Chapter Thirty Seven

Bella

When I finally rang Jazz on our way to the airport I could tell he was uptight but delighted to hear my voice and when I told him that everything was sorted and I was on my way back to him I knew he was as excited at the prospect as I was. We didn't have time to talk much, as soon as Adam knew who was on the phone he demanded to speak to me and I had to hear a potted version of his adventures which lasted until we entered the terminal. They promised to be waiting for us when we landed and then we had to say goodbye but it was good to know that in a few hours I would be in Jasper's arms again surrounded by his strong arms and spicy scent and feel those sweet lips on mine.

The flight was way too long for me I could hardly sit still as I wondered how much Adam would have grown, he changed so quickly he was sure to be taller or learned something new and I had missed precious days of his childhood. Would he love me as much as before I left? Would he and Jasper have gotten past the words that Mae had put in our son's head? I'd know soon as I saw the airport lights below us but it seemed to take forever for the plane to taxi to the gate and Carlisle watched in amusement as I mangled the metal clasp of the seat belt in my eagerness to get it undone.

I almost ran to the arrivals gate and Carlisle had to restrain me,

"Bella you are going too fast for the humans"

I slowed reluctantly, craning my neck to see above the crowds, desperate for my first glimpse of my family, then I saw them. Jasper was leaning against a post in the farthest corner of the terminal a broad smile on his face, God I'd forgotten just how beautiful he was, how much I desired him.

Then I heard a shout,

"Mummy over here. Mummy look"

Adam stood with Rose who was beaming at Carlisle from the barrier and I rushed over and picked him up hugging him close.

"Adam I missed you and you've grown so much."

"I missed you too Mummy, you won't go away again, will you? Only Daddy has been really sad since you left."

I shook my head my eyes stinging with the venom filling them,

"No darling I won't leave again and I've been sad to be away from you too. Come on let's find Daddy."

He pulled me over to Jasper who opened his arms and crushed me to him with a sigh of contentment.

"Bella I've missed you so much."

I heard him breathe in my scent, trying to drench his senses with my presence and stop the pain in his chest, I knew exactly what he was doing because I was doing it too.

Jasper

I couldn't explain the feeling of relief and completeness I felt when Bella was back in my arms again. My family was whole again and I felt I could cope with anything...except losing them. On the way back Adam monopolized the conversation but I didn't care, Bella was back, here beside me and that was enough. Besides he'd missed her as much as I had and he needed the reassurance of her attention right now, I'd get my turn soon enough.

Peter and Charlotte knew we needed to talk and offered to take Adam off to swim in the creek, he agreed as long as we promised to be here when he got back. Once alone Bella told me everything that had happened and although I didn't like the deal she'd been forced into with Marcus I could understand it. The news about Caius child who we assumed was this Ash Marcus had warned us about was interesting but as we had no idea what he looked like or where he might be it wasn't terribly helpful. We had a name but no face to put to our enemy and I seriously doubted that, despite what he had said to Bella and Aro's assurances, Caius had given up his idea of revenge.

"Where are Emmett and Kerri? I thought they were back?"

"They were but they went again. Kerri and I just couldn't get along so she decided she didn't want to stay and I didn't try to stop her leaving."

"What about Peter and Charlotte? Couldn't they act as a go-between?"

"They were busy hunting for the elusive Jade when they weren't watching my back. Anyway, it's done, Bella."

He was stubborn and I knew pushing the subject wouldn't help, besides I didn't want to be arguing with him the minute I got home and with Caius leashed for a while at least they should be safe enough.

"I think we should find somewhere new to make our home Bella, I've been looking and there are some nice ranch houses in Montana."

"Montana? Why would we want to live in Montana? I thought you liked it here with your friends and Adam loves it."

"It's not working out Bella, Peter puts his foot in it without noticing, I've argued with Emmett and Kerri, I want a home for our family, somewhere I don't have to watch what everyone says all the time."

Things must have been rough while I was away and I determined to get to the bottom of it but for now, I just wanted some quality time with my husband.

"Let's talk about it tomorrow, I'd like to just relax with you for a few hours and play with Adam. Is that OK with you?"

He nodded smiling but I knew the subject would raise its ugly head again soon enough.

He and I excused ourselves for an hour to find a secluded spot and he was so tense that it took all that time to relax him enough that we could make love and talk softly about his time with Adam and I found out one of the things that had upset him although he agreed it wasn't really Peter's fault and he had been very careful around Adam since.

"I just don't want Adam hearing any more of my past and living here with Peter and Charlotte makes that difficult. If we leave then they can invite Em and Kerri back, I know they worry about Kerri and Katee."

"We all worry about Katee Jazz and I think Kerri learned her lesson. I'm not sure I wouldn't have done the same thing in her place."

He grunted and I felt him tensing up again so I dropped the subject for now.

When Adam got back he looked relieved to see us and I understood how hard it had been for him with me away, especially under the circumstances. He knew Jazz had been looking at houses and this worried him too, he didn't want to leave Grandpa and Rose or Peter and Charlotte and he missed Em and Kerri, they were his family. At bedtime he talked us into allowing him to sleep downstairs by the fire so he would know where we were and to be honest I liked the idea of having him in sight with Jade still out there somewhere not to mention the unknown Ash.

