*I don't own Twilight, it all belongs to Stephenie.*
- We're finally at the last chapter, the closure of this story that I love so much with all my heart.
First of all, I'd like to apologize for any structural, language, collocation, and grammar mistakes I made along the chapters. I'm Brazilian, Portuguese is my native language, and although I'm considerably proficient in English, I still don't live in an English speaking country and don't speak English 24/7, so I'm bound to make many mistakes. I've researched and tried to correct whatever I found and recognized before posting, but for sure I've missed some things. I hope you have disregarded the language problems and have focused on the plot.
Writing this fic wasn't an easy journey and for times and times again I considered giving up. But because of the people I'm thanking at this moment, it was possible for me to find my path again. So hear me out till the end, guys!
I'd like to thank acw1, abstrat, mirae10, Twi-fic luver, mdg0107, luvinlapush, lindachiqa, SarahWeasley, PRO-BETA, asthonmargaretti, Gio.A.D. and Hoorahchick for your reviews along this journey.
A special "thank you" to bbbluez and Team Peeta Mellark for the constant comments.
An even more special "thank you" to AnaSamantah09, your thoughts have inspired me along the way and have given me perspective, helped me come up with new ideas, and rethink some of my plans. Thank you so much. Maybe you have no idea how much you supported me, but believe me, you did.
My last "thank you", and the most important one, is to the person who has never failed to review the fic, the one person who supports me from way before this fic, actually, the one person who has always encouraged me and believed in me from afar...
CentauRita, thank you for your endless support. You are the biggest reason for this fic to be completed. Thank you for all your words and funny, heartwarming comments. This chapter is dedicated to you.
#IMPOSSIBLE*THE FINALE#
Emmett was as still as a statue, staring at Jasper.
Jasper wasn't even blinking, his teary eyes on Edward.
Edward was shaking inwardly, unsure of what to do next.
He opened his mouth to say the only word he had in his mind...
"Jasper..." Esme's voice reached the three of them. "Did you find your brother?"
As their mother reached the living room door, all eyes turned to her.
"Oh, hello, Emmett!" She greeted joyfully, a big honest smile gracing her delicate features.
Emmett and Edward stood up from the couch, both disconcerted, while Esme crossed the room to them, as Jasper looked down at the floor, trying hard to keep standing.
Holding her older son's shoulder affectionally, Esme looked at Emmett.
"It's good to see you, how are you?" She asked, unaware of the tension around her.
"G-good." Emmett answered hesitantly, a tentative smile on his lips.
Edward, that had not looked away from his Jade not even for a millisecond, released the air in a heavy sigh, anguished with what he was seeing.
Esme turned to him, oblivious.
"How are you, son?"
"Fine, Mom." Edward answered mechanically without looking at her.
He stepped forward, intending to go to Jasper but his father's voice made him instinctively halt his motion.
"So, were you surprised?" Carlisle asked as he appeared beside Jasper at the doorway with excited eyes and smiling happily.
Jasper looked at his father.
"I don't feel well, Dad…" He said in a low voice, unaware that Edward, extremely attentive to him, could hear his words. "Can you take me to the room?"
"I'll take him, Dad." Edward hastened to say while striding to them.
He was right in front of Jasper when his brother looked at him with guarded eyes.
"It's okay, you don't have to." Jasper assured in a broken voice. Then he turned to his father again. "Dad…"
"Jade, please." Edward asked in a whisper.
Carlisle glanced between them, feeling confused with their silent exchange. Esme finally caught the tension in the room and looked from Emmett to her sons and then to Carlisle, trying to understand what was going on.
Jasper sighed and, holding back his tears, stared at Edward with sheer understanding flowing from his sad gaze.
"It's okay. Really." He spoke only to Edward, and his words conveyed sincere comprehension. "I'm sorry I interrupted." He said louder, turning to look at Emmett.
"You didn't." Emmett stated rushedly. "I was actually on my way out."
Jasper looked at his father with pleading eyes, his eyebrows knitted together.
"I really need to lie down, Dad."
Carlisle held his arm and they turned toward the hall. Edward could just watch them go, feeling his stomach dropping in fear.
Emmett was beside him in a heartbeat.
"Don't just stand here, go." He demanded.
Edward looked at him with desolated eyes.
"He came, it means he's ready. He made the first move, now it's your turn so, go get him back." Emmett urged. "I want you happy."
Edward nodded, a soft smile on his lips.
"Thanks." He murmured before rushing through the corridor.
He met his father at his bedroom door, closing it.
"Did something happen?" Carlisle asked when he saw him.
