Disclaimer: I don't own a thing, but you can give me presents. I don't mind.

A/N Thanks to everyone who reviewed!

This chapter is a little shorter than normal. Also, a warning: the first part is mainly a flashback. I don't know if I need to warn you about that, but I am.

Ménage

Chapter 25 – The Friend

She was always afraid of him. The way he looked at her made her skin crawl. Bella put on a strong façade, but she was only a young girl. It was natural to be scared. Her danger radar was up 24/7.

The "friend". She felt bad, like she had lied to the men who loved her, but it wasn't so much lying as it was withholding information. Was that the same thing? There was something shameful in it, but she reminded herself that she hadn't done anything wrong. It didn't seem like a vital piece of information to tell them, but the truth was that she didn't want them to know. It occurred to her that there was no logical reason why they shouldn't. It wouldn't change the way they saw her, felt about her, because she hadn't done anything wrong.

But she was still having trouble figuring out what the big deal was.

Her father had been out of the room. He never left her alone for long, but it was long enough for their little interaction. He told her he knew what her dad was doing to her, and wouldn't it be just the thing if a young girl such as herself got in a state by her own parent? He laughed at her. He loved to laugh at her. He loved to laugh at nothing. He just laughed. He was insane, and that was that.

"But I can fix that for you." He told her. "I can keep you the perfect creature that you are, and he'll never know. It's the least an uncle can do for his niece."

Bella looked at him with steely eyes. "You're not my uncle."

He sniggered. "As good as. And I adore you," he cupped her face in his hands before she had the chance to back away, "you might as well be my own flesh and blood. You don't think I'd let anything bad happen to you."

Too late, buddy.

"I mean you're a big girl. You can handle yourself, but you're too young to take care of everything. It's my responsibility to make sure that my little sister is taken care of."

"I thought you said I was your niece."

"Niece, sister, whatever. The point is that I love you. I could make you my doll and put you on my mantelpiece." His teeth showed glaringly white as he grinned at her. His words confused her. Doll? He didn't make sense. He sounded like her father. All she wanted was to get away from him. She waited for her father to come back. At least it'd take care of the problem.

"I think you're a doll." He sighed, caressing her cheek. "Too sweet to spoil. I'll get it for you tomorrow if you shake my hand and kiss me."

"What?" Bella gasped, horrified. "Get me what? And I'm not touching you."

"Just an uncle-niece kiss, Bella. And what do you think I'll get you? What does a girl in your predicament need?" She opened and closed her mouth, unable to think of the answer. It was too overwhelming. He was too close. She smelled his aftershave and hair gel. Her breakfast threatened to make an appearance. Then again, since he was standing directly in front of her, that might not be a bad thing.

"Backup." He said, as if he had just revealed the most obvious thing in the world. "My Bella, you are naïve." He slid his hand down to her belly. "We have to insure that Belly isn't with baby, don't we? Yes, we do." He rubbed her stomach. "And how to we do that? Birth control! Now give us a shake, Bells, and seal the deal."

Bella wasn't stupid. As much as she wanted what he was offering, it had to come with a price, and from the way he'd been leering at her for years, it was easy to guess what that price would be.

"For what? I'm not having sex with you." That was the first time she said that to anyone, but not the last.

He laughed. "Doll, what makes you think I'd ask that of you? I wouldn't be a very good uncle now would I? I don't want anything from you, just your well being. And if you show me a little more affection now and then, I won't mind." He put his mouth to her ear. "I know you don't like me, Doll, but we really have to change that. I'm not such a bad ass. I just want to help you."

Bella narrowed her eyes. "I'm not putting my mouth on your dick, either."

He howled, too amused to keep silent. "You are a sharp one. But as good as it sounds, I promise," he slapped his hand over his heart, his face going serious, his voice dramatic as he gazed at the wall behind her in solemn sincerity, "I will not ask of Isabella Mercury those services of which she imagines I ask of her. All I ask is gratitude and acceptance. What do you say, Doll?"

