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Inspirational pics for chapters, bio of the characters and more can be found on my blog. This story can also be found on TWCS. I'm under the same penname.

Summary: Jasper Whitlock spent his high school years being tormented by Edward Cullen. When their paths cross again years later, could the boy he once hated become the man he loves? Mature themes. For mature audiences only!

EPOV

"What is that?" he asks, obviously hearing the music through the phone.

"Your mom and sister are dancing." Jeanne and Rose decided after dinner, that dancing would be a great way to burn some calories.

They've already pulled me in a few dances, but I'm taking a break, and thought I'd call my boyfriend. Maybe mess with him for a bit. So while my stereo system is on high with Rose cheering when she finds a song she likes as Jeanne protests, I'm laughing my ass off. Jasper is so damn lucky. This was the type of family I wanted as a kid. A great mom, a fun sibling, and maybe a good dad thrown in the mix.

But I was unfortunate in that department.

"Dancing?" he asks, bringing my attention back to him.

"Yeah, it burns calories," I joke.

"I know something else that burns a lot of calories," he says in a husky tone that goes straight to my cock. I jump and head for my bedroom, wanting to continue this conversation in private. I know Rose and Jeanne are here so I can't jerk off without the possibility of one of them walking in on me. I can't even lock the door, because Rose will definitely tease me.

"I can't," I whine.

"Can't what?" If he continues to talk in that tone, I'm going to come in my pants.

"Baby, stop."

"Stop what?" he chuckles. The tone again goes to my cock making it twitch.

"Alright, alright. I'll get my hands on you soon." He pauses and I have to wonder if he's still on the line.

"Jasper?"

"Yeah, I'm here. It's just…"

"Just what?"

He sighs before saying, "I was talking to your dad." My cock deflates and I spring up from the bed, pacing the room as my anger rises.

"What the fuck did he say?" Why the hell is Dad talking to Jasper? Didn't he hate him?

"Nothing, Edward, calm down," he insists. "He just wanted to talk."

"About what?"

"Everything really. He apologized to me." I scoff at that, but Jasper ignores me and goes on, "And he wants to warn us that your mom might try and separate us."

"She won't. I love you and that's it. I'm not looking for her approval. I'm a grown man and I don't want to be a part of their bullshit."

"You are," Jasper counters. "But I think you should listen."

"Why?" I really don't want to direct my angry at him, but he's making very hard.

"You can be mad at me for saying it, but…" It's as if he's reading my mind. "You're their son. Their only child. So you're smack in the middle of it. It doesn't matter how old you are, you are who they choose to battle over."

"Well, that doesn't matter to me, and I don't want him around you filling your head with his bullshit."

"He's not, baby," he says. "But he made a valid point about something and as soon as I see you, we have something to talk. Remember what I said?"

"Yeah, you wanted to talk to me and it involves Demetri." It fucking pains me to say that prick's name, but I hope I hide it well from Jasper.

He sighs. "Yeah, that's part of it. Listen, I gotta go. Go dance with the girls. I have to warn you though, they're energetic and it won't end for a while."

"Alright then," I say, although I'm now wondering what he means about Demetri only being part of it. What else is there? "I'll try to enjoy it, but don't let my dad get to you."

"I'm okay, he was sincere actually. I'm still not trusting this whole change in him, but I can at least listen to the man. He says we should watch out for Esme, and I think we should. Baby, at least be my back up." He chuckles at that. "Hear him out and let me know what you think."

"I don't owe him a thing."

"I know, but it doesn't hurt to listen," he says.

Jasper makes a good point and it surprises me that Dad wants us to beware of Mom. She's a fighter, a control freak, and from personal experience I know when something is not going her way, she'll destroy it. You have to make Esme happy, or all the walls will come crumbling down around you.

"He just walked in," Jasper whispers, bringing me back to the topic at hand.

He's right. I need to talk to Dad.

"Love, tell him to call me."

"I will, I love you."

