Too Short
Jasper/Bella
Prompts
Favour, Widow
thats no excuse
photo of a moon lit beach.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story line and even that has been done before for sure..:)
Bella was sitting at her desk, her laptop on and her latest assignment in front of her. She had to get it finished but she was so tired and not entirely sure she was feeling well at all. But after missing a week of school already she really had to get it undercontrol.
She looked up at the thump and instead of a scream, giggled at the sight. A big blob of blond curls had face planted into her carpet. "Smooth"
"Wasn't the stealthiest was it" retorted Jasper looking sheepish. And oh so cute.
"Dad isn't here, you could of used the door you know" said a still chuckling Bella.
"Yeah but then we wouldn't have these fantastic stories to tell in the future would we" Jasper shot back stepping forward to gently kiss her forehead. "I missed you this week"
"Me too" replied Bella leaning into the hand that was cupping her cheek. Nineteen year old Jasper already knew he had found the love of his life. With his adoptive parents permission he had put off college to wait for his Bella so they could do it together. Jasper was lucky that Carlisle and Esme were ok with the idea as long as he was doing worthwhile things with himself. Jasper spent time in the childrens program at the library and he had been helping the elementary school out with their Amercian history, which was Jaspers interest of choice. He was actually loving the opportunity to do something for the town he had lived in since his junior year.
"You look tired. Are you ok?" asked Jasper. He had been worried about her for a while. She always seemed run down and her beautiful face always had dark circles under her eyes no matter how much she seemed to want to sleep lately. The shine to her hair that Jasper loved was gone and her eyes while they showed happiness had lost that sparkle that Jasper was used to seeing. And yet he was sure there were no actual problems between them. She loved him, it radiated out of every pour.
Bella took a deep breath and pulled Jasper over to her bed, they both climbed into it. Jasper panicking, but holding it inside.
"You have to do me a favour and promise me you won't freak out ok?" asked Bella. Jasper nodded, grabbing her hands in his. She was so small compared to him. "I spent the week in Seattle, having tests done."
"Ok." Jasper steadied his voice. But he was scared shitless. "For what?"
"I went in to see your father last friday, you know how I was feeling, I was starting to think I was might have been pregnant. Oh it would be easier if I was I think" a tear slipping from her eye. "It was negative, but Carlisle ran bloods anyway. Saturday morning he rushed over here with my results. He was very alarmed, agitated even. I had never seen your father like that. I was in the car and on the way to Seattle within the hour. I have had every single test available in the last week I think." she explained carefully. She knew he would be upset that he had not been told earlier than this. But it really did just all happen so quickly.
"Oh god this is hard." Bella whispered.
"You can tell me anything. You know that. I love you, your never getting rid of me" Jasper encouraged. He already knew this was bad.
"I have cancer Jasper. They hope they caught it in time, but don't really know. I had my first chemo treatment on Friday. They are due every Friday for the next six weeks." she said looking up at him. Tears were in both their eyes.
He collected her close and just held her. This couldn't be happening to them. They were young and healthy, in love with the brightest of futures before them. Their relationship had the support of their families, how the hell does this happen to anyone. "Why didn't you tell me before" came Jasper strangled voice.
"I wanted to know for sure what I was dealing with before I told you" Bella whispered. She had spent the better part of the week scared out of her wits. And Charlie was hopeless, he had no idea what to do.
"Thats no excuse Bella. I would of wanted to be there for all of it" replied Jasper. "And we are dealing with it together, not just you. I will be with you for everything going forward ok" he said forcefully placing a kiss to her lips. She didn't argue. She wanted him there with her.
They both cried quietly, tangled up together, taking comfort for the other. Charlie watched from the doorway. He wouldn't usual allow Jasper in Bellas bedroom, even if he snuck in a lot. But there was nothing usual about any of this. It was clearly something they both needed. Charlie knew Jasper loved Bella with everything he had. He left them be for tonight. Charlie had, had a week to get the idea to sink in and it still wasn't any closer, so he knew what Jasper was feeling having just found out.
The following morning Jasper woke next to Bella. He loved waking up next to her, but he also knew Charlie couldn't catch him here. He would be shot on sight. He kissed her cheek and forehead and smiled as she smiled in her sleep. His heart ached with love for his sweet girl. After leaving a note he made his way down the stairs and out the door.
Once home, Jasper felt his anger. His father had known a week and never told him. He knew about oaths and confidential issues, but this was Bella. It was entirely different. Jasper started by pushing everything off his desk, nothing made sense to him anymore. How was any of this fair. She was the sweetest girl in the world. Put everyone before herself, looked after Jasper in a way that made him feel like the only man in the world. Jaspers parents found him ripping CD's out of shelves and pulling the shelves out of the walls in a fit of rage. His twin sister was standing behind them.