"Victor! Get your fucking paws off of Bella. What have I told you about touching her? Out. Now. We have work to do." James growled, smacking Victor across the top of his head. Victor obeyed, giving Bella one last look.

"You," her father said, "go upstairs to your room." She did.

She didn't believe Victor. Why would the thought of helping her even cross his mind? It was a joke. It had to be.

But, no, the next day he made his appearance when she was outside at school during lunch. She was sitting with two other people when one of them nudged her in the ribs.

"Hey, Bella? There's a guy over there trying to get your attention." A boy named Dylan said, looking nervously over at the bushes not far off. "Do you know him?"

Victor motioned for her to come over, thrilled that she had finally spotted him.

"Yeah, he's my…uncle." I did not just say that. "I forgot he had to see me today." She played it off like it was nothing, getting out of her seat and going over to her "uncle". Hopefully he wasn't going to do anything to her.

Dylan and Shauna watched her curiously. "Your uncle is hot." Shauna said.

Bella clenched her fists. She wanted to scream, "But he's a murderer, you stupid bitch!" But she kept her mouth shut.

"What are you doing here?" She stayed a few feet away from Victor.

"I have a present for you." He said, that maniacal expression he always wore plastered on his pale face.

"You shouldn't be at my school. If someone sees you they'll report you. You look like a pervert hiding here in the bushes." Bella shuffled her feet nervously. She was hoping he'd wouldn't stay long.

"Aw, now that's no way to say thank you! C'mere, Doll. Don't you want your gift?"

Bella gaped. "You brought it?"

He smiled, revealing a box wrapped in pretty glossy paper. "Don't I always keep my word? Didn't I swear on my grandmother that I would do this for you?"

"No, you didn't."

"Well I meant to. Now take it." She did, avoiding his pale fingers as she slid it out of his grip.

"Bella…" He eyed her meaningfully.

"I'm not giving you anything or doing anything for you. Or to you." She stated firmly.

"Just a shake and a kiss. On the cheek. It's such an innocent gesture."

Bella snorted. "If you really wanted to help me, you know, you'd help me get away from him instead of just giving me pills. And what the hell do you want a 'shake and a kiss' for?"

He backed away slowly. "Just indulge me. Come here. I know you don't want your friends to see."

I don't have any friends. "No. I'm going back inside." She turned to do just that, but he was dragging her back in a matter of seconds. It was too bad they weren't in sight of the students outside. No one could see what was happening. There weren't any windows on that side of the school to look out of. But there was a nice stretch of woods.

"Bella, I don't want to hurt you, but you're making it awfully difficult not to. Keep struggling, Doll, I'm enjoying it." He barked.

He's going to rape me! How could I let this happen? What's wrong with me?

Ten minutes later she left the woods, a tad ruffled, a bit in shock, but in tact. What a freak. Victor hadn't raped her. She was sure he was going to. It seemed like he was about to when he forced his lips on her.

A kiss.

Then grabbed her hand and vigorously shook it.

A shake.

"You make such a fuss." He chortled.

She had his gift in her hands, which she quickly stored in her backpack. She was late for class, and that idiot had bruised her wrists. She wondered if Shauna and Dylan had said anything to anyone.

Didn't want anyone to ask her who he was or what she was doing with him. So she avoided it.

She ditched school for the remainder of the day, telling the nurse she was sick. She looked the part, thanks to Victor. The nurse bought it and called her father. He was pissed, but he came and got her anyway. Luckily, he didn't stick around when they got home.

She didn't know why she didn't tell them this. Jasper had it in his head that she'd been violated by another man. While Victor was innocent of raping her, he had crossed the line on more than one occasion. He and Laurent liked to feel her up and see what they could get away with. She didn't trust Victor, but she was confused by his actions. He was legitimately helping her. The birth control was real and he never asked for sexual favors in return, but that didn't mean he wasn't sexually interested in her.

But she didn't want to think about the rest. It was enough that she was able to hold her head up high and declare that she never had sex with him or been raped by him. It should be enough. But it was close to being in bed with the enemy. They weren't in cahoots, but she did put a certain amount of faith in him. That was where the guilt came in.

