Chapter Thirty, A Birthday and the Birth
"Jasper," Valerie called, looking up at him from where they were cuddling on the sofa watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; while Jace was having a nap.
"Yes, my love?" Jasper asked, kissing her forehead tenderly pulling her closer to him under the blanket.
"We need to plan Jace's second birthday soon. It's already September first and I'm already five and a half, nearing six months pregnant." Valerie fretted.
"Hey, shh. Calm down darlin' everything's under control." Jasper hushed, his accent thicker; kissing her tenderly as he combed his fingers through her hair.
"I've given Alice and Iris the notebook containing our ideas for Jace's birthday. They pretty much have everything now, including our presents for him and even matching outfits for us."
"Really?" Valerie asked hopefully, Jasper nodded a tender smile upon his face. "You're amazing, thank you Jazz. What would I do without you?" She asked, tucking her head under his chin as she returned her attention to the film as the title scene came on.
"You'll never have to find out." Jasper promised, kissing her head as he pulled her closer. All he really needed in his life were his wife, sons and daughter and that's it.
The day of Jace's second birthday dawned bright and early. Jungle themed invitations had been sent out to close family and friends to attend Jace's party at Jasper and Valerie's house at two o'clock in the afternoon today. While Valerie and Jace were getting their much needed sleep the night before, Jasper, Alice and Iris were setting up the house ready for the party while Rosalie, Emmett and Carlisle helped make the food at their own house which they'd bring over close to the party. Outside there was a handmade beach wood sign made by Jasper's tender loving care, it was situated at the start of the drive with green and orangey-brown balloons weighted down beside it. The top of the sign said: 'Welcome to Jace's Safari'. Followed by: 'Treats', 'Let's explore' and 'Rumble in the jungle'.
Inside in the living room there was a table dedicated for the presents with fake parcels wrapped in brown paper, and logs around the table. Plastic jungle animals sat around strategically on the table around the edges and on the wall behind was another wooden sign, 'Welcome to the jungle.' In the kitchen/dining room - where the food would be kept - was another sign on the wall, 'Two Wild' which was painted in animal prints with animal printed balloons on either side of the table. The table was even showcasing the theme with a snake-styled ham and cheese baguette which was nearly a foot long sat beneath a giraffe print tablecloth, large bowls of carrot, cucumber and celery with small bowls of dips, platters of different types of fruits, sausage rolls, jugs of juice. Valerie had made an amazing jungle themed cake for Jace which had taken her days to make.
Finally, outside in the garden, there was a table set up with a similar theme to the one inside but with palm leaf paper plates and decorated with more animal toys. Near to the doors there was a basket full of cuddly toys with adoption papers Leah had made up so they could 'adopt an animal' as a party game as Jace was still too small for proper party games.
"She'll love it!" Jasper beamed looking around at the house and garden that fully looked like a safari now that he and his sisters were finished.
"I told you!" Alice beamed happily, clapping her hands. "Right, we're going to hunt. We'll be back later." She announced flitting out of the house with her mate just as a sleepy Valerie made her way down the stairs.
"Jasper?" Valerie called sleepily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before she caught sight of their house and gasped stunned. It was amazing.
"Darlin'? What're you doing up, you should be resting!" Jasper admonished gently, pecking his wife's lips in greeting as he wrapped his arms around her hips.
"I couldn't sleep. Your children would not allow it." Valerie grumbled through a yawn, burying her head into his chest as she snuggled in his arms.
"My children, huh?" Jasper asked amused, an eyebrow quirked as he stared down at her lovingly.
"Yes." Valerie smirked unrelentingly, tilting her head to look up at him. "When they don't allow me to sleep they're your children." The serious tone lasted for all but five seconds before they both descended into laughter.
"I love you." Jasper whispered, kissing her intensely, stumbling blindly to the sofa where he sat with Valerie in his lap. Not once breaking the kiss.
"I love you too." Valerie whispered, tucking her head under his chin and enjoying this blissful moment... until, Jace was calling for them upstairs bringing with his calls the real start of the day as they all got changed into the matching safari outfits Alice had chosen for them, but Valerie picked out the actual outfits Alice had just gone with the theme they had written down for Jace's birthday.
