An: James and Bella come face-to-face

Chapter fifty eight: Beginning and the End

Bella, October, 2011…

Few weeks have passed without any news on James. Mr. Jenks figured James was staying hidden, waiting on the fiasco after his father's disappearance to blow over before he made his move. I was surprised to hear that Victoria had disappeared as well. This wasn't good. It was all too sudden.

Immediately after my mother's attack, Caius and Victoria disappeared? James had something to do with it.

My problem was, I couldn't find it in me to care. It would haunt me later because I wasn't cold hearted person and I couldn't carry a grudge for long, but to care about something bad happening to Vicky and Caius after everything they had done was the hardest thing to do.

Jasper only cared on humanitarian grounds. They were living human beings. Deep down though, I think he just wanted them alive so they could rot in prison for what they had done to me. To him, James was their fault. They allowed him and even helped him to hurt me, my mother and other people.

Jasper was right. They did. Because of them, Garrett was gone and I had never gotten justice for him. I wanted peace for myself and Garrett's mom's soul. She had ended her life after her son died and I had never forgiven myself for it. It was my fault.

Jasper didn't agree. He believed it was James' fault.

Things between Jasper and I have improved greatly. We were so close now. I loved how I could talk to him like we used to. It was nice.

On restless nights, and I had a lot of them now-a-days, we sat up and talked a lot about the future and the things we wanted together. He wasn't just a wonderful lover and partner, he was also good friend.

Mom was still in a coma. We were waiting on her to wake up so we could see if there were any improvements. She remained in Houston at St. Joseph Medical Center under Dr. Baker's care but I wasn't allowed to see her because I couldn't travel anymore. At least until I had the baby.

After we had gotten home, Zafrina put me on bed rest and light activity. Jasper believed it was for the best and I have been doing my best not to be too annoyed with that rule. But if it helped me to have a healthy baby without too many complications, it would be worth it.

I was nine months pregnant. It would be any day now. I believed I was prepared, but Jasper was another story.

Between wanting to hide me from James and Zafrina saying we couldn't move until I had the baby, Jasper's nerves were all over the place. He has been doing his best to get her to let up on that rule, and we were successful on my last visit to her office. We had devised a plan between Sam, Zafrina, Jasper and me. I hoped it worked.

The slam of the door woke me up.

I sat up in bed and looked around. Jasper was back? He had left not a minute ago, saying he was heading into town to check on something at the practice then he was coming right back.

Work was on hold for him until everything was settled. He wanted to be here for me and the baby, also to lay low with me until James resurfaced.

What did Jasper forget? Sometimes, he was so scatterbrained. Especially over the last few days. I asked if it was about James and he flat out told me no.

"This is about the baby," he said one morning while we had breakfast.

"What about her?"

Jasper sighed and ducked his head. He wouldn't meet my eyes. Instead, he played with the food on his plate.

"Jasper, what's wrong?" Was he having another episode? I couldn't handle it now with everything else going on but we would deal with it.

He finally met my eyes and his held such worry. "Do you think I'll be a good father?"

I was so shocked and relieved, my mouth fell open. "Jas…" I started and he cut me off.

"I know you think I will be, but what do I really know about babies? I'm scared, Bella."

I smiled. It was the only thing I could do. I took his hand in mine, kissing his knuckles before I answered. "Jasper, you're going to be the greatest dad ever."

His smile was so wide. I had to laugh as he jumped up and hugged me.

With my delivery date drawing close, Jasper was getting very nervous and a little impatient. He wanted everything to go well. He wasn't only worried about the baby, but me as well. I reminded him of what we had planned. I wanted an epidural. And a c-section will be performed if necessary. Zafrina, Jasper and I had sat and discussed this at length on my last appointment.

The funny thing was, when we walked out of her office, heading to lunch, I felt like I was being watched. I never told Jasper. I didn't want to scare him. But it was the same evil feeling I felt when we found out James had come to the Pre-Valentine Fair with the help of his friend, Laurent. I know I should have said something but I couldn't. Everyone was already on high alert because of James.

