Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Twilight.
Chapter 1 – Jasper's POV
One quiet afternoon, while I was deeply absorbed in a book on the civil war, I felt Alice's emotions shift to absolute delight. Alice suddenly walked into the living room wearing a very excited grin. "We're going out," she announced.
"I don't know Alice," Edward started, clearly seeing her idea in her thoughts.
"I had a vision. It will be so fun," she insisted.
"What torture are you inflicting on us now?" Bella asked sceptically, as she helped Renesmee with her homework.
"Oh Bella, this will be fun. We are going to a club," she exclaimed, her eyes still alight with joy.
"What kind of club?" I asked, preparing myself for the answer. I could already feel the burn of being close to so many humans.
"A dance club. It will be so fun. We'll dress up and dance…"
"Alice, no," Bella groaned.
"Can I come dance, Aunt Alice?" Renesmee asked politely.
"Sorry honey, but your mom and dad need a night out."
"I really don't think we do," Bella began. I watched as Alice's eyes drifted away and she was lost in a vision. I suddenly felt Edward's shot of lust and watched the smile grow on his face.
"It might be nice to have a night out," Edward suddenly agreed.
"Not you too," Bella complained. She looked to me for support, knowing that I was probably the only other one here who would back her up. Although I could understand Bella's trepidation about attending a dance club, when she had not publically danced since her clumsy days as a human, I also knew what it meant to Alice and when it came to making Alice happy, rational thought was tossed out the window.
"I have already picked out everybody's outfits…"
"Of course you have," Bella interrupted, although Alice acted like she hadn't heard her speak.
"Well except Rosalie's. I trust her fashion sense enough."
"Oh God, what are you making us wear?" Bella growled. Edward seemed to smile in response to this question and I assumed, Emmett, Edward and I would all be satisfied with the wardrobe selections.
The day of the event arrived and Edward, Emmett, and I went hunting before sitting in the living room waiting for Alice to force Bella into whatever she had to wear. "Alice absolutely not," Bella shouted.
"Bella, Edward will love it." Of course Alice would play the Edward card, but it was likely the most effective.
"I can't wear this."
"Bella, this is a very expensive dress, from a very famous designer." As if that would have any effect. Bella had no desire to wear expensive clothing, the only reason she did was to appease Alice. Well it was the reason we all did, except Rosalie; the only other person to understand Alice's love for clothes.
Rosalie attempted to support Alice by telling Bella the dress really was nice and she would really only be wearing it for Edward anyway. Bella had agreed to try it on and must have caught sight of her reflection when she exclaimed, "For crying out loud I'm somebody's mother." The house was suddenly quiet and I felt Rosalie's feelings of hurt wash through her. Emmett flinched toward the staircase, as if to go to her.
"How bad is it?" he whispered to Edward.
"It hurt, but she's going to act like it didn't happen."
"Rosalie, I…" Bella started, horrified at what she'd said.
"It's okay Bella. I know you didn't mean it that way," Rosalie offered, and I felt her faking a sense of cheer.
"I just…"
"Bella, will you please stop being so difficult?" Alice demanded, acting as if nothing had happened. "Renesmee is not even here, she is out with Carlisle and Esme."
"Fine, lets get this over with," Bella muttered, fuelled most likely by the guilt I could feel radiating from her.
Alice insisted each woman go down one at a time, as if they were walking down a runway. Only Alice would turn our evening into a fashion show, with us as the audience. Both Emmett and Edward rolled their eyes, but as they loved their sister, they were indulgent of her idiosyncrasies.
Rosalie came down first, and as soon as she came into view Emmett's lust for his wife slammed into me. I admired the dress as Alice would expect me to tell her how much I loved what everyone was wearing. It was in fact a dress, even if it covered very little skin. The top was a halter that tied behind her neck. The midsection was open with two fabric panels that used elastic rushing to keep the material secure in place over the bust. The skirt was short, and tight, and judging from the emotions radiating off my brother, it wouldn't be intact at the end of the night.
