(A/N: Thank you all for your encouraging reviews. Because of ya'll, we have been working double-time to get you a great update, so here you go! We hope you love it as much as we do!) Disclaimer: We do not own twilight or any of the characters! This Disclaimer is for past, present and future chapter!
-SouthernGals
{JPOV}
I saw my Lala running up to me from around the wagon. She stopped for a split second, but when I bent down and opened my arms, she came flying at me. I was sure I was going to topple over at the force of the hug, but my new found strength, kept me upright. I was careful not to squeeze her too hard as I hugged her. I knew I still didn't have complete control of my strength yet, but enough to know that I would not hurt Lala. I loved my little girl and God help the poor soul that ever hurts my lil' Darlin... They will have hell on their heels.
I picked up my little girl and carried her into the house. I knew everything was going to be okay now.
{Eight Years Later}
{JPOV}
My precious Lala had grown into the beautiful Elaura, and she looked just like her mother. There was little of me in her face, and I was content with that. Her dark brown waves, her chocolate eyes, the paleness of her skin; it was just like seeing Anabelle again. As a matter of fact, she was the same age her mother was when we first got married.
I've seen a couple of boys givin' sheep's eyes at my lil' Darlin', and that shit don't fly. See, they all know who her daddy is, and they don't dare to try to make a pass at her, or so I thought.
I was outside in the fields like I always was every day. I came back up to the barn to grab me a bucket to draw water from the well when I caught my sights on three boys. They were sneaking their way around the side of my house. At first, I didn't think nothing of it, until I was right on them and caught them at my daughter's window peeping in, watching her put her clothes on...
"Hey! Yeah you lil' peeping toms, C'mere! I said as I reached around and grabbed two of them by the ear and twisted them good. The third one tried to run, but as he did, I yelled out to him.
"Luke Clearage! Get your butt back here, boy! Don't make me ride down to your house and talk to your Paw!" Luke stopped in his tracks when he heard his name, and I watched as he slowly walked back over to me. twisting the ear to the boys in my hand, I drug them up the steps and into my house, slinging them slightly, making them fall to my couch. I huffed as I made my way back to my front door to put a little more motivation into Luke outside.
"C'mon son, Git'yer ass in this house boy before I take a stick to ya myself!" I yelled at him.
Just as Luke walked inside, Lala came out of her room.
"Paw, what is going on? Who are you hollering..."
{Lala POV}
I stopped in my tracks as soon as I saw him. I'd had my eye on him for some time now, but I wouldn't let Paw know that; he'd tear me a new rear-end.
Luke was a year older then I. He was handsome and always had respect.
"Oh, Hi there Luke... w...what are you doing here?" I asked nervously.
"I came to call on ya, beautiful. I..." My paw was huffing and puffing beside me, and when i looked at him, he looked ready to blow up.
"You aint gonna be making them kinda calls to her! Now you boys stay here while I go call your paws!" Paw yelled at them, then drug me to the kitchen where the phone was.
"Did you know them boys were sneaking around here?" Paw asked me. I looked at him and rose an eyebrow, confused.
"Paw what are you talking about?" I asked him. I had no clue as to where he was getting at.
"Them boys in there were lookin' at ya changin'!"
I felt my face heat up and turn several shades before it finally settled on red... bright red.
"Ugh! W... Well I never... Th... Thats just so disgusting and rude!" I said when It finally sank in. Boys trying to get an eyeful of me while my backs turned... makes me wanna go out there and slap each of their faces till they cant see straight no more!
"Yea, so im gonna be calling their paws and having a lil chat with them about how their boys are acting toward my lil' Darlin."
After the big blow up in the kitchen and the paws of the three boys that were caught spying on me got here, I had wished I had stayed in my room for the show.
I had never seen a whoopin that bad in my life. After the punishment, each boy hung their heads and apologized to me. Luke, being the only one who had not been whooped, but instead was yelled at and recieved a few hard smacks to the back of his head, asked Paw for forgiveness and... permission to court me? 'After what my paw just caught him doing?' I thought at I watched with horror, almost certain my paw was gonna punch his nose in for even askin'!
"I dont have a problem with that son, but you will not be going anywhere with my daughter unsupervised. And you have to come to my home to call on her. And that means my front door son, not her bedroom window. And it has to be accepted by Elaura as well. Do I make myself clear?" My paw said to him, and I felt my face lift in shock.
"Lala, This young man has asked me permission to court ya. I have given my permission. What is your decision?" My paw asked me, and I looked into his honey eyes. I saw happiness in his eyes for the first time in a long time, but I also saw a smidge of saddness.
