AN: Bella and Edward have a talk.

Chapter twenty-four: I'm Just Messin' With Him

Bella, February, 2011...

When I woke up this morning, I couldn't stop smiling. Happiness was radiating out of every one of my pores and I wanted to shout it from the rooftop. Jasper was an amazingly, wonderfully, gorgeous man, and he was interested in me!

Shit! Just saying that made me feel like jumping up and down in exuberance.

What was happening to me?

Absolutely nothing, that was what. I had nothing to worry about.

I had a job. I was making my own money, and one of the most handsome men I have ever seen, wanted to be mine. What could be wrong?

But in the back of my mind, I have this nagging thought and it was reminding me of James and what will happen if he caught up with me. However, for some reason, Jasper's promise to protect me won out and I know he won't let James anywhere near me.

I turned in his pillows, taking in his manly scent and sighed. I couldn't wait to see Jasper.

~~abt~~

I didn't get to see Jasper until mid morning, and what a sight it was!

I was going around with my laundry basket, determined to get every bit of laundry cleaned while thinking about what to make for dinner, when I went upstairs. I was just innocently checking each room when I walked in on him.

"Whoa! Bella!" Jasper shouted, before quickly grabbing his cowboy hat to cover his…

"I'm sorry!" I yelled. "I didn't mean to…I thought you were outside." My free hand was covering my eyes but I'd already gotten an eyeful of what could only be described as magnificent.

"I thought you were downstairs," he said.

"Yeah," I replied with a hand still over my eyes. "I'm doing laundry."

"And now you're in here and blushing," he chuckled.

"Don't' tease me."

Jasper laughed while his voice drew closer. "Why? It's so much fun," he whispered that last part in my ear, and I shuddered in delight. Everything Jasper said to me nowadays left me flustered. His mere voice did things to me that I didn't even understand. It was as if my body was his to command.

He ran a hand down my cheek and then kissed it. "Move your hand, Bella."

"I'm going to see things," I advised.

"Good."

Slowly, I dropped my hand and opened my eyes to Jasper's bright ones staring down at me.

"I should go," I tried, but he just smiled and leaned in, molding his lips to mine.

I lost my hold on my basket and wrapped my arms around his neck; losing myself into the kiss. He tasted so good. The peppermint taste of him was sending me into a frenzy, and I couldn't get enough of him.

When I finally pulled away, Jasper had me backed up against his bedroom door with him, stark naked, and every deliciously muscled inch of him was pressed up against me. "I should…uuhh…go," I whispered out as he nipped down to my neck. A deep throaty groan was his response before he unwillingly pulled away with one hand covering his…business.

His stormy eyes met mine, darkened with the lust I felt. "You should, before we…" I knew how he felt. "Slow. We're going slow."

I stayed downstairs after that. Tanya came and went with her jokes, saying that she was spending the day shopping with her Aunt Maria. Sue called and checked on me. We talked and laughed a little and then she went about her chores.

Jasper came downstairs, fresh from his shower and ready to go. And after another heated kissing session up against the wall next to the front door, he told me he was heading into the practice today, Emmett was swamped. After our goodbye, I got back to work.

My day was okay. I couldn't wait to see Jasper. I got a call from him around two pm telling me that he may be coming in later than expected tonight. I told him it was okay but I was a little disappointed. I was used us eating together but I appreciated his call. Although, I'd try and wait up for him even if it wasn't a guarantee that Jasper would be in at a reasonable hour.

Everything else about my day was going well until Edward showed up at the backdoor, scaring the living shit out of me.

I was in the kitchen, making preparations for dinner when he suddenly knocked on the glass. I jumped a foot high and he just laughed and gestured for me to come and open the door; when I'm alone, I tend to lock the doors. I held a hand over my overactive heart while opening the door for him.

"Yes, Edward?"

"Did I scare you?" he said and I could hear the laughter in his voice so I just gave him a sarcastic look. "Sorry about that," he said in that smooth voice of his that told me he wasn't the least bit sorry. He also couldn't wipe that smile off his face. "What are you doing?" he asked, strolling into the kitchen to inspect what I was up to before he rudely interrupted me.

