A/N: Goodness, gracious. Time really got away from me. So sorry about how long it's been since last update!

Jasper reflected that he really should have been suspicious when Charlotte asked for first breakfast and then a movie.

It went without saying that Charlotte had been pampered and spoiled rotten during the entire pregnancy. If she would have let him, Jasper would have carried her everywhere, not letting her feet touch the floor. As it was, both he and Peter went out of their way to get her anything she wanted or thought she might want. Every craving was catered to, and Charlotte had been subjected to a steady stream of massages, pedicures, manicures and anything else the men could think of.

Charlotte had never asked for anything because she'd never had to.

That morning, however, she'd dragged them out of bed, claiming a sudden and fervent desire for a popular breakfast buffet down the street. She took her sweet time, devouring so many plates, Jasper wondered where she was fitting it all. Even with the ginormous baby belly, Charlotte was slight. After breakfast, she'd further declared that they were taking her to a movie.

So why Jasper jumped a mile when he opened his front door to be greeted with cheers of "Surprise!" he didn't really know.

Their living room was overflowing with friends.

"What's all this?" Peter asked, recovering first.

"Your power of observation leaves much to be desired," Charlotte snickered from behind them. "What do you think it is? It's a baby shower."

~0~

"I still can't believe you did this. And all in a few hours?" Jasper said, looking around his daughter's new nursery in awe.

In the few hours they'd been gone, the Cullen family had transformed the space into a room built for a princess.

"I don't know if you noticed, but there are a lot of us," Bella said, looking around the room. "Even with all the paint, it doesn't take so long when you have a small army."

Most of the guests had gone and the Cullens were the only ones left - helping clean up the mess from the party and put together some of the bigger items the men had been gifted with. Edward and Emmett were supposed to be assembling the swinging cradle, but from what Jasper could hear, the brothers were doing more bickering than putting together.

"I'm just happy you like it," Esme said. She and Alice were sitting cross legged on the floor, finding places to stash the bounty of clothes, blankets, bibs, burping cloths and, well, everything else the boys and Bethany had been gifted with.

Peter wrapped his arms around Jasper's waist, resting his chin on his lover's shoulder. "What's not to like? This is really wonderful. It's just a little overwhelming." Jasper nodded his agreement.

Esme looked confused. "Overwhelming?"

Before either could clarify, Arianna toddled into the room followed by her watchful father - it seemed that Rosalie had taken his place in swing assembly. Jasper was distracted, his lips quirking as the little girl looked around the room, probably curious why most of the adults left over from the party had congregated here.

Inexplicably, Arianna - standing in the middle of the room with absolutely nothing touching her - burst into tears, her little face going bright red with complete misery. The adults in the room all turned, startled, as Edward and Bella rushed to their daughter's side.

"Ari..." Edward knelt, looking the girl over. Jasper could tell he was holding back panic. "Baby, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Not well versed in sobbing toddler speak, Jasper had no clue what the little girl's response was. Luckily for her, Edward and Bella seemed to be fluent and Edward swept the little girl into his arms, holding her tightly. "You know that's not true, baby. Why would you said that?"

"Ari thinks they don't love her," Alice translated, coming to standing beside him.

"What?" Jasper asked, completely incredulous. "Why?"

Alice scoffed. "Honey, now is a good time to disabuse yourself of the notion that toddlers make sense."

"We love you very much," Bella said softly, rubbing Ari's back. "What makes you think that we don't?"

"Don't wanna seep here!" Arianna sobbed, promptly burying her head in Edward's neck. "Don't gimmie 'way!"

"What...Oh!" Edward exclaimed and then he laughed lightly. He stood, shaking his head as he looked at the others. "It's the crib. It's the same as her crib. Same mobile too." He held his daughter at arms length - a feat given that the little girl clung to him like she was about to be thrown into a fire pit - and wiped the tears away from her face. "Ari, this isn't your crib. This is for the new baby. Remember?"

The baby looked dubious, but she settled for moodily clinging to Edward, quieting down.

