I don't own Twilight.

Chapter 10

Bella watched her father play with Matthew while Victoria looked on. It made her kind of sad. She remembered times with her father before the divorce and she wished that Renee had never taken her away.

She didn't regret the time with her mother. Her mother had needed her, but maybe Charlie had too. Watching him these past few days with Matthew she could see how much happier Charlie was. He was still quiet and didn't like to be the center of attention but he was actually smiling now.

He must have been lonely for so long. She wished she had visited him more. Her mother had needed her, though, and she hated Forks. Even now she sometimes caught herself worrying about how her mother was doing.

She looked over at Jasper sparring with the wolves. A small smile appeared on her face. She didn't hate Forks like she once had. Now she kind of liked the small town.

She took a sip of her ice tea and continued to watch Jasper. She was mesmerized by the play of his muscles and his low growls that seemed to tickle her belly and make her breath harder. She felt her face get hot when he looked over at her and smirked.

She looked away flustered and took another drink of her tea. She constantly forgot the vampire was an empath. It was embarrassing how many times he would catch her with her naughty thoughts.

She felt a presence near her but didn't have to look up to know it was Jasper.

"Hey darlin'." He said.

She loved when he called her that. She looked up and smiled at him as he took a seat beside her. Her hand itched to reach out and take his.

She couldn't wait for the Cullens to return. She needed to break up with Edward. Even though he was a bastard it wouldn't be right to start something with Jasper till she ended things with him first.

She had tried to rationalize her lost feelings for Edward and her growing feelings for Jasper. Edward had left her in a temper, blaming her for Alice's death. He was probably getting ready to break up with her.

Bella let out a sigh. She could wait, really. They were due tomorrow.

"So what do you think about your dad and Victoria being mates?" Jasper asked.

Bella looked at him confused. She knew they liked each other…probably loved each other. They tried to hide it but it was obvious.

"Is that a vampire way of saying they like each other? I know Edward talked about 'mates' but I never really understood about it." She asked.

Jasper laughed.

"Well it's quite a bit more than just 'liking' each other." Jasper paused his smile still broad but now he was thinking about his words.

"It's kind of like a soulmate but more. The wolves have imprints but it's not quite like that either." Jasper told her.

"For every vampire there is a mate but they don't always find them. Sometimes they know instantly like Charlie and Victoria, sometimes it takes time." Jasper said.

"Did you know instantly with Alice?" Bella asked wanting to know but not wanting at the same time. She didn't like to think of his love for Alice.

"Alice and I weren't mates." Jasper said looking down at his hands.

Bella looked at him in shock. They had seemed perfect for each other.

"I cared for her deeply. She saved me from a life that was killing me but I could never love her like that. I thought it just wasn't in me." Jasper told her.

Bella reached out and took his hand, offering comfort.

"So what else is different about vampire mates?" Bella asked not wanting him to feel guilty or sad about Alice.

"Well vampires are extremely possessive. Even Carlisle would tear apart a man who tried to move in on Esme." Jasper told her.

Bella frowned and looked down. Edward was possessive of her. He hated when Mike Newton asked her out.

"They have a need to be close to each other when they are far apart they feel like there is a hole in their chest." Jasper said.

Bella's hand went to her chest unconsciously. Did she feel that? Edward was far away. No honestly she didn't really think about him. She was even a little relieved he was gone.

She looked over at Victoria. The sadness in her eyes was starting to fade but Bella still remembered her story. Is that what Edward had planned for her? Was he going to get her to have sex with him then leave her, alone and pregnant? A month ago she would have sworn he would never do that.

"Edward and I aren't mates are we?" She asked quietly, ashamed that she was relieved instead of sad.

"No." Jasper said fiercely.

Bella looked up at him quickly, surprised at his anger.

"I owe that boy a thrashing for the way he has treated you." Jasper said.

Bella grinned, somehow comforted by his protectiveness and care.

"So what's going to happen next for my dad?" Bella asked changing the subject.

"He wants to be changed as soon as possible. He wants me to change him because Victoria doesn't feel able to." Jasper said watching her closely.

Bella didn't know how she felt. She was happy for her father but would that mean she would be separated from him? Edward had said newborns were uncontrollable their first year. She had wanted to be changed too but with everything going on with Edward…

Edward was going to be upset enough when she broke up with him but he had never wanted her to be a vampire. She wasn't sure about his stability. Would her changing send him over the edge? Would it cause the Cullens to abandon them in their time of need?

They had no trouble abandoning her and Jasper when Alice died. Would they take off again to comfort Edward? How were they going to survive a battle with the Volturi without them? Jasper told her how strong the Volturi were.

Jasper had some friends coming…Charlotte and Peter. The Denali were coming and the wolves had agreed to fight but from Jaspers worried face she didn't think that was going to be enough.

"He's worried about his age darlin'. He feels like he's too old for Vicki as it is, he doesn't want to age anymore. He also has a huge stake in this fight. He loves that child like it's his own and the wolves are his childhood friends. He's going to fight whether he's a vampire or not. It's better if he has vampire strength to do it." Jasper said trying to convince her.

Bella shook her head.

"I understand all that and I'm happy for him, really." Bella said.

They were silent while Bella searched for her words.

"I'm just going to miss him." She finally said knowing she sounded selfish.

Jasper frowned at her.

"Aren't you going to want to be changed too? I assumed you would want to be in the fight…" Jasper trailed off and his face became sad.