"I love you too." Jasper hangs up and I walk over to the bed, throwing myself down on it. What the hell is Dad up to? Why is he dragging Jasper into it? And why would he think Mom would be coming after Jasper and me? They are the ones getting a divorce. I shouldn't be thinking about this. I should be wondering what the hell to do for Jasper's proposal. I should be thinking about a ring.

Fuck! A ring.

I haven't gone shopping yet for a ring. I'll need help. Suddenly, I realize my parents need to be put on a back burner. I need to try to think up the perfect proposal and figure out which ring would be perfect for Jasper. The more I thought about it, the more I realized what I wanted.

"Edward? Are you decent?" Jeanne calls through the door, making me laugh.

"Yeah."

"Okayyy," she says, cautiously while opening the door. I chuckle watching her tiptoe into my room.

"This is nice," she says, looking around.

"Thanks," I say from my place on the bed.

She looks at me and comes over to the bed, motioning if she can take a seat.

"Sure," I tell her and she sits down and pats my knee.

"What's eating you?" she asks.

"Nothing," I mumble out.

She smacks me on the knee as Rose walks in. "It's never good to lie to her, Edward."

I laugh at that while wondering if I can share this with them. Rose comes and lies down beside me, ruffling my hair and I tickle her side making her laugh.

"You'd be a great big brother," Jeanne says, smiling at us.

"Or, he's going to be a great dad," Rose interjects. "Can you imagine the moms at the PTA? He and Jasper will charm their panties off."

"Oh that, they both will," Jeanne adds, both of them laughing at me.

"Very funny."

"You still haven't told me the problem," Jeanne reminds me.

"I know." I sigh. "It's just everything. I don't know what the fuc…what to do."

"Thanks for catching yourself with that word, but remember, honey, I birthed Rosalie," she says, making Rose laugh.

Watching them so at ease around me, I'm convinced that I can talk to them. "My dad warned Jasper tonight."

"About what?" they say simultaneously.

"Relax," I chuckle as Rose and Jeanne immediately jump to defend us. It amazes me because so far, I've only had friends who do that, not family.

"So what does he want?" Rose asks, her voice laced with anger.

Sitting up, Rose and I sit facing each other, Indian style, while Jeanne remains seated at the foot of bed with an expectant look on her face. "He wants to make sure that Jasper and I are on our guard when it comes to my mom."

"I don't think he's wrong," Jeanne says. "I don't know her personally, I've only watched at PTAs when you boys were younger, but it sounds like she never changed. She commands the situation and I think, those who aren't in league with her are punished by whatever means she can come up with in her sick mind. I'm sorry for saying that to you, but-"

"You're right," I tell her. "Mom is a control freak. She'll always be my mother, but the things she's done over the years, have not been the nicest."

"So that's where you learned it from, huh?" Rose says while Jeanne abolishes her.

"No, she's right. From her, I learned that people should whimper in my presence. That they were only there to serve me. That I was better than them, and the weak should be crushed beneath my feet. Your boy never backed down from me. He made it seem like I never affect him, no matter what I did." Saying this to Jeanne and Rose pains me. As I sound like a monster to my own self.

"I'm glad he didn't," Jeanne says. "Because I truly believe that's when your change started. You met a boy who was comfortable being who he is and it made you jealous."

"I was. I would watch him and Rose at lunch, how he cared for her," I tell them. "I envied him so much."

"Well, you don't have to anymore because you're never going to get rid of us. You're a part of this family now," Rose says, hugging me.

We part, and she goes on, "So you dating my brother is a big no-no to your mother, right?"

"Yes, but I don't care what she thinks."

"And you think that matters to her," Jeanne counters. "It's obvious, honey."

"It's always been like that," I whisper. It was always like that. Mom would want something and I did it because it seemed like the best thing to do was to just keep her happy. She made me feel powerful, but as time went on, I realized that I was just her pawn. Mom had never shown me an ounce of the affection that Jeanne has in the short time I've known her.

"Well, I think you know your parents better than anyone. What do you think you should do?" Rose asks.

"I think, as much as it pains me to admit, I want to talk my dad."

