I apologize for the delay with this chapter, but I had a difficult time deciding where to end it.
Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight.
Jasper reached his right hand over the center console of his car without looking exactly where it was headed. He didn't have to. He knew it would be reached for automatically, just as it had the previous 3 times during the ride. If only he didn't have to keep letting go to shift gears. He gave a brief thought to his next car and made a mental note that it would have to have an automatic transmission above everything else. He just couldn't stand not touching his Alice. Not when she was in such close proximity anyway. Times away from her during the week were hard enough. He'd be damned if he wasn't going to make the most of his time with her, even if the trip they were headed on wasn't the ideal one he wanted.
No. If Jasper had his way, right now they would be headed to the airport and on a plane to Las Vegas. He would be counting down the hours until their plane landed and they would be settling in at the penthouse suite of the Venetian. Then, together, they would be counting down the minutes until they were standing in front of a minister pronouncing then husband and wife. The last minute details would all take care of themselves. He knew he was privileged, and rarely used his family's money this way, but when it came to Alice, no expense would be too great to make her happy.
Granted, the woman would be just as happy at a Holiday Inn as the Venetian, which was a good thing because if he didn't make reservations soon, they might actually be staying at one. But he wanted to show Alice the world. He wanted her to have every experience he had, every privilege, every little 'extra' that came with knowing someone had money. People tended to pay more attention to you when they knew you had money. He snorted slightly as he thought of the phrase they often used growing up. 'Money talks'. Indeed it does.
Even though Carlisle and Esme hated it when Jasper and his brother's said it, it certainly didn't stop them from knowing the phrase was true. Esme was on countless charitable boards, although since the arrival of Emmett and his family back in town, she had cut back considerably to become a full time grandma. Jasper knew, more than his brothers, that often his parent's names were changed to 'anonymous' on donor cards. Being the eldest, even by such a narrow margin, meant he was included in certain details the others were not. He knew Carlisle trusted his confidence, and he had never broken that trust, not even to his brothers, not even to his Alice.
Jasper hated keeping things from Alice. Hated that he couldn't just come right out and tell her that the amount of money that changed hands between Carlisle and Mr. Jenks was considerably more than he planned on spending on their wedding, including their $5,000 a night hotel room. He knew Bella would flip and not want any part of it. But Alice…it would be hard to gage her reaction. Bella would flat out refuse. But his Alice? She would want details and would carefully weigh out the pros and cons before deciding that it would be best for all involved if Bella and Tansy were no longer connected to Jacob. For all the flighty appearances she gave off, the woman really had a brilliant mind and could hold her own in conversations and back up her details with facts. This was also the reason Jasper didn't confide his knowledge of today's trip to Alice, it would be those details that might make her realize just how wealthy his family was. There was time enough for him to confide those details to her, but today wasn't that day. Today was simply a side trip they all dreaded but looked forward to at the same time. Today was a prime example of the phrase 'money talks'.
Alice grinned as she automatically entwined their fingers and placed the trio of hands in her lap. Marveling briefly at how beautiful Jasper's hands were, she knew she would never tire of staring at them. Jasper's slightly tan skin next to her much paler skin was a huge contrast in the way they fit together. It took both of her hands to encase Jasper's much larger hand, just as it took both of Jasper's much larger arms to wrap around her completely and make her feel safe and loved. Sighing with contentment, she reluctantly moved her gaze from their hands to glance in the side mirror of the car, needing to see if Edward and Bella were still following them. They were.
"They're going to kill us you know." Alice said, smiling the entire time.
"Then we die happy together when they find out or we die happier together when we are old and gray. Either way we win. Are you sure about this though Alice?" Jasper's smile straightened as he tried not to influence her decision. He needed her to be one hundred percent on board with his crazy idea.
"I never had a doubt in my mind Jasper. I feel bad that I haven't told Bella, but sometimes I think I am just another kid to her. Like she thinks she's my mother as well as Tansy's. Does that make sense to you?" Alice's perfectly plucked eyebrows came together as she furrowed her brow as Jasper briefly thought out his response.
