AN: April/May. Jasper and Bella move forward. A doctor's convention and James meets Jasper.
This chapter was trying. But Jasper couldn't see a way around it. James is a sneaky bastard.
Chapter forty five: Jasper meets James.
Bella, April, 2011…
"Jasper! Quit it!" I laughed, running into the house with him stalking behind me.
"You're gonna get it, Bella."
"I didn't mean it." Yes I did. And the look of disbelief on Jasper's face told me that he knew I meant it.
This was supposed to be funny. I thought it was. Jasper looked so good wet. It wasn't my fault. It was his. He was the one who interrupted my thoughts and got my panties wet when I saw him standing by the stable doors, shirtless and drinking whatever drink he got from Sue. So when I spotted the water hose near to me, I got an idea and ran with it. I grabbed it, got close enough to my unsuspecting boyfriend, thank god the hose was long enough, and sprayed him from head to toe. When he spotted me after his assault, I did the only thing I could think of, I laughed and ran.
I don't know what was wrong with me these days. I was playful and full of mischief where Jasper was concerned. He was always my target. I even called Peter for pointers on my pranks and he was always more than willing to help. While Char found it funny, Jasper wasn't amused where Peter was concerned. He said he was going to kick his ass as soon as he saw him.
Peter didn't mind Jasper's threats. He said he loved hearing me sound so happy. And I have been.
For the last few weeks, since Alice's departure under Jasper's protection to Italy, I have been happier than ever. It was a relief not having to deal with her.
Jasper wasn't going to help her at first. He was pissed at her for helping Vicky and James. In the end, Maria and I were the ones who got through to him for Alice's mom's sake. Clara became Jasper's concern. He and I didn't want anything happening to his mom's friend at James' doing. So Clara also left town on an extensive vacation.
Jasper had it all covered.
"Bella," he warned. He was so overprotective, it could be annoying sometimes.
"Jasper," I whined with my back to him. "I'm not tired. I'm not puking. Can't I just have some fun?"
For the last three days, I hardly left the house because of morning sickness, lack of appetite and fatigue. The days before that the only thing that kept me revived was planning the next prank I'd try on Jasper.
I could hear his audible groan and knew I was getting through to him. "Fine. But be careful running up the stairs."
"Love you!" I ran up the stairs and he wasn't far behind. He caught me at the bedroom door and lifted me up into his arms. "Put me down!"
"No," he chuckled. "You got me wet."
"Serves you right for looking so hot."
"And as punishment you're going to undress me," he said, kissing my lips.
I cocked an eyebrow at him. "How is that punishment?"
He smirked and my panties got wetter. "Because you're only undressing me. No sex."
"You, cruel, cruel man."
He laughed, carrying me into our bedroom where he deposited me on the bed, and I got to work. There wasn't much to take off. He was already shirtless and in the process of toeing off his boots, which left me with the way to heaven; his tight jeans that stood between me and one of my favorite parts on Jasper's body.
"I know what the look in your eye means, darlin'. But the answer is no. No sex."
"You don't play fair," I pouted.
"I never said I did."
"You want it as bad I do."
"There will never be a time when I don't want you."
I closed my eyes and fall back on the bed with a loud groan. "Why do you have to be so good with words?"
The bed dipped and I can feel him hovering over me. I didn't open my eyes. I laid there and let his words caress me. "You bring out the best in me."
When I opened my eyes to his, the love I see in them soothed me. "You're going to get the bed wet. Last I remember, I just hosed you down with a water hose."
His smirk was mischievous and sexy. "The bed's the only thing I'm gettin' wet?"
"Get your mind out of the gutter and get off the bed."
He laughed and jumped off me, falling back on the bed beside me, pulling me into his arms. "Jasper! You're getting me wet!"
"Now we're talking."
"I thought you said no sex."
He chuckled deeply and kissed my cheek. "Did I?"
"You did."
"Oh," he said nonchalantly.
Jasper insisted on what was supposed to be an innocent shower together. But it turned out to be nothing but naughty. We were making the most of my good mood and less nausea since I woke up this morning.
All days haven't been great. But with Jasper by my side, they have been bearable. Morning sickness, yucky smells and tiredness have been the epitome of my days for the past two and a half weeks. On good days, I played pranks on Jasper, talked to Charlie over the phone, texted Tanya, and thought up new ways to prank Jasper. On bad ones, Jasper waited on me hand and foot.
He hasn't returned to his medical practice since we got home. It was an issue we had been bickering about when I had the strength to. I didn't want Jasper neglecting his career. But he didn't see that way. He said his career as a doctor will still be there. Right now, I needed him more.
