I must say, I hate this chapter. Totally hate it. But it's been sitting on my computer since my last update and I've yet to come up with anything better. So I figured I'd best upload it before you all get sick of my story. Sorry it took so long, but I've got like 5 weeks of school left before I graduate so it's fairly hectic. I'll try to be more frequent and have better content. Sorry again.

"That's ridiculous! He's wearing a digital watch, look at that!"

"Calm down, Major. It's just a movie."

"All I'm asking for is a little historical accuracy. Is that too much?"

"When the movie's not actually about the war but some horrid, raunchy love story surrounding a soldier and his best friend's daughter then yeah, I'd say you've gotten your hopes up."

"I suppose you're right. I should've had my suspicions when I saw it was called, 'Setting Civil Sun."

We were sitting in front of the massive television, watching some peculiar movie done all in a sepia filter, with erotic undertones masked under the illusion that it was about the Civil War. I'd leaped at the chance to watch it when I was flicking through the channels, Jasper and I both at a loss of what to view. After our intimate kitchen experience, we didn't feel like going back to the library, but rather doing something a little less personal. So when I suggested T.V. it seemed like the perfect opportunity to stop any potential awkwardness that might arise after our strange incident.

"You don't really want to watch this do you, Bella? I mean I appreciate the sentiment, but it's total garbage."

"You don't like it?" I asked in sarcastically, eyes widened.

"I'm offended you think so little of my taste," he responded just as dryly as I'd intended him to.

The afternoon passed in much the same fashion; bad television shows with our own commentary on just how low society had sunk.

"I'm sorry but I just don't get the appeal of this show."

"Well I think the idea is that we're meant to be laughing at their idiocy, because they're such high profile celebrities and they're stuck in the Australian outback. But what I really love is just watching their egos being continually beaten down."

"Bella, I had no idea you were so cruel; I like it."

You know you enjoy spending time with someone when all the theatrics are stripped away and you think watching bad television is one of the most entertaining pastimes in the world. Jasper really was someone I could picture having lazy afternoons with, not caring about anything else that was happening in the world. And at that point I didn't. Didn't care about anything else that was going on other than the horrid shows that were playing and the new friend I'd found, who I'd immediately connected with once given the chance to.

I suppose it was similar to that of Edward and mine's instant connection on some level, in the sense that indeed it was an immediate bond. But something was different about what I was feeling right now, spread out on the couch. The difference being that apparently, I could just be with Jasper; exist. With Edward there was so much all the time, even in the very early stages of our relationship it was like the intensity never ceased. At the time I thought this was a good thing but never once could I relax with Edward, and in only a few short hours Jasper had taken me out of my own insecurity and into this little bubble of contentment. I was amazed, although a little suspicious.

"Jasper?"

"Mmm?"

"Have you been using your powers today? I mean, you haven't been trying to make me feel so relaxed or comfortable, right?"

He cocked his eyebrow cheekily, "You feel comfortable around me?"

"I'm serious. I barely ever feel so at ease as I am right now or even in the library earlier. Have you been calming me?"

"If you were hoping for some kind of magical intervention that explained your placated mood then I'm sorry to disappoint. No involvement on my part."

"I guess I just enjoy spending time with you then."

"Is that so shocking?"

"Well, yes actually. I've never really felt drawn to you before but today's proven how well we get along, don't you think?"

He just smiled at me and extended an arm for me cuddle into his side. This was new but not entirely unexpected. After all, we had just had a much more intimate moment a few hours ago in the kitchen.

So I didn't think about it but just moved over to him and leaned against his torso, embracing the cool skin I felt through his shirt. He put his arm around me and I put my head on his shoulder. I loved their touch, I really did. It didn't matter who it was, the Cullens' temperature never ceased to give me tingles and allow me to feel oddly peaceful. Jasper was flicking through the channels again, a little too fast for me to actually comprehend what he was passing. As I breathed I couldn't help but pick up on his scent, like fresh rain.

There was something so clean about it, strange in comparison to how old he really was. It also wasn't as sweet as the other Cullens', but intoxicating nonetheless. I was so comfortable on Jasper's shoulder, as if he wasn't as hard as a rock and I let my eyes close. I fell into a light sleep that I dozed in and out of throughout the rest of the afternoon, until my ears picked up on someone arriving home.

"So there you are. I was wondering when you would finally come home." He muted the television.

"You know where I was, Jasper. "

"I'm just going to take these upstairs…" Esme's voice spoke. I kept my eyes shut.

"You know I don't mean shopping, Alice."

"I was dealing with some things. I was with Edward in the forest talking."

"So you can talk to Edward about it but you can't talk to me about it?"

"Exactly," it came out so coldly that I actually felt a surge of anger toward Alice, at which point Jasper squeezed my arm lightly.

