Disclaimer: Not mine

Glad you all liked the wedding

Chapter 11

Bella stretched lazily, feeling utterly content and toasty warm. She blinked and then smiled as she saw the second ring on her left hand.

"Good morning Mrs. Whitlock," Jasper greeted as he entered the bedroom, carrying a breakfast tray.

"Mrs. Whitlock…" she smiled and sat up, allowing Jasper to set the tray over her lap. He kissed her gently and then left her to eat while he ran a hot bath in the massive spa tub. After the reception they had driven in to Houston where they had booked the Honeymoon suite at the St. Regis for the night. Today they were taking a private plane to a private island in the Caribbean. She didn't want to know how much the plane and island were costing but Jasper couldn't exactly go to the beach if there were other people around. She was excited to get there, a whole island to themselves for two weeks.

They spent time soaking in the tub and enjoying more pleasurable pursuits before drying, dressing and heading for the airport. The flight was pleasant and then they used a boat to get to the island.

"This is amazing!" Bella smiled, spinning around in the entrance area of their home for the next fortnight. She had gotten over her hesitance when it came to others spending money on her. Thanks to Jasper and people did things like get papers through, she had money of her own now. They'd somehow accessed the money from her parents that she should have inherited, if she wasn't assumed dead anyway, and then they had invested it for her. She had a very nice nest egg these days.

"You like it?" Jasper smiled, basking in her emotions.

"I love it!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him through the sprawling house, Jasper chuckling as he carried their bags. They made it to the Master bedroom, and he dropped the luggage as Bella looked around curiously. She walked onto the balcony and tipped her head back, enjoying the heat of the sun. Jasper walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She looked down to see his skin sparkling in the light, it was different to the way Edward had sparkled and she knew it was because of all of his scars from the wars. She ran her hands over his arms, leaning back into his hard body, looking forward to the day she would be like him. "I love you," she whispered and then he kissed the top of her head.

"I love you," he echoed, wrapping her in his love and she smiled.

She always felt so safe in his arms, maybe it was the near foot height advantage he had on her? His near indestructability? Or just the fact he loved her so much? Did it really matter?

"Deep thoughts?" he asked as they went back inside since Bella should eat.

"Not particularly," she answered as she made her lunch. "So what are the plans?"

"Don't have any. Swimming, exploring, sleeping…whatever you want." He watched her cook and then eat. It still stank to him, but he'd learnt to ignore the stench of human food. Just like he'd learnt to ignore the burn of her blood in the back of his throat. She'd bled a few times over the years, been injured or the more womanly reasons, but he had never lunged at her again. It was difficult but he had fought hard for his control though he was looking forward to the day she was no longer so vulnerable. They hadn't spoken of it much, he'd admitted to wanting her forever, she had liked the idea, but they hadn't sat down and discussed things and he knew they would have to, soon.

"Jasper? What's wrong?"

He blinked and then smiled at her. "Nothing Darlin', just thinking." He kissed her cheek and she smiled before running off for the beach. Jasper followed, stripping off before diving in. they played in the water, Jasper having fun taking advantage of his lack of need for air. When night fell Bella ate again and then they went to bed.

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They sat beneath a tree, naked, Bella's hair still damp from their swim. The heat meant she could rest against him without freezing, in fact his skin was great for cooling off. "So, I choose a good honeymoon?" he asked, and she laughed.

"The best. What made you think of an island?"

"Honestly? Carlisle bought Esme an island near Rio de Janeiro, Isle Esme. It's where they go for privacy, Emmett and Rosalie have honeymooned there a few times too. There was no way I was going to call and ask to use it, but I thought a private island would be a great idea since it meant I wouldn't have to hide," he explained, hoping mentioning the Cullen's wouldn't ruin the mood but she just nodded in understanding.

"Well it was a perfect idea, maybe we can come back someday…" she trailed off, hesitant and he sat up straighter, taking her hand, feeling her hesitancy.

"Bella?" he brushed her hair off her face.

"When…when we both need to hide?" she asked, and he grinned.

"That sounds like an excellent idea." He kissed her, glad she hadn't changed her mind. "I love you so much," he whispered. "I can't wait until we have forever."

