A/N: I'm going camping until Wednesday, so I'm not going to be updating, obviously. However, I AM going to be in Forks and the Olympic Peninsula... so maybe I'll find inspiration for more fics, who knows??!! ;-) Enjoy this chapter, thanks so much to LittleLea05 for being my rockin' beta!!! And thanks so much to everyone's who has reviewed!!! It makes me smile like crazy, you have no idea!!!

Disclaimer: Don't own Twilight or its characters. I just like playing around with them. :-)

BPOV

I swung open the door, and felt a look of surprise pass over my face. Alice was at the door, but she wasn't alone. She stood next to a tall, blonde haired man; he had bright blue eyes and a pleasant smile. I did a double-take when I saw Alice's face. I had never seen her look so… lovestruck.

"Hi Alice. Come on in. Can I help you?" I asked the stranger.

Alice stayed rooted in her spot, staring at the guy as if he were an angel sent straight from Heaven. I wondered briefly if she was breathing. It was then that I noticed that the tall man was also blushing furiously, and he kept darting his eyes towards Alice.

He cleared his throat, and smiled again. "Hello, ma'am. I'm Jasper Whitlock. I'm a good friend of Emmett's. I was hoping to talk with him." I liked his voice, it was deep and slightly Southern.

"Hi, Jasper, my name is Alice," she said in a voice unlike her own, snaking her hand out towards him, ignoring me entirely. I bit my lip to hold back a laugh. She looked practically hypnotized.

"Uh, hello, Alice." They held gazes, and neither so much as blinked in the next few minutes. He wasn't letting go of his hand, but he wasn't trying to get away, either. I watched in utter fascination.

"You wanted to see Emmett?" I asked, breaking them from their trances. Jasper now wore the same lovestruck look Alice was sporting. Damn. Did I just witness love at first sight or something?

"Yeah, is he awake?"

"No… and he hasn't wanted to see anyone. He's very… sensitive about his condition."

"Can I come in anyway?"

I would have said no, but Alice practically dragged him through the door, past me, and promptly sat him on the couch, as close to her as socially acceptable.

"So Jasper, tell me about yourself," she practically purred. I wanted to burst into laughter.

I left them to the couch, and snuck quietly into Emmett's room.

Once again, my eyes widened, and I felt my jaw drop. He was asleep, snoring lightly against his pillow. His huge body was splayed across the bed as much as possible. And his boxers were tented. Massively tented.

My mouth watered at the sight. Holy fucking crow, he's enormous!

Sexual thoughts came unbidden into my mind, and all I could think of was sinking myself down onto his cock, fucking him until we were exhausted. My entire body was on fire.

I wanted him. So bad.

I fought back a whimper, and tried to ignore my other bodily reactions to him. My heart should not be pounding this hard. My knees should not feel weak. My stomach should not be twisting with lust and need. My hoo-ha should not… Ung. Stop! I ordered myself.

He moaned in his sleep, and I panicked. Leave or stay? Leave or stay?

I swallowed hard, and forced my eyes anywhere but his erection. I walked to his side, knees still wobbly. "Emmett! Emmett!"

"Wha?" he moaned, eyes fluttering open. They were so clear and blue, so focused on me. I felt my face burst into flames as our eyes met. His gaze was so unflinching, so inviting, so welcoming. I was drawn to him.

"Jasper's here," I whispered, still staring into his eyes. I couldn't look away. And apparently, neither could he. I found myself leaning towards him, my body unconsciously needing to be closer to him.

"Why?" he whispered back. His eyes flickered down to my lips, and I involuntarily licked them.

"He wanted to talk to you."

"I don't want to see anyone." He swallowed hard, and I noticed his breathing was as labored as mine.

"That's what I told him." I still couldn't look away. What was this pull I felt? It made no sense.

"Tell him I'll call him. Tomorrow. I'm really tired. I'll call him tomorrow."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Is he… OK? I mean, my friend is interested, and I just want to look out for her."

"He's a good guy. Nothing to worry about there. I'm tired. I'm going to sleep now."

The intensity between us disappeared as he closed his eyes and sank back into his pillow. I stood there for a moment, trying to steady my heart and calm my breathing.

Jesus, what the fuck was that? He didn't even touch me, and I feel like I've run a fucking marathon.

I went back to the living room, still trying to figure out how I'd lost my focus and bodily control in that moment, to find Jasper and Alice facing each other on the couch, lost in conversation.

A nuke could have gone off next door and they wouldn't have noticed. I could see the look in their eyes, and knew my best friend was falling fast for this one.

I went into the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of cranberry juice, and contemplating the thoughts rocketing through my body.

I'd never felt this way before. It felt wrong, but so right at the same time. My brain was telling me I shouldn't want him that bad, that I shouldn't even want to be in the same room as him. But my body was betraying my mind. Sometimes it felt like I was being to drawn to him like a magnet. Like there was no choice, that I had to be near him.

And call me crazy, but I think he was feeling the same thing, too. That was a dangerous and tempting thought.

We're just… well, not even friends… we're… acquaintances that are trying not to kill each other anymore.

"Bella?" Alice called. She sounded supremely happy, and more giddy than usual. Not that that was surprising at the moment.

"Yeah?" I said, emerging into the living room. Alice was standing, nearly as tall as Jasper was sitting. I randomly pondered how they would have sex if he was so tall, and had to hold back a snort of laughter.

"Jasper and I are going out to have a nightcap. Is that OK?" Her eyes pleaded for my permission.

