my best friends. Another reason I do it. Bella seems to be good for Jake, too. Rose sees that as well. Jake was fucking dead inside, going through one pussy after another, just trying to find something, anything, to make him feel again. Something to get the bitch's attention to make her sit up and finally take notice of what she had neglected at home. But since he's been with Bella, I see life in him again. He laughs, really laughs. And I catch him smiling a lot, that big ol' stupid grin on his face. Whenever I ask him about it, he just shakes his head, smiling wider and refuses to tell me. Well, that is, until this past weekend, when it all came out in the wash. But he's starting to become his old self again. He's healing, opening up once more rather than keeping himself shut off from the rest of the world. Bella's the right move for him, too. She makes him happy, I saw that last night when she ran down the stairs to greet him. I swear, I've never seen him smile like that before.

It was a moment they shared, a moment so intensely private and rare, I didn't want to spoil it. So, I went upstairs to see my other girl.

I just hope Jake's strong enough to deal with Bella's...past. Stronger than Edward. Hell, stronger than me.

And as guilty as I feel for being the puppetmaster of Edward's strings, I don't feel that bad. Like I said before, my sympathy for him has run its course. He made his own bed and now he has to lay in it. And after what he pulled last year, he's lucky I didn't fucking kill him. So, I don't feel as horrible as maybe I should in helping Jake and Bella out. So, I'm sorry but not really.

Rose hugs me tighter and lays her head on my shoulder. "Babe, why are you doing all of this? I know she means a great deal to you but isn't this going above and beyond what's expected of you as her best friend? I know he hasn't been the best to her lately but considering the circumstances, shouldn't we just let them work it out on their own? I mean, Jake left Ness. He made his decision. Bella's going to have to make hers and you can't do it for her. You can't protect her from every little thing as much as I know you want to. I mean, I understand-"

I turn to face her and cup her cheek gently. "No, babe. You really don't. You really don't understand."

She narrows her eyes at me as I knew she would. "What are you talking about, I don't understand? Of course I do." She's pissed now, thinking I'm talking about us and insulting her all in the same breath.

I sigh and kiss her before pulling back and looking down at her sadly. "No, you don't. Babe, there's something I haven't told you. About all of...this. I think now is as good a time as any. Let's go inside and sit down."

She looks worried now but nods. "Okay."

I sigh again, take her hand, and lead her up to the house. I've never told her. Not only because it wasn't my right to, not really, but also because it's not easy for me to talk about. Everything happened before she came into the picture and the dark place I went into to try to save Bella because Edward was too weak to... I don't like to relive it. I can't even guarantee right now that I won't be crying like a little girl by the end of this conversation. But, it's inevitable; I have to tell Rose the truth. She's already at her limit with all of this crap and I can't say I blame her. She just really doesn't understand. And like I said, I'll do whatever it takes to protect Bella. And if that means in about ten minutes, I'm going to be sobbing like a little bitch than that's what I'll do. Whatever it takes.