Here is the next one, sadly, I'm up to date.

Thanks to my awesome Betas

SM owns Twilight

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Chapter 18: Dinner and Confessions

I woke up the next morning, in Jasper's arms, with kisses being fanned all over my face and neck.

"Good mornin' darlin'," he whispered against my lips before kissing them.

I smiled and yawned. "Good morning. What time is it?"

"It's a little after ten."

I stretched and sat up. "I need to go check on Alicen and get some things ready for tonight, which means you need to take me home."

He grimaced and stretched. "I don't wanna."

"Too bad, honey," I chuckled.

"Can't you just stay here?"

"No, I need to check on my daughter and Rose because she's going to the doctor today, and I'm cooking you dinner tonight so I need to go to the store."

He sighed and pouted. "Fine, but I'll be over before six."

I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Fine."

I hated to leave him but things needed to be done. He finally stood up and took my hand as we walked out to the truck. He drove me home in comfortable conversation and walked me to the door.

"You don't need to walk me to the door you know," I said laughing. "It's daytime, no one can get me, although my neighbors will see my not-so-subtle walk of shame, and it looks weird for the reason for the walk to be with me."

"Yes, but I do need to walk you to the door for the goodnight kiss."

"It's not night time."

"Okay, technically. Then for the good mornin' kiss." He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

I laughed and nodded. "Okay, you win."

"Yes, I love winning," he said as he leaned in to give me the kiss. "I'll see you in a few hours."

"Okay."

I walked in and turned to watch him leave. When he was gone, I locked the door and went to take a shower, grabbing some clothes on the way. Out and dressed in under thirty minutes, I picked out my outfit for that night, a simple burgundy spaghetti-strap sundress, and set it on my bed before grabbing my keys and purse and walking out to the car.

I called Rose and left a message for her to call me when she got out of the doctor's as I drove to my parents'. I pulled into the drive and Alicen came flying out of the door towards me.

"Momma!" she yelled as she jumped into my arms.

"Hi baby! Are you having fun with Grandma and Grandpa?"

"Yup. Gramma said you were stopping by to see me but then you have another date with Jasper tonight. Did you have fun last night?"

"Of course."

"You didn't do anything I wouldn't do, did you?"

"Excuse you, little miss. Where did you hear that?"

"Auntie Rose."

I laughed. "Of course you did. No, but that is none of your business. Go inside; I'll follow."

"Jackson's here, Momma! Uncle Emmett dropped him off this morning."

"Oh really?"

"Uh-huh. How long are you staying?"

"Not very long sweetie. There are errands I need to run but I wanted to check on you."

"Oh, okay."

"Hi Bella," Esme called as we walked in the door.

"Hi Mom. Where's Dad?"

"At the hospital, of course."

"Right. Have you heard from Rose and Em?"

"No, have you?"

"Not yet. Are you sure you don't mind watching her again tonight?"

"Of course I don't mind. I love spending time with her. She reminds me so much of Alice. I remember when you two had this crazy idea to make cookies by yourselves. They looked awful but didn't taste so bad."

I chuckled. "Yeah, I remember that. She started to call you Mom instead of Mrs. Cullen or Esme the day before. You were the only mother figure she had."

"I'm glad she had one though. I was more than happy to take her as one of my own. She lived here most of the time anyway. Her father would often call to see if I could watch her when he was busy with things. Alice was spirited and I think her father liked having some time to himself. Bad as that may sound, he did love his daughter - he was just overwhelmed with everything."

"Even though he raised her? They moved here when she was five."

"Yes, and that poor man looked bad. He had horrible health problems, ones that he hid from Alice. His wife was gone but he still had his child, which was something to live for." She shook her head and sighed. "I found out when they moved here. He'd had problems with his heart since he was in his late twenties. He was supposed to die a lot sooner than he did. Alice was his main reason for staying as long as he did. He loved her more than his own life and hated to leave her, but he needed to go to the doctor and rest, which was why I was more than happy to take her. I was just happy she had you. You accepted her as a best friend and made her a sister and loved her as one, even accepting her child as your own."

