Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Thanks and credit to Stephenie Meyer her creativity and storytelling!

BPOV

A very nice daily routine was formed in my life with Jasper. Instead of making me feel bored, the routine made me feel safe.

In the mornings we read. Although I could now speed read, thanks to my enhanced vampire skills, I decided to take my time in going through the library. I was impressed with the selection – it was a good mix between modern and classic, fiction and nonfiction. Jasper liked to read as much as I did, although he preferred history and I liked fiction. Mostly we read together in silence, but if we noticed something interesting we would read it out loud to one another and discuss it.

I soon realized Jasper was extremely intelligent. He wasn't just vampire smart, he loved to learn and could dissect and process information with skill. I grew to respect his opinions because they were well informed and full of wisdom.

In the afternoons we went for long walks. Jasper was more talkative than I could have imagined, but he also had his reflective moments. He began to open up to me – telling me his own story of transformation and the years of war, how he met Alice and joined the Cullens. I shared my feelings of when Edward left, how he also took with him the family and life I always wanted. Jasper was a good listener, asking the right questions and staying silent when I need him to be.

In the evenings it was newborn training camp. Jasper helped me develop the ins and outs of my new skills as a vampire – hearing, detecting scents, controlling my strength and practicing resisting blood. Resisting blood – chasing prey, but not going in immediately for the kill - was a challenge and there were moments when I wanted to give up. Jasper's encouragement gave me the strength to keep trying, and as he told me, I knew it was good preparation for when I would eventually encounter humans. Sometimes I was moody and unpredictable, but Jasper was always patient with me. I once snapped at him while hunting because he got too near my prey. I was embarrassed, but he understood I didn't really mean it. The rare times I had a newborn tantrum, he'd massage my shoulders until I calmed down.

Jasper was extremely charismatic, and very, very likeable. Being with him made me happy and more than made up for months of loneliness. I once was lost and now I was found. It was a good feeling. There was also an natural intimacy between us. We'd lean against one another while we read or did crossword puzzles. When we went hunting we always held hands. Sometimes we would just stare at each other, electricity filling the air, not being able to take our eyes off one another.

However, after a couple of months of bliss I began to feel guilty for having Jasper babysit me like this. I was keeping him from Alice and his other family members. But, if I was honest with myself, I didn't want to share him with anyone else. So, I pushed those nagging thoughts aside and focused on enjoying the moment.

One morning in September Jasper greeted me with a smile. I was sitting in the great room reading, waiting for him to join me. He held a box in his hands.

"Today is your birthday Bella."

"It is?" I asked.

"And I have a present for you!" he exclaimed with a twinkle in his eye.

I felt uncomfortable with this. "I didn't know vampires celebrated birthdays…you didn't have to get me anything."

"Don't worry, it's actually already yours…I'm just returning it."

Warily, I accepted the box and carefully opened it. Inside was a photo album….of my human life. I was shocked.

"How did you…?" I managed to gasp.

"When I left your funeral, I stopped by your house. I thought maybe you'd want to keep some personal things. It was a risk to take it, but I wanted you to have your history. I was waiting for the right time to return it to you. Today seemed appropriate."

My past wasn't completely lost! Very slowly I thumbed through the pages, of my baby pictures, photos of me and Charlie on vacation at Disneyland, in the desert with Renee. The memory of my parents was a blur, but now, thanks to this photo album, their faces were crystal clear to me. This was a priceless gift.

Jasper had been very guarded with his emotions. I never thought he was hiding something, but I always felt like there was something more he wasn't sharing. In that moment, I looked up at him smiling at me and I felt that "something." I felt his love for me. It was so intense it made me tremble.

I immediately felt drawn to him, like a moth to a flame. Very carefully I put the photo album back in the box and stood up to give Jasper a hug.

"Thank you, Jasper," I whispered, wrapping my arms around him. He returned the hug, pulling me closer to him. The feeling of our bodies pressed together filled me with warmth. Whenever he touched me before I'd always felt comfort and peace, but this was something different. I felt a sense of anticipation…and attraction. It was a powerful attraction. Jasper moaned and I felt him harden in arousal.

I pressed myself closer to him and he moaned again. He pulled my head back gently and leaned down to kiss me.

It was a deep kiss, passionate, full of lust. His tongue searched for mine and this time I kissed him back fervently. My participation seemed to ignite a flame. Both of us started breathing heavily. Jasper lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he pinned me against the wall. I instinctively started grinding against him, moving my hips, wanting to feel his strength, wanting him closer to me. When he licked my neck I groaned with passion.

I thought I was going to explode.

I opened my eyes and his face was only an inch from mine. I felt his sweet breath and it sent shivers down my spine.

"I've wanted to do that for along time," he murmured.

"You have?" I stammered, unwrapping my legs from his waist to stand. He continued to hold me close.

"Oh yeah," he answered, kissing me gently on the lips.

I sighed happily, but wondered how I was going to calm myself down. I was disoriented…and hot and bothered.

Jasper took a step back. "Excuse me," he said, his eyes smoldering with passion.

I watched him walk away and I was dumfounded. He was leaving me feeling like this?

