Chapter Twenty-Six: Stumble on Life

Jasper POV

I came inside after a long day to a apartment full of chaos. There was a pot boiling over on the stove, Bentley was crying bloody murder, and the TV was blasting. I walked into the living room and saw my mother, along with Morgan and Corey sitting on the couch, watching Finding Nemo and shook my head. My mother and Morgan were staying with us since she was only a month away from delivery, since Marcus was dragged away to California on business.

"Ummm...hello?" I asked as I stood in front of the TV.

"Hey! Esme...Jasper's blocking the TV!" Morgan wined. I switched it off, causing her to whine even louder.

"Does anyone hear Bentley?" I asked.

"I offered to help, but Bella said watching these two was help enough." My mother defended. I sighed, turing the TV back on and walking into Bentley's nursery. She was slowly rocking him back and forth, and his cries were slowly dying down.

"What's going on with him?" I asked, taking him from her arms and began pacing slowly. He finally stopped crying and I could tell by his heavy breathing, he'd finally fallen asleep. I kept him in my arms as I looked at Bella who looked like she was about to pass out. I helped as much as I could, especially at night, but he was breast fed and there was nothing I could do to help with that.

"He's been fussy all day." She sighed, her eyes still closed. It had been a great month. Bentley was a relatively calm baby, and when he was crying, he was easily calmed. "And he was beginning to feel warm a little bit ago." I felt his head, and although he did feel warmer than usual. I went out to get the thermometer, but the look on my mothers face distracted me.

"Mom?" I asked, stepping into the living room. "Are you okay?"

"Contraction." She sighed as soon as it was over. I immediately rushed over to her, bumping Morgan out of the way.

"I'll call Marcus. Corey, go get her bag from our room." I instructed and she raced out of the room. "I'm gonna go tell Bella." I said, walking into the nursery.

"Hey," she said, grabbing the thermometer. "What's going on?"

"My mom is having contractions. It might be false labor...but with her history with preterm delivery...we're gonna go to the hospital."

"Okay, leave Morgan with me and take Corey." she said as she placed Bentley back into his crib. "His temperature is normal. Go. I'll be fine." She said. I kissed her and Bentley goodbye and led my mother and Corey down to the car. There wasn't much traffic, and it was easy to get to the hospital. Marcus's phone continued to go to voicemail until my mother was already in a room.

"Was that Marcus?" She asked as I came back into the room. I nodded my head and sat back down by her side. "Is he coming?"

"As fast as he can. But there is a huge storm in San Diego...they don't know when planes are going to be able to go." I said and she burst into tears. This was the birth of their child and he might not be there. I was terrified when Bella went into false labor and I wasn't there to take her. He finally texted me, three hours later telling me flights were beginning to get in the air again. But, it would be hours until his was leaving and we continued to pray it would take long like it did for Rosalie.

"Have you thought of any names?" I asked after six hours of labor and Marcus had just gotten on a plane. "What about for a boy?"

"Well, for a boy Marcus and I agreed Brody Scott." She said, a smile coming across her face. She told me she loved having a little boy in the house and I could tell she wanted another, even though she'd be happy with any. She said that both of us were surprises, but she had a suspicion that I was a boy and Rosalie was a girl. She hadn't been wrong yet, and I had a feeling she wasn't wrong now.

"And for a girl?" I asked before machines began going off. A doctor came rushing in minutes later and my mother began to panic. "What's going on?"

"The baby's heart rate is going down!" He shouted to the nurses. Corey and I watched in horror as we watched them try to stabalize her and the baby, but after a while, the doctors told the nurses to prep for a c-section.

"A c-section?" My mother asked, her voice full of worry.

"The baby's heart rate won't go back up and if we don't get him out now, he won't make it." The doctor explained as the nurse came into the room, green scrubs in her hands. "It's going to be fine, Mrs. Voltora."

"Are you going to be in the one with the delivery room?" The nurse asked me. I looked down at Corey and wished Marcus had made it.

"Oh...uhhh..." I stuttered.

"We'll take care of her. Don't worry." She said as I looked over at my mother. There were tears streaming down her face and I knew I couldn't leave him alone.

"Yes, I'm going with her. Corey, Renee is on her way. She'll be here soon, okay?"

"I'll be fine, Jasper." She sighed, as the I slipped on the scrubs. "I'm almost eleven years old!" Ten minutes later, my mother was put under anesthesia and I was by her side. I held her hand tightly and didn't breathe until I heard the sweet cries of my baby brother or sister. We both sighed with relief, but the baby was whisped out of the room so quickly, neither of us saw him or her. My mother was stitched up and wheeled back to her room where Renee was waiting with Corey.

"Where's the baby?" Corey asked as I came into the room.

