JPOV

Bella acted as if nothing had ever happened and I did the same – Alice had yet to inform me that she saw what happened or could happen between Bella and I and I didn't know whether to be happy or depressed about that. One the one hand I would be hurting Alice and possibly splitting the family in two...on the other hand it meant I would never be with Bella. As if the thought of her was some sort of beacon calling her to me she appeared. We had all been told to wear good clothing to greet our cousins but Bella was having none of it. A pair of form fitting jeans sat low on her hips with an old button down shirt tied at the waist showing off her perfectly flat stomach. Her hair was done up in a messy ponytail with a few strands framing her face. I tried to be discreet as I watched her walk across the room to Carlisle and reminded myself that she didn't want me. I turned in the other direction and instead watched as Alice lounged at the island with a laptop. I smiled to myself as I knew that she would be buying more clothes that she didn't need and tried to distract myself by imaging what the clothes would look like. It didn't last long. A gently touch to my arm sent electricity through me and I glanced up to see Bella.

"Can we talk?" I savoured the sound of her voice and nodded.

"Run with me? I need to calm my nerved" A quick check revealed that she was indeed nervous and I smiled sympathetically.

"Sure we can go to the creek" She nodded and led us both away from the house a few miles west towards a little creek that ran through the woods. She stopped when we reached the edge and I slowed to a stop beside her.

"Jasper about the other day..."

"It never happened" The words were painful to say but I would rather hear them come from my own lips than hers. She shook her head and kicked a small pebble into the water.

"It did thought. Jasper I don't know what you feel right now but I love Edward. We're married...we have a daughter! I wash harsh with what I said but you understand why I said it?" I swallowed hard and forced a nod.

"You really think he's going to come back and everything will be how it was?" Bella bit her lip and furrowed her brow.

"No...but I hope that when he comes home he can see how much I love him and come to his senses" I bit my tongue to refrain from the comment I was about to speak and instead took her hand in mine. She didn't flinch or move away like I expected, no she gave my hand a slight squeeze and looked into my eyes.

"Bella...Edward is an idiot. You said you didn't know what I was feeling? Neither do I. All I know is that I feel strongly for you and that I will do anything to keep you safe...to keep you happy. I know this may not be what you want to hear but if I were Edward I would never in a million years give you up" She looked like she might cry, if vampires could, and out of habit did a little sniffle. She removed her hand from mine and gave me a sad smile.

"I love you Jasper...just not the same way. I don't know if things were different..." I could see how upset she was getting and tilted her chin up so I could see her more clearly.

"Maybe in the next life?" She didn't reply just gave me the same sad smile. It broke my heart to know she didn't feel the same way but what was I expecting? She was Bella. She would always be Edward's Bella.

"Can we go back to how we were? I don't want to lose you as a friend"

"Of course if that's what you want"

"It is" I put on a brave face and bowed deep before her.

"So it shall be" She giggled and just like that I knew it would be okay. If I could hear her make that noise, make it because of me, then it would be worth the pain. She mentioned that we should head back – that it would be rude if we weren't there to greed the Denali coven. As we ran back to the house I smiled to myself.

I can be her friend...I'll be the best friend she's ever had...

EPOV

The journey was made in awkward silence; the Denali's did not converse with me and Tanya was giving me the silent treatment for our discussion. Honestly that woman was so stubborn. Is she as stubborn as Bella though? I shook the thought from my head and tried to catch Tanya's hand. She jerked hers away and walked a bit faster to be ahead with her sister. I didn't try and catch up. We would be reaching my home in a few more minutes and I was stupidly trying to procrastinate my arrival. But eventually we slowed to a stop outside the large house to see my family stood outside. My eyes scanned the small group for Bella but found no sign of her. Did she not want to be here? I wouldn't be surprised.

"It's so nice to see you again Carmen, you and your family" Carlisle shook Eleazar's hand as Esme hugged Carmen. Carlisle then turned to me and gave a crisp nod.

