𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗:
My one and only love

ONE OF THINGS ELOISE LEARNED FROM HER TIME SPENT AWAY FROM JASPER is that being apart, they both found themselves in the process.

One of the most important things is that love should not be rushed, for it will never flourish in its truest form.

When one is in love, one not only connects with the significant other but also with oneself on the journey.

Love itself can never be genuinely explained because it was never meant to be explained but felt in a multitude of unexplainable amounts of content and understanding.

"You have not loved if you have never felt loss."

Eloise hears Audrey's voice echo in her head.

It was true.

Eloise felt the depth of their love when they had been separated. It was the kind of love that is worth waiting to mellow in.

Perhaps their time apart was indeed for the best. If not, if they escaped together, Eloise would have never allowed herself to be in another coven after leaving one, and Jasper would have never met the Cullens in the first place.

And she could never take that choice away from him, to have strangers turn into family.

And if it did, their love would have been mournful.

Eloise and Jasper felt loss when they were separated, but they gained different parts of themselves in the process.

Love is love, they say. It is as if the love they shared held no regrets, no hesitation, no bitterness, only acceptance, understanding, and patience.

Their souls are bound and destined for each other. No matter the distance, Eloise and Jasper are meant to be together.

Their love has faced numerous trials and tribulations. It's what made it more deserving to be felt.

Eloise stood in the opened glass french door that connects to the balcony in Jasper's bedroom at the Cullen's main residence, shoulder leaning against the frame, hip jutted out, arms crossed to her chest.

The house was silent; the family decided to fulfill their appetites, which Eloise and Jasper had already done earlier.

Eloise finds herself staring at the night sky glittered with stars scattered to infinity, with the full moon and its bright yellowy white light and its endless ethereal glow that can be a guide in the darkness.

She heard Jasper's footsteps approaching her. He stood beside her, with his tall and lean form, his honey-blonde hair tied into a man bun.

He crossed his arms to his chest. Eloise saw the muscles in his shoulder stretch the cotton of his gray long-sleeve t-shirt.

Eloise sucks in a breath, feeling flustered. She looks away, setting her wondering eyes toward the moon.

Jasper slightly shakes his head with a slight grin unnoticed by Eloise.

Jasper knows that Eloise is not afraid to let him feel all her emotions, unlike before.

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" Eloise suddenly asks Jasper, her tone soft and warm that Jasper couldn't get enough of her voice, he could listen to her all day, and he would never get tired of it.

"It is," Jasper responds, his eyes fixed on the side of Eloise's face, eyes tracing the shape of her buttoned nose and pinkish lips. Eloise chuckles, smiling lightly as she looks at Jasper.

"You aren't looking at the moon."

Jasper hums. He reaches out a hand as he takes her dainty hand in his, guiding it towards him, placing a peck at the back of Eloise's hand.

"I'm admiring someone more divine than the moon."

Eloise playfully rolls her eyes as she turns around, facing him, and says. "Smooth talk will get you nowhere, Whitlock."

Jasper gives her a grin, tilting his head to the side, "But I am getting somewhere."

"You don't have to because you're already there," Eloise responds, lifting her left hand, fingers wiggling, her engagement ring worn.

Jasper smiles widely. His eyes brightened in delight. He walks behind her and pulls her towards his chest, embracing her full as his arms wrap around her waist, his chin placed on top of her head.

"I will always try to pursue your heart. I will always try to make you happy, my darling. Your happiness is my happiness."

It feels wonderful to be assured. Eloise thought to herself, Jasper's love is one of the things she never wanted to change.

Change is good.

Yes, change is what Eloise always fully embraced, yet her life was so full of changes that she just wanted something to remain as it was.

"I'm happy that I'm here, in your arms again," Eloise responds with an affectionate smile as she tilts her head up, their eyes meeting.

She leans more to his chest as Jasper moves his arms to Eloise's shoulder, embracing her and pulling her in as the silence engulfs them.

"Tell me what you're thinking." Jasper softly says it was pretty unusual for Eloise to stay in silence.

To be quiet and lost in thought meant something was bothering her.

Eloise sighs rather heavily for Jasper's liking, and her emotions switch from comfort and warmth to distant and bleak.

"Maria visited my apartment back in New York a few months ago," Eloise tells him, her voice detached and cold from her usual soft and welcoming tone, and Jasper then knew something had happened with their encounter.

"What happened?" Jasper asks, trying to maintain his calm tone, but his jaw tightens, stance becoming guarded, tightening his hold, firm and protective.

"I should have told you this the first thing when I arrived here, but so many things have been happening at once. I set it aside," Eloise tells him with a tired sigh. Jasper turns her around.

As she now faces him, his hand goes to her chin, making her look up, eyes meeting.

"It's alright, El. I understand." Jasper consoles her as he tucks a stray strand of golden blonde hair behind her ear, "Tell me everything you can."