I didn't know what to do. So I kept it to myself.

I got out of bed and made my way to the door, waddling out into the hall. I had to laugh at Jasper. If he was going crazy now, what was he going to do when the other kids got here? I did agree with him. I wanted more kids too. We wanted a house full of them. I just hope he'd be more levelheaded by my next pregnancy.

When I got to the top of the stairs, I called out to Jasper, but he didn't answer. He must be so involved in looking for whatever he came back for, he didn't hear me. He was forgetting his keys or any one of his phones on a daily basis. It stunned me, that as a doctor, he could remember anything to do with a patient's chart, and as a ranch owner, he could recall everything needed to be done, but not his keys, phones, or laptop. No, those he forgot.

Or so he said.

Sometimes, I think it was Jasper's way of coming back to check on me since he had agreed with Zafrina about putting me on bed rest which I had stubbornly disagreed with.

I was fine. Our little girl was fine.

But with the information Zafrina was privy to about my abusive past, all that had happened recently, she felt compelled to ensure we end this pregnancy on a good note.

I could agree with her so I tried to behave and stayed in bed as much as I could manage without being bored out of my mind.

At those times, I misbehaved. Like the time Jasper nearly lost his mind when he caught me in the kitchen one day making myself Chicken Salad with homemade bread and herbed butter. I offered him a plate to shut him up, but he still wasn't pleased about me being on my feet. I ignored him with a laugh.

I behaved occasionally. At least, I did when Jasper was home, because when he was here, I couldn't go anywhere. He waited on me hand and foot.

However, when he wasn't around, it was another story. I didn't do anything crazy, but I did sit in the living room a lot, watching TV, because it felt good to do it. I got caught a lot because Jasper would 'forget' things he had to return home for.

I wondered what he 'forgot' now.

I took a hold of the railing and took my time making my way down the stairs. I knew when we came face-to-face, Jasper was going to freak, but I secretly liked it when he was angry. It was kind of hot. He was so sexy. It made me pissed to know we couldn't do anything about it and we had a six week wait before we could…

Okay, not the best train of thought at the moment.

Right now, I felt like a sandwich and since I was going downstairs, after I got rid of Jasper, I make myself one. There was some grilled chicken from last night.

Hope agreed with me and gave me a kick. "Ow," I muttered, stopping in the middle of the stairs to rub my tummy. "Come on, sweetie, behave. We're just going to help daddy and then I'll get us something to eat."

She calmed down. With a sigh, I supported my lower back and kept a good grip on the railing as I carefully continued to descend the stairs.

Talking to her was her daddy's doing. When he was home, and things weren't crazy, he would lay his head in my lap and talk to my stomach. His reason was he wanted her to know him. At least, to know his voice.

When we found out she was a girl, he said he had to become a better shot because guys were going to be lining up to date her if she was going to be as beautiful as me.

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, I decided to let Jasper know I was down here. He was going to going crazy anyways, but I didn't care. The thought of the grilled chicken between two slices of honey bread was making my mouth water. "Jasper, baby, did you forget something?" Maybe he won't argue with me helping him find whatever he was looking for quickly so I could make myself something to eat and return upstairs.

Yeah, right. He was going to take me back upstairs, make the sandwich himself and serve it to me in bed. I rolled my eyes at the truth of my own thoughts. Jasper was like an open book to me now.

"Jasper? Did you hear me? Where are you?"

This was strange. Why wasn't he answering? He usually would have done so by now.

I shrugged it off and went to his office, but he wasn't in there.

I turned around and went back to the living room. "Jasper, come on, answer me," I said, heading to the kitchen. "I know you're here. Alright, I got up, so sue me. I want a sandwich. I promise I'll go back to bed!"

Maybe he'll come out with a shit eating grin on his face since I have admitted to being caught.

No one responded.

"Jasper?"

