A/N: I neither own Twilight, nor am I as wealthy as SM. *sighhhhhhhh*
Bella woke peacefully on her side to sunlight streaming through the window, warming a sliver of her face, still wrapped in the cool arms of her mate snuggled up behind her. Unwilling to break the spell that the calm light of morning had cast, Bella stretched her arms and legs under the covers, her eyes still squeezed shut, then nestled against Jasper's hard, smooth body. He assisted the movement by wrapping both of his arms around her more securely.
"How very cat-like of you, Miss Swan," Jasper's deep, velvet voice rumbled through his chest and into hers.
"Mmm," was all Bella managed as the sensations of his voice soaked into her skin and bones, a rush of heat building in her core. She stretched the arm she had been laying her head on and reached back ensnaring his neck to pull her body more tightly along his, keeping her grip. Still feeling somewhat feline, she stretched her back into him and was rewarded with a growing stiffness pressing against her rear and thighs.
"I couldn't tell last night, but that is exceptionally impressive," Bella whispered quietly in surprise.
Jasper chuckled into Bella's hair, the sound quickening her pulse. He slid his hand along her satin covered ribs, slowly exploring and gauging her quiet gasps to learn where her boundaries were. He angled his fingers downwards playfully lightly dragging them up and down her lower abdomen. Bella's hips bucked into the movement and Jasper halted his progress at an unspoken territory line.
"I'm glad to hear it, darlin'," Jasper's voice rumbled through her once more, and kissed the hollow between her earlobe and jaw.
Bella whimpered quietly at the sound, her nipples pebbling against her nightgown, body squirming against his in response. Her arousal grew and spread, dampening her panties and earning her a growl of appreciation from Jasper.
"I–," Bella couldn't muster the brain power to continue her sentence, lost to the sensations wracking her body.
"I know," Jasper murmured into Bella's ear. "We can stop right here if this is where you're comfortable. Just say the word."
"No, I mean I need–," Bella trailed off, unsure what she needed.
Jasper began to run his cool fingers up and down her stomach once more, encouraged. "What do you need," he purred into her ear.
"Oh, fuck," Bella gasped unable to prevent her hips from rocking back and forth against her mate's front, his pants straining against his manhood.
"Touch me," she finally begged, having determined what she needed.
Jasper's hard cock twitched behind her as he drew a ragged breath at her request. He moved at a torturous pace, bunching up the fabric of Bella's nightgown slowly, the satin sliding along her thighs and abdomen sending shivers through her body. She found that, though her body was familiar with her own hands, an overwhelming excitement was building around being touched by another.
Bella let out a breath as Jasper finished his task and pressed her body eagerly into his reach. In response, Jasper spread his fingers out and pressed his hand against the smooth skin stretched across her pelvis, quelling the movement and holding her tightly to himself.
Bella whimpered and gripped the fabric of her sheets reflexively as her mate grazed her hips then teased the flesh of her inner thighs, swirling patterns across her skin. She could feel the coolness of his fingers where they ghosted mere centimeters from her heat. Jasper licked and sucked along Bella's neck and pulled his hand away. A noise of protest escaped Bella's lips before he circled back up to her abdomen, her grip on the sheets loosening as his hand glided upwards.
"I can promise you, I am so very far from done," Jasper whispered hoarsely in her ear, tickling the sensitive skin. Bella quivered against him with anticipation as he continued his journey to her chest, his lips and tongue reclaiming her neck.
He gently shifted their tangled limbs, reaching to slide his other hand under her nightgown as well. Jasper's chilled touch against the fire of her flesh left Bella gasping for air, her need for release building steadily.
His hands met the underside of her breasts, gently squeezing and massaging her ample, creamy mounds. Bella let out a soft mewl as he grazed both of her achingly swollen nipples then rolled them gently between his cool thumbs and index fingers. Jasper lightly pinched as he tugged away, easing her into the sensations before cupping and gripping her flesh more tightly, grinding her body against his.
The wait was agonizing for Bella as one of Jasper's hands continued to grasp and play with her breast, the other trailing lazily, ever lower. Upon reaching her abdomen, he pressed her firmly to him once more, wedging his hard shaft where Bella's legs met. He began to grind slowly against her, the sensation sending another trickle of warmth from her sex, flooding her.
"Please," Bella choked out, as he nuzzled his nose to her neck, inhaling the earthen scent of her skin, as well as her arousal, into his lungs.
"How could I deny you when you ask so nicely," Jasper whispered playfully before gliding his razor-sharp teeth up her soft, slender neck.
Bella could only whimper in response as another wave of arousal wracked her body.
