A/N: Ok yup yup I suck. I have only the holiday and the heath issues and the total lack of ummm well umph to write, so thought I know where it is all going I didn't know til this chapter where it truly would go. I hope you all stick with me... gonna be a kind of great weird ride! Oh Yeah and if you look in my profile you will see a story called Good-bye, Hello that was first place in a SWW pick a pic contest O/S and I kind of left this story for a bit to write that one... sorry... ok now on with the boys...
Jas pov
This is big. This is probably the biggest thing anyone has ever done for me.
"Emmett, it's gorgeous." I reach out and touch the bright green swirls.
"It's you, well, us actually." I can feel a tear run down my face as I kiss lightly the new ink on his back. Two delicate brown branches sit atop the grey tree and are topped with bright new green leaves.
"When did you . . .? I mean how did I not . . .?"
He laughs and turns to me. "I did it the other day over my lunch break. And how you didn't see it? That was a lot harder than I thought it would be - you and your love of shower fun - but I managed to keep you distracted enough."
Now that I think about it, he is right. I haven't really seen his full back in days. "I love it, and thank you."
"I was so bitter for so long, disillusioned by family. I thought my mom and I were all I needed to trust in. She was the earth and I was the tree. But then you come along and well you turned everything upside down. I never in a million years saw you coming, but I am really fucking glad you did." I lean forward and give him a soft kiss. He smiles against my lips and I feel his arm move around behind him.
"I know it hasn't been that long, but I know what is right and what is forever. You are forever on my skin, forever in my life." I hear a snap of a box opening and look down and my mouth drops. "Bella told me something awhile back. She said we all have roles to play in our lives. She was right. My role is to man up and not let the past color the future. My role is to love you everyday of the rest of my life." I am speechless. I am sure my mouth has hit the floor, as he slides down and kneels, grabbing my hands.
"Jasper, will you do me the incredible honor of marrying me?" I feel tears pouring down and through the watery haze, I look down at a beautiful claddagh ring. I think I went into shock. Nothing registers until I feel Emmett shaking me.
"What? I, ahh . . ." His worried face snaps me back to my senses. "Of course, I will! Oh wow, I, wow!"
We are both laughing through our tears as his shaky hands try to put the ring on my shaky he gets it on, I pull him up to stand. We climb the stairs and we slip between the covers and hold each other close.
I take the time to admire the ring. I feel like such a girl, but I can't stop looking at it. The platinum band is engraved with the traditional design, and there is a band of diamonds on the top and bottom.
"Did you really say yes?" Emmett asks, sounding like it was just sinking in for him.
Turning to face him, I put my hand on his cheek and kiss him deep. When I pull away, he is searching my face.
"I said yes," then I laugh suddenly, struck with a thought. "Rose is gonna be pissed off."
Emmett's dimples grow deep. "Don't worry, she is getting hers."
We fell asleep tightly wrapped together. I am sure I had a smile on my face the whole night. It was there when I fell asleep and it was there when I woke to soft light shining in the window. Emmett was still sound asleep and protested when I slipped out of his arms.
I didn't expect to wake before him. I had planned on waiting until he was out with Maggie to get out his gift, but I am happy with getting this chance. Telling Maggie to stay, I slip out of the room and hope Jake came through last night. Slipping through the kitchen, I peek out to the garage and see he did. I make record time shooting down the stairs and grabbing the envelope and bow and book it back up the stairs. As quickly and quietly as I can, I bring his gift in and place it under the tree, placing the big red and green bow on it, draping the long ribbons all around it.
Tucking the envelope in my waist band, I pop into the kitchen and slide the cinnamon rolls into the oven and turn on the coffeemaker. I do it all with a hop in my step. I am so excited for our first Christmas together. I think his excitement is rubbing off on me.
After the timer is set to stop and the coffee starts brewing, I tiptoe up the stairs and slip back into bed. Emmett's arms go around me the minute I slide in. His nose nuzzles into my neck and he sighs like I am his favorite place in the world. It fits because he is mine.
I don't sleep - I can't. All I do is lay there listening to him lightly snoring. The quiet of no traffic and the early morning hours have me at ease. It has been a wild ride. Five months, just five months and it seems like a decade. A rational person would have said, "Whoa! Slow down a minute," but we weren't them. We didn't do anything slow or by the books. This was right. This was how it should be.
Watching the morning sun dance across the silver and diamonds - yup, it is a girly as shit thing to do, but I still can't believe it - it is there. I said yes and I get to keep him. I feel his face shift to my shoulder, leaving kisses before his chin rests on top of it. "Merry Christmas."