He was sleeping peacefully with his teddy, Mr. Hoss, cuddled close when Peter opened the conversation with forced nonchalance.

"I heard from Emmett today."

Jazz ignored him but I wanted to know what he had to say and said so.

Peter shrugged,

"He doesn't know what to do, he's worried about Katee and he wants to bring her here for Carlisle to check her over."

I saw Jasper's brows knit together in a frown,

"Fine. We're going out in the morning. It's your house, you decide who visits."

I knew he was still very angry with Kerri but I hated this animosity and patted his arm gently,

"I think maybe Emmett wants to speak to you Jazz and I'd like to see him and Katee."

He shook his head angrily,

"No, I gave them a second chance and she blew it."

Then we heard a cough and turning round saw Emmett standing awkwardly in the doorway with Katee wrapped up in his arms.

"I'm sorry you feel that way Jazz. I thought maybe you and I could sort this out, man to man. I had no choice but to bring Katee here, she's sick and Kerri's gone."

Rose jumped up and took Katee, who was grizzling quietly, from him,

"You talk, I'll take her to Carlisle."

She turned to Jasper speaking firmly,

"And you can listen. Emmett's a good man and he deserves his say."

"Yeah, come on Major. Emmett didn't do anything wrong, he was there fighting for Adam at your side, don't you think that deserves a few minutes of your time?"

I took Jasper's hand,

"They're right Jazz, at least listen to Emmett."

The two men looked at each other, then Jasper pulled away from me but sat down again,

"Go on then, talk."

Emmett

Things had gone so terribly wrong for us ever since Kerri had the baby. She was having a hard time as a newborn especially after seeing Bella go through it with seemingly no problem at all. She felt guilty about what she'd done but she also felt Jazz wasn't being fair to her and when I decided we'd better leave again she blamed herself. She felt inadequate, she couldn't cope and when Katee got sick Kerri just put her in my arms and walked out. She'd been very upset about betraying the others but she honestly thought she had done the right thing by us, by her family, and I had to try and get this all across to my brother who sat there stony-faced watching me.

"Jazz I can't apologize for what Kerri did, that's down to her and I know she was wrong. I'd do anything to take back her actions but I can't do that either. She's left me, she just walked out but she did tell me something and that's what I really wanted to tell you about. Jade wasn't in league with the others, she never knew what was going on until it happened then she got scared and ran. She's been in contact with Kerri because she's frightened of you Jazz, you and Peter. She thinks you blame her too. Kerri's gone off with her, she thinks she'd rather be a nomad with Jade than stay with me and Katee and with Katee sick frankly I don't know what to do."

Bella

Emmett's eyes were full of pain as he explained how his world had fallen apart and I went over to him and put my arm around his shoulder,

"Emmett I'm so sorry, I thought everything was going well for you and Kerri. She seemed pretty controlled and she was doing better with Katee after you came back."

He sighed,

"Yeah, me too but it wasn't, she'd spent a lot of time talking to the nomads and she decided she liked the idea of their way of life, no responsibilities, free to go where she liked and do what she wanted. She said I wasn't the kind of man she wanted to be with, I was weak, I should have stuck up for her when Jazz said we had to go, that I wasn't worth her loyalty or her love. I don't know what to do Bella."

His voice broke and I held him as he shook with dry sobs then with an enormous effort he pulled himself together and turned to Jasper.

"I can't do this on my own Jazz, I want to move back here with my little girl"

Jasper stood up once more and studied Emmett before turning to Peter,

"It's your house, your decision. We're going so it's up to you. I'm sorry about Kerri, Emmett, and Katee but I don't want to get involved with your troubles right now."

He turned to me,

"I'm going for a walk, you coming?"

I knew he was asking an entirely different question, he needed me to choose so I stepped away from Emmett after kissing his cheek.

"I'm sorry too, Emmett, and I hope we'll see you in the future but for now I'm with Jasper."

Jasper

I felt sorry for Emmett but Kerri was still his wife and she could come back at any time. I would never trust her again and I wanted nothing to do with him while they were still married. I thought Peter would welcome him back as would Carlisle and probably Charlotte but that was their choice. I needed to know how Bella would decide, she loved Emmett like a brother and she'd been Kerri's friend so would she accept my decision or not? When I asked her to go for a walk she knew what I was really asking her and I wanted to see which way she would choose. When she took my hand I knew I had her entirely, what I wanted was what she wanted, where I went she would follow, we were as one.

As we walked out into the night I saw Rose standing on the porch rocking Katee in her arms,

"Jazz I'm sorry you decided the way you did although I do understand, Perhaps one day you'll change your mind."

"Not as long as he's still married to Kerri."

She nodded,

"Yeah, I thought you might say that. The trouble is that he has no idea where she is, so how does he ever get free of her?"

"Not my problem Rose."

She looked at Bella who just shook her head,

"I'm with Jasper, Rose. He's my husband and we stick together."

Rose smiled,

"I guess I'm glad to hear that, I hope you come back so we get to see Adam."

"We will Rose"

She nodded and walked into the house cooing at the still grizzling bundle in her arms. Katee may have been abandoned by her mother but Rose would make sure she had all the love any baby could ever want.