Ghosts of My Past Chapter 7!

APOV

The kids were all set up in the main hall watching Up! on the big screen. It was so awesome to watch Masen interacting with all of our kids. Truth be told, I never expected this to happen. I, Alice Brandon Whitlock, had given up hope of ever seeing Bella again. When she was declared dead, it was like the last nail in her coffin.

To see her again, to see the pain in her eyes... I wanted to kick Edward's ass again. I understand his reasoning... not that I agreed, but I saw where he came from. After all, it was Edward, king of over-reactions.

Masen was truly Edward's mini-me. So many of his mannerisms were pure Edward. He had a lot of Bella's attributes too, especially her heart. He was such a kind hearted kid. Cullen, Charlie and EmJ were so rough and tumble, they often forgot about Izzy, yet Masen made sure she was included.

They had so much fun playing on the pirate ship. Even our big boys had fun with that. Rosalie swore that both Jasper and Emmett were going to be sore from all their pirate adventures. The younger kids, climbed and slid and, of course, walked the plank. Izzy was too afraid to try it at first. She watched the boys but every time she walked to the end of the plank, she turned around and walked back. Charlie, EmJ and Cullen all found it funny and laughed, much to Isabelle's chagrin, and Jasper and Emmett tried to help her, all to no avail, until Masen got involved. He told her that he had been scared the first time too and that his mom had held his hand and jumped with him. After that he was fine.

The smile on her face was brilliant as she hugged him. Rose and I were both expecting her to come and ask Rose to jump with her, but Izzy surprised us and asked Masen if he would hold her hand. He did, and after the first jump Izzy was hooked, climbing and jumping again and again, though she still preferred to jump with Masen.

The kids were thoroughly impressed with the fire pit and watching their dinner cook. Once dinner was cooked they each ran off to get into jammies so they could watch the movie. The boys were all anxious to sit next to Masen. They thought that he was cool because he was older. I was certain that Charlie would have some issues as they usually fawned over him, but he was right in there.

“Can I sit with you in the movie?” Izzy asked him, batting her little almost four year old eyelashes at him.

“Charlie and EmJ already asked, Izzy,” Masen said.

Her little lip started to quiver and I could see the tears in her eyes. So could Masen obviously.

“You could sit on my lap though,” he added quickly.

Her answering smile was brilliant.

“You are in so much trouble,” I whispered to Rose as Izzy came up to her.

“Mommy,” Izzy interrupted. “I need my hair in piggy tails.”

“Why, princess?” Rose asked, knowing that Izzy always liked her hair down at night.

“Cuz, Masen said my piggy tails were pretty,” she said seriously.

Emmett overheard this and rolled his eyes. Rose laughed and did Izzy's hair as she had requested. They boys had hurriedly pulled out a huge beanbag chair, getting ready for the movie. The thing was big enough for Emmett to lie down on comfortably so I knew all five kids would be fine.

Masen climbed into the very middle and EmJ and Charlie climbed next to him on each side. Cullen climbed up next to Charlie and Izzy ran to join them. Masen opened his legs so Izzy could sit with him. It was so cute I needed to snap a few pictures of the whole gang.

This, of course, caused me to tear up. All of our kids were together.

“The boy better not get any ideas about my little girl,” Emmett growled.

Rose slapped the back of his head.

“Why do you have to sexualize everything?” she asked. “Honestly, Em. She likes him and he treats her so sweetly and you have to be a giant prick.”

“Sorry, Babe,” he said. “She's my baby girl and I need to keep all the boys away from her.”

“Em,” she said. “Wait until she's a teenager until you freak please.”

“I'll try,” he said, kissing her cheek.

We started the movie and handed out the snacks. They all lasted about twenty minutes before they were fast asleep.