Thursday Morning

Emmett packed their luggage in the back of the truck and triple-checked the cooler. They had plenty of blood to get through the East, but the Midwest might be an issue. He'd probably end up stopping somewhere in Nebraska or North Dakota depending on the weather. Emmett closed the truck and turned around, watching Rosalie set the security system. They weren't scared anyone would find it, but Emmett was paranoid for them both about keeping it safe. When she finished, Rosalie stomped through the snow and leaned on Emmett's arm.

"Satisfied?" she asked.

"I am. I added a few extra books for you in case you go through the ones in your pack."

"Thank you, and you have your hunting kit?"

"Of course."

"Good. How are we going to be with blood?"

"I think we have enough to get to the Midwest before it becomes an issue."

"Seems reasonable enough."

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yep. Keys, please."

Emmett sighed and surrendered the keys, and Rosalie patted him on the cheek.

"Let's get a move on, Captain Mills."

"Aye, aye, your Highness."

Rosalie flipped him off, and Emmett chuckled as he climbed into the passenger seat.

Friday Night

Emmett drove through Montana while Rosalie rested in the back. They managed to get as far as North Dakota before they needed to feed. It worked in their favor, as the Midwest had plenty of animals to choose from so they could flush the human blood from their system. Well, Emmett for the most part. Rosalie had to pick a few men from a small town bar who were too drunk to see her and too drunk to fight back. Once they were settled, Emmett got back on the road. They were avoiding most interstates, and Rosalie's police detection device worked up to ten miles. So they were making a good time.

Emmett turned up the song playing from his phone and put the truck in cruise control. He leaned back and got comfortable, briefly glancing in the rearview mirror as Rosalie curled up on the seat with a book propped against her knees. He couldn't tell you what Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle even meant, but Rosalie could without issue. She was a lot smarter than she let on, brilliant even, but she grew up in a time when women were meant to breed children and stay at home. She hid her intelligence even after she became a vampire, and she would have continued to do so if Emmett hadn't found her stash while cleaning up.

When he asked her about it, she was so terrified he would judge her for it or belittle her over it. But then he asked her to tell him about it, and Rosalie's smile was more than worth suffering through an in-depth explanation of protons. She reminded him a lot of Kieran. Cold at times, but her emotions were stilted because of her upbringing. Yet she had moments of warmth. In another lifetime, Emmett would've loved to have been Rosalie's mate. He would've treasured her every moment of every day, not that he didn't already, but it would've been different. Regardless, Emmett vowed to keep her safe until she found the one she was meant to be with, and even then, he would have her best interest at heart.

Shaking out of his thoughts, Emmett tapped along to the beat of the song and bobbed his head.

"I'm a straight-shooting, beer-drinking, rule-breaking, don't think I won't take a good thing too far," he sang. "I'm a midnight, backsliding, getaway car driving, running away with your heart. I guess, be careful what you wish for is all I meant when I said what you see is what you get."

"This is a tragedy."

Emmett grinned as Rosalie climbed into the front seat and slammed off the song. He pouted a little, and Rosalie turned it back on but kept the volume low.

"I can't believe you listen to this crap," she grumbled.

"Hey! Luke Combs is a God. Be respectful."

"I had no idea I was mated to a country bumpkin."

"Oh, please. I never complain when you play that hard rock nonsense of yours."

"Because you are a smart boy."

"Why are you the way that you are?"

"I can ask you the same thing."

Rosalie relaxed and kicked her feet up on the dashboard. She treated Emmett's truck a lot differently than her car but he wasn't complaining. Trucks were made to be dirty. She pulled a novel from her bag and got comfortable. Emmett read the cover – A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - and smiled to himself. It was her favorite book, even when she refused to admit it.

"What?" she asked, holding the book to her chest.

There was a shyness to Rosalie's voice, even after all of the time they'd spent together, and Emmett shook his head.

"Nothing, bug. Nothing, bug. Read it to me?" he asked.

Rosalie chewed on the inside of her cheek and turned to the first page.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."

Saturday Evening – 6:30 p.m.

Emmett sat in the truck as Rosalie shopped for a gift. She was taught never to show up empty-handed to a party, and Emmett elected to stay in the parking lot so she won't feel rushed. That was an hour ago, and he was beginning to regret it. Thankfully, they had changed into what they were wearing for the dinner. Rosalie wore a red cocktail dress with gold heels, and Emmett went with a black turtleneck-black slack combination, and loafers. He rarely dressed up, but when he did, Rosalie made sure he didn't make her look bad.

Emmett closed his eyes and tried to mimic what sleep used to feel like for him. By the time he got into a relaxed state, Rosalie was knocking on the window, and Emmett unlocked the doors. He peeked open one eye as she climbed back into the truck.

"What did you get?"

"Four bottles of red wine and an apple pie. Alice texted me and told me I needed to bring one."

