Chapter 15 - The greatest gift
A/N: Just playing with SM's characters.
The four friends had just arrived at Rose's house and were tentatively walking towards the house when Rose's father swung open the front door of their ridiculously extravagant house and yelled at his daughter: "Rosalie Hale, get in this house immediately."
She paused her approach, giving her father a concerned and confused look. He hadn't spoken to her like that since she was almost suspended from school after having been caught putting blue hair dye in Lauren's shampoo in the gym locker showers.
Rose was confused by his tone. She empathised with his situation but there was no way she was going to take the heat over her brother's idiocy and that was for sure: "Hey Dad, any reason why you're angry with me?" She raised her eyebrow to him as she spoke.
Her father's look softened and his voice lowered: "I'm sorry Posy, I'm having trouble dealing with everything today. Your brother has really done it this time. Your mother is in the living room, still trying to calm the Brandons down. Alice is upstairs with Jazz, they've locked themselves in his room and won't come out. Maybe you and your friends can get them to come out and talk to us?"
Rose leaned in and gave him a hug: "We'll try Dad. C'mon guys, let's see if they'll talk with us."
Emmett, Edward and Bee followed Rosalie upstairs. Emmett gave Mr Hale a brief man hug and a sympathetic look as he passed. He had worked hard to keep a really good relationship with the Hales since he knew that one day they'd be his in-laws.
As they walked through the house Bee became awestruck by the over-the-top opulence of the house. Edward chuckled quietly at the expression on Bee's face. He leaned over and whispered to her: "It's a bit gaudy, isn't it."
Bee broke her gaze from the gold trimmed crystal chandelier hanging above them, to slowly nod. She had never seen anything like it. She marvelled that a house could be so extravagant and yet so tacky. The Cullen's house was expensive and filled with expensive things but they just seemed so natural and fitting. Nothing flashy, except maybe the washing machines.
Edward chuckled quietly: "You can't buy good taste I guess."
Rose turned to them and smiled: "My mother loves to buy expensive things. Most of it doesn't really work together but it makes her happy and Daddy loves to indulge her, so I guess I have just grown used to it."
Bee blushed and was hopeful that Rose wasn't offended by her reaction to the house. She decided to change the subject as she followed Rose to yet another level of the house: "Why did your father call you Posy?"
"He used to call me Rosie Posy when I was little and I guess Posy just sort of stuck as his nickname for me. I like it; it's so Daddy. He's such a softie."
Bee admired the loving, patient way that Rose spoke of her parents; it was good to see her in her home environment, she seemed so much softer. At school Rose always seemed out of reach, almost cold, but there in her own home surrounded by her mother's gaudiness and her father's softness, Rose seemed to finally make sense.
Emmett went up to a bedroom door and knocked: "Hey Jasper, let us in man."
A muffled voice came from the other side: "Who's with you?"
Emmett shouted back: "It's just me, Ed, Honey Bee and Rosie. Let us in, man. None of the 'rents are here."
There was another even more muffled conversation before the door clicked unlocked and the door opened. After the four friends entered the room, the door was closed and locked again from the inside.
Edward turned to see Alice standing by the now locked door with a huge grin on her face. He was expecting to find her in tears, terrified and worried but instead here she was smirking with happiness.
"Hi guys," she practically sang as she skipped over into Jasper's arms.
"You seem chipper. Anything new with you?" Rose asked with a tone laced in sarcasm. Jazz let out a heavy sigh knowing his sister was angry but he didn't say anything, he just held Alice's hand and squeezed it gently.
Emmett sat on one of the bean bags, clearly frustrated and confused: "So, what's going on? Are you really pregnant?"
Edward had a feeling this was going to be a long night so he decided to get comfortable and just watch it all pan out. He pulled Bee over to the other side of the room where he sat on Jasper's bed leaning back against the headboard. He gently guided Bee down to sit between his legs with her back to his chest.
When they turned their attention back to the others they saw Rose standing over Alice and Jazz, she had her hands on her hips and was ready to start shouting if they didn't start talking soon.
Alice tried to reassure the group that she had it all under control: "Look guys, this is all happening as I had predicted. It's going to be fine. Trust me."
"Fine?" Rose was definitely going to lose it with these two. "How is getting pregnant just before high school graduation fine? Your lives are ruined. How can you be so fucking calm?"
Jazz stood and tried to calm his sister: "It's okay sis', take a seat. We'll explain. But this was planned; honestly."
Even Jasper's natural calm persona could do nothing to relax or calm his sister who was furious that his brother was so casually throwing his future away.
Rose was quiet for a moment and Emmett jumped up to take her in his arms. He knew his girl well enough to know that this was the calm before the storm and if he didn't do something quick then Hurricane Rosalie would blow any chance they had of getting the answers they wanted.