Jasper extended his hand, his fingers finally rubbing her through the fabric of her panties. Bella reflexively gripped the back of Jasper's neck in response, pulling his face closer to her neck in response. A soft whine escaped her as Jasper ground her swollen lips back and forth against her clit with one hand, squeezing her breast with the other, her nipples hardening painfully.
"Please," she asked softly once more as she twisted her fingers into his hair, her body shaking.
"Please, what," Jasper asked, sliding his fingers closer to her core, circling her lace covered entrance.
Bella growled, tangling her fingers in his hair, and pulled tightly with her frustration.
"Please, Major Whitlock, sir," she gasped as he pressed the lace firmly against her entrance.
Jasper groaned with pleasure and, finally done with teasing his mate, he slipped his fingers under the band of elastic that rested along her hip, slid them towards her knees, accidentally tearing them in the process.
"I will replace those," Jasper whispered quietly without halting his progress, his cool breath tickling her ear.
Bella's body shook as the chill from his cold fingers reached her a moment before he slid his fingertips into the glistening junction between her thighs.
Bella cried out quietly as her body squirmed at the touch, thighs clenching reflexively at the cold invasion.
"Relax, darlin'," Jasper drawled quietly with an edge of command.
Bella drew a shuddering breath, her body responding to the order while tension coiled deep inside of her.
Jasper's fingers skimmed slowly around her aching clit before stroking it in a firm circular movement, his lips boring down on her neck. Bella gasped in shock as the wetness between her legs escaped and dripped down the back her thigh.
Jasper deeply inhaled the warm, heady scent and growled lowly, his hard cock pressing against her warmth.
"Oh, fuck," Bella repeated as she neared her climax, sweat beading on her forehead; the teasing had been maybe a little too effective. "Please, not yet."
Jasper slowed his pace, turning his attention to her breast, crushing it to her chest, clutching her ever more tightly to himself. He marveled at the way her soft flesh yielded to his cool, rock hard palm. His fingers twisted her nipple as he sucked his way along Bella's neck, taking care not to puncture her pulsing veins.
Bella cried out, the slight pain adding to her pleasure. "I–," Bella tried hard to focus on her words. "I want you to touch me."
"Am I not?" Jasper asked amusedly.
"I mean–," the girl was cut off by another moan of pleasure, overwhelmed by the sensations once more as Jasper swirled his finger against her clit with more pressure to prove his point.
"No, I mean–," she gasped loudly, "I want your fingers inside of me, too."
Body shaking at her request, Jasper parted her sensitive flesh with a knuckle, dragging it slowly down then teased her entrance with the tip of his finger.
Bella's grip on his hair, which was tighter than would have been tolerable for a human, was the only thing keeping her from toppling over the edge.
Unable to prolong his mate's torture at the sound of her desperate panting, Jasper added the tip of his middle finger and groaned longingly they fingers delved slowly into her molten core, his throbbing cock aching to feel her.
"More," Bella pleaded, rolling her hips roughly into his hand.
At that, the sound of Jasper's pants ripping from the strain of containing his throbbing erection met Bella's ears. "I'm sorry," she managed to whisper through her gasping breath.
"You, my mate, have nothing to apologize for," Jasper growled back, the fluids of her arousal spreading quickly to his boxers. Bella took the chance to reach between their bodies to rub Jasper's cold stiff length, eliciting a strangled growl from his chest.
Intent on pleasing her, Jasper shifted his hand once more, to stroke Bella's clitoris with his thumb, plunging two fingers back inside of her.
"Oh fuck," Bella panted as Jasper curled his fingers to stroke and stimulate her g-spot.
"I need more of you," she panted, needing to feel as much of her mate inside of her as possible. She tightened her grip on his cold, hard cock. "Please!" she begged desperately.
Jasper was nearly lost to the intensity of his mate's hunger; pleasing her, however, took priority. Extending his other arm, Jasper added first one, then two fingers to her slick center. He gently slid them in and out of the girl, testing slowly for her comfort.
"Faster–, harder–," Bella requested, her body nearing the edge once more as she slipped her hand through the slit in Jasper's boxer and ran it up and down his thick length, gripping tightly and rolling her thumb along the edge as she reached the rounded tip.
Jasper did as he was told, pressing harder on her swollen clit, beckoning against her sweet spot, and thrusting his fingers in and out, deeply, and more roughly than he would have thought Bella could handle. He ground against her hand in response, his own need for release becoming nearly unbearable.
The heat coiled tighter and tighter inside, until it snapped, and Bella let out a long, strangled cry of pleasure. She raked her nails down Jasper's neck, almost certainly leaving a mark of her own. The sensations ripped through her like a lightning strike, electrifying every cell in her body, and releasing a burning hot gush as her velvety walls clamped violently down on Jasper's hard, cold fingers.
