A/N: Oh mah gash! You guys! This story won first place in 'round four' of the Non-Canon Awards, in the Best Poly category!

I had gotten really slack on my writing, but winning that perked me right up.

; D

Thank you to any and all who voted!

My pal GeezerWench helped out so much on this, I should call it pre-reading plus. THANK YOU RICKIE!

Apparently when I take a break from writing, my writing gets (bad) sketchy.

Here's hoping I find the time to write more regularly. I'm gonna try!

For any of you guys who like to scan read, attempt to focus on this chapter because it will pull somethings together for you.

It's written in third person, so you FINALLY get to see what in the hell is going on in the minds of Jasper and Peter.

XOXO

*extraHUGS!* for my sweet friend jlove34. I hope you're having a better day today.

Outside the cabin, the sun crept over the horizon as Jasper made his way around the side fence and into the little shed where he had stashed some extra clothing for just such an occasion.

The taste of Bella still clung to his lips—he still felt the warmth of her body on his skin— and he would have been on cloud nine, if it weren't for the anger building within him at the realization that things had changed since he'd left. He wasn't sure what Peter had said to Bella to sour the oh-so-pure sweetness she'd felt for him before he was forced to visit Maria, but he was going to find out.

If it weren't for the fact that he needed his brother's help to protect the girl, he wouldn't have hesitated to leave him where he lay, right where he had left him last night—dismembered across the forest floor.

Jasper had rended his limbs from his body in a fit of rage, after he forced Peter to explain why there were fresh wagon tracks to and from the cabin, and who the two natives were sleeping in Bella's bed, and why in the world Peter's scent was all over Bella when they'd made a pact not to touch her. Peter had admitted to taking Bella out of the cabin in an attempt to gain her favor.

As if that weren't bad enough, the thing that had pushed him past his limit was the bit about them getting shot at. When Peter explained how that bastard, James, had injured Bella during her time at Victoria's saloon, terrified her, then boldly approached her at the restaurant, even attempting to claim ownership over her—then shoot at her—Jasper nearly lost his mind.

And still James lived. He had gotten away—again! Peter should have made damn sure anyone connected with putting Bella up for sale burned in that fire.

Snarling, he tore through the forest. That's what I get for sending a boy in to do a man's job. Jasper imagined burning all of Peter's pieces, especially any part he'd dare to lay on Bella.

It'd feel real good to torture Peter, but with his new-found knowledge of Maria's intentions, retribution against Peter would have to wait.

Maria was a bigger threat than the deranged human. Jasper had visited her in an attempt to end things, to give their relationship closure. On the surface she'd seemed amicable, but Jasper felt the rage boiling inside her chest. She'd lured him there under false pretenses, in a final attempt to control him once again, but at the realization that he intended to make his own way, and that their time together had come to an end, she'd become vengeful. It didn't show across her beautiful face, but she couldn't hide her true feelings from the empath. It was the only warning he'd had before being confronted halfway back to the cabin by a group of newborns hell bent on taking his life.

He'd searched the area for more of Maria's soldiers before going home, to no avail. He knew his and Peter's scent was thick in the area, and more newborns would come along soon to find them. Maria would never give up. If she decided to search for them herself, it would put Bella in grave danger. No doubt about it, they needed to leave.

As he neared the place where he'd hidden Peter's limbs, he could already hear him making a ruckus, and Jasper momentarily lamented that he hadn't also removed his brother's head from his body.

He collected all the writhing, wayward pieces and quickly made his way over to the place where he'd wedged Peter's torso. He found him, wiggling and cursing, jammed between two bramble bushes.

"You underhanded son of a bitch. I can smell her all over ya. I'm gonna kick your ass, once you put me back together."

Jasper set down the pile of appendages he'd been carrying and straightened up slowly, smirking and crossing his arms. "That's mighty big talk for someone in your position."

Seemingly undeterred by his current state of dismemberment, Peter continued to make threats. "If you touched my woman there will be hell to pay."

Jasper, who's thoughts became focused on finding out what bullshit lies Peter had told Bella to turn her away from him, wrenched up his brother's body and brought them face to face. "Oh, I touched her all right, and she's not your woman."

The anger flowed heatedly between them for a moment before Peter, unused to feeling the rage of two men, spat right in his brother's face.

Jasper roared out an unholy sound, slammed Peter into the dirt, and firmly pressed his boot onto his chest in an attempt to keep him still. "We made a pact." He spat into the open wound where his brother's right arm had been and shoved the limb firmly into place. "And you broke it, so all deals are off. What did you tell Bella about me while I was gone?"

