Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight and I do not receive any sort of monetary compensation for this writing, I merely do it for my personal enjoyment.
So, Alice is back on the scene with a little something extra as well. What's gonna happen to Jasper & Bella? Hang in there, readers, I'm not going to tear everything down in a blaze of glory. Have a little faith and read on. ; )
*** Chapter 14 - Negotiation ***
In the midst of a room filled with people, Alice sat smugly on the singular chair that faced the overstuffed couch and love seat, a queen holding court as she watched the other people twist in the wind unsure of how to process the current situation, adrift in the midst of an unexpected situation, unable to find something to hold onto. She didn't bother to release them from their struggle with any fragment of information, choosing instead to sit patiently, letting the air grow heavy with tension as everyone remained silent.
Oh, this day was turning out to be far more satisfying than she had originally hoped. Internally, Alice rubbed her hands together as the taste of blood from wounds she had yet to inflict lay salty-sweet on her tongue as she slid it alongside the inside of her teeth, feeling the ridges of each enameled surface begging to sink deep into the man sitting across from her, the one who had left her in that dirty motel room with a few hundred bucks and nothing more. Hatred spread in razor-sharp shards like newly formed ice crystals in her veins as she gazed at a face that was fuller, healthier than the last time she had walked away from him, the scalding red palm print of her hand still emblazoned on his cheek.
How dare he move on and start putting the pieces back together, prettily framed, cracks glued together barely showing while she had struggled, not realizing for several weeks that her body was harboring an unwelcome fugitive.
Bella nervously switched her gaze from man to woman, her mind racing down the list of ways this day could possibly end and praying that Jasper would be able to hold himself together instead of sliding back down into the pit. She silently willed him to grab onto the sturdy roots of the life he had started here, that he would trust in what they had built together enough that it could shelter him in the midst of the violent storm that currently occupied the same room. Clenching her hands tightly together, rubbing the knuckles of her right fingers with her left thumb in an attempt to try and find release for the tight coil of worry that was threatening to snap, Bella wondered who would be the first to break the silence.
Rosalie was trying to murder the woman seated across from her with mental daggers that were aimed at the perfect bull's-eye she had imagined over the gaping black hole where Alice Brandon's heart should have been. That bitch who had come slithering in from the past now sat with a self-satisifed smirk as she stared at the members of her family. Nostrils slightly flared and jaw clenched shut, Rosalie didn't even bother to see how Alice's presence was affecting her brother, so all-consuming was her hatred. Feeling the sharp pinch of her own nails digging into the flesh of her palms, she forced her fingers to release and tried without success to calm herself down.
Alex watched both of his children, not paying much attention to the Brandon girl who'd ruined their lives when she had seduced Jasper from his home all those years ago. She was of little consequence to him unless she tried pulling his son from his side again. No, he was more concerned with Jasper who had paled considerably at the mention of Alice's arrival and had slipped into an almost catatonic state since she'd made an overly-exaggerated effort of sitting down, clutching her swollen abdomen in the process so there was no way any member of the family could miss her current state. Flashing back to the broken, beaten child that had shown up dirty and hungry months ago, Alex was firm in his resolve that he would do everything in his power to prevent a replay of the past. With a slight frown settling between his brows, he chanced a look at Rosalie and prayed his daughter wouldn't do anything rash. It would only add to the mess that obviously needed to be sorted out if Rose acted in a way that resulted in the cops being called and charges pressed against her.
Jasper was frozen in stasis as his mind seemed overwhelmed with trying to run triage and was failing at assessing the situation, incapable of determining what should be dealt with first. God, has Alice always looked so cold and cruel? Could it be that the tempting flare of danger and recklessness that had once drawn him in was a well-worn disguise for the miserable woman that sat before him now, not even attempting to feign niceties? She lacked any warmth, even while obviously carrying a child, she was….inhuman?
Child….baby…unborn baby….how many months along was she?
