I just want to thank my lovely pre reader Ghlover for her continued support and being my sounding board to the many (and crazy) plot bunnies that seem to strike my fancy for roughly 2 weeks before I get another one.

Also thanks and imaginary cookies need to go to xXx 'M' NaMeS RoCk xXx for her message and kick in the pants that I needed to get another chapter out.

I hope the 9,000 word (and 15 pages) chapter will sate the readers for a while.

As always, I know nothing of importance.


"I came for you,"

"What," she squeaked, her eyes blowing wide in surprise.
"I came for you," Jasper said very slowly.

"You can't be serious," she said trying to get off Jasper's lap. Before Bella could get more than one step from him, Jasper grabbed her hand and spun her back to face him.

"I am completely serious, Bella," he said taking hold of her other hand and pulling Bella so she stood in between his legs with him looking up at her. Bella started to feel as she did when her father was going to lecture her about something grave that she had done wrong.

'You can't be," she said in a soft whisper. The more Bella looked in Jasper's eyes, the more she started to cry and try to pull away, but Jasper's hand held firm.

"Bella, you must believe me that I did not want to leave you," Jasper said.

"But you did," she cried in between sobs.

"And I will regret that to the day that I die. But I've learned over the years that I cannot live without you. You make me the person that I need to be, that I want to be. I need you. I need you by my side and I will do anything to prove that to you. I love you, Bella; I love you with everything that I am. Please say that you will give me another chance, to see where we can go?"

"I need to think, Jasper," she said trying to control the emotions running through her. "I need to run or play Via...something just to think."

"I know this is a big decision, so I'll give you some time. Remember though," Jasper said standing, her hands still in his, "that I am a stubborn person and I will not rest until we are together; or you give me a good reason why we can't be. Now that I have seen you, held you, and kissed you again, I will follow you to the ends of the earth if need be. I wish I could say that one word from you would silence me on the matter, but we both know that wouldn't be true.

"This cannot be happening," Bella whispered her breath becoming fast. She had always wanted and dreamed that Jasper would come back, that he would say almost those exact words. But now that he had said them, she wasn't sure how to react. Did he honestly think she would just pick up right where they left? Did she even want to? Did she miss him? Yes. Did she hunger for his touch? Hell yes. Was she intoxicated by his mir presence? You Bet! But was she willing to put herself in a situation where she could get her heart ripped out again? Would she even survive it again if it happened?

Bella didn't realize she was hyperventilating until Jasper had her pinned against him, her hands flat on his chest, "Breathe with me Bella," he said with a deep breath so she could feel the rise and fall of his chest under her hands. "You need to take deep breath and calm down." Jasper continued to take deep breaths, which she finally started to copy; but apparently not fast enough for him. "You know if you don't calm down some more a trip to the hospital is inevitable," he said with a soft chuckle.

"Still not happening," she replied with a smile as she continued to get herself under control. "I hate those places, and I'll put up one hell of a fight on going."

"Wouldn't be much of a fight if you've passed out from lack of oxygen, now would it," Jasper laughed harder than before as he kissed her hair before he took a step back.

"No, I guess not," she smiled slightly as she expanded the distance between the two of them by mimicking Jasper's step back. "Thank you for helping me."

"It was nothing," Jasper said smiling kindly down at her as he reached out and tugged on a strand of hair before tucking it behind her ear.

"I think I should be going," Bella said nodding quickly as she took another step back.

"I understand," Jasper continued to smile. "I know you need time to think, so I am going to give it to you. But I'll warn you, if you run away, I will come looking for you and you will never be rid of me. I am not going to let you run from this, from us. Not now."

"I'm not going anywhere," Bella said firmly.

"Then can I pick you up for lunch tomorrow? Maybe you can come and keep my sister and I from killing each other."

"You two can't be that bad," Bella laughed as Jasper walked her to the door. "She seems to care for you a great deal, seeing that she went rounds with me today all for the sake of you."

"I hope you were not too hard on her," Jasper said with a smirk.

"Nice that you care for my wellbeing," Bella pouted. "Just so you know, that woman can give as much she can take."

"I only worry about her," Jasper quickly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him, "because I have been on the receiving end to your wit and sarcasm one to many times. I know you can handle yourself. But Rose? Well, she isn't accustomed to others treating her any different than a Princess. But seeing as she did not come up here crying when she left you, and in fact she got you to read something you really didn't want to; that you must have been reserved." Jasper leaned down to whisper, "For that I must thank you." He proceeded to kiss right below Bella's ear, then kissed a path from the ear along her jaw before placing the softest kiss on her lips. It wasn't anything deep, but it was full of longing, want and promises.

"I need to go," Bella panted when they broke their kiss as she took a large step back slamming into the closed door.

"What about lunch tomorrow," Jasper asked as Bella fumbled for the handle of the door so she could open the it and escape.

