Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Behind Steel Bars

By Midnight Dreamer

Chapter 12: What happened to Happily Ever After?

****Hospital with Alice and Edward, Tuesday afternoon****

It has been four days since Edward was brought into the hospital and Alice has yet to leave his side. He hasn’t yet woken-up but the doctors say that his vitals are stable so he should come around just fine.

It was early evening when the Whitlock attorney, Mr. Jenks, entered Edward’s hospital room.

“Mrs. Whitlock, I hope all is well?”

“Yes Mr. Jenks, it is. They said he would come around when he is ready and will suffer no permanent damage – that they know of, at least. We should know more once he finally wakes up.”

“That is good to hear. Now dear, I have some papers here for you to sign.”

“And what papers would I need to sign?”

“Those would be your divorce papers that Mr. Whitlock filed this morning.”

“He did what?” Alice screamed.

“You heard me correctly Mrs., now if you could please fill out the papers so I can be on my way; you can go back to sitting with Mr. Masen.”

“I will not sign those papers. He has no grounds on which to file for a divorce.”

“Oh, but Mrs., he does: it is all on tape.”

“What do you mean it is all on tape?”

“Mrs., are you telling me that you were married to Mr. Whitlock for 6 years and never once noticed that your house was under constant surveillance?”

“Yes, I’m telling you I had no knowledge of any surveillance! Is that why that son of a bitch kept his office locked all the time? Is that where he keeps the video tapes?”

“Actually, Mr. Whitlock kept all the videos off site at his mother’s home.”

“That son of a bitch! How much does he know?”

“By now, everything since I’m sure his brother has shown him the tapes.”

“I’ll take that lying bastard for everything he has!”

“Well, I would like to argue with you over this but seeing that you signed a prenuptial agreement when you got married, I won’t have the pleasure. I’m sorry to inform you that you will get nothing, except the clothes on your back.”

“What about all my things at the house? My furniture? My clothes? My pictures?”

“I’m afraid that since they were purchased with Whitlock money, after you are divorced you will own nothing. From what I saw at Mr. Whitlock’s home this morning, I would say that he has disposed of everything else.”

“Are you saying that he threw my stuff away?”

“I believe that a Good Will truck was pulling away as I arrived so no, he didn’t throw it away, he give it away.”

“I have nothing left.”

“I’m sorry Mrs., but I really need you to sign these papers so I can be on my way.”

“Fine.”

Mr. Jenks left soon after Alice signed the papers, finally leaving her to her thoughts. She had nothing! She had forgotten about the pre-nup she signed before they were married. There had to be some way for her to get money from him. She thought about what happen at the house and decided that just maybe, if she couldn’t get money out of him, then Edward could. She decided she would just have to use Edward and convince him to get the money she wanted from Jasper. Now all she needed was for Edward to wake up…

****Jasper’s house Tuesday evening****

The painting was finally finished and everything had been cleaned up. Isabella had left saying that she had work in the morning but Peter and Charlotte decided to hang around for a while.

“So, what now?” Peter asked.

“Well, I hope Alice doesn’t give Jenks a hard time but other than that, I just need to wait for him to contact me.”

“Anything else going on?”

“I have to be at the courthouse on Monday.”

“Did they tell you what they were charging you with?”

“Assault, reckless endangerment, domestic disturbance..and a bunch of other useless crap that I forget.”

“So, they are charging you for someone attacking you in your own home?” Peter asked.

“I guess so. Jenks is gonna see if he can get the case thrown out by using the footage as evidence.”

“So, you might not have to do any time?”

“I hope not. That shit would suck!” Jasper said.

“Well, since you don’t have anything to sleep on and no clothes here to wear, I suggest you come home with us until we can get to the store tomorrow. Ma and I will take you since Peter has to work.”

“Oh, I see how it is… I have to slave away saving lives and you get to spend the day with two beautiful women!” Peter whined.

“Yeppers. And stop pouting Peter – it’s not very manly,” Jasper chuckled.

“Mule!”

“Nag!”

“Alright boys, let’s go home.” Charlotte stopped their playful bickering.

“Yes, Ma’am!” they both replied.

After returning to Peter and Charlotte’s house, the three went their separate ways. Peter went to their room to shower and get around for bed; Charlotte to the kitchen to make something for them to snack on; and Jasper went to the spare room to get ready for bed. After showering and returning to the room, there was a knock on the door. Peter had brought Jasper some sweats and a t-shirt.

“Thanks, man.”

“Not a problem. Char made sandwiches for you, they’re in the kitchen. I’m off to bed since some of us have to work for a living.” Peter said winking at him.

“Yeah yeah, go to bed old man.” Jasper chuckled.

“Who you callin’ old big brother?” Peter remarked back as he walked out of the room and across the hall.

Shaking his head, he made his way to the kitchen where Charlotte sat at the table with her sandwich.

“So, how are ya really doin’ with all this?” Charlotte asked as he sat down.

“I don’t think everything has set in all the way yet. Like I know what I saw, and then what you all showed me on the videos but I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that she could do that to me. I love her with everything that’s in me; she was what kept me alive over there. Then I come home and find her sleeping with our best friend? And that she’s been with him since I left two years ago? That shit hurts!”

“I know sugar, but you have us to help you through it. Ma is happy your home to stay.”

“Yeah, me too but I just need time, is all. You guys helped a lot today so I guess it was something I needed.”

“Anytime, sug.”

“So, tell me about your friend Isabella. All Peter could tell me was that you work with her on occasion.”

“I see she caught your eye…”

“Yeah, well – spill it sister. I know you know stuff.”

“Nope… you will have to find out everything from her. I can tell you that, yes, I work with her on occasion and yes, she works most of the time but she also has her own money – so she’s not a gold diggin’ whore like your ex-wife. Oh, and I will kill you if you ever think of hurting her.”

“Alrighty, then I guess that ends that,” Jasper said, looking amused at Charlotte.

“You’re right, it does. Now eat up and get some rest! Y’all know that Ma is a mad shopper so you will need your energy.” Charlotte said, standing up and putting her dish in the sink.

“Yeah, I already have a feeling that I’m gonna regret this.”

“Jasper Wyatt Whitlock. I’m tellin your mama ya said that!”

“Oh shit, Char – please don’t tell Ma! She will whollop me good if you tell her.”

“Are you tellin’ me you’re still afraid of ya Ma?”

“Nope, I’m not afraid – I’m terrified. That woman may be on the golden side of age but she has one hell of follow thru on her swing. That, and she’d make me go get my own switch. And if I didn’t go get it, she would use whatever was handy. So, please, don’t tell Ma.” Jasper begged.

Charlotte was laughing so hard by the end of his plea that she could barely stand upright. She never seen a grown man grovel like that when threatened with his mother. She wonder if Peter would react the same way.

“Fine Jasper I won’t tell Ma. But you owe me big time for this.”

“Anything Char anything. You name it.”

“I will hold you to it.”

Char walked out of the kitchen with a smug smile on her face at her new found knowledge of the Whitlock boys. This could work to her advantage.