Half way to Forks Max fell asleep. In the day's he acted so much like a teenager that I would forget he was still only a little boy, the times when I would see him asleep I would just watch him. He would always sleep in the same ball like position as if he was protecting himself and he always had the same ratty old blanket and stuffed animal.
When we got to my house I really didn't want to wake him up, he looked so peaceful. "Max were here." I lightly shook him.
He rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes and looked out the window. "Wow is that your house?" I nodded.
We jumped out of the car and each grabbed are bag from the back seat. I figured I could get the presents in the morning before the party.
I was so happy to finally be introducing Max to my family. He has been such a big part of my life. I knew they all would love him just as much as I do. I don't know how anyone could not love him.
"Family were home." I yelled after opening the door.
Max stood at my side. I could tell he was a little nervous. He wasn't really shy around people he just wasn't sure who he could trust after everything he's been through.
"Don't worry everyone will love you." I reassured him just before my mother came barreling out of the kitchen and pulled Max into a hug. "I'm so glad your finally here."
"Nice to meet you to Mrs. Cullen." She smiled at him. "You know I like it better when you called me Nana." She turned to me and gave me a hug telling me how much she missed me.
"You guys must be starving. Your brother is on his way over so I made a big pot of chili, you know how Em eats." Oh and did I know, my brother could probably eat a whole bear if his life depended on it.
My mother took Max's hand and instantly started chatting. I knew they would hit it of well, even when they talked on the phone I couldn't get them to hang up.
"What's cooking good lookin?" My brother practically yelled coming into the kitchen, he was followed by an annoyed looking Rose and there daughter Gracie. Max jumped from the sound of Emmett and left my mothers side to come sit by me at the kitchen table.
"Smells great Esme." Rose said kissing my mother on the cheek.
I looked over at Max to see him looking at Gracie. I tried to pull him out of his stare by nudging his arm. "Max this is my brother Emmett, his wife Rose and there daughter Gracie."
"Hey." He waved at everyone but his eyes faltered back to Gracie's, he gave her one of his half smiles, you know the one that every boy gives when he see's a pretty girl.
I wasn't the only one the noticed the exchange because everyone looked from Max to Gracie.
She blushed but smiled back. "Hi."
Emmett cleared his throat. "So Max." he tried to sound stern.
"Oh come on Em leave it alone." Rose Scolded.
During dinner we talked about what everyone has been up to. I found out that Rose and Emmett where considering adopting. They have been trying to get pregnant again for a couple years know with no luck. My mother has found a place to open her flower shop that she has been wanting and my father was considering early retirement.
After everyone got finished eating Esme put on a pot of hot water for tea and Gracie took Max to go to the game room.
"Keep the door open." Emmett yelled as they ran out of the room.
"Emmett she's only six." Rose said.
"Hey I remember a curtain someone wanting to play doctor when we she was six." Emmett accused.
She thought about it for a moment "Your right I'll go check on them." she got up to go after them. "That was you by the way." She yelled back.
I had to laugh at the two of them. It didn't faze me that Emmett would be the one to suggest that they play doctor. I knew Max was a good kid and I had nothing to worry about. Even though he was only eight I taught he how to be respectful. I didn't think a boy was ever to young to know how to be a gentlemen. my mother started teaching me at a young age and I like to think that I always had treated girls nice.
While the kids played games us grown ups sat around the kitchen table and talked some more, the whole time Emmett was eyeing the door to the game room, probably to make sure it stayed opened.
"Well I probably better go get Max before it gets to late, I promised him I would take him to get a toothbrush because he forgot his." I got up and yelled up the stairs to Max. Him and Gracie both came out of the room laughing and I wondered what they were laughing about. When I asked them they just got all red in the face and told me it was nothing.
"Can Gracie come to the store with us?" Max asked. I didn't see why not so I told them as long it was alright with Rose and Emmett she could come and we would drop her off at home after we were done with are shopping. She went to ask Rose first but she said it was up to her dad. Emmett gave her a serious look but than smiled and said that she could go. I loved watching my brother with his daughter, he was one of the most gentle loving fathers I had ever seen with his kids.
MPOV
I was having a great time with Edward's family, they all were so nice, the only one I was a little nervous about was his brother Emmett. He was so big and loud that I thought he was someone I needed to beware off but after awhile I found him to just be a big teddy bear.
