Oh look, a longer chapter!

5.

Three weeks later:

We set a proper routine a few days after Rosalie and Emmett's death.

Jasper and I are the CEO's of 'Cullen and Whitlock Corp'. We have offices all over the continental U.S and will be opening a place in New York City by the end of this month.

Basically, we're financial consultants. We help people manage their money and assist them in choosing investments. It isn't that big of deal but we've gotten in-demand and are currently the most sought after financing company in America.

So far, it hasn't been easy for me to be in Forks so much but I'm managing. It's kind of a relief that I don't have to frequently travel all the time and that's why I'm dividing my time taking care of our branches in Port Angeles and Seattle.I head out to work at 10 AM and get back home around 3 in the afternoon while Alice takes care of Masen.

In the beginning, I didn't like the idea of Alice baby-sitting Masen everyday as it didn't seem fair to impose such a responsibility on her. However, when she all but bit my head off when I tried to explain that to her, I gave in and let her do what she wanted.

I'm not anywhere close to recovering from the loss of Rosalie and Emmett but I'm sure as hell trying. I'm not making an effort for myself but I'm doing it for Masen. The little guy needs me and I'm not of any use if I'm not functioning properly.

Today's a Sunday; Allie and Jazz are away for the weekend and I plan to take Masen shopping for new clothes. The problem isn't that he's growing too big for all his old things. It's just that he really needs some summer shorts and shirts.

I seat him at the back of my Mercedes, in his car seat and back out of the drive-way on route to Port Angeles.

After an hour and a half's drive, we reach Port A and stop at a mall. While Masen and I walk in together, I note that the little man is quiet. He hasn't said a word and isn't chattering about random things. His face is pale and he isn't smiling, which is starting to worry me.

This isn't my nephew's typically cheerful behaviour. Ever since I told him about Rose and Em, he's been exceptionally subdued and too silent for my liking.

After the funeral, I've started to see all kinds of changes in him and I'm not at all happy with them. On the day of his parents' funeral, he sat between Alice and I as we watched people pay their final tributes.

He avoids Rosalie's room just as much as I do.

He doesn't ask for pancakes because he knows that I can't make the same ones as Emmett.

When I encourage him to try to talk about them, he freezes and starts to cry.

He doesn't talk to anyone besides me, Jazz and Allie and I just don't know what to do with him.

I'm not blaming him for the way he's acting. I only wish that I can do something to ease his pain.

The worst part is that things are about to get more difficult as Alice and Jasper are moving to New York by the end of May to open up another branch of Cullen and Whitlock Corp. Then it'll be only Masen and , it'll be the two of us until Tanya comes back. We haven't told her about what happened otherwise she would have gotten on the first flight back to us. But I'm hoping that things will improve once she returns. I'm surprised that she hasn't heard about the accident, considering that all the news channels have been broadcasting about it.

Having Alice around is a blessing itself. She's exactly what Masen needs right now and exactly what I can't give to him: a mother's love.

I'm not saying that Alice can ever replace Rose because she can't. She's known Masen ever since he was born and she's someone who's familiar to him. She adds much needed joy to our currently gloomy home.

I shake my head of all these thoughts as we enter a children's clothing store and I search the racks to find stuff appropriate for a kid Masen's age.

A few minutes later, I've found a few items to my satisfaction and turn to show them to him. Masen isn't standing next to me anymore.

And I panic.

I have my Biology exam in 45mins. Wish me luck!

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