Disclaimer. All publicly recognizable characters, settings etc, are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.I only do this for fun. - B
Chapter 2
(BPOV)
I must have dosed off for several hours. I just opened my eyes and found that I was still laying inbetween Jasper's legs, with his head on my shoulder breathing in my scent. I rub my eyes with the back of my hands and begin to take in my surroundings for my first time.
We are sitting on a beige ottoman with my our legs sprawled out in front of us. We are in the corner of the room next to a big beautiful bay window. There is a wooden desk in the center of the room that seems to be kept very organized. Most of the walls of this room flowing with books and have lots of artifacts from the Civil War era scattered and displayed around the room. There is also a beige couch accross from us and two leather chairs sitting infront of the desk for visitors. Finally, my eyes lay on an open door in the corner of the room. From what I can see from here, it looks like a small bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower.
I moved to get up to stretch my legs a bit, but it seems that Jasper won't let up on his grip. I try once more, a little harder and I hear him whimper softly in my ear. The sound breaks my heart to hear and I realize that I am going to have to go about this another way completely. He's obviously in pain and if I'm the only one he seems to be letting in, I'm going to do my damnedest to help him no matter what it takes. He's always had a special place in my heart, but I didn't know exactly how special until now. I smiled to myself at the thought of finally getting to know the mysterious Cullen that has always intrigued me and had me dying to figure out.
I turned a bit so I was looking at his face. His eyes are jet black. They almost look lifeless like when I went through my own catatonic state. He also has dark purple bags under his eyes from not hunting. How he hasn't drained me yet is beyond me. He must be suffering! 'I can't allow this to go on' I thought to myself.
"Jasper, you really need to hunt." I tell him tracing the dark purple bags under his eyes.
"No." He whispers so quietly I can bairly hear him as he held me tighter against his chest.
"Why not?" I asked him in a soothing voice as I start to play with one of his honey blonde curls.
"Not thirsty." He whispered again, burrying his face deeper into my neck.
At this point, I started to notice a pattern. When I went to get up and stretch, he wouldn't loosen his grip, when I suggested he hunt, he held me tighter to him, and then just now when I asked why, he burried his faces deeper into my neck.
Something was wrong. I couldn't understand what it was exactly. He seemed to know who each person in the family was, but it was almost didn't recognize them at the same time. Yet here I am the only one he is letting in and we weren't even close before. We never even had gotten the chance to talk much. 'Too dangerous' was Edwards mantra. Now, I just come back into his life today and he is holding onto me like I am his life line! Not that I mind, but I really would like for him to get better.
I started running my fingers through his curls, trying to think of what should be my next move. In order to do that though, I needed answers.
"We both no that is not true Jasper." I told him softly, tracing a scar I discovered above his left eyebrow. "Honestly, why don't you want to hunt?"
He didn't answer. He just took a deep breath of my scent and shook his head. Maybe I was asking for too much of an explaination. Aparently he hasn't spoken to anyone and I could tell his voice hasn't been used in awhile. Since I am the first hes had any interaction with and didn't growl at, so perhaps I should slow this down some. I don't want him to end up shutting me out as well.
"How about I have one of the other's bring you some blood? Will you drink it?"
No answer.
"For me?" I added softly, lifting his chin so he could meet my eyes.
Hesitantly, he nodded his head yes. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I was able to get him to drink. That was something, right?
"Thank you Jasper." I said and kissed his cheek. He nodded his head again and took another deep breath of my scent.
I started to try and wiggle out of his hold to go downstairs and let them know they needed to get blood. The second I started to pull myself down the ottoman he started to panic. He whimpered and pulled me back to him tightly, but not enough to hurt me. I could hear his unnecessary breathing had picked up noticeably.
"But honey, I need to go and tell someone." I whispered softly as I began to trace his scar again. It seemed to noticeably calm him down, but at the same time he wasn't letting me up any.
"Can you let me up?" I asked him softly.
He shook his head no.
"Why not Jay?" I asked puttin a strand of curls behind his ear and out of his face so I could see his expression. What I saw broke my heart and made my chest physically ache for him.
His dead looking black eyes were filled with venom, signaling that he was crying, though his tears that would never fall. He looked hurt and in so much pain it was unreal. Did the prospect of me not being in his arms really do this to him right now?
"Please?" Was all he said and that's all of an explaination for now. I would try to get him a little better before I pressed for more than one or two word answers out of him. I would not hurt him any more than he was already. I refuse. The thought itself made me feel physically sick.
I smiled sympathetically and nodded my head. Maintaining eye contact with me, he gently kissed my shoulder and nestled deeper into my neck taking deep and soothing breaths. What shocked me though wasn't his display of affection, but when he kissed me, it felt like an electrical charge. It tingled through my body starting at my shoulder. It actually felt good.
Clearing my throat I spoke at a normal volume asking if someone could bring some blood up here for Jasper. I heard Emmett shout 'yeah' and started tracing the scars on one of Jasper's arms that he had wrapped around my stomach.
Almost immediately I felt him purring as his chest rumbled against my back. It was such a soothing and comforting sound to me. It was what put me to sleep last night. It was quickly becoming one of my favorite sounds in the world.
About a half hour later, I heard Peter knock on the door to Jasper's study, and then slowly let the door creep open. Next thing I know, I feel myself moving at vampire speed and then being backed into a corner with Jasper infront of me and his arm reached back around my hip, holding me as close to his body as he could. He was growling menacingly and snapping his jaw in Peter's direction. Very slowly, I watched as Peter got onto his knees, his neck bared, eyes downcast, clutching 4 thermouses. I noticed that this was the second time I've seen one of them in this position in Jasper's company since I've been here. I recognized it as showing him submission, but what I didn't understand was why was I safe? I may be human, but that brings one of the biggest problems. Jasper hasn't hunted in about a month and from the look of his eyes, he should have killed me the second he smelled my prescence enter the house. Instead, he was protecting me?
