Chapter 9

Disclaimer: Twilight is the brainchild of Stephanie Meyer. Romeo and Juliet belongs to the wonderful, William Shakespeare. This story/plot is mine.

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Alice's POV

I waited patiently, holding Bella's heated hand in mine as she tried to drift off to sleep. Jasper laid a soothing hand on my shoulder causing me to turn to look up at him and smile. Soon enough, Bella's soft snores were audible and I took that as a sign that she had fallen asleep.

After carefully setting her hand down on the mattress, I stood up from where I had been crouching near the bed. Jasper walked swiftly out the door and into the dark hallway. I followed, confused at his quick exit. Once out the door, I couldn't see him at all. I turned, worriedly, towards the staircase.

Jasper's long arms twined around me from behind, gently pulling my body up against his. I gave a little gasp of shock before sighing happily. He leaned down to rest his chin lightly on my shoulder. "I love you, Alice," he whispered silkily. I felt a fluttery sensation swooping down to the very tips of my toes and clambering back up my spine pleasantly. His lips brushed the crook of my neck and moved to the spot right below my ear.

"I love you too, Jasper," I said softly. The words had never felt more right than they did in that moment. Thinking about it a little, I knew why. This moment, just the two of us enveloped in the silent darkness, felt right. I was sure that I loved him and that he loved me and that seemed to make everything okay, if just for this one intimate moment. I closed my eyes, praying that this euphoria would last just a little longer.

A single pallid hand left its spot at my waist to hold my dainty hand. His long, elegant fingers laced themselves between mine. He cradled my smaller hand in his like a treasure, a fragile thing made of porcelain or lace, too delicate to be handled carelessly. I looked down at our hands, so different in size and looks.

Where my hand was tiny, Jasper's was lengthy and lean. The skin of my hand was milky white and flawless while Jasper's bore multiple raised bumps of scars. Jasper's palms and fingertips were callused and rough against the marble smoothness of my hand. And yet, in my mind, they were perfect. Just as our hands complimented each other, Jasper and I weren't complete without each other.

I felt Jasper's gaze angle to look at our entwined hands. His body flinched a little back, away from mine. "Jasper, you're perfect," I felt the need to remind him. Squeezing his hand gently, I tried to convey just how much I believed in those words. Jasper shook his head, disbelieving. I gently rubbed his scarred hand with my thumb, willing for him to trust me.

We were both silent for a moment, hearing only the soft breathing of Bella from the room to my right and the slightly louder snores issuing from Charlie's room down the hall. Jasper's soft voice broke through the silence, mumbling, "'If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.'"

A smile bloomed on my face as I recognized these lines from one of my favorite plays, Romeo and Juliet. Jasper's free hand moved around to my face, turning it to meet his. He very slowly leaned in to brush his lips against mine. I stood up on my tiptoes, balancing expertly, to make it a less awkward angle for my love.

He gently brought my face closer to his, deepening the kiss tenderly. After the precious seconds passed and the kiss ended, I broke away and took a deep unneeded breath. "'You kiss by th' book'" I quoted with a smile in his direction. Jasper grinned meaningfully and I knew that he had no more doubts about our contrasting complexions.

I was about to lean in for another kiss when a soft light flooded out from under the slightly ajar door of Charlie's room. Jasper's arms immediately left me and he whipped around to face the light. His dark amber eyes were as wide as saucers, staring at the doorway as a deer stares into headlights. I leaned around him to watch for any sign of Charlie. Seeing no sign of motion, I quickly gripped Jasper's wrist with both of my hands and tugged him down the stairs.

Jasper had seemingly—and hopefully only temporarily—lost his ability to move on his own and I had to half drag him down the stairs. His whole body was rigid with the shock of nearly being discovered in such a personal and private moment. We reached the landing of the staircase as quickly and quietly as possible, both instinctively crouching and looking up to the top.

Slipper padded footsteps could be hear trekking down the hall in the direction of the bathroom. I hid a smile in my hand, grabbing for Jasper's hand with my other one. I tugged him in the direction of the front door. Once again he seemed rooted to the spot.

