Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns everything but this little plot! :o)

AN: Oh GOD This past month has been absolutely insane… It was nuts when I posted chapter 10 and it's even crazier right now!! HAHA Like seriously, I've completely lost my ability to focus on more than a couple of things so I've dropped all but one of my classes at UC, have focused on working and saving up money for my move to California in a year, made arrangements for photographers, built up and re-built up my acting resume, and started gathering things for my meeting(s) with agent(s). UGH I'm SO BUSY!! But I love it… Too bad I promised my family I'd finish college… :o/ LOL Can you believe that I've spent 3 years (going on 4) in college, had 4 majors, and I'm only getting an damned Associate's Degree in Advanced Medical Imaging? Yeah, it's a 4-year program, but they give you one degree after 2 years in the program… Too bad I didn't do this 3 years ago when I thought I wanted to be a criminalist, then a cop, then a nurse. F.M.L., right?

Anyway, thank you so so so much to everyone who reviewed for chapter 10!! Many thanks toward –Azn-Grl-Twilight-Fan-, Krugness, CloverBabe, twilightspygoddess, Missy Skywalker (of COURSE!! You always write the BEST reviews, love), truelover (for being so impatient and making me remember that there are people who are anxious as hell to read my story), and LeLe1103 (I can't believe you read all 10 chapters in one go! Thanks!).

Fanfiction (dot) net is being super stupid right now and won't let anyone log in, so be assured that I wrote this on Feb 23, 2009 and not however many days it'll be until ff . net grows a pair and fixes their stuff.

THANK YOU!!!! Now, read! ;o) LOL Sorry for such a long A/N…


Jasper's POV

I stayed close to my sister for the following weeks after the incident with the newborns. She was more embarrassed than anything about not being able to hold her own, but really, no one blamed her. For the love of God, she was the one being focused on!

"Jazz, stop. You're making me frustrated," my beautiful Alice mumbled as she placed her tiny hand on my forearm. I smiled sheepishly at her, "Sorry," I mumbled, "I didn't realize…" I trailed off.

"Bella is fine, she will be fine, and she will stay fine. You and Edward need to give her space. She's going crazy, surely you can feel that in her emotions."

I shook my head, "I know she's frustrated, but I can't help it. It's for her own good. Besides, with both Edward and I watching over her, nothing bad can happen. It's as simple as that."

"But Jasper, really… It's…" She sighed, "I'm not going to get through to you two anyway, I don't know why I'm trying."

"Bella herself has tried, but it hasn't worked yet. She is probably just rebelling a bit." I was certain that she is only rebelling. I can't help it! I'm protective of my little sister…

Seeing her being torn at by those newborns tore at my heart and I couldn't help the all-encompassing rage that filled me in the heat of the moment. My little sister was being attacked and there wasn't anything I could do about it at the time; I was too busy dealing with the newborns that were jumping at me. I swore to myself that I would never ever allow something like that to happen to her again, the same obviously going for the rest of my family, but Bella for certain. I don't care how old of a vampire she is.

"You two are too stubborn for your own good." She stood up and took a few steps before turning at me, "I'm telling you, if I know Bella like I know I do, she will go crazy and do something to get away from you and Edward. You two have been doing nothing over the past few weeks other than hounding her and watching her every move short of watching her shower. Just- just try to let up on her, will you?" She left.

I sat staring after her, thinking about what she said. Surely Bella wouldn't do anything rash. Edward, being the good man I know he is, and I weren't hounding her nor were we watching everything she did, and even if we were, she knew why. It was for good reason.

I knew deep down that I was merely deluding myself, but, hey, a big brother has to protect his little sister, right?

I nodded to myself, that's right.

I heard Edward mutter under his breath to me, "Yes, Jasper, that's right."

I smiled, now to see what Bella was up to.


Bella's POV

Edward and Jasper have been slowly and more and more progressively gotten me down to the last of my nerves with their hovering. I knew that Alice was planning ton trying to talk them into letting down their guards a bit, but I wasn't optimistic.

Neither was she.

I sighed as I ran my fingers over the spines of my books in the room Edward and I shared. His CD's were stacked along one wall and my books on the other. I was beginning to feel like a caged animal that was constantly under surveillance by zookeepers.

Edward was in the bathroom running a towel over his head; he had just finished a very quick shower. If only I wouldn't be in trouble with him or my brother for so much as sitting outside alone… I'd certainly be out there basking in the small bit of sunlight this area of Washington gets if it weren't for that. I sighed again as he stepped out of the bathroom, having dressed at record speeds into a black t-shirt and dark denim jeans.