Emmett started the truck and peeled out of the lot, heading toward the house.

"Did she give you any other hints as to what to expect?" he asked.

"No. Her visions have been acting strange, according to Jasper. Alice has been seeing glimpses of blank spots, and she can't figure out why. All she knew was that someone was going to be allergic to pecans and would need a second dessert choice."

"Why wouldn't Esme already know this?"

"Last minute plus one for the Chief," Rosalie said. "He wasn't sure if his daughter could get off work or not until this morning."

"Wait, the same daughter that Edward has a crush on?"

"The same. Jasper said she works at the community college, but she sometimes stops by the school to help with the Biology course."

"Hold on, does Edward think she is his mate?"

"Yes, but Jasper thinks it's all infatuation or worse. She's his singer."

"That poor girl. What was her name?"

"Jasper zoned out when Edward started talking about it. I guess we'll find out tonight."

"Ten bucks she wears glasses, ankle-length skirts, and a turtleneck."

"Hell no. That is a waste of money," Rosalie scoffed.

Emmett grinned and went the long way home, hoping they got there right at seven.

Bella smacked Charlie's hand away from his tie and said, "I cannot believe you have lasted this long without me."

"Shut up. Ties are for working men and sharks in suits. Men like me don't need ties."

"Men like you think turning boxers inside out means they're clean."

"It does!"

Bella stared at him blankly, and she said, "If you have ever wondered why you are still single, that was why."

"Oh, yeah? What's your excuse?"

"I was born in the same realm as Snow White, the Evil Queen, and Little Red Riding Hood."

"Fair enough."

Bella finished re-tying Charlie's tie and stepped back. He made a face but stopped messing with it.

"Can you believe they invited so many humans?" he asked.

"I thought you said you had doubts they were vampires."

"That was before I met Edwin-

"Edward," Bella corrected.

"Whatever his name is. He gives me the creeps."

"Same. I have him in my Friday Biology course, and I hate the way he stares at me. But I've learned not to piss off someone who could eat me alive."

"Couldn't you just like flambé him?"

"If need be," she said. "But I would rather avoid the mess."

"Lame. Also, are you going to drop the accent now?"

"No, the girls on campus think it makes me attractive."

"Your ego doesn't need the boost."

"Blah, blah, blah. Go put on your coat so we can go."

"Who are you, my Mom?"

Bella smacked him on the arm as he went upstairs and moved to the hall mirror. She re-tucked her shirt and adjusted her sleeves. She wore one of the suits Oliver bought her, a burgundy three-piece, and she wore a black button-down with a pair of burgundy loafers. Charlie came back downstairs with his coat and stopped behind her.

"You look good, kid. Though, I wager the glare might scare people off."

"Meeting new people is not fun for me."

"If you can spend three years with Harrison Wells, this dinner will be a cakewalk. And if you want to leave at any time, tap my arm three times."

"Okay, Dad."

"Please don't call me that until we get to the house."

Charlie leaned forward as he searched for the turn he needed.

"I can't – where the fuck is the driveway?"

"Would you like for me to ask the trees?" she said.

"It's a little spooky that you can talk to plants, you know that, right?"

"That is not the spookiest thing I can do."

"Do I even want to know?"

"No," she drawled.

Charlie shivered at the tone of her voice, but he made a sound of triumph as he found the driveway and rode down with the headlights on bright. Bella listened to the wind blow through the trees, smiling at the sounds of the leaves brushing against one another, and she closed her eyes. When the car slowed a few minutes later, Bella opened her eyes and gawked at the massive mansion in front of them. It was clear the mayor and others were already there, but Bella was not expecting the place to be so big.

"Holy shit," Charlie whispered.

Bella nodded in agreement and got out of the cruiser when Charlie stopped. She would have loved to have driven her car, but Charlie didn't want to show up at a dinner with the people who pay his checks riding in a Bentayga. They stood out in the front yard, and Bella tilted her head to the side when a gust of wind caught her attention. Charlie shivered and pulled his coat in tighter, but Bella looked over her shoulder. The wind blew again, and with it, came a message.

'Danger.'

The rustling got worse when Bella didn't immediately respond, and she held out her hand. The trees went still, and the wind stopped blowing. When Bella turned back, Charlie was staring at her with a dry expression.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing, Poison Ivy. Can we go in now?"

Bella flipped him off and headed toward the front door. She didn't wait before going inside, and Charlie muttered under his breath how she was so uncouth. Bella ignored him and took in the opulent space. Money spoke louder than anything else in a lot of places, and it was clear that's what was happening with the Cullens. A blonde man turned toward them, and Bella knew she'd won the bet. No human looked that good. Charlie knew it too, and she smiled when he elbowed her in the side. Edward was there as well, and Bella looked away to keep from giving him hope. Or whatever it is he saw in her. She chose to focus her attention on the inhumanely beautiful man making his way toward them. If she were interested in men, he would be her first choice. A brunette joined him, and Bella's lesbianism kicked into high gear.

