Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters. I do own name changes and the house plots.

~Revealing and Healing~

I pushed the super healthy cereal blend Esme had made me with slices of fruit added to it around my bowl. I didn't feel up to eating, even though I usually ate enough for two people.

There was still no sign of Garrett.

I sighed, blinking back tears.

I just wanted him to come back, to talk to him about all of this. We were both in the wrong yesterday, about different things. He was wrong to attempt to control what I do and I was wrong to say some of the things I did. I should have talked to him like an adult, not shouted at him or comment about certain things.

I wanted to say this to my mate. Face to face.

Alice slid silently into the seat beside me, startling me. "So, you and Garrett haven't talked things out yet, huh."

I shook my head, sniffling as tears filled my eyes against my will. "He left."

"Not for good. He wouldn't do that to you. Chin up, dry those eyes and cuddle with your mate. You'll feel better." My favourite pixie told me, kissing me on the cheek before sliding off her chair and disappearing again.

What was that supposed to mean? Did she know something? Did she see something? No, she couldn't have, she'd have told me the moment she had. Plus, I had cuddled with Jasper and it had helped, temporarily, but not in the long run. I still wanted to talk to Garrett.

This was useless. I pushed the cereal away, the soggy circles unappealing. It wasn't Esme's fault, she was trying to help, but I wasn't all here. I frowned, slipping from my seat.

I grabbed a piece of toast and a banana instead on my way to the living room. I aimed for the loveseat, my Jasper already seated on it.

I snuggled into his side and nibbled on the toast, listening to the vibrations in his chest while he engaged in a conversation with Peter. I didn't bother trying to follow it, they were reminiscing in the past, reliving the scattered years they lived under the same roof.

I felt Jasper stiffen, a low growl emitting from his throat. I rubbed the side of his chest, the side I wasn't laying against, in an effort to comfort him. Sometimes they accidentally dredged up a few memories of their time with Maria during their talks, even though they spent time together afterward.

"So, you decided to come back, did you?" My Major drawled, a hard note in his voice.

Huh? I turned my head now, following his line of eyesight. I sucked in a breath.

Garrett stood in the doorway, shifting on his feet. He wouldn't make eye contact. "I always intended to return to her."

"She didn't think so, nor did you give her anything to suggest that you would return at all."

"I never meant-"

"Please, both of you, just stop it." I didn't want any more fighting, we'd done enough of that already. "Let's go upstairs and talk about this without an audience."

I stood up from Jasper's lap and headed for the stairs. They both nodded and followed me up the stairs. Well more like one mate was in front of me and one mate was behind me as we walked upstairs.

The moment I cleared the door, I turned and hugged Garrett. "I'm not going to apologize for letting you know how I felt, but I am going to apologize for how I told you. I said a few things that were unfair and I shouldn't have told you that I would have sex with a bum if I wanted to. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry for trying to control what you do or don't. I will attempt to curb the urge to be a caveman." Garrett murmured, making me laugh a little. "I'm sorry I left without a word and for staying away for so long."

I felt like a literal ton had been lifted from my shoulders. I sighed in relief.

I pulled away and reached a hand back for Jasper. My relief was short-lived. I still felt the echoes of my emotions since Garrett left and I needed to find a way to convince myself he was really here and we were okay.

I felt the an undeniable need to have skin contact with both of my mates. I bit my lip, debating the pros and cons of putting action to my thoughts. I took a breath, crossed my fingers and decided to take the leap. "I don't feel like I'm ready to be fully intimate with you yet, Garrett, but if you're willing to we can cuddle nude."

My faith was rewarded.

Without a word, Garrett stripped off his jacket and shirt in front of my very eager eyes. I couldn't help but ogle him. He was sculpted, his muscles honed by hardship from his human life, chiseled plains and cut abs.

Oh, I wanted to lick every single inch of that chest and abdomen. Preferably without my large pregnant belly in the way.

Jasper chuckled from behind me. He obviously felt my train of thought.

I could hear his pants drop and my brain reminded me of just how well endowed my Major was.

Garrett paused with his pants undone, partway pushed down his hips and raised an eyebrow in my direction. "I do believe the idea was for all three of us to remove our clothes."

I blushed, realizing that I'd become distracted by them. I bit my lip, quickly undoing my pants and sliding them down over my hips. I paused, fiddling with the hem of my shirt.

