DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me…they are all the creation of the wonderful Stephenie Meyer.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Cullen family discusses the plans for their Christmas vacation.
Begging, Boards & Bets
"I have called this sibling meeting together for two reasons," Emmett stated, standing in front of us, holding up two fingers. "One, I am asking you all nicely to please stop taunting me about the events that occurred at the frat party. In exchange, I will drop one thing I tease each of you about. See me later on in private and we will discuss the terms of our swap."
"Not going to happen," Jasper chuckled. "I've been waiting decades for something to finally embarrass you about, Emmett. There's no way I will let this go."
"Not even if I swear to never mention anything having to do with spiders again?" Emmett pleaded.
"You know, it's been awhile. Maybe I'll take another look at spiders. Maybe they're not so creepy after all," Jasper mused.
Emmett scowled at Jasper before turning his attention to me. "What about you, Picky?" he asked. "You'll trade and stop teasing me, won't you?"
"I don't know, Em," I replied, shaking my head. "I doubt I'll ever see another vampire make, and wear with pride, a coconut bra and grass skirt."
"I will stop teasing Edward about two things in exchange for you to forget all you know about anything having to do with that day," Emmett proposed.
"You've got yourself a deal," I said, smiling. "But! If you ever break the deal, I have the right to release the pictures for all the world to see."
"Got to love that World Wide Web," Alice snickered.
"Fine. I accept your deal. Edward, see me later to let me know what two things you don't want to be teased about anymore," Emmett said, looking at Edward.
Edward nodded his head to Emmett.
"Rose?" Emmett begged with puppy dog eyes.
"Fine, you big baby," Rose sighed.
"Emmett, I will let you go for free," Alice announced, making Emmett's small smile turn into the big, cheesy grin we all knew and loved. "But this is your one and only freebie."
"Yeah, if I can't post it on the web, I guess I'll trade it for the spider thing," Jasper sighed.
"Thank you!" Emmett cried. "I know you guys didn't have to do that, and I will try to lay off the teasing even more just to show you all how much I appreciate this."
I decided it was time to change the subject. "Hey, Emmett. Didn't you say there was another reason for this meeting?"
"Yes!" Emmett pointed to some brochures on the coffee table. "Carlisle gave me these so we could all look through them and start picking out what we want to do at Snowshoe Mountain."
We all sat down on the floor, near the table, with Alice and I sitting in our husbands' laps.
Emmett picked up a brochure that had pictures of different cabins on it. "So which cabin do you think Esme and Carlisle chose for us?" he asked. "We have Shamrock, Whistlepunk, Powder Monkey, Powder Ridge, Wabasco, and the Soaring Eagle lodge. Personally, I think Whistlepunk sounds awesome."
"I like Wabasco," Jasper said.
"Soaring Eagle is lame," Rose commented.
"Powder Monkey is cute, although I don't think a monkey would like the snow," Alice remarked.
"Does the name actually matter?" I chuckled from my spot in Edward's lap. "It's not like we're going just for the lodge."
"Picky, I can't wait to get you on a snowboard!" Emmett said, rubbing his hands together. "Jazz and I ordered a neon-blue one just for you."
"Why did you buy her a board?" Edward asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"You told her if she learned to ski first—" Emmett tried to explain.
"I told her if she learned we would discuss snowboarding," Edward clarified.
"Edward, if I don't learn this time, I can learn the next time. So be nice to Emmett. He was just trying to be sweet to me," I said, rubbing my hand against Edward's cheek to calm him down. Edward sighed, but nodded his acceptance.
I smiled and kissed his cheek. "I love you."
He chuckled and shook his head at me. "You really do save him from me too much."
"But Edward, he's just a big old teddy bear," I said, pointing at Emmett's pouting face. "How can you be mean to him when he looks so sad?"
Everyone laughed, especially Emmett.
"Alright, Emmett, do you have a picture of the board?" Edward asked.
"I have pictures of all of our boards. Jasper and I picked them out for the whole family. We even found a pale pink one for Esme," Emmett replied.
Emmett ran upstairs at vampire speed and returned a second later with his laptop. He set it on the coffee table so we could all see it. He pulled up a webpage and started clicking on different pictures.
