A/N: I'm so sorry it's been a couple days since I got to update this story. I was so caught up in my job, I've been having to pull 10 hour shifts at work and I work on my feet all day, so I have been exhausted whenever I get home late in the evening and usually just eat dinner and go straight to bed. So please enjoy this new update and hopefully I will be able to get more content out as I reread and rework some of my other works and get them posted on here.

In regard to the story, timeline wise Bella is older and has already graduated. The James situation happened in her senior year after Edward and Bella had already been together for a year and half. Also, after the Cullens first passed through and the treaty was made every generation of the main spirit warriors would shift after they turn 18, they only shifted sooner if vampires were near and the magic in their blood activated them earlier. Just wanted to clear any confusion up between canon and my fanfic.

Please enjoy!

Bella felt like the ground below her was going to open up and swallow her whole as she stared at her father, unable to catch her breath. Bella's eyes quickly shot towards Jasper, who wasn't faring any better than her as he sat statue still and not blinking at her father with fear and confusion evident in his golden irises. Bella's eyes swung back to her father's trying to study his expression.

"How? What? Dad?" Bella stammered as she gasped for breath and felt a cool hand quickly take hers that were resting on the table. She glanced down as she tried to even her breathing. She felt the calming waves of emotion flow into through the marble white hand grasping one of hers and squeezed gently.

"Calm down Bells. I guess I should have worded that differently or something." Charlie said and shook his head as he watched his daughter slowly calm her breathing down.

"Dad, how do you even know about that? What do you know? Who knows you know?" Bella frantically asked, disregarding the calming emotions trying to break against her panicked barrier again.

"Well, I'm going to need a drink for this." Charlie stated as he awkwardly removed his hand from Bella's and got up from the table and grabbed a beer from the fridge. "So, you know how I grew up here and have been friends with Billy my whole life right?" Charlie asked as he sat down and popped the bottle open and took a swig. Bella nodded softly. "Well, a few nights after graduation, I was on the reservation and we were very drunk and he was ranting about how these 'Cold Ones' had run through the town and had trespassed through the reservation and he got really worked up and well, he shifted in front of me. Sobered me up real quick." Charlie said, taking another long swig of his beer.

"Wait! Billy can shift too?" Bella asked, the shock even more blatant in her voice. "He didn't hurt you did he?"

"What? No. I was shocked obviously, my best friend from when I was in diapers, just shifted into a giant wolf. I took off after that happened and ran all the way back to his house and took off in my truck to the house. It took a couple of days, but then I went back and talked to him and got some things cleared up." Charlie explained.

"So, what's everything you know? And again, how do you know about Jasper?" Bella asked, looking from her father to Jasper, who was watching Charlie with a blank expression.

"I'm getting there Bells, calm down." Charlie sighed and turned his attention to Jasper. "Billy told me the tribe's story about his grandfather running into these creatures they called the 'Cold Ones' that caused them to shift into the wolves. That a few ran through their land a few weeks prior causing all the dormant shifters to suddenly shift and that his grandfather had to round all these confused, scared, wolves up and have to train them to protect the reservation now that they have shifted." Charlie explained further. "Apparently this was a few decades after the Cullens had been here the first time and his grandfather explained to them about the treaty. Though I don't believe you were with the Cullens at that point were you son?" Charlie asked, keeping his eyes level with Jasper. Bella studied Jasper and never saw him look so anxious around a human before.

"No sir." Jasper stated.

"Regardless, I kept his secret and kept tabs on anything strange that may happen around Forks that could trigger any of the newer generations on the reservations so they could be prepared. Then the Cullens came through a couple years before you got here." Charlie said, turning to Bella. "Then a few of the boys turned and this was after Billy ended up in a wheelchair and he couldn't shift anymore. So he had to get Uley to take over the wolves for him, even though he was still in charge basically. When the shifting started and the Cullens moving here and that name we assumed it was the same one with the treaties. The eyes match anyways." Charlie said.

"So that's how you knew about Jasper?" Bella asked and looked back at her father. "Is that why you didn't like Edward? Why didn't you say anything?"

