See how good I'm being to ya'll? *bats eyes* Gonna work on Private Thoughts later today, so there may be an update for that tomorrow *keeps fingers crossed*

On with the reading of the story about the characters I don't own. See what I did there? :D

Chapter Twenty-Four

EmPOV

Bella was visibly shaken, and I couldn't imagine what was going through her head.

To hear you've lost every possession you had, could not be easy.

I escorted her to my car, one hand on her elbow and the other on the small of her back. She was practically robotic.

She sank into the car, a vacant look on her face.

She was in shock.

Before moving off, I sent James a quick text, letting him know what had happened.

We saw the smoke before we saw the building, I spared a look at Bella, she was still in shock.

I parked the car and looked over at her, "I'll go get some information," I said, "You should stay here with all this smoke..."

"Not good for the baby," she murmured.

"Not good for either of you," I said softly. "Bella."

Her eyes came up to meet mine, glassy with unshed tears. "Everything is going to be fine."

She gave a nod and sucked in a breath, a broken sob escaping her throat.

"Just get me Edward," she whispered.

Always Edward.

I tried to be rational, I really did. They had just lost their home. Of course she would want to see him. I just needed to keep telling myself that.

I found Edward talking to the fire-fighters. He gave me a wary nod, he knew I didn't like him.

Good.

"Emmett," he said.

"Edward," I returned.

Geeze, we seemed like a bad Western stand-off.

"Bella's worried about you," I told him.

He rolled his eyes, "She always worried about everyone but herself," the other man replied. "Where is she?"

"Just down the block, in my car," I told him.

"Let me just finish up here and then I'll go," he turned around effectively dismissing me.

I glowered.

A few minutes later he turned and ran a hand through his messy hair, a look of despair on his face.

I immediately felt contrite for my feelings towards him at that moment.

He had just lost his home, now was not a good time.

"Time to put on a brave face for the missy," he said trying to smile.

I nodded, not knowing what to say. He followed me silently to my car, Bella was now standing outside of the car. She made a dash at Edward who caught her effortlessly, her head buried in his chest.

I felt like a stranger looking in on an intimate moment.

I could hear Bella's sobs as Edward murmured soft words to her.

Was he crying too?

Well damn.

I cleared my throat and they separated, turning around to face me. The tear stains on Bella's face pained me, I wanted to do something to ease her pain, but what?

"I have nowhere to live," she stated, her voice breaking.

"Sure you do," I said.

She looked at me, eyes large and questioning.

"You can live with me."

"Live with you?" she repeated foolishly.

I nodded, now that I thought about it, the idea was perfect.

At least that's what I thought, Bella obviously disagreed. Why I was shocked by that, I'd never know. She seemed destined to challenge my every gesture.

"I can't live with you," she said shaking her head.

"And why not?" Edward asked.

Yeah, why not?, I echoed in my head.

She turned away from me and faced him again, "What about you?" she asked, "We're a team."

"I'll be fine," Edward told her.

"No," her head was shaking more vigorously. "We're in this together."

"You're moving in with Emmett," Edward said. "End of discussion Isabella."

She glowered at him, then turned to me, "I'm not moving in with you."

"Yes she is," Edward pitched in.

I looked back and forth between the two of them as they had a staring match, it was quite entertaining.

"Bella, you're being unreasonable," Edward said.

"The fuck I am," she said, voice rising. "I am not leaving you out on the streets!"

"I can stay at a hotel for a few days," he retorted.

"And then what? Start hanging out on the street corner, singing for your supper?" she cried.

"I have a job you know," he said rolling his eyes.

Their relationship was baffling to me, before I felt the intimacy between them and now they seemed to be brother and sister bickering over who should put away their toys. Very odd, I tell you.

She gave him an eye roll of her own, "And? So do I, that doesn't mean I can't end up sleeping on the streets."

"The mother of my child is not sleeping on any street," I inserted there.

She turned and flipped me the bird.

Feisty woman.

I almost smiled, but I was afraid she would throw something at my face.

Edward sighed, "B, please," he said. "I'll be fine. You can move in with Emmett and take care of yourself and the baby."

She paused, worrying her lip as she muddled over the situation in her head. I could almost hear the wheels in her head turning.

When she turned to me, a determined look on her face, I gulped.

What had she come up with?

"Fine," she said marching over to me. "I am willing to move in with you, on one condition."

Foolish me, answered without thinking. "Anything."

She smiled then, "Good, it's settled," she turned to face Edward, "Eddie, you hear that? Emmett's letting us move in with him."

Huh?

Us?

What the hell had I just agreed to?

BPOV

I was not backing down on this.

The way I saw it, we both won.

Emmett finally got to have me living with him under the terms of the stupid contract his insane grandfather had come up with, and Edward and I would have a place to live. At least for the time being.

Emmett could get over his animosity for Edward in his own damned time.

"So do we have a deal?" I asked.

I heard Edward groan behind me, smart man knew that he was beat.

Now if only the man in front of me would catch on just as quickly.

