A/N: This chapter is pretty quick after the last one. I'm so excited about this story its ridiculous.
Alice and Jasper have always been my favorite Twilight couple, and I too wish there had been more from them in the books/movie. I absolutely love the scene in Eclipse where Jasper tells of his turning, and Alice chimes in. He's so sweet and awesome, and I hope I've conveyed him well here.
Read, Review and enjoy! :-)
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Chapter 2: The Meeting
~{1861: Biloxi Mississippi}~
Everyone was milling about, happy in their pursuits to avoid thinking about the war for even a short amount of time. The war seemed to surround everyone, tear families apart. Women lived in fear that their sons, husbands, brothers, fathers would be sent out to fight the Union.
People tried to convince themselves that the war would not last long. It had just begun and everyone in the south seemed to feel as though they would win, it was a god-given right to become a separate country.
The ball room was decorated beautifully and women in pretty dresses danced on dance floors with men in either suits or uniforms of the confederacy. Some other women chatted off to the sides, giggling and eyeing men across the room.
Major Jasper Whitlock saw all of this as he stepped into the party, not even really wanting to be there. He'd rather have gone back to his tent for the night. His unit was based just outside of Biloxi, and his men had wanted to come to this party, see the local women, have a night of fun.
Yeah, fun, in the middle of a war... he thought to himself as his eyes scanned the room. Walking along one side, he saw one of his men John who had been his friend for years as he was talking to a young girl with brown hair.
Walking towards them, Jasper put a smile on his face. "Hey John, havin' fun?" he asked.
The other man looked up at his Major and grinned. "Oh yeah Jasper, this is great. Come on, we gotta get you a woman. Cynthia was telling me 'bout her sister and..."
"Enough John." Jasper muttered, shaking his head. "I do not need a woman." he said. He didn't want to get involved until after the war was over, raise a family with a woman. He did not want to be the reason a woman worried every time he went off to battle.
John just grinned. "Yeah well, you might change your mind when you see her." he said. Taking his friends arm and turning him, pointing across the room to a young woman. "There she is. Alice Mary Brandon. Go have fun, Major." he said, shoving Jaspers arm a little.
He'd wanted to deny it, but when he looked up, when his eyes laid on Alice Mary Brandon, his heart skipped a beat. She was beautiful with short brown hair and dark brown eyes and a beautiful face. She was a bit short, probably around 5" tall, but it seemed perfect to him.
She stood, the picture of a perfect southern belle in her long blue dress that fell to the floor, the sleeves resting just off her shoulders and only just enough cleavage showing to still be considered proper.
Swallowing nervously, he'd never been good with girls-or women. He was better on the battlefield than in the arena of love. However, he had been raised to be a true southern gentlemen in all sense of the word, so he knew how to treat a woman.
Taking in a deep breath, he just knew he had to speak to this woman. Something came over him, something possessive. He wanted her to be his, only his, and he would not let the war stop him. He could possibly even court her during the war, marrying her shortly thereafter.
Though-what was he thinking about? He hadn't even spoken to this woman, just laid eyes on her. Perhaps there was such thing as love at first sight.
Walking up to her, he smiled and dipped his head politely. "Excuse me ma'am. I am Major Jasper Whitlock, and I would be honored if you would dance with me." he asked in all the southern charm he could muster, offering her his hand.
She smiled up at him, moving to place her hand into his. "Pleasure to meet you, Major Whitlock. I am Alice Mary Brandon. And yes, I would very much love to dance."
Holding her hand, he brought it up to kiss her knuckles gently before leading her off towards the dance floor. Walking carefully, he moved to place, gently bringing his right arm around her waist to hold her close, but not too close, and his other hand held hers, his fingers twining with hers gently before he moved his feet, moving them to the music.
"So, Major...where are you from? I don't believe I've seen you 'round here before.." she asked, looking up as their eyes met.
When her eyes looked into his, he felt a small shudder run down his spine. "I'm from Texas, Ma'am, Houston to be exact."
"Houston? I'd love to see it one day. I'd love to see many things..." she said with a small smile, looking up at him.
"Is that so? Its a beautiful part of the South really. Not quite as beautiful as you are, Ma'am." he said with a small smile.
