AN: Next Chapter Anyone? Sorry about the long wait!

A New Design

Day 8

I woke up to the sun shining on my face in my room. I bolted upright and looked around. I hurriedly jumped up and threw on my dressing gown. I rushed downstairs. It was still early but the sun was up. There was no one in the kitchen. I ran out the back door to find Jasper on his horse and his family surrounding him.

"Thank goodness," I breathed. "Why didn't Minnie wake me?" I asked hurrying out to Jasper.

"Jasper wanted us to let you sleep. You had a long day yesterday and the next few will be long, too." Jasper's father answered. Jasper slid off October as I reached him. I threw my arms around him.

"You would leave without sayin' goodbye?" I whispered. He squeezed me tighter.

"No ma'am. I came in and kissed you while you were asleep. You mumbled my name and that you loved me. That was all the motivation I needed to get back here as soon as possible." He whispered back. I pulled away and studied him, trying to take a mental snapshot. I was going to miss this man like crazy.

"I have to go now, Bella. I'll be back before you know I'm gone." He turned and monted his horse and looked down at Jesse.

"You take care of them, you hear?" Jesse smiled.

"Ain't nothin' gonna happen while I'm around." He said.

"I'll be back on Wednesday." He said. He turned and spurred October and he was gone. I watched him until I couldn't see him anymore.

"Its Sunday so you can go on back and sleep a bit if you like, Bella." Mary Elizabeth said.

"I think I will. Just for a little bit though." I said. I followed Elizabeth back into the house and up to my room. Elizabeth stopped at the top of the stairs and waited for me.

"When you wake up you'll have to tell me about the plans you two made and how your date went." She said. I wrapped an arm around her and smiled.

"You're gonna love you dress." And then I disappeared into my room quickly, to avoid her protests. I knew I was driving her insane by only hinting at wedding plans.

When I woke, I felt almost hollow. I had no idea how hard being away from Jasper was. I got up, washed the sleep from my face and freshened up. I dressed for a relaxing day and put on my house slippers. I opened the door and went to Elizabeth's door. I peeked in to see an empty room. I closed the door and went downstairs. I found James and Mary Elizabeth in the sewing room. Mary Elizabeth was doing needle work and James was reading.

"Hello Isabella, Did you rest well?" Mary Elizabeth said.

"I did thank you. How long did I sleep?" I asked her sitting down.

"A little over an hour. You seem like you needed it." she said. "Have you thought anymore about the wedding?" I nodded.

"We want a small wedding before sunset, with you guys and close friends. Then Jasper said we could have a small bonfire." I said. "Jasper and I want Jess and Elizabeth to stand with us. Mine and Elizabeth's dresses are going to be delivered tomorrow."

"That sounds wonderful. We can go cut roses from our rose bused for the flowers and-" I stopped her.

"Instead of cutting your beautiful roses, I was thinking we could pick some wildflowers. They're everywhere and I think they're gorgeous." I said.

"Oh that sounds just lovely, Bella." Elizabeth came in and sat with me. "You have to tell me about my dress! You left me waitin' all morning!" she was bouncing in her seat. The sight made me smile.

"It'll be here tomorrow. if I try to tell you, it won't do it justice." I told her.

She pouted, I laughed and she poked me. I filled her in on the rest of the wedding details and after went out to find Jesse.

Lunch was light and quick. Elizabeth and I went upstairs and read in each other's company for a little while. The rest of the day was slow and uneventful. I wish I would have had work to keep me busy and my mind off the love of my life. He wasn't here and that made my chest ache.

I sat in my window seat staring out the window, thinking about the first time I saw Jasper here. It was close to this time a week ago. Now we were getting married. It would be unheard of back in Forks.

"Bella?" I jumped and turned to Elizabeth who was lounging on the divan with a book.

"Beth." I said, smiling. She closed her book.

"You've been staring out that window for quite some time, now. You've got that dreamy look that you get when you're thinking about Jasper." She paused. I looked down at my hands then back out in the direction I watched Jasper leave this morning. "He's going to be alright, Bella. He'll be back on Wednesday, you'll have a couple days together before the wedding. Then we'll really be sisters!" she said. I looked back at her and smiled.

