Peter glares at me as I push open the penthouse door. I know that both him and Garrett like a heads up with our daily plans so they can prepare for them. But if I told him then he would cover for his boss. It's not that I do not trust Jasper, it's just that I know he knows nothing about raising a child. I doubt that he has laid down proper guidelines with Benny besides do not go in my office. Plus, I miss the kid. Talking to him on the phone does not do his personality justice.

The first thing I notice is that the place is a mess. There are boxes of take out everywhere. And I can tell no one has opened the window because the air is stale in here. I cough once as the air filtrates my lungs. I am going to kill them all.

"I asked you guys to take care of a fucking twelve year old and this is what I get," I hiss at Peter as I step over a pizza box.

Benny has not noticed that we are here. I am going to kill Jay. He is busy playing some game on the huge television that Jasper insisted that we have. I lean against the doorway as Peter makes his way to a window and opens it. I watch Peter sneak up on the kid and yank his headphones off. Benny immediately flinches and I frown. He still does not feel safe. Peter glares at him.

"I'm not your piece of shit family. I was not going to hit you kid," Peter snaps and stalks off.

Benny looks over at me and grins. The next moment I am hugging him and sniffing his hair. Benny just has a way about him that makes you want to love and protect him. He is open with his emotion a character trait that is refreshing in this family.

"So, let me guess all of this talk on the phone about you and Jasper hanging out were lies," I ask looking at him.

He stutters. "Uh...not exactly. He has been eating dinner with me just not here. He has not had time to be here like that. Which I completely understand. There are a lot more pressing things."

"Benny, you are a fudging kid! It is not your duty to understand. He should not have left you here by yourself," I flick and empty can off the nearby table. "Also, why is this place completely filthy?

"Hey, I just finished cleaning," he protests.

I arch an eyebrow at the ridiculous statement, "Where? Not here. Where the fuck is Peter? Peter!"

Peter magically appears a moment later. I look between him and Benny completely annoyed. I had originally planned to surprise Benny with a day out. But that is not happening. Obviously, his mother did not teach him what clean means. Something I will have to rectify before placing him and Jasper under the same roof. That man is anal about a clean house.

"Peter, you call the cleaning company and have someone sent pronto. Before you protest, call in one or two men you trust to keep an eye on them. I don't care what it takes but I want this place completely clean by sundown," I order. Then, I turn to the scared twelve year old boy, "I am not mad at you Benny. I am annoyed with this situation. I want you to go take a shower because you stink and for everything that is holy please use soap. It's yours. You got twenty minutes to get ready. Shoo."

Once, they both leave my shoulders completely slump. It isn't even noon yet and I feel exhausted. Jay has been working overtime to figure out who was behind the shooting and I cannot blame him. But I truly miss him. I am sick of being cooped up on that damn estate which is partially my fault. They did loosen the reigns this week. It's been a month since the shooting. Yet, it feels like yesterday. I settle down in a chair and call a number.

"Bells," My dad answers happily.

I giggle, " Hey, dad, what are you up to?"

"Nothing. I just got back in from the store. How is everything? How's the wounds?"

This man acts as though he did not just see me two days ago. I swear he does not find me competent in slightest sometimes. Though if we are being fair, I did start screwing and got pregnant by a mobster. My track record is not exactly clean.

"Dad, I am fine. Seriously. But I need a huge favor from you," I tell him.

"Anything, bells, what is it?"

"You know Benny?" I hedge. He clicks his tongue and agrees. "Having him in the penthouse is not working out. Jasper is not able to be here enough for me to feel like he is not being neglected. Do you mind if he stays with you for a week or two till I find us a house?"

"You mean the house you have been putting off for a month?" My father snickers.

"Dad!"

"What? You aren't fooling anyone, honey. Sure, the kid can stay here," My dad agrees. "But Isabella in all seriousness, you cannot keep bouncing this kid around if you expect for him to get better."

