That night the Cullens and Alice sat in the lounge watching whatever they could find on the television.
Jasper sat beside Alice and all he could focus on was the heat coming off her body; she was so close to him. Every now and then she'd move around and her arm or leg would brush up against him and he'd hold his breath hoping that he wouldn't get so easily excited.
He hated how turned on he got whenever she touched him, sometimes she didn't need to make contact to get a reaction, just looking at her sometimes did the trick.
The night went on and around ten pm he felt her slumping against his side. He glanced down and saw her asleep there. "I'll take her up to bed." He spoke quietly, nudging Esme who sat at his other side. "I think I'll go myself." He said.
He moved one arm under Alice's legs and wrapped the other around her back, lifting her up into his arms; it wasn't difficult; she didn't weigh much.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He smiled to his Mother then glanced around at his siblings and Father before carrying Alice up the stairs and towards her bedroom.
"Jazz?"
He looked down and saw her opening her eyes, looking rather sleepy. "What is it Ali?" he wondered going to her bedroom and putting her down on the bed but her hands clutched onto his shirt.
"Stay with me." She mumbled, moving back in her bed so there was room for Jasper to lie beside her.
She didn't need to change; she'd gotten into her pyjamas after she had finished her dinner.
Jasper sighed hearing Alice...of course he wanted to stay with her, wanted to make her feel safe but Esme had had a word with him earlier, telling him she didn't want him sleeping with Alice every night, she didn't want her getting so too used to it, it'd be difficult for her to sleep if he wasn't there.
But what harm could one more night do?
"Alright." He smiled going to shut the door before returning to her side, pulling his shirt off then he climbed into the bed.
"Jasper." She frowned leaning up to look at him. "You can't possibly sleep in your jeans." She decided, lying back on the bed again.
He never usually kept them on when she slept with him...however she usually came to him when he was already in bed, already changed...but now he was sleeping in her bed and he felt a little awkward.
He looked at her and saw her watching him. "Alright." He sighed, getting out of the bed to take his jeans off before quickly jumping back into the bed. "How are you feeling Ali?" He asked, rolling onto her side to look at her.
She shrugged keeping her eyes on him. "I'm alright I guess." She said. "Still miss him...still hate that all this has happened, still just want to curl up and cry constantly but I know he wouldn't want me to do that." She whispered, staring down at his chest to avoid looking into his eyes.
He lifted his hand and rested it against her cheek, stroking his thumb over there slowly. "It'll get easier." He said gently. "Can I ask you about something?" He frowned. When she nodded, he continued. "I tried to kiss you before...outside of class, but you ran off...didn't you want me to kiss you?"
She blushed looking away again, rolling onto her back. "No, I did want you to...I – uh just didn't want people seeing, didn't want them staring at me in case I made a fool of myself."
He had to laugh at that; he just loved how adorable she was, how innocent. "You wouldn't have made a fool out of yourself." He promised, moving to lean over her so he was in her eyesight. "You're a good kisser Ali." He smiled reassuringly at her slowly leaning down. "Is this alright?"
She nodded lifting her arms up to wrap around his neck, bringing him closer and shutting her eyes as their lips touched.
He deepened their kiss, his tongue moving to her lower lip; trying to pry her mouth open and when it did his tongue moved inside.
He lifted his leg and moved it over her, shuffling so he was straddling her but he made sure he supported his own weight, not wanting to hurt her.
He was a little worried how far he was pushing her but he was sure she'd stop him if she didn't want anymore. He moved his hand to her hip, lifting her shirt up a little so he could feel her warm skin below.
Alice hadn't felt anything like this before, her whole body was tingling from his kiss, from his touch. She wanted more but was embarrassed and she didn't think she was ready. She felt his hand moving higher up underneath her shirt and suddenly remembered she wasn't wearing a bra, she was in her pyjamas. "Jasper...Jasper stop please."
His hand came quickly out of her shirt and he leant back to look at her. "I'm sorry Ali." He whispered, kissing her cheek before rolling off her.
"No, don't be sorry." She smiled sitting up, looking down at him. "I liked it...I just didn't want to get too carried away, I'm not ready."
He sat up with her, leaning in to kiss her gently. "I won't ever make you do anything you don't want to do." He promised, taking her hand when he leant back. "I was getting a bit carried away." He laughed a little, squeezing her hand. "It's hard for me to control myself around you." He laughed again, wanting her at ease.
"Thanks." She smiled content that they were going to be alright. She lay back down and cuddled into his side.
"You're welcome beautiful." He smiled, wrapping his arm tight around her. "Sleep well." He whispered watching her eye lids drooping until they stayed closed and her breathing slowed.
"Why haven't they called? They said they'd call!" Esme whined looking over at her husband who sat reading his newspaper.
