Chapter Three: A Chance Meeting
APOV
She hurried across town she was going to be late because of that bloody women.
She huffed, the latest applicant for the new position had not known the first thing about fashion or working on a cash register, a while that normally wouldn't have deterred her to hire the women she needed someone she could rely on and that knew how to handle herself without assistance; that women had shown she had been able to do neither and the last customer who had come in before closing had left with nothing but a sour taste for the store and to top it all off, she was now going to be late getting Ollie.
"Esme I am so sorry" she sighed as she rushed through the door, "I had a new applicant and well, she didn't work out," she finally looked up to notice the young women sitting next to Esme, "Oh sorry I didn't mean to interrupt".
"It's OK Alice" said Esme. "This is my daughter-in-law Bella, Jakes mum".
She smiled, "oh it's nice to meet you. I'm Alice Brandon, Ollie's mom" she said extending her hand.
"It's lovely to meet you," said Bella as she slowly got up and shaking her hand while her other was resting comfortably on her large belly.
"Bella was just filling me in on the goings on with the bump" said Esme.
"Oh yeah all the pains and kicking" said Bella, laughing as she rubbed her stomach.
"I remember that" she said, laughing "Ollie was always kicking me when I was in the last couple of weeks clearly; clearly he couldn't wait to get out".
Bella nodded "Jake was the same, I thought my husband Edward was going to have a heart attack every time Jake did anything" said Bella laughing along with Esme as they both remember Edward's frantic worried self.
"Mom," said Ollie walking over Violet and Jake in tow "You were late" he pouted a little.
"Sorry sweetie" she said kneeling down. "I had a new applicant today but I am here now, and I got to meet Jake's mommy," she stroked the boy's hair.
Ollie looked thoughtful, "Well OK, if you got to meet Jakes mom, then that's not so bad" he said, causing her to grin and give him a big kiss on his forehead.
"Well I guess we better get going," said Bella, looking down at the other two children "Violet, your daddy will think we have actually stolen you".
"Silly Auntie Bella" said Violet "Daddy knows you would never steal me, although Uncle Edward, he isn't to sure about".
Bella laughed loudly at that, as did Esme "Well you tell your uncle Edward that if he does try to steal you, his mommy won't be very happy with him" said Esme still chuckling Violet nodded her head seriously.
Bella carefully leaned over slightly to grab her purse when a shocked expression flitted over her features.
"Mommy, daddy said you should always tell someone if you need to go to the potty" said Jake seriously.
She looked up at the same moment as Esme before quickly looking down to see a small wet patch on the floor "Bella did your...?" Esme inquired with shock filling her voice.
"Yep" replied Bella still looking quite shocked.
"Oh" she said looking around. She quickly grabbed a mop. "Esme, you better take Bella to the hospital I'll clean up here don't worry."
Esme looked around and then looked at the children standing in front of them, confusion evident on their faces, "I'll need to go in with Bella until Edward arrives. He works at a hospital over in a different town on Friday's and I can't leave the kids on their own" she said "Alice please will you come with us?"
"Uh, I don't really know; I mean you don't know me that well" she replied.
"Alice, move your tiny butt now and get to the car" shouted Bella as the first contraction hit
"Yes ma'am," she said quickly mopping up the puddle. "OK Ollie, Jake and Violet I want you to hold each others hand's; we have to take Bella to the hospital OK?" she asked.
The children all nodded and grabbed each other's hands, and she grabbed Ollie's before she followed Esme and Bella outside.
"We'll take mine," said Esme "it's the biggest", they all made their way around the building to the teacher's car park and piled into Esme's SUV, she checked that the children's seat belts were all buckled before they sped off towards the hospital.
She moved forward in her seat making sure that Bella was doing OK, she was sweating and her face was screwed up in pain as another contraction rippled across her stomach.
"Alice," said Bella softly "Can I hold your hand?", she could only nod and grabbed her searching hand, clenching her lips together as her hand was squeezed hard by the slightly fragile looking woman in the car.
They made it into the hospital, parking the car at the front "I'll move it later" said Esme as she helped Bella out of the car and walked slowly to the admissions entrance.
She quickly helped the children out of the seatbelts, making sure that they were all holding hands and walked them into the hospital, slowly taking in the white walls and busy atmosphere of the place that had once held many nightmares for her.
