A/N – Second update done! Hope you enjoy :-)

Twelve

April (Part Two)

"You're pregnant?"

It's Rosalie who breaks the silence, as usual. We've all been frozen for the past five minutes, just staring at Kate in various states of incredulity. I don't think any of us were expecting that.

Kate nods, one fast jerk of her head. "Two months gone. I… I only found out a couple days ago, and then yesterday, I told Riley, and…"

"He fuckin' hit you." I pinch the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger in an effort to remain calm and not start smashing shit up. Anyone who hurts me and mine… well, I'm an easy-going guy, but I don't take shit like that. I may not be good with arguments and fancy words like Edward is, and I shut down when the people I care about yell at me, but mindless violence begets more violence, and I'm just itching to show that fuckin' bastard what true pain feels like.

But I figure that Katie doesn't really want to see any more violent outbursts from men, right now, so I suck it up and pull in a sharp breath.

"Hit her? Jay, he fuckin' beat her black and blue! I'm gonna kill that motherfuckin' son of a bitch!" Tanya hisses, leaping forward like an angry cat and proceeding to stalk her way back and forth across the room. Rosalie wraps her arms around herself, making her look real small, and makes her way over to the bed beside Kate. She rests her head on our big sister's shoulder, which makes Katie flinch instinctually before she leans into the contact.

Screw beating the shit outta this guy. I'm gonna fuckin' annihilate him.

"Is the baby okay?" Rose whispers. "I mean, did he hurt…"

Kate shakes her head. "No, that's why it took me a day to come home. I had to go to the hospital to get all checked out first…"

"And the doctors said the baby's fine?" Rose frets.

"Healthy as a horse, apparently. By some miracle."

"The Hales are fighters," Tanya murmurs, a small smile gracing her lips.

"In this case, they shouldn't fuckin' have to be!" I snarl. "Nobody shoulda fuckin' laid a fuckin' hand on you! I mean, fuck! Did no one ever teach that cunt not to hit a woman! And a pregnant woman, at that! Fuckin' motherfucker!"

"Jasper…" Rosalie warns quietly. She can see that I'm getting all worked up, and I know that all of my sisters are watching me with wide eyes. "Calm down…"

I'm too fuckin' angry to even pause for breath, though. "No, fuck that, Rosalie! No fucker hits my sister! No one!"

I stand up, aiming a kick at my dresser. It lands, and it bevels the wood.

"Jasper, stop," Tanya instructs, her voice firm. "Do you think Katie needs this right now?"

I force myself to look at my big sister, with her red-rimmed eyes and pleading, frightened expression, and I take a deep breath. "Katie, I'm sorry."

"S'okay," she murmurs. "I know you're just bein' protective."

The sound of the front door opening snaps us all to attention, followed by Mama's voice.

"Where is everyone? Jasper? Rosie? Tanya?"

"Upstairs," Tanya shouts, but then covers her mouth with her hand when Katie widens her eyes in alarm. There's the sound of two sets of footsteps on the stairs, and then Gramma's voice.

"Where the devil are y'all? Havin' a slumber party in Jasper's room?"

Kate cringes back into my pillows as my bedroom door opens, and first Gramma, then Mama, slides into the room.

There's the space of about five seconds where nobody speaks, and Mama and Gramma just survey the scene. Tanya pressed up against my closet, arms folded. Me with my hands white-knuckle gripping the dresser behind me and looking like I'm about to launch myself at something. Rosie holding Kate, who's trying desperately, and unsuccessfully, to shield her bruising from their scrutinizing gazes.

Then all hell breaks loose.

"What the fuck happened to my daughter?" Mama demands. It's a shock, because I don't think I've ever heard Mama drop the f-bomb before. She strides across the room, gently disentangling Rosalie from Kate, and pulls the latter to her chest. Katie buries her head in Mama's shoulder, this time, and I hear her muffled sobs starting up again.

"Katie, baby, don't cry," Mama soothes, looking round at the rest of us with a helpless, stricken expression. "Mama's here, sugar. It's all gonna be okay."