"I'll explain later." Edward said hurriedly before reopening the door, getting in and closing it behind him.
The first thing he saw once he turned was Jasper rubbing the back of his hands over his eyes. He felt his heart clenching in sadness… He had hurt Jasper again.
He walked slowly to his bed and sat beside his brother. Jasper looked at him dejectedly.
"I wanted to go to the spare room, but Dad didn't listen." He explained. Edward shook his head slightly and furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm okay, I'm just feeling dizzy, you don't have to worry." Jasper assured softly, noticing his brother's concerned expression.
"Jade, what you saw…" Edward tried.
"You don't have to explain." Jasper spoke gently before he could finish. "It's okay." His voice quivered. Edward frowned. "I'm not mad at you, I understand." He took a deep breath. "I accept your decision, I won't make a scene or anything…"
Edward opened and closed his mouth multiple times, his brows twitching, his mind reeling in confusion.
"What are you talking about, what decision?" He asked, frowning in utter puzzlement.
Jasper closed his eyes for a moment while sighing. Then he looked at his brother with tearful eyes.
"I know you love him…" His voice barely came out.
Realizing what Jasper was thinking, Edward felt as if his heart was being squeezed and scrunched up his whole face while tears filled his eyes.
"I love you more!" He exclaimed, rushing his hands to hold Jasper's face. "What you saw was a goodbye." Edward explained tenderly. "Back when he and I broke up I was so wrapped up on what was happening to you and between us that… Our separation was too abrupt, it left things unfinished. Having him around all the time since I came back made me feel restless with this urgency to fill a gap between me and him… I knew I still loved him, and that he still loved me, I understood that part of my heart was still hurting for him as his was for me. And that was when I realized that if we wanted to end that chapter of our relationship and really move on, but remain friends... We needed closure. That's what you saw. Nothing more than a proper end, a goodbye kiss."
Tears streamed down Jasper's eyes as he smiled uncertainly.
"You don't wanna be with him?" He asked in a trembling voice.
"I wanna be with you." Edward stated, his eyes glinting. "I've always wanted to be with you, I chose you and I will choose you forever, when will you get that?"
Jasper chuckled among soft sobs and tears.
"So you didn't give up on us…" His words breaking.
"Never." Edward assured in a gentle smile. "You're the one, remember? My love, the love of my life."
In a swift move that Edward didn't see coming, Jasper sat up and wrapped his arms around his brother's neck and held him tight.
"I thought I was too late…" He spoke in a choked tone. "I thought I had lost you."
Edward held him back just as tightly, his heart warm and beating strongly as he closed his eyes and basked in the sensation of having Jasper back into his arms.
"You'll never lose me, Jade." Edward's words were passionate and honest. "I'm yours since the day you looked at me for the first time… Since the first time I saw you… Since the very first day."
Jasper pulled away slowly and they looked at each other.
"I missed you, Tonton. I missed you so much. I'm sorry for what I put you through…"
"Shhhh." Edward shushed him, placing his index finger softly on Jasper's lips. "It's okay, you're here now."
Jasper held his hand and gently pushed it aside.
"No, hear me out." He asked. "I need to clarify things… I don't want anything unsaid or unresolved between us."
"Okay." Edward accepted.
Jasper straightened up and held Edward's both hands.
"I really needed that time… To deal with everything rationally. But I found out that… It wasn't the reason why I pushed you away." He heaved a breath. "And yes, I admit I pushed you away, but I wasn't completely aware of it."
Edward nodded but said nothing, knowing Jasper needed to get it all off his chest.
"The thing is… It was a defense mechanism." Jasper explained slowly. "But not to protect myself."
Edward frowned and cocked his head to the side.
"Can you take that bag?" Jasper asked, pointing to a navy backpack on the chair beside the dresser.
After taking the bag and sitting back on the bed, Edward looked questioningly at Jasper.
"There's a paper on the front pocket." He said, and Edward promptly opened it and retrieved the piece of paper. "Open it."
Edward did as told, and read silently, slowly, carefully, everything written there. He didn't understand it at once, but as the words progressively matched with each other, the whole thing started to make sense.
"Doctor Swan assigned this brainstorm." Jasper spoke in a low voice while watching Edward's face. "I was supposed to write every word I felt related to 'protection'..." Edward raised his eyes to him and Jasper smiled while shrugging. "I didn't read it… I didn't need to because... Once I was finished I knew my reason… And I knew I was ready for you."
"It's written like a spiral…" Edward commented reflectively, gauging Jasper's emotions. "And my name is in the center of it."
Jasper nodded, his eyes glistening so much they seemed bigger to Edward.
