Everyday Moments Of Perfection

Forty-Five: Wherever You Will Go

A/N: Thanks very much to all my lovely reviewers - you guys rock. Haha, most of you seemed to hate Renesmee as much as I do... teehee.

Before I get on with the chapter, some of you may have noticed my new poll which concerns my possible next AxJ, so please go check it out and vote because I'd love to have your opinion. On that note, here's a wonderful example of the 'vampire turns human' genre (which is what the poll is about), by the lovely Midnight Memories. Tis AxJ as well, an added bonus. So please go R/R it because it is amazing; http:// www. fanfiction. net/s/4994064/1/Carpe_Diem

Anyway, this drabble/one-shot... oh, let's just call them 'things', is pre-Twilight, when Alice and Jasper are searching for the Cullens. They're relying on Alice's visions to guide them there, but she worries that Jasper won't hold out and have trust in her visions and will eventually get tired of following her. Jasper sets her mind at rest. ;)

Oh, and in case you're wondering what happened to the Cullen's big mansion thing in this, they don't have the same house they do in Twilight. I'm basing that on the fact that Alice and Edward said that when Alice and Jasper arrived, they 'put Edward out into the garage'. She would have just moved him to another room if they had a massive mansion-thing. So it's a small-ish cottage, since Emmett and Rosalie are mostly elsewhere, doing... things. ;D

Anyway, on with the chappppter...

"I'd go wherever you will go;
Way up high or down low, I'll go wherever you will go...
In your heart, in your mind;
I'll stay with you for all of time." -- 'Wherever You Will Go' by The Calling

~oOo~

Alice felt herself re-emerge from the throes of a vision. She sighed, frustrately. It told her nothing she didn't already know.

She saw a small house, covered in snow. The path was lined with half-covered pale hellebores and witch hazel. Even though the crispness of the snow indicated it was fresh, the pale red and maroon cup-shaped hellebore still seemed so alive, as if it had been tended to by an extremely diligent and caring hand. She saw the door open, saw a woman emerge from the interior. Her hair curled down in soft, brunette waves, and her deep golden eyes shone with kindness. Her pale hand matched the colour of the snow which she gently brushed from a cowering hellebore bud to let it see the pale sun. Though it was a winter-flowering plant, it still needed the daylight. The woman stood, looking up into the pale grey sky and gave a small smile as she then surveyed her garden, a true Mother Nature, perfectly in her element.

Behind her, a man of the same ice-white skin tone and ethereal beauty, with that identical, unmistakable aura of compassion came out of the house to stand behind her. He rested his hands gently on her shoulders, his wedding ring catching a faint frisson of sunlight and reflecting the pallid rays. His tawny eyes twinkled as he tenderely brushed his wife's billowing locks to the side of her shoulder, and placed a slow, sweet kiss on her neck. The woman smiled, and turned, taking her husband's hand in hers, as together they re-entered the house, closing the door quietly behind them.

Alice smiled.

She wished that she and Jasper could be that couple. So safe, so calm... so relaxed in their own home.

It had been a while since Alice had a home. And a family to call her own.

Jasper was her lover, her best friend, the other half of her heart — but two people did not make up a family.

Behind her, Jasper was waiting patiently—As he always did, Alice thought fondly—and he smiled as she turned to face him. He took her hands in hers and just looked at them, brushing her fingers with his own, his crimson eyes looking at them with fascination. Alice leaned in, to place her lips on his forehead. He was trying. He tried to be like her, to refrain from taking the blood of humans, but Alice knew it was hard for him. He had slipped a few times. It would take another few days until the redness drained completely from his eyes.

Jasper looked up at the tingling sensation of Alice's lips on his stone-cut forehead. His eyes asked the question for him. What did you see, my love?

Alice sighed heavily, looking a little downcast. "The usual. The house, the snow, the flowers... the family."

Jasper sensed the frisson of pain in Alice's inflection of family. He placed his arms around her waist and drew her closer to him until he could take in her fresh, crisp scent. Alice smelled better than any human blood. She smelled pure, untainted. A fresh summer breeze with the barest hint of vanilla on its rousing zephyr.

He wove his hands through her soft, short ebony locks, still amazed that he was permitted to touch this perfect creature that stood before him. Alice responded with a small purr that started in her chest and rose through her throat to sound in his ear, igniting his senses as he felt her cool touch as she gently ran her fingers through his thick blond hair, her eyes closed. Jasper stopped his ministrations suddenly as his fingers traced her neck, up to her jaw. Alice frowned slightly, her eyes fluttering, about to open, but Jasper whispered huskily, "Don't open your eyes, love."

Alice complied, closing them, with a puzzled smile on her cherry-coloured lips. Jasper held up a finger, captivated by Alice's perfect, long, onyx eyelashes. He drew his finger gently across them from the outside in. They were unbelievably soft. Alice giggled at the bare ghost of a touch. The sound kindled Jasper's curiosity, and he placed his lips to her eyelids, brushing them delicately, making her giggle even more.

Alice couldn't believe that this wonderful, flawless man was still with her. Ever since she had started to have the visions of this lonely, conflicted soldier, she had begun to feel for him... she had fallen in love with him. She had been in love with him for years before she had even met him. Jasper had no such foresight. Alice still couldn't believe he hadn't simply stood up in anger and told her precisely where to go when she offered her hand to him in that diner.

From that moment on, she felt like she had been living in a dream world, just waiting for that horrible moment when she would have to wake up.

Jasper felt the dredged-up emotions that came with her reminiscences and opened his eyes, stroking her cheek; "What's the matter, darlin'?"

Alice knew she couldn't lie to him. She gave a little disbelieving laugh as she reached up, cupping his face with her small hands and piercing his eyes. "I just... I can't believe you've stayed with me for this long. We haven't found anything... and, well, even though I'm the one with the visions, I'm starting to doubt this."

Jasper looked at her, total seriousness in his eyes as they set in a determined ruby stare. "Alice, I will stay with you for as long as you'll have me."

Alice couldn't stop herself asking. "Why?"

Jasper gave a small smile that made Alice's unused heart flutter. "Because ever since you took my hand and told me you had seen our destiny together, I couldn't imagine any other life. I look into your golden eyes... and... I see my future, Alice."

Alice was touched, and she gave a shaky laugh as she said, "You see the future, do you? Well, I must be rubbing off on you."

Jasper smiled and brought his forehead to hers as he whispered against her lips, "Y'sure are, ma'am. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you, Alice, whether you like it or not."

"I don't like it," Alice whispered, her forehead creasing. Jasper's eyes flickered, but Alice added, kissing him sweetly, "I love it. I love you, Major Whitlock."

Jasper gave a lop-sided smile as, for the second time in their eternity, he took Alice's hand and turned to define his destiny with her.

"So, where to next?"

Alice beamed, and winked at Jasper. "Follow me."

Always, Jasper thought fondly.

A/N: Aw, I liked this one. I liked writing it, anyway. The Carlisle/Esme bit, too. :)

Anyway, please let me know what you thought. ;)

Much love, Raven. x