"C'mon Jazz…" I said with a roll of my eyes, wasted in the dim lighting. He still didn't move and seemed lost in thought. With a teasing smirk I whispered, "What, did you leave your purse up there or something?" This comment, which would have usually been reserved for Emmett and would have stirred up some reaction from Jasper, was lost on my now statuesque husband.

"What is it, Jazzy?" I tugged a little impatiently at his shirt sleeve, glancing at him worriedly. He merely brought a slender finger to his lips. I silenced instantly, pulling back into the shadows for fear of being seen. We both waited on the dark and quiet landing, not daring to breathe or move at all.

I could tell when whatever it was Jasper wanted to hear had passed because he shook his head, let out his breath in a silent huff and ran his hand through his already windblown hair. "Sorry, Ali," he mumbled, glancing at me with apologetic eyes. "I thought I heard someone talking." I nodded and took Jasper's hand in mind, leading him down and out the door.

"Bella talks in her sleep. Could that have been it?" I suggested as we took off running to look for Edward. Jasper was silent for a moment, once again, gently holding my hand as if it were breakable.

"Yes, I suppose," he said, letting his voice fade as we picked up the familiar strokes of running. But I could tell by the tone of his voice that he didn't believe it for a moment.

The rest of the run was in silence. I glanced up at the midnight blue sky, watching the shimmering stars as they seemed to stand still despite our swift speed. Jasper's hand guided me along which allowed my gaze to roam wherever it wanted. I spared a glance at the blurs of emerald, dark brown and the occasional grey that flew past Jasper and I at an alarming rate. I shifted my gaze back up to the sky, staring at the glowing moon. Finally my eyes reached the most eye-catching sight of all the scenery around me, Jasper's glorious face.

His lovely tawny eyes were focused straight ahead, taking in our path and any obstructions we might meet. I stared at his eyes with their enviously long, light-colored lashes and intriguing depth and emotion. Then my searching gaze traveled down to his jaw line where the rough outline of a pale scar was visible. A steely determination settled over me as memories of newborns and Jasper's past flooded through me.

I would not let him get hurt again. If this "situation" as everyone was calling it came to a battle like Carlisle believed it might, I would take Jasper's place if the need be. If we were all needed to fight this new vampire and her potential followers I would not let Jasper suffer a single ounce of pain. No matter what it takes, I vowed to myself, I will protect him.

Just as the thought had come to me, Jasper slowed to a halt. We had reached the borderline, where Edward had run off. The bright half moon cast a shimmering glow on everything, tinting both me and Jasper's alabaster skin an eerily icy shade of blue. Hand-in-hand we strolled quickly around the edge of the forest, all senses alert for Edward's distinct smell. However, it was as though we were senselessly ambling about. Not a single trace of our dear brother could be found among the wooded clusters of trees nearest the road.

Jasper's hand twitched as if to pull out of mine but I held tight. I was not about to let him search alone. He glanced back at me, ocher eyes filled with understanding. I nodded once, lacing my fingers with his as we stepped into the trees to continue our search.

We sped things along by quickening our trek through the trees. I kept my eyes wide for any sign of Edward. "It did rain," Jasper commented quietly when we had found nothing. I mulled this statement over in my head and tried to figure out how it related to our search. Almost as if he could read my thoughts, Jasper explained, "It would have washed away his scent. Mostly."

Nodding, we kept scanning the greenery. Suddenly, from his spot a little ahead of me, Jasper stopped. "Wow," he uttered in awe. I came up beside him to see what had captured his rapt attention. We had to walk a little further but, when we reached it, I knew why Jasper was so impressed.

Etched into the forest floor was what could only be Edward's path. Each footstep was pressed into the ground and yet they were each at least a yard or two apart. That meant that Edward was traveling so fast that his feet only hit the ground every few yards. The grasses and plants had been blown by so fast that some were uprooted while others had bent permanently forward with the wind left in Edward's wake.

I turned to beam at Jasper. His observant eye had taken us right to the one thing that could lead us to our brother. A ghost of a smile played upon Jasper's perfect lips. "It's easy from here, right?" I implored, gesturing to the path of vegetative destruction. Jasper nodded slowly, turning his head to look down the trail.

