Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to S. Meyer. I own two cellphones Sony Ericsson but my dream is a Blackberry.

Chapter 3 - Barefoot, jeans shorts and shouts

Edward Cullen

There was only one park with a playground suitable for children in Forks, sometimes I think I should move to Seattle, but let's face it, without my family support things would be a little more difficult. Despite a big city having some downs, I have to think of the ups too. Better schools, a lot more to do in terms of entertainment (Not that I really get out but think about Libby when she grows up)… but that's something I'll think about it when the times gets there. For now, it's just us and other 3000 and something people on little Forks.

We got to the park and I got Libby from her set in the back and the little cooler and we went to find a spot for us under the trees. After a little while, the blanket was spread, Libby was with her coloring book and crayons and I was with a book. Half an hour into our little peace and quiet time there was little scream and a russet skinned boy with black hair Mohawk ran past us into the wider area of the park, after him I saw her, in clad jeans shorts (that were too shorts by the way!), a sleeveless shirt that sent a very explicit message and some pink and black flip flops that she rapidly got rid off on a tree nearby to go after the boy screaming "You'll pay for this, Junior!". That was followed by little squeals and giggles of the boy as she caught up to him and started tickle him in the grass as the straddle him… He fought, but she eventually let him out and running again as she went after him pretending to be some kind of monster.

You have to understand the puzzle in my mind ´cause no one screams in Forks. It's almost like a ghost town, if you could call it that. Quiet is a key-word for this place and this girl (and the kid too) come running and screaming… that got a few looks. Disapproving ones from mothers and the few fathers that were there I'm sure had the same questionable look I do now: Who is this girl?

A soft sigh beside me broke my reverie and I looked at Libby and there was something in her eyes I don't see very often (At least not shopping related): Longing. What was in her mind that she wanted looking at the two of them running and playing around? Then it hit me.

"Libby, do you wanna play? We brought your Barbies… Your new Princess´ puzzle…" I had to guess right?

"No daddy, it's okay." She answered but her head was down and I could see a little pout.

"Sweetie, you can tell daddy anything, you know that right?"

She didn't have the time to tell me as Rich Girl started to play on my Blackberry and I had to curse under my breath, only Alice could do this. Damn! No wonder a guy asked me out the last time I took her and Libby shopping, with a ring tone like that and carrying 8 shopping bags what would you think?!

"Why do you put this kind of music in my phone? People talk in this town you know?" I didn't even have to say hello, this was normal for us.

"Well hello dear brother… if I don't do it how will you know it's me?" She asked all innocent. Innocent my ass. I can bet she was pouting.

"Alice, not everyone has a hotline with Dionne Warwick and all the psyches in the world…" Sarcasm is a play for us.

"You know, the ring tone doesn't make you gay, but knowing who Dionne is… kinda does, big brother." And cue to her laugh. It was funny how someone as feminine as Alice could laugh and have a not-so-girly snort in the end. I always tease her about it.

"You know Alice, men don't like smartasses…" Tease! Always tease!

"I couldn't care less about men…I have Jasper, Dorkward!" Aaand, I shut up. I hate the damn nickname. Fucking Emmett! "And he loves my ass, thank you very much."

"Okay Alice, I surrender, what do you want?" Distracting her was the answer to no more mocking.

"I wanna know what time are you and Libby coming over, everyone will be coming and I need you to go pick a chocolate cheesecake at the new bakery on Main Street, you know, the one next to the coffee shop?"

"Yeah, yeah, it's under your name?"

"Yeah, go, pick it up and tell Iz she needs to get me the recipe for the cookies."

"Okay, but who is this Iz person?"

"The owner. Get here at least in one hour and a half." And she was gone without saying goodbye.

By the time I was off the phone, Libby was up by my side and was holding something. I couldn't see what it was as her back as to me.

"Sweetie, what you got there?" I asked putting my hands on her shoulders and turning her around to me.

"A ball. They threw it at me." She said pointing at the running girl and the mohawk boy. At that the boy came running and stopped when he saw that Libby had the ball.

"Hi." He said timidly. I would find funny if I didn't saw the little blush on my baby girl's cheeks. What the h…

"Hi." She answered in the same timid tone.

"Can I have my ball back?" Oh boy, she had mine when she was born and I still didn't have it back. Unless Papa Bear mode in on.

"Sure." When my girl gives short answers?

"Jake, come on." The running girl said from afar.

