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Part 2

ljv

A/N: Rewrite:

To TheMalfoyLady, as you originally requested…. .

*****

Let it be known that even though Emmett Cullen's train of thought was…unique, he was by no means a pervert. He was just innately curious with no judgment whatsoever as to where that curiosity led him. Most often times, however, such curiosity brought him out in the middle of the forest initiating questionable conversations with people who would rather be doing anything but 'talking about it.' 'It' being, of course, the focus of Emmett Cullen's curiosity. It, being in this case, the pregnancy of Bella Swan.

Being mauled by a bear, rescued by a vampire, and then turned into one of the undead had taught Emmett to suspend a great deal of his disbelief. When he had first learned of the existence of werewolves he had taken that in stride. Odd as it may seem to him that one man (or woman) may transform in a split second into a hairy, drooling, and smelly beast, Emmett Cullen was hardly one to judge. After all, he drank blood just to survive, had a father that was well over 200 years old, a mother that had killed herself and was still able to talk about it, had a brother that was a 100 year old virgin, had an impossibly hot wife who an affinity for impossibly hot cars, a sister who knew what he was going to do before he was going to do it, and another brother that knew everything he was feeling. Nothing, however, really could have prepared him for the pregnancy of Bella Swan, or rather Cullen, the youngest of all of his siblings.

Emmett understood well enough that the penis went into the vagina and sometimes a baby came out. What he did not understand, and he had considered this in detail, was how an undead penis could go into a living vagina and a baby still could come out. It did not seem possible. On the most basic level, the fact that a vampire was even capable of having sex with a human without ripping them apart was quite remarkable. The ability for a male vampire to impregnate a human female had been quite the revelation, forcing Emmett rethink all that he thought he understood about his body. The human female's ability to harbor such a creation in her body had been another stumbling block Emmett had yet to get over. Finally, what did a half vampire, half human baby mean? On some level, Emmett was unsure whether he wanted to know the answers to all these questions.

Admittedly everybody (everybody being his family and a pack of werewolves upon the La Push Reservation) had their opinion about the fetus in Bella's womb. Including Emmett. Yet, because he could hardly resist the temptation and Edward was finally alone Emmett figured he may as well self impose his curiosity upon the source. The source being in this case the man who knocked up his little sister. It was possible, Emmett admitted, that his timing was a little off – perhaps even down right inappropriate. Edward was in one of his moods. Experience had taught Emmett to stay clear of him in such spells. But Edward was his brother. He would (eventually) understand. Luckily for Emmett, he knew his brother well. So it did not, despite Edward's attempts to mask his scent, take him long to find him perched moodily in a large tree.

"You know," Emmett stated casually, staring calmly up at the moody statue of his brother, "you look like shit."

Though he always enjoyed an insulted look upon Edward's face, Emmett actually meant what he said. Edward, while not in need of a shower, had not drunk or changed his clothing in a few days. His clothes were wrinkled, the bags under his eyes were a fantastic shade of purple, his hair was sticking on end from how many times he had ran his fingers through it, and there was a smear of dirt upon his nose from where he had run his rubbed his fingers in one of his fits of frustration.

Edward did not look down up at his brother, did not even make any movement to acknowledge his presence.

Emmett did not really mind. He had expected this.

"So," Emmett continued stepping forward and leaning upon the tree across from the one Edward was perched upon, "you're going to a be a daddy, huh?"

When it came to being politically correct Emmett had the tendency to be a little inept. But the words worked, like he knew they would, like a charm.

"Get out of here, Emmett."

Emmett smiled slightly. "If I don't?"

When Emmett received no response. He chuckled. He did not need to be Alice to see how this game was going to be played out. Not having the ability to read minds or emotions he would have to do this the hard way. While beating the hell out of his brother sounded like a good time, (and it honestly did), Emmett doubted it would be very effective. Edward was a bit more emotional than most and would not take kindly to have the crap beat out of him when he was already having one of the worst weeks of his existence.

So Emmett began to mentally sing loudly and off key, confusing words, and intermixing melody of the 100 greatest songs of 1980s. All of this was done within the safety of his own mind – because he doubted that anybody would want to listen to him sing. From time to time he would tap his shoe to the mental beat and bang his head back against the tree enjoying the way the leaves rustled when he did so.

"Will you shut up?" Edward snapped, bringing black gaze downwards.

Emmett looked up at him innocently. "I'm not saying anything." A grin, despite his best efforts, broke through. "I'm just thinking."

"Well, quit it."

Emmett shook his head. "No can do, brother. You know how it is – having a song stuck in your head."

"You're just doing that to be an ass. Do us both a favor and leave."

Emmett responded with a chuckle. "Well you could fight me and force me out of here, if you want. That is not going to happen though. You haven't fed since you've been home. You don't even have enough strength to take on Esme in a fight if you wanted to and you know it."

