Emmett's Freedom

(Carlisle POV)

We found a small hotel with two adjoining rooms on the other side of Volterra. As we hid up in the room from the midday sun, Emmett was perfectly contented to jump up and down on one of the beds, attempting to touch the low ceiling, as Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, and Edward lay on Esme and my bed watching us with mild interest. Esme was pacing backward and forward, as I followed her.

"Esme-"

"What are we going to do? We can't let them get Emmet! It's cruel and selfish!"

"Esme-"

"But we can't go! They'll track us down and get us! I can't let that happen!"

"Esme-"

"But if we stay, it's like we're just sacrificing him! That wouldn't be right!"

"Esme-"

"What can we do? It's like were trapped! Trapped by the laws when we're innocent!"

"Esme-"

"Oh God, oh Carlisle," Esme turned to me so fast I almost walked in her, "What are we going to do?"

"We are going to have a fair trial, turn Emmett back to normal, and go home," I said evenly. Esme nodded slowly, and smiled.

"God, I hope everything is alright. It will be alright, won't it, Alice?" Esme turned to her.

"Alice isn't getting anything from it. It is all up in the air at the moment," Jasper said. Alice was scowling at the carpet, as if it was responsible for this mess.

"Alice, come and jump with me!" Emmett squealed. Alice looked up at him.

"Alright," she smiled a little, and jumped over to him. They laughed as they jumped around on the bed.

"We aren't letting Alice accept any drinks from Aro anymore, are we?" Edward sighed as Emmett rammed into Alice's knee with his head. Esme nodded. Our poor crazy children.

"Come on out, Emmett!" Esme pleaded.

"I don't want to!" Emmett's muffled voice replied. He was hiding under the bed, as Esme and Rosalie wanted to give him a bath. He was not stupid, you know.

"Could have fooled me," Edward rolled his eyes. He and Jasper were sitting on the bed that Emmett was not hiding underneath. They found the whole matter ridiculous, of course.

"Please, Emmett?" Alice pleaded. She was on Esme and Rosalie's team for getting Emmett out.

"No! I don't want to!" Emmett called again. I smiled. Poor Emmett. Rosalie smiled at Esme and walked casually over to a chair, before falling over dramatically. Emmett flew out from under the bed to her side.

"Rosie!" he cried. She grabbed him, and held him tightly.

"Gotcha!" she laughed. He scowled.

"Meany," he growled and Rosalie stood. Esme and Alice laughed.

"You are so gullible, Emmett," Jasper said, rolling his eyes. He shrugged.

"She fell over!" he insisted as Rosalie carried him into the bathroom with Esme and Alice at her heels.

"If he survives that, we should stop worrying," Edward said.

"I heard that!" Esme yelled. Edward smiled.

"Good," he replied. After a while, we went into the bathroom. There floor was covered with water, and all three girls were knelling around the bathtub. Emmett looked up at me, like a puppy in the rain.

"I'm so sorry, son," I said. He sighed looking resigned.

"I guess so," he said. Edward and Jasper could barely contain their laughter.

"We should get more of this stuff from Aro and use it on you!" Alice giggled at Jasper. He frowned.

"I think not," he shook his head.

"He doesn't want to be an old man," Emmett rolled his eyes.

"Stupid child," Jasper frowned at Emmett. Emmett splashed him.

"Hey!" Jasper exclaimed. Emmett laughed.

"Isn't he adorable?" Rosalie cooed, kissing Emmett's forehead.

"Not so much," Jasper growled. Edward laughed, so Jasper flicked some of the bubbles for Emmett's bath at him.

"Silly vampires," Emmett rolled his eyes.

"Hypocrite," Edward smirked. Emmett looked at him as if he was speaking Chinese. We laughed.

"So, Emmett, what's different about being a kid-vampire to adult?" I asked. Maybe we could use the differences to prove there was a change between the two Emmetts.

"A couple of things," he said and I smiled. Good.

"Such as?" I prompted.

"Everything is bigger," he said brightly. Alice rolled her eyes.

"No, normal sized," she said darkly. Emmett rolled his eyes.

"Shorty," he muttered. Alice flicked bubbles at him.

"Dude, you are stealing my bubbles," Emmett said dryly. All attempts at a civilised bath time for Emmett were abandoned by our children in exchange of a full-fledged-bathroom-war. There were going to be many drenched vampires tonight.