Chapter Eleven

There have only been several moments in my life when I felt time stood still. The first I could remember was those three days of turning into a vampire; each moment dragged on into its own eternity and collapsed into the next until I thought I would be forever frozen into misery.

The second was when I walked into the diner and saw Alice waiting for me. She was sitting there facing the door expectantly, and the moment our eyes met for the first time everything else just froze into place and we stared at each other for what seemed an eternity.

The third time was when I kissed Bella. Everything else dissolved into nothing and even in my own infinite time, this one moment stretched on and on in its own universe of perfection.

And the fourth was as I watched the scene play out before me. One moment Laurent was rushing at me, the next he was on the ground. An awful stench burned my nose, but that didn't matter either. What froze me in place, would have made my blood run cold, was watching as Bella jumped in front of me, and an oncoming animal, wolf, lunging forward to tear her to shreds.

I thought about that for a fraction of a second or five hours, I'm not sure. I saw the sun glinting off those deadly claws, Bella's exposed torso, her hair whipping around her face, and I couldn't move for the life of me.

Then everything went into fast forward.

Another wolf, reddish-brown and huge, leapt in front of Bella just in time to absorb the fatal attack of the first wolf. The collision was brutal, and Bella didn't escape this part. She flew backwards into me, colliding against my body. She hit her head, and there was a good chance she was bleeding, but I was still focused on what was happening around me.

In the instant it took for the wolves to stand back up I bent down and scooped Bella up into my arms. Luckily I didn't smell any blood, and I placed her on my back so that we could make a speedy getaway if need be. With that option at the back of my mind I assessed the situation.

The wolves were standing up now, and to my intense surprise I noticed the reddish brown one stand in front of Bella and I as if he were guarding us. There was so much hostility and confusion in the air that I found it difficult to do much. The other vampires were pinned to the ground by the other three wolves, all of who were seemingly engrossed in the conflict between their pack mates. Laurent and Dustin still struggled, but the wolves paid them no mind.

A loud snarl from the wolf with dark silver fur brought my attention back to them. He took a step forward and so did the reddish brown wolf, a menacing growl escaping from his lips. Suddenly the dark silver wolf leapt forward to surpass the other and headed straight at me. I tensed, about to jump, but the reddish-brown wolf intercepted him again. Suddenly they both stopped, as if invisible chains bound them. I glanced towards the large black wolf, where the source of power seemed to be emanating, but his eyes were trained on the other two.

A change in emotion from the larger of the wolves in front of me caught my attention again. I turned to him just in time to see the wolf slowly receding back into a human form. With a jolt I gasped his name. "Jacob?"

"Sam, you can chew me out later," Jacob told the black wolf. "Paul, why don't you go help them with those two." Then he pulled on his shorts and turned to face me, a sour look on his face. "Jasper," he greeted.

I stared at him, still tense. "Don't kill them," I said. There were howls of protest. "I need to talk to Laurent," I explained. Despite everything that had transpired I still remembered what he had said about a mission, and I needed to figure this whole thing out.

The dark silver wolf, Paul I surmised, stepped forward again, a growl punctuating his movement.

"Dammit Paul!" Jacob ground out. "You take one step closer and I promise you won't be phasing for one hell of a long time." The silver wolf faltered for a moment, regarding Jacob, then stepped back. Jacob turned to me then, his face contorted into one of worry. "Bella?" he asked, his voice soft and worried.

My grip on her tightened before I forced myself to relax. Jacob and his pack had just saved us, they weren't a threat to Bella. "She's all right, just unconscious," I told him.

Still he stepped forward, his arms held out. Handing Bella over was one of the hardest things I've ever done, and I regretted it almost instantly. Jacob held her close, checking her head for any injuries. "If you want to interrogate the leech you better do it now," he told me, still not looking up from Bella.

Hating myself for doing so, but knowing Jacob was right, I turned back to the other vampires. The other wolves tensed as I approached, and I sent some calming waves over at them. It worked, but only slightly. "I just want to talk with Laurent." I looked over at Dustin and sneered. "You can do what you want with the other one."

Dustin let out a terrified hiss as two of the wolves dragged him away, and I crouched down next to Laurent. "Jasper," he half pleaded, renewing his efforts to struggle against the large black wolf pinning his arms down. Paul came over and immobilized Laurent's legs.

"Hello Laurent," I responded in a friendly tone, much as he'd used earlier.

"Jasper," Laurent said again, fear rolling off him.

