Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight…or do I?

A/N This chapter is not for the kiddies. Well, none of them are, really, but this one especially (wink, wink).

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, alerted, or just read! I hope you like this chapter.

Ménage

Chapter 7 – The Good Guys

Bella was never good at escaping. It was a talent one had to possess. You had to have lithe and cunning to do it, and you had to have luck on your side. For Bella, she had bad luck, bad timing, clunky men's boots, and absolutely no idea where she was. It wasn't for lack of motivation that she failed. Jasper was 6'2, a great runner, nice long legs; Bella was 5'4, horrendous at running and physical activity in general, and her legs were short. She really had no chance.

She didn't struggle when Jasper caught up with her. Her expectations weren't particularly high to begin with.

"Why do you keep doing this, Bella?" Jasper asked, exasperated, as he led her back to the house, grasping her by the arm. "You don't have to be afraid of us. You need to learn to trust us, or you're never gonna be happy. I'm telling you right now, we're not letting you go. You're not making it any easier on yourself. We want to make you happy, but you won't let us. We're not keeping you here so we can abuse you. Got that? So could you fucking trust me for once?"

Bella groaned and stopped, turning to face him. "It's not that I don't trust you. I mean, I don't completely, but that's not why I ran."

"Then why did you?" Jasper whispered.

"You don't get it, do you? He will kill you if he finds me here, if he knows you have anything to do with me. He loves hurting people. He's insane. I can't let that happen."

"Does that mean you're starting to…like us?" Came a voice.

Bella jumped, her hand flying to her chest. Emmett was smirking not two feet away with Edward at his side.

Jasper chuckled. "She tried to leave, and now," he faced her, giving her one of those looks that she was sure had intimidated many people into submission before, "she's going to tell us all about her father, if you can even call the bastard that."

Bella sighed, giving up. She was exhausted emotionally and physically. Her brain needed a hundred-year vacation from all the negativity it had endured. "Fine, I'll tell you about him. But can we wait 'til later? I'm kind of hungry and I feel dirty."

Jasper considered, wondering if she'd try to bolt again later, if he could trust her to stay.

"Of course, baby." Emmett cooed. Jasper rolled his eyes. He was being the "good cop" so to speak, and Jasper was the "bad cop." Edward was probably a bit of both. Right now he was stroking her hair, fighting the urge to ask her what she found so repulsive about living with them. Instead, Edward kept silent, relieved that she hadn't succeeded.

"Are you mad?" Bella mumbled, sparing them each a glimpse to gauge their reactions.

Edward shook his head, pulling her closer. He was hurt, not mad. She was just doing what she thought she had to.

"No, sweetheart." Emmett replied. It was impossible for him to be angry with his Bella.

She turned to Jasper. She was more concerned about him.

"No, darling." He lied. He was mad at her, just a little. Perhaps he shouldn't blame her, perhaps he was being irrational, but he was mad that she continued to want to leave him, them, and what they were meant to be together. It was as if none of that mattered to her. Not even the smallest chance that it was real could induce her. She still didn't believe them. But looking at her soft, timid face, he couldn't bring himself to reprimand her. She knew what she had done was wrong. Now it was just a matter of convincing her to not do it again.

Bella wasn't sure where to go from there. Yes, she was going to tell them about her and her father, about the past years, even about her mother. It would be heart-wrenching, and she wasn't certain she was emotionally prepared for that. She had already lived it, still was, in a way, and recounting it when the wound was so fresh might make it heal more slowly. It was too soon. She was barely out of that situation. Wasn't it only yesterday that she was escaping? Wasn't it less than twenty-four hours ago that she met these Cullens? It was unfair to ask so much of her. It seemed like a week that she'd been there, but it had only been sixteen or so hours since they found her. She had gone from being owned by one person to being owned by three.

She continued to ponder all of that. They couldn't honestly love her. It really only had been last night that they came into each other's lives. You don't gain those sorts of feelings for someone instantly. Bella didn't believe in love at first sight, but what they were saying was on a whole new level of crazy. She liked Edward and Emmett to a point, in a friendly way. Jasper…well, she wasn't sure what she thought of him, exactly. She didn't hate him. He scared her somewhat, being the most temperamental of the three and the least compassionate. And he had no patience! Oh, and he was clearly used to getting his way all the time.

