Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the Twilight universe.
Sorry for the delay guys, computer issues took a little time to sort out.
Also, I need to apologize for my giant screw up in the last chapter. I totally blame trying to edit while hopped up on Nyquil for the colossal confusion I created in regards to which kid is which. I went back and edited Chapter 4, so hopefully it's a little clearer now. But just to be sure….Paul is the oldest son at 13, Isa is 11 and Jared is the youngest at 4.
Playlist for this chapter….Yes, the music is going to start showing up now.
Heart-Shaped Box (written by Nirvana, performed by Amy Lee) You can find it on YouTube. Just type in "Heart Shaped Box Amy Lee" and you'll get several options to choose from. This is a gorgeous cover of the song.
Last thing…I got fussed at last chapter (lol) for not warning you that you may need a hankie. So, here's fair warning.
Chapter 5-Heart Shaped Box
BPOV
The entire afternoon and evening had been simply magical. As much as I knew how much I missed my human family, even I was surprised at how complete I felt sitting at the dining room table with Chip on my right and JP on my left. I'd not even been aware of feeling like something was missing until they had appeared, complete with the chaos and noise of three kids as accompaniment. And holy shit, what amazing kids they were. Each one was so distinctive and unique but at the same time they all had traits or habits that were quintessentially their parents.
Paul was, in essence, JP made over. From the long fingers to the wicked eyes to the dry acidic sense of humor; he was nearly identical to his father. He had the same long loping stride, the hyena's laugh…hell; even the way he ate brought a sense of déjà vu to the entire dinner experience. The similarities were even more astounding to observe as he sat beside his dad, both of them hunched over their food as if someone was going to take it away from them and both of them holding their forks gripped in their fists. Every time I, or Edward for that matter, looked in their direction, I couldn't help but giggle under my breath. And from the smirk on Chip's face, he knew exactly what I was seeing.
Isa, on the other hand, was Heidi up one side and down the other. The same grace that I had noticed the very first night I'd met her so long ago was present in her every move. She was more poised than any human I'd eve been around, young or old alike. And it was a good thing given the insanity that she lived in. She told stories of the places she'd seen as she traveled around the world with the band that completely captivated my brothers. They hung on her every word as she described the Great Wall of China and the Egyptian pyramids. She was the explorer of the EverClear traveling circus. According to Marcus, every place they ever went on tour, she was determined to find and experience the most interesting thing she could find. She wrote extensively, and by all descriptions very expressively, in a journal every day of her life. She detailed everything she could about the places and people and cultures that she saw. By the time dinner was over, not only were my brothers captivated by the twelve year old little girl. So was my husband. Just a look at him as he talked to her told me that there was now another female in our mist that he would do anything in the world to see smile. I hadn't known it was possible to love my Edward any more than I did, until I watched him with the extraordinary girl at his side.
Jared was, in a word, hysterical. I had never spent much time around little kids either as a human or as an immortal. But I had the feeling that nothing in the world would have prepared me for the live wire that Alice had sitting in her lap. He talked a mile a minute and moved nearly constantly. And he was all over the place. He jumped from talking about Princesses to reptiles to the shapes he saw in the clouds all within the span of a single bite of ravioli. He was beyond adorable with JP's eyes and Heidi's delicate bone structure. I nearly fell off my chair when Edward whispered to me that he was getting a headache from the speed at which the thoughts few into and out of Jared's mind. Even with the unlimited stamina that immortality afforded us, I was doubtful that anyone in my family was going to be capable of keeping up with him.
All through the meal, Chip would reach over and pat my leg or hug me to his side. He seemed as determined to soak up as much contact as possible and I was in complete agreement. Just having him here, chastising me about the way I was dressed, brought deep rooted emotions to the surface. I couldn't stop smiling. And I didn't want to even try. Especially after getting the news that not only would Dimitri and his wife Chelsea be joining us in two days but Jane and Felix along with all five of their sons would be arriving as well. It was the only thing that anyone could have said or done that would have made my day any more perfect.
