I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING TWILIGHT

Rose, Emmett, Jasper, and Alice came over around 2pm. Rose had the neighbors watch Chris and Danny. We all looked horrible, red swollen eyes and out hair was everywhere. Alice was the worst. She stood there physically shaking. I was afraid at any moment she would collapse.

"Ali, you need to go lay down." Edward said.

"I can't." She whispered leaning into Jasper.

"She hasn't slept at all, just sits there. She hasn't eaten either." He said looking helpless.

"Alice." I whispered pulling her to me.

"He's dead, he's not coming back." She sobbed.

Chapter 3

SAYING GOOD-BYE

(Jasper)
It had been three days since dad passed away. The funeral was set for 4p. It wasn't getting any easier at all. Rose and Bella helped mom make funeral arrangements. Alice wasn't physically or mentally up to helping at all, she was close to her dad and this was too hard for her. Mom insisted a closed casket, as she couldn't handle seeing him like that. I guess I could understand, her last memory of dad was collapsing at the hospital.

We had just found out that dad had an aortic tear, that had been undiagnosed, which was the cause of his heart attack. They had told us that he had basically died in mom's arms when he collapsed. Honestly, for him to die in her arms at the hospital, was much better than him dying in the car with her alone.

Mom took the news incredible hard. She felt guilty for not calling an ambulance. There was just nothing she could have done.

While my brother's and I did our best to support Mom, Alice, Chris and Danny, Rose and Bella, it was a rough time and quite honestly, I wasn't sure if any of us would ever be OK.

We sat there at the cemetery as the funeral began. Mom sat between Emmett and Edward. Tears were flowing freely. Rose sat next to Danny, Chris next to Emmett, on the other side of Edward, was Bella, Alice, then me.

There was nothing about this funeral that was going to be easy. Over the past few days, doctors, nurses, old friends, and even patients have called to check on mom and would bring food over. She wasn't ready to talk to people, which left it up to Bella.

I wrapped my arm around Alice, she was still struggling, she wasn't sleeping much. If she did sleep she would wake up screaming. She wasn't eating much either. I looked towards the casket and couldn't stop thinking about my times with him.

My dad and left the family two weeks after I was born, leaving my mom with a two year old Rosalie and a new born. She did the best she could, but she worked all the time and was never home.

As we entered high school, I met this little firecracker named Alice. I asked her on a date, she told me she wasn't allowed to date until the guy met her dad. I was terrified, but really liked Alice, so did what I had to do.

(Flashback)
I showed up at their house, to find Carlisle there alone. I was weak in the knees. "Are you Jasper Hale?" He asked.

"Yes, um, yes sir." I couldn't figure out why he was asking me who I was. I had met him a time or two already.

"Why don't you come in and we will talk." He held the door open and took me into the kitchen.

"So you want to date my daughter?" He asked.

I nodded. "I knew this family, as my older sister was dating his oldest son Emmett."

"What are your intentions with her?" He asked.

"Um, um." I was beyond nervous, I was about to pee my pants.

"I want you to know, she is a good girl. Don't come here and ask me to date her, thinking you are going to use her for one thing. Because that is not going to happen!" He said sternly.

Again I nodded.

"What are your hobbies?" He asked.

I had to think for a minute. "I like fishing and baseball." I replied.

"Good. Lets go fishing sometime." He stated.

"Sure that sounds good." I replied.

(End Flashback)

Over the years of dating Alice, he became a much needed father figure in my life. We spent tons of time playing baseball, and the weekend fishing trips. He taught me how to treat a woman, always open doors for them, treat them with respect, tell them they are beautiful, and never go to bed angry. Watching Emmett and Edward, they had been taught to do the same. And years later they still believe that. In fact, Emmett is raising his sons how to treat women.

I looked to my father's casket and wasn't able to stop the tears. I just prayed that I could be even half the man he was.

(Alice)
I sat in Jasper's arms looking down. I couldn't bare to think that my father was inside that box. My daddy was dead. I still couldn't get my head around it.

My dad was my best friend. A lot of my girlfriends would complain about their parents, especially their dads and how they would invade their privacy. Not me, I loved my dad, I had him wrapped about my pinky. I think it was mainly because I was the only girl in the group. He taught me about life. I could talk to him about anything and everything.

Still to this day, when life got hard, I would call him just to talk and would hang up feeling 100% better. He was one of three people who knew my biggest secret and was there for support each time I needed him. I didn't know who was going to be there for me like that now.

(Bella)

My mom left when I was a kid. Rose and I used to joke that my mom met up with her dad and got married, so we were sisters. I guess it made it easier to think about. I loved my dad, but needed that mom figure in my life too.