As we were headed out the door Edward's sister and her family showed up. Alice was just as crazy hyper as he said she would be but she was also the most caring, loving and giving person I had ever met. When I first met her she pulled me into a hug just like Nana and proceeded to tell me about all the gifts that she had got me. I was a little embarrassed to have her buying me things when I really didn't even know her yet, she insisted anyway, and boy did she get a lot.
Her husband Jasper was nice to. He was very calm and quiet but something about him just made you feel at home.
They had twin boys named Owen and Ayden. They were four. For the few minutes we talk to everyone before leaving they did not stop following me around. I have to admit they were really cute though. I actually felt like I had little brothers. They were easy to tell apart because Owen had Alice's black hair and Ayden had more of a brownish blondish color.
After about twenty more minutes we were finally at the store. When we were all inside we walked over to the personal hygiene isle so I could get a toothbrush.
"Edward." I heard a women behind me say. I looked at Edward to see he was staring at the women with wide eyes. "Bella?" He questioned.
I turned around to see a really beautiful women. She looked the same age as Edward. She had long brown hair and big brown eyes. She looked like someone I had seen before but wasn't sure where.
"I didn't know you were in town. What are you doing here?" Edward asked.
"Well I didn't know I was going to be here either, Jake's dad had a mild heart attack and I rushed down here to help him." Her and Edward looked each other in the eyes almost as if they were having a quiet conversation they did not want us to here. "When I called to tell Alice she said you guys would also be in town this weekend." I knew by looking back and forth between them where I had seen the women. Edward had a picture of her on his nightstand. I had asked about her but he said she was just an old friend, but from the way he looked at the picture I knew it was more that that.
"Ohhh so your the girl." I smiled, she looked confused. "The one from the song." I said. Edward laughed nervously from behind me.
"Gracie why don't you go show Max where the candy isle is and you can pick out some snacks for tomorrow." Edward was pleading me with his eyes.
"But Alice said she already had everything." I said to him. He gave me a 'Just Go' look and I obeyed. I grabbed Gracie hand and she pulled me along behind her.
EPOV
I couldn't believe that Bella was actually in town the same time I was. She never had been before. I wasn't sure if it was because she avoided me or that she just lived to far away to travel a lot. She said she rushed down here but I wonder why she would just jump on a plane with no plan as to how long she would be staying. I knew her and Alice were close so I wonder if she invited her to come over sometime this weekend.
"So how have you been?" I asked. I really did want to know. Every time I talk to Alice on the phone I ask how she is but I wanted to here it strait from her.
"I'm good. I just got moved into my apartment in Seattle and I'm trying to work on my new book but I am having such bad writers block."
"I didn't know you moved to Seattle." I wondered why Alice would not have told me this very big detail.
"I thought Alice would have told you." Yeah me to. "She's so busy now these days it probably spaced her mind." I really did not think that Bella moving would space my sisters mind.
"Well you know I live in Seattle we should get together sometime." Please say yes I thought.
"That would be nice, I don't really know anyone there except my publicist Angela." YES "So what are you doing here with Gracie and..." she trailed off.
"Max." I finished. "Alice probably told you I applied to be a big brother at the boys orphanage in Seattle last year for work." She shook her head up and down. "Well that's my little brother." I wanted to say he was more than that. "Anyways were down here for his birthday."
"That's nice that you could do that for him." She smiled.
"Yep he will be turning eight tomorrow. Hey do you want to come, my family would love to see you and I am sure you were going to see Alice sometime." I tried to think of enough excuses to make her come. "The party's all day so you can come anytime."
"Sure I think I can come." I was happy that she was going to go. I didn't care if it was for me, Max of Alice I just wanted her there.
I gave her a slightly awkward hug and told her I was glad she could make it and I would see her tomorrow.
When I found Max and Gracie both of there hands were full of junk food. Max looked pretty funny with a pile of junk food up to his chin and a tooth brush on the very top. "Your definitely going to need that toothbrush if your going to eat all that." I grabbed some of the food out of his hands.
"Gracie picked it out." He wined
"Let's go home." I ushered them to the counter so we could by all the stuff and when we were all checked out we jumped in the car and drove home.
