Rekindles Ashes

Chapter 10: Home

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight sadly, otherwise I would have a nice log cabin in the woods where I would be a complete recluse and write until my heart was content. Instead, I have a full time job! So that being said the characters all belong to Stephenie Meyer, but the story came from my twisted little mind. Rated M.

My past is perilous
But each scar I bear sings
Monuments to where I have been
And melodies to where I am going
Monuments and Melodies by Incubus

Bella didn't need Jasper's gift to feel the tension rise in the cabin. It seemed to coagulate around her making the air cloying and heavy. Like most of the others in the plane, she was curious as to what seemed to create the heady atmosphere. Leaning her ear close to Stacey's she peered out through the window to find a wall of russet skinned boys stood shoulder to shoulder next to the plane. All of them had dark eyes and dark hair, their stances almost identical as they glared at the plane in front of them.

Considering the company they were in, Bella wasn't sure what was so significant about the boys she was looking at. Other than them being half naked giants with well defined muscles, of course. What about these boys, or perhaps she should call them men, made the Cullens so nervous? From what she'd seen there wasn't much that could kill them, and none of the men outside the window seemed to be carrying a flame-thrower.

"I'll go with you," Edward said from behind Bella. When she turned she realized he was answering Carlisle's thoughts. His amber eyes were filled with concern as they focused on the blond man in the seat in front of her.

"Probably best," Carlisle sighed, standing up after kissing Esme reverently on the lips. He turned to the rest of the group on the plane and smiled as he tried to relax some of the more eager of the passengers. "Please stay on the plane for a while. We'll take care of our friends and then we can make our way to the house."

"Who are they?" Sophie asked, and when Bella turned to look at her, Sophie was still staring out of the window with an expression of awe. She hadn't even noticed one of Harrison's boys looking over her shoulder. It stood as a testament to how distracted she was. Bella could see where her fascination was coming from, she herself had noticed how . . . Impressive, their physiques were.

"Quileute's," Alice replied, which had Bella turning back in her seat to face her. "They're from the reservation by the coast."

"Nothing to worry about," Carlisle emphasized. "We're in their territory, so we need to clear our passage and then we'll be on our way."

Bella had picked up on the phrasing of his words, and was curious about the fact that they even had territories. It didn't make much sense to her at all. She bit back her plethora of questions and watched as Carlisle followed Edward to the door. Their posture didn't exactly back up the words of reassurance that he'd given. Both men seemed tense as they broke the seal on the door and pushed it open.

Bella could feel the cool air as it crept in through the open space and began filling the plane. She closed her eyes and let it wash over her for a second. It eased the tension in her. The recirculated, but stagnant air of the plane had been bothering her. The slight brine of the sea was lingering in the subtle breeze creeping through the cabin.

Not wanting to miss anything, she opened her eyes and watched the exit of the two men from the plane. The moment they were out of view, she turned her eyes to Jasper who seemed less comfortable with the situation than anyone else. There was even a subtle wave of trepidation rolling from him. It seemed to vibrate in the air around her. It was the only way she could really describe the sensation. She wanted to ask what he was worried about, but her eyes were drawn to the window where Stacey hand her palms sprawled out on the translucent plastic window.

Each of the boys on the tarmac seemed to tense as Carlisle and Edward approached, which was all she needed to realize that there was no secret of what they were. The Quileutes knew they were vampires and it was obvious that made them nervous as hell.

She couldn't hear the exchange, but she could see the tension roll through the line of boys. One of them, closer to the middle, seemed to be shuddering. The man's face was dark as he scowled at the men in front of him in contempt. It seemed as only one spoke for the group, he was taller than all of them, his shoulders wide, and his face strained as he glared forward at the approaching vampires. There was something familiar about him, but Bella couldn't put her finger on it. Having seen enough she sat back in her seat and turned to Jasper.

"What's going on?"

"Their not happy about us being so close to their land. They know us and they know our diet, but after everything that's happened their still cautious. It's understandable, but they're being stubborn. We may have to go to Port Angeles and drive back."

"Is that really necessary?" Bella asked. To her, it seemed like a waste of time. They had to only be a couple miles away from the Cullen's house. If memory served her correctly, it would take an hour to drive from Port Angeles to Forks.

"Unfortunately, if they maintain this level of hostility, yes."

"Let me out."

