Okay, guys, I'm being way nicer than I should be. You guys are not reviewing.I only got four - yes four - reviews last chapter. I want to personally thank the four people that did review - justanotherditzyredhead, TayuyaFluteofDeath, seashell118, and I'myoursweetestgoodbye, you guys rock. Also, you guys aren't responding to my question. Only three people have answered - TayuyaFluteofDeath, I'myoursweetestgoodbye, and XxKMacxX. Seriously, guys. You guys don't deserve another chapter. But I'm being nice and giving you one anyway. So do me a favor please. All I ask is that you review and tell me whether or not a boys version of this story sounds good. It's really not that hard. I'm begging you guys!

Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. However, since this is my story, I can do whatever the hell I want with them. For example, since this is my story, Jacob can like Lizzie. Why? Because I said so, that's why!

Chapter 23 – We Belong Together (Alice's POV)

I pulled a pocket-watch from my pocket and glanced at it nervously. 3:25. If Jasper was coming, he should be here in five minutes. I slipped it away, before readjusting my position on the bench. I sat in the willow grove, waiting for Jasper and praying he would come. I pulled the watch from my pocket again. 3:27. I pocketed it, stood up, and began to pace back and forth across the clearing, too nervous to sit. I had just reached the far end of the clearing when I heard the leaves rustle. I spun around as the leaves rustled again, before parting. A man stepped into the clearing. My heart soared at the same time as a sea of pain crashed around me.

Like my dream, Jasper and I stood across the clearing from each other, staring into each other's eyes. Numerous times, I tried to speak and failed. Finally, I found my voice. "You came," I said.

He nodded, but didn't speak. We stood in silence staring at each other. Slowly, he pulled my letter out of his pocket. "Why did you send me this?" Jasper asked.

"I wanted a chance to apologize to you, Jasper," I said.

"I'm listening."

I took a deep breath. "I've been thinking about everything that's happened since we met," I said. And I'm sorry. For everything. I should have been honest with you from the start, Jasper. Instead, I lied and I told you half-truths, and it hurt you and… I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you." Jasper continued to look at me. Slowly, I started walking towards him. "I truly am sorry, Jasper. I wish you could see just how sorry I am right now. I feel horribly guilty for what I've done. I wish I could erase everything and just go back to when we first met, when things were just perfect between us. When we…." I hesitated. "When we were in love."

"Were we, Alice?" Jasper asked. The question brought me to a stop, halfway across the clearing, in front of the bench.

"I was," I said softly. "I love you, Jasper, with all my heart. Truly, I do. And I know you may not love me anymore, but…." I never finished my sentence. At that moment, Jasper unfathomable expression changed to one of sheer passion and love. He lurched forward, closing the space between us in five long strides. Like in my dream, he took me into his arms, pulling me close to his body. I gasped in shock, winding my arms around his waist. He pulled me closer and leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"Of course I still love you, Alice," he whispered. "How could I not? Haven't you realized just what you mean to me? I thought you could tell how much I want you, how much I need you."

"But you were so mad at me…" I mumbled.

"I wasn't mad at you, Alice; I was jealous," Jasper confessed. "Jealous that this Jacob person would be lucky enough to spend the rest of his life with you when I couldn't. Jealous that he would be able to hold you and love you like I never could. Jealous that when you one day walked down the aisle, it would be him waiting for you at the altar, not me. Jealous that he would receive all of your love. Jealous that he would be the one to give you a home and children and make you happy."

"I wasn't happy," I told him. "I spent everyday pining after you, wasting away. All of my energy went into loving you, even thought I knew I shouldn't. There wasn't any energy or love left for him."

Jasper shook his head. "You love me so much more than I deserve, Alice."

"You deserve every ounce of my love and more, Jasper."

"It's not mine, Alice. I can't claim your heart if you belong to someone else."

"I don't belong to someone else."

"What do you mean?"

"Jacob and I both agreed that being betrothed to each other didn't work for us. So our parents ended the betrothal. I can marry whomever I please."

"And who do you want to marry, Alice?"

"You. I want to marry you. I want to be able to do everything you said before for you. I want to spend my whole life with you. I want it to be you holding me and loving me. I want to walk down the aisle on my wedding day and have it be you waiting for me at the altar. I want you to give me a home and children and make me happy. I want to love you."

"You really want to belong to me, to be my wife?"

"I already belong to you, Jasper. Every part of me has always been yours. My heart, my body, my soul… they're yours."

