A/N: Final chapter and changing up my author's note format. Thank you to all that reviewed, especially the ones that explained the why behind their reviews and as always, thanks to those that put the story on story alert or favorite story.
A/N 2: Your finished Christmas present Princess. Hope you enjoyed it.
A/N 3: No there will be no sequel and use your imagination to what Jasper asks Bella at the end of the chapter. I know what he asked but it'll be amusing to see what other people think.
The coming of spring brought warm weather, less clothing and…prom. Prom. A major event that eighty percent of Fork's student population was going head over heels for. This year it was apparently in Port Angles at a nice location and everywhere there was what Bella called 'prom crazy'. Girls were flirtatious, boys cocky or nervous and talks of dresses and the infamous hotel room was prevalent. Bella escaped it all by painting away and finally, finally it was starting to take shape.
"Hiding away again Bella?"
"I find the constant distractions of a crazed student populace detract from my ability to work. So yes, I am hiding away."
Despite the snarkiness of her statement Bella smiled at Angela and stood up from her painting. The other girl leaned over as she examined Bella's painting and looked up at Bella.
"So reading in between the lines, you're getting attention from other admirers and your southern gentleman hasn't asked you yet."
"There's no pressure because I won't go with anyone else. Knowing him, he's trying to not put pressure on me and will ask when we're alone."
"Is this alone enough for you?"
Angela squeaked when Jasper spoke and Bella looked up to see him looking at her. Angela made her excuses and left the room. Neither Bella nor Jasper moved as the door closed and Bella grinned expectantly at Jasper.
"What's this I hear about others asking you to prom?"
Bella bit her lip coyly and sauntered over to Jasper, just how Alice had been teaching her. It was a never-ending game between the two lovers as both Bella and Jasper wanted to up the ante in whatever was happening between them. Despite his gruff, closed off demeanor Bella could see Jasper's eyes follow her swinging hips and she placed her hands on his chest.
"Well Mike Newton asked, Eric Yorkshire hinted and a few sophomores' tried. Oh! And it was so cute but a freshman stumbled his way through asking me as well."
Bella heard Jasper huff and she didn't need to look up to know that his eyes were dark. She raked her fingers up his chest to cup his cheek and Bella looked up into his eyes.
"So is there something you want to ask me Mr. Whitlock?"
"May I kiss you?"
Jasper's question surprised Bella but she nodded and shared a tender kiss with Jasper. He groaned, leaned back against the wall and pulled Bella with him. The two of them were exploring the boundaries of their relationship, content with hands ghosting over each other's bodies over clothes and sharing more frequent and deeper kisses. It was almost impossible not to as the two of them relied on each other and spent so much time trying to get closer. The two of them made out heavily and Bella gasped in air when Jasper let her breathe. He nuzzled her neck and Bella sighed in contentment as she became putty.
"Bella?"
"Hmm?"
"Will you be my date to prom?"
This question prompted another make-out session, complete with Bella's happy mutterings and hugs. Jasper chuckled and pulled away from her to look down at her expression.
"Is that a yes?"
"Absolutely."
It was a charged, chaotic household the night of prom and Bella watched from the top of the stairs as Jasper joked with the other boys downstairs. Her date for the night looked like a prince from the fairytales in his classic black tuxedo and white collared shirt.
"Nothing wrong with the classics Bella."
And Bella found herself agreeing with Jasper. She giggled as the only thing missing from his outfit was what color handkerchief he had to put in the tuxedo jacket's buttonhole.
"You ready for tonight Bella?"
At the sound of Carlisle's voice Bella looked with a smile and nodded. She picked up the silky cool fabric of her perry-winkle blue gown and stood up from her position of kneeling on the ground. Carlisle moved a stray curl of Bella's updo off her shoulder and took Bella's hand in his. He gave a squeeze and then shifted her arm so it was looped through his.
"The last time I did this was when I escorted my mother down the aisle at my brother's wedding."
"Oh no. Please don't Carlisle. Not tonight as I'm already nervous enough as it is."
Carlisle chuckled and shook his head. Bella glared but with no real heat as butterflies were in her stomach and they stood at the top of the stairs. Bella took the first step, Carlisle followed and halfway down the stairs the cameras started flashing from Esme, Rose, Alice and Mrs. Webber. Bella ignored this however as she smiled at Jasper's dazed expression. She barely noticed Carlisle stepping away and Bella closed her eyes with a faint blush when Jasper kissed her forehead. Knowing she would get teased, Bella stood on tiptoe and kissed Jasper.
"Ooooh…"
"Aw…"
"How sweet!"
Bella pulled away and buried her face in Jasper's chest. He laughed and tucked her into his side.
"Regretting your deal Bella?
"No. Those were death traps Alice!"
"Were not! Two inch heels are easy-peezy Bella."
