(Jasper)

The last day had been completely different to how I expected it to be. Bella not only forgave me, but hadn't blamed me at all. All these months Edward had been telling me how much I scared her, how she agreed with him to end their relationship because of how dangerous she saw it was being around the family, around me...

The few things she had said so far already indicated that was false, but we hadn't gone into it yet.

I wasn't willing to push her. If she wanted my story first, then she would have it. Even if after hearing it she decided never to speak to me again. I would not, could not, demand anything of the girl. She had been through more than any human should have to endure already.

While she slept, I made a quiet call to Peter.

"Major?" he answered, concern in his tone. When he last spoke to me I had implied I was going to crash a werewolf meeting.

"Peter, all is well here. I'm with Bella, she's asleep right now." I kept my voice low.

"The wolves?"

"I stayed out of sight."

"I didn't think you capable of discretion." he laughed. "Don't tell me you're getting soft?"

"Not even a little bit." I joked back. "I'll keep you updated, just stay where you are for now."

"Will do."

I hung up and allowed myself to relax, just taking in the emotional climate of the house. With only the two sleeping humans around it was as close to peace as I had felt in a while and I was soaking it in while I could.

Charlie left early, but didn't come to check on Bella again so I remained where I had settled on the floor next to her bed. I didn't feel right about remaining on her bed while she slept, even though she had invited me there. It was far too intimate for our relationship and the gentleman in me was bothered enough being alone in a lady's bedroom.

When she finally woke she made it clear that she had things to do. I wondered why she wasn't in school, but figured if it was a problem, she would bring it up. I resolved not to interfere unless she asked it of me or unless there was an immediate danger. When she asked me for transport, I wished had taken the time to get my truck instead of my bike.

When she pulled riding gear out, I decided that the bike was the best idea I ever had. Bella looked amazing in jeans and leather, nothing like the good little girl she acted around Edward. I struggled to contain my emotions as I took her in, her helmet hiding her face from me. I flirted with her, and she gave it right back at me.

I almost fell down the steps when she called me sexy under her breath. I most definitely didn't know enough about her before. I don't think any of the Cullens knew her, not like this.

The ride to Port Angeles was too short. I had never had a human on the back of my bike before and the heat that radiated over my entire back and outer thighs was indescribable. Pure heaven. Her emotions were enough to make me want to moan aloud. I was sure my smile was showing far too many teeth to make a human comfortable, but I couldn't help it.

She allowed my advice when picking out a phone and we went to a small restaurant to continue my story from where we left off. She slid in next to me in the booth, which surprised me. I didn't think she would want to be so close to me both because of what I was and because I was sure it would cause her embarrassment when people assumed we were more than friends.

She leaned close to me, her breath fanning against my neck as she whispered her reasoning. I tested her emotions and found that she was calm, so I buried my own trepidation. As I expected, the woman who came to take our order was quite obvious, going so far as to call us "cute" together.

Bella took it in stride, linking our hands together as she ordered us both a meal, acting as if she had much practice with it. Not a hint of her usual blushing or any other outward sign of discomfort. I hoped I could ask her about this later, curious what could have changed so much in such a short time. I was afraid to find out.

I found myself enjoying spending time with her, even under all the pretense. We were there to talk about my past and were putting on a show of intimacy for the humans, but it felt right. I wanted to do it again sometime, without the act. I wondered if it would feel different. If Bella would ever consider me like that.

I was surprised I was having these feelings toward her at all, I had never felt more than fascination toward her in the past. Protectiveness, there was that too. Suddenly, I wanted more. Perhaps it was a by-product of sharing so much of my past with her. Peter knew most of it because he lived it with me. Alice knew some of it, but was too repulsed by it to want to know the details. Edward knew bits and pieces, but only because he pulled them from my mind without my consent.

Bella seemed to instinctually trade emotions with me like Peter and I have always done. It helped to ground me, keep me from becoming too involved in what I was reliving as I told it to her. As I recounted my time with the Cullens, I felt like I was coming to terms with some hard facts. I had been used, manipulated, and controlled.

