Long Live Us
Fifty-Two
Stella and I were seated at the front of a long table, looking over all of our closest friends and family (which pretty much consisted of All Time Low and Sirens) while everyone ate the delicious meal that Cassadee, Juli and my own mother had put together. Our parents were drinking red wine to go along with their meal, while Aubree had brought along sparkling juice and insisted that we drink it. Sometimes she really did remind me of a princess, but Stella seemed to enjoy toasting with flutes, so I didn't mind.
As for Isabelle, Stella and I had passed her back and forth for a while, but she grew tired of being in our arms. Seeing as I'd already finished my meal, I sat her down beside me so she could cling to the side of my chair. She was giggling and cooing at everything, making the entire table laugh with her.
"For so long, this was everything I didn't want for you guys," Alex mumbled, taking a long swig from his glass before he let the glass clank on the table. "Getting married so young, having a baby while you were just teenagers. The thought of it was like a nightmare... But now that Izzy is here, and I can see how happy the two of you are together, I couldn't ask for a better life for my little girl. Just because you're getting married doesn't mean it'll get any easier, touring and whatnot, but I must say you two have really amazed me. It will be an honor to have you as part of our family, Jack."
Stella wiped a tear from her eye as Juli rubbed Alex's back with a grin on her lips, but as usual, whatever Alex did, my dad had to do as well. Unlike Alex, though, he stood up from his seat and tapped his fork against his cup. Everyone snickered as he cleared his throat.
"It was just as hard on Jasmin and myself to know that our first born was going to have a first born. My reaction to the news is something I'm not proud of, but one day you guys will understand. Unlike Alex, however, we always welcomed Stella into our home with the hopes that one day she'd be able to tie Jack down the way Jasmin did for me."
This earned another laugh, but Izzy was tugging on my pant leg so I stood up, still looking at my dad, and gripped her little hands in my own. She wandered around the room, stopping to look at everyone in their seats, before she pulled me over to the center of the room. Thankfully, I could still hear dad.
"We're thankful to know that a girl we've loved our entire loves, a girl we've watched grow from an infant, to a toddler, to a pre-teen, to a grumpy teenager.. All the way to this point, where she is now- a woman and a mother; is going to add something new to her list, she's going to be our daughter-in-law. It'll be a pleasure to have you share our last name. To Stella and Jack!"
Everyone clapped and I watched as Stella wiped her eyes again. I chuckled to myself, bending down to Izzy because she wanted to clap with everyone else. I ruffled her hair and kissed the back of her head, my hands lightly resting on her hips to help her keep her balance.
"We just want you guys to know that we couldn't be happier to be a part of this family. Not just my family or Jack's, but the entire All Time Low family. I know we will never face anything alone, and neither will Izzy."
At this, my littler girl turned her head, staring her mother down. She let out a squeal and held her chubby arms out, taking a step forward. I bit my lip, fighting back my shout of joy, watching carefully as Izzy took another step. Everyone seemed to catch on to what was happening, slowly turning in their seat to see her move forward again. Stella's hand went over her mouth and I could see the happiness in her eyes. Izzy nearly toppled over once, but managed to balance herself. She staggered forward slowly, all the way over to Stell'a leg, which she gripped tightly while giggling.
Stella scooped her up, planting a big kiss on her cheek as she held Izzy close. Everyone started to laugh and clap again, pride pumping through all of our veins.
"My little girl is growing up," Stella half-smiled, turning Izzy around so she could see everyone.
I let my feet carry me back over to where Stell was. I bent over and kissed her cheek, then kissed Izzy's forehead. It's true, Izzy was growing up entirely too fast on us, but that was okay. At least we got to be here to see her first steps, along with everyone we care about.
As for Isabelle, Stella and I had passed her back and forth for a while, but she grew tired of being in our arms. Seeing as I'd already finished my meal, I sat her down beside me so she could cling to the side of my chair. She was giggling and cooing at everything, making the entire table laugh with her.
"For so long, this was everything I didn't want for you guys," Alex mumbled, taking a long swig from his glass before he let the glass clank on the table. "Getting married so young, having a baby while you were just teenagers. The thought of it was like a nightmare... But now that Izzy is here, and I can see how happy the two of you are together, I couldn't ask for a better life for my little girl. Just because you're getting married doesn't mean it'll get any easier, touring and whatnot, but I must say you two have really amazed me. It will be an honor to have you as part of our family, Jack."
Stella wiped a tear from her eye as Juli rubbed Alex's back with a grin on her lips, but as usual, whatever Alex did, my dad had to do as well. Unlike Alex, though, he stood up from his seat and tapped his fork against his cup. Everyone snickered as he cleared his throat.
"It was just as hard on Jasmin and myself to know that our first born was going to have a first born. My reaction to the news is something I'm not proud of, but one day you guys will understand. Unlike Alex, however, we always welcomed Stella into our home with the hopes that one day she'd be able to tie Jack down the way Jasmin did for me."
This earned another laugh, but Izzy was tugging on my pant leg so I stood up, still looking at my dad, and gripped her little hands in my own. She wandered around the room, stopping to look at everyone in their seats, before she pulled me over to the center of the room. Thankfully, I could still hear dad.
"We're thankful to know that a girl we've loved our entire loves, a girl we've watched grow from an infant, to a toddler, to a pre-teen, to a grumpy teenager.. All the way to this point, where she is now- a woman and a mother; is going to add something new to her list, she's going to be our daughter-in-law. It'll be a pleasure to have you share our last name. To Stella and Jack!"
Everyone clapped and I watched as Stella wiped her eyes again. I chuckled to myself, bending down to Izzy because she wanted to clap with everyone else. I ruffled her hair and kissed the back of her head, my hands lightly resting on her hips to help her keep her balance.
"We just want you guys to know that we couldn't be happier to be a part of this family. Not just my family or Jack's, but the entire All Time Low family. I know we will never face anything alone, and neither will Izzy."
At this, my littler girl turned her head, staring her mother down. She let out a squeal and held her chubby arms out, taking a step forward. I bit my lip, fighting back my shout of joy, watching carefully as Izzy took another step. Everyone seemed to catch on to what was happening, slowly turning in their seat to see her move forward again. Stella's hand went over her mouth and I could see the happiness in her eyes. Izzy nearly toppled over once, but managed to balance herself. She staggered forward slowly, all the way over to Stell'a leg, which she gripped tightly while giggling.
Stella scooped her up, planting a big kiss on her cheek as she held Izzy close. Everyone started to laugh and clap again, pride pumping through all of our veins.
"My little girl is growing up," Stella half-smiled, turning Izzy around so she could see everyone.
I let my feet carry me back over to where Stell was. I bent over and kissed her cheek, then kissed Izzy's forehead. It's true, Izzy was growing up entirely too fast on us, but that was okay. At least we got to be here to see her first steps, along with everyone we care about.
11/4/13