I still own nothing...

Chapter 3

Isabella Swan... sitting in front of me...right there...Bella Swan...Vampire...Bookstore... in a chair...right there...in Italy... starring at me... Vampire...Bella... Bella was a Vampire. She was sitting in front of me. Bella was in a bookstore in Italy.

It took me a bit, but my mind finally started to come back to me. With my mind back I didn't know what to do. Should I hug her to make sure she is real? Would she freak if I threw myself down to my knees and sobbed in her lap? Could I grab her, put her in my lap and bury my nose in her hair and purr?

"Jaspe,r please say something" she said pulling me from my fantasy of purring for her. I opened my mouth... and paused. What could I say to her? 'Bella, I know you already forgave me twice now for trying to eat you...' No that won't work, someone could only take having a traumatic event shoved in their face so many times; it would be best not to bring that up. I closed my mouth. I sat there and thought for a moment, I opened my mouth again...'Bella what the Hell are you doing here...' No, I don't know if she has any powers and pissing her off with my first real sentence would be bad. I closed my mouth, I know I was going a great impression of a fish. If Emmett could see me now acting like a fish and at a lose for what to say... I opened my mouth ready to say something when I was interrupted by the human that gave me the note snorting. How did I not notice him standing there? I was not the only one not pleased with his interruption as Bella turned and glared at him.

"How... but you...we thought...when..." I stuttered when she turned back to me. Okay so maybe my brain was not completely functioning. Not only did I not make a complete sentence, but I asked the obvious question.

"How else does one become like us," she asked giggling at my stupid question. I smiled at the sound of her giggle, I would make it my life mission to her to do it more. The next thing out of her mouth ruined any work I had done to get my mind working again. "And roughly six months after you and your family left." The only good thing that came from that bit of information was I now knew why Alice wasn't able to see her anymore. Although now it opened other questions; questions that I needed answers to. I may not understand why I am feeling the mating pull but I knew I NEEDED to know what happened when we left.

"Who?" It was the only word I could get out without letting lose a growl that was starting to bubble to the surface.

"Laurent," she sighed quietly. God Damn It! I knew we shouldn't have let him leave…Wait she's still talking. "I was hiking with," she paused, this is not going to be good, "friends and I got separated." Hiking? Friends? What kind of friends leaves someone as… well her in the forest? Why was it so hard for her to call them friends? Still more questions then answers at this point. "As he said I had interrupted his hunt and he could not pass me up." I could feel her eyes on me, gauging my reaction. As long as her story did not get any worse I might be able to suppress my instincts; but the way she was looking at me I didn't think so. "Although he knew killing me was going to make Victoria very angry, but it was better that he killed me because it would be fast and almost painless where as if it were Victoria…" At that I could not stop the growls any longer. That piece of filth dared to even think about touching my mate! I was going to kill him, and Victoria would be next.

"I will kill him for biting you and then her for even thinking about hurting you!" I continued to growl. My instincts to protect what was mine were kicking into overdrive as I started to picture the human Bella. The very innocent and unprotected, the weak and alone human Bella. Oh God the mating pull hurt!

"Easy Jasper." In my red haze of anger I watched her reach over and try to comfort me. What is wrong with this picture? She should not have been the one to comfort me, it should have been the other way around. "I wouldn't worry about it." Wouldn't worry about it? Was she CRAZY? My mate was threatened, of course I was going to worry about it. I watched her face shift as she ran through her memory; a slight wicked smile gracing her lips. "They have already been taken care of." Oh Bloody Hell. I knew that type of smile, my mate had already taken care of the situation. I am not a proud to say just the thought of that smile, and what caused it, was a huge turn on. Her reprimand, on the other hand, squashed my lust filled vibe. "Would you like to hear the rest or are you going to continue to growl at something from the past?"

"Sorry," I muttered. It was time to turn back on my southern charm; I did not need her leaving now that I had found her. "Please continue."

