Dolls and New Beginnings
SS by Brandy

 

The laughter, the coziness, the love, the gifts. It was hard to believe the holiday families cherish was almost over. As family members retired to their rooms in the large and spacious Kentwood home, Britney couldn't help but realize how blessed she was. She smiled broadly as Jamie Lynn ran up the stairs with her new toys.

"What are you thinking about?" A certain someone whispered to her. His breath made her eager ears tingle.

Britney turned to the man seated next to her on the plush beige couch. "I was just thinking about all of this," she replied, waving her arms around the whole abode. "How lucky I am to have all of this happen to me. I remember just yesterday that I was singing at my church and going to dance recitals. I never expected all of this. I never expected you." She grinned and stared into Justin's azure eyes.

"You're living your dream Brit. This is your life. And I'm happy to be a part of it." Justin pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed it gently. "Now I suggest we go up to your room. There's a couple more presents that I have waiting." A mischievous grin appeared across his face.

Britney silently screamed to herself. What if he proposed to her? She knew it was a long shot, but nonetheless she couldn't stop thinking about the conversation she had with her mother just yesterday, Christmas Eve.

****************************Flashback*********************************

"Britty could you hand me that wrapping paper over there." Lynne had been busy with last minute Christmas shopping for the family. Britney reached over the table and handed her mother the paper.

"Mama, this is not like you. Usually you have everyone's present already wrapped up and put under the tree." She looked at her mom waiting for her reply.

"Well you know since Grandma…I mean I just haven't been able to really get in the mood."

"I understand Mama. I miss Maw Maw Ruth like crazy, but it's nice to think about her smiling down on us and protecting us. I don't know, it just comforts me to think about her death like that." Lynne squeezed her daughter's hand. It amazed her that Britney could be so optimistic about everything. She decided to change the subject.

"So where's Justin?" she asked. Britney yawned. She and Justin had arrived in Louisiana early this morning. They had been in Memphis to see his family and planned on going back once the holiday was over.

"I think Bryan took him to breakfast or something." She stretched her arms in the air.

"Really?" said an amused Lynn. "Those two seem to be getting close now." She eyed her daughter. "Actually I think of Justin as part of the family. I mean he's spending Christmas with us too."

"We've been together for three years now. I think that gives him some special privileges in the Spears' household, right?" She laughed jokingly. "I mean before you know it, we'll be--" She stopped herself in mid-sentence.

"You'll be what?" Her mom questioned. Britney took a deep breath and told her mother what had been on her mind for awhile.

"Justin and I are in love. I mean there's no denying that. And I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I want it all-the marriage, the kids, everything. I just sometimes wonder if he wants the same things as me." She looked down at her hands. "I just don't want him to look back years down the road and say he should have done more with his life. That he should have explored what it was like to date other girls at such a young age before committing to someone permanently. That would totally devastate me." She finally looked up and Lynne saw tears in her daughter's dark brown eyes.

"Britney listen to me. When your father and I got married, we were as young, if not younger than you are.  Up until this day, we have never questioned about if what we did was wrong, and certainly never questioned our love for each other. True, you and Justin are not your father and I. But I'm sure that when the time is right for both of you, it will happen. You just have to have faith." She winked at her daughter. "So you wanna help me finish wrapping these presents?" Britney smiled and grabbed the scissors from her mom.

"Sure." As she put the wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree, she noticed the framed picture of her mom and dad. "When that will be for Justin and me." She wondered.

******************************End flashback******************************

"J, more presents?" She laughed. "You really are spoiling me!" Justin lifted her off the couch.

"I can't help it. I'm a slaaaaaaave for you!" He crooned in a very Britney-esque way.

"Oh so now you're mocking me?" She said playfully. "Imitation really is the best form of flattery."

"Well I would love to flatter your already huge head," She punched him in the arm lightly. "But we have more important things to do." Once again that sly grin crept across his face, and once again, Britney felt butterflies in her stomach.

The couple proceeded to go upstairs into her bedroom. Once there, Justin locked the door.

"Scared someone is gonna barge in?" Britney asked teasingly. Justin wrapped his arms around her slim waist and backed her up to the bed.

"Well not really but just in case one thing," he kissed her left cheek, "leads to another thing," he kissed her right cheek, "leads to another," he kissed her mouth passionately leaving Britney breathless. "We'll be prepared. But there are more important things on the agenda than that." He motioned for Britney to sit down on the bed.

