Here is the reaction of the family after they learn the history of the bond... and Bella has to relieve some of Jasper's tension... :-) Enjoy!

Chapter 22.

Bella and Jasper were both quiet as they walked back towards their room. They stopped at the door of their parent's room and Jasper wrapped her in a hug; kissing her lips softly. "I meant what I said in there, baby. I can't lose you. We have to do this; you know that right?" She nodded her head slightly as his lips brushed against hers again; no more words were necessary between the two of them; they were on the same page.

Jasper released one arm from around her and knocked lightly on the door. It opened quickly and Esme was there; distress written across her face, "Come in," she whispered; pulling on their arms to drag them through the door. Once she closed the door behind them she was hugging them both and they welcomed her eagerly. When she finally released them they both turned and the rest of their family were also there; staring at them; the same look of worry on their faces as they'd seen on their mother's.

Jasper reached for his mother's hand and pulled her and Bella over to the bed. He took a seat and tugged them to sit either side of him. "We've learnt a little more tonight." He said.

"About what?" Rosalie said.

"How the law came into being and why it's so important."

"And…?"

Bella curled into him and buried her head in his neck; her body beginning to shake against him. He kissed the top of her head; leaving his mouth pressed against her hair. "If we don't, James will take her away from us." He whispered into her hair.

"We would stop him, Jazz." Emmett said; his tone indignant.

"She'd go willingly, Em. She'd want to go." He said; turning his head to look at his brother; resting his cheek where his lips had just been. All of the family gasped and looked at them both stunned. "If we do the bond he won't be able to take her away from us." From me, he added silently.

"I don't understand." Carlisle said and he wasn't the only one.

"He's her sire; without the bond he'll have a hold over her that will be stronger than any tie she has with us. It'd be easy for him to do." He could still see their looks of disbelief. He turned his attention to Carlisle. "I can understand it; it's different for you all, you're all tied together by you, dad. I know what it's like to have someone controlling you like that; it was like that with Maria. I could never fight against her hold over me throughout the years I was with her; when I left her it was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do; much harder than fighting the lust for human blood for fifty odd years. Walking away was like leaving a part of me behind with her; I know if she came here now I'd do pretty much anything she asked of me; with no hesitation." Bella's arms tightened around him as he spoke and he knew she understood.

"So how does the bond stop it?"

"The law was brought about because a vampire killed one of the Volturi guard; leaving his mate and the rest of the Volturi devastated, I guess. They forgot about what happened for several decades until the same vampire turned up and took the mate of their lost family member away from them. She went to him and left them without looking back and they felt the same devastation all over again. Aro and his brothers became angry and wanted to make sure it could never happen to them in the future; that they couldn't be hurt in the same way again. It was difficult but they managed to create this law and the bond it led to so it won't happen. They did it so they could maintain their power and it worked because once the vampire world knew about it they weren't tested by anyone; it scared them into submission and gradually the law faded away; always there but long forgotten. Until Edward discovered it and invoked it."

"How does the bond stop it?" Carlisle repeated.

"I was getting to that; it's some sort of ceremony which breaks the bond between sire and his child to be replaced by the bond between two mated vampires."

"So it will stop James from having this hold over Bella?" Esme asked.

"It should do; but we won't know for definite until we face him. There's a chance it won't take."

"It will do, Jazz. We can all see how much you love each other. It's just a formality." Rosalie said.

"It's not a formality, Rose; I wish it was. The Volturi may have created this law and the bond but they didn't make it easy; they didn't want just anyone invoking this law. There are still the tasks to get through and there's no guarantee we'll get through them; they've made them tough because they need to be; if we can't get through them then the bond would never work anyway." He paused and Bella kissed his cheek; distracting him from what he wanted to say. "Aro gave us the option to back out of it and go home. He doesn't want you to lose someone else from the family."

"But we could still lose Bella." Emmett said.

"So it's a choice between possibly losing a son in the trials; or maybe losing a daughter to her sire." Esme whispered; neither option appealing to her.

