AN: During Bella's bath, she reminisces on her day while Jasper and the guys go hunting.

Chapter twenty-seven: He Said/She Said

Bella, February, 2011…

I turned the water off and stripped out of my robe. I cranked my neck, and rubbed the sore spot there before sweeping my hair up in a messy bun. I carefully stepped into the warm water and hissed in pleasure as I sank down into its warmth; letting it caress me like a lover's embrace. It made me miss Jasper even more. But I was thankfully for his suggesting this time alone.

It was a day off for him and Emmett and they were out hunting with Edward. Emmett came over early this morning and declared it' man time'. Emmett said the guys needed to get away from us girls for a while. We were crazy. I laughed at his statement but Rose and Tanya pouted. They said I was becoming one of the guys. Unfortunately, they said it in Edward's earshot and he, in turn, told Jasper he always knew he was gay.

I gave him the middle finger, making everyone laugh. Then Edward, not being able to stop causing trouble, asked me if I was going to miss him. Jasper frowned at him and I gave him the finger again, making everyone double over in laughter. Emmett and Jasper were proud of me.

The sweet scent of my bath oils and candles were an added enhancement to an already relaxing endeavor. Strawberry and freesia had become my favorite scent and a bonus was that Jasper loved it on me. The sweet aroma assaulted my nose and left me in a state of utter peace. This was heaven.

Before the guys left, I gave them a batch of my oatmeal cookies and then shoved them out the door after Jasper stole a kiss, causing Em and Edward to gag and then make fun of him. I laughed and shut the door in their faces. I was more than ready for my relaxing day.

It was my day off and I wanted to enjoy it. I had decided on a nice long bath, but after I went into town. I wanted to go shopping. I wanted to experience it by myself and just have fun doing it. I was no longer under James' thumb or supervision and I wanted the one thing that used drive fear in me to now make me happy.

So I took a quick shower and got dressed. Tanya and Rose had already left for the main house. They had been discussing Rose's wedding to Emmett this morning. And since Sue and I had already been paid, it was time for me to venture out on a shopping trip of my very own.

My first stop was the bank; where I made a deposit. Then, I did a little shopping. I picked up mostly fun stuff and a few clothing items of my own. Rose had bought my first set, but I wanted to buy some for myself.

For lunch, I went to a nice little restaurant on Main Street. Lunch was amazing; especially when Jasper called me and I swooned through most of the call. His voice turned me to goo. Even though Emmett and Edward were in the background teasing him the entire time. But Jasper didn't care and neither did I.

I loved how he made me feel.

When I got home – I loved being comfortable enough to think of Jasper's house as 'home' – I walked right into Tanya. "Oooh, you went shopping. Let me see!" She grabbed my bags and stalked off to the living room with me trailing behind her.

"Can I have my bags please?" I didn't see why I bother to ask, because my things were now on the sofa, and Tanya was looking up at me pointedly.

"Bella, where's the lingerie?"

I thought she was joking so I laughed. "What?"

She raised her eyebrows and enunciated, "Where…is…the…lingerie?"

I chuckled to myself and sank further down in the water, fully submerging myself while thinking about Tanya's explanation.

"Bella, you can't go shopping for toothpaste and maybe throw in a Stetson, I love the color by the way, but that's beside the point," she said in a single breath. "You have to throw in the lingerie every now and then. You know, those little things that will drive Jasper mad. They'll make him want to rip 'em off of you with his teeth."

"Tanya, he's your cousin!" Was she really saying this to me?

"And a guy," she bounced back. Yep, she was serious. Tanya was telling me to wear prerogative clothing around her cousin and drive him mad.

"Tanya, we're not having…."

"Sex?" Tanya said. "Oh, I know that! But there is nothing wrong with some well thought out foreplay. Imagine how great the sex will be." She clapped her hands together like a devious little thing as she planned out Jasper and mine's love life.

"Can I have my things please?" I said and Tanya laughed.

"Oh, Bella, you know I'm right, come on let's go play in my closet."

My things and I were dragged upstairs to Tanya's room, or more importantly, her closet where she showed me lingerie and gave me tips. Actually, I had to admit, they were pretty good tips. And I think I might be trying them out in the future.

I sat up in the water and opened my eyes with a sigh. I felt a longing. I missed Jasper, but I couldn't help but think about Tanya and what she told me.

When Tanya and I got to talking, she was very candid about her marriage and the way it ended. I could hear how sad she was to find out that Paul had been cheating on her, and secretly, as she told me, she was running away.

