A/N – Sorry about the long wait but I had some serious family stuff happening and writing wasn't the first thing on my mind. I hope you can all forgive me and thanks for reviewing. They've helped me a lot over the past two weeks. And a big thank you to Anubis I. Kasanoda for being a huge help! You're my girl!

Disclaimer – I own nothing. S.M. does.

Chapter 7

-BPOV-

I feel like I've been sitting in Jasper's arms for hours. Never have I felt so safe and comfortable, and for the first time I understand what it means to have a mate. I barely know this man yet he makes me feel completely at ease, like nothing would make him happier than to hold me in his arms forever. I feel love and amazement pouring out of him and I'm shocked that his feelings are so strong and sure after such a short time. It's strange knowing that I'm going to be with Jasper for the rest of my existence. The idea of marriage, which I've always considered to be an archaic and outdated practice, seems fairly trivial compared to the vampire mating ritual. No divorce, no break-ups. This is forever and I'm barely able wrap my head around the concept. But it also feels right. I'm meant to be here. Right here in his arms surrounded by his love and strength. Jasper is my mate and, right now, that is the only thing I'm sure of.

I've been racking my brain trying to remember my human memories. I can picture Renee and Charlie, our tiny house in Forks, and my friends from school. I remember going to Phil's baseball games with my mom. Going to the diner with Charlie, and my Grandma Swan teaching me how to cook. Eating fish fry with Charlie, Billy, and Jacob. The beach in La Push. My beautiful, old, decrepit truck. The Cullen's. Too many thoughts are swirling around in my brain and I'm having a hard time trying to sort through them all.

"Not that I don't love watching your little brain hard at work, Swan, but we're not getting any younger here." My head snaps up at hearing Peter's voice. I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I almost forgot everyone was waiting for me to say something.

"Sorry. My mind is moving so fast and I can't seem to filter through it all. It was fine when I was running and hunting, but as soon as I sat down for a moment all these memories rushed into my head. Is it always like this? Why can't I focus on one particular thing?" Jasper hugs me a bit tighter and I immediately relax in his arms.

"I know how disconcerting this is for you, darlin'. We all went through it. Your mind is capable of focusing on many different things at once and it takes a while to figure it all out. Just give it some time and you'll get used to this new way of thinking." Jasper leans in and grazes my temple with his lips before resting his head against mine.

I focus on what we were doing before our hunt. Rosalie. She wanted to say something to me and I promised Jasper that I would hear her out. I look up at her and she gives me a small smile as I start speaking.

"Hey Rosalie." Her smile widens at my greeting.

"Hi Bella." She waits for me to continue.

My voice sounds strained, but I need to get this out. "I realize that I've never been your favorite person and, to be honest, you were never mine. But I know how close you and Jasper are so, as a favor to him, I'll listen to whatever you have to say." I look her square in the eye and Jasper gently squeezes my hand. Rosalie steels herself for a moment.

"Bella, please believe me when I say that I never hated you. I thought you were a danger to my family and, as anyone can tell you, family is the most important thing to me. This existence hasn't been an easy one. Don't get me wrong, I have an amazing life. Emmett is the best husband and mate I could have hoped for. And the Cullen's…" Her face softens as she tries to gather her thoughts. "I didn't choose this life, Bella. I never wanted to be like this. I wanted kids and grandkids. I wanted to grow old and grey with my husband. I wanted to be human. It took me many decades to realize it, but the Cullen's are the family I always needed. I may not have wanted to be a vampire, but now that I am, I can't see my life any going any other way. I was destined to be like this and, seeing how you've reacted to the change, I believe you were too."

"So what was it Rosalie? You thought I was going to out you and your family to the world? That I would tell your secret? I would never have done that." I'm almost screaming at her, but she keeps cool in her response.

"In the back of my mind, Bella, I think I knew that. But you were always so weak-willed around us. You were malleable and compliant and I never saw you stand up for yourself. Not when Alice dressed you up, which I know you hated, and not when Edward started making decisions for you."

Edward! Oh my God. I had almost completely forgotten about him. But how? Wasn't I supposed to be in love with him? A nagging thought creeps into my mind but I can't seem to grasp it. I remember so much of my human life but I have a feeling that there are many things that are evading me. Once again I'm overwhelmed with thoughts and I can't seem to get it under control. I squeeze Jasper's hand before I jump out of his arms and run down the hill towards a large greenhouse.