"She does tend to mother you sometimes, I've noticed that. But I think it's because Bella gets so caught up in taking care of things that she doesn't realize that not everyone and everything needs to be taken care of as much as Tansy. She doesn't have to be in control of everything." Jasper sighed before continuing, "In her defense, I can't blame her though. I think if I were in her situation, with things being so out of my control, I would do exactly what she is doing and seek to control what I could even if it was overkill. I think it keeps her sane to know that there are things she is able to control, whether it's you or Edward, because things are so out of her control with Tansy."
Alice simply hummed her agreement as she nodded her head.
"Same question. Are you sure about this Jasper?" Alice stared out the window, already knowing the answer, but needing to hear it all the same.
"You know I am sweetheart. By the end of this summer, you will be Mrs. Jasper Cullen." The enormity of his own admission made Jasper smile and he lifted Alice's right hand and pulled her slightly over to his lips and kissed it, again, never taking his eyes off the road.
"And my history doesn't bother you? Or rather, my lack of history doesn't?" Alice sounded worried again. She knew it, but she couldn't help it. No men in her past had ever taken her seriously. Once they found out she had no past to really speak of, they usually backed off. The fear of the unknown and their own cowardice prevented them from ever getting to really know her.
"Alice, everything that has happened to you in your past, the known and even the unknown, made you the woman I fell in love with in the present. How could I possibly let that bother me?" Jasper said softly. The warmth of his words and the tone that he used let Alice know the sincerity of his words.
"I love you too Jasper." Alice said as she turned her head and gazed at him with a smile on her lips. "I just hope Bella still loves me after she learns the truth. I hope she forgives me."
"What's to forgive? Alice, we aren't getting married today. We are simply applying for and receiving a license. What's there to tell?" A grin made its way to Jasper's face.
"Oh please. You and I both know that the only reason we aren't getting married today is because legally we have to wait 24 hours for the license to be effective." Alice laughed.
"And after 24 hours, the license is valid for 60 days. Before the summer is over, you will have plenty to tell Bella, and anyone else you want. For now, it's just a license, and we happen to be applying for it today because we will happen to be at the courthouse which happens to be only one short hallway down from the County Clerk's office. It's just a matter of convenience." Jasper looked briefly at Alice. "Alice? When the actual wedding happens, are you sure you don't want a big wedding?"
"Absolutely. Other than the actual planning of a huge wedding, there's no part of one that I really want. I don't want to wear yards of fabric that will make me feel like I am a pillow. Anyway, all anyone will notice is a huge cloud drifting down a church aisle alone. White really isn't my color. It just makes me look more pale. I'd have to spend a fortune on a tanning salon to give me some color. Besides, we are babysitting tonight and what kind of wedding night would that be?" Alice replied with a certainty that made Jasper's smile reappear. "Smaller is better as far as I am concerned."
"I couldn't agree more baby. I couldn't agree more." Jasper said, pulling her hand to his lips for yet another kiss before released her hand to signal his lane change so Edward would follow.
"That makes five! Can't those two keep their hands off each other for a 20 minute drive even?" Edward snickered as he carefully watched the car in front of them.
"Oh, you're one to talk! If you weren't driving, and if this truck were automatic instead of manual shift, you would be all over my side of this seat." Bella laughed over at Edward as he pretended to pout. "Hey, you were the one that insisted we take the truck."
"It's a man thing. We have to prove our masculinity. Besides, we will be driving my car tonight on our date." Edward smiled, thinking of all the wonderful things he wanted to do to Bella's body once she was free of all the strings.
"Still not telling me where you're taking me?" Bella smiled as she glanced back at her still asleep daughter in the back seat of the huge truck. She caught the shake of Edward's head out of the corner of her eye. "Alright, have it your way then. I have bigger things to worry about."
"No. You have bigger things to think about. The 'worrying about it' phase is done. You're in the home stretch." Edward meant to continue but couldn't get out anything other than his shout, "that makes six! Did you see that one? That was number six right there!"
