Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story line, SM owns the characters I'm just having fun with them.

Peter POV
I was clinging to the highest branch of the tree that would hold my weight, at least 50 feet off the ground, looking down at the little brick buildings that held the loves of my life. Knowing I was this close to Jasper and not being able to see him was torturing me. I listened to Edward and Bella go through their day and smiled as she brushed off the humans who were interested in her. I tried to listen for Jasper but he only said a word or two the entire morning. I moved from tree to tree hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but all I managed to see was the back of his head as he entered the cafeteria. I immediately locked my muscles in place to keep myself from running in after him.

When Edward and Bella came into the cafeteria, the Cullens all began muttering to each other at vampire speed. I still didn't hear anything from Jasper and I was beginning to worry about him until I heard Bella introduce herself. I knew he was in trouble by her tone of voice and I had the strangest urge to defend him against her subtle attack.

When I heard Alice say she thought Bella was dead, I flew out of the tree and was almost to the door of the cafeteria before I caught myself. Edward, bring her ass out here to me RIGHT NOW. I saw them moving my way so I moved back into the cover of the forest to wait. I collapsed on my knees when I heard Jasper's broken voice asking about me. When he asked if I hated him I broke into uncontrollable sobs. Edward had reached me by this point, still dragging Alice out by the arm and he used his other hand to pull me up and haul me deeper into the trees.

"Peter, get yourself together. We have to talk about this bitch. You won't believe what I just saw in her fucked-up head." Edward was seething, his eyes pitch black, and I saw cracks starting to form where he was gripping her twig-like arm. When she whimpered and tried to pull away again he growled at her, more menacing than I had ever heard him before. "Shut up. You aren't getting out of this one. I'll rip you apart myself, but not before I find out everything you're still hiding."

He stopped and cocked his head, listening, and said, "Pete, they're coming. Do you want Jasper to see you like this?"

I honestly didn't care how Jasper saw me, as long as he saw me. But I stood up and straightened my clothes, trying to calm myself as best I could without either of my mates near me. I had no idea what kind of emotions Jasper would be getting off me right now, or if he was even able to look past his own. I sighed with relief when my mates finally walked into view with their arms around each other. I caught Jasper's eye and could not look away. He was here. He was really, actually here. I wanted to run to him, hug him, kiss him, scream at him, but I couldn't move.

When Bella ducked under his arm to move my direction, he dropped straight to his knees and whispered "Peter" with such longing it broke the tenuous hold on my composure and I launched myself straight into his arms. I pulled him tight to my chest, trying to push as much of my love into him as I could. When he felt it he began sobbing harder and he finally spoke, "Peter, please don't leave me! I'll do anything, I'll live however you want me to live, I'll eat whatever you want me to eat, just please don't leave me again! I can't live without you again Peter, please! I need you. Please, Peter!"

I was stunned. I knew he had to feel my shock but I didn't know how to respond. I mean, he left me! He's the one who didn't want me! What is he talking about? Helpless, I turned to look at Edward but he had the same look of confusion on his face. Bella had a frown on her face and she was looking between me and Jasper and Alice. She finally turned to Edward and said, "Eddie, do you think you could take everyone somewhere for a little while and let my boys have some time to talk? I'll stay here with them- I think you need to keep an eye on her."

I looked up at him and thought, Do it Edward. I have to figure out what has happened and what kind of shit they have told him about me. Bella will be the most objective since she wasn't there at the time and I really do need you to keep an eye on Alice. Is she a threat to Bella? I cringed when he scowled at me and nodded his head sharply. Ok, then, take her to the Cullen house or wherever you need to, but get her away from my mates. I have to figure this out. And Edward, take care of yourself, ok?

He nodded again and then asked Emmett to help him take Alice back to the Cullen house. Rosalie and Emmett looked confused but they agreed to help him, and they all ran off together, with the boys carrying Alice between them. She waited until she was almost out of earshot before she started screeching at them to put her down or she was going to tell Carlisle. I heard a loud smack and then she was quiet. I was pretty sure Rose must have slapped her, because even if it was Alice, I didn't think Edward would hit a woman.