I love feeling the wind rush past me. In my human life I was incapable of running for any length of time and the new sensation is exhilarating. I run until I see the huge building in front of me and I stop to stare at its grandeur.

Footsteps rush from behind me and I think it might be Jasper. I turn around and am surprised to find Rosalie and Charlotte standing there. Char takes Rosalie's hand before grabbing mine and leads us to the front of the building. She opens the door and I am taken aback by the sheer beauty of the sight. Never have I seen so many flowers and plants in one place. I look at Char and she is radiating pride.

"Peter has his crops and his tractors, JP has his animals, and I have this. This is my sanctuary; I come here to get away from the boys. I've been a vampire for a long time, Bella, and the only memory I have of my human life is gardening with my mother. I figured if I could do it as a human, I could do it as a vampire. Probably better." She takes us on a tour of the space. There are plants from all over the world and she's created rooms with different environments to make sure they all thrive. She leads us to a humid, almost tropical, room.

"This is my little rainforest. I brought all the flowers up from South America myself and I would have to say that this is my favorite room." The three of us sit down on a beautifully handcrafted wooden bench.

"I recognize this bench. Emmett made this a few months before we met Bella. I always wondered where it went." Rosalie was shocked at seeing her husband's handiwork in Charlotte's greenhouse. It looks as if it was carved from a single piece of wood and I feel proud to call Emmett my brother. I never knew he had this gift.

A new memory comes to me. I'm laying my head in Rosalie's lap and she's whispering. She tells me how much Emmett loves me and how he can't wait to see me in this new life. I look over at Rosalie and can't help but see her in a new light. She may not have been nice to me, but at least she wanted me to know that Emmett was always gonna be my big brother and that he loved me.

"Peter gave it to me for our anniversary. He knew that this was my favorite room and when he discovered there was no place for me to sit, he decided to give me one. Jasper's told us a lot about your family over the years and he mentioned that Emmett was a brilliant woodworker. Peter called your husband and asked him if he would mind making a bench for me. He also asked him not to mention this to you, Rose." Rosalie looks confused at this bit of information but says nothing. We sit in silence for a while and take in the serenity of our environment.

"Bella?" I look up at Rosalie and see that something is weighing on her mind. "I need to tell you the story of how I was changed." She takes a deep breath and begins to tell us her tale. She tells us about how beautiful and popular she was, and about her friend Vera and her little son. She tells us about her engagement to the most eligible man in town. She tells us about her last night as a human and how Carlisle changed her. Finally, she tells us about the revenge she exacted on her attackers. By the end of the story Char and I are both sobbing and holding Rosalie.

"I didn't tell you this to make you sad, Bella. I just wanted you to understand how weakness affects me. My choices were taken away from me, my virtue was taken away from me and my life was taken away from me. I've never felt as helpless as I did that night and when I woke up to this new life, I vowed to never be weak again. When I saw how my brother and sister manipulated you, it made me sick. You never said no, you never stuck up for yourself. I wanted you to have the choices I never had. I didn't care if you wanted to be human or vampire. I didn't care if you wanted children or not. I didn't care what choices you made, only that you made them. I treated you badly in the hopes that you would fight back; I was trying to goad you into speaking up. Whether you screamed, shouted, or spoke with a ferocious calm, I knew you had it in you and I just wanted to bring it out."

I listened to what Rosalie had to say and I can't help the venom from pooling in my eyes. Was she serious? How could she have treated me like that if she was truly looking out for my best interests? Was I wrong about her? Maybe she was only trying to help me. With new resolve, I stand and pull her up with me. I grab her hands and look her in the eye.

"Rosalie. Even though I never really liked you, I always loved you. You're family and that's what family does. You're Jasper's sister and Emmett's wife. Two men who are very important to me think you're amazing and special. Although I wish you had talked to me about this instead of acting like a super-bitch, I appreciate the sentiment." She smiles at my description of her. "Maybe if I had known you were on my side, I would have had the courage to stand up for myself. I can see why my big brother loves you so much; you're one hell of a strong woman Rosalie Hale."

"In my heart I always loved you Bella. But when you stood up to Jasper for affecting your emotions, well, that was the first time I felt proud of you. You are truly my sister now, in every way." If I had the ability to cry, I'm sure I would be bawling like a little girl.

