16 | FORMALITY |

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"YOUR MOTHER IS very thorough," Jasper chuckled the moment Rory firmly closed her bedroom door shut with a small thud. Rory whirled around to face the vampire casually leaning against her headboard.

Jasper grinned toothily. "She checked every shadow of your room, convinced she would find me. I had to send her waves of content for her to go back downstairs."

"How much did you hear?" Rory asked as she sat beside him.

"...All of it," He admitted with a sheepish shrug. "I tried to tune it out mostly, then I was brought up to my surprise."

"My mother is a big fan of you," Rory rolled her eyes, before tensing slightly. "And the other part...despite my protests, she will put me back on birth control, regardless of whether or not we...have sex—she wants me to take precautions...Which leads me to the other thing I should confess to you and I hope it doesn't change anything."

Jasper reached out to hold her hand encouragingly as she paused for an awkward moment.

Rory pursed her lips and looked away from his deep, earnest golden eyes. He was too good for her. She sighed. "I'm not a virgin."

"I know." His mouth quirked to the side. "Me neither."

She blinked in relief, her anxiety had indeed clouded her reasoning. Jasper wouldn't have judged her no matter what; they were birds of a feather them two. They thought themselves as guilty sinners and of each other as forgiving angels.

"It would be kind of weird if you were a virgin still," Rory replied and both erupted into quiet laughter. Jasper settled first, shifting his position until they sat side by side, thighs pressed against each other.

"I may not have been with you first, but I intend to be with you until the end of time," Jasper whispered, brushing her hair behind her ear with a genuine glint of his eyes.

His sweet words registered with her bitterly. All a vampire has is time, immortality was endless. As much as she loved Jasper, she was tethered to her humanity. If she were to become a vampire, she'd have to leave her life, her mother—and Rory couldn't bring herself to do that to her mother. Not with everything they've lost.

She'd sacrifice her happiness for her mother.

"Jasper..." Rory exhaled his name slowly, savoring it's beautiful sound like it was her own personality symphony. "I don't want to become a vampire," she admitted.

Jasper wasn't angry or upset, more so disheartened by her choice. "...You don't?"

She was his forever, but he never thought forever would be so short. He turned his head down at the thought of continuing to exist in his eternal darkness without the light of Rory Aden to guide him.

"I want to be with you Jasper, you're my soulmate," Rory turned his face towards her so he could see the truth and love she felt for him in her eyes. "But I want to stay human. For my mother's sake above all others."

"I understand, sweetheart," Jasper nodded assuringly, knowing Rory was feeling anxious by the way she bit her lower pouty lip and the fast rhythm of her heart. "You deserve more than what immortality could ever offer you. More than whatever I could offer you."

"I don't need anything except you." Her thumb stroked his smooth marble cheek.

Jasper sighed, she was truly his angel sent straight from heaven. Whatever he did to deserve her, he had no clue. "I can't give you a future. I would never be able to grow old with you, with our children and grandchildren as much as I wish I could," Jasper said regretfully.

"Lots of couples have issues like that—medicine has come a long way, adoption is beautiful..." Rory smiled tentatively. "We'll figure that part out when we get there then."

His forehead creased. "You still want a future with me?" Jasper asked. His honey-golden eyes were imbued with surprise.

"Well, yeah. I said I didn't want to become a vampire—I could never leave you, Jasper," she said with a shake of her head, the thought of which was ridiculous. She closed the distance between them, her lips crashing into his passionately. He wrapped his arm around her waist as her hand drifted down his chest.

"Wait—" Jasper broke from the kiss and he flashed a few feet away, forcing some distance between them on the bed. Jasper looked immaculate as ever while Rory was panting and disheveled.

"Sorry..." Rory panted, sitting straight again.

Jasper looked at her with scrutinizing dark eyes. "What for?"

"I didn't think about how hard it is for you to be so close to me," Rory apologized, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Do you..." she broke off her train of words, embarrassed at the clear insecurity they conveyed.

Jasper frowned, reaching out to hold her hand again, "Do I what? Don't be afraid to ask me anything."

"It's stupid," Rory groaned, but the look on his face made her sigh in resignation. "Do you...even want me like that?"

