A/N: Another place name for my Facebook group xx Alexis
"Jasper? I've been thinking, dangerous I know, but! You said you divorced Alice the day I was born right, but you also said she had to sign other ones when we left, so you would be free? I don't get it!" I say as we sat together later a couple of days later,
"Ah, Alice wanted to be married several times, I stopped it at three. Each time I was either Hale or Cullen, but she was Brandon for the first, Cullen for the second and finally Hale for the third. I made her sign the papers for the first because to me that was more real, she really was Mary Alice Brandon! The other two were to my mind fake, but I wanted them terminated too" he replied and I nodded,
"Yes, I see now. Why did she never take your name?" I quiz him,
"She wanted to be a Cullen more than anythin', but the first made her a Hale and she wasn't happy, and so did the second. It wasn't until the final one she made me become a Cullen so she would be too. I'm glad she never wanted my name. I'm grateful now, she at least didn't get to sully my parent's name!" He explained with heartfelt emotion and I smiled,
I could see why he felt that way. After all he had very few memories of them, so their name was significant to him. While Alice wanted to shake hers off, Jasper desperately clung to his own. I understood that, deep down I was proud to be a Swan. I automatically wrapped my arms around him in comfort, only to realise it comforted me too.
"Thank you darlin', I knew you would understand how I felt" He murmured kissing the top of my head,
I don't even stop to think about it, as I lift my head up and meet his lips with my own. At first he froze before fully returning my kiss. We literally melted into each other and I could sense his joy. But Jasper being Jasper, he didn't push me any further than this passion filled kiss. I was both happy and slightly disappointed about that, but I knew I wasn't ready for more just yet. I also knew it wouldn't be long before I needed much more than just a kiss. We were just standing with our arms wrapped around each other and gently rocking side to side. That reminded me, I wanted to know if he would teach me to dance. Edward had never offered, his way of dealing with the fact I couldn't was to treat me like a small child. He balanced me on his feet, just like Charlie did when I was very small!
"Jasper, will you teach me to dance one day?" I ask quietly,
"Sure darlin', what kind of dancin' did you want to learn?" He enquired lifting my head up,
"Every kind! I want to learn them all, every style. I never had the balance before but now, the world's my oyster!" I enthuse happily,
"It will be my pleasure Isabella. By the time your newborn time is up we will have mastered them all together. The first will be Square dancing, but the last will be the Tango, how does that sound?" He asks sounding really pleased,
"Do you like dancing Jasper?" I ask him smiling,
"Yes, I really do, but have never gotten to do so for many years" He replied with sadness,
"She didn't dance then? Or did she never dance with you, because she wasn't as good as you were?" I snarked and he laughed,
"You guessed correct darlin'. Alice like Edward thought themselves perfect, but seein' me dance with Esme once was enough for them to decide it was *passé!" He said shaking his head,
"Dear God, they were so up themselves and childish! How can dancing be out of date, maybe out of fashion sometimes, but never out of date!" I say laughing loudly,
We wandered over to the window to watch the sunrise, Jasper stood behind me and I leant back into him and smiled as we both sighed. That's when we saw Emmett sitting in a tree also watching the sunrise and we went out to join him.
"Hey Em, it never get boring does it?" I say leaping up on the other side of him,
"Nope, it's damned pretty no matter where you see it from" He answered,
Jasper was standing below us both until I patted the thick branch beneath my butt. He gracefully leapt up beside me and I was once more reminded of a panthers stealthy movements. We sat in silence as the sun finally light up the sky for the start of another day, I was now a one week old vampire.
RNFSG
I can barely believe only one week has passed since that weirdo tried to kill both me and Bells. But it's been one hell of a week that's for sure. I had just been sitting with Bente watching the sunrise over Assateague Island. We were now in Exmore and will be heading back tomorrow as we expect Peter to be returning by then. I'm not, no I wasn't a very spontaneous man, look where it got me last time! Married to a flighty girl who never had any intentions of staying in Forks. Now here I am again, a new woman in my life and I once again have jumped in feet first. So man or vampire, love seems to be the thing that makes me act out of what I thought was my normal character. Hell if I know, but this time feels one thousand times better than the last.
But if nothing else came of my relationship with Renee, I got Bells and I get to be in her life forever. Sure we will be living on different continents, but we can visit and spend time together any time we want. She'll have her life and I will have mine, but we will always have each other too. I'm guessing she feels for Jasper, what I feel for Bente and that's good, she needs a strong partner. Something a lot of folks don't realise is, my daughter has a stubborn streak. She's not unreasonable, but she sometimes needs a serious wakeup call to see she's wrong. Take for instance that boy, she knew he wasn't right for her. But she persisted until even she saw what everyone else had from the beginning, he didn't love her. No, he was a control freak, but not a very smart one.
