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Chapter Text

The soft beat of her heart called to him.

Forgetting about the book he'd been reading, Jasper Hale tensed as soon as the scent of blood and lavender intermingled in the air. Even as he sat on the leather seat in his study with the door shut, he could practically sense her presence seeping through the cracks of the doorframe. He had to hold his breath, clenching his jaw until his teeth ached when the sting of venom flooded his mouth.

He'd intended to run away, escape before anyone could notice, and feign disinterest in the human he'd once offered to kill to protect his family. But Alice was suddenly beside him before he could stand from his seat, a smile on her lips as she took his hand in hers, "You won't hurt her."

The surety in her words did little to console him as Jasper allowed the pixie to pull him close behind her. His stoic demeanor slowly masked the trepidation stirring inside him as he straightened and schooled his face to appear cold and distant.

It was impossible to ignore the girl's scent the moment she walked into the room, hand in hand with Edward, who had somehow fallen in love with a human. A human who was now welcomed with open arms by Carlisle and Esme. A young woman who would become "great friends" with Alice and a sister to Emmett. No matter how perplexed Jasper was to have a human in their lives, he wasn't nearly as hostile as Rosalie was when she seethed with jealousy at the sight of Bella.

The need to sink his teeth in her was almost overpowering, and it would have been had he not forced himself to focus on the fast beating of her heart as Alice wrapped her arms around her. Affection for the girl filling his senses when Alice beamed at her.

There was a small hint of fear that flowed in his direction when Bella looked at him, but there was also...wonder. A raw emotion inside him sprouted when she spoke to him for the first time, granting him a small awkward smile when he nodded in acknowledgment.

Betraying his instincts would be the most difficult thing Jasper has ever had to do, but the more he got to know Bella Swan, felt her troubled yet gentle emotions, the more he slowly convinced himself that he would indeed not harm her.

Because for Edward—for his family—he would not harm her.

That had been true, truer than anything Jasper had ever obsessed over in his immortal existence.

Until Bella's birthday, and he realized that he truly had no control over the monster that loomed over his shoulders—that urged him forward when a single drop of her blood ran down her index finger. The sound of her blood hitting the carpet making his entire body lock up as he instantly held his breath. But it wasn't Jasper who was about to lunge for Bella...

No, no no!

When he sensed Edward's need to kill permeate the room, Jasper charged for him before it was too late. Before Bella would be killed by the man she trusted and loved.

Edward!

Edward's eyes darkened when he read his brother's mind, instantly reining in the predator inside and replacing it with anger as he shoved Bella behind him and restrained Jasper when he charged.

The feral look in both their eyes as they came face to face was what spurred the other to react, Carlisle and Emmett wrapping their arms around both of them before they started fighting and harmed someone else. Jasper's growl resounded from within his chest as Edward wrapped his hand around his neck to prevent him from attacking.

I know what you want. But, stop now before it's too late. You can't hurt her, Edward! Not like this...

As he's hauled away by Emmett and Alice, the only thing Jasper could do was snap his teeth as a fraction of Edward's guilt swept over him before his thirst was awakened once more. When Edward turned to face Bella and found her even more injured than a simple paper cut, red blood running down the inside of her arm as she sat up in a daze. Crystals and ruined roses scattered on the floor around her. But before Edward could lay a hand on her as Jasper had expected him to, Carlisle kneeled next to the girl and inspected the damage done.

The distressed look on Bella's face as she watched Jasper get dragged away hurt him more than he thought it would. As if she felt guilty for hurting him. As if that were possible.

Try as he might, the anger and fear his family shared with him was impossible to fight off, and soon, he forced himself to come down to himself. Rejecting the pull that urged him to go back into that room and stand beside Bella, to know that she was alright.

Edward's emotions were the only ones he focused on as the thirst and want for the human girl in the house remained strong. Clenching his jaw and holding his breath once more, Jasper shut his eyes and begged, Don't hurt her, Edward. Please, don't hurt her.

That night, Jasper couldn't help but follow after them back to Bella's home, wanting to know Bella would be safe if Edward lost his control once more.

Jasper had been horrified that he'd taken the blame for a slip of his brother's control and created bigger chaos for wanting to protect Bella. Regardless of how unjust it was, he allowed Carlisle and Esme to convey their disappointment for him and Alice's hurt that she hadn't seen this happen. To protect his brother, Jasper gave up the truth...but maybe it was to hide his own truth as well. Why had he reacted in such a way? Why did he lose control of himself so easily to protect Bella when he'd wanted to kill her long ago to prevent this very thing from happening?

The empath had expected himself to slip up and try to kill her—he hadn't expected Edward to be the one to do so. Not Edward, of all people.

Watching from the tree line beside her home, hidden by the shadows, he watched her own shadow move behind the curtain of her bedroom as she paced uneasily back and forth. Clearly still frightened by the events of the night.

Jasper conveyed his lament and affection for the girl he'd unknowingly started to care for and when she paused in front of the window, he stepped further away before she could see him.

Jasper was utterly unaware that he'd never felt love for her the same way Emmett or Carlisle did. That wasn't the sort of affection he felt for Bella Swan—it never was. It was different...

Jasper left with a sigh of resignation when he felt Bella's emotions settle, and exhaustion took over her body and mind as she slipped into a deep sleep.

Hoping to ask for her forgiveness the next day, if she was willing to hear him out, he returned home and faced the consequences of his and Edward's actions.

Unaware that he would soon be betrayed by the fact that Edward knew that Jasper was Bella's true mate all along.

Chapter Text

The sting of a cut on the tip of her finger. A single drop of blood...

That was all it took for chaos to erupt in Edward's home. All it took was a single drop of blood for Edward to turn on her and stare into her eyes with onyx orbs that hadn't been there before. The fear that settled was impossible to ignore when she recognized the look on his face. The same expression the nomads had looked at her with long ago...A single drop for her to see the truth behind the stoic man named Jasper Hale. The feral growl that followed the anger in his eyes as he lunged forward.

Her heart ached immensely when the boy she loved looked at her with dark, distant eyes before walking away from her. But it hadn't only ached for Edward at that moment. It ached for Jasper as well.

Your fault. All your fault.

Waking with a start, Bella's body jolted upright and barely managed to contain the scream that had built up in her throat before she would alarm her father, who slept soundly just down the hall. Her heart thundered in her chest, matching the storm that roared outside her window. With a sigh, she places her hands over her face and slumps back into the bed.

The pain inside her arm radiated as soon as she moved, and the events of last night all came flooding back to her. It continued in a repetitive loop the next day in school too. And when none of them appeared to be sitting at their usual table during lunch, the guilt started eating at her. If she didn't see the Cullens as soon as school was over and she apologized to Jasper—Bella knew there would be no way to get past it.

She needed to ask Edward why he'd looked at her as if she were a different person, why he looked at her as if she were his prey and not a person.

She was so preoccupied with seeing Jasper and the others that she didn't anticipate spotting Edward's car parked in front of her house when she got home from school. Relief washed over her as she hopped out of the cab of her truck and closed the door behind her, slowing her movements when she noticed Edward appeared more sullen than usual, "Hey...w-what's wrong?" she asked warily when he barely looked up at her nor gently grabbed hold of her hand as he normally does.

"Walk with me?" Edward asked, his voice barely a whisper, and she almost didn't catch it. Her eyes stared at his back as she hesitantly followed him across the yard, heading into the forest. Guilt roars in the back of her mind as anxiety spikes. This was what she wanted...to talk things through. And yet, why does she feel like running away?

Admiring the kind young man who has always looked out for her—who has gone against all odds to be with her—Bella reaches out for Edward's hand and squeezes it, his cold skin making her shiver.

He still didn't look at her, as if she weren't beside him at all, and yet he still puts up with her needs to be close. What has she done for him in return for all he's sacrificed? After all, he had exposed himself to be with her, including his family. What has she done for Edward in all this time?

Nothing. You've done a bsolutely nothing.

"We're leaving Forks, my family, and I," he states in a monotone voice, his hands in the pockets of his black slacks. Bella's heart stutters, and she takes in a shallow breath.

"What? Why?" She asked, looking into his topaz eyes that seemed endlessly lost in darkness. He steps back before she can reach out for him, and he clenches his jaw. "Okay, well then, I'll go with you."

"No."

There was no room to argue. No way to mistake his direct words.

"You don't want...me?" Bella asked, her voice blank even though her chest started aching again. Thoughts of losing not only Edward but also his family made her fight to stay with him—to make him stay with her. With determination, she steps forward again and clutches his hand in hers, tugging him forward slightly until he looked at her, "Why?! Is it because of last night? Because if it is, I'll talk to Jasper and everyone. I'll apologize." She sounded so desperate and afraid—pathetic.

Edward shrugged her hands away as if in disgust.

Why shouldn't he be disgusted? You're nothing...

"You think I care about you apologizing? Get over yourself, Isabella," The cold tone in which he spoke to her confused Bella. Never in all the time that they've been together had he ever spoken to her that way. Not even when they were trying to evade James. Suddenly Edward stepped closer, anger radiating off his shoulders as he glared, "Did you really think you were that important? You were just a means to an end. Something to pass the time until I grew bored." Bella's heart sank, pressure stung in the back of her eyes, and tears flooded them seconds later.

His words mirrored her own thoughts and what was no longer silly insecurity but the truth.

"B-because I'm h-human?"

Edward hesitated for a moment before a crooked grin appeared, the humor lost in his eyes, "Among other things."

"Then change me! If this is about my soul-" His hand wrapped around the back of her neck, and before she could say another word, Edward was moving her back until she hit the closest tree with a painful thump. Her heart started beating faster as his cool breath fanned over her face.

"You think I can make love to someone so breakable? Touch you while knowing that I could have so much more?" His hand slowly took hold of the zipper of her jacket, unzipping it before his knuckles brushed against the hem of her shirt, lifting it enough for his fingers to squeeze her waist. Bella shivered, placing her hands over his chest, when a kindling of fear started. His touch wasn't gentle...it was assertive and cold, rough when his hand ran up her bare stomach.

"Edward?"

Something isn't right. Run away.

Bella shut her eyes when his lips pressed against the crook of her neck, his teeth barely nipping her skin that had filled with goosebumps. His voice sounded lost, as if in a trance when he sounded like a whole other man now. "You think I could fuck you without breaking you?" She gasped when his leg forced itself between her legs and pressed against her until her jeans rubbed roughly against the skin of her thighs. His lips crashed against hers in a way that made her cringe away. The taste of metal made her realize she'd cut the inside of her lip.

"Edward, stop it. I'm scared," she panted when his hand squeezed the skin on her waist harder until it hurt. This isn't what she wanted. Maybe she craved to be touched and kissed like any other girl by her boyfriend, but this...she wasn't ready. She can't do this! Not like this- "Stop. I said stop it!" She shoved him away as hard as she could, a tear streaming down her cheek when he finally let go and stepped away.

The look on his face showed no remorse for how he'd just touched her, "Even you agree. You just proved it. Goodbye, Bella."

When he turned and disappeared within the blink of an eye, Bella didn't follow him right away because her legs were shaking so hard she sank to the ground, the bark of the tree trunk she'd been using as support scraped her back. The sobs that escaped her lips were sudden, and once they started, they were uncontrollable, almost as unbearable as the pain in her chest that rolled throughout her whole body. Bella pulled her jacket closed with trembling hands, still cold from the feel of his hands on her bare skin.

He's been using her...

He'd almost used her in the most intimate of ways...and then he tossed her aside as if she were nothing.

Because she is nothing.

Bile rose in her throat when she thought about the Cullens. Edward had said they were all leaving...

All of them?

No, no, no!

Bella barely stood up, and through her blurred vision, she stumbled forward—walking mindlessly into the dark forest with only one thing in her mind. She needed to get to the Cullens, she had to...had to...

A strained sob caught Jasper's attention as the front door slammed shut. Carlisle and Esme frowned when they recognized Edward's agonized voice calling them. Jasper lingered at the top of the stairs, watching his brother sitting on the bench beside the door. Carlisle was beside him, asking him what had happened with concern lacing his voice.

"Did you speak to Bella? Did she understand that none of us are mad at her for what happened?" Esme asked as she placed a comforting hand over Edward's back and helped lead the distraught boy upstairs. Jasper took a step back with an unreadable expression and returned to the living room before any of them could see him. Leaning against the glass wall, Jasper waited along with the rest of his siblings, who all shared concerned looks.

Edward kept his head down and slumped onto the couch. With a shake of his head, he heaved, "I'm sorry..."

"Edward," Carlisle kneeled before his son and urged him to look up. When they caught sight of silver venom filling his eyes with tears he would never be able to cry, Carlisle pushed, "What happened? Did Bella not want to come? Does she feel uncomfortable being with us?"

Jasper stared at the mind reader for a long time with a deep frown, the odd sensations of repent and disgust flooding him over and over again. The words were out before he could stop himself, pushing the words out through gritted teeth, "What did you do?"

Everyone turned to look at Jasper with looks that ranged between concern and confusion, but before anyone could question Jasper, he sent out a wave of sincerity towards Edward. He didn't let up until Edward shot up from his seat and began pacing the room.

"I didn't...it was the only way..."

Dread filled Jasper, and he looked to Alice for an answer, only to find the same look on her face as she shook her head. Carlisle stood up, placing his hands on Edward's shoulders to stop him from pacing. Carlisle questioned worriedly, "What? Edward, what do you mean? What happened?"

The agony in his eyes did little to calm Jasper, and he clenched his jaw, running out of patience to know what Edward had done to the girl. If he had hurt Bella-

"I told Bella we were leaving," Edward shook his head, admitting to his first inconsiderate mistake. Neither Carlisle nor anyone in the family had even discussed the possibility of moving to another home yet. Especially not when Bella had become a part of their family.

"Son, how could-"

"I needed her to understand! That she can't be a part of our world anymore. Not when she could be killed so easily by any one of us," Jasper ignored the pointed look Edward gave him and thought it was ironic his brother was pinning all the blame on him. Edward ran a hand through his hair, "So I tried to break up with her. Make her give up. But she didn't..."

"Of course she didn't, you idiot! Bella's one of us now. How could you expect her to do that?" Emmett questioned, his shock evident on his face alone as he stood up from the couch.

"Emmett, please!" Esme asked of him as she placed a hand over Edward's shoulder, giving him a questioning glance.

Edward shook his head as if the memory of Bella alone was too painful.

A gasp from Alice made her stand up and made everyone look over their shoulders to the pixie who clutched the pillow on her lap until the fabric ripped. Everyone except for Edward seemed to be lost in her reaction, but she soon seethed, "Tell me you didn't do that, Edward! Tell me you didn't do that to her!"

"I thought it would scare her away...make her see that I was truly the monster I always told her I was."

She must have seen a vision because her eyes were still readjusting to the reality of the conversation, but Alice was soon on her feet and moving toward her brother with an unexpected ferocity, "You bastard!" Emmett and Jasper blocked Alice before reaching the man behind them, who made no move to defend himself.

"Alice enough! What is going on?! What happened to Bella, Edward? I won't ask again." Carlisle demanded, now seriously worried for the human girl who'd started meaning something special to him as well.

It took everything in Jasper not to force his gift onto Edward and make him tell the truth he's trying so hard to hold in.

"I forced myself onto her. To make her reject me. I wasn't going to actually do anything, but then her blood smelled so good, it called to me...I lost my senses for a moment. A moment too long-" the sound of a growl erupting from within Jasper hadn't been the most shocking reaction in the room. It had been Rosalie's rage that created chaos in the living room. A heartbroken gasp from Esme made Carlisle wrap his arms around her and hold her close as he stared at Edward as if he were a two-headed monster.

"You did what?" Rosalie snapped, suddenly in his face and grabbing hold of the front of his button-up shirt. No one, not even Emmett, moved to restrain the blonde that seethed.

"How could you do such a thing?" Carlisle questioned, visibly disturbed by the news Edward had just revealed. "Did you hurt her?"

"No!" Edward yelled as he shrugged Rosalie's hands away with a grunt, "At least, I don't think I did. But, as I said, my control slipped." Jasper couldn't hide his disdain when he felt Edward's remorse.

"I could kill you!" Alice growled with disbelief and made to lunge once more, but Carlisle's voice put a stop to the chaos in his home. Emmett appeared to be in shock even as he held Alice back, his burly arms straining against her as he stared at Edward with a betrayed look on his face.

"Enough," Carlisle's once gentle gaze turned to one of anger as he stared at Edward. Jasper could feel the devastation and indignation of the entire situation weighing down on Carlisle now, "I am going to ask you this once, and you better be honest with me, Edward. Where is Bella now?"

"Home and I came straight here. But we should go before she shows up and-"

"No." Carlisle cut him off, ignoring the questioning look Edward was giving him. His tone was cold as he turned away as if about to walk out of the room before turning back around, "you will leave. Go to the Denali's for a time or wherever you want to put your head on straight. Think about what you've just done not only to Isabella but to all of us. I cannot believe you resorted to such a barbaric thing at all, and to do that to Bella-" Carlisle shook his head, "we are staying here to clean up the mess you've made of this entire situation and hope that Bella can somehow move past this."

Jasper clenched his jaw tight, trying not to do as all his siblings wanted and go for Edward, knock sense into him for behaving in such a monstrous way.

Having heard his thoughts, Edward whipped his head to the side and growled, "You must be happy. You get what you want then."

That startled him out of his violent thoughts. Straightening, Jasper deadpanned, "What?"

"You get to keep her, finally. You must be happy now that you know the truth."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Jasper growled as Edward crossed the distance between them and stood dangerously close to him now. Carlisle and Emmett were beside both of them in an instant, glances being exchanged between them. The deep frown on Jasper's face should have been enough to tell Edward that he had no idea what he was talking about. So why would he be happy about the mess Edward had made today?

"You really didn't know?' Edward sounded almost sarcastic, but the pain in his eyes remained. The next words he spewed weren't to tell the truth; they were meant to hurt his brother as he sneered, "You didn't know Bella was your mate this whole time?"

Silence fell in the room, and Jasper knew that if he had a living, beating heart, it would be sinking in his chest.

"...What did you just say?" Add when the truth was revealed, to not only him but the whole coven, Jasper ran. Needing to run when the rage, hurt, and conflict became all too much. He needed to get as far away from Edward as possible before he did something he would regret. Before he pummelled him to the ground and ripped him to shreds.

He's wrong.

He had to be wrong. The malice when he spoke those words had to be some twisted game Edward needed to play to cope with his sins. Choosing to torment Jasper for the disaster they'd both caused last night on Bella's birthday.

He's wrong.

The sound of a beating heart made him stop before he could make it to the edge of the cliff, where he could finally be alone. The scent of lavender reached him as the wind blew past him, ruffling his hair. His chest rose and fell rapidly as if he'd been running long enough that he would be exhausted.

Then, before he saw her, it hit him—the sorrow—Bella's sorrow.

Chapter Text

Cold.

She was so cold.

Her eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred as she tried to find...someone. She didn't know who. Her chest aches more than her body does now. Her hands twitched, closing around the wet dirt and leaves. Bella took a few moments to realize she was lying on the cold, hard ground with her legs curled up to her chest.

When had she fallen? It was all a blur, but the pain was still there. Tears filled her eyes, and they flowed freely down the sides of her face.

Edward...

Birthday party.

The Cullens.

Paper cut.

Jasper.

Edward...

What had she done wrong? Had he felt this way about her all along? Hated her? Used her? It didn't matter anymore, though, did it? He must be long gone by now, and so were the Cullens. Closing her eyes, Bella couldn't fight the need to sleep and forget everything. Still feeling the unexpected touch of cold hands on her waist squeezing hard, his leg pressing painfully between hers and his lips crashing against hers, his tongue forcefully probing her to part them. The aches she felt were still there, all over her body.

There was a word for what he'd done, but she couldn't piece it together, like a broken puzzle. It didn't make sense. What Edward had done didn't make sense because there was no way he would have ever been capable of doing such a thing. But—

Assault. That's the word that had been used when Tessa O'Malley, a girl in class, had reported another student for sexual assault.

Had Edward done that? Whimpering, Bella pressed her forehead against the dirt and shook away the thought. No! That's not what happened! Edward is—was—her boyfriend. He wouldn't do such a thing to her...

Bella didn't know how long she was in the forest, but eventually, the pale sunset across the horizon was casting dark looming shadows around her.

"Bella?" When a cold hand rested over her shoulder, making Bella flinch and whip her head to the side with frightened wide eyes as she imagined Edward hovering over her. However, searching through the darkness, she found unwavering amber eyes gazing into hers and honey blonde strands of hair framing his face.

"Jasper..." her voice sounded so far away as she murmured the empath's name, "You're here?"

Kneeling on the ground, Jasper gently wraps his arms around her shoulders and helps Bella sit up, feeling the wave of pain radiating off her before she visibly grimaced.

"I'm here. Let's get you home. You're shivering," he said as another tear ran down her cheek and gritted his teeth when an aching feeling hit him next. "Are you in pain?" He waited until Bella nodded, "Where?"

His eyes followed her hand as she motioned to her waist and legs before Jasper noticed the cut on her swollen bottom lip. Holding a snarl, Jasper looked away. If Edward was still back home, Jasper knew he'd rip the fool's head clean off, if only for a few minutes, just to put him in his rightful place for treating Bella this way.

"Okay, I'm going to carry you," he gently wrapped his arms around her, keeping a firm hand under her legs and holding her close despite the burn in the back of his throat starting as soon as he caught the familiar scent of lavender. Bella whimpered as he slowly walked through the forest, curling into his arms and resting her head against his chest. The warmth of her tears seeped into his black shirt, and he tightened his hold on her a little more, casting a veil of peace over the girl in his arms.

Mate...

Edward said Bella was his mate, no ambivalence in his words no matter how much Jasper relived the moment.

This whole time, Jasper thought the pull he felt towards Bella had been nothing more than his gift wanting to heal another aching soul. The shame he felt whenever he wanted to be near Bella every day since meeting her had been stifling, almost as stifling as her scent was once it started lingering in the house. Jasper felt the sting of venom hitting the back of his eyes when he thought back on the conversation he'd had with Edward about the very pull he felt. Edward had kindly asked him to stay away from Bella, to protect her from Jasper since it had to be nothing more than his own bloodlust...

So, was all of that a lie to keep him from her? Edward had known or pieced it together that it wasn't bloodlust at all but the mating bond. And like the naive fool that he was, Jasper chose to see it his way and give up on whatever troublesome feelings he felt for the girl. Because he knew Edward had truly loved Bella.

Jasper never believed in things such as soulmates nor bonds that suddenly linked two strangers together. Those sorts of things don't exist, not in his world at least. Alice had tried to explain it to him long ago after they'd met—proving her belief in the mating bond when they met Carlisle and Esme or Rosalie and Emmett. But that was love, not some myth.

What a fool.

"Jasper..." Bella murmured, her voice sounding empty as she said the words, "He's gone."

"I know, Bella. I know," Choosing to ignore the pang in his chest, Jasper focused on the faint lights of his home that he could spot between the trees and breathed a sigh of relief when he stepped out of the treeline. He knew Carlisle could hear him even as he spoke softly while keeping Bella's painful emotions under control, "Carlisle. I found her."

Laying Bella down on the bed in the spare bedroom, Jasper stepped away to let Carlisle look over the girl, who appeared to be in some sort of shock. Her eyes were barely open, and her lips were purple, trembling from the cold air she'd been in for some time. Walking around to the foot of the bed, Jasper crossed his arms and silently watched his father tend to her.

Carlisle flashed a light across her eyes before checking her pulse, "Bella, sweetheart, can you hear me?"

No response.

"I think she's in shock. She's barely said more than two words at a time." Jasper admitted as he heard the bedroom door open and close behind Esme as she walked over to the other side of the bed with a folded blanket in her hands. A whimper from Bella brought his attention back to her with a frown, "She's in pain."

"We need to get her warmed up, or at this rate, she'll get sick. Esme, can you help her get out of these wet clothes?" Carlisle asked before Esme wordlessly nodded as she sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing Bella's hair away from her face and tucking the strands behind her ear.

"Come with me, son?" Carlisle motioned for him to follow, rubbing a hand over his face as he walked out of the room.

Jasper hesitated for a moment when he felt a tug in his chest again as he moved to walk out of the room, his eyes never leaving Bella's tired form as Esme sat her up and whispered words of affirmation and regret for what had happened. When the spike of fear started once more as soon as Esme's hands touched Bella's shoulders, Jasper sent a wave of lethargy to relax her as best he could.

Suddenly feeling exhausted, Jasper closed the door behind him moments before hearing the zipper of Bella's jacket being pulled down. As Jasper made his way down the stairs with Carlisle, he noticed Rosalie walking up with a neat pile of clothes held in between her hands. The grim expression on her face and subtle nod she granted Calrilse had Jasper sharing a healthy dose of calm to his sister as well. Rosalie caught his gaze with her saddened golden ones and forced a smile as she walked to the room where Bella was.

"Where is he?" Jasper couldn't hold back the growl in the back of his throat as he mentioned Edward, continuously searching for the man's tortured emotions the moment he stepped into the house with Bella in his arms.

Carlisle rummaged through his black bag and retrieved a bottle of painkillers from the cabinet in his study before turning to face Jasper. He sighed with a shake of his head, "He's going away for some time. To repent, as he said," Jasper only snorted at that, "Do you wish to talk about what happened earlier?"

Jasper shook his head as he felt another ripple of pain upstairs, "There's nothing to talk about that's more important than Bella right now. Whatever he did to her...it wasn't gentle."

Carlisle clasped a hand over his stoic son's shoulder and gave him an apologetic smile, "You did right in bringing her here. Thank you, Jasper. I can only imagine how you must be feeling..."

For once, his father's kind words did little to sate the guilt and anger boiling inside of him, but he merely nodded in gratitude before watching Carlisle disappear upstairs once Esme called for him. Walking out of Carlisle's study, Jasper practically stormed down the hall and went to the one person he knew could understand him best. Knocking on Alice's door, he didn't wait for her to answer before opening it.

There, sitting on her bed with her head in her hands, was Alice. Her small frame was impossible not to notice in her blue long sleeve shirt and black leggings.

"Is she going to be alright?" He asked despite already knowing the answer when Alice looked up with a lost gaze of her own.

"I don't know. I can't really see her future anymore."

Walking over to the window, Jasper stared out into the darkness of the forest and willed himself to calm the storm inside his head, his heart. "Did you know?" He questioned, his deep voice cutting through the silence. Alice's small hand patted his back, and when he looked over his shoulder to find lament in her eyes, he shook his head incredulously, "You did..."

"I wasn't sure. It was never clear since Edward became so involved with her the moment they met. His attachment to her was palpable, and you know that. I think he knew what he wanted and convinced all of us that they were mates."

"Attachment...you mean obsession because that's what it was, Alice." He snapped.

"Either way," Alice continued with a sigh, pulling Jasper away from the window and to the loveseat in her bedroom to sit down. He did so because he didn't know what he should do. If he should go back upstairs and be there for the girl, who'd been broken into nothing by Edward, or stay away from her. Jasper didn't know right from wrong anymore, "now you know the truth. Right? So what are you going to do?"

What was he going to do? There was nothing to do.

Jasper scoffed with an incredulous look on his face, "Am I supposed to just make her forget all about him? As if it never happened and I can tell her I'm her mate? Do you realize how delusional this all sounds? We barely know each other thanks to him."

Had he come to care for Isabella Swan deeply? Despite denying it, Jasper cared for her and thought about her every day and night when Edward wasn't around to hear his disrespectful thoughts. Or at least what he thought was equivalent to disrespect for his brother, who he cared for greatly.

The need to be close to Bella started the moment they met, and it only grew stronger, especially after the ordeal with James...

His rough hands wanted to touch her warm skin...

He wanted to talk to her and listen to her soft, timid voice...

It was overwhelmingly frustrating when he denied those needs he felt he had no control over, all due to considering Edward's relationship with Bella. And now that he had the answer as to why he felt so strongly for the human girl upstairs, Jasper couldn't believe he hadn't realized it sooner.

"How did I miss it? She's my mate, Alice."

Alice tilted her head to the side with endearment lacing her eyes, "Jazz, you're my best friend who I love dearly. And if we had been lucky enough to be mates, I would want to know that I'm not alone. What Edward did, manipulate you and Bella the way he had, is inexcusable and painful for you. I know that it is. But...he hurt Bella so much more. So be who you need to be for her, and time will tell. But you can't run away from this."

"I assume you already know what the future holds for...us. Right?" He nodded, holding back a scoff when Alice gave him a sheepish grin, "Right...guess I'll just have to wait and find out for myself."

He let Alice wrap her arms around him and hug him, only tightening her hold when they heard another whimper from Bella upstairs and Carlisle's soothing voice trying to console her, "I'll call Charlie and tell him Bella's spending the night with me. Hopefully, it'll buy her some time to recover by tomorrow."

Jasper closed his eyes and hoped Alice was right because he didn't know what to do. He couldn't run away because Alice wouldn't allow it, not that he would do such a thing in the first place. Jasper may be a lot of things...but he wasn't a coward, and he wouldn't leave Bella's side the same way Edward had. Not when he felt the strong weight of the bond that led him back upstairs to sit in the chair beside the bed she was sleeping in. Slowly, as she slept, Jasper took in cautious breaths to grow accustomed to her scent and willed for the burn in his throat to go away.

If there was one thing Jasper could do for her right now, it was to protect Bella, even if that meant protecting her from himself.

Chapter Text

Bella's eyes fluttered open. A familiar, comforting scent awakened her senses as she was welcomed by the morning sun; its rays cascaded through the ceiling to floor windows. The windows that she quickly recognized that belonged to one family in particular.

Laying on her side, she turns her attention to the man sitting in the mahogany chair beside the bed she was currently in. Jasper's golden eyes were focused on the book in his hands as he said, "I'll never understand how you like this book so much."

As he lifted it, Bella read the spine of her favorite book. Her mouth felt dry as she croaked, "Wuthering Heights is a classic...besides, you've only read a few pages."

"This is my second time reading it now, believe it or not. I wanted to see what the fuss was about," Jasper's lips quirked up until he looked up and saw Bella's eyes were filled to the brim with unshed tears. Putting the book in the nightstand, Jasper leaned forward as he rested his forearms on his knees, "Bella..."

"I'm sorry," she blurted out, covering her face with her hands before the tears could slip down her face. Pulling her legs up to her side, Bella ignored the sting of pain on her hips as she whispered again, "I'm sorry, Jasper. I didn't mean to..."

"What are you talking about? Bella," he couldn't resist placing his hand over hers, feeling the warmth of her hand seeping into his cold palm that, in comparison, must feel like stone to her.

He gently moved her hands away from her face and waited until she opened her eyes, looking at him like a scared fawn who'd been injured. In a way, that's exactly what Bella was right now. A sad, defenseless fawn hunted by a ruthless predator.

Jasper shook his head, "Why are you apologizing? We're the ones who should be apologizing to you."

"If it hadn't been for me, he would have-"

"No. What he did was unforgivable, Isabella. Nothing you could have done justifies how he treated you," Jasper cut her off with conviction, his gift flowing out of him and into her, healing her broken heart with affection that all the Cullens felt for her. That only seemed to make Bella cry harder, "None of us blame you for what happened. If anything, it should be me who has to apologize for putting your life in danger."

"Edward—" she flinched as soon as she said his name, and it didn't go unnoticed, "—w-where is he?"

Jasper wiped away a stray tear that rolled down her cheek; the sensation that coursed through him couldn't be compared to anything he's ever felt before when a strange tingle began the moment he touched her, "...He's gone. Until Carlisle speaks to you about what you want to do."

"What I want to do?"

A knock at the door barely brought either of them out of the tense gaze they were locked in, and it was only when Carlisle greeted Bella that Jasper finally let his hand drop away from her cheek.

His cool touch sent shivers over her skin, and for some inexplicable reason, Bella wished he could cup her cheek again...

"Good morning, Bella," Carlisle said as he walked in with his black medical bag in his hand. His eyes, though warm and kind, held a great sadness as he looked at the girl who was supposed to be his son's, true love. Now she was Jasper's mate, linking her to the family in every way possible. Making her the closest thing to a daughter. Standing at the foot of the bed, granting Jasper a nod, he asks, "How are you feeling?"

Bella hesitated for a moment before looking back to Jasper warily, "Good..." Obviously, Jasper knew she was lying and frowned, sharing a reproving look with her before she caved in, "A little sore."

"Yes...I would imagine so," Carlisle nodded as he took a seat on the edge of her bed, placing a gentle hand over her forehead to feel her temperature, "Esme and Rosalie helped you change out of your clothes last night, do you remember them being in here with you?" He waited until she nodded with uncertainty, clearly having been too shocked to pay attention to her surroundings at all, "I didn't want to look over your injuries until I had your consent, but Esme did notice the bruises on your waist, and I wanted to check them."

Bella looked down to her hands, the light fading in her warm brown eyes as if she were no longer here but somewhere far away. Back in the forest, pressed up against the tree trunk moments before Edward's hands touched her.

"Would you like to talk about what happened, Bella?" Carlisle cautiously asked as he noticed Jasper tense.

Bella shook her head before sitting up and leaning against the soft pillows behind her, biting back a grimace when a spot between her thighs burned as if something had scratched her. And then she remembered Edward had pressed his knee between her thighs hard enough that her jeans must have rubbed her against the harsh material. "I should...probably go home. Charlie must be-"

"Alice told him you were spending the night last night. So you're more than welcome to stay as long as you'd like. Before that, however, I would hope you don't mind letting me look over your injuries. Only what you're comfortable with, and if you aren't, then I can take you to the hospital, and a female doctor can check instead."

"No!" Bella grimaced as she shot up from the bed, wrapping an arm around her waist to support herself—unaware that both Carlisle and Jasper reached their hands out to catch her if she fell off the edge.

"Bella," she stiffened as she turned and caught Jasper's concerned gaze as he pleaded in a low tone, "Please let Carlisle help you. For me?"

For him...

Despite the pain in her chest, the sight of Jasper practically begging her to accept help made her want to ease the sadness in his eyes. Bella didn't want Jasper to hurt any more than she was, and she knew being this close to her now was probably dealing a whole lot of hurt his way.

"O-okay. But you can...go if you're uncomfortable," she said hesitantly as she looked up at Jasper through hooded lashes.

Feeling the ball of nerves that she was, Jasper worked to ease her mind, "Do you want me to leave?"

Shutting her eyes tight, she gritted her teeth when fear and guilt coated every inch of her senses—until they were gently brushed away until they no longer weight down on her small body.

She can't bring herself to look at him or Carlisle, but it was her turn to plead now, "Stay..."

Carlisle was as gentle as ever while examining Bella's bruises. The worst of them were slowly creeping up against the pale skin of her waist. It was clear what had caused the bruises there. Edward's fingerprints flourished against her body now. A somewhat permanent reminder of what he'd done yesterday. The lack of remorse in his amber eyes moments before he disappeared only followed her.

"The good thing is there's no bleeding under the surface," Carlisle said as he pulled Bella's shirt back down over her stomach, "Applying a salve and a cold compress should help with the bruising."

She managed to focus solely on Carlisle, or at least she tried to because she was highly aware of the man in the corner of her eye.

Jasper had been kind enough to keep his focus solely on the forest outside the window, leaning against the wall as he gave Bella the privacy she needed to feel comfortable being examined with him in the room.

She didn't know why she'd wanted him to stay. Why she needed him close when the thought of anyone getting too close frightened her. Edward had made sure to ignite that foreign fear...

Maybe it was because of his gift.

Maybe it was because he was the strongest member of the family, and she knew Jasper would keep her safe for some reason.

Maybe it's because he knows just how broken you are now.

"Is the pain unbearable?"

As soon as Carlisle said his next words, Bella found herself whipped her head back to look at him. The alarm in her eyes wasn't unnoticed.

"W-what?"

As politely as he could, Carlisle motions towards Bella's leg, and suddenly embarrassment flushed her skin until her cheeks and ears were warm with a blush.

"Esme...saw?" Once again, she flicked her gaze between Carlisle and Jasper when shame was the next emotion to start. Her hands clutched the covers.

Carlisle's sympathetic nod made her feel ten times worse. But not for long. The lukewarm touch of calm made Bella look to Jasper, who was now watching her with a stoic expression. Had it not been for the kindness of his gift being shared her way, Bella would have assumed he was furious.

"My jeans...they hurt me..." how could she even begin to explain what Edward had or hadn't done?

Carlisle leaned forward and looked Bella in the eyes, "Bella, did Edward-"

"No! He didn't do—" Bella's words caught in her throat. She already knew what Carlisle was going to ask her, and she couldn't bring herself to hear it because the uncertainty that lingered long after she spoke her words with a conviction still remained. "—h-he wouldn't do that. He...wouldn't..." But he could have. So easily. And you wouldn't have been able to stop him.

Tears filled her eyes as she came to the stark realization that she wasn't sure what Edward would have done if she hadn't shoved him away, had yelled at him to stop.

"Bella?"

"I'm fine," she tried to reassure Carlisle and Jasper as she pushed the words out, "it just stings. It's nothing."

Carlisle weighed her reaction carefully before asking, "I won't push you to tell me what Edward did, but if I give you something for the pain, will you please take it?"

Seeing the worry lacing the kind man's eyes now, Bella couldn't bring herself to turn Carlisle down, "Yes, I promise."

A knock at the door brought them out of the check-up, and the sound of Esme's soft voice instantly prickled Bella's skin as she whipped her head up and found the kind woman's eyes already on hers.

"Good morning, Bella," Esme said before she noticed there was a tray of food in her hands, "are you hungry? I made you a late breakfast."

As if on cue, Bella's stomach growled the moment she caught the scent of pancakes and bacon.

"Why don't you boys go hunt? Emmett and Rosalie are downstairs waiting," Esme mentioned as she walked past Carlisle before she looked to Jasper with reassurance laced in her voice, "Alice will stay here with us."

Jasper looked to Bella, noticing how she watched him with concern, and stood up from his chair. He set Wuthering Heights down beside her as he asked, "Do you want me to stay?" He could sense Bella's anxiety rise slowly, but like a wave, it rolled away with his help.

Bella shook her head and made a poor attempt of a smile that almost resembled a grimace, "N-no, it's okay. You should go hunt."

Hoping to ease her worries that were sure to come back as soon as he left the house, Jasper whispered, "I won't be far. If you need me, I'll be here."

Bella's tired eyes followed Jasper as he crossed the room and stepped out into the hall with Carlisle excusing himself shortly after, "We won't be too long, Bella. If you need anything, let Esme know, and I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Thanks...Carlisle."

Carlisle's kind smile didn't quite reach his eyes either, but Bella couldn't bring herself to try and fix what was wrong. She knew what was wrong. Carlisle's son left the family behind and hurt her, all because she was human. Because she's nothing compared to them...

"Bella." Esme's kind voice brought her out of the spiral, and it was only when Bella noticed Esme's saddened expression that she noticed she was crying. Tears ran down her cheeks freely now, and her face warmed with mortification. In her haste to wipe the tears away, Bella placed her hands over her face, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to-"

Esme's cold hand reached out for them and pulled her hands away, "It's alright, Bella. It's okay to cry."

Those kind words...

They were her undoing as Bella bowed into herself and cried silently into Esme's shoulder as the woman pulled her close, rubbing her back as she trembled, "You're safe now. You're with us, my love."

Bella's muffled sobs carried throughout the house, and she had no idea the strength it took for Jasper not to walk back upstairs and sit with her until she no longer felt this pain. She had no idea just how much he wanted to take all her sadness and pain away and return it tenfold to the one responsible.

Chapter Text

Bella never knew heartbreak could feel so fatal.

A wound had been inflicted in her heart like a dagger—cold as ice—pierced through her chest again and again as time went by. Whenever the realization that she lost Edward washed over her, Bella's entire body ached as it wanted to curl into itself and hide from everything and everyone. His hurtful words. His hands on her, hurting her. It all made the girl ache like never before.

The morning was spent beside Esme with tears that came in waves, dread filling her stomach as the feeling waned. Esme didn't tell her to stop—not once. If anything, she shared in her loss too. The two women sat on the bed, Esme's arms wrapped around Bella the entire time as she consoled her.

"Would you like to talk about it, honey?" Esme asked her once Bella managed to calm down.

Bella's heart hammered away as she leaned away from Esme's embrace. Her hair fell over her shoulders, obscuring her face with a thick curtain of mahogany waves. Bella wiped her face with the back of her hand as she released a deep shaky breath. She didn't understand why she cried so much. Why did this hurt so much? She and Edward had been together for such a short amount of time, insignificant to the immortal boy as he's lived so many lives by now. Seen much more than she probably ever will. The yearning to join him and his family now seemed ripped away from her completely. What would she possibly do if she did become a vampire now? Now that she no longer had the love of the man who'd claimed she was his life...

It felt as if a part of her life was ripped away, crushed into dust.

Deep down, a small voice fought to be heard over the berating voices that scolded her for being so stupid in the first place. The cruel remarks that Edward made ringed in her head constantly. The small voice was saying compassionately, He betrayed your trust, that's why it hurts.

"I don't think it's something any of you should hear Esme. He's your son." Bella admits with a whisper, choosing to ignore that kind voice that could not be more wrong. It hadn't been...

The will to defend him in her mind seemed useless now. It's not as if he'll care what she thinks of him either way.

It didn't matter now.

Esme's hand cupped Bella's cheek, making the girl look into her soft gold eyes. "Bella you're a part of this family regardless of what Edward—" she paused, noticing Bella's flinch at the mention of his name and corrected herself quickly "—he may be my son but you are like a daughter to both me and Carlisle. You're safe to do and say whatever you want. Trust me. I know it's hard to find that trust again after being betrayed so horribly but our bond, the bond our family has with you, is not broken." The strength in her words mirrored the hard lines on Esme's face, evoking just how troubled she was by this whole situation and how protective she was of Bella.

Tears sprang in her eyes once again and she tried to blink them away, the attempt futile in the end. Bella stared at Esme for a long time, not quite able to say anything to her kind motherly words, so she didn't try.

"I won't push you to talk but know that I'm always here to listen if you need me. When you're ready." Esme spoke softly as she wiped another one of Bella's tears with the back of her hand. The seemingly silver tears that lined Esme's eyes weren't unnoticed and a part of Bella ached for her. She'll never be able to shed tears for me. Or Edward. But she mourns all the same. How is that fair to her?

"I'm sorry, Esme. For all of this."

"Please, don't apologize. You have nothing to apologize for, my love."

"But your family—"

"You are a part of our family just as much as he was..."

Was as if Edward no longer held a space within this house anymore. Not because he left but because he'd been made to leave.

Suddenly frustration kicked into the loss she felt in her heart now. Frustration towards herself, towards Edward, and what he'd done simply because he wanted nothing more to do with her. For the Cullens who had to watch this mess unravel in their house. But a small part of her was immensely grateful that they hadn't disappeared with him as he said they would. They all stayed and wanted her here too. At least, Carlisle, Esme, and Jasper did. The latter was still unclear but Bella couldn't shake away the sense of safety Jasper shared with her as he sat beside her this morning. Bella could still feel his cold hand gripping hers gently as he comforted her. His golden eyes pained as she cried for someone who didn't love her.

Jasper had always been a difficult person to read. It didn't help that he kept his distance from her all the time but for a moment she thought she saw kindness in his eyes in a way that she never had before. The gentle way in which he spoke to her when he asked if she wanted him to leave while Carlisle looked over her injuries comforted her in more ways than he'll probably ever know. A part of her hoped he'd return from his hunt with the others soon if only to feel that warm comfort from him again before she had to leave. Back to her empty, cold bedroom where she'd once spent nights laying beside Edward, listening to his sweet voice as he hummed her his songs.

The ache returned once again but before Bella could be dragged down by thoughts of him again, a knock at the door startled Bella away from Esme's gentle gaze and they turned their attention to the pixie that walked into the room.

Alice smiled brightly at her close friend, "Hi, Bella! I brought you a change of clothes I thought you might like." Placing the small bundle of clothes on the foot of the bed, Alice took a seat on the edge and gently took Bella's hand in hers. There was only a small hint of lament in her friend's eyes but it was swiftly overlooked by excitement as Alice began, "I texted Charlie for you and told him we invited you to go hiking for the weekend. He's gone fishing with Billy Black so he won't see the message until he gets home tomorrow night. He won't mind."

"...Thanks, Alice," Bella whispered.

Alice nodded, gauging the blank look of Bella's face before adding hesitantly, "Unless you want to go back home? If you do, then I can take you to Charlie's and stay the night with you so you're not alone."

"No," Bella shook her head, hesitantly turning to face Esme as she asked, "if it's okay with you...I'd prefer to stay here?"

Esme smiled as placed a kiss atop Bella's head, the simple gesture conveying all the love a mother would have for a child, "Of course, Bella. You're more than welcome to stay as long as you like. I'll be downstairs if you need me." She stood with the tray of half-eaten food Bella barely touched and excused herself, allowing the two young women to speak in private.

