Special thanks to my awesome Beta NCChris!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, twilight is solely own by Stephenie Meyer. I just borrowed the characters.
Chapter 12 – The Funeral
The procession of people passed through the Whitlock mansion from the front doors and flowed into the dining room where most exited crying at the sight of the deceased. Women crowded around the grieving family, while mother and son remained stoic, only speaking when asked a direct question.
Bella and her mother, like so many others, entered the overflowing house. While Renee followed the path of the others, Bella elected to omit viewing the displayed body. She was making her way over to the Whitlocks, but was hindered by none other than Beth Anne Smithen.
"Isabella, where is that gorgeous fiancée of yours?" she asked looking around her trying to see if the man in questions was simply going through the dining room like every other person.
"On business," Bella said in an indifferent tone.
"Oh, what a shame," Beth Anne lamented.
To Bella, she looked rather like a petulant child than a mature woman at a funeral.
"I can't wait until that fabulous engagement party, I bet your just jumpin' at the thought."
"Beth Anne, I don't believe this is the appropriate time for this," Renee interrupted.
Bella mentally exhaled in relief, she was in no mood to correct an elder.
"Renee," Beth Anne said showing the same fraudulent emotions as before. "Missed you at the party, hope you're feelin' better, hon."
"Yes, I am feeling much better," Renee, replied, while she gave Bella a subtle thankful gaze.
She grabbed Bella's arm and led her towards the Whitlocks.
"The nerve of that woman! John was a good man and here she is at his funeral talking about parties," Renee tutted her tongue.
~*~
Jasper stood next to his mother as the throng of people gave their condolences. Anne had improved in the days following the incident. She still did not say much, but she now did not need Jasper's assistance with meals. Those who stayed after offering their sympathy were mostly women. Their presence was eating away at Jasper's patience.
See, Jasper was a fairly tolerant person, but when someone who was not in any way family tried to take control of his home, there was just no mercy. Though some of the intentions were pure, others took to ordering the staff in a manor that was not acceptable in his home.
Would this day ever end? he thought, as he defused another boiling situation between Rosa and a woman asking for more food to be put out.
Even though he thought this, Jasper knew that tonight he would do the hardest thing that he had ever had to do, leave.
He looked up to see Bella and Renee making their way towards him. Jasper could see the emotions burning in her eyes, as they were the same in his. He knew she was still upset over his decision, but in his mind there was no other solution. Renee was the most surprising, though; she had helped with the funeral, but not tried to take over. She was keeping her distance while still being comforting, but he guessed this was just the human deep inside her making its presence known. He feared once he left and the remnants of the death had passed she would go back to her former schemes of attempting to control Bella's life.
Renee leaned into her daughter's ear and whispered something that Jasper's distance did not allow him to hear. Bella nodded her head in agreement and was patted on the hands as her mother walked away to help wherever she was needed.
She stood there slightly disoriented, with no inclination as to what she should do. Jasper's eyes where piercing into her, willing her to look at him. Feeling the gaze directed at her, Bella lifted her head towards the all too familiar blue eyes. She could see the desperation and need for escape in them much like she believed hers were communicating back. With the slight tilt of his head, she took this gesture as her lead and followed him discretely to the same office as the previous visit.
When she entered, Bella was immediately assaulted with the harsh memories that accompanied the dreaded room. Once again, she had to will herself not to cry and scream at her lover for his abandonment. Instead, she took upon herself to show a subdued façade.
Though Jasper felt the guilt associated with his actions, he could not bring himself to regret them. He closed the door as he entered the new confined space, quickly releasing the breath he held, as he felt the tension from the sorrowful emotions of the house.
Bella stood appraising him, as he did to her. Neither one moving, neither one saying a word, yet both were gauging each other's emotion.
He made the first movement by stepping closer to her. She saw the motion and immediately extended her arms to welcome him into her embrace. Wasting no time, Jasper stepped into his lover's arms. They held each other and the world around them disappeared. This touch, innocent as it may be, was what they had both been craving.
Stray tears fell down her porcelain face, turning her doe brown eyes red from the force of holding them at bay.
"What am I to do once you are gone?" she whispered into his chest.
"You will be just fine, concentrate on not gettin' married and stayin' far away from James, alright sugar?" he kissed her forehead.
"How can I be fine if you're not here? You say you will come back, but what is my guarantee of that?"
"Why can't you believe me when I promise I'll come back, Bella?" he asked exasperated, today was not the day for this argument.
"Because, everyday someone's life is lost in that wretched war. Tell me Jasper, how many off those men do you think promised their loved ones they would return? You're just making…"
"God dammit, Bella I am not your father!"
He regretted those words as soon he uttered them.
She stepped out of his arms, her hands up in defense as he tried to apologies.
"No, you are not," her cold voice said.
"I'm sorry, that was uncalled for," he apologized. "But you have to understand I will do everything in my power to come back. I would not leave you if I didn't believe with every fiber of my being that I will see you again."
Her head bowed as the tears streamed down her face.
"My weariness does not come from fear of not seeing you, but the fear that I will not see you again in this life," she confessed.
He slowly moved closer to her, assessing her willingness to allow him closeness. Seeing as she was not fighting, he took her face in his hands, and touched his forehead to hers; she felt his warm breath hit her face.
"I'm not about to pretend that I'm not afraid Bella, because I am, but I will always be with you. I will never leave you, not fully, because you will forever have my heart with you," he sealed his words by joining his lips to hers.