"Umm," she said giving her head a little shake trying to put her mental marbles back where they belonged, "yeah, that should be fine. What time and where?"

"How about one o'clock and we go somewhere casual so we can talk?"

"That sounds fine," she said finally getting the door open and stepping through.

"Have a good night," Jasper said with a smirk.

"Night," she replied before turning and making her desired escape down the hall.

Bella was finally able to take a deep breath once the elevator doors closed and it started moving down. She really had to think about things, and she knew she couldn't do that with Jasper next to her. She had meant what she said before, that she was intoxicated by Jasper's presence. Every time Bella took a breath in she was overwhelmed with his scent. When he touched her, her brain stopped functioning. It was like when Jasper was near Bella dropped fifty IQ points. She really didn't mind though.

As Bella stepped off the elevator and walked down her hall she was a little sad. It was wrong, she knew, that she had gotten used to seeing the flowers and letter waiting for her attention. Now that she had talked with Jasper there was no need for the flowers to be there waiting. Was it wrong that she liked seeing them, even if they were trying to persuade her to do something that, at the time, she didn't want to do? No matter what they meant, they brightened her day and put a smile on her face.

With a sigh, Bella unlocked her door and stepped in. She contemplated pouring a glass of wine and stepping out on the terrace and doing her thinking. Then she decided that maybe having an alcohol addled mind might not be a wise idea while trying to wrap her brain around Jasper and herself. Did she want to sit outside and think, or did she just want to draw a bath and sit and soak? Somehow she found herself standing in front of the vase of flowers from Jasper, just fingering the petals. Bella's mind started to wonder back to the time Jasper brought her her first flower.

It seemed like it was tradition for Jasper to bring her flowers the day after a date, but they were always roses or daisies; never her favorites. She never said anything, she was just happy that Jasper had thought of her enough to give her flowers. When Bella found out that Jasper was not the person she thought he was; it occurred to her that she truly knew nothing about him, but that he really didn't know anything about her either. When she was finally talking with Jasper again it was one of the first things that they talked about.

"You know Jasper," Bella said sipping on a soda as Jasper and she were sitting around her kitchen table, "you and I need to talk."

"About what, Mouse," Jasper asked taking her hand in his as he slid his textbook away and giving her his complete attention.

"Us," she replied softly, looking down at their joined hands.

"That doesn't sound good," Jasper joked as he rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. "You know we can talk about anything, Bella."

"There has been something that has been nagging at me for awhile now," she muttered. "It just seems that we know nothing about each other, your little revelation was just the tip of a bigger iceberg."

"What do you want to know," Jasper asked with a soft smile. "I have no secrets from you."

"Anything and everything," she said looking up at him. "It just seems that we fell in love so quickly that we forgot to really learn about each other."

"How do you suggest we fix that?"

"I don't know," she said with a shrug. "Talk?"

How about we start by playing twenty questions," Jasper said with a smirk. "Though we get to play by my rules."

"How are they different than the normal rules," Bella asked with a giggle. She couldn't be happier that Jasper was taking this seriously, to a point, and was not offended in any way.

"Well, we each get twenty questions to ask. We must answer each question no matter who asked it, and we must answer truthfully. For example if I ask a question, you answer it and I'll answer it, then you ask your question."

"Okay," she said with a nod, "I think I got it, though I am sure if I need help you'll remind me."

"You know I will," Jasper said with a smile as he leaned over and kissed her cheek lightly. "Do you want to go first?"

"Ummm sure, I guess," she said starting to think. "Let's start simple shall we?" Jasper nodded. "Okay, ummm, what's your favorite color?"

"Going very simple, I see," Jasper said with a chuckle as he tugged a piece of her hair causing her to giggle. "I think it would have to be between two colors. The same rose red of your blush because I love seeing your beautiful blush, and Brown because I love losing myself in the brown of your eyes."

"Suck up," Bella fake coughed into her hand. "I would have to say blue and brown are mine. I love dark blues, like royal or cobalt; though I have to say I have come to love ocean blue as well," she said with a blush as she looked into Jasper's ocean blue eyes, "And brown as well because it is the color of new earth and new beginnings for flowers and everything."

"That sounds so beautiful," Jasper said giving her hand a squeeze. "So here's my question, what is your favorite subject in school?"

"Literature, or English; whatever you want to call it," I said with a laugh and a shrug. "I love books. I love learning about books. I love being introduced to books or authors that I normally wouldn't read. I just love to read in general really."

"I want to say that I love that class too. I see your love and passion for the class and it makes me want to share your enthusiasm; but I can't. I have to say my favorite class is History. I'm an avid believer that if you don't learn from history then you are doomed to repeat it."

"Even though you're learning history from the United States view of things and not Denmark's view?"

"Is that your question," Jasper asked with a smirk.

