So...since you guys love Emmett so much (and this chapter makes more sense in his POV, anyway), I've decided to give you another glimpse into his (*cough*AU!*cough*) life!

Enjoy!

Appeal of the Forbidden

By: Lucas McDrake

Chapter 9-Family Reunion

"Are they here yet?"

I rolled my eyes at Keiran again, and said the same answer for the umpteenth time. "No."

"They need to hurry up. I want to see Bella!" Keiran jumped up and down in my lap in anticipation.

"Patience is a virtue," I whispered in her ear.

"Not right now, it isn't," she retaliated.

I sighed, and gave up, just restraining her from leaving the confines of my lap.

It sort of did seem like it was taking their plane forever to get here. If only they could get here just a little bit faster, I thought.

Finally, after what seemed like eternities of waiting, Edward and Bella exited, followed closely by Alice.

Keiran gasped. "Is she Bella?" she asked, pointing at the subject in question.

"Yes," I whispered back, chuckling slightly as I saw Bella look peculiarly at Keiran's tone of voice.

"She's beautiful," Keiran sighed, just loud enough for Bella to hear. Bella looked downward, blushing a light pink.

"She's even more beautiful when she blushes," Keiran giggled. Bella blushed beet red.

Edward's eyes were pitch black, but he didn't seem the slightest tempted by Bella's scent. Alice ran up to Jasper, and they shared a meaningful gaze that seemed just as private as a make-out scene for some reason. I could never tell why.

Edward and Bella then came to Carlisle and Esme. Bella and Esme shared an embrace, and Esme whispered in her ear, "Thank you so much." Then, Esme threw her arms around Edward, and it seemed she would be crying if it were possible.

"You will never put me through that again," she nearly growled at him.

Edward grinned, repentant. "Sorry, Mom."

"Thank you, Bella," Carlisle said. "We owe you."

"Hardly," she mumbled. She looked downward in embarrassment, blushing again. Then, she remembered something. She leaned over to Esme, and asked, "Who's that girl sitting in Emmett's lap?"

"Oh, her." Esme smiled. "We adopted Keiran while you were gone."

"Huh?" Bella seemed confused. But, all the sudden, obvious exhaustion overrided her body.

"She's dead on her feet!" Esme scolded Edward. "Let's get her home."

"But-" Bella started to retort.

Just as stubborn as before.

"We'll explain about Keiran later," Esme reassured her.

Bella just nodded, nearly unconscious. She stumbled, along with Edward and Esme's help, toward my jeep. Rosalie had asked that Edward and Bella ride in the jeep with us home.

I hurried, with Keiran in my arms, past them, and got to the jeep before they did.

Bella seemed slightly jolted awake at the sight of Rosalie. Typical. For some stupid reason that Rosalie would never tell me, she had something against Bella.

Edward, arm still around Bella, stiffened as he saw Rosalie.

"Don't," Esme whispered. "She feels awful."

"She should," Edward hissed, making no attempt to keep his voice down.

Oh. So this was what this was all about.

"It's not her fault," Bella mumbled.

"Let her make amends," Esme pleaded. "We'll ride with Alice and Jasper."

Edward glowered at Rosalie.

"Please, Edward," Bella reasoned. She seemed depressed, and...guilty. What did she need to feel guilty for? She saved our family from falling apart!

Edward sighed, but gave in, towing Bella to the jeep.

Rosalie got in the passenger seat while I waited for Bella and Edward to get in the backseat, then I set Keiran by the latter.

She frowned at me. "Can't I sit in your lap?"

I sighed. "No. I promised Rosalie that I'd drive on the way to Forks."

She leaned down to hug me, but it was too far a reach for her, so I picked her back up, and hugged her. Then I set her back down. "I won't be that far," I chuckled.

"Okay," she sighed, smiling slightly at me.

