Author's Note: Here is the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy! Jasper and Bella talk about family and I would really like to know what you guys think of their chat. Thank you for reading!
-Lisa
Chapter Thirty Three
"You know," Carlisle began as he sat next to Bella in her hospital bed. He began to play with the ring which sat on her left hand as they were waiting to get the paper work for her release. "You may not believe this but I was extremely scared and worried about you when you first came in. I was a mess. If you don't believe me, ask Edward. I might have been boarder line neurotic."
"Who you?" Bella smiled. "Last night Edward might have mentioned something about getting you committed because you were so worried. I'm glad your worrying was over nothing and I am okay. I'm going home today Carlisle. I feel loved that you are by my side. You can't get rid of me, I'm sorry. We are a match, aren't we?"
Carlisle leaned down and kissed Bella. He looked into her eyes. Even though she spoke light heartedly, tears still formed in his eyes. "I never, ever want to get that close to losing you again, do you understand? You are my forever Bella, that's it. No more silly life or death trips to the emergency room, okay? You are my everything. I love you so much."
Feeling that he was emotional, Bella began to tear up too. She took his face in her hands and kissed his lips. "I'm not going anywhere. I love you too."
As Bella leaned into Carlisle to kiss him, there was knock at the door. "Bella," Aro smiled as he walked towards her bed. "I wanted to deliver these to you personally so you can get the hell out of her."
"That's much appreciated Aro," Bella smiled as she signed her name on the forms. "The accommodations have been grand but I think I'm ready to go home."
Aro took the papers back from Bella and patted Carlisle's back. "Are you ready to go home and get some sleep too? You have been sleeping here for two days on that crappy cot. Tell me you are taking some time off."
"I am," Carlisle answered. "I'm taking two weeks off to just be there for Bella and help her while we get our life back together. I think the best thing for us to do is to regroup and learn to be a family again."
"Well, I won't keep you two much longer. I'll have a nurse bring you a wheelchair in. One more thing," Aro stopped.
"What is it?" Bella asked.
"I must get an invite to the wedding. It's nice to see a smile on my old friend's face again," he added as he left the room.
Before they knew it, Carlisle was pulling into the garage. Bella was happy to see her family cars in the drive way. Carlisle walked around to her car door and helped her out. As they entered the house, everyone was busy. Ed and Esme were with Charlotte cooing over Emily. Peter was in the kitchen trying to teach Alice to cook. Jasper stood talking to Emmett and Edward as he held onto little Renee. Rosalie and Tanya were chatting up a storm too.
"Hello?" Bella said as she walked through the door. All at once, everyone cheered her coming in. "That's the best welcoming I have ever received. I should do this more often."
"Over my dead body!" Carlisle said as he placed his hand on her back. "Never again."
"I agree with him," Esme said as she kissed Bella's cheek.
"It's a joke, I promise. What is Peter making for dinner?" Bella asked.
"A salad and he's trying to teach Alice how to make a lasagna. I think we will be calling you more often or going out for dinner," Edward said still holding Renee. Bella reached her arms for the child. Bella took her and looked at Edward.
"Edward, she needs a diaper change. Why didn't you change her?"
"She wanted to see her Auntie Bella. It's okay, it's quality time," he smiled as he walked away.
"I can take her if you want," Esme said holding Emily.
"No, it's fine. I'll change her and then give her back. I want my own baby when I get back, that's warning Nana."
Esme smiled. "I heard you loud and clear mom! I'll see you in a few minutes."
Bella took the baby into the den and began to change her. As she did she felt someone standing next to her.
"You know, when we were kids I was kind of jealous of you."
"Jasper that is ridiculous. Why?" Bella asked as she put the new diaper on.
"Because you were always everyone's favorite. Esme and Eds. You were such a daddy's girl too before dad died. Mom treated us pretty much the same. But other than that everyone liked you more."
"Jasper you are delusional."
"Am I though? Even with Em and Edward, they like you more."
"You did run off with Edward's then wife and have a baby with her," Bella reminded him as she pulled up Renee's pants. She handed her back to her father.
Jasper took a breath. "I realize that makes me sound very bitter. I'm not trying to sound bitter, really I'm not. I get it. You have always been the nicer one of us. It's in your nature. I could see it when I got to the hospital and everyone was there for you. You've really made a family for yourself."