After nearly two and a half hours, during which JP's family along with Chip and Marcus consumed enough Italian dishes to supply a small country for a day, they finally seemed to have had their fill. Everyone praised Edward and Esme for the incredible spread, Paul in particular saying loudly that Edward and Nana C were his new favorite people as long as they kept making canolis for him. By the time we cleared the table, it was well after sundown and Heidi was insistent that it was time to start getting the kids settled in for the night. Even as excited as they were, she said the schedule they kept on the road needed to be maintained if they had any chance of keeping them from whining and fighting from sheer exhaustion.
The largest of the guest cottages behind the main house had been outfitted for this visit by my mother. And true to Esme form, it was nothing short of perfection. There were four bedrooms, each one more beautiful than the last, a large family room and a completely stocked kitchen with a small breakfast nook. It was large enough for them to spread out and not get on each other's nerves but still cozy enough for them to enjoy being with each other. And they all truly seemed to love being together as much as our own family did.
Chip and Marcus would be staying in one of the suites in the main house that Esme had decorated especially for them. She told them, as Jasper and Emmett carried an army of bags to their rooms, that it would be theirs permanently. The response to which was a torrent of tears and hugs from both men.
It took nearly fifteen minutes for everyone to say their good nights and hug each other. Alice was talked into coming to the cottage to read not one but two bedtime stories by Jared. It was clear that for the duration of the stay, she would be powerless to say "no" to him. Not that anyone would want to in the first place. This was as much a treat for them as it was for me. They were free of the hectic schedules and whirlwind traveling that made up the majority of their lives and they all seemed intent to make the most of it.
It was with a final hug and an "I love you" to each of his kids that JP turned to me, grabbed my hand and announced that he was kidnapping me for a while.
"Show me this fucktastic studio, Bitch," he said with a smile as he jumped onto my back piggy-back style. "Giddy up!"
EPOV
No one that witnessed Bella take off in a sprint with JP on her back could help but laugh hysterically. It was an utterly ridiculous sight but it was completely them. That one image seemed to sum up the whole of their relationship as they disappeared into the trees that would lead them to the very back cottage and the studio.
"Have you ever seen anything so idiotic?" Chip said with an indulgent smile as they disappeared.
"Actually," I started but didn't need to finish for Chip. He knew as well as I did that the two of them together were generally idiotic in the most amazing way possible.
"So I guess you want some answers," he said as he faced me, his smiling eyes from moments ago replaced with a grim seriousness.
"Yeah, if you don't mind. Do you care if I ask Carlisle to join us?"
"I would prefer that actually. He's part of what I want to talk to you about."
"Okay," I said with a deep breath. "I'll go get him and we'll meet you in the family room in five minutes. Alice will be busy here for a while," I said gesturing to the cottage behind us, "and the others are going out for a bit, so the house will be empty."
"Sounds good. Let me finish up here and Marcus and I will meet you there."
I didn't have to look far to find Carlisle. He was seated in the family room, staring into the blazing fire. He looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders as he watched the flames dance around in the open grate.
"Chip and Marcus will be here in just a minute," I told him as I took the empty seat beside him.
"That's good. I wanted to talk to them both," he said with a deep sigh. Even if I hadn't been able to hear his thoughts, I would have known that what he had picked up on was very serious.
"Do you think…"
"I don't know Edward. I need to know the specifics before I can answer that question. What I do know is that if he hasn't started treatment, he needs to do so immediately. Although, I suspect that he's already begun."
"Gentleman," Marcus said quietly from the open door at the back of the room. The glass French doors reflected the light from the flames on the two men as they stood together, their hands clasped tightly.
"Chip. Marcus. Have a seat," my father said in what I knew was his physician's voice. Where his tone usually brought a measure of comfort and assurance, on this night it only brought a shiver of fear to my spine.
