Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns the Twilight universe. The title of this chapter and opening quote belong to Amos Lee.

Synopsis: Jasper's first baseball game. (suggested by Yvaughn)

"Cause everybody's got a part in the game, and everybody's got a cross they can claim, and everybody's got somebody to blame. But we all must find our own way." - Shout Out Loud by Amos Lee

Shout Out Loud

It felt strange in his hand. It was odd to hold something that was a symbol of joy, of freedom, of carefree summer days. He gave it a few testing tosses, the red laces rolling comfortably off his fingers as it flew out of his hand and landed again with a satisfying slap. He felt a smile start to spread across his face as he tossed the ball higher and higher, worrying about nothing but catching it again in his bare palm.

Jasper was just on the other side of his worst days, of those days when the pain had so overwhelmed him. So, when Alice jammed a cap on his head and tugged him out to the clearing, he followed reluctantly, unsure if he was truly welcome, unsure still how this family time worked.

His fears were put to rest as soon as he stepped onto the makeshift field, as soon as Emmett lobbed a ball at him, as soon as Edward shouted that Jasper would be on his team.

He stared at the ball as it whizzed down again, smacking against his palm. Alice was standing beside him, watching as Emmett and Carlisle marked the bases. Rosalie was swinging a bat, laughing as Edward spoke animatedly to Esme.

"How does this usually work?" Jasper asked Alice.

She shrugged, snatching the ball from the air as he tossed it again. "I didn't play last time."

Jasper watched her rolling the ball from hand to hand, her eyes still taking in all the activity with growing excitement. "Why?"

Alice looked at him with a smile. "I wanted to wait for you." She danced away, her grin wide as he looked after her.

His heart ached a little bit at that admission. The memories of all of his bitterness toward her during those torturous weeks washed over him in a shameful wave. She looked back at him and tilted her head, her excited smile still dazzling. He felt a punch of gratitude, of love. Jasper followed after her, adjusting his new cap as he walked, grinning when Alice launched the ball at Edward.

Edward caught it with a little gasping laugh. "My team's got a new pitcher!" he shouted.

"You can't just take all the new players," Emmett protested. "Carlisle – "

Carlisle cut him off with a raised hand as he marked the pitcher's mound. "Take it up with Esme."

Esme's arm was around Rosalie's shoulders now, her smile gentle for Emmett and his protests. "You have Rosalie and Carlisle. Those are fair teams."

"We don't know that! They could be really good." He turned to look at Jasper and Alice where they watched the show with raised eyebrows. "Are you good?"

Jasper and Alice glanced at each other. "We've uh – we've never played," Jasper said with a shrug.

"Oh," Emmett said, "Edward can have them."

Esme clucked her tongue at Emmett and Jasper laughed, appreciating Emmett's sense of humor. The sound was surprising, even to his own ears. All eyes turned to him briefly. Alice slid her small hand into his and squeezed, her emotions flaring.

She tensed briefly, her eyes losing their focus even as she smiled. "Here comes the storm," she whispered.

"All right," Esme said, her smile still gentle for Jasper, "let's play."

Edward moved into the outfield, shouting for Jasper to catch. Alice danced onto the pitcher's mound, catching the ball Edward threw at her just as the first rolling booms of thunder started, just as the first fat drops of rain fell. Jasper crouched behind Rose as she stood to bat. He was unable to stop his smile as he watched Alice hold the ball at her waist and narrow her eyes. He knew his emotions were overflowing, that they would all be feeling his strange happy playfulness, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He couldn't bring himself to reign it in. He was going to play baseball. He was going to play.

Alice launched the ball with amazing speed and grace, laughing when it smacked into Jasper's hand. Jasper tossed it back, grinning when Rosalie tightened her grip. "All right, little sister," she muttered, her eyes narrowing even as a tiny smile spread.

She connected soundly with the next pitch. The ball rocketed toward the trees. Edward backed up, his eyes watching the ball as if it was floating in slow motion. He turned and sprinted when the ball sailed past him. Rosalie darted around the bases, her blond hair flying. Esme stood to listen for the sound of Edward catching the ball or it dropping to the ground. They all heard it hit with a thud and then he flew back into the clearing, intent upon tagging up. Rosalie dove toward third base as Edward closed in. She was clearly safe and Edward skidded to a halt, lobbing the ball at Alice before pulling Rose to her feet, smiling as she came up covered in mud.

