A/N: Hello readers! After getting such positive feedback and a few requests via personal messaging, I've decided to continue with this and turn it into a multi-chapter story following the lives of Alice, Jasper and Sophie through various one-shots. School is winding down so I finally have time to get some writing done. Some of them will be based around songs and others will be ideas that I've thought of myself, or by requests.
Just a heads up, the stories might not follow a strict time-line so for the sake of confusion, I will put the ages of the characters up at the beginning of the chapter with a brief summary.
Here's chapter 2, I hope you guys enjoy it as much as the first
Jasper: 29, 38 and 45
Alice: 27, 36 and 43
Sophie: 8, 17 and 24
"Have these kids been listening to me at all?" Jasper murmurs to himself, marking another x down next to a poorly answered question on the test he had given that day.
He glances in to the living room where Sophie is wearing her princess costume and is spinning around, humming to herself. A faint smile crosses his lips in amusement before it's erased by a frown when he turns back to his papers. The entire dining room table is covered in the tests from his twelfth grade history class. His frustration has been building over the past hour with each failing paper he marks. He peeks at the clock on the wall and rubs his eyes wearily as he notes the work that he still has to do. With mid-terms coming up, he still has to prepare a project and get all of the reports done to be sent out to parents. He drops his pen down and runs his hands through his hair, messing up his blond locks even more. He hears the front door opening and his smile returns as Alice's voice chimes out her arrival. "Mommy!" Sophie cries, her face beaming as she runs to the front entrance.
Alice laughs and wraps her in a hug. "Hi Soph. Were you good for Daddy?" she asks, hauling the eight year old in to the dining room.
Jasper rises from his seat and gives his wife a quick kiss. "She's always good. She's been playing in the living room with her toys all evening. How are you feeling?" He asks, his hand resting on the bump protruding from her abdomen.
She rolls her eyes. "Your son has decided to become a soccer player and has been kicking my kidneys all day. I think Rose and Bella were getting annoyed with how often I had to get up to use the washroom." She giggles. "Are you still working?" She gestures to the papers.
He sighs and sits back down. "It's amazing how little these kids have learned over the course of the semester. The one student wrote down 'Obama' on every second question about the Civil War."
She gives him a kiss on the head. "Well hopefully it won't take you too much longer. Come on Sophie, let's go in the living room and let Dad finish his work." She takes the little girl's hand and leads her away, leaving the room quiet.
Another hour goes by and Jasper rubs his eyes again, hearing the laughter from the next room as Alice and Sophie play. He leans back in his chair and watches Sophie singing and dancing, annoyed that he can't go and join them. Sophie notices him watching her and she smiles, running to him. "Daddy! You gotta come quick! The King sent me an invitation to go to the royal ball tonight! I need you to show me how to dance nice like you!" She puts her lips by his ear to whisper to him. "Mommy tried but she can't do it as nice. Until Jeremy comes out, she can't move right. Please help me Daddy?"
She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me saying 'Dad I need you!
There's a ball at the castle, and I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing.
Oh please! Daddy please!
Jasper laughs. He smiles down at her and drops his pen, getting to his feet. He couldn't say no to either of the girls with those big green eyes. She takes his hand and tugs him to the living room where Alice sits pouting on the couch. "I can dance just as nice as Daddy can Sophie!" She defends herself, her lips twitching as she fights back a smile.
Jasper smirks at her. "I believe I was the one that taught you to dance as well." He teases her as she sticks her tongue out at him.
"You're lucky I'm pregnant or I would show both of you that you're wrong." Her smile breaks through as Sophie rolls her eyes.
"Mommy, I need to practice! The ball is soon!" She practically bounces on her feet in excitement.
Jasper picks her up a bit and sets her down so her feet are on top of his shoes. He holds both of her hands and starts moving around with her like a waltz. "See? It's easy Soph." He tells her, smiling down at her as her crooked grin flashes.
Alice smiles at the two of them as Sophie giggles when Jasper spins them, his work lying forgotten on the table.
