Whenever We're Alone- Brantley Gilbert

Whisper love you while you're drifting off
whenever we're alone

Bella Swan was cleaning out the stalls. Jasper had gotten home a week ago but was on strict orders from his doctor not to work until he was released to go back to work. It drove him crazy that the work for the ranch was left in someone else's hands because his uncle was too sick to do anything with it. Bella had figured that Jasper's uncle wasn't going to last much longer and that thought alone had Bella figuratively kicking herself for it when she should be praying that Jasper's uncle should get well.

The other thing that had Bella's mind racing was that she had not heard a word from Alice in weeks and it was really starting to worry her and she didn't have a break from school until the middle of April. Jasper and his whole family knew that she would be gone to New York that whole week.

She also knew that she needed to talk to him about the man that came up to her when she was out with Charlotte but she hadn't yet. Because she had grown to know Jasper's personality Bella knew that he would flip his lid because she had waited so long to talk with him about it. She didn't think his weakened body could handle the anger and she didn't want to be the reason for it.

"Bella lunch is ready." Charlotte said from the open barn doorway.

"I was just trying to finish up the barn." Bella replied.

"I know that and I also know that you haven't talked to Jasper." Charlotte said.

"Do you really think it would be a good idea with his personality?" Bella asked.

"Well about the creepy guy yes but that is not what I was referring to and you know it." Charlotte replied back.

"I don't really want to talk about that either." Bella told Charlotte.

"You will have to sometime. I wouldn't be surprised if Carolynn makes you." Charlotte said. "She locked Peter and I in the den when we had been fighting for a week long my senior year of college and she sat outside the door to make sure nothing than us two talking was going on."

"Still wouldn't make me talk to him besides I'm nineteen who says he would even be interested." Bella replied.

"Honey I've seen the way he looks at you and he looks like he wants to take you some where privet so he could have his way with you but doesn't because his Mama taught him better than that." Charlotte explained to Bella.

Charlotte's explanation had Bella blushing redder than I red ripened tomato. She didn't reply back to what Charlotte had said. She just ran ahead to the house.

"Bella dear what's wrong?" Carolynn asked.

"Ask Charlotte," was all Bella said as she headed up stairs.

Bella didn't mean to say it rudely but she just wanted to get out of those clothes for now and really didn't want to talk about it. She wasn't a prude or anything it was just something that she really never felt comfortable talking about with someone else ever since the horrible even that was her mother's attempt at 'THE TALK'. The talk was success full in her never wanting to do that in the near future at that moment in time. While she had been thinking about it recently (and of course it was because of Jasper) she still didn't feel right talking about it.

Bella had just gotten a fresh shirt on when there was a knock at her door. Making sure she was fully clothed she went and opened the door.

"Hi Carolynn;" Bella said.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

It made Bella wonder if Charlotte said anything; It also made her want to ask Carolynn if Charlotte told her anything. But Bella didn't ask the question that had rested on her lips; instead she said. "I'm fine just tired and worried."

"Worried about what?" Carolynn asked. "Jasper is just fine."

"I know he is but I am not so sure about my friend Alice. I haven't heard from her in weeks." Bella replied.

"Is that why you are going to New York in April?" Carolynn asked.

"It's the only reason I have." Bella said.

Carolynn could hear the sadness in Bella's voice but had no clue what to say to her. So instead of staying there and letting the silence getting awkward she left the room to leave Bella to her thoughts. And being alone with her thoughts but not doing anything is not what Bella wanted to do at all.

In a fit of frustration Bella threw herself onto her bed and must have laid there awhile because there was another knock on her bedroom door. She didn't get up this time to open it. That didn't matter because whoever was on the other side of the door just opened it and walked right in.

~!~

Carolynn had gotten back down stairs after knocking on Jasper's door. Charlotte was already there with Allen and Ellen who were both doing amazingly well for being born so early. Carolynn made her way to the kitchen to finish lunch up.

"Do you need any help in there?" Charlotte called after her.

"No I do not just stay with the twins." Carolynn replied. "Where's Peter?"

"He stepped outside for a moment to make a call." Charlotte told her.

"Well go get him. Lunch is done I just have to put it on the table." Carolynn said slipping back into the kitchen.

