Song: "The Way You Look Tonight" – Michael Bublé

Chapter 20 – Moonlight

BPOV

"Alice! Stop it! I'm not you, okay? I don't know all these things. Be patient with me." Alice frowned and stepped back, removing her ghostly hands from my hair. Her eyes were glued to my hair and her nose scrunched up as though she smelled something rotting.

"It's not a foreign language, Bella. You need an anti-frizz serum. 'Anti': meaning 'in opposition to'; 'Frizz': meaning 'horrible curls that make you look like a plant'. And 'Serum': meaning 'the clear liquid in that bottle on my dresser which will smooth your hair and give it a lovely shine.' Anti-frizz serum… Honestly, Bella…"

Alice danced away from me and went to her dresser where she pointed at a jeweled bottle sitting near the back.

"Come on, come on. We're running out of time."

I glanced at the clock hanging near Alice's desk and sighed. It wasn't even one o'clock yet. I got up from my chair and went to the dresser, where I picked up the bottle while glaring at Alice and then returned to my seat.

"Now what?" I asked while opening the bottle. It smelled wonderful. And expensive.

"We're going to be using heat to style your hair. The anti-frizz serum will help keep your hair from drying out and breaking. It will also help keep the tiny little fly-aways from being so obnoxious and hopefully will even give your dead mop a little bit of shine."

Alice paused to give me a playful smile before continuing.

"Alright, pour a little bit in your hands. Just a little bit, Bella. If you use too much your hair will just look greasy and I won't be having that. We'd have to start all over."

"Well how much is too much?" I asked as I poured a little onto my palm. Alice watched closely and then jumped a little, putting her hand out.

"That's enough!"

I followed Alice's directions as best as I could, spreading the "serum" evenly throughout my hair, making sure to pay special attention to my roots and ends. Finally, Alice smiled happily.

"Good. Now, while that dries you can get some food and then we'll work on make up."

I sighed and started to get up from the chair in front of Alice's large vanity mirror when Edward's voice washed over me.

"Alice, I wonder if you might leave Bella and I for a few moments. I'd like to speak with her."

I turned around and spotted Edward sitting on Alice's bay window. He smiled gently and glanced at Alice. She stared at him for a second and then glanced at the clock with a huff.

"Fine, Edward. But, please, make it quick. We're on a tight schedule."

I rolled my eyes and Alice vanished, leaving only Edward and I alone in the room. I moved away from the mirror and took a seat on the bay window beside him. Edward continued to stare out the window, not speaking and not moving. Finally, when I opened my mouth to say something, he began.

"Jasper is going to propose tonight, Bella."

I nodded, having already picked up on all the clues. Still, even though I had a feeling of what was going to happen on our date tonight, I felt my throat tighten and my stomach twist into knots.

"I used to imagine what our wedding might be like. Of course, every time I tried to picture it, I remembered the way Alice had seen it and the image became so clear. It was a fantastic thing to fantasize about. I'd see the look on your face when you walked down the aisle to stand beside me. There was such a deep love in your eyes; it went all the way to your soul. You smiled as you walked toward me and I focused on your heart, listening as it beat wildly from nerves."

Edward turned away from the window and smiled sadly. I felt a tear drip from my chin and his smile deepened slightly.

"The image has changed, Bella. Not entirely, of course, but the details are different. It won't be indoors anymore. Your dress will be different. Those are minor things, of course, but I noticed nonetheless. The important things have not changed. Your heart will still beat wildly. Your eyes will shine with love and excitement. Your hands will shake when it comes time to exchange rings. You'll devote yourself to one man and one man only and he'll return that devotion with such sincerity it nearly breaks your heart. And when the ceremony is all over, the happy couple will be announced. Only it won't be Mr. & Mrs. Edward Cullen, but Mr. & Mrs. Jasper Whitlock."

I closed my eyes and allowed my head to hang as I listened to him. Despite what I knew was rational, I felt a twinge of guilt as Edward described the day I'd marry his brother. Taking a deep breath I forced the guilt away.

"I'm getting engaged today, Edward. I'd always imagined it would be you I would be saying 'yes' to, but it's not. I can't—I won't feel guilty about that."

"Bella, please. That's not why I'm here. Perhaps it's selfish of me, but I'm here to give my blessing. Not that you need it, of course, but for my own conscience, perhaps. I needed you to know, and be able to tell Jasper, that as much as I can be, I'm happy for you. In fact, I don't believe I've ever felt so jealous of anyone. Jasper is a lucky man. But, he's earned it. He deserves happiness and I believe without you, he'd never find it. You're truly perfect for each other."

I opened my eyes to see Edward smiling peacefully. My eyes blurred as a fresh round of tears filled my eyes and poured down my cheeks.

"I have decided to do as I'd originally planned and remain in this reality until your change is complete. Once that has happened, I'll know you'll truly be safe and I'll be able to let go. Alice wants to help with the wedding, so together we will remain with you through your change. However, we have both decided to leave for a few days to allow you and Jasper the privacy you deserve."

Edward paused and a shadow seemed to pass over his features briefly. Then his expression cleared again and he smiled.

"Perhaps you were right all along, Bella. Perhaps I was too cautious for my own good."

I blinked in confusion as Edward's words hung in the air between us. Finally, putting it together with his plan to give Jasper and I privacy, realization struck. I blushed and looked down at my hands in an attempt to avoid Edward's gaze. Silence filled the room and my mind raced in an attempt to come up with something to say.

"Well," Edward said, breaking up my thoughts. "It's time I get going. I just wanted to let you know I won't be around for the next few days, but assure you that I'll be back. I can't imagine not getting a proper goodbye."

Edward stood up from his seat on the bay window and smiled down at me, his lips curling in the corners as though he had a secret he couldn't tell but was dying to reveal.

"I don't envy you today, Bella. Alice was already pushy before; now you're going to have to deal with a ghost who can't do anything for herself. You're in for a long day."

Edward bent down and kissed my forehead. I allowed myself to imagine the feel of his icy lips against my forehead and sighed.

"Enjoy yourself tonight, love. Jasper's as nervous as you are, if not more so. Just allow yourself to trust him entirely and all those nerves will start to fade away."

Again, Edward's lips curled into a grin and he blinked a few times, staring at the floor. He shook his head and then smiled at me.