"This color looks great on you!" Alice points out with satisfaction as Bella emerged from the bathroom wearing a lavender hoodie and loose-fitting sweatpants. Despite wanting to dress her friend in expensive, form-fitting clothes like she always wants to, Alice knew the best thing to do for Bella now was grant her clothes that were comfortable and loose. According to Esme and Rosalie, there had been bruises and scratches going along her inner thighs and hips. Much to all of their horror upon hearing this last night.

Alice gritted her teeth, more than grateful that Rosalie insisted on taking care of the girl, knowing how much it would have pained Alice to see Bella in the state Jasper had found her in last night. The thought of Edward, her beloved kind brother, doing this to the woman he'd claimed to love to passionately...it made Alice's rage boil under her skin.

Alice took it upon herself to find the best, softest clothes from Bella's home after Charlie left for his fishing trip, packing a small bag with all the essentials and clothes she would need for the weekend. Though Bella's future has been uncertain, Alice wanted to always be prepared, just in case.

"Thanks for getting me these," Bella said, the girl's gaze not quite meeting hers. The silence in the room stretched on, neither of them speaking for a long while as Bella stood awkwardly in the room. Alice did her best to remain seated on the bed, not knowing if her usual burst of energy and conversation was what Bella needed. She bit her lip nervously as she fought the urge to say anything at all to bring that timid smile back on Bella's face.

Bella wrapped her arms around herself as she finally moved to sit back on the bed. Alice kicked her ballet slippers off and folded her legs as she turned to face the girl and asked, "What would you like to do today? Maybe we can watch a movie while we wait for Jasper and the others to return?"

The dark circles under Bella's eyes looked more noticeable than usual against her sickly pale skin. Alice couldn't help but notice the light in her warm brown eyes was dim now, making them look dull and dark.

"Whatever you want, Alice." She finally responded but there was not an ounce of any emotions whatsoever in her voice. Not even to appease her as Bella was known to do with everyone if only to make them happy and not be an "inconvenience".

Reaching her hand out, Alice grabbed Bella's oddly cold hand in her icy one, "Bella? What do you want to do?"

After a long while, she finally answer with a shrug of her shoulders, "...I just want to sleep, honestly."

Without waiting for Alice to answer, Bella crawls back under the covers and curls up into her side, a shiver running over her body as she finally found the warmth her small body probably yearned for.

Alice laid down beside her and watched as her best friend suffered in silence in front of her. Reaching onto once more, Alice places her hand on Bella's cheek.

"Bella I'm so sorry. I didn't see—"

"Alice, it wasn't your fault. None of this is. I never should have tried to fight for him..." Bella's voice has never sounded so small before. So utterly defeated and hollow. It broke Alice's heart to see her friend crumbling before her very eyes.

"Bella it wasn't your fault." No matter how many times Alice would try to convince her otherwise, she knew healing her wounds wasn't something Alice could do. That wasn't her role in all of this. The visions rarely lie her...no matter how blurred Bella's future had become.

Exhaustion was settling over Bella like a warm blanket, Bella's eyes gradually closing more and more even as she said, "I'm sorry. I'm really tired."

"Okay, Bella." Alice wrapped her arm around Bella, settling her hand over the covers to prevent her cold skin from causing discomfort, and smiled sadly even as she knew that Bella was already fast asleep. "We'll be here when you wake up. Jasper will be back soon."

"Are you going to tell her?" Jasper's attention was taken away from the mountain lion he stalked across the clearing as Emmett finally asked the question that had been on his mind since Edward declared he and Bella were mates.

It was probably what everyone else wanted to ask him, but unlike them, Emmett wasn't too willing to respect his brother's privacy.

Blowing out an unnecessary breath, he turned to face Emmett. The burly vampire was crouched low on the thick branch of the tree next to Jasper, his muscles flexing as he holds onto the trunk. The smell of blood lingered in the air and Jasper knew Rosalie and Carlisle were still hunting while Emmett finished his hunt quickly in order to catch Jasper all alone for once.

"It hadn't crossed my mind to tell her now. Not after what happened." He answered truthfully.

"Don't you think she ought to know now rather than later?" Emmett asked as he hopped down from the branch with a surprisingly graceful thud as he landed on the dirt path. "So she's not so heartbroken by...him?"

Jasper suddenly wasn't thirsty for blood anymore—feeling he's had more than enough from the elk he'd hunted a few hours ago. He shrugged as they started walking down the path, the sequoia trees towering over them where the birds sang their songs. "I can't help how she feels for him, regardless if we are..."

"Mates." Emmett finished with a determined nod, "You're mates, Jazz. That's not something to brush off so easily. You shouldn't try to ignore it, it's there for a reason."

Jasper wished he could deny it considering he never truly believed in the whole mating bond. A part of him didn't think he could ever come to love anyone at all seeing as he'd been turned during the war when all he knew was hatred and death. Those days still haunted him. Often they made him hate that he ever joined the army and was subjected to Maria's cruelty.

No going back now, Whitlock.

Jasper wanted to tell Emmett he didn't expect anything from Bella. That she was too in love with Edward to ever see him or anyone else romantically so it was to be expected that she would reject him the moment Jasper told her they were mates. Not to mention she'd been hurt in the worst of ways by the first man she's ever cared for.

The thought of what would have happened if Edward hadn't stopped his attack on her when he did...it made Jasper's skin crawl with disgust.

A dull sting in his chest made his steps falter for a moment. If Emmett noticed, he didn't show it as he continued walking through the forest.

Why does the thought that she won't want anything to do with me once I do tell her the truth make me feel so...uneasy?

Jasper knew he could deny it all he wanted, but Emmett was right. Whatever deemed that he and Bella were mates was a powerful, invisible force to be reckoned with. The pull he felt to her...it was stronger than any emotion he's felt in a long time. This string that tugged him forward until he was beside her nagged at his brain and his heart.

Being close to Bella settled the anxiety he felt spiraling upwards, fighting to break through the surface. It was like a balm to the scars in his dead heart. As if this one, human girl, healed him simply by standing beside him.

How had he not realized this sooner?

Because Edward didn't want you near her.

The moment he thought about his brother, hot rage boiled inside him, ridding him of any peace he felt while thinking about Bella.

Edward had betrayed him. Jasper would be a coward if he didn't admit that Edward's lie of omission didn't hurt him, deeply. We never kept secrets from each other. Never. Why now?

Emmett's hand clamped down on Jasper's shoulder, stopping him before they made it to the edge of the river. His black eyes had the hint of gold specks in his irises already.

When Emmett spoke again, his cadence was surprisingly gentle, "I know how you feel, even if it's on the surface. What Edward did to you and Bella..." he shook his head, "it sucks, to say the least. But you're here now and he's not. You don't have to feel guilty for feeling attached to her now that you know why."

On some level, Jasper had told Emmett along the line that he'd been struggling to keep his distance from Bella Swan. At first, they ruled it as bloodlust but one day, Emmett jokingly mentioned that maybe Jasper had a crush on the girl. The very thought made Jasper feel horrible–as if he'd betrayed Edward for thinking about his so-called mate. Now it seems as though it should have been the other way around—

"I don't get it," Jasper whispered, cutting off his thoughts. Clenching his fists as his anger made his voice tremble when he spoke again. "I never would have kept her from him. I would have no control over Bella anyway and I wouldn't want it either, but I wouldn't have prevented her from being with Edward if it's what she wanted. She's not an object to pass around. But if she made him happy and he did the same for her—regardless if we were mates or not—I would have stepped aside. I do not doubt that I would. So why couldn't he just tell me? Why did he keep us from each other? I loved him, Em. He was my brother."

Jasper looked at Emmett and all the hurt finally shone in his eyes as Emmett's grip on his shoulder tightened, lament and anger trickling into him now from the usually laid back young man.

"I know, Jasper. I know. I'm so sorry. But you have us and now you have Bella. At least you have each other now, even if it isn't romantically. Right?"

Jasper stared blankly into the clear stream of water rushing over the rocks in the river, regaining his calm once again.

The wind blew gently, ruffling his hair as Rosalie and Carlisle's voices reached him and Emmett.

"...Right."

It was sundown by the time Jasper returned. He'd left early, not wanting to hinder the others for the rest of their hunt. Emmett had offered to return with him, in case Bella needed something but Jasper was reassured by a text from Alice that the girl was fast asleep.

She's been sleeping a lot...

Walking into the house, the onslaught of troubled emotions hit him like a truck and he sighed as he unzipped his jacket, pushing his hair back to shake off the droplets of rain on his golden strands. He could hear Bella's steady heartbeat and muted emotions so he knew these emotions weren't hers—for now.

Walking into the living room he found the source of sadness that took over their once-peaceful household.

"Mom?" Esme looked up from the book she was reading on her lap. She sat on the couch, legs tucked under herself with a fleece blanket draped over her legs.

They didn't need warmth or shelter, not really. And yet, Jasper suspected that out of all of the Cullens, Esme was the most human one of all. She enjoyed sitting on the back porch, letting the warm sunlight caress her face as she closed her eyes and smiled peacefully up at the sky.

She often bid them all good night even though none of them slept. And she greeted them with a warm, welcoming good morning the next day.

If Carlisle was the sun that kept this family from walking in darkness, Esme was the earth itself—the love and life that was missing the moment he and all the others were welcomed into the world as monsters.

Jasper kneeled in front of her, taking a hold of her hands that closed her book, forgoing any attempts of mindlessly reading the same page over and over.

"What's wrong?"

Esme shuddered, "The bruises..." he knew she was talking about Bella, "I can't believe Edward could do such a thing. That he lied to you and hurt you like this."

"I'm okay."

"No, Jasper. Taking the mate of another and hurting them? Hurting you? That's the worst thing he could have ever done to someone in his family. I can't believe it." If he didn't know any better, Esme was on the verge of tears. She would be crying if she could. That was Esme, she felt and loved deeply when it came to her family.

"Esme, it's okay." Jasper wrapped his arms around Esme and embraced her. She returned it with a tight hug that made him smile slightly with affection.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry we were so hard on you after Bella's birthday. We should have paid closer attention to you. Noticed you were defending her from him and not the other way around. I should have been able to tell that Bella wasn't his mate."

"You had no way of knowing. It wasn't your responsibility."

"I'm your mother!"

His chest tightened as all the unconditional love flowed into him, breaking down his walls of ice and melting them until he couldn't hide from Esme's care she always tried to give him. He tightened his hold on her as his own tumultuous emotions betrayed him, "Edward was our first son but we never should have stopped paying attention to you. You're still battling with your blood lust and...I'm sorry if you felt all alone."

"I'm sorry too. But I don't blame you for anything that happened. If anything I blame Edward and myself for not listening to my instincts. I felt so guilty for wanting to be closer to Bella because I thought he loved her. I never knew I felt this way, until now."

Esme smiled at Jasper as she cupped his face, "She'll need you. I suspected because she's human she doesn't feel as strongly as you do but she does need you, Jasper."

His lips parted as he wanted to admit to Esme that he needed Bella too. The words were on the tip of his tongue when a pained whimper traveled through the house upstairs.

Esme and Jasper stiffened when they heard it again.

A soft voice pleading, "No..."

"Bella?" Alice's voice was just above a whisper, the sound of sheets rustling told Jasper that Alice was probably laying beside the girl while she slept. Her concern reached him next as she spoke. "Bella, are you okay?"

Jasper stood up, frowning as a fear that wasn't his own washed over him.

That fear grew as Bella's heartbeat went faster.

"No...stop..." The girl said, her voice sounding tired and frightened. The sob that followed made Jasper move without hesitation and he was running up the stairs right as Bella's pleas grew louder, "Edward! Stop! Please!"

By the time Jasper opened the door to the bedroom where Bella slept, the bloodcurdling scream that Bella let out made Jasper's heart shatter the moment he caught sight of his mate.

Chapter Text

"Bella..."

Her heart was lodged in her throat as she ran through the never-ending darkness of the night. The sound of leaves rustling in the trees told her she was back in the forest. When did she get back here? Where was everyone?

Bella's feet stomped harshly against the dirt as she ran as if her life depended on it. Her head whipped around her face as she looked over her shoulder with wide eyes—searching for whatever or whoever kept calling her name.

Why? Why am I running? What am I running from?

Fear spiked her desperation, urging her never to stop running. Her pants filled the void of the silent forest and continued even as she tripped over the roots of a tree that stuck out of the earth.

Bella shut her eyes, bracing herself for the fall that would surely hurt. But it never came. Instead, a pair of strong arms caught her, pulling her close to a broad chest. For a moment, she felt safe. Safer than she has in a long time...

Her eyes fluttered open, and she was greeted by the pale full moon shining down on the field of flowers in the meadow.

Edward's meadow...

"Bella, why are you running, love?"

Tilting her head up, Bella finally relaxed as she saw Edward's pale chiseled face coming into view. His hands cupped the back of her head as he bent down, his lips barely grazing hers with a whisper of a kiss before—like always—he pulled away, leaving her feeling rejected and alone all over again.

He stepped out of her arms before she could hold onto him properly just as the voice of another echoed behind them.

"Does the human want to play?" Bella's blood went cold, and the familiar life-altering fear she grew to know last year in Phoenix—in that forsaken ballet studio—came rushing back as she looked over Edward's shoulder and stared at the red-eyed vampire that haunted her dreams even though he was dead.

"N-no...Edward—" Bella turned to find that Edward was no longer standing beside her. Instead, he turned his back on her and smiled at James. A wicked, soulless grin that she'd never seen on his face before. Bella reached out for him, but it wasn't Edward's hands that took a hold of hers this time.

James's sneered at her as he pulled her forward, his hands traveling up her arms and keeping her close enough that she could smell the metallic scent of blood on his breath. Human blood.

"I've wanted to do this for a very long time, Isabella. You have no idea."

She tried to back away, but then another set of arms stopped her, gripping her shoulders until her bones started to hurt. Peering up with fear in her eyes, she caught Edward looking down at her; his own eyes were now identical to James's. Blood red.

No...

When Edward spoke this time, it was lifeless. "It'll only hurt for a second, Bella. Then we can be together. Then you can be mine. Forever. You won't be worthless anymore."

Bella parted her lips, about to protest that she didn't want any of this. Not if it meant she was going to kill humans too. Not if she would become a monster like James.

No...

"Edward!" James stopped her from running away. Edward turned his back on her without another word and disappeared into the forest, leaving her all along with her tormentor.

She stared into the blood-red eyes of the nomad as he parted his lips, and his fangs grew closer and closer to her neck. She tried fighting him, to shove his hands away as they held her in it was all in vain. "Stop! Please!"

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she let out a scream, right as his venomous fangs bit into her flesh.

Her blood spilled from her neck as he feasted on her list like he wanted to and when she finally stopped fighting him, fire began igniting her entire body and the unending pain followed...

"Bella! Wake up! I don't know what's wrong with her!" A delicate voice said, sounding more frightened than she felt right now.

Someone was screaming—a gut wrenching, terrible scream that made her cringe.

Cold hands cupped her wet cheeks even as she thrashed against them.

Then, finally, the screaming stopped, and she realized when the ache in her throat began that it had been her who had been screaming this whole time.

No, no, no! Someone, please—

"Bella, open your eyes." A startling wave of calm fell over her, like snowflakes falling on her face and melting against her warm skin.

Jasper? "Yes, darlin'. It's me. I'm here."

Had she said that out loud? Slowly, she began to feel things other than bone-chilling fear as peace and love became a blanket over her trembling body. Her pounding heart was slowing down and her breaths, though shallow, began to follow suit.

"Please open your eyes." Jasper's pleading voice made her shiver as the smell of cinnamon and fall filled the cold air around her. "Open them for me, Bella."

Focusing on the feel of his large hands cupping her cheeks, she released her hold in that horrible dread in her stomach. She slowly opened her eyes, preparing herself to see Edward or James standing over her—keeping her locked away without any chance of help. She blinked away the tears, feeling them roll down the sides of her face as her vision cleared.

Jasper kneeled on the bed, hovering over her with a strained look on his beautiful face.

Beautiful...

Jasper's lips quirked slightly though there wasn't an ounce of humor in his golden eyes. Had she said that out loud too?

Swallowing hard, pushing past the dry feeling in her throat, Bella looked around the room warily.

"You're safe," Jasper reassured her, feeling her worry seeping into him. His thumbs swiped over her cheeks as more tears rolled down her face. "It's just you and me. Edward won't go near you."

Bella's heart ached at the mention of his name, but not for the same reasons it had hours ago. Now it was because she was afraid of him. Worried that he'll come back and...

With a dry-sounding whimper, Bella curled into herself as she laid on her side, clamping her mouth shut as she tried to hold back a sob that built up in her stomach, traveled up her lungs, and through her chest—shaking her entire body.

The calm continued fighting the despair.

Just a dream. It had been a dream that felt so real. His hands gripping her shoulders, his cold touch feeling so foreign now. As if it wasn't her Edward at all. Not the kind, warm, and protective Edward that she'd fallen in love with.

"Bella?" Jasper's voice pulled her back before she could fall what felt like an endless spiral of dark emotions.

She couldn't find her voice to tell him she was sorry, that she was alright and he could leave if he wanted to. A big part of her didn't want to say that at all. She wanted Jasper here with her, holding her and casting away all the bad that followed her nightmares.

Her shining eyes met his in the dimly lit room. Jasper slid his hands away from her face, instead reaching for her hands that were closed into fists, stopping her nails from digging into the skin of her palms.

Jasper's cool touch soothed her instantly, tiny tingles running across her fingers and palms the moment her hand held his.

"Bad dream," she forced the words out.

Jasper nodded, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I...no..." Bella couldn't stop trembling as she buried her head deeper into the pillow, letting the thick covers of the duvet swallow up her petite body. "I'm okay. I'm sorry."

"You're not okay, don't pretend to be. Not with me." His blunt words stung, but the ones that followed were tender and kind, "Would you like me to stay and help keep you calm while you sleep?"

Bella stared down at their interlocked hands for a long moment, her hands gripped his tighter, and Jasper reciprocated. His touch was so gentle...

"I'm not a burden to you?" She whispered, almost too afraid to know the answer to that.

Why? Why did it matter what Jasper thought of her? Why is the thought of him confirming what she thought about herself making her feel sick to her stomach?

Jaspe frowned, "What? Of course not. Did he say that to you?" The anger laced in his words were not lost on her. She released a shuddering breath. Bella couldn't deny it. Not to herself or Jasper. That had been what Edward implied, wasn't it?

You were just a means to an end.

Get over yourself.

"Talk to me, darlin'. Don't go away," Jasper urged, his hand tightening around hers as if she were indeed fading away, going somewhere he couldn't reach her. In reality, her mind wanted the escape, and Jasper could see it in her eyes. "I'm here, Bella."

"Jasper. Did Edward...did he ever love me?" She hated how small she felt. How utterly pathetic she felt she had become.

"Yes." He answers truthfully. "He did love you. In his own way."

Her voice shook as a strained sob left her, "Then why did he do that to me? If I wasn't good enough, why couldn't he just leave me instead of..."

Jasper closed his eyes as she cried softly. "I don't know, Bella. I wish I did. You have no idea how sorry I am that this is happening." It sounded like he wanted to say something more but refrained. Instead, he brushed a strand of her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, making her shiver against his gentle touch, "But know this, you are so much more than he deserved and he will never lay a hand on you again."

As soon as he spoke those words, however, whatever urge she felt to be honest with Jasper was swiftly washed away. Replaced with a cold, hollow feeling in her heart.

Her eyes drifted closed, and she released his hands, even though it pained her to do so for some reason.

Even though she wanted to be held...by Jasper.

"It's not important anymore."

The pained look on Jasper's face was imprinted in her mind, and it remained even when she opened her eyes again.

"Can you stay with me? I don't—I can't see him again. I don't want to dream of him..."

"I'll stay if that's what you want."

Jasper tucked the covers up over her shoulders as he sat up on the bed and leaned against the headboard. His fingers gently massaged her scalp to ease the discomfort she felt coursing through her, flowing towards him.

Bella didn't know why but she let him soothe her, comfort her in such a tender way that was so unlike the distant, stoic Jasper she'd come to know.

"I'm sorry." She whispered as she looked up.

His expression was unreadable for a moment until he sensed her gaze was still on him, felt the awe she felt towards the empath who didn't seem repulsed or annoyed by her. His eyes were so kind.

"Shh," he soothed, his long fingers running through her hair, "Sleep, Bella. I won't let the dreams come back, I promise."

Bella's brown eyes fluttered shut, wanting to watch him closely but the wave of lethargy that took over swept her away into a peaceful sleep.

Jasper made sure she didn't feel anything other than warmth and comfort for the rest of the night. The dreams didn't come back to haunt her again. There was no Edward and no James coming to torment her.

There was only Jasper caressing her face as he wiped away her tears. And his gift, protecting her all night long—both of them attempting to heal what had been broken.

Chapter Text

Hours passed, and when Bella woke up, her whole body felt heavy. Her mind was foggy as light streamed across her face, the morning sun greeting her. It took her only a moment to realize where she was, and slowly, her mind caught up with why she felt as if she'd been sleeping for days on end. She didn't understand why she was still so tired...

Bella's fingers closed around something cold, and she stiffened, apprehensive to find that she was holding someone's hand. Edward? Fear made her heartbeat stumble over itself before calm settled over her shoulders, a warm, comforting blanket shielding her from the world. Relaxing her before she could panic.

"Bella?"

Bella blinked when she looked up and found Jasper sitting beside her on the bed, his head tilted back as he looked at the girl with gentle golden eyes—somehow, they looked as tired as she felt. If Bella were someone else, she would have thought Jasper was a young man, resting after a long, draining day at work or school. Human. She knew he wasn't, but her heart started skipping about in her chest as his thumb brushed over the back of her hand. Her eyes fluttered down to their joined hands, noticing the way Jasper's touch was so gentle as the pad of his thumb rubbed small circles on the back of her hand. His cool, hard skin against her warm, fragile one.

Completely different from what she imagined the stoic vampire's touch could ever be like. That brought her out of her thoughts right away, like cold water being splashed across her face to wake her up from a daydream.

You imagined his touch? What's wrong with you?

Ignoring the fact that her cheeks were flushing a bright pink and that she was enjoying Jasper's touch a little too much, Bella pulled her hand out of his grasp as she slowly sat up, looking towards the floor-to-ceiling window—she felt Jasper's unwavering gaze on her.

Then she recalled what had happened last night and grimaced, rubbing her hands over her face. She immediately regretted doing so when she caught Jasper's scent on the palm of her hand. Cinnamon and pine. A sweet, intoxicating scent that suited him.

How could she make Jasper stay with her the entire...night? Or had it been all day? Either way, it was mortifying that the empath felt he had to stay beside her the entire time just to help her sleep. It seemed that she lost all track of time ever since he left. She lost herself completely.

"How did you sleep?" Jasper's smooth voice startled her, even though she knew he'd been sitting beside her this whole time. She could almost hear Edward's voice in the back of her mind. His crooked grin that had once been hypnotizing now mocked her.

Silly, stupid girl...

"Better than I probably deserved to," Bella bit her lip, overcome by her shame. Jasper didn't move at all as she slowly turned to face him, still avoiding his eyes as she said, "I'm sorry about last night."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, darlin'," Jasper said, dismissing her worries with a gentle nudge of his gift as his eyes scanned her over—as if searching for anything that may be off. Other than the obvious, that is.

She avoided rubbing her hands over her face as she looked around the room. The pale sun was out, the day beginning anew. The evergreen forest and the mountains in the distance were the same as it always has been. Bella knew that deep down nothing had really changed.

So why does it feel as though everything is different now?

She sighed, "I should probably go home. Charlie will be worried if I'm not there soon."

"I'll drive you." Jasper stood in one swift movement, far more graceful than she could ever attempt to move. "Esme is making you breakfast. You feel like eating something before I take you home?"

Bella shook her head, "I'm not really hungry."

When Jasper narrowed his eyes, she knew he wasn't at all pleased to hear her dull answer. There was no point in trying to fight him or any of the Cullens—they'd probably force her to eat. That's what he would have done anyway. Surprisingly though, Jasper didn't fight her on it. Merely nodded and smoothed out the covers on the bed where he'd been sitting the whole night, making it look as if no one had ever been there at all.

A small part of her, though relieved that he didn't object to her choice of not eating, was also surprised.

Then the self-doubt seeped in and it came in a set of questions: Now that you're not with Edward, do the Cullens want anything to do with you at all? Would they still care for you the same way? Or would they simply tolerate you out of pity?

"Okay," she answered, pushing the hurtful thoughts away from her before she began panicking again. Jasper had no doubt felt her troubled, negative emotions and stiffened as he watched her push the covers off her legs. She stood up as quickly as she could, wanting to get home where she could be alone. She'd have to get used to sleepless nights again now that Edward wouldn't be there to keep her company, to hold her all night to keep the nightmares away.

Now he was the nightmare.

As she stood abruptly, feeling a surge of panic and despair wash over her Bella swayed slightly. The blood rushed to her head at the unexpected movement and she placed her hand over her eyes to rid herself of the white specks of light that invaded her vision.

"Are you okay?" Jasper walked around the bed and placed his hand on her elbow to steady her—feeling the dizzy spell gradually recede. The strange tingle she'd felt last night when his hand touched hers was back again when his thumb rubbed small circles on her arm as he watched her warily.

"Yeah," she murmured as she collected herself, her cheeks warming as he released her arm and stepped back, "Just stood too fast."

What's wrong with you?! Get a grip.

"Try to take it easy today." Jasper made a humming sound, "We wouldn't want you falling and cracking your head open." He grinned though the smile he gave her didn't reach his eyes.

Bella forced a smile of her own, "I'm sure that would be a nuisance considering I'm always getting hurt and causing problems when I do..."

That wiped Jasper's grin away quickly. His voice was lower as he said, "Not a nuisance, darlin'. Just a concern. None of us want you to get hurt, Bella."

She swallowed nervously, "Because of the blood, I know—"

"No, that's not why." He was quick to interrupt her, feeling the self-loathe that took over her sorrow. It physically hurt him to feel her emotions this way. "We care if there's blood because we care about you. Even Rosalie, believe it or not." Bella held back a less than graceful snort at Jasper's lie to make her feel better, "None of us want to see you hurting. Not because of our own weaknesses to be around human blood."

They stared at one another for a long moment. Unsurprisingly, Bella was the first to avert her gaze. She nodded but the hurtful emotions she felt towards herself didn't lessen.

Jasper had to try his best to hide the pained expression that threatened to make an appearance. Anger, frustration, grief, guilt, disgust—all waged an endless war inside her heart and mind. Silently he wondered if he could help ease her pain without the use of his gift. So he did the one thing he knew to do. Reaching up, his hand curled under Bella's chin and waited until she looked into his searching eyes again. The rage that boiled through his veins as the sight of her split lip made it difficult to keep his voice level and calm.

But he did it anyway, for the heartbroken girl in front of him.

"Bella, I want to apologize for the mess we made the night of your birthday. That was unfair to you and it was irresponsible on both ends." She didn't miss how he avoided saying his name, and she wasn't sure why but the small surge of gratitude filled her chest. "Can I start making it up to you from this point forward?"

Bella bit her bottom lip, contemplating. She was startled when she felt Jasper's thumb gently pull her sore lip from beneath her teeth. Now she realized how close they were to one another. She held her breath as she noticed his eyes were darker now as they flickered from her lip to her eyes, searching. For what, however, she wasn't sure.

"I never blamed you, Jasper, for what happened. It was an accident. But..." She was being honest but felt this was Jasper's way of making amends for the aftermath of his misguided cruelty. "What did you have in mind?"

"You tell me. What do you want right now?"

"I don't think that's how it works." Bella frowned, and her heart kicked about in her chest when she recognized the curve of his lips as a grin threatened to appear.

"It is how it works. I'm repaying you, and I can only do that if you tell me what you want. So, therefore, your wish is my command."

There could have been a thousand things she could have asked him for. Any girls in school would want money or a car, maybe drawing out the attention of one of the Cullens for as long as possible. But that's not what Bella wanted. All she wanted was—

"Please don't leave me," Bella whispered the words before processing what she was asking of Jasper. Of the whole family that probably heard this entire conversation downstairs. Appalled with her needy behavior, Bella made to pull away when she felt Jasper's hand still on her chin but he held her there, his other hand gently wrapping around her wrist. She looked back at him with embarrassment written all over her flushed face.

Jasper's eyes widened, his lips parted in realization before he composed himself again.

Then Jasper spoke the words she had wanted him to say that day in the forest. The comfort and trust that had been shattered into tiny shards of glass by Edward Cullen slowly began to reflect Jasper's kind face—scattered but there nonetheless. And he was picking up the pieces now, one by one.

"I have no intention of leaving you. Not ever."

Jasper had insisted on driving Bella home after bidding her goodbyes to Esme and Alice, who were fretting over her the entire morning.

"We love you so much, Bella." Esme had murmured into her ear as her strong embrace radiated all the love Bella felt had been drained from her heart. At that moment, Bella knew if it were up to her, she'd never leave the Cullens. When Esme pulled back, her golden eyes were shining with affection. It was only when Esme wiped her cheeks that Bella realized she'd started to cry.

Bella grimaced. She was way too emotional to her liking. It was so embarrassing.

Alice had been next to engulf her in another hug though it was quickly followed by an enthusiastic, "I'll see you tomorrow, Bella."

All the while, Jasper stood leaning against the door frame with an unreadable expression on his face. His eyes never quite left the girl, but a small part of her wanted to go to him right away when Bella's gaze met his. It seemed he felt what she did because as they walked down the front steps towards the car, Jasper's hand settled on the small of her back—comforting her beyond words or his gift.

While she half expected to feel uncomfortable or tense, Bella was surprised to find that the entire drive, they'd settled into a comfortable silence. Jasper's presence was a balm to her worries and insecurities—his gift dispelling all negative emotions from filling the black Volvo SUV Jasper chose to drive. Maybe it had nothing to do with his gift though, since the familiar feeling of warmth encasing her in subtle waves rarely caressed her skin.

While she kept quiet, she could feel Jasper's attention on her the entire time—even as he kept his eyes on the road and drove the speed limit. That was odd because Bella knew that if it had been a certain bronze-haired vampire, they would have been ten—even twenty—percent over the speed limit.

"Do you..." her voice falters when Jasper instantly glances her way, as if eager to hear her speak. Bella rolls her lips together nervously, wringing her hands together, but tries to continue, "You're driving the speed limit."

Jasper's lips quirk with amusement, "That's an astute observation."

Bella bit her lip, "I-I mean, don't you guys normally speed around all over these roads?" She rushed out the words, ignoring the flush on her cheeks. "And don't you normally drive a Harley?"

That caught his interest. Jasper raised his brows as he looked away from the road to glance at her, "I'm surprised you noticed the kind of motorcycle I drive. Regarding the speed, however, I'm sure the last thing you need is to be frightened by how fast I'm driving when you're already disoriented."

Oh well...that's nice of him.

Bella shrugged, "Of course I noticed. I always noticed you, Jasper." That made her snap her mouth shut.

I've always noticed him? What the hell am I saying?

Jasper's silence slowly started to make her self-conscious for her silly words, but before she could correct herself, she noticed they were already pulling into Charlie's driveway. Bella gnawed her lip as she stared up at the small two-story house that held so many memories for her. Memories that weren't only hers.

"Thanks for the ride." She murmured as she started unbuckling her seatbelt.

"Anytime."

Silence again.

Neither made a move to leave or say anything else. The awkward tension in the car was palpable, and Bella fidgeted nervously.

Bella held Jasper's calm gaze, taking in every speck of gold in his irises that gradually turned a shade darker. Why was it suddenly so hard for her to step out of the car now? As if something was weighing her down to stay in her seat and never leave.

It's probably because she's terrified of going home and having to face Charlie's scrutinizing gaze and sleeping in a bed she'd once shared with Ed—him. Yeah, that's what it was.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow then?" She glanced at him again, noticing that Jasper was looking at her with gentle eyes again. Bella knew he'd promised to not leave her behind, but a small part of her dreaded the images that flashed through her mind.

Her, finding her way back to the Cullen's home and finding it empty. Not a person in sight. No Esme or Carlisle, no Emmett, and Alice to tease her or drag her around like a doll. No Jasper to soothe her agony and keep her company even when she doesn't want it. She was terrified that come tomorrow, none of them will be in school either. Their usual table barren—as if none of them ever existed.

The very thought made her feel all sorts of helpless.

Loneliness was definitely not her friend.

"You'll be there...right?"

Jasper was quick to silence her worries once again, "Tomorrow. I promised you, darlin'. I'll be there."

"Okay..." Bella nodded, taking the relief she felt if only to get her out of the car and into her bedroom before the despair kicked in again. She was about to close the car door when Jasper called out her name. She peered down to look into the window and found him sporting a breathtaking smile, "Believe it or not, I've always noticed you too."

And just like that, Jasper's words remained with her long after he drove away. They'd given her an odd sense of security that was ridiculous but...it meant something. She didn't know what exactly, but Bella suddenly yearned to hear him speak more kind words in his smooth drawl.

She didn't know how long she'd stood on the front porch of her house, staring at the black Volvo that disappeared into the winding roads—but the farther away he got, the more she felt the tendrils of loneliness seeping over her body. A shiver ran up her spine as she turned and stepped into her house. The soft click of the door echoed in the quiet hall.

"Dad?" No answer. Charlie still wasn't home. Bella didn't know if she should be relieved or disappointed.

Bella slipped her jacket off her shoulders, barely placing it on the hooks by the wall before walking further into the house. The silence was deafening, the sound of her footsteps creaking the hardwood floor made her skin flood with goosebumps.

You're all alone now.

Alone and nothing.

Despite Jasper's kind words or the reassurances Alice and Esme gave her before she left, Bella couldn't seem to grasp them as she numbly wandered up the stairs. Her steps were as slow as the heart beating in her chest. The house felt colder than usual, making her shiver. It was strange. While she felt sad at the loss of him, she also felt numb. So numb she barely felt anything at all now. Especially now that Jasper was gone too...

Stepping into her bedroom, Bella stood by her desk as she eyed the missing photographs on the bulletin board. Hadn't she put a picture up there? It felt as though something was missing. Bella knew there were things she needed to do. But what was it again? Homework maybe? Wash her truck...or call Renee?

It doesn't matter, Bella flinched when she thought she heard his voice beside her.

Sinking onto the bed, Bella curled onto her side and stared at the window that a certain bronze-haired boy used to climb in from to keep the loneliness from haunting her in her dreams. Every night, Edward had been there for her. Every damn night, he loved her and told her he wanted her—not physically but in every other way imaginable. A future she would spend with him and his family someday. A love that would last an eternity. Forever.

Edward hadn't just been her boyfriend. The word never quite seemed to fit what he was to her, not really. But, Edward Cullen had been so much more than that.

He'd been her first love.

Her savior.

Her friend.

All of which made coming to terms with what he'd done to her so much worse.

And that was a hard pill to swallow.

This time when the tears came, there was no one to wipe them away. No one to hold her. But Bella didn't want any of that. Not when she wanted answers to the betrayal and fear she felt. All of which had been inflicted by her first love who may or may not return...

By the time Charlie came home around three in the afternoon, Bella had slipped into a deep sleep, curled onto her side and she didn't get out of bed for the rest of the day.

The following morning went by in a blur. Bella barely recalled speaking to Charlie shortly after waking up. Her eyelids felt heavy as she forced a protein bar into her mouth to get some semblance of food in her stomach that felt queasy all morning.

Charlie stared at his daughter from the table, watching her with worried eyes as she absentmindedly sipped on her coffee, her free hand gripping the edge of the counter as she stared at nothing in particular.

"Bells?"

Bella slowly turned her head to stare at her father with what appeared to be a lifeless gaze, "Yes?"

Charlie cleared his throat, not liking what he was seeing at all. "Is everything okay? You seem...off today."

Bella looked away quickly, hoping he wouldn't see the ache in her eyes when she said, "E-Edward and I broke up."

"Oh." Charlie sounded genuinely surprised as he sat back in his chair. He rubbed the scruff on his chin with his hand, frowning. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." She was quick to shut that door in his face with an immediate response. Turning around, Bella quickly threw away the half-eaten protein bar and downed the rest of the lukewarm coffee in her mug. She wasted no time in reaching for her backpack that had been resting against the leg of the chair and picked it up. "I gotta go. Thanks for breakfast."

I didn't make breakfast; Charlie thought to himself as he eyed his daughter nervously. She was definitely not acting like her usual self but that was to be expected if the first boyfriend she's ever had broke up with her. Based on the detached way she was behaving, Charlie guessed it had been the Cullen boy who decided to break things off. Much to Charlie's disappointment. This time he was sure his daughter wouldn't object if he suddenly pulled up to the Cullen's home with his trusty shotgun.

Seeing her so down did not sit well with the man at all.

As she reached the front room, Charlie called out to her and stood up. Bella slowly turned and stared up at her father as he crossed the distance between them and pulled her into a tight hug.

Bella's eyes widened for a moment as she leaned into Charlie's chest, her hands hanging limply at her sides.

"I'm sorry, kiddo. I'm here for you if you need me. Whatever you need. Okay?" His understanding murmur made something ache in her chest all over again—breaking the dam she'd built to keep her tears at bay.

Bella's hands slowly closed around Charlie's flannel shirt as tears pricked the back of her eyes.

She didn't respond to him, not having the courage to speak when she felt so close to breaking down on his arms. Stepping back, she nodded and rushed out of the house—leaving Charlie at the entrance with a worried look etched across his gruff face.

Half an hour later, Bella found herself sitting in her truck after parking in her usual spot in the school parking lot. She hadn't realized she darted out of the house an hour before she was even supposed to be here and spent most of her time sitting in the silence of the cab. Subconsciously, Bella recalled that Emmett had installed a new system in her truck but the thought of using anything from that day made her stomach churn with memories of what followed after...

When it was finally time, Bella switched the ignition off, feeling she could shut her emotions off again. Unfortunately, her eyes stung after she'd allowed herself to cry on the drive over to the school and then some more while she waited.

What a wonderful way to pass the time...

God, she was tired. The nightmares last night had been bad, but by some miracle, Charlie hadn't been woken up by her pained yelp when she startled awake. Edward's harsh words and rough hands had plagued her, but she supposed she was lucky that James hadn't appeared in her dream. Seeing both of them standing side by side, lusting over her blood...

It was a picture she could never have imagined. It screwed with her head more than she would have liked, which only angered her. There were too many emotions overlapping inside, and it was driving her crazy. Bella barely got any sleep after that. Feeling as though she was running on autopilot, she closed her eyes. She leaned forward and rested her forehead against the steering wheel.

Get it together, Bella. You're okay.

The pain she felt between her thighs was barely noticeable now, and her lower lip was scabbed, barely noticeable after she applied a generous coat of foundation Alice had gifted her last Christmas. It was the first time she'd ever deemed to use the pixie's gift, but it came in handy—

A gentle knock on the driver's side window startled her, sending her heart ricocheting in her chest until a pair of golden eyes greeted her with amusement. Bella sighed, "Hey, Em." Emmett wasted little time opening the door once she started unbuckling her seatbelt.

"Mornin' Bells. You ready for another great day in hell?" Emmett grinned as he referred to their school as hell.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Was her answer.

Despite the exhaustion weighing down on her shoulders, Bella smiled at the burly young man. He always knew how to lighten the mood during the darkest of days. It was good to see him like this, especially today when all she wanted to do was go back home and sleep until the emptiness left behind in her chest faded away.

While she looked down to compose herself, not wanting to cry in front of him, she missed the way Emmett's amusement wilted slightly upon noticing the dark circles under her eyes but quickly masked his worry when she glanced up at him.

"Well, come on then!" After she didn't make any move to get out of the truck, Emmett slid his arms around her waist and practically dragged her out of the truck. Bella rolled her eyes as he set her down on the ground as though she were a child before reaching in for her backpack and shutting the door with a big smile plastered on his face. "The others are waiting!" He said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders before pulling her close to his side.

While the self-loathing voice in her head told her not to enjoy Emmett's presence, Bella found herself subconsciously leaning into his muscular chest when the urge to fall asleep for hours began to seep through her bones again.

Emmett noticed her steps slowing down and glanced down at her. "Hey, you know we got you, Bells. Right?" His hold on her shoulders tightened for a second, and he waited patiently until Bella's big brown eyes looked up at him questioningly. While he was sure the foundation she applied to her face would effectively fool the humans around them, it wouldn't distract him or any of the others so easily. The circles under her eyes had been the first thing he noticed. Then the cut on her lip which appeared a brighter shade of pink against her ashen skin. Under his large hand, the girl's bones felt brittle—glass that could be easily shattered. Emmett didn't like it at all, and he knew at that moment that if Edward ever deemed to return, he'd personally beat the crap out of him.

Bella's eyes flickered with emotion, and her brows pinched together. Her voice sounded so broken, "Emmett...I'm..."

Emmett granted her a small smile, "I know, little sister. It's okay. It's all going to be okay." Eventually.

Nodding, Emmett watched as the emotion in her eyes slowly washed away and was replaced with a recurring emptiness Emmett did not like seeing.

He led her across the parking lot where his Jeep was and towards the stairs where Jasper, Rosalie, and Alice waited. The Hales had grim looks on their faces—Jasper appearing more pissed than uncomfortable as he leaned against the brick wall. Rosalie, on the other hand, sported her usual look of indifference. Their intimidating presence effectively scared off all the students as they began rushing past them to get to their classes for the day. Alice, however, looked sympathetic and hopeful as she perked up the moment Bella's eyes locked on the pixie.

But when she locked gazes with Jasper, she felt herself come alive again, and as the day went by, it gradually became easier to breathe. To feel.

Because he hadn't lied to her.

Jasper was here.

He was here every step of the way.

Chapter Text

"Hey, Arizona!" The sound of Mike Newton's scratchy voice carrying throughout the hall was quite possibly the equivalent of nails being dragged across a chalkboard.

Jasper stifled the urge to roll his eyes as the blonde-haired boy ran up to Bella, who looked as though she was ready for the earth to swallow her up whole.

The morning spent in Forks High School transitioned into the early afternoon, and Jasper couldn't help but keep a close watch over Bella's emotions the entire time. Feeling her sadness and anxiety stumbling over one another as the day dragged on. While it was unpleasant, Jasper knew her emotions weren't anything to be alarmed about—not yet anyway—since it was the first day back without Edward by her side. He'd heard the gossiping duo, Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory, making comments about Edward's absence in first period and naturally jumped at the opportunity to ask Bella about it. That was when the maelstrom of sadness and confusion began to dance around her until Jasper interfered and gently tampered them down until he no longer felt Bella's need to run away overpower her.

He did his best to focus on his classes until fourth period ended, already listening for Bella's delicate heartbeat or her sweet scent to find her before Jessica or Lauren decided to ambush her as luck would have it. Neither would be stopping Bella in the hall. Instead, it was another nuisance entirely.

Okay, calling the kid a nuisance was unnecessary. Jasper grimaced, chastising himself for feeling...what was it that he felt? Annoyance, sure. Indifference, most definitely. Protective as all hell? No denying that. But there was this odd sensation swirling inside him that he couldn't pinpoint. It felt almost acidic, the feeling radiating through his chest, holding the same weight as the venom that pooled in his mouth whenever he craved blood. Jealousy... that's what it was. Jasper knew the source of his unexpected emotions sprouted the moment Mike decided to go after Bella the first chance he got. Mike was a boy with a very little backbone, not one to stir trouble by trying to make a move on Bella so feeling even an ounce of jealousy was ridiculous. That doesn't mean I like him going near her though...

Jasper had started searching for her in the crowd of students that flooded the cafeteria, but as he made to approach her, Mike seemed to jump at the chance to talk to the girl. Bella turned to face Mike, attempting to hide the apparent grimace on her face as she greeted him, "Hey..."

Mike didn't seem to notice her standoffish mood at all as he continued rambling. Getting a little too close to Jasper's liking. "How's the weather treating ya?" This time, Jasper rolled his eyes as he slowly made his way into the cafeteria. He could hear Emmett's amused chuckle, having listened to Mike's awkward attempt to carry a conversation too from the table. Jasper decided to let the teenagers be, not wanting to crowd Bella with his presence either, and made his way to where his siblings were all sitting.

Bella shrugged, muttering an answer.

"Where's Cullen? Normally he's following you like a puppy." Mike chuckled.

Jasper stiffened, looking over his shoulder just in time to notice the way Bella flinched at the mention of Edward. His golden eyes darkened when he sensed Mike's amusement and hope, "Oh...did you guys fight or something? Trouble in paradise?"

Yes, Mike. You could say that.

Bella's heart was pounding in her chest now, and without realizing it, Jasper made his way over to the two who got in line for their trays.

Bella's ashen face seemed to go paler as she stared at Mike for a beat too long, her lips opening and closing as she struggled to form a sentence. To say—

"Bella. There you are." The two humans turned and looked at Jasper as he walked up to Bella. His smile was warm and meant solely for her as he placed his hand on the small of her back, "Everyone's sitting at the table. Are you getting food?"

There was no mistaking the relief that crashed into him then as Bella looked up and granted the empath a small smile, "Yes I am. Are you waiting in line too?"

It was impossible to ignore the pleading look she gave him as her brows furrowed.

