A/N: Hi guys. So sorry it's been so long since I updated. Real life intervened in the worst way and I've not been up to writing in a while, back on form now though and this story should be updated regularly again. Next chapter will be up in a day or so.

Just want to say a big thank you to those still reading and to everyone who has added this story to their alerts and faves lists. I appreciate it guys.

Please drop me a review or Pm if you get chance, it's always nice to know what people are thinking of the story. Thanks guys xx

Disclaimer: I don't own twilight or make any money form this fic. Credit goes to Stephanie Meyer

Myself, Bella and Seth ran on for about 45 minutes, and then she directed us down a long dirt track, hidden in the woods. The track opened up to a quaint little cottage, it suited Bella. Rustic but still elegant.

"You ready for this then pretty boy?" she asked in teasing. Seth smiled at me.

"I guess." I said unsure. I didn't know what I was heading into but had no choice but to agree.

She led us into the house and smiled and nodded in greeting towards a number of people fleeting through the short hallway and in the adjoining lounge room.

"You'll meet everyone soon." She said in reassurance.

I couldn't help but become nervous. There were a lot of thoughts going around. The anxiety was creeping up as I tried to block out the masses of it and focus on individual minds. She led us through a small, clearly unused kitchen and into an office decorated with an abundance of books, they were piled everywhere, floor to ceiling. It was then I heard an inner voice I immediately recognised and relief flooded me to the point where I felt emotional.

"Well I thought y'all were never getting here." He rang out in a familiar southern drawl before I was pulled into a strong embrace.

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I found myself relaxing into the hug and allowed his scent to comfort me for a moment. I was quickly becoming overwhelmed though. There was so much going on, and his sudden appearance left me emotional. I cleared my throat and composed myself as best I could. He grinned at me knowingly. Smug bastard. This sobered me somewhat.

"How did you know I was here Jasper?" I asked him. I was hoping for a sharp accusatory tone, but my voice broke pathetically on the last word. I sighed. He smirked.

"Pleasure to see you too brother." He said with a chuckle, glancing at Bella with a raised brow. He turned away from me to face her.

"Well, I'll be damned. It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am; Jasper Whitlock at your service." He said in a sickly sweet drawl, taking her hand to kiss the knuckles. I bristled at this; How dare her touch her.

"It's Cullen actually. He's married to my sister." I said in a flat tone, gracing Jasper with a sharp look. He chuckled and raised a brow. His thoughts were smug.

I suspected as much when you walked in. Quite taken with her aren't we Edward?

His mind showed that he actually thought I was attracted to this girl. I'm not. I can't be. I don't react to women that way…. Do I?

"Yeah, yeah. It's a fuckin pleasure cowboy. Don't touch me again." She deadpanned. She really was a charming little thing. Jasper scoffed.

"Alright. Anyway I'm here to rescue you, Edward. I hear you're in a spot of trouble." He turned to me again.

"Yeah you could say that. And how exactly did you hear, Jasper? Did Alice tell you?" I was really fucking confused at this point. I needed answers fast.

I could see that he was about to answer with his thoughts but thought better of it in front of Bella. He didn't want to appear rude to her. Of course he fucking didn't.

"Garrett called me. He filled me in about James and his interest in my Alice." His thoughts became pained and possessive. This was his fight too. I nodded.

"Alice doesn't know anything about this. Only that you ran off from Denali. She's pretty worried. I told her that I was coming up here to find you. She'll be pissed when she finds out I kept so much from her." He said with a frown.

"Yeah, yeah, sucks to be you. What's the plan?" Bella interrupted with no sympathy at all for Jaspers plight. I smiled at her warmly. She raised a brow and gave me a questioning look. Jasper smirked again. I wanted to punch him in the face.

"Garrett believes that James will try to follow you to lead him to Alice. The scent was strong enough for him to remember her but not enough for him to find her. He is an expert tracker though, so he won't struggle to find you Edward. So the plan is pretty simple. We let him find you." He said with a shrug. He was going through battle strategies in his head.

"So we sacrifice pretty boy then what?" Bella said, nudging Jaspers shoulder with her own. He snapped out of his planning and gave her an incredulous look.

"no darlin' we ain't sacrificing nobody. We let James find Edward then we end him." He said the last few words with clear venom in his voice and his eyes narrowed. His hate for James was as clear on his features as it was in his mind. Bella nodded with a thoughtful expression.

"We don't expect you to fight with us Bella, we will leave here. Well make you safe." I said placing my hand over hers reassuringly. She smiled at me sweetly.

"Oh really? You promise sir? You'll protect me? Why thank you kind sir, thank you." She rolled her eyes condescendingly. Apparently she was a fan of sarcasm. I sighed.

"Why would you even want to get involved in this?" I demanded harshly. She scoffed in my direction, the disdain evident on her face.

"Because pretty boy," she huffed. I noticed she used 'pretty boy' like it was an insult.

"I told Garrett that I would help. He seems to think you need a babysitter. And he told me about this James bastard and how he thinks he has some claim over Jasper's wife. I can't stand a man who thinks he can lay claim over a someone just because…" I could see she was getting a little overwrought and knew I had to calm her down. I felt Jasper send a wave of calm towards her but she seemed unaffected. He face was contorted in anger.