"Forgive me, I know too much. I can't imagine how it must feel to have your former boyfriend giving you sex advice about his brother, your soon to be fiancé."

Blood filled my cheeks and Edward began laughing, shaking his head as I stared up at him.

"Sex advice. And here I thought you were just trying to calm me down before getting engaged, not before…." I trailed off. There was no appropriate way to finish that sentence. I bit my lip and blinked, trying to come up with a smooth change of topic.

Finally, Edward took pity on me.

"Relax, Bella. It's far more painful for me than it is for you, I assure you."

Edward chuckled gently and I smiled, feeling a bit of my embarrassment begin to melt away. Gingerly, and as though he was memorizing every detail of my face, Edward stared at me. Finally he blinked and reached out his hand as he always had to touch my face. Despite knowing I wouldn't be able to feel him, I turned my head slightly and closed my eyes, pretending his hand was cupping my cheek.

When I opened my eyes, he was gone.

Jake's POV

Joy batted her eyelashes and looked up at me, the tall grass forming a cocoon around her. She giggled and took a deep breath before climbing to her feet. "Again." She said firmly and bent her legs at the knees, her arms stretched out in attack mode. At the sight of her, something inside me melted and I knew that everything I once was had changed. Joy's eyes sparkled and I recognized the now familiar look of determination in her eyes. Bracing myself, I watched as she charged me, catching me around the waist. Her knee came up into my side, her power much stronger than it had been just moments ago. I allowed her a few hits to gauge her strength before grabbing her arms. I spun her around, holding her by the arms in a way that would cause severe pain if she struggled. "Now what?" I asked, forcing her to say the steps out loud.

"'Number one, feel the power in your core.'" Joy took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "'Two, know your attacker.'" Joy stilled and I recognized the act as her taking a moment to learn my height and weight ratio against her own. "'Three, focus your strength on their weakest points. And number four, never give up.'" Joy's foot came stomping down on mine just as her head slammed back into my nose, temporarily blinding me. Instinctively, I let go of her arms and covered my now gushing nose with my hands. Joy seized the opportunity and brought her foot up, connecting with my groin in one swift, very powerful kick.

Light exploded behind my eyes and I dropped to my knees, now cradling my severely wounded crotch. Joy planted her foot in the middle of my chest and pushed me onto my back. Through watery eyes I saw her smirk vanish leaving a horrified grimace in its place. "Jake! I told you! Oh, I'm sorry!" She fell to her knees and stretched back, grabbing my shirt from where it lay discarded a few feet away. She applied it to my nose, dabbing at the blood that was flowing freely and pooling on my chest. "Oh, God. I'm so sorry."

"'S alright, Joy. Already healing." I closed my eyes and focused on the receding pain. Within a few seconds the crippling pain in my crotch was a mere burn and I could breathe through my nose. Still, Joy continued apologizing as she wiped blood off my chest. Giving myself a minute longer to recover, I laid in the tall grass and enjoyed the simple fact that a beautiful girl was fawning over me with more concern that I could even begin to believe possible.

"Joy," I said, happy to hear that my voice was no longer strained. "I'm alright. I told you, I heal fast. And it's important that you learn this stuff. You said so yourself."

Joy sighed and I opened my eyes to look at her. She was still knelt over me with her curls framing her face, the sunlight gleaming through them in a way that made her look like an angel. As though watching myself from several feet away, I saw my hand move through her curls as her eyes fluttered closed and she leaned against it.

"I know, but I still don't like hurting you. I just wish there was some other way I could learn how to defend myself." Joy's hand rested on my chest, her fingertips moving in gentle circles.

"Nah," I said. "This is my job. Now… Time to hold up your end up the bargain." I grinned as Joy's eyes opened and she smirked down at me. "You're kidding, right? There's absolutely no way I'm kissing you while you're covered in blood." She stood up and offered me her hand, which I took gladly. She pulled me up and I wrapped my arms around her waist as I got on my feet.

"Aw, come on, babe. All that for nothing?" I asked, doing my best to sound sad and pathetic. Joy laughed gently and ran her hands up my arms, her fingertips tracing my muscles gingerly "Well, maybe not nothing…" She whispered, her eyes following the movement of her fingers. Rising up onto the tips of her toes, Joy leaned forward and kissed my neck slowly. The feeling of her lips on my neck, sucking gently while her arms slid around my back sent electricity shooting through my veins. I tightened my grip on her slightly, always aware of my strength. Joy nipped firmly at my neck, her tongue tracing over her teeth marks before they faded away.

She pulled back and looked up at me, fire burning in her eyes like it was in my veins. Not for the first time since meeting her, I realized that life had been utterly meaningless without her.

"Yo, Romeo! As happy as we all are that you finally imprinted, do you think you can untangle yourself from that pretty little blonde long enough to meet with the Elders?" Paul grinned at me as I looked at him over the top of Joy's head. Growling as loudly and pointedly as I could, I glared at Paul until he disappeared inside Sam's house. Joy laughed and patted my chest gently before pulling away.

"Go get cleaned up and tend to business. I need to find Lucas anyway. He adores Emily and I know she likes having him around, but he can be quite tiring after awhile. Come find me when you're done?"

I nodded and watched as she backed away, giving me one last smile before jogging off toward La Push beach.

I stood watching her until she had disappeared in the distance and then turned and made my way into Sam's house. When I walked in the room erupted in catcalls and applause with a wolf whistle thrown in for good measure.

"Damn, I like this change. I was getting damn sick of you moping around all the time." Sam grinned and tossed a wet towel to me before taking a seat at the large round table in the middle of the room. I caught it and began wiping the blood off my face and chest. "Now I know her name is Joy and all, but I never really understood just how much joy one pint sized girl could bring into our lives."

Embry laughed and kicked out a chair at the table, motioning for me to sit down. "Yeah, I know. He spends all his time either staring at her or wrestling with her. I can't remember the last time he complained about something."

Before I could begin to make a snide comeback, Jared leaned forward, his eyes sparkling. "I was watching you two out there. She's got spunk. She's sloppy and careless, but she's strong and fast. I think she's going to be easier to train up than you think. Maybe even as easy as Em was."

