Naelany and wishingforlove continue to be awesome betas.
My readers rock my socks. Thanks to all for leaving over 1k reviews. You have no idea how much this makes me smile to think about.
And now, onto something y'all've been waiting for (and I'm pretty sure I just created a new contraction there).
Family Holiday Fun, or Cockblocked, Shopping, and Christmas Eve
"Hey bro."
Edward woke to the sound of Emmett's voice and a light tap on the door. He stirred and blinked his eyes open, trying to focus on Emmett's face without the benefit of corrective lenses.
"We gotta get a move on," Emmett said.
Edward nodded and yawned. "I'll be down in a couple minutes."
Emmett nodded and ducked back out, closing the door behind him. Edward had asked his brother to wake him Sunday morning to get back to school for their things so that he wouldn't have to wake Jasper with the alarm. As he sat up, he fumbled on the bedside table for his glasses and slipped them on before reaching for the pills and bottle of water that he always set out before bed. He took his morning dose and drained the water bottle before dressing in jeans and a t-shirt, not bothering with a shower until he was finished with things.
Jasper hadn't stirred, but he smiled softly as Edward kissed his forehead before leaving, grabbing his cane from where it was perched handily against the night stand. He found Emmett downstairs munching on a slice of toast. Edward grabbed a banana from the fruit basket. At Emmett's nod they found their keys and set out in their own vehicles back to campus. Edward let the radio play quietly, too tired to be introspective as he found himself humming along.
He parked alongside Emmett's jeep and made his walk across campus to his building. He didn't have much to pack besides clothes, so it didn't take him very long to get everything together. He'd still be able to get into his office, so he wasn't worried about gathering any of the materials he'd want over the break; he wouldn't be working on anything until after Christmas, anyway. He needed to start making arrangements for the spring events, but it could all keep, possibly until after the New Year.
He double checked the kitchenette for any perishables and gathered everything into a paper bag that was in the stack under the sink. He had a feeling that his mom would be doing something for dinner that would use up all the leftovers they all brought to the house. Edward's contribution would be a half quart of milk, two thirds of a loaf of bread and a half a block of cheese. He figured the jelly in the fridge would keep, and he knew the peanut butter in the pantry would be fine.
Edward shoved his laptop into the carrying case and dropped it on the bed next to his suitcases and duffel bag (which was full of his dirty laundry). He did another quick sweep and found that he had pretty much everything he thought he could need for the next six weeks and piled everything up by the door to wait for Emmett so they could make one trip to the cars.
He didn't have to wait long for his brother. "So, I was thinking we could stop off and pick up donuts and pastries," Emmett said as he hefted Edward's suitcases and duffel, leaving Edward with the grocery bag and laptop.
"Yeah, 'cept you know Mom's already got breakfast going," Edward protested. He liked the idea, in theory.
"Well, there'd be nothing wrong with supplementing her meal, right?" Emmett turned his well practiced puppy dog eyes to Edward, who rolled his eyes.
"Alright," Edward said on a sigh. "Big baby."
Emmett beamed and they crossed campus quickly to their cars. Edward's stuff all fit in his trunk and he agreed to meet Emmett at the grocery store for the carbohydrate portion of breakfast. Just as he pulled into the parking lot of the store, his phone beeped with a message.
Pls pu oj from Esme. Edward sent back a quick affirmative reply and tagged along with Emmett. While his big (in every sense of the word) brother deliberated over donuts, croissants, muffins, danishes, etc, Edward hobbled around the corner to pick up two gallons of juice. He knew his mother loved having a house full, and the addition of Jasper wasn't really all that much, but it took a lot to keep all eight of them fed, especially with Emmett and Alice's appetites. He went back to Emmett and dropped the juice into the cart that he'd gotten and already filled with two boxes of a dozen donuts each and was filling a third with pastries.
"Get a couple plain croissants," Edward directed.
"Why?" Emmett asked, looking over his shoulder.
"Have you ever seen Jasper eat anything sweet for breakfast?" Edward pointed out.
"Hm. Not really," Emmett answered grudgingly and selected two of the flaky pastries and put them in the box alongside everything else, including the bear claws that were Rosalie's semi-secret indulgence. "That it?"
"I think so. Mom didn't ask for anything else," Edward explained as Emmett took control of the cart and steered them toward the checkout. Emmett paid and they loaded the groceries into the back seat of Edward's Volvo since his trunk was full.
Alice and Bella's cars were gone when Edward got back to his parents' house, and he figured they'd gone back to campus for Alice's things. Esme met them at the door as Emmett carried the boxes of goodies and Edward handed off one of the jugs of orange juice to his mom as he kissed her cheek.
"Thank you, boys," she said. "I was just going to set out a light spread since everyone seems to be doing their own things this morning. This is perfect," she declared as they shuffled everything into the kitchen before going back out for their bags.
Edward found Jasper still in bed when he carried one suitcase and laptop upstairs after dropping the groceries in the kitchen with Esme and his duffel bag in the laundry room. The blonde had stretched out on the full sized bed, sleeping diagonally across the bed on his back, one arm flung over his eyes. Edward kicked off his shoes and propped his cane up against the night stand before crawling back onto the bed with Jasper.
"Hm." Jasper hummed contentedly and hugged Edward closer when Edward snuggled up to his side. "Time izzit?" he mumbled, his southern twang more prevalent in his sleep thickened voice.
"Not quite ten," Edward answered quietly. "We don't have anywhere to be, so we can lay here all day," he said suggestively.
Jasper smiled sleepily as he turned his head to kiss Edward lightly, never opening his eyes. "I may just take you up on that." He sighed. "But I need to take a leak and get some food and painkillers into me."
"We could eat and come back to bed?" Edward suggested.
Jasper's smile broadened slightly. "They won't miss us?"
"Not much," Edward answered dryly. "At least I hope not," he said.
"Sounds like a plan, then." Jasper finally stirred and stretched and Edward shifted to sit up to let him out of the bed.
