~~Summer Dance Of Passion~~

~~Bella~~

~(Three days later – Evening)~

"Hello baby"

My Jasper was there, his arm around Rosalie as they stood at my front door...Ready to face the awakwardness that was dinner with my parents. Actually, they both looked very happy about this whole thing and Em and I seemed to be the only members wanting to run away and never come back, perhaps living off nothing but a cave to sleep in.

Taking a deep breath, mum and dad singing to themselves along with the kitchen stereo...I stepped out in front of them, both and steadied my nerves with another deep inhale into my lungs.

"Okay, before anything happens tonight...I just want you both to know how much Emmett and I love you and nothing that our parents say is ever going to change that-"

"Bell calm down...We are prepared to be everything and civil...They are worried about you and yes some of the things they may have done is wrong but we know that all of it is protection-" Rosalie started to defend my father but as usual, becoming a much needed habit at this moment in time, I interrupted her.

"Yes but there's protection and then there's rudeness...Please believe me!"

"We do...Where's Emmett?"

"I'm right here, milady" Emmett answered her behind me, I stepped out of the way and watched him take Rose's arm from Jasper and lead her inside...Rose was giggling about Em's change in persona and her giggle made me smile for the first time since spending the day with her.

"Bella, you look amazing" Jasper said softly pulling my hair back from one side of my face and placing a kiss on my temple..My knees started to buckle instantly.

"I'm so sorry about this-"

"Ssh" he kissed my other temple...Damn him and the effect his touch and kisses had on me...Blubbering idiot alert!

"Stop, I need to explain-"

"No...You don't need to explain anything" he whispered moving his lips to my forehead, I grabbed onto his shoulders and pulled him closer needing to feel him close to me, inches away so that we are together before hell could possibly all break lose.

"I can never argue with you when you do this to me-"

"That's the point" cocky, smirky git!

Rolling my eyes, I lifted my eyes to his and kissed him deeply on the lips and wrapping my arms around his neck and moulding our chests together, oh Jasper Hale is my god-send the most amazing man ever to bless my life, how can I ever be able to live without him after the summer?

"Now, let's go...The sooner we face this, the sooner we can forget about the nerves" he stated running both his hands through my hair.

"Why are you being so calm about this, he is my dad?"

"I want to calm you down...Besides, there is nothing to worry about...I can get through this – I am prepared to speak and say how much you mean to me-"

"Okay, try to find an answer that isn't perfect!" I teased reaching behind him to close the door, he took off his shoes and needing to be safe and comforted again...I wrapped my hand around his and led him into the kitchen.

"Good evening, Jasper" mum greeted him, I was taken aback about how she had acknowledged my boyfriend by his first name.

"Good evening Mrs Swan"

"Please call me Renee; can I get you something to drink?"

"Sure, what do you have?"

"There is always my husband's beers which Emmett tends to be more fond of-"

"Oh no, please...I don't tend to have alcohol because of my job-"

"Ah well that is fine, we have squash or water...Perhaps something hot?"

"Water will be fine, thank you Renee"

"You're welcome, please go and sit down" mum was being pleasant and I was wondering then about how long the act was going to last..Should I wonder when it changed or just be happy that for the moment, she was being polite?

Rose and Emmett were already on the sofas my dad was talking to them both on the opposite side at the two of us walking towards him he stood up and cleared his throat.

"Hello Mr Swan" Jasper greeted him, holding out the hand that I was not holding in my own, I saw my father glance very briefly at our entwined hands and look back up again, calling himself the detective when I can see what he does at all times, that kind of talent is hereditary.

"Hello, sit down" dad answered gruffly shaking his hand twice in hard movements and allowing me to sit down where he had just been sitting, Jasper stilled next to me but I knew that he was going to protest and state that my dad had been sitting there, I know him well enough by now to know what he was going to say in certain situations involving certain parents. Taking Jasper with me onto the sofa – I snuggled into his chest, I needed him then and there because my father was having difficulty being pleasant for the moment and mum was beating him hands down at that moment in time.

"There you go" mum interrupted Jasper and my small time in our embrace before handing him a large glass of water.

"Thank you" Jasper answered taking the glass in his free hand, I was still holding the other one with all the strength in my body and taking a sip.

"So how was your day...Bella told me you took her out shopping, Rose?" mum attempted to make conversation but my attention was very much drawn to my father's movements as he sat on his chair, there was the first indication that he was uncomfortable already as he became to fidget very subtly, it will get worse as the evening goes on and that was not a thing I was going to be looking forward to.

No way could I enjoy this night, Jasper may be able to calm me down by his magical voice and perfect hands but that can only last for minutes at a time...What will happen at the dinner table? There was more of this conversation making to come.

"Yes, I got a taxi up there and we walked around, had some lunch in 'Nandos'...Had a great time, didn't we Bell?"

