Disclaimer: Twilight and its characters are not mine…I wish it was but it's not. I mean no harm; I am just playing in Stephenie Meyer's world. I especially like to play with Jasper and Emmett.

I also want to thank my beta B. Andd. She makes sure that what I write makes sense and flows nicely. Thank you for all your hard work.

Chapter 12

Jasper POV

We decided to just take one car to the restaurant. Alice and Bella were sitting in the backseat, singing and giggling along to the radio.

"Do they do this often?" Edward asked.

"Well, this is the first time that I have been in the car with the both of them, but I get the impression that they do," I laughed.

"So, Bella, when does your dad come home?" Edward asked once they stopped singing.

"Tomorrow night. I am glad that he is I miss seeing him."

"Are you guys close?" Alice asked.

"I like to think so, we are a lot alike. We both enjoy the quiet and are thoughtful. I never quite realized how much we are alike until I moved here." She smiled.

"I have to say that I am nervous about meeting him as your boyfriend," I said.

"I am sure that you will be fine. He seemed to be okay with the idea of us dating when I told him on the phone the other day."

"Yea, I hope so, but we will see," I mumbled as we pulled into the restaurant.

After finding a parking spot Edward and I opened the back doors for the girls. I offered Bella my hand, which she took as she climbed out of the car. I could see that Edward was doing the same for Alice. I brought Bella's hand to my elbow, and we all headed into the restaurant.

"Hi kids," Esme said when we met in front of the restaurant.

"Hi, Esme, thanks for including me today," Bella said as Esme hugged her.

"Think nothing of it, dear," she said, before hugging the rest of us in greeting. "Now Carlisle is inside waiting for us, so let's head on in." She turned and headed into the restaurant.

I wrapped my arm around Bella's shoulders as we headed inside. Once we reached the table, Carlisle stood up and pulled out Esme's chair. Edward and I did the same for Bella and Alice. Bella smiled sweetly up at me.

"So how was last night, kids?" Carlisle asked once we were all sitting.

"It was amazing," Alice gushed, "everyone sang and danced all night."

"That is a good karaoke night. Did you all sing?" he asked.

"We all did, but Edward stole the show," Bella answered.

"I don't know that I would go that far, you were amazing, too," Edward said, looking down at his plate.

"What did you sing, Edward?" Esme asked.

He looked up at Carlisle and smiled sadly. "Simple Man," he stated simply.

Esme gasped and reached over and squeezed his hand. Carlisle returned the sad smile. "I am proud of you… son," he said.

Everyone stopped and looked at Edward to see his reaction. He kept his fingers locked around Esme's and smiled into Carlisle's eyes. "Thank you," he paused, "Da- Dad."

Everyone let out a breath and smiled. Esme leaned over to Edward. "I am proud of you, Edward," she whispered.

He nodded and then picked up his menu. I looked at Carlisle, and he was sitting there with a watery smile on his face. This was what he wanted. Ever since he took us in after our parents' deaths, he wanted us to look at him and Esme as parents. Alice and I have grown to love them as more than Aunt and Uncle and consider them to be our parents, but Edward was having a hard time with it. We tried not to push him into anything that he wasn't ready for.

When the waitress came up to the table, we all gave our order. After she left we fell into a silence. It wasn't quite awkward, but it wasn't comfortable either.

"So, Bella, the night before the big game we are going to have a cookout at our house. You are going to come, right?" Esme asked with a smile.

She smiled at Esme. "Wouldn't miss it. Is there anything that I can bring?"

Esme and Bella both smiled at me, well Bella's was more of a smirk. "How about your fruit salad, it was such a big hit last time."

Bella giggled and elbowed me. "That sounds like a plan, and I won't have to rush while making it this time."

Carlisle laughed, "Poor Jasper, he is never going to live that down."

"Nope," Bella, Alice and Esme all said at the same time.

"Great," I mumbled, shaking my head.

While everyone was laughing at me the food came and we all started to dig in.

"So, Bella, what are your plans for after senior year?" Carlisle asked.

"I would like to attend a school around here, and my plan is to get my degree in elementary education," she answered with a smile.

"Teaching is an amazing profession to get into; Jasper's mom was a History Teacher," Carlisle said. Bella reached over and took my hand, giving it a little squeeze.

"I didn't know that. I have always loved kids and I want to help them grow into productive, confident adults."

"That is an amazing belief and goal to have." Esme smiled.

"I agree, Bella, and if you set your mind to it than I am sure that you can accomplish that goal," Carlisle said.

"Thank you." Bella smiled.

"Why do you want to stay in Washington, Bella? There are much warmer, dryer, and more exciting places to be," Alice asked.

Bella laughed, "All very good points, Alice, but I spent so much time away from my dad that I don't want to go too far."

Everyone sat quietly thinking about what she said.

