~So, I admit it, I copied some parts from "Eclipse" in this chapter because it'd be too hard to re-write it. So don't sue me and we'll all be happy! I also skipped over a bunch of it because I'm too lazy to retype a whole chapter, and reworked some of it.

"That's a nice story," Bella said once Jasper had finished telling her of his past.

Jasper, Edward and I stared at her like she had officially gone of the deep end.

"I meant the last part," she quickly added. "The happy ending." I pondered Bella's sanity by her choice to refer to me as Jasper's "happy ending."

"An army, "Alice whispered. "Why didn't you tell me?" everyone then turned to stare at Jasper.

"I thought I must be interpreting the signs incorrectly," he explained before launching into the speech I'd already heard. I didn't really listen, but I tried to. I should get points for that or something.

"You knew about this?" Edward asked me quietly.

I nodded.

"And you didn't say anything?"

"I asked her not to," Jasper cut in, suddenly very defensive. Edward backed off, not wanting to agitate his brother and the expertise included.

What was I supposed to say to them anyway, even if Jasper hadn't asked me to tell? I couldn't explain it half as well as him and Edward should've understood that. They discussed all their options for awhile, who they could turn to for help, why Alice wasn't seeing anything that was going on, how to keep Bella safe, and if they'd have to act before the Volturi.

I could see Jasper getting tenser by the second, all the nervous energy must've been wearing on him. I was perched beside him on the couch, unsure of what to do to help. Bella's panic certainly didn't help, but I didn't blame her. She was actually taking it rather well, a lot better than I would have if I'd been told a pack of crazed and vengeful vampires were coming after me.

"What about Amanda?" Bella suddenly asked. Everyone turned sharply to look at her.

"What?" Jasper asked in a quiet, yet hard voice.

"I mean, she's been over here just as much as I have so her scent is all around. And your scent," she looked at Jasper, "is at her house and all over her things, I imagine. What if that got their attention and…sidetracked them?" Bella looked nervous just saying that out loud.

"There's no reason for any vampires outside of us to know about Amanda," Carlisle began. "Besides, Alice doesn't see her being involved."

"Alice can't see a lot of things," Jasper said stiffly. I briefly wondered if it was possible for him to become so tense he'd actually break. I glanced down at his clenched hands half expecting to see little cracks forming in his stone like skin.

Alice looked offended but didn't speak. She appeared more frustrated than anything.

"Even if the Volturi or someone does know about Amanda, there's no reason to kill her," Emmett chimed in, seeming unusually serious. "I mean, no one's ever lost a mate because of her, and she hasn't…you know. Caused any problems."

Carlisle snatched up a cell phone from Jasper and began calling other vampires who he thought could help. He didn't seem to be having much luck.

"This isn't good," Jasper said after Carlisle was off the phone and we all knew what had transpired. "It's too even a fight. We'd have the upper hand in skill, but not in numbers. We'd win, but at what price?"

Bella's eyes widened in horror.

A tense moment passed before anyone said anything, then the nervous chatter began all at once. I found myself sandwiched between Jasper and Emmett as we stood in an informal circle.

I glanced over just in time to see Jasper slip silently out of the room. I looked over to the others to see if I was the only one who saw. Alice gave me a reassuring smile, although it looked a bit forced. Emmett nudged me in the direction Jasper had disappeared off in.

I went onto the front porch, assuming he'd be out there. And I was right. He was seated on the stairs, his head between his hands like he had a migraine or something. I tried to be quiet as I made my way over to sit beside him, but he could probably hear me coming a mile away.

We sat in silence for a few minutes. I didn't know what to say and didn't want to bother him by doing anything stupid, which was bound to happen sooner or later. I'd"I'm sorry," he said suddenly, not looking up from his hands. "But I couldn't be in there any longer."

"You don't have to explain anything."

I wished I could have helped him in some way, but I knew I couldn't. I slid closer to him and started to lightly rub his back with one hand. I knew it probably didn't make any difference, but it was all I could think of.

"I can't believe I've gotten you into this," Jasper mumbled so low I wasn't sure if I was supposed to hear.