"Jasper, they are all our family. Carlisle will be your brother in law soon. The Masen's, well they are our family. They were there for us when mom and dad couldn't be here. They were always at our parent teacher night, sporting events and then helped moved us into college."
"I'm sorry for screwing things up with Tanya and Edward. I love Tanya. I really do and we are going to get married, but I wish things happened differently between me and Edward. I know there is part of me that he will always hate and I understand. I was a prick. I was a jerk to you too. I love you Bella and I am sorry I put you in a really bad situation. It shouldn't have happened. We are the only blood family we have left and we need to be there for each other. We are it for family."
As Bella listened to Jasper's words, she had a series of flashbacks. She first thought about her baby and how special it was her Uncle Edward had been the one to deliver her. Her relationship with Edward was something she was more than thankful for over the years.
"Bella?" Edward called as he climbed into the window on a rainy night. He looked over to see his friend crying. Her knees bent and her head tucked into them. She cried hard. Edward approached her and slid next to her. Bella didn't care that he had climbed through the window and he was wet to the bone. He knew he wasn't going to get a response from her. She was shocked. Her father had been taken from her when she was a child but now she was growing up. The cruelty of the world was setting in. She was an adolescent girl left with no mother at a time when a girl that age really needed her. Edward just held her as she cried. She didn't know where her own brother was, however it didn't matter. Her best friend, the boy who was more of a brother than her own was holding her. When her cries subsided, no words were spoken. He walked over to her dresser and pulled a pajama set. At twelve he changed her from her jeans and shirt into her cotton shorts and t shirt. He then took off his shoes and crawled back into bed with her, holding her as a fresh set of tears began to fall again. He held her until she fell asleep. In the days that followed, he was Bella's rock. He held onto her as she picked out her mother's final outfit and took her hand at the funeral home as friends and family said their final goodbyes. When her body was lowered into the ground, it was Edward whose arms she was comforted in, not her brothers. Edward was on the one who was by her side for that entire week.
"I need to be a better brother to you Bella. I admit, I haven't been the greatest but I am a grown up now and have my own family now. I get it, I get how I need to be there for you. I never have been."
"Belly, where do you want this?" Emmett asked as he carried Bella's trunk into the room. He had been instrumental in moving her into college. Ed and Esme were helping Edward while Emmett decided that he could move Bella by himself. They would all meet up later for dinner. Jasper was away and wasn't available to help his sister move into school.
"By the closet is fine Em. Let me go and help you with the rest."
"No way little sister. You have all of the unpacking to do. Start on that and I'll finish everything else. You don't have that much stuff left anyway," Emmett explained.
Bella walked over to the case of water and grabbed one to give to Emmett. He happily took it and chugged it. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help. I don't know what I would do without your help."
As much as I like your brother Bella, Jasper is an asshole, Emmett thought to himself. Jasper was already living in an apartment close to his school. He couldn't make the time to help Bella move into her dorm, which angered Emmett. Though he would never spoke about it with Bella, he wondered what Jasper had to do that was more important than moving his sister into her freshman year of college. "Belly, you are my sister as much as Edward is my brother. I love you and of course I'd help you! Mom and dad wish they could split themselves in two but let's face it, they are weak and I am strong. Edward has twice as much stuff as you and needs more help."
"I forgot you are He Man and super-sized and you can carry more."
"Of course! And don't forget it Bella! I wanted you to know you can depend on me. If you need a ride home after a wild night of partying, call me. You can call me for anything and I'll be here in a heartbeat to help you. Any time of the day or night. I love you." Emmett told her as he looked at her.
Jasper continued. "We are the only family we have left Bella, that's it."
"Bella are you sure?" Ed asked a few days after Bella initially asked him.
Looking at him during lunch breakfast with just the two of them, she smiled and nodded her head. "Of course I am serious! Who else would I ask?"
"Maybe Edward? Or Jasper?"
"No way! Jasper is what he is. We aren't close Ed and you know that. And Edward, well, he'd be too willing to give me away. Plus he's an attendant in the wedding. He's my maid of honor," Bella explained.
With a mouth full of egg in his mouth, Ed laughed. "Right, I forgot about that!"
"You know, when Jacob and I married Billy walked me down the aisle. I still love Billy, he's a good man. It's not his fault his son was a jerk. I'm so thankful in way you didn't give me away. It would make this last time feel cheaper. That doesn't sound right, does it?"