I walked by the living room door and noticed it ajar. As I moved toward it, I had the same feeling of being watched. It crept up my spine like a slithering snake. I shuddered and then stopped and closed my eyes for a minute. I wasn't focused on anything but the door and closing it. Maybe one of the bodyguards was just in here checking the place, making sure I was safe and he hasn't gone too far. I would simply close the door to show I had gotten up. Jasper would freak if he came back and found the door ajar and me upstairs in bed.

As stepped closer to the front door, two things happened.

One. I heard Jasper's voice on the outside the door, saying he forgot his cell phone; which I spot on the end table.

Two. As I was reaching for the phone, a pale hand covered mine making my heart stutter and my body shudder with the familiar cold I always felt when he touched me. The slithering feeling ran up my spine as I slowly raised my eyes to meet James' icy cold gaze. He had been in Henderson all along. He wasn't hiding. He was waiting. Whatever I did from now on would be for the survival of my daughter and Jasper. They came first.

"Hello, Marie." He was exactly like I remembered; cold and murderous.

"Hello, James." His eyes said 'don't try anything.' And my mind screamed to fight until my last breath. I could scream but I knew James. He came prepared.

"You've looked better," he said with disdain and without letting go of my hand. I didn't answer and he went on. "We're going to make this quick. Jasper will be at the door in a second and you're going to give him the phone."

I started to shake my head 'no' and he tightened his grip on my hand…painfully. Jasper's voice was getting closer and I wanted nothing more than to tell him to go get help. James wouldn't get the satisfaction of stealing him from me. I was going to make sure of it. I wouldn't let him kill Jasper. He wasn't going to win.

The less courageous side of me took a moment to lament.

I never thought it would end like this. I could see all the plans I had with Jasper going up in smoke. But if I could spare his life, if he could save our daughter, I would eternally grateful. I would love them forever. I was prepared. I was ready.

As the plan formulated in my head, tears ran down my face and James' sickening mind took it for something else. "Oh, I'm happy to see you too, Marie. There's no need to cry. We'll be together again after we take care of a few things." I took the moment to look at the psycho. He had changed his hair color as Jenks had surmised. At least now I knew it was black.

My sarcasm reared her ugly head. "I'm not crying over you," I hissed at him, wrenching my hand out of his. He was both surprised and furious by the action.

I didn't care. He was fucking crazy if he thought I was happy to see him. "My name isn't Marie. Stop calling me that. I fucking hate the name, James," I seethed his name like the poison it was. He grew more displeased as Jasper drew close to the door so I hurried along. "I'll go with you…" I knew it was what he wanted to hear. "…just leave Jasper out of this."

James smirked and slowly nodded.

He was lying. I will have to ensure Jasper's safety myself.

Before we could say anything else, Jasper appeared at the door and James swiftly moved behind it. I wanted to kick myself for not paying attention earlier. I would have seen him as soon as I came downstairs. But I was so focused on finding Jasper, I wasn't thinking. I picked up Jasper's cell phone and met him at the door.

He was surprised to see me. "Bella, what are you do…"

I didn't let him finish. I knew I had tears in my eyes I didn't have time to wipe away. "I got up to make a sandwich and spotted the door half opened and I came to close it. I saw your phone and figured you'd be back for it." I tried to laugh but it came out like a sob.

I wanted Jasper to go. I wanted him to take the phone and walk away. I didn't want him to say anything to alert James. I didn't want him to call Sam over to us. It would end badly.

I thought I had said enough to cover all bases except the most obvious one. James was here to take me away from him.

"Well, head back upstairs and lie down. I'll make you a sandwich and bring it up with something to drink," Jasper said, trying to step inside.

I pushed him back, making Jasper staggered a little. He looked shocked and grew suspicious at the move. He knew me. I wouldn't be aggressive with him for no reason. I was giving myself away. "No! I'm fine." I tried to sound calm but it was too late. Jasper was looking deep into my eyes and he could see the truth so I looked quickly glanced to my left and then back at him. He looked at the door and then back at me.

Our eyes said everything. His said he wanted to act. He wanted to call to someone. Mine told him no, it would end badly. I rubbed my swollen stomach to emphasize my point.

