A/N: I know I know I'm sorry first it was my birthday week and spent the weekend with my bestest friend and getting super drunk, not to mention I was sick…bleh…and then it was 4th of July which is super busy time for my work so yeah I am so sorry for making you guys wait…I hope this chapter makes up for it…Enjoy as always!

Oh I forgot to mention that voting is open for the Indie TwiFic Awards…so go vote if you haven't already. Reservations has three nominations so go vote for your favorites…the link is on our profiles…okay now for read and be happy!

Disclaimer: S Meyer still owns all things Twilight but a girl can dream right?

Chapter 16 – Stranger, Junior and the Game

New Years Eve

Meeting his parents wasn't as bad as I expected. Esme reminded me of Alice in her own little way. She was bouncy and cheery, always with a smile on her face. Man, I sure do miss my little pixie best friend. I need to spend some more time with her and Rose.

Anyways back to his parents. Esme seemed thrilled to meet me but Carlisle was a little more hesitant, but also seemed to like me. I could tell by the way his eyes darted from mine to the necklace Emmett gave to me for Christmas. Then it didn't really surprise me when he pulled Emmett off to the side for a private chat.

While Carlisle took Emmett to have a private conversation Esme took it upon herself to keep me company and somewhat boost my confidence somehow. She said, "Bella darling you look beautiful this evening I know I just met you but thank you so much for making Emmett the happiest I think I have ever seen him. I've never seen him with such a look of pure bliss and adoration then when he looks at you."

The blush crept onto my face but I spoke pure truth back to her. "Esme I think this is the happiest I have ever been to. My life seems more livable now that I have your son in my life with me. He is a hell of a man; excuse my language but it's true." Just then I saw Emmett strolling back over.

I saw a look of shock on Emmett's face and his voice got a few octaves higher while he protested something to his father. Wow this night seemed to be going smoothly...haha. I can't wait to meet Edward.

After Emmett came back we ducked out of the party early. I could tell he was a little peeved at something but he said everything was fine. Whatever if it was something bad he would have told me already.

We took one of his parents spare cars which so happened to be a powder blue Prius. Very eco-friendly.

When we got back to his apartment he showed me around for a few minutes. I noticed a Baby Grand piano in the living room and wondered if he played too. He did mention his brother playing and also that he was his roommate of sorts. The tour ended in his bedroom of course, where we spent the New Year making love and fireworks lighting up the sky. It was unbelievably amazing.

After our extracurricular activities we fell asleep in each other's embrace whispering "I love yous" in each other's ears.

New Years Day

When I woke the next morning I turned over and noticed that Emmett was wide awake and watching me with the biggest smile on his face. I smiled at him and kissed his warm scruffy cheek, trying to detour from my morning breath, but he had other plans. I guess he didn't care about those kinds of things, which is fine with me. I could spend the rest of my life kissing Emmett and not caring. I took his top lip in between my two small lips and nibbles, sucked, licked. Then he deepened the kiss and we were fighting for dominance once again in each other's mouths. I sadly had to break the kiss because my bladder was beginning to protest from all the rolling around and pressure.

When I got back from the restroom bladder relieved, face washed and teeth brushed I asked him if he was hungry. As to why I asked such a ridiculous question to Em was beyond me.

His reply was his stomach gurgling and a slight chuckle, which brought on a round of my own giggle fit.

I moved to Emmett's dresser and pulled out one of his huge t-shirts and walked into the kitchen to make us some omelets and fry some bacon. Emmett ate three, yes three omelets while I could hardly even finish mine. I was dreading getting back on that plane to go back to my life across the country from him. But thoughts of the playoffs, which the Bear's had a pretty good chance of making the cut, started flooding my mind. I wonder who they are going to cream then. I was making it to that game no matter if it's across the US. Nothing could keep me from him anymore, even my bank account.

I had the rest of the day to spend with Emmett before the inevitable plane ride back home. We decided we were not going to say goodbye this time just a simple see you soon. I wouldn't get to see him until almost the end of the month. The playoffs couldn't be here any sooner.

We spent most of the time out in the city because I have never been to Chicago before. We went to the Sears Tower sky deck for a view of Chicago in all its glory. The tower is said to be the tallest building in North America and the third tallest building in the world; 1,450 feet is pretty high so I couldn't stay up there long without getting queasy. It was just like the Space Needle but different scenery. Then afterwards we made our way to the waterfront and hung out down by the pier and dug our toes in the sand and splashed in the water for a bit. I being the klutz I am tripped over a piece of seaweed and took myself and Emmett down with me, which kind of worked out well because we start having a tickle fight which lead to a serious make out session in the sand. Thank god we were both fully clothed or sand would have found its way to part of the body it wouldn't have felt nice in.

