BPOV
ONE YEAR AGO
I wake up gasping for air, tears streaming down my face all the while Jasper is caressing my hair back and whispering soothing words in my ear. I twist in his hold, shoving my face in the crook of his neck and curling myself up into a ball beside him on the bed.
"I love you, I'm right here if you need to talk," whispers Jasper after some time when my breathing slows down.
I respond by shifting slightly away from him and laying my head on the center of his chest. The moon shines through the curtains, illuminating Jaspers eyes beautifully in the darkness of our bedroom. He reaches a hand to my face, tracing my lips gently with his thumb and when he flattens the pad of his thumb over the center of my lips, I kiss it softly.
"I wish I knew how to help you," Jasper murmurs quietly.
"I'm sorry I'm always a mess," I croak out.
Jasper smiles down at me. "I wouldn't take you any other way," he shifts the two of us so that way he is on top of me in between my legs, holding himself up carefully to keep his weight off me.
"You're too good for me," I reply as I thread my hands through his slightly tangled hair, working out the knots gently. "I dreamt of him," I tell him almost too quietly to hear even to my own ears.
"What about, darlin?" He questions softly while kissing my wrist.
"I think he was trying to tell me why," I tell him with my eyebrows furrowing slightly tilting my head. "It was… something out of a movie almost… he was showing me snippets of things that happened and why they happened but not everything."
"Like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past type of deal?" Jasper verifies.
I think about it for a moment before nodding. It was just like that. "Yes. He showed me… he showed me- "I sigh looking down.
"You don't have to tell me," Jasper reassures me, tilting my chin up slightly to make me look at him. "Whatever you feel comfortable sharing with me, is enough for me."
I keep silent for a few minutes, nothing sounding through the bedroom but the sounds of our soft breathing. Jasper extracts my hands from his hair, kissing my palms and each of my fingers before shifting to lay next to me once more. Turning over onto my side, I hitch my leg over his hip and drag the covers over us. Slowly the two of us begin to fall to sleep but then I remember something that Edward told me.
"He said I look happier with you," I whisper startling Jasper back into an alert state.
I keep my eyes shut but I can feel Jaspers eyes penetrating my face before his lips press against my forehead. "Tell him I'll make damn sure I never let you down, yeah?" I swallow thickly but nod my head. "Good. Now go to sleep."
PRESENT TIME
"How long does it take for the jury to come back with a verdict?" I ask anxiously with my knee bouncing up and down under the table in the office of my lawyers.
"It'll take as long as it takes for them all to agree or disagree," she answers vaguely. "Honestly, I've had it take up to a few weeks to finally decide."
I feel my face pale in her answer as the door to her office opens to reveal Jasper walking in with a few coffees in hand. Walking to my side, he kisses my temple and hands me my cup before handing Cynthia her own coffee which she takes with a soft 'thank you' and sits back in her chair.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. The clicking of the clock in the office continues to ring in my ears louder and louder until the phone rings making my heart jump and my stomach to lurch.
"Yes?" Cynthia answers quickly. "We will be there in ten minutes."
"This is it, love," Edward tells me. "This is where I leave you. Remember I will always love you and if you ever need me- I'll be around."
"No, no, no! Please don't leave yet! Please, I- I can't- "my inner response is instantly cut off by Edward once more.
"I love you. I'm sorry, but it is time for me to go home now. Let Jasper take care of you," I can almost see and… feel his smile and kiss to my forehead. "Let Jasper love and take care of you like I couldn't."
"I love you."
When did we make it back into the courtroom? I blink and look around to slightly panicked until Jasper wraps his hand around my wrist gently to grab my attention from behind me.
"What is it, darlin?" he asks, concern clearly written over his face.
"All rise!" the court Deputy announces loudly.
When did everyone get back into the courtroom? The judge takes the stand, addressing the courtroom and we all sit before he addresses the lasting criminals alive to see their fate. I hear nothing of what he says. I hear nothing until I see a juror stand up and the haze clears out.
"Guilty," is all I hear for all charges brought against the Volturi.
Guilty.
GUILTY
Cynthia smiles brightly at me nodding her head as I stare on in disbelief.
"-life without the possibility of parole," the judge finishes up.
Life. No release.