"I know Jasper, I was too." she whispered to me when I voiced the thought.

When I saw how well she took discussing diets, I even admitted to her that my many slips over the years with the Cullens were less than accidental. She wasn't happy about it, but she accepted it. When I explained how the thirst from the others made me almost need the break that only human blood provided from the thirst, she seemed understanding. I was shocked, to say the least.

She asked me about my current relationship with Alice and the Cullens as well and I was glad the three of us had gone to Seattle first to visit with the lawyer. It would have felt wrong to be here with Bella, on a mock-date, if I was still married to Alice. I guess it was splitting hairs since Alice didn't know I had ended things, but in my mind, it was over. The marriage was a lie by necessity anyhow. Jasper Hale never existed anywhere but on paper, and now he didn't exist at all. Still, I needed to tell Alice soon, it wasn't right to leave loose ends.

When I finished my story, she squeezed my hand and we left the diner. I split the bill with her, causing a spike in annoyance from her, but she didn't argue. I would have paid for the entire thing, but memories of her anger at Edward doing just that made me think this would be better received.

The ride back to her house was even more amazing than the ride out. I felt so much more connected to her after our talk. I wished my vampire senses allowed me to drive with my eyes closed, just basking in her emotions. Instead I focused carefully on the road, keeping the speed just barely above the limit.

I hid the bike again and entered her home through the front door. She led me to her room, fiddling with her phone along the way.

"Jasper, do you have Eleazer's number?" she asked.

"I do." I was anxious. He was at the Cullen house with Laurent now, what if Bella wanted to go to him?

"I was supposed to go meet with him soon. I'd rather just call him and put him off for a little while. I promised you a story, after all." she smiled at me.

I took her phone from her, putting in the number.

"Thanks." she winked at me, dialing.

The phone rang once before a cautious sounding Eleazer answered.

"Eleazer?" she asked.

"Speaking. Who is this?"

"This is Bella. You are staying at the Cullen house? I just wanted to let you know that I will be coming to visit you in a few days, but I have company so it won't be right away."

"Oh, Bella!" he exclaimed. "It is nice to hear from you. I will wait, please come when it is convenient."

"I'll be in touch." Bella told him, hanging up.

She tossed the phone on to her bed. "I like to keep the vamps in my life wanting more." she giggled.

"Especially me?" I raised an eyebrow.

Instead of taking the bait, she led me to the bed and pulled me down with her. She untied my boots, pulling them off and tucking them under the edge of the bed. Her own footwear followed. She then sat cross-legged on the bed, waving at me to copy her.

"This would have been easier if you had showed up last week. I spilled my guts to the pack about all this. I'm a bit nervous about doing it again." She bit her lip. "If I get upset, feel free to help me, okay?"

"I can do that, darlin'." I nodded, encouraging her to start.

She didn't start with Edward leaving, or even the birthday party like I had expected. She started with the first day she saw us in the school cafeteria. I ended up being glad she did, her views on the family and her thoughts on the entire situation were interesting.

After a short time, she seemed to go into a trance, almost ignoring my presence in the room. She talked about my involvement like I wasn't there, honestly and without reservation. The emotions she threw off were so pure and innocent, they would have stopped my heart if it was possible.

Hearing what she thought of me all along, the longing she felt to get to know me matched my own so well it ached. I wanted that too, I wished I had been brave enough to go against Alice and had acted on my impulses. It would have changed so much, but it would have been worth it. She was worth it.

By the time we had gotten to the birthday party, she was shaking. I stopped her, breaking her from her dialogue.

"Bella, you don't have to tell me that part. We covered that already sugar. I know how you feel about that." I reached forward and took her hand.

"Jasper, it's okay. I need to get it out. Jake was right, I need to talk about it. I was letting it eat me up inside for too long."