"You are my reason." He stated assertively. "It was you I was trying so desperately to protect, from the pain, from my emotional mess, from my probable death…" He raised his hand between them as he saw Edward opening his mouth, obviously to argue. "Let me say it all, please." Edward nodded and he sighed. "I didn't want to make you suffer even more than you have, and I realized that everything that was happening, that has happened, it all started the day Carlisle took me in… It all started because he was trying to protect me… And unconsciously I blamed myself for all your pain, so I just wanted to take you out of that context... I stupidly believed, again, unconsciously, that it would spare you from more hurt."
Edward closed his eyes softly for an instant and sighed. When he looked back at Jasper, his gaze was pouring tenderness and understanding.
"What is it with us trying to protect each other and ending up hurting one another instead?" He asked rhetorically, a soft smile on his lips, his tone gentle.
Jasper understood what he was implying and smiled back.
"We need to stop it." He said, his smile broadening.
"We do." Edward agreed. "Just promise me you'll never push me away or leave me ever again… And I'll be just fine."
Jasper chuckled.
"I promise." His eyes were serious although his countenance was showing his joyfulness.
Edward leaned in until their noses touched and looked into Jasper's eyes.
"If you try to, I swear I'll tie you to my bed." His voice sounded menacing.
Jasper chuckled again, inching even closer to him.
"Really?" He cocked one of his eyebrows. "So maybe I will try right now…"
Edward pulled a bit away, squinted at him, and smiled mischievously.
"Naughty… You're provoking me, huh? But I'm serious. I really mean it."
"I know, that's why I'm telling you…" Jasper affirmed and, smiling devilishly, wiggled his eyebrows before leaning in until their foreheads were joined together. "I'm leaving you." He provoked.
In a sudden motion, Edward pushed him to the mattress and hovered over him. They were both smiling broadly.
"Jasper Aaron Masen Cullen, don't play with me." Edward ordered, his eyes excited.
"Oh, he said my whole name, I'm so scared…" Jasper gave back in an alluring tone.
Edward shook his head once before descending his whole body on Jasper's and sealing their lips in an eager kiss.
Jasper wrapped his hands around Edward's neck and pulled him even closer… The kiss deepened so much so fast that it didn't take long for them to break it, gasping for air.
"I'm not strong enough to have my way with you now… But when I recover…" Jasper whispered breathlessly.
Lust flared inside Edward and sparkled in his eyes.
"I can't wait for that…" He murmured in kind.
Jasper smiled crookedly. They both sighed heavily. Then Edward's face softened and he turned subtly serious.
"Can I go back home now?" He asked cautiously, his gaze as hesitant as he felt.
"You are home." Jasper replied calmly.
"I mean going back to New York with you." Edward clarified in a low voice.
Jasper took a couple of seconds to answer.
"No." He said earnestly.
Edward pulled away and looked confused.
"But…"
Jasper looked at him severely. Then smiled.
"Didn't you see how many bags I brought?" His question sounded skeptical. Edward looked around, still a bit unsettled, then gazed at him quizzically. "I'm moving in." Jasper asserted in a chuckle.
Edward's eyes were suddenly bigger, and he smiled so broadly that he was flashing practically all his teeth. Jasper chuckled again.
"You are?!" He sounded like a child on a Christmas morning.
"Unless you don't want me to…" Jasper added in mocking hesitation.
"Of course I want you to!" Edward hurried to assure, pulling Jasper into a tight hug promptly. "I'm so freaking happy right now."
They laughed lightly together.
"I am too…" Jasper affirmed as they looked at each other again.
"I love you." Edward stated seriously and then held his face. "I'll love you always."
"I do too. And I'll love you forever." Jasper replied.
And they were finally fine.
#IMPOSSIBLE#
Carlisle and Esme held their breaths involuntarily.
Edward took Jasper's hands in his and sighed.
As the physician before him read the last reports, Jasper closed his eyes.
"You are in remission." Doctor Hermez stated in a subtle smile.
Hearing his parents releasing their breaths in a relieved sigh, and feeling Edward squeezing gently his hands, Jasper opened his eyes.
Edward's smile and tearful eyes were the first things he saw.
"I'm gonna be okay." He uttered in a choked voice.
"You are okay." Edward affirmed while nodding.
Jasper raised his hands to his brother's face and gently ran his thumbs across his cheeks. Chuckling, Edward did the same with him.
"Of course there's the follow-up care…" Doctor Hermez added.
Jasper turned to him swiftly. The oncologist, already aware of Jasper's wishes, raised one hand before he could speak.