I know I suggested the nude snuggling, but I was beginning to rethink taking everything off. Garrett has never seen me naked and I was big now, my pregnant belly was hard to ignore. I wasn't sure I wanted the first time for him to see me naked was when I was all fat and weird.

A purr started up behind me, strong cold hands rubbed my back in soothing circles.

I sighed. Of course he'd know I was getting a bit anxious.

"Is it okay if I kept my underwear and bra on?" I whispered shyly. I would still be able to feel their skin but I wouldn't be completely naked. A comprise of sorts.

"Whatever you are comfortable with. If you want to stop or change your mind at any time, we will stop. Nothing happens if you don't want it to, darlin'." Jasper reassured me, his hands working wonders on my shoulders.

Garrett nodded, eyes watching for my reaction, hands prepared to redress if I gave the word.

"Okay." I replied, relieved that they were so understanding.

I shed my shirt and walked for the bed, pulling the blankets down. I was ready for a nap and we all needed the physical reassurance this would give us.

I laid down and was sandwhiched carefully in by my mates. Garrett on my right and Jasper on my left, their cool temperature was familiar and comforting. Jasper thoughtfully wrapped me in a blanket light enough so I could feel their temperature as well as them, but warm enough so I wouldn't become too cold.

"Mm. Perfect." I sighed happily.

I took the time available to us now to fully take in Garrett's nude body. Manual labor over the years in his human life really did him favors. He wasn't ripped or overly muscular, which I liked. His legs and arms were built for working land and building homes from the ground up. They were pleasing to the eye as well. So far, everything was.

My eyes landed on his half erect clock and I licked my lips, the beginnings of arousal stirring in my lower region. He was about two inches shorter than Jasper, but he was also a bit thicker than my Major.

"Like what you see?" An amused voice asked from my right.

"Very much." I answered honestly, a light blush dusting my cheeks.

Garrett chuckled, pulling me a little closer, my head resting on his shoulder and rubbing his hand on said shoulder. "I suppose we can rule out the possibility of not being attracted to the other." He mused, kissing my forehead.

"There is that." I agreed, yawning. I was beginning to crash, I couldn't last much longer.

"Rest. We can talk more after you wake." He murmured softly, smiling at me.

"M'kay." I sighed, reaching behind me to grab Jasper's arm and wrap it around my waist. He let me move his limb, resting our linked hands between my breasts.

I drifted into sleep, content.

"We're going to have to double patrols soon. They keep getting closer to the property." A voice close by whispered. "If we don't, soon they'll be right on top of it and we'll be overrun."

"It'll take more than that." A familiar voice drawled in answer. "Eventually we will have to engage them or they will overrun the property. We need to make plans in the case that that happens. No matter what, she has to be safe. Nothing else matters."

I frowned. It was too early. Why on Earth were they talking? What were they talking about? None of it made any sense.

"Should we tell her?" Garrett asked, his chest vibrating with every word. "About. . .you know."

"Don't have a reason we shouldn't." Jasper drawled, his voice getting a slight edge to it.

"Jasper, I-"

"Not here. Too many ears."

I shifted, blinking my eyes open. My sleepy mind had cleared and I had to pee. I tossed the blanket off of me and lifted myself into a sitting position so I could figure a way off the bed. I was still sandwiched in by two cool bodies.

"Good afternoon, sleeping beauty." Garrett greeted in a cheery voice. He had his hands behind his head and a grin on his face. The blanket I'd tossed was covering his lower half.

"Less talk. I have to pee." I mumbled, scooting down toward the end of the bed.

Jasper laughed, probably because I wasn't getting very far very fast. "All you had to do was ask, darlin'."

"Okay, can you take me to the bathroom so I won't pee down my leg?" I huffed, frustrated by the dwindling amount I could do without help. I know I can get to the bathroom by myself, but I'd have an accident on the way there.

I could swear my bladder shrunk to the size of a freaking walnut. It. Sucked.

He kissed me on the forehead and picked me up. I closed my eyes and tucked my head in the nook between his neck and shoulder, breathing in his scent. Air whooshed in my ears for less than a second, then nothing.

He sat me down and I sped walked to the toilet, almost ripping my panties in my haste to get them off and down my legs. He laughed, closing the bathroom door and shaking his head. I glared at him. Oh, sure, it was all good and funny to him. He didn't have a baby that felt like a watermelon kicking, bouncing and punching on his bladder. He didn't have to pee at all.

Stupid vampire.

