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Chapter 13: Heirloom

Emmett POV

The trip to Yosemite National Park with Bella was by far the best trip I had ever taken. Nothing could compare – except for maybe a future honeymoon. When we landed in Seattle I had one hour to get my bags transferred to the next flight, to check in and make it through security before my plane started loading. I hate goodbyes and this had to be a quick one in order to make my flight. We decided on a quick goodbye without saying goodbye. It was a simple 'I'll see you soon' that we left each other with. It wasn't really goodbye anyways. I was going home to get things in order to come back out here for Christmas which meant I would be back in less than a month. Then I would only have a month more away from her until the Super Bowl – if we make it to the Super Bowl.

We said our parting goodbyes and I watched her walk away with tears swimming in her eyes. I could tell she was trying to be strong and not break down in front of all these people. I am also pretty sure she is going to wind up in a magazine with a picture of me. I knew it wouldn't be long until the media started noticing us. As I watched Bella walk away I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Alice.

We've landed and Bella is on her way to you. Please make sure she is alright. A comedy and a pint of Ben and Jerry's should help. Thanks for everything – Em

I shoved my phone back in my pocket and boarded my plane. I had a few hours to settle my mind before I was ambushed when I got home. I needed to schedule a family dinner for this Friday too. There is much that needs to be discussed.

~Friday Night Family Dinner~

Edward and I rode in companionable silence over to our folk's house for our weekly dinner. I had decided the photos I had bought for my mother while in Yosemite would be her Christmas present – so I left them at home instead of bringing them with us. We made our way inside and Edward broke off to go find our dad directly. I think he knew something big was going to happen and things were going to change. He hasn't really spoken to me about anything but football since I got back from my trip.

I could smell the pot roast in the kitchen and knew where my mother was holding up. I quickly made it to the bar and fixed her a dry martini, grabbed a beer for myself and wandered into the kitchen. I found her sitting at the breakfast bar with a magazine in her hands.

She smiled when I walked in and handed her drink to her. She spoke to me in a hushed tone, "How was your trip?"

"It was great, but I never wanted to leave." I took a swig of my beer and fought back the pain bubbling in my chest.

"I don't think she wanted to leave either."

I looked at her questioningly, "What do you mean?"

She closed the magazine and set it down, "You're lucky I snatched this magazine out of the mail before your father did. I looked at the front of the magazine and there I was – looking tired as hell. The picture was taken of me as I watched Bella walk away. I picked up the magazine and flipped it open to the article. In the corner of the page was a small picture of Bella. Her long brown hair was draped in front of her face hiding her and you could plainly see the tissues in one hand. The caption under her picture read "Mystery Woman leaves Bears Quarterback, Emmett Cullen, at Seattle airport in tears." I slammed the magazine shut and threw it on the table. Let the frenzy begin.

"Well?" My mother looked at me with the same questioning look I had just given her.

"Mom, can we go to the study and talk for a moment?" She nodded her head as we quietly made it past dad and Edward in the living room. As soon as we entered the study I locked the doors behind me. "Okay mom, what do you want to know?"

She took a seat in one of the leather chairs and looked at me with a small smile on her face, "Everything, of course."

I took a deep breath and began. "I love her. I am going to marry her and I am quitting football. This is my last season – end of story."

The small smile on her face exploded into the Grinch who stole Christmas look. "Oh, I am so happy. I'm finally going to get a daughter-in-law. But, what are you going to do if not football?"

"I am moving to Seattle. I have spent this last week looking into buildings I can buy to open my own gym. I'll run a gym-training-fitness center. I have been doing a lot of research on that since I came home at the beginning of the week."

She nodded her head and took a drink of her martini. "Are you going to tell your father and Edward tonight? Is that why you had called me about dinner?"

"Yes. I am afraid Edward is going to be rather upset with me though. He is losing business, a client, me – in this whole process. Not to mention when I move I am selling my house so…"

"Oh he will be fine Emmett. A few weeks of brooding and he will get over himself and find a new client. It's not as if you are his only source of income."

"Mom, I have a question…" She nodded her head for me to continue. "You know that family necklace that gets passed down from the first born son to his wife and so on? The one that dad gave you?" If I thought the smile on her face couldn't get any bigger – I was wrong. Add some tears to her eyes and she was glowing too. "Can I have that necklace now? I would like to give it to Bella for Christmas."

My mother swiftly put down her martini and went to the wall safe. Seconds later she pulled out the family heirloom. It was a platinum necklace with three small diamonds down either side ending with a square cut emerald in the middle with small diamonds around it. It was priceless to our family because of the tradition it held. Each first born son gives this necklace to his intended bride. "Are you sure about this Emmett? We only give this necklace to those we know we are going to marry…"

I seized the velvet blue box out of her hands. "Yes mom. I have never been so sure of anything in my life."

