This chapter is dedicated to Jade Lyssy Swan, because your review made me happy.

Silas in the enxt chapter for sure, you guys! I know you miss him. :O

We reached the border between Cullen and Werewolf territory at midnight. Embry was waiting for me, and he jumped to his feet the second he spotted us.

With a few long strides, he had made it to the border. He stood toe to toe with Jasper, and the two of them glared at one another aggressively.

Without breaking eye contact, Embry asked me, "Are you ready to go home, Bella?"

I answered him coolly, "I'm ready to go back to Jake's house. Is he there?"

Embry's cold voice answered, "Not yet. He probably won't be back soon."

I frowned and asked, "Why not?"

Finally, the boy turned his head to look at me. The anger and judgment in his eyes made me flinch. Jasper growled, but Embry ignored him.

Embry announced, "He's busy. Paul explained what happened to Kim and Jared's parents. Quil is about to phase for the first time, he's in the forest by the beach with Jacob."

Alice's eyes widened and she asked, sounding shocked rather than accusing, "You're keeping Bella and Silas around while a new wolf is transforming?"

Embry glanced dismissively at Alice. "Yeah."

Jasper's hand tightened around mine and he asked darkly, "How can you be sure she'll stay safe?"

Embry answered sharply, "I'll keep her safe! I am a protector, it's my job."

Jasper snorted. "Because you did so well protecting your pack mate earlier."

I felt my mouth fall open and I glanced at Jasper. How dare he!

Jasper's cruel words triggered the deepest parts of wolf instinct, loyalty to the pack. Embry's body started to quiver and his eyes flashed with hate. I pressed against Jasper and whimpered. I didn't want to see any more fighting tonight!

The second Embry exploded into his wolf body was the second Alice intervened. I didn't even see her move, and the next thing I knew she was holding Embry down as he thrashed.

Edward cautioned warily, "Alice, be careful."

Embry snarled and flailed, trying to snap at Alice. She kept her foot on his neck, making it quite impossible. Her voice was surprisingly calm when she tried to reason, "Hasn't there been enough violence for one day?"

I frowned at Embry, my eyes prickling with tears. I was sharing in the pain he felt for Jared's loss. Jared had become that older-brother type to me over the weeks we spent together.

Embry understood, and he relaxed. Edward announced seriously, "If you get off of him, he won't rip your arm off for crossing the border."

Alice gracefully sprang beside Edward, wrapping her arms around his. He pulled her close to him, glaring threateningly at Embry as he rolled onto his stomach. A second passed, and Edward glanced at Jasper.

Jasper's eyes were dark and troubled. He glanced at me and pled, "Don't go, Bella. Just get Silas and come back to our house. It's not safe around these animals."

I shook my head. "I promised Silas we could stay at least a week here. If Jacob thinks it'll get too dangerous, then we will leave."

A second passed before Jasper announced, "I want to come with you."

Embry snarled, very clearly not approving of that idea. Alice reminded Jasper, "The treaty doesn't allow that, Jasper."

Jasper glared at his sister. "Forget the damn treaty. I'm not letting her go alone. I refuse. I go with her, or she's staying here."

Embry took a challenging step forward. Edward translated, "What if I take her from you, leech?"

I shivered when Jasper bared his teeth in a snarl of his own. He gently shoved me over to Edward and Alice, ready to fight if attacked again.

I slapped Edward's hand away and slipped in between the boys, setting one hand on Jasper's chest and the other on Embry's nose. I icily demanded, "Knock it off!"

Jasper's miserable golden eyes locked with mine and he whimpered, "Bella, please?"

Embry backed away suddenly, turning and darting into the forest. Edward tensely announced, "Jacob is on his way to sort out this problem- in his own words."

Jasper gently pulled me onto their side of the border again. His body was stiff, and he looked ready to kill as he took a few steps away from the border. He was truly afraid of what could happen to me on the other side of this invisible line. I could almost see the distress soaking off of him.

I gripped his hands in my own and tried to calm him down. "Jasper, you need to trust me. You're freaking out over nothing. Everything is fine."

Jasper glared at me and asked, "How can you be so sure, Bella?"

How was I so sure? I only needed to think about Emily to know how easily things could get out of hand. With everything going on, emotional stress levels were bound to be running very high.

I just knew that nothing would go wrong, though. Jacob would never hurt me, or Silas. He was never going to harm one of us.

Just feeling it in my heart was enough. Without speaking, Jasper's defensive atmosphere relaxed and he lowered his eyes. He whispered, resigned, "If it's what you want, I'll stop complaining."

Edward announced abruptly, "I have an idea."

We all glanced at him, but before we could ask what it was, Jacob sprinted into view. He ran right across the border and hugged me, demanding, "Are you okay?"