"I think I can understand what you are trying to say." He paused and looked at Billy. He thought of when she was a child and then when she moved in with his family. He couldn't have loved her more even if she was his biologically. Bella was his daughter. "You know I love you kid, right?"
Bella smiled. "Of course I do. I'm your favorite kid."
"That you are. You're the only one who hasn't given me a headache and appreciates me. Plus, you give the best gifts!" He reminded her.
"You're trying to sweeten me up so I don't tell Esme that you smoked that cigar earlier."
Laughing again, Ed looked at Bella. "You know me well kid! What can I say?" He paused as he sipped his orange juice. "I meant what I said the other day about Carlisle. He's a nice man Isabella, but if he ever pulls the shit that he pulled in the past, he's a dead man. I mean it. Emmett will help me too. He's already told me he'd help. We protect our family."
Once more Bella's mind traveled in time as Jasper continued to talk.
"Jacob is going to be here soon. Let me see how you look in that dress," Esme told Bella as she finished getting dressed. It was Bella's senior prom. After hours and hours of shopping with Jessica and Lauren, Bella couldn't find a thing she liked at the mall. Esme took her to two bridal shops when Bella found it. The long slightly poufy midnight blue. The chest had a crisscross neckline with ruched chiffon. The waist had a cinching band which enhanced her figure. The bodice was fitted and the skirt flared out. It fit her like a glove. In true Bella fashion, she looked uncomfortable. Esme couldn't help but get teary eyes. She loved her boys more than she loved her own life, but Bella was the daughter she never had. Through Renee's death, she was able to almost adopt Bella. While Esme didn't want Bella to forget her late parents, she was more than happy when Bella treated both her and Ed as parents. She never called them mom and dad, nor would they expect her to. Bella bought them cards for their birthdays and holidays, even for Mother's Day and Father's Day. Bella respected them as if they were her parents. In return, both Ed and Esme loved her as if she were their daughter. "Isabella, you looked breathtaking. A little old for your age but beautiful. Jacob is going to lose his breath because you are so gorgeous."
"Thank you. I just feel a little out of sorts. I feel like I'm missing something. I feel so ordinary," Bella explained.
"I have it," Esme said as she ran into her room to look for something specific. When she returned she held a come with crystals in her hand. "This was given to me by my mom before I married Ed. It's pretty and it will make the whole dress stand out more, not that you need to stand out more. You're beautiful." Esme placed the comb in Bella's hair and then looked at her in the mirror. She had a flashback of when she and Renee got ready for the prom together. Esme squeezed Bella from behind and had tears in her eyes. "I miss your mom sweetie. I'm sorry she isn't here to see you."
Smiling sadly, Bella's eyes met Esme's. "She isn't and I miss her so much Esme, but I'm lucky. I have you and Ed who love me. Some kids don't get one set of parents that love them. I will always miss mom and dad but I have you and Ed. I have two sets of parents that love me, no matter what. I know you aren't my mom but you treat me just like you do Edward and Emmett. Thank you. Thank you for being for me. I appreciate you way more than you will ever know."
Esme squeezed Bella once more and cried. "No honey, it's I who love you more than you will ever know."
"Bella, did you hear me? It's just us. We are it."
Shaking her head, Bella looked at her brother. "How can you say that? Do you know how much Ed and Esme love us? How much they gave us? Edward and Emmett are our nothing short of our brothers. You know you screwed up, right? Guess what? They all still love you, even Edward. Family isn't just about blood Jasper. It's about belonging. It's about sacrificed and love. The Masens' have showed us more love than we will ever know."
Bella wasn't sure what Jasper was trying to prove, if anything by his little speech. Silence fell between the two siblings.
"Well, I guess there isn't more to say here," Jasper said as he started towards the door.
"I know what you mean, we are the last of our blood but Jasper, blood means nothing. I would love to have mom and dad back in an instant but they aren't coming back. Look around at what we do have and just feel thankful for that," Bella said as they both exited the door.
The day was winding down. Jasper and Tanya left to trek back to Seattle. Jasper promised to stay in touch better. Esme gave Bella a hug and promised if she needed anything to call her. She also wanted to have her family over for brunch on Sunday. Bella promised they would all attend. Ed gave her a final hug and left. Emmett and Rose soon followed. They both promised not to be strangers and to be around more.
Before they left, Edward and Alice gathered with Bella, Carlisle and Charlotte in the kitchen. Peter was cleaning up while Carlisle held a sleeping Emily.
