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Bella's POV

Later that night Jasper had me seated on his lap and Charlotte, who had asked to be called Char, was sitting on Peters's lap. We were talking about everything they had seen and done since they left the army. Some of their stories were fascinating, others were terrifying. Maria had eventually tried to track them all down and kill them. They were lucky to have escaped with their lives.

"You really won all that money in Vegas?" I asked.

"Sure, sugar," Char said, "Now we got a nice little house in Texas. Not bad for a weekend on the town is it?"

Eventually, it was time for me to go to bed. Charlie hadn't been home at all that day and he hadn't called in. I wondered what was going on with him. I didn't worry about it long though.

"Goodnight Bella," Peter and Char said as Jasper picked me up and carried me up the stairs.

"Will you join me again tonight?" I asked him.

He just took off his shoes and climbed in the bed with me. I felt so warm, safe, and at home when I was in Jasper's arms. He held me closer to him, pulling me tight against his chest. Not treating me as if I was made of glass, I noted to myself. I turned toward him and pulled his head down to me until his lips met mine. He kissed me hungrily, greedily, and I returned the favor with interest. When I had to breathe he moved his mouth to my neck. I couldn't restrain the moan in my throat and it only served to urge him on. He pulled my mouth back to his and I submitted eagerly.

I was on the brink of sleep, my head snuggled into his shoulder when he woke me gently. "Darlin'," he said, "It's time for you to start believing that I won't leave you."

I fell into sleep with his words echoing in my mind. It was time to begin trusting him to come back to me. It was time to get over the fear that Edward had left me with. Jasper wasn't Edward. Jasper was a man. Edward was a boy and he always would be. I couldn't help but think that Edward had lied to me in the forest, at least for part of it, but whether he lied or told me the truth he was willing to break me to get me to let him go, and that just wasn't acceptable. He was never coming back, but I wouldn't really want him if he did. I had outgrown him. Instead, I was where I belonged, in Jasper's arms. I pulled him more tightly against him.

I dreamed of Jasper. He was pulled away from me time and time again. And time and time again he always came back to me.

When I woke in the morning I thought more about his words. I lay quietly in his arms. It was time to start believing in him. My Jasper wasn't going to leave me. If he had to go for some reason, he would come back. I tightened my arm around Jasper's waist but besides that, I stayed still.

"It's time to get up my Bella," Jasper said, "You have to start your day."

Bella was quiet and thoughtful while she got ready for her day.

"Is something wrong Bella?" Jasper asked carefully.

"I'm just lost in thought, Jasper, everything is finally alright."

Jasper pulled her flush against his body and kissed her deeply. "Then it's time to get your breakfast and get yourself to school. I'll ride with you today."

Bella poured her cereal and ate quickly, eager to get finished with school for the day.

Jasper's POV

I watched Bella at school. Even to me, it was obvious that Bella didn't want to be there. Like me, she preferred to be close to me. I met her at her car at the end of the day and we embraced eagerly. I could feel the curiosity of the other school children but we just got in her truck and headed back to the house.

"How was your day?" I asked her once we were in the truck and on our way.

"It was long. I just wanted to be back at home with you. I don't have much homework though so that's good."

"Let's get back to your house and get it done and then we can have the evening together."

The speed of her truck increased and was soon going as fast as it could, even if it's top speed was only fifty-five miles an hour. They arrived home more quickly than usual.

Unfortunately, he could hear the television on when they arrived at Bella's house. It appeared her father was finally home.

"Your father is home, Bella. I'll be watching over you." Jasper said, not willing to be to far away from her. Bella nodded and kissed him on the cheek quickly before he disappeared.

Bella went in the house and he could hear her greet her father. She began making dinner. He could tell from the clink of pans and the turn of the knob on the stove.

We sat in the trees watching Bella's house and the surrounding area. We listened to father and daughter talk as if they were mere acquaintances. It was kind of sad really that her father wasn't more interested in knowing his daughter. She was such a beautiful, fascinating, young woman. He was really missing out. I wouldn't make his mistake. I wanted to know everything about the woman that was Bella swan.

They watched all night until Charlie finally turned off the television and went to bed. Jasper smiled eagerly and jumped out of the tree. Then he jumped up the front of the house and let himself into Bella's room.

She was waiting there for him, still awake. She threw off the covers and pulled herself into his arms. He sent Charlie into a deeper sleep and pulled Bella back to the bed. He covered her gently and then followed her into the bed, pulling her close and letting her curl her body into his. He sent her to sleep instead of talking, knowing that she needed her rest.

The pattern repeated it's self until Friday night. "May I take you on a date tomorrow, Miss Bella?" I asked.

"I'd love to." She replied as she curled up in bed with me that night.

Every night she seemed to hold me a little closer. I enjoyed the feel of her perfect body fitted tightly against mine. My mind stayed busy planning our date that night while I watched her sleep and listened as my name was sighed from her lips over and over.

"I love you, Jasper," she said so clearly I thought she was awake.

I just settled in closer to her. "I love you too little one," I assured her."

Peter POV

"We watched over Bella the entire week. Jasper knew one of us followed him to help him out when they were at school. The other stayed behind to keep watch on the house and occasionally, Bella's father. He didn't come home very often to do more than sleep. It was no wonder he and Bella weren't closer. He was always working and when he wasn't he was fishing.

I admit I was a little put out by the man. He had a daughter and he should have been spending his free time making sure she was alright instead of sitting around waiting to catch a fish. Bella all but raised herself. She made sure that he had dinner ready for him every day but he'd taken to not even being around for dinner.

I wondered if he might be seeing someone, not that it was a valid excuse to neglect his daughter, but it would at least be a reason.

We stood guard and protected his daughter instead. No one had seen Victoria. She wasn't showing her face anywhere we were looking. Perhaps she had given up her quest to get Bella. I doubted it. This was just the calm before the storm.

It made me nervous, wondering what the red-headed vampire was coming up with to torture Bella. What situation would we have to save her from next?

I heard Jasper ask Bella on a date and I sighed. The girl needed to get out of the house but it was going to make protecting them darn hard to do. Perhaps Char and I could double date or something so we could stay close. I doubted that was what Jasper was going for.

We could offer for him to take her to the house outside of Seattle for some of their date. That would make it easier to watch them.