AN: Wow! I was blown away by the response to this, so many of you have put this story on alert or favourite it. As for the reviewers, LyssiLuvr, I know it seems a little sad, but this story is going to be filled with it, it's hopefully going to be a lot of happiness. And, LittleRin26, you'll find out soon what's happened to bring them all to where they are now, but you'll have to wait a little bit longer I'm afraid.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, nor any of the characters. Although RL might be more fun with a certain Southern Major around. =]
I closed the front door behind me, saying a last goodbye to my childhood home, before I turned around and smiled at the sight in front of me. My own, personal knight in black leather, in front of his shining steed. He held his arms open to me and I walked slowly into them, feeling better with every step, knowing that I had made the right decision. As soon as I reached him I wound my fingers into his hair, pulling his cold lips to mine, feeling the flames of lust burn through me, and knowing not all of them were my own. His steel arms wrapped around me, pressing me ever tighter against him as our tongues battled each other. I felt safe, at home in his arms. I was ready.
As we parted I smirked at him, making sure the bag I was carrying was secure on my shoulder before I slid onto the bike. Jasper rolled his eyes but sat behind me, reaching around me in order to grip the handle bars. Then we were off, the feel of the bike below me, and Jasper all around me was amazing, adrenaline coursed through my veins as we sped through the greenery of Forks towards the Cullen house, our house. It didn't take long for us to arrive, and thankfully there was no fanfare when we did. Jasper hopped off the bike gracefully before swooping down and lifting me from the bike, and walking into the house. I was grateful someone – Alice – had the foresight to leave the front door open for us.
Without a word to anyone Jasper carried me upstairs to his – our – room. All of my boxes were piled up in the middle of the floor, waiting for me to unpack them. I glanced around the room and smiled as Jasper set me on my feet, closing the door behind us with a gentle thud. Esme had been working overtime for the past few days, she'd completely overhauled the room that was once Jasper's study and made it fit both myself and him within the decor and the storage around. There were so many bookshelves lining the walls it felt like I was moving into a library, and that thought made me smile. Of course, a lot of the shelves were taken up with Jasper's personal collection, but there was a whole wall left for me to fill, and fill it I would. Even if it took me a few years.
"Welcome home." Jasper whispered from behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and holding me firmly against his chest while he rested his chin on my shoulder.
"That sounds perfect Jazz." I smiled, leaning my head against his. It had taken a lot of work for us to be here, a lot of pain and fighting, a lot of tears (on my part) and a truck load of uncertainty, but here we were, finally. "Come on lover boy, let's get unpacking." I said with a grin, pulling myself from his grasp and spinning to face him, he was arching an eyebrow at me.
"Do you actually want me to help? Or do you want to put everything exactly where you want it without feeling the need to redo it all after I've finished?" I bit my bottom lip for a moment, knowing he was right, I liked everything to been in its place, at least in the beginning.
"You can do the books, you know the system." He sighed and nodded before giving me a quick peck on the cheek and sidling over to the boxes marked books, with ease he moved them in front of the bookcase and started unpacking, I appreciated the fact he was moving at a humans pace and I know he felt it radiate from me, along with my love for him as I moved towards my own boxes. There were two desks in the room, one which was obviously Jaspers, had papers piled on it surrounding his computer while mine stood empty. I pulled out the bottom drawer and started packing everything away.
It took about two hours for me to finish putting all of my trinkets and pieces around the room where I thought they belonged, of course I checked with Jasper about most of the things which weren't on my desk, but after the tenth time he'd just laughed at me and told me to put them anywhere I wanted. There was only one thing left to put away, the box of photographs I'd found in my desk, I was still deciding what to do with them, though I had considered making a collage. When I mentioned it to Jasper he smiled and said he thought it was a good idea, but could it wait until tomorrow? I'd agreed, I'd had enough of the packing and unpacking for the day, I just wanted to relax.
We meandered downstairs, much to my disappointment, though it had been my stomach which had caused the descent as it growled incessantly. Emmett, Edward, Alice and Rose were playing a game on the TV in the living room and it looked as if Alice was winning. That thought was cemented seconds later as she dropped the controller and leapt up singing, "I win, you lose! I win, I win, you lose!" to the other three who all in turn threw down their controllers and tackled the pixie. I laughed on my way into the kitchen and found Esme there, cooking.
"Really, Esme, I can do that." I tried.
"Hush. I enjoy it, you know that. And besides I won't be able to do this for you for much longer, so button up and deal with it." She waved me away making me roll my eyes at Jasper a little before I moved to the fridge to grab a soda. I closed the door and leant against it, watching Esme potter around the kitchen tending to the pans on the stove and the salad on the side, it was nice not having to do it for myself, and Esme's cooking always tasted amazing. Emmett appeared in the kitchen door, grinning from ear to ear.
"We killed Alice." He announced to Esme who merely hummed before adding a 'that's nice dear'. Emmett's shoulders slumped a little but he quickly regained his grin as he looked at me. "You all settled in Bells?"
"Yes Emmett."
