After Ending - Episode 2: The Engagement.

Four years later.

It was painstakingly obvious. All the signs pointed to the imminent proposal. Well aside from the perfect timing and place of their relationship, there were other signs. Seth's recent hushed conversations around the pack. Leah being a little too nice. Her mom returning for Seth's graduation. It was so obvious. Right?!

However, the night was winding down and he hadn't popped the question. Jessica was utterly confused. On paper, they were finally at the right set up for this to occur. He just graduated with his business degree. Jessica had just become a registered professional engineer. She could go anywhere with her degree or even start up her own business. They were on the same page. She was more open about her feelings. Seth maintained a good balance with pack duties, school and his side job.

They had even discussed marriage.

The delay in when they could become engaged was always on Jessica pushing it back. But now was prefect. His friends and family were around. Her mother was here along with her dad and preggo Vicky. Sure this night was about Seth since it was HIS graduation party...but she just thought, perhaps believed tonight was the night. She had worked so hard over the last few years to better herself. She established some semblance of a normalcy with her parents and step parents. She liked the pack and their imprints. She dare said she got along with them. She even tolerated his vampire step-sister Bella.

But she was feeling miserable that she built up this night in her head over the last week for nothing. She painted her nails, took hours choosing an outfit and made a huge fuss to look perfect tonight... but perhaps she was wrong. Seth wasn't ready. He was young. Maybe it was too soon to think he was ready to settle down in that way. He was only 22 while she was 25.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Jessica flinched, but tried to brush off seeming startled by swirling the wine in her glass before turning to face her former nemesis.

"You're no peasant. I think you can afford my price. $10 and-"

Before she could finish her snarky response, Jacob slapped a twenty dollar bill in her free hand.

"Keep the change." He smirked because he knew he won this sparring session off the bat. She resisted the urge to flip him off and instead just rolled her eyes.

"You know I won't tell you. Nothing is private with your pack mind," Jessica muttered before gulping down the rest of the Merlot in her glass. She sat the glass on the railing she was now leaning against, wishing that she could have more wine.

"Hey, an alpha can keep his thoughts to himself. I am the best at that. Seth does a decent job as well except the saucy scenes he lets slip sometimes. The tend to offer some inspiration for others who have imprinted."

Unaffected by his shameless remarks made to embarrass her, "Not all though," Jessica snidely remarked as her eyes blatantly drifted to Renesmee in the distance, standing between Edward and Bella.

Jacob chuckled. "Spill. If you carry on this way he will notice soon and you'll crush his night. I thought you abandoned those selfish ways of yours, Jess," Jacob chided as he tugged the chestnut braid crossing over her shoulder, hovering around her waist.

"I have my slip ups. But..." Jessica turned to Jake, biting her lip as she weighed the consequences of relinquishing the truth.

"But?" His dark eyebrows arched up, probing her to finish her thoughts. He was her friend after all.

"I will sound like a brat if I admit this," Jessica whined in a hushed voice as she covered her hands over her face. She dreaded pulling her fingers away now too, her makeup was surely ruined.

"Naaaaaah." Jacob leaned and bumped her shoulder playfully. "I am sure that is just in your head. Speak your truth."

"I prefer being in opposite roles," Jessica giggled as she freed her face from coverage. "Why do I tolerate you?" The way her lips curved up, the smile could dispel any onlookers thoughts that any malice was meant behind those words.

"You can't take back being friends now." Jake encircled her shoulders with his arm and pulled her into a bear hug. "Can I be honest with you?" He whispered into her ear.

Jessica nodded her head. "He has been carefully planning this for weeks. You're going to ruin it unless you drop the attitude and look like you're having fun celebrating him."

"Eeeeeek!" Jessica squealed before wrapped her arms firmly around Jake's waist. Jake laughed while prying her hands off of him.

"You're calling too much attention to us, numbskull," Jake warned in a low voice.

"Spider!" Jessica announced while flailing her hands in the air before taking a few healthy steps back away from Jake. The grin on her face wouldn't falter.

"You would think I had just told you that you won a million dollars." He chuckled before smirking and a knowing look sparked in his dark eyes.

"Incorrect, Jacob Black. What you informed me of is far much more valuable!" Jessica winked at her savior before feeling a familiar presence at her back.

"First a spider and now you have won something better than a million dollars?" Seth asked before wrapping Jessica in his arms. His smile to them both was warm but his eyes looked between the two nervously.

"A girls gotta keep some mystery about her, babe. Or you'll will get bored of me." Jessica leaned back into his embrace, reminding herself to relax and not giveaway that she knew it was coming. Like she had originally suspected.

"Never," Seth promised while pressing his lips to her cheek. "Here I was coming to cheer you up but seems I am too late." Seth huffed in mock disappointment.

Trying to pretend she was not sulking only minutes ago Jessica asked, "Why would you need to cheer me up?"

"Collin mentioned you were looking a little down..."

"Not even!" Jessica protested. "He probably just caught me as I contemplated my one-liners for this thick headed alpha." Jessica jerked her thumb to point at Jake, praying he would go along with her setup for Seth's sake. She felt guilty for lying. But Jake was right... She didn't want to sour the mood. Not tonight of all nights.

"I knew you made up a list in advance! No one can have that many one liners up their sleeve all the time." Jessica smirked and winked her thanks again at Jake for helping her out.

"Great. Then I can steal you for a minute then."

"Nothing to steal. She is all yours," Jacob called over his shoulder as he walked away from them.

"Come with me." Seth unwrapped his hands from around Jessica and pulled her along with him towards a larger crowd.

...

"With one look, I was hooked. But of course, most of you know that she wasn't an easy catch. But they say those things worth while don't come easily. She..." Jessica's jaw dropped as she watched Seth choke on his words. "She saw herself as a work in progress when we first met. The last thing she wanted was me to chase her. But I don't think she realized that to me she was already perfect. She doesn't back down. She is strong and self assured. She is the most exhilarating women I have come across. She is my perfect match. In every way we are opposite we improve each other. She kept insisting to me that looking forward to the next chapter in our lives could occur after certain conditions were met. And today I checked off the last box on her list."

Seth knelt before Jessica on one knee and removed a small red box from his pocket. "Jessica Stanley, will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?"

Jessica dropped to her knees to meet Seth on the ground. "I will do my best to keep you the happiest man in the world."

Seth's eyebrows raised in question. "That's a yes, right?"

She removed the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. "Does this answer your question?"

"Can't I just get a yes, Jess?" Seth pleaded.

Jessica leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Forgetting everyone around them. "Yes, silly. Of course yes," she breathed against his lips before kissing him again.