Jasper ran faster than he ever had before. He dodged low branches, fallen trees, moss- covered boulders, before finally stopping in the middle of the woods. There, he dropped to his knees and buried his face in his hands.

Oh God, oh God, what had he almost done?

He could still smell her faintly, her intoxicating blood tormenting him. How could he almost do that to Edward? To Alice? He remembered the look on Alice's face when she had realized that Bella had gone to meet the hunter, James. She had become Alice's best friend, her sister. And Jasper had almost killed her.

Edward would have been heartbroken. He probably would have locked himself in his room and never came out again. Never talk to Jasper or the rest of his family again. Jasper actually felt sick to his stomach thinking about the pain he almost put his brother through.

Why couldn't he control himself? Carlisle was completely desensitized, Edward was close to being. Even Emmett had kept control of himself in that room! And Jasper had become a beast in his own living room. He hadn't recognized his family, Alice, Bella. He had become a predator, only thinking about his prey. Why did he have to be the monster in his family?

And what must Bella think? She must be terrified of him now. He remembered her bravery, her selflessness when James had been hunting her. She was only concerned about his family and Edward, not herself. Their love was deep, and strong. Jasper could feel that. And he had almost taken that away.

He heard a sound behind him and got swiftly to his feet, but didn't turn around. He was ashamed. A small hand touched his shoulder lightly. Alice. The only reason he had stopped in the woods and not kept running. Running until he ran away from himself.

He turned around and stared down into her eyes. His beautiful, graceful Alice, the only one that made him sane, made him human.

"I'm so sorry, Alice," He said brokenly, his voice hoarse, "I'm so, so-" She placed a finger on his lips to silence him.

"It wasn't your fault, Jazz. We all slip sometimes. And Bella smells...exceptionally good."

"That's no excuse! I should have better control. I almost-" She took his big hands in her own small ones.

"Almost is the keyword, Jasper. You almost did, but we were able to stop you. You-"

This time Jasper interrupted her.

"You don't understand, Alice! I would have killed every single one of you to get to her! I didn't even recognize you, my own wife!" His anger at himself made his voice harsh,

"I'm a monster. Bella must think I'm horrible."

"No, Jazz, don't say that. You're anything but a monster. You're my husband, and I love you. And Bella doesn't blame you, she said it was all her fault." Her voice was gentle, soothing.

Jasper sighed in defeat and wrapped his arms around her tiny frame.

He could feel her love.

"She would."

Alice grinned up at him. "Besides, would I marry a monster? Don't you think I have better taste than that?"

His lips twitched upward.

"As I've seen your room…no."

"Hey!" And their laughs echoed through the forest.

Walking back to their house, hand in hand, Jasper made a promise to himself. He wouldn't disappoint Alice and the rest of his family once more, including Bella. He wouldn't almost hurt someone ever again. He would gain that self control, for himself, for his Alice.

There would never be an 'almost' again.

A/N: Okay, so this is my first Jasper/Alice fanfic. Just to clear things up a bit, Stephenie Myer said that Jasper had his own study because Alice's room...didn't really suit him, so I thought he would tease her about that a bit. I love it when the Cullen family makes fun of each other, don't you?

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or New Moon, and if I did, there would be a lot more Jasper in it, hehe.