Archive of Our Own

Time heals all wounds. 

Bella didn’t necessarily agree with the old adage, but she did know that time helped numb out the pain. When she was eighteen, she’d truly believed that her life was over, that Edward had taken her heart and soul with him when he left her alone in the forest behind her house. 

Now, she was living away from Forks, she had a nice apartment, she had a decent job, and she was living. It may not have been the perfect life, but really, it was better than she could have expected back then. 

“Bella, honey, I’m taking off,” Will, her boss and friend, called from across the bar. 

She nodded, waving at him. “Later, Will.” 

Sharing a brief smile with him, she turned to the next customer. She’d never have pictured herself as a barmaid, but she truly did enjoy her job, and she owed Will a lot. He’d taken her under his wing, and a month after her twenty-first birthday, he’d paid for her to take the course to be a bar manager. 

That he’d added her name to the licence when she’d passed with flying colours only made her more grateful to him. 

The night moved along quite nicely, the bar filling up gradually. Saturday was always busy, and that was how Bella preferred it. She enjoyed being busy, if only because it kept her mind off of things that were best left well alone. 

As two am arrived, Bella signalled for the DJ to call for last orders and start winding down for the night. She moved along the bar quickly, filling drink orders, smiling and flirting with the regulars, and having a good time with the other staff members. 

Given how busy it was, it wasn’t really a surprise that she didn’t see the woman waiting for her at the end of the bar until it was too late. 

If the red eyes hadn’t been a dead giveaway, the pale skin and unnatural beauty would have told Bella all she needed to know about the woman. 

“Fuck my life,” she murmured to herself, shaking her head. “If you’re here to see me, you’ll have to wait.” 

She spoke quietly, barely moving her lips, but the woman nodded her head in understanding, hearing her as Bella had known she would. 

Bella finished serving on autopilot, her eyes skating to the woman every few minutes. When the bar was almost empty, she poured herself a whiskey and leant against the bar, where the woman was waiting for her. 

“What do you want?” she asked, her tone flat. 

“Are you Bella Swan?” she asked, and Bella rolled her eyes. 

“You already know that I am, or you wouldn’t be sitting in my bar, waiting for me.” 

“Sorry, sugar, I had to check. “I’m Charlotte.” 

Bella just stared at her. 

“I need your help.” 

Snorting inelegantly, Bella took a sip of her drink. “Unless you want my blood, which you absolutely could have taken by force, what help could I possibly give you?” 

Charlotte laughed. “Peter, my mate, he said that you would be feisty.” 

“I don’t know any Peters, especially none that have red eyes.” 

She nodded. “I know, sugar, but you will. Well. I hope. Pete just… he just knows shit. He has a gift that he says isn’t a gift, but…” 

Bella wrinkled her nose. She’d had prior interference by vampire gifts, of course, and they never ended up turning out well for her. Alice had been a prime example of that, and she really didn’t like the idea of another vampire having visions—or whatever the fuck—that involved her. 

“I still don’t understand why you’re here,” she said, eventually. “Can you just do us both a favour and get to the point?” 

She didn’t want to be having this conversation. She didn’t want to be having any conversations with vampires. She didn’t want vampires, full stop. 

“Bells? I’m going to head home. You’ll be alright?” Chris, the doorman, said, as he locked up the main doors to the bar. 

Bella smiled at him. “I’m good, Chris. Tell Meghan I said hi, and have a good rest of your night.” 

“Make sure you get a cab, sweetheart. I know you didn’t bring the bike, and it’s way too late for you to be walking home alone,” he said, offering her a slightly paternal smile. 

She nodded, turning back to Charlotte when Chris left. 

“My brother returned home to us two years ago, a broken man. Peter and I thought that he just needed time, that he would be alright, but he’s not. He doesn’t move. He lies on his bed for weeks at a time, until Peter forces him to hunt. He… we don’t know what to do, but from the bits that he said when he first came to us, we believe that you can help us, and Peter says that you definitely can.” 

Bella’s eyebrow arched slightly. “Who is your brother?” 

