***Thanks to all of you who responded to that last chapter. You came out in full force and I appreciate it! There were lots of readers doing a happy dance over Cullen's paternity!

***I may have over estimated my ability on this one and I may not be able to wrap this up in 40 chapters after all, but judging from the responses I don't think many of you will mind. I'll give you a final chapter number soon.

JPOV

I said goodbye to Peter and immediately missed his presence. It felt good having him here and I never seem to fully realize how much I miss him until he leaves. Bella and I would definitely be taking him up on his offer to spend some time in Texas once Cullen arrived. I would love to show them my roots, and maybe I could even take them to some of the places where I spent my childhood. Of course, most of those landmarks were historical now, but still I would love to be able to show my son where I came from. My son… that sounded so right. Finally, that dull pain that had settled in my chest ever since I found out that there was a possibility that Edward was his father had subsided. I knew that I was not really supposed to feel physical pain, but since Bella had really come into my life I had experienced things that I never thought were possible. The emotional intensity that I felt for Bella and Cullen were like no other. I couldn't exist without the two of them. My life was now complete. I meant what I said when I told Bella that I could love him and raise him no matter what, but I wanted with every fiber of my being for him to be mine. I didn't want to spend eternity with Edward tied to us. I was strong, but I was certain I wasn't that strong. A part of me still wondered if he could ever fully let go of her.

I knew Bella needed sometime to get used to the idea that Cullen was ours, but in her heart I knew she had always believed that to be the case. I was hoping that we would now get to enjoy this pregnancy in peace. We didn't have that awful question looming over our heads any longer and for that I would always be grateful to Peter. I knew that Carlisle could still do the paternity test once Cullen was born and that would be fine with me because I now knew without a doubt what it would prove. I had to smile with pride at the fact that my boy was an empath, but Peter was right I was going to have to find a way to teach him how to use that power without bringing the rest of this family to its knees. If he took after his mother at all he would already know how to do that even without using his extra power. I had a feeling we were going to have one spoiled crossbreed on our hands. I didn't care because as long as he was happy and healthy that was all that really mattered.

"Hey, Jazz!" Alice said as she floated into the room and kissed my cheek.

"Hey, baby, how are you?" I asked. She seemed more happy and carefree than usual. "Where is all of that good stuff coming from?"

"Well, I'm thrilled that Cullen is yours." She smiled "You are going to make such a wonderful father. Cullen is very lucky."

"Oh, no I'm the lucky one. I still don't know what I did to deserve them both, but I will spend forever making them happy."

"You have done so much to deserve this." I could feel all of her gratitude and pleasure over the years we had spent together.

"I'm just glad that we can put this whole paternity nightmare to rest. I would have accepted Cullen either way, but now that I know he is mine it makes it that much sweeter. He is the product of mine and Bella's love and he will never feel anything less." I was thankful that he would never have to know that he may have existed because Edward lost control and took Bella against her wishes. Bella would never have treated him any differently, but it was all so much better this way.

"He is going to be amazing. You know that, right?" She said. "He already has an active power and knows how to use it to get what he wants."

"Don't remind me. He takes after his mother." I laughed.

"I just left Bella and she is ecstatic."

"She finally believes it?" I asked. I knew she needed time to adjust.

"Yes." She didn't say anything else and I could feel she was trying to mask something.

"But she feels bad for Edward, right?" Would he ever stop being a thorn in my side when it came to my wife? I was pretty certain of the answer.

"She really wanted Cullen to be yours, but she knows that Edward wanted him, too. She will get over it much faster than if you were the one who wasn't his father. Give her some time Jazz. You know she loves you and wants to have a family with you. It's just that she is so compassionate toward everyone. I would swear she was really Carlisle's daughter." She laughed and again I felt her excitement.

"I know you are right, but don't expect me to feel sorry for him." Forgiveness was not going to come easily for me and I was too strong to allow Cullen to manipulate my emotions in that way. "Now tell me what else has you so excited."

"Right after we found out about Cullen I had a really strong vision about going to see Felix in Italy. It wasn't as clear as I would have liked it to have been, but I'm going to see him real soon and the look on his face when he sees me offers so much hope."

"That's great Alice. I want that for you." It seemed so right that she should find her future just as I was getting everything I wanted.

"Thanks. I'm glad we were able to get to this place because I wouldn't want to spend eternity without you." She hugged me.

"Me either, Alice." She rested her head on my chest.

"Jazz, in my vision, I go to the Volturi." I felt her concern.