"Okay, well, I will tell your father – when you are not home. Come on, we need to get downstairs for dinner."

As my mom went into the kitchen I snuck outside to my jeep and hid the necklace in the glove box. I didn't want Edward to see it and start asking a million questions. When I got back inside, dinner was on the table and we all gathered around to eat. It took me ten minutes into the meal to finally get the courage to initiate the conversation I know we needed to have.

"Um…" I cleared my throat, "There is something I need to talk to you guys about."

Edward dropped his fork on his plate and sat back with his arms crossed. Carlisle calmly set his fork down and leaned on the table in rapt attention. "Okay Emmett, What would you like to talk about?"

I set my fork down too and looked over at my mom who just slightly nodded trying to give me the encouragement I needed. "This is my last season of football. I am going to quit the NFL and move to Seattle. I want to open my own gym."

Everyone sat there silently as they let the words I had spoken wash over them. Edward was of course the first to speak. "So….that's why you wouldn't sign the new contract yet?" I nodded my head yes. "What the fuck is it with you and Seattle?"

"Language Edward." Esme scolded.

"I love it there. The whole city fits my personality and that is where I would like to settle down."

Carlisle cleared his throat, "Okay, sounds like you have thought about this. Have you started looking into business licenses', doing a fictitious name, a building where you will house this gym?"

"I have been doing a lot of research on this over the last couple of months and more heavily over the past week." I looked down and saw I was fidgeting with my napkin.

"So…that's why you have been living like a hermit in your room for the last several months and been running off to Seattle whenever you could?" I looked over at Edward and I nodded my head.

"Well that's good Emmett. One cannot play football forever. I am glad to see that you have an idea to what you want to do as a long term career. Plus, that business degree you got while playing college ball should help immensely." My father replied. It sounded as if he was actually happy about the turn of events.

Edward looked from Carlisle to Esme and then to me. "That's not just it, is it? There's a girl too huh?"

Carlisle snapped his eyes up to mine. I nodded. "Yes, there is someone but that's all you get to know right now."

"Come on Emmett, what the hell. You have been so damn secretive since August." Edward was starting to get frustrated just like I assumed he would.

"I will say this. Yes, I have met someone. No, I won't tell you her name. I am too high profile and I don't want to expose her to much to it just yet. So, just hold on and wait it out. Okay?"

Edward nodded in a huff and Esme just shook her head at him. Carlisle looked up at me, "That's perfectly understandable. I can't wait to meet her though." The rest of the dinner was spent talking about the ideas I had for the gym and how we would announce it to the media that I was through with football. I knew my coach would not be happy at all.

The rest of the month past by in a flash and before I knew it I was packing to go to Seattle. Since that dinner with my family I had been leaving my bedroom door open more so Edward didn't think I was constantly ignoring him. I put the necklace box into my bag and continued packing things up. I had dropped the pictures for Esme for Christmas off at their house a few days ago. I had also left everyone else's presents too. I had got Edward an all expenses paid trip to the Big Apple for New Years. He had always wanted to go to New York and see the ball drop so this year he can. I figured he could take whoever he wanted for the second ticket. For Carlisle I got him a new set of premium golf clubs. If it wasn't for him taking Esme to Wawona to golf there in the first place – I would have never known about that great spot for mine and Bella's trip.

I hastily finished packing and decided to jump in the shower before I left for the airport. I was arriving around four o'clock so we would have time to get ready before the Christmas Eve party at the hotel. Bella said she really didn't want to go but had to since Alice was the one throwing it. I didn't care otherwise as long as I got to spend time with Bella.

Six hours, one cramped first class plane ride, several pictures and autographs later I was swooping Bella up into my arms. She had decided to not let me rent a vehicle while I was here. She had said it was a waste of money when she could just pick me up. There was a light snow flurry coming down as we made it back to her apartment. Home. It's the only place that has ever felt like home, because as cheesy as it sounds – home really is where the heart is.

I had found out from Bella that Alice was spending Christmas at Jaspers house. Bella had her suspicions that Alice would be moving in with him soon. Quite alright with me. Come February I would need a place to stay over here until I got my house in Chicago sold and a new one bought here. And tomorrow I was going to meet Bella's family - Her dad, who she jokingly said might carry his gun in his holster all day just to try and intimidate me.

The party tonight at the hotel was an upscale party for all of the large clients that the hotel caters to. According to Alice we all had to be 'dress to the nines'. I wonder where she gets all of her energy from. I got dressed in a pair of charcoal grey dress pants and a white button up dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to my elbows. Jasper and I were sitting on the couch in the apartment patiently waiting for the girls to get ready. We were watching TV and just bullshitting back and forth. I've come to realize that I liked Jasper. He was easy to be around. He was the closest I could come to calling someone a true friend – and the sad thing was – I saw him more then I saw my own brother.

