AN: Hi Again Folks!
Look at me, updating regularly like a grown up! I guess this is what comes of having daily productivity goals for myself. Seems to be working so far. Yay for productivity!
Thanks to all you wonderful souls who are reading, following, favouriting, and reviewing this! Reviewers for last chapter were: Goldielover, kouga's older woman, catgrl, WPear, and moneytree9269! You all are the bee's knees!
Blessings,
-BMW
Chapter Sixteen: The Details
Jasper, Edward, Alice, and I went out to the woods and ran until we were well out of earshot of the house.
"Alright, so basically for the purposes of this chat, Edward and I are just here for support. We both started into the lifestyle fully prepared for this eventuality, whereas you two did not. So essentially the situation is similar, in that aspect, to Fiona joining as a single who will need to reevaluate when she finds her mate. Bella and Jasper, you just found each other, so now you just need to decide if you still want the same things together that you did before," Alice suggested.
Jasper looked at me with a loving smile and began to speak. "Alright, well, I've been in this lifestyle a lot longer, so I think Bella should get to decide. I've had the opportunity to be intimate with most of the family by this point, so I've sort of had the full experience. Bella, being new, would be the most affected either way, I think."
"Ha, no pressure." I laughed softly. "Okay, well by that same token, Edward is new to it also. And whatever decision we make will affect Edward and Alice just as much, right?"
"Yes, and no. We're talking as though the only option is for either all four of us participate, or none of us," Edward pointed out. "But in all honesty...being newly mated...Jasper and Bella are likely to want some exclusive time to just be. So if they did choose to do their own thing for a while, that would theoretically allow for Alice and I to continue in the lifestyle for the time being, if we wanted to, right?"
"Edward, do you honestly think Bella and I are gonna wanna just ride off into the sunset for any length of time and leave you and Alice by the wayside?" Jasper frowned.
I had to admit, I felt a few different things about what Edward said.
On one hand, I did appreciate the fact that he would give me the freedom to spend some exclusive time with Jasper and not have hurt feelings about it. That was very mature of him. But on the other hand, I didn't like the fact that he seemed to think me capable of disregarding him so easily.
"No, you two misunderstand me." Edward responded, both to Jasper's words as well as my thoughts. "I'm not by any means insinuating that you would just forget about us for some time. But I also don't think it is fair to the two of you and your bond if you don't get to have some time to cement that connection. Bella and I have already done that. So have Jasper and Alice. So Bella and Jasper should get to as well."
Alice grinned. "I think you're right, Edward. But I also think there is a much easier fix for it. After all, Bella and Jasper were supposed to be spending the next three months together anyway. The only difference is that I would have been there as well. But if I were to find one of the other unions in the house to join for the next three months instead, then they'd be able to have their exclusive bonding time without having to leave the lifestyle, if that was their preference."
"That's not really fair to you though, is it, Ally?" I asked, my brow furrowed with worry. Ask much as the idea of getting Jasper all to myself was appealing...the idea of hurting Alice in any way, even slightly, was very upsetting.
"Actually, Bella, it would be totally fine. In fact, one of the possible future outcomes I saw going into this discussion was exactly that. And it seems to work out pretty well from what I have seen. So I would have no problem with joining another union for the next few months. And after that, we can sit down and decide how we want to structure things going forward," Alice offered.
"So, I think what we're all saying is that we want to find a way to make it work with staying involved in the lifestyle then?" Jasper confirmed.
"Yeah, I think that makes the most sense. I mean, we all enjoy getting to experience an intimate connection with the rest of the family. There doesn't seem to be any reason we can't continue to have that," I agreed.
"Very true." Edward nodded.
"Alright, perfect! So we can discuss this with the family, let them know we're staying involved, and find out who wants to adopt me for these next three months. Sound good?" Alice confirmed.
"Yes. But what happens after the three months? Are we really not ironing anything out until then?" Edward asked. "I know Esme for one, as the resident decorator, will be wondering about bedrooms."
"Oh yeah, shit. I hadn't even thought of how any of that might work." I admitted.
It really wouldn't make sense for our living arrangements to stay as they had been. If they did, then whenever Jasper and I were together, we'd essentially be kicking someone out of their space.
"Okay, well, since Alice and I have more 'stuff' than Bella and Jasper, how about this? When Bella and I are together, our room will still be our room. Whereas when Bella is with Jasper, it would just be my room because most of my music collection is there. And likewise for Alice and her room with Jasper, because of her closet.
"Then Bella and Jasper could sit down with Esme at some point and design a room that would be theirs and would reflect their shared interests and personalities?" Edward suggested.
"Oh wow, that sounds perfect actually." I nodded. Jasper seemed just as pleased with that plan as I was.
"Good idea, Edward." He grinned. "That way everyone always has a space they feel comfortable in and no one is ever put out."
"Yay!" Alice giggled. "That was easy! I mean, obviously we'll have a lot of other things to figure out, but that's definitely a good start."
"Does that mean we're ready to tell the family our decision?" I asked, ready to head back.
"One second, Darlin'. Lemme just run something by these two and then we can head back." Jasper smiled.
Alice went into a vision and didn't come out for a while. Edward's focus clearly turned to both Jasper's thoughts and Alice's vision.
"I can't speak for Edward, of course, but I personally don't have any problem with that plan." Alice beamed. "It's unconventional but so is everything about this."