I obliged with his reasoning as long as he didn't back out of our deal. He had to attend the doctor's convention which would be held in Seattle in May. Jasper begrudgingly agreed, but only if I stayed over at the main house where Sue and Maria could keep a better eye on me. Sam was going to stay behind but I threw a fit. There was no way Jasper would attend that convention without Sam there protecting him and Carlisle. Jasper agreed to my terms. And I agreed to his. He was only staying three days and then coming home to his family.
I still don't know what I did to deserve his love, but I wasn't about to let him go.
Jasper's voice woke me. I had fallen asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow after our eventful shower.
"I love you and your mommy very much. You're gonna love it here, darlin'."
He was talking to the baby again. He started doing this a few days ago, saying he felt closing to our child when he did it. He also claimed it made him feel more involved in the pregnancy. He didn't have to explain and I told him so. I loved hearing him talk to the baby. I loved that he was this involved.
"I'm probably gonna spoil you. Mommy won't want me to, but I love you two too much to say no."
"Then you'll both be on punishment," I added.
He kissed my stomach. "Hear that, mommy is ready to play good cop/bad cop."
"Mommy is ready for when Daddy goes crazy."
Jasper got up, moving closer to my lips, his eyes filled with happiness, love and a hint of lust. "Mommy needs to understand that Daddy has no problem spending his all on Mommy and his kids."
"Mommy doesn't doubt that. She knows how much Daddy loves us."
"I do love you, Ms. Swan."
"I love you too. With everything I am."
It was nightfall by the time we got up and Jasper insisted on making dinner. He made himself a hearty meal and a light one for me. I wasn't feeling too good and I couldn't wait for the day when this part would pass. I was missing out on Jasper's cooking. I missed cooking.
I felt a little tired so he ordered me to the dinner table where he would serve me. I guess I had used up all the energy today, but it was worth it. Most days it was just sleep, puke, clean up, sleep, eat, kiss Jasper and warn him to stay away from my tender breasts and then sleep again.
When Jasper finally placed dinner in front of me, as delicious as it looked, I still prayed I would keep it down.
After dinner I had enough strength to help him clean up. He watched me through the corner of his eye the entire time, readying himself for anything.
"You ok?"
I smiled at his concern and leaned over to him. He met my lips in a soft kiss. "I'm fine…so far."
He chuckled. "That's good."
"Prenatal appointment is tomorrow."
"Yeah, Zafrina wants to make sure things are going well."
"Is it weird I feel nervous every time I have to go and see her?"
"No," Jasper answered. "I think you're being prepared. You still don't get why all this good shit is happening to you so you're waiting on the other shoe to drop."
I pulled him into a fierce kiss. "I love you so fucking much! That's exactly how I feel."
We laughed.
Jasper, April, 2011…
Bella was worried almost every appointment she had with Zafrina even though Zafrina assured us Bella was doing great. But I couldn't wrong her for it. If I lived in the hell she was escaping I would probably be the same way. I wouldn't think there was anything good out there for me, and if I, by some miracle, found it, I would think it was bullshit and someone was messing with my head.
"This movie is so funny!" Bella laughed.
"Mind your blood pressure," I warned and Bella turned to me and stuck her tongue out and then turned back to the movie.
"I'm fine and this movie is funny as shit!"
Bella didn't have a filter anymore. She was becoming more and more confident and comfortable in her own skin as her pregnancy progressed. Zafrina said it was natural for Bella to be displaying different attitudes. I knew about the mood swings, but aside from that, she has become a prankster! It was fun sometimes and I was always her intended target. She got others involved at times and it has left me with a missing car, missing keys or cell phone, and missing files. But seeing Bella happy made the frustration worth it. Sometimes I did get a good laugh out of it too.
The movie ended and we went to bed. Bella was out cold as soon as her head hit the pillow. I stayed up for a while and watched her sleep.
The next morning was a whirlwind of activity, starting with me racing behind Bella to the bathroom to hold her hair back. She was green around the gills all morning. We stopped twice on the way to Zafrina's office so Bella could throw up.
Zafrina was ready for us as soon as we arrived. Just one look at Bella and she sent her into her office.
"She's really sick today," I said, panicked. I knew this was perfectly normal, but fuck! Sometimes this shit was scary.
"She's fine, Jasper. You know this," Zafrina said.
"I know, but this shit is scary."
Zafrina patted my arm in support. "Let's head in there."
Zafrina took her time with Bella and she made sure we stayed at her office until Bella was okay to leave. Zafrina advised taking Bella straight home. The house needed food and I had to go grocery shopping. But Bella was too tired and I didn't want to leave her so I made the moment we stepped through the door and asked Sue if she could help. She was happy to and scolded me for not asking sooner.
