Disclaimer : Characters don't belong to me, although I wish Alice did. Y'all can have moody old Edward! Hooray for the awesomeness that is Stephenie Meyer!
Much thanks to tnuccio for volunteering to beta for me! This chapter is all the better for it.
Anticipation
"EMMETT! I swear you'll pay for this!"
"It'll be worth any retribution you can think of Alice! That's 5!"
His laughter boomed across the front yard of the house as he ran towards the waiting Volvo. I have spent the past 50 odd years, and, more recently, the wee hours of the morning trying to foil all of Emmett's practical joke ideas. Once he found out my talent, he made it his mission to find the "holes" in my vision. Until this latest trick the score was 4 to 564. Me, of course.
Last night, during our hunting trip, I had seen that he was going to hide my superfluous winter wear. I had to phone Jasper and have him stash it all in his study until I got back… We were going to need to dress the part for school today, and I didn't feel like having to search all corners of the house for my Libertine coat, then he was going to take all of my left shoes and lock them in the trunk of Rosalie's car. Another quick call to Rose where I mentioned that I wouldn't –need- a key to get into the trunk, and she thwarted that plan. The last ruse I had seen involved Emmett bunkered down in a dark spot. Now this proved troubling because there are lots of dark spots in our house. There were lots of dark spots in the world for that matter. Between the phone calls, and constant future surveillance, all I had gotten a hold of was an ornery mountain goat...some meal. Edward was satiated though, and that was the point of the trip.
The ride home was like old times. Edward was as light-hearted as he gets, chuckling at Emmett's connivance. He refused to help me when we got home, however, citing fraternal obligations.
"You're my brother too, you know. Don't you think you have a little fraternal obligation to me?" I put on my best pout and sad eyes, but he didn't bite.
"You don't have to live with their teasing Alice, plus even Jasper wouldn't rat out Emmett. It's a guy thing." He reached over and squished my cheeks together squeezing the pout into fish-lips, "Plus, this face only works on Jasper." I smacked his hand away and crossed my arms across my chest.
I spent the rest of the ride home futilely looking for clues and listening as Edward sniggered when scenario after scenario flashed through my mind. As we got closer and closer to home, I became more and more aggravated. I was not going to lose to that Loki. I could stay outside until we had to go to school; no way was I going to let him chalk up another point.
The moon dimly filtered through the gaps in the thick cloud cover only to be swallowed by the boughs of the ancient cedars surrounding the house. The car's headlights threw shadows along the deep porch pulling the sudden sharp outline of Esme and Carlisle's silhouettes into focus. They stood, leaning on the porch rail, Carlisle's arm draped across Esme's shoulders, her head rested lightly against his. They were the picture of love and devotion. My throat tightened as I wondered if Jasper and I projected the same perfect image to the others.
"You do Alice," He whispered softly, "The only time I think I might be missing out on something is when I see you both together. Your thoughts mirror each other's. He would die without you and you without him. I hear it."
The car rolled to a stop beside the walk, and I leaned over and kissed Edward on his smooth cheek.
"Thank you for that." I murmured, "Someday, Edward. I've seen you blissful. Only love brings that sort of happiness."
I slipped out of the car and walked to the familiar, leonine form sitting on the second step, forearms resting on raised knees. The shadows melted into the darkness as the car hummed towards the garage. Jasper fluidly lowered his feet to the ground and reached his hand to me. I took it and moved between his knees to sit on the lower step. He leaned forward and wrapped a long arm across my collarbone. I felt his free hand lightly trace behind my ear and along my neck, the path then followed by his smooth cool lips; my head tilted slightly in response.
"I missed you, Lis."
My eyes rolled, but I couldn't fight the smile that surfaced.
"Jazz, I was gone all of 9 hours. You couldn't have missed me that much." I half turned and caught his chin in my hand. His gilded onyx eyes met mine, corners crinkled with my favorite smile.
"You should have gone with us; you look like you need a snack."
He shook his head, disagreeing, and quickly stood up lifting me with him. His eyes sparkled with mischief, and I was suddenly on my guard,.
"Jasper Whitlock, what are you up to? It doesn't have anything to do with Emmett, does it?"
The crinkles around his eyes smoothed out as hurt replaced the roguish smile. He stopped walking; so I quickly closed my eyes to see me being set down on the walk, Jasper, pride injured, calls to Edward for a quick chess game before school. Emmett, trick unspoiled, remains in the dark place…waiting. I quickly opened my eyes…damnation! I heard Edward's soft laughter float out of the garage.
