A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, added to favourite or story alert. It makes me feel all warm and mushy : )

Note: There seems to be a misconception: these are two different realities. Vampire Jasper won't remember this because human Jasper is completely different. There are two DIFFERENT realities.

Anyway, I don't own Twilight or any of the characters. I only own the story line.

Enjoy.

3. First Sight

Jasper

Marrying a complete stranger was not something that I wanted. Ever. In fact, marriage was never something I wanted.

So, hearing that my future had already been planned out was not great.

It was a colossal mess. I was angry. I didn't want to be married. I was happy with my life before this. I had the freedom, no responsibilities and nothing to worry about.

My father walked into my study. "What can I do for you, Father?"

"I have come to speak to you about Isabella."

Isabella. Right, that was the name of the future Mrs. Whitlock.

I cringed, even at the thought.

"What about her?"

"I realize your attitude towards this marriage isn't exactly thrilled but I expect you to treat her with respect. Isabella is an innocent girl and she should not have to be treated like this is the end of the world for you."

I fought back the urge to laugh. This was the end of the world. I would be forced to spend my life with a woman I know nothing about. It was expected we have a son. And it was expected I not ruin my family's reputation.

"I mean it, Jasper. This was arranged long ago. Before Charles died."

"I realize that Father." I spat. "There is no need to lecture me."

"Lecturing you is the only way to get you to understand." He growled.

"Oliver, that is quite enough." My mother's gentle voice floated into the room. "Badgering him into doing what you want will do nothing but anger him."

Mother appeared from behind Father and kissed my cheek. "Esme has everything ready for Isabella's arrival. The wedding is tomorrow, my son. I suggest you get some sleep."

"I'm not tired."

"You do not want to be drowsy during your wedding, Jasper." Mother gently reprimanded.

"Yes Mother." I stood up and walked to my room, awaiting my doom of a loveless marriage.

ooo

Esme woke me up the next morning. "It's time to wake, Master Jasper." She said. "Your wedding is today."

"There is no need to remind me of that fact, Esme." I said without getting up.

She frowned as she opened the curtains. It was rainy and cloudy out, matching my mood perfectly. "She is a lovely girl, Master Jasper. I met her last night, along with her maid, Alice."

"She brought her maid?" I asked, running a hand through the blond curls.

"Her mother did not want her to feel homesick." She explained taking out the suit I would be wearing for the wedding. "She believed that having Alice with her would help the transition from her home to ours."

"Have you got the ring, Master Jasper?"

"No." I answered grimly. "Father will give it to the ring bearer before the wedding. He did not trust me with it."

Esme's eyes flashed with an emotion I didn't recognize.

"I'll leave you to get ready than, Master Jasper." Esme left the room and I slipped out of bed. Esme had already drawn the bath. Stripping out of my night clothes, I stepped into the bath. It was warm and just the way I liked it. I washed my hair thoroughly before scrubbing my skin raw.

I dressed slowly, staring out the window into the rain as I did. Maybe God was punishing me for all the sins I've done. The gambling, the lying... using women for my own personal pleasure.

No, I decided. This was arranged before any of that happened. As I stared at myself in the mirror, I sighed at what I saw. I no longer saw myself as the man I used to be. In its place was the man I was about to become.

A husband.

There was a knock on the door. My father walked in without waiting for an answer.

"You look good, Jasper." He said.

"Was there something you needed?" I asked.

He walked to me and handed me a pocket watch. "This was your grandfather's." He said, handing it to me. "Your great-grandfather gave this to him the day he got married. It has been passed down to the men in our family. And now it is yours."

I inspected the watch. The watch had our family crest on it. "Thank you, Father."

He nodded and fixed the cravat. "You will marry Isabella today, Jasper." He said. "It is expected of you."

I sighed and nodded. There was no point in trying to fight him. It was not only my future I would end up hurting but Isabella's as well. I may not want to marry the girl but I do not wish to embarrass her family either. It was especially hard on women because society believes that it is their fault.

"Now, it's time to get married."

Father led me out to the carriage. William, my family's carriage boy, who was no younger than myself, stood waiting.

I stepped into the carriage.

"Make sure he gets to the church William." I heard Father say.

"I will, Sir."

Not long after, the carriage jerked forward and we were moving.

ooo

I heard the doors to the church open and I turned to meet the woman that would be my wife until I died.