He dismissed her with a wave and turned to my girl again "I'm Jake. What's you name?" He had a little megawatt smile, the little f… smooth talker. Maybe he got from his mom. She was chuckling from behind him seeing their interaction a few feet away. And boy, what a smile. It would warm up any room she walked in to.

"I'm Elizabeth Grace, nice to meet you, Jake." You would think she was saying her name to the president ´cause she gave him a huge smile and extended her little hand.

"Nice to meet you too. Do you wanna play?" He was still holding her hand after shaking.

She turned to me with hopeful eyes and how could I say no? "Go sweetie, but only where I can see you, okay?" They nodded and took off in the direction of his mom. When they got to her she crouched to their level and she was passing her fingers on his hair while talking with Libby to. I couldn't hear what they were saying but then she was smiling sweetly and turned to me with a little wave. I waved back and felt like the little boy must be feeling while talking to my baby girl.

They were throwing the ball back and forth for something like 20 minutes, running and laughing. Suddenly the two kids were running in her direction and tackled her to the ground. I took off in their way and when I got close I heard laughter. Huge belly laughters and lots of giggling, one third coming from my Libby. I haven't seen her laugh this way in a while, usually when she's around Emmett and his kids and we're all playing and running around. The mom was on the ground and she had her arms around the kids laughing with her eyes closed. It was a beautiful sight.

"Are you guys okay?" I had to ask.

"Yeah…" The owner of the sweet voice said. "These two just got me without warning. Not cool for my back guys, not cool!" She said giving them headlocks and with mock hurt. They just hugged her tighter and said Sorry in unison. "That's okay; I'll get you guys another time." She laughed then still with her eyes closed. When she opened I saw deep brown eyes. Why do I have the sudden urge for chocolate?

I extended my hand and the kids detangle from her. Jake offered a hand to Libby and she took it to stand too. How old is he?

"Don't worry, he just turned five and I can testify that he is a good kid." His mom whispered while standing up taking my hand. Hers were warm and fit inside mine so nicely.

When I looked she was close and I noted the details on her. Pale skin, which is normal to Forks, brown hair curly in the ends that was up to her mid-back, a petite frame, maybe a little taller than Alice, but her body was from someone who worked out, specially the legs, her cheeks were a little flushed from all the running and pink lips that were moving right now but I wasn't listening to a thing.

"I'm sorry what?" Dumbly I asked.

"I said I'm Bella, and you met little Jake here. Nice to meet you, Dr. Cullen." She said shaking my hand that was still holding hers.

"How do you know my name?"

"I am…" She was interrupted by Jake telling her that they were late.

"Ok, Jake." She turned to me again. "You're right; I still have to leave you at your dad's." Hmm, does this mean she is Miss now?

"Bye, Libby. I hope to see you again." Jake said and leaned to give my baby girl a little kiss on the cheek. This kid is trouble, I'm sure.

Bella bend to Libby's level (Leaving me with a great view of her behind – what an ass I'm being in this park!) and touched her little nose while saying "I hope to see you again too Libby, you have some arm in you! Hope we can play again." She was smiling and so was my daughter.

"So Edward, I'll see you soon." Oh, I hope so Bella.

"Bye Mister." Jake said.

"Bye Jake."

Bella went hand in hand with Jake to the tree to retrieve her flip flops and went on to the parking lot. In that time Libby came next to me and grabbed and tugged my hand.

"Daddy, Bella said I can play at her house with Jake. I can, right? Pleeease?" Damn puppy eyes.

"Sure sweetie, of course you can. But I don't have her number or her address." That would be the perfect excuse to see her again. Maybe in other shorts? Oh my God! What is wrong with me? She was just being nice to Libby! I'm not blind. I note women around me but there's something about her that make me want to see her again. Maybe it was her shirt sending me a message that everyone in my family has been saying for a while.

Libby was pouting and I began to think: This is not a big town, maybe I can find her again. Preferably in those shorts and barefoot running around.

"I'll see if your aunt finds out okay?" It was a valid proposal. She nodded and went back to our tree. Alice wound find out, her fashion magazines can only last for the first twenty-four hours after they arrive and Jasper has got to breathe the poor man. That would distract her; the pixie knows a lot more than she should in this town.

We got our things ready and went to pick up the cake. The bakery was near the park and we got there in to time. It was right next the only coffee place in town. It had a funny name: "Pie in the hole". It was also what you should call a hole in the wall, like all other little shops in this block, homey and nice. Our arrival inside was announced by a little bell by the door. Libby giggled.