He winked at me and stepped forward to hug me. "I love you." He muttered.

"I love you too," I smiled gently at him.

We stood still for a few minutes, just listening to the sounds around us and I got up the nerve to look him straight in the eye for the fifth time this week. But, as I opened my mouth he frowned at me, "No, Bella. Why must you do this? We are only trying to protect you!"

I growled and he stepped back from me and went towards the bed. I turned my back to him.

"Really Edward, you can stop following me! I'm getting so tired of this!" I stomped my foot in frustration. This was getting absolutely ridiculous, and I was certainly going to let Edward, and my brother, know it!

"I'm completely healed! I have been for weeks! You have no business following me around like I'm an invalid! I'm a vampire just like you and I can take care of myself!"

"But what about if you come across someone else like Bradley, hmm? What then?" Edward asked as he lounged on our bed, his eyebrow now raised as if he knew he was going to win a bet.

I screamed out in frustration, "You've lost your mind! Bradley's gift was never heard of and therefore it's beyond unlikely that I'll ever come across anyone else with even remotely the same power as him! Even Carlisle said so! Don't you believe him?"

Edward seemed startled for a split second before his face molded right back into that stupid, smart-aleck-smirk he's been wearing on his carved face for the past few weeks. "Of course I believe him, love, but it means nothing to me right now. I plan on protecting you, don't you see that?" He reached for me and cupped my face into the palm of his hand.

"I know what you're doing Edward, don't think it'll work on me right now!" I huffed, "I'm trying to be serious here. I've been a vampire for longer than you've been on this planet! Don't you think you and Jasper are going overboard?"

"Of course not, love."

I howled in frustration again, "You're ridiculous!" I punched him in the arm, "You've got to be kidding me! You're insane, hard-headed, stubborn, stupid, idiotic, unreal, and much too unbelievably--" he cut me off with a hard kiss to my lips and the words I was going to shout next flew out of my mind.

I gripped his shirt with one hand and pulled at his hair with the other. This was going to be one of our more rough sessions – I liked those. I growled joyously as he pulled me to him, slipping one hand down and around my hip to lift me to him, the other pulled at my knee, helping me up. I wrapped my legs around him and felt more than heard when he too growled. I didn't even realize we were now both on our bed with him between my legs, my back to the bed.

I pulled back for a split second and he took that opportunity to kiss down my neck, "Too unbelievably what, love?" He asked between kisses.

I choked on the words for a second, "A-a-amazing." I stuttered, "No, wait, not that… Oh, yeah that! No, wait… Okay, yep… Darn it! Oh, you!" I can't believe myself right now, whenever I was about to say something he probably wouldn't like, he would suck or nip my neck, ear, or clavicle, grip and squeeze my behind, cut me off with a long kiss, or pull my hair.

Oh he knew me too well. I shouldn't have told him I loved it when he pulled my hair.

"Oh screw it," I muttered and I rolled us over so that I was on top. I straddled him and leaned down and bit his ear softly before whispering, "Do you like it when I do that?"

He moaned and pulled on my hips, I smiled. "Is that so? Well, then let me be on my own, and stop following me around all of the time. Get Jasper to stop too."

Edward stopped his advances under me, and glared, "Absolutely not."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Edward, don't be ridiculous."

"Bella, don't you be ridiculous."

"I'm fine! I'll stay fine!"

"Yes, you will!"

"I know!"

"… Because Jasper and I are keeping watch over you."

"But--"

He cupped my face and leaned closer to me, "Bella, please, can't you give us this? You've had to watch over yourself for so many years. Please allow us this one thing. As the man who loves you with all of his heart, please allow me to watch over you, allow me to take care of you." He dipped his head down, "Allow me to keep you safe and sound, and love you. Allow your brother and I to do what we haven't been able to do in the past."

Well, that speech did exactly what I know he intended it to do; it shut my mouth.

I put my head down on his shoulder, "I love you." I whispered.

"I love you too, my Bella." He hugged me close.

"This conversation isn't over." I warned him.

He sighed, "I figured that, my beautiful Bella."

As long as he knew that, I was fine. I was going absolutely insane being here with them watching my every move. I had to get out on my own for at least a few hours… Perhaps for just one hunting trip in the forest near by…


I sat down on the piano bench and began to play a simple melody. I sighed as I lost track of where my hands went and listened as my fingers trailed over the keys making a frustrated, chopping sound. I was putting my emotions into sound and I knew it would probably annoy my brother and especially Edward to no end.