They had barged into her life and demanded to be a part of it, to take over it and supervise. They seemed to have forgotten that she was her own person, an individual, not a pet. What right did they have to keep her there and expect her to just submit, as if it was normal? What right did they have to care about her? Bella stopped herself there, laughing in her head. Care about her? Yes, she supposed they did. As nonsensical as is was, it was also true. She couldn't deny that. Why else would they insist on "protecting and loving" her?

Even now they huddled around her. It was actually kind of cute. It was rare to meet people who genuinely desired to take care of her. She still thought they were deluding themselves about being in love with her, though.

Edward fetched her another one of his shirts when they got back, along with a pair of sweatpants. She couldn't recall the last time she'd showered, so she was grateful for the big, clean bathroom she was presented with. Jasper had even bought her a variety of shampoos and body washes when he was out earlier, knowing that what they had at home had little in the way feminine appeal. Men didn't care much for personal hygiene. As long as they had a bar of soap and a plain shampoo, they were good to go.

"There you go." Edward said, setting her towel and washcloth on the bathroom counter. "Take as long as you want, and if you need anything, just holler."

Sure, and then you'll come running in here like the hero you are to help the naked damsel in distress, Bella mused.

Jasper wasn't going to chance Bella making another dash out of a window, and there was definitely a window in the bathroom. He went outside, situating himself next to it.

Bella heaved a sigh of content as the water hit her. It felt so good on her sore muscles. She hissed when it struck the bandaged cuts, however. She'd have to get that changed later. They weren't on securely anymore. Ugh, I hope it doesn't get infected. She resigned herself to the fact that Edward would have to have a look at it, and hoped he wouldn't see too much. She decided to not worry about it, and just enjoy her shower.

The window was open. He should have thought of that before. Now it was too late. He'd heard her moan, and Jasper Junior was at full mast. Fuck, fuck, fuck! Now he was picturing her naked and wet. Oh god…

When Bella was done thoroughly washing her hair and body, she stepped out of the shower. It felt amazing to be clean again. And she smelled like citrus now. She smiled.

Her towel was on the counter, she realized, and she was dripping water onto the floor mat. Oops.

The water was turned off, Jasper noticed. He strived to get his erection down, thinking about wrinkly old grandmas, the school principal, the nasty students who hit on him, mold, kids wiping their snotty noses, and anything else to get his dick to stand down. It was starting to work…

And then he made the mistake of glancing through the window.

Bella halted on her way to the bathroom counter. There in the window was Jasper, eyes bugging out, and there she was, naked, soaking wet. They both froze.

Nipples, breasts, skin, hips, thighs, pussy…Jasper was entranced. He had to stop himself from climbing through the window and attacking her.

Bella shrieked, scrambling for the towel just as Emmett and Edward burst in, alarmed by the sound. She hadn't completely managed to cover her nudity, however, and they found themselves taken by surprise.

"Get the fuck out!" She screamed.

Jasper was already sprinting away, more than a little mortified.

Edward's jaw was practically to the floor and Emmett couldn't move.

"Bella, w-what h-happened?" Emmett stuttered, feeling his cock hardening. Bella looked down at his crotch, then Edward's. Yup, the universe hated her.

Bella wrapped the big fluffy towel around her body and rushed back into the shower, yanking the curtain closed. "Get out!"

Edward came to his senses first, taking Emmett by the arm and dragging him out.

Bella hid behind the curtain for a good minute, terrified…until she began laughing hysterically. What was that? Actually, it was pretty funny. It had happened so suddenly…they'd all seen her naked, and the looks on their faces! And then Edward and Emmett fleeing like that. Bella couldn't contain herself. She knew that under normal circumstances she'd be furious, and should be, as well as scared, but good lord, when she really thought about it, it was fucking hilarious! And, on another note, this embarrassing incident had proven something to her.

They truly weren't going to hurt her. It was an astounding eye-opener, but she was thrilled that she had the good fortune to realize it. There were three of them, three men who said they were in love with her, three men who said they'd protect her, three men with bulges in their pants and a naked woman before them. It would have been so easy for them to take advantage of her, to rape her without a second thought. They could have been proved the cads she first thought they were. But they weren't.

