A/N: For those of you wondering if Michael is Alice's mate… well it is a secret you will find out soon enough. Sorry, but it will eventually be revealed and you will see who he really is. :D

Chapter 26 - Til We Meet Again

Jasper helped Renee out of his truck and into the hotel with Bella on his other side. He knew that Bella had been scared and put through the ringer tonight and the last thing he wanted to do was to leave her, but he didn't have a choice. He would leave her in the room with her mother, but he would not be far away. If tonight was any indication, Victoria's reach was long and far even after her death. No one had a clue how long this torment would last, but he consoled himself with the fact that after she became a vampire, she would be a lot harder to take down and he would not have to worry as much about her being taken from him.

Bella walked ahead of Jasper and Renee to hold open the door for them. Her mom had crutches, but she wasn't the most coordinated on them and every time she stepped forward on them, it looked as if she would keel over at any moment. It was easier to let Jasper help her than to let her go at it alone. Bella giggled to herself, she thought about her conversation with Jasper as they were about to leave the hospital and were watching Renee attempting to walk with crutches, if walking is what you would call it. She had offered to help which caused a round of laughter from Charlie and Jasper. She raised her eyebrow at both of them, "And what is so funny you two?"

"Bells I love you, but you are one of the most uncoordinated people I know. If you helped your mother, we would probably be back in here because you managed to injure yourself," Charlie said chuckling.

"He's right Bella. You are not exactly graceful and tend to get hurt tripping over your own feet," Jasper laughed.

Bella glared at both her boyfriend and her father. She didn't think she was that bad, but then she stopped and thought about it for a second and groaned. She really was a klutz. Finally nodding to both of them she said, "Fine, but mom doesn't look like she is really getting the hang of the crutches so someone is going to have to help her."

Jasper was still chuckling when he said, "I will help her get to the hotel and when I pick you two up to take you to the airport in the morning. You don't have to worry. I am a little more resilient than you are." Jasper winked with his last statement and watched as Bella rolled her eyes, she did let out a little laugh though understanding the inside joke.

Coming back to the present, Bella led the way to her mom's hotel room and unlocked the door. She opened it and walked inside to continue holding it open for her other two comrades to enter. Jasper helped to guide her mother to one of the beds in the room and then she moved forward and put a pillow under the injured ankle to help prop it up. She looked behind her and found that Jasper was no longer there. She turned around to look at her mother and saw Renee smiling at her, "What?"

"I am just really proud of you. You graduated and are going to college. I look at you with Jasper and I know he is really good for you and good to you. I can see that he makes you really happy. You have really grown up since you moved to Forks and I couldn't be happier that my baby has become an adult," Renee said as tears started to form and fall from her eyes.

Bella got her a box of tissues from the bathroom and handed them to her. She offered her mother a smile and said, "Jasper is good to me. I love him and know that he will be there for me no matter what. As for growing up, you helped to raise me. I may have changed since moving here, but I couldn't be who I am today without you." As she finished her statement, she noticed that Renee's tears were flowing even harder now and was about to say something further, but there was a knock at the door and she had to answer it. Jasper was standing there with the ice bucket on the other side of the door. She smirked, "Can I help you with something mister?"

Jasper gave her his lopsided grin, "Well actually ma'am I think I can do something for you." He leaned down and gave her a kiss, "Plus I have ice for your mom."

"Well I do declare that your offer is just too good to pass up," Bella said in a fake southern belle accent.

"I think we need to work on your accent Darlin'," Jasper grinned as he walked in the door.

"Count me as an eager student Mr. Whitlock," Bella giggled some more.

Jasper rolled his eyes at Bella and shook his head, "I will hold you to that. Now why don't you get a towel and one of the clean trash bags from the bathroom so that we can get some ice on your mom's ankle." He turned to Renee, "You're lucky it wasn't broken." He unwrapped the ankle in order to put the ice pack on the injury. He was careful to not make too much contact with her skin.

"I know," Renee groaned from her position on the bed. She hissed when the cold hit and then settled back down on the bed as Jasper adjusted the position of the ice pack.

