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Jasper's POV

I was stuck in traffic and took another minute to steady my breathing. I shook my head in utter frustration and rubbed my sore hand. I'd never lost my temper like that with Peter before and I certainly had never been violent with him. He deserved that jab to face. He'd be alright. He would probably end up with a bruised ego more than anything.

He had some nerve telling me that he wasn't going to let me do something. Who did he think he was? He had no rights to me and he certainly didn't own me. I was shocked that he'd even said that because when we were dating, he was never possessive or controlling of me. Maybe he was desperate. Both ways, he was full of shit, and I wasn't about to buy into any of the crap he was blowing at me.

"Fuck you, Peter, with the biggest plunger."

I decided to go ahead and voice-dial the number that Ian Zander had left in his message since I obviously had nothing better to do at the moment other than play in Dallas traffic. It took about three rings for someone to pick up.

"Hello, ABC Studios Hollywood." A female voice was on the other end. She sounded very young. Probably so…I'd imagine that everyone out there was super young or young looking.

"Hi, my name is Jasper Cullen and I was returning a phone call from Ian Zander."

"Oh, hi, Mr. Cullen. He is expecting your call. How are you today?"

I cleared my throat after finishing the big sip of water I'd just taken. "I am doing well. And yourself?"

"I'm fantastic." She giggled. "Thanks for asking. I'm going to put you on hold for just a moment to let him know that you are on the line."

"Okay, that's fine." I told her and she giggled again. "You seem very…um…happy."

"I am but actually I just love your accent."

I laughed. "Oh. Thanks. I get that a lot." That was the truth.

She laughed again. "Okay, hold on."

I strummed the steering wheel of my truck and a text message popped up on the dash screen in my truck. I remember thinking that was one of the coolest bells and whistles this big baby had when I bought it brand new off of the lot. All I had to do was connect my smartphone and wah-la…I could hear and see everything on my dash without ever touching my phone while I drove. That was a plus because the boys loved to ride in my truck and I always wanted to be as safe as possible when I had them in my care.

The text was from a mutual friend of mine and Peter's. I had changed my cell phone number when Peter and I broke up, and I never gave him my new number. He must have called Brian after our fight since he couldn't call me. The text read:

"Hey Jasper. What's going on? Peter just called...extremely upset…something about a fight…anyway he wants your phone number."

I tapped my auto code for the word "no" and sent it back to him. A few seconds later he replied: "Okay, what happened?"

"Jasper!" The deep, throaty voice on other end startled me. "Thanks for returning my call. I'm sorry to bother you on a Saturday, but we are trying to complete these applications."

Brian would have to wait. "Oh, that's not a problem. I'm sorry I missed your call. I was in the middle of something and couldn't get away."

"No problem." I heard him shuffling around some paperwork. "So, I received your application and your nomination from Mr. Emmett Cullen."

"Yes. He's my brother."

"He is a persistent young man, and lucky for us. You seemed to be quite a southern charmer…on paper that is."

I blushed. "Well, thank you."

"And based on that hilarious and very entertaining nomination video he sent in on your behalf, you seem to be a prime candidate for our show."

I sighed to myself. I had not seen that video and there was no telling what that big box of nonsense had sent in. Frankly, I didn't even want to know.

"Emmett tends to go overboard." I told him. "He's a little crazy…if you know what I mean."

He guffawed. "Are you kidding? That guy is a hoot! We love him! It's too bad he's married."

I smiled. "And very straight."

He laughed again. "We have lots of beautiful women who would just love to meet him."

"I'll bet." Sadly, that was true. Rosie sure loved him even with all of his relentless shenanigans.

"So are you familiar with the show?" He jumped right into his line of questions.

"I know the gist of it. I've watched a few episodes and of course did a few internet searches. Honestly, I've never seen the male-friendly version…just the straight versions."

"Yes. This is our first season casting same-gender couples. We are looking forward to this and the reception has already been phenomenal. We know there will be some opposition but we are prepared for that. Our team is equipped and ready to accept the challenge."

Traffic was finally starting to move a little. "That's great."

"Yeah. So let me tell you more about the process. The Bachelor franchise has become a phenomenon. It's more than just exotic locales, beautiful landscapes, and steamy scenes."

I laughed and he joined me.

"We have a small army of producers, casting directors, wardrobe assistants, makeup artists, trainers and more who work together to make the magic happen and give us hit seasons."