Ten minutes later Jasper had come down the stairs. He was in a button up shirt because of the bandage that covered his back from where he had been shot. He preferred his t-shirts but they were too tight with the bandage on. He winced as he got to the bottom of the stairs.

"Are you okay Jasper?" Carolynn asked.

"I'm fine. It's just a little tension." Jasper replied just as Peter walked back into the house.

"It took you long enough." Charlotte said to him.

"Sorry but it was just one of the other ranchers called saying that they have started getting some cattle stolen." Peter replied.

"Enough talk about stolen cattle lunch is on the table." Carolynn said. "Jasper go up stairs and get Bella I'm sure she would like to eat after all her hard work."

"Yes Ma." Jasper replied heading for the stairs.

When he got up there his back was twinging with pain again. He also saw that Bella's door was closed. He walked up to it and knocked. There was no answer. He put his hand back down and grabbed the door knob and turned it and opened the door wide enough to allow himself to walk in. He could see Bella lying on her bed; if she was asleep or not he could not tell. He hadn't even been in the room a minute when Bella spoke.

~!~

"I could have been naked you know." Bella said not even looking at them.

"Yeah and it would have made us even from when you walked in on me."

"Fine I get it but why ARE you in here Jasper?" Bella asked stress the word are.

"Mama told me to come get you for lunch." Jasper replied he had turned back to the door (which had been closed).

Jasper had walked up to the door and tried to turn the handle.

"The door is locked." Jasper said turning back to her.

"What don't look at me like that I've been on my bed the whole time." Bella snapped.

"Do you go your phone?" Jasper asked.

"It's in the barn charging."

"Why not charge it here?"Jasper said gesturing to the room.

"Because I was working." Bella replied.

"Okay no need to get snippy. We are just stuck in here until they realize that we are gone." Jasper replied.

"So they can't hear us if we scream." Bella said.

"Yep. The walls were made that way because my uncle and his wife lived here when it was first built so that neither couple heard the other during intimate moments they made the walls extra insulated and thick but you can't tell." Jasper explained.

"I'm guessing that you and Peter used that to your advantage growing up." Bella said.

"Peter more than I when Charlotte's family got a little rowdy." Jasper replied.

"But Peter and Charlotte spend most of their time over there."

"That's her mother and step father. Not her biological father." Jasper said. "Don't ask her about it because she can't stand him and hasn't talked to him since she was eighteen."

"I guess I am the opposite of her then." Bella commented.

"What do you mean?" Jasper asked.

"I don't get along with my mom but my dad and I are as close as ever." Bella told him.

"That bad;" Jasper said.

"You could say that and about a week after I arrived here I received a very angry e-mail from her telling me that I better not come back knocked up by a quote 'country bumpkin' who doesn't know his way out of a paper bag; which is funny coming from her since we live in a town smaller than this one." Bella told Jasper.

"It wouldn't matter where the dad was from what you have told me would stand behind you and so would Charlotte, Peter and Ma." Jasper told her. "And Peter would be likely to kick the ass of whoever touched you."

"Ahh… the big brother I never wanted." Bella replied.

"You never wanted a big brother?" Jasper asked.

"Nope I always wanted a little sister because I wanted someone I could help teach and learn."

"Which is why you are English major?" Jasper asked.

"Partly but I also love the subject too." Bella said.

Jasper got up from the end of the bed he had sat down on and walked back over to the door. He grabbed the handle and turned it but it was still locked. He turned around and looked at Bella.

"I guess that Mama is doing to us what she did to Charlotte and Peter." Jasper told her.

"Charlotte told me about that."

~!~

"Come on now Peter get to eating." Carolynn said.

"Aren't we going to wait for Jasper and Bella?" Peter asked.

"No we are not. Now eat. I'll take up food for them later." Carolynn said knowingly.

"Ma what are you planning?" Peter asked.

"I'm not planning anything." Carolynn said.

"Mama you know I know better than that. What are you doing?" Peter asked.

"You should know I've done it to you." She replied.

"Mom what happen between me and Charlotte was a misunderstanding when I saw her hugging a cousin. Bella and Jasper are not together so I don't see how your plan would work."

"It will because they will either get together or leave each other alone. I would rather not see the sexual tension between Jasper and Bella."

