Author's Note:

Finally… Emmett's here! I am SO sorry I haven't updated sooner. It's been an insane time of the year. Christmas and NYE of course… January is also SUPER busy with family holidays in my neck of the woods. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. I certainly had fun imagining it.

To those who left reviews: Thank you so much! It's so encouraging to get feedback and comments… Especially feedback about the things I've expressed my uncertainty about. A little encouragement goes a long way! Also to those who gave constructive criticism: thank you. It may not be obvious but I'm doing my best to use the feedback to improve my writing.

To everyone else: Thank you for reading/favouriting/following! Please consider leaving a review. If you're reading it consistently and enjoying it, I'd love to know what you do/don't like.

Disclaimer: Of course, I don't own Twilight. I'm just playing with the characters a bit…

Chapter 8:

With Edward vanishing into his room after declining the offer for assistance with his bags, Bella flopped back onto the couch. Since Alice had returned to the room, things had been perfectly comfortable between Bella and Edward. They had both acted as though Alice hadn't interrupted anything. Because she didn't interrupt anything, Bella scolded herself. It was just an intense staring contest. Nothing more. She thought, knowing perfectly well that she was lying to herself. Evidently denial is the best coping mechanism at this stage…

"Bella?" Alice asked and it clearly wasn't the first time she'd tried to get her attention.

"Sorry, Alice." Bella replied. "I don't know what's wrong with me today. My mind seems to be elsewhere."

"Well, maybe your mind is busy fantasising about my brother in the shower." Alice commented. Panicking, Bella replayed Alice's words in her mind. The words themselves were accusing but the tone was teasing and, as a cheeky grin spread across her friend's face, Bella knew she was busted.

"Alice, I would never fantasise about a taken man!" Bella exclaimed, feigning innocence but unable to hide the truth from her best friend.

"Oh please!" Alice teased. "I've left the two of you alone twice and each time I've come back to see you practically climbing onto one another's laps!"

OK, Bella thought, apparently she caught on both times… But, come on, Alice...

"We weren't that close to one another." Bella defended.

"Are you kidding? I know what I saw. When I walked back into this room after sending that email, the two of you were leaning so far forward, I thought someone was going to fall off the couch… And yes, my money was on you being the one to fall down." Alice teased.

"Shit, Alice." Bella sighed, defeated. "Yes, I'm attracted to him, OK? How could I not be? He's gorgeous but am I really that obvious? He must think I'm a total freak."

"OK, first of all, this is weird for me. I'm not used to people talking about my brother like that…" Alice explained. "But maybe I'll have to get used to it…" She added before continuing in a serious tone. "Second, it's not as one-sided as you seem to think it is. He may argue that he's tired and he was caught by surprise on your first meeting but he was just as close to falling off that damn couch as you were." Alice gestured to the couch next to them before pausing to take in Bella's reaction to her words. "Now, what I want to know is whether this is just lust or is there something more there?"

Bella, still struggling to believe that a guy as attractive as Edward could have any interest in a girl like her, was stunned by Alice's question.

"Alice!" Bella exclaimed, her surprise making her voice louder than she intended. "Sorry," she said, lowering her voice. "But what do you expect me to say? I don't know! I only met the guy a few hours ago. Either way, it doesn't matter since he's taken."

"Unfortunately, you're right." Alice agreed, disappointed. "Even though I think there's probably more there than you're willing to admit, I can't blame you for your holding back. He's with Tanya, after all." Alice sighed before continuing. "You know, I want to like Tanya. I really do… but I haven't even met her and she's already frustrating me."

"So, the fact that I find your brother incredibly attractive doesn't bother you?" Bella asked, anxious to hear Alice's response.

"No, Bella. Of course not." Alice replied seriously. "I couldn't imagine a better match and imagine how perfect that would be for me. My best friend could officially become a part of my family."

Relieved that she hadn't upset her friend, Bella chose to ignore Alice's overambitious mention of their future. "What am I going to do?" She sighed as she rested her head in her hands, mostly thinking out loud but also hoping Alice had some advice.

"Well, as long as he's taken, the ball's in his court." Alice replied. "He either needs to learn to control himself around you before something more happens… or he needs to end things with Tanya."

"And I need to do what's right by avoiding and preventing those intense moments." Bella concluded.

"Yeah," Alice continued thoughtfully, "but I don't want you to vanish to your room either –"

"Alice, I –" Bella tried to argue, letting her arms flop onto her lap as she turned to look at her friend with surprise.

"Don't deny it. I know that's your 'worst case scenario' plan." Alice said sternly before continuing. "Promise me, you'll still be yourself. Don't let this change anything. There's no reason you shouldn't be able to talk, joke and be friends with Edward. Just avoid those 'intense moments,' as you so eloquently put it." Alice concluded, giving her friend a small, playful shove. Despite the small smile on Bella's lips, Alice could still see concern in her eyes. "Don't stress about it. Please." She said, placing a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. The more she stresses, the more she'll retreat into herself, Alice thought. She knew her friend well. "I know you. I know you won't do anything you'll regret. Just be yourself. Never change for anyone or anything. Promise me."

With Alice's words, Bella's smile was becoming less forced and more honest. She was quickly realising that she was overthinking the situation. Alice is right. Bella realised. I know myself well enough to know that I won't do anything stupid. I shouldn't have to be anything other than myself. If Edward wants something, he can pursue it but I'm not doing anything as long as I know he's taken. The ball is in his court.

"OK, Alice," Bella looked to her friend with a thankful smile, "I promise."

