A/N: We have reached the end. Thank you for joining me on this journey. I cannot apologize for failing to meet the deadline; it is something I will work on in future.

This is short, but I think it sums up quite nicely.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10-Happily Ever After

Jasper handed the box to her and smiled sheepishly.

"What's this?" Alice asked quizzically.

"Your New Year's present," Jasper said. Alice noticed that he absently ran his hand through his hair twice; he was clearly nervous.

What the hell does he have to be nervous about?

Alice untied the white ribbon. "Tiffany's?"

He smiled. "Only the best for my angel."

She rolled her eyes. Opening the small box, she found a velvet one inside. Her heart began pounding in her chest as she took it out and slowly opened it, revealing the prize inside.

A sparkling sapphire ring sat inside, surrounded by diamonds on both sides.

It was perfect.

Squealing, Alice jumped to her feet and flung her arms around her love. He laughed and held her tightly, breathing in her scent.

"It's so beautiful!" she said.

"The second most beautiful thing I've ever seen," Jasper agreed. He closed his eyes and reveled in her warmth.

Pulling back, she looked him in the eye. "How did you know that sapphires were my favorite?"

Jasper shrugged. "I just knew."

I love when he does that.

Jasper took the box from her and held the ring up. He placed it on her left finger and stared at it for a few seconds, gathering his thoughts. Finally he spoke.

"This is a promise," he said. "Call me old-fashioned, but I wanted to get you a promise ring. I know it's too soon for us to get married, having known each other a short while, but I wanted to make a commitment to you. I wanted you to know this is it. I'll never love another."

His blue eyes sparkled brightly with every word. Alice began to melt; he was so sweet to her.

"I love you, so much. Seeing Bella the other night drug up memories that I'd prefer stay buried. But one thing it confirmed to me is how much better you are; how loving. The first time we touched in the hospital, I felt sensations that I never knew existed. It confused me at first. I wondered why God would give you to me if I was just going to die. He knew I needed you."

Alice's right hand began lightly stroking the cross hanging on her neck. Her love for Jasper and his cured state brought her closer to her maker.

"He knew I was searching for something when I didn't. I was searching for a cure. But it wasn't for my cancer; it was a cure for my heart."

Jasper took her hand from the cross and brought it to his lips. He kissed it gently, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I have been given a new chance at life. I will not waste it this time. Now I have something to live for." He placed another kiss on her hand and watched tears slowly roll down her face.

"Jazz…" she breathed.

"Shhh," he said, silencing her with a kiss. "You don't have to say anything. I wanted you to know how I felt. And I hope that you will accept my gift as a promise that we will be together forever."

Alice closed her eyes and sighed as the tears continued to fall. She felt Jasper's gentle touch as he wiped them away and then kissed the spots where the tears had fallen.

"I love you too, Jazz. Always will. And what you said applies to me too. I completely believed that no one would want me after Riley. He had hurt me enough that I believed I was damaged. So I learned to shut myself off. Remember how I was distant when we first met?"

Jasper nodded. His hand cupped her cheek gently as his thumb stroked the apple of it.

"it was my defense mechanism kicking in. I was instantly attracted to you and knew that it wouldn't end well. You were my patient; I had seen your chart. So, as usual, I shut myself off from what I was feeling. But you proved stronger than all that."

She looked down shyly. "I'm sorry for feeling and acting that way. I didn't know what else to do."

Jasper was silent a moment, contemplating. He knew that she had awhile to go before she completely trusted again. Riley had been so vile, so wretched that those scars don't heal overnight.

That was why Jasper made a promise to her that he would always be there.

They stayed silent for a few moments, each lost in their thoughts. Finally, Alice broke it. "Thank you for my present, Jazz. And for the promise. I accept it."

Elation filled him as he grabbed her and swung her around. She giggled at his excitement. Putting her back on her feet, he pressed his lips to hers and kissed her with such passion. He had been attracted to Bella of course, but never felt this. With her, it was comfort. With Alice, it was so much more.

She was definitely his soulmate.

The passion grew quickly between them and before they knew it, they were making love in Jasper's bed. This wasn't just fulfilling a desire, it was fulfilling a need. They needed to let the other know how they felt. Although they had done that the other night when they made love for the first time, this was different. This came with promises of a future.

They remained there all night and come the next morning, Alice had made a decision.

"I want to move in with you."

Jasper froze. He wanted that more than anything, but he was shocked to have heard it from her. She was so protective of her freedom and he promised he wouldn't push. This was a major step from her.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I love you. This is right. I want to have you around at night. I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want only you, Jazz."

He kissed her and then jumped out bed excitedly. "We've got so much to do. You have to pack and put your apartment up for rent and move in here. You're okay with Smokey, right? We can re-paint anything you want and I'm not a picky eater. How about tonight we order out? I knot his great…."

"Jazz!" Alice said, smiling at his childish nature. He stopped and looked at her. "I love you. We can take things one step at a time."

He nodded. He knew he was getting carried away and was so glad she was there to rein him in. "Right," he said with a smile. He came back to the bed and sat down on it. "One day at a time."

He kissed the hand that the ring sat on, admiring the sparkles from the sapphires. If it was up to him, he would marry Alice today. He had a second chance at life and he wasn't about to miss out this time. But he knew they needed time. SHE needed time. He was ready to give that to her, to give her as long as she needed.

That's why we have this promise.

Alice leaned forward, arms on her knees, and kissed him. "We have forever."

He smiled against her lips. "Forever."

And they lived happily ever after.

A/N: I hope that wasn't too corny.

Thank you to all who read & reviewed. I know I didn't reply to them & I apologize for that. I want you to know that I appreciate all of you and am thrilled that you liked this story. Who knows? Maybe a follow-up someday.

If you are Jasper/Alice fans, please consider taking a look at Back to December, my other in-progress story. It also has not been updated for months, but as it will now be my sole focus, it should come rather quickly. Here is an overview for you:

Alice Cullen had it all; a great job, beauty and a smoking-hot boyfriend. One December though, she threw him away. This is the story of what happened after. Originally a one-shot for the Musical Cues contest on Free Writers and Readers. Link to the Taylor Swift song included.

Again, thanks to all!