Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Or Edward – Or Robert – Damn it.

APOV

Blonde hair.

Messy blonde hair falling over eyes that look like the sky on a clear day.

Perfectly pouty lips and a jaw line that screamed, "Please lick me".

I sighed, staring at the ceiling in my hotel room, as I thought his name over and over again. I felt like I was back in middle school, writing our initials on all of my folders and daydreaming about the object of my heart's desire. Only this time, I was really quite smitten, and wanted something much deeper than a childhood crush.

Jasper. Jasper, Jasper, Jasper.

I was so damn curious about him. He'd talked a lot last night, and I had let him, reveling in the slight lilt in his voice. I couldn't tell what it was, but it sounded like perhaps one of his parents was from the South and it had only slightly impacted his accent. He was so intriguing… not to mention that he was undeniably, unbelievably sexy.

Last night had been wonderful for Jasper and I. Bella had freaked out on Edward, but I wasn't particularly worried about that – I had a feeling about the two of them. It would all work out. Rose had Emmett, and I could tell her feelings for him were deeper than she let on. And I was completely enthralled by Jasper. He had gotten carried away, talking about Tahoe, the environment, and his job here at the Inn, and I had gotten completely lost in the blue depths of his eyes. He was the most handsome man I had seen in so long, it almost hurt to look at him.

It was funny when I really thought about it, because I had come into this vacation wanting a sex god who could keep my evenings busy for three weeks. Instead, I'd found someone I was, quite possibly, falling head over heels for, and damn if I wasn't enjoying every moment.

I stood up slowly, stretching and still thinking of my blonde haired, blue eyed crush, and walked into the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and hair, and then washed my face. Jasper and I had a breakfast date. He'd stopped by on his way home from the hotel bar last night, and I wanted to look flawless despite the tiny number of hours I had slept after taking care of Bella for a while. I had to make sure that all the alcohol she had consumed wouldn't be making its way back up and into the toilet. I stood in front of the small closet in my room where I'd hung all my clothes on the wooden hangers the Inn had provided me. What to wear, what to wear

Finally I chose something I considered Snow Bunny-esque. I pulled on black tights and a denim skirt that fell to mid-thigh. Under my teal parka, I wore a black long sleeved, form fitting v-necked shirt. I pulled on my boots. Bella made constant fun of me for them, but I loved them to pieces. They rose to mid calf and were a beautiful black suede leather, with black fur lining the top few inches. I applied my make up and grabbed my room key, before walking next door to check on what I was sure would be my very hung over best friend.

As I snuck through the door that adjoined our suites, I could see Bella – dead to the world, hair strewn over the pillow behind her. I shook my head at the rather unpleasant memories of the night before and walked to her mini-fridge. I knelt down, pulled out a bottle of water and grabbed two Advil from the small container I'd brought to her last night. I put both the water and the headache medicine on the night stand, kissed her forehead and walked stealthily out of her door, on my way to the café. I wondered briefly how Rose's evening with Emmett had gone, but it was early and there was no point in waking everyone. Besides, if it had gone the way it looked like it was going to—champagne and strawberries, no less—I was pretty sure Emmett was still in her room. No need to interrupt.

The walk seemed to take forever. The elevator seemed to move at turtle speed, and I was starting to feel as though I'd lose it by the time the door finally opened and I regained my composure. I walked as calmly as possible to the entry of the restaurant, told the host that I was meeting someone, and stepped into the café.

Jasper was there, seated at a table near a window, and I almost swooned at the sight of him. He was so handsome I could hardly stand it. He waved me over and I smiled as I approached. "Hello, beautiful," he said quietly.

"Hello, yourself," I replied. "How are you this morning?" I asked as I took a seat across the table from him.

He chuckled. "I'm great. You are aware that it's really cold outside, right?" he asked, and I assumed he was taking stock of my tight covered legs.

"Are we going outside?" I asked. He nodded. "It will be fine. I'm a trooper."

"Alice, honey. It's 12 degrees outside."

