A/N: I own nothing.

Chapter 3

Finding a Middle ground

Bella

It had been three weeks since I found Jasper and we were getting along great. He was so different than I remember. He still refused to talk about his family. I was very cautious around him still. I knew he could feel my apprehension about getting close to him. I couldn't help it, after everything I went through with his family and mainly his brother, I didn't expect him to hang around. He was so much kinder than Edward ever was. I had a feeling there was something he wasn't telling me about him and Alice. I had a plan to ask him tonight as he walked me home.

"Jazz, I have a question for you and I want you to be completely honest with me please?" He looked at me and I knew he couldn't get a read on my emotions. " I want you to tell me why you aren't with Alice. You were always inseparable." I heard him sigh. "Bella it's a long story and it would take half the night to tell you." I looked at him and finally let him feel my emotions. "Jasper I want to know it's the only way I can trust you not to leave me like he did. I also want you to come live with me instead of wherever it is you are staying. You look like you haven't showered for days." I smiled up at him. "Please Jazz tell me." "When we get home and you eat I'll tell you Bells. Just promise me you wont run." " I promise Jazz."

We walked in silence until we got to my apartment. I knew it wasn't much and it was scarcely furnished, but it was still home. I fixed myself something to eat and sat on my bed and had him sit next to me to tell me. "Jazz whenever your ready to talk I'll be here to listen." I knew this was gonna be a long night so I go myself comfortable and looked at him and saw how tortured he was. I never knew how hard this was going to be on him. I took his hand in mine and gave it a small squeeze. "Jazz, if you can't tell everything I understand, I just want to know the truth." He looked at me and gave me a small smile. "Bells I want to tell you I'm just not sure where to start. Give me a few minutes to get my head together before I start."

Jasper

I knew telling her this was going to be hard but I was finally about to tell her the reason I came to Vegas. I took a couple of unneeded breaths just to calm myself as she slipped her and in mine and gave me a small squeeze. I willed myself not to jump her at the light touch. This may be harder than I thought but it was something that needed to be done.

"Bells you know my past and how I was created and just about everything up until the point you entered into our lives. Alice and I got a divorce right before you came into our lives because I wasn't happy with my life. I wanted so much more. Then she saw you come into our lives and said that I couldn't tell the family until after you were changed into one of us. She needed to know Edward and you would be together and that you wouldn't go after me. She knew that I was still unstable around humans, as you witnessed first hand on your birthday. I never did apologize for that. I am truly sorry." I paused and smiled at her. She smiled back at me and I had never seen any female, vampire or human, look so beautiful. "Its ok Jazz, I knew you would never really hurt me. I forgave you long ago. Please continue." I loved hearing her voice especially when she was forgiving me. I continued with the story.

"I never realized that Alice was so controlling of me. She never wanted me around you or for you to spend any time with the rest of our family but her and Edward. I know she saw something in a vision but she would never tell me what it was. I knew it involved you and me, so after my asshat of a brother did what he did, I asked him if he knew what she was keeping from me. So he sat down and told me that Alice never saw you and Edward together, she saw you and me as mates and her out in the cold and not happy with anyone. After I found out the truth I sat down with the whole family and told them that Alice had lied to us all and that we had hurt you for no reason. I told them that Alice and I had been divorced for about five years and that I was in love with you." I heard her gasp and realized that I had told her my biggest secret ever. "Bella look at me please." She looked up at me and I saw the tears in her eyes. "You love me?" she asked quietly. I put my hand under her chin and tilted her head up so she could look me in the eye. "Isabella Marie Swan, I love you more than my own life and I would do anything to keep you safe and I'm so sorry for what my family and Alice put you through. I will never forgive her for keeping what was supposed to happen a secret. Please say something Bella." I looked down at her and waited for her to say something.