Bella shook her head and glared at Alice. The deal was that Bella could wear white ballet flats but she relinquished her rights to limit photos. Secretly, Bella didn't think it was that much of a sacrifice because she wanted to remember every detail of tonight.
"Come on, pictures are being taken outside."
As Bella walked outside with Jasper at Esme's command, he picked her up and spun them around. Bella shrieked, laughed and gripped his forearms. He set Bella down and she fell back over his arm. Jasper laughed and kissed the hollow of Bella's throat. The cameras flashed but Bella was too happy to care. She was living in the moment and creating her own memories.
"All right you two you're holding up the procession. Bella go stand with the girls over there and Jasper come over here to stand with the boys."
Bella walked over to the gazebo after Jasper pulled her up and Alice and Rosalie flanked her. Angela stood on the other side of Alice and the four girls took various positions and poses but were smiling and laughing the whole time. After their photos were taken Bella looked over at the boys as they indulged the mothers desires for pictures and Bella absent-mindedly played with the long, white hair ribbon she had in her hair that secured her updo. It was a tribute to Renee and for Jasper's benefit Bella wore all the jewelry he had given her at Christmas.
"Okay! Couples time! Bella and Jasper you'll go last as you two are going to be a while."
"Esme, come on. What are you saying?"
"Nothing Jasper, I love all my children equally but we want to make this moment special for Bella as this is her first prom."
Bella smiled, embarrassed up at Jasper when he walked over and he shook his head with a grin. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and looked down at her as she looked up.
"You didn't tell me that this is your first prom."
"I didn't want to create any more problems and pressure than I already do."
"As beautiful and self-sacrificing as ever."
The look the two of them shared was one of mutual trust and love but a bright camera flash drew Bella out of the moment. Alice shrugged her shoulders and darted away before Bella could catch her.
"Jasper, Bella, come over here please. I think I have a shot that you both will appreciate."
Esme directed the young lovers over to the tree where Bella frequently swung in the tree swing. Jasper sat down on it and Bella sat in his lap. They started swinging and Bella couldn't help it when she laughed. Esme directed them to either side of the tree, facing away from each other and they held hands. Bella knew what Esme was going for, as she had seen this in a friends wedding but she bit her lip at Esme's subtle hints.
"Okay Esme, that's enough. They need to go enjoy their night after all."
"Thank you Carlisle!"
Bella laughed at Emmett's loud cry of relief and walked hand in hand with Jasper over to where the limo waited. It was Carlisle's treat to them for doing so well in school and Bella excitedly crawled in after Alice.
"Come on milady, I need to get you back inside the house before the stroke of midnight or you'll turn into a pretty little pumpkin on me."
"And you would like that wouldn't you?"
Bella climbed out of the limo and kissed Jasper's cheek as he held the door open for her. She heard him thank the limo driver and then he wrapped an arm around her waist as he led her up into the Cullen's house. The house was dark as it was near midnight and Bella giggled softly as Jasper led her through the shadowy house to their rooms. When he went to leave her outside her room however, Bella tugged on Jasper's hand and led her into her room. She could feel the tension in his body through his hand and knowing he would object out of his gentleman like ways she shut her door behind him.
"Relax Jasper. As yummy looking as you are right now I'm not going to jump you."
"Yummy looking? You've been hanging out with Alice too much I see."
Bella grinned and turned around. The open styled windows she kept in her room allowed her room to be lighted by the full moon out tonight and it also offered a calm, tranquil setting, which Bella loved. She took off the necklace and bracelet, which Jasper gave her and pulled her hair ribbon out of her hair as she stood in front of her mirror. She saw Jasper watching her, still backed up against the door and she smiled at him to help relieve his tension.
"If I was uncomfortable or didn't trust you Jasper you wouldn't be in my room. Relax, take a seat and make yourself comfortable. I figured since I know your room and your bed so well I should return the favor on this special night. You treated me like a princess and I want to say thank you."
"I'm sorry sweetheart. It's just I know how much you like your privacy and your room is your safe haven besides your little makeshift studio."
Bella chuckled and slipped off her heels. Now barefoot she twirled her finger, motioning for Jasper to turn around and he did with a smirk.
"No free show?"
"Greedy Mr. Whitlock?"
"When it comes to you Ms. Swan, hell yes."
Bella giggled and before she lost her nerve she let her dress slide down her body. Quickly she snagged a spare sheet she had placed at the foot of her bed for this purpose and covered her breasts with it. Taking a deep breath she told Jasper to turn around and smiled nervously when he did.
JPOV
The night of prom for Jasper was like the light at the end of a very long tunnel with his walking alongside Bella for most of her journey and transformation back to what Carlisle called 'her old self'. No words could describe how lucky he felt when Bella walked down the stairs all dolled up and he felt his inner caveman whoops as Jasper realized he had the belle of the prom for his date tonight.