"Hey." Sam said, shooting Jared a dirty look. "You have no idea how hard it was to train Emily. She's stubborn and doesn't listen. Thinks she can just throw herself into you and do damage without considering the weak zones. It took me awhile to get her to think before acting."

"And yet I can still remember all the black eyes and broken noses." Billy rolled himself forward from the corner and gave Sam a mocking smile. "You try training Rachel and Rebecca and then we'll talk about hard. Those girls made Emily look like a walk in the park."

I sat back as Sam and Billy argued over tactics and discussed the reason behind training all our women. I really didn't care why we had started giving the women lessons and making sure they could defend themselves. The only thing that mattered to me was knowing that Joy would never be a slave to anyone again. She would never be taken and held against her will and she would never suffer anything like the abuse she'd been through in the past.

"Alright, alright. Let's settled down and get on track here." Quil Senior's voice cut through the discussion at hand and silence blanketed the room. He turned to Sam and nodded, giving him the floor to speak.

Slowly and quietly, Embry, Quil Junior, Seth, Leah, Jared, and Paul moved back from the table, taking seats at the edges of the room to show respect to the council. Despite the fact that I was not an Elder, I remained at the table because the situation involved Joy and Lucas directly.

"I asked for this meeting because I want to take a close look at the treaty currently in place with the Cullen Family. Now, as you all know, Ephraim Black sat down with Carlisle Cullen decades ago and agreed to allow the Cullen's to live here peacefully as long as they stayed off our territory and did not bite, feed on, or harm a single human in any way. Since that time Dr. Cullen has worked in our community, suffering the anguish that comes with him being in direct contact with human blood. During all that time, he has not once attacked a human in any way. The Cullen's have proven that they are dedicated to living peaceful lives. Not once have we ever had to actively enforce the rules of the treaty."

"Yes, yes." Quil Senior cut Sam off with a wave of his hand. "We know all this. We've always kept a very close eye on the Cullen family. Even more so since the Swan girl has begun to count herself as one of their family. Please, Samuel, get to the point."

Sam's eyes sharpened in annoyance but he only inclined his head and began again.

"I'd like to petition to change the treaty. To be exact, I'd like to throw out several key points and institute new stipulations. I feel the Cullen's have proven that they are no enemies of ours, but rather should be considered our friends. I would like to allow them to come and go on our land in order to promote a new bond of brotherhood among us. If we all work together, we can keep this state safe from those who threaten it."

Quil Senior opened his mouth to say something but Billy held up his hand to silence him. "Hear him out." They both sat back and Sam nodded in appreciation before continuing.

"Additionally, we all know of the pending engagement between Bella and Jasper. It will only be a matter of time before they are officially engaged and the next step will be marriage. I think we can all agree that Bella's change is imminent. It has always been. With the treaty standing as is, we will be forced to destroy Jasper and Bella and drive the remaining members of the family out of our state. Again, I feel doing this would only be detrimental to—"

"Let me get this straight." Billy leaned forward and Sam leaned back, the flicker of annoyance returning to his eyes. "So what you're saying is you not only want to allow Bella's change with no repercussions, you'd also have them come onto our land? For what reason? To hunt?"

Sam's eyes met mine and I nodded, leaning forward.

"Not to hunt, dad. We wouldn't want them hunting on our land. That gets too complicated and they seem to do just fine on their own land. No, what Sam is saying is… Well, here it is. We want to give the Cullen's and the Denali Coven the freedom to come and go within our borders without having to hunt them or chase them away. We want Bella, Jasper, and the rest of the Cullen's to stay in Washington without having to destroy them. And most of all, we want peace between us. They're not a danger. There are others who are, yes, but the Cullen's have proven that they're prepared to stand up for what is right. They're unique. They want the humanity they lost in their change. They're bloodsuckers, yes, but they're not our enemies."

"No." Quil Senior and Billy spoke at the same time. They glanced at one another quickly and then turned back to Sam and I. "We exist the way we do because of them. Our ancestors left us this land with the responsibility to defend it and protect the residents of this state. Doing away with the treaty or changing it in the way you're talking about would leave us vulnerable to them. We will not have it."

Sam and I had already discussed what we would do if we were met with a "no" but hearing it now… Flames of anger licked at my chest, building into a roaring fire.

"And who will enforce the treaty if not us?" I asked Quil Senior, my voice gruff and louder than it had been.

"You are bound to your pack and the pack is bound to the treaty. It's quite simple. These are our rules and you must follow the orders of your Alpha."

Sam laughed gently and stood up, running a hand through his hair. "You realize that's me, right? I'm Alpha. And I'm the one petitioning for change. You think I'll order my pack to kill them when I'm the one who is asking for their safety under a new treaty?"

"Son," Billy said, rolling his chair around the table until he was in front of Sam. "You are bound to the treaty. You follow it whether you like it or not. It's just the way it is."

"For him, maybe. Not for me." I stood up and moved beside Sam, addressing the room. "You know damn well I'm supposed to be Alpha. I've just never been ready before and Sam was. And he did a damn good job. As Ephraim Black's grandson, I'm claiming what is mine by birthright: My place on the Council as an Elder and my place as Alpha. Of course, no one is better suited to be my Second-in-Command than Sam."

The entire room fell silent, with the exception of a slow, impressed whistle from Embry. I stared down at Billy and recognized the look of shock and fury that was beginning to twist his features. I continued while I had the chance.

"Pack members, rise." The sound of chairs scraping the floor filled the air as each member of the pack stood. Looking at each of them I saw a variety of emotions. Embry was amused and excited, Quil Junior looked down right nervous, Jared looked confused but ready to follow orders, Seth was staring at me in awe, Paul seemed a little uneasy, and Leah was downright pissed.

Together, Sam and I stood in front of the pack, commanding their loyalty despite their beliefs about who should be Alpha.

"From this moment on," I said, looking from one to the other, all the way down the line. "My commands will heard and obeyed without question. In my absence, which may be frequently, Sam is to be heard and obeyed. We will defend this land and this state against all those who threaten it, without fail. Those who pose no threat will not be threatened."

Each member of the pack nodded in agreement and I turned to the Council, addressing Billy and Quil Senior.

