*Published* Accidental Babies (SAMPLE)

Chapter 16

'Hey. Where've you been? I've been looking for you,'Jason said softly once he'd found April. She was in her room, looking unlike her usual, open self, having cleaned up after the paramedics were done with her and the twins. He still hadn't recovered from the scare and wanted to take her in his arm, assure himself that she was safe. That she'd never be in danger ever again. But she looked distant and closed off. He didn't know how to bridge the gap she'd made. Nor did he know the reason.

The aftermath had been crazy. The police had stormed in and pulled him off the man. April's father. Obviously, they were able to piece together what happened and took the man into custody. However, there had been a miscommunication, he hoped it was a miscommunication, because they almost took April as well. Their reasoning was, 'It is suspicious that your nanny knowingly brought your children into this part of town. We're just making sure that they're not working together and it's not a deal gone bad.'

After Jason calmed down, and heroically refrained from punching the detective, he'd announced that April and her mother were off limits to everyone except the paramedics. He'd also offered to pay for any of their medical expenses. Of course, April's mother, Joan, didn't take kindly to what she considered charity but April managed to convince her to accept it. The officers had been harder to convince but a call to his chief and they'd let it go. Unwillingly but they dropped the issue. It only cost him a donation to their precinct but it was worth it.

They had to stay at the hovel for more than two hours. Jason was busy settling with the police while Joan helped April with the twin. Surprisingly, they loved her and she returned the favor. Daphne liked her the most and could often be seen in her arms. Joan was gentle with them, encouraging their curiosity but knowing where to set the limit. Which was a load off April since she had a mild concussion from the blow to her head.

Once the police decided they had enough evidence and had taken all their statements, they returned to the penthouse. Joan went with them as April needed help with the twins and, of course, her apartment was totally trashed. Surprisingly, she didn't kick up much of a fuss over him offering her a room. Maybe April had talked to her about it.

After making sure she was settled, Jason had looked for April. Now that he'd found her, he found it hard to keep his hands off her but it looked like she had some issues to resolve.

'I'd understand if you want to terminate my employment,'she said softly, wrapping her arms around her body. As if pulling into herself. Jason was shocked. 'I mean, the incident today pretty much shows what a bad nanny I am. Which nanny bring their charges into a potentially dangerous situation?'

'April, I'm not going to fire you,'he said gently. Initially, he'd thought she wanted to leave him. And his mind and body rebelled. When he realised her confidence in caring for twins were shaken, he'd disregarded her distance and held her tightly against him. Her body was stiff, as if rejecting his comfort, but he was adamant. 'I'm just sorry I didn't go with you. If anything, I think I should turn in my resignation as a dad and partner. I was so distracted with work that I didn't even set a protection detail around the three of you.'

'But I put them in danger,'she suddenly sobbed. He pulled her closer, allowing her to cry into his shoulder. This was to root of her distance. 'I could have killed them. They were so lucky that you came early or I don't know what would have happened.'

'From your statement, I reckon that you didn't think your father would have found your mother. I'm sure you had no idea he'd barge in when he did,'he reasoned into her hair but she shook her head.

'But I suspected. That's the only reason Mom would ever stop all contact,'she said, looking up at him. The tears were killing him. He would do anything to stop her from crying ever. But he didn't know how to stop it or what to say to restore her confidence. Q knock made him look to the door,his mind still in disarray.

'I'm sorry but these two want their nanny,'Joan said, the twins at her feet, using her as a prop to stand. Their eyes lit up when they saw April and, plopping to their fours, they made a beeline for her. He could see April trying to keep them away but they surrounded her and flailed their arm up, a signal that they wanted to be picked up. She tried soo hard to block them out but when Daphne started whimpering, she caved and pulled them into her arms. He guided her to her bed so that she didn't strain herself carrying them.

They started babbling, as if telling April some exciting story, arms flailing about, shooting frequent smiles up at her. She looked at them as if it was the last time she'd be seeing them and tears started to fall.

Tanner was the first to notice. He looked alarmed and started wiping them. Or his version of wiping them. It just looked like some ineffectual swiping. April smiled at his actions and tried to stop but tears kept falling. Tanner was starting to become distressed.

Daphne, noticing her twin's actions, looked fiercely up at April. She, then, planted her chubby hands on April's cheeks and said the most unexpected thing.

'Ma Ma, no!' The adults were all shocked but Tanner liked it and repeated it too. Seeing their faces and deciding it would be fun to induce it again, Daphne followed suit.

'Say "April",'April prompted but they refused, calling her 'Ma Ma' and giggling, sometimes kissing her cheek. April turned shocked eyes up to him.

'Don't look at me. I didn't teach them that,'he said defensively. He'd thought about it but it seemed a bit underhanded. It seemed like he hadn't needed to do a thing. April did all the work and now, was reaping the rewards. Satisfaction swirled inside him.

They kept saying but when April told them to call Joan 'Ma Ma', they refused,patting her chest as if saying that she was the only one they'd call that name. Bewildered, she tried, softly, to make them stop but they refused. Instead, they became louder and rowdier.

'Well, there you go. Children knows how to tell a bad person from good. If they'd accepted you as their mother, clearly you're doing something right,'Joan said gruffly but she ran a comforting hand over her daughter's head. April sent her a small smile. 'Don't let your father take this away from you, baby girl. They need you. You need them. And so does their father, judging from the panicky look he had when he thought he'd lose you. Heck, the four of you are starting to look like a family. Don't let that go just because you're scared. You'd never have made it this far if you let fear rule you. Let it go, sweetheart.'

