I don't own it, I just play with it. Thanks Steph…

"Where am I going?" I asked as I reached the bottom of the stairs. Much of the family was there. Rose had gone to stand behind Emmett who sat playing a video game. Edward remained aloof when I spotted him in a corner. It was strange not to interact with him after the history we had, but at the same time I was grateful for his distance. Nothing good could come of talking to him – not yet.

Carlisle had a large map laid out on a table and he and Jasper traced lines with their fingers and spoke in hushed voices. I heard Esme humming in the next room, and Alice flitted here and there, busily rearranging the perfectly arranged bouquets. She looked as if she were hiding something… probably keeping her thoughts from Edward.

"With me." Jasper said, reluctantly pulling his eyes from the map and turning to face me. When his eyes met mine, he froze. I watched the mere instant as they traveled down and up again, taking in Alice's work. He looked… captivated. The expression lasted a mere second, and Edward growled, a low rumble in his chest – almost too soft for me to hear – causing Jasper to turn toward him.

An instantaneous silent discussion took place and he turned back to me. I caught a flash of anger and embarrassment on his face before it calmed to an unruffled and beautiful smile. Looking into my eyes, he again seemed awestruck, though this time as he spoke he seemed relaxed; comfortable. "You look beautiful, Bella."

Blushing, I took his offered hand when he strode toward me to offer it. "Thank you." I managed to mumble. By this point Esme had entered the room and everyone was watching the interaction. It seemed as if they were anticipating something. There was a tense, quiet vigilance to their attention that suggested a threat – violence.

I looked at Edward. The moment my eyes met his he looked away, returning his attention to the occupation in front of him I couldn't see – possibly a book. He was tense, sad, worried… but most of all, he was angry. Probably he didn't like to see me spending so much time with Jasper – who he feared could kill me at any moment – but it wasn't his choice to make… not anymore.

All of this – the tension, the silent audience, the fleeting glimpse of Edward's frame of mind – they all registered; tiny details in the recesses of my mind. But it didn't matter – none of it – because Jasper called me beautiful. He had his hand in mine. Jasper called me beautiful.

I tried to reign in my thoughts as he towed me toward the door. I knew the nervous tension of the room was unsettling him and he wanted to make his escape. I only hoped the strain they caused him had covered my errant thoughts. By the time we reached the door they were safely tucked away, as was the guilt they caused. Jasper was my friend – nothing more.

I waited until we had reached the car before I spoke. Handing me safely in, he sauntered around to his side and I once again marveled at the grace a vampire possesses. There had once been a time when it was awkward for me to be handed in to a car, but Edward had long since cured me of it, and I found I appreciated the quiet moment of reflection it provided every time. I just had to make sure that I wasn't reflecting on Jasper.

"What was that in there?" I asked him as he started the engine and pulled away.

"It's… um… Edward just had something to say to me." Had Edward said something to him about hurting me? If he had… I'd kill him.

"About?"

"About… well, the thoughts I had when I saw you." If a vampire could blush, he would have been beet red. He looked down, ashamed; afraid to meet my eyes.

"Which were?" I didn't want to embarrass him, but if he thought he was a threat to me he was wrong. I had to make him see that.

He huffed a huge breath, turning to face me head on, and gazed into my soul with his burning golden eyes. Now I was the one who was captivated. "You're beautiful, Bella." I couldn't blush; couldn't look away. I just stared at him – dazzled. "He didn't like it when I thought that you looked beautiful." Oh. My. God. How was I supposed to control my thoughts and emotions around Jasper Hale when he looked at me with that entrancing stare; when he said things like that? If this continued, I wouldn't be held responsible for my actions.

"Um… Where are we going?" His eyes turned toward the road, releasing me from the thrill and the torture of my prison.

Looking back to me, he smirked devilishly. "You'll see."

"You know I hate surprises." I was grumbling and I knew it, but I really did hate surprises. What was it with this family and surprises?

"You're right, Bella. I do know that." His face softened slightly as he frowned in concentration. "I'm taking you to a place in Port Angeles. They have an obstacle course there." He looked so worried when he told me, I think he expected me to jump out the car.

Truthfully, I was horrified. Why in the world would he think I could survive an obstacle course, let alone enjoy it? I remembered our talk in the forest; the agreement we made, and I knew I had to go. I had to. I wanted Jasper to believe that he could defy his nature; that he was strong and that he could do something he had been led to believe for centuries that he couldn't do.

If I wanted him to get past his negative beliefs of himself, I had to try to do the same for him. And he was trying. Yes, I would try. And like he had told me before – Jasper would never let me fall. I smiled at the thought – actually smiled. I was most certainly losing my mind, but today might not be so bad, after all.

The ride there would have been pleasant, if not for the torture. Jasper was beside me. I could smell him. He smelled so good I just wanted to taste him… wanted to run my tongue along his… STOP IT! Ugh. I had to get ahold of myself. I tried not to look at him, but my eyes drifted to him again and again. Sometimes he would look to me and smile, but he seemed awfully focused on his driving for a vampire.

