A/N: This idea struck me while I was reminding myself why Alice and Jasper are the best couple in the series. I'm not entirely sure how this is going to end up, but I hope you like it. R&R.
Pillow Talk
Over the next week, visions of Bella versus Van took over my dreams. I'd managed to get very little sleep, and it began to show. Monday, at lunch, I caught Rosalie looking at me with concern in her eyes.
"Alice, what's going on? You look like you haven't had a decent night's sleep in a while. Is it your visions?" she asked me quietly, and I briefly saw the same vision I'd been seeing in my mind before remembering I was currently sitting between Jasper and Edward.
"Alice, will she be okay?" Edward asked, looking paler than he already was, if that were possible.
"As far as I know, yes. I think the arm keeping her back is yours. Otherwise, she might try to get up and slip on the ice, putting herself further in harm's way." I answered him, and he sighed in relief.
"Answer me, Alice, please?" Rosalie asked again, and I turned to her.
"Monday night was the last time I slept more than an hour at a time. Every time I close my eyes, the same vision returns to me. Bella is on the ground, against her truck, and I think Edward's holding her there. A van is coming towards them, and then I wake up. The terror in Bella's eyes as this van gets closer to crushing her is enough to make me feel her fear. I haven't been sleeping because I don't want to see my best friend like that." I told her in a whisper, but all of the Cullens and Bella heard me.
"When did you first have this vision?" Bella asked, seeming curious.
"Monday night." I admitted, catching Emmett's attention.
"Then how did you sleep Monday night? You said that was the last time you'd slept more than an hour at a time." he asked, and Edward and Rosalie looked at me in agreement with Emmett and making me blush a light pink.
"I take Alice a flower every night, usually at some point between midnight and four o'clock. When I got to her room Monday night, going into Tuesday morning, she was tossing and turning. I tried to calm her down, but it didn't work, again, and I decided to wait for her to wake up. I stayed with her for the rest of the night." Jasper told his siblings, and Bella, all of whom exchanged looks. "What?"
"Alice needs sleep, Jazz." Edward said, and Jasper looked as if he would have blushed if he could have.
"Edward, it's already probably more than inappropriate that I sneak into her room every night to leave a yellow rose or magnolia on her dresser. I don't think we need to discuss how inappropriate that would be." he said to his brother, but Rosalie interjected before Edward could form a rebuttal sentence.
"Jasper, she needs sleep. If you'd feel better about staying with her, it only has to be the six of us, Esme, and Carlisle who have to know. Given that it's for Alice's own good, I doubt either of them will make a comment about your perceived impropriety of the situation."
"Rose is right, man. We don't know why Alice's emotions get so powerful sometimes that you can't control them, but we do know that you help protect her from these decidedly grim visions. She's your mate, and you know as well as I do what that means." Emmett said, and he sounded more mature than I'd heard before.
"I know, Emmett, I know. I would do anything for Alice, and I'll admit that you guys are right. But I'm still not agreeing to this until Alice tells me it's okay." Jasper said, and I rested my head on his shoulder.
"I like using you as a pillow." I said softly, and he smiled down at me.
"Then I'm going to be your pillow as long as you need me to be." he told me.
I'd emailed Cynthia, as promised, on Friday to tell her about my week. When I got home Monday afternoon, she had finally responded. After I'd done my homework, had dinner, and showered, I sat down to read it.
Alice,
I'm glad you're not miserable in Forks. Would you tell me more about your friends? Daddy and Victoria want to go on a cruise (without me, of course) over my spring break, and I thought about asking Aunt Catherine if I could come and visit while they're gone. If everyone agrees, I'd love to know who I'd be meeting when I get there! Respond soon, Alice!
Love, Cynthia.
I smiled as I read my sister's email. When I finished reading, I shut my laptop off. It was getting late, and everyone else had gone to bed. Jasper would be here soon, and I'd finally be able to sleep.
As if on cue, my bedroom window opened with barely a sound. I didn't move from where I was sitting, smiling as I saw Jasper's reflection in my laptop screen. I let out a contented sigh as he placed his hands on my shoulders and kissed me on the cheek.
"Ready for bed, Darlin'?" he asked, gently rubbing my shoulders.
"Yeah; I'll respond to Cynthia's email tomorrow. Right now, I just want to curl into your side and sleep." I answered, closing the laptop and turning around in my chair to face him.
"Did your sister say anything important or unusual?" he asked, fearing like I did as to what my father might have put Cynthia through once I was gone.
"Not anything alarming, but she wants to come up for a visit in a month. My father and stepmother want to go on a cruise for their anniversary, which just so happens to be the week of Cynthia's spring break. She won't be going on the cruise, so she wants to know if I think it would be okay for her to ask Aunt Catherine to let her come and visit." I told him, and he seemed pensive for a moment.
"Under the conditions that you're still having this vision of Bella versus Van, I am acting as your pillow, and your sister is still being made to believe that I'm bad news by that Yankee stepmother of yours, what would Cynthia's reaction be to stumbling in here in the middle of the night and finding me in your bed?" he asked, and I shrugged.
"Cynth is usually pretty reasonable, but I don't know exactly what Victoria has her believing these days. She's my sweet, understanding, genius sister one moment, but then she's a judgmental prude the next. We were raised with all the values normal, southern girls are raised with by Mama; my sister seems to think she knows everything because she decided to read the encyclopedia for fun and ended up asking both Mama and me questions that she shouldn't have even had, but Cynthia is still young and impressionable. She's looked up to me ever since Mama died, but she also knows that Victoria and our father say I'm not normal. When she called me after our first date, she told me that Victoria told her all men who are affectionate with their girlfriends are only after sex; that's not something Cynthia would have even thought about before Victoria." I explained, attempting to defend my sister.
"As much as I hate to agree with that Yankee and that murdering bastard on anything, you aren't normal, Darlin'; at least, you're only as normal as I am. Plus, assuming we don't want to disrupt the path the future is currently set on, we won't be worried about sex for a while longer yet." he joked, and I giggled softly.
"I love you, Jasper, and nothing will ever change that. If I'm still unable to sleep without you when Cynthia comes to visit, she'll have to deal with it. I think she'd rather have to deal with the fact that I have a handsome southern gentleman in my bed at night to keep away visions of my best human female friend's impending doom than deal with me scolding her again." I replied, standing up and sliding the desk chair in.
"Best human friend?" he asked, adjusting his hold on my waist.
"Bella is my best human friend because I can talk to her about things I could never talk to anyone else about. She understands this world a lot better than anyone else I've ever met who wasn't a supernatural being already." I said, and Jasper gave me a small smile.
"Okay." he said, and I didn't have to have Edward's gift to tell that he was worried about something.
"You, on the other hand, are my best friend overall. You understand me in ways that Bella, nor anyone else, ever could. What's bothering you?" I asked him, reaching up and wrapping my arms around his neck.
"Are we sure Bella isn't some sort of supernatural being?" he asked after a few moments of hesitation.
"Why would you say that?" I asked in response to him.
"Edward can't read her mind." he said, and I let the information sink in before replying.
"What if Bella's gifted, like Edward and us? She could have some sort of mental shield that blocks Edward out." I offered, and he conceded to my point.
"That's possible. Every now and then, new powers surface. Unfortunately, when these gifts or powers come about, they attract the Volturi." Jasper said with a grimace.