“Jasper Whitlock.” 

A torrent of emotions tumbled over Bella simultaneously. Primarily, she was angry with Charlotte for attempting to drag her back into the world that had nearly destroyed her, but almost equal to that anger was concern for Jasper. 

“What’s wrong with him?” she asked, after a moment. 

“Guilt, and heartbreak,” Charlotte replied, wearily. “We know about what happened on your birthday, and that… that was a catalyst. The bitch he was married to destroyed him completely after that happened. She blamed him for her own pain, and that of the family, and she called him a monster. She… let’s just say that if I ever see her again, I’m going to tear her fucking arms off.” 

“Why do you believe that I can help?” Bella asked, curious despite herself. When she saw Charlotte’s face fall, she added, “I’m not… I’m not saying no. Much as I don’t want any part of the Cullens' lives again, I… Well, I don’t hate Jasper, you know? I didn’t blame him for what he did, not even when it happened. I just really don’t understand how I can help.” 

“We think that if you could just visit with him, make sure that he knows you don’t blame him… we’re hoping that it would help him.” 

Bella sighed. “Where is he?” 

“Montana.” 

Swearing softly, Bella let her chin drop to her chest for a moment. 

“Alright. I… I suppose it can’t hurt for me to see him and see if it helps, I guess. I have things to sort out though, before I leave. Do you have a cell phone?” 

Charlotte nodded, and Bella rattled off her number. Charlotte pulled out her cell and put it in, and a moment later, Bella’s phone pinged with a message. 

Bella nodded, walking from the bar into the back room, to grab her bag and jacket. Returning to the main bar, she said, “I’ll call you tomorrow when I’m ready to go. Have you driven, or will we need to take my bike?” 

“Bike?” 

“I don’t drive a car, I ride a bike, so…” 

“I drove here, so I’ll take you and then drive you back home whenever you’re ready. It’s about eleven hours in the car without stopping.” 

Bella nodded. “Right. I… I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” 

Charlotte smiled at Bella as she stood up. 

“Thank you for doing this. I know that I had no right to ask… we just didn’t know what else to do.” 

Bella sighed. “It’s… well, no, it’s not fine, but I don’t mind. If I can help him, then I will.” 

… 

The next day, following an exhausting conversation with a worried Will, Bella threw a duffle bag into the trunk of Charlotte’s car and then climbed into the passenger seat. 

“Hey,” Charlotte said, quietly, and Bella could hear the nerves in the poor woman’s voice. 

Vampire or not, she was only trying to do the best that she could for her family, and Bella could respect that. Softening some, she smiled. 

“Hi. Did you have a good rest of your night?” 

Charlotte smiled wryly and nodded. “It was fine, thank you for asking. I’m ready to get home to my Peter, though.” 

Bella nodded. Carlisle had once explained to her the power of the mating bond, and she knew that it was uncomfortable for vampires to be away from their mates for extended periods of time once they’d found each other. 

They drove in comfortable silence, Bella watching the sparse scenery pass by out of the open window. It was an overcast day, something Bella was sure that Charlotte was grateful for. 

With two stops for Bella to stretch, and have her ‘human moments’, they arrived at Charlotte’s house just before midnight. 

Tired, but wired, Bella got out of the car and slung her duffle bag over her shoulder, eyeing the house warily. Jasper was in there, and Bella had no idea what kind of situation she’d allowed herself to get into. 

The door opened, and a dark haired male walked out at a human pace to greet them. He wrapped his arms around Charlotte, kissing her briefly but passionately, before he turned his attention to Bella. 

“Thank you. For coming. For listening to Charlotte. For… for being brave enough to try and help,” he murmured. 

Bella nodded. “Of course. Where is he?” 

“He’s in his bedroom.” 

“I’m sure that he can hear us,” Bella replied, not attempting to keep her voice down. Perhaps, if Jasper heard her, it would snap him out of his funk long enough that she wouldn’t even have to stay. 

Peter shrugged his shoulders slightly. “I’m not sure if he’s listening. Honestly, I don’t know if he’s heard anything beyond his own thoughts for months.” 

