A/N: So I'm in the process of posting this story on AO3 (and by that, I obviously mean I'm making my bestie do it because damn is it confusing) and the fact that the chapter numbers don't match up is annoying me. I decided to do chapter titles instead, so I'm making those edits here also. Sorry if it's confusing.

As always, thanks for reading and reviewing:)

Take care, M. x

Her Perfect Kisses

Jasper managed to get Bella in her truck with her seatbelt on without waking her up, but when he parked in the Swan's driveway her eyes blinked open.

"Sorry," she yawned. "I'm not used to these meds."

Jasper smiled as he walked around to open her door. "They're helping, that's the important part. I enjoy being with you asleep just as much as I do when you're awake."

Bella gave him a weird look. "I honestly can't tell if you're insulting my personality right now."

"Sorry," Jasper laughed. "Let me rephrase. I like being in your presence regardless of the circumstances. Better?" he asked as he grabbed the tupperware they'd left in the truck.

"Better," she smiled and then looked down. "Oh damn! I forgot the cookies for the wolves," she pouted.

"Enjoy them with your dad. Maybe you and Esme can bake some more together before you go to the Reservation next."

Bella smiled and nodded. "I'd like that. We should have another cookout one of these days."

Jasper tipped his head as he thought about it, helping to slowly ease her to her feet. "I'm not sure the wolves would be comfortable coming to our house with the whole family back in town."

"We could always do it here," she shrugged. "I know my yard is smaller than yours by a hefty amount but it's neutral territory."

"That might work," Jasper agreed as the two walked to the door. "Hey, if you need to take either of those meds tomorrow, maybe give one of us a call and we can drive you to school and pick you up at the end of the day. Carlisle said you shouldn't be driving on them."

"I will," Bella nodded. "I think I'll be fine but I'll tuck one of each in my backpack just in case. I'll give you a call tomorrow regardless."

Jasper smiled as Bella wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest for a second. He bent down and kissed the top of her head.

Bella stifled a yawn and pulled back. "Alright, I'm gonna head in. Sooner I go in, sooner I can sleep."

"Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep well."

"Night," she smiled and turned to open the door. He felt a little bit of uncertainty bleed into her emotions as he turned to walk away and he wasn't even at the street yet when his phone buzzed with a text from Alice.

Kiss her.

Before he could form a single thought, his phone buzzed again.

Don't overthink it. Just kiss her.

Jasper didn't need telling twice. Well, okay, obviously he did. But he certainly didn't need telling a third time. He turned around and it only took him three long strides to reach the porch steps. Bella, hearing his footsteps, turned around just as Jasper reached the top one. He slid one hand underneath her hair to cradle the back of her head, and the other gently cupped her cheek.

Bella gave a quick squeak of surprise but just as quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed herself up onto her toes to meet him halfway.

Jasper had to bite back a moan when he felt his mate's warm lips on his for the first time. He just barely held in another moan when he gently ran his tongue across her bottom lip and tasted her for the first time.

Bella didn't even bother trying to hold her moan in. Kissing Jasper felt as normal and natural as everything else between them had since the first moment they met. There was none of the awkward hesitancy that characterized her chaste kisses with Edward. As soon as Jasper's lips touched hers, it felt like her very soul breathed a sigh of relief. This was what kissing was meant to feel like. His lips were neither ice cold nor as immovable as marble. They almost felt warm as they molded to hers, soft and gentle. She didn't have to hold herself perfectly still, she was free to wrap her arms tighter around his neck and press herself closer to him. She reached one hand up to tangle in his messy curls and the low moan he let out when she gave them a gentle tug had her lips tipping up in a smile.

He pulled back a little and pressed one, two, three soft kisses on her smiling mouth and then rested his forehead on hers.

"If a simple kiss feels that good… I might not survive you, sweetheart," Jasper smiled.

Bella's laugh bubbled out of her, just as bright and beautiful to Jasper as her sparkling eyes. "That makes two of us," she said as she moved her arms to wrap around his waist and rested her cheek on his chest.

Jasper held her close, content to just be for a few minutes. He'd never in his wildest dreams imagined he would get to kiss his soulmate this soon after she learned about her connection to him. It was the single most perfect moment in his very long life.

"Hey Bella?" he said quietly as he pulled back.

She looked up at him with a sweet smile. "Hmm?"

"You never have to wait for me to kiss you," he whispered. "Equal partners, remember? Besides, it's pretty safe to assume that I'll always want to kiss you. You have an open invitation."

Bella laughed as she nodded. "Good to know."

Jasper pressed one last gentle kiss to her lips before letting her go. "Goodnight, Bella."

"Night, Jasper," she smiled.

Jasper waited for her to go inside before he left and he couldn't help the smile that broke across his face when he felt her emotions as she made her way upstairs. She was practically overflowing with happiness, love, peace, and contentment - a perfect match to everything Jasper was feeling himself in that moment.

Halfway home, Jasper felt a ball of pure joy heading his way fast and just barely had time to brace himself before Alice practically flew into his arms.

"How was it?"

"It was perfect," Jasper smiled. "Absolutely perfect."

Alice's answering smile was brilliant. "I'm so happy for you, Jas," she practically squealed as she scooted around so she was perched on his back, arms around his neck.

"Thanks, Ali. I'm happy for me too," he laughed.

The two walked - well, one walked while the other caught a ride - in companionable silence for a while. Alice's joy was nearly as deep as Jasper's. She'd been waiting and hoping right along with him all this time.

"I assumed it would take more time than this," Jasper said quietly after a few minutes.

"Me too," Alice answered honestly. "But you've been her best friend for over a year. She loves you. And with her heart open? Like I said, falling in love isn't that big of a leap from there. She was debating whether to kiss you or not and, given her history with Edward, she was overthinking things. She wanted to kiss you but she was worried you'd react the same way he did."

"Not likely," Jasper scoffed. "I'm glad he barely managed a few chaste kisses but… how did he manage with a few chaste kisses?" he asked with no little amount of confusion. "I just barely remembered I needed to stop to let her breathe."

"Our eternally-repressed, prudish former 'brother' had no idea what he was doing," she laughed. "Which, honestly, was a good thing. Bella's your soulmate. Her perfect kisses are yours, not his."

"And your soulmate, Ali? Have you seen anything else?" Jasper asked after a few minutes.

She'd had a brief vision of her mate about five years before. It was similar to the initial vision of Jasper and Bella. No name, no location, no time frame. He was a vampire in that vision and after Alice had seen Bella as a human, the two had speculated that perhaps he was still human like she was.

"Nope, nothing yet. But that's okay. Fate will lead us to each other when the time's right."

"I want you to have this," Jasper said softly. "I've never felt so… whole, as I do right now. And I want that for you. I can't think of a single person who deserves it more."

"Thank you," Alice said and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I feel the same way about you, you know. That no one deserves it more than you. I'll get there, though. Sometimes it's not the destination, it's the journey."

"Emerson?" he laughed.

Alice shrugged with a smile. "I was bored."

"I'm glad I get to take the journey with you. The destination is more fulfilling than anything I've ever known, but I couldn't have asked for any better friend to walk this road with. And when you do find him, I'm going to love him just as much as you love Bella, for the simple fact that he'll make you complete. The other half of your soul, Alice, could never be anything less than wonderful."

Alice tightened her arms around his neck and let him feel all her love for him as they walked the rest of the way home in silence.