"Mrs. Cullen," said a chirpy young woman on the front desk, smiling.
Esme smiled down at the woman that she had come to know well since she had taken over the job from the previous head nurse "Angela, Bella's gone into labour a couple of days early. Can you get a page through to Carlisle and set her up in a room?" inquired Esme.
The young woman, Angela, looked at Bella a small smile on her lips. "Of course Mrs. Cullen, Bella, I'll get someone down to transport you, do you need someone to watch the children?" she asked Esme.
"Oh no we have a family friend with us, she said she'll look after the kids" said Bella searching out for her hand again as another contraction swept through her frame.
Angela smiled at them all and quickly picked up the phone, "Eric can you get a wheelchair, we have Bella Cullen here at front office. She's in labour, get Maternity Room 2 prepped" with a nod, she hung up quickly and picked up the tanoy microphone, "This is a page for Dr. Cullen, please come to front office immediately, again Dr. Cullen to the front office immediately" she turned back to them and indicated the waiting room behind them.
Esme smiled "thank you." She turned back to the others and led them over to the waiting chairs, Bella shook her head and began to walk up and down the hall the pain making it difficult for her to keep still, and she situated the children and walked in step with Bella, her hand fitting back into the crushing grip.
It felt like an age before she saw a young man heading towards them with a wheelchair and she hoped it was Eric ready to take Bella up to the maternity ward, she noticed the blonde doctor behind him and assumed it was Dr. Cullen answering the page.
"Bella" said Carlisle walking towards them and gently kissed her on the forehead "it's time huh?" he said smiling
Bella only nodded, gripping her hand tighter, causing her to wince slightly. Carlisle turned questioning eyes to her "Alice Brandon" she said feeling like an errant school girl under his gaze.
"Alice helped get the kids in the car and will look after them until everyone can get here" said Esme
Carlisle nodded "Nice to meet you Alice, sorry it couldn't be under less painful circumstances" he said nodding to her hand held in the vice grip, she laughed a little.
"Eric this is my daughter-in-law take good care of her" said Carlisle turning to the orderly.
"Of course Dr. Cullen, let's get going Mrs. Cullen" said Eric looking down at Bella who nodded and grabbed Esme's hand as they headed off.
"I'll contact the boys, and then I'll meet you up there," said Carlisle and meet you up there, "are you alright with the kids?" he asked her and she quickly nodded.
"OK good, if you follow them, there is a more comfortable waiting room up on the maternity ward" he said.
She nodded and grabbed Jake and Violet's hands while Ollie grabbed onto Violet's before following Esme and Bella upstairs.
Walking into the warmer room, she let the children head over to the toys in the corner of the room and sat down looking at the clock, her thoughts on the past as she looked around at the pale walls.
The door opened and she smiled as Esme walked through, "Hello" she said, "Carlisle is with Bella and her doctor, I thought I'd come check on you and grab Jake so he can see her".
Alice nodded "I'm OK, how is Bella doing?" she asked shocking herself slightly with how much she cared about the answer.
Esme took a seat next to her, waving at Jake as he turned to see the new arrival to the room.
"She's doing well; totally calm actually probably trying to compensate for when Edward gets here".
She gave her a quizzical look "my youngest Edward, has always been a bit on the cautious side and loves his plans but ever since he became a doctor... well lets just say the planning and cautiousness have gotten a little out of control".
She laughed nodding and understanding all the little things Esme didn't say.
"Well I better get back with Jake, I'll have him brought back with a nurse" she said standing up and she smiled as they both left the room.
Another hour past before she was visited again, this time by Dr. Carlisle expressing his apologies that she was still here but the others where stuck at work and in Edwards case, in surgery so it might be a while before they got there, she let him know she didn't mind and continued to watch the clock after he left.
She looked over to the children and could see the Violet's eyes where drooping lower, she called the little girl over and patted the chair, and was a little shocked when she crawled into her lap and fell straight to sleep, Jake and Ollie followed her example and moved up to the chairs and both fell asleep on either side of her, she smiled softly down at them and wondered how long before they would hear anything more.