"You want to move in with me?" Emmett asked.

"Was that not the offer?" I replied.

He nodded slowly, "And Edward has to come with you?"

"We're a package deal," I said, folding my arms.

"Bella," Edward said from behind me.

That earned him a glare, and he zipped his lips and just stood there.

Good boy.

My gaze returned to Emmett's who was having a war with himself.

"Take it or leave it," I said, there was no way I was backing down on this.

There were no compromises here.

"Fine," he said.

"It..." the air whooshed out of me. I had expected a little more resistance from him.

"I'm going to take you back to the house, and then I have things to take care," he said.

My mouth was still hanging open, and Edward had to take my hand and lead me back to the car.

"Did he say yes?" I half whispered.

Edward's eyes were wide with disbelief, "I can't believe it either. The man hates me."

We didn't say another word on the way to the McCarty residence. The toil of the morning's events finally hitting home.

I was incredibly tired, and stressing. Stressing was not good for the baby. I needed to relax.

"Are you ok?" Emmett asked, when he helped me out of the car.

"I don't know," I answered honestly.

"Edward," he called.

"Yeah?" Edward replied, almost scrambling from the car.

"My mother is going to meet you at the door," I heard him say, "Take care of her for me ok?"

"You don't have to ask," Edward replied.

I didn't hear Emmett say anything else, had he gone already?

How rude, didn't even say goodbye to me.

"Bella?"

Someone was talking to me, I needed to focus.

"Bella," came again, this time someone shook me gently. I blinked, and all I saw was blue. He hadn't left.

I could feel a smile growing on my face, "Hi," I said airily.

"She's going to have a panic attack," Edward murmured, coming to join Emmett at my side.

"Were the two of you insured?" Emmett asked, the question was more likely directed to Edward because I suddenly couldn't find my voice.

I watched as Edward nodded, I needed to sit down. I heard more voices.

Oh joy, the parents.

I felt someone embrace me and started to lead me away, I protested.

"Where's Emmett?" I asked.

"He'll be back soon," Patricia McCarty said. "I'm so sorry about the fire."

Fire?

Oh God!

My apartment!

The panic attack took over swiftly; the tears the absolute terror I felt was crippling. Edward was there, I had scared Patricia.

I'd have to apologize later.

"Bella," Edward was saying, "You have to calm down."

His words meant nothing. I was hysterical.

Patricia stepped back in, talking so quickly I barely understood her, giving Edward orders.

"Isabella," she said, her voice calm and strong as she held my hand.

When did I sit down?

"You have to calm down, stress is not good for the baby, and you're still in a fragile stage of your pregnancy," she said, "You don't want anything to happen to your baby, do you?"

I didn't want anything to happen to my baby.

I fought myself to calm down, I had to do this, for my baby's safety.

"She's calming down," Patricia said wiping my brow with a damp cloth. "Did you get the doctor?"

"I did," Edward said, coming into view as my clouded vision cleared. I reached out for his hand.

"Eddie," I cried clutching his hand tightly.

"It's okay B," he said sitting on the couch next to me, and drawing me into his lap. "I'm right here."

I listened to the steady beat of Edward's heart as he rocked me gently.

Everything was gone.

I still couldn't believe it.

I closed my eyes and tried to block out the memory of the smoke billowing from the building we had called home for the last few years.

I tried to think of other things, something that would take my mind off of everything else.

I focused on the brilliant flashes of blue that kept popping up in my head, not able to place the memory.

It was only until the last moment before I dropped off to sleep, my last coherent thought, was I able to identify that particular shade of blue.

Emmett's eyes were that shade of blue.

A/N: So as usual, they've taken over. I didn't actually have this planned...it just happened. Oh well, I'm along for the long haul, hope you guys are too. Isn't it odd, how Emmett's eyes are what helped our little Bella relax? *smirks* There's still the party to come, Emmett meets Alice and Rose without Bella as their buffer pahahaha. That should be fun. Edward and James meet, dum dum dum dummmm LOL, (keep in mind these things are in no particular order)

Go read Picture Perfect, pretty please :)

Thankies ~ Riney

Okay now to address a few things in some of the reviews, Bella is not gonna bitch about getting fat, it's just common human reaction. She'll get over it, so don't worry about that too much.

jessa76: On behalf on my client Emmett McHotty...I mean McCarty, he didn't actually say that Bella was plain re: Chapter 3 paragraph 2. He merely thought this, never said it. It was probably implied that he didn't think highly of her appearance when he opened his big stupid mouth, but he never told her, he thinks she's plain! Hahahaha, so he's gonna get off with that one.

Emmett is NOT going to drool over Rose...ugh. No. This is an Emmett and Bella story, it's gonna stay that way. Rose is with Jake. And um...James is gay remember? LOLOLOL! So nope, no hooking up for him and Bella whatsoever.

As for my pushy KCLutz4475...sheesh...my ass is already back on the grind...so damned hard to please you. *grumbles* next there'll be whips and chains involved...*pouts* I deserve kisses dammit LOL