With his legs crossed on the couch, Jasper looks from the video on his cell phone to five-week-old AJ laying in front of him as he plucks the strings of his guitar. This has become Jasper's favorite time of day. His schedule says it is still school time, but he's gotten into the habit of pushing through his schoolwork as quickly as can so he can have more free time. Esme enjoys the quiet house just as much as he does, so the television stays off and any music that is playing is kept to a low volume. AJ seems to pick up on the relaxed atmosphere and remains calm himself. Sometimes Jasper and Esme plan dinner or fold AJ's laundry together, other times they get caught up in conversation and spend time chatting on the couch. Sometimes Carlisle is home, too. Jasper wasn't sure about Carlisle interrupting his calm and quiet mornings, but it hasn't been too bad. The next two weeks will be interesting. Today is AJ's original due date. Carlisle had requested two weeks off of work months ago when they first got AJ's due date so he could help the household transition into having an infant in the home. AJ may have had different plans, but Carlisle wasn't going to give up two weeks off just because the family has already transitioned pretty well.
Even with Carlisle home, it's still just AJ and Jasper hanging out together as Esme and Carlisle works in the garden in front of the porch. Spring has sprung and Esme's ready to plan the layout of her beautiful flowers and drug Carlisle outside with her. Jasper is fine with that, though.
"I think I finally got it down. Wanna hear it, baby? This was one of your Grandad's favorite songs." Jasper says with a smile. AJ kicks his feet. He glances over the chords for the song one last time before positioning his fingers and singing along softly. "When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be,"
The song is played slower than it's meant to be, and every now and then he stumbles and messes up a cord, but AJ doesn't care. He smiles and flings his arms with excitement. Jasper continues to sing, even when the front door opens and closes. He can hear chatter, but his attention doesn't waiver.
"You better get Beau on the line. Jasper isn't going to like this." Esme whispers to her husband.
"He hasn't had a problem in two weeks. I think he'll be fine." Carlisle rebuttals quietly so Jasper can't hear. He smiles at Mrs. Valerie, Jasper's and AJ's social worker, and nods towards the kitchen. "I'll let him know you're here, and we will join you in the kitchen in a moment."
Esme walks Mrs. Valerie to the kitchen and asks her if she would like a cup of coffee. Valerie accepts, so Esme starts brewing a fresh pot. As she refills the coffee machine, she keeps her eyes in the living room.
"Hey, Jasper," Carlisle says as he approaches Jasper. Jasper continues to play and sing until Carlisle rests his hand on Jasper's shoulder. It makes him stop, and he smiles at Carlisle.
"Look how happy he is. He likes listening to me play." Jasper says cheerfully.
"He does," Carlisle smiles back. "We have company. I need you and AJ in the kitchen."
"Who's here?" Jasper asks as he shifts in his seat to look around Carlisle. As he spots the visitor, his stomach drops.
No.
Why would Mrs. Valerie be here? Jasper has seen firsthand what Mrs. Valerie is capable of doing. She can take AJ away. She's taken other kids away from their biological families. Peter said Mrs. Valerie took him from home for no good reason. Jasper knows she already hates him. She'll take AJ purely out of spite.
"Carlisle, what is she doing here?" Jasper asks in a hushed, angry murmur.
"She's just checking in." Carlisle explains. "That's her job."
"Why is she checking in? Did you know she was coming?"
"No, I didn't. She pulled in the driveway while Esme and I were cleaning up the garden." Carlisle states. "This isn't a big deal, Jasper. Come to the kitchen and talk to her."
"God damn it, Carlisle!" Jasper hisses quietly so only Carlisle can hear him. He slouches in the couch cushions, sinking lower so Mrs. Valerie can't see him from her seat in the kitchen. "Why would you let her come in?"
"I couldn't leave her standing outside!"
"Get her out of here!"
"She just has to check in, Jasper. It's no different than when she would do unannounced visits when you and Rose were in foster care." Carlisle explains. Jasper brings his hand to his mouth, gnawing on his fingernails.
"What did she say? Who called her?" Jasper demands.
"No one called her. It's her job to check in on you and AJ."
"You adopted me! I'm not in foster care! She shouldn't come check on me anymore!"
"You're still on her caseload, and so is AJ. She has to do her job."
"Why is she checking on AJ? I'm a good Dad! I take care of him!" Jasper keeps agonizing. "Did someone call CPS on me? What did I do wrong?"
"You haven't done anything wrong," Carlisle attempts to comfort him.
"She takes kids, Carlisle! She took Peter from his parents and put him in Maria's house! I've seen her move foster kids all around! She can't take AJ!"
