Hi again! Because of unforeseen circumstances, I'm posting this unbeta'd. I polled on Twitter and got more votes for an unbeta'd chapter than waiting for it. However, a few lovely ladies, burntcore and knittingvamp7, have looked over it for me so I'm hoping it's not too bad. Commas are my eternal enemy so if you see one out of place, give a girl a break. ;) Once my beta gets a chance to review the chapter, I'll probably update it with the final, corrected one.

You guys leave me the loveliest reviews and I adore you for them. Thank you. I need to warn you that I'm going out of town for a few days and have exhausted my banked chapters, so bear with me as updates may not be as consistent as they have been so far.

If you were able to get the Fandom4storms compilation, I hope you enjoyed the glimpse into Alice's mind. If you didn't get it, I'll post it next month on here.

While I was waiting in the car on Sunday around noon for Jasper and Brandon to arrive, Edward called.

"Mom wants to know if you and Brandon would like to come over for dinner. She's very anxious to see you guys and won't take 'no' for an answer, so you might as well give in," he said with a laugh. What was I supposed to say to that?

I heard a female voice in the background on his end. "Stop that, Edward! She'll think I'm a bully!"

"Ow, Ma! You are a bully! Stop slapping me!" I heard shuffling on the other end of the phone before Edward's voice came through again. "Will you two please agree to come before I have to report my mother for abuse?"

"You're twenty-eight, you big baby!" I heard her yell in the background. I laughed and readily agreed to dinner. Edward promised to pick us up by three before we disconnected.

As I dropped my phone back into my purse, I noticed a car pulling alongside mine. I was slightly miffed that they had parked so close to me because I had deliberately parked away from other cars. My anger turned into confusion when I noticed Jasper climbing out of the driver's seat with a female in the front passenger's seat. Curiosity got the best of me, so I climbed out of my car to greet Brandon and find out who was with him and Jasper.

"Hi, LaLa!" He called as he ran over to me as fast as his little legs would carry him.

"Hi, buddy! I missed you this weekend. Did you have a good time?"

"Uh-huh. I stayed wif Nana and we made cookies!"

"Did your Daddy eat them all up?" I asked playfully, poking him in the ribs so I could hear his giggle. He humored me with a laugh, but his next words made me stop dead in my tracks.

"No, Daddy wasn't wif us. He was wif Ma-wee-ah." He wasn't with him? Instead of confronting Jasper in front of Brandon, I watched as he said his goodbyes and secured him in his seat. While he was content with his little blue car, I turned and quietly addressed Jasper.

"You weren't with him?"

Jasper rolled his eyes. "Of course I was with him. I started dating someone recently and took her out last night. He was asleep by the time I got home."

"Is that her?" I asked.

"Yeah." He waved me over to the driver's side door and opened it. "Bella, this is Maria. Maria, this is Bella, Brandon's aunt."

"Hi," she said in a bored tone, not bothering to even look at me. She was clacking away on her cell phone with her fake nails that were extremely too long to be functional. Her clothes were too tight … and too short … and she was popping gum like an actress from a teenage movie. Nice catch there, Jasper.

I greeted her in return before I leaned back up and tried not to glare at Jasper. I counted to ten, trying to control my temper before I lost it.

"Jasper, I just recently starting seeing someone myself. It's new and I understand it's difficult when you're trying to develop a relationship. But we only go out alone when Brandon is with you. Otherwise, he's included." I could see Jasper's face growing red and angry, but I wasn't backing down.

"Jasper, he needs the time with you in order to bond. He only sees you four days a month."

"And whose fault is that?" He spat angrily. That, in turn, made me angry.

"Surely you aren't accusing me of anything! I'm not keeping him from you." I couldn't believe he had the balls to stand there and act like it was my fault that he only saw his son when he did.

He closed his eyes and breathed heavily. I was turning to walk to the other side of my car and drive away before I said something I'd regret when he called out my name.

"I'm sorry," he said regretfully. "I really am. You're right. I'll try to make arrangements from now on to include him if he's with us."

I stayed quiet, afraid that I would either snap at him again or start crying.

