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Chapter 25: Grief

When the others walked inside Jasper was sitting on the couch with Alice curled in his lap, her face buried on his chest as she cried. He had his arms firmly around her and he was rocking her gently as he whispered quietly to her.

Without a word Larissa walked over and sank to her knees in front of them and placed her hand lightly on Alice's head. Rosalie sighed and then walked over to join her sister and lightly rubbed Alice's back. They sat like that for the longest time and then finally Alice's sobs seemed to quieten a little and she wriggled before finally sitting up.

"I should, I have to, I," she stammered and Jasper took her face lightly in his hands and looked deep into her eyes.

"Calm down Allie," he whispered. "Tell me."

"I have to call Aunt Monica," Alice gasped.

"I can do that for you," Jasper smiled softly.

"Please," Alice nodded.

"Of course," Jasper murmured and leaned forward and lightly kissed the tip of her nose. "You stay here with Rissa and I'll go get your family's address book and we'll call whoever we need to, okay."

She nodded her head and he relinquished his hold on her to Larissa, knowing as her best friend she would look after Alice as much as he would. He stood up and walked quickly over to the Cullen house and when he let himself inside he felt a wave of grief wash over him. It was so strange being there and knowing he would never see Richard and Alison again, or little Alex. They had been more like his family than his own mother and as he glanced at the happy family portrait in the hall he realised Alice was now completely on her own.

"No, never alone," he corrected softly, knowing he would always be there for her. He hurried into Richard's office and rummaged through the drawers of his desk until he found a black bound address book. He knew it might not contain the numbers of everyone the family knew but at least he could notify some people and get their extended family gathered around Alice.

He quickly walked back to his house with the book and when he got inside Alice was snuggled firmly between Larissa and Rosalie. Jasper pulled his cell phone out as he sat down on the coffee table in front of her and he offered her a soft smile as he began to call her family.

His first call was to Richard's sister, Monica, the only immediate family Alice had left. Monica cried when Jasper's broke the news to her but she assured him she would be there as soon as she could. He then called a few distant cousins and good friends before deciding Monica could handle the rest when she got there.

After he snapped his phone shut he looked over at Alice and noticed how droopy her red eyes were getting and he stood up and held his hand out to her. She slipped her hand into his and he carefully pulled her to her feet. Without a word to the others he slipped his arm around her and led her straight up to his room.

XXX

Jasper and Alice didn't come out of the bedroom all afternoon and into the evening and it was late at night before they heard the door open and shut. Jasper walked down the stairs and he looked that sad and worried when he walked into the living room that Larissa jumped up and raced over to him and threw her arms around him. He hugged her tight as he buried his face in her neck for a moment and then he pulled back and looked at the others.

"Monica called before," Rosalie said softly. "She said not to disturb you. She'll be here early Monday morning. She couldn't get a flight until Monday night so she's driving through herself."

"Okay," Jasper nodded.

"How's Alice?" Emmett asked.

"Cried herself to sleep," Jasper shrugged. "I should get back up there in case she wakes up. Can you guys all stay?"

"Of course," Rosalie nodded.

"We wouldn't dream of leaving," Emmett added.

"Allie will be sleeping in with me," Jasper murmured and glanced at Larissa. "I'm sorry Rissa, I know that today is technically our…"

"Oh Jasper, shut up," Larissa cut him off. "None of that matters right now. You are the closet thing to family Allie has left. She needs you there with her."

"Thanks," Jasper smiled and he leaned over and kissed her lips and Rosalie smiled as she watched them and glanced over and noticed Emmett was grinning too.

"If she needs anything let us know," Rosalie added when they had broken apart and Jasper started backing away.

"I will," Jasper nodded and he turned and walked back upstairs.

"Maybe we should all try and get some sleep too?" Rosalie suggested.

"It might be a good idea," Emmett nodded. "I think tomorrow is going to be even worse than today."

"Yeah," Larissa agreed.

The four of them walked upstairs together and Emmett and Rosalie disappeared into Rosalie's room and Larissa started walking towards her own. Edward reached out and grabbed her elbow and she turned back to look at him.

"Since Jasper and Alice are together tonight what do you say I sleep in your room?" he asked with a smirk.

"Are you kidding?" Larissa groaned. "You are honestly still thinking about sex at a time like this?"

"Well it's a chance for you and I to catch up on what we've missed," Edward shrugged.

"You are pathetic," Larissa growled.

"You owe me," Edward smirked and pushed past her and breezed into her bedroom before she could stop him. She stomped in after him and glared at him angrily as she snatched up her pyjamas and stormed into the bathroom. When she walked out he was lying back on her bed and she rolled her eyes at him.

