A/N: I know, I'm terrible updater and all-round horrible person. I lied. If it's any consolation, I did intend to update within two weeks last, I just failed.
Its the final chapteeeeeeer! Doo doo doo doooooo didi doo di doooooo (sung to the tune of The Final Coundown)
Disclaimer: Not mine!
Hope you enjoy it - LETS ROLL!
BPOV
In a sudden moment of clarity I remembered that, though my life was now complete, the game was not. At this moment, three quarters of our team were physically surrounded by our enemy and the other member was completely intoxicated by the joy of the magic kingdom; not an ideal situation by anyone's standards! Now I just had to figure out how on earth we were going to get out of this one. Alerting my team-mates to our predicament without drawing attention would be tricky, but dealing with Carlisle seemed downright impossible.
I had limited time too, I highly doubted that I, the slow human, was the first person to notice the situation at hand. As my mind raced, searching for the solution, I lost all consciousness of my surroundings.
And then I had it! The perfect way to-.... huh?
I was alone. My eyes had refocused and I was completely and utterly alone. The small boat I sat in had stopped completely and become entrenched in its place.
I cast my eyes around the vibrant passage way looking for any signs of life. Or should I say death seeing as they're vampires? Though that would sound a little macabre.
Suddenly I was plunged into darkness. Gears groaned as the mechanical landscape screeched to a halt. The music cut off with a crackle. Ok, so now I was sitting in a boat in complete darkness and silence. Absolutely fantastic.
"Hello?" I called quietly. My voice shook but I knew that if they were anywhere nearby they would be able to hear me. "Edward? Carlisle? Anybody? This isn't funny guys..."
Nothing.
I shuffled in my seat a little, feeling intensely vulnerable from my lack of sight. I couldn't believe that Edward would just leave me alone like this. I mean, I knew he was competitive but this was just taking it to another level!
"Edward I swear to God if you don't back here right now I'll-" You'll what, Bella? I thought scathingly. Stomp your foot? Cry? I was 18 years old, I should have been fully capable of sitting in a darkened room by myself!
I should have been... but I wasn't. I couldn't even see my own hand in front of my face, all I could hear was the occasional drip of water and I was starting to get really, really scared.
I felt my hand start to shake slightly on my lap.
Ok Bella, let's think this through, I told myself. You can't actually move anywhere due to the lack of sight combined with the body of water surrounding you, so the best thing to do is probably just to sit tight. This is probably my team's idea too, I thought bitterly. Petrify the feeble, little human so we can start playing properly.
When a pipe moaned suddenly, I jumped a foot out of my seat and whimpered. Staycalmstaycalmstaycalmstaycalmstaycalm.... I chanted hysterically in my head.
Out of nowhere, I remembered an old incident with Renee. I had been in my early teen years and she had just started seeing Phil. Renee had decided that it would be the perfect "bonding" experience for herself, Phil and I to spend a day at our local water-park - "Atlantis". My mother, being the free spirit that she was, took every ride she encountered as a personal challenge. Phil and I watched with amusement as she happily flittered around, drawing way more enjoyment from it than was appropriate for a grown woman, especially when her young daughter was completely indifferent.
When the day was drawing to a close, Renee insisted that there was one final flume that she need to conquer - "The Black Hole" the biggest ride in the park and generally labeled as emotionally scarring. To Renee it was her Holy Grail.
It was a huge black tube that wound down the hillside at an alarming gradient, with even steeper dips scattered randomly. Water shot from the end at amazing speeds.
Both Phil and I tried to persuade her not go through with it, ironically that is what we bonded over. But when did Renee ever listen to us? So we waited for her, half anxious, half amused, at the bottom of the flume.
Two minutes later, a strange keening came from the bottom of the tube. Phil and I looked at each other in alarm. It wasn't screaming (it was worse!), but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it actually was.
As the sound came closer it gradually became more distinct, almost more melodic. She was...singing? I hung my head in shame as I realized that dozens of people could, at that moment in time, hear Renee's operatic, warbling rendition of La Traviata as she came down the flume.
