Disclaimer: Everything but this plot belongs to Stephenie Meyer!!
A/N: Thank you to anabanana13, FANPIRE23451TWILIGT (for being freaking amazing through this stuff), Jessiechreesie (for such a great review!), Krugness (because YOU are awesome!), AshleyCullen0021 (your review made me smile), dazzlingnsparkling (it's because the wolves are stupid and I hate them and I want them to seem stupid lol), MrsCullen2992 (good idea, I'll think about it), gemini169, MadlyInLoveWithEdwardCullen, -Azn-Grl-Twilight-Fan- (HAHAHAHAHAHA Your review is freaking HYSTERICAL, as usual. I love you lol), LPsDarkAngel (for being a mature person and not jumping to conclusions and reading things through), and twiXlite (you are SO sweet!!!!).
… WOW that's A LOT of people!! I couldn't help it though; you guys are SOOOO amazing to me! I loved your comments/feedback and your words of comfort and kindness. I thank you all for your understanding over the ordeal (which can be read about on my profile.) ALSO, I decided to leave the note up just in case some more silly things come up about theft or whatnot. So, once again, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!!!! … And sorry for not updating in so long, I was just so aggravated by the "theft" situation.
OMG!!! My old high school, The School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, has its own REALITY SHOW!! It's on MTV on Thursdays at 10pm. WATCH IT!!
Jasper's POV
As we ran through the forest, my fears grew, as did the fears of my family. We were running towards the treaty line. How could any of us forgotten to tell Bella about the treaty or the wolves? This was all, all of it, my fault…
Suddenly we heard a blood-curling scream of pain that tore through the trees of the forest.
"BELLA!" I cried out, pushing myself as fast as I could go, the trees becoming a blur.
"Oh God, Bella!" Alice cried, "That was her! Oh God, I'm so sorry!"
"BELLS, HOLD ON!" Emmett's loud, deep voice echoed.
I glanced at Edward as we leapt over fallen logs and greenery and was accosted with the sheer amount of terror, anger, and love that emanated from him.
"WE'RE COMING!" I shouted as loud as I could, hoping my beautiful little sister could hear and hold on just a bit longer. I cringed as she cried out in pain again, the sound of ripping metal becoming clearer and clearer.
Why were the wolves attacking her? She had gold eyes, just as the rest of us, and there was no way she was going to be hunting humans on their land. Where they just attacking a vampire to attack a vampire?
"JASPER! EDWARD!" She screamed as we burst into the clearing to see her balling her right hand into a fist to punch a tan colored beast between its eyes.
"BELLA!" Edward leapt through the air and began to tear the beasts from my sister; the rage in his emotions nearly staggered me when combined with my own. I jumped towards one of the wolves and also helped keep it away from Bella.
"ALICE! WATCH OUT!" Bella's voice wasn't clear anymore but I heard her warning and turned to see my beautiful, tiny Alice be tackled by another of the wolves. Bella cried out again as a russet colored wolf appeared to clamp its jaws around her harder, I turned to Alice and saw with relief as she stood and leapt again into the fray.
Edward had pried the jaws from Bella and Esme was now reassuring him that Carlisle is speaking with the wolf leader, urging Edward to help the rest of us who had wolves jumping from practically every angle. Emmett appeared to be having fun as he laughed and punched whatever beast leapt at him.
I heard Esme gasp, "Alice! Oh no! JASPER!" and I turned to see one of the wolves jump and bite my wife, tossing her into the air towards another one that proceeded to bite her as if she were a bone. She screamed in pain and it was as if a red colored film were placed in front of my eyes. The rage that consumed me was pushed onto the wolves as I tore them from my Alice. Rosalie had leapt to our aid. The beast took a swipe at me and I dodged it, only to feel the claws pierce my skin on my left shoulder. I brushed it off as I threw it into a tree.
"She can't have known, Sam! Bella doesn't hunt humans, she's one of us!" I heard Carlisle plead with the leader, Edward was right beside him, the rage on his features overwhelming. "Call them off, Sam! Call them off, now!"
I was amazed suddenly as right when the black wolf huffed in apparent anger, every single one of the wolves seemed to freeze right before us. Edward was suddenly next to Bella asking her how bad she was, "Bella!" I started toward her but she shook her head, "Go to Alice, Jazz," she said, her face twisted in pain, "She's hurt, too." Edward reinforced her request by saying he would take care of her and I nodded and turned to my Alice.
Her shoulder was torn to shreds and her face was twisted in physical pain, she tried to sit up but I stopped her, "No, no, stay still Allie, I've got you. I'm here."
She nodded and lay back down and I took the time to once over her injuries, her shoulder torn to shreds, her shirt was dirty and bore holes from the teeth of the beasts. I lifted her shirt to see her stomach and torso and saw the indentations of teeth that looked to have crushed her. I thanked God she was a vampire. Alice moaned in pain, and even though I wanted to soothe her and focus completely on her, I was stiff as I listened to Carlisle speak to Sam, reassuring him that Bella knew nothing of the treaty and that she hunted only animals.