"So Embry and Jared had minor injuries. They will be fine," Charlotte began to say quietly. "I did decide to press charges against them. I've decided that I want to add a day of therapy because I really need to work out my feelings."
Edward cupped Charlotte's shoulder and smiled at her. "I think that those are two really healthy and good ideas."
"I'm thankful that the whole ordeal is over for now," Alice said looking at her friend.
"Me too," Carlisle added as he held Bella a little closer. "Edward, do you think you could help me with the attic? I kind of want to change it. Bella will have to go up there from time to time and I don't want reminders."
"Carlisle, I'll be fine," Bella added.
"Well I don't do that kind of work. I have to keep my pretty doctor hands," Edward began as everyone chuckled. "I can think of an amazing company that would be able to help," he said as he looked at Alice.
"Of course that is something we can have changed, in less than a day really. We'll look at it soon and talk about it?" Alice added.
"That sound like a great idea Alice, thank you," Carlisle said.
Bella grabbed Emily from Carlisle's arms. "I'm going to put her to sleep and then grab Alice and Edward's jackets. I'll be back in a second."
After kissing the sleeping baby and placing her in the crib, Bella hurried downstairs and was at the closet getting the jackets when Edward appeared next to her. Bella looked up at him and he looked sad. "Edward?"
He shook his head. "You have to stop doing that stuff. No more hospital visits in the ER for you, do you understand?" He asked as he pulled her close to him. He embraced her as he composed himself.
Bella was moved and wiped her eyes. "At least you weren't my doctor and didn't see my 'lady bits.'" She paused as they both smiled. "Thank you for being there for Carlisle. I know your friendship with him is older than the one I share with him, but thank you. I appreciate you being there for him when I couldn't, even if it was just a few hours."
"It's what I do, I guess. I'm really glad you stuck around again Swan. I really needed you and your mister for something."
"And what would that be? Spill it now Masen. The suspense is killing me."
Smiling Edward looked at her. "You see, I'm conducting an interview for the role of godparents for mine and Alice's baby. I kind of really like you and I think you and Carlisle would be perfect for the role. As matter a fact, I think you both would be amazing ones."
Covering her mouth, Bella began to tear up again. She then threw her arms around Edward. "Alice is pregnant?"
Shaking his head, Edward replied. "It appears so. Her first trimester is almost over. Bella, I'm going to be a dad!"
"Edward Anthony Masen, you will make one hell of a dad. I'm so happy for both of you," Bella honestly spoke as Alice and Carlisle came into the room.
Alice knew right away that Edward spilt the beans. She put her hands on her hips and pretended to be angry. "You told her?"
"It's Bella Alice, you know we don't keep secrets from each other," Edward explained.
Alice's face softened as she looked at her fiancée. "But I wanted to tell her."
"Tell her what?" Carlisle asked confused.
Looking at Alice with big, puppy dog eyes, Edward walked toward her. He wrapped her in his arms. "I'm sorry baby. Don't be mad."
"Did you ask her too?" Alice asked whining.
"I did. She hasn't answered yet."
"You took all of the fun away," Alice told Edward.
"You were waiting for an answer? Really?"
Edward looked at her. "Yes!"
"An answer to what?" Carlisle chimed in again.
"For real?" Bella spoke over Carlisle.
"Yes, for real!" Edward answered her. "I don't want to make assumptions."
"Unbelievable," Alice said crossing her arms again. This time she seemed stressed. "I assume it was a yes."
Bella smiled. She knew Alice was just having a mood swing. "Yes, yes of course we will."
Alice teared up. She left Edward's arms and kissed Bella's check and hugged her. She did the same to Carlisle who was still in the dark. She looked at him and thanked him. Still confused, Carlisle just nodded.
"I'll fill you in later," Bella promised.
"We can talk at work about it," Bella promised.
"Bella, you have two weeks off. I'll see you sooner than that, but you need to rest up!" Alice told her.
"Alice, two weeks is-"
"You will take the time, no worries. I need you fully recovered. Oh!" Alice yelped switching the subject. "Do you think Peter will do one of those cakes if we find out what it is?"
Remembering how much Peter wanted to make one of those revile cakes for her, Bella shook her head. "You'll have to talk to him about that, but I bet he will."
"I'll talk to him soon. You've taught that boy well Bella. He can cook and bake! Dinner was so good. I need more lessons before I try cooking in my own house."
