Chapter Eight - The Twilight Zone

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Jasper

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I woke up this morning with a stiff back and a sore ribs, but what do you expect when you've been sleeping in an airport all night.

I looked at my phone to check the time, and nearly shit my pants.

I had 20 missed calls, all from Emmett.

Fuck.

He had called me last night to voice his concerns about Bella, telling me that he didn't think she was feeling well and that she had slept the entire trip.

When I asked him if he thought he might be overreacting a little bit, I thought Emmett might be the first person in history to successfully come through the phone. He was livid. He yelled as he explained to me that he had to physically carry her off the plain from London, and how she had slept well over 14 hours already and had still be tired enough to fall back asleep directly after getting off the phone with me.

I quickly checked the numerous text messages I also had, but they all said the same thing.

'TO CALL IMMEDIATELY'

Now I was worried.

I quickly dialed Emmett's number, but it was Alice who answered the phone, and boy was she pissed.

"Jazz, where in God's name have you been? We've been trying to reach you for hours." she screeched.

I could hear muffled noises in the background that sounded like arguing.

"I'm sorry, Ali, I feel asleep with my phone on vibrate." I told her hoping that she'd calm down some.

She didn't and then I could hear Emmett bitching at the top of his lungs, and yelling at me to call… I don't know I couldn't understand him, but he sounded like a pissed off bear, cause it all came out in growls, and for once throughout my shitty trip, I was glad I wasn't there.

"What the fuck is he bitching about?" I bit out in an annoyed tone.

"Oh, did we interrupt something, sorry, but we've just spent the last four hours trying to calm Bella down. Excuse us if were not all that polite right now." She snapped.

"What? Why? What's going on." I yelled, as I shot up off my seat.

I heard Emmett in the background, growling out for Alice to "give him that goddamn phone." And I knew instantly that what ever he was about to say would be far from pleasant.

"Where the fuck you been?" He growled as soon as he picked up the phone.

"Stuck in the fucking airport were do you think, now, what the fuck is going on?" I asked, trying to restrain my temper.

"Look, I'm sorry for yelling," he quickly amended. "It's been a crazy morning, and it's just… Bella had a panic attack when she woke up this morning."

"What? Is she alright?" I said my voice steadily rising.

"She is now, but we she was really freaking out, she said she was having a bad dream and when she woke up that she couldn't breath."

Now I was starting to panic, and Emmett must have known by me not saying anything.

"Jazz, she's alright now for the most part, but do me a favor and see if you can get a hold of the Kennel."

"The Kennel?"

"Yeah, Bella tried calling them to check on that fucking dog, but they're not answering the phone. I told her not to worry, but she's been beating herself up about leaving him with strangers."

"What do you mean they aren't answering?" I asked, getting more pissed off by the second.

"What you mean, what do I mean. It's simple there not fucking answering. ARG! She so fucking upset about that fucking dog! Dude she's sick, and worrying over that ugly mutt isn't helping. I just…" He trailed off, and I'm worried that Emmett is about to lose it. This makes more nervous.

I stood there for a minute mulling everything over. First I was gonna kill that bastard at the Kennel and then I was gonna pull all my hair out.

Fuck!

I've never considered myself a needy person, but the last three weeks have been absolute hell.

And now my girl was sick.

"Jazz?" Emmett said after a moment.

"Yeah?" I said running a hand through my hair, tugging it a little.

"I'm really worried about Bean." He whispered, he almost sounded like he might cry and that led me to believe that Esme or Alice must have been close by.

My eyes started to sting, and my throat felt tight. "What do you mean, Em?"

"Dude, she's ain't acting right. She hasn't been herself. She's so fucking tired and pale." He told me a very hushed voice.

"Let me talk to her." I all but begged.

"You can't right now. Esme just put her in a bath to get her to relax, man, she freaked out really bad. I don't know what that dream was about, but she was damn near inconsolable."

I could hear them announcing that my flight was now boarding overhead.

"Alright," I told him with a tight voice, "I'll be there as soon as I can, there calling me now, I'll be there in a few hours. Tell Bella I love her, and that I'll see her soon."

"Alright, bro, make tracks. We're gonna try and get her to come with us to get the tree, maybe she'll feel a little better with some fresh air."

We said our goodbyes and I went to my designated gate.

