Here is the next chapter, I hope you like it…
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight; I just own the idea to this and shamelessly used her characters
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Chapter 22: Family
The couple of months after we found out that Alicen was Jasper's daughter were amazing. We spent as much time together as we could, going out to the zoo or the park or even staying in and watching a movie or just eating dinner. At first Jasper was nervous about getting to know his daughter but they just clicked and were getting closer and closer everyday. Alicen still wasn't comfortable enough to call Jasper Daddy but I thought she was getting closer.
Alicen's favorite outing was when we went to the zoo, and going made me think of Alice. Her favorite place to go was the zoo as well but she hated all the bugs which we found out Alicen didn't like as well.
First walking in, we saw the monkeys which were Alicen's favorite animal, or "aminal" as she liked to say. She squealed and pointed, wanting to get out of her stroller to go play with them.
We walked around and saw the meerkats - Alicen named them all Timon - then moved to the elephants. Alicen was a little scared of them so I assured her they were just gentle giants, yet she wasn't the least bit scared of the tigers. The lion was asleep when we got to it but Alicen wanted to wait until it woke up. When he did, he roared, and Alicen squealed and clapped.
Jasper and Alicen were practically inseparable now and he somehow convinced me to let her go to his gig at the club tonight. He said something about wanting to show her what he does when he's not at work and not with us at home, along with some other things followed with I love you… and I caved. But not before he assured me that the Denali sisters were okay with a couple of toddlers in their club and that the VIP room was just for us, Alicen would have Jackson to keep her company and my parents were going to be there, so it would be like a family get together… in a club. Yeah, so I plead the fifth. I'm a sucker to his southern charm.
After I caved, I made dinner while Jasper watched Alicen. Emmett, Rosalie and Jackson arrived shortly after we ate, followed by Carlisle and Esme. We left from there for the club and stationed ourselves in the VIP section. Angela and Ben arrived a few minutes after we did. We visited for a while before Jasper had to go on and I noticed a little secretive smile on my friends and family that made me a little suspicious that something was going on.
"Well, I gotta go on. Hope ya'll enjoy the show," Jasper said as he got up off the couch beside me.
"Oh, we will," Rosalie said as he walked out the door, her eyes focused on me.
"Okay, seriously, what's going on?" I asked.
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Why can't you just tell me? You all know something, I know you do."
"Yeah, and it would ruin the fun if we told you."
"Rose!"
"Shh! He's getting on stage."
We turned to watch Jasper pick up his guitar.
"Alicen, come watch."
She ran over and I lifted her so she could see the stage through the window.
"Howdy ya'll, I'm Jasper and I wanna start off tonight with a little country song."
He strummed the guitar and started singing:
"Another long summer's come and gone,
I don't know why it always ends this way,
The boardwalk's quiet and the carnival rides,
are as empty as my broken heart tonight,
But I close my eyes and one more time,
I'm spinnin' around and you're holding on tightly,
The words came out, I kissed your mouth,
No 4th of July has ever burned so brightly,
You had to go, I understand,
But you promised you'd be back again,
And so I wonder round this town,
Till summer comes around.
I got a job workin' at the old park pier,
And every summer now for 5 long years,
I grease the gears, fix the lights, tighten bolts, straighten the tracks,
And I count the days till you just might come back,
But then I close my eyes and one more time,
I'm spinnin' around and you're holding on tightly,
The words came out, I kissed your mouth,
No 4th of July has ever burned so brightly,
You had to go, I understand,
But you swore that you'd be back again,
And so I'm frozen in this town,
Till summer comes around.
Oh then I close my eyes and you and I,
Stuck on the ferris wheel rockin' with the motion,
And hand in hand we cried and laughed,
Knowin' that the earth belonged to us, girl, if only for a moment,
Baby I'd be back again, you whispered in my ear,
But now the winter wind is the only sound,
And everything is closin' down,
Till summer comes around,
Till summer comes around..."
He got the applause from yelling girls that he usually did but instead of his cool and calm demeanor, he looked nervous. He looked up at me and gave a small smile.
"Thank ya'll. I got a couple more songs I wanna play ya'll but first I can't wait anymore to do this song and I need someone up here with me when I do it. Bella darlin', could you come up here with me?"