"Who are the Volturi?" I asked.
"They're the ruling vampire coven; they make the rules for the entire vampire world, and we're expected to follow their laws or be killed. Most aren't any worrisome laws. Laws like only killing humans who no one will notice or care that they are missing, and not making immortal children, are reasonable. Others, like not going out in sunlight, are laws that most of us would have to be completely insane to violate in the first place. Then, there are the laws that Aro, the leader of the Volturi, created for his own benefit. For instance, the maker is responsible for teaching the newborn all of the vampire laws. Frequently, makers will turn their victims into newborns on accident; Carlisle was turned by accident. Aro also has created rules and laws concerning our gifts. He likes to collect powerful vampires and make them members of the Volturi Guard, a group of individuals who can help Aro further his ambitions for total control. Centuries ago, Aro stole the seat of power from the Romanian Coven, and the last two members of that coven have been on the run ever since." Jasper explained, and I felt a sudden chill.
"You think he'll come after me, don't you?" I asked, and he nodded.
"Carlisle spent time with the Volturi; Aro even offered him a throne, but Carlisle turned it down. They remained friends when Carlisle left their home base, Volterra, Italy, and he made a handful of trips to meet up Carlisle over the years. He's made attempts to recruit Edward, but I've managed to stay off his radar. If he realizes Carlisle has found and brought three additional gifted vampires into his rebellious, animal-drinking, modern coven, Aro would do whatever it takes to get Edward, Bella, you, and me in the Guard. His own gift helps him determine who's lying to him, so never take his hand. If you do, he will be able to read every thought you've ever had, your visions included."
This explanation made me shiver, and Jasper kissed the top of my head. His presence was reassuring, and I relaxed a bit in his arms. Calm swept over me, and I sighed into his chest.
We didn't talk for the rest of the night after that. Silently, we got into bed, and I went to sleep using Jasper as a pillow. For the first time in a week, I didn't have the vison of Bella and the van. Instead, a new vision entered my mind.
I was standing on the beach, clearly back in Biloxi, facing Jasper. His arms were around my waist, and we were standing just outside of a large, white canopy filled with people. I was wearing a white, tea-length dress covered in lace; Jasper was wearing a gray tuxedo with a blue vest and yellow boutonniere.
"Are you ready to go in, Darlin'?" he asked me, and I smiled up at him.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." I answered, but we were approached by Rosalie, who was wearing a yellow dress that didn't clash with her golden curls, before we could go anywhere.
"We're lining up now, so c'mon. They're waiting for you, Mr. and Mrs. Hale." she told us with a loving smile, and I smiled back at my new sister.
"Lead the way, Mrs. McCarty-Cullen." I teased her, and she laughed as we walked to where Edward, Bella, Emmett, Bree, a couple of tanned, teenage boys I couldn't remember ever seeing before, and Lauren.
"Jacob and Seth are inside with Renesme and Cynthia already, and Carlisle and Esme are keeping an eye on all four of them." Bella told me, and I nodded.
One by one, the couples were introduced by an unseen and unknown MC as they entered the canopy. Edward walked in with Bella; Emmett walked with Rosalie; Bree walked with one of the tanned boys, who was apparently called Brady; Lauren walked with another tanned boy, who was named Embry.
Jasper and I were the last to walk in, which I understood, as this had to be our wedding reception. The MC introduced us as Rosalie had greeted us, and we walked in to the sound of cheers from our wedding guests. The first thing we did was the first dance, and the song was perfect. "How Do I Live Without You" described the current situation Jasper and I were in. Obviously, it would continue to describe our relationship; I found I didn't mind that very much.
When I woke, the sun was just beginning to rise. Jasper noticed, closed the book I didn't realize he'd brought with him, and turned to face me. I greeted him with a smile.
"No visions of impending doom?" he asked, almost teasingly, yet lovingly.
"I didn't have any visions of Bella dying this time. I did however, see our wedding reception and our first dance as husband and wife." I said, and he appeared intrigued.
"Was it everything you could have ever hoped for?" he asked, and I sighed.
"Everything was gorgeous, beautiful even, and perfect. We danced to "How Do I Live Without You" by LeAnn Rimes. Our wedding colors are yellow and blue, and we're getting married on the beach in Biloxi. It was an overcast day." I told him.
"It sounds perfect, Alice. I should probably get home and change; I'll be back to pick you up in a bit." he said, leaning in and kissing me lightly.
"I love you." I told him, his lips forming a smile inches above my own.
"I love you, too." Jasper said, and then he kissed me again.
When Jasper opened my window to leave, we both let out mild groans at the blanket of white powder that coated the ground. Even though he couldn't feel the cold, being from Texas made Jasper dislike the snow on pure principle. Being from Mississippi, where our last major winter weather event had been about ten years ago, I was becoming confused as to how I needed to dress for this type of weather.
"Hopefully, this will melt before the end of the week." I said, and he nodded.
"I'll see you soon, Darlin'." he said, kissing me for a third and final time before climbing out my window.
While I was trying to decide on what in my closet I could create a winter outfit from, I heard my door open. The scent of roses crept into my room, and I turned away from my closet in confusion. Standing in my doorway was Rosalie.
"What are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you, Rosalie!" I asked her, and she smiled.
"Well, I figured you didn't have much experience dressing for snow, so I thought I'd come and help. Jasper and Emmett are downstairs with your uncle, discussing music." she told me, and I sighed in relief.
"Thank you, Rosalie. I have three coats, more jeans than I know what to do with, and plenty of shirts; but, I am at a loss when I factor in the snow." I said to her, and she closed my door and joined me by the closet.
She scanned my clothes, making very little noise as she did so. I watched as she pieced things together, crafting a pink-themed ensemble. Upon actually seeing it, I loved the outfit she'd created for me.
"Here, this should work nicely. I dressed Bella this morning, too, so I might have been working with a slightly-varied-shades-of-red theme for the three of us. I'll see you downstairs in a bit, okay?" she said, and I let out a small laugh.
"Okay, I'll be down in a few."
When I did finally make it downstairs, ten minutes after Rosalie had left my room, I found Rosalie standing at the bottom of the staircase.
"So, what do you think?" she asked now that I had the outfit on.
I was wearing dark-wash skinny jeans, a gray pullover, a pair of lighter gray, high heeled boots, a pink coat, and a pink, fringe scarf. Remembering what Rosalie said, I looked over her outfit. She was also wearing dark-wash skinny jeans, but she had a tan sweater and red ankle boots on. Her family crest locket was peeking out from beneath her red scarf. Now, I couldn't wait to see Bella.
"I think we look great." I told her, and Rosalie actually hugged me.
"I make a good big sister, right?" she asked me, almost nervously, I might add.
"As far as I'm concerned, you're the best big sister I could have hoped for." I said, and she smiled again.
Jasper and Emmett smiled when they saw the two of us giggling together, but their smiles were thin veils over their worry.
"Don't worry, boys, we're not going to gang up on you…today." I said, and they rolled their eyes at us.
"We need to go ahead and get to school Edward's driving Bella's truck, Emmett and I are going in the Jeep, so, Jasper, you and Alice take her car." Rosalie said, and I took my keys from my purse and tossed them to Jasper, who caught them with ease.
