A/N: My computer is still on the fritz, Keep your fingers crossed, so I had to rewrite this from memory. I hope it lives up to everyone's standards. To those who asked for the alternate ending, I'm very close to rewriting it from memory too, It was just so good that I'm having a hard time letting go and accepting that I need to write it again. -sigh- This chapter is for Boyd who "became" the voice of Gideon. For you my love I would do absolutely anything. Thanks for helping with the wedding.
Disclaimer: I own nothing...well I own Faye and that should be enough.
Warning!: If you are allergic to fluffiness, you may want to stop reading now.
Jasper POV
Year and a half later
"Daddy!" I looked down to see my daughter tugging on my tuxedo pants leg, her lips set into a full blow pout.
"Yes my dear?" I laughed as she held her arms out to me and I lifted her up effortlessly to settle in my arms. Her little purple dress caught a glimmer from the setting sun and sparkled magnificently against my arms.
"When are we going to cut the cake?" She crossed her arms over her chest and titled her head to the side to look at me, as if daring me to object to her request. She knew I couldn't. Alice was right, I really was going to have to work on that more.
"I don't know... Let's go find Mommy and ask shall we?" I asked seriously and she nodded her head vigorously, her curls bouncing against her shoulders. I chuckled as we set off to find my wife.
It felt so good to finally be able to say that. So right. We had worked long and hard on our relationship after that day at the airport. I had apologized profusely for every mistake, every wrong doing, every stupid action, I had ever made. Until finally, Alice told me to shut it. It wasn't apologies she was interested in. I hadn't hesitated on moving back in with my parents as soon as I could, and quit my job, settling back into Fritch as though I had never left. Most everyone welcomed me back with open arms, though I was positive I didn't deserve it.
Jacob had a hard time letting go of the past and what I had done to not only Alice and Faye, but Rosalie and Bella and my mother and sister. I didn't blame him. As far as I was concerned, his scorn was exactly what I deserved. The girls didn't agree with that though and had been trying, however pointless it was, to reconcile the two of us. It was only this morning, when Jake had shown up wearing a groomsmen tux, his hair pulled back into a long plait, that I realized he had at least forgiven me a little.
"There she is." I whispered to Faye as we walked up behind the group of women and babies.
Alice was cooing over Bella's latest addition, Matthew, and holding the youngest McCarty in her arms, as the other women looked on, their voices low as though they were plotting an attack on the world rather than an impending honeymoon.
Esme saw me first, smiling gently as she held ten month old Abby Cullen on her hip. It wasn't long after Maria had been banished from Texas with her cohorts that Nettie and James had been careless with their "relationship" and Victoria walked in on them in the hot tub. Vicky had stormed out of their penthouse apartment and James had run after her, worried more about his reputation in the building, as doting husband and father, than his wife. He just so happened to "fall" down three flights of stairs after conveniently tripping over his towel. The evidence said otherwise. Victoria was now serving at least ten years.
As soon as Carlisle and Esme heard what had happened they insisted on pulling up the legal jargon to get custody of Conner. It hadn't taken much before the baby was safe in their arms. You'd be hard pressed to find a more loved baby than Conner Cullen. That is, until Nettie had delivered a bouncing baby girl and decided she couldn't handle the screaming, or the poop, or motherhood at all. It wasn't hard to see when you looked at them that Laurent, Nettie's husband, had nothing to do with Abby's existence. Carlisle and Esme were great parents, and the love they held for the children they called their own was easy to see.
"Hello Mrs. Whitlock." I announced as Faye and I enveloped Alice in a hug from behind. She turned to me, her smile radiant as she handed Rosalie's daughter, Stella Doreen, back to her mom and turned around to wrap her arms around the two of us.
"Hello to you too Mr. Whitlock." She breathed as I bent down to press my lips to hers.
"ahem" We both laughed as we turned to look at Faye who had narrowed her eyes and was shaking her head back and forth. "Remember Daddy...cake."