He kissed her just below her ear, the way she liked, and whispered in her ear: "Rosie, sit down with me babe. Let's hear what the idiots have to say and then we can try and bash some sense into them. C'mon baby girl." He kissed her again and she softened her stance, leaning into his hold. Finally she nodded and allowed Emmett to pull her gently down into his lap sitting again on a bean bag.
Edward had his chin resting on Bee's shoulder as they watched the others, he turned his head slightly so he could whisper in her ear: "That was close. My brother is the only person who can calm Rose once she gets riled like that."
Bee was fascinated watching the scene before them as though they were all characters in a play. She was transfixed by the drama.
Jasper broke the silence, speaking firmly but calmly: "Alice and I are pregnant. We are having a baby."
Rose's expression was as if this was the first time she'd heard the news and actually believed it.
Jasper continued: "Before you say anything, as we said before, this was planned. We've been trying for months to get pregnant, as you probably know we've been working really hard at it." He chuckled and Alice gave him a shy smile.
Bee squeezed Edward's hand. She was appalled that they had deliberately got pregnant.
"Why Jazz? Why?" Rose didn't sound angry anymore, she was sad and confused. Why would her brother deliberately ruin his life and Alice's. What were they thinking?
Alice jumped up and started pacing the room: "Look guys, you know how my parents are. They were never going to let me go to New York to study fashion design and they certainly were never going to let me live with Jazzy. I could see my whole life ahead of me - boring work, boring husband, boring life. So Jasper and I came up with a foolproof plan."
"Getting pregnant," Rose sneered. "That's your brilliant idea?"
Alice and Jasper shared a loving look before turning to Rose and nodding in unison.
Emmett stroked Rose's arm to comfort and quieten her. He knew there was more to be heard about their 'foolproof plan' and he wanted to hear it.
Jasper spoke quietly again, filling the room with his steady calm: "Don't you see, sis. Alice's parents are so religious, there's no way they'll let her have a baby out of wedlock and there's no way they'll let her have an abortion. It's genius!"
Edward shook his head in understanding: "So you two have deliberately fallen pregnant so you can get married?"
Alice grinned and waggled her left hand at the group. Sure enough there was a sparkling, diamond ring on her finger.
"Married!" Rose leapt up and screamed in frustration. "Now you're not only going to be teen parents but teen newlyweds as well? Are you insane? This is a disaster!" Her head dropped forward and tears fell down her cheeks. She was so worried about her brother and couldn't believe he'd been so foolish.
Jasper wanted to comfort his sister but he really couldn't understand her reaction: "Alice and I love each other Rose. This is the only way we can be together and the only way Alley can go to New York and study design like she's always dreamed."
"How do you figure that, man?" Emmett asked. "I mean, I see a few flaws in this genius plan of yours. Firstly, what makes you think the Brandons are going to let you marry Alice - honestly, from what I hear, right now they're trying to work out if there's some way they can have you arrested.
"Secondly, even if they did allow the marriage, what makes you think they'll let you take their pregnant daughter to New York - the city of sin?
"And, thirdly, why the hell would they pay for her College education, now that there is a baby on the way to take care of?"
Alice giggled and resumed her pacing, delighted to explain their plans and show how well they'd thought it all through: "We've got this sorted Em. Honestly. We planned this all out. As far as my parents letting me marry Jasper, that's why we've locked ourselves in here. We're just waiting for them to work through their shock and anger until they calm down. If they don't come up with it first, we'll nudge them along with the idea that us getting married, and soon, is the lesser of two evils.
"Mom would die rather than live with the shame of an unwed mother for a daughter, she'd also hate the thought of everyone knowing we're pregnant, so she'll agree to the wedding and Dad will go along with whatever Mom wants.
"She'll also want the wedding straight away; then she can tell all her friends that it is because we want to go to College together and not live in sin. When the baby comes she'll act as though none of this 'drama' ever happened. She's great at reinventing reality that way.
"As far as my parents paying for my college tuition, they don't have to. My Grandparents set up a trust fund for me when I was born. As their only grandchild, I inherit quite a bit of money. It is in my name but they set it up so that I can't access it until I get married.
"So once Jazzy and I say 'I do' there'll be plenty of money for tuition and life in New York. I won't even have to give up my Porsche. Even better, the trust fund gives me another burst when I have a baby with the final payment when I turn 30. Finances are no problem. We don't need my parents' money.
"In terms of moving to New York, well my parents believe the man is the master of the household and wifey follows wherever he leads. So Jasper has applied and been accepted to Cornell to study Psychology, so of course my parents will expect me to move with Jasper to New York. They don't know that I just so happen to have applied and been accepted to the rather fabulous Fashion Design program at Cornell. So you see guys we've got this covered. We've thought of everything."
