"So, Astrid, how was your day?"
"Great, I started my senior classes today. Most of the classes I have with Emmett, so he helped me get up to speed with what was going on in the lesson. We're doing sculptures in Art class and can do whatever we want. I chose an Amazon warrior from Greek mythology."
Charlie laughed, "Of course you did."
Bella looked at her father and Astrid and couldn't help but feel jealous about their relationship. But in the back of her mind, she knew that it was her fault for not spending enough time with him.
Astrid and Charlie talk about Astrid's day and how her training went. They try to include Bella in the conversation, but Bella sits there eating her dinner. Once they finish their meal and have dessert, they head back to the house.
A couple of weeks go by, and things are going great for Astrid. Not only at school but with her relationship with Emmett. They have become a lot closer to the point that Emmett would like to introduce Astrid to his parents formally. When they're driving home from Port Angeles Emmett asks Astrid if she'll come over to his house to meet his parents.
Astrid thinks about it for a moment, "Yeah, I'd love to meet your parents."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I know everyone else even though I don't like Rosalie. I don't see why I shouldn't meet your parents."
"Great, I'll pick you up tomorrow at noon."
"That'll be fine, Emmett."
They get to Astrid's house, and Emmett walks Astrid to her door. He kisses her goodnight then heads back to his Jeep. Astrid goes into the house. She goes into the living room where Charlie is watching a game and drinking a beer.
"So how was your training?"
"Great as usual. Emmett asked me to meet his parents tomorrow."
Charlie looked up at Astrid, "Is your relationship that serious?"
"Yeah, I guess it is. I'm still not in love with him if that's what you're thinking, but I do like him a lot."
Charlie nods, "Just be careful."
"I will. Did you eat already?"
"I ordered a pizza. It's in the fridge if you want some."
"No thank you, Emmett took me out. Where's Bella?"
"Where else? Out with him. I don't understand why she hasn't introduced him to me yet."
"I don't know either, Dad."
"Edward and Emmett are nothing alike. Emmett at least dared to come to introduce himself and walks you to the door. That idiot honks for Bella. Like he's afraid to run into me."
Astrid laughed, "Maybe he is."
Charlie chuckled, "Maybe so."
Astrid sat down with her dad to watch the game with him. When it was over, she went upstairs, got ready for bed then called Emmett to tell him goodnight.
"Goodnight, Sunshine, I'll see you tomorrow at noon."
"Okay, Em, goodnight."
With that, Astrid hung up plugged in her phone and went to bed.
The next morning, Astrid got up early. She went through her usual morning routine, then started breakfast when she got home from her run. Astrid had decided that she was going to play nice with Bella. Astrid realized the other day that Charlie was upset that his daughters were at each other's throats all the time. So Astrid decided to make an effort. If Bella didn't accept, then at least, she tried.
Astrid made a large breakfast for her family and had everything set out by the time Charlie and Bella came downstairs. Charlie smiled at all the food that Astrid had made. Bella eyed her suspiciously.
"Good morning, you two, I hope you're hungry."
"Starved, Kiddo, what brought this on?"
"I wanted to cook for my family and make amends with Bella."
Charlie smiled proudly at his daughter.
"Yeah right, why did you make this, Astrid? Did you poison my food?"
Astrid gave her an odd look, "Of course not, Bella, can't I do something nice for my sister?"
"No, you can't. Not unless you want something in return," Bella tells Astrid.
Astrid tries to control her temper, "That isn't the case, Bella, but if you want to think that go ahead. I made this because I wanted to."
Bella eyes her little sister again, but slowly sits down and serves herself breakfast. They eat intense silence making Charlie uncomfortable. The minute Bella finishes, she leaves the table and goes back up to her room. Astrid sighs and picks up all the plates to wash them.
Charlie stops her, "I'll wash the dishes, honey, you did enough."
"Thanks, Dad."
"And about Bella, at least you tried."
Astrid smiled then goes up to her room to read for a bit before she has to get ready to go with Emmett. At nine, Astrid gets up, goes to the bathroom to shower and get ready. Right at noon, Emmett shows up.
Charlie opens the door and smiles, "Hello, Emmett. How are you?"
"I'm good, Charlie. How are you."
"Good, Astrid told me that she's going to meet your parents today."
"Yes, sir, they're even making lunch for us."
"Oh, well, that's very kind of them."
