Bella

After I had a good lunch and my legs finally steadied enough I thought I could handle a confrontation I had Jasper call Carlisle. He sat up the meeting for five-thirty that evening.

I thought about everything that had happened since I met the Cullens and most of it wasn't good. The only real good part was meeting Jasper. I felt the electricity in his touch when he brushed my cheek. He had always protected me and he had never lied to me. He had prepared me for the worst possible case while planning for the best case too.

"Jasper?" I asked, "When do you want to change me?"

Jasper took a deep breath and said, "I'd like to wait till all the chaos is over and you're really ready for it. I'd like for you to really know and trust me first and be settled in so you will be as calm as possible during your newborn year."

"That makes sense. I just can't stop thinking that the only way to stop Edward from trying to feed from me is to make sure that all the blood is gone. I'd rather change than die." I admitted.

"I promise, if it gets that bad, I'll change you. I'm hoping that Carlisle will be too afraid to come against me."

I listened affectionately to Char and Jasper talking over what all had happened over the last years. They teased each other easily and Char's eyes lit up when Peter walked back into the house. He handed me a large black backpack that looked classy enough. It was one of the odd kinds that are meant to be carried over one shoulder or carried across the body.

Time passed quickly and soon it was time to go. I was nervous. More than nervous I was scared. If this went badly...I didn't know if I could handle it. What did I really want to say to the Cullens? Part of me wanted to rail and cry and scream about them but most of me just didn't have that much emotion left for them. I wanted to see them punished but I didn't want to see them dead and I knew that was the likely outcome if I called the pack into it. So, I wouldn't call them unless I had to.

Jasper held my hand on the way to the Cullens place. It no longer felt like home to me and they no longer felt like extended family. They were now the enemy. Emmett hadn't known, I reminded myself. He had no clue what was going on. It wasn't his fault. Maybe we could still be friends.

As if he was reading my mind Jasper said, "Remember, Rose and Emmett will help if it goes badly."

Peter and Char walked into the Cullen mansion first. Jasper held my hand as I walked in. The Cullens were all seated around the dining room table. I sat down at the head, Jasper sat on one side of me and Peter sat on the other. Char stood behind me.

"I thought this was a family meeting Jasper?" Carlisle asked.

"They're my family. They've been my family for a long time now, unfortunately, I'd forgotten that. I remembered when Peter saved Bella's life. I'm not going to forget again." Jasper said calmly. "Speaking of family, Alice, I need your signature." Jasper pushed the divorce papers to Alice.

She glared for a moment but then signed them without another word. She pushed them back at Jasper who checked them over and then took off his wedding ring.

"Now, next I need you all to know that you were mistaken. Bella is not Edward's mate. I don't know why you thought she was but we tested the connection and the energy is there between us. I will not tolerate any danger to my mate." Jasper said.

"She's mine!" Edward shouted.

"Edward," I spoke up. Edward quieted. "It was over the first time you fed from me without my consent. I loved you I really did but that doesn't matter. You forced yourself on me. How long have you been feeding from me anyway?"

"S...since Italy," Edward said.

"And who all knew about it?" Everyone but Emmett and Rose's eyes lowered to the table. Rose's face was unreadable. Emmett just looked sad.

No one spoke but it was unnecessary.

"I trusted you. I trusted all of you. How could you let your coven take me by force? I would have given blood had I been asked. I would have given you all anything including my mortality. You were my friends, my family. Besides Jasper, Emmett, and Rose I don't want to see any of you again. If I so much as see you I will tell the shifters about this and you know that there are enough of them to take you. Edward, it's beyond over. I have a real mate and if you come after me I won't stop him whatever he wants to do with you. I suggest you make your excuses and find someplace new to be."

"Bella!" Esme exclaims. "We love you."

"Mrs. Cullen, first you left me because your son thought it was too dangerous to be in your life. Then you let him use me for a blood bag. He could have killed me and apparently, that didn't mean a damn thing to you. If that's your definition of love I don't want it. If I see you again after today my first call will be to Jacob Black. My second call will be to Sam Uley. They're both my friends and we'll see what they think about your definition of love." I said coldly.

"Oh, Alice," I said.

"Yes?" she asked hesitantly.

"Stay out of my future," I said forcefully.

"I think you need to leave now Bella," Carlisle said.

"Not quite yet, Emmett?" I asked.

"Yeah, Bella Bear?" He said sadly.

"Give me a call sometime. We can play Mario Cart. I haven't beaten you recently. I think that's it. If I've left anything here you can have it. Goodbye." I stood, Jasper stood, Peter and Char stood. To my surprise, Emmett stood.

"C'mon Rose, go pack your things. We're going on a vacation. I can't stand to look at this 'family' right now."

Rose just stood and ran up the stairs.

We all walked back to my truck. Jasper took my hand and Char smiled at me. Peter put a hand on my shoulder.

I was proud of myself for standing up to them but I had a horrible feeling that it wasn't over yet.

Emmett

There was pure chaos in Bella and Jasper's wake. Esme and Carlisle were at my door while Alice and Edward began packing.

"We don't want you to leave."

"I don't want to stay. You let your favorite son feed off of my sister. You knew about it and didn't do anything to stop him. How much blood did you have to give her today to keep her body from shutting down Carlisle? Would you have even done that if Jasper hadn't been watching you? Or would you have let her die?"

"Of course, I would have saved her." Carlisle insisted.

"So you could keep her alive or so your precious Edward didn't lose his blood bag. You know, I don't even want to know. Rose, we'll come back for our things. You can shop for what you need. Come on. I don't want to stay here another minute." I insisted.

Jasper

I was so proud of Bella. She had stood up for herself brilliantly. I couldn't believe she'd threatened them with the treaty and told them to leave. I squeezed her hand lightly. She squeezed back. I felt the tingle jump between us. I was thrilled that though neither of us was expressing our eternal love for the other she at least wasn't rejecting the bond.

We could build something real. I'd never met a couple that was truly mates that didn't mesh together perfectly. We'd get there. It would just take time.

Unfortunately, I had felt the determination in Edward's emotions. This wasn't over yet. I signaled for Peter and Char to run alongside the truck. Peter just nodded. Char looked surprised.

When we got back to Bella's her dad was home so we went in through her window while Bella went in through the front door.

"Hey dad," I heard Bella say downstairs.

"Hey Bells, that you?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, dad it's me. Have you eaten yet?" She asked.

"Yes, I had a sandwich. What about you?" Charlie asked.

"Not hungry. I'm going to go do some homework. Night dad. Oh, Edward and I broke up. I'm not here if he calls." Bella said.

"Good for you girl, goodnight," Charlie said. I could hear the pride in his voice.

Bella came up the stairs and into her room. She rushed into my arms and started crying. I didn't know what to do so I sat down on her bed and pulled her onto my lap. I felt her emotions. They were such a swirl that I thought she was just overwhelmed. It had been a long few days for her. It must have been hard to stand up to Carlisle and Esme. Alice and Edward too, I guessed. I rubbed her back and let her cry while Peter told me they'd be running patrol too quiet for Bella to hear.

She didn't notice that they'd slipped out into the night. She was holding onto me like she'd lost her best friend...and I guess she had.