Chapter Four:

Jasper was most definitely a bizarre being.

I stood at a shelf, putting some books away and contemplating what had become of my life in the last two and a half months. My complete outlook on life had done a total reverse, I clung to my life now, enjoying every little moment because I knew full well that mine were currently numbered. Jasper had explained to me what he knew was going to happen, that eighteen months from now I was going to die. As things stood right now, we were slowly working our way up the friendship ladder. Why just last week we checked out a local band at a club. It was gearing up for Christmas and I had yet to confirm with my dad that I was going there, so Jasper and I were toying with the idea of spending the holiday alone...together. We figured that we could head out to Banff and rent somewhere for a week. A fortnight ago we had sat at my kitchen table with a Canadian map in front of is and my laptop, going over places we'd like to visit.

XOX

"How about Golden?" He suggested

I shook my head. "Jasper?"

He looked up from the map. "Hmm?"

I giggled a little. "No Jasper is a place near Banff."

"Banff sounds good." He agreed. "If you don't end up spending the holiday with your dad then we can go to Banff."

XOX

I jumped high into the air with a gasp as I felt an ice cold hand touch the back of my neck. I turned as I tried to get over the shock, glaring at...a laughing Jasper. "Jasper! What the hell?"

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist." He chuckled. "So, I'm here to break you out. Cleared it with Dave and everything."

"Where are we going though?" I asked. I really dislike surprises.

He smiled at me and I knew I wasn't going to like it.

XOX Jaspers POV XOX

I had something exceptional planned that I knew she had never tried before. I had paid for us to enjoy it the whole day alone, less chance of Bella falling and get hurt.

"Just go get your things then meet me in the car, no questions." I told her. She sighed and left for the back room. She came out front after a few moments, scowling at me and stomping toward my vehicle. I followed after her and sat in the driver's seat. I grabbed the blindfold and turned to her. "You're gonna have to wear this Darlin'."

She sighed and took the blindfold from me and put it on. I could feel a spark of excitement run through her and knew that she was going to love this surprise. I drove the road that would lead me to the thing I was going to surprise her with. The last couple of months had been a lot of fun, but had only confirmed the fact that Bella and I were supposed to be together. I had found myself drawn to her, wanting her happiness and to have her near. I spent every day at her apartment, only leaving to hunt and give her some space. I would watch her as she made herself breakfast, how happy she looked when it all turned out in her way. I liked how content she looked whenever she curled up beside me on the couch, how calm she felt. I liked that I had that effect on her. I was falling hard. I pulled up outside our destination and turned off the engine. "Well Darlin' we're here. Give me a second and I'll get you out"

She nodded and I exited the car, making my way over to her side. I helped her out and lead her to the door of the building. "No trying to kill me now darlin', I just want you to have fun okay. I opened the door and we stepped inside. I felt her excitement spike as I removed the blindfold.

"We're going ice skating?" She yelled, anticipation pouring from her in waves. "I've never been ice skating before!"

She ran toward the rink and I followed her, laughing, "I never thought you'd be this excited." I smiled at her as she leaned up and kissed my cheek. "Let's get you skated up."

I helped Bella into her skates and let her to the ice. She stumbled a little as she tried to walk in skates for the first time. I guided her on the ice, slowly helping her around the rink. She took to it naturally, moving with such grace on the ice. She never stopped smiling as she glided, her eyes sparkled with excitement. I never thought I'd see her this happy.

She laughed and smiled at me. "I can't believe I'm not falling over!""

"I'm not honestly; I figured you'd be good at it." I replied.

We skated for an hour before Bella got too cold and I watched her gently glide off the ice...

...Before falling into the bench on the other side of the box. "You have the grace of a dancer on the ice but on solid ground you are amazingly clumsy."

She looked at me with a blush on her face and shrugged. "Unsure. Shouldn't it be the other way?"

I followed her example and skated off the ice, removing my skates. "Would you like to do anything else today?"

Bella paused, left leg in the air, halfway through putting her boots back on. "How about the aquarium? They have sea turtles!"

"Yeah okay." I agreed with her, the aquarium would be a nice place to visit. "Sea turtles it is."

XOX Bella's POV XOX

"Jasper look at it!" The stingray I was petting was loving it! "It's like a cat!"

He chuckled at me and looked over from the wall – apparently even sea creatures can detect vampires as dangerous. He motioned his head to the glass tunnel where we could watch the sharks and dolphins swim.

I moved to his side and we began to slowly meander through the tunnel, watching the fish and sea mammals swim above our heads as we took pictures. For the first time ever he made a grab for my hand and I allowed it, feeling his cool skin on mine. I sighed in contentment and he gripped me a little tighter.

"You having fun darlin'?" He asked me, his eyes following a rather large bottlenose above us.

I unlaced my hand from his and put it around him, my head resting on his arm as we walked. "I am. You're so wonderful to be with Jasper." I sighed. "I think eternity with you is going to be exquisite."

XOX Jaspers POV XOX

My non beating heart skipped a beat. She held my hand, cuddled up with me and even admitted that eternity with me would be wonderful. "Are you admitting that you're starting to fall for me Bella?" As I had for you the moment I laid eyes on you.

Bella's cheeks took on a rose hue. "Well yeah I guess I am." This was said with a little more confidence. "What I have realised is that if this is what fate has chosen for me then I should accept it." She turned and smiled at me. "And she couldn't have chosen someone better for me. You just...get me Jasper, you're my friend and you understand me. That's all I want in a partner."

"And I do love you Bella." I told her. " 'I lived my life in misery, I'd sacrifice this world to hold you.'."

