Ch. 25

One Condition

It had been about a week since the Jamie incident had occurred, and now it seemed as if it never happened. Babe was over it, and JR was happy for her.

JR had woken up early that morning, too excited... and nervous, to sleep. He got into his chair and wheeled over to his dresser drawer, and looked inside. He smiled and glanced over at Babe, making sure she was still asleep, and then shut the dresser drawer. The noise woke Babe up.

She opened her eyes and looked over at JR.

"I'm sorry to wake you." JR spoke quietly.

Babe yawned and smiled, "It's 'k." Babe sat up, "What were you doing?"

"Nothing. Are you hungry?" JR wondered.

Babe nodded and sat up and swung her feet off the side of the bed, and slipped her feet into slippers.

"Ready?" JR asked, and Babe nodded, and walked behind him and started pushing him towards the kitchen.

As they sat there, eating their food, JR seemed extra quiet.

"Something on your mind?" Babe asked after they finished their meal.

"No, just a little tired, that's all." JR said.

Babe looked at him a little while longer, and then shrugged, "If you say so. I'm going to take a shower."

JR nodded and as Babe walked out of the room, Krystal entered.

"Morning Baby doll." Krystal said.

"Hey mama." Babe smiled and continued out of the room.

Krystal made sure the door was shut and turned towards JR.

"Is everything ready?" JR asked.

Krystal nodded, "Are you nervous?"

"A little bit, more excited though."

"I bet. Listen JR, I know that after everything that has happened we really aren't that good of friends, and we probably don't like or trust each other lot, but I am happy for you and Babe. You are exactly the man for her. And I figure after everything that is about to happen, we need to be on some kind of good terms."

JR nodded, "I agree. Plus, if Babe and my dad can do it, we can."

"OK, well I better go make a few more calls." Krystal said, and exited the room.

JR sighed, and looked around the kitchen. It was almost time. JR then rolled out of the kitchen to go and get ready.

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Babe walked out of her room upstairs, dressed and ready. She had recently gone shopping and bought a new knee length white skirt and baby blue tank top and so she decided to wear it today. Babe noticed the living room doors shut, and she started waking towards them but Krystal stopped her.

"Babe!" Krystal whispered.

Babe jumped, startled, "What?"

"Come here!" Krystal whispered, motioning to her.

"Mama, what the hell are you doing, sneaking around?" Babe asked, walking towards her.

"I just needed to talk to ya." Krystal said.

"About what?" Babe asked.

"Well... I wanted to talk to you about... about... how nice the weather is! Isn't it great? The blue skies, sunshine..."

Babe raised her eyebrows, "Mama, what is going on with you?"

"Nothin'... nothin' at all!"

"Then why are you so jumpy?" Babe questioned.

"You know how I get sometimes..."

"Mama, the only time you get like this is if you're keeping something from me." Babe said pointedly.

"Me? Keepin' somethin' from you? Of course not Baby doll!" Krystal said, her eyes shifting back and forth from the living room doors to Babe.

Babe looked over her shoulders at the door, "What is going on in there?"

"Nothin'!" Krystal said quickly.

"Really?" Babe raised an eyebrow, "Then you won't mind if I go and see?"

"Babe, NO!" Krystal tried to grab Babe as she walked away but Babe was too quick.

Babe opened the doors and looked around, surprised, "Well, hello everybody."

Babe looked around at the people in the living room. Gathered in there was JR, Adam, Tad, Palmer, Opal, Brooke and Stuart.

"Hey Babe, just in time." JR said casually.

Babe walked and stood next to JR, "Sweetie, what's going on?"

"Well, everyone is here because I asked them to be." JR told her.

By then, Krystal had walked into the room and stood next to Adam, a big grin on her face.

"Ok..." Babe said, looking around.

"We don't have a clue why we are here either." Tad said.

