Chapter 2 ~ I Was Born To Love Your

Disclaimer:

Edward's POV

'Son, I don't even know what to say to you, other than I'm sorry and I'm here if you'd like to talk to me.'

I heard Carlisle's voice through my intrusive gift as I walked out of the water. I heard him, but I didn't acknowledge him. I didn't bother to shake the water off that trailed down my body, or kick my shoes off when I entered the house, or stop when I heard Emmett speaking to me. My thoughts were on one thing and one thing only.

She looked completely angelic laying there in her bed, her hair splayed out around her face as she slept. I could smell the wound and the fresh antiseptic ointment on it, without even seeing it, the wound she wouldn't have at all if I hadn't brought Jasmine into her life. Yet again, I was the reason she was hurt. I was the reason her perfect wedding had been ruined.

My head drooped down low in between my shoulders and my eyes shut as a deep sigh escaped me. The hand of someone I didn't expect to comfort or offer words of wisdom came to rest with a firm steady pressure upon my shoulder.

"I can already hear the self-loathing starting, Edward. And I'm not going to say that you shouldn't be sad about your loss or anything, but if I hear you blaming yourself, I will personally kick your skinny ass. Got it? This is in no way your fault, do you hear me? And Bella is alright. So just stop it right there. The only thing you have to worry about is yourself and what you have lost today," Emmett said, his voice clearly portraying an out of character sincerity.

I half smiled, knowing that Emmett was serious; he would try to kick my ass. I would let him, too.

"I'll do my best with that, Emmett."

I didn't even believe myself, so I know there was no way he believed it. He stood beside me, looking at me with a critical eye and, shaking his head.

"You never will learn, will you? You can't take responsibility for everyone else's behavior, Eddie, only your own. You didn't do anything wrong today, did you? You immediately protected Bella from danger. You weren't aware that there ever was any danger around her. You were deceived. The responsibility for what happened lies completely and totally with the one who is paying for her sins now.

I don't know all the details about what happened after you left, but I do know that if you were able to just walk away from her without a fight, she wasn't your mate. I'm sure you are hurt, maybe even heartbroken, but you will mend from it, just as Bella will mend from her wounds. The only thing I'm concerned about is making sure you don't disappear from the family again. You just came back to us, and I think you need to stay here where you are wanted and needed, brother."

His words touched me deeper than I could ever verbalize to him. Instead of trying, my eyes met his, and I saw the sincerity and the respect Emmett held for me. It was more than I could take at the moment. There was too many feelings swirling around in my head and body. My eyes stung with the relief I would never have. My body trembled as my feet gave out from under me and I slid down onto my knees, my shoulders shaking with silent sobs rising out of every emotion I felt in that moment.

I felt reluctant arms wrap around me, but they certainly weren't ones that brought me any sort of comfort, not for a lack of trying. Unfortunately, there was only two people in this world that could have offered me any sort of relief at this moment; my makeshift mother, and the other laying just a few feet away, unconscious and unaware of our two worlds falling apart around us.

JPOV

I felt every muscle and tendon stretching and flexing as I ran away from the sounds behind me, the sickening scent of our kind being executed always leaving me with a nauseous feeling. After having smelt it more times than I'd care to admit, you would think it wouldn't bother me anymore, and I hadn't exactly been around the smell much lately, but, it always brought me right back to my past, which is why I wasn't swimming back towards Bella this very instant.

Taking Jasmine's life had been easy and perfunctory. I lost no venom and sustained no wounds, but, now I was wound up tight. I needed to find an animal to sink my teeth into. It was exactly moments like this that I hated being the beast that I was. I could very well miss my new bride waking from her chemically-induced slumber because I had to feed my monster, but, I also knew very well how I felt after a kill. I was out for blood.

I knew I would never hurt Bella, but I also knew that I needed to be smart. She had an open wound. She could wake up feeling well and want to be intimate. I would make Emmett and Edward rip me up and scatter my remains in every country if I ever hurt her in any way, but especially if I lost control and hurt her in that way.

My keen eyesight caught movement and the scent of something I had only seen once before while visiting Peter and Charlotte's island, and I hadn't been a vegetarian then. My speed decreased as I lithely moved behind the palm trees, catching sight of an animal sitting up on its tail, the morning sun streaming down its gray coat as it feasted on the leaf of tree.