He blinked. "Of course I want you, I may not be human, but I'm still a man," Jasper scoffed at the notion of not wanting her that way. He wanted her all the time. "But I don't want to just have sex with you, I want it to mean more."

He was too afraid of scaring her off to utter the words, assuming his feelings were probably more of how she felt about him. Vampires emotions were felt quicker by a tenfold of humans; Jasper had known for a while now how much he loved Rory, but he wanted to give her time, give her a choice.

Little did Jasper know, Rory shared his feelings just as strongly.

The words were on the tip of her tongue. But if she said it now, then it'd seem she was only trying to get into his pants as ironically flipped it would be. "Me too," she said instead, her heart warm with the growing love she felt for Jasper.

On Saturday morning, a few days later, Rory awoke to Jasper pressing his lips to her neck.

"Don't start what you won't finish," she murmured sleepily, her head still buried into her pillow as the grey tinged morning light hit her face. "You're such a tease. It's too early for this."

Jasper held her from behind, his strong arm around her waist and his hand intertwined with hers. He chuckled at her grumpy attitude and rolled off of her to her disappointment.

The loss of his presence made her grumble to his amusement. She sat up begrudgingly to look at the blond vampire sitting at the edge of her bed with his feet planted on the floorboards. Jasper smirked at her ruffled appearance, her hair a mess of waves, her face bare of makeup, and her brown eyes flickering with sleepiness—she never looked more beautiful.

"I assume we aren't spending the day in bed again?" She raised her brow curiously.

"No, not today, sweetheart," Jasper grinned.

Rory resisted the urge to pout. She hated getting ready, much preferring to cuddle with the vampire than go out and socialize. However, she couldn't say no to him. Rory sighed. "So, what are we doing today?"

"Would you like to come to my house?" he asked with curved lips. "My mother's been insisting I bring you over to meet her."

"Your house? Now?"

Jasper shrugged. "Now's a good time as any. Besides, I want to beat Eddy at bringing my girl home first. Esme will love you." He seemed a but eager to one up Edward, innocent sibling rivalry its best.

Rory was horrified at the thought of meeting his family—not because she was terrified that they were vampires, but because she knew they weren't too keen on her relationship with Jasper. Well, she knew Alice supported them, but none other could be confirmed. Rosalie definitely wasn't her biggest fan, but Rory was positive Rosalie hated Bella more, albeit not by much.

She wouldn't have time to iron her hair or think of things to impress them—should she bring a painting? She couldn't bring a salad or something obviously...well, technically she herself would be considered a snack...but they ate animals anyways—What did one bring to their vampire boyfriend's family home? Rory would ask Bella, but she was pretty sure the question would only make Bella anxious too and then both girls would be freaking out.

"Are they expecting me?" Rory hoped they were, maybe Jasper had texted them or something even though she was sure he didn't leave during the night.

Jasper smiled too innocently. "Well, not exactly..."

"Jasper!"

"You've already met most of them," he said, thoroughly entertained at her distressed disposition.

"Yeah, when they were pretending to be human," Rory shot back stubbornly.

He reached out, gently cupping her chin in his hand. "Please, Rory."

Rory narrowed her eyes. "Alright, I'll come, but I am not intruding on your family without warning, Jasper Hale," she warned him much to his amusement.

He acquiesced to her unspoken demand, knowing her anxieties were what was really driving her concern. "Okay, fine. I'll go warn them that my pesky little human is coming over," he said teasingly, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "Or you could just come now, a little surprise never hurt nobody." He smiled, his lips pressing against hers persuasively.

"I can't just hop on your back and ride off into the sunset." She rolled her eyes. "My mother is downstairs—she'll want an explanation on to where I'm going before you whisk me off to Transylvania."

He rolled his eyes. "Of course." His mouth curved into a stunning grin. "It's a date, then."

Her cheeks reddened. "I suppose that's a believable pretense."

He shook his head, "Not a pretense." He leaned down once more to press his lips to the corner of her mouth.

Before she could get another word out, he became a blur of chin-length blonde waves and white skin zoomed out the window and disappeared into the green forest. Rory endearingly huffed at his audaciousness.