It achieved the desired reaction, she blushed and giggled softly. "Major! You flatter me." she said, gripping his hand a little as she looked up at him. There was definitely a pull, a connection that she could not deny. She could see her whole life in this mans eyes, his beautiful chocolate eyes.
"You are quite young to be a Major in the Confederacy already.." she said slowly. He couldn't be that much older than her she knew.
"Yes Ma'am. I was just promoted after I turned seventeen a little over a month ago. Youngest Major in the Confederate Army drawn from Texas." he said, hoping to impress her a little.
And oh how it worked. She smiled and nodded. "Quite the achievement. You're just a year older than I. Quite impressive."
Moving with her along the dance floor, he shifted to hold her a bit closer to him, but not too much. "Its just my duty, Ma'am. To protect beautiful young women like yourself from the yankees. Might I ask, is your husband accompanying you this evening?" he asked, his way of politely asking if she were married.
She gave him a small grin and shook her head. "Why, no Major, I am not married, nor am I being courted." she said, leaning herself close so barely any space was between both of them.
Something was there, something beautiful and incredible was there, and they both could feel it, feel that connection they shared on a deeper level. It was almost as if they were two sides of one coin, they felt familiar to one another. His arm around her waist, his hand on her back felt like it belonged there.
When the song ended, Alice stilled herself, still in Jaspers arms as she let herself smile a little. "Come, I want to show you something." she said, stepping back a little, her hand still holding his lightly.
"I shall follow you anywhere, Alice." he whispered to her, making her heart beat wildly within her chest.
Holding hands, she led him out of the ballroom and towards the back doors of the plantation house. Walking outside, she shut the doors behind them and walked towards the railing of the porch. Letting his hand go, she moved to lean against the failing, overlooking the garden that were plentiful with beautiful flowers in all shades of colors.
Stepping up behind her, gently Jasper rest his hands on the railing just beside hers, his chest lightly pressed close to her back, his head just above and to the side of hers. She could feel his chin brushing the side of her head a little as he hunched over a bit.
"Its beautiful out here..." she whispered, swallowing a little of the closeness of this man. She had never been so close to a man before, and Jasper was making every nerve on her body stand up, goosebumps fluttering across her skin.
"It is. But not as beautiful as you, Alice." he whispered, looking down at her.
She blushed, glancing back at him and smiling. "Why, Major Whitlock, how gentlemanly is it to be standing so close to a lady?" she teased.
Chuckling a bit, he nodded. "I shall move if you shall ask it of me. I shall do anything it is you ask of me." he said.
Shivering against him, she let herself smile and lean back into his shoulder, looking up at his face. "How is it possible that I feel like I've known you forever?"
"Perhaps, my lady, I feel the same." he said with a small smile.
Feeling her trembling slightly underneath him, he leaned back for only a moment. A moment to unhook the buttons of his jacket, sliding it off and gently place it around her shoulders without even needing to ask.
She smiled sweetly, feeling his warmth envelope her as his jacket hugged her loosely, quite a bit big on her. "Why thank you, kind Sir." she said. Slowly turning around, leaning back against the railing of the house as she looked up at him. "I'd love to take a walk along the garden. My father though has always said not to walk out at night alone...but...if I were to have a strong soldier...a Major in the army, perhaps, accompany me...I would be quite safe..." she said in a sweet voice.
And how could he refuse? Stepping back, he bent his arm and offered it to her. "It would be my pleasure to accompany you along the garden, Ma'am." he said sweetly with a smile.
Slipping her arm through his, she returned his smile and started to walk with him down the steps and towards the path into the garden.
They walked quietly together, content to just hear each others footsteps, feel their arms linked. Alice smiled slowly as she leaned her head against his shoulder, walking slowly with him. "I have never felt more content in my life.." she whispered gently.
He smiled at her words and nodded. "Me neither.." he said, looking down at her, the girl who had captured his mind since just a bit ago when he laid eyes on her.
Looking up at him with that smile, she nodded. "Tell me about yourself, Major Whitlock. There must be more than just a confederate soldier in that mind of yours."
Chuckling a bit, he nodded. "Well, I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. My father owns a small plantation there, smaller than this surely. My mother runs the household, and my father runs the farms. I have a younger sister...a sister named Hannah."
