~Author's Note~

So I know you all probably hate me by now. I'm so sorry for taking so very long! My fic muse has been an extended vacation that I apparently wasn't invited to. But i'm back now and hopefully will be back long enough to finish this story for all of you! But at least for right now I bring you Chapter 4! This chapter might seem a bit duller than the last one and will DEFINATELY be less exciting than the next...you'll see why ;) Now I completely understand if you've lost all faith in me with this story LOL but if not, please read and review! I love you guys so much and thanks for putting up with my hiatus!

That wonderful day had of course ended all too soon, and Alice and her sisters had had to bid their loves goodbye once again. If it was difficult for Bella and Rosalie, it was even more so for Alice. Her father had called for them as the day began to phase into twilight. Alice turned to see her sisters whispering their goodbyes to Edward and Emmett, something they'd had some practice with of course. It was a simpler process on their part. But as she turned back to Jasper, Alice knew it wouldn't be so simple for her. His arms were draped around her waist, holding her close to him. His eyes reflected the sadness she knew was in her own and she reached up to touch his cheek.

"I don't want to go…" she whispered.

"I know…but its only the first of many times together…" he replied, giving her a half-hearted smile. "And we can write each other between visits…"

Alice smiled slightly and nodded. "You're right…I just wish this day had been longer…"

Jasper had chuckled and touched his forehead to hers, leaning to brush her lips with his gently. "I will see you very soon my Alice…" he'd whispered.

Now those words captivated her every moment. 'My Alice.' She was his, finally, and always would be. The idea alone had made her incessantly joyful over the days since the party. There was much humming and radiance that came from Alice immediately following their return home. It of course didn't go unnoticed by her sisters, who knew the reason behind it, or Massie, who could easily guess as much as well. But Alice had not anticipated the fact that her father would notice it just as quickly and discover for himself what had occurred at the Whitlock's barbeque. And she also hadn't anticipated just how much it would bother him.

"Alice…I need to speak with you…" he called one day and Alice knew instantly that this would be no casual conversation.

She made her way hesitantly to his study and halted in the doorway. "Yes Papa…?"

He glanced up slightly, his brow furrowed. He had seemed to struggle for a moment with what he wanted to begin with, but his deliberation turned to a stern look. "I know about Jasper…."

Instantly Alice could feel her throat constricting and her stomach flipping wildly.

"I don't approve of this Alice, in the least. I don't want you with him, and I'm not going to allow it. No daughter of mine will be with a Whitlock…I forbid it!"

His voice rang through the room, seeped with authority and finality on the subject. The tone was harsh and tore at the edges of her heart and made her head hurt. Alice felt the floor fall out from beneath her and her throat went completely dry as her heart raced in a panic. "You can't do that Papa! I…I…I love him! Please Papa, please!" she begged. How could he do this? Surely he could see just how much Jasper meant to her…he was able to realize they were together without being told a word, that had to mean something didn't it? This was the man who had always told his daughters to never settle for less than a man who loved them like he'd loved their mother. Now he was all out forbidding her just that!

"Love him? Alice you're just a…a…" he couldn't say child, for that wasn't the case, but it seemed that was the only word that fit. "You're just much too young to even realize what love truly means! No Alice! No! You know how I feel about the Whitlock's and I will not have you with their son!"

This could not be happening. "That's unfair! You can't blame Jasper for your stubborn reasons Papa! What happened to Mama is not the Whitlock's fault and you're just being a fool!" she froze, her eyes going wide and her hands moving to cover her mouth. That was probably the last thing she should have said. Alice had never disrespected her father like that and the last thing she ever wanted to do was to pull up painful memories for him, but she hadn't been able to stop herself. She could see the pain and anguish flood into her father's eyes and hers stung with the beginnings of tears.