"Yeah, that's why I know about Hale, it's the eyes." Charlie nodded towards the male. "But no. That's not why I didn't like Edward. He just didn't seem like a good fit for you, Bells. Seemed too controlling. I didn't want to overstep your boundaries or anything but I was scared any time you left with him. Any time I saw you two together, neither of you two were smiling. Then I started seeing you less and less, so Billy had Uley and the pack keep a close eye on you since they could better protect you if anything happened."

"You're not wrong there…" Bella muttered and shook her head again. "So you're okay with Jasper though? Even though he's a vampire? Like Edward?" Bella asked, worry seeping deeper in her voice.

"Well yeah. Like I said he was one of the only ones I liked of the Cullens. It still makes me nervous, with you being so clumsy, but I trust him. Even Jacob, who trust me, doesn't like any of the Cullens, said that he's the best one out of the whole family. You trust him obviously, so he can't be too bad." Charlie shrugged and looked at Jasper. "But like I said, don't try anything. Vampire or not I will end you."

"Dad." Bella groaned, breaking the tension in the room, causing Jasper to half smirk and nod.

"Wouldn't expect anythin' less, Chief Swan. I promise, my only worry is keepin' Isabella safe." Jasper said, looking up to him.

"Good. Then we won't have any issues." Charlie said as the oven dinged, causing Bella to jump in surprise and hurry to get dinner out of the oven. Bella could feel two sets of eyes on her as she shakily got the dish out of the oven and rested it on the stove. She got out two plates and served two helpings and moved them to the table.

"Eat up." Bella said as she sat a plate in front of Charlie who took it eagerly.

"Did you already eat, Hale?" Charlie asked after his first bite.

"Yes, sir. Went for a run earlier today. I'm all good." Jasper said with a soft smile on his face and Bella watched the tension ease out of him and relaxation take over him.

"Dad, call him Jasper." Bella admonished and turned to Jasper. "Hale isn't even your real last name is it?" Bell asked with a knowing look.

"Nope. It's actually Whitlock." Jasper answered proudly.

"It suits you, doesn't Dad?" Bella said, taking a quick bit and earning a nod and grunt of agreement from Charlie.

"So, now that that is out in the open. You going to tell me why you're really crashing here?" Charlie asked as he ate. Bella paused her hand halfway to her mouth and glanced up at Jasper who was already looking at Bella for her direction.

"Well, Jasper isn't going to be the only one crashing here…" Bella trailed off, keeping eye contact with Jasper, who gave her a small nod of approval.

"I thought that the rest of the family left?" Charlie asked, looking between the two.

"They did." Bella quickly said, dropping her fork to the plate, her bite forgotten. "There are others though. Jasper's friends from before he joined the Cullens. Their names are Peter and Charlotte. They are amazing, Dad. You'll love them, I'm sure. But they are different from Jasper." Bella explained.

"What? Are they fairies or something? Are those real?" Charlie asked, shocked.

"No. No?" Bella asked, looking at Jasper who shook his head. "No. They are vampires as well. They just have different eyes, and I don't want that to freak you out." Bella said.

"Just spit it out Bells. I can handle it." Charlie sighed, frustrated.

"They have red eyes. They are human drinkers. But they don't drink from innocent people." Bella quickly explained as Charlie looked at her a little taken back. "They go to the seedy parts of cities and drink from dealers, smugglers, predators, just bad people that the law either ignores or can't ever reach. They don't drink from innocent people at all." Bella explained further to ease her father.

"Alright. So they will have red eyes over the yellow ones Jasper has?" Charlie asked and Bella nodded, smiling at the use of Jasper's first name. Charlie turned to Jasper and looked him right in the eye. "You trust them right? They aren't going to hurt Bella?"

"No Chief Swan. They absolutely adore her and will lay down their lives for her. Told me that today, sir. I trust them completely." Jasper answered firmly.

"Okay, as long as they aren't doing it here and they are only doing it to bad people, I don't see any issue in it." Charlie shrugged. "So why are they here though?" Charlie asked, suspicion evident in his voice.

