[Jasper's POV]
Bella ran up the stair's to Alice's room feeling lighter than she had in months. I smiled after her before turning again to Alice. She was watching me her eye's dancing with mirth a light smile gracing her lips.
"So have you found out who your mate is?" Her voice was soft.
"Yes I have, but I don't think she's ready for a new relationship just yet." My eye went to the ceiling where I could hear Bella ruffling though Alice's closet. She was complaining about the clothes Alice kept here for her.
"I think you should still try. I don't think the two of you know what you really need." She had a far off look in her eye's, but a quick push of her emotions showed she was still in the here and now. I rolled my eye's at her antics.
"You would know, wouldn't you? A little seer looking out for all of us." I reached over messing up her hair. She smacked at my hand playfully.
"You'll be happy, Jasper. I know it." She stood dancing away to help Bella get ready I'm sure. I watched her go before going to my own room to get ready.
Walking into my closet I went past the outfits Alice bought for me, and made my way toward the one I picked out. I pulled out a white button down shirt and denim blue jeans. I paired the outfit with a black belt and a pair of new boots. Tucking in the shirt I thought about adding a hat to finish the look.
"No Jasper the hat would be too much." Alice's voice rang though the house. I shook my head and left the room. Bella was sitting with Esme in the living room, and they both looked up when I entered the room.
"You look wonderful, Jasper." Esme stated. Bella's eyes roamed over me.
"You do look great, Jasper, but the outfits missing something." She looked me over before standing and walking over to me. "Can I look though your closet for something to finish it?" I raised my eyebrow but nodded and waved her up. Her answering smile was blinding as she raced up the stairs. I sat by Esme waiting for her to come back.
"Is there anything your hoping to get while we're out?" Esme lend on arm looking at me.
"Not really. I might get a new music book for my guitar."
"Nothing for your room?"
"I'm not sure. Everything I need is already in my office, so I'm not sure if I really need anything else." I paid close attention to her emotions as I answered. She was worried about something and my answer only made it worse.
"Are you sure? You could repaint it, or add a desk. Oh maybe a new guitar and amp?"
"Esme," she met my eye's. "What is it you really want to say?" She sighed looking out the glass wall.
"I'm just worried. It feels almost like you don't feel at home here. After last night I worry about your relationship with the rest of the family." Her worry grew as did a deep sadness. A mother's worry for their child. I thought about what she said not want to brush aside her worry.
"Esme, as you know I had a very different life before I joined your family. I don't know how to be apart of this family, but I do want to learn. I want to be part of this." I waved my arm around the room. I felt her careful joy at my words.
"Then the first step is making a space you feel safe in. That way if need be you have a place to go where you can be alone. Well as alone as you can be in the house."
"Alright. While we're out I'll look around and see if anything catches my eye." She lightened up smiling brightly. We both looked over when we heard Alice and Bella coming down the stair's.
"Bella don't you think that's a little over the top?"
"Not at all. He'll look handsome!"
"Bella, do you like cowboys or something?"
"I just think he should look his best right now is all, and he's already wearing like ninety-nine percent of the outfit! Why? Do you not like how he looks?" There was an edge to Bella's voice and emotions. I quickly sent a warning to Alice.
"No I was just wondering is all Bella. Go on give it to him." I smiled already knowing what Bella would walk in the room with.
She bounced into the room full of child like excitement a smile lighting her face with her hands and my hat hidden behind her back. Alice trailed behind her pouting over having lost the fight over the hat with Bella. Alice rolled her eye's at Bella moving to sit next to Esme muttering about hard headed teenagers. I sent a flash of amusement to her causing her to smile and sent fond annoyance back to me. I laughed turning back to Bella.
"Okay so you don't have to wear it, but I thought it would finish the outfit." I could the worry try to over shadow the excitement, so I pushed it back just a little. We needed to help her work on her confidence.
"I'm sure I'll be fine with whatever you picked out. It was in my closet after all." I smiled reassuringly.
"Alice buys all the clothes in this house." She stated seemingly without thought. I heard the whole house laugh and Alice let out a squeak. Bella's face flushed a bight red.
"I mean. Here!" She quickly shoved the tan hat at me before retreating to Esme's side to hide. Esme pulled both of her girls close to her side still laughing. I put the hat on smiling at Bella.
"You aren't wrong. We just never call her out on it." Alice crossed her arm pouting. The others all walked in Carlisle and Em with keys in their hands.
"Are you all ready to go?" Both girls jumped up and rushed to the door, so we followed along.