I internally cringed. There was no way that this wallaby was going to taste good, as it was an herbivore, and while their blood fueled our bodies, it tasted like piss. Sighing deeply, I lunged for the animal before it could even fight me and wrapped my arms around its neck, my body shying away from the sickening sound of its neck snapping under my hands.

I sank my teeth into the wallaby's neck and tore away the flesh, leaving me room to pull the sour blood into my mouth, wishing for something sweeter to dampen the flames licking at my throat. Who in their right mind ever would believe that they would be feeding from a wallaby? Especially, right after killing their brother's girlfriend for trying to kill your wife. I felt like we should all be chanting ""Jerry! Jerry!"", have mullets, and wear trashy clothes.

My kill took me no time, partially because I didn't stop to savor the flavor at all, but mainly because I needed to get back to my slumbering wife, and, as I dropped the lifeless body onto the sandy ground, my legs were already moving at an inhuman pace towards the coast, carrying me towards her. I pushed every other thought that seemed to plague my mind at the moment away, and just focused in on the happiness Bella and I were going to create in our future.

Two minutes after I had dropped the strange animal on the island ground, I was walking back into the place that housed the one that my mind was centered on. She still slept silently, but Carlisle met me at the door to inform that she was stirring and would be waking soon. I smiled and nodded, clapping him on the shoulder and thanking him for taking care of her in my absence before grabbing a change of clothing.

Edward met me in the hallway once I was changed and completely dry from my swim back to the island. His look of guilt matched the emotions rolling off of him. I cocked my head to the side, my brow furrowing as I tried to figure out what that was about.

"It's about Bella, Jasper. I'm trying not to feel responsible for what happened to her, mainly because Emmett threatened an ass beating that is well deserved, but I am truly sorry to both you and Bella for bringing in someone that ended up ruining your wedding."

I shook my head at my brother, letting out a small chuckle at the mention of Emmett's threat. "Edward, you had no idea, and honestly I didn't either. She had some sort of power to protect herself from our gifts. At least that's my guess. You were in love,and wanted her in your family's lives. There is nothing at all for you to be apologizing for. And our wedding wasn't ruined. It was all still perfect. In fact, I checked out the pictures she was taking, and they are perfect. Yes, she attacked Bella, and tried to kill her. But, it was after."

When it didn't seem like my words really were making much of an impression, I continued.

"I'm sure your guilt also stems from bringing Jasmine around us, because she wouldn't be...well, you know...now. " I paused, not wanting to say the actual words, knowing that the other feelings I was getting from him were grief and hurt, and a small tinge of disgust. "And you'd still have her?"

Edward sighed deeply and ran a hand through his signature disheveled hair, messing it up even further.

"Maybe a little bit. But, I don't want to still have her if I know that she is capable of doing that to someone that I love."

His words stopped abruptly and his eyes darted quickly to mine.

"Sorry. I know she is your wife. I'm not trying to win her back or anything. She is just always going to reside in my heart. I'm always going to be on her side. Looks like you'll have to get Carlisle to side with you, if you want a man on your side when you fight with her."

We both laughed; Carlisle and Emmett heading out of both Bella and Charlie's bedroom's to join us in our laughter.

"I have a feeling that I won't fight with her all that much, man. But, I already knew what you just admitted to me, Edward. We have plenty of time to talk about all of these things, but right now, I think it's best if you just allow yourself the time you need to heal from losing someone you thought was a different person. You love her, or loved her. Either way, it takes time as you obviously know. Let's just focus on the tasks we have in front of us."

Charlotte and Peter walked in the front door and I nodded in both of their directions, acknowledging them. My voice took on the authoritative tone of the Major that I had been not even an hour before, without my consent or admission that I wasn't the true leader of the coven here.

"First of all, as soon as Bella is awake, we have to get her off this island. We being me, Emmett, Charlotte, and Peter. Edward, I think it is best that you stay with Carlisle, Esme and Alice right now, though I am not making any decisions for you. I also think you would be useful with helping Charlie during his first couple weeks, and to see if there is any special talent that he has. I don't want Bella to be laying here recovering and listening to her dad screaming in pain. Plus, we have no idea when Charlie really is going to wake from his change.

Once Bella and I, Peter and Charlotte, and Emmett and Rosie are back from our honeymoon, Emmett and Rosie and Peter and Charlotte have volunteered to take turns as well with newbie vamp watch. Carlisle and Esme have stated that they are hoping to be able to take some private time to themselves in a couple of months, and I, for one, think they need and deserve it. It has been too long for them since they've had time by themselves."

