I stood just inside the treeline outside the Swan residence. I'd dropped Bella off an hour ago. She'd been reluctant to leave, until I reminded her that I'd be back before she had finished showering. I was surprised when Carlisle joined me. He came out as I parked the car.

"You're headed back?"

"Yeah. The sooner the better. Why?"

"I thought I'd come."

The emotions between us were new and not pleasant. He'd had to defend Bella against a real threat. He'd never really fought anyone before. He'd also spent a lot of time with her tonight. He'd built an attachment to her, just as I had. Finally, he was jealous of what I had with her. He was guarded with me as he'd never been before. Even so I could feel his anxiety, his envy. My emotions were harder to decipher. I didn't feel pity, it wasn't that far, but I wanted him to have what I did. I wanted him to feel that he could protect Bella. I wanted him to feel that love she'd been so generous with.

"Let's go then." I ran back the way I'd come. Carlisle was only a pace behind. Now he stood beside me looking up at her window even as I did. I could hear Charlie watching the end of whatever news broadcast he had on the TV. Bella was out of the shower, but the light was still on in her room. I was sure she'd be exhausted after the night we'd put her through. Bella never did what I expected though.

She came to the window. Carlisle and I were in the shadows and she didn't see us at first. Then her eyes found our shapes and she waved.

Carlisle looked at me. I didn't move. He stepped forward and waved with a smile.

Bella opened her window with a creak. It took some shoving to open it all the way. "Hello, Carlisle. Is it just you?"

He chuckled. "No, Jasper's hiding still."

With that I stomped to his side. "I figured you didn't need to know we were lurking out here," I grumbled.

"But I knew you were out here. I'm going to be able to sleep because I know you're out here. So that's just silly."

"I feel like some sort of Peeping Tom watching your window." I hunched for a moment before feeling the humour coming from both of them.

"I'm dressed already, Jasper. What are you peeping in on? My pyjamas? Oh god forbid."

Carlisle laughed. "And I thought I was a prude."

Now that I was thoroughly embarrassed, I turned and headed back to the trees.

"Oh, don't be upset, Jasper. Please?" I could hear the giggling in her tone.

"He's fine, Bella. He's not going far. You sure you're going to be able to sleep? I could probably get you something to help. You've had a lot dumped on you for one night; it can't be easy to relax."

"I could use some company," she suggested. The lust in her tone made my gift redundant. I obstinately stayed in place, facing the forest.

"Oh!" I heard from her and turned back. I growled, seeing Carlisle inside her window.

"I'll just sit here, all right?" He moved out of view from the window. "You should get some sleep though."

My jaw clenched and unclenched. I heard rustling of fabric and guessed it was Bella climbing into bed as the light had gone out. She hadn't closed her window. I jumped and caught the bottom sill, swinging through the opening.

"I was wondering how long you'd be," Carlisle whispered. Bella giggled.

I sat in the window. "You sure you're going to sleep with us here?" I could feel her awkwardness as she looked to me from the bed, lust, embarrassment, amusement. She was all over the board, but nowhere in there was sleepiness.

"Good point. I'll try. If I'm not asleep in an hour, I'll kick you out, deal?"

"Deal," Carlisle agreed readily, not moving from the rocking chair he had claimed.

"Deal," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. Another hour of missed sleep wouldn't hurt her, and would prove my point.

"Goodnight, Carlisle. Thank you."

"Goodnight, Bella. Anytime."

I wasn't sure what they were referring to, probably their conversation.

"Goodnight, Jasper."

"Goodnight, Bella."

"I love you." She said it with a little yawn, but I felt it as well. It wasn't as potent as in the car, but a definite care, a joy in my nearness, my safety.

"I love you too, Bella." I whispered.

"I love you too, Bella." Carlisle whispered over me. Oh yeah, this wasn't awkward at all.

We were all quiet for a while and I heard Bella's breathing slow, deepen. She even snored once or twice and I smiled over at Carlisle who was also grinning at the girl affectionately. I felt envy from him again, but I think this time it wasn't of me, it was of her. How long since either of us had slept?

Bella wasn't a peaceful sleeper either. She tossed often, wildly. We both had to bite back chuckles a few times when she got tangled in her blankets.

"Too green," she murmured and I snorted again. Carlisle just shook his head.

It wasn't the only time she spoke. She almost had a whole conversation at one point. Not with either of us. I think it was her mother, but it was hard to tell when she bounced from taking advice to giving it. Given what I knew of her mother, it probably was Renee. I wondered what her dream mother was telling her. Not something she wanted to hear apparently.

"I don't care, Mom. I love him and that's enough. I know it wasn't for you and Charlie, but it is for me."

"Do you think she's actually getting any rest?" I whispered to Carlisle.

He nodded. "The mind works through a lot of turmoil in dreams. She's not only resting, she's finding peace of mind."

