The next few months flew by in a haze. The Cullen's had quizzed me constantly in the run up to the finals. I submitted my college applications asking for a deferred year to please my father. Alice had out done herself in making Julie's wedding dress and i had yet to see mine. I had almost daily telephone calls with my mother in England, luckily Jasper had insisted on paying my phone bill. All in all my life was hectic but i was happy.
Two days before Lizzie's eighteenth
I hopped down the stairs two at a time and dove head first onto the sofa where my dad was starting to doze. My dad sat bolt upright with a start as i giggled at the look of shock on his face.
"We need to redecorate," I said to him simply. His face soured, he hated decorating, i could see paint brushes and rollers flash before his eyes. I rolled my eyes and laughed.
"Dad i didn't mean you. Esme IS an interior designer, i am sure she'd be thrilled if you asked her to decorate for you," I said with a smile. Edward had said to me Esme was itching to have another project to work on and suggested my house would be the perfect thing to keep her busy for a while.
Dad looked dubious for a moment then nodded.
"I'll talk to Carlisle...but nothing too...striking..." He said rolling his eyes skywards. I grinned at him hopping off of the sofa.
"Don't worry she's good at what she does," I said before hopping up and heading out, grabbing my keys as i went.
I parked my range rover in my spot in the garage before heading in. Cold lips pressed against mine before i could ever step inside the door, strong arms wrapped around my waist. I smiled into the kiss and ran my tongue along his lower lip as a tease.
"Lizzie..." He said chuckling, gently rubbing my back in small circles. I smiled and rested my forehead against his chest. I was home; i would always be home as long as i was with him. He guided me inside and through to the living room where we sat down, me taking my place on his lap.
I was completely content curled up on Jasper's lap, playing with the ends of his long blond hair, running the silky strands through my fingers. I smiled feeling his ice cold fingers trace small circles along the exposed skin of my back. I could have sat there for hours like that, no words needed to be said. He could feel everything i felt and he in return projected everything he felt into me. I nuzzled my face into the crook of his neck. I could feel someone coming.
"Why is Jacob here?" I muttered, half to myself. Jasper frowned slightly.
"He's not..."Jasper muttered back. As soon as the words left his mouth his face contorted into pure hatred. Jasper and Jacob didn't really see eye to eye and as soon as the large boy opened the front door Jasper was on high alert. I sighed and chuckled softly.
"I'm not even going to ask how...by now i should know the answer," Jasper muttered tightening his grip around my waist protectively.
It was true he knew the answer. I seemed to simply know where people are, if i'm being watched or if someone is going to come into the house. I unfortunately could not do this on demand, i would just suddenly know. When i was younger my father simply called it intuition but Carlisle seems to think it will probably manifest itself as ability once i am turned.
Nessie skipped into the room and sat down on the sofa. She now looked and acted thirteen or fourteen, Edward and Bella where starting to have problems with her. My sweet and innocent adoptive niece was now almost six and in the middle of a growth spurt. She was wearing an extremely short skirt and a very low cut top. Jasper cleared his throat at her.
"Nessie i suggest you go put some clothes on before your father sees you," Jasper said firmly, raising his eyebrows in her direction. Nessie pulled out her ipod and stuck the buds in her ears turning on her music, acting as if Jasper hadn't said anything. Jacob walked into the room and frowned at seeing her, rolling his eyes skywards he glanced at me and shrugged. I sighed, here we go again.
"Renesmee...don't ignore your uncle, do as your told and go put something more modest on," I said softly going and pulling the head phones out of her ears, "Do not be rude please, you know better than this," She hissed at me, lashing out and snatching the head phones back.
"YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" She yelled at me shoving me back. Hard. I head a crack and breathed in sharply.
"RENESMEE STOP IT!" Jacob yelled as i stumbled back into him. Jasper was on his feet growling at Nessie and holding me gently.
"Stop it Jasper," I muttered steadying myself. Nessie was glaring and hissed at me, Jasper snarled. I reached up behind me and touched his face.
"Nessie i suspect you have just broken my ribs...i suggest you either go to your room and stay there or go and get your grandfather," I said gently, feeling blood rise in my throat. She stormed out of the room muttering to herself.
"Jacob, go after her," I muttered, starting to see spots.
Soon Carlisle had me in the hospital being x-rayed. Jasper was livid, it took everything i had in me to talk him out of killing his niece. Bella had told me bluntly she wouldn't have been mad if Jasper had beat the living crap out of her, she said she would have been happy to lend him a hand as long as we didn't kill her. I pointed out it probably wouldn't have been the best way to teach her a lesson.