When Jasper was done with the ice pack he sat down next to Bella on the other bed, "Do you two need anything else?"

Renee offered him a smile, "No, you have been wonderful. Thank you for everything."

"It's not a problem at all," Jasper replied giving a smile of his own. He looked at Bella and saw her shake her head. He kissed her temple and then stood up, "Ok then, I will see both of you in the morning."

Bella stood up to walk him out of the room and closed the door behind her to give them a bit of privacy in the hallway. "Are you going to go all of the way home?" Bella whispered nervously to Jasper.

He shot her an incredulous look, "Like I would do that after what happened tonight. I wish I could be in the room with you. I know you have been through hell tonight."

"I wish you could be in there with me also. It will be weird to not have you beside me in bed."

"I know. I won't be too far away though. If something does happen, I will be here in under a minute. Do you need anything before I go?"

Bella rested her forehead on his chest and shook her head no. "I guess I should be getting back in there," she grumbled reluctantly and wrapped her arms around his waist not ready to let go.

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "Think of it like you are at school and I am at home," he offered knowing that it was a lot different. He felt her nod and then pull back. He looked down into her eyes and leaned down to give her a kiss that left them both breathless (if he could actually be breathless). "You go in and I will be close by," he said as he pushed her towards the door and watched as she unlocked it giving him one last look before she went inside and the door shut separating them for the night. He walked out of the hotel and walked towards the window of their room to begin the long night of just watching from the outside.

An hour after Jasper left Bella, his phone started to ring and he cringed when he saw Carlisle's name on the caller id, "Please don't tell me another one has been spotted. I have already dealt with one tonight."

Carlisle chuckled a little, "No, it is nothing like that. We got a message from Alice."

Jasper's gut twisted. Any time they had gotten any messages from his ex-wife, it was always bad news. "What's coming?" He squeaked out. He didn't know how he got those two words out past the lump in his throat.

"Jasper this isn't bad news, but she wanted to give us a heads up about some upcoming visitors."

With his brow furrowed, he asked, "Who is coming?"

"Peter and Charlotte will be here in the next couple of days to visit you. They will not be staying long, but will be here before you leave. I thought you would be happy," Carlisle explained quietly.

The twisting of his gut stopped and Jasper cracked a smile, "That is good news. I am excited to see them." The smile disappeared and he whispered one word, "Bella."

Carlisle knew what was going through Jasper's mind. Bella was human. Peter and Charlotte drank the blood of humans. Bella could be in danger, "Alice said that she would not be in danger and should be safe, but all the same, I think we need to be sure to take precautions to make sure nothing happens to her. Her message said that they would meet and Bella would be unharmed."

Jasper gulped, "Ok. I want them to meet, but I don't want her in danger. We can talk more about precautions and what we will do tomorrow after I drop Renee off at the airport."

"That sounds fine. We will talk then," Carlisle said.

"Was there something else?" Jasper asked noticing the long pause from his father figure.

"I just wanted to let you know that I am proud of you. Bella has been good for you and we can all see how she makes you happy. Happier than I have ever seen you," he said and let his words sink in. It was hard to admit, but Bella had been better for him than Alice was and he never thought he would see, think, or say that.

Jasper knew what Carlisle was alluding to and he could not disagree with him. He had been content and at peace since he and Bella had been together. He didn't feel guilty or question it; it was just the way it had all worked out. Alice had brought him out of his old life and helped him find a new path, but she wasn't the one that was supposed to be his forever. That was Bella. He believed that is what Alice saw that day she left and he could no longer be hurt or angry with her for doing what she did. A small smile appeared on his face, "Thank you." He hung up the phone and thought about everything that had happened over the last few months and sent a silent thank you to Alice for giving him her gift.

The next morning, Bella answered the door for Jasper. She had just gotten out of the shower and put her clothes on when there was a knocking at the door. She looked out the peep hole and saw her southern gentleman through the small circle and opened the door as fast as she could and through herself into his arms. She heard the rumble of laughter in his chest as he caught the door before it closed completely.

"Did you miss me sweetheart?" He asked right before his lips captured hers. He kept it chaste since her mother was just inside the room and they needed to hit the road soon.