It didn't take much longer before the wolves retreated a few steps, allowing us to leave. I swiftly and carefully gathered Alice into my arms and I heard Edward tell Carlisle that Bella had stopped responding after apologizing profusely.
"Jazz," Alice whispered, "Don't be hard on her. Please, for me? She didn't know… She was only hunting."
"I'll do what I can, Allie, just rest, okay? You need to heal." I took a step and, with the rest of my family, we were off and barreling through the forest towards our home.
Bella and Alice were the worst of all of us: Esme bore a few injuries on her arms where the claws pierced her skin; Rosalie just looked a little worse for wear, her hair unkempt and her clothes torn; Emmett looked fine, just dirty; Carlisle's hair was out of place and his clothes too were torn, but otherwise our family was fine.
When we reached home, I rushed Alice to our room and lay her on the bed where she whimpered. The wolves had bitten her in many places and their venom, which was painful only to our kind, caused her more pain.
I heard Bella groan and cry out as Carlisle looked her over first, as she was clearly the worst-off. I couldn't help but blame myself for not keeping a closer eye on her, but Alice's words made me think about how hard I would be on her.
"Jazz," She knew me too well, "Don't, please? It was only a matter of time, none of us thought to tell her, and she only needed a bit of freedom that no one was giving her." She hissed in pain as she shifted her weight before continuing, "She'll be okay, embarrassed, and won't have any desire to run out for awhile. Let her be, just make sure she's okay." I nodded at my wife's wisdom and held her in my arms.
"I was scared, Alice. I'm still scared." I confessed to her, "Bella is my baby sister, and she was nearly killed, twice!"
Alice nodded slightly, "She was ambushed by multiple wolves. It doesn't matter how great of a fighter she is Jazz, and you know she is a good fighter. She was ambushed. Oh, hello, Carlisle."
I stepped to the side to let Carlisle look her over, asking her questions, and running his fingers over her wounds.
"How is Bella?" I asked.
"Lucky," he responded as a finger prodded Alice. She cried out quietly and shut her eyes. "Alice, I'm going to push your skin together, it will hurt, but you will be completely healed in a matter of hours." He waited for her to nod before going to work.
"What do you mean, lucky?" I asked as I held Alice's hand.
"She's lucky to be alive, Jasper, I won't lie to you. Her injuries are extensive and it will take nearly a week, I estimate, for her to be back to normal. The venom from the wolves is keeping her from healing and making her injuries hurt that much more. She was nearly pulled apart by those beasts."
I sat back and looked at the door, mentally telling Edward that I want to see her once Alice is taken care of.
Bella's POV
Carlisle had to tear a sheet into many strips to wrap around my various injuries so my skin could be forced back together. The pain was ebbing away slowly, but it was still blinding. I forced my mind from my body and allowed Edward to just hold me to him as I waited for my brother. I longed to see him, and at the same time hoped he wouldn't resent me for sneaking away. I had only wanted to get away from the ever present watching and over-protectiveness for a little while.
"Edward," I whimpered. I opened my eyes to see his, which had turned dark. I wondered distantly if my own were nearly black.
"Yes, my love? Are you in more pain?"
I shook my head, "No, it's very slowly going away." I closed my eyes and reopened them, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry." I felt my body shake with sobs and wished I could produce tears. "Don't resent me, I didn't know."
He had frozen next to me but recovered in a flash, "Bella! No one could ever resent you! We understand; we know you didn't know. That is our fault for not telling you about the wolves or the treaty. It slipped our minds. If anyone should be sorry, it is I for not informing you. We were only trying to keep you safe--"
I shook my head, nearly reduced to sobs, "And I ruined that. I only wanted you to not be so over-protective. I left, snuck out, because I wanted time to myself. I've never been so smothered, Edward. I am used to living on my own, fighting on my own. I can't handle all of the watching. I'm so sorry."
I felt so weak, like such a failure. On top of my emotions, I was in so much pain; I could barely move.
"Oh Bella. Bella, Bella, Bella… Don't be sorry. Everything will be okay. I'm who should be sorry, not you… Never you." He held me tighter, "I thought..." He paused for a moment, "It's all my fault. I pushed you to leave by practically breathing down your neck all of the time. Jasper too. We are who should be sorry, my lovely Bella, not you."
"Where is Jasper?" I asked quietly.
"With Alice. Shall I get him for you?" I shook my head.
"No, let him take care of her. He can come when she is alright." I closed my eyes and sighed.
I felt him shift beside me, "How much pain are you really in? Please don't downplay it."
