Darling ? Jasper Hale

9

"Mom!" Hayley scolded.

Ellen chuckled as she grabbed Jasper's extended hand and shook it. "Just call me Ellen," she told him. "So, where are you taking my daughter?"

"My family and I are going to play baseball," Jasper told her.

"Cause of the thunder, right?" Ellen asked with a smirk and Jasper nodded his head. "Well, did Hayley ever tell you how she used to play softball when she was young?"

"Mom!" Hayley scolded, again.

Jasper looked at Hayley with a smirk. "No she did not," he told Ellen.

"She was the best hitter on the team," Ellen boasted proudly.

"Well, we'll have to see if she still is," Jasper said, challenging Hayley.

Hayley tilted her head to the side. "Challenge accepted," she said.

Ellen laughed at the young couple in front of her. "You kids have fun and be careful," she told them.

Hayley smiled at her mom. "Always," she assured. "I love you, momma."

"Wait," Ellen said, causing Hayley to frown.

"I'll wait for you in the car," Jasper whispered to her before leaving.

"What?" Hayley asked her mom.

The older Kenner woman sighed. "Do you still have that stake I gave you?" She asked.

"Mom!" Hayley gasped.

"It's for precautions, Hayley. You need to be ready for anything," Ellen said.

Hayley nodded her head and quickly went to grab her stake. "I'll be careful," she said.

Ellen smiled. "I know," she said.

*

After leaving the Kenner household, Jasper had to pick up Edward and Bella. Jasper didn't want to because he wanted to spend time with Hayley, but he didn't have a choice since Edward's volvo can't handle driving through the woods.

It didn't take long to drive through the forest, especially since Jasper drives like a madman. When the two couples arrived at the field, the rest of the Cullens were waiting for them.

"Since when do vampires like baseball?" Bella asked Edward as he placed a hat on her head.

"Well, it's the American pastime and there's a thunderstorm coming," Edward explained, fixing his girlfriend's hair. "It's the only time we can play."

"You'll see why," Jasper said with a smirk as he wrapped his arm around Hayley's waist.

The couples walked away from the jeep and over to the Cullens. Rosalie and Emmett were play fighting over the bat while Carlisle practiced his swings. Esme smiled at the girls as she walked over to the two, placing her arms around them.

"I'm glad you're both here," Esme said. "We need an umpire."

"She thinks we cheat," Emmett said.

"I believe it," Hayley said and Emmett playfully glared at her.

"I know you cheat," Esme told him before turning to the girls. "Call them as you see them, girls."

"Okay," Bella said with a smile.

Rosalie was the first up to bat. She stepped up to the plate and took a few practice swings while she waited for the storm. The first crack of thunder made Alice smirk as she announced the game was beginning.