Why on earth was she doing that!? Later she told me that she had been so afraid that she had decided to start singing to take her mind off it, why she chose La Traviata, to this day I still don't know.
Don't even think about it, Bella. I told myself, coming back to the present. It won't work, this is Renee we're talking about. I attempted again to look around the pitch black passage and came up with nothing. My hands trembled in my lap. What if they didn't come back before morning? What if they couldn't get back to me for some reason? What if they thought it was funny to just leave me here?
I couldn't believe I was going to do this.
Ok, I wasn't going to do La Traviata, that would definitely send the vampires running. So a happy song? My mind drew a blank. Come on Bella, think, think! Any song!
Only one came to mind.
It wasn't even a song!
Don't do it, Bella, don't do it.
I was going to do it.
Shaking with fear, I scrunched my eyes shut and tried not to think about what I was about to... rap.
I stood slowly
"The space goes down down baby, down down the roller-coaster..." Yes, I was singing the rap from Big. Don't judge me.
"Sweet sweet baby, sweet sweet don't let me go..." I couldn't believe it, Renee's idea was actually working. I could feel my confidence growing as I got more and more into the rap. I recklessly decided to throw in some shoulder shimmys on the next line.
"Shimmy shimmy cocoa pop! Shimmy shimmy rock!"
This was actually really fun!
"I met a girlfriend, a triscuit! She said a triscuit, biscuit! Ice cream soda-pop, vanilla on the top!" I was doing the full on hand movements by this point and had thrown myself completely into it.
"Ooooh Shelley's out. Walking down the street. Ten times a week! I read it. I said it. I stole my momma's credit! I'm cool! I'm hot! Sack me in the stomach three more times!"
So... yeah. I had actually just done that.
Taking three deep, calming breaths I sank back to my seat.
Someone somewhere in the passage started clapping. Slow, singular, punctuated claps, getting closer and closer to me. My cheeks felt so hot that I was genuinely worried that they were danger of exploding. Someone had witnessed that.
I felt the boat dip a little as someone stepped into it. My heartbeat sped in fear as I realized that another being was in this boat with me and I couldn't see a thing.
"Who's there?" I stammered. No answer came.
One second... two... three... four...
A low chuckle.
"Hey, Emmett" I sighed. Great, he was possibly the worst Cullen to give that sort of bribery material to.
There was silence again and I could picture his grinning face regarding me in the darkness. I attempted to glare at the general area where he was but probably succeeded in giving the stink-eye to a space ten inches to the left of him.
"Soooo..." Emmett sang.
"Just get it over with, Emmett."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" He said innocently.
Breathe in.
Breath out.
"If you are perhaps referring to your little performance" He raised his eyebrows at the irony "back there. I don't know what you are worried about! I mean, sure you could have picked a better rap. Oh maybe a little Baby Got Back!" I could hear the smile in his voice "I like big butts and I cannot lie! You other brothers can't deny! When a-"
"Emmett!" I interrupted "I really don't need to hear about your...preferences. Just tell me, are you really going to let this go?" I asked incredulously.
"Absolutely" He grinned, and for some reason that I couldn't fathom, I believed him!
"Wow"
"Yeah, I know, I surprised even myself there."
"This is different" I hedged.
"I'm turning over a new leaf"
"I never thought I'd see this day"
"It's a veritable shock explosion" He said with a flourish.
"Ummm. Yeah."
Neither of us for a moment. Personally, I was commemorating this new development with a moment of reverent silence.
"Of course, it's only because I don't need to. We have it all on tape"
"EMMETT!"
EPOV
"I do not care if you want to win, Alice. We can't just leave her there! What if she injures herself? She has a history of recklessness and I somehow doubt that she suddenly decided to embrace her cautious side."
"We left Emmett with her, she's fine!" Alice flippantly dismissed my comment. She was also stubbornly refusing to look into Bella's future because it would be "breaking the rules" if she did it purposefully. I did not like this at all. Logically, I knew that my brother would let no harm befall Bella, but logic was not always my forte, especially where Bella was concerned.
