Disclaimer: Again, Stephenie Meyer owns the characters other than Anya and Killian who in my opinion rock!
I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of you for all your support with this story! It's reception has been amazing and I can't help but smile whenever I see a review come in.
I paced back and forth across my living room, running my hands through my hair, tugging at the ends.
How could this happen again?
Yes, I might have made the mistake of sleeping with Jasper again. Yes, even though I didn't regret it at all, it was a mistake. Even though it had happened, we had been careful. We'd used a condom. How the fuck could this have happened.
I stopped, letting out a breath, trying to calm down. I wasn't even one hundred per cent sure that I was expecting again. It had been an hour or so since I'd seen the doctor and had a blood test. Thankfully, Dr Banner, the doctor I'd had when I'd moved to California and seen when I was expecting Killian was available. He knew what he was looking for and apparently had had two more male patients since I'd had Killian. I had to calm down. I might not even be.
Seriously? What are the chances?
I couldn't help my hand moving to my stomach as I stood there.
What would happen if I was?
I knew that I couldn't wave it off as a mistake like I had last time. When they told me that I was pregnant with Killian, I laughed it off, thinking that they were stupid. I couldn't be pregnant. I was a man after all. Men don't get pregnant. At least, that's what I used to think.
This time, I knew that it was a possibility so I wasn't taking any chances.
Hence the fact that I was now pacing around my living room, waiting for Jasper to arrive. I had to tell him as soon as possible, even if it turned out that it was a false alarm, he needed to know.
There was a knock at the door and my breath caught in my throat. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down as I walked towards the door, opening it and giving Jasper a small smile.
"Hey," he looked concerned and I stepped back, letting him into the house. "Is everything okay?"
"I need to talk to you." I sighed and he froze, stopping and turning to look at me.
"Uh oh."
"Uh oh? What uh oh?"
"That one sentence has the power to make you remember every single bad thing you did in your whole life." He chuckled and I ran my hand through my hair, shaking my head. "Not really the most inspiring way to start a conversation."
I sighed, shaking my head. "You didn't Jasper but . . . there is something I need to talk to you about?"
"What is it?" The concerned look was back. "Is there something wrong with Killian?" He asked, glancing upstairs and I shook my head, slightly liking the fact that his first thoughts were about his child.
"Killian's fine. Probably tormenting all of the children at day care now he's back to full health." I chuckled and Jasper rolled his eyes, smirking alongside me. Thankfully, come Monday Killian had been feeling better and after a quick check up that morning was fine to go back to day care on Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling so much better. After the possibility had hit me straight in the face, I hadn't been able to focus on much else. Getting Killian ready for day care was like second nature, so it was automatic movements.
Unfortunately, waiting for the results of the blood test I'd had done on Tuesday morning was not something I could get used to.
"So, what's going on?" He asked, stepping towards me and I shook my head, taking a deep breath, motioning towards the living room. I think he got the idea that it would be best for us to sit down and even though he wanted to know what was going on, getting settled was important.
He sat down on the sofa and I took a seat on the chair next to it, letting out a breath.
"I um . . . need to talk to you about something." I said softly and he nodded.
"You said that already." I nodded, letting out a breathy chuckle. "Edward, what's going on?"
"You remember when you came round and we talked?" He nodded, looking even more confused and I ran my hands up and down my thighs, cursing the fact that they were now sweaty and clammy. Why was this so hard? "And you remember that we uh . . .?" He nodded, smiling at me. "Okay," I whispered, looking down at my hands, "you remember when I was sick and wanted crackerjacks?" He nodded, his eyebrows rising and I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. "Well, the last time I wanted crackerjacks was . . ."
"Was?" He urged, starting to look worried and I couldn't blame him. He shifted so that he was sitting right on the edge of the sofa.
"Was when I was pregnant with Killian." I whispered and he froze, his eyes widening. He didn't respond and I bit my lip, wondering if he was freaking out or not.
"I'm sorry," he chuckled, shaking his head. "What?"
"There's a chance I'm pregnant." I clarified and he let out a breath, running a hand through his hair before looking up at me.
"Are you sure?"
I shrugged, shaking my head. "I don't know." I replied honestly. "The only other time I wanted them was when I was expecting Killian and that . . . kind of got me thinking . . . what if? I went and got a blood test yesterday so we should know in soon." I looked down at my hands, not wanting to look at Jasper. I didn't want to know what his reaction was in case it wasn't a good one.
His hands came into my line of sight as they gripped mine. I closed my eyes as a finger was hooked under my chin. He moved my head up, trying to make me look at him.