Jasper continued growling at Peter and though he might not attack now, it didn't look like it would last if Peter made a move to stand back up.
"Jay? Honey?" I placed a hand on his back and focused on sending all he calm and serenity I could muster to him. He seemed to quiet just a bit and I felt some of the tension in his muscles lessen, but not enough. He turned his head to the side just a bit so he could show me he was listening, and keep an eye on Peter.
"Peter brought you the blood you said you would drink for me, remember?" He nodded once. "Can Peter give me the blood?" He growled. "No? What if he rolls them accross the floor to me?" Jasper thought about that for a minute and I saw his eyes move from Peter, then back to me. He took a deep unneeded breath then nodded his head once again. I smiled at him and sent him my grattitude and rubbed his back in soothing circles.
"Ok Peter, one at the time and slowly please?" I told him.
He sent me a look of thanks and then slowly, one by one rolled the thermouses accross the hard wood floor. After all four were on our side by our feet, I focused my attention back on Jasper.
"Alright Jay, can Peter get up and leave now?" I asked him sending all my trust and confidence I could muster.
He narrowed his eyes at Peter and nodded his head once again.
"Slowly Peter." I warned him.
As Peter slowly put his first foot infront of him getting ready to stand, I felt Jasper's hand on my hip grip me tighter. I watched as Peter slowly finished standing, grabbed the door knob and then quietly shut it.
After I heard the last of Peter's footfalls on the staircase, Jasper immediately turned to me and started checking me all over for injuries. It was something I've seen Carlisle and Esme and Rose and Emmett do on occasion after a scruffle or intense moment. So I knew what to expect and didn't think anything of it. I just let him do his thing to his satisfaction.
When the inventory was complete, I walked around him and started picking up the thermouses. The entire time I was doing this, Jasper kept at least one hand on me at all times. This wasn't the only forgein behavior that I didn't understand today. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
Once I had successfully collected all of the canteens, I sat down at the edge of the ottoman only for Jasper to return to his previous seat and pulled me back against his chest. I turned so I was sitting somewhat sideways and could see his face and opened the first canteen. I held my breath so I didn't have to smell the sickly, copper smell of the blood that always made me faint. I handed it to Jasper and he reluctanly untangled one of his arms and took it. Finally, he put it to his lips and started to drink.
I noticed he kept his eyes closed the entire time he drank, even when I handed him a new one. He always maintained a tight grip with his arm that was wrapped around me, and to ease his worries, I started making circles with my finger tips, circling where his heart should beat. After all were finished, I set them down next to us on the floor and turned to look at Jasper only to have him burry his head in my neck and grab my hand that I had removed from his chest seconds before, only to put it back against his heart and helped me make the circles together showing me he enjoyed it and wanted me to continue. I gave him a couple minutes before I checked him to make sure his eye color wasn't black anymore. If they were, then I would have to send them to bring up some more.
"Jasper? Let me see your face honey. I need to make sure you got enough blood for now." I told him as I cupped his cheak and brought his face level with mine. Still, he kept his eyes closed.
"Can you please open your eyes?" He shook his head no and pressed his forhead deeper to my neck. "Why not?" No answer. "Please Jasper, I really care about you and I'm worried about you. Let me help you and take care of you. Don't you want that?"
"Yes." He whispered as he nodded his head frantically, still hidding his face.
"Then please? Can I see your eyes?" I asked softly.
I felt him take a deep unneeded breath and lift his head and slowly open his eyes. I understood now why he was so hesitant. Instead of the golden, honey color I had become used to with the Cullens, his eyes were bright red. The purple shadows were luckily gone, but his eyes still looked so pained. I could tell he was ashamed of his eye color.
"You look much better." I told him tracing my finger tips lightly under his eyes. "Do you feel better?"
"Yes." He rasped out.
I smiled at him and traced the scar on his brow. He closed his eyes and leaned into my touch, then pulled me closer. It was just at that moment my stomach started to growl.
I sighed and brought my hand back down to pat his arm.
"I really need to go eat." I told him.
His eyes shot open in a panicked look and he immediately started shaking.
"Go?" He asked me.
"Yeah. I need to go and get some dinner. Why what's wrong?" I asked him searching his eyes.
"It hurts more when your not here." He answered and then broke down in a stream of dry sobs and words he struggled to get out. "Please...please dont...leave me? Please? It hurts!"
I wrapped my arms around him and rubbed his back soothingly trying to get him to calm. I have never seen Jasper this vulnerable before. Someone who was always so strong and fierce. It was breaking my heart and I felt like it was my own pain. My chest felt like it was constricting and my throat was closing!
"Jas-Jasper." I choked out. "I'm not leaving you! I promise...I promise."
After a couple minutes of holding him and reassuring him that I wasn't going to leave him, he finally managed to calm back down and had his head burried in my neck breathing me in with his arms tightly wrapped around as I ran my fingers through his hair.
"Listen Jasper," I started as I brought his face up to mine and looked into his eyes. "I PROMISE I am not leaving this house. I just am going to go down to the kitchen and make myself some food, then afterwards use the bathroom. When I am done I will come straight back up here. I won't be long at all. You can even come down and sit with me if you like? Would that be okay?" I sent out all of the honesty, affection, and calm I could muster.
He shook his head 'no' and solemly whispered "I'll stay here."
I nodded my head in understanding that he just wasn't ready to face the rest of the family yet. To him, they held some recognition, but was too far gone to put it together and his instincts were screaming to protect himself physically and mentally. It was really wearing on him, especially having to hold in all the pain he felt from his slip up. It's so much worse than any of the other's who would slip. He had to feel the emotions of his victims, and his family.
