2

We all sat around and did a whole lot of nothing for the remainder of the afternoon. We were all tired from the party and staying up late. The boys played a few games on the Xbox and I napped for a bit with my head resting on Emmett's legs. I was awoken when he apparently won the game and jumped and yelled something about "take that, sucker" to Jasper.

I jumped up and cracked my head on Emmett's elbow. (I swear he will think I am some sort of injury ridden moron, I never hurt myself this much usually!) He and I both yelped from pain, and then he was rubbing my forehead saying how sorry he was. Jasper and Edward both laughed and said it served Emmett right for getting his gaming arm hurt since he was cheating anyways.

"Cheating? I was not cheating...it's not my fault if you guys don't know all of the hiding spots like I do! You've been too busy with Bella and Alice....", as Emmett yelled, Bella and Alice walked into the family room.

"Well, maybe within a few weeks it'll be more even, once you spend more time with Carolyn", Alice smiled. "Hey, Care, do you mind if I call you Care? We're deciding on dinner, want to come help? That is, of course, if you don't have a concussion. Maybe you should put some ice on that?"

"Oh, is it that bad? It doesn't really hurt. I think I'm OK. Are you OK, Emmett? I have a pretty hard head," I joked.

"I'm OK, and I am sorry...I guess I got a little carried away with the killing and the guns and all.....", Emmett said, sort of wistfully looking at the screen, now stuck on pause.

I laughed along with everyone else and told him it was OK to go ahead and keep playing. The boys asked for some snacks and drinks, and Rosalie answered with a "Yessa, Masters" and did a little curtsy and salute. (Must get Rosalie to talk more...that girl is funny!)

So all of us girls went into the kitchen and Alice asked us what we wanted for dinner. Of course, she had three choices already planned out, we just needed to vote on which one we would actually make. Rosalie said she didn't really care, she liked all three. Bella said anything that did not involve fish. I asked what the choices were.

"Ahhhh, let me tell you!" Alice said, excited. I was a bit frightened. "First we have a basic salad, steak, baked potato, green beans and leftover desserts from the party. Next on the menu would be salad, spaghetti, garlic bread. Lastly, which I guess is now ruled out, was salmon steaks with salad and veggies. Which sounds good to you, Care?"

I laughed at her now apparent ease with my nickname and said steaks sounded good, and that I was sure Emmett would like that choice, too.

Rosalie looked at me very seriously and said, "Listen, Carolyn...Emmett would eat a cardboard box with ketchup on it. He eats anything. However, you happen to be right that he loves a meat and potato meal. And if it involves him firing up a grill, than he is in boy heaven."

I had to laugh at her serious expression during that statement. I now had a mental pic of Emmett sitting down at the table with a huge UPS box smothered in ketchup in front of him, fork and knife in hand.

I asked where their parents were, and learned that Dr. Cullen was scheduled to work that night, and Esme had decided to join him. So, the dinner and night was just for the seven of us. "Does your Mom do that often? Go to work with you Dad, I mean?" I asked. It kind of surprised me, she must have a lot of trust in us to leave seven teenagers alone in her beautiful house for the night.

Alice smiled and giggled, "Well, they like to spend time together away from all of us. So sometimes, on nights like this when Dad thinks it'll be really slow at the hospital, she'll go with him and they hang out in his office. Together. Alone. You know?"

Oh...I see. Well, I hoped that Dr. and Mrs. Cullen weren't the only ones getting to spend time "together" tonight!

So we had decided on dinner and Alice put me in charge of getting the salad ready while she made a marinade for the steaks. Bella was cutting up green beans, and Rosalie was getting out plates and silverware and then she remembered the boys and threw out 2 bags of pretzels and a 2 liter of Coke into the family room. All I heard was, "Catch! Incoming!", and then I heard Jasper say, "Ouch, Rose! You hit me in the head!". I just shook my head and laughed.

Alice got out a huge container that looked like it had about ten large steaks in it and poured the marinade over the top. "Umm, Alice? You already had the steaks out and thawed? What if we had chosen spaghetti?", I asked.

Bella laughed and grabbed me by the arm and pulled me over to the fridge. She opened one side and pointed in at a large pot with spaghetti sauce in it. "She's nothing if not prepared, our Alice."

I smiled and said, "OK, well, I assume there are salmon steaks at the ready as well?".

