~Author's Note~

Hey everyone! I'm so very glad you all like the story so far!! I've somehow managed to write up chapter 3 already! This chapter was so much fun to write and its the first of many that I'm so looking forward to...this story is getting so romantic!! Sorry...I'm back. So without further ado, I give you Chapter 3!

Alice sat perfectly still, her pulse pounding in her ears. He had kissed her, Jasper had actually kissed her! She couldn't believe it, and what was more she had never realized just how much she had wanted Jasper to kiss her before. This moment was frozen, or did it just feel that way, or did she want it to be. Everything was so chaotic but in the most wonderful way. But it was Jasper's warm breath on her lips that brought her back to what was happening. They were still impossibly close but separated enough for her to meet his eyes and smile as her face heated. What was more amazing was the smile he returned. Alice had always adored his smile, but she had never seen him smile like this. It made her giggle softly and reach up hesitantly to brush her fingertips over his lips gently. The action alone took her breath away and her eyes moved to follow her fingertips intently. These lips, his lips, had been connected with hers not even a moment ago and had somehow performed magic. She was totally under his spell, or rather finally realized that she'd been under it for some time.

"Jasper…." She whispered wanting nothing more than to hear his name coming from her lips. Her breath hit his face gently and she saw his eyelids flutter shut and she smiled a bit more.

"Alice…" he breathed back opening his eyes once more, steel meeting honey and melting in the warmth of her gaze.

It was instinct that instructed her now, she never once made a true decision in the next moment, but knew what her heart and mind were telling her to do would be right. Slowly she leaned closer, scooting over slightly as she moved to rest her head on his chest and felt his arms instantly link around her gently apparently his own instinct. Carefully she tilted her face up to hide it in his neck below his jaw and sighed contentedly. Jasper grinned and laid his cheek on the top of her head and inhaled the scent of her, vanilla and magnolias…perfection. The silence was pleasant, peaceful. After all, it was just the two of them here and though neither had said a word, each knew their hearts no longer belonged only to themselves.

"Jasper…what—what does this mean exactly…" Alice whispered after a moment though. Something in her was begging for vocalized answers. She knew she didn't need them but minor insecurities yearned for them.

He was silent for a moment before lifting his head and leaning away enough to look down into her face. Carefully he reached up to stroke her cheek once again and smiled warmly. It was time he told her, time he took the risk of her rejection.

"It means…well I suppose it means that I have reached the point in my life that I have to tell the woman I love how I feel…." He murmured.

"You---you love me?" she gasped breathlessly. His words had been a surprise, of course she'd realized instantly how sincere he was, his eyes radiated with warmth and love. It was obvious.

Jasper simply nodded slightly. "Very much…and I have for quite some time, I just was afraid to tell you…" he confessed. "I couldn't find merit in risking the time I already have with you by telling you how I felt and finding you may not feel the same…"

Alice listened intently, admittedly surprised that Jasper would have been afraid of anything, especially her or how she felt. He'd apparently been so intent on keeping her in his life that he was willing to go through his life hiding his heart, waiting for her to realize him. The thought itself brought tears to her eyes, the fact that had things gone differently she would have caused him so much pain and heartache stabbed at Alice like a hot blade. And it was in that inward pain that Alice realized that she too loved him…that she had for as long as she'd known him. She had been so blind, but everything was clear now, she'd found the love she'd been craving for so long and understood that she hadn't been wanting to find love, but instead yearned to realize that she'd in fact found it.

Slowly she reached up to cradle his face in her small, fragile hand and instantly felt the tension in his jaw dissipate. "You have nothing to be afraid of Jasper…." She confessed. "It may have taken me a while, but I am sure of it now. I love you as well, and always have…" A soft smile graced her lips as she looked into his face, her heart racing and relief and joy washing over her like a flood.

Of course his responding smile would have made the Devil himself swoon and Alice felt herself melting under his ecstatic gaze. He just looked so happy, Alice could help but laugh softly, her hand moving to run through his hair gently. He let out a great sigh and just continued to grin, but then his eyes widened in realization and in a flash he was sitting up straight and beaming at her.

"I have to do this properly…" he said.

"Properly? Jasper whatever you wish to do is inherently improper simply for the fact that I am breaking all rules of polite society by even sitting here with you like this…" she teased.

He smirked slightly and shook his head. "That doesn't matter, I will not let this moment continue without proper procedure."

Alice just stared at him in confusion as he reached out for her hand, wrapping it in both of his.

"Miss Mary Alice Brandon…will you do me the honor of allowing me to be your beau?" he grinned.

Instantly a huge smile grew on her face and her cheeks tinted pink as she laughed jubilantly. "Of course Mister Whitlock…I would gladly have you as my beau!" she replied, mocking his formal tone.

Jasper chuckled and bent to kiss her hand politely before moving to gather her back into his arms as they had been before, reveling in the peaceful silence of the summer afternoon and their proclamation of love. Alice's face was buried safely in his neck, her head resting on his shoulder as his hand absentmindedly stroked her arm. Everything else in the world seemed to cease existing in this time together, Alice forgot everything she'd been worried about so much before and she sighed happily here in his arms. He looked down at her and grinned at the peaceful expression on her face. He leaned to kiss the top of her head gently, inhaling her scent once again.

"I love you Alice…" he whispered.