At the mention of the boy Jake, I felt some jealousy. I had limited dealings with him myself, but I knew that Edward saw him as a rival. I wondered how close they had become after the family left.

"How about a little break then. Maybe some water?"

She nodded and got up, groaning from sitting still too long.

"That's something I won't miss." She said stretching her stiff muscles. "When I'm a vampire I mean. You can stay in one spot forever without getting stiff."

I shrugged. "I suppose, but then, I miss a good stretch sometimes. It isn't the same when you don't need to do it."

"Grass is always greener." she mumbled.

I followed Bella downstairs while she got a drink of water. She had brought her new phone with her and as she sat at the table programmed in several numbers from memory.

Dialing one, she whispered to me that she was checking in. I sent her some confusion and she just shook her head at me as it rang.

"Yo." A male voice answered.

"Hey Jake, it's me."

"Bells, you got a new phone?"

"Yep! I forgot to ask, the pack is doing patrols around my house tonight, right?"

"Yeah. Dad was missing you today. He said he's going to starve to death if you don't come over again soon."

Bella laughed.

"I'm sure he'll survive one day on his own." She rolled her eyes. "I wanted to let you know, I have a cold one staying here. Don't freak out if you smell him."

She held the phone away from her face, preemptively.

"WHAT?" Jacob screamed.

"Jake..." she said, still holding the phone away.

"Bella, I swear to God! Which one is it? At your house? Is Charlie in danger? I'm coming over!"

"Jake, listen to me first." Bella returned the phone to her head.

"Why bother, you'll just do what you want anyway. You always do! Damn it Bella!" He was calming down some.

"Jake, I'm safe. I promise. I will come over tomorrow and make that lasagna I promised Billy. Tonight I have to talk to this one, then day after tomorrow I'm going to the Cullen house to work on my gift."

"Who's at your house now? Please tell me it isn't the red eyed one."

"No, it isn't. Just don't worry, I'll see you tomorrow. I just didn't want you to freak out if you smelt something off."

"Fine Bella. You better be right about this."

"I'm always right Jake, you know that."

"Sure, sure." he huffed. "I'll forgive you if you make extra lasagna."

"I always do." She rolled her eyes. "Love you Jake, talk to you tomorrow."

"Love you too Bells."

Bella hung up the phone. I kept my eyes on the table top, my fears confirmed. Bella had feelings for the young wolf, I could feel her affection for him and it hurt. She said she loved him. He cared about her enough to trust her, even with me.

I couldn't move, there was an aching pain in my chest like someone punched a hole in it. I didn't even notice when Bella touched my hand at first. Eventually the firm pressure of her fingers stroking the top of my clenched fist registered and I relaxed my grip.

"What's wrong?" she asked, concerned.

"Nothing really." I said sadly. "I guess I was just thinking things I hadn't a right to be thinking about."

I stood up and walked toward the stairs. "I'll wait for your return upstairs, if that is alright with you?"

She nodded and I walked up the stairs and sat on her bed. I could feel her confusion and concern still, but I tried to tune it out. I leaned back against the headboard, just listening as she moved around the house. It sounded like she was preparing food and cleaning. I tried to picture what was happening by sound and scent alone, anything to keep my own thoughts at bay.

I didn't have a right to feel like this anyhow. Bella wasn't mine, I didn't have a claim on her. Did I even want that? God, I had only just gotten away from Alice! I shouldn't care if she was with that dog. What business was it of mine? Still, I couldn't help but feel like I should fight for her, convince her that I would be a better option. I wished I had more to offer.

I closed my eyes after a while, pretending sleep. Charlie came home from work, they had dinner and talked, mostly about Charlie's day. Bella mentioned she got a ride to Port Angeles and bought a new phone, but didn't mention me. It was probably a good thing, I was sure Mr. Swan wouldn't react well knowing I was here, hiding in his daughter's room.

She lingered downstairs for a while longer, keeping him company while he watched basketball on television. I could feel she wasn't interested, but she loved her father and enjoyed spending time with him. From time to time she asked questions and he emitted pride as he explained the nuances of the sport to her. When her patience ran out, I heard her get up and tell him goodnight.

