Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyer. I do not own Twilight

Chapter One

November 1862

"Isabelle! Come back! You can't go running around without shoes!"

I raced across the front lawn of my family's farm house, my skirts pulled up to my knees to make it easier. My sister called me back from the porch, but I ignored her. I needed to get to him before he left.

My feet slipped on the grass beneath my feet, still wet from the early morning dew. As I rounded the old oak tree at the corner of the road, I skidded to a halt.

There, standing at the bottom of the front porch steps of our neighbor's plantation house, was my best friend and the love of my life, Jasper Whitlock. He was hugging his mother goodbye as she cried on his shoulder. He patted her back and pulled away, moving towards his horse.

"Jasper! Wait!" I screamed, picking up my skirts and running towards him again.

At the sound of my voice, he spun around. His entire face lit up as he ran towards me, meeting me halfway. I didn't hesitate as I flung myself into his arms.

"Belle. I was afraid you wouldn't make it in time," Jasper murmured into my hair.

I clutched him tighter, burying my face in his chest.

"Please don't go, Jazz. There are other men to fight in the war. You don't have to go," I sniffled, tears falling down my face.

"My sweet little southern Belle," Jasper sighed. "I promise it'll be okay. I'll be back before you know it and we'll get married in the same church as your Ma and Pa."

I sobbed brokenly, praying he was right, terrified he was wrong.

"What'll I do if you don't come back to me?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"Isabelle, you know as well as I do, nothing will tear us apart for long. If something happens to me, we'll meet again later," Jasper reminded me.

A small smile came over my face as the little reminder. Our souls were forever bond to each others. Over the course of our relationship, memories had gradually returned to us from experiences we'd never had. Jasper and I had been together for centuries, tied together by an ancient priestess that had blessed the two of us for helping her in the early twelfth century. Every time we found each other in our next lives, the memories of our previous lives came back to us, proving that we belonged together. All it took was a kiss.

"If you don't return from this war, Jasper Whitlock, I will kill you," I threatened.

Jasper laughed, leaning down to place a sweet kiss on my lips. Memories flashed behind my eyelids and I smiled at the comfort they brought.

"You have a deal, darlin'. If I die in this war, you can kill me," Jasper chuckled.

"Come back to me," I whispered, looking into his dark blue eyes.

"Always," Jasper murmured, kissing me again.

We made sure to make it count. This was the last time I would be in his arms for God knows how long. I just prayed God would return him to me safe and sound soon.

"Jasper. Son, it's time for you to go," Mr. Whitlock called from the porch.

Jasper lifted his head, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. Taking one of my hands in his, he walked me back to his horse. He hugged his family one last time, gave me one last kiss, and saddled up.

"I love you, Belle," Jasper told me softly.

"I love you, too, Jazz," I answered, my voice breaking.

With one last smile, he turned his horse down the road and rode off to join his regiment in the next town over. I watched until he and his horse vanished from sight completely. Mrs. Whitlock wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a hug when the tears started falling.

"Don't you worry, sweet pea. Our Jasper will come back to us," Mrs. Whitlock assured me.

"I just hope he comes back soon," I admitted.

With a sad smile, Mrs. Whitlock turned me towards their house, leading me inside with her two youngest daughters. Mr. Whitlock stood on the stairs, his face stoic as he looked off in the direction his son had disappeared.

"I'll send word to your Ma and Pa that you'll be staying with us for breakfast, shall I?" Mrs. Whitlock asked.

"Thank you, ma'am," I nodded, glancing down the road one last time.

August 1863

I looked out the front window, watching for the postman to come up the drive, hopefully with a letter from my Jasper. It had been almost nine months since I had last seen his face, nine months since I had last held him in my arms, nine months since I had last heard his beautiful laugh. Waiting for his letters was pure torture.

"Really, Isabelle. I don't know why you stand there day in and day out, waiting. You know how hard it is for him to find time to write," Jessica scoffed.

