Chapter Three: Repercussions of Delayed Honesty

"Please tell me this is real." I sighed, breathing in his woodsy scent. This was either the best birthday present in recorded history or I was having a delayed breakdown. I had heard Edward's voice after her left me alone, but I had never seen any of them. It was only his cold hand brushing my face that made me realise. "This is really happening, you're really here."

Allyson was giving me a concerned face while Dave sang a startlingly good version of Manson's Heart Shaped Glasses. I smiled at her over Jasper's shoulder and she smiled back before looking back at Dave. "God Jasper you have no idea how happy I am to see you."

He opened his mouth to speak and I shook my head. "No, I want you to know that what happened on my birthday was in no way your fault." I saw his face relax a little but it was quickly changed to confusion and he started to speak again. "No please, I'll explain but can we do this somewhere else?"

"Of course darlin'. We can talk wherever you're comfortable." He said, his head cocking toward my friends. "But you might want to tell your friends you're leaving. The guy you're with is starting to get annoyed."

I nodded and walked back to the table. "I'm sorry guys I've got to go. Jasper is a really old friend of mine and I haven't seen him in like a year."

Brooke smiled. "Okay call me tomorrow and we'll hang out."

I have them all hugs and said my goodbyes. I walked back to Jasper with a smile. "Okay, I'm going to assume you didn't run here so you can follow me back to my apartment."

He nodded and we left.

I drove the familiar path to my apartment wondering why, of all people, Jasper had found me. We weren't as close as me and Alice or Emmett, but we were getting there when they left. Maybe he wanted to apologise? Well that wasn't going to happen, he had nothing to apologise for. What if he was just passing through? At the least I could get his number before he migrated to wherever he was going, keep in touch. If he had plans to stay here then I could get to know him better. We had potential of great friendship. I giggled as I imagined me at forty, married and still meeting up with him in secret. It would not be good if my future partner knew I hung out with a vampire on a regular basis, Jaspers cover would we blown and the Volturi would eliminate him. I pulled into my apartment complex and into my spot. I watched Jaspers Jeep pull up behind me in the public parking and hopped out. I took a deep breath, grabbed my stuff and headed out.

"So, I'm on the third floor." I said casually and began walking toward the door. Opening it, I lead us up the stairs, going over the things I wanted to say and how I wanted to say them. I opened my door, kicked off my shoes and walked into the kitchen on my right. I dropped my keys on the table and motioned for him to come and sit down. "Jasper, I really have to get something off my chest that's been sitting for a while. If Edward hadn't pushed me that day Jasper, you would have never attacked me. You had the bloodlust of six other vampires hitting you all at once and I understand that it was too much for you to take. I had a revelation of sorts and I realised that the person at fault was Edward, and it helped me get over him I think."

XOX Jasper's POV XOX

Well if she hadn't changed a lot. Took the wind right out of my sails with everything she just said and then she relaxed completely. I can't believe she blamed this on Edward entirely, he knew it was his fault too but I still couldn't help but feel bad that it happened. Alice assured me that night as I flew into a panic that this was all part of fates divine plan and that all would correct itself in time. I guess this was just time. "I had come here today to apologise Bella, but I can plainly see that you wouldn't accept any I gave."

She nodded a little fearfully, as if half expecting me to leave. "That's right."

"I also have to talk to you about something very important and involving our futures." I continued, waiting for her to nod. "You see, Alice had seen you about seventy years ago in a vision. You were a little older than this and you were immensely happy."

She smiled softly. "So I will be happy again?"

I nodded and continued. "She saw someone approaching you and your happiness escalated, you turned to him and watched his skin sparkle in the sun before running to embrace him." I paused for a second, wondering how I was going to phrase this. "Bella, that vampire was me."

Her heart rate increased and she gasped sharply. "Jasper...but...Edward...mortal." She stuttered, she radiated nervousness and confusion. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself, I aided her a little. "How often are Alice's visions wrong?"

"Never" I said softly, I looked anywhere but at her.

"And did she see..."

"Yes." I nodded.

Her heart rate shot back up and her breathing became erratic as she began to sob hysterically. "I just started to love my mortal life and I'm not going to be able to have one for much longer."

I wrapped my arms around her in an attempt to calm her down. Once her breathing started to even out a bit, I spoke softly into her ear. "It's okay, you're going to be human for a while yet Bella." I pushed her face up to look at me and smiled. "I know exactly how it's going to happen and I've had time to adjust to how the situation and have thought this out entirely. The way I look at it, we have eternity to be together, you can take all the time you need to be human."

The sobbing calmed down a little. "Okay, give me time please Jasper, I barely know you and I am still a little scorned from Edward." She hesitated and I saw the flinch cross her face. "Why did he do it Jasper? Did he not know about any of this?"

I worded my answer very carefully. "Edward was to bring you into the family so that we could meet and fall in love. He wasn't supposed to fall in love with you, but he couldn't help it. He said you made him feel human. He was so depressed after he left you Bella; he blamed everything on me, saying that if only I could have controlled myself then he could have spent another year or so with you before letting you down gently."

Bella nodded slightly, a few more tears falling. "So I don't have a choice really do I?"

"I'm sorry darlin' you can resist all you want but sooner or later it will happen." I replied, feeling her hopelessness and most surprisingly acceptance.

"Okay, I won't resist." She replied sighing deeply. "I could see it happening but right now I just want to get to know you Jasper. I'm sure you feel the same."

"I agree. I resigned myself to my fate long ago and will willingly embrace you as my future, however long it takes." I was honest with her; I could easily grow to love her.

XOX Bella POV XOX

I made myself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. This was a lot of information to absorb all at once. Jasper was definitely a sweet guy, but I didn't really see him romantically. "You know that all I can offer you right now is friendship."

He nodded. "Yes, I will try my best to be careful of your human friends."

"I'm not worried about that Jasper. I just want you to be yourself around me, I'd like to get to know the real you." I smiled. "I don't know about you, but I'm kind of hungry. How about we head down to the local cafe and we can talk more?"

"Okay, did you want to drive my Jeep of your truck?" He asked. I could tell he was eager about this because he was getting his shoes on already.

I laughed a little to myself and walked to the door. "We'll take my truck; I know where the cafe is."

We arrived at the cafe at around ten and sat down in a booth in the back. The waitress was quick to take our order. Jasper ordered a plain black coffee, I'm sure just for show and I ordered a local dish called poutine. It was fries with gravy and cheese. So delicious. "So Jasper, how do you propose we go about getting to know each other?"

"Well, I propose we start the easy way." He said, smiling at the waitress that brought us our drinks. "What are your likes and dislikes?

I sipped my coke and thought about it. "I like movies I guess most kinds but not romance so much. I like to read obviously and I like playing card games with you."

We continued off from there, talking and laughing until late. I glanced at the clock and noticed that it was two. I looked back at Jasper and he was happy. I felt bad telling him that I had to go to bed, but he understood and took off to find an apartment for rent, stating that he was going to be here a while. The prospect of seeing him often pleased me so much. I was going to enjoy getting to know Jasper and eventually, opening my heart to him. Alice had never been wrong and if he was who she saw as my perfect match, then who was I to interfere with fate?

XOX

I know I said only three, but I don't want to rush the romance too much so it will probably be five, also updates will be sporadic as I'm still working the kinks out of the plot.