"I can't wait." I told her and curled up and tried to focus on my book again.

Day 9

Monday

I can't begin to describe the sleepless night that I had. These next few days without Jasper will be hell. I feel as if I've been hit by a train.

That was all I wrote for this morning. It was my shortest entry in the journal since I got here. I pulled myself out of bed aching and wishing I could have slept more. I dressed myself and tamed my hair.

Downstairs, James was getting ready to go out and feed the animals.

"Isabella, you're up early. You know it's your day to sleep in, don't you?" he asked.

I nodded.

"I didn't sleep much last night and I couldn't force myself to go back to sleep either. So here I am. Would you like some extra help this morning?" I asked. He looked at me oddly for a moment.

"I'm always ready to accept assistance with the morning chores, Isabella. Are you feeling alright?" he inquired.

"Oh I'll be alright. I'm just a little sore and tired. That's all. Don't worry too much about me. I told him. I followed him outside.

"I'll only let you help if you promise to try and take a short nap later on. You can't work hard if your body isn't rested up." He said, it was a strong suggestion. I knew he was right. I could see the toll of living in this time had taken on my body. Even after only a week, I was losing my softer features. They we're becoming sharper and more defined. I had built up a little more muscle and all this was okay with me. James and I worked in silence. He wasn't all that talkative of a man. That must be why Jasper doesn't talk much in the future. It's heredity.

We came back in, James carrying the eggs and Mable was bustling about the kitchen getting breakfast ready. Mary Elizabeth sat at the table talking to Jesse and Elizabeth hadn't come down yet.

"Isabella? I thought you were still upstairs." Mary Elizabeth said.

"I thought I'd get up and help James today. I said sitting down. Mable pulled the biscuits out and finished up cooking.

This day isn't even half over and I feel as if it's been weeks. James made me stay inside after lunch while he and Jesse Went out to the fields. Mary Elizabeth and Beth were working near the house. I'm stuck inside doing nothing. I'm supposed to be napping. My only reprieve is sitting next to this open window. Two and a half days until I see my Jasper again. Tick tock mister. Time to come home to me.

I closed my journal and laid on the bed. I covered my head with a pillow and forced myself to lie still for an hour.

I woke with a start to Mary Elizabeth sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Are you getting sick?" she asked. I hadn't thought about it. Was I sick? Was being away from Jasper making me physically ill?

"I hope not." I said. She laid her hand across my forhead.

"You're a bit feverish. I'll have Mable bring up some hot soup. I want you out of those work clothes and under the covers. I mean it, Isabella. I won't have you sick on your wedding day. Jasper would have a fit if I let you work." she knew I would argue. She pulled the Jasper card and the mom voice and knew I wouldn't argue with it.

"Yes, ma'am." I said and got up to change.

I laid in bed and read for a while. When I was tired of reading I rolled over and watched the colors change in the sky for a few hours. The whole time I imagined my life with Jasper.

How would Lotte explain my disappearance from this time?

When would I go back to in the future? The same time I left? Would she take me back before I met the Cullens? If she didn't how would I explain my feelings? For Jasper to the Cullens? I could only think about how I would run and kiss Jasper the first time I saw him.

In all honesty, I was going to do the same this when he got back from Confederate Head camp.

I wonder what he's doing right now.

"Miss Isabella?"

I turned to see Mable holding a tray. Soup. I turned over and sat up.

"Come in, Mable." I said. She came in and sat the tray with its legs on either side of my thighs. She turned to leave. "Thank you, Mable." She paused and looked back.

"You're welcome, Miss."

Then she was gone. I looked down at the soup. Mary Elizabeth might have my head if I don't eat some of it. I really wasn't all that hungry.

When I had eaten all I could, I set the tray on the floor and climbed back into bed. My exhaustion had finally caught up with me and I fell into a blissful sleep.

