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JPOV

I couldn't bring myself to tell Bella everything going on with the investigation. I spent a lot of time on the phone with Mr. Jack, relaying all the information I had that he couldn't get from the police. I knew at some point I was going to have to get Aro involved in our little side project. The vest was tested for anything and everything. It turns out that the blood was human. With the amount that soaked into the vest, the person was likely dead. Two days later, a man from the alarm company, the same one Bella uses, was reported missing. A week later he was found, bound and murdered execution style. I don't want to scare her anymore than she is, so I haven't told her. And I think that I am not the main target even though Bella is convinced. I think it helps her to not be the center of a deranged persons' focus.

Mr. Charlie has been very supportive, if not a bit overbearing. Being the very smart man I am, I have said nothing to antagonize or dissuade him. Bella is after all, his baby girl. She is also my future, so anytime he offers any kind of help, I take it. He gets to feel as though he's doing something and I get a little more assistance. Along with Jake's friends from the Res, whom he refers to as 'The Pack', Mr. Charlie sent down a couple of his retired friends to help with Mr. Jack's side of things.

In the midst of all this, the situation with Tanya was coming to the forefront of family issues. I guess my parents concern for me was distracting them from their concern for her. I came home to find Bella on the phone with my mom, discussing Tanya's latest bomb.

"I can't believe she did that! How long has it been going on?" Bella listened, eyes wide, mouth in a perfect 'o'.

"Are you kidding me? Has she said why? Why would she do that?" Bella started pacing, her free hand raking through her hair and twisting the ends.

"Oh...wow. Ms. Evie, I am so sorry. I can't believe this. Is she going to counseling?" She listened then with confusion "Mr. Jack?" Now I was standing close enough to hear my mom's voice.

"We finally called him to come over and talk some sense into her. She has always trusted him. It was awful for all of us. She was so young when Jasper was hurt. Jack brought his copy of the police report, pictures of Jasper and of the evidence. He even brought over tapes of the trial. He made her sit through it all. Tru and I were just sitting together on the couch crying for our boy and trying not to scream at her for being so selfish. We had no idea just what she had been through."

"How did she handle that?" Bella's eyes locked with mine and she held my arm around her waist. Mom took a deep breath and blew it out. She really did not need any more stress.

"Bella, she broke completely. She just kept saying over and over, 'she lied, I can't believe she lied'. She ran up to her room and brought down a box of letters from Maria." Mom started sobbing.

"What? How?"

"Maria had a friend she sent the letters to and they put them in a new envelope so that we wouldn't suspect anything. The letters started out simple with apologies and her version of things. She asked Tanya to keep it a secret because we were all against her. She really manipulated our little girl. Played such head games with us all. Since we never talked about the details with Tanya, all she really knew was what Maria told her. She's been sending letters almost monthly since she was put in jail."

"I am so sorry. I can't imagine what this has been like for you and Mr. Tru. How is Tanya now? Where is she?"

"She's been staying with Jack. I think right now she's just really embarrassed and he's got the room. She's been opening up to him and really coming to terms with what Maria has done to her. You asked about therapy - she started going twice a week. Tanya has serious trust issues right now, but she's taking a step in the right direction." They talked more about the things Maria told Tanya. Gut-wrenching, awful things about her own family. No wonder Tan hated me and was an awful bitch. I wonder if she'll ever fully recover.

"Mom, do you want me to bring Jasper home this weekend?" My heart jumped when Bella's voice said 'Mom'. Even with this disturbing revelation, I couldn't keep the smile from my face. I kissed Bella's temple and pulled her into my lap.

"Oh, Bella. You have enough on your plate with school and that creep." I could hear the love in Mom's voice, even through her pain.

"I think it might be nice to get away from all the stress. We even stopped looking for a house, y'know. Jasper was suspicious after his original agent stepped out and sent us to a different company altogether." I could hear the sadness in her voice. We were both disappointed but agreed that it would be best for a while.

"Oh Sugar, I'm so sorry about that. You know, you could always move here with us and finish school in town." Mom put on her sweetest voice. Bella laughed.

"That is such a sweet offer, but you know I'll never back down."

"And neither will J.R., of that I am sure. The two of you united are a force to be reckoned with."

"Yes we are. So how are Peter and Charlotte? The baby is due pretty soon, huh?"

"They are just fine. Charlotte is just as big as a pregnant woman should be. The baby dropped down, so we're actually expecting her to go into labor within the next few weeks, if not days."

"Ooo. Maybe the little critter will come while we're visiting!" Bella gushed and then motioned, asking me if I wanted to talk to my own mother. Did she really need to ask? I rolled my eyes and took the phone from her.

"Hey, Mom."

"My boy! J.R., how are you? Are you getting enough rest? Have you been eating right? I know our Bella has been cooking for you."
"Yes ma'm. Plenty of rest, good food and good company. Did I hear right? We're coming for a visit?"
"You know I always want you to, J.R., but I don't want to add to any stress you already have."

"S'alright, Mom. Like Bella says, we could use a break from the tension. It'll give me some face time with Mr. Jack, and give the Pack an extra shift since they won't have to watch Bella."

