A/N: I'm posting two chapters today, so make sure you don't skip Chapter Twenty-Seven!
Thanks for reading:)
...Or Not
(or the one with all the hugs)
Because Edward was distracted by listening to everyone's thoughts to get caught up on anything he missed, he didn't see the panic on Bella's face.
Jasper opened his mouth to assure her that Alice was in no danger, but the spike of desperation and determination in the girl had him moving instead. Just like he expected, Bella tried to run in between Alice and the wolves in an attempt to 'save' her that was more than a little misguided, screaming at the wolves to stop and for the Cullens to do something.
When Edward realized his mate was running straight towards three horse-sized wolves, none of whom were particularly fond of her, he let out a growl and darted to intercept them.
Embry and Quil, seeing an angry vampire headed their way, also started growling as the fur on their backs stood on end and they turned from Alice to Edward. Jared ran over, still in his human form, to get in front of them. Paul, to be honest, just rolled his eyes.
"Rose!" Jasper quickly called out just as he swooped in and snatched Bella up before she could make matters any worse than they already were. She let out a squeak of surprise and started shouting for him to put her down and to go help Alice.
Rosalie, meanwhile, flashed towards Edward and tackled him with an impressive lunge before he had a chance to move more than a few feet. "Calm down, she's fine," Rose hissed through gritted teeth as she kept the telepath pinned beneath her.
Alice huffed in annoyance that her game was cut short, grumbling about the wolves keeping her blind as she ran back towards the chaotic scene, and Leah let out a piercing whistle. "Will all of you PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP AND STOP MOVING!" she shouted.
Astonishingly enough, everyone froze. Everyone except Jasper. He just marched over to Edward and set Bella on her feet beside where Rose was holding him down. When she opened her mouth, Jasper held a hand up to stop her. "No talking yet. Just stand there and be quiet," he snapped, which made Edward growl at him.
Alice was having none of that, so she sprinted over and stomped on Edward's ankle. "Don't you fucking growl at him, Edward," she snarled. "This is your fault. Maybe calm your mate down instead of continuing to act like an idiot."
And that was the scene Peter and Charlotte found as they ran into the clearing - Rosalie restraining a growling Edward with a confused and upset Bella standing beside them. A pissed off pixie giving the telepath her most fierce glare. Two agitated wolves who looked a second away from attacking, with a third standing by looking some combination of amused and annoyed. Emmett standing next to a girl who was trying to get everyone to shut up and calm down, a boy with a similar skin tone standing guard in front of the three wolves, and another younger boy sitting on the ground with a smile like he found the whole thing hilarious.
"Surprise," Peter laughed as he launched himself at his pissed off brother at the same moment Charlotte did. Jasper's head snapped up in surprise a millisecond too late to stop them from tackling him. There was so much chaos that he hadn't even felt them approaching.
Leah only panicked a little at seeing two red-eyed vamps take her imprint to the ground, because she was pretty sure she knew that voice. Even so, she looked up at Emmett just to be sure.
"It's Peter and Charlotte," he reassured her with a smile.
Jared immediately turned to Quil and Embry, who were growling and trembling. Fortunately he'd been standing in front of them when two human-drinking vamps came flying into the clearing, which kept them from attacking first and asking questions later. "They're Jasper's family. They've come to help us and they're covered by the treaty," Jared quickly reminded them. Jasper had told him that morning that Peter and Charlotte would be arriving soon, they were just earlier than expected.
Bella, meanwhile, was too scared to utter a word. She skittered away from the red-eyed vampires and her face drained of all color. Emmett noticed and took pity on her. The last time she'd been at the baseball clearing, three red-eyed vamps had shown up and turned her life upside down, so he could understand her fear. He put his arm around her and dipped his head down to speak quietly. "They're friends, I promise."
Jasper was completely ignoring everyone and laughing at the bottom of the three vamp pile-up, just letting himself soak up the happiness and love from his oldest friends. Alice decided she needed to get in on the action and get a hug of her own, so she skipped over and dove on top of the Whitlocks.
And that was the scene Esme and Carlisle were greeted with as they ran out of the trees - still a little chaotic but significantly calmer than the scene that greeted Peter and Charlotte. They'd had the benefit of hearing everything as it happened, so they knew the danger had mostly passed, although Quil and Embry still looked on edge.
