Jasper POV. I know it's been a while. But this is a good one... Enjoy!
"What is all this for?" she asks as she enters the balcony. I have set up a beautiful setting of pink peonies on the center of the table and a cascading line of them across the railing. I move her chair for her and we sit down across from each other.
"Thank you," she says.
"My pleasure, ma'am."
She smiles at me as I take my seat and reach my hands across the table. I push the glass of blood toward her.
"Ah…is this supposed to be a casual dinner date?" she asks.
"More like a nice dinner date," I say, sitting back so that she can see my dress pants and button up blue shirt. I push my hair out of my face and then take an unnecessary deep breath. I know that I don't need it. Something inside me just wants the air. I suppose that even someone like me can be nervous.
I try to focus on Alice's emotions instead. She is not nervous at all. She is curious but not suspicious and there is an overwhelming calming gesture that I can feel from her. It's relaxing and soothing, almost like a nice dinner date in the middle of a chaotic life.
"Alice," I say.
"Yes?" she asks with that perfect smile that makes me fall in love with her just a little bit more. I lean forward and hold out my hand. She reaches her hands over to mine, placing them in my rough, large fingers. Her hands are so much smaller and more careful. They are beautiful.
"I thought that perhaps we should make our relationship official. We have been living together for some time. It is not as if either of us have rules about what we do. Perhaps, we can find some kind of way to mutualize our relationship," I say. I regret every word as it comes out. It is not good enough. Nothing could be good enough for my love. She is too beautiful, too careful and too gentle for me.
"What are you trying to say, Jazz?" she asks.
I suddenly don't remember how to speak, or even feel anything. I stand and talk over to her. I decide that this is the best time. If I don't just say it, I might not be able to at all.
"Jazz? Are you alright?" she asks.
"Yes, my Alice."
"Are you sure?" she asks again. I can feel her worry, her fear. I try to swallow it back. Fear is an overwhelming emotion. It makes me feel as if I can't even process my own thoughts. That fear is enough to make me shake and my eyes to waver. I can feel it in my heart, digging a hole into my soul. I try to push it away. But fear from my Alice is not fear that I can push away. I care about her. Her emotions are in me almost harder than my own—as if we are connected.
"I know you try not to see what I have been thinking and doing. I have been trying to keep it from my thoughts as best as I can. However, I am sure you know."
She smirks but then shakes her head with her shoulders back and her head high.
"I don't think I know what you mean," she says, clearly knowing. Part of that makes me smile in return. I grab the ring box from my pocket and open it as I kneel in front of her.
"Perhaps nothing that we do is traditional. Perhaps all we know is that we have eternity to figure out where and how we belong. Perhaps it will take that long. You have been there at my darkest moments," I tell her with the box still in my hands. I reach out and take one of her hands. It steadies me just enough for me to remember how to relax under her touch. It steadies my own thoughts.
Now I feel nothing but elation from her. It makes me almost giddy. I cannot remove the same from my face or the warm feeling I am getting all over my body.
"I love you more than the world, Alice. I want you to know that every day for the rest of our lives I will make you happy. I know this is what you want. After thinking about it, all I want is to feel elation with you. Mary Alice Brandon Cullen. Will you marry me?"
A smile as perfect as anything comes across her face.
"Yes."
I take the ring out of it's place and slip it onto her finger. She looks down at the three large diamonds in heart settings and smiles. I can feel her happiness and also how proud she is.
"I love you, Alice."
"I love you, Jasper. I'll love you forever. I can't wait to marry you."