Once our breathing became normal again we got up off of each other and dusted the sand off each other. Thank god there weren't many people around to see that. Emmett only got stopped a few times for pictures and autographs. I was starting not to mind it so much. Some people even asked if I could accompany them in the pictures.

Once we made it back to his house I realized that I had left my bag over at his parents' house last night in our haste to get out of the party scene. We made a quick stop there to get it and spend some time before leaving for the airport. By the time we left Carlisle and Esme's it was already 4:45 PM and my flight was at six. We drove the stretch from their house to the airport in silence holdings hands and stealing glances at one another. Once arriving at the airport I took my time to even emerge from the vehicle. I didn't want to leave him again but knew I had to. So to not draw out the pain that was clearly written on both of our faces we said our 'I will see you soon' routine and I walked away. It was hard as all hell but I did it without crying. I choked back a few sobs but that was it. I didn't want people on the plane to always ask what was wrong with me. A few hours later I arrived at SeaTac airport and walked to my beater truck and drove home.

When I got home Alice was there and gave me quite a hug for such a small person, Jasper, Rose and Tanya were also there lounging around on the couch and what looked like Ace Ventura Pet Detective was paused on the TV. Now I felt like the fifth wheel. Being surrounded by couple brought my mood to an all time low, but Alice and her 'spidey senses' kicked everyone but herself out and we ordered Chinese food and made margaritas. We just vegged out for the rest of the night. After finishing Ace Ventura we popped in The Breakfast Club. Eventually I passed out on the couch snuggled up in my fleece blanket. Alice, bless her heart turned off the TV and all the lights and just left me there.

When I woke up the next morning there was a glass of water and two Advil tablets on the coffee table with a little note in Alice's clean cut handwriting saying

Don't forget you have to work at noon take these for the headache and I will see you soon.

-Alice

That was the last thing on my mind. Work was so not where I wanted to be at the moment, especially if James was going to be there. After taking the Advil and chugging the glass of water I hopped into the shower and washed away the previous days stress. When I got out of the shower I noticed my phone was blinking and saw that I had two texts one from Alice and the other from Emmett.

The one from Alice said 'James not at work today so don't fret'. While the one from Emmett said 'Good morning beautiful have a great day at work. I miss you and love you more!'

I sent my replies and got back to getting ready for work. I was out the door by 11:30 and clocking in by 11:58.

Time drags on…

The next few weeks dragged on working and spending some much needed time with my friends and phone calls from Emmett twice sometimes three times a day.

Today was just like any normal day in January, cold, rainy and boring. Plus being at work it was extra boring. Today was a pretty slow day and I was helping a nice young couple check out of their room. I was explaining their bill to them, all their charges to the room and said I would be right back with their receipt when I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up on end. I moved towards the back office and then I heard his voice before I even saw him…James was there. He had been gone for the last week or so on vacation in God only knows where. It was the best week and a half ever. No James, no hassle. Then he came around the corner with a smug look on his face, and gave me a Cheshire cat grin once he noticed me giving him the death glare. Alice came up beside me then and said, "Oh guess whose back and no one cares?"

"Eh don't even get me started; if I never had to see him again it would be all too soon." Was my reply with a snarl.

Alice just hushed me and patted me on the shoulder. Then getting back to my job I went into the back office and printed a receipt for the young couple still standing at the front desk.

After finishing with the couple there was a lone man standing behind them. He had unruly bronze hair and deep green eyes and was pretty damn attractive but my mind was still floating around Emmett to realize. He looked extremely familiar but I didn't know him that I knew of.

He came up to the desk and had a briefcase and a few paper in hand. I started with my usual 'Hello welcome to the Monaco Hotel, my name is Bella how can I help you this morning' routine saying.

It looked like he was staring at my chest for the longest time before he brought his gaze up to meet mine. Then he asked with a charming gentlemanly voice "May I please speak with your manager I have to ask him a few questions about a client of mine, you know for tax purposes."

"Oh no problem let me go check and see where he is at I will be right back, in the meantime feel free to go take a seat while you wait." While going to find James I was wondering if we were getting audited or something from the way the guy said 'tax purposes and his snazzy suit and briefcase I wouldn't doubt it.

"Okay thank you Bella, I will be right over there." He said as he pointed to one of the comfy chairs next to the fireplace while I went on a scavenger hunt for the person I loathed the most in this world.

