AN: Hi all... I'm sorry for my delay, here's the next chapter, you get your answer...
"Jasper? Jasper?" Bella called me, and though I can hear her I am lost in my own thoughts a moment too long. Long enough, I was met in the eye with a finger.
"Hey!" I yelled out pulling away from the intrusive finger. It didn't hurt but it was uncomfortable and annoying.
"There you are! Are you okay? You were scaring me." Bella wrapped her arms around me, and I pulled her in.
"Yes Darlin', I'm fine. I'm sorry. I was just thinkin'. You know though, if you are worried about me maybe you shouldn't be pokin' me in the eye." I smiled and hugged her a little more.
"Care to share?" she asked, pulling back and looking up at me, ignoring the eye comment completely.
I couldn't help but smile at her. She was giving me an innocent look, but her emotions told me she was worried with a side of cranky.
I looked around at the yard which had been set up for a barbeque for Charlie and Bella and a grand firework display that Emmett and Peter have been running around procuring for Independence Day tonight.
Charlie was still aloof with most of us, spending most of his time either working or sleeping and he would only visit with any of us if we begged. We were losing him, and Bella was becoming depressed. She was losing a little of the shine in her eyes, the glow of her skin, she would sit silently thinking for hours, almost as if she was a vampire.
Unlike the rest of our relationship Bella and I avoided the topic of Charlie. I didn't want to have to discuss turning him and dealing with two newborns at once, nor did I want to think about killing him. No, I really didn't want to think about that. Our happy family was split. Peter and Charlotte stayed to themselves, Emmett and Rose the same. Bella and I also spent lots of quiet time together.
We are trying to go on with our everyday lives, but we're not the happy college kids we started out to be a year ago, we've been through so much and the more we try to stay in the human world the more it seems to be pulled from us.
Bella uses her shield more, she has better control, but it takes a toll on her. I can feel when she practices, the pain in her emotions that she uses to make it function. Even when we make love now, it's love, but it's not the animalistic need that we both had.
I feel like I'm losing her.
I hug her tight one more time before I loosen my grip so we can talk.
"I do want to share. There are a lot of things goin' on that we keep tiptoein' around and we can' do that anymore, Bella." I gave her a solemn look and she nodded in agreement.
"I know."
"Can we talk now?" I asked, moving over to a lounger for us to sit on.
She took her seat next to me. Looking around she asked, "Yes, do we need the family?"
"Let's start with us and go from there?" I asked softly, sending her my love and reassurance.
We talked for about an hour. It was a long hour, the pauses were long, the emotions heavy. We were worried about Charlie, the Volturi, and our family. I hadn't even told her about my phone call with Marcus yet. I felt like I was keeping secrets and though I wasn't meaning to. It was beginning to eat at me all the same.
Bella wanted Charlie to sit and talk with us seriously about his decision and give him the option to change it at any time. I was good with that, it was just getting him to speak to us. We didn't even get to see Spirit that much anymore and I missed the little guy.
As for the Volturi, I wasn't really ready to decide on that front, but I was leaning firmly in the "no thank you" category.
Our family was another issue entirely. Char had been miserable for a while and only stayed because Peter wanted to. Emmett and Rose would come and go but they were no longer comfortable here either. It appears we needed to set everyone free from this arrangement. No one was actually being held against their will, but Bella and I agreed that telling them to go may help them choose a different- happier path.
We decided to just get everything out during the 4th of July party tonight.
Charlie and Spirit came over around five o'clock and Pete threw a couple of steaks on the grill. Charlie offered to take over, but Pete refused, saying he was a guest in our home and he'd do the cookin'. Charlie left it alone. Things just felt awkward.
"So…" I spoke loudly trailing off to see if I had everyone's attention. "Bella and I have been talkin' and decided that we need ta talk to y'all about a few things."
Heads bobbed and eyes stayed firmly on us. Bella held my hand tightly as I began, "First off, thank you everyone for your love and support. We've appreciated it over the last year and know that sometimes y'all have sacrificed your own needs to help us. Either by helpin' to blend in with humans, be a part of the college scene, helpin' Bella to fit in, in both worlds, and by bein' a family through the good and the bad.
"Bella and I believe it is time though for everyone ta move on and do their own thing." Gasps interrupted me along with the beginning of protests from everyone but Char and Charlie, who sat stoically.
I held a hand up to stop the interruptions that I wasn't willing to listen to.
