Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, any of the characters in Twilight, or anything related to the books and/or movies. If I did, I would be way too busy- doing dirty things with the Cullen boys- to sit down at my laptop and write this story. The scenes that I did borrow from Stephenie Meyer have been revamped to fit my story.

A/N: Just to let everyone know, Edward does still care deeply about Bella. I haven't written him in a lot yet, because I wanted to pay more attention to Jasper and Bella and their connection/love with each other. Edward will come back into play later.

A/N 2: As far as the loving nicknames I give the characters for each other, I think it's pretty natural for all couples to call each other by those. It's kind of inevitable.

A/N 3: Sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter out. I've had some writer's block issues as well as been really busy this past week. (I went to see New Kids on the Block in concert; it was amazing!)

Learning to Live Again

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Seeking Permission

I stood next to Jasper, my hand clutching his tightly as we walked toward Jacob to meet at the border of the treaty line. Jake was standing tall, leaning slightly against a tree. I had half expected him to bring some of his new pack members to meet us, but I was glad that he didn't. This was going to be hard enough to explain to Jacob who I had known since I was a child. I couldn't imagine trying to plead my case to a small group of strangers who were born to hate what I wanted to become.

"Hey, Bella," Jacob greeted. His voice did not hold the warmth that was usually directed toward me. He was unsure of himself, probably second guessing his decision to come alone.

"Hi, Jake," I replied. Jasper and Jacob shared a polite nod to each other. I didn't wait for them to exchange pleasantries, because I knew it would not happen today. "I need to discuss something with you."

Jacob tensed but nodded. He knew where this conversation was going. If he hadn't suspected it when I was with Edward, he would surely understand by the way I was clutching onto Jasper like a lifeline. I noticed the irony as well.

"You know that Victoria is in town, and she is hell bent on destroying my life. She's either going to hurt Charlie or come after me directly in order to seek vengeance for James' death." I waited for Jacob to nod, signaling he was still listening to me. "Well, there is no way I will let her hurt Charlie. As for myself, I am tired of not being able to take care of myself, and I have made a decision that will help me in this area.

"I need you to discuss the treaty guidelines with you pack, because after this weekend it will have been broken. I'm going to have Jasper turn me into a vampire. I'm going to become part of the Cullen family eventually anyway, and I don't see the reason to postpone it any further. I want to be able to dispose of Victoria myself."

"I thought the only reason you would want to do that was to be with Edward. Now that he left you, what other reason could you have?" His tone was accusatory and he was no longer leaning against the tree. He had leaned forward while I was speaking and was glaring at Jasper who was seemingly unphased.

"Jacob, this wasn't his decision," I stated for the younger boy so that he would back off my boyfriend. "I've been thinking about this for almost a year now. True, my situation has changed since then but my decision will not. I need your pack to grant us a free pass on this one occasion."

Jacob started to shake his head, but I interrupted him. "I'm the one who's asking to be bitten. And it's not just to be food, but to become part of their family. The treaty says that the Cullens aren't allowed to bite anyone, but it doesn't specify for if that person is giving them permission."

No one said anything for a minute. Jacob was trying to collect his thoughts, so Jasper and I were granting him this time. This was the first time that I noticed Jasper was being annoyingly quiet during our conversation. I looked at him out of the side of my eye, but he was standing still and staring straight ahead and Jacob. His facial expression was one of pity that I didn't understand, but there was no time to discuss it right now. Eventually, Jacob looked back up at me from the forest floor.

"Bella, are you sure this is what you want? To be a leech for the rest of eternity? To never be able to grow up and get married and have kids?" Jacob was pacing now, frustrated with what I had just told him. I knew that he had a crush on me, but I never expected him to react so openly.

"Jacob, I am positive that I want to become a vampire. And I will get married to Jasper one day. I'm not ready for kids, and I'll deal with that as it comes along. Now will you please discuss this with your pack?" I wasn't above begging at this moment. I knew what I needed in order for my plan to work. "This is what I need, Jake."

He remained stoic. I don't know if he was still processing or if he was trying to find a way to kidnap me from the Cullens. Either way, I wasn't waiting around for a decision.

