A/N: Thanks so much for the amazing reviews last chapter! You guys really are the best. Again, a MAJOR thanks to LynZann...because she helped me big time with this chapter! I really, really hope you guys enjoy it!

Chapter 21: Hot and Cold

There was an airport nearby. When we got there, we already had tickets waiting for the four us to take a flight back home. Edward sat no where near us on the plane thankfully. But, it didn't really make things any easier.

The flight back home was filled with so much tension. I knew that Jasper was angry at me, I could read it all over his face. It didn't help that I was sitting right beside him the entire time. He didn't talk to me, not a single word. I could feel his obvious frustration just flying off of him. And to make matters worse, I knew exactly why.

To him, it was like I had broken some sort of promise to him. I had told him that we would do anything to get my daughter back, even if it meant killing Edward. But apparently to Jasper, he just wanted to kill him in general. I just couldn't let him do it. As deep as my anger and hatred may run for him, the truth is that without him, my daughter may have ended up dead.

Why Jasper didn't see that was beyond me.

When we returned back home, only Carlisle, Esme and Bella were at the house. While they all flocked to Lilly and I, I watched from the corner of my eye as Jasper just stomped off upstairs and I heard his door slam shut.

After a few minutes of sitting there, I couldn't take it anymore. I hated being ignored. But more than that, I hated not knowing things. All this time he had demanded I tell him anything and everything. And for once, HE was going to tell me what the hell was going on.

I left Lilly in the arms of Esme, knowing no harm would come to while with her and made my way up the stairs. The door was unlocked so I just walked right in. He wasn't in there though. And that's when I heard the water running in the bathroom. I for a split second thought about coming back when he was done but, to hell with that…I wanted answers and I didn't care what he was doing. He was going to give them to me.

I flung open the door, not bothering to knock and walked inside. I saw him leaning over the counter, his hands gripping the edge with his head lowered slightly. He was shirtless and I knew that I should've been shell shocked at the vision in front of me but, there was something else that was drawing me closer to him. With each step I took towards him, I felt my anger slowly melt away for the moment.

When I was close enough, I reached my hand out, letting my fingertips graze lightly over one of the scars he had. One of hundreds I'm sure. He tensed immediately at my touch and he turned his head slightly towards me, glaring at me with pith black eyes.

"What?" his voice was hard, cold as he shook my hand off of him.

"You…" I swallowed nervously, trying to look at only his face "You owe me some answers." I felt my confidence coming back a tiny bit.

"I don't owe you anything."

"No, you're always telling me that…but it's not going to fly this time Jasper. I need to know why you're treating me like this again. After all that just happened."

"Fine. You really want to know?" he turned around completely so that he was facing me. I didn't dare look down. I knew what was there and right now, I couldn't be distracted by the scars that undoubtedly adorned his body. "I wanted nothing more than to just kill Edward….god you have no idea! Just thinking about…he would've deserved it Elizabeth and you damn well know it!"

"How could I let you kill him? Without his help, Lilly might be dead right now. You may not understand the meaning of unconditional love but, I for one wasn't about to let the man who helped save my daughter be ripped to shreds."

"I don't understand?" his voice grew angrier "No Elizabeth, what I don't understand is how you let that idiot brother of mine screw your life up twice now….and yet, you still let him live. I told you, I wasn't going to let him destroy you again…and yet, here we stand with Edward very much alive downstairs."

"If it bothers you so much, then why didn't you just do it then? What stopped you….huh tough guy?" I pushed against his shoulder as hard as I could. He took the opportunity to grab my wrist in his hand and bring me closer to him.

"The only reason I didn't kill the bastard" he pulled me even closer, "Is because you asked me not to."

"Since when does what I ask you stop you from doing anything!" I was getting fed up with all this back and forth. It never got us anywhere.

"Oh little girl…" he hissed in my ear "you know exactly why…you know just the type of effect you have on me."

With that one little statement, I was rendered completely speechless. I glared at him for a few seconds, trying to push all the feelings of desire and lust to the back of my mind as I tried to figure out what he meant by that statement. Well, I knew what he meant by it. I knew I effected him. But, the way he said, it was like he wasn't too happy about it. Almost like he hated the fact that I got under his skin.

But, I couldn't really concentrate on the actual statement. Because let's face it, I was utterly floored by the way he had just spoken to me. Though malicious, it was extremely sensual the way he did it.

Before I knew it, I was being pushed out of the bathroom with the door being slammed in my face. I looked at the door, feeling like a complete idiot. Once again, he had gained the upper hand and thought he could just dismiss me like that. Well, he had another thing coming if he thought he had won and that this fight was over.

Taking a deep breath, I opened that damn door again, not too surprised that it wasn't locked. I was surprised however that he was already in the shower, trying to ignore me probably.

"I'm not a little girl...and if you think that I'm just going to let you win…." and before I could finish, I was cut off by the shower curtain flying open. Before I even had time to think, Jasper had grabbed my hand, and pulled me, fully clothed, into the shower with him.

