Chapter 18

We both must have fallen asleep and the next thing I remember is having Jasper tell me to wake up it's time to get ready for work.

I stretched and said, "What? How?"

Edward woke up as well. "What the freak?"

Jasper said, "We got home around 11 pm and you two were holding hands sound asleep; so we put covers on you and left you out here. Go get ready for work now you two."

At the office, Carlisle took me into his office and said, "Have a seat, Bella."

"What, Carlisle?"

"Bella, what is your opinion of carrying a gun for protection for your self and …"

I cut Carlisle off by saying, "Carlisle, just stop right there."

"Alright, Bella. I'm sorry I brought it up."

"Carlisle, no wait, I have no problem carrying a gun. I want to be able to protect myself and the team in case something happens. After reading the file on my country, I want to be prepared."

"Good. Now, we just have to convince three very protective godfathers."

"Hey, how do you know that?"

"My wife can't keep secrets and I think one of you mentioned it one time in passing with me."

"Ohh, do you really think they'll have a problem with me having a weapon?"

"No, Emmett and Jasper will eventually come around, but a very protective godfather boyfriend won't."

"Shall we go find out?"

"Sure."

So we walked into the team's office area, and Emmett said, "What did she do this time, Carlisle?"

"Nothing, I wanted to find out her opinion on firearm's training," Carlisle said.

"No way, Carlisle," they all yelled.

Sam and Jacob said, "Why not, you guys?"

"Guns are dangerous," Edward said.

"Yes, they are. The people running her country are just as dangerous and they work with modern day pirates. So having her protected is a good idea," Jacob said.

Jasper said, "Now that you say it that way, I agree."

Emmett said, "Of course, she should be protected."

Edward said, "No way, Carlisle. Can the three of us go talk about this?"

"Of course, Edward. That way, everyone else can keep working while Bella and I persuade you to our side of thinking."

The three of us went back to Carlisle's office and as soon as the door was closed, Edward screamed, "We never give the people we are rescuing or protecting guns. That is policy you know that Carlisle. I'm sorry, Bella."

Carlisle then said, "Edward, we have never been on a case where we are returning a young queen to her country. We are making up protocol for this as we go along."

Then it was my turn, "First Edward, no you're not. You struggled to admit how good I was on Hell's River, you were shocked to find yourself on your back after you snuck up on me, and I was able to completely vanish. Excluding a damn grizzly bear, I've protected myself better than you thought a girl possibly could. I bet next weekend after our scuba trip; you were going to tell Carlisle I'm not capable of this plan. Now by withholding firearm training from me, you won't allow me to help in regaining my country. I even beat you out in the short foot race on Sunday at the end of the five miles and I bet you hadn't even gone five miles. By the way Edward, I am a fucking queen. I think I can take care of myself. I have helped my father with his country since I was thirteen. I took perfect care of myself since I have been in the US. Carlisle, once you have beaten some since into this overprotective one's head let me know, I'm going to get Emmett and we're leaving for a while. Call us and let us know when we can come back. Edward, I don't think this romance thing between a boyfriend and a girlfriend thing are for us. You should just go back to being my godfather bodyguard."

I left and heard Carlisle ask, "Edward, she did all that to you in Oregon?"

I went back to Emmett's cube and said, "We're out of here; come and be my protectorate please."

"Bye, guys," and the two of us left.

Sam said, "Jake go walk by Carlisle's office and report back."

EmPOV

"Emmett, can we go to like a sports bar for sandwiches or something?" Bella asked.

"Sure, how about Hooters?"

"Whatever."

Bella ordered a shot and a beer plus a cheeseburger and fries for lunch as soon as the waitress came and took our order.

I ordered a soda, burger and fries and thought to myself oh she is really angry and this isn't going to end well. "What is it, Bella?"

"Edward is so god damn stubborn."

As soon as Bella's shot showed up with her beer, the shot was gone and she started on the beer. She was half way done with the beer fairly quickly. When the waitress came back with my refill of soda, Bella ordered a second shot and beer.

She was pissed at him. "Bella, he cares about you and doesn't want anything to happen to you."

"Emmett, I protected your asses and saved your asses - his on Hell's River and your large ass in Alaska. Sorry, no offense."

"None taken. You've proven yourself time and time again. However, we are talking about a gun this time."

