Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
A/N: Thank you to everyone that reviewed, and for a heads up, I'm switching to first person point of view for this chapter. Thanks for reading!
Warning: This chapter is SERIOUSLY sappy. Really.
Alice P.O.V.
I listened to the soothing hum of the forest and felt Jasper's warm hand on mine as we strolled through the trees. The buttery morning sun was filtering down the through the canopy of leaves, splashing the shady ground below.
And Jasper's distinctive aura washed over me, letting me feel his every emotion and thought without the help of his gift.
"Don't be nervous. You don't have to tell me if you're not ready." I reminded him softly. He smiled at me, bringing our entwined hands up to his mouth where he delivered a light kiss to my knuckles.
"Don't be silly, Alice. I'm not nervous about telling you, I'm just not sure how to…word anything. To explain it. I haven't had much experience with…talking." I chuckled.
"Don't worry about that, I can do enough talking for the both of us. But that's just with other people. You don't have to use fancy words with me. Just tell me your thoughts." I murmured. He nodded.
"Alright. You make it sound so easy."
"That's because it is. You're the one making it complicated." I teased. He nodded again. Then he stopped abruptly, and I stopped beside him, sending him a curious look.
"I think this is the spot, right past those bushes. I found it when I was here with Edward a few years ago. I want to share it with you… it has always been kind of special to me." Jasper murmured. I started bouncing in place, exited at the prospect of seeing something important to Jasper.
"Let's go!" I squeaked, pulling him through the underbrush.
He followed without complaint. I gasped. It was beautiful. There was a flowing river, trickling past at a lazy pace. On both sides of the river the pine needles and leaves faded into a shore of smooth pebbles, blunted by the many years of water flowing over them. The sun shone off the pebbles, casting patterns across the clearing. I turned to Jasper and threw my arms around his waist. His arms wrapped around me, swallowing me in his embrace.
"It's beautiful." I mumbled into his shirt.
"I'm glad you like it." he murmured, running his long fingers through my short hair. Then he released me, gently taking my hand and pulling me toward the shore. He sat down on the smooth rocks, patting the area next to him.
I dropped down, curling against his side, reveling in his enveloping scent. It was wild, untamed. It was a scent that might be associated with a leopard, stalking his prey in the depths of a forest. Or maybe a mountain lion, slinking through the trees as silent as a whisper.
Dangerous.
But I felt so safe. Here we were alone, in the middle of the forest, and I was nestled into his side feeling more protected and loved then I ever have. I glanced over, taking in the contours of his face. His blonde hair was falling into his eyes, and his blue eyes were troubled. I waited for him to speak.
"I'm a murderer Alice."
I tensed.
"I already knew that. You killed Laurent. I almost killed Victoria, but Bella helped me…" I rambled. I already knew that wasn't what he was talking about. I looked into his blue eyes. They were pleading.
"Go on Jasper. I won't interrupt." I whispered. He sighed.
"I was part of a gang. They were similar to the Volturi I suppose…but not nearly as humane. They regarded their gang members as easily disposable. If one got killed, they recruited another. That was were I came in. My gift was very useful for persuading people to join us…and my fighting skills…well, they were useful for something else entirely. If someone wanted to leave, to gain their freedom and go back to their own life…the "leader" gave them a deal. If they could fight me, and win, then they could be set free. If they lost, they would die. Of course no one ever won. I was too skilled in the art of war…too experienced in combat… " he choked out the last part, like the memory was cutting him. His eyes became dark.
"So, although I didn't kill them directly, I'm responsible for over fifty murders. And all I have to show for it are flimsy scars peppering my arms and torso…taunting me every time I look at myself. Do you know I've showered with my shirt on for three years? I'm a pathetic excuse for a man. But a superb excuse for a murderer. I don't deserve you Alice, and you deserve someone better. Someone with a clean record. A clean soul." he spit out the last word with a malicious glint in his eyes.
But it quickly faded into hurt. I wrapped my tiny arms around him, wishing I was strong enough to hold him here by force. I guess I'd just have to rely on love. Dammit.
"I love you." I whispered. He broke down, his face crumpling under the ache.
"I love you too Alice. That's the worst part. I'm hurting you by telling you this."
"Jasper, as long as you don't leave me, I can take any amount of pain." I murmured. He took a deep breath.
"There's more to it?" I guessed. He nodded.
"I stayed there for two years. Two long, excruciating years. And for what reason? I thought I was in love. With the leader of the gang, Maria. I still don't know how she did it. How she tricked me. I guess my talent had left me arrogant, made me think I couldn't be fooled by fake emotions, counterfeit love and phony adoration. Or maybe Maria was just a master at manipulation and deceit. Even more so than me." he shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling lifelessly.