I started to pull myself down to the end of the ottoman, but noticed that Jasper seemed to be having some trouble.
"I need you to let me go now Jay." I told him gently. I felt his muscles twitch as if he was fighting an internal debate, but finally dropped his arms to his sides.
I finished my decent and stood up, then turned to look at him. He was staring at me intently as if waiting further instructions. "I'll be back in about an hour. Just call out if you need me. I'm not going anywhere. I promise." I told him to which he just nodded his head in understanding. I leaned in and kissed his cheak. I noticed him bring his finger's to the spot where my lips were planted as he brought his knees up to his chest and watched me retreat, then at the last minute looked towards the window next to the ottoman.
I shut to door softly behind me, then made my decent down the stairs to the main room where Peter was waiting for me. He had a troubled look on his face. As I made it to the last step, he proceeded to engulf me into a tight (for me) hug.
"Thank you so much Bells. Believe it or not, that's the best we've seen him all month." He said as he released me.
"What was he like before?" I asked him curious as to how much progress seemed to be made so far.
We started walking towards the kitchen and Peter ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair and sighed sadly.
"When we first got the phone call to come up here, we were already in the process of packing. I 'knew' that the Major was goin ta need us somethin fierce. Especially with my gift of just 'knowin' shit. I knew that if I left Alice to make all the decisions reguardin him, she would meddle and make it to suit her and not what's best for the Major.
"Emmett was the one who called. From what he said, Alice refused to allow him to call me so it took longer for him to get in touch with me and had to make it a last minute decision while he was huntin. He told us about the 'incident' and said that he started complainin about bein in pain in his heart and he shut down after that. Started runnin in the direction of Forks and ended up here at the Forks mansion. Locked himself in his study.
"Said they left him alone for a few days until they thought he needed to hunt. Didn't realize how bad he was until Alice bounced in demandin he go huntin with her or some shit. He didn't respond until she tried to grab his arm and pull him with her. He snapped at her and started growlin. Jumped into his crouch and from what it sounds like, his Major mode. She ran out screamin.
"The next day, Carlisle and Esme tried ta go an' talk ta him. Stayed on the other end of the room and told him he needs to hunt and when he didn't say anythin' Esme tried a different approach. Brought up the incident and he immediately broke down. They tried to approach him only for him to snap his head up and snarl at em. So they backed outta the room.
"Finally, Emmett decided to give it a go later on that night when it seemed he calmed down. He said when he went in there to talk to em' that he didn't even look at em. Just stared out his window, sittin in his chair that you guys were on when I came up earlier, with his knees up to his chest and his arms wrapped around his legs. Won't let anyone come closer than a couple feet inside the door way.
"I guess bein as close as they were in the family, they had a family meeting. Edward said that his thoughts were just jumbled and painful. Replayin the incident, his other slip ups, and a lot of his time with Maria in the Southern Wars."
"What do you mean the Southern Wars?" I asked getting a bowl of cereal ready.
"That's not my story to tell, but I can give you the gist of it." Peter replied. I nodded my head for him to continue. "As you know, the Major is mine and Char's sire. He changed us to fight in a vampire war for territory in the south. You see, there was a lot of dispute over the cities and they figured that if less vampires fed in the cities, that those vampire's would get to feed more often and the human's wouldn't get suspicious. One vampire named Benito came up with the most effective way to fight to gain and keep his territory. He found that since a vampire is at their strongest, fastest, and most lethal during their first year. So what he did was make several newborn vampires and created an army. He faught and took over his desired territory easily. Eventually, other's picked up on his technique and it became dangerous for any human to live in the south. Chances were, they would either kill you or change you and after your newborn year is over, kill ya anyway. They saw humans as nothing but cattle and many of the surviving warlords that manage to stay off the Volturi's radar still do.
"Anyway, the Major's sire, Maria is one of those surviving warlords. But before the Volturi came and put a stop to most of the havoc they were all wreckin down there, Maria changed Jasper. It was durin the Civil War. Eventually he became her second. Decades later, he found me and changed me. I saw somethin in the Major. My gift told me that we would become brothers one day and to not give up on him. That there was somethin deeper than his outter mask he always had on. He was very cold, arrogant, lethal, and wouldn't hessitate to rip you apart and burn ya for lookin at em wrong. His subconcious came up with this second persona to help em deal. He went through alot, but again, that's his story to tell ya.
"No matter how much he ignored me, snarled, or growled at me, I just smiled or laughed and always came back to talk to em and try to make em laugh. Eventually I got under that fucker's skin." Peter said smiling to himself at the memory. "I survived beyond my first year and became his Captain. Year's later, I met a newborn named Charlotte. One of my jobs was 'babysitting duty.' I hated it until I met her. We realized that we were mates and kept our relationship under wraps from everyone at the compound. Maria would put to death the weaker of he mated pair. Said that any couples and especially mates were too risky to have in her army. Punished the surviving mate severely." Peter explained as he visibally shuttered to himself. "As if loosin ones mate isn't punishment enough." He finished mumbling.
"What happened next?" I asked completely engorged in Peter's tale.
"Once Char's year was up. Maria had ordered the Major to dispose of a dozen newborns and Char was one of em. I tried to tell him, beg him that some of em had potential but he dismissed me expressin how he won't go against Maria and risk punishment. You see, Jasper may have been Maria's favorite. Gave him frequent rewards and the most freedom of all of us. But he also got the worst of the worst punishments as well." He explained and sighed.
