Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting rays across Bella's face as her eyes fluttered open. She let out a small yawn and rubbed her eyes as she sat up, letting the comforter fall to her waist as she looked at the clock on the nightstand to see it was only seven in the morning. Bella looked around until her eyes landed on the figure lounging in her window seat with a book in his hands propped on his knee. Bella studied Jasper as the sun rose behind him creating a golden halo engulfed him. The memories of last night came flooding back and hit her like a freight train and a choked sob escaped through her lips. Jasper's head turned quickly towards her as he set the book down beside him.

"Isabella." Jasper spoke softly as he appeared beside her. She looked over at him with tear filled eyes as he knelt on the ground beside her bed and gently took hands into his, running his thumbs over her knuckles softly. "Talk to me Darlin'."

"It wasn't another nightmare was it…" Bella trailed off as the ache in her chest grew stronger. Jasper nodded, looking down at their joined hands.

"No, it wasn't Darlin'…" Jasper whispered to her gently squeezing her hands and sending her waves of sympathy.

"Oh Jasper. I'm so sorry." Bella choked out as the unshed tears fell down her cheeks and dropped on their conjoined hands.

"Why are you apologizing? You did nothin' wrong. You were the one who was wronged, Darlin'." Jasper whispered softly to her as he slowly stood up and sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his shoulder. Jasper let go of one of her hands and ran his hand soothingly through her hair as her, now free hand, gripped onto his other wrist.

"If I never came to Forks this wouldn't be happening. He wouldn't have ever gotten a whiff of my blood, you and her would still be together, your family wouldn't have to be moving so soon, and I bet they are wondering what to do with me now that I know about you guys. I mean I'm a loose end now. I am still a human who knows about the wolves, vampires, and the Vultori and everything. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if they were trying to figure out how to get rid of me…" Bella rambled as Jasper gently squeezed her hand and moved his hand from her hair to her cheek and lifted her face to meet his eyes.

"Isabella, they love you as one of their own. You comin' into our lives was the best thing to happen to that family. I haven't seen them smile this much since I joined them decades ago. So don't ever think that you comin' here was somethin' bad. She and I have been rocky for quite a while honestly, way before moving here, way before meetin' ya. So don't try to harbor all this unneeded guilt." Jasper said with pure honesty. She felt him sending out waves of assurance to back up what he was telling her was nothing but the truth. She stared into his darkened golden irises searching them for any hint of deceit.

"I don't know what to do now…" Bella breathed as she continued to look to him for answers. "I was so wrapped up in him… My life was revolving around him…"

"I know, but you are a brilliant, wonderful, beautiful soul and you are beyond strong and will be able to come back from this stronger than ever." Jasper assured her and sent her a soft smile. He watched as the corners of her lips lifted slightly before waves of fear and anxiety started pouring off of her.

"What about Victoria? She's still out there. He knows that she's still out there! What if she comes back for me…? Or worse, what if she comes for me and finds Charlie?" Bella panicked as she looked towards the door.

"Don't worry about that. I will take care of Victoria. I am going to be gettin' help today and we will be workin' on that for you so you can feel safe again." Jasper promised her. "Charlie got home last night a little after midnight and he came straight in here to check on ya. Then I heard him get up this morning and head about six. I'm not goin' to let anything happen to you or Charlie." Jasper vowed to her.

"I know you won't. But won't you be leaving with the rest of them?" Bella asked as she rested her cheek against his shoulder, and she felt him stiffen at the mention of the family.

"Honestly, no. They are so attached to her and relied on her so much when it came to me and how I was handlin' the new diet, I know they don't trust me. It's fine really. My brother and his mate are coming to town today. I will probably be joining them again for a while at least." Jasper sighed. Bella felt his body shift slightly towards the window, causing her to look up at him.

"What is it? Are they here?" Bella asked, leaning up, but keeping her hands in his.

"No." Jasper said with a hard voice. "It's Rosalie and Emmett." Jasper let go of her hands and rested them in her lap. "Let me see what is going on. Stay right here." Jasper said as he got up and ran out of her room and out of the house. Bella got out of the bed and walked over towards the window seat and curled up against the window watching the three vampires talking near the edge of the woods.

Bella watched for what felt like forever as the three vampires talked outside. Bella watched as Rosalie started looking enraged and pointing at Jasper and then towards the house and the window that she was sitting at. Bella was sure she was talking about her as she slid the window open slightly and pressed the side of her head to the opening to try and catch what was being said.