"Or maybe I'm just an idiot." he suggested. I glared at him.
"Jasper Hale, you are not an idiot." I bit my lip. "Okay, maybe you are, but I still love you." I said, silently begging him to lose the lifeless glint in his melancholy eyes. He smiled humorlessly.
"Edward was the one who convinced me to leave. He helped me see through Maria's smoke and mirrors, to see what I was doing to innocent people. So I joined him." he finished.
"Jasper, look at me." I commanded. He did. I climbed onto his lap and looked directly into his eyes.
"All of that is in the past. I believe you're a good person. You were tricked, seduced. But now you have the rest of your life to make it up. And I'll be there with you, if you'll let me." I promised, trying to surge my emotions to him. He smiled.
"You sure are persistent." he chuckled. I laughed along with him, grasping at the threads of emotion that were coming back into his eyes.
"Look Jasper, you are my soul mate. I can feel the strong connection wrap around me every time I see you. I feel like I've never truly known someone until I met you. I didn't even know myself. I especially didn't know myself. I was just a girl without a family, without a home, fresh out of a mental institution. I wasn't going anywhere. I didn't belong anywhere. And now I belong with you. If you leave, I'll follow. We can help the homeless, we can save the rainforest, we can rescue lost puppies, we can work in soup kitchens, we can built homes for people who need them, we can spend time with sick children, we can work our asses off and then donate it all to charity. If you want to, we can do everything in our power to help make up for the crime of the past. As long as it's "we" and not just "you"." I finished breathlessly, tears trickling down my cheeks.
I wiped them away angrily, waiting for Jasper to say something. He smiled, wrapping his arms around me. I let out a sigh of relief.
"I'll follow you anywhere, darling, just lead the way." he whispered.
He leaned down, so slowly, and pressed his lips to mine. I wrapped my fingers in his blonde hair, pulling him closer. His breath was warm and his lips moved in perfect synchronization with mine.
I lurched off his lap, laying down beside him. I felt the smooth rocks beneath my back, their cool temperature in contrast with the slow, gradual burning coursing through my veins. Gently, I pulled him to me.
He put one arm on both sides of my body, keeping his weight from crushing me. But he was still close enough that I could feel every contour of his body against mine. Our lips came together again, molding to each others. His eyes were dark, but not with pain for once.
I felt the lust on the surface, but behind it was a wave of love. And I knew he could feel my love, radiating from me like the sun. There was no uncertainty or hesitation. Like when we first met…simple. It was perfect. Jasper stiffened. I stiffened. Our emotions and actions were parallel.
"What's wrong?" I whispered.
"Someone's coming." he whispered back. He gave me a quick peck, rolling onto the rocks beside me. I heard someone clomping through the woods.
Emmett.
"There you guys are! I've been looking for you for an hour! I was worried something happened…." he trailed off. He grinned a wicked grin.
"Sorry to interrupt." he chuckled, taking in our matching glares.
"I'll just…be going now…" he said, slipping back into the woods with a wink towards Jasper.
"Rosie!" I heard him shout. Jasper chuckled, pulling me back onto his lap.
"Sorry darling." he murmured, his lips trailing down my neck. I gasped.
"No problem." I muttered breathlessly. "Jasper? I need to tell you something." He stopped.
"Okay."
"I…saw your scars. When you were shot, I cleaned them." I whispered, praying I wouldn't see that lifelessness come back into his eyes. He just blinked.
"Really? You saw them…and you still helped me. You weren't disgusted?" he asked. I shook my head, showing him the emotions I felt when saw them. Pain for whatever he'd been through. But also curiosity. His eyes widened.
"Oh."
I chuckled.
"Jasper…can I see them again? To show you I'm not disgusted?" I asked quietly. He raised his eyebrows.
"Are you sure you aren't just looking for an excuse to see me without a shirt?" he teased.
"You caught me." he laughed, then became serious.
He stood up and slowly lifted his shirt above his head, dropping it onto the rocks beside him. His eyes were guarded.
I held my heart on my sleeve. Well…technically my emotions. I let him feel what I felt. Love. Awe for his beauty. Our mysterious connection.
I stood up, putting my small hands on his chest. I traced every scar, trailing my fingers down his arms and across his chest. Goosebumps appeared everywhere our skin touched and I could feel his slight shivers. When I was finished I wrapped my arms around his waist and he wrapped his around me.
As we stood there, all our insecurities and guilt faded away. We were bound forever now. Forever and always.