Disclaimer: is this still necessary? I didn't write the 'Twilight' books, but I wrote this.

How long did it go on for?

I don't know. It felt like we were frozen in one horrible moment for hours. Jane smiling at Edward convulsing on the floor and Alice and I unable to move or speak. I wanted so much to make her stop, but there was nothing I could do. I was utterly impotent.

It seemed as though we were completely at Jane's mercy; we were just going to have to wait for her to decide to stop of her own accord.

But I was wrong about that too.

I heard the door slam open, smacking hard into the wall. And at exactly the same time I saw Jasper appear with his arms around Jane's tiny waist and his teeth at her tiny neck.

He wrapped his arms tight around her in a passionate embrace, I'm pretty sure that his fingers were carressing her hips. His lips were parted to show his shimmering white teeth, which just touched Jane's skin, hovering a millimetre or so from absolute penetration.

I had never seen Jasper looking so good. His hair framed his perfect face, giving a softening edge to his hard features. His lips were curled into a sensual smile and his eyes sparkled.

Even though I knew the danger Jane was in, with Jasper's teeth so very close to her naked flesh, it was a danger that I envied. I wished Jasper wanted to sink into me instead.

Then he spoke, in a soft, dusty voice, like one who had been to many places and seen many things, and now was here, to see us, to see her.

"Let the boy alone," Jasper said, "he's far too young for you."

Jane's sly smirk melted into a simper. "You could get into big trouble threatening a member of the Volturii guard like this, Major."

"Oh, this isn't a threat," Jasper's tongue darted out and tasted Jane's skin, "this is advice, very friendly advice. I happen to be fond of the boy; and I thought that might mean something to you. Don't you want to make me happy?"

Jane sighed, she pushed her hips back, pressing against Jasper's thighs, and she tipped her head back, exposing more of her soft white neck.

Jasper shifted in response and whispered, "am I too close? Am I making you uncomfortable?" He lowered his head slightly, so that he was almost humming the words into her skin.

Jane's next breath came in a shudder, "I think that you're making me very comfortable indeed, Major," she said.

"You'll leave the boy?" Jasper asked, stroking his index finger slowly up her side, up her neck and across her parted, eager lips. "You could have more fun playing with me, lots more fun."

Suddenly, Jane leapt away, as if Jasper had given her an electric shock. "I have to hunt," she said, "right now." She ran from the room, though she wasn't running very fast for a vampire, and there was a slight stagger to her gait, as if she were drunk.

Jasper didn't seem at all surprised by her reaction, he straightened up and grinned. "Pleased to see me?"

Alice leapt into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and burying her head in his neck. If there'd been a little more room, I think that I would have liked to join her.

"Rather," said Edward, "but, could you tone it down a little now, Jasper, love?"

Jasper shrugged.

Then I realised that I'd been staring so intently at Jasper, I hadn't noticed what Edward was doing. I turned to look at him now. He was sat up on the floor, not shaking anymore, but systematically flexing his joints one by one, as if he wanted to check they were all still functional.

There was a strange moment, when I could feel my desire for Jasper melting away and I was able to tell that I'd been infatuated with him but I wasn't quite sure why.

"What was that?"

Edward smiled at me, "that would be Jasper using one of his more . . . unusual weapons."

"You would have preferred me to remove her arms?" Jasper asked.

"Well, no. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful. It was a strange experience for Bella, that's all."

Jasper shrugged, "'strange'" he repeated, strolling over to Edward's side, "aren't you used to feeling attracted to me Bella?"

Before I could speak, I noticed that Jasper was beginning to look smouldering again.

Alice swatted him on the arm, "stop messing about," she scolded.

"Where are Rose and Emmett?" Edward asked, he'd reached his hands now, and was carefully checking each finger.

"Parking," Jasper replied. He'd knelt down in front of Edward, and was looking him over. He held Edward's face still and stared into his eyes. Edward pulled a face; I don't think that he liked Jasper fussing over him.

"Jane will be gone for hours," Alice said, "she'll have to go quite far to find anyone and then . . . well, it will all take her some time."

"So, this would be our best chance to strategise," said Jasper. He stuck two fingers in his mouth and let out a piercing whistle, "Rose, Emmett! Time's up."

"What did you do to antagonise her, anyway?" Jasper put out his hand to help Edward up.

Edward frowned, and got up by himself, "it's hardly reasonable of you to assume that this is my fault. Maybe she just doesn't like me."

"Jane's a highly respected member of the Volturi guard, not a petulant teenager. What did you do?"

"He didn't do anything," I interrupted, "I annoyed her and she took it out on Edward because her gift doesn't work on me."

Rosalie and Emmett walked into the room and flopped down on one of the big couches.

"I think," Jasper said, "that it's time we stopped trying to fool ourselves. We can't have Jane here, so near where we live. It's going to get messy and unpleasant. She's not leaving until we change Bella, so . . ." he trailed off, the end of that sentence didn't need to be said out loud.

"We all agreed to give Bella time," Edward protested, "we all agreed that she shouldn't make a commitment like this because she's afraid."

"We don't have any more time," I said, "Edward, I made this decision some time ago. We should just get on with it. Who's going to change me?"

I wasn't surprised that only one vampire answered. I knew that they must have discussed this aspect of my change amongst themselves. By now, I knew that they would have reached an agreement. I was, however, slightly surprised by which voice it was. It wasn't the Cullen that I'd expected, who said "Me."