Alice sat down next to Jasper again and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She looked like the proverbial cat who'd caught the canary. As far as Rose was concerned her brother Jazz was the canary.
The room was silent as they each took in the intricacies of the 'plan' which Alice had just mapped out.
After the long silence, Bee asked quietly: "Well, if you get money by getting married, why not just get married. Why bring an innocent child into this?"
Edward pulled her tightly to his body realising that she was getting upset.
Alice walked over and stroked Bee's hair while she explained her reasons. She sounded like she was explaining something very obvious to a small child: "Without being pregnant my parents would never allow me to marry Jasper. They were already planning to take me to Europe with them over the summer and had enrolled me in a Christian College in Port Angeles for when we returned. I couldn't let that happen Bee. I have dreams of my own and I want the chance to live them. Understand?"
Rose stood looking from Alice to Jasper: "You guys ARE going to keep the baby, aren't you? You're not thinking of ... getting rid of it after the wedding?" She whispered the last part. She had always thought Alice was a selfish creature, and this whole 'plan' just confirmed it for her. In that moment, Rose truly despised Alice for using her brother and ruining his life for her own selfish dreams. Why couldn't Alice just stand up to her parents and do what she wanted without risking Jasper's future as well.
Jasper stood and took his sister's hand: "Of course, we're keeping the baby, sis."
Alice stood beside him as she spoke to her soon to be sister-in-law: "Rose, I may not be as religious as my parents but I still follow the faith … in my own way."
Rose snorted at that, thinking of all the times Jasper and Alice had been screwing each other senseless in inappropriate locations and wondered how that behaviour fit with 'following the faith'.
She was, however, greatly relieved to hear they would keep the baby. She sat back down on the bean bag with Emmett: "So what happens next? If you two idiots have this all planned you must know what is ahead."
Alice ignored Rose's gibe and resumed sharing their plans with the group: "So, we waited until now to tell everyone because we needed to be sure we were actually pregnant. We were hoping to be further along by now but it actually took longer to fall pregnant than we thought. We decided that we'd tell our parents now and let them hash it out until they're less emotional. Once they decide, or we tell them, that marriage is the best solution, I'll start locking in our wedding plans.
"I designed my own wedding dress and have been working on it in secret, so it's all ready. All we have to do is book the Church. We're going to have the reception at The Hidden Haven in PA. We've already picked the cake, the flowers, the caterers and the horse and carriage for our entrance. We don't want a band, just a DJ.
"After the wedding, we're going to go to New York for our honeymoon and look for an apartment while we're there. We'll have my Porsche and Jazzy's Audi shipped once we have our address sorted. Then I'll enrol in my classes, Jazz will enrol in his classes and we can live our dream. Have I forgotten anything Jazzy?"
He shook his head, smiling adoringly at her: "No that about covers it, Alley."
Bee stood up and walked over to them. The room became suddenly very quiet and still as Bee looked from Jasper to then Alice. She took a cleansing breath as she gathered her thoughts. She had something to say but she didn't want to lose herself in the emotional thoughts swimming around in her head. She looked back to Edward and he knew straight away that she needed him. He rose from the bed and stood with her, holding her hand, offering his comfort wordlessly.
Bee squeezed his hand gently and turned back to the couple: "Alice, Jasper, I honestly don't know you very well and I know that you don't know me very well either. What I would like to share with you is that I was once an innocent baby, just like the child growing in your womb Alice. And like your child, I was conceived as a means to an end.
"Renee… my mother ... wanted to escape her abusive boyfriend and she used a kind hearted man, my father, who had represented her in Court as her lawyer.
"She deliberately fell pregnant to him to trap him to help her 'live her dreams'.
"I can tell you, that not only did it not work out for them but speaking as the baby conceived for similar reasons as your innocent baby, it didn't work out for me either."
Edward kissed her temple and held her even closer. Emmett rose from his bean bag and came to stand with his family, to support his adopted sister.
Bee gave him a small smile and turned back to the young couple sitting together looking shocked by her words: "As I said, I don't know you very well and really there's no point in trying to understand your behaviour. Quite frankly what's done is done. You have already created a life, so there is no turning back from here and I can only hope that it all works out to plan.
"But I will say this. I have sat here for the past hour listening to you both smugly explain how you've thought this all through, every detail. I've listened to you boast about manipulating your parents, manipulating their beliefs and faith, twisting your Grandparents wishes and intentions. All so that you get your own selfish wants without having to stand up to your parents or work for your dreams.
"But I honestly don't care about that. What I do care about is that in all your chatter about florists, carriages, DJs and cars I didn't hear you speak of your plans for your child, even once. Your CHILD. Neither of you have even once spoken of your hopes or dreams for your child, your plans for his or her future.
