Emmett

One thing that impressed him about his bride was how low maintenance she was. As their getting ready routine was filmed, she brushed her long, dark hair, curled the ends with a curling iron, and used a bit of coloring on her face. Bella was a natural beauty, and he admired this, though he'd also appreciated how ladies looked when they took their time and used all their makeup. After a short amount of time, Bella and Emmett were out the door and onto their next adventure.

He didn't try to hold her hand again after they ventured down the strip. Although he wouldn't admit it, he couldn't lie that her admission about not feeling anything toward him was a bit of a shock to his ego. He found himself personally challenged by this, torn by the idea of just letting it flow as he had suggested. Yet, his bruised ego and competitive nature insisted on making a game of it - pulling out all the stops and seeing if there was a way to attract her - like really putting on the charm. Who didn't want their wife to be attracted to them? He tried not to think of his brothers in Tennessee watching and laughing or the bashing he would get from his buddies at the fire station. Would he ever live this down once it aired on television? Emmett knew he was a catch. But, how to prove that to his wife? As far as he knew, resources weren't available to him at this point, as far as the experts, because even he was aware that chemistry could not be forced. Though, on their wedding night there was something…just a flicker - the way she looked at him. Then it disappeared like the night.

Their adventure today was to be at Area 15, since Bella's interest in art museums didn't appeal to him, and his interest in gambling and watching sports at the bar didn't appeal to her, the show sent them to this place they called a museum-y, virtual reality experience.

"Hey, Bella?"

"Yes, Emmett…"

"Are we having fun yet?"

She had tossed and turned most of last night but smiled. He figured she didn't want to be here. With him. And what the hell? Who was this man she'd met before they'd gotten married? He didn't press for details on that because how could he? They had never met until they got married! He was kind of hard-pressed to find out who Bella's type was. And there was something else…was she his type? The experts and show seemed to think so. He could see it - her soft demeanor; she was definitely the one you take home to mom, but was she for him? Did that matter anymore? They were legally married. He was not a quitter, and he had to find some way for her to find him attractive, as ridiculous as that seemed.

They were both in awe of the options at this place that featured virtual reality experiences to immersive experiences, and at first they were torn about what to do first. He followed as they checked out the exhibits and made their way to the dual axe throwing, which was kind of like bowling but with axes. He hoped to impress her with landing the axes in the bullseye, but she surprised him by scoring higher than he did. Very surprising for someone who claimed to not be good at anything. They killed zombies in a virtual reality game, and she didn't even object to the zip lining. One thing was true - Bella was fun to hang out with…and easy going. Of course, the beers didn't hurt. She was matching him one for one and he'd already had five.

As they were waiting their turn for the grand prix simulator, he'd been teasing her how he was unbeatable when a male voice from behind caught their attention.

"Bella? Is that you?"

The smile left her face and her whole body stiffened as she turned around to face the owner of the voice. A guy - Native American, about six feet tall, muscular and smiling at them with bright white teeth.

"Jake! Oh my god. What are you…?"

"I wanted to ask the same of you." He gestured to the camera. "Are you filming something?"

"I…I…" She held up the back of her hand, emphasizing the ring on her finger. "I got married." She turned to Emmett as an afterthought and looped her arm into his. "We got married."

Her ex's mouth hung open as his eyes bounced back from Bella to Emmett and then back to her. "I guess whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," he joked. "But seriously, I didn't even know you were engaged!"

"Well, that's none of your business."

Emmett placed his arm around her waist. "It was a quick engagement, and you know, when it's right, it's right."

Bella's ex ran his fingers through his short spiky black hair. "Whew. I just thought you would've told me…or something."

"I don't have to tell you anything anymore, Jacob."

"Come on, Bella. We've been friends for years."

Emmett snorted. "Oh, is that what you call it?" Who did this jerk think he was anyway? Emmett wanted to pound Jacob's face into the wall beside them.

"What's going on here?" a female asked, approaching. Native American as well, she had a pleasant smile as she linked her arm into Jacob's. Her dark eyes widened as she saw Bella. "Bella, oh my god! Imagine seeing you here! Small world."

"Leah," Bella said. "Small world. And here you are…with Jacob."

"Well, I didn't think you'd mind, I mean, you guys haven't been together in…"

"Months," Jacob said.

Still, Emmett didn't like the way Jacob was leaning in toward his bride, like he had any sort of claim on her. He pulled Bella back toward him. "Sounds like ancient history to me," Emmett said, "right, Bella?"

She looked at him with such gratitude in those eyes. "Ancient history." Bella laid her head on his shoulder and they were so close he could smell the grapefruit scent of her shampoo.

He all but flexed on the little guy, and though Emmett had plenty of fight in him, there was no fight to be had here, unfortunately. He understood the nature of Bella's and Jake's relationship and should have been grateful to him for letting her go. He couldn't start a fight here and now, but he kind of liked the idea of throwing his weight around.

He held out his hand to Jacob to shake. "I'm Emmett…the husband," I said, accenting the "d."

Jake took his hand and shook, and as Emmett squeezed the bones in his fingers with maximum force, he saw the pain register on his face, all the while keeping a friendly smile on his own. "Nice to meet you," Jacob said with a snarl, pulling his hand back and then rubbing his knuckles with the other hand.

Emmett then turned to Leah to shake her hand as well but she declined by keeping her hands at her sides, pressing one flat against her hip.

"Why the cameras?" Jacob asked.

