A/N: Ok, so Jasper and Alice kidnapped Bella because they were rescuing her. Edward will be coming back, but he isn't in Forks quite yet. Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 10 – He's Back

Ten year old Bella frowned at the hand she was holding without looking up at the person next to her, "Why is your hand so cold?"

Smiling, the funny talking man next to her answered, "Because I have a circulation problem."

"What are you doing here?" She frowned, but still did not look up. Something seemed off about this dream or memory or whatever it was. Something did not feel right and put her on edge. What could it be though? For some reason she was unable to turn her gaze upwards. Was this a memory? No, it was all wrong. JW was kind, gentle, helpful, and little Bella never felt that shiver of fear this person gave her, but it kind of sounded like her JW.

"Meeting someone," came the somewhat clipped answer.

Finally winning the fight and forcing her head back so that she could see the face of the man escorting her home, Bella gasped. This was not her JW. This was someone else with red eyes and looking at her like she was his next meal. She tried to jerk her hand away from him, but he held firm and laughed at her. Terror ran through her like a raging river and she started calling for her savior, "JW… JW help me please!"

"You don't need him. I'll help you," a smooth voice called from behind her.

Bella looked over her shoulder and screamed, doubling her efforts to get away. Standing behind her and slowly stalking towards her was Edward. Where was JW? She needed JW. Glancing at the man who held her prisoner again, his face was closer to her; she was taller and no longer the naïve ten year old she had been when she first met JW. Suddenly older, she cried out, "JW! Jasper help me!"

A dark laugh rang forth from the new intruder. Edward was even closer and got a little more delighted as each step brought him closer to his destination… Bella. "I told you that you don't need him. I will help you."

The urge to give in was enormous, but she refused to allow herself to fall into that hole. JW would rescue her and she would trust him about Edward. "JW!" She screamed.

Two mocking voices laughed from each side of her. Edward took hold of her other arm and both men lifted her struggling appendages to their mouths. Closer… closer…

Gasping, Bella sat up in bed and surveyed her room; she was not in Phoenix or outside, she was in her bedroom in Forks, WA, "It was just a dream?" A squeak escaped her mouth when she felt a hand touch her shoulder and she jumped back, her fist in the air ready to punch whoever dare come into her lair. Upon seeing Jasper in bed next to her, she lowered her arm and collapsed against him letting the silent sobs out. The dream had been disturbing and after what had happened earlier, the brunette was just a little on edge. Jasper may be a vampire like the ones in her dream, but she knew he would never do anything to hurt her… she could not vouch for the others in her dream. Who was the stranger? She had never seen him… and Edward, well, she didn't really know him, so she couldn't really say one way or another. She only knew he had been warned against having contact with him for some reason and she trusted Jasper more than anyone else right now. It seemed odd to say that she trusted someone so explicitly when she had not spent a lot of time with him, and yet, Bella knew she would entrust her very life to Jasper… and in a way, she had.

"What's wrong darlin'?" Jasper whispered as he moved one hand up and down her back and the other held her tight.

Bella shook her head, "Just a dream. It was just a dream." She kept repeating her current mantra hoping it would convince herself that she was now truly awake and the cold wall she was leaning against was indeed her boyfriend and not an inanimate object.

Kissing the top of her head, Jasper reassured her, "That's right darlin', nothing but a dream." When it seemed that the brunette in his arms had calmed down a bit, he ran his hands through her hair and asked, "Wanna talk about it?"

Did she want to talk about it? Not really, but she also felt like she didn't have much of a choice. No, she did not believe that Jasper would force her or anything, however, when she pulled back and saw the concern in his eyes, she had to tell him… and so she did. Bella recounted everything that she could remember from her dream and when she was done, she turned her eyes up to him, "I just kept calling and you…"

"I'll always be there darlin'. I'm sorry, this is my fault. Everything that happened with that fuckin' nomad today and then the bullshit with Edward… I'm sorry."

Shaking her head, Bella contradicted him, "No, it's not. You warned me and my subconscious blew it up into something more than it is."

"I don't think so Bella."

Something in his eyes, his voice, gave her pause, "What do you mean? Why am I supposed to stay away from Edward? If you're afraid he will convince me to be with him instead of you, then you have nothing to worry about."

That innocent statement made Jasper chuckle softly, "I wish it were as simple as that, but it isn't." He realized that he would have to explain it to her sooner or later and if it were sooner, then she could properly remain on alert. Taking a deep breath, he ran his free hand through his hair and gave her an explanation he was sure she would not be expecting, "Some of my kind drink from animals like me and some drink blood from humans."

"I remember you telling me that."

