Disclaimer: Anything recognizable belongs to its rightful owner. In the words of Jonathan Larson, "I don't own, I rent."
Friday passed quickly. With my next day off, I had planned a day of sightseeing, gooey romance, and lots of cuddling. He seemed to get the drift and followed my lead. We enjoyed the bit of time we had left together. We went to get some lunch, went around a few boutiques, and shamelessly French-kissed in front of the Eiffel Tower. Of course, reality hit us when Annabelle called; I spoke to her for an hour—much to Rosalie's annoyance and Jasper's delight. We stopped at a small coffee shop before heading back to the hotel room. I smiled childishly at my purchases as he held them in the elevator—too gentlemanly for his own good.
"You sure I can't hold one?" I asked with a giggle. He shrugged although he was drowning in my shopping excursion; I could barely see his hand through the explosion of paper and plastic bags. I kissed his cheek and darted down the hall to open the door. He followed in behind me, walking past me to the bedroom where he dropped the bags off in front of my bed. I turned around to shut the door and I felt two strong arms wrap around my waist. Squealing, I kicked the door shut as he picked me up.
He somehow managed to throw me over his shoulder, leaving me breathless and barely able to fight back—not that I would. "Stop," I whined, clawing at his back to get him to put me down, but he ignored me. Upside down, I could make out the changing floors and guessed he was taking me to the bedroom. I saw the door shut behind us before he roughly tossed me down on the bed. I gasped as I bounced slightly on the mattress, but before I could get my head straight, he was hovering over me, his lips trailing down my neck. "Jazz—" I half-argued, half-moaned and he smirked before he continued his path down to my collarbone.
Within the next hour, we had rid ourselves of the sexual tension we had faced all day. Afterward, I lay on my stomach and eyed the ring on my finger as I rest my hand against the pillow. A little over a month ago, I hadn't had this ring. I hadn't even been dating a man and was that where Jasper and I were—dating? I mean an engaged-but-dating couple. We hadn't even spoken about the ring and what it all meant—when were we telling Annabelle? Had he already? He told Rosalie, Vera, Charlotte, and Peter while I told my family, but Annabelle was left for the both of us to tell, right? It seemed only fair.
I felt his fingertips trail down my lower back and curl back up. I looked over at him and concern furrowed his brow as he tucked a lost strand of hair behind my ear. "What is it?" he whispered, his voice husky and irresistible from our previous rendezvous.
"When did you plan on asking me?" I asked abruptly and he froze for a minute before sighing and retracting his hand from my body so not to distract either of us.
"When you left the night you said you loved me," he replied. "In the best circumstances, I wanted to fly to New York and ask for your father's permission, but it didn't work out that way." I smiled at his gentlemanly priorities. Of course he would want my father's blessing before asking. Hell, my father didn't even know he existed until I came home with a ring on my finger. That must have been an interesting conversation he and my father had.
"So you went out and bought a ring on a whim?" I asked with a smirk and he smiled, looking down bashfully.
"Actually, that's my mother's wedding ring," he confessed and my heart stuttered. "In her will, she left me her wedding ring and Rosalie her wedding dress. She was always telling me to settle down—even at eighteen. I think she wanted another daughter," he chuckled once and I reached out to grab his hand reassuringly. "She would have liked you. She would have probably told me to elope to keep you from realizing you deserved better," he said with a smirk and I rolled my eyes, blushing at the compliment.
"I didn't give my mother's ring to Maria," he admitted unexpectedly. "I don't remember what was in my head, but I remember picking up the ring and knowing it wasn't right. I think my mom was in the back of my head telling me I screwed up and I didn't want to hear that everyday." His voice trailed off, quieter with each word as he stared off, reminiscing. I stayed patient, waiting for him to finish.
"I didn't exactly have it all planned out and I didn't think you'd agree to anything, but I went earlier that day looking for rings and none of them fit," he paused, squeezing my hand. "So I thought it wasn't right and I was rushing into things, but when I came back home and found the ring—I don't know, it seemed… you." He paused and I stared down at the ring, twirling it around my finger before he panicked. "Don't get me wrong, I would have bought one and I still will if you don't like it, I just—"
I interrupted him with a kiss, leaning over to silence his rambling. "Shh," I hushed him as I pulled back and smiled slightly. "I didn't know you gave me your mother's ring," I said, looking back at the jewelry. "That's romantic." He smiled his dimpled, infectious smile and I turned to lie on my back, curling up beside him and bringing the sheets up over us. He wrapped an arm around me, tucking him against his side. We were silent for a while, just enjoying each other's company and the composition of our breathing patterns before he spoke.
