Chapter Four: Love's Journey

APOV

She looked at the clock again. They had been there for four hours, and she hadn't seen Esme or Carlisle since they had popped in briefly, before rushing back to Bella's side.

Jasper had also gone to see how things were going, anxious about his sister-in-law and his brother.

She looked down at Violet, she had woken up as Jasper had slowly placed her on the couch and immediately crawled back into her lap, the boys had also woken up but they were quietly playing in the corner with some toys as they all waited.

The door opened showing Jasper and a bronze haired man who could only be Edward Cullen, his face was drawn and his eyes dull. She feared the worst.

"Alice, this is my brother Edward," said Jasper, introducing the silent young man.

She smiled lightly, "Edward, this is Alice Brandon; she has been looking after the children while Esme and Carlisle were with Bella".

"Thank you" said Edward looking up at her.

"Is everything OK?" she asked quietly to Jasper as Edward went to sit with Jake and Ollie.

Jasper nodded "yeah, he's just a little out of his depth. My brother loves plans and Bella going into labour early was not one of them" he said tightly.

"And?" she asked knowing there was something more; she ducked her head in embarrassment. It wasn't any of her business; she wasn't family, she was barely a friend to them, but she saw the fear in the other man's and they all seemed so nice; she really would hate for anything terrible to happen to them.

Jasper looked up, "There's been a little complication. It seems our newest arrival wants to come out backwards" he said looking over at Edward who just sat silently with Jake in his lap, staring at the wooden block tower the boys had built.

She nodded, understanding the complication and large risk it was, Ollie had almost been like that but they got him turned around in time; she had been more than thankful when the doctor informed her of that and the labour had proceeded on without to much problem.

"Dad said it didn't look like they could turn it so they are going to take her up to the operating room and give her a caesarean".

She looked over at Edward no wonder he's so quiet she thought "I thought it might be a good idea to get him to come and see Jake while they prepare Bella and then he can go up with them"

She only nodded, she could see it was tearing Jasper up to see his brother and sister-in-law like this, a tightness around his eyes giving away his worry and pain.

The door opened again to reveal Esme and Rosalie "Edward, they're ready to take her up," said Esme, and she couldn't help but watch as Edward carefully placed Jake back on the floor with a brief kiss to the top of his head before he was getting up and heading towards the women. Esme gently placed an arm on his shoulders as he made his way over, Jake sat quietly with Ollie and she just wanted to give them a hug. They didn't really understand what was happening and Jake just looked so confused as to why his daddy was so upset.

Edward turned to her on his way out "Thank you for looking after Jake, I think Jasper and Rosalie can take over now" he said before heading out of the door.

She looked up; that was a dismissal if ever she had heard one, she gently placed Violet in Jasper's lap and stood "Alice he didn't mean it like that" said Jasper as she grabbed her bag.

"No, its fine," she said. "We should be getting home anyway, it's way past Ollie's bedtime and we have errands to run tomorrow," she quickly made her way over to Ollie "Come on sweetie, it's time to get home".

"I want to stay with Jake" said Ollie looking up at her, a sad look on his face at having to leave his friend.

"You can see Jake on Monday and I'll bet he will have a loads to tell you" she said, helping him put on his coat.

"OK" Ollie grudgingly agreed. "I'll see you Monday, Jake" he said before running over to Violet, who was waking up "See you Monday, Violet" he said, quickly running back and taking Alice's hand.

"It was nice to meet you both," she said to Jasper and Rosalie as she quickly checked around to make sure she had everything. "Please give my congratulations to Bella and Edward" She walked down the hallway, listening to Ollie's day which he thought was not as exciting as the car journey with them that afternoon, as she walked out of the hospital doors, she remembered that they had come in Esme's car and hers was all the way back at the school. With a sigh, she pulled out her cell phone and called a taxi to drop them off at the school front gates.

She quickly drove them home, and made him a quick sandwich, hoping the light meal would be OK for his dinner, she made sure he had brushed his teeth and helped settle him into bed before heading back to the kitchen and making herself something to eat and clearing up the dirty dishes, he thoughts quickly turning to Jasper Cullen and his wonderful smile and lovely voice.

The sound of her cell phone ringing brought her out of her thoughts, she looked down at the phone lying on the counter, she grabbed it up, 'Emmett' was flashing up on the screen, she quickly picked up the call, smiling as she answered.

"Hey Emmett," she said

"Tink" boomed the voice "where have you been, I tried calling you a couple of times" he said.

"Oh sorry Em, I had to turn my phone off in the hospital" she replied cringing as the words left her mouth, knowing her brother would over-react.

"What happened, are you OK, is Ollie OK?" asked Emmett, worry filling his voice.

"Yeah Em, we're both fine, a woman at Ollie's school went into labour. The teacher's her mother-in-law, and she asked me to look after the children so I went to the hospital" she said smiling at her over-protective brother.

