Secrets Don't Make Friends

Jack

One year later

“Happy Birthday, Pooh Bear!” I told AJ and kissed him on the cheek. He was standing in a chair and Alex sat his smash cake down in front of him. We were celebrating his first birthday at Alex’s parents’ house with all our friends and family.

AJ looked at the cake and then back at us, so we could tell him what to do with it.

“You eat it!” Alex told him with a small laugh. Alex put his finger in the icing and licked it off. “Mhmm.” He hummed.

AJ stuck his hand in the cake and ate it from his hand. “Mhmm!” He imitated the noise Alex had just made. Then he put both of his hands in the cake and ate more from both hands. We all laughed, and I made sure to take pictures. I only let him eat a little more cake before taking it away. I didn’t need him getting a stomach ache.

“We’ll be right back. It’s time for an outfit change.” I told everyone. I went up to Alex’s room with AJ, so I could clean him up. He cried when I wiped the excess cake from his hands and face.

“You don’t want ants to eat you, Pooh.” I told him as I changed his clothes. I called him Pooh Bear because he had a cute round belly like Winnie the Pooh. He stopped crying once I placed his pacifier in his mouth. I wanted to slowly stop giving him that, but it was so convenient.

Once I finished changing him I picked him up and took him to the mirror to look at himself.

“Look at the handsome man!” I exclaimed and tickled his sides. He laughed and stared at himself. I’m sure he thought there was another baby in the bathroom with us.

AJ had finally grown to the normal size, for his age, last month. You wouldn’t be able to tell he was born prematurely at all. He was hitting all the milestones for his age too. His pediatrician told me he would catch up with other kids, but I thought it would take longer than this.

“What’s taking you so long with my son?” Alex asked as he stepped into the bathroom with us.

“Dada!” AJ exclaimed and reached out for Alex to get him. I rolled my eyes and handed him over. He was a major Daddy’s boy; he just loved Alex. He only got to see him for a few weeks at a time when he wasn’t touring so maybe that’s why.

“He shows you favoritism.” I pouted with my arms crossed.

“He’s supposed too, I’m the cool dad.” Alex teased. He held AJ above his head and he squealed and kicked his legs.

“You’re not cool.” I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah-huh! I’m always buying him gifts, and I don’t make him eat nasty vegetables, or force him to take baths.” The last two were things I had to do.

“I’m the responsible dad.” I chuckled.

“Yeah which is synonymous with less cool.” He joked.

“AJ, I’m going to remember this when Daddy leaves in a few weeks.” I playfully scolded him.

“Mmm.” Alex hummed.

“What?” I asked.

“Hearing you call me daddy.” He said, and I rolled my eyes.

“You’re a pervert.” I laughed.

“Can you call me that again tonight when you spend the night?” He asked.

“No, I’m not doing that again.” I said.

“Why do you have this pacifier? You’re a big boy you don’t need this.” Alex told AJ and pulled the pacifier out of his mouth. AJ immediately started crying for it back.

“Alex give him back his binky.” I scolded him.

“I thought you were a big boy?” He taunted over AJ’s cries. He stuck the pacifier back in his mouth and AJ went quiet. I chuckled as I looked at his dry eyes.

“You are such a little faker.” Alex sat him down so he could walk on his own.

AJ wasn’t the strongest walker. He actually preferred to crawl still. He fell down to the ground when Alex placed him down and he crawled over to me.

“My Pooh Bear does still love me!” I exclaimed and picked him up. I kissed him on the cheek over and over again and he giggled.

“AJ tell him to stop calling you that nickname. Tell him you don’t like it.” Alex told AJ.

“He loves his nickname! Isn’t that right Pooh Bear?” I asked and kissed him on the cheek which earned me a cooed. “That’s a yes.” I chuckled.

“He can’t help that he eats so much honey.” Alex laughed and tickled AJ’s belly. AJ laughed and tried his best to get me to move him from Alex.

“Come on, Pooh. Let’s go back to your party.” I chuckled. I began to walk out of Alex’s room, but Alex caught my attention.