I felt like I was having an anxiety attack on the drive from Dublin to Wicklow, and I think the cab driver was scared for his life at one point.

I couldn't get anyone on the phone. No one.

I called the Kennel Service as soon as I was out of the airport, after thoroughly telling the fat-fuck behind the desk exactly what I thought of him, he gave me some excuse for why no one answered the phone for four fucking hours.

I had Migg's be put on the first plane out today.

I really didn't care that Uncle Carlisle mother detested dogs and I really didn't care if it cost me an arm and a leg either, if my girl was that upset about leaving the little bastard then the little bastard was gonna come to her.

In the three weeks that I had been away from Bella I had lived a nightmare in it's truest fashion. Yes, Alistair and I did go to New Mexico for business deal, but that only took us a few days to deal with, the rest of the time we spent in Boston trying to hunt down Demetri Caponi. I wanted to know why Aro had him watching Bella, and I wanted to know if Edward was in on it.

We found some fairly good leads but most of them were dead ends, but we did accomplish our main goal. I wanted it known that I was looking for Demetri, and Edward and our presence in Boston would do just that.

The closet we came to finding him was at an underground club in a nastier part of the city. In the end all we ended up with was a back-ally brawl that resulted in some really sore ribs.

I also did some shopping while we were there. I had something in mind for Bella's Christmas gift this year and I wanted it to be a one of a kind.

That was what made me miss my flight. Me waiting to pick it up.

When the car made its way through the front gates to Cullen Manor, my heart rate picked up and I felt like I might jump outta my skin.

I couldn't decided if I was deliriously happy or scared outta my mind.

But I had my foot out the door before the car even came to a complete stop, and was throwing a wad of money at the driver before he could inform me of how much I owed him.

I didn't give a shit about anything except getting to Bella.

I entered the house and threw my bag in the foyer not really caring were it landed, and was going room to room calling out Bella's name, but the house was quiet.

I heard a car horn and the sound of Christmas Carols being sung, and I flew out the door like the devil was on my heels.

And there she was, all bundled up in the back of the wagon; sitting on Emmett's lap.

My Bella.

I ran down the driveway to meet them, not even paying attention to the car that was just behind them. I didn't care.

Bella literally launched herself at me, and damn near took me down when she flew over the side and into my arms.

I let out a shaky breath; finally I could breathe again.

"God, I missed you." I told her, peppering her tear streaked face with kisses.

"I missed you, so much." She sniffled and hiccupped.

Emmett was beaming at me when I looked up, and I could tell he was happy I was here. Alice was much the same way.

"What's a matter, blackbird?" I asked, picking her up so that her legs were wrapped around me, and she was shivering so hard that I almost went off entire family for even having her out here.

She still hadn't answered me, so I went with another tactic.

"Migg's is on his way here," I told her.

"Really?" she asked as her head came up, and it was the first time I could really see her. I almost went into cardiac arrest on the spot.

She looked horrible.

"Yeah," I told her with a sigh. "He'll be here tomorrow afternoon, no more tears, huh."

She nodded into my neck, but she started shaking harder. And god I was doing everything in my power not to freak out. My Bella was a pale as a sheet and like Emmett had said, her eyes were rimmed in dark purple bruising, which made no sense.

Emmett said all she's done is sleep since she got here.

Emmett jumped off the back and headed towards us with a blanket, I thanked him and wrapped my girl up tight.

I asked her if she wanted to go in the house, but she didn't answer me.

Emmett looked at me with a watery smile, "She's asleep again, bro."

And I almost lost it.

I didn't say anything else, I couldn't, anything I would say right now would be nasty and unfair, so I just carried my sleeping girl up the stair to our room and shut the rest of the world out until I could think about what to do next.

I laid her down in that gigantic bed and just held her.

I had no idea what was going on or why she became ill so suddenly. I couldn't tell why it seemed that every time this girl entered my life that the world comes crashing down around me.

All I knew was that something was seriously wrong with Bella, and I was gonna do what ever was in my power to make it better again.

I had no choice.

I couldn't live without her now.

I must have dosed off for a bit cause when I opened my eyes the sun was lower in the sky.

I jerked up, Bella was gone.

I started to panic, throwing on my pants and digging through the sheets for my shirt.

"She's downstairs with Em," Alice's voice drifted to my ears.