The sight of her flushed skin, the sound of her gasping cries, the smell of her release, and the feel of her body, pushed Jasper over the edge, his own chilled eruption caught by Bella's hand and his boxers, seeping onto her back.
Jasper took his time peppering Bella's shoulder with kisses; her broken gasps slowing with the trembling of her legs as her body came down from its high. As his cold seed spread against her back Bella broke down in laughter, her muscles contracting in response and forcing Jasper's fingers out of her.
"I don't know why I'm laughing," Bella spoke through a giggle as a tear ran down her face. "And crying!"
"Your body is overwhelmed," Jasper explained soothingly. "You're okay, darlin'," he added, planting kissing in her hair.
Jasper untangled their limbs and gently rolled his mate over, searching her face for any hint of discomfort.
Eyes closed, Bella spoke, "Are you sure I haven't died and gone to heaven?" Her tone took on one of suspicion, "This seems like an awful lot of sunlight for February."
Jasper chuckled at his mate, so cavalierly moving forward; somehow, it was reassuring that she could be herself, regardless of how ruffled she had been moments earlier.
He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her lips before pulling back. "Don't let the skeptics fool you, Bella. Forks is blessed by a parting of the leaden skies every couple of weeks, if only just to tease us with the glow," Jasper answered her wryly and began to lick his fingers clean.
Bella opened her eyes at the noise and watched him. "We do have soap and running water," she informed him with a wink.
"Don't mock me, Miss Swan," Jasper retorted wickedly. "You smell and taste far too decadently to simply wash you from my hands."
Bella rose to the challenge, "Then I suppose I should lick you off of me, too." She raised her hand and gave a tentative lick. "What the actual fuck?" Bella asked in a shocked tone.
"What?" Jasper asked, panic building that his venom may have somehow entered her system, and realizing he had no idea what that would mean for her, as a shifter.
"You taste like– like candy!" Bella exploded. "How is that fair?"
"I don't know, darlin', I don't make the rules," Jasper teased her with a grin, relief and calm filling him once more. "I do know, however, that your taste is far more divine than any sweet I remember eating."
Bella rolled her eyes are her mate, smile blooming on her face. She leaned back into her pillows, resting her arms above her head as she examined the woodgrain of her ceiling. "So, that was, uh–."
"Beautiful? Intense? One of the best moments of my life?" Jasper pondered jokingly as he finished cleaning his fingers. "All of the above."
Bella blushed briefly at her mate, the compliment not lost on her. "Me too," she caught his eyes.
Jasper leaned over his mate and moved forward slowly, pinning first one wrist, then the other with his hands. He paused, but no protest came. Maneuvering carefully, he gently separated his mate's legs to rest his body between them.
Bella obliged and spread them, raising her hips instinctively to ensure he would be as close as possible to her heat. Jasper's eyes bore into her deep brown ones, finding acceptance, love, and trust written among the honey colored stars that dotted her irises.
She studied him carefully and watched as his soft pink lips blossomed into a smile. She could just make out wisps of gold swirling in his warm eyes, lightened by the feelings of love that hovered between and around them.
"You are so absolutely beautiful," Bella breathed, taking the words right out of his mouth. Jasper leaned down to meet her for a slow, lazy kiss, their eyes closing in unison as a crescendo ran along their mating bond; a vibration that resonated from deep within their being, pulling them closer, strands of their being fusing together.
Time slowed and peace filled them both. The sun shone brightly, finally spreading its light into Bella's room, a radiant warmth spilling across her face. The stillness was broken by a brilliant twinkling of rainbow lights dancing across her closed eyelids. Curious, the girl was compelled to open them to find the source.
Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped as she took in the glittering, flickering colors where a shaft of sunlight cut across Jasper's face, refracting his marble skin as though he were made from billions of microscopic crystals.
"So," Bella spoke quietly, her voice cracking with shock. "You don't burst into flames with the light of the sun."
Jasper chuckled in response, the movement casting a flurry of colorful sparkles around Bella's room. "That we do not."
"How–, all vampires?" she asked, unable to arrange her thoughts any better, so taken aback by the sight.
"Yes," Jasper answered simply.
Bella continued to examine his face before flicking her eyes to one of the wrists Jasper still had pinned in his grasp and turning her gaze back to his face.
Jasper smiled and released her, resting himself more fully against her. Bella grinned blissfully at the added pressure on her hips and abdomen and raised her hand to trail her fingers along his shimmering cheek. Jasper's eyes closed as he basked in the pleasure at her heated touch and the warm glow of morning.
In the sunlight Jasper's flaming white-gold locks created a halo of light surrounding his relaxed porcelain face. His rosebud lips helped to lend a cherubic resemblance, the overall image reminding Bella of an angel, more than anything else.