At school, the four of us waited for Bella and Edward to arrive. I was glad, as I observed the parking lot, that Jasper had driven the car. There was ice everywhere in the parking lot. I waited, bored, until the sound of Bella's truck's engine reached my ears. Edward drove the truck into the parking lot, parked in the free spot on the left side of my car, and shut the engine off. He and Bella got out, and I noticed Edward send Bella a playful glare.
"Just because you're trying to be polite by opening my door for me doesn't mean you have to, Edward." Bella said.
"But, as you've just said, I want to." Edward countered, and I watched them with amusement.
Bella walked around to the back of the truck, to where Edward was standing, and looked at my outfit. I looked at hers as well, and I had to agree that Rosalie had been right. Bella was dressed in red skinny jeans, which I doubted were something she had bought herself, a blue and white striped sweater, and tan boots. She had on a dark blue coat similar to my own, and a plaid scarf that was probably her own. Rosalie had completed her task of dressing the two of us new to snow amazingly well, but I had this nagging feeling pulling at my mind. When the squealing of tires reached our ears, I realized what that feeling was.
"MOVE!" I cried out, and we all tried to get out of the path of the van skidding across the parking lot.
Unfortunately, as she and Edward attempted to run after the four of us, Bella slipped and twisted her ankle. Edward looked up at me, and I ignored that inner voice telling me to take Jasper's hand and continue running; I ran towards my future brother and sister. Jasper kept trying to pull me along, but to no avail.
"Alice!" he called after me, trying to keep me from getting as crushed as I feared Bella would be.
"Look out!" I called back to Edward, and he threw his arm up as the van neared them.
The van slammed into Edward's hand, turned, and smashed into my car. Bella's head had hit the ground as she tried to dodge the shower of shattered glass that had been my car windows. The van's passenger side mirror, which had been knocked off by my car, spiraled towards me. I threw my arms up to shield my face, and Jasper grabbed me around my waist. He pulled me to the ground just after the mirror scraped my forearms.
"Is she okay?" I asked Jasper, and he shrugged.
"Edward!" he called.
"We're okay! Bella's got a small cut on her forehead, and her ankle is probably sprained from her slip on the ice, but we're good. You guys?" Edward called back to us, and Jasper started to look me over.
"Alice has some minor bruising on her arms, and a slight cut on the head from hitting the ground when I pulled her down. We're good!" Jasper called to his younger brother, and Emmett and Rosalie reappeared.
"Oh, thank God! We'll check on Tyler." Emmet said, seeing we were okay, and the two hurried over to the van.
Before too long, the parking lot was filled with half the population of Forks. Everyone wanted to see what was going on, it seemed. Jasper and I had moved to sit beside Edward and Bella, and I was relieved to see that Bella was mostly okay.
"We're all going to have to go to the hospital." Edward said, and Bella groaned.
"Is this really necessary?" she asked, and I snorted.
"Bella, half the town showed up for a car accident with no fatalities. What isn't necessary at this point?" I asked sardonically, and she nodded in agreement.
"The good news is that Carlisle is working today. We should be in and out fairly quickly. The bad news, if you want to call it that, is that we have to go back to our house after we get out if we don't go back to school today." Jasper said, and Bella and I looked at him curiously.
"Esme will want to know that all six of us are fine." Edward said, and I laughed.
"Four out of the six of us are virtually indestructible, and she still worries. Esme is a great mother, and I hope you all tell her that as often as you can." I said, and both boys frowned.
"We should probably tell her that more." Jasper admitted.
"We should probably also tell Carlisle that he's a great father more often as well." I heard Edward add, and I smiled.
"That goes without saying, but I'm glad I didn't have to tell you that one, too. You four really do need to realize how lucky you are to have Carlisle and Esme." I said, and Edward gave me the perplexed expression I had grown used to over the last week.
"It's none of your business, Edward. She'll tell you when she's ready." Jasper said to his brother, not needing the ability to read his mind to know what Edward wanted to know himself.
Edward relented with a sigh and helped Bella up. Jasper did the same with me as the EMTs approached us. Bella and I had a silent conversation with our eyes and refused to get into the ambulances without our mates. The EMTs gave up on trying to convince us otherwise, so we got into the two ambulances in groups of two.
At the hospital, Bella and I were taken into the ER. The boys went in search of Carlisle. Tyler, who I recognized as one of Lauren's friends, was wheeled in on the opposite side of Bella from me.
"I'm sorry about your car, Mary." he told me, and I shook my head.
"It's fine, Tyler, and I prefer Alice. Uncle Michael didn't pay much for it, and I'm not dying, so it's fine." I told him.
"As soon as I can drive again, I'll drive you to school for as long as you want." Tyler told me, but I shook my head again.
"I'm pretty sure Jasper will take care of that." I reminded him, and he paled.
"Oh, right. Bella, I didn't see you there, you know. My breaks locked up, my wheels jammed, and I lost control on the ice. I am so sorry." he said to Bella, and she shook her head.
"It's fine, Tyler. I sprained my own ankle, and I'm not angry with you. Edward was there to pull me out of the way, and we're both fine. It's not your fault." she said, and I was sure Tyler's expression became further frightened when Bella said Edward's name.
"Sheila, take Mr. Crowley to get stitched up while I check on Ms. Swan and Ms. Brandon here." came a smooth, familiar voice, and then we saw Carlisle.
"Yes, Dr. Cullen." the nurse behind him said dreamily before she escorted Tyler away.
"Does Esme know how these nurses behave around you?" I asked with a giggle, and Carlisle gave me a fatherly smile.
"She does, which is why she makes it a point to visit me for lunch twice a month. How are you girls feeling? The boys and Rosalie told me what happened." he asked, and Bella and I giggled at Esme's method of reminding the nurses that Carlisle was not interested in them.
"I feel a bit dizzy, but I'm not sure if that's from where my head hit the pavement or how fast Edward pulled me to the ground and away from the van in the first place." Bella said, and Carlisle checked her vitals.
"You seem fine, but you probably have a minor concussion. Alice?" he turned to me.
"Relieved. I know Jasper said my arms are bruised from the mirror, and my car is completely totaled, but I also know Bella's no longer in danger." I said, and he smiled at me.
"You girls are lucky that you just have minor scrapes and bruises. Bella, your father's here, and Alice, your aunt and uncle are here. Walk with me, and we can see about getting them to let you go with the boys and Rosalie." he told us, and Bella laughed.
"I think she'll need these." Edward said as he walked in holding a pair of crutches.
"Do I have to?" Bella asked.
"You sprained your ankle, Bella, so yes, you do. It's only for today, so you'll be able to get rid of them tomorrow." Carlisle said with a teasing smile.
"You just love babying us, don't you, Carlisle?" I asked, and he smirked.
"It sounds like you've got me all figured out, Alice." he said, and I giggled.
This was what a father was supposed to be.
"Not now, Edward." I said without looking up to see the same confused and concerned look he'd taken to giving me.
"I hope you'll trust me enough to tell me someday." he told me, and I hopped up and walked over to him, wrapping my small arms around him.
"Edward, I do trust you. You're my brother, and I know you'll do whatever you have to in order to protect me. Jasper would do the same for Bella. However, I don't enjoy talking about my reasons behind those thoughts. I have to talk to my aunt and uncle, and, depending on the answer they give me, I'll tell you all. I promise." I told him, and he hugged me back.