Turning my face to the side, I capture his lips. I will never grow tired of his lips on mine. "Merry Christmas, Bunny."
"It smells like heaven in here, so I smell . . ."
"Cinnamon rolls and coffee? Yes." I turn in his arms and we are face to face.
"I'm not sure what I want more right now." Emmett pulls me tighter and runs his nose from my temple to chin. His stomach makes itself known. "Food - and then I want to stuff your stocking."
I laugh and throw my a pillow at him as he hops out of bed. "That was just bad, Emm, epically so."
A quick trip to the bathroom and he emerges shirtless and I don't care how bad the phrase was, he can stuff anything he likes.
"Stop fucking me with your eyes and get up! It's Christmas!" His enthusiasm from yesterday is back and contagious as ever. Throwing my legs over the edge of the bed, I stumble around looking for my robe, which has slipped off the edge of the bed. Emmett was practically bouncing out of his skin waiting on me. OK, I may have drawn it out a bit longer than needed, but I had to mess with him a bit.
"OK, ready? You want to do gifts or food first?"
"Food. As much as I love gifts, I got the best one last night when you said yes. The rest is just icing on the cake." Giving his waist a squeeze, he pecks my lips and we head down to the kitchen.
His stomach and nose overrule his urge to see the tree and leads him into the kitchen. He goes for the mugs as I grab out the rolls. My timing was perfect. They baked to perfection and had enough time to cool, but still be warm. Sliding a few on a couple of plates, we sit at the table and enjoy.
Emmett lets out a growl of satisfaction as he smiles around a mouthful of sugary goodness.
"I knew you'd be the perfect housewife." I laugh and smack his arm.
"Watch it or I won't cook or bake for you again." His eyes fake hurt for a minute before he smiles and kisses me. I can taste the cinnamon and sugar even after his lips leave mine.
"Sorry, Babe. Thanks for these. They are amazing." We make short work of our breakfast and before the last plate hits the sink, he is bouncing out of the room. "Present time!"
I laugh and follow him at a slightly slower pace. He is standing in front of the tree stock still. A moment of panic hits me. I thought it would be the right gift, but shit, what if I was wrong.
Em pov
I didn't think anything could compare to him saying yes. It was all I wanted for Christmas, but this? Wow! I look down to a confused Maggie and then hack at the gift that is on display in front of the tree.
I may have stopped breathing for a minute or two. I look to Maggie, to the gift and finally to Jasper. His look is uncertain and I can't understand why. It's perfect. Then he steps forward and brushes something from my face - a tear? No tears - shit! He thought I was upset or didn't like it.
"Jazz, Baby, I love it." I hug him so hard I think I may have cracked a rib or two.
He still looks unsure, so I grab his face and kiss him hard. "Perfect."
"It's a check . . ."
"Checkered Giant. I know. It's just like the ones . . . well, you know." Jasper nods. Now he is the one with watery eyes.
"I know, your mama told me. She helped me find the breeder." Maggie sniffs at the rabbit and it sniffs back. Neither is impressed. She goes out her doggy door and the black-and-white bunny goes back to its water nozzle.
I settle on the floor in front of the cage and Jasper joins me. Careful so I don't spook the tiny thing, I reach in and cradle it in my hands.
"It's a girl. I thought I would balance out the estrogen in the house." Jasper jokes and we sit there for the better part of an hour, playing with our new pet.
"This is amazing baby. Thank you so much." He blushes and does his "awe shucks" look, but I can tell he is relieved and happy to have gotten it right. I hate to tell him, but no matter what he gave me, it would have been right - and perfect.
He also gave me a trip to go snowboarding, when - he made it known - he would spend the time with a book in front of a fire. We'll see about that one. Also a sweater and a few other bits and pieces. He tried to insist I had given him enough, but the best gift he gave me was accepting the guitar from me and then playing for me. It was just a bit of "Santa Baby," sung with smirk and a glint in his eyes, but it had me tearing the instrument from his hands and pinning him to the floor.
"Umm, Em? Not in front of the kids."
After a few thrusts of my hips into him, I groan and roll off of him when he shakes his head no. "Fine," I pout. "The magic is gone already. Yup, the minute the ring goes on, it's lost."
He punches my shoulder and gets to his feet. "Well since you spent so much time playing with the baby, we now have 45 minutes to get to your mama's - that includes loading the billions of gifts we have to pack into the car."
I groan, and he looks unapologetic as he throws a hand out to help me up.
It really didn't look like that much when it was under the tree, but trip after trip loading the truck and seeing the bed fill up, even I have to admit I may have gone overboard.