"No, it is a sidebar question," she snorted and smacked his arm lightly.

"It definitely gives me another view on things, but really it is the same history either way. History is history no matter where you are in the world and I can learn something from every point of view"

"Good point," she said as she thought about it. "My turn," she said smiling, "what is your favorite type of music?"

"That's a hard one," Jasper said rubbing his chin with a free hand. "I am not sure what genre it is, but I like the more unknown artists. They're more into the music and not into the whole going big. I also love jazz and music like Sinatra and the newer Michael Buble twist on things."

"I would have to say I am into a lot of different music," Bella answered her question with a shrug. "I listen to some country, very little pop. I find that I like music where it is all strings playing a classical piece but with a rock flare to it. I just found this group that is two violins and two cellos, but they add rock to the music. Of course, since I play the violin, I have a love for the instrumental music, like Classical and Scores from Movies."

"My turn," Jasper said, "what is your favorite food?"

"Honestly," she asked with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

"It's in the rules, that we answer these questions truthfully," Jasper replied.

"Okay, well as you know, I am a simple girl," she shrugged. "I am not a lobster girl, I would rather have a burger or pizza if we are going out. In reality, I'd rather have a home cooked meal; even if that means I cook it myself.

"I have come to enjoy your burgers too," Jasper said with a chuckle. "I am not sure if I have a favorite meal, but if I had to pick one I think it would be a well-cooked steak."

"What is your favorite season," she asked my eyes wide with anticipation causing Jasper to laugh. Bella had to admit that when they started this game she thought it was going to be stupid, but now she was eager to learn anything new about Jasper; even if it was something small.

"It would be a toss up between Fall and Spring," Jasper said now starting to play with the fingers of the hand he held in his two. "I like Fall because I love watching the leaves turn on the trees, the sound of the fallen leaves blowing down the street in the wind and the fun of jumping in a large pile of leaves. I love that it brings cooler weather which means warm Apple Cider and Hot Chocolate and the chance to snuggle with a loved one."

"Why Spring?"

"Because of what it symbolizes," Jasper said with shrug. "Everything is coming alive after a long slumber, the flowers come back, the days become longer."

"My favorite Season would have to be Winter," she said watching Jasper turn her hand over and run his hand along the lines in the palm of her hand. "I love snow, I love to watch it snow, I love the look of the earth after a snowfall and how peaceful and clean the world has become. I love how beautiful the trees look with a hint of white on them, or when there is an ice storm and the naked branches are covered in ice like they are encased in crystal or diamonds. I love taking a hike into the woods and walking through the frost that is just hanging in the air. It gives the world a fantasy or magical storybook feel."

"You really are a closet romantic aren't you?"

"Maybe," Bella said with a shrug, "or maybe I just have an overactive imagination," She laughed.

"Why is it I think your questions are more insightful than mine," asked Jasper with a soft smile down at her as he pull her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles one by one. "What is your favorite Holiday?"

"I don't have one really," she shook her head. "I like them all as long as I get to spend time with those that I love. I could care less about presents at Christmas as long as I get to sit around the tree with my family. Thanksgiving has become more about football and shopping then actually being thankful for anything. New Years is more about getting drunk. I think you get my point," she sighed, "so I don't think I need to go on."

"I understand where you are coming from," Jasper said with a nod. "Though I would have to say Christmas is mine. It is all about family time with my family with no counselors or press; it's just us. We decorate the tree together, go present shopping together. Even with all the Holiday related balls and formal dinners and hoopla, we always make time to spend time together; though we make time for each other every day anyway."

"If you could meet anyone from any time who would it be," Bella asked moving on to her next question.

"There are so many," Jasper said, his eyes glazing over slightly as he thought. "George Washington, Robert E. Lee and Tsar Nicholas the second."

She waited for him to explain his choices, but when he didn't she finally had to ask, "Why?"

"Is that your next question?"

"No, it's part of the previous question."

"I answered the question," Jasper said giving her a cocky smirk. "You asked who and not why. I gave you the who."

"You're a smart-ass, you know that?"

"I do know that as a matter of fact," Jasper continued to smirk.

"Answer the Damn question," she said rolling her eyes, but couldn't hide her own smile.

"I just want to know that if they knew what we know today, like what their choices would lead to, if they would change anything? I wonder if George Washington would wish he added something to the constitution, if Robert E. Lee would change his battle plans if he knew what the outcome was going to be with the Civil War, and I wonder if the Tsar of Russia would treat the revolution different if he knew it would lead to his entire family being shot and dying in a basement somewhere in the middle of nowhere."

"Wow, Jasper, way to make me feel bad for wanting to meet Jane Austen to see if she ever thought about writing a sequel to Pride and Prejudice."

"Really," Jasper asked surprised.

