A/N: I think we all understand how stressful the world and life has been. I hope everyone is doing well and if you are struggling know you are not alone. Find your happy place and try to go to it at least five minutes at day. It doesn't need to be physical, it can be mental.

Emmett blows smoke through his nose. His huge fingers tap impatiently on the luxurious leather of the chair. He is pissed and every right to be. Carlisle stands next to the window, his hands stuffed in the tailored pockets of his suit. He is the perfect picture of cool, calm and collected. Only those that know him understand the beast that is currently at the surface. A beast that rivals my own.

This makes the third shipment of coke that has mysteriously disappeared. The second shipment of guns that have been hijacked. All of our men that were transporting the shipments died. No matter how we move whoever is moving against us is one step ahead. I don't like losing. I damn sure don't like to be outsmarted. Carlisle is barely keeping me contained. If we are being honest, if my children were at home and not a hospital these fucking streets would be bleeding. But we can't launch an obvious attack or they would hit us directly and hit us at our weakest spot. We can't put anymore people in the hospital without it being suspicious. I had our PR team release a bogus story that the quads were at home already and have been sneaking Bella into the hospital to see them.

"Did you reach out to Chen," Carlisle asks.

"Yes." I answer.

Carlisle has been tossing out names all night of enemies and friends to see if they have heard anything. No one knows what is going on. We can't exactly tell them that someone is successfully fucking us over. If they even think we are weak they will attack. I'm at my wits end.

"Where is Edward," Carlisle asks abruptly.

That fucking idoit.

"He had to finish something at the club. He should be here soon," I say while looking down at my phone.

Charlie just texted me a picture of Choc and Benny sprawled out in the bed. She looks peaceful. They both do. Choc doesn't seem to get a good night rest unless she is with Benny or has the both of us close. I will admit I never thought I would have a bond with Benny but the kid gets under your skin. His parents are fucking jokes but that isnt the kids fault.

"Did you reach out to the Volturi?" Carlisle asks spinning around a gleam in his eye.

That's all we need right now. Carlisle would give his first born to wage war against the Volturi. I am all for killing every one of those pricks off but even I know that will be a close fight. I don't do close fights...that costs too much money and brings too much trouble.

"No, we haven't thought to ask," Emmett breaks the tense silence.

"Are you daft or just plain dumb," Carlisle snarls. "I'll handle it. Don't go anywhere."

Carlisle leaves the room with a murderous aura about him. Emmett and I share a look. A war is the last thing we need right now. I got fucking kids in the hospital. I mole in my crew. The mother of my child is recovering. A fucking teenager that wants me to play Call of Duty everytime he sees me. A crew that is starting to question who is in power. We do not need to start a war that we could lose.

"How's it going with Rose," I ask after closing my phone.

Emmett stiffens. I turn to look at him expectantly. Choc is the nice one. You either tell me or you don't I will not make you.

"We have established a visitation routine for Wyatt...she wants to go to couples therapy," He ends softly.

"Couples therapy?"

"Baby B, laid into her pretty thick. Apparently, she didn't hold back."

"That's Choc for you. She doesn't back down from a battle," I muse.

Emmett sighs, "What would you do?"

"Left her a long time ago."

"Jasper!"

"Well, you asked. Look, man if Bella did the shit that Rose did we would have been over. And I love the shit out of Bella but I care about myself too." I admit. "She isn't supposed to be your happiness but add to it."

"I don't know. Fuck. We have been through some shit. I could have a shit day and all I would need to do is see her. Rose used to make everything better. But now...I barely can stand to be around her. She is different, man." Emmett expresses.

I nod. Everyone had seen the change in her and him. The more Rose focused on having a baby the more Emmett would pull away. The family watched as they turned into virtual strangers to each other. No one knew how to stop it.

"Do you want to save your marriage," I ask bluntly.

"...I dunno…" Emmett responds.

"Then go to counseling. You both deserve to figure out what you want. This limbo is not only going to hurt you two but Wyatt. And Wyatt didn't ask for this shit," My tone is heavy and dark. One thing Carlisle always instilled into us is the fact we are never supposed to short our responsibilities. Basically, you better be a decent father.

The doors are thrust opened and Edward swagger in with his hair mused. Fucker. That wasn't from Alice; she is at our parents house. Apparently they are fighting about his mistress again. I am surprised that Alice hasn't put a hit out on her. Bella would have.