At that moment, Astrid comes downstairs. Emmett kisses Astrid on the cheek, "You look beautiful, Sunshine."
"Thank you, Emmett," Astrid turns to her dad, "I won't be out too late, Dad."
"Okay, Sweetheart, have fun."
"Thanks, Dad."
"Thanks, Charlie."
With that, Astrid and Emmett headed out. Emmett opened the door to his Jeep for Astrid then got into the driver's side. He leaned over and kissed Astrid.
"Hi," Emmett said after pulling away.
"Hello," Astrid said then kisses Emmett again.
"Are you nervous?"
Astrid scoffs, "I don't get nervous, Emmett."
"Of course you don't," Emmett says with a laugh.
Emmett pulls off the highway down a path that leads deep into the woods. He pulls up to a large, graceful house, rectangular and well-proportioned, painted a faded white.
Astrid whistles, "Nice house, Emmett."
"Thank you," Emmett says before getting out of the Jeep and helping Astrid out.
Emmett takes Astrid by the hand and leads her into the house. They walk in, and Astrid is suddenly hit with the aroma of Mexican food being prepared, and it was Astrid's favorite grilled fish tacos.
They walk into the kitchen and see that everyone is preparing the Mexican food for Astrid. Carlisle is in the process off grilling the salmon for the tacos. Everyone looks up when Astrid and Emmett walk in.
Emmett introduces Astrid to Esme. She walks around the counter and hugs Astrid.
"It's so nice to meet you, Astrid, Emmett has told us so much about you."
"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Cullen."
"Please call me Esme. We were in the process of preparing lunch for you."
"Thank you, Esme, but you didn't have to go through all this trouble."
"It's our pleasure, Astrid," Carlisle said.
Astrid walks over to Carlisle and shakes his hand firmly, "It's nice to see you again, Dr. Cullen."
"It's nice to see you, please call me Carlisle."
"Alright."
Esme leads Astrid towards the living room, "Now, lunch isn't ready yet, but we did make you a few appetizers. Why don't you and Emmett sit down while I bring them to you."
Astrid agrees, and she and Emmett sit in the living room. Emmett turns on the TV, and they start watching the Mariners play the White Sox. While they're watching the game, Esme comes in with a bowl of nachos, some Jalapeno poppers and a soda for Astrid. Astrid thanks Esme for the snacks.
While Astrid and Emmett are in the living room the others are discussing how cute Astrid and Emmett look together, "And the amazing thing is that Astrid's blood isn't tempting me like Bella's" Jasper tells them.
"Yeah, I noticed that too," Duncan observes.
"I still don't like the idea of my brothers going out with humans," Rosalie tells everyone.
"Regardless if you like it or not, Rose, that's the way it is," Carlisle tells her.
After about an hour lunch is ready, Jasper goes into the living room to inform the happy couple. They move into the dining room where the Cullens have put out the fish tacos with citrus slaw for the tacos. Some freshly sliced Jalapenos avocado, and lime. And some Mexican rice and slow cooker pinto beans.
Everyone sits down, and Astrid serves herself some tacos adding the slaw, avocado, and Jalapenos to it. Then she serves herself some rice and beans. Astrid squeezes some lime on the fish tacos then takes a bite.
"Oh my god, these are better than the taco truck in California," Astrid says causing everyone to laugh.
"Thank you, Astrid. We were hoping you liked them." Esme says.
"Like them? I love them, these are fantastic!"
Astrid continues to eat. In between bites, she answers any questions the Cullens have. They ask her about her MMA fighting about school how she likes living in Forks. All the questions they wanted to ask Bella but couldn't since Edward didn't give them a chance.
When Astrid finishes her second helping of fish tacos, Esme tells her that she'll pack everything up so that Astrid can take it home. Now that she had lunch, Emmett takes her on a tour of the house. He shows her all the graduation caps that they have causing Astrid to laugh.
Emmett shows Astrid everyone's rooms then takes her to his room. Astrid looks around his room and notices that he has a lot of sports memorabilia and video games. Astrid also likes the fact that the southern wall is almost entirely made of glass, with a view of the Calawah River.
"Hey, I went fly fishing with my dad the day you went hunting with your brothers," Astrid tells Emmett.
"Oh, yeah, did you catch anything?"
"Of course, I caught the biggest fish," Astrid tells him smugly.