"MOM!" Charlotte and Peter yelled. "There are children in the room." Charlotte added.

"You have nothing to worry about until they hit puberty." Carolynn said.

"Ellen will be locked in her room." Peter commented.

"No she won't because she has to go to school."

"It will be an all girl school." Peter said. "Including the teachers."

"Peter all schools usually have male staff of some kind." Charlotte said.

"Whatever back to the subject at hand. Why did you lock them in the room together?" Peter said.

"Are you that blind Peter to see the way your brother looks at her or the way she looks at Jasper?" Carolynn said.

"Of course I've seen it. I chose to ignore it because Jasper rarely does anything about a girl he has a thing about it. Not to mention Bella is a bit younger than him."

"She is only seven years younger than him." Carolynn said. "I was ten years younger than your daddy."

~!~

"What Jasper?" Bella had asked the man in question after he had stared at her for five long minutes without saying a word.

"Sorry I was thinking about how to get out of here." Jasper replied. "And I can't think of anything. The door is locked and the window is nailed shut."

"I noticed that the window was nailed shut but why?" Bella said.

"I have no clue either." Jasper said. "And it looks like we are stuck here until my mother thinks we have worked through whatever she thinks needs to be worked through."

"What should we do we are stuck here?" Bella asked.

"Get to know each other." Jasper replied.

"And how would you suggest we do that?" Bella asked.

"Twenty questions?" Jasper suggested. "Twenty for you and twenty for me," He added.

"Fine but nothing dirty." Bella said.

"What do you mean by dirty?" Jasper asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You know what I mean." Bella replied. "You are too smart not to know."

"For all you know I could be stupid enough not to know." Jasper said.

"You can say that but you know it will be lie." Bella told him. "Now what's your first question?"

"You want to start now?"

"Sure why not." Bella replied.

"Favorite song?" Jasper asked sitting back down on the bed but beside Bella this time.

Bella thought for a few seconds before saying. "Homeboy by Eric Church because it's about a guy telling a friend or brother that he should come home no matter what he's done."

"I know I've heard it." Jasper replied. "Your question."

"Your favorite song?" Bella asked.

"The chain of love by clay walker because it re-instills the random acts of kindness thing my mother taught me because you never know when it could come full circle."

"Color?"

"Green. I don't know why I just do." Jasper said. "Your favorite color?"

"Depends on the day but it moves between black, silver, green, and red." Bella replied.

"What TV show do you watch most often?" Jasper asked.

"Project Runway or Criminal minds. I'm not sure which I watch more."

"I get Criminal Minds but Project Runway?" Jasper asked.

"It reminds me of Alice now give me your answer."

"I don't watch much TV but I do watch Anderson Cooper every now and them." Jasper replied.

"Movie Genre?" Bella asked.

"It's mostly war movies but I would say it falls under action depending on the plot." Jasper said. "And you?"

"Nearly anything but horror films and…" Bella told him trailing off.

"You don't have to finish I get the idea. The book you like the most?"

"Pride and Prejudice." Bella replied. "You?"

"I can't remember the name of it but I think the author was John Grisham."

"He is good."

"What book series do you like?" he asked.

"Hey it's my turn."

"I don't care now answer the question." Jasper said sternly.

"I would have to say the orphan train trilogy. I believe it take place after the Civil War. It was co-authored by husband and wife Al and Joanna lacy."

"I would have to say the hardy boys and that was from when I was younger and yes I did read harry potter."

"I wasn't going to ask that but your favorite vacation?"

"The one we took to Corpus Christy when I was ten. You?"

"Don't really have one because the most I did was live in phoenix when I was ten because Renee couldn't stand being in a small town anymore."

"We'll have to remedy that." Jasper commented. "Holiday?"

"What?" Bella said.

"Your favorite holiday what is it?" Jasper asked.

"Christmas because people who normally don't give charity give it and I wish that would happen all year round. Not to mention we get to celebrate Jesus." Bella said.

"My answer would be the same just add the family aspect of it."

"If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?" Bella asked.

"I would go to Italy for the food." He said. "And yours would be?"

"Ireland. There is just something majestically beautiful about the emerald isle." Bella said with a smile.

"Glad to see you are smiling. The college you would love to go to if not for money?" Jasper asked.