Edward plops down on the couch next to Emmett. Em glowers at the red head with distaste. I chuckle. He cannot hide his emotions at all; it's part of the reason that he cannot lead. You can tell everything about Emmett by looking at his face. Edward is oblivious to how close he is to being taken out. I lean back in my seat and observe him silently. I first thought that maybe he was the mole, the weakness in my operations. But no, either this fucker is really good or he is just as clean as Emmett. This is going to give me gray hair and Choc will never let me live it down.

"Where the fuck were you," Emmett snarls looking ready to fight.

Edward shrugs his shoulders. "Fucking."

I pinch my nose. The dipshit could have at least pretended to be doing something else. He knows we cannot touch him due to infidelity because made men are to not interfere with the marriage bond. But Alice is a Cullen. She is our fucking sister. He is treading on a thin line of disrespect and cockiness. The minute it crosses over to full on disrespect there will be a bullet in his fucking skull.

"You are late," I tell him. Edward's head swivels around to glare at me. "I don't give a fuck where you place your dick when it comes to business. But this continued tardiness is going to stop or I'll stop it for you."

"What do you mean by that?" Edward asks, looking confused.

"Exactly what I said. Emmett brings him up to date," I snap.

Alice might be too nice to put a hit out for his side piece but I am not. One wave of my hand and that bitch will be gone. We aren't supposed to kill women...well innocent women. If you are a threat you will be handled regardless of your gender.

It's already midnight. I probably won't make it to Charlies in enough time to squeeze into the bed with them. It looks like this will be an all nighter. I am not a happy camper. Carlisle comes storming back into the room around two in the morning his eyes ablaze. Fuck. We do not need a war with the Volturi right now.

"What did Aro say," Emmett asks as Carlisle takes his seat forcefully.

" It's him. I know it's him. As soon as I can prove it...I want his fucking head mounted in my backyard." Carlisle slams his hands on the desk.

"Are you sure," Edward asked, looking at him crossly.

"What the fuck did I say? It is him! We are going to eradicate those slimy fuckers." Carlisle snaps. "Prepare your men but be smart about it."

"We should have taken them out years ago when I said," I stand up straightening my tie. Carlisle glowers at me.

He gets to his feet sizing me up, "Excuse me?"

"I told you to take them out five years ago. But no, you wanted to toy with the limp dick sonofabitch. Now, look at him. His operation is almost our size. This is not a fight we can win alone," I respond, not biting my tongue.

The room goes quiet. You never speak out against the boss. Ever. It doesn't matter if he is your father. He does not recognize family when it comes to disrespect. But I cannot find it in me to regret my words. They are the truth. He should not have let them get this big. Now, he wants to pick a fight with them? Now!

"You will do well to remember your place. You are not king yet," He snarls. "Meeting over. Get the fuck out."

Edward hightails it out here without saying a word. He is really starting to rub me the wrong fucking way. It has also been too long since I killed someone. It is almost like an itch that needs to be scratched. Emmett places a hand on my shoulder, I shrug him off and slide into the car. He soon climbs into the driver side and speeds off.

"Where to,"Emmett asks.

"If we go to war...I am sending Choc and the kids away. I cant...I can't risk it. If something even fucking comes close to them I will lose it," I tell my brother.

"Nothing will happen to them. This won't even be a war." He tries to defuse me.

"No. Carlisle wants blood. Even I want it a little. But we can't do it his way. If we do too many of our people will die and it won't be worth it." I say.

"You have a plan?"

I scratch my beard. "The Irish are my friends and they owe us one. We can count on them. But I want to know why the fuck Aro is gunning for us now."

"That part is very weird." Emmett muse.

"I'm going to shoot an email to Jenks to look into it. Since the bombing nothing has been adding up. I will bet my left nut that someone in this organization is helping Aro."

"It's been a while since we have had a rat. I will get Masen on it." Emmett tells me.

"Yeah, I have him watching Alice. Stop by her place and fill him in. He has always been solid. Don't tell Edward you know he never cared for Masen."

By the time we make all of our stops it is almost daylight. We pull up to Charlie house with a little time to spare. I can feel the anticipation of a new fight settle in my bones. I have to get the quads out of the hospital as soon as possible. It's like I am fighting handicap with them there. I don't want to risk anything. But if I can have them home... Well, if a war is what Carlisle wants then that is what I will do.

