Forks. -
It's been over 7 months, one week and five days since Jasper first met the personification of warmness.
Her name was Alice.
And she was the most cheerful and warm person he's ever met, her emotions were like fluttering butterflies, her smiles, her eyes, even her little pouts, everything about her was beautiful.
He wanted nothing more but to bask in her happiness for eternity.
But for that he needed to be rid of the Volturi, the Volturi who would be such a problem, not a day went by without him not feeling regretful over having agreed to join the Volturi.
Had he known it would end like it did…
He wouldn't have joined them.
But now it was too late for regrets.
Now all he could do was fight to find his freedom from those people, fight to be with Alice, because once upon a time he hadn't cared about death, had even craved for it.
Alice made it all change.
He wanted to live for her, to see her smiles, feel her warmth and just be there for her, and he craved to do it without having to look over his shoulder, without feeling like if he let his guard down the Volturi would turn up and destroy it all.
He feared what the Volturi might do against her, but he couldn't bring himself to leave her either.
She was too important for him to bear leaving her, whatever happened he wanted to be with her for as long as possible.
By her side.
No matter what.
Because thanks to her he learnt what happiness was, what it meant to be alive, she taught him how to live again, that he could be more than just a monster.
She believed in him, and that's all he needed to keep on doing better.
Because he didn't want to disappoint her, she believed in him and he wanted to be worth of her trust, her pride, her love.
He loved her too much to bear disappointing her, failing her.
But at times… he couldn't help but be worried over how would he deal with the Volturi.
The sudden tickling butterflies bringing him back to the present.
-You alright?- Alice questioned, looking up at him, she was sitting on his lap, had been so for the past hour or so, a gesture that had caught him so off guard the first time she did it that he had had to fight to control more than just his breathing, it still stirred things inside him.
But he was nothing if not amazing at shoving down unwelcome emotions, he didn't want those feelings to ruin such pleasing moments, he liked having her so close, to be able to just envelope her in a hug and hold her against him.
He brought his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss on her forehead.
-Don't worry 'bout it, I'm just thinkin'.- He assured, resting his chin on her shoulder, Alice looked at him with narrowed eyes.
-About the Volturi?- She asked knowingly. Christ, sometimes Jasper could swear she could read his mind.
-... Yes.- He conceded, Alice reached out to rest her hand on top of his head, stroking his hair softly.
-You will be alright, I will see them come.- She assured, she would never let the Volturi get their hands on him, never again, they would have to kill her to get to him. Jasper frowned at her.
-But what if you can't? Aro's smart, and he knows already how your gift works. He might be able to go past it.- Aro wasn't the leader of the Volturi for nothing, the man was smart, at times, frighteningly so.
Jasper's seen him go past gifts in the past, his intelligence and cunning nature aiding him into overcoming gifts, either by attacking the user or just plain skill, that's how dangerous he was.
-Then we will beat them up.
Jasper wasn't so sure about Alice's words, but he didn't point that out, he might have been able to defeat the Volturi in the past, but not now, not when he was suffering drawbacks from vervain poisoning, he was…
In a terrible state.
But he would never let her be hurt, if someone had to face the Volturi on a fight, it would be him, not her, he would never forgive himself if she was hurt because of mistakes he made.
But he also knew she wouldn't like hearing that, he's found out these past weeks that she held quite the interesting sense of protection towards him, something that he honestly found… heartwarming.
Because he's never had someone care so much about him, not like that, it made him want to protect her more, he didn't want to lose someone so amazing, someone that's been nothing but good to him.
He didn't want to lose her.
-Yeah…- He said instead, closing his eyes, not soon after the lulling melody from a guitar filled the air, making his shoulders relax.
Alice, for some reason, had bought a guitar a few weeks ago, a guitar that she would bring sometimes, had asked him to teach her how to play, which he did, she still had a lot to learn, but she knew several easy songs by now.
He loved hearing her play, even more so when she sang, it never failed to make him stare with what he knew to be a dumbstruck expression, but what was he suppose to do? She was impossible to not stare at, she was as beautiful as the moon, and her voice was like hearing angels sing.
Her voice, her eyes, her smiles, her laughter, everything about her was hypnotizing.
He opened his eyes, just enjoying her voice, staring at her, she made him feel so light and at the same time so full, warm, alive, she made it impossible to stop smiling whenever he stared at her for too long.
He closed his eyes again, just happy by being there, with her sitting on his lap and her majestic voice caressing the air like chiming bells, she made him think of flowers, of the sun, of spring starting to chase winter away, melting snow and sprouting flowers.
