Disclaimer: SM owns all things Twilight. I just like messing with the pairings ;)

As always, thanks to Nostalgicmiss for being her awesome self! If you haven't checked out our new collab, you should give it a shot. Her version of Bella cracks me up. Lots of backbone ;)

And finally, I didn't get to as many reviews as I would have liked. RL has been busy, but I read and loved every one! I also appreciate every alert and favorite! You guys are the best!

Chapter 9

BPOV

I should have known that the idiots wouldn't be able to control themselves. Take a nap, my ass! What they didn't know was that Ness and I were really peeking out the window, watching everything that was going on. When Jasper and Paul fought their way into the woods I knew it was on like Donkey Kong and one, or both, of them was going to end up seriously hurt.

"Bells, maybe you should just stay here. Let them get it out of their systems. You know how Paul is, and the fact that he is one of the few remaining wolves to not imprint just makes him worse."

"I know they need to do this, but I don't want either of them hurt. Just because I don't want Paul the way he wants me doesn't mean that I don't care about his stupid ass!" I was happy to be home and have all my favorite people (beings… whatever) together, but I was tired of being fought over. Yeah, I know; poor Bella with all the perfect male specimens wanting her. Yeah, well, you try it! It sucks ass!

"He was beside himself when you went missing. We all were. Poor Jake almost went crazy. I had one of my feelings that you were okay, but it didn't reassure any of them. Paul looked everywhere; he even flew to Phoenix to try and find you. He couldn't catch a scent since you had been gone so long, but he didn't stop until Sam ordered him home. You're going to have to talk to him Bells."

"I know, Ness, and I don't want to hurt him, but he knows how I feel. I'm so sorry that I worried all of you!" I threw my arms around her and squeezed until I heard the sound of ripping metal.

Nothing could have kept me inside that house and I made it to the tree line before Peter grabbed me around the waist.

"You can't go in there, sugar. The Major would kill us all of we let you get hurt." He was trying to soothe me, but all I could hear were the snarls and snapping of teeth coming from the blurs of movement I saw.

"Jasper!" I cried, big fat tears rolling down my cheeks.

Paul, in wolf form, crashed into a tree and I noticed him dropping what looked like Jasper's arm.

"Paul! You stay right where you are or I'll never speak to you again! Jay!" My breathing was becoming labored as the panic of not seeing Jasper set in.

"He's okay. He's coming. Calm down." Peter held me tightly and tried to soothe me.

"Jasper! You come out here right now!" I screamed and after what felt like forever he stepped into my line if sight.

Paul growled loudly at him but didn't move. Jasper was in front of me before I could blink and I wrapped myself around him.

"No more fighting! No more! I was worried sick!" I peppered his face with kisses, ignoring the fact that he was missing an arm. Why the hell was he always losing arms?

"I'm fine, little girl. Paul and I just needed to get it out of our systems. We'll behave now, won't we?" He glared at Paul who nodded his head. I could tell he was reluctant, but he always did anything I asked even when he hated it.

"Could someone get Jasper's arm please?" I asked, not untangling myself from him. Sam, still in wolf form made his way over to Paul, knowing he wouldn't dare take a snap at him, and retrieved Jasper's twitching arm.

"Jay, I love you, but if you ever do that to me again I am going to light you on fire! Got it?" He nodded and winced as Peter sealed his arm. "Now if you'll excuse me I have a wolf to talk to."

After a searing kiss, Jasper reluctantly let me walk toward Paul but I could hear his warning growl loud and clear.

"Paul, I think you should phase back. We need to have a chat." He whimpered and went into the woods. When he came back he was once again human so I grabbed his hand, pulling him further into the woods and out of earshot.

"I'm glad you're okay, Bells." He was the first to break the silence.

"Thanks, Paul. I'm glad to be back home, but we have to have some ground rules. I think you know what I'm going to say."

"Yeah, yeah… no making a chew toy of your new boyfriend. I get it." He sighed dramatically and I bumped shoulders with him.

"If you hadn't been afraid of me imprinting one day do you think we would have…" I stopped walking and looked at him when he stopped talking.

"Maybe. I don't know. I only know that I didn't want to become Leah, and you would have tried your damndest to fight it and made yourself miserable. It wouldn't have been fair to either of us."

"What if I never imprint? Should I be alone forever just waiting? You know we would be good together. You're sweet without taking my shit, and I could keep you from almost killing yourself on a daily basis. Let's not forget how much your dad loves me!" I barked out a laugh.

"Charlie thinks you're a male prostitute with all the women you've been caught with! And the lonely bit… puh-lease. You get more action than anyone I know!"

"Sex isn't the same thing as love, Bells. You know that."

"Love? You?" I scoffed.