Jasper looked at her as though she'd lost her mind. She was almost sure he was searching for her emotions so she pushed her impatience and fatigue at him in small waves. It had been at least thirty-six hours since she'd last slept. She didn't want to fight with these guys, but if they were worried about the vampires, she was more than happy to be an advocate for them if it would give them an opportunity to get to somewhere the girls could finally sleep.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Jasper," Bella sighed impatiently. "I'm human. A tired, impatient human that's about to have a total sense of humor loss if I don't get some sleep. If I can reassure them we won't linger and they listen, then no harm done."

"You don't understand."

"They're territorial? I get it. Am I going to have to climb over you?"

There was a flicker in Jasper's features that moved so quickly Bella didn't have time to identify it. Rather than fighting her, he stood up in the seat as Bella placed Stacey on her feet in the chair she'd just vacated.

"Can I come with you?" Stacey asked, her face open and curious as Bella shimmied past Jasper's cool body.

It took her a second to make the decision. Stacey was so small and defenseless she had her doubts, but these men seemed human, there was a chance that she would make it all the more prevalent that they weren't a threat to them. Still unsure whether or not it was the right thing to do, she nodded her head and opened up her arms. It was a gamble considering she had no idea who these men were and what they were capable of, but she needed to get these girls settled in; sooner rather than later.

Before anyone could argue, Bella scooped Stacey into her arms and strolled toward the open door where the wind was pulsing into the cabin with more fervor. The moment she stepped out into it she shuddered. The air was almost freezing as rolled over her figure. She pulled Stacey closer to her body and tried to wrap the leather of her jacket around her small body.

"It's cold," Stacey whispered letting off a timid shiver.

"I know, honey. We shouldn't be out here too long."

That being said, Bella headed to the front of the jet and stepped around it hoping she was right. She could see the line of men stiffen as she approached. They were huge. All of them had a foot if not more on her and stood with imposing rigidity as she stopped on the other side of Carlisle.

"What the hell is this?" One of the boys asked almost baring his teeth at Bella.

Bella eyed each one of them separately, but came back to the tallest in the middle. The familiarity of him continued to nag at the back of her skull, and from the way he was staring at her, she was starting to think he was having the same reaction.

They stared at one another for a while longer making the air even more awkward to the others who really had no idea what the hell was going on.

"Do I know you?" he asked, putting his hand on the chest of the boy to his left. The guy seemed to be itching for a fight. His hands were balled at his sides and his eyes were locked on Edward.

"I don't know, but you look familiar to me too." Bella said, holding Stacey closer under her jacket. "That's not the point or why I'm out here though. I don't know what your problem is with the Cullens, but I think you should know they saved our asses, and they've offered us a safe place to live. I know this is your land or whatever, but do you think you could just let us pass through so we can get some fucking sleep?"

"Oh my God! Bella Swan?" The boy asked, a grin that had the warmth of sunshine breaking out over his lips. "I recognize that foul mouth anywhere."

As soon as he said her name, everything clicked into place and his name formed on the tip of her tongue. She examined him a little closer and could finally see the child he had been in the man he now was. It was a wonder she hadn't recognized him sooner.

"Jacob Black. Some things never change do they? I should have known you'd be the one blocking paths. You always were a pain in the ass. I do have to say it's good to see you're alive though."

Jacob laughed, his shoulders shaking in his humor. The boy he'd been holding back leaned in and whispered into Jacob's ear making him shake his head. His smile disappeared and his brows furrow the longer the fervent whisper went on. Edward shifted on the other side of Carlisle, and Bella noticed his fists balling at his sides. They were obviously thinking, or maybe talking about something he didn't especially like. His face seemed to grow darker the longer the exchange went on.

"Perhaps you shouldn't make assumptions. They're here by choice," Edward finally snapped, his tone cold. His eyes flickered to Bella as though asking her to interject in the conversation.

"It's true, the Cullen's were nice enough to offer us a home after ours burned to the ground. We're cold and tired and we'd really appreciate it if you let us get there."

Jacob shook his head at the boy next to him and turned his head in his direction and spoke too quietly for Bella to hear. She knew the Cullens could probably discern what was being said, but she wasn't going to ask. Not while they were stood as close as they were. It was that moment that Stacey decided curiosity was more important than fear and twisted in Bella's arms so she could see the boys. She gave them a shy wave as her other arm hooked around Bella's neck.

