Fight

Sorry this one took so long. It was much harder to write than I ever expected it would be. I think I re- wrote it four or five times, and I'm still not happy with it. Anyway, this is my version of what happened while Bella was 'entertaining' the Blacks. Hope you like it at least a little.

Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me, and I know that they never will. I thank the wonderful Stephenie Meyer for allowing me to play with them none-the-less.

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By the time I reached my home, Rosalie had returned. I had walked into the proverbial hornets' nest.

She was absolutely livid. She met me at the door, her anger nearly palatable even without Jasper's talent. She berated me for my stupidity in a constant mental deluge, even as she screamed at me verbally. How dare you! First, you risk our safety for that stupid girl. Then you bring her to our home. Now you ask her to come spend an evening with us? How dense can you get? Mistakes happen, Edward! She could destroy everything we've worked for, just because you're too dim-witted and arrogant to leave her the hell alone! I'm going to kill you!

"Shut up, Rosalie. I have never tried to tell you how to live your life. You've got no right to tell me how to live mine," I hissed, fighting to keep my temper in check. It wasn't going well. Every word she flung at me, mental or otherwise, eroded my control like water erodes a stone. Slow, but inexorable. I tried to push past her, to get away from her, but she swung to block my escape, pushing the confrontation like she had done during our last fight. The one we'd had after I saved Bella from the van. Thankfully, this time, my siblings weren't getting involved. Whit the level of rage that was currently being thrown at me, I could not even tell if they were home.

"Why? Does Little Eddie not want people to tell him when he's being an idiot?" she purred, her tone was sickly sweet as she tried to goad me into loosing my temper. Afraid you haven't got what it takes to be with a woman of your own species? That must be it. You need the little human so that you can feel better about yourself.

Her attempt worked. I couldn't lock the feral growl behind my teeth. It ripped from my throat, a savage resonance in my chest. I wasn't sure what I was going to do to her, but it certainly wasn't going to be pleasant. It was something I would undoubtedly regret, especially after Emmett got his hands on me.

And then I was saved.

"Enough." Carlisle's voice was calm, but it held a tangible note of command. None of us even thought of disobeying when he used that particular intonation.

"Carlisle…" she protested.

"Enough." He paused for a long minute, his eyes sweeping from Rosalie to me and back again. "I am ashamed of both of you. You are not children, who fight without a thought to the consequences of their actions. There are better ways of working out your differences."

We both hung our heads, humiliated.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, echoed a short time later by Rosalie.

"Family meeting. Now. We need to discuss the situation. Like adults. I will not allow a repeat of your last fight."

Rosalie and I followed him meekly, but Rosalie's thoughts still howled in rage, alternating between insulting me and abusing Bella.

We filed meekly into the living room behind Carlisle, only to see that the rest of the family was already present. Once we had settled ourselves, it began.

You better be glad Carlisle got home when he did….

It felt like you two were going to kill each other. What's going on?

I should have warned you that I saw that happening….

What is wrong with you two? Never have I seen either of you as ready to go for each other's throat as you have been these last few weeks. The change in you, Edward, has been amazing, but I fear for the harmony of this family.

"What is the problem?" Carlisle demanded. "What has the two of you so ready to fight?"

"That's simple!" Rosalie hissed. "His pet human is the problem. He doesn't see the risk he puts all of us under, insisting that she spend time with us. He has no right!"

"Really? Just like you risked our safety when you found Emmett?" I couldn't help myself. I knew that was the wrong thing to say, but the words marched out my mouth before I even had a chance to think.

Rosalie growled. "At least I was brave enough to claim him for my own. You can't even consider changing her."

I felt my anger rise again, and I half rose from my seat, only to find Carlisle's hand clamped on my shoulder, restraining me. Through the haze of the rage, I could see Emmett doing the same to Rosalie.

"Enough!"

Rosalie and I both froze at the sound of Carlisle's voice. In his tone was something that we heard very rarely. Fury. It was extremely rare for him to show any evidence of anger, and as such stopped every one of us in our tracks. Shame overtook me again. A long, uncomfortable minute passed before I swallowed enough of my pride to enable myself to speak.

"Carlisle," I said softly, "I don't know what's come over me. I am sorry."

"You are in love. It is understandable that you feel the need to defend her. But I will not allow her to hurt our family. I know also, Rosalie," he continued, turning his eyes on her, "that you feel she has no place here. That she has no right to know our secrets. You have every right to feel that way. But you have no right to tell your brother how to live. He has his own decisions to make, just as we all do."

Rosalie began to protest, but he held up one hand, halting the flow of her words. "His own choices, Rose. You don't have to like them, but you will abide by his decisions, and deal with the consequences of them, just as he has dealt with the consequences of yours. You will tolerate them. And that is the end of it. Do you understand?"

"But…"

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. And I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, Edward, but you are required to be careful, no matter what you do."

"I will be."

"Good. Now that that's settled, I understand there is to be a storm tonight?"

"Oh, yes! It's going to be so much fun! I already saw it!"

"Did Edward tell you he invited that girl to watch?" Rosalie hissed again. "If she's going to be there, I certainly will not be."

"Actually, Rosalie, I had heard that. As I said, he has a right to make his own choices. She will be there. And so will you. This family has not had a chance to do anything together in a long time. You will put aside your prejudices and spend time with us." The iron was back in Carlisle's tone, and Rosalie could have no more disobeyed him than she could have regained her humanity.

"Very well," Rosalie muttered, rising from her seat and flouncing out of the room.

"That went well," Jasper snickered.

Carlisle just glared at him, and Jasper nearly choked.

"I better go after her." Edward? How are you going to get her to the clearing? I don't think running would be very good for her, and I know you won't want to take the Volvo on the path. Rose's so mad at you she'd never fix it for you.

"I hadn't really thought that far," I admitted.

Didn't think so. Take the Jeep if you want. I don't mind. I kind of like the little human. She might prove entertaining.

"Thanks."

A short time later, I headed back out into the rain, on my way to get the girl I'd fallen in love with. First, though, I would have to meet her father.

Why did that scare me so much?

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Well, there it is. Like I said, I don't really like this one, but I had to get it done. I don't really have any experience fighting like this; my family tends to get quieter as they get angrier. That would have been completely OOC for Rosalie, though. I'd love to hear any suggestions anyone has for improvement.

Also, the next chapter will take a while, unless I can get it up before the weekend. My sister is comming to visit, along with her six children. I doubt I'm going to have much time to write.

Suggestions are appreciated. I can't fix what I don't see!

Thanks for reading!