"The Council of Elders will now go back to its original number. Sam will remain on the Council and I am taking my rightful place among you. So," I said, feeling a certain amount of authority over them, "the Cullen family, also known as the Olympic Coven, and the Denali Coven will have the freedom to come and go on our land as they please, as long as no harm comes to a member of our tribe, or a citizen of this state at the hands of one of them. Should the day come that we are threatened or one of our members is hurt, the previous treaty will stand."

"You can't do this, Jacob. The Council is not led by one man. We vote and decide on the issues as a whole." Billy rolled his chair back to the table and shook his head up at me. "You're young. You don't know how things work."

"Oh? So then, when the group is split evenly on an issue, who makes the final decision? Wouldn't it fall to the one true Alpha? The grandson of Ephraim Black? You two had your say and while your input is still valued and respected, it is not the final word. You will accept and embrace the new treaty and the vampires it protects. Joy's brother, Tristan, is a vampire. He will be welcomed on our land and in our houses as long as they hold up their end of the treaty. Which they will. The day will come when Bella will be one of them and her change will come at the hands of a Cullen—"

"A direct violation of your new treaty!" Quil Senior exclaimed, cutting me off.

"Ah, except for the one little stipulation I'm adding. Should a human make the decision to be changed of his or her own free will, knowing the ramifications of their actions, or should they be on the brink of death with no chance of surviving, their change will not violate the treaty. Therefore, Bella and Jasper will still be allowed on our land."

I paused and stared down at Billy and Quil Senior as they processed my declaration.

"I have to protect my family. Joy is my family and someday soon, her family will be my family. This includes Tristan and his mate. We can live peacefully among one another if we give each other a chance to be peaceful. You've been too closed minded to even consider it and we've suffered because of it. I've had my say. A new treaty is in place. Sam and I will lead the pack together."

Directing my attention to Billy, I smiled and shrugged gently. "I've grown up, dad. It's what you always wanted for me. You wanted me to be Alpha and start taking responsibility for myself and the pack. Well, now I'm doing it. You're just going to have to have a little faith in me. Now, I'm going to go find Joy and Lucas while Sam pays a visit to the Cullen's to fill them in."

Sam nodded and followed me outside, leaving the others to deal with the news on their own.

"Well, I think that went well." Sam said, laughing a little.

"Could've been worse. I half expected Old Man Quil to charge me. He doesn't like having his power questioned or taken away." I grinned and jumped off the porch, leading the way to Sam's truck.

"Yeah, you got lucky. Thanks… For backing me up. I knew it would be tough, but it helps to have the true Alpha in your corner." Sam's grin faded a little and he shrugged, pulling open the door to his truck. "I honestly can't decide if I'm relieved or pissed off. I guess it'll be nice not to have all the pressure and weight on my shoulders. I've been getting sick of making all the decisions. It's just going to be weird having to take orders from someone."

I patted Sam on the shoulder and stepped back, letting him get in the truck. "We both know I won't have to give you very many orders anyway. For the first time in our lives, we see eye to eye. Tell the Cullen's I say 'hi' and Joy and I will swing by later."

I turned and ran off toward the beach, listening as Sam's truck roared to life behind me. For the first time in my life, everything felt right. I'd finally found my place in the pack and in life.

BPOV

"Bella, wow. Even I'm impressed." Rosalie leaned against the doorframe and looked me over, making me turn in a circle in front of her. The three-inch tall high heels made me feel like I was on stilts, yet I had to admit I liked the way they made my legs look. Rosalie smiled at me as I came to a stop facing her and nodded her appreciation. "Alice did well, as usual." She said, causing Alice to giggle behind me.

"How'd you know?" I asked Rosalie, fighting the temptation to sit on the bed to relieve the pressure on my toes.

"I heard you talking to her. Didn't take much to piece it together. Jasper and Emmett were hunting or they'd know too. You tend to yell a lot." Rosalie laughed and walked forward, taking a close look at my hair. "I like it. It's actually pretty well done considering you had to do it with your own hands. You're not used to this kind of stuff yet. And the dress fits perfectly."

I looked down at the crimson dress clinging to my body in a way that normally made me cringe. This time, I smiled. "I do like it. I feel… I feel sexy. Like, sexy in a classy way." Rosalie laughed again and smoothed out a crease in my strapless dress.

"I understand. You should feel that way. Alice was a classy girl. She liked to show off, but she always kept it tasteful. I'm a little more obvious than she was." Rosalie smiled and raised the hem of my floor length dress to see my shoes. She whistled her appreciation and let my dress fall again. "Nice. I've never seen you in pumps before. Well, you ready?"

Rosalie stuck out her arm in a way I was used to Jasper doing and I glanced back at Alice.

"Rosalie is your escort. In our family when one of us finds our mate and is on their way to engagement or marriage, the member of the family closest to the female escorts her to her mate. When I married Jasper, Edward escorted me. It's our way of giving approval and right now, Rosalie is giving her approval."

Feeling deeply touched and honestly happy it was Rosalie escorting me, I put my arm through hers and took a deep breath as she guided me into the hall.

When we got to the large staircase, I walked down as carefully as possible with Rosalie on my right and Alice on my left. At the bottom of the stairs, Jasper stood with Carlisle on his right.

"Carlisle has been working with Jasper on helping him control his thirst and desire for your blood. If not for him, it may never have been possible for you and Jasper to have a normal relationship while you're human. Jasper realizes this and knows how much he owes to Carlisle. He also credits Carlisle with saving your life, as Jasper has never before been strong enough to control himself."

I nodded a little, showing Alice I was listening, and focused my attention on Jasper. He was wearing black slacks with a white button down shirt and a black sports coat over it. The top button on his shirt was undone and I noticed he wasn't wearing a tie or bow tie. He looked perfect.

"Damn, Bella." Emmett stepped up beside Carlisle to get a better look at me and elbowed Carlisle in the side. "Never seen her like that before." Carlisle turned and looked at Emmett, giving him a pointed look that even I understood. Emmett shrugged and backed away, standing off to the side again.

Rosalie and I stopped in front of Carlisle and Jasper and Rosalie took my hand, placing it in Jasper's with a gentle pat.

"You look beautiful, Bella, truly." Jasper's voice was thick and I heard a certain amount of awe in it. I smiled, feeling myself begin to blush as his eyes bore into mine.

