Note: This story was inspired by LittleWing and the story "This Christmas". It is brilliant, if you haven't read it yet, then do so! There are a few similarities in my story, but I already have LittleWing's permission to upload this. There is also A LOT of my own imagination in my creation. Anyway, if Stephenie Meyer was not inspired by Buffy, then we'd never have Twilight!

Summary: Out Christmas shopping Emmett and Jasper are stuck with Edward. As brothers, Emmett and Edward DO NOT get along. The day is a normal one until the three boys' are kidnapped by a quartet of criminals. What follows is a look at the brutal and humiliating capture as one particular kidnapper has his fun.

Nostrum Fortis Leo

It was that time of year again and three boys had been sent out on a most hated and arduous task; Christmas shopping.

Emmett and Edward Cullen, and Jasper Hale were making quick progress through the large shopping centre, on a tedious mission to buy presents for their family and friends.

It was made even worse with the backlog of other cheery shoppers out doing the same thing. Neither boy needed any more stress. Emmett had already started the day off in a furious mood when his father sprang it on him that he had to take his little brother, Edward.

Emmett knew that it wouldn't have been so bad; spending the day with his best mate, Jasper at the shops and checking out all the hot chicks while they walked by the specialty stores. It was always a blast for Emmett and Jasper when they hung out, getting into trouble that occasionally involve cops coming to stop the fun.

But now he'd been saddled with his annoying little bro who would undoubtedly report back every little detail to their father if he found any trouble.

Emmett scowled.

As a result of Emmett's fuming attitude, Edward had been dubbed the 'third-wheel' and had to make his legs move extra fast just to keep up with the two bigger boys.

Edward hadn't been too impressed with the situation, either. They were there to do their Christmas shopping, but whenever he called out for Emmett and Jasper to stop, they ignored him and kept on walking. It wouldn't do for Edward to walk off from his brother and be left without a ride home back to Forks.

"Wait! Wait! I think I see something nice for Mum," Edward gasped desperately, almost out of breath from the tiring pace the bigger boys kept.

Emmett grouchily turned to his annoying little bro. "Agh. Why do you have to be here? Why couldn't you have just gone shopping with one of your friends from school?" An evil glint crossed through Emmett's eyes. "Oh, wait. You don't have any friends!"

Peals of laughter broke out between Emmett and Jasper as they punched knuckles with each other.

Edward blushed at the harsh reminded of his social status at school. It was true that he had no friends. That was what happened when he took his schooling seriously, spending his time studying in the library at lunch rather that co-mingling with his peers. Emmett never let an opportunity pass to remind him how much of a loser he was.

"Listen," Emmett said softly, all evidence of laughter gone from his face, "Me and Jazz want to go do some stuff without you following us like an abused, smelly canine. So go and do your shopping and we'll meet you in the food court in two hours. Okay?"

Edward looked up into his brother's face and meekly nodded. He was so humiliated that he would do anything to get away from his bully-of-a-brother and his mate.

The younger Cullen turned away without a word and headed for the jewellery shop they'd just passed. After a few steps, he checked over his shoulder to see Emmett and Jasper walking away, clearly in a much more joyful, bouncy mood now that they were rid of their tag-along.

Edward sighed and checked his watch. It was just after 11:00; that gave him til 1:00pm to do his Christmas shopping.

As he stepped through the threshold of the jewellery store he mentally assessed his list of who he had to buy for.

He'd already brought a pink silk scarf for Emmett's girlfriend – Rosalie, and a gift voucher for his sister Alice to a shoe shop he knew she liked. Now all he had left was a find something for his Mum, Dad, Emmett and Jasper.

Edward sighed. He didn't like having to buy presents for Jasper and Rosalie – who were not members of his family, officially – but every year they were always over at the Cullen's residence acting like they were. The Hale twins were close to all of Cullen's... that is, except for Edward himself.

But it was his Dad who gave him money to do his Christmas shopping; with a reminder that he was expecting the Hale's to have a present each under the tree from Edward.