"Everything'll be fine," I tried to reassure him.

The Volvo roared out of the driveway, Edward must've been taking Bella home. Tomorrow was Monday, we had school. That was an inconvenient thing to remember.

"No one knows that," he said, looking up for the first time. His anguished gaze met mine. I'd never seen him look so tortured.

"We'll figure something out, nothing bad's gonna happen," I continued on my quest to be upbeat. I was annoying even myself… which happens pretty regularly, anyway.

"If something happens to you because of this…because of me…I couldn't live with myself," he continued. "I don't want to put you under constant watch like they're doing to Bella, I know how much you would hate it. But I don't know how to keep you safe. With Alice not seeing anything…I can't take a risk on your safety. I just don't know what to do."

"Stay with me then," I suggested. "Then you'll know firsthand everything's fine and won't worry yourself sick over it."

"I guess that's the best way," he reluctantly agreed. "But I would feel bad babysitting you like that."

"Whatever'll make you calm down."

He laughed apologetically. "Am I making you nervous?"

"Not really, but I am afraid you'll break a finger off or something," I said, gesturing to his hands clasped together in an iron grip.

He shook his head and smiled slightly in spite of himself.

"I should get you home, too. You have to sleep."

"It's not even late!" I whined.

"Quit protesting, there's only another week or so of classes left anyway," he said and stood up.

"I'm not protesting!" I protested, but I got to my feet anyway. I figured I could go willingly, or kicking and screaming. I was too tired for the latter option. He took my hand and led me into the house.

Alice appeared in the doorway and jingled some car keys. Jasper nodded and Alice led the way to the garage with Jasper and I close behind.

"Is someone planning to tell me what's going on?" I groaned as Jasper crawled into the backseat and Alice started the Mustang as I got into the front.

"I'm taking you home, what does it look like?" Alice chuckled.

"But why is he coming? I'm so confused!" I said exasperatedly. Sometimes I felt like I was missing the part of my brain that made logical assumptions.

"I'm staying with you, but there has to be a car to drop you off in. Alice will come back in the morning to pick us up for school, only we'll make it look like I came too. It's a secret that I'm staying over, what would the neighbors think?" Jasper rambled, seeming almost cheerful. Maybe Alice's mood was rubbing off on him.

I rolled my eyes at him as Alice drove us into the darkness. We arrived at my house in an almost record time. Jasper and I got out of the car and Alice tore away. Jasper grinned sneakily at me before dashing up the large tree by the house and up onto the roof with no effort.

I was very jealous of his coordination as I walked at a painfully slow and lackluster pace inside. I felt so boring next to him sometimes. It wasn't fair he got to be all cool and interesting and I had to be so unexciting. I sighed in frustration and flung the front door open.

"I'm glad you decided to come back," Grandma laughed, looking up from her magazine on the couch.

I shrugged. "They got tired of me."

"I don't believe it. That Alice has more energy than anyone I've ever seen. It looks to me like you got tired and she got bored and sent you home!"

I laughed. That wasn't a far off explanation… I could've believed it.

"That Jasper seems nice," she continued. "Did they have a good camping trip?"

I nodded and sensed this would be a longer conversation than I thought it would be, so I sat on the sofa with her. Although I didn't think it would be much of a conversation, she would talk and talk and I'd nod occasionally. Grandma could give Alice a rambling run for her money.

"He's such a gentleman. Maybe a little old fashioned, too. Is he from the South, by any chance?"

"Texas," I answered. I had no idea where she was going with this. It made me a little nervous. But I imagined that Jasper was getting a kick out of listening from upstairs.

"He's a good boy; you should hang on to him. I'm relieved you've ended up with someone so…normal. With your eccentric nature I was worried who would strike your fancy."

I was amused and surprised. Amused at the fact she had referred to the man upstairs, who was old enough to be her great-great-grandfather or something, as a boy. Surprised that she used the phrase "ended up with"…like it was permanent. Everyone I knew had officially lost their minds.

"Well, I'll let you get going. You have to get up early for school…we all know you're not a morning person," she laughed and shooed me up the stairs.