"...Jasper she is human, she isn't supposed to know about us and if Edward is no longer in the picture, it's either she turns or she has to…" Rosalie's voice fluttered to the window and however Rosalie finished the sentence caused Jasper to take a defensive stance against her. Bella scrambled out of the window seat and raced down the stairs and out the back door towards the snarling vampires.

"What is going on!?" Bella yelled, causing the three of them to turn towards her. Jasper quickly leapt in front of her and crouched to protect her. "Jasper? What's going on?" Bella asked, her voice trembled slightly as she rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Bella be careful." Emmett warned as he slowly got closer towards her, causing Jasper to snarl at him.

"Careful of what?" Bella asked, confusion evident. "Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on here? Why are you guys acting like I'm in danger? Why did it seem like you guys were fighting?" Bella desperately asked, looking at the three vampires for answers.

"Careful of Jasper, Bella." Rosalie said softly. "Come to us, he is very upset over a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" Jasper growled as he curled an arm behind him holding Bella in place. "What was the misunderstanding? You are going to either make her change or kill her? Where did I not understand, Rosalie? You guys love her, I can feel it, how could ya' be so cold?" Jasper seethed at them. "Emmett, ya' always talk about how she's like the lil' sister ya always wanted. Is this how ya would treat them? Either force them to join this life after their world was turned upside down or kill them?"

"Em… Rose…" Bella gasped as her hand moved from Jasper's shoulder to his hand holding on tightly.

"Us? Cold? Like you have room to talk. She doesn't know about your past and how cold you can be. You don't have enough control on that bloodlust Jasper. That is why we were worried about Bella being alone with you. Her birthday party was enough proof of that for us to be concerned." Rosalie spat out, looking between Jasper and Bella. "Besides, you know she wants to turn. She can turn and join us, just like Alice said she would." Rosalie said, trying to justify herself.

"So, if I didn't want to turn anymore… You were going to kill me?" Bella asked, feeling her anger rise up. "I wanted to be with him! I only wanted to be with you all! Now, I don't know if I want to turn anymore, and because of that you were, what, coming here to make sure I don't talk?" Bella raged, leaning over Jasper's shoulder.

"Bella, understand we can't risk exposure…" Rosalie said softly. "You can still be with us. This is so we can protect you and Charlie. Think about Charlie."

"Wow. I never thought I would see this." A deep voice called through the woods. "Now, Major, what's got you in this little family feud? Care for some help?" Bella watched as two blurs appeared beside Jasper in front of her. Bella looked at the two new vampires in front of her. The first was a female with long, blonde, wavy hair and was about her height and was dressed in a simple pair of black leggings and a black hoodie. Bella looked over at the other new vampire and took him in quickly and noticed he was about Jasper's height with brown, longish, wavy hair and clad in a pair of worn denim jeans and a plain gray shirt. Both vampires were in a crouching stance like Jasper on either side of him, protecting her.

"Thanks for comin' Cap." Jasper nodded at the male counterpart as Emmett stood in front of Rosalie. "Now, are we done here?" Jasper asked.

"Bella, come with us. Look at them, they have red eyes. You are not safe with them obviously." Emmett said, trying to reason with her further.

"No." Bella stated, firmly.

"No? Little Bells, don't be stubborn like this now…" Emmett called.

"No. I'm not being stubborn. I trust Jasper and he trusts them. So, I will too then." Bella felt Jasper sending her waves of appreciation and gratitude.

"Bella. Did you really forget your birthday? He almost attacked you! He can't control himself." Rosalie yelled at her.

"Yeah, I remember my birthday all too well! I remember every single one of you vegetarians eyes darken and started salivating over a small fucking papercut! Jasper wanted to protect me! His eyes only darkened when fucking Edward threw me into all that fucking glass and cut my arm! Imagine what your bloodlust was like that night! Now multiply that by five regular vampires and one who was obsessed with my blood! There is no way he could maintain control after that, yet he did! He wasn't coming for me! He was coming for Edward! I felt the intentions from him! I am safer with Jasper and them than I ever was with Edward, and you know that!" Bella screamed at the people she thought cared about her. She felt calming waves come over her and a gentle squeeze of her hand in Jasper's.

"Is that what he told you?" Emmett asked and even Bella's human ears could pick up the skepticism in his voice.

"No. That is what I saw and observed. Now get the fuck off my property and leave me alone. Go find Edward and Alice. You all seem to trust them more than facts anyways." Bella panted as her body started to tremble. She heard Jasper make a grunting noise and she was quickly wrapped in his arms and calming emotions were washing over her as she continued to tremble. She saw the male and female vampire move closer together to protect them better.

"Bella. Once we leave, we will not be coming back. We can't protect you once we leave you." Rosalie said.