I escorted Bella upstairs and stayed with her while she slept.
Sue got back and popped her head in to tell me everything had been bought and packed away. She left some crackers and ginger ale for Bella's stomach with her love.
Today was an okay day.
Jasper, May, 2011…
The rest of April passed without event. Jenks said James took a break from the hospital and was vacationing at one of his family's home. It was suspicious but we were glad he wasn't up to anything for the time being. Vicky wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary either. She would only visit James from time to time.
The news excited Bella. She wanted James and Vicky to stay away. If they continued to do this, she was going to find the right time to file for divorce. She wanted James out of her life as fast as Edward could go.
But it wasn't only that for me. I wanted to make sure James would never find the right time to try and hurt my family. If the bastard made a move, I would be ready for him. If he came down here, he wasn't leaving alive.
I was leaving for the doctor's convention today. Carlisle and Sam were waiting outside in the car, and I was standing in the foyer of the main house with Bella in my arms.
"I don't want to go."
"You'll be back in three days," Bella countered.
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too." I kissed her long and hard, not wanting to let go. She laughed against my lips and pulled away.
I moved to the front door and stopped to look back at my smiling girlfriend. "I'll really miss you."
"I love you. Hurry up and come back to me."
"Yes, ma'am." I laughed and headed out to the car.
As the town car pulled further away from the ranch, I sighed and my uncle chuckled. "You'll be back before you know it."
I half smiled. I missed Bella and the baby already.
The convention was being held at the Renaissance Hotel in Seattle. Carlisle, Sam and mine's rooms have already been booked respectively by Bella. I was playing stubborn and being troublesome while she got it done two days ago. I just didn't want to leave her.
As soon as we landed, I called. She was okay. The baby was fine and Bella reassured me she will let Sue or Momma know if anything changed.
Night one without her was restless. I couldn't sleep. I missed having her beside me. By daylight, I had only gotten about three hours of sleep and I was crabby. Carlisle and Sam thought it was funny, but I wasn't kidding around. I missed my family. I called Bella when it was appropriate and learned she missed me too. I tried to talk her into letting me leave the convention early than my three days for her, but she said no.
My second day in Seattle passed with discussions at the convention, meet and greet with other doctors, and calls, texts and pictures to and from Bella. My second night would have been restless if Bella hadn't called and we spent most of the time on the phone. We talked about the baby. We talked our life together. We talked about marriage and Bella wasn't scared of the topic as I thought she would be. She said as long as I was the one waiting for her at the altar she'd be alright.
My second day and night in Seattle had been easier but my third day was my favorite because we would be leaving as soon as the discussion going on now ended. I wasn't interested in spending another day away from Bella.
Although she wasn't feeling too well this morning, she got better as the day went along. While talks of surgeries and so on went on the stage, Bella and I were chatting. My little darlin' was feeling frisky and being flirtatious and suggestive and I liked it. Our talk had jumped from food and what we could do with it when it didn't make her queasy anymore to sex. I had just said something sexually to her and she was threatening to ask my momma for advice.
JWhit: Bella…don't!
SwanBells: Oh come on, Jas, I'll just ask her. Maybe I could give her an example to work with. Like that time you went down on me in the…
JWhit: Bella, for the love of God! Don't!
SwanBells: LOL! I'm just fucking with you, Jas.
JWhit: *sighs in relief*
SwanBells: Besides I don't have to ask anything. She said your dad was the same thing. You two have a lot of stamina. You hear that, Jas? You get it from your daddy! LOL!
I was red in the face.
"Jasper, are you alright?" Carlisle whispered to me. "You look like you're about to pass out."
"Bella and Momma are taking about my sex life."
Carlisle laughed at me.
JWhit: Plz tell me you're joking, baby.
SwanBells: Your mom says hi.
JWhit: I'm not coming home.
SwanBells: LMAO! Maria says to quit whining. How did you think you got here? Do you think you fell from the sky? Your dad was a passionate guy, and she considers it a gift that was proudly passed to you.
JWhit: Well, thanks, I guess. But I can't face my momma for at least a day or two.
SwanBells: I understand. I've gotta go and get ready. But lunch is first.
Carlisle nudged me, wanting me to pay attention. I gave him a hard look and he threw a stern one back at me. "Pay attention," he said through gritted teeth.
"Yeah. Yeah." I rolled my eyes at him and went back to chatting with Bella.
I got another message from Bella and smiled at the picture attached. The food looked delicious.
