AN; Here's the next chapter, with more to follow this weekend to make up for the long waits in between uploads.

Anyway, hope you're all still reading and enjoying this story!

Chapter 14 - friends

EPOV

Emmett called just as I hung up the phone with Alice. She'd been glad I'd called her and was glad that Jasper had told me about them. Though she did warn me I better not had threatened him. After I assured her I didn't, we talked for a bit about the funeral and the meeting today and what it meant for me and for the cubs in general. we hung up after I'd promised to stop by during the week.

'What's up Emmett?' I asked answering quickly.

'Hey, could you pick up the stakes for tonight? And bring extra?' he asked cheerfully.

I frowned at that. 'Who else is coming?' I asked him curiously.

'Not sure yet. I'll let you know.'

Well that was cryptic. Even for him. but I decided to let it go.

Perhaps he was nervous because of what happened during his meeting with Bella. Or Ms Swan I should say.

So I headed home to pick up Mike and walk him for a bit before heading to the store and grabbing the stuff I knew we needed to make steaks, potatoes and salad. It was a regular meal for us to eat together. Rose cooked a mean steak.

I headed over after I was done and rang the bell.

Emmett opened the door and the first thing I noticed was the giant black dog lying just behind him.

My mouth dropped open. Bella was here?

I looked at Emmett accusingly, but he just smiled and shrugged innocently. I let go of Mike's leash as he was already pulling to get to Jake. As soon as he was free he bounded into thr oom and crashed into Jake. They quickly started playing as if they hadn't seen each other in forever.

I shook my head as Emmett pulled the bag of groceries from my arms and I closed the door behind me, stepping into the living room. My eyes locked with Bella and I saw the slightly panicked look on her face.

I hated that I put it there. But I was sure I had a mirrored look on my own face.

I wasn't sure how to handle this. God damn Emmett. If I'd had a bit of warning I at least could have prepared myself.

I quickly looked away from Bella and turned to Rose, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek.

'Sorry Rose, you've been replaced by that furry giant.' I said nodding over my shoulder at Jake and Mike still playing happily.

'Yeah, I see how it is. Well mister, you just wait, no more milk bones for you.' she huffed. But then smiled at me.

'Have you met Bella, Edward?' she asked innocently, too innocently. And I wanted to murder her in that moment and Emmett too.

'yeah. We've met.' I said, trying not to show that I was struggling with keeping a nonchalant look.

'oh good' Rose said, giving me a small smirk. I wished desperately I could glare at her, but Bella would see that and I didn't want to make this any more uncomfortable than it already was.

I quickly headed back to the kitchen mumbling something about getting a drink.

I punched Emmett hard on the shoulder the moment I stepped behind the kitchen island.

'What the fuck dude.' I muttered under my breath.

'What?' he asked innocently, but the grin on his face told me he knew exactly what he was doing.

'You know what.' I hissed at him. 'She's the girl, you know that.' I snapped.

Emmett tried to feign innocence. But I punched him again before he could say something ridiculous. 'ow!' he exclaimed. Rubbing his arm. 'Fine! Alright? Fine! Jasper told me that Ms Swan was one and the same with your Bella.' He grinned.

'She's not my anything.' I hissed under my breath.

'I know. So I decided to help you along so you can try and change that.'

'Fucking hell Emmett, this is hard enough already without having to be around her.'

Emmett turned serious then and regarded me for a moment then he sighed. 'Look. You said you wanted to get to know her, so get to know her. She's really amazing. She could really use some friends right now. She doesn't have that great a support system any more. She's quite isolated. She's kind and funny and I think if you'll let her she'll open up to you and even if right now she isn't ready for anything, if you stick by her and be her friend who knows what the future holds?'

I heaved a deep sigh. A part of me was agreeing with him. But another part abhorred the idea, using her like that? Pretending I was fine with friendship, when I knew deep down that I was attracted to her? That I wanted more? How was that justifiable? But then again I had said I wanted to get to know her. perhaps this was simply all that was in the cards for us right now and if that meant she was part of my life… wasn't that worth it?