All Bella could do was laugh with him over the antics in the car in front of them as they changed lanes behind Jasper and Alice.
"I feel sick." Bella shifted her daughter to one side of her shoulder and clenched at her stomach with her free hand.
"Again?" Edward reached for Tansy just in time as Bella thrust her daughter into his waiting arms before she took off to the bathroom…again.
"It's just nerves. She's just nervous." Edward leaned against the wall as he whispered to Tansy, trying to explain her mother's erratic behavior to the oblivious infant. He glanced down the hallway to witness his brother and Alice coming to join them. "Here comes Uncle Jasper and Aunt Alice, finally."
"Where's Bella?" Alice questioned as she reached for Tansy.
"Where were you guys? Bella's in the bathroom, again. She's really freaking out. What if he shows up Alice?" Edward reached for the diaper bag at his feet to pick it up along with Bella's purse which lay abandoned next to it.
"We went to get a drink of water down the hall." Alice replied dismissively. "Not you too! I keep telling you that he isn't going to show today. Legal stuff…he'll stay away. I've been telling you guys all morning but no one will listen. Maybe now you will." Alice bounced Tansy lightly as she rubbed the baby's back.
"How do you know this? I suppose your freaky intuition?" Edward crossed his legs in front of him as he leaned against the shiny, wood-paneled wall.
"It's not intuition. It's common sense. Listen. In court right now, Jake would have to listen to the judge and the lawyers, and if he got too riled up, the police. He is not going to show up here if he can't run the show. You don't know him like I do Edward." Alice huffed before continuing. "I doubt Bella realizes it either. She was always in LaLa Land when it came to him and then she was caught up in this little one so she never really paid attention." Alice hoisted Tansy up a little higher and kissed her head lightly before resting her cheek against her.
"So when do you think he is going to show?" Jasper leaned slightly as he placed a hand against the wall, his eyes intently watching Alice.
"Only when he can call the shots. Only when he can be in charge, and make a scene and get away with it. When Bella least expects it and when we are all off our guard having a good time." Alice gave each clue carefully, waiting to see which Cullen guessed it first.
"Tansy's Fundraiser." Edward answered, kicking off of the wall as Alice nodded her agreement. "Over my dead body."
"Now you see? That's why he didn't come here today. He wouldn't be able to control himself and his anger. There are too many rules and too many people in charge here. But there, it'll be Bella herself with Tansy." Alice took a few deep calming breaths before continuing. "He has always been self-serving. He is going to be there and he is going to play it up big time. Who's going to be there to tell him otherwise?"
"Me. He's not going to do this to my girls. I won't let him Alice." Edward reached an arm out to pat Tansy's back. He briefly considered taking her from Alice but decided that Bella might need him more when she came out of the bathroom.
"We'll all be there. He won't be able to do much. They did set up the account properly right?" Jasper rubbed Alice's back with one hand.
"Just Tansy and Bella, yes. I know Seth is on high alert too, but I'm still scared. You don't know how Jacob is." Alice looked spooked and held Tansy even tighter against her, as if holding her would create an invisible shield around them. It didn't escape Jasper's eagle eyes.
"What's going on? What aren't you telling us Alice?" Jasper pulled Alice toward one of the brown benches in the hallway and motioned for Edward to follow.
Once seated, Alice settled Tansy into her lap and hoped that her tears wouldn't fall.
"I don't want to do this here. Not right now." Alice looked down the hall, watching for Bella.
"Spill it Alice." Edward's harsh words earned him a glare from his brother that told him to immediately back off. "Please?"
"It's just that ever since I have known Jake, I know he's never been faithful to Bella. I mean, maybe he was. I only know of one definite but then there are several others that he almost…" Alice's words broke off as she choked back a small cry and leaned in towards Jasper.
"Alice, did he actually cheat on her?" Edward's words were so quiet they were barely heard except by the three of them. As she nodded against Jasper's chest, Edward continued. "How many times?"
The anger rolling off Edward was coming in waves as Alice clung closer to Tansy and held herself against Jasper's chest, only relaxing after he drew his arms tightly around them.
