A/N: SM owns all things Twilight. sorry this update took a bit longer than expected, the characters and I were having some debate about plot but we've sorted it out now. *hugs and kisses* for hanging in there with me. See you at the other end.

Chapter 53 - barbecued sausage and potato salad

"Oh, you're here at last," Esme hugged Anthony and reached out to take Lil Bit from my arms. She turned towards the house taking our two children with her.

"Hey Ma. Nice to see you too," I called out pretending to be hurt. She dismissed me with a wave of her hands and continued into the house with my children chirping away to her.

Emmett walked out from the house towards us, "Forget it Bro' she's in Nonna Esme mode. We won't get a look in all night." Emmett gave Bella a kiss on the cheek, gave me a man hug, then clapped his hands and rubbed them together excitedly, "So Belly where's my dessert?"

Bella laughed and playfully slipped into her momma voice, "You have to eat dinner first Emmett but here you can carry some of the boxes inside."

We headed into the house carrying the boxed desserts. I had just placed the box I was carrying down on the kitchen bench when Alice crashed into me, "Edward how are you my brother? I am so happy to see you."

"Uh, hey Ally. I am happy to see you too sis."

Before I could drop a kiss on her head she'd already spun around to find Bella who was organising which desserts needed to be in the fridge and which could be stored on the kitchen bench.

"Isabella! It is so good to see you sister," Alice shocked the hell out of Bella with her hug, she looked to me with a tear in her eye due to the sisterly reference but laughed at the intensity of Alice's affection.

Ever since she and Jasper had become engaged Alice had become incredibly affectionate with EVERYONE. Hugs, hugs and more hugs. I have no idea why her newly engaged status brought about her change in behaviour and although it was a bit overwhelming there was no harm in it so we just took the hugs while she was giving them.

"Where's your Jazz man, Ally?" I asked her while looking around for him.

"He's with Carlisle heating up the barbecue."

"Great. Hey Em lets grab a few beers and head out to join them."

Bella passed us a couple of light beers from the door of fridge where Alice had her trapped in a tight embrace. I smiled and gave her a look of 'are you okay?' but she smiled nodding that she was fine, so I headed out with my brother to find my Dad and my soon-to-be brother-in-law.

As we headed down the hall we could hear a squeal from inside the lounge room with Alice obviously hugging the hell out of Lil Bit and Anthony. It was followed by an uproar of laughter so I figured they were all okay and continued my escape to the back patio.

Carlisle and Jasper were thick as thieves deep in conversation but seemed to have the cooking under control so I just grabbed a seat next to Emmett on the small stone garden wall which framed the patio area and just let them handle the food. Food always tastes better when someone else cooks it, especially with my cooking skills.

Dad looked up and smiled, "Hey son, you're looking pretty relaxed. How are things with you?"

"Hey Dad... Hey Jazz," I tilted my beer in their direction. "Things are close to perfect, thank you very much. I love weekends these days although we had another incident of Anthony testing his boundaries this morning and taking Lil Bit along for the ride this time too."

I told them about the 'great pantry scandal' and they laughed their heads off, mostly at Bella falling into hysterics and me being all confused by her reaction. It was fun to share the story with them.

"The kids have been pretty sheepish most of the day although they had a surprisingly good time at the grocery story with Bella to replace all the pantry items and I managed to get some office work done while they were out. Bella and I even managed some grown up time this afternoon while the kids were napping so all in all it was a pretty damn good day."

"Really... grown up time this afternoon, hey?" Emmett waggled his eyebrows at me. Shit. I probably shouldn't have mentioned that. My mind drifted back to the memory of kitchen sex with Bella from just a few hours before. I liked kitchen sex, it was fun. Bella giggled like crazy when the oven timer went off just as we were both getting off!

Emmett jumped up and pointed at me, "Oh my God, Dad, look at his face. He is so remembering sexy times with Isa belly!" Dad and Emmett laughed while Jazz just smirked at me.

I wasn't embarrassed, hell I was proud as a peacock of bringing my woman to release twice before the timer went off. I've always worked well under pressure. I didn't share that detail with them though.

"What? We're newlyweds with two children, of course we seize any opportunity to enjoy each other every chance we get!"

They chuckled but then Em, the fucker, started singing, "Sky Rockets in flight... Afternoon Delight!"

"Fuck off Em," I pushed him playfully. "Wait until your twins arrive bro', you'll be lucky if Rose lets you near her ever again!"

