WRITERS NOTE – I STILL DON'T OWN ANY OF THE TWILIGHT UNIVERSE, WHAT A SHAME… THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO HANNAH (WHO GAVE ME THE PERFECT ENDING) AND LIZZY (WHO MADE ME WRITE THIS RIGHT NOW.)... THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS AND KEEP THEM COMING!

"Bella, Bella… Listen to me." Jasper gasped raggedly. If he was a human, bruises would already be swelling over his muscled arms, he was holding so tightly. All these emotions – both his own and hers were overwhelming. He was stuck in a state of paralysing depression, unable to escape.

He forcefully pulled his hands from his arms and placed them around Bella's waist, trying not to squeeze her too tightly. Her face was covered by her hair, hazelnut brown locks trailing across her eyes.

Jasper pulled himself up to sit against Bella, his hands still pulling him close to the distraught figure next to him – the first time he'd really moved in the 5 days since she had left him. The hole in his heart swelled suddenly. He couldn't stop, his arms locked, pulling his whole body next to her.

"Bella, look at me, please…" Jasper gasped again.

There was no way that he would regain control without some help. He wished Carlisle was here, to carry him away. He wished Esme was here, so he could tap into her love, to dilute all the negative. But most of all, he wished Alice was here and that she loved him and that she didn't leave him – but she would never come back, he was alone and he hated it – his grip grew tighter.

"You're hurting me." Bella said, her voice not showing the emotional and physical hurt. Even though she was a vampire, she could feel the vice like grip he had on her, but she didn't care enough to make him stop.

"Bella… help me…" Jasper groaned. "I can't do this…"

His head nuzzled into her neck, she could feel his eyes pressed shut against her neck. She could feel his soft but stone lips stuck firm in a pained line. Her breathless sobs had ceased but she knew that wasn't what was making him feel so paralysed. She needed to escape, so he would be okay.

Her hands moved to his, placing her tender fingers on top of his. She slowly and gently pried his fingers from her hips. He flexed them again, keeping her next to him, something to hold on to.

"Jasper, loosen them and I'll help you." Bella whispered softly, her hurt dissolving and hiding as best as she knew how to. "You don't have to let me go, I just need the phone."

His head remained pushed into her neck, and his steel arms caged her tightly to his side. But infinitely slowly his grip loosened on her.

In a quick fluid movement Bella grabbed the mobile from the table and dialled Carlisle's number in less than 2 seconds. The dial tone rang once before he answered it immediately.

"Carlisle, please come back." She hissed quickly. "I'm hurting him and I don't know how to stop. Please. Bring Emmett, so you get him away from me. I don't want to hurt him anymore. Please."

--

The forest floor felt soft against his back, the moss clinging to his silk shirt. His knees pulled tight into his chest and his arms wrapped around them, hiding his face from his "brother" and "father". They couldn't feel the uncontrolled pain anymore; he was holding it all inside, trying to help his family. But Emmett's face was still blank with worry and Carlisle's hands held Jasper firmly to the floor, although the struggles and fight had died away.

"Son, please talk to me." Carlisle tried again.

Silence met him. Jasper didn't move or acknowledge Carlisle had spoke, like he hadn't for the last 4 hours. Carlisle knew that he would react badly to Alice leaving him – but Bella had recovered so quickly, returning to "normality" within 3 days of his death. Well, "normality" being a controlled state of existence, rather than uncontrolled sobbing and running. But Jasper didn't run initially, he didn't even fight when they had told him Alice had left.

The sun had long set, leaving the darkness to envelop them.

"Emmett, you can go and see Bella if you wish." Carlisle said, turning his face to his other adopted son. Vampires didn't get tired, but he could feel the almost washed-out state of emotional strain affect him, so he would spare Emmett from it.

"I don't want to leave Jasper alone." Emmett said

"But I'll be with him, he won't be alone." Carlisle said, but knowing that Emmett was just as concerned about his brother as Carlisle was. "Get some rest, son."

Jasper growled deep in his chest without warning. Carlisle's hands pressed him further into the dirt, fearing that the struggles would start again.

"Jazz, what is it?" Emmett said, moving to kneel at his brother's head.