"Maybe? I don't know. I just know that when you went missing… Look, you're my best friend, all right? Regardless of anything else… and I was worried sick! Now you come home and you're surrounded by the one thing that I am sworn to be enemies with. Hell, you're even bumping uglies with one of the vile smelling things! What do you expect me to do?" He threw his hands up, exasperated.

"I get that, Paul. I really do. But, seriously? Bumping uglies?" I laughed. "And the v-card is still fully intact, thank you very much, shithead."

"Well, that's good, at least. Could you just tone it down on the lovey dovey shit when I'm around? It sort of makes me want to vomit." He fake gagged and I playfully smacked his arm.

"Sure, if you'll stop trying to rip my man apart."

"Eww, that thing is not a man. Now me, on the other hand, I'm all man." Paul winked and we were back to our normal selves with one another. I just knew that he was going to find someone. If I head to search the world for him I would find a girl that was worthy and that could keep him on his toes.

Jasper was, as usual, pacing back and forth when we emerged from the woods. Paul shook a little when Jasper walked toward us, but just gave me a terse nod and disappeared back into the woods. I knew that he just needed some time to sort through everything so I let him go.

"Everything all right, little girl?" He asked as he sweetly kissed my lips.

"Yeah, it will be fine. Paul was just worried about me and having a hard time with some things, but he'll be all right now."

"Good. And how are you doing with all this?"

"Good. I'm just ready to see my dad!" I was so excited and I knew Jasper could feel it.

"Well, then let's go. I would love to meet your dad."

Danger Will Robinson! An image of my dad attempting to shoot Jasper filled my mind.

"Jay, maybe Carlisle and Esme should take me this time. I told you that we were going to have a little time apart. And my dad is going to be a bit… overprotective for a bit. Let's just handle one thing at a time."

Jasper's breathing increased and I could practically feel the temper tantrum coming on. Thankfully Jake stepped in.

"Charlie has been beside himself and while he is going to want to meet the man that saved his little girl, the fact that you two are involved is going to be difficult for him." Jake chuckled and I scowled as I knew what was coming. "See, uh, he's never actually seen Bella with a real boyfriend, and I think he may think she's a lesbian. He just got used to that idea when Bells went missing and I don't think we should spring too much on him at once."

Everyone within earshot erupted in laughter and the urge to kick Jake in the nuts was strong. Jasper doubled over as he clutched his stomach. Why me being a lesbian was so funny I had no idea, but I was not amused.

"All of you can kiss my ass!" I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted.

"Maybe I should go with you instead," Rosalie winked at me and I smiled despite myself, thinking of how funny that would be.

"Hell yeah!" Emmett pumped his fist in the air and I saw Edward cringe. I could only imagine the images running through Emmett's devious mind.

Jasper stopped laughing and growled at him. Emmett smiled, but raised his hands in surrender.

"Well, can I at least follow you there? I can hang back in the woods or something." Jasper wasn't going to let it go.

"I think you should hunt, Jay. Your arm still hasn't healed all the way. I promise that I'll call you as soon as I can get some time away from Charlie. Hey," I forced him to make eye contact with me "I love you and I'm not going anywhere. My dad lives like six miles from here. If you get worried, just call Carlisle."

I decided that I was going the next morning to replace my cell phone so that Jasper could get in touch with me anytime. Once he was calmed down and Peter convinced him to hunt I was in the back of Carlisle's Mercedes, on my way to see my dad.

I saw the familiar police cruiser in the driveway, and my stomach fluttered with nerves. I had missed my dad, and was truly worried about the kind of reaction he was going to have. He was never a healthy eater, and I could just picture him going into cardiac arrest. I was never more thankful that Carlisle was there.

I knocked on the door, not wanted to freak him out by just walking in. When he answered the door I was surprised to see how my dad had aged in just a short amount of time. There was more gray in his hair and a few more wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. Without saying a word, I flung myself into his arms and was amazed at how tightly he hugged me back. Charlie and I were never what you would call affectionate, so you could imagine how I felt when I looked up to see tears streaming down his face.

"Don't you ever do that to me again! God, I love you Bells! I was worried sick! Where were you? What happened?"

I felt so guilty as he spouted off questions. All that time he was looking for me, panicking, and I was falling in love. As badly as I felt, though, I couldn't take it back because it brought me to Jasper. No, there were no regrets when it came to that.

"I'm sorry, Dad! I was… well.." Lying was never my strong suit. Thank God for Carlisle.

"Chief, Bella was kidnapped. She was unharmed, but some friends of ours found her and took her home with them. When they found out where she was from, the called us. We immediately went to get her and brought her home to you."

Great job, Doc. Such a smooth liar.

"And none of you thought to call the police? I have the FBI working on this!"