Bella shook her head. "That's what we get for reusing," she muttered. "We were trying to be environmentally friendly. Ari never had to use the crib that was in Edward's house," she explained.

"Hey, going green isn't a bad thing," Jasper assured.

"Obviously, it's a good crib. I had no idea Ari was so attached that she would recognize it," Edward said, laughing as he continued to rub the moody toddler's back. "Come on, baby," he said to his daughter. "Let's go find Dash, okay?"

Jasper watched them leave, his heart aching with an odd craving. He loosed himself from Peter's embrace, suddenly needy to connect with his own daughter. Crossing the room to where Charlotte was rocking in their brand new, sliding rocking chair - a gift from Jacob and Lizzie - he knelt at her side, looking up with an appreciative smile as he pressed his hand to her distended belly.

Patient as ever, Charlotte took his hand, moving it down low on one side of her belly. "This should be her head. I mean, unless she's a contortionist," she teased. "She was kicking up a storm earlier. I think it was the music."

Jasper laid his head against the spot Charlotte indicated. "You're going to love your new room, baby girl," he murmured to his daughter, not even caring that the rest of the room was watching him.

~0~

"What did you mean earlier," Esme asked the boys a little later. "When you said you were overwhelmed?"

Jasper glanced at Peter, running his hand through his hair self consciously. "It's just.. it's a lot. What you've done with us. I'm not sure I understand..."

"What's to understand?" Carlisle asked, standing beside his wife, looked equally perplexed.

"We're not your kids. We're not even married to your kids. Our parents didn't think to do this for us." Peter clarified.

Carlisle and Esme exchanged a glance. "I would say distance is a factor there," Esme said quietly, "but that's beside the point." She looked at them curiously. "You are family. You know that, right?"

"You of all people should know that family isn't about blood, it's what you make of it," Carlisle pointed out.

Jasper tapped his lips, musing with the idea of cobbling together a family like one might make a patchwork quilt. He looked over to where Rosalie and Alice were bundling up Dash - the little boy was dead weight, having conked out about a half hour before.

He liked the idea of simply being a family. No further definitions - just part of a unit of wonderful people.

Jasper smiled at the elder Cullens, pulling Esme into his arms. "Thank you. For everything." He handed Esme over to Peter so he could hug Carlisle. "Really."

"That's not everything," Alice said, coming up beside them. "We're adopting Charlotte for the evening." She leaned in closer. " We heard you could use a little alone time before the baby comes," she said with a wink.

"Alice!" Peter hissed, turning scarlet.

"Tell me I'm wrong," she said, laughing. "Come on, every couple needs a little alone time before baby. And you guys have it better than most. No ungainly belly to get in your way."

"I liked your belly," Rosalie said, leaning over their son to kiss Alice. "It was very sexy."

"Honey, everything about me is sexy," the raven haired woman shot back. "But you had to admit, it made maneuvering a ... challenge."

"Hey, hey. La la la," Carlisle cried, putting his hands over his ears. "My children - they have no sex drive."

"So your grandchildren..."

"The stork, obviously," Carlisle said seriously, reaching down to scoop up Arianna as she toddled into his legs. "Right, Ari? Say yes."

"Yes," the little girl agreed, nodding amiably. She grinned when her grandfather smiled at her.

Rosalie and Edward glanced at each other. "Mom," Edward said, folding his arms dubiously. "I think Dad has had too much to drink. You're driving, right?"

~0~

When everyone had gone home, Jasper wandered back to his daughter's nursery.

It really was a thing of beauty, but it made him inexplicably nervous. He leaned against the door jamb, his arms crossed as he took in everything from Bethany's name, intricately painted above her crib - obviously Alice's doing - to the toy box full of baby-appropriate toys.

"It's getting real, isn't it?" Peter murmured, wrapping one arm around Jasper's waist and resting his head against the blond man's shoulder. "I think we were procrastinating with the nursery, now that I think of it. Because now..."

"Now all we're missing is a baby," Jasper rumbled back, his heart beginning to pound hard against his ribcage.

"Just a few more weeks," Peter said, marveling.

