Thanks for all the feedback! I am glad you are all liking this so far. It's been awhile since I've done vampires as I entered the world of bikers for a bit. Hope you continue to like the story. Special thanks goes out to kids2003, armywife1979, NatalieLynn, Cathy29jes, bella4340, Legolas'Girl31, and the guest for your reviews. I really love getting them and please continue to leave them:) Now on with the story...

BELLA:

I shut my door after the short talk with Jasper and sighed. I really didn't know how to approach him. All I knew about him was the quiet that he held within the Cullen house. Of course, that was probably because he was trying to control everything without them knowing. That upset me. The fact that he took it upon himself to take on the bloodlust of all of them yet they called him the weak link. Just who did they think they were. Jasper was stronger than anyone I knew, except maybe Peter and Charlotte. What they had to get through just to be able to overcome it said something.

"Bella, ya alright?" Jasper called from the other side of the door and I took a deep breath and let it out.

"Yes, Jasper, I'm ok. Just thinking and it got me angry." I called back as I took my ruined shirt off.

"Alright." I heard him whisper before turning back to his room.

I sat on my bed and dropped my shirt next it on the floor. We'd have to go shopping soon. I had a habit of ruining my shirts, but not my bottoms. I took my bra off and stood, taking the shorts off before heading to the shower. I always had to wash after a hunt. Getting messy was worth it though, it really did help with the worry. I turned the shower on and then grabbed a towel from the cabinet above the toilet. I sat it on the lid and then stepped into the stall. I loved my bathroom even though I didn't have use for it any longer. It was a soft blue and white, very homey.

I let the water cascade over me and tilted my head back to make sure I got all the dried blood out of it. I took my shampoo and quickly washed my hair before taking my gel and applying it to my body. After washing, I got out and wrapped the towel around me. I sighed and looked at my reflection in the mirror. "Well, I can't hide." I whispered to myself. I squared my shoulders and walked out of the bathroom into my bedroom and straight to the closet.

I pulled out a pair of skinny jeans and a green tank top. I then sat them on the bed and went to the dresser to pull out a green lace bra and thong set that I just recently bought. Charlee told me that I needed better lingerie if I wanted Jasper to ever see me naked. My 'would be' blush would be present as I recalled that conversation. I wasn't a virgin by any means thanks to Mike fucking Newton. If Jasper ever figured that out, I'm sure he'd go straight to Forks. I knew Peter wanted to and if it wasn't for me and Charlee, he would have.

I shook my head to rid of those thoughts and slipped my undergarments on under the towel. After having everything in place I dropped the towel and slipped my tank over my head. After I got my jeans on, I grabbed a hair tie from my dresser and walked to find everyone. I could hear Jasper and Peter talking about whatever on the back porch. I always tried not to eavesdrop as we had little privacy to begin with. I found Charlotte in the kitchen, baking. We were always taking things to the shelters in Houston, the irony doesn't pass me either.

Charlotte told me she did because of the children that may not get a meal. She had a big heart and would have been a great mother, that I knew and told her. I knew in her time, being a mother and having loads of kids was the dream of every woman. Well, that and a good husband to take care of them. I sat on the stool at the snack bar as she pulled whatever she was baking out of the oven.

"Chocolate cake, I think I miss that the most." I stated as she put it on the counter.

She smiled. "I miss my mama's homemade cookies. Those were always my favorite and we didn't get them often."

"Cookies were good also. My mom wasn't the cook though. When are you heading in, Charlee?"

She smiled and got out the cake container to put in the cake. "In a bit, want ta go with me?"

I nodded. "Yes, I'm running out of shirts again."

She shook her head and chuckled. "You and yer shirts, Bella. Yer worse than Peter."

"Hey, you rip half of my shirts, Charlotte."

We turned as the boys came back in. Jasper nodded at me as he sat next to me and I sighed. The tension was noticed by everyone in our home.

"Yes, well...don't get rushed with our lovemaking and I may not rip'em. Maybe from now on, I'll just leave'em alone."

Jasper and I chuckled at the look on Peter's face, it was priceless.

"You'll do not such thing, Charlotte. I like it when ya rip'em."

She winked at me and picked up the container. "Ready, Bella?"

I nodded and hopped up. "Yes. See ya boys."

I went to follow and stopped. Jasper had my hand and I looked at him in silent question.

