OMG...I am so speechless. Chapter 14 was the first chapter to ever get a double digit number of reviews! You guys have no idea how happy you have made me! Like I seriously want to give each and every one of you a huge hug and a nice shiny Lincoln (penny that is, not a car-don't get too carried away now...lol) for all of your wonderfully kind words and actions (i.e. favoriting and following). I worked extra super hard to get this chapter out to you guys as soon as possible for two reasons. One is as a reward to you guys for being so awesome, and two is because things are getting ready to be incredibly crazy at work, and I really don't know when I'll be able to get the next chapter out. I won't bore you with all the details, but I do promise to work on this story whenever I get a spare minute, so hopefully it won't be as long as I'm anticipating (just for the record, I'm anticipating like 3 weeks).
Okay, I think that's it for my note, so you know what comes next...that's right, it's SHOUT OUT TIME!
Hvala puno (just watched Novak Djokovic this morning at the Australian open, so in honor of him, we're going Serbian) to: xFabinao, blueefaiiryy, Dawnmist of RiverClan, DrizzyJ, Kaylee, (since I couldn't send you a PM, no Ruth's character was not in the movie-she's one of my creative liberties) Divastar6, Victoriousjadefan, BadeFan4ever22, bella1985, SouthernB3lle, the Guest, Jadorade, and mina! :D
Only one more little thing to get out of the way: I do not currently own either The Proposal or Victorious. I do, however, own the character of Violet's grandmother, Ruth.
Okay, now I hope you enjoy this chapter, and that it's enough to keep you satisfied until next time :)
Chapter 15
The boat ride back to the house had been quiet and, luckily for Jade, uneventful. Since Andre had already seen she and Beck making out and cuddling outside the restaurant before interrupting them, she decided to sit next to Beck on the boat. She laid her head on his shoulder, and made herself once again comfortable in his embrace. When they eventually made it to the dock at the house, Beck disembarked the boat first so he could help Jade get out after him. For what was probably the first time in her life, Jade smiled shyly, then allowed Beck to assist her out of the boat. As an act of defiance to herself for seeming so helpless in her eyes, however, Jade determined that she wouldn't say thank you to either Beck for helping her, or Andre for driving them in the boat.
Having known Jade for as long as he has, Beck wasn't surprised that she didn't thank him, but the little smile she sent his way was more than enough for him in his current state. Gently tugging Jade's hand, (which he was happily still holding for neither had let go after Jade was safely on the dock) Beck kept her from walking away just yet.
Jade quirked an eyebrow in question, but acquiesced to his silent request, and stayed where she was, waiting for him to speak.
"Jade, would you mind waiting for me at the end of the dock? I need to have a quick word with Andre, but it won't take more than a minute or two, then we'll go on up to the house, okay?"
Floating between still being upset with herself for acting all girly and accepting Beck's help from the boat, and still on a high from Beck's kisses, Jade took one look into Beck's eyes and knew the battle was lost. She simply nodded her head in response, then let go of his hand to turn and walk the remaining distance to where the dock began.
Once Jade was out of earshot, Beck immediately held up his hand to ward off Andre's inevitable questioning. "Look man, this is one of those times where you once again just gotta trust me for now and know that we'll talk about everything tomorrow. Besides, look at it this way, if you let me go now so I can talk with Jade, I'm sure I'll have tons of other stuff to tell you about." Beck's suggestive eyebrow wiggle told Andre exactly what he was implying.
"Beck, dude, I don't even want to imagine what your talk is going to consist of, but I know you well enough to know that you're going to keep your word. So I'll be patient for now, go back to the restaurant and, as your best friend, try to smooth everything over and make sure it's all good, then I'm going to take my gorgeous girlfriend home and have a nice little talk of our own. Then tomorrow, I will bring Cat here so the girls can have their time while we once again pretend to do manly things to cover up the fact that we're gossiping just as much as them. Of course, this is assuming that Jade doesn't kill you tonight...haha."
"Oh hardy har har. Your sarcasm never fails to amaze me. But seriously, thanks Andre. I'm glad that you've always got my back. Now, I think I should get back to Jade before she actually does start to contemplate killing me for leaving her alone for too long."
After sharing a laugh following Beck's statement, Andre pushed off from the dock and drove the boat back across the lake, while Beck made his way to Jade. When he reached her, he took hold of her hand, then walked with her up to the house.
/
By the time Andre made his way back inside the restaurant, he was surprised to find everyone who was there for Betty's party calmly engaging in random discussions all along the table. No one besides he and Cat had made any attempts to get up and follow in the couple's footsteps, and there were no requests as to where either Beck or Jade had gone. Although Andre found the whole scene incredibly weird, he decided he wasn't going to volunteer any information, and simply reclaimed his seat next to Cat.