His face froze in shock at that thought which made me, Dad and Jazz fall about in laughter.

To get the heat off my sexy afternoon with my sweet one I turned the heat on to Jasper instead, "How's things with you Jazz? Alley is a new woman since you two got engaged, what have you done to her man?"

He chuckled but said nothing. Wise man.

But Em wouldn't let it go and he picked up the thread, "Yeah Jazzy, what have you done to our sister to turn her into the Queen of Hugs? She's so emotional... she's not pregnant too is she?" Em and I chuckled at that one but Jazz' expression was a little strained. He just shook his head and I noticed Dad patted his shoulder giving him a sort of sympathetic smile.

Just then Alice came out and walked into Jasper's arms. He softly kissed the top of her head in such a loving way I had to look away for a moment as I felt as though I was intruding.

Bella and Rose walked out of the house to join us. I wrapped my girl in my arms and Rose stood by Emmett taking his hand in hers.

Alice looked at Jazz giving him a small smile before looking to Em and I, "I can't be pregnant Em because I can't have children. Well it would be next to impossible for me to have children. That's actually why I told Jasper No when he first asked me to marry him."

What the fuck?

"I didn't want him to be saddled with a barren wife with little to no prospect of having children of his own." Her voice got very quiet then, "He deserves more."

Jasper squeezed her and kissed her temple, "But I persisted. It was quite a day. I think I must've asked her a dozen times to marry me and she just kept saying no. She wouldn't tell me why but I knew she loved me and I knew I loved her, so I just kept asking. She's my one and only." She smiled up at him with adoration in her eyes.

"Finally she broke down telling me that she didn't want me to miss out on having children. As if I would want to have them with anyone else, silly girl." He squeezed her again.

"He told me it didn't matter and of course he'd be happy to adopt. Hell, it worked out for us didn't it?"

"Hell yeah, it sure did!" Emmett and I high-fived each other.

I looked over at Carlisle and he was smiling at Alice with such pride.

"So that settled, I said yes and he gave me this beautiful ring." She waggled the fingers of her left hand showing off her ring. Damn, it was a beauty.

"Anyway with all the babies soon to add to this family I think we can wait to start our family, isn't that right Jazz?"

"That's right little lady," he gave her is best Texas drawl and kissed her left hand. Such a charmer.

Lil Bit and Anthony burst out the back door and ran into the backyard with what looked like wings attached to their backs. They were waving their arms and pretending to fly. Esme followed them out of the door.

"Ma, what are my children wearing?"

"Wings, dumpling," she said as though I was a little dim.

"Okay… Ma why are my children wearing wings?" I thought I'd try another tack.

"So they can fly silly," she shook her head at me. "Come on everyone, it is time to eat."

As the others packed up the cooked meats and made their way into the house, I turned to watch Lil Bit and Anthony gliding around the yard having a great time pretending to be birds before I called them in to dinner.

Dinner was the usual noisy Cullen affair only now it was even noisier with even more Cullens around the table. Everyone was talking at once in little groups of conversation as the food was passed around and then consumed. Alice, Esme and Rose were busy talking wedding plans. Emmett and Jasper were schooling Anthony on the finer details of the religion of baseball. Bella and Carlisle were discussing the upcoming charity wedding event and raising money for the Hospital's emergency ward. All the while Lil Bit chirped away at me while sitting on my lap as I cut her barbecued sausage for her. She told me how birds use the air to push them through the air and she wished she had real wings.

I looked around the room and remembered a time not so long ago when I avoided these family dinners. I looked over at Isabella and smiled thinking of how much she'd changed my life.

A greasy little hand touched my cheek, "Daddee?"

"Yes little love?"

"I fink I wood wike a widdle brovver pwease."

"Really? Why a brother? Wouldn't you like a little sister?"

I noticed the room had quieted as the others were watching us. Lil Bit tapped her chin which was this cute as fuck thing she did whenever she was thinking, "Well, wes a sista wood be nice too. Alice is your sista and she is vewwy nice." Alice giggled at that.

"Buts momma is my sista too and I wuvs her to the moon and backs so I doesn't needs anofer sista, and I wood likes having anover brovver jes wike Ant Knee." With that declaration Lil Bit shoved a spoonful of potato salad in her mouth and grinned. I looked over and saw a tear fall down Bella's cheek as she smiled at her little sister/daughter. We forget sometimes how clever our Elizabeth really is and how observant she is.