"Please listen. We have talked about this and we've given it even more thought. Peter, Char," I addressed them directly, noting that Peter was angry, and Char was resigned. "We love you both and we appreciate you both so much. Peter, you are always our brother. Char, you our sister. But Char you are not happy here and we don't want ya to be unhappy. Peter," I addressed him, "Char stays here for you and you both need to go find your happiness again as a couple."
"Now, hold on there. I am going to say something. We are happy." He looked back to Char and took her hand, but she avoided his eyes. "Char?"
I walked over leaving Bella and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder, "Peter, you and Char need to talk. Please feel free to go talk privately and I'll finish the steaks."
He nodded numbly while looking at Char in shock. I honestly thought he knew how unhappy she was, but I guess not. Hand in hand they walked further from the house and into the trees. They wouldn't be staying close to have this conversation. I nodded silently to myself and moved over to the grill.
I flipped the steaks and Bella joined me a moment later. She took my hand tightly and began speaking to the others, the tension increasing so much it was almost choking.
"We also want to talk you, Dad. We haven't talked much, and it is making us all unhappy. Rose, Emmett there are things we want to say to you too, but we want you to be a part of the conversation with Charlie".
She gave me a quick hug and went to sit by her dad.
"Dad, we are not going to pressure you for an answer. But we feel like you are pulling away from us. Like you don't want to know us anymore. And if that's the case we are willing to let you go. We won't force you to change and we won't force death on you either. I know you can keep our secret. I trust you." Bella placed a hand on Charlie's which sat in his lap.
"Bella, I'm sorry. I have been pulling away and I know what my choice is. I guess I've always known. I've had time to think and think about it, but my decision never changes." He looked away from us and down at the ground.
"You don't want to change, do you?" Rose asked, reaching for Emmett's hand.
Bella removed her hand from Charlie's and I could feel everyone's fear, sadness, and resignation.
"No," Charlie choked out the last word before he stood to leave.
"No, Dad! Don't leave!" Bella stood and grabbed his wrist. "Please, we want you to stay. Talk to us. Have some steak. It's almost done, isn't it, Jasper?" She looked to me and I nodded quietly. We were prepared for this, but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
"Please stay, Dad?" Emmett requested. He looked around at everyone and then moved in front of Charlie. "I know this is difficult and it's a decision that none of us got to make. We were forced into life, well except for Bells." He gave her a small smile over Charlie's shoulder. Bella still held his hand, restraining him.
"Please Dad?" Rose joined Emmett's side. "We are still your family, even if you don't want to be a vampire. And we'd never hurt you. Please stay?" She gave him her best puppy dog eyes and Charlie's determination faltered and gave way to love and longing. He didn't want to leave.
"I'll stay but no more talk about vampires or changing or dying. Got it?" he said firmly.
"Yes Sir," we all chorused causing a round of laughter that slightly eased the tension.
Bella hugged Charlie, "I'm going to go get the sides out of the fridge, I'll be right back. Stay," she pointed to the lounger he had gotten up from.
With a wry smile Charlie sat back down while Bella walked away.
"Medium rare on the steak right, Charlie?" I asked, plating one and then the other.
"Yes, thank you, Jasper." Charlie waited until Bella was coming back out from the house, arms loaded with containers, steak sauce and balancing a beer and soda can on top of everything. Rose ran to help her with a giggle. When she arrived to the table Charlie moved over also sitting in front of a steak.
Bella situated things on the table and took a seat, "Thanks Rose. I guess that just leaves the conversation with you and Emmett."
I sat next to Bella and Rose sat next to Charlie with Emmett joining her other side, across from us.
"You think we should leave too?" Emmett asked sadly looking at Bella who paused in the middle of spooning her homemade potato salad on to her plate.
"No Emmett, well… yes, but not forever. We're always a family. It wouldn't be like before. I have your numbers and we can plan holidays and vacations and everything. And I'm sure Jasper is going to need help with me when I change. Oh!" she gasped and looked at Charlie.
"Sorry dad."
"It's okay, kid." Charlie focused on his steak and adding steak sauce to it while Emmett and Rose sat quietly thinking and glancing at Charlie.
Bella began eating and it seemed the conversation had ended.
Bella and Charlie ate in relative silence, he complimented the food and thanked me for cooking his steak to perfection. Bella seemed to drift closer and closer to me until she was leaning heavily on me. Rose and Emmett sat silently in thought until the humans were done eating.
As Rose stood and gathered Charlie and Bella's plates she said, "I think Emmett and I need to talk too but we can do it later, we're not going anywhere right now."
Bella nodded silently and gathered the left overs to take inside.
"Besides, we have fireworks to enjoy!" Emmett declared and clapped his hands together with a big smile. Charlie smiled back and him and moved back over to his lounger.