Andre leaned down and spoke directly into Cat's ear so the two could have a private conversation. "So my Little Red," he paused at Cat's giggle when she heard her nickname, "what did you tell everyone when you came back inside? They're all nice and calm now, and with this family, that's not necessarily a good thing."
Turning to face her boyfriend Cat replied, "I told them just what you wanted me to, silly. I said that Beck and Jadey were kissing and being all romantic, but they wanted to go back to the house to be alone for a little while. Beck's Nana gave me a funny look when I said that, and neither his parents nor Violet's grandma Ruth looked too happy, but everyone else was smiling, so I just sat back down, and now we're all waiting for the cake." Cat finally took a breath after she finished speaking.
It used to worry Andre when Cat would speak so much without breathing, for he feared she would pass out every time. Now, however, whenever he thinks about her lung capacity, he zones out for a minute while a fond smile forms on his face, such as was the case at the current moment.
Shaking his head to bring himself back to the present, Andre looked at Betty and saw that Cat was correct. The birthday girl was staring weirdly at Andre, but unlike Cat, he was able to discern the look in the older woman's eyes-it was mischievousness, mixed with love and a fondness he always saw whenever she was spoke to or about Beck. In return, Andre gave Betty his own conspiratorial wink and smile.
Everyone's attention was then brought to the waiters as they brought out Betty's birthday cake. Per Betty's request, only two candles were on the cake-the numbers representing her age. She didn't want it to be too hard to blow them out when the time came. After a rousing rendition of 'Happy Birthday,' the candles were blown out, the cake was cut, and everyone who was left at the table enjoyed a delicious slice.
Andre and Cat took turns feeding each other, with Andre alternating between feeling like the happiest man in the world at the moment, and trying not to think about what was going on with Beck and Jade.
/
They had just walked inside the house, and as soon as the door was shut behind them, Jade found herself pressed up against it. She was trapped between the door and Beck's body, with his hands firmly planted on her waist, and his lips hungrily attacking hers in a demanding kiss. The minute his lips touched hers, Jade was lost in the oblivion that she had discovered Beck's kisses always brought to her. She had no choice (not that there really would have been any) but to comply with his unspoken request, and returned the pressure just as enthusiastically, while tangling her hands in his hair.
They had been making out for who knew how long, before Beck eventually pulled himself away from the lure of Jade's lips, only to trail his own across her jaw and down the side of her neck.
Coming back to Earth at the loss of lip-to-lip contact, Jade was ready to go off on him for the separation. Before she could, however, she registered the pressure on her neck. Relaxing back against the door, she tilted her head to the side in order to give Beck's lips easier access.
Like Jade, Beck was also lost to his surroundings as soon as his lips touched hers. Wanting to take things further, but not wanting to be in the living room whenever his family came back, Beck reluctantly pulled himself away from Jade's neck. He wasted no time by immediately grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the stairs to their room. They had made it all the way to the base of the stairs before Jade used their joined hands to yank him to a stop.
"Beck, stop." At Beck's questioning look, she continued. "Look, it's not that I don't want to continue to our intended destination, but this is all just moving a little too fast for me right now. I think we need to sit down and talk about things before anything further happens."
Struggling between wanting to relieve the building pressure in his pants by trying to convince Jade that everything was fine and that they weren't moving too fast, and realistically knowing that she was probably right and they needed to actually talk first, (Jade's version, not Beck's) Beck tried not to express any disappointment with his response.
"You're right Jade. As much as I want to just take you upstairs and we have our wicked way with each other, I know no part of our situation is exactly normal, and we need to make sure we're both on the same page first."
Beck's words caused a pleasant sensation to run through Jade's system, culminating in her core. Shaking the feeling off so she could think rationally, Jade pulled him over to sit down on the couch. Knowing how addictive Beck's lips were, however, Jade opted to sit in the chair opposite the couch in order to keep her mind on the conversation.
"Okay I'll go first. As I said, things are moving very fast at the moment. I mean it was barely three days ago that we went from being boss and assistant, to having to fake an engagement to each other. That just doesn't happen in real life. Then I don't exactly have any time to adjust before we have to come up here and really put on a show for your whole family, and I don't know about you, but my emotions have just been all over the place since Wednesday, and it's because of all that's happened recently that penso che sto iniziando a, forse, sono più che gentile sentimenti per voi-" (I think I'm starting to, maybe, have more than friendly feelings for you-)
"Jade." Beck tried to interrupt the tangent that Jade was currently on, but she was too far into her monologue to hear him.
"e non può essere normale, o direttamente, ma sei il solo chi effettivamente bloccato intorno-"(and it may not be normal, or even right, but you're the only guy who's actually stuck around-)
"Jade!" Beck once again tried to get her attention. This time though, he got off the couch and began walking towards the preoccupied Italian.