"Oh. Yes." I chortled as I pulled Alice into my side and stepped up to join the circle of Alice's friends. Edward walked over and wrapped his arms around his wife and baby. Anthony, as we had begun to call him to avoid confusion with big Edward and Little Edward, was trailing behind him. Bella had insisted upon calling him Anthony after he started talking and walking, realizing just how hard it would be to keep the two Edward's separated. Something about the way she blushed when Esme suggested "Little Edward" made me really not want to stick around for that conversation. Charlotte and Ava were close on their baby brother's heels. Emmett was still on the dance floor with Gracie in his arms as they spun around in circles that were making me dizzy just looking at them. Paul and Leah were sitting at a table close by and I could see the glimmer of her engagement ring as the sun hit that too before disappearing behind the trees. "You're daughter would like to cut the cake now."
Alice laughed her tinkling laugh as she tickled Faye's stomach with her fingers. I couldn't help but admire the way her wedding ring looked now that it was set on her finger, the way it should be. Marking her as mine. "Oh does she? Well, I guess thats means I'm outnumbered doesn't it."
She raised her eyebrows at me as though to show how wrapped around my daughter's finger I really was and I smiled sheepishly at her. She laughed but agreed and we went through the motions of cutting the cake, and stuffing it in each other's faces. Of course, Faye joined in and soon Alice had frosting in her hair, under her ear, and down her dress. I guess that meant I'd have to help her get it off later. Edward and Emmett whooped and hollered this out loud and despite the fact that Alice and I had been intimate for months now, I couldn't help the blush that rushed up into my cheeks. I reminded myself to never tease Bella about her blushing problem again. The father-daughter dance was beautiful as my dad wrapped Alice up in his arms and twirled her around the dance floor. Alice's dad, although warming up to the idea of her marrying me, still hadn't come around yet. Alice was sure he would though. Soon. I joined in with Faye as she stood on my toes and we danced beside her mom and grandpa. There wasn't a dry eye in the house after that and I could have sworn I saw Emmett using Rosalie's handkerchief, although he wouldn't admit to it.
Alice had been adamant about doing things traditionally in our wedding, except for adding Faye in to the mix. And one other little thing. She had sent Rosalie to tell me earlier this morning that instead of dancing with her first, our dance would be later on. She had a gift she wanted to give me.
"Maybe it's a Ferrari." Emmett had sighed wistfully as we all pondered over what she could possibly have gotten me. I didn't want anything other than her and Faye and we had agreed that that was enough. Although there was something I had done on my own that I wanted to give to her. Something that I hoped she wouldn't mind to much.
So after Faye had been settled in with her cake and punch I stood up and directed everyone's attention to me and my lovely family beside me.
"I'd like to thank everyone for coming. Edward, Bella, you're speeches were lovely this evening and your words meant so much to both Alice and I." I smiled at my best friends and they nodded in acceptance. "Alice and I agreed early on that we wouldn't exchange gifts. After all, I'm getting the two greatest loves of my life, what else could I ask for. So that's why, I'm asking for mercy as I stand here and give my wife and daughter the one thing I can solidly give them on my own, and hope that they will accept it with open arms." I took a deep breath as I took the microphone in one hand and reached into my inner pocket with the other. Faye had climbed into Alice's lap as they stared at me in confusion. Mary Brandon smiled at me from her place beside Cynthia, as she watched me pull the small stack of papers from my jacket and hand them shakily to Alice. She was the only person besides me who knew what the papers entailed, and she was the one who had helped me accomplish it.
Alice opened them and Faye peeked through her mothers hands as they both read the words that were written there. My wife looked up, her eyes filling with tears as her mouth stood open in a perfect 'O' shape. Faye however, still looked perplexed so I set the mic down and pulled her from her mother's grasp and into mine.
"Do you know what that says?" I asked as I pointed to the papers her mother still held tight in her hands.
"No?" She said honestly as her little brow furrowed.
"It says that if you want, and only if you want, you can be a Whitlock."
"But I am a Whitlock." Faye stated as she pursed her lips and looked toward where my mom and dad were seated. "Right?"
"Yes, of course you are. but..."
"Faye, if mommy signs this, that means that Jasper is legally your daddy. and your name will be Faye Whitlock."