She leaned away slightly and smile at him. "I love you too Jasper…"

Looking at her happily Jasper's attention was caught by the caplet sleeve of her under garments slipping off her shoulder. Without a second thought his hand moved to replace it, his fingertips grazing over the skin of her shoulder and then her collarbone. Her skin was perfectly smooth and soft under his fingers. It was like electricity every place their skin made contact. His touch left a trail of fire on her skin and she shivered violently, looking down at his hand, still gently brushing her collarbone, and then looking up into his eyes. His eyes moved from his own to hand to her eyes as well and both sets of eyes were the slightest shade dimmer. Their breathing took on a slightly ragged quality and goosebumps rose on her skin. Sitting here locked in each other's gaze Alice and Jasper felt the first stirrings of a deeper physical need for one another, one neither understood fully, and one they both knew was something they should not be acknowledging at this moment.

"I…I should go back before they realize I've been gone…" she stammered breathlessly, biting her lip slightly.

Jasper nodded and his hand quickly fell from her delicate skin. "Yes…I wouldn't want to get you into trouble…I shall be waiting for you when you all are meant to return to the party though?"

She grinned slightly and nodded. "I will be looking for you then…" she muttered leaning to kiss his cheek quickly before standing and hurrying away a few yards. Before going too far, Alice turned to look back at him over her shoulder and shivered as the memory of his touch fell over her for a second. She grinned to herself and turned back around to hurry back to the house hoping she wouldn't be seen.

Jasper watched her go, smiling to himself and trying to ignore the thoughts that threatened to lessen his gentlemanly manner. This was going to prove more tempting than he had expected. Alice was so beautiful it was going to take all of his will power to remind himself that he had no right to compromise her integrity as a lady.

Alice tip-toed through the house, being careful to keep quiet in the salon where the girls were still resting and made her way to the palatte she had left her sisters on, snuggling back down onto the cushion.

"And where have you been…" came a voice beside her as Rosalie turned over to face her with a smirk.

Alice jumped slightly and turned to her sister with wide eyes.

"Oh! Um, I just needed a walk…I was too hot…" she replied.

"In your petticoats?" Rose asked incredulously.

"Yes! No one saw me…" No one else anyway…

"Alright…just be glad you didn't get into trouble…I don't want to be the harlette's sister…" she teased.

Alice shoved her playfully and giggled before turning to stare at the ceiling. Of course she didn't have to lay there long. Soon enough the rest of the room began to stir around her as the girls awoke from their nap and began to get dressed again. Rosalie and Bella both rushed to don their dresses again wanting to go and see Edward and Emmett once again. Alice was rushing too of course, but not enough to be noticed by any of the others. As each girl finished getting ready, they made their way to the staircase and down to the men who had all come inside as the afternoon got warmer. The last to leave the room were the Brandon sisters and they were therefore the last to descend the stairs. Waiting at the foot were Edward and Emmett, their eyes immediately locking on Rosalie and Bella and warm smiles coming to their faces. Alice's sisters bustled down the stairs and into their arms joyfully.

"Hello ladies…are you both well rested?" Edward grinned, kissing Bella's hair.

Alice watched from the landing, smiling at her sisters and the men that loved them. She finally knew how that felt for herself. Standing here now above the crowd Alice could let herself get lost in watching her sister's happiness. That was until she felt someone watching her. She looked around curiously and soon found the steel grey eyes that had found her on her elevated spot. Alice grinned and blushed slightly as she looked down at Jasper, who was leaning against the banister. Of course she could have rushed down to him just as her sisters had done, but what fun was there in that? So instead she slowly descended the stairs watching Jasper out of the corner of her eye but not giving him obvious attention as she got closer and eventually walked past.

Jasper of course caught on and smirked as she got closer feigning his own disinterest until she had already passed. However, he was going to make this as much a show as possible and reached out quickly to take her hand and spun her around to the middle of the floor and swiftly caught her in his arms.

"Mary Alice Brandon…may I kiss you?" he asked is a stage whisper feeling all the eyes in the room turning to them .

Alice looked up at him in surprise at the sudden movement but then giggled and nodded before linking her arms behind his neck dramatically. "How can I deny such an offer?!" she teased, glancing at her sisters' gobsmacked faces before turning to Jasper as he leaned down to kiss her gently.

Her smile spread under his lips and she let out a sigh as he pulled away. "You put on quite a show Mr. Whitlock…" she whispered with a smirk.

"You do quite well yourself Miss Brandon…" he chuckled, sliding his hand down her arm to find her hand.

Alice grinned and laced her fingers with his.

"What is going on here?!" The voice made Alice jump and turn to see who was shouting. Of course, it would be Rosalie, who was now standing less than a foot from them and watching them with wide eyes with Emmett, Bella, and Edward with her.

"Um…well…" she stammered looking at Jasper and feeling him draw her close into his side. She smiled and turned back to the others. "Jasper's my beau now…." She confessed proudly.

"Well its about time…" Emmett muttered teasingly causing Alice to give him a look and Jasper to chuckle slightly.

"Yes, yes…we all now know that I am quite behind in figuring out how I feel…but I have and I'm happy…" Alice explained turning up to meet Jasper's eyes. "So very happy…"

~Author's Note~

That was Chapter 3! Quite eventful, yes? Ooo I can't wait to get to the rest of this story! Well don't forget to review and I will have Chapter 4 up ASAP!! Love you guys!!