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know
Something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
'Cause all too soon
The clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
9 years later
"Jasper, you're going to have to leave this office sometime." Alice sighs, leaning against the doorway.
"How come she can't just go to prom with her friends? That's what I did!" He grumbles, pretending to be reading something on his laptop in front of him.
Alice smiles softly and rolls her eyes. "You told me you went with your friends to prom because you were too shy to ask anybody. Not by choice." She corrects him.
He looks up at her, desperate. "We don't even know this kid she's going with!"
Alice enters the room and stands by him, taking his face in her hands. "Jazz, she'll be fine. I already talked with her and we made plans to go out to dinner with her and Ryan on Tuesday. That way we get to meet him before prom."
"Daddy, are you still mad?" A quiet voice comes from the doorway.
Both adults turn to see their daughter standing there, looking shy. Jasper sighs and gets to his feet, gesturing for Alice to leave the room. She smiles at Sophie as she passes, nudging her in to the room. "I'm not mad at you Sophie. I'm just...concerned." He finishes lamely.
She rolls her eyes with a soft smile that is identical to her mother's. "Dad, I'm seventeen. I've been in classes with Ryan ever since I started high school. He's really nice, I promise. He's on the honour role, the hockey team and the debate team. He's on scholarship to go to university in the fall. You'll be impressed by him, he's not like other guys."
Jasper looks at the girl in front of him. He's amazed at how she's gone from a bouncing little princess to a mature young woman. "I'll try and be civil." He murmurs, giving her a small grin.
She beams at him. "Thank you. Now, Jeremy's at his friend's house for the night and Mom put Hayden down for his nap. Come downstairs so I can show you guys my prom dress." She begs him.
Jasper rubs the back of his neck. "I have some work that I have to finish up here first. I have a presentation at the board that I have to give in a few days." He says, looking back at his desk.
She pouts and he feels his heart melt. "Please Daddy? I wanna make sure you like my dress."
He motions for her to get her ready and he makes his way downstairs. Alice sits on the couch with a magazine, looking up when she hears him enter. "Well well, I knew your little princess would be able to talk you in to leaving that room." She smirks.
He sighs as he flops down on the couch next to her. "She's not my little princess anymore. She's not in to hanging out with dad anymore. She's Ryan's princess now." He grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest.
Alice snorts and smacks his arm. "Oh stop it, she's still daddy's little girl and you know it. She's just got more things to do now that she's graduating this year. Try and be happy for her."
"This is why I didn't want her to date until she was thirty." He frowns.
"Jazz, she's going to prom, not joining the army. She'll be home by midnight, safe and sound."
"Yeah but-" He's cut off by the sound of a creak on the stairs.
Sophie enters the room, lifting her dress up slightly so the hem doesn't brush against the ground. "What do you think Daddy?" She asks, her voice nervous.
Jasper's voice catches in his throat and he just smiles. "You look beautiful Sophie." He says.
Her black dress has a slit to the knee, opening the midnight colour to reveal a green layer underneath with a matching green bow tied at her waist. "It looks gorgeous hun." Alice squeals, getting up and going to look at it closer.
Sophie looks to Jasper and smiles, seeing that he looks worried. "You know Dad, prom is next week. It's been quite a while since I've danced. I think I need some practice. Can you please help?"
He laughs and nods. "Absolutely."
He takes her hand and in the same spot he had done so many years ago, begins to dance with her.
She says he's a nice guy
And I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says "Dad, the prom is just one week away,
And I need to practice my dancing.
Oh please? Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
'Cause all too soon
The clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
7 Years Later
"Ryan proposed!" Sophie squeals, dangling her left hand in front of Alice's face, showing off the diamond engagement ring.
"That's amazing! Congratulations!" Her mom beams, taking her hand and inspecting the jewellery. "He did a good job picking it out too. It's gorgeous! Jazz, come and look at the ring." She beckons to Jasper, who's standing still in the doorway.