"You have to understand that this is all still new to me," he continued. "Maria doesn't have a lot of experience with children and I thought he would be more comfortable with Mom than with us at some restaurant. But I see your point, and I'll make it up to him. I promise."

"It's fine, Jasper. I'm sure he had a great time with your mother. I just wanted to address the issue. I didn't mean to come off 'high and mighty'. I know this is still new to you, but he has to come first. Always."

"Yeah, you're right." He shuffled his feet on the pavement as an awkward silence loomed between us. "I'll, uh, call him later this week, okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine. See you next time." I turned and climbed into my car while Jasper waved at Brandon.

I rushed home and ran Brandon a bath. While he was playing with his toys, I took the opportunity to question his further about his weekend. I wondered how long Maria had been in the picture and if she had anything to do with his less-than-enthusiastic attitude when Jasper had picked him up on Saturday.

"Brandon, did you have fun with your Nana? I bet those cookies were good, huh?"

"Uh-huh. She gave me milk, too. I drank it all gone so I get muscles, like 'dis." He dropped his boat and flexed both of his arms upward.

I laughed and nodded. "Wow, look at those muscles already! You're so strong!" He picked his boat back up and resumed playing. "What about Maria? Is she Daddy's girlfriend like I'm Edward's girlfriend?"

"Uh-huh," he said quietly. "She's not very nice like Ehwurd. She won't play wif me. Daddy don't play wif me when she's 'dere. I like Ehwurd. Where is he?" He asked as he looked around like he had just realized that Edward wasn't with us. Brandon's revelations made me angry, but it wasn't my responsibility to tell Jasper how to handle his parenting duties. I would sure as hell keep asking Brandon about Maria, though, and if he continued to be ignored while she was around, I would report his comments to Shelley.

"He's going to come pick us up in a little while and we're going to his mommy and daddy's house for dinner. I need you to be on your best behavior there, okay? Can you show them what a good boy you are?"

"I will, LaLa," he promised solemnly. "I say 'pwease' and 'tank you'.

"That's my sweet boy. Now come on, let's get you all clean and dressed."

~ D ~

"Why are you fidgeting so much?" Edward asked, as he looked over at me.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not fidgeting." That might have been a lie.

"Yes, you are, Bella. You've checked your appearance in that visor mirror three hundred times on the ride over here. I promise that no mysterious fungus has begun to grow on your face since we left your house." I scowled at him, mildly irritated. I hadn't checked my reflection that many times, had I?

"You know," I began, "you were just as bad when I introduced you to my dad." I had invited Edward to join us last Wednesday night for our weekly dinner. Charlie had heard the gossip around town and insisted on meeting him. Edward had been pacing nervously back and forth behind his car when I pulled in the lot. Once we were inside, he was the perfect picture of ease and politeness.

It was funny to watch Charlie, who was determined not to like any man that tried to weasel his way into my and Brandon's lives, slowly come around to Edward. He initially grilled him, shooting questions at him like he was a detainee being interrogated. Every time, Edward fired back an answer that won Charlie over a little bit more. That, paired with watching Brandon's obvious adoration of Edward, led to Charlie's approval. By the time we walked out of the diner, Charlie was clapping him on the back and they were talking about fishing lures. It was sickening, really.

"This is different, Edward. You have a mother I have to impress."

"Bella, you already know my mother." He rolled his eyes.

"Yes, but she hasn't met me as your girlfriend," I replied.

"And that makes a difference?"

"Of course it makes a difference, Edward!" Did the man honestly not know?

"Why?" Why? Good question, Edward.

"Because … it just does. Don't ask me why." He laughed at my nonsense, reached over and locked our fingers together. His touch was just what I needed to reassure me.

"LaLa, are we almost there?" Brandon asked from the back seat.

"Almost, buddy. Remember to be on your best behavior, please."

"Okay, LaLa. I pwomise to mine my manners," he said seriously.

"You mind your manners and be a good boy and maybe we can go get ice cream on our way home." I wasn't above bribery.

