A/N: SM wrote Twilight. I am writing this story.

Thanks for all the follows, reviews and PMs - I am so humbled by your kindness and enthusiasm for my lovely little family. So Jasper has arrived - let's see what happens shall we?

Chapter 30 ~ rustic tuscan soup

Have you ever been in a busy, noisy restaurant when one of the staff drops a tray of glasses which crash to the floor? The whole room is stunned into silence for just one moment - completely silent - but full of intense anticipation. What will happen? Will the staff member cry? Will the manager yell at them? Will a customer get angry or diffuse the situation by making a stupid loud joke followed by everyone else's nervous laughter? That one moment when the situation could go any number of ways.

The moment after Mr Jasper Whitlock stood in the doorway to our dining room announcing that he'd come to call on his cousins, as though he'd known them all their lives and just stopped by for a neighbourly visit, was one of those 'anticipation' moments. It could go any number of ways.

But it was just one moment of heavy silence because after that one moment was over all hell broke loose. I stood up with Elizabeth tucked tight against my chest. Once I stood up so did everyone else and all at once we were all talking. Emmett was holding Rosalie back, Esme was leaning into Carlisle, Alice came over to stand beside me taking Lil Bit's little hand in hers, Jacob and Leah came immediately over to Bella who was standing silent directly in front of me with her hands balled up into fists. Rev J and Leah were speaking in comforting tones trying to calm her down. Vicky was talking with Jane and Alec trying really hard to swear in front of Lil Bit but I could hear that it was likely a lost battle. Marcus and Aro stood and headed over to join Vicky, Alec and Jane.

The room was in chaos when one small voice silenced us all.

"Daddy? Who dat?"

Bella spun towards Elizabeth and then she looked to me. That was the perspective we all needed. This was Elizabeth's cousin. We had to tread carefully, we still didn't know if he sent that letter or if his bully idiot lawyer King sent it without his knowledge of its contents.

Jasper stepped forward as though he was about to answer Lil Bit's question when Bella spoke quietly to her, "That's your cousin Jasper, Lil Bit."

So that's how the moment ended. Bella diffused the heat of the moment with that simple statement. This was Lil Bit's cousin. Everyone was stunned into silence again, waiting for the little angel in my arm's reaction.

"Wat's a cu-zzin?"

"Family," I whispered in her ear.

In the way that only my sweet little love can, Elizabeth smiled a huge smile, raised her her little arm and waved at Jasper. "Hello Jazz-pa. I Lil Bit."

Jasper stared at her in shock I think and then a slow smile grew across his face. His face softened further and he stepped towards us. I kept a tight hold of my little love, no way I was letting her go to this man. We needed to know a lot more about him before I'd trust him with my angel.

Jasper reached out his large hand to take Lil Bit's tiny one in his. He bowed a small bow and kissed the back of her hand. "It is a delight to meet you ... Lil Bit?"

They looked at each other with the same eyes. Their eyes were the exact remarkable shade of blue but that was where the resemblance ended because the rest was all Bella, well Renee I suppose. I sometimes forget Bella is actually Lil Bit's sister and not her mother by birth. Birth mother or not Bella was Lil Bit's mother in every sense. Until now she was standing silent and I could see that she was seething fighting back her anger as she watched this Jasper greeting her daughter but I could see she was about to blow. Her fists were balled up again and her eyes were narrowed as Jasper still held Lil Bit's hand.

I leaned slightly down to whisper to Alice who was standing right next to me still holding Lil Bit's other hand. "Alice, would you take Lil Bit in to the play lounge please. I think Bella would like to talk with Jasper in private and I don't think Elizabeth should be here for that!"

She nodded, stepped between Jasper and Lil Bit forcing him to drop her little hand. We were all standing pretty close at this stage and Whitlock was looking straight down as my tiny sister was looking up at him. She narrowed her eyes at Whitlock giving him a hard stare... shit that look is deadly. He gasped slightly as he watched her face changed completely as she turned to take Lil Bit from my arms.

Her eyes were full of love and her face went from fury to sweetness as she addressed Lil Bit, "C'mon munchkin, you and I are going to go and play for a little while with Seth. Would you like to teach me some new songs?"

"Wes pwease Awwy." She reached out to go to Alice and I kissed her cheek before losing her to my sister.

We watched as Alice and Elizabeth had exited the room. My eyes turned to Bella as I watched her turn to Whitlock but before I could stop her she stepped forward and slapped his face so hard the noise shocked the room back into silence. "How dare you?" her voice was filled with venom.

As the sound of the slap resonated around the room a heavy silence fell over the room. The moment was back. We all waited to see where this was going to go.

"Bella, love. Come to me." I opened my arms and she walked into my embrace. She looked up to me looking desperately into my eyes. I kissed her forehead.

"Sorry Edward. I am just so angry."

"I'm proud of you, love. I just don't want you to hurt yourself." I smiled at her. "That's a powerful slap you've got there. I hope you never need to slap me like that."

