Days later….

Bella POV

"Bella?"

I looked up to see Jasper come into the room. He looked concerned.

"What is it Jasper?" I asked, immediately tense.

He walked, at human pace, to stand in front of me before he spoke. Even then he looked down at the floor or out the window as if he were snitching on his best friend.

"Bella, do you happen to know what is going on with Edward?"

I relaxed but only marginally, "No, why?"

Again, he avoided looking me in the eyes, and, although it wasn't necessary, he swallowed hard before continuing. At first I thought it was just that Jasper was still somewhat shy of me, but then I guessed that he was acting this way because he didn't want to reveal something that he wasn't supposed to about Edward, something Edward might have confided himself if he wished to.

"Yes and no," Jasper grinned as he watched me.

We both laughed about his ability to read my emotions.

"Just remember I can stop that if I want to, Jasper." I teased. "Now, what is this about Edward?"

He was instantly serious. "Well, I was just wondering why he was feeling…"

"Yes?" I pressed.

"Edward's feeling things like dejection, loneliness, fear, anger, bitterness, dread,…" He trailed off and finally looked me straight in the eye.

It took me a minute to recover. Those were certainly strange emotions for Edward, and I didn't know why he would have them. Since what was left of the Volturi was gone again, things had pretty much returned to normal. We had even gotten around to having Rensesmee's birthday party, even though it was a day late. Edward has seemed pretty enthusiastic about the whole affair then.

"Did you not notice that at Renesemee's party Edward was acting like a second Alice?"

I thought that over. Come to think of it, he had been a little more than a bit enthusiastic about the whole affair. Edward had had a custom piano made for Rensemee and had written her a special lullaby for the occasion.

"I understand your confusion, Bella. Also, Alice had a vision during the party and I think it disturbed Edward a great deal."

"What was it?"

"Nessie and Jacob."

I still didn't get what Jasper was getting at. Those two were together a lot, always had been.

Jasper decided he needed to clarify. "They told each other that they loved one another, then…"

He didn't have to say any more. I got the gist of the rest of the vision. And as a mother, it was more than I really wanted to know about. I shuddered. I could imagine how a vision like that would affect a mind-reading, overprotective father like Edward. I was surprised he didn't try killing Jake for even thinking it.

I still didn't know what to say, but Jasper explained the one detail that explained everything.

"I think that Edward believes he's losing Resesemee to Jacob."

Oh! Now I got it!

"But…why should he?" I didn't want Edward to feel like this but I didn't know what to do about it either.

"Jacob imprinted on Nessie, now they are practically inseparable." Jasper explained. "As bad as it is for him to deal with Jacob being a wolf, believe me when I say Edward is feeling what every father feels when their daughter finds someone else to love and spend time with. And it can be very hard for them to deal with."

"Really?" I asked. Jasper smirked at me slightly.

"Who better than I would know what a father feels?"

"Indeed." I agreed with a smile.

What every father feels. Had Charlie felt like he had lost me when I was with Edward and eventually married him? What must that be like? There were a few dim human memories that suggested Charlie had felt the same way. For example, his reaction when Edward came back after he left, or after Charlie had spent the day with Billy while we were fighting the newborns, or after graduation, and then the wedding and honeymoon.

"There are priorities for a father," Jasper continued after a moment of silence while I contemplated all of this. "He wants his child to be healthy and happy but he also wants them to always be around." He paused again to let me absorb all of this and the emotion that he was trying to relate to me.

I could only understand from a mother's perspective. I mean, I wanted all of those things for Renesemee too, of course, but I gave her her space and time.

"It's not enough that she lives forever," he resumed. "A father always wants to be his daughter's #1. You can understand why we thought that it was impossible for a vampire to have children. So when you guys had Renesemee and he almost lost you, it was very amazing and very difficult for him."

"Oh." My voice was barely a whisper. I had never stopped to think of it that way. We all knew that Renesemee was a miracle, a gift. But it suddenly overwhelmed me just how much so. Edward never expected to have children because he was a vampire. I had taken that for granted at the time. When I was pregnant, he did want the baby, but he wanted me alive to. Changing me to save my life after Renesemee was born gave him the best of both worlds…literally.

"I'm sorry, Bella." Jasper apologized. "I didn't mean to overwhelm you like this. But I thought you should know."

I walked over to Jasper and patted his arm. "Thank you, Jasper. I'm glad you did. It gives me a greater appreciation for my little family."

He smiled. "Yes. I can tell."

I smiled back. "I'll talk to Edward."

Jasper took one step back and nodded and then turned to leave. I barely noticed when he stopped in the doorway. I was lost in thought.

"What's so amusing, Bella?" Jasper asked as he turned to watch me begin to giggle uncontrollably and absorbed my mood.

"I was…just trying…to picture you…as a father." I managed to get out. As I did, I was struck my new mental pictures which started a fresh round of giggles.

"Oh." Jasper said rolling his eyes. "I'm quite content being an uncle, thank you. Besides," he shot me a mock, horrified smirk, "can you imagine Alice as a mother?"

Very sobering thought.

I shook my head. "Poor child."

We both started laughing out loud then.