So, new update. I swear this story WILL get more chapters up, but I'm nearing the end of my school year, and things are getting hectic. I'll be updating Bonding later tonight, and if you would, go see my new blog! It'll be an informatory place where you can ask questions and get more info on stories and updates. I don't own, and please review.

Alice's POV

Friday night was spent at my house. Emmett and I stayed in my room until the last minute possible, just holding each other, then we laid down on the loveseat. He was emotionally ripped apart, and it hurt me to see him in so much pain. He fell asleep early, and I was close behind. I woke up in the middle of the night and found myself extremely thirsty, so I went to the kitchen for some water. I could have sworn I saw a few shadows hiding in there, but I was too exhausted to care. However, when I thought about it later, I could never remember seeing Edward in the living room when I went back to sleep.

I woke up to the sounds of people in the kitchen. Emmett was no longer by my side and no one else seemed to be in the room. I got up and went towards the sounds of people, finding Mother and the rest of the crew in the kitchen. It was strange. They were actually laughing at something. I didn't think we were capable of laughter yet. At least not Emmett and Bella, who were leaning on each other giggling. When they saw me, they started giggling harder.

"What?" I asked self consciously. "What's so funny?"

Jasper put an arm around me, patting my back. "They finally snapped. And I'm thinking Edward spiked the orange juice."

"Em," I said, ducking out from Jasper's arm and walking up to my insane boyfriend. "Sweety, are you okay?"

He opened his arms, hugging me tightly. "Morning. I'm great. The world is great. I feel really good."

"Edward, I'm gonna shoot you," I said faux-sweetly, confused as hell.

Edward shrugged, smiling. "I swear, I didn't do a thing."

Mother grinned from where she was cooking breakfast. "I think everyone could use some more sleep. How about after breakfast you all rest. We can do something fun afterwards."

"Okay," Bella giggled, leaning on one side of Edward.

Rosalie giggled and reached around my brother to muss Bella's hair. "And maybe the high ones need to be away from each other. Guys in one room girls in another."

Everyone agreed to that, and after breakfast the girls crashed in my room and the guys spread out over the living room. We slept for a long time. I didn't even realize I was that tired. About noon, Mother woke us all up, having made a ton of food and having no teenagers to eat it all. We were all still mostly half asleep when we ate lunch, then Mother suggested we help her make some cookies for the bake sale at church the next afternoon. We all agreed, and it was actually fun. We made six dozen cookies over the course of three hours, and cleaned up while the last batch was in the oven.

"Well," Mother said, the second we sat down. "I pledged three dozen for the sale. The rest is for you all, for helping me out."

I smiled. "Mom, three dozen cookies just for helping you make three dozen cookies?"

"And for cleaning up," she said, winking. "You all have helped out a ton. Are you all going to La Push tonight? Jacob called while you were asleep and asked if you wanted to."

We all looked to each other and shrugged, then Jasper spoke for all of us. "Yes ma'am." Of course he was being a kiss up.

"Well, I'll drive you about five," she said. "You all go on and have some of your cookies if you like."

We all ate a cookie or two, then we went and rested for a while until time to go. We all went to the beach, as per tradition, and we were quickly consumed in a game of spin-the-bottle (minus Paul, who'd been grounded for something to do with firecrackers, Coca-Cola, and his gym teacher's underwear). Jacob led, spinning first and landing on Jasper.

"Dare," he said, smirking.

Jasper laughed evilly. "I dare you to do a rain dance while yelling at the top of your lungs."

Jacob did his dare, seemingly unperturbed.

Jasper grumbled and went to spin, landing on Jarrod.

"Truth," he said, rolling his eyes.

"What's the farthest you've ever gone with Bella?" Jarrod asked, casting a glance at Emmett, knowing he could get Jasper into some trouble.

"I can honestly say I've only kissed her," Jasper said smugly. Score, for the southern gentleman!

Jarrod was irritated that a fight hadn't broken out, but spun nevertheless. He landed on Bella and picked truth, then admitted that he sang in the shower. Bella then spun and landed on none other than my brother. They exchanged confused glances, then Rosalie nudged Edward.

"Go on," she laughed. "I'm sure Jazz doesn't mind either."

Jasper nodded in agreement, then Edward kissed Bella. It was strange, because the way they kissed didn't look awkward or unrehearsed. In fact, it looked like they'd done it before. When it was over, Edward rubbed his mouth and Bella mimed gagging, much to the amusement of everyone.

Edward spun next and landed on Emmett, and promptly picked truth.

"Have you ever kissed a girl other than Rosalie or Alice?" Emmett asked, getting his 'Sherlock Holmes' voice. "Not counting just now."

Edward shrugged. "I've kissed Bella on the cheek a time or two. Does that count?"

Emmett smirked. "No. If kissing on the cheek counts for anything, your mother's been cheating on your father for years."