Edward scowled which amused Emmett. While pissing Edward off was not particularly difficult, it was always fun.

"You're melodramatics are not helping anything." Emmett continued with an edge of admonishment to his voice, really enjoying, for once, acting as the more mature brother of the two. "It is actually getting very annoying."

Edward looked away from Emmett and continued brooding in silence.

Emmett tried very hard not to roll his eyes. "As I was saying…"

"I don't want to hear it, Emmett!" Edward snapped. "And you are the last person I want to talk about anything with. So just leave."

Emmett expected as much, but he was not about to stop. Forever being stuck as a teenager, Edward was inclined to irrational and violent moods. It was unlikely he was ever going to grow out of it.

"It really isn't necessary to be such and asshole, you know. Besides, I'm not really here to comfort you."

Being physically the youngest, Edward was use to being babied and use to having members of the family attempt to comfort him. Brief confusion flittered across Edward's face before it took on concentration.

Emmett tapped the side of his knowingly. "You think somebody sent me to come and get you? Not the case. It is actually kind of nice having you out of the house. We can only take so much of your sulking."

Edward considered Emmett silently before he dropped swiftly to the ground. He straightened up so that he was as close to eye level with Emmett as possible. "Then why are you here?"

"For my own curiosity." Emmett stated with a shrug, quite pleased to have gotten Edward off of his perch.

Edward raised a disdainful eyebrow. "Will you leave if I tell you what you want to know?"

The larger man nodded. "Of course."

Edward seemed to consider this before nodding once. "Fine. Ask away."

Well, since he giving permission…

"Alice, Jasper, and myself had an interesting conversation after you and Bella left for your honeymoon."

Edward became guarded. "Emmett…"

"I won't leave otherwise, Edward."

Edward let out a frustrated groan. "What about my honeymoon?"

It was necessary to proceed carefully from here. Sometimes dealing with Edward was like with explosive materials. Words had to be measured in the effort to stop them from blowing up in your face.

"Well, about your honeymoon."

"Emmett…"

"Hey," the bigger man interjected, "give me a chance."

Edward looked doubtful but waited for Emmett to continue.

"We were wondering about the sex part of it."

Complete surprise spread across Edward's face before he twisted his expression into a glare. "What the hell is wrong with you, Emmett?"

There were many things wrong with Emmett Cullen but he could not see what that would have to do with this conversation.

Edward glared, apparently hearing Emmett's thoughts by the exasperated expression on his face. "What goes on between Bella and myself is nobody else's business."

"No," Emmett countered, "it kinda is."

It occurred to Emmett that this may have been the wrong thing to say when he found Edward on top of him trying to dig his eyes out of their sockets.

Physically, Edward really was weak and hardly inflicting any damage. Emmett knew better than to reach out and touch him. Emmett figured it was good for Edward to work off some of his anger by trying to kill something.

After about five minutes of half-hearted wrestling on Emmett's part, he decided that he had had enough. "Edward, don't be mad. That came out all wrong. Just listen to me. Read my thoughts, you know I didn't mean it like that."

Edward had yet to cease trying to mutilate Emmett's face. Emmett, becoming quiet bored, threw Edward into a tree, cracking it in half and leaving a very confused looking Edward sitting on the ground.

Emmett stood, dusting himself off. "Don't try to kill me again. Jesus, I just wanted to ask you some questions."

"That is none of your business!" Edward growled.

"We have a pack of werewolves that are about to declare all out unholy war on our family's ass. Not to mention your wife is sitting at home barely able to move. And you're right Edward, what goes on between you and Bella really should not be anybody else's business. But as things are right now, it really is the family's business to know, considering it affects all of us."

Edward did not look happy, but he no longer looked angry either. He stood slowly his mouth drawn into a reluctant line.

"I suppose I want to know," Emmett said carefully, "how you managed not to kil… I mean… hurt Bella when… well… you know."

Edward did not respond right away, but when his did, his voice was guarded and pained. "Who said anything about not hurting her?"

Emmett was already sick of having this argument with Edward. He justified it anyway. "Having a baby is not usually considered harm. Bella doesn't think so and you shouldn't either. You need to really stop thinking that."

"Before that." Edward snapped. "Quit assuming you know what I am talking about. Before we even knew she was pregnant, there were other kinds of harm."

A knot twisted in Emmett's stomach. "Like what?"

"Every inch of her skin," Edward began slowly, reluctantly, "There were bruises in the exact shape of my hands. Indentations in her skin that curved with my fingertips. She could barely walk… afterwards."

Emmett wasn't really sure what to say to that. Normally he would smirk (and he really wanted to right then – really bad) and provide a perverted comment. By the look on Edward's face he knew that perhaps in this case it would not work. Fortunately, Emmett did not have to say anything. Edward was not done.