Nodding, he continued, "On a very rare occasion we run into a person whose blood will call out to us so strongly that we are virtually unable to resist. This is more than the regular allure of blood. This is blood that the mere smell will possess us and we are unable to break the hold and power it holds over us. When we find that one person, he or his is called our singer. You are Edward's singer." He felt the fear and shock in her rise and he pulled her a little closer, "I will do anything and everything to protect you, but I need you to stay on guard."

"When he comes back and we are in school… how…?"

"We will work it out. Hopefully they can move him to a different class, but if not, we will figure it out. I just need you to stay as far away from him as possible. I will also say that he will probably stay away from you on his own for two reasons."

When Jasper did not continue, Bella queried, "Which are?"

The Texan smirked and lifted her chin so that her eyes locked with his, "You're mine and, as much as I hate to admit it, he is fascinated by you. Since he can't hear your thoughts like he can everyone else, he is intrigued and that might help him fight the urge. Otherwise, I might have to kill him myself for even looking at you."

It sounded so brutal and yet reassuring at the same time, and then she shuddered because it had not completely upset her that her boyfriend had just threatened to kill someone in his own family. Yes, it was a bit disturbing to hear, but it had not completely freaked her out like it should have. She knew Jasper was serious, deadly so in fact, and yet she could not bring herself to fear the future or feel sorry for Edward if he crossed the imaginary line that had been drawn. Instead, she leaned forward and placed her lips upon Jasper's and kissed him.

As the kiss came to a close, Jasper pulled back ever so slightly. He could still feel the fright, and that was mixed in with a touch of uncertainty, but he could also feel her love, devotion, and utter trust in him. The uncertainty was probably for the future or unknown… hell, he felt that too; however, he knew if she were there, he would be alright. All at once, he looked forward to the future, to tomorrow with Bella, and dreaded Sunday and the following week at school. It had not been an idle threat… he would kill Edward if the other man did anything to his Bella, but he would rather not kill a family member if it could be helped. Jasper may think Edward thought too highly of himself and was a spoiled child sometimes who liked to sulk and carry on pity parties, but the copper headed perpetually 17 year old was still a member of the coven.

Brushing Bella's hair out of her eyes, Jasper was struck by how beautiful she looked in the moonlight that filtered in through her bedroom window, and briefly wondered what she would look like with skin such as his. The way she stared at his lips, made him want her with his entire being and he instantly felt himself harden. A look, a smell, a smile, anything from this woman could do it to him; and that was the reason that instead of pulling her closer, he physically tried to distance himself from her right now. It was too soon, but damn how he wanted her. He could imagine himself ripping off her clothes and pushing himself into her heat, driving into her, sending them both hurtling towards release and completion, letting her warm a part of his anatomy that had not come into contact with a woman for over a decade now. Imagining the feel, the taste of her… oh how he wanted to taste her, but not her blood. He would drink of her nectar, the musky, salty flavor that would be hers and hers alone. His dick grew even more. The leash on his urges was not that tight and it would not take much to send him over the edge, but he couldn't. He would think about Bella right now, and he was sure she wasn't ready for something like that. Standing up quickly, he was by the window in a second and cleared his throat, "Sorry. Just… I just need a second." He forced himself to breathe and calm down; and then wanted to kick himself for the feeling of rejected being projected his way. Shaking his head, he let his gaze settle on the woman he so desired and loved, "It isn't you darlin'."

Lifting a brow, Bella rolled her eyes at the clichéd statement, "Oh really?" So her tone was a little sarcastic, she didn't care at the moment.

"Really, I just needed a moment," Jasper stated. He still needed more time, but could not leave her believing that he didn't want her when the opposite was true. Approaching the bed slowly, he hoped that she would not look down because he was sure the evidence of his desire was still present, "Why don't you lie down and go back to sleep. We still have school tomorrow."

Bella turned over and laid her head on her pillow, her back facing her boyfriend, "You're right." She wanted to believe him and part of her did, but did he not know how much he turned her on? It was more than apparent he felt it too, and yet he fought it. Why? Ok, maybe it wasn't the ideal time, especially with her father in the other room, and they just started dating, just got reintroduced after years apart, etc. Time, they needed time, but did they have it? Her dream still lingered in the back of her mind and it scared her.

Jasper climbed back into the bed and pulled his girlfriend very carefully into his arms. He wanted to wipe away the irritation, but instead infused the room with peace and tranquility lulling her back to sleep. Never did he imagine that it would be this hard physically to be with Bella, and it wasn't the blood, it was her body that called out to him. With his thoughts turning to the nomad who Alice saw kidnapping Bella and Edward… Jasper wanted to mark his territory and rip apart anyone that came too close, and that included Mike and Eric.