"Well, remember when I took off to Phoenix last year?" Bella asked quietly. Charlie nodded with a sullen look on his face. "I took off because a rogue vampire was after me and I didn't want you to get caught up in the crosshair basically. So I went to Phoenix with Alice and Jasper and they tried to keep me safe, but I got a call from Mom, but it wasn't Mom. It was James, the rogue vampire. I thought he had her so I snuck away from them and took off to where I thought he had Mom held. She wasn't there obviously, but he was and he attacked me. Tossed me around a bit, played with me basically, and then bit me once Edward and the rest of the family showed up. I don't know what happened after the bite because I had vampire venom going through me. I was told Edward sucked the vemon out of me so I wouldn't change. Then I woke up in the hospital." Bella said, taking a deep breath and held up a hand to Charlie, who was about to ask something. He nodded and closed his mouth with a huff, waiting for her to finish.

"When I woke up in the hospital, Edward told me that James' mate was still out there and she blamed me for the loss of her mate since I was the one he was after. He wouldn't tell me what happened after I was bit though, he just said that it was taken care of. That brings us to the present time. Edward and Alice took off, said they were mates or whatever. The family would have to end up moving soon anyways due to Carlisle not looking as old as he should be, and they can't necessarily leave a human, alive, with knowledge of their world. Rose and Emmett…" Bella trailed off with a sad expression and looked at the table. Bella felt a comforting emotion wrap around her and a cool hand took hers again. She smiled softly and looked up at the golden eyes and sent a grateful wave towards him and gave his hand a squeeze. "Rose and Emmett were here earlier this morning and they started an argument with Jasper about basically saying I needed to turn or I… I had to die. Jasper wasn't okay with that and that's when Peter and Char showed up and they protected me as well." Bella explained.

"So let me get this straight. You snuck away from the protection of vampires to go up against another vampire, got bit by said vampire, ended up in the hospital for a week, have the mate of the vampire that got killed in Phoenix after you, and the family that you trusted wanted to either kill you or turn you?" Charlie asked incredulously. Bella bit her lip and nodded shyly.

"Yeah, basically?" Bella shrugged.

"How do you handle this?" Charlie asked, turning to Jasper.

"It's not easy. She attracts danger I believe." Jasper sighed.

"So after she got bit what happened? And why was this James after her?" Charlie asked Jasper.

"We got to the dance studio as soon as we figured out she snuck off and seen her get bit. I was the one with the most experience with fightin' other vampires so I made Emmett hold James as I ripped up the floorboards and created a pyre. To permanently kill a vampire you need to rip them apart and set the parts on fire. So that's what I did. I made sure he was completely gone and wouldn't be any future harm for Isabella." Jasper explained with a faraway look in his eyes. Bella sent out another wave of gratitude towards him and squeezed his hand. Jasper focused back in and looked at their hands and shook whatever thoughts plagued him.

"James had a gift for trackin' and he saw each hunt as a new challenge, as a game basically. Isabella was the greatest challenge 'cause of how hard we tried protectin' her and Edward basically taunted him. After killin' James I told the Cullens that we need to take out Victoria before she had a chance to come up with a plan or anythin', but Alice said she didn't see Victoria comin' after Isabella. But I've seen what happens when a mate loses their other half, she's not just goin' to let her live. She's the type that believes in an eye for an eye." Jasper said. "That's why Peter and Char are here. Peter just knows things. He has an unconfirmed gift, but he says he just knows things or sees things. He saw Victoria comin' after Isabella. He knew I wouldn't just leave her so they came to help."

"Damn, Bells. You really do attract danger." Charlie said with a shake of his head. "So, this Peter and Charlotte are going to help protect Bells and get rid of this Victoria?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, Chief Swan. That is the plan." Jasper answered.

"Charlie. Charlie is fine." Charlie corrected as he finished his dinner.

"Seconds?" Bella asked as she grabbed his plate, and he shook his head. Bella grabbed her half-eaten plate as well and tossed what she didn't finish in the trash and set the empty plates in the sink.

"So where are the others at? Are they up in your room too?" Charlie asked as he finished his beer.

"Seattle right now." Jasper said as Bella shook her head.

"Let me guess, dinner?" Charlie asked and received a nod from Jasper. "When are they going to be here?"

"Sometime in the morning, right?" Bella asked as she looked over her shoulder at Jasper who nodded.

"Alright. I hope I'll still be here to meet them when they arrive. I got another early shift." Charlie said as he stood up from the table and threw the beer away. "I can do those Bells."

"Nah, it's fine. I'll do them. Go relax and watch tv. Isn't there a Mariners game tonight?" Bella asked and Charlie nodded, perking up.

"Do you like baseball, son?" Charlie asked, turning to Jasper.

