Things I own: A brand-new Garmin GPS and a 2009 Nikon Coolpix Camera.
Things I don't own: Twilight, it's characters, and the songs I make reference to.
A/N: After the first Emmett POV, Rose's and Emmett's POVs shift a lot because they happen simultaneously. It should be clear by the dialogue but just in case…
EmPOV (Emmett)
This ride is awkward. No, this ride totally sucks.
Alice insisted that we take a limo to the formal to give Nes a "traditional" formal experience. That part is fine. Unfortunately, after the countless pictures and poses that we all had to stand in at our home, then we had to go pick up Dave, or whatever the hell his name is. Stupid teenage dumbass.
Alice insisted, yet again, that those two should get the captain seats near the door. And because they would be at one end of the limo, Bella, Edward, and myself would be at the other.
Apparently we have been deemed the most "embarrassing" and "intimidating." I prefer the term protective, thank you.
So here I freaking sit, in between Edward and Bella. They won't talk to each other and I'm supposed to make them seem normal to the human. Oh, and I'm not allowed to rip his head off if he touches Nes.
Ugh!
***
RoPOV (Rosalie)
Alright, here it goes… swallow the pride and suck it up…
I walked over to Edward, allowing only remorse to enter my mind. I had a part to play; whether or not I wanted to play it was still being debated… but honestly if it made Renesmee happy, I'd do it. I'm a good aunt. I smiled to myself; refocusing on the task at hand.
Edward hadn't noticed me yet; he was too focused on watching Bella at the table across from him. She was chatting with Jasper.
Edward seemed… wistful.
"Come dance, Edward?" He looked to me like I had instantly grown four extra arms sprouting from my head of all places.
"Not arms; I was thinking you grew a heart…" He mumbled, while I resisted the urge to rip his ears off his body. That wouldn't make too much of a scene, right? I smiled as threateningly as possible. "Why?" He responded.
"Because." It wasn't a good enough answer for him. "Because you don't have a dance partner and this is a dance, Edward. Now get off your ass and dance with me." I rushed to finish the statement.
He looked at me questioningly, "Dance with Emmett."
"He's got a dance partner." I pointed to Emmett escorting Bella out to the floor. "This could work in your favor, Edward." I pointed out sweetly.
"Fine." Edward took my hand and walked out to the opposite side of the dance floor from Emmett and Bella.
"Yeah, this'll work, Edward. Could you be any further away…"
***
EmPOV (Emmett)
I waited for Jasper to leave Bella's side. We all had a part to play here; and I needed to wait for my cue.
"Hey Bells, wanna dance with the best dressed man here?" She laughed at my humor. I must admit, I still miss the blush. Damn, it always made it even funnier…
"No thanks, Emmett. You know how well dancing and I get along…" She didn't need to elaborate any further; she was clumsiness turned human… when she was human.
"Oh please; you're one of us now. You could join the ballet if you wanted to. Come on, baby sister, dance with your big brother." How could she resist me; I mean really?
"I'm gonna have to say no, Emmett; no offense." I gave her the puppy dog eyes; Rose had a hard time resisting those… "Why don't you ask Rose, Emmett?"
"She's busy." Bella looked at me curiously.
"Isn't she usually busy with you?" I nodded, fighting a smile. She made a good point.
"Bella, Bella. Come on, I'll be your first dance of the night." She hesitated; I knew I was winning her over. "One dance?" I smiled sheepishly at her for effect.
She huffed as she relented, taking my hand. "You win. But it would actually be my first dance in over twenty years." She laughed without humor as she settled into my arms.
I know people think I'm slow, but it didn't take me long to figure out the last time she had danced, or with whom. "Well, then it's… an honor, little sister." She laughed again, relaxing her arms and gliding with me like a pro. "So the last time you danced was…" I didn't finish my thought; I didn't want to shorten her fuse any more than it was due to being a vampire mother. Her temper sure was something from what I've heard from Alice and Edward… granted it wasn't what I would classify as a temper, but it definitely wasn't mousy little Bella.
"Since prom, yeah." She sighed, obviously reminiscing.