"Jasper will protect me." Bella stated coldly, as she buried herself in Jasper's arm further.

"Fine. Let's go Emmett." Rosalie glared at them one last time before taking off into the woods.

Jasper watched as Emmett and Rosalie took off back to the Cullen residence as they sent waves of anger and resentment towards him. He continued to send calming emotions over Bella as he held her shaking body in his arms. Once he was sure that they were officially away from them let out a sigh and nodded at the two vampires to release their stances.

"Ya got here a little earlier than ya said. Was it another one of those feelings?" Jasper asked and the male smiled a toothy grin at them and nodded.

"You're right about that Major. Char and I got in Washington, and I got one of those feelings and we skipped right over here to make sure you were okay and to help out if needed." The male smiled and looked over at Bella and back at Jasper. "Is she gonna be okay?"

"Yeah. I think so. Just a lot happening all at once and it's a lot to process. Even for me." Jasper sighed and turned to Bella, causing her to look up at him. "You okay, Darlin'? Are you still with me?" Jasper whispered as he ran a hand through her hair.

"Yeah… I just… They were going to kill me weren't they…" Bella murmured in disbelief. "Like I know they were only going to do it to protect their family… But I thought they loved me… Rose was even nice to me for a while…" Bella whispered, staring blankly into Jasper's eyes. Jasper felt his dead heart seize at the heartbreak radiating from her unknowingly.

"They do love you Bella…" Jasper started as disbelief crashed into him. "I promise you Bella. They do love ya. They are strugglin' right now with the deterioration of their family unit within their coven and you are right, they are just tryin' to protect their family. They're doin' it in all the wrong ways possible and would only regret and hurt themselves more if they went along with it. They aren't thinkin' things through right now and are only goin' on instincts right now." Jasper tried assuring more.

"I know, but that first instinct was to kill me... I just need time away from them. I also didn't like how they were talking about you. I will make things right with them, eventually. I just… I just need to get away from them." Bella said, gripping his shirt tighter in her hands.

"I know. Thank ya for standin' up for me. I never knew ya had a mouth on ya like that." Jasper breathed out a chuckle at that as he smoothed her hair away from her face.

"They're absolutely adorable." The male whispered to the female vampire causing a sigh to escape Jasper's lips.

"Shut up Peter! They were having a moment and you just ruined it!" The female admonished him and an echo of stone hitting stone sounded through the backyard.

Bella and Jasper turned and watched the two newcomers interact in front of them causing Jasper to let out another sigh and drop one of his arms from around Bella. "Isabella, let me introduce you to some old friends of mine." Jasper said, clearing his throat.

"Peter Whitlock is the name, Little Lady." The male stepped forward and held out his hand to Bella. Jasper watched as she slowly reached her hand out to him, radiating anxiety and skepticism, as Peter took and kissed it quickly before dropping it. "This is my lovely wife and mate Charlotte."

"Nice to meet ya, Sweetie!" The female, Charlotte, smiled and did an awkward one-armed hug as she was still wrapped up in Jasper. "And call me Char, these two do it all the time."

"Nice to meet you guys too. Call me Bella." Bella smiled at them, which caused Jasper to smile to himself since that was the first genuine smile, he's seen from her in over twenty-four hours. "Let's all go inside if you don't mind. It's going to be daylight soon, and the weather forecast said it's not supposed to be sunny out, but I don't want to risk it with you all."

The three vampires nodded as they followed Bella into her house and gathered into the living room. Bella spun around and clasped her hands behind her back. "Make yourselves at home. I'm going to get changed real quick." Jasper nodded and watched as Bella took off up the stairs. Jasper waited until he heard her close the door for him to sink down into the recliner with a tired sigh.

"What's going on, Major? What did we run in on?" Peter asked as he pulled Char towards the couch and sat down quickly.

"Where do I even start?" Jasper mumbled. "You know how Alice and I have been having a rocky time for the last few decades right?" Jasper asked as he rested his head back and closed his eyes.

"Yeah, I remember the last time we talked the damn pixie was throwing a fit about you wanting to come visit the ranch for a few weeks." Peter answered.

"Yeah, things never got any better between us, well, until we moved here. That's when Edward met Isabella. He can't read her mind like he can everyone else and he instantly became obsessed with her. It's not just her mind he's obsessed with, it's her blood. She's his singer…" Jasper trailed off, worry evident in his voice. "But the last couple weeks after her birthday incident, both Edward and Alice were actin' real strange, and then they just up and left. Told me they had to go to Port Angeles to pick up somethin', I figured it was more shoppin' Alice did for herself or to force on Isabella, and they just never came back. Or at least they didn't come back when the family was there. I guess they waited for us to go play baseball last night and came back to get their shit and left us all letters."