Edward said nothing, obviously unsure if Emmett would take whatever was on his mind seriously. "Okay, well, you spin."

Emmett landed on Leah, then picked dare.

"I dare you to turn your clothes inside out and wear them like that the rest of the game," she said, smirking in triumph.

Emmett stood and promptly began removing his shirt.

"Not here!" Leah and Bella shrieked in unison, making him laugh.

He grabbed Embry and Jarrod, dragging them -and their towels- to the edge of the woods to guard him while he did the deed. When he came back, he laughed, smiting Leah. "You need to work on your skill."

Leah glared at him, then spun, landing on her own boyfriend. She gave the group a little wink before sitting on his lap and kissing him fiercely for about ten seconds, then she got up and sat in the sand like nothing had happened. Sam looked quite bewildered, and chose dare all too soon when he landed on Seth.

"No kissing my sister for a week," Seth said, grinning. We were really corrupting his poor little self, but he had definitely given the best dare of the night.

"Seth," Leah whined, kicking sand at him. "You're supposed to be torturing him, not me!"

Seth crossed his arms and glared at her. "Well, maybe if you hadn't put on your little show and permanently emotionally scarred me for life, you wouldn't have this problem."

Emmett high-fived the kid, highly impressed. "You might out-dare me one of these days."

Seth smiled, obviously pleased with himself for such an honor, then spun, landing on myself.

"Okay, Sethy boy, what'll it be?" I asked, smiling at him -somewhat maliciously- but seriously wondering what he'd do.

"Em, can I kiss your girl?" Seth asked, mocking my smile.

Emmett looked from me to him, then said, "If she doesn't mind. But I see something I don't like, you walk funny for a week."

I crossed my arms decidedly. "Fine."

"Fine," Seth agreed, crawling across the circle and giving me a quick little kiss to my lips, nothing Emmett would castrate him for. His lips were rough and dry, and I resisted the urge to scrub my mouth so as to not insult him. Emmett was definitely a great kisser for more than the fact he was the only one I'd ever kissed.

When it was my turn to spin, I landed on Rosalie. "Truth."

"What's your favorite thing Emmett does when no one else is around?" she asked, smirking. She was hoping for something interesting, I suppose.

"Everyone's always around," I said, smirking back at her. "And the one time we had any actual alone time that didn't last for five minutes and that no parents invaded every little while, you came in and just sat there babbling while we made out."

Everyone started laughing at both of us. Rosalie was unperturbed, and instead spun and landed on Embry, who'd been surprisingly quiet. She gave her blue eyes a roll, then said, "Dare."

Embry was obviously unsettled. His dare was lame, and the only thing that ended up being funny was Embry's face when she managed to walk all the way around the circle in the sand and on her hands without falling or even struggling. His spin landed on Kim, and he -under Jarrod's supervision- gave her a quick kiss. The game ended with Quil kissing Kim (again, under close supervision of Jarrod), and the parents showing up (we were going back to my house for the night again).

We crashed pretty quickly, spread over the living room. It was strange. The day had passed uneventfully, with no mention to Renee or anything at all of that nature. Edward and Rosalie crowded the loveseat, Jasper and Bella made a little pallet on the floor, and Emmett and I reclined in the corner of the couch. Emmett and I talked softly for a little while, Emmett somewhat opening up when the others fell asleep.

"It's weird, ya know?" he asked, crossing his arms securely over my stomach. "I'm still really sad, but I guess it's a bit of a relief."

I nodded, listening to what he had to say.

"I mean, Mom and Dad fighting was really hurting me anyway, and I guess I'll always miss her, but if they don't fight, nothing worse can happen."

"Yeah," I agreed, resting my head back against his chest. "You know I'm always right here, right?"

Emmett gave me a little squeeze. "I know, and I love you for it. You're seriously my best friend in the world, and my best girl."

I smiled softly, lifting one of his hands to my lips. "I'm glad you trust me enough to open up to me."

He kissed the crown of my head. "I'm glad I can trust you, too. The others just wouldn't get it. I'm supposedly this tough manly man, but when I miss my Mommy, I want to be able to miss her without being called a wimp."

I turned my head to him. "I don't think you're a wimp."

He curled his head around to kiss my lips lightly. "Thank you."

I turned in his arms, kissing him again. "You ready for sleep?"

He nodded, then coaxed me to get up. He leaned into the corner and patted his lap, motioning for me to use him as a pillow. Before I laid down, I gave him a bear hug and a gentle goodnight kiss. He stroked my hair as I drifted to sleep, and again I was greatly reminded of my love for the boy.

A/N: I know what it's like to have divorced parents, so I won't apologize for any offence from this chapter. Emmett's emotions are basically mine, and I know for a fact that other people view it the same as I do. Please review, and go see my blog! The link is on my page!

~Sidney