"He couldn't have gotten far," Jasper noted as we stepped into the line cleared of plants. I agreed and together we dashed along with renewed hopes of finding our lost brother. Jasper's hand enclosed around mine never let go and I was exceptionally grateful for his constant touch. As we ran, our surroundings grew progressively dimmer. The bark on the trees was dark and a massive tangle of thick branches and shadowy leaves loomed overhead. This canopy blocked out any light from the moon and stars I had seen twinkling before.

Without the aid of light, it became harder to follow the windblown path as it wound sharply through the trees. Jasper led, slowing down slightly and hesitating a few times as the trail was lost in the darkness. I stared straight ahead into the shadows, my eyesight heightening as it adjusted to the obvious lack of daylight. We trekked onwards through the trees which were getting closer together. Some had unseen sharp protrusions which Jasper was quietly informing me about. I didn't want to think about how he knew they were there, hoping that he saw them rather than felt them.

Time was swallowed in the darkness and it felt like we'd been running forever and would keep running until the end of time. After a while, however, patches of moonlight began to shine through the dense roofing of leaves and branches. As we slowed to another stop, I glanced down at Jaspers hand clasped loosely around my slender wrist. Dappled light filtered through the treetops, creating luminescent pools across his pale skin. I used one finger to outline the shimmering light on the back of Jasper's hand as he contemplated which direction we should go.

I closed my eyes, breathing in deeply. The earthy scents around me filled my senses entirely, engulfing me in their familiar sensations. Damp bark and the after rain smell mingled together pleasantly. A crisp, spring wind blew by, rustling the newly opened leaves and tugging at my short hair. It also blew the indescribable scents of the impossibly perfect vampire still holding my hand in my direction. I opened my eyes to see him gazing back at me curiously.

"What?" I asked, my tone playful. But instead of me, Jasper just shook his head with a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. I gave him my best glare, even putting a hand on my protruding hip for emphasis but this only seemed to amuse him further. After a momentary stare down, I rolled my eyes and gestured to our path of travel. "Less stalling, more searching, yes?" I suggested with a wave of my hand. Jasper shrugged and his hand reached over to ruffle my hair.

"Hey!" I protested with a giggle. The sound echoed off the surrounding trees and came back to our ears. I was surprised at how happy and carefree that laugh sounded despite the situation. I shot Jasper a winning smile and found him with a returning smirk on his face. My hands went up to fix my hair which was in a state of disarray but Jasper's quick hands beat me to it. He gently stroked the strands of my raven colored hair back into place, tucking a few wisps back behind my ear. I couldn't help but laugh again, truly overjoyed with his sudden playfulness.

I knew right then that I needed to bring him some of that joy he gave me. I pulled back away from his tender touch. He tilted his head curious, locks of his honey hairs falling in his eyes in such a way that made me just want to throw my arms around him and kiss him right then and there. I shook my head to clear the thought with a smile. All the while, Jasper's eyes were locked on me, taking in my every motion with that same soft smile. Keeping my emotions calm on the off chance he picked up any detection of my excitement, I crouched down slightly in preparation to spring.

Pushing off the ground with all the might of my strong but slender legs, I launched myself at my darling husband, aiming to latch to his back playfully. Much to my shock, Jasper's always attuned reflexes had predicted my leap and his body shifted a few degrees to catch me in his arms as if it were a part of a dance sequence. He tossed me up, though not quite high enough to hit any of the lower tree branches, and twisted me in the air until I landed back in the cradle formed by his muscular limbs, bridal style. I blinked up at him, still surprised at how easily he read into my plan.

Still not quite finished with the little routine, he gently shifted me back till my legs were wrapped around his waist and my hands back on his shoulders. His powerful arms were able to them lift me by my upper arms until I was doing a handstand above him, only holding onto his shoulders for support. The bottoms of my ballet flats were brushing against tiny twigs with tiny leaf buds raining down on the both of us. A laugh escaped his perfect lips as they read my perplexed expression.

