Chapter Fifty One

Jay

I took my courage in both hands and asked Alice if she would introduce me to the rest of her family.

"Sure Jay, I know Carlisle and Esme will be eager to meet you, Edward? Well he's a slightly different proposition."

"Really? Should I be wary of him?"

"Well his gift can be disconcerting to some. He can read your thoughts. Rather like Aro Volturi but he doesn't need to touch you."

"How the hell do you deal with that? Having no secrets must be wearing at times. I'm not sure I like the idea of a stranger wandering through my brain."

"Well, he can't really help it but unless it's something that affects us all he usually keeps what he hears to himself."

"Right well I guess that changes things slightly. Alice I know it's early in our relationship or at least my human brain says it is but my vampire side tells me you've already committed to me. I guess what I'm trying to say is….I guess I never thought I'd speak these words since I was kidnapped. I thought my life was over so….will you marry me Alice Cullen?"

She positively beamed and grabbed my hands pulling me close and standing on tip toes to kiss me,

"Of course I will Jay, I'd be proud to. So are you going to ask Carlisle for my hand?"

I looked at her a little taken aback,

"Should I? I guess so. Its gonna be a strange meeting, you all know each other, even Bella"

"Oh I think it's going to be far more difficult for her than you, after all she was dating Edward first."

"And you were married to The Major when you lived there."

Her words weren't allaying my fears any, in fact I was getting more not less nervous but I knew I loved Alice, she was my mate and that was all that mattered at the end of the day.

The Major, I just couldn't get used to the idea of thinking of him in any other way much to Alice's amusement, had told Peter and the others to stay put and concentrate on finding out what Caius was up to while the six of us, Rose and Emmett were coming along, visited the Cullens. Alice had rung to warn them she had some very special news for them but didn't say what and I wondered what would be the bigger shock, me or Bella with her ex husband. We drove there together and the girls spent the whole journey discussing wedding plans which was a little intimidating although both The Major and Emmett appeared unconcerned by it all. Would I ever be as calm and cool as they both were? I was just grateful that Peter wasn't with us because I knew him well enough to understand he would have found a way to wind me up on the journey and much as I liked him even though he still wasn't keen on me I was grateful for that.

As we pulled up at a huge and very modern looking house on the outskirts of Chicago I found myself becoming even more nervous and Alice sensing this took my hand while Bella glanced over at me and smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry Jay, you can't be any more nervous than I am."

Carlisle

Jasper and Alice had both warned us they were bringing with them a surprise but this was more than we could easily take in. As Alice got out of the car along with Emmett and Rose, Esme smiled but to see her hand in hand with Jasper was something of a shock, was this what they meant by a surprise? Were they back together? It hardly seemed likely but we couldn't dismiss the reality we saw and then the other door opened and we saw Bella. Esme gasped in greater surprise, she had missed Bella since she and Edward had parted and yet here she was as large as life and smiling. Not only that but I was amazed to see she was accompanied by Jasper...but he'd just appeared with Alice so what on earth was going on?

"Carlisle, do you see what I see? What's going on? I can see two Jaspers."

"Yes my dear me too but I think this must be the surprise Jasper meant, I can't wait to see what it all means."

She leaned against me and squeezed my arm,

"Carlisle which one is the real Jasper?"

"Well, lets see if we can work that out shall we? I'm sure the story behind this will be fascinating."

We waited at the top of the porch steps as Alice and Jasper approached but as they got closer I smiled, whoever this was it wasn't our Jasper. The face might be the same but that was where the similarities ended. This person was much more tense and he wasn't as scarred although it was obvious he'd been through a lot. His eyes didn't have that watchful look that I had come to know so well. They stopped and Alice beamed,

"Carlisle, Esme, I'd like to introduce my mate Jasper Whitlock."

Esme looked at me in dismay and I could tell what she was thinking, did Alice really believe we were so gullible? We knew Jazz far too well for that.

"Ah Alice..."

She grinned,

"I know, you think I'm joking but this really is Jasper Whitlock, he's a descendant of Jazz's named after him."

"They call me Jay, to avoid confusion. I'm very pleased to meet you Carlisle, you too Esme."

Esme took his outstretched hand almost fearfully, it was unsettling to hear a voice we knew only too well coming from someone who looked so much like our "son" and yet to see him standing at the bottom of the steps with Bella. It was all very confusing and I was keen to hear the story behind it all.

Edward

It had been one hell of a shock to see two Jaspers climb out of the car and I hoped whatever was going on did not mean danger for the family. But the biggest shock for me was seeing Bella with my brother. It had been difficult to tell the two guys apart but I realized eventually that the real one was with her. It had been a long time since I said goodbye to Bella yet she had scarcely changed at all. She was still as innocent and beautiful looking as she had been when I fell in love with her yet now the looks of love and adoration were aimed at someone else, not me.

I had no doubt that Jazz would change her when she asked, the one thing I had refused to do and the thing that ended our relationship. Did I regret my decision? Only because it made no difference to Bella in the end, she was going to get what she wanted anyway. All I'd done was lose her with my stubbornness. The strange thing was that though I felt jealous I didn't begrudge my brother his happiness or Bella hers. I just wished things had turned out differently.

Bella approached me apprehensively then tried a timid smile,

"Hello Edward, you are looking good."

"You too Bella and prettier than ever. I didn't expect to see you again, especially under such circumstances. Congratulations."

"Thank you. No one else in your life yet?"

I shook my head a little sadly,

"No it seems I am still the odd one out."

I turned to Jasper,

"I'm very happy for you Jazz but make sure you look after Bella or you'll have me to answer to."

He smiled knowing it wasn't a threat and we shook hands. I could hear his thoughts, hoping he hadn't hurt me while rejoicing he had Bella and not me but I let it all pass, it was far too late to complain now, I had only myself to blame for what was happening.