"Can we talk when ya get back?"

I nodded, "Of course."

He smiled and let me go, if reluctantly, and I followed Charlotte out. We decided to take my car so I grabbed my keys out of my bag and we hopped in. I drove to the center first so that Charlotte's cake wouldn't get messed up. I waited in the car as she took it in and thought about the vampire I left behind. We had a lot to talk about, that we both knew. I didn't know how to talk to him though.

He was Alice's husband, Edward's brother, Esme and Carlisle's adopted son. He held so many different titles and that was all I knew about him other than the stories Peter told me about the wars. I did notice that his scars were more prominent than the other two in our home, but that didn't bother me. I knew he'd have more because of his role within the camp. Training newborns had to be tiring work for anyone, let alone someone who was an empath. I smiled as Charlotte opened the door, taking my thoughts to our now shopping trip.

"You ok?" she asked as I pulled out.

I nodded, "Yes, just thinking about the man we left behind, Charlee."

She smiled. "I can see that. You both are so fuckin' worried it's almost funny. He doesn't know you don't blame'im for yer birthday, Bella. I'm sure he's wantin' to apologize fer it."

I let out a breath as I turned to the left and into a space at Target.

"I figured as much. I saw the look in his eyes, he wasn't going to bite me. He was trying to protect me. I have thought about this, even before you and Peter. I think he knew, to an extent. I mean, we get the scent right. (she nodded) Well, if you figure out mates through scent and the feeling, Jasper would have figured it out. Everything was so fast though, he most likely didn't think...just acted."

We got out of the car before she said anything and walked into the store. This was one of the reason's I loved shopping with Charlotte. We went to cheap, sensible, not designer. We went straight to the shirts and started looking through them before she finally replied to my explanation.

"I think ya may be right, Bella. We tend to act on instinct where our mate is concerned. He wouldn't have thought it that way, though."

I nodded, picking up some old band shirts they had to put over my shoulder to buy. "I agree. He was married, so I get why he left. Jasper is old-fashioned, he would have done right by his wife."

Charlotte smiled, "And that right there is why yer made fer him, Bella."

I rolled my eyes, smiling as I picked up a new pair of shorts and some button ups. We also got some dresses in case we decided to go out. Peter and Charlotte taught me how to dance and we'd sometimes go to get out of the house. They were very patient with me as I was still human when they taught me and I would fall and trip often. We made our way to the check out, not really talking anymore.

We didn't have to though, we were that comfortable with each other and Charlotte knew I was anxious to get home. As we were standing at the check out, I started to fidget. I didn't know why, but I was very uncomfortable. My chest hurt and Charlotte had to take my hand. She leaned over and whispered, "It's the pull, hun. Men don't like us gone for too long. Jasper's probably having a fit since you haven't completed the mating, yet. I'm sure he's drivin' Peter crazy, sug."

I nodded, not trusting my voice to answer.

We got to the check out and Charlee had to help me with mine. I could barely move my hands I was hurting. It felt weird and I didn't like it. We got into the car, Charlotte taking the wheel for me so I wouldn't wreck my car. That wouldn't be good for anyone. I closed my eyes and counted down as the pain started to go away. I took deep breaths and was thankful when she pulled next to Peter's truck. I opened my eyes and saw the boys standing, well...Jasper sitting on the steps, and sighed.

I grabbed my two bags and opened my door. Jasper was next to me in a heartbeat and took my hand, leading me to the woods. I threw my things at Charlotte and turned to follow. He didn't say anything as we walked, hands still intertwined. After minutes, we stopped at a clearing and Jasper sat down. I sat next to him, waiting for him to say what he needed.

"I'm sorry, Bella."

I looked at him to find him looking across the clearing. I put a hand to his face and turned him so he could look at me while he could feel my emotions.

"Let's get this straight. It was never your fault. I saw the look in your eyes, Jasper. You weren't going to bite me, you were trying to protect me. I have a theory on it."

I watched his eyebrow raise, not trusting his voice. I went on.

"I think, especially now being a vampire, that your instinct kicked in. Charlotte agrees. You got my scent, my true scent, and the feelings you were probably trying to control took over. I was Edward's singer and you needed to get to me before he got me. You're an empath Jasper. I never blamed you and I thought about all that before Peter turned me. I didn't blame you as a human and I sure as hell don't blame you as a vampire."