"Really?" He asked excitedly. "Ehwurd, will you take us to get ice cream?"

"I sure will, little man, as long as LaLa says it's okay."

"Ehwurd, is your mommy at your house?" Edward laughed and looked out the window as he answered.

"Well, she's at her house, buddy. It isn't my house. Hopefully, I'll be in my house soon."

"My mommy doesn't live at my house. I dunno where she lives." My heart stuttered. I didn't speak because at the moment, I couldn't. What do you say to something like that? Thankfully, Edward was on his toes, because he chimed in and steered the conversation away.

"Well, you know what though? You are so special that you have a LaLa that gets to live with you. Not everyone has that." He paused momentarily and then did his best to distract Brandon from the conversation at hand. "You'll have to come visit me when I get moved into my new house. We can go play in the woods and get dirty," Edward teased as he glanced at Brandon in the review mirror.

"Can LaLa get dirty, too?"

"If she wants to, she can." Edward glanced at me with a wink. I think I caught some innuendo in that wink.

"Nah, she won't want to. She's a girl. Girls don't like dirt."

I laughed and interrupted their conversation. "You're right. Girls don't like much dirt, so I'll watch from the side and I'll be ready to hose you off." I reached back and ticked Brandon's leg, loving the sound of his laughter. His pain was my pain and I couldn't stand knowing that he was thinking about why his mommy wasn't around.

Brandon resumed quietly humming to himself and playing with his stuffed bear in the back seat. While he was distracted, I took the opportunity to squeeze Edward's hand.

"Thank you," I whispered quietly.

He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it as he glanced at me. "Anytime."

We pulled into his parents' driveway moments later. They met us outside with warm smiles and lots of hugs. Brandon didn't quite know what to think of them, especially when he saw Dr. Cullen.

"Are you gonna give me a shot?" He asked warily. Unfortunately, he must have remembered the time last fall when I took him to the emergency room and Dr. Cullen had been the attending doctor. Brandon had a nasty case of bronchitis that the antibiotics his normal pediatrician had given couldn't touch. After hearing him almost choke every time he coughed one night, I fled with him to the hospital in hopes that they could do something. And they sure did, in the form of a shot. I had to hold Brandon down, which was not fun at all, and we both left the hospital in tears that night. On the up side, he was significantly better the next day.

Dr. Cullen laughed and bent down to his level. Brandon tucked himself behind my leg like he normally did when he was scared.

"No, I promise you won't get a shot today. Today, I'm not Dr. Cullen. Today I'm just Edward's dad, so how about you call me Carlisle, okay?"

"Okay," Brandon said quietly.

"You know what I have in my backyard?" Carlisle asked. I peeked back and saw Brandon shake his head. "A swing. Would you like to go swing?" Brandon's eyes grew wide and he nodded. "Ok, ask your Aunt Bella."

"La-La, Can I go wif him?"

"Sure you can," I replied with a smile. He crept out from behind me and walked up to place his hand in Dr. Cullen's outstretched one. They hurried off, leaving the rest of us to catch up with them.

"Bella," Esme gushed happily. "I'm so glad you could come. Edward has talked about you nonstop for weeks now."

"Mooooom," Edward chastised playfully. His cheeks tinged with a faint blush as I laughed at him.

"Well, if my mom was around, I would've been gushing to her for the past few weeks, too," I replied as I gave Edward a wink. He ducked his head and smiled shyly. God, how I was falling for this man. Quick.

"Well, come on. Let's go see what kind of trouble those two are getting in. I'm afraid Carlisle might be a bad influence."

I laughed at her teasing concern. "I doubt Dr. Cullen could get him in any more trouble than he gets himself in. He's a mischievous little boy."

"Pfft, Bella. You obviously don't realize how much trouble grown men can get themselves into. And please, call him 'Carlisle' and me 'Esme'. None of that 'Dr. and Mrs.' stuff. Makes me feel pretentious."

"Ok," I laughed. "No problem."