Looking though the glass cabinets, a beautiful plane gold necklace caught Edward's eye. It was delicate and subtle – just right for his Mum, Esme. It took a few minutes for the sales assistant to display it neatly in a box and gift wrap it before ringing it up on the register.

Happy that he was done shopping for the girls, Edward focused on his next task – the boys.

It was much harder finding something suitable for his Dad, brother and Jasper. Almost the two hours were up but he finally walked toward the food court with a PS3 game for Emmett; something that was filled with a lot of killings, blood and gore. A New Era cap for Jasper that was black with silver stitching of his favourite baseball team's logo on the front. And for his Dad, Carlisle, he found a stylish new watch in silver with a navy blue clock face. A quirky smile came to Edward's face when he thought about the irony that it was with his Dad's money that he brought the present, but shrugged it off when he placed it in his bag.

Now it was time to meet up with Emmett and Jasper. He ran down to the food court and stood on his tiptoes, straining his neck to spot out his brother in the crowd. He couldn't see him. Edward grunted and flopped himself down in a spare chair. It didn't surprise him that his brother was late.

Sighing, Edward got up and chose something to lunch on from the large selection of eateries. Once his food was purchased, he sat down in another empty chair to eat his chicken burger and fries.

Edward knew that his brother would have no qualms about leaving him here to wait for as long as he wanted. Of course, Edward could have dug out his mobile and called, but he knew Emmett would ignore him until he was ready.

It didn't matter too much though. Edward was happy to have his shopping done, though he couldn't help but wish it had gone on a little longer. Not that he liked shopping, but he dreamed of being able to buy something for a close friend. That would never happen, though, Edward thought to himself. He only had one and a half years left of school, and then it would be onto college.

Edward remembered how, a couple of years ago when he started high school, he had brought a Christmas present for his favourite teacher. Naturally Edward was teased relentlessly about it. He remembered crying in the boy's bathroom for the entire lunch time, and had to continue enduring the humiliation when he got home. Emmett had found out and thought it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.

To make it worse, his favourite teacher had been Mr. Grey.

"Did ya hear, Alice? Eddie's got a crush... I never knew you were a homo-freak," Emmett laughed boisterously at the dinner table that night.

Edward had pushed his dinner away and held his face in his hands. He didn't want his family to see him crying, but it was rude manners to leave the table without being excused.

"Emmett, stop," Esme said sternly. "Leave your brother alone. He was only trying to be nice."

Emmett ignored their mother. "But you should have seen what he got Mr. Grey! It was a teddy bear, wearing a Santa hat and on its belly it had the words 'Merry Christmas to my favourite teacher'!"

Emmett's gawking laughter filled the room.

Edward shuddered and pulled his feet onto his chair so he could hug his knees and hide his face.

"Enough!" Carlisle demanded. "Leave Edward alone, Emmett. Just because he knows how to be kind – something you should learn to do – doesn't mean you have permission to ridiculing him."

Though, Emmett didn't stop. He just pointed his finger across the table at Edward and chuckled all the more.

"Well, if you're going to be like that," Carlisle muttered, "then you can be on dishwashing duty for the rest of the week."

That shut him up.

"What?" Emmett question incredulously. "But we own a dishwasher. Why should I..."

"Because it is your punishment for the way you are treating Edward," Carlisle explained calmly.

Emmett was suddenly fuming; a contrast to his humour from moments ago, but everyone ignored him and continued with their dinner... except for one.

Esme noticed her youngest was no longer touching his food, so she leant towards him and quietly whispered, "Off you go, sweetie. I'll bring a snack to your room later."

And with a meagre nod, Edward fled from his chair to the safe confines of his room.

Edward sighed again as he took another bite of his chicken burger. It went without saying that he never brought another present for a teacher ever again. He also made sure to avoid Mr. Grey from then on, lest his brother make another snarky remark about him being gay!

Just as he was about to take a sip of his coke, a strange tingly feeling ripped its way down his neck. The little hairs there stood up and his back straightened. Edward spun around. He was sure someone's eyes had just been on him, staring. He thought it might have been Emmett, but as he gazed across the wide, crowded room, he found no one looking at him.

It was very strange and Edward couldn't shake the feeling that someone was still watching him.