Jasper didn't seem to notice everyone was gone as I sat there holding him. I reached my arm out to Bella; I needed her close to me and I hoped she could help Jasper as well. She came over and kneeled beside us and tentatively put her hand on Jasper's shoulder. She started talking to him a soft, gentle voice, "Jas? Jasper? Can we talk for a minute?" He nodded with his head still buried in my neck and Bella cracked a small smile. "Can you maybe sit up so I can see you too?" He took a deep breath and sat up, looking first at me, then back to Bella.

"I'm sorry. I think all the emotions got the best of me and I've been waitin' for this day for so long. I didn't mean to lose it like that. I'm sorry." He pulled back from me and rubbed his hands over his face before settling back to sit against the tree behind him. I wanted to sit closer to him but I knew we needed to talk and I had to be able to see his face to do that. Bella sat cross-legged facing both of us, forming a loose triangle.

"Ok," she said, "I think we need to figure out what has been going on and we need to do that without the others here. All I know is what Peter and Edward have told me, so can you tell me what happened Jasper? How did you come to be separated from Peter and why didn't you ever try to find him?" I was proud of my mate. She spoke calmly and objectively, and I'm sure Jasper could feel her sincerity. She reached over and took each of our hands in hers, pulling them into her lap and covering them with her own.

Jasper's eyes closed and he sighed happily. "You're so warm. It feels amazing." I sent him my agreement and he looked at me and smiled. "Can I ask something first, before we start talking?" We both nodded and he continued, "When did you find Bella? How much does she know?"

"I found her when she was four days old. I felt her drawin' me in; she was born right here in Forks, actually, and I ran straight here from Boise and took her back home with me. And I know you're gonna ask why I didn't come look for you, but Eddie and I were worried we couldn't trust the family around Bella until she was old enough to be changed. I couldn't risk her life, and it looks like we were right to be concerned."

"Was this in September of '87?" I was shocked he asked this and wondered where he was going with it. When I nodded he said, "I felt it too. I felt the pull, stronger than I ever had before, pullin' in two separate ways, and then I felt complete peace. I thought you must have found her and I actually went and told Carlisle I wanted to look for you, but I didn't tell him why. He said if you wanted me you would have come to find me and I just needed to let you go. I'm sorry I listened to him." He ducked his head down and I felt shame leaking out from his gift, but Bella pulled on his hand until he looked back up at us.

"We'll get there, ok? Let's just start at the beginning so we're all on the same page. Jasper, why don't you tell us what happened after Peter left you in Springfield?"

"Ok, um, I was a mess at first, absolutely miserable. It wasn't so bad though, because I thought Peter would be back in a few weeks and we could move on. I started on the animal diet and it was pretty bad. I had to hunt almost every day to keep the thirst bearable, so that kept me pretty busy. Anyway, we got enrolled in school and were close to starting when Alice said she had a vision of me draining the mayor's daughter and we had to leave town so I wouldn't slip up." I looked at him incredulous; slip up? Did she know the training we went through? We were starved and then covered in fresh blood and forced to fight. The Major could resist anything!

"I know, believe me, I argued my case but they didn't know me and they trusted her visions I guess. I didn't feel like I had a right to make a scene. But I did make sure Carlisle left word for you so you would know where we were going. He left a note for Edward in the safe, he said that's what they always did when they had to leave quickly. But I wanted to leave you something from me, did you find my uniform? I left you a personal note with it."

"I did find it Jasper, but we didn't find a note from Carlisle. Edward searched the entire house looking for anything that would tell him where you went. I won't lie, I wasn't much help then. I was in Chicago when I felt you leave, the hole in my chest was so bad that I just curled up and cried when you weren't at the house. Garrett happened to come by a few days later and he snapped me out of it and ordered me to hunt so we could look for you. We searched all over for three solid years before we found the house in Maine. It smelled like you had only been gone a few days so I thought you must have been avoiding us, and you didn't want me anymore. I stopped looking then and tried to let you live your own life the way you wanted, but I NEVER stopped needing you. I never stopped wanting you."