We rounded the corner of their large house and saw Carlisle pushing Brandon on the wooden swing hanging from a large tree. Brandon's squeals rang through the air, his delight contagious and intoxicating. The content feeling I got whenever I knew, without a doubt, he was happy washed over me. Between that feeling and the one I got from Edward silently linking our pinkies together, I felt as though I could take on the world. I was happy with just Brandon and me, but the addition of Edward as a constant in my life lately made it feel…whole.

~ D ~

When we sat down at Carlisle and Esme's dinner table, my gaze immediately landed on the pot roast that was sitting in the middle. I wasn't looking forward to fighting with Brandon because I knew he wouldn't eat that. However, I dished him out a toddler-sized portion, along with a few potatoes and carrots, before I served myself. When I sat the plate in front of him, I saw his face scrunch up and knew what was coming.

"What is dat?" I opened my mouth to answer but was cut off by Edward's voice.

"It's pot roast. It's good. My mom used to make it special for me. She said it would make me grow up strong and healthy in case the super heroes ever needed my help."

Brandon's eyes grew wide and he tentatively picked up his fork. He glanced back up at Edward sitting on the other side of him once more, before taking a small bite. I watched him chew and swallow before getting a larger bite. He even ate a carrot. I was amazed and wondered if Edward had put some kind of voodoo spell on my little boy.

After dinner and, to Brandon's delight, chocolate cake, we settled out on the patio to talk while Brandon played with a ball that had been dug up out of the garage. We talked and watched him kick the ball back and forth across the yard for a while before Edward decided to join him. Carlisle joined them not too long after, leaving Esme and me alone.

"Edward adores Brandon," she stated quietly.

"The feeling's mutual, I think." I watched as Brandon plowed into Edward, trying to get the ball away. Edward laughed, scooped him up under his arm and ran toward a tree as Brandon squealed in delight. Carlisle stood in the middle of the yard watching the scene play out.

"They seem to be good for one another. I haven't seen Edward this happy in a long time. I mean, he was always happy, but now he seems so alive and full of life. That's what a mother wants to see. I'm sure you can relate," she said pointedly.

"Yeah, I understand completely."

"I admire you a lot, Bella. There's no telling what kind of life that little boy would've had had you not stepped up to the plate for him." Esme looked at me with a small smile and kind eyes.

"I did what I had to do," I shrugged.

"I know," she said. "But I hated having to struggle being alone with Edward when I was that young. Before Carlisle came along, I was barely scraping by. You did it voluntarily and you are doing so well."

"Wait-what?" I was so confused. "Before Carlisle came along?"

"Oh dear. Edward didn't tell you about his biological father?" She looked shamed, like she let the cat out of the bag. I guess she did.

"Carlisle isn't?"

"No," she sighed. "But he's the only father Edward has ever known and has been a damn good one." She turned her head from me and I saw her gaze land upon her husband who was standing back watching Edward push Brandon on the swing.

"I would never have guessed. I mean, they look enough alike." They had pretty much the same build, although Edward was a good bit taller, and they were both extraordinarily handsome. The more I stared at Esme, the more I realized that Edward looked quite a lot like her, just in male form. Same hair color, same eye color. Even their lips were the same shape.

"It's just a coincidence, I guess. No one has ever questioned it and I guess Edward doesn't think to bring it up. I'm sorry that I did. I guess he probably doesn't consciously think about it like I do. He was about Brandon's age when I met Carlisle, so he really doesn't remember Carlisle ever not being in the picture. Edward's biological father hasn't seen him since he was two. He relinquished all of his rights and Carlisle legally adopted Edward after we were married."

"Wow, I had no idea." I hated that I hadn't found this out from Edward, but I understood why he probably didn't think to tell me himself. Carlisle was his father, period.

"The reason I'm telling you this, Bella, is because Edward knows that Carlisle didn't have to step up and be the father that he was to Edward…but he did. He was the man that taught him to play catch and football, and the one to teach him about girls and lead him into manhood. He admires Carlisle and has made every effort to be the kind of man that would make him proud to call Edward his son.

"I think Edward has fallen for you and Brandon the way Carlisle fell for us. I don't know where your relationship with him will go, but I can assure you that if it develops into much more in the future, Edward would be the father figure Brandon needs in his life."