I winked at him as the waitress approached us. We both ordered breakfast, I ordered a Bloody Mary, and we began talking. Jasper was so smart, funny, handsome, charming, and … perfect. It made my heart swell to know that he was interested in me. I wanted to know him. I found that it was appealing to me to think that I could one day know him so well that I would instinctively know what his reactions to things would be. I wanted to know the details—good and bad—about him, and I wanted him to know the same about me. It was a bit frightening, this instant attraction I had for him. I'd never outright said I didn't believe in love and first sight, but really, I thought perhaps that was just the case with Jasper.

When he spoke to the waitress, I took stock of his gorgeous profile. There was something so rugged about him. Emmett was the brawny kind of handsome. He was all muscles and curly hair and dimples. Rose had good taste. Edward was almost disgustingly gorgeous. His features were chiseled, his hair perfectly tousled, and I could see what Bella saw in his tall wiry frame, even if she didn't quite yet. But Jasper … Jasper was tall and thin and just … manly. He had those messy blonde locks, piercing blue eyes and the well-toned physique of a model, but he was decidedly rugged in his looks. It wasn't something I could put my finger on, but I loved it.

"So, Alice, do you think you can bear the cold in those tights?" he asked as we finished up our meal. So he had noticed my tights … and therefore my legs. I giggled internally.

I nodded. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, I thought we'd take a walk around one of the trails here. It keeps close to the property, and it's pretty well-worn, so you won't have to come into any kind of contact with an animal bigger than you are," he teased.

I grinned. "Are you implying that I'm short, Jasper?"

"Not at all, ma'am," he said as he stood up and extended a hand to me. When he winked at me, I thought my heart might stop.

I took his hand and as I stood, I happily noted that he intertwined his fingers with mine instead of dropping my hand altogether. We walked outside and I was immediately shocked by the cold air on my legs, but after the bravado I'd shown earlier I refused to go back to my room to change. "Are you sure, Alice? I mean, I don't mind waiting," he'd said.

"No, I'll be fine," I murmured. Really, I was still reveling in how lovely his hand felt wrapped around mine, but I would never admit that to him.

We walked for a moment and he cleared his throat. "This way, if you're sure you're not going to freeze," he said quietly.

I laughed lightly and smiled wide. "I said I'd be fine, Jasper. Don't you worry."

He nodded. "Alright then. Don't say I didn't warn you."

As we continued to walk, making quiet conversation as we went, I took in some of our surroundings. The snowdrifts were piled high—almost to my shoulder—and the quiet of the woods seemed almost ethereal. All that was audible, aside from the way our shoes crunched in the snow, was the sporadic calling of birds. The stillness was enthralling. I could immediately see why Jasper and Edward had chosen Tahoe as the place for their internship.

I made the mistake of thinking it wasn't terribly cold until a gust of wind blew past us and I gasped lightly. Jasper stopped mid-sentence and looked at me in concern. "I'm fine," I fibbed. "Really."

"Well, we're coming up on the place I wanted to show you. Do you trust me?" he asked.

It seemed like a loaded question, but perhaps that was because I wanted to be able to read into it, to make it something more, to believe he wanted a future with me the way I did with him. "I think so," I answered quietly.

He squeezed my hand. "You're sure about that?"

"Yes, Jasper, I am," I reaffirmed.

"Alright then. Close your eyes."

I was a little surprised, but I complied. I counted as he led me twenty paces in a wide arc, before he stopped our movement and released my hand. When he did so, my hand felt so empty I almost whined, but he said, "Alice? Open your eyes."

When I did, I could scarcely breathe.

The snow covered the ground in an even layer. We were standing among trees that grew so tall that I couldn't see their tops. In front of me was a startling view of the lake below us. It appeared to be frozen solid, and scattered along its shores were large, craggy rocks. Several trees and shrubs grew haphazardly around its edges, and they were all covered in a dusting of snow. The sun gleamed off of the frozen lake in a brilliant way, and it was necessary to squint to take it all in. It was absolutely beautiful.

When I spoke my voice was reverent. "Oh, Jasper. This is … it's … I'm at a loss for words."

"It's my favorite spot. When it was warmer out, I used to come sit out here and play around with my guitar. Sometimes Edward came with me. We'd spend hours out here."

Keeping my eyes focused on the lake, I said, "You and Edward are close." It was a statement, not a question.