"Jasper, she's not going to take him." Carlisle promises and looks over to the kitchen. Valerie and Esme keep looking over towards them. "Go to my office. I'll be there in just a minute. We can talk easier there."
Jasper nods and quickly scoops up AJ. He makes a bee line for Carlisle's and Esme's bedroom and Carlisle goes to the kitchen.
"Jasper is panicking about the visit." He sighs as he explains the situation and looks to Valerie. "He's afraid that you're going to remove AJ from our home."
"There's no reason to remove AJ." Valerie reassures him.
"That's what I told him. He needs some time to pull himself together. We'll be out momentarily."
As Carlisle walks away, he hears Esme fill Valerie in on everything that's happened in the last five weeks. She tells her about going to AJ's one month check up at the pediatrician and how great Jasper did talking to the doctor. She explains how they made a schedule of AJ's care so Jasper can finish his schoolwork and have some free time, and how everyone has been infatuated with the baby.
Once he's inside his office, his heart sink. Jasper has sat on the couch and holds AJ tightly to his chest. Carlisle can hear him whispering to his son.
"I'm going to keep you safe with me. I won't let her take you."
Carlisle sighs. He's heard Jasper cry enough to recognize the tremor in his voice. Instead of taking his usual spot behind the desk, Carlisle sits next to Jasper on the couch. Jasper doesn't even try to hide his flowing tears.
"She's not going to take AJ. Take some deep breaths." Carlisle instructs.
"She will."
"She has to have a reason to take him. Have you done anything to hurt AJ?"
"I made the tip of his finger bleed last week when I cut his nails," Jasper says tearfully.
"Almost every parent has done that, Jasper. It's just an accident. Have you done anything to abuse AJ?"
"No."
"That's right, you haven't. Have you neglected AJ?"
"I take my breaks from him."
"You're breaks don't count," Carlisle corrects him. "They don't count because you leave him with Esme and me. It would only be neglect if you left him alone with no one to care for him. You haven't abused AJ, and you haven't neglected him. Mrs. Valerie has no reason to take him."
"She hates me, Carlisle! She's always hated me! She'll take him out of spite!"
"No, she won't."
"Yes, she will!"
"She cannot legally take AJ from you, Jasper. We've never had a child removed from this home. AJ is going to stay here."
"She hates me and she'll think I'm a bad father!" Jasper says, his voice rising and his breathing becoming more shallow and rapid.
Sighing, Carlisle realizes that he's not making progress in calming him down. Jasper's eyes are wide and filled with worry, his chin trembles, and he looks like a scared little boy. Carlisle needs Jasper calm and collected fast so they can go talk to Valerie, so Carlisle pulls out the big guns. He takes his phone from his pocket, dials Beau's phone number, and turns the speaker on. "I think you need to talk to your uncle."
Jasper bites his lip and nods rapidly.
"Carlisle?" Beau calls from the phone. "Is Jasper giving you a hard time again?"
"No, not this time." Carlisle says and starts to explain the situation quickly. "Jasper has had a good day. His social worker is here for an unannounced visit, and Jasper is on the verge of a panic attack. I'm hoping you can help calm him down. You're on speaker."
"Oh, Jazzy boy," Beau's raspy voice sighs but is filled with love and warmth.
"Uncle Beau, she's going to take AJ!" Jasper repeats.
"I've been trying to tell him that there's no reason for her to take AJ, but I can't get through to him." Carlisle sighs.
"Listen here, Jazzy boy. I've seen the pictures you've sent of AJ. I know you have everything you need and have been taking excellent care of little AJ. You know I trust Carlisle. If he says there is no reason for this social worker to take AJ, then I believe him."
"Are you sure?" Jasper's shaky voice asks.
"I'm positive. You're just like your Daddy, Jasper. You're a damn good father. She won't be taking AJ anywhere."
Jasper licks his lips, sucks in a shaky voice, then speaks.
"Okay."
"Where are you right now?" Beau asks.
"Carlisle's office with AJ."
"Where's the social worker?"
"In the kitchen with Esme."
"Okay. Pull yourself together and listen to Carlisle. Remember, Jazz, that I trust him, and you should trust him too."
"I do trust him." Jasper says with a nod.