Slowly she walked over to her father's chair, kneeling down slightly. "I'm sorry Papa, but its true…" she murmured reaching for his hand, her eyes not once shifting from his, conveying her sincerity. "Mama was ill Papa, she had been for a very long time and I know Dr. Whitlock did his very best to help her. But Papa, I love Jasper…and he loves me too. Please…please understand. I'm so happy, and I know you want me to be happy…and I also know Mama would want you to forgive Dr. Whitlock…she'd want you to be happy too…"

There was a long silence as Alice watched her father struggle to hold on to any reason to remain angry but he knew she was right and he couldn't deny that much. He'd been angry for so long with no one but himself, but he'd had too much pride to admit it. But his own daughter, his youngest in fact was able to see it much before even he was and was able now to open his eyes as well. He sighed deeply and looked at her, studying her face carefully. "I still don't like this…but if you're so very set on it, I'll let you make the decision. I hope you're right Alice…I don't want to see this family hurt again…"

She grinned brightly and leaned to kiss his cheek. "He won't hurt me Papa…I know he won't. Thank you…"

My Darling Jasper,

I miss you so. These short days of picnics and barbeques come much too sparingly and end too soon. Having father struggling to accept us certainly doesn't make anything easier. I'm so sorry that that particular part of our lives has taken that turn, he'll come around, I know it, no one can keep from loving you. I wish there was more time to see each other. Letters just aren't the same. Rosalie and Bella keep telling me goodbyes and times apart get easier with time but I don't see how that's true. I want nothing more than to see you, everyday. When I'm with you I feel happier than I ever thought I could be. Somehow you've managed to erase so much pain from my past, almost as if most of it never existed in the first place. That isn't to say that when we're apart the pain comes back, I feel just as happy knowing that I can always think about you. But being able to see your face and feel your arms around me as you smile is something I live for and having to wait to do it again drives me mad! I look forward everyday to the chance to hear of another invitation to your home or some other place where I can see you. I hope one will come soon so I can be truly whole once again.

With Love and Devotion,

Alice

My beautiful Magnolia Blossom…My Alice,

I can tell you now that I miss you with every fiber of my being. I miss most being able to see you sing and smile in the sunlight and hear you humming yet another angelic tune in the sweet summer afternoon. This season only seems to drag on as I struggle from one day to another hoping to hear that I'll be able to see you again. I pray my selfish prayers constantly and expect God's wrath and know it would be nowhere near as painful as knowing how very close you are to me and still not being able to see your face regularly. I apologize as well for being the cause of so much turmoil in your life, and if I wasn't so selfish I'd oblige to your father's wishes, but I cannot deny that I need you as the crops need water. So for now I cling to you greedily only thriving in the knowledge that you somehow love me as well. Even now writing this letter I have to be sure this time hasn't been a dream. And what is more, I write this with the wonderful news that another barbeque has been planned and the invitations sent, one sent with particular care and intention for the Brandon's. It is still two weeks away, and so even knowing we'll have another summer afternoon my heart is heavy knowing that I must wait so long. But I know that the patient are rewarded with the greatest heaven and mine is each moment with you. I long to see you and so I wait for your smile.

Sincerely and Completely Yours,

Jasper

Two weeks had never felt longer. Both Alice and Jasper spent most of their time counting the seconds to the barbeque that promised to reunite them once again. Both were constantly preoccupied and both their families failed to completely understand how much of an effect one had on the other until these two weeks came to pass. Eventually the morning of the barbeque dawned and both rose at the crack of dawn to prepare themselves for the other's arrival.

Alice rushed around her room once again, checking her reflection repeatedly and going back and forth between dresses, trying to pick the one she would look the nicest in for Jasper.

"Now Miss Alice…yous gonna bust into sweats runnin' so much…" Massie teased with a smirk. "Missah Jaspah ain't gonna be too impressed by no sweaty lady…"

"I'll have time to cool off Massie, I just have to make sure I have the right dress…." She said, her voice an octave higher than usual. She bit her lip anxiously, her eyes darting between two dresses. "He'd like the blue one better…..I think…" she muttered, giving herself a self-satisfying nod and moving to hang the runner-up back in her armoire.

"Ready now Miss Alice? I hopes we haves enough time to tighten this corset for yous…" Massie chuckled.

Alice shot her a playful scowl and moved to allow the woman to help her with the preparations she couldn't do herself. "Thank you Massie…" she muttered with an exuberant smile in the mirror. The woman only nodded in reply, a smile of her own on her face.

"Alice! Are you ready?" came Rosalie's voice from down the stairs.

"Yes! I'm coming…" she called back rushing, but making a brief pause to check her reflection once more, giving her cheeks a few extra pinches to redden them, though she knew once she saw him again she wouldn't need it.