"He's my brother for all intents and purposes. So is Emm."

After that, we stood in silence and I took in the absolute peace of the place. It was awe-inspiring. The only distraction was the fact that I was suddenly extremely cold. I was battling my body's response to the well below freezing temperatures. I was shivering all over, so I tried to think warm thoughts—summer, the sun beating down on me—but nothing seemed to work. I smiled at him, hoping my discomfort wasn't too obvious. After all, it was my fault that I was inadequately dressed for the wintry weather.

His voice was soft. "Alice, honey?"

I looked up at him and his lips were turned into the slightest smile, only the corners of his lips turned up. His eyes were dark blue somehow, and the effect was smoldering. "Y-yes?" I asked through teeth that were beginning to chatter.

"If I may …" he said, his voice falling off. He leaned against the tree that stood behind him, and extended his arms toward me, beckoning me to come closer. The idea of being wrapped up in his arms was something that made butterflies immediately well up in my stomach, so of course I moved toward him.

As soon as I was close enough, his arms encircled me tightly, holding me to his chest. He wrapped his jacket around me and we stood that way for a minute as I breathed in his cologne. I listened to his quiet, regular breathing and then he whispered, "Alice?"

I looked up at him and a look of absolute peace was on his face. Ever so slowly, he lowered his lips to mine. I absolutely reveled in the feeling of his lips on my own. They were soft but firm and perfect. When he gently caressed my lips with his tongue, I greedily parted my lips. I wanted to taste him, and for him to taste me. Warmth spread throughout my entire body. I forgot to feel cold. I forgot my chills. I forgot the bitter wind that sliced through the trees that surrounded us. I was somehow comfortable and all that mattered was Jasper and I.

When we parted, I kept my eyes trained on his and he whispered, "I feel like I've been waiting for you my whole life," and wrapped his arms tightly around me.

As I stood there, pressed against his chest, I closed my eyes and felt a smile curve my lips upward. I had come to Tahoe to find a man I could fool around with, and somehow I'd managed to find one I could fall head over heels for in record time. "Me too," I murmured.

He kissed the top of my head and kept his lips there, breathing me in. I shivered then, a mix of my reaction to his lips on me, and the cold that my legs had suddenly become aware of. "Let's get you inside," he said.

I stepped away from him and he wrapped an arm around my shoulder, so I placed one around his waist, under the confines of his jacket. We walked the whole way back to the Inn in that manner, making small talk and laughing. By the time we arrived, I was shivering uncontrollably. He led me to the elevator, and then to the second floor lounge, intended for those staying at the Inn to use as they saw fit.

"Here, have a seat," he said. When I was situated, he walked away and returned with a blanket. "Do you mind?" he asked as he sat on the opposite end of the couch with me. He pressed himself into the corner and patted the cushion in front of him. I shook my head and scooted across the couch. He gently removed my jacket as well as his own, and laid them on the couch near us. As I nestled myself against his chest, my legs hanging over his, he wrapped the blanket around us both.

"Thanks for spending your morning with me, Alice," he said quietly as he pressed his lips to my forehead.

"Thank you for spending your morning with me," I replied. Impulsively, I asked, "What's your favorite color?"

"Blue," he responded. "You?"

"Depends on my mood."

And so began an hour of back and forth questioning. What's your favorite season? Who's your all time favorite band or singer? What's your major? How many times have you been out of the country? Where would you like to vacation?

"Where do you live, Jasper?" I asked when I'd finally gotten the nerve up. I was afraid that he lived across the country, which would make continuing a relationship with him ridiculously difficult. I wasn't one of those girls who could easily handle distance; I needed to see my partner, to be able to feel him next to me, to be able to stare into his eyes. I sent up a silent prayer that he was at least on the West coast.

"I'm crashing on Edward's couch when we get back. He sublet his place when we were accepted to the internship program and when we return after the New Year, the people he rented to will be long gone and we'll move in." He paused then, and I found myself unable to breathe, waiting for him to tell me the city he lived in. "We'll be back in Seattle."

"Jasper," I squealed, and placed my hands on his cheeks. I pulled him to me, and kissed him passionately.