"Who doesn't? The greatest American pastime." Jasper said, smirking as he stood up. "Would ya like 'nother beer Charlie?" Jasper asked as he blurred towards the fridge. Charlie looked over at the fridge, shocked to hear it opened.

"Yeah, sounds perfect." Charlie said as he took the offered bottle. "This is going to take some getting used to." Charlie chuckled. "Come on, let's go watch the game."

Bella watched as the two men walked into the living room talking about baseball as she smiled and turned back to do the dishes. She quickly finished them and put away the leftovers in the fridge. Once the kitchen was cleaned, she dried her hands on the towel that was hanging off the oven and started towards the living room to join the guys. She watched from the doorway as Charlie sat in his normal recliner with his feet up, laughing at something that Jasper said about the opposing team. Jasper reclined into the couch next to Charlie with his arm propped on the back of the couch, his fingers playing with the fringe of the blanket that Charlotte had placed on it. Jasper had a carefree air around him as he laughed with Charlie as the commercials played through. Bella turned back into the kitchen and grabbed another beer for Charlie and went back to watching the scene before her. Her heart felt full seeing Charlie smiling and laughing like he did with Billy, but with Jasper. Her heart fluttered as Jasper's laugh reached her and caught his eye as he looked back at her. She felt her cheeks warm at the warm honey eyes on her.

"Gonna stand there all night Darlin'?" Jasper smirked, causing her to blush brighter and roll her eyes.

"Oh, hush Major." Bella teased as she entered the room fully and set the new beer down next to Charlie's near empty one. She moved past Jasper and sat next to him on the small couch. She felt the slight chill coming from his arm and body and relaxed into the couch.

"Major?" Charlie asked, raising an eyebrow at Jasper.

"A story for another time. It's a little dark." Jasper said, a distant look coming back into his eyes. Bella instinctively reached out and rested her hand on his thigh and gave it a small squeeze to refocus him.

"So, who's winning?" Bella asked to change the subject once Jasper came back to them.

"The Mariners. The best game they've played so far this season." Charlie smiled as he took the new beer and sipped at this one slower once the commercials ended and the game continued. The game was only halfway through when Bella joined and she settled herself into listening to the guys talk and grabbed the book that was on the coffee table and opened it. She unconsciously leans towards the coolness of Jasper as she props her feet up on the coffee table and starts reading the worn, familiar book.

Jasper laughed as Charlie started cursing at the umpire, as if he could actually hear him, due to a horrible call. Jasper heard a small thud to his right and looked over to see Bella's eyes closed and her breathing even, her hands in her lap as if she was still holding the book that had fallen from them. He leaned over and picked it up making sure to have the bookmark in the correct place and set it on the coffee table out of reach of her feet. He leaned back and the movement caused Bella to shift until she leaned into his side, her head resting on his shoulder and her hand coming up to lightly grip at his loose shirt.

"She's out cold, huh?" Charlie asked softly as he turned the tv down slightly.

"Seems like it." Jasper whispered with a small chuckle.

"Do you want me to put her to bed?" Charlie asked, looking between the two.

"Nah, it's fine. I can do it later. She's not botherin' me. Plus, I don't want to bother her and risk wakin' her up. She's been through a hella lot in the past forty-eight hours, she needs all the sleep she can get. " Jasper said, looking over to Charlie.

"Alright. So can I ask you something?" Charlie said, a serious expression taking over his features. Jasper felt the protectiveness overflowing from Charlie as if he was directing it at him, and he knew if he was human he would be sweating bullets. Jasper gave him a curt nod. "So, after this threat is taken care of. Are you and your friends just gonna up and disappear like the others did? And are you going to give her an ultimatum?" Charlie asked, staring at Jasper and looking for any hint of deceit.

"No. I don't see us just up and leavin', not me at least. I…I don't think I can leave her, honestly. Not just 'cause she's a danger magnet. There's somethin' 'bout her that makes existin' easy. I don't know what it is or what it means, but I know I feel free 'round her."" Jasper answered softly and looked down at the girl in question. She wiggled around and curled up into his side further and shivered slightly before a content sigh escaped. He reached back and grabbed the blanket before draping it over her.

"And the ultimatum?" Charlie pressed. Jasper looked back at Charlie and shook his head.

