Bella's POV

After quickly giving Charlie some lie about going to the library, I drove as fast as my truck would allow me to towards the Cullen house. It almost put their vampire driving to shame.

I had been so shocked when I saw that copy of my family tree with Jasper's last name on it. I supposed it could be a coincidence, but I doubted it. Coincidences like that just didn't exist. The dates surrounding Sarah Whitlock's life coincided with when Jasper was alive as well. He had to be related to her, probably closely as well.

I pulled my car into the Cullen's driveway just in time to see Alice come out looking worried. She had my door open before I even had the chance. "Have you lost your mind? I just saw going like eighty while driving here. That is way too fast for a human."

"I need to see Jasper," I told her as I got out of the truck.

"Jasper? You mean Edward, don't you?" Alice asked, probably thinking I misspoke.

"No, I mean Jasper," I said before walking away from her and towards the house. I immediately opened the door and went inside.

"Bella, what's going on," Alice asked as she followed me.

I ignored her and continued through the house and into the living room. "Everyone, save Edward, was there.

"Hey, Bella. I'm glad you're here. Edward's been moping about your declaration that you couldn't see him for three days," Emmett said.

I ignored Emmett's antics and focused my attention on Jasper. "Does the name Sarah Whitlock mean anything to you?"

Jasper looked surprised to say the least by my question. It was obvious that he did indeed recognize it. "W...where did you hear that name?"

I reached into my pocket, took out the piece of paper with my family tree on it, unfolded it, and handed it to Jasper. "Off of this. My father gave it to me for that history report."

"You mean the one you got us assigned?" Rosalie asked snidely.

I ignored her and looked at Jasper. His mouth grew wider and wider with shock as he discovered what I did not too long ago.

"Jazz, what is it?" Alice asked.

Jasper didn't answer her. He continued to look at my family tree in shock for a moment before getting up and leading me out of the room despite the protests of the rest of the Cullens.

I went with Jasper upstairs and into his and Alice's bedroom.

Jasper closed the door and turned to me. There was a mixture of shock and hope on his face. "Is this real?"

"Yeah. My dad gave it to me. He... Umph!" I was cut off when Jasper wrapped his arms around me in a tight embrace.

Jasper's POV

I held Bella tightly after realizing who she really was. She had just given me the most amazing gift and she didn't even know it. "Thank you, Bella."

"Um, Jasper, human. Need to breath," Bella choked out.

I immediately pulled away. "Sorry. Did I hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine. I wasn't expecting that reaction though. Why were you thanking me?" Bella asked.

"Because you just gave me something amazing. A piece of my baby sister," I told her. For years I felt empty after losing Sarah. I never knew what became of her, nor did I think I'd ever know. Now I did thanks to Bella. My sister's life had apparently gone on. She'd married and continued the family line until it eventually ended with the young woman in front of me now.

"Y...your sister?" she asked.

I nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Sarah Whitlock was my sister. She was everything to me. She was the hardest to say goodbye to when I left for war and the hardest to stay away from when I became a vampire. She was seventeen when I joined the war. I never knew what happened to her."

"Now you do," Bella said.

I smiled and looked down at Bella's family tree. My family tree too apparently. I think that's when it actually sunk in. Bella was my family. She wasn't just my family because of Edward anymore. My family's blood ran through her. She was a decedent of my baby sister. She was mine to take care of, just as Sarah had once been.

"Are you okay, Jasper?" Bella asked.

"Yeah. I'm better than I've been in a long time," I said smiling. I didn't know how to explain it, but I finally felt nearly whole again. It had always saddened me that I'd outlived everyone in my family and that my line had probably died out by now. It was nice to know that I was wrong and that I still had family. I was glad to know that Bella was a part of that.

"Wow. This is so strange. I mean, you look just a few years older than me, but you're like my Great great great uncle or something like that," Bella said astounded.

"I think you're missing a few greats, but that about sums it up," I said smiling. I then got serious and stood up. "Bella, I want you know that I'm here for you. If you need anything from me all you have to do is ask and I'll do it." I meant it too. Whatever she needed whenever she needed. I took care of what was mine and Bella was mine now. I would protect her with my life whether she wanted it or not.

Bella smiled at me. "Thanks, Jasper. That means a lot."

I immediately went over and hugged her again. I pulled away after a minute. "Okay, now I'm really glad you got us saddled with that stupid assignment."

Bella blushed. "Yeah, I never thought it would turn out like this."

"Me either, but I'm glad it did," I said.

Just then there was pounding on the door. "Jasper, open the freaking door before I break it down!"

"Well, I guess Edward's back from his hunt," I said.

"Jasper!" Edward yelled as he pounded some more.

"Alright! Geez, you'd think I was killing you," I joked before opening the door. It was barely open a crack before Edward pushed past me and over to Bella.

"Are you alright? Emmett said you mentioned someone in Jasper's family and then he dragged you up here," Edward said.

"Okay, well, either Emmett was exaggerating or you overreacted to what he actually said," Bella replied.

"Jasper did not drag me up here. I was more than willing to come all on my own," Bella said.

"I would never hurt her, Edward," I said. I was more than a little offended at being accused of hurting a member of my own family.

Edward seemed to calm down a little. "Sorry, Jasper. I guess I just freaked out. What's going on anyway? Why'd you guys come up here? Everyone downstairs is worried too?"

"Come on. We'll go downstairs and I'll explain. As long as that's okay with you, Bella," I said as an afterthought. I wasn't sure if she wanted the others to know about our connection just yet.

"Yeah that's fine. Let's go," Bella said.

With that, I led the way out of the room and back downstairs.