"Why can't you ever just leave me alone?" He growled against my ear, sending waves of pleasure and fear all throughout my system.

I didn't even have time to think about what I had come in here for the moment I felt myself coming in contact with the shower wall behind me and almost frantically, he was pressing himself against me, devouring my lips with his. I couldn't even bring myself to call him out on his complete one eighty reaction towards me.

One minute was pushing me out the door away from him. The next, he was pulling me in to be with him.

We both knew what this was. Months of pent up anger, frustration, and obvious sexual tension had finally caused something inside of his head to snap completely.

But, this was what I had wanted, his attention, him to show that he did care for me, that I did make him feel something, and he was finally doing it. Maybe not in the exact way I had thought of, but I had to take what was given. At least, I hope that's the message he was trying to get across.

I placed my hands on the back of his head, entwining my fingers in his hair, gripping onto it, so as to hold his lips to mine. He eventually broke the kiss, grabbing my shirt in his hands. Instead of taking the time to unbutton it, he just ripped it open, yanking it down my arms with one swift movement. I mumbled something probably incoherent to him but he didn't even notice. He was otherwise occupied.

He did take the time however to unhook my bra, throwing it behind him somewhere. Soon, he was eye level with my chest and I could feel him placing kisses and soft bites all around them. The sensation was overwhelming. It was like he was, for however temporary, marking me as his. And I welcomed it. I wanted more of it. I wanted to be his, in every way and form.

As he kissed down my stomach, he undid my jeans, and thrust them down my legs along with my underwear. I stepped out of them, and kicked them carelessly to the side. At least now we were both on the same level. I grabbed his chin, bringing his face back up to mine.

"I'm yours, take me." I whispered and with those four words, I could see a change in his demeanor. It might not have been noticeable to anyone else, but I could see his wall crack just a little bit when I said it. He moved his face closer, our lips nearly touching. I could smell his breathe, so intoxicating, and it took everything I had to stay where I was, to not take his lips with the passion that was welling up inside of me.

He slowly worked his way down my body, making sure to kiss all the scars he could reach. It had to be one the sweetest, most romantic thing anyone had ever done. And the fact that it was him doing it, made it so much better.

He made his way back to my mouth, this time not being as rough, but still demanding.

I was ready, I knew where I wanted this to go and I was really hoping he did to.

"Take me, now…" I demanded.

"You're so impatient Elizabeth…" he smirked "You know, once we do this, there's no going back." The smirk left his face but he was still serious.

I should've been angry by that statement. He chose now to get all moral on me? But, I couldn't bring myself to say it.

"There's never been anything to go back to. Please?" I nearly pleaded.

With that one word, he threw all caution to the wind, lifted me up effortlessly and entered me. I wrapped my legs around him, enjoying the feeling of him finally inside me. He didn't move at first, and then he spoke.

"Elizabeth, I take it back. You are anything but a little girl." His voice was strained as he spoke. I just gave him a knowing look. It was all I was capable at that very moment.

With that, he started moving me up and down, placing kisses on my chest and face. And when I threw my head back against the wall, he continued his assault and my now exposed neck. This was the epitome of feeling good. Being with Jasper was like nothing I had ever experienced. There were feelings with him that I never knew existed; there was a want that came from so deep inside me. I could feel it inside of me, burning, ready to be released.

I could tell that I wasn't the only one who was enjoying this. I kept my eyes locked on his for as long as possible. They were black, full of desire. I let a small smile form on my lips as I heard some of his last words to Maria.

"She makes me feel things that you could never make me feel Maria. And she does things that most men only dream of."

I may have played with his thoughts a bit but maybe, just maybe, there was a small part that had actually believed it.

All of the sudden he unwrapped my legs, turning me around, making me face away from him. I was lucky I didn't slam my face against the wall he did it so quickly. I knew what was coming before it even happened. I should've protested; Told him to stop being so dominant. But, at the moment, I couldn't form any words. And I knew that deep down, he wasn't just doing this for him. At least, I hoped so. He wanted to me feel good right?

He entered me from the back, nearly forcing me to arch my back towards him. I felt him moving, and the fire inside of me couldn't wait. I let loose, nearly screaming out my moans. I felt Jasper grab my shoulder, and with a satisfied smirk, he pressed into me one last time. He pushed until he was completely done and finally released my shoulder, letting his hand travel down the length the scar on my back. I couldn't help but shiver against his touch.

He pulled out, stepping back into the water. I stood there resting my forehead on the wall, not really sure what to do next, when he grabbed my hand, gently this time and turned me around to face him.

"Let me help you." He brought me closer to that two of us were completely under the warm water. I wanted to stop him, and just tell him that I wanted to keep his scent all over me. But, I figured that would seem pathetic and I wasn't about to seem weak in front of him.

I remained silent as he helped me. Truthfully, I was too afraid to say something to him. This moment was so perfect and I didn't want to run the risk of saying something stupid or have him blow it out of proportion.

After our shower, we both got dressed in quiet. And since all my clothes were sopping wet in the shower, the only thing being salvaged being my bra, the only option I had was the towel that Jasper had given me. It didn't really cover much but, it was all I had.

