- Chapter six. The plot thickens.

xoxo

Nikki

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Setting: I would say somewhere in the middle of Eclipse. After Edward proposes but before they even learn that Victoria is coming with the newborns.

Chapter dedication: This chapter goes out to JaspersDestiny, chiahead and her daugher for being my Betas! Thank you so much! (3 have to be better than one, right?) Because of them this 'filler' chapter isn't nearly as boring and mundane as I originally thought it to be. JaspersDestiny has the Twilight trivia down to a 'T' and chiahead and her daughter provided the grammar and suggestive sentences that made me feel good about posting this chapter! Thank you so much!

XO - Chapter 5 – OX

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." - James Dean

XOXOXO

Jasper's POV -

Although I knew myself to be a dog, a philanderer, and just short of an adulterer. I couldn't bring myself to feel as guilty as I probably should have been.

And Bella. She should feel guiltier even than I! Her fiancé had died not even a week ago and she was lusting after a man whom she knew to be married! Yes, Bella should be feeling much more guilty than me.

I sighed, now I was agreeing with myself. And I had thought that I had somehow avoided going crazy in all this.

But what was wrong with me? When did I suddenly transform into this man with no self-control and no compassion for my wife's feelings? When had I turned in to this lusting teenage boy, who didn't know right from wrong? When did Bella begin to matter more than my morals...then my wife?

"What are you thinking about?"

I cringed. I was half hoping she wouldn't show up. But I recovered quickly.

"I was wondering who had been lurking around Bella's room last night."

She laughed once. "At least you're not going to pretend that you weren't in Bella's room last night."

I frowned, "If I recall correctly, you were the one that suggested that I go."

Her eyes narrowed, "No Jasper," I heard the hitch in her voice and the first wave of guilt hit me. She shook her head slowly, "No, I knew already that you were going to go. I thought maybe...If I didn't keep you from going. That you would be...grateful towards me. And things would have turned out differently." She stopped looking down at her hands and looked back up to me. "I was wrong."

"Nothing happened that first night." I whispered. How do you discuss infidelity so casually with your wife?!

She frowned again, "That's not true. Not only did you sleep in the bed next to her that night. The next morning when she woke up, you decided that you would be with her every morning when she woke up."

I frowned too. Not sure what to say. Her gift was thoroughly annoying. More annoying now than it had ever been. "You have to understand, Alice." I sent her a wave of calm, hoping that with it, she would understand more easily. "You have to understand how it is with Bella. There's something there Alice; some kind of connection."

"You mean the same connection that she and Edward had once?" She paused, "A connection that you didn't notice until after Edward died?"

I was starting to get angry. She couldn't understand. Hell, I didn't even understand. "I don't think it's the same."

"You don't think it's odd that she suddenly finds herself so attached to you, only after Edward was gone? If there was some kind of great connection, why didn't she ever say anything before?"Her voice was cynical. Very unlike Alice. But she had good reason.

"You are ignoring my question. Who was lurking around Bella's house last night?"

"Do you really want my answer, Jasper?" She asked, honestly. Why wouldn't I want the answer?

"Yes. I do."

"Are you - -"

"YES! I'm sure! Who was it?" I was nearly shouting now.

"Edward." She stated calmly. I rolled my eyes.

"Edward is dead."

She shook her head negatively once. "No, he's very much alive."

I growled quietly. "What are you talking about?! I watched them tear him to pieces! They burned him alive! He's dead!"

"You're wrong." She stated again. "He's alive."

She had to be lying, or joking...or anything. How could Edward be alive?

"You should be happy. Most people would be, finding out that their brother is alive after days of thinking he was dead." She paused, then added, "But I suppose in your case. You wouldn't be."

I was angry now. This was some kind of a joke! It had to be! "Alice if you're joking..." I growled again, "How could he be alive? Explain." I was trying hard to keep my temper in check.