"No, I wouldn't ever take her choices from her. It seems like the family did that enough for her. If she decides she wants to join this life, then I'll support her and help her transition the easiest way possible, but if she wants to stay human then I'll support her there too. I'm nothin' like Edward is. I can't and won't control anythin' she does." Jasper declared as his hand absentmindedly rubbed up and down her arm. "This Isabella I see now is so refreshin'. I never met this little spitfire. She was always so quiet when she came to the house… This suits her so much better."

"I know what you mean. Given I hadn't gotten to spend more than a couple weeks at a time a year with her, I did notice she seemed very reserved more than normal. I chalked it up to her just being nervous about being the new girl at school again, but after a couple years… I wish I would've stepped in." Charlie sighed as the game started its last inning.

"I wanna apologize to ya Charlie." Jasper said as he turned his attention to the tv, knowing the man doesn't do emotions well and this is the most he's probably opened up in a longtime. "I should've paid more attention and picked up the signs and her emotions sooner. I was blind 'cause Alice would always turn my attention whenever I started questionin' anythin' Edward did, especially with Isabella." Jasper sighed, tightening his arm around the sleeping girl slightly, nothing hard enough to wake her or hurt her.

"You're here now. That's all that matters. You're here, and they are gone. She doesn't really seem that torn up about it. A few nights ago we were talking and she always had so many good things to say about your family, especially about Emmett and you, but any time Edward was brought up she seemed to just shrug it off. I think she may have been considering leaving him, but now I know why she may have been hesitant." Charlie said with a shake of his head. Jasper nodded as he thought the same thing, thinking back to her emotions the last few months with Edward being around.

"I think you may be right." Jasper sighed as he watched the last player hit a home run and the two men cheered silently. Jasper watched as Charlie stood up and heard his joints popping.

"I'm going to head to bed. I'll see you and the others in the morning hopefully. You sure you don't want me to wake her or put her to bed myself?" Charlie offered and Jasper smiled and shook his head no.

"Nah, I got the Little Lady." Jasper drawled. Charlie nodded with a small smile as he walked over and kissed the top of Bella's hair before walking up the stairs, calling a goodnight from the stairs.

Jasper sighed as he continued to stay on the couch as he heard Charlie getting ready and in bed. After about twenty minutes he heard Charlie's steady, even breathing and he slowly moved his body so that he was standing up and softly slid his arms behind her back and under her legs, lifting her up into his arms. She curled further into his chest and unconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck. Jasper turned off the tv and turned out the lights as he walked towards the stairs. Once he got to the top of the staircase he felt movement in his arms and glanced down to warm chocolate eyes staring up into his.

"I fell asleep again didn't I?" Bella's thick sleep ridden voice asked. Jasper chuckled softly and nodded. "Sorry." Bella said as she cuddled further into his chest.

"No need to apologize Darlin'." Jasper whispered coolly as he entered her room and set her in her bed under the covers. "Go back to sleep." Jasper said softly as he ran a hand through her hair.

"I need to pee and change first." Bella mumbled as she fought to get out of the covers. Jasper breathed out a laugh and pulled the cover away from her as she glared at the blanket as if it personally offended her. She grumbled to herself as she got out of the bed and walked over to the dresser and pulled out a shirt and shorts. "Don't go anywhere. Please." Bella said as she was at the bathroom door. Jasper nodded and sat in the window seat.

Jasper leaned back and glanced out the window and watched the nightlife to give Bella some privacy he knew she craved. He watched as a spider was spinning a web in the tree branch closest to the window, fireflies lighting the sky, owls echoing hoots sounding from the trees surrounding the house, bats hunting in the air for their prey. His eyes focused on a small bat that flew under the streetlights chasing after a moth that evaded it. A raccoon ran under the streetlight catching Jasper's eyes as it headed towards the trash bin that was outside for the morning pickup. Jasper heard the floorboard creak near him and his attention quickly diverted from the nightlife toward the groggy Bella. He looked at her in the dark and took in her appearance and saw she changed into a pair of short sleep shorts and an oversized Mariners t-shirt that was surely one of Charlie's older shirts.

"What's got your attention out there? Are we all safe?" Bella yawned as she walked over to him and leaned over his shoulder to look out the window into the dark abyss she was sure to see.