"Mama…" Rose whispers. "Mama, it's real bad."

"Tell me what happened." She glances between each of us. Rosie shakes her head, choking on a fresh bout of her own tears. I'm still too mad to use my voice properly, and lord knows Katie can't get a word out, so the burden falls to Tanya.

She is the oldest, after all.

"Katie's in trouble, Mama. She's… her boyfriend did that to her. The bruises, I mean. It was all cuz she told him that she's… pregnant."

"Pregnant?" Mama breathes. "Katie-Kat, are you pregnant?"

Unable to talk, Kate just nods.

"Oh my sweet, sweet Lord." Mama closes her eyes, buries her nose in Kate's hair, and resumes rocking her back and forth like she's still three years old and she's just had a nightmare.

Well… she's just lived a fuckin' nightmare, so I suppose that counts.

"Her boyfriend did this?" Mama asks Tanya.

"Yeah. He said somethin' about not wantin' the kid, and then said he was gonna get rid of it for her, because she wasn't gonna do it."

"Oh, baby!" Mama cries, hugging Katie to her tighter, as fresh tears spring up in her blue eyes.

"Motherfucker," Gramma growls, and I realize it's the first word she's said. "What kinda piece a fuckin' shit hits a pregnant woman?"

I can't help it, I see red again. Without even realizing I'm doing it, I fling myself across the room and sink one fist into the wall. My hand punches straight through the plasterboard, and pain shoots up my arm as every one of my knuckles splits open.

"Jasper!" Rosalie and Mama both cry.

"Let the boy hit the fuckin' wall if he wants," Gramma says. "Next time, I hope it's that cunt's face."

"Me fuckin' too," I hiss. Wrenching my hand out of the wall, I look down to see the blood swelling across my skin. It's strangely soothing, but I'm still too riled up. "I'm gonna break his fuckin' skull."

"Jasper Hale!" Mama gasps. "You take a walk right this second, ya hear me? I'm not havin' any of that ugly talk around my Katie when she's so upset. We're to be here for her, understand? Not actin' out and punchin' walls. Get outta this house until you can control yourself and be supportive, 'stead of smashin' up the place."

"Probably wise," Tanya mutters. "Here, take my car, if ya want. Go for a drive, clear your head."

She tosses me her keys. My hand fists around the metal, and I can see that my arms are trembling violently. "I don't wanna leave Katie."

"It's okay, Jay," Kate whispers. "Go cool down. I've got the girls. You ain't really up for conversation when you're this mad."

I can't argue with her logic, so I just nod my head and make my way towards the door, dripping blood onto my carpet as I go. I've got one foot on the staircase when Gramma comes out. I've never seen such single-minded ferocity in her blue eyes before.

"You listen ta me, Jasper Michael Hale," Gramma murmurs. "Don't you go gettin' yerself mixed up in any fights tonight. I know I'm yer Gramma, and I'm not s'posed ta say shit like this, but I want you ta keep yerself good and healthy so's you can track that little bastard down and show him what it means ta fuck with one a ours. I'd do it myself, but I'd go armed with a fuckin' shotgun, 'stead a just my fists, so you're probably a safer bet."

I just blink at her stupidly for a minute, before I'm overcome with one thought.

I would not wanna fuck with my Gramma.

When I get in the car, the only thing I can think about is how mad I am. Tanya's corvette is way nicer than Bessie, so I don't want to do any permanent damage to the thing by breaking off the steering wheel or anything. I need to get calm so that Mama will let me back in the house to be with Katie.

And, really, there's only one place that I can go.

Five minutes later, I pull up in the Cullens' driveway. I kill the engine and clamber out, taking the front steps two at a time. Tentatively, I knock on the door. I know it's past nine, and Maggie will be in bed, but it's an effort not to pummel the wood in my murderous rage.

A few moments later, the door opens, and I'm met with Esme's smiling face.

"Jasper! We didn't expect…" she trails off with one look at my expression. "Oh, sweetheart, what's the matter?"