Seeing that it was going to be a teary embrace, Jason took the drowsy twins and left the mother and daughter alone. He was glad Joan had managed to convince her to stay. However, by the glittering gaze she sent him, he knew he was going to endure some motherly concern. And he wasn't sure all his millions would be able to convince her he was worthy of her daughter.

- ---------@@@@@---------

April was glad that Jason managed to convince her to come as the doctor had barely declared that she'd recovered from her concussion in the past three days. She'd tried to get her mother to come as well but she wanted to spend the day with Mrs Salvador. Surprisingly, both of the older women had hit off and were fast becoming best friends. She tried to talk her way out, citing she didn't have anything to wear and feeling unwell still. Jason countered by revealing he'd bought a dress for her and threatened to call the doctor again to make sure she was truly fine. Touched and unwilling to trouble the sweet doctor again, she'd given in. And was having a surprisingly good time.

Sharon, Cameron's wife, was welcoming and had shown her around at the beginning. She'd managed to wrestle the twins away from April and refused to let her touch them. However, she did sneak away to take a look at them occasionally and they were amazingly well-behaved and playing well with others. Seeing that, something in her chest loosened and she let herself enjoy the celebration.

Sharon was a darling and shared some pointers on raising children since she already has two boys, one baby girl and another on the way. All of which were immensely helpful for future situations, especially with the twins becoming more active and mobile. April also marvelled at the fact that she could move with so much energy and grace even though she's six-month pregnant.

She'd also met Sharon's sister, Amelia, who was as kind as she was gorgeous. Her self-deprecating humor helped to break the ice between them and they'd had a rousing conversation, going from topic to topic. It surprised her how to down-to-earth she was. Her two sons were together somewhere with Sharon's elder sons, creating havoc wherever they went. April hadn't had the chance to see them yet.

She was currently standing alone, watching the party unfolding before her eyes. It was a beautiful event, the colors chosen being the birthday girl's favourite, lavender and teal. 'Colors that won't clash with this hair of mine,'Jennifer Ballard had chimed in, pointing to her dark auburn hair, when Amelia and her had been discussing the decor.

Jennifer was a wonderful woman. Warm, approachable, energetic. April was predisposed to like since she'd helped Jason with the twin when he first got them. After meeting her, she loved her. Still, her energy was such that April was tired just looking at her flit from group to group. Accepting well wishes and having a good laugh with them before moving to another group. And to think she was practically twice her age. She hoped she'd be as wonderful as her when she reached that age, April thought wistfully.

'So you are my son's nanny. He could have done better,'a high, nasally voice said, breaking the silence. Startled, April looked towards the speaker and saw a woman, an expensively made-up and dressed woman. Her features suggested that she was fifty-ish but her hands suggested an older age. She had a heart - shaped face and olive eyes that her son had definitely inherited. However, instead of light blond hair, hers was dark auburn, reminiscent of Jennifer. Clearly, Jason and Cameron were related through their mothers. Unlike Jennifer, however, this woman was cold with hints of malice around her eyes. Eyes that clearly showed that April should be awed that such a personage was deigning to acknowledge her, a lowly maggot, but April was just stunned. This woman could certainly not be related to the warm woman she'd met earlier.

'Are you slow? Mute? It's just like Jason to pick someone that clearly ill-mannered and unsuitable for the position,'she murmured, as if Aril wasn't there. Rude, yes, but she was willing to let it go.

'Um, I'm sorry but I don't think we've met. I'm April, the twins' nanny,'April said, introducing herself. The woman ignored her outstretched hand and April took it back, thinking it felt weird to leave it hanging. 'You must be their grandmother. Jason hadn't talked much about you.'

And she could see why. This woman was cold personified. Clearly, she wouldn't help be much help with the twins. Likely, she'd leave the twins in some nanny's hands and forget about them. April wanted to be out of the woman's presence ASAP.

'Are you April?'a boy that looked a lot like Cameron suddenly stopped in front of her. He looked to be about 5 and was panting, as if he'd been running a lot. At her puzzled nod, he grabbed her hand and tried do pull her with him. It didn't work. 'Hurry. The twins are crying like crazy and -'

He stopped when April rushed past him and hurried to the nursery. She knew she shouldn't have left the twins alone. Why didn't she listen to her guts?!

AN: Hey guys. How are you doing? I'm doing fine. Actually, I'm SUPER happy because my book finally arrived. YAY!!! I've been counting the days and hours until it reaches my mailbox. Like everytime my dad gets the mail, my heart beats faster and my hope rises to only be dashed when said book is NOT THERE. *sobs* But, even so, I've spent the remaining 7 hours left of yesterday reading it and am almost finished. It's SOO GOOD.

Alright. Sorry about that rant. I'm over that now. How are you liking the chapter? What do you think, or want, to happen? TELL ME. Or send suggestions. Obviously I won't give any clues about the next chapter but it'll be interesting what you guys think.

Please do VOTE & COMMENT. It really helps. Thank you.

Ps: Sorry for the caps. It's just difficult to convey my excitement without. *not guilty face* hehe.

And to all my fellow muslimin and muslimah out there, happy fasting! :)