"I am sure that Charlie wouldn't mind if you went some place further," Alice said quietly.

"I am sure that he wouldn't either, but I have been to the warmer, dryer, and more exciting places. Now I just want to spend time with Charlie and with all the wonderful friends I have here. I feel more at home here than I think I would somewhere else."

"That makes sense," Carlisle said with a smile.

"What about you, Alice, where do you want to go after high school?" Bella asked Alice.

"New York City, I want to be a fashion designer," she answered with complete conviction.

"Was there ever any doubt?" I asked.

"Nope, not really," Bella answered.

"What about you, Edward?" Carlisle asked.

"I am still not sure. I think I want to do something with music, but lately I have been thinking of psychology," he replied.

"I am sure that either of those choices would be great for you," Bella said, bumping into his shoulder with a smile.

"Thank you, Bella," he smiled.

I am really proud of the all the great steps forward that he is taking.

"So that leaves you, Jasper. What are your plans?" Carlisle asked.

"Well, I would like to play college ball. But, like Bella, I would like to stick around close to home. The thought of leaving home is hard and scary."

"What do you plan on majoring in?" Esme asked.

"I was thinking history, but some teachers have mentioned that going into psychology would be good for me, too. So I figure I will go undecided and see where I fit in."

"That is what I did, and medicine was just where I fit in the best." Carlisle smiled.

"So, Carlisle, Esme, what are your plans after all the kids go off to college?" Bella asked with a smile.

They looked at each other with confusion on their faces.

"I don't think they know," Alice laughed.

"We haven't really thought about it," Esme whispered.

"Maybe we will travel some," Carlisle said, looking at his wife.

"That could be fun," I said as the waitress came to drop off the check and clear some of the dishes.

"So what is your plan for the rest of the day?" Esme asked as Carlisle paid the check.

"Edward and I have practice in, like, two hours," I said.

"I have some homework and cleaning to finish up," Bella said.

"Jake and I are going to spend some time by the beach today," Alice said.

"You all definitely sound busy, so we will let you kids get to it. This has been a joy, and I think that we should do it again soon," Esme said.

"Anytime, Esme," Bella said, hugging her.

We all said our goodbyes and then headed out. Jake was waiting for Alice outside the restaurant and they headed off. Bella, Edward, and I climbed into my truck and headed to Bella's house.

Once we got to Bella's house, I helped Bella out of the truck, and walked her to the door. "Thank you for coming today, Bella." I smiled, taking her in my arms.

"I had fun talking with everyone," she whispered wrapping her arms around my waist.

I bent down and gently kissed her. She rose up on her tip toes and deepened the kiss. I let my hands travel down to her bottom. She moaned into my mouth, but before we got too carried away Edward honked the horn, and we jumped apart with a smile.

"Guess he doesn't want to see his brother making out with his girlfriend on her front porch," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around my chest in a hug.

"Guess not," I whispered into her hair, holding her tight against me. Edward honked the horn again after another ten minutes of us standing there. "Guess I should get going. We didn't bring any of our stuff for practice."

"Okay, so dinner tomorrow night around six-thirty?" she asked.

"I will be here. I will call after practice." I gave her a chaste kiss before heading back to my truck. I waited for her to go inside before leaving her driveway.

"I can honestly say that I do not enjoy watching my brother make out with his girlfriend while they are standing on her front porch," Edward stated.

"Bella said that you wouldn't like it," I laughed.

Edward shook his head, chuckling to himself.

"Okay, I want to ask you a serious question; how are you feeling about breakfast?" I asked.

Before Edward answered he took time to think about what I asked him, "I honestly think that I'm feeling good about it. I know that Esme and Carlisle are not trying to take Mom and Dad's places, but are just trying to do the best that they can do."

"They miss them just as much as we do. I couldn't imagine being in Carlisle's place," I said, "he lost his brother and then gained his brother's three kids. But he has truly stepped up to the plate. I know that he has helped me to deal with a lot."

"I agree." Edward nodded, "What do you say to seeing if he wants to have some male bonding time. I know that I've pushed him away a lot. I'm ready to change that."

"I think that sounds great. We can talk to him about it after practice." We stopped at the house to change and grab the stuff that we needed for practice and then headed back out.

AN: I want to thank my Wifeys IPunchWereWolves4Fun and Nails233, they truly help keep me motivated and in love with my story. I also have to thank all of the lovely ladies that I write in the WC on Monday nights with. I know that without Busymommy, Butterfly Betty my story would not be what it is today. These women truly inspire me to be a better writer and I love them!

Thank you to all of you who donated for the Toys for Tots Christmas Wishes Compilation. We raised over $700 and I am honored to have been a part of that.

Let me know what you think of this chapter. I love getting those emails letting me know I have a review, they just make my day.