Jasper grinned, "Yeah, I am. Hey, Mike." When his amber eyes flashed to meet Mike's, he instantly felt satisfaction when the boy's apprehension made its way over to him, never quite having the opportunity to meet one of the Hale twins in person. Good, he should be afraid of him.

"Yeah...hey, man." That was all Mike said to the most intimidating member of the Cullens who stood close to Bella. His intent was clear that he was here to stay beside her for the rest of their time during lunch. When Bella and Jasper finished filling their trays, they made their way over to the round table where Emmett and the rest were. Well all except for one which Jasper was sure they were all grateful for at the moment.

"Thanks for that. I don't know how I was going to get through another second of that conversation," Bella murmured as they made their way towards the Cullen's table.

Jasper grinned, "I'm at your service."

Emmett beamed the moment he saw Bella approach and grinned at her, "Finally! Took you long enough. I always forget how slow humans are."

Bella rolled her eyes in response. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but they all heard it, "Sorry, next time I'll make sure you run everyone down so I can get my food faster."

"Smartass," Emmett chucked one of his fries in her direction as she sat down next to Jasper. She narrowly avoided the soggy, sorry excuse for a French fry by leaning close to Jasper's shoulder. Jasper shook his head at his brother as he let out a chuckle.

Alice scooted closer to Bella, taking the other open seat at their table. The girl stiffened when the pixie zeroed in on her face and proceeded to frown, "You look tired."

"Thanks." She answered dryly, making Emmett chuckle. Alice rolled her eyes, ignoring the light dusting of pink on Bella's cheeks that invaded her face because she was the center of attention again.

"There are big blue bags under your eyes. You're going to have to use the facial mask I gave you, and I'll drop some deep moisturizing cream off at your place tonight. After that, you'll be as good as new!"

Bella rolled her eyes but made no move to protest, which was...odd considering she always fought any of the Cullens on the gifts they gave her.

Jasper looked at her; the worry etched across his chiseled face as he leaned towards her without meaning to and knew it was the whole mating bond that he could no longer ignore. It was as though she was a magnet, pulling him closer and closer and Jasper didn't mind it one bit.

Bella turned her head when she noticed he was watching her closely, and the blush on her face could not be missed. When he spoke, his voice was smooth and sweet like honey.

"Are you not sleeping well?"

"I'm okay..."

"Did you have another nightmare?" Bella stiffened, clearly surprised he'd guessed right. She nodded with yet another blush on her cheeks that perplexed him greatly.

Jasper didn't know why he did it since it wasn't even in the forefront of his mind but his hand reached towards the hand on her lap and gave it a comforting squeeze. Bella's eyes never left his, her deep brown irises melting with gratitude and something akin to affection. For him? Bella squeezed his hand in return but didn't say anything. Jasper smiled, knowing she didn't need to when it was clear what Bella felt and it was more than enough for him to understand her.

The sound of a throat being cleared made Jasper sigh as he and Bella broke out of whatever trance they'd been in just now.

Across the table from them, Rosalie's long fingers picked apart the crust of the cold slice of pizza on her tray as she glanced up at Bella—making the latter stiffen when she noticed the beautiful blonde was practically glaring at her.

"You could talk to Carlisle about it. Maybe he'll give you something. Unless you're against taking sleeping medication." Rosalie sighed with a tone of boredom in her voice, but Jasper wasn't easily fooled.

The empath could feel his sister's worry for the girl. But, no matter how uncharacteristic it was of Rosalie who normally detested seeing Bella near her—it was a welcome change, especially now that Bella needed support more than ever. It seemed as though Rosalie understood that too, much to Jasper's relief.

"I'm okay, but thanks." Bella shrugged with a small awkward smile on her lips that did little to convince Jasper, but he let it go, knowing pressuring her into telling him what's keeping her awake at night will only result in Bella pushing him away. So he did the only thing he could do, nod and move on no matter how difficult it was to ignore the feelings that started to awaken inside him. Feelings that were meant for his mate.

Bella hated her gym class—it was a deep-rooted passion type of hate.

She'd known ever since she was a kid that she couldn't participate in sports the same way the rest of her classmates did, at least not without tripping over her own feet and taking someone else down with her. However, watching Lauren Mallory toss ball after ball at the opposing team for their weekly session of dodgeball made Bella less excited to participate.

Currently, she was rubbing the side of her arm after receiving a significantly hard ball thrown her way.

"Oops! Sorry," Jessica giggled across the room when she realized she'd hit her mark. Bella grimaced, knowing she wasn't sorry at all. Yet another person she thought had been her friend proving they were anything but...

Did you really think you were that important?

Bella flinched as she narrowly dodged another ball whirring past her shoulder. She heard Mike curse under his breath when he got a ball to the stomach, but he and the rest of the team laughed. Bella couldn't laugh. Not when she heard Edward's cold cadence caressing her skin, felt his rough hands on her bare arms.

Please...stop. She begged her mind to let her focus on dodging the balls that seemed to gravitate towards her, each one either skimming her arms and legs or missing her altogether. When Coach Clapp called the next team over after Bella's team lost miserably, she hurried to the bleachers on wobbly legs.

Something was wrong, her body felt shaky, and her heart pounded in her chest harder than it had when she ran around the basketball court. Bella shut her eyes, clasping her hands together to stop them from trembling so much.

"God, did anyone tell you, you suck?" Lauren sneered as she walked past Bella with a group of girls who giggled their agreement, getting ready for another round against the next group of players.

You were just a means to an end.

Bella clenched her teeth, willing the memory of him away. He didn't have to repeat those words to her. She knew it was true. All of it was...

Something to pass the time until I grew bored.

It was true—

Smack!

The sound of gasps echoed in the room, and the squeaking of tennis shoes running around came to a screeching halt as all eyes suddenly focused on Bella.

Bella blinked, confused as she looked to a mortified Mike who ran over to her, "Oh my god, are you okay?"

A pressure bloomed across her face then, a warmth swimming over her lips to her nose. Bella barely felt anything, too lost in what would have surely been a panic attack when all she could think about was Edward and his cold hands touching her.

"Okay?" Her voice sounded so hollow when she mirrored Mike's words.

Mike grimaced as Coach Clapp ran over to Bella and kneeled in front of her, "You're bleeding, Bella. Are you okay?"

Bleeding?

Then a trickle of something warm ran down her bottom lip. Bella's fingers gingerly reached up and felt that there was indeed a wet sticky substance coating the tips of them. Pulling her hand back Bella instantly felt light-headed the moment she saw her index and middle fingers painted bright red. And then in the corner of her eye, she saw a bright red ball rolling to a stop at her feet.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry, Bella! I didn't mean to but you were just sitting there!" Lauren called with an air of lament though the way she tried to stifle her laugh behind her hand told Bella she was full of it.

"Shit, you might have broken your nose." Mike hissed and it seemed anytime the blonde kid said anything to her, Bella felt exactly what he was saying to her soon after.

Her whole face hurt—burned actually—and her nose throbbed as more blood ran down her nostrils.

"God." She choked the word out, forcing herself to stand up as Coach Clapp began reprimanding Lauren and the rest of the class. Mike called out to her, to help her go to the nurse's office but Bella didn't listen to him. She practically ran out of the gym, forgetting all about her backpack and clothes as she slammed into the double doors and stumbled into the walkway. She kept a shaky hand on her nose but it was no use when more blood slipped past her fingers. Tears sprang in her eyes as she made her way to the main building, knowing she needed to get somewhere before one of the Cullens smelled her blood and lost it completely. If Jasper caught a whiff of her blood again...she didn't want to think about what it would do to him. She'd already caused enough trouble because of her stupid blood.

Bella was rounding the main building right as a strong hand caught her arm, stopping her before she could trip over her own feet again. Bella looked up and found Emmett and Alice standing against the wall of the building by the entrance, both with strained looks on their faces.

"Oh Bella, I'm sorry I didn't see it coming." Alice apologized, clearly holding her breath as her chest barely moved.

Bella shook her head, keeping her hand pressed against her nose, "You shouldn't...there's a lot of blood."

Emmett grimaced as he wrapped his arms around Bella's shoulders to steady her, "We're fine, kid. Let's go to the nurse's office, hm?"

"I'm sorry, I was trying to get here without any of you..." Bella choked on a sob as she let Emmett lead her into the building. He shushed her apologies with a tender squeeze of her arm, "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to us, Bella. It's okay. It's not your fault you got hurt. Besides we're family, we're supposed to be here for you." Emmett said, the strain in his words clear though she didn't know why he sounded that way. It was so rare when Emmett was serious around her.

"We're here for you," Alice said to her right, rubbing her back affectionately. "And we're not going anywhere so you can stop thinking that now. I know you have been, don't try to deny it."

When the tears rolled down her face, the nurse Bella knew as Julia Hammond, quickly assumed Bella had broken her nose. The woman didn't know that the tears were for a whole other reason.

No matter how much she insisted Emmett and Alice go back to class so that they could be as far away from her blood as possible, the two merely shook their heads and stayed with her.

"Well it's not broken, but I would recommend seeing a doctor so he can scan your nose and make sure there's no fracture or ruptured vessel," Nurse Hammond said as she patted Bella's shoulder.

"Oh, she'll go to the doctor, alright," Emmett murmured with a knowing smirk on his lips that made Bella roll her eyes. Of course, they were going to drag her to Carlisle as soon as this was over with so that yet another Cullen could fret over her.

As last period began, Emmett and Alice had no choice but to excuse themselves when Nurse Hammond wouldn't stop pestering them to return to class. She'd been kind enough to let Bella stay, however, commenting on knowing how embarrassed it would make Bella feel if she had to walk around school with an icepack on her nose the entire time.

It wasn't long before Rosalie appeared in the doorway, though with Bella's backpack and jacket in her hands. The scowl on the blonde vampire's face instantly made Bella straighten, surprised to see the one Cullen she would never have expected to show up with her belongings. Before she could open her mouth to apologize for inconveniencing Rosalie, knowing she must be cursing the human ten ways to Sunday, Rosalie walked into the room and placed her backpack on the bed, "Here's your stuff. Your clothes are in there too."

"T-thanks, Rosalie."

Rosalie's eyes darkened as she noticed Bella's swollen nose and the bloody icepack in her hand. She glanced to Nurse Hammond, who was typing away on her computer at the desk, before turning her attention back to Bella. When Rosalie spoke, it was low and quick, but it made Bella's heart skip, "Lauren won't be bothering you again."

Bella nearly dropped the icepack, "What? Did you..."

Rosalie grinned, knowing exactly where the girl's mind went to as she seemed to pale, "I don't make it a point to snack on irritating teenagers, don't worry, she's still in one piece. Well, her narcissism isn't, but that's for the best. I had a talk with her after class."

Oh...Bella couldn't find the words to speak. Too taken back and emotional to think about what this meant when Rosalie, of all people, defended her against Lauren Mallory.

"Hurry up and get dressed. You're coming over to our place so Carlisle can take a look at that. Oh, and Jasper's driving you." Bella didn't miss the way Rosalie rolled her eyes at that last part, but she could have sworn she saw the blonde's full lips quirk up slightly as though Rosalie was more amused than she let on.

Chapter Text

The ride to the Cullen's home had been especially stressful this time around since Jasper barely spoke a word to her after checking in on her the moment his class ended.

"Are you alright, darlin'?" Had been all he asked as Jasper helped her get into the truck on the passenger side, clearly unhappy with the way the day unfolded.

Bella didn't know how or when but Jasper had taken her keys and started the engine before she could blink. When she tried to apologize to him for the trouble, however, the empath had none of it.

By the time they were finally on the road on their way to his house, Jasper explained, "I wanted to go to you the moment I felt your emotions. I knew something had happened and I was about to walk out of class when Alice told me what happened. Told me about the blood."

Bella bit her lip and immediately regretted it since her split lip had reopened sometime when she received the ball to the face, courtesy of Lauren Mallory, "I didn't want any of you to be bothered by it."

"I know. That's what Alice said you'd say. It's why I let her convince me to wait until the nurse checked you up."

"I'm glad you waited...it wouldn't have been fair to you to sit through that. I'm surprised Emmett and Alice did."

"That wasn't why I stayed away, Bella." He said, surprising her. His hands began closing over the steering wheel in a tight grip, his knuckles turning white, "I stayed away because I didn't want to lose it the moment I saw you and went after that...girl for hurting you."

Bella's heart swelled as she felt the undeniable protectiveness Jasper shared her way—what he had felt for her in this moment.

"It was an accident," Bella murmured in an attempt to make him overlook this as nothing more than what it was.

Jasper scoffed, flashing his narrowed black eyes her way, "We both know what Lauren did wasn't an accident."

"It's not like she'll be a problem anymore. Rosalie apparently talked to her..."

"Yeah, now that I was there to witness." Jasper gave her a mirthless grin that sent nerves coiling in her stomach. Sensing her concern, not for Lauren, but for the Cullens getting involved with other humans Jasper shook his head, "Rose didn't hurt her or threaten to suck the life out of her, don't you worry about that."

"So what did happen?" There was no denying Bella was more than a little curious now.

Jasper seemed to mull over what he would say to her but as he contemplated it, they were pulling into the long narrowed driveway that led to the Cullen's three-story glass house nestled deep in the forest.

Her conversation with Jasper had been forgotten when she saw the angry look on Carlisle's face the moment they walked into the house and he saw Bella's swollen nose. Seeing the kindest member of the family upset made the girl want to turn on her heel and run out of the house. If it hadn't been for Jasper's arm wrapped around her shoulders, that was exactly what she would have done.

Now, as Bella followed Carlisle into his office with Jasper beside her, she had no choice but to sit still and face the music. Carlisle inspected her nose carefully. Her face was three shades of pink as he prodded her nose and lips with his cold hands as he took to disinfect the cuts. This is so embarrassing.

When Bella winced he sighed, "I'm sorry, Bella. I'm trying to be as gentle as I can."

"It's okay." She shook her head as Jasper grimaced from his seat on the couch across from her when Carlisle wiped away the dried blood with a cotton swab.

Carlisle tutted his disapproval, "The blood was most likely coming from a cut inside but it looks like it's stopped bleeding now. But I want to do a quick examination to make sure I don't miss anything in case something is broken." Once he confirmed Bella hadn't broke any of the delicate bones in her nose, he moved onto checking her lip, "Do you want to talk about what happened today?"

"Not really..." she instantly felt bad for her curt answer, seeing the sadness in Carlisle's eyes shining in hers almost instantly. He cares about you, he's not trying to judge or belittle you. If anything Carlisle is always kind and supportive of Bella, no matter how messed up things have gotten in the past few days. Bella relaxed her tense shoulders a bit and took a deep breath, "Lauren Mallory doesn't like me very much."

Jasper's scoff made both of them look to the empath who muttered, "Understatement of the year."

"Why not? You're a wonderful friend." The pure confusion expressed in Carlisle's tone made her want to smile.

"She thinks I'm a stupid klutz who'll never be anything more than the dirt underneath her shoe." Bella shrugged clearly resigned to accept that Lauren and Jessica would never have become her friends—no matter how much they'd insisted when she first moved to Forks. "She also hates that I'm around you guys which isn't surprising since I'm...me."

A low growl seemed to rumble through Carlisle's chest as he placed a butterfly bandaid over her split lip. Jasper shook his head, his unspoken words clear in his frown. Bella didn't read into it too much.

"You're a part of our family because you're you, Isabella. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If that girl is too jealous, too bitter to see all that's wonderful about you, then she is the one who isn't worth being the dirt under your shoe."

Bella was stunned. She'd never heard Carlisle insinuate that someone was unworthy or less than anyone in their family. She honestly couldn't think of one instance where Carlisle had been truly enraged or frightening.

Rosalie and Jasper? Well they were intimidating in their own right with their cold glares and feral instincts to attack their enemies. Emmett was also frightening with his towering stature and bulging muscles as soon as he laughed however, it was a whole other story.

Edward had been frightening but only that day in the forest when—no, best not to think of it now.

Apart from them however, Esme, Carlisle and Alice had been the only ones in the family who seemed...human. Too good and mundane to ever frighten Bella.

The ferocity shining in Carlisle's eyes awakened an ache in her chest and she instantly felt guilty for being the cause of all this turmoil.

"I'm sorry," she swallowed down the tears in her throat, "This has been too much."

Carlisle curled his hand under her chin, "No sweetheart."

He sighed with a tender smile on his lips. Gone was his anger—replaced with empathy that she couldn't bring herself to look at for too long out of fear of breaking down completely in front of him.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Bella frowned as she motioned to her bruised nose, "You know what happened."

Jasper remained silent the entire time but the guilt she'd felt in her belly was lessening significantly with his help. She bit her lip as she glanced at him before Carlisle's shook his head, "Try to avoid doing that okay? It'll never heal properly if your lip keeps splitting open." She listened to his request and made the effort to stop that bad habit of hers. When Carlisle spoke again, in a gentle whisper, she stiffened, "I meant did you want to talk about what happened with Edward?"

Bella gradually felt herself slipping back into that numb state again—her mind and heart at war inside her body.

Carlisle and Jasper noticed it too, shooting each other quick meaningful glances.

Balla's shoulders slumped forward as she stared at the beautifully embroidered carpet laying on top of the hardwood floor.

"I should have listened," She murmured, her voice hoarse with the tears that sprang up again, "he didn't want me anymore. It was clear as day. I was...a means to an end. And yet, I couldn't let him go. I thought..." she swallowed thickly. Her palms pressed into her eyes but it was no use, the tears slipped past them in hot wet streaks over her cheeks. "I thought that maybe he could still love me if I fought harder. And then he changed so quickly right in front of me. Like a switch."

Bella dropped her hands, felt his fingers ghost over her skin again. His knee pressing into her thighs. His tongue pushing past her lips in a forceful kiss.

"If I hadn't pushed him maybe he would have just walked away and I wouldn't be left with this memory of him."

Carlisle kneeled in front of her, his hands resting on her knees with an unspoken affection for the girl he saw as his daughter. His attentiveness to her need for comfort made Bella ache countless times when she thought of all the times Charlie and Renee hadn't shown her an ounce of love when she needed it the most.

Carlisle's voice was low when he spoke, "There is nothing wrong with fighting for something you believe is right, Bella. You fought more than Edward did and he should have known better than to hurt you the way that he did. That is not on you, sweetheart."

Jasper stood and slowly came to her side, his large hand rubbing soothing circles on her back. She shuddered as she rested into his cold touch without thinking twice.

"No one had ever touched me that way before, not even him. It wasn't gentle or exciting like all the girls in school describe it. It hurt and when I asked him to stop...he didn't at first." Carlisle winced at the same time Jasper's lips curled into a silent snarl of disgust. Not towards her but at Edward. "I can't get it out of my head. Which is stupid because he didn't...take it too far—"

"He still touched you without your consent, Bella. Even if he'd hadn't taken it too far, he still hurt you in the worst way a person could be hurt. Edward betrayed your trust the moment he acted on his impulses." Carlisle said as he stood, pulling her to his chest into a tight hug that made her feel completely safe in a matter of seconds. Bella's hands wrapped around his back and held onto him.

More tears rolled down her cheeks but this time a cold hand wiped them away. Bella tilted her head up to see Jasper beside her—a heartbreakingly mournful expression on his beautiful face.

"I can't tell you how sorry we all are that you experienced something so horrific by the hands of one of our own." Carlisle said as he finally released her. "I'm so sorry, Bella."

"Worst things have happened..."

"That's true but it doesn't change the fact that this was something horrific for you. This hurt you. Yes there have been many terrible things that happened to women and men in the world but your pain is your own. No one has a right to diminish it."

"What if I'm broken now? I've never felt this way before, Carlisle." Bella admitted. "I think I let him break me but maybe I was always like this. Before him, I was alone. I never felt happy or loved with Renee. He let me feel those things, brought me to all of you too."

Carlisle shifted closer to her, a deep sadness invading his golden eyes.

"I thought that maybe he would love me, even though I'm...nothing." Bella's eyes shut in defeat as she breathed the last words.

Carlisle's hand cupped her face and when she looked into his eyes, she saw an urgency on his face, "No. No sweetheart, you're not nothing. Not to the people who love you. Not to us."

Bella sniffled and allowed herself to be pulled into another hug by the man who was like a second father to her.

She wanted to believe in those words.

Jasper clenched his jaw as he stepped into the living room where Esme and Rosalie sat on the stools by the island. The two women watched him with assessing eyes as he plucked a glass out of the cabinet and filled it with water. When he turned he sighed, feeling their curiosity radiating off both of them. Esme more than Rosalie however the latter was emoting something dark and distant—the taste of hatred searing his mind.

He'd know about Rosalie's past—she'd told him of the men, the monsters, that hurt her one night when the memory of her past began to torment him and he finally asked. It hadn't been an easy conversation. How could it ever be? While it had been so long since Rosalie breathed her last human breath, Jasper feared that a part of her would always remain there. Just as a part of his human life—the dark, hateful part he wish he'd buried during the war—would always remain inside him.

After that, Jasper sincerely wished Rosalie's attackers had been alive today so that he could end their sorry existences but the knowledge that his sister got her revenge in the end relieved him to know her tormentors hadn't gotten away without suffering agonizing deaths.

If anyone knew what Bella was feeling now it would definitely be Esme and Rosalie. They could help her greatly through their empathy and understanding.

Jasper had felt his mate's self-deprecating feelings she experienced towards herself. As though she were blaming herself for what Edward had done.

She did blame herself.

"How can I help her get past this?" He finally asked in a low murmur.

Esme straightened, hearing the unmistakable resignation in her son's voice.

It was Rosalie, however, who spoke, "You do what you've always done, Jazz." He looked up—golden eyes meeting as an unspoken message connected the two. Rosalie's lips quirked slightly, "You stay by her side, even when she doesn't want you to. Even when the shame of being in her own skin becomes overwhelming and all she wants is to rot in her own self-loathing. Be there for her. Don't let her go." Because Emmett didn't let you go. He never gave up on you...

Esme seemed to agree as she granted him a tender smile with saddened eyes, "Go to her."

And he did. Excusing himself from the kitchen, Jasper sent our a heavy dose of appreciation and love for his mother and sister which they returned right away. It made him smile as he made his way back upstairs to see his mate once again.

Once Carlisle finished patching Bella's nose up, the girl was instantly embarrassed when she looked in the mirror on the wall of Carlisle's study.

"God I look like something out of a horror movie." She flushed, placing her hands over her face to hide the bandaids on her nose.

Jasper chuckled as he pushed off the door frame and walked over to her, "You look like you got into a fight, a pretty rough one at that. I'm sure Charlie won't be too happy."

"Don't remind me! Telling him is going to be a nightmare." She groaned.

"Darlin'," Jasper sighed as he took her hands in his and pulled them away from her face. He couldn't ignore the sound of her beating heart going just a little faster the moment he touched her. Nor could he ignore the electrifying sensation coursing through his hands to his own dead heart as his entire existence responded to Bella. His long fingers brushed back a strand of hair, "It'll be alright. I'll take you home and we'll both explain what happened. If that's what you want, I don't want to overstep here but maybe having someone by your side could make things easier?"

Bella hesitated for a moment before saying timidly, "It doesn't...bother you? The blood? Being around me after—"

"Stop."

She glanced up at him. Jasper's soft eyes were molten with anger now, not towards her but towards Edward for ruining this girl so badly that she doubted everything and everyone around her. Edward made her this docile, scared puppet and Jasper wanted to do everything in his power to make her realize she was anything but that. He could feel it—deep down he could feel her strength and kindness. Feel the way she felt every time she was with his family—the unconditional love and the desperate need to feel loved.

Jasper cupped the side of her face, his thumb brushing over the warm flesh that grew a shade pinker. He could hear her breath catching as he murmured gently, "Please stop. I want to do this for you. I won't lie to you and say that being around blood isn't difficult for me. It still is sometimes but not when it comes to you. Not after everything."

"Why are you so nice to me? I don't deserve it..."

"Because I care for you and you do deserve it, Bella. You deserved so much more than what was offered to you." She flinched but he continued, "You deserve a friend who will care for you."

Bella licked her lips and he did everything in his power not to look at them, never breaking away from her warm eyes.

"So we're friends then?" She sounded surprised—hopeful. It made him smile.

"Yes, darlin'. I'm afraid so. You're stuck with me."

The raw relief that shot towards him nearly took Jasper's breath away as he watched Bella's shoulders relax—a small smile slowly making its way over her full lips as she gazed up at him.

"I'm glad that you're my friend." She meant it. It was a shock to know that the same girl who'd once been intimidated by him, who had thought he wanted to hurt her because of a small drop of spilled blood—would want to be his friend. "Jasper?"

"Yes, Bella?"

"Can you...hug me?"

Jasper nodded, "Come here." Once again feeling her sadness beginning to overlap the small sliver of hope she might have felt seconds ago. His hand slid off her cheek and cupped the nape of her neck, pulling her closer to him until she leaned into his touch. They stood next to each other, holding onto one another as if their very lives depended on it.

"Thank you for being here," she murmured. The scent of her tears filled his senses and he wrapped his arms a little tighter around her until his chin rested on her shoulder.

His breath caressed the sensitive skin behind her neck, making her shudder against him as he said, "Always."

Chapter Text

Telling Charlie about Bella's fateful day only made everything ten times worse. The man was still pacing the living room, ranting about the inconsiderate way the school went about their no-bullying tolerance—utter bullshit. Not to mention the way Lauren Mallory targeted Bella, specifically the entire class period—according to Jasper. Traitor.

"You bet your ass I'll be having a word with her parents!" Charlie huffed, cheeks ten shades of red and a whole lot of angry.

Bella couldn't bring herself to care, not when she sat on the couch with a patient Jasper sitting next to her. He had an oddly amused look on his face. His lips were slightly quirked up but didn't quite make a smile as Charlie was anything but thrilled at the moment.

God, my head hurts. She sighed as Charlie continued muttering words that only seemed to fuel Jasper's amusement. She sunk further into the couch and rested the back of her head against the cushion, staring up at the ceiling blankly. It didn't go unnoticed by Jasper, and soon a wave of comfort spread across her chest, warming her heart. Pulling her out of the thoughts she was bound to have—about him.

"Tomorrow, we're going straight to the principals' office and demanding that girl gets suspended!"

Bella pinched the bridge of her nose, "Dad, I really don't think there's a point to it. Can we just forget this happened? Please?" As much as she wanted to see Lauren crash and burn due to her own malice, she also couldn't see a reason to fight any of this at all. There's no point in fighting. She was tired of fighting.

Look where it's gotten you. His voice seemed to say, snide remarks filling her mind.

All she wanted to do was go to her room, curl up under the blankets until she could no longer hear his voice in her thoughts.

Feeling her apprehension, Jasper placed his hand on her shoulder in silent comfort as he said to Charlie, "I believe Coach Clapp reported the incident today as soon as class was over. My sister overheard the conversation while she was waiting for her next class to start," Charlie's tense shoulders seemed to relax despite the permanent frown on his face. Jasper smiled, "It might be possible Mallory won't be in class tomorrow."

Which means one of the Cullens made sure of it.

Bella wondered if Rosalie had something to do with that after talking with Mallory. A conversation Bella was getting more curious about by the minute.

"Well, that's good," Charlie huffed, taking a seat on the recliner. His brown eyes glanced between Jasper and Bella, "So uh, you two are friends now? Can't say I remember your name very well, son. Sorry."

Jasper shook his apology away with a smile, "There are a lot of us in our family, sir. It can be hard for people to keep up. Sometimes, I even have a hard time." He chuckled and for a moment, Bella realized she liked hearing the sound of his rare laugh. It was smooth and warm like honey. Okay, you're being a creep, Swan. Jasper glanced down for a second, sensing the tinge of embarrassment she was emitting before looking back to Charlie, not wanting to make her feel more embarrassed than she was. "My name is Jasper."

Charlie nodded, clearly not having any idea who the Cullen was up until now. Jasper was kind enough to play along. Bella sighed, "Jasper gave me a lift. I don't think either of us wanted to see how me trying to drive with a broken nose would turn out. Knowing me, I'd probably bleed out before getting home." Her dry humor wasn't appreciated by either of the men as they grimaced at the image of Bella crashing on the side of the road somewhere, bleeding out. She tapped her fingers against her knee impatiently as she glanced at Jasper, "Would you like to stay for dinner? As a thank you for driving me home?"

"Thanks, Bella. But I should head home soon. My brother's coming to pick me up any minute now so we can go have dinner with our parents." Jasper smiled again. The warmth in his eyes told her he was clearly amused at her attempt to make him seem more human in front of Charlie. As he stood up, Jasper quickly shook Charlie's hand and released it before he could notice how cold his skin was, "It was nice meeting you, sir."

"Likewise, Jasper. Thanks for watching over my Bells."

"Anytime." Jasper glanced at Bella when he said that word. The unspoken meaning behind it reached her, and there was no mistaking why he was saying it. Anytime you need me. I'm here.

"I'll walk you out." Bella's face felt hot as she stood up and led him down the hall to the front door. She didn't know why she responded the way that she did when it gradually became harder and harder to ignore the way her heart stuttered around in her chest. She'd always been a shy person, easily flustered by unwanted attention. But this reaction towards Jasper was unexpected. While she was always wary around him, feeling he never wanted to be near her in the first place, Bella was never flustered whenever Jasper did pay any attention to her in the past.

I'm just reading too much into it.

"Thanks for helping me back there. I owe you one...more than one I think." She murmured as they wandered out onto the front porch. There was a light drizzle of rain outside, the green of the forest around them seemed brighter than before as the drops landed on the lawn and leaves on the branches of the trees rustled with the light breeze.

"Not a problem, darlin'. It's what I'm here for," Jasper pulled the hood of his jacket over his head before stepping off the porch. When he turned he had a breathtaking smile, "You can use me anytime."

Bella shook her head, biting her lip nervously, "You're more than that, Jasper."

Jasper's eyes widened slightly, clearly hearing her words at the same time she registered what she'd just said.

"I-I mean, you're my friend and great c-company so..." Ugh, why are you so awkward?! Get a grip, Bella! In an attempt to rectify this mess of a conversation she said, "I like being with you, Jasper."

If Jasper was at all flustered by her words the same way Bella was, he didn't show it at all as his stance relaxed slightly and he cocked his head to the side quizzically. The smile he gave her would have had any of the girls at school melting. But not Bella. Not when he was Ed-his brother and Alice's boyfriend. Alice...oh god. How could she be so stupid?

"Alice is probably wondering where you are," she blurted out, hugging her sides as an entirely new thought crossed her mind, "tell her sorry for keeping you from her all day..."

A crease formed between Jasper's brows as he assessed her warring emotions. Embarrassment and shame being the strongest of them all. And then Jasper's lips parted slightly as it dawned on him. "Ah. I see." He breathed out, slowly walking up the steps and stopping just a few below so Bella could look him straight in the eyes. When he spoke, his voice was gentle and sincere, "Bella you don't know, do you?"

She stiffened as he slowly lifted his hand up to brush back one of the strands of hair that fell out of her ponytail tucking it behind her ear. When his cold fingers grazed the curve of her ear, she shuddered. Maybe it was because of the rain...or the fact that she felt an unmistakable current shoot through her the moment their skin came into contact. Definitely the rain...

"Know what?" She asked, averting her gaze as she felt her face warm again.

"He never told you. Of course, he didn't..." Jasper muttered under his breath with the shake of his head, more to himself than to her.

"Told me what? Jasper, what didn't Ed–" Bella winced, stopping herself before his name could slip out of her mouth. "What did he not tell me?"

Jasper shook his head as if at war with his own thoughts before finally speaking, "Alice and I were never together. Not for a very long time anyway and even then it wasn't anything more than a partnership, two souls trying to keep each other company in this long life of ours. And we were definitely never married."

What? That's...

"He said you two were mates–"

"I'm sure it was convenient for him to say that, but no we aren't mates I can assure you." Jasper snapped, running a hand over his face out of sheer frustration.

Bella couldn't understand why he felt that way. However, if Edward had been lying to Bella about how he felt about her all this time, then it shouldn't be much of a surprise that he was lying about anyone else amongst his family. Even so, there was a blooming feeling in her chest she couldn't quite pinpoint taking shape the moment Jasper told her the truth. The fact that he and Alice weren't together. They weren't married. They aren't mates. And she could see the bitterness laced in his amber eyes caused by Edward's lie of omission.

"I'm sorry, Jasper." She whispered.

"Why on earth would you feel the need to apologize?" Jasper questioned. This time he walked up the steps until his tall frame towered over her, his entire presence intoxicating as it was comforting in a way that only Jasper seemed to make her feel. His hand took hers and squeezed it gently, "You did nothing wrong, Bella. None of this has ever been your fault despite what you may think."

"I don't know why I felt the need to apologize," She let out a breathless chuckle. She really didn't, it just came naturally to her all the time. To apologize for being stupid, for being inferior, for getting hurt. She bit her lip again, feeling the pressure building in her eyes as tears once again began to blur her vision, "The more I find out about him, the more it seems like all he's done lately is lie. I was so stupid, so lost in him that I didn't see it. How could I not see it? And he hurt all of you, in some way too, right?"

Jasper's gaze softened, "No, you're not stupid, darlin'. None of us saw it, Bella. Not even Carlisle who cared for Edward more than anything in the world and knew him the best. Of course it hurts, he's my brother but," he stepped onto the porch and cupped her face as he stared into her eyes, "it'll get better over time. And we're together now, so we'll help each other out. Hm?"

She nodded but couldn't hide the tear that slipped down her cheek, landing on his thumb before Jasper wiped it away. Gently protecting her with the warmth of his gift as the ache in her chest lessened slightly. Bella's heart tumbled in her chest. Relief showed in her face as the rain continued to pour outside. Neither of them moved. They didn't care about the thunder rumbling in the sky or the stream of rain falling over the roof's edge. Jasper asked softly, close enough now that she could feel the cold radiating off his chest. "What are you thinking about, Bella?"

Leaning into his touch, Bella averted her gaze before feeling the tendrils of encouragement spur her on. "I'm thinking about how...I probably look like a bruised tomato now."

Jasper's chuckle warmed her heart, and she found herself smiling despite her chagrin.

"You look perfect."

"Don't make fun of me." Bella's voice broke up with a sigh, giving him a playful shove that only made him grin. Being with Jasper now, joking around like this, it felt like something in her heart was mending, just a bit.

"I could never," he joked back, earning himself another slap across his chest, "Easy now. I don't want to have to take you back to Carlisle again." Bella didn't miss when he gently patted her hand, making sure she hadn't hurt herself for hitting him, and it made tingles shoot up her arm, tickling her nerves and making her feel jittery—the way coffee does typically but ten times better than that.

That was the only way she could describe how Jasper made her feel right now.

By the time Emmett finally pulled up to the house, honking impatiently if only to aggravate the two of them, Bella and Jasper had finally stepped away from each other and took to sitting on the steps. Jasper sighed when Emmett honked again. "I'll come by to pick you up tomorrow so that Carlisle can check on you again. If that's okay with you." He said, ignoring another honk and flicking Emmett off over his shoulder without taking his eyes off Bella.

She smiled, "Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks, Jazz. For everything."

He chuckled, keeping his hands tucked in the pockets of his jacket as he turned on his heel, "Get some rest, darlin'."

Bella waved Emmett away when he honked again. The Cullen chuckled loudly when Jasper shot him a crude word while he climbed into the Jeep with an annoyed scowl. She stood on the front porch for a moment, watching the car disappear down the road at a ridiculously high speed. Then, shaking her head, she turned and walked back into the house, waiting for the feeling of emptiness to come back and haunt her.

It never did. She felt lighter with thoughts of Jasper, Alice, Emmett, and Rosalie being there for her today. It made her heart ache in a good way. Carlisle's love for her, welcoming her to his family despite it all, made Bella feel less lonely. Less like an outsider.

She went to bed with thoughts of them, hoping that tomorrow she'd feel the same way.

But then the nightmares came to remind her why feeling lonely was exactly what she deserved. The nightmares of Edward and James reminded her of all the things she could never have, and never will. She didn't escape their cruel words and rough hands until Charlie burst into the room, woken up by her screams, and he stayed there, sitting on the edge of the bed, holding her hand until she fell asleep again.

Chapter Text

A knock at the door brought Jasper's attention away from the book he'd barely been able to read for the last half hour, too preoccupied with thoughts of Bella to pay any mind to anything else. He missed her in a way he never thought he'd miss anyone considering all those who were important to him were right here, under the same roof–living forever. But yeah, he missed Bella. And it's only been a few hours...

Looking up from the book on his lap, he finds Alice hesitantly standing by the door. He straightened, "What is it?"

"Bella...she's having a bad night. Before you go rushing to her," Alice said slowly as Jasper rose from the couch in his study, frowning deeply at her words. "you should know, Charlie's with her. He's not making any move to leave her side right now. I just wanted to let you know to prepare you for what you'll see tomorrow when you go pick her up."

"And what am I going to see exactly?"

"She's going to be...really tired, Jazz. Tired in the sense that she probably won't want to get out of bed in the morning or want to go anywhere. But she needs that push."

At least Charlie was with her, he thought to himself, but if her nightmare was anything like it had been the last time, Jasper could only imagine what Charlie was witnessing. Hearing her screams when she had a nightmare last time, still tormented Jasper now. It made him ache for her. Want to be there with her.

Jasper pinched the bridge of his nose, "What should I do?"

"Go see her tomorrow, of course!" Alice said simply, shrugging with a small grin on her lips, "Put a smile on her face the way you always do. Give her that push to keep going in whatever form that will be."

When Jasper showed up the next day to pick Bella up, Charlie had been the one to answer the door. Dark circles lined under the man's eyes and Jasper noted the five o'clock shadow on his chin too. It had been alarming to see how exhausted Charlie was compared to the day before when he'd been fuming, vibrant with energy. But then Jasper knew why he looked this way when he felt the uncertainty and fear rolling off his shoulders.

"Bella had a bad night. Nightmares, I think." Charlie said after greeting him at the front door.

Jasper's jaw ticked, fighting to urge to walk past him and stride towards Bella's room. To be there for her. Hold her, if she allowed it. "Is she alright now?"

"She barely got any sleep last night and has been lying in bed an hour or so, trying to wake up. I decided I'm not gonna make her go to school today."

Jasper nodded, noticing Charlie was wearing his police uniform. The question came before he could think twice, "Would you like me to stay with her?" Charlie hesitated, frowning slightly at his unexpected offer.

"Uh, I'm not sure. I mean she'll probably be out of it for the rest of the day, son. Don't you have school?"

"My parents decided to pull us all out of school for the day to go hiking. But I wanted to check on Bella before going anyway."

He expected to feel apprehension from Bella's father or in the very least suspicion—it would be normal considering he'd only just met Jasper and he was also the brother of the man that broke her heart. But instead, he felt only a small ounce of admiration.

"Well, if you wouldn't mind sticking around...I'm sure she'll appreciate it. I know I would like to have someone nearby in case she needs something," Charlie finally said, patting Jasper's shoulder as he stepped out onto the porch. "Help yourself to something to drink or eat—unless it's beer, then stay the hell away from the fridge."

Jasper grinned, "Yes, sir."

"Thanks, kid," Jasper stepped into the house before Charlie called out from the bottom of the steps, "Uh, Jasper?" He turned, sensing the man's worry only grow as Charlie struggled to find the words he wanted to say. "Do you know...what happened between them? Edward and Bells. Things have been bad since they broke up. She thinks I don't see it but I do, she's my kid after all. I'm worried about her."

What could he possibly say to that? How could Jasper begin to explain what transpired between Bella and Edward without completely betraying her privacy? There was no way to do that and he wouldn't. So Jasper tried his best to be honest, "Edward decided to move in with some distant relatives in Alaska for a time until he had to go to college. The decision was...unexpected, even to us. In all honesty, it was a bad breakup, Charlie. But I think she'll be okay. We just gotta give her time."

Charlie mulled it over before nodding and finally turning to head to his cruiser. "No funny business, kid. I'd hate to have to shoot you with my gun when I see you again." Because Charlie liked Jasper already, even if he didn't acknowledge it out loud. Jasper could feel it and it was the best feeling in the world, knowing that his mate's father didn't entirely dislike him. Sending a small wave of gratitude for having his trust, Jasper waved Charlie off before heading into Bella's house.

Sunlight crept into her room, slipping past the pale blue curtains and across her lap,

Bella didn't know how long she'd been sitting in the loveseat, staring out windows in her room towards the backyard with a tired expression on her face.

Tired. She was so tired. The nightmares never relented, they burned into her body and mind—scarring her all night long despite all her attempts to try and find comfort in Charlie's gruff voice and his hand holding her own. Her body ached for sleep but the mere thought of it, of seeing Edward's face in the forest again...it tormented her.

Cold hands touched her shoulders just as she began to worry her mind with thoughts of what she would do if Edward ever did return.

"Bella?"

Slowly, she looked up, recognizing the smooth voice speaking to her. Maybe she really was dreaming again because there was no way he was here—

A wave of calm pushed past the haze in her mind with some difficulty, and when she finally saw him, she was startled. Jasper walked around the loveseat and kneeled before her, his hands coming to rest over her knees as he stared at her with worry-laced eyes. She noticed his amber eyes were lined with a hint of black around the edges. Beautiful eyes that stood out from the Cullen's bright golden eyes. These were Jasper's eyes.

"Talk to me."

Tears stung her eyes as relief, unlike any she's felt in a long time, washed over her. She hadn't felt this way since the Cullens rescued her from James's torture in the ballet studio and looking at Jasper now, staring into his placating gaze, she felt as though he were rescuing her all over again.

"You're really...here?" She whispered, voice hoarse from lack of sleep and all the screaming she'd done last night. "Not a dream?"

Jasper's lip quirked slightly, "No, I'm not a dream. I'm really here."

She bit her lip, barely realizing what she was saying when she spoke, "The nightmares...I can't escape them, they're everywhere. He's everywhere."

"I won't let them get you anymore. He's not here to hurt you, Bella. You're safe." His hand rubbed her knees soothingly, for once the cold of a vampire's touch warmed her heart. Jasper spoke sincerely as a crease formed between his brows, "What do you need me to do now? Tell me."

A tear rolled down her cheek as she stared at him. This kind man who came all this way to help mend her broken heart. She should refuse his help—reject any attempt he tried to make to be there for her. Just as she always rejected any of his forceful ways of trying to spoil her, keep her close and docile. But Jasper wasn't Edward. Not at all...

He watched as she slowly pushed off the chair and sunk to the floor in front of him.

Bella stared into Jasper's eyes with longing as more tears rolled down her cheeks. His hands slowly came up to cup her face, wiping her tears away with the pads of his thumbs and making her lean into his touch with a soft whimper. Jasper breathed the words softly, as though afraid to scare her away, "You're breaking my heart, darlin'."

That was her undoing. Hearing the words out loud. Feeling his genuine emotions through his gift, seeping into her body, Bella broke into a million pieces and the river of fear and heartache all came rushing out. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she gripped his shirt tightly in her small hands.

"Please..." her words broke off and released a series of breathless sobs. Jasper quickly wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her to him, close enough to sit on his lap and bury herself into his broad chest. He hadn't asked if he could touch her but there was no need to—she needed this. Needed him. Bella rested her chin in the crook of his neck, holding onto him in a vice grip Jasper could easily escape if he wanted to detach himself from her. But he never did. All he did was hold her and neither made any move to let each other go. "Please, don't leave me. I can't..."

"Never, you hear me?" he wrapped her in his strong arms as tightly as he could without hurting her, burying his face in her long hair as he whispered harshly, "Never, Bella. I'm here, always. Please, believe me, if not anything else."

He let her cry until the tears dried and her sobs died down. When she finished, Jasper slowly picked her up from the floor and carried her to the bed. When Bella still didn't let him go, merely tightened her hold on the back of his shirt and making no move to part from him yet, Jasper climbed into bed beside her and held her close without any complaint.

It was only when a thick wave of lethargy and comfort encased her completely that Bella finally went back to sleep, with dreams of an open field with tall grass under the warm sun and Jasper standing beside her. A peaceful dream where she felt safe and looked after.

When she woke up an hour later, still in his arms, Bella was greeted by his tender smile. She was immensely grateful he hadn't left her and most importantly, that he hadn't been a dream. He was here with her. Always.

They laid side by side, still wrapped up within each other's arms until Jasper finally asked, "Are you okay?" She nodded, blinking away the traces of sleep before noticing it was the early afternoon. He'd been here most of the morning, waiting for her to wake up.

"Yes, I am now." She answered sincerely.

Because of you.

"I'll warn you, I'm not nearly as good of a cook as Esme is," Jasper warned as he placed a plate of one fried egg, a couple of slices of bacon, and a slice of buttered toast in front of her. Despite her attempts to protest that she wasn't hungry at all, her stomach growled loud enough for the deer grazing behind her house to hear. The moment Jasper sent her a tight-lipped smile, she knew there was no way of escaping his wrath.

So here she'd obediently sat by the island and watched as Jasper moved about the kitchen, knowing where everything was surprisingly enough. Even cooking in a kitchen he'd never been in, Jasper managed to make it look effortless as he cooked her breakfast. When she'd offered to take over, he'd merely sent her back to her seat with a wink, "I don't want to risk you burning yourself. That's the last thing you need."

Shee couldn't argue with that.

