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

"You did well today, Bella." Jasper looked at me with met expectations, nothing more. He knew I could do this – even when I didn't.

"Thank you, Jasper." The car was racing down the road on autopilot, the trees flashing by, the lines on the road a pulsing blur, but as I looked into his beautiful eyes, swirling with honey and cinnamon, the world stood still. He betrayed no emotion; showed no indication that anything at all was different.

Could he not feel the way he affected me? Did he not notice the world stop spinning? How could he miss that my heart was racing, my breathing was labored and irregular? I knew I shouldn't feel this way about him, but I couldn't escape him. He was everywhere – he covered me like a blanket until he was the only thing in the world that was real; the only thing that existed.

It was eternity before the spell was broken. "You're quite welcome." And his voice pulled me in… It was deep and low and smooth, and I would listen to it forever… "It was my pleasure. Really."

Closing my eyes, I finally regained myself and a flash of embarrassment rushed in taking the place of every other thought and feeling I had just experienced. What was wrong with me? I was crushing on Jasper! I fought hard to regain my composure, embarrassed further by the fact that he could feel all this.

"I had a good time." I told him, sure to look out the window to avoid his gaze. "I'm glad you took me."

"Bella," He paused and I glanced over to see him looking down, brow furrowed in concentration. He looked serious and pensive; looked as if he was trying to find the right thing to say. "I have to thank you."

"For what?" Now he had me curious. I studied his face carefully, but it gave nothing away.

"For everything. For being my friend. For trusting me with your life. For believing in me when no one else did." Lost in thought, he paused a moment. When he looked at me again he smiled. "It's easier now." He told me, smiling, and I could feel his pride shining through him; could see it in his eyes – and try as I might to avoid them, I couldn't stay away from those eyes.

"It used to be so hard for me. Anytime I was around humans it was torture. And it was hard for me to be with you, too. It's different now… I can be around you. I know the thirst is there, but I can manage it. I can push the monster back and enjoy my friend."

"I told you it would be that way. You're getting desensitized."

"Yes, you did. But that's not all of it. It's easier now for me to be around other humans, too. You…" he paused again, looking down and I took the time to try to read him without risking his eyes. His head stayed down as he spoke, and I found myself caught up in what he would say as if it were the most important thing in the world. Neither of us noticed the world rushing by us, but the car remained perfectly centered in the lane.

"I've fought this thing inside me for so long, Bella. I've struggled so hard. And no one thought I could win. They all understood; they accepted that I would probably never tame it. And Bella, you saved me." He looked up at me and his eyes were on fire. They burned into me with an intensity that's unimaginable. I couldn't breathe and I couldn't look away. "You took my life and made it something worth living."

"Jasper…" I took his hand. "It was you… It was always you." As he looked down again, shame clear in his bowed head and his hunched shoulders, my heart ached for him. I moved closer, putting my hand on his shoulder.

"Jasper… Have you had more trouble when you're around the others?" He looked at me, curious. He focused on my face, trying to guess where I was going with this. "Is it easier when you're on your own?" His nod encouraged me, though he didn't speak. He was still trying to discover my aim.

"Has it ever occurred to you that in the Cullen family you're the weakest link not only because they don't believe in you and you don't believe in yourself, but because you're feeling seven thirsts, rather than one?" His face wrinkled in concentration, but he didn't answer, so I pressed further.

"Do they usually let you alone with humans?"

"Well, no. But…"

"Have you spent any time alone with humans before?"

"Well… no." He was beginning to see what I saw, and he wasn't sure how to take the idea. There was a lot for him to process.

"And now that you're alone with me… how are you doing?"

"I'm doing fine, Bella… but…"

"No. Jasper, look at me." I realized my mistake immediately as his eyes, defensive and argumentative, confused, thoughtful, and introspective, after meeting mine shifted to something else, something raw and hungry and powerful.

"You are stronger than you think. And when you're not around them; not feeling their hunger with your own, you do so well. When you're around them – even fighting seven thirsts rather than one – you resist. Jasper… when will you see how strong you are?"

He stopped. The car pulled quietly to the side of the road and he looked at me. He looked at me with intensity blazing in his eyes. It was a look of determination; of purpose and resolve. I stared back at him… my eyes wide, my heart pounding. I forgot breathing entirely: breath was not important in this moment.

Leaning closer to me, he slowly reached for me. The whole world was in slow motion – his every movement unhurried and deliberate. Curling his hand around behind my head, he pulled me to him.

"Bella…" he whispered against me, and my name was a caress on his lips. I shivered as he traced his nose down the long line of my jaw to my chin, back up to my ear, then down my neck to my collarbone. Finally, he came to rest on my pulse point and remained there, inhaling deeply.

