Author's Notes: Oh I love you guys! I was sooo happy to see all of those reviews that I was on my laptop as soon as I got in working on the next chapter for you. I didn't think this story would be so popular but I'm glad it is and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Special thanks to my beta Bripearl for making sure you guys understand this!

Disclaimer: I don't own it, don't sue

Scars

Chapter 9

Jasper POV

I felt the waves of panic, worry, and then fear beginning to disturb Bella's sleep and headed to her room. Sure enough she was practically fighting with the duvet in her sleep. I knelt next to the bed and held her hand while I calmed her.

"Don't go Jasper..." she murmured. "Promise you won't leave..." I knew she wasn't really awake and talking to me. She was either dreaming, or part of her subconscious registered my calm. I was pleased that she thought of me even when she wasn't actively doing so.

"I promise." I murmured back to her, even though she couldn't hear me. I decided it was more of a promise to myself...Bella made me happy, made me feel whole and good and I was pretty sure I made her happy too thanks to my gift. So I promised myself to keep it that way. I would keep us both happy and together.

I moved to leave but Bella now had a grip on my hand so tight I had to pry it off. She groaned and stirred.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked, she was awake now even if her eyes weren't open. When I didn't reply she continued. "Get in here Mr Whitlock and make yourself useful."

I didn't know exactly what she meant but got on the bed anyway. I tucked the duvet around her more tightly so I wouldn't make her cold and hugged her small warm form to me.

"That's better. My own cure for nightmares..." she murmured, snuggling against me.

"Glad I'm good for something." I chuckled, but she was already drifting back to sleep. I looked at the human girl in my arms and wondered why I hadn't done this before. With her sleepiness and calm dreamy state washing over me...this was probably the closest a vampire could get to sleep.

I watched over her all night, it was amusing to see how she shifted and turned in her sleep, how she managed to unravel herself from the duvet to press against me. I wasn't surprised that she hadn't wanted to be rolled in the duvet any longer; she was far hotter than normal. I stopped breathing as she nuzzled her way against my cool form. She was so hot, and she smelt so good.

Bella POV

I woke the next morning to find myself half sprawled across Jasper's chest. He was laid on his back and didn't seem to notice that I was awake, although I knew he had. I was pretty sure I hadn't fallen asleep in this position...poor Jasper I must have been all over him during the night. I blushed as I thought of the closeness...but I had slept so well. I don't remember sleeping that well in years.

"Happy?" he asked me, making me jump slightly. I looked at him and nodded. "You're not cold are you?"

"No." I replied. "Not at all actually." I felt his arms tighten around me and I began to draw circles on his jumper with my finger.

"I've got a surprise for you." He told me.

"I don't need anything Jasper." I protested softly.

"I think you'll like it, and it didn't cost me a thing." He insisted. I sat up and looked down at him curiously. "Alice is coming to visit you next week."

"Really?" I grinned. "And it's not going to be weird?"

"It'd be weird seeing any of us after such a long time darlin', but I promise you that after a few minutes you'll be friends as if you never parted." He told me. I leant down to kiss him with a smile on my face. "What did you want to do today?"

"Urgh...it's raining again." I replied, looking out the window. "I have coursework to do anyway. It's due tomorrow."

"I'll help you then. We can just have a lazy day." He suggested.

"I like the sound of that." I grinned, laying back down and snuggling into his side. "I hate the rain and cold. Let's just never leave the house unless it's sunny."

"Well...maybe we can sort out a holiday in the sun...somewhere quiet where I won't have to hide." He said, rolling onto his side to lean over me.

"That'd be nice." I sighed, closing my eyes, trying to picture me and Jasper somewhere hot and exotic. That'd be wonderful...a nice quiet sunny island where I could lay in the sun with Jasper without him having to hide. Would his skin warm in the sun?

Jasper POV

"I've also been thinking that maybe it's time I told Carlisle and the rest of the family about us." I told her decidedly. She looked a little shocked but didn't say anything. "Obviously Alice knows, as usual, but she hasn't said anything to the others and even though we're not the family we once were...Carlisle and Esme still took me in and I'd like them to know."

