Gifted

Chapter 9: Emmett

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Please read and review, if you've gotta moment. Enjoy!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Esme and Rosalie sat in silence as they zoomed towards their home. Esme opened her mouth to speak, then shut it...over and over again. She tried to sort through her emotions, but Rosalie's obvious...discomfort shall we say, kept distracting her. Rosalie hadn't said a word since they got into the car. But one glance was all she needed to know her "daughter's" mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

She glanced at her again, and once again looked back to the road.

They were nearly at the half-hidden dirt path to their house when they passed someone riding on a bicycle.

Rosalie clutched at her seat. "It's her."

Esme sighed. "She must be going back to that campsite," she said. "We're going to have to do something about Edward."

Rosalie growled softly, but not softly enough for Esme to miss it. She chose not to comment though.

As the car crawled to a stop by the house, Rosalie called out "I'm going hunting" before disappearing towards the east.

Esme didn't say anything. The entire family would have to go hunting soon if Bella stayed so close. As she stepped out of the car, her practiced mind immediately started reciting all the woods, fabrics, paint colors and stonework she could think of. She needed to speak to Carlisle before Edward heard her thoughts about his singer.

"Emmett!" she called for her big bear of a son. "We're going to need you to stay by Edward tonight."

Emmett, Alice, Jasper and Edward had made their way down to her by then.

"Why?" Edward asked suspiciously. Esme answered him in her mind.

"Oh, god," Edward whimpered.

"She's going back to her campsite," Alice answered for Esme at Emmett's and Jasper's questioning looks.

Jasper looked at his brother. "I'm not sure restraining him physically will do much good," he said, "not if this girl is here for more than a few hours."

"Bella," Esme said before thinking. Damn, she thought. They all looked at her then, Edward with the most intensity.

"What?" He cried out. "How do you know? Stop blocking me, damn it!"

She would normally reprimand him for his language at this point, but instead she sighed and decided to tell them an edited version of their meeting tonight.

"She was at the supermarket," she sighed. "I ran into her by accident and we introduced ourselves. Rosalie recognized her scent."

Spruce, maple, cherry...her mind went on.

"Bella..." Edward whispered. Then he narrowed his eyes. "There's more, though."

"I'd like to speak to Carlisle before we discuss things. Where is he?"

"He was called to the hospital," Alice said.

"Uh, where's Rosalie?" Emmett asked.

"Hunting," Esme said, giving him a look. "I think she needs to be alone for a little while. Emmett, Jasper, please stay with your brother tonight. I'm going to the hospital to speak with Carlisle."

With that she ran back to the car, taking with her some "dinner" for her husband so she'd have a plausible excuse for the nurses.

-------------------------------------------------------------------