We did it! I did it! Jasper has scooped me up in his arms to crush me to his chest, my own arms circle around him tightly as I cry. I cry because I'm happy. I cry because I'm sad. I cry because I have lost my husband all over again today. I cry. I cry because now I get to move forward, and I am terrified that Jasper will wake up and figure out I am not worth it like Edward. I cry because I am officially alone with Jasper for the very first time.
ONE MONTH LATER
"Peter invited us over for dinner," Jasper tells me as he slips his phone in his pocket and plopping down on the couch beside me.
"You should go," I encourage him, curling into myself slightly.
He frowns instantly. "Us?" Jasper emphasizes with a quirk of an eyebrow.
I bite my bottom lip and as I am about to say something Jasper's phone rings again in his pocket making him make a noise in dissatisfaction as he digs it back out.
"Did you forget something?" Jasper answers annoyed.
Must be Peter again. His facial expression changes, lightens up as he nods as if the person on the other side could see him. Jasper places the phone on his thigh, face side down looking at me.
"How about Peter and Char come over here instead?" Jasper asks with pleading eyes.
Hmm… I wouldn't have to leave my comfort zone. I could escape to a different room if I needed to without needing to worry about anything. I could do this for Jasper.
"Do they like lasagna?" I ask.
-O- -O-
"Something smells good!" I hear Peter say loudly as he walks through the front door followed by a smack and an, "Ow, woman! What'd I do?"
Jasper snorts as the door closes and Char says something I can't make out from the kitchen. I've just uncovered the lasagna to finish baking so the cheese get all nice and caramelized while I begin working on making the garlic bread. Tossing in the bread, I begin to pull out plates for everyone just as I hear footsteps come walking closer.
"Anything I can help with?" Char says softly.
"Yeah, sure. Can you start chopping the lettuce for the salad?" I reply pulling out forks and a new paper towel roll.
"Absolutely," she smiles.
I walk the plates and utensils into the dining room before walking back into the kitchen to help chop up the vegetables for the salad.
"How have you been, Bella?" Char questions seemingly innocently, peaking at me slyly.
I raise an eyebrow. "I'm fine. You?"
"Come on, I'm not Jasper," she murmurs with a look on her face that tells me not to bullshit her.
"I feel like I'm still looking over my shoulder no matter what I do," I sigh with a shake of my head and grabbing a large bowl to toss in all the chopped-up lettuce and vegetables.
"Have you thought about going to therapy?"
Shooting Charlotte a sharp look, I keep quiet until I can make sure my voice won't waver.
"I can take a hint," she tells me. "How about some retail therapy then?"
I quickly go to object to the idea but with an eyebrow raise on her end and a quick thought to my closet, I close my mouth and nod curtly. "Just me and you though?" I verify.
"Of course," she squeals. "Oh, I'm so excited! Tomorrow? Noonish, yeah?"
"Sure." Glancing at the time I hurry up to pull out the pan of lasagna and check the garlic bread. "Tell the guys dinner is done?"
"TOUCHDOWN!" is shouted from in the living room loudly as I carefully carry the steaming hot food into the dining room and placing it on heat resistant placemats.
Walking back into the kitchen, I grab a spatula, tongs, and the homemade ranch dressing I made the other day. Arms wrap around me from behind- a kiss to a certain spot behind my ear making me squeak and jerk slightly. A deep chuckle sounds as I turn around to level a half-hearted glare but am stopped with a kiss.
"I love you, darlin," Jasper murmurs.
"I love you too," I kiss him once again.
"Hey, if I have to behave myself for a couple of hours then so don't you guys!" grumbles Peter from the entryway in a teasing tone.
Jasper doesn't pull away from me, but I feel him bat his arm in his direction right before I hear Peter laugh and his footsteps recede. Air soon becomes a necessity, so I pull away to suck in a large gulp of oxygen. His eyes are blazing with pure lust as we gaze at one another, I'm sure mine resemble much the same.
"You're mine as soon as they leave," he rasps out huskily.
"I think I can live with that," I laugh before shoving him away towards the dining room.
A/N: I think we all knew that they would all be found guilty in the court of law. Even if they're in the mafia. Next chapter I am thinking of skipping a couple of years ahead and wrapping up with chapter 19 and being done.
-bellacullen166