I just shake my head, jaw tightly clenched. I can't say it. "Is Edward upstairs?"

"No, darling, he's in the front room with Carlisle. Are you okay?"

I shake my head again. "No, Esme, I'm not okay. I'm not okay at all. Somethin' happened tonight when I got home… I… I can't talk about it. I need to speak to Edward… I know it's real late…"

"Nonsense," she says quietly. "You're always welcome here, Jasper, whatever the time."

"Jazz?" Edward's voice rings out from behind his mother, and a second later, he appears in the doorway. He's wearing his gray sweats and a ratty old t-shirt, and his bronze hair is more rumpled up than ever, but he's the best thing I've ever seen, in this moment.

Edward's muscles are prevalent through his shirt, and he looks strong, and concerned. He could probably put up a fair fight if we were to exchange blows, but… he'd never have to. Because I would never, ever in a million years hurt one hair on his head. I love him too fuckin' much to ever even consider it.

Yet my sister's boyfriend hit her. Katie, who is smart, and sassy, but ultimately nowhere near as physically strong as a guy Edward's size.

And someone took advantage of that fact when he laid into her with his fists.

My poor, defenseless big sister… my poor, defenseless unborn niece or nephew…

"Jazz? My God, what happened?" Edward takes a step closer. He reaches out one hand to place it under my chin, to turn my face up to look at him. There's a sharp intake of breath at whatever he sees in my eyes.

His face swims before me, as the whole tangle of emotions just catches me up.

The next thing I know, I'm gathered up in his arms, while I break my heart against his broad shoulder, my tears soaking into his t-shirt as he holds me tightly against him.

He's whispering something in my ear, but I'm too overcome to even make sense of the words for a few minutes. When I eventually do, I realize that it's a simple litany, over and over again.

"I'm here," he whispers. "I've got you."

Neither of us moves for what feels like hours, until I don't think I physically can cry any more. When I eventually pull back, Edward's shirt is see-through. He brushes my hair away from my face with the hand that isn't still wrapped around my waist, molding his palm to my cheekbone. I lean into the comfort of his touch.

"What's going on, love?" he whispers. "You're scaring me…"

"Kate's pregnant," I murmur, "And… her bastard boyfriend beat the ever livin' daylights out of her tryin' to make sure she never had the baby."

Edward sucks in a breath, green eyes blazing like flames.

"Motherfucker!" That curse comes in a much higher voice than Edward's, and I didn't even see his lips move anyway. Confused, I turn, and that's when I notice that Esme's still standing there, one hand clasped to her chest and a look of total mama-bear rage on her face.

"Teddy, bring Jasper into the living room," Esme instructs, her voice shaking with rage on behalf of my sister. "I'll make us all some cocoa and we can talk about this, okay?"

Edward nods, and Esme reaches up to grip my shoulder supportively before disappearing off into the kitchen. I hear her calling Carlisle through to help her, just as Edward leads me into the front room and sits us both down on the couch, pulling me practically into his lap. I snuggle my head into his chest, not much caring that it might be awkward when his parents come back into the room.

"Jazz," he breathes, combing his fingers through my curls. "What can I do?"

"Just be here," I murmur. "Just hold me, and stay here. I feel calmer when you're here."

I put my hand up to rest on top of the hand he's braced on my shoulder, and it's then that he catches sight of my knuckles.

"Jasper, what the hell did you do?" He grabs my hand, careful not to touch the cut parts, and pulls it up until it's level with his face. His concerned eyes examine the injury thoroughly.

"I punched a wall," I admit, in a small voice. "It's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal to me. I don't like seeing you hurting," he says gently.

"It doesn't hurt," I lie. "I'm fine."

"I'll get my dad to look at it in a few minutes," Edward assures me, stroking one hand down my back soothingly. "Is Katie alright? Is the baby?"

