SM owns twilight. Rufus is all mine, and he's currently having time out in the naughty corner!

Chapter twenty.

As we headed towards each other's arms to take that sweet much longed for kiss, there was a knock on the door.

I shook my head and chuckled, and Jasper muttered "damn!"

I went and held him anyway, to make sure he knew that I still wanted him.

"Want to go answer the door for me, while I finish up these jars of chutney, before it goes all cold?"

Esme and Carlisle followed Jasper back into the kitchen, they looked curious as to why he had turned up at my place, rather than theirs. They just wanted to say hi, and make sure that the twins and I were doing well.

There were hugs all around and Esme put the kettle on. I pulled out a freshly made, plate of brownies from the fridge. Jasper and Carlisle nearly jumped in excitement at the prospect of eating one. I knew Jasper had been lusting after my brownies for a while, but his uncle Carlisle too?

Jasper seemed to have decided, that he was in the mood for letting his emotions out and revealing his intentions, so after a few sips of coffee, and a whole brownie to fortify him, he launched into a sudden declaration of his feelings, in order to let his aunt and uncle know exactly how he felt.

"I've got some news I want you to know." He said seriously.

"What is it? What happened? Esme looked worried."

"Well Aunt Esme, I've met this amazing, fascinating, woman and I've fallen head over heels and deeply in love with her."

"Oh!"Esme exclaimed.

"So son, is this one different from the others that we've met?"

"Yes, very different. She makes me want to be a better man, to focus on what I really want, turn over a new leaf and dedicate myself exclusively and wholly to her, because she's really worth it!"

"What's so different about her?"

Jasper looked at me with awe and answered Carlisle.

"She sees things about me that others don't. She calls me out on my bullshit and doesn't let me get away with it. She has a brilliant mind and a huge caring heart. She is willing to sacrifice her health, for the chance to make you both happy. And we have been dreaming the same dreams about each other, for a while now and I'm ready and willing to make those dreams a new reality."

"And when did all this happen Jasper?"

"We met in California, at her professor's place. They were throwing a big bash for the holiday season, and there she was!"

"Yeah, I was surprised to see Jasper, because he was supposed to be in central America, but ..."

"But the assignment was cancelled, due to a kidnapping and the ransoming of two of my work colleagues." Jasper finished my sentence.

"Yes, so when we saw each other... we had a strange sort of catch up session, and I wasn't sure Jasper was really that interested in me...I thought he was a bit of a player, or at best, a real heavy-duty, commit-o-phobe ...and although we had a glorious, peaceful moment on the cliffs watching the sunset and even kissed, I still wasn't sure about him." I said smiling at the memory. I still hadn't had another kiss yet.

"I was still trying to get her to play my game of being 'friends with benefits', and she wasn't having any of it."

"Good for you honey!" Esme smiled.

Carlisle chuckled and nodded.

"And just a few minutes ago when I was expecting Esme to visit, I got a knock at the door and I called out for you to come on in, as I was busy with the stove. And in walked mister heart-breaker here and we had a discussion, which happily clarified a few things. For a while, I had thought that I was the only one feeling strongly, but it seems that Jasper was feeling the same and in fact so deeply, that he even went to the doctor and got blood tests to prove he's serious."

"Yeah and you two just interrupted our make up kiss." He pulled me into his side, I giggled.

"Ok, we should leave you two in peace, but if Jasper starts behaving like a cocky, farmyard rooster, don't hesitate to pull his fancy tail feathers out and kick him out of your hen-house, ok Bella?" Carlisle said with a smile on his face.

"Uh, ok." what was it with people using all of these wacky, animal analogies?

Carlisle rounded in on Jasper and got up close, and stared right into his face and pointing his index finger into Jasper's chest.

"And Jasper, if you start behaving like an out-of-control, penis on legs again, I will personally come and castrate you! Got it? Bella deserves the best, and if you hurt her in any way, I will make your life a living hell, got that?"

"Yes sir!"

Esme hugged me and told me to let her know how everything went with Jasper.

"I've brought a few things over for Christmas and some things for your tree sweetheart. It's the cutest, little spruce, I just adore it!"

"Oh Esme, what's all this?" there were a few, big, beautifully wrapped parcels, sitting under the tiny spruce.

"It's just a few little things sweetie, nothing to worry about! What happened to the poor angel?"

"When I saw that tree, I knew it needed a good home. Rufus has been a bit naughty, playing with the ornaments, so I've temporarily banned him from the living room. He leapt on the angel and shredded her badly. I made that angel when I was in grade two! I think she's going to have to go into retirement, and I'll have to find a newer model."

"Well at least he has good taste! I'm sorry about that Bella. Where is he now?"

"Upstairs somewhere in disgrace, he's not used to me growling at him. Although knowing Rufus, he's probably sleeping, having forgotten that he tried to kill my angel." I chuckled, that cat could sleep anywhere!

"Seth did a great job with the lights!" Carlisle noted.

"Oh they did, but being teenage boys, they wanted to add all of that kitschy, crazy stuff and light up half of Forks, with a high voltage Santa and an enormous sleigh. I told them the lights that they put up were plenty, and maybe they could try the bigger stuff another year. One good thing though, they all got a lot more work, putting up lights for many other houses, with older folks and single moms, who can't or won't climb up ladders."

We waved them goodbye, and Jasper came up behind me and whispered down into my ear, his warm breath billowing out in the icy air.

"Now where were we before we got interrupted?"

I grabbed his hand and started laughing. I bought him back inside, and pulled off our wet shoes and socks.

"Let's go into the living room, put the heater on, play some music and get to know a bit more about each other." I said boldly.

"Can I have another brownie Bella? Please?"

"Yeah, brownies and hot chocolate, with a little chilli sprinkled in it, that will warm you up Jasper!"

"Ha! I somehow don't think that's really a problem, I'm really hot for you already! But I won't say no to anything you want to put in my mouth!" He chuckled.

"Well you had better come over here then."

I dragged him over to the sofa, and straddled his lap. Then moved in for the flavour I had been longing for, his lips, his tongue, and his wonderful taste.

He snickered and kept kissing me slow and soft. His large hands splayed out and captured my back and butt. Firm but gentle.

We kissed and kissed. I couldn't think! I had left one world... and floated up to another whole universe. It was so fantastic, so all encompassing, I was immersed in a whole world of Jasper and me... where nothing else mattered.

We must have locked lips, kissing for a good hour, when I got a glance at the kitchen clock. Wow, where had the time gone?

"Jasper?"

He kept kissing me and stroking my back, butt and legs.

"Does this usually happen?"

"Does what happen, baby?"

"Ah, does time fly like this normally, when you kiss someone?"

He started laughing. "What?"

"Well, does it?"

"Does what?"

"Oh, never mind!" I chuckled.

I think my brain must be turning to mush! Is this what kissing does to my ability to speak and make sense? What must making love be like, if this is what kissing does to me?

I was about to start kissing him again, when my tummy rumbled.

"Let's go get that hot chocolate and brownie I'm starving, we were supposed to have them ages ago."

"No let's stay here and keep kissing, I do believe I found something more delicious than your brownies!"

"Oh really? And what's that?"

"It's this!" And that's how... I didn't get to eat much except Jasper, until I insisted on getting something out of the fridge at eleven p.m.

Mmm! Kissing Jasper! One of life's great fantasies!