“Has he hunted lately?” Bella asked. 

She saw Peter smile slightly, but he nodded his head. “When Charlotte told me that you’d agreed to visit with him, I took him out hunting today. You’ll be safe here, Isabella. I honestly don’t believe that he’ll hurt you, but we’ll stop him if he tries.” 

Bella rolled her eyes. “I’m not scared of him. Or you, for that matter,” she added. “I just don’t want him to be unduly uncomfortable.” 

Peter and Charlotte chuckled. 

“You are one of a kind, Miss Swan,” Peter said. 

Charlotte grinned. “I told you that she was special.” 

Bella took a deep breath, and then nodded to the house. “Can I see him?” 

Peter led Bella to a bedroom on the second floor, and dropping her bag just outside the door, she followed him into the bedroom. What she saw broke her heart. 

Jasper lay curled up on the bed. He was on his side, his legs drawn up to his stomach with his arms wrapped around them. His eyes were open but unblinking, and they were dead. 

There was no life, no spark in them. 

She walked forward cautiously, squatting down beside the bed so that she was in his eyeline. 

“Jasper?” 

There was no recognition, no reaction. She sighed, perching herself on the bed beside him. Her hand stretched out between them, she touched his hand lightly. 

“Oh, Jasper. What have they done to you?” 

Three things happened at once. 

Jasper clutched at her hand as soon as her skin met his, his eyes shot up to his face, and she heard him let out a pained whimper. 

Glancing back at Peter, she saw a satisfied gleam in his eyes. He nodded at her encouragingly. 

“Jasper, do you remember me?” she murmured, holding his eyes with her own. 

“Bella,” he croaked out, and she sighed with relief. 

Before she could say anything else, he whimpered again, his eyes filling with venom. 

“I’m sorry, so sorry,” he whispered, over and over again. When she pulled her hand away from his, he shook his head. 

“Don’t leave, please, don’t leave me. I’m sorry, so sorry, so sorry.” 

She shifted on the bed, kicking her shoes off and leaning back against the headboard with her legs stretched out straight in front of her. 

“Come here, honey,” she murmured, holding her arms out. 

He shifted rapidly, resting his head against her stomach as his arms wrapped around her waist, his hand clutching at her shirt. She dropped a hand to his head, stroking his hair comfortingly. 

“I’ll fetch you a drink, and a sandwich,” Peter said, quietly. “Will you be alright on your own with him?” 

She nodded. “He won’t hurt me.” 

Though she didn’t know how she knew, she did know that her words were true. Peter nodded his head, clearly agreeing with her, and left the room silently. 

Jasper was still murmuring apologies into her stomach, so she shushed him gently, her hand never pausing in its rhythm as she stroked his head. 

“It’s alright, Jasper,” she said, her tone soft. “I’m not leaving, calm down, honey.” 

He fell quiet, but his chest was still wracked with silent sobs. Peter returned, sandwich and a drink in hand, and he put them on the bedside table, lifting it with ease so that he could place it within reach of Bella’s hand. 

“Charlotte is just looking for a dvd for you to watch,” he told her, and she could hear his pleased amusement. “Do you have any preferences, or requests?” 

She shook her head. “I’m not fussy, but, uh…” 

“Anything you need, Bella. If we can get it for you, we will.” 

“I just wanted to freshen up. It was a long drive, you know? I could do with a shower.” 

He chuckled. “Of course, eat your sandwich, and I’ll show you where the bathroom is. Char has put your bag into the guest room, so you can change in there. I’m… honestly not sure that Jasper will let you sleep in there though.” 

Bella chuckled lightly. “It’s fine. I’ll sleep in here with him, at least for tonight.” 

Peter nodded. “I’ll be back up soon.” 

She nodded and reached out for the sandwich with her free hand. She really didn’t know how she managed to get herself into these situations. Glancing down at Jasper, she sighed. She remembered Jasper being… serenity incarnate. 

Though she knew that he’d had a few issues with following the Cullens’ chosen diet, she’d never felt anything but safe with him. 