"So we went down the list, callin each vampire to the side, a few miles away for their yearly review. Disposed of em all until he came to Charlottes name. I started to get incredibally protective of my mate and my anger was starting to confuse him. Once we were at the point where he would dispose of her I started yellin and he still couldn't understand what my problem was until he saw me look at her. He said he felt my love for my mate and in the end he let us both escape. Got a brutal punishment for it and it took him awhile to build his credit back up with Maria.
"After 4 year's wonderin as nomad's in the north, I knew we had to go back for him. It didn't take much convincin either. He was quite flabergasted though when I went on to tell him what life was like up here in the north and the idea of peace was very appealin to him." Peter finished.
"So Jasper kept reliving those memories in his head? Pretty much all of his worst ones when he was either fighting for his life or killing for whatever reason?" I asked.
"Yes." He answered.
"Well what did Alice see happening?" I questioned, taking another bite of my cereal.
"Alice just said not to worry, that she will take him away from the family and make him better herself. But they would be gone for a few years so Jasper could heal." Charlotte sneered as she walked through the kitchen door and took a seat next on me on one of the bar stools at the counter. "She said it was going to be hell for him but they would manage." She finished rolling her eyes in disgust. It didn't take me to be a mind reader to see what she thought of Alice.
"That's horrible!" I gasped. "What happened next?"
"Well needless to say, none of them liked the idea. Emmett immediately suggested calling us to see if we could be of some help." Peter added.
"She flipped!" Char laughed. "You see, she thinks that we are a bad influence on the Major because of our diet, but really she just doesn't want us to ruin any of her 'hard work' as she once called it."
"Hard work?" I asked furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.
"Jasper wasn't always the way you saw him with Alice." Peter started. "He was much more laid back, he dressed different. None of those stupid kachi's or pansy ass polo's. More like himself. A country boy. Cowboy hats and boots, jeans, and T-shirts. Sometimes nice button downs with a pair of steel toed boots. He stuck up for himself and his opinions. He was more of a person rather than the mindless robot Alice made him out to be. Catering to her every whim, doing everything she says when she says...it makes us sick."
"But the worst is the fact that she tells the Major that they are mates." Char said disgusted.
"You mean they aren't mates?" I asked suprised. She nodded her head yes. "How do you know this?" I asked her truely curious.
"I have a gift." Char explained as she shrugged her shoulders. "I can see peoples aura's. When they find their true mate, even if it is just in the prescence of them, human or vampire...they merge and become one. It's your soul finding it's other half. Hence the term 'soul mates.' Alice and Jasper's aura's never merged. Not even close!" Char snorted. "It is also impossible for a vampire to harm their mate in anyway, and as you saw yesterday...Alice got torn apart. She is actually out with the rest of the family still hunting to get herself healed properly." She sniggered and then got serious once more. "Not only that but he hasn't marked her."
"What do you mean 'marked' her?" I questioned.
Char then pulled her hair to he side and pointed to a spot on her neck. I took a closer look, and even with weak human eyesight, I could see a crescent shapped scar. It was just like the one on my wrist and the ones I discovered on Jasper. Except this scar was much more noticeable. The outline was thicker, and it almost sparkled without the sunlight. I could only imagine if they were in the sun what it would look like. It would probibally draw the eye of any vampire the second they meet!
"You see sweet thang, when a vampire finally mates with their other half, they both have the uncontrolable urge to bite their mate on their left side on the neck, directly above their heart. When they do that, they pump in some of their own venom which changes their scent and mixes with their mate's scent. They then have the same scent, only one is more masculine and the other more feminine, or sweeter." Peter explained and placed a gentle kiss on Char's mating mark.
"And Jasper and Alice haven't done that?" I asked seriously.
"No." Peter shook his head. "It is impossible to not mark your mate the very first time your intimate as vampires. If their mate is human, that is usually when they change them. First they drain em to a point of near death right after their climax, then they will pump em with their venom and change em. After they wake up on the third day, they take them to hunt and then they will take them to somewhere secluded and claim, and mark em."
"Alright, I understand." I nodded thoughtfully as I took my dish to the sink and began to wash it off. "But I don't understand why Alice would do such a thing?"
"That's somethin you'd have to ask her, though I doubt she'd admit it unless it was a threatening situation on her end." Char snorted to herself. "When we first asked her about it, she said that her and Jasper agreed not to do that to eachother, that she didn't want a mark like that on her skin and that Jasper had enough of em. But the thing is, mates can't not mark eachother the first time they are intimate. It's impossible!"
"So, Alice think's that you pretty much will corrupt Jasper and drive them apart?" I asked.
"Bingo." Peter winked. I laughed and headed into the bathroom around the corner and quickly did my business and came out, eager to finish the story.
"Anyway, when Alice and Edward tried to get Jasper to leave...let's just say it didn't go too well." Char said patting my arm as I leaned back against the counter.
"Yeah! The Major ripped Eddie boy's arm's off!" Peter chuckled.
My eyebrows shot up and I had to supress my own laughter. I know I really shouldn't be laughing, but karma is such a beautiful thing!
"That's when Emmett snuck out on the pretense of hunting and called us." Char explained. I noticed at this point they both got incredibally serious.
"When we got here, there was argument's from Alice and Edward of course, but Carlisle and Esme being the hospitable and caring people that they are pretty much told em to suck it up." Peter started. "When we first went to see Jasper, I was in the state of shock. I couldn't believe that was my brother up there. The Major of the Southern Armies. Ares himself. It has been so painful to see him that way." Charlotte wrapped her arms around Peter and began whispering things in his ear too low for me to hear. Finally Peter regained his composure enough to finish as Char kept her arms around him.
"It took us about a half hour to make it up to his study with the horrorendous emotions he was projecting. It was almost immobilizing. Everyone is lucky that the study is on the third floor or they would have to go through that in their rooms everyday, even though they still feel some of the effect of it on the second floor, it's no where near as bad. After not getting anywhere with the Major, Char and I went to Seattle to hunt and my little 'knower' started to tell me that you would be the one to help him. That you were the only one who could safely and painlessly ease him out of this mess of a vampire he has turned himself into.
