I sat with Bella and Charlie while they ate pizza, watched the Mariner's lose — Charlie didn't take that well — and finally kissed her goodnight under his watchful eye. My eyes followed Bella up the stairs while Charlie stood, hand on handle. He extended his right to me. I took it and felt affection a moment before his tight handshake pulled me into a one-armed hug.

"I might have lost her, Jasper, if not for you and Jared. I owe you. Keep an eye on her for me. I wish I could do a better job of it myself."

His scent was similar to Bella's, definitely more tempting than average. I swallowed venom and patted his back, sending reassurances that went beyond words. "No one can be her father but you, Charlie."

"Thank you, Jasper." He gave a quick sniff and backed up. "You'll take care of yourself, too," he added.

I smiled. "Of course, Charlie. Good night."

"Night." He closed and bolted the door.

I stepped out of the porch light and through the gate that was still unlatched. Carlisle leaned on a tree, eyes on Bella's window. His tie hung loose on either side of his chest. "How'd it go?" he asked, curious, concerned.

"Smoothly. Bella left all the lies to me and stuck to Swiss cheese truth."

Carlisle snorted. "Lots of holes. And Charlie?"

"He's been warned off James. With any luck, if he does see him, he'll shoot first and run when that doesn't work."

Carlisle nodded. "And Victoria?"

"She didn't come into our tale." I shared Carlisle's worry, but we couldn't guard both of them all day without being terribly suspicious. "They were gone before he arrived. I can't imagine they have any interest in him."

Carlisle nodded again. "I took care of Laurent, after Charlie left. I'm glad no one examined his pieces too closely."

I nodded this time. The wolves had broken him down very well. Only a hand or foot would have drawn notice. Speaking of the wolves... "Did Sam say anything when he came back?"

"No," Carlisle sighed. He looked tired. I'd suggest he hunt tonight. "He and Paul got here just as Charlie left. They watched me start the fire but only said they were expecting reinforcements now that Jared is gone."

"What does that mean?"

He cocked an eyebrow, obviously surprised I didn't see it. "New wolves. Two boys just grew overnight."

"That's some system they have," I mused.

Carlisle looked sheepish. "I took a sample from Jared."

I smiled at him. "Of course you did."

"They have an extra chromosome. My hypothesis is that the genes on that chromosome are activated in the presence of vampires."

"So, Sam, Jared and Paul became wolves because of us?" I asked.

"That's my theory. And the new wolves could be in response to the nomads staying in the area so long."

I nodded. "Why two?"

"Maybe there will be more." Carlisle shrugged.

Bella opened her window then. Her hair was dark and damp. "Oh good, Carlisle. I wanted to talk to you, too." She stepped back from the window, and I motioned for Carlisle to go first.

Once I was inside her room, Bella stopped pacing. Her legs glowed under her tiny boy shorts and I felt Carlisle appreciating them. My eyes were on the two ribs and curve of breast exposed by the hole in her shirt. This girl was tempting on so many levels.

"I have an idea," she said, bringing both our eyes to her face. She blushed slightly. Carlisle sent remorse my way. I returned assurance. She was worth taking time to look at, and she wasn't really mine, she was her own. "What if I became a vampire?"

I looked to Carlisle for his reaction. I should have seen this coming. If she was in danger, of course she would want to be made safe.

Carlisle's first response was horror. I wasn't really surprised. "Why would you want that?"

I lounged on Bella's bed, my boots hanging off the end. I wasn't about to argue Bella's case for her, and as I couldn't do the deed, she would have to convince Carlisle. I wished her luck. He wasn't going to take her life without a fight.

I rolled and hit play on her stereo. Thudding bass and drums filled the air, covering their conversation.

She looked at me, and I smirked. She rolled her eyes then, focusing on Carlisle. "If I were a vampire, James wouldn't want me."

"Or we could kill James instead of you," Carlisle argued, and I snorted. It was doubly amusing; how quickly Carlisle accepted killing James and how effectively he shot Bella down. He really did love her.

"And if he continues to get away? If he makes enough of a scene to bring the Volturi?" She crossed her arms, and I admired her breasts while ignoring the argument.

"It won't come to that."

"You don't know. Besides..." She looked at me now. I shook my head sadly. That argument was not likely to work on Carlisle. An eternity of jealousy instead of a mere human lifespan? "I would like to be a part of your family."

I ground my teeth. She had chosen the perfect words to soften Carlisle. Tanya, Irina and Kate were a family who fed as we did. They were all changed by the same mother. Eleazar and Carmen had nearly come with Carlisle and I when we met them after they chose this lifestyle. That would have made us a family instead of a pair, but they had chosen to stay with the ladies in the end. After those months, I understood Eleazar's decision. The women were looking for a father and mother. Carlisle wasn't. I'm sure they would have gotten along as brothers, but he and Carmen would be more tightly knit to the women than us. Would Bella be willing to be my sister? Was that what she was suggesting? Or something closer to my first assumption?

"Family?" Carlisle asked.

I was curious what resolution she had made. I called her on her choice. "Yes. What about Charlie and Renee?"

Her face fell, and I felt indecision. She wasn't resolved at all yet. Even if she convinced Carlisle, I'd make sure he waited. He was right about us taking out James. She shouldn't do this out of fear. "I'll miss them, of course, but I'm putting Charlie in danger being here. I thought..." She took a deep breath, and I felt her steel herself. "I thought when class was done, I would make plans to return to Phoenix and... disappear."

"Your father would kill me," I informed her, sitting up.

"He can't kill you," she mocked.

