A/N: Charlie is alive and Edward was an idiot. It's still up to you if you want Edward to live or die. So far, it looks like he will lose his life. Let me know in a PM or review. Enjoy the new chapter. Things will start to heat up from here. Warning... M content at the end of this chapter.

FYI… I wanted to give all of you fair warning. I am going to be gone a good part of October. I am going to Comic Con in Virginia and will be staying with my sister for a couple weeks. About a week after I get back, I will be headed to the Mayo Clinic for a week. I will be updating, but it will be sporadic. Sorry about that, but it can't be helped. I will be back full time in November.

Chapter 29 – My Decision

He should have known better, should have thought things through a little more than he had, but Edward had felt like he was being pushed into a corner and needed to act quickly. Leaving the note was an act of desperation on his part… one he would not repeat.

Breathing in and out slowly, he had to think about his next step and he could no longer be sporadic, doing things without thinking. Not only did he have to contend with Jasper and the rest of the family, but there was a stranger still roaming around Forks attempting to get to Bella and Alice. Edward had read the thoughts of the stranger before he rescued him, and he only did that in order to save Emmett. Not that his brother will ever know it. Something had not set well with the mind reader since then. If what he had seen was accurate, and he was sure it was, then the nomad has known of Alice since she was human. Alice was the prey that got away.

Clutching his head, Edward squeezed his eyes shut. James had two preys in mind this time: Alice and Bella, and he wasn't going to let either go easily. Even if Edward were to get Bella away from Jasper, James could still track them using his gift. This made the nomad a greater threat than the southern vampire, and that was a huge problem.

The problem in planning anything was that Alice would be able to see what he intended to do, and then she would warn the others. Acting on impulse meant that there was a greater margin of error and thus leading to failure… such as his plan to leave a note for Bella. So how did one go about planning and being spontaneous at the same time? Was it even possible? And then something dawned on him, there could be a way. Obtaining a partner and then stealing what he wanted might be the only way to get Bella; however, it could also lead to his death and others. It might be the risk he had to take though.

Walking over to the edge of the cliff where he currently resided, Edward looked down. His eyes scanned the forest, the trees, and even the small town in the far distance. He wasn't searching out anything in particular; he was just thinking. Making a pact with the devil may be the only way to win, but it brought with it dangers that he could not anticipate. Bella could die before he could save her, and yet, that was also the risk as long as she stayed close to Jasper. In addition to Bella, the mind reader would basically be surrendering Alice in the bargain. His sister. His friend. Shaking his head, a growl rumbled deep in his chest. Alice was a traitor who sided with Jasper. Edward had no time to think about her well-being. He had to focus on Bella. Bella was his mate and he needed to rescue her from both Jasper and James; and in the end, she would be grateful to him. Now he just had to find someone who didn't necessarily want to be found.

Elsewhere…

He had been watching the hospital from a cozy spot atop the trees. He saw the copper headed vampire run out of the hospital and duck behind an ambulance before using his vampire speed to get out of there quickly. He also saw the taller vampire who was always around Bella come out and punch the brick wall. Based on that information, James knew Bella was inside.

Laughing to himself, he believed everything just got interesting, and if he wasn't mistaken it was the very vampire who had interrupted his "capture" the day before. Well, he needed to repay the Good Samaritan for his assistance. If it hadn't been for him, James would have dealt with the vamp who had pinned him down and then he would have ripped his bitch apart as well. "What is the saying? Ah yes, no good deed goes unpunished," he chuckled.

He straightened up, his eyes scanning the windows of the hospital hoping to spot his target. He didn't see her, but he knew she was there. Somewhere… waiting. The anticipation had to be killing her. She knew he wanted her, and now apparently someone else did as well. Nerves building up, forcing her heart to speed up, her blood to pump faster, warmer than it did before. Filling her veins to capacity. What would it be like when he drank the warm liquid from her pulse points? Would it explode in his mouth, quenching his thirst? Or would it make him want more? He could imagine the sound of her heart rate increasing, pounding behind her rib cage as he took her and allowed his teeth to rip into her frail, weak skin at the same time he sank into her heat. No one could stop him now. He just had to wait and be patient. Of course, this would have to be after he dealt with his other desire. Alice would need to be handled first. She was a vampire after all, and if he took Bella first, there was the possibility that Alice could interfere. That wouldn't be good.

