Bella sat on the loveseat beside Charlie's bed.

He looked peaceful if a little paler than usual. Carlisle had told her he'd lost a considerable amount of blood after the fall he'd taken, courtesy of Victoria. His leg had needed a few stitches but nothing major that required being taken to the hospital. Esme had stayed with him most of the night, keeping an eye on him in case he awoke. In case he tried to leave...

He was currently resting in the bedroom the Cullens had given her after the ordeal during her birthday. After Edward revealed Bella and Jasper have been mates all along.

She stood, grimacing at the soreness coursing through her body, before she carefully placed a kiss on her father's forehead. Unable to voice how sorry she was for dragging him into all of this.

Carlisle and Jasper were in the hall waiting for her when she emerged, closing the door behind her.

"I'll stay with him, Bella. Don't worry, he'll be up before you know it." Carlisle reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Bella nodded, placing a kiss on her adoptive father's cheek in thanks which made him smile in return.

After he'd given her a thorough check up last night, he'd come to the same conclusion Jasper had. Other than a minor concussion, Bella would be fine. That hadn't been her main concern when he'd woken her up though, still tucked close to Jasper beneath the warm covers, not paying any mind at all to the cold radiating off her mate's chest. It was the most natural thing, being with him like this. It reminded her of finally being home.

The unmistakable scent of smoke had clung to Carlisle's clothes as he checked her wounds. A clear sign as to what had occurred with Victoria.

That was when they explained the wolves. The shifters who resided in La Push. They told her of the treaty and Sam Uley's pack. Revealing a whole new world to her she had no idea existed. It all made sense though—explained why Victoria had been so terrified of the wolves the moment they emerged from the forest. Radiating death and swift retribution.

"So she is dead then?" She finally asked, still able to feel the ghost like fingers against her throat.

Carlisle shared a glance with Jasper, silently communicating before the former said with no ounce of lament, "Yes. She is."

Carlisle placed a hand over her back and said, "I think there is something else I should explain to you, Bella. Before you go and blame yourself for the actions of another, it is important for you to understand the toll losing a mate can have on vampires." Bella stiffened, looking to Jasper as he remained silent, leaning against the wall as he waited for his father to continue. "When two mates lose one another, if they're as bonded as you and Jasper already are, then the loss can be debilitating. Lifetime's together can seem like a handful of years in comparison to us. Facing eternity alone after such a monumental change often leads to madness. Changing all of that one person's beliefs and way of life into a path that can be most destructive.

"When vampires mate, they are eternally bound to live their days together. To love forever. Taking such a precious thing away can be the cruelest punishment of all. Worse than death itself. Victoria may have developed this obsession to kill you and use Edward simply by being driven into madness. It's hard to say why she resorted to such lengths to torment you, but it could have very well been the consequence of losing her mate."

Bella took in this information, trying to understand how such a thing could lead to becoming so bloodthirsty and cruel. Trying and failing to imagine a world without Jasper or imagining what he would have done if he'd lost her. Would he have become like Victoria? Crazed and desperate to rectify what can never be undone...

Imagining such a thing—picturing her loving, reverent Jasper looking like Victoria had in those final moments—it made her shudder.

Then a thought occurred to her. She asked Carlisle, "If losing a mate can lead to something like that...then, what of the vampires who haven't found their mates after so long? What happens to them if they never find that person to spend eternity with?"

He sighed sadly, knowing exactly what she was referring to—who she was referring to—and he said, "I imagine it's no different."

Pushing that conversation aside and returning to the present, Bella took Jasper's hand after they parted with Carlisle. They made it to the end of the hall and before she could take a step further, Jasper tugged her to him.

She started, "What are you-"

He silenced her question with a kiss. Guiding her until her back was against the wall. His large hand cupped her cheek, tilting her head back just enough to deepen the kiss. She breathed a contented sigh against him, her hand clutching the front of his black henley. When he slowly pulled away, he ran his thumb along her bottom lip. Making every inch of her body feel as though it were lit aflame.

Silently, she wondered if she'd ever get used to his dizzying, intoxicatingly sweet kisses. At the way he gazed upon her as if she were the only person that mattered in his whole world. God, she hoped not.

"What was that for?" She breathed.

Jasper grinned, "Do I need a reason?"

"No, you don't need one. Not at all," She released a soft laugh, allowing him to lead her downstairs to join the others who have been waiting quite anxiously for her to reunite with the rest of the family.

The first one to hug her was Alice of course, managing to contain her excitement to avoid hurting Bella after Jasper gave her a stern look. Then came Emmett—refraining from the bear hug that always swept her off her feet—ruffled her hair.