I closed my eyes, trying to control the lust that tried to rush through me at his close proximity. I endeavored to feel comfort, love, affection… all the innocent emotions I could manage toward him in this moment, but the lust still struggled through it all.

"You're not afraid…" he murmured against me. It wasn't a question: he could feel the answer for himself.

"No." I insisted firmly "I'm not."

"Bella…" he whispered again into my neck and I melted into nothingness at the mere mention of my name. So gently it almost brought tears to my eyes, he pressed his lips to my neck. It was at this very point that he could choose to take my life, but I knew him; trusted him. He would never hurt me and I strove to make him see.

The kiss was still, gentle, and loving. I understood the reason behind it and I loved him more for it. He wanted to show me – and show himself – that he would never hurt me; that I was no longer a temptation to him, but a person – a friend.

As he pulled away, he looked at me with eyes full of wonder and awe. "You trust me so completely, Bella…" His tone was almost questioning. He still couldn't understand his own strength.

"You won't hurt me, Jasper. I'm not afraid."

"Thank you." It was two simple words, but there was so much in them. As he pulled back onto the lonely highway, coasting once more through the bordering forest, he was introspective. I looked at him as his eyes trained themselves to the road and I could feel him disconnect from me.

What had I done? I tried not to feel it – I honestly did – but somewhere along the line I had messed up… I had fallen in love with Jasper Hale. I was thankful for his inattention for the remainder of the drive as my thoughts and feelings switched to overload. He peeked at me occasionally, but kept his feelings to himself.

We were quiet as we pulled into the garage of the Cullen home – quiet, but once again comfortable. I wondered how much of this feeling had to do with Jasper's gift. Grateful for it in any case, I headed inside to share the good news of my survival with a smile on my face and Jasper's hand in mine.

Tired, but proud, I marched into the house to find no one.

"Hello?" I called out, but I heard nothing. A moment later, Jasper appeared next to me – a note in hand.

"They went to play baseball." He told me, looking at the scrap of paper. "They want me to join them."

"Oh." I said, disappointment closing in on me. "Well, I guess I'll just see them later." There wasn't a storm outside – not yet. It wasn't even raining, but one must be coming if they were going to play. It was fairly routine for me to be with the Cullens and one of them would have called Charlie, but it really was getting late. I would go on home and let Jasper join them.

"Thanks for today, Jasper." I said sincerely, grabbing him up in a huge hug. He stiffened slightly for the briefest moment, but soon relaxed into my warmth, wrapping himself around me and filling me with his own warmth. A moment of wonder ran away with me as I marveled at the way someone ice cold and made of impenetrable stone could feel soft and warm around me.

Jasper smelled so good - I had never smelled anything so good – and I inhaled him deeply, soaking up the beautiful feelings that were flowing from him freely, many of which were probably echoed from my own. I felt truly lucky to have found a friend as good as Jasper. Reluctantly, I pulled away, heading for the door. Jasper followed silently as I dug through my purse for the keys to my truck.

Distracted by the task, I tripped on the steps and in an instant I found myself securely wrapped in Jasper's strong arms. The jolt of shock and adrenaline that struck me was followed instantly by an electric spark running through me at his touch. Holding me closely, he looked down into my eyes as he steadied me on my feet. He held onto me for a moment, allowing me to get my bearings, but I had lost them completely and I struggled to ignore the electricity running through my veins.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath to steady myself and slow my pounding heart. This was Jasper. It wasn't right to feel this way about him. If he only knew – how could he not know? – if he only knew the way I was thinking about him he would be disgusted. His eyes searched mine for something unknown as I opened them again, but thought and sanity returned to me, and I pulled away once again and went to my truck.

"Thanks again, Jasper." He closed my door for me, smiling brightly. He was even more breathtaking when he smiled, and I nearly gasped in surprise at the sheer beauty of him.

"You're welcome, Bella." He stepped back so I could pull away and as I did I could feel the string that tied the two of us together pulling; stretching, the further I got from him.

Safely home, I trudged up to the bed, already stiff and sore from the intensity of the course. It had been an exhausting day and I was ready to sleep. Once there, I closed my eyes and was asleep before I took another breath. Not for the first time, I dreamt of Jasper.

Guys… Thank you all for being so patient with me. I left my husband and my life is upside down right now. I probably would have abandoned this story entirely, but I hate when people do that and I received so many pleas to continue. You all have NCChris and JaspersDestiny to thank for this chapter. They tag-teamed me with PMs of love and encouragement and got me to open the chapter and start writing. I can't say I'll be able to update as often as before, but I'll try not to let the story die. Please review… they keep me writing.