"Thank you, Rosalie!"

I pull her into a hug and I hear Char squeal as she throws her arms around the both of us. I can't help but laugh as I pull away from the girls. The three of us grasp hands as Rosalie speaks to me.

"Bella," She gives me a soft gaze, "My family calls me Rose!" My eyes light up at her words and I realize that I just found the big sister I never knew I wanted.

Char squeezes both of our hands. "I think I know why Peter asked Emmett to make this bench for me. Look at the detailing." I look down at the arm rests and the legs on the left side of the bench and am shocked to find intricately carved roses.

"Swans! He carved swans. God, I love my mate." Rose squeals in joy when she looks at the bench's right side.

"Look over here Rose." She beams at her nickname. "He also carved beautiful roses." I swear I see tears welling up in her eyes at my words.

"And, girls? This wood is from my favorite tree. The South American Kapok. Peter must have known what was going to happen here and wanted all three of us to be represented. He gave us a place to call our own. The place where we would become sisters. He didn't want Emmett to tell you, Rose, because he wanted it to be a surprise." The three of us are shocked into silence by the beauty of the gesture.

Wait! How did Peter know what was going to happen? One more question to add to the pile.

We make our way back to the boys and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I've never had a strong female presence in my life; Renee wasn't exactly a pillar of stability and I think that Rose is the perfect person to help me deal with all these new feelings.

As we approach the fire pit Jasper throws me a huge smile. I'm sure he's picking up on the new feelings between Rose and me and I've never seen him happier. I crawl back into his lap and he pulls me close to him, inhaling my scent like I've been gone for days instead of an hour. Charlotte flings herself into Peter's lap and begins kissing him with such passion that I have to turn away. Rose is just sitting quietly in her chair with a small smile playing on the corner of her lips.

"You feeling okay, darlin'?" He looks a little concerned and I have to wonder why.

"I'm fine, Jasper. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing important. We'll talk about it later." I can tell he's holding something back but I'm certain he'll bring it up when he's ready. He kisses my forehead and Peter begins to talk.

"Just great. I got a bad feeling about you three joining forces. We better watch our asses until Emmett gets here, brother. We're outnumbered and out-gunned and I don't think the Three Musketeers here have any idea how strong they are." Peter has a smile on his face and Charlotte giggles in his lap. I turn towards my new brother and adopt a coy look.

"Aaawww Petey! Look at us. We're just frail, little ol' women. How could we ever match up to you and Jasper?" Rose and Char have the same coy look on their faces and begin to bat their eyelashes at Peter.

Peter looks at Jasper in hopes of securing his support. Jasper holds his hands up in front of him in defeat.

"You're on your own with this one Peter." He's a smart man, my Jasper. Peter lowers his head, shaking it, and mumbles something about 'bro's before ho's'. The three of us fall into a fit of giggles. My brother may be an idiot but I think I love him for it.

"Frail my ass. You three are about as frail as a pack of hyenas. And just wait until Kate shows up with Emmett." I gaze up at Peter in confusion. Who the hell is Kate? A dark look crosses his face and he waits a moment before speaking in a serious voice.

"Don't worry, Swan. I promise to explain everything in due time. I may have been joking earlier about joining forces, but the three of you, along with Kate, will be unstoppable. Your bond is greater than friends, stronger than sisters. I don't know why yet, but you need to stick together. You all have different strengths and will be able to help each other with your weaknesses. As long as you trust, respect, and love each other, all will turn out well." He stops speaking and Rose and I just stare at him. What the hell was that? Jasper and Char don't seem to be concerned about Peter's behavior; I'm sure they've seen this sort of thing before.

"Anything to report, Captain?" Jasper's voice has a hard edge to it that I've never heard before and his body turns rigid under me.

"No sir. Nothing specific, just flashes. I'll let you know when I have more information."

Jasper nods at him before relaxing back into the chair and pulling me with him. Questions start flooding my mind and I have no idea where to start. Thankfully Peter saves me from myself.

"What's the last thing you remember, Sugar?" What? Only one person has ever called me sugar and I've never met him. Shit! Why didn't I put this together before? Peter! I remember the text I received before I entered the ballet studio.