She went over to her husband and leaned into him to wait for her sisters. Bella was next, and as soon as she appeared I now had to deal with Edward's lust as well. Bella's dress, if you could call it that, was bright red, and looked more like ripped scraps of fabric sewn together in a dress shape. Of course, since Alice bought it, it must be couture. It was a one shoulder dress, with the one sleeve going down to her wrist. The dress would turn a lot of heads tonight, something that would no doubt irritate Bella beyond belief. Good thing she had Edward as a distraction.
As Alice descended the stairs, the other two women could have worn nothing because I only had eyes for my wife. She looked stunning in a purple dress, with open shoulders, three quarter length sleeves and a cut out section at the bust. As a man I probably should not be so aware of how to describe dresses, but I'd heard Alice describe them more than enough to know all the terms in the fashion world.
As Alice reached me we turned to look at our siblings, Edward was admiring Bella's dress with a grin on his face, one of both amusement and appreciation.
"Bella, I remembered you had a fondness for wearing ripped clothes," Alice teased, earning her a nasty scowl from Bella.
"So where are we going?" Rosalie asked, as she turned to her sister.
"We are taking a drive to Boston, where we won't be recognized. Oh and we will all have hotel rooms for the evening. So it's just a fun night out," Alice promised. We all smiled, even Bella, knowing that our nights would make the torture worth it.
We took three separate cars. Bella and Edward took Bella's Ferrari, Rosalie and Emmett took Rosalie's M3 and Alice and I took her Porsche. It was one of those rare occasions when she let me drive it.
As we arrived at the club, Alice was bouncing in the passenger's seat. I slid the key from the ignition and got out of the car to open her door for her. I was careful not to touch her because my fear would have permeated into her. She knew however, I could see in her eyes that she understood my hesitation about spending the night surrounded by humans that would be in much too close proximity, and would smell absolutely appetizing. She herself didn't seem nervous, so obviously her visions told her that I would not take a snap at anyone.
We joined the other members of our family before walking across the lot to stand in line. I felt the lust from the few men waiting to get in, and the bouncers checking ID's, as well as jealousy from some of them women standing in line. I snared my arm around Alice as if irrationally I needed to protect her from the humans surrounding us. She melted into my touch and I found myself totally distracted by my lust and desire for my wife.
After handing our fake ID's to the bouncers, we were admitted into the club. The scent of blood was overwhelming and Alice slid her hand into mine, as we progressed further inside. We stopped at the edge of the dance floor, watching humans flutter about to the beat of the heavy bass.
I was wary, trying desperately to block out the smell that was overpowering my every thought. Alice spun in front of me and tugged on my hand to follow her. Always trusting, I did just that and she escorted me onto the dance floor. I ignored the overwhelming lusty emotions surrounding me and watched my wife spin lithely in front of me before pressing her body flush against mine. Just like that, the scent was forgotten and the only thing I processed was the love of my life grinding against me on the dance floor. I didn't see my siblings join us, or the envious stares of the men and women who admired our beauty from a distance.
I saw only my wife, as she slid her hand up to pull my mouth down to hers. I fed off the desire that surrounded me and pushed it into her. She gasped from the strength of it, and kissed me back fervently. As the kiss deepened we both lost our heads and it wasn't until Edward hit me, that I realized Alice had started to unbutton my shirt. I pulled away from her and the desire in her eyes nearly pushed me over the edge. I wanted that hotel room now. Alice stepped back from me and started to twirl on her own before taking my hand and letting me dance with her again. I could barely concentrate. I was overwhelmed by her and for the first time as a vampire I felt clumsy as I tried to dance alongside my wife.
To distract myself, I chanced a glance at my siblings. Rosalie and Emmett were nowhere to be seen and I smiled that Alice and I had at least more restraint than they did. Edward and Bella were dancing together, but I could feel the lust rolling off of both of them and it wouldn't be long before they too would not be able to keep up this façade.
I turned back to Alice and she smiled at me. I pulled her back against me, and we swayed to the music, as I lowered my mouth to her neck and kissed her just beneath the earlobe. I felt her shudder and I smiled against her skin. I lifted my lips to less than an inch above her ear and whispered loud enough for her to hear over the music. "You look incredible tonight."
She smiled against my shoulder, before looking up into my eyes. "Thank you for doing this for me." The look in her eyes halted me for a second. There was so much brewing beneath the surface and behind the surge of happiness I felt, there was also a sense of sadness.
