Chapter Forty Eight
Jasper
Alice was really trying to upset Bella who remained outwardly calm but was quietly seething and it didn't make matters any better when my own anger also increased. Bella was the innocent in all this and if Alice had any argument it was with me not her but Alice never said a word to me and I received no spiteful missives from her. I did ring Carlisle to complain about Alice's behavior and warn him that if he didn't put a stop to her activities then I would.
"Jasper you have to understand how hurt Alice is at your behavior. You broke her heart and ruined her life, surely you didn't expect she would merely smile as you walked away with your wife? I will speak to her but only because I don't want her hurt any more and I made it quite clear than informing the Volturi about Bella would not be wise."
"Just remember Carlisle, I gave you fair warning."
Something was off about all of this and I didn't think it was only because of Alice's reactions to the news of Bella and I. Edward was a shadowy figure lurking in the background, a figure who made Bella feel extremely uncomfortable. Renee was dead and we still didn't know who was responsible for that or why for that matter. It made me nervous not having all the answers and I wished Darius could speed up the DNA checks so we would know exactly where we stood. Bella was aware that something was worrying me but there was no way I was telling her anything until I knew for sure. Until then I would attempt to be as normal as I could and make her life happy and comfortable, she deserved that much.
We had started to hunt for a house of our own, something that delighted Bella and amused Peter. Her criteria was simple, she wanted a garden big enough for a puppy, a kitchen she could cook in and a spare room for friends to stay.
"Jeez, you're an easily pleased girl! Don't you want a huge master bath or a gym? A swimming pool? A games room? Servants quarters?"
She looked at Peter in horror,
"Servants? No. I don't want anything like that."
He laughed at the seriousness with which she had taken his words.
"I was joking Bella. But I did think you might have a dream place in mind."
She looked at me with a strange smile,
"Oh I did, I do but I'm not telling you. You'll only make fun of me."
When he and Charlotte had gone out later I pulled her into my arms kissing the soft warm flesh of her throat,
"Will you tell me? Your dream house I mean."
She grinned and nodded but I was busy watching the flush of embarrassment that was spreading up her neck to her cheeks and wondered just what she had dreamed of.
"It was more a life than a house, though."
I pulled her down to the couch and pulled her close eager to hear about this dream life.
"Go on, I'm listening."
"Well, ever since I was old enough to understand I knew that my life was in danger, that we all were, yet I knew you would keep me safe once we were together. I longed to be with you even before mom told me what we meant to each other. As a child, I used to tell her and Grandpa that one day when I was old enough I would ask you to marry me and I never understood the looks they exchanged at the time. All I ever wanted was for us to be together and safe. I wanted a home where we could be happy. A place I could have a dog and flowers, somewhere I could make into a home with a cozy bedroom, its window opening onto fields that stretched as far as the eye could see to mountains with snow covered caps. A bed that you and I could share and maybe one day a child of our own in its own little nursery with Major sitting in one corner ready for his next master or mistress. I guess it sounds silly to you."
I kissed her very tenderly on her forehead,
"I think it sounds wonderful and I promise you that once this is over you will have everything you dreamed of, or at least almost everything. I can't guarantee the child, after all, you are a hybrid."
"So was my mom and she had me."
"And I am eternally grateful for that but you are more vampire than she was, it could mean you are unable to have children."
"We'll just wait and see then. Fate might smile down on us Jasper, who knows?"
She sat quietly in my arms for a few minutes before speaking again,
"Do you think it is possible to find out who my father is Jasper?"
"Possibly, why? Does it matter?"
"Yes, I think it does. I'd like to face him with the truth, kill him for what he did to my mom and Grandpa not to mention me."
"Revenge can be self-destructive Bella, I would let it rest, fighting vampires isn't a healthy pastime even for a hybrid."
"But you know don't you? You know who he is and I think you intend to make him pay for the murders. It's Edward Cullen isn't it?"
"That's your guess, Bella. If your father is to pay for his crimes then I don't want his blood on your hands, you are innocent and I want you to stay that way. My hands are already soaked in blood, a little more won't hurt."
She didn't like my answer but it was the only one she was going to get. Against a vampire, she stood no chance although she could now protect herself or so we understood. I wasn't willing to put her shield to the test, though, not in that way. I promised her that whoever was responsible he would be taken care of, he would pay for all the terrible things he had done and once it was all over I would tell her everything. I thought she might be unhappy, argue with me even, but she just nodded with a sad smile.
"It seems all my life someone will be looking out for me. I just worry you might go the way my mom and Grandpa did. I couldn't bear that to happen, it would kill me."
"I promise you that's not going to happen, I know what I'm doing Bella, I'm the best fighter in our world, trained from the day of my birth as a vampire."
We didn't talk any more, Bella wanted reassurance and I was only too happy to comfort her in the best possible way, I took her to bed and made love to her gently.
As she slept in my arms later I got the call from Peter that I had been waiting for and soon I would know everything.
"Has he traced Renee's killer and Bella's father? "
"Yeah but it takes some believing Major. We need to talk alone, Bella doesn't need to hear all this yet."
I agreed, to tell Bella might distress her and now she was so happy I wasn't about to wipe the smile off her face until absolutely necessary.
"Should I be worried about him suspecting we know anything?"
"It doesn't look like it but I've no idea how long that will continue to be the case."
"OK, I'll catch up with you while Bella has breakfast but I don't want her to know we've been talking so I'll tell her I'm going to hunt and meet you in that clearing a mile from the house."
"I'll be there and I think being free of witnesses might be a good thing."
He rang off before I could question his last cryptic remark.
When Bella woke she wanted me again and to feel her passion and love for me was almost overwhelming but this time, I let her take the lead and the act was so gentle and sweet that I could have laid here with her all day. But I had a meeting I couldn't miss so reluctantly I climbed out of bed and while she showered I washed her hair for her, a curiously intimate act and then showered quickly myself and left her with Charlotte and a small white lie I hoped I could justify later.
