Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: This story is rated M for "Major squees for Edward calling Bella 'Isabella'!!" Don't forget, if you're not at least 18, this is not for you.

Thanks for your patience with the late update - afragilelittlehuman

Playlist song:
http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=vutArF7RS6U

Visit our blog for story background, how we differ from canon vampire lore, teasers, and other information:
http://fragilefoxes. blogspot. com/

Chapter 19: Gunpowder, Gelatine

Standing over Edward's crumpled body, Bella was terrified. She knew what Jane was capable of; she'd seen Jane wield her dark weapons time and time again. Regardless of how Edward now felt about her, if she'd been too late to save him she would never forgive herself.

Bella fell to her knees at his side and, unable to suppress the need to touch him, brushed the disordered hair from his face. "Edward," she whispered.

Clasping her hand in his, Edward closed his eyes. She expected him to shove her away in anger, but she gasped as his soft lips kissed each of her fingertips. She'd dreamed of his lips for 91 years, of their tender touch and the electricity that resulted from it. She never thought she'd feel the overwhelming sensation again, yet, here she was, drowning in it.

His eyes, so cold and furious since he found her, slowly opened. The molten amber orbs were alight with the same glow she'd seen in their emerald depths the first night they met. Then it was suddenly there, surrounding him, enveloping her, arcing over and around them.

The spark.

Terrified to break the spell, Bella could barely speak. "Edward? Are you okay?"

"I am now, Isabella."

His voice flowed thick and sweet like warm molasses, and Bella's thoughts, instantly muddled, only cleared when he rose to his knees facing her. Reaching for her, he brushed his hand across her cheek. They both jumped at the contact as if shocked, and Edward looked around them in awe.

"Do you see it, too?" he whispered

"Yes."

"Are we the only ones that can?"

Bella smiled shyly at the boyish tone of his voice and look on his face. "Yes, I think so."

Edward rose to his feet and held his hand out for her. When she placed her hand in his, he clasped it tightly, pulling her gently to stand beside him. Nodding toward his family, he smiled and led her to the porch. There in a tight line stood three vampires, all following the abomination. The man, his visible youth very much belying his status as an elder vampire, spoke first.

"My name is Carlisle," he said in a warm voice that contained the slightest tinge of a English accent. "This is my wife Esme and our daughter Rosalie."

Esme squeezed Carlisle's hand tightly, and she smiled despite her obvious worry. Esme was classically beautiful, and she looked at Edward with all the love a mother has for her child. Rosalie was like a living World War II pin-up girl, and Bella smirked as she noticed Rosalie's gazed was fixed on a point just past them, in exactly the spot where Emmett was standing.

"Very nice to meet you, Carlisle...everyone." Bella's voice shook nervously. "I'm Bella, and this is Emmett. Aro has sent us here to protect your coven until he arrives from Volterra to deal with the rogue." She was not going to say the name, not ever again.

"Yes." Carlisle nodded. "I spoke with Aro a few moments ago. He explained that you have a shield that you can extend to protect my entire family."

"As long as you are all remain together and I stay with you." Bella stared at her feet, the toes of her boots digging into the ground. "Although Aro has sent us, we will not remain here if you do not wish it. We would not want to appear as if we're invading your coven."

After a few moments of silence, Bella finally looked at Carlisle, who seemed to be having a silent conversation with a nodding Edward. Afterward, Carlisle's gaze returned to her.

"Bella, my family would very much appreciate your protection." Carlisle eyes were soft and kind, and he smiled slightly. "Aro will arrive tomorrow, and we will decide how to proceed once we talk to him." Tugging her hand, Carlisle led Esme, her worried expression still resting on Edward, into the house. Rosalie remained frozen on the porch.

His touch beginning to scorch her, Bella pulled her hand free from Edward's grasp. She slowly eyed the house, sizing it, and realized she could likely extended her shield over everyone from where she was standing. She couldn't decide if this disappointed her or if she was relieved to not spend a day entrenched with four pairs of golden orbs staring at her burgundy eyes.

"Emmett and I can guard from here..."

Her words caught in her throat as she turned toward Edward and found him staring straight into her eyes, his hand reaching out to brush her hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered, tenderly tracing the edge of her earlobe. Even though she fought it, her entire body shuddered.

"Isabella," he said huskily, "will you come inside? We really need to talk."

She couldn't speak, so instead she took his hand and nodded. She allowed him to lead her into the house, and, as they passed Emmett, Bella smiled and shook her head.