"Dad, it is-" I try to protest.

"Bella, from what you have told me this kid has had a hard life. I am sure you remember what it was like. It took you ages to feel safe. But you want to know why you did?" I remain silent listening to him. "I gave you stability like the social worker recommended. The kid has been bounced around probably too many times to count with his mother. From what you told me his biological dad was in and out of the picture. Now, you got him and you are taking him from the penthouse to my place. The kid needs a home, Bella."

My dad is right. This is not fair to Benny. I owe it to him and my father to do better in all of this. I know what stability means to a kid. It means everything next to love. I sigh heavily thinking of everything I need to do.

"I understand, Dad. I promise when we come and get him it will be for good," I swear.

Benny has not said anything since we left the penthouse. He was completely floored when I told him the change of plans. Peter looked guilty while I explained to Benny. He knows that this would not have been the plan if they would have done what I thought they were pull up to Jasper office building. Thankfully, there are no paperazzi out here today. Things have been calming down since the shooting.

We make our way to the top floor silently. Oh, I am about to lay into everybody. Peter and Garrett lead us to Jay's office. When we come in he does not look surprised. I am sure he was notified that we would be coming.

"Hey, baby," He gives me a lazy smile. I shoot him a death glare earning a nervous gulp. I settle down on the sofa.

Peter and Garrett start to walk out.

"Nope, you two stay," They turn around looking nervous. "Take a seat."

"Choc, baby, maybe we should talk first," My handsome but very idotic man says.

"Nope," I respond making sure to pop the 'p'. I make sure to make eye contact with everyone in the room. "Welcome to our first family meeting. Everyone in this room is my family. This family is going to grow by four very fucking soon. You know how many that will bring us to?"

"Nine, ma'am," Garrett offers.

"Yes. Nine people. Five kids. Five! I know you guys are under extreme pressure with everything that is going on. But I will not allow this family to take a back seat."

"Choc, I'm sorry I did not go in the penthouse. I have been on a time crunch between you, Benny, and the business," Jay offers.

I nod. "I understand. But Jay you also insisted. No demanded that I stay at the estate. You knew that meant having to cut time between us. This is not a blame meeting. I could have done more as well. I am very disappointed with everyone. We are not moving as a family unit currently but we are going to. Benny is staying with my Dad till we get our home. Arrange the necessary security detail. We will make it a habit of at least going to see him four times in the week, you let me know what days and times work for you. We will call and check on him every day. Am I understood?"

Jasper nods. Benny is crying. I let him. Crying is healthy.

"We do not leave our children to fend for themselves. The bare minimum is not acceptable when it comes to these five. I also have a meeting with Victoria today regarding houses. Jasper, you will be attending it and have already worked it out with your schedule. Any questions or concerns?"

"What is the situation looking like with the quads?'' Peter asks.

I look at Jasper to take it away. "We met with Sue last friday. Originally, Choc was supposed to have a c-section at seven months. We are one week past that. The goal is to get her as close as eight months as possible. We should start having people on stand-by. I do not want the press getting a whiff of this at all."

Jasper P.O.V.

Choc is asleep on my chest as Peter drives us to the realtor office. We just finished dropping the kid off. It didn't feel right leaving him there. We shouldn't have had to leave him there. Choc was right, we let the kid down. But fuck if I know how to make it right. You want me to run a fortune 500 company? Sure, I can do that all day no problem. Want me to run a multimillion dollar illegal empire? Fine, I can do that in my sleep. You want me to be a family man? That is where I draw a blank.

Choc shift and snuggles deeper in my chest. I miss this. I miss just feeling her body against mine. Just existing near her is enough. It is something about her that just calms me. She does not back down from me nor does she fear me. She challenges me to be better than I was before. She accepts me for me and moves accordingly. She deserves more than I can give her on my best day but I can't give her up.

