Chapter Three: Secret Sons

Ages-
James Morgan: 4
Bella Cullen: 3
Edward Hale: 2
Emmett Cullen: 2
Jasper Hale: 1
Alice Cullen: 10 months
Rosalie Hale: 6 months

Carlisle:

"Close your eyes and make a wish Em!"

I wrapped my arm around my wife's lower waist as Emmett did as he was told. His eyes quickly shut as his lips rapidly moved. Once his eyes opened, he huffed in a gasp of air before blowing it out over the two candles perched up in his chocolate Spiderman cake.

Esme stooped low beside our son, "Once you eat your cake, you can go play with your toys!" Emmett's dimpled smile grew wide as he scarfed down his cake.
"Hey buddy, slow down. You don't want to choke…and your presents aren't going anywhere." I pat his back as he dropped his fork to chew slowly.

Esme passed out more slices of the cake as Timothy nodded his head towards the house. I backed away from the Spiderman themed party and walked past my dad, Charles, as he bounced my ten month old daughter on his knee. She giggled goofily as he protectively held onto her small stomach.

I entered through the backdoor, "What's up?"
"I need some advice."

I nodded my head and led him into the living room. Whatever was up with Timothy, he didn't want Chris and Esme overhearing. Even though they were outside, in the back yard on this windy and breezy January afternoon, being away from their line of vision could assure us that neither of them could hear what was about to be discussed.

Timothy took a seat in the center of the couch, "Olivia keeps calling me."
"About what? Is the boys okay?"
Timothy nodded slowly, "Kind of."

Before Timothy and Christina got together, he dated Olivia and the couple had two sons together; Patrick and Jared Hale. I've been good friends with Timothy since high school. We both grew up in a small town in Oregon. During college, he met Olivia. Now their eldest son Patrick is seven and their youngest Jared is six. And she and her two sons remain in Oregon with her family.

Since he met Christina, he's stop seeing Olivia romantically. The only time he sees her is when he visits his children. Although this may seem like a picture perfect life, it's far from it, especially since Christina knows nothing about them.
"What's the problem?"
"Patrick's surgery is today." Timothy covered his face with his hands. He glanced up to meet my eyes, "I promised him I would be there when he wakes up."
"You should tell Christina."
"No!" he shook his head. "I can't! We've been married for a while, I can't tell her now!"

I walked over and took a seat next to Timothy, "Your son is getting major surgery. You have to be there for him…and Olivia."
"If Christina finds out, she'll never forgive me." He responded, rising from his seat, "Esme will never forgive you either if she knows that you knew."

I knew Timothy for years. I know he would never forgive himself if Patrick wakes from his surgery and sees his father isn't there. Tim had to go. He needed to be there for his son.
"I have an idea."

I opened the back door, and stepped out with Timothy following closely behind, "Babe!"
"My kids have the coolest mom!" she exclaimed, rushing over to me.

Esme's face was flushed red. She glanced over her shoulder as the kids raced around the backyard. Although it was a little chilly outside the little ones running around kept them warm.

Esme grabbed my hand, and pulled me to take a seat, "You know toddlers have four rules. If I like it, it's mine. If it's in my hand, it's mine. If it looks like mine, it's mine. If I think it's mine, it's mine." I smiled in return as she pecked my cheek.

"I have to go to the hospital."

Esme's smile dropped from her face. She backed away and glanced around. Emmett was occupied with his new toys. Bella was hitting Edward. My mother, Carly, continually tried to separate Bella and Edward. Christina struggled to soothe her six month old daughter as her first set of teeth started coming in. Esme's mother, Helen, tickled Jasper until he was tomato red in the face. And Esme's father, David, and Christina's son James chased our little tumbler around the backyard. Two days ago, Alice started walking. Although she hasn't grasped the idea of not falling after every few steps, soon she'll get the hang of it.
"It's Emmett's second birthday." Esme reminded, crossing her arms, "We're making memories Carlisle. Your father is taking pictures of all of us having fun."