"Clearly." I interjected.

"I mean don't get me wrong. We want you to meet someone special and fall in love, and to have fun and go into this adventure with an open mind and just basically relax."

"I understand." I understand that ratings are the real bottom line.

"But of course things have changed since "The Bachelor" began its run in 2002. Everyone, including the creator of the show, used to be convinced that we had to climax the show with a big on-camera proposal. That was formerly a must have, however that is no longer the case. While we would love to see that happen, and we hope that will be the case with you, it is not necessary for you to propose. Some of our contestants don't propose, others reject proposals, and vice versa. Those things will be left entirely up to you and your intended."

"Right." I said, moving with the flow of traffic. Another text popped up and I coded "I'll talk to you later."

"Having said that, I want to bring love and a marriage proposal back during this season if at all possible, and put emphasis on a real and true relationship. Obviously, from what I read on the application and saw in the video, it sounds like that is what you want as well. Correct?"

"Yes, that would be nice." I felt my face grow hot. This was embarrassing. I mean, me of all people having to do this…

"The public wants that too, as well as a dreamy, prince charming and cast of gorgeous suitors. Don't get me wrong. They also want their fair share of villains every season."

We both laughed. "Oh boy."

"But don't worry. We are very careful in our casting to develop characters. Some will be loved and some will be hated. You know how it is…just as with a football game. The audience will root for some and root against others."

"Mmm. Hmmm." I murmured. I couldn't help feel some excitement as he spoke. The whole idea that I would be the it man with people clamoring for me to choose this one over that one made me very nervous and unsure, but at the same time intrigued.

"If you are selected, as you know, 25 men will be chosen to compete for your affection."

"I understand. And let me guess, you need only half of those men to be sincere to make a successful season."

He laughed. "Well…let's just hope that they will all be sincere and not just want to get their fifteen minutes. "

"Yeah let's hope." I turned my head swiftly when someone honked their horn at another slow driver. "I certainly hope they will be."

"Like I said, we practice rigorous screening and casting. Casting has become critical to the show's success. You along with the rest of the contestants go through this stringent process, including multiple rounds of producer interviews. The five finalists must take STD tests and complete an 800-question psyche evaluation."

"Oh, wow." That was a lot of questions. "Well it's good that you can't choose Emmett. He wouldn't make it past the first ten questions."

He laughed at my joke. "Somehow I believe that."

"And I'm dead serious."

We laughed again before he continued. "It can be somewhat emotionally taxing. People don't realize how fast emotions get involved. According to our psychologist who conducts psychological evaluations with the finalists, it can really take a toll on you. We want to make sure that people are going to be okay with coping with the stress involved, and make sure that they are going to be offered the help that they need if that's the case."

"That makes sense." I interjected.

"Yeah we don't want you hooked up with someone certifiably crazy. All contestants must be willing to discuss every single event that occurs and share every emotion that crosses their mind during their time on the show, so you have to be psychologically prepared for that."

"That sounds challenging." I admitted. "Everything?"

"Well…you know within reason." He must have sensed my hesitation and tried to soften the absurdity of what he's just told me. "I know that you can't discuss everything, but we want to keep the relationships on camera as interesting as possible."

"I see."

"Jasper, you will be vulnerable and exposed to the men as well as the camera. That is usually the hardest challenge for our Bachelors and Bachelorettes. It takes a lot of trust to willfully be that vulnerable."

"So will I get to just be myself? I mean, the whole purpose of me even remotely considering doing this is to meet new people. In the meanwhile, I want them to know the real me…not a scripted version of the real me. I don't like feeling artificial. If I should find someone special, I don't want him to the see the ABC version of Jasper, but the Jasper that he will spend the rest of his life with."

"Oh, but of course Jasper. We would never ask you to be deceptive or anything like that. Just be yourself. By all means."

"Okay."

"You might have difficult being yourself at first, especially when the first limos arrive to reveal throngs of male contestants. Every time those limos pull up you will feel a wide range of emotions, including fear and nervousness. But the nerves will slowly give way to confidence as you grow into your role as the big man on campus. By the time you've been fawned over by 25 gorgeous men, you start to feel it. Probably on night one, you'll probably come up to one of the producers and say, Oh thank you sir, for this wonderful opportunity. By night two, you'll be ordering people around and demanding: "Where's my water!"