The rest of the night was comfortable. Peter and Charlotte returned soon after dinner was over and both were smiling, which was a good sign. Char felt content and comfortable which I was happy for while Peter was sad but more content and happier than anything. They must have come to an arrangement. The fireworks were an impressive display and I was surprised to hear that Charlie had helped them procure the appropriate permits.
When we retired for the night, Charlie left for the evening and I knew there was no more keeping secrets from Bella. I had to tell her about Marcus before it was too late.
We went to our room and I began kissing her deeply. I needed our connection, it was my nourishment, I had to have her. Marcus could wait a couple more hours.
Our kiss deepened and I tore off her holiday shirt that looked like it was made from an American flag.
"Hey," she whispered into my lips without heat.
"Hey yourself," I responded as I reached up grabbing her breasts through her bra. She moaned and pushed against my hands. I unhooked her bra with one hand while still teasing a nipple and kissing her deeply. My denim clad knee pushed in between her thighs and she moaned as she ground her hot core against it.
Conversation ceased, it was now moans, groans, grunts, and breathless sighs. I teased her nipples into hard little peaks and then leaned down to suckle one and then the other, adding a cold breath to make them pebble more.
"Beautiful," I sighed as I looked at her perky breasts covered in my venom wearing my scars. In the dark, I couldn't even see the ones she had made, but mine were lit up like neon signs in the moonlight that filtered in through the open window.
I reached down to undo her little white shorts, grabbing them and her panties I drug them slowly down her silky legs. She stepped out of them and when I stood back up she moved her hands under my tight white t-shirt.
"Wait." I grabbed her hands and moved them to my collar. "Put your hands on mine." She was confused but did as I asked while I grabbed my shirt at the collar. As she laid her hands on mine, I instructed, "hold tight." Her grip tightened and I ripped the shirt from my body.
"Oh," she gasped. "That was different," she giggled but leaned in to give my lips a quick kiss before she made her way down my neck and to my nipples. My hands returned to her mounds.
I hummed in satisfaction as I explained, "I figured since I ruined your shirt it was only fair." She hummed but continued worshipping my chest, my scars, my nipples, anywhere her mouth could reach while she groped my ass, tightly.
"Mmmm," I moaned as she went lower still and bent at the waist, she was beautiful. She teased her tongue along the line of my Levi's and then reached around to pop the button and pull the zipper down so slowly I thought I'd go mad, all while she continued to kiss around my belly button.
She was so warm, I truly loved the feel of her against my body.
She kneeled before me looking like an angel, but her next move was that of a devil. She engulfed me in her hot wet mouth and sucked hard. She gagged a little around me and that contraction of her throat was torturous. I let her move how she wanted. She sucked on the tip and laved it with kisses, licks, adding in suction and her tongue here and there. She was a goddess.
I gave myself over to the feeling and let my emotions leak out. I needed her, I loved her, she was my everything.
She felt the emotions and began to move faster seeking to bring me to release, but I had other ideas. I stilled her motion by grabbing her head, which she complied automatically and looked up at me with those big brown eyes. It was a sight to be burned forever in my brain. My angel, on her knees, my goddess with my cock in her mouth and those eyes, staring into my soul. I needed her, I needed a release.
I pulled out of her mouth and moved us over to the bed. "I need you," I whispered as I claimed her lips. "I love, I want you, I need to feel our connection."
She nodded and moaned returning my kiss with fervor, but I don't think she understood what I was asking. I didn't want just sex or love making.
"Bella, can you let you go, can you connect with me like we did a couple months ago?" I asked not sure how else to phrase it.
"Oh, umm…I'm not sure what to do." She was hesitant and started to feel self-conscious.
"None of that. I want you to let go of all your inhibitions, just feel." I whispered, "feel me." I placed myself on top of her our bodies touching but it wasn't in a sexual way, it was an emotional connection. "Feel," I whispered against her lips as I kissed her and began flooding the room with love, longing, and desire.
She gasped but said nothing her emotions were at odds with her body, she was trying to hard, she was concentrating.
"Relax," I breathed and doused her with an even heavier blanket of love, adding some lust. "It's natural, don't think just feel. Feel me." I kissed down her neck pausing over her life line, feeling it beat against my lips before moving down to awaken her nipples again. One hand continued lower feeling for the soft wetness that was sure to be there.
My finger parted her lips and grazed her clit, once, twice, three times, before moving into the moist depths of her channel. She groaned as her body accepted my ring and middle fingers. I gently felt around and again increased my emotions. I was going to let go but had to make sure not to hurt her.