"Hey, open your eyes." He whispered and I slowly looked at him. "You're scared." He said softly and I nodded, feeling my eyes well up. "Don't worry. If you're not, that's fine, it's better to be sure and if you are, we'll work it out."
"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice breaking slightly as I sniffed and he nodded giving me a small smile.
"Of course." He whispered, pulling me close to him, wrapping his arms around me. "I'm kind of confused how it happened though. I mean, we used-"
"I know!" I pulled away from him, wiping my eyes. "I don't know how it happened. You must have like. . . I don't know . . . super-sperm or something." I let out a breath as he chuckled. "I don't know."
"Whatever the result is, we'll deal with it, okay?" I nodded and he gave me a small smile. "I gotta say though, if you are . . . I'm not upset."
"Really?"
"Really." He smiled, running his thumb over my knuckles gently. "I can understand why you think I would be but . . . I'm really not. Actually, I'm kind of hoping that you are." He said softly, one of his hands moving to rest on my stomach gently. He looked up at me, his eyes shining gently and I couldn't help but smile. "How long do test results take to come back?" He asked and I thought for a moment.
"I can't remember. I think it can take anywhere from an hour onwards." I shrugged, being honest with him. I didn't really know the procedure when it came to blood tests. Not my thing.
Jasper stood up, pulling me up before he sat down on the sofa, pulling me with him. He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me to him. I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat under my ear. He rested his hand against my stomach and I closed my eyes. It didn't escape my notice that we were extremely close. I tried to think about what had happened this afternoon. I had called Anya, letting her know that I wouldn't be in today and she had pestered me, trying to figure out why. I had let her know that she would find out but I had some things to figure out first. She wasn't happy with my answer but let it go and I knew she wasn't going to let it go. I was prepared for her but I hadn't been prepared for Jasper.
In all honesty, I hadn't known what to expect when it came to Jasper. I never did nowadays.
There had been a time when I could read him like a book but as time had passed, he had become closed off and hardened. It was hard for me to reconcile this Jasper with the Jasper I'd known from college and our relationship. He was completely different to how he had been back then.
I heard something buzzing and Jasper moved slightly, pulling his phone out of his pocket. I looked up to see him looking at his phone, rolling his eyes before rejecting the call. I raised an eyebrow at him and he shook his head, letting out a breath.
"Demetri." He sighed and I sat up.
"What is it?" I asked as he ran a hand through his hair. "What's going on?"
"I don't know. I think that something's going on with him. He's been arguing with his father about something and it's making him stressed out at work. But unfortunately, it's affecting his word, especially now that Rosalie is gone. He's got twice as much to do and it means that he's getting strung out about everything. And it's wearing on me a little. I just . . . I just want to be able to go an hour or so away from the office without my cell going off. With this going on," his hand came to rest on my stomach again, "I don't really want to talk to Demetri."
"I can understand that." I sighed, looking at the pictures on the mantel. "But you can't just ignore your work. I mean, you're the CEO. It's your company. You need to be there when they need you."
"Yeah, I know but they can deal without me for a couple of hours."
I snorted as his phone started to ring again and he rolled his eyes again. "Apparently they can't." He sighed, looking at the display. "Answer it. If you don't, he's just going to keep calling."
He gave me an expression that told me he was sorry and I waved him off. He pressed against my stomach lightly before standing up and answering the phone, walking into the kitchen.
I rested my arm on the back of the sofa, resting my head on my hand as I closed my eyes, trying to block out Jasper's conversation. I heard him getting aggravated with Demetri and I sighed gently.
My head shot up as my phone started vibrating across the table. I picked it up seeing that it was an unknown number filling the screen. I let out a breath, answering the call.
"Hello?" My voice was shaky and I silently cursed myself.
"Good afternoon, is this Edward Cullen I'm speaking to?"
"Yes," I cleared my throat, "yes, it is."
"Good afternoon, Mr Cullen, this is Heidi calling from Dr Banner's office." I smiled, remembering Heidi from when I'd gone in for appointments.
"Hi," I gripped the material of my sweats , wondering what she would tell me.
"I have the results of the blood test you had done yesterday morning." I nodded, knowing that she couldn't see my but not really caring. "Mr Cullen, I can confirm that you are pregnant. We would like to schedule an appointment for a scan as soon as possible. Now, I know you're probably processing so if you could give us a call back as soon as possible that would be great."
"Yeah, of course. Thank you, Heidi." I said goodbye to her, hanging up and flopping back on the sofa. I rested a hand on my stomach, letting out a choked breath. There was a life growing inside me again. Well, I doubted it looked anything like a human being right now. It was more like a bunch of cells at the moment, if I remembered correctly from the baby books I'd been bombarded with when I was expecting Killian.