Peter meets my eyes in the rearview mirror. We have a meeting tonight...just my crew. That hit didn't come from a rival company. After we brought in Masen a lot of things didn't add up. Alot. Someone is trying to dismantle us from the inside out. They are doing a damn good job of it too. My brother is on a different continent, my fiance almost died and is on bed rest. One thing they forgot was the fact I am a Cullen through and through. Carlisle didn't breed quitters, he didn't raise pussies, he crafted monsters. They want blood. I will give them blood.

"We're here boss," Peter parks the car.

I look down at the love of my life. She is at peace. I know that she has been battling the after effects of the crash and shooting. If she didn't have any effects from it I would have been worried. When I came home and found Peter on the loveseat I knew it was bad. She didn't feel safe. Damn, if that didn't hurt my ego. I had to take myself out of the equation. Anybody wouldn't feel safe if they had been through what Isabella had. I knew I felt the safest when I could defend myself. She didn't like it but every morning since then we have been going out to shoot. I'm not going to lie...Isabella is a horrible shot. I cannot believe Charlie didn't teach her how to shoot.

"Choc...baby...wake up," I whisper in her ear.

She doesn't like to be startled awake. It terrifies her now. She doesn't use alarms anymore and has been training her body to wake automatically in the mornings. Now, that is something I have yet to master. But Choc, is something magical.

She blinks slowly and grumbles, "Did he have to get here so quickly?"

Choc yawns and absentmindedly caresses her belly. She smirks, catching me looking at her.

"What? Was I snoring again?" She asks.

I can't resist. The next moment I am crashing my lips against hers. She tastes divine. Choc buckles against my lips but then she is in it. Her tiny hands fists my hair bringing me even closer to her face. The scratches against my scalp alights a fire that I have been holding back. I breathe her in...she is in all my senses...if I suffocate in her essence I will die a happy man. Fuck. Its her...everything about her draws me in...she is the perfect predator and I could care less.

She pulls away gently, her cheeks a pretty pink.

"We could just drive away you know," Choc tosses the suggestion out.

I close my eyes hoping I can calm the monster she has brought to the surface. I cannot take my pregnant fiancee in the back of my benz. Can I?

"Peter, would catch us before we could cross the state line," She chuckles, probably imagining the fit he would have. I doubt it has crossed her mine that Garrett would be pissed probably more so than Peter. He still carries the blame of the accident on his shoulders. "Plus, we need a house. You could go into labor at any moment."

"You know what? I cannot wait to not be pregnant," I arch an eyebrow at her. "I love our kids. I do. But my body is not my body. Dude, I could tell you some things."

"Please, don't," I cringe.

Peter knocks on the door before yanking it open. He looks very frustrated as he takes us in. I can't blame him. Choc is a handful and she ripped everyone a new one in the office.

"We don't have all day you two," He snaps before stalking off.

"Hey!" Choc calls after him. "I need help getting out. I'm too heavy."

I watch Peter stalk back to the car with an unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth. Just like everyone else he fell victim to her charm. As much as they fuss and fight they love each other fiercely.

My phone buzzes and look down at the caller id. Shit. I don't feel like dealing with this today. But being the second in command I have to deal with the shit Carlisle feels as though he doesn't have to. I swipe left answering the call. Bella peeks her head in the car having heaved herself out of it with the help of Peter.

"What's wrong," Her brow creases.

"I got to take a call. Go in. I will be there in a moment," I reassure her.

She bites her lip. I know. I want to kiss all her worries away. I swear I'll get her pregnant again just to do this whole process right. I can tell she doesn't want to leave. Bella, has a thing about cars now. She hasn't said it but I know she thinks something bad will happen anytime she is near a car. Choc nods and closes the door against her better judgement.

"Talk." I bark into the phone.

"Did he fucking cut me off? After he left us," Rose screams into the phone.

I cannot deal with this, "First, no he didn't...I did. Secondly, there was a breach and you will have new cards later today. Thirdly, he didn't leave, you kicked him out."

