Disclaimer: I don't own this…but you already knew that…

Author's Note: I'm BAAAACK! Editing was a little intense, but Convergence is now out of my hands and with the printers :) It officially will be released December 2nd. Until then, check out the cover and summary on the TWCS Publishing house website! http:/www. thewriterscoffeeshop. com/publishinghouse/books/detail/8

Thank you all for your patience. I hated leaving you hanging for so long, but it was a necessary evil. Thank you to AGoodWitch for betaing this for us so quickly so I could get it back out to you guys. Chapter 19 came to me first and is already done, so it will post in the next week or so. This is a transition chapter taking place right after the Valentine's Party chapter. To my fellow Yanks, Happy Thanksgiving! And to the rest of you, happy Thursday!

Chapter 18

The Valentine's party ended with us cleaning up after enjoying a couple more songs and then all shuffling off to bed. As we left to go to our rooms, we got 'the look' from Mom and Pop. They were trying to wrap their heads around us being together, but they weren't ready for us to be 'together' in their house. We nodded and shared one last kiss before going to our separate bedrooms.

I ended up staying in bed, staring at the ceiling for all of three hours before I groaned and grabbed my robe to shuffle downstairs for another late night drink to soothe my mind. I couldn't help but giggle hysterically at the sight of my whole family sitting around the breakfast nook with droopy eyes and cups of warm soothing liquids in hand. Apparently, Rosalie was the only one who hadn't been kept awake by her worries.

Smirks and half smiles graced four sets of lips as I shuffled over and slid in next to Edward, who slid a mug of warm chamomile toward me before wrapping his arm around my shoulder to give me a half hug and kiss on the forehead. I hummed as I took a long slow sip before glancing around the table.

"So…" I sighed, wiggling my nose as I locked eyes with my brother sitting across from me.

I stared down at his cup as he drawled out a "yeah."

It was quiet for a long time before I finally cleared my throat. "Em?"

He looked up at me, apparently relieved that Edward wasn't still snuggling beside me as he had turned his attentions back to his cup.

"Thanks…for tonight. I didn't get a chance to say it, but…yeah…thanks."

He gave me a small smile before letting out a long breath. "I'm ticked off because of the hiding and shit, but as much as I don't like it, I know it's not like those crazy bitches were playing it all off to be. I KNOW you're a good girl Bella, and I'm not fucking blind. I've seen how close the two of you have always been and how it was different, but it wasn't different for me. You ARE my sister. Edward IS my brother. I don't see the lines anymore, or at least I didn't until this all happened and it's flipping me the hell out."

I swallowed hard and nodded, my bottom lip quivering a little causing me to bite down on it to try to stop the tears. I blinked down at my cup, closing my eyes as I felt Edward's hand cup my knee gently, his thumb grazing across the outside of my knee cap.

Another frustrated sigh from my brother brought my eyes up to lock with his. They looked so sad and just as lost as I felt in the beginning of everything. "Yeah, I'm flipping out, but I also get it. What Edward said earlier tonight, about what if it was Rosie's Dad that married Mom, and if we were the ones sitting where you guys are? That sort of helped me see a little bit, 'cause he's right. It wouldn't have kept me for falling for Rose if things had turned out that way. So…I'm…I'm gonna try to be cool with it. I'm not saying it's going to happen right away. And PLEASE, dear GOD, don't let me catch you guys hooking up or I might have to gouge out my own eyes or something, but I'll try."

I pressed my lips together and sucked in a deep breath as tears welled in my eyes. My hand nearly knocked over my cup as it dashed across the table between us to squeeze Emmett's.

"Thank you, Em," I croaked out as he gripped my fingers hard before grumbling with a shake of his head.

"Oh, get over here, you. Don't cry, sissy." He tugged my hand, scooting toward Mom causing a chain reaction that caused everyone to scoot around to make room for me by my big lug of a brother. He yanked me down next to him and wrapped his big arms around me. I rested my head against his chest with a sigh, glancing over to see Mom and Pop beaming at us and Edward mouth a 'thank you' to him that he didn't plan on me seeing. Emmett's arms tensed before I felt his head nod. I sighed in relief and melted against my brother's side, wiping at my tears from time to time.

A quiet conversation started up between Mom, Pop, and Edward as I stayed next to my brother, relieved that he was forgiving me and at least trying to understand. He was so warm and comforting that before I knew it, my eyelids fluttered closed.

I awoke to the sensation of being carried, causing me to gasp and jerk my head up, making my lug of a brother chuckle deeply. "Did I fall asleep?" I rasped out making him chuckle again.

"Nope, just thought I'd cart you up two flights of stairs in exchange for weight training in the morning. Go back to sleep, sis. I gotcha."

I snuggled back into his chest before looking around again. "Edward?" I asked, hoping to find him trailing behind us. I felt Em tense before he relaxed again and continued up the stairs.

"The 'rents are having another little chat with him before we go home. He'll be up later."

I furrowed my brow and let out a huff just before we reached the hallway leading to my room. Emmett carried me straight to my bed and tucked me in before kissing my forehead, making me smile up at him.

"I really am sorry we lied and kept things from you, Emmett. We were just scared and trying to figure things out. We didn't mean to hurt you, really, we didn't."

He sighed again, brushing his hand across my forehead to push back the bangs that were falling in my eyes. "I know, Sis. Don't worry about it for now. Just get some sleep. You've had a long few days."

