*Published* Accidental Babies (SAMPLE)

Chapter 21

April laughed as she watched Tanner shower himself with sand again. He loved to do that. And having learned the lesson that sand in the eyes was not fun, he'd closed his eyes while he did so. Daphne laughed as well, briefly distracted from her bucket of sand. Tanner, looking mischievous, threw sand at April, stopping her laughter. Knowing he expected retribution, she reached out and tickled him. He squealed and tried to crawl away. Totally forgetting about the traumatic trip to the pediatrician. Something April, herself, couldn't forget.

Reporters had swarmed them. Like ants on sweet. She hadn't heeded Jason's concerns and thought they would respectfully keep their distance due to the twins. Boy, had she been wrong. She'd barely taken a step out with the twins in her arms and they were on her like mosquitoes in summer.

The twins, shocked, had clung tighter to her, burying their face into her neck. She'd tried to take a step back but somehow, some of the reporters had moved to the empty space behind her, blocking her escape. Trying to muscle her way forward didn't work either since they didn't wouldn't move and she was hampered with the twins. They had been screaming questions at her, scaring the twins and Daphne started crying.

Luckily, the bodyguards Jason'd told her about came and created a barrier that allowed her to get to the car. Unfortunately, the bodyguard riding with them loved to lecture. She hadn't strapped Daphne into her carseat since she was still hysterical. But apparently that had been a no-go for Professor Bodyguard. He'd refused to let the car move until she complied with car safety. Usually she'd be more reasonable and explain. However, he hadn't been helping the situation. His stern tone was inciting Daphne further, even extracting a whimper from Tanner. Seeing the situation's grim future and pumped with adrenaline, she'd snapped, told him to shut up and told the driver he'd better move or she'd call Jason. The threat of Jason was enough for him to step on the gas, despite Professor Bodyguard's demand to stop.

Alas, the checkup hadn't been any better. They had been fine when the height and weight was taken. However, they didn't like being away from her so one of them would be playing beside her chair while the other was being examined. Which raised questions from the pediatric. She had to then explain the situation leading to their arrival to the clinic. Apparently, not convincing. It hadn't been until they left that he'd seen the severity of it.

Also, the twins didn't like anyone touching them. She'd attributed it to being mobbed. Understandable but it had made the examination more difficult. Daphne had even pushed away the pediatric's hand when he had wanted to check her lungs. April had to use baby biscuits to distract them. It had worked up until their shots. Luckily, the pediatric had left that till all the other stuff was over. So she didn't have to leave Tanner alone for long while Daphne was getting her shot.

Waiting until they'd calmed down, Tanner revealed he'd learned a new word. While in the reception, he'd pointed at the pediatric's closed door and said tearfully,'Ma Ma, bad.' Startled into laughter, with the receptionist grinning as well, she'd corrected him but he resolutely refused to listen, continuing to say, 'Bad.' Luckily, Daphne had exhausted herself into slumber by then and hadn't been influenced. She didn't know what she'd do if both of them started becoming angry.

Pulled back to the present, she brought a crying Tanner into her arms, having fallen from an attempt to stand on sand. Daphne crawled over to her, used her shoulders to stand and then laughed. As if taunting her brother. Tanner frowned at his sister but his face transformed into a smile. Puzzled, April was then alarmed when she didn't feel Daphne's weight beside her. Whirling around, she saw a dress shoe behind her and jumped up, with Tanner in her arms, throwing herself into Jason's arms.

Being surrounded in his scent, she felt her tension and stress just melt away. Something about being with him made her feel like everything was going to be fine.

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'I take it it had been a bad day?'Jason asked as he and April pushed the twins in the swing. Her grimace said it all. He didn't need for her to tell him. His driver and bodyguard had told him what happened. He'd been angry that she hadn't listen to him but she'd been resistant to the idea that anyone would ever be interested in her. She didn't even want to entertain the thought. So he wasn't surprised that she hadn't realised the enormity of Carrie's attack.

'I was so shocked when they came at me. And I was carrying the twins. They didn't want to stay in their stroller. Wanted to practice walking. If I'd known they were going to be so vicious and relentless, I'd have brought the stroller as well,'she told him softly, smiling when Tanner shrieked with delight at going so high. Daphne, jealous, swung her legs furiously and sent a demanding frown at him. Chuckling at her antics, Jason pushed her as high as her brother and smiled at her laugh.

Facing April again, he sighed. He didn't know how to impress on her Carrie's deviousness and how she could present April in a bad light. Without making it look like he, himself, thought of her in that way.

'You have to be more aware now, sweetheart. Carrie isn't some obscure member of the public and I, the guy you are dating, have quite the presence in the media. With Carrie forcing herself into the spotlight now, people are interested in you. You can't hide from it, no matter how much you want to,'he told her, being as painfully honest as he could. She didn't say anything, just took Tanner to the slide. Hoping he hadn't driven her away, he followed with Daphne.

'Well, I have to know. Are we dating? Because sure, we're living like married couples but we haven't even had s-e-x, much less been on a date,'she said after a while. She was right. And looking at their relations objectively, it surprised him. He'd treated his hookups better than this person he wanted to make his wife. Before he could rectify it, she continued. 'And I just don't understand why they are so interested in me. Why? I'm very boring. My life revolves around you, the twins and my mother. That's it. So why would they be running over each other, trying to get a picture of me and hear what I have to say?'

'Because you're with me. And, by association, you become newsworthy,'he told her. But he was still struck by her statement before. He hadn't realised how small her circle of family was. Along with how shabbily he'd treated her, he didn't feel as if he was a great partner.

Watching her laugh with Tanner helped to ease the pressure but he knew he'd have to rectify his treatment of her. Resolving to take her out on a romantic date, no holds barred. It wasn't an issue of guilt but he wanted, needed, to treat her better than he treated those women he did not care about. Much better. Because how else would she know of his affection for her?

When he saw the horde of reporters closing in, he knew their little escape was over. They were attracting the attention of other park users. They were swivelling their heads, wondering who the reporters were there for. Luckily, April brought the twins there often enough, without him, that they didn't think they were important enough to garner the attention. That's the only reason he'd allowed her to come to this park. That and there was a lesser known route to the parking lot right beside the playground.

'We have to leave,'he told her, collecting Daphne and the bag she brought. Seeing what he was seeing, she nodded and picked Tanner up. The twins were surprisingly cooperative. Maybe they sensed a disquiet between the adults.

Jason led them to the car, relieved that the reporters hadn't found that route. Yet. He pressed a kiss on Daphne's head when she released a whine, probably uncomfortable with the speed they were moving and darkness under the tree-lined path. He kept his eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. Feeling April's hand slide into his free hand, he turned to her with a smile. Only to feel it leave his face when he saw how pale she was, her eyes darting to every sound they heard.

Wanting to comfort her but knowing how limited their time was, he gave her a fast, soft kiss. Hoping to reassure her, telling her that he was there for her. The smile she sent him told him she was fine.

As long as he was with her.

AN Hey guys. How are you doing? I'm sorry of this chapter is short. I didn't know how to make it any longer. Plus I was extremely lethargic when I read this through. Basically, my mind wasn't working.

Anyway, I want to know something. What do you guys think of April? Like her personality. Because I realised I didn't really develop my characters as much as I want to during this story. So I want to know your perspective of her.

Aside from that, what did you guys think of this chapter? Let me know. VOTE & COMMENT to show your support. Thanks