Chapter Nine

The Cullen's home was nothing like I had expected. Esme had picked me up from my home, wearing a purple sweater and black yoga pants. She wore matching purple sneakers, almost immediately I felt underdressed. We were just starting the physical therapy sessions but, I was currently wearing a large oversized t-shirt with black yoga pants and my obnoxious pink sneakers. I had upgraded from a plaster cast to a 3D printed cast. It was light purple and I was actually able to have access to my leg. The first thing I did when the plaster came off was take a shower and carefully washed and shaved the darned thing. It was odd having it off at first but Carlisle insisted I continue to wear at least a 3D one to keep the bones in place while they continued to heal. I was still on crutches at school but I could use the wall and other pieces of furniture at home to get around. I was still slow either way but I was getting more and more proficient at moving about.

My hair was up in a messy bun and I pinned back curls with bobby pins as we parked the dark Mercedes in the garage. The house itself was open, I wasn't expecting so many windows or for it to be so open. The house was old but it seemed to have been restored to look like its original grandeur.

"It's beautiful," I breathed.

Esme smiled gratefully.

"I'm glad you like it, wait till you come inside," She said excitedly.

I clamored out of the car, as carefully as I could, I had already made the mistake of bumping my leg into something unintentionally and it felt like I had broken my leg again. I then remember Carlisle had said something along the lines of, 'leg may be sensitive to the open air for several days after and to take of my surroundings'. I took things a little slower after that. The inside was just as bright and open as the outside. The space must have been several rooms, but walls had been removed from most of the first floor to create one wide open space. The rear south-facing wall had been entirely replaced with glass windows, and, the lawn was bare to the wide river. A massive curving staircase dominated the west side of the room. The walls, the high-beamed ceiling, the wooden floors, and the thick carpets were all varying shades of white and greys. There was a large grand piano in a grey/black wood, I imagined it was absurdly expensive.

"Who plays?" I asked indicating the piano.

"Edward, we all play some instrument, Edward kept with it more than the others." Esme answered smiling lightly at the piano.

I smiled, he seemed to be very much the classical player. Esme clapped her hands.

"Well then, let's get started!"

Getting started was actually a full workout, she put me through the gauntlet, but I held up surprisingly well. She was a great person to talk to and even better to work out with, she slowed down slightly when she saw I was struggling but pushed me so I knew I was getting a workout. It wasn't until we stopped for lunch that I realized what time it was. It was nearly two in the afternoon, we had been at it for about three hours on and off. Esme was busy cooking at the stove and placed a plate of spaghetti and breadsticks in front of me. The first bite was heaven.

"This is amazing," I gushed.

She smiled gratefully.

"You did very well, Carlisle will be pleased with how you're healing," Esme said.

I smiled and dug in. I was halfway through my plate when Carlisle came in, he wore a sky blue sweater and khaki slacks and brown leather loafers. He kissed Esme on the cheek and pulled her away slightly to speak to her. Whatever they had spoken about he seemed pleased with the answers that Esme had given him.

"Esme says you did very well in her session, a few more over the next month you should have a hundred percent function in your leg back." Carlisle said pleasantly.

I nodded, smiling.

"Where is everyone, I know we had a session today, the house has been unusually quiet…" Esme asked Carlisle.

"Edward is with Bella, she'll be by later to meet us,"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Formally," he added.

"And how is Rose handling it?"

I knew Rose wasn't too happy that Bella and I were now more or less apart of the family, but she and I had spent some time together so we were cordial sometimes even more friendly. A pale hand snuck out and reached for a breadstick but I quickly stabbed it with my fork, and the hand froze in mid-air.

"Steal my breadstick and I will find a way to hurt you," I vowed looking up at my favorite grizzly Cullen.

Emmett grinned impishly.

"You wouldn't hurt your favorite Cullen, would you?" he asked.

"I'm fairly sure you're not her favorite," Rose said getting a water bottle from the fridge.

I blushed crimson, and I saw Rose grin, Emmett laughed ruffling my hair. I swatted him away, wielding my fork threatening as he walked around me with his hands up in defense. Esme swatted him with a dish towel.

"Go get ready for the hunt, Carlisle will no doubt leave without you,"

With a quiet goodbye to the statuesque blonde and the large grizzly Cullen they left the kitchen. I had ate more than I probably should have but after that workout I was starved.

"I'll pack up the left overs for you." Esme vowed.

"You're amazing, thank you,"

Esme smiled and led me up the staircase and to a room that was warm in rich chocolates and browns. The room itself was rather large the room was kind of circular, there was a large built in bookcase into the wall to my right, it was filled with books and a few photos breaking up the numerous of volumes on the shelves. There was a small end table and large cushioned chair underneath it with a small lamp sitting in the middle. To my left was a writing desk and chair, there were some pieces of paper beside a modern, and rather expensive looking laptop. The hallway narrowed further back revealing the bedroom. The bed itself was large and round, it was slightly darker here, a lamp was pushed away from the bed but it was modern with wire like designs that projected branch like shapes on the walls. Across from the bed were more cushioned chairs and a guitar on a stand. There was a vanity a little more towards the rear of the room, a mirror was there along with a single sink, the cabinet was made of dark wood and black countertop with gold veining scattered across its surface. There was a large slab of wood with a small nook for fingers that I imagined was the bathroom. I immediately knew whose room this was, and I felt very, very shy and slightly nervous. Esme seemed to pick up on my mood.

