Jagger

"The dick bag is in the flesh."

Kyle's face didn't hint as happiness or much emotion except for tired.

A woman stood behind him with a stern look. It was Becca.

"This is my sister in law, Becca.."

I shook my head, "I'd say it's nice to meet you, but you've put my wife through hell."

Kyle appeared momentarily remorseful, but within seconds, that seemed to fade as well.

"We're just here to see how she's doing."

"She's fine."

Becca smiled, "Jagger.." Extending her hand for me to shake, I hesitated, but for Julia's sake, decided to reciprocate the gesture, "It's nice to meet you in person."

"Is it?"

Kyle rolled his eyes, "Enough with the macho act. We know she's fine and I can rest easy, but I still don't care for the macho attitude."

I smirked, "Safe to say I don't give a fuck what you care for."

Julia sighed, "Can we all just sit down and talk? There are so many things we need to discuss as civilized adults."

Her look told me everything: my voids would NOT be brought up.

I smiled. She loved me that much.

"Alright," I said, "I'll get some coffee going and clean up my mess."

"We've got some cinnamon rolls in the fridge I can prep. You hang out here with Kyle...?" Julia asked me, her voice pleading with me to be civil, "Becca..?"

Becca was reluctant to leave her husband with me, but she did as Kyle and I sat down in the den where I stoked the fire in my leather recliner and he eyed me from the couch.

"So, just so we're clear, I don't hate you, Jagger.."

"Just so we're clear, I don't give a fuck."

Julia

Becca didn't talk to me much, but she did keep staring at my swollen belly.

"We're having a girl."

Becca smiled, but she still didn't say anything. Her mind was on pouring some drinks for the guys and seeing what else I had in the fridge.

"Kyle is just,-"

"Being ridiculous."

"Maybe, but he just wants the best for you," Becca said, "Lawrence,-"

I stepped back, "Wait...you know Lawrence?"

"Lawrence reached out to us...due to Jagger's...issues.."

Jagger's...issues...

"What are Jagger's issues and when did this happen?"

And how the hell...

Lawrence had connections and he'd used them...

Eric, most likely.

"What are you going to do when he turns on you, Julia? When he turns on Anna?"

Becca's eyes widened, "I mean..."

"What the fuck are you..." I huffed, tossing the baking sheet on the counter with a clang, "Who is Anna?"

"I meant, Jubilee.."

I narrowed my eyes, my heart sinking down to the ground.

"You didn't mean Jubilee at all,"I said, my anger rising, "You..."

"We want to adopt her, Julia," Becca said, "You can still be with Jagger and visit...Jubilee, of course."

"Are you...have you..." I felt my panic rising, "Have you lost your mind?"

"We're looking out for you..."

"And Lawrence?"

"He only mentioned this months ago before we lost contact with him.."

"I want you out of my house," I said as calmly as I could, "Before I do something I will regret."

Jagger

"Are you actually fucking making an offer to me for my child?"

I glared at this asshat for the longest time.

The audacity..

"I am looking out for my sister," Kyle said, "We're better equipped, health wise, to take care of,-"

"If I felt like I would do well in prison, you'd be a dead man," I growled, still sitting across from him, "You come into my home—make my wife uncomfortable—and try to bribe me for my baby?"

"Jagger...we know about your..."

"That's none of your business,"I waved a hand, "I have never hurt Julia and I would never hurt my child. I have never hurt anyone like that who didn't deserve their head being bashed into a wall like you do right now."

"Jagger..."

"I used to have a lot of anger issues before I got with your sister—she's helped me. I don't need to have this conversation with you..I never want to see you again nor will you ever be around my family."

"But she's my sister."

"I'm sure you love her, Kyle, I really do," I said, believing he did, "But you can't come in here and expect me to be happy about you and your wife wanting to take our child because of me...because of her diabetes. How do I even know YOU would take good care of my child? I don't...and at this point—right here, right now, Jubilee will never have anything to do with you or Becca."

"You don't mean that."

"I said, for now.." I told him, my voice not even raised a little bit, "For now, you and your wife can get the hell out of my sight."

Julia

I cried into Jagger's body as he held me close.

We ended up on the floor in Jubilee's nursery after Kyle and Becca left.

Neither one of us could speak—we'd talked enough to the two of them...two people I knew were thorns in my side, but I never thought would already be preparing to take my child.

Jagger soothed me, caressing my cheek and my fingers...placing a comforting hand on my stomach as Jubilee kicked.

"She's safe and so are you," Jagger finally said as he led me to our bedroom, "I promise."

We slipped into the bed together, nestled underneath the covers as sleep took hold and memories of my brother's protection swept through me.

"He's not the same person he was when you were kids," Jagger whispered, "People change—sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad..."

I was determined to be the good for our daughter.