A/N I am so sorry about the delay ya'll. There was a lot going on in my life, which of course is no excuse. I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has kept up with my story even in my long absence. I do have a piece of good news. I recently got engaged! He had been encouraging me to get back into writing and pretty soon I will have all the time in the world to do it. Yay I get to play military housewife while he is off fighting for our Country's freedom. *cue the sigh of happiness* It's like I have my very own Jasper. This is dedicated to my loyal readers, those of you who have been with me since day one! Please read, review and enjoy.
I don't own it….
The couple retuned to the Cullen home grinning from ear to ear. Bella glowing with a light that only those truly in love have. Jasper's million dollar smile gracing his handsome features. Exiting her new truck the pair embraced sharing a look of lovers and best friends. They walked up the stairs to the front door. Each took an unnecessary deep breath before Jasper reached forward and opened the door. It was odd. Silence met their ears. A normally bustling house was completely still. It was as if time was frozen.
Jasper pulled Bella behind him in a protective stance. He sniffed the air and could not find any scents at all. They began to explore the home hand in hand. Jasper felt Bella's fear radiating off of her to combine with his in a cocktail of emotions. Each room was empty. There was nothing out of place, nothing missing. There was a fine coating of dust on every surface.
There was no sign of the house being habitated ofr at least a one month period. Which was impossible. They had left the family not but four hours prior. None of them had mentioned leaving for any period of time. Jasper felt Bella's panic building and her hand grasped his with an iron grip.
"Shh sweetie." He said reassuringly. "We will figure out what is going on I promise. I love you and won't let anything harm you."
Bella shakily smiled at her fiancée and pulled him into her for a hug. She stood on her tip-toes and kissed him on his cheek. "I know you will protect me."
Jasper pulled away from her embrace and opened his cell phone. Dialed rapidly he tried in turn to call each family member. All the calls went straight to voicemail. He then tried to call the Denali Coven and the Irish Coven. Both to no avail. He finally hit pay dirt when he called his old friends Peter and Charlotte. They spoke briefly the two agreeing to rush to Forks to help solve the mystery that was surrounding the Cullens.
Jasper and Bella sat on one of the couches. Neither speaking a word or moving long into the around 2 a.m. A car turning onto their driveway broke the silence. Jasper stood and walked to the door. Bella followed close behind him, worried that if she lost sight of him he might disappear like their family. Peter and Charlotte rushed up the front stairs from their vehicle both enveloping Jasper in hugs. Charlotte pulled away and walked over to Bella.
"You must be the woman who finally made The Major whole. For that I thank you and welcome to our family." This simple statement eased Bella's nerves slightly and she embraced the other woman tightly.
Peter and Jasper stood off to the side both smiling happily at the female bonding occurring in front of them.
"Ladies, if you are going to keep that up then let me go grab a video camera." Peter accompanied this with a wolf whistle.
Charlotte walked over to her husband and smacked him not so gently upside the head; smiling indulgently the whole time. Bella wrapped her arm around Jasper's waist watching the newcomers happily. It reminded her of Rose and Emmett and that thought filled her mind with grief. The two couples sensing that being outdoors might leave them open for an attack walked back into the house and went to settle down in the living room to discuss the game plan.
Jasper paused as he shut the door and slid a panel open that was hidden next to the door frame. He keyed in a complicated numeric code and all throughout the house the sound of steel panels slamming shut over the windows and doors were heard effectively sealing them into the house.
"It's as if we have a panic house not a panic room." Jasper remarked wryly. "Just in case we were ever under siege. This is a great preventative against attacks. The panels will only go up when I type in the counter code."
Bella, Peter, and Charlotte all situated themselves on the couches while Jasper stood in front of them. His aura had changed into that of his former self. Every skill he had to be the great leader that he was exuded from him calming those in the room. For close to an hour he briefed Peter and Charlotte on what had happened over the past few months and what they had found earlier that day. After they were filled in the three began strategizing and formulating plans to find the missing family members. Bella sat back and let the events of that day sink in. As she sat back against the cushion she felt a piece of paper crumple behind it. Pulling it out she began to read the short message written.
Bella and Jazz
I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner. They only decided to take us seconds before it happened. The family will be safe for now. Keep each other safe. Peter and Charlotte will be able to help you. The Denalis will refuse so don't even bother. There is too much at risk for them. But Josiah and Amelia will also be ready to stop what they are doing to help you. We love you and I'm glad that you guys are on the outside. It's the Volturi. They have someone who erases traces of people that's why you can't find us. Please hurry. They won't accept our denial of joining them for too long.
Love
Alice
P.S. Garrett is locked up in the safe room downstairs. I couldn't bear for them to try and keep him for themselves. He's going to be very upset with me. I know. Tell him that I love him and wish that I could have told him myself the first time.
