Chapter Fifty Five
Bella
We spent almost the whole of the two weeks in bed or in the tub, together of course! The only time we got up was when my stomach complained loudly. I fell asleep in Jaspers arms and woke in his arms and I never wanted to be anywhere else but half way through the second week as I was eating dinner Jasper brought up a serious problem.
"Bella we have to talk"
I turned, worried by his tone,
"What?"
"We have nowhere to go from here. No home of our own and I have to run something by you."
"Go on then"
I couldn't swallow I had become so nervous suddenly.
"Esme offered us the use of the Cullen house in Forks for a few months while we look for a place of our own. She thought it might be handy, close to Charlie at least until the wedding. How would you feel about that?"
I tried to see his feelings about Esme's offer but his face was neutral, giving nothing away. I played for time chewing slowly. Inside I was screaming NO, I hated the thought of living in that house with its unhappy memories, not of the way Edward and the Cullen family had treated me but for the memories of Jazz and Alice, as a couple.
Jasper
I had to pass on Esme's offer though inside I was praying Bella would refuse, I hated the idea of staying there even for just a few months. It reminded me too painfully of what we had done to Bella and her time with Edward. The very thought of her in his arms made me feel sick to my soul. If she said yes then I would bite the bullet and go with her but I did have an alternative which I hoped she might prefer.
"Well its very nice of her to offer and it would be convenient..."
I tensed, waiting for her to complete the sentence,
"But I don't think so Jazz. I'd rather live in a cave for a few months if we can't find anywhere else. I couldn't bear the thought of the memories."
"I did tell Esme you might feel that way and I hate the thought of seeing you there and remembering you with Edward knowing you would remember the way we treated you."
Bella got up and came to sit on my lap, throwing her arms around my neck,
"Jazz I don't care about the Cullens and what they did, it brought us together eventually and that was wonderful. It's the memory of what they did to you I couldn't stand."
I hugged her closer, every time she spoke she showed me how deep her feelings for me were.
"I do have an alternative offer to tell you about"
"OK I'm listening"
Her warm breath on my neck was distracting and I struggled to make my mind work my mouth,
"Peter and Charlotte have a house in Montana with plenty of room and they offered us a home for as long as we need it. It would give us time to look around for a place of our own and its close enough to Charlie that you could help Fran with the wedding arrangements."
Bella
This offer was more to my liking but I had to be careful, I liked Peter and Charlotte and they had proved their loyalty to Jazz but I hated the way they called him The Major. He had left that life behind and though he would always be a warrior he didn't need reminding of it every day. He saw my hesitation and smiled,
"I have a third option of course"
"Go on"
I was wary now, who else had offered us shelter?
"There is a small cabin just outside Port Angeles which has a years lease remaining on it. It isn't much, small and a bit old-fashioned but it is convenient and more to the point we'd be alone there."
"Sold"
He grinned,
"I was hoping you might say that because it just so happens that I bought the lease and Rose and Emmett have been there getting the place ready, just in case."
I kissed him again and one thing led to another...let's just say the food got cold but I got hot.
Charlie
We flew back to Seattle and then drove to Forks where Fran was waiting to greet me, relieved I was fine except for a few scratches I got when I slipped on the wet rocks getting to the ferry-boat. A warm bath and a hot meal put me right and then I was grilled unmercifully until she had all the details of our "adventure".
"Charlie, I had Harry and Billy here earlier"
I stopped and turned to her, hair fanned out over the pillow,
"What did they want?"
"To speak to you when you got back. They were very unhappy. I think Billy heard about Jake."
I sighed and pulled her close,
"Well they can wait, for now I'd rather be with you honey"
I guess I should have known that word would get back to the Quileutes before I got back but I didn't like them coming to the house, I no longer trusted them like I once had.
When we got up the next morning I had breakfast then decided to face them in person so saying goodbye to Fran I drove to the Res. Peter and Garrett had wanted to go with me, they were still staying with us at the house and I thought it was more to keep us safe than anything
"Thanks guys but I think they might see your presence as a threat. I can handle things on the Res. You keep an eye on Fran for me."
I felt better knowing she wasn't alone at the house after everything that happened recently and drove straight to Harry's place where I saw Billy's truck parked outside along with Sam's car, so the gang was all there! As I got out and shut the cruiser door I saw Sue standing on the porch waiting but the usual smile of welcome was missing from her face. Instead she just nodded a greeting and held the door open for me.
Inside, the others were sitting round the old table Harry and I had sat with beers over the years discussing the fishing but there was no welcome, no acknowledgement so I drew back a chair and sat down waiting for someone to start the conversation.
"Charlie."
"Harry."
"You finally decided to come and see us then?"
"I had other things more important to see to first, besides you already know what happened or you wouldn't have turned up on my doorstep.
"Yes we heard from our brother tribe that they lost eight warriors then Paul came back with the full story."
"You lied to me Harry, and you Sam. Jake was involved and he joined your "brothers", Paul was lucky to make it back alive because if I'd seen him I'd have shot him myself."
"This means war Charlie."
"Really? Why? It was Jake who broke the treaty you had made with the Cullens. He attacked without provocation every time. I thought the Quileutes were men of honour but it seems I was wrong. We went to protect my daughter who made the decision to marry Jasper. It has nothing to do with you, any of you, but if you want a war then fine."
"You would stand with the leeches Charlie?"
"I'd stand with my daughter and those who protected her from Jake and the others yes. You were in the wrong not them. You started this fight not them."
"Bella started it by associating with the Cullens."
"But Bella isn't a Quileute, neither am I. You have no excuse for starting a war."
"Our brothers in Minnesota have asked for our help to avenge them for their fallen guardians."
"Oh and I'll bet you were scrambling over each other to agree."
"Actually Charlie we weren't. At least Sam wasn't. We started this, we asked for their help, so if they ask our help in return how do we refuse?"
"I guess you have two options Harry. You can tell them you were wrong and refuse to help or you can start a war here in Forks with the vampires and die."
"You don't think we could beat the Cullens and their friends?"
"No. Nor do you have any justification but then maybe you don't need any."
I got up and walked to the door,
"Its your choice but I stand with them."
There was silence as I went down the steps to my car, not sure if I had just averted a war or declared one!