I rose from my seat, "Timothy and I have a friend who's undergoing major surgery. We need to see him."
"Do I know him?"
"No."
"Send whoever it is my best."

I pulled my wife in my arms, "Tell Emmett I'll make it up to him. I promise." I inhaled the sweet pea smell of her body lotion before pecking her cheek. I glanced over her shoulder to see Timothy talking to Christina. She seemed just as upset about it as Esme was.
"Tim, are you ready?"
Timothy nodded.

His hand set against my shoulder, "Thank you Carlisle. You don't know how much this means to me."
"I haven't seen Olivia and the boys in years. It's about time I did."

We hopped into the car, and buckled our seat belts before hitting the road for our hour long road trip to Oregon.

Christina:

"I didn't get to say goodbye to Carly and Charles. Wish them goodbye for me. I hope their flight back to San Diego is quick and safe." I held my fussy baby in my arms as Esme walked me to the car. She held Edward's hand and Jasper's car seat. James happened to already be waiting at the car. He was always in a rush to get home. For what? I have no idea.

"Baby on Board" Esme read the bumper sticker attached to the back of my truck.

I leaned into the car as I strapped Rosalie's car seat up, "It says Baby on Board, which means if you rear end my car," I closed the car door, and walked around to the other side, "I will not only drag you out of your car, but I will gladly go to jail for beating your ass."

"I don't think that's implied!"

"Buckle up James! Esme strap Edward in his booster seat please." I turned to face Jasper, and buckled his car seat up, "Besides, it should be. Why else would the bumper sticker be made?"

Esme rustled up Edward's hair before shutting the back door, "I don't know…maybe to advise people to drive carefully when approaching your vehicle."
"Exactly!" I applauded, opening the driver's side door, "And if they don't…you want to fill in the blank here?"

Esme threw her hands into the air, "I get it. I get it!"

I started up my car and rolled down the window as Esme approached my side of the automobile. She leaned in and smiled at the backseat, "You know I have a few tips for teething babies."

"I'm not a new mother Esme." I shook my head.
"You are to a baby girl." She corrected, pouting her face as Rosalie's wails filled the spacious truck, "I keep telling you, boys and girls are completely different. And I just want to help; it pains me to constantly hear that painful cry."

"Fine." I rolled my eyes while buckling my seat belt.

"I know you probably already tried the teething ring," I nodded in agreement, "it didn't work for Alice either. Maybe get a cold and damp washcloth and use it to gently massage her gums." Esme's eyes rolled to the back of her head as she continued to think, "Or you can use your finger to rub her gums. And if all else fails, I'm sure some over the counter medicine can do the trick!"

"I'm not giving my six month old baby drugs."

"It worked for Alice."

"Alice and Rosalie are two different babies." I glanced to the back seat after hearing Rose's cries die down. She was still whining and her face remained red, but she wasn't hollering and wailing as if someone was killing her.

"Mommy," James reached for his sister's hand, "what's wrong with her? Why is she sad?"
"Well, when you're born, you don't have any teeth and eventually they're going to have to grow in. And when they grow in, they sometimes hurt."

"Is hers growing in?"

"Yes."

James leaned over and pecked his sister's tear-stained face. Esme covered her heart with her hands and smiled at me, "Drive safe. Call me when you get home. Love you."

"Love you too." I saluted towards her before rolling up my window.

I backed out of the drive way, and grinned at the fussy baby. Her cries grew louder and louder, causing me to pull over to the side of the road.
"Edward pass James your sister's baby bag." I directed, grinning as I saw Edward struggle with lifting the bag, "It's heavy!"

James took the bag, "No it's not!"
"Okay," I looked further back as James opened the bag, "give Bunny her teething ring."

I waited patiently as James searched throughout the pink diaper bag for Rosalie's teething ring. Even though it didn't work as good as I wanted it to, she needed something to hold her over until we get home.

Her loud cries quieted down as I pulled back onto the road. She was soothed for the time being.
"Mommy," Edward called out, squirming in his booster seat, "where's daddy?"

