More Than The World (Twenty-Six)
Title: More Than The World
Author:
turnthepageover
Pairing: Jalex
Rating: NC-17
P.O.V.: Alex
Summary: The 'freshman fifteen' is the last thing on Alex's mind. He has to learn how to balance the stress of being a freshman in college, the father of a newborn, the perfect boyfriend, and having a crazy girl in love with him.
Disclaimer: I don't own Jack, Alex, or anyone in the lovely band and crew that make up All Time Low. They all own each other. Amen.
Warning: Mentions of mpreg.
A/N: Let me remind you this is FICTION. Thanks.
http://turnthepageover.livejournal.com/40047.html
“Hi, silly,” I grinned at Josie, tickling her feet. She looked up at me, smiling before rubbing her sleepy brown eyes. “Aw, my tired baby girl.”
She gave a yawn and I smiled, feeling my heart tug. I picked her up, cradling her to my chest. She wrapped her fingers around my index finger and I kissed her forehead, sitting down in the rocking chair. I hummed to her, stroking her hair as she stared up at me, cooing.
“Her name is Noel, I have a dream about her. She rings my bell, I got gym class in half an hour. Oh how she rocks in Keds and tube socks, but she doesn’t know who I am and she doesn’t give a damn about me,” I sang, rocking her. “‘Cause I’m just a teenage dirtbag, baby. Yeah, I’m just a teenage dirtbag, baby. Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me.
“Her boyfriend’s a dick, and he brings a gun to school. And he’d simply kick my ass if he knew the truth. He lives on my block, and he drives on Iroc, but he doesn’t know who I am and he doesn’t give a damn about me.
“‘Cause I’m just a teenage dirtbag, baby. Yeah, I’m just a teenage dirtbag, baby. Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me.”
Josie’s eyes slipped shut, but she forced them open to look back up at me. I smiled, wrapping her blanket tighter around her and holding her close to me.
“Yeah, dirtbag. No, she doesn’t know what she’s missing. Yeah, dirtbag, no she doesn’t know what she’s missing.
“Man, I feel like mold. It’s prom night and I am lonely. Low and behold, she’s walking over to me. This must be fake, my lip starts to shake. How does she know who I am, and why does she give a damn about
“I’ve got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby. Come with me Friday, don’t say maybe. I’m just a teenage dirtbag, baby, like you.
“Yeah, dirtbag, no she doesn’t know what she’s missing. Yeah, dirtbag, no she doesn’t know what she’s missing.”
I kissed Josie’s forehead, looking down at her sleeping face. I smiled, continuing to rock her and hold her close.
After a minute I stood up, carrying her over to her bassinet and laying her down. I covered her up, kissing her cheek again before turning on the baby monitor.
I turned to walk out the door, jumping when I saw Jack standing there.
“Fuck,” I mumbled, putting my hand over my chest. “You scared me. How long have you been standing there?”
“Since the second verse,” he said, grinning and stepping closer to me. “I was having a flashback.”
“Yeah?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow. “Flashback to what?”
“My beautiful baby up on stage, singing,” he said, connecting our hands, “and looking directly at me.”
I smiled as he kissed me, settling my hands on his hips.
“My baby has such a beautiful voice too. I love it,” he said, smiling and leaning his forehead against mine.
“Are we gonna decorate the tree?” I asked him, watching his eyes light up.
“Yes!” he said, breaking away and pulling me out the door. “We have to go to the basement and get it first, though.”
“Alright,” I said, chuckling as he squeezed my hand.
He led me down the stairs and into the basement, searching through the boxes that were down there.
“This is the tree. And I think these are the decorations and- Fuck! Spiders!” He jumped, backing up into me. I laughed, wrapping my arms around him and kissing his hair.
“Move. I’ll get it,” I told him, moving past him and grabbing the box of decorations. I handed it to him before grabbing the box containing the tree and walking towards the door.
We carried the boxes into the living room, setting them down by the couch.
“What are you doing, boys?” Joyce asked, turning the television down and looking at us.
“We’re gonna put up the Christmas tree,” Jack told her and she nodded.