I paused and opened my eyes to look at him carefully before I caved, "It's awful. My leg feels as if it was crushed and don't get me started on my shoulder or torso. If I were human, I'd be dead." I closed my eyes again and turned my head, "I'm so embarrassed."
"Isabella Marie Whitlock, you have no reason, absolutely no reason, to feel embarrassed." Edward was in my face, careful to not touch my injuries, "You were ambushed by those beasts. It was one against nine? Ten? Those things were trying to kill you, ganging up on you to do so, knowing that there was no way they could take you down without their high numbers. You have nothing to be embarrassed about."
"I guess," I started, cringing as I tried to move, "that I'm lucky you all showed up." I felt my face screw up as I fought back sobs, "I thought I was going to die, Edward."
"Bella?" Jasper had entered the room and was standing by the door.
"Jazzy. " I used my good arm to reach toward him, urging him closer.
He came forward and was next to me in a flash, Edward had stood and was walking toward the door, "I'll be back later, Bella, I love you."
"I love you, too." I watched as he closed the door behind him before turning to my brother, "Jazz, I'm sorry--" I began.
"Don't you be sorry, Bells, it's not your fault." His bottom lip trembled and I suddenly burst into sobs, "But I am!" I whispered, "It's my fault. If I hadn't left…"
"You did what we forced you to do," he said as he pulled me into a gentle but firm hug, "We didn't give you any freedom, it was ripped from you suddenly and we shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry for not telling you. I was only trying to keep my little sister safe. You left my life for a hundred and fifty years, and I didn't want you to be ripped from me again."
"I'm okay, Jazzy, I'm okay. I'm not going anywhere," I assured him, holding him to me with my good arm.
"I promise I won't be so hard on you, Bella. I'm sorry." I nodded in acceptance; I wasn't planning on running off again, that was for sure.
I felt him shift and I hissed in pain, the venom from the disgusting wolves suddenly burning my wounds again.
"Oh, Lord, I'm sorry! Let me get Carlisle. We'll see if we can't get the venom washed from your wounds, it has to be keeping you from healing."
"It's making it worse. I felt fine after the newborn attack, but this is awful."
He nodded, "Carlisle," He spoke at a normal level and within seconds, Carlisle had entered the room with Edward at his heels.
"Isn't there anything you can do to wash the venom from her wounds; a bath or shower maybe? Is Alice hurting this badly? This has to be making things worse."
"Calm down, Jasper. Let's see what we can do. It's a good idea to try, why don't you get Alice to your bathroom and start your shower? The pressure of the water shouldn't matter due to the consistency of our skin. I'll check back with her once you are done and I'll reexamine for any residual venom. I'm surprised I didn't think of this…"
Jasper nodded and after kissing me on my forehead, stepped from the room to the aid of Alice. "We're going to have to move you together Bella since I don't want you moving your leg just yet until I am sure you're healed from the crushing of the wolf's jaws. After we get you situated either Rosalie or Esme can help you in the shower since I'm sure you won't be comfortable just yet with Edward seeing you without clothes."
I nodded in agreement, he was right. I wanted Edward to see me naked for the first time under different circumstances, "Okay, Rosalie or Esme it is."
"Perhaps both of them," Edward spoke up, "You may need help standing or something and it'll make things easier."
After getting both Rosalie and Esme, Edward and Carlisle moved me to the bathroom and left me in their care.
"Alright, Bella, let's get you undressed." Rosalie brought scissors with her to cut my blouse from me without forcing me to raise my arms to take it off. I was thankful for her thoughtfulness. Esme helped her with my tattered and now useless jeans and I was left sitting on the granite bench I had sat on when Edward washed my hair when we had taken a shower together dressed in our swimming attire completely naked.
Esme had taken the showerhead and turned the water on, they weren't worried about themselves getting wet as I saw that their hair was still damp from their own showers and they were both wearing jeans and light tee-shirts. I marveled in the back of my mind at how stunning they both were still able to look in such "comfort clothes."
They were both gentle as they rinsed my frighteningly shredded shoulder with water and I felt the stinging and burning sensation fall away with every drop of water. Rosalie was washing my hair and picking leaves and twigs from my tresses. I looked down at the drain and saw where dirt had been washed from my body.
"Oh, I was dirty, wasn't I?" I commented, earning a light giggle from Esme and an outright laugh from Rosalie.
"Clearly," she said.
"How do you feel, Bella? Better?"
I nodded, "Yes, much much better, thank you, Esme. The burning is gone. I feel myself healing now."
They helped me stand and I looked down at my thigh and saw that it looked exponentially better. "Oh good, I thought it was going to stay looking awful," I motioned to the limb, which was molding back to its original shape as I spoke.
"Well, let's get you dressed and back into that bed so you can keep healing."
And so I was dressed in a navy blue sleeveless top to allow Carlisle to have access to it during the healing process, and a pair of white linen pants before I was carried back to the bed. My leg was looking better, but it wouldn't allow me to walk just yet, my muscles were crushed.
