Chapter 3: Everything


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A/N: This will be a short story. Maybe 10 chapters or so. I'll probably be posting a chapter every day, if not more. If you've made it a "favorite" story please leave a review and say hello! Thank you all for reading!


No, I didn't regret changing Bella. But, I had to accept the possibility that she wouldn't choose me. It was excruciating to think of a life without her by my side.

When we arrived at the airport, Bella was in so much pain that she was paralyzed. Despite all my effort to comfort her, I wasn't able to ease it. Her body was stiff and she was in shock. It would be a couple of more hours before the family arrived, so I parked the car in the empty hangar, and I sat on the ground, beside the car, cradling Bella in my arms. She relaxed slightly, at my touch, and I whispered words of my love and devotion. I told her of when I first knew that I loved her – when I thought I would lose her to James. I promised her that I would never leave her, not mentioning the fact that she might choose to leave me one day. I whispered I love you in every language I knew how to speak, which was only English, Spanish, French and Italian.

I had seen hundreds of newborns going through the burning process, and was never disturbed by it, but it was different when it was happening to someone you loved. Memories of my own painful transformation were crystal clear, and I couldn't have been more distressed knowing that Bella was experiencing the same pain. When I saw the family plane arrive, I was encouraged. Alice was right – being with the family was the best thing for Bella...and for myself. This was too much to bear alone.

As the plane entered the hangar, Emmett ran down the platform, and took Bella from my arms. Instinctively I wanted to growl in protection of Bella, but Emmett was feeling nothing but genuine concern for her. To him, Bella was a beloved sister. Alice gave me a look that told me to calm down, so I did. At least, I tried to calm down.

The family surrounded Bella as we boarded the plane, the pilots curious at what was happening. I glared at the two men, sending a wave of intimidation. I knew Carlisle was paying them well for confidentiality, but sometimes fear was a better motivator to keep one's mouth shut.

Within minutes, we were in the air.

Everyone was being very attentive to Bella, except for Rosalie, trying to make sure she was comfortable, as if that was possible. Once she was settled, the family looked at me for an explanation.

Esme held Bella's hand, while stroking her hair. "What happened? Was she in danger?"

I shifted uncomfortably. Bella was Edward's partner, that's how the family saw her, even though he had ended the relationship. They would not understand what happened between me and Bella. They would be outraged. But, I would explain as honestly as I could.

"When I found Bella, she was not well. She was...heartbroken." I sent the family a small dose of the emotion Bella felt. Their eyes widened in shock at the intensity. "That's not even half of it," I added.

"We should have never listened to Edward," Esme murmured, stroking Bella's head.

Rosalie snorted. "Because she was heartbroken you changed her? That is a really ridiculous reason, Jasper."

"I couldn't leave her alone in that pain," I explained. "But it was foolish and impulsive. I'm sorry for putting the family at risk."

"You did the right thing returning to Forks, son," Carlisle praised, nodding his head, deep in thought. "We shouldn't have left Bella alone. Thank you for your foresight."

Emmett shrugged. "We were never going back to Forks, anyway, unless it was to see Bella. Now she's with us. Who cares about the Quieletes?"

I glanced at Alice and she gave me a look as if to say tell them. After all, she had promised me she wouldn't tell the family how I changed Bella. But, in that moment, I realized I needed to inform the family because when Bella woke up, she would be wondering what happened to her and I would need to explain.

"Bella was asleep when I bit her. I sedated her so she wouldn't know what was happening." I cringed waiting for Rosalie to berate me and Carlisle to express his disappointment.

Rosalie crossed her arms and glared at me. Carlisle was surprisingly quiet. I realized that he really couldn't object. Everyone he changed – Edward, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett – had never given their consent. But, they were all near death. Bella was very much alive...or was she?

"It was wrong," I acknowledged. "But, as I said, I couldn't allow her to continue in that pain. She was destroyed when the family left...it wasn't just because of Edward leaving. She belongs with...us."