Jasper was still on the phone, looking at me curiously as I placed my phone back on the coffee table. He furrowed his brows at me and I bit my lip.
"Alright!" He sighed, frustrated, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I'll be in in a little while. I'll get there when I get there, alright." He hung up the phone, rushing over to me, sitting down next to me, an expectant look on his face. I couldn't help but laugh at his look. "What?"
"I'm sorry," I chuckled, shaking my head. "You just look like a puppy looking for his next meal."
"Come on," apparently, he wasn't impressed with that. "What did they say?"
I inhaled a large breath, letting it out slowly. "You have any names you prefer?" I asked, shrugging and he blinked a couple of times before a huge grin spread across his face.
He launched himself at me, wrapping his arms around me and crushing me to him as he laughed. "Seriously?" He asked and I nodded, smiling. He grinned down at me and I couldn't help but grin back. His eyes flicked down to my lips and I pushed away from him, sitting up. I stood up, letting out a breath and making my way into the kitchen.
"You want anything to drink?" I asked and he looked at me confused. I heard him get up and follow me through to the kitchen.
"Everything okay?" He asked, stepping up to the island as I filled the kettle. "Edward? What's the matter?"
"Nothing." I glanced at him, turning and grabbing a mug out of the cabinet, grabbing a tea bag and putting it in.
"Hey," I closed my eyes as he appeared right behind me. "What's the matter? You freaking out about this?"
"No." I shook my head, moving away from him.
"Then what is it?"
"It's this." I gestured between the two of us. He looked at me, confused and I ran my hands through my hair, letting out a frustrated breath. "I can't do this, Jasper. I mean . . . the way you are with Killian is . . . great. It's unbelievable how good you are with him. I hadn't even imagined that it would go so well but . . . I can't do . . . us again. It hurt too much, Jasper. I can't do it."
"Edward," he said softly, stepping towards me slowly. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't read and that made me worried. "I know you're afraid." He stopped in front of me, looking down a sadness in his eyes that I couldn't understand. "I am too." He cupped my chin gently in his hands and I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. "Edward, I . . ."
"What?"
"I'm still in love with you." He whispered and I felt my chest constrict. "I never stopped loving you. That was the one thing that made me angrier than anything else. The fact that you'd cheated on me – that's what I thought," he spoke up before I could say anything, "and I couldn't hate you. I couldn't be angry at you and that made me even madder. It was a cycle I couldn't stop. And I know why I couldn't hate you. Because I still love you. And I don't think I'll ever stop."
"Jasper . . ." My voice was nothing more than a whisper as I looked up at him.
"I know you're scared but I just wanted you to know." He looked down at the ground for a second before looking back at me. He leaned forward, his lips pressing against my forehead gently before stepping away. "When . . . when are you picking up Killian?" He asked and I blinked a couple of times, trying to process.
"Um . . ." I shook my head, trying to clear it. "Sorry, um . . . three."
"Are we going to tell him about the baby?" He asked and I took another deep breath.
"We have to." I sighed, biting down on my bottom lip. "He's going to notice when this little one makes itself known." He reached out, placing a hand on my stomach again, letting out a soft sigh. He had a small smile on his face and I knew I'd made the right decision in telling him as soon as possible. Of course, there wouldn't be any way I would be able to hide it even if I wanted to but sooner was better.
"Should we do it together?" He asked, looking nervous. I knew how he was feeling. Killian had taken Jasper's appearance in his life with ease but with knowledge of having to share the both of us with a sibling might not go so smoothly. I nodded slowly, running a hand through my hair. I had a feeling that it was going to start falling out soon. "I, um, I have to go into work for about an hour or so this afternoon." I noticed that it was half one already and I wondered where the day had gone. "Um, I kind of, I want to be there when you pick him up, if that's okay." I nodded, understanding why he wanted to be there. "Would you . . . you want to come into the office with me?"
"Huh?" Why the hell did he want me to come in with him?
"I, um . . ." He scratched the back of his head, looking slightly nervous and I grew more confused. "I don't know. I guess . . . if . . . it's like if I . . . if I can't see you, it's like it's not . . . real, you know?" I guess I could understand where he was coming from. Kind of. "I know it sounds weird but . . . part of me would just feel better knowing that you're not on your own."
"I'm not on my own." I chuckled and he rolled his eyes.
"You know what I mean." I nodded, understanding where he was coming from. He was afraid that something could happen in the little while that we were apart. He wanted to be there for everything. "I mean . . . I didn't get to . . ."
"I know." I couldn't look at him, knowing that he was referring to the fact that he hadn't been there for my pregnancy with Killian. He didn't want to miss out on anything. "Although for the next few months all you're going to get is me plus nausea, aching and hormones. It's not much fun."
