6. Stories.
Alice and Jasper sat with Bella and Edward outside on a grassy stretch of field. It was a rare sunny day and they enjoyed the warmth of the sun heating their cold marble skins, making them feel almost human. They were shielded from prying eyes by a thick wood of trees on all sides of the clearing.
Alice had pulled her tank top up to just under her bra so that she could feel the sun on as much of her body as possible. The tips of Jasper's gnarled fingers danced along the glittering stretch of diamond white skin at Alice's waist, down to her tiny belly button and back. He drew lazy patterns on her skin with the intense level of concentration he used to give to drawing battle plans.
Edward was engaged in a similar exploration of Bella's back as she lay on her stomach with her t-shirt lifted to the same level as Alice's.
"Jasper," Bella's soft voice broke the comfortable silence. "Remember years ago when I was human, you started telling me the story of how you and Alice met?"
Jasper nodded quietly. He liked Bella now as much as the rest of the family.
"Can you finish telling it?" Bella would have been blushing if she still had blood in her, "It was such a nice story."
Edward laughed, "I see I'm not the only romantic."
Jasper was quiet for a while and Bella began to think he wouldn't say anything. But then he spoke soft and low, his fingers continuing their lazy journey on Alice's stomach.
"Well, after I took her hand, I believe the next thing I said was 'Are you here to kill me?'"
Alice's tinkling laugh echoed around the clearing bouncing off the trees. She turned over onto her stomach and put her head in Jasper's lap.
"I said 'No'," she added, smiling warmly up at Jasper.
When their eyes met, the air around them became intensely charged as usual and Bella felt the now familiar need to look away.
Jasper continued the story, not taking his eyes off of Alice's. Bella still couldn't look at them, so she rolled over and watched the clouds as she listened to Jasper's voice.
"Just as I thought to ask who you were, you said…"
"I'm Alice," Alice's high voice cut in. "You took off your hat and said 'Jasper Whitlock, ma'am' like a good Southern gentleman. A hundred years of fighting didn't touch your good manners," Alice gazed up at him fondly and glowed with pride for him. "And then you said…"
Jasper and Alice were trading the story off effortlessly, seeming to know exactly when each other wanted to speak. This time Jasper's deep voice took over, full of underlying emotion and Bella felt like she was hearing him say it for the first time.
"'Miss Alice, what do you want with me if not to kill me?' I said it," Jasper explained softly, "Because I could feel you so strong and bright and good, that I could barely stand it. You were like nothing I'd ever known. I wasn't sure whether to be afraid of you or to worship you." Bella heard Alice laugh lightly again, and Jasper continued,
"Logically I knew you couldn't be an Angel, but that was what my mind kept jumping to. You'd think as a soldier and tactician I'd have learned my lesson the first time trusting an Angel." Bella knew he was referring to the night he was turned. "But no matter what fate it sealed for me, I already knew I'd never be able to be away from you again. So I was hoping you were either there to take me with you or end me so I'd never have to be."
Bella chanced a glance at them to see Jasper stroking Alice's cheek and her eyes sparkling as she smiled up at him lovingly. The air around them was still intense, but Bella found herself able to stand it.
"And I said," Alice continued, "Jasper, I'll never hurt you. I don't want anything from you. All I want is you."
Jasper bent to brush a kiss against Alice's forehead, whispering against it so quietly Bella thought his words must be just for Alice now. Even with vampire hearing she had to strain to hear him.
"When you said my name, I thought my heart had exploded," Jasper whispered. "Then I remembered I didn't have one. Then I realized what you were saying, and it exploded again in spite of itself."
Alice laughed, and he kissed her again, on the mouth this time. But only a quick kiss. Bella knew they kept their intimacy for when they were in private. Edward had let slip about it a couple times.
"'I had to keep saying 'I want you' about a hundred times before you'd believe me. I think you only gave in to yourself because you saw how it was hurting me watching you fight your happiness." Alice laughed again, softer this time. Jasper brought his mouth to her forehead again and hummed against her skin.
Edward had been listening to the story and laughed too.
"Remember when you first came to live with us?" he said, recalling another story.
Jasper glanced sharply up at Edward. Their eyes met and he ducked his head shamefully when he realized what Edward meant.
"You spent two days scowling at me before you came up to me after a hunt on the third day," Edward continued.
Jasper was ashamed when he spoke, "I said, 'I don't like you at all but I can't help feeling rude because I know you can hear what I'm thinking'".
"He was referring to the many ways he was planning to murder me every time I came within ten feet of Alice." Edward supplied.
Jasper mumbled an apology. Edward brushed it off.
"I said it was okay then and I'll say it again. I don't blame you. You had your reasons, they're understandable. I was unmated, therefore an obvious threat. And Alice and I got along well instantly because of our gifts. Do you remember what I said?"
Jasper nodded ruefully. "You said 'You have nothing to worry about. It would be pointless trying anything even if I wanted to. I can read Alice's mind too, you know? She lives and breathes for you. Well, not breathes, but you understand what I mean, don't you?'"
Jasper laughed softly at Edward's words, and Edward joined him.
"There were no hard feelings," he assured. The two exchanged a smile, surprising Bella. Even when he was content and friendly it was rare to see Jasper smile at someone other than Alice. "We became friends soon after that."
Bella put her head in Edward's lap letting the stories wash over her. She felt a part of such great love, being in this family. She glanced over at Alice and Jasper and saw that he was now stretched out on the ground beside Alice, looking uncharacteristically relaxed. He was usually always alert for danger. Though he was covering most of Alice's body with his so he probably felt like she was protected and safe. Their heads were close together, foreheads almost touching, and they were whispering softly together. His low hum together with her light fast ringing sounded like insect noises.
Bella knew that she and Edward loved each other more than she could comprehend and that their love was all consuming and never-ending, but still she hoped that one day she and Edward would be as close as Jasper and Alice.