"I couldn't stand being around him anymore, Bella," she sighed sadly. We were sitting on her bed. And she had been crying.

"So you came to Jasper," I said.

"Yeah," she smiled. "I love Rose and my aunt. But Jasper and I have always been close. He's like the brother I always wanted."

"That's great."

"You're good for him, you know," she stated. "I could see how happy he was at Christmas and when I got here, he was flustered. But that was because you guys were making out," she added quickly.

I laughed and admitted the truth. "Yeah."

We had a good laugh and then she started to talk about Edward. About the great friend he has been. I wanted to tell her how Edward really felt about her, but it wasn't my place.

After our talk, we went over to the main house where I was grilled about my date with Jasper by Sue, Rose and Maria. Tanya had already learned the 'pg' version of things and I was telling them the same thing.

"So how was it?" Sue asked.

"My date?"

"Duh!" Rose said, rolling her eyes and laughing when I scowled at her.

"It was the most wonderful first date I ever had."

"What do you mean first date?" Maria asked, before jumping to the wrong conclusion. "Oh! You mean with my son."

I blushed and corrected her. "No, I mean, ever."

Everyone grew silent. "Bella, you'd never been on a date?" Tanya asked sadly.

"No."

"What about that awful ex?" Tanya asked. That's right. I hadn't told her everything about James. But I wanted to. I really liked Tanya and she had just shared her life with me. "Didn't he take you on dates?"

Maria, Sue and Rose all exchanged sad looks while I turned to Tanya and sighed, ready to explain. "You need to learn the truth about James Carter, Tanya." She looked at me expectantly. "First of all, I'm still married to him. And why? Is because I ran away from him because he was abusing me." Tanya's hand flew to her mouth and I went on, "I was ridiculed every day, and I thought I would die there, Tanya. But my stepdad found out and helped me escape."

"So you just ran here?" she asked sadly.

"I didn't know where I was running," I explained. "It just had to be far from Sacramento, California."

"I'm so sorry, Bella." Tanya pulled me into a tight hug. "And I'm so happy for you and Jasper."

We all got tear eyed but quickly dried them and went on talking. The conversation thankfully moved from me to Rose's wedding, which I was more than welcomed to attend. I told them I'd think about it. But I knew I wanted to go. Ideas were flying around the room and it was fun to see them brainstorm. Rose told us that she couldn't wait to see her dress and Maria said she couldn't wait to get rid of Alice. And Tanya wanted to run Alice over with her car. See? Fun.

"What about Jasper?" Alice asked, scowling at me.

"Nothing that concerns you anymore," Tanya answered harshly.

"How is your husband?" Alice asked Tanya in a sickening sugary tone.

Tanya laughed broadly. "Great. He's now free for skanks like you. I've moved up."

Tanya didn't know how true that was. I hoped Edward talked to Jasper today.

"Ha!" Alice laughed and turned her attention to Rose, telling her about the dress and that it will be ready by the end of this month and will be in Henderson by the first week of March.

But any thoughts of her leaving without bothering me were dashed when she said, "My, my, look who's sitting at the table and not cleaning it?" she sneered down at me like she was looking at a piece of garbage.

"Bella," Sue whispered, but she didn't have to warn me, I wasn't about to let Alice get to me. Not today. It had been a great day so far and I was looking forward to Jasper's return to make it an even better night.

"What else do you need, Alice?" Rose said, stepping in as Tanya slowly rose from her chair. Alice, who was too busy leering at me, was clueless to Tanya's intent. But we could all see that if Alice said one more word, Tanya was going to do something.

"Oh, Rosalie, I just wanted you to know that even though things between Jasper and me are not so great right now, and though, I'm heartbroken by his betrayal…" she glanced at me when she said this, like she wasn't the one who cheated on Jasper. "I've always thought of you as such a great person, Rosalie, and that's why I won't let anything get in the way of you having the perfect wedding!"

"That's wonderful, Alice," Rose said gloomily.

"Good!" Alice cheered, giving me what she believed to be a triumphant look seeing as Rose didn't deny her and Jasper being on the 'outs'. But that didn't bother me. I was in love with Jasper and him with me. And Alice wasn't about to take that away from me.

"I have to go," I told everyone and they thought that was a good idea. "I'll see you later or tomorrow." Tanya and Sue made wolf whistles at me making me laugh. Maria was too angry and Rose just nodded. Her happy mood had been zapped with Alice's appearance.

I walked out, intent on heading back over to Jasper's for the bath he'd suggested; figuring I needed that level of relaxation more now than ever. But Alice wasn't through with me. She caught up to me at Jasper's front door. "So…are you enjoying your time here because it doesn't look like you're here to work," she said snidely.