"Welcome home son" I returned the nod as Tanya came to my side. She wrapped her slim arms around mine and fluttered her lashes at Carlisle.

"It's been far too long, Carlisle. I'm so happy were finally here" Carlisle studied her arms around me briefly before giving Tanya a polite smile.

"Too long yes" He faced Eleazar and gestured for us all to follow him. I broke away from Tanya and walked beside my father.

"We have asked you here because we miss you, but for another reason also. Irena witnessed something that could of...upset her. She ran away before we could explain the situation and my family and I have grown concerned that she has not returned to you"

"What situation did she see?" Eleazar's imagination drew up images of Carlisle feeding on a human, of Bella killing someone and I would of laughed had this not been so serious. We had walked into the main hall when the Denali's froze.

"Daddy!" I opened my arms as Renesme practically flew towards me and I picked her up into a hug. Kate and Tanya hissed and backed away from us as Eleazar shielded Carmen.

"What have you done, Carlisle?!" Memories flooded their minds of their sire being burned alive for creating an unborn child. Thankfully Carlisle understood their reactions and held his hands up in a submissive way.

"She is not immortal. Hear her heartbeat, feel the warmth of her skin. She is part human part vampire"

"Impossible!"

"I thought so too but just listen!" Silence. Renesme had lifted her head to see who the new people were and I watched as the Denali's expressions turned from rage to fascination. Carmen took a step towards us and reached out a shaking hand. She touched Renesme's cheek and gasped at the heat.

"It's true...this child is not immortal" The coven slowly moved closer to us and took it in turns to test whether my daughter was indeed immortal or not. When they were satisfied Eleazar turned to Carlisle.

"How is this possible?"

"Edward is her biological father and Bella is her mother. She was conceived and carried when Bella was still human...Bella died during the birth but was given venom before her heart failed" Many pairs of eyes were gazing at my daughter but I didn't worry. I knew they wouldn't hurt her.

"Your her father?" I nodded and Tanya looked pissed to say the least.

"When were you going to tell me you had a daughter, Edward?" I winced at the harsh tone but held my ground.

"You wouldn't of believed me until I showed you" I pleaded with my eyes that she save this conversation for a later time and she seemed to have caught it. She gave me a look that said this wasn't over. To make matters worse Carmen asked the question I too had wanted to ask.

"Where's Bella?"

"I'm here" Everyone turned to the doorway and my breath caught in my throat. Bella looked beautiful in her shabby clothes that somehow suited her. She walked...no stalked into the room with Jasper trailing slowly behind her. Carmen gave her a large smile and held her arms out.

"Oh Bella you look lovely! Vampirism suits you" Bella returned the smile and hugged Carmen.

"Thank you it means so much for you to say that" She turned deep red eyes to Tanya and I could feel the tension in the room soar. Tanya eyed Bella up before giving her a wicked grin.

"Wow Bella you're so pretty...It makes you wonder huh"

"Wonder what?"

"Why Edward left you for me" Everyone held their breath. I couldn't believe she had said that so bluntly. I glared down at Tanya before casting a worried look to Bella. She looked eerily calm. She frowned slightly and tilted her head.

"Sorry what was that? I couldn't hear you over all the fucks I don't give" My mouth dropped open – Bella doesn't speak like that! Emmet burst out laughing while the rest of the family, excluding Tanya, tried to hide their proud smiles. Tanya looked ready to murder. Sensing the possible danger I put Renesme on the floor and asked Alice to take her to Jake's.

"Oh I know you care. You were a pathetic little brat when Edward managed to get away from you the first time and even now you're still giving him those desperate looks" I knew I should shut Tanya up but I couldn't move.

"I'm pathetic? You're with a married man, a father! You can't get lower than that"

"Wasn't that hard to be honest"

"Classy. Did it hurt when you fell from the whore tree and banged every tree on the way down?"

"Oh you just make it too easy Bella, is that the best you can do? No wonder Edward ran into my arms...or my bed. You mustn't of been that good of a fuck if..." Before she could finish her sentence Bella had leapt and all hell broke loose.