"Hi, welcome to Pie in the hole, how can I help you?" A girl with russet skin and long straight hair said from behind the counter.

"Hi, I came to pick a cake for my sister: Alice Cullen."

"Yes, I've been waiting for you to come. She called a while ago." And she turned to the little refrigerator with glass doors and picked the cheesecake to put it in a little box already waiting for it.

"Oh, she also mentioned a recipe for me to pick up with Iz." I said when she was giving me the box.

"Don't worry, Iz already got it ready and is going to leave at her place." the girl said.

"Okay, how much do I own you?" I asked getting my credit card from my wallet.

"Don't worry about it also; it's been taken care off." The girl said and looked down to my side. "Hey, I remember you. You're Libby, right?"

Libby smiled brightly at her. "Yeah, hi, Leah. Do you have something for me?" I must have missed something ´cause they obviously knew each other. Maybe Alice brought Libby over. Leah went down the counter and came with a cookie in her hand, Libby couldn't see it so she looked at me like asking permission to give the cookie, I nodded and she proceeded to give to my girl, who had the biggest grin.

"Oh, this is the chocolate one, right? This is the best." Libby said like she already tasted all. I must have looked confused and amused at the same time.

"She came here and Iz was experimenting new cookie recipes." Leah explained.

We said our goodbyes and went to Alice's place down the street. The cake smelled like sin, chocolate sin that is.

Libby was in the back singing the hippo song. I swear, sometimes I catch myself singing the damn song in the middle of a surgery and laugh at myself. We got to Alice's and I began to unload everything. I was with Libby on my hip and the cake on the other hand and we were singing when Jasper open up the door with the lazy way he's got and the girls love. I know it! Libby wouldn't stop talking on how cool he seemed when she first met him. And she was only two! It was "Uncle Jas" this and that for that whole year when she went to Alice's place.

"Hi darlin´." A huge smile combined with his accent and women were putty.

"Hi uncle Jazzy." And there my daughter was wiggling to get out of my arms and into Jazz's. Another smooth talker. There's something in this water's town!

"Hey Jaz, where´s your woman? Did you know she was messing with my ring tones again?" He laughed while throwing Libby playfully in the air.

"Yeah, I know. You have to see what her song is when she calls me…" I was really afraid to know more about that. Alice was nothing shy about sex and Em and I found that on the hard way. Bleach on my mind for a minute.

Mom and Dad were already there with Amy and Anthony and were soon playing with a happy Libby on their floor. Oh, new toys. These kids are spoiled rotten. Greetings were given and we were all off to the backyard. It was nice and the women were at the kitchen talking. They brought the food and at the same time the doorbell rang. "Come out the back!" Alice screamed. Who needs intercom? So overrated, especially for Alice.

A vision came to the side of the house, it was Bella. When she saw Jasper on the grill she went like there was no one else there and jumped into his opened arms shouting "I knew it was you!" and laughing. Is it wrong to be jealous of your brother-in-law ´cause he's hugging the hot new mom I just met? I looked around the table and saw the very amused faces of Mom and Dad, Amy and Anthony were going at it with their hot dogs, Libby by my side was smiling at the sight of Bella, Rose was smiling too (That is new! I got to ask about that.), Alice was laughing (Why was she laughing about another woman? A beautiful one at that was throwing herself on her husband is beyond me.) and Em was with this hot dog halfway to his mouth, which was open, looking at the scene. He dropped his food and walked fast, I thought he was gonna deck Jasper for being so affectionate to another woman that was not our sister when he shouted "Little Swan, get your ass off of him and come hug me!", she then looked at him and Jasper put her down so she could run to Em. Rosalie took off and then I knew for sure that someone was gonna get their ass kicked. Bella looked behind Emmett's shoulders and wiggled away from him to run to Rosalie. Rosalie didn't even think and hugged Bella so tightly they went to the ground. Alice went to join the party and they were all laughing in the yard's ground.

I was very confused and the filter is gone! "What is going on here, people?" I half-shouted thru all the laughter and squeals. They looked at me like I grown a third head and started laughing again. Is it Laugh At Edward Day? ´Cause if it is I didn't get the memo.

They composed themselves and were adjusting their clothes but it was Dad who answered to me: "Son, do you remember Bella Swan, daughter of Charlie, our Police Chief?" I looked at her, at all of them with big grins on their faces and shook my head no.

"Well, then you better memorize my face, Edward. You'll be seeing a lot of it. Just do it." And there comes that message of her shirt again. Just do it. I wish.