***Thanks again to all of you lovely readers! I appreciate all of the responses this story has generated. And to think I almost didn't write it because I was afraid that it wouldn't interest you all as much as the first one did. I'm glad I decided to go for it! You guys totally make it worth it!
***Popular question – When am I going to reveal the father?
***Not so popular answer –Not yet! I'm not there yet and I know you don't want me to rush into it. I am slowly building the suspense and so many of you go back and forth with who it actually is. As frustrating as it is for you, you know you are having fun! Stay with me because I still have a lot of story left to tell. I'm not ready to let you all go!
Enjoy!
EPOV
I sped into the driveway and headed toward the garage. The skies were ominous and they were about to open up at any second. As I approached I saw Jasper leaning against the garage and without even reading his thoughts I could tell he was twisted. One didn't have to be an empath to see that his mood matched the impending weather; dark and threatening.
"Wonderful." I really wasn't in the mood for him today. He had taken her from me yet again and I had no desire to hear what he had to say.
I pulled the car into my spot and for a split second I entertained the idea of smashing into him. I quickly realized that it would do more damage to the garage and only anger Carlisle, so I thought better of my plan. I walked back out to deal with him. It had been a few days since the incident on the porch and I hadn't spoken to either of them since, in fact I hadn't even seen Bella.
"I don't want to fight with you Jazz." I informed him.
"I don't really give a shit what you want. I'm just here to tell you to stay away from Bella."
"Is that an order? You might be able to make your wife do what you want, but not me." I knew I shouldn't be taking out my frustration on him, after all it was me that I was angry with. I put myself in this position.
"Isn't it tiring?"
"What's that?" I asked.
"Walking around here with all of that jealously."
"I could ask you the same thing about your rage."
"All of this stress and conflict isn't good for Bella or Cullen and now that she is an empath she feels everything ten times more. I can feel how torn she is over trying to do the right thing for both of us. If you love her as much as you say you do then back off of her."
"She is torn because she is trying to make you happy. She won't go against you because she is so afraid you'll leave her. Let her make her own choices. If you are so confident that it is you she wants then what is the harm in letting her spend time with me?"
"Because it's not normal. She shouldn't be anywhere near you and if you were anyone else she would never have forgiven you. Most woman don't forgive their rapists for possibly impregnating them"
"But she has and you can't stand that. You don't get how she could have done that, but I know why." Did I really want to go here with him? When I brought it up to Bella she vehemently denied it, but we all knew that there was a huge chance that I fathered Cullen.
"Because you think that he is yours and that's why she wants to forgive you."
I laughed. "I have to give her credit because I didn't think she would tell you about that."
"She tells me everything. It's amazing the things a person will confess after a passionate round of lovemaking, but I'm assuming she didn't say much after your experience with her since she was asleep."
I rolled my eyes. "So, we are back to this?"
"Don't you get it? We will always come back to that. It is the thorn in my side. Because of your lack of control Bella is suffering. She may not have any recollection about that night, but it has a lasting effect on her especially if you turn out to be his father."
"You may be able to shut me out of her life, but if Carlisle proves that he is mine I will be involved." I no sooner had the statement out of my mouth when Jasper's fist connected with my jaw. The force sent me flying across the lawn. I stood up and shook my head.
He was standing in front of me. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" He yelled.
"Me? You're the one throwing punches." He hit me again.
"You raped her that means you have no rights to her or her child. I am going to raise him regardless of the paternity test. He only has one father and that is me."
I charged him and we went flying back; landing on the ground. I jumped on top of him pinning him while I rammed my fist into his face. "Bella will let me be involved and you know that on some level and that's why you won't let her get any closer to me. She won't listen to you forever." He flipped us over and wrapped his hands around my throat.
"I know what you are doing to her and you better knock it off. You are purposefully manipulating her so that she feels guilty for you. You are using the fact that she is an empath to your advantage. You will never have access to him because I will take them away from here and you will never find us. You better back off." He warned.
"Or what? You'll kill me? How will you explain that to your gorgeous girl?"
He released my throat and began pounding into my face. I heard Carlisle pull up and jump out of his car. I pushed Jasper off but not before he took one final blow to my stomach. If I were human I would probably have thrown up at the sheer force.
"Stop it!" Carlisle yelled in a tone that he rarely ever used. "Get up and get in the garage. Now!"