"Yeah," I nod against his collarbone. "The baby's fine, she got checked out today. But Katie… Edward, she's a hot mess. I ain't never seen her like this before…"

He tightens his hold around me. "It's okay, babe. Katie's tough, she's a trooper. Nothing's ever going to knock her down permanently."

"Edward, I wanna kill the bastard," I choke out.

"I know, I know." He strokes one hand through my curls again. "But just think of what might happen if you did that. You could get into a lot of trouble, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you, ever."

"Edward, what if it was Maggie?" I murmur, and he stiffens. "If some punk ass bastard thought he could do that to your baby sister, would you just take that lyin' down?"

"Fuck… don't even think something like that," Edward snarls.

"You see? I gotta do somethin'."

"Maybe," he says slowly. "But not tonight. Not when you're so wound up like this. You need to calm down and get back to your sister. That's what she needs right now. She needs her brother to be there for her."

"You're right."

"I usually am."

I angle my face up towards his, and he leans down to press his lips to mine. My fingers slide into his hair, and I take comfort from the kiss, like Edward is lending me some of his strength and calm. It's funny – I've never thought of Edward as the calm one in our relationship, but maybe I was wrong.

It's funny to have never thought of yourself as hot-headed, and suddenly realize that you are.

"Calm down, babe, and just remember that some prick like that isn't worth getting yourself into trouble over," Edward murmurs against my lips. "You've got Kate to think about, first and foremost. And you're going to be an uncle, you realize that? You can't go getting yourself thrown in jail for assault, Jazz, because what will you say to your niece or nephew?"

Huh. An uncle.

Edward's words really resonate with me, because I've not really stopped to consider it in those terms. Kate is having a baby. My flesh and blood. A whole new little person who'll call me 'Uncle Jay'. I suck in a breath.

"You're right."

"Like I said, I usually am," Edward smiles tentatively. "Plus, I wouldn't want my poor boyfriend getting all beat up and ruining that pretty face of his."

"Are you sayin' you wouldn't have my back in a fight?" I tease. "Ouch."

Edward waggles his fingers at me. "These hands don't do violence, Jazz. I'm a lover, not a fighter." He winks. "As you're well aware."

His light banter works… I laugh. "Love you," I mumble, reaching up to brush another kiss across his lips.

"Love you more," he counters. "And I'll still love you, even if you go all Tony Montana on this guy's ass."

I chuckle again. "Well, that's a relief."

After some hot cocoa and sympathy from Edward and his awesomely cool parents, I get back into the car and slot my keys into the ignition with a freshly bandaged hand. I'm beyond glad that he was my first point of call this evening. If I'd gone to Emmett's, the pair of us would probably be halfway to Seattle by now, baseball bats stowed in the trunk of his jeep, and murder on the brain.

I see what Mama meant now, when she said that Edward balances me out.

When I park up outside my house, it's to find Gramma waiting for me on the porch, in the same chair Rosie was sitting in earlier when I came home. I get out of the car and go to greet her, and, without a word, she folds me into an embrace.

"Hell, Jay, it's been one a them nights, ain't it?" she grunts, and I nod, my chin scraping the top of her gray bun. "Rosie and your mama just went up ta their beds, Tanya's still spittin' fire at anyone who dares ta look at her for too long, and Katie's up in her room. She finally stopped cryin' about a half hour ago."

"D'you think she's gonna be okay, Gramma?" I ask, because I know Gramma will tell it to me straight. She's kinda like Edward that way.

"She's a tough girl, is our Katie," Gramma assures me. "I mean, she's been knocked somethin' rotten by that son o' a bitch, but she's gonna bounce back stronger'n ever. She got the Whitlock fire, same as all you kids."

I smile, because, even through the gravity of the situation, I can see maternal pride shining in my Gramma's eyes as she reaches up to cup my cheek.

"Jasper, 'bout what I said earlier… I weren't thinkin'. Don't listen to an old, angry witch like me. That bastard ain't worth gettin' yerself in trouble over. I don't want ya ta screw up yer future by landin' yerself in jail or nothin'."

"Edward told me the same thing," I say softly.

