Chapter Thirty Seven

Charlotte

Peter and Darius took Megan down to the stables to watch while they put the pony's saddle and bridle on and help her change into riding boots and helmet. She had been so excited that she didn't miss Bella and the Major. Either that or she already knew where they'd gone. I suspected the latter because she asked me if they would be coming home alone. I had reassured her that no one would be coming to the house without her knowing beforehand.

She was very nervous about strangers since Edward had spied on her and I understood that if she knew who her mommy had gone to see she might be scared that she would be confronted by people who had never wanted her to be born. It was going to be a very delicate situation if Bella did decide that Megan should meet her father's family.

Of course, Peter's attitude towards the Cullens, one he had not bothered to hide from the little girl wasn't helping the situation. But again, he wouldn't listen to anything I said on the matter.

I busied myself making some clothes for Megan's dolls but I kept thinking about the future. Had our friends even considered that she was so special that the Volturi who not only knew of Bella's existence but were also friends of Carlisle would be sure to learn of the little girl's existence if they didn't already? If so, what would they do? Aro's covetous attitude towards gifted vampires was well-known but would he consider a child worth his interest?

Peter hated the Volturi as much as he hated the Cullens but my own views were more tempered. I felt that they were a necessary evil. Vampires could be violent and selfish and it would be easy for humans to learn of our existence if our kind had no laws they were forced to live by or police to curb their more outrageous impulses.

My mind turned to other equally baffling thoughts. Darius had been very quiet since he arrived but he was still here which was something of a surprise. He was the archetypal lone wolf and rarely visited anyone, never staying more than a few hours when he did yet here he was and showing no signs of leaving any time soon. This concerned me slightly, did he know something? Was he worried that something might still happen? If so, he was playing it very close to his chest. Not that doing so was unusual for him. Darius was notoriously tight-lipped. The fact that he had stepped in to help the Major spoke volumes. The two were friends, yes, but they had never been close. Could it be that Megan held Darius here? He did seem close to her and she quite obviously adored him even if she rarely showed this outwardly. It was as if she understood how private a person he was by nature.

Megan was back before her mom and I could tell that while she had enjoyed her ride, telling me with twinkling eyes how well she had done, she was still nervous and looking for Bella and the Major.

Darius followed her in smiling,

"See. No, casts, no bruises. Megan's a good rider. Peter will be in soon. He's rubbing down and feeding the horses."

Megan grinned, "He told us he was going to muck the stables out and when I asked him what that meant he said someone had to shovel out all the horse crap."

She giggled as Darius held up a warning hand, "We told you that word was a no, no. Remember, Uncle Peter has a dirty mouth at times and uses words a little girl shouldn't know and definitely shouldn't use."

I rolled my eyes, trust my husband to teach Megan something Bella would not appreciate. I would have to have another quiet word with him, not that it would do any good!

"Can I get on your computer please, Darius?"

"Sure. I'll log you in."

I looked on amazed. Darius never let anyone near his computers, they were like his babies!

He glared at me as if to say, 'Don't even think about commenting'.

When he came back alone, I thought maybe I should say something. After all, he has no experience with children.

"Do you have child locks on your computers?"

The look he gave me held pure contempt.

"A child lock? What do you think I am? A moron? Of course, I have parental controls on it. Besides, she's a child with the brain of a six maybe seven year old. She's playing dress the pony or Carebears or some such shit. Jeez, Charlotte!"

I held out my hands in surrender, "OK. I was just checking. I'm making her lunch so can you prise her free of the keyboard in about ten minutes, please."

He nodded and wandered outside pulling a phone out of his jeans pocket. God and they think women are hard work!

I made Megan some grilled cheese sandwiches and fries and poured her some milk then opened my mouth to call for Megan when she came in followed by Darius who looked...well, stunned I guess would be the best word to describe his expression.

"Come on, Megan. Wash your hands, your lunch is ready."

She pulled her stool over to the sink and washed her hands, carefully drying them before wriggling onto a chair and taking a large gulp of cold milk.

"Can I have blood for tea, please Auntie Charlotte?"

The request took me aback, she hadn't asked for blood since she arrived but I was sure her mom wouldn't object.

"Sure, I'll get Uncle Peter to go rustle some up this afternoon."

She thanked me with a smile but I noticed she gave Darius a wary glance before turning back to her lunch. What the heck was going on between those two?

Leaving her to eat I motioned for Darius to follow me outside chatting loudly enough for her to hear about needing some supplies in town when Peter got back and asking him if there was anything I could get for him.

Once out of her earshot I grabbed his arm.

"What's going on, Darius? I saw the way she looked at you. She's worried about something. Why?"

He stared into the distance then shook his head decisively.

"Nope. I'm gonna wait until her mom gets back, I'll explain then."

I frowned but I could understand his decision. If it was something serious enough to involve her mom then he should wait but even so, I was bursting to find out.

"And don't you quiz her, Charlotte."

Damn, he saw right through me! "OK. I won't."

Bella

Jasper and I stopped on the way back home to hunt. It was something we'd only done a couple of times and seemed a very intimate act. I had hunted with Edward lots of times but we had never shared a kill. At first, I thought it was because he was thinking of my feelings but then he explained that one animal, even one as large as a bear or elk, did not hold enough blood for two.

"If you want to share Bella, you'll have to start killing humans."

