I don't own Twilight
"So what are your parents like?" Bella asked turning towards Emmett as they bumped along the road.
"Oh they are great." He said smiling over at her. "We originally came from Chicago but my dad got tired of the big city so we all decided as a family to move out here.
"Do you have any siblings?" she asked trying to get to know her new husband.
"Actually yes I do I should warn you about him before you meet him."
"What do you mean warn me is something wrong with him should I stay away from him?" Bella felt slightly fearful about all of this.
"No, nothing like that but he lost his leg in the war and so he has a fake one I just don't want you to be surprised when you see it."
"Oh Okay." Bella felt her heart rate going back down.
"Ow Rachelstop kicking me." Jacob wined from the back of the wagon. Bella turned in her seat and looked at the two children.
"What is going on back there?"
"Rachel kicked me." Jacob pouted.
"He rolled on top of me."
"It's not my fault the rod is bumpy."
"Rachel no more kicking Jacob hold on to the edge so you don't fall into your sister." Bella gave the children a stern look before turning back towards the front. She wanted to ask so badly about the children and their parentage. She looked between the sun tanned children and the very Pale Emmett and couldn't figure it out. How were they related? But she bit her tongue and didn't ask. Not now not in front of the children. Silence fell between them as the wagon bumped along.
What felt like forever but was really about fifteen minutes they pulled into a dusty trail that lead to a pretty little house. "Welcome to Cullen Claim." Emmett said stopping the wagon. He jumped down and helped Bella from her seat. As her feet touched the ground she let go of his hand with some reluctance his hand had felt good in hers. Big and callused next to her small ones. Emmett went around the back of the wagon and picked up each child swinging them from the wagon and placing them on the ground. Just then the front door opened and petite woman came running down the steps.
"Emmett what are you doing?" she smiled but stopped when she noticed the children by his side and the strange girl behind him. " Rachel, Jacob?"
"Yeah these two were on the stage coach. I'm sorry to say it seems Aunt Sarah and Uncle William have died along with the baby."
"Oh no." Esme's hands flew up to her face as she let out a muffled gasp thinking about her baby sister. She looked down at the children. "Come her children." They walked cautiously to her and she bent down to hug them to her as they clung to her skirts. As she stood back up fully she looked over at Bella. "And you are?"
"Ma," Emmett's voice had a warning tinge to it. "This is my wife Isabella Swan Cullen.'
"Wife." Esme gasped slightly wavering. "What do you mean wife Emmett Cullen start talking this instant.
Emmett sighed and looked over at Bella who was standing looking down as still as a statue. "I wanted to get married you know that but known of the girls around here peeked my interest. So I decided to throw a gamble into it and put an ad in one of the monthly matrimonials. Bella answered and here we are she came in on the same coach as the children.
"And you just married her like that?" Esme's eyes blazed as she looked at her son hands on hip.
"Yes I married her just like that. I wanted us to be married before we came out here. I knew you wouldn't be happy with this but it's what I want okay it's my life and it's what I want."
Esme looked over at her daughter in law. "How old is she?"
"She's seventeen." Emmett sighed.
"Emmett." Esme hit him on the arm. "You married a child."
"Excuse me Mrs. Cullen." Bella cut in. "I'm no child I'm young that is true but I've lost both parents and before that I helped my mother run a house and stay alive during the war we just suffered. After everything that has happened the last few years can you really call anyone a child?"
Esme was taken aback at this. "Well… I guess… you're right." She said looking at the girl who stood before her. Tall and proud fire blazing behind her brown eyes. "Lets all go inside she ushered them into the house as Emmett stepped beside Bella wrapping his arms around her waist.
"That was amazing." He whispered his hot breath wafting over her face and causing her to shiver. They watched as the kids scampered up the steps and into the house. Bella let her nerves sooth over as she giggled lightly.
"I can't believe I did that." She whispered.
"Why you just stood up for yourself."
"Yes but it's your mother."
"Oh darling she'll respect you more because you stood up to her believe me. "they walked through the door to see a man with blond hair coming through the back.