Alice said as she stood up beside me and wrapped her arm tightly around my middle. Faye's confused face faltered and then broke out into a heart warming smile as she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.
"Is that a yes?" I laughed as she settled her face into the crook of my neck.
"Mmm-hmmm."
Our guests broke out into applause as they watched the scene before them, this time I was sure I saw tears streak down Emmett's face and Rosalie and Edward both had their camera phones trained on him as they wiped at their own eyes.
"And now, we can dance." Alice said as she pushed herself into my side and rested her head against me. I nodded and Faye giggled as she let go of me and slid lightly to the ground before going to join her friends where they sat at their own table.
"Doesn't she want to dance with us?" I asked, as I stared after her. The little boy at the table, Bentley, smiled at her with his nearly toothless mouth and I gritted my teeth. I'd have to watch out for that one, considering who his father was.
"No, she was happy to sit out on this one. Besides, she already knows what I'm giving you." Alice said as she towed me toward the dance floor. The tent above us that canopied us in was light enough to see the moon light through and make out a few stars. "It's just like you said you wanted you know." I looked back down to my wife as the music started.
"When we were Juniors, you said you wanted an afternoon wedding in the church where your parents were married, and a nighttime reception outside in your parents yard. You wanted red velvet cake and lilac for one of the colors. If I hadn't already slept with you, I might have thought you were gay."
"Hey..." I protested as I looked down into her amber eyes.
"Kidding..." She laughed. "kind of."
I ignored her jibes as I leaned down to kiss her lips again. It seemed like I had been doing this every chance I got tonight. I just couldn't get enough of her. I didn't think I ever would. I could feel her tremble in my arms as my hand slid down her smooth back. I had groaned when I first caught sight of her walking down the aisle, her dress was a light lilac color. So light that it could be mistaken for white. It was also silk, hugging every one of her perfectly proportioned curves and shimmering with each movement. If I thought that was bad enough, she had turned around to hand her bouquet to Bella and I saw that it had almost no back whatsoever until it reached the top of her hips. I had to quickly fill my mind with thoughts of unpleasant things, lest I decide to forget the ceremony and run her away from the aisle before reverend Webber had even opened his mouth.
"Still think that?" I breathed as I pulled away from her and she pouted at the loss of contact.
"No. I always knew you were a romantic."
"Just when I'm with you." She rolled her eyes and snorted quietly as though remembering something funny. "What?"
"Oh, nothing." She said with an air of someone who was trying very hard to hide something.
"What?" I pressed, as I tried to use Faye's signature pouting move.
"Fine." Alice sighed as she played with the flower on my lapel. "It's just at the airport, if you hadn't been so serious about it, I would have cracked up laughing. You do realize you said 'You complete me' right?"
"I did not." I defended myself as she burst into a fit of giggles.
"Oh yes you did. Everyone heard it. I'm surprised Emmett and Edward haven't ragged you for it. I was just waiting for you to say something ridiculously cheesy like, 'You had me at hello' or something..."
I pressed my lips to hers again, trying successfully, to slow her rambling. Alice never rambled. There was something on her mind. I would find out soon enough, if I was patient.
"So...Rose told you that I had a present for you right?" She asked quietly as she pulled away. She waited for my response so finally I nodded. "Well... I... um.. So I know that we haven't talked about this, ever. And I wanted to discuss it with you before...well anyway."
"Spill it Whitlock."
She didn't answer me at first, instead moving her dainty hand from around me and grabbing on to my hand that was wrapped around her waist. She gently peeled my fingers from where they held on to her tightly and then interlaced her fingers through mine from on top of my hand. My palm was free as she silently moved it to rest on her abdomen, her eyes never leaving mine. "I think it's a boy this time."
I felt my mouth hang open in shock and my eyes widen. My breathing was hitched and my hand was stuck on her small tummy.