“Wait, don’t go yet.” He said, and I stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

He looked over to one of his bedroom drawers and walked over to it. Then he slid it open and began to search for something. I waited patiently wondering what he was looking for.

“Ah got it.” He said to himself. “So, I was planning to do this before I went on tour next week, but I figured it was better to do it now to celebrate our first year being parents.” He said with a smile and I nodded telling him to continue. My brain wouldn’t let my mouth say words. I was going to die if Alex was doing what I think he was doing.

“We’ve been together since freshman year of high school, Jack and I’m kind of angry I didn’t do this before.”

He pulled a black box out of the drawer and opened it, revealing a ring. It was a silver band that had “always & forever” engraved on the inside. I brought one of my hands up to my mouth in shock.
Alex was proposing to me!! I was sort of confused though because he wasn’t on one knee.

“Oh my God, Alex!! Are you really proposing?!” I asked.

“Wouldn’t I be on one knee if I were proposing?” He said, sounding like a smart-ass and ruining our perfect moment. I rolled my eyes and he kissed my cheek. “Sorry.” He chuckled.

“It’s okay. So, what is this for?” I asked, pointing down to the ring.

“It’s just a promise ring. I um...” He trailed off with a nervous laugh, too embarrassed to continue.

“You what?” I asked.

“I asked your mom and grandparents if it was okay to propose and they said no.” He admitted and turned red.

“They all said no?” I asked, with a chuckle.

“Well your grandpa said no immediately, your grandma said it was too early, and your mom said you couldn’t get married until you could legally have an alcoholic drink.” He explained and that sounded exactly like something my family would say.

“It’s okay, it’ll give us more time to make sure we want to be with each other for forever.” I brushed it off.

“I knew I wanted to be with you for forever when I first laid eyes on you.” He said, making me blush.

“Whatever. You just wanted to get into my pants.”

“That’s true, but I fell in love the more we talked.”

I playfully rolled my eyes and kissed him. “Wait, I don’t have a ring for you.” I told him, and he shrugged.

“It’s not like an engagement ring. It’s just a reminder that we promise to always love each other. I just thought it’d be nice for you to have while I’m off on tour.” He explained.

“That’s so sweet!” I exclaimed. Alex chuckled and took the ring out of the box. I gave him my hand and he stared at it for a second.

“Why are you giving me your right hand?” He asked.

“Cause it’s not an engagement ring. It goes on my right hand, right?”

“Ummm I’m not sure.” He pulled out his phone and began searching. AJ squealed and began to babble when he saw Alex’s phone. It sounded like he was fussing at Alex for having to search for an answer.

“Yeah, I’m with AJ, it’s taking you too long. Did you not do research before buying it?” I joked.

“Nah, I just went into ‘Jared’s’ and picked out the best ring there.” He chuckled. “It says it can go on any finger. I want you to wear it on your ring finger...as a placeholder for your engagement ring.”

“Okay.” I smiled and gave him my left hand. Alex slid the ring on and kissed my hand. “Maybe this can be my engagement ring anyways.” I suggested.

“You mean it?” He asked.

“Yeah, my grandparents and mom don’t have to know. We can just keep it a secret from them. And this way I’ll have two years to plan our perfect wedding!”

“And you’ll be one step closer to becoming Mr. Gaskarth.” He said, sighing in content.

“Barakat-Gaskarth.” I corrected.

“That’s what I meant.” He brushed it off.

“Oh, sure you did.” I chuckled.

I shifted my weight to hold AJ on my other side. Then we walked out to go back to the party. Alex was right behind me as we came down the stairs. Everyone was in the living room and kitchen talking among themselves. I bought AJ in and the attention immediately shifted to him.

“Aw I love that outfit!” My Mom said, and took AJ from me. He happily went to her cause she had plate with cake in her other hand.

“Grandma bought it.” I told her. He was wearing light blue striped overalls that made him look like a train conductor.

