Disclaimer: Twilight and its characters are property of Stephanie Meyer...the original plot is mine (Clarissa Frey)

A/N: Just want to make this clear, I am researching the American Civil War as I write this, any mistakes either chronologically or military wise is my own. I AM AUSTRALIAN, we don't learn about the Civil War in history class, cause it doesn't concern us.

In the last chapter, I received a review where I was informed that Washington State did not exist in the 19th century. Thank you for the information and the great detail that you supplied, it greatly helped and I am always willing to take more in, however, in the beginnings of writing this story, I researched the possibility that Washington didn't exist and no information I came across- book and internet- suggested that it did or did not exist and so, I have left it as it is- that Bella is from Washington in the time that Jasper existed (to him). I am not aiming to make this story historically correct- I have little time as it is to continually update at frequent intervals and I am researching as I write chapters and as the questions I have about the Civil War as is relevant to the plot line in that specific chapter.

Maybe one day I will get the time to research the Civil War properly, but the present is not that time and, if I sound harsh in saying this, then I apologise, but I will not endeavour to make this story accurate at this present time. If there are any patriotic concerns in regards to American readers, do not continue to read. I will accept no criticism in regards to it.

Thank you

Chapter Twelve

Bella's World

Today was Jasper's birthday. I was up early in the hopes of writing a letter and sending it via express post so he would hopefully get it today. By the time I had finished writing and walking through the cold to the post office to post it, I was knackered and I gladly went back to bed to sleep some more. I was not used to getting up at four in the morning anymore. Jess was organizing a birthday party for us to celebrate Jasper's 20th, something I didn't really understand, but I went along with it.

I think Jess just wanted the excuse to throw another party, considering that her parents were away on vacation in Bali anyhow.

I woke back up at midday, threw my clothes on and went downstairs to make the cake. It all felt surreal, but, I was playing along with Jess for now, she was so into this whole thing that was apparently going on between Jasper and that it was ridiculous.

Finishing the cake, I boxed it up, wrote a note to Charlie telling him where I was- he had gotten up the same time that I did to go down to the Quillette reservation to go fishing with an old friend of his. Then I shrugged my coat on and walked out the door, cake in hand to walk to Jess's house.

I was surprised to find just her there when I got there.

"We've got to do the cake before everyone gets here, they'll think its weird to be celebrating someone's birthday and they don't know who they are"

She explained. I shook my head at her reasoning and opened the lid so I could take the cake out and slide it onto the glass plate that Jess had gotten out for me.

"I like the cake"

Of course she did, it was double chocolate mud cake, a favourite of ours. I had iced 'happy birthday Jasper' on it and Jess took a photo of it when I had lit the three candles. We sung 'happy birthday'- of course and then she got a shot of me blowing out the candles for Jasper.

Almost immediately after we had finished eating cake, the doorbell rang and Jess jumped up to answer it. I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

Yes, I would probably be going home early.

Jasper's World

Despite my not indulging the date of my birthday to anyone but Thomas, word had somehow gotten out of the date and I was rudely awoken by fellow soldiers and dragged out of my quarters, blinking sleep from my eyes.

Indeed, it was so early in the morning that the sun hadn't even risen and the roosters hadn't crowed, announcing day break. Rolling around, I broke free from my captors and headed back to my quarters.

"I am returning to my bed, you will regret this"

I threatened the soldiers, they laughed at me for they knew that it was an empty threat of sorts. I worked my men hard in training, but never to the point of exhaustion nor had I ever punished them. Shaking my head, I returned to my bed only to have sleep elude me. Eventually, I stood and dressed, heading for the mess hall to have the morning meal of the day.

"Jasper, I heard it was your birthday"

Thomas greeted me, I could see, from the smirk that he wore, that he had been the one to tell the other men what day it was for me today.

"Bella wrote to you, it just arrived. Can you ask her something for me? How her letters always seemed to arrive so quickly?"

Thomas asked me and I nodded. He walked off to get his own breakfast and I opened the envelope to find stiffened paper folded in half with a simple design on the front, opening the inside a flattened flower- a daisy fell out onto the table top and I read the words 'hugs and kisses on your birthday'. Underneath the sentence, Bella had written a small note.

Dear Jasper,

Today is your 20th birthday. Congratulations on turning the big 2-0, I must ask, do you feel old yet? Jess and I are having a cake for you today, I'll send the photos when I get them, 'cause I'm writing this quick note to you in the morning so it'll get to you today…hopefully.

Have a great day today Jasper, even though your out training more soldiers, treat yourself to something even and take care of yourself 'kay?

And, don't forget to write to me about your day.

Love,

Bella

Despite the fact that I had no idea what Bella was talking about when she said that herself and Miss Jessica were 'having a cake' for me, I still appreciated the note and the daisy. Delicately, I picked up the daisy and enclosed it back inside the paper and slid it into its envelope, wishing so desperately that I was able to hold Bella and thank her for such a thing.

"Jasper, you're needed out on the training field"

Thomas called out to me. I nodded and stood. I would have to reply to Bella tonight.

That day, as I drilled the soldiers of simple hand to hand combat movements, my thoughts were occupied by Bella, by her concern for my safety, my birthday. Days were meshing together, time spent with Bella was going to end soon, for me or for her and, this realization pained me inside, but, I wouldn't betray my sudden realizations to Bella, she would worry even more than she did presently.

Time passed quickly and I hurried to write to Bella, so send off my letter to her before darkness fell and we would be enclosed by our defences.

Dear Bella,

Thank you so very much for the daisy and note Bella, what a lovely gift. In answer to your question, I do not feel old, some think I am a year older than I actually am, something that amuses me greatly.

Now, my day, since you asked after it.

I was rudely awoken by soldiers and dragged out of my bed. I personally do not want to imagine what they would've inflicted on me if I hadn't managed to get away. I received your note in the mess hall- Thomas asks how your letters always managed to reply so quickly by the by. Then, I trained my soldiers- drilling them in hand to hand combat, before retiring here, to reply to you so, I can hopefully send out this letter before we are enclosed for the night.

I have said this so many times Bella, I can take care of myself and you are worrying needlessly. Perhaps you are the one who needs to be cared more?

Yours,

Jasper

Sadness consumed me as I folded the letter in half and sealed it into the envelope. I wanted to be truthful with Bella, but I couldn't put her through such sadness at my realization that I had had today and, I realized that my heart was breaking at the thought. My affections for Isabella Swan were too great to tell her these things. It was quite a realization to know that I loved a woman that I had never met, loved someone from another time and that, was the greatest pain of them all.