"I'm.. I'm sorry, I just.. I wanted to tell you and Rose said I should but you were so busy with trying to work here and then..." Alice's eyes were panicked as she stared into my eyes. I could see tears starting to form again in the corner of her eyes, and from my peripheral vision I could see Emmett and Edward standing, ready to break in at a moments notice. Or ready to break me in a moment's notice. I was frozen, whether in shock or fear or excitement, I had no idea. It was like the world had frozen and I was powerless to thaw it. One lone tear trickled down the side of Alice's face and her lips trembled. "I'm sorry. I thought you'd be..."
That was all I needed as I bent down and kissed the tear off of her face and evened out my face with her ear. "I'm not happy Ali." I hated having to do this to her. I really did. She breathed in quickly and became rigid in my arms. I pulled back so she could see the smile on my face. "I'm ecstatic."
"You jack ass!" She screeched as her fist collided with my shoulder. I laughed as I forgot the dance and wrapped her up in my arms.
"It's karma for calling me gay. You know, my brother would not be happy if he heard that. He might not be out of the closet yet, but that doesn't mean he's not sensitive." I chuckled as I pulled her tighter to my chest. Trying to meld her into me.
"So you really aren't mad?" She asked hesitantly.
"Mad? Alice, you have made me the happiest man in the world."
"That's good." She smiled. "I didn't want to have to sic Emmett and Edward on you. There's a reason Rose married him you know."
We laughed together as we held each other close underneath the tent as our family and friends eventually started dancing around us. It was perfect and I was in heaven. I knew I didn't deserve this after everything I had done, but I also knew that I never wanted it to end. I had a beautiful, loving wife and a gorgeous, amazing daughter and I was soon going to have another precious baby.
Alice POV
Seven Months Later
"I'm really sorry about your hand Jazzy." I said as I laid back against the hospital bed with Faye asleep by my side. My husband was cradling his now casted arm against his chest like a baby. I had apologized for what felt like forever for accidentally breaking his hand during one of my worse contractions. I honestly didn't know I had it in me.
"It's okay sweetheart. Really." He laughed as he smiled at me gently.
He might keep saying that but it didn't mean it made me feel any better.
"Howdy Ho Neighbors!" The door to my room swung open as Emmett walked in holding a massive arrangement of blue balloons. I rolled my eyes at his greeting. Ever since we had bought the house next to him and Rose he had greeted us like this. More me than Jazz. I was happy though that Emmett and him had finally bonded. Out of all the things they could have bonded over though it had to be DIY. Honestly, I had had to call so many repair men in the last nine months, I felt like they knew my house better than I did. Rose and I had finally put our feet down when they took it upon themselves to 'fix' the dryer after it shrunk my maternity clothes. The burning smell was still strong in the basement and Emmett's eyebrows had only just grown back in. We had banned them from any 'repairing' duties and instead sent them to work on a treehouse for the kids. That was a month ago, and it had yet to be finished.
"Em, shut up and move." Rose laughed as she pushed her way into the room and made her way over to me. She kissed my forehead gently before leaning down to whisper conspiratorily in my ear. "Good work on the hand by the way. Em's bones are too big so I never had a chance at that. Looks like I'll have to take a few hints for next time."
I laughed and then raised my eyebrows at her words. "Next time. Rose are you?"
"God no." She laughed. "But Emmett's going away on business for a month and when he get's back..."
"Oh yes. I do believe that's how both Ethan and Stella were conceived."
She rolled her eyes at me and went over to talk to Jasper as Emmett pounced. The smirk on his face was classic and he had the 'I'm completely innocent from any wrongdoings' look he used.
"What Em?" I sighed
"Oh...nothing." He replied coyly as he inched closer to me.
"Emmett Christopher McCarty!" I hissed. "What do you want?"
"Well, I heard you didn't have any names picked out and..." He replied simply as he sat on the edge of my bed and examined his fingernails.
"No."
"Aw, come on Al! I've been there for you for everything and Rose won't let me name any of our kids."
"Maybe that's because you wanted to name Ethan, Carter." I stated with a pointed look at him. Rose snickered from where she and Jasper sat watching Emmett's pleading.
"I happen to like the name Carter very much." He huffed. "I can't help it that my last name is McCarty and Rose thinks that's stupid..."
