Chapter Twenty Four
Jasper
I'd taken advantage of the peace to take a ride around the boundary fences while Bella rested. Maggie and Edward had gone for the day while Rose and Emmett had left to pick up a spare part for the truck and wouldn't be back until late.
Knowing Bella was alone in the house I'd only been gone about an hour but even so, I heard her shout my name from the meadow and raced in to find her kneeling on the kitchen floor.
"It's happening, Jasper. Baby is on its way and it's just the two of us. I was afraid you wouldn't hear me."
I lifted her and carried her through to the bedroom, "It's OK. We can do this. We've been here before and we both know how it goes."
I hoped that I sounded more confident than I felt but allowing Bella to see how scared I was wouldn't do anyone any good.
She nodded, "Yes. We did, but Maggie was here then."
I squeezed her hand, "She's here now. I can feel her presence, can't you?"
Bella nodded after a slight hesitation, "Actually, it's good that little Maggie isn't here. I don't want her to see this. It'll frighten her to death."
"I think you underestimate our little girl but I agree it will be easier. Do you want to lie down?"
She was struggling to get up, "No. I think I'll walk around for a bit. It seemed to help with the pain last time and before you ask, no. I do not want you to take it away unless it gets too bad. It lets me know how things are progressing."
I just hope Bug gets here before Edward gets back, Jasper. It would feel wrong for him to be here at such a moment."
"I'm sure he felt that way about me being here when Maggie was born. If he thinks about it at all."
While she paced around the house I text Rose with an update knowing that she and Emmett would come straight back. We had talked about this, the fact that there was going to be blood spilled, and while Emmett was wary of his ability to remain controlled Rose was so determined to be here for Bella if needed that she'd actually experimented with blood stolen from the local clinic. Trying to build up her resistance to the scent. I think the desire to see Bella's baby born was stronger than her thirst for blood.
I was still relieved to get an instant reply telling me that they were on their way.
When they still weren't back two hours later I realized that they must have gone some way off to hunt after picking up the part which was odd because they knew that the birth was close.
Bella was now lying down and when I walked back in to check on her I could see the fear in her eyes, "Jasper, what if something goes wrong? I'm sure Maggie was much quicker than this. Do you think Bug is OK?"
I checked the emotions in the room. Apart from my mild sense of panic and Bella's fear and pain I could sense our child.
"Bug isn't struggling. I think everything is OK. You just need to calm down."
She glared at me and I smiled, "Well, as much as you can under the circumstances."
Bella tried to laugh but it became a grimace when another contraction rippled through her body.
She grasped my hand tightly and grunted as I heard the sound of Emmett's truck pulling up outside. I relaxed a little.
Rose came bursting in looking distraught, "I'll be here with Bella, Jazz. Emmett needs to see you."
I frowned, reluctant to leave Bella under the circumstances but something in Rose's attitude told me there was trouble. She was hiding panic and there wasn't much that panicked my sister.
Bella hadn't noticed but then she had other things claiming her attention right now
"Go on, Jasper. I'll be fine with Rose."
Leaning in I kissed Bella on the forehead then ran downstairs to see what was going on.
To my shock, Emmett stood in the hall with Maggie held tight to his chest.
"What's going on? Where's Edward? Maggie? Maggie what happened?"
Maggie turned to me, her eyes wide and her whole body trembling. She held out her arms and I took her, finding that she clung to me like a limpet.
"What's going on Emmett? Why is Maggie with you? Where are Edward and Angie?"
Emmett shook his head, "I don't know, man. We were driving back when we saw a flash of light up ahead just off the road. Rose recognized Maggie so I pulled up. I thought maybe Edward had broken down or something but there was no car in sight.
It was freaking spooky. Maggie was standing there holding some woman's hand and in front of them was a heap of ashes. She didn't say anything. I don't think she even recognized us at first then she just screamed our names and ran to me. I picked her up while Rose spoke to the woman. She said her name was Angie, she was Edward's girlfriend and they'd run into trouble in town. It seems that Edward heard something that alerted him to danger. He told Angie to take Maggie and run, get back to the farm."
"Where is she now?"
"As soon as she knew Maggie was safe with us, I guess hearing her call us Aunt and Uncle she knew that much, she took off back to town to find Edward. We bundled Maggie into the car and drove here as fast as we could."
"What about the ashes?"
