Chapter 14 - Winning A Losing Battle

Emily frowned as she watched Quil and Embry get up from the table and leave the house to continue their patrol. They'd stopped by to eat some lunch per Emily's usual request, Embry blabbed the whole time as Quil said nothing at all.

Emily spared a look to Jake, "How's he holding up?" Jake rolled his red lips as he thought about is answer, but frowned at the question just the same, "He's not Em. He's absolutely miserable. It's been two months since Ashton's dad banned him from seeing her. He even went to the school and made them take her out of any classes she had with Quil. Her dad phases at night and guards the house, making sure Quil can't get to her. She's four months pregnant and Quil is missing all of it. He wants to be with her but her dad refuses to listen to reason. Quil even missed graduation because he wanted to make sure he stayed away like Matthew ordered."

Emily felt the tears pricking the back of her eyes as she blinked and they fell like rain down her tan cheeks, "What is he going to do about it?" Jake shook his head negatively, "The only thing her father will let him do, stay away. Quil can tell how much pain she's in. He can feel it morning, noon and night. Hell he can even feel her since she's been having nightmares for the last four weeks. Riva and Gaby are just about the only two allowed to talk with her. The teachers at the school have Ashton on lock down practically. They won't let her within 25 feet of Quil. He stopped sending her texts a couple of weeks ago. He's giving up the fight."

Emily shook her head, "He shouldn't give up. Every girl wants a guy who will fight for her no matter what. Even if he is winning a losing battle. There has to be something we can do for them. There just has to be." Jake sighed heavily, "Believe me Em, if I knew what to do I would've already done it. Sam has even tried to talk with Matthew and he won't budge. Once Ashton gets her diploma in the mail in a couple of days, her dad is taking her to Germany. Quil is never going to see Ashton again..Not to mention he'll never see his child."

Sam walked through the front door and wet to Emily's side, "What's wrong Em?" She smiled weakly as the tears continued to fall, "Jake was just catching me up with Quil and Ashton. Is there really nothing that can be done?" Sam wrapped his arm around Emily after he handed her a tissue and kissed the top of her head lovingly, "The council has gotten together. They tried having a couple of meetings with Matthew but he still refuses to let Ashton and Quil even see each other. It's really out of everyone's hands right now."

Emily growled in frustration, "Take me over there...Please." Sam looked at his beloved skeptically, "I don't know Em. Matthew is very unstable right now." Emily shook her head, "I don't care. Two months is too long. Sam I'm serious you take me now or I'll drive myself I swear. Jake get a hold of Quil and Embry and get them to Ashton's." Jake nodded as he took off out the door as Sam lead a very determined Emily to the truck, "Let's just remember this was a bad idea from the beginning and I'm against it." Emily scoffed, "You're always against something I do. But always manage to come along for the ride. Just because I know you'll protect me." Sam smiled as he pulled out onto the road, "Always."

Once they got to Jane Elliott's house, Emily and Sam got out of the truck and naturally Matthew was standing at the bottom of the stems in human form before another move could be made. Matthew growled, "Get you and your imprint off my property now Sam Uley."

Emily scowled, "You will not talk to either of us that way. I came to check on Ashton and I won't leave until I have done so with my own two eyes." Sam chuckled, "You might want to just let her have her way. She really is more stubborn then me."

Matthew growled as he glared at the couple, "ASHTON! Get your ass out here right now." Ashton slowly came to the screen door. The last eight weeks had been nothing but hell for her, Collin and grandma Janie. They were basically prisoners in their own home. Ashton walked through the screen door and out onto the porch, "Yes?" Matthew pointed at Emily, "Emily Young wants to look at you and make sure you're doing fine. Get down here right now."

Ashton walked down the steps slowly. Once she stepped in front of Emily; Emily could see the dark circles under eyes and the frown that permanently marred her beautiful face. She looked down and could see her four month pregnant belly, it looked like a football was under her t-shirt. Ashton blinked as tears started pouring from her eyes, suddenly Ashton threw her arms around Emily's waist as Emily grabbed onto her letting the young girl cried on her shoulder.

Ashton sobbed into Emily's t-shirt covered shoulder, "Em I'm so scared. When I hit three months the baby started moving and was moving a lot and then two weeks ago the baby stopped moving. I don't know what to do. I don't know if the baby is alive or dead. I mean if the baby died wouldn't I have miscarried it?" Emily shook her head negatively as she smoothed her hand over Ashton's head, "No sweetie. sometimes you can carry a dead fetus through a full nine month term and deliver it stillborn."

Matthew was suddenly feeling like the biggest asshole in the world. Ashton had told him she felt like something was wrong with the baby and she begged for him to let her see Quil or take her to the doctor, but he refused. Matthew walked up and touched his daughters arm.

Imagine his surprise when she turned and slapped the taste out of his mouth as she screamed, "IT'S YOUR FAULT! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT YOU KILLED MY BABY! YOU KILLED IT! I HATE YOU!"

Matthew stood there and looked at his daughter. He never thought he'd ever hear the words 'I hate you' come from her mouth. But he was suddenly aware he hated himself more than anything right now. He hated himself far more than his daughter could ever hate him. His mother was right. He had done the same thing to Ashton that Marie's family had done to Marie with her first pregnancy. He really was a monster.

Matthew frowned, "I just wanted to protect you the only way I knew how. I wanted to protect you the way I couldn't protect your mother. It was my fault she got killed." Ashton stopped as her eyes shot open, "What are you talking about dad? You told us she died while giving birth to Collin."

Matthew shook his head, "That's because I couldn't handle the truth. I was on patrol and your mother had a doctor's appointment and I was late getting off patrol so she left without me like always, I ran along the tree line and would meet her there. She never showed up. A vampire pushed her car off the road and...drained her. By the time I got to her she was already gone but I could feel Collin moving around in her belly. somehow the vampire hadn't touched her stomach. He probably thought Collin would die instantly. I got her to the mid-wife as fast as I could and they had to cut Collin out or he would've suffocated inside of her."

Ashton stared at the ground as she pulled her eyes up and sought out her fathers, "How could you do this to me? To the baby? To Quil? After you was here months ago and knew what I was to Quil and that Collin had phased. How could you do this? Be this cruel? This unloving and heartless to your own children. To your own grandchild. I don't understand. I mean I sort of understand, but then again I really don't. You're supposed to be my father. And now you might only be the murderer of your own grandchild."

Ashton felt a shooting pain in her side, "Something's wrong, I need Quil." As she started to rub her belly and slowly started to sink to her knees.

Out of nowhere a warm arm wrapped around her back, and one slid under her knees and carefully lifted her from the ground, scooping her into a set of warm arms. Warm lips kissed her forehead as his familiar voice whispered, "I'm here baby. I got you. What do you say we take a trip to the hospital. Let's get you checked out." Sorrowful indigo blue eyes looked up and found the familiar chocolate brown ones she'd longed to see for the last eight weeks. It had take some convincing but Jake had managed to get Quil to understand that Emily was going to bat for the both of them. Quil had run home to retrieve his car already knowing the first place he wanted to take her was to the doctor.

Quil placed Ashton in his car she sniffled, "I missed you so much."

Quil nodded as he kissed her lips softly, "I know baby I missed you too. I'm never letting anyone get between us ever again. I don't care who it is."

Quil drove at break necks speeds as he watched Ashton curl into the passenger seat and clamp onto his hand, never letting go. He kissed the back of her hand, "Hold on baby. Just hold on." He kept repeating that sentence over and over.

Hoping he was in time.

Hoping everything would be alright.