We worked and changed our ways,

Just like wild fire,

We've been burning now for days.

Tearing down those walls, nothing's in our way.

I said nothing's in our way.

Crash – You Me At Six.

One year later.

APOV

My life suddenly meant something, and not just to me, but to everyone that I was involved with. I had purpose. I had all of the things that a person needs, all of the things that I'd had to go so long without, and more.

I worked at a local bakery, run by a sweet old woman named Margaret Brown. Marge was a lovely woman who was rather fond of Esme, and when Esme and I had gone shopping and popped into to see her, she'd warmed to me almost instantly, and offered me the job I so desperately wanted.

Esme and I had gone shopping for the baby. It was a miraculous coincidence, I found out I was pregnant the very same morning that Charlotte gave birth to her beautiful baby boy Simon. The second I told Esme she'd whisked me shopping, we didn't know the sex of the baby and we still had a long wait but she insisted on starting early.

Jasper was ecstatic; I've never in my life seen a person smile so wide. He cried. He actually cried. He was so sweet though, even though he was overbearing and overprotective and I often lost my patience, he never lost his patience with me.

Marge told me that she would understand if I didn't want the job due to my pregnancy, but I liked to keep busy, and it wasn't exactly exhausting work. I was 4 months along and just starting to show, it was my second month at the bakery when Charlotte stopped by with Simon.

Simon was adorable, chubby and dimpled with shining blue eyes and a shock of white-blond hair. I loved entertaining Simon and Jasper said the he knew I'd make a great mother, but I was nervous. I'd been dealt some terrible hands and it was still hard for me to believe that things could be so good for so long.

Charlotte and I chatted through my lunch break, sipping tea and devouring warm, fresh pastries. I was sad to see her leave, but I knew I had work to do.

I was wiping over the counter when the bell above the door rang again. I didn't have to look up to know who it was, immediately a squeal of "Auntie Alice" came from the entrance-way. I smiled at the happiness in Jessie's voice, I'd nearly burst with joy the first time she called me 'Auntie'. I looked up expected to see Rosalie, who had warmed to me considerably and actually considered me a sister, she was the older sister I'd never had, the shoulder to cry on. I don't know exactly what made her change her mind but she was usually just as happy to see me as Jessie.

However, when I glanced up, it wasn't Rosalie with Jessie, it was Jasper. I smiled.

"Someone's popular today." Marge teased as she made her way into the kitchen to retrieve the new batch of cinnamon rolls.

"Auntie Alice! Auntie Alice!" Jessie called for my attention. I walked around the counter to greet them and bent down to her level.

"Hey sweetie." I cooed.

She gave me a big hug and squealed when I tickled her. Jasper smiled down at us and when I stood up again, he pulled me to his side.

"You have a good day?" He asked softly, kissing my temple.

"Yeah, it's been great. Charlotte stopped by with Simon." I told him. He smiled broadly at the mention of our god-son. "What brings you here?" I asked.

"Uncle Jazz said we had to check on you." Jessie explained.

"Did he now?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and Jasper.

"Can't I be worried?" he asked bashfully.

I snorted. "Worried? You're obsessed with me, Jazz." I teased.

"You're not wrong, baby." He murmured against my ear. "But, I do worry." He said a lot more seriously, his hand now over my bump.

"I know you do, but I'm fine." I insisted.

"I was just taking Jessie out for the day, and I couldn't exactly come in to town and not stop by." He defended himself.

"Okay fine."

"Nice to see you too, baby." He replied sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes. "You know I'm happy to see you, you big goof."

Jessie giggled at us.

Marge brought out a coffee for Jasper, a tea for me and some juice and a muffin for Jessie. We thanked her and sat to enjoy it.

"So, Jessie, you want your cousin to be a boy or a girl?" Jasper asked casually.

Jessie tilted her head to the side, her mass of chocolate-curls jerking with the movement. She thought for a moment before scrunching up her tiny nose.

"A girl, boys smell." She stated matter-of-factly.

Jasper laughed heartily and shook his head.

"I'm offended." He teased; she just stuck her tongue out at him.

When it was time for them to leave Jasper pulled me close and gave me a lingering kiss, his knuckles brushing over my bump before he took a step back. Jessie wrapped her arms around my waist and kissed my stomach; I hugged her back tightly and kissed her head.

I waved them off until they were out of sight. I let my hand fall to rest over my baby. The baby I'd never imagined in a million years that I would have. I would wager that I was the happiest person on the face of the planet because I appreciated every single second I had in my new life, because I knew in excruciating detail what it was like to be without happiness, to be without love, and family and shelter, and health, and all of the things that everyone else takes for granted. I didn't know whether my child would be a boy or a girl. I didn't know what we'd call them. But I knew I was ready for all of the sleepless nights, all of the tears and sick, and dirty diapers, I was ready for the pain of childbirth. I could picture the beaming smile on Jasper's face. All of those things were beautiful.

Okay guys, I have to explain this. There was so much I wanted to do with this, but I couldn't. I don't know why. I just couldn't. I had ideas, but no way to get there, or no way to get back from it. I actually planned on Alice becoming pregnant 4 months into Charlotte's pregnancy and having Charlotte lose her baby that same day, and having Charlotte resent Alice. That was going to be the next arc of the story and then I was somehow gonna round it up. But, I've never finished any multi-chap story before. So, this is it. If it's shit then I apologize. I don't know what to do with myself anymore. But, I swear if I start another story. I will finish it, I will plan it out point by point and it will be worth reading. So, with that, I end 'in the darkness..'