Maybe Baby

AN: I know I know bad bad me for not updating sooner but life happens.

Picture of Alice's dress in which she wares in this chapter are in the album and a house I found to be Jasper's grandparents ranch home is up as well.

Chapter 13

POV: Jasper

Driving hung over is never a lot of fun but right now my mind is still trying to comprehend Alice's reaction. She'd been beyond upset, crying, and even hyperventilating at one point which had scared the crap out of me but after that she'd simply seemed so worried. I think that's one of the reasons I love her. She tries not to let things get her down and keep a positive mind set and well last night she had, granted she wasn't happy but she continuously reminded me it was my past and promised she just needed time to digest the information.

We've barely spoken since getting into the car, even breakfast had been uncommonly quiet but it seems one of my siblings had informed my parents and everyone else that I had opened up to Alice about my past. Now it worries me because aside from Rick and Darcy no one in my family knows the whole story except Alice now. I can't help but pray it wasn't Court or Tristan because Tristan is already reminding me of myself at that age and Court has shown he seriously lacks what Alice calls a filter letting things slip he shouldn't.

So my current dilemma is we are running late for our doctor's appointment and because I opened with my very sordid history with Maria I never got to ask Alice to move in with me and now just really isn't the time.

"I should have taken that shower" Alice simply said as we reached the city limits.

"A shower sounds like heaven right about now" I agreed. Alice and I hadn't showered in 2 days and though we didn't smell bad we definitely smelt like camp fire and nature, or in her case coconut from her lotion and body spray.

"So tell me, is the water heater at your house good?" I chuckled and nodded my head.

"I replaced it 4 months ago" I said. One of the first things I had done when I finalized my expansion plans for the house was renovate the master bath, I still had new cabinets and countertops to put in but the shower stall, toilet and tub were brand new.

"Good because I feel gross" she added.

"You don't look gross or smell gross" I smiled taking her hand. She didn't resist and I was thankful, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, she'd let me hold her all night and had kissed my forehead when she got out of bed to get me some more water and Tylenol but she still seemed a little off with me. I couldn't blame her, it was a lot for her to take in and her reaction was a big part of why I didn't want my family to know it all. Alice had been upset but I know my parents, yelling would have been the first reaction to the sex; they didn't raise me to be like that.

"You smell like beer" she said scrunching up her nose and I frowned sniffing my shoulder. Even after brushing my teeth 3 times, putting on clean clothes and letting Alice talk me into sun block to mask the smell I felt I like it wasn't that bad but Alice insisted I still smelt funky while Brooke had heartily agreed before saying it's because she was pregnant. Thankfully she covered for Alice by adding that Alice just wasn't used to my rugged, mountain man, beer guzzler stench to which Alice laughed her first real laugh since I'd poured out my past indiscretions to her last night.

"I think Brooke was right about that" I said and she nodded her head before setting her hand over her stomach, she'd also been feeling a little nauseous since breakfast. "You alright?" I asked and she nodded her head.

Doctor Says…

I remember when I hated going to the doctor as a kid but as I got older and I was constantly there for one thing or another for physicals and drug tests and after Maria STD tests but now I was nervous for a totally different reason. Today I would apparently be finding out a whole lot more.

"15 weeks I'd say" the technician smiled warmly at us.

"Wow" Alice said and I nodded doing the math in my head, it was about accurate with the last doctor's guess only Alice wasn't as far along as he had claimed then since here she was a week later with a week shorter estimation.

"Well now" the technician smiled and Alice and I both turned quickly to look at her face, she looked surprised and right now I don't think we needed that.

"What?" we both asked looking panicked.

"Would you two like to know the sex?" she asked looking at us with a smile after snapping a few buttons. My eyes instantly returned to the screen as the globs moved around again and again.

"Um…" Alice looked at me and giggled I looked down at her confused before she smiled. "If you want too" she said and I smiled.

I wanted to know, I never really thought about this before, I honestly didn't think we'd be able to find out so soon but a part of me felt the tiniest bit of relief. I mean after last night I think knowing could help us.

"How sure are you?" I asked and the technician smiled before circling a frozen image on the screen and pointing an arrow. It looked a little like a semi-circle.

"Legs" she said running her finger over the two limbs, "Butt" she smiled.

"Yay!" Alice squealed and I laughed at her enthusiasm, it was just a butt, granted our child's butt.

