Chapter Fifteen

Bella

I waited unsure how Jasper would react to seeing me but we couldn't break eye contact and I knew he felt the same way I did, so very slowly I walked over to stand a few feet in front of him,

"Hello Jazz"

"Bella? I thought you were dead."

"Yes, a lot of people did but as you can see I'm very much alive and in your world now. I've been with the Volturi a long while but now I can cope alone and I thought if I were leaving I might as well do it in style"

"You certainly did that girl"

I looked at Peter and smiled,

"I'm glad you appreciated my little grandstanding but you know they'll be back sometime. Felix is going to warn me"

"Why would man mountain do that?"

"Because he likes me and because he appreciates a good warrior. Could I speak to you alone for a few minutes Jazz?"

He nodded and walked to my side taking my hand in his and leading me away from the others into the woods. I know Peter wasn't fully convinced I wasn't the enemy but Charlotte held him back when he wanted to follow us. Once deep in the trees Jazz stopped but continued to hold my hand.

"What happened Bella? How did you end up in Volterra? I heard rumours you'd killed yourself and I'm glad that's all they were."

"Thank you. I went to pieces after you all left but Jake put me back together then I tried cliff diving, lets leave it at that, for a while at least. They found my clothes at the top of the cliff but no body. I did jump and I would have drowned but Victoria who'd been watching for her chance saved me."

"Victoria saved you?"

"Well I think she wanted to make sure I died slowly and painfully and she was getting her wish when Aro discovered she had me and sent the guard, Victoria bit me before she died and I don't remember much after that for a long time."

"Why are you here Bella? Why did you save us and how?"

"I remember you telling me once that you should always keep a little something in reserve so I did. Aro knew I was gifted but he didn't know the extent of that gift, I'm not just a shield I have offensive powers too and when I saw you I knew I had to save you and your friends. I used Alec's gift, sent it back to him and the others giving you time to escape."

"Thank you for all our lives, that took courage, going against your comrades."

"Oh they weren't comrades, only Felix, I grew weary of all the killing, all the lies and power games. When I saw you I knew I could have a better life, that if there was any way to live more peacefully then it was with you."

"With me?"

"Don't you feel it Jazz? That need, that urgency? Is it just me? Am I wrong?"

Jasper

Looking into her eyes I felt myself falling slowly, her hand in mine fused into one as I dissolved into her becoming a single entity with two bodies, only living for each other. With a huge effort of will I made my mouth form the words she needed to hear from me,

"Bella, you are mine, for all time, we belong to each other"

Her eyes grew closer and closer until our lips met and the bargain was sealed for eternity. The kiss lingered as I felt her arms wind around my back pulling me ever closer and my own clasped her waist as if they would never let her go again. When we finally pulled away just far enough to speak I could see she was smiling.

"Welcome home Jazz"

Her words felt right, I had finally come home after so long alone in the wilderness.

"Bella, why didn't I recognise you as my mate before?"

"I don't know, any more than I know why I didn't recognise you, but we're finally where we were always meant to be."

I lifted a hand to trace the contours of her face, one so familiar yet so new to me,

"I wish I'd been there to change you, to help you through the pain and confusion."

"You were there Jazz, it was you I saw, your eyes, your voice that helped me through, made me strong, I just didn't recognise you at the time but it was you, always you"

"How did Edward react to finding you in Volterra?"

"He tried to claim me as his mate but I pointed out how wrong he was"

I could imagine how Bella the vampire might point out the error of his ways to Edward Cullen and it made me smile.

Bella

I wanted so much more of Jasper but the questions had to be asked and answered first. Edward was now out of the way and I asked the question I needed to hear his answer to,

"What happened with Alice?"

"She never forgave me for my actions at your party and we decided there was no point in continuing so we parted. I have no idea where she is now."

"She sent me a message, just before we came on this mission, she told me to be very sure I was making the right decision, be sure you were what I thought you were. Was she genuinely interested in my welfare or was she trying to plant doubt in my mind?"

"I don't know Bella but she will have had her reasons however strange they might seem to us. You are staying aren't you?"

"Where else would I go? You're my sun, I need your warmth, your strength, your love, to go on living."

He pulled me in again and I heard his sigh of contentment and relief.

"You know we'll have to defeat the Volturi if we want to stay together, Aro will come looking for me when he works out what happened. I can't go back to Italy, I wont."

"I'll never let you go Bella. We'll find a way around the Volturi. For now come on, let me introduce you to the rest of your family"

"Family?"

"Yes Peter and Charlotte are my family, by venom not blood but we are as close as blood brothers could ever be. He's a good man to have in your corner but he can be a little …...blunt"

I nodded, if they were Jasper's family then they were mine too and we would find a way to live together however hard it proved at the start. I knew Peter didn't trust me yet but he would once I'd proved myself.

"When I've met them I need your help. I'm not sure how powerful my gift is but I think I can protect us from whatever Aro chooses to throw at us, as long as I can control it."