Alice laid on her back looking up as the multi colored balls of fire and sparks illuminated the night sky. She had always enjoyed firework displays but being able to actually set them off was just all sorts of awesome. She and Jasper had been setting off those artillery shells that he seemed to like so well but now she decided to take a little break and just watch the festivities for a while. The petite girl giggled as she noticed Emmett and Jasper trying the connect fuses of a good half dozen shells together in an attempt to create a muliti shot explosion.

"I don't know if they are long enough, Em. I'm thinking we need extra fuses and we seem to be fresh out."

"They are plenty long enough, Jazz. Seriously, if a normal mortal can fire these bad boys with enough time to get out of the way, how much safer is it when you have superspeed?"

Jasper fell silent for several seconds and then huffed since he couldn't find any holes in Emmett's logic for a change. What is this world coming to when Em makes sense?

"No good, Jazz, that's what. I'm willing to bet that Armageddon is just around the corner." Edward lit a large bottle rocket then tossed it up in the air to give it some extra height before it took off into the sky to explode in a shower of sparks. "Just remember, guys, vampires aren't fireproof. If you blow a hand off and it goes up in flames, you're just screwed."

"Hey, Eddie, that gives me an idea." Emmett grinned devilishly as he packed the shells into their tube and lit the fuse.

Alice's eyes glazed over suddenly as the multi shot artillery arsenal zoomed skyward to exploded in an array of color and loud reports. She shuddered against what she was seeing before calling out, "Em, that's a really bad idea! Don't go there."

"But, sis it's pretty safe. Aint nothing I can't out run. 'Sides, I haven't even said what I was thinking about."

"No, you didn't but I agree with Alice. That's a really damn stupid idea, Em."

Jasper stood staring at his siblings. "Well, does someone want to let me in on what this terrible idea is?"

"Bottle rocket war," Emmett called out gleefully as he hummed a M-80 into the river, delighting at the explosion. "Hey, Ed, what's going on with Pops? Anything new?"

"He's still relaxing and reading. He was a little worried thinking that some kids are in the woods a bit too close to the house but it didn't bother him enough to think he had to check it out. So far, so good."

"There we go. Pops is chillin' and there is no way some paper and black powder is going to get the best of us so... BOTTLE ROCKET WAR! Eddie, you're with me. You and me against Jazz and Alice. Let's go guys. It will be fun. Nothing like the rush of doing something a little dangerous, right?"

Alice hopped to her feet and walked over towards the guys. "As long as we keep clear of the greenhouse, I guess it will be alright," her voice wavered slightly as her nervousness came through.

"Wasn't planning on hiding, little sis." Her adventurous brother gave Alice a wink as he grabbed a handful of bottle rockets and ran to the other side of the yard. Edward shook his head then relutantly armed himself for battle before jogging after Emmett.

"I don't know about this, Jazzy."

Her anxiety caused Jasper's stomach to churn. "You can sit it out if that makes you feel better, sugar. I can kick Em and Edward's butts single handedly." He kissed her cheek before giving her a reassuring smile. "Amateurs up against a seasoned solider? Please. Piece of cake."

While she hated to be left out of the fun, Alice nodded slightly. "I think I'll feel better watching. Just promise me that no one is going to put anyone's eye out. Dad will so kill us all."

"I promise, baby. Bob and weave. Bob and weave. We've got that down." Grabbing his ammunition, Jasper headed off to war.

His mate sat down on the grass to watch from a safe distance wondering if this was how it had been for his family when her Jazz had left to join the Texas cavalry. At least she was safe in the knowledge that he wouldn't be killed, but it was still hard knowing that he was putting himself in harms way. "Remember! Stay away from the greenhouse!", she called after him.

"One man army, huh? Pity."

"Alice just didn't feel up to it. No big deal."

"Sure , sure." Emmett sighed a little but he respected his little sister's decision. "It's all good. Now, what say we up the stakes?"

Edward raised an eyebrow as he studied his burly brother. Emmett was just so damn competitive and often that led them all down some dangerous or just plain stupid path and with explosives mixed into it... Oh he has to be kidding.

"Wha'cha got on your mind, Em?" Jasper's curiosity was peaked.

Emmett chuckled at his brilliant idea. "Well since our member of the fairer sex decided to sit this one out it's safe to take it to the next level. I was thinking we could try to catch the rocket hurling at you and toss it back. Whoever can return the most before they have one explode on them wins."

"You can not be serious." Edward's expression was blank as he stared at Emmett. "How deep does your idiocy truly run?"

"What's the worse that can happen? Blow off a finger or two. Pfft. Stick it back on and we're good to go again." Emmett slipped into thought then quickly recovered. "If you lose a finger that will cost you five returned rockets. Penalty for blown off bits seems fair."

"What the hell..."