"Sarah Lawrence in New York. I've heard they have a really good English program. Where would you go if you could go to college?"

"Harvard because of the business school." Jasper said.

"Career?" Bella asked.

"I've done them both. I joined the army and served and I get to work on the ranch what more could I want."

"I can see that. It would be cool to open my own school or become a published author."

"Good answer. I am finding it hard to come up with more questions. How about we right some more down on slips of paper and answer them when they come out of the hat."

Bella gave her answer buy grabbing a ball cap to use as the bowl to hold the slips of paper. Jasper wrote four while Bella wrote five. The put them all into the cap before shaking them up.

Bella reached in first and pulled one out and read. "Dream car? Hmm I would have to say any Mustang from the first one build to nineteen seventy nine. Make it Irish Kelly green and I would be happy."

"I would like the old style fords from the fifties and forties. It doesn't matter what color as long as they are not rusted." He paused only to reach into the hat. "Name of your first born son?" he raised an eye brow.

"I couldn't think of anything else."

"I would hope to name him after me or some other family member of mine that I am close to. What about you?"

"Either my grandfather, the man I am married to or my father." Bella replied grabbing another slip of paper. "Your first best friend."

"Easy Michael Moran from first grade. He and his family were from Ireland but had to move back when his grandmother got sick."

"I had Ange and Alice for about six years and I can't pick just one." Bella said.

Bella pushed the hat toward him. Jasper grabbed the hat and shook it a bit more before grabbing another slip of paper.

"Hardest choice you have ever had to make?"

"When to say good bye to my sister." Jasper replied.

"Sorry." Bella said.

"It's okay. What was the hardest choice you had to do?"

"Saying good bye to my dad to come here and choosing what school to go to." Bella told him as she pulled out a slip of paper. "Worst memory?" she read. "You don't have to answer I think I already know but for me it would be a nightmare I had when I was sixteen after Charlie had been shot in the line of duty."

"Easiest choice?" Jasper asked.

"Leaving my mom behind to fend for herself for once." Bella said. "What about you?"

"Hiring you."

"Name for your first baby girl?" Bella asked.

"Carolynn, Charlotte or Carrie."

"All very important to you. I'd have to say Olivia because it is the female version of Oliver which is my grandfathers' name. I also like the name charlotte but my dad would call her Charlie way too often." Bella said.

"There are only two names left. Let's close our eyes and just pick one." Jasper said. He opened the folded slip and read "First serious relationship?"

"Maria the girl that…"

"Ran off with another man." Bella finished. "Mine would be the only boyfriend I have had to date. We only lasted three months."

"What does your slip say?"

"It is simple because it's only two words 'First kiss'." Bella said blushing.

"It was third grade; under the jungle gym I got detention for a week when the teacher caught us." Jasper said. "Now what has you blushing?"

"It was my first boyfriend because I was always considered the ugly duckling." Bella said.

"There is nothing ugly about you." Jasper whispered.

"What did you say?" Bella asked.

"There is nothing ugly about you." Jasper said scooting closer to her.

~!~

"Come on now help me clean up." Carolynn said.

"What about Jasper and…"

"I already have some set aside for them." She replied. "Now go and get back to work."

"All right ma. I'll see you later and Charlotte we'll leave for Allie's after I am done and have taken a shower." Peter said walking out the door.

Charlotte left the twins in their high chairs and helped Carolynn clean up. Charlotte and Carolynn were almost done with the dishes when Carolynn excused herself to the restroom. Charlotte quickly finished the dishes and went to put the twins down for a nap because they had already started to fall asleep in their high chairs. She didn't see Carolynn in the hallway on her way up and assumed that she must have gone to her room for some privacy.

~!~

"There is nothing ugly about you." Jasper said repeating himself after she didn't reply.

"You are just being nice." Bella finally said.

"No I'm not. You are beautiful. You may have been what people would call and ugly duckling when you were younger but you have turned into a beautiful woman." Jasper said.

"You have no idea how cheesy that sounds but I still have a hard time believing you."

"I could prove it to you." Jasper told her.

"I don't see how you would have to ask oth…"

Jasper had cut Bella off by pressing his lips to hers. Bella had stiffened at first but relaxed into it after a few seconds sliding her arms around his neck. He moved his left hand to the back of her neck to deepen the kiss while supporting himself with his right. Jasper only pulled away because of his need for Air.