Pulling myself from my thoughts, I stood up straight and looked toward Luke before formaly accepting his offer.
"I accept." I said, and the whole room felt as if it were finally breathing again.
{JPOV 3 months later}
Lala and Luke had been getting closer. It done my heart good to see such a smile on her face when Luke come a callin'. I remember the smile that my lovely Anabelle had when I was courtin' her and the happiness in her eyes as her paw agreed to my askin' of her hand. I was nowhere near ready to give my Lil' Darlin's hand to a young man yet. But it wasn't about what I was ready for anymore. She has grown into a beautiful young woman, and when Luke finally got up the courage to ask me for her hand without choking on air like a fish out of water, I would reluctantly give my blessin'.
I watched as Luke walked Lala back up to the porch from a night light stroll around the farm. Luke had proved to be a gentlemen with my lil' Darlin', so I allowed them to stroll alone, so long as it was on my own land.
"Goodnight Luke, thank you for teaching me some of the constellations." I heard Lala say to him.
"It was my pleasure, Miss Elaura..." He trailed off and I saw them lean in to kiss. It took all I had not to go out there and take a stick to that boy! I, as her father, did not like that little display, but as an understanding father... 'Oh hell! Fuck understanding! I'm gonna skin that boy!'
I stomped my way down the stairs and was just about to swing the front door open when Lala walked in, looking confused at my enraged expression.
"Paw? Whats wrong, Paw?" I heard her ask.
"That... That..." I huffed, "You out there kissin' that boy!" I huffed again and plopped down on my chair in front of the roaring fireplace.
I heard Lala giggle beside me and I turned to look at her strangely.
"Wha'ts so funny?" I snapped at her like a sulking child... and I was sulking.
"Because, Paw. You're sulking. It's funny. Look, I love you more than I love anyone else. You are the number one man in my life, and don't ya ever forget that either... But I'm growing up, and I'm falling in love with Luke more and more every day..."
"Well I don't like that boy!" I retorted to her, crossing my arms. She laughed again.
"Yes you do, Paw, and you know it." She said bursting my bubble, And she was right. I like Luke because he wasn't like most of the little punks around here who I have been having to scare the living shit out of on a daily basis.
Yep, that's right. Why dont Lala have anymore suitors coming a callin'? Well, I plead the 5th.
"Paw, you gotta let me go sooner or later..." She said as she came up and sat on the fireplace ledge, putting her chin on the arm of my chair, looking up to me.
"But I'm not ready to let you go..." I confessed. Lala's eyes softened a bit.
"Paw, I'm not going away forever. But one day, I want to get married and have children and watch them grow like you did with me. I know Mama wasnt here, but I know that if she could have been, she would be telling you that I am right. I love you, Paw. But I'm not a little girl anymore..." I gave her a sharp look.
"You will always be my little girl. Luke may love you, but just remember, I loved you first. So don't you ever say that to me again because I don't care if you're 100 years old, you will always be my Lil Darlin', Lala." I told her. I saw the tears welling up in her eyes, so I reached around and pulled her onto my lap and held her close to my heart like I did when she was little. I know to most people, this would be considered very improper, but I don't care. This was my Lala, my baby girl, and if I wanted to hold her and rock her to sleep like I used to, I will. And dare someone to say somethin' to me.
As I held and rocked Lala in my chair, I told her about her mama again like I had done every night since she was born.
It didn't take long and Lala had fallen asleep in my arms. I looked down at my lil' Darlin, pushing some hair from her face. As I was looking at her, I had a flashback of all the times she had fallen asleep tucked into my arms like this. From the day she was born, the days she was sick when she was a toddler, the days she couldn't sleep and came out and crawled into my lap with her rag doll and thumb in her mouth, the day she finally came home after I was changed and all the times she wouldn't leave my side for a long time after that, the day she had her heart broken for the first time by a local punk who she had been giving sheeps eyes to, and he decided to smush her face into an ant pile. 'Yea, I whooped his lil' boy ass for that myself.' To now. Laying in my arms as a young lady, just sleeping away because she can.
I situated her in my arms a bit before getting up from my chair and carrying her to bed. I laid her on her bed and pulled the covers to her neck as I tucked her in.
"Goodnight Lala. I love ya lil' Darlin'." I said as I closed her door and left to hunt before the sun came up.