"I have already contacted your new physician in Hanover." He assured and Jasper smiled. "He has your files and you have an appointment with him and the hematologist in two days. Have you found a new psychologist?"
"Yes, Doctor Swan indicated one of her trust and I've already met him." Jasper told him excitedly.
"Great." The doctor smiled softly. "So I guess this is a goodbye."
He stood up from his chair and offered his hand to Jasper, who took it and shook it.
"Thank you, Doctor Hermez. Thank you."
"I just did my job, Jasper. And you are not welcome." Everybody in the room laughed. "I don't wanna see you ever again." He added kindly. "Take good care of yourself, young man. Make sure you do everything in your power to remain healthy."
Jasper smiled and nodded.
"I will." He guaranteed.
Carlisle and Esme then went to Jasper and hugged him affectionally. Edward looked at the doctor and smiled.
"Thank you for taking care of him, Doctor Hermez." He said solemnly.
The doctor shook his head, still smiling.
And while Carlisle and Esme went to thank the physician, Edward turned to Jasper and held his face between his hands.
"Everything is fine now." He uttered gently, and Jasper nodded. "You can restart your life any way you want."
"With you… That's how I want to restart."
"Done." Edward assured with a wink.
They smiled at each other lovingly.
#IMPOSSIBLE#
"Oooh, fuuuck…" Edward moaned as Jasper shoved himself into him.
On all fours over the bed, his head hanging between his shoulders, he writhed and cried out continuously in pleasure.
Never slowing down the powerful motions of his hips, Jasper spanked Edward's left buttcheek, smiling devilishly when his Tonton groaned.
Impetuously as always, Jasper leaned over Edward's back, greedily clutching his hair and pulling his head hastily until his ear was within reach.
He brushed his lips over the earlobe and licked the shell, earning a shiver from Edward.
"Do you have any idea how insane you make me when you moan like that?" Jasper murmured in a deep voice, slowing down a little, circling his hips while sunk deep into Edward's body.
"Jaaaaaade…" Edward whined. "Please, love… Don't slow down…" He begged while pushing his hips back against Jasper.
Jasper smirked.
"You're such a needy bitch when I'm fucking you…"
"Damn…" Edward gasped. "Pleaaase, Jade…"
Jasper's smile became naughtier… He knew well what the dirty talk did to Edward. He pulled himself almost all the way out and then thrust back strongly. Edward grunted.
"You want me to fuck you harder?" Jasper asked enticingly as repeating the movement, and Edward nodded effusively while moaning. "You want me to pound into your ass like this?" He instigated while lunging his member forward again, and Edward cried out. "I can go even harder, babe…" He assured as showing it with the motions of his body, and Edward moaned gutturally. "Just keep enticing me with your sexy sounds and rolling this luscious tight ass like this… and you'll see how crazy I'll get… I'll hump you so damn hard you won't be able to walk straight for a week."
Edward gasped and eagerly pushed back again as Jasper slammed his hips against him, both of them groaning in sheer abandon.
"More, love… more…" Edward begged unabashedly between long moans.
Jasper kept going with the dirty talk and provocations until his core started to stir acutely.
"I'm close, Tonton..." He said urgently. "I want you to cum with me, are you close?" Jasper asked in a surprisingly soft tone that didn't match his unstoppable potent thrusts.
Edward just nodded and moaned.
"Do you want me to make you cum, Tonton?" Jasper incited, his voice huskier.
"Pleaaase." Edward whined.
Jasper smiled crookedly and then bit Edward's earlobe.
"So needy…" He smiled smugly to himself, pleased. "I'll make you cum now. Scream for me, babe." He demanded. "Loud enough for the whole building to hear you."
He released Edward's hair and straightened up swiftly. Holding firmly his lover's hip bones for leverage, Jasper felt the heat coiling further in his core and his fingers sank deeper in Edward's skin as a reflex, eliciting louder moans from both of them… The alluring sounds provoked a more intense wave of lust in Jasper and promptly hips were pistoning against Edward's ass unmercifully as a consequence.
When all his muscles started to contract, Jasper clenched his teeth.
"Cum now, Edward." He spoke in a severe tone. "Scream, babe."
His commanding voice would always have the same effect…
And squeezing his eyes while feeling his whole body shaking in elation, Edward howled Jasper's name with the matching potency as his shattering climax.
Edward's loud cry bounced around the walls and hit Jasper deeply. He had to squeeze his eyes and stop his motions altogether to be able to bear the power of his orgasm…
They collapsed together onto the mattress and remained still, breathing heavily, until their hearts returned to a more regular rate.