With Jasper's penchant to not waste any time, she realized she probably had twenty minutes more or less to get ready. She dug through her closet and drawers fastidiously, selecting the necessities before picking her outfit. She threw three different dresses, a few pairs of jeans and blouses all on her bed—which is what her mother walked in to.

Stella raised her brow at the sight of a frantic Rory struggling to pick an outfit from the disarray. "What's the occasion?"

Rory froze, flushing slightly. "I...am meeting Jasper's parents at his house. For brunch," she tacked on to make it more solid.

"You've already met Dr. Cullen and you go to school with his siblings," Stella mused, finding it adorable how clearly nervous and anxious her daughter was about the impending meeting. "You've met them all sans his mother."

Rory groaned. "Yes, but not formally."

"Aha," Stella's eyes lit with knowledge. "The orange one brings out the warmth of your eyes." She helpfully pointed at the polka-dot wrap dress. "You're nervous over nothing. I approve of Jasper and I doubt his family won't approve of you."

"Thanks, mama," Rory breathed out in relief, her mother's approval easing her nerves the littlest bit.

She changed speedily and ran over to the bathroom to fix her morning breath and work on her mess of half-rumpled wavy-straight locks. She swiped on her makeup—eyebrows, mascara, blush, and lipstick—and walked to her room to grab her purse.

"They'll adore you, sweetheart," Stella smiled encouragingly when Rory came downstairs. Stella was preparing to go over to the Rez herself which she had mentioned to Rory the day before.

"Hopefully," Rory said, her heart beating fast from sheer nervousness. Orion helped ease her nerves, the German Shepard kissing her until Rory giggled.

She didn't know why she was so anxious about formally meeting Jasper's family—just a few days ago she had been eagerly suggesting it. Now it was different—ever since they kissed—especially considering the fact that Rory had realized she was very much in love with Jasper Hale. When she suggested it before they confessed their feelings, she meant it as a friendly thing to ease his family's wariness about a human being in on the secret. Now it was serious; he was no longer just a boy she liked, Jasper was the man she loved.

Ding Dong

"That'll be him," Stella smirked. She darted to the door faster than Rory.

Jasper waited on the porch. When the door opened to reveal the two women, the blond smiled charmingly, his hands folded behind his back. Rory stood next to her mother in the doorway, her hands nervously tapping on her thigh.

"Jasper," Rory's mother smiled brightly at the blond, whose chin-length waves had been slightly tousled back. "It's great to see you again!"

"Hello, Stella," Jasper greeted her charismatically before training hid sight on the gorgeous girl he called his. "You look beautiful, Rory."

Rory couldn't fight the blush. "Thank you, you too." And he did, as always, look so good. He wore an ivory sweater underneath a black leather jacket, dark wash designer jeans that fit exceptionally well.

"I'm sure Rory's told you we'll be going to my family's home?" Jasper said to Stella.

The matriarch nodded and looked behind Jasper to the driveway where he had parked the blue Jaguar he had arrived in. It had been hard to explain why she had it so Jasper just drove it himself. Stella eyed the sports car cautiously. "You'll drive that car carefully, right, Jasper?"

"Mama," Rory hissed under her breath, knowing both would hear.

"Yes, ma'am," he promised her, manipulating Stella's mood just a tad to a more trusting, benevolent mood, lowering the woman's slight anxiety. "I've never gotten in an accident before and I'd never risk it especially with Rory in the car with me."

"I trust you," she nodded, her hands on her hips. "Well, go on, bebitos. I wouldn't want to make brunch too late."

"Have a good day, Stella."

"Bye, mama. Tell Billy I said hey."

Jasper and Rory waved goodbye and Jasper led her to the shiny Jaguar in her driveway, fluidly opening the door for her before getting into the drivers seat. He waited for Rory to buckle herself in and turned the heater on, noticing Rory had been shivering in the adorable dress she wore in the cool 70 degree Forks weather. He also tossed his leather jacket on her lap for good measure.

"Thanks," she shrugged it on and then buckled the seatbelt over herself.

He grinned and gave her a look that said 'of course'.

"What did your family say about me coming over?" Rory asked as soon as the car started.

"They didn't mind," he said, his eyes trained on the road a little too intently, speeding well beyond the legal limit.