I thanked them and was left alone again for only a split second as Edward came in, followed by Carlisle, to give me another once-over. I told him I felt much better and could feel myself healing. I asked about Alice and received the good news that she was already on her feet and moving around and that she wanted to see me.
Things were going to be back to normal in no time. I just couldn't wait for my crushed leg to be righted again. I noticed my throat was beginning to burn.
"I'm thirsty," I mentioned to Edward once Carlisle had left, "and your eyes are dark, clearly you are too. I can't go out to hunt, so what am I going to do?"
"I'll be back, just hold tight." And he was gone out the window and into the forest behind the house.
"As long as no blood ruins the carpet…" I heard Esme say from downstairs. I nearly laughed when I realized he was going to bring the food to me.
Edward returned a few moments later, his eyes already back to their familiar golden hue, carrying with him a large deer that had been immobilized. He offered it to me and in a flash I was leaning over it with my teeth buried into its neck. My throat was cooling down with the wonderful sensation of blood as I swallowed it.
Once I finished, I looked up to my love as I licked the last drops of blood from my lips. He took the dead animal, disposed of it, and returned in less than a minute.
"Better?" He asked. I nodded and reached up to kiss him, my guilt fading away.
"I love you, my Bella."
"I love you too. I feel much better."
"I know." He said as he ran his fingers through my hair.
An entire week had gone by and I was back to normal, none of my wounds hurt me any longer. Jasper had kept his promise on not being hard on me and Edward had seemed to take his lead. I was currently sitting in the back yard with Edward as we watched Esme and surprisingly Emmett tend to her garden.
"Let's take a walk," Edward suggested.
I agreed and suddenly we were leaping happily through the trees in the forest.
"Bella," I heard him call my name from below me and I lightly jumped from the branches I was twirling on.
"Yes Edward?" He seemed nervous, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, honest. I was just thinking about what happened a week ago." He sat down on a fallen log, motioning for me to sit beside him.
"Edward, I'm fine."
"I know you are," he looked away and out into the trees, "But, Bella…" he sighed, "I thought I was going to lose you. I thought you were going to die. It nearly killed me when I heard your screams, and I thought I was going to die when you were in pain and crying for help. You are my life, now, Bella. I can't live without you."
I was so touched by his confession. If I were able to cry, I know that I would have had tears flowing down my cheeks. I reached forward and turned his face toward my own, "I'm not going anywhere, Edward," I said with conviction.
"I'm staying with you forever. I'm not going anywhere. I promise to never go anywhere near La Push again, I promise to be with you forever."
I watched as he paused and then when he suddenly leaned to me and began to kiss me passionately. He held my face gently yet firmly with one hand and pulled my closer by my waist with the other. His reaction confused me, but I kissed him back with equal fervor.
He pulled back and I was ecstatic to see the large grin that was spread across his features; he looked so elated. "Thank you" he whispered.
I laughed, "Anytime."
He pulled me up and held my hand as we began to walk towards the house.
I was looking around at the trees and greenery when he suddenly stopped and pointed, "Well, would you look at that. Who would leave such a pretty little thing just laying where someone could so easily pick it up?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked as I turned to look at what he was pointing to, but I froze as my eyes landed upon a delicate pretty little gold band with diamonds in a swirl on the band. "Edward… Is that--?" I walked over and picked it up, "Wow, it's pretty!" I smiled as I held it and turned back around.
I gasped as I saw him kneeling down on one knee, his crooked grin stretched across his face, "Do you like it? I know it's not exactly modern, if you'd rather another one, I can do that too… It belonged to my mother."
"Edward, are you… Are you proposing to me?" Had I been human, my heart would've been beating wildly.
His smile grew wider, "I am. I love you more than anything I have ever seen or loved in my life. You are my life. Isabella Marie Whitlock, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"
I wrapped my fingers around the delicate gold ring before suddenly tackling him down to the ground, "Yes, yes, a million times over, yes! I'll be your wife." I kissed him all over his face before burying my face into his shoulder, "Yes, I'll marry you."
His arms wrapped around me and held me to his body so tightly before releasing me for a moment, "Let's get that ring on your finger, shall we?"
I giggled as he took the ring from my hand and placed it on my left ring finger. I admired it as we sat in the grass of the forest. A thought struck me suddenly.
"Edward?"
"Yes?"
"Does Jasper know?"
Hahaha Sorry, I had to do it!!! ;o) I thought it was too funny to pass up!
Sorry it took so freaking long to update, but I explained above why it took me so long. Life is crazy! I've been doing so many auditions and filming commercials and screen tests that I've had no time!
Anyway, please please please review!
4,236 words!!! 3 Over 56,000 hits!!! You guys are amazing! I wish everyone would review... Oh well, thanks to everyone who does!