I found James in the back office tampering with something on the computer we have back there, and muttering to himself. I cleared my throat and said "James there is a gentleman out in the lobby who needs to speak with you about a client for 'tax purposes'. So can you go out there please?"

He looked at me and told me, "Yeah I will be out there in a few minutes just tell him I will be out in ten minutes. I need to finish this before I lose my concentration." I didn't know James actually worked. Wow that's a miracle all in itself.

With that I said 'okay' turned on my heel and left immediately. I walked up to the nameless man and relayed the message to him that James would be right out. He looked at me and nodded his understanding.

I went back to my station behind the front desk and Alice walked over. "Who is that?"

"I think we are getting audited, he wanted to talk to James but I dunno it could totally be about something else."

She looked at me quizzically and shrugged it off like it was nothing and went back to working.

I noticed a few times that the man was glancing at me every once in a while and it was actually starting to get kind of creepy until Alice came back and said, "Ready to go to lunch, looks like you need a break from all this commotion." She pointed around to the totally empty lobby except for the man who was still sitting in the chair by the fire waiting for James.

We clocked out for our half hour lunch and decided to go to a little pizzeria down the block this time instead of the normal deli run. I ordered a personal pizza with extra cheese, pine apple and bacon. Alice got just plain pepperoni and cheese. We chatted about anything and everything that we had missed over the past month and decided that we needed a girl's night out and what better place to go then Jazz Alley. We would get a discount and top notch drinks to boot, since Jasper is the lead bartender there and all. All the dancing and drinks for pretty much twenty bucks. I say it's a deal.

So now I had plans to go out tomorrow night with the girls. I would even invite Angela and Leah too maybe even Bianca to be nice. Especially since the last time we talked wasn't such a fun time. I was bound and determined to find out what was eating her during Christmas. Way to bring in the New Year I say.

The next day and a half passed by without any kinks to our plans. First Alice, Rose, Tanya and I were meeting up at the apartment for some beautification treatment, and then it was to Jazz Alley for some drinks, food and dancing. Harry Connick Jr. was playing tonight with the house band. His voice is sex and the piano just makes it that much more sexy.

I was excited to be going out with my girlfriends. We never get to hang out anymore. Everyone was going even - Bianca surprisingly enough. I guess Leah guilt tripped her into coming. Now for Alice and Rose to work their fashion magic on me.

An hour and a half later I was dressed in a dark blue V-neck dress and black ballet flats with my hair slightly curled and half of it up on my head. Alice was in a little yellow number with each spike of her hair placed in a certain angle on top of her head, while Rose was in a little black form-fitting dress with six inch stiletto heels and her hair high up on her head and Tanya in black slacks and a deep red button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows and her strawberry blonde locks in a messy bun.

By five o'clock everyone was ready to go. We were meeting everyone else there at six o'clock. We piled into Alice's Celica and were on our way to Jazz Alley. Once we got there we were ushered to a big round booth located between the bar and the dance floor. Perfect walking distance to both.

I noticed Angela, Leah and Bianca were already sitting there with seven shots of tequila waiting for us to get the party started. Harry Connick Jr. wasn't supposed to start playing until eight o'clock so the house band was playing until then and some random girl was singing. She wasn't bad. Jasper walked over with another round of shots, this time a clear liquid and seven green salt monsters.

"Evening ladies, here are some margaritas and I'm not going to tell you what the shots are until after you take them. The shot's are on the house of course. So have at it." He leaned over and gave Alice a kiss on the cheek and then walked away back to the bar.

A few minutes later our server came over and low and behold it was Mike again. Great! "Hello ladies…oh hey Bella, and Alice right?" He pointed over towards her and shrugged.

"Hey Mike, what's up? Can we order food now? I am starving and I'm sure everyone else is too, right ladies?" I said with irritation coating my voice. I was hungry damn it and Mike was our freaking server again. What are the odds? The girls all nodded.

"Ok so what'll ya have tonight?" Boy he was really laying it on thick. Um gross! Where is Emmett when you need him? Oh that's right all the way in Chicago. Damn!

After we ordered and Mike stalked away, we decided to dance until our food arrived. Alice and Rose went to the bar again for another round of shots and also to see what that last shot was that Jasper gave us. It turned out to be Bacardi 151 and this time they came back with shots of crown royal. Thank heavens that none of us have to work the next morning because it was probably not going to be a pretty sight. Except for Rose, she somehow doesn't ever get hangovers. Lucky bitch. I was already starting to feel the effects of the alcohol and so were some of the others. Bianca was actually talking to me in a civilized way. I decided now was a good a time as any to see what her problem was on Christmas.