The speed didn't bother her; Rory knew he could probably close his eyes, drive with one hand and the car would never even swerve. Perks of vampirism, she supposed. Huh. "Rosalie didn't mind that a human was coming over to her home?"

He sighed, one hand rested on her thigh reassuringly in the next instant. "Don't worry about Rose. She'll come around."

"She should really get used to it..."

Jasper raised a brow.

"I just mean that not only are we together, but Edward and Bella are too," Rory explained. "I mean, you saw them arrive the other day together, finally the attention was off of us. She's the one who took the first move too—told him she knew he was vampire and all. She's got guts."

He chuckled, the deep honey-like tone reverberated melodically. "I guess I owe Alice then."

"You shouldn't make bets with someone who sees the future," Rory teased. "I'm curious what you thought." Rory noted how they were now driving down a lone public road that spanned miles into the forest. She vaguely wondered if she would be the first human to see the mysterious Cullen house. Word on the street (Jessica) was that they lived in like a giant white house.

"Alice may see the future, but I know every emotion people feel. Edward, he's extremely protective of Bella despite his opposing behavior, he doesn't want to lose her," he explained. "I thought he'd give in and tell her the truth himself."

"Like you?"

He nodded, his eyes meeting hers. "I couldn't stay away from you any more. And lying to you is impossible—not to mention I've nearly killed you twice. You deserved the truth."

"Twice?" Her forehead puckered. "What other time?"

"The first time you went into the forest to paint."

"When I got lost?" That was after like her first few days in Forks, when Orion led her back to civilization and where she lost her favorite quilt.

His jaw tightened and he nodded again. "I had been hunting and I somehow ended up too close to civilization—too close to you. I was going to kill you—I didn't know you then and the others would've understood. Something stopped me. Some part of me has been drawn to you from the beginning, from the moment you said hello."

"I am quite the enigma," Rory said playfully, but her curiosity remained. "How'd you find me?"

"I ended up following your scent, like I did in Port Angeles—this time though, I was hunting you. I watched you for a good hour, I convinced myself I needed to wait until it was completely dark so you wouldn't realize what was happening until you were already gone. It's less painful that way," he spoke from experience, sending a shiver down Rory's back.

She remembered how he had felt the emotions of all his past human victims and she wondered if he was just a tad more disinterested in her, if his lack of ability to read her emotions would've made killing her all the more easy for him. "What stopped you?"

"You were ready to die." Jasper whispered sadly. "I recognized that, it surprised me. I couldn't go through with it. It was difficult to turn away—that's what the crash was by the way—and miraculously, a little dog of all things, popped up out of nowhere to lead you to safety, far from me."

"Alice and Edward found me later—she had a vision, she thought I had gone through with it. They came a few minutes after you left actually, expecting some macabre scene that would send our whole family packing and starting over again, instead finding me frozen, completely and utterly confused about my feelings towards you."

"Don't feel bad, nothing happened." Rory shook her head, hating the shame and guilt that painted his perfect porcelain features. "Don't ever be ashamed of who you are or what you've done. You're a good man, Jasper Hale."

"How do you do that? How do you always find it in yourself to forgive me? To look past my flaws and accept me wholly?"

"Darling, you are the only exception," she said gently. His gaze softened, but no more words could be shared as the car had finally stopped.

Rory stared at the architectural master piece that greeted her. "You said you lived in a house. Not a mansion."

"It's no castle. No crypts or moats or dungeons like real vampires," he joked as he opened the door for her to step out of the car.

"It's close enough." And it was. Encroaching through the thick forest, the Cullen home was something out of a modern fairytale. Glass walls and warm wood details made up the grand four story house. It was all very open, very modern. It was entirely unexpected, she had thought the Cullen's would want more privacy, then again, considering how far from town the home was and settled in private land, they didn't have to worry about it.

"Not what you expected?"

"It's beautiful."

He looked at the home, spacing out as he appeared to listen to those inside. "Esme is pleased to hear that," he said casually, before leading her up the floating steps to the front glass door, her hand in his.

The first floor of the Cullen's home was split with the garage and a entrance parlor with a few seating arrangements that looked barely touched and immaculate. Jasper didn't linger in the area, leading Rory up the white staircase to the second floor of the home. Rory first saw the kitchen, clearly unused, and then they entered the living room.