"They're checking him over." I answered as Renee sat by my mother's side.

"Him? It's a boy?" Corey asked in excitement.

"We don't know...the baby was taken out of the room right away." My mother answered solemnly. Another twenty minutes went by the and door was opening and a nurse walked in, holding the baby. My mother burst into tears when it was placed into her arms.

"Say hello toy your healthy baby girl." The nurse whispered. A girl. I had another little sister.

"Hello, Lilian." My mother whispered. "She's going to be okay?"

"She's perfectly healthy. We checked her carefully." The nurse said before leaving us alone.

"Everyone, this is Lilian Rae." She introduced. "You want to hold her, Jazz?" She asked, holding out her arms. Holding my little sister was almost as great as holding my son. Bentley was only a month old, but he had still grown a lot and there was something about holding a new born that made me melt. I saw a small smile creep upon her face and I knew what Corey had been feeling when Bentley smiled at her for the first time. After a half hour, Marcus came busting through the door, and my mother burst into tears.

"Oh god. honey I am so sorry I wan't here." He sobbed, pressing his forehead to hers.

"It's okay. You're here now and that's all that matters." She said, as he looked down at the baby. "Say hello to another daughter."

"Lily?" He asked, as I saw a tear stream down his face. "Now we have a Jasper, and a Rosalie, a Morgan and now...a Lily." He cooed, looking down at her. It was precious, watching them together and I now knew what it looked like when my dad and mom had Rosalie. It was somethng I'd never forget. After another hour, I decided it was time to get Corey home so we said our goodbye's and left for home.

"She was really cute." Corey said as we pulled out of the parking lot.

"Yeah, she was." I agreed. It had been six months, and she'd be going home in another three. I loved her like my own daughter, and no matter how much I prepared for it, I knew it would be a tearful goodbye. We pulled into the lot and I was surprised to see Bentley's nursery light still on.

"Hey...he still up?" I whispered as I walked into the nursery. She shook her head and stood up to put him in his crib. We walked out of the room and walked in to sit on the couch.

"How's the baby?" She asked.

"She's fine. My mom needed a c-section, but they're both fine."

"She? It's a girl?" She asked excitedly. I knew she wanted another girl after preparing for Jocelyn, but she loved Bentley with every power she had.

"Yes. Lilian Rae. She was so small...but perfectly healthy." I told her. We spent a little bit longer together before we began to get Corey and Morgan ready for bed.

"Bella...she was SO cute! Like...I saw my brother and sister as babies...but this was different!" Corey squealed after Morgan had already passed out in my bed. "She was so pink and she was wrapped in a cute little green blanket."

"I know, Jasper showed me a picture."

"Well...it was different in person!" She huffed. It didn't take long for Corey to fall asleep and Bella and I had alone time for the first time in a long time. We cuddled up in front of the small TV in the bedroom, Sixteen Candles on the screen. Both of us were too tired to do anything else, but I would take her any way I could get her. I couldn't imagine any of this happening had Bella not broken down my 'walls' as she called them. I was thankful that everything that happened, because they somehow led to my happiness now. I still missed my dad everyday and it broke my heart Bentley would never know him, but he was in a better place, and now I had a beautiful baby sister.

Bella and I fell asleep with the TV on, and Bentley was beginning to sleep somewhat through the night. He only woke three times, opposed to his six or seven when we first brought him home. Morgan was jumping in our room at eight o'clock in the morning, wining about wanting to go see her sister.

"I don't know if I want Bentley in a hospital."Bella said wearily as she fed him that morning.

"Your mother drove up last night to be with my mom if Marcus didn't get there...I'm sure she's still here." I told her as I took Bentley from her grasp and began to gently hit his back, wanting him to burp.

"You're such a good dad." She whispered as she watched me bounce around with him while patting his back.

"You say that like you're surprised." I laughed. A small burp escaped from his mouth, along with spit-up and I silently cursed myself for not using a burping cloth.

"No, not surprised like I thought you'd be a bad dad...just happy." She whispered, kissing me on the cheek before going to get the girls ready. Renee arrived not long after and the three of us were on the road to the hospital. Corey offered to stay back with Renee, insisting she knew Bentley more than she did. Morgan ran through the hospital, and into the room.

"Daddy!" She squealed, jumping into Marcus's arms. "Where's the baby? Where's my sister?"

"Your little sister is sleeping in the nursery. She should be back shortly."

"How're you feeling?" I asked my mother as Bella sat next to her.

"Sore...but fine otherwise." She answered as a nurse walked in with Lily. Morgan nearly screamed at the sight of her, but Marcus was able to stop that before it happened. She was placed into my mother's arms and Bella melted at the sight of her.