The boys looked at one another and then to Jacob who they seemed to regard as their leader. His eyes were on the small girl in Bella's arms, obviously noticing her for the first time. Though what they'd thought she was hiding beneath her jacket, Bella didn't know.

"How many of you are there?" Jacob asked offering Stacey a smile and a wave.

"Thirteen girls, four boys and the Cullen's," Bella responded, cuddling Stacey closer to her body as the wind continued to envelope them in it's grasp. She was surprised by how silent Edward and Carlisle had become since her arrival. She'd expected them to say something, but they seemed content to let her do the speaking.

Jacob however seemed torn. He didn't seem to like the fact that the Cullens had shown up with more humans. Bella appreciated his concern, but she was growing impatient standing out in the cold. She was so tired even her limbs seemed to weigh twice what they normally did.

"Fine," Jacob finally said, resignation on his face as he stared at Bella.

"Jake . . ." The guy on his left said out loud, the outrage plain on his features.

"Not now, Paul. We'll discuss it later." Paul didn't seem placated by Jacob's words and disengaged himself from the group and stormed toward the tree line, his fists balled and small tremors running down his spine.

"Thank you, Jacob," Bella said earnestly noticing the small change in Carlisle and Edward's rigidity. They seemed to have been a lot more strained than Bella had first realized.

"Bella, do you think after you've rested a little we could meet up? It's been a while, we probably need to talk and catch up."

"I guess," Bella smiled. "I just need to get the girls settled. It's been a long couple of days."

Jacob nodded in agreement and turned to look at Edward who'd seemed to tense yet again. He gave a small nod of agreement before Jacob turned and headed after Paul. His friends following him as the mumbled amongst themselves. Bella didn't wait to talk to Carlisle and Edward; instead she made her way back to the plane and climbed the steps, hoping they'd have a way of getting them to the house.

"Okay, we need to moved quickly," Carlisle said as he followed her in. "There's a shuttle bus over by the parking lot, Jasper and Emmett if you could do the honors, we can get everyone to the house."

Jasper slipped past Bella and gave her hand a gentle squeeze before following Emmett out of the plane. Everyone else seemed to move wearily out of their seats and head toward the doors where the rest of the Cullen's were already exiting. The only person that didn't leave with the rest of the group was Sophie. She stood next to Bella and watched as the rest of the girls left the warm confines of the plane.

"What was that?"

"What was what?" Bella asked incredulously looking at her friend.

"That!" Sophie nodded to the windows in the direction Jacob and his friends had been stood. "Why do you keep taking unnecessary risks?"

"It wasn't an unnecessary risk," Bella said defensively. "I know him. His sisters used to babysit us when our dad's went fishing together. I was asking him to let us get out of here. He agreed. No big deal."

The silence hung between the two girls as they stared at one another. Bella knew she was more defensive than usual because she was so tired, but she couldn't back down. Sophie was known to test boundaries, and if there were an inkling of Bella backing down she would take it and run with it. Sophie was tired of being out of the loop for too long, but Summer had been far more confrontational than Bella had.

"Don't fight," Stacey whispered, her hands landing on both the girls' shoulders. "Not today."

"I'm sorry," Bella said breaking the battle of wills between her and Sophie. "I'm really tired, and it's putting me in a bad mood. We can talk about all of this later. We just need to get some rest."

"And a hot shower," Sophie added with an apologetic smile.

"Ladies, your chariot awaits," Garrett called through the door startling the three of them and making Stacey fold into fits of giggles.

. . .

Jasper had never been so happy to see the house that stood before him. He could hear the chatter of the girls in the bus that was still making it's way up the gravel driveway that winded over the small hill toward them. Whatever had passed between Bella and Sophie in the airplane had changed the mood between them for the better and some of the tension that had been lingering had dissipated.

"It's so good to be home," Esme sang as she let her hand rest on Jasper's shoulder, her eyes on the huge structure ahead of her.

"We keep this up we may need to expand," Jasper replied, half joking. Unfortunately, he knew that Esme would love to work on the project, which would undoubtedly mean manual labor for his family.

"It'll be nice to have a full house. Even with all of us together, not hearing the sounds of life surrounding us makes me feel hollow sometimes."

"I know, Es," Jasper laughed, patting her hand. "You're going to be in your element. We'll have to see about that vegetable garden you've always wanted."

"Jasper!" Carlisle breathed shaking his head as he approached. "Are you trying to make more work for yourself?"