She caught his lips once more, nibbling his lower gently. The thought occurred to her that, even if they had an eternity together, she would never get enough of him.
"I'll never tire of kissing you, either," Jasper tacked on, referencing the comment Bella had made at school about never tiring of hugging him.
"Are you sure that you aren't the mind-reader in your family," Bella asked with a laugh.
"Were your thoughts pointed in the same direction, Miss Swan?" Jasper asked with a raised eyebrow, searching her eyes carefully with his own.
"They most certainly were," she answered him with a grin, then realized it was time to tackle the question that, no matter how she tried ignored it, had slowly been burning a hole into the back of her brain.
"How?" Bella whispered, her pained eyes searching her mate's face for the answer.
His face crumbled, eyes closing, and Bella regretted asking almost instantly.
"I don't know, darlin'," Jasper answered honestly and met her eyes again. "I've been putting off the question since I realized, but it has been there this whole time."
"Me too," Bella admitted. "I'm just afraid that if–," she trailed off, the words hurting her.
"I know," Jasper whispered back. "I don't know what my venom would do to you."
"Does Carlisle have any thoughts on it?"
"I wouldn't know," Jasper responded, his thoughts spinning as he went through their options. "I haven't asked–, neither he, nor Esme know we're mates yet, actually."
"Oh!" Bella answered, only just realizing how important their dinner later that evening was. "Do you plan on telling them soon?"
"Of course," Jasper grinned, his heart warming once more with the thought of being able to proudly proclaim just how wonderful Bella was. "Tonight. After, I'll ask Carlisle to look into it."
Bella nodded, trying to take comfort at the thought, but unable to meet his eyes as her own filled with tears.
Jasper reached out and ran a hand along her cheek. "Regardless, of whether we have eighty years or eight hundred, my Isabella," she swept her eyes back to his, "we are going to spend every moment making sure that it's the most happy, beautiful, and loving life that we possibly can."
Bella's eyes overflowed, her heart near bursting in awe of her mate's faith in their bond. She nodded her head as his words sank in, slowly believing that no matter what happened, they would be okay; somehow, there would be enough time.
"Good," Bella laughed, as her arms wrapped around Jasper's back, pulling him roughly to her. "Because I don't want to miss out on a single moment of this."
"Are you using me for my body," Jasper asked, jokingly aghast and changing the mood of their conversation.
"Is that what you think?" she countered with a grin, reaching to grasp his rounded, tightly muscled ass to press his already surprisingly hard manhood tightly against her core.
Jasper groaned before he offered his retort. "I would say that your womanly wiles will be the end of me," he earned an annoyed pout from his mate.
"But I do believe," Jasper continued as he took both hands and ran his fingers up and along either side of her rib cage to stroke the undersides of her breasts, sending Bella's heart fluttering.
"That you are the beginning of me," he finished by planting a kiss over her heart, grazing her nipples with his thumbs. He smiled at the acceleration of her pulse and the catching of her breath in her lungs.
"Now who is using their wiles," Bella muttered, attempting to get a grip on her body.
"You started it," Jasper pointed out with a wink.
"Hmm," Bella started slowly. "I really ought to be punished for having such a wicked mind as to tempt a gentleman such as yourself."
Jasper's throbbing cock twitched against his mate's heat. He pressed his forehead to the space between Bella's breasts and groaned.
"Why do you sound so disappointed," Bella asked with a giggle. "Don't you wish to play with me some more?"
Jasper moved at vampire speed, pinning Bella's arms above her head once more and ran his teeth up her neck, his steely, thick shaft sliding deftly along her parting with only the fabric of his boxers between them, teasing her with what their future would eventually hold.
"I can assure you, darlin'," Jasper ground out gruffly, as Bella shivered in anticipation. "If I didn't have responsibilities that require my full attention this afternoon," he slid his cold length up and down her slit, her body twitching in response.
"I would play with you so thoroughly," he shifted to grip her wrists in only one of his hands, sliding the other quickly down her stomach to the space where their bodies pressed together.
"That you wouldn't be able to form a coherent sentence at dinner," he growled teasingly as he grazed her tender flesh.
She examined her mate's face, finding the promise of another release shining through darkened eyes and quirk of his lips, and yielded once more to Jasper's skilled fingers.
Bella exhaled deeply as the steaming hot water of the shower ran across her shoulders and lower back, soothing her aching muscles. She bent to grab her shampoo from the shower ledge and felt a dull muscle strain in her thighs. Bella leaned into the pain to stretch herself adequately, enjoying the reminder of her morning with Jasper.