It took much more time for them to settle themselves into the couch opposite from the two of us than I would have expected, even from humans. It was a crushing feeling to realize that it was nothing more than a stalling tactic on Chip's part. Whatever he was about to tell us, he was dreading actually giving voice to.
"So, I guess I learned my lesson about trying to get anything past a mind reader and a vampire doctor," Chip finally said as he shifted into the side of his partner, looking I suspected for more than just physical warmth. He looked at the two of us with a tight smile on his face and then closed his eyes, steeling himself.
"Anenocarcinoma," Carlisle said before he could open his eyes. The word made the hair on my neck stand up as it registered. Pancreatic cancer.
"Stage four at best," Chip confirmed with a nod. "How did you know what it was specifically?"
"I caught a whiff of the Gemcitabine when you passed by me. That particular chemical is generally only used in localized or metastic pancreatic cancer. So you've already started chemo then?"
"Yeah," he says with patented Chip sarcasm. "It's a great way to loose weight."
"That's not funny," I snapped before I could control my emotion. Chip looked at me and then tilted his head a little to the right, a very parental smile on his face.
"I know its not, Edward. I'm sorry."
"Fuck!" I nearly shouted as I stood up from my chair in front of the fireplace. "No, I'm sorry Chip; I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Son," my father said as he stretched his hand out to me. "Come sit down. We can't fix anything if we don't know what we're dealing with."
"Edward, this is why I wanted to talk to you and Carlisle first. I knew this was going to sting. But I think you know why I need you in the loop first."
"Chip, is this why you called me?" I asked as I sat back down restlessly.
"Well, yes and no. Let me start at the beginning." He turned to Carlisle. "About three months ago, right before the Hall of Fame ceremony, I began to get these weird pains in my abdomen and back. Started to loose weight. And then, I started looking kind of yellowish. That's when Marcus and Heidi made me go to the doctor in Seattle."
"Wait! Heidi knows?" I interrupted.
"Yes, she and Marcus were with me when I got the news. And to answer your next question, no, JP doesn't know yet. I've only had a confirmed diagnosis for a little over three weeks."
"Okay, sorry," I said quietly, his intentions now crystal clear.
"I wasn't a good candidate for surgery according to two different oncologists."
"I can see that," Carlisle said, very clinically. It thoroughly pissed me off that he was able to control himself at the present. "A distal pancreatectomy is very risky in anything beyond a stage one or two diagnosis."
"So let me cut to the chase with you both. Carlisle part of the reason I wanted to come here is exactly what we are talking about now. I'd like you to treat me. Before you say anything," he said holding his hand up as Carlisle opened his mouth, "I understand that you aren't an oncologist. But I also know, and you just proved it to me, that you understand the human body in ways that no other physician possibly could. And I trust you to be completely open and honest with me about what's going on. I know this is asking a huge amount of you but I would consider it a real gift if you would help me through this."
"Of course I will," my father said without a second of hesitation. "I'll need to spend a couple of days researching and making arrangements. But you have my word that I will do everything in my power to help you fight this. We can do the chemo here in the house once I get the right equipment in place."
"Oh God, thank you, Carlisle. Truly. This means the world to me," Chip said with tears in his eyes. Marcus just hugged him closer to his body until the tears subsided. "This brings me to you, Edward. JP and Bella are going to have a horrible time with this. That's why I wanted them together. They are going to need you and Heidi more than ever. But they are going to need each other as well. I'm not asking you to lie to her. If she asks you a direct question, we'll answer it. But I was planning on telling all of them when the rest of the band arrived. I think it will be easier to get this out once to the adults and then one more time to the kids after the parents all have had a chance to process it."
Oh, holy fuck. The kids. All the kids. This was going to decimate them. Chip was the only grandparent that any of them really had. They had all been "his" since the moment they were born.
