Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. It is the property of Stephenie Meyer. No infringement intended.
Things went back to normal when Ayden and I returned from our honeymoon in St. Lucia. She went back to teaching at the elementary school and I returned to base and my duties as the Major. Being gone for two weeks meant I now had more things to catch up on and more work to do with my men, so I usually came home after Ayden did most nights.
It was nice, though. Ayden was always there to greet me at the door and had dinner ready. A huge smile was always on her face and her eyes lit up when I moved to kiss her. I came home one night, about three weeks after we'd gotten back, and Ayden was nowhere to be seen. A note and a Nerf gun were on the coffee table.
Jasper, welcome home from work. Two things: this is your gun and ammo. I have one, too. From this point on you are under attack.
I was about to pick up the toy gun when a little yellow foam dart hit my chest. I heard Ayden's giggle before she disappeared around the corner. I picked up my own gun and stealthily moved through the living room. I turned the corner, intent on finding Ayden and returning fire, but she had disappeared. Slowly stalking down the hallway, I noticed the bedroom door was slightly ajar, so I carefully pushed it open.
As soon as I stepped into the room, Ayden popped up from the far side of the bed and shot me again. I must have looked stunned because she dissolved into a fit of giggles, and after I overcame my moment of shock, I returned fire.
The match ended soon after, since my silly wife got herself cornered in the bedroom. She called for peace, after I popped her in the ass with one of my darts, by flashing her tits. That act led to me pressing her against the wall with all our clothes removed.
It was a couple days after the infamous Nerf War, as my men liked to call it (I was still questioning why I told them how Ayden had bested me at first), and I was headed home to give Ayden the news.
I had finally gotten the orders I was dreading. My unit would be returning overseas for a six month deployment. It was part of my job that I never had issues with, and I wasn't about to start shirking my duties, but I hated the idea of leaving Ayden at home after we had just started our married life together. Justin, my best friend and next door neighbor, promised he'd keep an eye on Ayden and help her with the yard work and any other manly work–his words, not mine.
When I pulled into the driveway, I took a deep breath and walked to the door. Ayden was sitting on the couch when I walked inside, angled toward the door, her leg bouncing with pent-up excitement.
A beautiful smile, brighter than any I had seen since we said "I do" graced her features. She hopped up and then stopped, most likely seeing my sullen expression.
"I have something to tell you."
"I received new orders today."
We spoke at the same time.
"Sorry, darlin', you first."
She shook her head and frowned. Closing the distance between the two of us, she pressed her hands to my chest. "What orders?"
I sighed and then took another deep breath. There was no reason to be nervous; Ayden wouldn't ever leave. She'd always be by my side, staying strong and faithful even through this.
"My unit is being deployed overseas."
"How long?"
"Six months."
"When?"
"We leave in two weeks."
She nodded and took a small step back. Her hands dropped from my chest and wrapped around her lower abdomen. I thought it was a strange action for her – one I'd never seen her do before – but before I could think any more of it or the sad frown on her face she gave a soft smile and dropped her hands.
"What did you have to tell me, darlin'?" I asked, moving to pull her into my arms. I wanted to hold her. I needed to hold her.
"Oh, I made enchiladas for dinner. Rosalie said they were your favorite growing up. She gave me your mom's recipe," she said, finally smiling again as she looked up at me.
I grinned back down at her and squeezed her a little tighter. I knew there was something else she wasn't telling me; I could see it in her eyes and hear it in the way she spoke. I knew she would tell me eventually, and Ayden would never keep anything that was wrong with her away from me. I placed a kiss to her lips before saying, "Enchiladas sound wonderful, darlin'."
Ayden had followed mom's recipe to a tee and it felt like I was back home in Texas. She had even made Spanish rice to go along with it. Ayden handed me a beer, but instead of getting one for herself she poured a glass of sweet tea.
We decided to wait until the next night to call our family and friends to tell them the news. Ayden just wanted the night to ourselves, and I gave her just that.
The next night we called my aunt and uncle first. It was short and sweet; they wished me the best of luck and to stay strong and positive. They told Ayden to call them if she needed anything. Peter and Charlotte were next. We called them over Skype so we could see each other. Charlotte teared up like she did every time I broke the news of an upcoming deployment, but she never let tears fall. Peter told me to kick some ass and told Ayden that she was welcome to stay with them. Ayden declined since she had her students and the other wives here in Irwin.