"Happy birthday my handsome boy." Valerie cheered, picking him up and holding him close as she peppered his face in kisses causing the toddler to giggle happily.
"Happy birthday my li'l wolf." Jasper cheered, kissing his curly blonde hair.
"Dada!" Jace cried happily, reaching for Jasper for a cuddle after a ten minute cuddle with his mother, allowing her to go get ready.
"You know," Valerie mused as she breaded her hair into a french fishtail braid. "Instead of going to school constantly Alice really should got into party planning. She's really good at it."
"I agree." Jasper stated, wrapping his arms around her from behind as he rested his hands on her bump. "I'm fed up with attending school over and over again. I'm not doing it anymore. I have a beautiful and amazing wife, a kind, handsome and funny son and two more beautiful babies on the way. I'm spending the rest of my eternal life with you and that's final."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Valerie beamed happily, resting back against her husband as her back was getting a bit sore already, as they watched Jace play with the toys they'd given him for his birthday. She had a feeling the twins would be here any day now.
The party had been a great success and everyone had had an amazing time. Jasper and Valerie especially loved seeing their son so happy and being surrounded by love from his many aunts, uncles, grandparents and of course themselves. As September crept on by, however, the discomfort Valerie had been feeling for a few days suddenly came to fruition while she was watching 'Into the Woods' with Jasper, Seth, Leah and Cara. Jace was with his nanny Melinda and Grandpa Jean-Paul for the day. Surprisingly, Emily was shopping with Rosalie and Alice was shopping for some new clothes for Bree, Jace, the twins and Emily's niece; Emmett, Carlisle, Esme and Bree were hunting. Sam, Paul and Jared were working as well as Rachel and Kim, Angela was with her family, her Dad was also at work. Jake, Embry and Quil were taking it in turns to train the new shifters Brady and Colin who were even younger than Seth and patrolling the lands.
"How're you feeling Val?" Seth asked, handing her a bowl of chocolate covered mango pieces (it seemed to be Valerie's craving again, she supposed her love for mangos carried over to her babies), as they got ready to watch some Into the Woods. Sighing, Valarie snuggled more into Jasper curling her feet up beside her.
"Thanks Seth. I'm okay, just in a lot of discomfort." Valerie replied, smiling softly at him.
"Is it like when you were in labour with Jace?" Cara asked halfway through the film (after more waves of pain).
After she said that Jasper and Valerie shared a look and their eyes widened almost comically.
"Shit." Jasper gasped, earning a glare from his wife, even if Jace wasn't in the house it was a habit by now. "I'll call Carlisle." He said, as he fished his phone out of his pocket and dialled the number quickly.
"It's okay my love." Jasper soothed, as he ran his fingers through my hair. "It's only the early stages. You're okay darling, you're going to be alright." Jasper assured as he lovingly kissed Valerie's temple helping her relax.
"What would I ever do without you?" She asked, as she gave him a loving kiss.
"I ask myself that too. But we will never have to know that, as we'll always have each other." Jasper said seriously, as he pulled Valerie closer, running a soothing hand up and down her back that helped with the contractions. Two hours later, the movie was coming to an end and Leah, Cara, Seth and Valerie had been singing all of the songs as if they knew them off by heart. Which they do. When Valerie was suddenly hit with the strongest wave of pain yet, making her cry out in agony.
"It's okay baby. It's alright." Jasper soothed as he rubbed small circles on his wife's back.
"Where the hell is Carlisle?!" Leah snapped.
"I'm here." Carlisle announced, as he walked through the back door, a flask of fresh blood in his hand which he quickly handed to the pregnant werewolf.
"How do you all know the songs off by heart?" Emmett asked.
"Really Em?" Rosie asked incredulously, walking into the house with Alice. Obviously someone had informed them as it wasn't Jasper, not that Valerie noticed at any rate.
"What?" Emmet asked in mock confusion, sending Valerie a wink when she let out a giggle.
