A/N: Quick note, in case you get confused, this jumps from Edward's POV to Jasper's.

Chapter Twenty One

The pure fear that flowed through me when I heard Bella scream was indescribable. The wolves ran forward, leaping on the newborns with a vengeance, and taking them quite by surprise.

Carlisle, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, Esme and I rushed forward then to find out what was going on. Victoria clearly hadn't been expecting the pack, and she wasn't quite sure what to do at first.

I took the briefest moment to canvass the scene. Jasper was locked in a battle with someone who I knew from his thoughts to be Maria, and Jacob was standing defensively in front of Bella, fending off attacks from Victoria.

Sam was likewise engaged with Laurent, drawing his attention away from Bella and attempting to rip his throat out. I saw Carlisle rush forward to tackle a newborn that had taken Esme by surprise, and they were then engaged in a battle. I don't want Esme to battle, Carlisle thought desperately, blocking a blow and countering with his own, reaching forward and incapacitating the newborn.

Emmett was having a grand time fighting with two of the younger newborns, ducking and escaping quickly enough that they ran into one another with a resounding crack.

Rosalie was likewise enjoying the fight, taunting one of the young male vampires with her looks before going in to rip off his head.

Edward what the hell are you doing!

I looked in Jacob's direction, where the thought had come from, to see him have to jump in front of Bella just in time to stop a newborn from attacking her from the side. There was another sickening crack and a howl of pain from Jacob. His arm was broken.

"Jake!" Bella cried, reaching out to grab him.

"Bella don't!" I shouted and she paused, turning to look at me. In the moment it took her to do so I ran forward and ripped off several appendages from the newborn. I turned in time to see Victoria lunge at Bella, but Paul intercepted her, biting down on her arm.

I took her moment of distraction to sneak up behind Victoria with the intent of breaking her neck, but she noticed me before that and ran to the opposite side of the field.

"Alice!" I called. She was engaged in a battle with a clumsy female vampire. Alice took a couple of hits before she was finally able to sever the female newborn's head and throw it onto the growing pile.

I'll watch her, Alice responded, flitting over to Bella and standing in front of her protectively.

Bella was frightened and looked at me with wide, alarmed eyes. "Be safe," she whispered.

I gave her a smile and took off after Victoria, who had decided to find an opponent in Rosalie. The latter sensed me before Victoria and thought, She's all yours, backing off to help Emmett with a particularly strong male vampire.

Victoria and I circled each other for a while. She knew she might not win the battle, and I was more than eager to catch her and finish the job. I pursued Victoria with confidence. But I had to have some answers.

"Why were you at Bella's house?" I asked, as if genuinely interested. "And you didn't kill Charlie."

Victoria's lip curled into a sneer. "Like I'd tell you." But she thought about the reason and that was good enough.

"So you thought you'd scare her? Let her know you were coming? That still doesn't explain why Charlie was alive," I said quietly.

Victoria's eyes widened. She must have forgotten that I could read minds. But she wasn't good at blocking me from her thoughts, and when I said the name Charlie her mind flashed to what appeared to be a young Victoria and an older man with red hair. Her father? They were laughing together and picking flowers, and the man scooped Victoria up and kissed her all over her face. She hugged his neck with her small arms.

"I see," I said. Victoria just hissed at me.

Every step I took forward she edged backwards, until we were right next to Jasper and Maria.

I felt a strong wave of hatred as I neared them and nearly buckled over from the severity of it. Jasper was livid, absolutely furious. He wanted nothing more than to kill the vampire that had cost him so much, caused him so much pain.

Jasper lunged forward, but Maria stepped to the side, hissing at him. She whipped around to punch him but he caught her fist in his hand, turning her arm in hopes of breaking it, but Maria jumped up and twisted in the air, landing behind Jasper, her arm free.

A million things were running through Jasper's mind all at once. Memories of when he was still in Texas helping Maria, all the newborns he slaughtered, the human lives he took as he fed greedily, and Bella. Every thought and action was motivated by an urgent desire to keep her safe. I had to look away.

There was a howl to my left, and suddenly the pack's frantic thoughts crowded my mind.

Help him!

I can't!

He's hurt!

Get the leech!

I looked to the right to see Paul lunging at Laurent, who was standing over Sam's body. Sam was breathing heavily and the pack was in a frenzy. Paul grabbed Laurent's arm in his teeth and ripped if off with a satisfying pop.

Embry joined him in his attack, grabbing onto Laurent's other arm while Paul managed to clamp down on his leg and they pulled in opposite directions. The effect was desirable; Laurent retained only his one leg and his head, which was currently screaming in agony and asking for Victoria's help. Jacob, limping on his bad leg, came up to Laurent while the others held him down and ripped through his neck, tossing it away with disgust.

