AN: Look at that quick update...don't get used to it :) Thank you for all the reviews, if I didn't respond it was because you reviewed as Guest or have your PMs turned off. But I thank you all!

Chapter 15

Bella stayed on the ground watching the scene unfold where a growling Major held Caius up by his neck. There was no doubt that Jasper was not only in "protect his mate mode" but that he would gladly kill anyone that looked his way. The whites of his eyes disappeared into the inky blackness of a demon that stared at Caius' shocked face, his hands holding the restraining force on his neck but not struggling.

Caius knew he should not have spanked her, but he had listened for days as she cried and lamented her words to Jasper, only for her to return and give him a blasé attitude and stupid excuse about needing to finish school. He overreacted.

Felix, Aro, and Demetri were frozen in shock at the top of the stairs with Carlisle. They had never seen a vampire move that fast, it was almost as if Jasper teleported across the driveway. Bella grunted and pushed herself up after a moment.

"It's fine, Jasper. I'm fine. Let him go, please?" she whispered, cringing when he set his demonic glare on her.

A growl rumbled with his accented words when he spoke, "You're not to tell me what to do. EVER!" looking back at Caius he roared, "and you do no hurt my mate. EVER!" He threw the king across the driveway towards the stunned vampires.

"I have had it with Volturi kings, and spoiled princesses," he continued to growl.

Moving calmly, much calmer than the rigidness of his posture and the constant growl coming from him indicated, he yanked Bella by her arm to her feet. He brushed her off as she stood shaking from fear of his next move. Feeling the fear come from her, he calmed and ceased growling as he checked her over once more. When she yelped as he touched the tender flesh of her backside, he didn't hesitate to rip her pants from her so he could see her injuries.

The men all had various reactions of fear, concern, and anger watching the display but none said a word until Bella looked to them with pleading eyes for help, as Jasper felt her heated naked skin.

Aro answered her plea. "He won't let us near, Bella. He's checking your injuries."

"Don't talk about me like I'm not standing here. And quit looking at my mate!" He roared to them. Felix was the first and only to turn around respectfully. Growling again, Jasper left Bella's side and began stalking towards the others, unsure if he wanted to remove their eyes, their tongues, or their heads. He was tired of games. She was his mate and they had no claim to her, not anymore.

"Gentlemen," Carlisle whispered and indicated with a fluttering wave of his hand that they should hastily go into the house. He wasn't as afraid of his son as the others appeared to be. Certainly, they were all shocked. Carlisle had never seen Jasper acting like this but he understood the issue.

"Do you want me to examine her, Jasper?" Carlisle asked, as the men slowly filed into the house.

Demetri growling softly, did not turn away from the risk Jasper presented. He was affronted that this beast had attacked his king and princess. But following his masters, all of them moved inside, hoping to avoid any more issues. Bella stood covering herself the best she could with scraps from the pants that had been violently ripped off of her, leaving a stinging sensation and redness on her legs.

Jasper hesitated. Did he want Carlisle to look at her? He looked back at her and could see the bruising which was noticeable when he removed her pants was already fading to yellow. She was healing rapidly.

Looking at his father figure he finally answered, "No."

"Then we'll leave you be," Carlisle answered, turning his back in complete trust of his son and went inside.

Jasper looked at Bella and began walking back towards her. "We need to talk."

She nodded but looked down at her ruined pants she had retrieved from the ground. She was hiding her intimate area that was otherwise covered only in a little blue thong. Although he just had his hands all over her naked ass, she was not wanting to give him a further show- though the cool of his hands did soothe the burn from the spanking as well as the burn in her veins.

She's never healed so quickly before, realizing it was probably due to the latest dose of venom. Thinking of the connection she had stolen from them, she began to tear up and sniffle.

Jasper moved to the pickup truck they arrived in and found her bag in the back and brought it to her so she could redress. He set it at her feet, opened it up and turned his back. He didn't like feeling her pain or humiliation but it was better than the fake bored feelings he usually got from her.

When she mumbled an "okay" to him he turned around. He nodded seeing she chose a pair of black yoga pants. She had decided they would be more comfortable for her currently abused and sensitive skin.

"Come with me?" Jasper asked and nodded his head towards the woods.

His mood was still incredibly bad but his eyes began to lighten to just the dark hue of anger. His mate was dismissive towards him and then had been injured by her "dad". It took everything he had not to kill Caius, some of him still wanted to run into the house and rip his head off but he wouldn't. He could and would control himself, he was not the monster they thought he was.

Bella nodded and they began walking side-by-side silently into the forest behind the house.

Bella scrubbed at her tear stained face once with her hands but he only glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She was searching for her bored center and was finding it difficult. She was still upset and embarrassed by what had just occurred.

They made it to an area with a few fallen trees and Jasper asked her to sit on one. He was not going to sit. He paced. She stared at him while his pacing increased as did his anger over everything that had happened. She watched silently as his anger took over his body, causing his back to stiffen, his eyes to darken, and his pace to hasten.

Unable to take the silence anymore Bella finally blurted out, "I'm sorry!"