How long ago had it been since they had slept together? Ugly flashbacks to the way they used to live, the drug-fueled activities that he would never take part in sober stained his cheeks red with regret. Alice merely arched an eyebrow in response as if to say she could see into his mind and knew exactly what had caused his shame. Looking back now, the time they shared together was an ugly, dark thing unfit for the light of day.
Taking a breath to prepare for the coming face-off, Jasper made the first move and simply stated, "Alice."
Wanting to cackle with amusement over his awkwardness, Alice didn't give an inch of ground when she replied flatly, "Jasper."
"How did you know I was here?"
"You know Jessica, she just can't help but share what she knows," Alice shrugged and looked pointedly in Bella's direction, letting both know that she had more than a vague idea as to Jasper and Bella's relationship, "and when I ran into her a few weeks ago, she happened to let it slip that she had seen you at the movies with a new local. I must say, I am a little surprised you came crawling back to daddy, but you were never one to possess much of a spine to stand up well on your own. The streets must have tossed you around and kicked your ass."
A quick hiss of anger could be heard coming from Rosalie at the first cut Alice drew into her brother's skin, causing everyone but the tiny shrew to turn in her direction. Alice merely ignored the woman, not giving her the satisfaction of a response to the non-verbal threat. Bella resolving that she would be of no help to Jasper as long as Alice saw her as point of contention, decided to at least alleviate some of the stress of the situation ny taking herself physically out of the picture.
Crossing over to her best friend she looked Rose in the eye and reached out a hand, placing it on the tall blonde's forearm, "Come on Rose, let's go check on Evie."
"Evie's fine," Rose dismissed the offer, shrugging off Bella's hold and trying to look around her to launch another death glare in Alice's direction.
"Rose…"placing her hand back where it was and gripping harder, Bella warned with a slightly edgier tone of voice, "I think I'd like to go see her anyways, maybe you'd be kind enough to come with me."
"Babe, I think maybe you should go with Bella," Emmett added emphasis to the suggestion, praying that his wife would give in before she ended up attacking a pregnant woman with bare hands…claws…whatever.
With a sigh of annoyance, Rose growled at Bella who merely rolled her eyes and dragged the woman from the room, not in the direction of the guest room they used as Evie's make-shift nursery, but out the back door onto the porch. Walking over to the cooler while Rose began pacing back and forth across the porch, Bella grabbed two beers and popped the tops before handing one to her friend.
With fingers pointed to her chest, Rose explained as if Bella was an idiot, "Breastfeeding"
"You pump, right? So, give Evie a bottle and pump the tainted stuff and toss it. You need this right now before you go through with one of the many ways you've planned on executing that woman since she showed up here this afternoon," Bella explained.
"I loathe every fiber of her being, God, what a fucking bitch. Did you see the way she flaunted her way into the living room as if she were the mother-fucking queen ready to torture her disobedient servant. She'd try slicing off Jasper's balls with those whore-red talons of hers and keeping them in a jar next to her throne, if she could," Rose ranted between taking pulls off the ice cold bottle in her hand.
"And, you saw the way your brother is struggling in there too, right?"
Thrown off course for the next portion of her tirade, Rose stopped mid stride and glanced at Bella, "What?"
"Jasper? Your brother, you saw how uncomfortable he was in there and the way she was attacking him just with her presence. You did notice your brother, right?"
Cheeks pink, Rose cringed slightly, "No, I was too busy trying to wish Alice onto another planet."
Leaning against the railing and taking a swig of her own drink, Bella nodded, "Exactly, and that was the last thing Jasper needed, to worry about you when he obviously has his own shit to deal with."
"Fine, fine, Saint Bella," Rosalie dismissed any further chastisement, "I get it."
"It's not any easier on me, Rose, I love him too," Bella let her head hang down, shoulders slumped, taking a few shallow breaths, and questioning in a whispered breath, "What if he goes back to her?"
"What?! Why would he do that? Are you crazy or just insecure? He's a completely different person than he used to be when he left with Alice the first time. He's done a complete 180 from the zombie who showed up at this very house on a Sunday not too different from today, and you know that Bella. Now who's thinking of herself."