Jasper felt my irritation and the smile dimmed. He stepped away from the door and took a few step a in my direction. "Hey. I didn't mean anything by it. You were just a bit rough on your poor panties is all."

Okay. Maybe it was a little funny. Just a tiny little fraction.

"Ice cream with honey barbeque sauce for desert tonight and you are forgiven." I proposed seriously. I didn't mess around when it came to my ice cream and honey BBQ.

He made a face, a small shudder rocking his body. "Deal."

"Okay, then." I nodded, and reached down to pull my panties up. He backed up toward the door so I could stand when I finished.

He raised an eyebrow at me when I froze, panties halfway up my legs. "What is it?"

"I just realized that I don't really have any clothes on." I answered, yanking my underwear the rest of the way up. "Why did you let me out of the bedroom with so little on? Someone could've seen me! Especially since I was going to come out here by myself in the first place!"

My face had to have been as red as a tomato and I was absolutely mortified at the thought of any of the family seeing me.

"I don't think you've noticed, darlin', but no one is here. Also, I have even less on clothes wise than you do." He pointed out, gesturing down to his nude form.

Oh. I'd forgotten that he went to bed naked.

Hey. Speaking of bed. . .

"Jasper? What did you and Garrett mean about doubling patrols or being overrun?" I asked, curious. I hadn't really meant to eavesdrop, but I had just woke up and wasn't thinking clearly.

"I thought I felt you wake up around then." My Major mumbled, his face and stance changing. "So, you heard."

"I woke up and was still foggy, but yeah. I heard you talking to him about telling 'her' something." I took a breath and blurted out what was on my mind. "The 'her' you were whispering about is me, isn't it? What did you think you two should tell me? You didn't exactly mention it, unless the first part I heard was it."

He sighed, running his hands through his honey locks. "I didn't want to get in to it here."

"Get in to it?" I repeated slowly. My head and heart sped up, I didn't like where this sounded like it was going. Why would he say it like that?

He avoided my eyes, his own had lost their golden hue. "I meant it when I said there are too many ears here. Wait long enough for us to go somewhere else, and I'll tell you everything."

Too many ears? Wait until we're somewhere else? Tell me everything? The words were like nails in my ears. My head spun. What kind of everything were we talking about here? I'd been here for months-with him, with them-and no one has said anything about there being an everything to talk about.

I had no idea what the hell to think.

"Come on. Lets get dressed and we'll go." Jasper urged, gently steering me out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.

Garrett had already dressed. He, too, had an uneasy expression and a change in posture.

I grabbed whatever I touched first and put it on, not even caring what it was or looked like. My mind was reeling and my emotions were all over the place, without the usual hormones to blame. This time, they did nothing to screw with my head.

This time. . .it was my mate.

Jasper took me in his arms once we'd all been clothed. In a blur of movement, he'd taken us somewhere I guessed was far enough to prevent eavesdropping and sat me on my feet.

I immediately recognized it as the place I'd found him after we'd first had sex.

The beauty was diminished by my state of mind and it no longer held the peacefulness of our previous visit. Now, Jasper stood a good foot away from me and looking. . .guilty. Garrett was a few feet to his left, watching me with a look I couldn't decipher.

My Major inhaled and ran a hand roughly through his hair. "Bella. . . .there are some things I haven't told you. . . ."

I steeled myself. No matter what, I can handle it. I told myself firmly.

"I haven't been completely honest with you, Bella." He began, his eyes downcast and unreadable. "I should have told you this when we found out we were mates-or any time before you became pregnant-I know that, and I'm sorry that I didn't. All I can say is I am sorry and I am telling you now."

I trembled, wishing he'd just tell me and get it over with.

"I met someone in a little town in the middle of nowhere. The day was dawning and the sky was without clouds to provide sufficient cover, so I ducked into an old abandoned theater. . .only, it wasn't completely abandoned." Jasper sighed and glanced at me. "There was a vampire there, he also was seeking cover from the sun. The cloudless sky lasted for longer than we anticipated, so we spent that time getting to know each other a bit better. . . ."

Okay. He was hiding in a theater with a man waiting for clouds or sunset. Why would that upset me? Why be so secretive about it? Unless. . . .

His expression told me he had guessed my thoughts. "Yes. We grew closer in the physical sense."

I stared at him, processing the new information and struggling to identify how I felt about it.

"For a brief time, I forgot about everything but him." He glanced to me and away quickly. "When the sun finally set, he left before I could say anything about what had happened. The freedom of the nomadic lifestyle separated us and I thought I'd never see him again."

