I don't own Twilight, Stephanie Meyers does.

Chapter 7

Bella heard Jasper's soothing voice on the phone as she slowly woke up. She feigned sleep a little longer to hear what he was saying. She smiled as she heard him give directions to someone over the phone. He was seeing that the homeless lady was taken care of. She couldn't believe what a caring man he was. The more she learned about him the more she liked him.

"I know your awake darlin." Jasper said.

Bella giggled a little and opened her eyes. He stood by the bed with a tray, piled high with pancakes and smelling of bacon. She sat up eagerly and he set the tray up over her lap.

"Wait..." He said dashing to the table by the door. He came back holding a daisy in a small vase and added it to the tray.

"You enjoy your food. I'm going to take a shower. It's a sunny day so we will have to pray for clouds to miraculously appear, or wait till night to leave. It's a pretty nice lodge so we could sit in front of the fire and play games. Or I just happened to pick up..." Jasper held out a book. Wuthering Heights, Bella looked up at him while he handed her the book. "We could sit and read and be blobs all day." Jasper said with a smile.

Jasper entered the bathroom and Bella watched him go, her mouth hanging open. She looked at the book and her food...She loved pancakes. She couldn't believe how thoughtful he was. She dug in happily, she was very hungry.

She heard the water start in the shower. He was taking such good care of her, he didn't tell her what to do he gave her choices. Edward and Jacob constantly told her what to do. Ordering her about like she was a child.

Thinking about Edward put a damper on her mood. She pushed her food away no longer hungry. Was she being disloyal to Edward? She hadn't spoken to him since the day before the wedding. Leaving a message with Charlie to give to him, really wasn't the right thing to do. Bella picked up the phone. Maybe she should call him.

She started to dial Edward's number but hung up before she could finish. She picked up the phone again and dialed again. The phone rang a couple of times before it was finally answered.

"Hello, Dad?" Bella asked.

"Bells! How are you? Are you having fun?" Charlie said happily.

Bella smiled. Charlie had taken her being a runaway bride with glee. "Yes, I feel a little guilty though...or maybe I don't feel guilty enough." Bella said softly.

"Did that bastard feel guilty when he left you in the woods? " Charlie said with venom.

Bella was a little shocked. She knew he didn't like Edward but he sounded like the feelings had just gotten worse. Was something happening there?

"Umm...Alice said he stayed in an attic the whole time." Bella said.

Charlie snorted.

"Dad what's going on?" Bella asked.

She heard her father sigh deeply. "They are looking for you Bells. They have been hounding me...I don't like it. There are things you...my instincts are screaming at me, that something fishy is going on." Charlie said.

Bella bit her lip, as she thought over his words. Of course Edward would be looking for her, she left abruptly without a word to him. "Did you tell him I would be back?" Bella asked.

"Yes, Bells..." Charlie seemed to be thinking something over. "Bella I don't think you should come back. There's something not right...I don't like the way he is acting. He seems desperate to get you back. Bella he's never hit you has he?"

Bella gasped. "No! Never Charlie." She couldn't believe he asked her that.

"I'm sorry Bells but he's acting like some of the men I've had to lock up for domestic violence. He's angry, possessive, controlling. You wouldn't lie to me would you? To protect him?" Charlie asked.

Bella was offended, she wasn't lying. "No dad, I swear he's never hit me. Did something happen?"

Again there was a long silence before Charlie began to speak. "Rosalie, Edward and Alice came to the house yesterday to ask if I had heard from you. Alice was surprisingly quiet, she seemed very distracted. Edward kept asking me if I had heard from you, since the first day. I kept telling him no but he didn't believe me. Rosalie finally got angry and told Edward he should stop freaking out and give you time. Edward grabbed her hand. His face was calm and he said she was right, but I saw a little pain on Rosalie's face and when I looked at their hands he was digging his nails into her palm. I stood up quickly but before I could say anything Alice had stood up and ushered them out of there. I called Carlisle right away and he assured me he would take care of it, but I don't like it Bella. I don't like you involved with a boy who would physically hurt his sister just because he didn't like what she said. If he could do that to her what would he do to you?"

Bella looked up to find Jasper standing outside the bathroom his eyes were black and he was growling.

"What's that noise Bella? Are you okay?" Charlie asked.

"It's just the tv dad. Look I'll take what you said in consideration. Jasper will be back soon and we have plans for the day..." Bella was going to hang up but Charlie's voice stopped her.