"Mm..and no other family?"
Shaking his head, he continued. "No, 'tis just us. I was surely going to follow in my fathers foosteps with the plantation, but once the talks of war started around, I joined the Texas army, trained to become a Major to defend the Confederate States, to defend my home and my family."
"Such conviction.." she said with a smile, looking forward. "And...do you wish a family of your own one day?" she asked, a light blush over her cheeks.
"Mm, I do..." he said dreamily as he walked. "I wish for what any man wishes; a devoted wife, children, a home to call my own. That is what I fight for, Alice. A future for myself, a future for my family. 'Tis what I shall always fight for." he said, looking down at her. "And you? Do you wish a family?"
Nodding as she walked, she glanced up at him. "I do wish it. Right now it is just my sister Cynthia, my father and myself. My mother was..." she started, looking away, her smile starting to soften at the idea of her mother. How would this man react, knowing she had seen her mother murdered months before it happened? That she could see visions of a future that most likely happened.
"My mother was taken from us unnecessarily...several months ago."
He gripped her arm a little. "I am sorry to hear that, Ma'am. My apologies."
"No need to apologize. You didn't do a thing." she said, returning her smile and looking up at him. She had to think he wouldn't think her a witch for her mind. She'd been seeing the future in fuzzy, hazy instances since she could remember. It didn't happen often, and those she had once told about it had deemed her a witch.
Walking along the winding pathway through the gardens, they talked quietly, sharing stories about themselves, stories about their lives. And the more Jasper heard from her, the more he fell in love with her. Could he even fall in love with a woman he had just met? He could. And he wanted to spend his life with her.
They had been walking for quite a while now, it was pretty dark outside, but they could see where they went from the faint moonlight, and they were together, that was all that mattered. As they rounded towards the steps of the plantation house again, Jasper stopped, turning to look at her.
Gently taking her hands and bringing them up to kiss her knuckles softly, looking down at her. "Alice...would you...would you ever want to leave Mississippi? Maybe...maybe see Texas?" he asked.
A smile lit her face and she nodded. "Of course I would. I'd love adventure. Why is it you ask?"
"Because I..." he started, swallowing through the knot in his throat. He was a soldier, he might not have his entire life, any battle could cut his life short, but he wanted to spend that short bit with her. "Alice Mary Brandon...I know I've just met you, and you most assuredly deserve someone better than myself...but, I would ask you, before I gain permission from your father, of course, if you would consent to me courting you?"
She smiled even brighter at the idea, nodding quickly. "I would." she said, stepping closer to him. "I would love it if you were to court me, Jasper Whitlock." she said.
His smile matched her own, his fingers slipping up to rest on her shoulders, this thumbs rubbing small circles just overtop of his jacket that she wore. "You would make me the happiest man in the world."
Gently her hands moved to rest on his waist, just above his hips as she leaned closer to him. "I feel like I've known you my whole life..."
"And I, you." he said. Swallowing a little as he looked down at her lips, his eyes lingering before looking back into hers. "Would it be...entirely improper of me to kiss you right now?"
"Mmm..." she started, seeming to contemplate it, a smile on her lips. "Possibly. However...who is to know what is improper when we are alone?" she asked.
"Why, Ma'am, is that you giving me permission?"
"It is."
Leaning down, gently his hand moved to brush his finger under her chin to raise her head, brushing his lips over hers before he gently kissed her, letting his eyes fall closed. Feeling her lips against his was so good, she smelled so sweet like jasmine and vanilla, and her lips tasted like the sweetest honey.
Her eyes fell closed as she leaned into his chest, leaning up close to him as her arms moved fully around his waist, drawing him impossibly closer, entirely too close to be proper that was for sure. But all propriety seemed to leave her mind with the feel of his lips, the smell of him so close.
There was something so innately manly about his smell that made her shudder, a feeling she had no idea she could even feel for a man. Desire for this beautiful man pooled in her belly, and it made her blush, her unladylike thoughts that dwelled in her mind.
Tilting her head to one side, she leaned up on her toes in attempt to hold the kiss a bit deeper, blushing as she let her lips part, her tongue moving out over his.