Wincing while wishing she had his sister's confidence, Bella looked sideways at Rose, "Maybe you didn't notice she was pregnant? You think Jasper won't try and go all white knight on this? His guilt will see this as a way to pay for his sins."
"Uh-uh, no fucking way I'm letting him attach himself to that harpy," Rose slammed her bottle down, a few fragrant drops of the amber liquid inside sloshing out and landing on her skin, "I will kill her. I will take her out of the equation, drop a mother-fucking house on her scrawny ass and ding dong the witch is dead!"
Grabbing on to the only humor Bella could fine, she smiled at the wild exclamations of her precious friend, knowing they loved the man inside so deeply, that they would go to extreme lengths to protect him from what had scarred him so badly, "Oh, Rosalie Cullen, I love you so much, I'm not sure I'd be able to keep from breaking down right now without you by my side."
Sliding along the rail over to her friend, the two leaning together, brunette hair mixing with blonde, they took a shared drink of their beers and stared heatedly at the house, their thoughts a swirl of uncertainty over what the outcome of the day would be.
Inside the living room, Alice sat with the three remaining men, Esme and Carlisle having left when the girl made her surprise arrival. Down the hall, the sound of Evie crying gave Emmett the prefect opportunity to make his escape from a room he wanted free of.
"The baby….I'll just go…" he stammered as he thumbed his way in the direction of the guest room that they used as Evie's make-shift nursery at her grandfather's house.
Once he had left the room, Alice gazed at the other two, noting that the last time it had been just the three of them, Jasper had been on her side. Now, it seemed, he had chosen family and blood as his companion.
Breaking the heavy silence that had dropped back down like a velvet curtain, Jasper asked quietly, "How many months along?"
Leaning back in her chair and propping one elbow up on the arm, Alice allowed a ruby-red fingernail to trace back and forth across her lower lip before answering, "Ah, I see how you're gonna play this. You want to see if the correct number of months have passed that take you out of the picture. Sorry to break it to you, Jazz, but this baby's yours, due in just a few weeks. Congratulations, Daddy Dearest."
Her final words were laced with acid, free of any sincerity or jovial tidings, sounding more like a prison sentence to Alex's ears.
Jasper refused to take the bait, squaring his shoulders, he countered, "And, how do you know this baby is mine?"
"Oooohhhh…." Alice drew out gleefully. If the bastard wanted to fight back, that was just fine with her, "You mean because you so enjoyed watching me take it from behind while I sucked you off? Or all those parties where you were pumping into some other girl while I rode her boyfriend? Thinking someone else's jizz got mixed in with yours?"
There she was, the same crude, no filter wild-child that had actually turned him on with her filthy mouth. And she was right, he had taken part in every one of those scenarios. Refusing to look anywhere near the direction of his father, he came back at her for another try.
Not denying her words, Jasper tilted a chin in the affirmative, "Unnecessary, Alice, but yes, you could say our past activities give cause for me to question paternity."
Locking eyes with him, she stated coldly, "You're the only one I ever let ride bareback, J."
"Condoms aren't fool proof, " he countered.
Sighing over this new development of a backbone, Alice realized the chance to get them to pay her to disappear might not be quite so easy. Deciding to throw out a line, she suggested, "Well, I could set up shop right here in the middle of town. I'm sure that would give the locals something to talk about. Or...you could just sign away your rights. I'd pack it up and disappear as if I were never here."
Jasper's mind was spinning, trying to figure out her game, "You mean like place the child up for adoption? Is that why you came here, so I would sign some piece of paper? What if it isn't even mine?"
Ignoring his chances of not being responsible for the alien draining the life out of her, Alice asked, "And if it is, then what? Are you wanting to set up house together in the meantime? How's daddy and your baby sister gonna feel about welcoming me in to the family?"