Jasper looked at his mother and felt her heartache. His words were a whisper but they all clearly heard them. "There's no choice, mum. We didn't accept his offer. I didn't accept his offer. I can't." The feelings in the room became stronger; almost overpowering and Jasper rose shakily to his feet and walked to the door. He was gone before any of them could say anything else.

"Did Aro say when the first task would be?" Rosalie said once they'd all realized he'd gone.

Bella shook her head, "There was something else…" she said, as she turned her head towards the door Jasper had just gone through. "When Aro tried to read my memories, he couldn't. He seemed excited by this and a little frustrated. He said he wanted to investigate it further but Jasper doesn't want that to happen and told him so. Aro seemed in awe of Jazz as well; because of his reputation in the vampire wars; he offered him a place in the guard. Jasper refused."

Esme was sobbing in her husband's arms by the time Bella finished speaking and Carlisle looked upset and angry. "We'd never let him test you, Bella. Nor would we want Jasper join the guard. You're both part of our family, Bella and nothing is going to change that; even if I'm not the sire to either of you." He said.

Bella smiled at him softly. "I'm gonna go and check to see if Jazz is okay. We'll meet up with you in the morning."

Esme walked over to her and hugged her tightly, "If either of you need to talk, your dad and I are here for you both. Please come to us if you need us." She whispered.

"We will, mum. He always comes to you; nothing's going to change that either." Esme's hand caressed her cheek and Bella kissed her palm before walking away from her family and going to find her mate.

*B-o-B*

Bella walked into their room and saw the door to the balcony was open. Nighttime was drawing in now and in the first specter of twilight it was safe for them to use it. She walked to the opening and peered through the door; seeing Jasper looking out over the horizon. It was an amazing view of the city but it held little of Bella's attention; her focus caught by the stress she could see in his shoulders and back. She knew he could probably sense her there but he didn't register her presence at all. She watched as he leant forward; his arms resting on the wall of the balcony and his head leaning on top of his arms. He was emitting a lot of emotions; Bella caught a few of them but they changed so fast she didn't even try to name them. She wished there was something she could do to help him; she knew this was difficult for them all; but for Jasper it was even harder because he had to handle all their stress as well as his own; and he had plenty of his own. His body was calling to her and she wished she knew if it was right for her to go to him; would it help him or just add to his pain? She took an unnecessary breath and stepped forward; it was only a couple of steps before she was standing behind him and she lifted her hand and tentatively touched his back; his body flinching slightly from the contact she made which almost caused her to change her mind and walk back to their room. After a few seconds though she felt him relax slightly and as her hand brushed softly across his back she felt rather than heard the purr in his chest.

Bella was still feeling pretty useless; what she was doing felt so inadequate but there wasn't much else she could do in this situation. Even though he'd relaxed, she still felt the tension in his frame but an idea came to her that she thought might help him. Both her hands moved to his waist and she tugged on it slightly; his body rising back to vertical. He turned his face towards her and she smiled at him softly and took his hand in hers, "Let me help you, baby." She whispered into the night sky. He nodded and let her lead him back into their room. Once in the center of the room she wrapped her arms around his body and pressed herself up against his chest; feeling him doing the same to her. They stood in silence for several minutes and she felt him relax infinitesimally against her; the tension still present but reducing all the time.

She pulled the shirt from his arms and shoulders and dropped it to the floor. She kissed his neck as she lifted his T-shirt over his head. He let her do all this; watching her through hooded eyes. He looked exhausted and she could feel the strain he was still feeling hanging round them like a fog. Bella looked up at his face and then rose to her tiptoes so she could place a soft kiss on his lips; his mouth responding to her action quickly. He moaned her name as she pulled her mouth from his; a gentle plea for her to return to him; one she didn't intend to break but couldn't grant straightaway. Her fingers undid the belt on his jeans and then undid the button and zipper before shoving them down his legs and watching as he kicked them away. She stood before him; running her eyes slowly up his body; from his feet, up his to knees and then thighs; climbing higher still; absorbing the bulge beneath the material of his underwear; up his chiseled stomach and then his chest. Each inch of skin was covered in scars and she loved each and every one; her fingers danced over the ones at his waist; climbing to those on his chest before coming to a stop on the ones at his shoulders. Her mouth grazed across the ones on his collarbone; taking its time to inspect those on his neck before working up to his jaw and nibbling on the ones she found there.