But even the fears and concerns I had for the children didn't come close to what I was worrying about with my wife. Decimate didn't come close. And Chip was right, JP would fare no better when this news was delivered. There were going to need each other now more than ever. It was both brilliant and cruel that the first time in years that they had a long expanse of time together was made possible by this particular reasoning.
"You two know that you are welcome to stay here as long as needed," Carlisle said as he hugged Chip. I hadn't even realized he'd crossed the room, as wrapped up in my terror for Bella as I was. "That goes for everyone. Any of them that want to stay are welcome to."
"Thank you," Marcus said as he wiped his eyes. "If this situation holds true to form, I would imagine you guys are gonna get them all for the duration," he finished with a chuckle.
Chip released my father and came to stand in front of me. His eyes held very little in the way of true fear and I was once again forcefully reminded of just how strong this quirky man actually was. I stood and hugged him, not knowing how to express what I was feeling.
"Oh, Edward," he whispered as he rubbed my back. "You've taken care of my Baby Girl for so long; I know you'll get her through this as well. I couldn't have asked for anyone better to trust her with." He released me enough to look me in the eyes. "You are a good man and a phenomenal husband to her. Bella isn't the easiest little thing in the world to manage but I'm forever thankful that you are the one I've entrusted her with. All I ever wanted was for her to be happy and loved. And you do both of those and more."
I hadn't felt the desire to cry in such a long time that the emotions were overwhelming. I wanted to tell him how much his words meant to me. Wanted to tell him how much he meant to me. To us. But the words wouldn't come. So I settled for the best that I could.
"Chip, I love you. Every bit as much as my parents."
"Ah, sweet boy, what am I gonna do with you?" he laughed as he released his hold on me. "Don't you know you can't say something like that to an old man? Pretty boy, I love you too. I always have, once I was sure you weren't going to hurt my girl. She's gonna have a hard time with this but I trust you with her heart."
The emotions were nearly too much to comprehend. Carlisle and Chip left the room to go find Esme and fill her in on the cataclysmic shift in the visit and to make start making arrangements for the medical equipment that would be necessary. After a few more minutes staring into the fire, I made my way outside and began to wander down the path toward the studio. I was fighting with everything I had to school my emotions enough to face Bella and JP without giving away Chip's condition. It was his to tell and I would make sure I didn't deny him that request. But I was grappling with handling the swirl of feelings that was storming through my mind. As I neared the last cottage before the studio, I realized why I was reeling. It had been decades since I had truly mourned the death of a human. With one very glaring exception. The pain that was lancing my every thought was forcefully reminding me of that horrendous twenty four hour period when I had thought that my Bella was dead. The realization made my breath catch in my throat and I had to pause to control myself.
The clear sky above and the shadows of the trees that lined the path seemed surreal as I very slowly walked back to the little house I'd spent so much time in. I was only about half way there when the voices of my wife and her best friend were carried on the wind toward me. They both sounded so happy and light, that I couldn't help but smile just a little. Her voice was always calming to me but even as I registered the change in my tight muscles, I was saddened by the knowledge that in just a few days, that same voice would cry out in pain.
As I slowly wandered down the gravel toward the front door, I heard the light strumming of a guitar. The smell of the wood burning in the fire pit told me that they were outside on the patio, probably sprawled out on the cushions. I wasn't as focused on the exact words of their conversation as much as the general air of happiness that surrounded them. As quietly as possible, I made my way around to the back of the structure. I found a large tree that would virtually hide me from the two people whose bubble of calm I didn't want to intrude upon.
"Whatever has you so fucked up, she's gonna see it if you get any closer," Jasper said from ten feet to my right. I hadn't even registered his presence until he spoke.
"I know," I said, my eyes never leaving her smiling face as she laughed at something JP had said. "What are you doing out here?" I asked, finally looking at my brother.
"Soaking up the good vibes," he said with a smile in their direction. "I never could resist the two of them together."