I had been shocked to hear that, for him to even suggest such a thing was grotesque and I never asked again.

Yet when Jasper had accompanied me the first time and had killed a deer he had turned to me as I backed away and offered me the neck he had taken several drinks from.

I hesitated and he frowned.

"Sorry, I thought you might like some. Did I shock you?"

I shook my head and approached cautiously but when he offered the deer a second time I drank my fill, ashamed to say I drained it, but when I apologized he just laughed.

"There are plenty more in these woods I'm sure. Shall we see if you can catch one this time?"

Feeling I was being tested I took off and eventually found myself a larger buck which I took down with little effort and began to drain before remembering his earlier offer. When I turned around to look for him I was slightly shocked to find him so close, leaning against a tree and watching me. Edward had always maintained that to come close to another vampire's kill was courting danger.

Shyly I offered my kill and he came forward to drink.

Only when we sat together afterwards had he questioned my responses and when I told him he sneered.

"Yeah, that sounds about right. Edward always had a thing about hunting, like he was ashamed for anyone to see him and after a few nasty encounters, everyone avoided him. He was very territorial, but I would have thought he would share with you, his mate."

I shook my head and he smiled, "Well, it was his loss. I like to watch my… well, I think it brings you closer to a person."

He was right, it was like sex, you shared it with the person you loved and it brought you closer. Edward had certainly missed out. And here I was sharing a kill with Jasper once more. It was a beautiful cold snowy afternoon and I knew we should head back or Megan would start to worry but I wanted this moment to last just a little longer and it seemed that he felt the same as he came to sit beside me on an empty picnic bench in the woodland clearing.

"I thought our meeting with Esme and Carlisle went very well. She was so nervous but Carlisle shocked me. He wasn't himself, I hardly recognized him, he seemed so lost when we arrived."

He shook his head. "This has hit Carlisle hard. Not just losing Edward but the whole thing. He was so ashamed of the way he acted. I think they both worried that you would cut them off, especially when they learned about Megan. She's very special to them. Vampires don't usually get to interact with children."

I nodded, "I understood that. It's why I couldn't do it to them. My only concern is how Megan will feel about it. She was so scared of Edward."

He took my hand and held it gently, "Don't worry too much, Bella. She'll be OK. She's got us to protect her and I think once she understands how keen they are to meet her she'll be eager too. By the way, did you see the look Esme gave me when I slipped up and said our daughter?"

And there it was, out in the open.

I turned to him smiling, "But she is our daughter, Jasper. Edward was never a father to her, you were and you're still here. I hope you'll continue to be a constant in her life. She needs you… I need you."

He studied my face carefully before speaking again.

"Then I guess I'm going to be a permanent fixture but maybe it would be worth thinking about making it official eventually."

I frowned, "You mean adopt Megan? Jasper, your name is already on her birth certificate."

Grinning he pulled me close and our lips met in a sweet kiss that promised so much and when I opened my eyes he shook his head.

"That wasn't quite what I had in mind. I know how I feel and I'm pretty sure I can tell how you feel towards me but it's always a gamble so here goes."

He sank to one knee in the snow and looked up at me.

"Bella, I know this is quick but it's not as if we haven't known each other for a long time. When I saw Megan for the very first time I knew I had to keep her safe for you because I couldn't bear to break your heart. Even when we first met I knew there was something about you, I guess Alice and Edward clouded my feelings and messed with my gift. Now it's just the two of us and I can finally see clearly. Bella, would you consider becoming my wife?"

I was speechless, this was something I had dreamed of since seeing him with Megan but had feared to wish for.

He knelt there still holding my hand and waiting for my reply but all I could do was nod, I was too choked to utter the words.

His smile lit up my whole world, "You will?"

He leapt to his feet picking me up and twirling me around until the flakes of falling snow looked like a solid curtain of white.

Much as we both wanted to spend longer alone together there was Megan to consider, we had been gone long enough. The sexual tension had become a slow burn which was almost delicious enough in itself although I hoped it wouldn't be too long before we could consummate our relationship.

As we walked back to the car arm in arm I could feel that Jasper was thinking much the same.

"Do you think we could move into our new place soon without upsetting Charlotte and Peter? I would hate them to think I wasn't grateful for all their help but the sooner we have a place of our own, the sooner we can start a new life as a family."

"You want to move now or get married first? Of course, there is just one thing I have to do before I can get you a ring."

I turned to him puzzled, "What? You aren't having second thoughts are you?"

He grinned, "Nope, no way but I guess I should ask Megan for her permission."

I laughed, "I think that's a foregone conclusion. She'll be thrilled."

"I know but I'd like her to think she's involved. She hasn't had much say in her life so far."

"Then we'll ask her what she thinks and then maybe we could sneak out in the next few days and buy a ring. There is just one thing, please let's keep it small. I had a bellyful of the whole white wedding last time and from what I remember of Alice's contribution I guess you did too. Oh, did you ever get divorced from her? I don't want to find I'm married to a bigamist."

"Actually, it's something on my to-do list but with Darius help, it'll be a done deal by the time we're ready to tie the knot. I think Alice is keen to drag Garrett to the altar so there won't be a problem."

"There better not be, Mister."

We kissed again, a long lingering moment of passion and then set off back to the house ad I for one was eager to tell everyone our news, after a word or two with Megan first of course.