She blushed but then we both said at the same time, "Baker." We chuckled lightly and I leaned down to planted a small soft kiss on her lovely lips.

She turned in my arms, leaning back against my body and we faced Whitlock together. He was staring at us with a bemused expression while his hand rubbed his cheek where my girl had left her mark. I was about to speak to him when I was shocked to see Leah standing staring him down. She had his lawyer's threatening letter in her hands thrusting it in his face.

"That's right Bella. How dare he!" She yelled at him. "How dare you turn up here after sending this disgusting letter. You have no idea what she's been through, what she's achieved. She was sixteen. Her parents were killed, her body was broken. But Elizabeth needed her, so she pushed hard through painful surgeries and even more painful rehabilitation. She petitioned the court to become an emancipated youth so she could then petition for full custody and then adoption of her sister whom she's raised as her own daughter."

Leah was firing on all cylinders and it was a magnificent sight. I had doubted her when she said her nickname when she was younger was 'Queen Bitch', but now I could easily believe it as I watched her in full flight protecting her loved ones. Way to go Leah. I almost felt sorry for Whitlock… almost.

"She's almost twenty now but for the past three years instead of being out with friends, having boyfriends, and being selfish like ordinary teenagers, she was changing her sister's nappies, reading her stories and loving her as her own."

She took another step towards the stunned Whitlock and narrowed her gaze which looked angry enough to kill.

"All while she completed a business degree at UW. She built up an amazing business here at Bella's bakery and don't even get me started on all the community work she does. Helping us set up our Children's Centre, helping us support our Homeless Shelter and employment program."

He stared at my Bella as Leah poked him in the chest. "They have no family except the loving friends you see around this room whose lives have all been enriched and blessed by knowing her. So finding family should've been a moment of joy for her and for Elizabeth but what do you do when you finally show up? Huh?"

He stepped back from the force of her chest pokes but Leah wasn't letting him get away that easy.

"You threaten to take her daughter from her, by the way something your idiot lawyer should know you can't do. She is Lil Bit's sister and now officially her mother through a completely legal and finalised adoption.

"We are not going to stand idly by while you and your idiot lawyer try to bully a nineteen year old into giving up her child. We are their family and we will protect them."

"Fuck yeah. Leah, girl you and I are going to be best buds!"

Victoria. Of course.

Jasper reached out and took the letter out of Leah's hand. He unfurled it from the scrunched up mess it had become in Leah's hands. We stood in silence as we watched him read the letter. His eyes bugged out of his head and then he looked with alarm at Bella. He walked over to her reached for her hand and looked into her eyes.

"I am so sorry. I had no idea. Seriously. I would never try and take my cousin… your sister… your daughter, from you." He looked down at the letter. "My lord, what must you think of me."

He took the hand that had slapped his face a few minutes ago and he kissed it. "I am so sorry cousin."

Bella let out a sort of strangled sob and I think everyone in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Jane moved a little closer to us, "Mr Whitlock." He turned to her with a look of fear in his eyes. I think he thought every woman in the room was going to take turns putting him in his place. And honestly, this was a realistic fear. Looking around the room there were some scary, powerful woman here and they all looked like they wanted to slap him.

"I must warn you that I am Ms Swan's legal counsel. You have just stated in front of witnesses that you had no idea of the contents of this letter sent on your behalf from your legal counsel. Is that correct?"

"Yes, I can assure you the contents of this letter are not what I asked King to send."

"What did you ask him to send to my client?" Jane had a hungry look in her eye. She could smell blood in the water and I believe Jane was planning to make Whitlock's lawyer, Mr Royce King, very sorry he had tried to bully my sweet one.

Aro spoke up then, "Come my friends, let's take a seat at the table and we can talk to get to the bottom of this situation." We all moved back to the table. Bella and I sat together, her hand firmly in mine, of course and Rosalie sat on her other side. Alice rejoined us letting me know that Jess and Lauren were watching a movie with the little ones. Everyone took their seats and Whitlock took the empty seat left next to Alice who glared at him.

"So Mr Whitlock you were going to tell us what action you did engage your legal counsel to conduct on your behalf?" Jane gave Whitlock an expectant look.

"May I please say again that I had no idea my lawyer, well I suppose my ex-lawyer now, Mr King included this demand in the letter.

"I had been told of Uncle's death, a few weeks after the accident. I could've taken compassionate leave and come here when I found out. I should have done that but I felt obligated to stay. I was part of a team and we'd just completed months of training in preparation for a covert op. If I had left then I would've put the whole mission at risk. I realise now that I should've come home and done what I could to help Isabella and Elizabeth. A few months ago I had made my decision that when my time was up with the service that I would leave and find the only family I have left."

"I wrote to my lawyers asking them to find my cousin and step-cousin."

"They wrote back to me and informed me that my little cousin was in the care of my nineteen-year old step-cousin and that they were living above a bakery. You can imagine what I thought. I had a picture in my mind that you were living in desperate and impoverished conditions." He was looking at Isabella with an apologetic look on his face.