"Laurent, what mission are you on?" I asked in my most persuasive voice. Laurent seemed to resist, so I added another layer to my tone. "Come Laurent, you can tell me." If there was one upside to my powers it was this.

"To find Bella."

I tried not to let the shock register. "Why?" Laurent clamped his mouth shut and shook his head.

"Dustin is a newborn isn't he?" There was silence and somewhere in the distance we heard a rip and a scream. Laurent's eyes opened wide and a thrill of fear emanated from him. "Did you create him?"

"No."

"Why are you back in Forks?"

Laurent struggled against the wolves futilely before turning back to me with a spiteful look. "As a favor."

I narrowed me eyes at the vampire as I processed this. Laurent was a nomad, but he did have a coven at some point. "A favor to Victoria." Laurent didn't say anything and I knew it was true. "Did Victoria create Dustin?" Again no answer.

The black wolf shifted slightly and Laurent cried out in pain. He didn't speak until the wolf retracted its claws from his arm. "Yes, and the others."

"Others?" I asked sharply. "How many?"

"I don't know. Five? Let me go," he begged.

"What is she doing? Why is she making them?"

The question didn't come from me, but from Jacob. He stepped forward a few feet, holding Bella securely against him.

"I don't know!"

My anger flared and I bit out, "This is getting us nowhere. I can see you're done talking." In a swift movement I reached down and grabbed Laurent's right arm. It made a horrible ripping sound as it separated from his body. "If you want this back," I told Laurent, dangling his arm in front of him as he screamed, "tell Victoria to come and get it for you."

I glanced at Jacob and he nodded. Jacob looked at the black wolf and jerked his head. The moment the two wolves released him Laurent was gone. I took a moment to cool my emotions before I turned back to the pack.

"Do you really think he'll take the message back?" Jacob asked me.

I nodded, grimacing at the arm struggling in my grasp to follow its owner. "If he wants his arm back." In the distance I could smell the burning ashes of something distinctly vampire. "In the meantime I think we ought to discuss this."

"I'll take Bella back to her home," Jacob told me. "We'll be waiting for you there."

I nodded and took off. It wouldn't do to keep a vampire's arm hidden in Bella's room.

**

Charlie wasn't home when I arrived at the Swan residence, but Jacob and another Quileute man were in the living room. It was with trepidation that I entered.

"Jasper, Sam. Sam, Jasper," Jacob introduced us.

We eyed each other evenly before I nodded. There was no threat coming from him, only tension and authority. Sam must have been the black wolf from earlier.

"First off, how do you know the vampires from earlier? And who is Victoria?"

I sighed, leaning against the wall as I thought of how best to answer Jacob's question. "It started with a baseball game," I began. I related the rest of the story to them and waited patiently.

"So, Jacob said slowly. "So now this Victoria wants to kill Bella?" I nodded.

"Why doesn't she just go after Edward?" It was the first time Sam had spoken the entire time.

"Mate for a mate," I said.

"But Edward left her," Jacob protested.

"Which is a fact that I doubt Victoria knows," I replied.

"Then why would she be creating more vampires?"

I frowned. I had my suspicions but I wasn't inclined to go into a detailed history of my past at the moment. "I can't say for sure, but I think it best if we keep patrol."

"We have been," Jacob pointed out, his tone a bit smug.

I nodded. "Yes, and I thank you for that. Otherwise things today may not have turned out quite so well." We sat in silence for a few moments. "Look, I think we should try drawing Victoria out in the open. If she's only got five newborns like Laurent said, then she'll be easier to take down than if we wait." I paused, searching their faces and emotions. "That is, if you would offer your help to this task." If they didn't then I'd have my work cut out for me.

I expected Jacob to respond first, but it was Sam who surprised me. "It is our job," he told me. "Of course we will help."

I was relieved, but there was one more detail I needed to work out. "When I first joined his coven and we moved to Forks, Carlisle told me about the treaty. I know there is a boundary line between our lands, but I think for the sake of strategy and convenience we should resolve that particular restriction for the time being. I won't hunt any of the animals on your land, but I would like to be able to cross over in case I catch Victoria's trail."

Sam nodded. "I was going to suggest that as well." He paused thoughtfully. "Am I right in assuming you are the only Cullen here?"

"Yes."

Luckily I was saved from divulging more by a sudden noise from upstairs.

"Jasper?" Bella called out in a frightened voice.

I was upstairs in half a second, kneeling by Bella's bed. "I'm here, Bella."