"We used to watch it every time Val came back in the summer and Christmas holidays." Leah explained.
"Kim and Emily introduced it to all of us and we used to watch it all together, including Sam." Seth added.
"Okay. We need to get you to your room, Val." Carlisle explained after he had finished examining her and timing the contractions while Esme set everything up in her room as there wasn't time to move to their home. "Val, I know you want to give birth naturally. But bare in mind these babies are stronger than Jace and could try and bite their way out if the labour takes too long. Or your body may give out before you birth one baby, even with your werewolf gene." Carlisle explained gently.
"What if," Cara started before Valerie could even comprehend what was said. "What if Seth, Leah and I help?" She suggested. "You have Jasper's venom in needles right? So what if we standby with them ready. Just in case." Cara said slowly, almost painfully.
"That would work Jasper." Alice assured her best friend.
"You would do that?" Iris asked, surprised.
"Of course. Val is our best friend and means everything to us. We know Jace's labour was painful but, this one, how many mothers survive?" Seth asked, afraid, his voice shaking.
Carlisle shared an uncertain and hesitant look with Esme and Jasper.
"Grandpa?" Bree asked when no one answered.
"It's very slim." Valerie answered, immediately seeing the pain on everyone's faces, especially Jasper's.
"But we've taken...argh, oh fuck that hurts...every precaution to make sure I survive. But there's never been a werewolf pregnant with a hybrid baby that we know of." Valerie gasped in between the pain.
"Jasper, I don't want to leave you, Jace, Aubrey and Cameron." Valerie cried, tears running down her cheeks.
"You won't, baby. I promise." Jasper swore as he wiped away her tears and pressed a loving kiss to her lips, but venom tears still filled his own eyes.
"Carlisle do a c-section." Valerie panted in pain.
"I told them that is what you had already decided on." Alice exclaimed.
"Not the time Alice." Rosalie scolded, coming back into the living room and handing Carlisle the morphine. Valerie didn't even realise she'd left.
"Okay Val, by the time we get to your bedroom the morphine will be working. Iris, Emmett go and make sure everything is ready." Carlisle ordered, as Emmett, Iris left to do as asked Bree following after her Dad and auntie.
"Ready my love?" Jasper asked, as he carefully picked up his wife and carried her upstairs to their bedroom. Once they reached the bedroom he quickly helped Valerie out of the white and blue striped T-shirt and navy leggings she was wearing and into a nightgown, before laying her on the bed.
"Jasper, why don't you go downstairs with Emmett, Bree, Iris and Alice." Esme suggested, as she and Rosie set up everything for the babies and anything Carlisle said he needed.
"No! I'm staying with my wife." Jasper denied, as he wiped the sweaty hair from Valerie's head, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
"I'm sorry." Valerie apologised, drowsy from the drug as she held Jasper's hand tightly.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart. Leah, Seth top draw." Jasper ordered, not looking away from his wife's eyes as she cried out again at the stronger contractions as they came closer and closer together.
"No, I do. I do." Valerie insisted. "I know you wouldn't let anything happen and took every...every precaution. I'm sorry." She apologised.
"Oh baby." Jasper sighed, kissing Valerie's forehead and then her lips. "You have nothing to be sorry for, I know it was just the pain talking. I'm a pathokenitic remember." Jasper laughed, making Valerie laugh drowsily. Before a frown turned down her lips.
"Why do you feel sad?" Valerie asked Jasper worriedly.
"Oh darling." Jasper laughed softly. "I'm sad because you're in pain." He said as he kissed her lips. Distracting her from the pain from the incision that was just slightly there.
"Okay Val, you're doing so well. Just about to meet your second baby." Carlisle coaxed.
He stopped then tried again, only to stop again.
"What is it Carlisle?" Esme asked worriedly .
"The scalpel won't cut the embryonic sac. I'll have to bite into it." Carlisle explained. "Rose, give her some more morphine now." He ordered.
"Won't that be too much?" Leah asked worriedly.
