Authors note; this is going to be minimal angst, more about Bella and Jasper realising their full potential as a couple. Hope you enjoy.

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"Don't worry darlin', no one will harm you when I'm around. Although, you'd probably do just fine alone too." I told my new born mate who was gazing up at me with luminous ruby eyes, her body completely still in shock.

No creature could do shock quite like a vampire. We were usually motionless when frightened, gauging each and every scent, every sound down to the tiniest detail. We were usually frozen until we had assessed where the danger was coming from and then we attacked.

My words filtered through Bella's now multifaceted mind, and then a tiny frown marred the perfect expanse of alabaster between her eyes.

What do you mean?

Even after hearing her voice in my mind a few times now, the shock of feeling her speak to me this way was no less than the first time. I had never shared such an all encompassing connection with any being in my existence and it humbled me as much as it filled me with pride.

I smiled at her, reaching out my free hand to stroke her cheek with the tips of my fingers. The ever present electric current between us crackled and sizzled, sending pleasure through our bodies.

"You're as strong as ten vampires at the moment, Bella. Anyone coming to harm you would have their hands full even without adding in your coven."

My coven? Do you mean that this is my home now?

The joy surging through her was blinding.

Bella longed to belong.

Her need to belong where I did filled me now, she wanted to be mine in every way imaginable and this knowledge filled me with more happiness than I could ever recall feeling.

I tipped her chin upwards, kissing her full lips with lingering pleasure.

"Yes, darlin', your coven. You belong with us now. You belong with me."

Bella smiled at me, her elongated canine teeth in sharp contrast to her naturally plush pink lips.

"I want to belong to you, Jasper. I have since that first day when we touched in that ratty hotel room." Her sultry voice whispered inches from my mouth, her delicious scent teasing me delightfully.

I gave into temptation and kissed her again, lingering in my exploration of all that sweet softness.

Char snorted beside us. "Newlyweds are so gross."

I chuckled as I pulled away from Bella unwillingly. "We aren't married Char." I pointed out unnecessarily. "I'm still married to Alice."

A small growl from Bella made my smile widen.

"Its just a technicality, Bella, you know it means nothing to me."

Bella's hold on my hand tightened and I winced.

Bella's strength was phenomenal.

Charlotte smirked at me and shrugged. "Well, you two may as well be married, for all the canoodling goin' on."

Embarrassment flowed through Bella who raised a hand to her own cheek as if looking for the human reaction which should accompany the emotion.

"No more red cheeks, darlin'. You only feel those emotions now, you don't wear them for all to see."

Charlotte rolled her eyes at us in a completely human gesture. "They are getting closer, in fact they'll be here soon if you two don't stop the mushiness for two minutes together."

I smiled at Charlotte and nodded. "Alright, alright, I can take a hint. Where is Peter?"

"Doin' some scouting." Charlotte told me, pushing away from the doorway she had been lounging in.

In a flash of superhuman speed she was gone.

I took Bella with me as I followed, her hand still clutching mine.

Bella instinctively ran with me, the speed surprising her at first.

For once she wasn't being taken with me, she was running with me.

The look of wonder on her face filled me with exhilaration, which I shared with her, causing a laugh to break from her lips.

Our connection was beginning to feel like part of me, a physical entity rather than a emotional connection. On some level we were becoming part of each other in a way I'd never experienced before, it was enthralling to me.

Our hands didn't part for a moment as we ran as one towards the foothills which surrounded our home.

Peter was there, his stance battle ready.

"They ain't comin' to chat." He told me at my unspoken question. "They're comin' to take her." He nodded at Bella.

Anger filled me, I had warned them to stay away.

This was Edward's doing, I was sure of it.

Peter shook his head, "They are coming to rescue her, Jasper, they think you've stolen her against her will."

Within moments the Cullen's were near enough for me to feel their emotional signatures.

We walked out to face them at human pace, the four of us unhurried.

The Cullen's looked shocked to see Bella with us.

In fact they were astounded to see that her change was already complete.

Bella refused to release my hand and I was more than happy to oblige.

Bella wore the clothing Charlotte had dressed her in when they'd brought her to the ranch and it suited her. A pair of Charlotte's leather trousers and a low cut red camisole top, perfect for showing off Bella's striking new figure.

I realised that Bella was barefoot, her red nail polish glinting in the sun.

I was momentarily distracted by the sight of her skin in the Texas sunlight. Her skin was smooth and marble like, its expanse covered with a billion crystals, Bella sparkled like an angel.

With her dark auburn hair falling around her slender body, eyes dark and deadly, she looked like the angel of death and sex come to take mortals to their doom.

I gauged their reaction to Bella closely.

I felt jealousy from Rosalie and Alice, for different reasons. Anger and jealousy from Edward and betrayal from Carlisle, Esme and Emmett.

Edward's anger puzzled me, it was not about losing Bella to me as such, it was about her loss of humanity.

"How can we help?" Peter asked, his usually friendly demeanour unwelcoming and cold.

Carlisle walked forward slightly, taking his stance as leader. "We came, at Edward's suggestion, to make sure that Bella was not being held against her will."

"As you can see, she is not." I said.

Bella stared at them as if seeing them for the first time.

They're not as beautiful as I remember them.

I smirked and squeezed her hand slightly. "That's because you're the fairest of them all now, darlin'."

Edward looked puzzled, just as I had known he would be.

"Who is that?"

