I don't own these characters. I only play with them.
Jasper's Point of view
Bella's exuberance at seeing me was a relief. I had been worried she would look at my eyes and finally see a monster, but I shouldn't have been concerned.
Our walk was pleasant and it was a relief to know she'd won over Felix and would have had a place in the guard had I not come. Bella drew people to her like flowers draw bees. You can't help but like her. She is the perfect combination of innocence, strength, and some indefinable quality that makes her uniquely Bella. I hoped she didn't lose that in the change.
It seemed like before I had come she had accepted her own death, asking Felix to be the one to end her life. As we talked of the deal I had made with Aro, she felt no apprehension. She simply accepted that I had done the best I could and we would move forward from there. Her strength humbled me.
It was a few hours later when Bella expressed a desire to return to her room. I hadn't considered it, but it was quite late and I'd guess she was tired. As we walked back to what was now our room Felix lead us in a different direction.
"Your things have been brought here," he said.
Inside was a two bedroom suite furnished as lavishly as her prison had been. Our things had indeed been brought up. Even letters sat on the desk written but unsealed.
Bella checked the closets and our clothes had already been hung. Bella's dinner was placed on a small dining table and she immediately went to it and began to eat. Our walk had obviously kept her from dinner.
"Thank you, Felix," I sent gratitude his way. He responded with a simple bow.
"The door locks from the inside here." He said, "You shouldn't have any trouble but I am in the next suite over. I'll hear if you need me."
Bella stopped eating and came over to the large man, "Thank you, Felix, for being so kind to me."
"You're welcome little one," Felix said and he was gone.
I locked the door and Bella went back to her dinner. "The food tastes even better now that I know I'm not dying," she said.
I let her finish her meal while I made phone calls. First I ordered new papers for Bella. She would need them as she started her new life. Next I called Peter.
"What's wrong now?" He said without a hello.
"I'm in Volterra." I said, "I'm going to have a newborn on my hands and I was wondering if you and Char felt like lending a hand."
"How did you end up with a newborn from Volterra?" Peter asked skeptically.
"I'll tell you all about it when I see you. By the way, I left the Cullens."
"It's about time too," Peter said
"Yes, It was time. Will you and Char help out? I was thinking the house in Colorado was best unless you have a better idea. And I need someone to pick up her papers from Jenks"
"We'll get on the road now and get the house ready for you two. Is she pretty?"
"Yes, but that's not why we're doing this."
"If you say so Major. We'll see you soon."
The line disconnected. Peter was never one for hello or goodbye. I was relieved that I had Peter and Char there to help. Bella never said or did what I thought and she might be extra frisky as a newborn.
I relished the challenge that Bella would be. It would mean she was alive.
"I think I'm going to get a good night's sleep. I haven't really had one since I got here." Bella said.
"Then goodnight Bella, Sleep well."
I got my laptop out of my bag to square away my finances now that I was on my own and sat it on the small desk in the room. I had to move some letters aside for it to fit and saw my name on the top one.
Dear Jasper,
If you receive this it will be a miracle but I'm hoping that after my sentence is carried out, they will still forward these letters along. In these last few days, I've thought about you a great deal. I know, my last thoughts should be of Edward but they are not, they are of you.
I go to my death as I think you would: Proud and unafraid. I want you to know that I don't think poorly of you for not coming to rescue me. No doubt it was a family decision and Edward's opinion always counted most with Carlisle.
You were always in the background at the Cullens. A soothing presence in times of trouble, a companion to Alice through good times and bad, and it always seemed to me that you would be whatever they needed you to be whether it be a warrior or a peacekeeper, you are a man of honor.
I know you still feel guilty about my birthday party and I really hope you will let that go. You were acting as your instincts and everyone else's bloodlust forced you to act. Even then, I know you could have thrown off Emmett's restraining arms if you had really wanted to. Your eyes were even turning back to gold as they got you outside. Let the guilt go, for me.
Don't feel guilty that your honor and commitment to your family kept you home. I don't blame you and I'm glad I got the chance to know you in some small way.
I don't regret my time with the Cullens, the good times or the bad. I don't even know if I would act differently if I had to repeat this situation and try to save Edward. Well, I would have gotten away with it if I could but that isn't the point.
If I could ask you, for one thing, it would be to let all the guilt you carry, especially in relation to me go. Be happy with Alice and allow yourself to really enjoy life instead of sitting on the sidelines.
Your Friend,
Bella
As I finished reading her letter I would have cried if it were possible. I folded the letter and put it in my pants pocket. Underneath was a letter to Carlisle but I felt I had invaded her privacy enough. She saw so much more than she even told us and she told us quite a bit. I wondered if this was the gift that would grow as she became a vampire; her ability to see to the heart of people was like nothing I'd ever seen.
Well Bella, I thought, I'm not on the sidelines any more Darlin. I turned on my laptop and got to work. I moved all my money from various Cullen accounts into my Whitlock accounts. Half of mine and Alice's joint finances I moved as well. I moved a relatively small nest egg into an account I opened for Bella, investing it in the same way I had my own money invested, which of course was with Alice's help. It was guaranteed the best return there.
Finally, I got to shopping and laughed at myself at the thought of my shopping online. I stocked up on t-shirts of various varieties and jeans. There would be no need for fancy clothes in the next year. Next, I shopped for Bella. I didn't bother with name brands for either of us knowing that they were likely to get destroyed almost daily. I got her shirts, jeans, sleepwear, and though I felt a little uncomfortable I also got her bras and panties. Luggage came next and I got enough to carry everything plus an extra case for Bella to put whatever she needed to take from here. Thinking of her I ordered an iPod. She could put the music on it she didn't want to forget and even play it to keep calm while she was changing. I stocked up on extra chargers as those were easy to damage. Anything to focus on while changing helped. Paying the fee for overnight delivery I had them sent to Volterra to my attention.
Alice would die if she saw us in non-designer outfits, but there was no need for it where we were going and brand names didn't mean anything to Bella or to me if I really thought about it. It was just what I was used to.
When Bella's breakfast was delivered I realized I had spent the whole night rearranging my life for one purpose, to save Bella.
I went into Bella's room and gently woke her. Telling her that her breakfast had arrived. When she grumbled I went out and got the coffee and brought it back to her. "Here's your coffee Bella, careful, it's hot." Suddenly the grumbling Bella was gone and Bella was awake and ready for the day. After a brief interlude in the bathroom, she was at the table eating her breakfast with gusto.
I held in my laughter, not wanting to embarrass the girl. She fell on her food like a newborn on her first meal. I wondered if she'd been eating enough while she was in captivity. Probably not, she had believed she was dying. Apparently, she didn't have the same view of being changed. It was my job to prepare her for the ordeal.