I chuckled quietly. That was probably the most honest answer that he could have given me. He was drawn to Bella under any circumstance but in the presence of her best friend? Well, he couldn't resist.
"You okay?" he said seriously.
There was no way to lie to Jasper and tell him "yes" but I still wasn't going to talk to him about what was truly going on. So I settled for as truthful an answer as I could give him.
"Not really, but I will be."
"Can I help you?" he offered and I felt the smallest wave of calm ebb over me.
"Not this time, Jasper. But thank you."
"Sing for me, Bitch," JP said with a bark, thankfully interrupting the direction of the conversation with my brother. His fingers had found a steadier rhythm on the strings. "And I'm still gonna make you play them tapes for me one day very soon."
"Tapes?" she said coyly.
"Oh don't be thick. Piss colored eyes and a fucked up skin condition do not make me afraid of you," he teased, earning a very unladylike snort from the gorgeous creature across the flames from him as well as a quieter one from my brother beside me. "The tapes of you and Eddie singing that Daddy C told me about. You know? When you were a bratty baby vamp. I wanna hear 'em. And I'm gonna on this trip."
"Bratty baby vamp? What the hell, JP?"
"Well, that what Em told me. He said you were full of piss and vinegar when you first…um, how do you say it? Woke up?"
I couldn't help but laugh as I watched Bella clutch her stomach as she giggled at Emmett's description of her as a new born.
"I had a temper, that's all. And I don't know why that shocked anyone. I always had a temper. Besides, if Emmett, and my husband for that matter, hadn't thought it was hysterical to screw with me while I fed, I wouldn't have been half as bad."
"Now that I would pay big bucks to see," JP cackled. "You whipping Eddie's ass and not in a freaky sex game kinda way would be worth my kids college fund. Well, come to think of it…"
"Don't finish that statement if you value your testicles."
"Okay, okay…so, you gonna sing for me or what?"
"You gonna play something worth singing and quit making my skin crawl with that thing?"
"Bitch!"
"Asshole!"
My brother and I both covered our mouths with our hands to keep the laughter at their antics from intruding on them.
"Fine, fine. How about this one?" he said as he strummed the chords of a song I instantly recognized but couldn't picture Bella singing.
But I should have known better. The second she opened her mouth, the beautiful tone of her voice sounded as if she had written the song herself.
She eyed me like a Pisces when I am weak
I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box for a week
I was drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black
I shivered as the lyrics resounded through the quiet sky. Beside me, Jasper sighed contentedly as he listened to his favorite sister sing into the night air.
Hey
Wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey
Wait
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
We stood silently listening as they continued the song, JP adding small harmonies at just the perfect places. It was truly magical to hear them together again. There was an air of perfection that hung around the ebony darkness of the night that encased us all. As they brought the song to a close, her voice climbed higher and higher into that magnificent upper register that she possessed. Her change had only enhanced the beauty and power of her voice. It still rang with deep emotion when she sang, even if it wasn't one of her songs.
"Whatever is going on with you, you're going to have to tell her. But don't do it tonight. Give her tonight." Jasper whispered as he turned to make his way back to the main house.
"I know. And I had no intention of taking tonight away from her."
"We'll catch up with you guys tomorrow. Go. Soak up some vibes of your own brother dear. You seem to need it." He patted my shoulder lightly and then turned without another word.
The truth of his words sunk in as I watched Bella and JP hug once he had brought the song to an end. I needed her to figure out how to help her through what was coming. I needed her calming influence, just as she would need me in the days to come.
With a deep breath, I stepped out of my hiding place and began to walk toward them.
"Can I crash this party?"
Chapter Notes: I'm almost afraid to say it but let me hear your thoughts and predictions. Also, go ahead and charge up the ipods or computers. One more chapter and then we'll start with the playlists again. And I'm thinking after this one, you guys could use a little pick me up. Anyone else smelling any citrusy scents?