When Jasper returned from the bathroom and tugged on a shirt, they made their way downstairs. Esme had laid out what amounted to a continental breakfast. The donuts and pastries were out on cake stands, and there was a selection of apples, oranges, and grapes in a bowl. Several boxes of cereal were out, along with a loaf of bread, butter, peanut butter, and jam. There was fresh coffee and Edward laughed when he spotted the plastic jug of milk in a wine bucket with ice.
It was a quiet and low key meal, and when they got back upstairs, Edward changed into a clean pair of pajama bottoms and rejoined Jasper in bed. Jasper had settled up against the headboard and Edward snuggled up to his side, his shoulder blade against Jasper's as they overlapped slightly. He felt Jasper's arm along his back and then fingers in Edward's hair made his eyes droop a bit as he sighed.
"What are your plans after New Year's?" Jasper asked quietly.
"I have some work to do on getting festivals settled. I need to make hotel arrangements and get a bus reserved and figure out if we're going to Hawaii for spring break," Edward said.
"Will you need chaperones?" Jasper said, nudging him lightly.
Edward laughed and turned to kiss him softly. "I'm sure we can work something out. But other than getting some charts pulled and making plans for spring, I hadn't planned on much. You?" Edward relaxed back against Jasper and smiled at the feeling of being taken care of with Jasper's gentle touch.
"I think we should go away for a weekend," Jasper suggested. "Even if we just go to Seattle or Portland," he said. "We missed out on Mid-semester break, and I think we could both use the chance to get out of town and away from everyone and everything."
Edward really liked that idea. Especially the part where they could be alone for a few days. "I like it," he said. "Esme and Carlisle will be leaving for their annual two week trip to their private retreat off the coast of Brazil. Em and Rosalie are going to see her family on the East Coast, and if Bella sticks to her routine, she'll be locked away writing for most of the break."
"So no one would miss us anyway?" Jasper said with a laugh.
"Pretty much, yeah," Edward agreed. "If we time it right, anyway."
"Then we'd better time it right." Jasper kissed him, his fingers curling into Edward's hair and tugging lightly as his tongue brushed against Edward's lips. Edward's lips parted and he moaned quietly into the kiss, shifting to make the angle less awkward as he returned Jasper's kiss, ending up straddling his lap. The kiss grew more heated and Edward felt Jasper respond under him, their thin pajama pants providing little concealment, and he gasped against Jasper's lips when the blonde's hips arched up against Edward's.
Edward's hands slipped under the hem of Jasper's shirt and he had it off in a moment. The chiseled muscles of Jasper's abs twitched as Edward ran his fingertips over them, up to his chest. Edward scraped a nail over one of his nipples and Jasper moaned softly in response; he was more sensitive than Edward. Edward's other hand curled around Jasper's neck.
He felt Jasper's hand at the base of his spine under his shirt, gently urging Edward closer. Jasper's mouth moved off of Edward's, his nose tracing the line of his jaw before he started kissing and nipping at the tender skin under his chin. Jasper kissed Edward's Adam's apple and nosed at his collarbone around his shirt before Edward tipped Jasper's face up long enough to strip out of his shirt and drop it behind him on the mattress. He pressed himself closer to Jasper, pushing his lover back into the pillows and headboard so he wouldn't have to move much as Edward resituated themselves. They both bit back quiet moans as Edward's movements caused their cocks to slide against each other through their thin pants.
Edward kissed his way up Jasper's neck, feeling the soft vibration of Jasper's slightly ragged breathing against his lips as he worked up to his ear. "I'm still thinking about having sex with you," he whispered before he tugged Jasper's earlobe between his teeth.
"Soon, baby," Jasper assured him, his head falling back slightly with a whimper. His hands skated over Edward's back, dipping to his ass and giving it a squeeze, making them both hiss again as they were forced closer together, their hips beginning to rock as they sought out the friction their bodies could provide.
"Hey, Edward, do you – oh fuck!" Emmett barged into the room without knocking.
Edward buried his face in the crook of Jasper's neck, feeling his partner's arms come around him as he shook, with probably a mixture of lust, rage, and amusement.
"Well, we would have if you hadn't interrupted," Jasper said, still trying to catch his breath. But his hands were soothing on Edward's back, and the brief kiss to Edward's temple was reassuring.
"Knocking, right, I remember," Emmett muttered. "Uhm…I'll come back?"
Edward sighed and pulled himself away from Jasper, turning slightly to reach for his shirt and address his brother. "What do you need, Em?" He settled with his back against Jasper's chest after he'd tugged his shirt back on; Jasper's had been tossed to the floor. Jasper's arms snaked back around his waist and Edward relaxed.
"The rest of us were thinking about going out for a movie and whatever meal would come after. Wanna go?" Emmett was apparently quickly over his gaffe and was back to his normal jovial self.
Edward glanced over his shoulder at Jasper, who nodded. "Sure."
"Okay, well, the girls are pouring over the listings so you may want to uh, clean yourselves up?" He suggested, waggling his eyebrows.
"Out, Emmett," Edward ordered, pointing toward the door.
"I'll lock it this time, too," his brother offered, his booming laughter echoing as he shut the door behind him.
Edward slumped into Jasper's embrace, smiling when he felt Jasper's laughter run through him. "It could have been worse," Jasper counseled quietly, kissing the top of his head before resting his chin there. "It could have been Esme."
"Oh, God," Edward moaned. "I had enough of that in high school, thank you very much."
Jasper just laughed harder. "Come on. They're not going to wait for us."
"Good," Edward decided. "You know he's down there telling them everything."
"So?" Jasper nudged him and Edward turned slightly. "We had clothes on. Sort of," he said with a grin. "I'm not ashamed to have been caught making out with you, Edward, though I do wish he hadn't interrupted."
"Hm." Edward kissed Jasper firmly. "Me too."
They quickly cleaned up and put on real clothes before joining the others downstairs. The girls and Emmett argued over a movie and eventually settled on a generic romantic comedy while Edward and Jasper sat close together on the couch and mocked Emmett for arguing with them. It wasn't that he was arguing so much that amused Edward, but that he was vying for a different romantic comedy than the girls instead of the action drama he'd anticipated his brother to fight for.