And Eloise told him everything in full detail, how Maria named the properties and lands in Monterey to her, how Maria regretted her decision of making Eloise stay with her, and how Maria wanted to be killed with Eloise's hands.

"I couldn't do it," Eloise says, her voice cracking, breathing heavily, as her venom tears shimmered and pooled in her eyes.

It concerned Jasper how Eloise had been carrying this burden for months, and with everything that's been happening, he didn't even notice.

Eloise sobs as she continues to breathe heavily and rapidly. She gasps as if she is losing air, and her body feels weak and tired; her knees buckle to the ground as Jasper holds her body close to him.

He cradles her as he places soft kisses all over her face, wiping her tears with his thumb.

It pained Jasper to see Eloise in such a state, and to feel all of the emotions she's been feeling is what pains him the most, and he knew Eloise needed him the most.

"Let me help you, please, Eloise." Jasper's voice is strained, pleading and begging.

Eloise places her face to his chest as her fists clutch the fabric of his shirt.

She nods desperately. Even for her, she was too overwhelmed with what she was feeling.

Jasper uses his ability, sending in calm waves of emotions as if a warm and cozy blanket of sanctuary that Eloise never wanted not to feel.

She had never felt so safe and at ease like this before, and Jasper's embrace helped her more to calm and collect herself.

"But I did it anyway," Eloise whispers as Jasper places a hand on the back of Eloise's head.

He closes his eyes shut as he continues to rock Eloise back and forth, as the realization seeps through him.

Maria is finally dead.

He'll no longer worry about Eloise and his safety. They are finally and officially free from Maria and the Volturi's watchful gaze.

"And I went to the Volturi to show Aro that Maria is dead, that she is no longer a risk to the exposure of our kind. And Alice was there, telling me that Edward did something." Eloise then looks at him with guilt as she continues, "I'm so sorry for not telling you sooner. I need to proce-"

"I'm not mad, El. Not at something that's not yours to blame. I can never be mad at you, so don't ever think that I do." Jasper softly tells her as he places his hands on her cheek.

"Not just for this, for not telling and including you in mine and Peter's plan for your escape, for forcing you to go, and for not joining you when you joined the Cullens, for us being apart for decades. I'm sorry." Eloise tells him as she wraps both arms around his neck.

Jasper hugged her as Eloise clung to him.

It felt like Eloise was afraid for him to let her go.

But he would never let her go, not now, not ever.

"I understand everything, El. You were protecting me from Maria's wrath, and for us being apart, I never took it at heart. We both needed it for us to heal and grow properly without fully depending on each other." Jasper tells Eloise with a small smile, yet Eloise is still in doubt, and a bit hesitant, so Jasper does the one thing that would assure her.

Jasper opened his emotions for her to feel. Understanding, patience, calmness, and love were sent to her in a warm, welcoming breeze.

"I love you, El. I will always love you, you've been with me since the beginning, and I'll be with you until the end of our forever." Jasper whispers in her ear.

As Eloise pulls away from him, she places a desperate kiss on his lips that Jasper immediately responds to.

"I love you, Jas," Eloise mumbles between their hovering lips. She feels Jasper smile as he stands them both up.

"I love you more, El." Jasper pulls away from her as he walks towards the stereo and turns it on as the soft and melodic tune of Jazz fills Jasper's bedroom.

"Dance with me?" Jasper asks, offering his hand to her. Eloise smiles widely, taking his hand in hers.

"The very thought of you makes my heart sing. Like an April breeze on the wings of spring."

My one and only love by John Contraine's echoed throughout the house as Jasper and Eloise embraced each other and slowly swayed in the middle of the living room.

While the rest of the family gave them the privacy they needed.

Their arms were wrapped around their waists, Jasper's chin atop Eloise's head.

Just soaking in one another's presence is what they both need more than words.

"And you appear in all your splendor. My one and only love."

Eloise lightly laughs as Jasper twirls her. Oh, how her angelic, divine laugh makes Jasper's heart flutter with happiness.

"The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms. In the hush of night, while you're in my arms, I feel your lips, so warm and tender. My one and only love."

"I love you, my darling," Jasper tells her as he places a hand on the back of Eloise's neck, another hand wrapping around Eloise's small back, pulling her towards him, and catches her lips in his, such a euphoric kiss, that Jasper surely misses.

"The touch of your hand is like heaven. A heaven that I've never known. The blush on your cheek whenever I speak. Tells me that you are my own."

They both benefit from each other in that moment of calm.

"I love you more," Eloise mumbled between their lips, with a gentle smile on her features.

"You fill my eager heart with such desire. Every kiss you give sets my soul on fire. I give myself in sweet surrender."

As they gazed into each other's eyes, they gently sang, "My one and only love."

Author's Note:
- They are so sweet🥹🫶🏼