We laughed. He obviously didn't know me. I didn't even boss my highly paid assistant around, so I knew I wouldn't be bossing people I barely knew around.

"I read online that contestants are barred from watching TV, and using phones, laptops, or iPods during the show. Is that correct?"

"Yes. That is correct and for good reason. We don't want outside influences affecting what is going with the couples. It's kind of shocking because for the first few days you're going through withdrawal of everything in your life."

That might not be a bad thing right about now.

"It will definitely feel like a bubble. The total isolation and extreme dating amplifies the intensity and speed compared to a traditional courtship. It takes dating back down to the basics. That's why "The Bachelor" franchise is all about cutting away, just the crud that the world inundates you with, that makes a relationship tough."

"That's understandable. So for several weeks I will be spending all day and night with these men and not be affected by any unwanted influences or distractions other than the men in the house?"

"That's correct.

That's great because I couldn't stand having to deal with my ex and date so many other men at the same time.

"So that's how people become so emotionally involved so quickly."

"Really. For some it takes longer, but it's a show about love. Amid the off-camera hook ups and the behind the scenes drama, the essence of the Bachelor is the emotion. It's a sweet show that has a lot of heart."

He paused for a moment and I took the exit to the Target store that was holding my little girl's unicorn for me.

"So how long do you shoot the season?" I asked. I would need to know how much time I needed to take off from work.

"The show airs for nine weeks, but we shoot each season over the course of seven weeks – longer than most reality shows – because we want real emotion and real connections to develop. Our blood, life, tears—everything is vested in people and for this reason this show has always remained very genuine. There's nothing to it at the end. There's no million dollars. There's no promise. There's no gimmick. At the end of this what you're given is your life. Go. You want to stay with this person, great. If not, great."

Well at least he's being honest with me. I hope that a relationship will develop and go beyond emotions and just a proposal. The true fantasy and magic will lie in a lifelong commitment to a man who genuinely loves me.

"The show will air several months after we are done with production. So you will be sequestered for the production time, and then you return to your normal lives. You will not be allowed to reveal who you chose or to live together or be seen in public together until after we have aired it and it has been reveal on national television. That's part of the contract."

"Now that would be hard to do." When I love, I loved hard. To meet someone and then have to leave him and be separated…that was going to be challenging.

"Yes but you understand why." I nodded.

"So tell me in a few sentences Jasper what your hopes are for the show." He gave me room to voice my thoughts just as I pulled into the parking lot of Target.

"Well, Mr. Zander, I would say that after the disaster that I went through with my ex, I just want fall in love with the right guy. If that dream should materialize during the course of production, that would be great. I sincerely hope that if that is the case, that when it comes time to shoot the final episode, the final rose ceremony, that I will be able to look that man in his eyes and just tell him that I love him and want to spend the rest of my life taking care of him. That's the objective, but if that doesn't happen then at least I would have had some adventure and a great time."

"Well said."

"I do have a few more questions though."

"By all means, ask them."

I cleared my throat and left the engine running while I finished the call so I wouldn't die of heat stroke while I was talking. "Well, I wanted to know if the producers make the guys do crazy things to get my attention?"

"Some of the men will be really over the top. Sometimes the producers encourage that, but the guys will mostly do that on their own because they want to get noticed by the cameras or by you. As some of the guys arrive in the limos, they may be feeling really nervous and may not be able to come up with anything funny to say or anything creative to do when they first meet you…and that's okay. You will have to decide what of that is good with you and what's not. Some contestants think that it is kind of weird when people do those things, so they don't want to do it. It kind of feels forced and can be a turn off for some Bachelors."

"Right. I can understand that. People should just be themselves. Do the men seriously just sit around the house and drink and talk about me all day?"

He laughed. "Well you want them talking about you Jasper. You're the star."

I groaned internally. That much attention was painful already.

"To answer your question, a lot of people drink. If you are smart you don't drink that much! You probably want to be somewhere in the middle if you are a drinker. Sometimes the men may engage in conversations that are not necessarily about you, like on an unrelated topic, and the producers may encourage them to talk about you to keep the focus in the proper perspective."

"What don't people get to see on camera?" Surely they would have to edit a lot of tape for production, so I was curious as to what would actually be captured and shown.