"When we got back we had Carlisle call a family meeting. I brought you up to the group and the arguing immediately started. Edward was completely against bringin ya back into our world, Emmett was excited at the prospect at seein ya again and thought that if anyone could help the Major, it would be you. Carlisle was indecisive, he didn't want to go against Edward because at the time he believed it was his choice being your mate and all. I gotta say, he was feelin like an idiot when he didn't realize you two aren't mates himself." Peter smirked. "Esme agreed with Emmett. She wanted her daughter back and knew that with your ability to forgive and your unconditional love that you would be able to have no problem helpin Jasper come back to us. Alice pitched a fit saying that she is more than enough to help Jasper, reguardless of the fact that she had only seen him twice for no more than two minutes in the past week and a half and the fact that he tries to kill her on sight every time. and Rose was pretty indifferent. I think she was havin an internal battle with her own morals and wanting to help her brother. But after another week, she decided it was for the best to bring ya in.
"The arguing went on for weeks and everytime someone went to just go get ya, either Edward would hear it in their head or Alice would see it in the future. They weren't giving anyone's thoughts or decisions any privacy. Finally I found an opening to get out of the house and stole your number from Emmett. It was my only chance since you were gettin ready to skip town. Ya know the rest from there." Peter shrugged.
I nodded thoughtfully and decided I wanted some answer's on this whole topic.
"Why me? He should have killed me the second he smelled me. I don't understand. He says that the pain he feels isn't as bad when I'm with him, but I'm not doing anything. Am I?" I questioned.
"Those are answer's you will discover in your own time. We unfortuneately can't give you those kind of answers at the moment sweet pea. But rest assured. You will learn the answer's to the questions you seek in due time." Charlotte smiled at me.
At that moment, the kitchen door swung open and I was immediately wrapped in Jasper's arms with his face burried in my neck. Peter and Char looked on with stunned expressions.
"What?" I asked the quizzically.
Peter shook himself out of his stupper first and blinked a few times quickly.
"This is the first time he has willingly come out of his room aside from earlier. Even then though, he was on the attack and now he is completely tame with Char and I here. Especially around you." He said incrediousily.
"Huh." I replied non-chalantly and then turned myself on my stool so I could see Jasper's face. His eyes searched mine for a moment before leaning in and kissing my cheek. I smiled at him in return and then Jasper lifted me off of the bar stool and carried me into the livingroom and sat down in the lazyboy chair. He pulled the lever so we could stretch out our legs and lean back. I turned my body so I was sitting sideways across his lap so I could see his face.
Peter and Char came in and joined us by sitting on the couch across from us. Peter reached over and picked up the remote from the coffee table and flipped through the channels until he found something of interest.
"Ahh, here we go! Nothin like day time television!" Peter said as he got comfortable and put his arm around Char. "I gotta catch up on my Cheaters, Maury, and Jerry!"
I just shook my head as Charlotte smirked at me. Jasper didn't seem to be paying much attention to Peter and his antics. Instead, he was playing with a strand of my hair as his other arm was wrapped firmly around my waist.
We watched a full episode of Cheater's and made it half way through Jerry Springer when the rest of the family came in the front door. Jasper immediately stiffened and pulled me tighter against him.
"What's wrong Jay? Are you okay?" I whispered softly in his ear, running my finger's across his scar above his brow, then down his temple and across his jaw to his chin.
"Don't leave." He whimpered.
"Who said anything about leaving? I'm not going anywhere." I reassured him as I wrapped my arms around him and laid my head over where his heart used to beat.
"Those two are going to try to take you away from me. I know it." Jasper murmered staring at Edward and Alice who were just now walking through the threshold of the front door in the great room.
"You heard them protesting yesterday huh?" I asked him sadly.
He nodded his head in confirmation and kissed the top of my head.
"I don't know what their problem is, but I think they are jealous. Alice is your wife and she doesn't like me spending time with you from what I can tell." I felt him flinch under me so I paused and pulled back to look at his face. He looked almost frightened at this revelation. He seemed to almost get paler which I didn't even know was possible. "As for Edward, he has always been over protective, even when we were dating. Don't take it personal. Now that I'm here with you, no one is going to take me away from you. You come first." I whispered smiling, trying to get closer to him which was almost impossible.
"I won't let them." Jasper whispered softly and so full of feeling.
Emmett and Rose were the first to enter the livingroom with smile and did a double take at me and Jasper, looking suprised and quite pleased.
"Jazz-man!" Emmett boomed. "Finally joining the land of the living? Or unliving I should say!" He questioned laughing. "Great job Belly Bean! Welcome back bro!" He finished as he started to approach us and put up his fist for Jasper to pump. He froze and held me tighter as he looked at Emmett with wide eyes.
When Emmett saw Jasper's reaction, he brought his fist back to his side and seemed to frown.
"Don't take it personal man." Peter said as he got up and clapped him on the shoulder. "He's just not ready to interact with anyone besides Bella here. Don't take it personal."
"Yeah Honey," Rose added. "The fact that he's down here is progress enough for only one day. You saw how he was before. Bella's doin great." I smiled at her in return and was about to thank her when Alice and Edward came storming in the room.
(JPOV)
Pain.
Terror.
Fear.
Horror.
Shock.
I couldn't get their faces out of my head. Their look's of absolute horror and fear that shown on their faces. I remember giving over to my instinct's tracking what smelled like a bear when the wind shifted. Human blood was swirling towards me in the light breeze. I immediately made a 45 degree turn and made a bee line towards the direction of the scent. Nothing could stop me now. None of the family were near by.