"Hey Bianca, can I ask you something that's been bugging me for ages?" I asked.

"Yeah go for it." She replied, slurring a bit.

"Okay so you know how we met on Christmas, what was your problem that night? You were kind of a bitch that night. I just wanted to know what it was I did."

"Oh that, I was just being the jealous girlfriend. You know finding out your boyfriend went on a date with a beautiful girl before you started dating and finding out just then. It was kinda a slap in the face, ya know." Oh that's what it was. I think there is more to it than that but I decided to drop it.

"Oh yeah sorry about that. My friends just wanted me to get out of this funk I was in and we met Jake at the carnival after a freak accident/pummeling happened and Alice happened to shout out my number for all to hear. He asked me to go to a concert. I was thinking it was a total friend thing but whatever it's all in the past and I have an amazing boyfriend myself. So friends…" I stuck out my hand to her in a truce kind of way and she took it firmly and that was it.

The food arrived not long after and we ate and gossiped. I told them how I was going to go to the playoffs if they made it. There was no doubt in my mind that they wouldn't. Rose, Alice and Tanya said they wanted to go to the super bowl if the Bears made it this year. I told them I would check with Emmett once the time came for that. I would love to have my friends with me while watching his last game ever. Plus Jasper would have to come too…it wouldn't be fair to him the football extraordinaire if all us girls went and not him.

So that's something I had to talk with Emmett about for tickets and whatnot. It was a few minutes after eight and Harry Connick Jr. graced us with his presence finally. The whole place was applauding and screaming for him. He was going to play piano while he had a sax, trumpet and snare drum in the back. This was going to be a hell of a show. Everyone was dancing and swaying to his rhythmic tunes. He played some fun songs then some romantic songs which reminded me of Emmett so I text him saying 'I love you baby can't wait to see you. Good luck with the game this weekend. I want to see you at the playoffs'.

I got a text back immediately stating 'I wouldn't have it any other way. See you at the playoffs. I love you and miss you a lot! Goodnight and don't drink too much.'

God that man is wonderful. I had told him about our little girl's night out last night during one of our many random phone calls at odd hours of the night. After finishing I went back to the girl on the dance floor. I was three sheets to the wind by now. I was stumbling and laughing at the dumbest things. Around ten everyone was pretty wasted and ready to get going. We settled the bill and called cabs for everyone to make it home safely. Thank god Jasper was here with his Durango so we didn't have to call a cab.

Once getting home Rose and Tanya bartered a ride from Jazz to go home. Alice and I were sitting on the couch not wanting to make the short walk to our rooms just yet. We just talked about life and our futures. She was hinting around the subject of marriage a lot and then finally said, "I think Jasper is going to propose soon. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach and by the way he is acting. He always looks scared for some reason now."

"Aww Alice I am so happy I hope he does it soon. That's wonderful." That got me thinking of weddings and babies and Emmett. A wedding ring on my finger and a baby bump under my shirt and Emmett sitting next to me with his hand rubbing my belly. Snap out of it Swan you've only been together a few months. Take it easy. I shook my head and the visions trickled into blackness. Jasper came home a few minutes later to find Alice leaning over the side of the couch snoring the tiniest snore ever. You could hardly hear it and me in a daze staring off into space. I looked up as he closed the door and took my leave back to my bedroom. I didn't even get undressed but I did slip off my shoes and crawled under the covers. I looked at the picture on my nightstand before turning out the lights. It was a picture of me and Emmett making goofy faces when we went down to the troll under the bridge. I smiled and then there was blackness until I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache and my cell phone ringing.

"Ugh..hello?"

"Good morning beautiful. How are you feeling babe?"

"Like my head was trampled on by a million cows. Remind me to never go drinking with Rose again."

"Okay, don't go drinking with Rose again." He chuckled. "I just wanted to let you know that the game is tomorrow and we are totally going to make it to the playoffs. It's a total shoe-in."

"Oh great can't wait to see you. Well I'm gonna go start my day and talk to you soon okay Em?"

"Yeah no sweat. I love you sweet cheeks."

"Love you too sexy pants."

The other end went silent and I realized that he already hung up. I pressed end and got up…slowly and made my way to the bathroom. Alice was in the kitchen looking how I felt with a cup of coffee and some Advil waiting for me. She looked a little green in the face and that's when she got up and ran to the bathroom no doubt upchucking nothing but stomach acid and water. I got her a little glass of water and went to the bathroom to give it to her. I knocked and all I heard was, "uhhh…that was gross. I puked on my slipper a little bit." Jasper came up behind me and carried Alice out to the couch. The day was spent sleeping and watching random TV shows. No one really wanted to eat. Alice and I just ended up just picking at the sandwiches that Jazz made for us. "I am never drinking again. Ever!" Alice proclaimed.