I got in the driver's seat, and got on the road. I turned my head to look at the inhabitants of the backseat. Bella had set her head on Edward's chest, and had closed her eyes. Edward had his arm set around Bella, but was glaring at Rosalie. Keiran was just staring blankly out the window. I smiled at her when she threw me a glance, and she returned the favor. Then, Rosalie started her amends.

"Edward?" she began.

"I know," he growled.

"Bella?" she asked softly.

Bella's eyelids fluttered open in astonishment. "Yes, Rosalie?" Her hesitance was obvious.

"I'm so very sorry, Bella," Rosalie apologized. "I feel wretched about every part of this, and so grateful that you were brave enough to go save my brother after what I did. Please say you'll forgive me." Though her awkwardness was visible, as well as her embarrassment, sincerity still pealed through her voice.

"Of course, Rosalie. It's not your fault at all. I'm the one who jumped off the damn cliff. Of course I forgive you." I could barely discern Bella's mumble; she was obviously on the verge of unconsciousness.

"It doesn't count until she's conscious, Rose," I chuckled.

"I'm conscious," Bella instantaneously retorted in what was more of a sigh.

"Let her sleep," Edward insisted, his voice slightly warmer. There was no need, though, for him to insist, for she seemed to already be unconscious.

"Fine," Rosalie muttered in mock-irritation under her breath, turning to look at the road again, though she didn't even have the excuse of driving at hand.

I glanced at the road, then turned my head back to see that Keiran was about to nod off again. I knew her head would lean on Edward's shoulder in a matter of seconds. I smiled at the peaceful turn of events that contrasted deeply with the previous.

Then, I finally realized that Edward was actually around. Getting eye contact with him to make sure that he was listening, I relayed all the events that had commenced today, minus the few he didn't need to know about.

Keiran's head slid down the leather seat, and onto Edward's shoulder, signaling that she was among the conscious no more. My lips twitched upward as I witnessed her peaceful expression. I really hoped that her nightmare-fits wouldn't kick in.

After making sure that Bella and Keiran were fully out of it, Edward asked, "How do you think you nodded out?"

"I have no idea," I answered, still looking at Keiran. "If you have a theory, I'm all ears."

"Maybe...I don't know...she has an ability?" Rosalie offered. "I mean, how else would she be able to transfer her drowsiness to someone else, or what ever she did?"

"Like how Bella is immune to certain abilities?" Edward said.

"Yeah," Rosalie affirmed. "Maybe it's sorta like that."

"That makes sense, now that I think about it," I agreed.

"But why would Keiran's nightmare's abruptly come to a stop while you hold her?" Edward asked.

"You think I have a clue?"

"No...Your ability is strength, so that wouldn't make sense," Edward thought aloud.

"We've never checked with Eleazer, so we wouldn't know for sure," Rosalie reminded us.

"That's true," I stated, turning back to the road, "but it's already apparent that, if I do have an ability, it's my strength." I raised one of my arms to a right angle, and flexed my humongous bicep to prove my point, which earned some laughs from the only female remaining among the living.

"Still," Rosalie said after recovering, "it's possible that you could have some sort of...I don't know...special ability? I mean, enhanced strength isn't really that special compared to others..."

Pretending to be hurt, I proclaimed, "How insulting!" Rosalie and Edward laughed as I proceeded to cry like an overdramatic prep.

After recovering (which took nearly a whole minute), Edward pointed out, "Rosalie does have a point, though."

"Yeah, I know," I agreed.

"Until then, I guess," Edward sighed, "this will remain a mystery."

"Yeah." All of us having reached a consensus, we moved on to other subjects of conversation, slight tension having surrounded the mystery of Keiran's abilities.

Sorry to cut it short, but the next part is for yet another chapter...

We're finally going to get to the double digits! ^_^ Yay!

I'll be waiting for four more reviews!...Let them come soon, please!

^_^

(cue for reader to give at least one word summarizing their thought processes going on upstairs in the form of a review)