The Twilight Twenty-Five

Prompt: Vivid

Pen name: Mandi1

Pairing: Alice & Jasper

Rating: T

vivid (adj.): perceived as bright and distinct; brilliant; having intensely bright colors; presented in clear and striking manner; perceived or felt with the freshness of immediate experiment; active in forming lifelike images.

"It's time."

Emmett was smiling as he said it, and somehow Jasper managed to return the gesture, though inside he was trembling and maybe feeling a little close to passing out or vomiting. He ran his hands over his jacket, smoothing it down for the thousandth time and wondering if it would be straight enough to suit her immaculate standards.

"You look fine," Edward murmured, checking the mirror to make sure his own suit was tidy. Striped trousers, a light grey vest with a darker coat, and a silken black tie at his throat. He looked entirely too stuffy for his own good, but it was what Alice had wanted. And on this day of days, she could have anything her heart desired. Including him.

The boys exited the small side room and walked to where the coordinator had directed them earlier, the space just before the altar of the church where the priest, the withered Father Lawrence, stood. The crowd was humming with quiet chatter that soon died down as the organist began playing. Jasper stood just next to the aisle with Emmett next to him and Edward just behind. The two had decided who would be best man in an easy fashion; Edward having already been Emmett's (twice) had gallantly bestowed the pleasure upon his brother. Emmett stood proudly at the space of honor with Edward smiling demurely next to him, all of them watching and waiting.

The church was done up in the bright colors of Alice's chosen scheme, spring green and yellow, with swaths of green silk running over the pews and yellow flowers decorating each seat and stand. The theme of green-and-yellow continued as the doors at the end of the aisle opened and Esme emerged. She was dressed in a taffeta gown the exact color as the silk runners, and a small cap sat perched on her head. She clutched a bouquet of mixed yellow flowers in her gloved hands and smiled at each one of her boys before standing at the front of the church.

Rosalie came next, and Jasper could nearly hear Emmett panting at the sight. He wondered for a moment if maybe Rosalie's green dress was just a little too tight for the occasion and place…then corrected himself. If Alice had allowed her to wear it, surely it must be alright. And besides, Emmett would be satisfactorily distracted during the reception and wouldn't cause too much of a fuss. Rosalie, for all her sexual charms, played the modest maid of honor very well, and slid into place beside her mother just as the organ sprung up the march.

The congregation stood. The doors opened one more time. And the crowd of people was so tall that the first thing he really could see was Carlisle, dressed in a suit like Jasper's own, escorting –

An angel.

Alice's dress was a white, calf-length concoction of lace and silk sprigged with glittering beads, and she wore a frothy white veil over her jet hair, a veil that did nothing to conceal those beautiful eyes locked tightly on his. Jasper's throat was suddenly dry, his hands shaking at his sides, and he wished he could concentrate enough to take some calm from those around him, but it was impossible. All things seemed impossible, lacking in meaning and knowledge and importance until he had that woman for his wife. In a moment's time, she had made it to the end of the aisle and Carlisle was handing her to him. He nodded and smiled at the man, thanking him without words for the gift he was about to receive.

The words that came from the priest's mouth were a buzzing noise in the back of his head. Jasper heard nothing, concentrating instead on the angel before him, the two small hands in his, and Emmett had to kick him lightly in the shin so he heard Father Lawrence asking him to say his vows. He had memorized them weeks ago, but how could he possibly get them out now without breaking down?

"I, Jasper Whitlock, do take thee, Alice Cullen, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do us part."

He stopped then to smile at her, knowing in the way she clenched his hands she understood just how important every word was to him. He went on after a deep breath, praying he wouldn't give in to the temptation of tears.

"Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following after you. For where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. And where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried."

Alice bit her lip, her eyelashes fluttering down over dewy golden eyes before looking back up at him, a dazzling smile on her face.

Father Lawrence gestured to the girl. "And now, Alice, if you will reply."

"I, Alice Cullen, do take thee, Jasper Whitlock, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do us part."

He couldn't help it. She was just so loving, so beautiful, so his, that he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her fingers gently as she went on.

"Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following after you. For where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. And where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried."

The blurring that had happened in the beginning of the ceremony picked up again as her words died off. Time passed, and he had placed a ring on her finger. More time, and she had done the same to him. More words were said, words he could hardly hear echoing in the back of his mind, until one rose a little louder than the others.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Jasper brought his hands up from hers, cupping her face between them and running his thumb over her cheeks. She was his, finally, in every way. He leaned in slowly, stopping just before her mouth to whisper, "I love you," before pressing his lips to hers. Another moment and they were striding down the aisle, dodging falling rice and rose petals, heading to the waiting Ford Victoria outside, all strung up with tin cans and toilet paper.

A gentleman even on his wedding day – or moreso on that day, perhaps – Jasper opened the door for his new bride and helped her in, walking around quickly to slide in beside her. It was like habit to take her hand as he drove…but this time he could feel a large diamond sitting on her finger, a diamond he had given her. But Alice grinned and threw his hand aside, sliding closer to him to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him once more.

"I love you," she murmured between kisses. "I love you more than enough."

He laughed against her lips. "Much more than enough, Mrs. Whitlock. So much more."

Fin