They finally decided on a film that started within the hour and they ended up riding in three separate cars because Emmett didn't trust Edward and Jasper alone in the back seat of his jeep and Alice and Bella had some last minute shopping to do after the movie and they ate. They bid Esme farewell as they set out, letting her know they were eating out.
"You know, you'd think he could cut us a little slack," Edward grumbled as he drove, following the caravan of the others. "He hasn't been cut off for weeks."
Jasper smiled and stretched his arm between their seats and gently rubbed his thumb along the column of Edward's neck. "I'm sure with a few well placed words to Rose we could remedy that." His thumb slowed and Edward glanced over to see Jasper looking thoughtful. "I think he's just happy to see you with someone and happy again is all," he said. "He teases you because he knows he'll get a reaction."
Edward knew that was true and yet he couldn't stop himself from responding to Emmett's goading. He sighed.
Jasper laughed quietly and leaned over the console. "Let it go," he whispered into Edward's ear before kissing him softly on the tender skin behind and slightly below his ear sending a shiver through Edward. He was beginning to rethink the plans for the movie, knowing they'd be alone in the house if they turned around now. Jasper chuckled softly and sat back in his seat, continuing to calm him slightly with the touch on his neck.
They met the others in the lobby after purchasing tickets and trailed Emmett and Alice to the concessions stand. Edward and Jasper decided to split a popcorn and root beer and waited for the others to get their snacks.
The movie wasn't as horrible as Edward expected based on the description, and sandwiched as he and Jasper were between Emmett and Alice, they couldn't do much but focus on the movie. When it was over, they stood around the lobby discussing their options for a late lunch or early supper and Jasper put in a vote for real Mexican food, but was overruled by everyone else. Bella promised to treat him to a spread worthy of a fiesta after Christmas, and they ended up at a local barbecue house, which seemed to satisfy all of them.
After Jasper somehow managed to pay for everyone's dinner, they split up for the evening. "Feel up to a walk?" Edward asked Jasper.
"Sure," Jasper agreed. They left the car parked at the restaurant and strolled around the downtown area, taking in the sights of the lit buildings and holiday decorations.
"One of my favorite things during the holidays was going through neighborhoods looking at all the houses lit up," Jasper said quietly, a faraway look in his eyes and a sad smile on his face.
Edward gave their clasped hands a squeeze. There was a tour through some of the affluent neighborhoods, but he chose to stay silent on the offering, not wanting Jasper to think he was out to replace the memories that his lover had of Christmases past spent with his family. "Esme used to drag us out caroling," Edward said instead. "Emmett hated it, and when he was twelve, she finally stopped," he remembered fondly. "But that was the year Carlisle started making us volunteer at the hospital in the kids' ward. He worked at the hospital until Emmett and I went off to university, and then took the appointment at the school because it would allow him more time with Esme, with us out of the house. He dressed up as Santa until Emmett was big enough to do it himself, and we'd deliver presents gathered by the staff to the kids that were too ill to get home for the holiday."
"Do you still do it?" Jasper asked.
Edward nodded. "We usually go after dinner on Christmas day. Esme makes extra food for the families that are staying so they get a home cooked meal."
"That's very nice of her," he observed.
Edward shrugged. "She knows what it means to lack a few necessities. Her family wasn't wealthy growing up, and she had an older brother who died of leukemia, so the experience of passing the holidays in the hospital is one she remembers well. It's her and Carlisle's way of giving back."
Jasper nodded. "So, I need to plan to pick up a few gifts for kids when we're out shopping on Tuesday?"
"Carlisle has a list." Edward smiled brightly and kissed his lips gently. "I love you." He loved that Jasper was so easy about working into family traditions and just seemed to know what everyone needed. Their performance the night before only cemented that.
Jasper returned both the smile and the kiss. "You too."
Monday passed quietly without much fanfare. Esme had to work a half-day at the office and Carlisle went with her to finish closing down things for the end of the year at the clinic on campus. Edward and Jasper slept in and hung around the house until Edward went to his weekly torture session with Jane.
They went to bed early Monday night so they could get up early on Tuesday to go shopping in Seattle. They arrived at the mall around ten, and once again, Edward's handicapped placards enabled them to park and walk to the shops without having to catch a shuttle from a nearby lot. The parking lot was already mostly full.
"Do you have any idea where you want to start?" Edward asked Jasper as he twined his right hand around Jasper's left and they made their way inside.
"Toy store," Jasper answered. "I have a few things I want to get, plus the gifts for the kids from the list Carlisle gave me."
"Okay," Edward agreed. "Any other particular destinations in mind?"
"Bookstore," Jasper responded. "Other than that, I have no idea."
Edward smiled and squeezed his hand as they entered the mall, noise and heat washing over them, making Edward glad he'd dressed lightly. He led the way with a gentle tug on Jasper's hand and led him to Toys 'R' Us attached to the mall. Jasper grabbed a cart and Edward walked alongside while Jasper pushed.
"What's on your list, Jas?" Edward asked.
Jasper pulled it from his pocket. "Barbie and accessories, legos, coloring books and crayons, stuffed animals, race cars…" he trailed off with a shrug and flashed Edward a sheepish smile. "You may have to cut me off."
Edward laughed and wrapped his arm around Jasper's waist in a half hug. "We'll go halves, alright?"
Jasper kissed his temple and agreed. They made their rounds through the store and he watched as Jasper tossed a few things into his cart that weren't on the list, but he evaded Edward's question about them. Edward wondered what he was doing with a toy doctor's kit and several packs of miniature cars he remembered playing with as a kid, but let it go. Jasper was clearly up to something he didn't want Edward to know about.
They bought enough toys that they had to go drop everything at the car before returning to the mall to re-start their holiday shopping.
Jasper detoured into a candy shop and Edward watched him pick out a bunch of gummy food: hamburgers, hotdogs, nachos, tacos, etc. Edward made a face and Jasper laughed as he moved to the counter to pay.
