I'm going to try to get the storyline moving along in the next few chapters, because I was rereading some of my latest ones and realized that there were a lot of great moments, but not a lot of action (besides the hot sex scene.)

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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 and general plot ideas that I did borrow from Stephenie Meyer have been revamped to fit my story.

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Learning to Live Again

Chapter Forty-Five: Family Ties

I closed my trigonometry book and shoved it into my backpack. It had only taken me an hour to finish all my homework from the classes I had missed this morning. Definitely worth it. I had spent the majority of the lunch hour dodging Angela's questioning of my whereabouts. I couldn't exactly tell her that I was too busy having hours of sex with my vampire boyfriend, could I?!

I think that Charlie knew something was up, too. After he scolded me for staying at the Cullens with Alice on a school night, he kept giving me curious glances throughout dinner. I asked him what was wrong, but he wouldn't say anything. He even offered to do the dishes once we were done with our chicken and mashed potatoes.

I had quickly retreated to my room, knowing that I would be able to see Jasper as soon as I was done with school work. I was just about to reach over to grab my cell phone off my nightstand when the lyrics pouring out of my iPod docking station caught my attention. I was listening to a play-list that Jasper had created for me of some of his favorite songs. It was currently playing "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. I couldn't help but think back to last night and this morning with Jasper.

There were definitely animalistic moments to our actions, but it was more than that. We had been connected in every way possible. It had been romantic and meaningful. Jasper had taken his time to make sure that I wouldn't be in any pain or have any regrets of my decision. I was glad that Edward and I had never made love, because being with Jasper was more special than I could have imagined. He would be my only. I was glad that I was able to give that gift to him.

My cell phone rang loudly, interrupting me from my thoughts. I looked down to see that it was Jasper calling and smiled widely. "Hi, baby," I said into the phone as I opened it and held it up to my ear.

"Esme and I just got home from hunting, and I couldn't wait to see you any longer. Is it okay if I come over now?" his deep voice came through the phone.

"We are so perfect for each other. I was just about to call you to come over. Charlie is fed, homework is done. I'm ready for some playtime with my boyfriend," I teased.

"I think that can be arranged," Jasper's voice was louder this time, closer. I turned toward my window in time to see him climbing inside. I threw my phone onto my bed and ran into his arms. He scooped me up as my arms went around his neck.

"Anxious, dear?" he teased as he dropped a hard, open kiss onto my lips. My fingers found their way into the soft curls at the back of his neck as his hands moved down to cup my ass, pulling me up so that I could wrap my legs around his waist. We didn't move from where we were standing near the window, just enjoying our reunion. Our lips continued to be demanding of each other until I started getting dizzy, needing to get more air to my lungs. I pulled back reluctantly.

"I missed you, Jasper. You're all I've been thinking about all afternoon," I told him as I snuggled my face into his neck. I felt him move underneath me, walking to my bed and taking a seat on the edge of it with me still wrapped around him in his lap.

"Me, too, darling. I had no idea that I could become so addicted to one person," he explained to me. I knew exactly what he meant. I didn't like being apart from him before we had made love, but now that we were even closer than before it was impossible to not be near him.

I was about to lean in for another kiss when we heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Jasper set me on the bed before hiding in my closet. I could barely contain my chuckles as Charlie knocked on the door.

"Bella, can I come in?"

"Yes, dad," I answered as I picked up my discarded cell phone and placed it on my nightstand again. "I was just finishing up my homework and was going to call Jasper."

"Well, I wanted to talk to you about Jasper, Bells," Charlie said from my doorway. He was looking at me with a shy smile, shifting on his feet.

"What about Jasper, dad?" I asked. I moved over on my bed, allowing him some room when he came over and sat at the foot.

"I saw how serious you and Edward were, and I'm pretty sure that you're the same with Jasper. I know that you really care about him, Bella. But you've been spending a lot of time over at their house; I feel like I never see you anymore." He paused, preparing himself to say something else. I felt so bad for Charlie, because he was obviously uncomfortable. "And I'm also still concerned with you staying over there. I know that you say you're staying with Alice, but I wasn't born yesterday, Bella."

"Dad…" I started.

"Bells, I don't want any details. Just promise me that you and Jasper think and are careful," he begged.

"I promise, dad," I whispered. "And I also promise to be around here more often from now on. How about I pick up some movies tomorrow after school and we can order a pizza?" I suggested.

"That sounds great, Bells. Invite Jasper, too. I would like to see more of him to get to know him better." Charlie stood from my bed and planted a kiss on my forehead. "I'm going over to Billy's now to watch the game. I'll see you in the morning." He walked out of my bedroom, and I could hear him walk downstairs and out of the house, locking the door behind him.

Jasper came out of my closet and sat next to me on the bed. I was on the verge of hyperventilating from my conversation with my father. He knew that I was no longer a virgin. He missed hanging out with me. I was such a horrible daughter. After everything I put him through last year, I was allowing myself to get so wrapped up in everything that was going on that I was neglecting my own family. If only there were a way to tell Charlie that I was trying to protect him right now. We all were.

"I want to tell him, Jasper," I whispered. "He deserves to know what's happening around him. And he needs to know what will happen to me after graduation. I won't be able to be around him for awhile, and I couldn't stand if he thought I was just rejecting him."

Jasper was quiet for a moment. I could tell that he was considering multiple options for this discussion. Before he could say anything, I continued.

"I know my father, and I know that he will love me even when I'm a vampire. He won't tell anyone. He has a right to know about the possible dangers that I've been putting him in this last year and a half."

"I understand, Bella. I know that you want to be able to let him in on this secret, and I do agree that he should know the dangers involved. It's just not the right time. We need to take care of Victoria and her newborns first. We have too much on our plate already without having to worry about Charlie's reaction to our family's true identity. That's not even mentioning that we're going to turn you into one of us."

I nodded but didn't speak. I knew he wasn't done. He had his arm around my shoulder, an action that had become habit with both of us.

"We'll need to discuss it with the others, Bella. It's not only your decision. You need to understand that as well. We've been letting you call the shots an awful lot lately against our better judgment. We're so scared of losing you that we're willing to let you make all the decisions, but you shouldn't be," Jasper admitted.

My head snapped up to look into his eyes. His face was mature with worry. Jasper and I had become so close that I could sense he was frustrated with the turn our conversation and moods had taken.

"Bella, we've lived through a lot. We have more experience than you. I know that Edward treated you like a child, and that it was uncalled for. I never want to treat you that way, but you need to realize that anything we do is for your safety. We all love you so much and just want to make sure that you are protected, because it would be complete torment for us if anything were to happen to you," he explained.

"Jazz, I know that you all have more life experience than me and that you do make decisions with my best interest at heart, but I have enough insecurities with myself without having to be constantly reminded that I am the weakest link in our family. I hate being helpless," I whispered.

"I'm telling you this, because I love you, Bella. I don't want to hurt you or make you feel worse about yourself, but I can't keep secrets from you either." Jasper stopped, and it looked like he was thinking of how to word something correctly. This was not good. "Some of us have decided that you are not going to be a part of this fight, and we're going to do anything to stop you from being there."