"What are you thinking?" he whispered curiously, his lips brushing over my crown.
"We haven't really talked about any of it," I confessed. "I mean, the wedding—the engagement. I don't really know what it all means—it just hasn't set in yet."
"Well we haven't exactly had time," he said, his hand sliding over mine that rested on his chest. "Talk," he pressed. "I'm here now." I hesitated, not knowing where to begin.
"Have you told Annabelle?" I asked and he sighed, his breath warming my exposed skin.
"I thought it would be better for her and maybe she'd understand a bit better if you were with me," he replied cautiously. Just as I had thought: he was going to wait to tell her. I nodded and I felt him relax a bit. "Plus I didn't know how soon you wanted to get married."
"I want to slow down a little," I said with a smile and he hugged me tighter to his body. "I mean, I'm not regretting any of this, I just thought we could slow down and have a long engagement. I always wanted an autumn wedding…" I mused before changing gears. "When I was with my mom, she begged me to consider her house in the Hamptons as a location."
"Really?" he seemed surprised. He met my mother, why would he be surprised. I laughed a bit at that thought.
"She said she'd pay for everyone to fly over. I'm not sure with Annabelle and long flights and I'm sure now she would understand if we decided against it, but—" I was backtracking now. I hated that.
"Alice, I'll go wherever you take me," he reassured me and I smiled, looking up at him from just beneath my lashes. I pressed a chaste kiss to his bare torso in appreciation before I continued.
"I still don't know when we should get married, I just know not right away. Maybe a year or so?"
"A year," he repeated, mulling it over.
"And that way you have time to back out," I teased and he kissed me on the top of my head.
"Never," he replied simply, sending shivers down my spine. "I don't mind waiting two years," he continued.
"Or three," I added and he shook his head.
"No, three years is too long," he argued to which I giggled and he joined my laughter. I jumped when I heard my phone buzz and I reached over to grab it for fear of it being work-related. It was my mom, of course, and I snuggled back against Jasper as I answered it.
"Hi, mom," I greeted her and she squealed before diving into fresh gossip. She talked of a few neighbors and their rude comments on the house, a new part-time teaching job my father had gotten to keep him busy in retirement, and then of course Jasper.
"Well you know I approved of him the moment I saw that glow on your face, but your father was a bit harder to convince. Still, he is so tall and handsome! I didn't realize you had found such a catch," she gabbed while I blushed, looking up at Jasper to see him smirk. He could hear every word she was saying—great. "Edward was a bit rude, but Bella brings out the best in him—she's such a sweet girl. She had a talk with him, I suppose, and it was like night and day."
"I miss them," I admitted. "I miss you and dad, too. I only have a week left," I said with a newfound excitement bubbling over. Jasper hugged my side and closed his eyes, leaning his cheek against the top of my head and leaving me to talk with my mother as he had for the last fifteen minutes or so.
"Oh, I miss you, too, sweetie," she replied with a sniffle. "Before I let you go, I wanted you and Jasper to discuss this." Oh no… "Now I know you're coming back on Friday and you have a ticket for Sunday, but I was hoping Jasper would want to spend Christmas with us. He can bring his daughter, of course; we would all love to meet her."
"Mom, I think we're trying to sort stuff out," I said, not wanting to get her hopes up.
"I know, Alice," she began. "And if it's too troublesome, then would it be too hard for you to stay until Christmas Eve and then you can fly back to Portland for Christmas Day? I'm sure we'll get the hang of the holidays in the years to come, but I don't want to miss my daughter on Christmas—especially her last Christmas before she's married." I closed my eyes, hating how heartbroken she sounded after realizing her baby girl was moving away.
"I'll let you know."
"Alright, hon, I'll let you go. I love you," she said, still sniffling. My father would have some serious consoling to do once she ended the phone call.
"Love you, too, mom," I said before hanging up the phone and rolling over to put it back on the nightstand. "My mom's in love with you," I spoke casually as I curled back against him. "What did you do?"