They shopped for a couple more hours until they decided they needed to stop for lunch and, like a couple of old men, take their medicine. Jasper had started cutting back on his ibuprofen as the muscles in his back started to loosen and he worked on the exercises his dad had given his partner. Edward was more faithfully following the regimen he and Dr. Card had agreed on at Thanksgiving and he had to admit, he felt better for it. He knew why he'd resisted for such a long time, but he finally realized how stupid and stubborn he'd been about the whole thing.
Rather than brave a restaurant, they went through the food court and ended up with Chinese. They snagged a small table and shoved their bags under their feet while they ate. With the music, chatter, and noise from the food stations, neither Jasper or Edward said much, but it wasn't uncomfortable. After they finished and cleared their table, they agreed to split up for awhile and meet back up at the bookstore in two hours. Edward figured that'd give him enough time to figure out and get Jasper's gift.
Jewelry seemed clichéd and clothes were impersonal. Jasper's only hobbies, as far as Edward knew, were reading, listening to music, and playing the guitar. He sighed as he walked; he sucked. He knew he shouldn't have waited so long, but he'd been thinking about it for weeks and had yet to come up with anything. It wasn't because he didn't know Jasper; he had a feeling it was more because he knew that Jasper wasn't expecting anything, and lived a very simple life without the need for clutter that useless gifts brought along. The only thing he knew Jasper wanted was a weekend away.
He knew Jasper wouldn't appreciate it if he planned an extensive weekend getaway for them someplace special as a Christmas gift when they'd already talked about going away together, so he put that idea on the back burner for another time with a sigh. He found a bench and sat, resting his forehead on the handle of his cane as he thought. He'd toyed with the idea of making something, but the only talent he had was for music, and he didn't have enough confidence to attempt to make a recording, especially on short notice.
Edward sighed again and ran his fingers through his hair, groaning as his phone rang. He checked the I.D. before he answered. "Yes, Alice?"
"Are you freaking out yet, cousin?" She asked, seeming overly chipper.
"Yes, thanks," Edward answered dryly. He leaned back against the bench and tipped his head back so he was looking up at the ceiling, eyes closed. "Help?" he asked softly.
"Oh, Edward," Alice sighed. "Go to the art gallery at the end of the mall, lower level. Take your time; you'll know it when you see them."
"Thanks, Alice," Edward answered and disconnected the call after Alice hung up. He rose and headed toward the gallery, texting Jasper that he might be later than he thought, knowing that he'd wait at the bookstore (or get lost looking through the stacks, same difference). The quiet of the art gallery was a welcome relief from the buzz of the mall, and Edward lingered for a moment in the lobby before entering the show room.
It didn't take him long to find what Alice had meant. He ordered one of each of four prints, disappointed that he was unable to purchase originals (at the moment), and paid to have them matted and framed in slim black frames that could be easily hanged in the dorms. The clerk was very helpful and double bagged the purchase so Jasper wouldn't be able to see them. Edward thanked her, and smiled as he passed a few of Alice's pieces on his way out, making a note to thank her, later. He lugged the bags back through the mall to the bookstore. It was awkward moving with everything, but he managed. In the back of his mind he noted that it was easier than it had been even only a month prior.
He found Jasper sitting in one of the chairs set up in a lounge area, sipping a cup of coffee as he flipped through a magazine. Bags lay under and around his outstretched legs.
Edward perched on the arm of his chair and kissed him lightly as his arm curled around Jasper's shoulders. "Hi."
"Hello," Jasper answered with a smile, leaning into him slightly. "Successful trip?"
"Yup," Edward replied. "You get everything?"
"I think so. I need to run to the hardware and grocery store, but I can do that tomorrow morning."
"What for?" Edward asked, frowning.
Jasper nudged him. "Spray paint, bamboo skewers, and a few six packs."
"What for?" Edward repeated.
"Not telling."
Edward rolled his eyes. "You're as bad as Alice and Emmett."
Jasper laughed. "I like giving surprises," he said with a shrug, wrapping his arm around Edward's waist. "And even though they're not for you, I'm still not telling."
Edward sighed, but smiled. "Fine then. Are you ready to go?"
"Mm-hm," Jasper answered. "But let's see if we can consolidate some of these bags, first." They spent a few minutes shuffling things around, careful not to let each other peek inside the bags and eventually got the two piles into something more manageable.
Jasper carried the bulk of the packages over Edward's protests. It was late afternoon by the time they left, and the sky had begun to darken with both clouds and the disappearing sun. Fortunately, the rain held off until they were in the car and on their way back to Forks. They decided not to stop for dinner on their way home after checking in with Esme. She said she was just preparing leftovers to clean out the fridge before she went shopping for another big family meal in the morning.
Once they were home and wrestled their packages upstairs (seeing that Alice had already dumped piles of wrapping paper, gift bags, bows and tissue paper on the bed), they joined everyone in the kitchen and played dominoes and snacked on the various odds and ends they'd brought back from the dorms and Esme pulled from the fridge and cupboard.
Esme and the girls retired earlier than the men, citing their need to get to the grocery store plenty early on Christmas Eve to get everything they'd need to fix both large meals so they could be home before Alice's parents arrived, sometime around noon. For Christmas Eve, Esme always prepared a large roast, with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach and homemade rolls which they ate before going to church. Since the family had expanded, they'd started taking shifts to add stocking stuffers and gifts from "Santa" under the tree, and everyone had to swear that they'd not peek in their stockings while stuffing everyone else's.
After the girls went to bed, Jasper asked if he could borrow Carlisle's study to wrap gifts, and Edward went to his room to start wrapping his. They had already split up the stuff for the kids at the hospital, so Edward wrapped his half and clearly labeled them boy or girl (though he wasn't one really for gender stereotypes, they'd found in the past that some parents hadn't been thrilled when their little girl got a G.I. Joe set instead of a doll), and had a few that would work for either. He took his time wrapping everything up for his family, sticking a few things under the bed for Christmas morning.