"Are you sure, Alice?"

"I'm sure, Jasper. If you want me, I'm yours."

Jasper wrapped his arms tighter around me. "Alice…" he whispered, his breathing ragged. He leaned in towards me, and I felt my breath catch in my throat and my heart start to race. Unlike my dream, his lips pressed a long, lingering kiss against my forehead, not my lips, but I didn't care. This was better than my dream because it was real. He pulled back and I leaned my head against his chest with a breathy sigh. We stood there for a while, then Jasper took a step back and sat down on the bench, pulling me with him. I adjusted myself so I was sitting comfortably on his lap and nestled closer to him. His arms wrapped tighter around me, holding me there. Neither of us spoke, but we didn't need words to convey everything we felt. Happiness. Peace. Trust. Friendship. Love.

"Alice?" Jasper's voice broke the silence.

"Yes?" I said. Jasper's tight grip around me loosened and he slid me off his lap and onto the bench beside him. He stood up, took my hands in his, and helped me stand up.

"I know you already said that you would marry me, but I want to do this right, so," he slid down onto one knee, never letting go of my hands. "Alice Brandon, I love you. You are my reason for living and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you too, Jasper. So yes, I will marry you." Jasper smiled at me and stood up. Feeling like my heart could burst from joy, I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him. His arms constricted around my waist and he hugged me back.

"There's one more thing we need to do to make this official, you know," he told me, still hugging me. "We need to tell our parents and get their approval."

"That won't be hard," I said. "They approved the first time, why wouldn't they approve a second time?"

"Still, we should get it out of the way, so we can move on to more important details." I sighed reluctantly and let go of Jasper. He unwrapped his arms from my waist, but reached down to take my hand. Together, we walked out of the clearing and over to our carriages. Outside my carriage, Jasper turned to me. "I'm going to go home and get my parents. We should be at your house within the hour."

"I can wait," I said.

"Maybe you can," Jasper said. "But I can't." He helped me into my carriage. "I'll see you soon." He shut the door and my carriage sped away. I arrived home and immediately sent Augustus to tell my parents to come to the sitting room. He disappeared to go find them and I went to wait.

My parents trailed in a few minutes later. "Yes, Alice, dear? Why did you need us?" my mother asked.

"The Whitlocks are on their way over," I answered.

"Whatever for?" my father asked.

"Jasper asked me to marry him, and I said yes. He wants to get your approval, though, before we make anymore plans."

My father was about to respond when Augustus appeared in the doorway. "Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Brandon, but Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock are here to see you."

"Bring them in, Augustus," my father said. He and my mother sat down on one of the couches as Augustus went to get Jasper and his parents. They came in and Jasper immediately walked over to me and kissed me on the cheek before sitting down next to me. His parents exchanged greetings with my parents and settled down on another couch.

"So, Jasper, you asked Alice to marry you, correct?" my father asked.

"That is correct, sir," Jasper said.

"And Alice, you accepted?"

"Yes, father, I did," I said.

"My parents have no objections to Alice and I getting married," Jasper told my father. "All we need is your approval, Mr. Brandon. And yours, Mrs. Brandon."

"I don't understand, though," Mrs. Brandon said. "Even after what happened before, you still want to marry Alice, Jasper? I am not saying I don't approve, but I just want to understand better what's going through your heads."

"I think the best explanation I can offer you is that love is irrational, Mrs. Brandon," Jasper said. "I love your daughter. She has hurt me before, but I still love her. It's irrational, yes, but that's love."

"So you're saying this is about love, Jasper? Is that it?"

"It is, Mrs. Brandon. I love Alice and she loves me. All we want is the chance to act on that love."

My mom nodded. "You really do love her. I can see it in the way you look at her. It's in her eyes too." She smiled. "You have my blessing, dears. I'm sure you will both be very happy together and I look forward to having you as my son-in-law, Jasper."

Jasper smiled at her and turned to my dad. "All we need is your approval, sir."

My dad cleared his throat. "Honestly, not giving you two my blessing would almost be a crime. It would be wrong to keep you two apart. Love is a blessing, children, and it's an even bigger one if you can follow it and be happy. Cherish what you have with Jasper, Alice. It's rare to find love as pure and sweet as what you've found here. And Jasper?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Take good care of my daughter."

"I will, sir."

Two down, one to go. Please review! I want to hear what you think, both of the chapter and of the idea of a boys version of the story! Please! Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please!

xoxoxoxoxo, TwilightTeen212