Lover left without a goodbye. Okay.

"Bella. . . I wish I didn't have more to add, but I do. He was my mate." Jasper admitted quietly, a guilty look on his marble face.

"He was me." Garrett murmured from nearby.

The words struck me like a physical blow, taking my breath away. Emotions and thoughts spun out of control, no one thought or emotion really dominant.

Grew closer. . . physical sense. . . .thought I'd never see him again. . . Mate. Over and over again. Every syllable repeating themselves in my mind. What did that mean for me? For us? Am I the new Alice?

I don't know how long I sat there, immersed in my own world, trying to make sense of things. Emotions began to separate, become more distinctive. I recognized many off the bat as they registered. Hurt. Betrayal. Confusion. Sadness.

I knew the moment Jasper picked up on each one. "Bella. . .please understand. . . I didn't plan on a male mate."

He thought I was going to judge them. Now, I got angry.

"You really think I care that you were with a man?" I growled, glaring at them. "I don't, love is love."

Garrett sighed in relief. Jasper continued to assess me emotionally.

"How long ago was this meeting in the middle of nowhere?" I asked, fighting myself on it. A part of me wanted to know, but a second part didn't.

"Bella. . ." He was stalling.

"How long?!" I shouted, his hesitation a bad sign.

He sighed and his black eyes left me. "Before we moved away."

Another imaginary fist struck my chest. He was still with Alice at the time. Every moment we spent attempting to fight our feelings came back to me. Did he do that with Garrett or because of Garrett?

I felt like I didn't know anything anymore. . .

"You're telling me that you've kept this a secret from everyone-from me-for months? Even after. . . ." I sobbed, allowing the tears to fall. I stood, closing the distance between us until I was only a foot away. "You have seen me countless times when I was at my most vulnerable, and I told you about all the moments you hadn't. Every memory I could think of, good or bad, I have shared with you. Every secret I have ever kept close to my chest I have let you see or I have told you."

Both vampires showed deep rooted guilt in black eyes and marble faces, but I would not show them mercy.

"I trusted you with everything I am-with everything I have! I have given you a part of myself that has been untouched by any other person-man or woman." I paused for breath. The pain grew worse and the tears increased as I thought about everything that had happened, everything that had been said. "How could you have kept such an important thing from me? Such a major part of any future we could hope to share."

"I-" Jasper began, cutting himself off with a helpless sigh.

"You had plenty of chances to come clean, to tell me all about Garrett and being mates, but you didn't! Even after we began to see each other and try for a baby. Even after I found out I was pregnant." I glanced at Garrett. "Neither of you made any attempt to tell me before now."

That was the part that hurt the most.

He closed the distance, reaching for me. I jerked my arms away, backing out of his reach. "No!" I shouted hoarsely, my voice rough and thick with tears.

He flinched and retreated, crestfallen.

I carefully sat down, turning my body away from them and cradled my swollen abdomen as I cried. I could see Jasper and Garrett in the corner of my eye. Neither tried to come closer or touch me, they sat down with their guilt stricken and sad faces, venom tears rolling down marble cheeks.

I lost track of time, sitting in the same place with my thoughts in a whirl.

I wasn't sure what would happen now-what all this meant for us. Was I the new Alice? Would their mate bond mean that I didn't have a mate anymore-if I ever did?

I was beginning to question everything that I ever felt or knew about Jasper Whitlock.

I felt like I didn't know anything anymore.

Jasper had stayed seated, watching me with sad, guilty eyes. He hadn't moved a millimeter since our argument.

Garrett had sat beside him and stared as well, glancing between us. He stood after a while and approached, cautious and slow, like you would an injured animal. "Bella?"

I ignored him. They had kept their mating a secret from me.

"I know you don't like either of us at the moment, and that's fair, but you should go back to the house and get inside. The temperature is dropping and it won't be good for the child or you to stay out here." He crouched in front of me, not touching me, just there. "If you don't want Jasper to carry you back, I will. The moment we are on the property I will set you down and if you don't want us to touch you afterward, we won't."

I thought about it, and he let me. It was getting cooler and I was starting to ache from being in the same position on the cool ground. I knew I couldn't walk back to the houses in time, a part of me was tempted to try anyway just so neither of them would touch me, but I nipped that idea in the bud.

"Fine. You can carry me." I sighed, resigned to the fact that I needed the assistance to return home.