Jasper froze. He hesitated before turning only his head to look at her. She had found her bored emotional center while he paced and it was angering him.

"Let me feel." It was distinctly an order not a request said with clenched teeth.

Bella closed her eyes and tried to let her regret flow through.

"You don't understand."

Her eyes flew open to see him standing right in front of her.

"I don't want to feel just one emotion, or have you manufacture an emotion to send to me. That wall, that boredom that you project makes me crazy," he added a growl to emphasize his disapproval.

"But, I thought it was helpful for you to not have to feel my emotions."

"It would be helpful for me not to feel everyone's emotions. The only person who truly matters to me is my mate and those are the emotions I want to feel, always. I need to know if she- you are okay, safe, happy. I want to be able to feel you, more than the random person on the street and more than my family or yours. Of all the emotions in the world- yours are the only ones that I care about. That boredom is in no way helpful. I want you to forget it, to never use it again."

He finally sat down next to her. His eyes lightening to a golden hue as he calmed, which helped Bella relax more. They turned to face each other one leg bent and on the log in front of them.

"Marcus, just told me to never lose my center again. That without it I'm out of control. I don't know what to do."

Jasper nodded silently. "You are out of control without it. Maybe that's why. If you focused as much effort on being in control, being stable and rational, as you do on that emotion- you wouldn't be out of control."

Bella's head spun a little at that logic but thought she understood what he was saying. She closed her eyes and dropped the boredom. Grief, embarrassment, and anger flooded her, there was a benefit to her not feeling all her feelings. Her face twisted in pain but she still kept her eyes closed.

Jasper felt her emotions as she dropped her wall and watched her face contort in pain but he let her work through it. He wanted nothing more than to hug her and hold her and make sure she was okay, but she had to be okay on her own. He was not going to try to fix this for her. Those lessons kept her from feeling her own emotions and it was going to be a difficult pill to swallow at times. Being numb and bored meant never feeling bad but it also meant never feeling good and life was both.

Bella's emotions cycled around mostly negative, self-hate, anger, anxiety, embarrassment, regret, and many others but she continued to work through them in her mind. Jasper wondered what she was going to say when she finally got herself together. He was hurt when she said she came back to finish school. And apparently if Caius' reaction was any indication, that was not why she was here at all.

When Bella's emotions finally settled a little, she opened her eyes. Jasper could see they were full of sorrow. She was in control but Jasper knew it was difficult for her.

"I am sorry," she whispered.

Jasper waited hoping she was going to expand on that.

"I'm scared to say anything else," she finally added.

"Why?"

Remembering Felix's instructions, from months ago, to just say that she didn't know what to do, she said, "Because I don't want to screw up. I don't want you to hate me. I don't know how to act around you." She looked down.

She looked broken. Jasper tipped her chin up to meet his eyes. "Yes, you do."

Her eyes narrowed, showing the confusion he felt coming from her. It was nice to see the face match the emotions.

"We were doing well before we went to Italy." He let go of her chin but held up a finger when she opened her mouth to respond.

"I realize that not everything you said was honest and you kept the boredom in place, but when were just sitting around talking or watching TV or studying, we were fine. You didn't have to put on an act and we did fine. You already know that the person you became in Italy is not ever acceptable. I don't know if I even understand it fully. I…" he stopped.

Bella raised an eyebrow; her guilt was consuming her but she was not going to break down. "I…?" she prompted softly.

"I want to be with you Bella Swan. But I can't be with Princess Isabella Volturi."

"Okay."

He raised an eyebrow back at her, "okay?"

"Yes, okay. I don't want to be that person either. No one apparently likes her. I just didn't know it. I don't know how things got so out of control… I have something else to tell you though."

Jasper's other eyebrow joined the raised one, wondering what she was going to divulge as her emotions dived deeper into guilt and shame. If he didn't know better, he'd think she cheated on him.

"Before I left, Marcus gave me my yearly shot of venom."

"Oh." Jasper unwittingly cut her off, slightly angry but wasn't truly surprised.

"Well," she continued, "it was supposed to be your venom." She teared up. "I'm sorry." She inhaled deeply to keep from losing it and closed her eyes, pushing the tears down her cheeks.

Jasper was speechless. Had she wanted it to be his venom? He didn't know if he wanted that. It hurt her. He wasn't sure he wanted to be a part of his mate's torture.

"Are you okay?" he asked, more concerned about the new injection than the fact that it wasn't his venom.

Bella sniffled and looked at him again. "Yeah, the burn is a little more but nothing too bad. I think that's why I healed so quickly when Caius spanked me…" she didn't finish that thought though, Jasper jumped from the log and started pacing.

"I should kill him," he mumbled, while he began pacing like a caged lion again.

"No, I deserved it," Bella said with more conviction than she felt, but she was just embarrassed not angry about the spanking.

"Why?" He didn't look at her. He was too angry and continued to pace, just at a more human speed.

"I was a mess when you left. I was crying and acting stupid. I said I came back for school, which is only partly true and no one truly cares about the school aspect. Jasper?" she waited for him to stop and look at her. "I came back for you."