We split into two groups to drive to the mall. Rose, Em, and Alice in Rose's car. Then Carlisle, Esme, Bella, and myself in Carlisle's. Rose and Alice said they wanted to do some solo shopping while we took Bella to the bookstore, so we agreed to met up at the mall's food court for lunch at one o'clock.
Bella jumped out of the car as soon as it was parked, and ran into the store. We followed at a much calmer pace. I kept on eye on Bella as I felt the emotional state of the building. It was addictively calm, and I drank it in. Esme followed Bella offering to hold the books she wanted, so she could look for more easier. Carlisle stayed by my side as I drifted to a table in the corner of the store.
"Do you get the feeling that she would be as bad as Alice given the money?" His tone was playful, but his emotions showed thoughtfulness.
"Yes, without a doubt. Bella loves books more than Alice does clothes. Alice likes dressing us up more than anything, but right now is the happiest I've ever felt Bella. She's got this child-like joy right now." I smiled watching her. I could feel my fathers eye's on me.
"She's your mate isn't she?" I nodded. "Have you?"
"No. Not yet. Edward was right about one thing. She's human, and I need to go about this the human way. A vampire would just know, and while I can feel my bond with Bella," I paused looking for the right word. "Muted right now. I think it's because she's human. Honestly I'm in no rush to be in a new relationship. I have time." I twirled my hat I sat on the table when we sat down. Carlisle raised an eyebrow but nodded anyway.
He turned to watch our mates. Esme was making her way over to us with a large stack of books. Bella was even happier, I didn't think that was possible, while roaming the shelves. The stack was placed on the table between us.
"I told Bella that I would pay for all the books she bought if she would pick out some she thought the rest of us would. Should I be worried that she pulled a second longer list out when I did?"
"I think we've just been paying her the wrong things." Carlisle said watching Bella pile more books into her arms.
"I'd better go get those from her before she trips." Once more Esme trailed after her child.
We sat watching them for next two hours as Bella guided Esme around making comments about different books. Esme smiled and nodded at all the right moments before bringing the latest pile to us. The mall was just next door to the book store, so at 12:30 we started taking the books to the counter to pay. The cashier watched wide-eyed as we placed the stacks and went back for more. Esme waited at the counter as Carlisle and I carried the books over. None of us even looked at the total before Esme paid. Even Bella was too busy reading her new book.
As was normal for when Alice went shopping we men started taking the bags to the car while the girls went on to the mall. Esme walked away guiding Bella with a hand on the small of her back. We had to work at a human pace, and in the end not all of the books fit, so we set it up for them to be shipped to the house.
"Alice isn't going to believe this." I said as we walk to the mall.
"I'm just glad she was willing to let us spoil her at all today." I nodded waving to Em over the crowd of people. Bella was eating pizza when we got though the crowd.
"What took you two so long to take bags to the car?"
"They wouldn't all fit, so we had to set up shipping." I spoke softly so Bella wouldn't overhear. I honestly wasn't sure she realized just how many books she picked out.
"Wait what? But Alice wasn't with you guys?"
"No, but we did tell Bella to pick out book for all of us. We might need to go shelve shopping."
"We do." Alice piped up.
"For real! How many books did she get?" I shrugged.
"Don't know. I didn't bother to check. She was happier then a kid in a candy shop, so we let her be. Esme even got her to let us pay." They all turned to Esme.
"How?"
"I told her they were all for us, and that it would be easier for the cashier if we paid together. She picked out some with someone in mind, but most of them seemed to be books she's heard good things about."
Bella was still happy as could be reading her novel while eating. There was a large pizza in front of her. I'm sure it was so it looked like we were all eating it, but Bella had ate half of it already. She was a third of the way finished with her book as well.
We chatted until Bella was finished eating what she could of the pizza. Then we all headed toward on the the store's that would sell shelf's. Bella stayed in the middle of our little huddle reading while we shopped trusting us the keep her safe, or maybe just not caring and wanting to finish the story.
I looked around as we walked from store to store. Nothing caught my eye, but I looked as promised.
"Bella! If you want you can go off with Jasper to help him pick stuff out." Alice's voice sent a jolt of shock though Bella causing both of us to startle. I glared at Alice and flung the feeling at her.
"Oh sorry, Bella. I didn't mean to scare you!" Alice paused to face Bella.
"It's fine, Alice, but I didn't hear what you said."
"I was saying you could go help Jasper shop if you wanted."
"That sounds fun. What do you think?" She turned to me.
"I'm just along for the ride, darling." I smirked at her holding out my arm for her to take if she chose to. She giggled looping her arm though mine.
"Alright then. Where should we meet later?"
"Just call one of us when your ready to meet back up." Esme chimed in. We nodded, and I let Bella drag me away.