"Nope, I know Bella hates seafood, so I only make that a real option when she's not here for dinner. That was just a joke choice," Alice said as she hugged Bella and smiled at her.

I hoped one day that I would be that comfortable with all of them here. As if on cue, Alice came over to me and hugged me and said how happy she was that I was there. And then she sat me back down at the island to finish the salad and she sat across from me on another high stool. Bella sat down next to her, and Rosalie came and sat on my side. They all sat there and watched me slice up the last few tomatoes and then I looked up to see all of them staring at me with little half smiles on their faces.

"Umm, am I missing something?", I asked. "Did I forget to put something in the salad?".

Alice bubbled over...."So, you and Emmett....you're so cute together! I am so happy you guys are together! Aren't they cute? He was so worried if you were coming to the party or not, and when I saw you guys kiss at midnight I just knew it was meant to be! He really loves you, you know? I can just see it all over him!". I don't think she took a breath until then.

"Oh! He makes me really happy, Alice. I'm so glad I came to the party, too. I can't imagine what I'd be doing right now if I hadn't", I said. "Actually, that's not true. I know what I'd be doing. I'd be sitting at the Newton's house with them. Mike and Jessica Stanley are seeing each other now, did you know that?" I answered. I hoped to not have to answer anymore questions about me and Emmett.

"Nice try. And yes, I did see them together a bit at the party. Now, back to you and Emmett....how was last night?" she asked with a coy smile.

"Alice! Give the girl a break!", Rosalie yelled. "Jesus, whenever I get a sex life I'll be happy to tell you all about it, but give Carolyn a break! Or better yet, why not tell us all about you and Jasper? Oh wait. No, don't. I don't want to hear about my brother having sex. Yuck."

"Ummm, well, Alice, we umm. Well, he stayed with me last night, you know. And it was....oh it was awesome." I laughed. Bella was about five different shades of red, Rosalie giggled, and Alice clapped her hands like a cheerleader and said, "I knew it!!!!! Didn't I say it? Did I not say that I just knew they were going to do it? Awww, you guys are so sweet. Care, you don't know how excited I am for you!!!!! And Em!!!!". She was literally bouncing with excitement over my newly found non-virginal state.

Just then, the boys walked into the kitchen, 2 empty bags and an empty 2 liter bottle in hand. "What's gotten you so excited, Al?" Edward asked. "Gee, already planning the next party or something?"

"Oh, Alice is just happy for Emmett and Carolyn...and their night last night", Rosalie giggled.

Emmett's eyes widened and he looked at me. "Umm, are you the kiss and tell type, Care? I didn't say anything, I swear!", he said.

Alice and Bella erupted into a full blown laugh and I said, "No! No! Emmett, we were just talking about how wonderful you are and how I'm glad I came to the party...apparently Alice knew we would end up together and she's just happy for you and me", I said quickly. He blushed and came over to me, hugging me and said he was happy that I had come to the party, too. We kissed then, and everyone said a joking, "awwwwwwwww".

"OK, enough talk about who's having sex or not. I'm hungry!", Jasper said, rubbing his hands together.

"That's my cue! I'll start the grill...wanna come help me, Care?", Emmett asked.

"Sure! I heard all about your grilling expertise, do you have your own show on Food Network?" I joked with him, as we walked towards the back of the kitchen. He threw me a big jacket and opened the door. The grill was outside about 10 feet away or so from the house, on the lower deck. It was covered by the patio roof, so we were OK as far as the snow went. Emmett got the grill opened and lit and then closed it again and turned to me. He pulled me close to him and leaned down and kissed me, his mouth nibbling on my lower lip.

"Hmmm, that tastes good. Maybe we'll pass on the steak," Emmett said. I smiled and was about to say OK when his stomach rumbled next to me. We both laughed and he said, "Well, OK, maybe steak first, kissing later? Deal?" he asked. I nodded yes and leaned up for another kiss.

The door opened and Edward yelled out, "Here they are, Em! Medium for me, please, slightly pink on the inside, no dryness on the edges, man!". Emmett walked over and took the tray from Edward and said, "Sure, bro. I'll make it perfect, Like always." They gave one another a high five and laughed.

Emmett put the steaks on and we cuddled and kissed while he checked them every few minutes. Once they were "perfection", he slapped them all back onto the tray and turned off the grill. He held the tray in 1 hand and me with the other, and we walked back inside the warm kitchen.