Four chapters in 48 hours? I bet you're asking yourselves if I'm crazy. I can answer that.

Yes I am :-)

I still don't own and blame any major mistakes on me being tired.

Let's get on with the show and see how things turn out, shall we?

After a long discussion with my sister about how I don't need some stupid boy to make my life worth living, even if he is a sun-kissed southern god, I crash hard, not waking up until almost nine the next morning, when I am viciously attacked by my brothers with the assistance of my two year old.

"What in the world?" I grind out, restraining the monster inside from hurling every cuss word I know at the trio.

"Well, sister mine, kidzilla here wants to go see the gang, and they're all over at Jake's house helping with yard work or something because all he has is his dad and he's in a wheelchair and I thought that you might want to know that we're stealing your kid whether you want to come with us or not," Emmett explains in a haughty tone.

I sit up and scratch my head while trying to focus on what he'd just said, "Um, okay, give me about ten minutes and a cup of coffee then I'll be ready. You're going to have to wait for me though because I have no idea where Jake lives."

"I told you that she'd let you go," Seth nudges Gavin, who giggles and climbs up onto his uncle's back before tugging on his ears and yelling "Mush!" Emmett trails out of the room behind them, a silly grin plastered to his face.

I crawl to the bathroom, where I do my thing, then brush my hair and teeth before moving onto the dreaded closet of doom. I prevent my brain from second guessing my wardrobe choices by quickly pulling on an old tee shirt and jeans before stepping back into my boots. When I'm done, I grab my phone, keys, and pack Gavin's bag before trudging down to my boys, who, bless their hearts, have a travel mug filled with java waiting.

Gavin begs to ride with his uncles and I wave him off with a warning to behave as I make my way to my pick up, sipping my coffee as I go. Once on the road, my emotions start spiraling out of control again and I have to repeat Leah's words over and over until the panic drifts away. I won't let this issue between Jasper and me to mar the relationships that I've begun to forge with the rest of the group.

Too bad no one told Jasper.

As the truck rolls to a stop in front of the startlingly humble abode in which Jake lives, I immediately spot a golden halo moving towards me. Fighting the urge to grab my son and drive away as fast as I can, I kill the engine and step out into the gray morning.

"Can I talk to you?" his voice is low and he is staring at something over my shoulder.

"Not today," I practically throw his words from last night back in his face and storm over to my son, who is grinning like a fiend while his cheeks are being covered in Alice and Rosalie's loud kisses.

"You are such a ham," I playfully accuse before turning to face Jake, "So what are we doing today Chief?"

He scratches his jaw thoughtfully for a few seconds, then shrugs, "Well, the grass needs cut after a couple of trees that fell during the last storm get cut up and stacked around back, then I have to fix the door on the shed because someone," he glares across the yard to where Jasper and Edward are chatting, "crashed a dirt bike into it last weekend. That's the biggest stuff, though there is a bunch of little things I'd to get done if possible. I know things must be crazy with Gavin and all, but I really appreciate you coming out to help. I means a lot to me."

"That's what friends are for," I answer without a second thought, "And friends look out for one another, right? Or did I read the wrong handbook?"

"No, that sounds like the right one," his chuckle is light, "Alright Mama, how about you go over there and steal Edward's dad's riding mower while he's not looking and start out front here while me and the guys clear the trees in the back? Rosalie and Alice are going to fix the door and said something about tidying up the house while my dad is out fishing with one of his buddies, so I think I'll be able to talk them into helping keep an eye on the boy pretty easily."

"Sounds good to me," I qualify and then proceed to hijack the tractor without too much difficulty.

About fifteen minutes into my appointed task, the sun breaks through the clouds and not long after, Jasper waves me down, that damn straw hat of his in hand. I pull up alongside him and raise an eyebrow when he drops the hat on my head. "To keep your face from getting sunburned. I remember you saying that you burn really quickly," he elaborates, his face tinged pink, "And before you ask, Alice already slathered some sunscreen on Gavin. She and Edward burn very easily and keep some in their cars for days like this."

"Thank you Jasper, that was really thoughtful," I reply in a cool but genuine tone, "And thank Alice for me as well."

"I will dar--Bella," he pats the hood of the mower and waves me on without another word, though his eyes are dark with his unspoken thoughts as I ride away. Hhmm, maybe he is heeding my words after all.

I finish the front and side parts of the lawn without any interruptions, aside from Gavin wanting a ride and Alice bringing me a bottle of water. I drive around to the rear yard and slam my foot on the break when I see the guys are once again sans shirts as they work, only this time my child is one of them. On an impulse, I pull my phone out and snap a few pictures before tucking it back into my pocket and continue over to where they are stacking wood under an old carport.

I cut the engine and climb off the machine to stretch my legs. "How does it look?" I wave a hand towards the parts I've mowed.

Jake wipes his face off with his shirt and takes a long look at the yard before smiling, "Fantastic job Mama," I can't help but grin at his new nickname for me, "Why don't you take a break and go inside for a bit while we finish with the wood?"