Jasper came back up just as he was finishing and helped him carry all the packages down to the tree, which was already overflowing with gifts. Though there was no official rule for the family Christmas, he knew they all tried to not go overboard, because though the gifts were nice, it wasn't really what they holiday was about. But with eight of them, soon to be ten when Alice's parents arrived, that still left a lot of things under the tree.
They joined Emmett and Carlisle in the living room in front of the fire, sipping from what looked to be Carlisle's scotch. Emmett was re-righting the couch from where he'd tipped it back.
"I'm going to do it Christmas morning. I've got it all planned out," Emmett was saying as Edward poured them each two fingers worth of scotch and they settled together in one of the arm chairs.
"Does your mother know?" Carlisle asked.
Emmett shook his head, smiling brightly. "Nope. I want it to be a surprise for her, too."
"Does her family know?" Edward asked.
"I asked her dad for his blessing and he gave it," Emmett said proudly. "But I asked him not to tell her mom, so it can be a surprise when we get there after New Year's."
"If Rose doesn't call her immediately after it happens," Jasper added.
"Well, yeah," Emmett said, Jasper's doubt not dampening his enthusiasm.
"I'm happy for you, Son," Carlisle said after he finished his drink. He rose and clapped Emmett on the shoulder. "You'll be very happy together." He squeezed Emmett's shoulder and made his goodnights before carrying his glass into the kitchen and vanishing down the hall.
"So, what about you two? Plans?" Emmett asked, splashing a little more drink into his glass.
"We're going to try to get away for a weekend after the holidays," Edward answered. "I was thinking maybe San Francisco would be nice for a weekend."
Jasper hummed his agreement. "Haven't been before, but I'd like to."
"We'll have to see what we can find," Edward said, finishing his drink and settling back against Jasper's chest. He smiled softly as he felt Jasper's fingers slip under the hem of his shirt and stroke lightly over his belly. They chatted for a while longer until Jasper's touches grew bolder in the dark room, lit only by the fire and the lights from the Christmas tree. The touch of his lips against Edward's neck made it difficult for him to focus on his conversation with Emmett, and it wasn't long before Edward was excusing them and dragging Jasper upstairs, Emmett's laughter following them.
Edward remembered to lock the door behind them, and Jasper surprised him by pushing up against it and kissing him deeply. He let his cane fall to the floor as he grasped at Jasper's waist with one hand. Edward's other hand slid up Jasper's clothed chest and rested over his heart as Edward returned the kiss. He was already half hard from Jasper's teasing touches downstairs, and Jasper seemed determined to see that situation resolved.
Jasper tugged at the hems of Edward's tops and he lifted his arms to allow Jasper to pull them off. They fell to the floor quietly and Jasper shifted his attention from Edward's mouth to the rest of his body. Jasper's lips followed his fingers over Edward's chest and torso. Though he wasn't as reactive as Jasper, his partner took time to coax Edward's every last bit of arousal and pleasure from Edward's body. He used his fingers and mouth to elicit a reaction from Edward's nipples, which, when his patience finally paid off, went straight to Edward's cock. He bucked helplessly against Jasper's thigh, all but pinned against the door while Jasper showered him with physical affection.
Jasper went down on one knee and reached for the belt buckle on Edward's jeans, looking up at Edward with a devious smile on his face as he took his time to work the leather out of the clasp. Before he pulled the belt through the loops Jasper nuzzled Edward's obvious erection through his jeans, blowing hot air over his swollen cock, causing Edward to groan, his right hand going out to sink into Jasper's unruly mop of hair while his left hand braced against the door.
Edward's pants were tugged down his hips slowly, Jasper's fingers burning trails down Edward's thighs. Jasper licked his lips at winked up at Edward and in one smooth motion, pulled Edward's boxers down and took Edward into his mouth.
"Oh, fuck," Edward moaned, his heading hitting the door with a thud as his right hand fisted in Jasper's hair.
He whimpered as the moist warmth around his cock disappeared. "We'll get to that," Jasper promised, his voice gone husky. "But I want to do this, first," he said, bringing his other knee down to the floor and sliding his hands up Edward's thighs once more as he more slowly swallowed Edward down.
Edward forced himself not to push his hips forward until he got some sign form Jasper that it was alright. He moaned and whimpered as Jasper began to use his tongue and a very light scraping of teeth over him to drive Edward not-so-slowly crazy. While Jasper's mouth was busy, his fingers were not idle as they continued to roam, his thumbs rubbing small circles into his hips, or drifting behind his thighs to gasp his ass and pull him up tighter, or stroking his sack.
Edward quickly fell into a haze of lust and sensation; Jasper's eyes remained open and Edward stared into the hazy blue as Jasper looked up at him. A gentle slide of Jasper's hand against his hip gave all the encouragement Edward needed and he let go of his control and gave over to the sensation, and came with a quiet cry, glad he'd braced himself against the door and Jasper's shoulder as his knees went week as Jasper convulsively swallowed, continuing to suck with increasing gentleness, using his tongue and lips to clean Edward off before he fell back on his haunches, staring up at Edward like the cat that got the canary.
"How come I always end up naked before you?" Edward asked when he'd recovered his breath.
Jasper got to his feet with a cheeky smile. "I've told you; you look better naked than I do."
Edward grabbed his shirt and tugged him forward, kissing him passionately. He felt Jasper's erection at his hip and he ground against him lightly. "You said you were going to fuck me," he growled into Jasper's ear, taking the lobe between his teeth and biting lightly.
"Patience, lover," Jasper teased, scraping his teeth along Edward's jugular.
Edward didn't think he had much patience left; he'd been waiting for a month to be more physically intimate with Jasper and he wasn't going to let the opportunity go. "Jasper," he all but whined.
Jasper laughed quietly and kissed him softly. Edward wanted none of that. He all but ripped Jasper's shirt off as he kissed him back with a bit more force; he didn't hear Jasper complaining. He pushed off the door and started walking toward the bed, slowly, so Jasper wouldn't fall over anything and hut himself again. He stepped out of his jeans and boxers as he moved, throwing Jasper's shirt over his shoulder when they got it off and tackling the button fly of Jasper's jeans as they walked and kissed.