"Making dinner."

"What are you, obsessed with cooking?" he asked accusingly. "You're always cooking."

"Aspiration to become a chef or caterer," I said, cocking a brow at him; daring him to ask something else.

"Oh, because I was standing there for a while watching you," was Edward's answer.

"And decided that when I was fully engrossed, it would be a good time to frighten me?"

He smiled smugly. "Exactly."

I rolled my eyes and went back to my preparations; leaving Edward to his own devices.

"So, how are you?" he suddenly asked from somewhere behind me.

"Fine."

Edward walked over to Jasper's fridge and opened it. "Do you need something?" I asked.

Edward grabbed a beer and chuckled, "Jasper didn't warn you about me yet?"

"No, but I think I know your game."

He looked genuinely intrigued. "And what do you know?"

I could lie or try to be nice but why bother? "You're over here for a reason. You're in town because you're taking Paul's place on the Whitlock's legal team. And you know something about me."

Edward let a hearty laugh. "I do know something about you. I'm not sure if Jasper shouldn't be worried yet. You're a very beautiful woman, Ms. Swan."

"Thank you, Mr. Cullen." I don't look at him. I continued cutting up my vegetables.

Edward stuck around for a while; analyzing me like a lab rat. The feel of it was so unnerving, I finally sigh exasperatedly and queried, "Why are you over here?"

"Whew, finally," he said with a deep sigh and fake swipe of sweat from his brow. "I was wondering when you were going to crack."

I didn't answer, because all I could think of was expletives.

"You want to curse me, don't you?" He was a good lawyer.

"What do you want?"

"To get to know you, Isabella Marie Swan," he said smugly making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. "Or is Marie Higginbotham-Carter married to James Carter and formerly of Sacramento, California? Which is it?"

"What do you want?" That question was stuck on replay.

"To get to know you," he repeatedly slowly.

"Why?"

"Because that's my job, Bella, and seeing that Paul couldn't do his very well…" there was a bit of triumphant in his voice when he said that. "…it's now mine to protect Jasper's interests and that includes you."

"What does knowing that information about me, do for you?"

Edward walked over to me, leaning in close while I held my breath and gripped the counter behind for support. I wasn't about to do anything I didn't want to. "It helps me get something I want."

"I can't give you that," I jumped and said.

Edward pulled away, laughing. "Bella, I don't mean you, I wouldn't do that to Jasper," he said sincerely. "Never in a million years. But protecting you from James keeps me on Jasper's good side."

I actually chuckled.

"Can we talk?" Edward asked and I nodded.

"Sure."

Edward stayed with me until I was finished with the preparations for dinner. Afterwards, we went into the living room where we sat and began talking. Edward had a lot to say, but mostly, he had questions.

"So which do you prefer? Bella or is Marie?" Just him saying the name 'Marie', sent a terrible shiver down my spine. I was trying very hard to contain my shudders, but Edward noticed.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, placing a hand on my shoulder with immediate concern.

I couldn't help it and I flinched away. Edward quickly apologized and this sounded more sincere than the one at the door. "Please don't call me 'Marie'."

"Why?" It was a genuine question, but I was both scared and angry at him for asking it.

"Because when you say that, it reminds me too much of what I'm running from."

"Then I humbly apologize for that, Bella."

I nodded. "Please don't ask about James either. I don't want to talk about him. Today is a good day, and I've got Esme for the crazy, sad days. I really don't want to feel upset. Can you understand that?"

"Yes, Bella," Edward smiled kindly, "I understand."

Edward kept his questions neutral. He only asked what he needed to know and it was a relief.

And the more he spoke, the more I saw how much he cared for this family; especially, Tanya.

I chuckled at his stories about the past and the time he has spent with the Whitlocks. His pranks against Jasper, and Jasper's retaliation. It was great. I felt so incorporated during my talk with Edward. But the way his face lit up when he spoke about Tanya, it led me to ask about her. "Do you like Tanya?"