"Edward, I'll show you the board we picked out for you first, since you were kind enough to not rip my arms off for buying Picky a board." Emmett pulled up one picture and pointed at the screen. "What do you think, Edward?"
Edward and I leaned forward together to get a better view of the screen. The board was long and black, with what appeared to be dark silver claw marks. It looked fast. I turned my head to see Edward's face and from the way he was smiling, I knew it was fast. I smiled, too, happy that Edward was pleased.
"Do I know my little brother, or what?" Emmett asked, looking rather smug.
"I'm technically your big brother, and yes, sometimes you do know what I like," Edward replied.
"Me next!" Alice chirped. "I want to see if the picture looks better than my vision."
Emmett chuckled at her. He closed the picture of Edward's board and brought up another. "What do you think, Alice?"
"I love it! It matches my vision exactly!" Alice cried. Her board was light blue with swirls that were pale pink and a darker shade of blue. "It's going to match perfectly with my ski outfits.
"My turn," Rose announced.
"I have something special for you, Rosie," Emmett said, kissing her cheek softly. He clicked a few buttons and pulled up a picture of a black board with a single word down the middle of the board; written in blood red letters was the word 'dominator'.
"Yes, I am!" Rose agreed, kissing Emmett on the lips.
"Show them my board," Jazz told Emmett.
"Okay," he replied, pulling up another picture.
"I like the simplicity of it," Jasper said, pointing at the all black board on the screen. "Plus, on this board, I'll be flying down the mountain long before Emmett realizes I've moved."
"Keep dreaming," Emmett replied, knocking his shoulder against Jasper's.
"Show us the rest of the boards," Edward said.
"Okay!" Emmett replied. He pulled up a new picture and showed off a camouflage colored board. "That bad boy is all mine."
"Did you remember to order it extra wide so you can actually fit on it?" Edward chuckled.
"Yes," Emmett replied, scowling at Edward.
"Behave you two," I warned them. "Show us the rest, Em."
Emmett pulled up three pictures together. "This pale pink board is Esme's, like I was telling you about."
"It's so cute!" Alice chirped.
Emmett clicked on another picture. "This is the board I picked out for Picky."
"I love it, Emmett," I told him, smiling happily.
"This one here, the white one with the vertical blue stripes, that's Carlisle's board," Emmett informed us.
"Since I already knew what boards Emmett would select, I went ahead and ordered everyone's ski outfits to match their boards," Alice announced.
"Thanks, Alice," Emmett said.
"My pleasure," Alice chirped.
Emmett closed his laptop and looked around at us. "We should discuss driving arrangements. It's an eleven and a half hour trip for humans, so that should be about six hours for us. Should we get Carlisle to rent something for all of us to fit in together, or take more than one vehicle?"
"It never works out well when we take more than one vehicle," Rose said, shaking her head. "We all tend to argue over who gets Bella."
"She's just so much fun for long car trips," Alice said, patting my knee.
"You're only saying that because you guys always find someway to embarrass me and make fun of me," I told her.
"But on the other hand, when you girls get together with Emmett, Edward and I have to suffer from your hyper thoughts and feelings," Jasper commented.
"Well, it's not like we're going to be acting that rowdy with Carlisle and Esme in the vehicle," I pointed out.
"Bella's right, so I think we should rent something," Edward said. "Whoever wants to drive can take turns on the way there and back."
"You've been giving up your driving privileges an awful lot lately," Rose remarked.
"He traded them for Picky holding privileges," Emmett chuckled.
"You guys always used to complain about me not letting any of you drive. Here's your chance," Edward told them.
"We only complained because you wouldn't let us touch the radio," Emmett stated.
"Except for me!" Alice chirped.
"Yeah, why was that?" Emmett asked.
"Because Alice and I have always had similar tastes in music, while you kept trying to put on country music," Edward explained.
"Don't forget his love of disco and the early eighties," Jasper pointed out.
"I do not love disco! Just because I happen to like the movie Saturday Night Fever, does not mean I loved everything about disco," Emmett fussed.
"No, but you sure loved the pants," Alice giggled.
"Oh! Remember the time Emmett drug us to the roller rink so he could join in the roller disco dance contest?" Rose laughed. "He had that red silk shirt!"