There was so much tension between us that we couldn't get a conversation started. One of us would speak occasionally, but we could never really get to talking. As we approached the city, I began to be relieved, but remembering the reason we were there as we traversed the city streets, I was terrified.

"You're going to be just fine, Bella." I felt an incredible wave of calm contentment settle over me and I smiled. Taking his hand, I gave it a squeeze.

"I know I will, Jasper… as long as you're there." Our hands still joined, he brought them up to brush my cheek.

"Good girl." I didn't miss it when our hands came to rest on my lap. I was too content to be nervous. I felt the cool stone on my thigh as it seeped through the material of my jeans and a shiver ran through me. If it bothered Jasper he didn't show it.

As we pulled into the parking lot another flash of fear was washed away and he led me in calmly, stopping first to grab a duffel bag from the trunk. It was only then I realized I hadn't even noticed what he was wearing today. My eyes had never made it past his face.

I looked now and my heart stopped. His jeans hung low on his hips and his black t-shirt gracefully traced every line of his muscular chest. The sleeves were rolled slightly, revealing his powerfully built arms. It all pulled together to reveal a cool, sexy man with a mysterious confidence.

As I took him in, he smirked at me, the look one of self-assured ease. He made my knees weak and I didn't know what I could do to stop it. Still under his calm, confident spell, I relaxed into him when he threw his arm over my shoulder, leading me inside.

"Okay, Bella" I vaguely heard his words as we stepped up to the course. I had been a nervous wreck while I changed into the shorts and tank top Alice had packed for me. The dressing room was empty of people, but also of Jasper's reassuring presence. Now that I was with him, I felt a little better, but he wasn't calming me. He wanted me to believe in myself and apparently that included learning to make my own self-assurance.

"You're going to do just fine, honey. I'm going to be right here with you. You know I won't let you fall." He was right, I decided. What could it hurt to try? What did I have to lose? He would catch me if I fell. Looking again at the course before me, I decided to try to master it; enjoy it, even. If I fell, I fell. I wasn't going to let it get the best of me.

The first obstacle before me was a steeply angled structure with treads. I stepped up to it, but as I did it seemed to get taller and began to look impossible. How in the world was I going to climb that without falling off?

"You promised you'd try, Bella… you have to stop doubting yourself: that was the deal. If you fail, you fail. But the deal was you would believe in yourself." And the deal was that he would trust himself around me. He had driven with me all the way to Port Angeles enclosed in a car and now here he was, helping me through an obstacle course.

He was right. I had to stop doubting myself before I tried. I was going to spend the afternoon finding out what I could do, rather than assuming I couldn't. I reached for the first tread and began to climb. The further I went, the better I did. Before long, I was at the top, and by the time I slung my leg over the top I was beaming.

Looking down at Jasper, I saw his smile echo my own and I was proud – proud of the accomplishment, but more so that I could make him feel good. I didn't even have to think when I pulled my other leg over the peak, scrambling down the other side.

"Good job, Bella. Come on." He was very matter-of-fact, not seeming the least bit surprised and I could see his military background coming out in him. He showed me where and how to place my feet so I wouldn't trip on the tires and as I walked through the first set, then ran through the second, I didn't stumble.

As I reached an overhead structure which served as the equivalent of monkey bars, my coordination was fine, but my upper body strength was lacking. Undeterred, I tried again as I fell off, but after my second fall, Jasper put his hands on my hips, taking only some of my weight, but allowing me to accomplish the task.

His cool hands slipped slightly under the hem of my shirt as I wriggled and squirmed my way across, and I was overcome by a surge of lust so powerful I nearly dropped from the rung. Pushing myself hard to finish quickly, I covered the feeling, but surely he must have noticed it.

He was the perfect gentleman, never betraying the feeling with any reaction of his own, and I had to kick myself once again. The rest of the course went much the same; Jasper spotting me when needed, me struggling to do what I could.

He let me know that he expected competency from me and showed no surprise when I completed each task I was given. By the end of the course, I no longer doubted my ability and took each challenge as it came. I had no disasters, no blood, no falls; no run-ins with my clumsiness whatsoever.

By the end I was sore, tired, worn out, and definitely ready for the shower, but I had come to expect more from myself. I had honestly enjoyed the day and had grown much closer to Jasper, watching in awe his belief in me, his ability to take control and yet, give it over, and his strength.

As I showered and dressed in the locker room, finally free to feel my emotions without an audience I chastised myself for feeling the way I had all the times he had touched me. I had grown closer to him, yes… but had I grown too close?

Well, I know the last chapter sucked. I'm sorry I posted it. I should have fixed it, but I knew you guys were waiting. That's no excuse, though, and I apologize. Does this one help make up for it? Forgive me? Pretty please???