So here is a very short chapter... but it sets in motion a few things. There's the reveal of the big twist (near the start of the chapter)... and then a (not so) unexpected guest...
Chapter 42.
The party was still going and Bella was currently dancing with Jasper; his arms cradling around her body as she rested her head on his shoulder. One of his hands wound itself in her hair and he brushed his fingers through the strands before his hand came to rest on her shoulder; his finger tracing the bite mark he'd left on her. "Are you happy?" he whispered in her ear.
"Mmm," she hummed; a soft purr rattling through her body as his finger brushed backwards and forwards.
"You look so fucking beautiful, did I tell you that?" he murmured; his lips brushing the side of cheek.
"I kind of got the impression you liked it but you hadn't actually said it quite that way."
"Truly, you look amazing."
"Esme and Rose worked really hard the last couple of days to pulls this off." She murmured. "Esme sewed all these stones to the dress last night."
"The dress looks stunning but I think you're underestimating the part you played in the process." He smiled as he felt her embarrassment increase, "I wish I could take you back to our room now and show you just how great I think you look; how much it has affected me." Bella moaned softly and pushed herself closer to his body; feeling the evidence of his arousal against her waist. She pushed his collar to one side and kissed the mark on his neck; a hiss of pleasure exhaled from his body and they stopped the pretense of dancing as he buried his face in her neck.
There was a soft cough followed by an "I'm sorry to interrupt you," that made them pull apart to find Alec standing beside them awkwardly. "Aro asked me to tell you that Jane's friends are here; he would like for us all to assemble in the main chamber but he said you might like to change first. He also said there was no need to rush; we'll keep them waiting down in the lobby until you're ready." With his message relayed he turned and disappeared as quickly as he'd arrived.
Bella looked at Jasper once they were alone again, "He's here already; I thought we'd have a few more days. Edward's letter said he would be coming to us in Alaska."
Jasper cupped her face with his hands and kissed her softly, "We'll be okay." He whispered.
"I'm scared." She quietly admitted.
"Let's go back to our room; we can have a little time to ourselves before we have to face this."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the exit of the room; his parents and Peter catch his eye as they leave but he can't bring himself to stop and talk to them. Bella isn't the only one who's worried; he's feeling just as nervous about this as she is; in some ways possibly more because he's not sure how he'll cope if he loses her. And she was right; Edward had said James would be going to Alaska to see them; he'd assumed they would leave Volterra before he arrived and he'd then travel to find them. Did this mean something had changed? And if so; what exactly? His real worry began when he realized that Edward and Alice had seen the bond working; so if something had changed that meant it might not.
It doesn't take them long to get back to their room and once they're there she's in his arms and he's hugging her tightly. He clamps down his emotions; feeling them bubbling under the surface and threatening to overwhelm him; the last thing he wants to do is start projecting what he's feeling to her and make her feel worse.
"I don't want to do this," she breathes against his neck and he understands because he feels the same way.
"We're going to get through this, darlin'. I won't let him take you away from me."
She moved away from him; watching his face as she did before turning and walking over to the bathroom, "What about if you don't have a choice?" she murmured as she walked through the door.
He stood there stunned for about a minute before he zipped across the room; standing and leaning against the doorway as she stood in the middle of the room; running a bath; her back to him. "What's that supposed to mean?" he muttered.
"You know what they told you, Jazz. It might not have worked and when he tells me to go to him, I might go willingly."
"Do you think that'll happen?"
"I don't know. I'd like to think it won't but we just don't know." She sounded frustrated.
The room was bathed in silence and it became tenser as the reality of the situation set in. Jasper pushed away from the doorframe and took the few steps to stand behind her; his fingers working nimbly on the hooks and eyes on the back of the bodice. He wished he could go back in time half an hour and pretend everything was different; he actually wished quite a lot of things at the moment but mostly he wished he could get his beautiful bride to relax. Somehow he knew that wasn't going to happen. The dress fell down her legs and she stepped out of it; picking it up and tossing it through the door into their room. She stood there in her underwear; still facing away from him; Jasper looked at her; seeing the barely-there lingerie enticing him and turning him on quickly. He dragged a finger up her spine and then unfastened the bra; letting it fall to the floor without a second glance. His hands pulled her back against him and she came willingly although she still wouldn't look at him. Jasper kissed her hair; inhaling and taking in the scent of shampoo and pure Bella that assaulted him; it was like pure torture because as much as he wanted to touch her and bring her to ecstasy he couldn't make himself do it; he needed to preserve his sanity somehow and the only way to do that was to pull away from her a little; until he knew she was his. Then and only then would he ravage her the way he wanted to do now. "I'll be waiting in the other room." He whispered; squeezing her hand slightly as he walked away from her.