"Carlisle, please this is between Edward and me." Jasper said. He should have realized that this was not a request. When Carlisle told us to do something we usually did it.
"Get in the garage. What are you two thinking? Fighting on the lawn in the rain like two savages. Have I not taught you better?" He asked putting us both to shame. He pointed to the door.
We got up off the ground, both of us wet and dirty, and followed him into the garage.
"Carlisle." I said.
He held his hand up to silence me. "What if Esme would have seen that display or worse Bella? What would have happened if she got caught in the middle of that nonsense? Do you think she could have handled another set of broken ribs in her current condition?" He shook his head. "You both claim to love her but neither of you seem to be coming up with a way to work this out."
"We can't work this out." Jasper said. "He is impossible."
"Oh, really? So what am I supposed to let you try to kill one another every chance you get?" He kicked the side of the Jeep leaving a huge dent. He must have been pissed because he never lost control. "Jasper, you made the choice not to kill your brother in the woods that day, so you can't now try and do it every time he makes you mad."
Jasper hung his head.
"And you Edward, do you think this is easy for Jasper? He is a man of great pride and he loves his wife, do you think it is easy for him to stand here and watch as she allows you access to her? This is supposed to be a happy time for the two of them, but instead they are faced with doubt and the horror of not knowing. Do you think it is fair for him to not know if he fathered Bella's only child?"
"No." I said. Carlisle had never been this upset with any of us before; not when we slipped up and killed a human or even when I confessed to what I had done to Bella.
"I thought after what happened between you in the woods the other day that maybe you could come to some kind of truce for Bella and Cullen, but I can see now that is not going to happen. Jasper, you don't have to forgive Edward; no one expects you to but we've got bigger problems right now."
"Is something wrong with Bella? I don't sense that she is in danger." Jasper said.
"No, she is fine for now, but all of this stress and tension is not good for her. She is torn between the two of you and she can feel everything you are feeling. She feels sad and guilty for the decisions she has made against both of you. Jasper she doesn't want to hurt you by wanting to be close to Edward and Edward she doesn't want to hurt you for wanting to respect Jasper's wishes. You have both put her in a horrible position."
"I'm not doing anything to her. It's her husband who is trying to control what she wants."
"I had no choice. Am I supposed to sit back and watch you grow more attached to them everyday? If I shut you out now it will be easier for us all later on." Jasper said.
"That's just it. You don't have to shut me out at all. Bella is only doing what you asked her to do. She doesn't want me out of her life. I'd love to know what you did to her to make her agree to stay away from me." Of course I knew; I read it in his thoughts.
"Fuck you." He spat.
"Jasper!" Carlisle yelled. "That doesn't help."
"I'm sorry, Carlisle, but I'm not going to stand here and listen to him stake some twisted claim on my wife and the baby he may or may not have created during a sleep induced rape. If the rest of you can't understand where I am coming from then maybe you should get some kind of group therapy." He headed for the door.
"Don't you walk out of here." Carlisle said and I knew Jasper could feel the meaning behind those words. Jasper stopped and turned to look at Carlisle. "I understand your position and my heart breaks for you. I know what she means to you, but I also know that she loves you more than anything in her existence. I was there on your wedding day, I saw the love she felt for you. I've been with her through this pregnancy and I was there when Edward told her what he had done and her only concern was you. She should have been devastated for herself and for what he took from her, but her main priority was you and your feelings. She puts you above herself."
"Carlisle, I…" Jasper started.
"No, she doesn't want Edward and she has proven that to you by doing everything that you have asked of her. Edward, I'm sorry son, but you have to accept this. Bella is married to Jasper that means she chose him and he made her his mate. The fact that you may have gotten her pregnant doesn't change anything. You are not entitled to this child and you certainly shouldn't expect anything other than the forgiveness that Bella has already given you. You didn't even deserve that."
"I know." I whispered. I knew that all along but when we started to get close again I somehow lost my perception of the situation. "I love her Jasper, but I don't want to hurt her so I will leave her alone. I won't make your request of her difficult."
"Thank you." But I still don't trust you. He said for me.
"Well, I appreciate that, but the two of you are going to have to try a hell of a lot harder." Carlisle said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I spoke with Aro today and he is sending Claudia and Felix here in the next few days. I am not going to have the paternity issue resolved before their arrival. And, I am sure that I don't have to tell the two of you that we do not need the Volturi involved in our little paternity situation. If they find out that Jasper may not have fathered this child, god knows who they will send here to observe us. They aren't fond of my coven as it is and if they find out that our lifestyle isn't as perfect as they perceived they will have serious issues with us. They are dying to prove that our way of life can't work and I am not willing to sacrifice anyone of us. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Carlisle if you think that is necessary." Jasper said but I could tell he wasn't happy about pretending everything was fine.