Edward smiled. "I wouldn't have any objections either. Again, there would be logistics to discuss, for sure. But I always sort of assumed things would lead in that direction. In fact, you know me, Jasper. I'd probably have a much bigger issue if it wasn't part of the plan."
Jasper smirked. "Yeah, I sort of figured you might feel that way. Just wanted to be sure."
"Well, now that I feel entirely out of the loop, are we good to head back?" I laughed.
Jasper sent me his reassurance and swept me up in a kiss. "I'd tell ya, Darlin' but it'd ruin tha surprise." He pouted apologetically.
"Dang that sexy drawl, Jasper. How can I stay mad at that?" I huffed in feigned annoyance as we headed toward the house.
"Oooh, yes, I should have probably warned you, Bella. He lays it on pretty thickly when he thinks he's in trouble." Alice giggled.
"I see that." I chuckled.
"So, am I?" He asked.
"In trouble? No, you're safe for now. As long as your surprise doesn't involve public embarrassment." I warned.
"Duly noted. I will definitely refrain from embarrassing you publicly, Bella." He winked.
"Good. See that you do."
"Alright everyone, let's gather again for a few moments," Alice requested as we returned to the living room.
Once everyone was assembled, I decided to take point on this, since I was fairly certain this news would be well received. "After careful consideration, we have decided that we would all like to continue participating in the lifestyle. We know that it will require a few minor adjustments to the rules before new unions are made. However we would like to finish out the current unions as is, with one adjustment. Alice?"
"Yes, so, given Bella and Jasper's status as a newly mated couple, I would like to give them the next few months alone together to cement their bond. With that said, I would be interested in possibly joining one of the other unions, if that were an option. If it isn't, that's totally fine. We could just tell the school that I was accepted into a three month exchange program in Paris and I could spend the next three months shopping. As you can imagine, I'm also perfectly alright with that option." Alice explained.
I hadn't even thought about school. We were currently on winter break but would be going back in a few days. At least, we would have been. Jasper and I would have to discuss that as well. I highly doubted that with his empathic ability it would be wise to go to school freshly mated. We vampires tended to cause a skyrocketing of lust in the teenage human populace.
He squeezed my hand to acknowledge my unspoken question. Being mated to an empath was going to be awesome because he would always know how I was feeling without my having to spell it out for him.
In the few brief seconds since Alice had finished speaking, a clamour had begun to arise. Evidently, everyone wanted Alice to join them.
"We should get her because she can keep Fiona occupied while I'm at school," Emmett argued.
"Well then, by that same logic, we should get Alice so that Rose has something to do when I have to tend the baby," Ceit countered.
"Alright, before this turns into some kind of battle royale, Alice, would you be opposed to dividing your time between the various unions for the sake of fairness?" Edward suggested.
"Not at all, I think that sounds like a lovely idea, Edward." Alice smiled gratefully.
"Perfect. Now that that is settled, has anything else been ironed out yet, or are you all still working on the rest?" Carlisle asked us.
"We figured out our future room arrangements." Jasper told him. "Edward and Bella's room will stay theirs but it will be his when she is with me. And my room with Alice will still be ours except when I'm with Bella, and then it will be Alice's. So eventually we will just need a space that Bella and I can make our own. Esme, if you're interested in a project of that sort, we'd certainly benefit from your expertise." He smiled.
"I would love to help, Jasper! I'll put some ideas together this week when I have some time and then the two of you can go through them and decide on the plan you like best. I think I have both of your tastes pretty well figured out by now, so it shouldn't be a problem combining them." Esme beamed.
"Thank you, Esme. We really appreciate it," I told her.
"No problem, Bella."
"So, is that it for now?" Carlisle confirmed.
"Yes, Carlisle. You may have Edward back now." Alice giggled. "I know you're eager to get back to punishing him."
"It isn't my fault he's been a very naughty boy." He shrugged with a mischievous grin.
"Come here, Edward." He demanded sternly.
"Yes, Sir." Edward nodded, following quickly after him like an eager puppy dog. I had to admit, their whole Dom/sub vibe was very sexy.
"Alright, I will find out where I am going first and then I'll come by to pack a bag," Alice told us.
"Are you going to be alright being away from your closet, Alice?" I confirmed.
"Yes. It's only for a little while. As soon as Jasper decided to offer the project to Esme, I saw that she will have your room finished for you much sooner than later," Alice assured us.
"Oh, cool. Thanks again, Esme, that's awesome."
"You're quite welcome. It's been a year since I've gotten to do any decorating around here. It will be fun," she assured us.
She'd made a bedroom for Fiona when they'd moved in after their change, and a bedroom for Ceit and Arthur with an attached nursery for Baby Fergus. But that was the last time she'd done much of that sort of thing.
There hadn't been as much design business for her from the humans in the area, since we were living in a rural farming community and most of the people around here didn't do a lot of redecorating or renovations.
"Well, Darlin', want to go for another hunt?" Jasper asked, which I knew was essentially code for 'let's go have some hot, wild, forest sex.'
"Yes, please." I nodded, feeling very eager for some alone time with him. I took his hand in mine and we sped from the room.
AN: Next chapter will be the 'mating moon' if you want to call it that, for Jasper and Bella, and we'll probably do a brief glimpse into each of the other unions.
Let me know, though, if you want those glimpses to be while Alice is visiting each of the couples, or not. I'm happy to either include or omit her, depending on what the consensus of the majority is.
And next chapter should take us to the end of the current pairings, since the longest unions this time are only three months.
Which means we'll be changing things up again soon, so, as always, I love to hear your input!
-XOXO