"Well, they don't get to see a lot! They don't see the seclusion we talked about or that you can't talk to your families and that you are totally cut off from the real world. A lot of conversations will be edited or deleted. "

I'm not so sure about not being able to see the boys and Talia. Ugh…And work.

"Do the producers have a say in who I choose to send home?" I certainly didn't want them trying to force someone on me. I might as well keep Peter.

"No. Sometimes the producers might ask you to bring certain guys on your two-on-one dates, but those are usually simply suggestions. You don't have to."

"Do the guys have to participate in all of the activities on the dates? I mean I love anything that involves being outdoors etc., but I wouldn't want to force someone to do something that they are uncomfortable doing."

"The men are required to participate in all of the activities, per the eligibility rules they agree to before going on the show. However, there are exceptions to this rule and they are examined on a case by case basis."

"Wow."

"Yes. All applicants must be willing and able to participate in physical activities such as: skydiving, snow skiing, ice-skating, parasailing, water skiing, rollerblading, and the like. The applicants understand and assume all of the risks. Are you okay with that?"

"Well…yes…I am. I just didn't want to be dating someone who was being force to do something uncomfortable just to be with me."

He chuckled. "Your brother was right. I've been talking to you less than an hour and already I can tell your heart is big and you are not selfish. That will take you very far on this show if you are selected. You seem to care about people and I like that. No worries, Jasper, things will all work out. Couples usually find ways to navigate around their limitations."

"Hmmm. Okay." I got out of my truck and headed towards the entrance of the store. "What really happens in those fantasy suites?"

He laughed loudly. "I was wondering when you were going to ask that questions. Most people do. I will say this much, whatever the couple wants to happen, happens. "

"Ah." I headed straight for the customer service desk and put Ian on mute very briefly while I told them I needed to pick up the Glitter-corn.

Ian proceeded to talk without knowledge of what I was actually doing or saying in Target. "Are you opposed to dating minorities?"

I took him off mute. "Not at all. You know they say the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice."

He burst into a fit of laughter and the cashier gave me a strange look. I just smiled and handed her 80.00 to pay for the unicorn. I laughed along with Ian as I patiently waited for my change and receipt and for her to gift wrap it as I had requested.

"Oh my God. That was hilarious. Your brother isn't the only one with a sense of humor." He relaxed. "I like you Jasper. Do you have any more questions?"

"Do we have a say over what gets put on the air?" I asked while watching Talia's big surprise being wrapped in bright pink glitter paper and the biggest bow they sold.

"None whatsoever. But let me add that this is standard with almost all reality shows and their stars. In fact, any contestant that goes on the show has to agree to allow the producers, if they choose, to reveal information about them that may be embarrassing, unfavorable, humiliating, and/or may portray him or her in a false light, as stated in the official eligibility rules. In other words, everything won't always be positive."

"Oh, boy!"

"But from what Emmett has shown me so far, I don't think you have to worry."

"I'm not perfect. Don't be so certain."

"Interesting. Let me go over a few final questions and then we will wrap it up for today."

The cashier handed me my baby girl's package and I waved goodbye. "Okay."

"Well according to the rules, you must be single and so there is no confusion, the word 'single' means: not currently involved in a committed intimate relationship, which includes any marital relationship-whether or not the parties are separated or currently in the process of divorcing or annulling a marriage. You also can't be living with someone you're having a physically intimate or monogamous relationship with for more than two months. Do you meet the definition of single, Jasper?"

I opened my truck door and got in, gently placing Talia's beautiful gift on the seat beside me. "Um, yes. I'm definitely single." I was sure he was asking because knowing my big beef-cake brother, he probably gave him an earful. As if on cue, he continued.

"Emmett filled me in on your entire back story." He added.

"Un, huh." I figured that much.

"From the time you met, this Mr. Peter Hale, until the time he submitted your paperwork."

"Mmm. Hmmm. Sounds like him."

I continued to listen to him as I headed out of the parking lot towards the hospice facility where Talia was.

"So he's completely out of the picture."

"Yes….sir! Absolutely…we are over."

"Very well then. You are one of our strongest contenders for The Bachelor. This was the first interview and we will run a criminal background check, a credit check…to name a few…before your next interview. You must be free of felony convictions or restraining orders and willing to submit to the required physical and psychological examinations and testing."

"Alright. Sounds great."

"Our producers are also allowed to seek out your former neighbors, teachers, employers, boyfriends, etc. and interview them for any and everything. You have to fill out a complete medical history and the producers have the right to use any of that information, even things such as past relationships and sexual history on the show."