"She would be one of them," she replied with a giggle. "I think I would like to speak with Jesus and see if he really did know he was going to die on the cross, and if he truly did all those miracles the bible says or not. I would like to put to rest the controversy over if He really did marry Mary Magdalene or not."

"You really aren't a normal teenage girl, are you," Jasper asked with a shake of his head.

"Never said I was," she said with a bright smile, "and it's not like you're a normal teenage boy either there Prince Jasper."

"I think I am going to use my next question as the last of my easy one," Jasper said with another smile. "This is something that I should have asked you a long time ago, but never thought the need to till now. What is your favorite flower?"

"You won't hate me," she asked him, trying to give him a pleading look.

"Why would I," Jasper asked confused.

"Well," she started, only to have traitorous tears start to well up and spill over, "it's just that I know you are always giving me flowers, and I don't want you to think that I'm ungrateful for them; cause I am." Bella actually started to sob at this point, "I love that you think enough of me to want to get me roses or daisies, and while they are beautiful, and any girl would be happy to get them; they aren't my favorite."

"Oh Mouse," Jasper said letting go of her hand to grab the sides of her seat and pull her closer to him. "You sweet girl," he said cupping her face in both of his hands and lifting it so she would meet his eyes, "why would I get mad? About something like that? It is my own fault that I don't know," he said as his thumbs wiped away her tears.

"I don't know," she said between a sniffle. "It's just that you are so proud and happy when you bring me the other flowers, and I feel like I am hurting your feelings by complaining."

"I am happy that I can make you smile," Jasper said reassuringly trying to soothe her worries. "If by bringing you another type of flower will make you even happier, then I will. Please, my little Mouse, tell me what type of flower would bring you joy?"

"You're going to think they are strange flowers for a teen to like, but I like the white Casablanca Lilies and Purple Calla Lilies," she replied giving him a watery smile. "They are just so elegant and regal. The Casablanca's are so fragrant that only a few can scent up a room."

"Then I will always remember to bring you two of each, to make up for those times that I brought the wrong ones," Jasper said with a soft smile as he kissed her nose.

Bella was thrown back into reality by the sound of someone knocking on her door. She shook her head to clear the last lingering fog of memories and was surprised to find herself not in the same place she was when she started her daydream. Somehow she had grabbed herself a Sprite, kicked her shoes off somewhere and was sitting on the couch wrapped in the soft brown throw that was on the back. She had absolutely no recollection of walking away from the dining table and flowers. Before she could bring herself to panic at what else she could have done, she was reminded that there was someone at the door by their insistent knocking.

In trying to untangle herself from the throw she wrenched her already sore wrist, but still the knocking continued only getting louder. "Hold your Goddamn horses, I'm coming," she shouted as she used the cool temperature of her soda can to take the new ache out of her wrist. Bella stormed to the door, pinning the can to her stomach with her bad wrist so she could pull open the door. "This better be bloody important," she said as she yanked opened the door.

There standing before her with a smirk was Ethan, both hands behind his back. "Ethan," she sputtered in surprise. "What can I do for you?"

"I have been sent here on behalf of His Highness, Crown Prince Jasper," stated Ethan calmly.

Bella snorted as she continued to hold the cool can to her wrist, "I didn't think Santa Claus sent you," she snarked with a smile. "Is the use of his title absolutely necessary?"

"No, but it is a force of habit," Ethan answered with a genuine smile of his own and a shrug.

"Okay," she said slowly rolling her eyes and shaking her head at him. "What in the world would His Highness, Crown Prince Jasper want? I did just leave him a little while ago."

"My lady, it's been three hours since you left," Ethan said his brow furrowing as he looked at her face, then his eyes flicking to her still bandaged wrist where she was still holding the soda can too. "Is your wrist bothering you?"

"No," she replied a little too quickly.

"Right," Ethan said slowly, though by his expression he knew she wasn't fooling anyone. "Anyway," Ethan said moving on from her blatant lie, "Jasper," he gave me a wink, "wanted me to give you these," he said as he pulled his hand from behind his back, bringing forward the flowers that he held. Jasper had sent her two Casablanca Lilies and two Calla Lilies that she had missed earlier.

"How the Hell does he do it," Bella asked with a soft smile and starting to tear up as she slowly reached for the flowers. "Every time," she muttered to herself as she shook her head in wonder.

"Pardon," Ethan asked confused still standing in the doorway.

"In high school, I swore that Jasper was able to read my emotions," she said with a little laugh as she gestured for Ethan to come inside. "He could take one look at me and know what I was feeling and somehow he would make me smile and feel better," she said leading the way into the kitchen where she started to trim the stems so they were the same size as the others. Of course as she was cutting the second flower, her hand gave a painful spasm causing her to cry out and drop the scissors in the sink.

"I still think I am missing something," Ethan said nudging her out of the way without asking for an explanation for the outcry.

