Chapter Twenty Seven

Jasper

I hadn't realized how much time had gone by in the Amazon forest, it had been a long while since I had time to spend with the family and found that I had missed them all, even usually annoying Edward. Having Garrett around was an added bonus, he was like Peter without the attitude, or at least without the foul mouth and gift for putting his foot in it at every available opportunity. We flew back to Isle Esme, everyone looking forward to being reunited with their mate or companion in Garrets case, all except me. I had at least another two weeks to go before I could expect to hear from Bella so I decided to stay on, it had been a long time since I was treated like a welcome sibling and I knew Esme would be delighted if I stayed a little longer.

I knew she would love Bella at first sight, Esme loved everyone but especially those who made her family happy and complete. To see me settled was her greatest wish these days, now Alice had Garrett to keep her happy. Whether the two were mates I hadn't asked, they would tell us when they felt settled in their own minds and Garrett had been alone as long as I had, loneliness and your own company could prove habit forming and difficult to break free from.

Esme

When Jasper told us he was staying on a little longer I was so happy, he looked a different person these days and I put it down to Bella. The human who had not only stolen his heart but completed it too. I had seen the photograph but I longed to meet her in the flesh and I really hoped she could accept us for what we were. She must understand that Jasper would never harm her and for that reason neither would we although I knew how difficult it would be to understand there were monsters who really existed but not all who hunted humans as a food source.

Carlisle looked reinvigorated after his escape with the boys and that pleased me too. He played the part of the responsible doctor and family man so well for so long but sometimes he needed a chance to let off steam just as much as Emmett or any of the others. It seemed to give him a real boost and I loved to see him like this. Tonight we would climb to the top of the falls and make love under the moon before swimming in the ocean and then making love again on the beach. It was our way of reliving our honeymoon here, on the island Carlisle had bought me as a wedding present.

Alice

When Garrett got back his eyes held a twinkle that I longed to see, he'd had fun, been one of the family and now he would tell me his decision. I knew we were mates but I needed him to accept it for himself. Having been a nomad for so many years he found it hard to accept he needed anyone else but we both knew we needed each other, we were perfect as a couple. For Jazz and I to find our mates at the same time was wonderful, now Esme could stop worrying about her brood, with the exception of Edward of course but he was always going to be a problem child, too arrogant for his own good at times, and focus on Carlisle instead.

Of course she would be busy dreaming up wedding venues and the perfect house for us but that was just her way. She was the perfect mother and Carlisle had seen that, his love for her had made him save Rosalie and then Emmett, a ready made family she could look after for an eternity, no babies of course, that was impossible but teenage children who needed a firm hand at times and even Edward who had been with Carlisle longer accepted her as a mother figure.

Rosalie

I knew Emmett was back before I heard him, I could feel the sensation, that tingle that came from knowing your mate was close by and when he appeared he grabbed me up in a crushing bear hug and held me for what seemed like hours.

"I missed you Rosie baby."

"Missed you too Em. Did you have fun?"

He shook his head, his habitual grin spreading wider,

"You are not going to believe it but Carlisle really can kick ass."

Swinging me onto his shoulders he shouted to the others,

"Rosie and I are headed for the woods so keep out if you don't want to be made to feel inferior guys."

They knew Em and just ignored him but as we ran he started to tell me of their adventures in the Amazon and the more I heard the more I came to admire Carlisle as a man rather than as a father figure. But Em soon forgot all about that and made me forget too as he threw me down and ripped off his own clothes,

"God I missed you Rosie. I would have exploded if I hadn't got back soon. I don't know how Jazz does it, being away from his mate that long."

"I'm not sure it works quite the same with a human, I guess the mating pull only kicks in when she's turned."

"Well my mating pull has kicked in and I need you right now."

Jasper

The emotions of my family crashed over me like a giant wave almost drowning me and I missed Bella even more. I decided to swim to the mainland and check my cell phone just in case she had sent me a message, it would get me away from all the lust which was almost crippling me too. I didn't expect to get anything from her really so I was over the moon when I saw she'd left me a message about two hours after she left me,

"Jazz, just wanted to let you know I'm missing you already. I don't know when you'll get this but I hope you have fun with your family. I'll ring you as soon as we get back. Love you Jazz."

I listened to it three times before saving it. She had no idea how much it meant to me to hear that especially right now when I missed her too. I sent her a text although I knew she wouldn't get it until they left the park because they only took one cell phone camping with them and that was Phil's.

"Got ur message. Miss u 2. C U soon. Love Jazz xxx"

I stayed away until the following evening by which time the emotions should have calmed down then swam back to find them all on the beach playing volleyball. I was soon roped in and it became yet another competition which Em and I eventually won although dunking the opposition in the sea wasn't deemed fair play by Carlisle the referee so he got dunked too! We were equal opportunity cheats!

Of course that started a fight and Emmett and I found ourselves buried up to our necks in the sand with the tide coming in.

"It'll cool you both down and when you dig yourselves out don't you dare traipse sand into the house."

So when we finally managed to wriggle free, sand is difficult for a vampire too, we went for a swim and came upon a pair of tiger sharks squaring up for battle. Now that was an opportunity not to be missed so we sank until we had a ringside seat and settled down to watch the encounter. It was brutal and vicious but the stronger shark won and its opponent became a meal for the scavengers of the sea. Satisfied we were by now sand free we swam back to the beach and went to join the others in the house.