"Well, as I told you before, Laurent decided that I would satisfy his thirst." I was astounded at how calmly she was saying all of this. "He bit me, but was interrupted by some local guys from the reservation." I couldn't help the skeptical look I gave her. A human, no matter where they were from was not going to stop a Vampire in mid drink. "Tell me Jasper; were you there when Carlisle made the treaty with the tribe?" What did the treaty have to do with how they stopped Laurent? I watched her, trying to gather answers from her face. I couldn't stop the gasp from escaping when I watched her lift a coffee cup to her perfect lips and actually drink. "Sorry," she smiled a sweet smile. "This," she shook the cup at me, "is one of my little quirks. Those are for another timethough." She had that right, as much as I wanted to know everything about her this was not the time or place.

"No, I was not, but of course I know all about it," I said, everyone in the family was aware of the treaty and the wolves. "What does that have to do with how Laurent was stopped?"

""Do you remember their legends," She continued after another sip from her cup. I quickly ran through everything I had heard. "Come to find out that the story was true," She went on after I let her know I was ready to hear more. "Four giant wolves, the start of their new pack, stopped Laurent. They were too late to save me, but were able to catch and kill Laurent." If I ever met with those wolves they would have my eternal thanks.

"How did you live afterward?" I had to know how she lived with no one to teach or guide her.

"Another one of my quirks is that I don't have any blood lust," she said to quick for humans. At least she did not suffer the horrors that most Vampires deal with. ""I made up an excuse to miss some time from school, and then when I was ready I returned. Since I was a loner after you guys left, no one really noticed anything different," she finished normally. Well humans were normally less observant about things they didn't understand. But surely Charlie would have noticed something? He was a police officer, weren't they suppose to notice more?

"What about Charlie? He was a cop. I am sure that he saw something."

"I spent all of my free time at the reservation." She what? She stayed on the reservation… with the wolves? "I am sure he saw something, but he was better off not knowing. I think he was more afraid that if he said anything or did something that I would..."

"You would what?" I don't think I liked how that sounded.

"Nothing," I watched her lower her head, taking her eyes away from mine. This is something we were going address. "Anyway," she started quickly again, obviously trying to change the subject. I let it go, for now. "After I finished school I moved onto the reservation and became part of the..."

"You mean you lived with werewolves?" Not only was she visiting the wolves, she lived with them. Didn't she realize how dangerous they could be?

"Yes, I did Jasper." I could see her start to war with her own emotions, which brought to mind… Why the Hell could I not feel her? "I might not be normal, but I still needed to know how to hunt and take care of myself." So this was how she learned, but it really didn't matter.

"But they are dangerous! They could have hurt you, or even killed you! What were you thinking?" I was so livid that she would put herself in that situation that I let go a hiss.

"Jasper, you either need to calm yourself or I am leaving." She started to leave. I couldn't let her leave! "I am sure we will meet again eventually, and I will be happy to continue then."

"No," I raised my voice in panic and instinctively reached for her. ""Please don't go," I begged her. "I am sorry, I will try to stay calm," I said when she took her arm back. I could see her unbelieving glare on my face. "I promise, I will try."

"Alright," she leaned back in her chair and continued with her tale. When she mentioned Victoria again the red haze was back. I vaguely remember the pain on her face when mentioning Edward and the words 'Mate for a Mate.' The haze lifted slightly when she said that Victoria was dead. I still wished it was me, but at least she was dead.

"What did you do after that," I asked needing to hear something else to help lift the haze before I went on a murdering rampage.

"I stayed at the res." Do NOT growl, do not growl was my new mantra . After a few more sips from her coffee she continued. "Not sure if you guys stayed up on the news from Washington wherever you went, but four years after Victoria, Charlie was shot on duty and was killed."

""I am so sorry Bella," I sighed. Not only to have been turned into a Vampire but to lose her dad so soon. "I didn't know," I stated the obvious. "Did they catch the person?"

"Yes." Again I did not like that face. "But not until after an 'anonymous' call telling the police where he was hiding."

"Please tell me you didn't hunt your father's killer," I asked her starring into her eyes, pleading with mine that she didn't.

"I did not hunt him alone." She again dropped her eyes from me. "I was the one who kept him alive for the police to find. If it was up to the pack and Jacob they would have handled it themselves."