The interior of the living room was simple and elegant, artfully designed. Two pale figures stood near the window. One was familiar—the handsome blond doctor she briefly had met weeks ago—Carlisle. He stood beside an absolutely beautiful caramel haired woman, her heart-shaped face held a kind, welcoming smile.

Jasper walked closer to the couple, allowing Rory to follow suit, wordlessly giving her a choice to fully meet his vampire family. His parents didn't move, allowing her the same courtesy—they must've not wanted to scare her, just in case, which was incredible thoughtful.

"Good morning, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen," Rory extended her hand respectfully as she smiled nervously.

"Hello, Rory," Carlisle gave her a friendly grin, shaking her hand firmly. "Please, call me Carlisle."

Rory turned to the beautiful vampire beside him with a smile.

"I'm Esme." She grinned so sweetly, Rory was reminded of her own mother. Esme exuded that motherly sense, the kindness and warmness radiated from the woman's careful, but happy shake of her cold marble hand. "I've heard so much of you, it's lovely to meet you. Welcome to our home."

"Thank you, I hope you don't mind that I intruded on you guys today," Rory chuckled apologetically, glancing at Jasper pointedly. He just smirked and shrugged.

"Nonsense, I've been anxious to meet the girl that brings my son such well-deserved happiness at last," Esme said fondly, reaching her hand out elegantly to pat Jasper's broad shoulder motherly. Her gold eyes brightened upon seeing his mirrored expression.

"I agree," Carlisle grinned. "We've been telling Jasper to invite you over ever since..." He almost killed you in the forest and then felt so guilty he spilled our secret. Rory understood his unspoken words.

"You don't mind me being in on the secret?

"This is the happiest I've seen my son in decades—since he joined our family," Carlisle said compassionately, truly showing his support of their relationship. "We know we can trust you."

"Are you hungry, Rory? We didn't have much time to prepare for your visit," she cast a half-hearted glare at Jasper, "but I managed to run over to the store and grab a few things."

Esme led Rory over to the kitchen pantry, where it was half-filled with random grocery goods—bags of chips, a box of chocolate pretzels, a box of popcorn and a couple of tomatoes, cucumbers, and a box of blueberries. It was so peculiar and odd, but very thoughtful and kind for Esme to go out of her way to try and find food Rory might like.

"Thank you so much, Esme," Rory reached over and hugged the woman to her surprise. Esme smiled and hugged her back.

Jasper and Carlisle looked at each other with grins, happy that everything was going so well.

Rory couldn't find the words to say how much she admired the Cullens. "Dangerous" vampires or not, they were wonderful people, through and through.

"Where's everyone?" Jasper spoke up, looking around the suspiciously empty room whilst sensing his siblings close by. They were usually much more nosy and had been curious about Rory since the first day. He could hear them somewhere in the house.

"Hello," Edward greeted cordially, entering the living room from the staircase. "Welcome to our home, Rory." He must have just come from Bella's house, the trace of her scent reaching Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme's noses.

Behind him, Rose and Emmett trailed behind, the blonde beauty wiping her hands off with a grease-stained yellow rag. They had been in the garage, Emmet spent some time convincing her to greet their guest.

"Hi guys." Rory smiled amicably. "How are you?" She had finished the bag of chips Esme bought her.

"Fine." Rosalie snipped, leaning against the wall furthest from everyone.

"Glad vampa finally brought you up here," Emmett grinned jokingly.

Everyone but Edward looked confused at Emmett's phrase. The bronze haired vampire snickered as he heard his brother's thoughts.

"Get it, because Jazzy over here is old enough to be your great-great-great-grandpa, princess," Emmett guffawed loudly. "Vampire-grandpa...vampa!"

Rosalie glared at her mate while everyone else let out quiet chortles, except for Jasper. Rory laughed freely, grabbing Jasper's shoulder to keep her balance.

"I didn't ask for my privacy to be invaded by my brother's human toy, so I'm going hunting," she said flatly before abruptly walking past everyone and out the sliding glass back window.

"Rose!" Esme said sharply.

Rosalie pursed her lips and looked back at her family. "Are you coming Emmett?"