I broke through the trees and discovered a small tent, which was unusual this far out in the wilderness. A father was in the process starting a fire, while the mother looked to be putting a band aid on the smallest girl. She looked to be about 4. The other little girl, who looked to be about 7 was getting ready to climb a tree near the tent. I regestered all of this in less than a second before I pounced on the father and latched onto his throat. Everything happened so fast after that, but I remember it as if it was playing out in slow motion.
By the time the family found me, the damage had been done and I was sitting inside the tent that was now torn to shreds, cradling the youngest to my chest, rocking back and forth. I was sobbing and shaking.
The family just starred at me. I can recall each of their emotions. Carlisle was projecting saddness and disappointment. Esme was sobbing into his chest feeling pity and saddness. Emmett was shocked and radiating pity. Rose was hurt for the little girls, sad in general, and disappointed. Edward was disgusted, angry, shocked and horrified. And Alice...my wife of all people who should have understood out of everyone was overall disgusted, angered, embarassed, and full of pity. Pity for the family, my victims, or me? I wasn't sure.
Suddenly, the pain in my chest I had been feeling since we first left Forks came back in full force. I wasn't sure what it meant, but it felt like someone punched a hole in my chest and no matter what I did, it never went away. Sometimes I could distract myself so it wasn't AS bad, but it always hurt. Now though, it was so bad it broke me out of my trance as I laid the girl down on the ground and closed her eyes with my fingers. I had to get out of here. It hurt so much. I could still feel their emotions lingering in the air on top of my families and my own. It was taking all I had not to project them onto everyone. The pain in my chest and from all the emotions hurt too much.
I grasped my chest where my heart used to beat and almost fell back over. They knew I was having pains in my chest for months now. I had to talk to Carlisle about it when it didn't go away. He said it sounded like the mating pull, but it didn't make sense because Alice was only a few rooms away.
"My chest...the pain...the emotions...it hurts..." I managed to get out in between pants.
Before they could say anything, I just ran. I didn't know where I was going. I just started to run until the pain in my chest started to lessen just a bit. It wasn't much, but I could breath now.
It was then I noticed where I was. Forks. We weren't suposed to come back here because of Bella but right then, I didn't care.
I ran to the house we had on the outside of town and broke down the door. I couldn't even manage to reach for the key under the matt. I stumbled in the house and pretty much crawled to the third floor to my study and shut the door. I then made my way over to my ottoman in the corner and curled up in a ball just letting all my emotions out around me. I just let myself project them to lessen the emotional pain I was feeling.
From that point on, I was catatonic. I recalled having the family visit but I didn't care. It was strange, I knew who each of them were to me, but at the same time they were strangers. I couldn't describe it even if I tried.
I recalled being left alone for who knows how long. I remember Alice trying to drag me out the door to hunt. That when the flashbacks started.
When she grabbed me, I was immediately brought back to my time with Maria and the Southern Wars. I remember her punishments, and how she would grab me, then have me restrained. How she would rip my limbs off my body, put me back together after a weeks time only to rip me apart again for another week. I remembered how she would starve me for a month at a time when something wasn't done to her satisfaction. I remembered wanting her to love me like I loved her for the longest time, only to catch her in bed with one of the older newborns. I remembered how heartbroken I was when she would lash out at me, feeling her disappointment and disgust when all I wanted to do was to make her proud. I remembered how she would purposely provoke my demon to come out to wreck havoc on the small towns leaving no survivors, then coming to only to find her dancing around the corpses of humans and vampire's alike then rewarding me with sex. I recalled how she would make me rape some of the female newborns as their punishments, and how she would have me destroy those I've created once they outran their usefullness. I remembered how after I helped Peter and Char escape, how I hated Maria for everything and finally realizing how I was just her main pawn in her game. I remembered how depressed I became there and how everytime she would try to fuck me, if I didn't get hard enough fast enough she would bite me all over.
After that, I would growl at anyone who would dare enter my study. Their emotions made everything so much worse. Even when Peter and Char came. I don't know how much time passed. It felt like months or years. I refused to feed, talk or leave my study. All I felt was so much crippling pain while all my thoughts became a jumbled mess of flashbacks of Maria, my slip ups, or the family I just murdered.
Finally, yesterday I started to become more aware of my surroundings. The pain in my chest wasn't nearly as bad as it used to be, but reguardless it was still there. I also noticed the burn in the back of my throat was horrorendous!
I heard yelling and arguing downstairs. It was becoming so loud and their emotions were all over the place. I started to smell a human. I could tell it was a female and she had a very familiar scent. She didn't spark the need to feed from her, reguardless of the burn I felt, I had no desire to use her to clench. Whoever she was, I knew she was the reason that the pain in my chest was fading. I'm not sure how I knew, or why she was able to make it go away, but she was and I wasn't going to question it.
I wanted to see her. I wanted her to stay with me. I could feel a pull to her and I decided to finally leave my study and go to her. The closer I got, the louder the arguing became. I started to focus on what they were saying.
The girl wanted to come up to me, but Edward wasn't letting her. He called her Bella. Could it be? Now Bella Swan I remember perfectly. We all thought she was Edward's mate until we left her here per Edwards demand. After that I knew there was no way that she could be his mate if he would so willingly leave her behind. After we left, I thought about her all the time. I missed her like the flower misses the sun. I'm not sure why she is the only one I remember with such clarity but I do. Everyone else just still seems like names and faces I recognize, but I don't remember properly.
And she wanted to see me. I wanted to see her too. I was getting angry that Edward wasn't letting her through. I was just about to go interviene when the announcement that she wasn't really Edward's mate was made by her. Everyone except Edward seemed to accept and awknowledge that. I continued to listen to their convertsation until Alice started to explain that she wanted Bella dead.