"So you've been in the forest the whole two nights then?"

"Yes, Edward can back me up. Just, please, Jasper, you know our time together is… running thin."

He squeezed my arm a little tighter, "But it doesn't have to. Alice, what do you mean? I don't understand."

"Just trust me, Jasper."

"You always say that and never tell me what's going on. It's unfair. Why should I trust you?"

"How about because I'm your wife?"

"Your lack of wedding ring says otherwise." Now it was Jasper's turn to sound cold.

"This isn't easy for me either, you know? It's not like I'm enjoying watching our relationship fall apart," her voice was shaky, like in the car the other night. Why didn't Jasper tell me to leave? That it wasn't my place to be hearing this? He knew I was awake because my emotions were running all over the place; anger, fear, shock, sadness.

"At least you have some idea about what's going to happen! I'm in the dark and you refuse to tell me anything!"

"Because if I told you then we'd all be miserable in the long run! Did you ever stop to think I didn't tell you anything for a reason, huh? That I might be a little more clued in than you're giving me credit for? I'm just trying to do what's best!" she was sobbing her words out now, "But you're right, our marriage is over, Jasper so you can take that stupid ring you've got on and get rid of it too. I've tried everything I can think of and it's just not working! Nothing will! And for God's sake, Bella open your eyes! I know you're awake!"

My eyes snapped open and I caught the last glimpse of Alice's dress moving up the stairs.

We just sat there in the same position as before, me curled onto his side and Jasper's arm around me as we ignored the baseball game that was still playing on the television.

Had I truly just witnessed that?

I didn't know what to think.

I wiggled my way out from under Jasper's arm and stood up. He looked up at me with such a pain in his eyes it was crippling to watch. I thought he was going to cry.

I extended my hand to him which he took after a moment's hesitation. Our fingers intertwined as I lead him to the front door and out to my truck.

He got in the passenger's side without question and looked out the windshield. I started my much loved rust bucket and headed to a place I hoped would make him feel if just a tiny bit better. As I drove, I slowly felt little parts of Jasper's emotion seeping into my system. He wasn't unleashing the flood gates like before, but he was still generous. A few tears escaped me as I took the turn up onto the look out, turning my car so that it faced westward.

I got out of the truck and Jasper followed suit as I jumped up on the hood for the second time that day.

"I was here with Edward this morning, and he said something that made me think."

Jasper didn't respond so I continued, "He said that the sun wouldn't be hid behind clouds on either horizon but the clouds hid it throughout the rest of the day, or something like that. He said it a lot more poetically though. But I think the point he was trying to make was that in the beginning of whatever journey we're about to embark on, everything's clear and we're comfortable with our lives. It's easy. But then there are obstacles that get in our way, the clouds. And even if it rains, hails or snows the sun is still moving across the sky. It doesn't stop, even in the dreary weather of Forks. And then finally, when the end of the day, our journey, finally comes… everything gets better. It's ok again despite all the troubles we faced in the process to get there. Am I making sense?"

Jasper faced me and force a weak smile, "Yes, and it's very sweet. But it's hard to believe that anything good will ever come out of not being with Alice. She's my life, Bella, my everything."

I wasn't going to lecture him about how he shouldn't say that to someone unless he knew who he was first, because his situation was totally different to mine. He'd been alive for over one hundred and fifty years; surely Jasper knew who he was. Despite the differences in our situations, I still had to help him.

"Well, I know it's hard but please don't give up. It will be ok, Jasper. I'll see to it personally that it is."

We just sat there and watched the western sky, waiting for the sun to appear again. I sincerely hoped Edward was right and that I'd be able to see it. I didn't know why it was important, but I just felt like it was. That there could be some sort of light at the end of the tunnel for Jasper. What that light was I didn't know yet, but I was confident that he'd find it one day.

Sure enough, after a several minutes of peace, the sun broke through the clouds on the horizon for a fleeting few minutes that made Jasper's skin sparkle brightly.

"See? I told you you'd be able to see the sun again." I turned to face him again, looking for some hint of hope in Jasper's eyes.

There was a little, but it was very faint and I couldn't tell whether or not he forcing it. Jasper just gave me the same small smile as before and extended his arm again, allowing me to lean into his side.

It wasn't until the sun was almost completely hidden behind the horizon that Jasper spoke, "If you ever need me for anything, you know you can always ask, right?"

He didn't look at me, but just stared out in front of himself. His face had changed to a blank expression "I'll hold you to that," I half laughed, "but let's just focus on you for a while."

So yeah, hope you enjoyed it. Wish I could say I enjoyed writing it, but it was kind of like beating my head against the keyboard. Please review and let me know what you did/didn't like. It might help me get out of the writer's funk I'm in.