She took a deep breath, then began her story. "You're right; Edward was torn to shreds and then burned, but a small fragment. A fragment!" She emphasized, "Wasn't burned. I noticed it, moving, after the fight. The wolves were furious and had already left with Quil and Jared in tow. Rosalie had already begun rampaging about Bella coming back. Esme was a total wreck, and you, obviously, had already run off with Bella. I noticed it, the piece of Edward that is, and sat it on top of the rest of Edward's ashes. For some reason I couldn't see whether or not he would regenerate from such a small piece. It seemed unlikely. So I chose not to give Esme and Carlisle what could be false hope. Later on that night, I heard rustling outside my window. It took him nearly 6 hours, but he had slowly regenerated. When I went to confront him I noticed his edginess. Honestly, he reminded me of a newborn. I said his name and he didn't recognize it. He's lost his memory. All of his memories. The only part of his life that he remembers is his human life. How that can be, I have no idea."

I couldn't bring myself to speak, taking in every word of her story. It seemed so unlikely. But I knew she was telling the truth. "You've been...with him?" I let out.

She nodded. "Trying to convince him to stay around Washington. Trying to help him remember."

"We should tell Bella." I added. Although I wasn't too partial to the thought. No doubt Bella would go running for him the first chance she got.

"Why? It would only hurt her more. Knowing that he's out there, but doesn't remember her."

"Is he still...sticking to our diet?" I asked.

She shook her head again. "He laughs out loud if I even mention the idea to him."

Suddenly I remembered. "And you let him come near Bella?" I spat the words.

"What was I supposed to do, Jasper?" She pleaded. "I knew he wouldn't try anything when you were around."

"I have to go." I said more quietly. "I can't just leave her alone when he's looking to kill her."

"He doesn't want to kill her Jasper. I think he's only curious. He sees her in my mind. He knows that he used to be in love with her. Besides, he and I are leaving soon. He's agreed to come with me to visit Rosalie and Emmett. Aren't you even curious where they are?"

I didn't respond. I wouldn't feel guilty.

She lowered her head again to look at her hands, "Jasper, please."

I sighed, "Alice, we've been together for almost a hundred years. We've talked about this before. I wasn't made for this life Alice. I don't mind sticking to drinking animal blood. But I wasn't made to just sit around the house all day. I was never meant to try and not be noticed. That's just not who I am. And for the last century I've felt like I haven't been able to be myself. And lately...It's been feeling like there is a chance I can bring my old self back. And I'm sorry if that hurts you. But you've known that I was unhappy for a while, Alice."

Her breath came slower now. I would say she was fighting back tears...If she could produce tears. "I hope you enjoy yourself. I really hope she's really worth all this." She stopped speaking. It was so unlike Alice to be so bitter. But she had good reason.

I felt her anguish. And my own. Her plea had made me think of a happier time. Before her and I had met up with Carlisle and Esme...and Edward. When I hadn't begun to resent her for our choice of lifestyle. The choice that she had made and expected me to follow without question, but I couldn't stay, and I honestly didn't want to. So I left. And she didn't follow.

Shortly after I walked away from the house, my cell rang.

"Alice?" I was impatient to get back to Bella. Who knew if my zombie brother would be 'curious' again sometime soon?

"I just had a vision. She needs you. Quileute territory, heading south in the forks river."

"Damn it! I thought Sam had banned her from Quileute land!" I broke into a run now.

"He did. I don't know why she's there." And with that the phone went dead.

Bella's POV -

Okay, I could admit now, this had definitely been a bad idea. The twigs and branches were relentless as they tore into my skin. But I couldn't stop running. Sure, I didn't really think that the wolves would really hurt me, but I swore I heard pounding in the distance as if they were making sure that I really left.

And what was I supposed to do about my truck!? Stupid thing wouldn't start when I needed it most. I wondered if Jacob would fix it for me...and have one of the other werewolves bring it back to me. But as angry as Sam was at seeing me on Quileute land, chances are they would dump it in the river!

