So here is what was going to be my first post today. A little more building of the relationship between Bella and Jasper; and Bella gets her first real test as a vampire. Enjoy!

Chapter 14.

Esme looked up as she heard the door open and she stared as Bella and Jasper walked into the room. Her son was looking at her newest daughter as they walked through the door and Esme bathed in the love she could see on their faces; as a result it took a few seconds for her to realize he was still pulling his top onto his body; again she was stunned by the ease she was seeing in the man before her. This was something she'd always wanted to see in her son and it wasn't until just a couple of days ago that she held any hope of it ever happening. And now here it was; right before her eyes; as if she'd been blind to not see it before. How could she have missed it? How could they all have missed it?

She watched as they walked through the room and into the lounge; she heard the rest of the family fall silent as they took their places on one of the couches. She trailed behind them and saw the expressions of her husband and other children's faces as they watched Bella and Jasper interact with each other; both seemingly oblivious to the curiosity they were garnering from their family. She knew what she was seeing on the others faces would be equally as blatant on hers but she couldn't say she was sorry about it.

All of them turned to look at her briefly; smiles on all their faces upon seeing the look on her face. A noise distracted them all from staring at one another; a sound so unexpected and yet so welcome to them all; the sound of Jasper laughing; a sound that none of them could remember hearing; not sounding so genuine anyway. All eyes spun in his direction and watched as both he and Bella laughed about something; they didn't know what but it was great to see them so relaxed.

She hated having to break the moment but she knew there were things they needed to discuss. "Jasper, Bella." Esme said softly. "Your father and I thought maybe it would be a good time to discuss the trip to Volterra. We wondered if there was anything you needed to do before you go there."

Their laughter stopped at her words and she wished she could take back each one of them. She looked to Carlisle for help as she sat beside him. "We want to know when you want to leave; if there was anything you needed us to help you with? We want to help you through this."

"There's nothing we need." Jasper said; looking closely at Bella as he spoke.

"We know there's something you haven't told us, Jazz." Emmett said softly. "Why won't you tell us?"

Jasper turned his head to look at his brother. "You don't need to know. Not yet. When the time is right, we'll tell you."

"But Jasper, we want to help." Esme said; now clearly distraught.

"There isn't anything you can help with. You don't need to worry; everything will be fine." Bella said; squeezing Jasper's hand as she looked at their mother.

"Why won't you let us be there for you?" she asked.

She looked at Jasper and there was a small nod from him before she spoke again. "There is something you can all do…" Bella said.

"What?" Carlisle said; eager to be able to help them in some way.

"I've asked Jasper to teach me to fight. I want to stop being a burden; I don't need protecting so I thought maybe you could all help him teach me."

"We can do that… but you aren't a burden, Bella." Rosalie said; smiling at her.

"I feel like one and I don't want to. I hated it when I was human and I don't want to spend my life being one as a vampire too."

"When do we start?" Emmett asked.

"This evening." Jasper said. "Twilight." His eyes sparkled as they met those of Bella.

"There's something else, Bella." Carlisle said.

"What?" She was worried.

"Esme and I were wondering what name you would like to go by, now you're part of the family. I'm afraid you won't be able to use Swan any longer."

"I hadn't thought about that but you're right." She looked at Jasper and smiled softly, finally turning round towards her parents. "I'd like to go by Cullen, if that's okay?" Carlisle's smile spread across his face as he heard her words.

"We would love that, Bella."

"Me too." She replied.

*B-o-B*

Bella and Jasper left the house shortly after to go and hunt. Neither of them really needed to but it was an easy way for them to get away from the attention of the rest of their family; something they were both keenly aware of and also to get some more time together alone.

Much as Bella hated to admit it; she wanted the time alone with him more than she did the time with her new family; people she loved more each day. Her love for Jasper was already stronger though and while she knew there were still many issues they needed to work through; she was glad of the opportunity to spend some quality time with just him. In fact she craved it intensely.