A groan came from his throat as he felt her tongue, tasted her tongue. His fingers moved down to rest his one hand on her hip, gripping it a little. His other hand moved up to cup the back of her head, gently running his fingers along her short hair. He could spend forever in her arms this way, her lips upon his.
When the need for air hit them both, gently he leaned back, a small smile on his lips as he opened his eyes halfway, looking down at her. "Holy heavens...you are beautiful..." he whispered. Brushing his hand back from the back of her head, brushing his thumb over her still slightly parted bottom lip.
She smiled to him, leaning up on her toes to press her lips to his again, letting her eyes fall closed again.
Smiling into her lips, he leaned to return her kiss, his arm moving more around her waist underneath his jacket that she wore than just on her hip, pulling her up close to him so she was flush against his chest again. He didn't want to let her go now, not now that he'd tasted her, felt her pressed so closely to his body. And while he would be content with just holding her, sharing soft kisses, the part of him that was entirely male wanted all of her.
Stifling a small moan from deep in his throat at the thought of this woman so close to him. While he was only seventeen he was still a man of the world, he'd traveled across states, and he had known the company of a woman before. But none of those women were her, none of those women would be his wife.
Leaning back from the kiss, he smiled down from her. "My apologies, Ma'am...my mind had gotten away with me..." he confessed, a small blush gracing his own cheeks. A gentleman most assuredly did not think the things he was thinking with her so close to him.
She gave him a small grin as she looked up at him. "And where has your mind wandered, Major?" she asked innocently. Unlike him, she had not known the touch of a man, there weren't many in town that didn't think she were completely crazy, or a witch, or both.
Gently he leaned back, slipping his hands to take ahold of hers and bring them up, gently kissing her knuckles. "I should go find your father...ask proper permission to take you as mine."
"My father would not turn you down. After all, you are a Major in our Confederate Army...and willing to marry me. Are you sure it is me you wish to court? Not some other woman?" she asked uncertain.
"I am more than sure. Why would I not?"
Biting her bottom lip, she looked down. She should tell him, tell him the truth. "I...I just...want to make sure. No other man in this town would want me..." she said.
Jasper furrowed his brow at her statement, shaking his head. "Why ever not?" he asked. Instantly jealousy bubbled within his veins at an idea; an idea that maybe Alice had been with another man. Most men of this time did not want a wife that had already been with another man. Of course, he wouldn't care, so long as it were her he was with. He wanted her, his heart called out for hers. Soul mates he'd heard it called before.
Looking up at him, meeting his eyes, she chewed on her bottom lip and moved her hands out of his. Bringing her arms around her body to hug herself a little, looking away. "I...see things. Things I can't explain. Things that have yet to happen. Its...its not all the time, its just sometimes..." she said, turning her body to the side so she stood with her left shoulder facing his chest. "People think me a witch...but I swear to you, I swear I am no witch, I made no pact with the devil. I...I just...see."
Listening to her story, he gave a small smile and stepped closer to her. Gently moving his arm around her shoulder and bringing her close to his chest, leaning to kiss her temple gently. "You are too sweet to have made a pact with the devil." he said, looking down at her. "You know...in ancient stories...people worship seers, those that can see what has yet to become..."
Her head turned to look at him, blinking a little at this man in front of her. "So...so this has not changed your mind?"
"My Alice, nothing could change my mind. I had never believed in such things as soul mates nor love until I saw you." he admitted.
She couldn't help but smile widely knowing he accepted her, accepted her and her gifts that most condemned her for. Happily she turned to throw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly close and hiding her face against the base of his neck.
Feeling her close to him, he hugged her tightly, kissing the top of her head. "I shall not let anything harm you...I'll protect you from those who think you a witch. You are not a witch, far from it." he promised as he held her.
Nodding slowly as she looked up to him. "Will you take me away from here? To Texas?'
"Of course. If that is what you wish."
"It is everything I wish." she said with a smile.
"Now will you allow me to seek out your father to ask permission for your hand?" he asked.
Reluctantly she leaned back from him, nodding slowly. "I shall. Come. My father would most likely be in his study with a few guests." she said. Taking his hand and starting to walk into the house with him.