"Okay, then I won't feel selfish for telling you to come on home. I miss you both."

"It's settled then. Make sure them sheets are clean, Momma!" We both giggled and said our goodbyes. Bella buried her face in the crook of my neck and held on.

"What's troubling you, babe?" I nuzzled her hair, taking in the calming scent that was my Bella.

"I'm ready for all of this to be over with. I am just so tired of wondering who's around. Who's watching. Which one of the people in the crowd is a threat. And then to find out about Maria using Tanya. Promising to love her forever, that you were trying to keep them apart. I just don't understand the motivation behind it."

"I don't either. But it does explain why Tanya has never had a serious boyfriend. Why she always threw herself at the unattainable - like Edward at Thanksgiving." Bella started giggling.

"Or maybe she figured Edward was pretty enough to bridge the gap between boys and girls." I was a bit shocked, and then joined in her laughter. He really is pretty.

"Y'know what else?" She turned that beautiful face to look me full-on.

"What's that, babe?" I stroked her hair, tracing down her cheek.

"I miss you. I miss us together. This guy hasn't just taken our place to stay, he's taken Us away." Her face clouded and her bottom lip jutted out slightly.

"I miss you, too, Darlin. I do. It's been so long since we've just spent time together with nothing looming on the horizon. Do you want to put off our trip home? Maybe stay in the room for the weekend and remember each other?" I waggled my eyebrows in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"As desirable as that sounds, I want to get away and I know your mom wants us to be there, too. Besides, Charlotte might have the baby!" She was so cute being all excited about having a niece or nephew.

"Alright, no change in plans this weekend. I was thinking, now that the house is clear, maybe we can get everyone moved back in this week." Bella looked pensive.

"I know you said you didn't want to move into the house, and now that we aren't looking for our own house, I... I just don't want to be away from everyone. But I don't want to be away from you, either." I was about to get doe-eyed look. You know the one, big, wide eyes aimed at me, but chin tilted down just so. Yep, that one. The one I never say no to.

"Would you reconsider moving in with me? Please, Jasper?" There it is... The Look. I let out a sigh. What do you think my answer is?

"Miss Bella, when have I denied you anything? You know I will. Especially now that I can't have you away from me and I don't want you to be alone." She lunged, wrapping her tiny body around mine. Now that Bella had brought it up, my body decided to remind me that it had been entirely too long since we'd had any lovin'.

I pulled her tight to me, pushing my hips up to meet hers. The moan she gave me was delicious torture. I leaned up, capturing her sweet lips with mine. One of her hands moved to my neck and the other traced down my side and around my waist while she twisted to lay down on the couch, pulling me on top of her.

"Oh, Jasper, I have missed you so much. I need to feel you, to be connected to you." She kissed down my neck to my chest, lightly sucking at my nipples, scraping them with her teeth and clothes being peeled off while we move together.

"Damn, that feels good. You know exactly how to get what you want, don't you, babe." I whispered in her ear. I felt her body shiver under mine. She tells me all the time that she loves my deep voice whispering in her ear like that.

"Mmhmm, I know what you like and I know what you need." The rest of our clothes came off.

"I need you. That's all I'll ever need, my Bella. Just you. My heart wants to take my time and make sweet love to you, Darlin. But my body wants to twist you into a pretzel and fuck you hard." She fucking moaned at that and pushed her wet heat against me. I moaned like an animal.

"We have plenty of time for sweet lovin', my Jasper. Just not right now. I've been without you for too long." With that, she wrapped her arms around her legs and tucked her ankles behind her neck. Her grin was downright wicked.

"Fuck me hard, Jasper. I want you so bad, I might come undone as soon as you slide in." I held onto her thighs and thrust all the way in, feeling Bella spasm around me. It wouldn't take long for her to reach her peak and I was sure I'd get there right after her.

"Good god, Jasper, you feel fucking amazing inside me. Oh, right there... " Her voice trailed off into a stream of guttural moans and wails. She may have squeaked. I leaned over her, hands on either side of her head, pounding into her as she moved her hips to meet my thrusts. Moving together, sweating, grunting, just down and dirty fucking and I still felt like the luckiest man on the planet to have such a beautiful, sweet woman like Bella in my life. Then coherent thought left me. She moved her legs to wrap around my waist, grabbed my ass and pulled me closer to her, pushing her hips close to me, grinding her hard little clit against me until she came, hard. Feeling her get even hotter, tighter and infinitely wetter, brought me over. Our orgasms prolonged each other's pleasure until we were a heaving, quivering mass of limbs and kisses.

"I don't ever want to go that long without sex again. Okay?" Bella's mock indignation was cute. I raised one eyebrow in her direction, mostly because I hadn't regained the ability to speak.

"I love you, Jasper. Let's go get cleaned up." I nodded, following dumbly to the shower.

BPOV

With all the tension from being displaced, having a creep stalking... whomever he was after, and being out of our routines, tempers were running high. Emmett started coming over and making everyone get up and exercise in the hotel gym. Jasper and I had really missed our morning runs and ended up spending most of our time on the treadmills trying to out pace each other.