I wait for the screams. I wait for the anger. I wait for the fire that Rose is sure to bring.

"Why am I always the monster?" She whispers into the phone.

"Rose, no one said that." I tell her, pinching my nose in frustration.

She sniffles, "I hate him but I love him."

"Do you even know what you want," I am genuinely curious.

I always knew she loved my brother. I knew she wanted him. Those are absolute truths. But this baby thing I could never quite figure it out. It was borderline insanity in my opinion. She was putting herself and everyone around her though hell. And for what? A baby. I never got that.

"Have you ever just felt smothered with the pressure of being perfect," Rose's voice is barely a whisper.

Actually I never thought about it, "Not really. I thrived on the challenge."

"Of course you do. Your lives are stable because of the women around you. You guys delude yourself into thinking you run everything when that is not the case. You are way more focused now that you have Isabella. But I doubt you know a tenth of what she puts herself through to make your life easier. You guys cannot begin to understand the level of stress we put ourselves under to make sure we aren't a burden and actually make your way of life easier."

I ponder her words. My brother and his wife needs fucking couseling. The thing that Rose does not get is that I do know the stress that Choc is under. It called fucking communication. Since, we can't fuck all I have been able to do is talk to Choc. She is actually a cool person. Now, does she shoulder a lot of shit I wish she didn't? Yes. But she can handle it and she clues me in when she can't. And like I am supposed to, I step in and lift that burden. I need Choc way more than anyone realizes. Of course I know I am more focused. I have way more to lose now. I will be damned if anyone takes Isabella from me.

"Have you ever asked Emmett what he wants?" I ask her.

Silence.

"That's what I thought. My brother is not perfect but he always took care of your needs. Can you say the same," I ask her. There is no response, just more sniffling. "Look, I have to go. Your cards will be there by the end of the day."

I don't give her time to answer. Fuck her. I trusted her with Emmett again after the incident and she broke him. You don't get a third chance in my books. People rarely get a fucking second so she should count herself lucky. I stalk into the building knowing that I am late. I am always fucking late lately when it comes to things we need to do for Choc.

Peter is leaning against the huge oak doors to Victoria office. I am not shocked that he is not tense. I have seen Peter stare down twelve guns without breaking a sweat. The only time I have ever seen him stressed was in the hospital waiting area a few weeks back.

"Baby B almost had a shit fit about leaving you in the car," He comments.

I nod. "Figured as much."

"When we find these fuckers...I want five minutes alone with them," He meets my eyes steadily.

I grasp his shoulder in acknowledgement. He does not ask for much. I can grant him this. Once, I step into the office I am assaulted with a sickenly sweet smell. Fucking Christ. Victoria looks up from talking with Choc to smile at me. What the fuck is that smell?

"Hello, Jasper," Victoria states. "Crap. Is it that strong?"

"Told ya," Choc comments from the loveseat smugly.

I wrinkle my nose, "What is that smell?"

"My dad gave me a plugin. I tossed it an hour ago but the smell won't leave," She looks at her very perturbed. Huh. She doesn't like the smell either. Figures.

Her dad is an asshole but you don't get to the top without being an asshole. Trust me. But despite her father trying to thwart her career at every turn, Victoria has made an impressive name for herself. She is one friend I can approve of for Choc. I settle next to Choc and pull her closer to me.

"So what do you have for us," I ask her.

Victoria takes that question and runs with. As soon as she begins speaking I regret asking. Choc immediately jumps in. I smile at her gratefully. Victoria is a force to be reckoned with and I can admire that. But today I am exhausted.

"I narrowed your search down to ten options. I know that it isn't a lot but with the requirements you had this is the best."