Jasper's eyes grew watery even though they held nothing but anger.

"Alright, make the sandwich yourself but head right back upstairs afterward," he commanded quietly.

"I will. I love you." If it was the last time I was saying to him, I wanted him to know. "With all my heart. Never forget that."

"I love you too, baby," Jasper said as he hesitated but then moved away from the door.

I watched him walk backward away from the door. I saw Sam come into view and he looked between us. My eyes widened when he began to move forward, but Jasper stopped him. He whispered harshly to Sam and Sam tried to walk forward again but Jasper stopped him.

In that moment, I felt hope. Maybe they could do something if I distracted James long enough. I knew Sam would kill him if he got his hands on him.

"What are you doing, Marie?"

I didn't answer James at first. I closed my eyes and shut the door but left it unlocked. "Getting rid of Jasper."

"That was really good, sweetie!" James said gleefully and I wanted to knock his teeth out.

The happy tone in his insipid voice was driving me insane. "Shut up! Shut the fuck up!"

The hard slap across my face didn't surprise me. I stumbled back from the impact, but caught myself in time, protecting my stomach.

James wasn't through though. When I glanced up at him, he slapped me again and I gripped my stomach and protected it from the edge of the table. "Don't you dare shout at me!" James yelled. "How dare you insult me?!"

I don't know where it came from. Maybe it was my love for Jasper driving me. I just knew I didn't fear James anymore. He had taken enough. He had hurt me, hurt my family and friends, it was enough. I refused to go down without scratching his eyes out.

So when I took a swung at him, and when my fist connected with his jaw, it shocked us both. James was stunned at the move, and I felt so good I did it again.

This time I punched him in the nose. Seeing the blood trickle out of his nose made me feel fucking great. "I'll do what I please, you fuck!" I punched him again and he staggered back this time. But when he looked up at me, his eyes blazed. He was mad, very mad, and he grabbed me and shook me before punching me in the face. I stumbled back; my back connecting with the wall. I stared at him as he stalked over to me and pressed me into the wall before I could react.

James grabbed my throat and I thought through the pain like Jasper taught me to. I didn't wiggle, because it would make me become lightheaded too quick and I had to stay alert. James squeezed my throat because he wanted me to struggle. He wanted the same whimpering reaction I used to give him when he abused me.

I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Oh, Marie, I have a lot in store for you." He forced his lips on mine and it hurt, but it was exactly what I needed. I kicked him in the balls…hard. He doubled over and my knee connected with his nose, giving me time to move away. I bristly half walked, half jogged, to the kitchen. I needed something. I wanted a weapon. I had to get my hands on one of the knives.

But I didn't make it. James grabbed me by my hair from behind, twisting it in his hand. It was painful as I screamed and tried to wring out of his grasp. "Let me go, you bastard!"

"I see you've lost some of your discipline," James yanked me back to him and sneered in my ear. "Don't worry, Marie. I'll be teaching you a fine lesson in what happens to people who betray me! Your little lover wanted you to divorce me? To throw our wonderful life together away so he could have you all to himself?! You're mine, Marie! You'll always be mine!" He spat.

While his poisonous words held significance, I still fought him. "Let me go!" I yelled. "Jasper has nothing to do with this, you sick freak! It's my decision to divorce you!"

He spun me around and gripped my throat, squeezing it while I grabbed his hair, ready to rip some out. "Stop fighting!" he yelled through gritted teeth. "He told you to say these wicked things to me? He wants what's mine. He brainwashed you, Marie! But I'm going to fix it."

"No," I croaked. I was losing it. Between his demented words, the insanity in his eyes, and my anger, I was forgetting training and struggling too much. "You're wrong. You're sick. Get off me, you sick freak! Fuck you!"

He was about to hit me when I saw a flash of blond hair and James immediately let go of me, because he and Jasper went tumbling to the floor. I leaned back against the wall and watched them roll around, throwing punches and kicks. Jasper got out on top for a second and screamed at me to run. "Go!" he yelled.