“Yeah I knew it would look cute on him.” My grandma said.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t put him in that outfit first because it would have been covered in cake.” Cass chuckled, and everyone agreed.

“Yeah he can only wear nice outfits when he’s not playing or eating because he’ll get them dirty so fast.” I told her.

“Congratulations, Dude!” We heard Rian, Vic and Jaime exclaim while talking with Alex. Alex tried to shush them, but it was too late. They had captured everyone’s attention already. I knew what he was congratulating him on.

“Was it a secret?” Rian asked, and Alex nodded.

“Is what a secret?” Isobel asked.

“Nothing.” Alex answered, and she gave him a look.

“Out with it.” She stated.

“It’s nothing, I just gave Jack a promise ring.” He said, and everyone looked at me to see the ring.

“Aw that’s so cute.” Cass told me, and I thanked her.

“Is that an engagement ring?” My grandma asked.

“No, it’s a promise ring, grandma.” I told her.

“What’s the difference?”

“It’s just like a promise that we’ll always love each other.” I explained.

“Like a wedding ring?” Grandpa asked.

“No, it’s just a promise ring.” I stressed.

“It sounds like a wedding ring.” My Mom instigated.

“Would it be so bad if we were engaged? I mean we’re nineteen and we have a kid. Marriage is the next step in our lives after we get a place together. We just want to be engaged for a few years before actually getting married.” I complained.

“I don’t mind you getting engaged, I just wanted you to be a little older to make sure this is what you really want.” My Mom told me.

“I never wanted anything more.” I said, and she chuckled.

“You’re so dramatic, but I guess it’s your life, so I have no choice but to be okay with it.”

“I was worried about the same thing honestly.” Isobel added. “But Jack and AJ bring out the best in Alex, so I know they are the perfect fit!” She exclaimed, and Peter agreed.

“Thanks mom.” Alex told her.

“I guess it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. I wouldn’t mind you both being engaged right now. But no running away to get married.” Grandma warned.

“We won’t.” I assured her. Now there was only one more yes we needed. We all looked at my grandpa and he sighed.

“I didn’t say ‘no’ because I don’t like him. I actually have more respect for you, Alex, now seeing that you’re still involved with AJ and take of Jack so well even when you’re on tour. I just don’t want you both to feel like you have to get married because you have AJ.” Grandpa told us.

“No sir, I would have still wanted to marry Jack now even if AJ weren’t here. I really love him.” Alex said.

“And I love him too.” I added and grabbed his hand.

“Then by all means you have my permission to get engaged too.” Grandpa smiled. Alex and I both thanked him.

“Can I see that?” Alex asked while pointing to my ring.

“Yeah, of course.” I pulled the ring off without thinking and handed it to him.

Alex dropped down to one knee and held the ring in front of me. I was taken back by this and I gasped.

“Jack Bassam Barakat, will you make me the luckiest husband and father in the world by marrying me?” He asked, and I quickly nodded.

“Yes! A million times yes!” I cried, and he slipped the ring on my finger. He stood back up and pulled me in for a kiss. Everyone clapped and cheered for us.

I wrapped Alex in my arms for a tight hug and he quickly hugged me back just as tightly. We were lucky that all those mistakes that we made didn’t ruin our relationship. I can’t imagine how different our lives would have been if Alex didn’t make that decision to cheat or if I didn’t cheat with Zack.

They say everything happens for a reason and I believe those two events made Alex and my relationship stronger.

Alex and I gave each other one last kiss before taking AJ from my mom and going to open his birthday gifts. I kissed Alex and AJ on the cheek as we opened his first gift as a family.

Notes

I'm not too crazy about this ending, but I hope you all enjoyed it! It feels like I've been writing this story for a year but it's only been like four months lol And I can't say thank you enough for reading this Fic! Please check out my other stories if you haven't already or read them again if you want haha I'm still going to be on this site almost every night so please feel free to message me about literally anything! Also I'm not sure if I'll write any more. I know I say this all the time but I feel like I'm all out of ideas. Maybe I'll think of something or do a one-shot or something. Anyways thank you all so much<333