"It's going to sound stupid," Bella said cradling her wrist and watching him work, "but even though I really didn't want the flowers to begin with, I had grown accustomed to seeing them. It was a way of knowing that Jasper was thinking of me when he left them. Now that we have talked and I have read his letter I didn't think he would leave them anymore," she said with a sigh. "Here I was, feeling pretty low and next thing I know, you come bringing the one thing that could make me smile and feel better," she said showing Ethan to the other flowers. "He always seems to know."

"Is that a bad thing," Ethan asked as he placed the new flowers with the others in the vase. "Aren't you supposed to be able to read those that you love and know what they need?"

"I didn't say it was bad," she shook her head. "It did get annoying sometime, always being an open book for him," she said starting for the couch again. "Now, what was the other reason that Jasper asked you to come down here?"

"The Crown Prince wanted me to check on you," Ethan said catching her by the top of the arm before she could get to the couch and started to lead her to the bedroom.

"Okay, well you have seen me," she said trying to pull her arm free from his grasp, sadly it didn't work; not sure why she thought it would, "so you can go back to Jasper."

"Yeah, I don't think so," Ethan said walking her to the bed and pointing for her to sit. "Sad to say you look like Shit, My Lady, so you are not getting rid of me that easily."

"Oh really," she said in a challenge.

"I think there are some things that you need to be aware of, My Lady," Ethan said crossing his arms as he stood in front of her. "For all intents and purposes, I am in charge of His Highness's health and well-being as well as his security. Which means until I hear from His Highness, I am also in charge of your health and well-being because if anything happened to you, His Highness would be devastated."

"I don't think that is..."

"That being said," Ethan continued like she hadn't said anything, "I am aware that you have had a rough and stressful day, that you were not feeling well before coming to see His Highness this evening and that you are lying when you say your wrist doesn't hurt. So here is what we are going to do," he paused waiting for Bella to say something, she chose to remain silent. "I am going to start you a hot shower, come back and unwrap your wrist. While you are showering, I am going to make you some tea. When you are finished with your shower I am going to take another look at your wrist. Any questions?"

Bella just stared at him wide eyed and shook her head. Sure, she could have argued, but really there was no point; he was right. She had a stressful day, she really didn't feel all that well and her wrist hurt like hell. Bella might have had an argument for him starting her shower and making her tea, but somehow she just knew she would lose. She had already had a lesson from one Royal Guard today on how to find her seat, she was not ready for another lesson on how to take a shower and have tea.

"Good," said Ethan with a nod, before heading for the on-suite bathroom. "Unless you want me picking something for you to wear when done, I suggest you do that yourself while the water warms," he called over his shoulder.

"Don't need a nursemaid or babysitter," she grumbled to herself as she moved to gather her things for a shower.

"Did you say something," Ethan asked sticking his head out of the bathroom.

"No," she snapped coming to stand in front of him and shoving her wrapped wrist at him.

"I didn't think so," he said with a smirk as he worked to unwrap the bandage. "Now, take as long as you want with your shower, I'll be here when you're done." With that, he patted her cheek like she was a child and sauntered out of the room.

Did she hit her head at some point during her daydream? Maybe she stepped into an alternate universe? SOMETHING had to have happened, otherwise, why was a Royal Guard who had served on the battlefield just pat her cheek? Bella could not help but stand there and stare at him.

"I haven't heard that door close," Ethan shouted from the kitchen area. "Do I need to assist you in any way, My Lady?"

"Oh don't get your panties in a twist, I'm going," she yelled back before storming into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her; just to make sure he heard it close of course.

Although Bella might not have liked the way Ethan went about making her take a shower, she had to admit she did feel better after. It helped to relax the knots in had in her back and shoulder, while also helping to clear her head. Her mother had always said that she slept better after a shower, so that would be an added bonus. At this point in the game Bella would have done anything to get a good night sleep instead of obsessing over what she was going to do about Jasper. She knew she needed to give him an answer, but she didn't need to come up with it tonight; did she?

"Well you are starting to look better," Ethan said as he rose from his seat on the couch when he saw her walking out of the bedroom.

"I feel better, thank you," she said giving him a soft smile. "Though I would feel better if I could brush my hair properly, but not getting to use my left hand has become an issue."

"Well," Ethan started as he walked to the kitchen, "I'll make you a deal. You drink at least two cups of tea, and I will brush out your hair."

"You going to braid my hair and paint my nails too? Maybe we can talk about boys," she asked with a giggle as she went over and plopped herself down on the floor with her legs under the coffee table.

"I will do many things in the line of duty, those aren't any of them, " Ethan said placing her first cup of tea in front of her and taking her hairbrush from her hand.

"Thanks Ethan," she said quietly taking a sip of the steaming drink while he slowly started on her hair. "I know I can be a Bitch sometimes, but I really appreciate it."