She ground into me and she was beginning to relax. I began to let go, not caring about anything other than our connection. I heard a growl escape her lips and looked up to see her eyes become black. I had never watched it happen but just now it looked as though ink was injected into them. She growled again and thrust herself against my hand. I increased my emotions to my breaking point.
I roared and moved above her.
His last conscious thought was his need for her.
He leaned up and kissed her with bruising force. But she didn't complain, she moaned into the kiss and bucked her hips into his hand. He removed his finger and placed his member at her opening. Even in his animalistic state he was careful with her body. He moved gently into before pulling out and slamming back in.
She screamed in ecstasy as her head flew back away from his kiss. He focused his lips against her jugular and pumped into her at a furious pace. He pulled back to watch her face, watch her soul dance within her eyes as they stayed locked.
The other vampires in the house knew what was happening and though they were concerned had learned not to interfere. The emotions flowing through the home, the love and desire had the couples clutching at each other enjoying the feelings and moving to their own rooms.
However, with the roaring and keening animalistic noises coming from the bedroom there was a touch of worry for the two other couples. Until all the emotions and sound was cut off.
Bella unconsciously surrounded her and Jasper in the violet bubble again, that kept their coupling private. But the males in the home appeared in the hallway in concern. They knew what had probably happened but the loss of the emotions and sound, worried them. Silently they stood outside Jasper and Bella's bedroom door, wondering what they should do.
"Leave them be," Rose said from her and Emmett's bedroom where Emmett had left her. "They're in one of Bella's bubbles. You know they are and if you go bursting in there you may as well make your own funeral pyre too."
Peter and Emmett looked at each other and nodded in silent agreement, turning and returning to their respective rooms.
"You're right. Sorry. It was just weird to feel all of that and then have it all stop without a sound." Emmett stated as he laid down next to Rose.
"I know, it was weird for me too, but we all know what is going on. Just let them be. You can't protect her from him and you don't have to."
Emmett nodded. "I know."
The couple proceeded to make love while Jasper continued to move Bella into position on her hands and knees, pressing his cock back into her slit hard and fast, she continued to scream and growl, like an animal being mounted, which is exactly what Jasper wanted.
He took her from behind until she was squeezing him so tight he thought he was going to be stuck inside her and with that he pulled her back by her hair and sunk his teeth into her neck.
He pulled two large gulps of blood while releasing his venom coated seed inside her pussy and then sealed the wound. He immediately bit into his wrist and held it out for Bella to drink, she too, took two long pulls before the wound was sealed and fell forward on the bed exhausted, dislodging their connection.
Jasper moved her and curled around her as he came back to himself and noted the violet bubble still surrounded them. He could feel her within him, her blood, her soul, she was a part of him, he could feel it all. It made him feel like the most powerful being on Earth.
I cuddled with Bella until she awoke a few hours later, her shield still guarding their intimacy.
"Hi," she whispered into Jasper's arm that was her pillow, as he spooned behind her.
"Hi," I whispered back above her head, watching my words lightly ruffle the hairs on top of her head.
Bella snuggled closer to me as she said, "you need to tell me something, huh?"
"Yes," I whispered, ashamed as that I had kept it from her. I didn't mean to, we just had so much to deal with lately.
"Well?" she hedged.
"Marcus will be here tomorrow afternoon," I just had to say it. I couldn't wait another second. Probably not the best thing to say after the moment we just shared but I couldn't contain my guilt anymore.
She didn't react other than her bubble, which I don't think she was aware of, disappeared.
She laid still in my arms not stiff but doing a wonderful impression of a vampire. I steadied my breathing with hers. I was a second too late realizing she probably wanted to know why, when the question left her lips in a barely there whisper.
"I called him," I started but now she stiffened and cut me off, "when?"
"Two weeks ago," I sent her my guilt and apologies through my emotions. She rotated in my arms to face me.
Her face held the disappointment that matched her emotions and I felt like a school boy in trouble. I was expecting anger, but not disappointment.
"I'm sorry," I said looking down and then back into her eyes. They seemed darker than normal but I tried to focus on all of her. Her emotions were hurt and disappointed, she was angry too but not much.
"Why?" she asked again, realizing I hadn't answered her, I hurried to fix my distraction.
"I had to know what to do about us. I'm worried about you. I need you so bad all the time, and our coupling like tonight, well it can't be good for you, but I crave it. I don't want to hurt you. I can't lose you and I wanted his advice. I know his wife was a vampire but he also knows about bonds. I was hoping he could help."
"Why is he coming here?" I could feel her tension increase as her questions vibrated through her head but she only asked the one.