"Thank you, Alice. I'm glad you're my sister." he said, and I smiled.
I'm glad you're my brother.
Edward smiled at my thought, and I grabbed Bella's purse while he helped her up. The three of us and Carlisle walked out into the waiting room where my aunt and uncle were standing with Chief Swan, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper. Rosalie saw Bella's purse in my arms and raised an eyebrow at me. Jasper waited until I neared the group before taking it out of my hands and giving it to Rosalie.
"You don't need to place even a light weight on bruised forearms, Alice." she told me with a fake glare.
"I know, Rosalie, I know. But, you know, Edward just didn't think the bag would match his shoes very well, so someone had to carry it." I said, and even Chief Swan laughed at my joke.
"On that note, the girls are unharmed for the most part. Alice has slight bruising on her forearms, a cut on her right temple, and a totaled car. Bella has a sprained ankle, small cut on her forehead, and a mild concussion. They should be okay to return to school tomorrow. Sending any of the seven of these kids back today would be pointless, as I know that the adrenaline won't wear off for a little while. If any of you are interested, Tyler should be released by this afternoon. Any further questions?" Carlisle explained, and Chief Swan spoke up.
"Does this mean I can take Bella home?" he asked.
"Actually, if the Mallorys and yourself wouldn't mind, Esme heard about the accident but didn't want to get swept away in the crowd that has amassed; she asked if it would be alright if the girls went back to our house for a little while. I assure you, they would be home no later than four-thirty." Carlisle said, and I peeked at Aunt Catherine and Uncle Michael, both of whom appeared uncertain.
"I'm okay with that, mostly because at least someone would be looking after Bella. I have to get back to the school and make sure we have all of the reports in order; I'd end up leaving her alone all day otherwise." Chief Swan said, and Bella smiled.
"Alice, be home by nine. As much as we'd love for you to be safe at home, Lauren is going to be beyond upset when she gets in from school. Despite the fact that you were almost killed, she'll see it as you trying to steal her popularity again. I don't know how I raised a child like that, but that will be coming to an end soon." Aunt Catherine said, and I nodded before remembering my sister's request and my promise to Edward.
"I'll give her time to cool down. Oh, before anyone goes anywhere, I got an email from Cynthia. They want to go on an anniversary cruise, so she wants to come for a visit next month over her spring break." I said, and Uncle Michael nodded.
"I'll call your father and set it all up. I'd rather her here anyway. The fact that he didn't even notice his eight-year-old come home in a taxicab alone last week speaks volumes as to why he shouldn't be allowed to parent a child." he said, and I nodded in agreement despite being the one to send Cynthia home alone in that taxicab.
"I'd have preferred you both moved here, but this is good enough." Aunt Catherine added, and I hugged the two of the gently, minding my arms.
"Oh, thank God! You're all okay!" this was the first thing Esme said when she saw us.
She had come out of the house, looking both put together in her purple blouse and coat and harried in her expression. She hugged each of us and pressed a gentle kiss to each of our foreheads before letting us in the house.
"I'm just glad this whole thing is over!" I said, and Esme gave me a sad smile.
"I'm glad you won't be forced to see that vision anymore." she told me, giving me an extra hug.
"Alice, is it okay to tell me now?" Edward asked, and I shook my head, seeing Carlisle's Mercedes pull into the garage in my mind.
"I don't want to have to say this more than once, and I have a feeling I won't have to. Just wait a few more minutes." I said as all the vampires' ears perked up.
I had had another waking vision. This one, I thought, I might have even tried to see on purpose.
"What's Carlisle doing home so early?" Edward asked, but no one said anything until Carlisle came into the living room where we were all gathered.
"Alice, I hope we are about to discuss the anomalies in your medical chart." he told me in a stern, yet fair and fatherly tone.
"I intend to, but I wanted to wait for you to get here. I think I might be getting more control over my visions the more I'm around you guys." I said, and he smiled at me as he sat down beside Esme.
"What anomalies are in Alice's chart?" Edward asked, and Carlisle looked at me.
"The man I call my biological father is not any part of what a father should be where I'm concerned. He's always hated my visions, and I have been hurt many times because of that. There was a lot of minor bruising that my pediatrician noticed, but nothing my father didn't manage to explain away. After he got away with murdering my mother, I had the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning up after everyone, and caring for our horses. If I ever made any mistakes at all, he'd hit me. I had a vision, about two months ago, of him doing things to Cynthia, my little sister, that I wanted to kill him for. I made the decision to move in with Aunt Catherine and Uncle Michael, and I confronted him about my vision. He slapped me across the face, grabbed me by the throat, and threw me down on the barn floor as hard as he could. When my shoulder had to be set, he blamed all my injuries on one of the horses. Do you understand my thoughts now, Edward?" I explained, and Edward nodded solemnly.
"Carlisle is more of a father to you than your own, and Esme has put herself into that motherly role you haven't had since yours died. Carlisle and Esme treat you the same way they treat us, and you're just happy to know that you'll always have one set of parents that will love you." he said, and I just nodded.
There was the sound of something snapping in two, and everyone turned to look at Emmett. The television remote sat in pieces in his lap, and he looked angrier than I'd ever seen.
"Emmett, I feel the same way, but lashing out will solve nothing. I know that doing nothing seems like we're failing in our roles as protectors, but karma is a bitch. He'll get his sooner or later, trust me." Jasper said, and Emmett appeared to relax.
"So, I shouldn't call my friend, Maddie, and ask her to hex him?" Bella asked, and Jasper gave her a short nod.
"Exactly. He will get his just desserts, and we won't have to get involved. I take it Maddie is the witch you mentioned last week?" he responded.
"Yeah, she moved to New Orleans to study under her grandmother when we were in eighth grade." Bella said, but the atmosphere was still tense.
Eventually, the heaviness got to Emmett and Rosalie. They both rose from the couch and left the room. I saw Rosalie walk back towards the garage and remembered that she was a certified mechanic. Cars were probably her stress outlet. Emmett went outside, and I guessed that he was venting in his own way.
Bella and Edward left soon after, the two of them heading up the stairs to Edward's room to listen to classical music and debate literature like they had at lunch the week before. Jasper and I stayed with Carlisle and Esme, and everything seemed so much lighter that way. Looking at the relief on Jasper's face, I realized the tension had gone from the room.
"Hey, it's okay if you want to get out for a while." I told Jasper, attracting Carlisle and Esme's attention.
"Sweetie, are you okay?" Esme asked, both of she and Carlisle leaning toward us.
"I'm better now, Mom." Jasper told her, smiling as he spoke.
Esme was speechless upon realizing what Jasper had called her, so Carlisle took the opportunity to speak up.
"If you decide to go anywhere and want to take the Jeep, tell Emmett I said you could. I've got to get back to the hospital soon, or else people will start to talk." he said, and Jasper and I both nodded.
"Sure thing, Dad." Jasper said to him, and Carlisle beamed before moving towards the door to leave.
"Wait!" I called out, and he stopped and turned back around as I hurried over and hugged him as tightly as I could manage.
Carlisle hugged me back, and a vision pulled me in as he held onto me. I sitting in a limousine beside Carlisle, I in my wedding dress and him in a gray suit with a yellow vest.
"Ready when you are, Alice." he told me.
"Thanks for doing this. You didn't have to." I said, and Carlisle adjusted the white circlet that sat on my head, my veil pinned to it.