"Jasper…" she murmured but he ignored her and he felt her sadness and increased frustration as he shut the door.
*B-o-B*
Jasper changed quickly from his suit and then went to stand on the balcony; needing some fresh air which he didn't really need but felt like he did. Just a few hours earlier Peter had commented how happy he looked but if he saw him now he knew it'd be a different story. Gone were the smiles from before; the light feeling as he'd greeted his family after ceremony. Now it felt like the weight of the world was pressing on his shoulders and he didn't like it.
He stood there for a long time and stared out across the horizon; it had already been a very long day and it wasn't anywhere near finished yet. He just wished he could know for sure what to expect from the next couple of hours. What he would give for one of Alice's visions now; just something to reassure him that he was going to get through this; without his heart being left in tatters.
*B-o-B*
Bella walked out of the room and stood on the edge of the balcony; staring at her husband's back. It still threw her slightly to think of him that way and yet it felt right. "We should be going." She whispered; knowing he would be able to hear her.
"I need to know Bella."
"Know what?"
"If you're going to try in there; if you're going to leave me because I don't think I need to hear that for the first time in there; not in front of everyone."
"Where's all this coming from, Jazz?" she asked, "Why would you think that?"
"You seem determined to believe this isn't going to work."
"I want this to work; I want to be with you and I hoped you'd be able to tell that I'm telling the truth." He stared at her and she waited for him to say something; he didn't. "Why are we fighting?" she whispered. "This is supposed to be a happy day and we're fighting each other."
"We should go."
"Answer me, Jasper." She turned and watched as he walked past her and towards the door of their room.
"I don't know why. Maybe the bond hasn't worked after all." He said softly before opening the door and starting to walk down the corridor.
Bella ran after him; slipping her hand in his and sending him as many good emotions as she could, "I refuse to believe that, Jasper." She hated how her voice broke as she said the words. "You need to believe in us."
*B-o-B*
The door opened; Demetri and Felix walking through the doorway, trailed by three other vampires who had a sickening familiarity to the Cullen family; their anticipated guests had arrived causing Jasper, Emmett and Peter to growl as James smirked at the family. Laurent and Victoria didn't particularly seem enthralled to be there and hung back from James; trying to distance themselves from him; obviously realizing their visit wasn't as unannounced as they'd thought.
Aro rose from his seat and smiled benevolently at the three of them, "Welcome to Volterra; James, your timing is impeccable; such a wonderful day to choose to visit as well because you find us celebrating an auspicious event." James frowned at him slightly; his eyes darting around the room. Aro continued as if he hadn't reacted at all. "If we'd known you were coming we would've delayed the ceremony but alas you've missed the joining of Bella to her mate, Jasper Whitlock. It's such a shame you weren't here; I'm sure you'd have enjoyed seeing it; a really beautiful ceremony and Bella lived up to her name entirely."
James looked around the room, the three brothers smirked slightly as they knew as he didn't see who he was looking for. "Are you looking for someone in particular, James?" Caius asked.
Aro looked at his brother; a fake look of sorrow passing over his face, "Oh, yes, I'm sorry, maybe I should've mentioned this before I began; it's very remiss of me; we've suffered an immense loss to our family in the last few days." He fell silent and stared at the nomadic vampire, "I understand you knew Jane; unfortunately she was… involved in an accident and was unable to return to us." He paused and let that information sink in before continuing. "I'm sorry James; I'm sure she would've hoped to be here in person but these things do happen." He clapped his hands together and moved back to his seat, "Anyway on with matters; how can we help you?"
James growled in frustration, "I've come to take back what is mine…" he snarled.
TBC
A/N: Yes, I am the Queen of Mean and I've left you on a cliffhanger for the night... my bad! Let me know what you thought and send me a review. Are you worried now that Bella and Jasper have realized things haven't happened the way Edward and Alice saw them happening? What does that mean for them now, I wonder? Oh and sorry for Jasper freaking out (again) - I just like an emo Jasper. Only two chapters left now (!)... the next one tomorrow and the final one on Thursday.