"Yeah?" I shrugged, shaking my head and he laughed. "I wanna be there anyway."
"Alright," I nodded, giving him a small smile. "Let me get dressed first." He grinned, nodding and I ran upstairs.
I quickly threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, throwing on a button up over it. I glanced in the mirror, placing a hand over my stomach, taking a breath. I couldn't help but smile to myself.
I made my way downstairs, slipping on a jacket and my shoes, grabbing my phone, jacket and keys, meeting Jasper in front of the door. He gave me a smile, opening the door and gesturing for me to go ahead of him. I waited for him to step outside before locking the deadbolt and following him down to his car.
I hadn't been in it before. We tended to use my car seeing as it had a car seat in it but as I slipped into the passenger seat, I noticed the brand new car seat that had been secured into the back. I raised an eyebrow at Jasper as he started the car, pulling out of the driveway.
"What?"
"Car seat?"
He shrugged, glancing at me as he drove. "I figured that there would be some times when Killian would be riding with me. I know he's not allowed in the front seat and until he's a little bigger he needs a car seat. Cause you gotta admit, he's a little small."
I laughed, shaking my head as I looked out of the window. "Yeah, I know he is. Nothing we can do about that unfortunately. I make him eat all his veggies, he gets the right amount of sleep and all of that but I guess that some kids are just small. He's one of them."
"You know you can't pick him up anymore." He smirked and I scowled at him. "What? I've heard that lifting heavy objects, such as small children, isn't good when you're pregnant."
"I know." I sighed. That was one of the things that was not going to sit well with Killian. He sought comfort from being picked up and he wouldn't like that I couldn't do that anymore. "He's not going to like it though."
"I noticed that. He always asks to be picked up when he's upset." I nodded, pleased that Jasper had noticed that. "It's something he's going to have to deal with though."
"I know. It's just going to be hard, that's all. But then again, he's getting heavy, so I wouldn't have been able to carry him around for much longer anyway." He chuckled and I smiled, watching the streets go past.
"You'll let me know if you need anything, right?" He glanced at me, trying to keep his eyes on the road as he drove but apparently wanting to look at me as well. "Anything."
"Of course." He wanted to be involved and I wasn't going to get in the way of that. He'd missed out with Killian and he was really trying now.
I just had to try and get past the bombshell he'd dropped on me earlier. I didn't know how to deal with the knowledge that he was still in love with me. I knew that I was still in love with him but I wasn't ready for the words to come out yet. I didn't know if I would ever be.
Time will tell on that front I guessed.
We pulled up outside a large building, I guessed was Jasper's building. He smirked at me as he parked in a space that was directly in front of the doors. I noticed that his name was on a plaque in front of the space and I rolled my eyes, chuckling.
We climbed out of the car and I followed him into the lobby, our footsteps echoing across the marble lobby. I couldn't help but chuckle as we stepped into the elevator.
"What?" He asked, looking confused.
"Nothing." I shook my head but he nudged me, clearly wanting me to explain. "Sorry, I've just had a Devil Wears Prada flashback. Don't judge." I held up a hand as he chuckled. "Anya made me watch it."
"Made you?"
"Yes." He gave me a disbelieving look. "I was pregnant, wanting ice cream and Anya wouldn't give it to me unless I watched it with her. At that point, I wasn't able to get around as easily as I wanted to so I didn't really have a choice. Oh God."
"What?" He looked worried and I chuckled, shaking my head.
"I've just realised I'm gonna be a beached whale again." I moaned and he chuckled.
"You'd never look like a beached whale."
"Alright, try telling yourself that in a few months' time." I shot back and he grinned. "I need to make an appointment with the doctor, so I'm going to do that while we're here." He nodded and we exited the elevator.
As soon as we walked to the floor, Demetri appeared, looking relieved at seeing Jasper but scowling when he saw me standing there behind him. What the hell was his problem? Scratch that. I didn't really care.
Jasper motioned for me to follow the two of them to his office and I did, settling on the couch as they sat at the desk.
"Alright, Demetri, make this quick. We've got an hour before we have to pick up our son." Jasper smirked at me and I couldn't help but smile at the words he'd used.
I pulled up the number I had for Dr Banner's office, quickly making an appointment with them for a scan. I had managed to get one for the next day at five o'clock which meant that I would have to leave work early. I knew that once I explained why, Anya would understand. Actually, I think that she would start making plans for the two of us to go through this together and that the two babies would grow up together. Of course, hers would be a couple of months older, but that wouldn't matter to her.