The ride to the barbeque was basically the same as it had been the last time, except now there were three excited young ladies rather than just two. Once it again it seemed much too long a ride but eventually it ended and the buggy came to rest in front of the walk toward the Whitlock home. The Brandon sisters managed to gracefully scramble from the carriage and link their arms together as they made their way inside, their eyes scanning the faces for the ones that were the most familiar and anticipated.

Edward and Emmett were of course waiting just outside the back door grinning as they waited for Rose and Bella to appear. Both girls beamed as they caught sight of their beaus and gently separated their arms from Alice's and hurried to greet the boys waiting for them. Alice grinned as well and continued to scan the crowds, her eyes tightening slightly when she didn't catch the honey-blonde curls she knew so well.

"Don't look so worried My Magnolia blossom…" came a soft voice off to the side of her and Alice spun quickly to find the smiling face of Jasper who was standing in the frame of one of the many French doors that lead to the back lawns.

Jasper took a moment to take her in, admittedly having minimized her beauty in his memories. Now, standing in the glow of the summer sun, she took his breath away. Her pale skin seemed to glow against the deep midnight blue taffeta dress she wore, the sunlight breaking and glimmering in the silver accents of the fabric. His eyes fell on her lovely face again, seeing that his moment of observation had made her blush slightly and he grinned wider, stepping forward and bowing to take her hand and leave a kiss there.

Alice's smile somehow grew even more as his lips touched the skin of her hand and her honey brown eyes were locked on the cool grey of his, dancing brilliantly. "Jasper…" she breathed as he stood straight once more and stepped closer again to bow and leave a lingering kiss on her cheek. Her hands laid flat on the lapels of his jacket and she sighed, closing her eyes and the warmth and electricity of the contact.

She leaned into him slightly and Jasper moved to link his arms around her and smiled. He could smell her lovely skin once again and cursed his weak memory for losing even a degree of how it truly felt to be near her.

Alice's cheek pressed against his chest and she sighed contentedly. "I've missed you so…" she whispered, feeling him pull her even closer.

"I've missed you too Alice…" he murmured, his voice like warm honey.

However, they were soon brought out of their reverie and reminded that the world hadn't stopped spinning, as it felt it had when the sound of someone clearing their throat came from behind. Alice turned her head, to see both her sisters leaning into the sides of their beaus and smiling warmly at the pair and she blushed.

"I suppose that means we're supposed to join you for barbeque now…" Jasper chuckled, his arms still linked around Alice.

They moved to join the others and make their way across the lawns to find a place to sit and eat together. It was a nice afternoon for all of them, they were able to laugh and talk for the entire time, enjoying each other's company and finally able to spend time together as couples as well as friends. But of course, the time had to end much too soon. With sighs of frustration the girls stood slowly, followed by the boys who pulled them close to say their personal good-byes for now.

Jasper smiled down at Alice as she leaned into him, her face so sad already. He reached up to brush his fingertips along her cheek bone. "I'll see you once your rest is over…" he murmured softly, studying her face carefully.

"Alright…" she whispered, a small smile finding its way to her lips.

Slowly he leaned down to leave a soft kiss on her lips, her arms linking behind his neck gently and her cheeks reddening from the feeling of his kiss. Jasper pulled away just slightly and smile lovingly at her and kissed her cheek before stepping away to allow her to go with her sisters. Alice watched him for a moment before turning to go and continued to glance back as she walked alongside her sisters, until she could no longer see him.

The other young ladies were making their way up the stairs and settling in to nap as the Brandon girls entered and made their own preparations to rest. Alice found her place between her sisters and lay there for a moment, her mind running with thoughts and images of Jasper as she listened to all the others steadily drift to sleep. Not surprisingly, Alice found sleep eluded her here and eventually her patience wore thin and she decided her time would better be spent outside thinking and she made to sneak away just as last time.

Her bare feet glided noiselessly through the house and over the soft grass in the deserted part of the lawns. Once she was sure no one would notice her, her pace slowed and she began making her way over the familiar path that she had taken at the last barbeque here, where he life had changed.

As she walked, she hummed smiling at just how much she'd changed since finding her love for Jasper and remembering exactly what had happened the last time she'd made her way out here. As her walk continued, Alice looked around her, taking in the glorious afternoon, getting closer and closer to a spot that held so many wonderful memories.