No response. No thrashing.

"Jasper, brother…" Emmett said concerned

No response. No struggle.

"I know what you're going through, Jasper." Emmett tried again, trying desperately to get any kind of further reaction from his brother. "I won't leave you alone, I promise."

Jasper's head snapped up. His shoulders pushing against Carlisle's hands as he thrashed wildly on the dirt. Emmett grabbed hold of his arms; his strength coupled with Carlisle's was enough to stop the danger of escape.

"Get off of me!" Jasper snarled.

"We can't let you go, bro" Emmett said calmly.

"Just let me go!" He snarled again, this time snapping his teeth together threateningly.

"Jasper, stop fighting us please." Carlisle said soothingly. "If you stop fighting, we can release you…"

His fighting ceased immediately.

"Listen Jasper, we need you to talk. Can you do that?" Carlisle asked.

His head nodded strongly against the forest floor.

"Will you promise not to run?" Carlisle asked clearly.

He nodded again.

Emmett cautiously released his hold on Jasper's arms, letting his brother shake them. Carlisle's hold slackened from his shoulders but he didn't release him fully, taking no chances until he knew Jasper was under complete control.

"Can you let me go now?" Jasper questioned his voice rough with emotion.

"Do you promise not to leave us?" Carlisle asked, getting the feeling that Jasper was likely to take back his word and flee from the family, away from the ones he loved when he needed them most.

Jasper's face burned, his lips twitching, a silent sign of regret that Carlisle had caught him out, he wanted to run and leave everyone far behind.

"Jazz, we don't want you to leave." Emmett said quietly. "This is the time you need us most, and we love you, your family love you… Please just stay with us, we can help you. It may not feel like it now but you will regret leaving us… It's hurting you, bro."

"He's talking the truth." Carlisle simply added.

"I don't want it to hurt…" Jasper moaned, turning his face against Carlisle's shoulder and closing his eyes against the invisible tears.

"We know, son." Carlisle said, his hands rubbing Jasper's back as he gently and tearlessly sobbed into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Emmett. I'm sorry… dad." Jasper whimpered. The emotion in Carlisle's heart swelled – pride. Jasper had never called him dad, not even to keep up their human façade – but now, in his neediest moment, Jasper had reverted to it. The silent look exchanged between Carlisle and Emmett showed everything that it needed to, Emmett was gone from the clearing and was sprinting towards the house.

--

"Bella?" Jasper asked as soon as she stepped into the clearing. Carlisle could remember the fuss her scent had caused when she was human, and then again when she was a new-born. Generally, a vampire's scent is irrelative to their human scent – but Bella's scent was more alluring, but in a different way, she was no longer edible. Even now, as she stepped into the circle of trees, her unique scent caught his attention first – honey, lavender and honeydew melon.

"Yes, Jasper." Bella said cautiously.

"I can…"Jasper bleated into Carlisle's shoulder. His unruly blonde hair shaking as his body trembled. Carlisle grimaced, as a small cloud of pain blossomed from his son.

"Continue, son" Carlisle said softly, encouraging him to share whatever he was feeling.

"I can… feel your pain…" Jasper groaned.

"Do you want me to go, Jasper?" Bella asked, unsure whether she was hurting him.

Suddenly, a low groan escaped his lips. Carlisle grabbed him to his chest, pinning Jasper against himself. Bella reacted immediately, moving towards them, as Jasper began to thrash wildly again.

Carlisle's arms couldn't contain Jasper's full outburst of hysteria without help, and Jasper flew towards Bella.

"Bella!" Carlisle shouted

"Jasper!" Bella screamed

He tackled her to the floor, her unnecessary breath caught in her throat. On instinct, she tried to push him off, baring her teeth and growling. Her arms fought against him, but she knew it was a losing battle. He was decades older than her. He was a killer, he had killed thousands to be here – to be the survivor – she stood no chance.

Bella's eyes closed in acceptance of her fate.

--

"Bella?" Jasper choked out.

"Jasper?" Bella gasped.

"I don't want to let you go…" He said, into her neck.

"I'm here." She said, as softly as she could.