Bella was gripping the sheets so tightly her knuckles were white. Jacob bolted through the door then. "Jake!" Bella cried in surprise as he came to a halt on the far side of her bed. She looked between the two of us, her emotions going haywire, then took a deep breath. "What happened?" she asked finally, her eyes shut tight.

Jacob launched into an explanation, thankfully leaving out the more grotesque details. I pointedly ignored how he held Bella's hand the entire time. "So, Bells, I hope you're ready to spend a lot more time around me," Jacob said, grinning. Even without my power it would be easy to see the elation Jacob got from this fact.

Bella turned to look at me. "Jasper?" Her eyes searched my face. "I don't understand. Why does Victoria want to kill me?"

This was a point that both Jacob and I had wanted to avoid. I could tell he was just as thrilled to talk about Edward as I was. I took Bella's hand in mine before looking at her. "Because she believes that you are Edward's mate."

Bella looked like she had been slapped. Her mouth hung open and her hand went limp in mine. "B-but I'm not," she said, her voice shaky.

"I know Darlin', but Victoria doesn't know that," I said gently, rubbing little circles on her hand. Bella drew her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them; if her hands had been free she would have clutched at her heart.

"Bells?" Jacob called softly. "Hey, look at me. Don't worry about it. I'll always be near, and Jasper won't be going anywhere, so you'll be safe." We all knew we were trying to avoid the other issue.

Bella nodded her head against her knees, but both Jacob and I knew she was starting to cry. In the distance I picked up on Charlie's cruiser. "Jacob, Charlie is going to be home soon. Unless you want to explain to him what you and Sam are doing here, maybe we should continue this later."

"Sure, sure," Jacob said dismissively. "Bella? Can I get a hug? You know, a 'thanks-for-saving-my-life-you're-awesome-Jake' hug?"

Bella laughed a little. She rubbed her eyes on her sleeve and turned to Jacob, throwing her arms around him. "Thanks Jake. Really," she said softly. I had to look away then.

"Jasper," Jake said.

"Jacob." I nodded in farewell. Then he breezed downstairs and, along with Sam, left. I turned back around, sitting on the edge of Bella's bed and sighed. "Bella, you are entirely too reckless," I told her.

"Why?" she asked.

"Jumping in front of a werewolf, honestly. You could have died," I told her, stressing the last word. "And then I don't know what I'd do…"

Bella bit her lip, refusing to meet my eyes. "I was scared of losing you too. I wouldn't know what to do either." She finally looked up and there were tears in her eyes again. "I was so scared Jasper."

I reached over and pulled Bella close to me and she buried her face in the crook of my neck. "I'm sorry," I told her. "I didn't mean to make you worry." She sniffled and nodded her head, tightening her arms around me. "Are you hurting? Do you want me to get you some ibuprofen?"

"Please? My head really hurts," she told me. "And I need to cook Charlie dinner."

I disentangled myself from her and rose to get her the medicine and a glass of water. "I think there are some leftovers in the fridge still," I told her. "You should take it easy for now." I was back before she could answer, and just in time to hear Charlie pull up to the driveway. After Bella swallowed the pill I helped her stand up and walked her to the door.

"Bella?" Charlie called from downstairs.

"Hey Dad!" Bella called back. "I'll be right down." She turned to me, giving my hand a squeeze. "Thanks."

I retreated back into Bella's room after I was sure she made it downstairs safely then crossed to the other side and through open the window. "Jacob," I called. A movement in the trees alerted me to the presence of a large reddish-brown wolf. I jumped down and walked into the forest where a now human Jacob was waiting for me. "You didn't leave," I stated.

"Would you?" he asked.

My mouth quirked into a half smile. "No."

"The pack knows now, and we'll be patrolling the borders. Lately hikers have been disappearing, but now that we've scared off Laurent I think that problem will stop for a little while."

I sighed. Clearly I wasn't the only one who found the vegetarian lifestyle difficult.

"Are you going to let the rest of them know?" Jacob asked me. "The Cullens?"

I hesitated as I thought about this. "No," I said finally. "It doesn't really concern them," I explained. Jacob looked surprised and I let the spite fade from my voice. "I haven't talked to them since Edward left." Jacob looked like he was going to ask more questions, so I hastened to change the subject. "I think I should teach the pack how to take down newborns. They're much stronger for the first year of their life, but they have no skill, only brute strength."

Jacob nodded. "The other leeches today we've been tracking for a while. We almost caught the young one a few times, but the black haired one has always slipped past us."

"Not surprising. Laurent has three hundred years of experience under his belt and Dustin looked like he was only about three months old."

