Disclaimer: Me no own. Please don't sue me. The characters are Stephenie Meyer's only.

Bella POV

Charlie woke me later that morning, the worry evident on his face. "Bella...Bell...wake up hon," he said shaking me gently. "Bells, its after 8:00 are you okay? Do you feel up to school honey? If you don't, I can stay home..." He was rambling again.

"Char—Dad. I'm just tired from my trip. I don't think I'll be going to school today." I told him, hoping it sounded more convincing in his ears than in mine.

"Bell, are you sure your—"

"Yeah, Dad. I'm just tired." He still looked worried. "I'll be okay, I just need time." There, that may hold out to be true, a portion of the truth isn't exactly a lie... He stared at me, his face still worried but somewhat more inquisitive now before turning to walk out of my room looking back at me. He looked back at em once more as he shut the door and I could see his walls drop as his eyes glazed over with pure agony and worry.

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I woke up screaming into my pillow. The nightmares were back again. It was different this time though. I was still wandering aimlessly amongst a dark forest, but I wasn't alone most of the time anymore. Now I had Edward for an almost constant companion. He was always just out of reach, no matter how hard he tried to reach out to me. The dreams probably weren't enough to scare a little kid. But they were enough to send me screaming into a cold sweat. As I lay there thinking and attempting to stop hyperventilating, I felt a wave of calm wash over me. It could mean only one thing. Jasper.

Jasper POV

I stared at Bella as she slept. She appeared to be in a repose, peaceful and serene. But I knew different. Her emotions were chaos and I could tell her dreams were full of suffering.

Earlier, I had been out running, attempting to clear my mind and just to get away. My life had been pure hell since I had found out about Edward and Alice. Alice insisted upon the fact that neither of them had been in their right minds, and that it was something she wanted to forget completely. Apparently, she would feel guilty about it for forever, but I still didn't trust her.

During the night, I had found a vacant house out in the back roads of the Forks area. I decided to move out for now and rent it. I had headed back out into the forest, unable to stay in one place for very long, when I noticed something nagging at my conscience. I probably should have noticed it before then. Someone was very emotionally distressed. They almost seemed to be in more pain than me, and their agony had been the beacon that had led me to them.

Of course, it had been Bella; that much should have been blatantly obvious. I had known it hadn't been any of my family, I was too attuned to their emotions, it seemed each had their own 'fingerprint'. I still hadn't figured out why I had felt Bella from such a great distance though. As I had gotten closer, the allure of her emotions had gotten stronger. The only thing I could figure was that it was the intensity of her emotions, or there was something deeper, some connection so finite that I had never noticed it before. It was more likely the first rather than the latter though...

Suddenly, Bella started to scream into her pillow, jerking me out of my thoughts back into the bitter reality. I sent a surge of calmness her way, seemingly without thinking. I checked on Charlie, making sure he was still asleep, then looked back at Bella.

She tensed somewhat and rolled over, Her face showed no emotion other than the curiosity and tense calm I could feel. Her eyes searched my face until she gathered the courage to look into my eyes. When she seen that they were a light butterscotch, she visibly relaxed and curiosity won over.

"I thought you might need some company." I stated, adding to myself, Comfort, may be more accurate; I think I might need this as much as she does...

At those words, reality crashed in on her. I felt her walls disintegrate and her eyes glazed over somewhat. She was once again the beacon that had led me here, her emotions pulsating strongly. "Oh," was the only soft whisper to escape her lips. I was at her side in an instant, but I was unsure of what to do.

She leaned against me and gave herself over to my support. A sudden desire to protect her from any-and-everything, shredding whatever tried to hurt her, swept through me and I tensed.

"Sorry," she choked. She was on the verge of tears.

"No, don't be. You're fine." I told her drawing her closer to me and securing my grip.

"But—isn't this...uncomfortable for you?" she said puzzled.

Yes, but not in the way you mean. "No." I lied automatically. Bella being a poor liar believed me, mostly. Her confusion was sated once more, and her tears began to fall.

Unavoidable. It was saddening, if that were possible. I held her even tighter and laid my head against hers at my shoulder. My tears spilled over and I tilted my head enough to where my lips touched her temple. Insignificant and comfort only. I told myself. She'll never notice it anyway. I knew for a fact that she hadn't either, judging by her emotions anyway. Odd though, what if...

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