"Thank you. You look…" I trailed off, suddenly feeling very self-conscious as Carlisle, Emmett, Rosalie, and Alice all stood in a circle around us. "Nice." I said, eliciting a snort from Emmett.

"Enjoy your evening, both of you." Carlisle turned and pulled the front door open, giving me a kiss on the cheek before stepping back. A bright flash pulled my attention to the stairs where Esme was standing with a camera.

"Found it." She said and took another picture. "Alice would have wanted…" I nodded and Alice smiled happily. Finally, when Esme was content, Jasper and I stepped out onto the porch. As we made our way to Jasper's car, Sam's truck pulled into the driveway. He jumped out of the car and froze when he saw me.

"Whoa." He said, looking me up and down. He shook his head a little and then went up onto the porch with Carlisle. "I need to talk with you." Carlisle nodded and they all turned to see us off as Jasper and I got into the car and pulled out of the driveway.

The car was a bit chilly and I found myself fidgeting with my dress a lot. The bodice made my chest look twice as big as usual and it seemed my eyes were as curious about this phenomenon as my mind was. Making an active decision to stop looking down, I took a deep breath and glanced at Jasper.

"So…" I said nonchalantly. "Where are we going?"

Jasper chuckled and glanced over at me, putting his hand over mine so I'd leave my dress alone. "To dinner." He said simply.

"Uh huh. And then?"

"Out." He replied, giving me a grin. I sighed and put my right hand over his, lacing my fingers through his as he continued to hold my hand. "So many secrets…" I said quietly, staring at our fingers.

"Yeah, right. You don't honestly think I believe you did all that on your own, do you? Rose was downstairs when Emmett and I got back, but I could hear you stomping around in frustration. I know that stomp. You only did it when Alice was pestering you about something." Jasper glanced at me and smiled knowingly. I shrugged and focused my attention on the road ahead of us.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Jasper laughed and squeezed my hand. "Good. We'll both pretend that's true."

We drove in silence for a little while, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Finally, Jasper cleared his throat and glanced over at me. "Peter called. He and Charlotte made it to Alaska this morning. Peter says Geoff is doing well, but has developed a bit of a temper. He feels isolated and wants to be able to come back here when he wants."

"He'll get better though, right? And then be able to if he wants?"

"Like anything would keep me from visiting… Get real, Bells."

I jumped in my seat and glanced behind us, checking the backseat instinctively. Jasper mimicked me with confusion in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked quietly. I shook my head and settled into my seat again, looking forward out the window. I pulled my cell phone out of the small clutch Alice had ordered I take and sent a quick text to Geoff.

Can you hear me? I asked him, chewing on my lip excitedly. After a few seconds, his voice echoed in my head again.

"No, but I can hear Jasper. Apparently it works over a distance too. Though Katie says it might be less powerful once I learn to control it. Right now I just randomly start hearing people's thoughts if I think about them."

I laughed and squeezed Jasper's hand. "It's Geoff. He's in my head. I can hear him and he can hear you, so he knew we were talking about him." Jasper raised an eyebrow and glanced at me for a second before looking at the road again. "Pretty strong gift he's got then. Or maybe distance has less to do with it than the bond he has with the person."

I thought about it for a moment and typed out another text message to Geoff.

You said you randomly start hearing the thoughts of those you think about. Is that true for everyone? Have you tried it on… Hmm. Oh, I know. Try it on Charlie. You like him, but you're not really that close.

"Bossy tonight. What, no 'I miss you, Geoff'? Just straight on to ordering me around?"

I laughed out loud and shook my head, looking over at Jasper. "Same ol' Geoff." He smiled but stayed quiet, looking more thoughtful than usual. After a few seconds he glanced at me again.

"It's weird, ya know. Knowing there are all these people involved in our lives without us even knowing it. I know Alice and Edward are still around, but I can't see or hear them. And Geoff can apparently invade my thoughts. I hope they all find something to do on their own for the night…."

He trailed off and I stared at him, feeling my stomach begin to twist itself into knots. I was dying to call him out on it and ask him why it was so important they leave us alone tonight, but I already knew and asking wouldn't do anything but make me even more nervous.

"Can't get into Charlie's head. Maybe Jasper's right. Anyway, I'll leave you two alone now. I just wanted to check in. Have fun tonight, Bella… But please, speaking as a newborn who is more than a little thirsty at the moment, please try to control your clumsiness. And your aggressiveness."

Geoff chuckled and I felt blood fill my cheeks. I closed my phone, choosing not to reply to that and slid it back into my purse. Jasper glanced at me and took my hand again, lacing his icy fingers between mine.

"Are we alone now?" He asked with amusement in his voice. I bit my lip for a second and then nodded.

"I think so. Alice and Edward said they'd give us time on our own anyway and Geoff pretty much said bye. I think we're safe." I laughed and turned in my seat, holding his hand in my lap. I ran my fingers over one of the faint scars on the back of his hand, allowing my fingers to trace the curve of the bite mark. "So much pain." I whispered.

"It's in the past, darlin'. Don't think on it tonight. All that matters is the time we have ahead of us." He grinned at me, a curl falling in front of his eyes as he turned his head to look at me.

Confusion swelled inside me as we pulled onto the dock overlooking the lake. As I opened my mouth to ask Jasper why we were there, my door swung open and a hand reached in, waiting for mine. "Ma'am." Jasper said, his low southern drawl more prominent than usual. Deciding not to ask any questions and just allow Jasper to lead me, I took his hand and got out of the car carefully.

"Have I mentioned yet how gorgeous you look tonight?" Jasper's breath tickled my ear as he whispered to me. Again, blood filled my cheeks and I shook my head.

"Well…" I whispered, putting my hands on his chest. "Not using that word, you haven't." Jasper smirked and kissed the side of my head before stepping back, letting me move away from the car.

"Mr. Whitlock?" An older man stepped up behind Jasper with his hands stuffed in his pockets. "I'm Jack. Have you got everything you need for the evenin'?" Jasper slid his arm around my back and turned to face Jack. "I think we're fully prepared, Jack, thank you. You're sure it's no inconvenience?" Still trying to figure out exactly what Jasper and I were doing, I followed the conversation closely.

