Chapter 88

Carlisle and Edward watched, both with arms folded across their chests, as Jasper and Emmett taught Masen the in's and out's of hand to hand combat. He was limber and quick, similar to Jasper in his movements, though his inexperience showed against his two older brothers. Every time he failed to do something up to their expectations, he felt determined to repeat the action until he got it right.

"You aren't doing bad, kid," Emmett assured him, "We've been at it awhile."

"Well I'm sure those dopes with the long hair have been at it for even longer," Masen cracked.

Edward looked at Carlisle and smiled at his son's halfhearted joke. Carlisle shook his head with an unchanged expression and continued to observe.

Masen was about to go head to head with Emmett, whos stared across at him with a wide grin, "I'll have to get Rosalie down here to kick your ass next Masen."

Jasper smirked heavily, "Ready?"

Masen looked determined, and Emmmett appeared loose and unphased.

"Go ahead," Jasper commanded.

The two boys ran at each other and collided. In the quickness of their movements, that almost looked more like a choreographed dance than a fight, Masen's quick figure with his head of messy blonde hair could have passed for Jasper. Minutes went by without a winner, each struggling to put some type of finishing move on the other. Emmett struggled to keep Masen in his grasp, as he slipped free of several holds which would have certainly ended the mock battle if had completed one successfully.

"Take him down, Mase," Jasper encouraged, "End the day with a win."

After another long struggle, he was finally able to slip his foot in between Emmett's and trip him up, landing on top of him with his hands by his neck.

"Well, it's about time little brother," Jasper said, "After twenty-two fights with the big man, you finally took him down."

Emmett stood up with a smile and gave Masen a playful headlock, "You did good today."

"We'll pick up again tomorrow, or later today," Jasper said.

"We can't keep going?" Masen asked, feeling the endorphin-like release from his success.

"I think Mom wants to spend some quality time with you," Emmett smiled, then added, "Mama's boy."

Masen smiled and shook his head. Carlisle approached him and patted his back, "What'd you think? How'd it go?"

He nodded and shrugged at the same time, "I wish we could continue. Jasper taught me some good stuff." He looked over to where Bella had just pulled up in Emmett's Jeep to pick everyone up.

"You looked better as you went on. Get comfortable with all this stuff. Try to perfect it as best as you possibly can."

"Okay," he agreed, "How long were we out here?"

Carlisle glanced at his watch, "A good couple hours."

Trees allowed some light to shine through to their secret battle ground, illuminating Masen and Carlisle.

"Why don't I fight you?" Masen asked.

Carlisle smiled, "Because you'd lose." He laughed.

"I took down Emmett," he said, raising his eyebrows.

"I'm much tougher than Emmett." He looked up toward the Jeep and saw Bella smile at the comment. Emmett tossed a gym back in the back of the car and looked down toward them a gave a quick, "Yeah right," so they could hear him.

"One quick fight," Masen urged his father, "And don't hold back."

"Masen-"

"It'll only benefit me, Dad. Don't you want me ready for the Volturi?"

Carlisle shook his head with a closed mouth smile at his son's unfair words, "Fine. Just one."

Masen grinned and got himself ready, eager to face off against his father.

Jasper hung out of the back window, perching himself on the door and leaning a forearm on the room, "Ready... go!" He called.

Masen smiled and charged Carlisle.

Bella sat in the driver's seat, watching them face off and clash. Bright diamond-like glimmers bounced off their skin every time they became exposed to the sunlight

"Carlisle looks like he's fighting his reflection," Emmett said with a laugh.

Like the fight before with Emmett, it took a little time before Masen thought he surely had his father down.

"Wait for it.." Jasper said, predicting Masen's inexperience.

Carlisle quickly flipped his son to the ground, almost regretfully so in his expression, before helping him up.

Masen brushed snow off his clothing and stood with his hands on his hips, "I suppose I won't get another try?"

Carlisle pulled him in for a hug, "Tomorrow."

He patted his father's back with both hands before the two of them headed to the car with everyone else.

"Want the front?" Edward asked.

At the same time, Carlisle answered "no" while Masen said "yes".

"Get in the back," Carlisle told him, "Stay in front, Edward." He hopped in behind Bella. "How's everyone at the house?"

"Good," Bella told him, putting the car in drive, "Everyone seems to be getting themselves prepared in their own way."

"Did Alice give an exact day yet?"

"I don't think so," she told him, "Not yet."

As they cut through the bumpy landscape, Jasper suddenly asked her to stop the car, startling everyone. He picked up on it, "Sorry. Nothing bad." He jumped out of the window, noticing a five foot pinetree not far from the beaten path. He quickly pulled it from the ground, and leaped to the top of the car, hanging onto it so it wouldn't fall off. "Go ahead."

Bella and Edward looked at each other with a laugh.

"We've been so preoccupied, we forgot to get a Christmas tree," Jasper called from the roof. He dangled his head in Bella's window, making her laugh.

"Stop it," Carlisle said with a smile, "Don't make Bella crash."

"Not with my car anyway," Emmett chimed in.

Carlisle smiled, unable not to reciprocate their carefree attitudes. He realized how much he needed everyone who was around them, and continued to pray daily that none of them would be taken in their road to justice.