In the early months of Edward and I dating, I would spend as much time over there as I could. At first it was to be around Esme. I quickly learned how much I needed Carlisle. My dad was scared of teenage girls, he didn't understand them, however, Esme and Carlisle were there for me. I spent tons of time in the garage with Carlisle while he changed the oil in the cars.

At 16, he taught me how to change the oil and fix a flat tire. I would get done in the garage with him, get washed up and go with Esme and Alice to get pedicures. I knew immediately, that I wanted to marry Edward and be a part of his family. Together, Esme and Carlisle taught me the true meaning of being a family.

I wiped the tears away, and wrapped my arms around Edward. Between him and Emmett, he was most like his dad. Very compassionate and caring. He would do anything to help anyone. I was worried about him. I knew when he went back to work, it would be difficult for him.

He glanced down at me and smiled. "I love you." He whispered through a shaky voice.

(Edward)

I couldn't believe I was sitting here at my dad's funeral. I guess I never thought about having to bury my father.

When I turned 16, I met Bella and brought her over to meet my mom and dad. They loved her and she loved them. I knew from that day, she was going to be my wife. Dad took me fishing shortly after that and taught me about girls. We had a lot of fun that day. I felt I could talk to him openly and he wouldn't judge me.

And on days when I was in medical school struggling, he was there.

(Flashback)

"Dad, I can't do this! Its too hard!" I yelled slamming my books on his desk at the hospital.

"Yes son it is, it's medicine. It's not going to be easy, but you and I both know you can do this." He said calmly standing up and walking over towards me.

"School has always come so easy for me." I stated angrily

"Son, you are smart! Take a deep breath and relax." He gently pushed me down in this chair.

"Now, open your books." He ordered.

We worked together all evening. I looked at the clock at one point and it was 2am. He had to be to work at 6am. He never complained.

I had wanted to do my residency at Forks Hospital, but because I would be working under my father, they weren't sure it was a good idea, something about conflict of interest. Again I was discouraged.

A couple weeks later, I got a letter in the mail stating that I had been excepted as a resident at Forks. I will never forget how proud my dad was and the look in his eyes.

I saw that look just days ago, when I told him that Bella and I were going to be trying to start our family. I knew deep down I had made my dad proud.

(End Flashback.)

I looked down at Bella, I loved this woman more than anything, but how was I going to tell her that I wasn't ready to have a baby. I was suddenly not sure I could do it without my dad.

"I love you." I whispered through a shaky voice.

She reached up and stroked my face. "I love you too." Tears filled her eyes.

(Esme)
This was hard. I didn't know if I could survive without my husband, my best friend, my lover, my knight in shining armor. I sat between my sons, feeling somewhat safe and that I could make it.

I had been staying with Edward and Bella, but knew I couldn't do that forever, I just wasn't sure I could ever go back into our house. There were too many memories, yes a lot of them were great, but there was one very sad memory of my last night with my husband. Waking up to him being so sick. Deep down, I knew there was nothing that I could have done. I was thankful I was surrounded by my kids at the hospital, instead of being home alone when he died.

But how does a person ever heal from losing a loved one so unexpectedly?

The day I found out I was pregnant with Emmett was a terrifying day. I didn't feel ready, Carlisle was jumping around the house, so excited.

Emmett was a handful and there were many days I would think I was going insane. Carlisle was my saving grace.

Alice was planned, however the little firecracker that was born, no words could describe her. I went into labor at 4pm and she was born at 5pm, she was born in the hospital parking lot with a smile on her face. I knew we were in trouble.

Alice was about 7 weeks old, when I came down with an ear infection. They put me on antibiotics. I found out I was pregnant 4 weeks later.

I curled up on the bathroom floor sobbing. Carlisle came in to find the pregnancy test lying next to me. "Well, well, well. Looks like we will have three beautiful kids." He sat next to me and held me tightly, with his hand on my stomach. "We will get thru this." There was a sparkle in his eyes and no matter, how scared I was, I knew he was right.

When Edward was born, I knew our family was complete. It was a struggle many days. I didn't think I could handle the three of them, but I look back at them now and wouldn't take any of them back.

As I sit here in the sadness, I look at my kids, I am proud of them. This will be hard, on Alice especially, but they will be OK. Will I be OK though?

(Emmett)
Mom had a hold of my arm and was squeezing the hell out of it. I didn't care though. She needed me, and now at 30 years old, I would have to step up and be the man in the family. I know we were all adults, but I still felt it was my job as being the oldest. I was worried about Rose, her and dad had a special connection.

As a teenager, she had a horrible attitude. She would be rude to all adults, including my mom, it was my dad that came in one day and hugged her. He told her how much he loved her, and that he was sorry her dad deserted her, but she shouldn't push the people who really cared about her away. I watched as her wall began to crumble.