She laughed a little. "I never pegged you as a Bullet for my Valentine kind of a guy."

"I'll surprise you over the years darlin'. Trust me"

XOX Bella's POV XOX

Christmas was here and Charlie had decided to take the time off work to spend the Christmas with us. I mean me. Well I guess I mean us seeing as Jasper had barely left my apartment in a month. We were friends but more that friends at the same time. He shared my bed with me – fully clothed and reading – while I slept, 'ate' breakfast with me every morning and even had applied for a part time job across the street from me so that he could be close by at all times. We had told Charlie most of the story. We explained to him that he was Edward's brother and that he had come to town just to apologize and get a fresh start. We had became friends over the coming few months and had casually started dating. Charlie needn't to know that we were currently planning how to drop off the face of the earth together while I underwent my transformation, and how we were going to have a human wedding close to my birthday next year.

So here we were, sitting to have a beer with my dad on Christmas Eve while he casually talked with us.

"So Jasper, how's work?" Charlie asked.

Jasper nodded. "Good. Busy, it being Christmas and the Apple store."

"I can imagine." Dad replied. "Everybody wants an iPod for Christmas. Bell's honey, will you run down to the local Seven Eleven and get me a pack of smokes?"

Uh oh. "Okay dad, I can do that." That means he wants to talk to Jasper alone. My dad doesn't even smoke!

I grabbed my keys and headed for my truck, texting Jasper as I walked.

Dad wants to talk to you alone. Please be yourself and don't let him intimidate you.

I got a reply shortly before I arrived at the gas station.

I've got no reason to worry Bella, he only wants the best for you and I am what is best for you.

As I walked into the store, I felt at ease with his reply. He was best for me and I knew Charlie could see that.

XOX Jaspers POV XOX

"So, Jasper." Charlie started, "What exactly are you trying to achieve from this relationship with Bella?"

I positioned myself in a negotiation stance and began to speak. "Truth be told I have always wanted a future with Bella. As soon as I lay eyes on her I've wanted to make her happy." I laughed a little. "Unfortunately when Bella began Forks High, Alice and I were in the process of one last attempt at saving our relationship. It was one week after Bella arrived and turned my world upside down that Alice and I broke it off. By the time I finally had enough courage to ask her out to dinner my brother had swept her off her feet." He didn't need to know it was pre destined.

Charlie's face conveyed that of someone entranced in a good story. "So you left Forks with everyone to try and put her behind you?"

I nodded. "Yes. I didn't want to be permanently reminded of what couldn't be."

"How did you end up here though?" Charlie asked.

I shrugged and smiled. "I had been passing through and stopped at a bar to relax before I headed back out for the night. I heard Bella singing at the karaoke so I couldn't not say hello. We got to talking and it simply occurred that this may be fates way of giving me another chance...I jumped at it."

Silence dominated the room as Charlie surveyed for a few moments before he spoke. "Well, you certainly seem to love her Jasper. You have my blessing."

XOX Bella's POV XOX

"Darlin' wake up...the sun is about to rise"

I opened my eyes on Christmas morning to see Jasper smiling over me in the pyjama's my dad gave us both last night. "What time is it?" I mumbled sleepily.

"Six fifty. I wanted to watch the sun rise with you honey." He said softly, taking my hand and leading me to the balcony off the living room.

I stood, sleepy, in the early morning air. Wrapped in Jaspers arms, I felt safe and secure. "Merry Christmas Jazz."

He kissed my cheek softly. "Merry Christmas Bells."

We watched the sun rise slowly over the city, waking as it rose. About a half an hour later we went back inside to get breakfast started before we opened presents.

As I was preparing and cooking breakfast, Jasper went for a 'walk' while Charlie drank a coffee and helped me cook. "You really love him don't you Bella?"

I smiled and turned to face him. "Yes dad I really do. He treats me as an equally, shows me respect. I love him with my whole being, honestly I think Jasper has been it all along. Edward was like a bridge if you know what it mean."

Charlie smiled at me, a single tear in his eye. "I'm so proud of you Bella. You have your life completely figured out! You have a decent job, a lovely apartment and a nice boyfriend who cares for you deeply." He took a deep breath and tried to fight his tears. "Now, I don't want to sound mushy when I say this, and I will find him if he hurts you, but I think that Jasper is a very nice young man and that if you decide to make him the one...then you have my full support."

Tear sprung up in my own eyes and I left the bacon burning, embracing my dad fiercely. "Thank you daddy. I think he might be the one."

"That's lovely to hear darlin', because I kind of have an important question to ask you."

I gasped and turned around sharply as Jasper came up behind me. He dropped to one knee. Surprise wracked me as I knew this was coming but I didn't know when. "Isabella, my life without you seems like some distant memory and unimportant in the grand scheme of things. You are the most treasured thing to me, so beautiful and witty, I want to dedicate myself to making your every dream a reality, so please let me wake up with you in my arms every day. Forever."

He pulled out a ring box and popped it open. Inside lay a delicate looking platinum band with three sapphires. I nodded my 'yes' as words couldn't appear. Gently he slipped the band over my ring finger and kissed me.

Dad sniffed and grabbed our attention. He was crying as he hugged me. "Congratulations baby girl."

"So do you want your present now?" Jasper asked me, smiling.

"There's more?" I said.

He chuckled and walked into the living room, I followed.

Sitting under the Christmas tree, chewing on the bow around its neck was a puppy.

XOX

So, hope this satisfies y'all. I tried my best and the next chapter will be the last. I have been picking away at this one for about 6 months and with my own wedding in 6 months it may be longer lol

Roxy xx