A/N: Bella and Jasper are going to start to get closer together and you will start to see their feelings grow for each other. Here is the next chapter. Please read and review if you have the chance. To all of my reviewers, THANK YOU! To the people that have favored/followed the story, much love. Thank you all! Let me know what you think.

Chapter 10 – An Enemy Returns

It had been two weeks. Two weeks since he signed the divorce papers dissolving his marriage to that woman some considered a pixie, Alice. Two weeks since he closed that chapter in his life and decided that this was the time to write and new one, the pages were blank and he was free to do what he wanted. He just wasn't sure right now what he wanted nor was he completely past the hurt, but he would get there eventually. He knew he would and he had help.

Jasper smiled when he thought about Bella. She was definitely someone that would not take any gruff from anyone and would give as good as she got. She did not care if you were a vampire, a werewolf, or a human. She had made the decision that she was in charge of her life now and she was no longer going to do what others told her to do, she was going to do what she wanted and what would make her happy. She had a new take charge attitude and it suited her well.

He pulled out his cell phone and checked the time. It was almost time for Bella to get out of school and he promised her that he would help her with a school project. He rolled his eyes about how much they did not teach about real history. He stood up from his vantage point on the mountain and started making his way home. Since he just got done hunting, he would shower and then head over to her house. He should still beat her there.

Jasper did beat her to the house and when he looked at the time, he still had over twenty minutes before she would be home. "That's if her truck doesn't crap out on her," he thought to himself. He was all for old trucks. They were classics, but Bella's seemed to be on its last legs and it was only a matter of time before it quit on her. Rose would fix it when she could, but sooner or later, it would be beyond repair and ready for the truck graveyard.

Jasper jumped through the window and immediately stopped and took in a big breath of air. Something was wrong. There was a new scent that was not there last night or this morning when he left. This was not a scent that had ever been here before. It was the scent of another vampire and it was not one that he knew or recognized. This was not good. He searched the entire house and did not find anyone else there. He immediately pulled out his phone and called Carlisle and told him what he found.

"Who could this be? Who would dare enter Bella's house? If it was another vampire, they would be able to smell him all over the room. They should have been more cautious. Something is wrong with this. Bella is in danger," Jasper was trying to gather his thoughts when he heard the front door open and he went down a few of the stairs trying to discern who it could be before he realized that it was Bella. He went down the rest of the stairs and pulled her into a crushing hug. Then he pulled back to look her over.

"What is wrong with you?" Bella asked a little freaked out by Jasper's weird behavior.

He finished looking her over and when he knew for sure that she was ok, he released a pent up breath, "You're ok."

"Of course I'm ok and you are acting like a psycho. Did someone let you out of the mental ward too soon?" Bella mocked him and she skirted around him to walk up the stairs to go to her room.

He followed her closely, he was not going to let her out of his sight, "For your information Darlin', I was making sure that you were alright. Someone has been here and I don't know who it was. It was another vampire though." That made her stop and turn slowly around to face him. He noticed that the color had drained from her face and she looked scared. He picked her up and carried her to her room and set her on the bed. When it appeared she was coming out of the shock, he said, "I need you to look everything over and see if anything is missing. Can you do that?"

She nodded and got up from the bed. Moving around the room she looked at everything, trying to see if the littlest thing was missing. The only thing she could tell was missing was her pajamas from the night before; everything else seemed to be in its place. She turned to Jasper, "My pajamas are missing, but everything else is here."

"Were they clean or the ones you slept in last night?" He asked.

"The ones from last night, I threw them on my bed this morning after I changed. What could anyone want with my pajamas?"

"I don't know, but right now we need to get to the house. What time is Charlie supposed to be home tonight?"

"He isn't coming home. He is on a fishing trip with Harry Clearwater. They will be gone until Sunday," she mumbled.

"Good, at least we don't have to worry about him right now. Come on, I will drive," Jasper said grabbing her hand and pulling her behind him. He helped her into the truck and they were on their way to the Cullen house as fast as they could go.

When they pulled up to the house, Jasper helped her out of the truck and pulled her into the house. Carlisle, Esme, and Rose were in the living room waiting for them. Edward and Emmett had gone over to Bella's house to get a whiff of the vampire in question to see if they recognized the smell or could track it. As soon as Esme saw Bella, she pulled her into her embrace. Jasper had to let go of her hand when she was pulled away and for some reason, it felt empty. He squeezed his hand and wanted to pull her back to him and then shook off the thoughts. He tried not to dwell on the feeling any further.

"Jasper, you need to read this," Carlisle said handing Jasper the letter that was received by overnight courier.

Jasper read the letter than then looked up at Carlisle. Bella noticed the exchanged and asked what the letter was, "It seems Alice has left the family behind, but still wants to warn us." He handed the letter over to Bella to read.

Carlisle,

Warn Bella and Jasper, Victoria is back and she wants Bella. Her plan is revenge. Please be careful. Good-bye.

Alice

"Victoria? This is Victoria?" Bella was so freaked out she was shouting. She was beyond scared. Victoria was sadistic and had tried to harm Bella before. She thought she had left, but it looked like she was back and if what Alice said was true, she was in danger.

The other part of this was how did everyone feel about Alice stepping in and warning them? They were grateful of course that she had the foresight to send word about Victoria, but the other side of the coin is how can she leave and still decide when to instill herself into their lives? Did she not think that this would be hard for Jasper, Bella, or the rest of the family?

Bella looked up at Jasper. His jaw was clenched and he looked pissed. She knew Victoria was part of it, but wondered if the letter contributed also. She touched his arm and he flinched, "Jasper I know the letter from Alice…"

"I can't believe that she wants nothing to do with us, but she thinks she can send us letters like this. Fine then, she can send all of the letters she wants giving us a heads up if it means protecting you. I will not let that bitch Victoria hurt you!" He ground out.

"I know you won't," she said looking into his eyes. She could feel the anger radiating off of him, but she was not afraid of him. She knew that it was not for her and did not feel sorry for the people it was directed towards.

"We will all protect you Bella," Carlisle declared stepping forward.

"You got that right!" Emmett said as he and Edward walked into the room.

"The scent stopped at the river," Edward said looking at Bella, "Are you alright?"

Bella swallowed hard, "Yah, I will be. I am freaked out and scared, but I know you will all protect me."

Jasper put his arm around her waist, "We will do everything we can to make sure she never comes within 50 feet of you. Don't worry." He wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure her or himself, but he knew that he would do anything to protect Bella. She was everything to him right now. She had become his best friend and he would do whatever it takes to make sure that she didn't have to live in fear for the rest of her life or for the near future.