Disclaimer: kitty is not Stephanie Meyer.

I'm really sorry this took me longer than normal. But I have good reason! Have you heard of the "For the Love of Jasper Contest?" Sure you have. I was working on a collab with BamaBabe (Long, Tall Texan) and I got kind of into it. Okay, a lot into it. It's on both of our profiles as well as the C2 for the contest, so go read and review! And make sure when October rolls around you go and vote for your fave! There's a plethora of wonderful Jazz fics up with every pairing imaginable-including Jasper/Charlie! so go! After you read this chapter.

Thank you, cullen818 for waiting patiently while I dabbled around for forever. (FYI, she's got a o/s in the contest too, and it's sw-eet)

"Bella, remember what I said?" She glared at me from the corner chair as we went over the rules again.

"Yes, Jasper. I must stay where I am and not leave the house. If I smell someone coming, I must call you immediately. If I get bored, call Emmett." She rolled her eyes while I nodded in approval.

"You know it's for your own good, sugar. I don't want anything bad to happen to you while I'm gone. I'll make this quick, I swear, but you've never been alone before." I couldn't help but worry. We haven't had the issue of a human getting this close, but knowing Bella's luck that day would be today. And, although the possibility was slight, I couldn't help but hear that annoying voice in the back of my mind that was ticking a certain phrase: What about Edward? I got the feeling from the last time I saw him that he wasn't going to let this go. Add that to what Alice told me, and I couldn't help but be concerned. It would be just like him to try and sneak up here and scoop Bella away. But I trusted Alice; if she would have seen that, she would have told me.

"I know. It just sucks, that's all. Don't worry about me-I'm just going to read for a while. Hurry and go so you can come back." She smiled at me, looking disheartened. I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me happy to hear she felt that way. Without another word I bolted out the door and ran towards town. I was ridiculously excited about this little inside-date; I was practically skipping.

My first stop was the grocery store. Bella wanted popcorn, and although I knew she was going to despise it, I was going to get it for her anyway. Alice had seen that, of course, and called to tell me to make sure and grab a camera. Emmett wanted pictures. I got extra butter, smirking as I checked out.

Next, I went by the party supply store. I grabbed a slip-n-slide in the toy aisle. For some reason, it sounded like it would be right up Bella's alley. And considering we didn't get cold, why not create our own little summer paradise right here? I grabbed a few Tiki torches, coconut scented candles and tiny little drink umbrellas-I thought she would think they were cute. Clearly we wouldn't be putting them in anything drinkable to us. To cap of the evening, I grabbed a movie-some movie about a kid named Harry. Here's to hoping I don't watch a minute, I thought. I grabbed a swimsuit for Bella-they only had one. It was an emerald green one-piece, which would probably suit her just fine.

I browsed around for a few more minutes before heading to the cashier to check out. The cashier couldn't help but look at me oddly-there probably wasn't a huge demand for said items this time of year. I just shrugged and looked down at my watch. I'd only been gone an hour. I hurried towards home anyway.

Home. It struck me that the cabin was my home now. A home I didn't know I wanted. I was content before; I am happy now. I was halfway back when I felt a surge of rage hit me from behind. I immediately tensed for attack, spinning around and crouching into a defensive position.

Edward.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, not moving from my position. He circled around me, moving closer. I let out a low warning growl. I was wrong-he didn't go after Bella, he came after me.

"She doesn't want you-not really. She just doesn't know it. You're controlling her with your gift, aren't you?" he spat.

"Is that what this is about?" I snarled. "You don't even know her anymore! And I can't control her, asshole! I can barely feel her emotions as it is!" That brought him up short.

"What?" he asked. It didn't escape me that he hadn't straightened up out of his crouch.

"Yeah-another thing you don't know. And I don't have the time to lecture you on all the things you don't know-I have a date." That did it.

He leapt at me, catching me around the neck bringing me down to the ground. I could feel his teeth sink into my neck before I was able to throw him off into a nearby tree. I was on my feet in seconds, hissing at both Edward and the pain in my neck. He moved to strike again, but I deflected him. "Just what do you intend to do here? Kill me? You think if you run to her with my head on a platter that she will take you back?" I snarled, throwing myself in his direction. He knew what I wanted to do, but I was so enraged that I had to act. "You think if you eliminate me she'll just run right back into your arms?"

"You're wrong on one count-I don't plan to kill you. I only want to incapacitate you until my backup arrives. What will Bella think when she finds out you've left her for another? And when I come to check on her, even though she sent me away, what will that tell her? That I love her more." He was feeling smug and in control.

"Backup? What backup?" And that's when I felt the first burst of real pain.

"Thanks for coming out on such short notice, Jane. I don't think you know how much I appreciate this."

"Your proposition was very difficult to pass up. Now tell me-how did you get around your sisters vision? I hear she is near infallible."

"It was easier than I thought. I figured out that it was possible to decide on two actions at once-at which Alice couldn't decide which one was real and which one was not. She thought that I was conflicted; that I hadn't made a decision yet. Even now, I'm fooling her. She shouldn't see this until you are well on your way."