Emmett pressed a beer in my hand and then slapped my back before telling me to think about it, but to get my head out of my ass tonight and make sure I wouldn't make Bella uncomfortable because he was afraid she wouldn't come back otherwise and Emmett had really taken a shine to her.

I could tell he already felt protective of her. Rose and Emmett were great like that. They only needed a little time before they could see through a person to their core. And Iif they liked what they saw, if they decided you were worth it? They loved you like no other. They took you in and made you their family. It was an amazing feeling, really.

I grabbed the beer tightly and headed into the lving room after Emmett.

I sat in my usual chair and Jake padded over and sat down next to me. I scratched his head and he gave me his paw. I chuckled and shook it gently.

Bella smiled kindly at the scene but then turned back to Rose when I met her gaze.

This was going to be tough.

'Can I help you make dinner?' Bella asked Rose.

Great, now she was actually running from me. I had really fucked this up apparently.

'Nah, don't worry about it.' Rose quickly said though, and I was grateful.

I just needed a few minutes alone with her. I subtly looked over at Emmett and nodded to the kitchen.

'Yeah, I usually help with the cooking.' He said, suddenly leaping to his feet and grabbing Rose's arm. I rolled my eyes, Emmett had never been one for subtle.

'Are you sure?' Bella asked. 'I don't mind. I like cooking.'

'No, I'm sure. You're our guest. Just relax and drink some wine.' Rose said winking at Bella.

'Okay.' she said hesitantly.

Emmett and Rose headed to the kitchen and started banging around pots and pans. Bella and I regarded each other for a moment.

Then I blew out a big breath. 'So.' I started.

'So.' She echoed when I didn't continue.

'I'm sorry if I made things awkward or weird today… I just… I had no idea you were Charlie Swan's daughter.' I finally said.

She gave a small smile. 'Yeah, it's not something I advertise. The money and fan boys can get quite insane.'

I snorted. 'yeah, I can only imagine.' I rubbed my neck. 'I don't want you to think that I was one of those though.'

'No' she said immediately. 'No, of course not. You were really kind.'

I smiled at her. She bit her lip and looked down at her lap.

I sighed and decided to take the plunge. 'So I thought, perhaps in light of the new situation… we could try to be… friends?'

'Friends?' she echoed, an edge to her voice that I couldn't place.

'yeah. Friends. Perhaps mike and jake can play more often, they seemed to like each other a lot.'

'yeah they do.' She bit her lip and looked over at the dogs. 'alright.' she finally conceded. 'alright, friends.'

I grinned at her brightly and she gave me a small tentative one back. Baby steps. but at least I would get the chance to get to know her now.

'So how did today go?' I asked changing the subject.

'Okay, I guess. I met everyone. Pissed a few people off too.'

I laughed. 'who?'

'the batting coach. Mr Jones.'

My eyes widened. 'holy shit. You went up against him? he's a grouchy old bastard.'

'yeah, I found that out.'

'what happened?' I asked intrigued now.

'I'm not sure I should tell you.' she said smiling slightly at me.

I shrugged. 'Emmett divulges coach secrets to me all the time, I'm a vault.' I assured her.

She laughed and shook her head and my heart did a flip in my chest at the carefree sound. I hadn't heard that from her ever, but I decided there and then that I would do everything I could to get her to laugh more often.

'Well, he didn't exactly seem to think a girl could run this club.'

I raised a brow at her. she shrugged.

'we disagreed.' She finished with a small smile on her face.

I laughed at that. 'That man is a real piece of work. I can't even remember the last time he was actually at practice himself.'

Her mouth dropped open at that. 'scuse me?' she said.

'oh… I guess you didn't know that yet.' I said slightly embarrassed, but at the same time it was about time that that old guy got his just desserts.

'I did not.' She confirmed.