"If you do decide to send Baby B off, I'm sending Rose and my kid with them." Emmett says softly. No matter what happens between them Rose will always be the mother of his son. "Just tell me what you need me to do."

"Round up the guys and get them ready. Shit is going to hit the fan before long," I unbuckle my seatbelt but stop.

Emmett turns to me. "What you stuck?"

"Shut the fuck up," I snap at him. He rolls his eyes but waits patiently, "Do you ever feel too lucky? Like shit is too good to be true? Choc brings...fuck...she is everything. Her...the kids...I honestly don't need the rest of this shit if I have that. But I have done some crazy shit, some fucked up shit. I keep waiting for the universe to punish me but they gave me her."

"Enjoy it. We don't get too much good shit...I'm not talking materialistic shit. Like shit like Choc, that only happens in the movies. Enjoy her, the kids, and the peace."

I nod and slide out of the car. He is right. I need to enjoy it while I can. When I step into the house the scent of fresh coffee assaults my nose. Choc cannot be up this early. I walk to the kitchen half expecting to see my short brunette of a fiancee only to be met with her scowling father. He is muttering angrily at the pan where a pancake is cooking. I lean against the doorframe enjoying his struggle. We are spoiled. Choc is a lovely cook and rarely allows us in the kitchen.

"Damnit. How do she make these things without burning them," Charlie mutters as he flips a pancake revealing that he has charred one side.

"Magic." I announce myself.

Charlie looks up not the least bit surprised. He only has one rule. Do not come to his house after committing murder. Charlie is adamant about not being someone alibi. I can make that concession. Little does he know I haven't murder someone in a while...very unlike me. Am I a sociopath? Probably but Choc doesn't give a shit therefore I do not.

"Well, then she needs to tell your son to stop asking for them unless she is going to get up to make them. Why on earth does she put chocolate chips in them," Charlie grouse. He waves invitingly towards the coffee pot, "Help yourself."

Your son. My son. I never really thought about Benny as my kid. Choc normally refers to him in the group with the quads but I never really thought about it. He is my kid isn't he? I actually don't quite mind it as long as no one expects me to know what I am doing.

I walk to the cabinet and grap a mug. Charlie is on to the next pancake having given up on the first. The coffee is very fresh and I am severely thankful considering I have not been able to sleep. Choc is going to have a full schedule for us today I am sure. I turn and decide to take pity on the older man.

"You need to spray the pan so the pancake doesn't stick." I tell him before leaving the room and him to his defenses.

Choc has woven herself around Ben in a protective cocoon. Silky chocolate tresses are splayed out on the white pillow cases. There is a familiar stirring in my chest as I watch her. My eyes sweep from her small frame to the young boy who has implemented himself into our lives. He isn't as sickly looking as he once was, there is youthful glow to him now. Though, the horrid snoring that is escaping him leaves a lot to be desired. I lean against the doorframe and frown.

They should be in our house. They should be in their own space. But the house is still having some work done to it. There are still a few weeks before it will be ready but I think I can convince them to be done in half the time. Choc stirs a soft sigh escaping her lips. Then, her eyes slowly blink open. She smiles lazily when she notices me in the doorframe.

"When did you get here," She whispers as she tries to disentangle herself.

I shrug and hold up the coffee cup, "Not too long ago."

"Hmmm," She muses as she stands up. Her hair swinging around her in a hairlike halo. Then her face scrunches up in disgust, "What on earth is that smell?"

"Your father is attempting to make our son pancakes...please don't give them to him," I do not feel like dealing with a sick child today. "Also, what do you have planned for today? Causal wear or….What?"

Choc is just staring at me. Her mouth is completely open. I take another sip of my coffee waiting for her to snap out of whatever she is thinking about. She is really cute when she is thinking about something hard.

"You..you..you just said our son," She blumbers.

"Well, he is isn't he?"

Tears well up in her eyes. Ever since the quads she has been super emotional. The doctors said it would take a while for things to go back to normal. This emotional stuff I have never been good with.

"So...can we, you know make it official?" She asks pointedly.

Now I am confused, "I already proposed. Pick a date and I will be there. I don't know how much more official you want it?"

"Jay. I mean adopt him. You know make him an official Cullen," She tells me like I'm the child in the situation.

I shrug, "I'll have Jenks look into."

"Perfect and casual wear. I was thinking we can stop by the hospital, check on the house, and we need to get this guy some school clothes," She tells me.

