A/N: My first story, so I'm a little nervous. This is slightly AU, and may be a little bit confusing, but hopefully not too much, as I plan on explaining everything over time. ^_^ I own nothing, except the story plot.
"I couldn't see any other way out of this mess!" he exclaimed, struggling slightly against Felix's strong grip. Bella suppressed a sob as she watched his eyes fill with venom-tears, her own tears cascading down her cheeks as she fell to her knees, covering her face with her hands and sobbing.
She was shaking, but she looked up at Aro, who was, just like before, when she came to Edward's rescue, looking at her with bewilderment and a strange understanding.
"Isabella, you have, not once, but twice, caused a vampire to come waltzing into our city, begging us for death." Aro smirked, almost sadly. "I am starting to think you are the type of woman who steals men's hearts, and then hands them back, shredded and weak."
He walked towards her, a sense of pride blossoming in his chest as she bowed her head. Bella could tell he was walking around her, assessing her body, pondering if she was still worth keeping alive.
"Aro, please...leave her out of this! Ahh!" Bella looked up at Jasper's sudden outburst, just in time to see Demetri punch him in the stomach, making Jasper cry out in pain.
"I'm afraid you no longer have that choice, young Jasper." Aro was standing in front of Bella again, looking down at her. His beautiful, crimson red eyes bore into her chocolate-brown one's. Even though he was her enemy, the man who wanted her dead, Bella couldn't help but think he was gorgeous in every way. She would never know he felt the same way about her, and it was one of the reason's he kept her alive.
"Unless, of course, you both agree to stay here, with us, as part of the guard."
Unlike Edward, and much to Bella's surprise, and yet it made her happy, he agreed.
"I'll stay...Bella, will you? Please don't leave me here alone..." Bella could see his desperation, his fear.
"Jasper...I..." A venom-tear ran down his cheek as his lower lip trembled. "Of course I will." she said, smiling a small, comforting smile.
"Then it's settled!" Aro beamed, clasping his hand together in a child-like manner. Caius rolled his eyes, wondering why on earth he was stuck ruling with such a strange person. Jasper and Bella looked at each other, relief washing over them as they realized they weren't going to be killed.
"Felix, Demetri, please escort these two to their room. We will separate them at a later time, but for now, I do believe young Jasper will need some time to talk to Isabella."
Felix released Jasper, and Bella ran up to him, throwing her arms around his body. His eyes were black, onyx-colored, and Bella wondered how he was possibly keeping himself under control around her.
Then she remembered...what Edward had said before the fight with Victoria...
"When I thought I'd lost you, you're blood no longer appealed to me..."
Bella's eyes widened. 'He thought he'd lost me, too...Oh, Jasper..." she squeezed him tighter, her tears wetting his shirt.
"You two, come with me, now!" Felix boomed, and they separated. Jasper and Bella followed Felix and Demetri out of the throne room, Bella's arms wrapped around Jasper's tightly.