Anthony jumped in at that point, "I would love a brother too. He could play baseball and soccer with me. Beside, I have two sisters already but I don't see Sasha any more."

Esme then asked him the question I was just about to ask, "Anthony, why didn't you go with Bob and Carol to New York you could've visited with Sasha? I know they wanted you to go with them."

That had been quite a day when Bob and Carol came over to visit and told Anthony they were going to New York to visit Kate and Sasha. They had invited him to go with them but he flatly refused and locked himself in his room until they were about to leave. Bella convinced him to come out and apologise to his grandparents and to give them a goodbye hug.

Anthony just looked down at his plate, "I ... uh... " He looked so cornered I had to let him off the hook.

"It's okay Anthony. You can tell us later." I think that might be a good topic to have with Maggie our family counsellor.

Em joined in the rescue, "We're having two babies and I honestly don't care what they are so long as they are healthy and my Rosie is happy."

Rose giggled and kissed his cheek.

Bella bounced excitedly on her chair, "Oh Rose, that reminds me I meant to tell you that Lauren is organising Momma-cise classes at the gym at CMV. They'll be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at two in the afternoon.

"I was upset about not being able to run anymore and I mentioned to her that I wanted some exercises that were safe during pregnancy so she has designed a whole schedule of classes specifically suited for pregnant women."

Bella looked at Rose with a hopeful expression, "I'm going Rose and two o'clock is a good time to take a break from the bakery. Please say you'll come along with me."

"Sounds great, will there be other mommies-to-be there too? Besides you and me I mean?"

"Sure, Lauren is advertising through Edward's company but also she's put notes out to the local doctors surgeries so they can let their pregnant patients know about it. The classes are free to company family members but she'll charge a small fee to outsiders. Just she does for all her classes."

Rose smiled, "That's great because I'd really like to meet some other pregnant ladies and compare notes. Maybe I'll meet someone else having twins!"

I turned to Alley then, "Actually Alice I was thinking we should ramp up our kick-boxing sessions back to twice a week, would you be okay with that?"

"Yeah Edward, I'd love that."

When Esme and Carlisle starting clearing plates from the table, Emmett jumped up and shouted, "Dessert time!"

Lil Bit giggled, "Unca Emmy wuvs desserts doesn't he Daddee?"

"Yes, he does. Even more than Anthony and I love dessert and that is saying something."

Bella and Emmett went out to the kitchen to plate the desserts while Alice went to make the coffee. I leaned over to Carlisle and whispered, "Dad, I didn't know Alice couldn't have children. How come you never told us?"

"Her story to tell Edward. She's known for a very long time. There is a very small possibility but it would be most unlikely, I think that's why she was always been just a little sad."

I nodded and realised that this is probably why she was suddenly so free with her hugs and affection. The weight of her secret was lifted and she could be herself completely. I looked at Jasper and felt a wave of gratitude for the man who had made such a difference for my little sis.

"Thanks Jazz. For making my little sister so happy."

He chuckled, "It's my pleasure Ed. She is my soul mate, I couldn't have found a more perfect woman for me and that's the truth."

Alice came in with a tray loaded up with cups, coffee pot and milk. Jasper jumped up to take it from her and they looked at each other in silent understanding. The whole room filled with the warmth of their exchange.

The spell was broken with Esme came playfully scolding Emmett who had apparently already consumed at least one of Bella's choux pastry puffs if the chantilly cream on his nose was any indication.

"Honestly Em you could at least wait until the desserts had made it to the table," she pretending to slap him upside of the head but he ducked anyway.

He whined at her, "Sorry Ma, they're just too tempting." At least I think that's what he said it was difficult to tell with his mouth full of pastry.

The table was once again laden with Bella's sweet temptations and as all the family resumed their seats at the table. The simultaneous talking, laughing and eating also resumed.

I love my crazy family!

A/N: that was fun. It was a short chapter I know. I thought about combining it with the next one but this just seemed to have a natural end. So Lil Bit and Anthony want a brother, what do you think girl or boy? What did you think of Alice's disclosure? sad but hey they can adopt. I've actually almost finished the next chapter so I hope to pot it either today or tomorrow. love you guys. thanks for reading! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

song credit: 'Afternoon Delight' Writer(s): Bill Danoff; Copyright: BMG Ruby Songs, BMG Rights Management (Ireland) Ltd.