"It might." Carlisle agreed. "But once I bite into her, my venom will be excruciating and will burn right through the morphine. Cara, Seth I want you to tie a tourniquet above her elbow straight after the morphine and inject one needle of venom. Tie it as tight as you can and have the other one ready." Carlisle instructed. "Jasper..."
"I'm not leaving." Jasper growled. Major starting to come through, Carlisle nodded relenting, dropping the argument. He waited for his instructions to be completed before biting into the sac, making Valerie scream in absolute agony. She barely heard Jasper's words of love and reassurance over her own screams, her wolf dancing madly in the back of her mind; not a moment later a baby's cry wrenched the air, cutting through it like a knife.
"It's a boy." Carlisle exclaimed, with a smile on his face that looked a little frightening with the blood around it.
This time around Jasper could cut Cameron's cord, Esme standing by to quickly clean him up, dressing him in a white and camo baby grow and matching white hat with his name on it in orange writing, the baby grow was white on the top and camo print on the bottom, on the white half it read, 'Daddy's hunting buddy.'
"Here we go Mama. Your second little prince." Esme smiled as she placed Cameron in Valerie's arms. He looked like a mini Jasper with his honey blonde curls but with his mother's green eyes.
"Hi baby." Valerie cooed, pressing a kiss to his forehead, before looking up at Jasper with a wide smile. Jasper kissed both of their foreheads, a wide smile of his own spreading across his lips.
"He looks like his Daddy." Valerie said happily.
"I would say he has your smile and your nose and definitely your eyes." Jasper denied, before kissing Valerie's nose and lips after kissing Cameron's, which made her giggle.
"And here's Aubrey." Carlisle announced, as he pulled out their first daughter, and their third child. Once again Jasper moved away to cut Aubrey's cord. Out of the corner of her eye Valerie saw Seth staring enthralled at Aubrey, who was now in Rosalie's arms, and she knew he had imprinted on her. Not that she minded. Jasper took Cameron from Valerie's arms as Rosie brought Aubrey over for her mother to hold.
"Hi baby." Valerie cooed again as she held my finger much like her brothers did. She noticed that Aubrey looked like an almost carbon copy of herself, but with Jasper's brown eyes.
They were perfect just like their big brother, Jace.
"Wait until you both see your big brother. He is going to love you as much as your Dada and I love you both." Valerie whispered, kissing both of their foreheads and Jasper's lips. Aubrey was dressed in a white and rose printed baby grow with a matching rose printed hat and on the white part it read, 'Daddy's Princess.'
"They're both perfect, my love. Like Jace is, and Aubrey is the perfect blend of her mother." Jasper said with a large smile. "Darling stay awake! Stay awake Val! Carlisle?!" Jasper asked frantically.
"It's the morphine and my venom. Leah releases the first lot of venom and injects the second into her heart, Seth." Carlisle ordered, snapping Seth out of his trance of fear and surprise. As his eyes flickered from Valerie to Aubrey before injecting his Alpha Luna with the second lot of venom into her heart. All of the venom fell like fire coursing through her veins and it made Valerie want to scream; scream in pure utter agony. But she was too drowsy and didn't have the strength to do it, instead she just closed her eyes that felt like lead.
Jasper's P.O.V:
"Why is Val this still?" I panicked. 'I can't lose my wife, I can't.' I thought.
"Listen to her heart Jasper." Carlisle instructed as he finished up. "It's just the morphine slowing everything. We were well within time, don't worry. Why don't you go for a hunt and then be here for your wife and children." He suggested.
"I'm fine." I insisted. "It's just Major and the worry."
"We all know you have great control Jasper, especially around your family. We're not disputing that, we're saying it's better to hunt and blow off some steam." Esme assured me soothingly.
Sighing I nodded my head reluctantly agreeing as it wouldn't hurt to hunt. Kissing Valerie's lips softly, then Aubrey who was now in Rosalie's arms and then Cameron's, I turned towards Seth.
"I know you have imprinted on Aubrey, like with Jace, and I accept it. Like I know Valerie already knows and has accepted it. As long as you treat her the way Leah treats Jace, then we're good." I said firmly, holding my hand out to Seth before giving my son to Esme.
