Seattle Nights

Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight series, all I own is the plot and a few original characters.

Chapter Seven (written by PuzzlingApprentice – original author.)

"Jasper, wait!" I said, grabbing his arm that had pinned Peter against my living room wall when he had denied knowing that the newborns were after me. Peter's eyes looked at me, wide with worry; though I could tell that the concern was not for himself but for me. He thought that I was about to get myself killed and I wasn't sure if he was too far off. However, for some reason I couldn't bring myself to believe that Jasper would ever try to hurt me. I tugged a little on his arm and he slowly turned his head towards me.

His expression softened slightly when his eye met mine, though he still didn't allow me to tug his arm away from Peter.

"Come on, Peter's knower probably just isn't working right," I mocked Peter lightly, he looked like he wanted to growl but was smart enough not to push his luck with the position he was currently in.

"But look at him, are you really that surprised?" I asked with big, innocent eyes. I heard Charlotte trying to choke back a laugh behind me and saw Peter's annoyed expression, but what I focused on were the two eyes right in front of me which were slowing fading back from black to burgundy.

Finally, he released Peter and pulled me to his chest. His face buried in the crook of my neck, I felt him take a deep breath as his muscles slowly relaxed. I wasn't too sure what was going on or why Jasper was so upset about the fact that a few more vampires wanted to kill me, but suddenly I wondered if he had been feeling the strange tugging in his stomach all day, too. I sighed as his scent invaded my senses and decided to give up on thinking for now. Someone else could do it for me because all I wanted was to relax in the bliss that was Jasper. His strong muscles and long body that seemed to be able to envelope me in the most comforting embrace I had ever felt.

My eyes fell closed and my forehead leaned against his shoulder, completely at ease with the world. He nuzzled slightly closer and suddenly I felt his lips lightly brush against my neck, earning him a gasp from my lips.

Suddenly we heard Charlotte clear her throat awkwardly and I remembered that there were two others in the room with us. I started to pull away and felt Jasper sigh before he did the same. Charlotte was standing in front of Peter a little protectively and I could see the look of amused love on his face at his little hellcat before him. Soon we had all returned to the seats we had taken before Jasper had returned, awkwardness saturating the air.

Pete and Char returned to the couch and Jasper took the place next to me on the loveseat. For some unexplainable reason, I felt the need to either sit on his lap or curl in to his side. Sensing my internal debate, he turned towards me.

Jasper smirked at me.

I stuck out my tongue.

He raised his eyebrow.

I shrugged.

Our silent conversation was loudly interrupted by Peter and Charlotte's laughter, a look of both adoration and awe in their eyes.

"Whack Jobs," I muttered under my breath, fully aware that they all would be able to hear me and earning a light chuckle out of Jasper. "Okay," I finally sighed once the laughs had died down. "What now?"

The atmosphere immediately darkened, Jasper stiffened at my side and he and Peter's eyes met across the room.

"Nothing changes," Jasper's voice was menacing, threatening. "We find out who is creating them and why they seem to want you. Then we get rid of them." The last was spoken with no emotions.

I looked around at them curiously, "Why do you guys even care if they want to kill me?" I asked. "Why would you risk your lives?"

Charlotte looked annoyed, standing up and striding quickly across the open space and crouching down in front of me. "How many times do we gotta' tell ya, Sugar?"

I sighed, already knowing what she was going to say. "Why?" I grumbled before getting up and pacing around my adjoining dining room. "Why am I suddenly family?" I noticed Jasper's surprised look, though I couldn't tell if it was because of the fact that I had mentioned being called part of his family, or if it was because of the venom behind the word.

"The last vampire family I had, left me royally screwed over." I felt a small chill as I remembered some of what had happened while they were gone, "I refuse to have to deal with the aftermath again." I growled.

"What happened after we left, Bella?" Jasper asked quietly.

I turned to look at him, noticing the guilty look dancing over his features. I didn't want him to feel bad; it had never been his fault. When he had lunged at me, his eyes hadn't even been dark. I was pretty sure that Edward had been the only true danger at that time and it had passed my mind that Jasper could have been lunging at Edward as opposed to trying to catch a quick meal.

"Don't do that, Jasper," I whispered, shaking my head gently. I walked over to him and placed my hand against his cheek, surprised when I noticed that it wasn't the same smooth texture I was used to.

I chose not to question it. "It wasn't your fault, your eyes weren't even black— not like Edwards."

"What happened?" He reiterated his question.

"I'm not going to tell you that," I whispered, remembering the look that had came to Jacob's face when I had told him the news. I hadn't needed a shoulder to cry on and a voice to comfort me, not someone to feel bad for me— just someone to make me feel better. Stiffly, I added, "I don't like pity, and I won't put up with it."

He frowned, worry clouding his eyes. He was wondering what could have affected me so harshly and no doubt blaming himself.

"And if I see one more guilty look from you, Jasper, I swear to god I am going to snap."

I stood up and walked over to my baggage before grabbing the keys to my truck and my wallet. Before I could make it out the door, I was stopped by Jasper's voice.