Carlisle watches with amazement. Since the first time he called Beau two weeks ago when he was having difficulties with Jasper's behavior, he and Beau have talked multiple times about the boy. Carlisle asks for tips on how to talk to Jasper, but Beau doesn't seem to realize the influence he has. Beau just keeps telling Carlisle to tell it like it is and don't take Jasper's bullshit behavior. He really thinks it's that simple. Carlisle is convinced that Beau could tell Jasper to walk on the ceiling and nail Jell-o to a tree and Jasper wouldn't stop until he figured out a way to do it. He's called Beau two other times between then and now, both when Jasper started getting too lippy. Beau reined Jasper back in without an issue. Now, he's doing the same thing with Jasper's anxiety.
"Good, good. You're going to listen to him and trust him and do what he tells you to do. Okay?"
"Okay." Jasper nods again.
"You got this, Jazzy boy. You're going to do just fine."
"Promise?"
"I promise. Now I'm going to hang up and let you and Carlisle talk. Don't give him a hard time. Do what he tells you. Call me later to let me know how well it went."
"I will, Uncle Beau."
"I love you, Jasper."
"I love you, too." Jasper sighs. Beau hangs up, and Jasper stares at Carlisle with innocent eyes, begging desperately for Carlisle to help him with his fears. "What do I do, Carlisle?"
"AJ won't be removed. We're going to go in the kitchen, and you're going to talk with Mrs. Valerie." Carlisle explains. "You're going to be kind and pleasant towards her. She will not take AJ."
"She will not take AJ." Jasper repeats as he wipes the tears from his eyes.
"Are you ready to go now, or do you need a minute to pull yourself together?"
"I need a minute."
Carlisle nods and watches as Jasper takes a deep breath in, holds it for a few seconds, and slowly releases it. He looks down at AJ, who just coo back up at him and makes him smile.
"Alright. I guess I'm ready."
They stand and Jasper leads the way out of the office. He walks slowly and tries hard to keep his nerves under control. If Uncle Beau trusts Carlisle, then Jasper will too, and if Carlisle says there's no way Mrs. Valerie can take AJ, then Jasper's going to have to believe that.
"He's a very attentive father," Esme tells Mrs. Valerie as Jasper and Carlisle enter the living room. "He's very in tuned with AJ's needs. He's doing so well, especially for being only fifteen."
As Esme talks up Jasper's parenting, Jasper's heart beats so rapidly that he's sure AJ can feel it. He walks even slower once he gets to the kitchen. He repeats Uncle Beau's words in his head. I trust Carlisle. You're just like your Daddy. I trust Carlisle. You're just like your Daddy. Every step he takes feels like one step closer to the lion that's ready to rip him apart.
"H-hi, Mrs. Valerie." Jasper chokes out a greeting. Mrs. Valerie smiles at him and can't help but notice the look of terror on his face. For the majority of the time that she's worked with Jasper, he's been ill-mannered and mean. This is a side of him that she hasn't seen.
"Hello, Jasper." She says. Jasper glances over to Carlisle, who nods encouragingly. Jasper takes a few more steps towards Mrs. Valerie, and shifts AJ in his arms to allow her to get a good look at him. "This must be little Avery."
"We call him AJ." Jasper speaks nervously. "A for Avery, after my Daddy. The J is for James, after Carlisle's middle name."
"That's wonderful. Take a seat, Jasper, and tell me about how parenthood is going."
Again, Jasper looks to Carlisle before moving. He passes AJ to Esme, then goes to the refrigerator where his daily schedule is hanging in a plastic sleeve. He grabs his journal, then sets both in front of Mrs. Valerie.
"I take good care of him. See? I write everything down. You can see every time he's eaten, how much he's ate, when I changed his diapers, how much he's slept." Jasper says as he flips through the pages of the journal. He points to the schedule and Carlisle sits at the table. "And look at this. Carlisle and Esme helped me make a schedule. This is when I do my schoolwork, and this is when I get free time, and then I take over all of his care here until the next day."
"This is very nice, Jasper." Mrs. Valerie praises him.
"He went to the doctors. Look," Jasper goes back to the journal and flips to the page from the visit to the pediatrician. He taps the information on the page. "The doctor is happy with how much he's grown. Esme went with me. Wasn't the doctor happy, Mom?"
"Yes, he was." Esme agrees. "Jasper, sit down, honey."
Gulping, Jasper sits next to Esme. He strokes AJ's cheek.
"He has a lot of people who love him here," Jasper continues his voluble defense. "Rosalie helps a lot, and so does Edward and Carlisle and Esme. Emmett helps when he's over, too. My girlfriend helps. He's so loved. And I'm still doing school and therapy. I've been able to keep up on all of it. I have good grades. My therapist said I'm doing well. I haven't gotten into trouble. Well, I haven't gotten into a lot of trouble." He corrects himself with a heavy sigh. "I'm working really hard at doing the right thing for AJ."