Vamps and wolves moved awfully quickly, so all in all, less than thirty seconds had passed since Bella's first scream.
Eventually Jasper shoved Alice, Peter, and Charlotte off him and hopped to his feet. He brushed the dirt from his clothes and frowned when he saw a little hole in his sleeve. "This is my favorite shirt, asshole," he growled at Peter with a glare that held no heat behind it.
Peter just put his hands on his hips and stared Jasper down.
"It is!" Jasper huffed. "Leah said it looks nice on me," he added as he looked down and tried to smooth out the wrinkles in it, ignoring the little titters of laughter around him.
"Sap," Peter laughed as he picked up the backpack that he'd dropped before dive-bombing his brother and rummaged around in it for a second. "Here, quit bitching," he said as he tossed Jasper an identical replacement shirt.
Jasper grinned and quickly pulled his shirt over his head to put on the new one, ignoring the flare of unease in all the wolves at seeing the amount of scars that covered him. He didn't, however, ignore the flare of lust in his mate. He looked at her and shot her a quick wink.
"Oh hush," she laughed and rolled her eyes. "Like you don't know you're hot."
Charlotte turned to Leah with a brilliant smile. "Leah!"
Before Leah even registered what was happening, she had a petite blond vamp wrapped around her. She only felt a brief moment of panic before her instincts remembered that this vamp wasn't a threat, and she laughed as she hugged Charlotte back.
Jasper looked on with a soft smile, a feeling of warmth filling his chest. He hadn't really acknowledged just how much it mattered to him that his mate accepted Peter and Charlotte, and that they accepted her. After all, two red-eyed vamps and a Quileute protector meeting each other had the potential to go badly. The scene in the clearing was still a little more tense than he was entirely comfortable with, but Charlotte, Leah, and Peter were feeling nothing in that moment but positive emotions.
Jasper expected Peter to be his usual self and tackle Leah with a shout of "Wolf girl!" but instead he walked over slowly and wrapped both Charlotte and Leah in a gentle hug. "Thank you," he whispered, almost too quietly for Jasper to hear.
Leah laughed and held on a little tighter. "I think that's my line."
With the exception of Bella, no one in that clearing - wolf or vampire - needed an explanation to understand what she meant. They all knew that Leah was thanking them for loving Jasper enough to go back to Maria's territory to pull him from that hell.
"Rose," Carlisle said gently. "I think it's safe to let him up now."
Rosalie looked down at Edward. "We didn't go through all this effort to work peacefully with the wolves just for you and your mate to swoop in and undo all that progress because you don't know how to think before you act. Pull your shit together and go convince your mate to do the same," she said, not entirely unkindly, then hauled herself to her feet and held her hand out to help him up.
Edward scowled at her but didn't argue. He'd heard everyone's thoughts and knew the gathering had been mostly calm up until the moment Bella had assumed the worst at seeing Embry, Quil, and Paul chasing after Alice. It was only Jasper, Rosalie, and Jared reacting so quickly that kept things from turning so much worse. He went and pulled his mate into his arms and she immediately clung to him like her life depended on it.
Many of those standing in the clearing thought it just might.
Jasper turned to glance at Paul when his emotions shifted. He'd gone from amused to angry in a split second. "What's wrong?" he asked, only caring a little bit that he was publicly calling someone out on their emotions.
Jared rolled his eyes a little but looked back at Paul. "Everything's fine," he said firmly, knowing Sam and Jake would see him through Paul's eyes. "Stay on our side of the line."
Paul growled lowly at whatever he heard in response, and his worry spiked as he looked at Peter and Charlotte first, then at Jasper.
"They touch either of them and they'll be dead before they ever see me coming," Jasper said coldly, his eyes fierce.
Leah pulled away from the two Whitlocks and looked at her imprint in surprise. "What's wrong now?"
"I believe at least one of the other wolves is threatening us if we step off Cullen land," Peter chuckled. In the space of a single human heartbeat, though, he looked at Paul with eyes every bit as fierce as Jasper's. "If they try to touch my mate, it won't be my brother they need to worry about."
