Sweet Serendipity

Chapter Seventeen : Flying

A. Brandon

Major J. Whitlock

Charlotte Whitlock

Captain P. Whitlock

Offering his arm, the air in Alice's chest caught as she stepped forwards and slipped her arm into his. Not that she would have had much of an option otherwise, but it was nice that he'd offered. As they approached the door to her room, Alice's emotions shot through the roof as her excitement and happiness escalated to a point where the Major had to take a moment to right himself before shooting Alice a knowing, amused look. He knew she'd be excited to leave the room… but he'd never realized just how much.

Leading her from the room, Alice felt like the weight of the world was falling off her shoulders as she grinned and took in every aspect of the hallway. It was grand and white, with great pieces of art lining either side as the Major lead her towards the ending of the hallway. She couldn't remember the last time a hallway looked so beautiful. Walking through, with Charlotte and Peter following closely behind them having suddenly appeared in the hallway mimicking their movements, the Major watched for her expression change as they stepped up to the top of the grand staircase in the large front foyer.

Alice couldn't believe her eyes.

Below her, was a grand ballroom it looked like with a large front door, spotless crystalline glass and white, the front door looked to be worth more than Alice's own house back home. The large chandelier looming above the foyer looked to be about the size of a large round dining room table and probably cost the owner an arm and a leg, and was filled with more glass and crystals than Alice had ever seen in her life. Her eyes glanced over the checkerboard tiles of white and gold as the Major pulled her towards the staircase. The stairs were much the same as the tile floor, the same white tiling covering each step as her brows raised at the sight of the golden banisters on either side. It was trim at the top but got wider as it went down, and Alice felt like a princess walking down to receive a crown on her coronation.

It was like something out of a ballroom in a castle, and Alice couldn't even begin to contain her amazement as she descended the stairs. By the time she made it to the front door, it felt like it'd passed too quickly, and she'd hadn't the chance to take in every detail of the room. But she prayed she'd get the chance to eventually do it some other time as the door was opened for the group by the chauffer of the grand limosuine parked outside for their party of four.

Alice felt the blush creep up her neck and flush her face as the Major slipped his arm out of her embrace only to take her small hand within his as he lead her outside, only to watch with a content smile as the surprise and shock continued.

She'd seen many a home in her time with her adopted family. But Alice had never seen such beauty packed into one lot as she gaped at the surroundings. The limo alone was a sight for sore eyes, but what she couldn't believe was the grounds this magnificent mansion (if she could even call it that) sat on. The driveway was covered in stone, as was the outside of the house. Large gray masses of field stone had been shipped in to construct the outside of the castle, and every pot and shrub was a magnificent shade of brilliant green. The lawn and shrubbery had the up-most care in it's keeping, and as Alice looked down the drive, a grin spread across her face as she spied the twinkling lights that hung from the massive trees planted on either side of the road all the way down. Like a vision of stars hanging from every low branch.

"See something you like darlin'?" the Major asked as Alice flushed slightly and grinned, thanking the chauffer of the limo as he pulled open the door for her. The beast of an automobile was made to seat at least twenty people, and looked like an Escalade that'd been stretched to accommodate all it's passengers. The inside looked like an entire bar had been piled into the inside with an array of glowing lights. It was fantastic. Alice had been in a few limo's before, but she couldn't remember the last time she'd stepped into one so nice.

"What do you think?" Charlotte asked excitedly as she stepped into the limo with Peter close behind her, taking the seat closest to the door as the Major lead Alice down closer to the window by the driver. As soon as Alice heard the driver step into the front and start the engine, the Major tapped the glass twice as the car rolled into motion down the drive towards their destination.

"It's amazing." she smiled genuinely as the Major tucked Alice into his side while she tried to repress the shiver that rattled her spine as his cold hand sat on her exposed knee. She willed her mind to remember all the pain he'd put her through over the last few weeks and shuffled away from him slightly, making it look like she was just eager to get closer to look out the window as the Major just let her leave his side.

"Is this your first time in a limo?" Peter's voice called out behind Alice as she turned to him with a small grin still planted on her features.

"Uh, no actually… we had one for my cousin's wedding. And we also got one in my junior year when the team went to a banquet, and I went with a group of friends to a semi-formal dance in a white limo." she grinned as Charlotte nodded excitedly and inquired more about her team back home. Even thinking about cheering made Alice's heart clench when she imagined being back with her old friends, but she was happy to talk about it. At the same time, the thought of her friends brought happy memories she welcomed with open arms. Charlotte's voice once more pulled her from her own thoughts as she asked Alice about her spot on the team. "I was co-captain." she answered. "We were two-time state champions, and we were like one big family. As stereotypical as most teams are, we all really did like each other. We always had one another's back." she smiled. "I was a flier, because of my size in relation to all the others. I loved every second of it. Flying. It was a blast. The freedom, the flexibility, the skill required… I enjoyed the challenge." she grinned with a surge of pride and excitement.

