Epilogue: Partnership
I proposed to Edward the day that the governor of Massachusetts signed the bill allowing same-sex couples to marry. It was the most spur of the moment decision I'd ever made. CNN announced that the governor of Massachusetts had signed the bill into law, and I got down on one knee and asked Edward to marry me.
You would think that Edward saying yes was the best thing to happen, and it was, but the icing on the cake was that I'd surprised Alice. Her shocked only lasted a few minutes before she started planning out our wedding. I was both grateful and relieved that she took on the massive responsibility of making Edward and my wedding day special.
"Jasper, you are going to wear out Esme's carpet," Peter said. I just glared at him and continued to pace. There was little more I could do then pace back and forth. I was too afraid to sit down and get my white tux dirty, which would be very difficult considering how immaculate Esme keeps the house.
"Jasper Whitlock!" Alice said upon entering my room. Her tone of voice left little room for argument. "Stop pacing. You're going to wrinkle your tux."
I sighed, stopped pacing and pinched the bridge of my nose. "How much longer Alice?"
"Twenty minutes. Everyone is here and taking their seats," Alice replied.
"Jasper, I don't know why you are so nervous. It's not like Edward is going to leave you at the altar," Peter said.
"That is not why I'm nervous," I replied.
"Then perhaps you can enlighten us?" Peter asked.
"He and Edward wrote their owe vows and he's worrying needlessly about how it'll be received," Alice said.
I just glared at Alice. "Riley is going through the same thing with Edward," She added.
"Jasper, seriously stop freaking out. Edward and you have been together for more than seventy years. Do you really think that this little piece of paper somehow makes that relationship mean more? I know that Edward would love you without that little piece of paper," Peter said.
"I know that, Peter. It's more than just the vows. This is the one time that Edward and I will get married. This is not something we are going to do every few years like Rosalie and Emmett. Everything has to be just perfect," I replied with an exasperated tone.
"Jasper let me put your mind at ease. Everything is going to go perfect. I didn't spend the last few months putting this wedding together for it to be a disaster. I promise you that it will be a day that you and Edward will remember forever," Alice said.
"There isn't much I can do about it anyway," I replied with a resigned tone.
Maggie appeared at the doorway to my room. "Everyone is in their place. Oh, Alice that dress looks beautiful on you, and Jasper you look very handsome," Maggie said.
Edward had asked Riley to be his best man, and I had naturally asked Peter to do the same for me. Riley and Peter were to wear black tuxedoes with deep blue accents. Alice and Maggie were wearing deep blue ballroom gowns that matched the accent colors of their mate's tuxedoes.
"Thank you," I replied. Alice and Maggie had become good friends over the years. In the late eighties Alice finally spoke to Peter for the first time and they reconciled the events that had ended their relationship. A few years after that meeting we began to see Maggie and Peter a little more often. It also didn't hurt that Maggie was nearly as interested in fashion as Alice. She soon became a new shopping companion for Alice. Rosalie also warmed to Maggie during that time and the three of them had been known to go shopping for weeks on end.
It took longer for Riley to forgiven Peter, but Alice had been pretty instrumental in allowing that friendship to slowly rebuild. She had made it know that Peter's actions had lead to both of them finding their true soul mates, and happiness for both Alice and Riley.
The only person who had not totally forgiven Peter was Rosalie, but for my sake and that of Alice she kept her opinions about Peter to herself.
My attention was brought back to the present as I could hear Rosalie beginning to play Pachelbel's Canon. "Show time," Alice said.
I followed Alice, Peter and Maggie downstairs and outside. This was the first time I had seen all of Alice's hard work first hand.
The smell of Orange blooms, lilacs, freesia and roses filled the air. The scents were strong, but no overpowering. White blooms were strung across the backyard from the house to the trees in long garlands, dripping with long lines of white gossamer ribbons. A large white arch stood at the front of the seating area covered in white and blue roses. Carlisle stood alone waiting for us.
The music changed to Wagner's traditional march surrounded by a flood of embellishments. "Peter and Maggie will go first, followed by Riley and me. Count to five and then walk to Esme and she will lead both you and Edward down the aisle," Alice said.
I closed my eyes and counted as Alice had instructed. When I opened my eyes again I saw Edward standing across the backyard from me. A dozen or so yards separated us from where we were to meet. I took a deep breath and began to walk toward Esme.
Edward and I wore matching all white tuxedoes with deep blue accents. We had picked, White, Blue and Green as the colors for our wedding.
It only took a few seconds to reach Esme, but it felt like a lifetime. Esme reached out and took an arm from both Edward and I. She was dressed in a beautiful deep Emerald Green dress.
She gave both of our hands a gentle squeeze and lead us down the aisle. Our friends and family seated on each side watched as we approached Carlisle. He had happily agreed to perform our ceremony. Riley and Peter were now standing on either side of Carlisle.
Edward and I gave Esme a kiss on the cheek as we reached the end of the aisle. She then joined our hands, and I gave Edward's hand a tight squeeze as I smiled triumphantly at him.