She made him think of the beauty in life.
He loved her so much it was frightening, and amazing.
The sudden chuckle caught his attention, and he heard the guitar stop, a boop on his nose making him open his eyes.
-You are projecting, love.- Even if she said that she didn't seem particularly bothered by that fact, she was smiling, such a lovely look on her face it made him smile back. He was happy, just so happy.
And the fact that she called him "love" made his dead heart almost start beating again. How could she be so beautiful?
Alice for her side left the guitar on the ground before shifting her position on Jasper's lap in order to face him, bringing her arms around his shoulders. His hands came to rest on her waist, he could be so endearing sometimes, she found him absolutely adorable.
These past months had been amazing, she's never felt happier, like she finally had everything she ever wished for, their time was spent either here at the beach or in town.
She had taken him to an arcade last week and she had found that while he was terrible at basketball he was amazing at air hockey.
And he had gotten her a cactus plush from that devilish claw machine, Alice's never seen anyone take something out of it, aside from Esme, Esme was absurdly amazing at that game, Emmett had several plushies from that machine after he begged Esme to get them for him.
That had been one amusing evening.
Still, the point stood, Jasper had spent over an hour attempting to get it out after Alice mentioned finding the cactus with the cowboy hat adorable, once he got the hang of how it worked he had become amazingly stubborn and had refused to give up until he got it.
She had taken him horse riding again, that time around he had taught her how to ride a horse, it had been an interesting experience indeed.
She had also taken him to an ice skating rink in France, had been hilarious to watch him stumble around and shake worse than Bambi, of course she had taught him how to skate after she was done laughing.
In her defense it had been amusing to see him so out of his element, she had rented the place to keep him from being exposed to some bleeding human or from crashing into people, no human would come out intact if a vampire crashed on them or viceverse.
He still fed on human blood, and animal blood at times, his eyes were constantly changing, something between orange and red, like lava, not quite red, not quite orange, it was an odd color, but stunning in its own way.
She brushed his cheek with the back of her hand, smiling as he leaned into the touch, their relationship had grown quite a lot too, he responded so easily to her touch now, and he didn't ask anymore whether he could kiss her or not, he had grown more confident on that matter.
And on a lot of other matters too, he was not shy about starting contact or showing affection, he would grab her hand whenever he had the chance, hug her, kiss her, lean against her, cling to her while he slept.
That last one was one of her favorites, to have him all wrapped around her while he slept, could be a bit like a snake at times considering how long his arms and legs were compared to hers, but she enjoyed it to no end, she loved having him wrapped all around her, feeling his body against hers, seeing his peaceful face…
She loved seeing him sleep, having him trust her in his most vulnerable moments.
It filled her with all kinds of feelings, but at the same time, she knew that at the end his sleeping was nothing but proof of how sick he still was, and while she would miss it, she hoped he would stop sleeping.
Because once he did, it would mean he was getting better, Carlisle said that she would know he was getting better when his sleeping began faltering, less hours of sleep, his appetite might deteriorate at first but it would get better later on.
He would also get sick before he got better, like that popular quote: it gets worse before it gets better.
And she dreaded that as much as she hoped for it, because again, when it happened, it would mean he was getting better.
Which was what she ultimately wished for him, for Jasper to get better.
For him to stop shaking, sleeping, leaving his preys most of the time half drained because he couldn't drain it all.
He wanted him to go back to being healthy.
The sudden hand on her own hand got her attention, he took her hand into his own before kissing her knuckles, this before looking at her and leaning forward, breaking the distance between them.
His kisses were still as world spinning as the first time he kissed her, still unable to believe this to be true, soft, intense, warm, it filled her with thousands of feelings and emotions.
Feelings and emotions she would never grow tired of.
As Jasper pulled back they stared into each other's eyes, his hand coming up to touch her face, thumb stroking her skin, there was something intense about his eyes, much more intense than usual.
It sends shivers down her spine and makes her chest feel strange, full, expectant, because it feels like something is happening, something important, but she isn't sure of what.
But it's enough to fill her with an odd sense of giddiness she can't quite understand.
Jasper leans forward, burying his face into the crook of her neck, he presses a kiss against her skin.
-Alice?- His voice is softer than she's ever heard it, and she can almost feel the anxiety exuding from him.
It makes her nervous.
-Yes?
