A is for admiration

Alice sits up on his bed, head bent over his arms while Jasper lies reading his Civil War book. Alice can't imagine enjoying reading a book when you know what happens, especially if you were actually there, in Jasper's case. She starts to trace the bite scars on his arms and chest. He flinches at first, but relaxes as soon as he zones back to reality and sees that it's only Alice - the girl he loves - touching his arms. He was so engrossed in his book, so convinced it was real, a snarl broke from his lips before he could stop himself. It doesn't scare Alice at all, but Rosalie peeks her head round the door and gives them a questioning look.

"Well, what was that about?" Rosalie questions rudely. She chuckles. "The only time I heard a growl like that was when that newborn was chasing her..." She shakes her head, as if the memory would slide out of her mind and shatter to the floor. Alice looks at Jasper adoringly.

"We were just playing," she says. "I surprised him a little by accident." Rosalie raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow, wondering which game could prompt a response like that out of Jasper, especially at Alice. Alice starts to giggle, which makes Jasper frown.

"What?"

"Every downstairs probably heard that," she brushes a strand of hair out of his eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

"I was just a little bit too into this book." He replies, bookmarking it and placing it on the side. "It made memories come alive."

"You know," Alice says softly. "You won't be going back to that kind of life again." He smiles, lightening the mood. Alice is mostly immune to his gift now, so he wrinkles his nose and sits up. "So you don't have to worry."

"I know." He kisses her nose. "But memories like her-" he meant Maria, which Alice knew perfectly well, "don't fade quickly enough."

It breaks her heart that he has to learn to trust people again because her of. She brushes a strand of hair out of his face and scans his arms. He reads her feelings.

Curiosity, love, admiration.

She gestures to the marks on his body. "May I?" He hesitates, and he doesn't know why, but he does. He nods and leans back against his pillow. She leans back, comfortable again.

"Go ahead." He sees her skim her eyes across his chest and arms, looking for something that he doesn't know what.

"How did you get this one?" She points. He looks her in the eye.

"I'm not going to tell you that."

"Why not?" She says, tracing round it once again. He looks at her innocent face, her soft eyes, her face, full of curiosity.

"You're too innocent. I'm not going to let you in on these bad memories of mine." She frowns and tugs his hand.

"But why?"

"Because I love you." She whines. "I'll leave." She gasps.

"Please don't," she says so softly he thinks he mishears. "Just one story. Please?" She pauses. "You're so brave," she breathes, again surveying his scarred up, but beautiful skin. "One of the better ones?" She winces at her own words and he laughs.

"What?"

"I guess there are no "better ones"." He shakes his head.

"You're wrong." He stops, thinking. "This one." He points to the one on his chest.

"Why is that one better?" She asks, her eyelashes batting involuntarily. He leans in to kiss her, but before he does he chuckles at her feelings of love soaring.

"I got that one protecting you from a newborn," he says. "And that should remind you that I'd do anything for you." Their foreheads touch. "I'd die for you."

"Why?"

"Dying...dying is nothing compared to the pain of losing you," he whispers. He slowly connects their lips, pulling away after just a moment.

"I'd do the same-"

"No," he whispers, so softly. "Promise me. Promise me you won't?"

"No." Alice says, seriously.

"Let's...not think of this."

"You know how much admiration I have for you, Jasper? For all of this..." she trails of, kissing the scar he got protecting her. He shivers and it makes her giggle.

"You do tell me an awful lot, yes."

"Well, it's true."

"No," he says gently. "You've just...given up everything on the hope of finding your mate, not even knowing me but loving me, and helping me have a family, do you know how nice this is?"

"Yes," she sighs, contented. "I have some idea."

"We have basically, a mother and a father that loves us, no matter how many times I slip up," he pauses. "And I have you."

"I have you."

"And none of these scars you think add up to admiration, mean nothing."

"Really?"

"Really."