It was early Saturday morning, the children were still asleep. She and her husband were waiting impatiently for the social services to call; they'd been assured they would hear by Saturday but so far they heard nothing.
"Relax my love, they said they'd call and they will call, it's only eight thirty." Carlisle chuckled looking over the newspaper to smile at his wife. "I don't understand why you're worrying so darling, we're good parents, I can't see a reason why they wouldn't consider us to be Alice's adopted parents."
She nodded slowly, guessing he was right, he was always right.
"Jasper was in Alice's room last night." She sighed, wanting a change of subject so she wasn't fretting over this call. "I understand that she may feel a little...scared or a little lost so she will want someone with her, I just don't want her getting too dependent on Jasper."
He put his paper down and moved to his wife's side, sitting on the sofa next to her.
"You're right; we'll make sure Alice sleeps alone tonight." He decided, kissing her cheek. "Even if it means I have to stay up and sit outside her bedroom door." He laughed a little at that thought; it reminded him of when they were trying to get Rosalie to sleep in her bed alone.
She was only three but before then she'd been sharing a room with her brother, they decided when she got to three years old she was old enough for her own room but Rosalie wasn't having it, she kept trying to get into her brother's room. It was difficult but they eventually settled her in her own room.
Esme smiled herself as she too got memories of trying to settle young Rosalie. "Alright my love." She agreed kissing her husband but when the phone rang she jumped back and grabbed it. "Hello?"
Carlisle laughed lightly leaning back on the sofa listening to Esme's excited voice as she spoke.
After about ten minutes she hung up and turned to grin at him. "We have Alice! She's our baby, we can care for her now."
He smiled at her enthusiasm but put his hands on her cheeks making her look at him. "My dear, we can't be too...forceful to poor Alice, don't want her thinking we're trying to take over being her parents. It's up to us to care for her, to look after her and raise her but we don't want her to ever forget her Father."
She nodded, knowing very well that he was right; she didn't want to upset Alice. "I can't wait to tell her though, she'll be so glad she can live here." She was so glad too! "We have to go down to the offices sometime today to sign some papers confirming all of this." She explained, almost forgetting that part completely.
"We may as well go now love." He said getting to his feet, holding his hand out and helping her up.
He took her hands and the pair left together, locking the door behind them.
Alice woke first that morning and she stretched out in the bed, being careful not to disturb Jasper.
She sat up and glanced down at Jasper, a little smile on her face seeing how handsome he looked lying there. She couldn't understand why he'd want her...why he would want to kiss her.
She leant down and kissed his forehead gently before carefully climbing out of the bed.
It was a little chilly that morning so she grabbed her dressing gown and put it on, wrapping her arms around herself before slowly making her way down the stairs.
The house was quiet...were Esme and Carlisle still in bed? They were usually up by now.
She went through to the lounge and saw today's paper lying on the coffee table, they must be up.
When she looked out the front window she noticed that their car was gone; they probably went out somewhere.
She spent the next hour or so just watching Saturday morning television; mostly reruns of old cartoons she watched growing up; this was the best part about a Saturday though of course she much preferred it with her Father, the two of them sat on their old little sofa eating 'Lucky Charms' straight out of the packet, he'd always pick out the rainbow marshmallows and give them to her as they were her favourite. He knew all her favourites.
She felt the familiar stinging in her eyes and knew she was close to tears.
She got up quickly and went through to the kitchen, opening the cupboards and found a box of 'Lucky Charms.'
"I want to keep up old traditions." She said quietly to herself, opening the box, reaching inside.
It took her a while but eventually she had a little bowl full of marshmallow rainbows so she took them back through to the lounge, sitting in front of the television again.
Esme and Carlisle returned home at about ten am, they went through to the lounge and saw Alice sat on the sofa with an empty bowl.
"Everyone still asleep sweetie?" Esme wondered going to sit beside Alice, smiling to her.
She nodded looking up from the television. "I think they want a lie in." She laughed a little, putting her bowl down on the coffee table.
"We have something to tell you." Carlisle announced, going to sit on the edge of the coffee table, smiling at Alice.
She looked up at them, a frown on her face; she was rather worried by the way they were both grinning at her. "What is it?" she asked.
"The services finally got back to us." He went on, the smile still on his face. "They said yes, we've adopted you, you can stay here!"
Alice jumped up hearing that news and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you." She cuddled up to him, burying her face against his shoulder blade. She could stay here, she wouldn't get shipped off to some home, wouldn't be alone, she could stay here with them.
Things would get better.
Sorry for the few day wait but it's here now :)
I finished this chapter like six hours ago with the intention to upload it right away...but I completely forgot until just now when I was getting into bed, but here it is!
I actually got out of my nice warm comfortable bed to upload this...show your appreciation by leaving a review (Y) ;) thank you :) x