Jasper kissed Edward's neck before moving from over his back to the bed. Edward turned on his side to look at him, and Jasper did the same.
Edward's hand found its way to Jasper's short wheat blond waves…
"You look so handsome…" He whispered, carding his fingers softly through the smooth thick strands.
Jasper smiled, feeling flattered.
"Do you want me to let it grow long again?" Jasper asked quietly, raising his hand to Edward's face and caressing his cheek.
"If you want to, yeah…" Edward replied caringly. "I love your hair, especially when it's long, but anyway you keep it is fine with me…" He shrugged slightly. "You're gorgeous to me even when you're bald."
They chuckled, but as Edward soon turned serious because of the vehemence of what he was feeling, Jasper focused on his expressive gray eyes and they shared a loving stare for an extended moment.
"Do you know what day it is?" Edward asked softly, his eyes sparkling under the moonlight that was infiltrating the room through the open window.
Jasper slightly knitted his eyebrows.
"Was I supposed to?" His tone was slightly hesitant.
Edward smiled gently, gazing at him with tenderness.
"I understand why you don't… You had too much in your mind back then." He spoke in such a caring compassionate tone that Jasper felt his heart beating a tad stronger. "It's been exactly a year since the day I made love to you for the first time." He clarified warmly. "I consider it our anniversary… Since it was then that I really gave in…"
Tears welled up to Jasper's eyes and he gasped.
"Edward, I'm sorry." He hastened to say.
"No, love…" Edward hurried to soothe him. "It's okay, you were going through the hardest moment of your life, I don't blame you for not remembering…"
"But it was one of our most important moments… I should've remembered."
Edward pulled him closer and kissed his forehead before gazing at him affectionately.
"Jade… It's just a date, it doesn't really matter." He assured in a loving voice. "What matters is that we're together." Jasper started to shake his head and Edward held his face a little more strongly and looked deep into his eyes. "Hey, you're not allowed to feel guilty. You have to feel happy." He spoke in a slightly demanding tone. "Give me a smile."
Unable to deny Edward anything, especially when he stared into his eyes like that, Jasper relaxed and, almost involuntarily, smiled a sweet smile.
"Good." Edward approved, arching his eyebrows and smiling softly. "I have something for you, but I need you to close your eyes."
Suddenly feeling excited, Jasper nodded and did as told. Edward turned his body on the bed, stretched his arm to the bedside table, and opened the drawer.
A heavy sigh left him without his conscious permission… He had been planning to do that for over a month but no moment had seemed suitable enough… Until that very one.
Trying to control his racing heart, Edward sat on the bed, folding his legs Indian style.
"Don't open your eyes yet." He said slowly to Jasper. "Can you sit, love, please?"
Again Jasper complied. Edward took his right hand and placed a tiny box on his palm.
"You can open your eyes now." Edward spoke gently, but his nervousness was undisguised.
As soon as Jasper saw the small black box on his hand he gasped and looked at Edward with a mix of surprise and anxiety.
Edward looked at Jasper's wrist and pulled it to him delicately.
"I've never properly asked you to be mine…" Edward said slowly while toying with the bracelet he had given Jasper for his twenty-second birthday, more than a year before. "And yet you gave yourself to me unconditionally." He raised his eyes to Jasper's and felt his throat constricting in pure emotion as he noticed the tears pooling in the green eyes he loved so much. "I know we can't legally get married… But a piece of paper means nothing to me when what I've wanted the most my whole life is already my reality. I'm with you… I have you, you're mine like I've always wished you were." He paused, choked with his strong sentiment. "We don't need a judge or a priest to tie us together. We've already done that by ourselves, a year ago, when we became one for the first time. Don't cry…" He asked kindly and raised his hands to dry Jasper's streaming tears as he sobbed, deeply touched.
"What are you doing, babe?" Jasper asked between sobs, tears, and a quivering smile.
"I'm marrying us." Edward stated confidently. "But before I do it, I want to ask you properly…"
Jasper covered his mouth with his free hand and more tears slid down his cheeks.
Edward took back the little box and opened it, taking the smaller ring between his index finger and his thumb, and looked at Jasper solemnly. He opened his palm and offered it to Jasper, waiting for him to place his left hand over it. Once he did, Edward sighed.
"Jasper Aaron Masen Cullen… Would you be my husband?" He proposed in the most passionate tone.
Jasper sobbed again and could only nod… His voice was gone since the air was caught up in his throat. Edward took a deep breath and straightened up, his countenance turning serious.
"I promise you I'll love you unconditionally, and I will do everything in my power to make you happy…" Edward vowed. "Do you accept me as your life partner, to face whatever comes, together, until we grow gray and old, until we die, and even after that…?"