"Hmm...Yes, we did...Rosalie is a little addict when it comes to shopping and she has great taste"

"Perhaps you can help Bella change her view on clothing...Mine and her father's opinions are very much dated for her and so she refuses to shop with us-"

"Thanks mum" I shot

"I play no part in what my daughter wears, as long as she behaves and dresses respectably then that is all that matters" he had to make a comment, didn't he?

"Bella would look beautiful in anything that she wears" Jasper finished in a whisper, loud enough for Emmett and Rose to hear but not my parents...I smiled and squeezed his hand in mine, grateful for the turnaround in conversation.

"So mum, what's for dinner?" Emmett asked of course his mind if going to go straight onto food the aroma from the kitchen around the living room and bouncing off of the walls around us didn't help his constant need to feed.

"I decided on a roast dinner, although that oven is not the same as the one at home-"

"I'm sure it will be great as always, mum!" I broke her off needing to give her the confidence...She was the only one out of my parents who was making some kind of effort.

With a smile in my direction she opened her mouth to speak again "Rose, Jasper are any of you two vegetarian because I have another option if you do not want to have the beef?"

"No, I am a meat eater all the way, Renee the more the merrier!" Rose exclaimed giggling, mum actually laughed at her and all eyes then fell on Jasper.

"I eat meat too thank you, Renee" he added quickly, I didn't blame him for not liking the pairs of eyes on him.

"Fantastic...So, why don't you tell us a little about yourselves?" mum suggested making herself comfortable by picking up her wine glass off of the coffee table.

Dad got up from his seat and walked out of the living room and passing the kitchen and the cooking food on the way, there...In anger, I started to rise from the sofa but Jasper took his hand abruptly out of mine and placed it on my shoulder and got up, himself...Emmett and Rose were looking down at the floor as they watched him go out.

No way was I staying, I excused myself and saw Jasper and my father outside the front door, the door ajar but edging towards the door and leaning against the banister of the stairs I was able to hear them both clearly, if my father was going to hurt my boyfriend again then I was going to be close enough to hit him back – father or not.

"I don't believe I asked for anyone to follow me" dad started...I heard Jasper sigh but I stopped thinking and analysing what was going to happen in my own head and listen to them.

"I am aware, Mr Swan that you have a problem with me...That is fair enough, but the only person I don't want you to be mad at is Bella. Bella has been there for Rose and I since day one and we will always be grateful to her, believe me she is such a credit to you – such strength, love and care reside in her soul and I am thankful to have her every moment of every day-"

"I do not need sentiment, young man-"

"Of course...I did wrong...My actions and affections for Bella were, in the beginning wrong because of my job but I couldn't help it, sir...She drew me in and she is so beautiful and there is no way I will ever let anyone or anything hurt her...I will never hurt her – the one thing you can believe is my honesty...I have never lied in my life-"

"What exactly do you plan to do when we leave?"

"As much as I hate the idea of all of you leaving, because Emmett has become a really good buddy too but we will have to go our separate ways and I will respect that-"

"So you're not going to be anywhere near my family after this summer?"

"I will keep in contact with Bella but what else do I have to say to you to prove that nothing is ever going to happen to Bella at least not of my own doing – you see Mr Swan, I am not like other guys my age in in the generation that others believe is messed up...Bella is the greatest thing that has ever happened to my life and I care about her too much to want to get on with you and her mother-"

"Are your intentions truly honourable and you want to take care of Bella and respect her?"

"I do respect her, so much and I want to protect her and care for her always from now on and your opinions as her parents mean a lot to me because you have every right to protect her but...She deserves her own choices-"

"She is a child!"

"Bella is not a child, at least not in her mind...She knows what she wants and I admire that so much, it takes a lot for her to trust herself with me and I honour that strength. Please, can we at least for tonight be polite and civil...I am not asking you to like me because that opinion and choice is down to you solely but for the girl that we both love. Can we be good for her?"

"Well, I have to apologise for being violent towards you – my temper is something that I have always had and trust me, I am not proud of it"

"That's alright...You were protecting her, but there is no need to – because I am here and I want her to still have her father in her life...My own parents gave up on me when I went on to be a dancer and, well being without them made me appreciate how important having parental figures mean in a person's life"

"You are a good person, Jasper...Bella has spoken so highly of you and now, I am beginning to know why-"

"I don't want to take her away from you, because I'm not – she loves you deep down and that kind of love is never going to be the same love as she has for me"

"Thank you...Well, for the sake of Bella...We can be on good terms for tonight – I love my daughter and recently...It has been made aware to me that I have not been a good father in return. You make her happy and, I appreciate that"

"Thank you"

Oh my Jasper...I could go out there and kiss him for the rest of the night! He talks of my strength when he has just managed to turn my father around better than I had ever been able to, myself...Smiling...I crept back into the living room – Emmett and Rose were in conversation between themselves and I walked over to my mum who was stirring a spoon in various pots on the hob.

"Mum?"

