Also I do not own now, in the past or future, anything from the Twilight series.

'Also in POV scenes when there is a direct thought from the character their direct thoughts will look like this'.

(Quotations and Italics)

Previously

I laughed a bit as the dance continued late into the evening. By the time we were leaving, it was very late, or early however you wanted to look at it. I leaned my head against the carriage side as I tried keeping my eyes open, the cold night air helped however the shivering I could have done without.

Jasper looked back at me shrugging off his outer jacket and laying it over me before moving the horses out. I couldn't help but be grateful to him as I breathed in his scent feeling at home here finally.

Chapter 10

Isabella POV April 1861

It was spring now spring in Houston, and I was now sitting on a blanket with Dinah on the far side of the Whitlock farm lands that backed up to the river. Clara and Harriett were running around picking daisy's putting them in a pile by the blanket.

Leaning back on my elbow the breeze tickling my bare arms, long gone were the thick heavy dresses and out were the lightweight dresses with off shoulder sleeves.

Dinah looked over at me smiling, I hadn't seen her a lot lately after her wedding in February to William Marston, she had moved into his home giving Clara and Harriett their own rooms now. She had looked so beautiful on her wedding day, her veil trailing behind her down the aisle.

I smiled looking over at her now, her tight corset dresses traded out for empire style dresses. Her small hand cradling her belly swollen slightly with her growing child. I could hardly believe she was pregnant, and that everyone was happy for her. She was so young, but then again it was the normal here now.

She smiled over at me, "Isabella, is everything alright?"

I nodded, "Yes, You just look like your glowing. You look so happy, I am happy for you."

She blushed, "Thank you, I am very happy. William is wonderful, his work keeps him busy though. We always managed to spend quiet time every evening though, you know see how his day went. He wants me to start looking for a nanny I like for when the baby arrives."

I tilted my head, "A nanny? Why would you need a nanny?"

She just smiled, "I forget you didn't have maids growing up, I apologize. It wouldn't be for all the time, but for events and things I can't take the baby too. Even mother had a nanny when we were younger for father's events."

I nodded, "It is just different is all, I can't wait for your baby to be born though. I love baby cuddles." Smiling at her belly, "Will I be able to watch your baby?"

She laughed and nodded, "I am sure you will need practice, so of course! I would love for you to visit often once the house William is having built is finished. Besides our child will be Jasper's niece or nephew, so in turn he or she will be yours once you're married. It will still be strange to be so far away."

She sent me a beaming smile placing her hand on mine when I blushed before she continued speaking. "William courted me for 6 months before asking for my hand, I don't see Jasper letting you get away."

I smiled sadly, "Really? He has been spending a lot of time at work or with his father and brother away from the house and me."

She just smiled, "He is working hard to secure a good position within the council, Father is teaching him everything. I think my brother wants to know he can take care of you, and any other little feet that may come along."

Smiling, "I don't know how I will be as a mother Dinah, I've never been around children."

She shook her head, "Babies maybe, however we will remedy that with this little one." She placed her hand on her belly.

"But I've seen you with Clara, she is only 6. You are so warm with her, I saw her quite often sneak into your room and you would allow her to cuddle with you." She looked out at the girls who were now making the daisies into crowns around their heads.

I laughed softly seeing Clara trying to put a daisy crown on her dog, "She is a special girl Dinah, I love her as if she was my own sister."

Looking back to Dinah, "You and Harriett too. Elijah follows me around a lot, I am unsure why though."

Dinah nodded, "You can attribute Elijah following you to Jasper. He asked him to watch out for you when he couldn't. He is protecting you."

I looked at her wide eyes, "Really?"

She nodded smiling but then sighed, "Yes, I think I need to head back into the house. I am feeling a bit tired."

I smiled knowing she had been really tired lately as I got up fixing my dress, looking over to the girls, "Harriett! Clara! Let's go girls, it is time to get in. Your sister needs to rest."

They giggled and came running over as I turned to help Dinah up of off the ground. "Let's get you into the house."

She giggled as she stood, "I think you will be a fine mother Isabella."

I blushed as we joined arms heading towards the house, "I think I have a while don't you?"

She just smiled and shrugged her shoulders, "You never know."

Later that evening I was sitting in the family room, Dinah had gone home a few hours ago. Clara and Harriett had gone to bed about half an hour ago and the house was silent.

I leaned back in the plush chair tucking my legs beneath me as I opened my book reading about Alice being lost in a different world. I couldn't help but laugh at the parallel between my life and Alice's. Alice made it home though, I never would.

I jumped hearing the floor creaked behind me as I turned seeing Jasper standing behind me, "You startled me Jasper."

He smiled kissing the back of my hand, "My apologies Isabella, I am surprised you are still awake. Are you alright?"

I nodded, "Yes I am fine thank you, I was just reading." Placing my bookmark back inside and shutting it.

He frowned looking at the book, "I am sorry I didn't mean to interrupt you. I can leave."

Placing the book on the end table, "Please don't go. I…. I have missed you being around." I blushed looking down. I didn't want to seem needy, but lately his attentions had obviously been somewhere else.

He looked at me worried, "What is wrong Isabella? I know I have been busy as of late, but you have never been far from my mind."

I smiled at him, "Really?" Looking up at him, I reached out for his hand. "I was afraid that you lost interest in me."