Garrett cautiously kept his hands in appropriate places, like the backs of my knees and the middle of my back. I closed my eyes and took a breath, the whoosh of air around us told me he had taken off.

I opened my eyes once he released me and blinked in surprise. He had set me down immediately like he'd said he would.

My bladder and stomach made themselves known urgently, distracting me from the vampires that had hidden secrets from me. The family was inside my home, waiting in the living room, neither Jasper or Garrett came in.

I relieved my bladder first, taking the moment to wash my face and brush my hair to look a bit more presentable since I had company.

Esme and Carlisle met me first, relief in their golden eyes. I did my best to smile at them, but their expressions told me I hadn't succeeded.

"What happened, dear? You were gone for two hours." Esme asked worriedly.

A flash of pain hit my chest and I blinked back tears. "I would rather not talk about it." I whispered, not meeting their eyes.

"Alright." She soothed, leading me to the kitchen where the heavenly smell of baked chicken and veggies wafted from.

I obediently sat at the table and stuffed my face, listening to the sounds of my immortal family, letting them temporarily soothe the ache in my soul. I could revisit the issue later, when I was alone.

I slept alone that night, for the first time in months.

Rosalie was frowning at the doorway when I woke up. When did she get here? What was she frowning at?

"What is it?" I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I had to pee.

"Jasper has been sitting outside this room since you went to bed, he hasn't moved once. Garrett was out there, too, for most of the night, but he went for a hunt shortly before you woke up." She turned curious and confused eyes on me. "Why aren't they in here with you?"

I had hoped she wouldn't ask me that. "We had a falling out. They kept something from me that they shouldn't have."

I wouldn't say one more word about it and she seemed to understand that.

After a shower and breakfast, I went through every moment of my life with the Cullens and then the Clearbourne family. Every discussion, every joke, every bump in our journey.

It took a while, but I realized why Jasper and Garrett did what they did, why Jasper was so hesitant and confused about us. He had already gone through the mixed feelings and thought when he found Garrett while with Alice. He wasn't sure if it had even happened for a while, devoted himself to Alice again and then was thrown another loop. Me.

Everything made sense. . . .

I stood up. "Jasper."

Rosalie had said that he sat outside of our bedroom all night, there was a chance he still was.

I crossed the room as fast as my pregnant body could safely go and yanked open the door. He was standing on the other side, waiting, his hair mussed and clothes wrinkled and torn. His appearance matched the emotions in his eyes-a mess.

"I would like to show you something, if I could." Jasper murmured, his tone said he expected me to refuse.

"Okay." I noticed some spatter on his shirt and pants. I hope it isn't blood, he is usually very neat when feeding.

He picked me up, holding me as far from his body as possible. He probably thought that I wouldn't want to be held any closer to him, and his emotions could hamper him reading mine. He stopped outside the clearing we had argued in, but what caught my eye was the new addition.

A cluster of. . . .me.

Shocked, I turned back to my Major. "What. . .?"

I couldn't find the right words. There were painted life sized carvings of me, each one was different in subtle ways. There was even a carving of me with a heavy pregnant belly.

"Each carving is a moment of our lives, starting from the day I first saw you." Jasper began, glancing at the carvings and then returning his attention to me. "I know I messed up by not telling you about Garrett or our mating and I can't tell you how sorry I am enough to make up for it. Things were messed up and confusing for a while before and after that day. I didn't have my head on straight and thought that what happened was because I had problems with Alice I had denied. Then it happened again. . . .with you. . ."

He paused, caressing a carving that I hardly recognized. It was too beautiful to have been me. "It was so hard to fight what I felt for you, but I felt that I should for Alice's sake. I kept getting deeper and then, I got to the point that nothing else mattered but you. I didn't tell you when Garrett arrived because I was desperate for what happened in that theater not to be true. I was afraid that it meant I would lose you and I can't." He choked, voice as broken as his expression. "I can't live in a world where I can't kiss you or hold you when you sleep. Where I can't hear your heartbeat or breathe in your scent. You are everything that makes life worth living. You areeverything."

I gave in to the urge to kiss him, emotional tears mixing as they ran down out cheeks. I loved this man more than anything. "It's okay, my love, you don't have to live without me. Ever. I'm not going anywhere."

He carried me back to our home, laid me in our bed, and we reconnected in every way we needed to. Slowly and sweetly.

Garrett returned sometime later, and after apologies were made, we all cuddled in bed together, naked.

We were whole again.