The kiss was salty and wet, from the tears they both still shed.
The time seemed to have sped up, after their momentary argument. Feelings were still hurt and emotions ran high, but both were resigned to the fact that in there would never be a winner in this fight. Eventually, they returned to the mourning sea, where no one seemed to have noticed their absence.
After hours of the body being exposed to exhibition, those willing to walk left on foot behind the carriage carrying the family and the deceased. Anne held onto her son as the men buried the casket in the dreaded man made whole surrounded by so many others who had past. Tears were freely falling down her face, as Jasper attempted to hold his in, as a show of strength.
People left, giving their condolences and offers of help, and, too soon for Jasper's taste, the house was once again quiet. Anne had retreated to her quarters as everyone busily cleaned the sitting room. He looked around his childhood home; the memories that encompassed the house were clutching at his heart; the happiness of birthday celebrations and the milestones of his youth.
Then came the less pleasant of those, news of his brother's demise was taken in the sitting room. Thomas Allen Whitlock was one of the first men who enlisted when the war began. He fought out of pride and the honor that came from knowing he had been at a war. Unfortunately, he was taken prisoner and starved in the neglectful prisons. John had supported his eldest's decision and even took it upon himself to volunteer his strategic services with local soldiers. After Tom's death, he became even more involved in the war.
In the past six months, however, the family had seemed to be mending from the loss. His father worked from their home regularly, instead of being gone for weeks and returning for brief intervals. While his mother simply busied herself to the point were at the end of the day she would simply collapse from exhaustion.
Those were dark times for the Whitlocks, yet they seemed to come out of it with a better sense of what was truly important in life, family. Now with two members gone, Jasper understood the reason behind his father's behavior after Tom. The drive to make things right again only solidified his intentions for leaving.
~*~
The cover of night had fallen over the plantation, making it the perfect time for Jasper to take his leave. He took the bag with his pertinences and his musket, and, with one final look at his childhood room, he closed the door and walked down the stairs. The letter he held in his hands seemed to weigh the world, as he placed it on the dining room table.
He saddled and mounted Leroy, and, with one last goodbye, he sped off and away from the plantation that had provided so much shelter throughout the years.
~*~
Bella sat staring at the sky from her windowsill, wondering if the life she lived would ever improve. As she watched the clock, thoughts of her lover's whereabouts, bombarded her subconscious. Would he have left already? Where would he be if he had?
Time passed and sleep never came; she only felt the hollowness taking over her heart, and growing every second. She knew deep inside that he was gone, all there was to do now was pray that he would keep his promise and return.
~*~
The Whitlock house was eerily quiet the next morning. The chill of winter was bitter on the land as everyone had a sense of dread, but no one knew the reason. The kitchen staff was working on breakfast for the surviving Whitlocks. Anne walked down the stairs of her quiet home, when Rosa stepped in front of her with a somber face.
"Rosa, what's happened?" she asked instantly becoming alarmed.
With trembling hands she extended and envelope, Jasper's script read Mother on its cover. Anne furrowed her eyebrows as she took the letter from the housekeeper's hand. As she read her son's handwriting, she knew that nothing good could come from its contents.
She slowly opened the heavy piece of paper and allowed herself fall into one of the dinning room seats as she began to read.
To My Loving Mother,
I am sorry for what you are about to discover. It was never my intention to hurt you, but I feel it is my duty to fight those who have hurt us so. Please, speak to no one of my departure. I have promised someone very special that I will return and I will make that same promise to you. There is no telling when my return will be, but I will do everything in my power to return…
Tears blurred her vision as she lowered the letter. When would the misery end? Rosa gently took the letter from her hands and continued to read where Anne had been unable to continue.
I am truly sorry for the feelings I am sure you must be feeling while reading these most dreadful words. Yet, I cannot bring myself to regret my decision. Hold your words and bickering for when I am back in your arms, let that be your motivation to believe. This may have started as a quest for vengeance, but it has become the pursuit for honor, not just for my father but for Thomas as well. Neither deserved to die, and I will make sure that those responsible face the same fate. Do not fret for my safety, but be wary of your health. I ask of you to keep Isabella Swan company and provide protection if the need ever arise.
My deepest love and appreciation,
Your son, Jasper Andrew Whitlock
Looking at the broken hearted mother, Rosa wondered if there would ever be a day of joy for this family.
A/N: We say goodbye to Jasper *wipes tear away* Is it just me or do we seem to be loosing our men? I hope you all liked the more human side of Renee, see she is not a total Bitch! Well anyway, I'm sorry for what I've done by making you wait, but I have resigned myself to not publish a chapter unless it passes through my beta. She's awesome NCChris, and she has a life that is more important than twilight so don't fault her! Chapter 13 is finished and in the beta, I'm hoping and aiming for at least 10 reviews for this chapter! Each reviews is rewarded with a juicy teaser!So get to it and press the little green button, Come on you know you want to!! Pwetty Pwease *queue cute pout*? I'm looking forward to the flood of Reviews if I'm not satisfied I can make you wait longer!!! Naaaaa just kidding :P! SERIOUSLY REVIEW! You can now follow me on my blog and twitter. Both links are on my profile, I've entered the 21st century people!! Love you all my faithful readers!! Till next we meet, what will happen next DUN DUN DUHHHHNNN!