I scowled at the thought of waking up early. I fervently believed that life shouldn't be allowed to start before at least noon. About the only upside to being a vampire I could see was never having to wake up early. Or wake up at all, for that matter.

I swung my door open to see Jasper lying on his back on my bed smiling.

"A good boy?" he smirked.

"She's old and delusional," I explained and shut the door.

"Apparently. At least I know now I'm a good actor. I should pursue that. It might be a nice little hobby."

"No, because then I'd have to share you with oodles of crazed fangirls!" I protested as I crawled into bed next to him. "I'm not a good sharer. They told me so in first grade."

"You're so peculiar," he chuckled, wrapping an arm around my waist. He pulled me in closer so my back was firmly against his chest.

"That means so muchcoming from the vampire." I rolled my eyes sarcastically. "You could get under the covers, you know. I'm not the one that bites."

He laughed into my hair. "I can't. You'll be freezing after a few minutes."

I hadn't thought of that…obviously. I was glad his brain seemed to be more active than mine. Or maybe it was all that "extra room to think," as he explained to me once.

"Isn't there a technical term for this?" he asked randomly.

"Talking?"

"No, this. I think it's called some form of a utensil. Knifing? Spatula -ing?"

"Spooning?" I snorted.

"That's it. I knew it was something like that, I can't keep up with all of this newfangled lingo," he laughed.

I tried to stifle a yawn with a laugh. I didn't fool him.

"Go to sleep," he said soothingly.

"But you'll be bored just waiting for me to wake up. You can leave, if you want. I don't want you to feel trapped."

"Do you not want me here?" He sounded like he was trying to sound hurt. It wasn't working.

"Of course I do!" I defended. "But I don't want you to feel like you have to guard me every second of every day. I don't think I'll be in any immediate danger. I'm too dull for anyone to care about killing."

"You're the farthest thing from dull I have ever encountered."

There was a slight pause. I concentrated on his presence, amazed that he wanted to be with me. I might never understand it, but I certainly wasn't complaining. Any girl would be thrilled to have him around just to look at, but I'd to know the real Jasper that was hidden from so many others.

"Can I ask you a question? You don't have to answer if you don't want to, and I'm not gonna get upset, I'm just curious," I said pensively.

"That was one question, but I guess I'll allow another. I'm feeling generous."

Ha, the more he was around me the more he turned into a smartass. I should be more careful, at least one person in this relationship needed to have some morals and be wholesome.

"I mean, I know you've been around a long time, so I'm curious if there's ever been…anyone else?" I got a little nervous. Not so much about his answer, just that I didn't want him to think it really mattered to me. It did a little, but not too much. He'd been alive nearly two centuries; he was allowed to have a past. But I did want to know about it.

"Not seriously," he answered, sounding a tad relieved. "Maria and I had a…physical…thing, but nothing more important. When I was alive there was a girl my parents wanted me to court and marry eventually. I didn't dislike her, but she wasn't anything special enough to catch my interest. Lucky for me, by the next year they would all think I was dead."

"But Alice doesn't have anyone, and you didn't until recently. So why didn't the two of you get together?"

"I'd often wondered that myself. I never had actual romantic feelings for her, but I see your point…the matter of convenience," he explained further. I was glad he wasn't getting frustrated with me. "I always assumed she saw something about me she didn't like…maybe in my future, probably a slip-up. But now I think that maybe she saw you."

"That's sweet," I said. I rolled over so I was facing him. I was so much shorter than him that the way we were laying, my head was even with his chest. I hated being a mere 5'3".

He leaned down to my level and kissed me lightly.

"You know," I began suggestively. "It'd be okay if you just admitted you had freaky vampire sex with Maria." I tried to hold in the laughter; I could hardly wait to see his reaction, it would be priceless.

He didn't ruffle a feather, but instead laughed quietly. "Fine, we had freaky vampire sex. But that still doesn't change the fact that you need to go to sleep."

I wrinkled my nose. I didn't want to go to sleep.

"I'll be here when you wake up, don't worry," he said soothingly. "By the way, you look beautiful."

"Alice," I explained.

"Alice can't do everything," Jasper said and I drifted off to sleep.