"What about..." she started. I didn't need to be an empath to know how uneasy talking about him made her sometimes.

"Did you want to wait? We have all learnt to hide our thoughts from him, but we can't hide them forever. I don't want Carlisle and Esme to have to keep secrets..."

"No...I don't mind him knowing I just don't want him to overreact." She replied. "I mean you were the main reason he chose to remove himself from my life...and now...you are my life Jasper. I just don't want him to do anything stupid."

"You still love him?" I asked evenly.

"Jasper trust me what I had with Edward just...it doesn't even compare to what we have." She replied, looking up to meet my eyes. "But Edward brought me into your world, your family. And you always remember your first love...just like you remember Maria...even though you wouldn't ever take her back, you still loved her once."

"Ssh beautiful." I told her, pressing my lips to hers. I knew what she meant, I felt what she felt and knew she loved me and that was all that mattered. I just needed her to know how she felt.

What started off as a soft kiss turned into so much more when I felt her desire. Who was I to leave her wanting? I moved my hands to her waist, feeling the warm skin exposed between her shorts and top. She kissed me back harder, pressing her whole body against mine and I wanted her like no other. I wanted her more than I'd ever wanted her blood but now wasn't the time. I started to pull back from her and leant up on my arms.

"Now Miss Bella might you be trying to seduce me?" I smirked.

"You started it." She whispered. "Hey look!" She sat up and pointed to the window. "The rain stopped!"

"Still set on that lazy day?" I asked her. "I've got an idea if it warms up a bit..."

"Does it involve watching you throwing rainbows?" she asked.

"It just might but that wasn't my idea." I replied.

"Sure, if you've got a better plan than having to do my coursework then by all means." She grinned.

"Alright I'll let you get ready while I go fix ya something to eat." I told her, kissing her softly. I headed downstairs and smiled to myself. I should have joined Bella in bed much sooner. We had been living together for two months now and it had been a month since I heard the words that made my existence worthwhile again. Bella told me she loved me and gave me a new chance at being happy.

Since then I hadn't tried to push my boundaries to be with her intimately...I had been content to kiss her and she had seemed happy with that even though sometimes I knew it frustrated us both. It was only last night, sharing a bed with her that I realised that unless I hadn't hunted in a while I was nearly immune to Bella's blood. I'm sure if she cut herself then it would be somewhat harder but on a day to day basis it no longer bothered me. I felt like an idiot for wasting time waiting. Now I couldn't wait to climb back in that bed with her tonight and let myself go that bit further.

"That smells amazing." Bella's voice came from behind me. I turned and placed the bacon and eggs on the table.

"Syrup?" I asked her.

"No, thanks." She replied, sitting down.

"I'm just going to get ready." I told her, placing a kiss on the top of her head as I left the room.

Bella POV

After finishing my breakfast I went back upstairs to track down Jasper. He was just walking out of his room dressed in clean jeans and a shirt when I saw him. God, did he have to look so good in everything?

"OK...I've packed us a bag of everything we need so if you're ready..." he said, raising an eyebrow waiting for my response.

"I think I'm ready." I replied. "Not that I know where we're going..."

"It's a surprise." He replied, gesturing for me to head back down the stairs.

As the front door opened, the sun hit my eyes. This was probably the nicest weather we'd had in weeks, any sign of the earlier rain was gone and it was actually warming up. When the wind rustled the trees, sunlight skimmed across the side of Jasper's face causing it to sparkle for a moment before the trees moved again.

"Are you going to be alright out here in the sun?" I asked, heading to his truck.

"We're not going in the truck darlin'." Jasper smirked. "We're going for a walk."

"Why do I have a feeling this is going to end in bruises for me?" I sighed. He just chuckled and took my hand in his cold one and began leading the way.

"It'll be worth it." He told me, squeezing my hand. "I promise."

Author's Notes: Another Chapter done. Hope you enjoyed it and I hope you're ready for Bella's surprise! As always if you've got any good fics you can recommend please do and I always love it when you hit the nice review button! x