Chapter 31

Celebrations were going beautifully. Rosalie and Emmet danced and smiled happily, captured in their own little bubble. Edward had joined us after darting back to the hospital after the ceremony. He still wore scrubs but I didn't care. So long as he was there. We all danced with each other Alice and I frequently swapping partners. It was a fun event. Atticus even got to dance with us all. We all sat down at a large table that included some of the Hale family and of course Esme and Carlisle. Across from me sat a large man and a very petite woman. Jasper had introduced them as Yates and Prue. Jasper and Alice sat next to us and Atticus slept happily in Alice's arms.

'So, when will we be getting an invite to that wedding?' The fatter of the men asked nodding toward Alice and Jasper. Neither seemed bothered saying they weren't planning to get married.

'We weren't planning on getting married any time soon Uncle Yates,' Jasper responded taking a mouthful of meat.

'Ah but your engaged?' the little woman asked look at Alice's hands. Alice shook her head.

'No, we are just happy where we are,' She answered rocking Atticus carefully.

'So it's a bastard child then?' I looked up from my meal shocked. Esme seemed to have the same reaction.

'No, Uncle Yates, I would not call our child a bastard. We are in a modern day and age where marriage isn't necessary. We love each other and that's what matters,' Jasper answered calmly cueing Carlisle and Edward to remain calm.

'Oh you're going to end up like you're father young man!' the man accused as he scooped a huge portion of meat into his gob. Jasper ignored it. 'Before long you'll regret knocking up this whore and you'll want to move on, but you won't be able to cause she has you tied down by the kid,'. Alice looked up offended. Jasper went to stand but was beaten by Carlisle.

'Excuse me sir, but i would greatly appreciate it if you didn't refer to my daughter as a whore! And i know for a fact that young Jasper here could never end up like his despicable parents because he has love in his veins!' He said throwing his napkin onto the plate. Jasper remained still. He looked at his dinner plate his cheeks bright red. I saw Alice move her spare hand over to his knee.

'So you encourage this, then?' he asked pointing his fork toward Alice and Jasper. Edward now stood and like his father objected,

'These two are the most loving pair I have ever known and I don't appreciate you using that tone!'

'Oh, I am so sorry. It's just it's in the blood. Jasper and Rosalie were bastard children and look at them. Rosalie is marrying that big oaf and this one got this little hussy knocked up. Not to mention the resent that Dean felt for them both, that's why he abused them you know!' The woman intervened. Esme spat out her wine and glared at the woman.

'That is my son and my daughter you are referring to!' so practically yelled. 'And as for the abuse, there is never any excuse for that. Both Jasper and Rosalie are perfect! I consider them my own and you insult them like this. You are a horrible woman! You are horrible people!' She said standing to emphasise how she felt. Rosalie and Emmet had now made their way over to see what the yelling was about.

'I am just stating fact my dear!' The woman said, now also standing. I was shocked by Esme's next move. She went to leap over the table at the woman. Carlisle attempted to restrain her (not very convincingly) but he lost his grasp. Esme clambered over the table and started swiping at the woman. The woman let out a scream and only the man attempted to pull Esme off. This only encouraged Carlisle. He pounced forward and removed the man from his delicate wife.

'Get your hands off her!' he yelled. He pulled him back and went to get Esme off the lady when the man punched him square in the jaw. By this point Emmet, Edward and Jasper had all raced to intervene. I heard Alice filling Rosalie in over what had happened. Rosalie stepped forward as the fight broke up.

'THIS IS MY WEDDING! I AM SO DISSAPOINTED IN YOU TWO! LEAVE NOW, I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN! AND IF YOU EVER CALL MY HUSBAND AND OAF AGAIN, OR MY SISTER IN LAW A HUSSY I SWEAR TO GOD YOU WILL BE THE FOOLS I ABUSE!' She screamed pointing at the door. Atticus started crying as Prue and Yates got up and went to walk out the door.

'Your all going to hell for this. Bastard children, un-wed sex, crazy parents, whores!' Yates yelled as he left.

'Well if heaven is where you're going, I think I'd rather hell!' Esme said satisfied with her effort. Rosalie bent down to help Esme up.

'Thank you for protecting mine and Jasper's honour!' she said pulling her in for a hug. 'I love you!' she said a tear glistening down her check and onto her beautiful gown.

'I love you too Rosalie, and you Jasper!' she said pulling him in to hug as well.

'We love you all!' Carlisle said encouraging a family hug. We all grouped in hugging and crying. We were one big happy family.

****

'We weren't going to tell anyone but we have already decided to start trying for a baby!' Rosalie said excitedly. Emmet matched her enthusiasm. Today they left for their honeymoon and they were both bursting at the sides. They had decided to take a charity tour of the world, offering their services to those less fortunate.

'That's great news guys, Atticus would love a little cousin to play with!' Alice said excitedly as she bounced her baby up and down. Rosalie nodded. She began saying her goodbyes, kissing and hugging as she went. Of all of us, Rosalie had desired to have children the most. She often talked about having a big family. Alice had always spoken of having two and I one... Rosalie was a natural mother. For a short while, at the beginning of college, Alice owned a dog. Rosalie ended up caring for it, very well. It unfortunately died of cancer, which was hard on her, but from then on she was never shy about her feelings toward children. Emmet had accepted that very well as he aspired to have a big family too. This pleased Esme the most. She was looking forward to having lots of little grandchildren running around.