Poor boy doesn't know what hit him.

~*~

What the holy Hell is going on?

The instant Emmett's eyes met those of the flaxen-haired angel, he couldn't break his gaze. Her irises were amber flames, which eventually spread to form a halo around her entire body. She was a towering beauty, her wild, soft curves crowned by the flowing golden tresses he longed to touch. Nothing broke through his trance; he barely registered that Bella was going inside with Edward.

He wasn't sure how he was going to make her his, but he was going to...soon.

The angel's mouth began to move, and Emmett finally realized she was speaking to him.

"Wh-what?" he stammered.

The angel smiled. "I asked if you wanted a tour of the house."

"Yes, yes I do."

The angel offered him her outstretched hand, and he trotted up the stairs to take it. The contact caused a blaze to rage through his body, and her gasp led him to think she felt it, too.

Dragging him through the door, the angel pointed to the right. "Living room."

Pulling him around the corner, she pointed to the left. "Kitchen."

Leading him up the staircase, she was practically running. At the top of the stairs, they entered a door on the left. "Yeah, um, this is my room," the angel said meekly.

Suddenly, the door slammed, and Emmett was pinned against the it, the angel crushing his body with hers. "Who the fuck are you," she asked through clenched teeth, "and why are we surrounded by flames?"

Emmett laughed, pleased with the angel's foul language and blunt personality. "I'm Emmett, and I thought I was the only one that could see them. Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm Rosalie, Edward's sister." She licked her lips and ground her hips into his. "So you're Bella's big ape?"

He wedged his knee between her legs. "I prefer protector, if it's all the same to you."

"You still fucking her?"

"Nope."

"Good."

Their mouths crashed together, skipping all polite introductions and going straight to tongue and teeth. Grabbing her hair roughly, he tilted her head, allowing him unhindered access to the heat and taste of her. As much as he loved Bella, kissing her had never been like this. Every stroke of her tongue and moan from her throat made it clear that Rosalie belonged to him. They broke apart, gasping and panting, and he wondered if his eyes held the same wild surprise as hers.

"We should probably talk." Rosalie backed away, straightening her clothes and brushing back her hair. Sitting on the bed, she patted a spot next to her and motioned for Emmett to sit.

Settling onto the plush mattress, Emmett decided Rosalie was too far away. Easily lifting her, he placed her across his lap, his arm immediately winding around her waist. Her tight black top was low cut and revealing, and he couldn't stop himself from kissing the swell of each breast and inhaling her. "Talk," he whispered, his tongue tracing her collarbone.

She grabbed a handful of his black hair and yanked until he looked at her. "Why did you let Bella change you?"

"Why did you let someone change you?"

Her self-assured demeanor disappated, and her gaze fell. "I didn't let Carlisle change me. I was attacked and left to die, and Carlisle found me. I would never have chosen this life for myself."

Emmett's entire body tensed at the thought of anyone harming his Rosalie. Lifting her chin, he placed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. "I'm glad he changed you. You belong with me, even if you do practice the abomination." He looked into her golden eyes and thought about how much better they would look colored burgundy.

She laid her head on his shoulder and finally began to embrace him in return. "You and Bella feed on humans, right?"

"Yes," he whispered, finally running his fingers through her silky hair. "It is natural for us, and I don't apologize for it. I do abide by the rules Bella gave me when she turned me; I don't just kill capriciously. I think I will eventually hunt the same way Bella does, although I suspect she'll give up the human pursuit for your brother. Have you never killed a human?"

"I have killed," she said hesitantly. "I have never consumed human blood, however."

"You don't have to explain to me."

She clenched his shirt and buried her face further into his neck. "I want to tell you." Pausing for a moment, she released his shirt and began to soothingly stroke his chest. "The men who...attacked me...I wanted them punished. I realized quickly that I was stronger than any of them because I was turned. I could seek my own vengeance."

Emmett placed his hand over hers as it reached his heart. "What did the others think?"

"They did not approve of taking human life, even unworthy ones. Carlisle said we should not play God. I disagreed." Looking into Emmett eyes, Rosalie's gaze was stony and cold. "I killed them. Every last one. I beat and tortured them and made sure they knew who it was that took their miserable lives. And when it was done, I returned to the Cullens and simply existed. Carlisle and Esme always hoped that Edward and I..."

Suppressing a growl, Emmett imagined ripping Edward's head clean from his body. He did not want to know if Edward had ever touched Rosalie, and he again felt remorse that Edward had seen his intimacy with Bella. "You truly don't need to tell me this."