Rosalie crossed her arms and scoffed as she looked at the wolves. "Good luck trying to get a tooth or claw near either of them."
"Alright," Carlisle cut in before things took yet another downward turn. "Jared, you're well aware that Peter and Charlotte are not to be bothered by anyone in your pack, whether in our territory or out of it. They know where the treaty line is and they won't cross it, and I trust that you can keep your wolves from doing anything that will have dire consequences," he said calmly, then looked at Rosalie and Jasper. "Jared is the Alpha of the pack. This is for him to deal with, not us. I understand your reaction, but please leave it in his hands. We don't need to make matters worse with threats."
Peter and Jasper both turned those fierce eyes on Carlisle. "It's not a threat," Jasper snapped.
"I know, it's a promise," Carlisle nodded, completely unruffled at finding himself on the receiving end of those glares. He'd already anticipated their reaction. Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte were so fiercely protective of each other for good reason, and Carlisle understood that. He also knew that none of them would harm a single wolf if they were left alone. They may be fierce, but they weren't cruel and all three of them had a strong sense of right and wrong. Going after a member of the pack without cause wasn't something any of them would do.
At that point, Seth decided it was well past time for the tension to be over, so he walked up to the newest vamp arrivals with his cheerful, dimpled smile and held his hand out. "I'm Seth, the sweeter, more adorable Clearwater. Nice to meet you."
Peter and Charlotte both smiled and shook his hand. "Those dimples are certainly adorable," Charlotte laughed. "They make your smile look just like Emmett's."
"Careful, it's how he disarms his enemies," Leah said with a heavy eye-roll.
Bella was watching the whole weird scene with a lot of confusion that was still interwoven with a hefty amount of fear. "I don't understand what's happening," she whispered to Edward. "Who are they, and why are red-eyed vampires covered by the treaty? They hunt humans."
Now it was Bella's turn to be on the receiving end of Jasper's glare.
"Don't judge them when you don't know a single thing about them except what color their eyes are. You want to be a part of our world so badly, but you need to realize that we're the anomaly in the vampire world, not them," he snapped. Edward growled at him, but Jasper just rolled his eyes and snapped at him, too. "Maybe if you didn't keep her in the dark about every fucking thing she wouldn't be standing there scared that they're two seconds from lunging for her neck. You knew they were coming to town and you chose not to tell her."
Bella couldn't deny Jasper's glare scared her a little, but she pushed that aside with a huff of annoyance. "Will someone please tell me who these people are and what the hell's going on?"
Peter and Charlotte gave her very unimpressed looks. "I'm Peter, this is my mate Charlotte. As that wolf over there already said, we're Jasper's family," was all the explanation Peter gave, gesturing to Jared.
"What?" Bella exclaimed, eyes wide with shock. She hadn't actually heard Jared. "You have another family?" she asked Jasper. "And they hunt humans?"
"Don't assume all human-hunting vampires are demons," Rosalie snapped, making Bella shrink back a little. "They've got you beat hands down in the personality department."
"Rose!" Esme admonished her. "That was uncalled for."
Rosalie huffed but gritted her teeth and apologized to Edward's human. "But don't be so quick to judge," she couldn't help adding. "You know very little about anyone in this family aside from Edward, and you know even less about our world."
Bella ignored that little voice inside her that told her Rosalie was right. Not wanting to acknowledge that truth, Bella glared at the blond instead. "I know enough to know red eyes means they kill humans. If you haven't forgotten, I've met plenty of red-eyed vampires and none of them were friendly," she snapped. She'd barely gotten the words out before her cheeks flushed bright red as she realized all of the vampires were giving her various looks of displeasure. And some of the wolves. Esme's obvious disappointment was particularly unsettling. Bella had only seen that face aimed her way once - when the family found out she'd slapped Paul.
Alice jumped in before Jasper, Rosalie, or Leah tried to strangle the girl. "They're our friends, Bella," she said firmly but not unkindly. "Their diet doesn't make them any better or worse than the rest of us. I know you're not aware of Jasper's history, but Peter and Charlotte are the reason he's standing here with us," she explained. "Please listen to the others when they tell you not to be so quick to judge. If you don't want to take my word for it, look at the wolves. Do you really think they'd all be standing there like that if Peter and Charlotte were a threat?"
