AN: Alright here's the next chapter. It's set about a week after the last one, and there's more back story, fluff and a smidge of drama thrown in for your enjoyment. I apologise for not responding to the reviewers, I have had final exams for university which has taken up a lot of my time, but I have read every single one and I want to thank you all for your kind words, they make me want to keep on writing. So thank you all!
Disclaimer: SM owns all, but the Major owns my dreams. =]

I had felt a little bad about forgetting our two year anniversary, especially since Jasper had gone to so much effort, though he had tried to convince me not to feel that way, saying it was 'perfectly understandable' considering everything I'd been through recently. His words didn't help though.

I was sat at my computer, typing an email to Jacob. I was grateful we had managed to continue our friendship beyond the change, something I didn't doubt Vanessa had convinced him to at least attempt. She was a sweet girl and we'd gotten along great before her and Jake left Forks.

"Belly Bob Thornton!" Peter called from the living room, making Emmett chuckle down the hall. I growled softly before sending my message and closing my laptop before making my way down the stairs.

Peter was alone in the room, sprawled across the sofa as if he owned the thing. He was dressed in a pair of jeans which sported many more rips than would be considered fashionably acceptable, and a worn grey t-shirt. His brown hair was a little mussed, and he had that smile on his face.

"I take it charlotte forgave you then?" I muttered perching on the edge of the coffee table in front of my annoying brother.

"Multiple times." He chuckled before sitting up and looking at me seriously. His crimson eyes dancing with mischief. "So, what did you and the Major do last night?"

"We went on a date."

"How nice." Peter mused, running a hand through his hair.

"What's this about Pete?" I sighed, arching an eyebrow at him in question.

"You forgot your anniversary. And you feel guilty about it. You want to do something for Jasper in return."

"You talked to Jay."

"Correction, Jasper talked to Char, who in turn talked to me."

"Why would he talk to Charlotte?" I was a little confused.

"Because, sister dear, he needed a female perspective. He tried to explain to you that he didn't mind that you forgot, he just wanted to do something nice for you, but you didn't seem to pay attention to him."

"I paid attention." I muttered, but Peter waved my comment away.

"So he asked Char if she had any idea why it was bothering you so much. You've got your cowboy tying himself in knots tryin' to understand ya, sweet pea. So why don't you tell me what's got your little panties in a twist." He looked at me, waiting for me to start talking, but I couldn't think of how to word it. "Come on girlie. Start talking."

"Pete." I sighed, turning my eyes to the ceiling for a moment. "Okay, it's like this. When I was human I always felt kind of... inadequate I guess. Like I didn't deserve to be with Jasper, he was, is, more than I ever dreamed of. And I promised myself I'd do anything I could to show him how much he meant to me." I paused for a moment. "And then I go and forget our anniversary while he plans this huge romantic evening for us. He recreated my dorm room Pete! I don't care that I'm a newborn, or that I have a lot of stuff going on right now, mine and Jay's anniversary should never have left my mind!" I cried out, desperate for him to understand.

"Alright, calm down." Peter sighed, taking one of my hands and tugging me onto the sofa beside him. "I can kind of understand the feelings of inadequacy as a human. Kind of. But you're not a human anymore Bella. You're a vampire, a mated vampire at that. And to be honest you're kind of kick ass.

Would you care if Jasper had forgotten your anniversary?"

"No, of course not!"

"Why not?"

"He's got a lot on his plate trying to help his newborn mate, and keep her from killing poor unsuspecting humans while helping her find out about her weird ass power."

"So do you think that he cares if his newborn mate, who is trying not to kill poor unsuspecting humans and trying to figure out her weird ass power, forgot their anniversary?"

"No." I sighed. "But that's not the point Pete. I would never have forgotten it before my change, it just feels like I've lost something about myself. Like I'm not quite the same person I used to be. Like I'm not the Bella Jasper fell in love with anymore." I explained.