"Daddy, I want to go home." I looked down to see a very sad Danny standing next to my knee.

I picked him up and hugged him. "I know son, but we have to do this. You have a big job today and remember grandpa would be proud." Tears spilled down his face. I turned him to where he could sit in my lap.

(Rose)
What would I do without him? He was the first adult man to tell me that I was his daughter and that he loved me. Had it not been for Carlisle, I would still be angry. No one, not even Emmett could get through to me.

(Flashback)

I couldn't believe I was getting married in two days to Emmett Cullen. Wow. I was getting everything packed into my suitcase for my honeymoon, when I heard a knock at the door. I ran to answer it.

"Carlisle, what are you doing here?" I asked shocked.

"Well, I was wondering, if you had anyone to walk you down the aisle?"

I looked down. "No, I was going myself."

"Honey, I think of you as a daughter already. It would be my pleasure to walk you down." He said.

I couldn't think. Tears streamed down my face. "You would do that for me? Even after the way I had treated Esme and even you at times?"

"Yes. We understand and we all love you." He stated.

(End flashback)

I felt sick to my stomach as I sat there looking at the casket. I knew how Danny felt, I wanted to go home too.

(Jasper)
The minister spoke kind words of my father, the life he lead, his family, and all the people he helped working at the hospital. All too soon it was time for Chris, Danny, and I to do our part.

I nodded to the boys to follow me up to the front. They were very nervous, but I placed my hands on their backs and gave them a nod of encouragement.

"My name is Jasper Hale, my family has asked me to come up to say a few words on behalf of them. For those of you who don't know me, I am married to Carlisle's daughter Alice.

As I sit here and listen to all the good things you have said, I wanted to add from my perspective. I always heard that you should be scared of your In-Laws. What you have to understand is, Carlisle was much more than my father-in-law. I considered him my dad from day one, he was the one person who was there for me. He was my best friend. I can speak for my sister Rose, he walked her down the aisle, as our father walked out on us, when I was a baby. Carlisle taught me how to live, love, and trust. My biggest fear, was I would be like the man who walked out on my family. On one of our many fishing trips, he told me that I was already a different man, and he had faith in me that I would take care of his daughter.

Carlisle was a man, who loved his wife more than words could say. I watched on many occasions how he would send her flowers just because he loved her. He was a dad, who would have walked out mid shift at the hospital, if one of kids was in trouble. Then Chris and Danny came along. He arranged his work schedule to where he worked one weekend a month during the summers, so he could take his boys on hunting a fishing weekends.

On behalf of my family, I want to tell you all thank you for the overwhelming support you have shown. We feel blessed to hear the stories and meet the people who my father helped. Thank you."

I stood there for a minute trying to gain composure, I wasn't one to cry in front of people. I took an unsteady breath. "Dad, I love you and will forever miss you."

I glanced down at Chris and motioned for him to step forward, he did and took the microphone from me.

"My name is Chris, I am the oldest grandson. My grandpa taught me how to play ball and how to hunt. I will miss spending time with him. I love you grandpa." He handed the microphone down to Danny.

"My name is Danny. My grandpa was my best friend. This weekend we were supposed to go fishing together..." He looked up at me. "I can't do this Uncle Jasper."

I reached down and picked up my nephew, who began sobbing. "Thank you again." I said as I walked my nephews back to their seats.

Danny climbed out of my lap and ran to Esme. She picked him up and allowed him to cry in her shoulder.

The time came for the final goodbyes. I led Alice up first. She was trembling and crying. She placed the rose on the casket. "I love you daddy." She cried and walked away.

(Edward)
Mom was the last one to go up. She had wept openly throughout the funeral, and when Danny broke down, she was the one who managed to get him to calm down, by just allowing him to cry.

I watched as mom stood there at the casket for a long time. "I think you need to go up there." Bella whispered.

I nodded in agreement and went up there.

I walked up and hugged mom. "I can't leave him. I don't want to." She cried.

"Mom, its time to go." I whispered gently.

"Please Edward don't make me. I can't live without him."

"Mom, I miss him too, we all do, but he wouldn't want us to be so sad. He would want this to be a celebration of his life, not a mourning over his death." I said.

She fell into the casket. "I love you Carlisle." She sobbed as she allowed me to pull her away. She was shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. Emmett noticed, and came up to help me.

(Bella)
That night after mom went to bed, I found Edward sitting on the bed. "Hey." I whispered sitting next to him.

He looked over at me. "I have never felt so numb in my life."

"I know the feeling." I said wrapping my arms around him. He leaned down and kissed me.

We were both exhausted, but this was pure need. We needed each other, to comfort each other. I pulled him down with me. "Bella."

"Sh Edward, don't talk please. I need you right now, I need to feel you."

We fell asleep that night in each others arms.