"Edward, she will be fine, you worry too much" Esme soothed.
I raked my fingers across my face in frustration, this game was getting completely out of hand. I should never have allowed Bella to become involved. What was I thinking?
"If you keep beating yourself up Edward, I'll have to help you" Rosalie commented lightly.
"I don't think you're really in a position to do that, do you?" I smirked down at her, my mood brightened exponentially as I again saw her glowering up from the headlock I had her in. "Just one little twist and...snap!" I stared off into the distance in a mock fantasy.
While Esme held Carlisle in a similar, compromising position, Alice restrained Jasper in a totally different way. She had led Jasper to our current location (the gate to Universal Studios) simply by holding onto her own wrist. As soon as we had cornered the other team in the previous ride, she had happily informed him that if he tried to escape she would snap her own wrist off. Jasper, being able to feel her absolute confidence in this fact, had no choice but to follow her like a lost puppy. I almost pitied him. Almost.
"What I don't understand is why, when you had the ideal opportunity to tag us all back there, you didn't take it." Carlisle spoke for the first time. I had been wondering that myself, but we were, of course, following Alice's lead.
"Too easy," sang Alice "Where would be the fun in that?"
Where indeed.
Out of nowhere I became aware of a noise. It had been there before, only faintly. However, as it grew louder I noticed how completely out of place it was. I watched as the rest of the family bristled at this out of place sound.
"Is that...?" Rosalie began before trailing off in confusion.
"It couldn't be, we always take precautions" Esme said, though her voice held reasonable doubt.
"Maybe it's Bella and Emmett" Carlisle suggested.
I shook my head, that was one thing I was sure about. "I would know if it was Bella."
But still it persisted, the steady thrumming of a human heart. I focussed on the sound, looking for the other that would eventually follow it.
"...it would be like a sitcom, just the three of them. They could have matching pajamas. Dammit, where's my key?..."
And there it was. There was someone at the other side of the park, a human. Female, it would seem from the tone of voice, and middle-aged.
"It's a woman, due north-east. I can't figure out why she's here." My brow furrowed, I did not like being out of the loop.
Jasper was immediately on his feet and in full military mindset. "We should go and check it out," he said.
In my peripheral vision I saw Carlisle nod. I didn't have to read his mind to know that the game was postponed until this was dealt with.
"Emmett," I called, raising my vice only sightly. He would be able to hear me. "We have a situation, bring Bella and meet us outside The Revenge of the Mummy ride"
We convened at the entranceway to the ride and Emmett arrived moments later carrying Bella on his back. As soon as he stopped, Bella slid onto the floor with a thump. I offered my hand to help her up.
"Are you alright?" I asked, examining her closely for any fresh cuts or bruises. I still felt extremely guilty for leaving her like we had done.
Our eyes connected as she nodded weakly and smiled up at me. I leaned down and rested my forehead against hers, this night had been pure insanity, and I would be glad to be alone with her again.
"Don't worry, little brother" Emmett guffawed "Bella was having plenty of fun without you"
I looked at her quizzically as her face rapidly darkened in shade. And than I heard Emmett's mind.
"So?" I stifled laughter "I never knew we had a budding rap-star in the family. What shall your stage name be? Bellinem? The Notorious B.M.S?"
She glowered at me.
"Hate to break up this regular little lovefest but we have a situation to deal with." Jasper said sternly
"Relax, Jasper she poses no threat" I reassured.
He ignored my comment.
Suddenly, there was a gasp from Alice and I watched the vision play out in her mind. Oh, this was going to be fantastic.
BPOV
"Absolutely not!" said Carlisle. Again.
"There are no other options, Carlisle. It's the only way that we can get her to leave before sunrise, time is running short as it is!" Alice snapper, her patience was running thin with Carlisle repeated refusal to go along with her plan. I looked towards the velvet blue sky, there were few hours till sunrise and the game would be over soon.
