Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. I do, however, own Adrian, this storyline, and an American Idol Karaoke game that gets way too much use. This one's for iloveeverythingtwilight. Love you, darlin'. Thanks as always to the best beta in the world, readingtime.

Jasper's POV

Edward looked positively enchanted when he heard Bella singing. "There's a lot about Bella that you never took the time to find out." It was the truth. I don't think he ever really knew who Bella was. He wasn't in love with the real Bella, he was in love with the idea of Bella, and apparently still is. It didn't escape my observation that when in a moment of weakness I had asked Edward to back off and not try and steal her away from me, he didn't answer.

"You two's little pissing contest was getting Bella really upset. I told her to go sing so she could get her mind off it." He was scowling at both of us. Adrian was the only human besides Bella that I have ever met with such a huge capacity for love. The love that Adrian has for Bella was so fierce, so untainted. They were closer than brothers or sisters, closer than best friends, and yet purely platonic. Adrian has always made it perfectly clear that no matter what, when it all boils down to it, he was Team Bella all the way. I respected him so much for that. His love for Alice astounded me, too. I always felt like the love I had for Alice was so strong. Now, knowing the true extent of his love for her, knowing the love I feel for Bella, I have realized just how much Alice and I were shortchanging each other. I am lucky that I get to love Alice the way Adrian loves Bella, and it just feels right.

I turned my attention back to Bella. She had such a beautiful singing voice. I reminded myself to ask Adrian exactly how he conned her up there, though. Even if she was upset at us, she hated attention. It was an interesting song choice, one that could be interpreted several ways. My hope was that it was her way of telling Edward that he needed to move on. Her emotions weren't giving me any vital information. She was definitely pissed, and felt incredibly guilty. Of course she would blame herself for our fight. When the song was over, I gave her a standing ovation. Adrian and Edward joined me, and the rest of the crowd gave her a rousing round of applause as well. She blushed furiously and scurried off the stage. I held my arms out to her to give her a hug, and she didn't refuse, but it was a quick, cursory hug, nothing more, then she sat down next to Adrian and started playing with a packet of sugar. Adrian rubbed her back and she looked up at him with tears in her eyes. We all sat in awkward silence for a few moments before their food arrived. Bella ate a couple bites of her burger and pushed the plate away.

"Jasper, I'd like to go home now, please." We all stood and Adrian gave her a kiss on the cheek before giving me a warning look. I put my hand on the small of her back and led her out of the bar, grateful to be away from Edward, and at the same time angry that he had managed to ruin our evening so completely.

Edward's POV

If he doesn't fix this tonight, I am seriously going to have Alice kick his ass, Adrian thought as he watched Jasper and Bella leave. The moment they were out the door, he issued his venom on me.

"What the hell are you playing at, Edward? First you tell her that Jasper…" Better do this in my head. Anyway, first you tell her that Jasper wanted to kill her, what, three years ago, before he even knew her. You knew she'd be devastated. I think you were trying to put a wedge between them, that's what I think. Well, it's not going to work. Then that song. You must have to get your pants custom made with balls that big. She was in tears, Edward. She's been in tears all week, as a matter of fact. This date was supposed to cheer her up, not make it worse. I would never have brought you here if I'd have known where they were going. Especially if I knew you were going to pull this shit.

"Are you finished?" Adrian nodded and took another bite of his burger.

"I didn't tell Bella it was Jasper. She asked me a question, and I answered it honestly. I even made a point to not tell her who it was. She asked Jasper, and he told her the truth. It wasn't meant to hurt her. And as for the song…I love her, Adrian." His eyes narrowed to angry slits. "I do. I know I made mistakes, many, many mistakes, but I wanted her to know that I still love her and that if she ever wants me back, she can have me. I'm not trying to sabotage their relationship, Adrian. But I'm done lying to Bella, and I'm done lying to myself. I love her. I always have and I always will, with every fiber of my being. You have no idea how many tears I would have shed if I could cry. You haven't seen me at night, curled up in a ball on the bed wrapped around Bella's pillow because her scent lingers on it. Every single thought I have revolves in some way around Bella. If all she wants is me to be her friend, then that's what I'll be. But I won't pass up the opportunity for more, either. She has options. I wanted to remind her of that." Adrian pondered this for a moment, finally coming to the conclusion that I was speaking the truth.

"I can see where you're coming from. But she already knows she has options, Edward. She wears that damn necklace every day. Jasper might not know what that little 'NDNF' charm stands for, but I do. All you did tonight was upset her and make Jasper even more suspicious of you than he already was." Adrian took another bite out of his burger. "So how's the guidebook coming?" I hated his little nickname for Bella's diary. Edward's Guide How Not to be a Complete Tool. On the other hand, I wanted Adrian to not hate me, and he might be able to provide me some valuable insight.

"Adrian, can I ask you a question? Why does Bella let Jasper buy her cars and motorcycles when she would never graciously accept a gift from me?"