"What the hell is going on?" Rose asked. Carlisle shaking his head at her. Carlisle knew what the problem was.
"Son?" Carlisle said quietly. It was like they didn't want to spook a wild animal.
"You knew. You knew and you didn't tell me. Why her, she has never hurt anyone. She has never done anything to wrong another person. Hell I don't even think she knows how to be bad. Why her?" cried Jasper agony masking his face. Esme and Rose were at a loss having no idea what had happened. Jasper sank to his knees as Carlisle collected him in his arms and let him cry. Jasper was strong and proud, and Carlisle couldn't remember the last time Jasper cried.
"I couldn't tell you. I only found out yesterday when the results were sent to us for her file." explained Carlisle.
"She had chemo on friday, on her own. Charlie couldn't stay with her. I would have been there with her every step of the way. I'm so scared Carlisle. I can't loss her" sobbed Jasper. Esme and Rose picking up the words chemo and her had pieced together enough to know the problem. Shock radiated out of the room. Rose was no Bella fan, but Jasper loved her so Rose did her best. But Jasper was right, she didn't deserve this.
"Oh god Jasper" said Rose looking at her twin, falling to the ground beside him. "Whatever you need for us to do. Tell us and its done ok"
Jasper nodded at her knowing that meant a lot coming from Rose. "Thanks" his whisper was horse. Edward and Emmett were watching from the doorway completely lost. Jasper wiped his face and looked at his family and gave them as much information as he had. "She is coming for lunch, just be normal with her. She is weak, but its not to bad, they told her that it would get worse the more times she has the chemo until they work everything out for her. Carlisle, Esme, I was hoping she could stay with us on the nights Charlie is working while she has this round of treatment. She shouldn't be on her own that long, not if its going to get worse."
"Of course son, thats fine." Carlisle didn't even have to give it a second thought. Bella meant a great deal to him and his wife. Carlisle was pretty proud of Jasper, sure he was having a few emotional moments which were to be expected, but he was completely putting Bella first. Thinking of things Carlisle was sure Bella or Charlie had not.
By lunch Jasper and his brothers had repaired his room as best they could and cleaned up the floor. Emmett and Edward didn't say much. Both lost in thought. Emmett loved Bella like a sister and Edward had asked her on a few dates when they first moved here. But the second she was with Jasper it was plain to everyone that they were meant to be and Edward gracefully stepped aside for his brother. Edward didn't stand a chance anyway. He instead had worked hard to be friends with a girl for the first time in his life.
Charlie had dropped Bella off, he had to get back to work. And he just didn't know how to deal with it all, how to deal with her. Charlie didn't do emotions well and he was even worse with this sort of life threatening illness. Charlie was used to Bella looking after him, not the other way around, and he was at a complete loss.
Bella smiled bravely at them all when she got there. She knew Jasper had told them, it was easy to spot. But she was thankful that they seemed to be not talking about the elephant in the room. Esme served a lunch full of organic produce from her own garden mostly. She had read this sort of thing could make a lot more difference than people gave it credit. And with the mornings revelations Esme was in health mode, not only for Bella but for them all. It was her way of coping. Of caring and providing for her family. They chatted over lunch, Edward filling Bella in on the school gossip while she had been gone the previous week. Jasper smiled as he listened to Bella giggle about Jessica being caught in the broom closet with Mike Newton.
"Oh god thats so bad" she giggled. "That would be mortifying."
"Yeah" laughed Edward. "Thou Mike seemed pretty proud of himself" and this caused everyone but Carlisle and Esme to laugh out loud.
"God he's a douche" said Rose.
"You ok, you didn't eat much?" whispered Jasper as he kissed the side of her head, everyone noticed what she had eaten, or not eaten.
"I'm ok. Just feeling a little off I guess." she shrugged with a small smile and leaned into Jaspers shoulder. "I love you" she whispered. It was the first time today anyone had asked her how she felt. Charlie didn't want to bring it up. Bella was sure he only wondered where his normal sunday breakfast was, but she just didn't have it in her to cook that morning.
"Come on, lets go watch a movie" said Jasper. Bella got up and then looked up at Esme. She always helped with the sunday dishes. Her and Esme were extremely close. Esme loved filling that loving mother role in Bellas life. Something Bella so desperately needed.
"Its ok Sweetheart. You go and rest" insisted Esme. "Carlisle will help me today" In truth, in that moment Esme was just holding it all in and needed her husband asap. She watched Jasper lead Bella over to their living room, her heart breaking for both of them.
"We can't let her go home Carlisle. She does everything in that house. The cooking, cleaning, laundry" Esme knew that it was just Bella to do all those things, but part of her almost hated Charlie for the way he just let Bella do those things while he sat and watched TV. Jasper had voiced is displeasure about it so many times and Esme had witnessed it as well. It just wasn't right. Bella needed someone to do that for her now.