I ran next to the river now, knowing that if I followed it long enough I would hit the Forks border eventually. Tears streaked my face and clouded my vision, with that and my untidy hair flying in my face it was almost impossible to see. I was surprised that I had only tripped once. The ground near the river was surprisingly dry and the leaves crackled beneath my feet. It reminded me of that faitful day, when Jasper and I had trekked through the woods to the highway...That day that seemed so long ago...

My foot caught something and I fell face first into the dried leaves, I could hear the river roaring just a few feet away. At first I had thought that I had fallen into a hole, but then the ground shifted beneath me and I felt myself falling, along with a large chunk of the ground along the side of the river. I let out a scream while falling and another silent scream as I fell into the river and its cool water filled my mouth. I struggled to remain upright, but the current seemed too strong. I began to panic, flailing my arms and legs in an attempt to right myself. Continuously the river pulled me down, allowing me only a quick breath of air at sporadic intervals. I knew that I wouldn't be long until the river emptied into the ocean, I just had to hold on till then. Apparently the wolves hadn't really been following me after all, because I would like to think that they would jump in and save me if they had seen me fall in. I began to feel dizzy from lack of oxygen. Remembering the one other time that I had been drowning...

A pair of arms were suddenly around me, one push from the bottom of the river and we flew out of the water, the owner of the arms landing gracefully. Me flailing around helplessly like a rag doll.

"What is wrong with you!?" A familiar voice shouts in my ear. But the ringing in my head doesn't allow me to respond. I knew the voice was wrong. It wasn't a werewolf. I opened my eyes slowly to the most beautiful face I'd ever seen. But frowned,

"You're not supposed to be here, you have to leave." I choked. Worried that the wolves would find him on Quileute land and tear him to shreds. He didn't respond. But instead began running, headfirst through the woods. He somehow managed to miss every twig and branch, it made me feel clumsy and...human. I knew exactly when we hit the Forks border because he stopped and sat me down on the cold ground. I was shivering. The water wasn't the warmest in early October. He slid off his jacket and gently placed my arms through the sleeves, I began to argue,

"I can do it my--" But he had already finished. I felt like a toy doll. I lifted my eyes and saw him staring down into my face. He gently placed his hands on either side of my face and leaned down to kiss me softly. I didn't respond, just sat still as his lips brushed mine once, twice, three times.

"What is wrong with you?" He repeated again more softly this time. I frowned.

"Nothing is wrong with--" He stopped me again with another kiss. It wasn't fair.

I attempted to explain, "I was sitting around the house, thinking of how I hadn't spoken to Jacob because of Sam's orders. So I thought if I went and spoke to Sam he would...forgive me, forgive the cullens," I looked up sheepishly, "and the Hales." I added, "I thought if maybe I apologized...He would--"

He wasn't listening. It was obvious. So I let my sentence trail off. What was the point in talking if no one was listening? He swooped me up bridal style and began a brisk run through the woods once again. Not even seeming to notice that I had stopped talking.

"I wonder if Edward ever grew tired of saving your life." He said nonchalantly as he ran.

"No I don't think he did." I mumbled, "And he was better at it." Jasper's reaction was different than I would have expected. He laughed out loud.

"I didn't realize that there was a grading scale. I assumed that a 'successful' save simply meant you weren't dead when I finished."

I laughed too, "No, there's more to it than that!" I slapped him playfully with my hand. "You have to make sure you don't give me a concussion while doing it either. I thought I was going to have brain damage after the way you flung me around. I was drowning for christ sake! You have to be gentle."

He laughed harder this time. "Well believe me, Bella. I'm fairly sure you already have brain damage, considering you went onto Quileute land to plead with wolves, knowing that you weren't welcome there." He shook his head again, "And I will try my hardest to be gentle. But I don't really think it's in my nature."

I tried not to blush at his double entendre. But of course it didn't work. And he laughed one more time before asking,

"Your place or mine? I don't know if Charlie is home."

