Author's note: once again than you to all my reviewers. I love you so so much. This is one of my favourite chapters because Alice gets a chance to show he inner fashionista.

I tried to stick with the 1940's so I know that then Chanel existed but only in Parisbut… for Alice's sake …lets pretend that Coco Chanel opened a boutique in Alabama. The description of the original Chanel suit is accurate. ..I love Chanel.

Chapter 5

Shopping With Alice

Downtown, the streets were beginning to empty. There were clouds blocking out the sunlight so we were free to roam. Alice pulled me into a boutique called Chanel. The girl in the store watched us in awe then she caught herself and approached Alice. I suspected that I appeared more menacing than I felt at the moment. Alice took a small step back as the girl spoke to her, offering help.

"That one," Alice pointed out.

"Ah, yes, you have fine taste Miss. This is the Chanel suit. The inside is a well-cut wool jersey and it is worn under this straight, collarless cardigan jacket. The skirt, as you can see is a full-cut design. It will suit your body perfectly Miss. The entire outfit is complemented by this sailor hat, the type that Miss Coco herself wears." The girl gestured to the beige and white outfit. Alice touched the sleeve, considered for a moment then said, "I'll take it and that black strap dress with the white scarf as well, oh, shoes, those black heels over there too please."

The girl looked staggered. She had been preoccupied with our faces since we walked in the door. She seemed to take in Alice's sunglasses and wrinkled clothing now. She had been wearing that same forest green blouse and long white skirt since we met.

"Umm, miss," the girl hesitated, feeing very embarrassed, "That will be two thousand, four hundred dollars," she looked at Alice with a confused expression on her face. Alice pulled out a wad and paid for the items, leaving the girl astonished. She looked over at me then. I was leaning against a wall near the door, observing the exchange. I walked towards her. "Aren't you going to try them on?" I asked.

"I know what will fit me," she answered in an amused tone, "Where can we find fine men's clothing?" she asked the girl.

"Just down the street at 'His and Hers,'" the girl looked at my face in wonder. I could feel the eruption lust in her as her eyes drifted down my frame; she looked back at Alice, embarrassed, and said, "Your husband will be able to find a wide selection of excellent clothing there." Alice's breath caught and it was her turn to be flooded with embarrassment. She mumbled a 'thank you' as I took her bags and pulled me hastily out the door. I was amused at her reaction.

"I really don't think I will need this for the things we will be doing, Miss Alice." I tried to reason with her as she adjusted my lapels on the second tuxedo she'd made me try. "Oh, come now, Jasper, you don't need an occasion for a tux, besides you look dashing. We can't leave without this one."

She seemed to scope the room then and she danced across to a couple racks, picking up a few sweaters, hats and pants, even undergarments, for me as well- it seemed. She looked back observing my feet for a moment, her hand poised above a pair of black loafers. She seemed to consider for a moment, then she picked up a pair of dark brown laced up boots, a Mexican style.

As I paid for our haul, I noticed outside, across the street, a young girl selling roses. Alice's words repeated in my head, "Let's do this the normal way, just like everybody else." Alice was getting another pair of shoes for herself in the other section; I slipped out and returned before she realized I'd been gone. This was awkward; I'd never done this before. It was more a human thing and I hadn't needed to think humanly for so very long and I was out of time to do so. Alice walked up to me holding yet another bag; I took it, adding it to the bunch of straps in the firm grasp of my left hand. I brought my right hand out from behind my back, showing the blood red rose. I dipped my head and said, "A lovely flower for a lovely lady, are you ready to go?"

She took it but stared only into my eyes. "Thank you Jasper," she breathed. I loved how she said my name. Her face was soft, her expression tender, her aura was adoring and very, very warm. Oh, the innocence of her! She came closer to me and rested her palm on my chest, and then she leaned in and laid her cheek next to her hand. Her face was angled downward, her nose to the rose. I adored her. I dropped the bags; my arms encircled her, my cheek resting on the top of her head. It was a perfect moment.

Back at L'amour, the rose lay on the bed, Alice was in the shower. I could hear her humming to herself. Her aura maintained the temperature that I liked. I took this time to do some introspection. These past couple of days spent with Alice had shown me new emotions. I had only ever felt a diluted version of these emotions when I was around Peter and Charlotte. Their love for each other had taught me what love was supposed to feel like. What Alice felt was like that, only amplified a hundred times. It had to be something other than love. It was so strong, that it affected me deeply; I had trouble distinguishing it from my own feelings.

Something dawned on me then. The emotions I had been feeling were Alice's but they were not hers alone. That would explain why they were so incredibly potent. I felt it too, that is, the emotion was mine as well. The only thing left to figure out was the nature of this powerful emotion. Could it be love? Whatever it was, it was mutual.

I heard the taps close then, and the faint sprinkling sound ceased. It would be my turn soon. Still reeling from my epiphany, I absentmindedly removed my sweater. Alice came through the door then. She was tousling her hair furiously with the towel, her head bent down. She was so beautiful. She was wearing a fuchsia pink v-neck sweater with a tight knee length skirt that hugged her subtle curves. Then, she looked up at me, and that was when it happened.

The mercury shot up to a hundred degrees. It burned! She was frozen, her eyes wide and her hair falling damp and straight. It clung to her pale white cheeks and splayed over her shoulders. She had such a pretty face.

"What is that?" I choked out, shaking off the shock. The temperature remained, scorching my insides. She could still say nothing. "What is that?" I repeated my question, "What are you feeling?" Wait, what were we feeling? My inner voice corrected. It was mutual again.

"I don't know," she said finally and hurried away to the window, out of my view. The atmosphere cooled instantly. She was mortified. I, after catching my bearings, was surprised- pleasantly so- actually it was a tad more than pleasant. I was delighted. I was delighted because I recognized that burn. I had felt it myself, before…with Maria… and a couple others. That burn was familiar, distant, but still I knew it… it was lust.

Authorr's note: ooooooh a cliffhanger… I know I'm being mean. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. What would you rate it out of 10. ?? Tell me all your thoughts. I especially appreciate technical comments and corrections.

Are you liking the direction I'm taking jasper's character? In my head he is a cross between Mr. darcy and Cassanova. LOL ..

PLZ REVIEW.!!!!