A/N: Okay, so here's the chapter. I'm sorry it's so late. Between school, exams and illness, I've been unable to write. Plus, I was a little stuck on inspiration. Hope you like it. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Though I would love to own Jasper... sigh. Jasper.

Chapter 8

Bella

Everyone came back into the room, apart from Jagger but I understood why he didn't want to be here.

Carlisle smiled at me gently. "Bella, what's happened to you all these years? Why didn't you come looking for us?"

I looked at my hands, chewing my lip. "I thought you guys didn't want me. When Edward left, he said I was no good for him. He told me that the rest of the family had already left. He said he didn't love me." I whispered, avoiding their gazes. "I thought, with what happened with Edward, you didn't want me. You left without saying goodbye."

Someone—probably Emmett—growled. "You idiot!"

I winced and shook my head at him. "It's okay, Emmett. It was a long time ago."

"That doesn't make it okay, Bella."

"Bella, Edward never told us what he said to you. We thought he told you the truth." Esme said, dry sobbing. "We left to protect you, Bella."

Well you did a pretty crappy job of it, I thought. I didn't say it out loud because I knew it would hurt Esme's feelings.

"Bella, what does Charlie know? I seem to recall Jagger mentioning Forks?" Carlisle asked.

I broke into a smile. I couldn't help it. "Charlie knows everything." They gasped, expect Jasper.

"How?"

"It was Jagger's fault."

"You're blaming your son?" Rosalie said harshly. "That's kind of selfish of you."

I narrowed my eyes at her. Before I had the chance to respond, Jagger walked inside and sat down beside me. "She's right. It was my fault Pop's knows. Ma told me I wasn't allowed to go talk to him but I didn't listen. She put me down when I struggled and ran to him before she could stop me." he leaned against my shoulder and took my hand. "When Pop's asked me who I was, I told him and he nearly had a heart attack when she came out of her hiding place."

"He thought he was dreaming when he came to. He passed out as soon as I said hello." I chuckled, remembering Charlie's face. "I had to tell him everything, starting with how I was still alive."

"Speaking of Pop's, you never did answer my question." He turned to me. "Are we still going to see him? I wanna see Seth and Sue."

"Yes, Jagger, we're still going to see Charlie. Sue and Seth can't wait to see you."

He cheered.

I ruffled his hair and smiled at the others. "So, what's been going on with you after all these years?" I wanted to avoid the topic of me.

They looked at each other. "Nothing much," Carlisle said. "The same as we usually do, anyway."

I peered at Aaron. "You forgot to mention the newest addition to the Cullen Clan." I pointed out.

"He's my mate." Alice said. "We met a couple of years after Jasper left the family. I found him wandering the woods all alone and bleeding. He was dying and something about his face drew me to him. I knew that he was meant for me. So I changed him."

"That must have taken an extraordinary amount of control." I mused.

"It was." She agreed, staring into Aaron's eyes.

Watching Alice, I couldn't help but realize how much I missed her friendship. But she probably hated me for what happened. First I slept with her husband, while they were still married, and then I had his baby. God, I was such a slut.

"Darlin' why do you feel so guilty?" Jasper asked, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Alice, I'm so sorry for everything that happened." I whispered. "I never meant to hurt you."

Realization crossed Jasper's face and he frowned.

"I know that, Bella. And I'll admit. I was angry with you. But, what happened happened and I love Aaron." Alice stood and came over to me. "You were always meant to be with Jasper, Bella. I saw you with him since the minute you decided to come to Forks."

I went completely still, staring at her with wide eyes. "Are you serious?"

She nodded, looking down at her hands. "Jasper and I were never meant to stay together forever. I knew that but I wished it wouldn't. So when I saw you in my visions, I did everything I could think of to keep you apart. I didn't want to lose Jasper. I'm sorry. I know it was a mistake but I just couldn't... I should have..."

"You manipulated us all?" Edward's face contorted with fury. "You told me I was Bella's mate!"

"I thought if I could get you together with Bella, than the future would change." Alice hung her head. "It was a mistake."

"Alice, you broke a lot of hearts with your lies." Carlisle said.

"I know." She whispered. "I'm sorry. I just wanted us all to be happy. Edward's been alone for so long."

"You don't have the right to play with other people's emotions, Alice." Edward snapped.

"Yeah, that's Jasper's job." Emmett said.

Rosalie smacked him in the back of the head. "Shut up, Emmett."

"When exactly did it change?" Esme asked. "Their feelings for one another?"

I knew when it changed for me but I didn't know about Jasper.

"At the hotel in Phoenix," Alice said. "I wasn't in the room because I was getting Bella something to eat." She looked down.

"You had feelings for Jasper that entire summer?" Edward hissed at me.

I shuddered, my guilt eating at me. "Yes. But I swear I was faithful to you. I thought it was going to pass. But the feelings wouldn't go away." I peeked at Jasper. His head was hanging backwards and his eyes were closed. "I loved you, Edward, you have to believe that. But something about the way Jasper was just drew me to him."

"You should have just told me."

"Would you have let me go?"

His eyes narrowed.