At that point, something inside of me snapped and I started running solely on my instincts. I charge down the stairs right in the middle of them. There was some hushed speaking, then all the vampires got down into submissive positions with their necks bared. All of them except Alice that is. She just had to push it. I ended up ruthlessly tearing her to pieces and before I could find something to light up the pieces with, I heard someone coming towards me. I whipped around growling in my crouch,
"Jasper." She said softly. Bella. I immediately stopped growling and stood from my crouch, tilting my head looking at her. "It's Bella. Do you remember me?" She was sending out so much love, friendship, admiration and feelings that made me feel warm and fuzzy. Such a difference from the constant pain. "I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." She told me, reaching out a hand towards me.
I wasn't quite sure what she was trying to do and why she wasn't scared. Last I saw her, I tried to take a snap out of her. I reached out and took her hand with both of mine. It was so warm, so soft and soothing. I stepped forward and put it up to my cheek. I was reveling in the warm. I decided I needed more and pulled her to me and wrapped my arms around her, and tucked my face in her neck. This was the first contact from anyone I welcomed in who knows how long and I absolutely adored it. I adored her for making me feel this. I could feel her emotions radiating contentment, happiness, security, peace, and love. The first happy emotions I have encountered since all of this began. I started purring for the first time in my exsistance, soaking up all of her wonderful feelings inside and out.
Suddenly Edward started feeling anger, jealousy, rage, determination, and disgust.
"Are you guys insane?" Edward yelled out. "He's dangerous! And your all just letting her near him like that? He slaughtered a while innocent family! He's a monster!"
At the mention of the family and what he thought of me, I whimpered and pulled Bella tighter to my chest, making sure not to squeeze too tight so I didn't hurt her. I felt her go into a rage and get extremely defensive and compassionate.
"How dare you say those things! He's suposed to be your brother Edward! Hemost certainly is not a monster! He made a mistake. One that any one of you could hae made. You hae no right to say thosethings to him! It's like you don't want him to get better! If he were a monster, this all wouldn't bother him like it is! You used to hunt humans! So you of all people here have no right to judge him." She ranted. She was so angry she was shaking.
I was in too much pain to even attempt to calm her and I didn't want to hurt her. She being human wouldn't be able to handle full blown emotions as vampires feel them, reguardless of how intensely she already feels for a human. I was doing a good job holding in my emotions since she got here and I didn't want to do anything that would make her have to leave me. That thought alone hurt like hell. I already knew what it was like before she got here and I don't think I could handle it if Bella had started to feel the same way some of the family felt towards me.
So I pucked her up and ran at vampire speed up to my study and shut the door. I took her over to my ottoman and pulled her down to sit with me inbetween my lets and pulled her against me tightly so her back was against my chest. God, she was so warm. It was such an amazingly wonderful difference from the fridged cold I have been feeling throughout my pain for who know's how long now. Time held no meaning to me. Sure I still had my Rolex on my wrist, but I hadn't been paying attention to the start date so the date of today means nothing.
I nuzzled the crook of her neck where her scent was the most potent and started inhailing her calming scent and started purring. Almost immediately, she was out cold sleeping.
The rest of the night passed by in much of a blur. The difference with Bella and her warmth and wonderful emotions was such a calming change. I was still incredibally depressed and in pain but I wasn't having the flashbacks with her here and the pain in my chest was non exsistant. She was truely helping me with her prescence alone.
When she woke, she tried to get me to hunt, I immediately started to panic. I tried to tell her that I simply wasn't thirsty, but I should have known that Bella would have seen right through me. Even the mention of feeding set my throat ablaze hotter that it already was if possible. There was multiple reasons I didn't want to .
A) I didn't want to be apart from Bella. I was afraid that if I left to hunt, I would feel the pain not only in my chest, but the emotional pain would get worse again. Since Bella came back, I haven't felt the pain in my chest like usual and the last time I didn't feel the pain like that constantly was at her birthday party. As soon as we took off for Alaska, the pain began and got worse the further we got from Forks.
B) I knew if I went to hunt, some of the family would insist on accompany me. I just couldn't be around them right now. Especially alone. I couldn't even talk to anyone besides Bella. I just didn't feel comfortable with them right now. It reminds me of when Alice and I first arrived here. I'm not sure what caused all this, especially with Charlotte and Peter, but though I know who they are to me, I can't seem to feel it yet.
C) Even if I managed to hunt alone, I was afraid that I would stumble along another human. I'm not sure what makes Bella so special that I feel the need to protect her rather than drain her, but I know it won't be like that with the next human I come accross. Especially being as thirsty as I am.
D) I'm afraid Bella will leave when I'm not here. I can't explain that either, but I am just petrified of her leaving me. In this short amount of time, she has become my rock. My lifeline. I can't risk loosing her again.
E) Finally, I knew as soon as I hunted, the crimson would appear back in my eyes. To me, black was the better of the two evils.
We then decided that for now, the blood will be brought up to me until I felt that I could do this on my own again. I had no idea when that would be, but it was as good of a solution as any. But when he brought it up, my protective instincts went into over drive. I was afraid that once the blood was brought up, that he would take Bella away from me. Even though his intentions seemed pure, I couldn't risk it.
I felt better after I had my fill of blood. But I was scared of what Bella would think of my eyes once she saw them though. It was going to take awhile for them to change back to gold. I should have known better than to doubt her though. She was as compassionate as ever and acted as though the color didn't even bother her. She truely is an Angel.
All too soon though, Bella had to go and take care of some of her human needs. I knew it was inevitable, but it didn't make it any easier to let her go. I contimplated going with her, but I just wasn't ready to be down there with so many others yet. Even if Charlotte and Peter were the only ones home at the moment.
