Valentine's Day
Jasper Whitlock-Hale had experienced many things in the over one hundred years that he had been a vampire. First and foremost, the mind-numbing blood lust that had been much harder to deal with when he switched to a "vegetarian" lifestyle. Second was just how powerfully he could feel the emotions of others. Some, like envy and anger, he could certainly do without. But other feelings, like compassion and love, made his war-hardened façade crumble around the edges. Feelings like that, which drew his ochre gaze across the room to an adorable smile-third and easily the most important, his darling Alice.
Alice, who had brought clarity and understanding into his bleak and miserable life, and who had accepted and loved his scarred body, mind, and soul. She had made the changes in his life so much easier, even when he felt like snapping and reverting back to consuming human blood. Her spontaneity and exuberance made a good match to his level-headed stoicism. And as much as the rest of his family might complain about her hyperactivity, his dark-haired little pixie truly kept him sane.
"Did I tell you how much I love the bracelet you got me?" she asked, skipping over to him as she admired the heart-shaped amethyst charm. Despite her flair for name brands and high-end designers, Jasper knew she secretly adored simple little trinkets like that.
"Only about twelve times now, darlin'," he chuckled, squeezing her hand lightly when she laced her tiny fingers through his. He held up the thick Civil War novel she had gotten him, and added, "And I love the book. You know me too well."
She giggled, a tinkling of silver bells, and stood on her tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the lips. "Happy Valentine's Day, Jazz."
One hundred years was a very long time to spend as a vampire, and Jasper was just glad he had someone to share it with, someone who loved him as much as he loved her.