All Characters of Twilight belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N Thank you so much for the reviews. They inspire me to write and post new chapters as quickly as possible.

JPOV

"God dammit Peter, remind me again why you dragged me here." I banged the Corona I'd had sitting in front of me for an hour on the table.

"I donno Jasper, maybe it's because you were turning into a moody bitch and Char was threatening to divorce my ass if I didn't get you out of the house and in her words, cheer you the fuck up." Peter leaned back laughing as he balanced his chair on it's back two legs.

The here in question was a club near the campus of Tulane University in New Orleans. A trendy club frequented by the college crowd overflowing with humans who had consumed to much alcohol, and feeling entirely to many things. At least from the point of view of an empath.

"So let me get this straight. You didn't like my mood so you bring me somewhere packed with intoxicated, hormonal humans throwing off more emotions than I can keep up with thinking that might cheer me the fuck up? Am I understanding this right?" I arched one eyebrow as I leaned forward.

Cheeky bastard grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Yep sounds about right. In my defence though this was entirely Char's idea. She instructed me to take you out and encourage you to dazzle a few ladies, thought it might improve your outlook. Truthfully I think she just wanted a break from the depressing ass vibes you've been throwing off while at the same time seeking a little revenge."

The second half of that statement sounded much more like Char, Peter's wife than the first part. I was forced to agree with her that I'd been more likely than not projecting some pretty negative shit. Admittedly I had been on a spin of a downer for the past few days. The two year anniversary of my leaving Alice and the Cullens was rapidly approaching. They were still my family and we spoke on a regular basis. Alice and I were no longer mated but we were still the closest of friends. I hadn't left because I no longer wanted to be part of their family, I'd left because I just didn't fit. I know it hurt Alice when I decided I needed to go but truth be told we'd been growing apart for some time. A large part of me would always love my little dark haired saviour but we weren't in love with each other anymore by the time I left. I'm not sure we ever really were. She'd saved me from an existence I couldn't stomach anymore, feeding off of the blood of humans. I would forever be in her debt. The truth was I'd just always felt like the Cullen family misfit, the black sheep. My adopted family had always doubted my control. A combination of my past, Edward's ability to read my mind, and Alice's ability to see the future all played their parts in perpetuating their doubts. Anytime I even thought about or was tempted to drink from a human they knew about it and would immediately intervene, never allowing me to work it out for myself. Carlisle, Esme, Emmett and Rosalie seemed to have a little more faith or at least hope in my ability to resist the temptations but the doubt and disappointment I often felt radiating off of Alice and Edward wore on me. Neither Alice, nor Edward could fathom how a thought could be just that, a thought, an errant fantasy running through my psyche. To them if I thought it then surely I would act upon it. I for the most part had much more control than they gave me credit for.

Two years ago it had all come to a head. A self fulfilling prophecy one might say. The night I'd tried to eat Edward's human girlfriend. The entire event happened so fast, her pale white finger dripping blood and not only my own blood lust but that of almost every other member of the family radiating out of them and projected on to me. I snapped. I'd flown across the room, only to be met head on by Edward while Emmett's massive arms encircled me and dragged me kicking and growling from the house. That had been the beginning of a rapidly approaching end. Within days the entire family had up and left Forks and Bella. Edward had insisted it was for her own safety, that she just didn't belong in our world. He refused to continue throwing her in the path of danger and instead became the martyr, leaving his love for her own safety. There had been so much blame and sorrow flying around that it had become an emotionally hostile climate for me. I'd felt no blame being directed at me, which made things worse. It was as if they expected it, Jasper and his lack of control, only a matter of time. Days after we'd left Forks I'd decided I needed to leave, that it would be the best thing for all of us in the long run.

The first few months away from the Cullens were lonely ones, until I'd decided to seek out Peter and Charlotte. My brother and his wife had welcomed me with open arms. For the first time in decades I felt completely accepted for who and what I was. It helped that Peter and Char did not follow a vegetarian diet, although vicious, cruel, hunters they were not. Preferring to prey on the weak, dying and criminal element. My old friends did not hold me to a certain standard and I knew if slipped up in my control, they would never condemn me nor be disappointed in me for it. Finally, after decades of struggling with the natural urge to not feed on humans I was able to get a handle on it. Mine and Peter's theory was that rather than doing it for someone else, to gain favour in my family, or to please Alice I was doing it solely for myself. My control now was astounding, yet I still had not returned to my family. I'd visited them at their new home in Alaska on a couple of occasions and Alice and I had used those visits to form a close friendship. Although I was for the most part content with my existence now and had chosen to relocate to New Orleans when Peter and Char had, I seemed to be struggling this year with the anniversary of my life becoming for a time a cluster fuck of epic proportions.

"Jazz? Where the fuck did you go man?" Peter asked with more than a touch of humour in his voice. "You weren't all there for a few minutes brother, what's up with that?"

Couldn't blame him for finding it all amusing, after all, vampires just do not tend to space out.

"Was just lost in my thoughts for a moment." I shrugged, not wanting to make a thing of it.

"No shit! Can't wait to tell Char about this one." Peter laughed out loud smacking his large hand on the table.

"Asshole" I muttered

"Now would you look at that, I'd tap that! Well if that wasn't human anyway." Something or rather someone had caught Peter's eye on the dance floor. I'd have been shocked by his comment if it wasn't common knowledge that Peter and Char's marriage was a touch lax in the monogamy department. Whatever floats your boat I figure. Who was I to judge.

I turned to take a look at whatever human had caught my randy brother's attention on the dance floor behind me. I was completely unprepared for who I saw in Peter's sights.