"Always getting into some trouble, huh Bells?" He grinned, the dimples in his cheeks more pronounced.

"Not by choice, believe me," She remarked with a smile. "Thanks for finding me."

Emmett shook his head as if to say he hadn't been the one to save her but, he eyed her affectionately, "Always, kid."

Rosalie stepped up after that, ignoring the way everyone paid close attention to the blonde beauty's interaction for the youngest member of their family. Her honey-colored eyes warmed as she said, "It's good to have you back home, Bella."

The smile that spread across Bella's face, quickly accompanied by a delicate blush, seemed to warm the entire room. Flooding everyone's hearts with love for this human girl who has changed so much in such little time. Making it impossible to imagine their lives without her in it.

"It's good to be home."


Bella sat on the back porch, hugging her legs up to her chest as she stared at the beautiful garden Esme had planted in the backyard. Lost in thought as she planned how she was going to tell Charlie about the Cullens.

There was no escaping what the man had seen nor was there any logical explanation to justify how a woman barely his height could manage to fling him across the room. There simply was no way to get around this. Carlisle and Esme helped her come to terms with it, agreeing to be there when they told her father the truth. Hoping he could be trusted with their secret.

Everyone collectively agreed that leaving Forks or Bella behind was out of the question, not that anyone suggested such a thing.

So the truth was in order.

In a way, Bella was relieved that she would no longer have to hide such a big secret from Charlie.

It would make living amongst the vampires and the humans in her life much easier without having to hide. She just hoped Charlie wouldn't completely lose his mind...

She was just coming up with how she was about to break the news to Charlie, when the glass door sliding open interrupted her thoughts.

A warm fleece blanket was draped over her shoulders a few seconds later and she smiled without having to look behind her to know who it was.

"I take my eyes off you for a few seconds, and you're already disappearing on me," Jasper drawled as he sat beside her, resting his arm over the back of the bench. Bella took the opportunity to scoot closer to him until she was leaning her head against his chest. Content to have a moment alone with him. He ran his fingers through her hair as he muttered, "I knew you'd be the death of me."

She smiled against him, "I don't think you can return me now. According to your vampire lore, we're stuck together."

A low rumble emanated from his chest as he chuckled, "I don't believe 'stuck' is the word for it, darlin'."

Bella peered up at him, "Oh? Then what would you call it?"

Jasper nipped her ear, making her giggle, "I believe people nowadays call this a long term relationship." She arched a brow at him, watching his smile slowly slide away before angling his head just enough to stare into her eyes. "Or it could be...something else if you wanted."

Something else...

"You mean, being like...you?" Turned?

She licked her lips and pleased at the sight of his eyes tracking the movement, the way the amber in his irises changed to a darker color. She knew that look well by now. Wanted to see more of it when they were alone. Behind closed doors–

Jasper leaned forward until his lips grazed the curve of her ear and whispered, "You know I don't need to read you with my gift to know exactly what's going on through that head of yours, right?" Her cheeks instantly grew warm and she tried to stand up, tried to make any excuse she could to avoid embarrassing herself further. But Jasper's arm reached for her hand and pulled her towards him until she had no choice but to sit on his lap.

He ran the back of his fingers down her cheek, watching her as she leaning into his touch. "If forever is what you want, I'd give it to you. Gladly. There's not a thing I wouldn't give to have you by my side. I don't know if you realize that I love you so much, that it's dangerous. Dangerous to want you as much as I do. To love you to the point of losing my mind when you were taken from me. If I'd gotten my hands on Victoria, you would have seen the monster I would have become for you. And I'm not ashamed to say it."

Bella's breath caught in her throat. Her heart swelling with unconditional love as he laid his soul bare to her.

"But if turning you isn't something you want—if you choose to remain human..." he swallowed, seeming to battle with some primal part of himself before he said the words, "I'd cherish every single moment you gave me."

Jasper.

My selfless, kind, beautiful Jasper...

"You can take time to think—"

Bella captured his face in her hands, kissing him hard. Making him moan when she pressed herself against him. This time taking his breath away as she licked his lips, begging for permission to enter. His hands clutched her hair, her shirt, as he pulled her even closer. Taking all that she was willing to give him.

"B-Bella..." he panted when she pulled away only long enough to kiss him again. Again. Again...

When their kisses finally slowed, Bella's eyes were filled with tears before she breathed, "I do want forever with you. I love you so much, Jasper. So much I don't know what to do with it."

The relieved smile on Jasper's lips was as breathtaking as the kiss they'd shared. Deep and long, unapologetic and searching. It would never be enough—not for him or the woman in his arms—but they would have forever. Someday.