-'m… I know it's sort of… late to say, but I still feel like I should, 'cause it's been weeks and 'm not quite sure where this falls, and I feel like it's not fair for you and that I really should be much more clear 'bout it.- He pulled back to look at her, he needed to do this right, and fast, before he lost the little courage he had gathered.
Because right now it felt like he would explode if he didn't say it, he needed to seize the opportunity.
He brought his hands up to cup her face, stroking her cheeks and marveling at her beautiful eyes. Focus.
-It's still beyond me the how did you fall in love with me of all people, but 'm grateful that you did, 'cause it makes it so much easier, I mean, what 'm tryin' to say is that my heart's always achin' to be with you, 'cause when you're not here with me it feels like somethin's missin'. I can't stop thinkin' 'bout you, and…
God, why was it so hard to say something so true and that he had already said before? Not out loud, but still. Putting what he wanted and felt into words was much more difficult than he had first expected.
-... I like you, a lot, and I wanna spend the rest of my life with you, if you allow it.- He added as an afterthought.
Because while he knew she loved him, he wanted to be sure she liked him still, that she wanted to be with him, but he also wanted her to know she didn't have to accept either if she didn't want something more… stable, he would like for them to have a relationship, but if she only wanted this he would carry on with it, he would never force her into anything she didn't want.
Saying that out loud at least felt like he had let go of a weight he hadn't even known was there, because finally he had let it out in the open, still, a new kind of weight took hold of him when Alice didn't answer.
She was staring at him, an indecipherable look on her face, even her emotions were… strange.
It made him anxious, had he been wrong? Did she not like him anymore? But she still kissed him, that had to mean something, right?
Still.
Before he could fall into a pit of endless worries and questions Alice's face lit up like a thousand stars, her emotions flaring up with such crushing happiness he almost shocked on air.
She threw her arms around his shoulders with a happy squeal, the unexpected force on the impact bringing him to the ground, Alice coming down with him with a giggle. She pulled back, just enough to look at him.
-Of course I allow it silly, I want to be with you for the rest of my life too, unless you get tired of me.- Alice added as an afterthought, just for amusement, smirking when he gave her a mortified look, as if the sole idea of getting tired of her was the stupidest thing he's ever heard.
-That won't happen, ever.- Jasper said seriously. Alice grinned, burying her fingers into his hair and giving him a serious look, just for giggles.
-Good, don't regret it later, because I won't let you go, ever.
-Sounds good enough for me.- He told, grinning and shifting their position, fingers digging into her waist as he did, Alice's giggles filled the air as she swatted his hands away playfully.
-Don't even think about it Mr..- Alice warned, smirking at the mischievous look he gave her, this playful side of him rarely appeared, but she definitely loved it.
-I won't.- He told, and for a moment he didn't move, just stared at her with that little smirk that never failed to show his cute dimple.
And then he rolled them on the grass, straddling her against the ground before reaching out for her ribs.
-No!
Alice's shout was soon followed by a fit of giggles, Jasper's laughter joining in as they fell into an wrestling match of tickles.
~
-Alice?- Rosalie's voice caught Alice's attention, prompting her to look up from where she laid on the floor in her bedroom, lots of magazines scattered around, she was almost done with one of the many clothes she was designing for Jasper.
She just couldn't get around which pattern to give to the vest.
-Yes?
-Can we talk?- Rosalie's request caught Alice off guard, still, she put the pen down, bringing herself up into a sitting position.
-Sure.- Rosalie stepped into the room, coming up to sit on the floor with Alice, she threw a look at the sketches on the floor, frowning as she saw them, those measurements didn't belong to any of the males of the house.
Which left one possible option.
She tried to not scowl at it, that's what she came for, she needed this to work, and if she wanted it to work she needed to be more… resilient.
She had made sure to choose this based on when people wouldn't be in the house, Carlisle was at work, Bella and Edward were at their cottage with Renesmee, and she had managed to convince Emmett into going with Esme to Home Depot.
Which gave her a chance to speak with Alice.
Alone.
Something she's been wanting to do for a while now.
-So? What did you want to talk about?- Alice asked, curious, she couldn't get hold of what might Rosalie be aiming with this, as if she hadn't quite made the choice just yet.
-Jasper.
That was as surprising as it was expected.
Because seriously, what else had she been expecting? Much like Edward Rosalie still refused to approve or even acknowledge Alice's relationship with Jasper.
-What about him? If you are trying to talk me out of having a relationship with him like Edward, then don't bother, because I-
-That's not it.- Rosalie cut off, that's not what she wanted with this conversation, unlike Edward, Rosalie didn't hate Jasper, she just found it displeasing, the idea of a man like him being with Alice, he had a questionable past and she knew little to nothing about him.