"She's precious." Bella cooed, rubbing Lily's head. "Hi little girl."

"You wanna hold her?" My mother asked and Bella's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Bella gently grabbed Lily out of my mother's hand, and I knew she wanted another baby sometime in the future. We wouldn't be able to handle it now, but someday I knew I wanted a daughter too. Especially after having Corey with us these last few months.

My mother and Lily were able to go home after a week, and Corey and I were staying with her while Marcus finished the nursery. I was only two when Rosalie was born, and I never got a chance to see how great of a mom she really was. I never really appreciated her until I had a child of my own, and I couldn't believe how much she really did for my sister and I.

Corey was so sweet with Lily and Bentley both, and I was worried she'd freak out when she had to leave us. IT had been six months since she last saw her parents and she refused to call them or take their calls unless it was Aaron. She kept on telling Bella and I she was sure they didn't miss her and it didn't matter weather they spoke or not. I was becoming more and more suspicious, but I didn't want to make her angry or upset by forcing her to call.

"Do I really have to go home?" Corey asked as we helped set up the crib. I looked over at Marcus who seemed to get the hint, and stood up.

"I'm going to go check on Lily and Esme." He said before leaving the room.

"Corey? Of course you have to go home when it's time." I said, screwing the bolts together.

"Well...I was just asking. It's so fun living with you too...and Bentley is so cute."

"I know you love him, but you're family misses you. I'm sure they can't wait for these last three months to be up."

"Doubtful." She mumbled. "I'm the odd one out. I'm the only one without a twin. The four of them gang up on me and my parents are too caught up in their own lives to realize it."

"Corey. I understand having that many siblings would be tough...but they're your family."

"No they aren't! I haven't called them...but they haven't called me either!" She yelled, standing up. "I was abused for so long...and they don't even call me when they're halfway across the country!"

"Sweetie..." I whispered, standing up.

"You and Bella and Bentley are the best family I've ever had!" She yelled running over to me. "Don't make me go back!"

"Corey...I'd love to keep you...but you are going to have to go back to your family when it's time." I whispered, stroking her head. "But it's not time yet. So let's enjoy our last few months together and not worry about going home."

Two months had passed since Bentley's birth, and he was slowly beginning to sleep through the night. Corey hadn't mentioned not wanting to go home since Lily was taken home, and neither of us pushed her to call. It hurt to watch her not want to be with her family, especially when I went through what I did, my mother, Bella and Rosalie were the people who helped me get through it.

It was also hard to watch Corey become good friends with the girls at school, since she was going to be pulled them away in two months. But, we agreed nine months was all she needed for Corey to be away from her family. We were all watching TV Sunday night as Corey helped feed Bentley. Helping take care of Bentley came as second nature to her, and a surge of excitement went through me when I saw the two of them together. The phone began to ring and I excused myself to answer.

"Hello?" I asked, since the caller ID was unknown.

"Hi...is this Jasper?" An unfamiliar voice asked on the other line.

"Yeah. Can I ask who this is?"

"Aaron. Corey's older brother." He answered, making my breath almost catch. This was the first time we had heard from anyone in her family, except her mother and that was only to deal with costs and other things like that. "Can I please speak to Corey?" He asked. No one had ever asked to talk to her, and I found it strange after all this time, someone finally was.

"Yeah, I'll go get her." I said, putting the phone down and walking into the living room. Bentley was now done feeding and Bella was helping Corey burp him. She was already so motherly to any baby she was around, and although she was abused, I knew that wouldn't stand in the way.

"Corey?" I asked, causing her to look up. "Aaron is on the phone."

"My brother Aaron?" She asked. I nodded, and her face tensed up. "I'm busy. Tell him to call back." I did as I was told and went into the kitchen, telling him she was busy with the baby.

"Okay. Can you just tell her I miss her like crazy?" He asked, his voice sad.

"Sure. But, can I ask something?"

"Yeah, go ahead."

"She's been here for seven months...why are we just now hearing from you?"

"My parents refused to give me your information. I didn't even know your last name to look you up in the phonebook." He told me and he sounded sincere. I walked back into the living room where Bentley was now laying on the floor, looking up at the rattles and pictures up above.

"He ready for a bath?" I asked, lifting him into my arms. Bella nodded and went into the kitchen to prep his bath. "Wanna help?"

"Well do you even have to ask?" She joked, walking into the kitchen with me. It was great having Corey here, she was our own built in helped and she came in handy a lot. Especially when Bella wanted to sleep, Corey could help me with things like baths, and feeding now that he was taking a bottle. We walked into the kitchen where the small bath was filled with water and Bella left us to wash him. I undressed and dedipared him as Corey got the shampoo out from under the sink.