She emerged, relaxed and clean almost a half hour later to find that Jasper had loaded her sheets into the wash and fixed her a breakfast of oatmeal with brown sugar and blueberries, a dish of cut up fruit, some turkey sausage, and a mug of chamomile tea while she had showered. He took his leave after a smattering of soft kisses, dressed in a pair of her cousin Dean's pajama pants, left behind at Charlie's many summers ago, with the promise that Emmett was doing runs in her woods, with Rosalie to follow.
Bella ate her breakfast amidst the calm and quiet of the empty house, the sunlight slowly covered by clouds once more. She cleared and washed her plate then checked that Jasper had added detergent, before setting the washer to hot. She had no sooner grabbed her tea and a book to settle in on the couch with when Rosalie knocked on the door, entering without a chance for Bella to call her in.
"Well, hello," Bella addressed her with a quirk of her lips. "Come on in."
"I figured you wouldn't mind seeing as how you let my brother right in," Rosalie replied flippantly with a wink.
Bella choked on a sip of her tea, spewing the liquid over her hand and onto the coffee table. Bella sighed and turned to grab a paper towel.
"Oh, dear God, are there no secrets with you?" Bella asked in a comically annoyed tone as she sopped up the mess.
"Well, Jasper's fancy new pants were a tip off," Rosalie answered with a laugh.
"If you must know," Bella started seriously, taking a sip of tea to build the mystery. "We didn't have sex," she finished with a wicked grin.
Rosalie let out a huff of air and rolled her eyes, about to start in on her inquisition once more.
"We did," Bella trailed off dramatically, "other things. Twice," then waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Understanding dawned on Rosalie's face, "Oh! Well that explains the smell."
Bella blushed crimson in response. "What do you mean?" she asked, horrified.
"Oh, God, no, not like that," Rosalie backtracked.
Bella breathed a sigh, slightly relieved.
"I mean, we have a very sensitive sense of smell, as you've noticed," Rosalie started. "We can smell when humans are," she trailed off. "Aroused."
Bella's blush flared again, much less relieved than she had been previously as the vampire continued.
"But," Rosalie said loudly as she caught Bella's expression, "what Emmett and I smelled–."
"You and Emmett?" Bella asked, her voice slipping up a few octaves in her panic.
"Breathe," Rosalie advised the girl. "We didn't catch the smell of arousal or sex, just that your scent, specifically, was very densely concentrated on Jasper, and even though you showered, he is very much on you still."
Bella inhaled sharply through her nose with relief, catching wafts of Jasper Rosalie had referred to.
"Jesus, Rose, you almost gave me a heart attack."
"Don't be dramatic," Rosalie stuck her tongue out at the girl. "Anyway, not to be creepy, but how are you feeling about it?" she asked, a note of concern in her tone.
"I'm feeling very good," Bella confirmed, unable to stop the goofy grin that spread across her face. "I mean, Jasper and I have talked, and I'm not really ready for sex yet, but this was–," she struggled to continue. "I just think that when we do finally have sex, I don't really have anything to worry about."
"I don't think you will either," Rosalie answered with a relieved smile. "Especially not with you two being true mates and all."
"You knew it was a true mate thing?"
"Of course, I did," Rosalie replied, giggling at the shock on Bella's face. "In all the decades I've known him, Jasper has never trulyopened up. Not to anyone, though Emmett and I are the closest by far." She paused to consider.
"I mean, even among our kind," she clarified, "he didn't build many friendships. He's such a wonderful being, but a devastatingly few know that."
"Why," Bella asked, her voice trembling for Jasper's hurt and isolation.
"He'll tell you more when he's ready, Bella, but suffice it to say, he is extremely well known, and avoided by, by nearly every vampire on the face of the planet, and trust me, there are more than you would think."
The girl pondered Rosalie's words for a few moments, then asked, "The scars?"
"No matter where he goes, his reputation precedes him," Rosalie offered as an indirect way of confirming Bella's question. "None of our kind would ever mistake him as anyone other than Jasper Whitlock.
"Yet, despite all that, you waltzed into his life and in just over two weeks you cracked his shell–, no there was no shell for you to crack, he let those walls right down," she continued in amazement. "You are the right fit, and I'm so glad you've found each other. Jasper deserves happiness more than anyone else I know."
"Yes, he does, and I appreciate that," Bella was flooded with happiness for the acceptance her sister was showing. "But I need to know, Rose," her voice cracked, as her chest grew heavy with the weight of Jasper's pain, the animal growing angry, and despite the moon's influence fading, Bella felt her nails lengthen involuntarily. "Are the ones responsible for what was done to him are still in existence."
"They're not," Rosalie confirmed coldly. "Emmett and I caught up to them about 30 years ago." She paused then smiled too broadly for her face, looking more than a little evil. "And we burned every piece, saving her head for the very end."