"Oh Bella," I tried to send her calming waves, but they just bounced off of her. I watched her as a tear trickled down her cheek. Not wanting to draw attention to us by grabbing her, placing her on my lap and purring I continued, "No one should have to do that, no matter who they have with them."

"I still stayed there at the res afterward. I set up a scholarship in Charlies name with some of the benefit money. I wanted to make sure that after I left, Charlie would still be remembered," she continued with her story, again in an attempt to change the subject. I, again, let it go. We would talk, but this still was not the right place or time. "Then 10 years later, Renee and Phil were killed in a car crash on their way home from one of Phil's High School baseball games. After taking care of everything there, I realized that there was nothing left holding me to Washington but the pack. I no longer needed to play the human for anyone; I had nothing left." That last line broke my heart.

"I decided to go out on my own, travel to the places I always wanted to go, do something for myself for a change. The pack agreed, as long as I continued not to change my eating habits and that I came back for visits. Actually, I am due for a visit soon. If I don't go there is no telling what mischief they will cause." No way in Hell was she going back there without me "I'm sorry Jasper," she apologized. I am sure she didn't mean to spend her entire day talking with me. "I am monopolizing your time. I am sure there is something else you needed to do besides hear my story." Again, to my distress, she started to get ready to leave.

"No, it's fine." I checked my watch, I still had time before I had to meet Aro. "I am meeting some of Carlisle's old friends in a few hours." I couldn't help but notice the strange look she gave me. "I would rather spend time with you than wandering around waiting for my meeting. That is if you don't mind?" Maybe she did mind, she seemed to be lost in her head. But then she gave that beautiful smile as she took another drink of her coffee. If I could dream that smile would have a staring role.

"Of course I would love to spend more time with you," she shook her cup, pouting slightly, "but let me get a refill first."
"Let me get that for you," I said, rising from my seat. "What were you having?"

"Always the gentleman," Again there was that smile. If only she knew what thoughts were running through my head because if that smile she would think again about calling me a gentleman. "Peppermint White Mocha." I nodded, taking the cup from her my hand just brushing hers. As soon as we touched I felt the last sign I needed to know that we were, in fact, mates. As our hands met there was instant electricity, jolts of energy shooting through our hands, by the look on Bella's face she felt it too.

"I will be right back." I still did not know what this met for me or her. The family was under the impression that she was Edwards mate. Even when he married Tanya some thought he was going for the next best thing since we all thought Bella was dead. Alice and I knew though that Tanya and him were actually mates. I was still confused and I am sure it read on my face. I needed to step away from the situation and think, so I turned toward the counter to get her another cup of coffee.

I didn't need anymore signs. I knew without a doubt that Isabella Swan was my mate. I was not going to question it; it would be pointless anyway. From the many Vampires I had met I knew that the pull was there for both mates, but it was stronger for the males. Why that was, no one really knew. My opinion was that because the male was normally the protector of the pair he needed something to be able to find his mate when they were in danger. In my experience it also was the male that sensed the mate pull, he the in turn started the relationship. Once the connection was recognized by both it... well... from what I had seen was that it was a battle to keep hands...lips...other things...off of each other.

I was now faced with a whole knew situation other then Aro forcing me into the guard. Now, I had to find a way to have Bella admit our connection. Part of me says that the only reason I am eager for this was simply to help heal her. I could see with every way she hid her eyes or changed the subject when things got hard, that she was emotionally scared. I am positive that a big chunk of that was mine and the families fault. How was else was I going to help her without my power unless I could pull her into my lap and purr for her? That purr was the one thing a male had in his arsenal. I had seen a small purr from a newborns mate stop them in mid rampage, it calmed them almost faster then I could with my power. My purr would have her calm and open to answering my questions in a few seconds flat.

Another part of me was going the all male way. Even though we had just reconnected I could not wait to rip her clothes off, spread her legs and bury myself deep inside. Again the purr could be my allie. My purr, once our connection was declared, would have her body instinctively reacting, getting itself ready for me.

Once I had her new coffee in hand I turned back to her, with my mind pleasantly occupied. Although now I had a whole new problem that was making itself known. I calmed myself as I walked by reminding myself that I was a gentleman. There was no way Bella would be ready to be claimed that way, at least so soon after meeting again. Even though I was normally the type of male that once he knew what he wanted he took it, I was going to have to be gentle with Bella; even if it killed me.