"Not think Emmett...know." Rose supplied from Jasper's lap as he buried his face in her back, trying to suppress his laughter.
This had been a constant request from Emmett since he first found out about my pregnancy. He even started leaving behind little post-it notes with name suggestions on them as well as 'Emmett: The Godfather' everywhere he went in our house. Rose finally took to patting him down to find his stash before they came over. He still managed to sneak some in though and I didn't think I wanted to know where he had hid them.
A knock on the door alerted me to more visitors and I was glad for once that Carlisle was a prominent figure in the hospital because I knew my room would be way beyond capacity here in a few minutes. Jasper's mom and dad came in, with Hannah and John following, arguing quietly over something. Gideon, who had flown into town for Christmas, strode gracefully into the room. Bella and Edward came through the door hand in hand, smiles upon their faces as they realized that Emmett was at it again. Paul was close behind them and Leah came in sheepishly, holding a bouquet of yellow roses. The girls and I were trying to convince her she was part of the group but she was still always nervous about being around all of us. My mom and Cynthia showed up as they squeezed into the already crowded room and stood beside the window.
"How'd the delivery go?" Edward asked as he kissed my cheek and smoothed the hair back from Faye's face. He was one of the only people besides Jasper and I to know the secret I had been hiding from the rest of my friends and family for a while now.
"Perfect." I assured him and he nodded in understanding. "We're just waiting on..."
I was cut short as the door opened again and Carlisle rushed in, pulling Esme along behind him as fast as her legs would carry her.
"Did we miss it?" Esme panted as Carlisle kissed the top of her head, laughing.
"No, we were waiting for you." Jasper chuckled as he reached over me and pushed the nurse call button. It was their cue and I hoped they were waiting for it like they said they would be.
The seconds ticked on and I woke Faye up as we waited, my friends getting more antsy with each movement of the second hand. The door opened then and the nurse came in. She parked the bassinet in the space beside my bed. A chorus of Ooh's and Aah's rang out from around me as Edward picked up the baby gently and handed him to me and then motioned to the door.
The nurse pushed the bassinet in and my friends all stared at me in shock as Edward picked up the next bundle of blue and placed him gently in my other arm. Jasper was at my side in an instant and Faye was beaming as she looked down at her twin brothers.
"Twins?" Bella whispered and I nodded with a smile.
"And you didn't tell us?" Rosalie roared though her voice sounded quite hurt. I almost felt bad, although how they didn't notice with just how big I had gotten, I would never know.
"I'm sorry..." I sighed. "But maybe this will make up for it..."
I looked to Jasper who nodded and took the first baby from me, cradling him in his arms and looking out to the rest of our friends.
"I hold in my arms, Brandon Paul Whitlock." Paul's eyes lit up at the sound of our baby's middle name. Emmett looked disheartened and I giggled quietly as I shifted the baby to rest in Faye's arms. I nodded at her once she held on to him and she smiled as she kissed the top of his head.
"And this is my baby brother, Carter Masen Hale Whitlock."
It took a long time for our friends to leave that night. The girls were already planning on visiting the next day when we got out of the hospital and they still didn't want to put the boys down. Finally, Faye had fallen asleep in Carlisle's arms and Esme had offered to let her stay the night at their house. That apparently, was everyone else's cue to leave, whether they were scared they'd be first in line for twin babysitting duty or they were just tired, I didn't know. But as Jasper curled up in the hospital bed beside me and kissed every inch of available skin through my pajamas, I didn't really care.
"I love you." I sighed as he worked his way up my neck and to my jaw line.
"I love you too Alice Whitlock." He whispered into my ear and my whole body shook with the trembles his voice sent down my spine. "Forever."
"Forever and ever." I smiled as I turned my face to his and he captured my lips with his.
A/N: That's it. The end. Fin. Done...Review, and you can have a sneak peek of the first chapter of the prequel to Pieces. Thank you to everyone who stuck with me on this and who loved it enough to review. You really have no idea how much that helped me.
Thanks to everyone and Please, please please go check out my other story "Southern Hospitality" while you wait for the prequel. It's a good one I promise. Besos.