"I think that shirt's in the basement in Forks!" Alice chuckled. "Bella, it's so gaudy! There's a huge 'E' on the back made from sequins."
"Emmett owns a Bedazzler," Rose blurted out.
"Rose!" Emmett screamed.
"No!" Jasper and Edward gasped.
"Owns it and uses it," Alice giggled. "Ask him about his special pair of jeans."
"Emmett, do you have a special pair of jeans?" Jasper asked, his eyes full of humor.
"Yes, Emmett. Tell us about your special jeans," Edward goaded.
Emmett mumbled something that we couldn't understand, even with our advanced hearing.
"What was that?" Jasper pressed, smiling wickedly.
"I said the dang pants are for when I play striptease with Rose!" Emmett yelled.
"Deviants," Edward sighed, shaking his head at our siblings.
"Better to be a satisfied deviant than a frustrated stiff," Emmett retorted.
"I am not a stiff," Edward growled.
"Prove it," Emmett challenged.
"Name it and I will," Edward agreed between clenched teeth.
Emmett smiled wickedly. "Strip poker."
"Fine," Edward replied casually.
"With our wives," Emmett said, knowing he'd trapped Edward.
"No way in hell," Edward hissed.
"Didn't think so," Emmett sighed. He looked up at Edward with a smug smile. "Stiff."
I lifted my hand and pressed it over Edward's mouth. "Emmett, Edward and I accept your challenge. Let's talk terms."
"Isabella," Edward warned, his lips tickling the palm of my hand.
"Trust me," I told him, locking my eyes with his. I made our connection, not having time to ask for permission. 'I have a plan. If we sit on the floor at the coffee table, our legs can touch under the table and you and I will be able to use our advantages to pull one over on Emmett.'
'I love you, you brilliant little minx. But I can't give in or Emmett will know something's up, so argue with me a bit, my love.'
'I'd be happy to. And I will get Alice and Jasper on our side, as well.' I ended our connection, took my hand away from Edward's mouth, and pretended that I was still pleading with him. "Come on, Edward. Just this once?"
"Absolutely not. I'm not taking the chance of our brothers seeing you."
"So are you saying you don't think I'm smart enough to play poker?" I fussed, putting my hands on my hips.
Edward quickly hid his grin. "No, love. I didn't mean it that way. Of course I think you're smart enough to play poker. If it really means that much to you, we can play. But please wear some extra clothes," he pleaded.
"Deal!" I laughed, hugging him tightly. I turned toward Emmett. "What are the terms?"
"If we win, Edward has to take you to Victoria's Secret and make out with you in the dressing room," Emmett announced.
"Why on Earth would you pick that as your prize?" I asked our brother.
"Because it's not something Edward would do on his own and the boy needs to broaden his sexual horizons," Emmett replied.
Oh, if my brother only knew. He had no idea how much my husband had changed in the last two years. Edward didn't show it in front of everyone, but that was because he knew it embarrassed me. It had nothing to do with a lack of want on his part. And as far as Victoria's Secret, Edward wanted to go into that store with me…I just wasn't quite ready yet.
"And if we win?" Edward asked.
"Then I retire all nicknames that refer to you as being sexually frustrated in any way," Emmett said.
"We accept your challenge. When do you want to play?" I questioned.
"Tonight will be perfect. Carlisle's taking Esme out later on," Emmett announced. "Come down to the basement when they leave and we'll play then."
"Alright, then. In the meantime, I have to study for my finals," I said, standing up. "Come on, Edward. It's time to put the finishing touches on our business model."
Emmett started chuckling and Edward hissed at him.
"You know, Em, I have no idea what you just thought up from that simple sentence of mine," I said.
Emmett opened his mouth to say something and I immediately held my hand up to him.
"Nor do I want to know!" I added quickly. "Just please stop doing whatever it is that you're doing to upset Edward. Thank you." I grabbed Edward's hand tightly and quickly touched Alice's shoulder. I pushed my thoughts out to her and saw her nod the slightest bit.
Edward and I went down the hall to our room, closing the door behind us. All we had to do now was wait for Alice and Jasper to show, and then we could plot Emmett's downfall. It was going to be a fun night at the Cullen house.