"Yes, sweetheart..Is everything okay?" she asked me genuinely, turning around.

"I just wanted to say thank you for being nice to Jasper, tonight"

"Ah he seems like a nice boy...Your father and I have made no attempt to find that out on the same terms as tonight and I should be the one who apologises for that"

"Please, mum...Let's just get through tonight and then we can talk about it tomorrow without guests"

"Sounds like a good plan"

"Did you need some help?"

"No honey, you stay with Jasper...Your father can help" smiling, I turned and saw my dad facing me..A gasp came out of my mouth.

"Bella, I am sorry for everything" he said...Nodding, I placed a kiss on my hand and held it up to his cheek and walked out, finding the front door still ajar, the air was a comforting cooling breeze around my flushed skin from the heat in the kitchen and the cooking steam.

Jasper's back was facing me as I stepped out into the evening air...Before he could turn and face me, I wound my arms around his waist and leant forward placing a kiss right in the middle of his back and onto his spine...A giggle escaping from his mouth.

"If that isn't Bella then I have a problem on my hands" he teased, I slapped his back and he turned wrapping his arms around me and rocked me from side to side. "Hello beautiful girl!" he whispered kissing my hair.

I shot him a smile and brought my own hands up to cup his face, "come here" I whispered bringing my lips to his and parting my mouth on contact. With a moan a much needed one to my ears, he responded and tilted our heads to the side to kiss me at an even deeper angle the woodland around us could have caught on fire at the kiss we had. This was not like the other kisses we have shared, this was nothing but passion especially from me for the favour he had done for me out of choice in agreeing to come here in the first place that, and helping my father see some kind of sense.

"Wow..What was that for?" he brought his mouth away and kissed my face.

"For loving me" I replied.

"Oh Bella nothing is ever going to stop me loving you, you know that?"

"Not only are you the most beautiful man in my life but you care about me enough to sit and endure my family-"

"Oh honey..They are not as bad as you make them out to be, I have been through and seen a lot worse"

"Stop being nice-"

"When are you going to realise that nothing I say is said out of just niceness...That I truly mean them?"

"DINNER'S READY!"

Mum interrupted my answer and I took myself out of Jasper's hold and taking his hand led me back into the suite.

*(An hour later)*

"It was great having you around, perhaps we can do this again sometime?" mum asked, linking her arm with Rosalie as she led her out of the door...One thing's for certain, Rose had already wound my mum around her little finger but then again, it was so very hard not to like Rose and my mum was just another possible target for a very long friendship. Emmett had not stopped beaming since taking the first bite of dinner and he deserved his girlfriend to be accepted so easily by our mother because our mother had never been fond of his other 'flings'.

"Of course, we would love to" Rose answered smiling also, her other hand in Emmett's as they stood outside. Jasper and I were in the corridor looking out onto the scene, his arm was wrapped around me securely and our father was behind us and even though the stare from his eyes was burning into my back...I ignored it and continued to lean closer to my Jasper.

"Great...Now, where is the other horror..Ah there he is!" Mum moved on to Jasper and I saw Em and Rose in a romantic embrace behind her outside and made the mental note not to move from the spot and have their moment witnessed by my father.

"Thank you for coming...When I say come again, I mean it" mum said hugging Jasper gently and running her hand down my face – the look on her face gave me the assumption that she probably wanted to talk to me about her opinion of him later on and I quickly prepared myself for that opportunity.

"Thank you for the great dinner, Renee...Thank you too, Mr Swan" Jasper turned and addressed my father.

"That's not a problem" dad answered.

"Well...We will leave the four of you alone" Mum said stepping behind us and walking out of the corridor with my father close in tow.

Emmett and Rose had already said their goodbyes and Emmett was walking towards us then.

"Rosie said she'd meet you at the shack" he told Jasper.

"Thanks buddy" he replied pounding a fist on Emmett's...Without another word, my brother left us out by the door and rubbed my shoulder gently before disappearing from view.

"Well, my parents aren't going to let you stay...Is there any chance I can come round yours, later when my parents and brother are asleep?" I asked taking Jasper's free hand in mine and holding them out in front of the two of us.

"As much as I want to say hell yes to that...Your parents will want to talk with you about tonight and, the last thing I want is to have you walking to mine in the dark by yourself...I want to protect you"

"Oh...Okay...Well, tomorrow?"

"Of course"

"I love you...Thank you for tonight"

"Thank you for loving me enough to invite me" Jasper answered using my words from earlier "I love you till death Bella Swan...Death and beyond"

Placing a beautiful, loving kiss on my lips and neck before walking away from me back into the night, his blonde hair shining under the moon and the stars.

After watching him disappear from my view, I stepped back inside the house and waited for the opinions from both of my parents about how the night had gone. Depending on how much they like Rose and Jasper it will either be tonight or tomorrow.

Jasper had shown that he could be trusted and I did hope so much stepping back into the living room once more that his efforts was going to be enough.