Bella looked over and saw that most of the wolves - with the exception of Leah, who looked beyond pissed - were quiet and calm and she let out another huff of annoyance. Even the two wolves she assumed were Embry and Quil had stopped growling and Embry had sat down. How the hell did they know these new vampires weren't a threat? Bella was the one who was supposed to be part of the vampire world, yet the wolves - their mortal enemies! - knew more than she did.
At that point, Jared made an executive decision, not wanting to get in the middle of Cullen family drama. And with Bella being the object of some pretty heavy scorn, Jared didn't want Jake to do anything stupid under the guise of 'defending' her that would jeopardize the trust that was building between the pack and the local vamps. "Maybe we should pick this up again tomorrow," he said.
Carlisle just nodded. "Perhaps that's for the best."
Jared gave Edward a long look. "If you don't tell her everything, Jake will. And I don't think you need me to tell you that he'll spin it to make you the bad guy."
"Where is Jake?" Bella asked, confused that he wasn't there.
"Jacob has restrictions on when and how he's allowed to be in our territory," Jasper answered her shortly, then glared at Edward that there was yet another thing he'd kept from his mate. He didn't particularly like Bella at the moment, but that didn't excuse Edward being a controlling dick.
Bella frowned a little at that. "You can't keep him from coming into Forks."
"Watch me," Jasper snapped. "Don't try to argue about the treaty when you don't actually know what the treaty entails. We allow Jacob to come to your house as a human as a courtesy to you, not because it's his right."
"Jasper," Esme said, the warning clear in her voice.
Jasper nodded in acknowledgment of that warning, but didn't bother apologizing to Bella. They all knew it would be bullshit, and right or wrong, Jasper wasn't a man who said things he didn't mean. Instead, he shoved aside his irritation and turned his attention to Jared. "If we could reconvene later in the afternoon, I'd appreciate it. I have a fishing date in the morning that I refuse to miss," he explained with a smile, fighting against the impulse to glare at Bella again.
"Me too," Leah laughed as she leaned against Jasper's side.
Jared smiled back and nodded. "That's fine. Just call me when you guys are back on dry land."
Bella looked at Jasper and Leah a little suspiciously but kept her mouth closed. All she'd accomplished by opening it since she got to the clearing was causing problems where none existed.
"I'll leave the clothes by the bag," Jared said to Jasper, gesturing behind him. "Thanks for bringing them along."
Jasper just nodded. "Of course. And thanks for keeping so calm through all the chaos."
Seth and Paul both opted to stay behind with Leah, so Paul loped into the trees to phase back to human while Jared phased back to a wolf to accompany Embry and Quil back to the Reservation.
The group was quiet as they waited for Paul to emerge dressed and back on two legs, as everyone seemed to be aware that an uncomfortable conversation was in their very near future. Rosalie had a little bit of a scowl on her face as she glared daggers at Bella, which of course made Bella more than a little uncomfortable, which in turn made Edward glare daggers back at Rosalie. It was a circle that amused Emmett, so he was watching the three of them with a hint of a smile.
Peter and Charlotte were the ones who eventually broke the silence when Charlotte realized she had yet to greet most of the Cullens properly.
"Mama Bear!" she said cheerfully as she bounded over to hug Esme hello. "Please excuse my manners, but there was a lot going on there for a minute."
Esme laughed and hugged her back. She was always happy to see the couple, and though their early arrival had briefly caused a little bit of tension, she thought maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. Maybe it was the catalyst they all needed to make a few changes. "I suppose I can overlook it just this once," Esme teased. "I'm just happy you're here," she added with the warm smile everyone loved so much.
"Good to see you again, sir," Peter said as he walked over and held his hand out to Carlisle.
Carlisle smiled and rolled his eyes a little like the young man he really was, then pulled Peter into a hug. "I don't mind the poor manners, so no need to be so formal."
Peter just laughed as he hugged him back. "I don't want to risk my better half being displeased with me."
Charlotte swapped Cullens with her mate, so she could hug Carlisle and Peter could sweep Esme up in a hug that made her laugh brightly. Then the couple moved on to Rosalie and Emmett, and Charlotte nearly took Rose to the ground with the force of her hug.