"Friends and loved ones, we are gathered here on this beautiful day to share in the love of Jasper and Edward. Today we share in the commitment that they make to each other. They ask your blessing on this joyful occasion," Carlisle began.
"Traditionally the best man would say a few works at the reception, but instead Edward and Jasper have asked Riley and Peter to speak a few words during the ceremony. Riley." Carlisle
"I have been privilege to witness the love that my brother has for Jasper. For many years I have had the opportunity to bear witness to it. Putting into words what I have seen is difficult, but I did find a reading from Corinthians that embodies the relationship between Jasper and Edward," Riley spoke to our friends, and then turned to Edward and I before continuing.
"Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never endsm," Riley finished. (1Corinthians 13: 4 -8)
"Peter," Carlisle said.
"Treat yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty and fear assail your relationship as they threaten all relationship at one time or another remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives remember that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight," Peter spoke.
"I can't remember where I heard that once, but it seems to fit well for Jasper and Edward. They never let the curveballs that life throws at them destroy their love for each other. They stand by each other and by their family through thick and thin. I am proud to call them friend, and family," Peter finished.
"Is there any here who have knowledge that these two should not be joined? Speak now or forever hold your peace," Carlisle said. After a moment of silence he continued.
"Jasper and Edward have chosen to say a few words to each other." Carlisle motioned for us to begin.
"Darkness surrounded me before I met you. I was but an empty shell of a man, who was battered and bruised. With but a simple touch you sparked within my very core a burning desire of love that I had never experienced in my life. My silent heart aches when we are apart, but rejoices in your embrace. You have never once faltered in your beliefs for me, and have given me strength when I needed it most. You have been my friend, my companion, my lover and my soul mate through the good times and the bad. Today my heart blazes and my soul sings in your love. Today I finally get to say I do," I said with my eyes filling with tears that would never shed.
Edward smiled at me before he began to speak. "My soul was incomplete until the day I met you. You were the missing piece to my whole, and together we are one. I know you believe that I give you strength during our times of difficulty, but I only help you find the strength that exists within you. My heart too aches for your touch and gentle embrace. Today we express our love of many years in front of our friends and family. Today I will say I do. I will love you and cherish you, in good times and bad until the end of time," Edward said. His eyes were also wet.
"Do you Jasper Monroe Whitlock IV take Edward Anthony Masen Cullen to be your husband?" Carlisle asked.
"I do!" I said.
"Repeat after me," Carlisle said and recited the vow.
"I, Jasper Monroe Whitlock IV, take you, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad. I will love and honor you all the days of my life," I said.
"Do you Edward Anthony Masen Cullen take Jasper Monroe Whitlock IV to be your husband?" Carlisle asked.
"I do!" Edward said.
"Repeat after me," Carlisle said and recited the vow.
I, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, take you, Jasper Monroe Whitlock IV to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad. I will love and honor you all the days of my life," Edward said.
"Let all here bear witness to the joining of Edward and Jasper. You may now kiss," Carlisle said.
I sure as hell didn't need to be told twice. My lips were pressed tightly against Edward's before Carlisle finished the word. Our kiss was filled with lots of emotion and passion but also end far too quickly. Edward pulled away when Riley coughed. 'Jerk.'
"I present to you, Edward and Jasper Cullen," Carlisle said.
We had argued about it for days after I proposed. Edward wanted us to hyphenate our last names, but I hadn't truly been a Whitlock in over a century. In my mind Jasper Whitlock died on the road between Houston and Galveston that night in 1862, in his place was born the Major. I no longer felt a connection to my human life. The Major had finally been put to rest with the death of Maria, but I knew that I would never been able to rid myself of the reputation which that name had brought me.
For the last seventy years I had been a Cullen; I was Jasper Cullen. Edward had finally given in after he understood why I wanted us to just be Edward and Jasper Cullen.
"You know I like the sound of that, Jasper Cullen," Edward whispered in my ear as we danced together for the first time as a married couple. I couldn't help but grin at his words.
"Jasper, you and Edward are dancing awfully close together," Riley teased as he and Alice danced beside us.
"Are you Jealous, Riley?" I asked with a grin.
"Just sayin'," Riley grinned.
"Yeah, Jasper this is supposed to be a PG wedding," Peter remarked.
'Oh so they thought they'd be funny, huh. We'll see who gets the last laugh,' I thought. I gave Edward a quick kiss. "I'd like to cut in over here," I said nodding toward Riley and Alice. Edward easily read my thoughts and knew what I was planning. Edward grinned and let go of me, and he head to cut into Peter and Maggie's dance.
I tapped Riley's shoulder. "May I?" I asked.
"Yeah, sure," Riley said. Before Riley could move away I grabbed his right hand and snaked my left hand around to his lower back. I pulled him snug against me and started dancing with him.
Riley's eyes got wide as I slid my hand lower so that my fingers were just grazing the top of his cute little butt. "I can't have you being jealous of your brother," I grinned.
Alice meanwhile was laughing hysterically. She'd obviously seen how this ends because I saw her rushing for the camera a moment later.
"Okay, Jasper. You win," Riley said. There was a slight concerned edge to his voice.