Jeremy walks by, his blond locks bouncing slightly as he stops behind his dad. "Go on Dad, check it out. It looks cool."
Reluctantly, Jasper moves forward, slowly making his way to them. Sophie's eyes gaze at him, waiting to hear him speak. He clears the lump from his throat and forces a smile on his face. "It's great. He has good taste." He gets out.
"He went home to tell his parents but we've already made some plans for it!" She sits down on the sofa and turns to Alice, who sits next to her. "We want a summer wedding that way more people will be able to make it. We were hoping on booking the gardens by the lake so we could have it outdoors and the reception could be there as well."
The two women don't notice when Jasper slips out of the room quietly, moving to the stairs. He walks up in a trance, going to his office and taking a seat at his desk. His eyes move to the family picture by his laptop. It was taken almost ten years ago, when Sophie was fourteen, Jeremy was six and Hayden was one. Jasper and Alice stand side by side with Sophie and Jeremy in front of them and little Hayden in Jasper's arms. He feels his eyes mist over as he realizes that he's going to have to give his only daughter away. He hears a soft knock at the door and quickly wipes his eyes. "Come in." He calls out, clearing his throat again.
Sophie pushes the door open and looks at the man that became her father all those years ago. "You know, you're going to need a new hiding spot soon. We can find you too easily." She teases playfully.
He smiles at her, remembering her coming in to his office when she was little so she could play while he worked. "Quite a bomb you dropped on us tonight."
She grins sheepishly. "I was excited. Aren't you happy for us?" She asks, her tone suddenly nervous.
He looks at the picture and then back at her. "Soph, I'm more than happy for you. Just think about it from my point of view. I have to give away my daughter." His voice nearly breaks.
She looks down and then back at him. "I guess I didn't think of it that way. You aren't losing me, Dad. I'm still going to be around. I'm always going to need my dad." She assures him, coming closer.
He looks at his hands that have begun to shake. "It won't be as hard with Jeremy and Hayden. By the time those two boys are old enough to marry we'll be pushing them out the door. But you were my first child. I don't care what anyone ever said. You're my daughter. And it feels like Ryan is taking that from me." His eyes mist up again.
Sophie feels tears threatening to spill over and quickly moves to hug him. "He's not taking anything Dad. He's just an addition to the family you already have." She promises.
He stands up so it's easier to hug her. "I'm sorry if I'm being stubborn over this." He whispers, not wanting to spoil her happiness.
"You don't have to apologize; I know it must be hard. But you know Daddy, the wedding isn't for another six months. I need some help with my dancing. What do you think about helping me out one more time?" She smiles at him through her tears.
He wipes his tears and kisses her forehead. "I would love to help you." He tells her, smiling.
She takes his hand and they start dancing, not noticing a crying Alice peaking in through the doorway as they spin around his office.
Well she came home today
With a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us
All they had planned
She says "Dad the wedding's still
Six months away
But I need to practice my dancing.
Oh please? Daddy, please?"
Jasper looks down at his daughter and she giggles as he spins her under his arm. "He's a lucky guy Sophie. He better take care of you." He threatens playfully.
She smirks at him and shakes her head. "He does Dad. And please don't give him another speech. It was bad enough when he picked me up for prom and you interrogated him for over an hour with Jeremy guarding the door."
Jasper grins at the memory. "I was making sure that he knew boundaries. And look at it this way: now I have two of your brothers to help me threaten him." He laughs as she swats his arm.
She rolls her eyes but smiles. She lays her head on his shoulder. "I love you Daddy."
He catches Alice's eye as she moves away from the door and he smiles softly. "Love you too Soph."
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...
A/N: There it is, hope you enjoyed it. The song is called "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman.
More updates will come but I can't promise when exactly those will be.
Let me know what you think but again, please no flames. If I don't get back to you, I'm sorry but I've been having problems with the review replies as well as getting notifications for messages sent to me.
Thanks to everyone that replied to the first chapter, it meant a lot!
Later!
Lucky