"I couldn't understand because I knew that my Uncle Phil was a very wealthy man. I assumed that there was some legal problem and that you'd been denied access to the money.

"I don't know why Mr King's investigator didn't find out about this." He waved his arm around the beautiful room we were in. "As you can imagine this is not what I was expecting to see above a bakery."

Frustration visible across her face, Rosalie sneered at him. "So you're some hot-shot specialist soldier who's been out of touch and out of reach on some military mission. Well, congratulations and thank you. I am a patriot. I get that you've been doing good in the world and it's probably been dangerous but do not think for one moment your hero arse can just walk in here and upset the people I love and have no consequences."

Emmett hugged Rosalie tightly to him and kissed her temple.

Jane leaned in giving Jasper a cold, hard, emotionless look, "You still haven't answered my question Mr Whitlock."

"I apologise but I wanted you to understand my situation." He took a deep breath and continued, "I asked Mr King to inform you that I was now discharged from the service, that I intended to settle in Seattle and that I wanted to be a part of Elizabeth's life."

Jane sat back and said nothing. She was like a sphinx, no emotions showed on her face. Mental note, never play poker with Jane the pain. She looked to Alec who gave her an understanding nod. No idea what that was about but I would find out later I am sure.

"So you don't want to take Lil Bit away from me?" It broke my heart how small Bella sounded in that moment.

"No, my dear cousin. I am so grateful to you for caring for her. I had no intention of causing you heartache or grief. I just want to be part of her … your… life. I have purchased an apartment here and am going to be teaching at the University … Political Science and American History, specialising in Civil War studies. I have finished with the service and now I want to start my new life here in Seattle… with family."

There it was again, that strange silence. This evening had taken such a strange turn. We had gathered to brace ourselves for a legal fight, to work out how we could together fight off this threat against Bella and Elizabeth's happiness. Now we were trying to work out what to do with this new information. Jasper was not a threat. He only wanted to be part of their lives.

After another moment Bella stood quietly and looked around the room. "Well, I am hungry. Will someone lay the table for dinner? And can someone come and help me bring in the food?"

That's my sweet one. Fuck I loved this woman, so strong, so good and when in doubt… cook!

Jasper sat with a slightly lost expression on his face as the room burst into activity around him.

Carlisle slapped Jasper's shoulder, "Come my boy, let me introduce you to everyone." Carlisle moved around the room and introduced Jasper to each person in the room as we all bustled about getting ready for dinner.

Aro, Marcus and Esme had gone into the kitchen with Isabella. After watching my sweet one leave the room I turned to see the room bustling with family and friends. I smiled to myself thanking whatever power it was that brought this warmth into my life.

I noticed Alec and Jane were in the corner talking quietly but seriously. Alec was nodding and then broke into a huge smile when Jane handed him her phone and he was putting his contacts into it. They were either setting up a date or they were planning to meet on business… or both. Huh! I shall have to find out from Alec.

"Alice can you help with the table dressing?"

"Sure Rosalie, just show me where everything is."

"Dad could you and Jasper get the glasses from the cabinet, please?"

"Okay, Emmett what glasses do we need? Red, white and tumblers for water?" He was looking to me.

"Sounds good." Bella's made some Tuscan soup, cannelloni and salad for main and fruit pies for dessert so people can choose whatever wine they like.

"Emmett, you need some help selecting some wine?"

"Sure, bro'..."

"EDWARD ANTHONY MASEN CULLEN!" Esme's angry voice coming from the kitchen froze us all in our place.

"Bro', what did you do? She sounds really pissed." Emmett whispered to me.

"Edward she double middle named you…. what have you done?" Alice was laughing at me.

"GET IN THIS KITCHEN THIS MINUTE!"

Shit.

I shrugged. I had no idea but I knew better than to wait another minute, so I turned on my heel and headed into the kitchen treading carefully.

"Ma?... Is there a problem?"

Bella was laughing, Aro and Marcus were giggling like school girls as Esme was standing in the middle of the kitchen with her hands on her hips, tapping her toe at me.

"You're pregnant?!"

Oh shit!

"Exactly when were you planning on telling your mother, mister!"

And there it was another one of those suddenly silent moments filled with anticipation. Everyone was silent in the shock of the news. Then all at once the kitchen was filled with laughter and congratulations. As everyone shouted, slapping my back and hugging Bella, I was frozen in place smiling at my sweet one, our eyes locked as we shared our happiness with our family.

A/N: Okay, so Jasper good guy who just wants to spend time with family… yes?/no?

Thanks to everyone who contacted me about an update, I love that you love my story. I started a new contract this week so i've been doing my old job as well as starting in my new role - huge week so I've been exhausted. As well i've been going back and cleaning up my grammar, typos, etc in the earlier chapters (not finished yet) but all settles down this week so I will be back to writing which is a recipe for happiness for me :) I'd love to hear your thoughts.