"Not leaving you!" I shouted back. My throat killed me to say anything, but who gave a shit?

"Bella…" he started but James hit him. Jasper punched him back and held him to the floor. "Go for help!" He was right. I needed call someone. Jasper kept James pinned on the floor while I moved as fast as I could in my state out of the room and walked right into Sam.

"Bella, get somewhere safe," he said in a rush. "Now!" He had his gun in hand and after guiding me to the stairs, telling me to go into the bedroom and lock the door, he headed for the living room where I could hear objects crashing.

The bedroom! My cell was in the bedroom and Jasper had a gun in the lockbox in the closet!

I began to climb the stairs when I heard it. It made my heart stop. Two shots.

I froze. Right there in the middle of the steps. I froze. Liquid began to trickle down my tights as I stood there, hoping to hear Jasper's voice. I knew my water broke, but I still needed to hear him yelling my name. Telling me it was all over and everything will be alright.

Please, God, please let Jasper be okay.

A gush of breath mingled with a strangled sob escaped me when I heard James' voice instead. "Marie, where do you think you're going, sweetheart?"

Sharp pain ran up my spine, jolting me into action. My body told me to stop, to sit, to cry for Jasper because this wasn't happening, but I had no time.

Besides, I refused to believe it. Jasper was okay. James wasn't winning. He couldn't. Jasper was too strong. Where was Sam? I needed Sam to come and kill James for me. He couldn't be gone. Neither of them could be. They were too strong.

"Marie, darling, come down those steps and come to me," he ordered gently. "I'm not playing with you, Marie. Your little lover and his guard dog are a bit…" He giggled manically. "..busy bleeding out on the floor at the moment. So this will be the perfect time for us to escape, my love."

I started up the stairs while sobbing. James was behind me, taking his time to climb them.

My cell. I had to call the cops. Jasper's gun. I have to get rid of James. He had just taken my heart from me.

No. Jasper couldn't be gone. No.

I pushed my grief and disbelief aside. I had to do this. Jasper would want me to fight him. I wasn't going anywhere with this monster. It ended here. It ended today.

I got to the bedroom, doubling over and grunting in pain. Sharp pain continued to shoot up my spine. All I wanted to do was sit down somewhere. I couldn't. I needed to get to the closet.

I headed in there, almost falling down in pain. My baby was coming. I gripped the bottom of my swollen belly with my left hand and reached for the lockbox with my right one.

I moved as fast as I could, taking the lockbox with me to the bedroom and grabbing the key out of the bedside table. I opened it and took the gun out. I knew it was loaded. Jasper kept it loaded. He had taught me to feel the difference in the weight between an unloaded gun and a loaded one.

My cell was on the charger. I took it and dialed the sheriff's office. I told them to come to the ranch. There has been a shooting. I hung up and went around the bed, placing the gun on it and sliding to the floor, bracing my back against the base of it. I could hear James whistling as he took his time, drawing close.

"I don't have time for games, Marie," he said playfully. "We need to leave, my darling."

My eyes watered up and anger seared through me at his terms of endearment. He didn't mean any of it. He was a monster.

I picked the gun up, clicked off the safety and aimed for the open doorway. I didn't know where the other guards were and I didn't care. James was mine.

I took a deep breath to calm myself and I saw Jasper's smiling face. A sob tried to escape me but I pushed it down. No. He wasn't gone. Jasper was a fighter. Sam…he was fine. Someone was downstairs helping them.

James peeked into the bedroom and smiled. He turned his entire body to me and chuckled darkly from his place by the door. He looked at me like I was doing something silly. "Marie, put the gun down and stop being silly. You don't know what you're doing with that thing."

I didn't answer him. I bit my lip, holding in my pain. I tasted blood but it didn't matter. I pulled back the hammer and kept my finger poised on the trigger.

James looked unsure for a minute but he covered it by trying another tactic. I knew what he wanted. He thought I was going to break down and lose focus, but Jasper had taught me otherwise.