"So our unborn child is mooning us and you are happy about it" I said to her and she pointed between the legs. I shrugged my shoulders, what was the big deal.

"Do I have to spell it out for you?" she asked with a sigh. I raised an eyebrow, I guess she did. "What is missing from this picture?"

"A butt crack?" I asked unsure. The technician made a weird sound before covering her mouth to hide a laugh.

"That's implied" Alice said sounding amused before speaking again. "Do you want to know or not?" I nodded my head and she leant over to place her finger between the legs. "Future daddy's girl" she said and I felt my heart stop. A girl, it was a girl, I was going to have a daughter, nee the first grand-daughter. I felt my smile grow to epic proportions, we are having a little girl!

"Looks like he's speechless" the technician said and I let my eyes finally leave the screen and meet Alice's eyes. "And I am pretty sure it's a girl" she winked before leaving the room.

I hadn't taken my eyes off Alice who was silently crying but still smiling. I brushed her hair out of her face and bent over to kiss her forehead. I have never been the type of person to listen to my younger sibling's advice but Ryland had been right. Once I knew for sure what awaited me at the end of 9 months I would know how I really felt about it all. He was right and I am excited, scared but excited.

"Say something?" Alice sobbed and I met her glassy blue eyes for a brief moment before kissing her passionately.

"She's not allowed to date until she's 25" I said and Alice giggled.

"16" Alice said frowning. "I started dating at 16"

"I started at 15 and…" but Alice cut me off.

"Fine 17" I raised an eyebrow at her, a year? Really?

"20" I said crossing my arms across my chest.

"17" she insisted again. "My daughter will have a real date to prom" she added.

"She can take a friend" I shot back, I know how guys are at that age and I do not want to have that around my daughter.

"17 because once she turns 18 we can't do a damn thing" Alice said crossing her arms.

"Daddy's girl remember" I said pointing at her abdomen, my daughter would be very well behaved.

"Not if you don't let her date till she's 25" Alice frowned. I shook my head.

"20"

"Ok you two why don't we turn those years into weeks or months even and worry about boys later" Dr. Vance said coming back into the room with a brown bag.

"We'll talk about this in 13 years" Alice said to me and I rolled my eyes but nodded. I could wait that long I'd just have to make sure boys still had cooties or were gross till then.

POV: Alice

Meeting Jasper's parents and siblings had been one matter, now I was moments away from meeting his grandparents and I can't stop fidgeting, at first I had been playing with the skirt of my dress and that progressed to my hair when Jasper had placed a comforting hand over mine on the material.

"Calm down baby" he said and I rolled my eyes.

"This is grandparents" I said as though it should answer my actions and I truly feel like it did.

"Yes but my parents and siblings like you so you really have nothing to worry about" he said bringing my hand up to his lips for a kiss.

"Yeah and when they find out I'm pregnant?" I asked letting my head rest against the back of the seat.

"They'll be stunned and will get over it because they will like you before knowing and will see how much we love one another" he said and I let a small smile light my face before sticking one of my finger nails between my teeth. "Stop worrying" he said.

When I first met Jasper I never would have pictured this sort of lifestyle. When we pulled up to the Whitlock's ranch or the 'Main House' as the little road signs along the many roads since entering the property stated I couldn't help but feel my stomach tighten beyond belief. Cars were everywhere, couples and groups of people were walking and chatting as they headed around the side of the house where I could clearly see the glow of lights and see the lanterns decorating a pathway.

It was like something out of a movie, a huge house, surrounded by land and trees and… I had to stop thinking about it. I knew Jasper came from money, I pretty much discerned that from his designer suits, jeans, shoes, even underwear and the fact that while working on an addition to his home he still maintained an apartment in town closer to work that I had yet to see but this was beyond my imagination.

"Ma'am?" I turned to find my door being held open by a younger man who looked about Ashley's age, wearing a cowboy hat red button down and black trousers with matching boots.

I shook myself off and using the door as my guide I stepped as gracefully as I could manage from Jasper's tall truck. "Thank you" I said to the young man before he simply smiled and headed for the driver's side door. I turned to my left to find Jasper but instead felt his arm slide around my waist from my right side.

"Don't forget to breath" he said kissing my temple.

"Jasper this is amazing" I said in a low voice so those around us wouldn't hear.

"Yeah my aunt and grandmother go all out for these get together's" he said looking rather un-phased, a small smile on his lips.