"Great, 'cause I know I'm not the only one looking forward to reaping the benefits of you living here." He snickered, after a second there was a resounding smack followed by Emmett whining, "Rosie!"
"Leave them alone Em." Was all Rosalie said before leaving the four of us in the kitchen once more.
"I was just saying..." Emmett trailed off looking a little crest fallen, I couldn't help but feel a little bad for him.
"Here you go Bella." Esme said, placing a serving of Chicken Alfredo on the breakfast bar next to a bowl of salad. It smelled delicious.
"Thanks Esme." I grinned, taking a seat in front of the food. "Jazz, go play with the others, I'll come through when I'm done." I knew he hated the smell of my food, except for my morning coffee, which I found a little weird, but hey, everyone has their quirks, right? I took a huge mouthful of food as Jasper sloped off and I couldn't help the sounds I made. "Esme, this is amazing!" I moaned smiling at the brunette in front of me. She simply smiled and turned to start doing the dishes. What I didn't expect were the levels of lust filtering through the house, increasing with every mouthful of food I took. I knew it wasn't me so that left... "Jasper! Cool it!"
"Sorry Sugar, can't help it when you make sounds like that." He called through from the living room, making me chuckle a little. I ate quickly after that, trying to repress the sounds I'd been making. I put my dishes in the dishwasher and gave Esme a kiss on the cheek as I passed through into the living room.
"Hey, guys." I smiled, taking my seat besides Jasper who pulled me onto his lap, kissing my neck lightly. "I had an idea earlier. I was thinking of making a big memory board, you know to remind me afterwards, and I thought it might be nice if you all kind of contributed something to it. What do you think?" I asked, looking around at the vampires I considered siblings, studiously appearing to ignore the assault Jasper was conducting on my neck from behind me.
"I think that's a great idea Bella. I'll find something." Edward smiled, I was so grateful he'd learnt to accept my decision to be changed. Much like Rosalie had, though she still had a few reservations.
"Hells yeah Bells! I'll donate my green Speedo!" Emmett cheered making me cringe.
"Thanks for the offer Em, but maybe something like those tickets for the football we went to?" I offered as an alternative.
"Sure, whatever." He shrugged cheerfully.
"I know just the thing Bella." Rose smiled from her seat beside her mate. I grinned at her and knew what she was thinking of. Over the past couple of years we'd grown incredibly close, I now spent as much time with her as I did with Alice.
"Alice says she's already picked her donation Sugar." Jasper breathed across my neck making me shiver.
"Thanks guys, I appreciate it." I smiled softly at the family around me, leaning back against Jasper, twisting my head to kiss his lips gently before catching his gaze. "And you..." He just smirked at the warning in my voice.
"You couldn't Darlin'." He purred at me.
"Is that a challenge Mr Whitlock?" I asked with a serious tone, but my playfulness must have been a give away to the blonde vampire under me.
"Why, yes ma'am, I think it just might be." He drawled making my legs turn to jelly.
"I'll remember that." I smirked as Emmett pouted, mumbling something to quiet for me to hear which made Rose growl at him. After that we all settled into watching a movie, I couldn't tell you what the movie was though, I was distracted by my plans to make Jasper regret the challenge he had thrown at my feet, and regret it he would.
A couple of hours later Jasper and I retired to our room for the night. I ignored him as he closed the door and went to the dresser to select some pyjamas. I walked into the bathroom, leaving my selected choice of nightwear lying on the bed while I brushed my teeth and stripped down to my underwear in the bathroom. If there was one thing I knew about my vampire it was how to push his buttons. Lingerie was fine, but I knew he preferred it when something was left to the imagination. So I walked out of the bathroom in my plain black t-shirt bra and matching boy shorts before pulling on one of his t-shirts, it reached the middle of my thighs when I was standing, and sure it was a little baggy but it didn't drown me. The one I'd chosen also had the slogan, 'Save a horse, ride a cowboy' scrawled across the front, Rose had gotten it for him about a year ago and I knew he liked seeing me in it.
As I got ready Jasper had stripped to his boxers and climbed onto the bed. His eyes watching me move around the room, even though I paid him no attention. I slid into the chair in front of my desk, though I sat sideways, my legs crossed in the direction of the blonde god on my bed, as I turned on the computer and checked my emails. My foot drew circles in the air as I read through Jacobs's latest email, informing me of his life in California with Vanessa, his imprint. I had been so happy for him when he found her, she was perfect for him, and she called him out on his bullshit and put up with his temper and childishness. I typed back a response, letting him know that I'd moved out of Charlie's officially now, as well as a reminder I'd be out of touch for a while, but he knew who to call if he wanted to know how I was. After I was done I closed my laptop and moved over to the bed. Climbing under the covers beside Jasper.
"I love you Jazz." I said softly, quickly pecking his lips.
"I love you too, Darlin'." He smiled back, though it dimmed slightly as I turned off the light and settled in to sleep, my back to him. I fell asleep with a smile on my lips at the sound of his frustrated growl, I hadn't missed his 'little' problem as I'd moved around the room, in fact it had been very hard to ignore.
"It won't last." He had purred just before dreams claimed me.