Zach and Jake competed with the weights while Emmett worked out with Edward. Remarkably, Edward and Em were always good in the gym together. Neither felt the urge to compete. Em certainly had the larger frame, but Edward was much stronger than his slim frame let on. They were able to really focus on correct form and spotting each other.

After a few mornings of trying, Jake was able to convince The Pack to join us. Sam, Quil, Paul, Embry, and Seth all started joining us, effectively taking over the entire gym.

Sammi and Alice tried to get the cycles to go fast enough for an impromptu spinning class. They gave up and decided that instead of the Tour de France, they'd be Sunday cyclists. The whole thing really was the best Em could have done for us to help break the tension and bring us all back to center.

We all gathered for dinner to discuss moving back to the house and make sure that everyone was scheduled so that no one was ever alone in the house.

"I want to get all the bushes near the windows removed and make sure that any hiding places are opened up. I'd like to get that done before Bella and I leave for the weekend." All the guys agreed to help with the work.

"While you fella's are doing manly yard work, we can go around and make sure that all the windows are secured with the new locks and make sure our men have enough to eat and drink." Alice added with a smile.

"Sounds good to me. You?" I asked Sammi, who nodded and leaned into Edward.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I am ready to be in my own bed and get my routine back." Zach said with a sigh.

"I miss my piano." Added Edward. Sammi patted his leg and kissed his chin.

"I hate this for all of us. One creep has managed to disrupt all our lives." I complained.

"Jasper will get everything sorted out, right buddy." Emmett grasped his shoulder in a show of support and confidence.

"More than just me, man. I've got every person I know working to figure this out." We all knew Jasper was doing everything in his power, including things that were a little outside the rules. I worried that all our trust in him would begin to feel like the weight of expectation and wear him down rather than uplift him.

~~**~~

We were supposed to be checking all the windows in the house. We ended up standing at the bank of windows in the living room watching our guys working in the yard. The weather had been beautiful and in the mid fifties. Add strenuous work and bright sunlight and we were blessed with five beautiful, sweaty men with their shirts off. It was almost sinful how hot we were watching them work.

"It really is housewife porn, isn't it?" Alice giggled.

"I am this close to running out there and dragging Edward into the bedroom. The sweat running along the sex-V is really killing me." Sammi's forehead was pressed against the glass.

"I love Jasper's worn-out wranglers." I sighed. He stretched his back and pushed his cowboy hat to the back of his head. I wasn't the only one groaning at that move.

"Oh, shit. They noticed us – scatter!" Kerry squealed.

When we made it back to the window, they were waiting for us and started posing and flexing. Jake hip-bumped Emmett out of his way to get in front, Emmett flexed his arms to show off his 'guns'. Edward started doing chin-ups from a tree branch, Zach turned around and flexed his back in a perfect Atlas pose right before Jasper walked around him, removed his hat with a flourish and bowed low. We cheered, wolf-whistled and clapped for more. They rewarded us with a few more poses before we decided that they needed refreshments. Watching them guzzle down their drinks really did nothing to calm our overactive desires. We decided that staying in the hotel for one more night might not be such a bad idea.

"Emmett and I are going to stay at my house tonight. I haven't seen anything odd around my place, so I feel pretty safe. We talked about moving in together. Maybe after all this mess settles down and Bella and Jasper are moved into their own place." Rose said.

"We stopped looking for a house." I said quietly.

A chorus of questions came in response.

"Jasper's agent, the one who was doing such a good job and seemed excited to help us, called to tell us that she wouldn't be able to help us anymore. And that alone wouldn't have been anything, but she gave us the name of an agent for a different company. That was odd by itself, but coupled with the break-in and the vest, it was just too much. Until we get this stopped, we're going to hold off on house hunting. He's going to move in here with me. I know that he'd do anything for me, but I feel manipulative for asking him to. He really doesn't want to move from his own place to a room. He's going to have to put his stuff in storage. It's just an inconvenience for him."

"And I do it without hesitation, Darlin." Jasper walked to me and turned me to face him. "What is most important to me is you, happy and safe. The stuff I put in storage is meaningless without you to share it." He rested his forehead against mine and closed his eyes.

"I'm not looking for ideal all the time. I'm looking for real and true. I'm looking for us."

When I looked up, everyone else had moved to their own rooms to get reacquainted. I ran a finger over Jasper's chest, savoring his taught muscles.

"Let's get you cleaned up and head back to the hotel." I pulled him to the bathroom by a belt loop.


Jasper was a dirty boy in this chapter - needing lots of cleaning up. Reviews are like getting a sex-v show and a shower with Jasper!

Fiberkitty wrapped up "Song of My Heart" and is going to be starting "Blood Song". If you haven't read her "Song" stories - hurry! Also, MrsTheKing has a couple of really good entries to the Tattward and Inkella contest. Currently in my inbox are "Tropic of Virgo" by In..bathrobe, an ExB story and "Son of A Preacher Man" by LaViePastiche, it's an ExB story with a heavy dose of hottie man-whore Jasper.