"Its a lot for us to take on my love?" Carlisle questioned. Thou he did agree with Esme.
"No more than I already do for our family. I want to do this for her. I don't think she even realizes that its already to much for her. And when she is on break she will deserve to have that time to fully recover before her next round, not catch up on house chores or cook meals for a freezer" The more Esme thought about it the better this made her feel too. Bella would have so much support here. Support she would need.
"I agree. Next week is going to be a lot worse thou. She looks run down now, next weekend I would be surprised to see her out of bed." murmured Carlisle. He would have to arm Jasper and the rest of the family with as much knowledge as possible. The pair slipped out to go and see the chief, their children none the wiser. They both knew this would probably be a hard sell. Moving your teenage daughter in with her boyfriend wasn't exactly normal. Both Carlisle and Esme knew their relationship had a physical side. But they were both over eighteen now, responsible and the pair supported them. They knew what it was like to be told you were to young to be this serious about anyone. Carlisle had been that serious about Esme when they were both just sixteen. He felt for his son, they shouldn't have to face this.
Jasper had collected Bella in his lap as some movie started. They were all sitting in the lounge area. Jasper running his fingers through Bellas hair. She didn't last ten minutes before she was out cold. Just moving around had been enough for her. Jasper was looking up at the ceiling, really trying hard to not cry. He had already cried so many times in the last twenty four hours. Rose moved behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. They were quiet. Rose wanted to tell him it would all be ok, but it was an unknown. And Rose could see how sick Bella really was. It was easy to notice that she had already lost weight, weight she couldn't afford to lose when she was healthy, now was even worse. Rose had fought so hard to not let Bella in, but it had happened. And Rose was just as devastated as the rest of them. "I'm sorry Jasper." she whispered into his ear. Jasper rubbed her arm and nodded at her. He just knew that Rose was more than sorry for the current problems. She was sorry for it all. Because now when she looked back, she could see how much Bella could and would be her sister, in the true meaning of the word. Rose just hoped they would get to experience that now.
Bella never woke again that day. Jasper put her in his bed that night worried sick that she had missed dinner. Upon seeing Bella passed out that night after doing very little during the day Charlie gave his permission for Bella to move in with Carlisle and Esme. It was for the best. Charlie just couldn't be what Bella needed right at the moment. Charlie made plans to come to dinner a few times a week so Bella could keep him in the loop so to speak. Being that she was a legal adult it was all Charlie could hope for in regards to her medical information.
And so went the next six weeks. Bella managed a day or two at school a week. Jasper sat with her on fridays for her treatment and then they sped home just in time for Bellas reaction to start. With each passing week she become more frail. Five weeks in and Rose found Bella in tears on the floor of the bathroom attached to hers and Jaspers room. Handfuls of hair in her hands. It was the first time any of them saw it get to Bella. "Bella" said a startled Rose.
"My hair" she sobbed into Roses arms. Rose did the only thing she could think of. She fetched the electric clippers and told Bella to take control. It was just the thing Bella needed to hear. Together they cut and clipped Bellas hair away. Something that bonded them as sisters forever.
Rose had let Jasper know quietly and he had come home also with his blond curls gone. Bella smiled at him with tears in her eyes knowing that he had done it for her. "Come here sweet girl." he whispered as she stepped forward into his arms.
"Thanks" she laughed as she felt his smooth head. He was just pleased she was smiling, it wasn't something she had done a lot recently.
With her round of chemo complete things started to return to normal. With the help of Esmes cooking, Bella started to feel herself, she even put on some weight and found some strength. She even returned to school mostly full time. Thou never straying far from Edward these days at school. He pretty much worried like a mother hen while they were at school. He was worse than Jasper and Esme combined.
The first weekend, many weeks after her last treatment that she felt up to going down to the beach with the rest of their friends was special in more ways than one. On a blanket far away from everyone, which as usual for them, people knew better than to go disturb them in their spot hidden in the rocks. Jasper had pinned Bella under him. He had missed the feeling so much. He could see in her eyes that his girl was back, well for the moment anyway. Her hair was even back for the most part. His tongue had slid over her bottom lip as she opened up to him. She melted into Jaspers kiss. Such a simple thing sparking fireworks to go off.
On a moon lit first beach Jasper once again confessed his love for her. And how she was the half of himself that was always missing when she was gone. She smiled at him while caressing his cheek. "Life is so short. To short to not do all the things we want to do. I never want to know what its like to not wake up to you. I never want to know what its like to live without you. Marry me. Tomorrow Bella"
Shocked she looked at him. "Don't do this because I'm sick. I won't make you a widow"
"I would of done this the second you finished school and we moved on to Seattle. But I'm done waiting because people think we should. I love you, more than anything in my world and I want you to be my wife. I want us to be Bella and Jasper Hale." the love pouring out of him was enough to make Bella catch her breath.