"Are you coming with me baby?" I ask my little one as he wanders over and hugs my leg.

"I wanna stay wif da boys Mommy," he pouts and I lean down, kissing his head before laughing, "Okay hun, I thought I'd ask though since I'm going in. Are you being good?"

"He has been an absolute angel Bella," Edward answers, handing over Gavin's sippy cup and bag of vanilla wafers as he speaks, "Not nearly as frightening as I thought he'd be."

"Hey!" Gavin squeals and chases after the copper haired boy, who is cackling madly as he continues to keep out of the child's reach. I quickly snap another picture, then give Jake a quick thank you and a hug before climbing the back stairs and going into the little red house.

"Bella!" Alice bounces into the kitchen as I am slipping my boots off, "I think it's time to talk about all the craziness that happened yesterday while the boys are busy."

I'm about to protest when Rosalie appears in the archway, her arms crossed and face set in an 'I dare you to fight this' look. "Fine," I sigh and crack my neck like I'm getting ready for a boxing match, "What do you want to know?"

They don't fail in surprising me when the first thing they ask about is to see my phoenix. They ooh and aww at the intricately etched bird and to their credit, put on a brave face and run their fingers over both the ink and the angry scars that mottle my flesh. Of course, I can't escape the inevitable questions about Jasper and I for long, the first one coming from Alice.

"I know that he is completely infatuated with you B," she prattles while wiping down an end table in the living room, "What the hell was going on with him last night? I mean, he was so sweet and caring out in the woods, but acted like you didn't exist when we got back to your house."

"I have no fucking clue," I admit, most likely looking as exasperated as I feel, "When he was leaving, I asked if I could call him and he told me 'Not tonight' and took of like a bat out of hell. And then turns around this morning and practically attacks me when I get here, asking to talk. I feel bad, but I was a bit of a bitch to him when he asked."

"Ooh, bitchy Bella sounds fun," Rosalie snickers as she hangs up a set of freshly washed curtains, "What did you say?"

"I used the same cold voice he'd had when he talked to me last night and told him not today," I confess with a red face, "I was feeling a bit peeved and wanted him to understand how much his words hurt me and that it was my turn to need space."

"Well, mission accomplished babe," the dark haired girl answers, "Jasper's spent the whole day looking like someone ran over his puppy."

"Why do you think he's so upset?" Rosalie's violet pools are filled with apologies as soon as the words leave her mouth, "Oh shit, forget I asked that."

"No, it's okay Rose," I run my hands through my hair and shrug, "It could be for a lot of things. Maybe me being a mom wasn't real to him until he saw Gavin and he realized his mistake or possibly he doesn't want anything to do with me now that he knows where my scars came from, then there is the little gem of knowing that my son exists because I was raped and left for dead at fourteen years old. Maybe it's just because I was raped and now he sees me as dirty as I still feel sometimes....." I take a stuttering breath, "Maybe it's a combination of everything and he's decided that I'm too broken and not worth the effort. I can't say that I blame him. I'm the size of a house and look like I've been put through a meat grinder then charbroiled."

I don't see Rosalie's hand coming, but my face sure as hell feels the sting as it connects with my cheek. "Don't. You. Ever. Put. Yourself. Down. Like. That. Ever. Again," she growls, now hovering over me ominously, "You are so strong and beautiful, inside and out, and it kills me to hear you degrade yourself like that Bella. If he can't see how lucky he would be to have you and that precious little boy in his life, then I say fuck him. You don't need a coward, you need someone who will love, protect, and cherish you like you deserve."

I glance at Alice, who is nodding and wiping tears from her eyes, "I agree with Rose hun. In the words of Avril Lavigne, hell yeah, you are a motherfucking princess, and you only deserve someone who will treat you as such."

"Does that mean I have to talk Edward or Jake into at least turning bi for me?" I joke, trying to disperse the volatile emotions choking the room. It works. The girls tumble onto the couch, holding their stomachs as they giggle their heads off.

Once they settle down, Rose changes the subject and asks about our mixed family. I give them a very brief explanation about how Emmett, dad, and I dealt with my birth mother taking off one day and that the only time we ever heard from her again was when Charlie received his divorce papers and the documents that showed Renee signing all of her rights as a parent away. I then skip ahead and tell the girls about how, on their wedding day, Sue adopted Emmett and I and Charlie adopted Leah and Seth, since their birth father had long since passed away.

Sensing that our time alone is rapidly coming to a close, I finally take a leap and ask their advice about something that has been bothering me for days. "What's the best way to go about asking Jasper about his mom and whatever went down in Texas?"

They stop dead for a few heartbeats, then level their gazes at me. "Be open and honest, no matter what he says," Alice states soberly, with Rosalie adding, "And try not to judge or show pity, he hates that."

"Who hates what?" Edward interrupts, his hair, usually untidy on its best day, now bears a striking resemblance to a rusty bird's nest.

"You know how Jake hates it when we hold him down and paint his toenails," the buxom blonde answers without missing a beat.

