AN: Alright, alright, I'm super sorry for the long wait. Life decided to screw me over a bit and things have been busy. I promise to try to update more for you all!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. That is purely Stephanie Meyer's creation.


Jasper Whitlock.

It fitted him somehow. A strong, sturdy name that demanded respect. Yet it still seemed to appear kind of playful with the inclinations forced upon the letters when spoken. A no nonsense type of name full of mischief. A "treasurer" of things.

She liked it.

She liked it a lot actually.

Bella shook her head slightly to try and knock that thought process out of her mind. She had always put too much stock in names. Part of the reason she always hated her own. How could she possibly live up to the name of former queens?

But if Jasper could embrace his name…maybe she could try to do the same. At the very least she had to stop putting so much stress upon them. After all, His name had meant "rich guard", and she had taken that to mean He was meant to be her guardian angel to always watch over her.

She snorted to herself. Obviously that ideology was severally flawed.

"Do I want to know what's funny, darlin'?" Jasper's voice washed over her with a smidgen of smug that she was positive she'd see if she looked at him.

Yep.

There was that smirk. She shook her head at him with a deviously innocent expression.

"Nope. Not even a little, cowboy."

Jasper shook his head fondly at her, a little smile forming at his lips.

"Fine. Fine. Ya don't have to tell me." He looked at her with a fake pout upon his lips and batted his eyes at her in the perfect imitation of a girl trying too hard for attention. "Ev'n if ya wound me so."

Bella laughed, loud and clear before her hands flew to her mouth. She laughed. Genuinely laughed. Who knew she could do that with an ache in her chest…

The smile upon Jasper's face told her to ignore the marvel of her laughter and just let him have his moment. She liked his sense of humor anyway. Her stomach chose that moment to growl loudly at her, as well as her vampire companion with super sensitive hearing. She cringed in embarrassment.

Jasper's smile softened to a look that was almost tender.

"Maybe I should feed the human."

She stuck his tongue out at him and he clutched his heart pretending to be wounded. With a roll of her eyes she went to get out of bed. However, as soon as she threw the covers off she was hit with a wave of abandonment, like her safety net was torn from under her. She buckled over, clutching the hole in her that seemed to tear open and echo through her whole soul.

"Shhh. Shh. It's a'right darlin'. I got cha. Back in bed with ya. Thatta girl." Jasper's soothing southern twang washed over her as his hands delicately tucked her back into bed. With measured breaths Bella tried to focus on the feeling of her blanket wrapping her up in warmth.

"S-sorry" She managed to gasp out, burying her head into her pillow. It didn't smell like Him. The load of laundry she did before ensured that. Her pillow smelled like nothing but fresh, clean, fabric. It comforted her.

Jasper's fingers ghosted over her hair as he whispered soft coos like she was a newborn child.

"No need to feel sorry, darlin'. Ya been through a lot. Maybe ya just gotta take it a step at a time."

Bella buried her face deeper into her pillow. Why was Jasper being so sweet to her? She just didn't understand it. Her stomach growled again and she let out a groan of frustration.

Jasper's rough chuckle filled the room.

"Maybe I should make ya somethin'. How 'bout that?"

Bella nodded her head without lifting it from the safe spot she had created with in her pillow.

"That would be nice, thanks."

Her voice was muffled but she knew without a doubt her heard her. The brief gust of wind a second later proved her right. With a sigh she let her body slump.

She really had no idea why Jasper was with her…but she wasn't going to complain.


AN: Sorry it's so short! But hey, at least it's something!