The door opened, she slowly looked up to see a blonde man standing and looking a little breathless, her breath caught as his eyes found hers, a deep blue that drew her in and she wanted to look at them forever please don't let him be Edward she silently prayed.
"Hi" she softly said not wanting to wake the sleeping girl in her arms "I'm Alice Brandon, Bella's in room two, congratulations by the way" she gently tucked a loose curl behind Violet's ear as she shifted closer to her.
The blonde man coughed "oh no I'm not Edward I'm his brother Jasper, Violet's dad" he said smiling down at them.
"Oh sorry" she said blushing "I thought-never mind" she stammered a blush highlighting her cheeks "I'm Ollie's mom, Esme asked me to look after the children while they are in with Bella," she said becoming very aware of a sleeping Violet on her lap. "Violet looked so tired; I said for her to try and sleep on the chairs but, she just crawled into my lap," she could feel the flush making it's way down her neck she must look like a tomato, "and well the boys decided to follow suit" she rambled.
"Vi does that, takes family and friends by surprise sometimes; thank you for looking after her, I was caught up at school couldn't leave until the lesson ended and then there is always that one kid who wants to ask about a million questions" said Jasper a bright smile on his face, she couldn't stop looking at him his bright blue eyes and blonde curling hair.
"Jasper" called a voice from the door she looked up to see a very attractive blonde women, her face bright with a smile, her own smile fell as she pictured how the two of them probably knew each other".
"Rosalie, I'm glad you got here. Edward's out of surgery, finally, but the traffic is backing up to the hospital so it doesn't look like he will be here any time soon. Bella's in room 2, we can go in, in a few minutes" he said facing the blonde Rosalie.
Rosalie nodded before catching sight of her and the three children. She raised her eyebrow in a questioning glance.
"Rosalie, this is Alice Brandon, she's a friend of Mom's and Bella's, and she's kindly looking after the children" said Jasper, smiling at her.
She couldn't help but smile back. "Alice this is my twin sister, Rosalie Cullen" said Jasper, causing her smile to get bigger.
"Nice to meet you, Rosalie" she said stretching her hand out slightly, not wanting to move the little sleeping girl that was still in her arms.
Rosalie smiled down at her niece, giving her hand a firm shake before she was flitting out of the room and down the hall; she assumed to see Bella.
"She's very excited," said Jasper in way of explanation.
"It's understandable; her sister-in-law's having her new niece or nephew. I would be excited to" she said.
Jasper walked over and carefully took Violet from her lap, causing the small girl to frown at the movement but she didn't wake up, Jasper then carefully sat down next to Jake settling Violet in his own lap.
"Thanks again for looking after them" he said softly.
"It was a pleasure besides I thought Bella was going to rip my head off if I didn't" she said laughing a little, Jasper laughed as well, a rich sound filling the room, the sound made her look at him again closer this time, his pale complexion and curly messy hair and those beautiful eyes all drew her in, she looked down to see the way he was just holding Violet made her want to get to know him. "Well I guess the monster and I better be getting home, will you tell Esme I'll see her when she's back at school" she carefully stood up slowly to wake her legs up a bit.
"Uh you could stay if you want" said Jasper looking up at her "I mean, I'm sure Bella will want to apologise and show off her little baby, and Edward will want to thank you for taking care of Jake" he said quickly.
"Uh sure" she said smiling slightly "I guess we can stay" she sat down gently pulling Ollie onto her lap and Jake a little closer while the three children slept they began to silently discuss what Bella might have, either a boy or a girl, and if Edward would get there before the whole show was over.
JPOV
Hurry up he mentally shouted at the car in front of him, he needed to get to the hospital quickly, the call he had received from his father had set everything into slow motion, Bella was early and that meant Edward would be panicking, and Violet and Jake where probably sat on their own somewhere not truly understanding what was happening. He honked his horn twice sighing in relief as the slow poke in the car in front turned right, and he sped up to the hospital.
"Hi Angela" he said as he walked into the reception area, greeting the women briskly but he was sure she would understand. "Where's Bella?" he asked
"Mr. Cullen, Bella's in Room 2 on the maternity ward go straight up" said Angela a smile on her face.
