House Call

Trees pass me by in a blur, their hues going from splotches of jade to olive green. My windows are rolled down as I drive down the seemingly invisible road to my parent's house down in Forks.

Three hours ago Esme, my mother, had called me as I was just finishing up my conversation with Bella - we had been talking ever since our meeting at La Bella Italia four days ago - asking if I was willing to come down, Emmett was supposed to arrive with Rosalie soon, Alice and Jasper had already gotten there.

Not wanting to disappoint my mother, I readily agreed, and now I'm heading through the same forest I used to play in when I was a child, driving back home to see my family and good friends.

I take a deep breath of the cool, damp air that seems to lurk inside Forks like a fog. I turn to look outside at the dense trees, and for a second I can see Emmett, Alice, and I running alongside the car, ducking and jumping over fallen trees and logs, laughing.

We look to be about four or five, and when I blink, we're gone.

The trees thin, then disappear completely as I drive down the small, gravel covered drive. All around me, the light green grass sways in the slight breeze that's picked up, the towering cedars that dot the land my parent's own casting large shadows on the perfectly manicured lawn.

I shift my car into park, right up next to Alice's bright yellow Porsche I bought her not too long ago, across from Rosalie's bright red convertible which is parked next to Carlisle's Mercedes Jasper bought him for Christmas last year.

"Edward!" I hear someone shout as I step out of my car, I shut the door and turn to see Alice running towards me, her arms spread wide. I grin at her as she jumps into my arms, giving my a tight squeeze. "Oh Edward!" She gushes "I missed you!"

"Hey Alice," I laugh, spinning her around a few times before letting her drop to my feet. "How're things? It's been too long."

"Oh, it has dear brother of mine, it has," Alice sighs unhappily before tugging on my arm. "Come inside, Mom's been waiting for you all day!"

It's been awhile since I saw my family, a few good, long months to be exact. I squeeze Alice's hand as she takes mine in her tiny one, and she casts me a smile. Most twins never really get along, it seems, but I know I couldn't make do without Alice.

She's the same way, too.

"Edward's here!" Alice cries as we head inside, walking into the first floor living space.

When we were little kids, Carlisle and Esme knocked out most of the walls on this floor and made it our playroom, turning us loose in here when they were tired and we were bouncing with energy.

Many games of tag and hide-n-go seek were played down here, memories are held here like captured ghosts, wandering the halls, waiting for someone to recognize them.

I hear someone call my name, but I'm lost in the past.

I can see little Alice playing with her dolls in the far corner, tears budding in her eyes because she had no sister to play with herself. I always had Emmett to wrestle and mess around with, but Alice's was Carlisle's only baby girl. She's combing the small doll's head full of bright red hair, I remember coloring on it when I was seven, making it blue.

That day Alice burst into tears and I've never felt so awful in my entire life since.

I can see Emmett and I in the center of the room, playing with little toy cars and trucks we crash into one another.

Esme and Carlisle are reading in a corner, talking quietly over top of Emmett's loud sound effects.

Then the scene shifts, instead I can see 10 year old Alice giggling with Rosalie, twirling her hair and designing clothing together. Jasper has also joined the bunch, and Emmett, and I are sitting on the floor with him, playing rock-paper-scissors and thumb war.

Mr and Mrs.Hale are at the door, gazing fondly at all of us while talking with Carlisle and Esme.

And, once again, I'm seeing something else.

Emmett, Jasper, and I are all standing in the center of the room, Carlisle snickering in the background, Esme and my sister and her best friend no where to be found.

"Alice, Rose!" I shout "We're going to be late!"

I smile to myself, that night was Prom night, and while it was one of the worst of my life, I can look back on it now and laugh. That was the night Jasper first kissed Alice, the night Emmett officially asked Rosalie out, and that was the day I realized I was going to be sort of a fifth wheel, and I realized I didn't mind.

While I wanted a family at some point, for now I was content in myself.

"Edward?" Someone yells, and I blink, popping back into reality.

"Yeah?" I answer, slightly dazed.

"Ah, took a stroll down memory lane. Did the same thing when I arrived." Emmett says, walking forward to give me a one armed hug, his baby girl Vera in his arms.

Vera lets out an excited squeal when we pull away, beaming happily at me, reaching her arms out and opening and closing her fingers around her chubby palms.

"Hey there!" I whisper shout "How's my favorite niece doing?"

Vera lets out a long stream of baby talk, babbling some sort of nonsense I pretend to understand, nodding my head every once in awhile, Esme coming forward to also give me a hug.

"Hey Mom," I murmur as Vera keeps babbling, Emmett taking her over to Rosalie who's holding a baby bottle full of baby formula, I suspect.

