Chapter Fifty Five

Bella

They were right, I did know where to go. I just wished I had vampire speed instead of which I had to walk.

It wasn't until I had been walking for a few minutes that it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't tripped or stumbled once. So, maybe whatever else the venom had done it had improved my coordination. I wanted to stop and explore my surroundings with my new heightened senses but I needed to find Jasper before he actually decided to leave.

As I got closer to the creek I slowed and then stopped. If I approached him head on he might not understand and I couldn't stop him from fleeing so I walked forward very slowly, coming out into the open on the bank of the slow moving creek.

Jasper

I heard someone coming and hoped it wasn't Peter, I knew he was right in everything he had said but I was sick of his glares and snarky comments. I didn't need him to tell me what I'd done or what it made me. I already knew all that.

I would leave soon, but first I needed to see Bella just once, to know she'd come through her ordeal. I was scared to discover what had happened to her after the strangeness of her transformation or what passed for it in her case.

She would be happy with Peter and Charlotte, better off without me as a constant reminder of what should've been. She was mine and I'd forfeit her in the worst possible way.

I stood, ready to pounce if it was Peter, anything to stop his next tirade. Then I saw her and froze. It Bella and she was alone. I scanned the area looking for the others, how had they let her out alone? She couldn't have overpowered both of them surely?

I frowned, it was a familiar face I looked on, too familiar. Bella hadn't changed at all, her eyes were soft and expressive, brown not red, and her skin had that slight flush that came from the blood still coursing through her veins. Bella was still human! How was that possible? Was I hallucinating?

She moved to the water's edge and sat down on the grass, hands in her lap, staring into the slow-moving water.

Moving carefully I closed the gap to see what had caught her attention. She was staring at her reflection in the still pool at the edge of the bank, expressionless.

Then I heard her familiar voice so clear and sweet,

"I can't do this on my own. I need you by my side, I love you and I understand what you did."

I couldn't speak, I didn't understand and had no words.

"Jasper, I can live like this but I can't live without you. I tried and it nearly killed me. So either you and I are husband and wife, mates or finish what you started and kill me."

I waited but it seemed she'd said everything she wanted to.

Bella

I was so acutely aware of his presence, I could smell him on the breeze and feel his pain and confusion. Could he feel my own? I waited, watching my reflection in the water and wondering why it wasn't a vampire peering back at me when I heard his steps as he came closer.

Then I saw his reflection in the water, next to mine, his hands outstretched but afraid to touch me.

"I forgive you."

I said it very quietly, knowing it was not only the truth but what he needed to hear.

He touched me tentatively on my shoulder.

"I know you can feel my emotions, do you feel anger, hatred or loathing?"

His other hand rested on my other shoulder and he took a step forward still hesitating.

"I'm staying here until you talk to me and then we're going back, together."

Jasper

Her words were unbelievable, how could she forgive me for taking away her human life? How could she not be raging with anger? Without conscious thought, I put my hands on her shoulders and suddenly as if a gate had opened I felt the love pouring from her. She was telling the truth, she truly forgave me and loved me still. What had I done to deserve such loyalty?

I stepped forward and stood close behind her then knelt down and pulled her back into my chest. I'd never expected to feel her so close again and the agony of overwhelming love doubled me over, my face resting in her hair. She still didn't move, just lifted her hands to cover mine.

"Jasper, we should have anticipated what would happen. You were going on instinct, you did what you would do in the heat of the moment, neither of us was in control of our passion."

"Bella, I am so sorry. What I did was unforgivable."

"No. If I forgive you then that's it, and I do. I love you, Jasper. We should have realized that instinct might take over. I was always going to become like you. It just happened a little sooner than we thought but something went wrong. It didn't work and now I'm scared that I will never be a vampire."

Bella

He believed me, he didn't understand, but he believed me, and that is what I was waiting to feel. I turned round to face him and wound my arms around his neck,

"Did you really think my love for you could be ended when you marked me as your mate? Because I know that's all you were doing. So, what went wrong? Do you have any idea?"