"I was polite," he shrugged before he kissed my temple. "What's wrong?" It was odd how he could always read me so easily. He could practically read my soul: knowing when I was upset, guilty, concerned, or if I felt any discomfort. Of course along with that he could make it better in an instant.
"I don't feel like I have a home anymore," I confessed, easily, knowing he would have no judgment. "With Bella and Edward getting married, I feel like my apartment is their apartment and I feel odd sleeping at your house because it's an abrupt transition for Annabelle and I don't want to corrupt her childhood or anything—"
I was about to continue my rambling, but his laughter interrupted me. "Corrupt?" he questioned and I nodded, furrowing my brow. Why was he laughing? This wasn't funny. "Annabelle would love it. Every time you'd come over, she kept begging me to ask you to stay for a slumber party," he said with another chuckle. I smirked a bit, remembering how excited she had been when I would give her a manicure or pedicure or even the large fort in her bedroom. She had wanted me to read her a story and stay until she fell asleep…
"I'm not asking you to sleep with me. You can sleep in the guest room until she adjusts or you can get an apartment if you want to be more independent," he offered, his hand sliding down my side to squeeze my hip. I squirmed and he chuckled lowly. "That can't be it, something's bothering you."
I hesitated, not knowing if I should really bring this up now, but I did. He would have to hear of my mother's invitation eventually. "Christmas," I grumbled bitterly.
"It's the most wonderful time of the year," he sang and I smirked, pulling away from him to meet his gaze, propping my head up on my hand.
"I don't know where to go," I complained and he pouted, nodding for me to continue. "I can stay in New York or I can go see you and Annabelle, Vera, Henry, Charlotte, Peter—or I can spend one of my last Christmases with Edward, Bella, and my parents."
"Do what feels best," he advised and I groaned at the open air that left for me to define. "Darling, I can't make the decision for you. I wish I could, but—"
"Just tell me what to do," I whined childishly and he chuckled.
"I can tell you that my cooking is terrible so your stomach will have nothing to look forward to," I giggled as he quickly moved to tickle my sides. "And on Christmas Eve we go caroling," he said with a smirk, taking his hands away from my abdomen. I smiled sadly, remembering my mother's tone—god, she always tugged at my heartstrings.
"My mom wants to have you and Annabelle over for Christmas or she wants me to stay for Christmas Eve," I said quietly and the tension seeped back into the room. "I don't know if I can back out of it, but obviously I don't want to pull you away from your plans—"
"What about New Year's?" he interrupted me.
"What do you mean?"
"I have you for Christmas and we fly to New York for New Year's," he elaborated. "That way your family still sees you for the holidays." I thought about it for a minute. Would my mom compromise? She didn't exactly have a choice, but I suppose she would. I'm sure they would miss me on Christmas and I would miss them. Then only a few days later, we could all go to the Hamptons for New Years, sit on the beach for fireworks; Annabelle would love the beach…
"I see the gears turning," he teased, flicking my temple lightly. I stuck my tongue out at him and he chuckled. "What do you think?"
"I'll run it by her," I said, nodding. "You're cute when you're genius-y," I added with a giggle.
"Oh really?" he asked with a quirk of his brow. Before I could protest, he pinned me back against the mattress, his lips trailing hot open-mouthed kisses down my neck. I moaned a protest, but that just gave him confidence. "Jazz-purr," I couldn't protest, stopping midway to purr his name as his teeth grazed the hollow of my throat. "I'm so lucky," he muttered against my skin. I could say the same thing.
A/N: You may be wondering: did I just read a whole lot of nothing? And to that I say, "Shame on you!" I wanted this chapter to sort some things out. I was originally going to have it be Friday night into Saturday when Jasper goes home, but at 2,626 words, I thought if I wrote anymore, it would be rushed. That's one of my weaknesses. When I get to a certain word count, everything after it is rushed and doesn't make much sense. So, sorry to anyone who would rather have some plot, but there was some fun stuff in it... right?
Thanks for reading, like always. 81 reviews! Whoa! You guys are awesome! As for the poll I took last chapter, most of you want some teenage boarding school drama for my next story. A couple more wanted the Pride and Prejudice and the last few wanted a celebrity thing. The boarding school won by a landslide, of course you all said you loved every idea which makes me blush.
So thanks for being awesome and I love you. The end of another long author's note. :o)