"It looks good," she reassured him as Jasper settled into the stool beside her, patiently waiting for her to take her first bite. The moment the perfectly cooked fried egg landed on her tongue, Bella's eyes widened.

"That bad?" He asked, clearly waiting for her input on how his first home-cooked meal prepared for the human girl tasted.

Bella finished chewing her food before turning to face him and smiling, "It's perfect. Thank you. Is there anything you can't do?"

Jasper's eyes lit up as he grinned, "I can think of a few things...I don't know how to speak Chinese or play the violin."

Bella shook her head at him, "What a real tragedy."

"Don't tease me now. I'm perfectly serious. But I'm glad you like my nonexistent cooking skills." He looked down to the plate in front of her and for a moment, she wondered if he had been human that maybe he would be blushing right now. It was...cute.

He kept her company until she finished her plate, and this time, when she insisted on cleaning her own dishes, Jasper relented with a grin. They talked about silly things, things that helped distract Bella from the shroud hanging over her shoulder, and she was immensely grateful for them—for Jasper. They even talked about Charlie's threat to shoot Jasper if he tried anything on Bella. That made her chuckle, and it seemed to make Jasper happy to hear her finally begin to relax around him and that in return made her happy, just a bit.

"Carlisle said he'd look you over one more time today if you want. I can take you whenever you're ready to go."

"Okay, I'll go get dressed." Jasper took to waiting downstairs, looking at the many picture frames in the living room while she rushed to get ready for the day. Throwing on an oversized green sweater over her tank top and settling for a pair of skinny jeans, Bella avoided looking at her reflection in the mirror—not wanting to see what Jasper was probably seeing now—a tired, plain-looking girl that definitely did not belong with the Cullens.

"You'll have to stop with the self-deprecating emotions, darlin'. They're killing me." Jasper murmured when she finally joined him downstairs, tying her hair in a low ponytail. Bella's cheeks burned as she bit her lip, ashamed with herself that he felt her self-loathing.

"No," he said, walking up to her and gently pressing his thumb against her chin, pulling her bottom lip away from her teeth. She kept perfectly still, her breath catching as she watched the way his eyes stared at her lips for a moment before looking back up, "I'm not saying it to make you feel bad, Bella. I'm saying it because there's no reason for you to harm yourself so much. Words can harm just as much as hands can. The world is cruel enough as it is, you don't need to help it along."

She stared at him for a long moment, knowing that he had no ill intentions for chastising her now. On the contrary, he was worried about her. Enough to never truly leave her side or let her feel alone.

"I'll try..."

"That's all I can ask you to do. Now come on, Carlisle's waiting."

Slowly he reached down and took Bella's hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze before they walked out of the house together, hand in hand. The gesture was unexpected but...comforting, and surprisingly she didn't hate his touch. Didn't find it skin-crawling as she'd once felt when James or Edward touched her after she clearly said she didn't want them to come near her.

That's because Jasper made her feel safe.

Maybe that's why she did it, or it was his gift taking effect on her, but as they walked onto the driveway towards Jasper's car—

"Jasper, wait," Bella called, stopping him as he reached for the passenger door handle. He turned, brows raised in question as she stepped closer and did the one thing she never thought she'd do. She grabbed his hands to steady herself, pushed into her tiptoes, and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. Sparks shot across her lips, and she rolled them together to control the sweet, warm feeling swirling in her chest.

When she leaned away, and he didn't let go of her hands, Bella whispered nervously, "Thank you for being so kind to me. I...I don't know what I would do without you." She knew her face was on fire right now, but if the price of expressing herself to him was feeling embarrassed, she'd take it. Anything to see Jasper's eyes soften, taking every inch of her in the way he was doing right now. "I'm sorry if that was too forward. I just wanted to show you..."

"No more apologies," he said suddenly, taking her face in his hands. It was something he did often, she supposed—touching her in the simplest yet intimate way that made her feel seen and cherished at all times—she didn't hate it at all.

Not when it made her feel all sorts of ways. Alive—being one of them. She was alive and entirely accepted for exactly who and what she was. She peeked at him through thick lashes and breathed him in as Jasper gently kissed her forehead before stepping back, moving his hands down to hold hers once more, "You don't have to ask for permission to touch me, Bella. I like it when you do. It calms me to know that you're beside me. Nor do you need to be afraid to speak or express yourself. Not with me or anyone. Not anymore. Okay?"

Bella was utterly taken back by his words, by his touch and kiss that she couldn't do anything other than nod and allow that spark in her chest to ignite and cast away all the shadows that followed her.

While Jasper drove her back to his home, she allowed herself to process what Jasper had said moments ago and smiled, thankful to have him in her life more than anything else.

You don't have to ask for permission to touch me...

Chapter Text

A week has passed since Edward's departure and still, there were no signs of his return approaching any time soon. According to Alice, that is, since the copper-haired vampire won't return any of the Cullen's calls, no matter who it was. Not even Esme could get through to him, and it broke his mate's heart. It only fueled Carlisle's anger towards his son that he willingly chose to break their family, in some capacity.

Carlisle was currently in his study, looking over a few files he took from work when he heard the soft sound of Bella's heartbeat downstairs. He immediately smiled with affection as she and Jasper walked into the house, conversing about nothing in particular but sounding completely at peace. Good, they deserve some peace after all that's happened, he thought to himself as he closed the files in his hands and rose from his leather chair behind the mahogany oak desk.

The whole situation with Edward had left a strain on the entire family since his departure—his betrayal—but he was more than grateful to have Bella in their lives. A beacon of light.

He walked out of his study and made his way downstairs to greet them. "Bella, it's good to see you. How's the nose?" Bella flushed, clearly embarrassed by his blunt question. Carlisle chuckled while Jasper grinned at their interaction, "My apologies. That was a bit straightforward."

"No, no. It's fine, really. I'm feeling better today."

Carlisle fought a smile when he noticed the way Jasper stuck close to Bella as the two made their way up the stairs and felt an inkling of amusement when he noticed the way they startled the moment Bella's hand grazed Jasper's.

His son grinned as he drawled, "Sorry."

Bella's cheeks blushed bright pink before murmuring, "N-no. My fault."

Checking over Bella's bruises went by quickly and after giving her a salve to apply to them, Carlisle found himself saying, "I'm sure you already know about Lauren Mallory's suspension," Bella nodded and cast Jasper a pointed glance to which the empath merely shrugged. Clearly not the least bit apologetic for causing a bigger fuss than necessary. Carlisle didn't feel guilty either for calling the principal and demanding disciplinary action be taken upon hearing about Bella's bully. That and to justify the way Rosalie nearly broke the girl's arm when she tried to strike her after they got into a heated argument at the gym. That confrontation was definitely unexpected, coming from Rosalie of all people. But it wasn't unappreciated.

He took her hand in his, "I'm quite aware you didn't want anyone to get involved in your problems at school, but Bella if this happens again," a low growl made Carlisle arch his brow towards his son. Jasper didn't seem to mind his father's reproachful look as he kept his focus solely on Bella. "Then I would hope you would come to one of us so that we can help you sort it out. This time was different, I know but any form of bullying you experience must never be overlooked. Okay, sweetheart?"

Bella bit her lip, "Thank you, Carlisle, for always being so kind to me."

He knew what was left unsaid and tensed, "You deserve it and so much more. Never think otherwise. Okay?"

"Okay." She said, leaning into his outstretched arms and accepting his warm embrace.

"Now, did you eat before coming here?"

Bella's eyes immediately flickered towards Jasper and Carlisle noticed the knowing smile the blonde gave her. Again, she blushed as she told him that she had indeed eaten.

"Jasper cooked for me."

"Jasper did?" Carlisle asked, pleasantly surprised which made his son seem somewhat embarrassed by the attention. It was in a moment such as this that Carlisle wondered what life would be like if he and his family had been given a chance of mortality. All living together, happy and without the confines of being stuck in these frozen bodies. "That's wonderful. I hope it was as good as Esme's cooking."

Bella grinned, "I doubt anyone's cooking is as good as Esme's I'm afraid. Sorry, Jasper."

Jasper shook his head, his gaze warm as he said, "I couldn't agree more, darlin'."

B-bump, b-bump, b-bump.

Carlisle could hear Bella's heart rate suddenly spike, reacting to Jasper's term of endearment for her. Then, a small wave of longing intermingling with adoration followed over them next, and based on the way Bella and Carlisle both tensed, it had been Jasper who inadvertently projected the emotions. The latter cleared his throat before taking a seat on one of the stools, "Alice said she'd bring your homework for today so you don't fall behind. If you want to stay here and work on it when she gets home, you can."

"I'd like that. If it's okay?" She asked Carlisle.

Carlisle nodded, ruffling her hair as he walked by, "Of course it is. You don't have to ask." Taking that as his cue to excuse himself, Jasper and Bella barely seemed to notice when Carlisle slipped out of the kitchen and headed upstairs to his study. Relishing in the happiness pouring throughout the whole house. If only for a few hours.

"Bella! You trip and fall again?" Emmett asked, laughing at his own jibe as he strode into the dining room where Bella and Jasper had taken to doing their homework. The largest member of the family pulled Bella into a side hug before plopping down into a seat beside her, peering down to see what she was working on with mild interest, "What's the human doing now? Ah, Calculus. I could do that with my eyes closed."

"Are you offering to do my homework for me?" She asked hopefully, raising a brow and making Emmett release a loud chuckle. She hoped the blush warming her cheeks didn't show when she caught Jasper grinning too. It was funny how no matter what she did or where she was, if Jasper was in the room too, their eyes always met. As if drawn to one another. But that's silly. It had to be because there was no way Jasper would be drawn to her, as she was to him...

You were just a means to an need.

"Oh no, if I have to do homework for all eternity it'll be my homework. Sorry." Emmett lightly flicked her nose but a flick from the giant might as well been a hard tap. Bella grimaced, covering her bruised nose with her hand as she involuntarily flinched and shut her eyes. Pain shot through her just as Emmett realized what he'd done.

Bella released a groan with a hint of surprise and annoyance, "Emmett!"

"Shit, I'm sorry Bells! Are you-"

A low growl stopped Emmet's next words, stunning them both into silence. Opening her eyes and blinking away the familiar sting of tears, Bella much like Emmett, turned to look at Jasper who sported a threatening glare on his face. All form of amusement gone and replaced by something unwavering and protective. It made her heart swell unexpectedly.

Jasper's hands were clenched over his biceps as he stared Emmett down. The latter had the good sense to look mortified but tensed at the sound of his brother's low rumbling growl coming from his chest.

"Don't touch her like that again." Came his low warning, voice thick as gravel and deadly. And it was his only warning before he glanced back down to the textbook in front of him.

Bella blinked, surprised to see how serious Jasper was, more than usual and for him to say something like that to a member of his family...

The way he revered Emmett with such ferocious protection, left her feeling awed and speechless beyond belief.

"Damn, I'm sorry, Bella. I really need to work on being more gentle. You okay?" Emmett sounded genuinely concerned and not because his brother looked ready to tear into him.

Bella shook her head, "It's okay, Em. I'm not mad," she sent Jasper a reassuring glance and was glad to see the empath relax, though his eyes were wholly unreadable. She hesitantly reached over to pat Emmett's muscular arm, "Really, I'm fine."

Emmett nodded though he still seemed to hesitate when he placed his hand over her shoulder, "None of us ever want to hurt you, kid. You know that, right? Never on purpose."

"I know."

And yet, one of you did...

Bella swallowed down the emotions bubbling up to the surface. Why was it so hard to simply forget him? Why couldn't she be a girl capable of strength and perseverance? Of forgiveness? Maybe he'd taken that with him too, along with the rest of the love she'd felt for him.

But...had what they shared ever been love? Had it simply been a game all along? Bella didn't know the answer anymore.

Jasper had been strangely quiet on the ride back to Bella's house. It made her slightly nervous or at least she would have been if she didn't see how kind he was. Always looking out for her. Opening the car door for her, making sure the heater was on, and drove slower than she was sure he would have liked. A true southern gentleman.

The sun had started to settle over the horizon behind the towering trees of the forest behind and a faint shimmer made her glance over to him. Something in her heart stuttered as she looked at Jasper's face and noticed the way his skin reacted to the red rays of the fading sun. The crystals beneath his skin shone in white and reds, making his sharp features stark against the dark forest beyond the window and more handsome than she'd ever seen him before.

Mesmerizing her.

"What are you staring at, darlin'?" He drawled, making her flush instantly. Here he was, this kind and selfless man doing her favor after favor—finding it in his heart to stand her in the first place—and she's openly gawking at him like a creep.

"N-nothing..."

"Liar," he teased, his lips quirking slightly. Her heart skipped a beat once again. It's been doing that a lot today.

She thought of coming clean, of admitting that he was beautiful and amazing and...okay, that definitely makes her sound like a creep.

So instead she went with something more rational, "Why did you get mad at Emmett back there? You know he didn't intentionally hurt me or anything, right?"

Jaspers small grin fell and his eyes seemed to turn a shade darker. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, "I know that. I wasn't mad at him specifically."

"So what were you mad at?"

Jasper pulled into her driveway, parking the car expertly and quickly. Charlie's cruiser wasn't in the driveway so Bella assumed he was still at work which was sort of a relief since...since she liked being here with Jasper. Talking to him. Getting to know him on another level, what he did and didn't like. What made him smile and what made him angry.

Today she found out what he didn't like.

Jasper looked at her for a long moment, turning to face her before he said, "I'm mad that you always end up getting hurt and that I can't seem to be able to stop it. What happened with Emmet was silly, I know that. But I don't like it—feeling your pain. It feels like it's a part of me. And in a way, it is," he continued before she could attempt to apologize. For what, she wasn't sure, but she knew she didn't like making him feel this way. This hopeless when it comes to her. "I know I can't always be there to keep an eye on you. But the thought of anyone hurting you, wether it's intentional or not...it sparks something in me, Bella. Something protective."

"Why?" She asked. "Why bother? I'm..." I'm nothing compared to that could warrant such care and friendship.

Jasper's throat bobbed, as if feeling the dark emotions swirling within her. He leaned over the armrest. Close enough that Bella held her breath as he brushed away a strand of her hair.

The faint sound of a familiar melody playing on the radio sent a shudder run down her spine. Oh Children by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds continued in the background until soon it faded away. Until the only thing she could think about, focus on, was in the way Jasper's cold fingers traced her jawline, lingering.

"Because, Bella. I care for you. So fucking much, I don't think you'll understand if I told you now but," he took in a breath, his dark eyes weighing her stunned expression. Glancing to her lips for a brief moment before focusing back on those depthless eyes. "One day you will. I'll make sure if that."

Bella leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed, "Jasper."

She sucked in a breath as waves of electricity pulsed through her skin and into her bones, searing her blood, and rattling her heart. As if her entire being was drawn to Jasper.

She reached her hand out and took his clenched hand settled on the armrest. Needing to touch him just a little more. To feel that spark of connection that brought her to life. In a way no one ever has, not even Edward.

"I care for you too, Jasper."

His gaze softened as he looked down to their hands, watching the way Bella squeezed his own. As if sensing what she needed, he slowly opened his hand and laced his fingers with hers. His hand tugged her closer until his forehead rested against her own, "Thank you for caring for me. For never being afraid of what I am nor what I'm capable of."

"I know you'd never hurt me. I never doubted you."

Bella couldn't look away from him, even as he closed his eyes and released a breath. There were so many things she didn't understand, so much she wanted to know. About why Edward did what he did. Why Jasper wants to be with her so much...but for now, this was enough. This was what she needed and what she could accept—it was what they both needed. A connection. A strong friendship neither realized they were missing.

Bella pressed her forehead against his with a blush blossoming across her pale cheeks. Her innocence poured into him and the two painted the perfect picture of an unlikely pair. Like a faun nuzzling her predator in the forest, seeking friendship, a second chance. Love. Two opposites drawn together by fate.

Jasper smile with endearment as if he knew that and he didn't shy away from her or reject her.

Not one bit.

The silence in the forest permeated the darkness of twilight across the trees. There was no sound of wildlife in sight nor did the sound of water traveling down the stream a few feet away seem to make a sound. It was as if the trees themselves knew of what was to come. Sensed it in the earth itself.

He watched from his perch on one of the thick branches. Waiting. Sensing. Calculating. And then—

A flash if fiery red hair flashed by and Edward dove from his perch. Landing on the ground a few feet away from her.

Finally, he'd get what he always wanted—needed as much as he had once needed Bella, his reason for existing.

He charged through the forest at a ferocious pace, gradually catching up to Victoria as she tried and failed to evade him. They made it right where he wanted her to go and with a roar, he lunged, knocking them both into the heart of the meadow. The growls that echoed followed Edward and Victoria as they rolled and fought each other off.

Victoria's red eyes were wild with hatred as she turned on her back in time to catch Edward by the shoulders. His bared fangs snapped at her neck right as she bucked him off.

Edward rolled and was back on his feet in a second, taking off where she went. Edward never faltered, never lost sight of her and when he reached her again this time—he spun her around and slammed her into one of the trees.

The birds perched on the branches above shrieked as they took flight, fleeing the vampires below as Victoria tried to shove him away, growling and screaming savagely. This time she tried to snap at him and Edward shifted, moving one of his legs between her own, hands pinning hers on either side.

"Do. Not." He growled, a deadly calm shining in his black eyes.

Victoria hissed out a breath, scowling at him, "Well? Kill me then. That's why you're here, isn't it? To finish what we started."

Edward's grin was a menacing thing as he leaned forward, close enough his lips grazed the shell of her ear. At that moment, whatever resolve he'd had to kill the nomad, vanished. Rewritten and forgotten completely. Not of his own will but...of another's. The monster buried deep inside him stirred to life once again, crawling its way back to the surface. The one he'd worked so hard to forget, along with his days spent as a killer.

Shocks of lighting and swirls of shadow coursed through them both. Making Victoria whimper in surprise as something dark sprouted to life within Edward. Something he knew was there all along and he welcomed it with open arms. Welcomed the monster that shined through his eyes.

His voice was sweet seduction as he whispered in Victoria's ear, "No. This is only the beginning."

Chapter Text

"So, what happened to Edward?" Jessica Stanley asked Angela Webber as they made their way to their usual table in the middle of the cafeteria.

Alice listened closely from the food line as the girls gossiped about her brother and Bella. Well, more like Jessica Stanley was gossiping and Angela was listening absentmindedly.

Without Lauren Mallory around to pitch in, the conversation on Edward's whereabouts quickly died away. Good. No one should think about him, not now that he was going down a dark, dark path.

The vision had come to her last night after Jasper went off with Emmett to hunt and have a heart to heart about...something. She could only keep up with some much lately so she wasn't sure. And once the vision of Edward and that hateful creature came into view, Alice considered ripping her brother to shreds and nothing else mattered.

She loved her family to the death of course, but Alice could only focus on one person at a time and right now, Bella was in first place.

"You okay, Alice?" Bella asked, bringing the vampire out of her thoughts.

"Of course I am! Just thinking of all the things we'll shop for at the mall this weekend!" She smiled cheerily, taking to assembling her food in the red tray she had in her hands. I can't tell her now, but I'll have to soon. I'll have to tell them all about Edward and what he's done. I only hope he'll change his mind and stop this.

Alice worried her lip as she watched Bella grab an apple, a soda, and chips, practically tossing them onto the tray without any care.

Her best friend was depressed, she knew that and hated that she couldn't do anything other than stand by her side. Trying her best to be silent support while Jasper did the comforting. Because they both needed that the most right now—to make up for lost time.

Speaking of Jasper, the empath was trying as hard as he could not to glance over his shoulder in their direction. His golden eyes shimmering with a sweet mix of impatience, curiosity and...longing. Alice didn't need to be an empath to know how strongly Jasper felt for Bella.

It was potent.

And yet, so much time had been stolen from the two. Because of Edward.

Her frustration towards Edward started to build up at the mere thought of his lies of omission over the last year. Intentionally hiding his decisions from her to keep the truth from spilling out...

Alice's heart clenched at the thought of Edward doing such a thing.

Over the years, everyone learned how to hide their choices for a time if they wanted privacy from Alice's gift and sometimes she pretended all together that she wouldn't see their said choices. It was the proper thing to do. The seer had also made it a point to not interfere unless it was absolutely necessary.

Not that anything of real importance ever happened before Bella arrived and changed all their lives—for the better in many ways.

"Bella!" Jessica called out as Bella and Alice made their way over to the table. Alice had to rein in the rage that bubbled up inside her as the girl waved her sister over, eager to know as much as she could about the Cullens.

Not because her friend Lauren Mallory hurt Bella or anything...selfish human.

Bella tensed and looked over her shoulder when Jessica called out again, the latter waving at her to join their table.

Her heart sped up slightly, but for a whole other reason as she noticed Tyler, Mike, Eric and Angela were all staring at her with curious eyes.

Alice said, "Jessica wants to know about Edward. But the others aren't so you could go talk to them if you want." They had been her friends before the Cullens after all.

"No." Bella shook her head after a long beat of silence, both in answer to Jessica's attempt to bring her to the table and to Alice's suggestion. She turned and started walking towards the table where Jasper and the rest were waiting, all alert to see what she would decide. Bella's eyes were two sad pools of melted chocolate as she said, "There's no point in talking about it anymore."

Alice sighed, catching Rosalie scrutinizing gaze and tensed as the blonde said too low for anyone to heard, "What."

Not a question but a command.

Alice glanced to Bella as the girl greeted Jasper and blushed when he smiled at her.

"We have to talk once we get home," she said quickly in a low voice. Emmett and Jasper tensed but the latter maintained his focus solely on Bella so as not to alarm her.

"What kind of talk?" Emmett asked, brows furrowed as he did.

Alice narrowed her eyes, "t's about Edward...and Victoria."

Rosalie's eyes turned a shade darker at the mention of Edward's name at the same time the boys tensed completely.

Jasper looked over Bella's shoulder, his expression grave and deadly, telling Alice and everyone else that he would not step aside for their brother to do as he pleases. Not when it comes to Bella, his mate.

Never again.

"I don't know how you do it but your cooking is always great, Bells." Bella smiled at Charlie as she finished washing the last of the dishes.

She'd cooked cordon bleu for them this evening and Charlie could not stop congratulating her on how good it was. She blushed with a spark of pride that she'd managed to cook for her father again like she used to.

Since he left, the motivation left her too and it's been hard getting back to what used to be—whatever that constituted as.

"Thanks dad." She said as she finished the last of the dishes.

"Do you want some ice cream? I got cookies n' cream or strawberry cheesecake," Charlie announced as he recited the Ben & Jerry's ice cream he'd bought earlier today with as much excitement as the clumsy, awkward man could. He popped open the freezer with a smile before retrieving them.

"Either is fine."

Charlie took both of the tubs of ice cream to the kitchen counter and slid the lids off before reaching for two bowls in the cupboard. He spooned out two generous scoops of each before he finally asked, "How was school?"

"Fine," she said, hoping he didn't push for more information—reopening the wound her so-called friends left behind after the whole dodge ball incident.

While knew Mallory had been the one to start it all, Bella had seen the way Jessica laughed along with the other girls. She'd seen the way Tyler and Mike stared at her with pity in the cafeteria when they noticed the fading bruises under her eyes, but didn't say anything.

Even Angela didn't speak to her today, probably unsure of what she wanted to say or too aware of the many prying eyes of the students around them. News of the entire ordeal had spread through the school despite Jasper and Alice's attempt to shield her from it.

Bella knew though she always did. She suspected Edward had known Lauren Mallory took pleasure in making fun of Bella all the time, even shoving past her on occasion or making rude remarks when they were in the lockers getting ready for gym class. In the end, it had been the rest of her unconventional family who took matters into their hands to put a stop to the bullying. Not Edward.

Suddenly, a wave of low simmering anger bubbled up inside her. Edward had fought so hard to keep her away from his family, from Jasper, and not because he wanted to protect her. No, it had been for another reason entirely. One she still wasn't sure she had the answer to–

"Bella?" Charlie called her name, startling her out of her thoughts.

"Sorry, what did you say?"

Charlie's smile was replaced by a thin line of his lips, worry etched across his face. He set down the bowls on the counter and walked over to Bella, taking a towel to dry her hands after she'd been rinsing her hands for...a long time.

Bella stared up at her father as he wiped her hands and guided her over to one of the stools to sit down. She waited, knowing he had something to say and was trying to find a way to say it without sounding gruff as he usually did.

Charlie ran a hand over his face and sighed, "I spoke with your mother today."

Bella straightened, tugging on her sleeves nervously, "About...what?"

"You, kiddo," Bella frowned but Charlie continued and for the first time in a long time, Bella felt as though she could really see him. The dark circles brought out the crow's feet around his brown eyes and his beard looked a little more unkempt than usual. He was tired, she realized. "I'm worried about you, Bells. You don't eat or go out like you used to. You don't sleep, I know that for damned sure."

Bella swallowed the tears that gathered in the back of her throat. She shut her eyes and shook her head, "I'm fine."

"No, Bella. You're not. You haven't been since that Cullen boy left and I know it's for a bigger reason than you're telling me," Charlie placed a hand on Bella's shoulder, urging her to look at him. Then, the dreaded question came up, finally. Charlie's voice was pleading and soft as if scared he'd scare her away. "What did he do to you? Please, you can tell me. Whatever it is, I'll listen and I won't be mad."

Bella shook her head again, "N-nothing...it was nothing."

"What was nothing?"

A tear rolled down her cheek and the fight in her to keep it all bottled up slipped out, "We argued and things got out of hand. I don't know, it wasn't a big deal." She wiped her face, feeling herself gradually crumbling beneath her father's worried gaze. "We said some hurtful things."

Charlie asked, "Was it we said hurtful things or he did?"

Bella could only nod as more tears ran down her cheeks. She couldn't tell him about the rest, not without unloading a lot of shame and pain caused by putting her trust in a man who was supposed to love her, protect her.

Without another word, Charlie wrapped his arms around Bella and held her close for a long time. She clutched his shirt in her hands, staring out the kitchen window with tears rolling down her cheeks.

She knew that she couldn't tell Charlie anything else, because the second he found out Edward had forced himself on her, he'd storm off to the Cullens and demand to know his whereabouts.

Her father was a cop after all, and he didn't take violence of any sort lightly, especially against someone he loves. The best thing to do for him was to keep yet another secret to herself, one she knew wasn't her own anymore.

That night, after eating ice cream with Charlie while they sat in the living room watching a sitcom, Bella went to her room.

She got ready for bed and crawled under the sheets, pulling the purple comforter up over her chest. She laid there for a long time, hoping for sleep to come and claim her. But the nightmares reminded her of why that was a bad idea. She tried not to think of Edward and failed miserably, only replacing him with thoughts of Charlie and Renee worrying about her.

She tossed and turned in bed until she found a comfortable position to doze off. The only problem was that as soon as her eyes closed, she was startled awake by the shadows in the corner of her room, in the rocking chair that he once sat in.

The pounding of her heart matched the even rhythm of raindrops hitting her bedroom window. Her hands were clammy as she hurriedly reached for the lamp and the light-flooded her bedroom, dispelling the shadows and revealing no one sitting in the rocking chair.

The urge to cry overcame her as the apprehension that one day Edward might very well show up ruled her every sane thought. She hurriedly reached for her cellphone on the nightstand and texted the first person that came to mind, hoping they could soothe her worries. Irrational as they may be.

Bella: Hey, are you busy?

It took only a few moments before her cellphone buzzed in her hands.

Jasper: Hey you. No, I'm not. Just got back from a hunt with Carlisle.

Bella bit her lip, feeling the warmth of her blush deepen across her skin as she read his message. Then she stopped herself, not expecting to react this way to Jasper.

He was handsome, she always thought so since the first day they met, but he was also...Jasper. Untouchable. Distant and utterly selfless. Too good for her, Edward's voice seemed to mirror her thoughts perfectly. It hurt.

Before she could put her phone away and regret her decision to bother him, another message came in.

Jasper: Are you okay?

Bella contemplated her next message and then before she could start second-guessing herself she typed out what she wanted to say.

Bella: I can't sleep. My mind won't stop playing tricks on me.

Unexpectedly, her phone started buzzing in her hand repeatedly. Bella startled and dropped it onto the mattress as if it burned her. Shooting up in her bed, she straightened and blinked furiously at her small silver cellphone, the screen illuminating her dimly lit room with his name—Jasper Whitlock.

She took a second to collect herself, unsure why she felt so nervous nor why her heart pounded harshly in her chest. Biting her lip, she plucked her phone up and flipped it open. Her voice was low and hesitant as she said, "Hello?"

"What's going through that head of yours, darlin'?"

There it was again. Darlin'. Every time he said that word, to her no less, tiny butterflies made her body tingle with the pleasant feeling of excitement.

But...that couldn't be right, there was no way she was delusional enough to think Jasper referred to her as anything other than a friend. That was the truth. Nevertheless, why does that truth somehow make her feel worse?

Bella sighed as she leaned back in her pillows, "I'm just thinking about a lot of things. Charlie asked about...what happened with him that day."

Jasper was quiet for a few seconds before his low rumbling voice asked, "You told him everything?"

"Only that we broke up and it was bad. It seemed like the easiest thing to say. I don't know, I just don't want him to know about the rest. It would hurt him. My dad can't handle these things too well, even though he tries to prove otherwise."

"I'm sorry, Bella."

"It's not your fault," she reassured, picking at the fleece blanket, "But I have this feeling that he might come back and finish what he didn't. That one day I'll wake up and he'll be there in my room. Just like before."

She swore she heard a low growl on the other line, however, she quickly forgot it as she sensed the worry in Jasper's tone as he asked, "Before? You mean he—"

"No, not that. He'd never touched me like that before without my consent. I guess that was the problem."

"How so?"

She heard the sound of a car door opening and closing on the other line. He was probably on his way somewhere else.

Bella didn't know why she did it—spoke to him about what Edward had done—but she quickly found that talking to Jasper had easily become the best part of her days in the middle of her darkest ones. Taking away the loneliness she felt lurking inside her heart.

She could only imagine what would have been left of her if they'd all left her behind...

If Jasper had left her behind. It had only been a few hours since she'd last seen him in school and yet, she missed him. How strange was that?

"He never liked touching me. Not the way Emmett touches Rosalie or Carlisle kisses Esme. It always felt...cold and distant between us and if I ever tried to get closer, he'd reject me. It made me feel..."

"Unwanted." He finished for her, sounding solemn as he did.

"Yeah," she sighed.

"But you know that's not what love is," Jasper murmured and the sound of him driving on the winding roads of Forks told her he was in fact going somewhere.

A small hint of sadness tweaked at her heart as she suddenly had the urge to be there with him, go wherever he went. She yearned to have his hand cupping her face the way he always did. Have the cold feel of his hard skin against her own...

She swallowed and breathed out, "And...what is love to you?"

Jasper was quiet for a long time before he spoke again, "It's something I can't describe fully. I haven't ever truly been in love," he seemed to stop himself from elaborating as if there was more to say but he refrained from doing so now. "I know it's unselfish and whole though, from what I've seen and felt around me. It's a warm feeling that leaves you thinking about them for days, even hours on end. You only want what's best for them because it's what they want for you too."

Bella's heart pulsed in her chest and she wondered if he could hear it through the phone. She bit her lip as she curled onto her side and mused, "It sounds like you do know what being in love feels like, Jasper."

Again he didn't say anything for a long time. She felt her eyes closing, feeling completely relaxed now that she heard his voice. Felt the weight of his words on her heart.

"Bella?"

"Yes?" She asked breathlessly.

"Look out your window for me, darlin'."

Her eyes shot open and she sat up, "What? Why?"

"Just do it," he said teasingly. Bella kicked the sheets off her legs as quickly as she could and practically stumbled to the window as her foot got tangled up.

Her hand reached out towards the curtain and she parted it, looking into the night until she saw him. Leaning beside his car, a smile tugging at his lips, Jasper waved from across the street, "Hi."

Bella's lips parted and her breath hitched, "Hi..." Even from here, she could see the warm honey color in his eyes as they stared back at her.

He was dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, nearly making him invisible in the night had it not been for the golden locks of his hair swaying in the wind.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, unable to hide the small smile that swept across her lips.

"He's not getting back in there with you, Bella. I won't give him a chance, and if you're scared that's a possibility, I'm not leaving. I'll be here."

Tears filled her eyes then and that warm feeling in her chest flooded every other emotion she'd felt before, "Jasper..."

"Get in bed, darlin'. I'll talk to you until you fall asleep."

"But, what about...do you want to come in then?"

Even though the question caused her insides to coil and war with her rational thoughts that it wasn't a good idea, she didn't want him to be outside all night like that.

"And risk Charlie seeing me? I'd rather stay on his good side for as long as I can, besides I'll have to move my car somewhere else before he notices. I'll be here when you wake up. I promise. I'm not going anywhere without you."

Which meant he planned to stay here until she was ready to go to school tomorrow.

He'd wait for her.

Bella placed her hand on the glass and shook her head, unable to hide the way her voice quivered as she said, "You're doing too much for me, Mr. Whitlock."

"It's worth it, Miss Swan."

There was an intensity in his words, in his golden eyes when he spoke them. Only proving his point when his gift settled over her body, a thick veil of untethered care and sincerity meant for her.

They spoke on the phone for a long time, late into the night. Jasper shared stories of his past until they made it to his time shared with the Cullens. The last thing she remembered hearing before falling asleep was the sound of Jasper's low chuckle as he told her about Emmett's antics over the years.

She loved his laugh. His smile and the sound of his voice. She loved that he was outside, looking out for her all because she was too scared to fall asleep.

It was at that moment that Bella realized what she felt for Jasper was little more than friendship. It was something more, something she couldn't begin to describe.

Chapter Text

Bella yawned as she sat in the bleachers with the throng of students assembling for a mandatory attendance this morning. From here, she could see the school's principal going on and on about the importance of respecting students and faculty from the middle of the gym. There was also the everlasting conversation of bullying being thrown in the mix.

Bella wanted to believe this had nothing to do with what happened with Mallory, though something told her that wasn't the case. She supposed she should be grateful no one had mentioned her...yet. If she's lucky, no one will mention her at all before the assembly was over. She found herself yawning into her hand once more, tears involuntarily blurring her vision.

A shoulder brushed against hers as someone sat down beside her. A zing of energy ran through her body instantly then, and she knew who it was that sat next to her without looking away from Principal Greene giving a passionate speech. Bella knew it in the way her heart jolted as if being sparked back to life by his presence alone. It made her shift in her seat, a burst of excitement and nervous energy flooding her next. Bella didn't want to look at him, knowing a sweet grin would make its way over his lips as he most definitely felt her emotions. A mix of embarrassment and excitement swirling in her belly. In her chest, where her heart was skipping about.

Jasper Whitlock stretched out his long legs before him as he leaned back to whisper in her ear, his voice husky, "Falling asleep there, darlin'?"

Bella ran a hand through her hair, "I can't believe I woke up at five in the morning to come to this thing. It could have been mentioned through an email or something." True, but Principal Greene was old school and preferred to have official assemblies throughout the year.

Emmett leaned in from behind her, taking the seats before Mike Newton and his buddies could with a cheeky grin that said 'try going near my little sister and I'll bite your heads off.' Mike and his friends didn't linger after that. The only reason Bella knew what Emmett intended by that gesture was because Alice told her, giggling about it as she did. All in all, it was nice being with them like this. Bella could only imagine the sort of hell she'd be in if the Cullens had left her behind...like he did.

Emmett teased, "Cheer up, kid. At least you're not down there giving the speech yourself. Having to imagine everyone in the gym was naked just to get through it." He chuckled.

"Believe me, if anyone was keeping their clothes on in that scenario it would be you."

Emmett leaned closer, throwing his arm over Bella's shoulders and jostling her playfully. Jasper grinned, shaking his head as she rolled her eyes, unable to fight off the smile invading her lips too.

"You wound me, Bella. I know at least a hand full of girls would jump at the fact to see me naked—"

A smack to the back of Emmett's head shut his mouth right up. Rosalie hissed a second later, "Finish that sentence and die."

Bella turned to give the couple a sidelong glance, still smiling while Emmett rubbed the back of his head, muttering an apology to let his mate know he was completely joking. Rosalie settled back in her seat with her arms crossed over her silk blue blouse. Her dark amber eyes twinkled as she looked at Bella and shrugged.

Emmett grimaced, "Why'd you hit me, babe? Bella's the one who started it."

"You were the one who mentioned the entire student body being naked." Alice added from beside Rosalie, eyes dancing with amusement.

Bella shook her head at the vampire she's always seen as an older brother and quipped, "You poked the bear. Now you gotta sit with her."

Rosalie fought a smile as Emmett's lips parted in surprise before he released a bellowing laugh which earned them several glances from the students sitting around them, some curious and others annoyed, mostly because they needed to go to class after this lengthy assembly. Much like Bella.

"You really went there huh?" Emmett asked as he pretended to wipe away a tear from his eye, "Aiming for my weaknesses, Swan."

"If I recall, your preferred meal is bear. I'd say it's not so much your weakness anymore," Bella murmured low enough that only the Cullens would hear. She turned her attention back to Principal Greene who appeared to move on to other topics such as parking in the handicap zone and the consequences of those who abuse the parking laws. When Bella's shoulder brushed up against Jasper's, she tried not to look at him, really she did.

But there was no such thing. She couldn't resist. Glancing up, she felt the world melt away when she noticed Jasper was already looking at her. Eyes warm and inviting like honey met her brown ones the color of coffee.

Stupid heart stop skittering.

"There you are. Not hiding anymore?" He whispered, inching a little closer until his leg brushed against her own. And when he playfully nudged her with his elbow, Bella bit her lip to hold back a smile. She failed miserably.

"Yeah, here I am."

After Jasper dropped her off at home, he promised he'd return to keep an eye out for her in case Edward decided to come back as soon as he went for a quick hunt in the forest near the property.

It wasn't necessary for him to be here, she knew that. Her fears were wholly unreasonable, or so she told herself. But with the knowledge that Jasper would be in her room within the blink of an eye should anything happen, Bella had slept easily last night for the first time in days. She made a quick dinner for herself and placed the leftovers in the fridge for Charlie to eat when he came home. It was only after she finished cleaning up around the kitchen that she got a text from him.

Charlie: Got caught up at work. Looks like I'll be late for dinner, sorry kid. Make sure to lock the doors and windows tonight while I'm gone.

Bella sighed, feeling somewhat disappointed that her father wouldn't be home before she went to bed. Things had gotten better with Charlie despite the nightmares and depression following her around like a shadow. He was there for her, always. No matter what it was or what she didn't tell him. Charlie never once hovered, but he also let her know he was here whenever she needed her dad. It warmed her heart. More than he would every truly know.

She typed back a quick reply.

Bella: Got it. Be safe. Love you.

Charlie: You know me. Nothing can get to your ol' man. I love you too, kid.

She smiled at the message as she headed upstairs to take a quick shower, being sure to wash her hair with the lavender shampoo she bought not too long ago after a long day at school. She stood under the shower-head for a while, letting the hot water turn her pale skin bright pink while trying to let the weight of the days fall off her shoulders. She was about to place the bottle back down on the shelf when it slipped from her grasp and tumbled loudly onto the floor. Bella sighed as she bent down to pick it up. That was when she heard it.

The creak of the floorboards coming from behind the bathroom door Loud in the silence of the house she had all to herself.

Bella stilled, shutting out the sound of the falling water trickling over her shoulders to strain her ears again. Listening. Had she imagined that noise?

No.

The second time she heard it, Bella quickly shut the water off and pulled the shower curtain aside before reaching for her towel. There it was again. The creaking of the floorboards. A faint click, click, click getting louder with every breath she took.

Bella's heart stuttered in her chest as new sounds followed. Sounds that resembled footsteps walking across the hall. An irregular beat.

Her hands trembled as her thoughts went to Edward, to him standing on the other side of the door, waiting.

She barely registered the pool of water gathering around her wet feet as she stood motionless, waiting to hear more and when nothing else came, she couldn't do anything other than blindly reach for her phone she'd luckily taken with her, having left it on the counter. Water dripped down her long hair, making her shiver.

The clicking sound continued followed by more creaking. Tears sprang in her eyes as she slowly stepped back and sunk onto the floor to lean against the bathtub. The sound was getting closer. And with every new sound she heard, the more her panic started to take over.

Somehow she'd managed to call Jasper without truly looking at her cellphone, unable to look away from the shadows dancing beneath the gap between the door and floor.

Someone was here.

"Hey I was about to call you—"

Bella pulled in a shaky breath and whispered as low as she could, "Someone's here."

"What?"

"I think," the clicking made her flinch as her other hand clutched the wrapped towel closer to her chest. "Someone's in the house with me."

The sound of wind rushing across the other line told her Jasper was already running. Running faster than any human ever could.

"Where are you?" He asked, a growl in his voice.

"Bathroom." Was all she could managed as a tear rolled down her cheek. Bella felt sick to her stomach in a way she hadn't before. Dread burned through every agonizing second that passed. If Edward was back, if he was waiting in her room—

A gentle knock in the door made her jump but she was otherwise rendered useless as she remained on the floor, legs tucked up to her chest. The trembling got worse as she waited for the door to burst open when Jasper said into the phone, "It's just me. I'm here, Bella."

She let out a sound that was a mix of a sigh of relief and a sob as she dropped the phone to the tile floor with a clatter.

Bella cupped her face with her hands as tears rolled down her cheeks.

It was just Jasper.

Not Edward, not him.

The door opened slowly and two cold hands cupped her shoulders seconds later, making her flinch. She hadn't realized she failed to lock the door when she went in to take her shower. It hadn't even occurred to her to do so.

"Bella," Jasper murmured as she forced herself to look up into his pleading eyes.

Her bottom lip trembled, "I thought he was...I heard things."

"I know. It's okay," Jasper said, squeezing her bare flesh as though to prove it. "No one else is here with us. I checked. It was just the wind outside pushing the branches against the window down the hall."

"Branches?" Bella shut her eyes, shaking her head, "I don't know what's wrong with me. God, I'm so—"

"You're scared," he cut her off, his gentle yet firm words making more tears run down her face. He didn't say it to belittle her or guilt her for exaggerating. "It's okay, I know why you panicked."

His thumbs were there to wipe all her tears away before he pulled her into his chest. They both sat on the floor for a long time, Jasper holding her while she cried and cried, feeling guilty and stupid for reacting so strongly to whatever noise she'd heard.

Jasper pressed his lips against her temple, "It's okay. I got you. No one will ever hurt you again, Bella. I swear it. I know I keep saying that but there's not a day I won't keep saying it if only to remind you that you're not alone, you'll never be alone again."

Despite the constant fear pricking at the back of her neck constantly—especially when she was alone—Bella felt safe again, with Jasper holding her like this. As if he was home; a warm and secluded place that belonged only to the two of them.

When the tears subsided and her fear disappeared thanks to his gift and the calming effect Jasper has on her, Bella became highly aware of what she was wearing. Nothing more than a towel wrapped around her naked body. And she was sitting on Jasper's lap, practically naked.

Heat washed over her face and she gingerly unwrapped her arms around his neck, sliding off his lap. Almost instantly missing his touch.

"I'm sorry," she said while keeping her eyes averted. Hoping Jasper didn't notice the bright pink blush on her cheeks. "I should probably get dressed."

The air between them grew heavy, Bella's heartbeat pounding in the silence. She bit her lip as she gazed up hesitantly after he didn't say anything more. To find Jasper's eyes had darkened, nearly onyx as he looked at her. At her blushing cheeks, the pink tint on the corner of her ears and neck. At the exposed skin of her chest. She noticed the way his jaw clenched, only proving to highlight his chiseled features and it created a surge of heat inside her.

Jasper stood before reaching a hand down for her. She took it and he helped her stand on trembling legs, though didn't let go right away. She bit her lip, unable to look away from him. Wanting...wanting more. Wanting him to...touch her more. That was absurd. For many reasons. Right?

Jasper cleared his throat but his voice was hoarse as he murmured, "You're killing me, darlin'."

"What? How?" She blinked.

"I can feel you," his words were dark and seductive, strained as if he was fighting off some urge Bella could barely understand from her side. "You're intoxicating. Your emotions. Your scent. Everything."

As if unable to resist, his lips curled up slightly as he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, making her shudder in pleasure as his touch did more torturous things to her. His hand cupped her cheek and she found herself leaning into his touch, into his lips that hovered over her flushed skin.

Her hand gripped his shirt to steady herself, breaths shallow and heart racing.

"Jasper."

She could have sworn she heard a low growl then, resonating in his chest. Jasper kissed her cheek again, slow and deliberate. Cold lips, oddly soft and gentle caressing her cheek like she was the most delicate jewel while his hands which cupped her face were strong and authoritative. Making her feel safe once more.

Bella bit her bottom lip as Jasper moved farther down, kissing her jawline next before finally pulling away. Far enough to stare into her eyes, both of them breathing heavily with their chests rising and falling faster the usual. Close enough that she could feel his lips a mere inch away from hers.

Bella looked at him for a long time, eyes heavy-lidded and dazed as she couldn't bring herself to look away. Jasper's own eyes were as dark as chocolate, sweet and sinful as he looked at her flushed face and rising chest.