"Oh Emmett. Who do you have here?" he noticed Emmett's arms wrapped around the girl.
"Dad this is my wife Isabella. Bella this is my dad Carlisle."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Cullen."
"Oh uh you to dear." Carlisle shook his head shooting his son a look. "Where is your mother?"
"With the children." Emmett said.
"Children? I was only gone for a few minutes what the heck is going on."
Emmett laughed. "Jacob and Rachel you remember Aunt Sarah and uncle Williams kids their parents died and they were sent to mom."
"Oh that's too bad." Carlisle shook his head wondering what weird place he'd stepped into.
"Oh Carlisle you're home." Esme said walking through from the kitchen. "I just gave the kids some milk and cookies now I think it's time we all sat down and talked don't you?"
"Right talk." Carlisle said still dazed as Esme led them into the living room and they all sat around the sun pouring in on them. "Now why don't you tell us a bit about yourself Bella?"
"OH of course." Bella said knotting her hands in her lap. "Well I'm from Boston my mother died recently and left me with little prospects. My father died in the war as many others did. I actually only grabbed the matrimonial monthly to keep myself dry but as I tried to figure out what road life would take me I flipped through it. Emmett's was actually one of the last one's in the paper and I wrote to him. The letter he wrote back actually got lost in the mail. So by the time I got it I hoped on a coach and here I am. I happened to meet Rachel and Jacob along the route by a strange coincidence. I'm sorry for your loss Esme."
"Thank you dear." Esme whispered trying not to let the tears fall from her eyes.
"So how did this all happen?" Carlisle asked looking between his son and new daughter in law.
"Dear I'll explain it later" Esme said not wanting to get into it all over again.
"So what are you doing with the kids?" Emmett asked.
"Keeping them of course. They are my kin there is nothing else to do."
"They are lucky to have people that care." Bella said quietly just then the door opened and closed and they heard a heavy tread across the floor.
"Well you must be the little bride." Bella looked up to see a man with coppery hair standing before her. Noticing his steps she figured he was Edward. She wavered her eyes away from his leg and up to his eyes.
"Hello."
Emmett jumped up from the settee bringing Bella with him. "Edward this is my wife Isabella, Bella this is my brother Edward."
"Bella it's nice to meet you." Edward smiled at her.
"Nice to meet you to Edward." Bella smiled back. She tried not to stare at his leg she tried not to feel awkward.
"So who was at the wedding?" Edward asked.
"Jasper and Rosalie witnessed it along with Rachel and Jacob and Marcus proceeded over it. "
Edward noticed the pinched look that Bella got at the mention of Rose and he shook his head. He had a feeling this wasn't going to be pretty. A girl like Isabella coming into a place like this from a place like Boston she wasn't going to take kindly to a girl like Rose but in a town like this only the stuck up people that everyone hated disliked Rose. He didn't think Bella was like that he just hoped she didn't take to long to wise up so she didn't get lumped in with people like the Mallory's or the Stanley's.
"Wait Jacob and Rachel" he looked over at his mother. "Are Aunt Sarah and Uncle William in town." At this Esme burst into tears and Carlisle shook his head gathering his wife into his arms. His wife who had now lost both of her siblings. Going from being in the middle to be the only one.
"No Emmett said sofly they died." Edward's face drained of color as he went over to his mother and gathered her into his arms.
Emmett looked around and down at Bella. "I think we should get going." Bella just nodded wrapping her hand around his arm. Emmett went over and hugged his mom. "I promise we'll be back."
She just nodded wiping her tears. "Rachel Jacob come out and say goodbye to your Aunt Bella and Uncle Emmett."
The children ran in and hugged the adults. Bella felt someone tugging on her skirt and looked down. "You'll come and see us again won't you." Rachel asked.
"Yes of course." She hugged the child and then she gathered Jacob in her arms. She said goodbye to her new in laws and let Emmett help her up into the wagon. They headed away from Cullen claim and back towards home. Towards her unknown future.
A/N thanks to everyone that reviewed please review. Next up their first night and moments alone.