"Edward didn't want me to be changed, I don't think now is a good time…" She was going to tell him about not wanting to cause division and chase the Cullens off but Jasper got up quickly and stalked off.

Bella watched him go. She knew he was angry. He didn't like her relationship with Edward that was obvious every time it was mentioned. She didn't go after him there was really nothing to say. She planned to break up with Edward but not till after the battle. If she had any luck at all Edward would break up with her.

Jasper stopped running when he reached the stream he had lost Bella's trail at. He sat down pulling his knees up and burying his face in his hands.

Didn't being mates mean they automatically loved one another? He had caught that emotion from her at times but he couldn't read her mind. Maybe she was thinking of Edward when she felt it.

He punched the ground beside him. Charlie knew instantly he loved Victoria why didn't Bella know? Was he wrong? He shook his head, no, he wasn't wrong. He had followed the pull and found her. The pull wouldn't be there if she wasn't his mate.

Maybe…maybe she just didn't want him as a mate. He knew he wasn't a nice man, wasn't a good man, hell he was even scarred. She probably couldn't see his scars as well as a vampire could but she could still see them. He was in no way physically perfect like Edward.

Jasper laid back on the ground looking up at the ceiling of pines. Could you reject your mate? The thought made him want to curl up and die.

He laid there until he smelled rain, then slowly got up. He would hunt and go back home…to the Swan's house.

When he got back it was late, he saw Bella still sitting on the porch. The wolves were gone and Victoria and Charlie were in the house.

Bella stood up and looked him over worriedly. She chewed her bottom lip and looked so beautiful it made his heart hurt.

He gave her a small smile. Even if she did eventually reject him he had the present and she was his friend for now. When Edward came back that would change and he would deal with it.

"I'm…" She started to say but Jasper held up his hand.

"You have nothing to be sorry for darlin'." He told her before stiffening. He was so distracted he didn't smell them till they were almost to the house.

He was in front of Bella and growling in an instant before he recognized the scent and smiled. He stood up straight.

"Go get your daddy darlin'." He told her.

Bella hesitated but did it, just as three blonde women emerged from the woods. They ran to him and hugged him before he could speak a word.

"We were so sorry to hear about Alice." Tanya told him as she pulled him closer.

Kate and Irina stood back but murmured their sympathies too. Carmen and Eleazer came up behind them and patted Jasper on the back.

"Ahem!" Bella cleared her throat.

Jasper tried to pull away from Tanya but she wasn't letting go. She gave Bella a look that was parts curiosity and part challenge.

Charlie and Victoria came onto the porch and looked over the group.

"We went to your house first but you weren't there. A helpful young man who smelled terribly and was half dressed directed us here once I identified myself." Eleazer told them.

"Can we see the child?" Kate asked hopefully.

"Yes but he's really tired. Somebody played him out today, so we can peek in on him but I don't want to wake him." Victoria said giving Charlie a look. Charlie smiled at her and the love pouring off of them warmed Jasper. He was truly happy for the man and had grown to like him even more over the last two days.

The women followed Victoria and Charlie into the house. Jasper was relieved that Tanya had let him go. He turned to Eleazer and gave him a quick man hug.

He had always liked Eleazer and pitied him being surrounded by females. The man didn't seem to mind though.

"So you told me a little over the phone but how bad is it really?" Eleazer asked.

Jasper went on to tell him the whole story while Eleazer listened intently. He shook his head when Jasper was done.

"I'll call any friends I think can help. You know we are here for you." Eleazer said clapping his back.

Jasper nodded gratefully. He could feel his sincerity and it made him feel a bit better. The girls eventually came back out. They were talking animatedly about Matthew. All of them were charmed by the boy.

Jasper noticed Bella yawn and decided to put the reunion on hold.

"Charlie really doesn't have enough room here to put you up but you are more than welcome to stay at Carlisle's house." Jasper told them. He had already got the okay from Esme.

Esme, Rosalie and Emmett were waiting in Alaska for Carlisle and Edward. They planned to come down together. The Denali's had been too excited at the prospect of Matthew to wait. Jasper had urged them to come early because they had no way of knowing when the Volturi would attack.

"Of course." Eleazer said and turned to leave. The girls followed all except Tanya.

Tanya sidled up to him and put an arm on his shoulder while playing with his hair. He felt her body press close to him and began to get uncomfortable. He didn't understand what was going on. Tanya was clearly making a play for him but he felt no lust from her.

"I could stay…I'm sure you could use some comfort." She told him huskily.

Jasper wasn't sure what to do. He wasn't used to women, especially vampire women, making a play for him. He felt a surge of anger and looked to the porch.

Bella was stalking angrily to them and before he knew what was happening she had yanked Tanya's hair pulling her off him. Bella was nowhere strong enough to actually move Tanya but Tanya allowed herself to be yanked away.

"Keep your hands off him!" Bella shouted. Jasper was shocked. He had never seen her so angry. He stared at Bella wide eyed as she wrapped her arms around him in a gesture of possessiveness and glared at Tanya.

Tanya looked at the pair and smiled. It hit Jasper then, Bella was acting as a mate…Joy filled him and he hugged her closer to him to reassure her.

"You're welcome Jazz." Tanya walked by them and whispered low enough for only him to hear.

Bella actually growled at her and Jasper couldn't help but laugh.

"It's okay darlin' Tanya was just playin' she's never been interested in me." Jasper told her.

He grabbed her hand and pried her from his body. He lead her up the porch and sat down in a chair before pulling her on his lap and holding her close. Neither of them talked they sat there enjoying each others company till Bella fell asleep.