Bella watched the scene still more than a little confused and with a lot of mistrust. She still didn't understand how Jasper had another family, or why the Cullens were greeting two human hunting vampires so warmly. Not to mention the fact that red-eyed vamps having manners didn't line up with anything she believed about the world her boyfriend lived in.
Seeing Jasper glaring at her again, Bella belatedly remembered he was an empath who knew what she was feeling as she watched the new arrivals he cared so much for and her cheeks flushed crimson again. She seemed to be making misstep after misstep, and she was torn between irritation that she was obviously the only one who didn't know what was going on and embarrassment that all she'd managed to do was create more tension with the family she wanted to be hers.
Meanwhile, Leah was pissed but she was making an effort to push her anger aside, not wanting to make things worse on her empathic imprint. She closed her eyes and tucked herself a little closer to his side, then focused only on her warm feelings for him - her affection and trust and respect, and maybe the first stirrings of love that were growing inside her. Jasper's response was to tighten his arm a little around her and press a gentle kiss on the top of her head. He sent her back strikingly similar emotions of his own, along with a boatload of gratitude. She gave a satisfied nod when the tension in his shoulders softened a little.
Peter and Charlotte eventually got back around to Jasper after getting their greetings out of the way. They even said a polite hello to Edward, though they kept their distance. Not only were they unimpressed with his recent behavior, but they weren't entirely insensitive and they didn't want to scare the girl clinging to him any more than she already was.
They both gave Jasper a more sedate hug than their earlier dive-bomb and all three of them hung on a few extra moments.
When Charlotte eventually let go, she plopped herself on the ground and gave Leah a bright smile. "Sit with me?" she asked while patting the grass next to her. Leah nodded and sat down with a smile and Charlotte immediately took her hand. She didn't say anything, she just held Leah's hand, thrilled that she was finally meeting her brother's other half.
Paul came running out of the trees and was only a little surprised when Peter held his hand out to him and Charlotte hopped up and did the same. From everything Paul knew about the pair, whether from Leah or Jasper, he thought they'd probably be glad to meet anyone who accepted Jasper, regardless of species.
He sat down beside Leah after saying hello, then huffed a laugh when Jasper shoved him out of the way so he could sit next to her. "Don't disappoint Esme with those terrible manners," he snarked, but he did move over to sit by Seth so Jasper could take his place.
"Maybe we should all sit," Carlisle said. "I think we have some things to discuss."
Esme sat down and waited for the rest of the family to do the same, then she looked at Edward for a long moment. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Edward hissed at her. "Watch it," she warned him sharply. "I won't tolerate you hissing or growling at me or anyone else. If you can't control yourself, you're welcome to leave. I will, however, be asking Bella to stay. She's a member of this family and has every right to know what's happening. I'm done allowing you to control what information she's given."
Bella looked up at Edward uncertainly. On one hand, she was glad Esme was claiming her as a member of the family, but on the other, she was dismayed to learn Edward was keeping things from her. She knew he'd always done that, but like most of the not so great things about her relationship that she didn't want to acknowledge, she'd willfully ignored it. That was a lot harder to do when she was smack dab in the middle of a situation that she didn't understand but everyone else did.
"What information are you controlling?" Bella asked him quietly. "Aside from the obvious," she added, gesturing to Peter and Charlotte.
Rather than answer her, Edward moodily stared off into the trees above her head, both angry and resigned. He knew Esme had reached the end of her patience and wouldn't back down. Maybe it wasn't a terrible thing, he mentally acknowledged. He wanted to protect Bella, which meant keeping things from her that would upset her, but he couldn't deny that he felt stirrings of unease at the reminder that his family saw his controlling behavior as creeping towards emotional abuse. It was also very apparent that him withholding information from his mate was upsetting her. He felt trapped between a rock and a hard place.
Esme nodding seeing that he wasn't going to protest, and looked at Jasper. "As long as you agree, perhaps we should start at the beginning. In this particular case, your beginning is the most relevant. It will help Bella understand who Peter and Charlotte are, as well as better understand our current situation."