I whirled around to see her sitting daintily on the edge of the chase lounge that was next to the bed.

I must have had the stupidest look on my face, because she laughed at me.

"What a face." She stated.

"Well, if Bella's downstairs what are you doing here?" And I had to bite my tongue, because even I know I sounded like a dick just then.

She shrugged her shoulders, "I thought I come check on you, Carlisle on the phone, but then he wants to speak with you."

"Is Bella alright?" I asked and Alice hung her head.

"I don't know Jazz, but she says she's feeling better," she told me with a fake smile, "she has her color back and just seems lighter. Maybe she just really missed you."

I really wished I could believe that.

"Alice, who was in the car earlier?"

Alice's eyes widened and her face visibly paled at the question.

"I forgot to tell you, um… Garrett invited his cousin's to come early. But their not staying with us I promise." She rushed out.

I couldn't understand the fuss, I liked all of Garrett's boys, they were all really well behaved.

"Oh, yeah, which ones." I asked, simply making conversation.

I guess Alice or Emmett had my bags brought up, cause it was sitting in the corner. I walked over and grabbed a clean shirt to throw on and found my hair-tie that had been thrown off the bed in haste to find Bella.

"Tanya and Kate."

I stopped dead in my tracks, and turned and fixed an angry glare on her.

"Are they here?" I ground out.

"Yes."

"Make them not here." I told her.

"But Jazz-"

"Alice, I respect that those things are your future husband's family, but… I don't want them in this house, and I certainly don't want them around upsetting Bella. Understand?" I tried not to raise my voice, but something about those two bitches of Satan brought out the worst in me.

"Yes," she said, and I knew she wasn't looking forward to throwing them out, but I think she knew it was better for her to do it rather than me.

She know how I would handle the situation, and I don't think she really wanted me to break Garrett's other arm. I won't hit a woman, but I'll sure as hell hit her closest breathing male relative which happens to be Garrett.

A subtle knocking made my head snap to the door, Carlisle had his head poked in asking if it was okay to enter.

"Come in." I told him in a clipped tone, and I needed to calm down before I ended up making my own trip to the doctor for giving myself a stroke.

"I don't know if Alice told you, but I took the liberty of calling the doctor." he informed me.

"She did, what's the verdict?"

"Well, he can't know anything for sure until he sees her in person, her symptoms are pretty well pronounce, but he still wants to run a few blood test before he tells us anything." he said looking down.

"And.."

"Well, he won't be able to see her until after the New Year." he whispered.

"WHAT?" I barked.

"Jazz, calm down." Alice whispered. "Bella doesn't need anymore excitement."

"She's right, son." Carlisle agreed.

My eyes narrowed on Alice. "But yet you invite the Devil Twin's here."

"Jasper," Carlisle admonished.

"I said I'd get rid of them, and I will, besides they haven't been anything but nice since they've been here."

"Yeah, I bet they have." I muttered under my breath.

"So, did "Dr. Do Nothing" say anything else, or do we just wait until she drops." I snarked changing the subject. I had to get my mind off the Denali Twins downstairs or I'd go fucking ballistic.

"He said to watch for signs of anemia; pale skin, cold hands and feet, fatigue, headache."

"So pretty much do nothing since she already has all of those symptoms." I confirmed.

"Jasper," Carlisle sighed. "Dr. Grandee said there could be many reasons for her hemoglobin to be low, if that's even the case here, but he said not to stress about this just yet, she's had a rough couple of weeks, and these symptoms could be caused by a great many things."

"Of course he said not to stress, he didn't fucking see her this morning!" I roared. I was fast losing my temper, and I knew it.

"He said if Bella starts show signs of dizziness or has chest pain to bring her back to Dublin and that's all we can do right now." Carlisle said, and I could see that he was trying to not endanger the last little bit that was holding me together.

I didn't want to hear anymore, I just wanted to see her.

I threw my hair up not giving a shit if it was straight, and headed down the stairs.

I heard her laughter before I saw her, it was the most beautiful sound in the world at the moment.

She was in the living room playing a board game with… Rosalie?

Huh?

I cleared my throat and her head popped up, and the smile she gave me could have blinded the sun.

Bella was up and off the couch in 0-60 and in my arms.

"You're awake," She beamed.