"Like my presents."

"Yep. Now close your eyes. I'll be right back." Britney did as she was told. She heard Justin shuffling through the room.

"Your eyes still closed?" Justin yelled from the bathroom. Britney rolled her eyes.

"Yes they are J. But if you don't hurry up, I'm gonna--" She felt his finger on her lips.

"Shhh. Open your eyes." Britney opened her eyes to find Justin sitting on the bed next to her. In his hands was a large neatly wrapped gift.

"Gee thanks, you bought me a toaster." Britney said sarcastically. It was Justin's turn to roll his eyes. "Brit, can you just be quiet for one second and open the gift." Britney sighed and started to unwrap the metallic gold paper. Justin looked at her expectantly. When she was done, she looked down at what was before her.

Inside the box was an antique porcelain doll. The doll's brown ringlets hung down her pale face, covering the cheeks slightly. The chocolate eyes and perfect grin seemed almost real. Her hands and fingers were small and delicate and they rested atop the soft fabric of the long white dress she was wearing.

"Do you like it?" Justin questioned. Of course she liked it, one of her hobbies was collecting dolls and at least one person every year got her one. "When we were at Lake Placid, I picked it up and thought it described you." He said softly. Britney finally answered.

"I love it Justin-it's beautiful." She gave him a genuine smile and hugged him tightly. In all honesty she loved the doll.

"That's what I get for getting my hopes up, only to be let down again. But who was I kidding-it's not like he's said one word about marriage. I'm just stupid to automatically think he's ready for this type of leap in our relationship." She thought to herself. Pulling back from his grasp, she looked at the doll once more.

"It really is lovely. The intricate details are amazing and the dress is beautiful-wait the dress!" She looked at Justin with wide eyes and saw a twinkle in his. She looked down at the doll once more to reassure herself.

"Justin this doll has on a wedding dress!" She looked up at him again, only to find him staring at her, his right hand clasping something inside of it.

"Wow, you're quick."

"Justin, I'm not understanding all that well…"

"Maybe this will help you." He opened his fist. Inside was a medium-size gold ring with a cluster of diamonds on the top. It was simple yet beautiful. Britney stared at it in awe.

"Oh my God Justin…this is…this is…I don't know what to say!" Tears welled up in her eyes, just waiting to pour down.

"Britney in the years that I've known you, you never cease to amaze me. I've learned so much from you, especially over the past three years. It's uncanny, the way that our lives revolve around each other, even when we didn't see each other for five years. If this is what it feels like to have a soulmate, then God help me, I will never let you go." The tears slowly started to stream down Britney's face and she could see tears in his eyes also. He cleared his throat.

"So Britney Jean Spears, the love of my life, my melody…will you be my wife?" They looked directly at each other, as if some magnetic force had glued their eyes together.

"Yeah, J. I'll marry you." She nodded her head, as to confirm what her heart and mind had just told her. Justin let out a huge grin and slowly put the ring on her finger. Britney watched him the whole time. When he was done, she hugged him again and both shared a passionate kiss full of emotion that they had never experienced before. When they finally pulled back for air, Britney looked down to admire her ring.

"Justin this ring looks familiar." There was that grin again.

"Maybe that's because it is. Look closer." Britney looked down at the ring once again. What she saw shocked her.

"Justin this ring…it's--" she stumbled on her words.

"It's your Maw Maw Ruth's engagement ring." She glanced at him incredulously.

"How did you get this?"

"I talked to your dad. Don't look so surprised. I was the perfect Southern gentleman and asked for your hand in marriage."

"So daddy already knew about this? And mama too?" He looked at her sheepishly.

"Yeah actually they did. When I told them I wanted to marry you, I had already bought a ring. Then when your grandmother passed, I realized that something more sentimental would be a lot more special. So I asked your dad if I could have it to give to you and he said yes."

"I can't believe you would do something like that for me." Her dried up tears were now replaced with new ones.

"I love you Pinky. That's all there is to it." He caressed her hair. "Oh and there's an inscription on the inside of the ring." She took it off and looked inside. The ring had the symbol for eternity engraved in it, with the letters JRT in one of the ovals and BJS in the other.

"This represents that our love will never die and we will last forever." He smiled at her.

"Thank you so much Justin, for making me the happiest person on earth right now. I love you."

"Right back at ya, Brit."