"Bells I'm sorry I didn't want to tell you about that but I'm scared for you. I'm going to follow up with Carlisle today but you keep a look out. If you see Edward don't go with him please sweetheart." Charlie pleaded.

"I won't dad." Bella assured him.

"I love you Bells." Charlie told her.

"Love you too." Bella replied and hung up the phone.

Jasper walked toward her. Bella watched him as he neared. He seemed different, cold and unapproachable. She was frightened and wanted him to hold her but was afraid to ask. Jasper took the phone and started dialing.

"Carlisle." Jasper said in a growl, he seemed to be listening to whatever the man said. Bella wished she could hear what was going on.

Finally Jasper spoke. "Keep him away from us Carlisle you know what I am capable of." He listened some more and growled softly.

"Bella..." Jasper seemed to be interrupted.

"I don't care what Alice said I have not hurt her nor will I. You of all people should know that!" Jasper roared.

"It's already said...Put Rosalie on the phone." Jasper ordered.

"Rose are you okay?" Jasper asked in a softer voice. Bella watched as he smiled a little, with fondness

"Well he's got an ass-kickin coming from me too." Jasper said.

"Love you too." He said before hanging up the phone.

Jasper came over and sat on the bed. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Bella wanted desperately to touch him, to hug him but felt he needed a moment and held back.

"Emmett kicked his ass, then Carlisle sent him to Alaska. He said he should be there. Rose was a little put out that Emmett didn't let her get in her licks but she sounded like she was okay. Really it would take more than that to hurt her." Jasper said with a faint smile.

"What did Alice tell Carlisle?" Bella asked.

"She said I was going to drain you. That I stole you away so that I could torture you first. That she was sorry she brought me into the family and that I was still a monster in spite of her best efforts to help me." Jasper was clenching his fist. "Carlisle tried to apologize but..."

Bella couldn't hold back anymore she threw herself into him and hugged him tight. Jasper was stiff for a couple of minutes before surrendering to her embrace and putting his arms around her.

How long they sat like that she wasn't sure. Finally she sat up and looked into his now amber eyes. They looked sad and she couldn't help but raise a hand to caress his cheek.

"What's going on Jasper? I thought they would be a little angry but this seems too much...It's my fault isn't it. I've stolen Alice's husband. Of course she's mad. I'm supposed to be her best friend." Bella said pulling away from him.

Jasper looked a little confused. "Bella I divorced Alice a long time ago." He told her.

Bella looked up in shock. Alice talked about her and Jasper's great love frequently.

"I told you how Alice's emotions controlled me. When I saw you it broke her hold and that very night I broke it off with her. She knew...she knew my feelings for you. She used her power to manipulate me and the family. I wanted to tell you so many times how I felt but there always seemed to be something stopping me. Usually it was Alice's presence." Jasper told her.

Bella just sat there looking at him. Alice was her best friend she wouldn't do that. Her father's words came back to her and she began to think of her relationship with Alice. It had been very one-sided. She hated shopping and fashion, she hated attention, she liked quiet and peaceful. None of those things applied to Alice.

Now that she thought about it, Alice had seemed to push her to be with Edward. "So...Alice doesn't really think of me as her best friend?" She asked quietly with her head down.

Jasper pulled her close again. "Darlin, I'm sorry Alice rarely thinks of anyone but her self. Even her professed love for me is nothing more than a mirror of her love for herself."

Bella felt a wave of insecurity. Why would Alice like her? She was plain and boring, why had she ever thought that she could fit in with a family of beautiful vampires. Jasper suddenly sat her up and knelt down in front of her. He made her look at him.

"Stop darlin. You are beautiful, kind, compassionate, accepting, loving, gentle..." Jasper stopped.

"You don't believe me. I see you as beautiful, when you walked into school most the boys were felt lust and most the girls were envious." Jasper said softly. Bella blushed.

"You are kind. You cook and clean for your father, you took care of your mother. You do these kindnesses for the ones you love with no complaint and it makes you happy. You're compassionate, you talked to everyone at Forks High no matter their social status. You heard my story and wanted to comfort me. You are accepting.." Jasper paused and chuckled. "You accepted shape shifters and vampires, treating us as human. You're loving, I feel your love for us all and it humbles me. Gentle..." He reached out and caressed her face whispering the last word.

Jasper slowly rose to meet her, giving her time to pull away. Bella watched but didn't move as he touched his lips to hers. The kiss was soft and tender. She felt tears leaking from her eyes. His words, the emotions he had sent her, this tender kiss...she could no longer doubt. He loved her and she was starting to feel the same for him.