"Yeah, so are you." I commented laughing at her enthusiasm and Bella blushed. "Are you feeling alright, baby?" I asked again, because I needed to see that she was alright, I needed to hear it.

God I was loosing my mind.

"I'm feeling much better now," she told me and snuggled into my neck.

I looked around the room for a moment, and was confused. There were signs of the Denali Terrors all over the place but no Denali's, and no Emmett.

What the hell?

"Where's Em?"

"Oh, he's probably picking up what's left of Slut and Slutier off the kitchen floor." Rosalie commented with a large smile.

Bella wore the same smile.

Oh shit.

"What happened?" I tried to ask without laughing.

"Oh, nothing much," Bella said, brushing it off, but the evil grin she gave Rose told me that was a bunch of horseshit.

"Bella.." I sighed.

"What? They said something, I said something, they tried to corner me and well, they won't be doing that again."

I looked down at her and noticed the bruise on her knuckle. I was instantly pissed off again.

"You've been fighting?" I asked in a low growl.

I couldn't believe it, here I am thinking she's at deaths door and she's brawling with the ugly twins?

"No, she hasn't," Rosalie defended, narrowing her eyes as she approached. "She did hit Tanya, but she didn't fight anyone."

Rosalie walked to us and kissed Bella right on the cheek and waltz outta the room.

What the hell?

Nothing made sense.

Was I dreaming?

Or did I step into the fucking Twilight Zone?

"Jazz?" Bella called sweetly.

I just gapped at her, still in shock. "Huh?"

"Close your mouth, I think you just swallowed a bug." And then my little bitch giggled.

And I'm still standing here waiting for a little fat man with a camera to jump out and yell 'You're on Candid Camera', cause that's what today's been like.

Well, Bella seems to be feeling better, the Hell Twins have already been put in their place, Rose and Bella seem to be getting along now, what the hell else is there.

"Sonny, if ya wanna keep that hand I suggest ya remove it from ma person."

I just had to fucking jinx myself.

It was faint, but I knew that voice. I'd know that voice anywhere.

Shit!

"Hoss, I'm warnin' ya. Touch that bag again and you'll be drinkin' yer meals througha straw."

Granny True.

Not ten seconds later you could hear the slapping of her heals against the marble, and the servants cursing under their breath think that Trudy couldn't hear them.

She could.

She came to a stop under the large archway that led into the room that Bella and I were standing in, and I didn't have to even look up to know exactly what expression she was wearing.

"Hi Trudy." Bella said shyly, still encased in my arms.

I looked up and my Granny Platt as she stood their in a state of shock that almost made me laugh.

I didn't.

I'm not stupid and I like my male parts where they were thank you very much.

Granny Platt hadn't changed at all, not that I was expecting her to.

When I was a child I used to wonder if she drank formaldehyde every night to preserve herself, cause the woman was like a fucking mummy, she was like a thousand, but she just didn't age.

Esme was the youngest of Granny Platt's horde of 15 children, and Esme was nearing her mid forties if that tells you anything.

And yes I said 15.

But, she looked exactly how she had the last time I'd seen her. Big goofy hat, with feathers and flowers as big as my head stuck all over her, and a fur stole.

I don't care if it was a 160 degrees outside, my Granny Platt always wore a fur, a real one.

She'd call you a squirrel-sucking pussy if you wore a faux around her.

Hey, nobody said anything about her being sane, so don't look at me like that.

"Girl, you better get yer scrawny little ass over here and give me uh kiss." Granny finally said after regaining her senses.

Bella giggled and ran to her.

They embraced telling each other how much they had missed the other.

"What in tar nations is all the fuss about," I heard the southern drawl of my Auntie Rue. "Lord in Heaven, is that Bella?"

"Not it's an impersonator, you twit," Granny snarked, rolling her big gray eyes.

Ah, Auntie Rue. Her mother should have called her "the plague", I've yet to see a man survive her. Much like her sister in the crazy hat and feathers department, you could stamp a mint on both their asses that read "Confederate Property", cause when those two old bitches die, the south was gone.

I only know of one other woman who would go hunting in designer clothes, in her back yard while drunk of her ass, and that woman was currently standing 3 feet from me being squished between my Aunt and my Grandmother.

God help us all.