"You're both out of your mind," A silken voice said, making Bella tense immediately. Jasper's large hands held her tighter to him, sensing her anxiety spike the moment she recognized Edward's voice. He gently eased her off his lap, making sure to take her hand in his as they both stood up to face the man who'd started it all.

Edward stood at the bottom of the steps of the porch, his hair a mess as it always was and his clothes rumpled. The scent of blood reached Jasper, but one look into his amber eyes told the empath he'd finally fed on an animal. Not a human.

At least there was that.

His brother shook his head, running a hand through his unruly bronze hair as he regarded Bella, "You really intend to choose a life like this? Over a normal one? You'd damn yourself to become a monster like the rest of us."

"You took any chance of my having a normal life the moment you took an interest in me. The moment you lied and kept me from Jasper." Bella said, not needing Jasper's help to find her courage for once.

The scars of what Victoria had made her endure and see...they still remained. The guilt she felt for what had been done to that young couple...they fueled her now. To stand up for herself. To make things as right as they could be. For herself.

She realized now, that no matter how loved or safe she felt with her mate—with their family—the manipulation and hurt she'd felt because of Edward would always remain unless she faced him.

Her hand closed around Jasper's as she stood beside him, "Edward, I understand that your jealousy and desperation to have what the others have drove you towards this dark path. It's not an excuse for what you've done though. Maybe someday I will forgive you for breaking my trust. But endangering Charlie's life, hurting Jasper, is something I will never forgive you for doing."

A wave of pride and...something akin to heartache brushed over Bella, making her look towards Jasper. Her breath caught in her throat as she peered up and found him watching Edward with an honest expression on his face.

Sadness. Regret. Anger.

All of them clustered into those golden eyes that seemed to shine. As stoic as Jasper Whitlock has always been, he wore his heart on his sleeve when it came to those he loved. He never hid what he truly felt, even when it hurt the most. Which is why Bella would do anything to protect him from being hurt by Edward again.

"If you've ever loved him, Edward," she said without looking away from Jasper, "you'll let him be happy. If he's chosen me as I have him, let us be happy. Just...let us go. So that you can move on."

Edward's jaw clenched, seeming to war with Bella's words and his own emotions. If he agreed or saw an ounce of reason, it was difficult to tell. His eyes looked between them both before he averted his gaze and said, "I recognize that no words could ever be enough for what I did to you, Isabella. What I...tried to do to you was despicable—"

"Look her in the eyes," his words were cut off by the low growl that emanated from Jasper. This time the empath stepped forward, releasing Bella's hand as he walked down the steps until he was face to face with Edward. Saying with a dangerous calm enough to make Edward back away a step, "Do you think it isn't enough that she has to see you, standing there with that same self righteous air? Is there an ounce of shame in that dead heart of yours or is that too much to ask? For you to be sincere for once in your miserable existence and atone for your actions."

"I do feel shame for my actions," Edward said through gritted teeth. "You know I do."

"Then say it. Having you say these words without so much as having the courage to face her does little to convince Bella. I can assure you an apology isn't enough for me. So lift your gaze. And look. At. Her."

Bella's heart stuttered.

The power rippling off Jasper in this moment was overwhelming even for her, and he wasn't projecting his gift her way at all. No he was siphoning all of the distress Jasper had felt from Bella the day he found her—the sorrow that nearly broke her completely—and the blinding fear after finally escaping Victoria.

Edward felt it.

He felt it and recoiled as if he'd been slapped.

His gaze travelled up the steps and over Jasper's shoulder until he found her again.

It was an effort not to look away from him this time. Steeling herself, Bella closed her hands into fists beside her and waited for him to speak.

"I'm sorry, Bella. For everything I've done. For involving Victoria in all this. I am sorry I was too consumed by my own need to have someone to realize I was wrong. I did care for you, believe it or not. Therefore, if you wish to be a part of this family and choose Jasper, I won't stand in your way. Go ahead, be happy."

Without another word, Edward turned and stalked away. Back into the forest where no thoughts could reach him.

Once he was far enough away, Jasper turned and sighed. Sharing a knowing glance with Bella, one of hope.

Without hesitation she wandered down the steps, stopping just one above his, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Melting into him as he slid his arms around her waist. "It'll be okay," she reassured as she sank her fingers into his hair. Shivering when he buried his face against her neck, seeking shelter from the storm inside his heart.

Her eyes stared up ahead where Edward had been and she silently hoped what they were all about to do would put an end to this. Once and for all.


Thanks for reading x

Stick around for the next chapter and find out what the Cullens have in store for Edward! What did we think about the moments shared between Bella and Jasper?