Checking on baby bunny one last time, we grab Maggie and head out. By the time we get there, most of the parking is taken, but we find a spot in the drive.
Looking down at our linked hands I run my thumb over his ring and smile at it. "Ready for this?"
"As ready as I will ever be - how many people again?" Thanksgiving gave him a bit of an idea, but I don't think he fully grasps a McCarty Christmas.
"Only about thirty or so, give or take. About 20 adults and 10 or so kids." He gulps and nods before squeezing my hand and reaching for the handle.
As promised, the house is filled with people. In every room, there is someone gathered and talking. Kids weave in and out of the adults, clearly already on a sugar rush. A few squeals come from the stairs as couple of them spot Maggie and rush down to play with her. Handing over the reins of her to the older of the two, I thread my fingers in Jasper's and pull him along.
"Relax, they are all family. Soon to be yours, too." He looks around and I see him relax as he sees familiar faces. "Mom, we're here."
"Emmett, dear! Merry Christmas." She rounds the corner in her Mrs. Clause apron, wiping her hands on a snowman dish towel. Kissing each of our cheeks as we dutifully bend over, "Jasper, welcome to our holiday madhouse! Don't let it intimidate you. Just jump in whereever."
"Yes, Ma'am, will do. Kind of a shock though. Growing up, Christmas for us was small - just the three of us - so . . . um ya, this is a bit much to take in."
She gives out a melodious chuckle and gives him another kiss.
"I'm gonna round up some able bodies to unload." I don't have long until I am talking to thin air, as my mom has pulled Jasper to the kitchen and all able bodies fled.
Eventually I round up the guys and get everything moved inside. An hour and a half later and a living room full to the ceiling of gift wrap and boxes, we are through the presents. Shockingly, no one has spotted Jasper's ring. That is until we are cleaning up and we hear a chilling scream. We all stop to look up at Katie.
"Oh, My God!" Everyone looks confused until I follow her eyes. I straighten a bit, pull my shoulders back a little prouder, and smile like I won the lotto. "Is that what I think it is?"
Jasper smiles, walking over to me and sliding his arm around my waist. "Yup, sure is, darlin'."
Katie looks over at Seth (the poor guy), then screams down the hall. "Mama, get in here quick!"
Mom rushes into the room, looking frantic. "Katie, what on earth . . .?" She looks cross when she sees no emergency. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
"Sorry, mama, but it looks like someone has been holding out on us." Katie points and then mom gets it - and she starts shrieking. Before we know it, we are surrounded and everyone is talking over the other. There is no talk of "too soon" or anything like I feared - just laughter and music and amazing food.
During dinner, we answered all the questions we, of course, had no answer to. "I gave him the ring. Isn't the rest up to him?"
With that, I received glares from all the women at the table, especially Tia and Katie. And that is when I shut up and let him answer.
"Well, I think I will wait to see what Alice tells me. You don't really know her, but once she gets wind of a wedding or any event for that matter, it is just a matter of saying 'yes, Alice'." As the talk continued about the wedding, I was grateful to be seated next to Ben.
"So, how's everything going? Did you find a therapist?" I nod as I swallow my food so I can answer.
"I did, I really like him, too. I think I am making progress. I haven't had more than a handful of nightmares since I have been back."
"That's great. And you two? You guys are in a good place now. No more secrets?" I gulp and choke a bit on that one. There have been the three days of texts and avoided calls. I didn't want to keep it from him. I just didn't want to ruin the holiday.
"There is one thing, but I am telling him about it later tonight." Ben scowls at me. "It's nothing that is going to change anything. Just a few issues we need to deal with."
Ben looks leary, but lets it go. "Just make sure you do. You guys fought too hard to get here. You need to be open and honest. It's the only way." The conversation lightens after that as we finish up and clear the table.
Rounding the corner, I hear Jasper's voice so happy. "Yup, like the ring and his love isn't enough, he put that on his back."
"Never gonna be enough." I set the dishes on the counter and wrap my arms around him. "Besides, did you tell my mom what you got me?" Suddenly he looks shy as he shakes his head.
"What did he get you, dear?"
"Well, mom, besides saying yes, he got me a Giant Checkered bunny." I beam with pride at what it means and what a thoughtful man I am marrying.
My mom is teary-eyed as she pulls us into a tight hug. "You two really are perfect for each other."
The mushy "awe shucks, mom" moment was broken when Tyler and Leah came laughing into the room, calling for everyone to follow. The older kids had been out shooting hoops after dinner, despite the cold and grey skies.
"Come on, guys, hurry." All filing out of the house, everyone goes from light chatter to silent.