Jack shook his head more adamantly than I was expecting and I almost laughed out loud. "No, no, no, no, no. She's just been sittin' there. My sailin' buddy caught the big fish awhile back and now I find myself bored out there. I actually appreciate you takin' Miss Molly out and showin' her a good time." Jack pulled a key ring out of his pocket and handed it to Jasper. "Just remember to tie her up when you come back in."

Jasper nodded and spun the key ring around his finger. "Will do. Jack, I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Bella. Bella, this is Jack Danning. He's agreed to allow us to take his boat out on the lake tonight."

I offered my hand to Jack and he pulled his right hand out of his pocket, wiping it roughly on his jeans before taking my hand. "Good to meet ya, Miss Bella." I nodded and leaned into Jasper as Jack released my hand.

"Well, if you're all set then, I think I'll be headin' back in now. There's a list of emergency contacts stuck up under one of the windows if you should run into problems. Have a good evening. Miss Bella." Jack smiled and tipped his hat at me before turning and making his way slowly back up the dock to a waiting car. Jasper reached behind me and pulled a bag out of the back seat, slinging it over his shoulder before taking my hand again.

"Come along, darlin'." Jasper led us to a beautiful white boat that was tethered to the doc about twenty yards away. He tossed the bag onto the deck and took me by the waist, lifting me onto the boat. I backed away, making room for Jasper to get on and picked up the bag that was laying near my feet. Jasper took it from my hand and gave me a crooked smile before taking my hand again. He led me around the deck of the boat to a door that opened up to reveal a set of stairs leading down into the boat.

Constantly watching Jasper for signs of what we were doing, I stopped just inside the doorway and watched while he set the bag down on a chair and glanced around. Finally, his eyes landed on me with a sparkle shining brightly within them. "Hungry?" He asked. I thought about it for a second and decided that despite the ever-growing nerves in the pit of my stomach, I did need to eat something. "Just a little." I said quietly.

"Make yourself comfortable, Bella. I believe there's a small couch for you to relax on in the back part of the boat." I watched for a moment as Jasper opened the bag and began pulling out little plastic containers. He gave me a very pointed look and I put my hands up, giving him a smile as I turned. "Alright, alright. I'm going."

I made my way to the back of the boat and opened a door at the end to find a room that resembled a master bedroom. There was a full size bed in the back corner of the room, supported by a row of dresser drawers built into the frame. On the other side of the room under a curtained window was a small couch with an end table beside it. Fresh cut red roses sat in a crystal vase on top the table. Briefly I wondered who had filled the vase with such fresh roses. Perhaps Jack had taken the time to make such a nice gesture for the young couple renting out his boat. But it seemed more likely that Jasper had taken a detour on the way home from hunting with Emmett and filled the vase himself.

I sighed happily and pulled back the curtain over the window. The dock was growing smaller and smaller as the boat sailed slowly away into the moonlight. I smiled and turned away, examining the rest of the room. There was a door off to the right just begging to be opened. I wrapped my fingers around the doorknob and pulled the door opened to find a small and cramped bathroom with a shower set up beside a dainty vanity.

This place has everything. I thought to myself with surprise. Miss Molly wasn't a yacht by any means, but I had obviously underestimated her size when standing on the dock.

I checked out the rest of the boat and then sat down on the small couch, giving my feet a moment to relax while Jasper prepared dinner. After a few moments, the smell of cooked chicken began to fill the room, making my stomach grumble softly.

"Bella?" Jasper called and I climbed to my feet. When I stepped out into the area that served as a kitchen, I saw that Jasper had prepared a table with a single red rose and two candles arranged neatly around the food that Jasper had cooked for me. I smiled as Jasper pulled out my chair and sat down as gracefully as I possibly could. In a flash of movement, Jasper turned out the lights inside the boat and sat down across from me, the light from the candles illuminating his face.

"My version of Chicken Marsala." He said, nodding at the plate in front of me. I looked down at my plate and laughed softly. The chicken was obviously well cooked, but the whole mushrooms still looked a little raw. Still, it smelled amazing and the first bite was tasted perfect. "How did you know how much wine to use if you can't taste test it?" Jasper laughed and shrugged. "Perhaps it's a gift, darlin'. Or perhaps I followed a recipe." He winked and leaned back in his seat across from me, watching me while I ate.

"Did you know," he said as smoothly as the butter he'd used for the wine sauce. "I once considered myself a bit of a romantic?" I shook my head, my mouth too full to respond verbally. He smiled and nodded, continuing on. "Living in the south during the Civil War can do that to a man. I was twenty when I was changed; A major in the Confederate Army. I took myself damn serious back then. The medals I wore on my chest were a reflection of my skills as a leader and fighter, but I always believed a man's true honor came from the way he treated a lady."

I smiled, picturing Jasper in his uniform, talking with a much thicker southern drawl. How the ladies must have swooned. I thought to myself.

"Now, this may come as a bit of a shock to you, but it's a bit difficult to be romantic when your wife knows what you're planning the second you think of it." He laughed, running a hand through his curls before leaning back a bit. "Eventually my romantic tendencies took a backseat to Alice's. It was always easier for her to surprise me than it was for me to surprise her. When I sat down and began thinking of ways to pull tonight off, I almost forgot you wouldn't be hard to surprise. Just the fact that you wouldn't know what I was planning seemed to allow all my romantic tendencies to come pouring back."

He paused, staring at me with his lips drawn into an amused smirk.

"I'm actually quite proud of Alice for keeping the secret to herself today. I knew she wouldn't be able to resist helping you get ready, but I've kept a lock on your emotions all night and I can tell you honestly had no idea where we were going."

I smiled and put my fork down on my plate, wiping my lips with the napkin before speaking.

"You put a lot of thought and effort into this. I can tell. Thank you." I reached for Jasper's hand and gave it a squeeze before picking up my wine glass and taking a sip. Jasper watched me with those deep golden eyes that seemed to be hiding something important.

When I'd finished eating, Jasper took my hand and helped me up from the table. He steered me into the center section of the boat where only the moonlight shone in through the window. With one quick motion, he pressed a button the CD player mounted on the wall and soft music began to play. Jasper put his hands on my waist, pulling me firmly against his body as he held me against him. Instinctively, I draped my arms over his shoulders, my fingers playing with the bottom of his hair.