Jasper just nodded. He'd known Bella would have to learn his history at some point, especially now that a visit from Maria was hanging over their heads. Not to mention a newborn army. He looked at Edward, knowing he hadn't wanted Bella to ever have to know about the more savage things in their world.
I'm sorry, but you know she needs to know. I'm no more happy about it than you are. I won't be detailed.
Edward gave a resigned nod at Jasper's thoughts.
Bella listened, both horrified and sympathetic, as Jasper began explaining the world he'd been reborn into. Bella had known that the vampire world wasn't just what she saw with the Cullens - she'd been to Volterra after all - but newborn armies? That was a hard concept to wrap her human mind around. She looked at Peter a little curiously when Jasper explained that he'd sired him, trying to push aside the little bit of discomfort she felt that Jasper had changed someone, only to bring him into that awful life.
"You're wondering if I resent him?" Peter asked her, his tone surprisingly gentle. Bella shot a quick glance at Jasper and then nodded. "No. I never did, not even at the beginning. Love's a precious gift, and that's true if you're a human, a vamp, or a wolf," he said, gesturing to Bella and Edward, then Jasper and Leah. "Don't you agree?"
Bella nodded a little ambivalently. She heard what Peter was saying, but she wasn't sure anyone else had ever loved someone as much as she loved Edward. He couldn't possibly understand.
Jasper scoffed at her emotions and shook his head. "You met Edward a year ago, and you spent six months of that year apart, so you've been in a relationship for all of six months. I've loved Peter for over a century. I've loved Charlotte nearly that long. I've loved Alice for seventy-two years and the Cullens for seventy. Carlisle and Esme have been mated for almost a hundred years. Rosalie and Emmett, and Peter and Charlotte have been mated for eighty-five. Your six months are nothing in the face of that, and your eighteen years of life mean you can't possibly understand that love only grows exponentially after those lengths of time. So don't sit there and think you've got some fairy tale love that we can't understand," he snapped.
Everyone looked at Bella with a little bit of surprise, and Rosalie rolled her eyes at the ridiculous girl.
Carlisle cleared his throat to hide his amusement. "Jasper."
"What?" Jasper huffed, but couldn't help laughing a little. "Sorry, but it's bullshit and you know it," he shrugged.
"First love often feels that way," Carlisle reminded him with a pointed look.
Jasper huffed again a few times as he fought a smile. Then he just shrugged again. "Second love's a whole lot better," he said, shooting a wink at his mate who was laughing beside him.
Then it was Peter's turn to huff a few times. "I'd be offended by that if I didn't agree with you."
Bella looked between the two men a few times, her brow furrowed. Then she looked at Charlotte, then at Leah, then back to Peter, before landing on Jasper again. "Wait, so you two–"
"Don't," Jasper growled, cutting her off. "Don't judge another thing you don't understand."
Bella's eyes went a little wide but she shook her head. "I wasn't going to judge," she said quietly, understanding why he'd assumed the worst. "I truly wasn't. Your life back then sounds like a literal hell, and I'm glad you found someone to love," she told him honestly. She smiled a little when Jasper's eyes were the ones that went wide with surprise. "Peter's right, love is a gift."
"If you stick around long enough, I think you'll find I'm always right," Peter laughed.
Everyone in that clearing looked at Bella with much kinder eyes. Charlotte and Leah, in particular.
Charlotte never bothered pretending that Peter and Jasper didn't mean everything to her, so hearing Bella's words had the human going up in her estimation. "I know you don't know everyone's story yet, but most of us weren't as lucky as you in finding our mates the first time we fell in love. Some of us were fortunate enough to be loved well and unconditionally the first time around, some had to stumble around a time or two, and some are still waiting. You managed to find your other half before ever giving your heart away or having it broken. That's a wonderful thing."
Peter wrapped an arm around his mate and kissed her temple, then looked at Bella. "She's right–"
Alice cut him off with a bright laugh. "I'm pretty sure you've already stuck around long enough to know she's always right," she teased, then ducked when he picked up a rock and threw it at her with lightning speed. It still grazed her arm and she looked at her shoulder with a scowl, then turned her fiercest pixie glare on him.
Peter just laughed and rummaged in his bag again and tossed her an identical shirt to replace the one he'd just ripped. "Sorry."
