A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story in their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list. It truly means a lot to me.
Chapter 37-
Jasper's POV-
I could not have been any happier at the moment…. or any more relieved…or any more in love…or any more….
You get the point, don't you?
The fact of the matter was that I was ecstatic at the moment, thanking my lucky stars for standing by me and giving me the gift of this moment. Bella had forgiven me….an outcome I had not even had the hope to expect…. refusing to believe that it could ever come true. And why should it come true? I had lied to her. I had kept something so big and important from her, having no courage in me to confess it to her. She had all right to be angry. She had all right to shout and hit me, even going as far as leaving me and moving on with someone who would not lie to her and keep her in the dark. But she hadn't done so. She had accepted me. She had decided to give me….to give us… another chance…. something that I had really not expected, but was equally glad for.
I was a lucky man; it was high time I admitted this fact.
How else could I have won the mate lottery, coming out with someone as beautiful and perfect as Bella Swan to spend a lifetime with?
Just like her name, she was beautiful in and out, her inner beauty unparalleled to.
She was smart and brave, stubborn but mature, and once again, I had found myself in awe of her.
She was unlike any newborn I had come across, and I could not stop myself from admiring her for this.
She was in so much control of her reactions and decisions, the newborn hormones never a hindrance for her.
In fact, she at times behaved as if she were older than me, having lived for centuries rather than mere decades, her patience, maturity and strength a proof of this. She was not one to act in haste, taking the decision first and then stopping to think about it. No, she thought first and then reacted, the decision taken one that would benefit everyone, including herself- and I could not stop myself from falling more in love with the woman at this realization. She was unlike any other, human or vampire, a fact that ascertained my belief. She was made for me. She was my mate, perfect for me in every which way.
What more could prove this than the fact that she had accepted me, my flaws, lies and everything, willing to start afresh, this time with no secrets or lies.
This time with honesty by our side.
She deserved it, though.
She deserved the best this world had to provide, and I would make sure that she would get it.
I would make sure that she would get whatever she so desired. No wish was too extreme for her to have and me to fulfil. Even if it were the mountains that she wanted, she would get it.
I would find the way to get it for her, her smile being my reward.
And never hiding anything from her, was too small a gift to provide her with.
I would never lie to her.
I would never hide anything from her….no matter how irrelevant the matter be to our lives, or how nervous it made me to admit the truth.
I would find a way to admit the truth.
For she deserved honesty.
For she deserved the truth.
For she deserved the Jasper Whitlock that was a brave man who believed what he said and said what he believed.
She deserved no less than that, and so she would not get any less than that.
"What are you thinking about?" Bella murmured into my chest, my hand still running through her long, soft hair, my thoughts on a place far, far away.
I shrugged in response. "Nothing, love; just pondering over how lucky I am."
She smiled at that, shaking her head. "I am the lucky one; I have you."
I pulled her closer to me, kissing her on the forehead softly. "And now you are stealing my line! That is simply unacceptable, Ms. Swan."
She giggled. "Sorry, Mr. Whitlock, this will never be repeated."
I grinned at her. "I am taking your word for it."
She hummed in agreement, her eyes never straying far from mine. "Jasper, will it always be like this? Do mates ever…drift apart?"
Her voice was a mere whisper- so hesitant and unsure that I could not help but cocoon her in the love that I held for her, a warm blanket enveloping her from each side possible.
"Bella, sweetheart," I put a finger under her chin, forcing her to look up and meet my eyes. "This…. between us…will never change or lessen. In fact, it will only increase as time passes and we get to know the other better. Peter and Charlotte are still madly in love with one another, even after spending so many decades together. They fight and argue alright, but if either of them runs into a problem, the first person they remember is the other, no matter how small or big the problem be. Of course, they continue to make baseless arguments of needing a break from the other, traveling on their own for a while, but never in all these years have they ever parted, not even for the duration of a single night. It is a given fact that they cannot live without one another, just like any other mated couple in our world. Mates cannot live without one another; it is just not a possibility for us. I would rather die than live in a world in which you are not mine."
That may seem to be a line, but it was indeed the truth.
For us, Mating was forever…in life and in death.
If Bella were to die, I would follow her to the other world, as soon as I possibly could.
It would simply be impossible for me to continue living, the hole left behind too massive to be filled.
Sure, there were vampires- Marcus, for example- who continued to exist post their mate's demise, but they remained a shell of their previous self, existing only for the name of it. Our mates were like that sense of happiness and completion in one's life. Yes, you could survive without it, but it would always be a half-life, hardly worthy of living.
Bella smiled up at me, letting me feel the elation and satisfaction in the air. "I love you, Jasper."
I pulled her closer to me, my smile wider than ever, having never felt this level of joy before in life.