As they ran away from the house they were forced to let go of each other's hands and both felt the loss immediately. This time it was Bella that took charge of the hunt and as she took down a grizzly bear she looked towards her love and smiled at him. He loped towards her; looking as graceful as ever and as he got closer she could see the desire in his eyes. She quickly drank from her quarry but relinquished it and offered to Jasper what remained as he stood beside her. She watched as he sank his teeth into the neck of the bear and her own arousal increased as he drank from the carcass.

As he dropped the body to the floor he turned to look at her and Bella launched herself at him; kissing him intently; tasting the blood on his lips and sucking it into her mouth. The monster within her fought for dominance as she swallowed the drops but she pushed it down; something else growing that won the battle for control. Jasper seemed to be on the same wavelength and he pulled her close to him; his tongue sweeping around her mouth and brushing against hers. She growled softly as she felt his hand grip her thigh and he smiled against her lips. "Are you okay, my angel?" he whispered.

"I will be…" she murmured before rapidly lifting his shirt and ripping it from his body. "Oops." She said cheekily.

"A little eager, aren't we?" he teased. "Not so much as a date to our name and you think I'll just give in to you?" He pouted slightly and then smiled as she bit his lip.

"Jazz… please." She kissed his neck; running her tongue up it before moving to his ear, "I need you, baby." She whispered.

He lowered her feet to the floor and then quickly removed her clothes; taking scant seconds on his own. There was too much desire flowing between them to even think of refusing her and it wasn't like he'd want to say no anyway. He lifted her back in his arms and sprinted to the trees in the distance; pressing her against a sturdier one as he slid into her. Bella moaned softly as he thrust against her and her legs wound around his waist to deepen their connection.

Their movements were even more frantic than the times before; even in the shower and the force they exerted on the tree behind was severe; it barely coping with the strength of their passion. Jasper's hands were all over her body and the noises she was making only spurred him on further. "So tight, darlin'," he whispered; his voice strained as he continued to thrust into her. Bella reached above her head and grabbed a branch with her hands; using her newly found strength to move her body in counterpoint to his movements.

"Faster," she cried out; feeling her peak edging ever closer.

He was only too happy to oblige and as their pace increased so did the noise they were making; the sound of their bodies hitting against each other creating a rhythmic rumbling in the Alaskan countryside; far too regular to be described as thunder and indescribable as anything else to any humans nearby. Jasper and Bella were both near to reaching the pinnacle when a scent hit them both that had Bella struggling against him for an entirely different reason. It was the scent of a human; one that was much nearer than was healthy for its own good. Jasper stilled his movements and tightened his hold around her body; he knew it was going to be difficult for him to restrain her; realistically it would be damn nigh impossible given her newborn strength but he hoped he would be able to calm her down sufficiently. "Bella, listen to me," he coaxed her gently; sending her wave after wave of calm as she fought against him. "Stop this, now. You need to hear what I'm saying, angel. You can fight this. I know you can do it. You don't want to kill that human. Fight it, please." He couldn't tell if she was registering what he was saying but he continued to whisper to her as she struggled in his arms. He wished he still had his cell on him because he could do with calling for back-up. That was something he wasn't going to get though; this was down to him; the one with the least willpower in the family when it came to abstaining from human blood. How could he ask her to resist something he found so difficult to do himself? "Please come back to me, Bella. I need you. I know this isn't what you want; the last thing you'd want to do would be to kill that person. Edward and Alice wouldn't want it either. Think of how you'd be letting them down if you give in to this." He knew he was stooping low to bring them up in what he was saying but he was a desperate man who'd say just about anything now to try and convince her. She was still fighting him although some of the strength had disappeared from her movements. He kissed her cheek; holding his mouth against her soft skin and hoping she'd be able to sense him there; hoping his presence was helping her in some way. He recognized the scent retreating from their location and he hoped that meant her bloodlust would soon fade a little; her body definitely didn't seem to be putting up as much of a fight as it had been. Gradually she stilled completely; her head finally resting on his shoulder; her arms and legs tightening around him as she did. He pulled her as close to him as he could get her; all thoughts of their previous activities had vanished the second the human got too close. He just wanted to comfort her and tell her, without words, that he was there for her. His lips repeatedly kissed the side of her face; moving with ease along her cheekbone and then her jaw until her head lifted and he was able to kiss her mouth. As his tongue met hers he was sure he could taste her emotions; the despair and sadness ebbing from her; both escalating as the seconds passed and he wished there was some way he could help her forget. "It's gonna be okay, baby." He whispered against her lips. "I've got you. I'm never going to let anything happen to you." Her arms tightened around his neck as she took in his words and he could feel her trying to fight the pain she was feeling. "Do you want me to ease what you're feeling? I can if you want me to." She nodded slightly and he sent her a pulse of love and serenity; hoping she would feel better.