"He'll be out hunting with Carlisle, and I doubt very much he would mind you using it." She assured me.

I nodded still shy.

"I'll leave clothes for you on the bed to change into, just bring me your dirty things and we'll wash them for you for your next session," Esme offered.

I nodded.

"Towels are in there as are soap and shampoo and the like, just call if you need anything."

She left me alone in the room, and I was very curious but also very shy, I wasn't exactly invited in here. But I was grimy and felt dirty and that won over in the end. I went into the shower portion of the bathroom and shut the door, locking it behind me. The room despite how small it looked outside was vastly different inside. The room was smooth flagstone in browns, golds and caramel colors. The walls were tiled the same. The showering portion of the bathroom was separated only from the bathtub by a wall of glass that went from floor to nearly ceiling. It was frosted from about four feet to the floor, obscuring the person inside for privacy. So my head would be the only thing visible in this instance. Just outside the showering area was a rack for towels in brown and a burnt orange color. To the left of the shower area was a large tub, too big for one person, I may have been able to swim in the darn thing. But it was low, possibly built into the house/floor for the main floor, but it was large and looked very relaxing. There were towels nearby on a dark wooded cabinet in green. Sighing knowing I'd likely try to stall more if I didn't just jump right in, so to speak. I tugged my hair out of its messy ponytail, wishing desperately for a brush, but for now I'd make do with my hands. Dragging my fingers through the curls pulling apart any tangles I settled for semi-brushed hair until I actually found a brush. Tugging off my oversized shirt and bra, I tried to tug the pants off my 3D cast and did so without much effort, a vast difference to how the plaster cast was, something I was immensely happy with.

After nearly scalding myself turning on the water, I quickly figured out how to work the shower and dived in, the hot water felt amazing on my skin and sore tired muscles. I stood there for several minutes letting the water penetrate the muscles, blasting the tiredness away. Once I felt relaxed enough I quickly used the wash and shampoo and conditioner, enjoying the smells. I loved how he smelled. And the scents gave me a slap of reality that I was in his bathroom in his room. Quickly finishing up I grabbed the nearest towel and towel dried my hair and used another for my body. Mentally I slapped myself for not waiting for Esme to bring the clothes in the room before I went for the shower. Heart beating wildly, and loud enough to be heard in my own ears I took a deep breath, grabbed my dirty laundry balled it up and unlocked the bathroom and peeked into the main room. I sighed in relief to see that he had not, in fact, been waiting in his room, or that there was any indication that he was back. The tiny voice inside my head was hissing at me that it didn't really matter what it appeared to look like, since he was a vampire and all.

Hushing the voice, I walked out and noticed the neatly folding clothes on the dark comforter of the bed. Setting the ball of dirty clothes by the door of the shower I went to examine them. How she was able to guess my size I would never know, but they were cute. It was a slightly large grey cable knit sweater, some soft blue jeans that was skinny and some white socks for my feet. The underwear is what made me blush. They were definitely designer, and judging from the tags they were from France. The bottoms were cheeky lace, in a mint green color, and the bra was a matching crème color with mint green lace along the cups with a little mint green bow in the middle. Stuffing the embarrassing undergarments between the shirt and pants I prepared to go back into the bathroom to change when a picture caught my eye.

It was a photo on the end table near the bed, the frame was dark wood, but it was the photo that caught my attention. In the middle was a boy, maybe my age or a little older, it was an old photograph not at all color or digital like they were today, but like the old west that were printed on heavy lined paper. The hair was mussed up in a familiar way he was wearing an army uniform, wracking my brain for my history I realized that this was the Confederate army uniform. Beside the strangely familiar boy were two others, I didn't know or recognize. In the frame beside that was a more recent photo of a smiling Jasper with two people I didn't recognize. Feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand I turned slightly to see Jasper standing in the small hall separating the bed from the main part of the bedroom. I could feel a blush forming as he stared at me brazenly, I was aware I was wearing a towel but the way he stared…it was almost he was looking past it. His eyes were bright and golden, but they had a darker tint to them, the pupil was large as he was drinking me in. He smiled softly but I noticed his hands were in his belt loops. He wore a dark green button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up on his forearms displaying the muscles there, and dark washed jeans that hung his frame…very nicely I might add. His telltale boots were on his feet.

"You were in the confederate army?" I asked when I found my voice, it was rough and I was slightly embarrassed at the sound of it.

He tipped his head, kind of the way a cat did when it heard something.

"I was," he said shortly, his southern drawl heavy.