I caught myself before I could say she belongs with me. I didn't want to cause the family pain, but I showed them again the emotions I felt radiating from Bella. She might not have been attacked by a bear, or dying from the flu, or worse, but she had been close to dying from a broken heart.

The family was quiet as they experienced Bella's pain. Rosalie even felt a bit of compassion.

"She was always meant to be one of us," Alice announced. "Whether it happened sooner rather than later, it was going to happen. From the beginning we all sensed she was different from other humans. She was never afraid of us, accepted us so completely. Just like Jasper and I were supposed to join the family, Bella was destined to join the family, too."

Emmett massaged Rosalie's shoulders. "What's done is done. She's one of us now," he stated.

My brother was so easy going. I appreciated that, even though I knew I didn't deserve his graciousness.

"Bella wanted to become a vampire," Alice reminded the others, as she reminded me. "When she wakes up, she won't be angry she was changed."

Relief was evident in everyone's faces. The conversation shifted to our future plans in caring for Bella. Edward was not discussed.

When the plane landed at the Denali airport, we quickly ushered Bella into a Range Rover waiting in the hanger. Carlisle and Emmett sat in the front seats, Alice, Bella and I sat in the middle, with Esme and Rosalie in the very back.

The drive to our "garage" took less than a half an hour. It was little more than a shed off a dirt road. We parked a couple of vehicles here when we needed to appear "human" and go into town. We would have to run the rest of the way to our cousins' estate.

Irina, Kate, Tanya and Eleazar and Carman shared our vegetarian lifestyle and the Cullens considered them to be family. Their estate was an isolated property of several thousands acres, secluded from humans. We lived with them years before, but moved to allow Carlisle to practice medicine in a hospital because their estate was no where near civilization. It was the perfect location to raise a newborn.

Carlisle spoke to them before we arrived and they offered to allow us to use their house for several months while Bella acclimated to her change. Carman and Eleazar were using it as an opportunity to travel to Europe and the sisters were going to spend the winter in Fairbanks. It was very generous of them to vacate their home for us, but it was also helpful to Bella who would feel threatened by vampires she didn't know.

As I placed Bella on a bed, in one of the large suites in the house, it had been twelve hours since I changed her. The family were still hovering and I longed to curl up next to Bella, hold her in my arms and make another attempt to absorb her pain. However, in their presence I couldn't make such a intimate gesture.

With nothing to do but wait, eventually the others came and went. Rosalie and Emmett went hunting for awhile, Alice went to prepare a room for Bella, Carlisle took care of business. Only Esme and I remained by Bella's side the entire time.

"Are we going to tell Edward?" I asked, as if we had a choice, as if it wasn't inevitable.

Esme nodded. "I believe Carlisle is calling him now. He was going to return to Bella eventually. He has to know what happened because if he returns to Forks, he'll be putting himself in danger."

Begrudgingly, I admitted to myself it was the right thing to do.

As if he heard us, which he undoubtedly did, Carlisle entered the room. He sat next to Esme. "Edward won't answer my calls, but I left a message."

Esme nodded in approval. I shifted in my seat, not taking my eyes off Bella, wondering what her future held. Would she remember our intimacy? Would she remember how she said she loved me? Would she remember Edward?

At the end of the third day, the entire family gathered together to wait for Bella's awakening. Edward had not called or returned, which was surprising. He was probably being stubborn and hadn't even checked his messages.

"Any moment now," Alice whispered with excitement, bouncing up and down.

I was more nervous than I could ever imagine being. I held my breath as Bella opened her eyes.

We stood back, as Bella jumped up and crouched into a defensive stance. She growled as she observed us surrounding her.

Bella was beautiful as a human, but she was absolutely stunning now. Alice had dressed her in a flowing blue dress and ballet flats. It was simple, but elegant. Bella looked like the best version of herself. I was so proud of her. Only her red eyes betrayed the fact that was she was now a blood thirsty vampire.