By the time they reached the bed, Edward had succeeded in getting Jasper's jeans open and palmed his cock through his underwear. Jasper let out a slow breath through his teeth. "If you want me to fuck you," he said lowly. "You either need to stop that, or finish," he warned. Color was high in his cheeks and his mouth was red from the kissing and having Edward's cock in his mouth. He looked gorgeous.
"Hm, decisions, decisions," Edward teased. "Strip," he said quietly, kissing Jasper once more before limping to his bureau and digging for the lube and condoms that he'd stashed there before Thanksgiving.
Jasper kicked off his pants and underwear as Edward returned to the bed. "Allow me," Edward said lowly, letting a bit of lube warm in his palm before he wrapped his hand around Jasper's length and stroked.
Jasper all but purred low in his throat and Edward took that as a good sign. He used his free hand to flick over Jasper's nipples, listening to his lover's breath catch in his throat and whimper quietly at a combination pinch and stroke. Edward saw Jasper tense and he kissed him as Jasper came over his hand, semen staining both of their chests. Jasper broke the kiss, his chest heaving, and rested his forehead on Edward's shoulder. Edward stroked his hair for a moment, and then guided him onto the bed, curling up next to him.
They cuddled together, exchanging light touches and tender kisses. After awhile, the touches turned more teasing and arousing, the kisses more intense, and they began round two.
Edward was half hard when Jasper urged him onto his stomach. His hands worked in long sweeping strokes over Edward's back, relaxing him before he went for the lube. Jasper was nothing if not attentive, whispering promises and assurances in Edward's ears, dropping kisses along his spine as he started to prep Edward. Jasper's left hand was warm at the base of Edward's spine as a slick finger circled him before pressing in.
"Relax, baby," Jasper murmured. "I'm gonna make you feel really good, soon," he assured Edward. "I love you, I'm not going to hurt you."
"I know," Edward breathed. "It's just been awhile."
"I'll take very good care of you." Jasper kissed him between his shoulder blades.
Edward felt his body relax a fraction more and Jasper continued to prep him, adding a second finger and allowing Edward's body to respond. Jasper's other hand left Edward's body and he craned his neck as he heard the sound of flesh on flesh to see Jasper stroking himself a few times while he relaxed Edward. "Beautiful," Edward whispered and Jasper flushed.
Jasper rose up on his knees and kissed Edward, lingering for a moment as his fingers slipped free, leaving Edward feeling momentarily empty and bereft. Jasper's hands ran up and down Edward's spine a few more times.
"Turn over," Jasper urged him quietly, slowing his hands to a stop on Edward's hips.
Edward turned onto his back and Jasper reached for a condom and more lube. Jasper stroked Edward's cock a few times as he rose up and kissed him again and again. When Jasper sat back and ripped open the condom, Edward bent his knees and placed his feet on the bed. He watched with heavy lidded eyes as Jasper rolled the condom down his length and lubed himself up, then smeared more lube over Edward.
"I love you," Jasper said as he picked up Edward's ankles, kissing the inside of each as he placed them over his shoulders.
"Love you too," Edward said.
Jasper shifted once, and then Edward felt him pressed against his anus. "Breathe, baby," Jasper said quietly and he slowly pressed forward as Edward remembered to take a breath, and let it out slowly. He was being stretched and filled by inches as Jasper slowly and carefully penetrated and withdrew, and suddenly he was plugged in to Jasper in a way he'd never thought possible.
"Oh, fuck," Jasper said lowly, hands gripping Edward's hips as he stopped, buried inside Edward. They were both breathing heavily, and Edward focused on simply feeling. He felt Jasper rock his hips and gasped at the sensation, his eyes closing as he felt something spark between them.
Jasper slowly began to withdraw, then push back in slowly. Each motion was accompanied by some other touch on Jasper's part, a caress of Edward's face, a kiss to the calf propped on Jasper's shoulder, anything that showed Edward how much of the action was about him, not just Jasper's needs or wants.
As they got more comfortable, Jasper settled into an easy, languid rhythm. On his downward thrusts he'd lean in close to Edward for a kiss or a nuzzle, his hands wandering over Edward's chest, the occasional stroke over Edward's cock.
When he came down close to Edward's face again, Edward wrapped his hands lightly behind Jasper's head and held him in place for a longer, deeper kiss. His thighs were beginning to ache from the position he was holding and when he broke the kiss, he slid his legs down Jasper's body, planting his feet flat on the bed, giving him a bit of leverage to meet each of Jasper's strokes.
"Touch yourself, Edward," Jasper requested. He was flushed pink, his eyes bright and lips dark and he'd never looked more gorgeous to Edward.
Edward complied, fumbling for the lube Jasper had dropped onto the mattress, then matching his strokes to the new rhythm Jasper established. With his new freedom of movement, Edward shifted his pelvis and was rewarded by a bright strike of pleasure as Jasper's thrust scraped against his prostate, sending a jolt through him straight to his cock.
Jasper continued to tease Edward with other touches as he moved inside him, the burn of his stubble over Edward's skin sending a new wave of sensation over him. The combination of being stroked and penetrated rapidly grew toward overstimulation and he felt his body tense. "Jas, baby," he warned his head falling back into the mattress as Jasper struck his prostate again and again in quick succession and he stroked himself as he came, prolonging his orgasm as he sobbed softly in his release.
He was tenderly kissed before Jasper went still above him, and Edward opened his eyes long enough to watch Jasper's face as he reached his peak and fell over the other side, Edward's name just a ghost of breath on his lips.
Edward's arms wrapped around Jasper when he settled on top of Edward, their chests pressed tightly together. On hand simply rested at the base of Jasper's spine, the other carded through the damp hair at the base of his neck as they both recovered their breath and just laid together.
Jasper lifted his head and lightly rested his chin on Edward's chest. "Love you," Jasper said, after a few moments, kissing him tenderly. "Love you love you love you," he repeated, dropping kisses over Edward's shoulders and chest. They stayed that way for awhile, until the sweat on their skin began to cool. Edward felt an acute loss as Jasper slipped out of him and left the bed to dispose of the condom and brought back a towel to clean them both up.