"Nice to officially meet you, Rory! Sorry!" The brawny, teddy-bear of a vampire looked at her apologetically before rushing after the blonde.

"Just ignore her," Jasper sighed.

Edward snickered, receiving the blonde's attitude just as often as Jasper did. "I do."

"Just give her time, this is...new," Carlisle said in a mediatory tone.

"I'm not offended, really. She doesn't know me, I don't know her. Trust is earned, not a privilege." She shrugged while Jasper shook his head in disbelief at Rory's heart. She surprised him at every moment.

"That's very kind of you," Esme smiled appreciatively, casting a concerned glance at the path Rosalie and Emmett disappeared off.

"I do apologize for Rose's behavior," Carlisle sighed.

"Jazz, Rory!" A blur of black and white descended from the stairs behind Carlisle and Esme.

The short, black haired vampire appeared a foot in front of Rory to everyone's shock, but Rory shrugged it off. The hyperactive vampire was more natural this way. Alice wrapped her arms around Rory with a giggle.

"Hey, Alice," Rory chuckled, slightly out of breath from Alice's tight hug.

"You do smell good," Alice complimented, taking a whiff as she pulled away from Rory's hair. "Jasper has indeed grown a lot stronger since you came into his life—you've helped his control so much. I'm glad to have a new sister!" She then turned her head to wink at an unsuspecting Edward, "And I'll have another one to add to the bunch."

Jasper rolled his eyes at his best friend's weirdness. "Alright, thanks a lot Alice, on that note I'm going to take Rory for a tour."

"See you later, Rory!" Alice grinned and waved.

Rory didn't protest as Jasper led her up the stairs once more, a small grin on her lips as she thought of the way his family teased him and made him feel awkward just like any normal family. The walls of the mansion were full of artwork. The third floor contained the rooms of Rosalie and Emmett, Carlisle and Esme, and two or three offices. The last floor was where Edward, Alice, and Jasper's rooms were. Before getting up there, however, Rory stopped to stare at the large frame next to the last landing of the staircase.

Jasper chuckled at her astonished expression.

"Are those graduation caps?"

He nodded, sweeping his gaze over the colorful array of high school and college squared caps. "We try to blend in wherever we move to. The younger we start out in a place, the longer we can stay."

Rory remembered the story Bella retold her from the Jacob Black. The Cullens were supposedly the Cold Ones.

"Do you revisit towns often?" Rory asked as they continued up to the last floor. "I thought your family has been here before, according to the tribe legends at least."

"There are a few places in the country where the weather is like this, cloudy and rainy enough for us to go out in the day," Jasper said, "My family has been here before, but Alice and I joined about a few decades after they had made the treaty with the tribe. Esme especially likes it here, so maybe we'll be back when no one remembers us."

Rory raised a brow. "When everyone's dead?"

Jasper didn't answer.

His room was at the very end of the hall, an unnecessarily (in his opinion) large room, lacking a bed. In place of the bed is a black leather couch pushed against the floor-to-ceiling glass wall and facing the large flat screen tv framed by shelves filled with hundred of dvds and video games takes up one of the four walls. It more so resembled an office or library, floating shelves lined the walls, filled with books of all types of different genres and languages than a bedroom.

"Impressed?" Jasper asked sarcastically at her quiet processing of his room.

Rory looked at him with a roll of her eyes. "I understand why you spend so much time in my room. This place is such a guy's room." She shook her head and walked over to the dvd case framing the flat screen. She chuckled endearingly at what she found, "There's so many western movies, you cowboy."

"Not all of them," Jasper said defensively.

"We should watch one," Rory grinned, beginning to browse through the movies childishly. "I'd suggest we Netflix and Chill™, but you probably don't understand what that means," she snickered at her own joke.

"I have Netflix if you want," Jasper said innocently beside her as he watched her pick through the cases.

Rory shook her head and pushed the random movie into the system, grabbing the remote and Jasper's hand. She nestled into his side, comfortably secure and safe in his arms. As he kissed her head, Rory felt her heart soar with love for him. This was paradise.

A.N

Important completely unrelated to the next chapter ;) inquiry : would u guys prefer a classy sex scene or leave it up to imagination??

vote. comment. add to ur library.

chapter goal: 12 Likes, 4 Comments

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