But Jasper could hear the tinge of fear in his voice.

He turned, taking Peter's face in his hands. He studied his lover's features, trying to figure where this sudden discomfort had come from.

Since he had no words to explain what he was feeling, Jasper leaned in, pressing his lips to Peter's. It took only a handful of sweet, tiny pecks before a sort of desperation set in. Grabbing Peter by his shoulders, Jasper pushed him back, pinning him up against the wall

The noise Peter made was half gasp, half moan. "Babe…what are you doing?" he said in the scant seconds his lips were free. Contrary to his confused words, his arms wrapped around Jasper, his hands going into his hair and gripping.

"I want you," Jasper said bluntly, the words almost a primordial grunt as he dragged his teeth across Peter's jaw.

The brown haired man whimpered, his head banging slightly against the wall as his blond haired lover attacked his neck. "I can see that," he said breathlessly.

Jasper said nothing, just grabbed the edge of Peter's shirt, tugging it up and off. He was being too rough, his hands kneading and pressing against Peter's chest – but his lover didn't protest. In fact, Peter's only response was to tug at Jasper's shirt until the blond man allowed just enough space between them that he could take it off. Then they were pressed against each other again, their mouths moving together. Peter's fingers dug into the flesh of Jasper's back and moaned, his fingers stumbling with the button as he tried to get the brown haired man's pants off.

Finally successful in unbuttoning Peter's pants, Jasper dropped to his knees. He was eager to be inside the other man, but equally desperate to bring him pleasure this way – where he could see Peter's face.

As he took Peter's cock in his mouth, his tongue firm around his head, Jasper suddenly remembered the first time they'd done this. A couple of weeks after they'd started dating, Peter had visited Jasper at the studio. He was flirty, funny, and sexy. Jasper was so smitten he hardly knew what to do with himself. He'd pushed the brunette into an editing bay, his pace frantic as he kissed him and then dropped to his knees just like this. Then his fervor had been driven by the beginnings of new love – the wonderful, dizzying whirlwind – and a need to get Peter off quickly lest they be caught in the act.

Jasper took more of his lover's length in his mouth, his hands cupping and caressing Peter's balls. "You're so good, you're so good, babe," Peter panted, his hands running through Jasper's hair, gripping occasionally as his body jerked.

Feeling Peter's struggle not to thrust his hips, Jasper felt a modicum of relief to his overwhelming need. He wanted to see Peter as out of control as he felt, Jasper realized. He wanted to know he could still make his lover weak in the knees.

Peter gripped Jasper's hair in a too tight grip, his free hand clamped hard on Jasper's shoulder as he came.

Releasing Peter from his mouth, Jasper stood, pressing a kiss against the other man's chest before he shared his taste. Peter sighed against his lover's mouth, leaning heavily against Jasper with his arms locked around his neck.

"I love you," Peter whispered, still a little breathless as he took Jasper's hand, leading him to their bedroom.

The brunette sat on the edge of their bed, tilting his head up as Jasper leaned down to continue their kiss. The atmosphere between them was calmer, though no less heated. He still felt the edge of desperation – a need to claim the other man entirely – but he was in control of it. He could stand relatively still, his hands resting on Peter's shoulders, as the other man pushed his pants down his ankles.

Jasper moaned as Peter took his length in his hands. He was already painfully hard, more than ready to find his own release. But, looking down at Peter, finding his lover's eyes tender and adoring, Jasper was rendered still and breathless by the power of the love he felt for the other man.

As Peter poured the warming lube on his hands, working the enveloping slickness along Jasper's cock, the blond man stroked the back of knuckles down his cheek. With Peter looking back at him, no words had to be spoken. They both knew they were adored. Treasured. Precious.

Kissing along Peter's shoulders, Jasper finally felt like he could breathe as he sunk into the other man. Peter was face down on the bed, his body Jasper's to own and control. Their hands were joined above his head, fingers wound tightly together as Jasper moved in him, pressing hot, open mouthed kisses to Peter's neck. It took hardly any time for his thrusts to pick up a quick pace, the only sounds in the room the muted thud of skin slapping together and the wild moans coming from both the men. The sound of their mutual pleasure built, and when Jasper finally came he did so with a shout.