"Alice, sweetheart, you know how Esme and I feel. Your mother is gone, and your father is indisposed. You've been just as much our daughter as Rosalie and Bella from the day we met you. As your other father, if you will, it's my responsibility to walk you down that aisle and see that you marry the man of your dreams." he said, and I could feel the tears brimming in my eyes.
"I love you, Dad." I told him, and he smiled down at me.
"I love you, too, Alice." he said, placing a kiss to my forehead and opening the limo door.
I came out of the vision, and Edward and Bella had returned downstairs. Edward looked at me strangely as I stepped back from Carlisle's embrace. I fought tears for real, and everyone in the room was focused on me. I blushed lightly and looked at the floor.
"He's telling you the truth, Alice; or, he will tell you the truth." Edward said, and I looked at him directly. "I can't help it; I would have to be miles away from here to not hear your thoughts."
"What is it, son?" Carlisle asked Edward, and he looked to me before answering his father's question.
"Alice had a waking vision. She gets them every so often, and this one was of you telling her that she has been just as much yours and Esme's daughter as Rosalie or Bella since the day you met her; you told her that, because of that fact, it is your responsibility to walk her down the aisle and give her away." Edward said, and Carlisle turned back to me.
"Alice, sweetheart, it would be my honor to walk you down the aisle." Carlisle said, and I gave him a watery-eyed smile.
"Thank you!" I cried out breathily.
Carlisle hugged me again, kissed Esme, and turned to the other three. Jasper hugged his adoptive father, and Edward followed suit. Bella appeared to be debating hugging Carlisle herself, so I gave her an encouraging smile and mouthed 'Go for it!' So, Bella moved towards Carlisle when Edward backed away. Just as with me, Carlisle enveloped Bella in a warm and fatherly embrace. When he released her, he placed a kiss to her forehead. Again, like I had done myself, Bella blushed a light pink.
When Carlisle had gone, I noticed the looks Jasper and Edward were exchanging. I looked over at Bella, and she shrugged, confused as I was. Esme saw, and she decided to take the initiative.
"Boys, what are you two thinking?" she asked.
"Edward and I were just wondering if you wanted to show your greenhouse to Bella and Alice, Mom." Jasper told her, and Esme smiled.
"Would you girls like to see it?" Esme asked us, and Bella and I nodded.
"We'd love to, Esme." I told her, and we followed her out of the house.
Esme's greenhouse was almost an extension of her. It was warm and inviting, and I felt very safe there. Looking around, I saw two very familiar flowers amongst the bright bunches of flowers and vegetables. This was where Jasper got the yellow roses and magnolias he'd been bringing me.
"It's beautiful, Esme." I said as I continued to look around.
"It's very…green." Bella added, and I laughed.
"Everything here is green when compared to the desert!" I told Bella, still laughing.
"And everything here is cold compared to living on the beach!" she retorted with laughter of her own.
"Girls, behave." Esme said in a not-quite scolding tone.
"Sorry, Esme." we chorused, still giggling.
"I don't know exactly what those two are planning, but I assure you they have the best intentions." she told us.
"Oh, I have a feeling Edward just wanted to talk to Jasper without Bella and I hearing what they're saying. They just made you our babysitter, Esme." I said.
"Those boys better have a good reason for this." she said, seeming somewhere between agitated and sympathetic as she led us back up to the house.
Inside, we found Jasper and Edward in the kitchen. Both were covered in flour, and the kitchen was a mess. All three of us sighed at the sight of them, and then we heard the shower running upstairs.
"Baby, baby, baby." I said, taking in Jasper's appearance as he attempted to wipe the flour from the lower part of his face, while giving him my best "Reese Witherspoon as June Carter" impression.
"I'm sorry, Darlin'. Edward and I were just tryin' to make lunch for Bella and you, and we wanted to give Esme some time off; but, we got into a bit of a flour fight when we tried to fry some chicken." he told me, and I smiled and shook my head.
"And you got Emmett and Rosalie involved how?" I asked, and both boys looked sheepish.
"Emmett came back in from his hunt, and Rosalie came up from tha garage, right as I was throwing a handful of flour at Jasper. I hit them both, and they joined in the fight. In an effort to not scar anyone for life, namely me, they are in separate showers, Mom." Edward explained, his focus on Esme.
"Clean this up by the time Alice and I get back, boys. I'm going to take the girls out for lunch, and then I'll drop Bella off at her father's house. Edward, you are picking Bella up in the Volvo tomorrow, as you've left her truck at the school, but I'm borrowing it for the afternoon. Are we clear?" Esme said, hands on hips.
"Yes, Mom."
"Yes, ma'am, Mom."
Esme smiled at her two flour-coated sons, and they both realized she wasn't actually upset with them. I stepped forward carefully and stopped in front of Jasper. He smiled down at me, his face even whiter than normal, and I shook my head at him.
"Keep those hands to yourself until you've had a shower, honey. I'll see you in a little while, okay?" I told him before pushing up on my toes and placing a kiss to his flour-free lips.
"I love you." he said softly.
"I love you, too." I told him, and then I followed Bella and Esme down to the garage.
We ended up having a quick lunch at a new coffeehouse, and Esme decided to broach a sensitive subject with Bella and me while the two of us ate. It was almost time for the Ladies' Choice dance at Forks High School, and many guys had been discussing who would get to take Bella despite her clear interest in Edward and the dance being Ladies' Choice. As for me, I tended to stay away from dances because I had never even had the remote possibility of a date for one.
"Have either of you put in any thought towards the Ladies' Choice dance? The Forks rumor mill is saying that Bella has three different dates, none of whom are Edward, and that Alice isn't going at all." she asked us, and we both shrugged.
"I don't dance very well." Bella said. "I'm a bit of a safety hazard on the dance floor."
"I haven't been to a school dance since my eighth-grade formal; even then, everyone stayed away from me because they thought I was weird." I responded.
"Well, I can assure you that your mates would be more than happy to go with you. However, Bella, if you don't feel comfortable going, Edward would just as soon stay home with you that night." Esme told us, and we smiled at her.
"Thanks, Esme."
"Yeah, thanks; everyone keeps saying that I should go, but I'm just too clumsy for a dance." Esme squinted her eyes slightly at Bella as my future-sister spoke.
"What are we talking about?" a familiar voice said from beside me, and I looked up to see Rosalie, her arms laden with shopping bags, taking the empty fourth chair at our table.
"School dances." I told her, and she nodded.
"You can probably get away with skipping the Ladies' Choice, but you'll have to go to Prom. Edward will want you to have as many human experiences as possible before you have Renesmee." she told Bella, and Esme nodded.
"I only have to go to Junior Prom, right? That I can manage." Bella asked, and Rosalie nodded in agreement.
"When is the Ladies' Choice dance?" I asked, thinking about how close we were getting to the end of March.
"It's this weekend, and I have every intention of skipping it. If neither of you plan on going, we could go prom dress shopping that weekend?" Rosalie answered.
"That sounds like fun!" I said, but Bella looked a little nervous.
"I guess it would be better than waiting until last minute if I have to go to at least one prom as a human." she said where only we could hear.
"That's the spirit, Bella!" I said as Rosalie and I giggled, with Bella joining in after a few moments, and Esme smiled at the three of us.