"Really? Does that surprise you? That is where Felix is."

"Yes, but in my earlier visions I never saw myself there among all of them. It's strange, but I keep thinking that I am supposed to go there for more than just Felix."

"You can't tell why?" I didn't really like the idea of her there either.

"No, I'm hoping that since I don't go until sometime after Cullen is born that the visions will become clearer. Hey, I was supposed to tell you that Bella was upstairs waiting for you, not burden you with my vision."

"You are never a burden, but I think I'd like to go find my gorgeous girl and discuss our news." I kissed her head. "Try not to focus too much on the Volturi. I'm sure Felix is what brings you there. I mean really, what else could there be?"

"Congratulations Jasper, I can't wait to meet Cullen." She smiled.

"Thanks, me either." I said as I flew up the steps and straight for Bella.

BPOV

I sunk down on the floor in the nursery and tried to process what Peter had just told us. It was the best possible news for all of us; even Edward. He could let go now and move on with his life. He could still be part of Cullen's life, but as his uncle; the way it was meant to be. I felt my little one shift his position and for the first time in months a warmth spread throughout my entire body because I knew it was part of Jasper growing inside of me. I had always hoped that to be the case, but there was so much doubt and uncertainty that I never allowed myself to fully get my hopes up.

I put my hands on my stomach and savored this moment of pure bliss. I was going to have a baby in a few weeks and his father was the most incredible man I had ever met; the love of my existence. Cullen kicked; he liked that thought.

"Cullen, you don't know how relieved I am at this outcome, well, I guess you do know how relieved I am. My little empath. I'm going to have to get used to you and your father monitoring my ever emotion for all of eternity." I laughed.

"I am so happy that Jasper is your dad. He is going to be so wonderful with you; he already is. He never gave up hope when it came to you and he would have been fine not really knowing the truth, but he found a way for me. I needed to know, and so did Edward. He needed that closure. I can't tell your father this, although I know he will feel it, but he would never say it, my heart breaks for Edward. He is a good man, too and you would have won either way. At another time in my life Edward would have been the best possible father for you, and I would have wanted nothing more than to share that with him, but that was before Jasper. I know in my heart that if things didn't turn out this way, if Edward never left, I would have gone through my entire life missing something, and I may not have ever figured out what that something was, but there would have been a profound void. I know now that I was meant to exist for Jasper alone, and your presence proves that. You are going to complete us."

He settled down, and I could tell he was content and that made me feel at peace.

"He's sleeping." Jasper said as he sat down on the floor next to me. "He is happy that you are finally feeling better. He loves you, Bella."

"I love both my boys."

He pulled me into his lap. "Are you okay with all of this? It's been a pretty shocking day to say the least."

"Do you really have to ask how I feel?" I kissed his lips and snuggled deeper into his chest.

"No, but it's just polite." He smiled. "You are relieved, happy, overwhelmed and sad."

"I'm not sad over the results. I wanted nothing more than for Cullen to be yours. I'm just really hormonal and I can't help but feel a bit sad for Edward." There really was no point in hiding my feelings because he already knew and I didn't want him to misinterpret anything he picked up from me. "Jasper, I love you and I don't want anyone else. I never will."

"I know that's true, but it's still hard for me to fully understand your feelings for him. I've accepted them, but it doesn't always make sense to me."

"You still love Alice." I reminded him.

"It's not the same kind of love and Alice has never hurt me the way Edward has you. Anything Alice has ever done was to bring the two of us together." He shook his head. "I don't want to fight with you, Bella, not today. I can't let him consume any more of our life."

"I'm sorry for feeling this way."

"Don't apologize. I'm not jealous because I know I'm who you want; even if I couldn't feel it I would still know it."

"You'll never forgive him will you?" I knew the answer, but I could hope. I knew they loved each other and that bond ran too deep to just be over.

"I'm doing the best I can. I've made so many allowances for him and that's just going to have to be enough for now."

"Jasper, now that you know Edward isn't Cullen's father what's to stop you from losing control with him?" I shouldn't be going down this path, but I did fear for the both of them. The only reason Jasper didn't kill Edward was because he thought he could be Cullen's father and now that he knew the truth would he be able to leave it alone?

"Bella, do you really think that I could just end it all for him without a second thought? Have I really shown my true colors to you over these past few weeks?"

Thanks to Cullen I could feel how hurt he was over my question and I never meant to do that.

"I know I have lost it several times these past few weeks and I regret the things that I have said and done to you, but I'm not that much of an animal in your eyes, am I?"