"Okay, and maybe the two of you can unravel what it is your mama might be up to," Jeanne says, with Rose nodding in agreement. "But I'm warning you, if that woman hurts my child, I'm sorry, but I will not be held accountable for my actions this time around. You both share a past that's not exactly peaches, but I think you've grown. However, your mama may have missed that train. So, she best is careful. I'm just saying."

I chuckle, but nod in agreement with Jeanne. "I won't let her hurt Jasper."

"And you two should talk. I think this divorce between them is gonna drift into your relationship. Someone is gonna try and mess this up and I really don't want that," Rose shares. "I love my brother happy, but I didn't think I'd care about you too. It's weird. I hated you so much back then, but now I want kick anyone's ass who tries to mess with you." Her words really touch me. I blink back the tears, I didn't want to cry at Rose's sincerity, and looking at her, I see her trying to do the same. "So! Let me know who messes with you and I'll pay them a visit."

"This is something Jasper has had to deal with over the years. Rose trying to beat up people. But I'm happy that I can leave tomorrow knowing that my boys are well protected," Jeanne says with a broad smile.

"I'll miss you," I say to her. I will miss her. It's amazing to finally know what it feels like to have a mom. I call Esme that because it seems like the right thing to do, but I've never really felt it. She didn't feel like a mom. She felt more like the snotty aunt of your mother that always makes everyone want to hurt her when she comes around.

"I'll miss you too, honey," she says, getting up and opening her arms to me. I hug her to me, letting her warmth surround me while the lovely scent of her envelopes my senses. She smells like sunshine and vanilla. Just everything that is good.

We part and Rose ruffles my hair again as she passes, smiling.

"Well, we've got to go," Jeanne says as Rose moves to the door. "We've already done the dishes while you were in here."

"I thought you were dancing," I say, incredulously.

"Oh, honey, we can multitask," she whispers, smiling and then turns to move out of the room, but stops and returns to me. "Oh! Remember to let me know how it goes and take a picture." I can hear the excitement in her voice as she reminds me about the ring.

"Take a picture of what?" Rose asks, looking between us.

"Nothing!" Jeanne shouts with a smirk then whispers to me, "I want to see it."

"I think I'm going to start looking at getting one tomorrow," I say to her as she squeals and claps, jumping up and down.

"Okay, that's it," Rose says, walking back over to me and a squealing Jeanne. "What is wrong with her? What did you say to her? Why is she all excited?"

Jeanne looks at me, pleading with her eyes for me to share the news.

"Look, before I say anything to you, you've got to promise me, not a word to your brother."

"Scout's honor. Is it juicy?" she says, waggling her eyebrows. For a minute I think I'm looking at Emmett. He's always excited about hearing something confidential too, and his mind always goes to the gutter. I think he and Rose are perfect for each other.

"I'm gonna propose." Rosalie's face is a mirror of shock when I say it, while Jeanne squeals some more.

I don't know if I should check her pulse or make her lie down as she stands there stiff as a board. "Rose, are you okay? Do you want lie down?"

Her eyes pop out of her head and an ear piercing scream leaves her as she jumps on me. Jeanne follows suit and I find myself with my arms full, trying to steady Jeanne, who's still jumping as if she just heard. Now with Rose, who's is bouncing up and down in my arms.

"Okay, okay," I try to get out. "I need to plan!" I feel a little bad for shouting but it doesn't seem to matter to them. Jeanne backs away and Rose jumps down.

"Oh, that we can do," Rosalie offers. "Let me call Alice, she'll help." Before I can get out no, Rosalie has Alice on the phone.

She puts it on speaker, and as soon as Alice picks up, Rose shouts, "He's gonna propose!" This is met by another ear piercing scream screeching through Rosalie's cell, before Bella comes on the line. She asks what's wrong because Alice is jumping up and down.

Rosalie has become fast friends with Bella and Alice. Alice loves that Rosalie is as interested in food and shopping as she is while Bella loves that Rosalie knows and appreciates cars like she does. Jasper can't be happier about the transition and loves that his little sister is so close.