The confidence that Bella had displayed throughout the evening pleased Jasper and he wasn't the only one. The Cullen table at the proms avenue had been a constant set of revolving chairs with all sorts of people coming over to say hello and speak to them. Jasper credited this to Bella as her positive attitude and infectious energy for the evening made everyone laugh and smile.
Mostly though it was Bella and her friends Angela, Ben and Eric. The four of them had talked up a storm about the upcoming gala and speculations of what was going to happen but Jasper dragged Bella out onto the dance floor whenever he could. It was at these moments that Bella let herself go and Jasper was treated to a rare sight. As he spun Bella around, her dress flared around her thighs, her eyes were bright and she laughed freely. Even on the slower dances Bella didn't shy away, instead making herself comfortable in his arms and whispering to him as they moved around the dance floor.
The only dark moment of the evening came on the ride to prom when Bella asked where Edward was. Because of his poor choices and emotional imbalance / immaturity, Edward would not be attending prom and instead would spend the evening helping out a youth center Carlisle donated to. This unsettled Bella for a moment, Jasper knowing that she felt responsible but Alice and Rosalie drew Bella out of her funk and the light atmosphere returned.
"Bella what are you doing?"
A nearly naked Bella drew Jasper out of his brief flashbacks of the night's previous events and despite himself, Jasper's eyes raked up and down Bella's nearly naked torso. The little blue panties she wore seemed to blend seamlessly into her pale skin and the sheet she had wrapped around herself covered her breasts and part of her shoulders but not much else. Most of the amount of skin Bella was showing Jasper had already seen but it was this situation that made Jasper feel like he was seeing Bella's smooth, pale skin for the first time.
"Please just listen. You want to see my scars and touch them. Well, they're spread out and my bra and bikini straps would only hinder your view and experience. Am I being too forward?"
"No! No, I just don't want to make you uncomfortable to satisfy my curiosity and…well yeah."
Bella laughed softly and Jasper's eyes were transfixed on her as she stepped closer to him. She reached out, took his hand and placed it on the scar on her right hip.
"You've touched this one plenty of times but what you don't know is how I got it. One night Charlie came home drunk and shoved me into a cabinet with glass shelves on it on his way to the kitchen. Renee drove me to the hospital after Charlie passed out and I only needed four stitches."
Jasper traced the word 'LOVE' with new emotion and Bella took his hand to lead him to her bed. She carefully knelt, keeping her modesty covered and bared the smooth expanse of her back by pulling the sheet all in front of her and pulling her hair over her shoulder. Jasper took the silent invitation and traced the tattoo of the word 'PRAY' on the inside of her right shoulder blade running vertical.
"Charlie hit me with a broken beer bottle the first time I came to the defense of Renee. I was sixteen."
Knowing that his anger would only make Bella draw in on herself, Jasper didn't say anything and moved to the last scar running horizontally a few inches above her waist on the right side of her lower back. This scar was covered with the word 'PERSEVERE' and Jasper could feel its jaggedness.
"I'm told Charlie did this to me the night he killed Renee. I don't know anything else about it."
"To suffer like you did and come out so innocent and pure as you have is a remarkable show of your strong character and gentle spirit Bella. You are something special."
Jasper saw Bella's skin flush and when she turned around Jasper matched her embarrassed smile with a reassuring one. Slowly, Jasper saw Bella scoot forward on the bed closer to him, sit in between his legs and kiss him. Jasper felt her tears on his lips and he wrapped his arms around Bella to pull her closer to him.
He didn't know how long he drank from Bella's lips but warning bells went off when they went horizontal and he began feeling more and more of her soft skin. He looked down to see his legs entangled with Bella's, their hips aligned and gently pressing together. The sheet, which covered Bella's breasts, covered her at a rakish angle, one breast covered completely and the other uncovered except for the tip.
"Bella. Bella we need to stop."
Jasper pushed up so he leaned above Bella and cupped her cheek.
"I'm going to turn around so you can get dressed and then we should probably go to bed.."
"Okay."
With a smile Jasper turned around to give Bella some privacy and turned back around to face Bella when she gave him a quiet okay. She stood in front of her bed in her regular sleeping attire, a slightly embarrassed smile on her face, red, swollen lips and she fidgeted.
"It's okay Bella. We're not ready for that yet."
"I know. Ready for bed?"
"Sure."
Quietly, the two teenagers climbed into Bella's bed and Jasper ran a hand down her back while Bella half rested on him.
"Remember the girl from my past Jasper? She gets a happily ever after in her future I think."
"I'm glad. When will you know for certain if she gets her happily ever after?"
Bella wove the fingers of her right hand into Jasper's left hand and he grinned. He pulled the covers over them with his free hand and kissed the top of Bella's head.
