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Special thanks to Snarkymuch, Gredelina1, Arrr, Augustmoon. Verseseven and Mary-Alice-Brandon-Cullen for pre-reading this.

The was pre-read by jtmd24 and beta'd by Maxipoo1024 from Sparkly Red Pen. Thank you ladies.

Chapter Eight - Getting To Know You

Jasper POV

I was jubilant at the success of our time together. Isabella seemed like a different person when we were alone. She answered some of my questions, and unbeknownst to her, she had revealed far more than her words intended.

Whatever the circumstances that had forced her to maintain a vegetarian diet, they were not so different to my own. There had been definite understanding in her eyes as I spoke of the depression I had lived with. Her affected indifference to her new name was just that, affected. She said Leofflæd died and Isabella was born, and she meant that quite literally.

Though I lost much of my humanity when I was changed, I had gradually regained some since joining the family; she did not have the same chance, and it made her bitter. Her theories of humans were valid, but I suspected there was a deeper meaning to her words than she had shown.

When she mentioned her coven, suspicion began to gnaw at me, and the more I thought of it, the more probable it seemed. The sudden call away, Eleazar's heartfelt command to be careful, even the way she carried herself, I was fairly certain my mate was a member of the Volturi. Her gift would certainly be a coveted skill, and it was easy to imagine how our law keepers would utilize it for their cause.

This raised more questions than it answered, however, and I was unable to ask them. I was leery of questioning her again. Just because she had allowed it once, it didn't mean she would do so again. Instead, I enjoyed the sensation of her running at my side.

When we reached the house, she led me to the garage and mounted her bike. I stood beside her, looking a little foolish as she gunned the engine.

"Are you coming or not?" she asked, patting the seat behind her.

Needing no more encouragement than that, I climbed on behind her. I reached behind to hold the grab rail, but she took my arms and wrapped them around her waist instead.

"Hold on tight, empath, I am going to be testing the speed," she cautioned. Even if she had not, I would have been holding on as tight as I could while maintaining propriety. The opportunity to have any contact with her was too tempting to pass up. With a roar of the engine and a rush of speed, she pulled out onto the drive.

I had no idea where she was taking me, but I was comfortable allowing her to lead. Whatever her plan, it was sure to be entertaining. I was quickly coming to understand that anything done with Isabella was entertaining. We drove towards Anchorage but instead of taking the road into the city, she headed toward the coast. She pulled over at a lookout point, and we climbed from the bike.

"We have to go on foot from here," she said.

She looked around carefully, but we were completely alone. It was an isolated area, and I couldn't hear or sense any humans nearby. With a bright smile, she vaulted the guard rail, landing twenty feet down on a narrow ledge. I jumped down beside her and followed as she led us further along the cliff.

Soon we were in an area so desolate there was no possibility of humans seeing us. There was an outcropping of rock above us extending over the ocean; she scaled it with impressive grace, even for a vampire. When I reached her, she was tugging off her shoes and coat.

"You might want to do the same," she said, glancing down at my loafers. "Our clothes will dry, but waterlogged shoes are very unpleasant."

Obediently I slipped off my shoes and coat. "What are we going to do, Isabella?"

She smiled dazzlingly. "We are going to cliff dive. Of course it is not quite as fun as the mountain would be, but we all have to make sacrifices to keep the secret."

She stepped back a few paces then ran forward and launched herself off the cliff. I watched her, feeling irrationally anxious as she plummeted. She extended her arms in a perfect swan dive just before she hit the water, after staying down for a long time she emerged with a delighted laugh.

"Not afraid of heights are you?" she teased.

I took a longer run than she had and forcefully propelled myself off the cliff, arcing into the air. I finally lost momentum and plummeted to the water.

It was exhilarating. I had a vague human memory of diving into a quarry lake when I was younger, but this was so much better. It felt like flying. I was smiling foolishly as I swam to her side, buffeted by the rolling waves.

"Quite a rush isn't it?" she asked.

"I can't believe I never thought of doing this before," I said.

"Now do you see why I want to test out the mountain? Imagine the rush of jumping from that height."

"It is definitely tempting." I wondered how we could keep the humans away for a day to give us the opportunity. Perhaps Alice would be able to help.

"Race you back to the top," she said and then shot through the water.

We spent hours diving, sometimes in tandem and other times alone. As much as I enjoyed being close to her as we dove, I much preferred to watch her from the water; her smile was breathtaking as she jumped.

The longer we spent together, the more she seemed to relax. After our last dive, we sat together on the ridge, enjoying the view and silence. She had explained that we needed our clothes to dry a little before heading home. She didn't want to damage the leather of the seats. I was happy to wait. The longer we did, the more time I had with her.

She asked me about each member of the family, about the places we had lived, the things we had done, about our life among the humans. She was shocked when I told her that we went to high school but not scathing as I expected her to be.

"So you repeat high school again and again. Does it not get boring?"

"It can be boring; I prefer it when we are playing the part of college students instead. In high school, we tend to repeat the same material each time; there is a lot more variety in college. And of course, there are always new areas of study arriving each year. Rosalie likes to study technical subjects, and she learns something new each time as there are new developments."

She nodded thoughtfully. "I can see the attraction. I don't think I could stand being that close to the humans, though."

"Temptation?" I asked.

"Not that. I have my own way with dealing with that. I was thinking more about being deferential to the educators. I don't think I could stomach it."

Her choice of language made me curious, and I dared another question. "When did you last go to school?"