"Alice!" Rosalie yelled, and the family turned to look. With a new burst of fear I saw Victoria grab Alice by the neck and toss her to the side, her sights trained on Bella. A cruel smile found its way onto Victoria's face as she leapt forward.

I started to run, but my body felt heavy, a sinking feeling dragging me down. I couldn't lose Bella. Not now, not after everything.

I stared with horror as Victoria stretched her arms out, reaching for Bella's fragile neck.

And all of a sudden Jasper was there, snarling at her, and delivering a swift blow to her face. Victoria flew backwards, landing heavily and looked up at Jasper. He was so preoccupied with Victoria that he didn't notice Maria charge at him from the side.

With a burst of adrenaline I leapt forward and intercepted Maria, tackling her to the ground. Alice appeared at my side with a mortified look. I'm sorry Edward.

I nodded at her reassuringly and struggled with Maria. Alice stared down at her and suddenly realization dawned on her. Alice hissed at Maria. You get Victoria, Jasper wants Maria for himself, Alice thought. Alice raced back over to Bella, placing a hand on Jasper's shoulder. Jasper looked away from Victoria finally and spotted me. He straightened up and in the same moment we switched spots.

Jasper began to fight in earnest with Maria, leaping at her and pinning her to the ground. He began to dismember her, taking quite a few hits of his own. When Maria bit him Jasper lost it. He grabbed her face in his hands and twisted. In a few moments Maria would be no more.

I set my sights back on Victoria for the final time. I wouldn't let her get away from me again. I wouldn't let her get near Bella ever again.

Jasper POV

I'd never felt so enraged in my life. As I sat there, ripping Maria to shreds, I finally felt some sick form of satisfaction, her screams and pleading only heightening my want to get rid of her at last. All these years she's plagued my thoughts, creeping back in at the most inopportune time. Never again.

At last I was able to throw her body parts in the large pile. A few newborns were still locked in battle with Carlisle and several of the wolves, but for the most part the only threat left was Victoria, and Edward could do away with her himself.

But there wouldn't be any harm in helping him. After all that bitch got too near Bella one too many times.

I'm coming to help you Edward, I informed him. I moved into into a deeper part of the trees, behind Victoria. I scaled one tree and perched on a branch, ready to drop down onto her. Chase her this way, I'll catch her. She's too distracted right now to notice me.

Through a small break in the trees I saw Alice hovering around Bella, her stance defensive. She was feeling terrible about letting Victoria get so close to Bella, and had renewed her vigor in watching her.

Edward finally found an opportunity to chase Victoria in my direction and he charged, frightening the red-haired vampire and sending her right at me. As I anticipated she didn't have a clue I was there until I was pinning her to the ground. She struggled ferociously but to no avail. I lifted her off the ground and held her arms behind her back as Edward stalked up to her, his bloodlust raging. He wanted her dead.

He gave her a sardonic smile, one that would win the hearts of many a girl. "You just don't know when to quit, do you?" he whispered, fingering a lock of her wild hair.

I could feel Victoria tense up, frightened. She knew what was about to happen.

Edward had no reserves in ripping her apart limb by limb. We brought the pieces back to the pile together.

Jacob had just finished ripping apart the last newborn and he and the pack were carrying the pieces to the pile. I knew Emmett had wanted to set the thing on fire, but he was currently preoccupied. One of the young newborns had taken him by surprise and ripped off his arm before Emmett knew what hit him. Of course he retaliated by biting the bastard several times before finishing the job.

"Rose, ow!" he whined as Rosalie fixed his arm back on.

"Oh shut up and quit complaining you baby," she replied. Emmett muttered under his breath, but they were both in a good mood after fighting. I wondered if Emmett had seen the whole thing as a chance to live out a video game in real life rather than a life-threatening experience.

Edward snorted next to me. "He just didn't want to admit it to you," he told me.

I shook my head, smiling slightly. I threw the body pieces on the heap and stalked over to Emmett, holding out my hand. "Lighter," I asked.

Emmett sighed, reaching into his pocket to retrieve my lighter. He looked at it longingly for a moment before he handed it to me. "I'm not getting it back this time, am I?" he asked morosely.

"Nope," I replied, snatching it out of his hand.

Carlisle retrieved a can of gasoline from the local gas station and doused the body parts. I picked up a random body part and lit it on fire before throwing it on the pile. The entire thing lit up in a blaze, thick smoke immediately beginning to curl from the top of the pile.

I watched the flames, too afraid to face Bella. What she must think of me now. Now that she'd seen me murder another vampire so cruelly. I glanced back when I noticed Edward move from his place and walk slowly towards Bella who was hiding behind Alice.