When we spoke with Emmett and Rose, we made plans for them to visit for a few days. It was something they always did before I deployed. They'd come down about a week before and stay for a few days to hang out and spend time with me before I left. Ayden seemed excited to have them visit, especially since they decided to bring Garrett along instead of leaving him with Emmett's parents.
Bella and Edward were last. They wished me the best and told Ayden she could always call to talk. Bella said she would let Alice know, too.
The next couple of days were absolute hell. Ayden had horrible mood swings; she went from happy to crying to angry. The first night she snapped at me in anger, and then she clamped her hand over her mouth, started to cry, and locked herself in the bathroom for an hour. When she came out, she curled into my side on the couch and whispered how sorry she was over and over until she fell asleep.
She never told me what was wrong, or what she had really wanted to say the night I came home with news of my deployment. Because of her strange behavior, my attitude got worse. I snapped at my men, I had a short temper, and whenever I was around Ayden, I felt like I was on eggshells. I never snapped at her, too afraid to scare her or make her cry or upset her again. So half the time we spent at home together we were in separate rooms.
I was afraid she was going to leave any moment. Driving home each day I was a nervous wreck, worried that I would walk into the house and Ayden would be gone. I didn't know how to ask her what was wrong. I didn't know how to talk to my wife and it was driving me insane.
At night, she always apologized to me for her actions and curled into my chest. I always held her tightly to me and didn't go to sleep for hours after her, just so I could watch her be peaceful. A small smile would tug at her mouth as she pressed against me every night in her sleep. It was those moments that I held onto for my own sanity.
By the time Emmett and Rosalie arrived, I had barely slept at all the previous nights, and Ayden was an emotional wreck. We both tried to hide it well, by smiling and laughing. Ayden cooed and played with Garrett while I watched with a smile, knowing my cousin and friend's eyes were studiously observing us. Ayden still let me hold her and kiss her, but she was guarded, and I could tell that Rosalie was starting to notice something was amiss.
On the second day of Emmett and Rosalie's stay, after the girls had put Garrett down in our bedroom for a nap, Rosalie pulled Ayden into the kitchen for 'girl talk' and Emmett dragged my ass upstairs to my office.
Emmett plopped down on one of the chairs after shutting the door behind us. "Al right, dude, spill it. What the fuck is wrong with you? I've never seen you act like this before, and frankly it's freaking me the fuck out," Emmett blurted before I could even sit down.
I dropped into the chair across from him and put my elbows on my knees, my head in my hands. I took a deep breath. "Emmett, I think she's going to leave," I finally admitted, lifting my head from my hands to look at him.
"You serious, dude?" he replied in shock.
"She's been radiating stress. She's anxious and nervous when I talk to her. It's like she has something she has to say, but-"
"Jasper, man, Ayden wouldn't leave you. She loves you; she's your wife."
"I know, Em, but something is wrong."
"Have you asked her?" Emmett asked with a smile. "You have to talk to women first, dude. They want you to ask them what's wrong. It, like, sends the signal for them to open the flood gates or something. With Rosie it always just comes pouring right on out."
Emmett sometimes had a funny way of explaining things – he was always a goofball – but he had his serious moments and was a really good friend. It helped that he could tolerate Rosalie's attitude and temper, too, and loved her unconditionally.
"I'm deploying in a week damnit. What am I going to do if whatever pours out is bad, Emmett?" I half shouted. "I love her! The other girls leaving before a deployment meant nothing. Ayden's my world. I would die for her, give anything for her. She means everything to me; I can't lose her," I finished brokenly.
"Then go talk to her. She and Rosie can have girl talk later. You need to get your shit together and your head on straight," he said seriously.
I nodded and stood from the leather chair. Emmett followed behind me as I opened the door and walked down the stairs. The closer to the kitchen we got the more I could hear Rosalie and Ayden.
"Look, Ayden, I don't know how else to do this, so I'm just going to come out and say it. The man who I consider my brother looks like he's about to lose his shit. He looks at you like any minute you're going to bolt through the door. He's as jittery as an addict going through withdrawal. I have never seen him like this, and you're just as bad. You flinch when he touches you. You barely smile when he kisses you. What the fuck is going on?" Rose asked.
I motioned for Emmett to stay quiet and stopped outside of their field of vision in the living room. It was wrong to eavesdrop, but I had to know what Ayden's response would be.
"Rose, I -"
"I swear if he laid-"
"Rosalie McCarty, don't you dare finish that sentence!" Ayden screeched. "You know damn well Jasper would never hurt me!"