I didn't spare my old sister a glance, squinting through the early morning fog. I had been having a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach for a few days now. That, combined with the ache in my heart led me to believe something had happened to Jasper. I was praying it wasn't the worst. He couldn't be…

Finally, I spotted a rider come up the drive. Excitement rushing through me, I hurriedly opened the door, running down the steps to meet him.

Only, it was the postman who was riding up our drive. I felt fear grip my heart as I recognized the Confederate uniform the man was wearing. Folding my hands it my skirt, I tried to tamp down the fluttering of my heart. The young man dismounted, removing his hat in the process.

"'Scuse me, miss. I'm looking for a Miss Isabelle Swain. I was told by the family down the road that she resides here," the officer explained, bowing slightly.

"I… I'm Isabelle," I stuttered, my nerves kicking into overdrive.

I heard the door open and close behind me, but couldn't be bothered to turn away from the officer before me. His eyes clouded over when I confirmed who I was.

"I'm sorry to inform you, miss, that Major Jasper Whitlock was killed in battle earlier this week. This letter was left among his things for you. I'm deeply sorry for your loss, miss," the officer informed me.

There was a gasp behind me, but it didn't register in her mind. Nothing made sense at this point. With a shaking hand, I reached out to take the letter from the young man's grasp. Putting his hat back on, he tipped it to me before climbing back on his horse and riding away.

I looked down at the letter in my hand, seeing my Jasper's familiar script on the front. Still staring at the letter, I turned back towards the house, walking up the stairs in a daze.

"Isabelle, dear? Are you alright?" Mama asked.

I didn't answer her, simply moved past her and into the house. I walked upstairs to the room Jessica and I shared. I sat down on my bed, tracing the letters on the front with my eyes.

Suddenly, the tears came and I screamed out in utter agony. The letter fell from my fingers as I collapsed onto my bed, unable to stop screaming as I soaked my pillow. I felt arms wrap around me, but they weren't the arms I longed for. The kiss that was placed against my temple wasn't the kiss I hungered for.

Jasper wasn't coming home. He'd never hold me again. He'd never kiss me again. There would be no more sneaking out at night to meet him by the lake at the edge of our properties. He would never laugh at my blush again. I would never hear the worlds "I love you" fall from his lips just before he pulled me close. All the promises we'd made each other had vanished with one lone soldier riding up my driveway.

"Belle, sweetheart. Why don't you rest?" my father suggested.

I couldn't answer him. I kept replaying the soldier's words in my head. Jasper was gone.

There was no body to bury at Jasper's funeral. It had been lost in battle, possibly taken by the enemy. The pain in my chest rippled whenever I imagined my Jasper laying on the ground somewhere, no one to give him a proper burial.

I didn't cry at the funeral. I was completely numb to the pain by then. Mrs. Whitlock sat beside me, holding my hand as she sobbed uncontrollably. I tried to be supportive, but my broken heart didn't allow me to do much. I spent most of the service staring at the coffin filled with some of Jasper's things.

When the service was over, most of the attendants returned to the Whitlock's to console the family. I couldn't go to his house. I couldn't walk through the front door and not imagine Jasper coming down the stairs, smiling to see me waiting for him. I wouldn't be able to resist walking up to his room, just to be surrounded by his things. It would hurt too much.

Instead, I returned home and went up to my room. I stayed lying on the bed, staring blankly at my bedside table. The letter Jasper had written sat, unopened, beside a small portrait of him Mrs. Whitlock had given me last Christmas.

Slowly, I sat up, reaching out to pick up the letter. The weight of the world fell on my shoulders as I slowly opened the letter, tracing my fingers over the very piece of paper his had held in his hands at some point.

Breathing deeply, I began reading.

My sweet little southern Belle,

If you're reading this, darlin', I've broken my promise. I will not be returning to you and, for that, I am truly sorry. Sorry I won't be able to see your face as you walk down the aisle in your wedding dress, your Pa by your side. Sorry that I won't be able to grow old with you, watching our children and grandchildren fill up the house we would have had. Sorry I won't be able to see your beautiful face slowly change over the years.