After several minutes it seemed to work and she was finally able to speak. "I can't believe I just did that." She whispered; her voice so soft he barely heard it.

"It's to be expected. It's part of the joy of being a newborn."

"I feel so ashamed."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of. You didn't kill it. You fought against it and you won."

"No I didn't. You did. It was you that brought me back."

"It was?" Her words surprised him.

"Yes. I could hear the love in your voice and I heard you say you needed me. That was what stopped me; it just took me some time to get control back again."

"It was the truth. I do need you. I've never needed anyone as much as I need you; it's just taken me a while to realize it and admit it to myself."

"Is that what's it's like for you all the time?" she asked him quietly.

"At times; when I'm nearer to them. It was always a struggle when we went to school; the emotions I feel don't help though; they made the struggle harder."

She stared at him and he tried to work out what she was thinking. "I hadn't realized. I remember Edward always used to say you struggled with it the most and I used to think it was because you were weak… but now I think you're the strongest of the family."

"You do?" Again she surprised him.

"Yes. You've tasted human blood much more than the rest of them and you know what you're missing by not drinking it now. If how I just felt is how it's always been for you then I think you are strong because I don't think I could do that… and I've never tasted human blood."

"It gets a little easier after the first year; once you're no longer a newborn, I promise."

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing." She looked at him, "I think it should always be difficult, if it's easier you could become complacent."

"Do you want to go back to the house?" he asked; trying to steer the conversation away from her praise of him a little. She nodded to him and he walked them back over to their clothes. She seemed unwilling to let go of him and he practically had to force her to release her hold of him so he could hurriedly pull his clothes back onto his body. He turned to find her still standing there naked; she seemed so broken by what she'd just been through and he spent the next few minutes gently re-dressing her; talking to her softly as he did so. They began the long walk back to the house; Bella seemingly reluctant to return to the family and the further they went the more concerned Jasper became about her. After a couple of hours; when they were just a few miles from the house he tugged on her hand and they came to a stop. "Are you sure you're okay?" She looked at him and he could've sworn he saw tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"They're going to be so disappointed in me…" she whispered.

"Darlin', they won't be, they're going to be proud of you, baby, because you fought it and you won. As someone who's let them down on many an occasion, please believe me when I say you did nothing wrong."

"If you hadn't been there…"

"But I was… and I always will be. You're stuck with me now… for eternity."

"That's what Edward said." She whispered.

"He meant it too baby, but sometimes you can't fight fate. Over the last few hours I've really thought about this and I think we were meant to be together; our time with Edward and Alice was preparing us for this time now."

She looked at his face and bit her lip as she thought about what he'd said. "You really mean that, don't you?"

"Absolutely." He kissed her forehead. "Let's get back home. I think our mum and dad deserve to know how well you did this afternoon."

"Do we have to tell them?"

"I told you, there's nothing for you to worry about."

"Can we just spend time alone together first. I just need to think about what happened first."

"Of course." They ran the last few miles and walked into the house. Bella pulled him towards their room; determinedly ignoring their parents that were in the lounge. Jasper looked at Carlisle and Esme and gently shook his head as they looked at him in concern. He tightened his hold on her hand and followed her to their room, "Later." He said to them before he closed the door behind them.

*B-o-B*

"Do you think they're okay?" Esme asked her equally concerned husband.

"I don't know, dear but Jazz seems to have a handle on whatever it is. They'll tell us when they're ready."

"I just worry about them both. I want them to be happy."

"We all do." He put his arm around her and they walked out of the house and into her garden.

TBC

A/N: So what did you think? Please review. Next chapter to be posted before I go to bed... :-)