Chapter 36

'Your son?' Esme squeaked taking a cautious step forward her face shocked and confused. Carlisle walked up to Rosalie and tried to catch Neo's attention. Neo smiled and leaned forward for a hug. Carlisle scooped the toddler into a hug and began checking him over.

'Do you guys care to explain?' Edward said as he watched Carlisle examine Neo. Rosalie continued cooing over the baby while Emmet cleared his voice to explain.

'Neo's parents were one of the first people to come to the centre to get a proper education for themselves and Neo. They were beautiful people, very kind and generous. Unfortunately Adesola had aids and died soon after her first visit. Mwakah, Neo's father was so consumed by grief that he committed suicide,' Emmets face was solemn has he remembered. Esme let out a sob and I felt that my cheeks were wet. Emmet continued.

'In the suicide note that he left he granted me guardianship over Neo. I gladly accepted and called Rosalie to tell her the news. She soon came to the centre and immediately felt a motherly bond to him. Since then we have rebuilt our relationship and become something very new, we are a family,' He said smiling. He moved over to Neo and Rosalie and put his arm around them. Edward stood still with shock while Esme cried. Simultaneously Carlisle and I reached forward and hugged the couple.

'Congratulations!' We chanted happily. I put my face close down to Neo and his small chubby hands pushed my cheeks together. He laughed and Rosalie offered him to me. I happily accepted, hugging my new nephew.

***

The flight back was worse than the flight too Africa. We now had three more people with us, including a grumpy baby. Esme was sick again this time worse than before and I joined in. We were so happy when we touched down. When we waddled into the airport we heard Alice's squeal. She sped down and hugged Emmet who swung her around happily.

'Hey sis' He said putting her down and kissing her head. She smiled and went to hug Rosalie but stopped when she saw Neo.

'They know you took him right?' She asked seriously. Rosalie laughed and nodded pulling her into a hug.

'Yes this is Neo, our son, your nephew and Atticus's cousin,' she said all in one. Neo waved and smiled slightly. Alice stared on in disbelief. Jasper finally caught up. He was pushing a pram which contained an irritated looking Atticus.

'Thanks for running out in the middle of changing the nappy Alice!' he said looking as irritated as Atticus.

'Rosalie has a baby!' She accused pointing at Neo like she was five.

'That's new,' he said looking the tot over. Rosalie placed Neo down who ran over to Atticus, pointed his finger and looked back at Emmet,

'Baby!' he said loudly. Emmet nodded and got down on one knee.

'Neo, this is Atticus. Can you say Atticus?' He said. Neo pulled a face and then looked back at Atticus.

'Cus!' he said proudly. Emmet shook his head.

'Close enough,' he laughed. Jasper got down next to Emmet and Neo.

'Hey little guy, I'm Uncle Jasper, far cooler than your Dad,' he said smiling. Neo laughed and head butted into his chest playfully. Jasper hugged him and looked to Emmet.

'Care to explain,'

***

After hearing the story once more we all travelled home. Atticus and Neo played together enjoying each other's company. They were adorable.

'Its so good that Atticus finally has a friend,' Alice doted as she fished through her designs to find clothes for an already comfortably dressed Neo.

'Alice, I am almost positive that Neo doesn't need clothes,' Jasper complained, holding an already huge pile of outfits.

'I am just being a generous aunt,' she said sniffing. Jasper placed the clothes down and walked forward to see what was wrong.

'Al?' He question. She was crying. I too stepped forward.

'What's wrong?' I asked looking at Jasper who shrugged.

'I just feel bad, none of us knew about this boy and we aren't prepared and Christmas is coming and he won't have anything. I'm a terrible aunt,' she wailed.

'Alice there is still Christmas eve to go shopping,' I reminded her.

'But all the good stuffs gone,' she was now beside herself. Jasper tried to hug her but she pushed him away, now angry. I rolled my eyes and walked out. I wasn't in the mood for her mood-swings. I went into the lounge room and flopped on the couch next to Esme who was reading quietly. I switched the television on and began channel flicking when Rosalie burst in and snatched my arm dragging me to the bathroom. I didn't even have time to protest. She slammed the door shut and looked at me worried.

'I can't do it again!' she said tears forming in her eyes. I looked at her in shock.

'I'm late,' she said hyperventilating slightly. I had no idea what she was talking about until she emptied the contents of the grocery bag onto the counter. I gasped.

'How late?' I exclaimed feeling uncomfortable. In front of me was a pregnancy test. She swallowed and looked at me guiltily. She muttered something I didn't understand. I leaned in closer.

'I didn't hear you,' I said and she cleared her throat.

'Four weeks,' she said. I gasped. Four weeks was a long time. 'I didn't think anything of it, I'm always irregular, but then I hopped on the scales and saw that i had gained a significant amount of weight,' I looked into her eyes and saw how desperate she was.

'Pee!' I ordered leaving the room. She complied and soon enough we were waiting for results. She paced nervously while I watched to see the stick turn an indicative colour. I almost cried when it turned positive. I couldn't see them go through this again. It was too hard.

'Rose, its positive,' I said holding up the evidence. She clasped her hand to her unborn child and let out a whimper. She sat on the edge of the bath and I comforted her. We sat there for hours until Alice came to see if we were okay. We explained to her the situation and she too joined us. It was moments later when she perked up.

'Weren't you sick from minute one when you were pregnant with Oscar?' She asked sweeping Rosalie's hair to the side. She nodded.

'You say you've already gained weight, which means you must at least be a month,' she said waving her hand. I didn't follow and by the looks of it neither did Rose.

'What are you trying to say Alice?'Rosalie asked.

'The doctor said you rejected the pregnancy before, wouldn't your body have rejected it already?' she asked simply. Rosalie smiled and I joined in.

'Maybe I'll get my big family after all,' she exclaimed. We nodded.

'Don't tell Emmet, I don't want a fuss built up if it doesn't happen. Will you both come to the Doctors with me?' She asked. We both nodded.

***

'Your sister in law is right,' the Doctor said carefully. 'This doesn't mean it's going to be a risk free pregnancy, but it doesn't appear although your body is rejecting the foetus, you're extremely lucky. It is rare that people who suffer from your condition have children without drama,' he said thoughtfully. 'I think you should spend the nine-months under close observation either here at the hospital or with an at home nurse,' he added as an afterthought.

'My father in law is a doctor, as well as my brother in law. Would that count?' She asked hopefully. He nodded.

'With the right equipment,' He finished. She smiled and patted her stomach.

'Would you like to see your baby?' He asked guiding her to the bed. She nodded and hopped up. The doctor sat next to her on one side while Alice and I waited anxiously at her other. She pulled her t-shirt up so the doctor could use an ultrasound. He squeezed a jelly on and started looking. We could hear the heart beat. He started asking questions about her history as it thumped healthily. Rosalie answered paying no real attention. She was focused on the blurry grey screen.

'Do twins run in your family?' He asked as he moved the ultrasound stick around. Rosalie nodded.

'I'm a twin,' she said, still watching the blurry screen. Suddenly the heartbeat echoed. She looked up.

'Is it okay?' she asked fear through her delicate voice. The doctor nodded.

'Looks like your carrying on the gene,' he said smiling. 'Congratulations, your having twins,' he said. We all looked shocked but Rosalie smiled.

'If they are anything like me and Jasper, they'll be just fine,' she said happily tracin her finger across the screen.