Maggie sniffed and raised her head to look into my face, "That man was going to hurt Angie and take me away. I was so frightened I tried to push him away and suddenly he was on the floor. Angie pulled out a lighter and he disappeared in smoke. What's happening Papa? Are we safe here? What about Daddy? Will the bad men try to hurt him?"
"Hey, no one is going to hurt you. Not while Uncle Em and I are here. You're safe now."
"But what about Daddy and Angie?"
"We'll find them I promise."
"Where's Mommy?"
"Mommy's upstairs with Aunt Rose. You stay down here with us and tell us everything that happened."
Emmett made for the door, "You stay with her. I'm going outside to see if anyone is around. I text Carlisle and Esme as we drove. They'll be here as soon as they can. I wish I knew what the hell was going on."
"Yeah Em, me too."
I could hear the commotion coming from upstairs and knew that Bella was close but Rose could look after her for now. If there was danger coming I would be needed down here.
I listened as Maggie told me about leaving the skating rink and how Edward had suddenly given her to Angie and told her to go.
"Daddy said we should get the car but then he changed his mind and told Angie to pick me up and run. I looked back and saw a man fighting with Daddy. I'm scared Papa."
I held her close and used my gift to calm her. There was enough tension in the house right now without a hysterical child adding to it. However much her fear was justified.
"What happened after you left Daddy, Maggie?"
"We were running along the road and a man stepped out and grabbed Angie. She slipped and I fell onto the grass. He had his hands around her neck and he was twisting. I shouted at him to stop, I grabbed his arm but he was too strong and then I got angry. I was so scared, Papa. I screamed and he suddenly let go. Like a ghost had him in its arms and threw him onto the road. Angie pulled a lighter out and he was gone. It was like magic, purple smoke, and a flame and he was gone. Then we saw Uncle Em and Aunt Rose.
I suspected that quite apart from inheriting some of Edward's and my gift, Maggie had something else. Something that had protected her, but for now, that was just a theory and I couldn't rely on it to happen again.
The front door opened as my phone buzzed and I turned to see Emmett appear shaking his head.
"No one is out there at the moment. Are you both OK?"
I nodded, "Yeah."
I put Maggie down and spoke as calmly as I could, "Firefly, will you go with Uncle Emmett into the kitchen and wash your hands? They're all muddy from where you fell. Then he'll get you a drink. I'll join you in a minute."
Maggie nodded and reluctantly went over to Emmett. As they disappeared into the kitchen I heard her voice.
"Will Angie be OK? And Daddy?"
Emmett instantly reassured her, "Of course. Your Daddy is very clever, he'll find out what's going on and Papa and I will go look for them in a little while."
Once the kitchen door closed I went to the window and stared out. I couldn't see anything untoward or feel anything so I took out my phone only to find a warning from the Volturi.
"Jasper, Maggie is in danger. Have sent help. They will fill you in. Take care. Marcus."
In danger? What the hell did anyone want with Maggie? We had no enemies as far as I was aware. Whatever the danger was the Volturi were taking it seriously and so would I.
A thin cry from upstairs had me up in the bedroom in a second. Just in time to see Bug's arrival into the world. Rose had her mouth closed tight but she was in control despite the blood that smeared Bug and the bedclothes.
Bella lay there looking exhausted but smiled when she saw me and beckoned for Rose to give her our new baby.
I sat down beside her and stared in wonder at the tiny form which lay staring back up at us.
"He looks like his Papa."
Rose grinned then stepped out. I knew she had heard what passed between Emmett and myself but she'd hidden her concern from Bella.
"Are you OK?"
She nodded, "I'll be fine. It wasn't so bad but you missed the best bit."
"No, I have the best bit here with me, you and Bug."
"Yes, I think we'll need a better name than that. When Maggie gets back we can have a family conference and decide on a name for him."
I hesitated then decided not to tell Bella what had happened until I knew a bit more. She was exhausted and would probably sleep for a few hours now.
As she lay back down and closed her eyes I kissed her, "I love you, Bella."
"I love you too, now hurry. Maggie will be back soon and she's going to want to see Bug. I'll talk to her later."
My beautiful wife was asleep before the bedroom door closed and I took Bug down to meet Emmett and his sister and to keep him safe by my side until we knew exactly what we were up against.
Rose and Emmett were standing by the window peering out and looking tense while Maggie sat in the chair holding a book tightly to her chest like a talisman until she saw me.