A slew of "Oh my Gods" pass between all the women before Rosalie looks to me for details and I explain that I need to plan before they all start throwing out ideas. I sit on my bed, laughing, at how great and how hectic my life is going to become, once I'm married to Jasper. With a mother-in-law like Jeanne and a sister-in-law like Rosalie, things are going to be interesting.

By the time, they all finish their conversation about how they think I'll do it, I have a couple of ideas.

The screaming and excited chatter continues around me and I can only laugh. By the time they calm down and say their goodbyes, I'm following Rose and Jeanne to the door.

"So, this is goodbye, and remember," Jeanne starts.

"Send a picture of the ring," I finish for her.

"One to me too," Rosalie says, pulling me into a hug as we stand by the door. Jeanne is leaving tomorrow, Rosalie is taking her and Jasper will head straight to his sister's after work and then we'll hopefully meet up and talk about whatever it is he wants to say to me.

"I'll send a picture to you both," I say to them, receiving another round of hugs, a kiss on the cheek from Jeanne and Rose ruffling my hair before playfully running from me when I make a move to chase her.

We say our goodbyes and I close the door behind them after making Jeanne promise to call me when she gets home. She laughs and says she will definitely call.

I head back to the living room, turning on the TV and decide to watch something until I'm sleepy. My phone rings just as Criminal Minds comes on and I grumble, picking it up to check the caller ID. 'Dad' flashes on the screen and I open the call.

"Yeah?"

"Oh, hi, Edward," he says nervously. "Jasper said I'm supposed to call you."

I don't want to do this over the phone. I want to meet him face-to-face and hear him out. But if he thinks about bullshitting me, then that's it. I don't give a damn about him and Mom. Their divorce is their business, I wouldn't be missing them together or questioning why. I have my own life to live.

"Yeah, I want to hear you have to say and I want to do it face-to-face. So when and where?"

"I…umm, I don't know if my place is…umm." It is astonishing to hear Dad acting like this. The man I grew up with as a father was never unsure of what he wanted to say.

Was that all a facade? Is this the real Carlisle?

"Listen, just come over here after work, we'll talk then." I hang up without another word.

~~wytwm~~

The eggs are ready and I've made myself some pancakes. Someone buzzes the door, and I make my way to it after turning off the coffee machine. Dad is standing on the other side of it, and he thrusts a bottle of orange juice at me.

Looking up, he's quick to say that he just thought he'd get me something. "Lucky enough for you, I'm out of OJ so thanks." I walk away from the door, but he's still standing there. "Come in."

He crosses the threshold and closes the door behind him. I head to the kitchen and he follows close behind.

"The place looks great," he says, apparently searching for something to say.

"Thanks. Where are you staying?"

"I've got an apartment."

"That's good." We stand there in the kitchen in an awkward silence after I place the orange juice in the fridge.

"Want some breakfast?" I offer.

"That would be great, thank you," he replies with a bright smile.

"How was the shift?" I'm surprising myself with the questions I'm asking him, but it's like something in me wants to know about Carlisle.

"It was good. Hectic," he says as I grab the plates and motion him to the dining table.

I set my plate down and place his in front of him. "Thanks."

"Sure," I reply, walking away.

"Who taught you to cook?" he shouts, getting my attention as I pull out two mugs from the cupboard and pour us some coffee.

"Our helper from when I was a kid, Ellie," I say, coming back to the table and taking a seat across from him.

He smiles. "She was great."

"Why did you fire her then?"

"It wasn't me!" he says in a defensive tone.

"Mom said it was."

He chuckles darkly. "Listen to what you said, Edward." He looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to weigh the truth of his words.

I sigh and then chuckle when I think about it, as he says, "She fired her, and said it was you."

"Wouldn't be the first time she did something like that," he says, moving around his food on the plate.

I take a bite of my eggs, and look at him, willing him to eat when his eyes meets mine. "Don't worry, it's not going to hurt you."

"I'd never think that, Edward."

We eat in silence with only the sound of forks filling the quiet space as they hit our plates.