'See you in two months!' We all said waving the couple off.

'I'm gunna miss them,' Alice said snuggling into Jasper. He nodded. I agreed as-well, they brought life to the place. They were like the energy that we all fed off of. The place was going to be relatively empty. Esme and Carlisle had returned to Alaska. Edward was in Hawaii attending a conference so it was just going to be me, Alice, Jasper and Atticus for a few weeks. A part of me was happy, yet another part felt although i was intruding on Jasper and Alice's family time. The insisted they didn't mind, but still.

***

I rolled over and hugged the air beside me. It had been a week and the house, with the exception of Atticus's midnight cries, it was very quiet. I had missed Edward to the extreme, often forgetting he was gone. I sighed and rolled out of bed. I stomped out to the kitchen and threw the coffee on. Jasper was sitting at the table, reading a newspaper, balancing Atticus and drinking coffee.

'Morning,' he greeted politely. I grumbled in his direction.

'Sleep well?' he asked now resting his cup down looking at me.

'No,' I said shortly back. He raised his hands in defeat and went back to his newspaper. I felt bad, it wasn't his fault Edward was away.

'Where is Alice?' I asked attempting to banish my earlier snippy comments.

'She went for a morning run. She thinks she has baby weight,' He said rolling his eyes. I laughed.

'Another coffee?' I offered and he nodded. I went to join him at the table.

'Did you want me to hold Atticus while you read the newspaper?' I offered and he nodded.

'Thank you, it's impossible to juggle everything like this' he said handing Atticus over. Atticus smiled slightly. 'I don't know how Alice does it,' he commented with a sigh. We sat in silence for a few moments when Jasper cleared his throat.

'Bella, can ask you something?' He said looking at me uncertainly. I nodded and took a sip of coffee.

'Do you think Alice wants to get married?' His tone was unsure. I thought about his question for a moment.

'The only time she mentioned marriage was just before we found out she was pregnant. She seems content to me,' I said shrugging. Honestly I didn't know how she felt. We hadn't had alone time together in a long while.

'Are you thinking of asking?' I asked curiously. He shook his head.

'Personally, I don't think we need to get married. We love each other and we've proved that. I don't need a piece of paper telling me that, but at the same time I could understand if she wanted to. Its tradition,' He said now averting eye contact.

'How about you don't get married. Maybe you could have a commitment ceremony or perhaps get rings to signify your love for each other,' I said now bouncing Atticus carefully. He laughed his tiny little laugh and waved his hands around.

'I don't think there is anything that could measure our love. I mean we have Atticus, but I just feel although we're missing out,' he said as he pulled faces at Atticus. I smiled.

'Jasper, I don't think you need to get married. Look, I know it's your guy's anniversary coming up this weekend. Why don't you leave Atticus with me and take Alice out and wine and dine her?' Jasper smiled.

'Are you sure?' He asked, excitement breaking through his tone. I nodded enthusiastically.

'How hard can it be, he is a happy baby!'

***

I COULD NOT GET HIM TO STOP CRYING! It was like as soon as Alice and Jasper left for their special date he decided to give his Aunty Bella hell. I had tried everything from rocking him, to feeding him to changing his clean nappy. Nothing worked. I was exhausted. I lay him in his crib and he screamed bloody murder. I pulled out my phone and dialled Edward's number. He picked up on the first ring.

'Hello love,' he said sweetly. It took me a moment to recover before i answered him.

'Edward!' I said now crying heavily.

'What's wrong sweetie?' He asked concerned.

'Fist of all I miss you, second of all Atticus won't settle! I am a terrible aunt, imagine what i'm going to be like as a mother,' I sobbed heavily into the phone. I was surprised he understood me.

'Bella, calm down... Is he sick at all?' was the first question he asked. I reached into his crib and he felt slightly warm but nothing out of the ordinary.

'He's a little warm,' I said.

'Okay, a little warm is fine. Go into the bathroom and turn the shower on hot, let the bathroom fill with steam the take him in there and nurse him,' he said. 'Keep me on the line, I miss your voice,' he asked sweetly. I did as he said. The bathroom steamed up and I took Atticus from his crib and rested him over my shoulder. He still screamed, it was an hour before Edward realised that plan wasn't going to work.

'Okay Bella, it seems you've got your work cut out for you. I think he is just plain grumpy, it's probably anxiety from being away from Alice and Jasper,' he said more to himself than to me.

'That doesn't really help me!' I said losing my cool slightly.

'Okay, calm down. Remember how we took those videos a couple of years back. You know when it was Alice's birthday?' he asked.

'Yes but how is that going to help!' I snapped.

'Put it on, maybe seeing and hearing Alice and Jasper will calm him down,' he ordered calmly. I rummaged around the draw and found the tape. I slotted it in the VCR and pressed play. The effect was almost instant. Atticus smiled and snuggled into my side comfortably. I breathed a sigh of relief.

'Did i mention I love you Edward Cullen,' I said, my voice calmer than it had been in hours.

'Maybe once or twice. I have some exciting news though Bells!' he said happily. 'I'm coming home early'. I felt bad because I screamed into the phone! I felt the excitement build in my chest as I thought of him being home once more.

'When?' I asked not hiding my enthusiasm. I heard a knock at the door and I raced over. I swung it open, and there waiting was my beautiful Edward. I jumped into his arms and squealed with delight.

'I love you!' we both said in union. We kissed passionately. I loved him so much.