"Carlisle!" Jacob called, his voice panicked. I looked over to him to see the pack leaning over Sam who remained in his wolf form.

I joined Carlisle over by Sam and the others. They were all standing over him in their human forms, their faces worried. Sam was breathing heavily, his tongue lolled out and his eyes closed. Carlisle kneeled down next to Sam and felt his heartbeat. His hand came back up covered in blood.

Sam whined and Edward, who was in earnest conversation with Bella, cut off his sentence and called out, "He wants you to phase so that he can talk to you."

It was directed at Jacob, but the whole pack did it anyway. Before phasing Jacob looked at Carlisle, his mouth set in a frown, and glanced down at Sam. Carlisle shook his head grimly. Pain emanated from Jacob and he quickly phased.

I knew they were talking to one another, listening to Sam's thoughts. Sam knew he wasn't going to make it either, and must have told them as much, as another round of panic and fear rippled around the pack.

Jacob was growling at Sam, but Sam shook his head. Sam must have said something because Jacob was suddenly the one shaking his head, backing up slightly. The other stared at him intently.

Edward walked over then, Bella slightly in front of him and Alice slightly behind. It took one look at the morose faces for Bella to know what was happening.

She dropped to her knees and scooted closer to Sam. Tears started to pool in her eyes and it wasn't long before they were slipping down her cheeks. Bella was stroking Sam's fur and she whispered, "I'm sorry. Oh god I'm sorry. This is all my fault. Oh god. I'm sorry," over and over.

After a few moments Jacob walked slowly over to Bella, nudging her away, and she wrapped her arms around him, sobbing into his fur. Sam whined once more and looked up at us.

"You did wonderful," Edward said quietly. "Thank you so much for everything."

Sam sighed and suddenly his form receded into his human one. When the clouds shifted over and pale moonlight bathed Sam's body in a faint glow I finally realized how late it was. Sam looked up at the moon and stars before taking another look at all of us. "Emily," he sighed. He smiled at the pack one last time and took his last breath.

The wolves let out a long, wailing howl.

**

The family decided to wait until the fire died out before joining the pack at Emily's. Bella was inconsolable and wouldn't talk to or even look at anyone other than Jacob. She was exuding guilt and sorrow and refused to be consoled. At last Jacob, back in his human form, lifted her in his arms and held her to him as he carried her to his car.

After they were gone and the family heading back as well, Edward took me aside and stared at me seriously. He didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. His emotions were in so much of a mess that the message was clear enough without him saying it.

"If you ever hurt her," Edward whispered dangerously. "I swear I will rip you apart limb by limb and burn each piece separately."

I didn't know how to react. Whether the hypocrisy of him asking me not to hurt Bella was lost on him or not I wasn't sure. But I knew he was serious in his threat, and that it pained him more than he'd admit to anyone, even himself, to let go of Bella. I didn't know what had changed in him, and right now I didn't really want to ask. The mere fact that he had admitted defeat and was essentially giving me his blessing astounded me.

Perhaps Edward heard my internal monologue, because suddenly he gave me a half smile and pulled me in for a quick hug. When he pulled back he was serious again. "And if you do hurt her, just know that I will be there waiting to win her back." Then he turned and left, leaving me to think about what he had said, and how he had changed.

I liked to think that he was finally and honestly putting Bella's feelings first, not just her welfare physically but emotionally, and letting her come back to me with grace. It inspired in me a newfound well of brotherly love and washed away my previous anger and jealousy towards him. All that mattered now was Bella.

When we reached Emily's house both Bella and Emily were crying noisily while the pack let silent tears flow down their cheeks. It was intrusive and I took Jake aside to say that we would leave them to mourn.

Jake only looked at me with unfathomable eyes, and we stepped outside to talk in low tones. We stood in silence for a while, staring at one another as though we'd never seen each other before.

"Sam said I'm the new alpha," he whispered, fear and sorrow lacing his voice. "I don't-I can't..."

In that moment Jake looked so lost, so much like the 16 year old boy he was, that my sorrow was increased ten fold. I placed my hand on his shoulder and he didn't even flinch, just looked at me as if I had the answers.

"Jake," I said quietly. "You've been through so much. But you can do this. Just give yourself, and the pack, time to heal. Sam chose you for a reason. Don't let him down."

Jacob nodded his head and rubbed his eyes. He cleared his throat and then looked at me expectantly. I raised my eyebrow at him.

"I'm only going to tell you once. If you don't march in there and claim Bella as your own then I am. She's been through enough, and if you're not man enough to do it I won't hesitate to let her know I am."

