Mooch11 – Thanks, another chapter. I think the main reason Tara is liked slightly more is due to the fact she's older and has made Jasper stronger, and yes Edward was a touch angry in the last chapter, hoped you liked it.
The next major thing in the fic after this will be Bella's birthday, dun dun duuurrrr!!!!!!!
Chapter 15
Tara's POV
I was sitting on a bench watching a couple on another bench across from me, both equally as beautiful, their embrace intimate as though completely unaware of their surroundings. Emotion swamping me, I walked away, catching my reflection in a shop window, I took in my appearance, aged, my eyes sunken slightly, grey flicks running through my brown curls, wrinkles tracing the curvature of my face. I noticed the couple from the bench rise, Edward and Bella, neither aged, both vampires. I was old and alone.
I woke, sitting straight upright, I felt a cold soothing hand reach out and slot perfecrltly into mine.
"Ohh, come on, it was only a dream" I felt a hand reach up and move hair out of my face "Tara?" a voice dominated by concern, I felt a wave of calm.
"I'm ok Jasper" I groaned rolling over and finding his face inches from mine, his Topaz eyes searching deeply into mine.
"Honestly? You were groaning and moaning a lot, you moved a fair bit too"
"Nightmare" I explained
"Edward!" he strained
"No, nothing like that" I lied.
"Lets get you some breakfast" he helped me up. As we entered the kitchen I heard my sister's laughter echo through. At least someone was happy and had a care free life. As we entered I saw Alice sitting at my table as though she was there every day.
"Morning sleepy head" Alice grinned sitting with a cup in front of her, I laughed and raised my hand, releasing Jasper's hand I headed towards the cereal.
"We've been making plans" my sister answered
"Sound ominous" I responded approaching the table with my breakfast
"Want anything?" my sister asked Jasper
"No I'm fine, not a breakfast person, what have you been making plans for?" Jasper asked Alice his eyebrows raised
"Not the wedding" I groaned
"No, your engagement party first, one step at a time" Alice answered sarcastically
"Alice has got the decorations sorted, I'm taking the invitations out, and it is tonight" my sister explained
"You got all this sorted in-" I glanced at the clock "It's 11.30!" I exclaimed "You let me sleep in until 11.30"
"You were tired, it was a deep sleep"
"If you had woke me up, I wouldn't have had that stupid nightmare"
"You said it was nothing"
"I mean-" I took a deep breathe "It was just my mind, being stupid, I'm over it" I explained "Now this party"
"That's what I want to hear" Alice answered.
That night
"This dress is beautiful" I exclaimed spinning on the spot, it was black and when I stood in the light it sparkled and it was clear that there was blue glittery spots all over it. "I sparkle just like you" I grinned
"Come on" he placed his arm round me "The guests have started arriving", as we made our way downstairs Mike was standing in the doorway and for some reason seemed to be staring intently at my stomach. At this point I heard Edward laugh musically from inside the living room, clearly he knew why Mike was being weird and it was rather entertaining him.
"Hi Mike" I announced
"Hi, congratulations!" he added at the end awkwardly lifting his head up to my face,
"Thanks" Jasper spoke clearly I saw Mike glance at him nervously, had they ever spoke before. As we entered the living room I skipped over to Esme and Rosalie, who began hugging me and offering me their congratulations.
"What do you think of the party?" Alice asked appearing from behind them
"You've out done yourself, I just can't wait for the wedding" I answered
"I said she'd let me plan it" Alice grinned at Emmett.
I turned around and began to mingle in the crowds of people.
"She certainly doesn't look pregnant" I heard Mike mutter to Jessica who standing to my left
"She must be" Jessica responded "I can't think of any other reason why he would propose"
"They love each other" I heard Bella intervene
"You pair love each other, I don't see any ring on your finger" Jessica answered
"Probably cause Charlie would kill the groom" Bella answered jokingly, I felt Jasper's cold touch.
"Tara!" he announced after searching for me through the crowds, I saw Jessica, Mike, Bella and Edward turn around to face me, they all knew I'd heard them, they looked awkward except Edward, who I simply glanced at. Jasper span me around gently.
"Would you care to dance?" he enquired
"Of course" he bowed and I curtsied and we began a slow dance, weaving around eventually people began to join us, this was strange considering it was in the confined space of our dining room, although people had begun to spill out into the garden and living room. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Carlisle and Esme begin to dance, then Rosalie and Emmett, my sister and her boyfriend, the love appeared to be spreading. As Jasper spun me around gently I noticed Edward and Bella having a heated discussion before they left for the garden.
"I'm going to talk to Bella" I whispered, Jasper nodded and leant down gently, his lips gently pressing on mine I temporarily forgot why I'd stopped dancing.
"Talk to Bella" he whispered,
"Thanks" I mumbled before I stumbled down the steps into my garden. I saw two silhouettes standing in the shadows, there were people milling around holding glasses, I weaved my way through them, getting many congratulations and pats on the back as I searched for Bella.
"Bella" I yelled as I passed the last group of people, one the heads turned. "Can I talk?" I asked I reached her, she glanced at Edward.
"Oh it's not like you need his permission" annoyed, I grabbed her arm and took her away
"I'll be inside" Edward murmured walking away.
"Tara! That was rude" Bella mumbled
"Do you hate me?" I quizzed
"What! Of course not, it wasn't that rude" Bella laughed
"I mean, all this the engagement"
"No, I'm too young, everyone would think-"
"That your pregnant"
"You're?"
"No, I don't even know if it is possible, besides we haven't-"
"I understand" Bella glanced downwards
"Did Edward mention?"
"Alice's vision" Bella raised her eyebrows
"Yeah" I murmured slowly
"We'll have to see what happens" Bella responded
"Yup" I nodded
"Edward took it quite badly when he heard Jasper had proposed"
"I know!" I uttered, I sounded tense, she noticed this
"Did he hurt you?" Bella enquired, her voice full of concern
"Nope, just it scared me a little"
"I'm so sorry" Bella whispered
"Friends?" I asked
"Best Friends" Bella confirmed hugging me, we broke apart, there was a crunch and a crack of twigs. We both swivelled around nervously. Seth, Jacob, Quil and Embry emerged from the trees.
"You scared us there for a minute" I began grinning "You came?" I quizzed glancing at each of them in turn "I didn't know whether my sister visited you or not?" I smiled.
"You didn't listen did you" Seth groaned "You stupid stupid-"Jacob placed a hand in front of him protectively
"The warning we gave you" Jacob explained
"You went back to him" Seth was clenching his hands
"I love him" I explained standing defiantly in front of the four of them, Seth yelped and fled away.
"Quil go after him" Jacob instructed as another of the figures disappeared. "You have clearly made your decision Tara, I offer you congratulations in a kind of twisted way" I finished
"Thanks, in a kind of twisted way" I smiled "You can join the party if you wish"
"I'm not sure if we'd be welcomed very well" Jacob answered
"You're my guests, you would be treated like kings" I answered
"Nonetheless" Jacob added
"Your choice" I smiled, I stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek as a thanks and then stepped further backwards behind Bella
"Bella, there is still time you don't have to-" Jacob tried to talk to her
"Shall we return to the party?" Bella asked me ignoring him
"Err. Yes. Ok" and we made our way back to the party, I swivelled around and saw Jacob's lone figure in the trees.
"He loves you, you do know that" I whispered to Bella, she simply mumbled incoherently in response as Edward's silhouette appeared in the doorway.