And Alice was letting herself fall for him based on nothing but an old vision of what could have been.
Rosalie needed to be sure she wasn't making stupid choices based on blind infatuation over a scenario that never happened.
-Then what is it?- Alice questioned.
-Do you love him?
-... What?
-Are you sure he's the one? Are you sure that you love him and it isn't some infatuation based on the what could have been? I know it's been seven months, but I need you to really think about it. Is he really the one?- Rosalie asked, looking at her sister in question.
Because she needed to know whether Alice was completely aware of the situation or if she was being blinded by her infatuation over him.
Alice frowned at her.
-Of course he is, there's nothing to think about. It's not some infatuation, I do love him, not because of the image I made of him these past decades but for the person he turned out to be.- Alice answered, what was it with people asking her if she fell in love with the image she made of Jasper long before meeting him?
I mean, she did fell in love with him because of the visions, but she never dreamt about fake attributes, she didn't put fake expectations over him, and when she met him in person…
He was all she wanted, she loved him with flaws and all.
She grew to love him even more the more she interacted with him.
Rosalie for her side frowned, Alice did seem to be telling the truth, now that she took a moment to really look at her… she didn't look like someone who was acting out of obsession or infatuation.
She was just…
In love.
And Rosalie had no idea what to make of that, Alice seriously loved that guy, on one side she was happy, because Alice deserved to be happy, to have someone who would make her life brighter and much more better.
But on the other hand… she still couldn't bring herself to trust the guy, not when his background was so… shady.
But Alice loved him, and as Alice herself had told Edward, she was the one who had to like him, not them, Rosalie had to trust she knew what she was doing, she wasn't as naive as people thought, she trusted Alice's judgement, and she wanted her to be happy.
That's why she was doing this to begin with, to make sure Alice was okay, that that guy wasn't taking advantage of her or being a jerk.
-Is he nice with you?- She asks.
-Of course he is, he's a perfect gentleman, you know? He's seriously committed to that, at first he was always asking whether he could kiss me or not, always. He didn't even hug me without asking first.- And Alice was now proud to report she had managed to get him to stop asking.
He could hug her and kiss her whenever he wanted.
Rosalie for her side found herself disliking Jasper a little less due Alice's words, finding men who had the brain to ask for consent regardless of how little was the gesture they were aiming for was such a hard thing to see now days.
And he better watch it, because if Rosalie so much as found out he had done something despite Alice's negative she would chop his dick off and break his arms and legs.
-Good, you must remember that that's how it works, if you don't feel comfortable say so, if he doesn't listen, break his arms.- Rosalie told as a statement of fact, leaving no room for argument.
-Alright.- Alice conceded, she could tell Rosalie how there was nothing to be worried about, she trusted Jasper, and she knew he would never not listen if she were to voice her discomfort with something, he was too much of a gentleman.
But she also knew Rosalie was just worried, wanting to make sure Alice would be alright, and she appreciated it, meant she was at least starting to open to the idea of Jasper and Alice being together.
-I'm serious, if he does anything funny, anything, tell me and I will chop his dick off.- Rosalie said seriously, Alice grimaced.
-I understand.- She still said anyways, just for Rosalie's comfort.
-Good.
Rosalie still didn't felt at ease, even if Alice trusted him, even if she said he was good, she couldn't help but worry, but Alice was neither naive nor weak, if he did anything, Rosalie knew she would know how to defend herself.
Didn't meant she could stop worrying.
Because all Rosalie's seen from him was those three times while he was with the Volturi and that time he was waiting for Alice outside.
She saw him kill Bree, and while at first it had angered her, Alice had said so, even if it hadn't been him one of the other Volturi would have killed her, her fate was sealed the moment the Volturi noticed her.
Rosalie couldn't blame him for something that would have still happened, with him or without him.
And the how he had treated Renesmee, he hadn't looked at her as if she were some freak or some fascinating circus attraction.
He had looked at her as if she were a child, just that, and he had even knelt for her, putting himself at disadvantage, even gave her a stupid sticker, and the look he had given Alice that time…
He didn't look like a serial killer, no matter how she tried to look at it or what she thought, he didn't really look as terrible as The Major was made to be, and the way Alice spoke about him, she's looked happier since she met him, a different kind of happy.
Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as evil as she first thought.
But even if she thought that she refused to let her guard down on that matter, not until she met him herself and made sure he was, indeed, good.