She considered for a moment. "I spent some years studying privately, but in my youth, there was no opportunity for education." She caught my confused expression. "It was a very different time."

"Why don't you try it now? College is very different. You would not need to be deferential to the professors."

She snorted. "That's an intriguing idea, but I think I'm better off as I am."

She rose to her feet, effectively ending our conversation. "I think we should be okay to ride now. Are you ready to head back?"

I didn't want our time together to end, but I wanted to get back to the house, or more specifically, to Carlisle. He was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge, and I was hoping he would have some insight into the mystery of Leofflæd.

She didn't speak as we made our way back to the motorcycle. She seemed lost in thought. I wondered if she was considering my suggestion of college. I could go with her; it wouldn't hurt to be away from the family for a few years, not if I was with her.

I allowed myself to imagine how it would be to have extended periods of time with her alone. We could find a small place to live together, not that we really needed a home, but it would make it easier. Perhaps she would want to travel together; I had enjoyed the nomadic life when I was with Peter and Charlotte.

I was so lost in my thoughts that it was with a jolt of shock that I realized we were almost back at the Denalis' house. She pulled into the garage and cut the engine.

"I enjoyed myself today," she said lightly. "But now I need to get out of these wet clothes."

She did look a little bedraggled; her damp shirt clung to her in places that if I wasn't a gentleman, I would have enjoyed immensely.

"Do you have plans for the evening?" I blurted. I was worried if we were apart for too long the connection we seemed to have forged today would be lost.

"Nothing in particular. I was going to spend some time with Eleazar but that can wait. Did you have something in mind?"

"I was hoping we could spend a little more time together. I still have a lot of questions."

She smiled. "Of course you do."

"Is that a yes?"

"It is. I will need time to get cleaned up, but then I am at your disposal." She gave me a teasing smile. "I imagine you are going to want a little time to research my history, too. Will an hour be long enough?"

"It will be plenty of time." Or at least I hoped it would. "I will see you very soon."

She waved as she headed back to the house. I watched her leave then directed my steps home. I had an hour until I could be with her again, and I was going to make it count.

The family were all waiting for me when I got home, eager to hear about my day with Isabella. I called a hurried greeting to them as I ran to my study. Unlike the mated pairs in the family, I did not have a bedroom, though I did have an adjoining bathroom. I showered and dressed hurriedly then joined the family in the lounge again.

"Well?" Alice demanded when it became clear I wasn't going to volunteer information. "How did it go?"

"It went very well. We had a pleasant time together."

Emmett groaned. "That's all you're going to give us? 'We had a pleasant time?' I have spent all day listening to Alice and Esme taking guesses at what you were doing. If you don't give them some details, I will have to hear it all night too."

Edward chuckled. "And this has nothing to do with your own need to know?" he questioned. "You aren't dying of curiosity too?"

"I admit I'm curious," he said grudgingly.

He was more than curious, they all were; it came from them in waves.

I settled in the chair beside the fireplace and began my account of the day's activities. "We went for a run this morning and spent the afternoon cliff diving."

"Cliff diving?" Rosalie interrupted. "Why on earth would you want to do that?"

"It was surprisingly fun. There is a certain freedom to be gained from the jump. You would like it." I finished, addressing Emmett.

"Sounds fun. Maybe next time I can come along too."

Or maybe not.

Edward caught my thought and smiled.

"How are things progressing between you both regarding the mating?" Carlisle asked.

I considered carefully before answering. "I think she is feeling it too. She was certainly more relaxed when we were alone together, and I was able to ask her some questions about herself.

"Oooh, what did you find out?" Alice asked eagerly.

"Nothing I care to share." I was thinking especially of my suspicions about her coven.

"When are you going to talk to her about the mating?" Esme asked. "If you think she is feeling it too, perhaps now is the time to tell her."

I had been considering it all day. I knew my own bond to her was exceptionally strong, and I hoped she was feeling at least a portion of the same.

"If the chance presents itself this evening, I will talk to her," I said.

I had given it a lot of thought and decided that I had to take my chances. If she was going to reject me, it was better that it happened sooner rather than later. I had never heard of a mating bond being broken by anything other than death once it was fully formed.

The combined excitement at my words was overwhelming; I had to focus on calming myself so I didn't lose control. Again.

I checked the time; I still had thirty minutes before I was due back. I wanted to question Carlisle, ideally in private, but it was unlikely I would be allowed a chance. Everyone was eager to discuss Isabella, and they would surely find out eventually anyway.

"Carlisle, have you ever heard of someone called Leofflæd?"

He was silent for a long moment. Given the way our memories worked, I was sure it meant he hadn't, as the question alone would have been all that was needed to bring the information to mind. Yet now he looked thoughtful.

"It sounds familiar, but it must be a human memory. I cannot bring it to mind. Perhaps you could search the internet. Is this regarding, Isabella?" he asked.

"Yes, she was telling me a little of her history and she mentioned the name." I wasn't sure how she would feel about me sharing this with the family, so I kept the specifics to myself.

We did not have internet access in the house, but Tanya did. If I left now I would be able to use her computer before my time with Isabella began.

I got to my feet and was surprised that the others did the same. "I am going to see Isabella now," I said.

"We know that," Alice said brightly. "And we are coming with you."

I considered arguing but knew it would only slow me down. They were determined and there was nothing I could do about it. Trailed by the rest of the family, I made my way through the park to the Denali house.

Thanks for reading. If you would like a teaser of the next chapter let me know in a review or a PM.

Simaril x