He shook his head, holding me close but too choked with emotion to speak.

He was still tense and I needed to show him it was over, in the past and forgotten. Everything else could wait.

I pulled him down to the ground with me and lay on his chest looking into his eyes.

"I know I'm supposed to be rampaging through the countryside attacking anything with a pulse but just now all I want is to be with you. Hold me, Jasper, please."

Jasper

She was right, she shouldn't be here so calm and collected but I wasn't going to complain. I wanted to understand as much as she did. It had never happened before to my knowledge. A human bitten by a vampire became a vampire, it was that simple. Or at least it had been until now.

"I love you so much, Bella. I thought I would die when I bit you when I betrayed you. I thought I had lost you."

"Well, you didn't so stop thinking about it. Instead, see if you can work out why I'm still human."

I shook my head.

"I have no idea, it's unheard of."

We lay together in silence for a while then she propped herself up on one elbow.

"Well, we have to find out. Do you think Carlile might be able to help?"

"Maybe. I guess he's probably our best bet, but can we just take a beat? I don't want to share you with anyone for a while."

She understood and we spent the rest of the day by the creek just talking and hugging, I had to feel her close to me and listen to her voice talking to me, words of love as she relived our first meeting and everything since, including our wedding day. It was as if she was reminding me how wonderful our life together had been so far including our first night together. I guess she saw it in a different light but I was happy to go along with it even if I would always feel that guilt when I allowed myself, or she allowed me too.

At last, all the bad things were finally behind us and once we worked out what had happened to foil her transformation we could try again but this time when we were both ready. Until then I couldn't allow myself to lose control again.

Peter

Charlotte and I were making preparations to move back home again once the love birds returned and then my phone started to ring and I cursed. Every time that happened the fucking sky fell in. I just hoped this time it would be different. I didn't recognize the number and almost ignored it but then something told me I probably shouldn't.

"Yo! This had better be important or I'm gonna be royally pissed."

"Peter? It's Jacob Black."

"What the fuck do you want, wolf boy? You really do have a death wish."

"Is Bella there?"

"Nope."

"OK. Listen, my dad just had a call from Forks police."

"Looking to see your dog license? Or checking to make sure you're chipped?"

He ignored my jibes which alerted me to the fact that something was very wrong.

"What is it?"

"It's Charlie."

"Oh? What happened? He was fine when he called yesterday."

"He's… Charlie's dead."

"What? What the fuck are you talking about? How? Was it his heart or something?"

"He was attacked in his home. He managed to call for help, but by the time the cops got there, it was too late. He died before the paramedics arrived. The deputy didn't know who to contact so he called my dad."

"So, what then? A robbery?"

"They don't think so. From what I could make out nothing was taken, not even his gun or wallet. It looks like it was personal, revenge or something. He was beaten to death. The deputy told dad he's glad Bella never lived to see it, it was brutal. He said he's never seen anything like it in his fifteen years on the force."

When I put the phone down I stood frozen by shock. It was only a few days ago we'd all been together hunting and joking around. Why would somebody want to kill him? Was it a robbery that went wrong? This was going to break Bella, especially on top of what she'd just been through.

Charlotte looked worried as she came in and saw my expression.

"What's happened, Peter? Who was that?"

"It was Jacob Black calling from Forks."

"Jacob Black? Does he never give up?"

"He was calling about Charlie."

"Charlie? What about him? Don't tell me the Quileute have abducted him again?"

I shook my head trying to find a way to articulate the horror I had just heard.

"He's been found beaten to death at home. They don't know why and so far it sounds like they don't have any suspects."

"Oh God. Poor Bella, this is going to crush her. She and Charlie were so close. She'll want to go to Forks now."

"Well, she can't. Everyone thinks she's dead."

"Try telling her that Peter and someone has to make an appearance on her behalf. He had no other kin and she's his daughter. We'll have to come up with something."

