A/N: I'm fudging Seth's age just a little bit so that he just turned 16. And here's a fun fact no one asked for: the conversation Esme and Jasper have is the very first thing I wrote for this story.

As always, thank you so much for reading:)

Growing a Family

"Do you know what happened?" Bella asked worriedly as she sat down with her breakfast the next morning.

Jasper shook his head and shrugged. "Not really. No details, anyway. Leah never told her brother that they'd been kicked out because she didn't want him to hate that bitch of a woman who calls herself a mother. Somehow he learned the truth. I don't know if someone let it slip by accident, or if he overheard it, or if one of Jacob's pack told him deliberately because they're all a bunch of assholes."

"Could he have found out because he started phasing?" Rosalie asked as she and Charlotte joined them at the table.

Jasper tipped his head as he thought about it. "I don't know for sure, but I'm inclined to say no. There shouldn't be any vampires in the area long enough anymore to trigger the gene. And I think Leah would've mentioned it if he was a wolf."

"I agree," Bella nodded. "So either he hasn't started phasing, or he has but didn't tell Leah for whatever reason."

"Won't him being here with us be enough to trigger the gene?" Charlotte asked.

"Damn, good point," Jasper said as he hopped up to grab his phone and call Leah, putting it on speaker so Bella could hear also.

It was Paul who answered. "Hey Jasper," he whispered.

"Leah's asleep?"

"Yeah, we just swapped and she finally dozed off a little while ago."

"Do you know if Seth started phasing? Is that how he found out about what happened to y'all?" Jasper asked.

"I'm not sure, Seth didn't come out and say it, but my gut's telling me yes. We talked to him again a few hours ago to tell him how to get to your old house so he had somewhere safe to wait for us. Some of the things he said were only known by the elders and Jake's pack."

"Alright, I just wanted to make sure you remembered him coming here where we're all in such close proximity almost guarantees he'll become a wolf."

"We talked about that actually. One of the reasons we had such a hard time initially was that the elders made it a rule that the legends were told in a way that the tribe as a whole thought they were just that. Legends. If we'd known ahead of time it would've been a much easier adjustment. Since we're not part of the tribe anymore we don't have to follow that stupid fucking rule that made our lives so much more difficult. Leah and I are gonna tell Seth everything. If he's not a wolf yet and doesn't want to become one, we'll figure something else out. If he is, we'll bring him home with us."

"How old is he now?" Bella cut in. "I remember he was younger, but not by how much."

"Sixteen," Paul sighed. "He just turned sixteen."

"That's awfully young. Is his mom gonna cause trouble with him leaving home?" Jasper asked.

"No," Paul scoffed. "She said he was welcome to leave if he wanted to chase after his sister."

"What a fuckin' bitch!" Charlotte exclaimed, completely outraged on Seth's behalf. "Well hopefully he'll want to be a wolf so y'all can bring him home with you. We'll yank him into the fold and make him just as much a part of the family as you and Leah."

"Thanks, Char," Paul said, and they could all hear the smile in his voice.

"Will you let me know when y'all get there? And when you know Seth's safe?" Jasper asked.

"Yep. Will do. We're still about six hours out."

"Alright. Drive safe, we'll talk to you soon," Jasper said and ended the call with a sigh. "What the fuck is wrong with people? He's a fuckin' sixteen-year old kid and she just tells him sure, go on, there's the door?"

Bella shook her head. "I'm not gonna lie, I hate that this is happening to him but I'm kinda glad he's getting out of there. The tribe as a whole isn't awful but the way the elders have control over the wolves is bullshit. None of them are, or ever were, wolves. That's too much power in the hands of a few people who have no experience."

"Do they really not tell the kids carrying the gene that it's a possibility?" Charlotte asked in astonishment. "From what you told us, there are signs that they're close to phasing - the crazy growth spurt and million degree fever being the most obvious. Do they see those warning signs and keep quiet until one of them is traumatized that they just exploded into a giant wild animal?"

Bella nodded. "Yep. It's not until after they've gone wolf that the elders are all 'hey, so you know those legends? funny thing about that, jk they're true stories'. It's so fucking stupid and so unfair to all those kids whose lives are turned upside down."

"I hope you have some kind of plan to deal with those assholes when we deal with the asshole wolves," Rosalie grumbled.

"Of course I do," Jasper laughed.

Rosalie and Bella both nodded. "Good," they answered in unison. Charlotte just smiled, knowing without being told that her brother would make sure the elders suffered for what they'd done.

Jasper grabbed his laptop to start doing some research. "If Seth does come here, we need to make sure he still gets a high school diploma. I think he can test out early but I need to find out more."