"Edward," Esme croons, her eyes full of happiness.

It was so easy to please my Mom, and it always was a pleasure doing so.

I hear someone gasp, I turn to see Vera's arms crossed and a scowl on her pretty face. Her dark curly hair that she got from her father is brushing in front of her face, and she's switching from glaring at it to glaring at her mother who's holding her formula.

"Vera!" Rosalie snaps "You need to eat!"

Vera, apparently, is having none of it and humphs, turning her head away from Rosalie, letting out a small flow of babbling words before falling silent.

"Maybe I should try?" Emmett offers only to be rejected by Vera as well. Her gaze falls on me once again, and she begins pointing at me impatiently.

"You want him to feed you?" Rose asks, cocking her head to the side in confusion. Vera nods, clapping her hands together happily, a smile returning to her flushed cheeks. "Will you?" Rose looks up at me.

I shrug, nodding my head and walking over to my little niece.

"Why are you being difficult?" I inquire, sitting next to her on the floor, Rose handing me her formula. The bottle was warm, and I carefully cradle Vera in my arms, her deep blue eyes gazing into my green ones.

She shrugs before taking the bottle from me and begins eating, slurping happily as I rock her gently in my arms.

"Now, was that so hard?" I tell Vera, using a finger of mine to brush a curl away from her face. She blinks and continues eating, someone - I assume Alice - snapping pictures in the background.

I'm suddenly filled by desire, the craving of not only a companion, but a small child like this as well. I didn't want just to have little nieces and nephews, I wanted daughters and sons of my own.

And, of course, a wife as well.

I was contemplating in my mind, little children with copper colored hair and dark eyes dancing around my vision, as I rocked Vera as she ate. I wanted a family, sure, but I wouldn't drag them into the drama of show business, the chaos of reporters and paparazzi, I wanted to move someplace quiet where I could raise my children in peace.

To have a family, in peace.

I could see it, if I reached out I could touch it, almost taste it. There was a white house, much like Carlisle and Esme's, little children that had deep brown eyes I vaguely recognized with copper brown hair running around the front lawn, playing tag.

I saw myself chasing after them as a woman with dark hair hanging in front of her face sat on the porch, her stomach round like a basketball, a small child in her arms. Her skin was snow white, and I also felt the strange sense of familiarity I felt when I saw the children's dark eyes.

Did I already know this woman?

I walked over to her and kissed her cheek, she flushed before pressing a kiss to my temple, the baby in her arms cooing softly.

The small children run into a nearby forest, taking the vision with them as I feel someone begin to tap my cheek frantically.

"Yes, yes, what do you want?" I ask, sticking my tongue out at Vera. "You have my complete attention, I swear!"

I can hear Esme, Alice, Jasper, and Carlisle laughing along with Emmett and Rosalie as they move forward to sit down, Alice and Jasper cuddled together on the love seat while Esme, Carlisle, Emmett, and Rosalie make their way to the couch.

I'm still holding Vera in the floor, but she's finished her bottle so I hand her off to Rosalie.

She mumbles in protest, but as she clutches a strand of Rosalie's golden hair, she seems to calm down. I wave at her, and she beams back as Rose begins patting her back.

"I think you have an admirer," Jasper smiles. Vera giggles as everyone around the room laughs.

That's when I notice the ring on Alice's finger.

It's simple, a gold band with a small diamond nestled in the middle, two emeralds the size of snowflakes hugging it's sides.

But I know it wasn't there last time I saw her.

Alice notices my staring, and puts a finger to her lips.

Not yet, her eyes say. Not yet.

I nod and pretend as if I didn't see it, Alice would reveal her secrets in due time.

But I had a sneaking suspicion this was the ring everyone had been waiting for.

I look over at Rosalie, who's handed Vera off to Emmett, and she's staring at Alice's finger as well. She turns to stare at me, cocking an eyebrow.

I put a finger to my lips and she nods, but smiles slyly at me.

We both know what this means.

The hours tick by, we all laugh as Vera tries to comb Rosalie's hair - but is unsuccessful. Reminisce of all the good memories in this house, and of course, Esme made everyone dinner.

So, here we are, all gathered around the dinner table, laughing and eating.

Alice sends Jasper a glance that'a made to be slick, but both Rosalie and I picked up on it instantly, we had been watching the happy couple all day.

"Uh, Esme? Carlisle?" Jasper calls across the table, both Carlisle and Esme snap their heads in his direction.

"Yes?" They both say.

"We have some news." Alice murmurs before placing her hand on the table, ring face up. "We're getting married!"