The woman I saw was not what I expected. She was beautiful. Her long chestnut hair was braided with white flowers intricate throughout. Her eyes met mine for a fraction of a second but it was long enough for me to see the depth full chocolate brown eyes.

It wasn't until she was standing in front of me and her hands were in mine did I remember that this wasn't what I wanted. Isabella may have been beautiful but she was not what I wanted. None of this was what I wanted.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a petite woman with long black hair staring at my bride. She sighed and looked at the ground, her cheeks losing the colour that was originally there.

I clued in to the priest's words. "...delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." I recognized this quote. This was a favourite of the man's. He always spoke it at weddings. I wouldn't be surprised if he said the same words at my parents' wedding. The man was old enough. "Isabella, if you'll repeat after me." Father Dominic said.

I looked at Isabella, waiting for her to speak.

"I, Isabella Marie Swan take you Jasper Alexander Whitlock, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do us part." Her voice was soft and soothing; I barely paid attention to the fact that she was putting the plain gold wedding band on my finger. She wouldn't look me in the eye but I could feel her hands trembling.

"Jasper, if you'll repeat after me." Father Dominic said softly.

"I, Jasper Alexander Whitlock , take you Isabella Marie Swan, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do us part." I felt sick saying these words, as I put the ring on her finger. I managed to hide them from the girl in front of me but from the look on the good Father's face told me I wasn't fooling him.

"From this day forward, Jasper and Isabella are joined in holy matrimony, in the eyes of God. May they have forever happiness and love in the future. Jasper, you may kiss the bride." I had the feeling Father Dominic was saying this for my benefit. A warning of sorts. I noticed Bella had stiffened at the last words. With a sigh of annoyance, I leaned down and pressed my lips against hers. It was a chaste kiss and I pulled away before things could get out of control.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Whitlock,"

He really was rubbing this in my face. I think he's enjoying this. I linked my arm through Isabella's and together we left the church. Guests threw rice at us as we left.

All I had to do was live through this night.

If only it was that easy.

ooo

The reception party was in full swing. My parents went all out with this. Isabella kept biting her lip nervously.

Upon arrival, it was tradition in my family for the wedded couple to have their first dance before anything else. The guests surrounded us as Isabella and I danced. She kept looking down at her feet. "Is something wrong?" I asked.

Isabella looked at me, her large doe eyes wide. "I'm a horrible dancer." She mumbled. "I'm worried I'll step on your feet."

"Surely you can't be that bad." I laughed.

She proved me wrong when she stepped on my feet. I winced and she apologized immediately. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine." I said.

The song thankfully came to an end before she could cause more damage to my feet. I let her go, noticing the hurt that flashed through her eyes. It was gone almost immediately and she sighed quietly to herself.

Before I could ask her what was wrong, Mother came up to us and pulled Isabella into a hug. "Isabella, you look so beautiful." she kissed her cheek and smiled. "I am happy to have such a beautiful daughter-in-law."

Isabella blushed and smiled. "Thank you." She said. "Please, call me Bella." She added nervously.

Mother's friends surrounded us like a flock of birds, all commenting on the ceremony and how beautiful she looked. Isabella was blushing furiously. "Miss Bella," a soft voice said, popping up beside Isabella.

I studied the girl beside Isabella. She was the same girl I noticed in the church. Was this Alice? The maid who came with Isabella?

Isabella looked at Alice. "You must eat, Miss Bella." She said. "You haven't had anything since breakfast."

"You're right." She said. "If you'll excuse me,"

"Of course, Isabella. It's best to keep your strength together."

When Isabella disappeared with Alice, I looked at Mother. "You were very handsome, Jasper." She said. "I'm proud of you."

"I don't want this, Mother." I said through clenched teeth.

She shook her head, anger flashing through her green eyes, a very rare occurrence. "It is too late now, Jasper. You need to learn to grow up and take responsibilities. You are no longer a child. You have done enough damage to this family's reputation." She moved closer so she was standing right in front of me. "Isabella is a good girl. Remember that."

I sighed and nodded.

When Mother walked away, I noticed Carlisle Cullen was standing at a table, watching the couples dance. It was unusual to see the town doctor. He rarely came to events such as these. I couldn't help but wonder how Mother got him here. I made my way to the table to greet him.

"Good evening, Carlisle." I held my hand out for him to shake. He took it, his hand shockingly cold against mine.

"Good evening, Jasper." He said politely. "Congratulations on your marriage. I wish you all the happiness in the world."