"Did I mention how beautiful you looked tonight?"
"Once or twice…every hour if I recall correctly."
"Only speaking the truth darlin'. Every guy in their had at least one eye, if not both eyes on you and their mouths were slightly agape."
And Jasper was telling the truth. Every guy either manned up and congratulated / complimented Jasper on Bella being his date for the evening or bemoaned the fact that they couldn't escort her tonight. Bella either remained oblivious or pretended not to notice and she had been the picture-perfect southern belle to Jasper's gentleman charm.
"Is that what it was? I was trying not to smirk too much at Casey and her posse and their jealous glares for having such a good looking escort."
"She didn't give you any trouble did she?"
"No, she knew she lost after we kissed after the first slow dance."
The annoyance left Jasper when Bella mentioned their first overt public display of affection and how everyone reacted. The rest of the Cullen's cheered, Bella's close art friends as well and mostly everyone else as well even if they were surprised. Jasper had taken it one step further by dipping Bella over his arm and bit down on a sensitive part of her neck. The crowds' catcalls and cheers covered up Bella's gasp but Jasper heard her moan and had pulled back with a smirk.
"We did make quite the impression didn't we?"
"Mmm…yes we did."
Jasper quieted down at Bella's sleepy mumble and held her close as they drifted off to sleep. All was well.
The day after prom found all of the Cullen's and Bella lounging about in the family room and Bella sat up straighter when Jasper received a thick looking book from Esme. Jasper grinned, thanked Esme and placed the book on Bella's stomach.
"What's this?"
"Oh just a little gift from all of us darlin'. Go ahead and open it."
All the expectant looks from the Cullen's made Bella sit up from where she laid on Jasper dozing and she undid the latch keeping the book closed. A gasp escaped Bella when she saw herself smiling at the camera from a time when Rosalie had egged Bella out of her studio with paint on her face and hands.
"Out of that entire album, that picture is my favorite."
"Of course you would Rosalie. You were being so mean that day."
Everyone laughed at Bella's murmur to Rosalie's comment and Bella flipped through the rest of the album. She laughed when she came upon the picture of her wagging a chocolate covered spatula at Emmett. The kitchen and food was where Bella and the biggest Cullen bonded and Emmett laughed when Bella showed him the picture, claiming it was his favorite.
'Food for thought'.
That was the caption underneath Emmett's photo and Bella turned the page to the next page, which was a spread of Alice and Bella working together to get all the dresses ready for the Port Angles gala. The tagline was 'artistic, beautiful creativity amidst the madness.' Bella had to smile at the photos Alice picked out and she laughed softly as she finished with Alice's photo spread.
"I think it would be safe to assume that Emmett took all of these photos."
"Yes Bella."
Rosalie sounded exasperated but Bella could hear the pride and love as well and she knew Rosalie wouldn't have picked these photos Bella now looked through if they didn't mean something to the stunning blonde beauty. Most were of Bella and Rosalie in the garage before and after school with various expressions on their faces, but there were some nice candid shots of the two girls as well.
"Here. I think I know which ones you are looking for."
Jasper flipped to the back of the album, past twenty or so more photos and stopped with the ones with her and Jasper. A blush tinted her cheeks when she saw herself in her bikini standing with a shirtless Jasper on Hawaii's beaches, plenty of her in various states of dress walking down the beach picking up seashells and a couple of her in the early Hawaii mornings.
"I'm going to yell at you and hit you with something heavy as soon as I get up Jasper."
"Someone needed to capture your beauty sweetheart and I was up to the task."
When Jasper flipped to the next page, Bella's embarrassment left her and she traced a finger over the moments people captured during prom. There were a few of Bella and Carlisle walking down the stairs, one of Jasper's initial reactions to seeing her for the first time (which Bella giggled at), Carlisle handing Bella off and a nice one of Bella looking up at Jasper while he looked down at her.
"Esme and Mrs. Webber took those. I took these."
Alice's comment drew Bella out of her memories and a soft smile crossed her face as she saw the next set of photos when Alice knelt down next to her and Jasper. The first picture was when Bella first kissed Jasper that night, the next of Jasper spinning Bella and the third of Jasper looking down at Bella as she fell back over his arm.
"And we all decided that this should be the final picture."
"Oh…"
The final picture was of Jasper holding Bella, his arms wrapped around her with his hands clasped together over her stomach. Bella stood with her back to his front, looking up at him to meet his gaze with a smile and her arms up and around his neck.
"Thank you, I love it."
Everyone murmured that it was no big deal and Bella flipped over so she held herself up over Jasper. He steadied her with his hands on her hips and looked up at her with a grin. He raised his eyebrows and mouthed the sentence Bella had been waiting to her for weeks. A wide grin split her face and she nodded.
"Yes. Oh most definitely yes."
FIN