Esme and Rosalie both start squealing and clapping, while my father and brother grin at Jasper. I clap his back and he shoots me a nervous smile.

"Finally manned up, did you?" Emmett teases while Vera covers her ears.

"It's about time." I tell him honestly "I was getting worried."

"You sound like a woman." Jasper snaps, though he's smiling.

"Oh!" Rosalie exclaims, slamming her hand down on the table. Everyone turns, looking confused. "Did you tell her yet?" 

Jasper shakes his head no.

"Why not? She's your cousin!" Rosalie gripes. "Here, I'll go get my laptop and you can Skype her."

"Doesn't she have painters coming today?" Jasper protests to Rosalie's retreating back. She waves her hand dramatically before returning with her silver laptop.

"Yes, I guess so, but she'll answer when she sees it's me." Rosalie smirks confidently.

"Wait," Alice's hands fly up like she's stopping traffic. "Who?"

"My cousin, who lives in Forks, doesn't know yet." Rosalie says, eyeing Jasper. "I wanted to call her, and he's stalling."

"How come you never told me you had a cousin?" Alice inquires. 

Jasper just looks at the table. "I was embarrassed," He finally mumbles as Rosalie frantically boots her laptop up, muttering to herself.

"Why?" Alice rubs his arm comfortingly "I'm sure she's amazing, she's related to you after all." She smiles, and Jasper looks up to give her a timid smile of his own. 

Suddenly, the room fills with noise coming from Rosalie's laptop.

"Bella Ballerina?" Rosalie calls, tapping the glass as someone screams on the other end of the line.

"Rosie!" A familiar voice squeaks "Gimme a sec, alright? Wait! Stop! Stop! That's my father's--!" Bella Ballerina is screeching on the top of her lungs when the line disconnects.

That's when I piece it together.

"She's your cousin?" I gasp, staring at Rosalie in disbelief. "Seriously? And you never told me?!"

"Well, when her mama married my uncle, she became my step-cousin. We didn't really meet until a few years ago, so we never really knew--"

"I don't understand." Alice frowns "Who are we talking about?"

But before I can explain, Rosalie's laptop starts ringing.

Bella Ballerina would like to Skype! It cheers.

Rosalie accepts the call, turning the monitor around to face the rest of us.

Bella Swan's face fills the screen as she frowns in confusion.

"Rosalie? Did Vera call me on accident again?" She ponders before her eyes settle on me. "Edward!" She calls happily. "You know Rosebud? Oh, hey Jazzy! Is this that girl you were telling me about? She's pretty!"

Alice flushes before giving Bella her best megawatt smile.

"I'm Alice Cullen, Jasper's fiancee." She says "You're Bella?"

"Yup." Bella says, nodding before breaking into a grin. "Finally manned up, did you Jazz? Took you long enough."

"I know, right?" Alice gasps "I was wondering if he was going to do it at all!"

"Tell me about it! I mean, I've never met you - but I have met your brother - and I was waiting and waiting and waiting, I was sure Vera was going to be talking by the time it even crossed his mind!" Bella cries out 

"Alright!" Jasper snaps, though he's smiling "Enough, okay?"

"Fine Jazz, whatever you say." Bella sighs. "Can I see my baby girl now?"

"Of course," Rosalie smiles before turning her laptop around so the camera is facing little Vera who's yanking on Emmett's hair.

"Vera!" Bella squeals "Hey, baby girl!"

Vera grins, tapping the screen merrily before she begins babbling all over again.

"She's quite the talker." Bella says after a few minutes of Vera's constant stream of chatter. "Has she taken a breath yet?"

Everyone laughs as Vera stops talking to look at us in confusion. She shrugs, then continues talking to Bella, who's disappeared from sight.

"Bella?" I call after hearing a sickening crash. "Bella are you alright?"

"Yeah!" She yells, reappearing with Pringles in her hand. "Sorry, I've got painters over. They're breaking everything."

I snort while Jasper laughs "All that stuff was centuries old, anyway." He says, holding back his laughter.

Bella rolls her eyes "Whatever, Jazz. It's not like you're in love with the Civil War or anything..."

Jasper's laughter abruptly stops at the mention of the Civil War, his second woman, as Emmett and I call it.

"Shut up," He turns bright red, embarrassed.

"Yeah, anyway, Rosebud?"

"Yeah, Bella Ballerina?"

"I gotta go, I have to help paint. See y'all around?" Bella waves at the camera before hanging up.

We all stare at one another in silence.

"Was that Bella Swan?" Esme asks, Carlisle furrowing his brows in confusion. 

"I think so," He tells her.