Chapter Fifty-Four
Grace
Jaxon and I rode in the car with a comfortable silence. I was just enjoying the fact that I was safe, and I was finally with the guy that I loved.
Breaking the silence, he started humming a song. He didn't seem like he realised he was doing it, so I started laughing a little, enjoying my own personal little concert.
We drove for what seemed like forever until the booming city turned into farmland and trees. I had always loved the country or even the suburbs and hoped that one day I would be able to own a house of my own out here.
He turned to face me with a small smile on his lips. My gaze rested on his mouth and I wanted nothing more than to kiss him in that moment. Before I could however, Jax leaned over and kissed me.
I swatted his arm playfully and scolded him, "Eyes on the road, mister."
"You know you wanted it," He responded slyly before returning his eyes to the country road in front of us.
"So any chance you'll give me a hint on where we're going?" I asked hopefully.
As I thought, he shook his head stubbornly and I rolled my eyes. It was sweet that he wanted to surprise me.
"I can't imagine it's too low-key if you're wearing a tux." I pondered, wondering where we were heading.
"Stop trying to guess or you'll ruin the surprise," He said, glaring at me playfully.
Twenty more minutes later we pulled off the main road, turning down a gravel one.
As we got closer, I could hear the sound of music and a large crowd.
My curiosity only got worse as he refused to acknowledge the noises.
Up ahead, the trees seemed to give way into a large clearing. I gasped in surprise when I saw that it was a large field that looked like a small town fair. There was a stage set up and a local band playing. There were fairy lights set up around the gazebo and a couple tables filled with delicious looking food with barbeques nearby.
"Where are we?" I asked him, hoping he would finally tell me.
He smiled at me happily when he saw how excited I was.
"We're a little early, but there's a town fair today and I thought you might want to come and see it with me. I hear they throw a big dance and it's always a hit around here... according to the old lady at the supermarket." He blushed, "I know you have to be back at a good time for your family night, but I thought it would be fun in the meantime."
I looked at the large group of people in front of the stage. I looked up at him and surprised him by kissing him sweetly.
"I love it. Let's get out and explore." I grinned. Before I could open my door, he caught my hand.
He surprised me by handing me a beautiful masquerade mask. It was white with gold glitter details.
"Why do we need these?" I asked excitedly.
He took out another mask, a pure black one and put it on his face.
"Because, darling. It's a masquerade." He smirked at me and if I wasn't sitting, I probably would have melted into a puddle.
There was a reason that millions of girls loved him.
But no one loved him the way that I did.
He insisted that I let him come around the car and open my door for me, the simple act making my heart flutter with gratefulness.
Jax took my hand in his and led me into the middle of the crowd filled with dancers hiding their identities behind little masks on their faces.
He placed his hands around my waist and I wrapped mine around his shoulders, staring into his blue eyes that I so often got lost in.
We slowly swayed to the music in time of the song that was playing and I took the time to look around at the others around us. They all had masks on and the whole scene looked exotic and beautiful.
When the music slowed to a sweet song everyone seemed to leave the dance floor. I started to move my hands from Jaxon's shoulders but he stopped me.
"And where do you think you're going?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.
"Everyone else left, I thought we were going to as well..." I trailed off when I saw that they had formed a large circle around us and Jax leaned down to my ear.
"That's because they're letting us have the floor." He whispered. His fresh breath tickled my neck.
I shivered, looking up at him through my lashes. "Lead the way," I whispered back breathlessly.
He walked us to the middle, right in front of the band and started leading me through a beautiful dance. He guided me effortlessly, and I was glad because I was no graceful dancer.
He spun us in a circle and leaned me back as the song ended, supporting me with his arm. Jaxon leaned forwards and brushed his lips against mine, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the bliss that spread throughout my whole body.
"I love you," He murmured quietly, kissing me again lightly.
"I love you too," I answered with all my heart.
The crowd was clapping around us but I paid no attention to it, it was just me and Jax in that moment.
The other dancers filtered back to their original spots on the dance floor and we danced through a few more songs, holding onto each other like we had been apart for centuries. Time seemed to slip by much faster than either of us would have preferred.
I reluctantly glanced at the clock at one of the food vendors and sighed, "We should leave soon if I'm going to make it to family night," I said sullenly.
He laughed, lifting up my chin to kiss me again.
"Alright, Princess." Jax reached for my hand and I gladly took it as we headed back towards his car. I took in the fairy lights that were hung in the trees and by the stage, committing this to my memory forever. It had been a magical night.
We began the long drive home, glad that I was lucky enough to spend this time with him. I knew he had taken a break from the next few shows because of what happened to me, and even though I was extremely happy to have him with me, I felt bad because so many of his fans were heartbroken he wasn't performing with the rest of the band.
"When are you going back to the tour?" I asked him. "It's not fair of me to hog you to myself." I looked out the window, sad that we would have to be so far apart once again.
But if I had learned anything these past few months, it was that I was willing to wait forever for him. He was my prince, my knight in shining armour and I knew that no one would ever be able to take his place.
If he still wanted me, I would never leave him.
He blew out a long breath. "It's only been a day, Grace. You were abducted; my fans all understand that the girl I love being taken and tortured is a little more important than a concert."