"So beautiful," Alice whispered.

We did not approach Bella. I, unfortunately, had more experience with newborns because of the armies I created with Maria, and knew how dangerous and temperamental they were. Thankfully, my subtle gift had allowed me to control the newborns – calming their anger and getting them to work peacefully with one another. It hadn't worked while Bella was burning, but it had worked when she was human. I assumed it would work now that she was awake. Carlisle glanced at me and I nodded, letting him know I was going to calm Bella so she would be able to think rationally.

"Bella, it's me, Carlisle. You're safe. You're with family."

Bella glared at him with suspicion. Carlisle looked at me again and I shrugged, bewildered that my gift was ineffective with her.

"Bella, we're not here to hurt you, we're here to help you," I spoke softly.

Instantly, Bella calmed down when she heard my voice. The family assumed I had been able to calm her, and they sighed in relief, but I knew it wasn't my gift. I wasn't able to feel Bella's emotions at all. Something was shielding me from influencing her.

"Jasper?" Bella asked, relaxing and looking at me tentatively. I smiled and nodded. She scanned the faces of the others, who were also smiling.

"I thought you had all abandoned me." I didn't have to feel her emotions to detect the sadness in her words. No one responded.

"But, you came back for me," she stated, looking directly at me, her expression full of astonishment.

"Yes," I replied evenly.

Bella smiled. "Thank you."

As she starred at me, a flicker of recognition flashed in her eyes. Was she remembering how I comforted her? Did she regret our intimacy? Bella quickly looked away.

"Am I one of you now?" she asked.

Carlisle nodded. "Yes, Bella. You're now a vampire. Jasper changed you."

"I'm sorry I didn't consult you first. Please forgive me," I pleaded, wanting her to look at me again, but she ignored my gaze.

"It was what I wanted," she replied forgivingly.

"Bella, welcome to our family," Carlisle approached Bella cautiously, his arms opened to hug her.

I tensed. Carlisle had experience with newborns, but they could be deadly. It was risky of him to want to have physical contact with her so quickly. I knew with his fatherly instincts he couldn't help but try to hug his new daughter.

Surprisingly, Bella embraced Carlisle with open arms, then turned to hug Esme. Esme winced in pain at Bella's strength, but didn't say anything.

"We love you, Bella," Alice exclaimed, kissing Bella on the cheek.

Bella smiled shyly and was then greeted with hugs by Emmett and Rosalie. Bella looked surprised at Rosalie's hug, which told me she retained some human memories of their strained relationship. What exactly did she remember?

I wanted to hug Bella as well, but I kept my distance. When she was human, apart from our one night of passion, we never once touched and it would look odd for me to suddenly wrap her in my arms. Awkwardly, I waved at her and she briefly acknowledged me with a wave of her own.

"There's nothing to keep you and Edward apart now that you're one of us," Emmett exclaimed with delight. "He only left because he wanted to keep you safe. Now you're indestructible!" Rosalie pulled at his arm and gave him a knowing look.

"Sorry, Rose," he mumbled.

Why the hell did Emmett have to mention Edward? We all agreed to let Bella lead that conversation...when she was ready. She had been so heartbroken when he left, we didn't want to remind her of that pain in her fragile newborn state.

"Where is Edward?" Bella asked. I couldn't detect her emotion and her body language was neutral.

"We don't know," Alice admitted. "He haven't seen him since the day we left Forks."

"Carlisle called Edward, as soon as you were safe with us. I'm sure he'll be here soon." Esme was trying to encourage Bella, but she was discouraging me in the process.

"Are you thirsty?" Carlisle asked.

Bella touched her throat and gasped. "Yes!"

"We'll all take you hunting," he explained.

"Animals, right?" she clarified.

Carlisle smiled gently. "Yes, we're still vegetarians." He paused, thinking for a moment. "Bella, what do you remember?"

Bella locked eyes with me before answering. She turned to face Carlisle.

"I remember everything."