Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns the Twilight universe.

3 - Emmett

"So, where should we go tonight?"

Esme smiled guiltily at Carlisle and offered a gentle shrug. "I wish we could stay in."

"Darling, date night is a necessity and you already look so lovely." His smile was genuine as he raked his gaze over her body appreciatively.

Esme smoothed the fabric of her dress. "I dressed up for you. It doesn't matter if we go out."

He could feel his face melting into one of the expressions that he reserved just for her. "The children are home. That's why we need the date night. We're outnumbered." Blissfully outnumbered, he thought, wonderfully outnumbered. Emmett had made such a difference in their lives. If the years after Rosalie had joined them were the most tumultuous in their family's history, then the ones after Emmett were the happiest.

Emmett had brought joy into Rosalie's life. He had done nothing but use his own nature to exorcise her demons. She was still caustic at times, still difficult when she wanted to be, but everything was so much easier.

Esme sighed and stood, drawing him out of his thoughts as her hands fluttered to the pins in her hair. "Perhaps we could go dancing?"

Carlisle tilted his head, considering her as she secured her curls. "What if we stayed in?"

She smiled magnificently, her dimples deepening with her excitement. "I thought date night was a necessity."

He reached out for her hand and tugged her close. "Alone time is. We'll send the children off to hunt or something."

"That has never kept them away."

His fingers were gentle as they found her soft cheek. "We'll let them stay and be really quiet."

She laughed. "That's never worked either."

"Too late." Carlisle turned his ear up as if that would actually help him hear better. "Edward's herding them out the door."

She sighed again, this time a happy sigh. "I'll have to thank him."

Carlisle held a hand out again to his wife, his smile widening to match hers. "Shall we?"

Esme gave him a confused glance and took his hand. "Where are we going?"

He tucked her arm through his and escorted her toward his study. "You wanted to dance."

Carlisle let her go and moved to twist the knob of the radio in the corner. The sounds of Frank Sinatra filled the room. He smiled at the melodic crooning and turned.

He allowed himself a moment to take her in. She was beautiful in blue chiffon. Her dress was new, something she bought on one of her shopping excursions with Rosalie, no doubt. It was a little more daring than her usual attire but it suited her, the rich color a stunning contrast to her cascade of caramel curls. Her arms were bare, the delicate chiffon gathered at her shoulders with little silver clasps. The neckline was plunging toward her thin waist and beautifully draped skirt.

He let his gaze roam back up her body, smiling when he saw her biting her lip. "You are so beautiful," he murmured.

"Thank you." She smoothed her hands over the skirt again. "Rose picked it out."

"I'll have to thank her."

He reached out and pulled her against his body. She settled her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. They shuffled to the music, forsaking grace for the chance to hold each other close. "Isn't this better than going out?" she asked on a sigh.

"Yes." He kissed the top of her head. "You were right."

He felt her hands dance across his sides to settle at his back, under his dinner jacket. She tilted her head up and he leaned down to kiss her, revelling in the familiarity of her soft lips and sweet taste. "Mrs. Cullen," he whispered against her lips, "I do believe you have ulterior motives for staying in."

"We have three beautiful, happy children who are all out." She had a mischievous twinkle in her eye that had him smiling. "I'm going to take advantage."

"Do I get a say in this plan?"

"Since I know you won't argue with me, I'm going to say 'yes.'"

He laughed. Esme had become so sweetly self-assured, so beautifully confident. He trailed a hand over the smooth skin of her exposed back, letting it settle at the edge of the flimsy chiffon. "Was the dress part of the plan?"

She grinned again. "Yes."

Carlisle nodded, kissing her softly. "I've always said you were an excellent planner."

Esme laughed and stood on her toes to kiss him more fully. He obliged her, leaning down to even their heights. "So what do you wear under a dress like this?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You want to see?"

He tugged the zipper down in response, his mouth finding hers again for a deep kiss. He pulled the dress off her shoulders and let it pool at her feet. As soon as her arms were free, she wrapped them around him. He groaned and pulled her to him, stepping back to lean against his desk.

Her satin slip was cool beneath his hands. He pushed her away, just enough to slip out of his jacket and unbutton his shirt. She used the moment to shimmy out of her slip and unhook her garters.

Carlisle felt the venom pool in his mouth as she rolled down her stockings. He yanked off his undershirt and growled when he saw her standing there in her undergarments, the scraps of lace barely covering her. She caught her lip between her teeth again as he let his eyes roam.

"I never get tired of this," he breathed.

She laughed lightly. "I should hope not."

He grinned and pulled her close again, turning suddenly to press her to the desk.

