Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own anything dealing with The Twilight Saga, I sadly do not. All that belongs to the very talented and amazing Stephanie Meyer, I am just borrowing a few of her characters for my storyline.

Chapter Eighteen

Jasper's thoughts are in italics

March 15, 2006 (11 AM)

I'm glad Alice was able to convince Bella and the kids to go hunting with her. Jasper smirks. She thinks she has to try so hard to get back into Bella's good graces. But Bella doesn't seem to mind as it is giving them both a chance to get to know each other again.

Jasper looks out the back window at the wolves gathered around the fire pit. They were not happy when Alice and Bella put their foot down and said they were not allowed to come. It was even funnier when the kids agreed with them. Jasper laughs.

"What's so funny Jasper?" Emmett asks as he and Rosalie join him at the back wall. Emmett starts laughing "The wolves are sulking still I see." All three wolves turn to the window and glare, which only makes the three vampires bust out laughing.

Jasper suddenly stops laughing. "Somethings wrong. They are coming back and someone is in a complete panic."

The wolves are on their feet running towards the forest edge to meet the returning group, with the three vampires right behind them.

Alice, Bella and the kids came out of the woods just then. Bella stops right at the forest edge, but the kids run to the wolves and stand with them. Alice runs straight toward Jasper. "Edward has decided to leave." Jasper glances over at Bella then looks back at Alice. Well, that explains the panic. She is worried how Esme will handle it. And it explains why Bella is staying back.

Jasper sighs. "We knew this was going to happen, we just didn't know when. When is he going to leave Alice?"

"He is packing right now. Esme is in the living room watching TV. He is going to pack only what he needs and then leave. He thinks if he leaves Esme the rest of us will come home. He thinks he is the reason we are staying away. That him being sad about leaving Bella is why we don't want to be home."

SJ steps up to Alice "If Dad is so sad he left Mom, then why did he leave in the first place?" Mary and Jazmyn nod in agreement.

Bella sighs and then runs back into the woods. She has already told Alice to bring Esme here when Edward was gone. She is really having a hard time believing Edward left for other reasons than why he said. That he didn't leave because he was bored pretending to be something he was not. Could he really still love her like she loved him like the others keep telling her?

The kids turn to run after their mom only to be scooped up by the wolves. Rosalie walks over to them as they squirm to get away. "This time it is better if we let your mom alone. I know it's hard, but this time she needs to think and be on her own." Rose kisses each kid on the head. The kids sigh but quit fighting to get away. Rose and the wolves walk back to the group.

Alice looks at everyone and speaks "Bella already told me it is okay for me to bring Esme here once Edward is gone. Esme is going to fight to get Edward to stay, but it won't work. It isn't going to happen for a little while, so we can go wait in the living room. Bella does want to be alone for now. If anyone goes after her she runs further away, so lets just leave her be for now. She will be back before Esme gets here."

"I will run up to Carlisle's office and explain what is going on. Jasper, go east to find Peter and Charlotte. That is the way they went to go hunting. We will meet you in the living room." Alice then darts off into the house. Everyone else goes into the house to wait for the arrival of another family member.

It is not long before everyone is settled in the living room. The kids are so excited to meet their Grandma while Carlisle is happy to get his wife back.

After a couple of minutes Emmett stands up. "While sitting here staring at each other would be great fun, I think I will go kill some time downstairs. Who would like to join me?" With a little convincing, the wolves get the kids to go to the game room to play games too. The rest of them stay in the living room and watch Alice focus and un-focus as she watches and waits for Edward to leave. Once it gets closer time they will call the kids up so Jazmyn can bring Esme home.

(1 PM)

Edward takes one more look around his room. He is pretty sure he won't need anything else. It's not like he plans on doing too much. He is only going away so Esme can get her family back. She has worked really hard to hide how sad she is, but he, of course, knew the truth. And he knows it is entirely his fault. He took away her whole family. Well, he is going to fix that. He is leaving. The rest of the family will come back once he is gone. He knows it is going to be a fight, but he hopes she will see this is for the best and let him leave. He takes a deep breath and then heads downstairs.

Esme hears Edward coming down the stairs and looks up with a smile. But her smile turns to a frown when she notices the backpack he is carrying. "What's going on Edward? Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes Esme. I am leaving. I am the reason everyone else left, so if I leave they will come back. I have already made up my mind. You cannot change it." Edward states with conviction.

Esme is standing by him by the time he finishes. "Edward, no! It is not your fault. Please don't leave. Please!" Esme reaches for him, but Edward steps back.

"I'm sorry Esme. But you will see. You will get your family back after I leave. I just know they will come back to you after I am gone." Edward sighs and reaches for Esme to give her a quick hug. He then pushes her away and says. "Thanks for everything Mom." With that he turns away and runs out the door before Esme can say anything else.