I was sat in a private room with Rosalie. Jasper had gone to pick up an overnight bag for me, a rib had come close to puncturing my lung so after doing some careful prodding and bandaging Carlisle had made me agree to stay in for one night for observation.
"I cannot believe the little wench did that," Rosalie seethed. I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"Rosalie she's young and hormonal. Heck a few years ago i was probably like that. It must be difficult for her, she grows so fast the hormonal changes must be seriously messing with her head, it took me ages to adjust to puberty, i think i'd have gone a little psycho if it had been me in her shoes," I said pointedly, well more wheezed.
"You, Lizzie, are a saint. I can't see how you're not mad," Rose said flicking her long blond hair over one shoulder.
"Jasper is mad enough for the both of us," I said flatly and then half shrugged, "And anyway it's not her fault, she's going through a rough patch. I can promise you she'll feel awful once she surfaces again, she'll feel like she's been a bitch and a cow and she'll be grovelling..." Rosalie laughed at the thought.
"Let me guess...you know because you where like it?" She said and i nodded.
"Ask my Dad...i am sure he'd be more than happy to tell you i was so terrible," I said with a grin.
Jasper came back with a fuming Edward.
"Lizzie i am so sorry...i can tell you now Renesmee will not be seeing the light of day for the next century," Edward said handing me some flowers and carefully wrapped presents. I rolled my eyes and laughed.
"Ed really it's fine, Ness is a teenager now and it's hard for her," I said eyeing up the presents, "There really is no need for gifts..." Edward shook his head and insisted. I chuckled and unwrapped them; there was an emerald necklace and earrings, a book and a teddy bear which read 'Best Auntie'. I sniggered and held it up to show Rosalie who pouted.
"Sorry Rose but hey...you know i am the best," I said with a wink. She laughed.
"Hell your niece broke your ribs and you brush it off like its nothing...compared to you i'm a crap aunt," She said sighing dramatically in defeat. They left to let me rest, leaving me with Jasper.
I turned to look at Jasper who was still frowning.
"I'm fine, if you keep frowning like that you WILL get wrinkles, marble skin or not," I said flatly. He shook his head, seeming unimpressed with my humour.
"You're in pain," He said sourly, "I don't like it," I sighed deeply.
"Jasper i have broken ribs so yes i am in some pain but it doesn't bother me...i've been through worse and you are aware i will go through worse...i am not going to moan and have people fuss over me. I poked an angry bear with a stick...if anything it's my fault for aggravating her," I said softly, taking his hand in mine. He sat down on my bed and gently stroked my cheek.
"It's not your fault...i should have sensed her aggression...i should have protected you," He said looking down. I snorted my laughter.
"That's why you're sulking? Nessie is one of the last people i would have ever though i'd need protecting from and anyway...if she wanted to have hurt me she would have done it. She didn't mean to, it wasn't aggression it was annoyance," I said gently. He smiled slightly but still didn't look happy. I simply chuckle softly and leaned back into my tower of pillows.
Soon my father came in looking worried.
"I'm on my break. What happened? Carlisle said you had broken ribs," He said rushing over to my bed side.
"I tripped over my handbag and landed on the coffee table," I lied with a smile, "But i promise next time Jasper tells me it's a stupid place to leave it i shall listen," Dad relaxed slightly and sat down in the chair looking stressed.
"You really aren't that bright are you?" He teased i shrugged and smiled wide.
Soon Dad had gone home and i had finally given in to the drowsy side effects of my pain killers. After what seemed like moments my eyelids where fluttering open. I yawned, wincing as i moved to sit up. I turned to greet Jasper, surprised to instead to find Nessie sitting there.
"Hey sweetie," I said with a smile. She looked up and frowned slightly.
"Uncle Jasper went hunting," She muttered. I nodded slowly and smiled to her.
"Look...i'm...i'm sorry," She said, her hands clasped in her lap, "I didn't mean to hurt you...i don't know why i was so angry...it's just..." She looked down and sighed.
"Let me guess...it's just no one lets you do what you want, or say what you want or go where you want. You want Jacob to like you in a more...romantic way but your Father thinks you're too young and you think if you dress more...grown up...Jacob will notice you," She looked up shocked as if to say 'how did you know'.
"You have to remember that i am only almost eighteen. I know what it's like to go through what you're going through...sure i didn't go through it as fast. And as for boys...Jacob will be whatever you want him to be. A friend or a lover. You don't have to walk around in little more than underwear to get his attention...that boy loves you more than the air he breathes..." I said softly reaching out for her hand. She looked at me with shining eyes, a small tear trickling down her pale cheek.