I was now holding his face in both my hands as we looked at each other. I could see his conflicting emotions in his eyes as he took in my theory. He closed his eyes for a small moment before opening them up again.

"I never thought of it that way, darlin'."

I smiled at him and leaned my forehead on to his. "I know. Alice and Edward were probably not a help, either."

I felt the anger and pulled back. "What happened, Jasper?"

He took a deep breath and pulled my hands from his face, but keeping them in his. "They knew, Bella. I heard them when you 'died' all those years ago and something in me did also. I didn't understand it. I quit doing things with Alice and so she got attention from Edward and Carlisle."

"Poor Esme." I gasped.

He nodded and continued. "Edward apparently found another singer. I think he just really likes playing with human girls and for that, I'm sorry Bella. I got tired of them. Em and Rose did also and left. They're in Paris and may visit."

I nodded, "I missed Em, it'll be good to see him."

He smiled. "He'll be glad to hear it. He took yer death badly. I drained the poor girl to get back at Edward for fuckin' my wife and then let the cat out of the bag about the three of them. To get me back, Alice told me ya were supposed to be my mate. I called Rose to tell'em I was leavin'. She got it all out of me and then let Alice have it. Rose hated ya with Edward, but playin' with ya...that was out of line."

I smiled, glad that Rosalie took up for her brother. I knew from watching them that Jasper was closest to his twin. He kept quiet so I could take everything in, knowing how much Edward affected me. I turned my whole body so I was facing him and let out a breath.

"When you all left, I lost it. I really don't blame you, but something in me snapped. Charlee and Peter think it was you and not Edward and because I was human it's how the pull effected me not being near you. I had to repeat my senior year."

He put my face in his hands and sighed. "Bella, I'm so fuckin' sorry. I knew I needed to get back there, I just didn' know why and I was married."

I closed my eyes and sighed. "I know. I really don't blame you. I finally graduated and applied to every college that had sun two-thirds of the year just so I wouldn't see him. I didn't know your story and so didn't have a clue vamps lived in the south, Jasper. I met Charlotte in my first class, she was an aide."

I didn't include Mike as I really didn't know how he'd take that. When it needed to come up, I'd tell him though. He did have that right. I laid back and looked at the clouds, they always calmed me. Jasper followed and we laid like that, just getting used to the other.

"Jasper." I whispered, knowing he'd hear me.

He took my hand in silent question and I sighed. "I almost lost it at Target."

He sat up and looked at me and I could see the worry. I sat up and smiled.

"Charlee said it was the pull. We just aren't used to it. I was fine, feeding wise. I just got really uncomfortable and my chest hurt a lot. She had to pay for my things and get me to the car. It hurt to walk."

He smiled and brushed a stray hair from my face. "I was on the stairs since ya left, Bella. I think I felt it when you did. My chest was uncomfortably tight and I didn't like it. Peter came out and sat with me, told me I'd get used to it after we finished our mating. All I know is that when ya pulled up with Charlee, I had to getcha alone, darlin'. I had to be with you."

I smiled. "I know. I felt instantly better as soon as I saw you."

His smile lit up his whole face and he had a dimple on his right cheek. That was something I hadn't noticed before. I put my palm to his face and he sighed. I watched as he closed his eyes and leaned into it, putting his hand over mine. I felt a bit of worry creep up within him and put my other hand on his face. "What's wrong?"

He opened his eyes. "When ya said you didn' know my story, does that mean ya do now?"

I smiled and nodded. "Peter told me about the Major and the wars, yes. I don't blame you for that either. Maria taught you that life and you were already a soldier. Makes sense for you to be accustomed to that. All the fighting and stuff. But Jasper, he also told me how you were with him. How when it counted, you got them out and they still feel they owe you. That's why they waited a whole fucking year before they figured out why they needed to protect me for you. I know how demanding you were, how in control you were. I admit, it's very different from the you I remember, but that doesn't mean anymore to me than Carlisle or Edward's story."

I watched his eyes close as he took in what I told me. I meant every word and I knew he knew that. He took my hands up to his face and just held them. He pulled me to him and I let him. We stayed like that till the sun went to sleep and the moon was awake and full and I had never felt happier.

Alright, an update for today. I hope you liked this one and continue to review and comment on the chapter. I really love getting them. Onto the next one. -Brianna