April 17, 2000

Carlisle glared at the glinting stones on Bella's left hand finger and the plain line of the gold wedding band resting in front of it as she helped Edward up from the ground, rubbing his shoulders to soothe him.

"How could you, Edward? Esme, how could our son betray me, betray us, do this to entire family like this!"

"Carlisle, you can't control everything that-"

"No, Esme," Carlisle cut her off. "I explained to him that she can't possibly understand our family's traditions and values. Fine, I understand if he didn't want to marry Rosalie. I know I can't force him into marriage like that, but why does he have to disgrace our family by marrying some low-class girls from the Hills?"

Carlisle ignored the sounds of Bella's whimpers, focusing on Edward. "Explain to me what happened! How could you go against me like this?"

Edward wrapped his arm around Bella's waist, holding her for strength and comfort as he recounted the events of the past few days for his father.

After the funeral, Edward returned home with Bella and the Byrne's. After everyone was settled in the living room, Siobhan turned to him and asked the question that was in everyone's mind.

"Edward, son, what are you still doing here?"

With some difficulty, Edward explained how he knew that it would be difficult for Siobhan to support both the Byrne and Swan families now that Charles had passed away.

"Are you trying to say that you're just going to be handing out money to Bella, like some kept woman!" she cried.

"No, no, Siobhan. I know that this is not the best time, but honestly I can't stay away from Bella anymore. As you know, I broke off my engagement to Rosalie Hale. Ever since I met you, Bella, I haven't been able to get you off of my mind. It's crazy, I know, but I feel like I've known you longer than the two months I really have. I wish that I could have done this the right way, to have dated you, had you meet my parents officially, plan a great wedding, and… Well I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I?

Look, I love you Bella. I hurt when you're hurt. Your laugh always makes me smile. I'm living so unhappily without you, and… Do you feel the same way about me Bella? All of this is worthless unless you love me back."

Bella lifted her eyes, and was surprised by the piercing emotion burning in Edward's.

"I'm…just…surprised, I guess," she began slowly.

"But do you love me back, Bella? That day at the park, I know I probably scared you with my speech on love and passion, but I meant it then and I meant it now, I love you. Look I know it's backwards, but I think that if I marry you now, my father will see he can't control me and force me to love someone I don't. My mother already understands, and ultimately, I just can't stand to sit by and watch you and Alice struggle to manage everything without your father… Bella, please say something." Edward finally paused in his ramblings, looking at Bella, alarmed by the fresh tears on her face.

"Edward," Bella voice was a whisper as she rose shakily from her seat on the couch and went to stand in front of Edward in the center of the room.

Edward struggled to read the expression on Bella's face, unsure if what she was about to say would crush him or not. Bella reached up to put her hand on the side of his face, and he quickly raised his to hold it there, silently imploring her to speak.

"This is all just happening so fast, and it seems so surreal that after such a short amount of time, you would feel this way for me…"

Edward winced, closing his eyes tightly, pained by her words, awaiting the impending rejection.

Bella's other hand flew up to hold the other side of Edward's head.

"But, I do love you. I do feel the same way. Yes, it scares me. A lot. But I know that we are right for each other. And I don't want to wait."

"You…You…what? Really? Oh Bella, thank you. Thank you so much! I was so worried for a moment that-"

"Yes, I know," Bella giggled. Wiping her face clean of her tears. "Now, don't you have something to ask me?"

"Right, right." Edward cleared his throat, and knelt at Bella's feet. Pulling out the ring that Rosalie had returned, he spoke. "Bella Swan, I love you so very much, and as unconventional as this situation is, I promise you that I will make it up to you in every moment of our life together. I honestly cannot live without you anymore, and I will not let you and your sister suffer now when you have lost your father. I have tried so hard to fight my feelings for you, but now feels like the right time to accept them. Bella, will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

"That was quite a lengthy proposal Edward."

"I know, it's just that I'm so nervous and I tend to ramble and now I'm worried because you said you love me but you haven't answered me yet-"

"Yes, Edward. Yes!" Bella pulled him up from his knees, and threw her arms around him.

When the pair finally pulled apart, they remembered they had an audience. The Byrnes and Alice looked equal parts shocked and excited.

"Won't your father be opposed to all this though," asked Siobhan, well aware of Carlisle's warnings to Edward.

"My father can't keep dictating how I live my life anymore." Edward replied. "I want to spend the rest of my life with Bella, and if marrying her now before seeing my parents again is how I accomplish that, then I am willing to do so, as long as Bella doesn't mind."

"Edward, the only family I have anymore is in this room already. As long as you are sure this is what you want, I am ready to marry you," Bella said, gripping his hand tightly.

"It's settled then. I'll get a marriage license from the County Clerk and that should be ready in 3 days, so we can set everything else up until then," said Edward. "Siobhan, please just let my parents know that I'm okay, but don't tell them about any of this just yet. Alice you should start packing. I expect that you'll be able to move in with us once Bella and I are married and we go home. Maggie, I think you and Bella should go shopping for whatever clothes and things you need while I set up everything else with City Hall."

Carlisle made a noise of disgust, and turned his back to Edward and his wife, facing the fireplace once again.

"Regardless of your irrational feelings for this random girl, you should not have blatantly gone against my word. It was bad enough that you broke your engagement to Rosalie, but less than a month later you have run off and wed some gold digging woman from the streets."

"Carlisle!" Esme gasped, surprised by the venomous words her husband was hurling at their son and new daughter-in-law.

"It's only the truth Esme. Edward has proved that he no longer cares for me, for you, for our family! He knew that what he was going to do was wrong, and yet he did it!"

"Papa, I won't let you say those kind of things about Bella. You barely know her and-"

"And what? You do know her? After just a few months? Edward, today you have truly shown me that you are not my blood."

