The Twilight Twenty-Five

Prompt: Heart

Pen name: Mandi1

Pairing: Alice & Jasper

Rating: T

heart (n): the chambered muscular organ in vertebrates that pumps blood received from the veins into the arteries; the vital center and source of one's being, emotions, and sensibilities.

The first moment he saw it, he had known it was perfect for her. A ruby heart surrounded by small diamonds, white twinkling against the red, all strung on a thin silver chain. The pendant wasn't too small, but it wasn't too big either. It had been in the front window of Friedberg Jewelers in Boston, lying on a white display the same color as Alice's pale skin. It had been simple but lovely. And while she was not in the least simple, she was the loveliest thing he had ever seen, and he knew in an instant he had to have it for her.

He had been putting her through so very much then, what with making accommodations to their new lifestyle, their constant traveling, his occasional slipups, his desires for her battling against his desire to treat her like the goddess she was. They had gone through so much already in such a short period of time; he wanted the gift to be all at once a Christmas present, a thank you, and perhaps a lead-in to those three words he felt sitting on his tongue each time he looked at Alice. Those three words he hoped beyond hope that she would reciprocate.

Did she love him? He was certain he loved her, certain she was fond of him. She wouldn't have stuck with him through all their troubles if she wasn't. And surely her visions would not have brought them together if he wasn't supposed to have some sort of lasting effect in her life. And if that lasting effect was only temporary, if he would only come in and out of her life, she would still have this necklace. In some way, she would still have him.

And so he took the small amount of money he had in the account he and Peter had started the year after they left Texas, pocketed it, and ventured to the Jewelers' on a day Alice was busied by Charlotte (something Jasper had carefully arranged, though he was fairly sure she knew what he was up to). The aromas that assaulted his nose as soon as he stepped outside of the brownstone onto the streets of Boston were almost too much to bear, and he nearly went back inside…but then an image popped into his mind unbidden, just as certain as if he had Alice's gift: the pretty, dark-haired girl wearing the necklace he would buy her, her red mouth moving to phrase the words he so longed to hear. His feet were moving before he even realized what had happened.

The sight of old age was something that continually disturbed him. It was a state Jasper would never reach, something he couldn't understand, something that made him think of the life he had left behind so long ago…as well as the many lives that he had taken, halting their human existence just as his had been so stopped. And when the jeweler that was summoned to help him was a wizened old man, his skin half-hanging from brittle bones, what little snow-white hair he had left mostly concentrated in his ears and nostrils, for the first time, Jasper was pleased to see a senior citizen before him. As much as he detested the frailty of the elderly, it also brought with it a nearly unappetizing aroma. His scent was easy to ignore, and both men would be safe during their transaction.

The withered man ambled over towards him, smiling to reveal yellowed teeth. "May I help you, young man?" he croaked genially. Jasper cracked a smile at the salutation; young was certainly not something he was used to being called.

"Yes," he replied, nodding his head over to the display window. "I'd like to see that necklace. The ruby."

The man smiled even wider; there was a gap in his molars where a tooth should be. "Yes, sir, right away." He scurried off, faster than an old man usually would, and returned a moment later with the white velvet pillow that had been in the window. The necklace was laid on top, shining like a droplet of blood on a string of silver, even more beautiful than it had been through the glass.

"1.75 carats before setting," the man said as he fixed a magnifying loupe to his eye, squinting down to hold it in place. "Near-perfect cut. Take a look." He held the magnifier out, and Jasper held it to his eye, though he could easily see the imperfections unnoticeable to the human eye. It was perfect. Worthy of being worn by her.

"Is it to your satisfaction, sir?" The man was leaning forward excitedly, and Jasper could feel the thrums of anticipation at the sale going through him.

He nodded, willing his smile to stay hidden. "Yes, I do believe so."

"Well then…this would be the asking price." He scribbled a figure on a piece of paper and slid it across the countertop towards Jasper. The number written on it was a borderline outrageous amount…but it was worth it. For her.

He kept the necklace on his person for the next few days, worried that somehow Alice might find it. He tried to think of other presents he might buy her, hoping to deter those damn visions and keep his gift a secret. And she hadn't said a single thing to him about gifts, only smiled that smile one afternoon she had gone shopping. She had bought him a gift – what if his didn't measure up? What if she thought it silly? Or extravagant? Or didn't like it?