Emmett laughs and hugs her, "Of course you did. Is there anything you can't do?"
"Play the trumpet."
Emmett looks down at her and blinks then he throw his head back and lets out a booming laugh, "You're something else."
"Why thank you."
For the remainder of the afternoon, Astrid and Emmett sit on his bed, cuddling and talking. A little while later, Alice comes in to tell Emmett that there's going to be a thunderstorm later that night.
Emmett looks at Alice and grins, "What's so special about a thunderstorm?"
Alice giggles, "A thunderstorm means that we can play baseball."
Astrid looks at them confused.
"The thunder covers up the sound of us hitting the ball," Emmett explains.
"Oh, I see. Can I play?"
Alice and Emmett look at each other and laugh, "I don't think so Astrid, It's a rough game when we play," Emmett tells her.
"But you can come watch, Bella's going to," Alice says.
Astrid wrinkles her nose, "Thanks but I'll pass. Besides, if I go, Bella's just going to bitch the whole time I'm there."
Emmett frowns, "But I want you to see me play."
"I know but maybe next time. Bella and I can't be in the same place without her wanting to start something with me."
Emmett growls, "She's still at it?"
"Yeah, even though I'm trying to put an end to this. Bella doesn't seem to want to let this go."
"Alright, then I'll take you home."
Emmett takes Astrid by the hand and leads her downstairs. They go into the kitchen where Esme has everything packed up for Astrid. She expresses her disappointment that Astrid won't be at the game.
"I'm sorry, but it's better this way."
"I understand, dear," Esme says then hugs Astrid.
"Thank you all for a wonderful afternoon. I hope I'll see you all again."
"Of course, Astrid, you're always welcomed here," Carlisle tells her then hugs her.
With that Astrid and Emmett leave. Meanwhile, at the Swan house, Bella has just given Charlie another beer while he's cleaning his rifle.
"I have a date with Edward Cullen," Bella tells Charlie.
Charlies looks at her, "Don't you always?"
"Yeah but this time he wants to meet you."
"Oh, really? After how many weeks of you and him dating, Edward finally got up the nerve to come to the door to pick you up and meet me."
"Dad, please, he's right outside the door."
Charlie sighs and cocks his rifle.
"Be nice, okay? He's important."
Charlie gives his daughter a reassuring nod then she opens the door to reveal Edward in a parka and gloves.
"Chief Swan. I wanted to introduce myself formally. I'm Edward Cullen."
Edward extends his hand. Charlie takes it but grunts a hello.
"I won't keep Bella out late tonight. We're just going to go play baseball with my family."
"Bella's going to play baseball?"
"Yes, sir, that's the plan."
"Well. More power to you, I guess," Charlie says.
Edward looks Charlie in the eyes, "She'll be safe with me, sir, I promise."
"Are Astrid and Emmett going to be playing too," Charlie asks.
Bella scowls.
"Emmett is, but I'm not," Astrid said as she comes in the house with Emmett.
Charlie smiles at Emmett, "Emmett, good to see you, son."
"Good to see you too, Charlie."
"Why aren't you playing baseball with the Cullens, Astrid," Charlie asks.
Astrid glances at Bella, "I think it would be best if I stay home."
Charlie nods, fully understanding what Astrid means, "Okay well then you and I will do something tonight."
"Okay, Dad."
Charlie shakes Emmett's hand, "Have fun at your game, Emmett, and don't be a stranger."
"I won't, Charlie." Emmett then leans down and hugs Astrid then kisses her cheek.
"I'll see you later, Sunshine."
Astrid smiles, "Bye, Emmett."
The whole time this is happening, Bella and Edward are watching. Bella is scowling at how friendly Charlie is with Emmett, and she can't stand how happy Astrid is. Bella grabs Edward by the hand and leads him out of the house. As they walk to the other Jeep that Edward is driving, Edward frowns.
"Your dad doesn't like me. He thinks I'm a coward for just now introducing myself to him. Charlie thinks Emmett is better than me."
"I don't care what my dad thinks; I know you're better than Emmett," Bella tells Edward.
"Thank you, Bella," Edward says then kisses her hand.
They get in the Jeep and drive off to meet Edward's family. A few minutes later, Astrid sees Emmett to the door and kisses him, "Have fun at your game, and hit a home run for me."
"You know I will," Emmett kisses Astrid one last time then runs off to his Jeep and drives off.