It was dark when I woke. I got up and pulled on my dressing gown. I tip-toed downstairs and found the house quiet and dark. I stepped out onto the back porch and sat in one of the old rocking chairs. Looking up at the stars, I picked out constellations and gazed at the full moon. I wonder if Jasper is looking up at the stars with me right now.

"I miss you." I whispered I stayed in the chair trying to imagine his warm arms around me, shielding me from the cool night air.

I went back inside and wrote in my journal about the rest of the day by candle light. There wasn't much to report. I moved to the window sill and sketched the night sky giving particular detail to the moon. I made note of the lighter strip of sky. I assumed the earth was in position to see the Milky Way.

I stowed away my journal and blew out the candle. I climbed back in bed and fell asleep.

Day 10

Tuesday

I woke to Mary Elizabeth again. She was checking my temperature.

"You don't have a fever anymore. How do you feel? Still sore?" she asked.

"A little but nothing I can't handle. Can I work today?" Mary Elizabeth eyed me. "I'm fine. I honestly just need to get up, stretch and go do something to keep my hands and mind busy."

"Well, Okay. I'm going to go start feeding. James should be getting Jesse. Elizabeth should be in here anytime. She missed havin' you out with us yesterday." She said, getting up and leaving.

I stretched as much as my body would allow while laying down. I stood and reached up as high as I could and then bent to touch my toes. As I stretched, the soreness and overabundance of sleep faded from my body. Several of my joints pop and a small smile came to my face.

I was pulling on shoes when Elizabeth came in.

"Bella! I'm so glad you're feeling better. I missed not having you to talk to while I worked yesterday. Mama didn't want me sick so she didn't want me to come in here." she said.

"I'm glad too. I hated being stuck inside all day yesterday. Today should be more fun." I said.

"Your packages arrived yesterday. Are they our dresses?" she asked excitedly.

"We'll have to find out after we do our chores." I smirked.

"But we're all working in the fields today." She said, exasperated. She flopped back on the bed next to me.

"That just means that we'll get done faster and have something to look forward t at the end of the day, won't we?" I said. I grabbed her arm and pulled her up off the bed and out of the room. We giggled as we walked down stairs.

I wasn't hungry at all. I forced myself to eat a little bit but all I wanted was something to drink. I pushed food around until it was suitable for me to get to work. We worked around the house for a while after breakfast. James and Jesse worked on the top of the barn patching the roof of it. Beth and I were working out in the garden with Mary Elizabeth. I worked quietly to stay focused.

"Bella?" I looked up and both Mary Elizabeth and Beth were watching me. I must have missed something.

"Did I forget something?" I asked looking back down at what I had been working on. The flower bed looked fine to me. I looked back up.

"Didn't you hear Mama talkin' to you?" Beth asked me. I looked at Mary Elizabeth.

"No I guess I was lost in thought. What did you say?" I asked.

"I was only saying how you didn't eat much this morning." She said going back to her fower bed. I guess my eating habits this morning didn't go unnoticed.

"I guess I wasn't all that hungry this morning. I'm sure I'll be starved at Dinner." I said.

"What's on your mind that's gotcha all out of sorts?" Beth asked. I sighed.

"Jasper. I miss him terribly and I'm worried sick about him." I said. I finished the bed and stood. "It's harder than I thought being away from him."

"He'll be home tomorrow, Bella. Then in a few days you guys are gonna get married and everything will be just perfect!" Elizabeth was ready for this wedding. I would be lying if I said I wasn't. Jasper was coming home tomorrow. I had so much to look forward to.

After dinner, we all rode out to the tobacco fields and worked for the rest of the afternoon. As I worked, I watched my would-be family. How they worked together. Jesse chased Elizabeth with a spider until his mother scolded him for scaring his sister. I watched how closely James and Mary Elizabeth worked together and how well they partnered together to get a job done. They ebbed and flowed in perfect harmony. I hope Jasper and I are half the couple his parents are.