I paused, winking at Carlisle, which caused him to chuckle and run a hand through the back of his hair nervously.

"Big Daddy C's gonna be rockin' the house!" Emmett added. Carlisle cast him a sideways smirk, before covering up the look with his usual look of composure when Emmett made his sexual comments. Edward groaned and rubbed his temples.

"Carlisle, please? That was not something I needed a repeat of running through my brain."

The entire group, minus Edward burst into hysterics, having no idea what Carlisle had done with Esme that could have elicited such a reaction from him, but knowing it must've been good. Peter clapped Carlisle on the back.

"Looks like you and I need to have some male bonding time, Carlisle. I think I need some new moves. Nothing I've thrown out there has made Edward cringe like that yet."

Carlisle shifted, laughing lightly and shaking his head.

"It wasn't that big of a deal. He just doesn't like to see anything involving me or Esme, since he sees us as his parents, in every sense of the word. I couldn't help it though. Jasper brought up our getting away, and my mind took me back to the last time we were there. It has been a rather long time."

Peter shook his head. "Now see, that's a damn shame. You both deserve to be able to go to your own private island more than that. Just because you are parental figures, doesn't mean you don't like to get your freak on. And it's not like you are old or anything."

The entire group laughed, except of course Edward, his face still contorted in disgust. His ass was always uptight about them and sex, but I guess I wouldn't want to hear or see anything about my Momma and Dad having sex either.

Everyone agreed with the plans that were made, and so, for now, things were settled. Now we just had to wait until Bella woke up to put them into action. We didn't have to wait long.

BPOV

Stretching out my limbs, I slowly began to feel the fog lift from my brain that I'd been swimming in for a while now. Why in the world did I feel so drugged? Was it still my wedding day?

Oh crap! What in the hell happened? How did that chick get her hands on me like that, with a smile plastered on her fake face? Was Charlie alright?

I bolted upright at that thought, letting out a small hiss as the blood rushed to my head and began to thump in pain. My hand rushed to the spot on the back of my head that hurt, noticing the large knot that had obviously appeared when I fell backwards, trying to get myself away from Jasmine before Edward grabbed her. Images of Jasper crouched down in front of me defensively; feral, growling and protective over his mate.

Jasper's cold hand slide into where mine cradled my injury, replacing it, and I turned to look at my husband. The look of relief filling his eyes made my heart skip a beat, and before I could even breath out a word, I was enclosed in his arms so tight, normally I would be complaining about needing air. But, I didn't need air. I needed Jasper. I was consumed with the feeling of relief and love, and I realized then that Jasper was projecting. I smiled, pulling my fingers through his hair as he rocked our bodies slowly as we continued to embrace.

"I'm alright, baby," I whispered into his ear, pressing a soft kiss to the spot right underneath.

"I know. I took care of you, so of course I know. Just the very thought of ever losing you after I just made you my wife is more than I can bear. There is no more threat though," he responded, his voice hardening as he finished.

My brow furrowed in confusion. There wasn't a threat anymore? Did Jasmine and Edward leave the family? More importantly, were my children alright? If she had a vendetta against me, maybe she was after my children as well. And was Charlie okay? I broke away from the hug that we shared, looking up into the comforting golden eyes of my husband.

"Are Sophie and Alex alright? Charlie? Did Carlisle change him yet? What is going on?"

Jasper let out a small chuckle and shook his head. "Always worried about everyone else. That's one of the reasons why I love you. Yes, the kids are just fine. They went with the women back to the mainland, so that they didn't have to be around anything that their little eyes shouldn't see. I got a text from Alice about thirty minutes ago, saying that they just got up, and that they were heading to breakfast at the hotel restaurant.

Charlie has gone through the first night of his change, so yes, Carlisle did keep his word and change him. All is well, or as well as it can be. You have a small concussion and an abrasion on your left arm from where Jasmine cut you. It's all been taken care of, so there are no worries now. But, we would like to get you away from the house, now that you are awake. Charlie seems to be quiet right now, but he's been screaming quite a bit, and I don't want you to have to listen to that."

I frowned, letting everything he said sink in. Things had changed so fast, and my head seemed to be spinning. Rubbing my temples, I sighed and nodded.

"Okay. I want to see Charlie before we leave though. It isn't negotiable. I know he isn't going to wake up in the next five minutes, so don't even attempt to fight with me about it."

He didn't.