I could see from my spot in the living room that Rosalie had the decency to look ashamed, but then her expression softened.
"Then what's wrong, Ayden? I've never seen Jasper like this before."
"Rose, I'm pregnant."
I didn't listen to anything else that was said as all the anxiety and stress in my own body disappeared. I could deal with pregnant. Pregnant was good. As long as she wasn't going to leave me… hell, pregnant was great.
"I don't know how to tell him. What if it makes him worry and he can't stay focused and he gets hurt overseas?" Ayden said with panic.
I took that moment to enter the kitchen and wrap my arms around Ayden. She stiffened, letting out a surprised gasp, and then turned in my arms.
"Darlin', I was on my way down to talk to you when I heard you and Rose." She started to speak, but I kept going. "Listen, Ayden, I've been more worried that you were gonna leave, or that something was wrong." I ran my fingers along her jaw lovingly. "Sweetheart, are you really pregnant?"
She nodded.
"Is this all that's been bothering you? You've been scared thinking that if I know you're gonna have my baby it's gonna make me be unable to think straight?"
She nodded again. This time tears welled up in her eyes.
"Ayden, are you really pregnant?" I asked again, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth.
"Yes," she said before finally wrapping her arms around my waist. She tucked her head against my chest and took a shaky breath. "I was scared you'd get worried and not be able to concentrate. I found out for sure the day you came home and told me you were being deployed. I was going to tell you then, and that's why I made your favorite dinner, but after you told me that, I didn't know how to tell you anymore."
Ayden squeezed me tighter. "Oh, Jasper, I would never leave you! I love you! I wasn't upset because of the deployment; I was worried about how to tell you about the baby!"
"Darlin', don't ever be afraid to tell me anything," I whispered fiercely into her hair.
I lifted her chin to look at her beautiful face. "Are we really gonna have a baby?" I wanted to hear her say it again; I loved hearing her say it.
Ayden gave me the biggest smile and her eyes lit up with a happiness I had never seen before. It was beautiful–she was beautiful. "Yes."
"When?"
"January."
I did the quick mental math. "Ayden, that means you-"
"Got pregnant on your honeymoon!" Emmett yelled with excitement, clapping his hands together once and fist pumping the air before going to stand by Rose. Rose slapped the back of his head.
"Shh, you big dumbass. You'll wake up your son."
I had forgotten they were even in the house. Assuring Ayden was happy and that she knew I was happy had been all I was thinking about at the moment.
"Yes, Emmett, the doctor said that most likely I got pregnant on my honeymoon," Ayden admitted with a blush.
I, on the other hand, couldn't keep the proud smirk off my face. Emmett noticed and gave me a cheesy grin and a thumbs-up.
"So, you aren't mad that I've made us both nervous wrecks this past week?" Ayden whispered.
I looked down at her and smiled. Most men probably would have been angry, but I just couldn't find it in me to be mad at Ayden. She wasn't going to desert me, there wasn't anything wrong with her, and she still loved me. "No, Ayden. I'm thrilled you aren't gonna leave, and I'm even more excited that you are having my baby," I told her. She pressed her lips to mine and molded her body to mine.
Rosalie cleared her throat, and Ayden giggled. "Sorry," she muttered, not looking the least bit apologetic.
My cousin just shook her head and smiled. "Don't get me wrong; I'm happy I'm going to be an aunt again, but I thought you were, you know, on birth control," Rosalie said bluntly.
Ayden blushed a deep crimson. "The doctor said the migraine medicine I took in St. Lucia made the birth control ineffective. I guess the doctor who spoke more French than English forgot to mention that, even with my husband in the room."
Rosalie chuckled, but Emmett full on laughed. "Oh, wait till you tell Bella and Edward! Man, she warned you in San Francisco when Rosie announced she was pregnant with Garrett. Bella said that you would be next, Ayden."
Ayden scowled at Emmett. "Shut up."
Later that night, I lay on my side as I ran my hand across Ayden's body while she was on her back close to my side.
"Have you stopped taking the pill?" I asked her out of curiosity. I knew nothing about pregnancy, but I wanted to know everything and be involved as much as I could with Ayden while deployed.
"Yes, the doctor said the two weeks I was taking it before I found out won't hurt the baby."
"What made you so sure you were pregnant?"
"When I missed my period, silly." Ayden giggled and turned her head to look at me.
