A/N: I do not own Twilight. No copyright infringement intended.

Outtake: Permission to Ask

Jasper and I relaxed on the couch when we heard the doorbell ring, tearing our thoughts away from whatever show we were watching on television…and each other, of course.

We were expecting this visit.

I stood up and walked to the door, pulling it open slowly. On the other side stood the man who my little girl told me, on more than one occasion, would be the one she married. Part of me wanted to be happy she was in love and happy, but the other part wanted to pummel him for stealing my baby away. However, the desire to inflict pain vanished when I really took a good look at Emmett. He stood there before me looking very nervous and a little green.

"Emmett," I said, "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"Hello, Mr. Cullen-Whitlock."

"Come in. Jas and I were just relaxing in the living room."

He smiled nervously and nodded his head. The two of us walked into the living room where Jasper was already standing, arms crossed over his chest and a blank stare on his face.

"Hi, Mr. Cull- I mean, Jasper," Emmett said.

"Emmett."

Rolling my eyes, I joined Jasper at his side and told him to behave himself.

"What? I'm not doing anything," he said looking as innocent as Bambi.

"Yeah, right."

I quickly kissed his temple before returning my attention to Emmett, who looked like he didn't know whether to sit, talk or run.

"Um, I didn't mean to disturb you guys, but there's something I'd like to talk to you and Jasper about."

Jasper wrapped his arm around my waist and I watched as Emmett gulped rather loudly. Jasper must have done something, yet again, to scare the poor boy. I could clearly see what he was doing now. He seriously was trying his damnedest to come off as the crazy father. Soon his accent would make its grand entrance and he'd start staring the boy down.

Just a couple of hours ago, while waiting for Emmett's arrival, Jasper looked at me, eyes bright and filled with mischief.

"You know, E, Sasha at work was telling me the other day about how her husband planned on scaring their daughter's future boyfriend by digging a hole in the backyard when he came over to visit. Do you think that would freak Emmett out?"

I laughed out loud.

"Jas, do you spend your days thinking up ways to scare him? Face it, he's not going away. Why do you think he's coming here this evening?"

"I don't know."

I smirked and wrapped my arms around his waist. "You do too. He's probably coming to ask permission for Ali's hand in marriage."

"Stop it, Edward. Don't even talk like that."

"What? You don't think that's what it is?"

"I don't want to think about it. Ali's too young to get married, even if Emmett is a nice guy."

"So are you going to tell him no?"

"Maybe."

Even though the overprotective father in me thought it would have been cool to do something like that, I also realized that whether we liked it or not, Emmett and Ali were in love. I, of all people, knew the importance of being with that special person and how being apart can wreck you emotionally and spiritually.

I was even more surprised that Jasper was being so stubborn about all of this. He was always the cool, calm and collected one while I sat in the corner pulling out my hair. Our roles had somehow switched.

I guess my conversation with Ali when she and Emmett came to visit changed my perspective a little. When Jasper led Emmett to the guest bedroom, and effectively scared the shit out of him, Ali pulled me aside.

"So what do you think, Daddy?"

"He seems like a good guy and I can tell you're head over heels."

A pretty blush covered her cheeks as she smiled.

"Yeah," she said in a dreamy voice, "he's great and I love him very much. I think he's the man I'm going to marry."

My entire body tensed at her words.

"He's so supportive and funny and kind. He treats me like I'm the most precious thing in the world and I don't know what I'd do without him."

Hearing my little girl say things like that made my heart hurt, but in a good way. Since the day she was born, I only wished that she would live a happy and fulfilling life. I wanted her to find a career she enjoyed, and hoped she would find someone special to love and spend her life with. Granted, I didn't think she'd find him so early, but I was happy for her.

"Well, Ali, you have my blessing."

I tried to pull her into a hug, but she looked at me confused and skeptical.

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Look, I know how important it is to hold onto love when you've found it. When Jas and I reconnected, I promised myself I would never let him go. The only way he'd get rid of me is if he told me to get out of his life, and even then I'd still fight for him. I lost him once and it nearly did me in."

Alice nodded her head in silent agreement.

"Therefore, I won't stand in your way when it comes to Emmett. I can tell you two are pretty serious and it's only a matter of time before I get the 'Daddy, I'm engaged' phone call."

My little girl, who wasn't so little anymore, beamed and literally took my breath away.