"Cool. I'll shower. Be ready when I am done, yeah?" I phrase it as a question but I really hope they are ready by then.

Seeing the quads is always fun. They are growing and improving a lot. We still do not know when we can take them home. But the doctor assures us that it should not be much longer. They have been in the hospital for seven weeks now. Benny and Choc are always very excited when they see them. I'm terrified. I am terrified of the feelings I have and how easily they can be taken away.

Choc is taking Benny through the different bedding options for his room. He keeps looking back at me when he says he wants something as if I will veto it. Both Choc and I want to give him a comfortable life. Material things don't really mean anything to Choc. She is very firm that will be our approach with parenting. Which I am fine with the last thing I need is to raise a brat. So Benny will always have access to the finer things in life but it will be our duty as parents to teach him the value and to appreciate his fortune.

"I'm not a baby," He pouts as Choc shows him the Batman comforter.

She huffs. "I know. But you like Batman."

"I like Spiderman."

"Same thing," Choc says moving on to the next.

Benny looks stunned and looks to me for help. "It's not the same!"

"It's not the same babe," I come to his defense.

"Well, you help him. I'm going to order the appliances for the kitchen."

This is the first time we have been left alone since the failure at the penthouse. Benny shrugs and puts his hands in his pants. His shoulder slouch into a defense stance like he is waiting for me to lay into him. He is still very scared of me and wish I could stop him feeling like that.

"So...you wanna see if they have a spider man bed set?" I ask.

"Uh, no. We can look at the solid colored ones. They look better," He says trying to appease me.

I turn him back to face me as he goes to walk into a different section. He flinches but I don't release my hold on him. Benny needs to understand that my touch will not bring harm to him. If there is one place in this world that he should feel safe is with us.

"Benny, if you want the room done in Spiderman it does not make you a baby. I had posters on my walls until I was 15. It was the last thing about me to mature and that is saying alot. I had to mature very fast but a part of me was reluctant to grow up and I will be forever thankful for that part," Benny looks up at me with wide eyes as I speak.

He chews his bottom lips nervously, "Will you help me? I don't want everything in Spiderman."

We settle with a red theme with accents of white. The room has subtle Spiderman nods but still remains boyish without appearing too old or too young. Benny is very excited about the idea of bunk beds and having a television in his room. To be honest I think he is excited about having a room that is his.

We exit the business an hour later with Choc complaining about how much we spent. She is still not over the fact that I didn't even flinch when swiping my credit card. To be honest we didn't even spend more than I make in a day. Choc doesn't realize that even when she splurges, she is still very cheap in my eyes.

"Bella, I don't need clothes. I already have some and didn't you say that I have to go to some fancy private school. Don't they have uniforms or something?" Benny tries to reason with her once in the car.

I chuckle. This kid hates spending money more than Choc does. Though I think that will change the older he gets. Choc huffs and turns around to convince him that it is necessary to dress the part. We could really have a tailor come to the house and fit him for clothes. We don't need to go into a germ infested mall.

"Benjamin, you need clothes for outings and you have already outgrown the clothes we bought. You need certain shows for school to go with the uniforms. And every Friday you get to dress out of your uniform," Choc says with irritation creeping into her voice. "Jay, a little help here?"

"You need clothing Benny. Give her an hour tops and we are done." I offer up the compromise to them both.

"Fine," They both pout in unison.

The fuck. Is this what Peter has to deal with everyday? The more time they spend with each other the more they act like one another.

Once on the highway I notice the change in Choc. Her breathing becomes erratic and her eyes dart around to take in each car we pass. I don't even think it's registering that we have a security vehicle in the front and back of us. I have had people reach out to different therapists to confirm my suspicions. Choc is suffering from PTSD.

I reach out to hold her hand that is tightly clutching the armrest. Choc flinches and looks at me in fear and slowly recognition comes back in her eyes. My eyes go back to the road and I am thankful because I don't want her to see how it affects me knowing she is trapped back in her accident.

"Thank you," Choc whispers.

"We can get you in to see someone. There is no shame in that," I respond gently.

Choc shakes her head, "Can you imagine the headlines? Future Cullen experiencing mental problems...admitted to the hospital."

"I never said anything about admitting you. Fuck the headline. Your health is always the priority."

Choc squeezes my hand, "Thank you. It is getting better but this is the first time I have been on the highway since the accident. I think it was the shock more so than anything else. I'll let you know when I can handle it."

"Always."

She beams at me, "Forever."