SwanBells: Guess what? I got cravings! Morning sickness is still a bitch and I've still got to watch it. But I'm hungry and eating! Yay!
JWhit: Omg! Yes! I'm so happy for you, baby! Any weird cravings yet?
SwanBells: Yeah. I got a strange one last night. And I did get sick but it felt sooo good eating something yummy. It happened before we started talking so don't worry about it.
She knew me so well. I wasn't about to launch into questions if she hadn't said that.
JWhit: What was it?
SwanBells: I don't want to creep you out.
JWhit: You won't.
SwanBells: I'm going to start with what you saw in the pic attached. This is a turkey breast stuffed with sausage and mushroom. This is lunch!
JWhit: I'm hungry from just looking at it.
SwanBells: & last nite was fried chicken with peanut butter and pickles.
JWhit: Bella, wtf?
SwanBells: LOL!
SwanBells: I thought you were hungry. *winks*
JWhit: That's usually for you, baby. *smirks*
SwanBells: Get home safely and you can have me.*winks*
JWhit: Cannot wait!
SwanBells: LOL! Let's get your mind out of the gutter.
Carlisle nudged me again and I swear to God if he did it one more time, we were going to fight.
"Stop it," I mumbled to him.
"Pay attention," he said.
"I am," I replied through clenched teeth.
I was only half paying attention. Bella was more important.
JWhit: After the fried chicken experiment, dare I ask what you had for dessert?
SwanBells: LOL! Chocolate ice cream with gummy bears and then I got sick. But it was worth it. I was so happy to eat something other than wheat crackers. I was happy to be hungry!
JWhit: Oh God!
SwanBells: Gagging yet?
JWhit: Honestly? No. Okay. Maybe a little.
SwanBells: LOL! Wait til you see me eat it.
I wasn't looking forward to seeing her devour the fried chicken and peanut butter one. That sounded gross!
Carlisle nudged me and I lightly punched his arm, making him laugh. "Pay attention."
"I have been and it's almost over."
JWhit: It's almost over, Bella.
SwanBells: Yay! Go meet and greet. I'll call you before we leave.
JWhit: Where r u goin'?
SwanBells: To the movies. Tanya and Edward are here. Sue and Maria have gone shopping. Edward is taking Tanya and me to see whatever we want. We get to see two movies depending on how I feel.
JWhit: That sounds great, baby.
SwanBells: I love you. xxx
JWhit: I love you too. xxx
The talks ended and we got up for lunch. I did the meet and greet like Bella wanted and Carlisle and I ended up in a really good discussion with Dr. Shield, a surgeon from New York. We were discussing laparoscopic surgery and the benefits of her work with it.
When we finished up our talk, I called Bella. We talked while she got ready. She told me she and Tanya wanted to see 'Bridesmaids' and they were going to end Edward's torture by watching 'X-Men: First Class' with him. Bella could handle sci-fi but horrors scared her. We said our goodbyes and I finally got to lunch. I was starving.
Carlisle and Sam had gotten up to go to the buffet table. I was almost finished eating. I stopped to text Edward asking him to take care of Bella and he was assuring me that he and Tanya would take good care of her when he sat down.
"Hello." Something in me told me it was him before I even looked in the bastard's eyes.
I sent my text to Edward and then gave James my full attention. Carlisle and Sam turned to come back to the table, but I stopped them.
"Hello."
He sighed and relaxed in Carlisle's seat. "You look different in person."
There was no reason to pretend. He knew me. I knew him. I loved the woman he spent six years terrorizing.
"What were you expecting?"
He sniffled and rubbed his nose. His pupils were dilated and the lazy grin on his disgusting face was drug induced. "I honestly don't know, Jasper Whitlock. Dr. Whitlock. Guess she has a thing for doctors, huh?"
"What do you want?" Everything depended on me not losing it. But how long could I hold out? I wanted to lose it. God knows I wanted to. I wanted to stomp his ass into the ground. I wanted to beat him to a bloody pulp. I wanted to choke the life out of him.
"I wanted to meet you, face-to face," James said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table. "I wanted to meet the coward who tricked my Marie into leaving me."
"And what do you want?" I wasn't going to correct him. He didn't want to hear that. He wanted to hear what he thought was the truth.
"I told you," James said. "To meet the man who stole my pride and joy. She was mine. She still is mine and she will always be mine. No matter what you do or say, Marie will always love me!"
What do you say to that, knowing that it couldn't be farther from the truth? My anger was boiling and I wanted to tackle this son of a bitch to the ground and turn the conference area into a crime scene.
When I took too long to answer, James misinterpreted my silence and started laughing. "You're afraid of me, aren't you country boy?"