Jasper chuckled, still amazed and a bit incredulous of what was happening.
"I do." He whispered, grinning.
Edward kissed the plain platinum band and slowly placed it on Jasper's left ring finger.
"It's your turn." He said softly, a tentative smile on his lips.
Jasper took the other ring from the box and heaved a sigh, feeling his heart about to fly out of his chest.
He closed his eyes momentarily before starting to speak.
"When I imagined this, I thought I would be the one proposing…" He confessed in a timid smile. "So I wanna do it too." Edward chuckled and nodded. "Will you marry me, Tonton?"
"There's nothing I want more in my life… Yes." Edward replied simply.
Jasper moistened his lips nervously and took a couple of seconds to breathe slowly. Then he gazed intensely at Edward.
"I promise you I will never leave you." He vowed earnestly. "I'll always take care of you but I won't try to protect you and I won't just assume what's better for you… I'll ask." Edward's smiled largely and nodded. "I'll always listen to you and give you the opportunity to explain whatever you need or think it's important. I promise to be your best friend and your best supporter… But most of all, I promise you I'll give you all of me, and I'll keep loving you even after we die." They chuckled together, both utterly moved. "Do you accept me as your husband?"
"Sure thing." Edward answered in a light chuckle.
Jasper waited for him to extend his hand and, looking at his gleamy eyes, placed the band on his left ring finger as well.
Edward held his face and joined their foreheads.
"By the power vested in me by our love and all the promises we've made to each other…" Edward spoke softly, but seriously, looking intently into Jasper's eyes. "I now pronounce us husbands…" He said softly. "And partners in crime." He added while wiggling his brows.
They both laughed lightly with Edward's joke. Then they turned serious once their act, and the significance of it, dawned on them.
"I love you." Edward stated passionately.
"I love you." Jasper repeated in the same tone.
Their lips met naturally… And just as spontaneously the kiss got deeper. Soon enough they were touching each other avidly again…
"You won't be able to walk tomorrow…" Jasper warned Edward in a grave voice while attacking his neck.
"Then it's a good thing I have the day off." He said breathlessly.
Jasper halted and pushed back, hovering over him and staring at him with surprise.
"Did you plan this?" He asked grinning.
"The getting married part, yes." Edward replied in kind. "It happening today, not really. But I'm happy it worked."
They beamed at each other before Jasper shut Edward up with a scorching kiss.
#IMPOSSIBLE#
"So I see you all here by six am tomorrow." Edward concluded the briefing and stood up from his chair.
While the staff left the room, Emmett waited next to the office door.
"Are you comfortable with this approach?" Edward asked once they were alone in the room, resting one of his hands on his friend's shoulder.
"Hey, you're the head of surgery and the lead surgeon of the case, it's your decision." Emmett stated calmly.
"But you're the chief pediatrician, and it's your case, a very delicate one, and it's your patient in my hands."
Emmett smile softly.
"Blondie, how long have we worked together?"
Edward pursed his lips for just a second.
"Considering the time we were residents, nine years."
"How many of my patients have you had on your table?"
Edward shook his head and sighed.
"I've lost count."
"How many of them have you lost?" Emmett asked incisively, cocking one eyebrow.
Edward released a breathy chuckle, getting where Emmett's speech was going.
"None." He answered smiling.
Emmett tapped Edward's hand and held it briefly.
"I trust you with my eyes closed, Edward. If you say this is the best way, then it is."
They nodded to each other.
"You'll be there observing the procedure, yeah?" Edward asked.
"I will." Emmett confirmed.
"Great." Edward said while accompanying Emmett to the door. "What about dinner tonight at my house? You're still going, right?"
"Of course." He smiled timidly all of a sudden. "I'll bring Pete with me."
Edward grinned.
"Jasper will be ecstatic."
"Yeah… You need to help me with what I can give him as a thank you gift for introducing me to his friend."
"Wow, I know this look." They both chuckled. "How deep is this gratitude?"
"Significantly deep. I'm pretty sure I'm in love, man." Emmett confessed.
"Emm, this is great."
"Yeah… Tell me about it. The boy is…" He heaved a sigh and then grinned.
"He is an amazing guy." Edward agreed. "Just tell Jasper about this, he will be so pleased, he's very close to Peter and he cares for him a lot."
"I will. But I'm sure he'll notice before I say anything, anyway."
They shared a knowing smile before Emmett said goodbye and left to his department.
Miranda, his secretary, entered his office just as he sat back and put on his glasses to review the patient's file.