Whether it was because of lack of human memories, lack of sexual experience or both, I didn't fully understand what just happened between us. Physically I knew that I wanted him. But, something more had occurred and I didn't know what it was.

From that moment on, everything was different. Our daily routine continued, and I felt his love, affection and devotion to me, and occasionally his lust. It made me deliriously happy and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. But, there was a battle between my almost uncontrollable lust for him and my conscious.

Jasper was with Alice.

Every human memory I had they were together. There were pictures of them together all throughout the cabin. He hadn't mentioned her and I didn't bring it up either. Although he acted as if there was no other place he'd rather be than in this cabin in Alaska with me, I began to feel guilty. Was he cheating on Alice with me? Alice was my friend – was I betraying her? Jasper seemed so transparent and honest. What was happening between us? I needed us to define the relationship. But, I didn't talk to him about it because I didn't want things to change. The nagging feeling continued, however, and until I finally decided to broach the subject.

"Do you miss Alice?" I asked out of the blue one evening while we were watching a movie. His head was in my lap and I was running my fingers through his hair. It was late November and there was a blizzard raging outside.

"Yes," Jasper answered honestly and I was filled with jealousy.

"Do you miss Edward?" he asked.

"No," I replied.

"Do you know who misses you?"

"Who?" I asked.

"Carlisle and Esme. They want to visit for Thanksgiving. "

I couldn't keep him to myself forever, I'd have to share him with his family…with Alice.

"Just Carlisle and Esme?" Please, not Alice, I want more time alone with him…

"The others miss you too, but we wanted to take it slow – not over whelm you with visitors."

"I'm okay with that…" I responded, relieved.

Jasper looked up at me and smiled, sending rays of joy. "Good. I'll let them know."

A week later Carlisle and Esme were set to arrive; I was in the kitchen, looking out the window, waiting for them to appear on the path. I was extremely nervous. Would they be happy to see me?

Jasper pressed himself up against me, wrapping his arms around me and put his head on my shoulders to join me in looking out the window.

"Don't be nervous," he assured me. "They want to see you."

Damn, he noticed my self doubt and I couldn't help but smile.

"Before they arrive, I want to do one thing," he spoke slowly, the tenor in his voice changing.

Jasper put one hand on my waist and pulled my hair back with his other hand. He kissed me on the neck. I twirled around and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him in for a proper kiss. He hadn't kissed me again since my birthday and I was always too shy to initiate anything myself. There were extended hugs, gentle caresses and hand holding, but nothing more.

As his lips touched mine, warmth spread throughout my body. Every kiss with Jasper was perfection. It was full of emotion, hesitant at first, and then passionate. An explosion of peace overwhelmed me.

Jasper stepped away as his cell phone rang. Was he teasing me? I wanted more. I grabbed his jacket and pulled him closer to me.

"Where are you going?" I complained, trying to calm my breathing.

He kissed me again and smiled. "Carlisle and Esme are here. Let's go outside to meet them."

I nodded. I expected Jasper to hold my hand, but he walked ahead of me. I followed him out the door.

Standing on the path were two vampires. Instinctively, I grabbed Jasper's arm and pulled him back, wanting to guard him and myself. Adrenaline started to race through my system as I evaluated the situation.

However, much like my reunion with Jasper, after a moment of uncertainty, I attacked Carlisle and Esme with a hug. Esme kissed me on the cheek and then clasped her hands as she looked me over.

"Bella, you are stunning! It's so good to see you. We've missed you so much!" Esme hugged me again and I felt comfort in her motherly affection.

"I've missed you, too," I responded shyly.

Carlisle was smiling and seemed genuinely pleased to see me.

"Has Jasper been taking good care of you?" he asked.

There were so many ways I could respond to that question. "Yes, he's been so patient with me," I replied, smiling at Jasper. "Because of his help I almost feel "normal"….almost."

Carlisle and Esme laughed. Carlisle put an arm around my shoulder and led us into the house, as Esme hugged Jasper and fussed over him.

I wasn't sure if Jasper told them about my experience, but even if he did, they seemed to want to hear it directly from me. After exchanging pleasantries about their trip and life in New Hampshire, I began to share my story. Carlisle started to pace when I told him of Laurent attacking me. I didn't remember ever seeing Carlisle angry and it was a shock. It gave me hope that he still saw me as a potential daughter and that this anger was on a father's behalf.

Esme held my hand when I finished my story. "I'm so sorry Bella," she exclaimed.

Carlisle and Esme looked truly in pain, eyes full of sorrow. Carlisle knelt down in front of me. It seemed to be a sign of humility, of repentance.

"Please forgive us for abandoning you," Carlisle whispered, bowing his head in shame. "We should have been there for you and we weren't."

He didn't make excuses or assign blame. He took full responsibility.

No, the Cullens weren't there for me. But, it wasn't their fault Laurent attacked me. They had no way of knowing what would happen. In my heart, they were already forgiven. Love keeps no record of wrongs and I truly loved Carlisle and Esme.

"I forgive you," I replied simply.

Carlisle hugged me. "Bella, you are our daughter. We love you."

It was words I desperately wanted to hear. I wasn't alone. I was a member of a family.

I was a Cullen.

Too soon for Jasper and Bella? Not enough repentance from the Cullens? Let me know what you think! Thanks!