But then, just before they went to exchange gifts, she confessed that she had seen it. That she had seen it even before he had purchased it. His heart dropped disappointedly…until she said that, even in her visions, it had been beautiful. Later, after he had opened the gift she had given him – a beautiful pocket-watch engraved with a message he would never forget – he took her from the room, wanting to see her face in a stronger light than fire when she opened her present…and perhaps work up the courage to admit to her what he had been feeling for quite some time.

Alice was lovely in the red satin dress she had purchased specifically for the holiday, and the moonlight coming through the opened curtains of the librarymade her skin glow in an ethereal way the sun could not, as if she had taken all the milky beauty from the night sky's orb and let it settle into her. She was smiling with anticipation, her eyes dancing, her body obviously ready to burst with eager excitement.

Well, you already know what it is, but…here," he said softly, trying not to be disappointed that she had guessed his secret and praying his gift might match up to the cleverness and thought that had gone into that watch.

Jasper watched, just as eagerly anticipating, as she worked the box open and revealed the ruby heart pendant sitting inside. He waited a moment…then two…then felt such surprise and happiness flooding his body – feelings that weren't his own. She loved it. She truly loved it. A gift he had gotten her. And she was not only pleased with it, but surprised! Her face was aglow with a grin as he plucked the necklace from its box, clasping it around her pale, swanlike neck.

Alice turned back around to face him, her eyes bright as she touched the ruby against her sternum. "It's more beautiful than I imagined."

He smiled too…but it faltered as a small ebb of worry eased into her body.

She bit her lip, glancing down at the pendant, then looked up into his eyes. "How did you…?"

So that was it. He hadn't stolen it, nor had it come by any unsavory means. "You're not the only one with money in the bank, Alice," he said, giving a smile. He was proud to be a provider for her, especially when she so often was the one spoiling him. Yet her confusion refused to dissipate, and he clarified. "I've had some money growing in an account for the past three years. It isn't a lot…and it was mostly given to me by Peter and Charlotte, so I'm not sure it was well come by, but it's something to live on. And if it allows me to get you nice things, then I'm not going to argue."

It was a staunch argument, a manly one, and he hoped she wouldn't see his knees shaking nervously as he spoke – or that if she did, she might let him have his pride.

But the corners of her lips curved up into a little smile, and she ran her fingertips over the chain as she murmured, "And it is very nice."

His smile was a mile wide as he sat on one of the library's desks, pulling her close to him with her arms around her waist. "You like it. I'm glad."

She grinned and brushed her hand against his cheek. "It's almost as if I'm wearing your heart, still as it is."

His heart. He felt his happy expression sliding away, a motion he could not control. A slight feeling of nervous dread took the place, making his hands nearly tremble against her hips. Alice looked nervous too, and he could feel the concern that he was so upset coming from her like water.

This was it. This was the moment to tell her. Tell her everything. Throw himself out upon her mercies and pray she would allow him to stay there. Forever. Jasper took a deep breath and looked up into her eyes – seeing nothing there but kindness, caring concern, and what he prayed would be the return of his emotions.

"Alice, I gave you this because…you have already captured my heart. It may be still, but it is there. And it belongs to you entirely."

She froze in his arms. Not a word, not a sound, not a breath issued from her, and when the clock struck midnight, he was sure this would be just like the fairy tale. His princess would run away, and he would never see her again.

"Did I scare you off then?" he tried to joke, knowing there was absolutely no humor in his voice, just fear that he might truly lose her.

She looked into his eyes – serious, quiet…happy…and shook her head. "As if you could ever get rid of me."

And she kissed him then, pressing her lips against his, and he was ecstatic to know that in this kiss, their first true kiss, were all the feelings he had been keeping bottled inside now newly reciprocated. They were together, in love, and would be always. He held tightly to her, his forehead against hers, as if being apart would cause the end of both of their worlds…now the world they shared together.

"I…"

Alice's voice was slow and halting, and her body was as uncertain and hesitant as her tone. His eyes met hers – burgundy against gold – and somehow, within the depths of his soul that belonged only to her, he knew. And he smiled and he held her tight and he said what he had been dying to say.

"I love you, too."