"I know that, Charlotte. Give me a minute, let me think."

"Are you going to find her and tell her?"

"No, I'm gonna wait till they get back, That'll be soon enough. She's going to need the Major more than anything now."

I racked my brains for a way of sorting things out for Bella, but it wasn't going to be easy. She was doing OK for a human who thought she was going to become a vampire and then found out she wasn't but a blow like this on top of everything. Could she cope with any more?

She would have to stay away from Forks but maybe we could organize things for her, what a fucking nightmare. I felt so sorry for her, she loved her dad and had been so happy to find out that he could stay in her life. Now… Well, now some evil fucker had snatched that away from her.

Jasper

We finally wrenched ourselves away from our private paradise and made our way slowly back to the shack to rejoin the others. I knew they were ready to leave for home and I didn't blame them. They'd spent way too much time helping us out, but I would miss them and I knew Bella would feel the same way. We still had no idea where to go from here, contacting Carlisle was the only plan we had. There had to be an explanation for Bella rejecting my venom and right now it was the most important thing in her life. She was actually disappointed that she hadn't been changed although I wasn't sure that her father would feel the same way.

As soon as we walked into the shack I knew something was very wrong. There were no smart remarks from Peter, and Charlotte looked upset. The atmosphere was tense and I didn't think it had anything to do with my actions earlier.

I pulled Bella closer, putting my arm protectively around her.

"What's up Peter?"

He glanced at Bella then sighed heavily.

"Fuck! Bella, I don't know how to say this and I know it's going to be a terrible blow to you but we got a call earlier from Jacob Black."

She frowned then put a hand to her mouth, "Oh no. Is it Billy? Is it his heart? Jake must be devastated."

I shook my head having no idea who Billy was, and just forged ahead.

"No, it's not Billy. There was an intruder. Charlie called for backup but they were too late."

"Charlie? What about him?"

"I'm sorry Bella. He's dead."

She slumped against me, a terrible wail breaking from her lips as she shook her head, unwilling to accept what she was hearing.

"No, he can't be. He was here a few days ago. He can't be dead. Did Jake say anything else? Who did it?"

"No. I don't think they know anything else yet."

"I have to go to Forks."

"That might be a little difficult Bella, under the circumstances. Remember everyone there still thinks you're dead."

She stiffened at Peter's words and looked up at me appealing for help.

"So, what do I do?"

Charlotte looked at Peter before replying.

"Peter and I have arranged with Carlisle's help to go and sort things out for you. As distant relations of your father. I hope that's OK. We didn't know what else to do."

She nodded tears streaming down her face, still looking hurt and frustrated.

"Thank you. But surely I should go? He was my dad. What am I going to do Jazz?"

I glanced at the others, we all knew what we had to do and it was down to me to explain it to Bella.

"Bella, you can't go to Forks or all the suffering Charlie went through to keep your survival a secret will have been for nothing. We'll do right by Charlie I promise you."

She stared at me and I could see she was barely holding it together. How many more blows could she take?

Suddenly she clenched her jaw, pulling herself together.

"I want to know who did it, Peter. I want to know and then I want to find the bastard and I want him to suffer for taking my dad away from me."

"No worries Bella, as soon as all the arrangements are made that will be our only priority."

I could see that Peter was just glad she hadn't asked for the details although we all knew he was only dodging the bullet temporarily. It would occur to her to ask sooner or later and I had to wonder just how bad it was.

"Are you happy to let us do all the arrangements, Bella?"

She nodded, "As long as you find out who did it."

"We will. Do you have any special requests? Or did Charlie?"

"He… he wanted to be buried in the local cemetery near his parents. I think the plot is owned by the family. I… I think Jasper should go with you, Peter. After all, they were family."

She turned back to me, "You can talk to Carlisle about our problem while you're there."

I hated the thought of leaving Bella after all I'd put her through so recently, but she was right, I was family and this was my responsibility.