His laugh alone was enough to send me into a fit of giggles, causing my petite body to tremble with the laughter. Jasper did his best to keep me from falling but I willingly pushed away from his shoulders and tumbled to the ground. Feeling a bit in need of showing off, I did a perfect somersault and righted myself in time to lean up against a nearby tree as coolly as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Another of Jasper's crystal clear laughs rang out across our little portion of the forest. I smiled over at him adoringly and held out a scolding finger playfully. "Don't you be going all Olympic Gymnast on me now, Jazzy" I said in a mock stern voice. My charade faltered as he beamed over at me "At least not without telling me first!" I said with a happy sigh. Jasper nodded obediently before stepping towards me to wrap his arm around my shoulders.

"I love you, Alice," he whispered earnestly for the second time that day. I couldn't help but smile brightly and leaned my head against his sturdy chest.

"I love you too, Jasper," was my blissfully happy response as we continued our careful search for our brother.

Edward's POV

Swiss Family Robinson. The scene before me looked exactly like it belonged on a page of Johann David Wyss's famous novel. Up high in the treetops was a complex series of wooden rooms, all pretty poorly constructed but livable all the same. Standing on the usually thick branch that reached to the majority of these impromptu homes, I cautiously peeked in the one nearest to me.

Inside was enough room for three people to stand comfortably. Two ratted blankets, one pink and one blue, lay in bundles on the floor and a sad looking teddy bear seemed to sit at attention between the two heaps of cloth. Tacked haphazardly to the farthest wall was a photograph of something I couldn't quite make out in the darkness. I took a few steps into the small room to get a better look and saw one of the most perfect looking families I had ever seen. In the faded portrait I saw the two small twins I had just met in the center, standing hand in hand. The little girl, Julienne, had on a knee high black sundress with a shocking pink sash tied around her tiny waist that matched the ballet flats on her small feet. Her brother was in a black tuxedo with an adorable matching fuchsia tie. Together with their impossibly blond hair and blue eyes, they looked like two tiny angels.

"This was before they were monsters," I noted sourly. Their eyes, the color of the bluest skies, were bright and happy and matched the perfectly straight, white smiles that both wore. Resting on Jayden's shoulder was the strong, guiding hand of the man I assumed to be their father. His hair was dark brown and had the same slight curl as his son and his sparkly blue eyes were obviously passed down to the twins as well. As his children were, the father figure was dressed up in a classy tan suit coat with a pale pink undershirt. He wore a proud smile as he and his family stood on the steps of what looked like a church.

Standing at his side was a beautiful young woman whose long white blonde was shimmering in the sun. Her eyes were a pale green in color and her gentle smile was loving and entirely content. She wore a light pink sundress with a slim black band around her waist that both matched her husband's shirt and complimented the twins' outfits perfectly. Together they were the very picture of happiness. Before I could further analyze the photo, I heard the vague thought of Liv, "Where did Edward go?" I swiftly pulled out of the room and stood on the branch, glancing in the upwards direction I had heard the thought from.

"I'm down here," I called out helpfully. The lithe body of the vampire female swung down beside me and she turned her ruby eyes up to meet mine. She smiled slightly but I refused to smile back and merely took another glance in the room I was assuming belonged to the twins.

"You saw the picture?" Liv assumed correctly. I nodded once. To imagine these two young children torn from a family that looked so kind and loving tugged painfully at my undead heart. Who turns angels into members of the eternally damned? My hands gripped into fists at my sides an it took every ounce of my concentration not to say or do anything.

Liv didn't say anything out loud but I heard her in her mind, "It isn't as bad as it seems." I rolled my eyes and easily leaped up to a higher branch. I vaguely heard and sensed Liv jump up beside me. From my new position nearer the treetops I could see the moonlight casting itself over the dark leaves. Liv's hand reached out to touch between my shoulderblades in what I was sure was meant to be a reassuring gesture but I shrugged her off. Judging by the way her hand fell back to her side, I started to get the idea that if I was going to be able to do any negotiating it would be with Liv.

"Livvy?" a sweet voice chirped up from somewhere below. I recognized it as belonging to Julienne and had that unusual need to be with her. Instead I felt the branch I was standing on shiver and she was beside me in a flash. My gaze shot over to her with an automatic smile. She was beaming back up at me with those unsettlingly sharp teeth. "Oh, allo, Edward," she added with a bob of a curtsy.