"Did you bring me anything?" Emmett asked with his best pout.
"Of course. I have manners, you know," Peter huffed indignantly. "It's a little tied up back at the house, though," he added with a grin.
Emmett jumped to his feet and took off running with a whoop of delight, making Rosalie roll her eyes. "You don't always have to indulge him," she drawled as she stood up.
"Sure I do. And don't even try to lie, you'd be pissed if I didn't."
"Of course I would," Rose laughed. "Emmett should have everything his heart desires. Especially because he truly desires very few things. So, more importantly, what did you bring me?"
Peter gave her a smile that perfectly conveyed just how fond of her he was. Jasper, however, snorted a laugh. "I'm pretty sure Emmett's gift is also your gift."
Rosalie gave him her best smile as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Damn right it is. Don't wait up," she smirked, then took off running after her mate.
Nearly everyone in the clearing laughed, even Edward had a little smile on his face while he rolled his eyes at their ridiculousness, but Seth looked a little confused. "I don't get it."
"We left an angry bear near the Cullen's house for Emmett," Charlotte explained with a grin. When Seth didn't look any less confused, she giggled a little. "It's his favorite and he's always a little more exuberant after a good meal."
"Exuberant?" Edward scoffed. "You've just guaranteed us all a sleepless night."
Everyone looked at him in shock. The Cullens and Whitlocks hadn't heard him make a joke in over a year, and the wolves hadn't even been aware he possessed a sense of humor. Even Bella looked a little surprised when she laughed.
Jasper caught Edward's eye and discreetly tipped his head towards their family and silently spoke to him while sending him a wave of warmth and love.
This is how happy they are by something as simple as you being intentionally funny. You've been nothing short of a dick lately, but this family loves you, Edward. We'll all have your back through thick and thin, but you've sorely tested everyone's patience recently. Can you honestly say that there's any better group out there than this one to have fighting in your corner?
Edward looked at Jasper for a long moment, then looked around at his family. "No," he answered quietly.
Jasper nodded.
Good. Then quit trying so hard to fuck it up. And here, since I've never known how to quit while I'm ahead, this is your mate's surprise and pleasure at finding out you actually know what a joke is. And this is her surprise and pleasure at seeing the family laughing and teasing each other. You want her in your life, so maybe let her all the way in. Show her your whole life.
Edward looked at his mate to see Bella had a beautiful smile on her face as she watched Peter and Alice teasing each other. When Carlisle jumped in, her smile grew, and Edward realized that Jasper was right. In his attempts to keep the horrors of his world from Bella, he'd also deprived her of its beauty.
Esme, who'd been watching Edward closely, seemed to recognize the slight shift inside him, and she leaned over and wrapped him up in a hug, but otherwise stayed silent. Until Alice threw herself at the two of them. Then Esme laughed, because they all knew how much Alice loved hugs.
Not wanting to be left out, Carlisle joined in, and was quickly followed by Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte, until Edward was laughing at the bottom of a love-bomb pile.
"Come on," Charlotte called over her shoulder and gently reached for Bella's hand. "You're a Cullen, aren't you? Get in here."
Bella looked surprised but then let out a laugh of pure delight as she carefully joined the Cullen family hug.
"And what are you waiting for?" Charlotte asked Leah. "You're a Cullen and a Whitlock so get your ass over here."
Leah, Seth, and Paul all exchanged a brief glance - Leah and Seth both smiling mischievously - and Paul scoffed. "I'm not a Cullen or a Whitlock, thank you very much," he said, shaking his head and holding his hand up to stop the Clearwaters from doing anything stupid, like trying to get him to join a vamp pile-up.
In an unexpected move that he probably should've seen coming, Leah and Seth dove for him, not the vamps.
"No, but you're a Clearwater," Seth laughed.
"And we wouldn't have it any other way," Leah added, squeezing her best friend tightly while also trying to discreetly scootch them a little closer to where Jasper was holding out his hand for her. As soon as their fingers were entwined again, it felt like her soul let out a sigh of relief.
Things weren't perfect, and Leah was confident that Edward and Bella would take a few steps back even as they took a couple steps forward. But maybe, just maybe, if they could all stand united, they'd make it through whatever was coming.