His sentence took me by surprise, I wasn't used to being around someone who didn't know everything before it happened. And I smiled, when it came to the future, Jasper and I were both in the dark. Something I had never been since I'd had a run in with vampires. And I had the feeling that Jasper didn't mind the idea either.

Edward's POV -

"We should probably get going." She said quietly.

"What's the rush?" I responded. Not sure why she wanted to drag me to meet another couple of vampires, what good would it do? If I didn't recognize them in her memories, I wouldn't recognize them face to face either.

"Well, I already informed them that we were coming for one. And for two, Jasper is on his way here, with Bella."

I raised my eyebrows, "Well maybe we really should stay then. I would love to meet this husband of yours. My father used to tell me there was no use in an unfaithful man."I listened to her wind chime laugh.

"You're forgetting that your father told you that almost a century ago. There is no such thing as a faithful man nowadays." I stood up abruptly and reached out toLift her chin with my finger.

"That's not true." I wanted her to believe me. Although I had no real proof, I knew that I would never be unfaithful.

"Yeah well, maybe not for you, you're stuck in the early 1900's." She turned away. "Let's get going. I do not want to be here when Jasper gets here. And believe me, you don't either."

I growled, "What is that supposed to mean?"

She rolled her eyes, "What is with men and their ego trips? Jasper was made to fight, and win, that's all he did in his human life, and that's all he did before meeting me. I've watched you and Jasper fight before, he always wins."

I growled again, "Why don't we wait until he gets here and find out?"

"So you can kill Bella, Edward? She's with him. And you will kill her if you stay here. You aren't strong enough yet to resist blood like hers."

"No, I want to speak to this husband of yours."

I watched as she tensed. She was having another vision. I watched through her mind's eye. I watched myself waiting outside of the house we stood in now. It was dark. Her husband, Jasper, comes to meet me. Growling and wanting to fight. I move my lips, as if I'm speaking to him. 'Let's let her decide.' It was an eerie feeling, watching yourself do something that you know you've never done...But would do. I was intrigued by this young girl. Surely Alice was telling the truth, whether it was her blood or her mind, or a little of both that drew me to her, I wanted to know. But Jasper wouldn't let me near her. I would have to speak to him, and convince him that the only way to know what Bella wants is to ask her in person.

"He hasn't told her about you. And I don't think he's going to." Alice had come out of her vision. "She won't understand."

I smiled, "I just want to know about who she is, see what she is thinking." What I really wanted to know is whyonly six days after my supposed death, she was already shacking up with some other vampire?

"You can't see her thoughts Edward. We've discussed that.." Alice quipped.

"Exactly why I intend on seeing into her thoughts the old fashioned way, through conversation."

"He won't let you speak to her."

"I can be very persuasive."

"How would you know, I'm the only person you've ever spoken to, as a vampire,that you can remember."

"Well, I intend on changing that tonight." I held back a laugh as Alice once again rolled her eyes.

Jasper's POV -

"I guess I'll just leave a note."

"Saying...You're running off for the night with your ex's brother?"

"If you're so smart, tell me what I should put!"

"I never said I was smart."

"That's not helping."

"Say...You've decided to go camping, by yourself, in the woods, and not to come look for you, because you're 'bonding' with nature."

"I could say that I decided to go camping with some new friends. But I don't think that will go over too well in the morning."

I sighed, suddenly annoyed, "You're 18 years old Bella. Does it really matter what you tell your father?"

"Yes it matters!"

"Just stick with the new friends story. Hurry up, I'm anxious to get home." ...I'm anxious to get you home... is what I should have said.

I watched her quickly jot down the note on the back of a lime green add for 'Antonio's Pizza Palace'. She quickly folded the note in half and sat it on the coffee table. Before turning to me.

"Let me grab some clothes real quick and we can go." With that, she turned and bounded up the stairs.