I cracked my eyes open, feeling much more relaxed than I had been after her call to her friend. Boyfriend? I pushed the thought away again, holding onto the peace I had managed to cultivate. She smiled at me sadly, emanating confusion and got clothes, quickly escaping to the bathroom, leaving me alone again.

I focused on the sound of the game instead of listening to her in the shower. Charlie's emotions were pleasant enough to follow as he spectated. He was immersed in the action, allowing me to forget my surroundings easily and enjoy it vicariously though him. I was so focused that I startled when Bella returned to the room.

"Good game?" she asked, a smirk on her plump lips.

"It is when your father is watching it." I replied.

She smiled at me, affection for her father pouring out of her. "I'm going to miss him."

I didn't say anything to that, nothing I could say would be right. She needed to come to terms with it on her own. I watched her move around the room, depositing worn clothes into a hamper and straightening up. She loaded a CD into a small player on her bedside table and started it up at a moderately low volume.

"I don't like listening to music anymore really, but it will keep Charlie from hearing us talk." she explained. "Can you still hear if something gets close to the house?"

"I sure can." I confirmed, double checking out of reflex.

"The wolves will be coming by at some point, you should probably ignore them. Keep them guessing." she smirked.

I really liked how Bella seemed to naturally think strategically. I sent her a wave of my approval.

"Tactical, I like it." I told her.

She fiddled with the controls some more on the player, setting an alarm for 5:30am.

"I have to be up early, Charlie will be driving me to the rez tomorrow." She informed me. "You can stay here if you want, or do whatever it is you need to do. Just don't go following me there. I don't need to worry about a fight."

I nodded. It was a fair request and I couldn't begrudge her spending time with her other friends. Obviously she knew how to take care of herself.

She left the room again, going downstairs to tell her father she would need a ride to Billy's in the morning. He grunted a response, half his attention still on the game. She asked him if her music was too loud and he told her it was fine. I could hear her coming back up and I vacated her bed, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.

"At ease, soldier!" she mocked me, turning out the lights and grabbing my hand as she passed. I let her pull me toward the bed, again sitting on the edge as she settled in.

"Are you alright?" She asked me when she was comfortable.

"Yes, sorry about earlier. I'm not sure what came over me." I evaded.

Bella looked at me for a moment, chewing on her lip. She seemed to be debating whether to question me further on it. Eventually, she shook her head and let it go.

She resumed her story at the birthday party, explaining how things looked from her perspective. I agreed with her assessment for the most part, although I was still finding it difficult to forgive myself as easily as she had.

"Jasper," she paused. "Talking about Edward leaving is difficult. Could you help me please?" she asked, sitting up.

"Of course." I said. I expected she needed some calm, so I sent her a tendril of it to get her started.

Instead, she half climbed into my lap, wrapping her arms around my lower torso and burying her face in my stomach. I stopped breathing, not daring to move. After a moment, I embraced her back and resumed the calming waves to her, waiting for her to speak.

When she told me what Edward had done, the words he used when he left, I was beyond angry. Only the fact that I had her delicate body so close and that she needed my help made me repress my own feelings. That he left her alone in the woods was beyond irresponsible. If it hadn't been for Sam, the wolf, she may well have never been found.

I wondered if that was Edward's plan all along? An "if I can't have her, no one can" type of thing. He had always hated to share. I took deep breaths, ignoring the burn in my throat. I had to keep calm so that I could keep projecting calm. I wanted to destroy him for what he did to her. It was inexcusable! I pictured a hundred ways to kill him in my head as I carefully held the broken girl in my arms, ever mindful of my location. Soon, I would fix this for her.

The words out of Bella's mouth kept getting more horrifying as she described what it felt like to lose a mate. Edward may not have loved her the way she deserved to be, but she did love him. The bond was real for her. If Edward had accepted it, I had no doubt they would have been happy together. That moron was too blind, too selfish to see it. He had thrown away his chance with this amazing creature.