He cleared his throat, finally looking away, "I'll wait in the hall until you've finished getting changed." And then he was striding out of the bathroom, leaving her utterly speechless. Leaving her...wanting more than she could ever possibly tell him.

Because there were no words to describe just how much she liked Jasper. How much she yearned for him in more ways than one. But maybe, he already knew exactly how she felt. Bella had to fight the need to slap her face with both her hands and sink to the tile floor for a whole other reason.

What was worse? That he knew how she truly felt about him or that a part of her didn't mind that he knew at all?

Chapter Text

Jasper was losing his mind.

He paced Bella's room, fighting the roaring that began in his mind. In his dead heart which seemed to fight his immortality, wanting to pulse and pound through his chest.

He also didn't want to think about how he was back in her room, seeing all the little things that have a bit of Bella in everything.

From her copy of Wuthering Heights on the nightstand to her yellow raincoat hanging off one of the hooks. Not to mention the scent of strawberries and lavender filing ever inch of this house. It was all so Bella.

His lips feel as though they've been burned by fire even as he placed his fingers over them, only to find they're as cold as ice.

This was Bella's fire coursing through him.

Being so close to her should have made him lose it—crave her blood more than anything else. And yet...it was her he craved, in every sense of the word.

"Fuck," he cursed under his breath, running a hand over his face.

He'd kissed her, felt her pressed against him. Closer than he'd ever allowed himself to get to her. And it felt amazing. Not to mention she'd been practically naked with only a towel to cover her up.

Touching her like that with such intimacy was unlike anything he's ever felt for another before. What he wouldn't give to kiss her fully. To kiss her full lips and taste her.

Jasper nearly groaned in frustration with himself as he sat on the edge of her bed. He was a man of few words and somehow he wanted to tell her exactly how he felt in the moment.

Pour all of himself into this girl, make her his because he was hers in every way.

He knew it the moment he found her in that forest. Knew it the day he knelt in front of her in this very room and brought her back from the darkness of her mind.

It was harder to admit to himself what it all meant. What she meant to him. Bella's friendship meant the world to him, he knew that. The way they grew closer every day was more than he could have asked for. But having more with her? Telling her how he felt and knowing she could reciprocate?

Because she felt something for him, that much he was sure of after tonight.

The sound of the bathroom door opening brought him out of his reverie. Jasper straightened, looking to find her padding into the bedroom only to stop short as soon as she saw him sitting on the bed. He rose swiftly, "How're you feeling?"

Bella looked down at her hands, answering timidly as she said, "Better. Thanks."

She opted to wear a grey tank top and blue plaid pajama pants that pooled around her ankles. Jasper held his breath as he watched the blood rise to her cheeks once more, embarrassed all over again.

He smiled, "Glad to hear it. Did you need anything before going to bed? I'm heading down anyway."

That caught her attention. Bella tensed as she looked up, unable to hide the worry on her face, try as she might, "You're...leaving?"

"I'll be outside, like last time. I'm not going anywhere I promise."

"N-no, I mean..." she cleared her throat as she moved further into the room, setting her cellphone down on the nightstand. "You want to be outside?" Jasper frowned, but she clarified, "You can stay, i-if you want I mean. You don't have to stay outside."

Jasper felt the tendrils of emotion surging forward then. A plea. A wariness that was coated in hope.

"Ah," he realized what she was trying to say and smiled, "do you want me to stay, Bella?"

"Only if you want to," she stammered, her face growing pink with every word.

Jasper closed what little space remained between them, a thrill filling his senses as she stiffened but didn't step back. Didn't even seem wary of him.

If anything she was nervous and at the same time, very curious. He kept his hands in the pockets of his jeans if only to keep him from reaching out and touching her.

He slowly leaned down until he whispered in her ear, "Do you want me to stay?"

"If you want—"

"Say it," he cut in. His voice was deep and husky, laced with a gentle challenge. "Tell me what you want right now and I'll give it to you, Bella. You know you don't have to hide from me. Not from me."

He could hear her heart pounding in her chest as it rose and fell.

"Do you want me to stay?" Jasper caught her gaze as she cast him a sidelong glance, a strand of her hair brushing her cheek as she shifted. He watched as her throat bobbed, swallowing down the ball of nerves before her lips parted.

"Stay, Jasper. Here with me."

Jasper smiled as he leaned back, "Was that so hard to admit?"

She released a scoff mixed with an incredulous laugh before pushing him, "Jerk. Stop teasing me."

"You love it," Nudging her towards the bed, he walked around and took a seat on the loveseat that remained nestled by the windows that looked out towards the front yard.

He had to focus on her scent and not the ghost of a reminder that his so called brother's presence somehow seemed to remain, taunting him with what he once had with Bella. What he threw away so easily.

Jasper pushed those thoughts away and instead focused on his mate, "Get some sleep, darlin'. I'll be right here." As Bella laid on her side, nestling under the comfort of the covers, she stared at his silhouette with a curious expression. As if entranced by him when it was the other way around.

Jasper could see her brown eyes perfectly in the dim light staring at him as he leaned back and rested his head against the cushion of the chair.

"Good night, Jasper."

"Good night, Bella," he smiled as he closed his eyes and focused on the even sound of her heartbeat. A song to his own quiet soul.

"Jasper?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

There were no words to convey how being with her—during the good or the bad times—was the farthest thing from a favor or because he was being a "good guy". No, he was being so incredibly selfish right now. Because there was no other place in this retched world he'd rather be.

So he did what he knew best. He focused on his gift, zeroing in on his emotions—on what Bella meant to him—before sending them her way. Lulling her to sleep while also putting her worries to bed. Her heart tripped over itself as if she were surprised by what he'd just conveyed, but that was the point.

Despite the scare and all the emotions roiling around inside her head, Bella slept soundly. She'd woken up more relaxed and rested than she ever remembered feeling.

Just as he'd promised, Jasper had stayed with her all night.

Finding him sitting in the loveseat with his eyes closed and a soft expression on his usually stoic face left her speechless, completely taken by his beauty and the untamable side of his true nature.

They hadn't spoken much while she got ready for school but she didn't feel there was a need to when they were both so comfortable with each other.

Charlie was still fast asleep when they left so Bella left a note on the counter to let him know she was going to school—with Jasper as he was picking her up.

She knew her father would be more than ready to inquire about that little fact however, she found she looked forward to it.

The day was uneventful and Bella was thankful for that, even feeling lighter as she walked down the hall with Alice and Angela.

The same couldn't be said about gym, however, there were no dodgeballs thrown in her face so that was a win in her book.

The sun was setting on the horizon beyond the trees by the time school was dismissed. With the weather changing constantly, it wasn't a surprise it appeared to be later than it actually was.

She stared at her reflection in the puddles as she walked across the parking lot, heading towards Jasper's car. She was admiring the warm streaks of bright orange and pinks that stretched across the sky when she noticed Jasper leaning against the car.

"You know sometime I will have to drive to school on my own," Bella murmured as she stepped up beside him. He smiled as though to say that was never going to happen before taking her backpack and popping it in the backseat.

"You can but I have the suspicion you'd miss our little car rides. I know I would," he said as he turned back around to face her.

Bella almost instantly felt her face turn the same shade as the sky. Her hands started fidgeting, "You would huh?"

"Yes, unless it wasn't absolutely clear Bella, I enjoy being with you. Look forward to it in fact."

"And...why is that?" She asked beneath hooded lashes, feeling incredibly nervous.

Jasper leaned closer, close enough his cool fingers brushed across her hand, making her breath hitch as they looked down towards their hands. She watched as his long fingers wrapped around her palm until her hand closed around his.

She shuddered when he spoke, voice deep and husky, "You know why, darlin'."

They were so close to each other now. So close she could almost taste the scent of sweet spices and rain off him.

Bella looked into his black eyes, his unwavering gaze scorching her from the inside out. Her stomach clenched as his thumb kept rubbing soothing circles on her skin.

"Do I?" She asked breathlessly.

Jasper leaned closer until one of his forearms rested against the car, bringing him dangerously close to her lips as he rested his forehead against hers. "Trust me, you do," he drawled. Bella glanced to those plump lips as he said, "I told you before. That I can feel you. Sense the way you respond to me, emotionally...and physically. And I love every minute of it, because it's how I feel too."

Bella's free hand slid up Jasper's broad chest until it rested on his shoulder. She bit her lip and Jasper's gaze suddenly darkened with hunger—for her.

Tears invaded her eyes as an overwhelming feeling surfaced. "How can you...I'm so broken, Jazz. So tainted," she murmured. However, she believed that, truly thought those things about herself. No one was to blame for how she felt or perceived herself, it was all on her.

Jasper grew solemn, "You are anything but tainted in my eyes, Isabella. I know that it'll take time for you to see it, but know that I have no intention of ever turning my back on you no matter how hard things may get for us." He gently wiped away a single tear that slipped down her cheek.

She noticed the way he trapped her between the car. She noticed everything about him in this moment. From his towering height and muscles, to the way the soft curls of his hair rested against his jawline. And how he kept his right side completely open. Giving her the option to break away if she wanted to.

Jasper didn't make her feel insecure or frightened. Not in the slightest, and it did things to her. Sweet, wonderful things.

"Jasper." She whispered, her breath and his intermingling amidst the cold air outside. "I...really like you, but what if—"

"You don't truly understand what you make me feel," he admitted and she frowned, but before she could ask him what he meant, Jasper said, "But that's okay. I'm a patient man, Bella. I've waited a lifetime for you, I can wait a few more weeks, months. Whatever you need. Until you can truly accept what I'm willing to give you."

Her heart soared. Her hands tugged on his shoulders, unsure if she wanted him closer or to push him away. He did the former when she didn't resist him. Leaning in slowly until his chest was against hers. His lips a breath away from her own.

Bella averted her eyes from his unyielding ones, face flushed and heart pounding in her chest as she looked around to make sure no one could see what was happening. What they were about to do. Luckily most of the cars in the lot were gone and Jasper had parked by the wall and the stairs which students rarely used.

Jasper could hear and feel it all, grinning when he realized what she was doing.

His hand which cupped her cheek moved to the back of her nape, "Just tell me to stop if you don't want this. Tell me and I'll do as you say. Always."

Bella's breath caught in her lungs. After Edward, she thought she'd fear another man's touch. Loathe it even. But not with Jasper. Never with him. No, she craved his touch so much it was all she could think about when they were together.

"I don't...want you to stop." She finally admitted.

Jasper's hand tugged her a little closer then, wrapping his arm around her waist as he leaned further down until their eyes were level. His hand cupped her cheek gently, caressing her fair skin.

"Thank fuck." He murmured hoarsely.

Bella's eyes fluttered closed as she let him pull her forward, his lips barely grazing her own and ignoring a fire deep within herself that she hadn't expected to feel. Bella gasped as a low rumble of satisfaction resonated through Jasper's chest.

A little further and the teasing way his lips brushed across hers would become a real kiss. A kiss she had no doubt in her mind she'd cherish till the end of her days.

"Bella," he whispered her name as if he were pleading, saying a prayer.

And then he kissed her, pressing against her soft lips gently as if scared to hurt her. It was quick at first, pulling back to look at her and make sure she was okay with this still. Caution warring with need reflected in his eyes. When she merely stared up at him through hooded lashes, he kissed her again.

Another soft peck, a slow teasing kiss of her bottom lip that made Bella's toes curl in her shoes.

Bella became highly aware of everything. The sound of her hands running over Jasper's chest, smoothing over the fabric of his jacket. His hands touching her, molding her to him. Her heart beating rapidly which might very well jump out of her chest.

She gasped as his teeth gently bit down on her flesh. His hands gripped the fabric of her jacket, pulling her closer while battling with the feral need to claim her completely.

Bella whimpered as she parted her lips for him, letting him slip his tongue past them and into her sweet mouth. Jasper groaned as she went up on her tiptoes to get even closer and he wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her there.

Their tongues danced together as Bella sighed into the heated kiss. As if she'd done it a hundred times before. Her fingers sank into his hair and tugged, eliciting a soft growl from him.

For the first time in a long time, Jasper felt like a teenager experiencing a first kiss for the first time. Experiencing pure bliss and disbelief that this was happening. Bella mirrored the same sentiment only her heart was just about ready to combust as he pressed her against the door of his car and ravaged her mouth with hungry kisses.

They only pulled away when Bella finally needed to break for air. The both panted as they stared at one another, dizzy from the haze of lust between them. Then they laughed softly, pressing their foreheads together while still holding into each other.

Bella decided then and there that if this was a dream she would do anything to stay in this very moment for a long time.

"You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do that," Jasper murmured as he pecked her lips once more, smiling as he did. "You're going to be the death of me, I know it."

"Funny, I think you just brought me back to life," Bella teased as she squeezed his shoulders to pull him back in, wanting nothing more than to kiss him again.

His thumb pressed down on her bottom lip, parting her mouth before teasing her with his tongue once more only this time it was something slow and incredibly enticing. The best damned feeling in the world as far as she was concerned.

When they parted again, she knew Jasper wasn't nearly finished having his way with her, wanting to kiss her until her lips were swollen and a permanent smile was etched across them.

"Jasper."

They both froze, tensing as Alice's voice cut in and she walked around the car. Bella could have sworn Jasper growled in annoyance as he pulled back and slowly stepped away from her, no longer feeling affectionate around a member of his family. But not because he didn't want to be close to her since his hand moved down to hold hers, tucking her close to his side.

Bella's face was flame red as she looked at Alice's soft eyes and small smile when she appeared. But it was short lived when the pixie's usually happy demeanor went serious.

"What's the matter?" Jasper asked, sensing her tense posture immediately and whatever lingered in her emotions.

Bella's hand closed around Jasper's as Alice geared up to speak.

When she finally did, Bella felt a cold sweat seep into her bones which had nothing to do with the humid climate left behind by the rain.

Alice said, "We have to go home. It's Edward."

Bella tensed at the mention of his name, but Jasper's hand closed around hers this time, a silent comfort. He nearly spat, "What about him?"

Alice looked to Bella with lament as if knowing full well what this news was about to do to her.

"He's coming back to Forks. Tonight."

Chapter Text

Bella stared out the window and into the darkness of the forest as Jasper drove down the roads leading back to the Cullen's home. The trees were a blurred mess of evergreen and midnight as the moon quickly replaced the setting sun. A blanket of stars shining above the trees surrounding their small town.

Jasper was silent the whole way, tension rolling off his shoulders and anger boiling just below the surface. Bella didn't have to question why that was after what had transpired between them moments ago. What that kiss meant to both of them and why it was more than two people liking each other. She'd had a glimpse into him the moment his lips touched hers. The canal of emotions flooding her every senses as he held her to him, kissing her until her head spun and butterflies filled her belly. As if he'd allowed her to see a part of his soul that was absolutely precious.

However, what was supposed to be the most unforgettable day of her life—a day meant for her and Jasper—was quickly becoming a nightmare. One that she and Jasper would be dragged into soon enough.

Edward was coming back.

Her reflection on the passenger side window revealed just how terrible she looked even though she felt calm, so calm there was nothing but silence in her mind. And yet, dread swirled inside her chest on and off, like a poison. The memory of cold hands gripping her shoulder, bruises left behind where he'd touched her repeatedly plague her—

A calm came over her once more, alleviating and subtle, and she recognized it wasn't her own. Of course it wasn't. Bella took a deep breath as she glanced at Jasper, smiling softly even as he kept his gaze fixed ahead, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Jasper didn't want to bring her to his home where Edward would be there, in fact he and Alice had a long argument about why that was out of the question. However, Alice said it would be better if they were where the family was to ensure Bella's safety. That and Bella had ultimately agreed before Jasper could suggest another alternative.

"I'll go with you," she'd murmured, tearing Jasper and Alice away from their heated standoff. "If being together is what she says we need to do, then it's for a reason, right?" Alice had merely nodded with compassion and lament in her golden eyes.

Whatever Jasper saw on her face in that moment made him clench his jaw before his stone-cold gaze softened. He nodded once before turning to Alice and telling her they'd be there. Then they took off. He might not be happy about it, but he respected her decision anyway. He didn't take that from her, the choice to choose and make her own decisions. That wasn't something Jasper did.

"The second you want to leave you tell me," Jasper said tersely as he continued driving, going at an oddly slow speed that was typically what a normal human would drive on these roads, not something the Cullens did often. A clear indication that he was prolonging the inevitable and Bella liked him even more for it, anxious as she was.

His amber eyes met hers as the headlights of a car passing by brushed across his face before fading away, "I mean it, Bella. No matter what happens. No matter what it is, we'll leave. You just say the word."

Bella bit her lip, staring at him for a long moment before slowly stretching her hand out towards his which rested on the center console. Jasper noticed and the corner of his lips quirked up slightly though his expression was still grim. Then he was moving to take her hand in his own.

"If I tell you something will you promise not to laugh?" She asked in a low tone, as if scared the world would hear her confession. Jasper waited for her answer while giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm scared of what he'll do. What he'll say. But mostly, I'm scared that you'll all see me the way he does. This weak thing that he threw away so easily. I'm scared you'll look at me the way he did that day."

Her words were torn away from her as Jasper suddenly brought their hands up to his lips and she watched as he kissed the back of her hand, slow as if savoring the fact that he can kiss her now. That he can have this with her now. His lips though cold, were soft and left her shuddering in pleasure. It was the oddest thing, the way her body and heart reacted to him whenever he touched her. As if she could only feel alive when he was touching her.

I'm scared this will all change once he's back. Is what her main worry was becoming, growing with every second they got closer to the house.

Without warning, Jasper eased the car off to the side of the road and put it in park, the only sound heard in the silence being the tick, tick, tick of the hazard lights he turned on without her noticing. Bella was about to ask him what he was doing when he spoke.

"Isabella, I swear to you, I won't let him lay another hand on you. I'd sooner rip him to shreds than allow that to happen ever again. You having to come here with me tonight and seeing him is more than what should have been asked of you. For you not to run away the moment he was mentioned, it shows you have courage. Believe me or not, that's how I feel about you, how I see you. It shows you didn't let him break you because you're still here, living. Don't let him take that from you ever again.

"I want to tell you that when you're scared, I can protect you. But that can only go so far, I think you know that which is why you're trying not to rely on me so much and wouldn't be if I hadn't insisted. Darlin'," she looked up as he slowly turned to face her and cupped her cheek in his hand. "I'm not Edward, I won't ever be him. You don't have to put up a front for me when we both know that won't work. I won't belittle you for feeling how you do because like it or not, you're human and humans are fragile by nature. Be kind to yourself Bella, the way you're kind to me. The way you accept me despite all my wrong doings that still haunt me to this day."

"You say all these things so easily." She shook her head.

"Because I believe them," he said, "I believe you. I see you and only you, not what you should be or what I made you up to be in my mind like Edward did."

Bella pressed her cheek into his hand, nuzzling his palm as he brushed his thumb over her warm skin.

"You've always seen me, haven't you?" She asked timidly, tears stinging her eyes, "Long before we became friends, you've always been there. Saving me."

Jasper leaned forward, his lips hovering over hers as he whispered, "I think it's you who's saved me, Bella. A long time ago. I'm just sorry it's taken me so long to figure it out."

"Jasper..."

"Shh," He whispered, capturing her face in both his hands this time. His breath fanned her flushed cheeks as he grazed his lips across them, "You're mine now, darlin'. I'd be damned if I let anything let you think otherwise. I'm not letting you go now that I have you, Bella. Not ever."

She whimpered into his kiss as emotion built in her throat, tears wetting her lashes. As he kissed her, Jasper took his time. Drawing out soft gasps from her mouth, listening to her pounding heartbeat that fueled his desire. Lips melding together, tongues caressing each other until he broke away only to kiss down the column of her throat. Bella's arms wrapped around his shoulders and he leaned closer. The flashing lights of cars passing them by caressed the two, basking them in shadow and light, but the world simply didn't matter anymore.

Not as they were both lost, not in a lustful kiss shared between two teenagers new to intimacy. Not even close. No, what they shared was unparalleled to something so mundane.

This was a lover's embrace.

Something intimate in more than merely the physical sort.

"Bella. Bella," Jasper whispered over and over again as if in prayer. As if begging for her never to leave him, to never deprive him of such a feeling. A need so deep it crushed her and healed her all at once.

His fingers ran through her long hair, pulling on the strands just enough to make her moan. His teeth nipped her lips before soothing the skin with his tongue, a sweet and seductive act that made her feel all sorts of ways. All of them good and wholly overwhelming. "Baby, you don't know what you do to me. I'm burning from the inside out," he said in between kissing her now plump lips, "You've bewitched me."

Bella released a breathless laugh bordering on a sob, still overwhelmed and beyond delighted to hear his sincere words. This was too much, should be too much for one person to experience such pleasure from mere words and gentle caresses.

"Jasper, I'm yours. Please, let me be yours." She gazed into his eyes, brushing his hair back with her hands. And in his eyes, she saw such raw emotion it made her knees weak.

"You already are. You've always been." He said softly as he pulled her to him, holding her close this time until she let emotion win and finally all the numbness she'd felt moments ago was washed away and replaced with love. So much love it brought her to tears and left her trembling. If Jasper were human, maybe he would have been crying too, she thought as he pressed his forehead against her shoulder.

Edward could show up whenever he pleased, but right now in this moment, the world didn't exist. It melted away. Leaving only the two lovers to have this time together, not knowing what the night will bring.

Chapter Text

Edward stood motionless beyond the tree line, hidden deep within the shadows as he watched the Mercedes parked on the side of the road. Red lights flashing on and off repeatedly as the couple inside shared an intimate moment.

The lights reflected off his black eyes while Bella and Jasper's voices reached his keen hearing, but only their muffled cadences could be detected. He couldn't get too close. Not yet. Not when he still had so much left to do.

A deadly calm overtook his senses just before the anger could come and rule his actions. Stopping him before he rushed over there, hauled Jasper out of the car and ripped his head clean off. Hearing Bella's horrified scream as he killed and tore her mate's body limb for limb. He could almost see it now and it made him grin with a dark sort of depravity, rejoicing in taking back what was his—

Edward growled in annoyance, his voice low and unrecognizable as he asked into the darkness, "You again?"

What's wrong with you? Have you completely lost your mind? That's Bella. It's Jasper, your brother! Stop this now! A voice that was his own and simultaneously wasn't, screamed from within his mind. Fighting to get out, clawing his way through the abyss that was Edward's quickly vanishing soul. He grinned, a cruel and sharp smile that was truly disconcerting as he pushed the voice down, down, down.

Until it was silent.

Finally.

"You found them," Footsteps approached, and Edward pushed aside all of his inner turmoil as he turned away from the car in time to see Victoria making her way towards him.

"I have. Did you find what you were looking for?" He eyed her red lips-which were tainted by the blood of her most recent victim-gleamed under the moonlight.

Victoria grinned wickedly as she sauntered closer, "Oh yes. I did. Would you like a taste?"

Edward stepped forward as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down until their lips met. The taste of blood on his tongue enticing him even more and within the blink of an eye he had her pinned to the tree, his hand splayed against the bark while the other gripped her waist possessively.

Victoria moaned as their tongues danced together, lost to her new lover's lust. Unaware that he was no longer looking at her as his sharp gaze focused on the human girl sitting in the car that finally drove away. His dark eyes were depthless as they watched the red lights fade into the night.

But the thrill of the hunt was ever present and it made him love every second of it.

"You should act now. While you have the chance," Victoria murmured into his ear, her voice, though lovely, reminding him of a snake hissing, readying for an attack. "I'll even let you take the first bite."

Edward's hand went to her wild mane of red hair and pulled harshly, making Victoria gasp and laugh in delight as she looked at him. He claimed her mouth again, savage and hungry until he finally pulled away. No longer tasting the blood on her mouth and thus having no use for her.

He released her and stepped back, turning his back on her as his dead eyes stared at the forest ahead, "Not yet." Hands tucked in the pockets of his jeans and walking further into the woods in the opposite direction Bella and Jasper were heading, with Victoria trialing after him he said, "We have one more thing to do before I reunite with my family."

"And then what?" She snapped, looking over her shoulder towards the empty road as rain started to trickle through the leaves above.

Edward's lip curled up, faint traces of red swirling in his onyx gaze like blood swimming in the black sea, "We hunt."

Bella sat on the couch, tucked between Jasper and Rosalie as everyone gathered around the living room. The air was tense, not a single member of the family seeming to relax for a moment. Alice stayed by the window, gazing absentmindedly out into the night.

When she finally snapped out of whatever vision she'd seen, Alice released an abrupt hiss, "Nothing. I can't see him!"

"Alice?" Carlisle walked up to his daughter, frowning in concern as he clasped her shoulder. Alice turned into her father's arms, frustration and worry evident on her pixie-shaped face.

"I don't know what he's doing. It's like he's playing with my gift, finding ways to go into blind spots. He knows it will mess with me. But why? Why is he doing this?"

Bella's hands closed in fists, suddenly growing more nervous the longer it takes Edward to make an appearance.

"He's going to show though, you said so yourself," Emmett said from where he was standing by the window on the other side of the room, arms crossed and eyes alert.

"It hasn't changed yet..." Alice murmured however, she was clearly disturbed by being kept in the shadows.

"Do you know what he wants?" Everyone turned to face Bella who'd been silent the entire time.

Alice nodded, "I think he wants to try to make amends."

"Amends," Rosalie snarled, standing up as if unable to control herself anymore. The blonde's anger towards her brother was palpable, even to Bella as she said, "He should have stayed away longer than a few weeks if he really wanted that."

"Rosalie," Esme murmured softly, pleadingly.

"No! What he did...it's unforgivable, I know you all agree with that."

"Whether we do or not," Carlisle supplied, "there's nothing we can do now. If he's coming, we'll have no choice but to see him. Knowing, Edward, he isn't likely to walk away."

"I could change that real quick," Rosalie spat to no one in particular.

"We'll handle it," Alice said as she walked over to her fuming sister. Determination laced across her usually happy, jovial demeanor, "together as a family."

While everyone gathered together to discuss how they would handle Edward should he begin stirring trouble, Bella stood up and wandered to the balcony. Standing by the sliding doors, she wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes. How could things have turned out this way? It seemed like a lifetime since she met the brooding yet kind Cullen boy in biology class. Bella could still recall the way he'd been so adamant in protecting her from James and the nomads that she would have never thought him to be this...deceitful.

As much as she didn't want to feel it, guilt swirled in her chest, but not for long.

Strong arms wrapped around her waist and Jasper's chest pressed against her back, his chin resting on her shoulder before whispering in her ear, "Tell me."

There were so many meanings behind those two words, but she understood them. Felt them in her heart.

Tell me what's on your mind.

Tell me you want to leave.

Tell me what you want.

She did the first, not quite ready to voice the second or third. Especially not the third when it all seemed to involve Jasper–being with him all the time, kissing him until she was breathless and craving more, just...sharing everything with him. It was so strange being so attached to him. This aching need to be close and know that he was beside her, touching her. Looking at her. Understanding her the way he always did. So different from what she had with Edward. What she thought was love seemed so far away now that she was experiencing something completely new with Jasper. As if he was a long lost part of her she'd only just regained.

"I feel guilty," She murmured as she rested her cheek against his while still gazing out into the forest surrounding the house, "maybe I started all this. If I hadn't involved myself so much with all of you..."

"Stop it," Jasper said while turning her around to face him. His fingers gripped her chin and lifted her face, "Regardless of what happened with Edward, you're here because of what you mean to us. To me. Feeling guilt isn't going to change that."

Bella splayed her hands against his broad chest while inhaling his sweet scent, "Okay."

"Okay?" He asked with a smile, tilting his head forward until his lips were barely grazing hers. He found it incredibly amusing to feel her embarrassment as her eyes flickered closed, trying to inch away slightly. Jasper kept his arm wrapped around her waist, not budging one bit as he asked, "Shy, darlin'? Really?"

"Jazz..." She breathed, "everyone is going to see."

"They already hear us. So I say they already know all there is to know," He said as he kissed her lips once, twice. Stealing two quick kisses that were innocent and yet, held so much meaning that it left her blushing harder, resting her forehead against the center of his chest to hide her red face. Jasper merely chuckled as he wrapped her up in his arms. "Oh we're shy now, huh?"

Emmett let out a short whistle that only increased Bella's blush as she glared at him. Rosalie, despite the permanent scowl on her face, rolled her eyes with amusement while Alice seemed to shimmy with happiness. Carlisle and Esme looked to one another, an unspoken communication between them as they positively beamed with joy.

They're happy...for us?

Bella was surprised to find that not one member of their family seemed to oppose their relationship. It was so odd, so unexpected, but incredibly heartwarming. Granting her a little more confidence to stare longingly into Jasper's eyes and hold him. Unafraid of what was to come.

It was late into the night when Edward's presence finally made everyone stiffen, save for Bella.

Jasper stood from where he sat beside Bella, shifting so he was facing the doorway. Emmett and Carlisle stood stoically on either side of the couch while Rosalie released a faint snarl.

The front door opened slowly before footsteps clicked against the hardwood floor, ascending the stairs. Alice and Esme looked at each other, exchanging wary glances before Edward stood in the living room.

Jasper clenched his teeth as the stench of blood, human and animal, reached him. A potent yet familiar smell he didn't like. The human scent wasn't of blood though he realized as he looked at Edward's black eyes. He hasn't fed on a human. Not yet anyway.

Edward looked at the empath, hearing his thoughts clearly and grinning as he repeated his words, "Not yet."

"Edward, what are you doing here? I thought I made myself clear you were not to return," Carlisle said with all the authority the leader of the coven could muster. Though Jasper felt the ache only a parent could feel for their child, a loss so great it was difficult to ignore. Jasper knew that no matter how powerful Carlisle's bond had once been with Edward, his father would undoubtedly protect Bella regardless.

They could all hear Bella's heart rate increasing by the minute since he appeared and Jasper tried to focus on keeping her calm when Edward finally looked at her. His voice was melodic and smooth like velvet as he drawled, "Hello love."

Bella flinched but slowly lifted her gaze up to look him in the eye.

Jasper watched Edward walk around the living room with his hands tucked in his pockets, eyes alert and unwelcoming as he tracked his every move. A predator watching its prey.

"I wanted to come back. See my family."

"Family? That's funny, last I checked you were more than willing to destroy it when you hurt Bella," Rosalie snapped as she glared at him over her shoulder when he walked past, as if he were patrolling the entire room.

Edward's eyes narrowed on his sister before regaining his composure.

Jasper couldn't describe it—the emotions he felt from Edward were so...foreign. Detached.

But it wasn't intentional, no, this was what he's become.

Wherever he's been and whatever he's done, it changed him.

Edward sighed, looking at Bella with eyes that bore too much interest for his liking.

"You're all right, I have changed. For the better I'd say," Edward said in the tone that seemed too rehearsed, too calm and placating to seem sincere. "I wanted to come and apologize for my behavior. It wasn't...I wasn't myself. Disgracing us for my actions and betraying your trust was truly a mistake I'll forever be repentant for, Carlisle."

"I'm sorry, was that an apology? It didn't sound like it." Rosalie challenged. Jasper was inclined to agree with the half-assed apology that seemed as false as the grin on Edward's lips.

"It isn't us you shouldn't be apologizing to, Edward." Carlisle said, frowning at the boy in concern before glancing to Bella.

"Ah yes, you're right. How insensitive on my part," He said before turning and striding across the room, "Isabella, I—"

That's close enough, Jasper conveyed his thoughts with a cold command and a wave of warning.

Edward slowed, directing his gaze to the empath before looking back to Bella. His nostrils flared as he took a breath and realization made him fight off a grin. A wicked thing that made Bella tense as she rose from the couch and stood close behind Jasper.

Jasper could hear her breathing increase and he slid a hand behind his back, glad that she immediately reached for it. A silent yet powerful gesture to remind her he was still here, and he wasn't going anywhere.

"So you've fallen for it, have you?" Edward murmured, shaking his head with an incredulous laugh. Emmett and Alice both stepped forward on either side of the vampire with grim expressions.

"Fallen?" Bella whispered.

"I mean it isn't that hard fooling you, I shouldn't be surprised. But that's why I'm here, to help you my sweet Bella."

A low growl resonated within Jasper's chest, "Stop it. Whatever this is, stop."

"Or what? The Major is going to come out and play?"

"Edward..." Bella shut her eyes, shaking her head as anxiety began to bubble up, overwhelming her. "Please—"

"That sounds familiar. I forgot how fragile you sound when you plead with me. Did you know when that blush appears on your cheeks and your heart rate increases it makes your blood smell...so enticing."

Jasper gritted his teeth as he looked over his shoulder to Bella, her eyes were filled with unshed tears and wide. Petrified. He saw it before his gift picked up on it, as if Bella tried to fight it off. Tried to be brave.

Rage was a silent killer inside Jasper as he gently released Bella's hand and turned to face his brother. His brother who looked utterly unfazed by what he'd just said, what he implied.

"I don't know how you do it, Jazz," Edward was in front of him in a flash, taking Bella by surprise as she stumbled backward. The former didn't so much as flinch, glaring at him closely from where he stood tall.

Had it not been for Esme wrapping her arm around Bella's shoulders she would have fallen. Her fear fed Jasper's increasing fury as he glared at the man before him. His eyes once a warm amber now turned black as night, darker than Edward's own eyes.

"Managed to fool her into being with you when she has no choice whatsoever. Did he tell you the truth yet about why you can't seem to be apart?"

Bella released a shaky breath as Esme moved her away from her two sons, as if knowing what was about to unfold, "What are you talking about?"

Jasper bared his teeth just as Carlisle placed his hand on Edward's shoulder, "Son, enough. There's no need to play games. Leave, you need to leave or I will make you. This isn't good for Bella," Not a suggestion but a command. There was a cadence in Carlisle's voice that betrayed the soft gold in his eyes.

Edward ignored his father completely as he said, "You didn't tell her she's your mate? Oh Jasper that's cruel, playing with her this way."

Any ounce of self control Jasper had snapped as it should have the moment he walked into this house.

Unleashing an onslaught of distraught onto Edward, Jasper surged forward and yanked on the collar of his shirt before Carlisle could do a thing. Bella gasped as Jasper shoved him back until Edward's body collided with the wall on the other side of the room. The wooden beam cracked with the force as Edward grimaced, grabbing Jasper's arm before he could continue pushing him into the wall.

Edward snarled as Jaspers other hand shot out and grabbed his face, pressing his cheek against the now cracked paint on the wall.

"You fucker, I should rip you to shreds for what you did to her." Jasper hissed, close enough he could bite Edward's head clean off if he wanted to.

"Go ahead," Edward groaned as Jasper pressed his hand down harder on his cheek. The sound of porcelain cracking echoed in the room, his skin cracking the longer Jasper kept him in place. "They'll never forgive you. Not even Bella."

"Jasper, please," Bella murmured though she remained between Esme and Rosalie who was quick to go to her as soon as Jasper went after Edward. Jasper looked over his shoulder, his eyes feral even as he found her looking at him with an uncertain gaze, "It's not worth it."

He felt her calm them. Not because she was calm, but because she wanted to give him this—peace and to bring him down from the fury still boiling inside himself.

If you so much as touch her again, you're dead to me, Jasper said before shoving him away. Leave before I really do kill you regardless of how everyone else feels. You're nothing of mine now.

After lying for so long and taking advantage of Bella's emotions, Jasper knew repairing his relationship with his brother was close to impossible.

It wasn't because of his romantic involvement with Bella, though that sparked a flame of jealousy he wasn't proud to admit. It was because out of everything that mattered to Jasper, his bond with Edward had been precious.

His best friend.

Confidant.

Brother.

All of it erased by a single lie, and then after...what he did to Bella was a line crossed Jasper didn't think he could ever let Edward go back over.

Jasper turned his back in him and walked back to Bella who seemed relieved beyond words that he was alright. That he hadn't done something he would have regretted.

Emmett and Carlisle guided Edward towards the door, the former grabbing hold of his arm as if to prevent him from going after Jasper.

"Oh I almost forgot," Edward said as he stopped despite Emmett's grip tightening. Edward flashed that familiar crooked grin once more as he spoke to Bella, ignoring the fissures on his marble skin, "when was the last time you saw Charlie? He didn't look too good last I saw him. Maybe you should head over there soon?"

"Edward, what—" In an instant, Edward shrugged Emmett's hand off and rushed past the others, running down the stairs and disappearing while Bella caught up to what he'd just said.

Charlie.

She paled as she turned to face Jasper, "What does he mean by that?"

"Emmett, Rosalie, go with Jasper and make sure Charlie's alright. Bella-"

"No," she stepped away from Carlisle, eyes wide in alarm, "I'm going too."

"Bella, I–" Jasper started only to stop when he finally caught her eyes. Felt what she was feeling.

Confused.

Upset.

Betrayed.

All because he hadn't told her they were mates. Because Edward had to poison something beautiful between them with his hateful words and ego. He hadn't wanted it to be this way. He wanted to tell her when he felt Bella was ready, probably would have told her tonight once everything was over. Now it was too late.

"I'm going," she said with more conviction. "You can't stop me from going. And you shouldn't. I have a right..." her voice caught and she turned before he could reach for her. Storming out of the living room with Rosalie in tow, the latter granting him a sympathetic glance.

Running a hand over his face, Jasper swallowed down the curse that threatened to slip and without looking at anyone else in the room, he followed after his mate.

Now wasn't the time to worry about what Bella was thinking.

Not when Charlie's well-being was at stake, and for Edward's sake, he hoped he was safe.

Chapter Text

Bella's knee wouldn't stop bouncing as Emmett drove his Jeep back to Charlie's house. The entire time she couldn't stop thinking about Edward's words. About everything he'd said...about Jasper and her. But mainly the fear that something might have happened to Charlie was taking precedence. All jumbled up in her head, circling around like sharks waiting to snap their vicious teeth at her if she let them get too close. There was just so much.

Glancing ahead of her, to the passenger seat where Jasper sat in his own silence, Bella grew increasingly anxious. Biting her lip as she stared at Jasper's reflection in the side mirror, his eyes seeming far away. Contemplative.

Mate.

Jasper was Bella's mate...

And he hadn't told her. In all honesty, it didn't upset her so much as confuse the hell out of her. More so when she thought about what Edward had said to Jasper.

"Managed to fool her into being with you when she has no choice whatsoever. Did he tell you the truth yet about why you can't seem to be apart?"

Bella felt sick to her stomach.

Fool me? Jasper wouldn't do that...

That Edward could play such games and that he played with Jasper's emotions as well until he finally exploded—it had been something out of a nightmare.

That hadn't been the Edward she'd known. The good Edward that would have never hurt his family or her. She didn't know who this new vampire was who wore the face of the man she thought she could trust.

Back at the house, it was a miracle Jasper hadn't ripped Edward's head clean off. She knew he hadn't been aware that he'd allowed his gift to sweep across the entire room—sharing all his rage and deadly intent. Bella knew Jasper would have done it too had it not been for her stepping in to break him out of his fury.

Somehow, he'd listened and calmed significantly, long enough for him to slide into the usual calm he always maintained.

It just didn't make any sense. And how could it? When she didn't know anything about 'mates' nor what it meant to vampires. She knew the way the Cullens loved their respective partners was unlike anything she's ever see before. Knew there was a sort of eternal devotion and love Bella could only imagine. Never thinking she'd experience such a love, especially after realizing Edward never truly loved her to begin with...

Which is why she was so confused.

How was it possible that she and Jasper were mates and she never knew it? Never felt—

That's not true, a little voice in her head cut in. Denying that she hadn't felt the need to be with Jasper at all times. As if an invisible thread wasn't tied between them, pulling them closer until they had no choice but to face each other. Bound together by more than attraction or interest.

Of course she felt something for Jasper—felt it the day they'd met when Edward brought her to the house. It wasn't an immediate attraction so much as it was genuine understanding and a calm that didn't feel entirely like her own, as if Jasper had known from the first time he laid eyes on her that she was in need of calm more than anything. Bella was a lot of things, but calm had never been in her array of emotions. Not when she was constantly an anxious wreck, had been ever since she could remember.

Now that they'd taken things to the next level, she couldn't deny that her crush for the man developed into an affection she couldn't shake. Not that she wanted to shake away any of the things Jasper made her feel.

"It isn't hard fooling you..."

She knew she trusted Jasper—she trusted him more than anyone. Knew not only through her own building affection towards him but from his own as well. What they had...it was different, felt different.

Without her wanting to tears stung the back of her eyes.

Hearing all the things Edward thought about her? What he truly felt for her? It hurt more than she'd liked to admit. Not because she still felt anything other than fear and wary towards him now, he'd made sure of that. But because that was Edward—her first real taste of love or what could have been, her closest friend and protector. Now he was no better than James in a way, wasn't he? She rubbed her arms as a shiver ran down her spine, remembering the way he'd grabbed her. How having him so close for the first time since he'd hurt her in the forest made her spiral into all those dark thoughts.

A cold hand gently landed on her arm and Bella looked towards Rosalie, finding her amber eyes staring right back.

"He isn't right." She said, making the boys tense in the front, acutely aware of what she had meant. Bella could see Jasper's dark eyes glance into the rear view mirror, watching her with the same unreadable expression on his chiseled face. A perfect sculpture, stoic and tragically beautiful.

Bella looked into Rosalie's eyes for a long time, knowing she was being sincere.

"It doesn't change that he thought all those things about me. That he...did what he did. Didn't even seem to care. And..." Bella murmured, "He knew all along."

They all knew what she meant. It was impossible to ignore. The secret not only Edward had been keeping, but Jasper too. Did everyone know they were mates? Based on their reactions, Bella could bet anything that the Cullens also knew.

And she didn't know what to make of it.

Rosalie nodded, her hand slowly slipping off her arm while looking at her with those unwavering eyes of hers. The eyes that had often revered Bella with disdain now held compassion. It was strange how quickly people can change, if this entire situation with Edward had taught her anything it was that very fact.

"I just need to make sure my dad's okay," She murmured before turning back to stare out the window, feeling lost and so very desperate to get to Charlie before thinking about anything else.

Emmett's Jeep came to a halt beside the street and in an instant Bella had already unbuckled her seatbelt and was pushing the door open. She'd taken two steps towards the house when Jasper's hand came down on her shoulder. Bella looked towards him questioningly but he merely looked ahead, scanning. Listening with his keen hearing. A second later he nodded, "He's home."

"We'll look around, just in case..." Emmett said but Bella was already taking off before she could hear the rest. They were most likely going to look for Edward anyway. If he'd been around Charlie, then it was better to be safe than sorry.

Charging up the stairs of their front porch Bella practically shoved the door open and didn't hesitate to call out to Charlie, "Dad?"

A startled—"Yeah?"—reached her seconds before hearing a loud thunk followed by an even louder curse, "God damnit!"

Bella hurried into the kitchen only to find her father on the floor, half of his torso under the sink—tool box next to his legs.

He sat up, rubbing his forehead with a wince as he looked up to find Bella standing by the island, missing that she was out of breath and paler than usual as he groused, "The dang sink was clogged. Had to get in there and see what was up. Last time I dump coffee grounds down the drain, that's for damned sure."

Bella didn't realize how worried she'd been for Charlie's safety until she was standing here, watching him sitting on the floor surrounded by tools and wearing the same dark green flannel he loved to wear at home. She sagged against the counter with relief.

For what felt like the first time, Bella took in every little detail about her father. Noticing the slight color of grey in his dark hair, the crows feet around his eyes, and the gruff sound of his voice as he prattled on about the sink. Little things she couldn't imagine Charlie not having. Things about him she couldn't imagine not seeing or hearing anymore.

He's safe. Edward didn't hurt him. He's safe.

Before she knew what she was doing, Bella walked around the island and sank onto her knees beside Charlie, throwing her trembling arms around his shoulders and hugging him tight.

Charlie let out a startled cough, clearly taken back by his daughter's sudden show of affection before he awkwardly patted her back. She would have laughed at that, had the tears not been rolling down her cheeks. Sensing her distress, Charlie wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her a long while. When he finally spoke, it was in a wary tone, "You okay, kiddo?"

She'd been so scared that she wouldn't find him like this but...dead or missing. Tortured by Edward's cruel game he seemed to be playing with her.

And she would have been powerless to stop it.

A useless human girl incapable of protecting herself or the ones she loved. That only made her angry and so unbelievably sad.

Forcing herself to gather herself, Bella finally released her father from her tight, bone crushing embrace and saw the sheer worry on his face.

She wished she could tell him everything, now more than ever. If only to feel less alone than she did today of all days which was ridiculous because she knew nothing had truly changed between her and Jasper. The Cullens were still here, protecting her. And yet, if felt as if everything had changed within the blink of an eye. Her own eyes opened up to a world she'd been too blind to see.

As much as it pained her, Bella knew she had to shove her selfishness aside and do what she had to—she protected her father from the truth that could kill him.

Choosing to spare her father with news of Edward's return, she said despite her trembling voice, "I just...it's been a long day. I just needed a hug."

"Oh," he said, blinking. "You freaked me out for a second there, kid. I thought something bad happened. Everything okay?"

Footsteps approached from behind her and Bella knew before she noticed Charlie tense, that it was Jasper. Looking over her shoulder, she saw him.