"We never did, though. Edward never wanted anyone but Bella, and I...well, I just wanted him to want me. It was purely vanity. I never wanted Edward in that way. I guess I just wanted him to acknowledge how irresistible I am." A shy smile spread across her lips.

"That you are," Emmett said, kissing her temple. "I myself am completely unable to stop touching you. I'm not sure how anyone resists." He tenderly suckled her earlobe. "I've never wanted anyone as much as I want you."

"But you and Bella were lovers?"

Emmett felt her reluctance in asking, but he would not lie to her. He wanted their lives together to be based on truth. "Only for a while. Once Edward came back, I knew he was her mate, and I did not want to come between them." He ran his hand slowly over her body, memorizing the feel of her. "But I never felt for her the love I have for you."

A chuckle vibrated low in Rosalie's chest. "You can't possibly love me. We've just met."

Emmett lifted them both until his back was resting on the bed's headboard and Rosalie was straddling his outstretched legs, her skirt pushed high around her hips. Holding her tightly, he brought his lips to hers once again, and he felt her melt into the kiss. They were less urgent but no less needy, and he growled when he felt her tongue searching for his. He slowly parted his lips against hers, and his mouth was immediately filled with her tartness.

Longing to explore her, his hands passed over her body again and again. Her soft, porcelain flesh yielded to his fingers, and she moved closer to him. His hips were clamped between her long legs, and he felt the heat between her thighs. Pulling her top free from her skirt, he slowly ran his hands up her bare back. Relaxing against his chest, she trembled, her fingernails scratching over the scruff of his jaw.

Lost in her touch and taste, Emmett marveled at the turns his life had taken. The night he met Bella, Emmett knew everything would change. Driving to her loft, he decided to give into fate and see where it took him. He never imagined what fate had in store for him, but he did not regret what he'd done, what he'd allowed Bella to do to him. He was meant to protect Bella, and, in turn, he would protect her mate and his family. He was meant to find Rosalie. They were meant to be together.

After several minutes, Rosalie pulled back and rested her forehead on his. "I don't understand how this could happen. After all this time, how I could..."

Emmett silenced her with a light kiss. "I've learned not to question these things."

"I've always been so angry that I was turned, and, as much as I love my family, I've never felt like I belonged." Her bright eyes met his, and she cupped his cheek with her hand. "Maybe my destiny has always been you."

Turning his face to kiss her palm, he smiled. "I know all about destiny."

"Is that why you let Bella change you?"

"It's my destiny to protect her, and she, in turn, would do the same for me. Aro hinted that I would find my own mate, but I wasn't sure I believed him until I saw you. Then it was all so clear, as if my entire future was laid out in front of me."

Rosalie smirked. "Oh, and do you think maybe the whole 'surrounded by fire' thing might have been a clue?"

"Yes, smartass, I guess it was," Emmett joked as he smacked his large hand across her bottom. His eyes widened when Rosalie groaned. "Shit, you liked that. That is definitely good to know."

She settled further down, pressing herself against his hard cock. "Tell me what it's like to kill."

"There's the thrill of finding your prey, making them do what you want." He grabbed her hips, pushing her down as he ground himself against her. "Then there's the initial burst of blood into your mouth. It's thick and sweet, and I've never tasted anything like it. To drain the life from my prey, it makes me feel...powerful."

Clasping his shoulders for balance, she matched his rhythm. "I've never felt powerful. I think I'd like that."

Shoving his hand into her wet panties, he quickly began stroking her swollen clit. "Then hunt with me," he growled into her ear. "Be what you were meant to be."

"Yes," she moaned.

Emmett licked the shell of her ear and slipped a finger inside her, his thumb still bringing her closer to release. "Yes, you'll kill with me, or yes, you like the way I make you come?"

"Both...oh God...both!"

Pulling away, he watched as her head lolled back and she screamed. He could feel her come around his finger, her tight body clenching him. He held her as she went limp, and, removing his hand from her panties, he lay back on the bed, tugging her until she lay next to him. As she looked up at him dreamily, he tasted her on his fingers.

"My new favorite flavor." He kissed her softly. "So, can we fuck now?"

Rosalie laughed hardily. "As hard pressed as I am to turn down such a romantic proposition, I want you to tell me how to kill first."

Emmett loved her laugh, and he knew it was something she hadn't often done. "I'll tell you everything you want to know...then I'll fuck you senseless. Deal?"

Her laughter filled the room again. "Deal."