"Hey…" I soothed. "It's ok, we understand. Thank you, we appreciate your help. I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I can handle myself." She seethed at me, her eyes narrowed in anger. I'll be honest, it scared me a little. Even Jasper leaned back slightly.

Bella growled in frustration and turned on her heel.

"Excuse me miss, where y'all headed? We got plans to make. Erm… if that's ok." Jasper said in a timid voice. Christ Jasper don't anger it.

"I'm going to feed. I won't be long. Make your plans." She said without even looking at him. She was really pissed. I didn't like the idea of her being out there alone so I went to follow her. Seth stood in front of me.

"Don't. She's mad at you. Its ok, Fred's out there now. She's not on her own and we have people running patrols around here anyway." He reassured me with a smile which I returned.

Then Jasper and I had the same thought simultaneously.

"What does she feed on?" He asked with excited eyes. Seth laughed.

"bloo-ood…" he said in a playful tone. His thoughts were mocking. He knew my gift and just how to play it.

"The blood of…" Jasper pushed.

"Animals. Bella is the original veggie ha-ha" he laughed.

"How long has she been feeding on animals?" I asked him, desperate to know more about this girl. Jasper sensed the eagerness in my tone and smirked. I shoved him. Hard.

"Always. Never touched human blood. Her resistance to it is amazing." He said, sounding as impressed as I was feeling. I was quickly finding myself in awe of this woman. A feeling she clearly didn't return. Jaspers thoughts were chagrined, reflecting on his dietary struggles. I clapped him on the shoulder with a reassuring smile.

"How long is always?" Jasper asked in a low voice. His playful mood gone now. Seth shrugged.

"I dunno. She's older than she looks though." He said with a smile. I didn't think it polite to point out that we all were, so I let it slide. I shared a look with Jasper. He was thinking the same as me. Just how old is Bella?

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Bella returned sooner than we expected. Both Jasper and I were hesitant to speak in case we upset her again. I glanced at her warily and she smiled at me. A full smile that reached her eyes. It was stunning. I must have just been staring at her because I looked up when Jasper cleared his throat with a chuckle.

"I hope I didn't come across ill-tempered earlier…" Bella asked in question, at me in a sidelong glance.

"Erm no … no" I replied hesitantly; again scared of angering her.

"It's just some people say I can be a little grumpy when I am hungry and I had left it a little long between hunts." She suggested with a smile.

"Not at all. You didn't seem unpleasant at all." I said with a smile, relaxing slightly. Jasper grinned knowingly.

"That's good then. So what did we decide? What's the plan of action boys?" she questioned. Again, looking at me. I just smiled, like a fucking idiot. So much so that she crinkled her eyebrows and turned to Jasper with a smile.

No, no look at me again pretty Bella. I need to see those eyes again. Jasper doesn't deserve them.

Then Jasper looked at me knowingly and smiled at Bella; Laying it on thick. I scowled in his direction.

"Well, Miss Bella, we are going to head out shortly and try to entice James to the open grasslands about 2 miles south of here. From what Garrett said, he shouldn't be too far away from there by now. We will send Edward in alone at first then attack James form behind, taking him by surprise. His demise will be swift. Fast. No room for error." He replied in a stoic tone. All joking gone now, he was in military mode: All business.

I looked to Bella to see how she would take the talk of murder. It was hard to second guess her reactions to anything. She just nodded blankly.

"Such a waste of life." She said in a sad but accepting tone.

"A necessary waste ma'am." Jasper snapped, but recovered with a slight smile. Bella nodded in agreement.

She sighed and made for the door. We followed suit with Seth and Fred in tow.

Bella stopped in the hallway of the cottage and looked deep in thought. I looked to Jasper to ask for a minute alone with her. He nodded in understanding and took Seth and Fred out front talking to them animatedly about battle strategies and possible outcomes.

Bella was looking to the floor with a sad expression. I placed my hand softly on the small of her back, seeking to give her some comfort in whatever was troubling her.

She looked at me with a soft gasp. I felt the shock through my hand as I touched her and prayed that she felt it too. She stepped away from my touch shyly, still holding my gaze.

"James may not be alone you know" she said looking worried

"I know. I meant what I said earlier, I will keep you safe. Not because I don't think you can care for yourself. I just feel very… protective of you." I said quietly, afraid of her reaction.

She smiled gently.

"Don't be afraid of me Edward." She chuckled softly. I smiled and shook my head slightly in a soft denial.

"You are a gentleman Edward, I like that. Despite my shitty attitude, you gotta love a gentleman" She laughed.

I wanted to tell her that I wasn't just being chivalrous. That I didn't just feel protective of her because she was a woman. That I wanted to keep her safe because it would pain me to lose her, even now; so soon. I wanted to tell her that I was as confused as hell with how I was feeling, with how she made me feel. I opened my mouth to speak and immediately wished I hadn't:

"Yeah I'm an everyday Mr fucking Darcy"

I'm an ass. Why do I even speak? She giggled again. I liked it. I wanted her to do it more. My mind started to wander to scenarios where I could make her giggle but in an inappropriate manner…

"Edward get out here." Jasper shouted from the front of the house.

Bella and I exchanged a look and ran out of the house.

"Who is she?" Bella said in a cold tone, stepping closer to me.

"Hello Tanya" Jasper said with no hint of greeting.