Huge white flakes are falling, covering everything in their wake. "Now that's something you don't get to see in Texas everyday," someone said, and we all agreed. The kids started gathering as much as they could and started to make snow angels in the drive.
Jasper is laughing in front of me, "I don't think Maggie likes it very much." Looking down, she has the most pathetic look on her face. Her ears are hung low and she is giving us the stink-eye.
"I guess no snowboarding trip for her."
I feel the buzz in my pocket for the millionth time today. Jasper being where he is, he feels it too and quirks his brow at me. Time to go home and spill the beans.
Jas pov
After kisses and good-byes, we left for home, slower then normal because though the snow wasn't sticking. It was a slick sloshy mess.
We were quiet most of the way, Maggie was passed out on the floorboards and I was scooted up close under Emmett's arm. I knew we were gonna talk about the phone thing soon enough. Now I just wanted to take in the past two days and kind of bask in it.
Our nightly routine went along as usual and I could feel the tension building. At some point, I couldn't take it anymore.
"OK for the sake of my nerves, spill already. This shit has been building all week and I can't take it anymore." As if on cue, his phone went off again. We both look to where it was dancing across the night stand. Scrubbing his hand down his face, Emmett seems to release some of the tension in his shoulders.
"I don't know how he got the number, but it's Garrett." I figured as much, but there is still a lot I need to hear.
"And?"
"And I have no idea. He started with just 'hi with a smiley face,' shit like that. Now they are getting really strange." A chill runs through me.
"Strange? How, Emmett?" He paces the room and I sit patiently on the bed and wait.
"He . . . well . . . They started out strange, but I figured it was just him getting under my skin, but then the calls started." I gasp. "Don't worry. They all went to voice. I wasn't gonna talk to that crazy fuck. And believe me, Jazz, once I listened to the first one, I am sure he is fucking nuts!"
"Like what, Em? You're really starting to freak me out. You didn't seem this freaked before." I can't take the pacing and stop him and pull him down next to me.
"Well, I didn't let myself dwell on it too much. I mean there was a lot else going on, so I eventually stopped reading them and didn't listen to the messages - until tonight." He shudders and I have goosebumps. It takes a lot to scare Emmett.
Dailing up his voicemail, he hands me the phone.
"This is the one from tonight." I put it up to my ear and listen.
"Baby, I just looked out the window and it's snowing, so be careful driving home. Hope you had a good time with your family. Sorry I couldn't make it this year. Next year, I promise. Love you, see you soon."
I'm not sure if I want to vomit or hit something. "What the fuck? What were the other ones? The texts? What did they say? How did he get your number?"
"Clearly, he's lost it to start. The messages start with things like 'I miss you. I'm sorry' . . . Here, look." I file through them and the messages increase in how personal they are - and I feel the bile rise. One of the last ones is a naked picture of himself in a bathroom mirror, saying "I miss u 3."
"I think he must have somehow gotten my number from Tyler's coach. I was one of his emergency contacts."
"It sounds like he is under the impression you guys are back together, or never broke up. We need to do something about this."
Emmett nods in agreement. "We can't do anything tonight. Hell, I don't even know if we can get a restraining order. He hasn't done anything yet really." I feel my mouth drop.
"Not done anything? Emmett, that phone begs to differ." He tosses the once again buzzing phone on the night stand and pulls me to him.
"Jazz, baby. I agree something is off and something needs to be done, but not tonight. Tonight, I want to crawl into bed and wrap myself up in my fiance." Tugging me towards the bed, I can do nothing but follow.
"Fine, but we are talking to someone first thing tomorrow." That was the last words on the matter as I fall back and Emmett peels the clothes from my body, then his.
Crawling up my body, his lips barely brushing my skin drive me mad. Finally his mouth reached where I wanted him the most. He hovers and teases, his tongue barely darting out and licking the tip.
"Umm, you're kind of killing me here, Bunny. Care to get a move on already?" He smirks up at me. I know that look.
"Really? What do you want me to do? Maybe something like this?" His hand snakes around me, torturously slow, pulling back the foreskin as he licks his lips. Then his tongue is even more cruel as he snakes it around me, just below my head. It dips down and plays just under the skin as he pulls back up with his hand. Then I am off the bed arching my back as he gently pulses his mouth around just the head. The rhythm of the pulses are almost in time to my heart. In the opposite rhythm, he massages the foreskin up, creating the most unusual and magnificent sensations.
"Oh god, Emm! That feels so fucking good!" When he starts swirling his tongue again, I grab his hair and yell out. "Emm, fuck! Not gonna last . . ." With that, his lips, hands, everything are gone. I look up to protest, but am knocked back down as he attacks me, lube in hand.