"Hello, Julienne," I responded politely, trying to keep my obvious fascination with her and her brother out of my mind and my tone. "I'm just going to go for a run around the clearing," I decided with a glance at Liv. She looked at me skeptically but shrugged.

"I'll come," Liv said decidedly, her smaller hand reaching out for mine. I shook my head slowly and Liv's gaze narrowed to a glare. I couldn't help but let out a laugh as I turned back to Julienne.

"Will you come with me?" I asked, leaning down in front of Julienne while still balancing expertly on the branch. I saw her crimson eyes light up and the smile on her face grew. She started to nod when her thoughts bubbled into my radar.

"He wants me to go running? Fun! But Jayden… still it will be fun! I love running. Maybe I can show him the brook. Me and Jayden really like that brook… but it is me and Edward this time!"

I heard Liv make a scoffing noise of disapproval which prohibited Julienne from finishing her nod and also from voicing her desire to go. She turned the full force of her sweet face up at Liv. Her smile was pleading and her lower lip was protruding in a way that I would have thought impossible to ignore. Her wide, rose red eyes were blinking up at Liv innocently and her pale hands clasped together in a gesture of begging.

"Can I go? Pleeeeeease?" She cooed hopefully. Liv's face was still drawn in a frown as she watched Julienne's little plea for her allowing.

"Juli, what did I tell you about our guest?" Liv said scoldingly. This statement sparked my interest and I tilted my head towards her curiously. Julienne's eyes dropped to my feet with a sort of embarrassed obedience. My eyes drifted to her slender form as she shuffled her feet nervously.

"You said that he is yours and that he is not mine so I shouldn't 'use my charms on him.'" For the second half, Julienne's fingers came up to do air quotes. I suppressed a chuckle but for the most part was rather annoyed by this command Liv had apparently given little Julienne.

"And so?" Liv prompted.

"And so I can't go running with Edward?" Julienne mumbled with a soft sigh. Almost as though she wasn't aware of what she was doing, her hand reached out to touch my knee. I was shocked by this thoughtless little gesture of physical contact and glanced down at her little fingers splayed out on my leg.

"She can," I stated coolly. Julienne's head glanced up at me with a tiny smile. Liv growled softly behind me, encouraging me to continue. "I'll bring her back so I don't see what there is to worry about. I make my own choices." To prove my point, I gave Liv my most challenging stare. She seemed to flinch back slightly before standing up taller.

"Fine," she answered nonchalantly. Julienne squealed happily and threw her arms around my leg. Shocked I reached down and patted her back awkwardly. "But Jayden goes with you," Liv added with a smirk. Julienne's excitement didn't fade at all and she jumped excitedly while still holding tight to my leg. However, I knew that spending excessive time with Jayden, who already hated me, wouldn't exactly be a walk in the park.

Julienne released her death grip on my knee and went over to hug Liv, nuzzling her head against Liv's thigh. Julienne's pretty white blond hair frizzed out and she giggled playfully. "I'll go tell him!" she squeaked excitedly and then she was out of sight.

With only the two of us on the branch, an uncomfortable silence covered over us as the darkness that had seemed to be mysteriously absent during Julienne's prescence settled over us as well. I saw nothing else to say and proceeded to drop to the branches below at lightning quick speed. Greeting me at the base of the hill were the twins with their faces bearing polar opposite expressions. Where Julienne's was excited and smiling, Jayden was glowering at me through his pale blonde lashes. As I had seen then do many times before, the twins were standing hand in hand.

"Ready to go?" I asked with a soft smile in Julienne's direction. She nodded enthusiastically, sending strands of her long hair in all directions. Jayden shrugged with his shoulder not nearest to Julienne. I sighed at this early sign of the trouble he was sure to be on the run to come.

I took a last glance around the clearing, seeing none of the other vampires. Then Bane's thoughts filtered into my head, "Jayden likes to race." That was the only thought I could focus on through the buzzing thoughts of Julienne's excitement.

"Thank you," I responded gratefully, taking off at a slow run.

"Good luck," came the sarcastic reply and as the twins and I left the clearing I heard Bane's dark laugh ringing out through the trees, an ominous sound accompanied by a chilly spring wind that blew a few clouds to cover the bright moon.

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