"There was a distant cousin of his that I know of for sure, I don't think Leah would lie. Then there was some flirting with our ex-boss, the midwife, and then me." Alice whispered the last words. Jasper drew Alice closer into his embrace as Edward seethed. Jasper pulled away only far enough to question Alice.
"Alice? Did he…" Jasper never got to finish his sentence.
"NO! I never let it get that far. I ran into him once without Bella and he kept…you know…touching me and hugging me. He forced a few kisses on me before I was able to get away. After a good knee to his nuts, I ran. Fast. I never allowed myself to be cornered by him after that either. The guy creeps me out." Alice shuddered and allowed herself to be comforted by Jasper.
"How do you know these things Alice?" Edward glanced down the hall, and realized with bizarre feelings that he hoped Bella would be sick a bit longer so they could finish interrogating Alice.
"Well, his cousin Leah came right out and told me. She really wanted Jake for herself but he apparently just used her for the sex. I actually felt bad for her, I really think she had some kind of fatal obsession going on with him. Our boss came right out and snidely threw that in my face when I resigned. The midwife I know about because I went to refill Bella's ice chip pitcher and caught the two of them making out in the alcove by the ice machine. Nothing like getting a little side action when the little missus is unavailable right?" Alice asked sarcastically.
"Wait, this dude cheated on his wife while she was in labor? Get the fuck out!" Jasper was nearly undone.
"Jasper! Language!" Alice reprimanded him as she held Tansy up higher, but her eyes almost danced with laughter. She could tell Edward and Jasper were barely holding it together too.
"What a douche." Jasper said as he leaned forward and bent closer to Tansy. "You're better off without that one as a role model little girl. Listen to wise Uncle Jasper."
This set Alice off in a fit of giggles as Edward stood. "I'll be right back."
"Edward, please. Let's keep this between us okay? Bella doesn't need anything else right now in the way of a negative distraction." Alice tugged on Edward's shirt sleeve, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
"I am not going to be the one to tell her any of this. I am not going to break that woman's heart." Edward patted Alice's shoulder. "I'm going to find Bella."
Leaving the courtroom and taking off down the hall, Edward was stopped in his tracks when he heard a voice he recognized. He turned to see his entire family, minus Jasper, headed toward him.
"Dude! They searched inside the diapers! Gross!" Emmett reached his brother first and hugged him as he slapped him on his back.
"What are you all doing here?" Edward greeted his family, his shocked eyes trying to take them all in.
"Silly, we're here for Bella. Where is she?" Esme asked the question while trying to look over Edward's shoulder, as if he was hiding her behind his back.
"Well, she's not hiding behind me! Stop it you guys. She's in the bathroom. She wasn't feeling good. Her stomach is acting up again. It's just nerves." Edward winced as Rose pushed the double stroller into his shin.
"Sorry about that Ed. This thing is so big I can't see the tip of it." Rose said.
"That's what she said." Emmett joked, earning him several disapproving glances from people nearby and groans from his family.
"Emmett? Do you remember what I said about using your indoor voice?" Esme talked to her son like he was five, making the big man turn red and visibly squirm. "We are in a federal building and there are rules, both the government's rules for their building and my rules for my family. Do you remember what we talked about this morning at breakfast?"
"Government buildings are searched and they don't allow cell phones in the court rooms." Emmett repeated the rule as if he was reading it from a cue card and smiled after he said it, obviously expecting praise of some sort.
"Good boy, and the other most important rule?" Esme patted her son's shoulder.
"Everyone should use their indoor voice except me. I need to whisper because my voice tends to carry over and above people." Emmett looked around and began whispering as if he suddenly remembered that he was indoors and needed to whisper. "Sorry Mom."
"It's okay Emmett. I know you can't help it." Esme hugged Emmett quickly before turning back to Edward. "Where is Bella? What bathroom?"
Edward motioned down the hall and Esme took off, searching her purse for something she obviously intended to give Bella. Edward turned back to his father.