Were they all that fucking attractive?

"Chief Swan! Welcome to my home."

"Dr. Cullen, Mrs. Cullen, thank you for having us," Charlie said. "This is my daughter, Bella."

"Please, call me Carlisle, and this is my wife, Esme. And the honor is ours. We are so happy you both could make it. We knew it was a close one."

"Yes, I'm sorry about that," Bella said. "Despite what the movies say, college is not so rigid and things change every other second."

"It's completely understandable," Esme said. "As my husband mentioned, we're glad you both could make it."

"Your home is so beautiful, by the way."

"Thank you. My wife has quite the designer's eye. I usually let her take over," Carlisle joked.

"He doesn't know lavender from teal," Esme teased.

"Neither do I," Charlie laughed. "So I can't blame him too much."

They shared a laugh, Bella's more forced than anything, and Carlisle clapped his hands.

"Well, the food is all-you-can-eat, as is the wine, and we hope you have a wonderful evening."

"Thank you again."

Carlisle bowed and excused himself to talk to the mayor. Esme went into the kitchen, and Bella held out her hand. Charlie dug around in his pocket and slammed a ten-dollar bill into her palm.

When they arrived at the house fifteen minutes after the fact (there was a yard sale that Rosalie just had to stop through), they appeared to be the last ones. Emmett got out of the car and helped Rosalie down, grabbing the shopping bag. He would come back for the luggage later. But as he stood outside, he glanced around a little, trying to figure out why the trees felt so strange.

"You okay?" Rosalie asked.

"It feels like I've been here before," he muttered.

"You have, Em," she said slowly. "We lived here –

"No, no, not like that," he interrupted. "Something else. Something familiar."

Rosalie eyed him for a moment, and she asked, "Do you want to stay out here for a second?"

"No. I think maybe being back here is throwing me off a little," he said.

"You sure?"

"Positive. Come on."

Rosalie hesitated a moment longer before grabbing his arm and letting him escort her to the house.

Bella was on her third glass of wine and standing in the corner of the living room. Edward seemed hellbent on monopolizing her time, but it felt like whenever he tried to get close, one of the family members would intervene. They would cut him off mid-stride, direct him to another part of the house, or they would grab his arm and yank him in a different direction. It was strange, but if it kept Edward away from her, she wouldn't complain. Charlie long gave up on introducing Bella to the high-ranking members of the town. She was there for him, not for him. He had to learn the difference between the two.

'Danger.'

Bella twitched as she was alerted to more vampires, and she assumed it was the missing Cullen children. Hoping to avoid that interaction for another few minutes, Bella drained her glass and pushed off the wall to get to the kitchen. Unfortunately, she'd have to pass through the dinner crowd to get there, which she didn't want to do. Steeling herself, Bella had her head down as she made her way to the kitchen but found herself looking up when the door opened. It was as if time stopped, and Bella's vision narrowed to the beauty stepping over the threshold. Her entire existence boiled down to one thing: long, blonde hair, a red dress that stopped mid-thigh, and red-painted lips curled in an unimpressed scowl. When their eyes met, gold pupils dilated, and it felt like Bella's life had purpose again.

Just as she detoured to the front door, her steps faltered when she saw the towering brunette behind the blonde. His face mimicked hers, wide in shock and fear, and their interaction lasted less than a second before Bella decided maybe going to the kitchen was a better idea. She ducked her head and hurried off, pretending as if her heart wasn't racing wildly in her chest.

Shit.

"Rose, I need to talk to you," Emmett said.

"Okay," she said slowly. "Can I give Esme-

"Give it to Jasper," he interrupted. "Or leave it here, either one. But we need to talk now, please?"

Rosalie gave him a weird look but left the bags on the floor and allowed him to drag her up the stairs to their room. When they got inside, Emmett closed and locked the door. He started pacing and tapping his thighs, going in a straight line from one wall to the next. Rosalie folded her arms patiently until Emmett was ready to speak. He stopped on his fifth turn, and he exhaled.

"My sister, Isabella, is downstairs." It was clear she didn't believe him, and he added, "I have never given you a reason not to trust my word. Do not start doubting me now."

"Which one was she?"

"The one in a burgundy suit with long dark brown hair and brown eyes."

"Oh."

Rosalie grimaced, and Emmett frowned.

"Oh?"

"Promise not to get mad?"

"It depends on what you say."

"Well. It seems you and I are destined to be in each other's lives for quite some time."

Emmett blinked at her, and then it hit him.

"Are you kidding me?"

"No."

"Isabella is your mate."

"Yes."

"My sister is your mate."

"Without a doubt in my heart."

Emmett put his hands on his hips and threw his head back, letting out a long, deep sigh.