"What are you talking about? I just want to dance with my new brother-in-law," I said with a grin. As we turned, I could see Edward had tricked Peter as well.
"Normally we'd dance with our new mother-in-law at this point, but as you know that isn't exactly possible. I think this is a good alternative, don't you?" I asked Riley innocently.
"Yeah, I suppose," Riley said and he relaxed a bit.
Edward and I moved toward the center with our dance partners as the song drew to an end. Everyone else was watching us as the song end. Just as the last note played I slammed both Peter and Riley with a massive doze of lust.
Riley was dazed for a moment as I leaned him backwards and pressed my lips to his and grabbed his ass with my other hand. Edward did the same thing to Peter. The next moment was filled with flashes, hoots and hollers and loud clapping and laughs. The laughs only got louder when both Riley and Peter moaned.
"Thanks for the dance Riley," I said to him as I let him stand up again. Edward and I both quickly flitted away and took hold of Maggie and Alice. We started dancing again with the next song as Riley and Peter stood still looking dazed in the middle of the dance floor.
"That was a wet dream come true, Jasper," Alice said. I laughed.
"Riley is a decent kisser, and he has a nice firm ass. You're lucky I'm taken or I might just have to get me a piece of that," I said with a grin.
"Only if I can watch," Alice laughed.
"It's not nice to tempt a married man, Alice," I grinned.
"What the fuck just happened?" I heard Riley say to Peter.
"You just got owned by the Empath," Emmett said as he and Rosalie danced around them.
"The both of you should know better than to try and fuck with Jasper," Rosalie added.
Edward and I danced with all of our female friends. Eventually we each took a turn dancing with Esme. I stood off to the side near Demetri as Edward took his turn with Esme.
"May I ask a question?" Demetri said as we watched our friends and family dancing and enjoying themselves.
"Of course," I replied.
"I mean no offense. I am curious as to why Edward and you decided to hold a human ceremony to profess your love? You have been together for nearly a century, but now you hold this ceremony and it leaves me perplexed," Demetri asked.
Demetri truly meant no offense and I took none from his question. Adapting to our way of life had been difficult and trying for him. Trying to unlearn centuries of experiences and teachings in a mere thirty years is difficult.
"I take no offense to your question. It has less to do with the ceremony and more to do with the want to share out love for each other with our friends. I'm sure we could have done this many years, or even decades ago. But, this felt like the right time for us. I had many years of emotional baggage to put behind me, but it also in a way has to do with our relationship being more acceptable among humans," I said.
"Humans are very odd creatures. You do know that in the time of my birth that such relationships between men were accepted. And thank you for answering my question. I believe I can understand where you are coming from," Demetri said.
"Have you had the opportunity to dance this evening?" I asked. Demetri gave me a surprised look. "I was not asking you to dance, Demetri. I was just seeing if you were enjoying yourself," I clarified.
"Oh, yes I am. I also might have accepted your offer," Demetri said with a wink.
I couldn't help but grin. "Why Demetri I never knew."
Demetri shrugged. "I do not concern myself with labels. I do prefer the company of a beautiful woman, but I have found enjoyment in the company of men in the past."
"Have any of our female or male friends caught your eye?" I asked.
Demetri shook his head, "No, but I seem to be Tanya's new flavor of the decade. She's asked me to dance a dozen times this evening."
"Did you accept?" I asked.
"Yes, I did the gentlemanly thing and danced with her," Demetri replied.
"But you have no interest in her, do you?" I asked.
"No. She is very beautiful, but not what I am looking for in a mate," Demetri said.
"What are you looking for in a mate?" I asked.
Demetri shrugged. "Honestly I do not know myself. I suppose that I will know when I find it."
"Alright, Jasper. It's time for you and Edward to be off or you'll be late," Alice said as she appeared in front of Demetri and me.
"Are you going to tell us where everyone is sending us?" I asked Alice.
"Nope, you'll find out when you get there," Alice replied as she pulled me away from Demetri. I waved goodbye as I was hauled away.
Twenty minutes later Edward and I were in my brand new Range Rover. Alice had packed our luggage so we had no way of guess where we were going. Even with Edward's mind reading ability, it was still a complete mystery to us.
Alice had handed Edward a plain white envelope that was thick enough to hold several pages at least before he got into the vehicle. We were instructed to get on the road and head toward the interstate; and not to open the envelope until we were one mile from the house.
Edward tore open the envelope exactly one mile from the house. The contents fell out onto his lap. It was a letter and folded within the letter were airline tickets.
"Dear Edward and Jasper. This part of your honeymoon gift is from Riley and I. Enclosed you will find airline tickets that will take you part way to your final destination. Upon arrival at the airport you will receive another envelope with further instructions. Edward read. "Signed your favorite sister Alice."
"Where are we off too?" I asked.
Edward picked up the tickets and looked at them. "Houston Texas for a short lay over before going on to Rio," Edward said.
"What the fuck? Rio is sunny," I said.
Edward shrugged. "I don't think Rio is our final destination according to Alice's letter it's just a stop along the way."
"Well this should be interesting then," I said.
