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Chapter 36: Complications

The morning after the party Jasper and Larissa decided to go out and visit the McCarty house and when they reached the front door Tony pulled it open.

"Hey are Emmett, Rose or Allie here?" Jasper smiled.

"Emmett and Rose are," Tony nodded. "Come on in. Allie just went to the store with Gabe for Mom." Jasper and Larissa followed Tony inside and he led them into the kitchen where Emmett and Rosalie were sitting before disappearing again.

"Hey guys," Emmett grinned when he saw them.

"I thought you must have stayed here last night," Larissa smiled as she slid into the chair beside Rosalie and Jasper quickly sat down in the chair on the other side of her.

"Yeah I crashed in with Allie," Rosalie nodded.

"Sure you did," Larissa laughed and Rosalie gave her sister a sheepish smile and shrugged.

"How is Allie today?" Jasper asked quietly.

"She's good," Emmett nodded. "I think she's finally realised Edward has no hold on her and she has lots of people that care about her and will protect her."

"Good," Jasper smiled.

"What about you Rissa?" Rosalie murmured. "Are you okay?"

"Of course I am," Larissa shrugged.

"You sure?" Rosalie frowned.

"She's fine," Jasper assured them as he reached over and took Larissa's hand. He knew it had been a rough night for Larissa and she had spent most of the night crying in his arms. She had confided in him that she didn't want the others fussing around her and he had decided that as long as she was letting everything out with him he wouldn't mention it to anyone else.

"Okay," Rosalie nodded but she still didn't look convinced.

"Good morning Jasper, Larissa, its lovely to see you again," Olivia smiled as she walked into the room.

"You too," Larissa smiled back. "Thanks for the great party last night."

"You're welcome," Olivia grinned as she stepped up to the fridge and began to pull things out to make lunch. "I'm glad everyone had a great time."

"We did Mom," Emmett assured her.

"Good," Olivia nodded as she closed the fridge and turned to face the group. "And that reminds me. Jasper honey, is your Mom planning anything for your birthday next week?"

"Umm, I don't think so," Jasper frowned, surprised Olivia even remembered his birthday when his own mother often forgot it. "As far as I know she isn't back from Milan until after school goes back."

"But that's nearly two months away," Rosalie gasped.

"Yeah," Jasper shrugged.

"It's your eighteenth," Larissa sighed. "She can't even come back for that?"

"You know what she's like," Jasper shrugged again, looking uncomfortable with all the sudden spotlight on his relationship with his mother.

"Well in that case there is only one thing to do," Olivia smiled as she walked over to the table. "We'll be having a party here next Saturday night for your birthday."

"You can't do that!" Jasper gasped.

"And why not?" Olivia frowned. "You are as much my son as any of these other boys. In fact, I might even like you more, you don't usually give me the cheek they do. You aren't going to start now are you?"

"No," Jasper mumbled.

"Good, that's settled then," Olivia grinned. "A party here, next Saturday night for your birthday. Emmett, Larissa, make sure everyone is invited."

"We will," Larissa smirked.

"Can I do anything to help then?" Jasper asked, knowing it was better not to argue with Olivia when she got an idea in her head.

"Just turn up on the night," Olivia smiled. "I'll take care of the rest."

"Thank you," Jasper grinned.

XXX

"Is there much more on that list?" Gabriel groaned as he swung the loaded shopping trolley into the next aisle.

"We only have about half of it," Alice giggled.

"Damn," Gabriel groaned playfully.

"We only need bread down this one," Alice smiled at him. "Why don't you go grab that and I'll go get the stuff from the deli."

"I don't mind," Gabriel said quickly, enjoying the time he was spending alone with Alice even though it was only doing his family's groceries.

"It won't take long this way," Alice told him and before he could say a word she turned and raced off towards the deli. He smiled as he watched her go and then headed down the aisle to get the bread.

At the deli Alice read from the list Olivia had given her what she wanted and then she stood waiting while the woman behind the counter filled the order. She was looking at a display of stuffed animals nearby when she felt someone step up beside her and she grinned.

"Aren't they cute Gabe?" she giggled as she turned but her jaw dropped when she saw Edward standing there. "What are you doing here?"

"Shopping," Edward shrugged as he glanced around. "Who are you here with?"

"Gabe," Alice answered nervously.

"I don't see him anywhere," Edward frowned.

"He just went to get some bread, he'll be back any second," Alice whispered.

"Last night wasn't very nice," Edward sighed. "I only wanted to be your friend Allie and you let all your new brothers come after me like that."

"It wasn't like that," Alice frowned. "They are just protective."

"Do you need protecting from me?" Edward asked. "Come on Allie, it's only me. After everything we have done I know you better than anyone else."

"But you hurt Rissa," Alice pouted. "And nearly hurt Rose too."

"But I'd never hurt you," Edward smiled. "You know I would never have to. Why don't you sneak out and meet me tonight Allie? They don't have to know."

"That isn't a good idea," Alice murmured.

