I apologize for the long wait, plus these past days didn't let me access to my profile. I hope you like the chapter and thank you for your continuous support even during my long hiatus.
EMMETT'S POV
"Your WHAT?!" I did not hear that correctly.
My bro, mated to my Belly-boo? No way.
She laughs, "Yeah, Em. He just told me" she looks up at Jazz.
"And you didn't bother telling me first?" I screech.
"Hey! I just found out" she reprimands me. She comes forward, hugging my midsection. "Em, you've been making lewd jokes your entire life and now you're defeated by one little thing" she jokes.
I pout, "One little thing my ass. You and Jazz are mated. Like, for real, this is insane" even my vampire brain struggles to keep up with this shit. But, one to never disappoint, I recover quickly.
"First Eddie and now Jazzman. Let me tell ya, Bells, you definitely improved" I wiggle my eyebrows, bending down at her level.
She laughs loudly, and I see Jasper smile lovingly at her. Yeah, they are definitely mates. That's a man in love right there: stupid smile, check, lovesick expression, check, adoring eyes, check. There ya go.
We joke a while about it. I bet Bellsy is now pissed I'm back with my usual humour.
Mine and Jasper's heads whip around when we suddenly hear a car pulling up near us. The sun tells me it's time for Charlie to return. Time passed quickly.
Jazz sets to remove any trace of the bonfire while I usher Bella inside. She sets to prepare dinner and I observe her. I don't bother hiding. I ain't Edward, I don't need to hide from Charlie. I help her cut the veggies and we hear the sound of the door opening seconds after Jazz sprints in the room from Bella's room. He makes to take the plates out just as Charlie enters the kitchen.
"Wow, I don't think my kitchen has ever been this crowded" he says, nodding his head in greeting and kissing Bella's cheek.
And crowded it is, I am a big guy and Jazz isn't far behind. The kitchen is tiny, but we manage. "Hello, Chief" I greet.
"How do you do, boys? And please, call me Charlie" he says, plopping down on a chair. When he notices Jasper setting the table, he gets up and helps.
"We're good, Chi—Charlie" Jasper corrects himself.
"You ain't eating with us?" he asks, after noticing just two plates on the table.
Bella puts the chicken in the oven and turns. "They can't. I already asked," she lies smoothly, "They have family dinners too, just like we do, Dad."
I decide to joke. "We tried to invite you both to the house but Bella refused, she wants you all to herself" I snigger. I can sense Bella's glare as Charlie laughs.
JASPER'S POV
Not good. As Emmett's words pass from his mouth, I can feel Bella's irritation, but when it turns to mischief and satisfaction… that's when I become worried.
"Well, Emmy-boo" she says, sayin' the pet name sickeningly sweetly, "If you insist, then tomorrow we both will come to the family dinner. Isn't it tomorrow that you say there will be your favorite dish?"
Fuck.
On one hand, I am insanely proud of her for this, on the other I am beyond pissed at Emmett. Because of this fucker, we'll have to eat human food. Little bitch.
He seems to know too, because his emotions shift to dread and mild disgust. Serves him right. And based on how Bella phrased the sentence, it seems like he'll have to eat a lot.
"Well, then it's settled" Charlie says.
The day after
Rosalie is glarin' daggers at Emmett, Alice is eyein' the food with an equal amount of disgust and curiosity, Carlisle and Esme are bringin' the last of food on the table. Me, I'm simply waitin' for my Bella. The family still doesn't know that we are mates, but Bella and I texted each other last evenin' to decide if it was time. We quickly agreed to simply tell everyone we were together. The family would understand what it means, and Charlie would be appeased.
Hopefully he won't shoot me. That would be difficult to explain.
A car parks in the driveway, and we all recognize it as Bella's truck.
Charlie gets down first, Bella followin' close behind. I smile seeing her. She's stunnin' in a simple red sweater and blue jeans. Her hair is flowin' down her back and the only thing I wanna do is bury my head in her neck and run my hands through the thick strands.
"YO!" Emmett slaps my back, yeetin' me out of my thoughts. I glare at him.
"What?" I snarl.
He glares back at me, "Chill, dude. Just wanted to say ya might want to control yourself a little bit better."
Am I projectin'? Whatever. They'll know soon enough.
They come in, ushered in by Esme, and Bella immediately comes at my side, to everyone's surprise-apart from Em.
"Charlie, it's a pleasure having you here" Carlisle says courteously.
"Thank you for inviting me, Carlisle. I can smell the food and I can tell this is going to be a nice evening" he laughs.
"Emmett" he then turns to him, "Bella tells me you are a voracious eater, a bit like myself, wanna have a competition?"
Oh, he is fucked. I can feel Bella's smugness and Emmett's appalment. A burst of pride surges from me. no one messes with my Bella.
Charlie's eyes then settle on me.
On me, with my arm draped around Bella's waist.
Despite not needin' it, I gulp down the venom in my mouth. Not hunger or lust, but nervousness.