Jasper shrugged as Esme removed her hand from his shoulder and leaned into her husband. The thought of doing something relatively normal was actually appealing to him. They were going to have a house full of humans who needed food, he would be glad to help. It didn't hurt that it would also distract him from the girl that seemed to consume his every thought.

"I should go and arrange some rooms for the girls. Do you think they'd mind sharing until we can arrange more beds?"

Jasper chuckled at Esme's concern. He was certain that the girls were more than used to sharing, they seemed to have been doing so for a while. The school was big, but the room he'd seen them in was arranged in a way that kept them all close. He knew being close would offer them comfort as well.

Esme rushed toward the house in a sprint and before he could blink the lights began spilling a warm glow over the grass in front of the house, highlighting the motes in the air that strayed into their path. It looked beautiful like that, especially framed by the gray sky of the late morning light. The cloud cover in Forks often gave off the impression of late afternoon for most of the day, and to him it was comforting.

He made his way to the house slowly as the bus trundled up the last of the driveway. He could hear quiet exclamations from the girls as they admired the Cullen's home, and reveled in the quiet happiness that radiated from the moving vehicle. Most people seemed to revere their home when they first set eyes on it. It was a beautiful architectural feat of engineering. Esme had worked for months on the plan, which was open for additions. Its walls were almost completely made of glass letting any and all light filter through, the shutters were hardly ever used, but they were useful when someone wanted time alone with their spouse.

As he walked in through the wide front door he sighed at the familiarity that surrounded him. The neutral colors accented with vibrant bold colors were Esme's signature look. Even Edward's grand piano was nostalgic for him. He took the stairs two at a time and headed for his room that he was planning on offering to Bella. The huge king sized bed wasn't needed for him, but he'd enjoyed sprawling out on it with his laptop while everyone else coupled up and took a sabbatical from wakefulness. Which was code for sexual intimacy.

He pulled his trunk out from under the bed and filled it with magazines and DVD's no woman should ever have to see, he left his books on display and his clothes in the closet but tried to remove anything too personal to stop the awkwardness of the refusal he was expecting from her.

Stowing the trunk in the attic, he made his way down the stairs to greet the people streaming in through the door with eyes filled with wonder. He danced through the mulling crowd toward his target and smiled at Bella, who returned it as she watched her small family admire their new surroundings.

"What do you think? Could you be comfortable here?" Jasper asked, carefully knocking his shoulder with hers.

"I dunno," she sighed feigning boredom. He knew she was faking it, he could feel the excitement radiating from her. "It's sub par, but it'll do."

Throwing his head back, Jasper let out a raucous laugh that Bella responded to with a small laugh of her own.

"It's beautiful," she finally said, shaking Stacey's hand that was still glued to her own. "What do you think, Munchkin?"

"It's so pretty, and it has a piano."

Jasper laughed again and knelt in front of the two of them. "Maybe when you wake up in the morning you can ask Edward to teach you how to play."

"Really?"

"I would be honored to teach you," Edward said as he strolled through the door with his head held high. "If it's all right with Bella of course."

"Hey if she wants to learn, I am all for it."

Jasper looked up at her and smiled. She looked radiant even with the deep, dark circles under her eyes, and the smile she gave him in return almost warmed his cool skin. It was almost impossible to imagine this ethereal creature in front of him fighting like a warrior. If it hadn't been for his perfect recollected memory he wouldn't have believed it was the same person that had fought with such volatility.

"Would you and Stacey like to see your room?" he finally asked, standing up.

He could see Stacey nodding, and when Bella looked down at her she let off a small giggle that moved straight through Jasper like electricity. He would give anything to be able to make her emit that sound again. Instead, he stepped out of her way and swept his hand toward the stairs. Bella led the way with Stacey and made slow progress up them as the girl took one at a time, her patience was endless.

Once they'd crested the top of the stairs he swept past them and stood against the jam of the door as they followed. The rush of pure enjoyment that came from Bella as her eyes fell on the bed almost made him shudder.

"This is beautiful," Bella breathed, her hand moving to her chest as her eyes scanned the rest of the room. She stepped in slowly as Stacey detached herself from Bella's hand and launched herself on the bed. Once she was in the middle she started bouncing, her naturally large eyes growing even bigger as she giggled her approval. Bella however was a little more restrained.

"This is your room," she said, looking at him from under her long lashes.

