I Love all my readers! Seriously all ya'lls comments make my day. And since the last chapter was kind of a cliffie, here is the next. Happy Friday ya'll.

SM owns Twilight; sadly I don't.. but I'll live

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Chapter 21 Panic

BPOV

I was worried about Jasper. I knew something was wrong, I just didn't know what. I left him to watch the kids and when Emmett went to get them he looked completely scared. I wondered if Emmett had said something to him, but Emmett threatened him in a way earlier and it didn't faze him.

After the announcement, Emmett and Jasper went outside to talk, so I was trying to keep myself busy and not worry too much. I found comfort in talking to Esme until they came in. Jasper looked better, but he also looked like he needed to get something off his chest. He and Em grabbed a beer and not long after, Emmett decided to call it a night, so everyone dispersed leaving me, Alicen and Jasper alone.

"Okay Alicen, time for bed," I said.

"I'm not tired."

"I don't care, it's time for bed."

"Fine," she huffed and headed for her room.

"Alicen, what do you say to Jasper?"

She turned around and ran to him and gave him a quick hug. "Nice to meet you, Jasper. 'Night."

It took him a moment to respond but he finally hugged her back, a little wide-eyed from surprise. "Nice to meet ya too, Alicen. And goodnight, darlin'."

Alicen walked to me smiling and grabbed my hand for me to follow her. "Momma?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Does he say that to you too?"

"Yes, he does."

"Is that why you like him so much?"

"That's part of it."

"I like him too, Momma. He'd be a good Daddy to me."

Suddenly I got this weird feeling, the same feeling I had when Alice would tell me what would happen before it did. "Honey, why did you say that?"

She shrugged her little shoulders and ran to her room.

Knowing I wouldn't get answers from her, I tucked her in bed and walked back out to the living room where I had left Jasper, but something about him was off.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I sat down beside him.

He took my hand and turned to face me. "Bella, I have somethin' to tell you, somethin' that I just found out, but first I want you to know that I love you with all my heart and I never want to hurt you."

Crap, what could it be? My heart started pounding in my chest. "Jasper, you're scaring me. What is it?"

"This whole thing is scary to me darlin', but you need to know that I think…" He looked up to the ceiling trying to find the words.

I looked down at my hands enveloped in his. "Just tell me," I whispered.

"I think I might be Alicen's biological dad."

My heart stopped. "What?" I breathed. "Why do you think that?"

"When I was watchin' her and Jackson, I noticed some things about her that are similar to me. Then I saw the picture by the urn. I remembered that I met that girl at Emmett and Rose's weddin' and..."

Suddenly, I remembered back to the wedding when Alice came up to me to leave with "a very cute blue-eyed hottie with curly blonde hair".

Jasper had gorgeous blue eyes and curly hair.

I pulled my hands out of his and covered my mouth while staring into his eyes, those same blue eyes that were in my daughter.

"Oh my, you were the guy Alice hooked up with."

"Yes, but Bella-"

"Alicen has your eyes. Why didn't I see it before?"

He took my hands again. "Bella, baby, I don't wanna take her away from you. I just felt that this needed to be said, that you should know the truth. Are you okay?"

"Um, I don't know. I think I just need some time to process everything…" I whispered

"Do you want me to stay?"

"No. I'd like to be alone, thanks."

He took a deep breath and nodded. "Are we okay?"

I didn't know how to answer him. I wanted to say that we would be fine but I needed to clear my head, so I just gave him the best smile I could muster up.

He smiled back. "Call me tomorrow when you're ready?"

I nodded and he kissed me as he headed for the door and left.

~*~

I didn't really sleep that night. My mind was racing. So while waiting for Alicen to wake up, I decided to distract myself by reading. I got through a couple chapters when my book suddenly shut. I glanced up to see Alicen grinning from ear to ear.

I smiled. "Good morning, baby."

"Mornin', Momma." She climbed up on the couch next to me.

"So, do you want to go visit Grandma?"

She nodded. "I'm gonna get pretty for Gamma."

"Okay. I'll get breakfast ready."

She ran to get dressed as I poured some cereal for her. Once she was done, she came running out in her best frilly dress.

"I'm ready!"

I laughed. "Okay, eat and I'm gonna go get another set of clothes for you to play in."

As she ate, I walked outside and looked over the lake where a piece of my best friend lay. "Oh, Alice, sometimes I wish you were here. I need to clear my head, and it would be great if you were here to tell me what to do."