Even after he’d tried to reach her on her eighteenth birthday, she hadn’t been scared of seeing him again. Of course, she hadn’t seen him, so it was a moot point, but she’d never so much as thought about being scared of him. 

This Jasper… he was a shadow of the man she’d briefly known. 

She finished the sandwich, grateful that it filled the hunger she’d been starting to feel, and she was sipping at the drink when Peter returned. 

“The bathroom is ready for you, sugar,” he told her, with a small smile. 

Shifting herself from under Jasper, she was sad but unsurprised when he gripped at her a little tighter so that she couldn’t move. 

“Don’t leave me,” he whispered again, and her heart broke all over again for him. 

“Jasper, I’m coming right back, I promise. I just want to get a shower and change, okay? Let me go, honey, I’ll be back before you know it.” 

He didn’t say anything else, but he released his grip on her, and she slid out of his arms. Before she’d even stood up, he’d returned to the position she’d first found him in. 

Shaking her head slightly, she stroked his hair for a final time and then left the room. 

“What did they do to him?” she asked Peter, frowning. “That’s not… that’s not the Jasper I knew.” 

“The pixie bitch destroyed his self worth. Jasper… he had a lot of issues when he met the Cullens, you know? We didn’t have the same kind of start to life that they did, and he had a lot of demons. We let him go without complaint because we thought that she would help him, but… rather than actually helping him deal with his issues, she covered them up with preppy clothes and gold eyes, and just let him… fester.” 

Bella sighed. 

“You know, when I met them… I put them on such a pedestal, Edward and Alice especially, but all of them to some degree. They could do no wrong in my eyes, they were literally perfect in every way. Even when they left, I blamed myself for the longest time. But this… this is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I can’t believe what they’ve turned him into.” 

Peter nodded. “I know what you’re saying. I think that Jazz had a bit of hero worship for them, in a way. They were all so controlled and perfect, and he tried so hard to be the same as them but… it was just a whole clusterfuck waiting to happen.” 

“I noticed that his eyes are still gold,” she commented. “Why is he still sticking to their diet?” 

“Would you rather he ate humans?” Peter asked, and she could hear the honest curiosity in his voice. 

She shrugged. “It’s his natural food source. I wouldn’t expect to keep a lion as a pet and feed it cat food, you know?” 

Peter smiled, and nodded his head. “I agree with you, obviously, but it’s not my decision to make for him. He had to choose it himself.” He nodded to the bathroom. “There are fresh towels in there for you, and the guest room is right next door on the left.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Of course. Thank you for coming here, Bella. I understand that it must have been difficult for you.” 

She sighed, then admitted, “Not as difficult as you might think.” 

…

Freshly showered and dressed in black shorts and a white tank top, Bella returned to Jasper’s room. A television had been set up, and the menu of a movie was waiting for her. She noticed that either Peter or Charlotte had refilled her drink for her, and she smiled at the thoughtfulness. 

They were really nice people, she acknowledged to herself, as she sat down lightly on the bed beside Jasper again. 

“Hey, Jazz,” she murmured, touching his hand lightly. 

His eyes raised to meet hers once more. 

“You came back,” he whispered, and the wonder in his tone almost killed her. 

“I said that I would,” she replied, lightly. 

She sat back on the bed, propping pillows up so that she wouldn’t have to lean on the hard wood of the headboard. Getting comfortable, she raised her arm so that Jasper could curl up against her side. His head back on her stomach, she felt, rather than heard, him breathe in her scent. 

She was unreasonably happy when he relaxed slightly as he wrapped his arms back around her waist, holding her close. Picking up the remote from the table, she pressed play and then turned off the lamp. Her hand back in Jasper’s hair, she lost herself in the movie. 

Bella woke suddenly. The credits were rolling on the tv, so she couldn’t have been asleep for very long. Jasper still lay on her stomach, and her hand was resting on the back of his neck. 

Realising that she was cold, she sighed. 

Sitting up as much as she was able, she pulled one of the throw blankets from the bottom of the bed. 