Bella smiled at her mate, who had such a big heart. He'd adopted a whole slew of people into his family recently and was about to adopt another stranger without a single hesitation. As she watched him jot down notes about how to make sure a sixteen-year old kid didn't fall through life's cracks, she was filled with love and gratitude that her life was tied to his. She couldn't have chosen a better partner for herself or better man to be a father to her little one.

About six hours later, Jasper got a call from Leah letting him know they'd picked Seth up at the old Cullen house and they were going to drive the seven or so hours to get out of Washington and then stop and get a hotel room for the night.

They also let him know that Seth was a wolf now. He'd overheard Jacob and Quil talking about Paul and Leah - the 'leech lovers' - and how they'd been run off the Reservation, and the shock and anger had made him phase on the spot. Fortunately he was in the woods and not the middle of the village. Which honestly was just one more consideration that made Jasper furious at the elders. What if one of those kids phased in school or at the market? New wolves were volatile as hell, as evidenced by the scars on Emily's face. The complete and utter confusion the first time they phased made them even more dangerous. The elders and Sam fuckin' Uley put the lives of their entire tribe at risk just to keep a secret that everyone already knew about in the form of legends.

"Leech lovers?" Charlotte laughed. "They called Leah and Paul leech lovers? Why? Black's pack doesn't even know they're here with us."

Jasper sighed long and hard. "Every single one of those wolves knew Bella had my number in case she ever needed help. She told Jacob directly that she talked to me and that I'd be happy to give them a hand with Victoria, although she didn't know it was Victoria at the time. She thought it was just a random nomad. Jacob flipped out and refused to even consider it. Uley gave an Alpha command that they couldn't tell Bella anything because they refused to ask a 'leech' for help. Paul and Leah thought that was bullshit. Apparently that translates into loving leeches for those small-minded racist dicks."

"Is Seth part of Jacob's pack?" Esme asked. "Will they know where we are from his mind?"

Jasper shook his head with a smile. "No. Unlike his sister and Paul, who both somehow broke away from the others because of their outrage over what happened with Bella's dad, it seems Seth was never part of that pack. He heard no other voices in the time he spent as a wolf. They'll test it once they're somewhere safe. She thinks he's part of her and Paul's pack."

"Don't the wolves have super-hearing?" Bella asked with a frown.

It took Jasper a second but then he exploded off the couch in a burst of rage. "Those motherfuckers!" he growled, and stomped around doing a little huffing and blowing to get his anger out in a nonviolent way.

Rosalie looked at him in shock. "What am I missing?"

"Seth wasn't a wolf yet when he overheard those petty fuckin' bitches talking so he had to be at a close enough distance in order to hear them. Jacob fuckin' Black and Quil whatever the fuck his last name is are wolves. They would have heard Seth coming long before Seth heard them."

"So they did it on purpose?" Peter asked. "Why? What was the point of that?"

"Aside from being petty fuckin' bitches?" Jasper growled, the huffing and blowing not doing much to tamp down his anger. "That might be all the reason they need."

Bella shook her head. "I'll say it again. I hate that Seth's going through this but I'm really fucking glad he's getting away from La Push."

Jasper nodded his agreement as he dramatically dropped onto the couch and then flopped himself down so his head was in his mate's lap. He started smiling as soon as she started running her fingers through his hair. It soothed him just about as much as it soothed her.

Bella smiled and rested her other hand on his cheek and sent him her love, which made his smile even bigger.

"You about ready?" he asked. "We need to leave in five."

Bella nodded and shoved his head a little, and her mate was enough of a sweetheart that he threw himself off the couch so she could pretend she'd successfully shoved him off her. "Thank you," she laughed.

"It's what I'm here for," he shrugged with a smile as he hauled himself off the floor. "Do you want me to bring some ginger in case you feel carsick? It's a thirty-minute drive."

Bella nodded as she ran up to brush her teeth again and run a comb through her hair so she didn't look one of the orphans in the movie Annie. The two of them were driving into town for Bella's appointment at the Women's Clinic where she'd be meeting her doctor. Well, the nearest town that had a doctor, anyway. The 'town' they lived closest to consisted of exactly one building. It was a combination gas station, post office, and video rental store. That was it. That was their whole town.

"Think I could hitch a lift?" Charlotte asked Jasper. "I've been wantin' to pick out some fabric to make curtains for Paul and Leah's bedrooms. With their sleep schedule all wonky with phasing, I wanna make them some blackout curtains so they can rest during the day if they need to. It's a nice cloudy day out there so it's perfect for runnin' errands."

"We can do some grocery shopping, too, while y'all are in with the lady doctor," Peter added. "We can pick up some of Bella's favorites and stock up the other cabin's fridge for our newest arrival."

