A/N: Sorry for disappearing. It has been a crazy couple of days and I wasn't able to do much. Yep the drama is just starting and more is to come. We already have Alice's predictions about the meeting with Charlotte and Peter, and hopefully it will go even better than that and they can help clean house and get rid of the "small" problem of four vampires that are causing trouble (Edward and the nomads). Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 16 – Help or Leave

Time seemed to move forward at a blindingly fast pace… even when Bella would have preferred that it slow down and move at a crawl. Although she was loath to admit it aloud, she was afraid. Afraid of what was happening around her, afraid of the three nomad vampires that were terrorizing the small town of Forks, afraid of Edward and what he might have planned, and afraid of meeting Charlotte and Peter. These two newest participants in what she was dubbing the game of her life were another unknown factor… at least to her. According to Jasper and Alice, these two have known Jasper most of his reborn life and ergo have known him longer than anyone else living; they were his best friends and at times, his confidantes. They were shocked when he had told them that he was mated to a human, and Bella was afraid that they would not accept her because of the fact she was not of the undead variety. Would they hate her and try to convince Jasper to walk away from her just because she was not a vampire? She was anxious and fearful of the meeting and their reaction to her. Jasper had told her that she needn't worry, but that was a lot easier said than done. This was not like a band-aid, rip it off quickly and it is over, this was something that was going to linger for a while longer than that.

As the time of their arrival inched ever closer, Bella tried to push it to the back of her mind, to tap down her worries and anxieties, to pretend that that particular appointed time was not looming closer and closer to her. Alice told her all she knew about Peter and Charlotte in an attempt to ease the concern. Jasper tried to reassure her; however, until the first meeting came and went, she would feel anxious. In that sense, she should want to get it over and done with, but she kept telling herself that she was not prepared, she was not ready, and therefore she wanted time to creep… and time did not cooperate with her. Sooner than she would have liked, it arrived

Peter had called and informed Jasper that he and Charlotte would be at the Cullen house in a couple hours. As the former Major hung up, he chuckled and turned to his mate, "Darlin', Alice is going to come over and you two will go to school together."

"You're not coming?" Bella inquired. Although Peter and Charlotte were coming in, part of her had still expected Jasper to still stick to her like glue.

Shaking his head, he explained, "No, it is best if I meet them when they get here. Since they are comin' right before school, I'm goin' to skip today. Alice will be with you today and if she sees any problems, she'll call me immediately. Then after school, y'all will come over to my house and I'll introduce you to Peter and Charlotte. 'Kay?"

"Yah, I just…"

"I know darlin', but trust me, Edward is not going to come anywhere near you right now, and if he does, I'll take care of him personally."

The hard edge in her mate's voice coupled with the almost hopeful tinge in his tone gave her an almost eerie feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was almost as if he relished an impending fight with his adopted brother. Glancing up at his face confirmed her suspicion: Jasper was truly looking forward to an all-out rumble with Edward, and he may even do what he could to make sure it happened. "Just be careful. Will you stay until Alice gets here?" She finally said knowing there was nothing she could do to change his mind or dissuade him from missing school or from wanting to fight the troublemaker.

"I always am darlin', and yes, I will. With God knows what is out there, I'm not leavin' you for a second. As for Peter and Charlotte, don't worry about anything. They will love you just as much as everyone else."

Quirking a brow, she challenged him, "Oh, so just like Rosalie loves me?"

Jasper chuckled and squeezed her a little, "Well, we will say that she is a special case and ignore her. Let's just focus on everyone else. I can't help it if on apple in the barrel is rotten."

Bella couldn't help the quiet laugh that escaped at hearing his quirky comeback, "Is that something they say in Texas? It would make sense since they all talk funny."

"Well, I'm not sure about now, but my mom and granny used to always say that stuff."

A hand over her mouth prevented her from making another sound. Feeling Jasper's breath close to her ear, giving her chills and causing her pulse to increase before she heard his whispered words, "Your dad is up and movin' around. Don't worry, it was his alarm that woke him up." She nodded to let him know that she understood and instead of saying anything else, settled against his side since she did not need to get up for another thirty minutes or so, and was not ready to let go of her mate just yet. Mate… that word caused her heart to flutter. It felt right, it felt real, and it made her feel as if she belonged somewhere, to someone, and had a purpose; she finally had someone who wanted to take care of her, to help her shoulder her worries, and she didn't have to do it alone. She didn't have to be the adult in the relationship… it was refreshing. The soft strokes of Jasper's hands through her hair made her smile and she knew that this was the only man she wanted to depend on in such a manner.