"Doctor Cullen, the files you asked for…" She handed him some folders. "Your husband called during the briefing, he asked you to wait for him, he's coming to pick you up." She added as he took the documents.
"Thanks, Miranda." Edward said already fishing his cellphone from his coat pocket.
Jasper answered his call almost immediately.
"Hey, Tonton. I'm almost there, are you ready to go home?"
"Finishing up some reading on a patient." He provided in a soft voice. "Love, I drove here today."
"I know, but I was off work earlier and I felt like picking up my husband." Jasper explained tenderly. "You can leave your car there, I'll drive you tomorrow. Do you have any more appointments?"
"No, but I need to do some more study for tomorrow's surgery." Edward clarified. "I can do it at home, though."
"Good. I'll be there in fifteen."
"Okay. Love you." Edward smiled involuntarily.
"Love you too." Jasper said before disconnecting the call.
Unconscious of the large grin he had on his lips, Edward placed his phone next to the only picture frame he had on his desk. It had been there since his first day as chief surgeon, three years before. He looked at it for a moment, admiring the glow on Jasper's jolly face.
He was immediately skeptical that the photo had been taken six years earlier, and still, nothing had changed. He felt so lucky…
Jasper still looked at him with the same intensity in his eyes, his face still glowed every time they saw each other after spending a whole day apart, he still beamed at him every morning when they woke up…
They had their fights and arguments, for sure, as every couple did, but they loved, cared for and desired each other just as much as when their romantic relationship started, if not more…
Edward slid the tips of his fingers slowly over the glass that protected the image. He smiled fondly and sighed.
He felt happy.
#IMPOSSIBLE#
Jasper opened the door to his parents with a large grin lightening up his face. He was anxious, the most anxious he had been his entire life.
"It's good to see you, son." Carlisle said once they held each other in a tight embrace.
"I missed you, Dad." Jasper replied just before they pulled away.
"Where's Edward?" Carlisle asked as Esme hugged Jasper.
"Inside." Jasper answered simply. "It's so good to have you here, Mom." He said to Esme while pulling away.
"I've missed you so much." She replied lovingly, holding his face. "You look so handsome. Edward must be taking good care of you."
"He is." Jasper blushed. "But I take care of him more."
Carlisle smiled softly.
"You've always been the most caring and affectionate of the two of you." He commented in a light tone as they got in and Jasper closed the door. "It's only natural that you're the one taking care of him." He added as tapping and then holding his son's shoulder.
Jasper's smile in return seemed thankful.
"So what's the big surprise? I'm anxious!" Esme urged, her eyes twinkling.
Carlisle just looked expectantly to his second son.
Jasper grinned.
"I'll take your luggage to your room, why don't you two go to the living room and wait for us there?" Jasper spoke in a jolly tone but obviously trying to sound nonchalant. His parents smiled and nodded at him. "I'll be right back."
And just as promised, Jasper was soon sitting between their parents at the sofa after having taken care of their suitcases and quickly told Edward their parents had arrived.
He took a deep breath.
"Edward and I celebrated thirteen years together last year…" He started in a calm voice. Esme and Carlisle nodded knowingly. "We were happy as we've always been but… We admitted to each other and to ourselves that there was something we both really wanted… And that was missing."
"You two are fine, right?" Esme asked carefully.
"Every marriage has difficult phases," Carlisle said slightly hurriedly, his countenance worried. "but if there's love, and honesty…"
Jasper chuckled and hastened to hold his father's shoulder and his mother's hand.
"Edward and I are fine. We couldn't be better, actually." He assured them. "I'm just telling you why and how we made this decision."
"Just tell us already, son." Esme asked in a concerned tone.
"Yes, please, now I'm just as anxious as your mother." Carlisle added in kind.
Jasper opened his mouth to finally explain, but a sweetly loud little squeak made his parents turn to the doorway just as giggles filled the room with their infectious happy sound.
Esme covered her mouth abruptly as her eyes flooded with tears. Carlisle smiled amused.
"Hello, Mom… Dad…" Edward greeted them as he entered the room with a little Asian girl in his arms.
Everyone was promptly standing as Edward stopped before them.
"This is our daughter…" He provided in a solemn tone, his eyes shimmering with emotion. "Ashley."
Carlisle immediately turned to Jasper.
"You named her?" He asked caringly.
Jasper shook his head.
"We got to know her name way after she chose us…"
"She's so precious!" Esme uttered in tears.
"Papa, who are they?" Ashley asked Edward, looking at him with her doe eyes.
"This is grandpa Carlisle." Edward said as pointing to his father.