He raises an eyebrow. "What is this?"
"Erm, mmh… Well, Dad, me and Jasper want to tell you—all of you" Bella sweeps her gaze across everyone in the room, "something. Well…"
"You're not pregnant, are you?!" Charlie explodes. His face suddenly becomes several different shades of blue and red.
"What? Dad no! Jesus…" she mutters, as he returns a healthy colour. "Me and Jasper are together" she says, grippin' my arm.
I send her some calm and reassurance, along with my love, as I assess the emotions of those around us. Carlisle and Esme are surprised, but happiness quickly surpasses every other option; Alice is ecstatic, I'm surprised she ain't jumpin' up and down. Emmett already knew, but Rosalie didn't, and she's feelin' proud and happy for us. She flashes me a smile and winks.
Charlie is happy but cautious at the same time. He's starin' at me and Bella, and I don't need to have Eddie's gift to understand that his mind is goin' in overdrive.
I don't blame the man. First, Eddie-boy and all that he put Bella through—all the shit he made her suffer—then I come, supposedly his brother, and announce that we are together. He rarely saw me before, and now I'm his only daughter's boyfriend. Even without bein' the Top Cop, any father would be suspicious.
The silence in the room is almost suffocatin'.
"What about Edward?" his question breaks the silence. Anger sparks in me at the mention of Edward.
"For real, Dad? The only time you say is name correctly is after we broke up?" Bella shakes her head exasperatedly, "Edward is no longer part of my life, we're done. And I hope the terrible experience with him doesn't affect your opinion of Jasper."
Charlie looks and feels pleased. He takes a step forward then extends a hand towards me. I quickly shake it. "I will keep an eye on you. One wrong move and I'll have you arrested" he says, perfectly serious.
I can feel the love he has for Bella, and I'm happy that she has so many people to take care for her. but now I'm here, and I won't let any harm come to her. I tell Charlie as much and his satisfaction is apparent.
"Glad to hear that, kid. Now, I was promised a dinner?"
BELLA'S POV
Well, this is going better than expected.
For me at least. Emmett doesn't look too happy to shovel down mouthfuls of human food.
Serves him well for trying to mess with me.
Alice, thanks to her minute built, doesn't have to eat so much. Rose is picking food here and there, alternating bites between glares at Emmett. Carlisle and Esme are the picture of perfect politeness, but I can see them hesitating just a second before swallowing.
Jasper's discomfort is even more evident. Smiles and courteous words can't hide his disgust of the food. I need to help him.
"Jazz" I say caressing his arm, "Didn't you want to show my dad one of your books?" I make up an excuse. He quickly catches on my ruse, and excitedly nods and walks upstairs after having been excused from the table.
All the present Cullens watched him with envy, and Rose snuck a glare at her mate.
My dad obviously didn't see anything, as his face is turned solely to the food-filled plate. Admitted, the food was exceptionally good. Esme has outdone herself. I tell her as much and she smiles.
"Thank you dearest! You know I love to cook, and this was a great opportunity to whip out some nice recipes" she says, smiling brightly.
"Well" my dad says, swallowing his food, "I can say that you've done an excellent job, Esme."
Jasper comes back in the dining room with not one but two books under his arm. He passes behind my chair, brushing my back with one hand, and I shiver. I feel Rosalie smirk but decide to ignore her.
My dad raises his head as Jasper approaches him. "Sir, I thought maybe these books will be interestin'."
He gives my dad the two books. One about old fishing techniques, one about currents and types of water. I can see my dad's eyes sparkling.
Seeing my dad smile makes my lips curve upwards and Jasper, probably sensing the love blooming, cones to stand beside me. He holds my outstretched hand and quickly kisses it.
"Thank you, son" Dad says, "I'll be sure to give them back to you once I'm finished reading them."
"Take yer time, sir. I have no plan of goin' anywhere." Jasper's voice is like warm honey and I melt.
"I can tell that" he replies, eyeing me and Jasper attentively, but not with the disgruntled look he always had around Edward.
Two hours later
The evening passes uneventfully. Esme surprised us with dessert: a red berry gelatine—at least for us humans, for the Cullens I doubt it was red berry—and then Charlie went home. I decided to stay back to help clean up, despite Esme's protests.
Now, that was all a rouse to get me to stay here longer without Dad flipping, but I think he caught on that but let it slide for my sake.
"So you two are mates!" Alice and Rose exclaim after we finish putting the last plate in the dishwasher.
Jasper, right on time, comes in the kitchen and drapes an arm around my waist. "Yeah, we are."
"Oh my God I' so happy, we need to organize a party!" Alice jumps up and down.
I quickly stop her, "Ali, there is still Victoria we need to think about. She has already killed and I don't want any more victims."
Her enthusiasm quickly vanishes.
"Bella's right" Carlisle intervenes, coming in along with the other present Cullens, "We need to act fast, or this could lead to even bigger problems. We don't want more lives to be forfeited."
Emmett cracks his hands, "So what do we do?"
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