Edward's smirk is full of mischief, "Have you told her about the year Jake lost a bet with Alice and had to go trick or treating dressed like a Vegas showgirl? Bella, you would have died laughing over the amount of pink feathers Alice managed to get onto that costume!"

"Oh god, not the showgirl costume! I hated that thing!" I hear Jake wail as he and the others stomp in with Gavin hovering over them because he is perched on one of Emmett's broad shoulders.

"Who's hungry?" Alice lilts, hopping up from her spot on the couch and clapping her hands together excitedly, "We have potato salad, baked chicken, an assortment of steamed veggies, and for the piece de resistance, me and Rose stayed up late last night and made floor pies!"

"Floor pie?" Seth questions as he takes the tiny girl's spot on the sofa next to me.

"Yep," she states, popping the p, "On Thanksgiving a few years ago, mom was making chocolate mousse pies for dessert and dad tripped, knocking all four to the ground. It was a good thing mom remembered to put the lids on them, or they would have been a total loss. Anyways, when they finally got them picked up, dad opened one of them and discovered that the pie had been destroyed. It devastated mom, but dad, in an effort to assuage her, simply laughed, took a bite, and said that there was nothing wrong with eating floor pie. The name stuck and the pies have been called that ever since."

"I love it!" my older brother yowls and rubs his stomach, "Can we eat now? I'm literally starving to death where I stand, since I finished mowing the backyard for Bella!"

Conversation is kept to a dull roar as we eat in the packed living room, as the kitchen is way too small to fit all of us in. I'm a little disconcerted when Jasper chooses to sit beside me and Gavin as we eat, but he doesn't try anything more than polite interaction as part of the overall chatter surrounding us.

Afterwords, everyone helps to wash up the dishes and pack away the leftovers for Jake and his dad to eat during the week. When we're officially done for the night, I notice Gavin has been way too quiet for my liking. I hurry back into the living room in search of my baby, only to find him snuggling up to Jasper, sound asleep.

Holy hell, they could pass as father and son right now. A thousand what if's spring to mind, leaving me both flabbergasted and flustered. I shake my head in irritation. Dammit Bella, get yourself together girl or you're going to drive yourself mad.

"He asked me to hold him and used the sad puppy eyes on me, I couldn't resist Bella," the man qualifies when he sees my odd expression.

"That's okay, let me get him, I'm heading out," I reach to gather up the sleeping child, but Jasper stops me, "I'll carry him out for you. I'm going to go on home too. After all, we do have school tomorrow," he adds when I hesitate.

"Thank you," I mumble and give out my good nights before leading him out to the truck, using my phone to light the way as we walk.

Jasper is mindful not to wake Gavin up as he settles the boy's small form into his car seat. He quickly steps aside so that I can buckle my son in safely. The awkwardness between us comes back with a vengeance as I close the door and turn around to face him.

The pained expression on his face nearly makes me gasp. "Bella," his hand finds it's place on my face and I instantly want to cry and throw myself into his arms, "When will you be willing to talk about this? I'm sorry I freaked out last night, but to hear you describe what those monsters did to you and then see the unflinching love and devotion you have for your son, the happiness he brings you despite the nightmare that was his conception....I was so fucking furious that I wanted to hunt those fuckers down and make them experience every single thing they put you through. That's why I stayed away, I didn't want you to see me like that or accidentally say something stupid that would scare you. I realize it was really stupid of me and I wish I could take it all back, but instead all I can do is beg your forgiveness and wait for you to be ready to talk to me."

"Tomorrow, after school," I demand in a flat tone, "Follow me home. Mom and dad are taking Gavin shopping so he can pick out a birthday present for me. We can talk without any interruptions. Until then, maybe it would be best to keep our distance so neither of us screw up and say something stupid."

"As you wish," he immediately responds, bringing his other hand to rest on the small of my back, "I'm so sorry for all of this Bella..." the charge flowing between us grows exponentially and I can't help but silently cheer as his mouth drifts closer to mine until the last second, when he seems to catch himself and I scream inwardly as they merely brush my cheek. "You should get going, your boy can't be comfortable sleeping upright like that," I can detect the change in his voice, it's dropped an octave and it's husky timbre caresses my ears.

I can't do a damn thing but nod and allow myself to be lead to the driver's side of the pick up. "I'll see you tomorrow Bella," he states in a more stable voice after helping me inside, "Sweet dreams." He shuts the door before I can answer and I sit dumbly as he jogs across the darkened lawn to his own truck.

Gavin's sleepy mumbling jolts me back to reality and I fire up the engine and throw the truck into gear. Jasper follows me all the way to the mouth of my driveway, where he honks as he passes me by. I get the truck parked in the garage and haul my monster out then carefully carry him up to his bed. After taking his shoes off, I change him into his jammies and tuck him in with a kiss to his forehead.

I replay Jasper's seemingly honest words in my mind as I shower and ready for bed. Could his anger at my attackers really have caused all of this dissension? I guess it's possible, but why would he care so much? He barely knows me. These thoughts continue to plague me as I slowly drift to sleep.

I know this wasn't the reconciliation you were hoping for, but at least they're a step closer to it!