When we left, she had suffered alone, with no one to confide in. Then, to make it even worse, her mother threw her away. The poor girl had suffered so much. I stroked her hair, upping the strength of my gift, weaving in strands of comfort and protection.

"I'm guessing Edward didn't give you the letters the family wrote to you then." I said.

"I didn't know they wrote to me at all. He probably destroyed them." she said, anger coloring her emotions.

I didn't bother confirming her suspicions, although I agreed. I just continued to send her soothing emotions and stroked her hair softly.

"I wasn't allowed to write one, although I might not have anyhow. What I needed to say to you after what happened I couldn't say in any letter. Emmett was hurt when he didn't hear from you the most, but Edward insisted that you needed space and if you wanted to speak with us you would do so."

"I wanted to, so much." She whispered. "To Emmett and you especially."

We were quiet for a little while, thinking about what could have been.

After the anger had passed, she continued speaking softly, telling me all about her time with the pack on the reservation. I was relieved to learn that she was only friends with Jacob, even forgiving him for kissing her when she told me all that he had done to support her as she recovered over the last few months.

The more recent events involving Victoria, Laurent, and Eleazer were puzzling. I laughed with her when she told me about Laurent's visit to the Denali sisters and her learning more about them.

"Edward really thought that Laurent was mated to Irena?" I asked her.

"Yeah, he said that before my birthday party." she laughed. "I almost pissed my pants when I realized the truth about the Denali sisters."

Bella rolled over so that she was looking up at me, her head still resting in my lap.

"This okay?" she motioned to her head.

"As long as you are comfortable." I answered. I couldn't imagine my stone hard lap was a good pillow, but I wasn't going to ask her to move.

"After I meet with Eleazer and he examines my gift or whatever it is he does, I'm going to come up with something to tell Charlie and get out of Forks."

"Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"No, but I have to be. The longer I stay, the more chances there are that he'll figure out what is going on. He can't ever figure out the truth." She said fiercely. "I can't risk my father dying in the crossfire."

"The wolves aren't in danger, you know." I soothed.

"I know, or at least, they aren't in much danger."

I thought about that. It was a true enough statement. I supposed they would always have some element of danger in their lives because of the way they chose to live and what they were.

"I promised you options."

"You did."

"You could stay human if you want it. I will risk execution for you, all you have to do is ask. I can hide us away, I can even stay far enough out of your life that you won't notice my presence if that is what you want."

"And if I don't want to stay human?" she asked, nervous.

I paused, trying to figure out what part of what I had said generated the emotion. The limiting part of my gift versus one like Edward's is I could know what someone felt, but often not why.

"Why are you nervous?"

"I asked first."

Stubborn woman. I scowled at her, receiving a smug grin in return, but the nervousness had doubled.

"If you don't want to stay human than you will be a vampire." I answered. "There seems to be a few who would help you with that waiting in the Cullen house right now."

"And if I don't want to be changed by them?" I felt her disappointment.

"I have sired hundreds, if not thousands. I am capable. I could turn you if you wanted me to." I smiled, catching on finally to where the emotional trail was leading. She wanted me to do it. "Peter and Charlotte are the only two still living, that I know of, that remain of all my children."

"I still want to meet them."

"Maybe you better not, you might decide I'm a poor sire." I looked down at her face.

She giggled and stuck her tongue out at me. "So do you have plans for tomorrow?"

"I might hunt. I'm not used to being so close to a human for this long at a time." She looked concerned, so I sent her a quick burst of relaxation. "I'm fine, I just like to keep ahead of it when I get a chance to."

"I wouldn't be offended you know," she said, "if you took out a criminal or something. It might be more tactical however if you kept golden for a little while though." Her forehead creased as she thought about it.