"I don't want Bella to be alone for even a moment," Jacob told me then.

"I agree," I replied. "Actually, I was thinking of making my reappearance," I told him.

Jacob gave me a sharp look. "What do you mean?"

"It's not very difficult to protect Bella while I'm hiding, but if I suddenly showed up out of nowhere to protect her, people might start to wonder," I told him. "You know how small towns gossip. But if I'm back in Forks to pack up a few things from our old house, per say, then it wouldn't be so surprising. Everyone knows that Bella spent a lot of time with us, so I don't think they'd be suspicious if Bella and I were seen together."

"I don't know," Jacob said slowly.

"That and Mike has already seen me," I told him.

Jacob rubbed his temples. "You know, for as hard as you bloodsuckers try to fit in and be secret, you sure don't do a good job of it," he told me. "Well, alright. But Bella has to come on the reservation any time she's not with you."

I nodded. This would be a good idea, especially when I had to hunt. "After you talk to Sam and the pack let me know when we can arrange our first meeting. I know a few techniques that are very helpful when trying to take down a newborn."

Jacob nodded and Bella called my name from inside. "Take care of her," Jacob told me. "I'll contact you soon." He walked into the forest a little ways and then transformed.

"Jasper?" Bella called again.

I scaled the tree near Bella's window and leapt in through the window. "Feeling better?" I asked her.

"A little," she said, sinking back down onto her bed. She was already in her pajamas, so I guessed must have gone through her nightly routine. She patted the spot next to her and I moved to sit next to her, leaning against the headboard. I reached over and clicked off the light. "I'm scared," she told me.

"It'll be all right, darlin'. I won't let anything happen to you," I assured her.

Bella turned to me, biting her lip. "Not for myself, for you. What if something happens?"

I laughed a little. "Bella, I'm more than capable of handling any vampire, werewolf or other threat that you attract to yourself," I told her. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"I still worry," she told me, yawning. She winced slightly. "My head still hurts," she mumbled. She fumbled about in the dark for the glass of water and ibuprofen but in the process managed to swipe her hand across something sharp. Bella inhaled sharply. "Damn." The cut was small and really didn't bother me; I'd long ago decided that I'd rather Bella didn't die due to my lack of control. But she brought her hand up to her mouth and cast fearful eyes in my direction.

I stopped her hand just before she could put her finger in her mouth and held it before me. The smallest drop of blood had risen to the surface and beaded, like a tiny ruby. Slowly, watching Bella the entire time, I brought her finger to my mouth and licked away the drop of blood. Bella's heartbeat doubled but this time it wasn't out of fear.

"Bella," I sighed, drowning in the sweetness of that single drop of blood and the emotions she was eliciting in me. I kissed her wrist, her scar, and slowly made my way up her arm until I reached the area where her shoulder met with her neck. I suckled lightly, careful not to break her skin, and Bella's hands knotted in my hair. After ensuring that I would leave a mark I kissed along Bella's clavicle to the hollow of her throat and she threw her head back urging me on.

I kissed up her throat, along her jawbone then the corners of her mouth. Bella surprised me shifting on top of me and devouring my mouth with hers. She traced my bottom lip with her tongue and I opened my mouth to let her in. For the briefest moment surprise registered on Bella's features, but she quickly refocused on exploring my mouth, tasting every corner and pressing into me in a very compromising manner.

"Bella," I moaned. God if she kept this up I wouldn't be able to stop. Bella pulled back panting and stared at me. I closed my eyes but the image was already seared into my memory, weakening my resolve. Bella shifted slightly, reminding me that she was still situated on top of me and damned determined to make me lose control. "Bella, if you don't stop I can't promise that I will," I told her.

I opened my eyes to see comprehension dawn in Bella's. "Oh!" she gasped, flushing a nice red. She scrambled off of me, embarrassed, and slipped beneath her covers as though they were a force field.

I took a moment to ground myself in reality and calm my body before I shifted down so that I was lying next to Bella. I poked her through the covers. "Hey there Miss Caterpillar," I said. Bella didn't respond so I pulled back the covers to reveal her eyes. "Bella?" She just stared at me. "What's wrong, darlin'?" I asked.

"I'm confused," she told me. "And embarrassed." She took a deep breath then sat up a little. "I," she began, but her voice hitched. Bella's brow furrowed and she tried again. "I…" Again she faltered. Frustrated she grabbed my hand, holding it against her heart. The next moment all other emotions dissolved into something tender, sweet, intense. It took me a moment to recognize the feeling myself. Love. "Do you understand?" she asked me, not quite meeting my eyes.