I looked past her, seeing Edward dancing with Rosalie; although he was barely hiding the fact that he was listening in. "Better or worse than this dance?" I asked her, pulling her from her thoughts.
"… Different, can't really compare it, Emmett." I nodded in agreement. It was different. Then they were together and we all had varying theories of how this all would end up; and by no means did we think Renesmee (my darling, devious niece) would pop into the mix.
***
RoPOV (Rosalie)
"What ya looking at, Eddie?" He was staring, quite obviously, at Emmett and Bella.
"Nothing." Dismissive… wonder why? What's she saying to him? I couldn't hear them through the crowd and with the combined distance, but he wasn't quite as hindered as me with his ability. "This is her first dance since prom… over twenty years ago," he whispered.
"And, what do you think about that? Cause, I'd rather a guess that she holds that memory closer to her heart since she hasn't tried to replace it." It wasn't very discreet, but honestly, who am I trying to fool? Edward knows me well enough that I never do anything nice without a reason. I hummed along with the music, masking my thoughts.
Edward looked to me then, catching on to some part of the scheme; although without any real proof or ideas. "What are you playing at? Why'd you ask me to dance?"
I sighed, thinking only one thing. Retribution. "It's me making amends, Edward, just deal with it." I sighed again, seeing that he wasn't convinced. "I don't take back the things I said, but I know both of you would be happier together and so would Renesmee. If it was only for you, then I wouldn't bother, but I love Renesmee. And Bella's my sister. It took me too long to figure that all out."
"Rosalie…" Wow, stunned into speechlessness… there's a first. I smiled at his expense.
"Come on, why don't we switch partners?" I smiled, hoping he'd get my point.
***
EmPOV (Emmett)
"What ya thinking, Bells?" She had been quiet for a few moments, completely lost in thought.
"Nothing," she smiled; although I wasn't convinced.
"What's the matter?" I spun her around once; one and a half rotations so she couldn't see Edward and Rosalie who were still staring in our direction.
"Nothing, really, just thinking… about the past." Hmm, wonder who she's thinking about? I got a guess.
"Oh, could you be thinking about Edward by any chance?" She actually gasped when I said his name. Almost as good as a blush. I had to laugh.
"Emmett… not now, okay… not here." I could tell by how her eyes were shifting that she was looking for him; that she was sure he was listening in from somewhere. Fortunately, Edward seemed to be distracted from us at the moment.
"Alright, sorry, Bell." I saw the mist in her eyes, I pushed too far. Stupid Emmett… I pulled her head to my chest and rubbed her back. "Sorry, sis." She sighed as I comforted her.
I held my little sister for a few minutes till I sensed Rosalie approaching. I can't describe the way I feel when she gets close to me. Even without sight I could feel her there. I tapped Bella on the back to signal that we had company. Whether she liked it or not, Edward was here.
"I do believe that's my husband you're cozying up to Bella." Rosalie acted all… well, Rose-like and Bella turned to stare at her. "Mind if I take him back?" They both smiled at each other as I felt Bella squeeze me before pushing me towards my charming wife.
Rose wasted no time ushering me away to the corner of the dance floor that she has previously occupied with Edward. "Have fun, you two." She mumbled.
***
EdPOV (Edward)
She looked beautiful, no, she looked gorgeous.
No, even that word couldn't compare to her; I don't think any word could. But, still she was sad; her eyes were misty and she looked to be… remembering something, a distinct memory. What I wouldn't give to see what she's thinking…
"Ask her to dance, dumbass!" Emmett's mind alerted me to the fact that I was still staring as her. She watched as Rosalie and Emmett walked away from us and right before she turned away from me, I spoke.
"Dance with me?" Smooth, very charming… I chastised myself for the incredibly awkward look I had been rewarded with for the cavalier way I asked her to dance.
She bit her lip, just like old times and I ached to touch her lips. To simply pull the lip from the pressure she was cruelly delivering. Although it didn't matter, she was durable now; her skin could take it. And no blood would be split over the action. "I don't… I don't think that's a good idea, Edward."