Alice stepped out moments later and I nearly laughed because of the heels she was wearing - she was quite a bit taller than normal. She was wearing a floor length strapless red dress and her hair was curled and pinned back. I've got to hand it to the little sprite – she's a cutie when she wants to be. "Emmett – Bella is just finishing getting ready. We are going to go on ahead without you two. No funny business – you guys better come to the party." She waved her little finger at me and I chuckled.

"No worries Alice. We will be there." They each grabbed their coats and left. I turned the TV off and patiently waited.

I was flipping through one of the magazines sitting on the coffee table when I heard her. "Okay Emmett. I am coming out, but you can't make fun of me."

I laughed. "I won't. I swear. You're just wearing a dress, I am sure you look great." I stood up from the couch and waited as her bedroom door slowly opened. Great was the wrong word to use. Stunning, Sexy, Sophisticated and a million other thoughts flew from my mind when she stepped out of her room. Her hair was in a half up half down do again yet this time it was curled slightly and framed her face perfectly. She was also in a floor length gown. It was a dark hunter green and it was strapless with that sexy little 'v' neck on it barely giving you a hint at her chest. The dress also had one of those sexy slits up to the middle of her thigh on only one side. She was a knock out and now I know why Alice said no funny business. I am not sure I could let her get out of this apartment before I ravaged her.

Her face started to heat up and turn red. I know she was getting embarrassed the longer I stood there and gawked at her, but there were honestly no words. "You could say something you know?" She was starting to fidget. She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and looked down.

I quickly walked over to her and tilted her chin up. "I'm sorry Bella, there's just…..honestly no words to describe to you how unbelievably gorgeous you look right now." She looked down again and I could see the familiar blush getting to be a deeper red. I tilted her face up again. "Don't look down Bella. You are amazing." She smiled back at me and I couldn't help it. Alice be damned if I don't kiss my girl right now. I leaned in and gently took her bottom lip in mine. I tried my hardest to not get too carried away. Alice really would kill me if I messed up one bit of Bella tonight. I pulled away from Bella and look her in her eyes. "There's one thing missing from your dress tonight though Bella."

She smiled, "What's that?"

"Your Christmas present." I walked over to their little four foot Christmas tree and grabbed the flat blue velvet box.

"You didn't have to buy me anything Emmett, you know that. Just you being here for Christmas is enough."

I laughed and walked back over to her with my hands behind my back hiding her gift. "I know, but I didn't buy this for you. It's tradition for the first born son in our family to give this necklace to the woman he loves…" I pulled my hands out from behind my back and showed her the flat box. Just like in Pretty Woman she ran her hand across the top and I opened it for her – resisting the urge to snap it at her fingers. She gasped when she saw it. "I figured with it being emerald it would match beautifully with what you are wearing and I would be honored if you wore my family's necklace."

She finally tore her eyes away from the necklace and looked up at me. Her eyes were brimming with tears. I took the necklace out of the case and turned Bella around in front of me. I slid the necklace around her neck and clasped the back of it together. I laid a tiny soft little kiss at the nape of her neck and turned her back around. She instantly threw her arms around my neck and yanked me into a searing kiss. When she pulled away she whispered into my ear, "Thank you. I don't know what I did to deserve someone as incredible as you."

We left a few minutes later to get to the hotel. When we finally arrived it was a good thing that Bella worked there and was allowed to park in the employee parking – this place was packed with high society people. You would think we were going to a Hollywood movie premiere with the whole red carpet and people taking pictures. Apparently the Christmas Eve party thrown every year by the Monaco was the biggest celebrated party in town. All sorts of reporters made it out here to interview the who's who in town. Luckily, Alice made it where we could sneak in through the back and avoid the media all together.

As soon as we made it into the ball room of the hotel we were assaulted by people introducing themselves, wishing us a Merry Christmas and dancing across the room as if we were in some early 1940's black and white Hollywood picture. Alice and Jasper finally found us about a half an hour after we showed up. I heard a loud squeal and turned in time to seem Alice yank Bella into a hug that separated her from me.

"Where in the hell did you get a necklace like that?" I saw the blush return to Bella's face.

I walked up and pulled my girlfriend back into my arms. "I gave it to her. It's her Christmas present." I smiled when I looked down at her.

"Bella doesn't even let me buy her a Christmas present! How did you get away with one so…so…extravagant?"

"It's a family heirloom. Tradition for the first born son to give it to the women he loves. So, I gave it to Bella for Christmas."