Jasper felt as if his whole body was tingling; his senses were on overload and there wasn't anything he could do about it; not that he particularly wanted to at this stage. Since that first touch on his back out on the balcony she'd been relaxing him. He could barely breathe as she slowly removed his clothes and the fire he could see in her eyes was making the need for oxygen in his lungs very necessary and impossible to obtain. As her fingers touched his body; the tickle of them as they danced over his scars and the love he felt exuding from her made his legs almost fail him. When her mouth kissed his shoulder; her lips worshipping the worst scars he had – those on his collarbone and neck he felt like he was dying all over again. If Aro and his brothers could see them now he knew it'd be unnecessary for them to put them through the tasks; Bella's love for him was obvious and the emotions he knew he was blasting through the room would make his for her undeniable. Her teeth nipped at his jaw and he groaned softly; pulling her body against his and pressing his arousal against her waist. She was wearing far too many clothes for his liking but he did like the slow speed they were moving at; a lot of the times their lovemaking became passionate and wild as they both got caught up in their combined desire and it was refreshing to be able to take it slowly now; because he knew that was where this was heading.

"Bella, please…" he whispered as she sucked on the skin at the base of his ear; a hot spot for him that Alice had always avoided because of the scar that marked it so badly. It was a scar she'd hated and one he despised twice as much; one from Maria that had been given as a 'reward' for doing so well in a battle he'd led. It was the reason he left his hair in the style it was in; it was perfect to hide that scar; that one and a few others he'd rather forget.

"Jazz, let me do this for you. I want to do this for you. You do so much for me and it's your turn to receive a gift from me." She pulled away from him a little as she spoke to him and she was looking at him with love shining from her eyes. "Will you let me do that?" she asked him softly.

"Yes." He hissed.

She smiled and kissed him softly on the lips. "I'm glad you said that." She stepped away from him again and both of her hands grasped his shoulders; twisting him so he was facing towards the bed. "Lie down; on your front." She whispered in his ear. To his credit he only paused for a second before doing as she asked. "Relax, baby." She said. She watched as he closed his eyes, "You look tired, Jazz."

"I am. Shame I can't sleep." He mumbled; the corner of his mouth rising in a small smile.

"I may be able to help you with that."

He didn't understand what she was saying but he knew whatever it was he was bound to enjoy it so he didn't argue with her. He rested his head on his hands; turning his head to one side. For several seconds there was silence and he let himself get swallowed up in the peace of it; it wasn't very often he felt this way but it was occurring more frequently since he'd got together with Bella. He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt the bed shift on his other side; he wanted to look at her; he wanted contact with her but he restrained himself; he had to let her do this.

She didn't make him wait too long; she was sitting beside him and then she was sitting on him and he could tell she was now wearing very little. He moaned softly; a moan that grew in volume as he felt something drizzle onto his back. He felt like he was dying as her hands pressed against the small of his back; her fingers working on the tension in his muscles. This was another first for him; he seemed to have discovered so many in the short time he'd spent with Bella. There were few things he thought were absent from his relationship with Alice and yet each day seemed to be revealing another to him he hadn't realized he'd been missing before. Now each one was something only they had shared; because he knew she never would've done these things with Edward; he never would've let them get that far. Each one he discovered made him realize the gaps that'd been present in his own previous relationship and he saw just how good what he had with Bella was.