'Well.. I wouldn't want to be the cause of him losing his job.' I started, not really meaning the words as they came out of my mouth. 'but.. yeah. He's mostly holed up in his office. Usually with Paul. And only provides some feedback that he bases on our televised games by email.'

her mouth popped open and I could see she was visibly upset by this. 'God damn it. That dick.' She spat out.

I couldn't help but laugh at that. 'yeah he's a piece of work.'

'God damn him. He was acting all superior too. God, I'm glad I fired him. I wish I could do it again!' She seethed and it was absolutely adorable to see. she was passionate and a real spitfire.

'You fired him?' I asked slightly incredulous.

She looked a bit sheepishly at me then and nodded. 'don't worry about telling me things, Edward. Normally I'm a vault too. But yeah I fired him today, kinda had to after he called me a bitch.'

My mouth dropped open and my blood boiled. I really hoped I wouldn't have to see him again, because I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep my temper. Because that was the most vile thing I had ever heard before. To call the recently bereaved daughter of the man you claimed to respect a bitch to her face, a day after the funeral that was just despicable.

Emmett waltzed in then, carrying a fresh wine for Bella and a new beer for me. He told us dinner would be ready in just a few minutes. and we quickly went to get the dogs their food, so they wouldn't be slobbering too much while we would eat.

We chatted easily as we prepared the food and I had been right about our connection. It was there. Things were easy with Bella and I loved how she was slowly letting me in. She was still guarded and in pain, but that was to be expected. I just hoped she would continue to let me in and talk to me. I would gladly be here for her.

Emmett was right; being friends with her wasn't that weird at all. She was a great person and I would be lucky to call someone this kind and thoughtful a friend.
After feeding the boys, we helped carry everything into the dining area.

I was certain Rose and Emmett had been eavesdropping based on the looks they were shooting me. I rolled my eyes at them. In no time we had dinner ready and were seated around the table with both dogs sitting next to us watching every move we made.

'Jake' bella warned cautioning, as his nout kept inching closer to the table.

'they're good at that aren't they.' I muttered, glancing at mike who was giving me puppy dog eyes.

she sighed and shook her head.

'But look at their cute faces, who can say no to that?' Rose cooed.

'Rose.' I cautioned her, she had a habit of giving in and that only made it worse of course.

she held up her hands. 'I won't' she promised.

'So Emmett… I was actually wondering something. I figured why not ask you now.' Bella said after a moment.

Emmett perked up and looked at her curiously.

'We've fired Paul, so the manager position is now open.' She started. Emmett nodded and stuffed a large piece of steak in his mouth.

I knew this was hard for him. he was dreading being asked to help fill the position while he was overlooked for it. He knew he didn't have enough years yet to take it himself, it was a seniority thing as Harry had told him before.

'Well, I was wondering if you might be interested.'

It was silent for a beat before Emmett started choking on his bite and coughing and hacking. Rose quickly headed to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water and patted his back.

'what?' he finally squeaked out.

'Are you interested in taking over the manger position?' she asked, her eyes kind and a small smile around her lips.

'Are you serious?' he breathed. 'I mean… that wasn't my intention you know with inviting you here… I wasn't trying to…'

she held up her hand to stop him.

'Bella knows that, honey' Rose said soothingly.

'Harry and I talked it over, you have a glowing recommendation and I was really impressed with everything you could tell me about the team, where there are weaknesses who needs to improve… you are the perfect person for this job, Emmett.'

'Yeah, man. You know it was bullshit when they hired Paul. You should have had his job then. heck you've been practically doing it for him for the past few years.' I supplied grinning at him. he deserved this.

He was still staring at Bella in shock. 'for real?'

'You did it on your own merit Emmett. I don't do handouts.' She assured him.

'It's mine?'

'well, we do have to hammer out the details come Monday, but yeah, if you want, the job's yours.'

The smile of pure elation and happiness that spread across Emmett's face made it all worth it to be here tonight. I was so proud of him and I was absolutely sure he had earned it fair and square.

Rose squaled and I clapped him on the back.

We popped a bottle of champagne and spent the evening celebrating and enjoying each other's company.