They walked upstairs and towards her fathers office, knocking on the door slightly. "Father? I've someone that wishes to meet you.." she said with a smile, glancing up towards Jasper before she cracked the door open.
Looking inside, she saw her father there with her new mother, her step mom. Bile rose in her throat at the image of him with someone other than her mother. Her father sat behind his desk and her step mom sat just on the arm of the chair. At the sight of them, her step mother moved to stand up, starting to brush past them and out into the hallway.
Shaking her head with a smile. "Father, this is..." she started.
But Jasper finished it for her. Letting her hand go, he stepped towards the desk, offering his hand over to the older man. "Major Jasper Whitlock, Sir."
The older man stood up, taking ahold of Jaspers hand, nodding a bit. "Well hello there Major. My name is Christopher Brandon. Pleasure to meet a young man who has accomplished so much in our Confederate Army. Are you stationed nearby?"
Jasper nodded, shaking the mans hand before he let go. "Just outside the town lines, Sir." he said. He thought he'd never felt so nervous. When he woke up this morning he'd never thought he would be asking a girls father for her hand today. He'd always thought marriage would be something he would get after the war, after their victory they were sure would happen.
But standing here, in front of Alice's father, butterflies flew around in Jaspers stomach, a knot formed in his throat. All this man had to do was deny him, and he would never have Alice.
"Ah, very good, Major." Brandon said, walking towards the small bar in the room. "Fancy a drink?"
"No Sir, I am not one to partake in such things." he said. Glancing around a bit, he saw that Alice was gone and the door was closed. A small smile came over him at the idea that she was most likely standing outside the door, waiting anxiously. He already knew her well enough to know thats exactly what she would do.
"So, Major, what is it I can do for you?" Christopher asked, pouring himself a drink and walking back to the desk, taking a seat and sipping at the alcohol, looking up at the man in front of him, almost judgingly looking him up and down.
Taking in a deep breath. Courage, he had to have courage. Stepping up to the desk, looking at him. "I have come to ask for your daughters hand in marriage, permission to court Alice."
The older man narrowed his eyes. "Alice? You want Alice? I had not known she was seeing a confederate soldier..."
"No Sir, not until tonight. I met her at the party downstairs. After speaking to her I have realized I wish permission to get to know her better, make her happy and make her my wife. I would bring her to Houston, Texas. My family owns a plantation there. I would provide for her, Sir, you have my word."
Christopher listened to Jasper's statement, his eyes narrow, moving the glass of whiskey in his hand, taking a small sip. "To be honest, Major, it is not your ability to take care of my daughter that I wonder of. It is her I question. You know she has been branded a witch?"
Narrowing his eyes as he gripped his hands into slight fists. What father spoke of his daughter in such a light? "I beg your pardon, Sir, but I do not see a witch when I see Alice. Please, I would like to court her, regardless on if she has been branded a witch."
Nodding slowly, Christopher sat his glass down on the desk and moved to stand up, leaning against the desk a bit. "And won't your unit move out soon? Will you leave my daughter heartbroken?"
Listening to his voice Jasper could almost hear the false worry on the man, and that made him only wish to take Alice away from this place even faster. "I shall not hurt her. I am not a man who goes back on my word. I will make Alice my wife, Mr. Brandon."
The other man just nodded. "Fine, take her."
Just like that? Jasper was slightly confused, but he smiled a little and nodded. "Thank you, Sir. I ensure you I will make your daughter happy." he said.
Christopher just nodded, waving his hand. "Yes yes, you should go on back to the party."
"I bid you goodnight then, Sir." Jasper said as he turned to walk out of the study, closing the door behind him. That was quite odd, most men would grill him before they'd agree to give their daughters hand away so easily. Its what he had been expecting whenever he would ask for a woman's hand. His own father had warned him of that, but Alice's father seemed almost relieved to be rid of her.
Though he didn't have time to ponder that. Alice stood there and looked up at him with a smile on her face. "So? What did he say?" she asked.
Looking down at her and giving her a smile. "He agreed. I shall court you 'till we are wed." he said, taking her hands and kissing her knuckles slowly, letting his lips linger.
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A/N: Fin! :-). Next chapter shouldn't take too long, this story won't leave my brain alone lol.