"Are you mad?"

Emmett shook his head and crossed the room, grabbing Rosalie's hands. He said, "Am I thrilled about it? Not in the least. I am very protective, and no one will ever be good enough for her. Not even you, but could it be worse? Yes. Will I adjust? Yes. Will I kill you if you ever make her cry for any negative reason or break her heart? Undoubtedly. Will I be your best man at your wedding should your relationship have a happy ending? I better be. And that is the end of it. I am happy for you, but I will give you hell for the next couple of days. Still, I want you to enjoy this moment just as I am. You have been through so much, and you have a chance to be happy. Take it."

Rosalie let out a breathless laugh and dropped her forehead onto his chest.

"Emmett, your sister is my mate."

"I think we should focus on one thing at a time."

"How she got here?"

"And how long she has been here."

Fuck, fuck, fuck. What the fuck? Bella couldn't stop her heart from galloping around her ribcage. There were too many people in the kitchen when she went in there, so she ducked out to the patio and hopped over the railing, heading to a secluded area in the backyard. There was a swing, a little fire pit, and fuck, Bella was losing her mind. There was no doubt that was her brother, albeit a paler and undead creature of the night version, but it was him. Emmett was a fucking vampire.

Mom was so going to kill him.

Bella was tempted to step into the trees and disappear for a bit, but that wasn't possible. She sat down on the swing and held her head in her hands.

"Sup, kiddo."

Charlie sat next to her and held out a bottle of water.

"You okay?"

Bella sighed and took the bottle.

"No, not in the least," she said.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not here, no." Bella opened the water and drank most of it, then she added, "But I made the mistake of hoping that something fun and exciting would happen at the party. I guess my request got lost in translation because this is not fun and this is not exciting."

"You're ahead a few chapters, mind coming back and filling me in?"

"I can't," she said, her voice cracking.

"Why not?"

Bella tugged on her ears and gestured to the house.

"Oh, right. Do we need to go?"

"I –

Bella stopped when she saw someone step out onto the balcony over the kitchen. Emmett stared down at her, and he seemed just as nervous as she was. His eyes went to Charlie briefly, enough for him to see the resemblance and look away, and Emmett jerked his head to his room.

"Remember what I said," Charlie murmured. "Three taps, three texts, or a scream, and we're out."

"I know."

Charlie nodded and patted her shoulder before going back inside. Bella puffed out her cheeks and blew out the air.

"How am I supposed to get to you?" she asked in the Old Language. "I cannot fly, brother."

Emmett was there, then he was in front of her, and then she was in the bedroom. It happened in less than four seconds, and she watched him close the balcony door while her brain re-oriented itself. It was just the two of them, but the décor told her that Emmett stayed with someone else. The only person she could think of was the blonde he came in with, and she winced at the thought of them together.

"Rosalie."

"What?" she asked, somewhat startled.

"Her name is Rosalie," he said, leaning against the wall. "And we are only friends."

"Why are you telling me?"

"I could see it in your eyes. You thought we were more than that."

"Can you blame me?" she asked, gesturing at the room.

"No, which is why I told you."

Bella clicked her teeth and looked away.

Her brother was alive, and her heart was beating so loud she couldn't hear her thoughts. Without the safety net of denial, Bella's lungs burned with each breath she took. She wasn't sure how to react to knowing her brother was a vampire. Kieran would have the time of her life, as would Ruby, but Bella was confused. How did Emmett become a vampire? How long had he been with the Cullens? How did Emmett go from tossing himself through a portal after their sister to a dinner party in Forks, Washington? Something went wrong that day.

But when she looked at him, his posture, and his eyes, she saw her brother.

It was him.

Bella took in a deep breath and raced across the room, jumping into his arms. He caught her easily and held onto her as tight as she held onto him. She buried her face into his neck and started crying, uncaring that she was a grown woman babbling like a baby.

"Hello, my Ignis," Emmett whispered.

Bella sniffed and gripped Emmett's shirt as she pulled her.

"I've missed you so much," she cried.

"And I have missed you," he said, wiping her tears. "Too many years have passed."

"Tell me about it. How long has it been for you?" she asked.

Emmett sighed and said, "I landed here in the 1930s, and I have been here since."

"Holy shit," she exclaimed, laughing. "You're old as fuck!"

"And what about you?" Emmett held her out in front of him and looked her over. "How old are you?" he asked.

"It is rude to ask a woman her age, Emmett Mills," Bella scolded, mimicking Regina.

Emmett's laugh was as booming as she remembered, and he tugged her ear, giving her a faux-scolding look.

"If you must know, I am twenty-three," she said.

"Twenty-three," he murmured, shaking his head. "You are…"

Emmett trailed off and pulled her back into his arms. Bella smiled, breathing in his scent. He smelled like smoke and metal—like home.