Chapter Forty Three

Jasper

I watched Bella carefully for the next few days looking for a sign that she was regaining her lost senses but while her speech continued in the same vein, difficult to make out but possible with much concentration her hearing appeared to be lost for good. We decided to leave for Europe at the end of the following week, I knew she would be happier once away from home, from Charlie and the temptation to see or contact him.

Bella

I knew everyone was watching and waiting for my senses to recover but I was slowly becoming resigned to the fact that not even vampire venom could work such a miracle. The fact that my speech had improved very slightly had given us all hope, false hope as it turned out but Jasper and I were happy and that was all that mattered to us. We hunted together, planned our adventure in Europe and made love at every opportunity, the one time when words really were superfluous.

The girls and Esme had put together a travelling wardrobe for me, such beautiful clothes as I had never seen before although I was relieved that Alice had been reined in by the other two. Her ideas were a little outlandish and sometimes way too feminine for my liking.

I was excited at the thought of travelling, it was something Renee and I had always planned on, a trip around Europe but somehow the money had never been there so we consoled ourselves with trips around the States. The thought of stepping off a plane and discovering I was in a new and different culture was wonderful, the new smells and sights if not the sounds, and I would experience it all at my husband's side.

Carlisle and Esme drove us to the airport and waved us off on our adventure, first stop Portugal and then on to Spain, France, Germany and beyond. Jasper had told me we could continue our trip as long as we wanted to and with money being no object I wondered if I would ever want to return to the States but then I thought of my new family and knew that I would miss them sooner or later but at least being immortal they would always be there, just as I remembered them. Jasper also pointed out that we might find ourselves invaded by them if we stayed away too long.

"Esme especially misses the family if we stay away for a while and I know how fond Rose and Emmett are of you especially."

While pad and pen were still our main source of communication he was getting very good at interpreting my garbled speech and when we were alone I didn't feel embarrassed uttering out loud.

We'd only been gone a week when Esme rang to make sure everything was OK. While Jasper spoke to her I went out onto the balcony of our hotel room to watch the people in the square below. There was a lot of traffic but it didn't affect me, I couldn't hear it, or the many birds swooping down to collect the food being scattered by tourists below. We were moving on tomorrow, north towards France where Jasper had promised to show me Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame and take me up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, all places I had only read of and dreamed about.

Something caught my attention and I looked down unsure what it was. The scene below had changed of course but there was nothing particular to draw the eye. Then it came again and I turned my head as an emergency vehicle came swiftly into view and drew to a halt outside one of the hotels across the square. I thought it must have been the flashing lights that had caught my eye until I realized the lights were not on. My stomach lurched as I felt as much as heard a strange buzzing in my head and I clutched my temples, what was it?

I staggered slightly then dropped into one of the wrought iron chairs at the small circular table. The buzzing increased and then just as abruptly as it had begun, it died. I found my hands were shaking, what was wrong with me? Then it began again but this time, the noise was different. It was a low rumbling noise, lots of them all mixed together inside my head. My shaking became worse, I was terrified, I had never felt like this before and it had been so long since I had heard any sounds at all and why was I hearing strange sounds in my head?

Jasper

It hit me suddenly, Bella's distress, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"I have to go Esme."

"What's wrong Jasper? Is it Bella?"

"I'll call you back."

The phone fell from my grasp as Bella's terror hit me again and I was on the balcony in an instant only to find her on her knees, her hands over her ears, her mouth open in a scream that was only just audible over the roar of the traffic and the siren of an ambulance leaving the square.

I picked her up in my arms, afraid of what was wrong, I'd never seen a vampire collapse like this before. Holding her close to me I carried her back inside and laid her gently on the bed pulling her close into my embrace as I joined her. There was no point in asking her what was wrong, she couldn't hear me and I was unwilling to leave her long enough to retrieve the pad and pen while she was so distraught so I just held her, pushing calmness into her as I soaked up her fear and distress.

Bella

Only when I felt myself in my husband's arms could I finally allow the terror to abate and try to figure out just what was happening in my head. The noises were still there but changing constantly, yet I had no idea what they meant, what I was listening to. Why were sounds filling my head now? After all this time? Was this a good thing or a bad thing? The highest pitch sound had gone, the one that seemed like a high powered drill biting into my brain and I was relieved, that was the one that really hurt, that made me feel as if my whole body was vibrating. The others were less painful but no less disconcerting for all that.

When I finally felt able I pulled away sitting up and taking Jasper's hands in mine, unable to bear being parted from him physically. He stared into my eyes worried and puzzled in equal measure then turned to the bedside locker and grabbed the pad and pen but I grabbed his arm and he turned back,

"What's wrong Bella? I need to know what's wrong with you? Are you in pain? You shouldn't be, not as a vampire."

My stomach lurched again but this time for a different reason. My hands clenched Jasper's hand and arm so fiercely that he winced, I'd forgotten I was stronger than him for now. Determined to make myself understood I spoke very slowly,

"Speak to me, Jasper."

He frowned seeming unable to comprehend and I thought he had been unable to make out my words although I had heard them clearly enough and then he smiled. It lit up his face, making him look even more handsome than usual.

"You can hear me?"

His voice was like melted honey, soft and warm, a slow southern drawl and this time it was my heart that lurched.

I nodded,

"Can you hear me?"

His smile widened,

"Yes, and without difficulty. Carlisle was right, you just needed time Bella. My venom has finally healed your brain."

I savoured every word committing them to memory, my first taste of my husband's words.

He pulled me close and I felt his lips on my neck as he whispered in my ear,

"I love you my darling. Bella Whitlock, my wife."

This was indeed my dream come true, to be a full partner in this marriage. My husband and I could talk, discuss and make plans but that was for the future, for now, I wanted only to hear his groans of pleasure as we made love, to hear him whisper my name as he took me, to be one with my mate and he was eager to give me just what I wanted.

The End

Thanks for all the reviews, Kat and I are glad you enjoyed the story. We'll be back with another very soon. Love Jules xx