"Everyone needs someone to take care of them every once and awhile," Ethan said soothingly.

"It has been a long time since someone has," she sighed. "Alice, my assistant, attempts to sometimes, but there are times that I wonder if I wasn't paying her would she still act like she cared?"

"You know if His Highness had his way you would always be cared for."

"I know," she said in a whisper. The warmth of the drink and the soothing motions of the brush lulling her into an almost trance-like state. "I use to love it when my mother would brush my hair when I was little. She always would when I was sick or scared, it was so calming."

"Where is your mother now?"

"Dead. Both my parents are gone."

"I'm so sorry, My Lady," he said reaching down to give her shoulder a squeeze before going back to her hair. "What happened?"

"Car accident," was all she said. Taking a another drink from her tea, she tried to gather her thoughts; Ethan just sat patiently brushing away until she was ready to continue. "Halfway through my first year in college I had another cancer scare. My parents flew out to be with me during all the testing and waiting. When everything came back, thankfully negative, they flew home. On their way home from the airport, two miles from the house actually, they were hit by a drunk Semi Truck driver that was going to fast to stop at a red light causing him to slam into my parent's car on the driver's side. My father died on impact, my mother died two hours later. Because I was sick, my doctor wouldn't allow me to fly home until two days later." Bella had to stop there, or else all the relaxing she had done in the shower would have gone to waist. She could already feel the tears building behind her eyes and the tightening of her chest.

Ethan tossed her brush onto one of the chairs and pulled Bella up onto the couch by her forearms. After making sure she was settled next to him, he threw his arm around her and hugged her close to him. "You know it wasn't your fault, right?"

"I'm aware that I had no control over the drunk driver, that I did not make him drink too much nor did I make him get his Semi-Truck and drive. So yes, in that aspect of things I know it wasn't my fault," she said nodding into his shoulder. "But, it was my fault that they were in the car in the first place. Had I not called them when I thought my cancer was back, they never would have flown out to see me. They never would have had to fly back home a few days later, never had to then drive home from the airport. Because of me they were in the wrong spot at the wrong time."

"You cannot blame yourself for that," Ethan said rubbing circles on her shoulder as the tears started to fall down her cheeks. "They were your parents, they would and should have been with you."

"That doesn't help the fact that I was happy and starting to enjoy life again while my parents were dying hundreds of miles away. It doesn't help that I had to make all the arrangements over the phone or allow my friend Angela to handle things."

"It still isn't your fault," Ethan said softly as his hand grabbed her chin and made her look at him. "Your parents wanted to be with you, so they were. Something you need to think about is this, when they died, they did so with the knowledge that you were safe, happy and healthy. They did not leave wondering if you would be alright or not. What you need to do now is live your life for them; and for yourself."

"Still doesn't help with the guilt any," she muttered.

"No, it doesn't," Ethan replied. "But talking about it will."

They sat there in silence for a while. Ethan continued to hold her to him as she thought about what he said. He had a point, she'd give him that. Her parents would have been pissed if she had not called them when she started to get sick. They would have been furious to know that she had gone through all the tests and worry by herself. He was also right that at least when they died, they knew she was going to be okay.

After a bit, Ethan stood and refreshed her cup of tea. "I am assuming then you are an only child," he said taking back his seat and handing Bella her cup back.

"Yes," she nodded taking a sip of the drink. "My mother had always wanted more children, but for some reason, it never happened."

"I have a younger sister," Ethan said with a smile. "I use to ask my mom why she didn't have more. She would just laugh and say that she already had two perfect children, why would she need more."

"I bet your mother is proud of what you have become," Bella said tucking her feet under her as she readjusted herself.

"She wanted me to go into medicine instead of the military, but was happy to see that I still compromised and joined the medic corps."

"I think all parents what their children to be a doctor or lawyer," she said with a laugh. "My parents went postal when I told them I was going to school for computers. My mother wanted me to continue with my music, and my dad just wanted me to get a real job. He was one of those that believed that computers would be a passing fad, that there couldn't be real money in them."

"Well you definitely proved him wrong there, haven't you Miss Large Computer Business Owner," he asked with a large smile, while she nodded. "What do you mean your mom wanted you to continue with music?"

"I play the violin," Bella said pointing to her violin case leaning against one of the chairs. "I've played since I was little, the piano too. My mom had these big dreams that I would go on professionally."

"Could you?"

"I don't know," she said with a shrug. "I play only for the fun of it now."

"Which reminds me," Ethan pulled something out of his pocket, "I need to re-wrap your wrist," he said turning more to face her and taking her wrist in his hand. "How is it feeling now," he asked as he inspected it before starting to wrap.

"Still a little achy," she replied as she watched him work.