"I was thinking along the same lines. About tactics I mean, not about killing humans. Well, you know what I mean." I dragged a hand through my hair, flustered. "With the wolf pack, the Denali couple, and potential complications from the Cullens it just seems wise to be prepared." I said.

"Anything on the agenda besides hunting?" she asked.

"I thought I'd go stir up some trouble at the Cullen house." I grinned. "They are in our home uninvited after all. Not that I will make the Denalis leave, I just feel like making them uncomfortable, seeing what they have to say about why they are here. Laurent doesn't need to stick around though." I said, a bit of distaste for the nomad in my tone. He may have helped with Victoria, but he was once part of James' coven and I didn't trust him.

"I told them they could use the house." She sat up, shrugging. "I figured that Carlisle owed me one, being that I was his daughter and all, surely I could use the house."

Smart girl, I was sure she was right. Carlisle would certainly agree with her if he was made aware of her logic.

"I see. Well, they don't know that. You won't deny me my fun, will ya darlin'?" I faked a frown.

"Of course not. Peter and Charlotte going to join you at the house?" She looked excited.

"Nah, Peter doesn't want anyone knowing about his gift." She looked curious. I held up a finger, checking to make sure there were no wolves close by. For extra safety, I waved her close and whispered, knowing she was going to be a Whitlock one day and safe to tell. "Keep it quiet, no one but myself and a very few others know. Never let on, even if someone seems to know Peter is gifted, alright? He can make his scent disappear and he's learned to cover others if he works at it. Really handy skill for a vampire to have."

"I won't say anything." She said. "Why all the secrecy?"

"Shields of any kind are highly sought after, although I think he's paranoid. It might be because of how we started off in life, or maybe he just likes to be able to use it to sneak around without anyone suspecting." I whispered. "He's a nosey little shit."

"It's a shame they won't be coming to Forks. I'd like to meet them."

"Maybe you can go visit them in Seattle instead?" I suggested.

"Not a good idea. I have to stay close to the wolves, it keeps me out of Alice's visions." I stared at her in confusion. "Guess I forgot that part. Alice thinks I'm dead because she hasn't had a vision of me since I got lost in the woods. We figured out the wolves block her visions, so as long as I'm around them, I'm free of Alice."

I was struck dumb. Alice couldn't see the wolves. So she couldn't see me right now even if she wanted to because of the dogs patrolling the forest.

"Change of plans, Peter and Charlotte are coming to Forks." I said, pulling out my phone.

Bella plucked it from my fingers before I could dial and smirked at me. I waved her to continue, sitting back and watching. She scrolled through my contacts, finding Peter's name and hitting send.

"Major." he answered.

"Captain." she replied. I sent her a burst of pride that she remembered his rank from my history. There was a long pause on the line.

"Ma'am, I don't believe we've been introduced. Is the Major there?" Peter replied cautiously, not giving away any more information than he already had.

"Yes, he is." Bella said, smirking. The little devil was making him squirm. They would get along well.

"May I speak with him, ma'am?"

"Aren't you going to ask my name?"

"My apologies. I seem to have forgotten my manners. Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with on the Major's phone?" his tone was polite, but I could tell he was getting frustrated.

Bella just laughed. "That's more like it Peter!" she said. "This is Bella. I just wanted to say hello to you and Charlotte and invite you to my house. I'll let you talk to Jasper now."

She handed me the phone, still laughing lightly and tucked into bed, telling me goodnight. I retreated across the room to let her sleep.

"So, how's it going in Seattle?" I said, amused.

"Just fine. So, Bella is it? Who's idea was it to scare me like that? I was worried you'd been kidnapped or something." he complained.

"All hers." I admitted. "Seems the wolves block Alice's visions so you two should come down here, just incase she starts looking." I gave him the location, letting him know that the area was being patrolled and he'd need to use his talents to come in stealth.

He agreed saying he'd be there in a few hours after getting the address from me. I let him know to come to the window in the back and I'd sneak them in as long as they were here quick. Hanging up, I took up my position sitting next to Bella's bed from the night before and waited.