Jasper rolled over onto his side, keeping an arm around Peter's waist and bringing the other man with him. He buried his head against the crook of Peter's neck, simply holding him as they both caught their breath.

The strange anxiety had faded, replaced by the more tender emotions of two men in love and completely familiar with each other. With his need sated, Jasper could think clearer, finding words to explain his tension.

Though Jasper couldn't wait to meet their daughter – the beautiful being they had created out of the love they had for each other and he life they shared – he knew their lives would be irrevocably changed. There was a fear in that change. Would this unrestrained passion he felt for his partner dissipate as they took on their new role as parents? As much as he knew that fatherhood was a profound gift in and of itself, Jasper didn't want to lose the connection he had with Peter.

He wondered vaguely if that thought was selfish.

As if he was feeling the exact same thing, Peter turned in Jasper's arms. They kissed slowly, savoring the extended quiet. How long would it be before they could be this way again - just enjoying the feel of their lips and tongues moving together, and their hands skimming across each others skin?

Communicating wordlessly in the lovers language, the men ignored the outside world as they laid in bed. They made love twice more as afternoon stretched into evening and evening stretched into night. Before exhaustion finally took him, Jasper swore to himself that no matter how busy they got, he wouldn't let them forget that they could be this.

They fell asleep wrapped tight in each others arms.

~0~

Only an hour had passed before Jasper's phone rang. The blond man only barely stirred, furrowing deeper against Peter's unruly, sex mussed hair before he fell back asleep.

In the hallway, in the puddle of Peter's long forgotten pants, his cell phone rang... several times, in fact.

Jasper's phone rang again, and again, and again before the familiar ringtone - Alice's ringtone - finally broke through the men's sleepy haze. Grumbling, Jasper reluctantly released his grip on Peter, leaning half over the bed as he dragged his pants toward him. "Hello?" he muttered, his voice scratchy.

"What the hell is a matter with you?" Alice's extraordinarily pissed off voice demanded. "How could you not answer your phone when Charlotte is about to have your baby without you?"

His body pulled in too many directions at once as he tried to stand, Jasper only succeeded in tumbling to the floor.

"Babe?" Peter asked, blinking sleepily.

"Wait, what?" Jasper said into the phone. "What are you talking about, Alice? The baby isn't due for another four weeks!"

"Obviously, Bethany has other plans. Charlotte's water broke."

"Jesus Christ," Jasper muttered, panic beginning to creep under his skin as he stumbled to his feet. "We'll be right there!"

"Don't come here, we're already in the car. I'll take her to the hospital and meet you there," Alice commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument.

"Alice... is Charlotte okay? I mean, it's early. Is-"

"Jasper, breathe," Alice said firmly. "It's fine. It's a little early but that's not abnormal, and Charlotte is fine, aren't you Char?"

"I'm good, daddio!" Charlotte said cheerfully from close by.

Jasper felt his lips twitch but couldn't quite smile. His heart was pounding too fast for all that. "Okay. Drive carefully," he implored. "We'll be there."

He hung up the phone reluctantly, looking at Peter who sat on bed. Both their faces were mirrors of awe and terror. "It's happening now?" Peter asked.

Swallowing passed the thick lump in his throat, Jasper pulled a pair of jeans out of their dresser, throwing them at Peter. "Come on. Get dressed. We're going to meet our daughter today."

Nervous and scared as he was, Jasper couldn't help the broad, painfully big grin that spread across his face, cheek to cheek.

A/N: Special thank you to the wonderful girls over at the Perv Pack Smut Shack. They did such a lovely review of my little fic *sniffle*. Thanks, as always, to barburella and jadedandboring. And jfka06.

Most of you know by now that I'm having surgery on Thursday, so I don't know when I'm updating again. I tend to think sooner rather than later (since I won't be working), so we'll see. Until then. I love ya!