The rain was falling persistently as Emmett took his turn. He hit the first ball impossibly hard. Rosalie crossed home plate, slapping hands with Carlisle. Edward chased down the ball again, this time heaving it at Jasper as Emmett rounded third. Jasper caught it and crowded the plate, crouching forward as Emmett barrelled toward him. They crashed together with a thundering boom. Both laughed exuberantly, even as Esme called Emmett "out."

Jasper stood, feeling delightfully wet and muddy. Emmett gave Jasper a playful little shove. "Crowding the plate," he said, his smile still huge.

"Run faster," Jasper said with a matching smile and a half shrug. He chucked the ball back to Alice, laughing again as she gave a little victory twirl for their first out.

The next two outs came quickly and it was time for Alice to bat. Carlisle grinned from the pitcher's mound and launched into an impressive wind-up. Esme laughed lightly at his little spectacle. "He's having fun," she whispered as he threw a tricky curve ball at Alice.

Jasper glanced at Esme, watching as she smiled softly at her husband. As she clapped with a gasping laugh when Carlisle and Emmett collided as they ran to get under the ball.

Alice rounded the bases easily, darting across home plate with a little shout. Esme clapped again and Alice slapped hands with Edward. Jasper held a bat, grinning as Alice patted him on the chest as she passed, her emotions as joyous as he'd ever felt.

Jasper took a testing swing and then moved into the batter's box. The rain was pouring steadily, dripping from his hat, making a muddy mess of the field. Rosalie was crouched behind him, her entire front covered in mud and wet grass. Carlisle was laughing on the mound, the ball gripped tightly as he started another lengthy wind-up. Emmett was taunting Jasper from the outfield. Alice and Edward were clapping behind him, their words alternating between teasing and encouraging. Esme stood quietly, her emotions pushing through the joy and happiness. She felt hopeful, relieved, maybe even a little sad.

Jasper felt like everything slowed down. He pushed a wave of happiness toward Esme and watched as the ball left Carlisle's slick fingers. And he felt right. He was surrounded by this family who were drawing him in, who were accepting him without condition. And it was right. It was somehow perfect.

He swung as time returned to normal, as the ball sailed toward him. The bat hit the ball with a huge crack and he took off, launching himself from base to base. He laughed again as he ran, an overwhelming feeling of utter freedom settling over him. There was no one chasing him, no one he was chasing. He was having genuine fun.

He saw the ball fly toward Rosalie and he dove for her feet. She gave an indignant shout and they rolled together, both thoroughly muddy, the ball in the grass as they helped each other up.

"He was safe," Esme said, laughing and shrugging as Rosalie tossed her a glare.

Jasper shot a smile at Esme, feeling her emotions again. The sadness was gone, it was all breathtaking warmth now, all hope and joy and sweet compassion. His expression softened for a fraction of a moment and then Alice was there, cheering for his home run.

"I think we're good, Jazz," she said with a grin.

He laughed. "Maybe we are."

He tugged her over, his arm looping around her thin shoulders. They cheered as Edward hit a low ball into deep left field. "You're happy," Alice breathed as the play continued.

Jasper touched his lips to her wet hair, closing his eyes as the rain continued to fall. "I am. I've never played like this."

"Neither have I."

He squeezed tighter, his words a breathy little whisper through the constant sounds of the pounding rain. "Thank you." He didn't need to tell her that the thanks was for sharing the experience with him, that it was for giving him a new life, that it was for simply being Alice. She knew what the words meant.

She tilted her face up and stood on her toes, planting a kiss on a familiar scar and then she was off, picking up a bat and stepping again into the batter's box.

Jasper clapped automatically and then let his hands drop, taking them all in again. He still felt a bit like an outsider, but he could feel the tug, the pull into the fold. And, unbelievably, he welcomed it. He wanted more fun. He wanted to be a part of something that he actually cared about. He wanted to be a part of something that he believed in.

Esme touched his back lightly and Jasper turned with a start. "I'm glad you came to play," she said.

He met her smile with his own. "I am too."

"You made the game happier."

He laughed, the sound no longer such a surprise. "I think it did the same for me."

Note: Y'all, I just wrote so much angst for the long fic. I made myself tear up! This was a joy to write after that. Thanks to Yvaughn for suggesting it. I hoped you liked some nice, happy Jasper.

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- Brynna