"There you go," I said once I returned obviously interrupting her own deep thoughts. "One fresh coffee." I put the cup on the table near her, not wanting to cause the electricity again and running the risk of frightening her off. As I watched her face light up, I found myself asking my continence if it would be wrong to throw myself to my knees, wrap my arms around her waist, bury my head in her lap and purr for all I was worth?

"Thank you. Now it is your turn." She took a sip of her drink and shook her head as I started to protest. "Oh, I insist. I cannot do all the talking, it's not fair." I did not want to say the wrong thing and upset her. Should I tell her everything?

"Fine," I sighed. Maybe if I left her to ask questions instead me narrating my life it would not be so bad. "What do you want to know?"

"Anything." There was that smile, that beautiful breathtaking, light up my world smile. "Anything at all."

"Well," I tried to get slightly more comfortable, "when we left Forks we spent time in Alaska staying near some friends of ours." Short and sweet, no way I could upset her with that.

"The Denali family?" Crap.

"Yes, they are the closest to family that we have ,although the only thing that we really have in common is our eating habits. We only stayed there for a few months; Carlisle did not like being idle. We then moved to a small town in Illinois where the hospital was in desperate need of a good doctor." That was simple enough not to bother her, right? There was no need to go into the wedding, she wouldn't know about it anyway. "That was about it really. We would settle for awhile then move before we got attached to the area or we drew to much attention to ourselves."

"Jasper, I know there was more. I know that you are trying to spare my feelings." I was the one to break eye contact by looking at my lap. Was I that easy to read now? "Let me let you in on a secret." She leaned closer to me, like she was going to tell me a secret. "I already know that Edward and Tanya are together. The last thing that I heard they were very happy." Double Crap. Now what was I going to do?

"I am sorry Bella," I stated simply. "The family and I only suspected something was going on a few weeks before they left together to get married. I am sure you're hurt." I knew she had to be hurting they were so close before . Wait. One. Blasted. Minute. My narrowing eyes snapped to hers. "How did you find out?" I had this feeling I was missing something.

"I have my ways," she waived me off! Yes, I was most defiantly missing something here. "Believe it or not Jasper, I was not hurt that bad when I heard. I had already cried my last tear for him, so there was nothing left for the news. I am happy that he has found his equal and I hope they stay happy together." I wanted to believe her.

"When did you get so thoughtful," I asked watching her face to see if she was lying before.

"Oh, I have always been this way. But you could say that experience has made a difference." Oh my God that smile is going to be my undoing! Would it really be wrong to throw myself at her, burying my head in her lap and purr?

"Is that a nice way to say that you matured more as you got older?" I couldn't help an age joke, I was desperate to hear her laugh again.

"Yes," she laughed, music to my ears. "But no matter the situation, every lady hates being called old." The little minx threw a book at my head. "So," she started again, still giggling slightly, "what about you and Alice?" As happy now to find out that my mate was sitting right in front of me, this was not something I really wanted to talk about. But if I wanted her to open up to me, I had to open up to her.

"Well," I sighed. I placed her book back on the table, taking the time to think of what I was going to say. "I am sure you have noticed that we are not together?" I watched her as I spoke. When she nodded I continued. "Well about six years after leaving she started to become very distant with me. I thought that she blamed me for snapping at you causing Edward to push to leave. I thought that if I gave her some time she would come back to me, but still she continued to pull away. Finally after about a month of this I had enough and just left, telling her that no matter what was going on I could handle it and when she was ready to tell me all she had to do was call."

"What was it Jasper?"

"Something that I knew would happen eventually but was hopping wouldn't," I shifted in my seat, though I was essentially over Alice it still hurt. "I will never bet against Alice again," I muttered looking at my lap. Snapping my self out of my depression, I looked up at her and started to explain what happened. "Years before we met you Bella, Alice had a vision of her finding her true soul mate and it wasn't me. She told me that I was what she and her heart needed at the time, but I was not her true mate." Her hand went to her lips as she gasped. "I loved her anyway, knowing that eventually I would step aside let her go to another."