"Thank you Jasper." Leah and Seth said in sync.
"She will be okay, won't she?" Seth asked worriedly as he looked at Valerie.
"She'll be just fine." Carlisle assured with a soft smile.
"Go on Jasper." Rosalie coaxed, smiling softly. But I could feel the pain and worry she felt for Valerie, and it didn't really help keep Major in check. "I'll have her all cleaned up by the time you get back, and I'll have the three cots moved into your room for the time being. Along with Valerie placed on clean sheets in your bed." She assured me, like the big sister she pretended to be.
"Thank you Rosie." I said gratefully, kissing her cheek. Kissing Valerie, Aubrey and Cameron once more, I took off to Jace's room giving him a kiss. Jace had come back twenty minutes ago, before I went for a quick hunt.
Arriving back twenty minutes later. I jumped up onto my balcony, showered and changed into black coloured jeans, a white top and a checkered shirt over the top. Opposed to the cameo beige trousers, green top and blue shirt I was wearing earlier. After slipping my feet back into my black trainers , I gave Valerie a loving kiss to the forehead, nose, cheeks and lips. I noticed Rosalie, Iris, Alice and Esme have already worked their magic, there was no sign of any blood or sweat on her and she looked gorgeous. Valerie's nails and toenails had been painted a dark green to match her shoes, she had a beautiful short black dress on that had a mesh v-neckline and beading at the top. Along with green and silver eyeshadow surrounded by grey, dark eyeliner and Valerie's famous red lipstick.
"Stop smudging my masterpiece Jasper!" Alice shouted up the stairs just as I went to kiss my wife again. Looking over Valerie, I saw she had on the jewellery I had given her for our anniversary, emerald diamond earrings, a matching necklace and a snake ring, and her hair was half up and half down. She pulled the Slytherin look off very well; always has. I don't know if it's 'cause I want it to happen faster, so I can have my wife back and our children their mother. But I could swear her hair was curlier than normal and more blonde than before, more of a platinum blonde now. Ignoring Alice I kissed my wife again, and again.
'If we want to kiss our wife, our gorgeous mate then we will!' Major growled in the back of my head.
"Come back to us soon darling. I miss you and our three beautiful children miss you." I said giving her one last kiss to the lips and knuckles, wiping the print off of her knuckles with my thumb before I went downstairs to my children.
"Nice lipstick Jazz. It suits you." Emmett teased, earning a huff from Alice as she stomped upstairs to fix her 'masterpiece'.
"Dada." Jace called happily from Bree's lap, reaching his arms up for me. Looking very adorable in his blue jeans and white and black jumper.
"Hello my handsome lil' wolf." I said, taking him into my arms and kissing all over his face.
"You really do look so much like your mother and your other father." I exclaimed kissing Jace's forehead as I held him close.
"Mama. Mama." Jace shouted, looking around the room for Valerie.
"Mama is asleep right now lil' Prince, but how about you meet your baby brother and sister." I said trying to distract him from Valerie not being here.
"They've been fed. They have formula with some blood in it, not a lot, just a little." Carlisle explained.
Nodding and sending a 'thank you', I concentrated on my three children.
"Baba." Jace said pointing at the two bassinets where Aubrey and Cameron were sleeping.
"That's right lil' man." I praised, giving him a kiss and making him giggle. "That's your baby brother Cameron and your baby sister Aubrey." I explained, sitting in the armchair beside the bassinets. Smiling as Jace babbled away to them even though they were asleep, and showed them his wolf stuffy. Looking up I saw Bree filming Jace interacting with his siblings and sent my sweet niece a soft thank you. I knew Valerie would greatly appreciate that having missed out on three days. Just like I knew Jace was going to be a great big brother, all we needed now was Valerie back and we would be complete.
Notes: who should be Cameron's imprint?
Cara is imprinted with Quil. Leah is Jace's. Seth is Aubrey's. Jake is with Angela. Paul is with Rachel. Sam is with Emily, and Jared is with Kim. Colin is Bree's imprint.
So that leaves Embry and Brady. Or should he have someone else? Comment your suggestion.