As night fell upon the hospital, James decided to hunt down some food to slake his thirst, the burning in his throat. And if it was someone who resembled Alice or Bella, all the better. He was hard and his hunger was more than just for blood. He needed both, and now that Victoria wasn't around, something else had to fulfill that desire.

Jumping, he landed quietly on the ground and started to run east. In his current condition, the last thing he wanted was to deal with the wolves.

Hospital…

Charlie had long since fallen asleep again. He had been in and out of it most of the day, his daughter only leaving his side when Carlisle needed to examine him or if he had to be taken for tests. She didn't want to leave him, afraid of what would happen if she did. Kidnapped, beaten, and left to die as a sacrifice on an altar… her mate may not have said as much, but she knew. She knew that was what had happened. For what? To draw out the nomad? What was the reason? Who had done it though? He had been found on the reservation and mentioned something about Paul, and when Jasper had found out, he hadn't looked surprised in the slightest. So her mate knew something he wasn't saying. What was it?

Her eyes returned to her father's sleeping face. Relaxed and unguarded in slumber, her father actually appeared younger than he usually did, less worried. This was the face she remembered from pictures she had seen in the past, pictures of him and her mom during happier times. If only they could go back to the way things were. If only she hadn't rejected her father so many times in the past. If only…

Shaking her head, she tried to clear her mind of the negative thoughts. It wasn't what Charlie needed right now. There was no way she could change the past or what had happened, but she could change the here and now, the future. Originally she moved to Forks to allow her mother to travel with her stepfather, and now, she wanted to stay, to build that relationship with Charlie. True, she also wanted to be there because that is where Jasper was, and she couldn't imagine a life without him. Not anymore. At ten years old, he had miraculously appeared in her life to rescue her when she was lost, and then he appeared again as her knight to save her from… everything including herself. Forks was her home now, at least for the time being, and although she missed the sun and warmth, she didn't want to leave.

That being said, she did not appreciate her mate keeping things from her. Without tearing her gaze from her father, she asked, "What aren't you telling me JW?"

"What do you mean darlin'?" Jasper answered the question with a question. He couldn't tell her about the wolves, doing so would break the pact.

"Paul is one of the people on the reservation. I'm not sure who he is though. My dad asked if he got out safely…" Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she continued, "He was taken to the reservation, hurt, and on the verge of death when they found him. I know you said Billy is looking in on it, but what aren't you telling me? Why was my dad taken? Why did this happen to him? I'm not saying you have all the answers, but I know you know more than you are saying."

The sound of the room door opening prevented Jasper from answering his mate. Before he turned around, he knew it was one of the wolves, but the smell was slightly off. He still smelled human as well. Someone that had not gone through the change yet? Someone on the verge? Glancing over his shoulder, he found Jacob Black standing in the doorway glaring at him.

At the sound of the door, Bella allowed her eyes to leave the face of her sleeping father. "Hey Jake. Thanks for coming," she spoke softly.

"My dad is here too, but he is talking to the doc," Jacob removed his glare from the other man and gave his friend and crush a smile. "How's he doing?"

"He woke up today, but he has been sleeping a lot. He's still in a lot of pain, so they have him on meds and stuff."

"I heard he had to have stitches and everything."

"Yah, 26 stitches in his head. He had some other injuries as well, but that was the worst of them."

Nodding, Jacob studied the man lying in the bed. He had known Charlie all his life and never imagined this happening to him. Overhearing his father talking, he knew Paul Lahote had something to do with it, but what? Yah the guy had an issue with his temper, but he would never do something like this… would he?

"Carlisle said he's out of danger," Bella continued not noticing her friend's slight change in countenance.

"That's… that's good," Jacob smiled again. He would do anything and everything he could to protect the girl he had come to care so much for… and that included from the man in the room. Something about him was off. Yes, he knew of the tales of the cold ones, but it wasn't that… or maybe it was. An anxious, almost murderous feeling overcame him the moment he saw Jasper Hale in the room. The same feeling told him to get Bella as far away from him as possible, as fast as possible.

He tried to insert himself between Jasper and Bella, but a feeling of dread overcame him. Suddenly he felt very tired and unsteady. What was happening? He swayed to the side and had to catch himself on the bedside tray, which was at the end of the bed, to prevent himself from falling.

Eyes widening in fear, Bella jumped to her feet as she tried to run to her friend, "Are you aright, Jake?"