"Yes, I have. So what, I'm going to have gun training. If I am terrible at target practice I would be the first to back off carrying a gun. I wouldn't want to hurt any of you even by accident. Edward had planned on coming back from Catalina and telling Carlisle that I wasn't good enough at diving so I would be nice and safe and sound on land. I wouldn't be in his way then. What do I have to do to get him to believe in my abilities?" At that point, Bella had finished drinking her first beer when the second shot and beer came up. The second shot was immediately gone and then she started on her second beer. Thank god her sandwich showed up and Bella started eating it. When the waitress checked on us, Bella asked for a strawberry margarita for dessert. I knew we were in for some serious shit at the house that night. But she needed to blow up, so I let her. The waitress looked at me and quietly asked in hand signals if I was driving and I shook my head yes. I sent the team a text that said - taking Bella home; she's in no condition to be coming back 2 the office.

After she ate everything, her margarita showed up and she started nursing it. I had our waitress bring us out chips and queso to keep her stomach full. My phone kept going off in my pocket and I just ignored it.

"Bella," I asked. "Are you ready to go?" as she finished her margarita.

"I think so. I need to go yell at Eddie some more. Come on Emmy, thanks for listening and feeding me." I hopped off my bar stool and Emmett was immediately holding my side.

"Emmy, don't let Eddie find you holding me like this or he might beat you up, too."

Once we got to my jeep and Bella tried to step up into it, I saw how toasted she was. I picked her up and put her into the passenger seat and buckled her in. "Thanks Emmy, let's go. I'm ready to yell at Eddie." I climbed into my jeep, put my cell phone in the center counsel and away we went. Bella heard my text go off. So she picked it up and said, "Oh, Emmy. Look Eddie is looking for us. I'm going to send him a text back."

I just chuckled to myself and I wondered what Edward would get. Probably gibberish but who knows with T9 on the phone.

Bella kept rambling about Eddie not respecting her abilities and what it would take to prove her abilities.

I felt so bad for her, but I understood where Edward was coming from. I would want to protect her and keep her out of danger if I could I loved her like my hot sister. But he was trying to smother her, too. These two were going to be perfect together, if they could ever get on the same page. I was just hoping to survive her drunkenness and hopefully, Edward wouldn't kill me either. My job was just to keep her protected. No one said I had to stop her from drinking. I looked over and brushed the hair from her face; she had finally passed out. Oh she was going to be hurting tonight and in the morning. My cell went off with a call this time. I answered on the car's bluetooth hoping Bella didn't wake up.

"Hello."

"Hi, Emmett. It's Carlisle."

"Hey boss."

"Where's Bella?"

"Passed out in the passenger seat, why?"

"Passed out?"

"Yes, she had two shots, two beers and a strawberry margarita with her lunch."

"Emmett McCarty!"

"Look sir. I have to keep her protected which she is. But if she's pissed and wants to drink, I'll let her."

"Edward is pacing like a caged animal, right now. Particularly with the text he received from you."

"That was Bella. I've no clue what it says and it was the last thing she did before she passed out."

"You know what, bring her to my house. You stay there until I get there. Edward and I will be there after we go to your house and get Bella some stuff. I'll call Esme and tell her you're on your way."

"Fine, boss. She isn't going to feel very good tonight or tomorrow."

"Emmett, I'm assuming you are not driving under the influence. No Carlisle Cullen, I had three cokes with my lunch. Do you want to do a breathalyzer at your place? And are you gonna punish Bella to and take her away from two of her godfathers. Take Edward away instead; he doesn't know what he has with her."

"Emmett McCarty!"

"You know what Carlisle. I think once you and Edward get to your place, I'll leave my charge with you and then I'm going home to drink because I take my job seriously and I care so much about Bella. You don't need to be questioning me like this. She wanted my help and I gave it to her. If she asked I would help her through the throwing up she'll be doing and I would bring her aspirin and water all day tomorrow if that is what she wants. She is hurt and this time she chose to drink so just drop it, Carlisle."

Thirty minutes later, I pulled into Esme and Carlisle's house. Esme came out as I carried Bella into their house. She showed me upstairs to a guest room. I slipped her shoes off of her to help her get comfortable. "Esme, do you have Tylenol and water? I'd like to try and get them in her."

"Of course."

Esme was quickly back with them. I helped Bella sit up and with a little coercion, I got her to take them and then she curled up on a pillow and was asleep. I moved to an easy chair on the other side of the room because I knew I had to stay with her.

Esme said, "I'll go wait to let them in. Someday when those two get this entire tug of warring straightened out, they'll be perfect for each other."

"I hope we just survive the Catalina trip next weekend. I worry one of them will tie the anchor to the other and throw it overboard."

"Emmett, please, don't let that happen."

"I won't, Esme."

"I'll see you later."