His trouble was he believed his own lies and propaganda. Arrogant, narcissistic fools often fall for their own press and come a cropper sooner or later. They never once think that anyone could outsmart them or see through their lies! Well he wont have to worry about it much longer once I get my hands on him. I wonder how my gift will affect him, will I be able to read his mind? I'm not sure I'd want to, I doubt it will be worth the look, I bet he's beyond shallow and self-important. Anyway why am I thinking about that fool when I have a beautiful woman in my arms. Tomorrow we're going to have a quick look around before we head back and I need to think about a change of wardrobe, flannel is not the vibe I want to project in Norway, but we've got time to worry about it later.
"Welcome back Karl (Charles). Your were in a world of your own" Bente says and I duck my head in embarrassment,
"Sorry Sweetheart, sometimes my mind just goes off down a rabbit hole randomly. This bigger brain can be so distracting, I guess that's why I need watching for a while" I say and she smiles and pats my cheek,
"How about I take your mind off everything but me?" She asks with fluttering eyelashes and pouty lips,
"Please do! You may have to distract me for several hours, I hope you don't mind?" I reply winking at her,
"Oh I think I can manage that elskede (beloved)" she says pushing me down to the ground,
RNFSG
Time to get back and tell Bella her dad has met his mate and she has a new mom. Well, stepmom that is. Then we can send Emmett to speak to his mate, she sure screwed up big time. Not that I didn't see it coming, cause Rosalie Hale was way too big for her boots. Pete thinks we can head on up to Michigan soon, because of how good Charlie's control is. I know he's thinkin' to give them our old place and that suits me fine, I've had my eye on a place near Oscoda and I think that would be perfect for us. While Bente is with us maybe she can help me. It's been so long since I had another woman friend and soon I'll have two. Once Bente and Charlie leave for Norway, because I know they will. Then Bella and I will be able to form a sisterly bond, somethin' which I hope she will also want.
Pete thinks that in another week Bella and the Major will be needin' some serious alone time. So we will take Emmett to meet with Charlie and Bente, since they are havin' some alone time now. Maybe Charlie will be able to give Emmett an outside prospective on how to handle this crap with Rosalie. I'm so glad Pete and I are solid, he's a handful yes, but he's never hurt me like she has Emmett. Oh well, we ain't all the same and it would be borin' if we were. It's crazy how much all our lives have changed in just one week and it will take us all time to get back to our normal or our new normal now. I've sent the link to Pete for the place in Oscoda, I'll leave the financial side of things for him to sort out. Not because he controls the money, but because he enjoys that stuff way more than me.
"Hello in the house, I'm back and Major I've got your bike with me" I shouted and all three came runnin',
"Damn Char, I missed this beauty" He said runnin' his hand over the body,
"Bente brought it out from Kansas City for us" I say and he nods,
He scent would be on it under Pete's and mine so he'd have noticed.
"Bente? You mentioned her before. She was in Paris and saw Alice" Bella mused and I took a deep breath before sayin',
"Yeah, she's in Virginia with your dad. No easy way to say this except, she's his mate!" I say in a rush and she looks stunned for a moment,
"Damn!" Emmett said laughin',
"His mate, wow!" Bella says lookin' at Jasper,
"She's very nice, solid, dependable and just what your old man needs in his life" the Major says calmly,
"Pete and I are givin' them the place in Richland and we're getting' one on Oscoda" I explain and know he hears me while monitorin' her emotions,
"Would you like to talk to him darlin'?" He asks her and she nods,
The Major pulls out his cell and calls Bente, we have all our friends numbers just in case.
"Hello Major, this is a surprise!" She replies,
"Hey Bente, could Isabella talk to her father please?" He enquires,
"Of course, here he is" she answers back immediately,
The Major hands his cell to Bella and we all hear Charlie's voice.
"Hey Kiddo how are you?" he asks right away,
"I'm great dad, I hear you've got news. Send me a picture of you both" She asks with a giggle and we hear him makin' that noise in his throat,
"Will do Bells, but I want one of you and Jasper in return!" He counters and now it's Bella makin' a little squeakin' noise,
Damn, they are so alike it's crazy, it's also funny and cute as hell.
RNFSG
Where in hell is Bente? I wanted her to meet Alix! I am determined to marry her off, since she has for some reason refused me. I want that money, I know it's way more than I first thought! I should have secured her as my partner before I had her brother meet a nasty accident, damn this is all a nightmare. I owe so much money to the Volturi, they funded my takeover and they will come calling sooner rather than later. Unfortunately I have no way of repaying them. What that means is they will take control here in Norway and it will be my fault and worse everyone will know it! I need her to sign over everything to me and me alone then I can pay them back and fix things here in Norway. But until I find her my fear is she will find her mate, so where is she?