"Some of them turned such an ugly color on her skin. And it was her entire body too… just everywhere… and all of it was my fault. Sometimes I think of how little strength would have been required to break her bones or crush her face… just a little more…"

Emmett was becoming slightly exasperated. It was the same story that Edward had been telling everybody since he got home. "You're torturing yourself, Edward. Stop it. It is getting ridiculous."

Edward raised his head and glared up at his brother. "Bella is going to die because of me."

"Of course she is." Emmett stated simply. "But we all knew that from the first day you met her. Only now she is going to die from… well… sex, or rather, the product of sex instead of having all the blood drained from her body. To be honest though, she really didn't pick a bad way to go."

Edward looked Emmett with disgust clouding his features. Outrage infused within his voice. "She didn't pick a bad way to go? Are you insane? That… that thing is destroying her from the inside out!"

"That thing is your baby. And it is in the nature of fetuses in general to act as parasites to their mother. Your baby is just…" Emmett flitted his hands loftily as if searching for the right word. "accelerated."

"Don't you ever call that monster my baby!"

Emmett let out a low sigh. "I really did not come here to argue about the nature of the fetus with you. I just wanted to know how you managed to control yourself enough to get her pregnant in the first place."

"I don't know what you mean, Emmett. I have spent every moment with Bella working on my control. Our honeymoon was just a testament to it."

"Ok… well," Emmett paused, gauging the expression on Edward's face carefully, "don't take this the wrong way or anything, but I've thought through the mechanics of… your control. And… well… I don't really see how things could have worked."

The hand motions on Emmett's part were honestly not a conscious action.

Emmett was sure if Edward could blush he would have; partly because of anger, but mostly because of embarrassment.

"This isn't a conversation I want to have with you, Emmett."

"I'm not asking for details… just the mechanics."

Edward's forehead furrowed in disbelief as his jaw dropped slightly. "They are the same damn thing!"

Emmett considered this for a moment before he shook his head. "No, not exactly. It's not like I am asking how she sounded or how she felt or anything like that."

"You're absolutely disgusting. You know that right?"

"Well, damn it, Edward! I want to know how you managed not to kill her. You get enough momentum with our bodies and you could have ripped right through her. I find it amazing that you managed not to. It would have been like a jack-knife through butter. Was she on top the entire time or something?"

"Emmett, I am really not going to talk about this with you, okay. It isn't any of your business and it never will be." Edward was already turned around and walking into the trees.

Emmett fidgeted. He really did not want to bring this up, but he blurted out before he even bothered to think to stop himself. "What's this I hear about a broken headboard?"

Edward's back tensed, turning completely around to face Emmett. "Tell Alice to mind her own damn business. Besides if you are so concerned about the mechanics of Bella's and my sex life, why didn't you just ask her? She doesn't seem to have any problem sharing the details of my life."

"Already did." Emmett shrugged. "She didn't tell me much more than something about feathers and a broken headboard."

"Well from that information you can surmise all by yourself just how certain mechanics work."

"Not really. There are a lot of ways to break a headboard." A vivid thought concerning Rosalie flitted briefly through Emmett's mind. An entire list of methods of breaking a headboard compiled itself in Emmett's head, including various forms of restraints, toys, to just good old fashioned romping. Emmett thought of all of this before Edward had the chance to really start to look murderous.

"You're disgusting." Edward stated. "You really are."

"Huh?"

Edward still looked vaguely disgusted.

Emmett frowned, continuing with his train of thought. "Well, there are a lot of ways to bring feathers into sex too though."

Something akin to choke caught itself in Edward's throat.

"Can't you just drop it?"

Honestly, Emmett really did not hear him. "I know there are a whole bunch of exotic birds on that island. Some of them have some pretty intense looking feathers. I wonder if…"

"Damn it, Emmett. Why do you have to make this so complicated?"

"Edward," Emmett said, his eyes suddenly becoming large, "do you remember that blue bird on the island with feathers that are about two feet long?"

In retrospect Emmett really should not have been as surprised as he was to find his face suddenly being stuffed into the ground and Edward screaming something about how it really was not any of Emmett's damn business and what a bastard he was. But Emmett was surprised. He really was enjoying the direction the conversation was going in.

A minute or two later, Edward had finally let go and Emmett rolled on his back to breath in some fresh air while grinning toothily up at his brother.

"Too much?"

Edward snorted. "You think?"

Emmett shrugged and pushed himself up into a sitting position. "So I take it you don't plan on answering that particular question, then?"

"No."

"Well," Emmett stood, "I guess I will be off then."

Emmett had gotten far more out of Edward than he originally anticipated.

"You know, relieve Rosalie of her guarding duties."

The words were out of Emmett's mouth before he could stop himself.