She loved me.
My mate was in love with me.
What good had I done in some past life to get lucky enough to witness this moment occur?
God knows, I have been no ideal citizen in this life of mine…
But maybe, someone somewhere up there decided that I deserved it…that I deserved to have this gift in my life…that I deserved this chance to be better and to become the best version of myself.
"I love you, too, my Bella." I kissed her on the forehead, refusing to ever let her go any far from me.
She smiled, leaning into me, almost as if mirroring my very thought, a sigh of relief leaving her mouth at this state of complete bliss.
It was perfect.
Everything around was just that…perfect and filled with relief.
I could not wait for us to go back home….to Texas….to my home.
Of course, we could relocate to wherever Bella preferred, have she any particular place in mind, but at least once I would like her to see my home. I would like her to know the real me…. the cowboy me who rode horses and wore the boots and hat a long time ago…the real me who is fascinated with anything minutely related to history…. the real me who prefers his solitude, the only people always welcome in my home and heart being Peter, Charlotte, and now her. I want her to know everything there is to know about me. I want her to know the real me…. the me that has his fears and doubts…the me that is brave, yet the biggest coward to exist on this planet…. the me that loves with all he has in him, but often does not know of how to show it, without making the situation awkward and uncomfortable.
For women, it is easy, they know how to show their love to the one they love, doing so effortlessly; not so much for us men. Most of us don't even know a healthy and accepted way of telling and showing a person that we love them. I guess…it goes on upbringing. When I was a kid, my papa used to tell me, 'men never show emotions, Jasper.' My father had never once told my mother- in their decades together- that he loved her. It was simply understood that he loved her. Of course, as time changed, so did people and their notions of what is acceptable and what is not, men crying becoming something that society did not look down upon any longer, but still, for the rigid- stubborn vampires, change takes time, at times a lot longer than one would believe. The first time I had heard Peter tell Charlotte that he loved her, I had laughed out loud. The idea of professing your love was just so foreign to me…but as the time passed, I came to understand that there is absolutely nothing unmanly or weak about professing your love to the one who owns your heart. It is…. Normal. It is…. Natural.
I did owe Peter and Charlotte a lot; at least when it came to adapting with the passing time.
They had done a lot for me over the years…. Some of that far more than I could ever even think of returning back.
"Jasper, Bella," Maggie's voice caused me to stiffen at my place, Bella's hand coming to enclose in mine, giving me the needed confidence and reassurance that Edward Cullen had failed.
He had failed in trying to separate us.
He had failed in trying to cause problems between us.
He had failed miserably, the result of his failure being that we were even closer than before, the exact opposite of what he had expected to occur when he had lit the matchstick and placed it between us.
Such was life, though, and the fools of this world never got their way; this being the biggest law of nature.
I guess…nature did have its own sense of humor!
The person in question though, scowled at me, obviously hearing the high praise that I honored him with.
Asshole!
"Jasper," Maggie repeated, heaving an audible sigh, her emotions letting me know of how truly upset she was by whatever had just happened here, courtesy that ridiculous excuse of a mate she was forced to live with. "I hope everything is alright between you two…."
"Maggie," Bella smiled, interrupting her. "Jasper and I are doing good- perfect even. We cleared out a few needed things, and now are much stronger than before. There is absolutely no need to worry."
Maggie smiled; her emotions as pure as the day. "I am truly glad then. I was rather afraid and filled with guilt for whatever unfortunate happened a little while ago." She took another deep sigh, this time of relief, turning to look between the two of us. "Jasper, Bella, Edward would like to apologize to the two of you. He understands that it was not his place, and would like to ask your forgiveness for being out of line."
She then turned to look at Edward, the latter looking like a scolded child- his arms folded and everything, including the pout on the face. It was almost comical a sight.
"Edward." Maggie repeated when the person in question had not spoken yet, glaring at him for a few long minutes…or at least until Edward sighed, accepting defeat, nodding his head in response, definitely not happy by this supposed defeat.
"I am sorry." He mumbled the three words, painfully embarrassed, rushing into the opposite direction as soon as one possibly could, not even bothering to look back to make sure that his mate was alright.
Jeez, he was some caring and considerate mate!
"Phew!" I commented, my eyes wide in shock and disbelief. "Damn, Maggie, I really feel bad for you."
She laughed, almost hysterically. "I feel bad for myself, too. Liam and Siobhan are for sure going to have a coronary when I take this jerk back home with me."
"Jerk, huh?" I questioned. "No instant love?"
She laughed. "More like instant hate. Have you even seen my mate? Is it even possible to love him?"
"I reckon not." I sighed. "But Maggie, what are you going to do now? This is forever. You really can't exchange him or kill him or anything, at least without hurting yourself in the process."