"You're not worried about us hitting something?" I asked, trying to keep the nervousness from my voice. Jasper chuckled and shook his head. "Like what, Bella? I steered us out to the middle of the lake. There's no one out tonight and I would hear if something or someone was gettin' too close." I smiled and forced myself to relax a bit, focusing on the music that filled the air around us. We swayed together, moving in a slow circle as we held onto each other. I put my head on Jasper's chest, picking up the faint smell of my favorite cologne.

"Someday, when I'm awfully low…" I looked up at Jasper, watching as he sang along with the CD player, his eyes locked on mine as his voice sent chills up and down my spine. "When the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you and the way you look tonight."

Jasper's lips brushed my forehead as his hand moved from my hip to the center of my back.

"Yes, you're lovely with your eyes so warm and your lips so soft…" Jasper's lips moved from my forehead to my lips, lingering only for a second before he continued singing softly. "There is nothing for me but to love you and the way you look tonight."

Jasper took me by the hand and swung me out, turning me in a circle before bringing me back against his body with his hand on the small of my back. His eyes met mine and I felt a fire begin to burn in the pit of my stomach as his deep, southern voice continued to sing along to the CD player.

"With each word your tenderness grows, tearing my fears apart. And that laugh that wrinkles your nose touches my foolish heart."

I giggled, glancing away as I knew I did have a tendency to wrinkle my nose. Jasper chuckled, his laugh mixing with the lyrics of the song.

"Yes, you're lovely. Never, ever change. Keep that breathless charm. Darlin' please arrange it 'cause I love you, just the way you look tonight."

Jasper held me against him and I turned again, meeting his eyes. The laughter was gone, leaving only complete honesty and more love than I could fathom. We swayed gently, though we had stopped moving in a circle, completely focused on one another. I moved my hand from his shoulder to the back of his head, running my fingers through his hair slowly. Jasper hummed along to the rest of the song, his eyes fixed on mine as the fire continued to grow in the pit of my stomach.

When the song finished, Jasper removed his hand from my waist and stepped back, pulling a small black box out of his pocket. Knowing what was coming didn't keep my breath from catching in my throat as I watched him drop to one knee.

"Bella," he said as he took my hand. "There were nights in New Orleans when I'd stand at your door and listen to you sleep, learning the rhythm of your heartbeat and the gentle sounds you made in your sleep. There was something soothing and mesmerizing about it. I could feel your emotions… Your serenity, your happiness, at times your anxiety. I learned how to anticipate a nightmare and after a time, I no longer had to control your emotions while you slept. Eventually, a sense of safety came to underlie all your other emotions. I felt so proud knowing I was bringing about that change in you; that I was saving you. What I didn't realize at the time, was it wasn't I who was saving you. You forced me to move beyond the agony of losing Alice. You made me think about someone other than myself and my own misery. You gave me a reason to live other than attempting to redeem myself. You even made me believe I could love again. You saved me and for that I will be forever grateful. I know I can't begin to make that up to you, darlin', but if you let me, I'll spend every second of the rest of our lives together trying to."

Tears dripped off my chin as Jasper opened the small black box, revealing a delicate silver band with a heart shaped diamond sitting atop it.

"My heart no longer beats, Bella, but if it did, it would beat your name. Please accept this ring as a symbol of that promise, knowing that my heart belongs to you."

Jasper removed the ring from the box and took my left hand, holding it tightly in his.

"Will you marry me, Bella?"

Jasper held the ring at the tip of my finger, looking up at me with pleading eyes. I almost laughed at the thought of him worrying I'd say no.

"Yes. Yes, Jasper."

He grinned and slid the ring onto my finger before standing and wrapping his arms around me. In an instant we were fused together, kissing each other as deeply as we ever had. I held Jasper against me, refusing to let him go for even a second. I felt my lip crack even as I pulled him closer. Jasper froze as the crack in my lip spread slightly, undoubtedly drawing the slightest trace of blood to the surface. I held onto him still, but stopped moving, acutely aware of the way his grip on my sides had tightened.

Then he did the thing I was least expecting. His tongue danced over my lip, making me moan at the feeling of his ice cold tongue sealed the crack in my lip. Jasper made a sound that resembled a groan I had heard many times before, though perhaps more satisfied. I tangled my fingers in his hair, mashing my lips against his as he began kissing me again. Suddenly I was in his arms, moving to the back of the boat. The softness of the bed told me where I was before anything else. Jasper lowered himself on top of me gently, though his hands moved eagerly.

Every cell in my body seemed to scream with desire as Jasper's hands moved up my thighs and over my hips. I arched against him, wanting to feel even closer to him as his lips continued to assault mine in a way they never had before. The fire that had already been burning in my stomach was now threatening to consume me and I finally gave in to it.

"Jasper." I moaned and moved my leg up along the side of his as I wrestled his sports coat off. He sat up and pulled it off in a blur of movement before leaning down again. This time his lips only remained on mine for a moment before moving to my neck. Feeling his tongue move over my skin as he sucked a spot at the base of my neck sent electricity shooting throughout my body. I cried out gently and Jasper groaned again.

"I can feel everything you feel." He said, his voice so low it sounded almost like a growl. "Oh god." I whispered as he continued to focus his attention on my neck. My fingers moved clumsily in an attempt to unbutton his shirt. Between his lips on my neck and his hands on my body, Jasper had managed to send me into a frenzied state of mind and being.

Eventually, and with as much concentration as I could spare, I managed to open Jasper's shirt and push it off his shoulders. Not for the first time I ran my hands over his chest, feeling the faint scars beneath my fingertips as I explored his chiseled physique. I attempted to wrap my legs around him, but my dress was so tight I could barely move one leg at a time. I groaned and reached down, pulling at my dress. Jasper looked up at me briefly before glancing down at my hand. When he looked at me again, a look of determination filled his eyes.

He kissed me again, slower this time as he avoided the crack in my lip. With the skill and ease only he possessed, Jasper lifted me up gently and found the zipper on the back of my dress. He pulled it down slowly, laying me back as the dress spread open. I watched as he moved off the bed, his eyes focused on me the entire time. He pulled his shirt off and dropped it on the floor, allowing me to look at him for a moment before he leaned down and began to pull my dress down.

A slight feeling of alarm and embarrassment began to fill my senses but was quickly replaced with confidence and more desire than I'd ever felt before. The fire in my stomach began to spread, moving both higher and lower… Much lower.