Jasper was shaking his head and starting to get a crazed look in his eye. "We left Maine in a hurry too. Emmett slipped and killed some guy on the side of the road, said he was injured and he couldn't resist the blood. But we left a note there too. I made sure Carlisle left word in case you decided you wanted me again. I was devastated when you didn't show up but I kept waiting for you. I couldn't feel the mating pull as strongly on the animal blood or I would have looked for you myself. I thought about it several times but Alice always saw and told the family and they would talk me out of it. All except Rose- she wanted me to find you, she didn't like us being apart. I always left you gifts in the houses we didn't sell, in case you came by after we left. I just wanted some kind of connection with you, even if you didn't want me."

Bella finally broke in, "Guys, I think we need to talk to Edward now. I don't know what's going on, but I really don't think either one of you is at fault. It sounds like you both parted ways fully intending to meet up again within a few weeks, and your plans were changed without your knowledge. It had to be either Carlisle or Alice, and based on her reaction to me, my money is on Alice. What I don't understand is why she thought I was dead? What could she have seen? I was with Peter all of my life. She couldn't have seen me."

"Bella, sugar, you weren't with me those first four days. I showed you the pictures of what you looked like and I told you what Eddie heard in your father's thoughts. I think I was pulled to you because you were in immediate danger. If I hadn't come for you that night, I'm not sure how long you would have been alive." I saw Jasper's eyes darken and knew we'd have to talk about this later when she wasn't around. He deserves to know what brought me to our mate.

"Ok, so are we ok for the moment? You both love each other, right?" Leave it to Bella to bring up what's really important.

I looked at Jasper and saw him gazing at me. Those eyes were gonna take some getting used to, but I didn't care if he had purple eyes if he was back home with me and Bella. I sent him all my love and then leaned over and gently pressed my lips to his. He opened and deepened the kiss, keeping thing slow but still passionate. His taste filled my senses and my heart finally settled in my chest; the pain from the past decades just disappeared. Pulling away, Jasper sighed and smiled at me before we heard Bella groan.

We both turned to look at her and she had a dreamy smile on her face. "Damn, that was hot. I have the most gorgeous mates ever. I do feel a little left out though..." I laughed and leaned to kiss her, knowing she would taste Jasper on me. I kept it quick and Jasper leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"I look forward to getting to know you, darlin'. I think you might keep me on my toes." he said.

"Major, you have NO idea..." I was interrupted by my phone ringing, glancing down I saw that it was Edward. "What's up Eddie?"

Peter, you're not gonna like this but Alice got away. She-

"What the hell do you mean she got away?! I gave you one job, Edward. One job! Keep an eye on that 4-foot nothing piece of shit pixie and you LOST HER?" I can't believe this. I jumped up and started pacing, then thought better of it and pulled Bella and Jasper close to me, one on each side. "Where the hell did she go?"

I was talking to Carlisle, well, fighting with him is more like it, and Emmett and Rose were supposed to be watching her. She went in the bathroom to get a shower and the idiots let her go right out a window. I didn't notice because Carlisle was yelling at me and everyone's thoughts were so loud that I didn't realize she was gone until the others started yelling.

I felt Jasper sending me calm and Bella rubbing circles on my back but I was still too close to losing it. "Eddie, we need to talk. I need to know what you found out and we need to tell you what Jasper said. Meet us back at the house, ok? But first, pack up all of Jasper's things. He ain't goin' back there." I looked over at Jasper and said, "Sorry, I love you, but I'm not askin' you this time. You're comin' with me. Got it?" He nodded and sent me his acceptance and joy.

Ok, I'll be there as soon as I can. But Carlisle wants to talk to us before we leave town. And I probably need to sit down with Esme, she didn't want me to leave and she has been mad at Carlisle the whole time we've been gone. I looked at Jasper and he nodded his agreement.

"Ok, we won't leave town yet. We need to deal with Alice anyway, I don't want any loose ends trying to hurt either of my mates. We'll see you soon." As I hung up the phone I hugged my mates close to me and took a deep breath. This was all that mattered, if they were with me we could get through anything.

Bella hugged me close and reached out to take Jasper's hand. "Come on boys, let's go home."