Her fingers were pressing hard into the knots in his back and he groaned as she worked on a particularly bad one. "That feels so good, darlin'," he said softly. He felt her pleasure at what he'd said and smiled against his arms. She continued what she was doing for a long time; gradually working higher up his back; her ministrations were beginning to have an effect on him and the smell of the massage oil she was using was also helping drive him wild. She shifted her body a little high as she moved her hands to his shoulders and the back of his neck and he could feel how turned on she was by what she was doing. He bit his lip to stifle the moan as he felt how wet she was. He was finally beginning to feel very relaxed and he knew if he was still human he'd be well on his way to being asleep. Her hands massaged his upper back and he lowered his head; giving her better access to his neck; he knew she'd be able to see the other scars that his hair hid now and he wondered briefly how she would react to them. His instincts told him she would see them no differently to how she saw any of the rest but there was a small part of him that worried. Those scars were particularly distasteful to him as he'd received them as punishment; from Maria again; one of the few times he'd not done as she asked; when he'd let Peter and Charlotte escape. Considering she was so unstable it still surprised him she hadn't killed him in a fit of pique; he wouldn't have put anything past her. There'd been times when he'd wished she would kill him; the only thing that kept him alive was the fact he was too useful to her for her to seriously contemplate destroying him.

He sighed as he realized his thoughts had again turned to his sire; in an effort to try and stop thinking about her he moved onto another subject; although it was closely linked. He ran through what they'd gained from seeing Aro and he knew he'd have to try very hard to ensure he didn't fail the tasks. He knew already he couldn't bear the thought of losing Bella and even though his failing would mean his death he knew the family wasn't strong enough to survive losing any more members; so losing him and Bella as a result of his failure wasn't an option.

"Stop thinking about it, Jazz." She whispered in his ear before lowering her mouth to the scar she'd left on his shoulder and kissing it softly.

Again she'd managed to remind him of her love for his scars and the one she was currently kissing was his favorite by far. "I can't help it." he sighed. "I need to succeed; I can't fail."

"We'll be okay. I believe it; I believe in us. In my heart I know we'll be going back to Alaska with the rest of our family."

"I wish I had your faith."

"You do; it's just being masked by your worry and everyone else's feelings."

"Maybe." He sighed. Her hands pressed on a knot in his neck and his sigh turned into a moan and then he was purring again; this woman was a miracle. His woman.

Bella removed her hands and then shifted from where she was sitting; concerning him slightly. When her hands connected with his body again they were now touching his legs; massaging his thighs and he heard her giggle when they twitched in an all too-human fashion under her touch. She drizzled more of the oil onto his skin and continued to work on easing his tension; climbing from his body and moving to sit beside where he lay. By the time she reached his feet he was almost a pile of goo on the sheets and she knew what she was doing was working. "Turn over." She whispered; waiting as he didn't react to what she'd said for well over thirty seconds. It seemed he was completely relaxed; then he rolled onto his back and she saw there was at least one part of him that wasn't. She giggled again and he stared at her intently; a frown growing on his face. As she continued to laugh softly he growled and she leant forward and kissed him gently. "Sorry…" she whispered against his lips, "It's just I'm trying to get you all relaxed and it seems it isn't working."

"I'm sure you can feel that I'm perfectly relaxed."

It was true; whereas earlier they were cushioned by the fog of tension; the atmosphere now had an almost drug-like state to it. "I've still got some work to do." She said and turned her attention back to his legs. More oil was dripped onto his thighs and shins and she began to work the tension from his muscles; the man was pure perfection but as she worked on his legs she saw the scars which he still thought made him imperfect; she knew he still doubted she could love him when his skin was marred like it was but she did; she loved him with an intensity that completely overshadowed what she'd had for Edward; and she knew in her heart that if Edward was to reappear now, she wouldn't change who she was with. She wanted Jasper and she would stay with Jasper for as long as he would have her. Her hands were at the top of his thighs now and as they edged closer to the tops of his legs, his hips would shift from where they lay. She moved to sit on his legs so she could work on his upper body and she heard the sigh of disappointment as she sat a little lower than he would've liked her to which caused her to smile. "Are you okay, Jazz?" she asked; her question unnecessary but she couldn't resist it.

"Bella, stop torturing me. Please." He almost whispered the last word and she could see the desperation on his face.

She lifted the bottle of oil in her hand and poured it onto his stomach; his eyes opened and he stared at her with heated eyes as she once more tossed the bottle to one side and started to manipulate his body. "I thought you were enjoying this," she said, a small pout on her lips.