"Does anyone know where Bente is? I need to discuss something with her and as usual she's gone!" I spit angrily,
"I believe she is visiting her financial adviser. Something about a trust and leaving any monies she has to charity. If anyone can sort that it's him, he has helped us all, except you Isak, I believe!" Boris sneers at me and I know they all know, just can't prove it,
"Where does this financial advisor live exactly?" I ask in a more subdued tone,
"America! You've heard of Peter Whitlock haven't you? Major Whitlock's Captain and brother!" He replies with a smirk,
Faen! Jeg er i trøbbel! (Damn it! I'm screwed!)
RNFSG
I am waiting for Carlisle to join me and it has given plenty of time to think, to much time! Looking back on all the years since he changed me I can see just how much I refused to change from downtrodden wife to a vampire's mate. I just traded the same lifestyle from one man to another, but why? Fear that's why and whereas Carlisle should have helped me grow and move on, he didn't. Why? That's easy, Edward! Having him in both our heads was not helpful. He played us off against each other and always to his benefit. Yes, we could have talked to each other, but I had been abused for so long and was scared. So it made it so easy for Edward to manipulate and sideline me. So eventually I just accepted this was how it would be and made the best of it.
He has much to answer for, but then so do Carlisle and I. We were weak willed and easily manipulated by him. Why, because we just didn't want to see ourselves as a big part of the problem. Well from now on it just me and him, time to finally put this farce to bed and work on repairing what's left of our relationship. Once we discussed all we let Edward and Alice do to us, then I want to wipe out every sign of them. I don't want to live where they insisted we live, I don't want to have any reminder of their poisonous presence in any future home. We don't need big draughty mausoleums to live in anymore, they were for their benefit and not ours. The only home that is truly mine and mine alone is Isle Esme, for some reason that was the one place we refused to let them dictate about.
But before we close this chapter we have many apologies to make. Emmett, Jasper and Bella of course, Rose too. Most assuredly Peter and Charlotte need our remorse as well, probably Charlie Swan too. We will send on all their things and sell Alice and Edward's tat, because most of it is just that, expensive tat! In a way I'm really happy, but really sad I wasn't a better person or a better wife. But I want this new life this fresh start alone with my mate for the first time ever. I also know, but have been avoiding thinking about it, that Edward won't survive alone. In fact I got the feeling he might die by a previous family members hand and I truly understand. Not everyone is as gullible and cowardly as me and will smack him down or just take him out to save any future problems!
I hope Carlisle arrives soon, being alone is not sitting well with me at all.
RNFSG
Isabella took the news about her father's matin' better than I thought. It actually is a good thing, well it's good for me. Edward springin' this life on both of them was not ideal, but she was handlin' it like an older vampire would. I want time alone with her and a father waitin' in the wings wouldn't help the situation. Especially since we have a seer to deal with at the same time, I wish we were havin' a quieter time all around, but a week ago none of us knew this would happen. Luckily all this will pass and we will get our time, our future together eventually. Meanwhile with Char bein' back it's time for Emmett to go and see Rose. He needs to sort out their future, because she has burned to many bridges and he'll never rejoin Carlisle's family! Peter and I won't leave him out in the cold, that's not our style, but she wont be welcome.
I once cared for her like a siblin', a brother and thought she felt the same, but the knife in my back proved otherwise. Turnin' the other cheek might work for some folks, but I was sick of it always havin' to be me that did it and they didn't bother. So now I'm the one who doesn't give a damn what they think and they can stuff their apologies as for as I'm concerned. It's a strange thing, but from the moment Isabella was bitten I became a mixture of myself and the Major. In other words for the first time in more than one hundred and forty odd years I am now myself, Jasper Whitlock once again. Could it really be as simple as smellin' my mates blood, fixed what was broken within me? That's some powerful thing, sucks to be Maria and Alice. It took Isabella seconds to fix what they both took years to destroy!
I always knew blood was a powerful thing in our world, we need it to survive, but that it could heal more than the physical was amazin'. I will always be thankful to her for returnin' me to the man I once was. I had thought it was only a temporary thing, but as each day passed and I never reverted back to the way I was at the Cullens, I realised she healed me on an emotional level. So it isn't love that conquers all, no it's bondin', bondin' at the cellular level. I knew almost right away she felt it too, the way she watched me, the way her emotions searched out mine, I felt it all. I suppose scientists would say it's pheromones, that old cliché. The scent of a woman and damn it they are right! So I know Rose and Emmett will be alright because they too have that connection, Rose just lost sight of it for a while.
So, I swear on all that is holy and all I hold dear, I will never do that to Isabella. I will never take her for granted, like Rose did. I will never sideline her, like Carlisle did to Esme. Isabella will be my top priority, because without her I am nothin' and I wouldn't want to ever be without her! I need her to keep me sane, whole and complete and I know she feels it too.
* Passé – meaning: no longer fashionable; out of date.