But, my love, I am not sorry I joined this war. Darlin', this war is important and needs to be fought. I have met some amazing men during my time here. I have told all of them about you and the love that we share. Everyone I've met knows that you are the most important thing to me.

My sweet Belle, please don't stop living simply because I no longer can live beside you. Take strength in the knowledge that we have been separated before and met again. Nothing can keep us apart, Isabelle. Someday, we will find each other again and remind each other with a kiss of all the memories of our past together. Those memories have been the comfort that kept me sane when I could hear the sound of men screaming and crying as they took their last breaths. I hope they help you through the following decades without me, darlin'.

Know that I will always love you and that I am waiting for you on the other side. I'll see you soon, sweetheart.

Love always,

Your Jasper

I didn't realize I was crying until a tear splattered onto the page. I cried out, quickly blotting the spot, terrified of marring my last connection to him. Thankfully, I teardrop didn't do any damage. I carefully folded his letter, placing it back beside his portrait.

I lowered myself onto my bed, staring at his smiling face. My heart felt a little lighter as I slipped into dreams of my past with Jasper.

April 1904

I smiled brightly as I laid in my bed, surrounded by my sister's family. Having never moved on from the heartbreak that came from losing Jasper, I had never married. Instead, I had lived with Jessica and her husband, helping to raise their five children.

The preacher had been summoned a short time ago. We all knew my life was coming to an end. It had taken forty-one years, but I was finally going to join Jasper. We would be together again.

"Aunt Belle? Can you hear me?"

I looked over to see the youngest of my sister's children, Lily. She was already crying, grasping my hand.

"Come now, Lily. Don't cry, sweet pea. I'm going to join my Jasper. Be happy for your aunt," I admonished, smiling at the young girl.

"But, we want you to stay with us," Lily sniffed.

"Lily," Susan, the oldest, scolded.

Lily blinked up at her older sister, but quickly turned to look back at me when I took a ragged breath. That brought on a round of coughing. My chest ached with the pain as the only boy, Daniel, helped me to sit up. Blood covered the handkerchief I held to my mouth, more coming out as I hacked.

"Please, Aunt Belle. We'll take care of you," Lily pleaded.

"My sweet girl, I'll always be watching over you. Anytime you feel lonely, you just close your eyes and talk to me. I'll listen and tell God to help you," I promised.

Big tears continued to roll down her face, but she nodded her head, conceding defeat.

"We'll let you rest, Aunt Belle. Danny will stay with you," Susan said, ushering her sisters out.

Daniel settled into the chair beside my bed, looking down at his hands. I smiled at the young man he had become.

"You take care of your sisters, now, you hear? I'll be watching you," I warned teasingly.

"I will, Aunt Belle," Daniel smiled sadly.

"Good boy," I sighed.

Daniel was quiet for a time. I allowed my thoughts to drift to my Jasper, as they had done many times over the years. I could still recall his face perfectly. There hadn't been a night I didn't dream of him.

I smiled again as my memories overcame me. Before I knew it, my memories had shifted into dreams.

"Isabelle Swain passed away early Tuesday morning, surrounded by her sister's family. She passed with a smile on her face, knowing she would be joining her one true love, Jasper Whitlock. I can't recall a time since I met Miss Isabelle that she didn't love Jasper. For years she's been claiming they were true soul mates and nothing could break the bond they shared.

"I believe Isabelle was right. Right now, she is sitting up in heaven, happy with her love again. She has no more pain. Her body and soul have both been healed. One day, we will meet Isabelle again. I can imagine the proud look on her face as she introduces us all to her Major Jasper Whitlock. There is no doubt about it. Jasper and Belle belong together and together they will be. Forever."

Okay, so it's kinda short, but it's just the opening chapter! The chapters will pick up length next time. What did you guys think, though? Look good?