And, of course, that other thing that made her guilt soar to new heights.

It had nothing to do with anything, she thought.

So why mention it?

No, she'd tell them about Victor. That was safe.

They were driving back home after leaving their parent's house.

"I don't like Dr. Onslow." Bella said.

Jasper clutched the steering wheel tighter. "No? Did she say something?" She better not have. He was just in the mood to go back and give someone a piece of his mind.

"Not really. She asked some questions, but she was nice. I just don't like her. Maybe it's because she's a doctor. Maybe it's because she knows things about me that I don't want her to know."

"That can't be helped." Edward said. He was in the backseat with her. So was Emmett. She sat snuggly between them. "But you won't have to go back to her, especially if she makes you uncomfortable."

"What if I am sick?" Bella wondered aloud.

Edward's expression turned stony. "Then we'll go to dad." He was avoiding the subject. He didn't want to think about her being sick and diseased. She was perfect. Things like that should never touch her.

Emmett put his hand on her thigh. "Want to watch a movie when we get home?"

"Sure." Bella put her hand on top of his.

Jasper knew precisely what he wanted to do when they got home. He was the first one out of the car and the one to unlock and open the door.

"Bella, can I talk to you? Alone?" He asked her once they were all inside. He let his brothers know that he wasn't about to do anything stupid or insensitive, but they were still concerned.

Bella agreed, following him into their shared bedroom where he closed and locked the door as soon as they were both in the room. Bella frowned.

"Jasper, what-"

She was swallowed up in his arms, unable to finish her sentence. It was then she realized that Jasper was shaking. He walked them over to the bed where he sat down, situating her on his lap. Bella relaxed, reveling in his touch as he smoothed his hand up and down her back. He had her head nestled in the crook of his neck, breathing her in.

Minutes went by before he spoke.

"Are you mad at me?"

His voice was so low and muffled that Bella barely understood him. "No, Jasper, I'm not mad at you."

"I know I push you. I'm demanding and brash, but it isn't intended to be that way. Not for you. Never for you. I wish everything I said to you came out the right way, but I don't have a talent for that. I'm not used to toning it down. When it comes to you, I have to know everything there is to know." Bella closed her eyes. "But that's unfair of me," Jasper continued, "to make you tell me what you don't want to tell me. It's killing me, but I deserve that. I just…I need you safe, and I know I've told you this a thousand times, Bella, but it's true. I was going crazy today, all week; thinking about what was necessary because of him. I want to kill him. I have all this rage and it's just bottling up inside me. Every time I think about what he did to you…"

He had tears in his eyes, and all Bella wanted was to relieve him of his pain. He took it all harder than anyone else, and it was hurting him.

"I shouldn't be burdening you with this." He said. "You've been through enough."

Bella couldn't accept that way of thinking. She took a hold of his beautiful blonde hair and made him look her in the eyes. "No, Jasper. Don't you know that I care about you? I want to know what you're feeling. I want to make it better. This isn't just about me. It's about all of us, individually and together. It matters to me. Besides, it isn't healthy to keep all of that inside. If you don't let it out, you're a time bomb. And I can't have you exploding. What would I do without my Jasper Cullen?"

Jasper took her words to heart. They were words he could warm himself with on cold winter days. But he doubted his importance in her life. "I think you'd be a lot happier without me around to make it worse. I only seem to make you cry."

Bella scowled, just about fed up. "Jasper, don't say that! That isn't true. You're forgetting all the good times. You're also ignorant of the fact that I cry easily. All the time. And I wouldn't be happier with you gone, you idiot. God, you drive me crazy. You make me happy and insane."

No matter how many times she said it, he didn't believe it. That didn't stop him, though. No, he was selfish. He'd never leave her, even if he thought it was for her own good. Even if she wanted him to. As the days went on since they met and Bella's feelings for them grew, their relationship had gotten easier. Jasper didn't have to battle with her over whether or not she was staying. She wasn't a prisoner anymore. That was the difference. She was there willingly. She liked them. But before he had been blatant about it, forceful. Now he wondered if she thought things had changed because they were on good terms. He wasn't shouting it like he was, and maybe she felt like she could leave. Even as he cried to her and held onto her like a vice, his stance hadn't wavered.

