Friends with Benefits

Chapter One Hundred Nineteen

Things I own: my sanity (though, that's debatable at times), not enough time to write and incredible friends and family!!

Things I don't: Twilight, Edward and Bella (Damn. It.)

Chapter 119

EPOV

After a stop at Walgreens to pick up some Visine, we drove back to my parent's house. Alice and Jasper were working on preparing the casseroles. Upstairs, we could hear my parents tearing into Emmett. "How long have they been yelling at him?" Bella asked.

"Since you left," Jasper replied, placing the potato casserole into the fridge.

"Apparently he took it too far by thrusting in the pew," Alice said, wrinkling her nose.

"He was thrusting?" Bella squeaked.

"It was not pretty," I deadpanned. "I think the pastor wanted to unleash fire and brimstone on my brother from the pulpit."

"This is what happens when we only go to church on Christmas and Easter," Alice chided. "No decorum."

"We have decorum. It's the goofball upstairs that does not," Bella said.

"I think Emmett was dropped on the head as a child. He lost a few brain cells," I said, running a hand through my hair.

"Plus, all of those concussions from football? That doesn't help matters either," Alice nodded, threading her arm with mine. "It's shocking he's able to carry on a somewhat intelligent conversation."

"Okay, guys. Be nice," Bella admonished. "Emmett may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he's a good guy. He acts before he thinks, like most men." Both Jasper and I scoffed. "Don't deny it, boys. You think with the little head and not the big one. It's a flaw of the male species."

"Amen, sister," Alice smirked.

A few moments later, an abashed Emmett walked down and he apologized to both Bella and me. Esme kicked us all out of the kitchen, except for my girlfriend and they worked on Easter dinner. A few hours later, we were all seated in the dining room. Dinner was delicious and we all cleaned our plates. Since Bella and Esme put together the meal, I volunteered to do the dishes. Emmett piped up to help, as well.

"Edward, can I talk to you?" Emmett asked as he put the china onto the kitchen counter.

"Sure, Em," I said, rolling up my sleeves to start the water for the dishes.

"I know I apologized earlier about making fun of you, but I wanted to make sure that we were okay," he said, scraping the plates into the garbage.

"We're fine, Emmett, but you have to realize that we never once teased you about your raucous behavior with Rosalie, nor did we tease Alice or Jasper. Why did you think it was okay to make a big deal out of what Bella and I do?" I asked, looking at him, trying to understand.

"I don't know. It's just Bella. I never thought you'd get together with her. I knew that you thought she was pretty and such, butyou were so afraid of her. Like she was too good for you," Emmett mused.

"She is. Bella is an amazing girl, with a big heart and everything I could ever want in a woman. I still don't understand why you felt the need to embarrass us this morning through the bathroom door and again in church," I said.

"I'm jealous, I guess. I see what you have with Bells and I want it. You two are so in sync, it's scary. Plus, the fact that you had the cojones to have sex while the parentals were awake...? That takes moxie, Eddie," Emmett snorted. "And from what I heard, you did not disappoint."

"If you were hovering outside of the bathroom door, I'm going to junk punch you," I snarled, giving him a menacing glare.

"I think the whole neighborhood heard you, Edward," Emmett answered. I blushed. "Bro, I was wrong in making a big deal about it. But, obviously, you're doing a lot of things right by Bella. And I'm not talking about sex."

"What do you mean?"

"She's always been sarcastic and fun, but there was a dullness in her eyes that never went away. The only time her true sparkle came through was when she was laughing with you. And now? I can see that even more," Emmett said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "You're good for her and she's definitely good for you."

"The best," I smiled, looking at my brother.

"But, be patient with her, Eddie. I know that she has been hurt before. I also know that you want to scream that you love her and announce it to the world," Emmett chuckled. I sighed, nodding. "She needs to be ready to hear it. Right now, it's not the right time."

"Alice said the same thing," I murmured. "It's hard, though."

"Patience is one of your strongest virtues, Edward. It will pay off in the long run," Emmett said. "Now, I've got to apologize to a certain Swan and pray that I walk away with my balls intact."

"Good luck with that. She was ready to squirt Visine into your drink," I snorted.

"Classic Bella," Emmett retorted.

A/N: Jump forward in time next chapter...still EPOV. Leave me some!