Bella's POV

Three hours. He'd been gone for three hours. Something wasn't right, I just knew it. And I couldn't leave, but my God what was I going to do? I was thirty-three seconds from freaking out. Okay-I needed to think rationally. Can't leave…but I can call Emmett! He'll know something, I just know it. The phone only rang twice before he picked up.

"Hey, little sis, what's up?"

"Emmett, something's wrong. Jasper was only supposed to be gone for a little while, but it's been three hours and he hasn't come back. I don't know where he is, and he hasn't called, and he won't answer his phone. I can't leave to go look for him or I might eat someone! I'm scared." I told him in a rush. I was pacing the room, clenching and unclenching my fists. I was antsy. Most vampires, when nervous, get very still. Not me, oh no. I freak the hell out.

"Okay, chill out. I'm on my way. Do you know where he went?" he was business now, when dealings with his family were threatened.

"Into town, but I don't know where. I'm sure you'll pick up his trail if you come in from the direction of the house. Please hurry. Is Alice there?"

"Yeah. Here-I'm tossing you to her now. I'm gone." I heard the phone fly through the air and Alice's nimble fingers catch it.

"Bella. I heard everything. I'm coming to stay with you."

"Have you seen anything?"

"No. I've seen…several things, but none of them are concrete. And they all involve Edward, so I don't know what he's doing. I think he's just mad-coming up with ways to save the day, you know how he is-but no single decision has been made. I'll be there as soon as I can." The phone clicked shut. It wouldn't be soon enough-it would take her hours to get here. The town is closer, so Emmett will get there first, which was a comfort to me. But how was I supposed to sit here and wait? Not do anything? And would I really hurt a human? If Jasper was in danger, I had to protect him. He would do the same for me. The rational voice in my head reminded me that Jasper wasn't a newborn vampire, but to hell with that. Emmett would be my backup.

Fuck it.

I was going, and I was going now. I could focus on this one thing, if it would save Jasper.

I steeled myself as I bolted out of the cabin and followed Jasper's scent towards town.

As I was running, the human scent grew more and more concentrated. My throat was on fire. It would be quick, if I made a little detour….Jasper. I have to find Jasper. I ran closer to town, holding my breath for most of the way. I would breathe in, very quickly, every so often to make sure I was on the same trail. I came out into a clearing that overlooked the town, and that's where the scent stopped. But it wasn't just his scent.

"Edward? Are you here?" I called, recognizing the scent that was purely his. I swear to God if he hurt Jasper I would dismember him right here and now and make him beg me to put him back together.

"Bella?" he responded, sounding very alarmed. "What are you doing this close to town? It's dangerous for you to be here."

"Don't you tell me what's dangerous, Edward! What did you do to Jasper?" I had inadvertently lowered myself into a crouch as he came out of the wood line.

"Easy! Emmett called me and told me he was missing. I was hunting in a nearby reserve, so I offered to come up and look around while he ran. I want to help find him." I glared at him suspiciously.

"And?" I prompted. He better make good on this.

"There is another vampire's scent here. One I don't recognize. And a vehicle nearby…"

"Okay, that doesn't make any sense. So you think Jasper was kidnapped by this 'phantom vampire'?" Who would want to kidnap Jasper? He hasn't done anything to anyone! He was only coming to buy me popcorn. This was my fault. "Who would want to hurt Jasper?" I sniffed. I wanted to cry. I wished I still could. He looked at me warily.

"I think there's something you should know." Oh great.

"And what would that be?" I snapped. I didn't want to hear any of his self-righteous bull shit. Not today.

"Last time I was near Jasper, his thoughts…were unsure." He paused. "I could see the hint of a thought of someone else, and how he was conflicted about her. He tried very hard to block me, and considering our last meeting, I didn't get any further into it. But I think…he may have run away with her." I froze. There was the stillness I lacked earlier. Jasper with another woman? But that didn't make any sense. Who would she be? And why?

"Why would he do that?" I asked, more to myself than to Edward.

"I know you didn't see this side of him, but Jasper's always had a sort of 'wandering fancy,' if you will. Alice was very lucky to have kept his attention for so long, but there were still others…" What? Jasper cheated on Alice?

"She never said anything to me about that…" I whispered.

"She wouldn't want to upset you. It was something she dealt with by herself for the most part-she didn't like anyone else to know. Of course, the rest of us did-it's very hard to keep secrets in our home-but the problem was there." I just stared at him for a long moment, trying to understand. I thought we had something. "Did he tell you he had feelings for you, Bella?" Edward asked quietly, moving closer to me.

"Yes. Tonight was going to be our first date. He was in town to get the stuff." I was stiff; still frozen.

"I'm sorry, love. I wanted to tell you, but Alice made me promise. She said fate would take over-I think she was weighing in your favor. I'm so sorry."

I let him embrace me.

Oh, I went there.