When Jasper pulled away Bella scooted herself away and leaned her back against the head board. She hadn't even looked up to see Jasper. She just couldn't muster up the courage to look at him.

"Bella…" Jasper started.

"It's okay Jasper you can leave." Bella said looking down at her hands.

"Why would I want to leave?" Jasper asked moving to sit up by the head board beside Bella. He grabbed her hand. "I kissed you like that because I have wanted to for months heck maybe even a week or so after you first got here; not just to prove something to you."

"I get what you are say it's just... I don't know how to say it."

"Bella what happen between you and your last boyfriend?" Jasper asked.

"He was also my first boyfriend. We liked each other well enough in the beginning but we broke up when I found out that he liked my best friend. They started dating shortly after and I don't know if they are still together or not."

"And that affects you and me because?" Jasper asked.

"I don't want to be left behind for one of them again." Bella replied.

"Bella ; Bella look at me." Jasper said. Bella complied.

"I didn't feel a thing for Angela when I met her and she is happily in love with Ben at the moment and probably always will be. And I have see pictures of Alice and she does nothing for me you and you alone do." Jasper said grabbing Bella's chin softly and turning her head to face him. "It will always be that way unless you don't want me anymore."

"Of course I want you to stay but what brought this on now?"

"It's not the first time I tried telling you. I tried telling you on that fiasco of a picnic we took just after Angela left back for Florida." Jasper said.

Jasper leaned in and kissed Bella again only this time was less intense as the first. Jasper pulled away only to see Bella smiling. He pulled her into his side and they stayed like that for hours both falling asleep listening to the sound of the other's breathing.

~!~

Carolynn had come out of her room just as Charlotte had come out of the room she had put the twins down in; in Charlottes had was the baby monitor that went with her everywhere.

"The twins down?" She asked.

"Yes." Charlotte replied. "Are you okay?"

"Fine I was just going to check up on Bella."

"And Jasper," Charlotte said. "What I know you locked them in her room."

Carolynn walked away without saying anything. She made her way to Bella's room as she slipped the key out of her pocket. After pressing her ear to Bella's door and not hearing a thing move Carolynn had unlocked the door. She pushed it open slowly and found Jasper and Bella asleep on top of the covers in Bella's bed. Bella's head was on jasper's shoulder the rest of her was curled into Jasper who had one of his arms wrapped protectively around her and the other holding her hand.

Carolynn smile sweetly and walked quietly as she could over to the bed. She picked the brown fleece throw blanket on the edge of the bed and slipped it over the sleeping duo. Spring may have been well on its way but it was till freezing cold out and the heater inside the house was busted. Carolynn paused when Bella whimpered slightly when the blanket first touched her. Carolynn smiled again as her son tightened his right arm round Bella's waist (even though he had been asleep) pull Bella even closer to him. A sleeping Bella made no protest in these movements but had continued to stir.

Carolynn quickly slipped back out of the room so she wouldn't be caught. Charlotte was leaning up against the wall in the hallway waiting for her. Charlotte gave her a knowing look before slipping back into the room with the twins.

"Ma are you up to something?" Peter asked from the foot of the stairs.

"Nope I'm done planning." Carolynn said.

"Why don't I believe you?" He asked.

"Because you shouldn't." Bella said from the top of the stairs. Jasper was standing right behind her. "She locked us up in my room."

"Ma you didn't even lock the door with charlotte and I."

"That was because you were too scared to even leave the closet." Carolynn replied.

"Seriously Ma you didn't have to lock us in the room literally. What if there had been a fire and we couldn't get out?" Jasper said.

"You would have broken the window." Carolynn said.

"That's not the point." Jasper said.

"Then what is?"

"Forget it. I have something I have to pick up." Jasper said walking down the stairs with Bella behind him.

"Are you leaving too Bella?" Charlotte asked.

"Yes. Jasper is dropping me off at the Mars PI company so I can see if they can find Alice or not because not even her mother has heard from her." Bella replied.

"When was the last you heard from her?" Peter asked.

"It's been weeks since I've heard her voice but I got an email about a month ago and she only wrote three words instead of the hundreds of words that she normally writes." Bella replied to Peter.