Edward's face darkened. Leave it to him to hold a grudge. It was stupid to mention Rosalie at all in front of Edward. Emmett tensed, berating himself as he waited for the words he knew were coming.

"You could have helped me." Edward's voice was bitter and accusing. "Still could if you wanted to."

Of course he could have, but helping Edward over Rosalie would have been a serious cock block. Besides, Emmett had his own reasons from protecting Bella from Edward.

Edward furrowed his forehead in disgust, hearing Emmett's partially formed thoughts. "How long are you going to be Rosalie's lapdog?"

Emmett did not like the sudden turn of conversation. "You would be killing your own child, Edward."

"That thing," Edward hissed, "is not a child. It is a goddamned monster! And it deserves to be killed."

Emmett's eyes widened, taken aback his brother's words.

"You couldn't possibly know if…"

"Not know!" Edward raged. "Have you seen my wife? Have you not smelt her blood? Listened to her heartbeat? She is dying! Don't pretend you didn't notice. And if it wasn't for your wife…"

"Leave Rosalie out of this." Emmett growled. The last thing he would stand was Edward placing blame on his wife. That he would not stand for. As far as Emmett was concerned, Rosalie was enduring a lot just to protect Bella.

"Rosalie is the reason we are here in the first place."

"It is not Rosalie's fault that you knocked your wife up, you self-righteous prick."

"But your wife wants a child so damn bad, she is willing to let Bella die for it."

Emmett's mouth dropped. "Is that what you think? Are you really that much of a bastard?"

Edward glared maliciously down at his brother. "That is what I think. Don't pretend that I can't hear your precious wife's thoughts."

Emmett was having a very difficult time stopping himself from ripping out Edward's throat.

"Don't make my wife the villain. Her actions mean a hell of a lot more than her thoughts. She isn't forcing Bella to do anything. Hasn't convinced Bella to do anything. Hasn't manipulated her in any way. A lot more than I can say for you. Bella asked her for help because she was scared of you. " He paused elaborate on the insult. "Scared of her own husband. And you are just too self-absorbed to see it."

"Bella doesn't know what is best for herself. She is only eighteen."

Emmett was having a hard time believing what he was hearing.

"You're not her father, Edward. Stop acting like you are. If she is such the child you think she is, you should have never married her. "

"I didn't mean it like that!"

"That's how it sounded." Emmett hissed. "Old enough to have sex with but to young to decide what to do with her own body."

"Bella is killing herself. I need to be there to protect her. I swore to her father that I always would. Even if she needed to be protected from herself."

"What about if she needed protection from you?"

Edward's mouth opened but no words came out.

His nostrils flared and he lowered his head dangerously. "Take that back."

Emmett stood defiant. "The hell I will."

"Take that back!"

Just a moment ago, Emmett was as pleased as he could be, considering the circumstances. Now he wanted nothing more than to destroy his brother where he stood.

"Just because you think you can control yourself from drinking her blood does not mean you're still not a danger to her. She is capable of deciding things for herself, but nobody would ever no that by the way you…"

"Shut up! You have no right to say that, Emmett. You do not understand. You have no idea what I went through to get Bella. You do not know how much I sacrificed just to be with her."

"Do you even consider," Emmett hissed back, "what she sacrifices to be with you?"

"Of course, I do! And if she asked me I would do anything for her."

"She is asking you to let her have this baby."

"That's not the same!"

"How is that not the same? She is giving up ever seeing her father and her mother ever again. She is giving up her entire family for you. The very least you could do for her is to let her have her child."

"That thing is not a child!"

"That thing is your child, Edward!"

Edward stared open mouthed at his brother. Both glaring a deadly promise into each other's eyes. Then suddenly Edward crumpled to his knees and put his head in his hands.

"You don't understand, Emmett."

"What don't I understand?" Emmett glared down at his brother. "Tell me! I do not understand what is so difficult about allowing Bella to make her own choice."

Edward raised his gaze imploring up to Emmett.

"That thing growing within in Bella is apart of me. And that is what I am so afraid of. I am afraid of what I am. I'm a killer Emmett. It is what I am designed to be. I am afraid of what that … that child will be. I have committed so many sins, I am so afraid of what I have done, I am afraid that I will never deserve anything so precious as my own child, and I am afraid that Bella will have to pay the price for it."

Emmett ran his fingers through his hair. "That... child is independent of your sins."

"You don't know that!"

"I know," Emmett countered, "that no child is born with the sins of their father. Not even yours."

"That thing won't even be human. You can't assume anything about it."

"I know the child's parents and I know the father of that child is nowhere near as unforgivable as he thinks he is."

"Emmett..."

Emmett had already left, racing through the trees, towards a family and future that both seemed suddenly uncertain.

*****

A/N: Part 3 should be up sometime later this week. ; ) Review!