"I wish you well - I really do - and I hope it all works out for you but most of all I hope someday soon you realise what a gift you have in your womb and that your child becomes more important to you than your precious Porsche and your apartment in New York."
Bee turned to Emmett, Rosalie and Edward: "I'll wait for you downstairs." She walked to the door unlocked it and quietly left the room.
The others were left stunned into another lengthy silence by Bee's heartfelt words.
This time it was Alice who broke first: "Doesn't she understand this is for the best? How else could we have what we want?"
Edward shook his head and left to follow Bee. He found her in the downstairs welcome hall, sitting on a loveseat there. She was staring down at her feet as she swung them back and forth casually. He took his place next to her and when she looked to him, he gave her a small smile.
"When we have children Bee, they will be the greatest gift. We'll love them, care for them, teach them and cherish them. I promise."
A tear rolled down her cheek and she kissed his cheek, then she giggled: "When we have children Edward, we'll both be through years of College and through our Residency."
He chuckled and nodded. He understood her determination to become a Paediatrician and knew she understood his determination to become a Surgeon: "Yes, of course love. But if we should 'slip up', and we have a child before then, you and I will do whatever we need to make that child know they are loved and wanted."
She leaned over and placed her head on his chest.
"Bee, I am sorry your mother was so...," he couldn't find the words.
She was quiet and then whispered: "Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them. I'm trying to forgive mine."
He kissed her temple: "My clever Busy Bee."
They sat in comfortable silence until they were joined by Emmett.
Bee looked up to her big bear of a brother: "So Emmy, I guess I'm off the wedding guest list after my little outburst."
Emmett laughed: "Alice is so far gone, she'll probably want you to be a bridesmaid! After you left the room she couldn't understand what upset you. She and Jazz are clueless."
Rose joined them at that point: "Yeah, those two are living in cloud cuckoo land. You hit the nail on the head though Bee, they've created the life and there's no turning back now. I guess at least they've thought some things through. The reality of the baby will be with them soon enough and we'll just have to try and support them when that time comes."
Emmett kissed his girl's temple: "We're going to take off babe. Are you going to be okay here?"
"Sure. Someone's got to try and calm this crew down." She nudged her head to the living room where the amplified voices of all the parents could be heard. "I might join them and mention the marriage idea. It seems the success of all Alice's planning relies on them getting married and honestly, that seems like the best solution at this point, so I may as well move the discussion in that direction."
Emmett, Edward and Bee piled back into Em's truck and headed home. As they walked in the Cullen's kitchen, Emmett asked the question that had been bothering him for awhile: "Bee, what you said about your Mom trapping your Dad, that was all true wasn't it?"
She nodded.
"And the abusive boyfriend she was running from, that was the James guy who... mistreated you, wasn't it?"
She nodded again: "I was too young to know or remember my Dad. Apparently James was obsessed with Renee when she was still in school and he followed her every move. She took a protection order against him when he'd beaten her up again. That's when she met my Dad, Charles Swan. He was her lawyer. He fell in love with her and she saw him as a means to escape from James. Maybe she loved him, maybe not, all I know is what she told me and that was that marrying him and having me was supposed to keep her safe from James."
Once again, Edward was concerned with the matter of fact tone Bee used when talking about life with her mother.
It had been a long day so he walked her up to her bedroom door and kissed her chastely goodnight before heading to his own room.
Bee went in her room and after a quick shower she changed into yet another lovely pyjama set courtesy of Esme. Bee reached under her bed to drag out her precious lockbox which she bundled in her arms before heading to Edward's room. She gently knocked on his door, "Edward, it's me, can I come in?"
He came to the door and opened it for her. He was in sleep pants with no shirt and she couldn't help but enjoy the view of his broad chest, his tightly built torso and the enticing happy trail which led from his belly button to disappear beneath the low-hanging waistband of his pants. She licked her lips distractedly, only to shoot her gaze back up to meet Edward's twinkling eyes. She knew from hs smug expression that she'd been caught looking.
"See something you like, love?" he teased.
She was temporarily dazzled until she shook her head slightly to regain her equilibrium and return to her purpose.
"Don't you own a shirt?" she replied as she pushed past him.
He chuckled and reached into a drawer to grab a muscle shirt which did very little to calm Bee's interest in his lovely body.
"Was there a reason for this visit? Or did you just come to check me out?" Edward chuckled as he sat next to her seated on his bed.
She took a deep breath to strengthen her resolve. She took the key from around her neck and unlocked the lockbox now placed on her lap, she then removed an envelope and handed it to Edward.
"I want you to read me the letter Nanna Swan left for me."
A/N: Well, Alice and Jasper - quite a pair. And finally we're going to hear what's in Nanna Swan's letter. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Quote:
"Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them." ~ Oscar Wilde