"What was that for?" he asked. "I mean … not that I mind."

"You're in Seattle. You're all in Seattle … I mean, I knew Emmett … the plane, you know, but you and Edward, too! This is amazing. Oh, Jasper, don't you know what this means?"

He looked at me and a lazy grin formed on his lips. He raised a hand to my cheek and caressed it lightly. "That we can keep this going when we get back to Washington?" he asked quietly. I nodded. "Is that really what you want, Alice?"

"Are you kidding me, Jasper Whitlock? I wouldn't have it any other way!"

He laughed then, and pulled me to him. As he pressed his lips to my hair again, I sighed.

I had a man who was the epitome of handsome, whom I was embarking on a whirlwind romance with. I knew it seemed fast but Jasper and I just seemed … right. I just knew that he would treat me like a queen, and I was just so happy to have found him.

I had a new friend in Rose. I just had a feeling that she and I would remain friends. Kismet had brought us together on the plane and then made us all stay in the same hotel, but hers and my life fit together perfectly and I looked forward to the future.

I had a best friend who—despite what a certain bronze haired intern might have thought after the preceding night—was sweeter, more thoughtful, and more loving that many people could dream of being. I knew it was only a matter of time before she showed him. She and I had so much in common that we often joked that we somehow shared a brain, and I loved her.

I was one lucky girl.

Thoughts of Bella reminded me that I should probably check on her. Now that I knew Jasper was mine, and would continue to be so once we all returned home after the New Year, I could relax. I didn't feel as though we needed to spend every waking moment together for the remainder of the time we had in Tahoe, though it was probable that we would. I glanced at the wall clock and noticed it was nearing twelve o'clock.

"Jasper, I think I should go check on Bella. Would that be alright?" I asked.

"Of course it is, Alice. I hope she's not in too bad of shape after all that alcohol last night." He paused and coughed lightly as I stood up. "Hey listen, Edward's sort of been through the ringer. I don't know what happened last night, but I just wanted you to know …"

I stopped him with a light smile. "I know he's not an asshole. Last night was all a big misunderstanding. And just so you know," I paused, wondering if this information would be passed along the grapevine to Edward. "Bella's been through the ringer, too. They'll be fine." I kissed him on the lips and said, "Call my room later and we'll get together."

"What Alice wants, Alice gets," he said with a smile. I squeezed his shoulder and walked back to the elevator.

When I approached Bella's room, I knocked lightly. I heard a meek "come in" from within, so I opened the door and stepped inside.

She was still in bed but her hair had been brushed and pulled back into a knot on the back of her head. "Hey you," she said.

I took my boots off and snuck under the covers with her. "Hey," I said. "How are you feeling?"

"My head feels like a fucking train hit it, and I feel like an asshole for last night, and I'm relatively sure I owe Edward some kind of apology, but other than that I'm okay," she answered. I noticed with satisfaction that the water was gone and so were the Advil.

"It could be worse," I replied. She nodded and I leaned my head on her shoulder.

As we watched a little mindless television, I let my mind wander over a certain blonde haired blue-eyed boy who had recently stolen my heart. We'd be in Seattle together, with Rose and Emmett and Edward and Bella, whom I just knew would work out their differences.

I thought of our first kiss against that tree, and a shiver made its way down my spine. I sighed contentedly as Bella slipped back into unconsciousness for a quick nap. Jasper, I thought. Jasper, Jasper, Jasper.

A/N: Yep. AHelm here. To address a handful of reviews we received for the last chapter: The different POVs for the bar scene were absolutely necessary … that is, unless you like not understanding the characters' actions. Forgive the snarky tone, but it's mildly offensive when someone obviously thinks we're just haphazardly posting chapters with no plan. PLEASE trust that we know where this story is going. Besides, you would have been pissed if you never saw things from BPOV. Admit it.

Moving on …

Alice and Jasper are made of win and oh-so-cute. Love them. That first kiss makes me all fangirly inside. Sigh.

MPants, there's a little bit of this chapter that's dedicated to you. I'll bet you can pinpoint it. And I mean every word. Awww, sappy.

Reviews are nothing short of amazing.