Bella switched giving Rue a hug and kissing each cheek, just as my granny came over to give me a warm hug.

Yeah, I'm dreaming.

"You, uh, Jethro," waving her pointer finger at me, dismissing the fact that she called me you, and then 'Jethro'.

"It's Jasper." I told her under my breath.

"Whatever, why don't you make like a bunny and make yer granny a stiff scotch and water." she said waving me off, and pulling Bella by the arm towards the dragons den, a place I wouldn't venture for all the money in the world, and not with all the guns in my arsenal.

Her bedroom.

Just… No thank you.

Granny has evil things in that room, I know, Edward and I found that out the hard way when we snuck in there one summer.

We were never right again.

I shuddered at the thought.

Maybe that's what wrong with Edward, he was mentally fucked in the head from seeing my Granny's sock drawer.

"Yeah, and hold the water." I muttered as I headed past Bella on my way to the study in search of scotch, hell I'd make myself one while I was at it.

Bella just gave me a remorseful smile and mouthed 'sorry.'

I blew her a kiss, which earned me the narrowing eyes of my grandmother, but Bella saved me and told Granny Platt that she would fill her in.

Two hours later found us all sitting around the newly decorated Christmas tree, and all was right in the world again.

Alice had sent Tanya and Kate packing back to their hotel.

And the two dragon ladies had enough of a buzz, to head up to their dungon and do what ever it is that they do at night.

Sometimes I wondered if it had something to do with sleeping upside-down or drinking the blood of the innocent.

What? It could happen.

I had Bella snuggled into my side as we enjoyed the easy conversation floating around the room.

Esme and Alice were still flitting around the tree adding things here and there, Carlisle, Garrett and Emmett were in some deep discussion on European football, and shockingly, Rosalie was curled up - on probably the biggest pillow I had ever seen - leaning against the couch at Bella feet and they were going over some seating arrangement for Alice's wedding.

I would ask Bella about her and Rose later, I know something big must have happened today for them to form such a tight friendship so suddenly, but right now I was just happy for the peace and quiet.

Around 11 or so we all decided to turn in.

I went up first and decided to draw a bath for my girl, I knew she was feeling better, but I could still see the fatigue written all over her.

Bella came in a few minutes later, probably curious as to what I was doing in here for so long.

She smiled when she saw the tub, filled and bubbly with her favorite - and mine - bath fragrance.

"Care to join me," she asked as she stripped her clothes.

She didn't have to ask me twice.

Bella climbed in, I got in behind her and pulled her back to my chest.

We sighed in unison, it had been to long since I held her like this.

"Baby?" I asked her.

"Hmm?" Bella hummed her reply.

"Are you sure your okay?"

She half turned around to look at me. "Jazz, I told you I'm feeling much better."

"You sure?"

"Yes," she giggled. "I'm not going to lie and say I feel great but I feel a hell of a lot better, and have been feeling better all night."

I knew she was lying to me, I could tell she felt like shit, but I let it go… for now.

We played around in the tub for about an hour, washing each other, caressing and touching, but nothing overly sexual. We just were.

Bella was out like a light as soon as her head hit the pillow.

I stayed awake researching everything I could find about anemia. My it had my head spinning. Carlisle was right, there were so many causes, and so many things her being anemic could mean; most of them meant nothing, other than her craving ice and having cold feet the rest of her life, but some of the things that my research pulled up had me damn near in tears.

I didn't want to think about it anymore.

I powered down my lap-top and crawled into bed next to my snoring girl.

Tomorrow was a new day, and I was gonna make the most of it.

Bella was a touch woman, but even Bella had an inner-princess, so tomorrow I was going to take Bella to a real castle.

A lazy grin spread across my face.

I started day dreaming, or night dreaming, or whatever - you get it - of our beautiful dream cabin in the mountains, surrounded by the forest, with plenty of dogs and kids running around.

Shit!

I had to pick up that damn dog tomorrow.

And I smiled wider when I realized that damn dog had just cost me well over five g's to have it flown here, and all it was gonna do was piss off Grandma Cullen and probably become the first dog in history to ever sit in my Grandma Trudy's lap - that wasn't a fur piece, cause if there ever was a dog that could, it would be Bella's.

And you know what, I'd have paid 10 just to see the smile that Bella's will be wearing when we pick up that ugly mother fucker.