"Yah, just a little dizzy. These things happen sometimes. I don't think I should have skipped breakfast," he laughed it off, but his eyes caught the malicious gleam in Jasper's eyes. Was he doing this to him?

"I'm sure he's alright honey," Jasper stated sweetly.

She wasn't fooled. Maybe it was the fact she knew her mate, or maybe she could chalk it up to intuition, but something told her Jasper had done this to her friend; and when she could, they would be discussing that as well. "JW!" A chastise was all she could do for now.

Chuckling, Jasper pulled back his gift. He should have known she would have figured him out. "Sorry darlin'."

"Bella, while your dad is in the hospital, my dad said you can stay with us," Jacob suggested suddenly feeling much better.

The southern man wrapped his arm around Bella and pulled her into his side, "That won't be necessary. She is goin' to be stayin' with me and my family."

"As her father's closest friends, she should stay with us. It's better for her."

"Better for her or you? Charlie already knows she is staying with me."

"Will you two stop arguing over me like I'm an object instead of a person?" Bella yelled, already at the end of her tether, she felt pushed over the edge. Pushing her mate away, she stormed out the door leaving the two men alone.

Just as Jasper was about to chase after her, Jacob called after him, "You can't have her."

"I don't think a pup like you needs to tell me what to do. This is her decision. She is my mate and I love her. Don't interfere." With that said, he walked out of the room, leaving Jacob to sit with Charlie. It wasn't safe for Bella to be running around by herself and he needed to find her. Scanning the hall, he found her almost immediately talking to a man in a wheelchair by the nurses' station, relief flooded his body. Approaching slowly, he could already hear their conversation.

"Sorry Billy, but I'm going to be staying with the Cullen's. Since Carlisle is taking care of him, he can bring me to the hospital and JW is there as well," Bella responded to Billy's offer of letter her stay with them.

"Do you really think that is the best option? It might not be safe," Billy questioned her further.

"Billy, it is probably one of the best places for me right now." What exactly did he know?

"Bella, as your dad's best friend…" The tribal member shut up as soon as he noticed Jasper. Giving him a wary look, he greeted the other man, "Jasper."

"Billy," Jasper returned the greeting. Narrowing his eyes, he said, "Bella knows what she is getting' into and will be stayin' with me and my family."

"Everything?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you intend…?"

"I am lettin' her make her own decisions about everythin'," Jasper replied knowing exactly what the tribal leader was alluding to.

"You can't do it no matter…"

"I'm lettin' her decide. It's her life."

She had the feeling they were talking about something more than where she would lay her head at night, and Bella didn't like it one bit. Running a hand through her hair, she snapped, "Excuse me, but Billy, it is my life and I can do what I feel is best for me. As for JW, he has been nothing but a gentleman and I will be staying with his family regardless if I have your permission or not. As he said, it is my life. I will make my own decisions about anything and everything. I made the decision to come up here, I made the decision to get involved with JW, and I will continue making decisions for me. I don't care who approves and who doesn't."

"So you would just become some whore for a man with an accent you like?" Jacob snarled from behind her. It had not been his intent to say anything, but something inside him snapped when he heard her speech and noticed how close she was standing to Jasper.

Reaction. That was the only answer for what happened next. Bella whipped around and slapped her friend with everything she had, "How dare you?" She had enough, and yet, she knew she could not leave the hospital alone, not that Jasper would let her leave without him. She had no choice and asked, "JW, will you please take me home now?" She needed to get out of there.

"Sure darlin'," Jasper softly agreed. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he led her out of the building and to the car.

The moment Bella had slapped Jacob, the area had gotten deadly silent. It had not been something anyone had expected to see. Even the nurses were frozen in their places. Jacob stood there, his wide eyes focused on the floor, processing exactly what happened just now.

"You shouldn't have said that. I know why you did and I know you have feelings for her, but you shouldn't have said that. She has the right to make her own decisions, and based on what they are, they will have to deal with the consequences. Let's go see Charlie and then we can go home," Billy said and wheeled himself to his friend's room. He just hoped whatever those decisions were, Bella would not come to regret anything.

It was a quiet ride home. Neither Bella, nor Jasper knew what to say to break the tension that had developed; and instead of dealing with it, Bella closed her eyes with the intent to pretend she was sleeping. However, exhaustion had caught up with her and she never even realized when they had arrived home.