For the remaining afternoon, I worked quietly, silently wishing the mp3 player had been invented already. I was dying to lose myself in some music. When the sun was starting to set, we packed up and started home. Our stomachs were all empty and groaning for relief. The ride home was long and agonizing. Pistol was my only comfort. When we reached the house, I handed him off to a young slave. James promptly gave instruction and I went to was up for supper. I would never be used to the whole dinner versus supper thing. After a hearty stew dinner with fresh cornbread, I took Beth and Mary Elizabeth up stairs to show them the dresses.

"I'm so excited!" Beth was squealing and bouncing her way up the stairs with me. Mary Elizabeth followed calmly but I could see the happiness and excitement in her eyes. Upon entering the room, both of the women sat on the small couch and waited while I opened the packages. I pulled out Elizabeth's dress and held it up for her. Looking around the dress, I found her slack jawed and I smirked.

"Do you like it?" I asked her.

She bounced in her seat and squealed. "I love it! It's so pretty, Bella."

"Try it on I'm anxious to see you in it!" I told her she looked back and forth between myself and her mama.

"I don't know, Bella. I'm still dirty from workin'." Beth said.

"No matter. It will look beautiful on you, darling." Mary Elizabeth said. "This is a gorgeous gown, Isabella. I would, however, like to see yours."

Elizabeth took the gown from me and bounced to the bureau.

"Please show us! I can't wait to see it!" she squealed, hanging up the dress.

I opened the package containing my dress and laid it out. I heard something fall. I looked over to Beth.

"What's this Bella?" She said opening the hat box that had fallen.

"It came here with me. I suppose it's mine." I told her.

"Oh Bella, It's so pretty! It would match your dress perfectly!" she said, running over and setting the hat atop the veil.

"It's so gorgeous." I said looking at the way the hat fit with the dress. "But what about the veil?" I asked. The dress was beautiful but it was missing something without the veil.

"Do you really want to have the veil?" Mary Elizabeth asked.

"I think I would." I said.

"Then why don't we make a few small adjustments?" she said. She picked up the veil and my needle point scissors. She then, carefully cut the veil away from the pearl comb it was attached to. With quick and nimble fingers, she sewed a hem on both pieces of the veil. She attached the front of the veil underneath the intricate design of the hat on the front with small pins. Then she attached the back of the veil underneath the silk ribbon with pins. She fixed the hat to where when I was wearing it, the front of the veil overlapped the back of the veil just like it would before she fixed it.

"Oh it's beautiful!" I gasped, when she was done.

"We can even weave some of those wildflowers around the top." She said.

"I love it! Don't you, Beth?" I asked. She was bouncing again. She really was like Alice.

"You're going to look marvelous in that! Oh, I just can't wait now! It's going to be wonderful!" she said.

I carefully folded the veil over the hat and placed it back in the box. Mary Elizabeth hung the dress up. I picked up the pearl comb. "What about this?"

"Well, I was hoping you would use my great great grandma's sapphire hair caombs for your hair." Elizabeth said.

"They sound lovely. I think this would look beautiful in your hair." I said putting the comb in her hair. I was right.

"Really?" she asked, excitedly.

""It's yours." I told her. She threw her arms around me and squealed.

"Oh, you're so sweet, Bella. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, Beth." I said, brushing it off.

"No, Bella, Really for everything. For being here for me, and for helping with the farm. But, thank you for Jasper. We were beginning to think he'd never find anyone. Ever. We worried and prayed for him every day and now that you're here, he's different. It's like you were the key that finally unlocked the rest of our Jasper." She said.

"Really?" I asked. "He's changed? How did he used to be?"

"It's not really that he's changed, he's just finally not holding back anymore. He's always been open with us but now there's something there that wasn't there before. I'm convinced it's you." Beth said.

"I'm glad he is the way he is." I smiled thoughtfully. So he didn't really change that much after all. It was just me. I looked back up at her and faked a yawn.

"Come on. It's been a long day and the faster we get to sleep the faster tomorrow comes." I hugged her tight and kissed the top of her head.

"You're right. He comes home tomorrow!" she said, "Goodnight Bella."

She left the room and all I could think about was what she said.

Thank you for Jasper.

AN: Once again, sorry about the long wait, this one was hard to write. Lemme know what you think! Lots of Love!