Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, any of the characters in Twilight, or anything related to the books and/or movies. If I did, I would be way too busy- doing dirty things with the Cullen boys- to sit down at my laptop and write this story. The scenes that I did borrow from Stephenie Meyer have been revamped to fit my story.

Learning to Live Again

Chapter Fourteen: Acceptance

Emmett and Rosalie were sitting curled together on the love seat. Jasper and I had just explained to them everything that had happened since their recent departure. We told them how Jasper had found me in the woods. This part had angered Emmett, because he was worried that I could've gotten sick or hurt.

We told them how Jasper and I had gotten closer and realized that our personalities had a lot in common. We developed a friendship, and I had even come to rely on Jasper more than I thought was healthy. Jasper just laughed when I said this. Jasper told them that the Quileute teenagers were turning into werewolves and that I was not allowed to be alone with Jacob Black until they were sure that it was safe and that he could control his new abilities.

"I thought I smelled dog when we were running back here," Rosalie murmured with her lip curled up in a disgusted twitch. I didn't really understand why vampires and werewolves were such big enemies, but it obviously ran deep.

"Why are they even transforming anyway?" It was Emmett who asked, but I know that we all wanted to know the answer to that one question.

"I'm not really sure. I briefly discussed it with Carlisle, and he suggested that it's because of our prolonged presence here in Forks," Jasper explained. I shrugged. I didn't care of the werewolves didn't want the Cullens around, because I sure as hell did.

"Who cares? The most important question here is when are all of you moving back here? It's where you belong," I stated. I looked up at Jasper as I said this, making sure that he understood that I meant he belonged near me.

Emmett and Rosalie shared a silent look with each other before turning back to me. "Bella, of course we want to come back," Emmett started. "But we promised Edward that we would stay away in order to keep you out of danger."

I was unable to stop myself from laughing as soon as the sentence had passed his lips. "Seriously, you're still going along with this story?!" I stood up from my spot next to Jasper and began pacing the room. "First of all, I don't care if you made a promise to Edward. He doesn't care about the promises that he makes to people, so it would serve him right to have one thrown back into his face. And second, I think Laurent is proof enough that I'm safer with you guys here."

Rosalie chimed in at that. "In my daft brother's defense, you would never have had to deal with Laurent if we wouldn't have let you know about our secret in the first place."

"How do you know that, Rose?" I raised my eyebrows at her and smirked. "We all know that I'm pretty accident prone. And I like to walk through the woods alone. They were coming through Forks anyway, right? Who knows what would've happened to me if I hadn't been with you all when they decided to make their presence known?!"

Rose smiled at me. I think she was finally beginning to like me. It must be the fact that I was starting to develop an attitude that could combat hers. "You're right. You are extremely prone to injury and bad luck. I suppose that you still would've been kidnapped and tortured by James without us knowing you."

"Thank you," I replied. I settled back down onto the couch, cuddling next to Jasper again. He hooked down at me and smiled. It was nice that Jasper appreciated my new outlook on life. I felt empowered and encouraged by him. He would never hold me back or try and protect me from life's experiences. He was exactly what I needed right now.

"Yeah, that's another thing," Emmett piped in again. "You two are way too comfortable to be around the entire family right now." Jasper and I looked away from each other and at Emmett. He furrowed his brow, as if trying to read our minds. Sorry, buddy, only one vampire in this family has that power and it's not you. "What exactly is happening here?"

"I can't really explain it, Em," Jasper answered this time. "Bella and I became friends, and she needed me. I've never had anyone need me before, and it feels amazing. I'm always depending on you guys for strength, to keep me in control of myself. But I've felt like I've lost myself the deeper I've gotten into the family."

Emmett and Rosalie both looked hurt and I felt Jasper cringe back toward the couch. I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned against his side, encouraging him to continue. He had given me so much strength and support lately. It was my turn to offer it to him.

"Don't get me wrong; I love all of you. I don't know where I would be right now if I hadn't joined our family. And I do love Alice for all that she's done for me. She's stood by my side for so many years and is such an amazing person. I just find myself being drawn to Bella more and more lately," Jasper admitted to his family before turning back to look at me again.

My eyes were shining with unshed tears, moved by his admittance and openness to discuss our relationship. My hand went up to his face and I lightly traced the lines of his cheekbone down to his jaw and stopping on his lips. I ran my finger back and forth across his lower lip before leaning up and capturing it between my own. I gave Jasper a light kiss and then tugged his bottom lip with my teeth before pulling away.

"Thank you," I whispered into his ear as I cuddled my face into his neck. I sighed contentedly as his arms tightened around me, pulling me onto his lap and closer into his body.

"Okay, I think I'm getting it now," Rosalie said. Jasper and I both snapped our heads in her direction. She had reached over and clutched Emmett's hand in her own. "I've never seen you and Edward like that. Or Jasper and Alice," she said, looking at me. "This is going to be a sticky situation, guys. But I'll be here for you, no matter what."

"Thanks, Rosie," Jasper said to the woman who had portrayed his twin over the past few decades. I rested my head on his shoulder and looked at my big brother.

"Emmett? What do you have to say about this?" I asked him.

Emmett looked between the three of us and sighed. "As long as you're happy, Bells. We need to figure out how to break the news to Eddie and Ally, though. It's not fair to keep them in the dark."

"I have a feeling that Alice already knows." I bit my lip, afraid to continue my clarification. Jasper nudged me, urging me to go on. "After you guys burned Laurent, when I was sitting on the ground in the woods, I found your cell phone, Jazz."

"Why was your cell phone on the floor of the forest?" Rosalie asked, still unaware of the situation we had been in before Laurent had shown up to kill me.

"Bella and I got caught up in a moment and she threw it onto the ground so as to not distract us," he said, unashamed.

I could feel my face blush but decided to ignore the familiar feeling of embarrassment. My desire Jasper was definitely not something I would ever feel embarrassed about. "Anyway, I noticed that it said you had a missed call from Alice. I just assumed that she was calling to warn us about Laurent; I figured that she had sent Emmett and Rosalie to help us fight him off, so I didn't think anything of it. But I just realized that when I made the decision to throw the cell phone on the ground, she would've seen why I was doing it."