Chapter Fifteen

Jasper

I'd arranged for us to fly up only because I thought Bella needed peace and quiet more than a road trip, I would have happily spent the next year driving around the country with her by my side. It had hit me the other day that I was in love with her and that was a real problem, how could I expect her to love me? Her former boyfriends brother. The trouble was I couldn't just turn it off and Alice had charged me with keeping her safe, which was another reason to go to the house. There it would be easier to see danger coming although what kind of danger Bella might face I didn't know. There was always the Volturi but was anyone else looking for her? I guess Charlie would if she went missing, especially now Edward had told him that she was travelling with me. What and how she told him where she was going I didn't know but she was an adult and as such could decide for herself. She should ring Renee too or she would start panicking when her daughter didn't appear as expected. It was the one thing I didn't miss about a family, having to keep in touch and be tracked by them! Having said that I would give anything to have a family of my own, brothers and sisters, parents, a wife, maybe even children, all things I had been denied by Maria's bite.

When Bella woke up she looked more rested and she had been peaceful during the night as I watched her, Edward was right it was fascinating watching her as she slept and I hoped to do it more often if she hadn't changed her mind about going. She got up peering at me shyly then went through to the bathroom, perhaps I should have left but it was nice to see her smile at me. She seemed a little tense and I wasn't sure if it was embarrassment at my being here when she got up or something else but she would let me know in her own time I was sure. I went out while she showered and got dressed getting her breakfast to take away so we could talk while she ate in privacy. When I knocked, her "Come in" sounded cheerful enough and again she smiled although there was a certain concern in her eyes.

"Are you OK Bella? Its fine if you've changed your mind, no pressure."

She opened the bag and pulled out a warm bagel biting into it as she put the other one and the large coffee on the coffee table and then looked up at me. She was trying to decide something so I waited patiently just enjoying watching her.

Bella

I got dressed quickly while Jasper went out to get breakfast and scraped my wet hair back into a pony tail for ease. The smell of warm bagels and hot coffee reminded me I was hungry and I started to eat to give myself time to make a decision. He thought I was regretting my decision to go with him to his house which couldn't be further from the truth. I couldn't wait to get there and know we would be alone for days or maybe even weeks. Then he broke into my reverie,

"Have you decided what to tell your parents if you come with me?"

That stopped me, I hadn't thought about that, they wouldn't be happy but it was my life, my decisions and I was an adult.

"I'll tell them the truth."

"Really, and what's that? A crazy vampire is kidnapping you and taking you to his house in the forest as a captive"

I laughed at his joke but then I wondered if perhaps I should just tell him the truth before I told them. I cleared my throat and took a sip of hot coffee burning my tongue. Then before I could chicken out I spoke,

"Jasper I think I should be entirely honest with you. I really want to go with you"

"But?"

"No but, I just think I should tell you why, well probably the main reason anyway, although a chance to unwind away from any demands on me is enticing enough on its own. The main reason is...I think I've fallen in love with you"

The last words came out garbled and I closed my eyes waiting for the hammer to fall and smash all my dreams. It was very silent for a few minutes and I wondered if he'd escaped out the window or something, that would be about right then I hear his voice and it was much closer than I expected causing me to swallow hard and open my eyes reflexively. His face was inches from mine and wore a strange expression,

"Are you sure Bella? It's important to me that you are really sure about that."

I nodded unable to tear my eyes away from his which seemed darker than normal and I wondered if he were thirsty.

With my nod he smiled and put his hands on my cheeks pulling me close and kissing me very carefully on the lips before dropping his hands to his side and sitting back on his heels.

"I've wondered what that would feel like for a while now and I wasn't disappointed Bella."

"You've wanted to kiss me?"

"Yes, even before you broke up with Edward I wondered, but Alice and I were still together although I knew she was getting ready to leave. Can I tell you something Bella?"

I nodded

"Alice asked me to look after you, it was the last thing she said to me and I think she knew I was attracted to you. Maybe she even saw us together as we are now, on the very edge of something. I want you to be mine, I want to know that no other man will ever touch you or kiss you, that you will never look at another the way you are looking at me right now. Is that wrong? Will that make you want to run away because I don't think I could bear anything less than total commitment. Its something I've been seeking all my life, human and vampire and I think I've found it. Have I? Am I right?"

Jasper

I waited, unsure if Bella was about to make me the happiest man on the planet or the most miserable. I knew my words might sound like Edward's attitude that had been the cause of their break up but I had to be honest with her, it was all or nothing, I couldn't continue any other way. She got up and I wondered if she was getting ready to leave but she went to her case and opened it delving inside and coming out with a present still wrapped in birthday paper and something that shone in her other hand then came back and sat down again.

"You said Alice told you to look after me and you thought she knew about us?"

"Yes"

"Well if she did then I think I can find out now."

She opened the locket she had been looking at in her hand, the one Rose had given Bella at the fateful birthday party and she smiled,

"I always thought it odd that Rose should give me a locket but I never opened it because I thought Alice had bought it for me and put a picture of Edward in it but I was wrong, look"

She held it open in her hand and I looked in surprise, inside was a photograph and a lock of hair but not Edward, it was me. Alice had known and left her blessing for us to find. Then she pulled the paper off the gift and smiled again, it was a card with a gold heart on the front which she opened and read the words inside,

Bella, I put into your care Jasper's heart, cherish it, protect it and give him everything I couldn't. He is your mate and if you are reading this then I was right and you two are together at last. Love Alice.

PS Beware of the Volturi, they will come for you eventually but you have the power to protect yourself. Whether you have more will be down to you.