"So she found her true mate?"

"When she started to pull away she had another vision of him and he was getting closer. She was hoping that by pulling away little by little that, when she did leave me, it would not hurt so bad." I just realized how close this sounded like what Edward did to her.

"Let me tell you from experience, that just makes it worse." Yeah I am going to beat him to an inch of his afterlife for making her so sad.

"You know it hurt for a while, but now that she is with him and she is happy, I get hope there is someone for me."I said this looking directly at her. Would she get the hint?

"You know there is," she reached over and patted my leg. "I have always believed that there is someone for everyone, it just takes some longer to find them."

"I guess it really is not that bad. I am still part of her life as a brother now and William is not that bad of a guy. He takes really good care of her, so doting on her." Then it hit me. Alice. Even though she could not see Bella and everyone else thought she was gone Alice always thought we would see her again. "You know when I left to go on my own she said that I would find you. Made me promise to give you a letter when I did. I keep it with my things at each hotel I stay at just in case. She just kept saying that 'when you find Bella you will find what you are looking for.'" I always thought Alice was losing it. I should have known not to bet against Alice.

"So when do I get my letter?" I could hear the humor in her voice, but I was all for getting her alone.

"We could go and get it now if you wish?" I quickly checked my watch, it would not be a good idea to be late to see Aro. "It's only a little before 3:30. My hotel is not that far from here."

"As much as I would like to, I really can't. I too have a meeting at four o'clock and I would rather spend my last few minutes just talking." As I watched her face break out in a grin. I again felt as I was missing something. "So you said you were meeting friends of Carlisle's today?" I think I might be moving into a trap.

"Yes, I am sure you know that the Volturi live near here?" Her grin grew slightly evil. My brain was screaming...TRAP TRAP TRAP "Well the leaders are very old friends of Carlisle's, you know he stayed with them for a while?" TRAP TRAP TRAP "The last time I talked with Carlisle I told him that I becoming bored just traveling, that I wanted to do something with myself. I wanted to feel useful again." I shrugged at my idea. "When I told him I was in Italy he told me to look them up, that maybe they could find me a job."

"I am sure they could find you something." Even though her smile was starting to wain I could not shake the feeling of she knew something. "What if they offered you a spot on the guard?"

"I don't know. I know that it is kind of extreme. That once you are part of the guard there is no turning back. I think as long as they allow me to keep my eating habits then I think I could handle whatever they throw at me." I did not want to scare her and have her thinking I was going to be in danger or change who I was.

"The guard is much different then you think." She so knew something she was not saying! "Well Jasper,"I watched her stand before I could question her. "I really need to get going. I have a few people I need to talk to before my own meeting." I watched her start to gather her things. I saw the small signal to the two humans behind her.

"Wait!" I needed to find a way to get her to slow down, that is when I saw her book she threw at me, I quickly grabbed it before she could. "How am I to contact you to be able to see you again?" When she turned to me again I handed her the book.

"You'd be surprised where I pop up at Jasper." What the Hell did she know and why wasn't she saying what it was? "But hand me your phone. I will put my number in your contact list." I was not going to make her ask twice. "You can call me when you want. If I don't answer just leave a message," she said handing me back the phone with a small smile.

"Thank you Bella," I took advantage of the situation and pulled her to me for a tight hug. I never thought I would be so happy to feel the electricity run through me. "It was great to see you again. I sure have missed you." I couldn't help but tease her a bit, so when I felt her arms go around my waist I pushed her shoulders back a bit so I could see her face. "You know it is nice to spend time with you and not worry about killing you."

"Thanks Jasper," She rolled her beautiful golden eyes and shoved at me. "Every lady wants to hear that, too." She started to walk away, but turned with a smile locking her eyes with mine, "I am sure we will see each other soon."

As I watched her meet with two other humans and walk out of the store I realized I had a list of questions for the next time I met with her. One. Who were the humans that just surrounded her, escorting her out of the bookstore? Two. Why could I not sense her emotions? Three. How long has she been on the animal diet? Four. What. The. Hell. Did. She. Know. That. I. Didn't. Five. Please for the LOVE OF GOD could I bury my head somewhere on her body and purr for her?