"Not at all," Bella joked.

Raising and eyebrow and smirking, he asked, "Not at all?" He pulled her closer to him, locking her in his arms.

"Nope, didn't miss you at all and had the best night of sleep I have had in a long time," Bella said giggling wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Oh really?" He mocked as he leaned down and nuzzled the side of her neck and then immediately let her go, "Well if that is the case then…"

Bella laughed, "I guess I might have been making it up." She stood up on her toes and gave him another kiss.

"Might have been?" Jasper smirked as he brought his hands to her hips.

"Uh huh," she nodded.

The couple was interrupted by Renee saying, "Are you two going to stand in the doorway all morning?"

Bella and Jasper pulled apart and started to laugh. They walked into the room and Jasper looked at Renee propping her foot up and watching TV, "How is the ankle feeling this morning?"

"Sore as hell, but it could have been worse," Renee laughed.

"She has already taken one of her pain pills," Bella whispered under her breath.

Jasper immediately understood. "Well if you two ladies are ready to go, we can get loaded up and get going," Jasper smiled. He watched Bella and Renee both nod. Bella grabbed the bags and Jasper helped Renee. "Bella, do you want me to help with some of that?" Jasper asked as she was handling her overnight bag and Renee's carry on, purse, and suitcase.

"I got it," Bella smiled up at him. He watched as she was able to maneuver the luggage and they made their way out to the truck.

Jasper helped Renee get in and then he took the luggage from his girlfriend and loaded that up himself while she got in the truck. Once he was done, he got behind the wheel and they were off stopping only briefly to get both Bella and Renee breakfast.

The good-bye at the airport was heartfelt and full of tears. Well, more on Renee's side than Bella's, but Bella did get a little misty eyed. "I will see you soon Mom. I love you," she said as she gave her mom one last kiss and watched as she was wheeled away in a wheel chair by the porter. She and Jasper stayed until they couldn't see her mom any longer after Renee made it through security, and then she felt Jasper pull her towards the airport entrance and towards their vehicle.

Once they were back on the road, Jasper turned to look at Bella. She was looking out the window, but didn't seem to really be staring at the scenery. He grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze, "Are you alright?"

Bella turned wide eyes onto Jasper and then gave him a small smile, "Yah, I just miss her."

He brought her hand up to his lips and gave it a kiss, "I am sure she misses you also. You will see her soon and I promise I will do what I can to make sure that you are able to see her after you are changed; however, we have to be careful with that because you will not be aging any longer."

"I know. Thank you," she said as she scooted across the seat so that she could lean up against his side, "As long as I have you though, I will be ok and get through it all."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders anchoring her to him and kissed the top of her head. He whispered, "Me too." A few minutes passed in silence and then Jasper spoke again, "I need to tell you something."

Bella pulled back a little bit and looked up into his eyes, "What is it? Is something wrong?"

Jasper smirked, "Nothing is wrong, but we are going to have a couple of visitors in a couple of days. You could say that they are my oldest friends since I have known them since Maria's army. Peter and Charlotte are coming for a visit. I want to warn you that they drink human blood. We are going to take measures to make sure you are safe, but I wanted to warn you ahead of time."

Bella listened and processed this information. She felt nervousness and fear. She wondered if Jasper wanted and expected her to meet his friends while she was still human. Turning to him, she asked, "Am I going to meet them while they are here?"

"I want you to, but if you are not comfortable with it, I am not going to pressure you. While they are around though, you need to be extra cautious and I probably won't be around all of the time in order to spend some time with them," he explained. He could feel the spike in her emotions and knew that she was apprehensive about the meeting.

"Ok, I will let you know," she said quietly. They were Jasper's friends and she wanted to meet them for his sake, but the fact that they were not vampire vegetarians put a damper on her excitement to have introductions made. She knew that Jasper and the rest of the family would keep her safe, but did she want to put herself in danger like that on purpose? She wasn't sure.

Jasper was quiet and let her sort out her emotions and thoughts herself. It needed to be her decision and he would not force anything upon her. He just hoped that Alice's vision of Bella being unharmed was right; he couldn't lose her to anyone.