"I wouldn't change that ever. Alicen has changed my life for the better, just like Alice did."

Esme smiled. "I know. You have a big heart my dear. I don't think even you know how big. You loved some who didn't deserve it, like Edward, and even some who do, like Jasper."

I looked up into her eyes, startled. "How did you know I loved Jasper?"

"Mother's intuition. This is the happiest I have ever seen you. He is definitely something."

"He is. I should probably go. Thank you for watching Alicen again."

"You're welcome. Have fun tonight."

"I will, thanks. Love you."

"Love you too, Bells."

I walked into the living room where Alicen and Jackson were playing and stood by the front door.

"Bye Alicen. Bye Jackson."

They looked up from their blocks for a second.

"Bye Momma."

"Bye Aunt Bella."

They looked back down at their blocks.

"Hey, don't I get a kiss?"

They giggled and stood up to run to me and planted big wet kisses on my cheek.

"Ugh, thanks. Love you too. I'll see you later." I kissed them both and walked out the door.

~*~

I got home and unloaded the groceries quickly. As I was getting ready for the evening, Rose called and I stubbed my toe on the dresser getting to the phone.

I flipped it open. "Shit, what? Hello?"

"Well, hello to you too sis. Did you injure yourself again?"

I rubbed my toe. "Maybe."

I could hear laughter from the other end.

I sighed. "What happened at the doctor?" I asked, a little annoyed.

"I think I'll just tell you tomorrow over lunch?"

"You made me stub my damn toe getting to the phone to tell me that you will just tell me the news tomorrow?"

"Yep. I'll pick you up at noon. Love you!"

"You too," I said as she hung up.

I curled my hair a little, which was a task as I was also icing and elevating my foot, and once I was done so was the throbbing. I threw on the sundress and went to go cook dinner.

As I walked into the living room, the doorbell rang. I ran to the door to open it and pulled Jasper in. He looked absolutely adorable in jeans and a button up shirt with a single red rose. He set the rose down and wrapped his arms around my waist to pull me up for a kiss.

"Howdy, darlin'."

"Hi, babe."

I took his hand and led him to the kitchen to start dinner.

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Standing in front of the stove, I could feel Jasper's eyes on my back. I turned around and smiled. He returned it, so I turned back and kept going with the sauce. As I stirred and checked the pasta, I felt arms snake around my waist and lips press against my neck, making me lose focus on what I was doing, and focus on him.

His lips traveled up and down my neck from my ear lobe to shoulder. I released the stirring spoon and turned around in his arms to face him. His hands pressed into my lower back as he pulled me closer to him. He kissed my lips and then along my jaw line to my ear.

"Thank you for making dinner darlin', although I'm not really hungry for food any more," he said huskily.

I faintly heard the click of the stove top heaters going off before he picked me up and set me on the counter, placing himself between my legs. His hand rested on my neck as he kissed my lips then moved back down while his other hand moved from my knee, up over my thigh and around to the small of my back.

He pulled me closer then, spreading my legs wider so I could feel him right where I wanted him. He kissed my neck down to my shoulder, pulling the strap of my dress away for access. As I moved my hips a little he groaned and put his hand under my ass. He picked me up off the counter, keeping me as close as possible, and headed for my bedroom.

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We laid in bed facing each other, his hand softly rubbing my side from my rib down to my hip.

This topped the best nights with him. He was amazing, making me feel whole.

He sighed and pulled me closer, kissing my forehead before he pulled back to look into my eyes. "I love you, darlin'," he whispered.

I smiled. "I love you too, cowboy." He smiled and kissed me again, then pulled me flush up against his body and we fell asleep in each other's arms.

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There ya go, a little backstory on Alice.

I'm writing as much as I can so I can update as much as possible, but of course life likes to rear its ugly head and halt progress.

Review please and thanks!