"Lady doctor?" Jasper laughed. "Are you usin' that phrase because the doctor is a lady or because the doctor specializes in lady parts?"

"Both," Peter answered, giving Jasper a look that made it clear he thought he was an idiot for even having to ask. The 'duh' was heavily implied.

"What if we all came along?" Esme said with a smile watching Jasper and Peter. She always found such satisfaction in how much the two loved each other and their good-natured teasing. She'd been so grateful to learn that Jasper had even one friend, a brother, during those long, awful decades in the south. "We're all out of bedrooms. There's a big lumber and hardware store just outside of town. With how fast we can work and all the experience we have, we could add a bedroom to the cabin out back for Seth in no time."

Emmett laughed at Esme's playful glare. "Why am I the only one to get your glare? You know Rose was an equal participant in breaking all those houses, right?"

Esme tried to fight her laughter but a little slipped out. "Of course. But I love how your dimples come out when I tease you."

Emmett lunged for Esme and threw her over his shoulder while she squealed with laughter. He marched right over to the door and tossed her into the nearest snowdrift. When he gave his best evil villain laugh and turned around to walk inside, Esme jumped up and launched herself at his back, shoving a fistful of snow in his face.

When he started sputtering and whining like a toddler she dropped to the ground with a satisfied nod and dusted her hands off. "So, can we come along?" she asked Jasper.

"Yes," he laughed as he pulled her in for a quick hug. Just like she loved watching him and Peter, he loved watching her cut loose and act like the young woman she was when she was changed, rather than the role Carlisle forced her into of the conservative doctor's wife.

"Think we can all squeeze in Esme's SUV and my truck?" Peter asked. "That way we can load up everything we get for the back cabin instead of waitin' for delivery."

"Why don't we take the Jeep, too?" Rosalie said. "That way Jasper and Bella can go straight to the clinic while we get started on building materials. They can come meet us when they're done. We can load up the backseat with groceries on the way home so we don't lose any of the larger space in the SUV."

Everyone nodded their agreement, so they all pulled on their winter weather gear to blend in with the humans.

When Bella came downstairs, she pulled Esme aside a little nervously. "So, um, would you maybe come with me and Jasper? To see the doctor?"

Esme immediately nodded. "Absolutely."

After a little reshuffling of who drove which vehicle - Bella petitioned hard for the truck because she was nervous and wanted to sit firmly wedged right between Jasper and Esme so she had love on both sides of her - pretty much everyone was filled with some combination of happiness and sadness as they climbed in their cars. It should've been Bella's mom doing some of the hand-holding, but they were glad Bella had a surrogate mother more than willing to step up and support her however she needed.

Bella was sitting in between Jasper and Esme in the cab of Peter's truck, her eyes fixed on the little piece of paper in her hand. She hadn't really known what to expect at her first appointment, so walking out with an ultrasound photo and a due date made things feel a whole lot more real.

Jasper glanced down with a smile. "I think she looks like you already. See, right there," he said and pointed at absolutely nothing.

Bella laughed as she shrugged. "I actually think she has your eyes."

Jasper barked a laugh and his happiness practically lit up the cab. "She'll be a blessed little darlin' to get my good looks."

Bella shook her head with a smile, absolutely loving how light-hearted Jasper was at this whole wild endeavor. "I thought Rosalie was the modest one of the family?"

He gave her much the same look Peter had given him a couple hours earlier. "We're twins, Bella."

"Sorry, my apologies," she laughed, then looked at the ultrasound photo again. "July 24th. That seems like a nice date, huh? A summer baby?"

Jasper wrapped an arm around her and kissed her temple. "A summer baby sounds good. But an autumn, winter, or spring baby honestly sounds just as good. That little one sure is never gonna be short on love," he smiled. "You're growing our family and our family keeps growing. With Seth, before the little one even makes her world debut, the Whitlocks are ten strong."

"That's a hell of a jump from the three you were only a few weeks ago," Esme smiled.

"Life changes fast," Jasper nodded as he parked next to Esme's SUV at the huge lumber and hardware store. "Let's go give the rest of our big, weird family a hand."

After checking that no cars were coming, Bella tore through the parking lot and into the store. "Rosalie! Charlotte!" she shouted, ignoring the stares from other shoppers, knowing her sisters would hear her wherever they were.

Rosalie came running up at a fast human pace and skidded to a halt. "Bella!" she shouted.

"Look! We have our first sort-of family photo!" Bella laughed excitedly and shoved the ultrasound photo in Rose's hand.

Rosalie took the piece of paper carefully and looked at it with a huge smile, then pointed at absolutely nothing. "She looks like you. See? Right there."

"Holy shit, you and your twin share a brain," Bella laughed. "Besides, she has his eyes. So your eyes, too," Bella shrugged.