"Bella suffered from amnesia for a while." Say What? "And she was with our friends for a time before she ever even remembered who she was. She remembers nothing about her kidnapping, but I checked her out and she is physically fine."

Charlie sighed and looked like he was contemplating everything that he had been told. Did it make sense? No. Could we tell him that I was taken by vampires and had fallen in love with one? Hell no!

"All right, well I'll call my buddy at the FBI and call off the search. I'm just so glad you're safe, Bells." He hugged me again.

"Me too, Daddy." I never, ever, called him that but it seemed to make him happy in that moment.

Once he was satisfied, Carlisle and Esme left and Charlie and I moved to the living room. He chose the couch instead of his old recliner so that he could keep an arm around me. It was the most affectionate I ever remember him being.

"So, these people that saved you? They were good to you?"

"Yes. They, uh… we became really close."

"Uh-huh. And they were females?" He quirked an eyebrow and I fought back a giggle.

"Two males and one female. Peter and Charlotte are married and Jasper is Peter's brother."

"So, uh… did this Jasper… was he a gentleman?"

I couldn't help it! I laughed so hard I almost peed myself. Not only was Charlie asking me about boys, but could you really describe Jasper as a gentleman? I mean, I suppose he was in the sense that he never pushed anything sexually, but he was bossy and… he was just Jasper.

"Yes, Jasper was a complete gentleman."

"Why do I get the feeling that there is more to this story?" Oh shit. Think fast, Bella. Lesser of two evils. Just tell Charlie that you and Jasper are involved.

"Well, as Carlisle said, we got very close. And well, Jasper and I are sort of… together." I closed my eyes and waited for the fumes sure to begin shooting out of Charlie's ears.

"Well, then I am assuming that he came with you to Forks?"

Shit, shit, shit!

"Yes." I gulped loudly.

"Then I would like to meet the man who rescued my baby girl."

Dammit to hell!

"Uh, sure. I'll just call him in a few days…"

"What's wrong with now?"

"Dad, he's probably tired! I know that I am." I stretched and gave my best fake yawn.

"You always were a sucky actress, baby girl. Is there a particular reason you don't want me to meet this man of yours?" Charlie quirked an eyebrow and I fought not to growl at him. I had definitely been spending too much time with vampires and wolves.

"No," I said through clenched teeth. Charlie seemed amused by my attitude but before he could goad me any further there was a knock at the front door. Without even opening it, I knew exactly who it was and for some reason had the urge to blame Alice. I rushed to the door, almost tripping over my own feet in order to beat Charlie who was snickering behind me.

"Hey, little girl," Jasper greeted, looking entirely too gorgeous for his own good. And relaxed. The asshole looked relaxed.

"Well, well, well, aren't you going to invite your young man in, Bells?" Charlie's chuckle had been cut off with one look at Jasper and was now in Chief/Father mode. I began to worry for my father's safety. Jasper wasn't known for his ability to be talked down to.

They seemed to regard one another for a moment before Jasper spoke up.

"Hello, sir, I'm Jasper Whitlock. I just thought I'd come by and see how my girl is doing?" He held out his hand and I cringed as Charlie shook it. Like me, he was observant. Jasper just winked at me.

"Well, come on in. Would you like a beer or something?" I almost laughed but Jasper surprised me.

"Why yes, sir, that would be nice of ya'." I thought my eyes were going to bug out of my head.

"You are old enough to dink aren't you son?" Charlie asked as he popped the top off of a Vitamin R.

"Of course, sir." Little did Charlie know that he was old enough to be his great-grandfather.

"So, Jamie, how did you find my daughter?" Charlie smirked as he tilted back his beer bottle. Jasper surprised me by downing half of his in one gulp. That shit tasted like horse piss to me, so I could only imagine how it tasted to him.

"His name is Jasper, Dad, and can we not talk about this? I'm about talked out about it." I interjected, hoping to steer Charlie off course.

"Oops. Honest mistake." There was that damn smirk. And did he just twitch his mustache?

"No, it's fine, sweetheart. If you were my daughter I would want to know as well. You see, sir, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I saw some blonde jerk manhandling her and I must have scared him off. She didn't know who she was or how she got there, so I took her home with me."

"And you didn't think to call the cops?"

"Well, sir, she had no memory. I wasn't even sure that it wasn't just a spat between boyfriend and girlfriend. I had no idea she had been kidnapped until she regained her memory. Then we called Carlisle."

Jasper was a cool liar, but I could see what Charlie couldn't. Jasper's posture may have looked relaxed, but I had seen relaxed and that wasn't it. His jaw muscles were clenching as he fought to contain himself. I could only imagine what my father's emotions were at the moment. Dad never had to deal with the "boyfriend" thing apart from Jake, and to him that didn't count. Charlie and Billy had us married off to one another when we were still playing in the mud as kids.

