And as the world comes to an end
I'll be here to hold your hand
'Cause you're my king and I'm your lionheart.
King and Lionheart – Of Monsters and Men
Driving the 20 miles to Charlotte's office was starting to become routine for Jasper's Tuesday nights. He didn't particularly enjoy their sessions; Charlotte was a hard taskmaster and Jasper sometimes felt that her goal was to push him beyond his breaking point.
He'd voiced his concerns to Bella late one night, eyes closed and humming softly. She'd run a hand through his hair, the dark blonde strands tickling her knuckles.
"How does she make you feel?"
"Empty, numb," he buried his face into her chest, his words becoming muffled "calmness though, there's that as well."
Bella wrapped her arms carefully around him as she felt the front of her shirt become wet, Jasper's face hot with tears.
"Higher, higher!" Bella squealed as Jasper lifted her to the top of the tree.
Stretching, she delicately balanced the angel on the top. Jasper growled as he swung her around and over his shoulder, dropping the two of them carefully onto the couch he pressed a kiss onto her mouth.
"You'll stay here tonight?" she asked, eyes shining up at him, "I don't want you waking up alone in the B&B on Christmas Morning."
Nodding, he crossed to Bella's VCR, slotting in the tape he had borrowed from Jess earlier that day.
"Of course."
"Miracle on 34th Street?" Bella questioned as he fast-forwarded through the adverts, the tape whining in protest.
"You showed me your Christmas traditions, I'm showing you mine. Now hush, it took me half an hour to wind the tape back into the cassette, I don't want to miss any of it."
Jasper called Rosalie the next morning, him and Bella yelling a "Merry Christmas!" down the phone as soon as Esme passed the handset to her. Jasper spent half an hour on the phone with her, hearing in detail about all the presents she received – "But yours is my favorite, Jazz!" – before Esme called her to get ready for church.
Bella and Jasper spent the day with Jess and her parents, Mrs. Stanley had made enough food to feed a small army, and Bella gratefully took the proffered left overs; it would save her cooking for several days.
Boxing day was the last of their three days off, and they both made the most of it, the two of them taking Jasper's truck to the town over for the annual Boxing Day dance at the town hall, Bella's dark hair swept into a beehive, white gloves up to her elbows. Jasper's eyes didn't leave her the whole night.
January was bitter that year, the snow setting in hard and leaving the diner empty most of every day. Jasper and the other boys from the garage spent most of their time digging cars out of the snow rather than fixing them.
Bella and Jess spent their days at the diner huddled around the space heater, warm woolen cardigans thrown over their blue uniforms. Bella's Walkman was used to provide some entertainment, Whitney leaking out of the headphones turned upwards to allow the sound to travel.
Bella was humming along one day in late January when the door blew open, a gust of freezing air brining with it a snow covered man. Jasper's arms went around Bella as he crooned the rest of the lyrics into her ear; I will always love you.
Bella's mom phoned one late evening in February. The reopening of Charlie's shooting had turned up nothing of interest and the case had been closed again. Jasper held Bella while silent tears streamed down her face and in bed later that night, he whispered sweet words as he helped her lay the last of her hurt to rest.
March brought with it Maple Syrup Season, Bella explaining the tradition to Jasper as she dragged him to the town square to watch the first tree of the year be tapped. The atmosphere was festive; stalls selling various maple syrup flavored fast foods were dotted around, horses and buggies mingled amongst the parked cars as the local Amish community came out in force as well.
Later, at the Pancake Breakfast at the firehouse, Jasper was sandwiched between Bella and Jess, maple syrup dripping down his chin. His eyes sparkled with mirth, his head tipped back in laughter as Jess regaled him with stories about Bella's clumsy first few weeks at the diner.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Whitlock," Bella grumbled, "least I got my job on my own merits, rather than having to beg to be able to fix my truck."
Jasper bowed his head in acquisition.
"Yes, but at least I never spilt peach pie on my boss," he snickered, tears shining in his eyes.
Bella scowled, flicking maple syrup off her spoon towards him.
Rose's birthday was in May; Jasper sent her a fancy dress, perfect for her first high school prom. Esme sent a whole roll of film containing photos of her wearing it, hands throwing the skirt out as she twirled around, a cheap rhinestone tiara entangled with her blonde hair. Jasper developed the photos and tacked them above his bed at the B&B.
Bella had sent her own little gift, a small bracelet carefully stitched out of fabric roses; Rosalie declared it the prettiest gift she had ever received and wore it waking and sleeping, refusing to take it off even in the shower until Esme gently reminded her that the water would ruin it.
Jasper didn't begrudge his present playing second fiddle to his; he was just happy that the girl who his life revolved around loved Bella as much as he did.