I nodded, then pulled Bella close, wrapping my arms around her. "Bella," I said as she hid her face in my chest. I let down my barriers so that I could show her how I felt. I heard her gasp then she looked up at me, her eyes watery. "Do you understand?" I asked her. She nodded.

It was confusing and wonderful, disorienting and the only thing that was right. My love for Bella muddled my love for Alice just as surely as her love for me blurred the lines of her love for Edward. But how could something so perfect, something I wanted so much, be a terrible thing? If I was a terrible person for loving Bella then so be it. I gripped her closer, washing her in my feelings and feeling the same reciprocation coming back from her.

We didn't say it, but we felt it. And it was enough.

**

The sun broke through the window the next morning and cast its warming rays across the bed. Bella shifted slightly my arms and I tightened my grip on her, for once cursing the cool temperature of my body as it prevented me from holding Bella as close as I wanted. In exchange for slipping under the covers with her Bella had to put on sweats and a sweater so that my embrace wouldn't chill her. A cloud moved, allowing the sun to beat down into the room fully and Bella's face scrunched up against the unwelcome light.

I drew Bella in closer and whispered into her ear, "Morning Sunshine."

Bella moaned a little, unwilling to leave the confines of sleep and tried to bury her face in my shirt. I stroked her hair, combing my finger through it, and loving the feeling of it as it slid through my fingers. Bella sighed contently against me. At last she decided to wake up. "That feels good," she told me as my fingers ran through the length of her hair. "Jasper?"

"Hmm?" Bella placed a kiss against my shoulder and let her feelings of affection flow. I smiled. "Me too," I told her. I continued running my hands through her hair as I explained about the meeting between Jake and I last night.

"And the pack is okay with this? You're really going to teach them how to take down newborns?" Bella asked me.

"Yes. I'm just waiting for Jacob to get back to me."

"Jasper," Bella began, hesitation thick in her voice.

"Yes darlin'?"

"Well, you said you wanted to make a reappearance. What exactly do you mean?"

"I want to be able to be seen with so that I can better protect you. I'll say I'm back to pack up some things from the house and go over some details concerning its care. And that way people won't be suspicious when they see us together."

"Together," Bella repeated, a slow smile creeping onto her face. "I think I might like that," she told me shyly. Then she frowned. "Won't people talk if we're walking around holding hands?"

I shrugged. "I don't care what they think or say, Bella."

Bella smiled, relieved. "Good. Because I don't want to have to fight girls off of you if they think you're single."

I chuckled. "On that note, why don't we put this plan in action? Charlie's downstairs, so why don't you get ready while I go about making my reappearance. Then we can just happen to stumble upon each other at the store."

"Around what time?"

"Let's say eleven," I told her. "Don't worry, I'll be there."

Bella smiled and disentangled herself from me. "It's a date then."

**

I'd often been glad that I couldn't read minds like Edward, but at this moment I couldn't have been more grateful. My first moment out was met with shocked stares and gaping mouths, then hushed whispers as I walked by. Of course I had never bothered to make friends while I was going to Forks so I walked by silently, nodding my head to the few who said hello.

My first encounter was with Jessica Stanley and her mother. Just my luck.

"Jasper!" Jessica cried in surprise then quickly glanced around as if Alice was going to materialize out of thin air as well. I was never seen without Alice.

"Hello Jessica," I replied. "Mrs. Stanley."

"Jasper, dear, what are you doing back here?" she asked me, her tone friendly, but I could feel the double edge to it.

"I'm back in town to pack up a few things from the house and settle some other matters," I told her, doing my best to smile convincingly.

"Oh, that's nice of you," Mrs. Stanley replied. She'd always like me the best of the Cullens. Probably because I was the one who handled most of the monetary issues. "Where's Alice?"

I stiffened considerably. "I'm here alone," I told her. I rushed on before I could help myself. "Alice and I haven't been together for quite a while." If it wouldn't have made me seem crazy I'm sure I would have slapped myself right there. I allowed myself a mental sigh. At least this was some sort of platform for when I began escorting Bella.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," she told me, though she wasn't sorry at all. A new level of interest soon interrupted the Stanley women's emotions.

"So have you seen anyone yet? We could all get together and hang out," Jessica babbled. "After all, you all left so suddenly. We didn't even have time to plan a farewell party or anything."