This time I groaned loudly. "Seriously? I mean what does Peter have to do with this?"

"I'm not saying that they will, but you authorize them to talk to him when you come on the show. He is pertinent to your life story…"

I groaned louder and he laughed. I didn't see the humor in it at all.

"Whether you like it or not, he has played some role in getting you here."

I swear I just growled.

"Okay, Jasper, I will leave Peter Hale out of your hearing for now."

"Thank you." I knew he heard the bitterness in my voice.

"He must have really been something." We were both silent and I tried to keep from blowing chunks in my truck. "Okay then, we will be making our selection within the week and we will be in touch one way or the other. We have four other guys who are also great candidates. We have managed to narrow it down to the five of you. "

"Okay, then, but I do have another question." I turned into the hospice facility. "Taking a sabbatical from work will not be a problem by any means, but I do operate my own business and may need to be privy to phone calls that are work related. They should be few and far, but nevertheless we are operating a high roller, so my vocal presence might be required at some point during my duration on the show. Seven weeks is an eternity in our business."

"That won't be a problem. We understand that. Personal calls are strictly prohibited and enforced. Business calls will be permitted with supervision. We do allow exceptions for serious illness or death of family or friends."

"I do have a very sick little friend who is dear to me. She has recently been moved to hospice and we are not sure when she will pass on. How does that affect what I'm doing?"

"If there is a death of a loved one, you will be allowed to leave but bound by contract not to discuss any part of production. Then you can return to complete taping if you are able."

"I mean she might not even pass right away, but I would like to be there for her and her family."

"That's completely understandable and we will work with you on that."

"Wonderful. Well, I look forward to hearing from you." I told him.

"Oh, likewise and thanks again for talking with me Jasper. "

"No problem. Take care."

"Alright you too. Bye now."

We ended the called and I took a few minutes to exhale. I did it. I made the call and after all of that, I actually wanted to go. I felt that familiar excitement return. I was nervous but this could be a lot of fun. I mean, 25 different men, to get to know…to befriend and possibly more. Yes I was very elated after that phone call.

The one thing that was really giving me heartburn was that they could potentially talk to Peter about our relationship. Ugh. The thought of him putting us out there was gut busting disgusting. Especially since he was breaking up with Marc. That meant he would be open to do and say whatever. Ugh! Ugh! It probably wouldn't be that big of a deal if they just interviewed him once and left it alone. I don't know. I just wished they would leave him out of this. This is supposed a new and bountiful adventure for me and I didn't want him anywhere near it.

I walked down the hall to Talia's room with the gift in my hand. I gently knocked on her door and walked quietly after her mother invited me in. She was watching a Disney Princess movie when I came in and her face brightened ten shades when she saw me. She held her frail arms out to me.

Being gone for seven weeks was going to be hard, especially during this critical time. Maybe going wasn't such a good idea. I just couldn't be sure of the time she had left. It would still be another week before they made the selection, and then another week or two for the logistics of it all to be completed. Then I would have to pack and say goodbye to everyone and all of that. It was just bad timing. Ian did say they that they make exceptions for phone calls for illness. Maybe I could just call her and talk to her without disclosing information or video Skype her. If something happened I could always fly back to be with them.

"Jasper! Jasper! Jasper!" Her usual girlie squeal was quieter, softer, but nevertheless very heartwarming to hear. She was always so excited to see me. I spoke to her parents and some other family members who were there, and since she no longer had tubes attached to her, I easily picked her up in my strong arms and hugged her to me. I supported her head and back and kissed her a few times on her cheeks and forehead. "I missed my Jasper."

"I missed you too baby." I told her.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her little head on my shoulder. It was moments like these that made my world so perfect. I pulled her back so she could see my face. "I bought a gift for my princess." I told her.

She smiled brightly. "You did?"

"Of course."

"I made something for you, Jasper." She told me as I sat her down on her pink princess clad bed. It was actually a carriage and she was so beautiful in it.

"What did you make me?" I asked her sitting beside her.

She reached under her pillow and pulled out a medallion that was made of plaster and paint and written on it were the words, "Heroes Believe in Magic" on one side. The other side said, "Love Princess Talia." I leaned forward as she draped it around my neck.

"Mommy helped me make it." I smiled at her mother and her and then kissed her head again.