"Of course," I said, smirking. "I'll talk with you tomorrow."

"Bet on it!" she said, giggling.

"Jasper, Emmett said he'll call you tomorrow. He's very tired right now."

"Sure, sure," Jasper said distractedly. He was staring up at Alice like she was a goddess. I knew he hadn't really heard a word I'd said.

"Well, good night you two," I said, completely needlessly, because they were looking into each other's eyes again, and I knew I was just in the way.

"Bye," they murmured, and Jasper held the front door open for her. "Ma'am, after you," he said, and Alice giggled.

"Such a gentleman," I heard her coo as the door shut behind them.

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. They were too funny, and way too cute together. I'd just have to wait and see what happened between them. I was sure I'd know every single detail before the night was over. Alice was always one to share.

"Bella?" Emmett's voice was muffled behind the shut door.

"Yeah?" I said, pushing it open.

"Are they gone?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I asked Alice to come, I miss her… And the door was shut, she wasn't going to see you… and I had no idea Jasper would show up."

He winced a little as he tried to sit up. "It's fine. I realize how lonely it must be for you."

"It's not so bad. I'm not exactly Sally Social."

He chuckled briefly at that. "Will you sit with me for awhile?"

"Sure," I said. I glanced at the bed. The intensity from earlier was long gone, but I was still nervous to be alone with him. In his bed. I gulped quietly before sitting on the edge of the bed.

He had flicked on the news, and I glanced at his profile out of the corner of my eye. His scrapes and bruises had healed, and his face looked more like how I'd remembered before the accident. He had been eating more, so his face wasn't as thin anymore. In other words, he was as handsome as ever.

Fuck.

"So Bella, I was thinking… I kind of stink," he said. "I think it might be time for a sponge bath."

Oh. Holy. Jesus.

EmPOV

The look on her face was priceless as I told her I wanted a sponge bath. She was so red, I was afraid her brain might explode. Not really… but it was still a funny thought.

"Breathe, Bella," I teased, which made her face flame an even deeper red. God, I loved it when she blushed. It made her look innocent, even when I knew she wasn't.

Which reminded me of Edward.

Which reminded me I was supposed to be her friend.

Which depressed the crap out of me.

"So," I said, trying to change the subject. "What's your friend like?"

"Huh?"

"For Jasper. What's she like?"

"Tiny, enthusiastic, generous, loving."

"He's gonna fall hard."

"So is she. I think they're both already past that stage, actually."

"That's nice," I said, suddenly lost in my own thoughts. "If he comes again, you can let him in."

She raised my eyebrows in shock. "Really?"

"He's my best friend. And I've been a douche, not letting people in. I mean, I don't want the whole world to come. But my best friend should."

It was like I was talking to myself, coming to my own conclusions merely by talking. I shouldn't shut out those who care for me. It wasn't fair to them. And it merely left me a lonely, snippy little shit of a person, and that just wasn't fair.

Bella sat there, watching me, with an unreadable expression on her face. She kept chewing on her bottom lip, which was driving me crazy. I was easily reminded of my previous dream, and then the reality of her hovering over me, her wide eyes filled with an expression I couldn't quite read, but what I really hoped had been lust.

All I knew was that I woke up hard, and she had made me harder. I was pretty sure I could cut glass with my dick, I was that hard. No other woman had ever turned me on before without so much as a touch. That still worried me deeply.

And they way she looked at me… the way I looked back at her… It hurt I wanted her so badly.

I've got it bad, and that ain't good, I thought to myself.

My phone rang next to me, startling me out of my thoughts. Bella jumped beside me. I hadn't had my phone on in weeks. I was trying not to be a depressed bastard, and that meant keeping in touch with people who cared enough to try.

"Hi Mom," I said. Bella smiled. She loved my parents almost as much as I did. My mom was always calling Bella her second child. Little did she know, the very last thing I thought of Bella as was a sister.

"Hi Emmy Bear, how are you feeling?"

"Better. Well, not better. But OK."

"And how is Bella?" Her question was innocent, but I could practically hear the wheels turning in her head. She was bound and determined to get us together.

And would that be so wrong?

"She's fine. We've reached a peace treaty," I said, smirking, and looking at Bella. She grinned sweetly, and all I wanted to do was lean in and kiss her.

"I'm so glad. You kids need to stop fighting all the time. Renee and I just can't figure you guys out."

I laughed. "You crazy women! We told you everything would turn out fine. We haven't killed each other yet."

"Yet," Bella whispered, laughing, and walking out of the room. It was pointless to avoid looking at her butt as she walked away. The things I would do to that woman…

I talked to my mom for awhile longer, trying as hard as I could to keep my mind out of the gutter, though failing miserably. I studied her profile as I hung up with my mother. Bella was reading again, and I loved seeing how enraptured she was.

With a pang, I realized how I cared for her, and more than just a friend. And I wanted her, and not just for her body.

Holy fuck. I am screwed.

I had to control myself. And… I had to become her friend. I wanted to know more about the girl that had me in such a bind. I'd known her for years, but I realized I didn't know anything about her beyond what my mom told me, when I'd bothered to pay attention.

Even if I couldn't have her as my lover, I'd be her friend. I was resolved in that. And what do friends do? Tease each other.

"Bella," I called. She looked up from her book. "I wasn't kidding about that bath."

The last thing I saw before I closed my eyes contentedly was her furious blush against her creamy white skin.

OK, I may have done that without friendship on my mind.