Chapter Seven – Human Food

A/N: Poor Edward, he can't deny Bella anything and he doesn't even know why. *sigh* I'm so mean. There's not really much point to this chapter, but I had fun writing it, so I hope you like reading it.

Remember; Edward is all knowing. Alice is all seeing. Stephenie Meyer is all owning.

EPOV

Once again, so much for not getting involved. No matter how hard I tried to do the right thing by my family, I just kept dragging them further and further into trouble! Even so, they did not reproach me. My parents worried, certainly, but neither held me to blame. Emmet was beyond caring and Rosalie insisted that she would have done the same - it seemed she'd gotten past her 'hating Bella' phase. I didn't deserve my family.

However, if it wasn't enough that I brought this trouble to my family, my brother and sister insisted that I should not have to babysit alone. Exactly three weeks after the first time, it was Emmet's turn to help babysit. We sat on the floor in the middle of her room playing snap. Bella was winning. Mainly because I was cheating.

If Emmet's thoughts registered a pair before Bella's eyes gave her away, I would jump in and take the pile. If Emmet didn't notice the pair, I'd leave them for Isabella. He knew exactly what I was doing of course, but he didn't seem to mind.

Eventually though, Bella got hungry and Emmet watched in fascination as she fixed her own formula – there was no reason for her not to eat solids, its was just the easiest way to give her all her nutrients. Emmet eyed the bottle skeptically. I heard what he thinking before he said it and shook my head firmly to tell him no – this really wasn't the safest of topics.

He ignored me.'That can't taste any good'

Bella made a face 'You have no idea'

'So why do you drink it then?'

Her expression sobered ' Formula doesn't scream.'

'Neither do elk'

That did it. Bella jumped up, all of a sudden very, very angry. 'How do you know?' she yelled 'Just because you can't understand them doesn't mean their not hurting!' Emmet recoiled in shock and Bella froze. One short moment later she clamped both hands over her mouth and began to bawl. 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!' she was crying so hard the words were barely understandable.

I picked her up and glared at Emmet who was still in shock. 'Shhh' I whispered, bouncing her gently 'Its Ok. Its Emmet's fault for being an idiot'

'B- b- but y- you can't h- help it!' she wept into my shoulder. Emmet had finally managed to pull himself together, but still looked perplexed at the idea of trying to comfort a seemingly-two-and-a-half-year-old. He came over and patted her back awkwardly.

'Hey,' his voice was gruff. She looked up at him, but didn't stop crying 'I'm sorry. You were right. We're doing the best we can and I shouldn't of teased you doing your best. Lets just forget this ever happened, hey? Still friends?' He held up a hand, which she hi-fived half heatedly, her sobs finally coming to a close.

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Rosalie had been very impressed with Emmet's 'small-child-cheering-up skills' and I made sure to stay out of their heads for a good while after. Later though, I caught her mulling over Bella's distaste for human food. I didn't get a good look though, since the moment she realized I was monitoring her thoughts she immediately began recounting the days earlier activities with Emmet.

When Rosalie starts daydreaming, I get out of there as fast as possible. Seriously, Emmet thinking of Rosalie was bad enough, but when Rosalie was imagining being with Emmet – now that I really didn't need to hear.

I knew better than to ask where she was going that evening.

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All was revealed the next day when Rosalie presented Bella with a small block of what appeared to be a sweet, brown, sticky substance. I watched as Bella nibbled cautiously at one end, before breaking into a wide smile and throwing her arms happily around Rosalie's legs.

'What is that stuff?' Asked Emmet incredulously.

Rosalie grinned. ' The bane of every parent's existence; Chocolate.'

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A/N: Computer panic over, my hard drive isn't dead, the connections are just loose. Seriously, I tried reinstalling the operating system and it told me hard drive was dead! *cries*, but then I thumped it and its better now, starts up with zero issues. Needless to say, everything is backed up now. Yay! This baby only has to last me another year anyway, so yes. Panic averted.