Rosalie wanted to be sure he was good for Alice, that he didn't had ulterior motives or was aiming to take advantage of her.
Even if Alice was smart Rosalie would be more at ease if she saw it herself.
But she also knew she couldn't ask Alice to meet him, something about him not being ready, whatever the hell that meant.
Still.
Rosalie could at least rest somewhat assured, knowing that he had been nice to Alice so far.
Because while her relationship with Alice might not be as tight as Alice's relationship with Edward and Bella, she still cared about her, more than she ever thought possible.
She remembers when Alice first arrived, Rosalie had seethed for a while, displeased over the idea of a stranger in the house, a stranger that could see the friggin future and wouldn't stop pestering her over the clothes she wore, would drag her to stores and just be there, like a rock in her shoe.
Rosalie had found her irritating, annoying, she hadn't wanted a sister, she hadn't needed one, she was perfectly happy on her own, Alice was always so happy, so energetic, bouncing all over the place, always happy about something, always excited to do just about anything, it seriously pissed her off.
Rosalie might or might have not thought about punching her at some point, that smile grating on her nerves, because what the hell was she so happy about?
But then she learnt about her life before them, and she had understood, and she couldn't imagine how terrible it must have been to wake up with no memories whatsoever as something she didn't even understand, all alone and with no one to guide her.
She was alone for years, with nothing to comfort her but her visions of them, the knowledge that one day, she would find them and belong somewhere, to never be alone again, have a family.
It had been a miracle in itself that she had survived and hadn't attracted the Volturi's attention, Rosalie had seethed for a long time, had wished to find the bastard who turned Alice and left her all alone to fend for herself, had craved to tear him to pieces.
That had been when Rosalie decided to accept her, to allow herself to open up to the idea of a sister, because how could she ignore someone that suffered for so long? She just wanted a place to belong, Rosalie hadn't had it in her to keep on hating her.
And then James came around and kidnapped Bella.
And Alice's human past came to light.
Rosalie could still feel the fire burning in the pit of her stomach whenever she remembered, the idea of some asshole throwing his daughter into an asylum, of Alice in one of those freaky places, even more so from that time.
It made her seethe, wish to go into the past and kill that poor excuse of a father, her hair, her thin frame, her lack of memories, it was all because of that damned place, because that asshole had killed her mother and tried to do the same to her, but when he failed, he thought better to throw her into an asylum, claiming her to be crazy.
And still.
Rosalie found outstanding how Alice could still be so… Alice, not even after knowing the truth about her past had she changed, she was still as lively as always, it was the reason why Rosalie seriously wanted to make sure Jasper was good, because Alice didn't deserve any more shit to happen to her.
Rosalie pulled up a wall to protect herself after what Royce did, never able to quite trust people as easy as she once did.
And while Alice's situation and hers didn't compare it still amazed her how she responded to what had happened to her, she didn't close herself to others, she kept on smiling at the little things and just being happy.
Rosalie found her… inspiring.
And it was because of that that she deserved good things, to have someone that truly loved her and cared about her.
~
Italy, Volterra. -
"Decide before he knows."
Those had been Marcus' words.
And now Alec regretted not having taken them seriously.
Not now as he stood before Aro and his piercing glare.
-Alec, is there something you wish to tell me?- The man's question wasn't accusing nor was it his gaze, in fact, he was giving Alec the same look he would give to people whenever he was aiming to convey one simple message.
"You have five seconds to tell me what I want to know or I will tear your head off, right here, right now."
He glanced at Jane, she was giving him an insistent look, she wanted him to tell Aro, but if he did… he couldn't tell him, but he wouldn't be able to run either if he refused to answer, what to do? He couldn't fight off all these people all by himself, and Jane would certainly not help him, not if she thought no harm would come to him, not if she thought Aro was doing the right thing.
His gift wouldn't let him take on so many at the same time either, he was powerful, but he wasn't that powerful, and while Jasper taught him how to fight Alec was way too small to fight off grown sized adults successfully.
But what else should he do? Let them know where Jasper was? But it's been over a month since he told her about the Basil, he would be better by now.
Not at his prime, but strong enough to fight back, this was all he could do, this was how far he could (protect) hide him, he couldn't put himself nor Jane at risk, not when they were at a disadvantage, Jasper would be able to protect himself.
Alec had to hope he was strong enough to do so.
Thus.
He took a step forward and held his hand out , stilling his nerves as he spoke.
-I know where Jor is.