"I can't say thanks enough for your help dad. I really appreciate you and Jenks helping Bella out like this." Edward shook his father's hand before Carlisle yanked him forward, giving him a quick hug instead.
"Nonsense. It's nothing I wouldn't do for any woman that I see at work that needs help. Speaking of Mr. Jenks, where is he? I need to thank him myself for taking care of this so quickly." Carlisle handed Emmett the diaper bag that was previously slung over his shoulder.
"Inside the courtroom." Edward motioned behind him. "He walked in with us and after we were settled out here, he said he had a few other cases to take care of first and we should sit tight for awhile and he would let us know when we needed to do anything."
Carlisle nodded to his family as he moved to the courtroom.
"I can't believe they searched the twins diapers. What the hell would I put in there?" Rose looked exasperated as she moved to quickly hug Edward. "You doing okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine, thanks Rose. I don't know why they would search the diapers. They pretty much avoided Tansy like she was contagious. Bella was allowed to keep her phone with her just in case but I think it had more to do with the fact that Jenks walked in with us and not so much in case of a medical emergency."
"I guess Bella was right about people and their ignorance. They ripped apart the stroller too. Apparently Rosie and I look like thugs that are out to do the local government system in." Emmett crossed his arms in front of him and tried to look smug.
"Well, since we are all here, I guess we should hurry up and go wait. There's no telling how long Jenks will want us to wait or if Jacob Black is even going to show." Edward looked grim.
"Chill bro. Keep your eyes on the prize. Tonight, the little lady is staying at the big house with all of us and you get the leading lady and the little house all to yourself." Emmett smirked knowingly at his brother.
"Yeah about that. Edward, I hate to say it, and I certainly don't mean to sound like a prude given this is yours and Bella's first official date. But promise me that you won't make things more complicated for her than they already are. I know we've only known her a short time, but she has become a good friend and I would hate to have to kill my husband's brother, especially his twin, just because you were being a douche." Rose patted Edward's back as she walked with him, letting Emmett steer the large double stroller. "I just want you to make sure you don't make demands on her or start issuing ultimatums on Bella."
Edward smirked over at his sister-in-law. "Rose, I give you my word that I am not going to hurt Bella in any way, shape, or form."
"Good, then we understand each other." Rose dug around in her purse and pulled out a small cloth bag. "These are a gift from Emmett and I."
Edward took the package and flipped it over before dropping his jaw at Rose and a smiling Emmett. Holding his palm up with the small package in it he just stared at them.
"Condoms? You bought me condoms?" At their identical nods he continued. "In a government building, in the middle of the day? You two are handing me a package of condoms?" Edward's voice accidentally rose in volume as the days events took an even more bizarre turn.
"You know it. Bella's not on the pill yet Edward." The serious tone of Rose's voice caused Edward to snap out of his disbelieving stupor.
"I know that. Don't you think I know that? Geez, you two are something else." Edward tossed the small pouch at his brother. "I can buy my own, and if you two excuse me, that part of the evening is all taken care of, I assure you."
Edward barely caught the little package as his brother tossed it bag at him as they made their way to join the others down the hall.
"You may as well keep these anyway Edward." Emmett smirked at him as he pushed the stroller past him. "Too small for me."
Edward jammed the condoms in his pocket and shook his head in disbelief as Emmett and Rose pawed at each other while walking down the hallway.
When they finally made it into the courtroom, Edward was surprised to see Bella standing up at a table with Jenks on one side and Carlisle on her other. Alice was sitting nearby holding Tansy as Esme and Jasper waved for them to sit with them in the back of the room.
"Your date might have to wait awhile Edward. I don't think I've ever seen Bella this shaken. I gave her some peppermints to suck on but she's really making herself sick over this whole thing." Esme looked on worriedly as Bella continued to grip the sides of the table.
Bella was merely nodding her head and stealing nervous glances at her daughter and Alice before turning her attention back to Carlisle and Jenks as they flipped through a pile of paperwork.
"God is this unfair." Edward's whisper could barely be heard and his brother's were barely able to stop him before he took off to be with Bella.