"ed essere qui con voi mi ha davvero cambiato, e-" (and being here with you has really changed me, and-)
"JADE!" Beck had reached the chair in which Jade was sitting and managed to grab her wrists, thus stopping her arms from their continuous flailing.
At the sound of Beck's voice, and the feel of his hands on her skin, Jade immediately stopped speaking in Italian, but couldn't stop the next words from coming out of her mouth. "I want our relationship to be real, not fake anymore." Her eyes expanded to twice their normal size as soon as the words left her mouth and registered in her ears.
Likewise, Beck's own eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. He automatically dropped her wrists, and managed to stumble his way back to the couch, where he unceremoniously dropped down with a thump.
The two sat in complete silence, each lost in thought, for a solid five minutes.
Once he felt he was composed enough to speak, Beck responded to Jade's words.
"Um, wow. I didn't realize that you felt that way about us and our situation. I mean, I have no idea what all else you just said, but...wow."
Beck's reply to her declaration caused something to snap inside Jade, and she let him know it. "Wow?! That's basically all you have to say? You just sat there for who knows how long, and that's the only thing that comes out of your mouth? No 'I feel the same way.' Or even 'Sorry, but I don't want a real relationship, just sex and to still have a job when we get home.' I mean Jesus Beck, I know you're a great actor and all, but you've got to have some kind of opinion one way or another." By the time she finished, Jade was starting to wear a hole in the living room carpet with her angry footsteps.
It was Jade's words, more so than the emphasis in which they were spoken, that evoked a reaction. Beck jumped up from the couch and stepped right in her path, effectively stopping her pacing.
"Excuse me for not having the right words to say. Last time I checked, I'M NOT THE WRITER IN THIS RELATIONSHIP!" He lowered his voice when he saw Jade slightly flinch at his tone. "Your admission just caught me off guard, and so many things started running through my mind. Unfortunately, that's the only coherent thing that was able to come out of my mouth." Seeing that she was starting to calm down and actually listen to him, Beck took a chance and grabbed Jade's hands in his own.
"Okay. Say I do believe what you're saying right now. One, never yell at me like that again or else you won't get the chance to live to regret it." This brought a laugh to both of them, breaking any residual tension in the room. "And two, let's start with the basics first. How do you feel about me?"
After taking a deep breath to steady himself, Beck spoke while looking directly into Jade's eyes. "In the past, I thought that you were rude to everyone, bossier than what your job description entails, and basically incapable of any real feelings or emotions other than anger." Both smiled at Beck's assessment, for Jade knew just how mean she can really get. "But, getting you away from Hollywood and seeing you in a different light, even though it's only been such a short time, has forced me to acknowledge my own more-than-friendly feelings for you. I even confessed to Andre, so if you don't believe me, just ask him." Beck had let go of one of Jade's hands to place his own on her cheek and rub his thumb along the bone.
Determined not to act like a girly girl and let any tears escape her eyes, Jade blinked rapidly. "Who's the writer in this relationship now, huh? You underestimate yourself sometimes, for you also have quite a way with words." Without waiting for a response, Jade leaned forward and innocently pressed her lips to Beck's.
Although it was meant to be a simple, sweet kiss, it rapidly exploded into something that neither could control. Jade, happier now after clearing the air with their talk, was somehow coherent enough to bring her free hand up to tug on Beck's hair, gently pulling his head back until their lips broke apart. Breathing erratically, she managed to get out, "Not here. Now would actually be the time to take this upstairs." Seeing the dazed look still residing on Beck's face, Jade took the opportunity to break away from the embrace, and somehow made it up the stairs and into their room before Beck even registered that she had left.
/
Jade had no time to revel in her victory, for as soon as she got Beck's jacket and her shoes off, Beck had made it into the room. She let out an extremely girlish squeal as he tackled her to the bed and placed feather-light kisses on any exposed skin within reach. His lips were currently fastened to her collarbone when a door was slammed downstairs, and Betty's voice was heard shortly thereafter, exclaiming, "Kids...we're home! I hope you're dressed appropriately enough to come say goodnight to Nana before this birthday girl turns in for bed!"
Somehow, both Jade and Beck had missed the noise the door had made, but neither could ignore the older woman's words, nor the teasing resonance in which they were said.
Beck groaned and rolled off of Jade, while she released undistinguishable noises of frustration. "Relax Jade. We'll go downstairs, say goodnight to everyone, then come back up here and pick up right where we left off. I promise." The promise was sealed with a kiss, which was enough to calm Jade down for the impending future. After helping her off the bed, they made sure they were both presentable before exiting the room and retreating back down the stairs hand in hand.