The next morning, I sat on my porch swing with a cup of warm blood in my hand. I had taken to drinking it like that so that Lala would think I was just drinking my morning coffee. Today was the last day of school for Lala. She was going to school to say her speech and accept her certificate today. I wouldn't be there. Even though I had enough control by now, the color of my eyes and skin would be enought to have them wanting to hang me for witch craft. Not that it would actually kill me.
I looked up from my morning paper when I heard foot steps coming up the road. Looking out, I saw Luke running straight to me.
"Mr. Whitlock... Umm. is Elaura awake yet?" He asked sorta nervous like.
"No son, the sun is just starting to come up. She will be getting up shortly. What has you over here at this time of the morning?" I asked him with a raise of my eyebrow and a sip of my 'Coffee'.
"Well, Mr. Whitlock... I love your daughter very much..." He started while looking into my eyes, then he looked down at his feet like they were the most interesting thing.
"I... I love your..." He repeated, then cursed slightly under his breath, making me chuckle. Seeing him squirm like this was hilarious and it took all of me not to burst out laughing.
He tried again several times before I laughed.
"Luke, son, take a deep breath. Swallow hard and just spit it out so we can go in the house and tell Lala." Luke smiled nervously. He took a deep breath, and blew it out...
"SirIloveyoudaughterandIwanttoaskyourblessin'forherhandinmarriage!" he said. I heard it and understood it with my vampire hearing, but decided to make him squirm a little more before givin' the blessin'.
"Ok, Now slow it down and say it one more time. I don't think I heard you right son..." I said quirking my eyebrow. He took another deep breath.
"Sir, I love your daughter and I wanted to ask your blessin' for her hand in marriage..." He said making eye contact with me again.
"No." I said. I saw him look at me with mad eyes.
"With all due respect sir, I intend on marrying Elaura, with or without your permission if she will have me. But I know that Elaura would rather have your blessin' when she accepts my purposal."
I quirked my eyebrow at him again, staring into his blue eyes. That had been a test of his loyalty and he had passed with flying colors. I smirked at him and held my hand out to him to shake. He stared at it confused.
"Well Son, are you gonna shake the hand of your future father-in-law or what?" I asked him. His face brightened with relief and he grabbed hold of my hand firmly in a shake.
I placed my cup down on the porch, then swung as light as I could and hit him in the arm.
"Ow, What the hell?" He asked rubbing the sore spot on his arm.
"I'm proud you will stand up for what you believe in, but..." I pulled him nose to nose with me.
"Don't go getting a hot head and talking to me like that again. And you better take care of my lil' Darlin. And one more thing."
"Yes sir?" He asked me.
"Don't you ever, and I mean ever, go hittin' or puttin' your hands on her, or I will kill ya... Do we understand son?' I asked cocking my head to the side.
"Yes sir." He said sweating bullets in front of me.
We walked into the house and found Lala in the kitchen making up breakfast like she did every morning. I sat at the table and waited for Lala to bring out the foul smelling food that I have been forced to munch on since I was changed.
"Lala, make another plate for Luke, he's here to talk to ya." I called into the kitchen.
"Yes, Paw." I heard her call back to me.
When Lala walked into the room, she sat a heaping plate in front of me, and I had to hold my breath to keep from making a face at the stench of it.
"Hi, Good morning Luke. It's so good of you to drop by." Lala said as she sat a plate in front of Luke, then sat down across from him at my right side.
I picked up a piece of bacon and popped it in my mouth, chewing slowly. Trying to look like I was enjoying the food instead of wanting to blow chunks all over the table was proving harder and harder to do. I don't know how I did this without throwing up for 8 years.
"So, Luke, What was it you wanted to talk to me about?" Lala asked Luke. He smiled happily at her, then got up and walked around the side of the table. I watched as he reached down and grabbed my lil' Darlin' by the hand, pulling her up to stand.
{Lala POV}
I looked up at look a little more then confused at what was going on.
"Elaura, Last night I figured out that you are the most important woman in my life, and I love you. So this morning I came over and asked your paw for your hand..." I glanced at my paw over my shoulder, then turned back to Luke.
"He has given his blessin, and so now..." I watched as he dropped down on his knee and pulled out a small silver ring. I felt my breath hitch in my throat as the tears swam in my eyes.
"Elaura... My sweetheart. Would you do me the honor of becoming my beautiful bride, wife and bestfriend?" He asked me... Once again I looked behind me to my paw. I saw a smile grace his handsome face and that was all I needed to make my decision.
"Y...Yes. I would be honored." I whispered through the tears. Luke smiled up at me with a big grin and slid the ring onto my left ring finger.
