Jasper

I was absolutely shocked when Bella let me in the house. I was waiting for a big F.U. and told to leave. When she allowed me in, I felt for the first time in months that this might work.

That was until I settled into the kitchen.

"So this is Alice's big plan to make things better, huh?" she said sipping on a cup of coffee she made while the silence between us lingered.

"I guess so," I said looking up at her. She shook her head and laughed a little.

"That annoying pixie," she said. "Well, looks like we'll have to make the most of it. Do you have your car or a rental?"

"Actually, Alice just dropped me off. She said something about you having a way around."

Her eyes got real big and she sighed.

"Okay now she's really starting to bug me. She didn't leave any keys. In fact, I think she left us up here without anything to drive. Strike that, we have something to drive, just no keys to use."

I laughed internally. Alice really was a sly girl.

"Maybe she thought we'd accomplish more if we had to stay together."

"Maybe," she said taking another sip.

"Bella, I…" I said trying to find the right words to say.

"Jasper, right now isn't exactly the moment that I want to discuss anything from the past couple of months. I'm just glad that you are here… and talking to me."

I nodded. "Do you mind if I take a shower?" I asked, reaching for my bag?

"Suit yourself. Shower is upstairs. There should be plenty of clean towels."

I headed towards the stairwell. "Bella, I really am glad I'm here. I hope you know that." She nodded, and took another sip from her cup.

I spent more time in the shower than I needed but I couldn't help but feel like I needed the time to clear my head. I'm sure Bella was shocked to see me and I couldn't understand why I needed to hash this out. I could have packed my belongings and headed to California without ever having a thought of Bella or Forks again. However, here I was, stuck, waiting for answers and I begged myself to allow time to figure this out.

I stepped out of the shower and got to work on my ideas to get Bella to open up. She made breakfast as I sat at the table, trying to find the words. Instead of talking though, she just sat across from me without saying a word. I have no idea how she did that but she kept to herself the entire time and I wanted her to say anything, something to make me feel like this was the best idea for us.

She stood, taking her plate to the kitchen and then headed upstairs. I watched a little bit of T.V. and then walked up the stairs to where Bella lay on the bed. I approached carefully, watching to see signs of her wanting to talk. Instead, she just lay on her side, staring at the wall.

I sighed and headed back down stairs. I had no idea to relieve this situation.

The entire day passed without a word between Bella and me. I was feeling frustrated and wanted out. Bella had nothing to say to me and I figure this entire endeavor was a lost cause. As I headed down from cleaning my hands, I noticed that Bella cooked dinner and as she set the table on the verandah, I couldn't help but feel a familiar sense of happiness.

We started out dinner with small talk and as I chewed my first bite of food, I looked over at Bella who had the saddest look on her face.

"What's wrong," I asked.

"I… I just don't even know how to begin to apologize," she said with tears in her eyes.

"I think cooking something like this would be a big enough apology," I said, trying to lighten the moment. It didn't work as the tears fell from her eyes.

"Jasper, I've been so lost. Dad dying and then my divorce has really taken a toll on me. I feel like I've lost my identity and that I was taking it all out on you. "

"Bella, I don't know how many times to tell you, or ways to tell you, that you can always lean on me and vent your anger, frustrations and anything else you need to say. I'm here for you; I wish you could understand that."

She sighed, taking a deep breath and finally just blurted, "I think you are too good for me."

I nearly choked on my drink.

"Bella, what in the blue blazes makes you think that I'm too good for you? I'm sitting here wanting to shower you with love and affection and each time you push me away. I feel as though…as if…"

Shit Whitlock, just fucking say it.

"I feel as though you want Edward back."

Her eyes darted to the floor and then to the woods.

"Jasper, that's not what I want."

"Then what do you want Bella? I'm sick of this game you are playing. I've spent hours, no days, trying to figure out what it is that you want from me. I've gone to Alice and Rosalie, Emmett, Mom and Dad trying to make sense of all this and all you can do is keep to yourself. Bella, something has got to give. I'm punishing myself here and you've got to give me some sort of direction, I'm losing my mind here."

Tears began to well up in my own eyes as she sat across from me, speechless.

"I can see it was a mistake to come here. I'll call Alice and ask her to come get me. I'll be on my way."

I threw my napkin down onto my plate as I stood from the table. I walked up the stairs, trying to push back the tears that Bella caused. I reached for my duffel bag and only packed what was taken out. I heard a voice behind me say, "Jasper, I miss you."

"Mighty funny, Bella you say that. I haven't seen anything to indicate that you do miss me."

Bella walked up behind me and put her arms around my stomach, holding me closer to her. She sighed into my back and I turned to face her.

Bella's eyes met mine and she said, "Jasper, I've always wanted you, no one else but you and I think my mind wanted to push you away. Everyone I've ever loved, everyone I've ever wanted to be around has left me in one way or another. I love you with every part of my being and I guess I was just scared of losing you. I wanted to love you Jasper. I wanted to hold you and tell you that no matter what I needed you. As my heart and mind tugged at each other, I felt it best to leave, never have to learn what it was to suddenly lose you. However, as you stand before me, I can't do that. I can't ever let you leave my side again. Pushing you away was the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life and I love you so much. Can you ever forgive me and my stupid ways of thinking?"

I looked into her eyes and for the first time in months, the true Bella showed through. I pulled her into my lap on the bed and held her tight.

"Bella, why didn't you just tell me these things and not push me away? I will always love you no matter what. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I promise that from this day on to listen harder, love you harder and never let you walk away again."

She sobbed into my shoulder as tears of happiness and joy streaked my cheeks. For the first time in months, I felt like myself. I had Bella back in my life and this was all I ever wanted.

A/N: More to come this week. I'm working to finish this story by the end of July.