Chapter Two

Jasper

I guess until I held my newborn baby in my arms I hadn't quite believed it was really true. As a human I had been too young and too wrapped up in a career in the army and fighting for the South to think about a family and then everything changed. I became a vampire and the thought of a family, a child, was beyond my reach. When I found Bella and understood just how much she meant to me I had my first pang of regret. By joining herself with me as my mate she was denying herself every woman's right, to bear children. And yet, somehow, a miracle had occurred, we had made a child between us and here it was bloody and squirming in my arms as Carlisle checked Bella was OK after a long and rather traumatic labor.

Although Bella seemed unconcerned at the fact she was carrying a hybrid baby the rest of us were worried. There was very little known about vampire hybrids although some existed. Old wives tales told of babies that tore their way out of their human mothers wombs killing them in the process or mothers whose bodies could not cope with the stresses of a vampire hybrid growing inside their fragile human bodies in which cases both mother and unborn child died. Carlisle being a doctor gave us an advantage and he watched over her like a hawk much to Bella's amusement. Then, when the time came, a mere three and a half months after finding out she was carrying my child there were the first signs of trouble.

Bella began to hemorrhage and Carlisle was forced to give her a transfusion, struggling to replace the blood she was losing quickly enough. As the pains became worse and more frequent Bella's temperature shot up and Esme wiped her face with iced water trying to bring it down again. Then Carlisle examined Bella and found the baby was breech which meant either a Cesarean which Bella might not survive or an attempt to turn the baby manually. I took Bella's pain away as Carlisle gently turned the baby and mercifully she gave birth only fifteen minutes later. Here was the result laying in my arms looking up at me in wonder with Bella's brown eyes not flinching as I returned that gaze.

When Esme offered to take the baby from me so I could spend a few minutes alone with Bella before she fell asleep, utterly exhausted, I was reluctant and watched until the door closed behind her. Then feeling guilty I turned to my wife taking her clammy hand in mine, concerned at the weakness of her grip.

"It's OK Jasper, I'm just tired that's all."

I leaned in and kissed her,

"Thank you darlin' for the best gift a man could ever get."

"Do you think he looks like a Saul?"

"Actually I think he is more like Caden."

She laughed but I could see it was an effort.

"Caden Whitlock. Yes, little fighter, that sounds more like it."

Her eyes closed even as she spoke and I felt her weariness as sleep overtook her. Carlisle nodded towards the door,

"You'd better go see your son and introduce him to everyone. Bella just needs plenty of rest but I know she'll be anxious to see her baby again soon so don't be gone too long."

By the time I got downstairs Caden was surrounded by the family, all eager to see and touch him, the first hybrid they had ever seen close up and the latest member of the Whitlock family. Rose stood to one side holding Charity while Emmett was comparing the two and pointing out any differences.

"He's got more hair than Charity and he's almost as big. Do you think they'll be friends?"

Rose smiled at his enthusiasm,

"I'm sure they will, provided Saffron doesn't change her mind that is and want her daughter back."

I saw his grin fade at that and thanked God that no one could ever claim our son as theirs. I understood how devastated Rose and Emmett would be if that were to happen.

There was a knock on the door and Esme handed my son to me and went to answer it only to reappear moments later with Darius in tow. He came over to peer at my son then smiled,

"Congratulations Major. Looks like I picked a good time to visit, especially as I have news."

I saw the long brown envelope in his hand and frowned but he turned and handed it to Rose who handed Charity to Emmett and ripped it open, her face tight with apprehension. As she read the document inside I saw joy flood her eyes and the sensation was almost enough to knock me off my feet, she was so happy.

"It's the adoption papers, Saffron has signed Charity over to us. She's our daughter now."

Emmett's whoop of joy almost burst a few eardrums and I was sure the noise must have woken Bella so I went back upstairs after congratulating them on their good news.

Carlisle eyed me questioningly, yes he'd heard the noise, so had Bella who was propped up looking confused and very tired so I explained the other good news we had received today. Bella started to cry but they were tears of joy for Rose and Emmett.

"Caden will have a playmate. I'm so glad for them, I can't imagine how they would have coped if Saffron had changed her mind."

"I was thinking the same thing."

Caden was wriggling around sucking his little fist and I knew he was hungry so I handed him carefully to Bella. She hushed him stroking his cheek and then looked at Carlisle,

"We know I had to drink blood to feed him in the womb, do you think he needs blood now?"

Carlisle shrugged,

"I'm as much in the dark as you Bella but try him with milk first, if he turns his nose up I have some blood ready for him, animal blood of course."

Bella smiled at Carlisle's joke. She had been horrified at the thought she might have to drink human blood when she was pregnant but she was prepared to do so for our baby. When it came down to it animal blood seemed to satisfy Caden then so maybe it would continue to do so. I watched entranced as Bella offered our son her breast and he began to suckle. Her eyes closed slowly but I saw a smile hover on her lips. After a few minutes he stopped and his eyes closed too and he slept where he was with his mother.

"I think we might need to supplement Bella's milk with blood, I would think he will take, and probably need, both to grow.

Excusing himself to congratulate Rose and Emmett Carlisle left me alone with my family and I sat on the edge of the bed carefully so as not to wake my wife or son. They made such a beautiful picture and I immersed myself in Bella's contented happiness which added to my own was intoxicating. The last few months had turned my life around in ways I could never of dreamed of. Would Bella want a place of our own now we had a child? Or would she be happy to stay here with Carlisle's support and see Caden grow up alongside his cousin Charity? Either was fine by me, so long as I had the two of them I could live anywhere. Darius crept up a few minutes later to get a better look at our new son and grinned,

"I can see he's going to be a chip off the old block. He's got himself a half nude woman already. Now that is a quick learner! Seriously though how is Bella? She's looking very pale, for a human that is."

"It wasn't an easy birth but Carlisle says she's going to be fine."

"Good. I guess you'll be changing her once she's strong enough."

"I don't know. It was in my head but this kinda threw things. Bella won't want to miss her sons early development, especially if he grows as fast as he did in the womb so maybe she'll want to stay human for a while."

HE nodded in understanding,

"I guess it's gonna be an interesting few years. I'll keep my eye on things for you although I doubt the Volturi will be snooping around. They have enough to keep them occupied right now. The Fraternidad have been giving them some headaches on the continent."

"Really? How so?"

"It seems Raoul and a couple of the others have been in contact with the Romanians. Personally I think they are just stirring the pot but Aro is nervous so all eyes are on Stefan and Vladimir right now."

"I'd say you were right. I can't see Raoul joining forces with the Fraternidad but I guess they could be testing the temperature. So long as they aren't sniffing around here I'm happy."

"Amen to that brother!"