That just made me envious of her as well. I could use some peace of mind. I heard a sound behind me and dropped from the window. Carlisle looked to me from it and I shook my head. What I'd heard wasn't several, it was one. I could handle it.

I moved to the edge of the trees and saw a large shadow passing. Then a native walked out accompanied by a smell that reminded me of wet dog, only even more musty. A muddy wet dog? A wet dog that rolled in manure? I gave up trying to describe it. "Cullen?" he asked tersely.

I nodded. "That's right. Not Carlisle though. His son, Jasper."

"I'm Sam. We caught a scent near the reserve and tracked it out here. You know anything?"

"I know three came into our home. Tried to kill our friend sleeping up there." I cocked my head toward the house. "If you happened to dispose of any of them, I'd be happy to hear it."

The Quileute smiled, his white teeth bright against his dark face. "I'd be happy to tell you that. But no. They came, they circled and they split. They give you any hassle?" He asked nodding to my neck.

"These aren't new." I fingered my collar.

"Your friend?" Sam asked looking to Bella's window.

"Classmate."

He met my eye, and I knew he didn't believe me. "Carlisle told you all of the treaty conditions, right?"

I rolled my eyes. "I have no intention of biting her." I hunched, remembering just how close I came to doing exactly that tonight.

"No intention, but accidents happen, right?" He was almost growling.

My lip curled back at his open aggression. This was not good. I should be diffusing not amplifying, but I was on edge before this puffed up teenager decided to get in my face. "I haven't had an 'accident' in a very long time." I pushed my confidence on him. I wasn't about to take any crap.

He snorted. Rather than responding in kind, he blew the whole thing off. I was left feeling like I was the teenager bragging about his skills. It was off-putting to say the least. "Didn't mean to egg you on, man. If you're with Cullen, I believe you. Just seems odd having a human girlfriend. That's all I'm saying."

"It's not ideal, I agree." Now that he had dropped the aggressive stance, I was feeling less sure of myself. He was right. Accidents could happen, like tonight. I looked back over my shoulder again. From this distance, I couldn't hear her. "If I give you my number, will you let me know if and where you catch a sniff of these guys. They've offended me, and I don't want them to make a play for my friend again." It was more honest than I'd planned to be.

Sam grinned. "You got it. Return the favour, all right? Let us know if we don't need to be tracking these particular leeches anymore."

Leeches, I thought, my lip curling again. Then I caught another whiff of Sam and supposed I wouldn't be able to resist making dog jokes at his expense. I could be the bigger man, this time. "Sure thing." We traded numbers. He wrote mine on his arm.

"Pockets aren't exactly convenient," he answered my unspoken question. It was only the second time I'd noticed he was naked. He turned from me and burst out of his own skin. The smell amplified with the black fur. I wrinkled my nose and returned to Carlisle and Bella.

She was splayed across her bed, hair in her mouth, while her eyes twitched. She looked so innocent, so beautiful. I'd come to learn she didn't acknowledge her beauty. Her dreams were happy.

I walked to the edge of the bed and sat on it, careful not to shift the mattress. I brushed the hair from her mouth. "Jasper," she whispered.

"I'm going to wait outside," Carlisle whispered. I hadn't noticed he was still in the rocker, but of course he would be. His envy was thick.

"Thank you," I whispered as he pulled himself out the window.

He shook his head, smiling at me.

Turning back to Bella, I put a hand to her cheek, hoping I wouldn't wake her. "Jasper," she murmured again. Apparently the dream had gotten better. I could hear her pulse pick up, I could feel the lust coming from her, and lastly I could smell her more strongly than before.

Venom welled, but I was fairly sure that wasn't blood I was smelling. My hand was still on her cheek, but now I slid it down her chin to throat, over her collarbone.

"Yes, Jasper," she moaned, turning slightly. My hand was on her back now. I smiled and stroked her back gently, expecting her dream would turn to something quieter now.

I was wrong. "Will it hurt?" she asked in her sleep. "I don't mind, not really."

I suddenly felt very uncomfortable being here. She didn't know what she was saying. She didn't intend for me to hear these things. It was like reading her diary. It was intrusive. I pulled my hand away and stood up. I could protect as well or better from outside.

"Jasper?" I didn't turn. "Don't go."

That made me turn. Her eyes were open. "Please. Stay with me?"

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"I know. I'm barely awake at all."

"Are you sure you want me to stay? You talk in your sleep."

"Shit," she swore very quietly. "I forgot about that." I started to turn again when she grabbed my arm. "I don't care. Please stay?"

I nodded and sat back down.

She slid over and patted the pillow. She blushed and I chuckled. She covered her face now. "I can't believe I just did that."

I kicked off my boots and laid on my back. I held an arm open to her. I felt her glee just before she wrapped one arm around me, resting her head on my chest. "Thank you," she whispered again.

"Just promise me you'll sleep."

"No promises," she said with a sly smile.