I chuckled. "What do you want?"

"Wow, fucking your boss really does wonders for the ego," she giggled mirthlessly.

"Would you like me to do something for you, Ma'am?"

"Yes," she hissed, "Disappear. Jasper doesn't want you. You're nothing but a hole for him to stick his dick in, and by the looks of it, you're probably a bad fuck too." I wanted to pull my fist back and let it fly, but I held my ground. I won't give her the satisfaction of thinking she was getting to me. "I won't be out of his life forever, you little bitch. He'll come back to me."

I hold down my temper and let her words roll of me. Esme said she loved when I expressed my anger but now wasn't the time for that. Instead, I wanted to leave Alice baffled and frustrated so I teased her. "If there isn't anything you need, Ma'am, then goodbye."

Alice gasped in shock as I opened the door, stepped inside, and slammed it in her face.

The water felt good. But my mind and body were yearning for Jasper.

Jasper

"You better start fucking her soon," Emmett said while he lined up his shot.

"Why you gotta be so crass?"

The game today was rabbit. And it had been a good hunt so far.

"Why do you have to be so gay?" Edward asked me, making me wonder why I re-thought shooting him a minute ago. "Are you deliberate trying to make this easy for me?"

"Back the fuck off, Eddie." I growled at him making him scowl at the use of the name. He always hated nicknames; especially when people shortened his name.

"Nice one, Jazz, but Bella will only be interested for so long," he said, wiping the scowl off of his face and replacing it with one of those smirks that made me want to punch him in the face.

"Don't test me, Cullen."

He scoffed at me and Emmett told us to shut the fuck up and don't scare off his prey.

After he bagged his kill, he asked, "So how was the date?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because Rose is excited that you're dating Bella. She won't shut up about it. While I want you to know that if you break Bella's heart, I'll break your neck. She's a great girl."

Edward laughed before I warned him again to stay away from Bella.

"What if she can't stay away from me?" he challenged and that did it. I moved to punch him in the face but Emmett blocked me.

"Alright, alright, Jasper, I'm fucking kidding!" Edward said in a panicked tone. The fuck realized that I was serious and wanted me to back down. "It's all just a game, alright? I told Bella that and she insisted I tell you the truth. But I was playing stubborn and thought I could drag this out some more. I'm just fucking with you."

Emmett and I looked at each other. "What do you mean?" Emmett asked while I tried to push him out of my way so I could knock Edward on his ass for bringing Bella into his game.

"Yeah," I said, trying to get around Emmett to give Edward a black eye. "What do you mean and why would Bella need to convince you to tell me the truth?" Although, I remembered Bella mentioning something about this on our date, I still wanted to hurt Edward.

"Because she wormed it out of me," he pouted. "Your girl is good. She's nice too. Nothing like Alice," he sneered. "I really like Bella. I loved how much she cares for you. Look how she watched out for you the other day. I was trying to give you space, like I always had when you were like that…" I stopped fighting Emmett and Emmett stopped blocking me as Edward went on, "But Bella, she stood up to us, to you! She made us see that we should stop staying away when you have an attack and be there for you; sometimes whether you like it or not."

"What are you getting at?" I asked. I understand what he was saying and I loved that Bella helped me. But that didn't tell me what I wanted to know.

Edward sighed and moved over to a tree, leaning up against it. He closed his eyes for a minute and then smiled when he reopened them. "For years, I watched her, Jasper. I liked her. I just didn't know how to be…how to act…I mean, you had it down to a science, man. Girls, they fell for your charm…"

"So? they fell for yours too. But I still don't understand what you're getting at."

"I'm getting to it," Edward said.

"Get there faster," Emmett encouraged. "We're burning daylight here."

I chuckled and Edward continued, "Well, when Bella and I talked the other day, she wanted to know why I was teasing you, Jasper. She got pissed at me for it and then she got into my head after told her I'd be there for her too."

That didn't sit well with me and I started to advance on him. Edward quickly moved away from the tree and started backing away from me. "What the hell do you mean you'll be there for her?"

Edward got nervous and started rambling. It was very rare to see the well spoken Edward, disheveled, nervous, and rambling. He must have something big to confess. "I'm here to take Paul's place on the legal team, remember? So, if you want me to, I'll help Bella in any way I can. Jasper, listen, I don't want Bella. This isn't college. I get that. I want…"

"Want what?!" I yelled.

"I want Tanya! I like Tanya. I always had," Edward said with a sigh of relief.