"Fuck me." I hissed

"Uh no offence Jazz but no thanks man, that would just be wrong on so many levels." Peter had that shit eating grin on his face that he was famous for.

If Peter hadn't himself been a vampire and relatively immune to me, the glare I shot him would have been terrifying. Instead it only seemed to increase the waves of mischief and humour radiating off of him.

"Seriously Peter…." I paused "I can't believe it! That's Bella you're having a wet dream over." my voice turned to nearly a growl on the last part of that statement. Although she definitely did not look like the Bella we'd left behind in Forks. This Bella was for lack of a better term while my vampire brain took another vacation…smoking' hot. Her hair was longer, pulled back from her face that had lost much of it's teenage roundness, taking on the more angular look of a woman. Her body was definitely all woman. Edward's fragile little human had certainly grown up over the past two years.

"Bella? Bella? Ohhhh Edward's human, Bella." It was like I could see a light bulb over Peter's head light up at the realization " I thought she was in Washington, where y'all lived last."

"That makes two of us." I couldn't keep the awe out of my voice that Bella and I were in the same room together, on this of all days.

Two years to the day that I'd tried to essentially turn her into the main course at her own birthday party.

"Ya going to go talk to her?" Peter asked, his earlier amusement disappearing due to his knowledge of the whole situation that was the catalyst for me leaving Alice and the rest of the Cullens.

"Oh and say what? Hey Bella, long time no see. By the way sorry 'bout the whole trying to eat you and everything. Yeah I'm positive that would go over real well." My voice was laced with sarcasm.

I couldn't take my eyes off of the young woman dancing and whispering to her blonde friend on the dance floor. Wait…….dancing. Bella was dancing. Bella didn't dance. Hell Bella couldn't walk on a flat surface without tripping. If I didn't have complete faith in my enhanced vampire vision I'd be convinced I was seeing things as I watched Bella move her hips to the music, the picture of grace on the dance floor.

Maybe I'd be able to slip out without her seeing me. Who was I kidding, I'm a vampire. Of course I could slip out without her being none the wiser. So that was the plan, get the hell out of here while she was otherwise occupied and she'd never have to know that she'd been in the same room with the man responsible for Edward breaking her heart.

The plan became a mute point when she, without warning looked up and her eyes locked with mine. Her body stilled as she stopped, seemingly frozen in place. The blonde girl she appeared to be here with leaning over to speak with her.

I sighed in defeat, knowing I couldn't walk out of here pretending she didn't exist, knowing she'd seen me.

"Busted." Peter chuckled. It would have been completely out of character for him not to find amusement in this situation.

After fixing another glare on Peter I focused back on Bella attempting to get a read on her feelings before approaching her. She was still staring at me, a look of complete panic crossing her face. Was she scared of me? No one would blame her, although Bella wasn't particularly known to have a strong sense of self preservation. Fear however, was not an emotion I was getting off my read of her. Disbelief, she was exuding that in spades, wonder, hope……..hope? Yeah that's the Bella I know, feeling hope at seeing a vampire that attempted on this very day two years ago to essentially turn her from family to food.

"Not very gentlemanly of you to keep the lady waiting Whitlock.." Peter was loving this to fucking much.

Peter was very lucky I liked to keep a low profile or I'd have sent his smirking ass sailing out of his chair. In all honesty I knew Peter was trying to keep things as light as possible, hoping the amusement and calm he was radiating would help to settle my own rapidly fluctuating emotions.

Without breaking eye contact with Bella, almost fearing she'd disappear if I looked away I made my way down to the dance floor at a human pace. It didn't escape me that Bella's eyes appeared to grow larger when her friend let her know I was heading straight for her. Mortification played across her face when I let a laugh escape at her friend's comment. Bella all to aware of my vampire abilities would know that I could hear their conversation.

I shoved my hands in the pockets of my leather motorcycle jacket as I stopped in front of this girl that had almost been my sister for a time. The truth be told, I wasn't feeling overly brotherly after watching her from my seat above the dance floor.

"Bella" I nodded at her, not breaking eye contact and certainly not allowing any of the emotions I was feeling to make their way to my face.

"J-Jasper" she almost struggled to speak my name.

Bella was the first to break eye contact, looking down at her hands clutching her black purse like a lifeline. As was the habit whenever Bella was nervous, her bottom lip was sucked between her teeth, released only when she opened her mouth to ask me the question I knew would be at the forefront of her mind.

"Are the ummm……are you here…..with…." It was obvious she was struggling to ask me about the rest of my family.

"No Bella, it's just me, the rest are not with me." I didn't want her to have to struggle to get the question out, especially when I could already anticipate what it would be.

I prepared myself to feel disappointment flow from her, but instead it was a sense of…..could it be? Relief. That I had not expected. She had been so obviously in love with Edward, and attached to Alice and Emmett in a way that would rival siblings related through blood. A deep respect for Carlisle, and undeniable affection for Esme had been apparent. Bella's feelings for Rosalie had always been a little less clear than for the others but I had been able to pick up some semblance of affection coming from Bella in relation to Rose. How she felt about me though had always been the most difficult to decipher, mainly I think because Alice and Edward seemed to work double time ensure we were never left unattended. I'm certain my lack of control was the justification for this. Considering I knew first hand the depth of feelings she'd had for my family, I was beyond shocked at her relief that they were not with me. Perhaps Bella had changed in more ways than just physically and I couldn't help but think I'd thoroughly enjoy getting to know this new Bella.

A/N This reunion isn't over yet. Next chapter will be Bella's POV.