"Momma? It's time ta see Gamma."

"Okay, Alicen."

~*~

We arrived at my parents' a short time later and walked in. Alicen ran and gave Esme a hug then ran to play in the game room while I hugged her.

"What's bothering you, my daughter?" she asked when she pulled away and looked at me.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I just needed to clear my head. Got an ear?"

She nodded and we sat down at the table.

"I just found out that Alicen is Jasper's daughter."

"Really? How do you know?"

"We talked about it last night after everyone left. He told me when he figured everything out. He was the one Alice hooked up with at the wedding. Mom, Alicen has Jasper's eyes, it's plain as day. She has little attributes from him - his curly hair, his calm personality. I can't believe I didn't notice it before. I don't know what to think. I love him so much; I don't want to leave him."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I don't know. I guess it's that I worked so hard to protect her, being careful who to introduce her to… I just never thought her dad would come. I guess I'm just scared."

"Scared of what honey?"

"Scared of-"

The door opened and Jackson and Emmett walked in. They said 'hi' and Jackson went to play with Alicen.

"Jazz called me, told me how it went," Emmett said as he sat down.

I smiled. "So you wanted to check on me."

"And clear anything up if needed."

"So, what was it you're scared of, Bella?" Esme asked.

"I'm scared of losing Alicen. I'm scared of the two of us getting hurt."

"Bella, Jazz told me he didn't want to take Alicen from you," Emmett said.

"I know, but what if-"

"No, Bella. Jazz loves you, period. No buts. And he doesn't want to hurt you, you're everything to him."

Esme put her hand on mine. "Honey, I have never seen you as happy as you are with Jasper. From what I can see, you two are perfect for each other. Don't second guess yourself. I think it would probably be a good thing if he spent some time with his daughter, get to know her."

"I know he should. I don't know why I'm acting like this."

Esme smiled. "Because you're a mom. Your first priority is protecting your baby."

~*~

After visiting for a while longer, Alicen and I went home and I started dinner. While the pasta was cooking I called Jasper and invited him over for dinner. He needed to spend time with Alicen and I did need to get over whatever phobia I had.

I walked into Alicen's room and picked up some of her toys. I glanced over at the letters on the wall and something in them caught my eye - a few lines that, when Jazz and I first started dating, made me question if Alice had known that Jasper and I would end up together. I know you will find someone who has a heart like yours who will love you more than anything… just don't be afraid to answer when he comes to you. Live life to the fullest and hold nothing back, especially love.

She had to have known. It would make sense. All she wanted was to see me happy, and with Jasper, I was. I smiled. "Thank you, Aly."

I heard a knock at the door followed by Alicen yelling, "Momma! The door knocked."

I laughed and opened the door. Jasper stood on my porch with his hands in his pockets with the most adorable look on his face. He reminded me of a sad puppy.

I smiled. "Hi."

"Hey."

I walked out and wrapped my arms around his waist. "Sorry about yesterday."

"It's okay, I'm glad you called."

"Me too."

I stood up on my toes and kissed him. It felt right in his arms and I knew with all my heart I was doing the right thing; that he was always going to be there. "Come on in, dinner's almost ready."

We walked into the kitchen and I mixed the sauce with the pasta. As it heated, I grabbed his hand and we walked into the living room with Alicen.

"Alicen, honey, there's something we need to tell you."

She sat up and looked at us. I didn't know why this was so hard to tell to a three year old but it was, and I hoped she would be as okay as she said she would be last night.

"Alicen, Jasper is your-"

"I know."

"You know?" Jasper asked.

She nodded, her little curls bouncing everywhere.

"What do you know, baby?" I asked.

"I know Jasper is my Daddy."

"How do you know that?"

"I heard you last night."

I gasped. "You didn't go to sleep did you?"

She shook her head. "I wasn't sleepy. I played with my dolly and listened."

"How do you feel about Jasper being your Dad?"

"I like it." She whispered like it was a secret.

I chuckled. "You do? I'm glad."

She smiled and gave Jasper and me a hug.

"I'm glad to have both my girls," Jasper said as he kissed our foreheads.

"It feels like home?"

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Feels like home."

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Sobriquett my beta, is amazing. Ma'am indeed you make me giggle

Please review ya'lls thoughts, they tend to make me wanna write. ;)