I had never thought that Jasper minded. I had never doubted him when he'd told me it didn't matter. It just mattered to me. I'd always remembered birthdays, anniversaries, important dates. It had been part of what made me, me. What made me Isabella Swan.

"You're being stupid about this Belly Bob. Jasper loves you. He loved you when you were human and had no sense of self preservation, and he loves you now when you can royally kick his ass. He doesn't love you because you remembered his birthday, or your anniversary. He loves you because you stand up for yourself, you stand up to him and call him out on his bullshit, you love unconditionally and put others ahead of yourself. He loves you for every part of you."

"Wow, I don't remember you ever being this mushy Petey." I said, trying to inject some humour into the moment.

"Shut your trap woman." He mock growled to me. "Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

"I think so. Doesn't mean I don't feel the way I do though."

"I didn't expect you to suddenly stop with the guilt, just that you understand it's not necessary, and that you're still you, just a little distracted." He smirked.

I hugged him tightly, whispering a thank you in his ear before letting him go.

"Do you remember what I told you when we met?"

"Not really."

"Try." I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to pull that memory to the front of my mind.

It was Spring Break, Jasper and I had gone on a road trip to Kalispell, Montana. It had been a spur of the moment thing since we were at a loose end. We had packed and climbed into his new truck before heading off. The drive had been fun, we'd talked, laughed, sung along to the radio and basically acted like two teenagers in love sharing an adventure.

We pulled up outside a Ranch house on the outskirts of town. It looked a little worse for wear, but nothing major. Jasper explained it was one of his houses, one of the coupe he'd bought before joining the Cullens. Before Alice.

It was open plan inside. The walls were painted in beige, highlighting the dark wood of the architecture. It was beautiful, and rustic and just so incredibly 'Jasper'. He took our bags upstairs while I wandered around, getting my bearings and generally being nosy. The kitchen was large, but traditional, there was no microwave or dishwasher but there was a stove and fridge. There was a study at the back of the house, a great oak desk sat proudly in the middle of the room which was lined with bookcases. I had trailed my fingers across the top of the desk, enjoying the smooth feel of the wood against my skin.

I heard a car heading down the driveway and exited the study, moving into the living room and looking out of the window down the dirt track drive. A black Mazda CX-7 pulled up outside the house, but no one got out. I heard Jasper growl as he moved to the front door, just slow enough for me to follow his movement. He yanked open the driver's side door and started talking to whoever was inside, his hand running through his hair as he cast a glance back to me where I stood still in the window.

After a couple of minutes Jasper shut the door and stalked back into the house, joining me in the living room. "Darlin', it looks like we're going to have some visitors." He sighed.

"Who?" I asked, turning from the window to look at him, he looked annoyed at the intrusion, but still happy.

"Peter and Charlotte." He didn't need to say anymore. I knew that he considered Peter and Charlotte as his true family, he had explained how he'd met them. He'd created Peter, who in turn had created Charlotte. He'd helped them escape from Maria. They'd come back for him. They had saved him from himself and I had to meet the two people who started my Jasper on the road which led him to me.

"You don't mind do you Sugar?" I smiled as he twirled a strand of my hair around his fingers, a habit he had when he was nervous.

"I don't mind Jay, I've wanted to meet them since you told me about them." I smiled taking a step towards him and reaching up to kiss him gently before I slipped past him and stepped out of the house onto the porch.

A brown haired man, who was similar to Jasper in stature if not a little shorter, and a petite blonde woman climbed from the car. The blonde danced up the steps in a fashion reminiscent of Alice, yet with a sedateness I appreciated. The male followed behind her at a human stroll.

"Isabella Swan."

"Peter Whitlock." Our eyes locked and he seemed to be trying to intimidate me. I let out a soft giggle. At that small noise Peter swept me up into a hug.