I cooked my head slightly, a smile on my face. I wasn't blocking him, for the first time in a very long time and he had heard Bella's voice in my mind. It seemed as if he still couldn't read her mind, immorality hadn't changed that.

"Its me." Bella said, her voice high and clear.

Edward's face contorted as he focused on her, his emotions chaotic.

"I can speak to Jasper in his mind. It's our bond, I think, it's getting stronger every minute I'm with him." She said, her chin lifting with unconscious pride.

"Bella, this isn't you," Edward said his voice pained. "He has convinced you that this is what you want, but it isn't. What about what we meant to each other just a week ago? Jasper is manipulating you..."

Even I was unprepared for the hiss of anger that left Bella's lips.

Murderous rage surged through her in waves.

"Jasper is not manipulating me, Edward. I know everything he feels, who he is, what he wants. Our bond is so deep I can feel him in every cell of my body. I love Jasper. He is mine!"

My entire being reacted to hearing that declaration from her lips. I knew she could feel it. I was swamped by an emotion so powerful and all encompassing it could only be love. It blindsided me.

I have never been in love before Bella.

Edward laughed, his tone humourless. "Don't mistake the lies he has fed you for love, Bella!"

I felt Bella shift onto her toes, ready to spring and I knew I couldn't stop her without taking her apart and THAT I would never do.

I sent her my assurance of our bond, our love, my peace at the expanse of our forever together.

My happiness was all encompassing.

I saw Bella relax and took my chance to caution my ex-brother.

"Edward, don't antagonize Bella any further. She is only an hour old. I will not stop her if she attacks you."

Bella turned and aligned her body along mine, wrapping her free arm around mine so that there was very little of us not touching. Her focus was however on Edward, her eyes were dark and deadly beautiful, her smile acidic. "Don't mistake what we were to each other either, Edward. You were never my mate. You wanted me human and breakable so that you could keep me needing you. Jasper wanted to keep me with him always. He made the choice you never could – Jasper chose to have me by his side for eternity."

Peter whistled low under his breath. "Burn." He said grinning.

Charlotte laughed at her mates comment and sank into a crouch, completely relaxed and nonchalant. She raked one of her hands through her long blond hair and then plucked a piece of grass from the ground. She stayed like that, watching the Cullen's shift uncomfortably.

They were nervous at her lack of fear, clearly she knew something they didn't. I saw Alice searching and I knew she didn't like what she found because her face twisted into a grimace.

Edward focused on Charlotte for a brief moment, before shaking his head in disgust.

I chuckled as I read Charlotte's emotions, they were vindictive and pleased. She was showing Edward and ultimately Alice, the images of Bella and I wrapped around each other twenty minutes before.

Carlisle tried again. " Truly, Jasper, we mean you no trouble. Now that we know Bella is safe, we'll be on our way."

Emmett ignored me, his hands linked together, knuckles cracking.

How easily they had all turned on me. Despite relishing my freedom, it hurt a small amount to know that I had become the enemy so quickly.

Alice watched Bella and I closely, her face the picture of misery. "How could you do this to me, Bella?" She said at last. "I thought we were friends. He is my husband."

Bella shifted away from me a minuscule amount. Her emotions guilty.

But then her chin rose again and her hold on me tightened. "I didn't plan this, Alice. It just happened. We are meant to be together, I just know it. I'm sorry."

Alice's face contorted in anger, her small frame vibrating with it. "Well, I don't accept. We are no longer friends Bella. I hate you."

And she did.

I could feel the loathing rolling off of her in waves.

Not for me, it was only for Bella.

I growled instinctively trying to protect what was mine.

Alice's face snapped up to mine. "Oh, right! Protect her!"

I took no pleasure in my next words although I felt pride saying them. "Bella is my mate and I will protect her from any one of you or anyone else who tries to harm her."

Edward hissed at me. "Like I should have protected her from you!"

I shook my head at him slowly. "She was never yours to protect."

In the blink of an eye everything changed dangerously.

Emmett and Edward sank into crouches ready to strike and Alice and Rosalie followed suit. Esme and Carlisle looked ready to join them when Alice's shrill voice cut through the impending mayhem.

"No! We cant fight today."

The Cullen's hesitated for a moment before stopping their would be attack.

None of my coven had moved an inch.

Peter and I weren't worried. We had handled far larger covers in the past. Taking down six vampires would be a piece of piss for two of the best warriors in Maria's army.

Peter hadn't even breathed since the Cullen's had gotten all defensive on us.

I smirked at Peter and he returned the sardonic smile.

Edward read Alice's mind and relaxed completely, his emotions still angry and plenty jealous.

"This isn't over." He hissed at me.

I saluted him with my free hand. "I'm at your disposal, brother. Whenever you feel the need to test yourself against us, I'll be right here waitin'."

A snarl left him at my lack of fear.

"I could take you apart." He said, his teeth bared.

I smiled. "You could try."

Bella didn't say another word out loud.

Are they going?

I looked at her and nodded.

Edward stared at her, her eagerness at his departure stinging him.

Suddenly they were gone, in a flash of immortal speed they left leaving the four of us standing there in the middle of a dry and dusty valley.

Bella licked her lips as a scent caught all of our attentions.

Human.

Not too far away.

I'd never had any intention of making Bella feed on animals, it was not natural for our kind.

"Go and get it, darlin'." I said softly releasing her hand.

Bella scented the air and then she was off.

Peter, Char and I followed closely.

This was turning out to be a fine day.