Edward stumbled back at these words. Esme sank into a chair and buried her head in her hands, silent sobs wracking her body.

"You said that we would never speak of it Carlisle!" she wailed.

Bella stood beside Edward the entire time, rubbing circles into his back, trying to calm him while she herself was on the verge of breaking down, too.

"Papa, please, " Edward begged.

"You have lost the right to call me that," was Carlisle's reply.

"So…so that's it then? You've made me a stranger in a moment. Dismissed me and made me a stranger in just a moment," Edward whispered. Tears began to stream down his face as he asked, "Does this mean that I have no place in this house anymore? No place with you?"

Carlisle didn't move.

"Okay," Edward murmured. Grabbing Bella's hand, he moved over to his mother, and kissed her forehead. "I'm right, aren't I mom? This is the right thing, even though it hurts?" She stood to embrace Edward and Bella, simply nodding in between her kisses to the two of them.

"We'll leave for a while then." Edward told her. "I think it's best, then, if we try and start a new life away from Texas."

"I hope that you will be able to return home to us eventually. Your father is very hurt, but I'm sure he will come around soon," Esme told them.

"Don't make assumptions about my convictions Esme. I only have one son now," Carlisle finally spoke.

Esme walked the couple to the door. Bella was still just following Edward. What should have been one of the happiest days of her life was becoming increasingly disastrous with every moment. She couldn't believe that Mr. Cullen would treat his own son this way and remain so stoic and unaffected.

Esme put her hand to Bella's cheek to get her attention. Esme removed her diamond earrings, and slipped them into Bella's hand. "These are yours now, dear." When Bella tried to protest, Esme stilled her hand and said, "It's a family tradition. You must." Bella finally nodded her head in acceptance.

"Please just promise me," Esme continued, "that you'll always take care of my son. Never let tears come into his eyes again. Please." Bella nodded again. "You two will always have my blessings. I'll pray for the two of you."

With that, Edward began to lead Bella towards the door.

"Wait," Bella cried out. "We need to get your father's blessing. We can't leave without it."

"Bella, don't be ridiculous. You know that will never happen," Edward muttered, still moving her down the hall.

At this, Bella began to cry. "No! No! We can't leave without it. We have to have his blessing at least. It's not right to go without it!"

Though Carlisle was surprised that Bella was so upset to forgo the tradition, he said and did nothing, still not moving from his spot by the fire, long after the door slammed shut with Edward and Bella's exit.

~~O~~

That night, Esme made a call to the Byrne household, desperate to get in touch with Siobhan before her son and Bella left Austin. She had still not spoken a word to her husband, though, hoping that he would eventually come to his senses, forgive Edward, and ask him to return. Until then, she would be sleeping in one of the guest rooms.

When Siobhan finally picked up, Esme quickly relayed to her the events that had just taken place between Edward and Carlisle.

"Go Siobhan. Please, go with my son and Bella and Alice, wherever they go. I just don't want him to ever to miss the warmth of a mother's affection."

"Of course, Mrs. Cullen. I understand. I love Edward and Bella and Alice like my own children. With Maggie married and starting her own family, it would have been so lonely here anyway. I'm sure that I can be of use to them as they start their new lives. I feel so terrible that everything had to turn out this way, but I'm sure it's for the best. I will pray every day that Carlisle's heart softens and that Edward and Bella can return to you soon."

"Thank you, Siobhan. Thank you. I'm sure Edward won't want to tell any of us where he is moving to, but please keep him and his new family safe, for me."

"Of course, Mrs. Cullen."

~~O~~

April 22, 2000

The two brothers sat on the bench, swinging their legs back and forth, watching some upperclassmen at Riverside went through their drills.

"Now J, please don't cry, okay? You'll make me start crying, too." Edward playfully shoved Jasper, wiping some of the tears off his face.

"Why are you leaving Edward? Please don't go. Tell me what's going on!"

"Jasper, these are things that you don't have to worry about. It's nothing really. I've married Bella and we've left Texas to start our new life together, establish our independence and all that. You just pay attention in school, and go home when you graduate to take care of Mom and…Dad." Edward's voice broke at the end. "Promise me Jasper, that after today you will never ask anyone where I went or why I left. Just remember that I love you. I love you so very much. Take care of mom okay? Make the football team okay? And hey," he chuckled. "Listen, lose some weight yeah?"

"Yeah, okay," Jasper sniffled, rubbing his nose, and finally cracking a small smile.

~~O~~

November 22, 2009 – Present Day

"And that's how Carlisle's ego and Edward's stubborn stand broke the family in two! It broke us in two!" Elizabeth sobbed.

Jasper sat silently, watching as his grandmother broke down in front of him.

"That's enough, Lizzy," Reneé chided. "So you see, Jasper, all this happened nine years ago, and it still haunts this family. I don't think we'll ever be complete until Edward and your father resolve their issues, and that missing part of the family returns."

~~O~~

Jasper watched as his mother went through her daily routine, praying her rosary, the beads worn from years of use, then reading a section of the Bible. Jasper knelt next to his mother, and memories came flooding back to him. He could remember how his brother would ruffle his hair, just to annoy him, before beginning his morning prayers. As Jasper waited for his mother to finish reading Luke 15, he prayed harder than he ever had before. He asked God to give him the strength to repair his family, and he made a vow, then and there, to bring his brother back home.

A/N 2/19/11:

So yeah, another update right after the other, but this chapter is kinda short. Once I started writing earlier, I just couldn't stop until I reached this point in the story. I'm sure there are a ton of mistakes, and I apologize. I'm still trying to find a beta. I just really wanted to get this out. I'll try and update again, soon.

Sorry about the issue with some people not being able to access Chapter 6. It's fixed now.

Please review and let me know what you think. Thanks!