Jumping up she ran over and stood on tiptoes to look at Bug, her eyes wide with wonder.
"This is your brother, Maggie."
She stared at him then touched his face with her fingers very gently before whispering, "He's so tiny. Was I as small as that?"
"Yes, you were. Do you want to hold him?"
Beaming, she nodded and once she was sitting down I handed him carefully to her,
"Remember to support his head because he's tiny and can't hold his head up on his own yet."
Maggie looked at me scornfully, "I've been practicing with Mommy and Aunt Rose. I know what to do Papa."
I smiled, "I'm sure you do, Maggie."
Looking up from her charge she whispered, "Do you think Daddy is OK?"
"I'm sure he'll be here soon with Angie but if not we'll go looking for him, I promise."
Emmett interrupted, "Jazz, someone is coming up the drive. It's not Edward or Angie. Should we be ready for trouble?"
Peering out I sensed concern and determination, these weren't enemies which meant…
"It's the Volturi. Marcus told me they'd sent some help."
"The Volturi? What the hell is going on, man?"
"I don't know, Em. I'm hoping they'll be able to fill us in."
Rose looked scared, she was terrified of the Volturi, but I knew she was stronger than she appeared and she would defend Bella, Maggie, and Bug with her life.
"I'll go back upstairs and keep an eye on Bella. I understand that she was poorly after Maggie was born so I'd like to check on her. Do you want me to take Maggie and the baby?"
I was reluctant to let the children out of my sight but they were probably safer up there with Rose and it meant I could concentrate on the problem down here so I nodded and she took Bug from Maggie and the three of them disappeared upstairs.
I heard Rose talking quietly as they went, "We should tiptoe, I think Mommy's asleep. Maybe we should go into your room, Maggie."
Emmett watched Rose ascend the stairs, Bug held protectively against her chest and Maggie's hand in hers.
"I don't think I've ever seen Rose look so happy, Jazz. Just being able to hold that baby gives her such joy. You're a lucky man."
"It remains to be seen how lucky. Come on, let's meet our help outside. I don't want Bella to be disturbed. Not yet."
We stepped outside and three figures dressed all in black came to a halt before the porch steps. I recognized them, Felix, Jane, and Alec. They were probably the three most powerful gifts the Volturi had which showed they were taking the threat seriously.
Jane spoke up, "I take it you got Marcus' text? You were lucky we were in the area."
"He said Maggie's in danger. Why?"
Jane glanced at her brother before answering.
"It's the Romanians. They've been waiting for a chance to take out the Volturi. They want control of our world again. We think Stefan and Vladimir are banking on your help to do so. If they can snatch Maggie they can use her to force you, Edward, Bella, and your friends to help them achieve their goal. They don't want Maggie as such, she's just leverage. The baby too, if that's what I can hear upstairs."
I eyed her warily and moved closer to the porch.
"It is, but no one is going to touch my kids."
Felix nodded and his face lit up with a smile, "No. Personally, I think they'll discover that they've grabbed a tiger by its tail, Major. And that's when the fun starts."
Jane glared at him before continuing, "We are here to protect the children and Bella, as she is unable to protect herself. The Romanians are your problem, Major."
I glanced at Felix who inclined his head very slightly, "Aro and the brothers would like to avoid all-out war with the Romanians because it's likely to get messy. They would gather together some of the disaffected nomads, probably try to create a newborn army, and then the Volturi would have to crush them. This way, the 'war' is private between you and the Romanians. Makes sense."
"So, you're going to protect my family while I do your dirty work for you, Felix?"
"I guess that's one way of looking at it, yes."
I glanced at Emmett who stood to one side, eyeing our new arrivals. He caught my eye and shrugged, "I guess it could be worse. At least your family's safety will be guaranteed. Count me in."
I locked eyes with Jane who stared back complacently.
"OK, but you'd better keep to your side of the bargain."
"There's no need for threats, Major. We have our orders. I'll go inside and keep watch. Felix and Alec will remain out here on guard duty. You'd best say goodbye to your wife and get going. Who knows when the Romanians will try again?"
She was right, besides which I needed to find Edward and Angie, so I went back inside knowing how this would hit Bella but also aware that I couldn't keep it from her any longer. That would be wrong on every level.
I just wished Bug's birth could have been like Maggie's. The biggest worry we had then was Edward turning up on the doorstep!