"Where are you going?" He asked from right behind me. He seemed to have managed to erase the guilt from his face though the concern remained. I was content with that, so long as he didn't think that what had happened was his fault.

"I'm visiting Charlie," I said simply.

He seemed to think for a moment, deciding if that was a good idea. I hope he realized that no matter what he said, it didn't change the fact that I was going home. Charlie was all I had left and I had been gone for too long.

"I'll meet you there," He finally nodded. For some reason, I was relieved by that. Just the thought of leaving was bringing back that bizarre feeling in the pit of my stomach.

He relieved me of my bag before starting out the door, obviously expecting me to follow. I paused; turning around to shoot a wave at Peter and Char who both still seemed a little shaken and all I could hope was that Peter didn't tell about what had happened if his knower were to alert him to it. They both offered small smiles, seemingly unsure how to react to my little outburst.

"See you soon, Sweet Pea." Peter said quietly. I nodded.

I finally returned to following Jasper out to the garage and my truck, seeing him leaning against the door to my monster. He had already put my bag in the back seat and had been waiting for me. I realized as I reached him that somehow time had been flying by and it was almost noon. I could speed the whole way and be lucky if I made it to Charlie's by quarter 'til four.

Looking up in to his vibrant eyes, I noticed that the red coloring seemed to be swirling rhythmically. For whatever reason, my stomach wasn't churning as it probably should have been at the knowledge of the fact that only human blood caused such a glow.

I wondered if human blood also made vampires appear more attractive, because I had never truly noticed much of Jasper when I had been with the Cullens.

Then again, I had never felt this strange attraction to James, Victoria, or even Char and Peter. I had a feeling that my lack of perception of Jasper's beauty had a whole lot to do with Edward and Alice.

"You know you can't ride in the truck with me, Jasper." I whispered— a small smile on my face at the internal debate I could see flashing across his face.

"My windows are not tinted and I believe that you may attract a good bit of attention."

He nodded his head in agreement though he seemed a little peeved. I am not sure what possessed me to do so, but I crossed the few steps between us and wrapped my arms around his waist. He didn't hesitate as his arms circled me and I took comfort in how perfectly my head seemed to fit in to the crook of his neck.

Eventually, we parted our embrace and he opened the door to my truck for me and allowed me to crawl in.

"What time will I see you?" I asked quietly through my open widow.

I had been so excited to go home and see Charlie, but suddenly I didn't want to be without Jasper. I was growing strangely attached to him despite the fact that I had only been back in contact with him for a day. I knew that was wrong, that I was being pulled back in to a world that was only going to leave me broken but I couldn't seem to get away. What I felt around Jasper was so much different from what I had ever felt before no matter who I was with.

It was so far beyond fascination, beyond curiosity, and beyond infatuation. It was a physical need in the pit of my stomach that I simply couldn't understand, and I found that terrifying.

"I want to do some more looking around the city before I head to Forks, but I will be there as soon as you are. I am going to have Pete and Char follow you home. I don't like that the newborns have taken an interest in you." His voice was cold and steely, all business.

I nodded before part of what he had said sunk in. He was having Peter and Charlotte watch me again; at least I knew this time.

"Jasper," I said, the tone of my voice snapping him out of whatever trance he had fallen in to.

"Don't you ever have vampires that I do not know come to my apartment without giving me a heads up. Not when I just found out that there are newborns around and not without you there."

"I'm sorry, Darlin'. I didn't have time to tell ya and I wasn't about to leave ya alone." He paused and an exasperate look came to his face, "I told them not to approach ya, but Pete's knower told him that he could without me killin' 'im."

I couldn't help my slight chuckle at that.

"Quite the family you got there," I said with a grin. The comment brought me back to what Charlotte kept telling me, that I was now part of their family. What did she mean by that?

Jasper nodded his head in agreement, an indulgent smile forming on his lips and it nearly took my breath away.

Before I could say my short term goodbye and peel out, Jasper grasped my chin gently and placed the lightest kiss to the corner of my mouth. It affected me more than any kiss I had ever had the experience of receiving. It was light and fleeting, but it was filled with more emotion than I had ever experienced from another.

He pulled back slowly, a soft smile turning the corners of his lips. My cheeks were heated and I was pretty sure my heart had skipped a few beats. He took a few steps back from my truck, his smile growing slightly when I just continued to stare at him in a tiny bit of a daze.

"Have a nice drive, Darlin'."

"Thanks," I whispered as I forced myself awake and pulled out before leaving the parking garage. I was finally on my way to Forks, finally on my way to Charlie.

Charlie.

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A/N: Hope you liked this! Please tell me what you think in a review. Ask questions, make comments, do whatever floats your boat. Thank you my lovelies! I'm hoping to start updating a little faster, I have one chapter written, and working on the next one. Forgive me if I didn't answer your review, I'm very short on time so I choose to use my time to write. I'll try to reply to them, but if I don't please know that I'm working hard on getting the chapters written and posted for all of you.