Chapter Three

Jasper

Bella was tense again by the time Emmett got back with Esme and Carlisle, Kerri had refused to go with him and I thought he might be in the doghouse for some time over this which I guess served him right. I went to meet our guests at the door giving Bella time to compose herself and wondering what their reaction would be once they discovered her condition. Esme was all smiles and Carlisle seemed relaxed so I guessed Emmett hadn't told them how unwelcome they were and I tried my best to put on a show of being cordial, I didn't want them thinking we didn't want them around any longer especially as I might need to call on his skills before this was over.

"Carlisle, Esme, welcome, we hadn't expected to see you so soon."

"I just couldn't wait any longer Jasper, I've been so worried about Bella after what happened to the poor girl. I hope this isn't an inconvenient time but as Kerri and Emmett were already here I didn't think you'd mind if we visited too."

Carlisle wasn't paying any attention, he had his head cocked to one side listening and I knew he heard the baby's heartbeat although he couldn't know what it meant.

"Do you have other guests?"

I shook my head,

"No, you'd better come through, we have some news for you both."

Esme looked intrigued as she went inside but Carlisle hesitated, frowning,

"Jasper?"

Then he heard Esme's delighted squeal,

"Oh, Bella!"

I knew in Esme's mind a baby in the family would make her world complete but would she overpower Bella with her maternal instinct?

Carlisle

When I walked into the sitting room I saw the girls sitting either side of a very heavily pregnant Bella and I couldn't help a rueful smile.

"Well Bella, it would appear I missed the fact you were carrying twins, I apologize for that slip, it was remiss of me not to check more thoroughly. How are you feeling?"

She smiled at me but it was a little wary,

"We're fine Carlisle, thank you. I think Daddy is a lot more worried than me."

She smiled affectionately at Jasper and put a hand protectively on her extremely swollen belly.

"It's certainly happening very quickly, have you had any problems so far?"

"Not really, not once we worked out that the little one needed blood to feed on."

I looked at her horrified,

"You've been drinking blood?"

"Yes, it will help me when I turn, now I know how animal blood tastes."

I was frankly stunned,

"It seems you've coped well enough on your own, but animal blood? I would have thought human blood would have been better."

Bella shook her head and looked at Jasper with such love in her eyes.

"No Carlisle, I couldn't do that to Jasper again. Anyway, our little one is going to be a vegetarian too so it's a good start for both of us."

Kerri moved up so Jasper could sit beside Bella and he placed his hand over hers on her belly quite unconsciously and I relaxed a little. It seemed the two of them were comfortable with this turn of events but I wished I felt as easy about it. Being a doctor I knew of all the pit falls there could be with a normal human pregnancy and this was anything but normal.

Esme

I was both shocked and delighted when I saw Bella's condition but I wondered why they hadn't told us, after all, I had experience with child birth and surely she wasn't going to attempt this all by herself, it would be crazy not to accept help from Carlisle and myself. Having seen her devastation at losing her baby and understanding it only too well, it seemed she'd been given a second chance and I was so happy for her. I just hoped it would have a happy conclusion although I still found it difficult to visualize Jasper as a father. He was too much the fighter for me to see him with a tiny baby in his arms. Still, Bella had changed him in so many ways that it seemed nothing was beyond the realm of possibilities.

From the way they talked I got the impression that Kerri had known about the second baby before she and Emmett came to visit and that annoyed me, as Jasper's "mother" I felt I should have been told before anyone else, especially an outsider like Emmett's fiancée but then Bella never had followed the niceties of etiquette. Still, I was here now and I was sure we would remain until the baby was safely delivered, it just meant Carlisle getting a leave of absence from the hospital.

Jasper

I was impressed with the way Bella refused to let Carlisle take control of the situation. When he offered to examine her and check everything was as it should be she refused very politely telling him she was convinced everything was OK and that she would know if not and only then would she ask for his help. When Esme pointed out that she was the only one present with any experience of child birth Bella explained calmly that women had given birth for centuries without the help of a doctor and she intended this birth to be as natural as possible.

"Besides, I have Kerri here to hold my hand and say encouraging words without any fear of her wanting to drink my blood when she smells it."

Esme was less than happy with these explanations but this was Bella's show, she was calling all the shots, and when Carlisle tried to tell me I should insist on his help with the delivery as this was such uncharted territory I pointed out as much.

When it became apparent that Esme and Carlisle were in no hurry to leave Bella simply treated them as guests and spent her time sleeping and learning to knit, a hidden talent of Kerri's which soothed her while giving the rest of us a chance to laugh. Bella's first attempt at a jumper for the baby would have been OK if there was an octopus on the way, it had so many holes in it!

Bella

The baby was getting very restless and I knew it wouldn't be much longer, I was so big a beached whale would have looked like a super model next to me! That didn't worry me so much as the fact that two weeks after arriving the Cullens showed no indication that they were ready to leave. Carlisle and Esme were determined to stay for the birth and although I didn't want that I couldn't say anything in case things did go wrong and I needed Carlisle's professional help.

He offered to set up a room for the delivery and as it kept him out of my way I agreed but getting rid of Esme so I could relax proved to be more difficult until Kerri took over and had Esme go shopping for baby things,

"You don't have to use them if you don't like them, I just thought it would keep her out of your hair for a few hours."