Esme just stands there frozen. She has failed as a mother; her family has fallen apart. She closes her eyes and sobs. Oh, how she wished Carlisle was here now.

(1:15 PM)

"Okay, Jazmyn needs to come up here." Alice says as she comes out of her vision. "It is almost time."

Charlotte nods and runs downstairs to bring the group up. With the boys making so much noise, they were not sure they heard they needed to come up.

As everyone is getting to their seat Jacob looks around and says "I thought you said Bella would be back before Esme got here." Before Alice can answer they hear running from the backyard.

Bella walks in the rest of the way and smiles at her kids. "I'm right here. But I think I would like to be in my room for a little while. I will come down to great Esme after things are explained to her. The kids can come with me or stay here to meet their Grandma, if you don't think she will jump to conclusions."

Everyone turns to look at Alice. Alice looks at Bella. "She will be fine, I think. Esme, doesn't jump to conclusions. They can stay." Bella nods then runs to her room. The kids look at each other than snuggle into the wolves. While they want to be with their Mom, they want to meet their Grandma first. Then they will join their mom in her room.

After a few more minutes Alice said "Okay Jazmyn, bring Grandma here."

Jazmyn grins and pulls a picture of her grandma up in her mind. She then pulls the "string" to bring Esme to them. Jazmyn is shocked when she hears sobbing and sees her Grandma so sad.

Carlisle calls her name softly, trying not to scare her too much, and takes a step forward. "Esme, dear. Open your eyes."

Esme's eyes snap open while she jumps and growls. She had been alone and now someone talking to her?! Then her eyes land on Carlisle and she runs to him crying. This time it is a mixture of happy and sad tears. She is so focused on him she doesn't notice anyone else in the room.

"Carlisle, I failed. All of our kids left…" Esme sobs.

Carlisle hugs her tight. "Dear, look around. Most of your children are in this very room. And by some miracle, our family has actually grown in ways you won't believe, so you have many more to love and care for as well."

Esme pulls away and for the first time takes a good look around at her surroundings. "Rosalie! Emmett! Jasper! Alice! Peter! Charlotte!" Esme is smiling then freezes as she notices the three humans holding the three kids. "Oh, hello. How rude of me. My name is Esme." Why did someone not mention there were humans here? I was not acting very human…wait…those kids…they look familiar…how do they look like Bella…and Edward!?

Jacob stands up "I am Jacob Black. That is Seth and Leah Clearwater. I am holding Jazmyn, Seth is holding Mary and Leah is holding SJ."

Alice smiles and looks at Esme "They are your grandchildren. They are Bella and Edward's children!"

Esme gasps and looks to Carlisle for an explanation. "Here my dear, why don't we sit down, and we will explain everything."

Jacob sits back down, while Carlisle and Esme find an empty chair. The kids jump off the wolves' laps and run to sit with their Grandparents. Esme smiles at them as they climb onto her and Carlisle's laps.

As she listens to the story she feels horrible for leaving her daughter to deal with so much alone. She is so glad Jasper found her before it was too late and now she has grandchildren to love and watch grow. As the story comes to an end she hears someone walking on the stairs. Everyone turns and watches Bella walk down. She pauses at the bottom and smiles sadly at Esme.

SJ, Jazmyn and Mary jump up and run to their mom. She sits on the stairs while they climb around her. She always feels better when they are close.

"I'm sorry Esme for keeping you away. I hope you can forgive me." Bella says while looking down.

Esme stands and walks closer to Bella. She wants to ran to Bella and hold her tight, but knows that may be too much for her right now, so she stands in front of her. Esme smiles as she looks at the little family on the stairs. "Oh my silly, silly daughter; there is nothing to forgive. I understand and feel so blessed to be able to be a part of your life now."

To everyone's surprise, it is Bella who runs to Esme. She hadn't realized how much she missed her Mom.

Esme pulls back a bit to look at a smiling Bella. "Would you please show me around this wonderful home you had built? I think from now on I may have to have you help me design our houses. You did an amazing job and I have only seen the living room!"

Everyone laughs while Bella takes Esme upstairs to start on Carlisle and Esme's floor with the three little ones following. Every now and then you would hear Bella or Esme laugh, a true laugh.

Carlisle smiles. It had been a while since he heard his Esme laugh. And it had been even longer since any of them had heard Bella laugh. He couldn't wait to hear both more often.

Jasper looks around as everyone starts to stand up and go do their own things. He can't help smiling. Things are getting back to normal. Actually, they are even better. I know Edward is still in pain, but there is nothing I can do about that…for now. Don't worry Edward. I will get you here, one way or the other.

With that final thought and more determination than before, Jasper follows the rest of the boys down to the game room to challenge Emmett to a game of pool.