"I'm glad you girls are getting along. We should probably get back out on the road if Bella is to get home by three." she told us, but Rosalie put her hand up almost childishly. "Yes?"
"Why don't you go ahead and take Bella home, Mom? Alice, if she wants to, can come with me to Seattle for a few hours. Her aunt called just after you left, and Lauren is still pretty worked up; she caused a scene in the cafeteria, and the school pretty much demanded she be sent home for the remainder of the day. The boys are going out hunting tonight to work out their frustrations, so I thought Alice and I might be able to have a sleepover of sorts. I'd ask you to stay as well, Bella, but I know your dad's expecting you home." Rosalie said, and I couldn't stop myself from grinning.
"Trying to butter my up by calling me 'Mom,' Rosalie? I'm joking, but it's fine with me if it's fine with Michael and Catherine." Esme said, and I texted my aunt.
Aunt Catherine was more than okay with me spending the night with Rosalie. Knowing that Carlisle and Esme would be home and paying close attention to me, though Esme has said that was mostly being said for my aunt and uncle's benefit, put Aunt Catherine and Uncle Michael's minds at ease. So, while Esme and Bella rode back to Forks, Rosalie and I set off for Seattle. Riding in the car with Rosalie was fun; despite being born over fifty years apart, she and I had similar tastes in music, and we sang along to every song that came on the radio. She drove faster than Jasper had when we went on our date, and part of me wondered if he drove slower with me in the car on purpose. I voiced my thoughts to Rosalie, and she agreed.
"Knowing my brother, he's worried that, if he drives too fast, he could end up putting you in danger. Jasper would have been especially careful with you in the car after you told him about the baby." she said, and I groaned.
"I'm going to have a talk with him about this. I like the way you guys drive; it's fun, and I want to do it too!" I said, and Rosalie laughed.
"Just wait until you get to pick out your first car." she said, and that led me to another discussion topic.
"Jasper's still waiting." I said, and she snorted.
"He found one he liked a few months back, but Edward told him that it was stupid to get a truck before Jasper could even bring it up to Carlisle and Esme." she said, and I shook my head at her words.
"Edward also thinks everyone should drive a Volvo. I'll add it to my list of things Jasper and I need to talk about." I said exasperatedly, and Rosalie let slip a good-natured chuckle.
The rest of the car ride, though very short, was mostly quiet. Even though she had gone shopping in Port Angeles, Rosalie had decided we were going shopping together in Seattle. We ended up at Northgate Mall, and Rosalie turned to me before we got out of the car. The look on her face was serious enough to make me listen without hesitation. When she spoke however, I found her statement worthy of a sigh and sarcastic eyeroll.
"Alice, I'm asking you politely, don't try to buy anything today. I have unlimited funds to use, and I want to use them on you today. Do you understand?"
"Rosalie, I don't like this, but I'll accept on one condition." I told her.
"Okay, what?" she asked.
"We have to buy things for Bella, the boys, Carlisle, and Esme as well." I said, and her serious face turned into a smile.
"Deal! Let's go!" she said with a laugh, and she unlocked the car doors.
Several hours later, Rosalie's car was filled with shopping bags. My newfound big sister had created an entire winter wardrobe for both me and Bella. While our sister would definitely be surprised, I knew she would love the gift nonetheless. Each of the boys had brand new boots and jeans; Rosalie said something about them constantly getting into wrestling matches and making a mess of their clothes. Carlisle and Esme were easier to shop for than Rosalie had made them out to be. I picked out a watch for Carlisle, and Rosalie and I had it engraved with the words "I love you, Dad. -Ed, Rose, Em, Jazz, Ali, & Bella" on the underside. Esme was going to be the proud owner of a necklace that had the word "MOTHER" spelled out in the six of ours' birthstones: M was in a crushed pearl for Edward; the O was in amethyst for Rosalie; the T was in emeralds for Emmett; the H was in garnets for Jasper; the E was in diamonds for me; and the R was sapphires for Bella. I told Rosalie not to tell me how much everything had cost, and she had consented. Happy with the way my day had turned out, I dozed off in the car.
"-ice. Alice. C'mon, little sister, we're back." I heard Rosalie calling my name, and my eyes fluttered open.
"Home?" I asked sleepily.
"Yeah, Ali, you're both home." another voice said, and I smiled.
"Hey, Em!" I greeted my new brother.
"Babe, I thought you guys were going out hunting tonight?" Rosalie asked, and Emmett moved around the car to where she stood.
"Rose, we are going hunting, I promise. Jasper just wanted to wait for you two to get back. He missed her so much, he made me miss you even more than normal. Did you have a good shopping trip?" he said to her, and even Rosalie seemed taken aback by just how much it sounded like Emmett just missed her presence instead of missing her body.
"We had fun. Alice helped me pick out some new things for you three boys, and I splurged a bit on both of our sisters. We also got some things for the wonderful people we call our parents. Let's go back inside so everyone can get their gifts before Alice needs to go back to sleep." she said, teasing me, and I let out a laugh.
As if my laughter was a beacon, alerting him to my location, Jasper appeared in the garage doorway. When he looked at me, a smile spread across his face, and his entire being seemed to brighten. I could feel Rosalie and Emmett staring at me from behind, but the pull I felt towards Jasper was greater. I crossed the garage as quickly as I could manage, and Jasper's arms wound securely around me.
Neither one of us said anything to the other. We didn't need words to describe how much we had missed one another. The emotions rolling off me and the way he held my body close to his was more than enough.
By the time Jasper and I ended our embrace, Emmett and Rosalie had taken all of the shopping bags inside. We went inside, Jasper leading me by the hand, and sat down in the living room with the others. Jasper and I sat down between Edward and Rosalie, and it appeared as if our siblings had been counting on that. Rosalie gave me a short nod and reached into the bags at her feet. I moved closer to her, and she handed me one of the boxes. Opening it, I saw it was Esme's necklace.
"We'll pass these around to you three, as we texted Bella pictures earlier, and then we'll give them their presents." Rosalie said, and I passed the necklace to Jasper.
Rosalie handed me the watch, after showing it to Emmett, and the necklace made its way back to my sister. Once she and I had both items back in our possession, we stood up. Giggling like schoolgirls, we made our way over to Carlisle and Esme.
"This is for you." Rosalie said as she handed her box to Esme.
"And this is for you." I said as I handed mine over to Carlisle.
We sat back down as they opened the boxes, and all five of us waited in anticipation. Esme appeared unable to form words upon seeing the necklace, and Carlisle could only smile. Edward translated to us what they could not say.
"They love them, and us, and Dad doesn't even care how much the credit card bill will be after this."
"Thank you, Edward, for translating. I can't tell you kids how much this means to me, but I know Jasper can feel what I'm feeling. So much has happened in such a short amount of time for our family, but I can't help but feel that it was always meant to happen. Everything seems to be falling right into place." Carlisle said, and Esme nodded.
"Alice, I'm not sure that either you or Bella know, but I lost a child as a human. My death and rebirth came about because of me losing him; I never thought I'd have another child, and now I have six beautiful, unique, and wonderful children. Not that I'm wishing to rush time or anything, but I suspect things will get even better once I have my three equally as amazing grandchildren around, too." Esme said, and I felt the tears forming in my eyes as an old vision of Esme, one of Carlisle finding her broken body at the base of a cliff and him calling out for someone to help, returned to my mind.