As usual, it was up to Betty to break the silence in the room. "Ah, there's the little lovebirds. Here, we saved you some cake since you left before it was brought out." Seeing Beck opening his mouth to explain, Betty held up her hand to stop him. "No, no. It's perfectly fine dear. I may be 90 now, but I do remember what being young and in love is like. I do not blame you Jade, for walking out on my party, nor do I blame you Beck, for going after her. To be honest, I've never really cared for most of the things that come out of that old bat Ruth's mouth anyway. Hell, she's so delusional that she still thinks her husband is off to war and will be coming home to her soon." This brought a laugh to everyone in the room, (some more heartily than others) and allowed the young couple to feel comfortable, despite the looks being given to them by Beck's parents.
Beck let go of Jade's hand in order to take the cake from Betty, and put it in the fridge for he and Jade to eat later. Jade's eyes never left Beck the whole time he was away from her side, but she thought she had been subtle in her observation. Apparently though, she was mistaken.
After Beck had taken the cake from Betty, she observed the way Jade had watched his every movement. As she was making her observation, an epiphany suddenly sprung into Betty's mind. She waited until Beck rejoined the group before she voiced it. "Oh my gosh, I just had the best idea! Why don't you two stay an extra day and get married here tomorrow? It'll be so exciting, and I'll be able to watch my only grandson get married while I can still enjoy it." Betty either didn't see the deer-in-headlights looks on both Beck and Jade's faces, or she merely chose to just simply ignore them, and continued on. "Yes, you can think of it as a birthday present for me. We can fix up the barn, and your friends are already here, and I'm sure your parents would be more than happy to help, right Craig? Wouldn't you and Mary love to have Beck's wedding here on our property?" Betty knew her son and Mary's opinions regarding both Jade, as well as Beck's relationship with the Italian woman, but she was going to be damned if she let that stop her from seeing Beck marry the girl to whom Betty knew was his true love. She gave her son a look that told him he better agree with her, or else things wouldn't be pretty.
Though he'd been a grown man for many many years, Craig was still terrified of his mother. He quickly agreed with Betty.
"Wonderful. I'm glad we've got that settled." Betty looked as if Christmas had just come early for her, despite the fact that she just proclaimed the wedding to be her birthday present.
With tentative plans for the next day made, Craig quietly bid everyone goodnight, then both he and Mary made their way to their bedroom.
The atmosphere was instantly lightened with the departure of Beck's parents, and Beck took that time to thank his grandmother for the cake.
"You're very welcome Beck. Now I'm going to retire to bed as well, seeing as we now have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. You kids have a good night, but remember to take it easy. Don't want you to wear yourselves out too much so that you're too tired to get through your vows tomorrow...haha." With those parting words, Betty left the young couple alone as she headed to her bedroom.
Silently Beck and Jade once again made their way back upstairs and to their own bedroom, both with a multitude of thoughts running through their minds. Once they got there, and before Beck could utter one word, Jade beat him to the punch. "Well I don't know about you, but that completely ruined the mood for me. I say we just get some sleep tonight, then try to sort everything out tomorrow morning before things get too crazy. Agreed?"
"Yeah, I agree with you. Nana is great, and I love her to death, but she does have a knack for cooling off one's hormones. And I seriously cannot believe I just put those two things in the same sentence...uggggghhh." Beck couldn't control the subconscious shudder at the words that came out of his mouth. Hearing Jade's laughter told Beck that she wasn't as upset as he'd originally thought, and he was happy to realize he knew that. "Okay, I'm just going to grab my blanket and pillow now so I can make up my 'bed.'" He then proceeded to make his way to the bed, but was stopped by Jade's hand on his arm.
"Wait. You don't have to sleep on the floor tonight. I mean we're not going to go any further than what's already happened, but for now, I think it'll be okay for us to share the bed." Jade then left him standing there contemplating her words, while she took her pajamas into the bathroom to change.
Beck couldn't keep the huge smile off his face at the prospect of not only getting to sleep in the bed, but also potentially getting to snuggle with Jade. It wasn't how he expected his evening to end when they left the restaurant, but he'd take what he could get. He waited for Jade to finish in the bathroom before taking his own turn to change and perform his nightly ritual to get ready for bed. When he exited, he saw Jade already under the covers. Beck then made sure all the curtains were shut, and once satisfied, he climbed into bed beside Jade, but not too close in case she didn't want the contact. At first she turned her back on him, but gave him no time to question her actions before she had shifted once again, and he felt her body pressed up against his. He took the hint and turned so that he was lying on his side spooning her, and wrapped one arm around her stomach while folding the other one underneath his head. With no further words said, both fell asleep fairly quickly, with content smiles firmly planted on their faces.
A/N: Well that's all for now folks. I believe everything I had to say was put in the beginning author's note, so for now Polska (going Polish) my precarious penguins :)