"How far along are you?"
"He estimated about four weeks when I went; it would be about five weeks now."
"Would you have told me before I left?" I asked.
Ayden frowned and twisted her body so she could be flush against mine. "I would like to think I would have," she whispered. "I was so nervous, Jasper. Don't get me wrong; I'm thrilled that I'm pregnant, but we just got married just a little over a month ago. I didn't know how you would take it. I didn't want you to be in a bad place in your head when you left."
The hand that had stopped trailing across her skin was resting on her hip. I squeezed gently and smiled at Ayden. "I would never be in a bad place because you're pregnant, Ayden. This gives me even more reason than ever to make it back home–home to you and our baby."
"I won't deliver until you get back, if everything goes normally."
I kissed the tip of her nose, and then each of her eyes, before pressing my lips to hers. "Good. I wish I could be here for everything."
"Me too, but you can come to the first real appointment before you leave."
"Real appointment?" I asked.
"Yes. When I went to the doctor, I refused to let him complete the full examination typically performed. I just wanted a confirmation I was pregnant and possibly how far along. I have to go back next week. It won't be anything major, lots of tests to make sure I'm healthy and possibly get a more accurate due date, but I want you there."
My smile grew bigger if at all possible. I gently pushed her hip so she would lie back before I ran my hand over her flat stomach. Stopping over where her baby bump would eventually form, I smirked at her.
My hand covered her entire stomach, and now that I knew she was pregnant I could notice the slight difference in her toned body. Her abdomen, which was already toned with hard muscle from her daily runs, now was only a little tighter and felt firmer under my touch.
Anyone who didn't know my wife's body like I did wouldn't notice, but I knew Ayden better than anyone. The curves and planes of her body were memorized in my mind. The feel of her under my touch was burned to memory as well, and to me this slight change was clearly noticeable now that I was searching for it.
"What are you doing?" she whispered softly.
"You have a bump," I teased.
"I do not!"
I chuckled at her response. "I was joking, but you will get a bump soon, and I can't wait. The little bump means our baby is growing." I lifted my eyes to look into hers instead of her naked skin and smiled. "You're going to have my baby, darlin'."
Her hand reached out to touch my cheek before a huge smile graced her features. "Yes, I am."
Our lips crashed together in a frenzy, but our love making was slow and tender. I wanted to show her exactly how much this moment meant to me. This milestone in my life was second only to the day Ayden said "I do".
~~~ACM~~~
Now that I knew Ayden was pregnant, I could easily see the signs that should have triggered that train of thought in my mind earlier. Ayden's hands ghosting across her lower abdomen every so often. The way she smiled at little Garrett. The dreamy look that would cross her features, as if she was trying to picture our baby. But the sign that stood out more than any of the others was the morning sickness.
I wasn't sure how I had missed Ayden's constant darting to the bathroom before, but at times it was rather humorous. Emmett made a dirty joke one morning, and Ayden gagged and shot off like a rocket to the hall bathroom. I thought it was funny at times, but most of the time it made me worry about her.
Rose and Ayden both assured me morning sickness went away after the first trimester for most women.
The other change I noticed in my wife, after Emmett and Rose returned to Tacoma, was a physical one. Her breasts had gotten bigger. It was a change I noticed while she was straddling my hips, moving in tortuously slow circles on my dick. She had leaned back slightly, and from that new angle I noticed something seemed different. I studied her as best I could while under her spell, and trying not to blow my load before Ayden orgasmed, and finally realized her tits had gotten larger.
It was a perk of her pregnancy that I was going to enjoy as often as I could before I deployed and more when I came back.
The doctor's appointment was wonderful. Ayden and the baby were both healthy. She was almost six weeks pregnant now, and the due date was set for January 18th. The doctor performed an ultrasound and we were able to see our son or daughter, who looked like a jelly bean on the monitor.
When we told Bella and Edward that Ayden was pregnant over Skype, Bella dissolved into a fit of giggles. Once she was able to speak again without laughing, she high-fived Edward.
"I was right. Baby fever has struck again and it wasn't me!"
Edward got a look of concentration on his face and then his eyes widened. "You got her pregnant on your honeymoon, dude!"
"Dude, really? What are you, Emmett now?" Ayden replied sarcastically.
I just shook my head. I should have known once everyone figured out when Ayden got pregnant it would be the big thing to talk about.
"What?" Bella exclaimed. "On your honeymoon!"