"So after this I'll have met all of your family?" I asked feeling my nerves flair up yet again. I was nervous about meeting his parents and siblings before and then his grandparents but now after finding out we were having a little girl this pregnancy was starting to feel more and more real and scary. Jasper comes from a big family, a big, close family and here I am the new girlfriend with one in the oven already, so far Brooke had been perceptive which I'm betting means Ryland knows now too so now I am about to face a group of people who breed for a living. Horses I mean but still I'm sure they know all the signs and without drinking to cover it up…

"Stop" I heard Jasper say. I looked up to see him looking amused. "You're over thinking something, when you do that you get this adorable look on your face" he kissed my temple and continued leading us with the rest of the crowd. People were looking at us and greeting Jasper with a nod of their head or a quick hello, it was weird seeing him like this. Whenever we are together it's usually just us and a select group of friends, Rose, Emmett, Peter, and Charlotte.

"Sorry just freaking out" I said trying to sound normal but I think I failed because of the look he gave me. I know that look, now he's nervous.

The party was going fine by my standards at least. I had only briefly met Jasper's grandparents before they were taken away by someone I'm not sure too many names to remember I'm amazed I haven't mixed up his twin cousins yet and they are dressed the exact same I have to make a point to look at their wrists to see what initial they are wearing on their bracelets, looks like someone else in the family had the same problem.

"Alice come walk with me" I turned to see Jasper's grandmother standing behind me with two glasses of champagne. I internally swore knowing that glass was for me and not for someone else but since I'd lost Jasper to his uncle and a few of his father's friends about 10 minutes ago I excused myself from their wives who were really not that much fun to talk to and followed his grandmother. "I wanted to show you around, Jasper will likely be detained most the evening" she smiled glancing towards the crowd of men all sipping from their glasses, a few were smoking cigars, one man had a pipe and Jasper was smoking a cigarette. This wasn't a new development on his behalf but it was the first time I'd seen him smoke since the night we'd met.

"That'd be lovely Mrs. Whitlock" I said with a smile, she handed me the flute of champagne and I prayed I could get by without actually drinking from it.

"Anna" she corrected locking our arms as we headed towards the house. "Now what is a sweet southern girl like yourself doing in a city like New York?" she asked. I let out a giggle, I was asked this a lot tonight, apparently as a sweet southern girl I shouldn't be in the big bad city alone I'm not sure whether to take it as a joke or an insult but oh well I just let it go.

"It was a good career move after college" I smiled. It'd been my answer all night.

"Fashion right?" she asked and I nodded. "I guess all the power houses of fashion are in New York and California, shame I think" she sighed.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"Sorry dear, I'm just not a fan of the big city, born and raised around these parts" she sighed. I smiled and followed her towards the main house.

"It's alright my family hates me being there too" I sighed.

"I imagine they miss you and worry about you" she said.

"Yeah" I said swishing the champagne around, I really wanted to take a sip but I imagine the drinking I had done before knowing I was pregnant was enough alcohol to last me the entire pregnancy so even a sip was out of the question.

"Are you overwhelmed yet?" she asked with a smile and I gave a sheepish smile.

"A little I mean I knew Jasper had a large family but I guess I never realized how large" I added causing Anna to laugh heartily, obviously the woman knew a thing or two about big families, tonight I'd learned she was the middle child of 5 and had 5 children of her own.

"Yes and we are a rather close knit bunch, normally we don't go two weeks without some sort of get together" she said leading me down a long hallway towards a set of French doors at the end.

"I swear every time I talk to Jasper he's off to a lunch or camping" I smiled. It was a great thing knowing the father of your child was so family oriented but still a little scary when I didn't know how they would handle our current situation. I am still trying to come to terms with being in New York, alone with a baby or at least pregnant though I know Jasper would come by much more often and Emmett and Rose would be there for me but still.

"The boys go camping almost every weekend, not all of them all the time but whenever the whim to bond with nature and beer hits those with no plans rush on out" she said opening a door so we could enter.

"My brother, brother-in-law and uncle go fishing all the time with some neighbors of ours, I don't think there is a day that goes by where one of them isn't at least planning a fishing excursion" I laughed.

"Alice I really wanted to have a moment to speak with you" I suddenly felt uneasy, she was looking at me differently. I realized for the first time I couldn't hear the music from the party or anyone else walking around in the house. The door we'd come through was closed and Anna suddenly looked very serious.