"Fine. Whatever. I'll have Jasper turn me, and then we'll leave Forks forever. I guess our friendship wasn't as strong as I thought it was." I turned away from Jacob and took a few steps toward Jasper's car, pulling him along with me.

"Bella," Jacob's voice whispered. It was strangled and full of raw emotion. I turned back to see him clutching the tree for support now. It was dusk, and I could see a teardrop shining on his cheek. Without hesitation, I ran to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"I'm sorry, Jacob. I didn't mean to be so harsh, but I know that this will work. I don't want to postpone the inevitable, you know," I explained to the taller boy while he crushed me with his arms.

"Bella, I don't know how we can still be friends if you were to turn into the one creature that I have to hate, that I have to kill." Jacob's voice was full of fear. It reminded me that he was young and inexperienced. Although he looked like he was twenty years old, Jacob was only sixteen and hadn't seen a lot of the world yet.

"I know that you don't want anything to change, Jake, but it has to. I need to be able to protect myself, and I also need to be with Jasper. I love him," I admitted. Jacob looked up at me, turning his head from where it was resting against my shoulder.

"I know, Bella, but I just don't think I'm ready for it. So much is happening, and I'm just trying to go with it all. I need you." I had never seen Jacob so vulnerable before. He always had a smile on his face, but he looked heart-broken at the moment.

"You'll always have me, Jake. I would never turn my back on our friendship, no matter what I am." Jacob's arms tightened around my waist slightly as he breathed in my scent as if to memorize it.

"I'll do what I can, but I don't know if they'll buy into it, Bells. The pack isn't exactly crazy about your budding relationship with the Addams Family." It amazed me that even during such an emotional moment, he could still be a complete smartass.

"They don't know the Cullen family like I do, and neither do you." I untangled myself from Jacob and walked back to Jasper who immediately draped his arm over my shoulder to tuck my body against his.

"I appreciate that you're trying to help Bella, Jacob. Thank you," Jasper said to the younger boy. He had been supportive of me and stayed back while I took some time with Jacob. He truly was the perfect boyfriend.

Jacob only nodded to Jasper. "I'll call you later tonight, Bells, to let you know what the pack says." The words were barely past his lips as he turned and ran off towards the reservation.

Jasper and I stood in silence with each other for a few moments until we heard howling coming from a distance. It was only a matter of time until we would know if the pack was going to back us up or chase us off.

"Are you positive that I am worth all this trouble?" I asked, resting my chin on Jasper's chest and looking up at his face.

"Positive, darlin'. You are worth so much more than you know," he whispered in my ear before dipping lower to place a kiss on my neck. He worked his way back up to my ear before adding, "Charlie will be home soon, and I don't want him to be angry with me for keeping you out late."

"Jasper, I don't want to be alone tonight," I whispered as we started walking toward his car.

"I never intended you to be." Jasper held open the car door so I could climb in. As soon as he was seated next to me, I reached over and grabbed his hand in my own.

We drove the distance to my house in silence as I thought about everything that had happened these past few weeks and everything that was to come. I was ready to become a vampire, to join Jasper and my family for eternity. I would concentrate on adjusting to our lifestyle quickly, so that I wouldn't have to leave school and my parents behind. There was no other way. I wasn't ready to say good-bye to my parents, so I would use that as the motivation to fight my thirst for blood.

We pulled up to my house, and Jasper leaned over to kiss me on the cheek. I threw my arms around his shoulders and clutched onto him.

"Bella, darling, I'll meet you in your room in a few minutes. I won't leave your side after that," he told me.

I walked into the house and saw Charlie sitting on the couch in the living room, watching the nightly highlights from whatever game was on today. He had his trusty can of Vitamin R at his side. I walked into the room and sat beside him.

"Hey, Bells, what did you do today?" he asked, turning the volume down on the television and turning to look at me.

What was I supposed to say? The truth?! I could just imagine Charlie's reaction to my explanation that my boyfriend and I had spent four hours in my bed performing sexual acts on each other then we decided to go visit my werewolf friend and ask his permission for me to become a vampire.

"Not too much, dad," I said. I shrugged my shoulders for dramatic effect. "Alice and I watched a few movies while the boys played video games. It wasn't very eventful."