"Yeah, I know." She admitted. "I guess my instincts had known that this was coming and so were content in waiting for centuries together, not really wanting to see this day, not like anyone ever would want to, had they been in my place." She waved a hand in air. "But don't worry, I do have a plan in mind to help deal with this."
"Yea?" I gave her a confused glance.
What plan could she possibly have to deal with Edward Cullen?
Was she a deity in disguise?
She had to be!
Who else would be brave enough to take the challenge that was Edward Cullen?
She smiled. "I am going to tame him and train him, almost like they do with the lion in the circus. Heck, I will even get the whip for the extra effect. It will be fun teaching him some manners." She clapped her hands together in glee, seemingly lost in her thoughts.
I could not resist my laugh then. "You do realize that he can read your mind, right?"
She shrugged back at me. "So? Let him. I don't care if he knows of what is coming. It is still going to happen, irrespective, and you know the best part in all of this- he can't lie to me. He will have to tell me the truth." She looked almost ecstatic by that fact.
"Maggie," Bella spoke up in complete reverence. "Do you give out lessons? I am ready to pay any amount of money you ask for…"
"Bella!" I glared at her. I was right here, you know?
She shrugged back at me. "What? Its impressive!"
Maggie nodded her head, amusement visible on her face. "Don't worry, Bella, Charlotte and I will teach you everything you need to know when we go on that girls' trip soon. You will be a changed person when you return, at least when it comes to how to be in control in the mating department and on how to rule over your mate, not letting him have any say in any matter whatsoever."
Plan changed; Bella is not going on any girls' trip.
She is perfectly fine just by my side…. close enough that I can save her from all these evil external influences out to harm her.
She does not need to change, as is obvious, and so she does not need to go on any such eye-opening- apparently- trip.
It makes sense, right?
"I think we should just let this girls' trip be for a few years," more like never! "Bella and I have just connected and we need to spend some quality time together…." I came to an abrupt stop on hearing Bella's laugh, heavily confused by her reaction.
Why was she laughing?
What was so damn funny in the situation?
"Jasper," she spoke through her giggles. "I was just kidding, but your face was one I would pay money to see. I am quite happy the way I am, just to clarify; I am certainly not seeking advice on how to rule over you."
"Thank God!" I quickly murmured, amending my statement almost immediately. "I mean, of course, I am perfect. Why would you need any sort of advice on how to deal with me?"
I did have a point.
Bella laughed, smiling wide. "Okay, Mr. Perfect, as you say!"
I could feel her amusement and joy, and sent her my love and happiness, her sigh of satisfaction being everything I could have ever asked for.
"Oh, good, everyone is already here,"
I turned to look at this unexpected voice, a smile coating my face when I realized of who it was.
Of course, I had known that we would see him again soon, but I had still thought that we would have a while to go before we found him…. all of this drama that had distracted us to blame.
We were far behind the set target.
We were expected to reach Romania the day before, and at the moment, we were not even half way through.
Yup, we were that far behind.
"Jasper," Garrett's tone was accusatory. "I have never known you to be tardy. This is a surprise."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't ask! Traveling as a nomad and traveling as a mated pair is two poles apart."
"Excuse me," Bella turned to glare at me, but I successfully managed to avoid her eyes.
I was an honest man, and this was the truth.
I did not need to be afraid of anyone or anything….and, well, refusing to meet Bella's eyes is hardly considered cowardice.
Garrett laughed a booming laugh, nodding his head in agreement. "I guess I can relate with what you are saying."
"How," my jaw dropped open.
He was not mated, last I checked….
Unless…..
"Sweetheart," Garrett spoke up, a tall woman with pale blond hair cut to her shoulders and sparkling golden eyes walking out of the surrounding trees in response.
Oh.
Wow. This was definitely unexpected.
Garrett wrapped his arms around her as soon as she was close enough, smiling wide as he risked a glance at her. "Everyone, meet Kate, my mate. We met a few days ago. Kate, this is Jasper, his mate Bella and…."
"Maggie," I coughed, answering him. "This is my friend- Maggie."
Garrett did the further instructions, pleasantries exchanged as was expected.
I was still partly in shock, though.
Garrett had finally found his mate after all these years of being alone….
I was happy for him, of course, but could not deny that this was a surprise.
"Anyhow," Garrett stated, grabbing everyone's attention. "My mate, here, has news that will interest everybody."
He looked almost confident of this fact.
"What news?" Bella asked.
Kate smiled at her in response. "I know where Stefan is at the moment, and I also know that the people he called his coven and friends are all dead."
"How can you be so sure of that?" I demanded to know.
She turned to look at me, staring into my eyes almost in a feral state. "Because I killed them. I would have killed Stefan, too, but he escaped before I could end his disgusting existence."