"That was really good," Dad say, complimenting me when he's through.

"Thanks." I lean back in my chair, sipping my coffee and just analyzing him. I remember when he would do this to me when I'd done something wrong. He'd make me sit before him in his office while he worked on something and I'd have to wait until he felt like acknowledging me. That is if I didn't escape by asking to go to the bathroom.

Seeing that powerful man seated before me now, looking like a kid called to the Principal's office, is astounding. Where's the fear I should feel? Where did that power I felt he had over me go?

Mostly, though, why wait this long? I still wanted to understand.

"Why wait?"

"What do you mean?" he asks, offering me his full attention.

"I'm thirty-something years old. So why wait until now to go. To leave Esme." He moves to talk, but I cut him off. "And don't tell me about thinking she was something else or if you loved her enough she'd change. It doesn't add up."

"But that's the truth," he insists. "I stayed because I thought she'd change, and then I thought if I kept her happy, it would be enough."

"Nothing ever is enough for her!" I shout, getting up, grabbing our plates and storming to the kitchen.

He follows me. "When I met your mother, I thought she was the most beautiful thing. When I fell for her, I thought I'd never find a girl so perfect. I was on top of the world." He seems lost in his reminiscing, and I turn to him, leaning against the sink. "She was kind once, Edward, please believe me. She would fix things about me, advise me…"

"Control you," I interject.

"Yeah, I didn't see that then," he says. "I didn't start to let myself see it until you were a small boy."

"Why then?"

"I was busy with work. Away from you two a lot. So I told myself it was my fault," he says. I move past him, inviting him to follow me. We take a seat on the couch as my phone vibrates, Jasper's face shows up on the screen. Holding a finger up to my dad, I take the call. "Hey, love."

"Hey, baby, I'm at Rose's and I may be a little late, so I wanted to let you know, okay?"

"Okay." There is something off about Jasper's voice. He's worried about something.

"Just wanted you to know. I love you, Bye."

"Love you too. Bye." I hang up, looking at the phone for a minute with a knitted brow. What is wrong with him?

Looking up at Dad, I ask, "What did you tell Jasper?"

"To beware of Esme because she's going come after you two."

I laugh humorlessly. "Why would she do that? It's between you and her."

"Yes, and it's also about you. But I won't stand for her dragging you into this, Edward," he says. "It's why I pleaded with Jasper to let you know that she may be coming after you both and if there is anything he's not telling you, then to get it out."

"What makes you think there is something he's not telling me?" I accuse. If he knows something I want to know.

"I don't know if he is," he counters. "But it doesn't hurt to be careful. I think Esme is up to something. You know how much she hates losing. To have a son that was once under your control pull away from you, and move to live his life without your input is not something Esme is, or will be willing to accept."

"I know how she is, but she can forget it."

"I know you're not weak to her as I was, but I still wanted to give you a head's up," he says. "I have already filed the divorce papers."

"You've got a good lawyer?"

"Yes." He chuckles. "I know she'll come after me for all I'm worth and I'm really thankful now that Dad left you most of his fortune and not me."

"Are you afraid of Mom?" I have to ask because it looks like it. He sounds brave one second and another, his voice is shaky and I'm sure if I was touching his hand, it would be shaking.

"No." He smiles. "I just want to protect you and keep this between me and her as much as possible."

"I understand." He yawns as the words leave my mouth and then he apologizes. "It's cool, you should get going. Are you far from here? I can drive you home." Dad may not be my favorite person at the moment, but it doesn't mean I want him wrapping his car around a tree.

"No, no, I can make it," he says before mumbling, "I'm not far from here."

"Wanted to be near me?" I actually chuckle a bit and the sound of it surprises us both.

"You could say that, but was also the only available place I found that I liked."

I walk him to the door. We stand there, him on the outside of my place, in an awkward silence.

"So…" he starts.

"We'll do this again, Dad." The smile on his face is one of the happiest I've ever seen.

"I look forward to it." He walks away after that.

Thnx! beanothercullen!

Next: Edward goes shopping.