I stared at him in surprise for a moment before laughing and lightly punching his arm. Jacob groaned and rubbed his tender arm. Carlisle had had to re-break and set it for him and it was still very sore, despite being on its way to healing nicely.

We walked back inside and the family all stood by the door. They nodded at me. "I'll be there soon," I said. They quickly exited the building, though Alice tugged my hand and I followed her out.

"I told Bella," she said immediately.

At first I was confused, but then my eyes widened slightly. She had told Bella that we were over. "How...What...What did she say?" I asked weakly.

Alice shook her head sadly. "She wasn't processing things. She's dying of guilt and sorrow," Alice explained. She paused then gave me a serious look. "Jasper, you need to talk to her. Please. For the family, for Edward, for her...for me. Don't let her go. You could be so happy," she said, stressing the last sentence. I nodded my head and she looked at me a little longer, regret, longing and sadness flowing from her, but she turned away and followed the family. I couldn't even begin to describe how hard that must have been for her.

So I stepped back inside Emily's crowded house to find her asleep, and Bella still crying softly in Jacob's arms, him stroking her hair and whispering words of comfort to her.

I walked up to him and the others followed me with dull gazes. This was suffocating, I had to leave. Jacob lifted Bella a little bit and I gathered her into my arms. She wanted to protest but couldn't find the strength to. I took her outside and walked for a while before slowing down and sitting down on a log. At last Bella turned her face up to mine.

"Bella," I whispered, her name so pleasant on my tongue that it hurt.

"Jasper," she said just as quietly. She sat limply in my arms and that's when the fear started to set in. I stared at her quietly, trying to probe her feelings, but she was shutting down, guilt and sorrow the only emotions that she would allow herself.

"Alice talked to you?" I asked.

She nodded her head, still not breaking out gaze.

"Bella," I sighed. This was a lot harder than I expected. I just ripped several vampires apart for god's sake, then burned the bastards. This shouldn't be difficult. And there she was, just staring at me, as if I was a piece of fruit sitting in a bowl. Not interesting at all. Fuck it, I was just going to tell her.

"Bella," I began again, determined. "I love you. And I don't want to do anything else but be with you and spend every day with you, spend eternity with you. I don't care when you want to change, or if you don't, or anything, I just lo-"

Bella cut me off suddenly. "I can't." She said it simply, as if it made the most perfect sense in the world.

It didn't.

"Why?" I implored. This shouldn't be happening. I canvassed her feelings again but they were still the same. And she was being serious.

Bella stood up then, and I was desperate at the loss of her against me. It had been too long. This wasn't fair.

"Because, Jasper, because I need to be independent. I can't, I can't depend on you or Jacob or anyone else for the rest of my life. Don't you see what happens when I do that? People get hurt, they die. Sam is dead, and it's my fault." I was about to protest but she held up her hand.

"Whether or not you think it's my fault, the fact remains that he died trying to protect me against things that shouldn't even exist. I shouldn't...I shouldn't be in this world. Edward was right. I should have stayed away; I have no sense of self preservation, and I'm just tired of it all. I'm tired of always putting the people I love in constant danger, causing them grief. Charlie, Jake, Emily. It's not fair. I can't do it anymore."

Bella paused and I knew I wasn't going to like what she was going to say next. She stared at me for a long time, then pain finally broke through and love, just a little bit, but enough. Any love from Bella was always enough.

"I need to start living my life the way I was meant to," she whispered brokenly. "Even if that means giving you up." She stared at me for another long moment, and I knew she was searching my face, looking for acceptance to across it. But I couldn't accept it. Not now, not ever. I stared at her, and she stared back. I don't know what she saw on my face, but at last she turned away and headed back to Emily's house.

I don't know how long I sat there, hours, minutes, days? But I couldn't do anything but replay the conversation with Bella in my head over and over; as if the record was broken and skipped back to the beginning just at the end. It didn't move forward, wouldn't go back anymore, it just repeated it over and over. "Even if it means giving you up. Even if it means giving you up. Even if it means giving you up."

Eventually Alice found me and took me home.

A/N: Ahem. You must all be wondering where I've been and I have no excuse other than laziness. But in celebration of my 18th birthday and finishing my Calculus midterm I am updating. And my goal today after school is to come home and write the next chapter, which may or may not be the last, but it's looking like it will be. The story is just about over, and I've enjoyed it, I hope you have too.

Thank you to all my lovely reviewers, I am sorry for not responding to your reviews. I read all of them, of course, and I am very happy to receive them, so thank you. Also, thanks to Jasper's Darlins for giving me a shout out on their page this past Wednesday. I was thrilled! Of course, so much love to Jasper's Bella and Sunshine and Chocolate for all their wonderfulness.

Sorry for the pathetically short chapter. I'll go now. Thank you all again!!