"Yes, and if we could get an explanation to why we are here that would be great, your making me miss my favorite soap opera!" Opal complained and Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Oh hush woman!" Palmer said to her.

"Dontcha hush woman me! Who do you think ya are, comin' in here, uninvited..."

"I was invited, but I'm not sure as to why." Palmer said.

"Neither am I. Is there a point?" David leaned against a wall.

"Why don't you guys be quiet? It looks like JR has something to say." Stuart shushed them all.

JR smiled at the scene around him, "The reason I asked you here today is a very good one. As you all know, Babe and I are back together."

"Yeah, so?" Opal asked, and ignored the look she received from Tad.

"Well, what you may not know is that we are in love. We've fallen hard for each other. And it used to be hard for me to... admit that I was in love with her, but now I can. Babe has helped me so much, and she has kept me going even when I felt like giving up. She has done everything for me, and I wish I could give her what she has given me, but I can't."

Babe smiled down at JR, but there was still a puzzled look in her eyes. She wasn't quite sure what was going on.

JR looked up at Babe and smiled, "I love this woman, more than life itself. She has given me a child, and she has made me so happy, and she has stopped my downward spiral, and put me back on my feet. Well, not really, but you all know what I mean. But just because I'm not on my feet doesn't mean she has given up. Everyday she pushes me to get better, to do more, and everyday with her help, I do. And because of her, I have gotten the feeling back in my legs. I can move my toes. And I know that because of her love, I am able to do those things. And I know if she stays around, I'll be able to walk again, someday."

Babe felt her eyes tear up, and everyone in the room was speechless. Even Opal, who always had something to say, stayed quiet.

"I am so thankful to you Babe, for everything you have done. And I only wish you knew how much you've done for me, and how much you mean to me. But, I'm hoping that I can start giving something back."

JR reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black box. Babe gasped, and raised a hand to cover her mouth. Tad's jaw dropped, along with Brooke's, and David stood up straight, staring at the box. But Stuart, Krystal and Adam were all grinning. Opal went to say something, but Brooke turned around towards her.

"Don't you dare." She warned.

Opal closed her mouth and crossed her arms.

"I got this that day when we went for a drive. I made your mother come with me to make sure you'd like it." JR admitted.

"It's beautiful." Babe breathed.

"He didn't even need my help baby doll; he picked it out by himself." Krystal said proudly.

"Babe, I love you. I always have, even when we were apart. You're a part of me. You always will be. And I know that I won't be able to live the rest of my life without you by my side. And I know that if you agree to marry me, I can begin trying to give back what you have given to me. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you, and making sure you are happy. So Babe, will you marry me?" JR asked, holding his breath.

Babe kneeled down, and placed a hand on JR's cheek, "You don't need to make anything up to me. You really think you haven't given me anything? You've given me you're love, and that is all I need."

JR smiled at her.

"I will marry you, but only on one condition." Babe said firmly.

"What? Anything, I promise."

"You have to be standing at the alter on our wedding day." Babe smiled through her tears.

JR grinned, "Consider it done."

Babe smiled and watched JR place the gorgeous ring on her ring finger. She then leaned forward and kissed him lovingly. They laughed as they heard the claps around the room.

Krystal and Brooke had tears in their eyes. Krystal went to grab a box off the table, and then turned towards Brooke and handed her a few, and the two women laughed. Stuart looked joyful, and patted Adam on the shoulder. Adam smiled, but tried to hide it.

"Come on old man, I know you're happy. I can tell." Tad started picking on Adam.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Adam tried to cover.

"Maybe he is talking about the big ole smile on you're face hubby." Krystal laughed.

Adam shook his head, "This isn't a smile, it's just... just..."

"A smile?" JR offered.

"OK fine, but it's only because Opal has been making faces at Palmer's back the whole time!"

"Have not!" Opal defended herself.

"I bet you have!" Palmer turned to Opal.

Babe and JR laughed and held on to each other, listening to their families argue, and they were perfectly content.