Chapter Nineteen

Jasper

It was a week before I calmed enough to be in the same room as Peter and then he apologised and I accepted. Charlotte was watching him like a hawk but Bella seemed pleased about something other than the fact we weren't going to kill each other.

"Peter you may be an ass hole but you proved one thing"

"Really and what would that be Bella?"

"I can protect you as well. I can put a shield between two parties."

"Well I was good for something then. Sorry Major"

I looked at him warily, my instinct was screaming he was a danger to my mate but my intellect was telling me it was just Peter pushing the boundaries as usual. It scared me that I had finally lost it with him and could have killed him if Bella hadn't acted fast, as it was he carried a new bite mark on his jaw line but then he was ugly anyway so what was an extra scar!

Bella was learning to hunt animals and although she still wrinkled her nose at the taste of their blood she liked the treat I gave her after each hunt, we were fast running out of clothes but hell it was certainly worth it, we were so hungry for each other I thought we might even break Rose and Ems record of things destroyed and clothes ruined. Thinking of my foster brother and sister made me sad. I had liked both of them, no I more than liked them I was very fond of both, and missed them more than any of the others but I had no idea where they were or even if they would want anything to do with me.

Bella

I knew something was on Jaspers mind but he didn't say anything until I tackled him directly and then it all came put. He still blamed himself for the Cullens leaving and he missed the only other family he'd ever had besides Peter and Charlotte.

"Why don't we trace them, Rose and Emmett I mean, it can't be that difficult surely. I'd like to see them myself, find out what Edwards told them, if anything."

We left the other two on our voyage of discovery and it was nice to be alone for a while although I missed Peters crazy antics and Chars patient manner with everything. We travelled by night and found somewhere new to make love during the day until we were both so weary all we could do was hold each other and enjoy the peace of relaxation when all our tension had been washed away by sex. Edward had told me vampires didn't sleep or get tired but that was because he'd never found his real mate. Sex with your mate was tiring as you pushed every vestige of your self into the act. Sleep wasn't an option but laying peacefully afterwards was close enough to be relaxing. I would never get enough of Jazz or him of me but we certainly tried!

Jasper

This road trip was the best I'd ever been on and Bella was the only companion I would ever need now but once we traced Em and Rose to Buffalo I started to feel apprehensive. If they refused to talk to us I knew it would hurt, more than their disappointment over my attack had. Bella was more confident than me but then she hadn't lived the life of disappointment and lost hopes that I had. I wasn't feeling sorry for myself but I did realize how terrible my life had been before I knew Bella. We decided she would approach them first, only because if they treated me cruelly she night lose it and cause a scene like I had with Peter! They were in a hotel in central Buffalo so I waited downstairs in the lounge with a coffee and a paper as an excuse while she went up to their room with a special delivery.

Bella

I had bought a huge bouquet and held it in front of my face as I knocked on their door. I knew by his scent that Emmett opened the door and as he started to speak my scent registered with him.

"Bella?"

He sounded eager but puzzled so I put the flowers down and smiled,

"Surprise"

"Rose its Bella. Come in"

He dragged me through the door and threw the flowers on the table as Rose came through eyes wide,

"Bella? And one of us!"

Emmett stood back and took in my appearance

"You're right Rose. Bella what the hell is going on? What happened? How did you get changed? Was it Edward?"

"Emmett if you can only ask stupid questions shut up."

Rose pushed past him and hugged me then stepped back one eyebrow raised,

"So Bella a vampire and not alone"

Emmett opened the door again and looked out then shut it again,

"Yes she is Rose. I'd have seen if she was with someone"

Rose rolled her eyes dramatically,

"Sometimes I despair Em. Try using your senses."

Em came close to me and breathed in deeply then stood back.

"Jazz is with you?"

"Yes, we wanted you to know about us, he misses you"

"Does Edward know?"

"Yes, he tried to claim me"

"Ouch! I take it he had no joy. But you and Jazz?"

"Yes Rose. Jazz is my mate and he's downstairs. He wasn't sure how you'd greet him."

She looked amazed then pushed past Em and I and down the corridor to the stairs.

"So how Bella?"

"How did I become a vampire? I was bitten by Victoria and saved by the Volturi."

"Victoria? She kept looking for you after we all left?"

"Yes and she found me. There was no one to protect me so she tortured me then when Aro told her he wanted me she bit me."

"So you've been a vampire a few years?"

"Yes and Jazz and I only got together recently. Please don't blame him for what happened before. If anyone should share the blame its Alice and Edward. He left, he made you leave, and Alice must have known something was going to happen."

"I guess so. I don't blame Jazz any longer anyway, Rose knocked that out of me."

"Yes and its a good job I did isn't it?"

Rose came in arm in arm with Jazz who looked relieved and happy and even more so when Emmett hugged him in genuine pleasure.

Rose

Jazz had been sitting alone but I knew he was aware when I walked in, he stiffened but when I pulled him into an embrace he relaxed.

"Its been too long Jazz, come on. Em can't believe you're here. You and Bella? I think she's probably better for you than Alice was anyway. You certainly look happy enough."

He didn't say anything but he was smiling and that was enough. We spent the night talking about what had happened and both Em and I felt guilty at leaving Bella unguarded, easy prey for Victoria. Edward hadn't exactly covered himself in glory either and why he hadn't told us about Bella I couldn't understand but I would find out, he'd been getting in my nerves for some time now. Every time I heard his name he'd been up to something or sending instructions for us, most of which we ignored anyway. It was good to hear Jazz and Bella had a home with Peter and Charlotte. I liked them although we'd only met the once, mainly because of Alice now I thought about it. I wondered what she thought about Jazz and Bella, she must have seen it coming. I didn't believe that Edwards instruction not to look for Bella's future or her own vow not to look for Jazz were kept. She was too curious, she'd have looked, I knew my sister that well at least.