"I didn't think so." I shook my head. "Look, Edward. I didn't pursue anything with Jasper because I was with you and Jasper was with Alice. Yes, what we did the night you left was wrong. I was heartbroken and Jasper was still married to Alice." I looked at Jagger. "But I wouldn't change anything about that night. Even though I lost Jasper, I got Jagger. And I wouldn't change anything."

Jagger snuggled into my arms like he was a child again. I rested my chin on his head. No matter how old he gets, nothing will ever change how much I loved him.

"I love you, too, Mama."

I smiled. It was nice knowing I didn't have to speak the words out loud.

"What exactly happened that night, anyway?"

I glanced at Jasper.

His eyes opened slowly and he looked at me.

Jasper

Bella was staring at me with those beautiful golden eyes. I looked at Jagger, wrapped in Bella's arms before turning to look at the family.

This was a serious amount of information.

"Jasper?" Bella asked. "What happened after you left?"

I sighed. "I got a text from Alice while you were sleeping. She said she wanted me to come home." I shook my head, getting lost in the memory.

FLASHBACK

I ran to the house to pack my things. I knew Alice had seen everything that happened that night. I couldn't blame her for wanting me to come.

It didn't take me very long to get to Alaska. As I drove up to the house, Alice was already sitting outside, waiting for me. She stood up, her hands on her hips. "Hi, Alice."

Her anger was boiling. She smacked me across the face. I knew I deserved that.

"How dare you!"

"I'm sorry, Alice."

She shook her head. "I can't believe you. You slept with Bella?" she turned away. "You could have killed her, Jasper. You nearly did from a tiny paper cut."

I winced at the reminder. "I didn't hurt Bella."

"But you could have!" she hissed. "You could have crushed her." Alice swung around. "You slept with Edward's mate!"

"Edward broke it off with her."

"So that gives you free reign to do whatever you want with her? When Edward finds out, he's going to kill you."

"It's not like he's even here."

"So? That doesn't mean he won't when he finds out." She bottom lip started trembling. "How could you do this to me, Jasper? I love you so much. Don't you love me?"

It broke my heart to see Alice like this. She was usually so happy and bouncing in excitement. Now she simply looked tired and worn out.

"Of course I love you Alice."

"Then why would you sleep with Bella?"

"I-I don't know, Alice." I admitted. "I love Bella. I can't seem to stop thinking about her."

"This isn't fair to me, Jasper."

"I know, Alice. But I really am sorry."

She stared at me, her bottom lip jutted out and trembling. I enveloped her into my arms and held her as she cried. "What do we do now?"

"I can have Jenks draw up divorce papers." I said.

Alice's pain washed over me but she nodded her agreement. "That's probably best."

"I'll leave the family so we can both adjust."

Esme, having overheard me, ran out of the house. "No, Jasper, you can't."

"I'm sorry, Esme."

"Why do you want to leave?"

"It's for the best, Esme. But I'll be back."

END OF FLASHBACK

"Alice, I really am sorry about what happened that night." Bella said mournfully. "I never meant for that to happen."

"I know Bella. But I learned a long time ago that you can't fight fate." She said. "You and Jasper belong together, just as I belong to Aaron."

Bella looked at me and I smiled sadly. I kissed the top of her head.

"Bella, what happened outside?" Carlisle asked. "You managed to shield Jasper when he got into the fight with Edward."

She shrugged. "I don't know. All I know is that I didn't want Jasper to fight Edward. The minute I thought that, Jasper was covered."

"You must be able to physically shield people, as well as your mind." Carlisle mused.

"Bella, how come the rest of the family didn't realize who you were? I mean, you may look a little different but you certainly smell the same."

"I can confuse smells." She said. "When I'm around someone, I can change my scent or get rid of it altogether."

"Seriously?" Emmett asked. "That is so cool."

Something vibrated against me. I looked at Bella. She sat up and took out her phone. She barely glanced at the screen before squeaking.

"What's wrong, Bella?" I asked, watching as she fumbled to put her phone away.

"Jagger, honey. We have to go." She pulled out of my arms and took Jagger. "We'll see you later."

"Bella,"

Bella

Jasper was calling to me as we left the house.

"What's wrong, Mom?"

I tossed him the cell phone as I started the car. He read it and his eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

"Yep. It was bound to happen eventually. I was just hoping we'd have a little bit more time."

"Are you going to tell Dad?"

I faltered. Jasper. "I don't know."

"He has a right to know Mom."

"I know he does."

"Than what's going to happen?"

I chewed my lip and got out of the car. Jagger followed behind me as I started pacing. "This isn't his battle, Jagger. It's mine."

"This evolves both of us. Jasper loves us both and he is not going to be happy if he finds out about this." He warned.

"I know." I groaned and sat on the floor, crossing my arms like a child. "I just don't know what's going to happen. This isn't good, Jagger."

"Which is why we need Jasper. He'll be able to help."

"I need to think about this."

I glared at the phone, sitting open on the table. There wasn't much I could do.

The message rang clear in my head.

Was I prepared to let this happen?

I had to. For Jagger's sake.

Time is running out. I'll see you soon. X

A/N: Sorry for the cliffy. It was necessary. I hope you liked it.

Review please.