"I just got to see Rose about something," she mumbled and turned and fled from the room.

XXX

Once Emmett and Rosalie had crawled into bed they snuggled together and Rosalie rested her head on his chest and let out a sigh.

"You okay babe?" he asked instantly.

"Yeah," Rosalie sighed. "I was just thinking how scary it is. In a blink of an eye your whole happy world can be gone. I feel so bad for Allie."

"Me too," Emmett admitted. "She's got us. I know it isn't the same but we'll get her through this."

"I think Jazz will be a big part of that," Rosalie sighed.

"You've known them longer than me," Emmett murmured. "I always knew they were close but I didn't realise how close until Alice only wanted him down there before."

"Jazz and Allie have been best friends since they were six months old," Rosalie whispered. "Allie's Mum looked after Jazz more than his own mother did and the Cullens always accepted him as one of their own. They are like brother and sister, and close ones at that. It's no different to Rissa and I. In a sense they are like twins too. Alison used to jokingly call the four of us the two sets of twins when we were in preschool."

"Then Jasper will be grieving for them too," Emmett sighed.

"Yeah he will," Rosalie nodded, only realising when he said it that Jasper had lost nearly as much as Alice. There was a knock on the door and Rosalie glanced at Emmet and frowned.

"Come in?" Emmett called out but neither of them made a move to get up.

"Hey, it's me," Larissa whispered as she stepped into the room. "Am I interrupting anything?"

"No, Rissa, come in," Rosalie smiled and Emmett helped her to sit up as Larissa walked in and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"I know this sounds like a really personal question," Larissa started. "But are you guys planning on doing anything tonight?"

"Apart from sleep probably not," Emmett said honestly.

"Could I sleep in here with you please?' Larissa whispered in a small voice.

"I suppose if you want to," Emmett nodded, although he frowned at her.

"Oh Rissa," Rosalie gasped softly. "Edward?"

"Yeah," Larissa murmured. "He just realised if Jazz wasn't there he could be. He's starting to scare me."

"Is Edward getting pushy with you?" Emmett growled and he remembered Jasper's suspicions a few weeks before.

"I know we made the agreement that what happens between a couple stays between them but it is getting bad Emmett," Rosalie whispered. "He won't take no for an answer."

"You don't mean he's forcing the two of you, do you?" Emmett asked angrily.

"No, nothing like that," Rosalie sighed as she glanced at Larissa. "He's getting very possessive and demanding. It's wearing."

"Rissa, you haven't even done anything with him yet have you?" Emmett asked and although he wanted to ask Rosalie too he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.

"No, and he's getting obsessive about it," Larissa murmured.

"Sleep in here," Emmett said firmly. "Over the next few days Jasper is going to be busy with Alice. I'll stay with both of you. Once we get Alice through this Jasper and I will have a talk to Edward."

"Thanks Emmett," Larissa smiled and Rosalie grinned at her as she held the blanket up and Larissa moved to slid in beside Rosalie. Emmett laughed when the twins snuggled together and rolled his eyes.

"Like bloody kittens," he grinned and they both giggled and Rosalie reached over to him under the sheet and took his hand and squeezed it tightly in a silent thank you.

XXX

All day Sunday the others didn't see Jasper and Alice, except for Rosalie who took food up to them at lunchtime and again at dinner. She reported back that Alice looked terrible and Jasper didn't look much better but none of them went up to interrupt them. That night before Edward could even think about trying to get one of the twins alone Emmett announced he was going to bed and looped one of his arms around each of their shoulders and pulled them upstairs with him.

They all slept in together again and it was early the next morning when Rosalie was woken by the distant sound of the doorbell ringing. She stretched and carefully climbed over Larissa and walked quickly downstairs. When she pulled the door open an older woman stood there and she saw a slight resemblance to Alice and realised this must be her aunt.

"Monica?" she asked softly.

"Yes, are you Rosalie?" she asked, having spoken to Rosalie on the phone on Saturday when she had called back with her plans.

"Yes, call me Rose," Rosalie smiled and stepped back. "Come in. I think Allie is still asleep. I'll go check."

She left Monica in the living room and walked upstairs to Jasper's room and tapped on the door before walking inside. They were both sound asleep and although she didn't really want to wake them she suspected Alice would want to see her aunt.

"Allie?" she murmured as she walked over to the bed and shook her gently. Alice moaned and wriggled slightly and Jasper's eyes instantly bolted open.

"Rose?" he groaned and his voice caused Alice's eyes to open too.

"Sorry," Rosalie whispered. "Allie, Monica is here."

"Oh," Alice gasped and sat up quickly and Jasper jumped from the bed and helped her up. Rosalie walked out of the room and back to her room, wanting to give them some privacy.