It didn't seem much time passed before Jasper quickly got up and hid. Leaving Bella alone in the bed and pretending to still be slumbering. Only moments passed and the bedroom door squeaked open and then shut again. Charlie had been checking on his daughter, and thanks to Jasper's speed, the couple was not caught in what a father would term as a "compromising position". Charlie was probably ready for many things, but not to catch his daughter's boyfriend in her bed. It's just too bad Jasper wasn't as coordinated the first time he snuck into Bella's room, but then again if he had been, who knows if she would have agreed to talk to him. He'd like to think he would, but nothing was ever guaranteed… he knew that first hand.

Minutes after Charlie left the house, there was a small knock at the door. Bella had just jumped into the shower, so Jasper ran down to let Alice in, already knowing who it was on the other side of the door. Swinging the door open, he smiled, "Mornin' shorty. Bella's in the shower, but should be out in a sec."

"You need to get going. They are going to get there in just a couple of minutes."

"Then they can wait. I'm not goin' without tellin' Bella goodbye."

Snickering, Alice said, "I figured you say that, so I warned Carlisle. He is going into the hospital late."

"Thanks. I guess there is a reason I keep you around."

"Yah, yah. Now go up and tell her goodbye. She is about to step out of the bathroom."

"Ya know, sometimes, not all the time mind you, but sometimes that ability of yours is a little unsettling."

"I could say the same about yours," she teased, her eyes twinkling as they watched her old friend climb the stairs.

Ascending the stairs, Jasper reached the top step just as Bella was coming out of the bathroom… and he stopped, his voice leaving him, and he was pretty sure if he had a pulse or heartbeat, they would be racing, possibly causing a heart attack. Alice should have warned him, but she hadn't and Bella was in nothing more than a towel wrapped around her. He stood frozen to the spot and his jeans (and not for the first time) felt instantly too small for his crotch.

"JW! I thought you were downstairs," Bella jumped upon seeing her boyfriend standing there gawking at her.

Suddenly snapping out of his dreamlike haze, he mentally slapped himself and told her, "Yah, I was. Alice got here, so she will be with you for the mornin. You goin to be alright?"

"Yah, I will. We'll be fine and you are only a phone call away. Plus I'll see you later, right?" Her grip on her towel tightened.

The empath could feel the uncertainty and worry coming off of her, and he liked to think it wasn't because he was standing there staring at her almost naked figure while he imagined her without the offending piece of material. No, he knew it had to deal with the nomads, Edward, and the impending meeting with his oldest friends. It was all worrisome and could potentially lead to problems, but he figured the least problematic would be Peter and Charlotte… he hoped.

Without thinking about her lack of dress, he went to her and immediately enveloped her in his arms, "Darlin', I promise that I will do whatever it takes to protect you, and if that means takin heads, then I will."

Bella didn't like the thought of that, but it comforted her as she sunk further into his cold embrace. Shivering, his arms dropped from around her and she stood on her toes to kiss his chin, "Thanks JW."

"I've got to go. Be careful and don't forget that Alice will be there. Now, go get dressed before you catch cold," he pushed her towards her bedroom and walked back down the stairs. Seeing Alice flipping through a magazine in the living room, he said, "Watch over her for me. I don't trust Edward, and I can't help but wonder why she would be the only one targeted that day."

"I know. Don't worry about her. Just go and deal with those other two. Edward is not coming back for a few days. We have time," she smiled.

Fighting the urge to stay, Jasper left the house. Would his old friends still stick by him regardless of who his mate was? Would they help him protect the town from rogue vampires who wanted to terrorize it? He believed they would, but first he needed to explain a few things.

Jasper arrived home in record time and true to Alice's predictions, Peter and Charlotte were standing in the living room waiting for him. Grinning from ear to ear, he hugged Charlotte and womped Peter on the back, "It's good to see y'all again."

"So major, want to tell us what the hell is goin on?" Peter questioned, not one to pull any punches, and then he grunted in discomfort when Charlotte's elbow found his abdomen.

"Ignore him, but we're curious. A human?" Charlotte asked, more polite than her counterpart. She was trying to reserve judgment on the girl before she heard the story or met her.

Sitting down on the couch hard, Jasper moved the furniture several inches and heard Esme call from another room, "Put it back where it was!" Yelling, the former major told her, "Alright."

Peter started to chuckle, "I guess the major got schooled."

"Pete honey, shut up," Charlotte ordered sweetly.

Jasper smiled at the exchange. These were his two closest friend and although they didn't exactly agree with his new lifestyle choice, they accepted it and him. Running a hand over his face, he began to explain who it all began, "Do you remember when Alice and I met you two in Phoenix because we were looking for Maria?"

"Yah," the mated pair said together.

"I met Bella then," Jasper announced.

Peter seemed shocked, "How is that even possible?"

Smiling up at her other half, Charlotte told him, "I'm sure if you give him just a moment, he'll tell us."

