JPOV
Alice steps out in front of us when I've been running for less than a minute. We're maybe a third of the way back to the house. Before I can tell Hermione that we aren't back yet, she's let go and thumped to the ground.
"Um, we aren't back yet."
"I don't care. Can we walk?"
"It'd take two hours."
"Honey, that's just fine."
"Alice, can we help?" I say, and Hermione looks up.
"Jasper, I know why she's here. You've had a vision."
"Jasper blurred. That can only mean one thing. I saw him as a human. He's made a choice. But it can't even be possible."
"Shouldn't you know why it is?"
"I would, but I can't see you in my visions. I don't know why that is, but I can't. What are you doing, Jasper? What will you do?"
"Alice, if you've seen it -"
"With no alternative -"
"Then you know. I am going to become human. Alice, please understand. None of us chose this life. But I was the only one not at death's door when I was changed. Apart from possibly you, and obviously Carlisle."
"Why would you do this. How would you let him!" she rounds on Hermione. "What gives you the right to just walk in here and ruin our family?"
"I'm not trying to ruin your family, Alice, I -"
"Don't tell me that you know, don't tell me that you're trying to do what's best! He's my brother, I know him, you're just the latest new toy -"
"OK, don't you dare accuse me of that! All I want to do is help."
"Alice, I can speak for myself -"
"You're family! She's just turned up. You'd chose her over us?"
"Alice, you know that this isn't about choosing between you. Hermione is offering me a way out."
"Out of what? Don't you love us anymore?"
"Oh, Alice."
"No, Jasper. You need to speak to your family. I'll go." Hermione turns away and then snaps into thin air. I stare at the spot that she was standing in not two seconds ago, and then turn back to Alice.
"What have you done?"
"Me? What's she done, that's what you should ask! She turns up here talking about monsters and Gaps and souls in seven pieces and god knows what else and now you want to be human all of a sudden? What is this, Jasper, what is it? You fancy her, is that it, you want to get her into bed? Go for that, see how it works, because you'd kill her in seconds!"
"You see, Alice, that is why I need this!" I bellow in frustration. "I want to die, damnit! I want to die old and grey and sitting in a house with the woman I love by my side and I want to inhale a human without wanting to leap on them and drain them dry! Is that really so wrong of me?"
"I don't get it, Jasper! You've never said anything about this before! Then exciting new Hermione shows up with her spells and her curses and snap! you want to be human. There are other ways to get off with someone, you don't need to change into a human to do it!"
"Alice, do you seriously think that this is why I'm doing this, so I can get off with Hermione?"
"To me, yeah, that's what it looks like."
"Then you're a bloody idiot, Alice. I'll explain to you later why I am going to do this, when I explain to everybody else. I'm going after Hermione."
"Jasper -" She grabs for my arm, but I shake her off.
"I thought better of you."
I follow the trail back to the clearing, and when I get close enough, I pick up two lots of her scent - one slightly less fresh, the other blazing hot. Sure enough she's lying on the grass, looking up at a rare blue sky. I step into the sunshine, and she looks over at me, looks away, and then stares back at me so sharply I hear her neck crack. She doesn't say anything for several long minutes.
"I sparkle in the sunshine." I say, in a bid to break the tension.
"Yeah, I noticed."
"I bet. The staring thing is making me uncomfortable."
"Sorry. I just - I've never seen anything so beautiful."
"Well, thank you, ma'am," I say, playfully, laying on the Southern accent. She sits up, and I go over to her. "Alice is just upset."
"She's right. What must I look to them? I've come here, I've thrown bad news after bit of bad news at them and now you plan to become human with my help. I must seem like everything she called me and everything she implied." I drop down next to her and push a bit of hair off her shoulder, to fall in with the rest of her curls. She looks at me, and for a moment, she's close enough - I could kiss her. But instead, I put my arms around her, and she leans onto my chest. I swiftly arrange us so I'm leaning back against the log, and she's curled in front of me, her head on my chest. "Getting comfortable?" she asks, with a soft laugh that's muffled by tears.
"You need a lot of hugging, I can feel it. We may as well get comfy for said hugging."
"Look, Jasper. Lets put our cards on the table. I like you. You're funny, you're brave, you're strong, you're kind and hey, you're pretty damn handsome in with it. What girl wouldn't want all that? But I've grown up in an environment that doesn't exactly support romance. And now is hardly the time for me to be falling for you."
"Hermione, you ever think that maybe you give things more though than you need to?"
"It's been said."
"I'm going back, to talk to my family. They need to know from me. Edward has probably seen it already in Alice's head, so they will know there's been a vision. We have few secrets in our family."
"But you kept this secret."
"I knew nothing could be done. Why worry them, why make them carry my burden when they couldn't help?"
"You're a good man, Jasper."
"Still want to walk home?"
"Maybe not. Can we stay here, just a little longer? Not to talk, just to sit, like this."
"OK."
She was so quiet for so long I thought she might be asleep. Suddenly, she stirred.
"We should be getting back. They'll be wondering where we are. They'll think I kidnapped you."
"I'd like to see you try."
"Ooooo, don't tempt me."