Jasper broke the kiss regretfully. He wiped away her tears and smiled at her. He felt her budding love and his hope soared. He didn't want to push it though and frighten her so he stood up holding out a hand to help her up.

She stood up and he kissed her forehead chastely. "Go take your shower darlin. Have you decided what you want to do today?" He asked.

"Reading would be nice. Maybe you could read to me. I..um.. like your voice." She said shyly.

Jasper smiled happy with her admission. "I would love to!" He said enthusiastically.

They spent the rest of the afternoon cuddled on the bed, Jasper reading to her and Bella interrupting to expound on her favorite parts. He ordered room service for a lunch for her around one.

"Bella can I take you to dinner tonight? I'd like to get a chance to properly romance you. They have a wonderful restaurant in the lodge. We could have dinner and dance..." Jasper ran a hand through his hair, why was he so nervous. They had spent three days together already, he should be more sure of himself.

Bella giggled. "I can't dance Jasper. You saw me at the prom, I stood on Edward's feet..." Bella looked down.

"It's okay darlin, I won't push you to dance but didn't you know dancing is an excuse for men to hold their ladies close?" He said with an exaggerated smirk, deliberately ignoring her mention of Edward.

Bella outright laughed. "Well...If you're good I might dance with you once, but I hope you think it's worth it when I stomp on your toes a couple of times."

The afternoon passed quickly and the evening approached. Jasper was torn between wishing for their date and wanting the time to stand still. Their seven days was half over. He had more hope that she would pick him now but he wasn't sure...Jasper shook off his thoughts and looked at himself in the mirror.

They hadn't bought fancy clothes but he was hoping she would be okay with what they had. Jasper exited the bathroom and saw Bella fidgeting with her shirt. She had on jeans and a laced, white blouse. Jasper didn't realize he was staring until she began stammering.

"I...I...didn't have anything f..fancy." She said her face red.

"You're beautiful." Jasper said sincerely.

"How do you do that? How do you make me believe you?" Bella asked.

"Because it's true." Jasper replied and walked toward her wanting to kiss her desperately. He stopped himself though when he felt a little fear coming from her. Jasper took a breath and smiled. He took her hand and lead her to the restaurant.

The hostess sat them in a cozy corner and took their drink order, while handing them menu's. Jasper opened his menu but really didn't pay much attention to it, his eyes seemed to be glued on Bella.

"What do you want darlin?" He asked.

Bella seemed to be studying the menu. "I want pasta but I would kind of like a steak too." She said.

"Great, order the pasta and I will order the steak. If you eat a bit of my steak we can share the meal...How do you like your steak." Jasper asked smiling.

"Medium rare." Bella said as he took her menu.

Jasper reached across the table and held her hand.

"Jasper what was it like being in the southern wars?" Bella asked.

Jasper's smile faltered. "I really don't remember a lot darlin. I know vampires remember everything, but I spent most of that time under the tidal wave of Maria's feelings. A lot of what happened is fuzzy, it almost feels like it happened to someone else." He didn't know if he was explaining things well. He was grateful when the waitress interrupted them to take their order.

When she was gone Bella pursued her line of questioning. "I don't understand Jasper. If you were so helpless to others emotions how did you survive and why do others seem frightened of you?"

"When I am in a life-threatening situation or extremely angry, I...my beast comes out. I call him the Major, others have called him the god of war. He is cold, calculating, ruthless. He feels nothing and is brutal. I guess it's a self-defense mechanism." Jasper told her.

Bella seemed to think about it. "In the room when your eyes turned black was that..."

"Yes." Jasper said quietly. "I'm sorry I scared you." He felt guilty about that all day.

"You didn't scare me. I was frightened about what I had heard from Charlie." Bella said.

Jasper knew she was being truthful and brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. Their food arrived and he let go of her hand. The meal was quite enjoyable. He fed her pieces of his steak and she fed him some of her pasta. He would regret that later but he was happy right now, and she didn't feed him a lot. When they had finished they walked to where the couples were dancing.

He pulled her close and sighed in pure bliss at the feel of her body so close to his. She did step on his feet a couple of times but as she began to relax it happened less. Soon they were moving together in perfect harmony. The time flew and they were both a little surprised when the lights came on and the band stopped playing.

Jasper pulled back from her and again raised her hand to his lips. "I guess it's time to go." He said a little huskily.

Bella didn't even try to speak she just nodded and let him draw her close to him. He led her to the car, where they had already stored their things and they made their way on through the dark. Bella laid her head on Jasper's lap and he ran his fingers through her hair while he drove and she slept.