'It ain't gonna be easy, sugar, but you're gonna come out of this a much stronger woman. Just remember to hold your head high and believe in yourself. What my brother said is true. You are worth it. Keep that in mind when you meet up with this fucker. Oh…and sug, don't worry. The Major is on his way.'

"Peter, you're my 'mystery texter'. But…how did you know what was gonna happen? Why did you tell me to believe in myself? And why did you call Jasper 'Major' earlier?" Questions start flying out of my mouth and I'm finally starting to get control of my super-sized brain.

"Welcome back to the conversation, Swan. I knew that little nickname would kick you into gear. To answer your first question, Bella, I have a gift. I don't know how it works, and I don't always know why I know what I know, but I just know things. Information storms into my brain and I do my best to sort through it all. The only thing I know for certain is that everything that comes to me is, or will be, true." Holy shit! Another fucking psychic.

"Is it like Alice's gift?"

"No. The pixie sees things that depend on the decisions of the parties involved and, because of that, can change depending on the circumstances. My thoughts are set in stone. If I see it, it comes true. And to answer your second question, it's true. You are worth it. But mostly I told you to believe in yourself simply to buy you some time. If you hadn't stood up to James and started talking back to him, he would have killed you before anyone got there in time to save you. He was a game player and you were very interesting to him. He kept you alive just to see what you would say next. Do you remember what you said to him?" I told him I did and I proceeded to recount the disastrous events of that night.

"Bella, I'm so proud of you. I never stood up to my attackers and I'm glad you put that asshole in his place." Rose looks so proud but I can feel Jasper growling beneath me.

"What is it Jasper? Did I do something wrong?"

"Of course not, sweetheart. You were perfect. But you never answered Peter's question. What's the last thing you truly remember?"

I think for a moment before answering.

"I have brief glimpses of later, but the last thing I really remember is Edward throwing James off of me, and then saying that he was going to suck out the venom." Peter and Jasper share a look. "But wait. If he sucked out the venom, why am I a vampire? Was he unable to stop the change? Please, God…don't tell me that James is my maker. I don't think I could bear the thought."

Everyone keeps quiet and I start to get very nervous.

"For fuck's sake! Will someone please say something? You're freaking me out." Jasper picks me up and places me in the chair before kneeling in front of me. He grabs my hands and looks me dead in the eye.

"No, Bella. James is not your maker."

"Then is it Edward? I can't imagine that it would be. He never wanted me to be a vampire. He said as much before he put his lips to my wrist." Suddenly a million new memories rush into my head. A broken wrist, Edward's black eyes, his teeth biting down on me, draining me. Cold hands cradling me. My voice calling out for Jasper.

Oh my God! What did he do? It was Edward who almost killed me. I knew he wouldn't be able to stop and I was right. A whirl of emotions overtakes me and I start to shake in my seat. Sobbing and trembling I look at Jasper. His eyes look down at me and I silently beg for his help. I immediately feel calm and serene as he cradles me in his strong arms. He begins to gently rock me and a new memory floods my mind.

"Jasper, you changed me. I remember you telling me to hold on to my memories. I remember you biting me all over. And I remember you looking down at me. I felt you squeeze my hands. Jasper, you saved me."

He looks at me with so much love and pride I have to tear my eyes away. The man I had been 'in love' with tried to kill me, and the man I didn't know at, all saved me. I'm starting to understand everything that happened but I still have one unanswered question.

"Jasper? Who is the Major?"

He takes a deep breath. "Bella. What did Edward tell you about my past?"

"Nothing. He told me that the family's stories were yours to tell and you would all tell me when you were ready."

"Darlin', I think it's time I tell you how I became a vampire." He takes the seat next to mine and I look over at my siblings. Rose looks at me with a grim smile and nods. Peter seems to be a million miles away and Charlotte just looks sad. I look at my mate and, no matter what he's about to tell me, I know my feelings for him will never change. He kisses the crescent scar on my wrist and I decide, come hell or high water, I will stand beside this man for the rest of my existence. It's in this very moment that I realize I'm in love with Jasper Whitlock.

A/N – I know I promised to go back to Forks, but I wanted to get this chapter out to you. I'll try to have the next one posted early tomorrow and we'll get to see how Esme is holding up and how they plan to fake Bella's death. And if your good boys and girls, maybe some 'special' bonding time for Bella and Jasper. Thank you all for your patience. *Smooches*