"I'm sorry Jazz! Edward got my suspicions up on our little rendezvous." I locked my arms around his neck, in case my lame excuse didn't work. Jasper still hadn't moved. I felt him debating on whether or not to accept my defense. I changed tactics when it appeared that my fumbling apology wasn't getting me back into his good graces. One of my hands slid up to tangle into his hair, and I levered myself up to meet his lips with the other.
"Let me show you how sorry I am Jazz." I whispered suggestively. "I should know better than to believe –Edward- when he tells me my own husband is in on Emmett's plot."
His resolve weakened, I had to play my trump card. I sighed inwardly, and wondered if human men were this easy to manipulate. Apparently, even in a species where reproduction isn't the goal, guys only had one thing on their mind.
"I have a surprise for you upstairs, Jazz. I was saving it for an occasion when we would have more time, but I guess we still have a moment or two before we have to leave." I bit my lip and flashed him a sultry smile. The last thing he needed was to go to our collective hell thirsty and with injured pride. Just had to get him upstairs….
Crinkles again, and forward movement I breathed a small sigh of relief. I wanted this week to be back to normal and nothing I've seen has given me the impression it would be anything but. I turned inward, trying for a glimpse of the week's activities, but Jasper's hungry mouth made it impossible to focus. My original intentions were lost to a sudden flare of desire.
Forget that cursed institution, forget trying, I required nothing more than to spend the rest of my existence in his arms. The porch stairs creaked under Jasper's worn boots, although it seemed as if his feet never touched the steps. Esme and Carlisle were passed unnoticed in our haste. Once inside the door, Jasper turned me in his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist without breaking our kiss. I buried both of my hands in his hair, pulling him closer, hoping our individual forms would melt together. He climbed the staircase with agonizing slowness, a kiss for each stair; I could feel the time trickling away.
"At this rate, we aren't going to make it up to your surprise, Jazz" I soughed against his lips, unwilling to break the kiss. I could feel the sly smile that pulled the corners of his mouth
"What's your hurry, darlin'? Are you not enjoying yourself?"
Oh that southern drawl, be still my unbeating heart. I had thought it was he who was putty in my manipulative hands; the joke was on me. I no longer controlled this situation, but as we continued towards our room I realized neither did he. The connection we had, the passion that burned whenever we touched, was the controlling force. We were lost to its power.
Jasper kicked our door open, busting the lock plate from the doorframe. I faintly heard Carlisle say we'd have to replace it before he got home tonight. It wouldn't be the first time. I felt that pulling smile again, this time it was almost wicked.
The giant four-poster bed dominated our room, although perhaps, it was more my room. The black wrought iron posts spiraled almost to the ceiling then split into twisting branches creating a canopy. The bars were draped with gossamer silk the color of moonbeams; the duvet shimmered like water on a moonlit night. The deep aubergine walls mimicked the midnight sky and with the predawn haze from the southern glass wall the room became twilight. I only needed the moon to complete the illusion.
Jasper turned as he crossed the threshold, and pinned me firmly against the wall. His cool hands framed my face then slid into my hair pushing the already untidy spikes into further disarray. His kiss was raw, almost feral in its intensity. He had lost his carefully kept control, and was throwing waves of unbridled passion in all directions. I couldn't think, couldn't hear, couldn't talk. I only responded to his kiss with a muffled moan. He spun then, his boot sent something skittering across the hardwood floor, and strode with a purpose to the bed.
The soft breeze that blew in through the screened window swirled the silken canopy and caused the silvery twists to dance around us. The frame was high off the floor; I usually had to jump a bit to get into the bed alone. The twisting silk and elevated frame reminded me of a boat in the morning mist. It was the perfect calming mirage; I closed my eyes and felt the breeze intensify for a brief second. The vision happened as Jasper dropped us both toward the bed. I knew where the dark place was now, and the skittering something had been a screw from the frame. Only fast-moving bulk like Emmett's could cause air disturbance like that…
"Jasper, NO!" I gasped, but it was too late. As our entwined bodies hit the mattress, the bed collapsed, iron screeching together. When I opened my eyes I saw the rent silks hung in tatters like a ghost-ship's sails, and the majestically twisting branches were ripped from the posts. My beautiful bed was destroyed; the mood was effectively killed. I pushed away from a bewildered Jasper and punched a hole through one of the expensive down pillows. Feathers floated like snowflakes, falling on the ruin of my bed. I met Jasper's confused eyes, and watched as two feathers alighted in his golden hair. He hesitated a moment before talking.
"Was this my surprise, Lis? To be honest with you, I didn't really like it."
The horn of the Volvo honked in the drive. He was dead; this was war. I hitched in the biggest breath I could muster and yelled at the top of my lungs.