My heart stopped and then started back up double time. I hated being in front of people, especially a lot of people like there.
"Go on, Bella bear, your boyfriend awaits," Angela said, taking Alicen out of my arms.
"Yeah, but why…?"
"To sing to you, of course. Now go," Rose said.
"Come on little sis, either you walk with me down there or I'll carry you. Your choice," Emmett said, grabbing my arm and leading me out the door and down the stairs.
The walk there seemed to last forever and I tried to calm myself down, which worked when Jasper grabbed my hand to help me up on stage. I noticed his hand was shaking a little as he led me to the stool next to his, which usually when he did gigs it never did.
I sat on the stool and he started playing. I chanced a look out to the crowd and realized that because of the lights I couldn't see anybody, so it was like it was just us here on our own.
He started playing the song and everyone awwed. I don't remember this song so I couldn't understand the reaction, until I focused on the words and his beautiful blue eyes staring into mine.
"She rolls the window down
And she
Talks over the sound
Of the cars that pass us by
And I dont know why
But shes changed my mind
Would you look at her
She looks at me
Shes got me thinking about her constantly
But she don't know how I feel
And as she carries on without a doubt
I wonder if she's figured out
I'm crazy for this girl
She was the one to hold me
The night
The sky fell down
And what was I thinking when
The world didn't end
Why didn't I know what I know now
Would you look at her
She looks at me
She's got me thinking about her constantly
But she don't know how I feel
And as she carries on without a doubt
I wonder if she's figured out
I'm crazy for this girl
Right now
Face to face
All my fears
Pushed aside
And right now
I'm ready to spend the rest of my life
With you
He stopped playing and set his guitar down before lifting a little box out of his pocket. As he opened it he knelt down on one knee. "Bella, darlin', I love you with all of my heart. I know you are it for me, know it all the way to my core and, as corny as it sounds, you complete me. Will you marry me?"
"Yes," I whispered before my brain registered what he had asked. A tear ran down my cheek. "Yes, I'll marry you."
He smiled and slipped the ring onto my finger, kissing it. Then he stood up and kissed me. The look on his face was like he had won the lottery when really I felt like I had.
Suddenly remembering we weren't alone, I heard applause and cheering from the crowd, like a dam had been opened. I smiled and kissed him again. "I love you, cowboy."
He smiled then announced again, "She said yes!" which got more cheers.
He kept going on with the show as Emmett and I walked back to the room where our family was.
"Congratulations, Bells," Em said as he hugged me.
"You knew!" I accused, smile plastered on my face.
He smiled. "We all did. Why do you think the whole family came?"
I stared at my ring. "Ohmigosh, I'm engaged!"
"To the one and only guy who deserves you and will treat you right, believe me."
I laughed. "What, did you test every guy in the city to see if they were good enough?"
He rolled his eyes and nudged my shoulder. "No Bella, I tested every guy in the country, come on now."
"Oh that's right, just doing your brotherly duties."
"That's right. Seriously though? You two are right for each other. That's why we all agreed and came tonight."
I smiled and kissed him on the cheek then ran up the stairs, almost tripping on the last step, and threw open the door. "I'm engaged!" I announced.
Rose and Angela squealed and gave me a hug followed by my parents. Alicen ran over and jumped into my arms and looked at the ring.
"Ooh, pretty."
"That it is."
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When Jasper was done, he walked up to the room, smiling from ear to ear, and walked over to me, wrapped his arms around me and kissed all over my face hugging me close. He didn't let go while we got our congratulations from everyone until Alicen came over. He picked her up and hoisted her on his hip while his free arm was wrapped securely around my waist.
"Thank you, Alicen, for letting me marry your Momma."
She smiled and hugged him.
"Wait, you asked her permission?"
He nodded. "After I asked Carlisle, of course."
"Momma, I told you he'd be a good daddy to me," Alicen said.
I smiled and kissed her forehead. "Yes, baby. Yes, you did."
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This is in no way, shape or form finished, I still have a few chapters ahead of me and I'm writing them as much as possible.
My Beta, Sobriquett is amazing period. And she's crazy busy but awesome because I can bug her and she doesn't flip…much lol.
Anywho, review please and thank you!