“Are you putting it in front of the window?” she asked and he nodded.
“That’s where we always put it,” Jack answered, opening the box.
“Good,” she said, smiling. “Oh, and I have something for you.”
She stood up, moving towards the stairs and disappearing up them.
“We’re spending our first real Christmas together,” Jack said, smiling at me.
“I know,” I answered, smiling. “I’m so excited.”
“Me too,” he answered, pulling out the base of the tree. He handed it to me and I set it down on the tree skirt I had laid out.
“What color goes on the bottom?” I asked and Jack made a face.
“Brown, I believe,” he answered and I nodded, pulling the branches out. I picked them up, searching for the ones with a stripe of brown going around the hook.
After Jack laid out all the branches he stood up, helping me hook the branches where they needed to go.
“Jack, Alex,” I heard Joyce say and we both turned to look at her. She was holding a small box with a bow on it, and we both stepped closer to her. “I was going to wait until Christmas, but it won’t hurt anything to give it to you now.”
Jack took the box from her hands, untying the bow. He took the lid off, removing the tissue paper and looking inside.
Inside was a small glass picture frame with a black and white picture of Jack and I kissing Josie’s cheeks. The year 2006 was written in fancy script at the bottom of the frame, and it had a silver silk ribbon tied to it.
“It’s beautiful, mom,” Jack said with a smile, handing it to me before hugging her.
“It really is. Thank you,” I said, hugging her after Jack was finished.
“I figured you could put it on the tree now since you’re decorating it. It’ll be your first family ornament,” she said and we both grinned.
“It’s perfect. I love it,” I told her, nodding.
“Thank you,” Jack said, kissing her cheek. “This will be the best ornament on the tree.”
Joyce chuckled, giving us both a smile before sitting back down on the couch to finish watching her show.
“We gotta do the light now,” Jack told me and raised an eyebrow.
“Go for it, babe,” I told him and he whined.
“You gotta help me!” he exclaimed and I chuckled.
“How ‘bout I make you hot cocoa while you put the lights and the garland on,” I said and he pouted.
“No! Now you get your ass over here and help me!” he demanded and I chuckled, kissing his pout.
“After I make hot cocoa for two,” I said, kissing his nose. Joyce cleared her throat and I smiled. “Plus one.”
“With marshmallows?” Jack asked, continuing to pout.
“And whipped cream and sprinkles, bitch,” I said, smacking his ass as I moved away.
“Ooh, baby!” Jack said, growling as I walked into the kitchen.
“Please do not forget I am still in the room,” Joyce said, making both Jack and I laugh.
***
“This is beautiful,” Jack said and I hummed, running my fingers through his hair.
“All that’s missing is a fire to really set the mood,” I said and he giggled.
We were laid out on the living room floor surrounded by blankets and pillows. It was nearing midnight and all the lights of the downstairs part of the house were out except for the ones on the Christmas tree. The television was on, playing a Home Alone marathon that had Jack peeing his pants with joy earlier. Beside us laid two empty glasses which a short while ago had contained egg nog with a bit of rum we had smuggled from the liquor cabinet.
“I love being able to snuggle with you in front of the Christmas tree. It’s so cozy,” he said, and I grinned, kissing his cheek.
“It is pretty nice. I won’t have to sneak your present this year either,” I said.
“And I can actually kiss you under the mistletoe and not care who sees,” Jack said, making me smile.
“Wake up in your arms on Christmas morning,” I said, brushing our noses together.
“Open presents with our daughter.”
“It’s hard to believe our lives are so much different at this moment than they were only a year ago,” I told him and he nodded. “I never in a million years would have imagined we would have Josie right now.”
“Neither would I, but I wouldn’t give her up for the world,” Jack said.
“I love our baby girl,” I smiled.
“Mhm. And I love that you won’t be spending Christmas with a crazy bitch again,” Jack said and I chuckled.
“But I will be spending it with you,” I said, kissing his nose. “You crazy bastard.”
He laughed, interrupted by the clock striking midnight.
“Yeah, babe?”
“Happy birthday,” he whispered, moving forward and kissing me gently.