He ran and scooped her up hugging her and kissing her. That's all he wanted to hear. He wanted to know she wanted him too and her emotions told him more than those five words did. When she spoke them, she felt longing, love, and hope. That was what Jasper wanted. He kissed her again and set her down.

She giggled and smiled at him. Her feelings turned to relief and Jasper agreed. They sat talking for a few more minutes before heading home.

When they returned home, they were smiling and holding hands. They headed straight into the Cullen manor where everyone eagerly awaited their return. Esme had prepared a salad and planned to throw a steak on the grill for Bella when they returned.

Jasper and Bella stopped when they saw everyone in the living room. Caius watched him warily still looking a little worse for the wear, his crimson dress shirt was torn around the collar.

Jasper couldn't feel the Volturi's emotions thanks to Bella's influence, except for Demetri who was still very angry. This was one of the few times Jasper wished he could read the emotional climate of the room. He expected to be in trouble with the kings for handling one so roughly.

"Are you two, well?" Aro inquired, nodding towards their clasped hands.

Bella and Jasper looked at each other, giving small smiles. Jasper answered, "I think we will be."

"Wonderful!" Aro clapped his hands together and stood. "We shall return to Italy and Felix will stay with Bella."

"No," Jasper responded, nearly cutting Aro off.

"No?" Caius questioned, from his still seated position.

"No, Felix does not need to stay. Bella is my responsibility and I will be caring for her." He gave her a little smile but it fell as he took in the looks of the faces around him. Not even his family seemed content with that idea.

"It's not possible," Aro finally answered when no one else had.

"Why?"

"We've already set up a story with Charlie and the rest of the humans. She is to have a guardsman with her at all times. She still lives in Charlie's home until graduation. Publicly we cannot change that now. And since she is Volturi, she will continue to have our protection."

Jasper was about to argue but Aro held his hand up. "I'm sorry but this is not negotiable. Your relationship has been rocky and you have to understand that Bella has not been without Felix, ever. He will stay."

Jasper felt Bella's worry. He looked down at her to see if he could gauge what she was worried about. She was looking at Felix who sat stoically in his seat. Jasper sighed, catching Bella's attention.

"I guess."

Jasper felt relief immediately flood from Bella. She was attached to the large male vampire. He was the only constant in her life.

Demetri's anger continued to be obvious and Jasper could feel it but was trying to ignore it. Demetri however could not hold his tongue, "Masters?" he nearly growled his question.

Everyone set their sights on him, most knowing what the problem was but trying to avoid more confrontation.

Aro chose to address his guard, "It is time to return home, Demetri."

A growl rumbled in his chest and his eyes narrowed as he looked over at Jasper. "He gets away with it?"

Demetri, having already been humiliated by the vampire who made him hop in the school parking lot months ago, was not accepting of the idea that Jasper could attack his king and face no consequences.

"Yes," Caius stood up, pulling his shirt to arrange it and ripping it more. His eyes narrowed at the sound but the glare fell on Demetri.

Everyone watched, waiting to see if Demetri was going to question his master, the man he was trying to defend.

Demetri growled louder and stormed towards the door. Unfortunately, he had to walk by Jasper and Bella since they had just come in. He snapped his teeth at Jasper, which was meant to be a threat. Jasper however reacted with lightening speed and punched Demetri in the mouth, flinging him across the room. Jasper was on Demetri before the vampire hit the wall. Jasper pushed him into the ground and began pulling his head off. Everyone screamed for Jasper to stop but it was too late.

Metal screeched throughout the house as Demetri was relieved of his head. A triumphant roar sounded from Jasper as he stood back with the head firmly in his hands. His onyx eyes scanned the room taking in the fear and shock of the occupants. He looked to his mate who was crying in Caius' arms surrounded by Aro and Felix. No one had moved to save Demetri.

"Jasper, son, please," Carlisle pleaded as he walked towards Jasper cautiously, his hands up trying to calm his demonic looking son.

Jasper just growled and kept his sights on his terrified mate. She had seen vampires kill people but she had never witnessed vampires killing each other. She had never heard the loud screeching sound of dismemberment, she was terrified. More upsetting to Jasper in that moment was the people who she sought safety and comfort in. It was not him or his family but hers.

"Jasper?" Carlisle tried to draw his attention again but wasn't moving any closer.

Again, Jasper growled at the turn of events. He was becoming the demon he hated so much, the person he never wanted to be again. He wasn't the Major that's not who he wanted to be, but that's how he felt in this moment. He was losing himself. Without a word he threw the severed head towards Carlisle and bolted out the door.

He heard Bella scream, "NO!" as he tore into the forest with all of his might. She was afraid of him, they all were, he was a monster.

AN: Hehe, did I mention I write drama? So does he go to Peter, maybe Maria? Does he come back? Does someone chase after him? If so who? Ooooh and what happens to Bella, Demetri, the Cullens, will Caius forgive this as easily as he forgave his own attack? Why did he forgive so easily? Why did no one go to Demetri's aid? Hmmm…