We ate dinner, then I gave Silas a bath and helped him put on his pajamas.

Charlie was really quiet for the rest of the night. I think he was trying really hard to be accepting of my decision. I was grateful for that, at least.

It was almost eight, and I assumed that was a good bedtime for a little guy. I carried Silas up to my room and tucked him into my bed. Until we get him one of his own, he can share with me.

He asked me, bright eyed, "Is this home, mama?"

I smiled, "Yes, this is home."

He looked very happy to hear that. I kissed his forehead, "Go to sleep now, babe."

I was surprised with the blast of motherly affection I suddenly felt for him. I know I wasn't really his

mother, but I was the closest thing he'll ever have. It was shocking, realizing that for the first time.

I've sort of always been a mother, if you think about it. The relationship Renee and I had was extremely unconventional. I had supplied us with common sense and stability while she was all over the place.

This I was afraid of, admittedly. My mom was always old enough to make her own decisions, and take relative care of herself.

Silas was just a baby, just a preschooler. He is going to be totally dependent on me and Jasper. It was a fascinating thing to think about.

I jumped when Jasper suddenly asked, "What are you marveling at over there?"

He was crouching on the window sill, smiling at me.

My wonder instantly clicked to aggression. He noticed the change and his eyes widened.

I growled, "You have some serious explaining to do, Jasper. You made my dad feel bad earlier."

Jasper lightly sprang out of the window and sat beside me on the bed.

He pouted, "He started it."

I gave him the 'you've finally lost it' look and he sighed.

He began to explain, "You couldn't feel what he was feeling when he asked about Carlisle, Bella. I could, remember? He was both hopeful and rash. He was hoping that Carlisle didn't approve, I don't need to be Edward to know that."

I tried to be patient and I asked, "Why did you feel the need to almost bite his face off? You didn't see the look in your eyes, you looked half ready to murder him for a simple comment."

He growled defensively, "I have a right to defend my actions, don't I?"

I countered, a little irritated with his attitude, "Doesn't he have a right to his private emotions?"

For three long, tense, seconds we were both absolutely silent. Both angry at each other for motivated reasons.

Jasper suddenly fizzled and whispered, "You don't understand it."

I tangled my fingers in his and attentively looked at him, silently waiting for him to explain it to me.

He took a deep breath, "Bella, taking Silas was one of the only two things I have ever done that I have felt absolutely certain was right for me. I suppose it's fair to say I'm bound to get a little territorial over him, and the topic of him, because of it."

I felt myself flushing happily, hearing him say that. Ever since Alice's vision in the library, I honestly couldn't tell if Jasper was glad for what he had done, or regretting it.

Finally the truth comes out!

Jasper wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer, kissing me passionately.

I soaked in the feeling of his marble-like lips and the sweet taste of his cold mouth.

We drifted apart after a while and he smiled, "Guess what?"

I asked breathlessly, "What?"

He nuzzled my cheek, making me blush a pale pink, then answered, "You're the other thing. Before I met you, I was very lonely. It hurt me a lot to be with my family, being able to feel how much they all care about each other, and knowing I didn't have that. Thinking I never would."

I felt my eyes start to water as I smiled at him.

He kissed my tears away and added, "The moment I first held you, in Gym class, was the moment I knew, Bella. I felt you go numb when our skin connected. I felt the thrill of life that jolted through your body, and the confusion you felt because you didn't understand it. I felt the exact same way, that's what tipped me off."

I laughed a little, wiping away the little stream of tears that started to fall from my eyes.

I decided it was only fair to tell him the moment I realized there was something special about him.

"You know earlier that day, when you caught my Spanish book for me? Our eyes connected and I felt lost in them. I felt a connection, I guess." I remember it to this day. That strong, un-wavering, gaze that smouldered with depth. It was classic Jasper. He had a lot of layers that needed sifting through.

I asked suddenly, "When did you realize you had fallen in love with me?"

I was aching to know. I knew it that day I had the dream and told him so in my sleep. The day I first tried to tell him; but he hadn't needed words; because he loved me too and just knew that's how I was feeling.

Had he known at that exact moment, too, or was it before that?

He grinned, "You want to know when? You're going to laugh."

I crossed my legs and challenged, "Try me."

He did, "It was the day you first got your truck. I couldn't go to school, because it was sunny, so I asked you to skip with me. I fell in love with you the moment you said 'Okay'."

I blinked in surprise. I didn't laugh, but I was severely interested.

I inquired, "Why was that so special?"

He kissed me again before answering, "Because, you just did it. You didn't ask why I wanted to go so badly. You didn't chide me for being a skipper, or try to tell me you didn't want to do it: even though I knew you didn't. You just said yes, because you wanted to be with me as much as I wanted to be with you. I've never, not once, had somebody feel like that for me before."

I blushed a little bit.

After a comfortable silence Jasper asked, "Bella, before we left for Jacksonville, you promised me you would love me forever."

I tilted my head a little, not knowing where this was headed. "Yeah, I did, because I will."

Jasper wrang his fingers together and lowered his eyes, his voice was soft, "Bella... You don't have a forever, did you consider that?"

I'm sure my sudden shock was answer enough.

He sighed, "Yeah, I didn't think so. I wanted to ask you something."

I instantly accepted, "Anything."

He took a deep breath, "I wanted to know if you'd thought about... becoming a vampire, sometime. Then you could really join the family, and we could have forever together."

Me? A vampire?

Was he serious?

A long silence stretched between us and I realized he was.

Jasper suddenly reminded me, "You have a few years to think about it, of course. I am twenty, and you're not even eighteen yet."

I took a breath to steady myself and promised, "I'll think about it."

He beamed, "Bella, I want to ask you one other thing too, while you're here."

I hugged his arm and repeated my earlier statement, "Anything."

He asked me, "Bella, will you marry me?"

Bella, will you marry me?

Marry me.

Marry me...

His words echoed dramatically in my head.

My eyes stretched wide in horror and I whimpered, "Anything but that."