Jasper POV

I saw a desperate man in Edward as he ran past me and into the bathroom with our matriarch and the female supernatural. I stepped into the doorframe, and witnessed a heart crushing scene. Bella was leaning over the bathtub, blood pouring out of her neck and face. Carlisle was running warm water over her as she fingered the neck wound, opening it up as wide as it would go. The venom was leaving her system, but she was getting weaker. I could feel her swirling emotions of pain and fear fading away.

She was dying.

Edward looked up at me when the realization hit. His eyes were crazed, and he shook Bella. Her eyes opened, just a little. "Bella, please, what's going on? You said you'd regenerate!"

Her hand came up and weakly landed on his shoulder; he held it there as she spoke. "I... Will. I...need...food... Meat. Raw."

Edward felt torn; I could see, through my empathic power, that his desire to stay with Bella was warring with his need to get her what she needed. Carlisle was the same.

"Edward, you can hunt clean, better than any one of us. Go, I'll stay here and watch over Bella." When he hesitated, I pulled his unheld shoulder. "Edward, go. I know its hard being away from her, and I wouldn't make you do this if there wasn't another choice. Hunt down something that won't fight, and bring it back here. If you do, you'll be the one saving Bella."

He nodded, still grief-stricken. "Don't let her fade."

"I promise." I knelt beside Carlisle, and took her head in my hands, pushing a numbing feeling towards her. She sighed in relief. Edward took off.

"Jasper, tell me, does her blood tempt you?" Carlisle asked, a slight bit of fascination in his otherwise worried voice.

I took a sniff. Her blood smelled salty and slightly metallic, but again, just like her normal scent, it almost was like a bouquet of flowers. "No. It doesn't smell repugnant, either. It just smells like blood. Flowery blood."

"Interesting." Carlisle wiped sweat off of her brow, and kept the warm water going. Downstairs, I could hear Edward return, and smell the carcass of something herbivorous outside. He ran back upstairs.

"Bella, I have a doe downstairs. You said you needed it raw, right?"

She nodded weakly, barely able to keep her head up without Carlisle's help.

"What part of it do I need to bring to you?"

"Thickest part... Of leg..."

He ran back downstairs. I could hear Emmett whining about wanting to drain the doe first, but Edward was vehemently opposed to it, saying Bella might need the blood from it, like we did.

I yelled downstairs, "Quit the damn arguing or imma knock ya'lls heads together! Emmett, you'll hunt later! Edward, get that hunk of mean up here now!"

He ran up, with a warm hunk of the deer in his hand. He gingerly held it to Bella. "Here's the-"

With ferocity, Bella snatched the meat out of his hand and began to tear into it. Within five seconds it was gone. At once, fresh, clean blood poored out of her wounds as they stitched themselves together. In moments, it was as if the battle had never happened. Her eyes brightened, flashing dark blue, and then back to chocolate brown. Her skin gained color again, and she stood, wrapping the blanket around her. She didn't even need Carlisle or Edward's help. She smiled as us, flashing bright white teeth, and took a breath, sighing as she exhailed.

"Sorry, Edward. Didn't mean to scare you," she apologized, and I noticed he had been holding the hand that had held the meat, obviously making sure it was still ok. "I've never been up against vampires before. Actually, I've never really fought before. But, that's probably the last time I'll have to fight anybody. Oh, and don't worry about losing a hand; I always aim for the more edible stuff - you vampires are god awful! It was all gritty and rocky!" She stuck her tongue out in mock disgust. The three of us laughed.

"Well, Alice is going to have to give you another set of clothes. Does Charlie believe you when you say that Alice gives you clothes?" Carlisle asked her.

She nodded. "He likes it when I'm slightly girly. I've always been the rough and tumble tomboy; seing me get in touch with my feminine side gives him hope I won't be single my whole life."

Edward took her hand. "Well, he's a great father, either way. You certainly didn't get your personality from anyone else."

The two of them exchanged a look; I knew that look, even without my empathic ability. It was one shared by mates, even if they didn't realize it. Emmett was going star-craving mad because they wouldn't go out. I told him to give it time. He and I wagered how long it would take.

After an uncomfortable minute, Bella cleared her throat. "Um, well, the sun's out now." She pointed up to the privacy window, which was letting in the now clearing sky. "You promised to show me what you look like in the sun."

Edward chuckled. "I did, didn't I? Well, then, come on. I'm not gonna race you, though. I learned that lesson quick."

She smiled coyly. "And that was too fast for you?"

He rolled his eyes.

'Are you gonna profess your love in that meadow of yours, brother?' I thought to him. He gave me a quick, stern look. If Bella saw it, she ignored it.

"It certainly was incredible speed. Flash would have a run for his money."

She laughed. "Man, a DC fan, up here in the Pacific Northwest? "

"Not a fan, but at least knowledgeable of pop culture." He turned toward the door. "Come on, Bella, we're wasting daylight."

"Alright, already! ALICE!"