"Well….That's just sort of nauseatingly….cute….isn't it?" I heard a voice chide behind us. I turned in time to see the smart ass guy walk up. He had long blond hair he kept pulled back in a low pony tail and he looked disturbing – even to me. This must be James.

Bella turned and acknowledged him, "James…I want to introduce you to my boyfriend, Emmett." I watched him as he watched her. I could practically see the pornographic scenes playing out in his head involving my Bella in this dress. I should know – I had them too. But I was not cool with another guy thinking the same way.

I stuck out my hand trying to be polite. This was her boss and to be fair I have to keep my friends close and my enemies closer. "Nice to meet you." I could hear the stern tone of my voice and hoped that he understood his boundaries.

"Yeah, I'm Bella's boss James." He shook my hand once and excused himself away from us.

I heard Alice mutter 'creep' under her breath and Bella shivered next to me. I really hope this guy doesn't cause a problem. I pulled Bella closer to me as we stood there talking with Alice and Jasper. Bella's friend Rosalie showed up not too long after with her girlfriend in tow. Rosalie, if I do say so myself, looked stunning in a tight black number. She was definitely a gorgeous woman but, thankfully, not my type. But I am still a guy that notices, like her girlfriend – Tanya. She was definitely the guy in the relationship. She had on a pair of straight black dress pants and a dark purple blouse that had a deep 'v' neck that left little to the imagination. She had long golden blond hair that was done up neatly into a French twist, which only I knew about because my mother wears it that way. Not one hair was out of place and she stood up tall with that air of confidence about her. She has that strict principle type mannerism that most guys find sexy. Apparently Rosalie did too.

We all talked and laughed through the night. I had my picture taken numerous times. Each time I made sure that I was blocking Bella so she wouldn't be in the media. It's not like I am ashamed of her but I wanted to keep our personal life ours. Before the night was over I asked Bella to dance. She accepted only on the pretense that it was a slow one because of her heels.

I pulled her into my arms and started swaying with her slowly, "Are you enjoying yourself?"

She looked up at me and smiled, "Yeah." I saw a flash go off next to us and I looked over. Alice was standing there with a camera. She smiled and waved as she walked off. "That'll be a really good picture…."

We danced for a few more minutes before I saw Bella briefly yawn. I knew it was about time to take her home so she wasn't too exhausted for the family Christmas tomorrow. Alice made sure we could sneak out the back door again and within a half an hour we were walking through the front door of her apartment. I followed her into the bedroom where she promptly sat down on the bed and kick out of her heels. I laughed at her when I heard her sigh "Thank God."

I pulled off my shoes too and went to unbutton my shirt when I felt Bella's hands on my own. She pushed my hands away and started undoing the buttons herself. I had a great view right down the top of her dress and felt myself instantaneously wake up. She pulled the shirt off my shoulders and looked up at me. She turned around exposing her back to me, "Unzip me."

I reached out and gently tugged on the zipper. It gently fell from her body and pooled around her feet. She was left standing there in nothing but a lacy black thong. I had to control the groan that wanted to escape me. I quickly spun her around and crashed my lips to hers trying to pull her closer to me. I felt her hands slip down to the top of my pants and start unbuckling them. I swiftly stepped out of them and gently pushed her towards the bed.

She climbed up and laid down on the bed – I quickly followed suit. I kissed and nibbled my way down her neck and too her collar bone then her chest. I let my hands trail up and down their favorite spots ending up at the top of her underwear. I tugged them down with ease as I kissed down her stomach. I kissed all the way down and up each leg, up her stomach and chest before I made it back to her mouth. I felt her hands slide around my hips and tug on my boxers. I broke the kiss briefly to strip off the last barrier from our union.

Tonight was not going to be rushed. Tonight was not going to be an act of pure unadulterated sex. Although I love any kind of sex with Bella - Tonight I was making love to the woman I worship.

She moved her legs apart and made room for me to settle in between them. I slid into her seamlessly and effortlessly found a steady rhythm. Her gentle moaning and her nails slightly digging into my back was guiding me through the dark. I soon felt her tightening beneath me. She arched her back up against me and I couldn't help but notice the way her skin glistened with sweat and my necklace resting against her chest. She ended up pulling me down to her as she found her release. I followed seconds later into the abyss.

Bella ended up falling asleep within minutes curled up against my side. I laid there awake for a while just thinking as I ran my hand up and down her bare back. I thought of the times we were going to spend together when I moved out here. The prospect of a 9-5 job where I got to come home to Bella every night was making me want to leave the NFL now instead of later. I heard Bella mumble against my chest in her sleep and I looked down. Her dark coffee colored hair was flowing across her back. She was a vision of perfection. I realized then that I was going to need to have a small chat with her dad privately sometime tomorrow.

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