"Ok" I said feeling my hands shake around the champagne flute.

"I know Jasper told you about Maria" I felt myself relax somewhat exhaling a deep breath I'd apparently been holding. "Now he's a good boy, always has been he was just lead a stray" I suddenly was nervous again, she was so serious I wondered if I was about to be told I wasn't good enough for him but she surprised me. "I don't know why he's dragging his feet on this and I know this isn't my place to interfere but I must admit I may have let it slip to Jasper's aunt Tina and well bless her heart when she gets a little liquor in her she has loose lips" suddenly she was smiling and I couldn't help but smile at the joke. I was still confused as hell but it was amusing, every family had 1 I guess. "Listen he's been planning to ask you to move in with him for the past month" I felt something inside me roll or maybe it was the baby but all I know his my face must have paled because Anna was now holding my arm asking if I was ok. "I knew I should have just kept my mouth shut but dearie I didn't want someone else to tell you and blindside you"

"No I just…" I couldn't form the words. It wasn't because of the baby it was before that.

"I know he wanted to explain Maria first, but goodness she's not important" I wanted to say I disagreed, even now the mention of her name sent bad vibes through my body and I pulled my hand holding the flute to my abdomen where I know very soon I would visibly be pregnant. "I don't know why he worries so much about his past with her and I didn't mean to upset you but…"

"No, no you just surprised me is all and…" I paused to reflect on what Jasper told me his family knew about Maria and him. "I think he's just ashamed of his actions and how it turned out" I said forgetting whether his family knew about the drugs.

"Well he shouldn't be, he still made something of his life, she was just a horrible chapter of the past" I had to smile at how sure Anna seemed. She was obviously a very forgiving woman and very proud of her grandson, likely all her grandkids.

"I'm glad he told me, I don't know why he hasn't asked me to move in with him but I'm sure he just wants to give me time to digest Maria, what she did was horrible, not only to him but her own sister" I said while really I figured he hadn't because of the baby, this was now a whole different commitment than it was before.

"Yes, poor Nettie I really think Maria just snapped, that girl had to have known she was losing Jasper" I nodded, Maria had been losing him and I can't promise the thought of losing him wouldn't make me go a little insane but I don't think I could harm another person, especially a pregnant one.

"Can I ask you a question? I mean I know the answer I just…" I wasn't able to finish before she interrupted me.

"He loves you so much more than he ever loved her, whenever he talks about you he lights up and even when those two were supposedly so in love he never really talked about her, he didn't try and bring her around and he never liked the idea of living with her" she smiled and I felt a part of me brighten at the idea. He'd been with her for years and in the few months we'd been together I was already more to him in his family's eyes than she ever was, I'm not sure if that's a cruel thought but it's definitely a happy one.

"I guess I just ask because I can't imagine being with someone for that long and not being totally in love with them" I said but my thoughts shifted to my parents, my mom was head over heels for my father but he betrayed her and I wasn't around to see what kind of love they had.

"With some couples it's just comfort, now those two should have simply stayed friends, but personally she was too young for him, and I don't mean you are as well just she was a child when they got together and Jasper was young and dumb"

We both just glanced around the room in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before she spoke again.

"You haven't touched your champagne" I turned my head quickly back to meet her light blue eyes, she didn't look mad.

"Oh I…" but she just shook her head.

"Dearie I have 4 siblings, 5 children, 22 grandchildren and I think I'm about to find out Brooke's not the only one carrying another little Whitlock now am I?" she spoke softly and I bit my bottom lip. "Whitlock's are breeders" she took my champagne flute and set her empty one on the table.

"No ma'am" I said with a shaky voice. I knew it! I knew I wasn't gonna slide past this family without someone noticing, damnit!

"There you are" I turned and saw Jasper, a half drunk whiskey in one hand and judging by the look on his face he knew exactly what we were talking about.

"Shut the door Jasper" Anna said sternly, I saw Jasper's eyes meet mine before he turned to close the door. "Lock it" she added and as the lock clicked I jumped a little, if he was worried I think I should be too.

AN: I know this took forever but I had to rewrite many times and with school and life and well just bad ju ju all around I haven't been able to finish this chapter but have had it end many different ways. Now yes Jasper has a HUGE family but you will know one thing and that is that I didn't do the math on the great-grandkids because I didn't feel like doing the mental math in my head right now. So review and yell at me for taking so long I really am sorry.