"We wait here Edward. Those were Jenks and dad's rules. We have to wait back here just in case he shows. Alice will watch out for her until this is over, then you can go be with her."
"What?" Edward could barely believe Jasper's words. "So I am supposed to just let her go through this alone? Are you kidding me?"
"I'm sorry Edward. I have order's from dad to take you outside if you can't handle watching Bella go through this. We can't interfere. Not in front of the judge. Jenks doesn't want to take a chance that Jacob might have someone here watching Bella and her actions." Jasper nodded to the other people in the courtroom. People that somehow Edward had missed in his quest to be with Bella.
"So unfair." Esme wrapped her arms around Edward and gave him a motherly hug. "Let's talk about tonight hmmm? Maybe take our minds off this?"
Edward hated to admit that Esme's plan had merit. He also needed for Jasper's tightened grip on his arm to letup. His briefly caught Bella's glance at him and mouthed the words 'love you' to her before she nodded and turned back to Carlisle.
"Are you sure you are okay babysitting?" Edward looked at no one except Bella even though his words were meant for his family.
"Dude, we're having a party, and you and Bella ain't invited." Emmett slapped Edward's back.
"Good. Bella will feel better with Alice there to help watch her. I doubt she would leave Tansy otherwise." Edward's eyes stayed focus on Bella, willing her to absorb some of his strength.
"Edward, you should see everything Jenks has lined up. He even went as far as to draw up the papers to legally change their names. Today. Isn't that great news? No more waiting." Esme tried to make her voice sound cheerful and not as worried as she felt.
"That's great mom, thanks." Edward said the words with no infliction in his voice, as if he was reading the words from a cue card. He only stared forward, wishing Bella would turn her head his way.
After each of their attempts at conversation fell flat, the family sat quietly in the back, watching Bella as she squirmed. Once during the ordeal, Tansy squealed loudly and Alice was given permission to remove her from the courtroom. As she made her way past the Cullen's, Alice dropped the diaper bag. It looked accidental, but Edward was sure it was on purpose. He mouthed a quick thank you to Alice as he picked it up for her and was able to touch Bella's daughter for comfort, gathering his own strength from the little girls presence, no matter how brief. He was rewarded with a sweet little gurgle from Tansy before Alice continued her walk into the hallway.
After that moment, things seemed to pick up pace. Bella began glancing to the back of the courtroom more frequently. At one point, once Alice reappeared with her daughter, she even managed a smile. She nodded ever so slightly in their direction before turning to walk to Alice. She reached for Tansy and held her tightly to her chest before rejoining Carlisle and his friend in front of the room.
As Jenks walked up to the judge alone, Edward saw Bella bend her head to kiss her daughter. He noticed that his father smiled and whispered something to Bella as he stroked Tansy's cheek. It was after he watched his father take out a handkerchief from his pocket and hand it to Bella that Edward saw Bella's shoulders shaking softly. He was so caught up in his trance and staring at Bella herself, he didn't notice Carlisle's brief nod to his wife before he reached for Tansy.
"It's over." Esme's voice was dripping with emotion as she put her arms around her son and Edward felt the crush of her hug.
It was just the thing Edward needed to shake him out of his trance. He looked around finally and caught sight of Jasper, wrapping a crying Alice in his arms. He saw Emmett reach for a sleeping Emily while Rose held a nursing Ethan closer to her breast. He looked briefly at his mother who was now wiping her eyes with a tissue before he again settled his eyes on Bella. She was hunched over a stack of papers, furiously scribbling her name while Carlisle held Tansy and Mr. Jenks simply moved the stack around and pointed where she needed to sign.
"It's what?" Edward was foggy, his eyes still glued to Bella's back, not fully understanding what was just said.
"It's over Edward. Bella's free. She's yours." Emmett patted his daughter on her back gently as he looked over at his wife and son.
All the months of waiting and the stress of the morning fell away as Edward stood and straightened. He glanced around and felt a rush of emotions fill him as he realized just how much his Bella had managed to capture not only his heart, but his whole family's. It was all he could do to wait for her to finish signing and not rush to her side.