~ D ~

When we prepared to leave that evening, Brandon gave both Esme and Carlisle warm, familiar hugs like he had known them for his entire little life. Esme offered to babysit the next time Edward and I went out, and Brandon practically begged me to let him come.

"Please, LaLa. I need to come back and see Nez-may. She said we could make cookies." There was that pleading look again that he had perfected lately. A weapon of mass destruction, I tell you.

"Maybe you can do that soon then," I said as he bounced around. Turning toward Esme and Carlisle, I hugged her lightly and thanked them both for dinner. "We had a wonderful time."

"I'm so glad. Please come back and visit us soon. I'd love to get to know you better. You don't even have to bring this shaggy guy with you," she gestured toward Edward. She had been teasing him all night about the length of his hair. According to her, he normally kept it much shorter but he defended himself saying that he hadn't had time to make it to the barber shop yet. Personally, I thought it was beautifully messy, but I knew better than to dispute my boyfriend's mother this early in a relationship.

"I'll do it. If you're ever in town around lunchtime, give me a call." Her face lit up brilliantly, and my heart warmed knowing that such a small suggestion gave her so much joy.

"I'd love that, thank you."

"Sure." I dug in my purse for a business card and handed it to her. "My cell number is on the front in case I'm not in the office. I'll see you soon?" I asked.

"Absolutely," she replied as Edward leaned over and kissed his mom on the cheek. "You better hold on this one, son. She's a keeper. And she comes with a bonus." She giggled as she watched Brandon sing to himself as he walked circles around me and Edward.

His answering smile made me blush. "She sure is. Don't worry mom," he said as he glanced at her. "I'm not letting her go anywhere. I'm afraid they're stuck with me now."

~ D ~

"He's going to be awfully disappointed tomorrow when he realizes that he didn't get his ice cream," I said after I turned to check on an awfully quiet little boy. He was conked out in his car seat with his little mouth wide open.

"Eh, we could always take him tomorrow night if it's okay with you," Edward shrugged. I looked out the window and saw the faint reflection of my face smiling back at me. It was hard sometimes to comprehend how thoughtful and considerate he was.

"I'm sure he'd love that," I said quietly. Turning my head his way, I geared myself up for the confession I felt I need to tell him. "Your mom told me something this evening that I didn't know, but it's about you and I didn't want you to find out that I know when you didn't tell me."

His brow drew together in confusion, probably trying to decipher my rambling. "What?" He asked with a laugh.

"She told me that Carlisle wasn't your biological dad. I'm sorry. I think she assumed that I knew."

"Oh." He was quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "Are you mad that I didn't tell you?"

"No, not at all. At first, I didn't understand why you didn't, especially given the circumstances surrounding Brandon, but the more she told me, the more I understood."

"I'm sorry. It's just not something that I think about. Carlisle is my dad. The other man is only someone I share DNA with. When he signed me off as his son, there was another man more than willing to step up into his place and resume that role in my life. That is what a true father is." He glanced in the rearview mirror at Brandon and then over at me. "It's the same with you and him. Even though he may not call you "mommy", you are the only mommy he knows."

I nodded in agreement. "I understand that. I just wanted you to know that she told me."

"It's fine. No big deal. I guess you now know about all of the skeletons in my closet," he said with a sly grin.

"If those are all the skeletons in your closet, I think I'm the one getting off easy in this relationship. Of course, I have no skeletons in my closet. They're all out in the open for the world to see."

"Bella, those aren't your skeletons. You should be proud of what you've done instead of embarrassed by your sister's actions. You can't control other people."

"I know, I know. It's just hard when everyone in town knows your family so well and they gossip so much. But I can't bring myself to be mad at Alice for her faults and weaknesses." I glanced once more at the sleeping boy in the back seat, his head bobbed to the side and arm gripped around his teddy bear's neck. "If she had never met Jasper, I would've never had that."

Reviews make me smile like a mad woman and I need something to make me smile after the past few days I've had. Yeah, I'm totally playing the sympathy card there…

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