A/N: It seems you guys like the "action" in this story. Well, I promise there's more coming, just not in this chapter. Sorry! I didn't originally start this story as a lemony one, it just kind of went that way.

Happy reading!

Chapter 12

I heard Alice throw open the door and squeal, "Emmie!"

Edward and I exchanged a glance as I met him in the kitchen. "Like the 'Jazzy' thing – she gets away with it all the time but no one else can," he informed me with a smirk.

"Hmm…" I mused. "Does she get to call you 'Eddie' as well?"

"Not a chance on Earth," he replied. "No one calls me Eddie and gets away with it."

I filed that away for future use as Emmett and Rose followed Alice into the kitchen.

"Wow Bella, something smells fantastic!" Rose greeted me, kissing me on the cheek and placing three bottles of wine on the bench.

"Three bottles Rose?" I asked. "Alice is taking Jasper his dinner later and either you or Emmie here have to drive home…" I only thought twice about the words as they left my mouth.

"Emmie, huh?" Emmett threatened me with a huge grin, advancing across the kitchen.

"Indeed," I shot back coolly. "And if you want your dinner, Emmie, I'd suggest you move your butt into the dining room." Threatening Emmett with no food was always a sure winner. He hightailed it out of the kitchen, followed closely by Edward.

"Can we do anything Bells?" Rose asked, leaning up against the bench.

"Umm…if one of you wants to take the wine into the dining room and the other wants to take in the garlic bread, then I'll get dinner organised and bring that in too," I planned as I spoke.

"Done!" Alice chirped as she grabbed all three bottles of wine and the bottle opener. Rosalie carefully opened the oven and pulled out the garlic bread, placing it in the serving basket on the bench and then taking it into the dining room.

I took the plates out of the oven and spread them on the counter, then carefully divided the drained tortellini into six portions – three bigger ones for the guys, and three normal sized ones for us girls. I spooned on the creamy sauce, inhaling deeply as the smell wafted up to me. I balanced five of the plates carefully on my arms, grateful for my years of waitressing while I was in college and then med school. I left Jasper's in the kitchen and headed for the dining room.

I gently placed the meals on the table and sat myself down next to Edward, across from Rosalie. Emmett was to her left and Alice had taken the chair at the head of the table.

"Wow Bella, this looks even better than it smells, if that's possible," Emmett declared as he took a giant whiff, followed up by a massive mouthful. "Ooh, hot!!!!" he said round his food, fanning his hand in front of his mouth. He grabbed his wine glass and drank half in one go.

"Better?" Rose asked with a smirk, taking a dainty bite of dinner. "Mmm…" her lips turned up at the corners as she chewed. "Bella, you have got to teach me to make this!"

I blushed as I started eating, and I had to admit it was pretty good. Halfway through the meal Emmett opened the second bottle of wine, refilling his own glass then offering it to Alice and Rosalie in turn.

"I'd better not, I'm going to visit Jazz at work after dinner, don't want to drive drunk to the hospital," Alice giggled. Being so small, even one glass made her tipsy.

"And I have to drive home if you're going to keep drinking honey," Rose reminded Emmett.

"Guess it's just me and the lovebirds!" Emmett sang as he topped up my still half-full glass and refilled Edward's almost empty one. "Come on," he scoffed at the look on my face. "It's not like you two have to get up early tomorrow or anything!"

We finished our meals just as the oven timer went off. Emmett stood and helped me clear the table and followed me into the kitchen. "Thanks Emmett," I said, turning to him with a smile.

"No probs. Look, Bella," he began, suddenly serious. "I care about you the same way I care about Alice – you're family. Wait," he said, holding up a finger as I opened my mouth to speak, "let me finish. Now, Edward can be a tool, but at heart he's a great guy, which I have a feeling you've seen over the last couple of days. And I want you to be happy…so I guess what I'm saying is, even though it's kinda gross since I think of you as a sister, I'm happy that you and Edward found each other."