Shaking his head and chuckling, Jasper nodded and continued, "While I was waiting for our contact to show, a cat ran in my direction and then high tailed it away from me. Following that cat was a little girl. That girl was Bella. She was only ten at the time though. She was lost and I helped her home. There was just something about her that stuck with me. Anyway it turns out that she's the police chief's daughter and moved here to live with him after her mother got remarried. We met again, and that's it."

Charlotte's smile increased, "Awe, that's sweet, but I have to ask, are you sure? Being human, doesn't she make you have urges? What about the others? Little miss princess Rosalie doesn't appear to like her much."

"When have you known her to really like many people? She needs to pull her head out of her ass and realize that the world doesn't revolve around her," Jasper snapped.

Listening to his mate and best friend talk for a few more minutes, Peter finally spoke up, "I don't like it. You can't align yourself with a human. She'll be a danger to you because you'll think you have to protect her from every little thing and then what happens when she gets something like a paper cut? You run the risk of attacking her and making your presence known to the whole community. You will be suspect numero uno and her father will be gunning for you."

"Peter!" Charlotte chastised, "Maybe he is thinking of changing her." She looked to the major for confirmation.

"Maybe eventually, but not right now. For now, she needs to get through school. I can't have a newborn around Forks, and besides the treaty won't allow me to change her," Jasper muttered.

The other man scoffed, "Can you even change her? It's been a while since you tasted human blood and even longer since you changed someone. Could you do it?"

Jasper looked off into the distance, "I don't know, but I think if it's Bella, I could. She's different, Pete. I don't want to bite her or hurt her in any way. I just want to be there for her. Didn't you feel that way with Char? Can you honestly tell me that you don't worry or that you don't want to protect her even though she's a vamp too? If you try to deny it, I'll call bullshit on your ass."

"He's got you there," Charlotte glanced up at her mate. Silently though, she admitted to having some of the same concerns that her mate did. Being around humans during the day was probably difficult enough, mating a human was dangerous.

Regaining his feet, Jasper's features became hard and unyielding, his body rigid as he snarled, "How bout this? I don't give a flyin fuck what y'all have to say or not say." He eyed Charlotte with that last statement. He knew what she was thinking by the emotions she was feeling, "Bella is my mate and nothin you or anybody else does will change that. If you have a problem with it, then leave."

"You'll choose…" Peter tried to argue.

"I damn sure will choose my mate every time. I don't care who the hell y'all are!" Jasper's growl was low and feral as he interrupted one of his best friends.

Peter knew he had to make a decision and fast. Holding up his hands in surrender, he turned his gaze away from Jasper and dropped his head to show his subservience, "We got it. She is your mate and that's all there is to it. We just want to be sure you know what you're doing."

"You know as well as I do that when we find our mate, that's it. It isn't a choice. I know what I'm doin' and I am not gonna lose her. Got it?" The Texas man proclaimed.

"We got it," Charlotte answered for her and Peter. After a few more minutes of awkward silence, she suggested, "Why don't we all sit down and visit with each other? When will we be able to meet this Bella?" Taking her seat, she yanked her mate down next to her and thankfully the loveseat she picked did not move.

Sitting down once again on the couch, Jasper told them, "This afternoon. When school is out, Alice will bring her over. You two will be nice or heads will roll."

"Yah, we got it," Peter grumbled.

"Good because I need y'all's help," the major stated and proceeded to fill them in on everything that had been happening lately. When he was done, he could see the shock and anticipation on their faces; he knew they would be willing to help with the extermination problem.

Peter chuckled, "So you're telling me that not only do you have a new mate, but she's Edward's singer and he thinks he loves her too? So when do we get to eradicate him?" There had always been something about Edward Cullen that had been off putting. Out and out, Peter did not like the punk and had wanted to rip him apart more than once. It appeared as if he might get the chance after all.

Shaking his head, Jasper told him, "He's mine, but we have to also deal with three nomads that are preying on the area's population."

"We'll help," Charlotte announced. Regardless of his attitude, she knew her mate would do anything for the Major. Not only had Jasper kept Peter alive, but he had helped the couple countless times; they were in his debt… although, Jasper would probably argue that the debt had been paid long ago.

Jasper smiled, "I knew I could count on you two. We'll search for them later. Alice may be able to give us some clues or direction."

"Sounds good," Peter mumbled. He never felt 100% comfortable in the Cullen home and now he and Charlotte were going to be guests until… well, he wasn't sure how long. As far as he was concerned, the sooner they dealt with the issues, the better. He had only been planning on visiting for a day or two… no longer, but once again plans don't always go according to what he wants; then again, gazing at the woman beside him, sometimes that was for the better. If Jasper truly did find his mate in a human, he would help his friend protect her.