"No, Edward. That makes sense. If you're too slow to get something explosive out of your hand it should deduct points."

Edward's mouth fell open as he gazed at Jasper in disbelief. "Are you really willing to go along with this grand stupidity?"

"Hell, I've lost a finger here and there back in the day. Hurts but repairs pretty quickly."

"Weren't you just with me when I mentioned about our combustibility?"

"Eh. These things are pretty tame. Don't think fire is going to be an issue." Jasper turned a bottle rocket over in his hand. "Just keep the aim on the down low. I promised Alice that we wouldn't take out an eye. Would hate to face my little hell cat while sportin' only one and she does have a point about papa spittin' nails if we do that much damage."

"I can't believe..."

"Aw come on, Eddie. Where is your sense of adventure?" Emmett punched his brother in the shoulder. "I'll even give you a ten rocket lead. Fun, bro. It's about having fun." When Edward showed no sign of giving in Emmett switched tactics. "Alright, then just do me a favor. Just give it a shot. If you're not having fun, if it's too dangerous for you we'll stop. Don't knock it 'til you try it, bro."

Edward narrowed his eyes as he glared at Emmett then snatched up his bottle rockets while he dug in his pocket for a lighter.

"HELL YA!"

After several minutes, Edward had to give it to Emmett; he was having fun. His greater speed made him a natural as he out ran the bottle rockets and his brothers. Emmett's hand had scorched a bit when a short fuse caused one of his projectiles to self destruct before it left the hanger but all in all his fears had been unfounded.

As caught up as they were in their game, the boys failed to realize just how much ground they had covered as they ran dodging the thrown missiles until Alice yelled out in warning... a bit too late.

Emmett had just brought a rocket up over his shoulder at the peak of his toss but before he could bring it forward it left his hand squealing into the darkness. This hadn't been the first one with a short fuse this evening so the firework battling trio paid it no attention until the first explosion filled the air with billowing smoke and whistling colorful balls of fire.

What the hell?

Carlisle's eyes grew wide as the house was shaken by the concussion of an explosion. Fear for his children's safety caused him to race down the stairs and out the door but the coven leader stopped short at the sight of a huge blinding ball of flashing light, sparks and loud reports emanating from where Esme's greenhouse had once stood. Quickly scanning the scene, he spotted Jasper hunched over Alice protectively just out of the fire zone while Emmett and Edward stood near by gawking at the spectacle blazing in the yard. Carlisle shielded his face as a blanket of sparks shot out from the center of the mass to light up the entire yard and boarding forest, showering them all with burning flecks.

Several long minutes passed before the mountain of fireworks was finally spent and an eerie silence filled the yard. With ears still ringing, Carlisle turned to address his children.

"Is anyone hurt?"

His darkened eyes focused on his fidgeting jokester son. This calamity had Emmett's name written all over it. His son ran a hand through his thick curly singed hair as he stared at his feet, finding it impossible to face his father. When he didn't speak, the patriarch turned his attention to the huddled pair.

"Jasper? Alice?"

"We're fine, daddy; at least for now." Alice's voice was very soft and tinged with worry.

"Dad." Edward was also finding it very difficult to meet his father's eyes. "We didn't mean to..."

Carlisle held both of his hands up towards his son to halt his words. "I just want to know if anyone was hurt."

"No, dad. Amazingly, no one was injured."

"Good. That's all that I needed to know." His calm tone disturbed his children greatly. Carlisle crossed his arms over his chest as he stood looking over the wreckage and the few small fires still burning within. Sighing deeply he shook his head. What were they thinking? They could have killed themselves. His jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth in frustration at his offsprings' carelessness."Put those out, " he nodded towards the fire, "then get inside and get yourselves cleaned up. Every one of you reeks of gunpowder." His eyes came to rest on Alice projecting his disbelief that his baby would find herself involved in the boys' hare brained idea. Alice looked away as she mentally chastise herself for worrying her father and not trying harder to stop the more dangerous aspects of the night.

"Pops, I really am sor..."

"I don't want to hear it, Emmett. Just do as I say." Carlisle slowly returned to the house leaving his miscreants behind but not before dropping the guard on his thoughts to let Edward in.

"OH, FUCK! Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."

"What is it Eddie? What did he tell you?"

With unabashed fear in his eyes, Edward looked at his three siblings. His mouth went dry as he fought against his rising anxiety to share what he had heard. With voice faltering, Edward finally answered quietly. "He wished us luck trying to explain this fiasco to mom."

AN: Well thankfully no body parts were lost to the flames that our little vampiric moths couldn't stop themselves from flying too close to. Carlisle needs a little down time before he could deal with his delinquents but figures that Moma bear is more then capable of bringing her cubs back in line.

Thanks for all the reviews and adds, guys. I really appreciate the support more then you can ever know.