Thanks to all my lovely reviewers, especially the ones who came out of the closet and left their first ones. I appreciate them all.

Thanks to EvilPumpkin who continues to guide and improve my scribblings, and Drummer110010101.

Stephenie Meyer owns all recognisable characters etc.

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Chapter Six. Girls' Night.

Esme's POV

It felt good to be soothing Rosalie. I knew how she felt, because I was a tiny bit jealous of Emmett's bond with Daisy myself; that's just because I have such a need to care for others. Caring for Rosalie was therapeutic for us both. Rose had told me of her plans for a girlie night with Alice and Bella. I had offered to get some DVDs and make a whole night of it; the distraction would do us all good. As soon as I heard Daisy was up, I went and found Emmett in the kitchen feeding her. "We're having a girls' night tonight, Emmett, and I heard Edward asked you out for a run."

"I said I might go, but.."

I cut him off before he came up with excuses. "I think you should. In fact, it would be a good idea if you go hunting, so why don't you boys have a long-range hunt while we have our girls' night?" I suggested.

"But I can't take Daisy hunting!" Emmett exclaimed, clearly horrified at the thought of Daisy being there.

"No, I'm sure we girls can cope for one night," I reassured him, leaning down to caress Daisy, thereby including her in "we girls". She looked up at me briefly, before turning back to Emmett and taking some more food from him.

"She gets all panicky when I'm not there," he whined. I'd never heard Emmett whine - ever.

"Well, you're not going to be there every minute of her life, so she needs to get used to that," I countered.

"I know, but I can't stand to hear those squeaks and whimpers," Emmett said forlornly. "It just breaks my heart." He regarded Daisy so tenderly, giving her a gentle hug.

"How about we get Jasper to put her into a nice deep sleep, then she'll never know you're gone."

"I guess we could try that." Emmett grinned at me, pleased with our solution.

"Good. Don't forget she needs to drink." I left him to it, and went to find Carlisle to arrange the hunting party.

That evening, while the girls were showering, I kissed Carlisle goodbye and watched him and Edward disappear into the forest's edge. Then I waited outside Daisy's room while Emmett and Jasper made sure she was asleep. "Okay, off you go. They're waiting in the forest," I told them.

Emmett faltered, trying to peek around the door. "Shouldn't we just wait a bit, to make sure?"

I virtually had to push Emmett, shooing him out of the house. "Go! You're no good to her hungry." In a flash they were gone.

The girls were all wrapped in fluffy bathrobes on Rosalie's enormous bed, so I quickly showered and joined them. They were reliving some of Bella's less than graceful antics as a human, and their laughter was music to my ears. As our hair was wet, we headed into Rosalie's large bathroom and attacked the extensive array of products, hairdryers, straightening/curling irons and all kinds of accessories. The laughter continued as the teasing became more ribald and what with the noise from hairdryers, much chatter and the odd shrieks, we made enough racket that we didn't register the sound at first. To my chagrin it was Bella who first drew attention to it, but as soon as she did, I knew it was Daisy.

The poor little mite must have been terrified, waking up all alone. Goodness knows how long she'd been awake, but she was damn near howling the house down. I flew into her room and picked her up, stroking her back and trying to calm her; if anything her cries got louder. Alice and Bella were close on my heels and when she wouldn't quieten, they each took a turn, to no avail. It turned out to be a very long night. She'd soiled the bed, so Bella took care of the washing, while Alice tried to distract Daisy with one toy after another. We wrapped her in a blanket, we hugged her, we laid her down, we walked around with her, we even tried to sing to her. Rose came out of her room once to see what we were doing.

"Does it take three of you to shut her up? Is no one coming back to finish their hair? No? In that case I'm putting on a DVD," she exclaimed...and she did - very loudly! I like to think I'm a patient person, but even my nerves were fraying.

"Alice, can you tell when the men will be back?" Why had I suggested both Emmett and Jasper go out at the same time?

"They're not planning on coming back any time soon, but I can see where they are. Do you want me to go and get them?" Alice offered.

"I think so, dear, but please make sure whoever comes back has fed," I cautioned.

"They are quite a long way off; it may take me half an hour to get there," Alice said apologetically.

"Quick as you can then." And Alice was gone. One hour. Just one little hour. Bella joined me and we settled Daisy back in the bed as she didn't seem happier anywhere else. We tried everything we could to distract her, but the noise was relentless. Just as I thought it would never end, the backdoor crashed open and Emmett had crossed the room and picked Daisy up before I could blink. He clutched her to his chest and she raised her head to look into his face, gave what sounded like an enormous sigh, closed her eyes, relaxed into his arms and went soundly to sleep. The lack of crying was so wonderful that even Rosalie came out of her room. I left them together and went to get dressed and find a good book to read.

Rosalie's POV

I had been looking forward to my girlie night, so I forgave Emmett when he took off without a word, much less a kiss. We were having such fun until that screaming banshee put an end to it. The others were so busy running around after her that they completely abandoned me, so I put on a DVD and cranked up the volume as much as I dared, though I could still hear her. When at last I realised the noise had stopped, I went to see if someone had given in and fed on her. Imagine my shock when I looked in her room and there she was, all tucked up in Emmett's arms. "How did you get here?" I demanded.

"I ran, of course."

"But why? How did you know?" I spluttered.

"Alice found us," Emmett explained. "Rose, are you watching that movie? Could you turn it down a bit?"

It's not often I'm lost for words, but I think I did a pretty good impression of a fish, and then the anger flowed. "Emmett Cullen, I will watch my film at whatever volume I please! I wouldn't have had it that high if you hadn't brought HER home, and don't even think about coming in MY ROOM!" I stormed back to the movie and turned it just a bit louder, wishing I could cry as Emmett made no attempt to follow me.

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AN. Poor Rose, her fun didn't last long did it? Tell me what you think.