Author's note: hey look at this! Its another chapter!!!! Can you believe it? I'm still sick people so I had time to write. My exams are finished..for now. Finals are still in may. Thankyou all for the comments, helpful criticism and thoughts left. I appreciate them so much. If you have a question, please do not hesitate to ask. I will answer. ..beside I LOVE PM's. they make me happy.

So I hope u like this installment. Please tell me if u think jazz is out of character.

Chapter 24

Memories

"But you haven't even given her a chance, Edward," pressed Alice for the third time. She had Edward cornered in the upstairs foyer as he made his escape. The Denali sisters were busy plotting a remodel of their house in Alaska with Esme.

"Alice, please, I've known her much longer than you have. We just don't fit," he pleaded.

"Edward," and she changed her tone, "Tanya is such a nice girl and she likes you."

He sighed and turned to me, "Jasper, help me, please."

What was I supposed to do? I knew better than anyone that when Alice set her mind to something, there was nothing you could do to stop her.

"Alice, come now, Edward is quite capable of handling this himself,"

"Jazz, I don't think he's comfortable around girls; he needs training,"

"Alice, darlin', this is Edward, he's always on top of things. He can handle it," I tried being persuasive.

"Yes, Alice," Edward joined in feeling hopeful, "Listen to Jasper, I'm always on top o-"

"Really?" Came amused voice from behind us, "All you had to do was say the word, Edward. You can always be on top, baby," Tanya purred.

Edward sighed again, "Alice, Tanya has something she'd like to ask you."

"Well, actually Edward, it's open to everyone. We wanted to know if you'd like to come spend this weekend with us in Alaska."

This weekend. The Mexico weekend. If Alice spent it among more people, her mind might be too busy to clue her in on my plans. This was perfect and I had feeling that it was all Rosalie's idea; I could feel her brimming with anticipation downstairs.

"That sounds wonderful, who else is going?" and she turned to Edward.

"I'm going hunting in Houma with Jasper and Emmett. They've been planning this trip for a long time," he suddenly decided.

What? No. You are the only one who will know if she figured it out. You have to go with them.

Alice looked at him; disbelief written clearly on her face.

This was my chance, "But Edward, that would be a good opportunity to teach Alice to drive, give her a feel of the highway."

His face remained smooth but regret pooled in his stomach. He swallowed, "Oh yes. Good idea."

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us. Jazz? You can hunt in Denali," Alice suggested.

Things were just falling into place and as much as I would have liked to be the one to teach her to drive, Mexico was the bigger picture at the moment. Yes, I knew how to drive; I'd commandeered my fair share of automobiles in my travels.

"Of course I want to come with you, but Emmett's so excited; if I disappoint him, the emotion might just cut too deep."

She laughed and danced off to tell the others of the plans. Tanya smiled knowingly at me, "Don't worry, we'll keep her occupied," and she too headed downstairs with that fluid stride. Apparently, everyone was in on the plans.

Then Edward answered one of my latest worries, "Rose convinced Alice that you need brother bonding time with Emmett, which is why she's not pressing you to come with her."

"That's good."

"Jasper," called a soft voice from inside the second room, "Come in here a minute please." It was Esme. She was truly the most compassionate creature I could imagine. I wouldn't be surprised I one day we found out that her heart was still beating.

I'd never been inside Carlisle and Esme's bedroom. It was clearly the biggest. There were green drapes and wide bay windows. She kept many potted plants on the sills. The high ceiling lent an imperial feel to the room.

"Jasper," she said quietly. Her head was bowed down, looking at something on her lap as she sat on the edge of the bed. I moved in closer to her.

"Jasper, I want you to know that I consider you to be my son and Alice, my daughter," she stated simply, looking up at me. "I love you both already and I want you to be happy." Her eyes were so tender and there was no doubt that she was sincere.

"I am glad that you are going to propose to her. I know it will make her happy, it makes me happy to know that you two have found love." She sighed and then stood up; she was still about seven inches shorter than me. In her hand she held a little green box which she opened carefully.

"This ring, Jasper, was mine…from when I was human." She paused for a moment, twilrling the simple ring between her fingers. "It's a beautiful piece of jewellery, but it has seen many storms," a brief flash of timeworn pain clouded her but it was quickly followed by hope.

"Maybe you can show it what a happy marriage is. I want you to give it to Alice."

"Esme," words failed me, they always have. This woman was beyond kind…she should be amongst the ranks of angels.

She filled my lull quickly, "When you return with the diamonds, I will have them fitted on this ring…if –if you would like," and she smiled wistfully. She wanted me to do this, I could feel that.

"Esme, why?" I whispered.

She laughed a little, "Jasper, for all these years I've feared this ring. Feared it because of the painful part of my past it represented. Only now, can I look at it and appreciate it for where it has brought me…here."

She moved toward me and reached for my hand. She placed the small gold circle in my palm and closed my fingers over it. "You have shown me that, Jasper. Your story has shown me the significance of all terrible paths; that they lead to somewhere better." She patted my hand again, "Now you can give that ring some good memories."

Ah, good memories, the ring, Alice and I all needed some good memories.

Author's note:

Soo, what did u think? For those of u who don't know. Esme was married before to a man named Charles Evenson. In short, he abused her. She got pregnant and ran away but her baby died which is why she flung herself over a cliff. That's how Carlisle found her; in the morgue. No one knew she was still alive. Then he changed her.

Did u like the bit of irony at the end? ( about the memories- Alice has no memories, jazz and the ring only have bad ones)

Did u like the "on top" joke. You would not believe how long I spent pondering how to work in an "on top" joke. Lol. Please tell me what u think of Tanya. Many people think she should be all desperate but I disagree. Tanya is a seductress, she's confident in her power to win him over without being desperate-ish.

About the ring, for those of you who have not made the connection yet, jasper is planning to propose to Alice. He's going to mexico to get the diamond from the cave in the flashback (remember marco and alejandro). Esme now has given him the ring on which to fit the gems.

Seems like everything is going to be fine , doesn't it? wags eyebrows.

Now to recommend some fics

"what are you doing the rest of your life" ( in my fave list) its an Alice jazz pre twilight fanfic. This one is rated M but personally I don't think it deserves an M. There were 3 explicit words and some sexually mature events. U decide. But the storyline is extremely creative and one of a kind. I bet a silver volvo that u have never read a plot like that.

Don't forget the Alice POV's to Soprano and Bass. Keep those comments coming. I hope to update again by Sunday.

Love always

Taz