"Plus they are so fascinated with Jasper that I can't take the chance that they will retaliate on his behalf for what you did to Bella." He warned me.
"Hmm…" Jasper said. That's not a bad idea to have the Volturi get rid of you. He thought to himself but even Carlisle knew what he was thinking.
"That's not helping, Jasper." Carlisle said. "We have to seem as normal as possible when they arrive. No fighting over Bella." He looked at me. "You can't be hanging around her and professing your love, Edward."
"Amen." Jasper said.
"And, Jasper you will have to allow Edward reasonable access to Bella while they are here."
"Why?" He asked.
"Because if there is nothing wrong then why would he avoid her like the plague? He is her brother-in-law and we all live a peaceful life here, so they will have to interact on some level." Carlisle looked at me. "But, Edward I promise you if you overstep the boundaries or upset Jasper in any way I will ship you off to Alaska and tell our guests that you are visiting our friends in the Denali coven. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, I understand." I said. There was nothing more humiliating then having Carlisle assert his authority and play the father role. We were all too old for that.
"Good. Jasper you may want to speak to Bella about this and let her know that you are okay with her being around Edward for the duration of their visit. She won't want to go against you so you have to let her know that you agreed to this. She is already so conflicted over this whole situation."
"I will, but I'm far from okay with it." He said as he glared at me.
"There will also be no further displays of violence on the front lawn I trust?"
"No." Jasper said as he stared at me. "I'll refrain from ripping him to shreds."
"I can control myself." I assured him.
Maybe if you would have controlled yourself the night before my wedding we wouldn't be in this mess now. Jasper spoke for me to hear. Idiot.
I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of responding. I wasn't going to anger Carlisle any further than we already had.
"Jasper, could you please refrain from speaking to Edward in your head so that I may be a part of the conversation, too?" Carlisle asked.
"Sorry, but it wasn't going to add to the conversation anyway." He said.
"I know this is going to be a hardship for both of you, but think of it as a trial run because once our guests leave we still have the matter of the paternity test to deal with not to mention the results. And, if they don't turn in your favor Jasper, like it or not, you are going to have to find a way to tolerate Edward."
He stared at me for a few moments and then asked, "May I leave now?"
"Of course. Thank you for listening to me." Carlisle said.
"I heard every word especially the part about Bella choosing me. I don't take that lightly." He walked out of the garage and headed back to the house.
"I would like a few more words with you, Edward."
"Carlisle, I know you are disappointed with me and I'm sorry. I too heard every word you said and I will do exactly what is expected of me."
"That is reassuring, but I wanted to let you know that I understand that this is hard for you too. I know you love Bella and on some level she loves you too, but she will never feel for you what she feels for Jasper. It is his venom that courses through her body and that is a connection that can't easily be broken. He is her mate and you can't come between them; not even if you turn out to be Cullen's father. And, for all of your sake, I pray that you are not."
"As much as I love her and Cullen I can only hope that he belongs to Jasper because that is the only way that I will be able to give them up. Carlisle, I know what I did was wrong, but if Cullen is mine how will I turn my back on him. He shouldn't have to pay for my mistakes. What if Jasper can't accept my son? Does he deserve to grow up with a father who can't love him because every time he looks into his eyes he sees me? And, Bella? Will she pay that price too? Always having to protect and defend her son to her husband? I can't walk away from them."
"Edward, we will cross that bridge when we come to it, but I don't believe that Jasper would ever take his displeasure for you out on your son. He is too good a man for that and he loves Bella far too much to ever hurt her child."
"I don't know if that is a chance I am willing to take." I said.
"You may not have a choice in the matter. Again, all we can do is wait and see, but first we have to get through this visit with Felix and Claudia. It is imperative that we pull this off. We don't want the Volturi looking over our shoulders for all of eternity, now do we?"
***Look out Cullen boys … Claudia is on her way to Forks!
***I got such an overwhelming response to dominant Jasper that Julia Ba has persuaded me to do an outtake of that Dominant Jasper scene in BPOV. Would any of you be interested in reading that? Let me know.