It wasn't registering to me right away what he'd just said. I was still trying to wrap my mind around it while Emmett was laughing his ass off and telling Edward he was a dead man. Edward turned green. And while I was happy this isn't a game to him and he wasn't after Bella, but what did he mean… "Wait, what?"

"I want Tanya," he repeated carefully and I advanced some more; making him back up some more.

"Tanya? My cousin, Tanya?"

"Yes," he said, catching his breath as Emmett shook his head and laughed, "I really…I don't know. I have never been baffled by a girl before, Jasper. But Tanya, she's everything. She's…I…I can't explain it. I've been fighting it. I did! But I couldn't forget her. I've been head over heels for her for as long as I can remember."

"Want to be where she is and shit," Emmett finished for him and my eyes snapped at him. This wasn't helping me.

"Yes!" Edward said happily. "That's exactly how I feel. It's why I represented her for free in her divorce. It's why I'm here, besides to meet Bella because Peter couldn't stop talking about how great she's been for you, even though she just came into your life."

"My cousin, Tanya?" I seemed to be stuck on that point.

"Yes," Edward smiled with relief in his eyes, "Your cousin, Tanya. I'm head over heels for her."

And that was when I punched him in the face.

"What the fuck?!" Edward shouted, holding his nose.

"I think Jasper finally gets it," Emmett laughed.

"Yeah, I fucking do, and stay the fuck away from my cousin!"

"But I want to be with her," Edward whined and I hit him again in the nose. "Fuck!" He was screaming and jumping up and down all over the place. "What's wrong with you?!"

"When it comes to my cousin, keep your dick in your pants and away from my cousin or I'll cut it off!" I threatened.

Emmett couldn't stop laughing. "Okay, fight's over."

Emmett pulled me and Edward over to his truck, while Edward tried to play stubborn. "Jasper, listen, Tanya and I are grown people and I just thought that it would be decent of me to let you know that I will be confessing this to her."

That wasn't a good move on his part and even Emmett was already laughing in anticipation before I even hit him again.

Edward screamed as my fist connected with his nose again. "Are you trying to break my nose?" he tried to snarled at me, but it sounded more nasal than anything else.

"So? He can fix it," Emmett interjected.

"Oh yeah?" Edward said nasally. "I'll sue you if you hit me again, Jasper."

I hit him again and then got in the truck beside a cackling Emmett. I looked up at Edward through the rear view mirror as he got in the back, scowling at me with his bloody nose.

"Stay away from Tanya."

Bella

The sounds of Sade filled my bathroom and Jasper was filling my thoughts. I couldn't get him out off my mind. And I didn't want to.

My hand slowly ran across my stomach as I thought about his smile, his laugh, that smoldering look he'd get in his eyes when he was looking at me sometimes. It was all so appealing. And while I let the thoughts of Jasper and the sounds of Sade lulled me into another world, a fantasy developed in my mind.

Jasper was here in the tub with me. He was sitting at the other end of it with that sexy smirk on his lips. He had my feet on his hard chest, and he was kissing up my leg. With each place he kissed, he drew closer to where I wanted him.

His hand climbed higher and higher until his long fingers were teasing my heated center. I was panting and he lingered there for a minute, his finger teasing my slit, gently running along the outside of my pussy while I writhed under his touch. He smirked and torturously asked me, "Do you want me, Bella?" I could hardly breathe much less answer him verbally so I nodded. But it wasn't enough for Dream Jasper. He ran his finger along my slit and then barely dipped it inside of me and groaned, "So fucking tight, baby…but you have to say it, Bella."

"Yes," I breathed. "I want you."

Dream Jasper smiled then and dipped his finger inside me. He pushed it in and out at a slow pace that was nothing short of maddening. "Ungh…Jasper." I was trying to keep my eyes open, but it was impossible. The intensity of his gaze warmed my soul. His finger delved inside of me and I lifted my hips to meet each thrust, but I wanted more. I wanted him inside of me.

"Jasper…" I moaned, leaning my head, ready to fall into rapture. "Jasper…"

He pushed another finger into me. My back arched as I tightened around his digits. The feel of his long fingers making me wonder how he would feel inside me. "Jasper…"

"Bella…" His voice was so near; it was almost as if it was in my ear. "Bella…" The music was so soothing as I drove my fingers into me, trying to imitate Dream Jasper's movements. "Bella…" He sounded so close.

"Jasper…"

"Bella, I'm right here."

That sounded too real and I opened my eyes and found myself staring into to a heavy panting Jasper's darkened eyes.