"I don't think you'll be needing any clothes." I said quietly enough that I knew she couldn't hear. I listened to her footfalls on the floor above my head and counted the steps that she made as she danced around her room, collecting the clothes that she wouldn't be needing.

"Ready!" She said after a few moments and led the way to the open door, a small duffel bag over her shoulder. Once outside I scooped her up, again bridal style and began running toward my home.

"You should invest in a car." I heard her murmur, halfway through the run. I laughed, she really didn't think that I owned a car?

"Maybe I prefer carrying you."

"Maybe I would prefer being driven." I laughed again. But the car comment reminded me how little Bella and I actually knew about each other. I decided that tonight we would fix that. If I was going to be with this girl...I should know all about her, and she should at least know what kind of car I owned.

Bella's POV -

It was strange being alone in this home with Jasper, and it was also strange taking a shower in his over-the-top luxurious bathroom as well. It was kind of a strange feeling to be in a shower, where every direction you turn, water is coming straight for your face, and the four shower heads were so high I couldn't even reach to adjust them. The water almost stung as it hit my back, falling from such a distance, but I suppose this shower was built more for a vampire's use than a human's.

I exited the shower just to yelp and get back in when I saw Jasper sitting on the closed toilet seat lid just outside the door.

"What are you doing in here!?" I shouted, hearing my voice reverberate off of the high ceiling and glass walls of the shower.

"It's not like I haven't seen you naked before Bella." His voice was deep, and obviously meant to put me on edge. I blushed, thankful that the thick steam had fogged up the glass enough that he couldn't see me. Or at least...a human wouldn't be able to see me. I wasn't sure if he could see me or not. I quickly turned away from him and covered my breasts with my hands.

"Get out of here!" I shouted. He simply laughed, but I didn't hear him move. "I look like a wet rat!"

"Oh I beg to differ, Isabella. I would only have to wait a few more minutes... and you would look perfect." I blushed harder this time.

"I'm serious...Get out!" He laughed again, but I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the bathroom door close softly. I peeked my head out of the shower door, careful to keep my body hidden behind the fogged up window.

He was gone.

I stepped out and quickly ran to lock the door, thenbegan the process of drying out my hair and the rest of my body. After dressing I walked out into Jasper's room. Or I should say, Jasper and Alice's room. A place I probably was never meant to be. I sighed. A different time, a different place. But maybe this was the right time? And this was meant to be my place.

Guilt again. No, this wasn't right. But would I stop it? No, I wouldn't. Who could resist Jasper Hale?

XOXOXO

And there you go! Nothing too great here...Just a filler chapter I suppose. I plan on keeping the story under 10 chapters though, so don't give up on me.

Next chapter: Edward confronts Jasper...Jasper and Bella set some standards before their first time. And Alice and Edward have some...interesting moments.

Sorry that it took me so long to update. For some reason I thought you guys would take a few days to get in those 135 reviews...But instead I got them in less than 12 hours...Before I had finished this chapter! LOL. So we'll say the next update will come at only 170 reviews, that's 35 that you guys need in. I promise at least some citrus in the next chapter if not more.

Special thanks to: kaylamarie2012, ADailyAntheM, acw1, mckennaismyworld, chiahead, shelbron, Chibi-Kari, NCChris, Merina Green, KacyLee, iLiya11, lanna-misssunshine, TwistedforTwilight, that-1-amber-girl, jasperbabe05, luvmesomejasper, JaspersDestiny, PJJ0930, Jasper's Dark Angel, solemariecullen, Dahlia DeWinter, luvinjazz, armyprincess, brooklynsam3, Satr, mrsalreyami, IzzieRie09, TLMorris, LunarEclipse1, eleganttheist, ally0994, Kuki86, JaspersBella, GemmaLisa, AriesFireQn and four-letter-word. For reviewing on the last chapter! You have them to thank for this chapter being posted!!

Amy – Sorry I don't consider being called, immature and being criticized about wanting reviews constructive criticism on my abilities as a writer.