I don't own these characters. I only play with them.
Jasper's Point of View
I am the luckiest man on earth. Bella is my mate. Mine! How do I tell her though? Do I tell her or do I let nature take its course and have us become closer naturally? As long as Peter keeps his distance I'll be fine, or fine enough. I won't tell her today. She's already overwhelmed. Maybe tomorrow, depending on how she's coping.
"Bella," Charlotte asked, "Do you want to get cleaned up and out of those ripped clothes?
"I'd love to"
"Let me help you. You're a lot stronger than you were and you'll destroy clothes now, just trying to put them on. I'll go get you something else to wear and meet you in the bathroom."
When Charlotte went back into the bathroom he heard the water run and Bella's sigh of pleasure as she sank into the tub.
"You're grinning like an idiot Major," Peter said. "Is she the one?"
"She is."
"Are you sure?
"Completely sure, Peter."
"When are you going to tell her?"
"I don't know. Maybe tomorrow depending on how she's doing. You know how overwhelming it is for them at first. She's got enough to deal with today."
They waited quietly listening to the women talking upstairs, not able to hear the words, but enjoying their instant comradery anyway. When Jasper almost couldn't take the wait anymore, Bella called out for him. He was by her side in a second.
"Is that me?" Bella asked, pointing to her reflection in the mirror.
"Yes Darlin," he said, "that is you now. What do you think?"
"I'm pretty except for the eyes. They're even redder than yours."
"They'll turn gold in a few months." he comforted.
"Months?" Bella asked.
"Yes, how are you feeling now?"
"Confused, but pretty good. I can hear so much and see everything."
"That's normal enough."
"Hey, I'm relatively normal. That's new for me," Bella joked.
"Charlotte helped me take a bath."
"Come with me and I'll detangle your hair."
She sat on the edge of the bed, her back to him as he began detangling her near waist length hair.
"That feels good," she sighed.
"How about I show you the house when we're done. Then you'll know where everything is. It might make you feel more comfortable being here."
"I'd like that, Thank you. I didn't really notice much before."
When her hair was detangled and shed pulled the wet strands back into a braid, they went to explore her new home.
"Let's start outside," Jasper said.
"I'll follow you."
He walked slowly down the stairs and out through the front door. Bella had difficulty keeping the slow pace, her body able to move much faster and more gracefully now, but she persevered.
Looking at the front of the house for the first time Bella began to relax. It was two story and reminded her of a bigger, showier version of her home with Charlie.
"What do you think?" Jasper asked.
"I think it's beautiful and it feels like a home."
"Let's go inside."
"To your left, there is the living room."
"It looks comfortable."
"I got a game system for you like Emmett has. I know you enjoyed playing games with him. I thought we could play once you have a bit of a handle on your strength."
"Wow."
"To your right, there is the meeting room. Humans would use it for a dining room but we use it to have family meetings. Off of the dining room is the kitchen."
She followed behind him as he showed her an immaculate, obviously unused kitchen space.
Over here behind the living room is the office."
The room opened up into a large space filled with books on every wall and a heavy wooden desk in the middle.
"Mostly it's my office, but you're welcome in there at any time. I keep track of my various accounts and make our identities in there. Speaking of. I have something for you. Jasper opened the top desk drawer and pulled out a manila envelope. "This contains all your new documents. Driver's license, school records, social security card, even a year of tax documentation. I gave you my last name, Whitlock."
"Can you keep it for now?" Bella asked, "I might hurt it."
"Of course."
Also, I filled these shelves," and he pointed to four large shelves "with books I think you'll enjoy. You're welcome to read the rest of them too but you notice I got multiple copies of the ones for you so you can read while you're still experimenting with your strength."
"Upstairs," and they walked slowly back up the stairs, There is Charlotte and Peters room at the far end. Charlotte's workroom is beside that, she makes jewelry and other things and sells them online. Next is my room and your room is on the end. Each room has it's own bathroom inside."
In this storage closet are towels and linens, he pointed to a small closet.
"There is a closet in the living room with board games and some toys I thought would help you start to work on your strength when you're ready."
"So what do you think?"
"You've made this place into a home, Jasper. I like it. I feel comfortable here."
"So now that you've seen the house would you like to watch a movie or go for a run this evening?"
"A movie I think. I'm a little overwhelmed and doing something normal sounds good to me."
Peter and Char joined Jasper and Bella to watch the first in the Star Wars trilogy. It turned into a marathon movie session and Jasper hoped she'd had enough Star Wars to last a while by the time it was over. Although they had enjoyed themselves, he thought he might order more movies to add to their collection, give her more options.
The next day we all went for a run. Bella loved it saying running made her feel free. She even took to the trees, jumping from one to the other with childlike whoops of joy that made Jasper smile. He was especially happy when she descended her tree in a fast jump, landing right in front of him. She hugged him quickly before she was off again.
While they were out she found a mountain lion. She seemed to enjoy wrestling with it before she clamped her mouth on its neck, draining it quickly.
When they returned home Charlotte automatically got Bella some new clothes and the two women went into the bathroom, talking about whatever women discussed when there were no men around to hear them. Jasper was still waiting for Bella an hour and a half later.
Charlotte came out but said, "Give her a little time before you go up."
He only managed ten minutes before he was up the stairs, reacting to the confusion he could feel from Bella.
He found her staring into her reflection in a full-length mirror in her room.
"What's wrong Bella?"
"I'm still getting used to how I look. My body changed and so did my face but the red eyes make me look dangerous.
"Right now you would be dangerous to humans, but you're safe with us. Do you want some time alone or would you like to talk? It feels like more is bothering you than your changed appearance."
"Why did I bite you, Jasper? I know I didn't want Charlotte near you, but why? You and she are family."
"You felt threatened by a female. You were marking your mate to prove I belonged to you."
"Mate?" Explain mating to me, Jasper,"
"A mate is the one person who is your perfect partner. They compliment each other, like Emmett and Rose or Peter and Charlotte. It's an eternal bond once it's complete. Some people go their whole life without finding a mate. I've been waiting for over a hundred years for you."
"Are you sure it's me?"
I touched her face and felt the current run through us. "Feel that? It's one sign of a mate."
"I am a lucky man, Bella. But I understand this is a lot to take in on only your second day awake. I'll understand if you need time to process it, or even if you don't want me back. I won't force you into anything."
Bella leaned in and met his lips with hers gently. Passion ignited quickly and their kiss turned into roaming hands and battling tongues. When he broke the kiss she said, "I think I'm going to like this whole mate thing, Jasper, but let's take it slow. Get to know each other better."
"Whatever you need Darlin."
Authors Note: Real life is getting in the way today everyone so this may be the only chapter for the day.