Esme leaned forward to kiss him, their lips crashing together as their passion flared. Frenzied hands tugged at clothes as they fought to rid themselves of the barriers still separating them. They came together easily, familiarly falling into a different kind of dance. They moved together with the comfort of old lovers and the passion of new ones.

After, when they were both sated, Esme tossed him his pants and slid into her slip, complaining that it felt strange suddenly to be naked in his study. She curled into his lap as they settled into his desk chair. He rained kisses across her forehead and sighed appreciatively.

She melted into him, her eyes closing, but she jerked away as they heard the front door open. Enthusiastic strides echoed throughout the house. "Emmett," she whispered.

He nodded and kissed her again. "He probably forgot something."

They listened to him run up the stairs and into his room. He stopped in the hall and Esme's brow furrowed as they heard Emmett approach the study with slow, cautious steps. Esme groaned and Carlisle held her tight. "Is this a rite of passage for them or something?" Her voice was low and fast.

Carlisle laughed lightly as Emmett opened the door. Emmett simply stared for a moment and then raised his eyebrows and grimaced. "This is weird."

"Aren't you supposed to be hunting?" Carlisle asked fighting down another burst of laughter.

He held up a football. "We were going to play."

They stared at each other for a moment, Emmett seeming to be alternately fascinated and disgusted. "Did you need something from the study?" Esme asked.

Emmett's grimace deepened as he met her eyes. "Uh, no. I heard the radio and...I thought you were in your room and the radio was left on..." His grimace melted into a grin, his normal good humor shining through. "This is weird," he said again. His eyes shifted around the room to the discarded clothes and lacy underwear. "Looks like it would have been weirder a few minutes ago."

Carlisle let his held laughter bubble to the surface. "Goodbye Emmett."

"Bye." He gave them one last grin and shut the door behind him.

They heard his chuckling as he strolled down the stairs and out the door. Esme groaned and buried her head in Carlisle's chest. "He's going to tease us."

He laughed again, running a hand over her arm. "We're married. This is what married people do. Besides, he and Rose are entirely indiscreet."

"True."

"It's only fair. Plus, we're the only ones that matter tonight. It's date night."

She shook her head at his shaky logic, a skeptical look on her face. "A necessity?"

"I'd say." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "But next date night, I'm renting a hotel room."

Emmett was still laughing as he stepped onto the porch. He tossed the football from hand to hand as he walked at a human pace. He shook his head and let his laughter fade into an easy smile.

He liked when things were good. He liked the people around him to be happy. The thought of Esme and Carlisle making love wasn't really so weird but seeing the aftermath with his own eyes well...that was weird.

But he loved that they were happy.

Emmett was a man who took pleasure in the simplest of things. He loved his wife. He loved his family. He loved sports. He loved to laugh and to make others laugh. And he loved his life.

He took to it like a fish to water, delighting in every new revelation of his new state. He never had trouble seeing Esme and Carlisle as parental figures or Edward as a brother. He didn't have trouble with immortality or no sleep. He liked the heightened senses and the super strength and speed. He liked being unique and being Rose's man.

She needed him. She wouldn't say it to him, but he knew it was true. The demons of her past had overwhelmed her more than once and she looked to him for comfort. She wanted him to bring laughter to the places where none had ever been able to exist. He gave her new memories to try to make the bad ones dim.

Carlisle had clearly done the same for Esme. Emmett's fingers tensed on the football as he thought of the man that had hurt her. He didn't like to think about Esme's past much. Every cell in his body cried out when he did, angry at the man who had hurt the unbelievably sweet woman he thought of as his mother.

Emmett weaved through the trees, still walking at a relatively slow pace. A part of him wished that Esme had taken her revenge the way Rosalie had. Instead, Charles was allowed to live out his life, not caring a whit about the woman he drove off a cliff.

He knew, without a doubt, what his role was in the family. He was more than the funny one, more than the easygoing one. He was the enforcer, his unbelievable strength enough to make sure that no one ever, ever touched his wife or mother again.

As long as he lived, he would take his role seriously. He would live and laugh and love and defend with equal ferocity. His family would have more nights like this one. He and his wife and brother would find time to be carefree. His mother and father would find time to be alone and they would all have more funny, weird moments.

He chuckled again, shaking off the serious thoughts as his wife came into view. "What's so funny?" Rosalie asked as he moved closer.

Emmett laughed fully, delighting in the curl of her lips as she absorbed his good mood. "You will never believe what happened..."

Note: I enjoyed writing this chapter. It flowed much easier than I thought it was going to.

Thanks once more for all the reviews and favorites and alerts.

The Alice chapter will be coming by mid-week.

Now, review! - Brynna