Everyday Moments Of Perfection

A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for being so patient with my stupid internet, and special thanks for reviewing (as well as the special, limited-edition, gold plated Jasper-shaped medallion).

And I shall include a quote from one of my favourite songs of the moment, because it's in my head and I think it's very 'Alice angsting over her lost memories'-ish. So, The Fear by Lily Allen ---"I don't know what's right and what's real anymore, and I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore... and when will it all become clear? 'Cause I'm being taken over by the fear..."

Anyway, on with the chapter. :)

Alice pressed a button, ending the call, before snapping the cellphone shut. She turned to Jasper and Esme, a delighted smile lighting up her face. Jasper felt her unbridled happiness fill the room and unconsciously he helped it spread, until Esme was also smiling, even though she had not been informed of the tidings that caused Alice's giant grin.

"Bella's coming to stay the night."

That made Esme's smile wider and the exuberance her own, before she wrung her hands. "Oh, there's so much to do, then! I'll go and freshen up Edward's room."

She started towards the stairs before turning sharply and fixed Alice with a look that was half-worried, half-pleading. "Will you go to the supermarket for me, Alice? I don't think there's enough food left."

Jasper was about to point out that they had more food in the fridge than Bella was likely to eat in a lifetime, until he felt the increase in Alice's cheerfulness, though her reply was deceptively indifferent.

"Sure, Esme."

Esme gave a relieved smile and sped up the stairs, out of sight. Alice smiled, turning to Jasper. "Come with me?"

She phrased it like a question, but Jasper thought it of it like a statement—something that didn't even need asking. He would stay by her side, wherever she went. Before she even got the last word out, his hand was in hers. Jasper felt Alice's fingers brush his palm lovingly, her smile growing soft and sweet. Gently, she pulled him towards the door.

Once outside, Alice perused the available cars. Jasper held her hand tightly but tenderly in his, watching her mentally debate. A slight smile rose, unbidden, to his lips as he did so. Eventually, Alice settled on Jasper's latest acquisition; a sleek, open-top, metallic silver Audi TT. Her golden eyes brightened and she jumped, lithe as a gazelle, landing with barely a sound in the driver's seat. She laughed, a sound that was light like wind-chimes, and started the engine, as Jasper jumped over the side door in a much more understated fashion.

She flashed a gleaming smile at him before her foot pushed down hard on the accelerator and they sped out of the driveway, a cloud of dust in their wake.

~oOo~

Alice surveyed the gleaming, white store as she and Jasper entered through the automatic doors, hand-in-hand. The onlookers around them could not stop their eyes widening in surprise. The scene did not befit them—they looked more like they belonged on a catwalk than in a supermarket. Also, for all their intimate connections, one could not forget that to the outside world their relationship was a strange one. The extreme difference in their heights for one thing, but also, where Alice was petite and fragile-looking, Jasper was by contrast muscled, and somewhat dangerous. Of course humans did not know why they thought him dangerous, but when they walked past him, the hair prickled on the back of their necks.

But they didn't care in the slightest.

Alice walked lightly, almost hovering, over to one of the aisle, lightly grabbing a shopping basket as she walked past the stand. Jasper walked by her side, almost protectively watching over her as she began to pull things from shelves and toss them delicately into her basket. Every so often, her eyes would flicker to Jasper, to check his demeanour. They were, after all, in a public place. She trusted him—but she wasn't naïve, and by no means did she want Jasper to feel the damning pain that she knew he would if he killed anyone. Alice wasn't callous—she also did it to protect human life, but her mind flickered always to Jasper first, and his feelings.

She turned her attention to the masses of food around her, stretching out a hand and plucking a packet of Pop Tarts from the shelf. They were a common enough snack, thought Alice, surely Bella would eat those. It was then she felt a trickle of panic as she realised she didn't really know anything about what humans—or Bella—actually ate. Alice started to panic as she thought she might mess up the easiest of tasks. Her mind started to take her to all sorts of irrational places—imagining Edward's disapproval, thinking that if she couldn't even find food fit for Bella, she could hardly be around her on a day-to-day basis.

Jasper sensed her panic, and placed a soft, placating hand on her arm. Alice felt the cooling sensation of peace course through her, more wonderful than the most powerful drug in the world. She turned and met Jasper's liquid gold eyes, telling him her fears. He smiled, empathising, but also shook his head.

"I love you, Alice, but sometimes you think the most absurd things."

Alice frowned slightly at what she felt to be a chastisement from Jasper. Sensing this, Jasper's eyes creased with worry and his arm curled around her waist. "All I mean is that there is no way Edward would ever bar you from seeing Bella."

Alice couldn't meet Jasper's eyes, until she felt a cool finger on her chin, tempting her head to rise. She did, and saw the incredibly tender, caramel eyes of her lover, looking into hers with absolute devotion.

"He loves you, Alice, and he would never hurt his favourite sister in that way. He knows how much you care for Bella and how much you value her already. You love her almost as much as he does."

Alice felt herself disagree, but Jasper seemed to sense that he had not convinced her and whispered in her ear, "I can sense the love, Alice. Rivalled only by Edward. Not even Esme loves Bella as much as you do. You know her importance in a way that not even Edward can fully appreciate yet. And she loves you in return, already seeing you as a sister."

Alice softly kissed Jasper at the very corner of his lips, before smiling, her eyes silently thanking Jasper. She hoisted the basket further up on her arm and her forehead creased slightly.

"So, Jazz... while that's wonderful and everything and I have been fully assured of Bella's sisterly affection, seriously, Jasper, what the heck do humans eat?"

Jasper looked around the aisles, full to the brim with hundreds of different kinds of food.

He frowned.

"Um…."

Hehe. I'm actually in love with that ending. It's definitely my personal favourite. Anyway, I apologise for the long wait. My internet connection is still not at all stable and since I'm moving house, I probably won't have one for a few weeks, but we'll see what happens. Thanks, and I hope you liked this offering of Jasper x Alice goodness. :)

Raven. X