"Come on Allie," Edward whined. "I need you."

"I can't do anything with you any more Edward," Alice sighed.

"Allie, please," Edward begged and reached out and flicked his finger on her nipple. She gasped at his boldness but her nipple hardened at his touch and he smirked at her. "You know you want me as bad as I want you."

"No," Alice whispered, although her voice wasn't very convincing.

"Jasper said you loved me," Edward frowned. "Surely if you love me you'd do this for me."

"Edward, I.." Alice started but he grabbed her and pulled her against his body, his arousal pressing against her.

"I want you Allie, bad," Edward murmured as he lowered his lips to her neck. "Come on, you know you want me too."

"No," Alice whimpered trying to get out of his embrace but his arms were too strong.

"Just one more night," Edward urged her. "No one has to know."

"Get your filthy hands off her," Gabriel roared behind them and before Alice could react she felt Gabriel's hands on her arm, yanking her from Edward's embrace and she stumbled as he shoved her back. As she recovered her footing she was aware of Gabriel lunging for Edward and then she heard a loud, sick crunch and she gasped as she watched Gabriel attack Edward.

"Gabe, stop it!" she yelled as people began to run towards them and she watched in horror as two of the store workers struggled to pull the two men apart. When they were finally pulled apart Gabriel was shaking with anger and Edward was clutching his face, blood streaming through his fingers.

"You broke my nose!" he growled at Gabriel.

"I'm going to break a lot more than your nose," Gabriel hissed.

"Gabe, no, don't," Alice gasped and raced over to him as she noticed security rushing towards them. "Gabe, we have to go, now!" She grabbed his arm and tugged at it and for a few moments Gabriel just glared at Edward before he turned and looked down at Alice.

"Security," Alice whispered. "We have to go."

"I'll be seeing you Masen," Gabriel growled in Edward's direction and then he quickly took Alice's arm and led her away as they raced from the store.

XXX

During the drive home Alice and Gabriel were both silent. Alice kept glancing over at him but his face was mask of rage and she was too scared to say a word. When they pulled into the garage Gabriel shut off the engine and he let out a sigh as he turned and looked at Alice.

"You scared me back there," Alice admitted.

"I know," Gabriel sighed and reached out for her and his heart nearly broke when she cringed away from him. "Allie, I won't hurt you. I only did what I did to Edward to protect you.

"You shouldn't have done that," Alice whispered.

"Did you want him mauling you in public?" Gabriel asked angrily. "He has no right touching you that way. Allie, I know you have been through a lot but no man should ever touch you that way unless you want them to."

"I know," Alice mumbled.

"Did you want him to?" Gabriel demanded.

"No!" Alice gasped in horror. "He hurt two of my best friends. I never want him that way again, ever! I can't believe you would even think I would be that desperate. I know Edward thinks it and so does everyone else but I am not a slut!"

"I didn't mean it like that," Gabriel whispered, obviously still trying to control his anger.

"Everyone else thinks I am, why not you too," Alice said as a sob escaped her throat and before Gabriel could react she had jumped from the car and raced into the house.

XXX

Larissa, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie were sitting at the kitchen table with Olivia as they wrote up a guest list for Jasper's party the following week when the door to the garage opened and Alice walked through it.

"Get everything?" Olivia smiled when she saw her.

"No!" Alice sobbed and turned and raced out of the room and upstairs to her bedroom.

"Allie!" Olivia gasped, already getting to her feet when Gabriel walked through the garage door behind her. "Gabriel McCarty, what the hell happened?"

"Edward!" Gabriel hissed angrily.

"Did he hurt her?" Rosalie groaned, also jumping to her feet.

"I'm not sure," Gabriel admitted. "I turned the corner and the prick had his hands all over her. I just saw red and lost it."

"You didn't fight with him did you?" Olivia demanded.

"A little," Gabriel shrugged. "I think I broke his nose."

"Gabriel!" Olivia scolded, not noticing the look of pride and pleasure on both Emmett and Jasper's faces that someone had finally got Edward.

"Sorry Ma," Gabriel murmured.

"And this is why Allie is so upset?" Olivia asked as she rolled her eyes.

"I think so," Gabriel mumbled.

"You think so?" Olivia repeated. "What else could it be?"

"Well I tried to make it better by talking to her," Gabriel admitted. "And I think it kind of got a little out of hand. I was only saying she should stick up for herself and what she wants, not focus on what everyone else wants from her. She misunderstood me and now she thinks that I think she's a slut."

"Gabriel John McCarty," Olivia roared. "You stupid, stupid boy! Oh poor Allie."

"Mom, I didn't mean it," Gabriel gasped and Olivia was well aware of the pain and agony in his voice and she knew he was dying inside at the idea of hurting Alice.

"I know," Olivia sighed, her anger at him dissipating in seconds. "I'll go talk to her." She turned and rushed out of the room and Gabriel just glanced at the others watching him with a mixture of anger, confusion and sadness before he quickly followed his mother.