Carlisle tugged at his hair in agitation and groaned and the remainder of his children stood laughing around him. Poor Carlisle, it was not his night in humiliation terms. However, this was something that I would not miss for the world.
"Why me?!" He whined, sounding extraordinarily like a two year old.
"Oh for goodness sake, Carlisle!" Esme huffed "It's not the end of the world, it's only a little homosexuality!"
That set the laughter going again.
Carlisle actually pouted. "Fine! But don't think that I will enjoy this!"
"Methinks he doth protest too much!" Rosalie sang gleefully. "Maybe you should be worried, Esme"
"Carlizzle ma mizzle" (Emmett, naturally) "It's OK, you know? You should just embrace it, we're all the same here"
Carlisle spluttered for a few seconds before settling for a simple glower.
"She's coming, Carlisle. She'll be just inside the entrance in 30 seconds" Edward said, grinning. "Off you go now!"
Heaving a sigh, he turned and headed down the passage. Naturally, we all followed and hid behind the door, leaving it open slightly to peer through.
I watched Carlisle as he fidgeted nervously in the themed room, waiting for this other human to arrive. Just as Edward had said, only seconds later a long, brown head of hair came around the corner. It appeared that she was dragging something behind her as she went, breathing heavily from exertion. On closer inspection, I realized she was dragging...someone.
For one scary moment, I thought it was a corpse. But no they... it was too thin for that.
I almost laughed out loud when, with a spark of realization, I saw that she was grappling with a cardboard cutout of Brendan Fraser. With one final heave she toppled into the room and landed face down on top of the cardboard man.
"Oh Brendan," she sighed wistfully "this is just how I imagined it would be!"
Clearly, she had not yet noticed Carlisle.
We all waited in silence for her to get up. Seconds passed and she had not moved, apparently she was enjoying the moment.
"Ahem" Carlisle coughed, breaking the silence to draw her attention.
The woman's head shot up and her eyes flew open in shock. Her mouth hung open for a second before, slowly, her eyes slid up Carlisle's body from his shoes to his cornsilk hair.
"Well hello there..." She trailed off in what was intended to be a seductive manner.
I could smell Carlisle's fear.
She stood up, revealing a name tag that read "my name is Ruth".
"How can I...help you?"
"B-B-Brendan!" Carlisle blurted out "You, err, he's mine, mine, Brendan umm, I want him, he's m-mine."
"And the Oscar goes to..." Rosalie whispered sarcastically next to me "He's not even attractive" She scoffed.
"Hey, if I was a chick, I would!" Emmett replied, grinning impishly.
I could see the smile of Ruth's face fall as she realized that Carlisle was "gay".
And then she realized he was after the cutout. Her face was steel.
"You gonna go there, bitch?" She asked, tilting her chin. For some reason Carlisle took this as a personal affront.
"Heck yes I'm going to go there! He is the Jaffa to my Cake! The Milky to my Way. The Hot to my Pocket!"
I felt like I had walked into some warped episode of 90210. Emmett would be snapping his fingers in a z formation and saying "Oh no you di-int!" next!
"I will cut you!" Threatened Ruth. Woah.
Carlisle gave a mock gasp. "Oh I am so scared! The wittle lady wants hurt me, how will I survive?!" He threw the back of his hand to his forehead melodramatically.
"Wrap it up, Carlisle, wrap it up" Alice hissed, apparently afraid that Carlisle was getting too into the role.
Carlisle seemed to disagree with this verdict as he snatched up the cardboard cutout and hugged it to his chest.
"GIVE IT BACK!" screeched Ruth. She grabbed it's feet and tugged viscously. When she discovered it would not give in his grip, she bent down to remove her sneakers and started throwing them at him.
He stood there, unflinching, hugging the Mummy actor to his chest and staring off into the distance dramatically.
After several thwarted attempts along a similar vein, Ruth picked up her shoes and sulked away, leaving Carlisle and his two dimensional friend embracing.