"Thank you baby. I love it. I will always keep it."

"You will?" She was so innocent and sweet. "You promise? Even after I'm in Heaven?"

I choked back some serious emotion right then. I took a minute to swallow every ounce of anything that would bring sadness to that precious little angel. "Come here baby." I gathered her into my lap and cradled her to me. "I will treasure it forever and ever."

"Then you can give it to your little girl." She whispered against my muscular chest. I felt so protective of her right then. Like it was my job to shield her from all of this pain and suffering. I shook my head at this incredible injustice and kissed the top of her shaved head.

"Of course sweetheart." I whispered to her. The room was completely silent and I could hear sniffling and the people closest to her struggling for emotional control. A few minutes later I pulled her away again and she smiled at me. "Everyone is sad because I'm going to Heaven. I keep telling them not to be sad because I won't be alone. There will be all kinds of princesses there to take care of me."

I nodded through my tears and I swear that one more word and I would have come unglued. Some family members stepped outside. He father turned his head to hide his grief. "Oh, I almost forgot. We still have to open your present." I picked up the bright pink box and sat it between us on the bed.

"It's so pretty!" She said. "What is it?"

I hurriedly dabbed my eyes before any tears fell. "Well…little missy…you have to open it to find out."

She smiled. "Ooh, I can't wait!" She started ripping the paper but I had to help her handle the box. "Jasper!" She bounced up and down on the bed. "Jasper! Jasper! It's a Glitter-corn." She was blown away. I smiled at her excitement…the effect I was going for.

"Yes and it talks and shoots glitter everywhere."

"I know! I know! Look Mommy! Look Daddy!" They smiled and feigned excitement along with her. They were grieving and it hurt to laugh but they put up a good front. "It has lights too!"

"We see. Did you say thanks?" Her mother asked, winking at me. I waved her off. She knew that wasn't necessary.

"Thank you Jasper." She was busy trying to get it out of the box.

"You're welcome, princess. Here let me help." I took it out and put the batteries and glitter and stickers all of the stuff that came with it inside. That gave all of the other people in the room a chance to settle down. Once it was filled, we turned it on and it started talking.

"I want to see it shoot." I heard someone say that it was going to make a big mess, but I could have cared less. I'd pay to have someone clean the room.

"Okay, let' see here." I showed her which button to press and glitter and girlie gunk went all over me. I was covered in girl from head to toe. Talia and her family burst out laughing.

"Jasper." She laughed feebly. "That's funny. You look amazing and soo pretty."

I smiled with her. "Gee thanks baby girl."

"Jasper it plays music too." I leaned my glitter clad torso over that offending unicorn. "It's amazing. This is so cool! Thank you Prince Jasper."

We goofed off with that thing for about fifteen more minutes. The end result was just one more big mess in that room.

Her mother laughed. "Jasper, I'm going to kill you."

I laughed out loud and held up my hands in mock defense. "It's not my fault. It's Talia's. She's so irresistibly adorable. That thing was calling her name."

Talia giggled as her mother sat the unicorn on the floor beside her bed. "We'll sit him right here so he can watch over you while you sleep."

"Right. Cause I already named him Jazzy."

I smiled and her father finally laughed. "That's funny." He said.

I nodded. "I have to agree." A pink unicorn named after me. Yeah…a man's dream.

"So Jasper, did they call you for a prince yet?" My darling little Talia would have to ask me that in front of a room full of people. Oh well, they would see me anyway if I went on the show. The world would be watching the "most eligible gay bachelor."

"Yes and no." I answered her question. "They called me today for my first interview, but…" I straightened her covers. "…I'm not sure if I should go."

Her face dropped taking my heart along with it. "Why not?" She asked.

"Because I don't want to leave you baby girl." I was honest with her. It was the truth. I didn't want to be all the way in LA and leave her here in Dallas. I loved her so much and I didn't want her to miss me. Frankly I didn't want to miss her.

She was visually confused. She shook her little glitter covered head and started becoming upset. Her eyes filled with tears that spill over instantly. "But…but Jasper if you…if you don't go…you won't find your prince and live happily ever after."

Way to go Jasper. Way to make her cry.

"Oh, baby girl, please don't cry. I just don't want you to be sad if I'm not here." I picked her up again. Her tears were making messy tracks through pink glitter on her face. "I didn't mean to make you cry."