Edward ducked his head shyly. The confident, strong prankster suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a silly boy with a crush when I asked about Tanya. "She doesn't know it."

"And I won't say anything until you tell her," I said to him. "I like Tanya, Edward. And she's been through a lot. Don't hurt her."

Edward scowled at me, and I thought I'd upset him until he spoke, "I should have said something sooner and not let her marry that asshole, Paul. But, Bella, I don't…I can't love like Jasper. I thought if I waited, messed around a bit, I'd still have time. But I didn't."

"It's not too late," I told him, making him chuckle softly.

"You know, Peter was right about you. You are perfect for Jasper."

Edward left soon after with the promise to be there for me. He said that he would defend me if I ever thought about divorcing James. And I told him to hurry up and tell Jasper that he wants to be with Tanya, and not me, but Edward said he wanted to mess with Jasper just a little bit more.

"It's your funeral," was my final advice before he walked out the door.

Jasper got back later that night. But something was bothering him. He wanted nothing more than to be close to me. And all through dinner, he kept his free hand securely in mine.

I'd made Apple glazed Pork Chops with tossed salad and Spanish rice and topped it off with White Sangria, and then ran Tanya out with her share before Jasper got home; much to her laughter.

"What's wrong?" I finally ask. I couldn't take his silence anymore. I wanted to help if I could. Jasper hadn't said two words to me since he got home. "What happened?"

He looked at me. He didn't say anything. He just looked at me. "Victoria."

That name sent me spiraling and only Jasper's voice frantically calling my name brought me back. When I finally focused on him, he was kneeling in front of me, nervously peering into my stoic eyes.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything," he said, berating himself.

"Was she close?"

"I got a call from Jenks while I was at work," Jasper explained. "He told me she was in Houston and would be leaving in the evening, but I didn't hesitate. I went up there because I had to see her leave for myself."

"You stayed in Houston until she left?" I shuddered.

"I had to make sure."

I jumped in his arms, wrapping him tightly in mine. "Thank you," I breathed.

For the rest of the night, my mind ran with rampant thoughts. I asked Jasper question after question at random. And he never faltered. He answered each one with patience and understanding.

After dinner, we washed the dishes together. Jasper complimented me on my sheer, lacy, white dress and I confessed to him that Tanya had forced me into it, after threatening to hide all my jeans. That made Jasper laugh.

We watched a movie together, and I shook through most of it. It was a romantic film and I cried like a baby at the end though there was a happily ending. I was an emotional mess all night. But Jasper was there for me.

What I didn't anticipate was how it would affect him until later on in the night when his shouts woke me up.

I sprang up in bed, disoriented but alert. I heard another yell, and the sound of that person making them sent a shuddering feeling racing through me. Was that…?

That was Jasper!

I jumped out of bed, stumbling as I quickly wiped the sleep from my eyes and ran out my door. Tanya was already up.

"I'm scared to go in," she said worriedly and then we both jumped when Jasper screamed again; yelling 'no' to whoever was tormenting him.

"Go and call someone over at the main house," I instructed her and Tanya ran back to her room.

I should wait, but I couldn't, this was Jasper. So I went in.

The sight of him like that was unbelievable, shocking, and frightening. Jasper was thrashing around on his bed; yelling and fighting…like me.

"No," he moaned quietly and then got louder. "No…no…no…NO!" His fists slammed down on the bed, gripping the sheets tightly as he continued to moan out, 'No'.

Why didn't Jasper say something? Was this apart of what he wanted to tell me? That he understood what I was going through because he had experienced it?

Against my better judgment and while my body screamed at me to stop, I went over to the bed and a writhing Jasper. "Jasper?" I started off quietly, but then got louder when he didn't respond. "Jasper!"

I was too close.

Jasper sprang up, his eyes on fire, and grabbed my throat. I gasped, staring at him through frightened eyes. He was half asleep, half awake. He was staring at me, but not seeing me while he growled, "I won't let you hurt her."