"That's very good," Mrs. Valerie says.
"You're not going to take him, right?" Jasper asks, his voice barely above a whisper. His heart jumps into his throat.
"Absolutely not," Mrs. Valerie reassures him. Carlisle reaches across the table to rest his hand on Jasper's. Jasper lets out a heavy, relieved sigh. "I have full faith that this is a safe and loving home. AJ will not be leaving your care."
"I told you," Carlisle says with a smile.
"You're doing a great job," Esme reinforces.
"Can I have him back?" Jasper asks.
Esme carefully transfers AJ from her arms to Jasper's as she continues to talk with Valerie. Jasper figures that he should be listening, but his heart is still beating as he comes down from the high of anxiety. He focuses all of his energy on watching AJ yawn and close his eyes. His tiny chest slowly raises and falls with every breath he takes.
"We're home!" Emmett's bellowing voice calls from the garage before the door flings open and makes everyone's head turn. Rosalie is close behind him, and Edward and Alice follow behind her. The group of teens enter the house like a tornado as shoes are kicked off and backpacks are flung to the floor.
"Uh," Rosalie stops dead in her tracks as her eyes fall on Mrs. Valerie. She looks to Jasper, who just gives her a little nod.
"It's okay, Rosie." Jasper says.
"Hello, Rosalie. It's nice to see you." Mrs. Valerie greats her.
"Hi," Rose responds, then hurries to Jasper's side and sits next to him. She eyes Carlisle and Esme, looking for anyone to tell her what's going on.
"It's just a check in." Jasper reassures her.
"Just a check in? So everything is okay?"
"Yeah, everything is fine." He responds with a relieved sigh, then smiles. "Carlisle told me it would be fine."
The other teenagers quickly spill into the living room, and Jasper asks if he can join or if he still had to talk with Mrs. Valerie. When Valerie assures him that he's okay to join them, Jasper smiles widely and he and Rosalie quickly leaves the table with AJ in his arms. Alice greets him with a smile and holds her arms out for AJ. Jasper is careful when handing him over. The sight of his girlfriend smiling down at his son fills his heart with happiness.
Valerie, Carlisle, and Esme continue to chat as the living room grows louder with jokes and laughter. It's a rare moment that the entire house is peaceful and happy.
"I know you said you were done fostering, but have you considered doing emergency placements? You would only be providing short term care." Valerie attempts to persuade the couple.
"Oh, no," Carlisle shakes his head. "We can't take on anymore."
"Especially right now." Esme jumps in. "We have our hands full. Maybe when the kids go to college or move out."
"With teenagers, though, it wouldn't make too much of a difference in the household. You have three teens living here already. What's one more kid?"
Carlisle holds back a scoff. They said the same thing when Valerie called them about Jasper and Rosalie. They were used to having one foster kid at a time, but what's one more kid? It certainly can't be that different. Jasper sure as hell proved that one more kid can rock the boat more than anyone could guess.
"We really can't. We're out of bedrooms. AJ is in Jasper's bedroom, and we can't ask Edward to share his room again." Esme adds on.
"Well, just think it over before you give me a definite no. We could really use a good emergency placement home like yours."
Carlisle and Esme begrudgingly agree to think it over, and shortly after Valerie excuses herself and states that she has to go. Carlisle and Esme walk her to the door, thank her, and join the rest of their family in the living room. Jasper has settled into the corner of the couch and Alice sits between his legs with AJ in his arms. He sets his chin on her shoulder and wraps his arms around her waist. Even though Rosalie is busy telling a story about what happened at school today, Carlisle can't pull his focus from Alice and Jasper.
They have no idea what they're doing, he thinks. They're all smiles, but they're young and dumb and don't know that they're just playing house together at this point. They're just kids. They can't vote, or drink, or even drive a car. Jasper kisses Alice's cheek, then strokes AJ's head. He whispers something in Alice's ear that makes her smile, and although Carlisle can't hear them, he can imagine Jasper is promising a beautiful life where they'll be together forever. They have no clue what kind of challenges lay ahead of them.
Jasper catches Carlisle staring and raises his eyebrows questioningly. Carlisle just shakes his head to tell the teenager that it's nothing. Jasper's eyes flick down to AJ, then back up to Carlisle, and mouths the words 'thank you' before kissing Alice again.
A/N: Only one more chapter to go! Thank you for sticking with this story. Please review and tell me what you think. Also, if you've read any of my other unfinished stores (Searching for Words and Family Challenges), which one would you like to see finished next? Let me know, and thank you again for reading!