Rose nodded like that made all the sense in the world. "You're right. Lucky little thing, isn't she?"

Bella plucked the photo from her hand with a laugh. "Jasper has a copy for you in his wallet. Along with the other ten copies he asked for," she added while rolling her eyes, but entirely unable to hide her smile.

"Did she give you a due date?" Charlotte asked as she walked up and peeked over Bella's shoulder at the newest Whitlock she was growing.

"July 24th."

"Oh, that'll be nice for you, being a thousand years pregnant in the heat of summer," she smiled.

Bella pointed at her with a smile. "That's another reason you vamps are so handy. A hand on the back of my neck and I'm nice and cool."

Jasper, Esme, Peter, and Emmett all joined them then and Jasper handed out the copies of the ultrasound photo he'd coerced out of the doctor. There were enough for all the current members of their family to have one of their own, including Seth.

As Bella looked around her, she couldn't help smiling to herself. No, this baby would never want for love. Her family members had some of the biggest hearts she knew, beating or not.

Esme was driving Peter's truck home a couple hours later, the bed practically overflowing with supplies, as Jasper held a sleeping Bella in his arms. She'd conked out about three seconds after they'd set out for home.

"Have I told you lately how wonderful I think you are?" Esme asked as she glanced over at him.

"No, it's been at least a day or two," he laughed quietly. "What wonderful thing have I done now?"

Esme gave a little shrug. "You've had more upheavals lately than many people go through in their whole lives. But you didn't let it bring you to your knees. You just gritted your teeth and got through it and then helped the rest of us get through it," she explained. "You brought all of us into your home, your coven, your family, without a moment of hesitation. You offered the wolves a new home and family. And you've done it before with Peter and Charlotte. When they came back for you they were just a nomadic mated pair, and then suddenly they both had a brother and a last name. You all had a solid place you belonged in this world. That's a priceless thing for our kind."

Jasper nodded as he thought about that. It was true that he and Peter and Charlotte became a family, and that he gave them his last name, but he happened to think it was the other way around. The mated pair had taken the lost and rudderless, brand new nomad fresh from Maria's army and gave him a family.

"You know, this whole last year has been rocky as hell. When I left you guys, it was like all those ties holding me to the world had snapped and I felt mostly broken and entirely lost. But it was only losing that, losing those tethers, that led me here. Just like all of Bella's tethers snapping is what put her on the path to this baby she's growing and ultimately to end up in Volterra, where I had the privilege of finding her. You, Rose, and Em had a lot of your ties severed, too. Same with Leah, Paul, and now Seth," he said quietly. "There's been an awful lot of heartache for most of us, an awful lot of pain and loss to live through, but… those losses, that feeling of being unbound from everything we know, everything familiar, is what led us to this very moment. We wouldn't be sitting here staring at an ultrasound photo while planning on adding yet another bedroom to one of the houses because our family keeps growing if we hadn't first suffered all those losses."

Esme nodded and reached for his hand. "Sometimes it's hard to reconcile those things. That the grief we carry is what led us to the happiness we've found. I loved Carlisle for a very long time. And I've loved you, Rosalie, and Emmett just about from the moment I met each of you. Edward and Alice were a little more challenging to love, but I did try," she said with a little laugh. "But I never would have had the joy and pleasure of calling you, Em, and Rose my family if my human life hadn't ended in such a grief-soaked way. And of course that led me to know and love Peter and Charlotte, to know and love Bella, and now the wolves. So, I know that grief and heartache and love and happiness sometimes walk hand-in-hand. Just like I know that losing everything we love, having those tethers holding us to the world snap, as you call it, is what led us to the beautiful new ties we're making."

"So it doesn't mean I'm an awful person for feeling a tiny bit of gratitude that all of our lives blew up in our faces? So that we could have this happiness right here?" he asked with a small smile.

"No, it doesn't mean you're an awful person, Jasper. It just means you've accepted that sometimes awful things happen for no reason whatsoever but that it's okay to build something new on the ashes of what came before."

Jasper smiled at the woman he considered a sister. "Have I told you lately how wonderful I think you are?"

"No, actually. It's been ages," she said, leveling him with a playful glare.

"My apologies," he laughed. "You are. Honest to god, truly wonderful. The only reason I can't hate Alice with my entire being, and I do hate her with about ninety-seven percent of it, is that she led me to you and Rose and Emmett. And then purely by accident to Bella, too," he added.

"It's a nice little family we're growing, huh?" Esme laughed.

"It is. I much prefer it over that last one," he smiled, then looked back down at the ultrasound photo, his throat tight with too many emotions to even try to name. "And I'm so excited for it to grow again."