I am not surprised when the first home she shows us is in my parents neighborhood. Esme would be over the moon if we lived that close to them, I would shoot myself in the foot. I need space while being within distance of them. I glance over the specs but my interest has already dissipated. Choc does not care for this one at all either. I chuckle as she shakes her head vigorously about if it is a second one is a sprawling mansion that boasts a six car garage, sea salt swimming pool, and a renovated kitchen.

"What community is this," I ask her.

"That is Hollow Creek. It's a very prestigious neighborhood and very rarely has anything on the market. The son is trying to get back at his old man by listing it. Honestly, the price is more for the location than the actual home." Victoria explains to me.

We are on the sixth house and about to make Victoria tear her hair out. But this one is promising. It has the eight bedrooms that I told Choc I really want, an office on each floor, new kitchen, and a garden.

"This one is nice," I mumble.

Choc nods, "I like that one too. I like the bathroom in the master. Though I am not super fond of the location."

"Lemme see," Victoria takes the listing out of my hand. "This is cute but nice is not what you are looking for in a home. Here take a look at this one. I printed it off for one of my father's associates but never got the chance to give it to him. It is kind of on the bigger side and needs a little TLC."

I take the offer paper from her. She wasn't lying about it being huge. This isn't a house or a mansion. This is an estate and I know Choc would love it despite how big it is. It has a cement wall that wraps around the property with two large metal gates with security posts. The house itself is a work of art. The main part is a huge square with a wing on each side that connects to form a rectangle. The house is built around a garden area that reminds me of a Italian design.

"I don't even want to know the price," Choc says after a while.

"Good because I can probably get them to take a few million off," Victoria says nonchalantly.

"I like that the kitchen has windows, I can serve the kids breakfast and they can see the outside at the same time," Choc tells her.

Immediately, I envision four dark haired children at the table. Choc serving pancakes with a smile on her face and her hair down creating a beautiful veil.

"Winner…winner…chicken dinner."

"Jay, isn't it too big," Choc says.

Nope. I can see her excitement in her eyes. I can tell she wants this but does not think she should have this. She promised to create us a home and I am going to help her get the one her heart desires.
"Nope, we are about to have four wild ones running around," I smile at her. She relaxes realizing this is actually happening. I turn to Victoria, "Submit whatever offer you feel is best."

After going over some finer details with Victoria we take our leave. Choc hand is gripping mines as we step into the elevator. I look down at her already with a smile but quickly frown. She doesn't look too good. She is sweating profusely and I can already tell her feet are swollen.

"Baby, what's wrong," I ask her tilting her head up to look at me.

"I don't feel too well, Jay." She whimpers.

Peter looks back at my lost face with apprehension. Something is wrong. I pull out my phone and call Sue. Peter helps me get Choc out of the elevator and to the car.

"Hello, Jasper," Sue greets on the second ring.

"Something is wrong," I tell her.

Sue wastes no time, "Where are you?"

"Leaving our realtor. Choc looks like she is about to faint, her feet are swollen, and she is sweating." I bite out as we ease Choc in the leather seat.

"Get her to the hospital now. I'll have a team on standby." She ends the call.

I meet Peter eye in the rearview mirror, "Go to the hospital."

My fingers find Emmett's number next. He also answers quickly, probably shocked to see my number. I have not bothered him since I sent him to our grandparents.

"Bro, how is it going," He says cherrily.

"I need you...we are taking Choc to the hospital." I bite out.

"On my way. Jasper, I know you are scared even if you won't admit it. But you need to be strong for her right now," He tells me. I end the call without saying anything. He is right...about everything.

Choc moans and leans into me. I rub my fingers through her hair. Even though my heart does not want it to happen I know what this is. Isabella is in labor and it is not looking good. Choc squeezes my hand in pain, before, calling out. Peter swerves startled.

"Something is wrong," Choc looks up at me, tears falling from her eyes. "Jay, you have to promise me."

I nod. "What?"

"Choose them. If it comes down to me or them. It's them it's always them." She tells me through sobs.

God, I don't know if I am strong enough.