I wasn't sure if it was the wine talking or not – Emmett was very rarely serious around me, and he never talked about feelings. But I was touched – it felt nice to have him talk of me as a sister.

"Thanks Em," I smiled, hugging him round his muscular middle. "Now, how's about some pie?"

He carried both pies into the dining room for me and I followed with the whipped cream and serving bowls. I made sure to save some of each for Jasper. Edward and Emmett both dug in enthusiastically and Alice, Rosalie and I ate somewhat more politely, enjoying it just as much.

Emmett was getting drunk fairly fast for a man his size and was pulling Edward and me along with him. He opened the third bottle of wine partway through dessert and poured the three of us our fourth glass. For himself and Edward, four glasses of wine in just under two hours wasn't that much, but to me it felt like I'd been drinking for a week without a break. I was well and truly plastered.

I finished my dinner and sat back with what I knew was a silly grin on my face. "Uh oh, Bella's drunk!" Alice announced.

"Am not!" I shot back like a teenager.

"Drunk?" Edward repeated. "Hmm…this could be fun!" He looked over at me and I saw the fire in his eyes.

"Not while I'm around it doesn't!" Alice yelled, shocking me away from Edward's gaze. I hastily drank what was left in my glass and stood up to clear the table.

"No, Bella, you stay right there," Alice ordered. "Emmett helped you clear after dinner, Rose and I will clear up dessert and tidy the kitchen. You can referee between these two."

"Referee? Who needs a referee?" Emmett slurred. "I'm just drinking with my brother and his girlfriend, who happens to be like a sister to me…is that wrong, Rosie?"

"No, Emmett, that's not wrong. You enjoy your time with Edward and Bella while I help Alice clear up," she answered him, rolling her eyes.

The three of us sat there and drank and talked while Alice and Rose cleaned up from dinner. When they were done, Rosalie came in and declared it was time for herself and Emmett to leave. "You have an 8am appointment with Mrs Yorkie tomorrow honey, don't want to be hungover for the silicone queen!" If there was one thing that would sober Emmett up, it was his job as a personal trainer.

"Ok Rosie, we'll go now," he said, rising unsteadily to his feet and kissing her wetly on the cheek.

Edward and I stood as well and I was embarrassed that I was as unsteady on my feet as Emmett was. Edward grabbed my elbow to steady me as we moved into the living room behind Emmett and Rosalie to say our goodbyes. Alice came in from the kitchen with our picnic basket over her arm.

"Perfect timing! I'm just going to visit Jasper!" she said, placing the basket on the floor and moving to give Emmett a hug. "Bye, Emmie bear! Bye Rosie!" she added, turning and hugging Rose. "I'll be home in a couple of hours you two – I'll make a noise on my way in so I don't…ahem…disturb you." She winked at me and then skipped out the door.

After she left, Edward gave Rosalie a gentle hug and a careful kiss on the cheek. "See you soon, Rosalie. It was nice to see you again. Take care of this big oaf for me," he said to her, turning and punching Emmett in the shoulder. "See you round, little bro," he said, doing that weird half hug thing guys do.

"Take care, Eddie boy," Emmett said with his dimply grin. "Thanks for dinner Bells," he added, wrapping his bear-like arms around me, being careful not to squeeze too hard.

"You're welcome, Emmie," I teased. "Thanks for coming you guys – we'll have to do it again soon. Maybe when Edward comes back to start his new job?" I suggested, smiling at him over my shoulder. He nodded enthusiastically.

"Bye!" they chorused as the door closed behind them.

Before the lock had even engaged, Edward was pressed against me from behind, his hands on my waist and his lips at my ear. "You're beautiful when you're drunk," he murmured against my skin.

"You're pretty hot yourself," I whispered back, turning to face him. "You know, we've got a couple of hours till Alice is back…" I trailed off suggestively, running my fingers down his chest.

"Hmm, really?" he said, ducking his head to start kissing my neck.

"Really," I replied, starting to feel a little incoherent due to his ministrations.

I pulled back and grinned devilishly at him. "Race you to the bedroom!"