Alice

The train station was packed. It was dark out so we didn't have to worry about attracting attention. Or we wouldn't have if Jasper wasn't eying everyone suspiciously. When we were alone, he's always preferred to stay behind me. Now, he stayed a step ahead and kept looking back at me as if he thought I would disappear or run into danger. "Nothing is going to happen." I assured him, so quietly no one else could have a chance of hearing. "There are no other vampires here." He relaxed slightly. He still looked wary, but not so paranoid.

He left me momentarily to buy our tickets, bringing the luggage with him. He'd insisted on carrying everything. I'd let him see my pleasure, but tried to hide my surprise. Not that I could really hide any emotions from him. I wasn't like the other women here. I was more than capable of carrying anything. I wished I'd remembered my human life. Had men always been so chivalrous or was it just Jasper? I was certain none of them were anything like Jasper.

He came back with the luggage and the tickets quickly, but not quite quickly enough. Never quickly enough. I needed him too much. I started worrying that I would drive him mad if I couldn't stand to be separated from him, but as I looked into his eyes I knew that it wouldn't bother him. He felt the same way. By the relief I saw on his face, it looked like he'd worried about the same thing I had and now knew what we shared. Looking into his eyes always seemed to tell me about him. I liked the way we shared information without words. He seemed to as well.

As we walked onto the train I felt a sinking feeling. I'd seen that he'd decided to strategize with me. He wanted to be prepared when we met the Cullens. Over-prepared. Extremely over-prepared. We were in for a very long train ride.

Jasper

I still felt a bit uncomfortable about meeting with other vampires. I wouldn't have minded so much if it was just me, but when Alice was involved, any sort of danger was not a pleasant idea. I could hold my own if it came to a fight, but there were five of them. "It'll be alright" Alice whispered for the umpteenth time. Sometimes it was like she was reading my emotions rather than the other way around.

"So you said there were five?" I verified. She nodded. "Carlisle is a wonderful man. He's a doctor. Esme is..." I blinked "He's a doctor? What do you mean?" I asked, then apologized for cutting her off. She wasn't angry. "It's alright. He works at a hospital. He's very skilled." I was shocked "And he doesn't...?" I wasn't sure how to ask. She understood me without explanation. "No. He never even looks tempted." She was somewhat in awe of this vampire doctor. I was rather impressed myself.

Alice made a move to explain the others "You'll love Esme. She's so sweet! She'll make a great mother" She said brightly. This time I waited for her to give me an inviting look before I spoke up "Mother?" I asked. Alice nodded "Yes. She thinks of them all as her children." How very strange! Alice looked embarrassed. If she was human, she would have blushed "Sometimes, I pretend she's my mother" She admitted. I was glad she was so open with me, even if what she was thinking was insane. "Emmett's nice. He's pretty easygoing. Rosalie and I should get along really well. She's gorgeous and has good taste and you'll have to hear Edward play the piano. I listen to it a lot. I wish you could hear him now." A piano playing vampire? To go along with the vampire mother and the vampire doctor?

The train was finally stopping now. I realized that Alice was a bit nervous. Not nearly as nervous as me, but a little bit nervous. I calmed her down so that I could see her smile again. She kissed my cheek quickly and stood. Then, I saw that she was grabbing our luggage. "Oh no you don't." I said in a reproachful tone. She laughed, but handed me the luggage. "Why not?" she asked. It wasn't a challenge, she was merely curious. "I'm strong enough to carry it." That was true. I realized that a few days ago, I would never have been so chivalrous. I never carried things for the newborn females. Alice was making me remember my human training. "Alice, you are a beautiful treasure. You are capable of carrying anything, but you shouldn't have to. You are too precious." Much too precious. She smiled, but looked down, embarrassed.

Alice

Did he really think that? I decided the words must be merely polite. Jasper was always polite. He was still wary of our fellow passengers as I placed the last piece of luggage into his arms "Thank you." He smiled warmly. Just being polite I reminded myself. "Have I offended you?" He asked. "No, I'm just thinking" I told him. Then, I remembered the reproachful tone he'd used. "Are you still angry?" I asked. He blinked, confused. "What?" He asked.

I decided to just drop it, but he asked again "What? Please tell me Alice" He sent a wave of calm toward me, but it wasn't enough to keep the grimace off my face "Because I started to grab the bags." I prompted. He sighed "I wasn't angry" he said solemnly. "Really?" I asked. He nodded.

His glances became less suspicious as we stepped off the train. I started deciding what I would wear. "We should get you a tux." I suggested. "Why?" he wondered. "To meet the Cullens. I might buy a new outfit as well." He raised his eyebrows "A tux?" He would give in if I asked him to, but he really didn't want to. He should be confident and comfortable when we met the Cullens. "OK, maybe not a tux, but a new outfit?" I asked. "Sure" He said, relaxing visibly at the compromise.

We walked past several stores. "Do you want to meet back here in an hour and a half?" He asked. I could hardly blame him for not wanting to shop with me. I wouldn't push the issue now, but next time I would plead with him. "Alright." I told him brightly.

Jasper

I didn't have much time. I hoped Alice wouldn't catch me. I was going to buy her an engagement ring. I wasn't going to give it to her right away, but I wanted to have it with me when the time was right. I tried to picture what she would like. It would have to be really pretty.

I found a shop that looked about right and stepped inside. The room was empty, but I could see though a small window that their was someone in the "employees only" room, who was headed inside.

I started looking at the various rings. None of them caught my eye in any particular way. I tried to see them through Alice's perfect eyes. What would she like? Somehow I knew she would prefer silver to gold. That lowered things down considerably, but I didn't want to choose by elimination. I wanted to look at what was right, rather than merely ignoring what was wrong.

I'd nearly decided on one. It was reasonably priced and pretty as far as I could tell. It had several tiny diamonds and one bigger diamond. I still was uncertain, it didn't quite seem right, but I figured I was just nervous. That's when I heard the door open. That's when the employee walked in. That's when her scent hit me.