"Here you go little guy." I whispered, placing him in the tub. He began to fuss when his skin hit the warm water, but Corey held her finger out to him and he grabbed it, calming down immediately. "You're so good with him. You know that?" I asked as I began pouring water on his bald little head.

"I guess it's a woman thing." She laughed. "Can I was him?"

"No, sweetie." I told her. She was a great helped, but she was still only ten years old. "But, you can rinse him. Sound good?"

"Deal!" Corey helped keep him distracted with a rattle so he wasn't fussing while I was washing him. I kept my word and held him tightly as she rinsed the soap off his body. Once we were finished, she cleaned the tub as I out a fresh diaper on and put on his PJ's. Bella and I both put him to bed as Corey showered herself, and it was great watching him sleep so peacefully.

"He is such an angel." Bella whispered as we watched him sleep. We go lucky, he cried the usual amount babies do, but he wasn't a screamer and the crying didn't last long. "We're so lucky."

"We really are." I said, stroking his small little arm before turning on the baby monitor and closing the door. Corey was all ready for bed by the time we went into the living room, and I thought it was as good a time as ever to tell her she wasn't going to school.

"So, Corey. You aren't going to school tomorrow." Bella said as we turned the couch into a bed.

"Really?" she asked sounding confused instead of excited. "Why not?"

"Because, you're coming to work with me tomorrow. It's take your child to work day."

"But..."

"Bentley is too small to go and I thought you might enjoy a different enviorment for a day." I said before she could say she wasn't my child.

Corey was adorable the next morning. She wore her nicest church clothes and had Bella french braid her hair, claiming it was professional looking. She enjoyed my daily Starbucks run, especially when I bought her one of the giant cookies to go with her lunch.

"So, what do we have to do in the office this morning, chief?" She asked as she sipped her hot chocolate like she was drinking coffee.

"Well, I have a meeting which unfortunately, you have to stay in my office for. But then, I'll be in the office for the rest of the day, starring at my computer screen." I laughed as we pulled into the parking lot. Corey followed my every move, from the way I held my coffee, to the way I said hello to Shannon on my way to my office.

"Okay, this is what I do when I really don't have any work...or I'm too lazy to do it." I whispered as I clicked on the icon on my screen. Up popped an older version of Pac Man. "Okay, this shouldn't take long. If you need anything, call Shannon. Her number is right here and her office is right there." I said, pointing across the hall. "And you know the home and Bella's number..."

"Jasper! It's not that big of a deal." She huffed, sitting in my chair. "I'm nearly eleven years old. I think I can handle this."

"I know you can." I said before leaving for the office. The meeting didn't take long just as I'd expected and as I was walking back to my office, I saw Nigel sitting outside of it. "Nigel? What's going on?"

"Corey's parents are here." He said, causing me to tense. "They'd like to take her home now."

"But it's only been seven months..." I argued. "They said nine."

"We said approximately nine. The bastard who's been attacking her was found dead in a dumpster the other day. It's safe for her to go and they won't be followed." He explained to me.

"We haven't done anything to get ready for her to leave." I argued. I wasn't prepared to et her go yet. "We haven't packed any of her things. We haven't disenrolled her in school...we haven't said goodbye."

"Jasper, I'm sorry. But her parents want their daughter back and I'm not going to tell them to wait because she's still enrolled at school." He told me through clenched teeth. "Now, go get her. They're waiting in a conferance room." He said and I bolted into my office. She looked up, her eyes twinkling as usual.

"Hey! So I got kinda board playing Pac Man...so I organized your desk. Now you can see the pictures you have on here." She laughed but once she saw my face, her smile faded and she grew serious. "What's wrong?"

"Corey, your parents are here." I told her and she began shaking. "They're here to pick you up."

"No!" She shouted. "It's only been seven months! I have two months left with you and Bella!"

"No, the guy who attacked you was found dead the other day. You have no worries of him following you."

'I don't care! I want to stay here with you and Bella!" She said, running over to me. "Please! Don't make me go." She begged, wrapping her hands around my waist. It took olympic strength to pulled her off of me so I could bend down to her level.

"I have to." I whispered before there was a knock at my door. I took her hand in mine and led her out into the hallway. Her mother burst into tears of joy as she raced over and hugged Corey tight. I could see the poor child shaking in fear.

"NO!" She shouted as they began to be taken out of the room. "NO! DON'T MAKE ME GO! I WANNA STAY HERE!" She screamed, ripping away from her father's grip. "I wanna stay here with Jasper!" She said, hugging me tightly.

"Corey." I cried as her father came up and picked her up, but her grip wouldn't let go.

"Don't make them take me!" She screamed as he finally freed me from her grip and began walking out of the office with her kicking and screaming.

"I'm sorry." I whispered as tears streamed down my face.