Gen 3 Ch 2

Little Ruby and Rocky were growing like weeds. Amber volunteered to retire in order to help out with the twins.  It seemed that one or the other always needed a change, a bottle, or just a snuggle.

Jasper was still devastated by Chiquita's loss. He refused to move her ashes to the graveyard, instead placing them in the corner of the backyard. Exhausted as he was at the end of most days, he still found time to shed a few tears almost every night. He blamed himself for not being there when she needed him most.

Many mornings Amber would find him still dozing on the stone bench in front of the grave.

His friend Walter tried his best to convince him to start moving on, to no avail.

"Your babies need a dad who is not obsessed with the past, Jasp. It was a tragic accident, it was no one's fault."

"I don't believe that! Quita was such a coward, she never would have lit a fire on her own. And what about the missing smoke alarm? I never should have gone to work that day."

Walter sighed. "You know nothing suspicious was ever found. It was ruled an accident, and the case is closed."

Jasper wasn't ready to accept the official report, however, and spent all his spare time interviewing anyone and everyone he thought might have seen something that day. Finally, one day shortly before the twins' birthday, he was interviewing Meghan Jones from across the street.

"Well, Officer Moonstone, I remember seeing Chiquita's old boyfriend Jeffry stopping by to visit that day as I left for school."

"I saw him leave shortly before the fire truck arrived. I remember because I was sick and came home early from school that day, and he almost ran me over he was in such a hurry."

Jasper turned in his report to his boss, but his boss was not impressed.

"Sorry, an interview with a schoolgirl is not enough to reopen this case. We've already interviewed Jeffry once, and the evidence is all circumstantial. It was just a tragic accident. You really need to get over this."

Disappointed, Jasper resolved to continue investigating on the sly, whenever he could find the time.

But time was something he possessed all too little of. Ruby and Rocky needed so much attention, and Jasper was determined to give them the best upbringing he possibly could, in order to make up for their mom not being there.  He provided only the best educational toys.

And he and Amber spent hours with the twins at the library, reading every book on the shelves.

He impressed his boss so much with his crime scene investigations, he was soon promoted into the forensics department. But the highlight of his day was coming home to his two little munchkins.

"Daddy's home!"

"Daddy!"

Leah stopped by frequently to visit, and she just adored the twins. They always had an enthusiastic greeting for their Auntie Leah.

But one day, Leah was obviously not happy. She seemed determined to start an argument.

"You spend all day with the twins. Why don't you come to visit me any more?"

"Well, sweetheart, Brandi is in school now, and you know the twins need me. What's really bothering you?"

"Oh mom, Jackie and have been trying for such a long time now for another baby, and it just doesn't seem to be happening. All I ever wanted was to have lots of children."

"Aw Leah, just give it time. Relax and enjoy Brandi for now."

Just relaxing must have worked, because just before the twins' sixth birthday, Amber became a grandma again. With Rocky and Ruby about to start school, Amber could thoroughly enjoy little Arianne.

Jasper threw a big party for Rocky and Ruby's big day.

"Now remember you two, I want you on your best behavior. Be ready to show off everything I've taught you!" He admonished them before the guests arrived. He was so proud of his children. He was sure they were the smartest kids in Twinbrook.

It was Rocky's turn first.

He seemed a little apprehensive about showing off his skills, but Jasper was sure he'd do just fine.

Next it time for Ruby to grow up.

Jasper couldn't help but thing how much she looked like her mom, and a stab of grief hit his heart for just a second.  But now it was time for the twins to put on the little show he had had them rehearse.

"Come on kids, it's time to start!"

But where were they?  It seems Rocky had become so nervous about the "show" he had wet his pants!

And Ruby followed suit soon after. Jasper was mortified for his children, and called off the performance.

"Don't worry about it, they are just kids. Accidents happen."

Jasper looked so upset, Jada decided that a change of subject was in order.

"Did you hear I broke up with my boyfriend?"

"Uh, no I didn't." Jasper's mind was elsewhere.

"I thought maybe we could catch a movie sometime or something, it's time you got out of the house more."

"Mmmm."

"I'll give you a call, okay?"

"Uh huh."

"Thanks for inviting me, it was a great party."

Jasper watched in dismay as she got up and walked to her car. Had he just agreed to a date?