"Is it that obvious?" He asked, a little surprised that she'd picked up on it. There really wasn't all that much of him in the room. He had his possessions, but there was no way she knew him well enough to realize his love of history and, ironically, technology was what had inspired most of the books and gadgets that littered the surfaces.

Bella's cheeks flared pink as she shook her head. It was an endearing look on her. Jasper found himself reacting to it in the most surprising, if not slightly uncomfortable, manner.

"No, it's just it . . ." She paused, her cheeks growing pinker by the second. Jasper could smell the blood as it flooded into face, making her almost glow. "It smells like you."

Jasper barked out a laugh. Of all the answers he'd been anticipating that hadn't been one of them. He hadn't thought she'd taken that much notice of him. Part of the idea that she knew his scent above the others excited him, the other part of the revelation, however, terrified him. He wasn't sure he'd be able to resist her when she said things like that.

"I'm sorry. I know that sounds really creepy, but you have a distinctly masculine and . . . Never mind."

God help him, had Stacey not been in the room, Jasper couldn't deny he would have had her on the bed before she could have finished the sentence. He had to be more careful, and more restrained. The woman had no idea how enticing she was.

He offered her, what he hoped, was a comforting smile and changed the subject.

"If you need something to sleep in, there are shirts in the closet and dresser. I know it's not perfect, but I'm sure Alice will manage to find you something to wear. Anything else you need just let one of us know and we'll see if we can find it for you."

"Thank you," Bella said with genuine emotion. "You shouldn't have to give up your room to us though."

"I don't need it," he admitted with a smile. "It's actually nice to know someone will use it as intended. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. The bathroom is through there if you'd like to take a shower."

He could have kicked himself for repeating himself, but there was something about her that almost made him feel human again. The nervousness and excitement that swept through him just seemed to jumble his thoughts.

"Thank you. For everything."

"You are most welcome."

Jasper backed out of the room and pulled the door closed behind him. He wanted to move away but the squeal of giddiness and laughter that came from Bella as she launched herself on the bed with Stacey was mesmerizing.

"It's rude to eavesdrop, Jasper," Rose laughed as she carried Millie toward her and Emmett's room. There were a few other girls following her, their eyes drinking everything in and ignoring the exchange between Jasper and his sister.

"Not eavesdropping," he replied with a small wave at the young girl in Rose's arms. "Did you clear your room out?"

"What do you mean?"

Jasper tried to project an emotion at her that made her eyes wide as they turned on him. It was obvious that she understood what he was asking. She and Emmett weren't exactly quiet about their downtime. They were married so it wasn't like it they were deviants, but a small child finding what they had stashed could be quite embarrassing, if not highly amusing.

"No. Crap. Millie, do you think you could give Jasper a cuddle while I . . . Tidy my room for a minute?"

Jasper laughed and barely reacted when Rosalie glared at him with narrowed eyes. It was the look that normally sent Emmett into the basement where he'd play Xbox for hours, but Jasper wasn't scared of Rosalie like Emmett was. She didn't have sex to threaten him with. She could be a raging bitch and hold a grudge for decades, but Jasper wasn't normally a target for that, and she wasn't petty enough to hold this against him.

Before the little girl could stop nodding, she was in Jasper's arms, and Rosalie was nothing but a cool breeze. He had no idea just what they had in their room and honestly didn't want to know. The fact remained, however, they were all going to have to make changes in their lives, but somehow, he didn't see anyone minding. Change was good, and they were doing something positive, unusual, but positive.

This was definitely going to be interesting, Jasper thought happily as he turned to the young girl in his arms.

Authors Note: I know it wasn't much of a surprise that it was the shifters lol! Still, Paul is as hostile as ever, Bella and Jacob have a slightly antagonistic acquaintance, and they finally got to the house. I think we've also established that Jasper would be more than happy to trip Bella and beat her to the floor! Ahh the joys of sexual attraction lol!

As always, thank you to all of you for all of you for reading, alerting, adding to favorites, and reviewing. All of your support and thoughts keep me smiling and I love hearing some of your theories on what you think will happen next. I also thank you for your patience in their slow burn lol!

Hev99 and Sabi'sSookie, your love and support means so much to me. Thank you for everything you do for me, and for being there at the end of one journey and the beginning of another. You both know how much I love you, and your being there and celebrating with me when I finished my little project is more than I could have ever asked for. *Wink*

MWAH!