Bella leapt from the vehicle almost before it had stopped and ran, sobbing, into the house. Emmett grabbed an armload of bags and started for the house. Edward came out to help.

Rosalie and Alice walked somberly into the house to find Bella curled up in Jasper's arms on the couch sobbing hysterically with her head buried in his shoulder. "Can one of you tell me what happened? Why is she crying like this?"

"We bumped into Lauren at the store. She said some pretty nasty things and it reminded Bella of some really bad memories." Rose shivered at the thought of what Bella had told them. The images it had raised had seriously bothered Rose.

"Bella, darlin', tell me what she said." Bella just shook her head and curled even more tightly into the shoulder under her.

"Bella, either you tell him or I will," Alice threatened. "He needs to know."

Bella raised her head and cautiously looked at Alice. 'Please. Don't.'

"Tell him, Bella."

Bella stood up and held out her hand. Jasper took it and stood up. She walked up the stairs leading him.

****

Edward walked back in the house just a few minutes later with a fierce look on his face. "Where is she?"

"Edward, stay down here. She's telling Jasper what happened." Rose stepped in front of Edward as he looked to the stairs. "Let them be for a while. She's upset enough."

"Why can't I go up there?"

"Edward, she wasn't going to tell Jasper about meeting up with Lauren. I had to threaten her with telling him myself to get her to say anything. I think she took him up there because she'll be the only one who can calm him down after he finds out." Alice still looked heartbroken over what Bella had told them.

"Alice, why won't she let me in?"

"Edward, I told you about the vision I had of Bella and Jasper belonging together. You ignored me and this is what happened. Don't come between them. It won't help."

"Alice, I still love her."

"You lost her. She's been hurt and Jasper was the one who saw her through it. He's been a rock when she felt like she was drowning. He loves her. It's obvious when he looks at her. In the way he holds her so gently while she sleeps. It shows in every little thing he does for her. Don't try to come between them. You will fail." Alice sighed. "When you walked away from her, you gave up the right to try to take care of her. She let you go. And it almost killed her. Don't force the issue now."

Edward gave up and sunk down onto the couch.

****

Bella had finally finished telling Jazz everything. He was … She couldn't tell what he was. His emotions weren't clear. She wanted to say he was angry but then she saw pain flash through his eyes followed by …. Was that regret? What was he thinking?

'What are you thinking, Jazz?'

"I'm fine, Bella." He turned away from her, not wanting her to see how much he wanted to kill Mike right now.

Gasping with the thought that he didn't want her anymore, Bella ran out of the room in tears. If he didn't want her here, then she wouldn't be here.

Jasper turned as he heard the door slam only to see her running from him.

"Bella, no!" He ran after her, catching her just as she almost flung herself down the stairs. "Bella, don't run from me."

'You don't want me here.'

"It's not that. I just – Bella, I'm not perfect and the way I feel right now, I would never want you to see. I wish I could kill Mike for you. Just rip his throat out and leave him to bleed to death."

'Why did you turn from me?'

"Because my desire to kill Mike was right there in my eyes. I didn't want you to see that. I was trying to keep that side of me from you."

'Mike kept a side of him from me too. It almost cost me my life. Why would you do the same thing to me?'

He hadn't thought of that. Mike had kept a side of himself very well hidden. He HAD nearly killed Bella. Did she now see him as someone to fear?

"Are you afraid of me now, Bella?" The pain in his eyes broke Bella's heart.

'Should I be?' He reached for her hand. She stepped back for a moment. Her left foot was halfway off the top step.

"Bella, stop. Please. You're about to fall." He held out his hand carefully. "Take my hand, please."

'Will you stop trying to hide things from me?'

"I promise."

She reached out and placed her hand in his. He gently pulled her toward him. "Bella, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. Please forgive me."

She could feel him shaking and knew that he meant the words. She settled herself against his chest and wrapped her arms around the lanky frame of a vampire who was starting to mean more to her than Edward ever had.