He raced upstairs and quickly found his mother, who let him know Violet and Jake were in the waiting room down the hall; he jogged down the brightly lit corridor and opened the door to see a woman with deep black short hair holding his Violet just as she looked up at his unexpected arrival. He noticed she had the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen, and he smiled.
"Hi" greeted the women "I'm Alice Brandon, Bella's in room two, congratulations by the way", he looked at her confused watching as she carefully tucked one of Violet's stray curls behind her ear, the action endearing her to him already.
She thinks I'm Edward he thought the realisation causing him to laugh which he hid behind a cough, "Oh no, I'm not Edward, I'm his brother Jasper, Violet's dad" he said, smiling down at the both them.
"Oh sorry" said Alice a faint blush gracing her cheeks "I thought-never mind" she stammered a little, shaking her head "I'm Ollie's mom, Esme asked me to look after the children while they are in there with Bella", she said quickly and shifted a little in the seat. "Violet looked so tired, I said for her to try and sleep on the chairs but she just crawled into my lap", she shifted again. "And well the boys decided to follow suit" she said nodding to the two boys on either side; he noticed she was rambling a little, causing him to smile.
"Vi does that, takes family and friends by surprise sometimes; thank you for looking after her, I was caught up at school couldn't leave until the lesson ended and then there is always that one kid who wants to ask about a million questions" he said as way of an explanation, he noticed she watched him talking trailing her eyes over his features and he felt a flush of his own begin to rise up.
"Jasper," called a voice from behind him, he turned to see his sister, Rosalie, he thought he saw Alice's smile fall a little but was caught up in the excitable tornado that is Rosalie to quickly to really focus on it.
"Rosalie, I'm glad you got here, Edward's out of surgery finally but the traffic is backing up to the hospital so it doesn't look like he will be here any time soon, Bella's in room 2 we can go in, in a few minutes" he said which really meant that Bella was starting to panic a little that Edward wasn't here.
Rosalie nodded her understanding almost turning to head straight back out when she caught sight of Alice and the three children; she lifted one delicate eyebrow in silent question to him.
"Rosalie, this is Alice Brandon, she's a friend of Mom's and Bella's; she's kindly looking after the children," he said unable to help smiling at Alice.
He noticed the small smile she sent his way, "Alice, this is my twin sister, Rosalie Cullen" he said noticing her smile getting bigger which caused him to frown in confusion slightly.
"Nice to meet you, Rosalie" said Alice stretching out one of her small hands; he noticed how she was careful not to disturb his small girl on her lap.
He watched the cogs begin to work in his sister's brain, smiling down at her niece and shook Alice's hand before she was saying goodbye and flitted out of the room, hurrying off to Bella's side.
"She's very excited," he said in way of explanation of Rosalie's quick departure.
"It's understandable, her sister-in-law's having her new niece or nephew; I would be excited to" said Alice softly.
He walked over and carefully lifted Violet from Alice's small lap, finally able to see how small and delicate she truly was, and he gently sat down on the other side of his sleeping nephew, Violet quickly settling herself against his chest.
"Thanks again for looking after them" he said softly, not wanting to wake up Violet.
"It was a pleasure," said Alice smiling across at him. "Besides, I thought Bella was going to rip my head off if I didn't," she said laughing a little, her laughter was like tinkling bells and he wanted to hear her laugh more often, the comment caused him to laugh as well, he knew what his sister-in-law could be like when she was pregnant. "Well I guess me and the monster better be getting home, will you tell Esme I'll see her when she's back at the school," said Alice as she stood up, gently shaking her tiny legs to get feeling back in them he thought, she really was tiny probably 5'3" or under; he would guess and so fragile he didn't want her to go.
"Uh you could stay if you want" he said quickly, saying anything to make her stay a little while longer. "I mean, I'm sure Bella will want to apologise and show off her little baby, and Edward will want to thank you for taking care of Jake," he said and I don't want you to go anywhere without me he thought.
"Uh sure" replied Alice "I guess we can stay" she sat back down and gently pulled Ollie into her lap and pulled Jake a little closer. He smiled at her caring nature; they waited there with three sleeping children and hushed conversation.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review the previous chapters. I hope you enjoyed this one.
Disclaimer: all the adult Cullen's, Brandon's, Nessie and Jake belong to Stephanie Meyer; the other kids are all my own imagination.