"yes" she whispered and he kissed her for all he was worth. It didn't take Jasper long to push her shirt up and remove her bra. He had found the promise land and they both moaned together has his tongue flicked over her nipple. His hand quickly flicked her jeans open, his fingers softly, teasingly circling her clit. He smiled as she lost it. He loved being able to do that to her. And it had been far to long since they had been able to be like this.
Bella made movement to return the favour, she knew he had to want it too. In fact if the wood she woke up to on a daily basis was an indication, Jasper had been wanting her for quite some time. "No darlin, its all about you. I love you sweet girl."
The following day joined by family and friends Pastor Webber announced them Husband and Wife. Noone had said anything about the timing or their age, knowing that if this is what they needed it was ok. If it was something to live for, it was worth looking past the things that others thought were a problem. Esme and Carlisle opened their home up to everyone for the afternoon. And it was the perfect day in the middle of so much uncertainty. But Bella had been tired during the afternoon and it upset her she had been doing so well. But Carlisle told her it was probably the excitement of the day.
Bella started up the stairs to their room. She had to change, her dress was heavy and she could stand it no longer. She only made it to the first landing before sliding down the wall with no warning, with no sound. She was out.
Jasper was pulling Esme around the dance floor, thanking her for everything she did to help make the day perfect for them. A true mother and son moment when Jasper was overcome with dread. He looked around quickly hoping to spot Bella doing what he was doing, but she wasn't anywhere. "Wheres Bella?"
Esme looked as well. "I'm not sure."
Jasper asked Rose first. "She went up to change, but that was actually a while ago. Her dress it was heavy, so it was getting to her." Jasper didn't wait to answer his sister, he was off up into the house looking for his wife. Something just wasn't right. He was bought to his knees when he found her slumped against the wall.
"CARLISLE" it was a roar so loud that every guest heard the agony in the young mans voice.
Carlisle moved quickly. He had Esme call 911. "Jasper let me get to her" he said to his son. Carlisle feeling her pulse breathed a sigh of relief. He had no idea why Bella had collapsed, but if he had to guess he would say delayed drug reaction and exhaustion. Without tests it was hard to say, but Carlisle could already tell that there would be another round of chemo and very soon.
That night Bella was air lifted to Seattle and Jasper was even more thankful to be her husband and next of kin, as he was able to travel with her. Everyone else met Jasper three hours later in the waiting room. Where Jasper was able to share the somber news that things had not improved at all, that the chemo had not done what they hoped. New decisions were made and a stronger newer drug to be used, a longer round of chemo and a lot of crossed fingers to follow.
The second round of treatment was a lot worse. Bella and Jasper were barely making it back to Forks before she was violently sick. It took a lot longer to recover between treatments. And this time school wasn't even on the radar for her. She had been lucky to get out of bed again before the following friday. She was lucky that she had Jasper and her new family thou otherwise doctors wouldn't of let her even leave the hospital.
The school thought it best she repeat her senior year at a later date, but Bella wouldn't hear of it. She had nearly enough credits to graduate early as it was and so she pushed them to make an exception for her. With the violent reaction to the chemo Bella was given a large break. They termed her living with Cancer. While things were no worse they were no better either. But she refused to let it break her. She stood with her graduating class and giggled at the roar from the crowd that came as the principal called Isabella Hale. He even said a few words about her achievement. All Bella could see was Jaspers large grin. It said it all.
The next two years saw many changes for everyone. The entire Cullen clan relocated to Seattle in their continued support of Bella and Jasper. At his wifes insistence, Jasper started his History degree going just part time. He wanted to be able to be with her as much as possible. Bella even started her own degree online so she could work at her own pace. The university even gave her extra time while she was being treated. They watched Edward meet Alice and between Bella and Jasper as well as Emmett and Rosalie he really took a ribbing. It was all in good humor, even if it amused them a lot more than it did Edward. Alice was in awe of the family and how they banned together to support each other. And when Edward told her the story of Jasper and Bella and all they had been through Alice was right there with everyone else doing whatever she could. She had become the missing part to their family. She stood up for them and defended them against the nay sayers that couldn't quite understand a young marriage or a family that chose to stay together. Alice found herself spending most of her weekends within the large Cullen home.
It was almost five years to the day of her initial diagnoses and two days before Rose and Emmetts wedding that Jasper and Bella finally received the news they had been waiting years to hear. She was finally in Remission. It took them seconds to react to the news, laughing, kissing and Jasper finally swinging her around in the doctors office. The doctor looked on with a smile as the young couple celebrated.
And celebrate they did. Jasper even made her yell it from the top of a building for the whole of Seattle to hear. They both truly knew what it was like to have your dreams actually come true.