"I am; I just want you more."

"When I'm finished." She promised him. He sighed loudly which promptly turned into a moan as one hand moved a little lower and cupped him through his underwear, "I'll make it worth your while," she whispered as she squeezed him softly. His hips thrust up to push his length harder against her hand; trying to get some friction where he sought it the most but she released her hold on him and went back to her previous task. She gradually worked higher up his body then when she reached his chest she moved down to his hands and began the slow process of working up his arms to his shoulders. The muscles in his arms felt amazing as she stroked and rubbed them with her hands and from the noises he was now making she could tell he liked the feeling as much as she did. He was almost constantly purring now and as she slowly proceeded further up his body its volume increased. She lifted herself to her knees as she moved so she could reach his shoulders and she saw the disappointment flicker over his face at the realization she wasn't going to give him the relief he so desperately needed. She knew she was torturing him now but she also knew that once she gave him what he wanted both of them would enjoy the experience. At least she seemed to have achieved her goal because she'd never seen him as relaxed as he was now; he did look as if he could go to sleep at any second and part of her wished he could. He needed the rest; they both did but Jasper especially. After five minutes working on his shoulders and chest she knew she couldn't delay the moment any longer and she let her hands rest on his chest; staring down at him as he lay there with his eyes shut. "Time for your reward," she whispered and she saw him smile at her words; his eyes remaining closed. She pulled herself to her feet; standing over his body and staring down at him; his eyes opening and locking on her. Slowly she removed her last remaining clothes; two very small pieces of material that masqueraded as underwear and then lowered her gaze to the only article of clothing he was still wearing. She realized quickly that the only way of getting them off his body was to tear them off and as she bent forward and did just that she heard him growl from where he was lying. She threw what remained of his boxers to one side and then lifted her head to look at his face and saw him staring at her intently; his eyes flickering to graze over the surface of her body. His hands moved quickly to grip her ankles and she waited for him to take back some of the control; knowing he would even before he did.

Jasper looked up at her and saw her body almost glowing with the desire she was sending him; obviously she'd enjoyed the experience as much as he had. She was completely naked and now so was he since she'd pulled that last piece of clothing from his body; it seemed only fair that she ruin some of his clothes; he did the same to hers much more frequently. She still stood there; half bent over his body; restricting the view to certain bits of her while enhancing others. He longed to touch her and his hands grabbed her ankles; his thumbs brushing her skin as he stared at her. After a few seconds he pulled on her legs and she fell so gracefully onto his lap; her thighs grazing against his extremely hard cock which caused them both to moan. "Bella, I need you, darlin'," he sighed; his eyes closing briefly.

She said nothing and he wondered, stupidly, if she hadn't heard him and then he felt her fingers on his length; stroking him softly; the feel of the massage oil on her hands heating his skin and heightening his desire. He held his breath as she lifted from his lap and then he was sliding into her hot, wet channel and they both growled at the feel of it. His eyes opened once he was again connected with her and she was smiling down at him; her face almost looked flushed as the emotions she was feeling flowed from her to him. She leant forward; her hands either side of his head and then bent down and kissed him softly. The angle he had within her changed as she moved and he moved his hips beneath her; trying to go even deeper than he already was. The kiss deepened and his hands found their way to her hips; his fingers grazing the surface of her legs as they climbed higher. He felt her begin to move on him and he was only too happy to work with her in their combined task. She leant her arms on his chest and her hands wove through his hair; holding his head in place as she kissed him deeper. Their pace was slow and each slight movement from either of them aided them both in moving closer to their peaks. It didn't take long for the moment to strike them both and they cried out the other's name as they did; the intensity of their lovemaking peaking and racing through the room. Bella collapsed on his chest and Jasper was only too happy to have her there; his arms wrapping around her body and holding her in place. He was now relaxed in an entirely different way to how he'd been a few minutes earlier and he hoped to continue feeling that way for a little while longer.

TBC

A/N: What did you think? Did you like the Bella/Jasper lovin'? Please review. One more chapter later today...