"Oh" said Emmett "I'm glad your both alright, is the woman OK?" he asked typical Emmett worrying about everyone and anyone.

"We left before she had the baby" she said "but I am sure she is fine".

"Good" said Emmett "well the reason I called is to let you know I'm coming to visit probably next weekend and can stay a little while".

Alice stood stock still, the smile disappearing "Did something happen?" she asked worried, fear starting to pulse through her.

"No Alice, every thing is fine; I thought I would come down to visit you" he said quickly reassuring her.

"Oh" relief flooded her, finding her smile again at the thought of Emmett coming to visit she replied with greater enthusiasm "That's great, Ollie and I can't wait" she said smiling again as the fear receded.

"So next Saturday I'll probably arrive about noon, I am assuming I can stay in the spare room" he said.

"Of course you can, noon next Saturday, I got it, I'll tell Ollie; he will be so excited" said Alice tidying up the rest of the kitchen and turning off the light.

"OK Tink see you then, keep safe" said Emmett hanging up.

Alice hung up the phone and placed it on her bedside table, and gently climbed into her bed, her dreams full of a blonde haired, blue eyed man with a deep laugh and beautiful voice.

"Mom" called a voice from the side of her bed, she woke with a start at the unexpected arrival "Ollie are you OK?" she asked Ollie was rarely up before her and not after being up so late.

"I'm hungry" he replied smiling at her before running from the room to go sit at the breakfast table no doubt she thought as she quickly got up and grabbed her robe, heading down to the kitchen and began fixing breakfast for both of them.

"So your uncle Emmett called last night" said Alice taking a bite of her waffle, she looked up to see the spoon hovering halfway to Ollie's mouth. "He said he's going to come and visit us next week for a little while" she smiled as Ollie began to grin.

"Cool, I can't wait to show him my room" said Ollie beginning to eat again.

"I also thought he can pick you up from school a couple of days and we can go to the park for football" she said watching the grin spread over his little face.

"I have to go to the shop today are you OK with that?" she asked as she washed up the dishes, she hated dragging him into the shop but she still hadn't found anyone else to work.

Ollie nodded enthusiastically, "OK well go and brush your teeth and get ready", Ollie quickly ran to his room while she finished with cleaning up the kitchen before heading over to her own room and picked up some jeans and a jersey top.

"You can stay in my office and play on the computer if you want, and I also have some of your toys in this bag" she said placing it down by the small coffee table and sofa.

"If you need me, I'll be at the front of the shop so just come and get me OK?" she asked watching as he took in the much changed room.

The morning swept past quickly in a blur of happy customers and four sales, she heard Ollie calling for her, and she quickly put the out for lunch sign up and headed into the back.

"Hey sweetie, you ready for lunch?" she asked, Ollie nodded and got up from the sofa quickly taking her hand. She led him outside and down the street to the small sandwich bar she had been to a couple of times in the previous weeks.

They decided to eat in the little park that was close by, and Alice sat down and listened to all the things that Ollie had been up to that morning, from the war that he waged on the dinosaur people to the small math game Mrs. Cullen had told him about. She took it all in with a smile just happy to spend some proper time with him.

"OK I promise it won't be much longer, another two hours then I was thinking about picking up a pizza and watching Monsters Inc, how does that sound?" she asked watching the grin spread just before he launched himself at her. "So you like that idea then" she laughed as she hugged him tightly.

"Yes mom, I can't wait, I promise I'll be really good until we go home" he said in a rush.

Alice just kissed the top of his head and headed back out to the front of the store, turning the sign to open she waited for a new stream of customers to walk through her door but her mind had already fast forwarded to that evening with Ollie and wished that he would always be that easy to please.

Alice watched as the last customer left the store, happy at last, she stuck her head around the door to her office "you ready to head home?" Ollie nodded she headed over and packed up his toys while he quickly put on his jacket.

She turned off the lights and turned the closed sign on the door, stepping out into the slightly chilly late afternoon air, locking the door she grabbed Ollie's hand and headed towards her car and their perfect evening.

JPOV

He watched as Alice left the waiting room, he understood Edward felt under pressure and was worried about Bella and their unborn child but that was no reason to be mean to someone who had been helping them, and the way she had looked, it hurt him to see her look like that.

He looked up at Rosalie who was watching him intently, "you know he didn't mean it like that, won't even realise that he said it in a hurtful way" she said understanding that Edward sometimes just didn't realise how his words and demeanour effected people.

He shook his head it wasn't the point "doesn't matter now" he said looking down at Jake and Violet playing with the toys in the corner of the room. Rosalie nodded and came to sit next to him they couldn't do anything but wait now for news about their sister-in-law and their newest niece or nephew.

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