Gen 3 Ch 1

"So per my mom,  I am the 'heir to Moonstone Manor.' Seems kinda ostentatious to me, I mean, we have a pretty nice house and all, but geez."

"Heh, I know what you mean,my parents are all over me about finding a girl to 'carry on the family line.'"

Jasper's best friend Walter Tex had been trying to distract him  from his girl problems, so they had headed down to the Red Rendezvous to hang out and play some foosball.

"Don't look now, but guess who's comin' in the door."

Jasper couldn't help but take a sideways glance, and was chagrined to see Chiquita arriving just in time to ruin his evening.

She strolled right up to the foosball table and stood there a few minutes watching them play.

Jasper tried his best to ignore her.

Finally she spoke.

"Hey Jasp, can I talk to you a minute?"

"I guess. What do you want?"

"Privately, I mean." She glanced over at Walter.

They headed over to the bar, and Chiquita ordered a drink.

"Want something to drink? It's on me."

"No thanks."

"Jasp, I broke up with Jeffry, for real this time."

"Yeah, right. Why tell me? I could care less about your boyfriend problems."

"Jasp, I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry. All I'm asking is a place to crash for a few nights. I'll sleep on the couch."

Jasper tried his best to ignore her plea, but it was so hard. He had to admit he still had feelings for her, and she did seem to be in a predicament.

"Please?"

Jasper sighed."Okay, just a few days."

"You can sleep in my sister's old room."

"Thanks so much, you don't know how much I appreciate this."

But when he half awoke sometime in the night, he found she had crawled into bed beside him.

Despite what his head was telling him, he just couldn't resist her charms.

After that first night, there was no more talk of her sleeping in Leah's room. As the days went by, she confided in Jasper just why she had finally left Jeffry for good, and how badly he had treated her.

Not long after she moved in, Chiquita began feeling quite ill, and Jasper often heard her racing to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Worried, he insisted she go to the doctor. He continued to be distracted all day while he was out on patrol, and as soon as his shift at the police station ended, he hurried home.

Chiquita met him with a huge grin on her face.

"Guess what? I'm pregnant!"

"Oh wow! I'm gonna be a daddy?"

Jasper was thrilled. He thought Quita had never looked more beautiful.

He would look back on the days that followed as some of the happiest in his life. Chiquita loved watching TV, and although it wasn't really his thing, he was glad to spend his Saturday mornings watching her silly cartoons with her.

Walter wasn't thrilled however, that Jasper wasn't available much anymore to hang out at the Red Rendezvous.

"You just watch out, Jasp. That girl is bad news. I heard her ex-boyfriend is out to get you."

"What can he do? I'm a patrol officer now, he wouldn't dare do anything to me."

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

As Quita's delivery date grew closer, and there was no sign of Jeffry, Jasper forgot all about him. Every day he could hardly wait to get home and see Quita, and feel the new life she was carrying.

Finally the big day arrived, and they headed to the hospital in the middle of the night.

They were both shocked to bring home, not one but two sweet little ones. He let Quita name them, and she called the girl Ruby, and the boy Rocky. Not the names he would have picked, but she was thrilled, and he was so much in love, he would have done anything for her. In fact, he had already picked out the ring he would give her. He planned to pick it up on his way home from work the next day.

Early the next afternoon, Leah called and needed Amber to babysit.

"Don't worry, we'll be fine," Chiquita assured her as she left. "Jasper will be home in a little while."

Jasper whistled as he drove home in his new squad car, Quita's engagement ring burning a hole in his pocket. He could hardly wait to see her reaction. His excitement turned to fear as he saw a fire truck parked in front of the house, and a crowd of neighbors at the door.

Ignoring the firefighters' warnings, he rushed in to help, Amber right behind him.

He could hear Chiquita screaming somewhere behind the wall of flames.

Finally the fire was out.

"Go check on the babies!" He called to his mom, as the firefighters approached with somber expressions.

"I'm so sorry, sir. We did everything we could, but the fire was too far advanced by the time we arrived. We couldn't save her. A tragic accident. It looks like the rug in front of the fireplace caught a spark as she was tending the fire."

Jasper was overcome with grief. But he had to put his mourning on hold as his worry for his babies came to the forefront.

Fortunately, Ruby and Rocky were hungry and soiled, but otherwise alright.

"Oh, mom, what am I going to do without my Quita?"