"It should be, at least for a few days," Ethan nodded. "I took the liberty of finding your bottle of Tylenol in the kitchen," he said handing her two pills when he was finished with the wrapping. "I will come and check on your wrist first thing in the morning tomorrow."

"That's not necessary," Bella stated after taking the pills.

"Did you forget already that I am in charge of your health and well-being? Last time I checked a sore wrist is part of your health."

"It is, but,"

"Then I will come and check on you as often as I feel the need to."

"Not if I don't let you in," she answered smugly with a smirk, thinking she had won.

"There are many advantages to being head of security for a Prince," Ethan said pulling out a key-card from his back pocket. "With a little explanation that I need to secure a room, making sure that it is safe before the Prince can enter can get me a key to almost every room in the hotel; including yours."

"They can't do that," she said her eyes wide in surprise. "That's an invasion of my privacy."

"It is only and invasion if you do not let me in," Ethan said with a shrug as he put the key-card back in his pocket. "After all, how am I supposed to protect you if I cannot get to you?"

"I don't need security," she snapped.

"You don't now," Ethan said agreeing with her, "but if you choose to be with the Prince again, you will."

"What do you mean?"

"My Lady, you will be new news. Every reporter, every camera man is going to want to get to you. You will need someone to help keep them away."

"Why would they want anything from me, I'm really not that important."

"You're more important than you know," Ethan said quietly, more to himself, before adding, "Think about it, My Lady, you are suddenly being seen with a Prince. No one really knows you, so they are going to be clamoring for the story. How does the Prince know you? What is the Prince's relationship with you? Of course there are going to be reporters that are actually good at their jobs and will research you, they will bring up your past history with the Prince."

"They can search all they want, all they will get is that we dated and he left. All my medical reports are well hidden."

"That won't stop those that are determined," he said shaking his head.

Bella quickly stood and started to pace in front of him. She was pissed, but really there was nothing she could do. "Do you want to know something," Bella asked stopping in front of him for a moment, Ethan just nodded and waved his hand for her to continue. "I once was given some advice by a jackass in high school, that I should pick my battles."

"That's sound advice," Ethan started.

"This is where you sit there and listen," she snapped. "I have listened to you go on and on, now it is my turn." Ethan just blinked and kept his mouth closed. "This ass said for me to pick my battles. I thought at the time he meant for me to only pick fights that I could win. But the more and more I thought about it, his advice really was about standing up for what is right. I doubt he wanted me to see it that way, seeing that I was actually battling him and I was winning. I think he just wanted me to back down, but that is besides the point."

"There is a point in there somewhere?"

"The point is," Bella said with a sigh, "that I see a battle that I will not win, so I refuse to even try. Just so you know, I will not always back down so easily."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, My Lady," Ethan said with a smile.

Even though she was not going to fight him on his obsessive need to check on her all the time, did not mean she wasn't still angry that he was forcing this on her. Bella would make sure that she had words with Jasper about this, along with a call to the hotel management about giving out keys without permission.

"Are you going to come back and sit down," Ethan asked when she still had not stopped pacing.

"I had not planned on it, no," she replied. "Pacing keeps me from doing something I might regret later."

Ethan sat on the couch and watched her wear a path on the rug as she continued to calm herself down. After a few minutes Ethan tried again to get her to settle down, "If I promise not to make you have another cup of tea will you come and sit down?"

"No," she said with a little sigh. "I wish I could play," she said walking over to her violin case and running her hand over embroidered cover. "With the wrapped wrist I can't hold the bow, so that's out. I would settle for running scales or something if there was a piano in here."

"I am sure you can use the one upstairs," Ethan said. "I know His Highness won't mind."

"I'm sure he won't." Bella said with a laugh, "I am not sure if you noticed, but Jasper and I can't seem to keep our hands to ourselves when we are together at the moment. I left to think, and I cannot do that if Jasper is near or is touching me."

"Would talking it through help," asked Ethan as he stood and placed himself in the path of her pacing when she stopped in front of him he gently took her arm and lead her back to the couch. "I can be a sounding board if you need one."

"I don't think you would help," Bella said giving him a smile. "Thanks for the offer though, but I cannot talk about Jasper with you and then have you go and tell him what I said."

"What you and I discuss will always stay between us," he said looking at her directly in the eye. "That is unless it is something to do with your safety or his."

"That's comforting, but right now the answer is still no. This is something that I have to work through on my own or I will never know if I came up with my own decision or someone else's."

"I understand," Ethan said as he picked up her tea cup and started for the kitchen, "just know that I will be here if you need me."

"I know I don't need another cup of tea," she called after him once she saw where he was heading. "Maybe a glass of water though."

"May I say something to you without you getting upset or taking it the wrong way," Ethan asked coming back into the room with her water. Instead of sitting next to her, he sat on the coffee table in front of her and took her hands in his.

"When you start out like that it leads me to say probably not," Bella said a little worried, "but I will try my best not to."