I sighed, "I'm fine now though, and I feel bad I've caused you and your fans so much trouble. I think you should go back as soon as you can, we will find a way to see each other." I turned to look at him and gave him a small smile. "That is, if you still want to be with me when you go back." I said hesitantly.
Jaxon frowned, and pulled over to the side of the road.
"Jax, really, you don't have to pull over... I'm sorry I brought it up." I said quietly, waiting for him to tell me it wouldn't work like the first time.
He reached over and took my hands in his, rubbing his thumb over the top of my hand.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I want to be with you? No matter how many miles or countries that separate us, I want you. I will always want you. I wanted you when you were in the hospital, when you were blind, when you could see, and every second when we weren't together... and every second that we are together." He glanced down at my lips and slowly back up to my eyes.
My heart was beating erratically.
"I'm so sorry that I've made you doubt how I feel about you, God knows how sorry I am. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone in my life, and I can't imagine there ever being anyone else but you."
I blinked away the tears that clouded my eyes and I smiled at him, "I forgive you, and I love you too. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me." I said honestly.
He smiled at me and pulled back onto the road, never taking his hand out of mine.
When we pulled in front of my house, I was just in time for family night.
"Thanks for an amazing day, J." I leaned over the car and kissed him on the lips.
He brought his hand to the back of my head, deepening the kiss. When we finally pulled back, I smiled at him dazedly.
He smirked, "You better get going, we don't want you to be late."
"I'll call you later." I smiled back.
Oh, how I love his accent.
Grabbing my bag, I pecked him on the lips once more before I reluctantly got out of the car.
I walked up the white cement that led to the large French doors to my home, turning the key in the lock.
"Hello?" I called out into the large house.
"Grace, honey! We're in the living room!" I heard Luisana's voice from down the hall.
I walked to where she called me from and pushed open the door. I stood there in surprise, because the entire room was decorated in blue.
"What's going on?" I asked her, looking at all the decorations.
Michael came into the room just then, smiling from ear to ear.
"Hey Grace, how was your date with Jaxon?" He sat down beside Luisana and gestured for me to come and sit beside them.
"It was amazing, we went to this little town masquerade dance and it was so much fun." I gestured around me, to the blue balloons and streamers. "Are we having a party?" I asked.
Michael chuckled, "Just a family one."
Luisana got up and walked around the couch, grabbing a small box with a pretty blue ribbon wrapped around it. She handed it to me, sitting down next to Michael again. They both looked really excited.
"Open it," He encouraged, gesturing with his arm.
I looked at them suspiciously, a small smile on my lips.
I unwrapped the box and opened the lid. I stared at the paper inside for a few moments before I jumped up, screaming.
"You're having a baby!" I ran over to hug them excitedly. I looked at them, finally understanding the blue. Inside the box was a picture of an ultrasound.
"Is it a boy?!" I squealed, unable to contain my excitement.
They nodded, "We've been trying for a long time, but it happened! It's a boy!"
I smiled, tears welling in my eyes out of happiness.
"I'm so happy." I smiled, hugging Luisana tightly. Michael hugged us both.
"This really is a family night," I laughed, rubbing my eyes. They chuckled, agreeing.
"When did you find out?" I wondered aloud, sitting back down with them on the couch.
"About four months ago. We wanted to surprise you, but with everything that's been going on, we thought we should wait until things calmed down a bit." Michael smiled lovingly at me.
I nodded, the smile still stuck on my face.
"Have you picked out a name yet?" I looked back and forth to them, wondering.
Luisana bit her lip and nodded.
"We did..." Michael answered, taking my hand in his.
"Noah Preston Bublé." Luisana said quietly.
I gasped, my hands covering my mouth in disbelief. Any efforts I had been making to try to hold back my tears of happiness were in vain. A tear escaped and I looked at them, unable to believe they had done something so touching.
"His middle name is going to be Preston? You're naming him after my brother?" I asked in a whisper.
Michael squeezed my hand, tears glistening in his eyes as well. They nodded, "If Noah grows up to be anything like Preston, a loving and devoted brother and man, we will have done our job properly."
I'm going to have a baby brother.
"Thank you," I whispered, hugging them again. We spent the rest of the night playing board games and talking about who we thought Noah would resemble the most, or if he would have his father's singing voice or his mother's love of acting.
When we were finished packing up monopoly, I turned to them.
"Do you want any help cleaning up?" I asked. Shaking their head, Luisana kissed my cheek goodnight.
"No, that's alright sweetie. Go to bed, we'll see you in the morning." She smiled.
Michael kissed my cheek goodnight as well, "Good night squirt."
"Good night Mom, night Dad." I smiled.
Luisana gasped in surprise. "You called me mom?" She whispered.
Michael looked just as shocked to be called Dad.
"Thank you for always being there for me, even on my worst days. You are both already amazing parents...to me."
They would never replace my real mother and father, but they deserved the title just as much as any other parent. I loved them.
"Love you," I smiled, waving as I walked out of the room. The last thing I saw before I turned the corner and went up the stairs were them both embracing in shock, staring at each other with utter happiness.
This was the best night ever.