They were the good guys.

Jasper cursed himself. How could he be so stupid? So disgusting? He was just ogling her like a piece of meat. But try as he might, he was powerless to remove the vision of her from his mind, not to mention his raging hard-on. He was a fucking pervert. He shouldn't have looked…she would never forgive him.

Guilt-ridden and disgusted, Jasper strode into the forest a short distance out of sight, and leaned against a tree. With quick hands, he undid his jeans and pulled his stiff cock out. He couldn't believe he was doing this.

He pictured her as he'd seen her just minutes earlier, only without the look of horror on her lovely face. She was on top of him, riding his cock with wild abandon, her breasts bouncing, eyes closed in ecstasy, moaning his name like a fucking prayer. Jasper, Jasper, Jasper

He stroked himself faster, barely containing his cries of pleasure. Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me Jasper, fuck me harder, faster, Jasper, fuck me, I love you, love, love, love you Jasper.

With a grunt he came, squirting his release into his hand, and slumped against the tree, sliding down to a sitting position. It was the best orgasm he ever had, and he wanted to weep that he might never get to be with Bella for real. She would never say those things, and he would never bring her to orgasm. He was ashamed of what he'd done. What happened to his self-control? Was this what he'd been reduced to? Hiding behind a tree and beating off to a girl who in all likelihood hated him and was repulsed by the idea of him touching her?

He was becoming unhinged. For once in his life, he'd get what he really deserved: nothing. She deserved better than him. His mother had not raised him to behave like this. The Cullen men were gentlemen, always had been. Yet here he was with a cum-covered hand. But he loved her, and he would earn her. There was nothing else to be done except die alone, and Jasper was not one for giving up. He would be better from now on. If only his dick would do the same thing.

He tucked himself back into his jeans, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. With a start, he discovered his eyes were wet. Great, now I'm a cry baby. Now she'll love me.

Trekking home, Jasper rolled over in his mind what he was going to say to her. Yeah, as if she'll willingly be in the same room with you, assface. And what are you going to say? Sorry? Sorry doesn't cut it. You'll have to get on your knees and beg, ask her to understand, say that you're a man and men are stupid, blame the dicks they were cursed with. And you could always lick her pussy while you're down there-

Gah! What was wrong with him? He was a smart, logical, no-nonsense man most of the time. He wasn't overcome by lust. Was he doomed to be horny forever from now on? A man could only jerk-off so often, but at the rate he was going, his cock would be seeing a lot more of his hand.

Edward was pacing the hall when Jasper arrived back. Emmett was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Bella. Shit, was she secluding herself?

Edward turned when the front door opened. "Thank god. I thought you'd gone MIA on us."

Jasper scratched his head. "Where is she?" He dreaded the answer.

"In my room getting dressed, presumably. I don't know what's going on with her. When we left the bathroom she started making all these weird noises. I think she's really upset. It sounded like she was having a breakdown. She didn't say anything when she came out." Edward stared at the door, willing her to appear. "Wouldn't look at me, either. Emmett barricaded himself in his room, and you can guess what he's doing. I've just been waiting for her to come out. Fuck," he turned to Jasper, "you don't think she took off again, do you? I should check."

Just as he poised his hand to knock, the door flew open, and there was Bella, smiling, much to their astonishment.

"Is dinner going to be ready soon?" Bella asked, no longer timid and seeming to have forgotten about the scene in the bathroom.

They gaped at her.

"Aren't you going to yell at me?" Jasper blurted out.

Bella crooked a brow, grinning. "No, why would I?"

"Bella," Edward said, bewildered, "you have every right to be mad at us. And I am sorry, for the record. You can yell, it's fine. We deserve it."

"Yeah, darling. I'm sorry, too, and I completely understand if you hate me." Jasper said, ready and willing to beg.

"Hate you? I don't hate you." Bella stated rather confidently.

She'd probably take that back if she knew that I was jerking-off to images of her naked, Jasper thought.

"Look, everything's okay, I swear. I'm not angry. It's perfectly understandable. It was just bad timing, that's all. So don't worry."

Was she really saying this? How was it possible that she wasn't screaming at them and throwing blunt objects at their heads?

"So, dinner? I'm starving."