Neither one of us knew what to say. I figured it would be best if we addressed it before we faced the family.

"So," we both said at the same time.

"You first." We did it again.

"Elizabeth, please, let me speak first, ok?" Jasper asked, sitting down in one of the chairs in the room.

I shook my head yes, and sat on the bed.

"I know your probably thinking that this makes everything better and we're going to live happily ever after, but I still mean all the things I said." I felt my heart drop at those words. But, I didn't show it. "I don't know that I can be what you are hoping I can. I don't know if I have it in me to even try. I want you to know that, no matter what, that wasn't just sex to me. I do care about you, I just don't know if it can ever be more than that." he said, looking me dead in the eyes, making sure that I understood what he was saying.

And I did. I understood, but that didn't mean I was going to accept it. I wanted this man; I wanted him to be whatever he could for me. Of course, if I got to choose, got to make his decision, he would be with me forever. He would give us a try. And that's all I could really ask for, that he try.

"Jasper, I know that this is all hard for you. I really do. But I need you to understand. I am not asking you to change; I'm not asking you to pretend. I just want you to try. Give me a chance, give us a chance. You could end up being happier than you ever remember. I know you've been hurt, broken down by people before. But I promise you, I will never do that you. I will never use you. But I can't do this alone. You just have to try. That's all I'm asking for. Because, I think, no, I know that I love you Jasper." I said, knowing that if I could cry, I would be.

I ran that little speech through my mind and realized that I just openly admitted my love for him. Though I'm pretty sure he already knew how I felt. My only hope was that he wasn't about to call me crazy and say that he could never love me. I'm not sure I could handle that. Not for fear of being rejected but because I don't know if I could lead a life without him in it.

After everything that had just happened between us, all I was asking was for him not to shut me out.

I could see Jasper was having an internal battle with himself. Trying to decide if he should allow himself to try or to just stop all this right now.

I just sat there on his bed, waiting. Waiting to see if he was about to completely shatter my heart or if he was actually going to give us a chance…

I was about to get up, fed up with his silence when I noticed his hands moving slightly on the chair that he was gripping tightly.

Not a moment later, he stood up and walked over to stand right in front of me.

And then, with a smirk on his face he simply said, "I know."

I stared up at him is disbelief.

"What!" I stood up off the bed quickly "Can you really be that heartless Jasper!? I just told you that I love you and all you can say is 'I know'!"

He didn't say anything; he just reached over and gripped my upper arms.

"Let me go!" I tried to shake out of his grasp but he didn't budge. In my irrational fit, and all my moving around, the towel that I had securely around me was beginning to loosen a bit.

"Will you stop moving for five seconds?" his grip tightened even more "You ending up naked isn't going to help my situation whatsoever."

"Your situation? Is that all I am to you now? You've had me on this string for months now. And what? Now that we've slept together, you think you can just toss me aside and forget all about me? Well let me tell you…" I pushed against him "You have another thing coming if you think I'm going to leave that easily."

"Are you done?"

"Oh, I'm far from being done! You keep pushing and pushing me and I've had enough of it! I know that some pretty bad stuff happened to you in the past but, you have to move on Jasper! I know, I know. What do I know about moving on? I'm just the girl with scars right? But can't you see…I understand! I know what it's like to have been hurt, taken advantage of as if you were nothing. I…we could be so good together. You can't tell me you haven't thought about it either! Because I know you can feel the obvious chemistry the two of us have. You just said that what happened wasn't just sex and then you turn around and say that you can never be anything to me. And I refuse to believe that! I know you want me Jasper. And not just for physical needs either…it goes so much deeper than that. You want me as much as I need you. Why can't you see that! What can't you just….accept what's happening here? Because I can push all I want but, if you won't give me the chance, how in god's name will we ever know? How will we ever know if you and I were meant to be?" I dropped my hands to my sides, feeling both relieved and defeated.

His grip loosened on my arms and then slid them down so that he was holding onto my wrists, encircling them tightly, pretty much locking me in place. He just looked away from me. He was looking at anything but me.

"What? No witty comment? God, sometimes I really wish I could really get inside that head of yours….you're so…frustrating!" I glared him straight in the eyes, there was nowhere else for me to look.

"Elizabeth…" his voice was low, demanding "Can you shut up for a minute?"

I went to open my mouth, not about to stand for his rudeness but he continued talking.

"Shut up, because I need to say something. Something I've been wanting to get off my chest but with your incessant blabbing, I haven't been able to. Now, you've had your turn and now you're going to listen to what I have to say."

He dropped my wrists and I could see him looking past me. Whatever he was looking for, he must've found it because his focus was suddenly back on me.

I never knew what to expect when it came to this man so, I just stood there, preparing for the worst and hoping for the best…

Are any other words needed? Other than...finally?! She said those three little words! And, I really needed Liz to go off on Jasper there at the end.

Really anxious to hear your thoughts on this one.

Reviews=LOVE.