So glad y'all are enjoying the story. I love writing my own version of Jasper and Bella. I honestly didn't plan on taking this all the way through Twilight but it's been so fun to write! After we wrap this up in the next few chapters, keep a look out for my version of New Moon, titled "Wayward Son". Cheers!

Chapter 16: I Love You

The body was burning, orange flames licking the frozen corpse of the tracker. Jasper watched, unblinking in the familiar heat of the fire. She had danced. She would dance among the sparks and embers and her black hair would smell like smoke for days afterward. She would beckon him closer with her arms outstretched. Exhilaration and lust made for a heady cocktail and he would dance to make the pain go away...

He watched through the flames as Edward drew the venom from Bella's wrist. They had asked him if he was sure. And yes, it'd be easier if she was like them. Alice had confided to him that she had seen it happen. But they both knew the future was not set in stone, and Bella had never mentioned to him any desire to become a vampire. So yes, he was sure. Save her. "Don't let her become a monster like me."

Edward, surprisingly, had been the one to understand. He was the one to save her when Jasper couldn't. Carlisle worked to stop the bleeding and Edward worked to stop the transformation. And Jasper was never so glad to have found a family with the Cullens.

Now, he sat with his long frame folded up on a small hospital couch, pretending to sleep while Bella's mother sat at her bedside. He briefly considered giving them some time alone together but he had kept vigil this long, he wasn't going anywhere before he saw those enchanting brown eyes open.

"Bella? Bella, honey can you hear me?"

Renée Dwyer's voice was soft and soothing as she slowly urged her daughter back to consciousness. Jasper latched on to the feeling, using it to calm his own nerves, and projecting it over the entire room like a warm blanket.

"Mom? Where..." Bella blinked against the harsh lights and tried to get her bearings. Then, it all came rushing back. "Jasper! Mom, where's..."

He was by her side in an instant, brushing his hand over hers. "I'm here, darlin'. Right here."

"And your dad is down in the cafeteria," Renée said, reaching out and stroking her daughter's dark hair. "We're all here, baby. Everything's okay now."

Bella looked from her mother to Jasper. "What happened?"

Jasper frowned. "You fell down two flights of stairs and through a window."

As Bella let the cover story sink in, her mother jumped in with the details. "Dr. Cullen drove down with Jasper so you two could work things out. When you went to the hotel to see him, you tripped..." Renée trailed off, her eyes flooded with tears. She shook her head. "I'm so thankful your dad came down here with you, Jasper. I don't know what we would've done without him."

Jasper gave a brief nod. "I feel the same way, Mrs. Dwyer."

She gave him a smile. "No need to be so formal. Call me Renée."

"Yes, ma'am- sorry, Renée."

Both women chuckled and a small smile touched Jasper's lips. "If you ladies will excuse me, I'll go let the nurses know Bella's awake." He leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek. "I won't be long."

"Ok," she nodded, watching him slip out the door as her mother's phone began to beep.

Renée smiled. "It's from Phil. He's worried about you."

"You're texting?"

"Who knew, huh?" her mother chuckled. "Phil wanted to come, but I told him to stay in Florida. He got signed by the Suns!"

"That's great, Mom!"

"Oh baby, you're going to love it there. Jacksonville is always sunny and you'll have your own bathroom and..."

Bella frowned. "Mom, wait. I want to live in Forks. I've got dad, and friends, and-"

"Jasper?"

"Well... yeah," Bella shrugged, a blush creeping into the apples of her cheeks.

"Your dad likes him, y'know, which is a miracle in itself. He blamed him for you coming down here, something about a fight?" She shook her head and squeezed Bella's hand. "Don't worry. I talked him out of it. It's not like he and I didn't have plenty of arguments of our own over the years."

Bella nodded. Luckily, she had been too young when they split up to remember. They hardly saw each other after their move to Arizona. Only in passing to drop her off or pick her up. She decided to change the subject. "So... what do you think about him?"

"I think," Renée grinned, "that boy is absolutely in love with you."

Bella laughed, the blush returning full force.

"Well, I won't drag you away from your new fabulous life in Forks," Renée sighed heavily, though her eyes were teasing, "but will you come visit us in Florida? I miss my girl."

"Yeah, of course. I've missed you too."

Renée leaned over to give her daughter a hug and kiss her head. "So, do you want me to go get your dad?"

"Yes, please. I want to apologize."

"Baby, I'm sure he doesn't care about that. But I'll go get him, okay?"

"Okay, thanks, Mom."

Jasper was coming back in just as Renée was leaving and he held the door open for her. She looked back and gave Bella an approving wink. Bella grinned back.

Jasper sat down on the edge of the bed, mindful of her injuries and the tubes and wires. Bella reached for his hand, and he cradled it gently in his own.

"Is James- did you-"

"We took care of him. The woman, Victoria, ran off. But she shouldn't be a threat."

"Are you okay? I saw you guys fighting..."

"Am I okay?" he scoffed. "Darlin', you're the one in the hospital. Because of me."

"Because of James!" she insisted. "You saved my life."

"No, Bella. I didn't," he said, louder than she'd ever heard him before. He got to his feet and began to pace. "Edward did. Carlisle did. Alice even... I was..."

She watched him rub a tired hand over his face. Could vampires be tired? He certainly looked it.

"Are you okay?" she asked again.

He groaned. "Bella, please stop."

"No," she snapped. "Let me see your eyes."

"Bella..."

"Show me."

Jasper sighed and lifted his head. His eyes were a dark caramel color.

"You haven't gotten to hunt the entire time we've been here, have you?"

"Emmett did for me. Carlisle brought me some in a thermos."

"Jasper, that's... that's fucking amazing control. I don't remember a lot, but I'm pretty sure I lost a lot of blood. And I don't know if you've noticed, but you're in a hospital right now. Kind of the epicenter for blood."

"Bella when you... It was all I could do to keep from killin' you." He stared down at his boots, tapping one toe. "I think," he took a deep breath and sighed. "I think you should go back to Florida with your mom."

For a minute, she could only stare at him. Finally her voice came back to her. "You've got to be kidding."

He shook his head. "Bella you'd be safe-"

"Shut up." She looked at him in complete disbelief. "After all this, now is when you want to throw in the towel? Seriously? I'm a human in a world that apparently is not. I'm not safe anywhere. Even without vampires, you've seen how graceful I am. The only reason that cover story worked is because I'm such a klutz!"

He still didn't look up at her, but hid his smirk with his hair, "You are a klutz."

"See? Jasper, the safest place I could possibly be is with you. I want to be with you. You can't just..." she shook her head, tears flooding her eyes, "you can't just leave..."

"Hey, hey," he crooned, crossing the room to sit next to her on the bed. He brushed her hair back and kissed her head. "It's okay, darlin'. I'm here. I'm sorry. I won't leave. I'm here."

Bella sniffed and Jasper wiped away the escaping tears with his thumb. "Don't say shit like that, okay?"

"Okay," he promised and pressed a kiss to her lips. "I love you, Bella."

She closed her eyes, savoring the moment and the way the words felt on her lips when she said, "I love you, too."