She said that she would only take an hour and she would be back up to be with me. She promised that she wouldn't leave, but my anxiety and fear were at an all time high the entire time. Finally after about 45 min, I couldn't take it anymore. I had to be with her. I needed to hold her and feel her warmth.
I raced downstairs to the kitchen where the three of them stood talking and ran straight to Bella and wrapped my arms around her. Finally. My anxiety and fear immediately evaporated as I sighed deeply in relief.
It was obvious that Peter and Char were shocked to see me down here. I then decided that it wasn't so bad with the three of us together, as long as I had Bella in my arms. With out her though, I wouldn't be able to handle it. Not right now anyway.
When Peter and Char explained their shock, Bella looked at me with such pride and adoration that she gave me the confidence to remain down here for a bit. I felt such grattitude towards her for believing in me, no matter how small or big the conquest may seem. She always has. I kissed her cheek in thanks. As per usual, I could feel the little electrical charge when my lips touched her bare skin that sent warmth through my whole fridged body. The feeling lingered even after I pulled back from her.
I picked her up and made my way to the living room and got us comfortable in the lazyboy. Peter and Char followed suit short after. They watched some daytime TV while I absent mindedly played with a strand of Bella's beautiful, long, curls. About an hour and a half later, I heard the rest of the family come home. I immediately remembered how Alice and Edward acted when it came to Bella and I felt my self start to panic.
Almost like she was experiencing it herself, she proceeded and tenatively asked me what was wrong, while her fingers traced what seemed to be her favorite scar. Everytime she did that, I immediately felt myself calm at her touch and I felt like it was a way of showing affection between the two of us. I begged her not to leave me. I was so scared that they would force her away or that she would willingly leave me because it was what Edward wanted. I felt her determination, her love, and acceptance and understanding as she proceeded to tell me that it would not happen. She tried to explain their reasoning for not wanting her around me.
I don't know why, but when she reminded me that Alice was my wife...I started to feel sick. I should love her though if I married her, right? But then why isn't she the one trying to make me better rather than feeling disgusted, embarassed or angered by me reguardless of what happened. Why is it Bella is the one that is here for me. More importantly...why is it that I WANT Bella to be the one there for me and want Alice as far away from me as I can get her? She is my mate! She should be the only one I want near me and yet I was able to proceed to tear her limb from limb just for wanting Bella dead! Why is Bella the one that brings out the protective instinct in me that needs her close and safe and not my mate? None of this makes any sense, yet even with this revelation, I still don't want Alice anywhere near myself or Bella. The thought of her touching me in any way sends chills down my spine and makes me feel like I could throw up all four of those thermouses of blood.
I could see Peter smirking at me out of the corner of my eye.
"About time ya figured that shit out Major." He said quietly at vampire speed.
I didn't answer, just burried my face deep inside Bella's hair and proceeded to calm myself. I would think about all of that at a later time. I couldn't afford to contimplate that now with a mind reader in the house. I just hope he didn't catch those thoughts.
I felt bad for Emmett when he tried to be friendly, but I just couldn't interact with any of them yet. I could feel his pride and happiness at first, but after I didn't react to him, I felt his saddness, resignation, and acceptance as Peter explained that I wasn't ready yet. I'm glad that they are at least understanding. Or so I thought.
Not three seconds after this thought, Alice and Edward came storming into the livingroom. I could feel Alice's hesitance to approach me, yet she was extremely jealous, angry and determind. I pulled Bella closer to me and burried my face in her hair.
He was feeling much of the same emotions Alice was feeling, only adding disgusted to the list.
"Bella, get up!" Edward demanded, standing not two feet infront of us with his fists clenched at his sides.
"Excuse me? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?" Bella asked incrediously.
"I am your mate and you will listen to what I tell you. Now get up!" He growled and went to grab at her arm.
I snapped my head up, caught his wrist inches from hers, and growled menacingly at him, threatening him.
"Jasper!" Alice butted in and walked up and stood next to Edward. "Let go of him right now! You have no business intruding between Edward and Bella. She's his mate, not yours! You and I need to talk anyway, so get up, put her down, and lets go! It's time you both learn your places."
I could hear everyone around us start to growl at these two. I began shaking in anger.
I could feel my eyes darkening as the Major took over me. There was nothing I could do to stop it even if I wanted to.
"Shit." Peter muttered and took Char's hand and stood up and pulled her behind him. I noticed Emmett do the same with Rose.
"What's going on in -?" Esme stopped mid-question as Carlisle grabbed her and pulled her behind him as well and stayed back, well away from the rest of us.
The Major had enough of being told what to do and he wanted to put an end to all of this. I didn't blame him, but I was in no condition to do that, let alone speak to anyone besides Bella. No one is going to take my Angel from me. Least of all these two...
A/N: Cliff hanger! Sorry about that guys, but at least I gave you a nice long chapter! :)
I'd love to hear what everyone thinks so far! Leave some reviews and let me know! I am also still working on my other three stories right now. Check em out and let me know if yall like them as well.
Attempting to CovetSince Major Jasper Whitlock first found his mate, everyone from the Warlords of the South, to Vampire Royalty have been trying to take what was rightfully his. Romance, Action, Horror, and Supernatural Adventure. Jasper/Bella Fanfic
The MajorDecades after Jasper allowed Peter and Char to escape, they finally come back to get him. They bring him to their ranch where he meets Isabella Swan whom Peter rescued in Washington from Laurent. Love blossoms but Maria wants her Major back at any cost. Jasper/Bella FF
PretextingThe summer before Bella's 18th Birthday, Victoria makes her move. Bella is changed in order to save her life and moved in with the Cullens. Secrets start to come out and facts become known. What is to become of the power hungry leader and his family? J/B Fanfiction