"She knew." was all Edward said as I got up and hugged my vampire-mother.
"After Mama died, I vowed to hate anyone I was told would be my new mother. I love you, Mom." I told Esme, and she hugged me back while gently stroking my short, black hair.
"I love you, too, sweetheart." she said, and everyone turned to Edward as his phone buzzed just as Esme and I ended our hug.
"It's Bella. She wants to know how you two liked your gifts. What should I tell her?" he said, smiling at our adoptive parents.
"Tell her the truth, idiot!" I giggled out, and Edward maturely stuck his tongue out at me.
"Behave, both of you." Esme said, but she ended up laughing along with the rest of our family at our antics.
Shortly after Edward sent Bella a response text, the boys went on their hunt. Rosalie and I gave each other manicures and pedicures, while Carlisle and Esme went into their respective offices to work while the house was essentially quiet. While our nails dried, we played Never Have I Ever, which is the same game as I Never, just measured in how many fingers out of ten you have up rather than in alcohol. By the end of the game, in which we had managed some serious sister-bonding time, our nails were dry and we were setting up Emmett's Playstation.
"Do you think he'll care that we played?" I asked, and Rosalie shrugged.
"Emmett will probably be more upset that I won't play these games with him than anything else." she said, and I let out a laugh as the loading screen for Street Fighter appeared on the television.
An hour later, I had started yawning. So, Rosalie turned the game off and held out her hand. I accepted it and followed my sister up the staircase and into a room at the end of the hall. The entire room was a cool, yet soothing array of gray with pops of yellow thrown about. The built-in bookshelves were filled with histories, philosophy texts, and binder-bound editions of Psychology Today. This was clearly Jasper's room.
"Edward's supposed to be picking out a bed for Bella when she'll eventually sleep over here, but Jasper's was here before we knew about you; he prefers to stretch out when he's reading. I think you'll like this part a bit more, though." she said, motioning me towards a set of white doors on my right-hand side.
Opening the doors, Rosalie revealed a massive walk-in closet. All of Jasper's clothes were on one side, and all the clothes she had bought for me earlier in the day were on the other side. I felt like I was in heaven.
"Just my half of this closet is bigger than the one Aunt Catherine gave me; I'm in heaven right now, Rosalie!" I cheered, and she laughed.
"I knew you'd love this. Your pajamas I bought are in here as well, so get some sleep. I'll be downstairs if you need anything." she said, and I nodded before yawning again.
She left the room quietly, and I picked out a pair of silver satin pajamas. Once dressed, I felt a chill across my arms; the top of the pajamas was a tank top. I scanned my clothes for a suitable sweater to put on over my pajamas, but I couldn't find anything that I thought went. Instead, I turned to Jasper's side of the closet and took a black sweatshirt he had hanging up. As I pulled it over my head, the familiar scent of lavender and honey surrounded me. Now dressed for bed, I went about turning off lights and closing the door. I was asleep before my head even got settled on the pillow.
While I slept, I felt the pull of a vision. I was back at the baseball field with Jasper, only our family was there this time. It appeared Bella and I were learning how to play baseball the vampire way, and everyone looked to be having fun. Then, everything changed. We were upwind now, and a new scent had caught the vampires' attention. Out of this mist, across the field, I saw three figures emerge. One was about as tall as Rosalie and had dark olive skin; his hair, long and dark, was tied back from his face. The next was a bit taller than the first, dirty-blond, and overwhelmingly average. The third, a face I would have recognized anywhere, was as tall as Esme and had a face framed by fiery curls. It was my stepmother, Victoria.
"What do you want?" I heard Jasper say through gritted teeth while moving me behind him and pressing me into his back.
"We'd heard rumors of high-powered clans claiming permeant territories in the area and wanted to see if they were true." the dark one said eloquently.
"I can assure you, it is. I take it you must be the ones causing trouble in the area." came a very diplomatic response from Carlisle.
"We have meant no harm to your coven, I assure you. How is it you do not have red eyes?" the eloquent one said, noticing everyone's eyes.
"We, as to say my family and our cousins to the northwest, keep to a strict diet of animal blood. It allows us to pass as normal in society. My wife and I work, my children all go to high school, and we've all pursued university degrees." Carlisle explained, and I kept my eyes shut tight, as my bright green was vastly different from the gold of my vampire family and the dark brown of Bella's.
"What sort of work do you do?" the eloquent one asked.
"I am a surgeon, and my wife is an architect. Two of my sons have medical degrees, and one of them is also certified as an EMT. My other son has doctorates in History, Philosophy, and Psychology. My eldest daughter is certified as a mechanic, a hairdresser, and a cosmetologist along with holding PhDs in music and physics. We each have many other degrees and areas of specialty." he answered the eloquent vampire.
"Unless you have any further business here, which I highly doubt, you should keep moving." Jasper told them in a low growl, and the three vampires backed off slowly.
"Perhaps we shall meet again." the eloquent one said, and the wind picked up.
All at once, the dynamic shifted. Where it had been about hiding me, and keeping Bella off the trio's radar, it was now all about protection. The three had caught Bella's scent, and the blond started back towards us.
"Who is this delectable little morsel you've been hiding?" he asked, reaching to pull me from behind Jasper.
"This one smells divine." Victoria said, looking at Bella.
"Move your arm, or you lose it." Jasper growled out, putting as much fear and commanding into his voice as possible.
"I'll get her one day, blondie, and you won't be able to stop me." the hunter said, and I raised my head a bit to look around.
"Mary, dear, what a surprise! Won't you even give your new mother a hug?" Victoria said, and I cringed.
I shot straight up in the bed and felt my head hit something solid. Looking up, I let out a sigh of relief at seeing Jasper's face. Curling into him without a word, I sobbed. All of the fear and anger I had felt during my vision was slowly being replaced with calm and love.
"Darlin', what did you see?" he asked after a few minutes of calming me down.
"Victoria." I said, by throat dry.
"Did something happen to your sister?" he asked, but I shook my head.
"Victoria is a vampire." I said, and Esme appeared in the doorway with a glass of water.
"Your stepmother is a vampire?" she asked, handing me the glass.
"Thanks, Mom." I said before taking a drink and then setting the glass on the bedside table and continuing. "Apparently so; though, that might explain why she was always complaining about the sunshine in Biloxi. She was with two other vampires in my vision, both male, and she appeared to be the blond male's mate. They found us on the baseball field, you guys were teaching Bella and me how to play, and the third one started asking Dad about how this family lives so normally. The wind picked up, and they caught mine and Bella's scents. Well, only the blond noticed mine. The other two went towards Bella, and he came towards me. Jasper scared them, but Victoria still called herself my new mother."
"You say that only one of the three reacted to your scent, and your stepmother was not the one, correct?" Carlisle asked me as he joined us.
"Yes, and I thought it was strange, too. Why wouldn't the others react?" I asked.
"I thought it strange for an entirely different reason, sweetheart. I've noticed the way everyone in this family reacts to your presence. Not once has anyone, Jasper especially, made mention of your blood. It's almost as if you've masked your scent somehow. My concern is with how, if no other vampire can smell your blood, could he?" he explained, and Jasper wound his arms around me a little tighter.
"She's got to be his singer, Dad. It would be the only way he'd smell her blood no matter what we did." Jasper said, and our parents nodded in agreement.
