Chapter 21

Jasper's POV

Disclaimer: I don't own it.

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Fridays at Noon By: troublefollows1017 (Twilight/Completed)

First & Ten By: Nolebucgrl (Twilight/Completed)

AN: I'm sorry it's so short, but this is what I have right now. I should have another chapter up soon. This isn't how I thought this story would turn out, but I think there'll only be a couple chapters left, including an epilogue.

Bella looked anything but at ease with me as she sat straight up like a puppet standing tall for the puppeteer, her muscles were tense and she was nervously playing with her hands. I ached to send her soothing feelings, but I thought that manipulating her emotions might get me into even more trouble when her thoughts and feelings would determine the path our relationship took.

"Why'd you leave?" I almost didn't want to ask the question because I feared the answer. What if she didn't want to be mated to me anymore? What if she wasn't happy with me any longer? What if she had found someone else?

"You made it seem like you didn't want me as a mate anymore. You were ignoring me, wouldn't look at me. We never went to see Abigail together. I thought you blamed me for what happened with Edward. I wasn't going to stay somewhere where I obviously wasn't wanted. I made a promise to myself, to Abigail, that I'd be a good role model for her from now on, a strong and independent woman. And that doesn't include being somebody's doormat again."

"Bella," I breathed out, shocked that she thought I didn't want her. "There's nothing that's farther from the truth. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to love you, make love to you, give you the world. And I never blamed you for what happened with Edward. That was his own doing. In light of what you've said I can see how you might think that I didn't want you anymore, but that is so very, very wrong. I thought that after you had seen Edward at his worst, you'd be afraid of me. Because no matter how frightening Edward is, I've done and seen a lot worse than that." Bella remained silent for a couple minutes after I finished.

"I could never be afraid of you, Jasper." she whispered so quietly I almost missed it. "You showed me your scars and I wasn't afraid. You've been nothing but sweet and kind and unbelievably considerate and accommodating to me. You saved me. How could I be scared of you?"

"So this all could have been avoided if we just talked to each other, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess it could have." she murmured.

"I want you and Abigail to leave with me. Everyone's worried sick over you. We should get back home so they can see that you're okay."

"Home? Jasper, I'm not going to go back to that town ever again. It only holds bad memories for Abigail and I. We've started a new life here. Abigail and I love it, and I don't want to upset Abigail by bouncing her all over the place. I want to give her a home. Someplace where she can grow up and when she leaves I want her to know that she can always come back here whenever she needs me."

"Bella, as nice as that sounds, it's impossible for us. People get suspicious if we stay in one place for too long because we don't age. We're constantly moving, finding new places to live, meeting new people, finding new jobs. It's imperative for us not to get too comfortable in one place. I can understand you not wanting to go back there, but you can't stay here forever."

Bella turned her back to me and I felt a strong and sudden change in her emotions. "Bella?" I questioned, worried I had said something that made her upset. "Bella, what's wrong? Did I say something?"

"I'm the world's worst mother. I can't seem to do anything right for my daughter, my bebe. I stood there and stayed with Robert while he while he beat and took advantage of me. I can't provide her with a consistent home, and I'm a vampire for heaven's sake! I won't be able to see her off to her first day of school. I won't be able to see her interact with her first crush. I won't be able to-"

"Bella, my sweet Isabella. Look at me." I jumped off my place on the rock and moved to stand in front of her. My hands rested gently under her chin, silently willing her to meet my gaze. Only a few minutes passed before my Bella relented and her sorrow-filled gaze met mine. "You are one of the strongest and most independent women I know. I think you're a great mother and role model for Abigail. Do you know how many women would've left their abusive husband and not had a thought about their child? The first thing you asked about when you woke up from your Change was your daughter. And even though you were a Newborn you fought tooth and nail to see your daughter every night. You are not the world's worst mother, Isabella Whitlock."

Bella nodded. The urge to pull my mate close to me and hug her came over me and I desperately wanted to give in, but I didn't know how Bella would take it. So hesitantly, I moved closer to Bella, giving her a chance to pull away though I dearly hoped it wouldn't come to that. Thankfully, Bella accepted my hug and leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Would it be okay if I stayed here with you and Abigail for a while? I want to be there for you two. I want to show you that I absolutely want you as my mate and that I will support you in all your decisions. And I want Abigail to realize that I'm nothing like Robert. I realize how things must have looked to her before and I don't ever want her to think that I'll hurt either of you."

"I think that that'd be alright. But I think that it would be best if you stayed in another room. I think I need a little more time and… I kind of like this freedom." she admitted that last part quietly.

"Whatever makes you comfortable, Bella. I'll do whatever you want me to. Just don't ask me to leave. As cheesy as it sounds, I don't think I'd be able to stay away for very long."

Bella smiled at me and placed her hands on my shoulders. "If we're really going to make this work, we need to make sure that we communicate. Especially where Abigail is involved."

"Of course, Bella." I placed a kiss on her forehead and breathed in her sinfully delicious smell.

"How long do you think Edward and Alice are going to stay?"

I pulled away and laughed. "I'm not sure, beautiful. With the way Abigail has him wrapped around her little finger, I'm sure we can expect him to stay for a while. He sure like has changed a lot, though. I think that vacation they took really helped put things in perspective for him."

"He just better not get any funny ideas about my baby girl."