If he did make her cry, him and not some outside force, then wouldn't it be in her best interest to leave her be?

But she was a darling. She wasn't blaming him, though he blamed himself. She wanted to hear him ramble on about how ashamed he was and how angry and unstable he felt. She wasn't running away.

He loved her more and more for it.

"Can I hold you for a while longer?"

Bella snuggled closer to him in acquiesce.

Emmett had Bella tucked securely in his arms all night. Jasper's head rested nicely next to hers, and Edward made up the space beside him. It was Emmett who woke up first, a decent amount of sweat beading on his forehead. His throat was dry, his face wet. He hated nightmares, and it was rare that he had them, but tonight was different. He tried not to let things affect him badly, and he was good at it. He let things roll right off of him and looked at life through a lighter lens. But there were times like these when he worried and the laughter was put aside. His fears came to life in his sleep. He couldn't hide.

It was simple. Bella was missing. His parents were dead. His brothers were emotionless, and when he begged them for help in finding Bella, they did nothing, said nothing; didn't care. He was helpless and alone. Thank god he woke up. Bella was asleep peacefully, as were his brothers. The house was quiet and nothing was wrong.

Except in his gut. His dream stuck with him, still fresh. He got up and headed to the kitchen for a glass of water. Bella immediately curled up into a ball at the loss of contact. Emmett pulled the blanket up higher to keep her warm just as Jasper put one of his arms across her back and shifted her towards him. Emmett smiled. There would always be one of them there to take care of her.

He cranked up the heat on his way to the kitchen, stretching as he went. He had to admit; the house was creepy at night with all of the lights off. The floorboards creaked with every footstep, the windows shivered along with him. He was half-expecting a ninja to jump out of the shadows and start kung-fu-fighting him. Then again, it was more likely to be Michael Myers than a ninja. But Emmett was sure that he could totally take on Michael Myers and his creepy-ass mask.

He was still on edge after his dream, and took his time in regaining his faculties. He filled a glass with cold tap water and drank it greedily.

Then the floorboards started getting noisy. Emmett snapped his head around, his fists at the ready.

"Whoa, Emmett, it's just me." Bella gave him a sleepy grin.

Emmett sighed in relief, quick to play off his fear. "Oh, I knew it was you." Men don't cower in the face of danger! Bella saw through him, naturally.

"What are you doing awake, baby?" Emmett asked, embracing her. "You were asleep just a minute ago."

Bella shrugged. "You were gone, so…"

"You're a light sleeper. And here I thought you were getting a good night's sleep." Butterflies assaulted Bella's stomach as Emmett's dimples appeared full-force. She gave a small sigh.

Emmett's grin widened. "Come on, let's go back to bed. I'll protect you from the ninjas."

"Ninjas?"

"Oh, just a dream I had."

"About ninjas?"

"Oh yeah. Not unusual for me. I once had an octopus dream. I was the octopus. One time, I was Tom Cruise and I was being chased by a herd of killer sheep."

Bella chuckled. "You have interesting dreams."

Emmett's smile faltered. "Nah. Boring, really." As long as they're not real…

Everyone anxiously awaited the call from Carlisle telling them what Bella's results were. Bella had given Dr. Onslow permission to pass it on to him so that he could, in turn, pass it on to her. She had no desire to converse with her again. And, if she did have some ailment, then he was the one she wanted to talk to. Bella couldn't help it; she just wanted to steer clear of that woman.

As it happened, Carlisle called her on Tuesday morning. The boys were at work. She was both nervous and relieved to hear Carlisle's voice.

She just wasn't sure she'd be happy to hear the results.

A/N So, who's up for a Jasper chapter? 'Cos I have a feeling that he's going to be the star next time.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

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