"Thank you for making my brother smile." He muttered into my hair. Charlotte had then tugged me from her mates arms and hugged me. Over her shoulder my gaze fell on Jasper who was leaning in the doorway his thumbs hooked into his belt loops looking every bit at ease, the smile on his face was what caught my attention, it was one of pure happiness, the likes of which I didn't see often, though they'd been becoming more common of late.

"You thanked me for making Jasper happy." I muttered to Peter as I opened my eyes and looked at my brother.

"And right now, your guilt is making him very unhappy. So stop moping and get happy." With a quick pat on the knee Peter was gone, leaving me to finish processing the memory of our first meeting.

We'd all convened in the living room, Charlotte and Peter on the sofa, Char snuggled into her mates side while Jasper and I occupied the chair opposite them, Jasper had pulled me onto his lap and wound his arms around my waist in a protective and yet possessive way, keeping my side, against his chest.

"I never thought I'd see the day." Peter mused, smirking at Jasper while Charlotte giggled softly.

"And what day would that be?"

"The day you, Jasper Whitlock, God of War, were tamed. And by a human no less.

"He's not tame." My tone was a little patronising as I ran my fingers through Jaspers hair, making him roll his eyes.

"Oh, no. Of course he isn't, he's still the ferocious soldier he was all those years ago." Charlotte laughed.

"Fuck off." Was Jaspers succinct reply. My stomach chose that moment to grumble. I pried Jasper's arms from around me as I stood from his lap.

"Time for the human to eat."

"There's a takeout menu in the drawer." Jasper supplied, shrugging at my curious look. "Emmett dared us to eat a pizza." i nodded in understanding before making my way into the kitchen.

I found the menu quickly enough and started looking through the food offered. "You make him happy you know." Charlotte said from across the table, making me jump a little.

"You all need to wear bells or something." I sighed, ignoring her comment for the moment.

"Sorry." She shrugged, "I still can't believe you two are together."

"What do you mean?" I was cautious about this line of conversation, afraid that Charlotte thought Jasper and I weren't supposed to be, that she thought Alice or someone would be better for him. Yes, I was still rather insecure.

"Just that Jasper mentioned how intense your relationship with Edward was when we came to visit them all in Forks. It sounded a little insane to me, but Edward seemed happy, if not a little obsessive."

"We were both obsessive, I was infatuated with him. I thought Edward was perfect, I put him on a pedestal and ignored the truth of the relationship. He controlled me, and I let him, thinking that it was the only way to keep him. Thinking that it was simply because of what he was that he was so possessive and paranoid.

Now I know the truth. It wasn't what Edward was that made him like that, it was who he was. His denial of himself, and his nature. But now, with Jay, we're equals. Obviously not physically, but he doesn't try and control me, he doesn't dictate my life. I know he isn't perfect, far from it, but he's perfect for me." I sighed, finally selecting my pizza from the menu and wandering over to the phone.

"You bring something out in him that I thought had been lost. A sense of joy, contentment. I will never doubt that he loved Alice or that she loved him, she offered him hope when he needed it most. But she was his Edward. She changed him to fit her world. But you, you brought back the Jasper I knew. You brought my brother back." There was nothing I could say to that so I settled for dialling the takeout place and ordering my meal, forty minutes until delivery. That'd do. I turned to look at Charlotte.

"Shall we rejoin the boys?" She nodded, linking her arm through mine as we walked back into the living room and settled in for a night of laughter, reminiscing and family. It felt right to be there with the Whitlocks, it felt like I belonged.

"Penny for your thoughts." Edward slumped next to me on the couch.

"Just thinking about the road trip Jazz and I took to Minnesota." I shrugged.

"You need to talk to that man of yours, you know?"

"I know." I sighed.

"He's in the back garden, pacing a mud patch in Esme's lawn, I suggest you stop him before she rips his legs off." I smiled gratefully and got up from the sofa, walking out into the fresh air.

Edward was right, I could see that some of the grass had been worn away under Jaspers feet. "Mom'll have your legs for that you know." I smiled as I took a seat on the top step of the decking.