I'd have to buy some earplugs before I told her.
All through their meeting, I could feel Demetri's gaze on me and I didn't like it. It made me uncomfortable and I think he knew that. Jasper had to get his attention a couple of times and I could tell that he was getting frustrated with him.
Not that I blamed him.
About half an hour later, Demetri left and Jasper sat down next to me, an expectant look on his face. "Tomorrow at five." He nodded, looking thoughtful. "Can you make it?"
"I think so. I'm sure the boss would give me some leeway." I rolled my eyes and he chuckled. "What about Killian? Doesn't the aftercare thing at the day care close at five?"
I nodded. "I'm sure Anya would be fine with picking him up." I shrugged and he nodded, smiling. "That reminds me, I need to have you put on the list to pick him up."
"Really?" He sat up, a grin spreading across his face.
"Yes, of course." I chuckled and he rolled his eyes at me, playing it off even though I could see that it was a big deal to him. "If I don't and you want to pick him up from school, you won't be able to. Makes sense."
It wasn't too much later that we left the office and Jasper drove us over to the school.
We made our way into the school entrance and I walked up to the reception letting them know that I wanted them to add Jasper onto the list of people that could pick up Killian. I saw eyebrows go up as they asked who he was to Killian and I said that he was his father. I kept my face serious and they added him to it with little fuss.
"Daddy!" We both turned to see Killian running towards us. "Papa!" He launched himself into Jasper's arms and he laughed. I was glad that he had headed for Jasper rather than me. That could have been awkward.
I got confirmation that Jasper had been added to the list and we made our way out towards the car. "We in Papa's car?" He asked, looking between us, excited and we nodded. He cheered in Jasper's ear and he flinched at the sound. I chuckled and he glared at me for a moment before laughing as Killian wriggled to get down.
He ran towards the car, stopping at the front passenger door and I raised an eyebrow, opening the backseat door. He climbed in and settled into the car seat, looking around the car as I strapped him in.
"You gotta teach me how to do that." Jasper chuckled and I grinned, climbing into the car.
It didn't take long for us to get home, Killian chattering the whole way. Apparently, the little boy Jamie had been trying to upset Killian again so he just told him that he was jealous because he had two daddies to do fun stuff with when he only had one. Which I thought was pretty grown up of him.
Of course, then he had 'accidentally' spilled his yoghurt on Jamie afterwards. He was a sneaky little shit to play it off as an accident to the teacher though.
Not that he cared when he was at home.
Jasper reprimanded him for spilling the yoghurt, telling him that retaliating that way wasn't the way we deal with bullies. I was proud that he had been able to tell him that he was in the wrong just as he should have. Of course I didn't miss the concealed 'well done' in his statement. I don't think Killian caught on but I raised an eyebrow, letting him know that I did. He just gave me a small shrug as he pulled into the driveway.
Killian was itching to get out and I laughed as I grabbed his bag, waving it at him as he stood in front of the door waiting to be let in. I handed him his bag and he grinned up at me.
He ran into the house and we called for him to stop. I lead him into the living room and sit him down on the sofa.
"We need to talk to you for a moment, kiddo." Jasper said softly sitting on one side of him, while I sat down on the other side.
"I in trouble?" He asked looked at the two of us.
"No, of course not, Peanut." I brushed his hair out of his eyes. "Though you do need a haircut." Apparently, he was not impressed by that news as he pouted up at me.
"We do have something to tell you though." He looked between us and we both smiled at him. "How would you like a little brother or sister to look after?"
"What you mean?" He looked confused as he looked up at me.
"Well, you know how before you were born you lived inside my stomach?" I asked and he nodded, patting my stomach. "Well, right now, there's a baby brother or sister in there for you."
"In there?" He asked, pointing to my stomach and I nodded. "Now?"
"Yeah."
"When will it be here?"
"Got a little while yet, buddy." Jasper chuckled and he looked down at him.
"When?"
"Not sure. We've got to see the doctor first, Peanut."
"Why, you sick?"
"No, kiddo." Jasper brushed his fingers through his hair. "But when you're having a baby, like your Daddy, you have to see the doctor to make sure the baby is okay."
"He is okay?" He asked, placing his hand on my stomach.
"Yeah, he is, Peanut." I said softly and he nodded.
"I want a brother." He said before sliding off the sofa and turning towards us. "And tell him to hurry up." With that he ran out of the room and I turned to Jasper, laughing.
"Well, that's that then."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This is actually how my brother's little boy responded to them telling him that he was going to have a little brother or sister. It was classic. They were expecting a huge blowout from him and all they got was 'I want a brother and tell him to hurry up'.
It was classic.
Let me know what you think.