"Letters? Really? They didn't have the balls to tell ya'll in person?" Charlotte gasped, anger radiating off her as Jasper quickly sent her calming energy. "Sorry, Major."

"All good. But yeah, they left us letters. Edward's letter was to Isabella about how he never loved her, just her blood and used her to make Alice jealous." Jasper explained further.

"Hold up, why was he usin' the girl to make Alice jealous?" Peter interrupted.

"'Cause they are mates, apparently." Jasper grounded out. "He used her to make Alice jealous since she was with me, and he had to watch and all that." Jasper shrugged. "Alice's letter was pretty much the same thing. She couldn't watch her mate with his singer knowing that he never loved Isabella and only loved her. She was only friends with Isabella to try to keep her close to the family for Edward's future use but couldn't handle it anymore. Isabella ended up havin' a panic attack after readin' the letter and once I got her to calm down, she left and that's when you called me." Jasper said, looking up and making eye contact with Peter.

"So, what was it that we just saw here? It seems like the pixie and Eddie boy betrayed the family and left ya'll. Why are they fightin' with you?" Peter asked and Charlotte peaked up.

"And what happened at her birthday party?" Charlotte asked quickly.

"Nothing major happened on my birthday, honestly. I didn't want to have one in the first place, but Alice insisted on it." Bella's voice carried into the room as she rounded the corner after descending the stairs. She walked into the living room and sat on the couch and curled up in the corner of it. Jasper studied her as she wrapped a blanket around her, getting comfortable as she changed into a pair of leggings and an oversized tank top.

"I wouldn't say nothin' happened at your birthday party…" Jasper mumbled as Bella made eye contact and glared at him.

"Nothing that was your fault. Like I told Rose, you were just trying to protect me, right?" Bella asked, quirking an eyebrow up at him, challenging him. He quickly nodded in agreement with her. "Exactly. I am a very clumsy human, and I got a papercut and Jasper's eyes were the only ones that didn't turn dark or anything. I saw you weren't even looking at me when you tried rushing over, you were looking at Edward. He was the jackass that threw me back into the glass and made me bleed even more." Bella explained further and turned towards Charlotte and Peter. "Jasper has done nothing wrong but protect me and that family is fucking stupid for not seeing that and trusting him."

"Damn, Major, you got you a feisty human." Peter smiled with excitement that mirrored Charlotte. "Reminds me of when I first met Char over here." Peter laughed, causing the other two vampires to chuckle.

"That she is. Just now seein' this side of her though. It is very refreshin'." Jasper's laughter died out and turned back to Peter. "The fight that ya walked in on was Rose and Emmett came to either turn Bella or kill her. Not like just them leavin' wouldn't kill her with a vampire out there lookin' for any chance to get her." Jasper said with a hard voice.

"That's pretty shitty since their brother was the one who fucked up. And she doesn't seem the type to go running and tell ya'll secrets." Charlotte said, shaking her head.

"Yeah, I always knew that family wasn't right. I tried to warn ya brother, but you were too entranced by that damn pixie." Peter said, sighing. "Well, good thing we came straight here to help ya! We'll protect ya Little Lady!" Peter said, smiling a large toothy grin at Bella, who smiled back at him and Charlotte.

Jasper sighed with a small smile on his face as waves of appreciation and safety radiated from Bella's spot on the couch. Jasper sent back the same emotions back to Bella causing her smile to widen and look over at Jasper. Curiosity and intrigue started being directed toward Jasper, causing him to look over at Peter and Charlotte, who were looking between Jasper and Bella with matching mischievous smiles.

"Let's go create a perimeter and ya can fill me in on this other vamp situation. Char, honey, will you stay here with Little Lady and make sure nothin' happens while we're gone. Maybe get her some food?" Peter said as he stood up and motioned towards Bella.

"Sure thang! You and the Major go have some fun and catch up! I will keep Bella company! I have the perfect idea!" Charlotte smiled and appeared next to Bella in a blink of an eye. "How would you feel about a lowkey girls' day? Get some pizza and junk food and binge something on Netflix?"

Bella beamed at her and nodded with excitement. "That sounds perfect!" Jasper let out a relieved sigh and nodded to Peter.

"Alright, we will be back later and let ya girls bond. I'll grab a bite while we are running a perimeter. Text me if you need anythin', alright?" Jasper said getting out of the recliner and stared at Bella until she nodded at him, and Peter came up beside him and smacked him on the shoulder. "Alright, let's get going Captain." Jasper smirked at his old friend who gave him a matching smirk and they took off quickly out the back door.