I gave Jessica a condescending smile, but she couldn't tell the difference. "I haven't, actually. Perhaps sometime later. If you'll excuse me." It was almost eleven and I needed to head to the grocery store.

"Yes of course. Please, stop by sometime," Mrs. Stanley told me. I smiled and nodded my head like a good Southern gentleman before making my escape.

It was already five minutes past eleven by the time I arrived at the store. Bella's truck was already in the parking lot. I walked up and down the aisles, trying to appear casual, and grabbing a random item to carry. At last I saw her, opening the fridge door to grab some milk.

"Bella!"

More than one pair of eyes turned to my exclamation. But when Bella saw me her face split into a grin and she began to run toward me at an alarmingly unsafe pace for someone as clumsy as her. "Jasper!"

I opened my arms in time to catch Bella as she jumped up and wrapped her arms around my neck. I laughed as I twirled her around. "And here I thought you were a bad actor," I whispered to her.

Bella grinned up at me, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Who said I was acting?" she replied quietly.

We made a show of explanations before Bella and I returned to her cart and we continued to shop for groceries. "So Jasper," she asked me as we strolled down a deserted aisle, "are you really going to buy that women's shaving cream?"

I glanced down at the object in my hands in horror. I hadn't realized what I'd grabbed in my haste to find Bella. "No!"

Bella laughed, holding her hand out. "That's all right. I needed to buy some anyway."

Embarrassed I tossed it into her cart. "You could have told me sooner," I muttered. "I've been walking around with that for ten minutes."

Bella squeezed my hand. "Sorry, it was funny."

"Ha ha."

"Jasper, would you like to come over for dinner tonight?"

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Dinner?"

Bella noticed her fumble and flushed. "Oh, you know what I mean," she told me hotly. "Well, I was actually wondering if you'd make dinner for Charlie and I. I'd like for you to meet him."

I'd never met Charlie personally, or officially, and truth be told I was quite nervous. "Doesn't he hate the Cullens?" I asked her.

"You're not a Cullen," she pointed out. "As I recall your last name is Whitlock. Besides, I'm sure you can charm him."

My mouth quirked into a smile. "I'd love to."

**

Bella drove home to put away her groceries while I continued with my show. Mrs. Stanley and Jessica had been efficient in their gossiping and by now most people weren't surprised to see me but curious. Around two I headed back to the Swan house. I knocked on the door but no one answered. I grabbed the spare key and let myself in.

Jasper,

Jake called. He wants to meet with you.

Charlie and I are in La Push.

Meet me by the beach; I'll be with Jake.

Bella

I folded the note and placed it in my pocket. It was good that I'd resolved that border restriction with the Quileutes. I ran down to La Push, slowing as I reached the border. I took an unnecessary deep breath and stepped over onto their land. I'd never been to this side before, so everything was new, and teeming with wildlife. But I'd promised not to hunt on their land; I'd have to hunt soon if I was going to be around so many humans.

I raced down to the beach and slowed as I caught Bella's scent. She was sitting on a large log, Jacob next to her, his arm draped over her shoulders to keep her warm. Jacob noticed me before Bella did. "Bella," I called out as I neared.

She turned toward me, a smile breaking across her face. "Hello Jasper," she called, standing up.

Jacob stood up and nodded. "Jacob," I greeted.

"I think our plans will have to wait for another night," Bella told me as I sat down next to her.

"We found something while we were out patrolling," Jacob informed me. He held out a piece of cloth to me. It was soft and silver but that wasn't what interested me. "It smells of vampire. I thought we should ask you first."

I lifted the ripped fabric to my nose and inhaled the scent. Jacob was right; it was definitely vampire. As the scent registered my brain froze.

"Jasper?" Bella asked, her concerned features swimming in my peripheral. "What is it?"

I turned to Bella and tried to hold onto her face as everything else came crashing down around me.

"Alice."

A/N: GASP! Well, I hope that this was an enjoyable chapter for all of you! I wasn't sure where to take this, where to end it, but instead of leaving it off at their revelations of love I went ahead and continued on to where we are now. Well, the confrontation with Alice is near at hand; it was inevitable really. Everything led up to it.

But I want to know what you guys think! Do you like how Jasper and Bella's relationship is going? What are your feelings on this? Was it cheesy or stupid, the way they let each other know how they felt? I thank all of you for sticking with this story for so long. I hope you'll continue reading and reviewing!

I'll do my very best to update once more before I desert all of you lovely readers for two weeks.

And as always, so very many thanks to JaspersBella for all her encouragement in helping me continue this story. I can't thank you enough!