"Good," Bella answered heartlessly. "And Rose?"
"Yes, Bella?"
"Remind me to never get on your bad side."
Jasper was in the process of blending up a rather sad smelling concoction of a dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free meal replacement with a handful of lemongrass and vegetables. Their human façade was nothing if not thorough, after all. He stowed the glass portion of blender inside the fridge then set the table. Taking a deep breath his years of military and espionage training kicked in. Jasper visually inspected their home to ensure that nothing left out would somehow give away their secret.
Of course, there isn't, but it doesn't hurt to check.
It was then that Carlisle and Esme darted into their home, setting bags upon the kitchen counters and unloading beers into the fridge. Jasper raised an eyebrow at the pair.
"Do you think getting the Chief of Police drunk will keep him from noticing we aren't quite like him?" he asked with a quirk of his lips.
"Not entirely," Esme answered with a smile at her son. "But we did think it would be nice to do."
"Yes, I'm sure that between the beer, wine, hard liquor, juice, milk, seltzer, coffee, hot chocolate, and tea you picked up today, both Charlie and Bella will be able to find something to suit their tastes," Carlisle teased his wife with a grin.
"Hush, you," Esme scolded jokingly and reached into a cupboard for a serving bowl to mix up a salad in. "Besides, if Bella will be here more often, us having options is only polite."
"Any word on when they'll arrive?" Esme directed her question to her son.
"Rosalie texted and said that Charlie is running a little late with some paperwork," Jasper answered with a frown of concern for Bella's father. "He'll be stopping home to freshen up, then he and Bella will head here with an escort from Rose; they'll be here around five o'clock."
"Well," Esme replied, a dazzling smile lighting up her face, "I'm quite excited to meet Charlie and be introduced to Bella under better circumstances."
"I know she is too," Jasper answered honestly.
Carlisle cut in then, his nerves apparent. "I hate to change the subject, but have you had any word from the nomads, Jasper?"
Jasper frowned, rubbing his face in response. "No, I haven't. I was hoping to at least hear from Garrett, but you know how he feels about technology."
Carlisle chuckled and said, "I most certainly do. It can be difficult to acclimate."
"That it can," Jasper agreed. "Our intermingling with humans has made it easier for us, in that regard," he continued thoughtfully.
"Absolutely," Esme answered wisely as she placed the finished bowl into the fridge next to the blender. She sniffed daintily and offered a small, "oh, my," of disgust before closing the fridge.
Jasper smiled at his surrogate parents, thanking his lucky stars that he had been welcomed into a family so kind and thoughtful.
"Thank you," Jasper whispered, not needing to specify what he was grateful for.
"Of course, sweetheart," Esme answered warmly as she stepped forward to hug her son. "She seems like a wonderful young woman," she continued before pulling back from their embrace. "I so look forward to getting to know her."
"It doesn't bother you that–," Jasper started then stopped. Seldom unsure of himself, he was surprised how distressing the thought that Bella's mortal status could be a cause for concern was.
"Absolutely not, son," Carlisle answered quickly.
"Truly," Esme confirmed and stepped back towards Carlisle. She laid her hand on top of her husband's as a show of a unified front. "Your happiness is what matters to us. If the two of you can create some, then how could we possibly have an issue with her?"
A lump formed in Jasper's throat, despite his inability to cry. "I appreciate that."
Carlisle turned his focus to his wife. "Have you got everything handled in the kitchen?"
"Is that even a question," Esme answered as she turned her face towards him to steal a quick kiss. "Go do whatever it is you need to go do."
Carlisle squeezed her hand in response and turned to his son. "Did you want to go over the information you've gathered on the visitors?"
Jasper nodded, grateful that his father was taking the invasion seriously.
It just feels so wrong, Jasper thought for the hundredth time, counting and recounting every moment of their pursuit, trying to find what he had missed. There was something there; there had to be.
Bella studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Rosalie had styled her hair in long, loose waves and placed a small, golden clip, decorated with clusters of leaves and flowers along the side her hair was parted on. It held back a section of hair to expose a high cheekbone. A few layers of mascara and a tinted lip balm topped off the look; simple, clean, yet casually elegant.
"Wow, Rose," Bella spoke quietly, turning her head back and forth, "you are really amazing at this stuff."
"I know!" Rosalie answered with a cocky grin. "It doesn't hurt that I've gone to school for it though, obviously."
"Obviously," Bella teased her with a smile. "Any thoughts on what I should wear, though?"
Rosalie dashed to Bella's closet at vampire speed and had thoroughly examined the entire contents by the time Bella had entered her bedroom. She pulled a few options and laid them out on Bella's bed.