"Jasper was strong." James rubbed his bruised jaw to emphasize his point. You could see a black eye forming. His lip was busted and blood was running down his face from his head. "He fought hard…like Garrett." He looked like he was reminiscing when he said it. "Garrett was hard to kill too."

My hands shook at the mention of Garrett but I held the gun up. James smiled broadly thinking he was winning. He wasn't. I was through letting him take things from me.

"They never did anything to you. You killed them for no reason because you're a parasite. You're evil. Garrett and Jasper were human beings. You…you're nothing." I spoke through a contraction. It had hit me hard. I was struggling to stay focus. I had to distract James. "You think killing them makes you better? You think murdering your father makes him wrong?"

James hated how much Caius thought of him as a wimp. He thought James wasn't man enough. If I wanted to get a clean shot, I needed to use Caius' name.

"I don't care what the news says about Caius' disappearance or Vicky's for that matter. You killed them. They must realize how crazy and unworthy you are, so you killed them." The tears wanted to come but I was beating them down. Jasper was fine. Please God, let him be alright.

James was irked by my little speech. "You ungrateful, whoring bitch! You're my slut! I taught you everything you know. You are nothing but a pathetic little girl. I molded you!" He ranted. "I taught you how to ride a cock! You're no one else's but mine!"

"I don't belong to you, you pathetic excuse for a human! I hope you burn in hell, you bastard!" I shouted back to cover the pain crippling me from the waist down.

"What are you going to do, Marie?" he teased.

"Fuck you, James!" I yelled, covering a contraction ripping through me.

He laughed at me. "Are you going to send me there? Are you, stupid little Bella…" When he said my true name, it gave me all the strength I needed to act. "…are you going to send me to hell?" He laughed again. "Put the gun down. You're not to going to shoot. You wouldn't dare."

I raised the gun, "Yes, James. Bella is going to send you straight to hell."

The realization at his mistake hit him and he was about to say something when I fired the shot. It hit him in the chest and he looked at me and then the wound…shocked. "You…"

I didn't give him a chance to say anything else. I fired again. He was hit in the chest again and staggered back. His eyes held disbelief as his back hit the wall behind him. "Marie…"

"My name is Bella," I hissed and fired again, hitting him in the stomach.

James slid to the floor, his breath ragged as he raised his own gun. My eyes widened and time stopped as he said, "See…you…in…hell." And aimed for my head.

I wanted to move out of the way but my contractions were coming hard and fast now.

James fired and I ducked to my left instinctively, feeling a burning sensation in my right shoulder. I looked at James and he was shivering and smiling as he tried to aim again. But I was quicker. I sat back up and raised my gun, aimed for his head, and fired. Another loud bang went off at the same time as my weapon and I watched as blood and marrow from James' head marred the wall behind him.

I put the gun down. The need to push was great. I wanted someone to help me. I had to get downstairs or…

"Bella?" My heart thumped wildly in my chest when I heard his voice. I would forever know his voice even in my deepest sleep. "Bella?"

"Jasper!"

He came into the bedroom, putting the shotgun down on the floor as he crawled over to me. There was blood on his shirt.

"He shot you," I cried. "He shot you!"

"I know, baby," Jasper said with a weak chuckle. I pulled him to my lips as soon as he was close enough. I kissed him with everything I had. A contractions forced me to pull away to scream in pain. Jasper started to cry for help and Maria came running. She didn't give James a second glance. She ran over to us, kissing our foreheads.

"I was so worried. The guards were holding me back!" She said frantically. "I'm going for Emmett!"

I looked to Jasper for answers. "Emmett is downstairs. So is the sheriff department. An ambulance is waiting for us. I came up here before the sheriff got here. I heard him talking to you while I snuck up the steps."

"He shot you," I said weakly. "I want to have the baby."

"I know, baby." He kissed my forehead.

"I thought I lost you."

"You'll never lose me."

"Jasper…" I was growing weak. I could hear Jasper saying my name, shaking me, but I was losing consciousness. The last thing I remembered was Emmett rushing into the room.