I grabbed her wrist as she turned away from me. I know she felt the electricity; she had to have felt it. She looked at my hand on her wrist; the hand that was splayed upon the mark that, although faded, was still present from her time with James. Her face rose to meet mine and I lost myself in her golden eyes for moment; the burnt butterscotch, molten in her eyes. "Just a dance; for old time's sake. Please?" I'll beg; hell, I'll do anything just to touch her again.
She hesitated, looking to my hand on her again. Sighing, she resigned. "Alright, one dance…" I twisted her hand until it fit comfortably into my own. I placed my hand on her lower back; although I was quickly removed from that destination with my hand placed higher. She placed her hand on my shoulder and I didn't try to fight the smirk that escaped because of her actions.
We swayed in silence for a few moments. I tried to focus on the lyrics; voices were lost while I held Bella in my arms.
"Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. Are you gonna drop the bomb or not? Let us die young or let us live forever. We don't have the power, but we never say never…"
Never were truer lyrics…
"Renesmee seems to be having a good time." I smiled as I turned Bella around so she could see what I was seeing; Renesmee giggling, nestled in David's chest. Not where I wanted her, but I would seem like a bit of a hypocrite at this very moment.
"Yeah; she'll always remember it forever. Thanks." I smiled as she watched our daughter.
"For what?"
"For coming; for agreeing to come and for getting everyone here for her." I looked to her for more clarity. "I don't know." She looked down at her feet, probably thinking the same thing I was at that moment; the last time we danced, she was on my feet.
"You look so beautiful tonight, Bella." I lowered my hand to the small of her back as I said it.
Bella stiffened in my arms. "God. Why'd you have to say that?" She tried to pull away from me, but I held on tight.
"Why? I can't pay you a compliment now?"
She shook her head, looking away from me. "You don't mean it as just a compliment. And I… I can't… I can't do this." She pulled away again, but still I held onto her.
I couldn't take it anymore. I had to ask her. I had to put it all on the table. "Do you love me?"
Her golden eyes jolted to mine. "What?" It was a whisper, barely audible to humans, although none were focused on us at a moment from what I could tell.
"Do. You. Love. Me? Are you in love with me, Bella? Like I'm in love with you?" Bella's breathing hitched as I spoke the words out loud. I had been holding them in for months now; and now they were pouring out without a filter.
She stared into my eyes for an immeasurable amount of time before breaking the stare between us and searching frantically around us for an escape. She was panicked, overwhelmed. But I couldn't force myself to feel guilty about it.
Suddenly, her eyes stopped searching; she had found something to hold her attention. I looked to where were sight was focused. Alice, Jasper, Rose, Emmett, and Renesmee all stood in the corner staring at us; watching for the fireworks. Their thoughts, not mine.
Suddenly, I felt Bella stiffen and rip herself from my grasp. She stared into my eyes; eyes that were begging her to understand and wait for an explanation. But she didn't. After a mumbled curse, she was gone. She flew nearly at an inhuman speed; almost blowing our cover.
Within a second, I tuned into all of their thoughts. All thoughts in different tones and dialects, but still all shouting the same command at me; "go after her!"
Renesmee came up behind me, touching my shoulder lightly. "Go get her, Daddy." With my confusion boiling under the surface, I ran.
A/N: *Hides between her couch and coffee table* Sorry, really sorry. I know, it totally sucks to lead all the way up to that point and then stop. I know, I totally get how frustrating it is to end on a cliffhanger, but really I didn't have a choice. I'll start the next chapter soon.
BTW, I told you all earlier that I was changing the plot to make a happy ending happen sooner and I meant it. Happiness coming soon; just over the horizon. After the next chapter, look to the extras for the alternate way it was gonna end in my original plot line. I love it, but it is a little on the corny side and it would have made you all wait so much longer for the happy times.
Also, check out the extras; there's nine of them now and I gotta say, I like them a lot. They fit the story, but aren't necessary for the plot to be complete. Just a little more flavor for your fanfiction craving :)
Thanks for the lovely reviews… they make me happy :)
Keep up the comments and reviews; you know I love them :)
~kmwhyte