Chapter Nine

Yes

The rain ceased, in its place a slow cadence of the soft drops from the leaves to the mossy ground. Birds chirping along in harmony. He could hear to the highway, but he listened to the only sounds that seemed remotely quiet. It was a peaceful afterglow.

Jasper leaned his back on a tree, Bella in his arms, their clothes at their feet. He kissed the part in her hair, her ears, down to her collarbone. He lifted the slightest to lick the outer edge of her ear.

She sighed a moan and he kissed her lobe. That had been their way of communicating their satisfaction (not that their emotions didn't do the job).

"I can't help but worry," she finally admitted quietly and shamefully. "You said that feelings change."

"When you're a human they are insubstantial. For vampires they're not as easily changeable." He drenched her with his adoration the way the rain hadn't.

"I get it," she giggled breathlessly.

With a single finger he traced the curve of her neck and shoulder, his lips trailing behind. He couldn't get enough of her. Suddenly, eternity made sense. It was made for them and they were made for each other. They could sit they way they were sitting and not crave another thing. He would never tire of her.

Now was the time. "Will you look into the pocket of my jacket, darling?"

Bella left his arms for a second as she brought his jacket up She dipped her hand into it withdrawing a small velvet gray box. Her fingers began to shake.

"Open it."

She clicked the lid up and in one glance at the ring she looked to him, her eyes wide. Fear radiated off of her and he didn't dare alter it or ask why. He had to finish it.

Gently he took the box from her and relieved the ring between the folds setting the container aside. "Do you know when I first fell in love with you?"

She shook her head.

"I first fell in love with you the moment we officially met. You were - are... Entrancing, lovely and real. You are genuine. When I first accepted what I felt for you was when James went to attack on the baseball field. You see, I already knew you then, you weren't this overly-clumsy girl who nearly got herself killed on a daily basis. You were mine - at least that was how I thought of you. In my mind you could be no one else's. I would've waited for you as long as it took."

She nodded.

He seized her left hand. "You're forever safe now, and we're finally together. All I ask is that you marry me."

"Why," she croaked. "What does it matter if we're married or not?"

"I want it to be legally binding, not merely emotional." He pressed his forehead on her cheek unable to gaze at her agonized expression a moment longer. It didn't lessen the emotion but it was worse seeing it.

He had an inkling why she feared marriage and that had to do with her parents. He held onto that thought, hoping he was right. What he would say next would determine that. "We don't have to have a wedding. We'll elope."

"Alice would never let us get away with that."

He chuckled, comforted that he was correct. She didn't fear marrying him, she feared marriage in general. "She'll forgive us one day." He wiggled the ring and stared into her eyes. "What is your answer, Bella? You can say no. I'll accept that."

"Yes, my answer is yes."

No feeling or emotion in the world he felt before could compare then. He felt like he would burst with joy and it was intensified by hers. He felt death on his neck many times but it was the first time that he felt he would die happily. He slipped the ring on her finger and brought up her hand to his lips kissing the inside of her wrist.

"Now, darling?"

"Get married now?"

"Why wait? We're not having a celebration. We'll celebrate with everyone later - for Alice's sake."

"That sounds fair."

They moved to their feet and dressed. They took their time doing this because they knew that once they left their sanctuary they would have a fierce battle with Alice.

Alice loved parties and occasions as much as she loved clothes, mainly because a lot of occasions (in her opinion) called for buying new clothes. Like she ever needed a reason.

When they exited the woods they saw the vampire of their conversation sitting on the car's hood facing them with a scowl. Jacob was next to her a grin tugging at his lips. Bella's discomfort was overpowering. Apparently she was under the impression that Jacob was one of the werewolves that hated her.

"Hey there Bells... Have fun?"

Bella took a third of a second to register it and she beamed, the discomfort vanishing. "You weren't listening, were you, Jake?"

"Of course not." He hopped off the hood, plugged his nose dramatically before he picked her up in a fierce hug that could rival Emmett's. "This is better than I anticipated. I don't have to worry about hurting you!"

She laughed. "Sure, sure, the important thing is that I can hurt you!"

He let her down and pecked her forehead. "It's weird, I didn't think it would feel the same. That you would still be you, but you are. You're still my Bella."

"And soon you'll be my brother in-law."

With natural grace Alice leapt off the hood and came to join them, her scowl held in place. "I saw what you two are going to do! Without me! I'm supposed to be the maid-of-honor! Our family should be there!"

"Alice, you know how I hate to make a fuss of things!"

"This is marriage! You only get married once!"

Bella raised her brows pointedly and Alice waved her hand. "That wasn't the same, I knew it wouldn't be long, but you two will be for eternity. Don't do this to me, please." She puckered her lip out pleadingly. "I won't make it too huge."

That was a lie. Alice would invite everyone on the planet to attend. But he felt Bella's resolve faltering and he stepped in. "Let us do this our way, Alice. You'll have your own wedding to do."

Jacob raised his hands. "Hold up there, we're not getting married anytime soon! We have a lot to go over, a lot to learn about each other."

"That would change the imprint?"

"No..."

Alice straightened further her chin elevated daringly. "When we get married though we'll invite all of you, and Bella you'll be my maid-of-honor."

"Don't make her feel guilty," Jasper snapped. With every second he was on Earth he refused to let Bella feel an ounce of guilt or pain. He would protect her emotions better than he had protected her human body. "You can hold a party for us later. This isn't a big deal for us, we just want to make it official."

"Then we're coming!"

"Yeah," Jacob agreed. "There's no way I'm missing my best friend getting married. I'll walk her down the aisle," he offered and Bella glowed.

It was interesting how Jacob's aversion to vampires leaves when his best friend becomes one and he inadvertently falls in love with one. It was a miracle, he considered dryly but he was grateful for him again. Bella's father couldn't possibly walk her down the aisle, not while her eyes deepened into maroon. A few more weeks... A month...

Alice clapped excitedly, "I'll still be maid-of-honor!"

Bella groaned but was smiling. She gazed up at him and shrugged. "This is our best option."

"It's your only option," Alice rectified. "We're not giving you choices. Now go on and get inside," she put the tip of her finger on her chin thoughtfully, "I'll call some Churches... You are not getting married in an office."

He could feel where it was going. "Alice, we don't want this big."

"No, no, quick and simple. That I can do."

"You're not our wedding coordinator."

"Jazz hush, this what I do best! Don't worry about a thing. It'll just be us. Nothing fancy."

Bella was hesitant and Jasper was impressed with her instincts. Of course Alice was lying about it just being them. He knew better than that...