Speaking of the two of them, they were currently two rooms away playing a video game with Emmett.

"Play something lighter or prettier, will you?" Alice's sweet voice called as she danced into the room, swirling to the melody.

I began playing a recent composition called Through the Kaleidoscope that I had become increasingly fond of that was written by a man named Steven Cravis in 1995 if I wasn't mistaken. It was such a beautiful composition of the classical genre! I closed my eyes as I allowed my hands to flow to the music that Alice kept dancing to. I smiled as I opened them for a moment to watch her as she did a plié then a perfect arabesque before turning and turning into pirouette after pirouette in time with the music, giggling as she danced fluid move after fluid move.

I sighed as I closed my eyes again and wished I could go out on my own without having to be watched by my overprotective brother and overprotective love of my life.

As I completed the piece Alice squealed, "Bravo Bella! Magnifique!" She clapped. "I've never heard that one before… Then again I don't typically listen to classical like Edward." She grinned and sat next to me, "Play some more, please? I don't care what it is. Edward doesn't play nearly enough so we never get to listen."

If I were human I would've blushed as I acquiesced to her request, thinking of ways to sneak away from Jasper and Edward without getting caught.


Edward's POV

I listened as Bella played song after song for Alice. She truly was a magnificent pianist. I loved listening to her.

Emmett tore me from my thoughts, "Edward! Get your head in the game, man! How are you supposed to be killed if you aren't even paying attention?!"

I laughed and began to press the buttons required to make this atrocious game I was conned into playing actually work.

I listened distantly as my Bella stopped playing and walked to our room to read I assume since that is what she has been doing. I suppose I could allow her to have some time alone to do that.

"Should one of us go to watch her?" Jasper asked me suddenly.

I was surprised when Emmett shook his head, "No, she's getting increasingly frustrated with you two. Leave her be for a few minutes. She can't get into that much trouble in a couple minute time span."

Jasper and I looked at each other, "Ten minutes?"

"At the very most," I added.

He nodded, "I don't know how I feel about this."

"Nor do I. I don't like not being with her right now. What if something happens?"

Emmett waved his hands in front of our faces, "Seriously, you two. Let the girl live a little. She's reading a damn book; she'll be fine. Play the freaking game! I'm killing you two, that never happens!"

So, with a large amount of reluctance, we resumed playing the video game, hoping that Bella would stay put and not live up to her pleas of doing something on her own.


Bella's POV.

Oh my word! I'm so excited that for once I wasn't followed up to my room by one of them! I picked up a book and skimmed the cover and the summary on back as I sat down on the bed.

I wondered what it would hurt if I took a quick hunting trip alone just for some time to myself. It couldn't possibly hurt anything… Well Edward and Jasper would kill me when I returned, but it would be worth it, I supposed.

I stood up quietly so as to not alert the boys downstairs and tiptoed to the windows and silently slid one open. I looked around and listened hard to ensure that I wasn't caught yet before jumping and landing silently upon the grass in the back yard. I ran at full speed into the woods, jumping over the river and leaping through the boughs.

Finally I was free, if only for a little while.

I wondered if Alice saw me leaving or if Edward and Jasper caught on to me leaving yet but shrugged my shoulders to myself. I wanted to be selfish for just a few minutes while I hunted alone, so I ran westward, and I ran and I ran.

Ahh, alone. Wonderful!!

I began my hunt, lifting my nose to the air to catch the scent of animals in the forest. As I caught the scent of a herd of deer, I smiled and took off.

I grinned once again as the herd came into my line of sight about a mile ahead of me.

I slowed for a split second as an odd scent overcame me, before hurrying on my way; what on earth is that smell? I shook my head, supposing that some wet dog had gotten lose from its human owners and was wandering around in the forest.

I jumped into a tree and picked out a large buck. I licked my lips as I felt the venom pool in my mouth and allowed my instincts to overcome me. It was time to hunt.

I leaned back onto the balls of my feet. Then, I leapt, my arms outstretched toward the buck, my mouth open, eyes solely for the animal.

But something went wrong.

Something went drastically, horribly wrong.


A/N: Okay!! How was it?!! I hope you all liked it!! PLEASE please please please please let me know what you thought of it!!

REVIEW!!

Word count: 2982