"Sorry, I can't wait. Those sounds you were making are driving me insane." I welcome his crushing kiss and gladly let him settle between my thighs. It takes less then a minute until he is sliding inside me.
We both hold our breath as he slides in and pauses. Threading his right hand with my left, he runs a finger across my new ring and smiles brightly. "I love you."
"I love you too, Bun, but if you don't start moving those hips, I am gonna flip you over and ride you until you are begging for mercy." He laughs and before I know it, I am feeling myself moving. In one swift move, he has our roles reversed - my hands bracing on his chest until I get my bearings.
"Have at, Babe. Make it good, 'cause that is a lot to live up to!" He looked pretty smug and I knew I had to put him in his place. Sometimes you just can't let Emmett get away with his smartass attitude.
I smirk and give him a wink. "Oh, I think I can handle it, darlin'." And then I pull almost all the way off him before slamming back down. I am relentless as I do it over and over again - his fingers bruising my hip bones, trying to slow me down. I keep up the rough frantic pace ignoring his nonverbal communication of what he wants. As I feel his fingers loosen, giving over to what I want, I slowly lean down. I suck on that spot on his neck - that muscle that drives him insane. As I seek out the straining muscle there, I give it a soft bite-suck action and roll my hips.
"Jasper, oh fuck!" He screams out and I know he is feeling the torture of too fast switching to too slow. "You're killing me, baby."
"Is that begging I hear, Bunny?" I don't stop. I keep up the slow pace, even though I want more. "I am just trying to live up to my promise." I bite his jaw from chin to ear before I suck it in, lick the shell and take his lobe between my teeth.
He tries to roll us. He has the strength, but I know he won't as long if he does. I don't want him to lose it just yet. "Oh no, you don't! I'm in charge right now."
He thrusts up and I whimper. "Fine, I'm begging." He growls at me and flips us once again.
Throwing my arms around his neck, I pull his mouth to mine as he thrust in and out of me at the perfect pace and rhythm to have us both screaming out within minutes.
A quick clean-up trip is made to the bathroom before we cling to each other and a heavy sleep hits us both.
My dreams are filled with the wonderful things that have happened this weekend and blessedly absent of the bad. I dreamt of holidays to come - one in particular of Emmett in front of a tree with a little sweet blonde girl that is about eight or nine and a baby on his knee. Others of us on our deck, Emmett grey-haired and handsome as ever as we watch our grandchildren play in the yard.
The ugly shrill of my text alarm wakes me too soon. Blindly reaching around for my phone, I grab it and hit the view message. It is a picture of Rose's now silver-and-diamond-covered hand and the message reads. "Bling Bling, Bitch!" I can't help the laugh that bursts out of me. I have the urge to say, "Oh no, she didn't." Instead, I will settle for stealing a little of her glory with a picture of my own.
"Damn it!" My battery chose that moment to die. Nudging the bear wrapped around me, I try to get him to move. "Hey Bunny, I need your phone." Nothing. "Bun, come on hand me your phone. Rose is being a bitch and in desperate need of a bitch-slap back."
"Too early." I smile at what a far cry it was from before - early on, when he was up before the sun. "Five more minutes, mom."
"OK, I am gonna forget you just called me mom in our bed, if I have your phone in my hands in the next two minutes." I am laughing. He is grumbling. I am sure he is still asleep, but he hands me his phone anyway.
Snapping a quick picture of my own bling bling, I send it off to Rose with the message "Back at ya, Bitch!" and hit send. For some reason, his gallery on his phone doesn't shut down after the message is sent and I scroll through the ones he has. Pictures of him and me, of him and Ty, a few funny things he has captured. I pause on one that was taken by someone else of him and Sasha. I pause on that one. She adores him and he her. They are so sweet and I remember my dream. It was her in it. I pause on the thought and move to the next. It is one that was sent to him, by Garrett. It is the one of him naked in the bathroom mirror.
The sick fuck has lost his fucking mind. I decide to torture myself again. I go through the texts that were sent again - the increasing delusional mind of his. I pause on one.
I hope you make it home safe. Miss you. 3
Something about the word home has my blood running cold. I hit the icon to go back to the pictures. I study the picture he sent - what is it? Then I see the towel hooks behind him in the picture. There is only one person I have ever met to have rabbit ear towel hooks.
"Emmett, wake the fuck up now!"
He bolts out of a sound sleep at the sound of the panic in my voice. "Baby, what the fuck, what's wrong?"
"Garrett, I know where he is and just how psycho he is."
E/N: KK still with me? I so so hope so see you soon with more! Please R&R! 3