Luke jumped up from the floor and circled me in a hug before setting me down and giving me a peck on the cheek.
"I love you, Sweetheart." Luke whispered into my ear.
"I love you too, Luke." I told him as I buried my head in his shoulder.
{Two Weeks Later}
I had been really busy setting up for my upcoming wedding that was only a week away. Luke had been the gentleman that he was and agreed to let me have that dream wedding I wanted, any way I wanted, no matter the size or colors.
Today I had to go and get the flowers for the bouquet I would carry down the aisle with me.
It was so peaceful out, and there wasn't a sound to be heard, or so I thought. But even the one sound I should've heard, didn't reach my ears.
I felt an instant seering pain shoot through my hand as I innocently reached out to grab another group of morning glories. As I snatched my hand back, that's when I saw it; a big diamondback rattlesnake. As soon as my mind linked the snake and the pain together, my throat let out a mangled scream...
{Jasper's POV}
I heard Elaura's scream in the pasture as I sat in the house, and I immediately jumped up and ran at vampire speed to find my daughter. If my heart were still beating, it would have stopped in that moment.
In an instant, I was by Lala's side, and she was unconsious on the ground, with 3, what seemed to be snake bites; one on her right hand, one on the joint of her elbow, and the other right underneath her chin. Seeing the last bite, I noticed that her breathing was very shallow and her heartbeat was slowing significantly. I knew at that moment that I had only two options; try to suck the venom out, or change my baby girl.
I decided, at first, to try and suck the venom out. The life of a vampire was not the future that I wanted for my little girl.
"Come on, baby girl," I urged between pulls, "Please don't leave me. This life is not the one I want for you. You deserve so much more than this. Think of Luke. Live for him, live for me," I begged. "Please don't make me do this.."
But, after several pulls of nothing but snake venom, I realized that there was too much poison in her blood, and that it was already attacking her heart. I had no choice... I had to change Elaura...
{Carlisle's POV}
I had been out hunting. I was in the middle of finishing off a deer when I heard it. I heard someone begging someone else to live. The voice didn't register in my mind at the time, but being a doctor, I knew I needed make sure everyone was okay.
As I ran closer to the commotion, I caught Jasper's scent and a heavy dose of fear that almost brought me to my knees. I pushed on and that's when I saw him. He was kneeling down next to someone and was repeatedly bending over on top of this unconsious person. That's when realization hit me.
"Jasper!" I called out as I approached him. And there, laying on the ground, was young Elaura.
Jasper turned around for only a second with venomous tears running down his face, then turned back to his little girl, and started speaking to me.
"Carlisle, what do I do?! I'm losing her! She got bit by a snake and she's barely breathing!" he cried. "I tried sucking out the venom, but there's too much. It's too late! I'm losing her!"
As painful as it was to the both of us, I knew what had to be done, and I believed he did too.
"Jasper," I whispered sympathetically, "You know what has to be done..."
He turned back to me and sobbed some more.
"That's not the life I want for her, Doc. Isn't there anything else? You've got to help me.."
I knelt down next to him and put my hand on his shoulder.
"We don't have much time," I told him. Reluctlanly, he nodded. "Do you want me to do it?" I asked him.
"No. I have to be the one to do it," he sighed.
He bent down to Lala's face and whispered, "I'm so sorry, Sweetheart. This is not what you deserve. Just know that I'm doing this because I love you.." Then lowered his head to her throat and bit down on her jugular and injected his own venom, followed by her heart, wrists, and ankles..
{Jasper's POV: 5 days later}
I didn't understand why she had not woken up. When I had brought her to the house that night, she hadn't made a sound. Her heart would pick up speed, then decrease. Carlisle and Esme never left the whole time she was asleep.
That day had been 5 days ago. Today, she finally started to show signs of completing the change.
"Carlisle, I thought you said it would only take 3 days at most. Why has she not woken up yet?" I asked him.
"Jasper, she had been through a lot. Her body is a battlefield right now. Your venom is battling with the snake venom, and her heart is trying to fight them both." He answered.
"Will she wake up soon?" I asked, running my hand over her head.
"Yes, listen to her heart." And I did, her heart had finally started to pick up speed.
We all stood around her and listened until her heart stopped beating... A few seconds later... Bright blue eyes opened.
(A/N: Who knew that Lala was gonna make such a strikingly different vampire huh? Ok Thank ya'll! Make sure you remember to review! And check out our other story 'Under Fire'. If you like this story, you will love 'Under Fire'. Thanks again and remember to REVIEW!)
-Southern_Gals