"Thank you, Daddy," she said as she wrapped her arms around me and laid her head on my chest.

"Anytime, Sweetie. Jas may be a different story, though. It seems he's trying his hardest to test Emmett."

"I'm not worried. Emmett will pass with flying colors."

I was brought out my thoughts by Jasper slowly rubbing circles on my back.

"You alright, babe," he asked looking concerned.

"Yeah, I'm good."

Taking his hand firmly in mine, I brought it up to my lips and kissed it. Immediately any concern or worry melted away from Jasper's features. A breathtaking smile spread across his face and I kind of lost myself for a moment.

I somehow managed to break free of Jasper's hold on my senses and returned to the task at hand.

"Emmett, I can tell from your body language that you want to talk to us about something pretty important. Would you like to sit?"

He shook his head.

"No, thank you. I'd rather stand if you don't mind."

Emmett straightened his shoulders which made him seem even bigger. Jas proceeded to cross his arms across his chest again and glare. My wonderful husband was so predictable.

"Um, as you both know, I love your daughter very much."

I nodded my head while Jas continued glaring.

"Well, we're pretty serious and I know she's the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."

"Yeah," Jasper drawled.

"So with your permission and blessing, I would like to ask Ali to be my wife."

Silence filled the room. You could have heard a speck of dust hit the carpet. Emmett stopped breathing; Jasper stopped breathing; and I feared I would have to call 911 for both of them.

Reaching behind Jasper and slowly rubbing the nape of his neck, I felt his tension begin to release and drift away. Thankfully, his breathing resumed as I turned to face him.

"So what do you say, Jas. Can this giant bear marry our little girl?"

Jasper cut his eyes and looked back and forth between me and Emmett. I could tell he wanted to say no and tell Emmett to the hell out of our house and Ali's life, and it wasn't because he didn't like Emmett, he just wanted to keep Ali a little girl just a while longer. I think in that moment it finally hit him that she was now a grown woman and not the little girl who used to tug on his slacks and show him her artwork.

Returning his gaze to mine, his eyes filled with so much love that I found my own welling with tears. I felt like we were having some sort of telepathic conversation and were completely on the same page.

When we looked back at Emmett, he had started to breathe again, but still looked scared as hell. I had no choice but to put him out of his misery.

"Emmett."

"Yes, sir?"

"You have our permission to propose to Ali."

I don't think I'd ever seen such a big smile on a human being before. He jumped up and down and shouted, "Wooooohoooooo!"

Jasper and I froze and then burst into a huge fit of laughter. Walking up to him, I held out my hand and said, "Welcome to the family, son."

He shook my hand firmly as he shyly said thank you and looked to Jasper. I held my breath fearing Jasper would turn rogue, pull out a six-shooter and start shooting up the place while yelling "Yee-haw".

With a completely straight face, he moved closer to Emmett and looked directly in his eyes.

"I'm cool with you asking my baby girl to marry you, but if you hurt her or lay a hand on her, I will hunt you down like a dog. I always protect what's mine, so don't make me resort to anything crazy. I think it's safe to say that Edward and I would prefer you both finish college first and then get married. Take care of her and love her with all your heart. If you can handle those things, you're alright with me."

Emmett gulped and responded, "Yes, sir! I promise to love Ali with all my heart and she'll never want for anything."

"Alright then," Jasper said with a nod. "Now, are you interested in watching the game?"

Emmett's eyes lit up. "Yes!"

"Well, have a seat on the couch and I'll grab some drinks and snacks."

For the rest of the afternoon my heart swelled as I watched my husband and future son-in-law bond over sports.

x~x~x~x~x~x~x

Two weeks later, Jasper and I had just finished cleaning up after dinner when we got the phone call.

"Hello," I said, immediately putting the phone on speaker.

"Daddy! Is Jassy around?"

"I'm right here, baby girl," he called out.

"Okay! Well, I just want to tell you that Emmett proposed this evening. I'm getting married!"

Smiling at each other, Jas and I couldn't help but chuckle at our daughter as she screamed and clapped on the other end of the phone. Our happiness for Ali was immeasurable.

In honor of a hilarious review left by sasharose11, I had to add her to this outtake. She said her husband really did mention digging a hole in the back yard when their daughter's future boyfriends come to visit. I'd never heard of anything like that, but thought it was hilarious and just too funny to pass up!