After reading the last line Bella's hands began shaking and she dropped the note to the floor. Jasper rushed over and scanned the note quickly. He dashed off downstairs to the room off the garage and let an irate Garrett out into the house. The safe room was the last resort for the family's safety. Reinforced in such a way that it was impenetrable to all forces. As soon as he saw who released him Garrett crumpled to the ground dry sobs wracking his body.
"I let her down Jasper, I let them all down. I should have fought back harder. I shouldn't have let Emmett force me into this room. I'm so sorry I let your family be taken." His voice cracked and broke with every word.
Jasper's voice carried through the room authoritatively. "Garrett. CALM DOWN. It is not your fault. Alice was unable to foresee this. Now that you are with us you can come and help us fight to get them back. She loves you man. She said so herself. Look."
Bella showed Garrett the note. A small smile appeared when he read the last few lines. Kissing the bottom of the note he stood with a new vigor.
"Let's go get these bastards and rescue our family." His voice rang with determination and pride.
Peter and Charlotte finally appeared at the doorway.
"We have a flight booked on a private jet to Italy. It leaves in roughly 3 hours. This way if they are monitoring the flights to try and intercept us they have no chance of doing it." Peter spoke calmly as the impending fight became a reality.
"We will have to make one stop brother, in South Carolina. I need to pick up Josiah and Amelia, they will want in on this too." Jasper said turning to make yet another rushed phone call.
Garrett straightened up and dusted his pants off. "I'm going to go and hunt. I'm going to need the extra energy." With that being said he rushed off to the forest lining the house.
Bella called after him. "Jasper is going to need to let you out." Smiling sadly Bella along with Peter and Charlotte walked back upstairs to spend a little alone time with their significant others before Garrett returned from his hunt.
Bella and Jasper lay in their bed together just holding each other and whispering their love every so often. Jasper raised his upper body up and looked Bella squarely in the eyes.
"Bella I think I've loved you since before I knew you. I know Charlotte told you that you made me whole. But it is true. Without you in my life I felt lost and if I lose you I will be lost. You are everything to me. You put up with my crap and call me on it if you need to. I love you and without you my world is a dark place. You've seen my inner monster and still look at me with love in your eyes. I will spend each day you will have me trying to prove that I am worthy of that love. If anything happens during this fight to you I will be right behind you. And I don't expect you to do the same if you don't feel that way." His fear of rejection was almost palpable.
Bella leaned in and kissed him reverently.
"Major Jasper Whitlock. Stop talking like that. We will pull through this. We have in the past and this is nothing that we can't handle. We are a family. I love you more than life itself. It amazes me every day that you chose me to be with. And I promise to make you understand how much you mean to me. You're my world and I'm nothing without you. If something were to happen to you then yes. Yes, I will be right behind you so that our forever will still happen together."
Their kisses were passion filled. With a longing to make their two worlds into one. As the sun rose over the horizon and Garrett returned from his hunt they kissed one last time and went downstairs to face and uncertain day. A sleek black limo came to pick them up and as they drove down the winding driveway Bella turned to look at the house one more time. Not knowing if this would be her last time she memorized every detail she could. Settling into Jasper's side the conversation turned into small strategic ideas each person had.
Peter suggested that Bella should shield them as soon as they saw the castle. Everyone agreed to this plan. Bella spoke up with uncertainty in her voice. She knew the people she was with all had years of life experience on her as well as war and survival training.
"What if there was something we could do to be stronger? To even the odds a little bit more." Her voice wavered as she turned to look at her love.
"I mean it would only apply to Garrett, you, and I Jazz but I think it would help. What if we switched our diets just for a little while? If we took in human blood in order to be on a level playing field with the guard then we might not be as easily taken by force."
Jasper's face blanched a little at her words and Bella noticing this shrank down into the seat of the limo disheartened at his expression.
Jasper, quick to reassure her spoke, "No darlin' I just don't want you to ever have the regret of taking another life. I would never wish that on another soul. More importantly I would never wish it on you."
"Jazz, I meant we could drink donated blood. Just like a little boost for us. Vampire steroids to vegetarians if you will."
The 4 vampires in the car burst out laughing at her analogy. But quieting down they all nodded their agreement. Bella called Amelia and asked her to make provisions for them to get donated human blood for the trip over. The limo pulled up at the airport and they quickly got checked in and boarded the plane. Off to Italy and to save their family.
A/N Okay well that a was pretty long chapter. Not too shabby for the first one back huh? Little side note for you. The italicized portions of Jasper's speech to Bella and Bella's response were verbatim parts of my Fiancee's proposal and what I said back to him. Hey If I can't make him into Jasper then I guess I'll give a little bit of him to my Jasper. Hope you enjoyed!