"Auntie Lizzie...i'm so sorry..." She muttered again starting to sob, "I promise i'll listen...i promise to do what i'm told...please don't hate me," I chuckled softly.
"Nessie...i could never hate you...Yes it angers me slightly when you have screaming matches with your parents. Your father is old fashioned but you have to remember that people learn their parenting skills from their parents. You father was born in 1901...things where a little different back then but he had your interests at heart. And anyway think of it this way...Your uncle Jasper was born in 1843...58 years before your father and he was a soldier...think how your cousin is going to have it when i eventually have a child," She laughed and nodded.
"Uncle Jasper is...strict..." She said and then grinned, "Doesn't seem to mind you wearing no clothes though..." I rose an eyebrow at her.
"I'll ignore that comment for now," I said with a grin, "Go find your grandfather so i can go home...i hate hospital stays!" She hopped up and hurried off.
Soon i returned home and Jasper was just exiting the tree line when Carlisle's Mercedes ground to a halt. He was helping me out of the car before i could even blink. Edward was giving his daughter the evil eye so i replayed our convocation which made him roll his eyes and chuckle. Jacob was being very...nice...and it made me nervous.
"Why is he being so nice?" I muttered to Jasper as Jacob offered to make me a coffee, not waiting for my answer before he hurried off.
"He's trying to thank you for stopping me shredding Nessie...she may be half vampire but she won't reassemble like us...he's in your debt and Edward says he is also thankful you spoke to her about her hormone issues...have to say i am also thankful...moody teenagers are a headache..."He said gently holding me. I couldn't help but laugh at this. Jacob returned handing me a mug.
"Thank you Jacob," I said with a smile and then remembered something. Leaning carefully over to a draw i pulled out a crisp white envelope.
"This is for you, i was going to post it but as you're here," I said with a smile. He took it looking confused and then opened it.
"I'm invited to your wedding," He said sounding confused as he wedged his huge form into an arm chair.
"You are part of the family," I said with a smile. He sighed and smiled slightly.
"Thanks..." He said rereading it, "Wait Whitlock? I thought you where Hale?" His eyes shot up to give Jasper a look of confusion. Jasper rolled his eyes skywards, letting out a snort of laughter.
"Jasper is Whitlock...Rosalie is Hale. They act as twins remember," I corrected Jacob and he nodded slowly. I sipped my coffee trying to avoid burning my tongue in the process.
Soon Alice insisted on helping me into the shower and then some clean clothes.
"Alice if i need help i'll ask...and i most likely wouldn't ask you first," I pointed out. She frowned sulkily.
"Bella let me help," Alice chimed melodically.
"Bella had a broken leg...i am able to stand unaided and i haven't got a problem with my fiancé seeing me naked," I said flatly whilst i played with the collar of Jasper's shirt. Jasper smirked at me and chuckled. Alice scoffed.
"I don't even want to know..." She muttered, rolling her eyes skywards before turning and leaving the room.
"She has a good point...i would love a shower," I said to Jasper who looked down to me, "I may need some help though," I gave Jasper a playful wink. He chuckled.
"I'll help you in and out the shower...I suggest you drag your mind from the gutter now, nothing intimate is going to happen until you're healed," He said firmly gently lifting me into his arms. I pouted childishly.
"Now that's just mean...it's going to take two weeks...i'll go crazy and so will you," I said flatly.
"I managed four years without...i think two weeks will be manageable," He replied with a sickly sweet smile. I rolled my eyes and unbuttoned my shirt slipping it off before dropping my jeans. I stood there before him in only my lacy thong.
"Oh really?" I said flashing him a shit eating grin. His eyes trailed my body. I had two hand shaped bruises on my chest just below my breasts which were covered by bandages, other than that i was fine.
Jasper switched on the water in the shower and pushed me in gently before perching himself on the work top. I sighed and washed quickly before turning to face him and poked out my tongue. Jasper rolled his eyes and pulled open the shower door for me before wrapping me in a fluffy towel and pointing at my grey pair of sweat pants and one of his tshirts on the work top.
"Put those on and get into bed...i'll be back up in a moment with food for you ok?" He said kissing my forehead.
"Ok," I said before he zoomed away.
Once i had climbed into bed, pulling the covers over me Jasper returned with hot pockets, chips, marshmallows and cake. I grinned at him.
"Ah you know me so well!" I said as he placed the tray on my lap and sat down next to me after flicking on tv and switching it to a movie channel.
Soon i had eaten, snuggled up against his cold chest and slowly drifted off to sleep.