I grimaced. "Thanks." I muttered. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"I am." He said. "I've never seen such a blushing bride."

I followed his gaze to Isabella. She was dancing with my father, laughing as they danced. Like Carlisle said, she was indeed blushing. I noticed that Bella was standing on Father's feet to avoid stepping on his as she did mine.

"Seems to be a trait of hers," I said aloud.

"It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul." He said. "Isabella appears to be someone who isn't afraid to show what she's feeling. It is a very unusual trait."

I agreed.

"You are a lucky man, Jasper." Carlisle said, turning to me. "Do not let her go."

I was surprised by his words. "Thank you, Carlisle."

Carlisle excused himself to talk to my mother while I went searching for my bride. It would seem strange if I didn't try to steal her away from all those vying for her attention.

"May I cut in?" I asked Father.

He was more than willing to give her up. I think he thought I was finally taking his advice. "Are you enjoying yourself, Isabella?"

"Yes." She smiled. "But I miss my home."

"We could always go back and visit." I said tightly.

Her eyes looked sad. "Maybe one day,"

Why do women have to act so strangely?

"Was the wedding to your satisfactory?"

"Yes."

I was at a loss for conversation. Usually women threw themselves at me. There were always topics of conversation. But Isabella Swan—I mean Whitlock—was anything but normal.

We danced in silence, her hands warm and soft in mine. My eyes travelled back to Isabella's maid. She sat at a table, staring down at the table clothes.

She looked so sad.

Was she jealous of what her mistress had?

No. She didn't appear that way. Jealousy and sadness were two different things.

If only there were I way I could find out.

Bella

Dancing with Oliver was much easier than dancing with Jasper. I missed my vampire Jasper more than I even liked this human Jasper. He wasn't the same man.

It was awkward dancing with Jasper again. There was nothing to talk about. If I continue on in this reality, I will undoubtedly forget how to speak.

It will during the last minute of the song that I caught sight of someone I never thought I'd see.

Carlisle!

My heart leaped with joy. It was Carlisle, he was here! I moved away from Jasper at the end of the song. He claimed he was going to ask his mother to dance. I knew we still had the last song of the night to do before leaving.

Which would lead to the wedding night.

Which would lead to... well, sex.

I was going to have sex with Jasper.

I couldn't help but cringe at the thought. My first time was supposed to be with Edward, not Jasper.

"Carlisle!" I nearly threw my arms around him. He looked exactly like he did when I last saw him. Only in different clothes. "What are you doing here? Have you come to take me home? Do you know what happened?"

The man in front of me looked utterly confused. "I'm sorry?"

My face fell when the realization hit. "You don't... you don't recognize me?"

He shook his head. "You are the new Mrs. Whitlock."

"I don't understand." I started speaking more to myself than to Carlisle. "How come everyone else is still human and you're a vampire? It doesn't make any sense."

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end after that.

"What did you just say?"

"That... you're a vampire." His honey gold eyes had gone black. They were narrowed in an expression I've never seen before.

"How do you know that?"

I looked around to make sure no one was watching. Then I pulled the sleeve of my dress up and showed him the scar that James left.

Carlisle's sharp intake of breath told me he recognized it. "You were bitten... and yet you're still human?" he looked at me in disbelief. "How is that possible?"

"It's a long story." I muttered. "Carlisle, you have to help me."

He studied me for several long moments. "What can I do?" he asked.

"I would need to tell you everything, but the story is too long."

"You will have to come see me in a few days."

I nodded vigorously. "I will try to get away."

Carlisle's fingers grazed over the crescent scar on my arm. "Your skin is cooler here than anywhere else." He said. "A side effect of the bite, perhaps?"

"Probably," I agreed. "There aren't many humans that have survived a vampire attack and still live to tell the day."

"And still human,"

"That too," I said.

"Isabella?" Jasper tapped me on the shoulder. "It is time for the final dance of the evening."

I nodded and looked at Carlisle. "It was nice to meet you, Dr. Cullen."

Hopefully he would catch my drift.

"It was a pleasure, Mrs. Whitlock." He did. Vampire speed and all.

I allowed Jasper to take my hand and lead me to the dance floor. He put one hand around my waist and the other in my hand.

"Are you ready for tonight, Isabella?" he whispered.

No.

I looked Jasper in the eye and smiled tightly. "Of course,"

He smiled as well as we finished off the last dance.

Before you ask, yes, Carlisle was always going to be a vampire.

Thanks for reading.

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