Secretly hoping that Alex might jump in and suggest of ways of getting rid of her, Alice dragged him into the discussion.
Jasper thought of a future with Alice permanently attached to their lives, and knew, if he'd just sign a piece of paper, he could be free. She'd be gone forever. There was nothing left for her here. Technically, it would be so easy...
But then there was the thought that right now a tiny heart beat might be half his doing, that there was life waiting that might have half his DNA.
There wasn't a question of what to do.
"I want the baby," mind made up, Jasper took the first step and jumped off into the unknown.
Every cell in Alice's body screamed in protest as her fingers gripped the chair, "What?"
Seeing that he'd knocked her off balance, Jasper took advantage and delivered another hit, "I want my son or daughter, however this has to work, I'll do it."
"You hate me, Jasper, we both know that, and honestly, after you left, I've wished you a painful death more times than I can count. You don't want to raise a child with me," she argued.
"Then don't. Give him or her to me. I'll raise my son or daughter on my own," where that idea came from, he didn't know, but Jasper knew it to be true.
Feeling a bit crazed over having lost control of things, Alice's voice was shrill as she countered, "What if it isn't yours? What then?"
"Can you honestly remember the name and location of every person you had sex with, Alice? God, I have so many black holes in my memory, it's a wonder I'm still alive. We were so fucked up, but this child doesn't need to suffer because of that. I'll give him or her more than that. I can be better than I was," Jasper's words were raw as he assured, "Whether this baby is mine biologically or not, he or she will have a father in their life."
Alex watched the exchange, thinking at first that his son's offer, while valiant was foolish. His brain begged him to interrupt the exchange and tell Jasper that it would be best if they take a moment, away from Alice, and talk about this. But, holding his tongue, he realized that Jasper was trying to make things right, was fighting to be a better man, and Alex, though more than a little nervous as to how this would end, decided to provide whatever support he could.
Back to business, Alice went back to the bargaining table, "And, what do I get in return for stepping out of the picture?"
Alex, being a businessman, recognized that particular tone of voice. She actually wanted to make a business deal in exchange for the baby.
"How much?" he interrupted, the first words he had spoken during the entire event snaring Alice's attention and pulling her face towards his.
"Two-fifty and you pay my medical expenses," she answered quickly, exposing to both men that she'd already come to this battle prepared with a figure. The money had been her end game all along.
Feeling his stomach sink at the number, Jasper clarified, "Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars?"
Knowing she had Jasper's balls in a vice, Alice waited to see if Daddy Warbucks would step in, "Mmm-hmm…"
"And if he doesn't pay?" Alex questioned.
"Well, I disappeared off the map once, I'm sure I can figure out how a second time, and I know there are lots of other couples who would do just about anything for a child," she smiled innocently even as she twisted the knife in Jasper's gut.
Jasper had already conceded defeat, the pain of what was going to happen pushing in on him, stealing his breath as he accepted that he would never be able to give what she asked. He had just started working for Emmett, and while he didn't spend much these days, he sure as hell hadn't saved a quarter of a million. Alice knew as well as he where all his future inheritance had been spent. His pockets were almost empty.
"I'll contact my attorney, so you'll have to give us a day or two, but I'll make sure it's taken care of. You, of course, will sign away all rights to the child," Alex issued his demands clearly, "There will be no coming back six months or six years from now asking for more. Do you understand, Ms. Brandon?"
"Dad, I…" Jasper looked up at his father confused at having somehow lost his role as the male lead in this conversation in a span of minutes.
"Do you understand, Ms. Brandon?" Alex spoke over his child.
Alice stood up, "I think we have a deal. Congrats, Jasper, you just bought yourself a baby. I still have the number here at the house, I'll give you 48 hours and then I'll be in touch."
Making her way out of the room and towards the front door without waiting for either man to say a word, Alice walked down the drive to the where she'd hidden the beat up old Civic that she'd purchased with the money she'd made while waiting tables in that shit-hole town that Jasper had left her in. Her future had just gotten considerably brighter.