Edward, feeling well fucked and completely loved, curled himself around Jasper after he slid back into the bed, and they held each other, laughing softly as they kept shifting to get comfortable in the rumpled linens, murmuring quiet words as they began to drift off.
Edward woke Wednesday morning, naked and wrapped around Jasper, and he didn't think he could have been more content. He heard movement downstairs and figured it wouldn't be long before anyone came looking for them. Edward set about kissing Jasper awake. It didn't take long.
"Mm, I kinda like gettin' woke up that way," Jasper said with a sleepy smile.
"I think this was the part of the break I was looking forward to the most," Edward admitted, snuggling back down into the nest of blankets they'd gotten tangled in.
Jasper hummed his agreement and looked like he was going to drift back off but a knock and Bella's voice came through the door. "Breakfast's ready," she called softly. "Don't be too long or it'll get cold."
"We'll be right down," Edward called back, then sighed as he heard her footsteps retreat. "They're not going to let us sleep in today."
"Apparently not." Jasper punctuated his statement with a kiss on Edward's lips and they slowly shifted apart, untangling bed linens and limbs until they were able to rise, ran quickly through a shower (together, to save water and time of course), tug on clothes, and take whatever drugs they needed in the morning.
When they reached the dining room, Esme was just setting out breakfast. Edward shot Bella a look.
"What?" She asked cheekily. "It got you down here, didn't it?"
Edward rolled his eyes and kissed her cheek before he took his seat. "What's for breakfast?"
"In honor of Jasper's southern roots, we're having biscuits and sausage gravy, though there's also eggs," Esme said as she placed a large bowl of biscuits on the table alongside a huge skillet of gravy and a fruit salad, next to a bowl of scrambled eggs.
Jasper hugged Esme tightly, completely dwarfing her. Edward couldn't hear the words exchanged, but Jasper kissed Esme's cheek and he had a slightly faraway look in his eyes when he took his seat next to Edward. Edward took his hand under the table and Jasper squeezed back, but didn't say anything.
After breakfast, the guys cleaned up while the girls headed out to do the shopping. Jasper remained quiet and somewhat withdrawn, but he'd warned Edward that Christmas was hard for him and it was the morning of Christmas Eve. Edward chose to not press Jasper on anything and simply stayed close, offering light touches when he could, finding ways to silently remind his lover that he wasn't alone. If nothing else, it made Jasper look at him, so Edward figured he was doing something right.
They finished cleaning up and Jasper quietly asked Edward if he wanted to run a few errands. Edward agreed, and he set out for the hardware store.
"I know the next few days are rough for you," Edward said quietly, taking his eyes off the road for just a moment to glance at Jasper. "If you want to talk about anything, you can, you know." He smiled softly. "I love you."
Jasper nodded. "I know. I love you, too." He let out a long slow breath. "Can you just…stick by me today?" he asked in a small voice.
Edward took his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Whatever you need, Jasper."
Jasper responded by leaning over and kissing Edward quickly, then sitting back and falling quiet for the rest of the short drive.
At the hardware store, Jasper found bamboo skewers and cans of red, purple, and yellow spray paint, as well as a roll of green electrical tape. They walked down the street to the convenience store and Jasper bought several six packs of pop and beer. When they got back to the house, Jasper went out to the back patio and Edward followed, curious, as Jasper set everything down and went back inside for a pair of scissors.
Edward settled on one of the lounges and watched as Jasper sat on the ground with his supplies laid out in front of him. Jasper removed the plastic rings from the pop and beer and cut them into rounds, discarding the scraps. He folded them, and speared them on the bamboo skewers. Soon, he had a small bunch of what looked like hyacinth made from plastic. Edward watched, amazed, as he carefully spray painted them with the colors he'd bought and set them aside while he cleaned up. When the paint had dried, he used the green tape to mask the skewers so they looked like stems, and sat back, looking pleased at his handiwork.
Edward held his tongue on his very obvious question and merely opened his arms when Jasper stood and crossed to him, inviting him to sit, after he'd hidden his flowers out of sight. Jasper lowered himself down and Edward folded his arms around him, resting his cheek against Jasper's. It was cold, but their shared body heat was enough. Edward hummed quietly, various jazzy Christmas tunes as they just sat together. Jasper eventually relaxed and Edward was reminded of Thanksgiving, only he felt like there was little chance of Jasper opening up to him.
Edward glanced over at the kitchen doors when he saw the lights come on. His mother was standing at the door, her hand on the handle, a questioning look in her eyes. Edward shook his head minutely, hoping he read her question right and letting her know that it wasn't a good time but they didn't need anything. She nodded, a sad smile on her face, as she turned away.
Jasper's hands covered Edward's on his stomach, but he remained silent as Edward split his attention between his lover and the women moving around the kitchen in his peripheral vision. More than once Bella lingered at the doors watching them, until Alice or Esme pulled her away to help with something. Eventually, their body heat wasn't enough for Edward and he nudged Jasper lightly while kissing the pulse point in his neck. "I think it's time to go inside," he said quietly. "I'm cold, so I know you have to be."
Jasper nodded. "Thanks for sitting with me." His voice was tired and hoarse.
"I'll do anything to make you feel better," Edward said quietly. "Anything, Jasper, I mean that," he said earnestly. "I know I, we," he said with a wave of his hand indicating the house and his family "won't replace your family. We won't try, but I know that's not the problem. There's no reason you can't start to make new memories and have a family again. You shouldn't feel guilty for moving on, baby." Edward kissed Jasper's jaw. "I love you," he whispered.
Jasper squeezed his hands again. "I love you too," he whispered. "I – I think I want to stay out here a bit longer."
Edward nodded and after Jasper shifted forward, he slid off the chair onto his feet. He bent and kissed Jasper properly. "Don't stay out here too long," he said. "Esme will worry, and Alice's parents will be here soon."
"Okay."