"I concur." I said with equal enthusiasm.

The next few days went by without a hitch. Shower, eat, work, sleep. It was a never ending cycle. Then one day after getting off work there was a FedEx package on my doorstep. Emmett sent me something, as to what it was I wasn't sure. I ripped it open and there was a plane ticket, a ticket for the playoffs, really good seats and a letter saying See you there my love. I was basically jumping up and down when Alice opened the front door smiling. "What are you all giddy about?"

"I'm going to see my man make it to the Super Bowl!" I exclaimed.

"Awesome!! Hope they win. You know Jasper and I will be rooting for him over here. Who are they playing anyways?" I looked at the ticket and noticed it was at the Heinz field.

"The Pittsburgh Steelers. Oh that's going to be a good game. Bears are totally going to kick their asses though. I have a hunch."

"Yeah I bet they will." She said.

The next week went by faster than I thought it would. Next thing I knew I was on a plane heading for Pittsburgh and I couldn't get the giddy ass grin off my face for anything. This plane could go down now and I would die with a smile on my face. I was going to see my Emmett at the playoffs and watch him make it to the Super Bowl.

I got to the stadium a little early and it took me forever to find my seat. I was sitting on the sidelines basically over looking where my man was going to be sitting. I of course wore my jersey. Number 23 all the way! Then I went to get something to eat before the game kicked off. The guys were all doing their pregame lunges or pep talks right now. Then around four o'clock the announcers came on and introduced the Bears followed by the Steelers. Then the opening national anthem gig and whatnot. The kick off went to the Steelers.

By half time it was basically neck and neck and the Bears had a second down with ten yards to go until a first down at the forty yard line. Emmett caught the ball and threw it down the field to whoever number 18 was and he booked it down the field thirty yards, twenty yards, ten yards, TOUCHDOWN! I was so excited I threw popcorn all over some guy sitting next to me. I apologized and went back to cheering for my man.

There was a minute and fifteen seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter and the score was Bear 27- Steelers 23. Bears had the ball and it was a first down. All they had to do was run out the clock or make another touchdown. I was hoping for the latter.

Emmett snapped the ball and number 7 caught it and took it down the field, but was tackled right outside the fifteen yard line. Back to a first down. So close yet so far away. "C'mon baby you can do this. I know you can." I think he must have heard my thoughts because he chose then to look behind him and blow me a kiss. I practically melted right then and there. I sent a kiss his way and he was back in the game. He caught the ball but no one was open the clock was ticking down and he went for it. He jumped over a mini dog pile and then sprinted for the goal line. There was a big burly guy right on his tail but he somehow managed to escape in the nick of time. He reached out with the ball in his hands and right as the clock ran out his arms were over the line followed by the rest of his body and the guy who was chasing him.

The Bears won! The Bears won and are going to the Super Bowl! My cell phone started buzzing with Alice's ringtone and I answered screaming. She was screaming too and I heard Jasper, rose and Tanya in the background hollering too. "This is amazing. We are going to the Super Bowl Alice!!"

"Tell Emmett to freaking get us all tickets now cause we have a game to go see." Alice chirped.

"For sure, you can bet on it. You guys happen to know who won the other game. Who they are going to compete against?"

"Um hold on…Jasper who won the other game?"

I could hear Jasper in the background "Cowboys baby. Aww man Emmett is going up against my boys. Now I don't know who to root for. It would be like cheating for me if I didn't root for the Cowboys. But Emmett is my boy too. Damn it!"

"Jasper's all bent out of shape because the cowboys are going to the Super Bowl too. He doesn't know who he wants to win more. Haha."

"Oh poor baby. Anyways the Bears won!! Em's going to the Super bowl!!!" I screamed.

After getting off the phone with Alice I headed down the field to wait up for Emmett. I didn't have to wait long because he found me right away and scooped me up and planted one hell of a kiss on me in front of everyone. I heard camera shutters going off and people cheering. This was amazing. My man is going to the Super Bowl for his last game. Happy tears trailed down my cheeks as I pulled his mouth back to mine once more.

A/N: So what did you think? Love it? Hate it? Want more? Send us reviews…we love hearing what you have to say…and and thanks for all the new favs/story alerts we got while you all were waiting for a freakin update… Thank you so much we really appreciate it.

-LittleLea05 and EmmaleeWrites05