"I wanted to tell you how brave I think you are. There aren't many that would even talk to His Highness again, let alone give him a second chance after the way he treated you."

Bella shook her head, "I don't know if I'm going to give him a second chance, that is what I'm suppose to be working through right now. As for talking to him, I thought the least I owed him after all this time was to hear him out. I think I'm still missing some information, but I think I have enough to make an educated decision."

"I think I have information that might help you," Ethan sighed squeezing her hand lightly. "I have been debating whether or not to tell you this, but I think you need to know what you are walking into."

"What do you mean?"

"Jasper loves you very much, probably more than you could ever guess; but I think if it was up to him completely, he would never have searched you out."

"What," she couldn't help the crack in her voice.

"He always wrote to you, he has thousands of letters he wanted to send to you, but he never did. In his eyes, he thought he lost all chance with you when he left. He did not want to hurt you any more by trying to come back into your life in any way."

"That makes no sense if he is here now," she said more than just a little confused.

"For the last few years his family has seen him start to wither away. When he first came back from the states, he threw himself into everything. He went to college, graduating with honors, and then went straight into learning from his father. He did a lot of work with charities, got laws changed; he did about everything he could do to keep himself busy enough not to think about you. It worked for a while, but slowly he slid into a depression that nothing anyone did could get him out of."

"I still don't understand," she said shaking her head. "We both were screwed up from his leaving, but it was a choice that he made."

"Please, let me finish," Ethan stated. "I am not trying to make you feel sorry for His Highness. You're right. Everything he went through was his own fault. I am just trying to give you some history so that you know how many supporters you have on your side."

"What?"

"May I finish?" Bella just nodded, hoping that things started to make sense to her soon. Things were starting to get to be too much for her and Ethan was not helping. "With Jasper in his depression he refused to do anything. He would not eat, did not talk, barely slept and even stopped riding his horses, which is how we knew there was a problem. All he would do is stare at a picture of you and scribble endlessly into a notebook. That is when a group of his closest friends, guards and family started what we called 'operation get Bella back'," Ethan smiled.

"So your group forced him to come and find me," Bella felt like she was slapped. She started to try and rip her hands from his as she stood, "I think it is time you leave. You take your Prince and leave. Leave this hotel, this state, and this Damn country right the Fuck now."

"You misunderstand what was going on, I am not done," Ethan said calmly as he pulled her back to sit on the couch. "All we did was give him a the push he needed. We worked on his love for you that was already there. We would drop questions like 'what you were doing now', 'how you must have changed'; things like that. After a while we would wonder out loud if you moved on and found someone else, or if you still felt anything for him. I know it sounds bad, but all we were doing was giving him pushes into a direction he would have done anyway; he was just a whole lot slower, but he was coming back. All we did was make him speed up his plans a little.

"The rest is history. When he started making plans to come for you, he reached out to his contacts and got current information on you; including recent pictures. As soon as he saw a recent photo of you he was a goner, there was nothing more important than coming to find you."

"So you are telling me this because," she asked now that she was slightly calmer.

"Because I wanted you to know that if you choose to take His Highness back, you will not be in this alone. That no matter what, you will have someone in your corner helping you to figure it out."

"Well," she said with a sigh, "it is nice to know that if Jasper and I get back together I will not be thrown to the sharks. I don't suppose you will tell me who all is in this operation of yours?"

"Nope," Ethan shook his head, "though I'm sure you will be meeting with some of them soon, I would think. That is if you choose Jasper anyway."

Bella snorted, "That just figures, and here I thought you were going to be helpful."

"I am helpful," he said as he stood, then pull her up from the couch. "I am so helpful that I am going to leave you for the night so you can get your rest and think," he said leading her back to the bedroom. "I will be back first thing in the morning to look at that wrist," he said stopping at the door way.

"If I am not here I decided to go for a run on the treadmill in the gym," she said with a nod.

"I would rather you waited for me," he said calmly.

"I can run by myself," she said squaring her shoulders. "My wrist can wait until I finish with a run."

"I am not saying that you can't," Ethan said crossing his arms in front of him. "What I am saying is that you need to start getting used to having a guard, meaning that someone walks you to your destination, checks things out and then walks you back when you are done."

"I don't need that," she snapped.

"And I don't care," Ethan said with a shrug. "We are now playing by my rules. You have to know that if something would happen to you, it would hurt Jasper; and that is not something I will let happen."

"There are times that I really hate you," Bella groaned, the bastard had a point.

"I am not here to be your friend, though I would like to be, I am here to make you safe. I will do that by any means, even if that means making you hate my guts." He reached up and patted her cheek like before, then smiled and started for the door. Once he reached the door he turned back and said, "I'll see you here in the morning. Have a good night, My Lady." With that he opened the door and left Bella alone once again.