"That she might Sugar." he sighed, coming to sit beside me. I instinctually snuggled into his side and he wound an arm around my shoulders.

"I'm sorry." I whispered. He was about to say something but I cut him off by placing a finger to his lips. "No, I'm sorry that I haven't really talked to you since our anniversary. I haven't explained myself." I took a breath.

"I'm scared Jay. Really scared that I'm losing myself. That I'm losing parts of me I didn't even realise were important until they weren't there anymore. It's not just about forgetting our anniversary, although that does bother me a lot, but it's also things like the fact I haven't really been reading, or writing since I changed. I haven't gone on a walk in the forest without it turning into a bloodbath. I know that it's part of being a newborn, being easily distracted, and in all honesty you're the best distraction I could have, but sometimes I just wish I was me again. You know, studious, sarcastic, fragile Bella."

"Do you regret being changed?" His voice was pained, and I could feel his dread.

"Not for a single second Jay. I love that I have eternity with you, and our family. I just wish this annoying newborn phase was out of the way. Hell, I really want to go back to high school, just to feel normal again." He had visibly relaxed at my first statement.

"You were never normal Darlin'. You walked into a house full of vampires and didn't bat an eyelash. You were hunted by a crazed nomad and only worried about our safety. You were left broken into pieces and you fought back, coming back to life. You were never normal, you were never meant to be. No normal girl could put up with me and my 'emo tendencies' as you like to call them." I laughed softly, still nuzzling into his shoulder, refusing to look at him.

"I've loved you since you were a shy seventeen year old who wasn't quite sure where she belonged. I loved you when I saw the sarcastic, witty, beautiful woman you'd become at college. And I love you now when you can thoroughly kick my ass." As he spoke he projected his feelings, wrapping me in a blanket of love, adoration, contentment and safety.

"I love you too, even if you are my tame vampire." I giggled, finally turning my face up to look at his. He was smirking down at me, he leant forward a little and captured my lips with his own. This kiss was deep but slow, there was no need, no urgency, no onslaught of lust, just pure love and it was wonderful, until...

"Ew! That's my little sister dude, can you keep your tongue out of her throat please?" Rolling our eyes we both turned to look at Emmett.

"No one said you had to watch Em." I pointed out, a small smile on my lips.

"It's kind of unavoidable when you're out in the open like this though."

"So go inside." Jasper suggested before turning my chin with his finger and picking up where we were interrupted. Emmett made a loud gagging noise before I felt Jasper being pushed away from me in the direction of the lawn.

The ground shook a little at the impact of Jasper and Emmett hitting the grass. "Em, I was a little busy." Jasper sighed, sounding irritated, but he had a playful smile on his face, he loved wrestling and Emmett was always a more than willing participant.

"Yeah, and you were gonna give me nightmares, brother."

"We don't sleep Em."

"That's so not the point." Emmett launched himself into a run, straight at Jasper, who leapt into the air, letting Em run straight under him. I stood up from my seat and wandered closer to the boys who were now in a blurry brawl across the grass, both of them landing hits and kicks, but neither truly winning just yet.

A body came flying towards me, and before I had time to realise who it was I was on the other side of the lawn watching Jasper land on Emmett's chest with a joyful growl, snapping his teeth at his brothers neck. But honestly it was Peter who had attracted my attention. He was watching me curiously, but with one of his looks that said something important was going on.

"Jay!" I called out, walking towards my mate slowly, knowing all too well not to approach too fast in the aftermath of a fight, even with my weird ass power Jasper could still occasionally catch me off guard and the guilt he felt afterwards was never worth it.

Jasper turned on Emmett's chest to look at me before he rose from his crouch and held his hand out to me. I slipped my hand into his and lead him towards Peter. The closer we got the tenser Jasper became beside me, shifting from my loveable Cowboy into The Major. "What is it Peter?" It only took one word for my world to start to crumble.

"Maria."