Jasper blinked. Dinner, right. He'd get right on that…

Bella was enjoying their reactions. Aside from the fact that she wasn't mad at them, there wasn't a good reason to be. They were men, she was a woman. It was natural to stare. It was flattering, too, if she was being honest, though she normally preferred to not be admired. She had enough experience in fending off the opposite sex; men who didn't care if she wanted them or not. But with the Cullens it was a different story. It was amazing, but she actually felt safe with them now. It happened in an odd way, but she was glad it did. She was tired of having to defend herself, of not having anyone to trust.

Of course the Cullens were…attracted to her. But, forgetting the erections they each sported, they were gentlemen. She may still think they were a little funny in the head, but they weren't bad guys. That included Jasper.

Bella approached Edward as Jasper got started in the kitchen. "Um, I was wondering if you could change my bandages. They got kind of loose earlier."

"Oh, of course!" Edward went to get his kit. "I'm sorry, I forgot to ask you how you were feeling. I should call my dad, really. He's a doctor, and he could treat you better than I can. He's still in Italy with my mom, though."

Bella unbuttoned part of the shirt she was wearing. Edward did his best not to look down it.

Bella perked up at that. "Oh yeah? Italy?"

Edward smiled, peeling off the bandages. "Yes, it's their twenty-eighth wedding anniversary. They got married in Italy."

"That's nice. I think Italy would be a lovely place to get married. I've never been there."

"Maybe someday you will be." I'll take you there.

"There. All done." Edward announced.

Thirty minutes later, dinner was served. Bella dug in immediately. It pleased Jasper. If all he did for the rest of his life was take care of this beauty, then he'd leave this world with no regrets.

Jasper and Edward sat on either side of her. It was silent, but not uncomfortable.

They were all wondering where Emmett had gotten to when the man himself came in, his head bowed in disgrace. He reminded Bella of a little boy who had done something naughty and was about to get chastised by his mother.

"Bella," he pouted, "I'm so goddamn sorry! I didn't mean to walk in on you! It was an accident, I swear! We didn't know you were naked!"

Bella smiled. "Emmett, it's alright. I already told them, but I guess I'll tell you as well. I'm not mad. Just forget about it." Bella was so sweet, and Emmett felt ten times worse.

"But Bella, you can't be serious! I saw you naked. I fucking just blew my load all over my sheets because I couldn't get the image out of my head-" Emmett slapped a hand over his mouth. He'd said way, way too much. She so didn't need to hear that.

Jasper cringed. Wrong thing to say, dude.

Edward chuckled. He was the only one who hadn't acted on the impulse, it seemed.

Bella laughed. Everyone looked at her like she was crazy. "I'm sorry," she snorted, "it's just so fucking funny, though, isn't it? I mean, come on. It's silly." And she continued to crack up.

She was laughing about it? She wasn't horrified by someone telling her that they'd masturbated to her?

It didn't take long for them to join in. Emmett was still mortified by his admission, Bella could see, so she stood and smacked him on the back. "Why don't we go watch something stupid?"

Emmett smiled, not quite rid of his guilt yet, but melting in her presence. "Okay, sweetheart."

Two hours later, Bella was asleep, her head on Emmett's lap.

"Whose bed should we put her in?" He whispered. They were all gazing at her adoringly.

"She can stay in my room." Edward offered, more than happy to accommodate her.

Emmett carefully lifted her up, cradling her in his arms. Jasper and Edward followed close behind, neither ready to let her out of their sights.

Emmett laid her on the bed, pulling the sheets over her.

He sighed. "Would it be weird if we watched her sleep?"

"Would it be even weirder if we slept with her?" Edward asked longingly. He didn't want to freak her out by having three men in the same bed as her, but he loathed the idea of leaving her, even if just for a few hours.

"Your bed is huge…" Jasper said.

And it was settled.

In the end, Jasper was on her left, Edward on her right, and Emmett beside him.

Bella was wide awake when they finally opened their eyes to the morning light.

"Hey," she greeted. They were alert in an instant.

Bella played with her fingers, hesitating on what she was about to say next. She took a deep breath.

"I…I'm ready…to talk."

The brothers looked at each other, then back at her.

"Alright," Jasper said, "tell us about him."

A/N Next chapter is about Bella, her father, and her past leading up to the present. Yikes!