I nodded looking back at the photo, I wasn't very rehearsed in the military or any of their patches but I knew what he wore was a rank of Major. I turned to speak back to him when I noticed, he was standing in front of me suddenly, looking down at me curiously. I swallowed a little nervously and well...something else. I was keenly aware I was in his room, wearing nothing but a towel. I looked up at him, he slowly but deliberately brushed my hair back off my shoulders, revealing my neck and collarbone to him. I could hear him draw in my scent and I noticed his eyes darkened a fraction more. My skin tingled where he touched, he began tracing the my collarbone and I could hear my heartbeat quicken again at his touch and the butterflies that were in my stomach whenever Jasper was near, were doing some sort of aerial dance or something as they intensified.

"The things you do to me Ms. Cross," He said softly.

He traced my collarbone to my shoulders and down my arms and repeated the process upwards. After a few moments of silence his took my shoulders gently and placed a kiss on my brow before resting his lips there.

"Best get dressed Ms. Cross before I do something very ungentlemanly."

He stepped back and a paused for a moment before going into the bathroom and shutting the door behind me. Leaning against the door, I let out a breath I hadn't been aware I had been holding. I shirked the towel putting it in the hamper in the corner before pulling the tags off the underwear and pulling them on and the clothes following suit. They were warm and comfortable, and I felt a bit less exposed than I was two minutes ago standing in front of Jasper. I opened the door again and Jasper was sitting on the bed now. He looked up at me, his eyes now golden, but they still had the dark tint to them, but it looked like friendly Jasper was back. I walked to him slowly not sure how to read him and he took a belt loop of mine and pulled me so I was more or less straddling his waist again perched on his lap. I was also keenly aware of the effect I had on him earlier, and my face returned the crimson it was moments before and I found the stitching in his shirt suddenly very interesting.

"You haven't the faintest idea how hard it was to control myself," he murmured into my neck, his hands were at my back playing with the ends of my hair.

I swallowed and I felt a small smirk form on his lips.

"See Emmett I told you, you aren't her favorite"

My head snapped to the doorway and saw non-other than Rose and Emmett there, Rose was looking smug and Emmett was grinning from ear to ear, like the Cheshire cat. I buried my head in shoulder as I felt him chuckle beneath me.

"To what do we owe the pleasure?" Jasper asked

"Alice says there is going to be a storm tonight," Rosalie began.

"And I want to play ball, are you game?" Emmett said excitedly.

The words were simple enough but I was still lost.

"You should bring Remi, she'd have fun," Rose offered.

I blinked in surprise. Although Rose and I were cordial she hadn't outright been nice to me or offered to have me involved in any way, until now.

"Do you want to go?" Jasper asked his eyes dancing in excitement.

"Sure, where are we going?" I asked confused.

"We need wait for a thunderstorm to play ball, you'll see why when we arrive." Jasper assured me.

I nodded.

"Let's go see if Edwards going to bring her along," Rosalie mumbled.

Emmett said something but I couldn't hear as the exited the room. I looked at Jasper confused.

"What are we doing?"

"We are going to play baseball, you'll be watching."

"Oh good, I have zero coordination," I said relieved.

"I can't imagine you're that bad," Jasper said in a positive voice.

"Oh you've never seen Bella and me in gym," I mumbled fiddling with a button on his shirt.

He chuckled and there was another silence, my heart was still beating somewhat wildly in my chest. I swallowed a little nervously. I peeked up at Jasper and he was giving me a crooked little grin.

"Nervous darling?'

I blushed and he chuckled before kissing the top of my head.

"Let's get you home for the time being, I'm sure your mother would like some time with you," Jasper said after a few moments.

He moved to stand but maneuvered me so I was more or less on his back like a koala. His hands were locked lightly just under my butt much to my embarrassment and he gave me a piggy back ride to the staircase and paused. I felt him stiffen slightly, peeking over his shoulder I noticed Bella had arrived with Edward downstairs. She wore a long khaki skirt and a royal blue V-neck top and her hair was slung up in a ponytail. She must've felt a pair of eyes on her because she looked up. I waved to her from my spot on Jasper's back. Jasper slowly made his way to the stairs, pausing a few feet from the bottom of the stairs. I could tell he was breathing very little. I squeezed my arms in assurance that he was going to be ok, and he seemed to relax slightly. Bella pointed a finger at me.

"You knew?!"

I grinned sheepishly from my spot.

"And you didn't tell me?" Bella said frowning slightly.

"Not my secret to tell Bells, sides things seemed to have worked out in your favor," I said grinning.

She blushed and looked between me and Jasper and I could see questions burning in her eyes. Alice was suddenly at my side.

"You're letting me do something with your hair before later," She demanded.

I blinked and nodded, knowing resistance was futile. Jasper turned to Carlisle and Esme whom stood nearby.

"I'm going to take Remi home for a bit." Jasper stated.

"Thank you again for the session," I thanked Esme.

She smiled.

"Same time next week," She stated.

I nodded and smiled. Jasper carried me down into the garage where I slid off him carefully and got into the passenger side of his car. The road home was filled with country music and his hand on my leg tapping lightly to beat of the music.