The rest of the Cullens and I piled through the door and stood in front of him. I don't think anyone could have spoke even if they wanted to.
"They can take our lives, but they cannah take mah Brendan" Carlisle informed us sagely in a scottish accent.
Okay.
We left the ride interior in a collectively shellshocked state and came to halt in a small seating area. It was almost light now, we barely had anytime left.
"We need a way to decide this" Alice stated "There's no way we can play it out before sunrise."
I stifled a yawn, I couldn't remember ever being so tired in my life.
"Llama race" suggested Emmett
Nobody dignified that with an answer.
"Rock, paper, scissors?" I suggested, just wanting to sleep by this point.
"It wouldn't work with Alice and I" Edward explained.
"Race you back to the house?" Alice chimed happily. Oh please say yes, I was going to fall over!
"Deal" Jasper grinned. And yet again I was thrown onto someone's back. Jaspers this time, as Carlisle seemed preoccupied with "his Brendan". It seemed we had come full circle as we shot through the theme-park, faster than my eyes could register.
I moaned in pleasure I sank back into the bed in Edward's room. Finally, I could sleep! Edward sat brooding by the window, refusing to talk to me.
"You're such a sore loser" I grinned "Can't you take it that you were beaten by a human girl?"
"The game was unfair, since when did hide and seek translate to 'race you home'?"
"Coughsorelosercough"
"Your maturity astounds me, Bella"
I smiled.
"Anyway," he continued "you should make the most of your accusations while you can any talk of anything that happens in the games is banned the rest of the year." He tried to keep his voice level but I could hear the masked glee. Dammit, no rubbing it in then.
I closed my eyes.
"Sleep, my Bella" he whispered as the sun broke over the horizon.
"Oh, I almost forgot..." I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep. "I made a bet with Jasper... You owe me one mutant baby..."
A/N: Hoped you liked it! So there you go, the final chapter. Its been so much fun and you guys have been amazing so Thank you! As I said last chapter I will continue to write extras for this story but I'll post them under a separate story so either subscribe to me as an author or I'll make sure to let you know here when the first one goes up. For all of you asking about a potential sequel to this story, there are... plans in place but they do not only involve myself. Thats all I can really say about that at the moment but, again, I;ll keep you updated.
I'm recommending another set of awards here in this chapter too. The Indie Twific Awards have just started nominating and the concept of them is fantastic - a kind of Sundance for Fanfic. So go check out their site at www(dot)theindietwificawards(dot)com Voting closes on Tuesday the 23rd. (If anyone happened to feel like nominating me for Completed Crackfic I would love them from here till eternity :P ) Edit: To anyone who voted in last day or so for anybody in any category, you may need to go vote again, as they have been experiencing technical difficulties that prevent peoples' votes being confirmed.
A little story: It was my birthday in February and my dear friend (said through gritted teeth), N-Beg, gave me a personalized, autographed picture of Rob Pattinson. Pretty cool, yes? It was an amazing gift that I am very grateful for. It was, however, her methods of acquiring said picture that I have issues with. I won't go into detail but some notable points of the letter were:
-Her implying I had some sort of shrine to him, which I do not...
-Her implying that I had my photo taken with a cardboard cutout of him, which I did not...
-Her telling him about this fic, which...I don't even want to think about!
-Her saying that I was "obsessed" with him, which I am not...
-Her enclosing the worst picture of me ever taken of me, in which I bear a shocking resemblance to ET (the camera was moving and I was pulling a face)
-Her pointing out said resemblance to ET
...
Her excuse was that "my friend thinks you seem like a nice guy and you play Edward well" was not interesting enough. Gah!
However, if anyone wants to see the pic (which I AM grateful for) just ask and I'll scan it in and post a link on my profile.
Oh and I'll post a link to a vid of Tom Hanks doing the rap from BIG on my profile too, if anyone wants to see it.
Ok, I'm really going now! :P
Thanks again for reading, you guys are amazing!
Hannah xx