Lifting her out of the car, Jasper carried her like a precious package and laid her in the middle of his bed. It had been a very long 24 hours, actually more than that, and he knew it was just going to get harder for them both. Would they survive it? God, he hoped and prayed they did.

She felt a set of cold arms wrap around her and pull her close. Breathing in his unique scent, Bella knew it was Jasper. This is what she needed. To be able to feel his closeness, to match her breath with his, and to feel the chill of his body as it pressed against hers. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she lifted her face to his, pressing her lips to his, opening her mouth under his, accepting his tongue, and allowing it to mate with hers.

Keeping one hand on the back of his neck, she allowed the other one to roam south, down his bare chest, smiling when her nail flicked his nipple and he sucked in a deep breath of air. Her hand continued its quest and soon was dipping under the waistband of the sweats he had put on after his shower, cupping him, feeling him grow within her grasp.

Two could play at this game. Flipping her onto her back, he attacked her lips with a ferocity as he ground his hips into her. Her hand still holding him, he felt the pressure of her own sex and her hand as he dry humped her. He almost lost it when she squeezed him.

Ripping off her shirt and bra, he threw them to the floor and as an afterthought wondered if the ruin apparel were favorites of hers. If so, he would buy her new ones later. Now was about satisfaction. Sliding down her body, his lips sucked and licked a path from her lips, to her neck, down to her chest. She could no longer reach his throbbing member, but soon they would both be screaming in pleasure. His mouth locked onto her left nipple as his hand teased and taunted the other hand. Sucking deeply, he smiled around the erect nub as she groaned and used her hands to press him close to her breast as he moved his mouth to the other nub.

Breaking her grip, he slid even further down her body, kissing her ribs and stomach, licking her navel, and still his mouth continued the assault as he came to the waistband of her jeans. Slowly unbuttoning the button, he then unzipped them and peeled her legs out of them along with her panties. She was now free from any clothes and naked before him. Breathing deeply, he could smell her heat, the wetness seeping from her very core and suddenly he felt parched and needed to drink her in. To taste her. He spread her legs wide open, and used his tongue to scoop up her moistness and he swallowed. It was manna from heaven to him. Sucking on her clit, he inserted on finger and pumped it in and out. Periodically he would remove the finger and use his tongue to probe her. He couldn't get enough of her taste.

Further and further he pushed her to her breaking point. The groans and breathless whispers coming faster and at a high pitch. She was close. Sticking three fingers inside her, he cupped them forward onto her g-spot and sent her crashing into her climax. He drank up everything she expelled and still he wanted more. Without waiting for her to recover, he pushed his sweats down and lined up his think and heavy cock with her hole. Never before could he ever remember being this hard, wanting someone this much.

Bella couldn't catch her breath, but she also knew they were not done. She was satisfied, and yet, she still felt empty. She wanted to feel him inside her, moving, filling her. The moment he appeared over her again, she knew it was time. Nodding, she wrapped her arms around his neck again and pulled his head down for a kiss. She could taste herself on him, and although for some it might have been a turnoff, she felt excited.

Nudging forward, Jasper could feel the resistance of her barrier and stopped, "Hold on tight darlin'." He pushed forward in one thrust and sheathed half of his dick inside her… and stopped, waiting for her to adjust to him. As soon as she lifted her hips, he started to move. Slowly at first and then faster, harder. Filling her with all of him. He could feel his climax building inside of him and he couldn't hold it back. Never before had he been so out of control, and he knew Bella was the same. His mate had been made just for him. Reaching between them, he pinched and rubbed her clit, sending her hurtling towards her second release and they both exploded together.

She sat up quickly in bed, out of breath, her eyes wide open. Looking around her, she was still clothed and Jasper was standing next to the window looking at her. His own eyes wide, and she could see the desire in them. A dream? It had all been a dream? She didn't think she would be able to wait until this was over. She wanted him now. Her body was still on fire, her sex still throbbing. This was not going to be an easy night.

Jasper felt everything she was feeling as she dreamed, and if he was any other man or that was any other girl lying in his bed, he might have just taken her, but he couldn't do that to her. Yet now, he was harder than he had ever been and staring into her eyes, he needed her. Instead, he walked towards the bathroom. He would not break his promise to her, he would deal with this himself. Bella had been through enough tonight.