Jasper's entire face flared with both rage and jealousy. I gave him a stern warning look and returned Jacob's hug. I promised him the same thing I'd been promising Jasper. "I'm fine, they won't hurt me."

Jacob's big brown eyes looked into mine and he smiled a little bit. "I'm glad you came back, Bella."

My heart started to cry again. He was so happy just to see me. He knew as well as I did that I was leaving after spring break. He knew that everything was going to change now, that Jasper was back in my life.

He knew I was going to have to rip his heart out, and yet he smiled when he saw me.

It was obvious that he understood how much the dynamic between us changed. His hug was a little too fierce. A little too tight. I felt my ribs protesting and I demanded, "Jake, let go, you're squishing me."

Before he had the chance to twitch a muscle, Jasper grabbed his shoulder and ripped him off of me. I heard the shoulder bone crack as Jasper tossed him across the treaty line. He snarled, "Hurt her and I'll send you to a taxidermy, mutt."

Jacob flexed his shoulder and his eyes flashed. "Touch me again, leech, and I'll force-feed you your own leg."

I glared at them both. Jacob lowered his gaze and mumbled an empty apology. Jasper crossed his arms stubbornly and looked away. I tried to distract the conversation, "Edward, you had an idea?"

"Jacob." His tone was firm with sudden authority. "I have a proposition for you."

Jake, to my surprise, calmly asked, "And that would be?"

Edward smiled. "If you permit me to stay with Bella, we will let you come see her at her house."

Jacob's eyes flashed and he stubbornly declined, "Never. I can come and see her anytime I want!"

Alice fought that, "Bella's house is within Cullen territory. If any of your pack members are on it, we can shamelessly rip you apart and you know it. It's the reason your brothers had to stand by and watch that gray one die in the forest."

I was surprised to learn that. I assumed Embry and Paul were waiting for Jacob to appear on scene. I didn't realize they had been aware of the fact they were breaking the treaty by just being there.

Jacob glanced at me and asked gruffly, "What do you think, Bella? Can we trust him?"

Jasper was much too hostile to be on enemy territory. Alice probably wouldn't go for it. Apparently, she was freaked out when the werewolves being around blinded her visions.

Edward was level headed and the only one tolerant enough to keep the peace among the wolves.

I nodded.

Jacob glanced at Edward. "You stay two feet away from us at all times."

Edward decided, "Unless Bella or Silas are in danger, I'll keep my distance."

Jacob sighed darkly, nodded once, and then pulled me across the border. He asked, "Do you want to go back to Silas now? I should be with Quil."

I smiled, "That's fine. Take as long as you need. You can go now, if you want. I know the way."

He looked torn, but he knew as well as I did that his friend needed him. Jacob gently brushed hair out of my face and whispered, "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay."

He phased before springing back towards the beach. Jasper fretted, "You'll call me, right Bella?"

I smiled at him. "Yes, I'll call you."

He kissed me gently, then whispered, "I love you, sugar bear. Keep Edward safe."

I smiled, "Don't worry, cowboy, I'll protect him from the big bad wolves."

Alice giggled, and I smiled at her. Edward asked me, "Are you ready, Bella?"

I took his hand and led him over the border. His entire body stiffened, but other than that he looked relatively calm. We waved to the others as we walked deeper into La Push. Soon, they were out of sight.

Edward asked me, "Anything I need to know before we get to the den?"

I warned him with total seriousness, "Watch out for Paul, don't be surprised if Embry stalks us, and you should hide if Kim comes over."

Edward's eyes softened and he asked, "She was Jared's mate, correct?"

I nodded.

Edward whispered fiercely, "He didn't mean to kill him, Bella. It's not Jasper's fault. When he's attacked, or provoked too hard, he can't help it. He's been hardwired to act aggressively."

I smiled sadly. "It's okay, Edward, you don't have to tell me. I know."

We neared the house, and to no huge surprise, Paul was waiting for us. He looked absolutely furious as he glared at Edward, but he stood stiffly and kept quiet as we climbed the stairs of the porch.

His detached voice informed me, "Silas was wanting you, Bella. He refuses to sleep until he sees you."

I sighed, "Okay. Thanks, Paul."

My answer was a bitter snort and a turned head. Edward followed me into the house and up the stairs. I stopped him from coming into Jacob's room.

He frowned in confusion. I explained quietly, "Silas doesn't exactly cope well with thinking about you guys yet."

Edward nodded and hung back as I entered the room.

Today I will recommend the story Walking The Ghost written by voldemortperfumes. It's the most unconventional Jasper/Bella you will ever find. It's a cannon based fic! This side of Bella just rocks. Other characters besides Jasper included.