Chapter Thirty Seven

Bella

Although I knew Peter and Charlotte were both vampires it still amazed me how quickly they cleared away the debris and then while they insisted on me sitting surrounded by blankets and old drapes from rubbish they found in boxes in the garage they began to work a minor miracle. The archway Jasper had built was repaired and fixed back in place and the smashed furniture stacked up and broken still further to feed a wood burner that they found in the garage, obviously Jasper had purchased it anticipating he could get it set up and working by Christmas. They also made me a bed close to the fire so I could sleep while they continued working and although I doubted I could close my eyes I soon found my head drooping and had to be woken the following morning for breakfast.

"Hi there sleepy head, you slept well. What do you think? We're running out of time but we've done our best."

I looked around in amazement, the place looked so different, a new tree had been put in place of the one the wolves had destroyed and the decorations Jasper and I had hung on it were almost all now on the new one. The decorations he had bought had been hung and candles covered the hearth and bookcases that had been made from fresh lumber, I could smell the freshly sawn wood. There were new doors hung and no draughts so the windows had obviously been replaced too.

"It's…..wow!"

Peter beamed as he passed through carrying half a dozen bags and boxes on his way to the kitchen.

"We're almost finished, well as best we can, The Major seems to have done the hard work, all the food shopping, which thankfully the mutts didn't disturb, maybe they didn't get time. Anyway, it should be ready for Christmas."

"Thank you Charlotte, and you Peter."

"No sweat but you owe me a lesson on beating Pacman."

I smiled happy to oblige,

"It's a deal."

As I sat munching hot toast and sipping my coffee I thought about Christmas, I'd lost all track of days, I didn't even know the date but I was pretty sure I'd missed the Snowball. I decided while the other two were busy making out like super builders I would call Angie and see what I'd missed and Charlotte kindly lent me her cell phone.

Angie sounded relieved to hear my voice,

"Bella! I've been worried sick about you, rumors are flying around town that you were kidnapped and then I heard through my dad that Jasper had brought you into the clinic almost dead. I came to visit but the nurse said you were too weak for visitors and she had orders that no one could go in and see you. I even heard there was a guard on your door. What happened?"

I suddenly realized what a bad idea this had been, I had no idea what to tell her so I fell back on my old standby,

"I really don't know Angie, I hit my head and then found myself in a cabin up in the mountains. Jasper and my dad found me and brought me back down but I don't know anything in between. It was pretty scary, it still is but I'm feeling much better now."

"Where are you? Can you have visitors yet?"

I looked around, no a visitor was a really bad idea right now.

"No I'm sorry, I can't, I can't even tell you where I am. My dad wanted me kept out of the way until he can figure out what happened so I'm kinda under house arrest."

"It must have been terribly frightening but I'm so glad you're OK. You….you missed the dance."

"Yeah, I kinda lost a few days and I'm not even sure what day it is today, my head's still mixed up. Anyway, tell me, what did I miss?"

"Not much really, Tyler and Mike almost got into a fight when Tyler thought Mike was hitting on Lauren, I think she set him up, Lauren loves causing trouble and I know she was furious when Mike told her he didn't fancy her. She's getting to be a real bitch these days."

"The trouble is that Lauren thinks she's God's gift to man. Anyway, did you enjoy yourself?"

"Yes, once we got Tyler sorted out but I missed you. Maybe we can get together after Christmas if you feel up to it and it's OK with your dad. You will be back at school, won't you? I've got some notes for you but they can wait. Are you going to spend Christmas with Jasper or is he banned too? It is Christmas Eve after all."

I sat stunned on hearing that news, Christmas Eve? Would I see Jasper today? I hadn't heard anything from him but Charlotte had told me not to worry,

"The Major will be in touch as soon as he can and up in the mountains reception can be a bitch."

I wanted to call him but I didn't have my cell phone anymore and if Charlotte was right I wouldn't be able to reach him anyway, I remembered my dad saying that they had trouble keeping in contact with each other if a rescue party had to go looking for missing hikers or climbers. I had no idea where my phone was, I couldn't remember where I had last used it or if I had seen it recently, these gaps in my memory were a real pain! I could have scrolled through Charlotte's contacts to find his number but that seemed like prying, I would wait until I could ask her first.

I must have dozed again because when Charlotte's cell phone began to buzz insistently I jumped and only just caught it before it hit the floor. I wasn't sure whether to answer it or not but it kept ringing insistently and as neither she nor Peter were anywhere to be seen I picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Bella? Is that you? It's so good to hear your voice again. I'm sorry I've been away so long, you do understand don't you darlin'?"

I felt a flood of relief pass through me as I recognized Jasper's sweet southern drawl.

"Jasper? Oh God, I was so worried about you. Where are you? Is everything OK? Did you get my message? Is it over?"

He hesitated at my barrage of questions and then spoke again,

"Yes, it's over and I'm on my way back to your house, I should be with you in about ten minutes but I wanted to hear your voice. Are Charlotte and Peter looking after you?"

"They've been great but I'm not at my place, we're at your place, they've worked wonders here, it looks like a home again."

"Right, then I guess I should turn around and start running if I'm going to keep to my ten-minute promise. I love you, Bella, see you soon."

He cut off before I could ask about Charlie but he'd be here soon enough. What disturbed me somewhat was his hesitation when I asked if everything was OK.