"No one's hurting me, Jasper," I said cautiously. The sound of his name falling from my lips made him shake his head and look at me confusedly as I went on, "You're the one hurting me, Jasper."

That snapped him out of whatever fog he was under. Jasper quickly let go of me and ran up his bed, slamming back into the headboard and breathing hard. I switched the light on and sat back calmly; trying to alter between catching my breath and willing my fear to subside.

Jasper's eyes held so many things. Shock, confusion and something I rarely saw, fear. He opened his mouth to speak a couple of times but shut it just as quick.

Maria burst into the room, looking between the two of us with panicked eyes. She moved to speak while Jasper looked at her for help, but they weren't about to shut me out. "Don't," I said to Maria. "Don't even think about asking me to leave him."

I could swear a slight smile crossed her lips briefly before she covered it. "But, Bella, I need to…"

"No," I said, cutting her off. "I need to talk to Jasper, alone. I panicked and I asked Tanya to call someone…" Tanya and Rose appeared at the door behind Maria while I continued to defiant whatever they are here to do, "…but I can do this by myself. Jasper and I need to talk. So please, go back to bed, we'll both talk to you guys tomorrow."

Everyone, including Jasper, was stunned silent until Rose spoke up, "Okay, we'll talk in the morning. But if you need anything…" she looked at her brother as she said this, "then we're here."

Jasper didn't answer and when I glanced at him, he was staring at me. So I answered Rose, "Rose, why don't you and Maria stay in my room? That way we can all be here for Jasper."

They nod and left with Tanya in tow.

I turned back to Jasper and he was readily apologizing. "Bella, please, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. I…"

"How long have you suffered from it?" I didn't want to beat around the bush and Jasper admitted it with his answer.

"It's a part of what I wanted to tell you about me," Jasper said. "I've been through a lot, Bella."

"How long? Since you were a kid?" What the hell happened to Jasper?

"Yes. It started after I was…" he paused and took a deep breath, "kidnapped when I was a child."

Jasper was kidnapped?! "What? Who? Why?"

"My mother's ex," he said gravelly. "He wanted money and he also wanted to make my mother suffer for leaving him." I took a shaky breath. And Jasper picked up on what I was thinking. James could get that close too. But would Jasper be able to help me? "Don't. I won't let anything happen to you. This…I messed up."

"You didn't," I said truthfully because I honestly believed what caused this had to do with me. "This is probably because of me and Vicky."

"Why would you say that?" he questioned, carefully drawing closer to me, but still, keeping his distance.

"Because knowing that Vicky was so close to me, to us, dredged up horrible memories for you," I reasoned. Jasper looked very interested in my theory. "The man that took you, how badly did he hurt you?"

"Abuse. He'd hit me, starved me, and told me the horrible things that he was planning on doing to my mother. He wanted to make us suffer," he said. "I spent years trying to…forget. Learning to control these nightmares. My family helped, I took therapy, but…it's been so long since anything like this has happened. I didn't expect it to. But I should have said something sooner. I should have told you. I'm so…" I kissed him. I wanted to shut him up. I didn't want to his apology. How many times has Jasper come to my help? I wanted to help him. Not have him worry about me. We'd worry about me later.

I had to be there for him now.

Jasper was scared when I drew closer to him. It was written all over his face. But I wasn't taking 'no' for an answer. I crawled up to his pillows and laid down, calling him over. I know he didn't want to, but Jasper laid down beside me; his fingers laced in mine and after a while, I spoke up, "We'll talk soon."

Jasper called to me as sleep began to pull me under. "Bella?" I opened my eyes to his grateful ones.

"Yeah?" I whispered as sleep threatened to overtake me.

"This is the worst time to ask, but would you like to go out with me?"

I smiled and kissed his lips. "I'd love to."

Jasper was wrong. This was the best time to ask. I'd found someone; a great guy that not only knew me inside and out, but could relate to me. He had suffered. Probably not the same as me, but enough to understand that we deserved to live. And he was willing to move forward.

I couldn't ask more.