Carlisle smiled at the five-year-old little girl.
"Hello, Ashley. It's a pleasure to meet you, pretty." He seemed tranquil as always, but his son's noticed the fondness in his voice.
Ashley leaned to him and hugged his neck.
"Nice to meet you, Grandpa." She said as pulling back to her Papa's arms, smiling sweetly.
Carlisle chuckled and tears came to his eyes.
"And this is grandma Esme." Edward proceeded.
"Hi, little princess." Esme greeted in a choked voice, softly touching the girl's chubby cheeks.
"Why Grandma is crying, Papa?" Ashley asked Edward.
"Because I'm so happy to meet you!" Esme answered before Edward could.
"Smile, Grandma." Ashley asked in her sweet childish voice while placing the tip of her forefingers on Esme's cheeks.
Esme smiled. Ashley clapped her little hands.
"We wanted a family…" Jasper told his father softly, and Carlisle looked at him with understanding. "We wanted what you and Mom have."
"And now you have it." Carlisle spoke, moved. "I am so happy for you two." He stated earnestly.
Edward gave Ashley to his mother who sat on the floor with the little girl. Grandmother and granddaughter were soon engrossed in conversation while the men observed their easy interaction from the sofa.
"The whole process was long and a little difficult." Edward commented, his eyes on his daughter.
"And it's only my name on her adoption documents…" Jasper added in a controlled tone.
They looked at each other.
"But we have our daughter officially now. And that's what matters." Edward provided in a caring smile.
Beside them, Carlisle smiled too and focused his attention on Jasper.
"What a fortunate coincidence that she has the same name as your mother." He said, admired.
Edward and Jasper shared a knowing look.
"When we were visiting the orphanage where she lived, she was the first kid to approach us." Edward spoke in a nostalgic tone. "She was promptly mesmerized by Jasper."
Jasper chuckled but soon turned serious with emotion.
"She chose us." He stated softly. "But when she told us her name I simply knew she was our daughter."
Carlisle discreetly brushed away some tears.
"Thank you for giving me a granddaughter." He said to both his sons, but looking at Jasper.
Jasper raised from the sofa and crouched down before his father.
"I'm the one who wants and needs to thank you, Dad." He said with a strong sentiment. "I told you once that you were responsible for our suffering, but I'm so sorry for having ever said that…" Carlisle shook his head gently. "What you did, taking me in, that's the reason I'm here, the reason I have Edward, and Ashley now." Edward took his hand and stared at him with love as he continued. "You're the one responsible for my happiness. You gave me a family, you loved me unconditionally, you accepted me as I am… But most of all… You brought me to Edward. Thank you, Dad. I'll never be able to thank you enough…"
Carlisle leaned over and held his younger son affectionately.
"You don't need to thank me, son." He assured in a quivering voice. "Seeing you and Edward happy is what makes me happy. I love you."
"I love you too, Dad."
They pulled away and looked at each other fondly.
"Don't cry, Daddy." Jasper heard Ashley's sweet voice just before he noticed her by his side.
And suddenly more tears streamed from his eyes.
"You called me 'Daddy'." He murmured to himself as Ashley hugged his neck.
He looked at Edward and saw him smiling and nodding with tears pooling in his eyes.
"Since the first day, she has called me 'Papa'." Edward spoke to his father only. "It's the first time she calls him like this."
"I know well how he feels." Carlisle said pensively, remembering the first time he heard Jasper calling him like that.
As Ashley sat on her Daddy's lap, snuggled on his chest, and started playing with his long hair strands, Esme approached them and they started to discuss Jasper's and Edward's plans regarding the little girl.
"Thank you, father." Edward said softly as they watched the trio in front of them with warm gazes. "Thank you for accepting us…" Carlisle turned his eyes to him. "And thank you for bringing him to me."
Carlisle just nodded, too moved and overwhelmingly happy to say anything else.
Edward leaned on the backrest of the sofa, unconsciously holding the pendant of his inseparable neck chain, and watched his family in silence… And as every single memory of his journey until that very moment flashed in his mind, a loving smile graced his placidly happy features.
He had once thought that he would never be free from pain. Right at that moment, though, that pain he considered unbearable for so long was just a faded stain, a remote memory of his youth.
His impossible love for his brother had become possible… And then it was very real.
Looking at Jasper, the man he loved so devotedly, and at their precious daughter, Edward felt fulfillment settling inside him…
He'd never known that sentiment stronger and more satisfactory than happiness existed, but his love for Jasper taught him there was one…
Edward sighed in sheer plenitude. His heart was full, and he felt complete.
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The end