"But we must be able to stop this somehow. Changing her before he can smell her is out of the question. Not only does it violate the treaty, but it also keeps us from having our grandson born into this world period." Esme said, and I nodded.
"We could fight them. Even with it being six-on-three, it wouldn't be easy though. If they drink human blood, they're still slightly stronger than we are." Jasper offered as an alternative.
"Where's everybody else?" I asked, sure that the others would have joined the four of us upon hearing that we were making plans to take out a small coven of nomadic vampires that happened to include my stepmother.
"When the three of us got back, Rose told Emmett to pack an overnight bag; she didn't say where they were going, just that they'd be back tomorrow night. Edward barely took the time to put on a clean shirt before he left for Bella's." Jasper said, and I tried to picture Rosalie and Emmett in my mind.
"This was the exact one he wanted, Em. It suits him, I think." my sister said as she did a short overview inspection of a Ford Harley-Davidson Edition F450.
"I did it!" I cheered after opening my eyes and seeing my family's stares.
"What did you do, exactly?" Carlisle asked.
"Dad, I had a vision on purpose. I know where Rosalie and Emmett went, but I'm not saying where. It's a surprise, and I'd hate to ruin it." I told him, and he smiled when he heard what I called him.
"It's still pretty early, so try to get some sleep. Jasper, stay with her, will you?" Esme said, and Jasper nodded.
"Sleep well, Alice." Carlisle said as he and Esme headed towards the door.
"We love you." Esme added.
"Love you, too, Mom, Dad." I mumbled as I yawned.
They walked out of the room, and Jasper stepped into the walk-in-closet to change. A few minutes later, clad in black sweatpants and a white t-shirt, he got into bed beside me. Instead of curling into him and going to sleep, I rolled over on my side to face him.
"I wasn't going to say anything at first, but now I kind of want to know. Are you wearing my sweatshirt?" he asked, and I giggled.
"I was trying to decide on pajamas, but all of the ones Rosalie bought me were shorts and tank tops, and most were satin. This one is, too, and I was cold. So, I walked around to your side of the closet and picked the sweatshirt I liked. It's soft, and it smells like you." I told him, and he reached out for my left hand.
"And what exactly do I smell like?" he asked curiously.
"You have the distinct scent of lavender and honey; like you, it's calming, yet sweet." I said, and he smiled.
"Out of everyone I have ever known, not very many described me as sweet." he said, but I just shrugged.
"I don't think anyone truly knows you the way I do. Even Maria." I told him, and he seemed taken aback that I knew his creator's name.
"Have you had visions of Maria before?" he asked tentatively.
"Once or twice, my visions of you were of you with her. I understand why you liked her. She's really pretty, even in vampire terms, and she acted as if she cared for you in the same capacity you cared for her. You didn't know about the spark until you met Dad and he told you about it, so you couldn't know that she knew you weren't hers to begin with. But, I know the real you, Jazz." I said, and his expression softened a bit.
"Tell me about the real me?" he asked.
"The real you, Jasper, is still a soldier at heart; that part will never leave you, and I don't want it to. However, the real you, the Southern gentleman that you are, is also very sweet, and very loving, when given the chance. You're charming, for sure, but your gift is somewhat of a curse to you as well. You can feel what everyone around you feels, and that includes your prey's terror and your family's thirst. Living as a vampire is difficult for you, not that it's a complete walk in the park for anyone at first, because of your gift. You think yourself a monster because of what you did with Maria in Mexico, the vampire wars amongst other things, but I'm telling you that you're not. These scars, the ones you earned in battle and always try to hide, tell your story. Your scars show how far you've come, how hard you push yourself every day of your life, to live in a family that loves you and to have a future like the one I've foreseen. In my eyes, your scars make you beautiful, and that is the real you." I said softly, gently tracing a crescent shaped bite on his forearm as I spoke.
Jasper didn't respond at first. Then, he placed a finger under my chin and tilted my head up, perfectly angled for a kiss. The emotions I felt coursing through me, the ones I was sure he was sending out, told me all I needed to know. When he pulled back, the emotions he had shared faded into my own.
"Darlin', I want you to promise me something." he said, and I smiled.
"Anything." I told him.
"Promise me that, no matter what, you'll remember that I'll always be yours?" he asked me nervously, and I gave him a light peck on the lips.
"I promise, Jasper, that you will be mine, and I will be yours, always and forever. You never have to let yourself become that soldier entirely ever again." I told him, and he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.
"I love you." he said, kissing the top of my head.
"I love you, too." I said before falling into a calm, visionless sleep.
When I woke next, Jasper was gone, but he'd left a note on his pillow. I picked it up and smiled. It read:
Darlin',
I hope you aren't reading this, because I really wanted to get back before you woke up. If you are, I give you my apologies, ma'am. Your aunt decided you wouldn't be able to go to school today because you wouldn't have time to get home and change before the late bell. Well, that's the story she told Lauren, at least. We can't go around telling everyone that you and Bella now have the best wardrobes anyone in town without the last name of Cullen or Hale has, can we? I'm going with Esme to pick up some human-friendly things for you and Bella, and I'll be home as soon as vampirically possible.
Love, Jasper
I shook my head, still smiling, as I set the note down on the bedside table where my glass of water had been before I'd gone to sleep. I didn't feel like leaving the bedroom just yet, so I decided to go over to the bookshelf beside the closet door and look through Jasper's CDs. He had just as many as Edward claimed to have himself, and most of them were anything but classical. Rock, 80s Pop, Hair Metal, and Country lined the shelves; I contemplated putting the George Strait CD, but then a black case caught my eye. Pulling the slim CD from the shelf, I smiled down at Johnny Cash's 16 Biggest Hits album. This would work.
I was sitting on the bed, my backpack beside me on the floor and my sketch book in my lap, listening to the end of "In the Jailhouse Now" when Jasper opened the door. Looking up to greet him, I saw his expression and tilted my head to the side. When he inclined his head towards me, I looked at myself and realized what was going on. I had gotten warm while sketching, and I had taken Jasper's sweatshirt off and tossed it onto his desk chair, leaving me in my silver, satin tank top and shorts. Giggling to myself, I placed the sketch book on top of his note from earlier, slipped off the bed, and walked over to him.
"You seem to be at a loss for words." I said, and he chuckled.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up." he finally managed to say.
"Don't be; if you had been, I wouldn't have gotten warm enough to take you sweatshirt off. Just go on and kiss me already, you fool." I told him, and he let out another laugh before pulling me into his arms and kissing me deeply.
As the opening notes of "Ring of Fire" began to play, Jasper closed the door behind him and moved us towards the bed. When we broke apart, almost completely for my benefit, he took a breath he didn't need. I was still underneath him, but I was okay with that. We knew our current limitations, and neither of us was tempted to push those bounds.
He kissed me again, and, this time, his lips left mine and trailed kissed down to my neck. Trying not to laugh at the stereotypical vampire image we were becoming, I enjoyed the feeling. After a few minutes, he pulled us both up, moved his face from my neck to be on level with mine, and stared into my eyes.
"I love you, Alice Brandon." he said, and I closed my eyes and snuggled into his chest.
"I love you, Jasper Whitlock." I replied, content to take a short nap in his arms.
A/N: R&R, and please remember this is a fanfiction. I get annoyed when people seem to forget that. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