Ayden blushed. "Yes, on our honeymoon."
The conversation was much the same when we talked with Peter and Charlotte, except Peter's reaction was much different.
"Ha! Way to go, bro! Knocking my little sister-in-law up on the honeymoon! I knew you had it in you. This is great; I get to be Uncle Petey sooner than I thought, Char," Peter said, looking at his wife.
Charlotte smacked him in the back of his head and then smiled at us. "Congratulations, Ayden, Jasper. Ignore Peter, Ayden. I'm happy for you, no matter when you got pregnant."
"Yeah, me too, but really babe, Jasper knocked her up before they've even been married a year. Hell, Bella and Edward married like four or five years ago and they're still just the two of them. My brother here moves quick!"
"Shut up, Peter!" Ayden screeched with a smile. "Jas, I knew he would act like this. Why did we decide to tell him again? I should have just called Char."
I laughed at my girl and kissed her forehead.
"Aw, now that's mean, Ayden," Peter whined. "How could you even think about keeping something like this from me?"
"Easy, I knew it would be relentless teasing, but as you can see, I love you enough to put up with the teasing and let you in on the exciting news," Ayden quipped.
I smirked at Peter and he flipped me the finger. "Aw, I love you, too, little girl. Bro I –"
Peter was cut off by the sound of crying from the baby monitor. "Oh shit, looks like my kid's awake. Well, we'll talk to you soon, Ayden. Be safe over there bro, and little girl, don't you hesitate to call whenever you need to, okay?"
"Okay, Peter. Bye, Char!"
"Later, bro."
The day of my deployment was hard, harder than any of the previous four. Ayden kept a smile on her face and tried to be strong, but every now and then I would see her quickly wipe at her eyes.
When we made it to the base parking lot and stepped out of the car, I pulled Ayden into my arms. "Hey, it's going to be all right, darlin'. I'll be home before you know it."
She sniffled and nodded, but kept her head pressed against my chest with her arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I kissed the top of her head and she looked up at me. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears, but she had a small smile on her lips.
"Ready?" I asked her, tilting my head toward the plane hanger's doors.
"No," she replied honestly. I grabbed my bag out of the back of the truck, and we started walking toward the hanger.
When we made it into the building, Ayden's grip on my arm tightened. I leaned down and kissed her head. "I'll be safe, Darlin'," I whispered.
"I love you, Jas," Ayden said as she looked up at me.
I dropped my gear to the floor and pulled Ayden to me. "I love you, too, Ayden. You be careful. If you need anything go bother Justin. He'll help you with anything you ask him to do. I don't know how often I'll get to talk to you, but leave the Skype on, and I'll call whenever I can. I'm gonna miss you, darlin'."
Ayden sniffled and looked up at me. Her hands wrapped around my neck and she tried to smile. "You stay safe. You be smart, and come home to me and our baby."
"I will, darlin'."
I leaned down and captured her lips in a heated kiss. A wolf whistle broke us apart, and I shot a death glare to the group of my men standing and watching.
Ayden blushed a slight pink but gave me a wink and stood on her tiptoes to press her lips to mine again. I held her tightly, not wanting to let her go.
When she pulled back, she kissed my cheek and then smiled. "I love you, Jas."
"I love you, too, Ayden."
With one last parting kiss, I joined my men and the routine for leaving for deployment started. We boarded the plane soon after, and I got one last look at Ayden. She was standing with Martha and her husband, my commander. Martha's arm was wrapped around Ayden's shoulder. Ayden look to be crying, but she had a smile in her face. When she saw me, she mouthed "love you" one more time.
I returned the sentiment and stepped into the belly of the plane.
"Looked to me like you didn't want to leave that pretty new wife of yours," Sergeant Collins said with a smile.
"We found out she's pregnant."
"Damn. Congrats, man. I guess that explains your attitude the last couple weeks, and then the drastic snap back to normal?" he guessed.
"Yeah. She was nervous to tell me, made us both crazy."
"You're good now, right?" Lieutenant Michaels asked.
"Yeah. We're good."
"When is she due?" Collins asked.
"January."
"Pregnant on the honeymoon. Nice, man, nice."
"Hoorah!" Michaels shouted.
"Shut the hell up. Both of you," I ordered with a smile.
My mind drifted to thoughts of Ayden and what our future child would look like. I couldn't wait to learn the gender, to hold my baby and my wife.
This was going to be a long six months away from Ayden.