She turned around to face him, searching his face. "When will that be?" she asked nervously.

Jasper mentally cursed Edward for the millionth time for making her so unsure, even now, when it came to aspects of their relationship. He gently cupped hr face in his hands, leaning in to kiss her before pulling back. "Whenever you're ready," he promised. "I'd like to do it in Texas, to have Peter and Charlotte there to help," he admitted. He would feel safer with them there to guard them during her transformation since he planned to try and take as much of her pain as he could. Plus, it was always best to have more than one experienced vampire around when dealing with a newborn.

"Okay," she agreed. She would do whatever Jasper wanted because she knew seeing her in that much pain would kill him. She wasn't looking forward to that part, she still remembered the agony, the burn, of James' bite. Was she ready for that yet? "I want to tell my Dad," she whispered, and he nodded, pulling her close again.

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Jasper put their bags down, happy to be home in the house they had built on Peter's land. It was where Jasper's childhood home had once stood, Peter had surprised him by tracking the records and then buying the land. The house was long gone but he thought that was better, would he have even recognised it anymore? They'd gone to Forks on the way back, well out of the way, but Bella had needed to see her Father's grave again, to say goodbye. He was nervous, he hadn't changed anyone since he had left Maria but the idea of hurting Bella, of draining her, made him feel physically sick. He hoped that helped. He knew Carlisle had been theorising about injecting morphine first so he'd had Peter procure some, if it could help her then he would use it. He watched Bella unpack and then they went up to the main house to catch up with Peter and Charlotte.

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Charlotte pulled Bella aside, taking her up to the bathroom. "We have work to do," she told Bella who followed, confused.

"Work?"

"As a vampire your body is frozen, which means no hair or nail growth, any changes."

"Okay…."

"So you need a manicure, any waxing you want done.."

"Oh!" Bella blushed but understood. Wax would do nothing to remove a vampires leg hair. So she let Charlotte go to work, waxing her eyebrows, underarms, legs….everywhere. Then came the manicure and pedicure.

Charlotte ran her fingers through Bella's hair. "I recommend leaving it long, you can do more with it and short hair is not always fashionable or acceptable for a woman," she explained, and Bella nodded so she just trimmed it up, making sure it was nicely styled. "Are you scared?" she asked, knowing their men had left hearing distance as they went on a patrol, just to be safe.

"A little?" she rubbed the bite on her wrist and Charlotte nodded.

"Even if the morphine doesn't work, Jasper will do his best to help the pain," she promised.

"But then he'll be in pain."

"He'll be in pain while you are changing no matter what, it will hurt him to know you are hurting." She finished Bella's hair and let her look in the mirror, enjoying Bella's happiness at her hair and neatly styled eyebrows, even if she was still stinging in places from the wax.

"I know. And you'll keep me away from people."

"Of course, with three of us here to help you, you'll be fine. No one ever comes out here either. I assume you want to follow Jasper's diet."

"Definity…no offence."

"None taken, little sister," she kissed Bella's cheek. They left the bedroom and headed downstairs so Bella could eat.

Peter and Jasper arrived and went to their respective partners. Jasper wrapped his arms around Bella, nose wrinkling at the smell of the wax that still lingered. "Having fun?"

"Yeah, we are," Bella kissed him. "Everything quiet?"

"As a tomb," Peter answered with a grin and Charlotte smacked him for it.

"You sure you're ready for this?" Jasper asked, staring into her eyes and she nodded. he'd miss the warm brown colour and he knew she wasn't looking forward to having red eyes, even though she never flinched from Peter and Charlotte's, but it would take a few months for the last of her human blood to fade and the animal blood to change the colour. They went back to their house and Bella changed into a simple pair of lose pants and a t-shirt before lying on their bed, Jasper lying beside her. He grabbed the prepared syringe and kept eye contact as he injected the massive dose of morphine. "I love you so much," he choked out, kissing her and she clung to him, kissing back but the morphine began working and she began drifting. He moved from her lips, kissing his way down to her neck. He hesitated but then sank his teeth in, fighting not to swallow any blood but inject his venom. He licked the wound closed and then lifted her arm to bite first one wrist and then the other, covering James' bite with his own. He wanted as much venom in her veins as possible, to ensure a swift transformation. Once done he lay down and pulled her into his arms, feeling her burrow into his cold body, knowing the burn was spreading and she was seeking relief. "it's okay Darlin', I'm here, you're doing great," he whispered to her.