He stood up walking over to me holding his hand out to me, I took his hand without question and stood up. He led me to the front door pulling my shawl off the coat rack handing it to me.

I looked at him questioningly as Marie walked into the room, Jasper turned to her. "If anyone asks let them know I took Isabella out to show her something." She nodded and smiled at me.

We walked out of the house as I wrapped the shawl around my shoulders, "Where are you taking me?"

He just turned and grinned at me over his shoulder, "Trust me?"

Biting my lip I nodded as we went out to the stables, "Of course I trust you Jasper."

He smiled at me as he led me to a hay stack sitting me down, "Sit here for a moment."

A few minutes later he reappeared with Zanto's bridled and saddled. I looked up at him confused, "You want to go riding? It is the middle of the night Jasper."

He just smiled offering his hand to me, "I know, and I promise to be nothing short of the gentleman I always am."

Putting my hand in his as he brought me over to Zanto's. Horses still made me nervous and Jasper was still the only person I had ridden with. Jasper mounted Zanto's and reached for my hand again pulling me up onto his lap.

Grabbing the reins with his right hand while his left arm secured around my waist as he took off out of the stable.

Looking up as we rode, the cool night air blowing my hair back as I watched the bright stars pass overhead. Looking back at Jasper I smiled before leaning into him.

A few minutes later he slowed his horse and walked him to a nearby tree, looking around we were at the water's edge of a small lake a few miles from the house.

Jasper lifted me slightly against his chest moving so he could jump down, before turning back to help me down.

Standing so close to him I could see the pink in his cheeks from the wind almost forgetting I knew him once before so very differently. It made me sad that he lost his young carefree ways once he became a vampire. Jasper had always looked as if he was in pain. A look I had yet to see here, thinking about it I had to wonder if it was the war too?

I hardly thought about the future I came from anymore, it had been months and there was no help insight. Sure I missed my parents and the Cullen's, but I had Jasper and the Whitlock's here and they had all taken me in. It was actually starting to seem like my old life was a dream, a reality that I lost interest in returning to more and more with each passing day.

This was becoming my home more and more, I never really got along with the technology of my time, sure I missed the t.v. and cars, but they were nothing I needed.

Jasper brought my attention back to the present by tucking a flyaway strand of my hair behind my ear, "You seem lost in thought darlin', Are you alright?"

I nodded smiling at him, "Yes I am fine, I am sorry I was just thinking about my life before meeting you and your family."

He nodded, "Do you miss it? I mean are you thinking about leaving?"

Looking up at him startled I panicked and louder than I expected I yelled, "NO!"

He looked down at me in shock and then smiled, "Well then darling, don't worry. No one wants you to leave, I think if you did I wouldn't be the only one to try and come after you."

Blushing, "I….I am sorry. I shouldn't have yelled like that." Looking up at him, "You would come after me?"

He smiled down at me nodding, "I would go anywhere for you." He reached down holding my hand, "I am sorry for not being around lately. There have been quite a few more council meetings lately. And I have been working on a project with my father and brother."

Smiling, "What kind of project? Is it for the meetings?"

He shook his head, his golden blonde hair tickling the side of his shoulders, "No the meetings are not about pleasant things, the project is a gift for one of my father's associates. I am not sure who though."

Frowning, "What is so unpleasant?"

I could see the hesitation in his features, "I really shouldn't be worrying a young lady like this, Please let's forget about the meetings. I don't wish you at unease, my mother doesn't even know about the reason behind them."

I nodded allowing him to drop the subject which he seemed grateful for, he look my hand and pulled me closer, "Would you mind if I walked close to you?"

I smiled shaking my head no, "I enjoy your company Jasper, I always have."

He looked down at me as we talked for a while, just a boy and a girl without other worries. I reached down in the water splashing Jasper slightly. He was shocked at first but then chased me around the trees before I was pinned to one with him leaning in over me.

I smiled looking up at him, my breathing was a little harder as my chest moved visibly up and down. "Jasp…?"

He cut me off by leaning in and kissing my softly at first before placing his hand on my waist and the other cupping my cheek.

My hands left the trunk of the tree which I had been using as support to rest against his chest as he pulled me in closer deepening the kiss.

Finally my lungs screamed for air and we broke apart, I knew my cheeks were flaming red now and it wasn't from the cool night air, or the riding.

He leaned his forehead to rest against mine while he caught his own breath, "Miss… Isabella, I should apologize for kissing you like that, but I cannot."

Leaning back he pushed my hair over my shoulder placing another quick kiss on my swollen lips before pulling away completely.

Raising my hand to my lips I blushed, "I am glad you didn't apologize. I liked that very much."

He smiled at me, "I have been wanting to do that for a very long time, I am happy I didn't offend you."

He took my hand and led me back to the horse, "I should get you back though, before father sends out someone to find us."

We rode back to the house in silence, his hand around my waist like every other time we rode, but it meant more to me now.

Once back at the stables, he lowered me to the ground kissing me once more before we headed back into the house. He walked me to my bedroom door and kissed my hand good night before retiring down the hall to his own room.

End of Chapter 10!

AND THE FIRST KISS! I love Jasper and Isabella together. Although sadly I must say the happy times will not stay forever, remember this is 1861, Civil War time…

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