"All safe Darlin'. Just watching the nightlife. I wanted to give you some privacy." Jasper whispered as Bella turned to look over at him with a small smile.

"Thank you." Bella whispered, staring into his eyes. Jasper searched her eyes for anything to give away how she was feeling, coming up empty. Jasper turned to sit facing the room and held out his arms for her. Bella sat down next to him and wrapped an arm around his waist as his arm came around her shoulder, she rested her head against his shoulder and let out a soft sigh.

"How are ya doin'? Honestly. I can't feel your emotions right now." Jasper asked softly as he ran his hand through her hair.

"I'm…I'm… I really don't know. I really miss the family. I just can't stop thinking about how Rose and Em were acting this morning and I feel like it was just a dream. When I think of Alice I feel like a sharp knife is slicing into me, she was my best friend. I loved her as a sister." Bella's voice broke and she cleared her throat before continuing. "When I think of Edward, I hurt and feel empty but for some reason I'm not feeling as distraught as I think I should be…" Bella trailed off and froze in his arms and looked up at him. "Is there something wrong with me?" Bella asked, alarmed.

"Why would something be wrong with ya?" Jasper asked as he felt her look up at him.

"Because I was with Edwards for almost three years, he left me for my best friend, and I'm more torn up over losing his family than losing him." Bella whispered.

"I don't think anythin' is wrong with ya." Jasper said softly and cupped her cheek, with the hand that wasn't still running through her hair, and gently swiping his thumb across her cheek. "I was with Alice for decades, given that the last few years things were a little precarious. But I'm not as torn up as I thought I would be. Isabella, can I ask you somethin'? It's fairly serious and if ya don't want to talk 'bout it, we don't gotta." Jasper asked.

"What is it? Can we move to the bed? I'm starting to feel the exhaustion set in." Bella asked. Jasper quickly wrapped her up in his arms and moved her to the bed. He laid her down in bed and under the covers as he took his place in the desk chair and moved it over to the side of the bed. Bella snuggled further into the bed with the covers tucked under her chin as she looked up at Jasper with curious eyes.

"There is no easy way of askin' this. Did anythin' bad ever happen between you and Edward?" Jasper asked as softly as he could. He watched as Bella's eyes widened slightly, her body froze, and her breathing quickly changed as she struggled to even it out.

"I don't want to talk about him." Bella coldly said. "Not tonight. Please." Her voice got smaller as she talked and he watched as her body trembled under the covers. He quickly scooted his chair closer to her and ran his hand through her hair soothingly as she pushed the blanket down and grabbed his free hand in her shaking ones. He sent out calming emotions and wrapped them around her as a security blanket. She finally stopped shaking and her hands loosened their grip as she let go with one and started tracing an abstract pattern on his wrist.

"Okay. We don't have to." Jasper soothed after she calmed down.

"So, Dad likes you. I can tell. I haven't seen him laughing like that unless it's with Billy." Bella said with a soft, warm smile gracing her lips.

"I like him too. He's gonna love Peter. He's an even bigger Mariners fan than I am." Jasper smiled. "It's odd knowin' that he knows and I don't have to pretend around ya'll. It's…liberatin' really." Jasper said.

"Good. I don't want you to pretend around us. Or me at least." Bella yawned as her eyes fluttered shut against her will. Jasper chuckled and shook his head.

"Go to bed Isabella." Jasper whispered as he sent her a wave of lethargic emotions, earning a groan followed by a yawn.

"Not fair. Good night Jasper. I'll see you in the morning." Bella said as she fought against the emotion Jasper continued to send her as she searched his eyes. Jasper smiled and nodded.

"Good night, Isabella. I'll have you a cup of coffee ready for you even." Jasper said, confirming that he will in fact be there in the morning and not disappear on her. Bella smiled and nodded as she tightened her hand in his and let herself be pulled into slumber. Jasper smiled at her sleeping form and left his hand in hers, even after her breathing had evened out and her heartbeat slowed to a steady pace. Jasper slid down slightly in the chair so the back of his head rested on the top of the chair and closed his eyes as he let her heartbeat lull him into a slight comatose state that would be the closest thing to sleep he could achieve. His mind still active, coming up with the future that he promised Charlie, the future of Jasper forever in their lives, spending days like they did today, and the smile on his face grew significantly.