I could have kissed her and agreed eagerly, besides I hadn't had much time to prepare for baby, I'd been too sick at first and then too large.

Kerri had decided that as she knew absolutely nothing about babies or giving birth she would do some research on the internet. As she told me,

"The last thing I want is to stand like a clueless dummy beside Carlisle and Esme, besides you're counting on me to watch over things and I take that really seriously."

We had both warned Emmett what she was doing but he couldn't resist taking a peek over her shoulder.

"Hey that's gross, it's like a horror movie. You warn me before you get to that bit Bella, I want to be long gone."

Kerri looked at him and sighed,

"Emmett go play with a Grizzly or something."

He looked hurt, so she kissed him and pushed him out the door as I watched laughing,

"You and Emmett are good together Kerri, I'm really happy for you. When's the great day?"

She shrugged,

"We have to wait for Baby Whitlock's arrival, after all, we can't have a wedding without the guest of honor, now can we?"

Everyone was so excited about the baby and it was fun to watch their goofy grins every time the little one was mentioned, the only exception being Carlisle who looked constantly serious and slightly worried. Anyone would think I was the first girl to give birth and the fact this baby was going to be a hybrid made no difference. Sure it was growing a lot quicker than a human baby and needed blood to survive but it was still at least half human, half me, and everything was going to be just fine. I failed to understand why he didn't see things in the same way, especially as his concern was beginning to affect Jazz although he tried really hard not to show it.

Jazz and I had put our own wedding on hold as I was growing so fast and decided it would happen once our little family was complete which I hoped would be soon. I was so big it was uncomfortable, I struggled to breathe properly and the weight was pressing on all my internal organs and making them work harder than normal, especially my bladder, I seemed to spend half my waking hours in the bathroom these days. Luckily we had worked out that baby was growing about three times as quickly as a human one and as we could pretty much nail the date of conception we knew our little bundle of joy should be here soon and my discomfort would be over.

Jasper

I had gone outside for a few minutes while Bella slept when I saw a car approaching, no, not a car, a van, sign written with the name of a florist shop. Who the hell would be sending flowers? No one apart from those already here knew about Bella's condition unless of course they were from Peter and Charlotte but it seemed out of character, besides they would have warned me when I spoke to them yesterday. As soon as they knew Carlisle and Esme had arrived they extended their vacation which was probably just as well, the thought of Carlisle, Esme, and Peter in the same house for days on end was enough to give me nightmares!

The van came to a stop and a guy got out with a clipboard in his hand looking around.

"Are you sure you're at the right address?"

He looked at his clipboard,

"Is this the Whitlock ranch?"

I nodded and saw, from the corner of my eye Bella standing in the doorway flanked by Kerri and Esme, she'd obviously woken up and missed me.

"Yes, that's right."

He looked from me to the others and nodded,

"OK, then this is the right address. Can you sign for the delivery?"

He held out a pen to me which I was reluctant to take, although I didn't know why. I scrawled a signature and in return, he opened the back of the van and pulled out a huge spray of flowers with a ribbon wrapped around it.

Bella

I woke up missing Jasper, I always knew when he wasn't beside me, the baby was more restless and I felt lonely. We heard a car coming down the long driveway and I asked Kerri to help me to the door, some fresh air would be lovely, and my legs were so stiff from sitting that I thought they might refuse to work altogether if I didn't use them soon. Of course, Esme jumped up to offer me her arm too and not wanting to cause ill feeling I took it. As we watched the van, a flower delivery service pulled up and the driver spoke to Jazz who signed for a delivery. The flower spray was huge but all in whites and blues, not a pretty bouquet for a celebration so what was it? And who was it from?

I looked at Esme who shrugged, then back at Jasper who was carrying the huge spray, so large he was almost hidden behind it, up the steps to hand me a card that had been attached. On the front was written my name, or what would be my name soon, Mrs. Isabella Whitlock. I opened the envelope which hadn't been stuck down and took out the card inside. On the front was written 'With Sympathy' in large black letters and I felt the blood drain from my face as I turned it over. On the back was written just one word, 'Alice'. The card fluttered to the ground from my numb fingers and I staggered back.

"Jazz."

I called his name as the day went suddenly dark and there was a terrible pain in my back.

Jasper

I felt Bella's horror before I heard her call my name and put my arms out to catch her as her legs crumpled picking her up and carrying her into the house to lay her gently on the couch. I saw Esme pick up the card and look at it, hissing between her teeth before laying it in my outstretched hand.

When I saw the words I knew what they must have meant to Bella.

"Fucking bitch"

I tore the card in two and threw it to the floor before kneeling beside Bella feeling her pain.

"Carlisle"

I shouted for him while trying to calm my Bella as her body moved as if the baby were trying to fight its way out through her belly.

"CARLISLE."

I shouted louder more panicked and he put his arm on my shoulder.

"I'm here Jasper, carry her upstairs, I think the baby is coming now."

As I carried her up I heard Esme telling him about Alice's message and Kerri read the card to Emmett who cursed under his breath. Alice had just made herself some more deadly enemies and once I knew Bella and our baby were both safe I knew I would have company to hunt her down and end her once and for all. What worried me about this was had she sent the message because she'd seen something? Or was it just one of her vindictive practical joke?