"Ah, I...Hello, Jasper. Didn't see you there," her father grumbled as he stood, Bella following suit.

When she turned and faced him, she found Jasper's onyx eyes staring into hers, worry laced in that gaze that left her aching for his nearness. His beauty and utter immortality standing out in her utterly mundane home.

Her heart seemed to sing at the mere sight of him, as if every inch of her wanted—no, needed—to go to him.

How much of that feeling was her own? How much was the bond linking them because they were mates?

It didn't change how she felt for him, if anything it cast a wave of knee buckling relief through her body and soul. Knowing that finally, she had an answer as to why she always seemed to gravitate towards him. This selfless, honest man that cares for her so deeply that Bella never knew such a thing existed.

"I just came to make sure you were okay," Jasper looked at her again, his lips parting to say...something to her.

But before he or Bella could say another word, Charlie asked, "I was just about to fire up the grill in the back. Did you want to stay for dinner?"

Bella blinked, taken back by her fathers invitation. His usual scowl or gruff expression whenever Edward or any boy had been around her was nowhere to be seen. Instead a...hopeful look entered his eyes.

He really likes Jasper being around me, doesn't he?

That's when she realized.

Even Charlie seemed to know on some level that Jasper was good. That he was the best thing that could have ever happened to her. Her father of all people accepted him for who he was, wholeheartedly. Because Jasper had healed all the broken pieces of her soul and then some.

No matter what Jasper did or didn't do, no matter what he failed to tell her, it was all to protect her. Of that she had no doubt in her mind, and she felt her affection for him grow beyond words. A powerful, potent feeling that coursed throughout her entire being.

Jasper, sensing her emotions flood his entire being, whipped his head to meet the longing gaze she gave him as Charlie turned to clean up the mess he'd made in the kitchen without noticing the world disappear between the two.

Jasper seemed to visibly swallow as he stepped forward and then hesitated, "Thank you for the offer, Chief Swan but I just remembered there's something important I had to do."

"Another time then, but I'll hold you to it," Charlie chuckled, making Jasper and Bella smile at the man despite their obvious tension.

Jasper looked to her for a split second, a gentle wave of calm flooding her mind to convey that he wasn't angry or frustrated with her. It made her realize how scared she was if losing him, driving him away. That was the last thing she wanted. Bella watched Jasper turn on his heel and disappear through the door, leaving her with regret and knee buckling longing roiling inside her.

After helping her father set up everything for the grill, she left him to get started on the burgers he'd already prepared long before she'd arrived. She knew he couldn't cook an egg to save his life but the grill was an entirely different scenario.

With a sigh, she headed back upstairs and longed for sleep now more than ever. But it probably would never come, seeing as Edward was back and Jasper wasn't here to keep an eye on her...to keep the nightmares away.

Opening the door to her bedroom, Bella stopped short as she looked up.

With a barely audible gasp, Bella felt her cheeks flush as tears pricked the back of her eyes while taking in who was in her room.

Jasper stood beside the window, his eyes holding so much meaning behind them as he tensed, facing her fully.

"Jasper..."

She began but stopped when he rushed, "If you want me to leave, I will. Just say the word. But I...I had to try. I had to see you and know that your were okay—that we are okay."

Bella felt her hand slip off the doorknob as she stepped into her room utterly entranced by him, taken back by his willingness to try and talk to her. Something Edward would have never done. Yet another thing that made her realize how...wrong their relationship had been in the first place. So very wrong.

She stared at his disheveled hair as if he'd been running his hand through the strands in his apparent pondering. The worry was written all over his face for once. Gone was the mask of the unreadable soldier she'd met so long ago. Now there stood a man, bearing his soul to her.

The only light between them was the sliver of moonlight that spilled in through the windows, casting shadows across her and Jasper's faces as Bella slowly closed her door behind her. Crossing the distance between them, her heart thundered in her chest. Knowing that he could hear it did little to calm her as he watched her intently. His hands closed at his sides, fighting off the urge to reach for her. If only he knew that was exactly what she wanted.

Her voice wavered as she looked into his dark eyes, "Don't go. Stay with me? Please..."

Everything within Jasper seemed to immediately deflate, his tense posture visibly relaxed as he took in her words.

His hand reached out towards her then, gently brushing away the tear that slipped down her cheek, "Bella..." her name sounded like a balm to his aching heart as he said it, voice as shaken as she felt. His whispering her name seeming like a secret they shared in the dark, a sweet and impossible secret she never knew could be between them.

Bella launched herself then, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him into her. Jasper held her close as she buried her face in his broad chest, never knowing how much she could miss his earthy spiced scent until now. They hadn't been apart at all and yet, she'd missed him. Missed his touch and kind words, the security he'd built up within her. Him.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, her hands clutching the collar of his shirt as if he would push her away at any moment, "I shouldn't have gotten angry. I'm sorry..."

Jasper groaned as if her apology physically pained him. His hand cupped the back of her neck as he molded his body to hers, holding her tightly, "No, baby. Don't say that. I'm the one who should apologize. I should have told you sooner, you deserved to know just as much as I did."

"Why didn't you?" She asked, not accusing him but merely wanting to know as she leaned back and stared up at him. "You've known all this time? Even when I was with—"

"No," He said firmly, cupping her face as he looked into her eyes with a sense of urgency shining in those orbs. "God, I didn't know. I thought you and Edward...I thought you were his mate. Because he asked me to stay away from you, for your safety or at least that's what he made me believe, I couldn't ever know for sure why I felt this need to be near you all the time. Why I craved every bit of your emotions and listened so intently to your heart beating. Why you consumed every ounce of my existence. I suspect that's why it never occurred to me that...that I was yours. As you were mine."

Tears sprang in her vision, but she didn't look away from him, not daring to. His thumbs pressed into her soft skin, his hands encasing her face as he rested his forehead against hers.

"For the longest time I thought I was betraying Edward's trust for thinking about you the way I did. I hated myself for feeling as if I had no control over how I felt, and damn it I shouldn't have knowing what I do now. I was a fool to never suspect it. I'd never believed having a mate was possible for the likes of me. I'd been a monster for so long before my family took me in, Bella. So unworthy of anything good that could come from it. I saw no need for such a thing."

"And now?" She bit her lip.

Jasper looked at her, his voice hoarse as he said, "Now I can't imagine a world without you in it. My mate. My Bella. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. Your kindness heals my own broken, messed up world. The sound of your heart racing sings to me. The acceptance you give to others is unlike any I have ever felt and the fact that you've done so with my family? You'll never know what that meant to me. What it still means despite everything you've been through. You are the single most gratifying gift I could have ever been given."

Bella shut her eyes, overwhelmed by his confession while feeling incredibly loved, "I never knew. Edward said you were with Alice and—I thought he and I were meant to be. He'd been so insistent on it. So convincing. I've been so stupid."

"We've both been blinded by circumstances. But it's not important anymore," he said as he waited for her to look at him again. He forced out the words despite the ball of emotion gathering in his throat, "What matters is what we want, Bella. Us—not Edward or our families. What matters is how we choose to live with what we've been given, finally. And I want to live it with you, always."

More tears rolled down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around him, "I wish we could have had that time together, before everything happened. Before he...but it's too late. I'm tainted..."

Jasper took a step forward, "No, Bella. You're the furthest thing from it. God. I wish I could kill him for what he did to you. I wish I could take it all back, but I can't." His eyes seemed to fill with silver, venom tears he'd never shed. "All I can give you is my love, if you're willing to accept it and hope that's enough to heal what he tried to break. And failed to do because you're here with me now, darlin'. You're here. I'm here. And I...I love you. I'm in love with you, Bella."

Her heart soared and dipped all at once. An incredible wave of love swept through her, pushing her drowning heart up to the surface. A warm ray of sunshine finally finding her after all this time.

Love.

Jasper loved her.

A whimper escaped her practically launched herself into his arms, letting his hands guide her face up to meet his shining eyes that could not be more beautiful than they were right now. Hiding nothing from her.

"Oh Jasper," Bella breathed against his lips, barely grazing them as he bent lower to meet her the rest of the way, "I want every part of you. Of course I do! You mean so much to me, more than I think any emotion could ever convey. You're my best friend, Jasper. My savior, even from myself. My...mate. My love. I'm yours. Forever, Jasper. If you truly want that, I'll give you all my forevers and more. Until time no longer exists in this world."

"Darlin'," Jasper exhaled, a breathless sound that was both a laugh and a sob, "Can I kiss you? I need to kiss you—"

Before he could finish that sentence, Bella kissed him with all the passion she thought would make her heart implode. Suddenly the world went quiet all around them, and everything melted away by the shear heat resonating between their hearts.

Chests pressing against each other, lips crashing and tongues searching, Bella felt Jasper's hands trail down her waist and under her thighs before picking her up effortlessly. Nothing else mattered. Only his touches and her heart pounding. Two souls becoming one.

Suddenly she was laying in the middle of her bed, gently settled onto the comforter that encased her. Breathless, she stared up at him through hooded lashes. He watched her, mesmerized by her beauty and all he felt in this moment. Jasper hovered above her, his hands splaying on either side of her head, making his arms seem to strain under the sheer power to keep from putting all his body weight on top of her.

He stared into her eyes for a long moment before he kissed her back fervently once more, his tongue thrusting into her mouth as she moaned, granting him access. Her hands found his face once more, wrapping her arms around his shoulders until he relented and finally leaned further down.

Bella parted her legs to accommodate for him, letting him settle his lower half over hers.

Her fingers ran through his honey-blonde locks, making the already ruffled strands even more of a mess.

His hips seemed to involuntarily press against her own, letting her feel exactly how much he wants her. Eliciting another soft gasp from her lips as Jasper kissed along her neck, nipping the soft flesh there. His hands explored the rest of her, slipping over her shoulders and down, lightly caressing her breasts in passing.

"Jasper..." she moaned as his tongue swept out to soothe the skin he'd gently tortured with his teeth.

It wouldn't take much to leave a mark there, she knew, but she didn't care. Now more than ever she wanted him to claim her. To never let anyone else take her away from him, from what they shared.

Jasper whispered into her ear before kissing the hollow behind it, making her shudder with pleasure, "You taste like what I imagine heaven is like. Sweet and perfect. You'll never understand how much I've craved you, Bella. Every. Inch. Of. You," He said in between kissing her lips, cheeks, and collarbone as his hands grew bolder, caressing her and squeezing her breasts and waist. She wasn't afraid of his touch. Not even as they did such an intimate act. Not when he was so gentle with her, so honest and true.

She now knew that this is what it was supposed to feel like, and she almost started crying again.

Feeling an overwhelming coiling warmth in her stomach, Bella knew she was more aroused than she'd ever been. Feeling Jasper's hard length rock against her made wetness gather between her thighs.

His seductive words weren't any help either.

"Fuck," Jasper growled as she nipped his bottom lip, driving him crazy with want as her hands slipped beneath his shirt, his icy skin warmed by her seeking palms. Jasper's hands went to her hips just below the hem of her shirt that had ridden up. His cold touch making her gasp as her core made contact with him again, rocking into him as he moved like an undulating wave—making him hiss against her lips.

In the dark, the sound of rain falling outside joined their passionate, nearly silent pants and kisses.

She whispered his name blissfully as he groaned against her neck, trying to compose the desire that was roiling within him. A raging tempest pushing and pulling him towards Bella.

"We should stop," he finally said as Bella moved to kiss his jaw, her fingers playing with the hair on the nape of his neck, tugging every so often. When she didn't seem to listen, he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, breathing as heavily as she was, "I don't want to push you for more than you're ready to give."

"Push me? You'd never do that, Jasper." She said without a doubt as she reached up to cup his cheek, "You would never hurt me."

Though it wasn't a question, Jasper wasted no time in answering, "Never."

She smiled softly as he pressed his cheek further into her warm palm, sighing contentedly.

"I wouldn't ever do that," he confirmed, eyes opening as the high from their intense reunion seemed to go back to just below the surface. "But I don't think it's wise we continue anything more with Charlie downstairs. I'd like to actually win him over if we tell him what we are to each other eventually, and if he finds us like this, I'm sure the only thing I'll be getting is shot at."

Bella's face warmed as she moved to sit, Jasper helping her up, however not letting her go just yet. His arms were wrapped around her waist as she settled onto his lap, "You really want that? To tell him?"

"Bella I've wanted to tell everyone in Forks that we're together," she chuckled at that and he smiled, kissing her lips once more. "But only if you're ready."

"I am, Jasper. I have no doubt in my mind about that."

This time Jasper couldn't resist kissing her. It wasn't tender or slow as he normally would have kissed her. This kiss was full of passion and want, desperate and unforgiving as his lips molded to hers. His tongue explored her mouth, pressing and caressing her tongue until she needed to break away to breathe. Jasper watched her then, cheeks flushed and lips swollen. The warmth blooming from within her telling him just how much she wanted—needed—him.

His long fingers brushed her hair aside as he said, "I love you."

Never have three words come so naturally to her, invoking pure joy as she smiled, "I love you too."

When Charlie called her down for dinner, it was an effort to leave Jasper's side but he'd reassured her he wasn't going anywhere. Now more than ever. With that Bella knew he'd be waiting right here for her until she returned.

Her protector.

Her best friend.

Her love.

Chapter Text

Jasper sat on the edge of the windowsill, despite wanting to keep watch in case Edward decided to return—his attention was enraptured by the sleeping girl a few feet away. He'd waited until she fell asleep before sitting up from the bed, running the back of his fingers along her cheek in admiration. She'd smiled softly into his touch, murmuring his name even in her sleep.

It made him smile, feeling ridiculously content and utterly grateful to have her in his life now.

His love.

His mate.

Who would have known this was how they would have ended up all those months ago if Edward's deception hadn't kept them apart? That she would have loved him much sooner if only he'd noticed? Jasper wasn't sure when this overwhelming desire and immense love he felt for her began. It seemed as if he'd always felt this way for her.

He couldn't imagine it any other way now.

It only made his anxieties build even more with thoughts of Edward trying to hurt her again. Taking her or worse, taking someone she cares for only to exact some twisted retribution.

The game his brother had played earlier today, it had left Bella sinking into a never-ending spiral of emotions. When she'd found Charlie safe and sound in their home, Jasper had felt how immensely relieved she'd been. Powerful enough to make her break down in front of the man.

The sound of the sheets rustling brought him out of his thoughts. Bella shifted onto her side, a soft sound escaping her lips as she turned in her bed. Jasper knew she was a restless sleeper, but this time the usual distress that followed in her dreams was nowhere to be seen.

"Jasper?" Bella's soft voice was enough to make him go to her. Sitting on the edge of her bed, Jasper gently ran the back of his fingers across her cheek as Bella's eyes searched for him in the dark. As soon as he touched her, a small smile stretched across her full lips. It made his cold dead heart want to beat again if only once. For her.

"Were you leaving?"

"Never," he murmured, pulling the blankets she'd kicked off back over her waist. His fingers grazed the exposed skin between the hem of her tank top and flannel pants she'd chosen to wear to bed. Bella shuddered and warmth slipping into his skin for a brief moment. Such an innocent touch, and yet it ignited something inside him. Jasper smiled, "Just wanted to let you sleep. Noticed that Charlie left for his shift about an hour ago."

"I see," Bella's hand reached up and cupped his cheek, her joy seemed to double in size when he leaned into her touch. "I think I'd sleep better with you next to me though."

Jasper took a moment to contemplate his decision, to keep watch or be with the girl he loved. Then he made a choice, knowing he couldn't deny her anything nor did he want to, "Scoot."

Smiling, Bella rolled onto her side, turning her back to him to give him space to lay on top of the covers.

Wrapping his arm around her waist, Jasper sighed as he laid down and pulled her close to his chest. They interlaced their hands over her stomach while Bella settled into a comfortable position. Jasper couldn't help but pay close attention to her emotions, to her heartbeat, to her scent.

Affection, acceptance, and joy flickered down their bond. Making him close his eyes in sheer bliss.

"I love you," she whispered, kissing the back of his hand.

"I love you," he said back. Unable to resist any longer, he kissed the nape of her neck sending thousands of goosebumps all over her skin. Jasper pressed his lips against the sensitive place behind her ear and relished in the way she shuddered with pleasure.

Bella pressed her back further against his chest, as if needing to feel him completely—the same way he would have once needed air to breathe.

Jasper wrapped his other arm around her, holding her fragile body in his strong arms and encasing her fully in all that he was—in all he felt for this woman.

Resting his chin in the crook of her neck and shoulder he asked, "Did I wake you?"

"I don't know..." she mused, still sounding somewhat tired.

"What do you mean?"

Bella's fingers tightened around his hand, "It wasn't like I heard you move. More like, something told me you weren't beside me. Almost like a pulsing feeling in the back of my mind telling me to find you, even in my dreams." When Jasper didn't say anything, she asked, "Does that make me sound crazy?"

"No darlin'. It doesn't make you sound crazy at all. It's how I've felt the moment we were finally able to be near each other. You'll never know how much I've craved your nearness. Your scent and sweet voice. All of you."

Bella turned in his arms, her eyes searching for his in the darkness. Her heartbeat a powerful force when he held her so close, feeling each thump-thump-thump against his chest.

It made him realize her heart was a fragile thing too, so utterly fragile like a shard of glass. Jasper knew he needed to cherish it, every little inch. Careful not to break it, and knowing full well that he never could do such a thing.

Jasper rested his forehead against hers as she breathed his name, deep and rich like silk, "Jasper."

"I'm here," He whispered, his hands running over the thin fabric of her tank top until his palm reached her waist, pulling her closer.

Bella shifted even closer, running her hands through his hair as he trailed open mouthed kisses down her face, her jaw, until gently nipping her neck. That was when he heard it. The soft barely audible moan that slipped past her lips.

Jasper moved back up, taking the side of her face with one large hand, his fingers sinking into the silken strands of her hair until she slowly opened her eyes.

And looking into those eyes...

He knew he shouldn't admit what he wanted out loud. It wasn't the right time.

But when would be the right time? He asked himself.

As much as he didn't want to admit it, Edward's games had to continue. If he knew anything about his brother, it was that Edward always had a plan and made to fulfill it regardless of what anyone said. If the time came and Jasper never had this moment with Bella again? He needed to say it. Say exactly how he felt.

"I want you," his voice was a whisper, admitting such a thing into the darkness for her ears only seemed entirely forbidden and intimate.

Bella's emotions swept over him like a powerful storm upon hearing him say those three words.

She was nervous at first, the feeling fluttering go him much like her heart seemed to be doing. Then she was fully aware of the position they were in, in her bed, laying together.

And finally, the sweet scent of arousal that ignited the self-control he'd maintained all this time. Sweet aromas that reminded him of lavender and vanilla.

"I want you too," She admitted.

Jasper caressed her cheek, "I don't want to make you do anything you're not ready—"

"I want...to try," Bella answered but when embarrassment swept over him, Jasper knew why she was hesitant to explore any sort of intimacy.

"Why are you embarrassed?"

Bella sighed as she frowned, moving to sit up. Jasper followed, placing a hand on her back in silent support as she appeared to battle with her own thoughts.

"I never had anything like this before. Sex or anything else, I mean. I wouldn't know how to—"

"You wanting to be with me at all is all I need, Bella," Jasper said, taking her by surprise as she looked at him, "don't get me wrong. I'd love nothing more than to show you just how badly I want you in the physical sense, but I don't need it." He moved so he was kneeling in front of her on the bed. She leaned into his touch when he brushed the strands on her temple away, "What we have now is enough for me. And when you're ready to try, we'll learn together."

"I wouldn't know where to start," She laughed breathlessly, clearly still feeling shy. It made him smile as he placed a kiss upon her brow.

"You do what you feel you want," Jasper said, cupping the nape of her neck with one hand as he moved closer, "What you crave to experience," Bella looked up at him beneath her lashes as he placed a kiss on her lips. It was soft yet full of want as he took her bottom lip between his. When he leaned back, he continued, "What you want me to feel with you. Like a relationship, it's something we share together."

Shadows shifted as moonlight spilled between the rustling leaves of the trees outside. The faint outline of the leaves moving painted both of them in their silhouette and pale blue light.

Bella swore she could see his eyes darkening, the amber swirling beneath his irises until only a pure onyx remained.

"What I feel..."

"Do you want me to show you how I feel? What you're making me feel?" He asked, his voice suddenly husky like smoke.

"Yes," Bella bit her lip, chest falling and rising with every shallow breath she took. He was barely touching her and yet, it seemed as if his words alone could unravel her entirely.

He liked that—so much.

"My Bella. My love."

Bella's eyes shined at his words, her tender affection coating his senses and driving him forward.

Jasper kissed her again, pressing his full lips against hers. He claimed mouth in a way he never deemed to before. Her lips were warm, feverish, compared to his which were like ice. His tongue swept out, licking the seam of her lips and waiting for her to grant him permission to go further.

When a sudden wave of need took over, he pulled back. With a gasp, Bella followed him without meaning to and opened her eyes. Those eyes which sank into his soul every time.

They were dazed and lost in him as she licked her lips.

He cursed, taking her chin between his fingers and pressed his thumb against her bottom lip.

"Part them for me darlin'," he requested before they moved toward each other again. Bella doing as he asked much like the first time they'd shared a kiss and parted her lips. Enough for Jasper's tongue to gently caress her own in a languid dance that left her breathless in seconds. Their shallow breaths and pants filled the room, the sound of the mattress creaking as they shifted.

Soon nothing else mattered.

Only them.

Lost to their kiss that turned savage with want. Lips crashing together as Jasper lost all sense of control with her. Moans filled the little space in between kisses.

His fingers dug into her waist as Bella sat up on her knees, resting her arms on his shoulders as she hovered over him. Jasper watched as she shifted, her body taking over and moving on instinct as she pulled him closer than ever before.

"Bella," he groaned as she bit his bottom lip. He kissed her until she was out of breath and finally pulled away.

She was panting and dazed with lust as she looked at him, mesmerized by the man before her.

Jasper leaned back, his own chest rising and falling as he uselessly fought to control his breathing.

In one swift move he lowered her back onto the bed.

"Close your eyes, darlin'. I'm going to show you," He said gently yet possessively as he stared at his mate. At the hem of her tank top that rode up and revealed her soft skin beneath. Bella, though nervous by this new experience they were both exploring, did as he said. Closing her eyes as she laid in the middle of her bed, Bella waited with bated breath. Jasper kissed her neck, making her gasp in surprise. He whispered, "If it's too much tell me and I'll stop."

"O-okay," She panted, still trying to keep her eyes closed.

Making the effort to not touch her, Jasper pushed up on his arms and watched as he shared his emotions with her.

At first, it was a warm tendril of love. Warming her cheeks and making her breath catch as she felt it linger all around her.

"This is the first true emotion you ignite inside me every time I see you, when I think of you," He said as he allowed his gift to dance around her stuttering heart. Then he added another emotion. One he couldn't ignore no matter what he did, "and this is how I feel every time I kiss those lips of yours."

Lust.

It was a searing thing. A liquified heat shooting through her belly and down, down, down—

Bella's eyes shot open as her back arched and a breathless sound escaped her lips before she could hold it back, "Oh..."

She found Jasper's intense gaze watching her closely as the powerful emotion slowly dissipated until she didn't feel like she would combust.

Bella's legs moved to snap shut when an alarming pressure built between them. Only to be met with Jasper's. He wasn't touching her at all. Not even kissing her the way he'd been moments ago. Even his leg wasn't pressing against her until she'd tried to close her legs. But he made no movement to do so, even when she writhed beneath him.

"Jasper," She panted his name, sounding so unlike herself. "That's..."

"That's what I feel. How you make me feel every damn time we're like this. So close and yet too far for me to touch you."

A warm pooling feeling gathered between her legs, making her swallow thickly as her arousal continued the more he spoke.

His nostrils flared as he must have sensed it, intoxicating him.

Jasper leaned down this time, still hovering over her as his cool breath fanned her ear, "How do you feel?"

"Good," she found herself answering, staring up at the ceiling as her legs began to tremble. "Really good and...not sure at the same time. Like something strange was starting until you stopped."

"How did it feel?"

"Like," she bit her lip, not believing that she was about to admit this, "like a string being pulled, right on the verge of snapping."

A low rumbled emanated from his chest, a growl that was full of need to claim her.

"What do you want me to do next? What do you crave?"

"You. Always you."

"Be more specific, Bella. I need to know what you need so I don't do anything you don't want." Bella struggled to find her words. Overwhelmed. She was too overwhelmed with the strange sensations he was introducing her to, and it drove him crazy in the best way possible, "Tell me, baby. Fuck, I need to know."

That was her undoing.

"T-touch me," her voice trembled. Hands going up to wrap around his shoulders and pull him down to her swollen lips, "touch me, Jasper."

And he did. Gently cupping her face before slowly moving his hand down to the center of her chest. Goosebumps invaded her flesh as his cold touch bled through the tank top. He never took his eyes away, always making sure she was still alright with how he touched her.

When his hands caressed her breasts, Bella arched into him. Her nipples hardened instantly, pressing painfully against his palms.

"Perfect," He murmured, biting his lip. This time he allowed his gift to soar past her walls, the same hot swirling heat of passion and arousal he felt. Bella pressed the back of her hand against her lips to keep herself from moaning again, but it was no use. Jasper's thumb tentatively swept over her nipple, before moving lower. Until his mouth was a mere inch away from her. "I want to taste you. Can I?"

"Y-yes. Please...I need to feel you."

Reaching up for the strap of her tank top, Jasper kissed her bare shoulder as he pulled it down and exposed her right breast.

He was breathing heavily as he leaned down and finally claimed her nipple into his mouth, sucking and nibbling her sensitive area until the flesh was pink. Bella moaned louder this time, unable to hold back.

Good, he thought with satisfaction before sharing his emotions with her once more. Adding to the building climax he felt within her. Don't hide from me. Never from me, Bella.

Jasper's tongue swirled around her nipple once more before moving to the other, pulling the rest of the tank top down over her abdomen. She was a sight to behold. Flushed and panting, hand over her mouth and staring at him with those depthless brown eyes he loved so much.

"You're so soft, so warm. I can't ever get enough of you," he admitted, kissing her stomach and leaving a wet trail across her skin.

His hands held her hips as she moved, trying to get some form of friction.

"What do you want me to do next? What do you feel you need?"

"I need..." Bella sucked in a shaky breath as his tongue continued laving at the valley between her breasts. "More. I need more."

Jasper bit down gently on her navel before moving further down. His hand cupped her sex over her pants, barely applying any pressure at all and relishing in the heat he felt emanating from her core. His tongue did wicked things as he kissed her exposed flesh above her pants, looking at her.

Bella's nod was all he needed before tugging them down and then her panties, leaving them to pool around her ankles until they were completely gone. Then he was sucking on the tender, sensitive skin between her wet core. Bella jolted, moaning in pleasure as her first orgasm threatened to crash through.

"Oh god."

"Fucking delicious and I haven't even tasted you yet," he looked down to the wetness visible between her lips before finally kissing her. His tongue pressed between her lips until he found the swollen nub there, flicking and teasing in slow circles. Bella cried out, her hands fisting the sheets as her legs bent and closed around his head.

Jasper never stopped, eating her out as if he were a starved man while his hands wrapped around her legs to keep her in place.

Pressure built within him next. His hard cock throbbing with need for release. He knew hearing her breathless moans and words of love she said to him were enough to make him climax. And he needed it so badly now.

"I'm so close...I don't know-"

It was then when he allowed all of his gift to engulf her, claiming her and pushing her off the edge at the same time he gently bit down on her clit, groaning his own pleasure.

Wave after wave of heat, of yearning, and lust and love. So much love.

"Ah, Jasper!" Bella gripped his shoulders, staring at him wide eyed as she finally orgasmed. Jasper panted as he watched his mate unravel before his very eyes, rocking and arching while he gently licked her clit to ease her back down. Making her shiver with every pass of his tongue.

Their lips met once more when he finally crawled back over her, wet sloppy kisses replacing the tender one's they'd shared up until now.

"Perfect," He finally said once they were laying back down.

Bella stared at him in awe, then glanced down to his still hard member beneath his jeans.

He knew what she would ask before she said it, "You can touch me. If you want."

"Show me," she repeated his own words and Jasper knew he wouldn't last long if she touched him now.

Taking her hand in his, Jasper slowly guided her down to the button of his jeans. He helped her unbuckle his belt before finally pulling them down just enough for his member to come free. Bella's breath caught as she felt him in the darkness, her hand cupping his long length when he guided her there.

Jasper groaned louder this time, "Bella, I'm going to cum by the warmth of your touch alone."

Bella and Jasper faced each other as they moved over him. Jasper's hand held hers in a closed fist as she glided over his cock, slow and gentle. Almost too gentle.

"You can...go faster, darlin'. Grip a little harder. Yeah, like that," he moaned this time, his head falling back against her pillow as Bella did as he asked. "It feels so good."

Pumping him up and down, building up a rhythm until he was finding it extremely difficult to breathe. Something which was impossible but still.

"Come here," pulling her to his lips, Jasper kissed her as she continued working him over. Over and over until he finally reached his climax. Groaning, he rested his forehead against her shoulder as he came in her hand, shuddering his pure bliss.

"That was..."

"Yes it was," Bella kissed his cheek when they finally caught their breaths, curled into each other's embrace as they held onto one another. Staring up at the ceiling, an incredulous sort of joy took over, "I love you."

"I love you," Jasper sighed as he looked down at them, "We made a mess of your bed."

"I'll change the sheets," she smiled against his neck as he wasted little time in carrying her to the bathroom, cleaning them both up before they did in fact change the sheets. Before getting back into bed and finally falling into a blissful rest.

Jasper closed his eyes as he held her, knowing that there was no going back after this. No way in hell was he letting anyone pull them apart ever again.

Chapter Text

Bella awoke to soft, featherlight touches across her bare shoulder. Cool fingers drawing whorling patterns across her skin like tracing the constellations in the night sky.

Sighing, she turned as her eyes remained closed. She was still lost to sleep, barely mustering the will to wake up. But her body—her heart—seemed to know exactly where she needed to be. Who was waiting for her.

Tiny flashes of light swept across her eyelids as the warmth of the sun spilling into her bedroom crept across her body. Warm and inviting. Glimmering lights that reminded her of diamonds shining in natural lighting.

"Wake up, darlin'," Bella felt Jasper's lips graze her neck, teasing and coaxing, making her shiver. Bella finally opened her eyes to find hundreds of minuscule lights trailing across her bedroom walls and ceiling in sparkling grey and white shards. Diamonds shining beneath the rays of the sun. Mesmerized, she turned in Jasper's arms to find a sliver of sunlight caressing his cheek, making the crystals beneath his alabaster skin shine. Jasper smiled as she stared up at him in awe, "Mornin'."

Smiling, Bella reached a hand up to cup his face, running her thumb over his cheekbone. Her smile only widened as he leaned into her touch, his large hand covering hers as if to keep it on his cheek for as long as possible.

"Morning," she whispered, voice soft from sleep.

Jasper pressed his lips against hers without hesitation, rolling on top of her in one fluid motion. The gentle pecks they'd shared before couldn't compare to the full dizzying kiss he gave her. Lips pressing together, barely parting as he sank against her, forearms resting on the pillow above her head. His scent already intoxicating her with pleasure.

Bella moaned softly when he parted his lips, giving her silent permission to explore him. When her tongue slipped into his mouth, Jasper groaned his approval. His tongue joining hers in a slow, sensual dance as he sucked and nipped. They shifted on the bed together, the sheets lost amidst their shuffling and rolling until nothing was between them.

Bella gasped upon feeling Jasper's hard length pressing against her core when he rolled his hips. Her hands dug into his back, pulling him closer without thought. It was then that she became highly aware of the fact that she wasn't wearing anything other than her tank top and panties.

She'd fallen asleep just like that after last night...after they...

"Sorry," he panted, pulling away. "You make it hard for me to be good."

"Don't be," Bella breathed, a small smile on her lips. "I find that I rather like it when you're bad."

Jasper groaned again, letting his head fall to her shoulder, "You can't say those things to me, Bella."

She laughed, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and holding him close. She kissed his neck and shoulder, realizing he wasn't wearing the sweater he'd had on last night but just a t-shirt thin enough that she could feel every ripple of muscle beneath her palms.

"I always feel safe with you," she admitted.

"Always," Jasper ran his hand down the side of her face, taking in every feature he could with his dark eyes. He rested his forehead against hers before he whispered, "I'll endeavor to keep it that way. For as long as you want me."

"Always," she said in return, making him give her a heartbreakingly beautiful smile before he pressed his full lips against hers.

After another round of long, intoxicating kisses, they finally agreed it was time to get out of bed, before Charlie got home from work after his night shift.

Getting ready for the day, Bella hurried off into the bathroom to take a quick shower while Jasper pulled the remainder of his clothes on, much to her disappointment.

It wasn't until Bella was standing in front of the mirror that she found herself blushing at the vivid memories that replayed in her mind. The memory of last night seared into her body and heart like a brand. Lips swollen and hair a mess from all the times Jasper ran his fingers through the long strands. She looked so unlike herself, in a way that was oddly empowering.

Remembering last night, Bella felt her blush run across her face and to her neck.

Her moans that were breathy and pleading. The feeling of him between her thighs. His groan of pleasure when she touched him, giving her control. The sensations he allowed her to feel emanating from the both of them. Drowning them in pleasure and love.

"What do you crave?"

"You. Always you."

She'd never felt herself give in to such need—to the lust that was so new to her that it should be startling. But with Jasper...all she felt was a craving for more.

Her lips curled upward as a smile took over at the same time she felt the familiar tendrils of love caress her soul. Reminding her that he was in the other room. Waiting for her. After she took her shower, washing her hair and the rest of her body, she opted to pull on an oversized t-shirt that reached her mid-thigh.

When she walked back into her room, she noticed Jasper was grinning down at an opened worn copy of Wuthering Heights laying flat on her nightstand, marking the last page she'd been reading, "Will you ever grow tired of reading this torture device you call a book?"

"You've barely even read it! You can't judge a book without properly reading it first," she laughed, snatching the book out of his grasp as Jasper's eyes shined with amusement. His smile was...it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

"I did read it. More than once," he said when she turned to place the book on the shelf of her small bookcase by the wall. Bella froze momentarily, turning to face him with a questioning raise of her brow.

"More than once? When?"

Jasper's gaze flickered up to her before avoiding her curious eyes. As if he were suddenly embarrassed to admit the next words he said which made her heart stumble about.

"When you were with him," he started, his voice sounding rough, "I often heard you speak of it. I saw you reading it on more than one occasion at school. I guess in a way, I thought reading the same dreary book you loved so much brought me a little closer to understanding your mind. Your emotions. What you liked."

Bella's gaze softened.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Jasper's eyes flashed with momentary hurt that was quickly surpassed by his irritation towards himself and Edward, "You know why by now."

"You read it more than once?" She asked, still finding it hard to wrap her mind around the fact that Jasper had cared for her far longer than she ever thought. Long before she allowed herself to see anyone other than Edward. Something she would always regret...

Bella walked across the room and reached up to cup his face in her hands, making him look at her.

"You did that for me..."

To be closer to me.

Jasper inhaled sharply as he felt the purest of love wrapping around him, warming his cold heart. His hands covered hers as if needing to touch her when he felt her raw emotions so vividly.

"I love you, Jasper. So much it's hard to believe you're here, wanting me. Loving me. I don't think I deserve you, but I want to work towards it."

"Bella, I suspect I've always loved you and I will continue loving you for an eternity. I never want to hear those words from you again—you and only you will ever deserve me. As I will only ever be deserving of you. Do you understand?" he asked, tilting her chin up with his fingers so she could see he meant every word he said. Bella blushed, nodding, "Besides, reading that dreadful book should have been enough to tell you how much I love you."

They laughed at that, incapable of keeping their hands to themselves. Their self control snapping as Jasper leaned forward and kissed her, long and deep. His tongue caressing her bottom lip and making her sigh as she gave him access to her mouth.

Her lust immediately stirred to life, making him still for a moment. He cursed under his breath, "Darlin', I can scent how badly you want me, I can feel it..." Jasper murmured against her parted lips, "I want to taste you. Can I do that?"

Bella moaned at his husky words and remembered how he'd made her come with his mouth last night.

"Yes," She panted before he gently backed her towards the bed. The backs of her knees hit the edge, leaving her with no choice but to sit down, breathless as he kissed her jaw before sinking onto his knees in front of her. Her fingers sank into the soft strands of his hair.

Seeing such an intimidating man holding such power kneel before her...it was a sight to behold.

Bella's heart was going a hundred miles an hour as his black eyes turned feral with hunger. His large hands parted her legs, making her shirt ride up. His thumbs smoothing over her pale thighs.

"Bella," He growled, "You're already wet." He whispered as his finger hooked around her underwear and tugged it to the side. Bella flushed as he stared unabashedly at the wetness gathering between her legs. Watched as he licked his lips as if he were about to have a feast.

She panted, her hips moving on their own to seek him out. Sitting on the edge of the bed like this though made it difficult to do so without inching off it completely. The thrill of having him so entranced by her throbbing core made her blood sing. "Please."

"Please what, darlin'?" Jasper drawled, his cool breath caressing her wet lips after he pulled her panties down. Kissing his way up her legs until he was nestled between her thighs. He slowly pulled her legs over his shoulders to give him more access. He grinned when her legs tugged him even closer until her was a mere inch from her core. "Talk to me."

Her nipples hardened beneath her thin shirt, making them ache to be touched by him. There was so much she wanted from him.

"T-taste me, Jazz. I want you."

A low growl rumbled through his chest as pure male satisfaction struck him—knowing how badly his mate wanted him with the same intensity he experienced—it was enough to undo him.

Jasper reached a hand up and with two fingers he parted her lips, groaning at how slick she was without much coaxing.

"So wet," he murmured in praise that made Bella's heart rate kick up. Cheeks flushing with embarrassment until he gently reassured her with a soft caress of his gift. Her chest rose and fell faster with every slow agonizing touch. Jasper brought his other hand up and with two fingers he gently rubbed them against her entrance, gathering up her arousal before rubbing the sensitive spot–

Her head fell back at the slick sensation she felt as he drew his fingers up and down, around and around.

"God–" Bella's gasp fueled him to keep up his ministrations.

He bit his lip to hold back a grin that was an odd mix of satisfaction and pleasant surprise, a side she'd never seen from him until now. It was as if he couldn't quite believe he was here doing this to her. As he rubbed his fingers over her bundle of nerves in generous circles, he asked with a husky groan, "You like that, don't you? How could you not? You're drenched. So fucking responsive to me."

Bella's back arched, her arms trembling as she kept herself upright on the bed, eyes rolling as they fluttered closed at the intensity of his teasing.

"Jasper, I'm so...I need—"

Jasper sped up his fingers, moving them up and down at a faster pace until Bella's legs started to tremble. The noises they made together in the silence of her room was positively sinful. Something she was sure to blush over at a later time. But for now...

Just as she felt she was going to climax, his hands fell away leaving her a panting mess. "Why did you–"

He placed his large hand over the center of her chest before gently pushing her down until her back hit the soft duvet. Bella panted as she looked down to where Jasper was still kneeling between her legs.

"Now I taste you," he finally said as he tugged her legs until she was right on the edge of the bed, right onto his mouth. His hands remaining on her thighs to keep her in place.

Anticipation made her tremble, sparking her arousal to no end. Last night hadn't been like this at all. Last night had been slow and coaxing, testing to see what her limits were and how far he could go. Now that he knew what she liked, Jasper was more than willing to show her just how good she could feel without restraint.

Bella gasped at the feel of his cool tongue dragging against her wetness, slow and steady. Drawing out a moan from her parted lips, making her back arch as she fell back on the bed. His hands tightened slightly on her thighs to keep her from moving, taking his time as he slowly teased her with his tongue.

"Jasper," his low growl of satisfaction as he slid his tongue further down made her legs tremble even more. When he slowly pushed into her, Bella thought she'd see stars in her vision.

At the startling sensation of the intrusion, Bella tensed and only took a breath when she realized it didn't hurt to feel him push inside of her. Not at all. Her toes curled when his tongue explored her core leisurely.

As if he had all the time in the world.

"Like I said. Sweet," He growled against her, pulling away only long enough to suck on her swollen clit. His eyes never leaving hers, "Come for me, Bella."

The force of her climax had her back arching completely off the bed, only fueling him to continue working her with his mouth. Nipping and sucking until every bit of her shattered beneath him.

Eyes closed and face flushed, Bella's heart was a heavy drum in her chest while she panted as if she'd been running a marathon. Her legs dropped off the edge of the bed the moment he released her, feeling pleasantly weak beyond her understanding.

She could tell he was crawling back up on the bed to join her. By the time she finally opened her dazed eyes, her lips tilted up into a soft smile to find him watching her from above. He took her in as though she were a precious treasure. His treasure.

"The best fucking thing that's ever happened to me," Jasper said, and his words held more meaning than she could allow herself to think. All meant for her. For them.

They laid together in each others arms, Bella kissing Jasper until she had to break away to breathe. Only earning herself a silly smirk from him as he waited patiently until she could pull him back down to her lips.

She carefully pulled his own pants and briefs down just enough to cup him, stroking him the way he showed her last night. Her eyes never left his this time, watching his lips part in awe of the pleasure she was giving him, his eyes burning her with their intensity.

"I love you, Jasper." She whispered and that seemed to send him over the edge. When he came, she kissed him to muffle the moan he released, savoring every delicious sound he made.

"I love you so much."

A few days later...

"You look happy for a Friday morning before school," Charlie remarked as he looked up from his newspaper. Bella had been buttering her slice of toast, unaware that her father had been observing her from across the table.

She paused, blinking at him, "Do I?"

"Most of the week now. Considering you've been smiling down at the slice of burnt toast I made for you, I'd say it doesn't have anything to do with me." Charlie groused with an amused quirk of his lips.

Bella put her knife and the slice of burnt toast down on the plate.

She was surprised he'd noticed her change in mood given all the late nights he's been working. The man must be exhausted.

For the past week, Jasper has been spending the night with her. Keeping an eye out as he always did. Eventually though, he'd come into bed and curl up around her. The days Charlie was home, she'd invite him over anyway. Her dad never seemed to mind. In fact, he took up Jasper's time for the first hour of his visit, inviting him to watch a game on the TV.

"Hey, dad?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think about Jasper?"

Charlie blinked, looking up from his newspaper, "What do I think of him?"

She nodded, trying not to look as nervous as she felt. Having Charlie's approval of Jasper meant more to her than she cared to admit.

Charlie cleared his throat awkwardly. Placing his paper down, he ran a hand over the scruff on his chin.

"Well," he cleared his throat again, "He's a good kid, as far as I can tell. Serious for his age. Knows a lot about football, which I respect." She smiled at that last bit, then Charlie grew quiet. He looked at her intently before gently saying, "And he makes you happy, which makes me happy. So long as he puts a smile on your face and he takes good care of you—that's all I care about, Bells. That's all I've ever cared about."

Tears sprung in her eyes and she had to blink several times to stop herself from crying again.

"He does," Her smile was bright when she threw her arms around his shoulders. His awkward pats turned to a warm embrace as she murmured against his shoulder, "Thanks, dad. Love you."

"Love you too, kiddo."

A knock at the door made them pull away. Charlie rolled his eyes with a gruff half-hearted sigh, "Don't keep the boy waiting now."

Bella laughed, pushing out of her chair and running to get the door. Not hesitating for a moment—not thinking that Jasper had said he'd be going for a quick hunt less than an hour ago.

She opened the door, smile still on her lips when—

A cold hand shot out and gripped her throat, jostling her backwards. She hit the wall with a loud crash and pain radiated across the back of her head.

Charlie's concerned voice barely registered as she sank onto the floor, looking up and staring into the cold blood-red eyes of Victoria. The sun behind her making her red curls look like flames come to life.

"Who the hell are you?!" Charlie demanded as he ran into the hall.

"A dear friend. And you, are in my way."

Bella cried out as Charlie raised his gun only to be thrown across the room faster than her eyes could see. His body crashing onto the coffee table in the living room. The sound of glass shattering sending hundreds of goosebumps along her arms. When Charlie didn't move again, panic flooded her. Forcing her to move.

"Dad!" Bella stood on shaky legs, her head pounding as she felt something warm trickle down the back of her head.

Victoria's hand gripped the back of her hair and yanked her forward. Making Bella groan in pain and anger. Victoria's fangs bone white as she smiled wide, "Hello, Isabella. Miss me?"

Bella's rage at what she'd done to Charlie—if she'd killed him—it fueled her. Before she realized what she wanted to do, Bella spat in Victoria's smug face.

"Go to hell."

Victoria swiped her face with the back of her sleeve, smirking still, "Won't you join me then?"

Before she could scream for anyone nearby to hear—for Jasper—the nomad struck her with the back of her hand, and everything around Bella went dark.

Chapter Text

Jasper's dark eyes scanned the woods while his entire body was alert and ready to move.

He hadn't wanted to leave Bella this morning, but when he heard the familiar voice calling out to him from the forest behind her house, when he'd sensed the vampire he thought he knew like the back of his hand—Jasper had no choice.

Because he would never let Edward near her again unless she said so.