She pulled back. "But I won't be sad. I will be happy if you go. I want you to have a prince. You deserve to live in a castle and dance and sing all the time, with lots of magic plates and shooting stars."

I laughed. "Oh Talia." I hugged her to me. "My sweet girl."

"You just have to go, Jasper." She cried into the crook of my neck.

"Is it that important to you?" I asked her. She looked at me and nodded. "Why?"

"Because I want you to be happy." She sniffled. "Don't you?" She was so innocent.

"Of course I do."

"Then you have to go, so all of your wishes will come true. Please Jasper." She pleaded. How could I say no to that?

"But how will I see you and talk to you?" I wanted to make sure she understood what my going to LA would mean for her. "I won't be able to come see you every day and spend time with you. I will be losing so much precious time with you."

"Jasper, I will see you in my head. And we can talk on the phone and stuff."

"Alright baby. If they choose me, I'll go. Just because it means so much to you."

"And because you are my friend and you need a prince. You are so pretty. It would be bad to not have a prince."

Everyone laughed at me standing there covered in pink glitter and princess fairy stickers being called pretty by a little girl.

"Thank you baby." That was all I could say.

"I love you Jasper."

"I love you too baby." I tucked her in bed and was sure her mother would clean her up before she went to sleep. "I'm going to go now but I'll be back tomorrow."

"Are Papa and Emmett coming too?" She asked.

"Oh you know they'll be here."

"Great because I have to beat Emmett at arm wrestling. I've already beat him three times. He's not very strong." She leaned towards me and whispered. "Just between you and me, he wrestles like a girl."

I laughed and smoothed a few blonde tresses out of my face. My hand was still hurting from that jab I gave Peter.

"You're right." I waved goodbye to everyone and her parents thanked me again for the toy. "Sweet dreams kiddo. " She blew me a kiss and I caught it and put it in my pocket as always. "See you later."

"See you later." I left the room and stopped by the nurses' desk and told them to put the room clean-up on my tab. They took one look at me and smiled knowingly. They told me not to worry. They would take care of it.

I felt pretty confident that ABC would choose me. Maybe I was being cocky or just wishful for the sake of that little child. She was weak and feeble and I wanted every fantasy she had to come true. She believed that I deserved to be happy…forever. I looked down at my medallion dangling from my neck. She saw me as hero, but more importantly as her friend. Wow.

All the money and accomplishments that I had couldn't bring me the sense of completion that I felt right then just knowing that I'd made a difference in her life and that she believed in me. I'd always told my Dad that she had been on this planet before. She wasn't just here arbitrarily. She was meant to be in my life. I was truly blessed to have found such a priceless friendship….from a six year old. I couldn't let her down or myself. Now I found myself almost pleading that ABC would select me to be their next Bachelor. The anticipation was going to kill me. I had a nudging feeling, through Talia's persistent faith in true love, that one of those 25 men was mine. I smiled over the butterflies in my stomach. Talia's excitement was contagious. This was going to be a long week.

A/N: So there we have the preliminary interview and a quick glimpse of the mechanics of the show. Jasper is feeling bittersweet about going which is human and understandable. I'm so grateful that Talia believes in him and wants him to find true love.

And isn't Jasper just adorable…all covered in pink glitter…

I don't know if any of you have ever read fanfiction and after you read it you asked yourself a billion questions. Like what happened next? But what about this or that? In an essence so many details were left out. Important details. When I write, I like detail. I like to show my readers what is happening and try to put you in that moment with the characters. I don't like breezy fanfics where no one knows what's going on. I like to take my time and develop my story as well as the characters in it. I like depth and when I'm done reading, I like to feel like I know exactly what's going on.

I want to say that death is hard to write but Talia's journey is so important in Jasper's life and this story would be way off without showing her impact on Jasper's life…and eventually Edward's. Angst is difficult and heartbreaking but it is necessary for Jasper's growth and finding true love in Edward. There will be a time when he has to say goodbye but Talia always have open doors for him to believe and imagine and love. I am so glad you all are reading and enjoying this story. It is so much fun to write and I love reading your reviews. Thank you all so much and I appreciate your time.

Okay so the next chapter…Jasper gets the call as you all know and Emmett helps him prepare to leave…uh oh…lol. Let's see how that goes.

What will happen when they contact Peter?

I would love to hear from you all. Please review and thanks again!