As Alice and Edward finally made their way to their car, Bella smiled from the door. She looked at Carlisle. "I'm really happy for the both of them."
"I am too," Carlisle said as he held Bella's hand and walked her to the living room. "Let's just play a game here. Let's pretend I don't know what is going on."
"You didn't pick up on the conversation?" Bella asked as Carlisle shook his head no. She leaned close into him and played with his fingers. She was excited about placing a ring on the finger that was in her hands. "Alice is pregnant. Edward asked if we would be the godparents and I said yes. She wants Peter to do one of those revile cakes."
Smiling Carlisle pulled Bella to his lap. "Emily will have a little cousin to play with."
"Yes she will. My only hope is that Em and Rose will have one more. They want one so badly."
Carlisle leaned into Bella and kissed her. He stared at her for a few seconds before he spoke again. "What about you? Do you want our kids to have maybe one more sibling?"
With a grin on her face, Bella nodded. "Yes but Em isn't even one yet."
"True, but is she going to be it for us?" Carlisle asked as he rubbed the small of Bella's back.
Bella rubbed Carlisle's chest and giggled. "You just want to keep practice, don't you? Do you have an arteria motive? I hate to break the news to you mister but we aren't going to start tonight. I'm too sore."
Laughing, Carlisle kissed her lips. "I know we aren't going to try tonight and trust me, trying is a lot of fun, I just want to make sure I can give you everything that you want. If you want another baby, then I will try and give you another one."
"I think I like the thought of trying a little longer. Maybe when Em is one we can start trying for real. Maybe after we get married?" Bella said in a questioning voice.
With wide eyes, Carlisle looked at Bella. "Really?"
"Yes," Bella replied. "unless-"
Carlisle kissed Bella once more. "I asked I want to do it."
Bella kissed him back. "Oh, I know you want to do it!"
"Do you like talking dirty all of the time Ms. Swan?"
Before Bella could answer, both Charlotte and Peter entered the room. "Oh yuck! We know how Emily was made we don't need a demonstration!" Charlotte said covering her eyes. Peter too looked embarrassed.
"Sorry kids, thought you went to bed," Carlisle blushed as Bella moved next to him. "What are you two up to anyway? You cleaned together in the kitchen and there was no arguing."
"Yes, it was pretty quiet in the kitchen. Is everything okay?" Bella added.
Charlotte and Peter looked at each other. Peter spoke first. "Have you been up to your bedroom since you came home?"
"No I haven't. Why?" Bella inquired.
"Follow us then," Charlotte told Bella.
As Bella and Carlisle followed the kids up the stairs, she looked at Carlisle. "Did you know anything about this?"
He shrugged his shoulders and offered a grin. "Maybe?"
Bella shook her head as she followed Peter and Charlotte into the bedroom. "Can we turn on a light?"
Charlotte turned on the light. Bella was shocked. In just four days, the room was transferred. The beige walls were now a medium grey. Gone was the old bed. In place of the old bed was a new black king size sleigh bed. The dressers were the old ones but repurposed. They too had been painted black. On the walls hung long, rectangle black matted frames. Once frame held a picture of Carlisle and Bella. Carlisle beamed at Bella. It was unknown to them that anyone took a picture that captured a moment in time during a family function. One either side of the picture were pictures of the children, all of them. The pictures were in black and white. They were all wearing matching outfits.
"How and when?" Bella asked in shock.
Peter stepped forward. "That Alice is such a smart business woman. She is a great dresser. She can budget time and is terrific at this stuff," Peter said as he pointed at the wall. "She was so excited to do this. She lived to do this room for two days. Keep her out of the kitchen though. She can't cook!"
Charlotte looked at Peter and continued. "While you were in the hospital she wanted to be helpful and this is how she was helpful. She took us shopping and to her friend's studio and this is what happened. Shopping, the photo shoot, everything was less than three hours. Emily was ready for a nap too but she kept going until we were done. It came out kind of perfect."
Bella looked again at the frames. There were solo frames of Charlotte standing with her back turned towards the camera. She turned her head and smiled at the photographer. Peter stood against a tree and crossed his arms and beamed at the camera. Emily laid in a Moses basket and she beamed. If Charlotte hadn't told her that Emily was overdue for a nap, she would have never known. Emily grinned at the camera. In the final picture Charlotte stood back to back with Peter while holding Emily. It melted Bella's heart. She hugged Peter and then hugged Charlotte. Charlotte held onto her a little tighter.