Friday passed without any problems at school, well except for the fact that Bella still seemed a little irritated with Jasper, but she was making an effort to get over it. She was just a little sexually frustrated and she had never experienced anything like this before. Never knew she could ever want someone with every ounce of her being, and yet she craved Jasper. It wasn't until she got out of her last class and found Jasper waiting for her that she completely got over her earlier irritation. Something was wrong, "What's up?"

"Alice told me Edward will be back tonight. He decided to come back early," Jasper whispered in her ear as he kissed her cheek. Her fear spiked, "Don't worry darlin', I will not let him touch you. Come on, let's get you home." Since he had driven her to school that day, he grabbed her bag and tugged her gently towards his car. His guard was already up and he scanned the area not only with his eyes and ears, but also with his gift. So far, he found no trace of his so called brother, but that did not mean the Texan could or would relax.

Bella followed Jasper to the car and got in, moving more mechanically than consciously. Why was Edward back early? Not that it really mattered, but it made her curious because hadn't he told Carlisle that he would not be back until Sunday. What had changed? Whatever the reason, she prayed it did not interfere with her and Jasper's plans. While her father was out fishing with his friends, she and Jasper would be spending quality time together, getting to know each other better, and just being in each other's company. For now she would hold off on trying anything else, but she still longed for him and his touch.

Driving down the road after they pulled away from the school, Jasper glanced at Bella and told her, "It just means that we have to be extra careful sooner. It will be alright darlin'."

"I know," Bella gave him a small smile and then reached over and took his hand in hers. She needed to feel connected to him right now. Was it too much to wish that she would not have to face Edward until Monday? Apparently it was because as Jasper pulled up to Bella's house, Edward stood on the fringes of the woods.

Jasper saw him immediately and ordered his girlfriend, "Stay behind me and close."

"Ok," she agreed breathlessly.

Together they got out of the car and Jasper was at her side in an instant. He wanted to barricade her in the house, but knew it was not feasible, especially with Edward walking closer. When the other man was only about 25 feet away, the southern vampire called out, "That's far enough." Sending out his feelers, he knew the 17 year old felt curiosity, thirst, hunger, and desire… all things Jasper wanted to kill him for; and he was thankful that he did not want to rip into Bella as he felt Edward's feelings of thirst and hunger for Bella.

"What are you doing here?" Edward asked Jasper.

Narrowing his eyes, Jasper answered, "Spending time with my mate." The fact it was right after school and none of the neighbors appeared to be home was a blessing right now, but he did wonder what Bella thought of his announcement. He knew she was shocked and happy, and yet, he had a feeling she didn't completely understand his proclamation.

The younger vampire's eyes grew and he tried to get a good look at the girl, but his brother's body blocked the view. Mate? When had this occurred? Based on the thoughts he was getting from Jasper, the southern man believed what he said, and still he got nothing from Bella. "She can't be your mate."

Jasper crossed his arms over his chest and scoffed, "And why would that be?"

"Because I want…" Edward stopped unable to continue, slightly afraid by the murderous glint that appeared in the Texan's eyes.

"Go home Edward and stay away from Bella. I know exactly why you want her, and I can tell you haven't fed recently. Alaska animals not to your liking? Do not come near her or you will regret it," Jasper threatened. Edward's eyes were not black, but they were not as light as they were when a vegetarian recently fed. From the older vampire's observation, the younger man probably fed when he left Forks but not since… and Bella would not be his next meal.

Before Edward could say anything else, Carlisle and Alice appeared at his side. "Come on son, let's go home," the patriarch and leader stated.

Jasper whispered his thanks to the two intruders and as soon as they removed Edward from the premises, he turned to Bella, "Let's get inside. He won't be bothering us for now."

As soon as the front door was closed, Bella rounded on him, "Mate?" Although she liked the sound of it, she figured she had said that to keep Edward away.

Inclining his head, the southern man exhaled, "Yah."

"Well, I know you were just saying that to protect me, but will it keep him away?"

Her confusion slightly surprised him. Smiling he pulled her into his arms and said, "It should, but who says I was lyin?" Before she could say anything else, he kissed her. Yes, they would have to talk about this, but right now he just needed to hold her and know that she was safe at the moment and that she was his. They were not done with his brother by a long shot and today was too easy, but for now Edward was on hold and Jasper could breathe in Bella's calming scent. Explanations and everything could wait, embracing her could not. Wrapping his arms around her, he crossed his fingers she understood and accepted what he had to say.