"She accepted the necklace, which is probably the one gift from you she should have refused." Okay, so maybe I won't be able to get him to not hate me. Adrian sighed. "It's because she never felt like she was good enough for you. She never felt like your equal. She feels that way with Jasper, too, but it's different. He accepts her for who she is. He doesn't put her on a pedestal that she feels she can't live up to. That's why she accepted the motorcycle. Jasper lets her do stuff that they both know is stupid; partially because it's fun to her, partially because you wouldn't ever let her cut loose. On the other hand, he doesn't put up with her bullshit. He calls her on it when she needs it, like when she wanted to go riding by herself without a helmet."

"She was going to ride a MOTORCYCLE without a HELMET?" I jumped out of my chair in rage. Adrian laughed. He thinks this is funny?!

"No, not really. But that reaction right there, that's why she chose Jasper." My jaw dropped. Adrian looked smug as he wolfed down the last bite of his burger. "Come on, big day tomorrow. I gotta get to bed early, and I have to do it at Hotel Edward instead of home in bed with Ally. Bad planning on our part." Adrian threw a couple bills on the table to cover the tab and started for the door.

"That was a dirty rotten trick, you know?" I asked him as I followed behind him.

"Yeah. So? Did you learn anything?"

I hung my head. "I guess I did," I mumbled, irritated by having been put in my place so completely.

"Well, then, maybe there's hope for you yet. I have three pieces of advice for you. One – deal with the fact that Bella is with Jasper. Period. Yes, you love her. Yes, she loves you. But she loves him, too, and she's made her choice. Two – keep reading. It actually seems like it's doing you some good. I'll answer questions for you if there's something you want to know but don't want to ask Bella, as long as you're man enough to deal with whatever I have to say. And three – quit fucking up before Jasper tears you to shreds. I'm not missing a game to go to your funeral."

Jasper's POV

When we got home, she walked ahead of me into the house without a word. "Bella, I think it's time we had a talk." The feeling Bella was emanating now – dread. "Bella, I know that the whole thing with the car accident upset you, and I'm sorry for that. Really I am. But I told you the truth, and now I'd like the truth from you. What would you have done? If it were you there at that meeting, scared to death that, say, Lauren, knew our secret and could potentially expose us, what would you have done? If you were standing there, thinking about how our family could be persecuted, tortured, experimented on, maybe even burned at the stake like they were during the witch hunts? Would you have considered, for even a moment, taking her life to save all of us?"

Bella hung her head down. "I wouldn't have done it, I would never harm an innocent person. But, yes, I would have considered it."

"Well then could you please see it fit to forgive me, Bella? I'm dying over here." Bella snorted at my poor excuse for a joke, but then she blessedly wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me into a hug, this one warm and loving and filled with forgiveness. She pulled back and gave me a quick kiss.

"Why did you pull Edward outside? You know I hate it when you two fight over me."

"Do you really need to ask? You're my girl. I'd have pulled Daughtry himself into the alley if he sang that song to you," Bella laughed and kissed me again.

"Silly Jasper. I don't care if Elvis Presley came back from the dead to sing Teddy Bear to me, I'd still be your girl…Well, unless it was young Elvis, you know when he was hot and wore those leather jackets and tight, faded blue jeans…" I snatched her up and flipped her over my shoulder. She smacked my ass repeatedly, laughing, as I carried her up the stairs and tossed her on the bed, pouncing on top of her to tickle her silly.

"Stop! Please, stop!" Bella writhed and laughed. "You're gonna make me pee! Stop it!" I finally relented.

Bella put her hand on my cheek lovingly as she caught her breath. I leaned into her touch and got lost in her eyes.

"Jasper, I love you. I love you. I know it is hard for you, but please try and understand that even though I still want Edward in my life, I'm here. With you." I wanted to argue with her, really I did. But more than that, I wanted to make love to her. I needed to be inside her, feel her as close to me as she could be, envelop myself in her love and warmth and let the rest of the world dissolve away. My very soul demanded it. So that's what I did.

I slowly, delicately, worshipped every ounce of her succulent flesh with my lips as I undressed her, chanting her name like a prayer, her resulting moans like a hymn from an angel. I hugged her to me as I entered her, taking my time to savor the moment. Our love swirled back and forth between us adding a sweet serenity to our love making. We gradually tumbled into oblivion together, staring into each other's eyes, holding nothing back.

"I love you, darlin', more than you'll ever know." I kissed her forehead and rolled us over so she was on top of me, still joined together.

"I love you, too, Jasper," she whispered before kissing my chin and laying her head on my chest. Within moments she was asleep. I held her the rest of the night that way, trying not to cringe when she began talking in her sleep and mine was not the only name she muttered.

A/N: The Cullendales are back in the states for a bit. First stop on this leg of the tour -- Pittsburgh, PA! Emmett wanted to congratulate them on their Super Bowl win and Adrian wanted to get some DeeJay's Ribs!