"Daddy and Uncle Carlisle went to visit a friend at a hospital in Oregon."

"Where's Oregon?" Jacob asked, swinging his legs back and forth.

I pressed down gently on the brake as I approached a red light, "Oregon is south of Washington."

"Where is Washington?"

"We're in Washington. It's in the north-west region of the United States." I glanced through the rear-view mirror. James was invested in the questions he's asking, and the answers I'm providing. His eyes grew wide as he used his small hand to push his shady blonde hair from his forehead.

"What is the United States?"

I tapped my nails along the leather of the steering wheel, "The U.S. is a country in North America." I eased off of the brake, and drove through the green light.

"What's North America?"

"North America is a continent."

"What is a continent?"

After approaching a stop sign, I turned to face him, "Rascal," he looked up through his shaggy hair and smiled, "how about we take a break from the questions?"

James nodded his head, and lay back in his seat. His brown eyes stared out of the window as we entered the street our house was located on.

James unbuckled his seat belt, "Can I carry Jasper into the house?"

"How about you hold his hand? He can walk." I replied, unbuckling myself. I hopped out and opened the back door for James to get out, "It's bath, pajamas and then bed."

After helping Edward and Jasper out of the car, I jogged towards the other side to unstrap my youngest. I leaned into the car, as I fumbled with the belts going across her small stomach. Her green eyes looked into mine, as she contemplated what exactly I was doing.

She dropped her toy and as a result her bottom lip quivered, "I…got…it." Jasper mumbled, slowly picking the teething ring back up, "Here." He held it out to Rose, but I grabbed it before she could.

"Come to mama." I extended my hands, and in return Rose leaned towards them. I scooped her into my arms, and placed her against my hip, "Let's get you inside and do something about those gums."

James walked in front of me, holding both Edward and Jasper's hands. I knew if my little rascal wasn't holding his brothers' hands, he would already be at the front door, bouncing up and down impatiently waiting for me to open it.

Once the front door opened, James ditched his brothers' hands and raced into the house.
"Bath time James!" I scooped Jasper up into my other arm, "You too Edward."

James came back into the room, and grabbed Edward's hand, "We can play ships in the tub."
"I'll be in there soon. You can start the water and get in." he nodded as he pulled his brother towards the stairs, "You and Edward sing your ABCs loud for me to hear while you're in the tub."

I usually have the oldest two take a bath together, and when I'm not in the bathroom with them, I'll have them either count numbers or sing their ABCs loud and clear, so I know everything is okay.

I headed up the stairs, and set Jasper down onto his feet, "James, bring four washcloths into the bathroom." He nodded his head before disappearing into the linen closet.

"Edward!" I looked around the upper level, while holding Rose against my waist.

"Ta da!" He jumped out of his bedroom, with his hands in the air, standing completely in the nude.

I smiled, "Bath tub." I followed him into the bathroom, while Jasper waddled behind me. He always preferred to walk, even though he wasn't as fast.

James was already in the tub, playing with his boats and singing the alphabet. Edward quickly hopped in when he saw his brother was having a good time.

Jasper pulled off his shirt when he noticed his brothers having a fun time in the bath tub. I stooped low, with Rose still on my hip and helped him remove the rest of his articles of clothing.
"Make room for your brother." I ordered, setting Jasper into the bath tub, "Let a little bit of that water out."

I grabbed the fourth wash cloth and wet it with cold water from the faucet. I pulled Rosalie off of my hip, and set her on the corner of the counter. My hands never left her body. She wasn't fully capable of holding herself up.

Her eyes gazed at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, "That's you bunny." I pressed the cold and damp washcloth against her raw gums as I watched her eyes remained glued to the mirror.

"I don't hear the alphabet!"

"But mom," James whined, sinking his boat into the water, "you're in the bathroom now!"

"ABCs."

James pouted his lips and began reciting them with Edward, while Jasper made little noises in his attempt to try and deliver the alphabet with them.

-Tiffany.