"Well, I'm sure you won't mind telling all this to the FBI when they come for statements, then will you?" My dad may have been a small town cop, but it didn't mean he was stupid. He knew there was more to the story. I just hoped he didn't poke around and get himself killed. Jasper loved me, but he was a bit unstable. And I would have hated to be forced to light the man I loved on fire. I reached out and began tracing my fingers over the miniscule bumps on Jasper's arms where his scars were. I could feel the tension slightly leave his body.

"No, sir, I see no problem with that at all." The air in the room felt so thick it was suffocating me. Thankfully a knock on the door broke it.

"Dad, can you get that?" There was no way I was leaving them in the room alone together.

"Hi, Bella! Hi, Jasper!" Alice floated into the room and I could tell Jasper was fighting not to growl at her as she sat on my other side. He may have been warming up to her, but he still didn't like her too close to me. I hissed at him and he gave me an apologetic look. It was neither the time, nor the place for his possessiveness.

"Hi, Alice!" I was so happy to see her I could have kissed her. Apart from Jasper, Alice could charm the pants off of anyone and I was banking on that to serve as a distraction to Charlie.

"Peter sent me to tell Jasper that they needed him back at the house. He accidentally left his phone at home."

I could practically feel Jasper restraining himself from going all Major, so under the pretense of kissing his cheek I whispered that Alice must have seen something and to calm down. Alice began talking to Charlie at a speed that probably left him dizzy, but he was so in awe of her that I don't think he minded. I took the opportunity to talk to Jasper.

"Jay, just pretend to leave and go around the house. My room is on the second floor. The tree by the house leads right up to it. Just go up there and wait for me. You don't have to leave, okay? Calm down. No one is trying to take me from you."

"Your father doesn't trust me. He doesn't like when I touch you. I'm not giving you up, little girl."

"Jasper, that is my father!" I whisper-yelled. "He is protective of me. You just have to control yourself! If I think for a second that you will hurt my father…"

"Ok, ok, little girl. I'm sorry. I'll control myself, but I'm going to need all your attention upstairs as a distraction." Those words may have seemed playful if they came from anyone other than the Major, because that was who was in control. He meant business, and there was no doubt that he would be marking his territory and showing me who I belonged to.

Now I'm not the type of girl into being dominated, but sometimes you have to pick your battles and letting him rub his scent all over me like a dog pissing on a tree was the least of my worries.

"Okay, baby, just say goodbye and I'll be up as soon as I can."

Jasper was polite as he said goodbye to my dad and Alice left shortly after with a wink in my direction. Charlie very obviously wanted to chat but after a few minutes I expressed how exhausted I was I made my way to my room. Immediately I was pinned to my bed by a black-eyed Major.

"Jasper, can you lock the door before you start this… whatever it is you're about to do?"

"Already done," he growled.

I couldn't speak as he began nipping at the skin along my neck. He was always very careful with his venomous teeth, but I could tell just how badly he wanted to bite; to mark me and fully make me his. And damn if it wasn't hot.

"Kiss me, please," I panted and he obliged. There was nothing gentle or sweet about it. He was rubbing his body all over mine as he dominated the kiss. When I needed to breathe he pulled away.

"Who do you belong to?" He growled.

"You, Jasper. You know that." I traced my favorite scar but his eyes did not change.

"Do I know that? I don't think so. I have let you get away with a lot, little girl, because of my love for you, but sometimes I just want to… do things… to show you that you are mine. I am sick of you doubting that we are meant for one another. I am sick of you pushing me at Alice. And now your father is going to try and convince you to leave me. That is not going to happen, do you understand?"

I laid there like a lump of coal, frozen. Jasper had never spoken to me that way and I had no idea what to do or say in response.

"I said, do you understand?" He asked again as he ground himself into me. I bit my lip to stop from crying out because he was hitting just the right spot.

"Yes," I whispered. "I understand."

"You are my mate. Not. Alice. Do you understand?" With every word he would hit that spot and I felt like I was going to explode at any moment. I don't even think I was aware of what I was agreeing to.

"Yes. I'm yours." His movements stopped.

"Look at me," he commanded and I complied.

"You are my mate. Never question me on that again. I love you and will protect you until I am turned to ash. I will kill to keep you and soon I will claim you in every way and you will be mine. In. Every. Way. You will be like me. Do you understand?"

Holy. Shit.

Yep, I went blank for a good ten minutes. Jasper never moved. He was still as a statue as he stared down at me. Finally I gulped in a lungful of air and answered.

"I understand. Now can you go back to that grinding thing you were doing?"

His eyes returned to the amber I had gotten used to and he was Jasper again.

So, the tides have shifted and Bella has been officially put in her place. Things are gonna' be changing, so maybe you guys will hate Bella a little less now that she has accepted him.