"Quit with the theatrics," Jasper finally snapped, tired of waiting for his brother to show his face. He didn't have to throw out threats. His tone was lethal enough to say he would hunt Edward down if he didn't show his face soon.

It didn't take long.

Edward appeared behind one of the trees, a grim expression on his face as he stepped out onto the trail before Jasper. Even from here, Jasper could see that his eyes were still black as night, the dark circles underneath were stark against his pale complexion. His clothes were the same as they'd been when he last saw him, a plain black t-shirt and dark jeans. Though he did notice they were slightly tattered. He looked...awful for lack of a better word.

And that scent...

Edward greeted, "Jasper."

"What do you want?" Jasper demanded, the strands of his hair brushing along his cheek as a breeze brushed past him.

"I'm not here to fight," Edward bristled, nostrils flaring. Whatever he'd been about to say was long forgotten as he chastised, "Her scent is all over you. You're careless around her."

"Why do you care?" Jasper snapped. "Last time you showed your face you taunted her. Hurt her all over again. Don't tell me you had a change of heart because I'll tear it right out of your chest."

Edward's lip curled into a snarl, "She didn't need us in her life. I wanted to give her more than what I had to offer. Than what you can give her." At that, Jasper involuntarily released a growl. A low rumble of warning that was punctuated by the wave of barely controlled rage that fought to bubble up to the surface until it was drowning Edward in all of it. "My mistake was trying to keep her for myself. If I'd been wiser I would have convinced all of you to leave Forks long before I grew attached."

Attached.

He speaks of Bella as though she were a prized mare. Not a human being with emotions as fragile as her heart. It enraged Jasper to hear him speak of his mate in such a way.

"Spew your excuses and self-righteous bullshit all you want. I see now that you're only here to waste my time. Get out of my sight." With that he made to turn away, already knowing that Edward wouldn't allow this conversation to end when Jasper wished. It never was easy with him. If Edward didn't get what he wanted, no one could. There had once been a time where Jasper found this particular trait amusing. Now it only upset him more to think...that he'd been so easily fooled by his brotherly affection for him.

"I didn't come here to fight you," Edward said as he suddenly appeared in front of Jasper to cut him off, taking a step towards him only to stop when he heard the menacing growl once more. Edward frowned, "you would choose someone you barely know over your own brother? A breakable creature that will barely last more than a breath for us."

"You once claimed to love that breakable creature. You tried to break her and she didn't let you, I didn't let you. I wonder how you could throw around a word such a love when you so easily looked down on Bella the whole time. Manipulating her the same way you did to everyone else. You're a liar, Edward. I always knew it, to some capacity. But for some reason, I chose to trust you anyway." Because I loved you like a brother. I trusted you more than anyone else besides Alice, and you threw it all away because you were a selfish spoiled brat who wanted what he could never have. And never will.

The rest he didn't say out loud, wanting to keep himself from losing the control he carefully kept wrapped around him. Remembering how he'd lost it in their home and the only one who could pull him out of the lethal darkness of his mind had been Bella. His Bella.

Edward released a snarl, readying himself to lash out at the empath who clearly struck a nerve.

Jasper readied himself for Edward to attack, knowing there was no turning back. Not when Bella's safety was concerned.

Edward made to charge for him and Jasper was about to launch himself forward when he heard Rosalie's sharp command suddenly ring out, "Enough!"

Before either of them could turn toward the direction she was coming from, Rosalie was shoving Edward back, hard enough that he slammed into one of the trees with a grunt. Jasper halted, stunned to see his sister here. He half expected her to continue her assault on Edward but instead she spun to look at Jasper, her panic and rage as clear as day on her face as she said, "Get back to Bella's house, Jasper. Now."

He frowned, "What?"

"You have to get back. Carlisle and Alice are already there. Go!"

Dread pooled in his chest and he barely paid any mind to Emmett arriving next, moving to restrain Edward with a grave expression of his own. Something was screaming at Jasper, a warning that drowned everything else out: wrong, wrong, wrong. The latter making no move to attempt to escape, before Jasper was running through the forest and back to the Swan's residence. The moment he shot past the tree line, he came to an abrupt halt as the scent of blood immediately greeted him.

Bella's blood.

He practically ripped the back door off it's hinges as he rushed in, "Bella!"

Alice and Esme turned to face him with grim, worried expressions as he stormed into the house, eyes scanning every inch of the kitchen and living room until they landed on Charlie. The man was barely conscious, laying on the floor where shattered glass and the remnants of the destroyed coffee table surrounded him. As if he'd been thrown across the room and it had broken his fall. And yet he tried to push Carlisle's gentle hands away from him. Trying to prevent him from applying pressure to the large gash on his leg.

"Let me up! Bella...I need to find Bella! Call 911."

Jasper followed the scent of his mate's blood to the front door where he found droplets of red on the hardwood floor. His eyes wide and desperate trailing the blood down the porch steps and away.

Gone. She's gone. Gone.

Jasper stalked back into the living room and knelt beside a frantic Charlie, feeling too much all at once as he said urgently, "Where is Bella? Charlie, look at me. Bella, where is she?"

"This is going to need stitches. Charlie I need you to stay awake, alright?" Carlisle said, looking to Esme who ran to grab his bag. "I think you might also have a concussion."

Charlie barely seemed to hear the doctor, instead he looked at Jasper. His bloodied hand clutched Jasper's arm, "Jasper, call the station...need to...find her."

Jasper, despite his blinding rage and knee-buckling fear, shared his gift to calm the man.

"What happened here?" He asked Alice without tearing his gaze away from Charlie.

Charlie said, dazed by the pain and blood loss, "There was this woman with...red hair. She wasn't normal. Wrong. She had red eyes."

"Rest, Charlie. We'll find her," Carlisle said and with Jasper's help, they watched as Charlie fell unconscious. "I'll have to take him back to the house. If he knows about us now, there's no telling what he's capable of saying to the authorities at the hospital."

Alice nodded grimly, sorrow laced in her dark eyes, "Victoria. She was here. I saw too late, somehow she knew how to get around my visions. By the time I saw her, saw what she did to Bella, it was too late."

"What did she do?" He asked with menacing calm.

After Alice told him in detail how Victoria shoved Bella hard enough to draw blood where her head met the wall, how she struck his mate rendering her unconscious. And finally, how she picked Bella up and ran—away from the house and into the forest.

No one could stop him even if they tried. Not as he disappeared and bolted through the forest. Not stopping until his fist was burying the side of Edward's face against the splintered bark of the tree he'd been leaning against.

Neither Emmett nor Rosalie could stop him from cracking Edward's perfect porcelain skin as Jasper hit him again and again. Fast and vicious. Deadly. Only this time, the Major hadn't come out. No, this was all Jasper.

Edward don't so much as try to defend himself this time. He read his mind, knew everything that had happened. And that fact that he wasn't surprised meant he had something to do with Victoria and Bella's kidnapping.

Finally, when Jasper finished unleashing his wrath upon him, he snarled, a noise that was so animalistic, it reminded him of when he'd been the Major all those years ago. A lifetime ago. Killing newborns and following Maria's every word. No better than a beast.

He would gladly become one again, if it meant finding Bella.

"Where the fuck is she?"

He would have taken anything Edward said to him. Anything at all.

The last thing he expected was for him to say through gritted teeth, pain laced across his features, "I don't know. She ran off on me last night. I've been looking ever since. I didn't think she'd come for Bella."

"You never did, isn't that right? You never thought about anyone but yourself." He shoved away from him, turning to face an endless forest of nothingness. An endless trail that led everywhere and nowhere at all.

For the first time since Bella entered their lives—his life—Jasper knew Edward was speaking the truth. He didn't know where she or Victoria were. The honesty radiating from him was the only thing preventing Jasper from tearing his head clean off.

Jasper felt a shaky breath escape him as it finally struck.

The realization that Bella was...

Gone.

She was gone.

And he'd failed to do the one thing he always swore he would do—protect her.

Something wet and cold dripped onto Bella's cheek, rolling down the side of her face. The unpleasantness of it stirred her awake from a deep sleep.

Pain shot through the back of her head and she became acutely aware of a throbbing on the right side of her face. She hissed when her fingers gingerly touched the swollen patch of skin along her cheekbone.

The dizzying sound of birds singing in the creaking tree branches overhead, high above the trees, sent shivers down her spine.

It was an effort to stand on her own when a wave of dizziness hit her. She swayed on her feet, bracing a hand on the nearest tree until she managed to steady herself.

For a moment, the only things she could hear were her shallow breaths and the sounds of the forest. Until suddenly, even the forest stilled.

Silenced by the presence of a predator.

Bella swallowed the bile in the back of her throat as she heard the sound of slow footsteps approach. Something she was sure Victoria did on purpose to spark fear in Bella.

Her prey.

Bella forced herself not to show how frightened she was, not for her well-being though, but for Charlie's.

Charlie.

Where was he? Where was she? How long had she been out and...Jasper...he must be frantic by now.

"I'll admit you woke up faster than I expected. And here I thought I'd have to wake you up myself." Victoria sighed, as if bored. Bella stood perfectly still while the nomad walked up behind her, trailing her long fingers along the girl's arm and shoulder until she was standing mere inches before her.

If she expected to find a frightened expression on Bella's face, Victoria was noticeably disappointed when she stared into blank brown eyes.

Bella leveled Victoria with a flat stare, "What do you want?"

Victoria slowly slid her hand away from Bella's shoulder, tilting her head to one side curiously. Her wild locks cascading to one side with the movement. The color reminded Bella of a blazing fire, roaring to life as it consumed everything it touched.

That's what Victoria was, she realized. A flickering ember in the wind, refusing to turn to ash, always seeking to spark a flicker of destruction.

"What do I want?" Victoria circled Bella, slow and calculating in everything she did. Graceful and deadly like a viper. "What do I want? I know you're a human, but are you really that stupid, Bella? Did you really think I wouldn't come back to finish what you and Edward started? Killing my mate!"

Hands shoved her forward suddenly. A dull pain swept over her back instantly at the touch but she braced herself before she could slam into the tree in front of her. Her palms burned upon the impact and she grimaced.

Bella realized that if Victoria had wanted to kill her, she would have done so already. Which meant she was going to make this a slow agonizing death. One that'll leave Bella begging or thrashing like a wild animal the same way James had done before Jasper and the others killed him.

That was her plan.

This was a game and Victoria was the one with the winning hand.

"No, Bella," A hand sank into Bella's hair and she gasped as Victoria yanked her back. She whispered sweetly, "I'm going to make Edward see exactly what happens when he takes everything from me. When he uses me for his own selfish need for rebellion and discards me when he's done. You have no one to blame but him for what I'm about to do to you."

"Rebellion..."

What was she talking about? Edward was...with Victoria this whole time?

He willingly went to her...

"I'm not going to kill you yet. I'm going to make you go through the same thing I did," Victoria murmured before the sound of voices in the distance made her look over her shoulder. Bella followed her gaze, to the couple hiking along the tree line. The two smiling as they made their way on a trail. Both oblivious to the monster who was currently grinning maniacally at them. Bella's heart sank as Victoria said, "Starting with those two."

"No..." Bella barely managed to whisper as Victoria suddenly disappeared.

And then—

The sound of a woman screaming filled the air, making goosebumps invade her flesh. She took two steps, stumbling as she saw Victoria sink her teeth into the man's neck while her hand clutched the woman's. The sound of a bone cracking silenced the woman immediately.

Bella watched with horror as her limp body sank to the ground, only held up because Victoria still held onto her. Blood spilled from the man's neck in dark red rivulets. An endless stream of red running down his neck and over his grey jacket. Not once did Victoria falter in her feeding. Even as her blood-red eyes stared at Bella while she killed two innocent humans. All because of her.

Bella couldn't do anything if she tried.

She knew that. As much as she hated it, she knew she was no match against Victoria.

There was nothing she could do.

And yet, she could hear Jasper as clear as day. Screaming in her head. Warning her.

Run, Bella. Run! Now!

"I'm so sorry..." she murmured, still watching the couple being drained of all life. Tears blurred her vision as she took a step back, then another.

Then Bella did the only thing she could do—she ran.

Chapter Text

Hurried footsteps pounded against the mud and dried leaves scattered across the ground.

Bella ran as fast as her legs could take her, not once stopping to look behind her even as she heard the trickling of laughter overhead.

Victoria was taking her time chasing the girl, following with sadistic delight. Every time Bella got close to a trail, anywhere that could lead onto a road, Victoria swept in and knocked her down. Gone like a sudden gust of wind, too fast to anticipate and impossible to stop.

There was no stopping her.

No matter what Bella did, there was no escaping her.

She didn't even know how long this went on for—minutes? Maybe even an hour? Or was it more?

Eventually it got to the point where Bella could barely stand after Victoria shoved her especially hard, causing her to trip and roll down a steep incline. When her back hit the ground and the world finally stopped spinning, Bella found herself staring up at Victoria's blurred face as she knelt beside her with a soft smile on her blood smeared lips.

Despite her heart pounding wildly, she didn't have the energy to flinch when Victoria gently ran the back of her hand down Bella's cheek.

"There's no escaping me, Bella. You should just go ahead and beg me to end it. I'll make it quick, as quickly as it took for James's body to burn to ash."

"Is that what Edward told you he did?" Her voice was barely above a whisper in between her ragged gasps.

Victoria's hand was suddenly around her throat, "All he did was go to the last person on his roster. The only one he hadn't lied to. Oh yes, he told me about his little plan to keep Jasper from his mate. Jealousy is quite a silent little killer isn't it? Wanting what he couldn't have drove him mad with obsession. For some fucking reason, he wanted you. He truly is pathetic, but it made my days go by a little faster. Gave me time to plan for this day."

Bella said through gritted teeth, wincing when the vampire's fingers applied more pressure around her throat, "James went after me. It wasn't the other way around. All the Cullens did was protect me."

"And ruin my life!" Victoria's red eyes practically glowed with outrage. "What am I going to do now? Without him there's nothing. Nothing! You did that! If they'd let him kill you, then it all would have been fine. I'd still have a mate and you wouldn't be the little pest invading that coven of freaks."

For a moment, Bella thought she might be right. But another part of her—that side of her that had been healed by Jasper and realized she wasn't at fault for the way Edward had treated her—told her Victoria was wrong. So wrong.

"If you kill me, Jasper will never stop until he makes you pay." She wasn't lying. She knew he would do that and more. His love and devotion to Bella was an overwhelming force of nature.

If she thought about him long enough, she knew she'd start crying.

Never seeing him again...hearing his voice...

"If Edward was right about his fierce protectiveness of you, I'm sure that'll be true even if I let you go. If I'm going to die, it might as well be for something. But like I said, I won't kill you until you're begging for it. So try and run from me again, Bella. This is the most fun I've had in a long time."

Before Bella could say anything else to try and make her see reason, Victoria was gone once again.

They would resume their game, whether Bella wanted to or not.

Tears welled in her eyes as she rolled onto her side and pushed herself up despite her body screaming out in protest.

If this had happened after Edward hurt and discarded her, she knew giving up would have been easy.

But this wasn't about Edward anymore.

This was about her and Jasper.

And for them, she would fight. No matter how many times she gets pushed down, or how badly she hurts, she couldn't give up.

Not when they just barely found each other.

They needed more time.

She needed to make that time, until he finally found her.

Bella's scent was everywhere. Her blood was everywhere.

Jasper ran through the forest at incredible speeds with his family close behind. Barely paying them any mind.

She was close, closer than Jasper allowed himself to think as panic and primal rage ruled his every move. If he lost control now he could lose her again or enable Victoria to harm her before he had a chance to save Bella. That wasn't something he was willing to do. Losing control of himself now was not an option.

According to Edward, Victoria wouldn't kill Bella until he was present too. Some sick sadistic plan she has to exact her revenge for James. Somehow, she'd known how to navigate around Edward's and Alice's gifts. And when Edward finally read Victoria's thoughts and realized she wasn't some female vampire who sought comfort in the arms of another, it was too late. She'd learned all the ways she could torment Bella because of him.

Fucking fool.

Jasper had been so tempted to kill his brother then and there as soon as he realized Edward had been with Victoria all this time. That she'd taken Bella and nearly killed Charlie.

Knowing how on edge Jasper was, Carlisle had ordered Edward to stay with Esme while she watched over Charlie. Jasper hadn't wanted to be near him again nor hear those useless words.

"You're a bigger fool than any of us thought," Rosalie had snarled after Edward revealed all he'd done and said to the nomad, head hanging low as he stood before his family.

Edward looked towards Jasper, but if he searched for empathy or forgiveness for such a foolish series of lies and cruelty, he would never find it in Jasper.

Losing James had been like losing a crucial piece that made up Victoria's very twisted puzzle. Jasper had to let himself wonder despite everything—if he lost Bella, would he become like the nomad? Wanting to get drunk on revenge.

Or would he take the other route laid out before him. Giving himself up to the Volturi and letting them end his eternal existence.

In the end, all he saw was Victoria rushing towards her own death. One way or another.

"Jasper," Emmett called from where he stood interrupting his dark thoughts. Jasper turned and noticed the grim look on his brother's face. And as a faint breeze swept past them, the Cullens stiffened.

Blood, fresh and still lingering with the scent that belonged to a human before death claimed what little was left of them too. Not Bella's blood though. Thank god...

Jasper hurried to Emmett's side as Carlisle went to the woman who laid face down in the ground before them. Blood pooling around her shoulders and head as it trickled from the gaping wound in her neck. Beside her, a man was crumpled in a heap in a similar manner.

Both Victoria's doing. Bella's scent was here too though it faded into a different direction, along with the nomad's.

Carlisle shook his head, "We can't leave them this way."

"If we move them now the humans who come looking will find tampering of evidence. They'll investigate. If we leave them like this, no one will look into it. There've been too many bear attacks to say otherwise. The wounds Victoria inflicted were too crazed and sloppy," Alice said, looking lost as she returned from a vision. Her eyes fluttered before finding his, "She's toying with Bella. Won't kill her until she pushes Bella to beg."

Beg.

Beg for a quick death.

He growled at that, already coming up with all sorts of ways he was going to torture Victoria.

"They'll be heading towards a stream. Close enough to the treaty line. If you head there now, you can make it!" Alice said as she was swept up by another vision. "Go, Jazz."

Spinning on his heel, Jasper headed towards Bella's scent once more with Rosalie and Emmett by his side. Rushing to save his mate.

Bella came to a stop to catch her breath, her lungs feeling as though they were on fire with every shaking pant. Her legs were trembling for all the running and falls she'd taken.

Rain started to trickle between the leaves above, splattering her face. Not that she could feel the cool droplets given the sweat coating her skin, making her thin Henley shirt to stick to her back.

Bruises bloomed across her back and arms, curtesy of Victoria's shoving and strong grip. Always more than happy to swoop in and hurt Bella before disappearing again, her honey-sweet laughter dancing away with her.

Her body ached terribly, but she couldn't stop.

If she knew Jasper, he'd find her soon. She just needed to hold on.

She looked up as she heard faint footsteps up ahead and her heart suddenly sank as she stared at the meadow. Edward's meadow. The flower fields that she'd loved seeing the first time he'd brought her here, were all gone. Dried to the root with only a few patches of still green grass.

"He wouldn't stop raving about this place," Victoria mused behind her, sending Bella stumbling forward before whirling around. When she scanned the path behind her however, the nomad was nowhere in sight. When she spoke again, it was an echo across the field behind Bella again. "How it brought this peace to him. Because he didn't need to think about his miserable eternal existence. What a fool. Only a fool fears the gift of immortality."

Bella inched back as she felt an unnatural breeze brush past her, pressing her back against the bark of the tree. Her senses were hyperactive with apprehensive anticipation for what was to come.

She knew by now that Victoria would lash out at her at any moment. Taking her revenge slowly.

"He could have continued living such a mundane life all he wanted. If he'd only let James take you, all of this could have been avoided. But of course, nothing is ever enough for men like Edward Cullen. A spoiled brat who's gotten everything he ever wanted."

Bella flinched this time as Victoria whispered into her ear, "Except you. His singer. The woman who isn't his mate."

"Stop it," Bella finally snapped, whirling to face Victoria. She glared at the woman, fire blazing in her eyes as she faced her tormentor, "killing me wont take back what's been done. James wasn't innocent in all of this. He could have easily left me alone! He didn't have to hunt me down. He could have been satisfied with a life with you, but that wasn't the case."

Victoria snarled viciously, slamming her hand against Bella's chest. She fell back hard into the wet ground with a gasp of pain. For a moment she wondered if her heart would stop beating because of the force of Victoria's blunt hit.

It was an effort to open her eyes in time to see Victoria stalk towards her, rage etched across her usual calm, egotistical expression.

"Shut your mouth. You're nothing more than a weed in a dying field, following the rest of the dried up earth until you're nothing but dust. That's what you'll be to the Cullens and that mate of yours. You'll die by my hand and they'll thank me for unburdening them from the likes of you."

Bella coughed as she inched back, her socks now soaked, and torn, and dirty slid across the dead grass.

"I'll take pleasure in finally feasting on you, the way James wanted to all along," Victoria's ghost of a smile sent bile rising in Bella's throat.

Rather than beg like Victoria wanted her to, Bella focused on the months she's spent with Jasper. Healing and finding herself in him, loving him the way she should have all this time. Knowing that Victoria was wrong. Jasper would never forget her.

He was as much her heart as she was a part of his soul. Death could never pull them apart.

Victoria stood over Bella, pressing the heel of her shoe into her chest that still burned wildly upon applying pressure to the blossoming bruise that was surely stretching across Bella's skin.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she shut her eyes, seeing Jasper's piercing gaze and breathtaking smile in her final moments.

Jasper...

As Victoria released a satisfied growl, Bella prepared to feel the searing pain before the world faded away.

Only that didn't happen.

"What?" Victoria whispered as another set of low guttural growls permeated the air around them. Bella opened her eyes, blinking up at Victoria as the nomad stared wide eyed ahead of her. Her lips trembled as she took a single step back, "Impossible..."

The sound of heavy thundering footsteps shook the earth beneath Bella's palms. Before she could whip her head around to see what was approaching them, a large black mass leapt over her in a graceful arc.

Victoria released a grunt as something collided with her, sending her rolling across the field. Bella shot up as she stared at Victoria and the...enormous wolf in horror as they collided, rolling and snarling in a vicious dance.

The wolf was massive, nearly as tall as Emmett as it stood up, avoiding Victoria's attack as she lashed out to defend herself. The vampire got to her feet, frantically looking between the black wolf and the three other wolves stalking forward. Saliva dripped from their sharp fangs as hatred shined from their eyes.

Victoria crouched low, baring her teeth at the black wolf as it barked loudly. When the wolves charged towards Victoria, their growls and barks sent chills down Bella's spine.

The nomad was a blur as she evaded the wolves attacks only long enough for the black wolf to lunge for her. His fangs snapped into the air as she whirled around gracefully, getting knocked down by one of the other wolves with dark silver fur. This time Victoria couldn't avoid the beasts bite as it's fangs sank into her arm and a sickening crack reached echoed across the field.

Victoria's desperate wail made Bella cringe, struggling to stand to her feet and swaying almost instantly. She flinched as another brown wolf ran past her, only stopping long enough to direct its deep brown eyes her way. A shaky breath escaped her at the beauty of the creature before it charged away. It's eyes deep and warm like freshly ground coffee.

He was beautiful.

And just as quickly, he was fine. Aiding his pack in the fight against the redhead.

The wolves wasted no time feasting upon the vicious snarling woman as she tried to fight them off, stopped by the black wolf's paw as it stepped on her hand and buried it deep into the wet grass.

Bella finally felt her fear take over, driving her into action and taking one cautious step back. If Victoria got away from the wolves and killed them, she knew she'd be done for.

That is if the wolves don't attack her next.

Bella stumbled back, her legs still trembling uncontrollably as she turned and ran, leaving the pack of wolves behind as Victoria continued to scream, a high pitched fierce wail that pierced the sky.

She only made it as far as the tree line before two strong arms wrapped around her from behind.

"No!" Bella suddenly screamed out. Hitting the hands that grabbed her arms, trying to wrench herself away. Not hearing the steady yet panicked voice saying her name over and over again. "Stop!"

"Bella. Bella it's me! It's me, darlin'. Look at me," Jasper spun her around even as she tried to fight him off.

When she finally opened her eyes to find his dark ones sinking into hers, a sigh of earth shattering relief turned into a sob, "Jasper...?"

Jasper's lips tilted up into a heartbreaking smile, "It's me, baby. I'm here. I'm here..." his eyes scanned every inch of her, reading her like he would a book. Every line, every imperfect edge. Taking in the bruises on her face and neck and arms. His jaw clenched but he never deviated from the gentle almost devoted way he caressed her cheeks and brushed her hair away from her pallid face.

It was then when everything finally slowed down, that Bella knew she wasn't imagining him. That Jasper was really here. She hadn't died and he was here.

Her legs gave out the second that piece of knowledge clicked into place in her battered heart.

Jasper sank to the ground with her as Bella threw her sore, bruised arms around him. Holding him with a desperate need to keep him close.

Tears rolled down her face as she looked over his shoulder toward the field. The large trees thankfully obscuring her line of vision before she could see Victoria or what was left of the wolves.

She pulled back, starting to panic all over again, "V-Victoria, she's been attacked by these—"

"I know," Jasper reassured her, "they won't hurt you. You're safe with us."

Us?

"Bella!" Carlisle called as he suddenly appeared beside her and Jasper. He knelt beside them, quickly examining the visible injuries on her body. Despite everything, she smiled at the man who was practically a second father to her.

"Carlisle..." she murmured, feeling a wave of darkness threaten to consume her.

"It's going to be okay now, sweetheart. Just stay awake, don't fall asleep."

If she nodded that she understood Carlisle's words, she didn't feel it.

"Take her home, Jasper. I'll speak with Sam," Carlisle said as he gently ran a hand over Bella's head, grimacing when he felt the wet sticky half-dried blood on the back of her head.

Bella barely felt Jasper slip his hands beneath her legs and back before she was being lifted into his arms. Breathing a sigh of relief to feel him so close to her as she rested her head against his broad chest, Bella allowed herself the right to feel comforted by him.

Accepting his gift to ease the pain radiating from her body.

Jasper growled a response as he looked after Carlisle as he made his way towards the meadow. But she couldn't hear it, probably couldn't even if she tried.

"You found me," She murmured against his neck, her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders as he held her close. His hands tightened slightly and his gift draped itself over them both—an undying, crushing sort of feeling—love. Relief. And guilt.

"I'm only sorry I didn't get to you sooner," Her mate kissed the top of her head and temple as he took her away, back to the safety of their home, "Bella...my Bella..."

Despite him being here, despite the aches and the fear that still remained with her like a shadow, Bella felt herself gladly slipping into the darkness. Knowing she was safe in the arms of Jasper once again.

Chapter Text

"Stay awake, Bella," Jasper murmured as he sped through the forest. Shielding her as best he could from the rain after draping his jacket over her shivering body. "We're almost there."

The journey back to the Cullen residence took longer than he realized, grating on his nerves as Bella continued to come in and out of consciousness. His panic had come into play now, finally after finding her. After being seconds away from losing her if he'd been any later.

He would have lost her, had it not been for the shifters who saved her from Victoria's wrath.

Too close.

I was too fucking close to losing her.

Rosalie opened the door for Jasper as they arrived to their home—Bella curled close to his chest—Emmett already moving to fetch a thick towel to help dry her off from the rain that had soaked through her clothes.

When Edward wandered into the hall however, the air in the room changed drastically. Rosalie and Emmett halted, watching as Jasper blatantly ignored the mind reader. Edward's brows furrowed as he took in the girl, all her injuries, but her heart was beating steadily.

"Is she—"

Jasper's sharp menacing glare as he strode past Edward was enough to silence his foolish question. Even with Bella in his arms now, Jasper would hand her over to Emmett if Edward opened his mouth again. If he even dared show concern for his mate after what he'd done. Edward had the good sense to keep his mouth shut. For once.

Jasper walked up the stairs and was in his room in no time.

"We need to get her out of those clothes," Rosalie said, switching the lights on in the closet and rummaging through Jasper's clothes like she knew it by heart. Knowing his two sisters, they probably made it their business to know.

"Bella? You have to stay awake," He murmured again as he sat her down on the bed, gratefully taking the towel Emmett offered before he pulled the jacket off her.

"W-where's Charlie?" She rushed out between chattering teeth.

"Charlie's okay. He's with Esme. He's been asleep for some time. I'll take you to him once I take care of you." He left little room for argument. Because knowing Bella, she'd rather go straight to see her father than take care of her own wounds.

"I'll be in the hall if you need anything," Emmett supplied, running a gentle hand over Bella's head before he murmured, "Good to have you back home, little sister."

Bella's eyes fluttered open, hearing his words before a small smile graced her lips, reaching a hand up towards him, "Em..."

A wave of pain washed over Jasper as he gently ran the soft fabric over her face and hair. Bruises painted her pallid cheeks and neck, a considerably large bruise in particular started at her collarbone and disappeared beneath her shirt.

"Is it your arm?" He couldn't tell where the pain began or where it ended. It was impossible to tell at this point.

"I'm okay," Bella said, and he gritted his teeth as she tried to play it off. She gave him a sheepish look before she breathed, knowing he wouldn't let her simply pretend everything was alright. It wasn't. "Everything hurts..."

"I know. I'll try to take as much of the pain as I can. Rosalie, get me Carlisle's bag."

Rosalie emerged from the closet with an oversized grey t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants in her hands. She quickly placed them on the bed before running out of the room, Emmett following after her.

Bella's cheeks were flushed and her skin was clammy against his neck but he had to lean back to look her over. The scent of her blood reached his nose again. He stood, keeping her steady while he looked to the back of her head.

She groaned when he gently moved the bloodstained strands sticking to her head to one side, to look at the small gash on her scalp.

He silently released a breath, thankful it wasn't worse than he'd initially thought. By the looks of it, she might not even need any stitches.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

Jasper frowned, gently pressing the towel to her head to soak up as much of the blood as he could.

"Why," he breathed out, "would you ever apologize for something like this?"

Bella swallowed, trying to speak through the tears that were clouding her vision. He could feel her guilt like a slap to the face and he hated it. But he waited patiently until she finally said, "Victoria...she killed those people. Because of—"

Jasper was in front of her before she could finish that sentence, cupping her face with his hands until she looked at him with those endless deep brown eyes, drowning in her tears. It was only now that Jasper allowed himself to consider the possibility of never seeing those eyes again.

He rasped, "Listen to me. That was Victoria's doing. All her fault. She lived to kill, even when she was with James. It was all she's ever done. Don't let her wretched actions inflict such wounds on your heart, Bella. Don't let her win. Don't take this burden upon yourself."

Bella bit her lip, "That man and woman...they couldn't have been much older than me. They'll never..."

Jasper's heart broke when her voice wavered, unable to finish what she was about to say.

"Jazz," Rosalie whispered, standing in the doorway with Carlisle's bag in her hand.

Without tearing his eyes away from his mate, he said too low for her to hear, "She'll be ok. Just give us a moment."

Understanding trickled into his heart before the sound of the door closing behind Rosalie reached him.

Bella didn't reject Jasper's touch as he gently picked her up and carried her to the bathroom.

Neither of them spoke after what she'd said. They didn't need to. He was careful as he set her down on the closed lid of the toilet before getting to work.

She watched him as he set the clean set of clothes on the counter of the sink, barely taking the effort to wonder when he'd gotten them. Jasper was quick to turn the handle in the shower, letting the water warm up and fill the silence that stretched on between them as the stream hit the tiles.

When he turned to face her, he knelt before her, "Can I?" She followed where his hands motioned, towards the hem of her soaked shirt.

After she nodded, he was careful as he slowly lifted the hem and helped her pull it over her chest and shoulders until the wet fabric was finally off.

It was an effort not to cry out when she lifted her arms over her head.

The cool air that hit her skin was incredibly welcoming. Soothing her aches and pains. Her long hair fluttered around her face and when she opened her eyes, she saw the shadows playing across Jasper's face. As he took in the blue and purple bruises painting her chest and ribs. Little ones that stretched into bigger splotches. As if someone had taken a brush dipped in paint and haphazardly flicked it towards a white canvas.

She noticed that he wasn't breathing.

His chest no longer rising or falling as it did when he was with her.

Jasper's whole body was tense, like a wire ready to snap.

Bella reached a hand out and cupped his cheek, "Look at me."

When he did, she could see the relief—the fear—in his gaze, "If I lost you..."

"I know." She whispered. "I'm here now."

Despite the pain, it hurt more to see him this way. So raw and vulnerable. But only ever with her.

Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to his. The moment their lips touched, warmth flooded her chest. Swirling around her heart and easing the uncertainty of never seeing him again. A balm to her battered soul.

Jasper's hands captured her face as he pulled her closer, taking her kiss and deepening it. Their tongues swirled together as he moaned—another sound that was just as precious as the sound of her heartbeat was to him—and Bella surrendered herself to him.

They kissed for a long time. Savoring every peck, every breath shared, every caress of their hands.

When Jasper finally pulled away, he was breathing heavily as he took in the pink flush of her cheeks. He ran the pad of his thumb across her cheek, over the bruise left there by Victoria.

He breathed, "I'll leave you to get undressed so you can slip into the shower."

Before he could rise and turn to give her privacy, Bella's hand gripped his. Jasper arched a brow in question that quickly turned into understanding. A small smile graced his lips as he patiently waited.

She stood, stepping up to him until her chest was brushing his. Her eyes never leaving his as he slowly unclasped her bra and pulled the straps down her arms. And then, he took her breath away as he knelt before her. Kissing her stomach once before undoing the button of her jeans. His long fingers left a trail of goosebumps as he pulled her underwear down her legs. Finally leaving her bare.

Her heart was pounding in her chest so hard she wondered if she might combust.

He was up before she could see the hunger filling his black eyes. Kissing her once more before he started shedding his own clothes.

By the time he was just as naked as her, steam filled the bathroom. The tremors started again and Jasper took her hand in his before helping her step under the stream of hot water.

The shower that was large enough to fit both of them. One side of the wall sheer glass, showing the marble porcelain walls and the built in shelves with all sorts of body wash and shampoo. If she'd been in any other state, she might have remarked on the sheer size of the bathroom. If only to tease Jasper and get him to smile again.

The pain intensified as soon as she ducked her head beneath the stream, hissing when the cut on her scalp met the water.

Jasper stood behind her, massaging the strands before working his way up to her head.

The moment was incredibly intimate, more so than all the times they'd pleasured each other in bed. It was delicate, reverent, and more than Bella could have ever asked for.

Again, they didn't speak as Jasper helped her wash off the grime and blood. The tendrils pooled around their feet before slithering down the drain. Bella watched each stream intently. Flinching when she pictured that man, the scream of the woman as she mourned him and watched in horror as Victoria forced her to watch. The sickening crack of her neck...

Cold hands cupped her shoulders and turned her until she faced him. Until she could no longer hide.

Bella breathed out her next words that sounded too much like a sob for her to try and play it off as anything else. The events that unfolded hitting her like a freight train.

"Oh my god..." Her hands covered her face, finally feeling the weight, the gravity of what Victoria had done. What she could have done if those wolves hadn't saved her. "Jasper..."

What have we done?

Without hesitation, he pulled her to his chest and held her as she unraveled before him. Holding her until the tears stopped, never letting her go even when he shut the water off and carried her out of the shower. Helped her get dressed in his clothes that were entirely too big on her. And carried her to bed, holding her until she finally fell asleep in his arms.

Edward could hear every word uttered between them from his room.

He sat on the edge of the bed, thinking of how he'd lost control so quickly. All because of a slip up.

Because he made an error.

A miscalculation in his plan to keep his singer all to himself.

Guilt played in the back of his mind but it was at war with the unending obsession to taste the blood surging through Bella's veins.

His jealously towards everyone in the Cullen household was never ending. Even when he didn't wish to feel such things towards his adoptive mother and father. His siblings. It was always there. A snake rearing it's green little head around the corner.

He'd thought having Victoria would sate his emotions. This venom that kept growing with every second he couldn't have a mate of his own.

Worst of all...his family had chosen Bella in the end.

They loved her.

They protected her from him.

His hand shot out and reached for one of the picture frames on the nightstand. One of him and the Cullens all gathered around on the field where they played baseball. Happy. Unchanging.

Until Bella showed up.

The glass in the frame shattered as it met the wall across the room. Falling into hundreds of fragments on the hardwood floor.

His door opened seconds later, revealing a heartbroken Esme as she regarded her first son.

She didn't enter his room. Barely looked at him long enough to understand what she was feeling. He didn't fail to notice that his family had shut him out of their minds. Using cryptic riddles or thinking of useless information at all times. They didn't want a traitor amidst them.

When they were the ones who betrayed me first.

He murmured, "Esme..."

"Why?" She finally asked softly, her amber eyes nearly impossible to see as the light in the hall created a silhouette around her. "Just...why would you do this, Edward?"

He swallowed his frustration. His guilt that he didn't quite understand.

What was wrong with him?

When had he become so callous? So selfish?

How did he never notice this acidic change in his heart?

Edward ran a hand through his hair, "I don't know anymore. I thought I did, once. She was—is—my singer. My addiction. I tried to keep her for myself while also trying to keep her safe. It all just escaped my control."

Esme was silent for a long moment, her stillness making him grow wary. Esme had never once been cold to anyone. She's always been the sun that shines upon them all.

Today though, she might as well be as cold as an endless snow infested landscape.

"You wished for a mate so badly that you resorted to manipulating your own family. Your brother. Going so far as to hurt Bella in the worst of ways. And yet," this time her voice wavered, "you do not feel an ounce of regret for any of it?"

"My only regret...is that I got caught, mother. If you'd all simply let it go, I would have been able to move on. You all would have forgotten Bella sooner or later."

Esme drew in a sharp breath before turning on her heel, "That's the difference between us, Edward. We never once tried to change our fates. We accepted it, and each other. Because we are a family. I hope that someday you will remember what that means."

Chapter Text

Bella sat on the loveseat beside Charlie's bed.

He looked peaceful if a little paler than usual. Carlisle had told her he'd lost a considerable amount of blood after the fall he'd taken, courtesy of Victoria. His leg had needed a few stitches but nothing major that required being taken to the hospital. Esme had stayed with him most of the night, keeping an eye on him in case he awoke. In case he tried to leave...

He was currently resting in the bedroom the Cullens had given her after the ordeal during her birthday. After Edward revealed Bella and Jasper have been mates all along.

She stood, grimacing at the soreness coursing through her body, before she carefully placed a kiss on her father's forehead. Unable to voice how sorry she was for dragging him into all of this.

Carlisle and Jasper were in the hall waiting for her when she emerged, closing the door behind her.

"I'll stay with him, Bella. Don't worry, he'll be up before you know it." Carlisle reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Bella nodded, placing a kiss on her adoptive father's cheek in thanks which made him smile in return.

After he'd given her a thorough check up last night, he'd come to the same conclusion Jasper had. Other than a minor concussion, Bella would be fine. That hadn't been her main concern when he'd woken her up though, still tucked close to Jasper beneath the warm covers, not paying any mind at all to the cold radiating off her mate's chest. It was the most natural thing, being with him like this. It reminded her of finally being home.

The unmistakable scent of smoke had clung to Carlisle's clothes as he checked her wounds. A clear sign as to what had occurred with Victoria.

That was when they explained the wolves. The shifters who resided in La Push. They told her of the treaty and Sam Uley's pack. Revealing a whole new world to her she had no idea existed. It all made sense though—explained why Victoria had been so terrified of the wolves the moment they emerged from the forest. Radiating death and swift retribution.

"So she is dead then?" She finally asked, still able to feel the ghost like fingers against her throat.

Carlisle shared a glance with Jasper, silently communicating before the former said with no ounce of lament, "Yes. She is."

Carlisle placed a hand over her back and said, "I think there is something else I should explain to you, Bella. Before you go and blame yourself for the actions of another, it is important for you to understand the toll losing a mate can have on vampires." Bella stiffened, looking to Jasper as he remained silent, leaning against the wall as he waited for his father to continue. "When two mates lose one another, if they're as bonded as you and Jasper already are, then the loss can be debilitating. Lifetime's together can seem like a handful of years in comparison to us. Facing eternity alone after such a monumental change often leads to madness. Changing all of that one person's beliefs and way of life into a path that can be most destructive.

"When vampires mate, they are eternally bound to live their days together. To love forever. Taking such a precious thing away can be the cruelest punishment of all. Worse than death itself. Victoria may have developed this obsession to kill you and use Edward simply by being driven into madness. It's hard to say why she resorted to such lengths to torment you, but it could have very well been the consequence of losing her mate."

Bella took in this information, trying to understand how such a thing could lead to becoming so bloodthirsty and cruel. Trying and failing to imagine a world without Jasper or imagining what he would have done if he'd lost her. Would he have become like Victoria? Crazed and desperate to rectify what can never be undone...

Imagining such a thing—picturing her loving, reverent Jasper looking like Victoria had in those final moments—it made her shudder.

Then a thought occurred to her. She asked Carlisle, "If losing a mate can lead to something like that...then, what of the vampires who haven't found their mates after so long? What happens to them if they never find that person to spend eternity with?"

He sighed sadly, knowing exactly what she was referring to—who she was referring to—and he said, "I imagine it's no different."

Pushing that conversation aside and returning to the present, Bella took Jasper's hand after they parted with Carlisle. They made it to the end of the hall and before she could take a step further, Jasper tugged her to him.

She started, "What are you-"

He silenced her question with a kiss. Guiding her until her back was against the wall. His large hand cupped her cheek, tilting her head back just enough to deepen the kiss. She breathed a contented sigh against him, her hand clutching the front of his black henley. When he slowly pulled away, he ran his thumb along her bottom lip. Making every inch of her body feel as though it were lit aflame.

Silently, she wondered if she'd ever get used to his dizzying, intoxicatingly sweet kisses. At the way he gazed upon her as if she were the only person that mattered in his whole world. God, she hoped not.

"What was that for?" She breathed.

Jasper grinned, "Do I need a reason?"

"No, you don't need one. Not at all," She released a soft laugh, allowing him to lead her downstairs to join the others who have been waiting quite anxiously for her to reunite with the rest of the family.

The first one to hug her was Alice of course, managing to contain her excitement to avoid hurting Bella after Jasper gave her a stern look. Then came Emmett—refraining from the bear hug that always swept her off her feet—ruffled her hair.

"Always getting into some trouble, huh Bells?" He grinned, the dimples in his cheeks more pronounced.

"Not by choice, believe me," She remarked with a smile. "Thanks for finding me."

Emmett shook his head as if to say he hadn't been the one to save her but, he eyed her affectionately, "Always, kid."

Rosalie stepped up after that, ignoring the way everyone paid close attention to the blonde beauty's interaction for the youngest member of their family. Her honey-colored eyes warmed as she said, "It's good to have you back home, Bella."

The smile that spread across Bella's face, quickly accompanied by a delicate blush, seemed to warm the entire room. Flooding everyone's hearts with love for this human girl who has changed so much in such little time. Making it impossible to imagine their lives without her in it.

"It's good to be home."

Bella sat on the back porch, hugging her legs up to her chest as she stared at the beautiful garden Esme had planted in the backyard. Lost in thought as she planned how she was going to tell Charlie about the Cullens.

There was no escaping what the man had seen nor was there any logical explanation to justify how a woman barely his height could manage to fling him across the room. There simply was no way to get around this. Carlisle and Esme helped her come to terms with it, agreeing to be there when they told her father the truth. Hoping he could be trusted with their secret.

Everyone collectively agreed that leaving Forks or Bella behind was out of the question, not that anyone suggested such a thing.

So the truth was in order.

In a way, Bella was relieved that she would no longer have to hide such a big secret from Charlie.

It would make living amongst the vampires and the humans in her life much easier without having to hide. She just hoped Charlie wouldn't completely lose his mind...

She was just coming up with how she was about to break the news to Charlie, when the glass door sliding open interrupted her thoughts.

A warm fleece blanket was draped over her shoulders a few seconds later and she smiled without having to look behind her to know who it was.

"I take my eyes off you for a few seconds, and you're already disappearing on me," Jasper drawled as he sat beside her, resting his arm over the back of the bench. Bella took the opportunity to scoot closer to him until she was leaning her head against his chest. Content to have a moment alone with him. He ran his fingers through her hair as he muttered, "I knew you'd be the death of me."

She smiled against him, "I don't think you can return me now. According to your vampire lore, we're stuck together."

A low rumble emanated from his chest as he chuckled, "I don't believe 'stuck' is the word for it, darlin'."

Bella peered up at him, "Oh? Then what would you call it?"

Jasper nipped her ear, making her giggle, "I believe people nowadays call this a long term relationship." She arched a brow at him, watching his smile slowly slide away before angling his head just enough to stare into her eyes. "Or it could be...something else if you wanted."

Something else...

"You mean, being like...you?" Turned?