"That sounds dangerous…" Peter commented as the Major growled slightly beside her. Alice jumped at the sound and shrunk away from the feral noise as he immediately silenced and dragged her back to his side. She tried not to cringe at his demanding presence, but she couldn't help but blush a little at his reaction to her in danger. A part of her was offended he didn't think she could look after herself, but another was giddy at the thought that someone cared enough to have a reaction like that.

"I had excellent porters and spotters. I rarely took a spill. Most of my tricks were rehearsed down to perfection and it wasn't like I was too heavy to catch." she shrugged with a wink towards the end as Peter nodded with a small grin and turned to press a loving kiss to Charlotte's head who just smiled and kissed him back on the lips in return.

"So you got along with your team?" Charlotte asked as Alice smiled at her attempt to keep the conversation going. She couldn't help but commend her effort. Char had been excellent at distracting her over the weeks with easy and casual small talk that interested Alice. And she knew that that was what she was trying to do now to get Alice's mind off the ball she was about to walk into.

"Yeah. They were a great bunch." Alice smiled. "The other co-captain and I butted heads every once in a while over routines and style's, but that was to be expected. We were both trying to make the team the best that they could be and at the end of the day, we were still good friends." she explained with a shrug as Charlotte nodded.

"I love cheerleading. It just looks like so much fun." she smiled. "And to be part of a team that's job is to get everyone riled up all the time… I can imagine you were really good at it." she complimented with a wink as Alice blushed slightly.

"Yeah I guess. I mean I did it because it was what I was good at. But I wanted to be a part of something bigger too, you know?" she asked as Charlotte nodded. "I just liked being a part of something." she offered as Peter grinned at her like he understood the meaning behind her words on a whole other level.

The rest of the ride passed with idle talk between Charlotte, Peter, and Alice. The Major stayed quiet through most of the ride, and just held Alice to his side until the driver lowered the window separating him and the others to announce their arrival at the ball. It took another ten minutes to gain entrance to the front of the line where the limo driver pulled up to the front of the large mansion hosting the ball as the door opened and Alice felt her anxiety spike.

Peter and Charlotte crawled out first and as Alice motioned to shuffle herself towards the door too, she was more than surprised to feel the Major grab her arm to hold in her back as she turned to him with confusion written all over her face. She figured he'd be the last person that wanted to be late, but when she dared to almost question him, the look in his eyes quickly silenced her as she just stared back into his cold red eyes. "You know… you don't have to do this if you don't want to." he stated almost quietly as Alice's breath left her quickly. Shock jolting through her system as she just stared back at him. "I understand that I never properly asked you if you'd care to accompany me, and I know how rude and un-gentlemanly that was now. So should you decide that you would not like to make an appearance, I can have Charlotte escort you back to the house." he stated as Alice sucked in a gasp of air and just stared back at him with the up-most surprise and shock still etched in her features.

For the first time, Alice saw the genuine goodness flash across his eyes as a smile broke out on her face. "I would be honoured." she stated suddenly as the Major gave her a confused look, a small smirk on her face as she just grinned in response.

"Excuse me?"

"I would be honoured to accompany you to the ball. Thank you for asking."

links for the story (dresses, characters, houses, ballrooms, ect.) on my profile

thanks for all the reviews. lovin' all this feedback

reviews = updates

EriksAngeldeMusica - thanks! and did you look at the link on my profile to see it?! that's awesome! aw I'm so glad someone looked at it actually ;p lol hahaha. the dress in the story and the one with the link are a little different, but i tried to get them as close as i possibly could ;p hahaha. as for the crest, I'm still working on that. haha. something dominant and powerful, but still respectable and unique/beautiful. if you have any ideas it'd be great, i can't come up with anything yet ;) hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!

Kittykandyhandy - thank you, glad you're enjoying it so far. and as for the updating, i know exactly where you are coming from, i hate having to wait for chapters, buutttt i also understand that everyone has lives outside of fanfiction. if it were upto me, i would just right all day, every day... but alas i have a life away from writing :(. so, i'll see about updating more, until then, thanks for the review and the helpful tip! hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!

lowe101 - i looovvveeee diamonds! hahaha, and i have the exact same feelings between her and char. so glad i could actually write them as friends, it's just what alice needed ;) haha. hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!

Anabeth601 - hahaha, i know how you feel ;p lol. hahaha, you like her dress? sooo glad. i could totally see that as a prom dress, or an exotict dress for a mascerade or something haha. i figured i wanted something pretty/sexy but still youthful and fun... you know... still Alice. if you catch my drift ;) anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!

deltagirl74 - haha... ohhh i think you'll be surprised with whats gonna happen at the ball ;) but that's allllll im gonna say! haha. thanks for the review! hope you enjoyed the little sweet end between alicexmajor at the end ;) i kinda figured it'd be a favorite part of the chapter over all. enjoy!

Wink N Nodd - hahaha, my thoughts exactly... what I'd do for some pretty diamonds ;p lol. haha. hope you enjoyed the chapter! lemme know what you thought!

hellangel15 - feel honored ;p lol hahaha jk... maybe... haha. lol you giggled all through the chapter? ya, i think I'd giggle if Major Jasper Whitlock was coming at me as well ;) haha. and i like that, beauty and the incredibly charming and sexy beast? i like the way you think. hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!