"That's not what I meant. I know you didn't want to hurt him because of Cullen and now we know he is yours. You don't have any reason to protect him."

"I have other reasons for not killing my brother and you should know what they are by now."

Of course I knew and that only proved how incredible this man really was. He tolerated Edward and controlled his urges even after he learned of his betrayal, all for me. "Jasper, I know you don't feel worthy of our future."

"No, Bella, I don't deserve to have you or a baby, not after the things I've done…the innocent lives I took, but I still want you."

"You are a good man and you absolutely deserve this. Look at everything you have done for me in this past year. I think you have it backwards, I'm not worthy of you. It seems that in these past few weeks all I have done is cause you pain and angst. Some of my actions were out of my control, but I am sorry for anything that I may have done to hurt you. I want to move forward and enjoy our life. We have so much to be thankful for."

"Yes, we do and I don't want to spend anymore time dwelling on what we have just been through. We need to concentrate on our future."

"I can understand that and I will do whatever you want; if we can't stay here I can accept that." A huge burst of sadness washed over me at the thought of leaving the Cullen's. They were my family and I couldn't stand to lose them; not again. I had already given up Renee and Charlie, but I always thought that I would have the rest of them forever.

"I haven't made any decisions about our future. I don't want to leave all of them either, but I'm not sure it will work out with all of us under one roof."

"You mean Edward?" I knew he was right, but I knew that Edward was supposed to be a part of Cullen's life too and when I said I didn't want to lose any of them, I meant him, too.

He sighed and I knew he could feel how I was thinking. "We don't have to decide anything right now. We have to stay for the duration of the pregnancy because we need Carlisle. Let's just let Peter's news sink in and enjoy this moment." He wrapped his arms around me and rested them on my stomach as he kissed the back of my neck.

"I can't wait for him to get here. I have so many plans for us."

"Hmm..." he said as he inhaled my hair. "Like what?" He felt calmer, maybe Cullen was trying to help me.

"The island. I want to take him to the island so that we can all enjoy the sun together."

"That's a great idea."

"The zoo! On rainy days of course."

"As long as you aren't thirsty, I guess the zoo would work." He laughed.

"Oh, right. Will I try to attack the animals?"

"No, darlin', I think you will be just fine."

"Charlie!" I blurted out without thinking.

"No, Bella we can't take him to see Charlie and I've explained why."

"Because once I have Cullen I will turn back into a terrifying vampire and Charlie can't ever know our secret." That sucked. He would love a grandchild especially a boy, but I knew Jasper was right. How could we explain what we were when I didn't fully understand it sometimes?

"I never said anything about you being terrifying." He laughed.

"Will you still take me to see him so that I can say goodbye?"

"Tomorrow if that is what you still want."

"Yes, I need to see him one last time." I felt a tear trickle down my cheek. I knew I was being selfish about letting Charlie see me like this, but I needed to see him again. "Maybe we can just tell him we are moving out of the country and we will visit as soon as we can."

"I'll think of something to tell him, Bella, you just focus on having a happy visit with your dad." He pulled me closer to him and I could feel his love.

"Jasper?"

"Yes, sweetheart."

"Thank you."

"For?"

"Everything." He knew what I meant, and thanks to the little empath growing inside of me, I could feel exactly how grateful Jasper was to me, too. In this moment I knew everything was going to work out. I had the two of them and that was all I would ever need.

EPOV

I sat on my couch trying to decide what I should do now. When I came back here a few months ago I thought that Bella and Jasper would be in Greece adjusting to her life as a newborn. I figured that Alice and I would find something to do and then once Rose and Emmett came home from Dartmouth we would all spend the summer together doing whatever. But, Jasper and Bella were here getting ready to have a baby, Alice was contemplating a new life with Felix and Rose hated me. I didn't think it was possible for me to stay here, not with Jasper. The only reason I stayed as long as I did was to find out who Cullen belonged to. I couldn't abandon them especially if he was mine. I still didn't feel comfortable leaving, but I knew I had no right to stay.

Cullen being Jasper's was the best possible outcome, and it put things right, but I still couldn't help but mourn the loss of what might have been. I wanted him, too. I knew that it was wrong for me to want that, but I still did. I could see how much he loved me and I knew that I would always love him. He was a part of Bella and I would always love her. She wasn't mine; never was and now as it turns out neither was Cullen. I had to accept that and move on. Would it be easy? Probably not, but I could do it for her. What choice did I have?