Charlotte appeared seconds later,

"Will you be OK for ten minutes? I just need to grab a few things from town and Peter is busy in the garage. If you need anything at all just holler. I take it that call was from The Major from the grin on your face."

I nodded,

"He'll be here in a few minutes, I can't believe I'm going to see him again at last I missed him so much."

She smiled and nodded,

"The mating pull will do that to you. I think you two will be perfect for each other. Now, behave while I'm gone and rest, the doctor said you had to take it easy for a few days."

"I will but I'm going stir crazy sitting here watching you two work."

Peter's voice floated up from the garage stairs,

"Fine Char, give her a hammer and some nails she can knock up these coffee tables, why do they have to make the instructions so fuck…. confusing, they aren't even in proper English I mean what does "when part A marry part B part C will offer up to part D. It's double Dutch for God's sake!"

With a shake of her head Charlotte went off to town and I went to sit by the window with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders like an old lady, I still felt the cold, to watch for Jasper to arrive.

It seems to be hours although I knew it couldn't have been more than a few minutes before I spotted him standing in front of the house looking in at me. Unable to wait I threw the blanket down and ran to the door throwing myself into his arms and covering his face with kisses.

"Wow, I must stay away more often if this the homecoming I can expect. I'm glad to see you too darlin'."

He lifted me off my feet and held me close breathing in deeply as if he'd forgotten what I smelled like and I allowed myself to luxuriate in the closeness wishing we never had to break apart but of course we did and he stood me up holding my arms and staring into my eyes reassuring himself that I really was OK.

With his index finger, he touched the huge black and blue bruise that still colored my forehead and I saw the pain and anger flash through his eyes,

"I'm fine really and your friends have looked after me well."

"They'd better. Bella, come and sit down, I need to talk to you."

I could see how grave he suddenly looked and noticed for the first time the blood stains on his shirt which was half covered by his jacket. It occurred to me that he hadn't mentioned Charlie, nor had my dad been with him and my heart sank as I let him lead me back to the couch.

"OK."

I sat on the couch and he sat beside me turning so he was looking into my face and took both my hands in his.

"Firstly, I allowed the younger Quileutes to live, just as you asked although they are forbidden to phase any longer, that was down to Johnny H but I trust him to keep his word."

"And the others?"

"I did just as I told you I would, Sam, Jared, Jake, and Brady, are all dead but I'm afraid your father was badly wounded and it's all my fault. I sent Garrett to chase down Brady when he broke free of the others and tried to make a run for the village. That meant there were only three of us to take down the other three and I should have watched out for Charlie, he managed to kill Jake but not before he was attacked and fatally wounded."

The word hit me like a freight train, fatally.

"My dad is dead?"

Jasper sighed looking uncomfortable,

"No, not exactly. I couldn't let him just die after all he'd done for me and especially as he's your father so….I changed him, it was the only thing I could do. We were just too far from any help and he was dying."

I could see he was waiting for my response, did he really think I was going to hate him for saving my dad's life? I smiled in relief and pulled him close to kiss him,

"Thank you for saving him. He knew what he was getting into going with you. Dad knew the risks and at least he's still alive. I'll see him again soon, where is he?"

"My friend Darius took him across the border into Canada, it's safer there, plenty of uninhabited space for a newborn to learn control. It does mean you can't see him for some time though, it would be far too dangerous."

Something occurred to me,

"Is the treaty still in force?"

He shook his head and I breathed a sigh of relief, I didn't want more trouble from the Quileutes because Jasper had bitten a human.

"There is no treaty any longer, the Quileutes broke it and I made a new agreement with Johnny H the guardian leader. The Quileutes have to stay away from you, your dad, your place, and here. If not I've already warned them I'll destroy the village, all of it and anyone still inside."

I was about to say something but it occurred to me that he had already made huge concessions for me, leaving the Quileutes alone and unmolested and saving the younger members of the wolf pack, it wouldn't be fair to push him any harder.

"Thank you, Jasper, for everything. I'm just sorry it came to this, if only Jake had been willing to leave me alone, it's all down to him really."

"It's over Bella, that's all that matters. We'll stay here until you graduate and then we need never come back again. It's going to be difficult enough covering for Charlie's disappearance while we're here. I'm not sure what to do, his deputies will guess he was with me and they'll be asking questions soon."

I could see how my dad's disappearance was a problem and racked my brains to see a solution.

"Why don't I tell them he decided to check on a lead he got, one of his old arrests who he heard was in the area?"

"They are going to ask why he hadn't been in contact himself."

I sighed,

"We need to leave, don't we? I mean now before the questions begin but where do we go? People are going to be looking for me too if I disappear without a word."

"I really didn't want to do this to you Bella but yes, it would be far better if we left right away because I don't have any answers for the questions that are soon going to be aimed at me."

I looked around at all the hard work Peter and Charlotte had done to make the place habitable and could have cried, Jasper and I had such wonderful plans for our first Christmas together here and now they were all ruined.

"I understand but can I at least collect some things from home?"

He nodded smiling at me,

"Of course, we'll go there now and then get away from Forks but I promise you we will have our Christmas together."

He kissed me and suddenly it didn't matter that I had to abandon my home, all that mattered was that we would be together.