I cocked an eyebrow at him in challenge, slightly offended by what he had just called me. "That couldn't be further from the truth, James. I'm not afraid of you. You, on the other hand, should be afraid of me."
He laughed loudly and Sam and Carlisle ignored me and stepped up to the table, neither of them sitting down. Instead, they flanked me. He glanced up at them. "Who are they?"
"You know who. You dug the information out of Alice, didn't you?" I said to him. "You used your sick ex-stepsister to trick her into telling you what you wanted to know after she babbled Bella's name!"
"Jasper, calm down," Carlisle said smoothly with a hand on my shoulder, but it was too late. I should have gotten up as soon as the asshole sat down. Right now, all I felt was rage. "Don't let him get to you."
"He's right, Jasper," Sam added. But it wouldn't work. I was too far gone. I was going to kick James' ass.
"Oh yeah," James taunted, flying up out of the chair and knocking it back, causing a few eyes to turn to us. "Don't let me get to you! You stole her from me!"
"I didn't take anything," I said calmly.
"She was mine! And still is!"
We garnered more attention after he shouted that and I sprang up out of my seat too. "Like hell she is!" I chuckled darkly. "You better walk away, James."
Carlisle and Sam were holding my shoulders back. But I could still get away. I glared at James. The fuck was smirking at me like he thought this was a game and he was winning.
"Or else what?" he sneered.
"Stay away from her," I warned him. "Do you understand me?! You better forget her and walk the fuck away while you still can, James! If you come anywhere near her, I'll kill you!"
James gave me a twisted 'like hell I will' look and I wanted to rip him to pieces.
"Marie loves me," he said stubbornly.
I rushed him over the table and he jumped back before I could get my hands on him. Carlisle and Sam were holding me back. "No, she doesn't!" I said angrily to him. "She was your victim. She was your prisoner. She was a subject in your sick, twisted fantasies."
He leered at me and then turned and walked away. Carlisle and Sam let me go and stepped back too soon. James wasn't finished and neither was I.
When he stopped and turned back to me with a smirk, I knew this was far from over.
"Oh, Marie is a good fuck, isn't she? Do her blowjobs make you weep? That girl always knew how to handle a cock. But just remember…I taught her all she knows."
Sam and Carlisle were too late to grab me. I dived across the table and tackled James to the floor. We tumbled around with James trying to get the upper hand but he was no match for me. I pounded the fucker's face in. I punched and choked him until Sam, Carlisle and some other guys pulled me off of him.
The cops came, and despite the witnesses, James didn't press charges. The fucking asshole told them we were cousins and fighting over the same girl. Between the two of us, I didn't go to jail. I only went along with it because I wanted the opportunity to kill the son of a bitch with my bare hands.
While he talked to the cops we kept our eyes on each other. This wasn't over.
Sam and Carlisle grabbed everything and we left the hotel and headed straight for the airport. Peter was called and so was Momma. Both were pissed at me for losing my cool. I asked for Bella but she was still out. I told them not to tell her.
Carlisle and Sam were disappointed in me but they understood. Sam already beefed up security before I even set foot in my house that night with my busted lip. I wanted to calm down before I had to face Bella. She was probably over at the main house with Tanya and Momma. That could give me some time.
I had to laugh. A busted lip. That was all James could get off of me. I smiled internally knowing the asshole looked like he had been in a car wreck compared to me.
When the light switched on, I froze. Bella was standing by the switches with a pissed off looking Momma behind her. Momma was angry but it was Bella who held my attention. She was furious.
"Bella, I…"
"Edward and Peter are drawing up my divorce papers as I speak. As of tomorrow the proceedings will start. And they are going to do whatever is necessary to get it done. James is not to be trusted right now. It'll be a fight. I know he won't consent to it. But Peter and Edward are prepared for him and his lawyers."
"Bella, I'm…"
She didn't let me talk, she went on, "I'm angry at myself because I pushed you to go to the convention, but I thought it would be fine," she said tensely. "I'm fucking pissed at you for letting him get to you and I may be wrong for that, but I don't give a fuck! You don't know him like I do! He could've killed you! He could've walked up to you and take you away from me and the baby! Why, Jasper? Why did you attack him? This is a plan. It has to be! He did this because the shit with Alice didn't work. And I was so dumb to think that things would go smoothly. This is my fault!"
Tanya and Sue came down the stairs with bags. Bella's bags and I started to panic. "What are you doing?"
Momma shook her head at me and walked out. Bella sighed and moved around me to the front door while my heart threatened to stop. "I'm doing what I should've done the moment I knew James had found me."
"Bella, don't."
"I'm leaving."