She licked her lips and pleased at the sight of his eyes tracking the movement, the way the amber in his irises changed to a darker color. She knew that look well by now. Wanted to see more of it when they were alone. Behind closed doors–

Jasper leaned forward until his lips grazed the curve of her ear and whispered, "You know I don't need to read you with my gift to know exactly what's going on through that head of yours, right?" Her cheeks instantly grew warm and she tried to stand up, tried to make any excuse she could to avoid embarrassing herself further. But Jasper's arm reached for her hand and pulled her towards him until she had no choice but to sit on his lap.

He ran the back of his fingers down her cheek, watching her as she leaning into his touch. "If forever is what you want, I'd give it to you. Gladly. There's not a thing I wouldn't give to have you by my side. I don't know if you realize that I love you so much, that it's dangerous. Dangerous to want you as much as I do. To love you to the point of losing my mind when you were taken from me. If I'd gotten my hands on Victoria, you would have seen the monster I would have become for you. And I'm not ashamed to say it."

Bella's breath caught in her throat. Her heart swelling with unconditional love as he laid his soul bare to her.

"But if turning you isn't something you want—if you choose to remain human..." he swallowed, seeming to battle with some primal part of himself before he said the words, "I'd cherish every single moment you gave me."

Jasper.

My selfless, kind, beautiful Jasper...

"You can take time to think—"

Bella captured his face in her hands, kissing him hard. Making him moan when she pressed herself against him. This time taking his breath away as she licked his lips, begging for permission to enter. His hands clutched her hair, her shirt, as he pulled her even closer. Taking all that she was willing to give him.

"B-Bella..." he panted when she pulled away only long enough to kiss him again. Again. Again...

When their kisses finally slowed, Bella's eyes were filled with tears before she breathed, "I do want forever with you. I love you so much, Jasper. So much I don't know what to do with it."

The relieved smile on Jasper's lips was as breathtaking as the kiss they'd shared. Deep and long, unapologetic and searching. It would never be enough—not for him or the woman in his arms—but they would have forever. Someday.

"You're both out of your mind," A silken voice said, making Bella tense immediately. Jasper's large hands held her tighter to him, sensing her anxiety spike the moment she recognized Edward's voice. He gently eased her off his lap, making sure to take her hand in his as they both stood up to face the man who'd started it all.

Edward stood at the bottom of the steps of the porch, his hair a mess as it always was and his clothes rumpled. The scent of blood reached Jasper, but one look into his amber eyes told the empath he'd finally fed on an animal. Not a human.

At least there was that.

His brother shook his head, running a hand through his unruly bronze hair as he regarded Bella, "You really intend to choose a life like this? Over a normal one? You'd damn yourself to become a monster like the rest of us."

"You took any chance of my having a normal life the moment you took an interest in me. The moment you lied and kept me from Jasper." Bella said, not needing Jasper's help to find her courage for once.

The scars of what Victoria had made her endure and see...they still remained. The guilt she felt for what had been done to that young couple...they fueled her now. To stand up for herself. To make things as right as they could be. For herself.

She realized now, that no matter how loved or safe she felt with her mate—with their family—the manipulation and hurt she'd felt because of Edward would always remain unless she faced him.

Her hand closed around Jasper's as she stood beside him, "Edward, I understand that your jealousy and desperation to have what the others have drove you towards this dark path. It's not an excuse for what you've done though. Maybe someday I will forgive you for breaking my trust. But endangering Charlie's life, hurting Jasper, is something I will never forgive you for doing."

A wave of pride and...something akin to heartache brushed over Bella, making her look towards Jasper. Her breath caught in her throat as she peered up and found him watching Edward with an honest expression on his face.

Sadness. Regret. Anger.

All of them clustered into those golden eyes that seemed to shine. As stoic as Jasper Whitlock has always been, he wore his heart on his sleeve when it came to those he loved. He never hid what he truly felt, even when it hurt the most. Which is why Bella would do anything to protect him from being hurt by Edward again.

"If you've ever loved him, Edward," she said without looking away from Jasper, "you'll let him be happy. If he's chosen me as I have him, let us be happy. Just...let us go. So that you can move on."

Edward's jaw clenched, seeming to war with Bella's words and his own emotions. If he agreed or saw an ounce of reason, it was difficult to tell. His eyes looked between them both before he averted his gaze and said, "I recognize that no words could ever be enough for what I did to you, Isabella. What I...tried to do to you was despicable—"

"Look her in the eyes," his words were cut off by the low growl that emanated from Jasper. This time the empath stepped forward, releasing Bella's hand as he walked down the steps until he was face to face with Edward. Saying with a dangerous calm enough to make Edward back away a step, "Do you think it isn't enough that she has to see you, standing there with that same self righteous air? Is there an ounce of shame in that dead heart of yours or is that too much to ask? For you to be sincere for once in your miserable existence and atone for your actions."

"I do feel shame for my actions," Edward said through gritted teeth. "You know I do."

"Then say it. Having you say these words without so much as having the courage to face her does little to convince Bella. I can assure you an apology isn't enough for me. So lift your gaze. And look. At. Her."

Bella's heart stuttered.

The power rippling off Jasper in this moment was overwhelming even for her, and he wasn't projecting his gift her way at all. No he was siphoning all of the distress Jasper had felt from Bella the day he found her—the sorrow that nearly broke her completely—and the blinding fear after finally escaping Victoria.

Edward felt it.

He felt it and recoiled as if he'd been slapped.

His gaze travelled up the steps and over Jasper's shoulder until he found her again.

It was an effort not to look away from him this time. Steeling herself, Bella closed her hands into fists beside her and waited for him to speak.

"I'm sorry, Bella. For everything I've done. For involving Victoria in all this. I am sorry I was too consumed by my own need to have someone to realize I was wrong. I did care for you, believe it or not. Therefore, if you wish to be a part of this family and choose Jasper, I won't stand in your way. Go ahead, be happy."

Without another word, Edward turned and stalked away. Back into the forest where no thoughts could reach him.

Once he was far enough away, Jasper turned and sighed. Sharing a knowing glance with Bella, one of hope.

Without hesitation she wandered down the steps, stopping just one above his, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Melting into him as he slid his arms around her waist. "It'll be okay," she reassured as she sank her fingers into his hair. Shivering when he buried his face against her neck, seeking shelter from the storm inside his heart.

Her eyes stared up ahead where Edward had been and she silently hoped what they were all about to do would put an end to this. Once and for all.

Chapter Text

Edward did not know why he'd been asked to come to his family's living room.

He'd been about to set out. Part ways with them all forever. Where he would go, he wasn't sure, only that he could not live under the same roof as Jasper and Bella. Not without wanting to tear her away from his brother again. Or tear into her throat all together.

He was a monster, he could recognize that.

Losing control of all sense of himself and seeing what it had done to his family first hand...

And still wanting the human girl who—

Edward tensed, looking up as he tried to listen for two heartbeats. For Bella's soft voice or Charlie's gruff one. Only there was nothing.

Because they weren't here.

He turned, ready to go in search for the two humans who'd been upstairs in the guest bedroom an hour ago, when Alice strode in with Rosalie and Emmett behind her.

"Good, you're here. Why don't you take a seat?" The pixie suggested as she sat herself on one of the loveseats by the window. Crossing her legs and placing her delicate hands atop her knee, "Everyone else shouldn't be too long."

Edward frowned, "Where are they?"

Alice shrugged, her tone detached in a way that was foreign to Edward. Though considering she is Bella's best friend, it was no mystery as to why his sister regarded him coldly. "How should I know? I don't monitor all of Esme and Carlisle's comings and goings."

He gritted his teeth, "Bella and Charlie aren't here. Where did you take them? I know for a fact that the man wasn't even awake this morning, him up and leaving doesn't seem all that plausible."

"As perceptive as ever, brother," Rosalie said with a sardonic grin. "I have to wonder how you managed to lie to everyone for so long with that quick wit of yours."

"Don't act as if you suddenly care about what happens to Bella," he remarked, earning himself a deep rumbling growl from Emmett as he crossed his muscular arms. Edward rolled his eyes, "I already apologized. To the both of them. What more do you all want from me?"

"An apology doesn't change anything if you don't mean it," Emmett said, "It's not what we want, trust me. If it went our way you would be a pile of limbs right now. Not on that high and mighty throne you've seated yourself on."

"Then what the hell am I doing here?" Edward threw his hands up and started stalking towards the opened doorway that led into the hall. When Carlisle, Esme, and Jasper walked in his path. They stopped short when they noticed the brooding telepath.

"Son, why don't you join us. We have something to discuss." Carlisle suggested though his tone sounded more like a command.

Edward didn't know why he was surprised by his entire family's change towards him. How they were apprehensive and distrustful in his mere presence. Worst of all, they shut him out of their thoughts completely.

All of them.

He stepped aside for his father and mother to walk into the living room. Jasper didn't so much as glance at him. But given Bella's floral scent clinging to him as if it belonged to him—Edward knew he'd been the one to move Bella and Charlie out of the house. Away from him? Or for another reason?

"What do you want to discuss, Carlisle?" He finally said when everyone expect for Jasper and Emmett took seats around the living room. Opting instead to lean against the wall behind the long couch where Rosalie was seated.

"You were going to leave again," Esme murmured, "where did you plan on going?"

"I don't see why you should care. I'm the one who wronged this family after all. You have five others you can play mother with, Esme. I'm sure you don't need me."

Esme flinched at the coldness of his words.

Carlisle inhaled a sharp breath as he witnessed Edward's sneer directed towards Esme. The woman who has loved him since the first day they met. The same woman who defended him and encouraged him to be happy with Bella—thinking his intentions were genuine. Never once thinking him capable of stealing Jasper's mate.

"You'll not speak to my wife that way," Carlisle said, cutting anyone else off before they could jump to Esme's defense. Edward stiffened, "You'll listen to what we have to say and you'll be quiet while we speak. Do not disrespect another person in our home, Edward. I've forgiven many cruelties on your part, but the moment you disrespect Esme is the moment I forget all the kindness that makes me the man that I choose to be."

Not the monster I was cursed to become.

Not a monster like he'd become. God, what was wrong with him? How is it that he can feel guilt and resentment all at once? How can he love, and yet, also hate his family?

Esme took Carlisle's hand, seemingly calming the latter as storms waged in his eyes. He granted Esme a soft smile of reassurance.

"I want to know something," Rosalie started, earning Edward's attention. There was blatant scorn on her face but also...betrayal. "was it worth it? To steal Bella from Jasper. To lay your hands on her the way you did. Losing us. Was it worth the pain you caused to have your little fantasy?"

Edward didn't answer for a long moment. Looking down to his clenched hands. The same hands that hurt Bella.

"No, it wasn't," he answered truthfully. He looked around the room, to every single member of his family, all watching him with a mix of wariness and disappointment. His eyes lingering on Jasper who still refused to look at his brother. His thoughts utterly vacant. "...it wasn't at all. I am sorry for the trouble I've caused you all. For all the deceit. I lost myself in jealousy and bloodlust."

This time Jasper did look at him. Giving him a sidelong glance, communicating to not mention Bella in front of him as though she were a blood bag.

"I'm willing to accept whatever punishment you see fit." He finally said. "I know I can't stay here. Not while I'm...the way that I am currently."

Carlisle's face was grim as he nodded, "Yes, that is exactly what we wanted to discuss with you, son."

"You are willing to do whatever it takes to atone for what you did to your brother and work towards being better? Sincerely?" Esme asked him. Her eyes filled with unshed tears.

Edward nodded, "I am. If I am condemned to never find my mate, then learning to managed this...behavior is the only way to live. I need to be better not just for myself. For all of you too, if you'll have me back."

Rosalie crossed her arms, clearly not trusting him fully. Edward resigned himself to the fact that Jasper and Rosalie might never fully trust him again. Another punishment he would carry with him for a long time.

Alice nodded, a small smile gracing her lips as she said, "Give it time."

Emmett sighed, as if he couldn't help it, "You know I love you, you little shit."

Edward managed to give him a small, barely-there grin though the amusement didn't reach his eyes.

The sound of the doorbell ringing downstairs made them all tense. Alice rose swiftly, "I'll get it."

"If your word is true, then you'll understand that what we've decided to do is for the best," Carlisle stood, holding Esme's hand as she followed and with a finality that could never be questioned he said to Edward, "After seeking council with Aro, the Volturi have come to the decision to hold you accountable for your actions. Betraying your brother and Bella, jeopardizing the coven, and risking not only Charlie's life but also exposing our true nature to the humans. You will be held in Volterra and forced to reflect on your ways however Aro sees fit."

Panic swept over him in an instant.

Edward released a sound that was a mix between a scoff and a grunt as his lips parted, ready to defend himself and his actions.

But he never got the chance.

Not as Alice appeared in the doorway with three hooded figures wearing the Volturi's signature colors standing behind her. She made her way back into the living room, moving to stand beside Jasper. The rest of the Cullens stood next, regarding the Volturi with the closest thing to respect they could muster.

Jane pushed the hood off her head, revealing two blood red eyes as she stared directly at Edward.

Jasper clenched his jaw as he felt pure greed and vengeance radiating off the smallest member of the Volturi. Her sharp smile could slice through any of their cold dead hearts, ending them all in an instant.

And she wouldn't even have to lift a finger to do it.

"We've been sent to pick up our...newest guest," Jane breathed with a sickening grin. Felix and Dimitri stood on either side of her, both unmoving in their overwhelming presence.

Edward could barely hear their thoughts, but that might be due to their sole focus being on returning to Volterra.

"Carlisle—"

Jane interrupted Edward before he could plead with his father, "We can do this the easy way. Or the hard way. It matters not to me. Although the pain," her eyes seemed to gleam at the word, "that is inevitable, should you try to defy Aro's decree."

"Then I take the hard way," Edward snarled as he crouched low, readying himself to fight his way out if he had to. There was no way he was going with the Volturi. He'd much rather be torn apart by the shifters than live in exile in Volterra where Aro would happily find ways to torment him for his crimes.

Jasper frowned, knowing exactly what was about to happen. Despite himself, despite all the hurt and fury he's felt towards Edward. He still loved his brother.

Still wanted him to live.

Love...it was such a complicated thing.

"Edward, please," Esme's voice wavered as she stepped forward. More tears shined in her eyes as she pleaded with him, making him halt before he could charge towards the three vampires. He whipped his head towards the woman who has always loved him. No matter what, she would love Edward as her son forever. It never mattered to Esme what any of her children did in the past—she still loved them unconditionally. "Please. If you've ever loved this family. Please, don't do this."

You know Aro won't kill you. He knows as much as the rest of us how valuable you are based on your gift alone. If you attack now, dying will be the least of your worries. Jasper finally said to him.

Edward's gaze shot to his, holding for a long moment as he took in the words Jasper shared.

Don't make another decision that will end in heartbreak. Try to be better, Edward. Fix yourself or the damage will remain forever. Marcus has agreed to help you work through this...madness. He knows better than anyone how it feels to live for eternity without his mate. Trust him.

Marcus, who'd lost his mate after being executed by Aro. The same man who lost himself completely when the loss became too much. After being betrayed by a brother...

The only difference between Edward and Marcus was that the latter didn't truly have a family who cared for him.

But the Cullens still loved him. As he loved them.

He and Jasper both knew that Carlisle and Esme would accept him with open arms. When and only if he changed his ways.

The rest of them...Bella...that was a different story entirely.

But all it takes is one person to change your life.

Maybe there was still hope for Edward.

He seemed to war with all the thoughts his siblings and parents were filling his head with now. All trying to save their brother's life, no matter how little he deserved it.

And then, remorse swept over Jasper.

True regret.

Not because he was being punished for his wrongdoings.

For the first time in...forever, Jasper could feel that the remorse for what he'd done to him—to Bella—was genuine. And Edward would feel it for a long, long time.

Probably forever.

They held each other's gaze before Jasper nodded once. Understanding and acknowledging the apology. Swallowing down his own emotions, holding them back until he could see Bella again—until he could unravel before her—Jasper steadied himself.

Edward relaxed from his stance before he turned to face Jane and said, "Alright. I'm ready."

"Good, we have a tight schedule. Come along," Jane said before turning, only to stop as she said over her shoulder, eyeing Jasper this time, "Master will be expecting a visit from this mate of yours soon. He's very curious to see this...Bella. We'll be in touch."

Jasper clenched his jaw to hold back a retort, his hands curling in fists as he watched the Volturi go. Ignoring the hand on his shoulder as Alice ensured he didn't go after the blonde vampire.

Edward said a quick goodbye to everyone in the room, before he too walked out of the living room. Out of their home.

He didn't so much as look back as he lifted his head and faced his punishment—whatever it may be.

Chapter Text

Bella held Charlie's hand as he slept soundly.

The probability of the Volturi catching their scent was highly possible, however, Carlisle's plan to move Charlie out of their home before the coven arrived was better than nothing.

Reaching out to confess that Bella was a human and Jasper's mate would have at least given them some leniency. Were it not for Alice seeing the outcome of making that decision, they never would have said anything to avoid the risk.

Charlie had been confused and in a daze when he woke up but after blinking up into Bella's worried eyes, everything snapped back into place. He'd practically jolted up from the bed, held down by Carlisle before he tore his stitches open. Charlie wasted no time bombarding Bella with questions.

But with Jasper's steadying hand on her shoulder and Carlisle taking charge to explain everything, they'd managed to get through it.

Watching the wide range of emotions playing across his face—from the tight furrow of his brows in confusion, to them rising to his hairline, and practically gaping at them—had made Bella extremely nervous.

Once they managed to convince him that this wasn't some bad joke, he'd looked drained of all energy once again.

After Jasper and the others left to deal with the Cullens, Bella answered as many questions as she could for her father. Delving into the past and explaining why she'd left home the night she ran from James with Jasper and Alice.

The accident at school and Edward saving her from being crushed by that van.

Meeting the Cullens and getting to know the world they belonged to.

What she didn't tell him was how Edward had treated her in the end. Nor how Jasper was her mate.

She didn't want to tell Charlie about the hurt they both experienced because of someone they trusted who'd betrayed them for his own selfish reasons.

Promising to answer any other questions he might have after he's fully rested, Bella watched Charlie drift off to sleep once more.

Once she made sure he was comfortable in his bed, she placed a soft kiss on his forehead and whispered, "I love you, dad."

She slipped out of his bedroom and closed the door before heading downstairs. The mess Victoria had created in the entryway and living room was nowhere to be seen. Most likely having been cleaned up by Alice or Esme.

With every hour that passed since Jasper left to deal with the Volturi, Bella grew more anxious. A lot of what ifs started to follow her around, so she did the only thing she could to take her mind off it.

She cleaned the whole house. Starting with the living room, she swept and mopped and dusted like there was no tomorrow before doing the same in the kitchen. Then Bella noticed the stack of dirty dishes in the sink left untouched since Victoria took her.

Scrubbing and rinsing each one before wiping them dry with a dish towel, Bella finally felt herself slow down.

Her hands splayed on the counter as she stared down the drain. Listening to the droplets of the faucet as they fell. So much had happened in such little time. She felt mentally and physically drained on all counts.

And it still felt like they weren't done. Like bringing the Volturi into the mix was some sort of death sentence.

With a deep sigh, she looked up and out the window, taking in the darkness beyond their backyard, Bella spotted a figure walking between the trees. Heading straight for the house.

Before she had the chance to feel apprehensive, Bella's heart skipped as she saw Jasper emerge from the shadows. She hurried out the backdoor and ran down the steps to meet him halfway in time to see the sorrow on his beautiful face.

The grief over losing his brother—again.

His hands reached for her before she crashed into him, sinking her fingers into his hair as he held her. His hands clutched her close as if the mere few hours they were apart had been unbearable. Losing himself in their embrace as his shoulders shook.

Tears rolled down Bella's cheeks, knowing that she would probably never see Edward again. The brooding boy who'd been her friend and then first love. Had it been true love? Sometime she wondered that after he'd left her—hurt her—before she and Jasper grew close.

Being with Jasper had been as easy as breathing.

Not only was he her mate, but he was her best friend, her protector, her love.

No, what she and Edward had together hadn't been love. Not true love. But in some twisted way, it had been Edward who led her to Jasper.

For that, she had to be grateful.

Jasper had been the one who'd showed her what true love was. Real. Unselfish. Kind. All while still fighting for them. Never giving up.

Now, Edward was gone.

Leaving behind a heartbroken family.

They held onto each other, standing beneath the stars and moon until droplets of rain cascaded down on them. Bella finally broke their embrace, running her thumb along his cheek, "Let's go inside?"

Jasper nodded wordlessly, letting her take his hand and pulling him in through the back door. Bella's resolve to take care of him this time made his heart ache as she led him straight to the bathroom.

Without hesitation, she helped him shed his clothes. Kissing his lips as soon as his shirt was up over his head. Jasper released a low rumble when her hands gently traced his broad chest, over the hard muscles of his abdomen.

"I love you so much." She whispered as they stood under the water, washing one another in between kisses that were languid and exploring to sensual and hungry.

But they didn't do more than that. Not tonight.

"I need to hold you tonight," Jasper said when they were back in her bedroom. Pulling on one of the t-shirts he'd left here, Bella crawled onto her bed and let Jasper lay behind her. Wrapping his arms around her until her back was flush against his chest.

He kissed her neck, "I want you so bad it hurts."

"Me too." She whimpered.

"After this, it's just you and me. I don't care where we are or when, only that I want you, darlin'."

Bella smiled as she kissed his arm, "Sounds good to me."

"So let me get this straight," Charlie raised a hand, stopping Jasper from explaining the last question her dad had asked. "So you mean to tell me that you...sparkle? Like glitter or something?"

Jasper grinned, chuckling as he sat on the chair beside Bella, "I'm sad to say that is an accurate way to describe it." He went into further detail explaining the moment after death the cells in the body take on crystalline properties, creating an effect of crystals shimmering beneath their skin. Charlie could not look more confused, but also seeming to debate if they were all indeed having fun at his expense.

However, when Jasper showed no hint of amusement, it became quite clear that it was true. Jasper Whitlock rarely joked when it came to such things. One reason why Bella loved him more with each passing day. He was always patient and willing to explain anything Charlie had questions about.

They'd both taken chairs up to Charlie's room to sit with the man while he ate the breakfast Bella had prepared him.

After they'd taken him to the hospital to get checked up at Carlisle's request, the doctor had discovered that Charlie's cholesterol had been above average. So Bella did some research and put her father on a strict diet.

Currently he was adding a grimace to every bite he took of his oatmeal and fruit.

"This seems...nuts," Charlie scoffed. "These type of things are only in movies. Vampires...am I going to find out that werewolves exist too?" His chuckle died down when he noticed Jasper and Bella exchange a look. He held up a hand, "No, I don't want to know."

Bella grinned, "Yes, dad. This is all real. And it's important that no one ever finds out. No one but you and me can know about the Cullens."

Jasper placed a hand on Bella's shoulder, "Like humans are supposed to follow the law in your world, vampires also have to obey theirs. Only we don't get second chances to repent for our mistakes."

Then he explained the nature of the Volturi. Their blood-red eyes and black cloaks. Volterra. The three leaders of the coven.

Sharing his world with Charlie knowing that this is what it'll take so that Bella can have both worlds for as long as she wants.

Later in the evening, Carlisle and Esme came over to check on Charlie. Esme carried a paper bag in her hands and the smell of garlic and cheese hit Bella as she greeted them.

"I figured we'd spoil Charlie a little longer. I picked up lasagna, stuffed mushrooms, salad and a calzone. Should be enough right?" Esme winked and Bella laughed.

"It's more than enough. Thank you, Esme. You didn't have to."

"That's what family is for, honey. Now, why don't you two get out of here for the night. Everyone's gone to hunt and Carlisle and I will stay here to keep Charlie company tonight."

Bella opened her mouth to protest, when she felt Jasper's hand on the small of her back. Esme turned and strode out of the kitchen, giving them privacy.

Good thing too, because Jasper murmured, his words a deep drawl into her ear, "Say yes and let me make good on the promise I made you."

She shivered as she turned to face him, cheeks warming under his intent gaze.

"Yes."

Chapter Text

Jasper held Bella's hand as he drove them home, his thumb drawing slow circles along the back of her hand while she stared out the window, seemingly lost in thought. Every now and then he'd steal glances her way, spotting her reflection on the glass as she watched the trees whirl past them.

He gave her hand a squeeze where he felt a nervous wave wash over him before Bella returned the gesture with a squeeze of her own. She turned her attention away from the window to give him a small smile, though he could sense an unspoken worry that most likely had to do with Charlie's well-being.

He asked, "Do you want to go back? We can—"

"No, I want to go with you." She cut him off before he could go on. Turning to face him with a slight blush she said, "Be with you I mean. I'm just..."

"Worried about Charlie." Jasper finished for her.

Bella ran a hand through her hair, "Do you think it's over? Everything I mean."

Jasper held her gaze for a second before focusing back on the road, "I hope it is. Alice will keep an eye on the Volturi just in case, but unless she says anything different I want to believe Aro won't try to stir up trouble anytime soon," Bella smiled when he brought their hands up to place a kiss on the back of her hand, "For now, let's try to make the most of the time we have."

Reassured by his words, she nodded as they made it to the Cullens home. The lights were on inside but Jasper knew there wasn't anyone waiting for their arrival, not with his siblings going off to hunt for the next few days.

Without worrying about Edward showing up again or the threat of Victoria, they could finally go back to the way things were.

Jasper led Bella into the house, walking hand in hand, all the way to his bedroom. He noticed Bella's clothes were neatly folded on the bed. Esme must have left them for her before coming to watch over Charlie.

"Are you hungry?" He asked her.

"I think I'll just take a hot shower if that's okay. With everything that's happened and worrying about Charlie needing me, I'd like to take a long one this time."

"Of course. Take all the time you need."

She smiled softly, turning to head toward the bathroom when Jasper reached for her hand. Unable to help himself from touching her, needing to touch her. She looked over inquisitively, and Jasper grinned.

He gave her hand a tug until she came willingly with a soft laugh. He cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her softly. Once, then twice. Then he couldn't help himself when he licked her bottom lip. Bella sighed, parting her lips for him. Granting a silent permission for him to enter. They both shifted closer to each other, their soft breaths and needy sounds filling the room as they drowned in the kiss.

What he intended to keep innocent between them quickly turned into more as he deepened the kiss further when Bella tugged on the front of his shirt. It wasn't until Bella's knees buckled that he pulled away, holding her against his chest before she sank to the floor.

Jasper ran his thumb over the warm blush across her cheeks, "Maybe don't take too long."

Bella smiled as she shook her head before placing a chaste kiss on his lips, pushing him away as if to keep them both from giving into what they truly desired. Jasper chuckled as he felt her frustration and lust for him, which only mirrored his own feelings. Biting her bottom lip, she gathered her clothes before disappearing into the bathroom. The sound of the shower turning on reached his ears as he turned to lay down on his bed for a bit, even if it was purely out of habit seeing as he felt no real need to rest.

He stared up at the ceiling until his ears couldn't help but pick up on the sound of her clothes sliding off her skin, the fabric softly hitting the floor. Her bare feet padding across the tiles to get into the shower. He took in a deep breath of restraint. After a heart beat, he headed downstairs before his need for her got the best of him and he decided to join her instead.

It wasn't as if they hadn't seen each other naked or taken a shower together before.

After what Victoria had done to her, he'd wanted to take care of Bella the way she deserved. He'd wanted to comfort her and hold her more than anything. Of course he couldn't deny he'd felt desire when he saw her standing before him naked and vulnerable. But she'd been injured and was clearly frightened, still trembling from the terror she'd been put through thanks to the nomad and Edward.

All he'd wanted in that moment was to know that she would be alright. Nothing more and nothing less.

Now...

In an attempt to give Bella privacy, Jasper went downstairs to get her something to drink.

She hadn't wanted dinner, but he felt useless not doing something for her right now. Wanting to take care of her. Make her happy in any way that he could. So as he got the water boiling in the kettle over the stove, Jasper stared down at the flames that seemed to dance beneath the metal. Much like the thoughts that played in his mind. The memories of holding Bella in her bed. The images of her writhing against him, letting him pleasure her in ways no one else ever would, moaning his name like a secret.

For so long—before he met her—Jasper was this monster carved out of blood and cruelty by Maria. He used to think feeling anything at all, unless it was fear and hatred from the newborns around him, would be impossible. Then when Alice came along he felt mostly apprehensive of her, and when the Cullens entered his life he was able to manage other emotions.

There was happiness around him in the many ways the Cullens knew how to feel the emotion. For Edward, Esme, and Rosalie; happiness was often muddled by the sadness of their past lives that got ripped away from them for one reason or another. Jasper eventually allowed himself to feel genuine affection towards the others those first few years he spent around them.

Eventually he allowed himself to feel peace, even if those moments were rare when he wasn't haunted by his ghosts.

But love? The kind that he felt toward Bella? It hadn't existed in his world.

How was it that one woman could make him feel so much? Want so much. And it's somehow completely taken over his entire existence. She managed to rule his every breath and thought from the moment he met her.

When the water started to boil on the kettle, he poured it into one of the mugs he knew Bella liked to use when she was here. He stared at the water as it slowly changed color with the tea bag floating around the top.

He hadn't thought about it when Victoria had taken her—didn't allow himself to think it until now—but imagining living in a world without Bella. The thought of losing her someday...

It made him sick. It made him want to burn the world down. It made him consider going to the Volturi if it ever happened—

Warm hands wrapped around his waist, interrupting the dark spiral of thoughts that went through his mind. The scent of lavender and strawberries hitting him like a balm.

Jasper sighed contentedly as he closed his eyes. Relishing in Bella's gentle touch as her hands ran up his chest. Her fingers drawing small patterns on the center of his chest. He placed his hand over hers, holding her to him. As if to prevent her from breaking the connection between them. Something he desperately needed.

When he felt her worry and love swirl around him, he smiled before bringing one of her hands up to his lips and placing a kiss on her palm.

"That was quick." He murmured against her wrist before he placed a kiss there.

Bella rubbed her cheek against his back, pressing herself closer against him, "You told me to not take too long, remember? But you seem...troubled now. Want to tell me what's on your mind?"

He remembered saying similar words to her the day Edward was going to return. Imploring her to tell him anything that could warrant getting her away from him. But she did nothing of the sort. Holding strong like always. Even before that, he always saw the way she constantly tried to protect others from the pain she felt.

Always brave.

Jasper turned in her arms and saw the way the wet strands of her hair clung to her neck and shoulder. He noticed she was wearing a thin nightgown he hadn't seen before. The color was a pale shade of purple and it stuck to her in places where she must not have dried off completely. Hugging every curve of her body.

He wrapped her up in an embrace, bending down until his hands cupped the backs of her thighs and hoisting her up onto the counter. He grinned when she spread her legs to make room for him, her ankles pulling him closer. As if even she didn't want him to pull away.

As if he ever would.

"The truth?" He asked.

She nodded.

"I was thinking about how I could have lost you..." he finally admitted out loud, a fear he couldn't hide from anymore. He brushed a strand of hair away from her temple. "So much could have gone wrong, would have gone wrong if it weren't for the shifters getting to Victoria."

"But it didn't." She said with a certainty that surprised him.

"Thank god it didn't," he admitted hoarsely, "otherwise I wouldn't have been able to live without you. You know that, don't you?"

Bella nodded, her eyes softening as she took him in, all of his battered heart laid out before her.

"I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere."

"You're not going anywhere," he repeated, this time a possessive wave of need swept over him and it made Bella gasp softly as he projected it onto her. His hands cupped her face, pulling her forward but this time he waited.

Always wanting her to want the same things he did before taking. Giving her the choice to act on what she wanted.

When Bella leaned forward, he gently brushed his lips against hers. Short pecks that led to languid caresses that allowed him to savor the taste of her.

Bella's hands wrapped around his shoulders to steady herself as she relinquished all control to him.

Jasper's hands gripped her thighs, pulling her against him until their hips met where she could feel him hard against her. When she gasped at the contact, the self control in Jasper snapped at the same time hers did.

Their slow kiss turned into a searing, all consuming need as their tongues savored each other and their bodies were pushed impossibly closer. Jasper's hands ran up her waist and palmed her breasts, making him groan when he realized she wasn't wearing a bra.

"Fuck, Bella."

Bella's fingers tugged at his hair hard enough to make him groan against her lips.

More. He needed more.

He needed—

"I want you," Bella breathed when she finally broke away for air. Her eyes were hooded as she stared up at him, "Jasper, I want you. Now. I don't want to wait anymore."

The world slowed to a halt. Everything melting away as he registered those words. The words he'd longed to hear for far longer than he wanted to admit.

He knew she meant it. There wasn't an ounce of doubt coming from her. No fear. Only love, and a craving to share all of herself with him.

With a nod he pulled her into his arms and slowly made his way into the hall. He stole kisses from her as they made their way upstairs, smiling against her lips when she breathed his name full of need.

Knowing there would only ever be this between them for many years to come, until he was nothing but ash one day.

But not today, so long as she was his.

Chapter Text

When Jasper pushed the door to his bedroom open, Bella's heart stuttered as she took in the large canopy bed and built-in shelves that were filled with all sorts of books. The lamp on his bedside table was the only thing left on, leaving a soft warm glow in the room.

Jasper set her down at the foot of the bed, capturing her face to kiss her again until she felt lightheaded.

"You're so beautiful, Bella." he murmured against her neck as he placed a kiss there. His hands running up and down her arms, slipping his fingers under the thin straps of her nightgown. When he pulled away his eyes fluttered over her flushed face and down to her chest. "Your heart's beating so fast."

She whimpered at the feel of his tongue running along her pulse point where she was sure he could feel the way her heart was pounding just as well as he could hear it.

He said with a low groan as he explored her neck and kissed her collarbone, his hands gently running up her sides, "Are you nervous? Or just excited?"

As if you didn't already know...

"Maybe a little of both," she breathed, chest heaving and hands clutching the back of his shirt as he trailed kisses across her neck and up to her jawline, her cheeks, forehead, and finally her lips again.

He took his time kissing her this time. Slow and savoring every moment they had together. Something they could have forever, if and when she was changed. But that was a thought for a different day. Right now, she only wanted to be here with him. Now.

When his tongue plunged into her mouth, she lost all sense of time and awareness. Losing herself in the sweetness of his caresses. His tongue was a wicked thing when he kissed her—any part of her. Tasting her as if he couldn't get enough no matter how many times he did it.

Bella's fingers dug into his hair as his hands ran up her bare legs and slowly gathered the hem of her nightgown to slip his fingers beneath. The cold feel of his palms leaving goosebumps in their wake. Jasper ran his nose along her neck once more and kissed the valley between her breasts right as his hand reached between her thighs.

She moaned at the same time he did as his fingers found her, slowly running up and down over her panties.

"You're already so wet for me." He whispered, gently nipping at her bottom lip as he walked her backwards until she felt the bed behind the backs of her knees.

She sat down with a gasp, watching as Jasper placed one knee on the bed while he kept his hooded gaze fixed on the way his fingers slid over her slit. When she moaned he pulled her in for another kiss while he pressed down on her clit just right.

Before she could feel her first orgasm take over, Jasper stopped. He sank to his knees before her, gently rubbing his thumbs over her knees before easing them apart.

The way he looked at her, with such reverence, it made her melt. It made her weak.

She whimpered, "Jasper, please."

"Shh, darlin'. Let me savor this moment. You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do this to you. If I could sleep, I know my dreams would be filled of only moments like these." Bella shuddered when his lips trailed over her knee and further up, pushing her nightgown with his hands as he went. He murmured against her inner thigh, "I doubt they would do justice to the real thing though."

Bella smiled, "You act like this is the first time we've done this."

"I'll worship you every night if you let me, Bella. That'll never change."

"I don't think-"

She gasped when he pushed her down, her body falling atop the soft duvet. Before she knew it, her panties were tugged down her legs and he was between them, his tongue immediately finding her clit. "Oh my god."

Jasper's tongue swiped over her in slow methodical circles that made her head fall back in bliss. His hands wrapped around her thighs, holding her open for him to feast greedily until he placed her legs over his shoulders. Giving him more access to every intimate part of her only he knew how to touch.

When one of his hands slid up over her stomach, she trembled in anticipation as his palm found her breast. The cold of his touch seeping through the silk fabric. He groaned against her, pinching her nipple until it was a hard bud before moving to the other one.

Bella arched her back, surrendering herself to him entirely as he nipped and sucked her clit in time with the way his hand moved.

His soft moan made her eyes flutter open. Propping herself onto her elbows, she looked down to see his eyes were closed while he worked her over. Seeing him clearly enjoying this made her climb higher and higher, not counting on how watching him run his tongue over her would elicit such a wave of desire.

Jasper must have felt it because he looked up at her, his dark eyes sinking into her at the same time he gently bit down on her clit, making her gasp. She swore she felt his lips curl up into a satisfied smile at her reaction.

When his tongue entered her for the first time she felt her core tighten around him on instinct. He slowly moved his tongue in slow deliberate thrusts. His own lust filling every inch of the room until she felt intoxicated. A mad woman in need of a balm for her soul. And he was it. He was everything.

"That feels...so good. Don't stop."

Bella clenched her thighs around him until he pushed them apart again. Jasper had never once been greedy when they'd done this before or in any other aspect of their relationship. But tonight, he was indulging in every sinful moan she had to give him.

"You're getting close, aren't you?" He asked, looking up at her again.

She nodded.

"You've been wanting this for a while haven't you? You've been craving it just as much as I have. Isn't that right, Bella? Tell me." He commanded, using his thumb to drive maddening patterns over her.

"Y-you know that I have." She gasped when he applied just the perfect amount of pressure.

"Good girl." He rasped. The encouragement dripping in his words only spurring her on.

Her back arched, her hands sinking into his hair on instinct to bring his mouth back down onto her aching core.

"Please stop teasing me. I need more." There was no use in lying nor time to be embarrassed. She was too wound up to feel anything but the desperate need to reach her climax. "I don't think I can last anymore."

"You don't have to. I want to see you come, Bella. I need it." Jasper said as he kissed her inner thigh, loving the way she was taking control when she guided him back down, gaining more confidence in telling him what she wanted.

Rather than stopping, Jasper's tongue only went faster. Sucking and nipping her clit until her moans grew louder. It was only when he sank one finger inside her that she felt the breath leave her lungs. And when he added a second one-

Her climax crashed into her. Sending her straight over the edge and into mind numbing bliss.

When he showed no sign of stopping, she gently pushed his head away.

He glanced up at her, hands firmly holding her trembling thighs and taking in the way her chest quickly rose and fell.

"I'm...too sensitive." She panted.

"I could do this forever," he murmured against her when he finally pulled away. Stopping to rest his cheek atop her bare stomach as she gently ran her hand over his head and temple, running her thumb along his lips when he looked up into her eyes. His voice was hoarse when he said, "But maybe even forever won't be enough."

Bella smiled as warm and bright as the sun itself, "It's a start though."

Jasper grinned, choosing not to read too much into her statement or what it did to him as he picture a future with Bella as a vampire, "It is."

She sat up when he got on the bed, pushing him back until they were both sitting and facing each other.

Before he could ask her what she was doing, his breath caught as she removed her nightgown. Letting it fall off the bed and leaving her naked before him. It wasn't the first time they've been intimate, but tonight everything felt different. Like so much more.

Jasper took her in greedily, as if it were the first time.

"The word beautiful doesn't begin to do you justice," he said before he pulled his shirt over his head. Bella's blush invaded her cheeks at his words. "You're devastating, Bella."

After they removed the last of their clothes, utterly bare to each other in body and soul, he said huskily, "Touch me, baby. Before I lose my damn mind."

Bella sat on her knees before him, cupping his face between her hands to kiss him. Their tongues finding each other as they shared a breath.

They moved simultaneously, their hands exploring every inch of exposed skin. Bella bit her bottom lip as Jasper cupped her breasts and lightly pinched her nipples until they were hardened peaks. He moved down her neck where she felt his teeth lightly graze her skin, but he didn't bite her.

He wouldn't, she knew that.

Not until the day she was ready for it.

Another reason why she loved him so very dearly.

When she started tracing the scars that painted his body like vicious strokes on a canvas, she felt him tense.

She whispered against his collarbone, kissing a crescent shaped scar there, "You're so beautiful. I love every inch of you. Every. Last. Inch." She said in between kissing his scars across his neck, and the one on the corner of his jawline that no one else would ever notice but her.

Her words were reminiscent to the ones he'd said to her not too long ago. Wanting to take care of her in every way that he could. And now she was doing the same for him.

Jasper felt his throat working as he swallowed while she kept loving him. Reassuring him that she'll accept all his demons, and slowly chase them away. Just as he had for her all these months.

"I love everything that makes you you, Jasper. I'm so in love with you that it hurts sometimes. Like my chest wants to burst unless I show you how much I have to give you."

"What are you waiting for then?" He gently grabbed her by her hips and pulled her forward until she was straddling him. Lining up her center with his now throbbing cock. His hands captured her face, brushing his lips over hers, capturing her breaths as he rasped, "Give it all to me."

They both groaned loudly as they moved over each other. The tip of Jasper's cock passing over her clit every time, sending them into a maddening thrusting pace.

"Fuck, need to be inside you." Jasper groaned, biting Bella's bottom lip as she rocked her hips over him again.

"Do it." She whimpered.

In an instant, her back was on the silk sheets again with Jasper hovering over her. His dark eyes never left hers as he gripped his cock and guided it to her soaked entrance.

When he finally eased into her, Bella gasped at the sting. But quickly felt the sweet relief of pleasure he shared with her, easing the discomfort slightly.

Neither tearing their eyes off each other as they finally come together. Both in awe of the sensations they were introducing each other to.

"Fuck, you're so tight. Relax, baby. Otherwise I'll never be able to get in." Jasper groaned.

Bella looked between them, her lips parting in awe when she saw he was telling the truth—he wasn't all the way in yet. Not even close.

"J-just do it. I can take it."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't. I want you to take me like this, Jasper." She moaned when he slowly thrust further into her. "I want everything you want to give me."

Jasper cursed at her words, feeling the way her words made him throb. Nearly ready to come from the sweet oblivion he found himself buried in and her seductive words.

This time he obeyed her wishes and pressed further into her until their hips were flush against each other.

They both gasped, eyes sinking into each others. Her hands gripped his shoulders, nails digging into his skin until she was sure she left red marks behind.

"Heaven." He panted as he slowly pulled out and pushed back inside her. Even with Jasper trying to maintain a steady, gentle pace it was overwhelming.

It was too good. Too much.

Not enough.

Jasper moaned as he seemed lost in his own pleasure while drowning in hers. His hand gently cupping the back of her head kept her as close to him as humanly possible while the other gripped the top of his headboard. Bella swore she heard the faintest sound of wood cracking but before she could look, Jasper's lips were on hers again.

His tongue seemed to follow the same rhythmic thrusts as his hips as he took her, claimed every part of her.

When Bella's legs came up to wrap around his waist, urging him to go faster, he finally pulled away from her.

"Bella," He gasped, "I can't lose control with you. I won't hurt you."

"I know you won't. I trust you, Jasper." This time her hips met his next thrust, chasing her next orgasm like a shooting star. "Make me come. I'm so close."

His hand went to her hip, dragging her to him with a feverish need that matched his thrusts. The sound of their bare flesh slapping filled the room at the same time the bed creaked beneath them.

Pressure built in Bella's core, only growing when Jasper's fingers found her clit.

"Ah, Jasper! I'm so close."

Jasper throws his head back as his once careful thrusts turn into incessant rolls of his hips. Burying himself deep into her core where he hit her g-spot. The sensation was so new, so blissfully maddening that they both felt it at the same time as Bella arched her back.

"Just like this, baby. I want to feel you come all over me like this." Jasper loved watching as she lost herself, unaware of the curses that slipped past her lips when she was so close to reaching her climax.

The hard ridge of his cock brushed against her clit and she cried out, digging her nails into his back in sheer ecstasy.

"I love you, Bella." He said to her, his voice a sweet rasp. His words sent a jolt of pleasure through her the moment he spoke.

"I love you," she gasped with tears in her eyes. When her second orgasm came crashing over her, Jasper groaned against her neck. Her walls clenched around him, making him come on a strained gasped curse.

The wood of the headboard snapped beneath his palm as he lost control. He'd made sure to keep his other hand braced against the mattress when he started feeling himself surrender to his own intoxicating pleasure, to which he was glad. His hand having torn the fabric of the sheet as a result.

Jasper was still aware of himself to know that one wrong move could hurt Bella in this moment if he wasn't careful.

And he would never hurt her.

Never.

His touch was gentle when he slowly stopped his mind numbing thrusts and cupped her cheek.

"Bella? Are you okay?"

Bella gazed up at him with a dazzling smile that made any concern he had for her just then melt away. A smile of his own spreading across his lips.

She reached up and cupped his cheek, her heart squeezing when he leaned into her touch.

"I'm so happy, Jasper," she breathed. Tears filled her eyes as she said again, "So happy."

Jasper leaned down, bracing his forearms in either side of her head, and kissed her.

It was a slow kiss full of love.

Lust wasn't a feeling lost on either of them, but Bella knew the love they shared thanks to Jasper's gift was what bound them together.

It always would.

They laid together in bed looking into each other's eyes until Bella finally found herself giving into her blissful exhaustion.

She felt him kiss the top of her head and murmur before she drifted off to sleep, "I'll love you for the rest of my life, Bella. Forever."