"I'm kind of feeling the cream blouse," Rosalie advised, fingering one of its sheer swiss dot, sleeves. "You run the risk of staining it, but it would look truly lovely with your hair and makeup right now. It would give you more of a classic vibe."
"Funny story," Bella answered with a laugh. "That's the top I had been thinking of," she continued, examining it for herself. "Maybe with some black pants or a skirt?"
"I would say pants," Rosalie responded confidently. "A skirt would make it too stiff; too formal."
Bella walked over to her dresser and opened her bottoms drawer.
"Alright," she announced as she rifled through its contents. "I have a pair of black faux-leather leggings, a pair of black velvet leggings and," Bella continued dispiritedly, "leggings, upon leggings, upon leggings."
"Hmm, I vote for leggings, then," Rosalie replied with a smirk. "Try the faux leather?" she suggested.
Bella grabbed her clothes and marched to the bathroom to arrange herself with the benefit of a full-length mirror. The ensemble was striking; simple, elegant, but not overdone. It was no more than she would wear out to a nice restaurant, and certainly appropriate for a dinner date with a partner's parents.
She opened the bathroom door dramatically to a squeal of approval from Rosalie who jumped up and down, clasping her hands tightly.
"My little demi-human is all grown up," Rosalie complimented Bella in an exaggerated tone then blotted away fake tears with a teasing grin.
"You're ridiculous."
"I know," Rosalie replied, feigning disgust. "I think you and the humans are rubbing off on me, actually."
Bella answered with a grin. "Still a good thing, I think."
"Oh, most definitely," the vampire agreed with a nod.
Charlie adjusted his nicer-than-usual sweater nervously as he and Bella followed Rosalie into the Cullen's home. Bella bumped her elbow into his to remind him it's okay, earning a smile from her father. Carlisle was waiting at the entry to greet Charlie, while Esme carried the serving bowl of salad to the dining table.
Introductions were quick and mostly painless, spiced up by Emmett greeting Charlie as Chief and refusing to call him anything else, much to Charlie's amusement.
Esme was in the process of handing Bella and her father their drinks when Charlie asked, "Where are the other two? The ones in Bella's year?"
Exchanging a glance with her husband, Esme took charge, making sympathetic noises for her children.
"It's a long story, Charlie," she answered as she took a seat on the couch adjacent to him to pass him his beer, and Bella a lime seltzer.
"Edward has had a very difficult time adjusting to living here, you see," she began to explain. "His struggles have encompassed his mental health challenges," Esme added delicately. "He has gone to stay with his aunt, uncle and cousins for a little while to focus on himself."
"See," Carlisle picked up the conversational reigns to clarify, "When his and Alice's parents passed, it was better to place them with us; we all have a rare genetic disorder, and I help manage our treatments."
Carlisle paused with just the right amount of guilt and looked up at Charlie. "Which I probably shouldn't have mentioned as you can now assume our adoptions are merely to make sure all of our children can be treated."
Charlie waved a hand, letting the family know he hadn't thought such a thing.
"It truly isn't the case though," Esme interjected, squeezing her husband's hand lovingly. "We couldn't have children of our own, due to the disorder. Adopting our kind made more sense to us, since the treatment is so difficult without specialists; and we've built the family we always wanted."
Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper all looked at the parents, the love apparent enough for Charlie to pick up on.
"Edward hasn't been having as easy a time as the rest of us, and it started to become difficult for him to live with such a stark comparison," Carlisle finally finished. "It had been a while since we'd heard from him personally, most messages relayed through his aunt. So, Alice, went to stay as well, hoping to get a better idea of where he's at on coming home."
So close to the truth, yet so far off, Bella noted internally, keeping track of the family's cover story for future reference. She took a sip of her seltzer and smiled at Jasper, glad that had gone over smoothly.
"Well, that can't be easy," Charlie answered sympathetically. "I sure hope the boy comes through this all right."
"Us too," Esme responded, her appreciation for his concern genuine. "Sorry to do this so abruptly, but I need to check on the lasagna, and give the salad a toss. Do you two have a preferred dressing?"
Bella and Charlie answered her, and before anyone else could search for a topic, Emmett pounced on the conversational opportunity.
"So, Chief, what's the absolute wildest, craziest thing you've ever come across in your line of work?"
Emmett would, Bella mused with a grin.
Charlie launched into a story about the snowiest winter Forks had years back, when some high school kids had thought it funny to create life-sized animal-shaped snowmen along the highway. They hadn't given two thoughts about how the rain during the day and cold temperatures at night would freeze them solid, the result being that any driver that happened to slide into one had assumed they'd hit something and called the police.