Edward kissed him again and returned to the house. He accepted the hug from his mom as he joined the ladies in the kitchen, and Rosalie handed him a cup of coffee with a sad smile. "It's hard for him, isn't it?" she asked.
Edward nodded and leaned against the counter. He wouldn't linger long, not wanting Jasper to feel like he was being watched. "I think he feels guilty for moving on. His family was small and they were close. I can't imagine being alone this time of year, and he has been for a long time."
Rosalie gave him a brief hug and kissed his forehead. "Just be there for him, Edward."
He smiled and returned the hug. "Thanks, Rose." She nodded and returned to what she was doing when Bella came up to him.
"Can I help?" she asked softly, wringing her hands a bit.
Edward nodded and drew her into a hug. "Would you sit with him for a bit?" he asked softly. "I think you may be able to empathize better than any of us with what he's going through." Bella had been without a family of her own for nearly as long as Jasper, and if anyone could understand at least most of what he was going through, it would be her.
She hugged him back and nodded against his chest. "I'll try."
He kissed the top of her head. "Take a blanket. It's getting cold." The sky was clear and brilliant blue, which made it even colder outside.
"Okay." She smiled and hugged him before stepping away.
Edward cast one last glance out the glass doors and saw Jasper as he'd left him, staring out over the yard. With great reluctance, he made himself walk through to the living room and join Emmett, who was playing video games.
"Here, bro," Emmett said, tossing him a controller.
Edward set his coffee down and accepted the controller, loving that his brother always seemed to know what would distract Edward, and not making a fuss about it. He easily lost track of time as they played, glancing up when a dark haired blur ran in front of the TV on the way to the door.
"Mom, Daddy!" Alice called as she flung the door open.
Emmett paused the game as Rose, Esme, and Carlisle poured into the living room from the kitchen and wherever Carlisle had been hiding.
"Em!" Esme called, rushing to hug her sister, then her brother in law. "How was your flight?"
"Long, but pleasant," Edward's aunt Emma answered, stripping out of her scarf and hat as her husband David did the same. Emma looked quite a bit like Esme, average height and a figure that had filled out slightly in middle age, but she was still fairly thin. David was a tall, skinny, bespectacled man with dark hair and bright blue eyes. "It's good to see you, Es." She hung her coat and everything on the close to overflowing rack and embraced Alice, who had all but jumped on her father.
Hugs and greetings were quickly passed around and Emmett was enlisted to take his aunt and uncle's bags up to the guest room while Emma disappeared back into the kitchen with the girls and David accepted Carlisle's offer of a quiet drink. Left to his own devices once more, Edward wandered through the kitchen, blocking out the noise of the ladies talking as they cooked, and watched Jasper and Bella.
Jasper had Bella cradled between his outstretched legs, a quilt wrapped mostly around Bella as she leaned back against his chest. From the distance, Edward couldn't tell if any of the light had come back into Jasper's eyes, but it looked like they were speaking, and Jasper didn't seem as closed off. As much as he wished he was the one out there (and had to admit he was a bit jealous), he knew that Bella was probably the best person for Jasper to talk to.
"And who is that out there with Bella that's got Edward so enraptured?" his aunt asked at his shoulder, a cup of coffee in her hands.
"Jasper," Edward answered, glancing sidelong at Emma. "My par-boyfriend." The correction was hesitant. Though he thought of Jasper as his partner in his head, he was reluctant to voice the thought out loud. He knew in his heart that Jasper was who he was meant to be with, but his head argued that it was too soon to know for sure.
"He's quite lovely, Edward," Emma observed. "Does he teach?"
Edward nodded. "History. He just joined the faculty this semester. We're hoping they'll offer him a permanent position, now that there's an opening."
"You'll have to introduce me when they come back inside," she said cheerfully.
Edward smiled. His aunt was no less a matchmaker than the other women in his life. She was also an incredible flirt. "I will, but you have to remember he's taken," he reminded her, teasing.
Emma chuckled. "Not to fear, young man. I'm not quite ready to take on that 'cougar' label so soon. Oh, your mother asked if you'd bring Bella back inside to start working on some of the pies for tomorrow. And I want to say hello."
Edward laughed and nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good boy." She patted his cheek and returned to where Rose and Esme were cooking and Alice was supervising.
Edward stepped out onto the patio, noting that it had gotten colder since he'd come inside. Bella's nose was pink, as were Jasper's cheeks and nose. But when Jasper looked up at Edward's footsteps he could see a lightness that had been missing that morning and Edward heaved an internal sigh of relief.
"Aunt Emma and Uncle David are here," Edward said by way of greeting. "And I don't know how you're not a Jasper-sicle by now," he teased lightly. "Bella, mom wanted to see if you were ready to start making pies, and I need to pour some hot coffee into Jasper by the look of things."
Bella nodded and moved to stand, but Jasper apparently held her firm for a moment. "Thanks, Darlin'," Jasper said quietly, kissing her cheek.
Bella turned and kissed his forehead. "It gets easier, Jas. I promise." She hugged him tightly, then shifted off the lounge, taking the blanket with her as she traipsed into the house, her giggles trailing as she tripped over the edge of the blanket but caught herself before she fell.
Jasper rose and reached for Edward's hand, pulling him into a tight hug that Edward wouldn't have fought for anything. He lingered in Jasper's embrace for a long moment, soaking up the scent and feel of him, memories of the previous evening surfacing at the emotions written on Jasper's features and in his actions. "Thank you. Thank you for loving me, and for sharing your family with me. Thank you for sending Bella out to talk to me. Thank you for not hovering," he whispered in Edward's ear, his warm breath contrasting with the chill in the air making Edward shiver. "Thank you for understanding."
Edward responded by kissing him softly, sweetly, not caring that every woman in his life was probably staring from the kitchen doors. "I love you," was the only answer he felt was appropriate. "But it's fucking freezing out here."
Jasper laughed and Edward smiled, feeling some of his worry evaporate as a bit of his lover was returned to him. Edward tugged himself out of Jasper's embrace and led him toward the house.
So, a bit of something for everyone, no? ^_^