"You know I would do anything for you, but why is this so important?" Her eyes looked sad as she stared back into mine and I desperately wanted to take away her pain. "Alice, what is the matter?"
She took my hand in hers and pulled me off the floor to a set of white couches in one of the corners of the club. We sat down across from a very enthusiastic, intoxicated pair of humans that would put Rose and Emmett to shame.
"I don't have any memories of being human. This missing part of my past makes me feel like even more of an outsider than these visions do. You all have these concrete memories of your lives, your family, your homes. I don't have that. It's as if your human life separates you from me, because it's something inaccessible to me. I can't describe it." I could feel her desperation as she spoke. "During the time you were human, we likely would have met at a dance and maybe after the war you would have come home to me. Times have changed and the closest thing to one of those dances is a dance club like this. I wanted to do something human; something fun and have an experience that would make me feel like I belonged in that world with you too. Without my human memories I feel incomplete, not whole."
Her words caught me off guard and the pain this obviously caused her made me feel horrible. "My life before you doesn't matter. You are my life. Without you I would still be suffering, wishing for anything to end this existence I was forced to endure. You brought light into my life. I don't care about my human life. It's a bunch of blurry memories pertaining to a family I always tried to escape, and succeeded leaving during the war. The only life that matters to me is the one I share with you. I will do anything for you, including experiencing moments that are missing from your human life, because I want to spend every day of my existence making you happy. It's true if we met when I was human, I would have courted you, danced with you, proposed to you and had I survived the war I would have come home to you. We don't live in that world though Alice. My life led up to me meeting you in a dingy diner and finding the hope and strength to live again." I reached my hand up and caressed her face lightly, waiting for her smile to light up her features. The sadness started to dissipate from her eyes, but it didn't fully disappear. "Come on, let's complete your human experience. Then tonight Darlin'," I said, using my southern accent. "I will make you feel whole."
Her eyes lit up then and I felt her lust spike before I pulled her out onto the floor and spun her around. Dancing came second nature to us. She was so graceful as we danced. Nothing looked more beautiful to me than Alice in that moment.
Suddenly Alice gasped at the same time Edward hit my shoulder again. He motioned for me to follow and our wives trailed behind us as we rounded the corner to where Emmett had a man pressed into the wall. "I think you owe the lady an apology," Emmett hissed. I could sense the man's fear as he sputtered out an apology, never taking his eyes off of Emmett as he did it. Edward and I went closer to calm him down. Emmett's eyes were black with fury and I was surprised this kid's heart hadn't given out.
"Emmett you need to let go," Edward said gently, as his hand made contact with Emmett's shoulder.
The bloodlust was raging in Emmett. He really wanted to kill this man. I sent a feeling of calm towards him. Edward tried talking again.
"Emmett, it's not worth it," Edward said, tightening his grip on our brother's shoulder.
Rosalie stepped towards him now. "Emmett let him go," she said gently.
"Don't you ever touch a woman without her permission again," Emmett growled. He released the kid then, whose neck had begun to bruise from the force Emmett had held him. This was Emmett's light grip. I tried to ignore the bruising as I watched the blood flood beneath the surface of his translucent skin. Venom began swirling in my mouth. Alice slid her hand into mine, pulling my attention away from the man who had obviously just assaulted my sister. Feeding off Emmett's anger I wanted to kill him too.
As I often did when a situation was getting out of hand, I focussed my attention on Alice, picturing her smile in my mind and using her feelings of love to wash through me and calm any unpleasant emotions.
Suddenly Emmett turned back around to the man who had violated his wife, pulled his fist back and slammed it into his face as lightly as he could. I heard the crack as his jaw shattered. Edward pulled on Emmett's shoulder again and he turned to his wife.
"Are you okay Rosalie?" Emmett whispered, as we walked away from the situation we had just gotten into.
"I'm indestructible Emmett."
"No Baby you're not. You just want people to think you are." It was then I sensed the pain rolling off of Rosalie. She was obviously reliving her most vivid human memories. I felt the bloodlust overtaking me again. I wanted blood. Alice squeezed my hand, reminding me I needed to focus on calming down.