"He wants to see the bond for himself. He's only ever experienced his own bond with a true mate which would be a different experience than seeing it. He was actually interested in us and said Aro wouldn't stop talking about his trip here."
Bella scrunched her nose in confusion. "Is Aro coming too?"
"I don't think so. Marcus just said that he was going to come on July 5th and would see us then. He didn't indicate who might be coming with him and I didn't ask." I traced a finger across her collar bones gently, just needing to caress her, calm her, make her happy again.
"I see. Did you talk to him about anything else?" she asked vaguely, but I knew what she was getting at. My job offer.
"I actually spoke with him for several hours about everythin'. He was very kind an' a good listener. I didn'ttell you because, it honestly just didn' seem that important in the scope of everythin' goin' on," I drawled out, trying to make her smile.
Her heart sped up a little with my words and I smiled at her. It took a second but she smiled back and relaxed.
She gave her own attempt at a southern drawl, "then you better start talkin'. I need to know what's goin' on before he gets here." She turned serious as she said, "no secrets, Jasper."
I nodded and began telling her about my phone call with Marcus. I actually hoped she like him. He seemed kind and understanding. He was soft spoken and even though he had an air of boredom in his tone, he did not appear bothered by my questions.
"Well like I said, he was very kind to talk to. I asked him about bonds, and his bond, and our bond with you being human. I did speak to him about Charlie. I had a feeling Charlie would not want to change, and he helped to come up with a solution to that which he felt his brothers would be accepting of. Mainly that Charlie stays with at least one of us, until his passing. Basically we are to monitor him for the rest of his life and should he ever tell anyone about us, he forfeits his life at that time. He was going to talk with his brothers and have an answer for me when he arrives."
Bella suddenly turned very sad at the thought of losing her father and tears welled in her eyes. I hugged her tightly for a second and kissed the tears from her cheeks as they freed themselves from her chocolate orbs.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I murmured, hugging her tightly again. She sniffled and rubbed her face against my chest drying her eyes best she could on my marble skin.
"I know. I just. I understand why he doesn't want to change. I just wish he didn't even know now. It seems almost cruel to know I'll live forever while he chooses death."
I nodded and held her tight. I figured moving the conversation on would take her mind off that sad subject.
I pulled back to stare into her glassy eyes. "I also spoke to him about the job offer." I gave a small smile. "It was awkward to discuss his impending death and my ascending the throne if I chose that."
Her surprise hit me like a blast while I watched her eyebrows raise as high as they could go, to the middle of her forehead.
"Ok-ay, and what did he say about that?" Her eyes calmed but her emotions were still all over the place, worry, being the main one.
My eyes narrowed in concern about what she was worrying about. "What?" I asked ignoring her question.
"I just… I thought you had decided you didn't want the job?" she ended it in a question, unsure of her own thoughts.
"I don't think I do. I just wanted to know my options. He's going to speak with us more about that while he is here also. Aro let him know of the concept. He also told him about Didyme. What he had done."
Again, she was shocked, not trusting Aro to follow through with her request. I smiled warmly at her.
"Yes, he told him everything. Including his offer to let him go, assuming they can find a suitable replacement. He is very angry about his wife. I guess the guards had to stop him from killing Aro. It was the most excitement they've had in a while though because he never does anything." I smirked at thought.
"Anyway, he is coming to visit. He wants to meet us and see our bond. He's going to talk to us about the job offer and he's going to have an answer about keeping your dad alive and happy for the rest of his life." I ended with a kiss to her nose.
She was appeased but I could still feel the pang of sadness when I mentioned her dad. "That's it, that's everything I need to know before he gets here?" she asked with worry. She wasn't rude with the question, but it still hurt, knowing that I kept it from her, so now she's questioning me.
"I swear, it was a long conversation but really it was just me talking about our situation with each topic, you already know my feelings on all of it." I sent her my sincerity to make my point. She nodded and looked away. Her emotions became muted but I could still feel her apprehension.
"It'll be fine. I promise,' I said taking her hand in mine and kissing each of her finger tips.
"Do the others know?" she asked weakly. 'Oh, she really thought she was in the dark.'
"They do now." I nodded my head towards the bedroom door where the others were listening from their rooms and talking softly about my hiding this from them until the last minute. To say Bella was the only one that was upset with my secret would be an understatement.
"I see." Bella rose and left going to the en suite bathroom and turning the shower on. She hadn't slept much, and I suppose that means she wasn't going to either. I was taking that to mean I was dismissed, and it was time to face the music.
AN: So Marcus is coming for a visit and Charlie is staying human...what do you think?