A/N: Hope all my U.S. folks had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I, for one, am thankful for all of you, and for every instance someone feels my story is worthy of taking the time to read or write me a review. Speaking of reviews, it's come up in a couple of reviews, so I wanted to remind everyone of my author's note from Chapter 1 - these are gonna be short chapters. It's not a drabble fic per say, but I am definitely playing around with the less is more theory with this story. Let me know if you think it works.

If you want a fantastic true drabble fic, check out either Amethyst Jackson's The Learning Curve - I very rarely read high school fics but this one's too sweet to pass up, or ysar's The Lies We Tell Ourselves - heartbreaking.

Jasper was throwing every calming power he could at Traveller, and it wasn't making a damn bit of difference. The horse was screaming and frantic, alternating between rearing on its hind legs or trying to kick the stable doors open. Jasper wanted to open the door, put his hands on him and soothe him directly, but he was afraid Bella or Snape would be hurt if the horse bolted. The Nat Geo team had left a few days prior, much to Jasper's delight, but Snape's flight wasn't until after the weekend and he was watching the scene with interest.

It all made sense when Samuel's truck came tearing up the hillside. "Why the hell aren't you answering your phone?"

Jasper looked at Bella, confused. The research facility was hooked up to both solar panels and a generator backup, so electricity was no longer an issue. It should be charged.

Bella pulled the cell out of her pocket and swiped her finger across the screen. A second later she held down the power button, trying to reboot it. She shrugged. "Dead."

"Well, come on!" Samuel waved his hand to beckon them to the car. "Belle's in labor!"

Well, that explained it. Jasper smiled as Bella's face lit up like a proud mama. He ran over and kissed her. "You ride with Samuel, I'll be right behind you with Traveller." Bella nodded and hopped in the truck. Samuel waved as he turned the truck around and headed back down the mountain.

Jasper paused just outside the stable. "Alright Traveller, I get it. You're gonna be a daddy soon and you want to be there. But you need to settle yourself before I can open the door. Then you can take us there as fast as your legs can carry us, alright?" Jasper realized Snape was looking at him like he was crazy, but he didn't care. Besides, it worked. Traveller settled right down and started whimpering in.

Jasper started inside to get the saddle, but the wave of emotions Traveller shot his way left no question the horse wasn't waiting around that long. Not that Jasper couldn't have raced him and won, but he had to keep up appearances. Appearances which at the moment apparently involved riding Traveller bareback into town.

Traveller took off so fast that Jasper almost second-guessed if he would have won that race after all.

They arrived literally moments before the tiny foal was born. It latched onto Belle immediately while Traveller nuzzled them both. Love swirled around them, intoxicating Jasper. He put his arms around Bella, drawing her back to his chest as they watched the scene. In a strange way, he felt as though this tiny horse, which the vet proclaimed a filly, had made their unconventional family complete. He had everything he'd ever wanted, or at least, he would have, as soon as Bella was turned.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear as he held her tight. "I can't wait until the day I can make you mine forever."

"Forever, huh? You sure about that? I thought you didn't believe in the whole 'mate nonsense' as you called it."

Jasper kissed the nape of her neck, letting his tongue slip out to taste her skin. "You've changed my mind."

Bella looked at him thoughtfully for what seemed like forever. "No time like the present."

Now, Jasper knew he should have paused then, talked it over with her, weighed the pros and cons and ensured she had a full understanding of the potential ramifications of her decision. He also knew he should have reminded her that Snape wasn't leaving for four more days.

He should have done that, but he didn't.

Instead he hurriedly asked Samuel to have the 4-H kids keep an eye on Traveller, smiling at the appreciation Traveller sent his way. No way that horse was going to complain about extra time with his new daughter and the mare he loved.

Jasper took Bella by the hand and led her towards the woods and as soon as they were out of eyesight, picked her up and ran up the mountain to their favorite camping spot.

Hot, frantic kissing ensued, their gasps and moans surely scaring off the wildlife better than anything the camera crews had done. Jasper forced himself to slow down, otherwise he would end up burying himself in her, and he didn't think biting her while fucking her against the tree was the best idea. A little pain mixed with pleasure was one thing, but he never wanted her to associate her orgasms with three days of burning hell.

Even if he wanted to leave a permanent bitemark on her beautiful breasts, marking her. Claiming her. Damn, now he was going to have to do this with a near-painful erection.

He slowed their kisses then stopped, holding Bella at arms' length so he could take in her human beauty one last time. She seemed to be studying him just as intensely.

"Will I forget?" She asked after a while. Of all the things for her to be afraid of at this moment it seemed completely illogical, and completely Bella, to be worrying about this.

Jasper shook his head and smiled at her reassuringly. "I won't let you."

Bella nodded, satisfied with that answer.

"You'll be okay, won't you? I know it'll be hard to watch… and feel…" He couldn't lie, he was going to be reliving the change right along with her, but there was no place he'd rather be.

"It'll be worth every second." Bella paused for a moment, considering the truth behind his words before she let resolve and determination rise to the surface.

"Alright then. Love you, see you soon and all that," she said flippantly, tilting her head to expose her neck to him. "Have at it, but don't forget what they say?"

"What's that?"

Bella smirked. "Drink responsibly."