Confident that she'd convinced Bella not to worry, Alice's only response was to grin back at her friend and poke her in the side. Wriggling, trying to swat Alice's hand away and attempting get some revenge pokes of her own in, Bella was rescued by a timely knock on the front door. Springing up from their seats, both Alice and Bella rushed excitedly over to the door, laughing as they still tried to poke one another in order to declare a champion of the poking war.

"What's all this laughing about?" Emmett's booming voice came through the door.

Still trying to dodge pokes, Bella reached to the handle, managing to open the door just as Alice got in her in the side, making her flinch sideways, away from the tickling sensation. Quickly realising he'd walked into a war of sorts and identifying the dominant party, Emmett decided to help the underdog: Bella.

"Come here, you little…" He said, charging at Alice who, of course, had immediately recognised the danger and dodged out of his path. Emmett brought his hulking frame to a stop surprisingly quickly before turning around and going for his sister again.

Bella, while combating fits of hysterical laugher, watched as Alice and Emmett engaged in a faceoff. While Emmett's huge frame pursued Alice, occasionally grabbing at her, the tiny Alice had the advantage of speed as she ducked and weaved, avoiding Emmett's grasp. She lost her advantage, however, when Edward emerged from his room.

Bella, still standing near the front door, was also standing very close to Edward's bedroom door so, as he emerged, she was the first thing he saw. Puzzled but amused by the sight of Bella hunched over in laugher, a smiling Edward looked to the rest of the room for an explanation and it didn't take him long to realise exactly what was happening.

At the sound of Edward's bedroom door closing, both Alice and Emmett turned and, to Bella's extreme amusement, their reactions to Edward's arrival were polar opposites. At the sight of Edward, Alice's smug expression turned to panic. Emmett's face, however, lit up victoriously.

"No, no, no, no!" Alice said, backing away from Emmett slowly. "This isn't fair! Bella! Help me!"

Putting the poking war behind her and having finally caught her breath, Bella took a few steps forward to help Alice before Emmett's booming voice made her hesitate.

"Don't do it, Bella. This has been a long time coming. The little squirt has been taking advantage of the fact that Edward's been away."

Despite the warning, Bella darted past a smirking Edward who was now, for want of a better word, prowling around the back of the couch toward Alice. The formation Edward and Emmett had created around the couches meant that Alice – and now Bella – were soon to be trapped.

"You're a brave girl, Bella." Emmett commented menacingly, making Bella re-think her decision.

"Thanks, Bella." Alice said, grasping Bella's arm. "Now, what's the plan?" In that moment, Bella seriously considered just pushing her friend at Emmett who was now dangerously close. After coming to the rescue, she'd expected Alice to have a plan of escape. Instead of copping out though, she decided to play along.

"Um… Over the couch?" Bella whispered as they continued backing away from their pursuers.

"Come on, Bella." Alice scoffed. "That'll never work with these two… Not to mention your clumsiness."

"Well, I don't see you coming up with a plan." Bella retorted as their backs hit the wall.

Yep, Bella thought. We're definitely trapped. Why did I bother coming to help her?

"Oh, I do have a plan though." Alice replied. Surprised, Bella looked at her friend, noticing a sneaky grin spread across her face as her eyes darted from Bella to Edward, her main threat. Oh no. You competitive little shit, Bella thought, don't you dare…

Suddenly, before it could be stopped, Alice pushed Bella at Edward, who was now lunging at them.

"Yes!" Alice cheered, bolting in the opposite direction. "Suck it, you lot – ah!" She squealed as Emmett finally caught her and threw her on the couch, attacking her with unrelenting tickles.

The expression on Edward's face was one of shock as Bella fell into his arms and they both tumbled to the floor. Thankfully – or unfortunately – Edward fell first, breaking Bella's fall. That meant, however, that the ever-clumsy Bella was in a rather compromising position on top of him. As she scrambled to find her feet in order to remove herself from the awkwardness of the situation, Edward wrapped his hand around hers. It was a simple gesture, meant simply to offer support as she stood up… but it was something more. It was sweet.

For the briefest of moments, Bella allowed her eyes to meet his and she saw what she thought was an emotion akin to regret. While the lust and desire were still there, he was fighting them, restraining himself.

Good. Bella thought and, despite knowing it was the right thing, she couldn't help feeling the disappointment creeping in. That'll make things easier. She could see similar thoughts swimming in the depths of Edward's eyes, along with regret. In that moment, as Bella and Edward stared into one another's eyes, it was as though they could read the other's mind. They both knew the right thing was to ignore these moments. To pretend nothing happened and so, they would.

Taking a deep breath, Bella used Edward's hand for support as she climbed to her feet and, although she knew he probably didn't need it, she offered him her hand to help pull him up from the floor. Perhaps he didn't need the help but neither of them wanted that moment to end. They didn't want to pretend there was nothing between them… So, with his eyes meeting hers, he accepted her hand and stood up beside her.

Once they were both on their feet, they came back to reality as they heard Alice's squealed pleas for Emmett to stop tickling her. Although the exchange between them had only lasted a few moments, Bella and Edward had come to a silent agreement…. Friends.

Exchanging a conspiratorial grin and solidifying their new comradeship, Bella and Edward moved forward to rescue Alice from her big brother.

AN:

As always, thanks for reading. I struggled a bit at the end of this chapter… I prefer light-hearted fanfics so I don't want this to get too heavy. I think it might be a LITTLE heavy as long as they're denying their feelings for each other but I hope it'll be worth it in the end.

Again, I'm SO sorry I've taken so long to update. I was hoping the holidays wouldn't take too much of a toll on my writing. Alas, they did. I'm working on writing ahead a bit more though so I'll be trying to update more often. Thanks again!