I nodded and watched as he walked to the door and closed it behind him, leaving me alone to stare at the ceiling again, now worried about what was happening in the kitchen between my boyfriend and our respective parents.

Sometime within the next half an hour or so, sleep finally claimed me again. I slept hard until the knock came at the door around eight the next morning. I blinked at the bright light coming in through the windows before shuffling to the door. I cracked it open to see a smiling Edward waiting for me.

I wiped at my eyes before opening the door wide and shuffling back to sit at the end of my bed. Edward left the door open to appease Mom and Pop before walking in to plop down next to me and take my hand in his.

"So how bad was the conversation after Em carried me to bed?" I croaked out through my unused vocal cords.

Edward smiled lifting my hand to his lips to kiss before lowering it back to his knee where he continued to stroke it with his thumb. "Not bad…not bad at all. They just wanted a few more assurances that we were being safe and that I understood the weight of what we were doing. They're both really worried that I'm going to pull an asshat and bail on you or something. I spent a good hour explaining to them that if anybody was going to do any leaving it was going to be you, because I know for a fact I can't live the rest of my life without you anymore."

I nibbled my lip as I shifted on the bed to face him, raising my other hand to his cheek. "Well then we're stuck because there's no way I'm leaving you. Short of you cheating on me or hitting me, which I know you would never, ever do either, there's no way I could ever walk away from you."

His eyes grew thunderous as I mentioned the mere idea of him hurting me in any way. His hand left mine so it could join his other, capturing my face between them. "Never. I could never hurt you."

I smiled, lifting my hands to rest on top of his. "I know that, which is why I said I knew you never would. I trust you Edward, with my heart and my body."

He sucked in a lingering breath as he leaned in to rest his forehead against mine, his thumbs caressing my cheeks. I smiled, sliding my hands down to rest on his forearms, enjoying the closeness. Edward was just about to lean forward and kiss me when Emmett's voice boomed from the hallway.

"Stop reenacting your favorite chick flicks in there and get your asses down here! I'm hungry and Mom won't let me eat until we're all at the table!"

We chuckled, shaking our heads before finally sharing a chaste peck on the lips and pulling apart to walk hand in hand down to the main floor. Mom had a veritable buffet laid out for us, which Emmett began to heap upon his plate the second we walked into the room. Rosalie rolled her eyes before stepping up behind him to steal the spoon before he could heap a fifth load of eggs on his plate, telling him to leave some for the rest of us before ushering him to the table.

Breakfast was good, and while not as easy as it was before things turned romantic between Edward and me, it was much better than it had been all weekend long. Needing to get back so Rose could catch her evening shift at the bookstore, we left as soon as breakfast was over and we could get our things together. We all hugged Mom and Pop good-bye before sliding into the car.

I nibbled my lip as we drove, sitting close to the door on my side of the car and only holding Edward's hands between us. I wanted to be closer, but I was trying hard to be respectful of Emmett. About fifteen minutes into the drive, Emmett looked into the rearview and sighed. I watched his eyes roll in the mirror before he pulled over and stopped the car, glaring into the back seat as I stared at him with wide worried eyes.

"How I didn't realize this shit weeks ago is beyond me. You guys have been way more physically distant in public than usual and I just ignored it. Listen, for the past eight years I've watched you guy hug and sit close and whisper and be Edward and Bella. I'm not saying play tonsil hockey in front of me or anything like that, just, be yourselves, okay? It's weird seeing you all buttoned up in the corner, afraid to sit close to him because I'm here. It's like you're still hiding shit from me or something, so just be chill, alright?"

I snorted, shaking my head as Edward chuckled next to me. "So let me get this straight, Em. You want us to be close like usual and hug and stuff, even though when Edward put his arm around me and kissed my forehead last night, something he's done a million times in our lifetime, you gave him death glares, because you don't want to feel like we're hiding stuff from you, but you don't want to see us kiss or make out? So basically, hide stuff from you, but don't make it seem like we're hiding stuff from you?"

Emmett face palmed before moving his fingers to his temples. "I know it's complicated shit. You don't think I know how crazy I sound?" He chuckled, shaking his head before pressing his palms into his eyes. "I don't know, but I do know that watching you hide on the opposite side of the car is almost worse than if you were making out back there. Not that I want you to do that either! Agh!"

I chuckled again before leaning forward and kissing his cheek. "I think we understand, Emmett. Thank you for letting us sort of be ourselves. We'll do our best not to shove your nose in it or anything, but I can't promise you'll not see anything."

He sighed, closing his eyes. "I know…I know. Just let me ease into it, okay?"

I smiled, kissing his cheek again before sliding back into the seat, slumping toward Edward and I wrapped my arm around his, twining our fingers and resting my cheek against his bicep. Edward let out an audible sigh of relief as I smiled and closed my eyes.

Emmett rolled his eyes before turning back around and putting the car back into gear. A few hours later, we were back at the dorm. Emmett kissed Rose as he left her on her floor before we rode together to my floor. When the doors opened, Edward followed me out, his bag in tow. He turned back to an uncomfortable looking Emmett.

"I'm just going to talk to her for a second. I'll be up in a few minutes, Em."

Emmett nodded and looked back to the numbers above the doors, waiting for the metal partition to close between us, leaving Edward and I alone in the lobby to my floor.