"And it wouldn't have been so bad if someone hadn't made a darned Sasquatch!"
Emmett was howling by the time Charlie was done, probably the first truly enthused listener to his stories, for which Bella was grateful.
Rosalie smirked at her from across the room and tilted her head to the kitchen as the conversation shifted towards sports and teams.
"I'm going to go see if Esme needs help," she whispered to Charlie. Bella gave a sympathetic glance to Jasper, then followed Rosalie into the kitchen.
"Hello, Bella!" Esme greeted her once more, extending her arms to embrace the girl. "Thank you so much for coming," the vampire whispered, rubbing the girl's back in a very mom-like way.
"Thank you for having us!" Bella replied, pulling back with a smile lighting up her face. "Are any of you having difficulties?" she asked, clearly concerned.
"Thank you so much for checking, honey, but honestly," Esme answered kindly, "you kind of buffer Charlie's smell. I haven't even thought of it since you all got here."
"I noticed that too!" Rosalie chimed in.
"I'm so happy to hear that," Bella answered with a laugh. "Glad I could offer some odor neutrality."
"If you were a superhero, you could be called "The Neutralizer," Emmett suggested as he rounded the corner to kiss his mate's cheek. He reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a pale ale for Charlie. "How long on the lasagna," he asked, pretending to take an appreciative whiff.
"It has to cool a few more minutes," Esme replied with a smile. "We'll let you know when."
Emmett headed back to the living room, his voice booming in excitement over whatever had been said. Picking up on the happy his family was radiating, Jasper tilted his head back over the edge of the couch to get a look at Bella, wanting to see how she felt.
She grinned at him in response and winked, turning back to his mom and sister, unable to keep the smile off her face.
Esme had watched the interaction closely, and asked, "So, my dear, you and Jasper are getting pretty close?"
"Yes," Bella answered easily, somehow unembarrassed by the confession. "Very," she finished, meeting Esme's eyes.
Esme nodded knowingly. "I thought so," she whispered with a smile, venom tears filling her eyes.
She squeezed Bella quickly once more, tighter than she had previously.
"I'm so glad you found each other," Esme concluded, her happiness unable to be contained. When she pulled away Esme reached for a tissue and dabbed at her eyes, and though her venom burned it slowly away, it managed to do its job.
"Me too," Bella answered quietly, eyes flicking to the living room to see that though he hadn't turned to look, the visible side of Jasper's face was broken into a large smile of his own.
Esme composed herself once more. "Well, I think we had been get started. Rosie, lasagna to the table? And be sure to set it on a potholder," she directed.
"Could I carry the salad?" Bella asked helpfully.
"That would be lovely, dear," Esme responded warmly. "I'll carry the dressings. Can I grab you another seltzer while I'm in the fridge?"
"Oh, yes, please," Bella answered as she placed the salad tongs in the bowl. "Tangerine?"
"Will do!" came the answer.
The men gathered in the dining room where Bella and Rosalie had just finished setting up. Esme soon followed with the dressings, Bella's drink, and a half drank cup of something thick and grey, the liquid trailing down the inside from the lip to imply that someone had recently taken a drink from it.
Clever.
"Time to wake up, darlin'," Jasper rumbled into Bella's ear. He planted a kiss on her forehead, cheek, and finally her lips.
Bella woke gently, her awareness rising to the surface, noting a new soft thrum of electricity in each of the spaces their bodies touched.
"Good morning," Jasper murmured quietly, the sound of a smile in his tone.
"That it is," Bella agreed happily as she stretched, the rewrapped her limbs around him.
"How are you feeling," Jasper asked her.
"Quite good," Bella confirmed with a grin, finally opening her eyes. "I'm glad dinner went so well."
"As am I," Jasper answered, a calm smile spreading across his face. "Carlisle and Esme really like you and Charlie both," he offered without prompting.
"That's good," Bella started, "because I am one hundred percent positive that they'll be seeing more of me, and likely Charlie, too."
"I am also one hundred percent positive of this," Jasper responded with a chuckle. "I never thought this would be possible for me," he admitted, rubbing his face along hers.
Bella pulled away to meet his eyes. "You deserve every moment of happiness that comes your way, Jasper," Bella asserted in a kind but strong tone. "I can promise you that."
"Don't get me wrong, darlin', I'm ecstatic that we can build something," Jasper clarified. "I just don't know that the actions of my second life are worthy of something this sure and pure."
"How could that be so if we're mates?" Bella countered. "If true mates are rare, then this must be right; that you deserve love has never once been debatable in my mind."
Jasper resettled his head to Bella's pillows. "I will tell you all of it, someday."
"I know you will, and when you do, I will be ready to remind you of all the good and beautiful things that make you who you are, too."