Emmett was full of testosterone…come on Bella's ex, he thought. Just throw the first punch. "Why are you so nosy?" he taunted.

His brows rose on his forehead and he lifted his hands up in surrender. "Sorry. Okay, well, see ya."

"See ya," he said. Wouldn't wanna be ya. The producer approached Jake afterward, he guessed to explain the situation and there were the legalities of being on television, permissions to be obtained and whatever. It was almost their turn to get on the simulator, and Bella was shaking her head. They were only a few feet away, but Emmett couldn't help himself. "What did you see in that asshole?" he asked, loud enough for Jacob to hear it.

Bella smiled then. Jake heard it. Hell, everyone there, including the person who took their tickets heard it. "I'm sure I don't know. Boy, was I crazy."

They were gestured toward their simulators and that was the last they saw of Jake and Leah. Bella was quiet on the way back to the hotel.

"Are you still upset by seeing Jake?"

"It was unsettling, but what was worse was seeing Leah with him. We grew up together, and I knew she always liked him, but still…it's like she took the opportunity…"

"They deserve each other."

"I know. You're right." They walked, hand in hand now, and he wondered if it was part of the act should they run into them again. "Thank you, Emmett. I'm so glad you were there." She laughed. "Did you see his face as he looked up at you? I thought he was gonna crap his pants."

"Glad to be of service."

"It's just that…the worse thing is that he's going to watch the show, and then he's going to judge me for marrying someone I didn't know…"

"Who cares what he thinks?" Emmett said. "Basically, screw anybody who doesn't like it. Right? Let everybody else live their lives. We have every right to live ours."

"Thank you, Emmett. Thanks again. You really saved me tonight."

"Isn't that what husbands are supposed to do?" he said, swinging their arms together as we walked.

"Well, saving lives is kind of your thing."

"You could say that."

She yawned as they arrived at the front entrance and pushed through the revolving door into their hotel/casino, knowing the camera was still following them.

"You know what? I'm glad I married you, Emmett. You are a caring person."

Emmett didn't know how caring she would've thought he was if he had bashed that guy's head into the wall, but he liked that she thought that.

"Thank you, Bella. I'm glad I married you, too."

It was something. So far she was glad she married him. When they got into bed that night Emmett lay there on his back, one hand tucked behind his head. She climbed in beside him, but tonight she didn't keep to the sliver of her side like the night before.

"Can I ask you something, Bella?"

"Sure."

"Do you think you'll be over him anytime soon?" Actually, what Emmett wanted to ask was if she ever saw herself being attracted to him, but that question wouldn't come out of his mouth.

"I was surprised, actually, that seeing him again felt less dramatic."

"Why did you sign up for this show if you weren't really ready to get married?" The light of the camera in the corner of the room was red because the show hadn't suspected any action, and that much he was sure to be true, so at least this conversation was private.

"Okay, this will sound crazy, but I listened to Alice, my best friend. She has these visions and knows things and stuff. I'm so excited to see her again when we meet the other couples. Alice and I were selected, as she predicted, and knew that we would both find our mates here on this show."

"Your friend, Alice, is one of the other brides? And she had a vision, and you went through this whole ordeal based on this prediction of hers?"

"Okay, yeah it sounds crazy."

"Yeah. I mean, this whole thing is crazy. But, being dragged here by your friend…I don't know, Bella, that's a little south of insane."

"She's been right before…about a lot of things. She predicted that Jake and I would get together…and that he would dump me…even told when and where it would happen. She told me to apply at my publishing firm and that I would get hired there. She told me when I would lose my virginity."

"Whoa…let's hear more about that."

"Oh, you don't wanna know… it was with Jake."

"Okay, you're right. I don't wanna know the details. How old were you?"

"16. How about you?" She bumped her elbow into his.

He turned away, a little embarrassed. "13."

"Oh my God! So young!"

"Well, my brothers kind of made it their business, and I didn't feel ready, but it was their way of inducting me into the McCarty man club."

"Do I even want to know who the girl was?"

"Maybe not. Wasn't a girl, really, more of a young woman."

"Ewww…you're right. I don't wanna know."

"It wasn't my idea," he told her in defense. He hadn't been looking to get laid. Not like now…

She yawned again. "Thanks for your honesty, but I'm sure I don't need to know any more than that. She scooted closer to him. "Thank you, Emmett, for being so understanding. And maybe I wasn't sure before, but I think there could be something…you know…between us…if you don't rush it."

He smiled. "I got time. We got like, what, five weeks?"

Bella took his hand in hers, and she pressed a kiss onto his cheek. Then she turned over and scooted herself against him, which might not have been the best thing to do if she was wanting his cooperation. "Good night, Emmett. Sweet dreams."

"Good night, Bella," he said, pulling her a little closer. Her body was warm and fit nicely against his. He placed a kiss on top of her head, grateful that she was in his arms instead of on the other side of the bed. Baby steps. He could do that. Anything that was worth having was worth the effort. And if she happened to like how his body felt against hers first thing in the morning, then all the better. He had every intention of respecting her and her boundaries. And when the time came that she made the first move, it would be even sweeter.

A/N: Just a warning: nothing happens quickly here, so please bear with me as there is so, so much more to come! On that note, I hope you are excited and very excited as I am for the next chapter when our couples meet! I welcome your predictions and feedback, in general and am hoping you're having fun reading this reality television story. Of course, I would like to express great thanks to those who review as well as to those who follow. And also a heartfelt thanks to those who read, because without an audience, that would just be sad. :-) Have a wonderful day!