Peter had given me much to consider. Was he right when he said that Jasper loved her more? I couldn't be sure. How does one measure something like that? Yes, Jasper had a way with her. He usually got her to do what he wanted and what was best for her without her ever realizing that he was in control. I, on the other hand, usually just told her what to do and that never ended well. Jasper would also do anything she wanted even if it meant he would be hurt in the long run. He tolerated me for all of these weeks because that is what Bella wanted. He would never leave her either, not unless she told him to go which she never would, but still he would do it if that was what she wanted. Bella needed someone who could love her without boundaries; physical or emotional and Jasper had done that from day one. He was her other half and as much as I wanted to have that place in her life it could never be that way. She was made for him and I was only supposed to be with her for that short time. I found her for him. If only I had accepted that sooner I could have saved her from so much heartache. I never meant to hurt her.

I put my head in my hands and tried to clear my mind. Maybe I did need to get a way from here. It would be the best thing for all of us.

I'm sorry, Edward. I know this hurts… but it is for the best. I looked up and saw Carlisle standing in front of me. I knew he was there, but I was trying to block them all out.

"Edward, are you okay?" He asked.

"Yes, I didn't ruin Bella's eternity. Isn't that all that really matters?"

"Well, yes, that is important, but you have feelings too and I think a big part of you wanted to be Cullen's father."

"I had no right to want that."

"No, you didn't, but how are we supposed to control what we are feeling? I know that you love her, but you have to find a way to learn from this and move on. She is happy and she belongs with Jasper. I believe that was proven today by everything Peter observed."

"Alice tried to tell me she was meant for him over and over again, but I didn't want to believe it. If I just would have accepted that from the beginning then we would never have needed Peter's assistance in the first place."

"Like I said, you will move on from this."

"I don't know how. I hurt Bella in ways that I never imagined I could. I betrayed Jasper and I don't think we will ever come back from that. Rose will never forgive me for what I have done. Esme is heartbroken over the whole thing and then there is you." I stopped because I knew what I had done to him.

"Yes, you have made quite a mess, but it can be fixed. We have nothing but time on our hands. You have disappointed me and I will get over that, but you are going to have to find a way to get over it, too."

"Carlisle, not only do I love Bella, but now I love Cullen, too. Maybe that is my punishment for doing what I did to Bella that night. I deserve to watch them live a happy life together; knowing that I will never experience a child of my own with her. I'll never have anything with her."

"That's not true Edward. She loves you and you should be grateful for that. She wants you in her life and she wants you to know her son. She would have wanted that even if you were his father. You have your memories with her and you will get to spend eternity with her in your world. Maybe not the way you had envisioned, but if you love her as much as you say you do, shouldn't that be enough?"

"I never thought of it that way. I have been so confused and now that we know the truth I think need to sort out my feelings and come to terms with reality. I need to get a way from here, and try to clear my head."

"You don't have to leave." I knew he was sincere, but without my presence his life would be so much easier. All of their lives would be easier especially Bella's.

"Maybe I'll go visit our friends in Alaska for a while. At least until Cullen arrives and you all have time to bond with him. Then we can decide if I should come home or not."

"Alaska? Are you sure that's a good idea?" He asked.

"Why not?"

"Edward, don't you think if your destiny was in Alaska with the Denali coven you would have been there already?"

"You think I'd just be leading Tanya on?" He had a point. I did go there after I first met Bella and I did let her know that there really was no future for us. I guess it wouldn't be fair for me to show up now after I made such a mess of things here.

"I think that Alaska might not be the best possible solution for you."

"I guess you are right. I can go anywhere really. I don't need another coven."

"No, you already have one and you need us as much as we need you. You are a part of this family and just because you made a horrible mistake doesn't mean we are going to abandon you. That's not what we do."

I shook my head. "I don't deserve you Carlisle. I never did."

"Well, you are stuck with me and I hope that you will reconsider leaving. I do understand your need to go and I won't stand in your way, but I hope you will come back soon. Think of Esme."

"You can't leave now." Jasper said as he walked in and stood next to Carlisle.

Was he serious?

CONTEST NOMINATIONS!

"Everything's Bigger in Texas J/B Fanfiction Contest!"

Three of my J/B stories have been nominated and I wanted to thank all of you who considered me for this contest!

FATE HAS BROUGHT US HERE

*Best Lemon in a Story

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LOVE WILL KEEP US THERE

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MY DOMINANT HUSBAND OUTTAKE

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