However, after a while she had to stop, her eyes going wide as she saw a figure standing in her path leaning against a tree. Alice froze not particularly concerned with her appearance, but knowing that getting caught out like this could jeopardize things with Jackson…what upstanding Southern gentleman wanted to be seen with a girl who wandered around in her underclothes after all? Alice couldn't decide if she should just run and hope this person didn't know who she was, or to continue walking and let the chips fall where they may. Instead, she remained frozen, rooted to the spot.

"Don't look so worried My Magnolia Blossom…." Came a slightly amused voice and Alice's eyes widened and she giggled slightly, hurrying forward to embrace the shadowy form that was Jasper.

"You startled me!" she said, linking her arms around him.

"My apologies…" she chuckled, kissing her hair. "Is this a new barbeque tradition you've started Miss Brandon?" he teased. He saw her face redden and he squeezed her slightly, clearing his throat. "Not that I mind exactly…" he confessed. "You look so beautiful when you look so content."

Alice blushed, ducking her head. "Well it isn't as if I expected to be discovered either time…you're just too much like me I suppose that we find our contentment away from the others…"

"I only find my contentment with you…." He corrected softly, leaving a lingering kiss on her cheek.

Alice giggled softly and smiled, reaching up to stroke his face. "Well I suppose in keeping with tradition, this calls for some time together in the sun…" she mused.

"I suppose it does." He grinned leading her to the same spot they had sat before and enjoyed the silence in each other's company.

This time in their spot was no different than the last, yet completely different than the last. They had already professed their love for each other so now it was just contented silence that surrounded them both, leaving much the same feeling as having Jasper's arms around her now felt. Alice leaned back against his chest, her head resting next to his and holding his hand, tracing patterns on the back of it, letting out the occasional blissful sigh.

The breeze brushed the skin her underclothes revealed and it felt wonderful, so much cooler than that dress. Alice snuggled even closer to Jasper grinning and she turned her head to look up at him. "This is quickly becoming my favorite part of these barbeques…" she murmured kissing his cheek softly.

"Mine as well…" he muttered with a warm smile.

As he looked down at her, Jasper happened to notice the cap sleeve of her camisole had fallen and he allowed himself to stare at the skin on her shoulder for a moment. Alice felt his eyes on a new place and followed them, blushing slightly to see what he was so focused on, and instantly feeling butterflies in her stomach. Jasper was so completely distracted by simply staring at her skin and in that moment the block on his carefully suppressed scandalous thoughts flooded his mind, making his breathing speed up slightly. He could feel her watching him and began the internal struggle to rein his thoughts in. Eventually he regained enough control to look up, embarrassed about where his mind had gone, and holding apologies in his eyes even though she'd have no way of knowing what he'd been thinking.

Alice simply smiled up at him, her own face tinted pink and the butterflies in her stomach already growing. He grinned crookedly at her and moved to replace the caplet sleeve, his fingers managing to lightly brush over the skin of her arm and shoulder. As he touched her, a shock went through Alice and a moment of déjà vu flooded over them both and their hearts started to race, their tempos matching flawlessly.

Alice watched his hand move and his finger hook around her sleeve to begin placing it back where it belonged and without thinking she reached her hand up to his to stop him. He froze completely and both pairs of eyes met, a few shades dimmer already, their breathing slightly ragged and it was complete silence in that moment as they communicated things neither of them would ever say consciously…

There were deeper things at work now, natural feelings and urges that both of them knew speaking would just tear the moment apart, and instinctually neither of them wanted that. Their eyes were locked now and the thoughts both had been avoiding were flowing freely. There was a long pause where they sat, simply staring at each other oscillating between propriety and desire.

Slowly Jasper's eyes warmed and he shifted his eyes from hers back to the skin of her shoulder and leaned to brush his lips against her skin. Alice shivered, her eyes closing blissfully and opening again when his lifted his face back to hers and they both leaned in for a kiss and both knew they wouldn't turn back now….and neither of them wanted to.

~Author's Note~

So that was Chapter 4! Did I leave you with goosebumps, cause if not the next chapter will *conspiratorial giggle*. Read and review! You guys are so awesome and I'll get the next chapter up as quick as I can! 3