"He's a good boy, that one," Gramma declares, puffing out her chest proudly. "You make sure that ya stay golden, so's you deserve him, ya hear me?"

"Yes, ma'am," I reply. Gramma pulls my head down to plant a kiss on my cheek.

"Ya know somethin', Jay? There're times when you're so much like your daddy. He was a good man, loved his girls. And you, a course. You're just the same – all hot-headed and protective when one a your girls is in trouble, but you're just about the most lovin' boy I know."

"Thanks, Gramma," I whisper, touched beyond words by what she's said.

"You're a good man, too, Jasper Michael Hale. And your daddy, God rest his soul, is lookin' down on ya and feelin' damn proud, I just know it."

After giving Gramma another quick hug, I let myself into the house. Tanya gives me a tight smile and a nod as I hand her back her keys, squeezing my wrist for good measure.

I take the stairs at a slow pace, steeling myself for the conversation I'm about to have. When I get to Katie's room, I knock softly on the door.

"Come in," she calls, her voice cracked and hoarse from crying all night.

I push open the door, and I take a quick glance around the room. Katie hasn't redecorated since she's been at college, and the room still looks exactly the same as it did before we packed her up and drove her out to Seattle. Her senior prom picture is still tacked up over the mirror, and there's still reams and reams of fairy lights providing the illumination, casting the room in a pinkish glow. Kate lies curled up in the fetal position on her bed, an irony that's not lost on me, and her eyes look tired, though not quite as red as before.

"Katie-Kat, you okay?" I whisper, leaning back against the door to shut it.

"Jay?" she checks, poking her head out from under her comforter. "You're back?"

"I'm back, and I'm calm," I say, crossing the room to sit on her mattress beside her. Her slender hand pokes out of the edge of the duvet, and I take it in my own, feeling how small and fragile she is.

I have to swallow down another bitter rush of hatred for the bastard who did this to her.

"Is it okay if I sit here with you?" I murmur, and she shakes her head. Upset, but respecting her wishes, I drop her hand, and I'm about to get up when she throws the covers back.

"Don't sit, Jay-Jay. Can you… will you come lie with me? I need a hug."

My poor, beautiful, broken sister. I can feel each of her bruises, every tentative movement she makes, like a physical blow of my own. Nodding mutely, I twist around until my head hits her pillow. I kick my shoes off, and slide under the covers beside her, pulling her close to my chest. She buries her nose into my shirt, snuffling slightly.

"How you holding up?" I mutter.

"Not great. I'm feelin' kinda like the world is crashin' down around me. I was so happy, y'know, when I found out about the baby. I ran up to Riley's to tell him, and he just… lost it. I ain't never seen him like that before. What hurts the worst ain't even the bruises, Jay. It's the fact that he don't even wanna love our kid. He don't want to be our baby's daddy. He was willin' to hurt somethin' so innocent and defenseless…"

I pull her tighter to me in wordless comfort. "Even if he don't wanna be your baby's daddy, Katie, this kid is gonna have so much love. Me and the girls, Mama and Gramma, and you… you're gonna be an amazin' mom, Katie-Kat. I can feel it. And good fuckin' riddance to the bastard. You're better off without him. Both of you are." I pull back, resting one hand on my sister's still-flat stomach. "And you, kiddo, listen to your Uncle Jay. I ain't ever gonna let anythin' happen to you or your mama again. I promise."

Kate giggles softly, looking at me with an expression of pure sisterly devotion. "I love you, Jay."

"I love you more, Katie." I pull her close again.

"Hey… will you stay here with me? Just for tonight? You can keep away all the bad dreams."

I brush back my sister's hair and plant a kiss on her forehead. "Sure thing, honey. Nothin' bad is gonna get at'cha tonight. Go to sleep, I'll be right here 'til you wake up again. Promise."

And, in that exact position, with Kate's head tucked against my shoulder and her heartbeat thumping steadily against my own, I allow sleep to claim me.

Isn't Jasper a good brother? 3

Thanks for reading!

PJ

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