"He'd try. Damn hard, too. Probably expose me." I was smirking at her though. It was a good idea. If I was with Charlie to see her off, I wouldn't be implicated in her disappearance at all. A simple matter for her to kill a couple hours and get a ride home by taxi or with Carlisle.

It was too pat, but it did give us a couple months to change her mind and remove James and Victoria.

"I've never ... Bella, I've never tasted human blood," Carlisle explained, his self-doubt clear even to her. "I'm not sure I'd be more successful than Jasper."

"But you resist human blood all the time," she reminded him. "Surely that would help. If you only bit, didn't drink ..."

I took a breath and closed my eyes. Moment of truth. Carlisle was torn. He wanted Bella ... but enough to condemn her? I was sure he would deny her.

"You'll wait until summer?" he asked.

My eyes flew open. He was agreeing to this? Had I really spent half a century with this man and still didn't know him?

"And if James is removed, you promise to reconsider."

Bella was excited. I gaped at her now. She really wanted this? To be one of us? Why? She was such a wonderful human.

"Yes. I promise! Thank you, Carlisle." I felt his pain as he realized what he'd agreed to. His face was crestfallen even as he hugged Bella, inhaling her hair. He was slow letting her go. Bella squeezed him again, not upset in the slightest. Carlisle reluctantly stepped back from her.

"I ... I will wait outside." His voice was broken, too.

"Carlisle. Go hunt. I've got this."

He nodded. "Right. Good idea." He looked lost.

I stood up and hugged him myself. "It's not going to come to that, Dad. We're going to get them first," I told him in a whisper Bella wouldn't hear.

He smiled very slightly and nodded before jumping out the window.

"Was he really checking me out?" she asked.

I snickered. "Who wouldn't?"

She blushed again, crossing her legs. That just made me laugh again. I put my hand to the hole in the side of her shirt, slipping my fingers under her arm. She sucked in air through her teeth.

"Your hands are so cold."

I pulled them back. "Sorry."

She grabbed them between hers. "I didn't say to take them away." She pulled my hand to her thigh and ran her hands up my arms. I folded myself to meet her raised face, kissing her gently and massaging with my thumbs.

"I think we were interrupted this afternoon," she murmured.

I sighed and started to back up.

"No," she demanded, latching onto my elbows.

"Bella, you were nearly killed this afternoon. You don't think that might have had something to do with your actions?"

I watched the fire light in her eyes and prepared for a reaction similar to the night she had discovered my nature. Sure enough, fury fueled her, and she started poking me in the chest. "Jasper Cullen, if you think I'm only trying to get in your pants because I think I'm going to die, you are dead wrong."

She backed me into her rocker. I sat with a thump. She put her hand to my knee and ran it up my thigh. I gasped and clenched my teeth. If her lust hadn't been enough to get me hard, that was. She put her lips to my ear and whispered, "I want in your pants because I like what else is in there."

Oh, she wasn't getting away with that. She had put one knee between my legs and I put one hand between hers, lifting her and tossing her to the bed. She let out a squeak as she bounced. I put my hand back where I'd had it. "You are going to warm up my hand, Bella, and then you're going to warm up more of me. I hope you don't get too cold." I ran my tongue down her throat and listened to her moan. My hand continued to stroke her through her shorts. My pinky slipped around and I felt she hadn't donned panties after her shower. I gripped the fabric, letting my knuckles rub along her hot skin. It was damp and I knew that wasn't from the shower. She smelled amazing. I was tasting that later.

Her thighs closed on my fist so I pressed it into her, continuing to drag my hand against her hold. My lips were on her ear now.

"Oh my god, Jasper."

"I'm not your god, Bella," I teased.

"I don't know about that." She laughed.

I laughed, too. "Warm yet?" I asked, opening my hand so my fingers grazed her thigh.

She gasped again. "Warm enough," she panted.

"Good. Because I want to feel you, Bella. I want to feel you squeeze me. I want to feel you clenching on me." I let two fingers slide into her, and she arched, her ear leaving my lips.

"I think I could come just listening to you talk to me."

I chuckled. She could cum from less than that, but that would be a surprise for another day. I stroked her, my thumb brushing along her lips. My lips found hers and she pulled one into her mouth, biting me.

I laughed and she let go, cussing. "Didn't chip any teeth I hope?"

"No," she growled. "Stop teasing."

"Who's teasing?" I plunged in another finger and worked them together in her. "I'm waiting, Bella. I told you what I want to feel. You're the tease now."

"Goddamn," was all she managed to get out before her breathing faltered, and she was gasping continuously. I felt her insides shudder and squeeze, pulling me into her. I pulled against it, hoping to drag her pleasure out a little further. She rolled into me, gripping my shoulders as her body shuddered. "Jasper," she moaned, closing her eyes.

I kissed her cheek. "Relax, Bella. We have lots of time to play." I pulled my hand from her and put it to my lips. She tasted divine. If her blood was even half as sweet ... I stopped that thought in its tracks. I wondered if I could taste more. She watched me licking my fingers and growled. Then she yawned.

I laughed. "Sleep, Bell. I'll be here in the morning." I pulled her covers over her and kissed her forehead. We had all the time in the world. I wasn't letting anything happen to her.

Once she fell asleep, I slipped out the window. I could feel disapproval. It wasn't coming from Charlie who had been disgruntled, probably because Bella had left her music on, but was now dreaming as happily as Bella was. It was outside. I jumped down and smirked at Carlisle.

"You're going to give that girl a heart attack. Or an aneurysm." He shook his head. "I heard what you did to her heart the last time."

I licked my fingers again, and he cuffed me. I laughed and took a swing of my own.