Peter and Charlotte stayed outside, patrolling the property to ensure nothing disturbed them. Peter even hunted down a deer and tied it up near the house with some grass, chuckling about a home delivery meal. Why make her hunt down her first animal?

"Why isn't she screaming?" Jasper asked after five hours and Peter went inside, keeping his distance since it was easy to tell Jasper was on edge.

"The morphine?" he shrugged. "Listen to her body Major, the venoms spreading like it should," he fell back on rank automatically with Jasper's attitude. He hoped it was the morphine and not a problem, if they lost her…they'd lose Jasper too.

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She was burning! It hurt so much! She couldn't move, her jaw locked down to keep from screaming, she knew she didn't want to scream. Jasper…where was Jasper! Then she felt something cold stroke her skin and she knew it was him. How much longer? It hurt so much worse than James' bite or Edward sucking the venom out. Changing…she was becoming a vampire, she just had to hold out for three days…how long had it been? Her hands convulsed into fists and then she felt hands grab hers.

"It's okay Bella, I'm here. I love you so much. Not too much longer," Jasper's voice came to her from a distance.

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Jasper was relieved when her hands moved, grabbing them gently to keep her from hurting herself or him. "It's okay Bella, I'm here. I love you so much. Not too much longer," he promised, not sure if she could hear him or not. It had been sixty eight hours and twenty three minutes since her transformation had begun. "I'm here, you're safe."

One thought terrified him, when she woke up she'd truly be able to see his scars, in a way her human eyes couldn't…it terrified newborns to see him and he dreaded feeling her fear. He didn't want her to be afraid of him. He'd changed into jeans and a long sleeved shirt to hide as many as he could for when she woke up but sooner or later she'd see them all.

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Something was different…the burn, it was fading, her fingers and toes tingling…but it was increasing in her chest. Make it stop!

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It was a relief when Bella finally made a noise, whimpering in pain and they could hear her heart as it struggled to beat.

"Almost done love, you're being so brave. I'm so proud of you Bella," Jasper whispered as he loosened his hold on her. He knew better than to be too close to a newly awoken newborn, but he hated the idea of letting her go. As her heart began to skip beats he moved off the bed to stand against the wall, keeping his body relaxed, not wanting to appear to be a threat. He could feel Peter and Charlotte's anticipation from outside as Bella's heart suddenly stopped.

Jasper remained silent, watching his wife as she lay on the bed. She was breathtaking as one of them. her hair had grown out another inch or so, becoming fuller, shiny, the red highlights becoming more obvious. Her features were more refined, her skin as pale and hard as his. Her body had filled out a little more too, something he couldn't complain about. He knew she was using her new senses to take in the world around her and he didn't rush her, wanting her introduction to her new life to be gentle. He waited as red eyes opened and then she was sitting up, looking around, their eyes meeting and he froze. He remained that way as she stood, trying to get a feel for her emotions.

"Jasper?" she asked, her voice slightly higher, melodic.

"Bella," he slowly lifted his arm, holding his hand out to her. She hesitated and he waited, hoping she would come to him.

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The pain suddenly stopped, and she felt her heart stop as well. She lay still, able to smell so much, hear things she hadn't before. It was confusing and a little scary. Jasper….where was Jasper. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, seeing every dust mote in the air. She sat up, shocked by how fast and smooth the movement was. She stared into golden eyes, body tensing at the sight of the male vampire, her eyes seeing the scars that littered his exposed skin. But… "Jasper?" she asked and then blinked, shocked again by the sound of her voice. Was it him?

"Bella," he slowly lifted his arm, holding his hand out to her.

She hesitated, why? This was Jasper….her husband…her mate. Tentatively she moved, reaching out to his hand. Then her head whipped around as she heard something… a heartbeat! Her throat was burning, and she moved, straight through the window.

TBC…