Jasper pulled the dress down, watching as it cleared my chest. The cool night air touched my breasts for the first time, causing my nipples to harden even more than they already were. Flames flickered in Jasper's eyes as they grew slightly darker. He pulled again and the dress cleared my hips, leaving me only in the pair of black panties I'd slid on earlier that day.

Jasper began to lower himself on top of me but I put my hand on his chest, my other hand moving to his belt. We stared at each other as my shaking hands undid his belt and pants, allowing them to fall to the floor freely along with his boxers. Jasper stepped out of them and lowered himself down on me as my arms slid around him, my hands resting on the small of his back.

Again, Jasper's lips were on my neck. His hands moved down my body, his fingers moving gingerly over my curves. Finally, his hands reached the waistband of my panties and he pushed, sliding them down. I kicked out of them and closed my eyes as Jasper's hand brushed across my thigh on its way back up to my hip. This time I wrapped my legs around him freely and gasped when I felt him pressing against my core.

His lips moved back up to mine and he kissed me slowly before pulling away. I opened my eyes and looked up at him, the moonlight shining off him in a way that made him look godlike.

"Bella…" His voice was thick and his eyes were nearly black. I knew the next few moments would change everything between us, either for the better or the worse. I ran my hand through his hair and kissed him again before laying back. I nodded and raised my hips just slightly. I felt Jasper's chest still and knew he was holding his breath. And then icy coldness filled me, slowly and gently, but painfully nonetheless. I dug my fingers into his back and buried my face in his shoulder, forcing myself not to cry out. Jasper didn't move even a millimeter.

As the seconds passed, the pain began to dissipate into a burn, and the burn into a sting. Jasper's coldness seemed to soothe me and as I focused on the feeling of finally having him inside me, the fire in my stomach roared back to life. "Okay." I whispered and loosened my grip on his sides. Even as I expected Jasper to start moving, he remained still. I opened my eyes and looked up at him. His eyes were open, staring at nothing in particular. The golden honey color that had been there only an hour ago was completely gone, leaving only absolute black in its place.

"Jasper?" I whispered, my heartbeat speeding up slightly. "Please." I said, not really knowing what I was asking for. Jasper blinked and focused on me, his eyes meeting mine. He stared at me for a moment and then kissed me deeply, his tongue tracing my lip once more. I arched against him as I felt his cold chest against mine, thus forcing him to move with me. Lights exploded behind my eyes as the pain between my legs came back with Jasper's movements. I gasped against his lips and tears streamed down my cheeks.

And then, as though I'd never truly felt pleasure, the pain was replaced with such intense desire and joy that I cried out. I felt Jasper's chest expand against mine as he took a breath and let it out slowly.

Suddenly, all control was lost.

Jasper kissed me so hard I felt my lips crack and bruise under the force of it. I held onto him, pulling him against me desperately as my legs wrapped around him. His hips moved with speed and precision as he moved in and out of me, sending me into blissful oblivion with each thrust. I heard my screams echoing in the room around us, bouncing off the walls and returning to the bed where we were two forms tangled together in the dark. Jasper's groans were unlike anything I'd ever heard before and the sound of him, knowing I was the reason for it, made me claw at his back as he took me over the cliff for the first time.

My body spasmed beneath his as I came with more force than I'd ever known before. Jasper's hand moved from my hip to the bed as he lifted himself up off me so I could breathe a little better. The moonlight illuminated his body, casting light over us as we moved together. Looking down I could see him disappear inside me as he pushed himself forever. Again, my screams filled the air around us.

Jasper rolled to the side and pulled me with him, positioning me above him. I put my hands on his chest and felt as his hands moved to my hips, guiding me down onto him. His eyes closed as a long, low growl escaped his lips. I began moving on top of him, balancing myself as best I could as I watched him. His eyes opened as I began to speed up, wanting to feel everything I'd never been able to feel with him before. He watched me, his eyes glued to mine as I approached that fateful cliff once again. Jasper's lips curled up into a smirk and he closed his eyes.

I screamed as his emotions hit me. He dug his fingernails into my hips and began whispering, telling me all the ways in which he loved me and desired me. He told me how beautiful I looked in the moonlight and how he planned to see me like this many more times. I flung myself over the cliff, allowing myself to fly with the force of my orgasm as Jasper continued whispering and moving inside me.

Finally, just when I thought I could take no more, Jasper's whispering died off into low moans and one syllable words he rarely uttered. His hands moved to my breasts, cupping them a bit rougher than usual and I watched as he arched his back and thrust up into me deeply. I gasped as I felt him come inside me, sending chills up my body as his coldness overwhelmed me. Seconds later, I collapsed on top of him, breathing harder than I ever had before. Jasper's hand moved through my hair and finally rested on my back as he held me against him.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked quietly. Not wanting to lie, I answered honestly. "It went away after a few moments. I mean, I'm sore… But the pain is gone." I raised my head and looked up at him, seeing that his eyes were still pitch black. "Did I hurt you?" I asked, only half kidding.

"I tasted your blood, Bella. On your lip. And then I smelled you… If I had not been working with Carlisle, I wouldn't have been able to control myself. But as it was, I've never tasted anything more wonderful or wanted to taste anything more. Yet I managed to control myself. I think it'll be okay, darlin'."

I laughed and kissed his neck slowly, earning a soft moan from him. "I'd say so. In fact, I think it'll be more than okay."

I drifted to sleep a few minutes later, still draped over Jasper's body. I didn't sleep long though, before I awoke at the feeling of Jasper's hands moving down my sides as he rolled me onto my back. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms and legs around him and felt my breath catch in my throat as he entered me.

And so it went for the rest of the night. Jasper and I made love all night long, only stopping every now and then as I dozed off in his arms. The last thing I saw before falling asleep for the third time was the sun coming up over the horizon as Jasper sang to me that he'd never forget the way I looked tonight.

A/N: Sorry it has taken me so long to update. I hit a bit of a roadblock in this chapter and took awhile figuring out how to continue on. However, I'm happy to say I managed to get this chapter up this weekend in honor of Eclipse opening in theaters. Hope you all enjoyed it and please take a second to review letting me know what you think of this chapter and the story thus far, or what you'd like to see in the few remaining chapters. Cheers.