No one was in the mood for dancing anymore, so we slipped past the dance floor and out to the coat check to retrieve our coats. I helped Alice into her coat before sliding into my own. She leaned into me as we waited for our siblings to finish getting ready and then we were out the door.
"Where are we going?" Emmett asked, as he clicked the lock for the M3. He opened Rosalie's door for her as Alice started explaining the directions.
I waited with Alice's door open and then went around to the driver's side. As I slid the key into the ignition I noticed she was having a vision. "We have one more surprise along the way," she trilled.
"What might that be?" I asked, as I shifted the car into gear.
"We're going hit a ride program," she said gently, amusement in her tone.
"Tell me Emmett gets pulled over," I plead.
"We'll see," she said.
"As if you don't know what is going to happen," I muttered, glancing at her in my peripheral vision.
As the car rolled up to the flashing lights, I bit back a grin. Emmett was right behind us and it would be so fun to involve him in a high speed chase.
"Rosalie will murder you," Alice said, as she understood exactly what I was thinking.
It was Rosalie's name that halted me in my plan. As much as I'd love to prank Emmett, after Rosalie's experience, I could not interrupt the time they would need alone. The memories from her assault would be fresh in her mind and she would need her husband to remind her that he would always love her. It was the same thing I needed to remind Alice this evening. As I considered what we would be doing I felt a smile appear on my face. I knew what I had to do. I pictured the look of desire Alice had in her eyes on the dance floor and then pushed that lust over to her. She turned to look at me with curiousity on her face. Then I made concrete decisions on some of the actions I would do as soon as we were locked in our room. Alice gasped as vision after vision hit her. Her own desire and lust spiking.
Suddenly my phone buzzed in my pocket. I slipped it out and handed it to Alice. It was not that I couldn't multitask by talking on the phone while driving, but I didn't want to give the cop anything to harass me about.
"No Rose, Jasper promises not to do anything to Emmett," she trilled. "I saw it clearly. We're all getting through."
"Have you had anything to drink tonight?" the gruff officer asked from my window, he stuck his head inside the car and the scent of his blood hit me hard. I had only enough air in my lungs to answer. If I breathed in I would kill this man.
"No sir, I have not."
He appraised Alice before turning his attention to me. I did not appreciate the spike of lust in his emotions. I tried not to justify killing him, as he pulled himself back out of the car and waved us forward. I pressed down hard on the gas pedal to try and rid the car of the strong, overpowering scent of human blood. Alice reached her hand over and slid it into mine. "You did fine Jazz."
I slipped my gaze up to the rear view mirror to see both of my brothers behind me. I didn't imagine they had much trouble ignoring the man's scent. This thought bothered me. Why was I the only weak one?
As we arrived at our room, Alice slid her hand into mine and pulled me through the door. "I can feel that you are upset," she whispered, as she lifted our hands up to her lips.
"I'm sorry Alice," I said gently as I pushed feelings of love into her.
"Don't hide it Jazz," she replied.
"Tonight is about you," I said as I pressed my lips to her shoulder.
"No tonight is about us," she said, as she used her free hand to lift my chin.
"I just wish I could be stronger," I sighed
"The fact that you do resist when the pull of blood is stronger for you than the rest of us makes you strong. We didn't have a century of getting used to instant gratification. You survived an entire night dancing with a bunch of human's and you didn't do anything. You're stronger than you think you are Jasper."
I wished I could believe her words but I didn't. My whole family was stronger than me. I was their weakest link. I wanted to be stronger for her. I wanted to make her proud, to feel worthy of her love.
"I can feel your doubt," she said, her eyes turning sharper.
"I don't want to fight with you Alice," I whimpered. The very thought caused me pain.
"Look at us, two broken individuals made whole only by eachother," she whispered.
"You're the better half," I teased.
"Make me feel whole Jasper," she said seductively.
"Yes Ma'am," I said in my southern drawl. Then I pushed her back onto the bed, sending her feelings of lust and desire as my mouth found her collar bone.
She shivered beneath me, as my hand slid down to her waist. I moved my mouth slowly up to her jaw, lingering inches from her lips. She growled before turning her head so that her mouth found mine.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you too Jasper. That will never change."
We ended up having a very enjoyable night.