Peter cried out in pain as the foreign venom mixed with his own and his arm began to knit itself back together, but the only thing he could focus on, something even more debilitating than the pain, was the scent of Bella all over Jasper. "Why do you ask? Did Bella rebuff your advances? Damn you and your power straight to hell! What did you do to her?"

Unwilling to admit that Bella's welcome had been somewhat frigid at first, Jasper paused a moment to gloat over the fact that he hadn't used his power over her. "Made her feel real good."

Peter ground his back teeth at the sight of his brother standing over him, looking full of himself.

Jasper then leaned over and whispered "I don't have to resort to using any lowdown, underhanded techniques to win a lady, unlike some people, ya damn liar!" He hissed the last words out between clenched teeth as he twisted Peter's other arm into its socket.

Peter's head swam with pain and he felt just a little guilty— almost. "All's fair in love and war."

Jasper reacted to the sentiment by roughly shoving his brother's leg into place. "I know you've been talkin' shit about me. What kinda lies came out of your mouth?" The empath's eyes darkened, and Peter became powerless against his brother's sway. He had no choice but to tell him the truth.

"I told her you ran off to be with Maria, that she was your lover. I wanted Bella to like me. You didn't care about her. She said you were gonna send her away. I might have exaggerated some, but it's no worse than what you do with your manipulations." Peter's black eyes softened. "I love her, Jas."

"God damn it!" Jasper dropped his brother's left leg, spun away, and ran both hands through his hair in agitation.

"It's true!" Peter shouted. "And you know it!"

Jasper did know it. He could feel what Peter felt for Bella, and it scared him, because he loved the girl as well.

"I have to have her. I need her. I can't explain it." Peter propped himself up a little straighter and rubbed at his chest.

"Didn't I warn you against ever fallin' in love?" Jasper chastised. "It's a weakness." He tossed Peter his right leg and turned, allowing his brother to put the final limb in place himself, as he went to pick up the clothes he'd brought for him to dress in.

As the younger vampire recuperated, his mind drifted back to the night he'd found Bella at the saloon. "I couldn't even help it." Peter said quietly. "I just saw her, and I knew. Isn't that the way it happens for our kind?"

"No!" Jasper growled. "We should have left her there."

"You would have left her. Change her for me," he demanded "And we'll leave. It'll be the end to your troubles."

Jasper huffed. "Maybe I would have left her there, but that's in the past. My feelings for her have changed."

Peter's emotions of shock and indignation shouted at Jasper though his mouth fell silent for once. His shock faded to worry. Worry twisted to defeat. Then his brother felt a pain more potent than being ripped apart. "Are you tellin' me you love her too?"

"Unfortunately for you, yes."

"Shit! Just . . . shit! You know I can't compete with you and your gift. Just get it over with, Jasper. Kill me now."

"Believe me, I've considered it, especially after all the stunts you've pulled while I've been gone." Jasper hung his head.

"You seem to be a little forlorn for a man in love." Peter said slowly, grasping at straws, as a sliver of hope rose in his chest. "Who does Bella fancy?"

"She didn't like you at all at first." Jasper narrowed his eyes.

"But she's changed her mind? I've grown on her?" The thought propelled the weakened vampire to his feet and he began to dress. Plans of him running away with Bella solidified within his mind.

"You've grown on her like a fungus." Jasper's countenance became serious. "I have to get back, and you need to go feed. There's no telling when Maria will realize her first round of soldiers were unsuccessful and send more."

"Newborns? How many were there?"

Jasper studied the dirt under his fingernails. "Five."

"Five?" The word came out like a breath of air. It was then Peter realized why Jasper had put him back together and refused to end him. He needed him. Bella needed him! They would be safer together. "Shit!" All thoughts of taking her and leaving vanished from his thoughts.

Jasper placed his hands on his hips. "I'll watch over her while you finish healing."

"Like hell you will!" Peter stepped forward in anger.

Jasper grabbed him by the shoulder, effectively stopping him in his tracks. "You can't be around Bella like this."

Peter's mouth was dry, and the burning in his throat was intense. Jasper was right. He cursed in consternation.

"Don't take too long. We need to leave this place soon." Jasper's thoughts wandered back to the newborns he'd recently ended as he rushed off to make sure Bella was still safe.

"Keep your damn hands offa her!" Peter yelled as Jasper disappeared into the forest. He spun around and punched a tree, barely making a dent. He was weaker than watered down whiskey, but his insides were aflame with jealousy. Leaning into the tree, he made a decision that turned his stomach.

He would do something he had never done intentionally—something repulsive. All in the hopes of reuniting with Bella before Jasper had a chance to touch her again, and he'd better do it quickly.