“Jasper, let go for a second, honey,” she murmured, pleased when he did as she asked without begging her not to leave him. He shifted away from her, watching her every movement. She could see the fear in his eyes, and it hurt her that he had to feel like that. 

Rearranging the pillows, she moved down the bed a little so that she could lie down fully, and then pulled the blanket over her. Jasper lay beside her, tensed up and cautious. 

“Get comfortable, Jasper,” she told him, softly. “Wherever you need to be is okay.” 

“Are you sure?” he asked, and she nodded encouragingly. 

“Can you feel my emotions?” she asked, and when he nodded, she smiled at him. “Then you know that I’m perfectly comfortable. Be where you need to be, honey.” 

He moved back towards her, and she slipped her hand under his neck when he put his head on her chest, wrapping her arm around him so that she was basically cradling his head. He wrapped his arm around her stomach, pulling her into his body. 

“We’re going to talk tomorrow, sweetheart,” she whispered, and he immediately tensed up again. 

“It’s nothing to worry about,” she assured him. “You can’t keep going like this, Jazz, it’s not right. Don’t let the bastards win.” 

His arm tightened minutely on her stomach, and she wrapped her other arm around him, settling herself comfortably against him. 

“It’ll be alright, Jazz. We’ll get there,” she whispered, tiredly, pressing a kiss to his head. “I won’t leave you.”

“Promise?” 

She hadn’t expected him to reply, but she smiled. “I’ll be here as long as you need me. I promise.” 

Drifting off to sleep, she felt him relax against her fully, and as he sighed, she felt his cool breath dance along her skin. She hadn’t felt so comfortable in years. 

… 

When Bella woke up the following morning, Jasper was still wrapped around her. She’d half expected him to have moved in the night, or for him to have left the room completely. She dropped a kiss to his head before she stretched herself out. 

“Let go, sweetheart,” she murmured. “I need to go and freshen up.” 

He released her silently, rolling over onto his back. She couldn’t stop herself from noticing that there seemed to be more life in his eyes than there had been the night before, though he still didn’t look like himself. 

She stood up, enjoying the crack when she stretched her back out. 

“Bella,” Jasper whispered, and she turned around to look at him. “Why did you come?” 

She smiled slightly. “Because Charlotte said that there was a chance that I could help you.” 

“So?” 

She blinked. “So what?” 

“After everything I did… why would you want to help me?” 

“Because… because you’re worth it, Jazz,” she told him, repeating the words that he’d once said to her. His eyes widened in recognition. 

“I’m going to get a shower, and get ready for the day, and then we’ll talk, okay?” 

He nodded. “I’ll be here.” 

“You’ll be downstairs in the kitchen,” she corrected, lightly. “I ain’t lazing the day away in bed, and neither are you.” 

She grinned when she saw the faint smile on his lips. Leaving the room, she paused at the guest room to grab fresh clothes for the day, then walked to the bathroom she’d showered in the previous night, and closed and locked the door. Glad that she seemed to be making some kind of progress with Jasper, she followed her usual morning rituals and got dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. 

Peter was waiting for her with a wide smile on his face when she left the bathroom. 

“I don’t know how to thank you,” he admitted. “But if there is ever anything you need, I’m your man.” 

She rolled her eyes, but smiled at him. “I didn’t come here to get anything in return, but for what it’s worth? You’re welcome.” 

… 

Jasper was waiting for her when she arrived in the kitchen, along with Charlotte, who was looking at a box of eggs with complete confusion on her face. 

“I was trying to make you breakfast,” she said, sheepishly, when she noticed Bella was watching her with an amused smile. 

Bella laughed. “Thank you for the thought, but I’m good for the moment. I don’t really eat in the morning. I could go for coffee though, if you have any?” 

“Oh, of course,” Charlotte said, turning to the coffee maker that looked like it had never been used. Within minutes, Bella had a steaming cup in front of her. 

“I’ll leave you two alone. I… if you’re staying for a while, Bella, I’ll take you to a supermarket later. We’ll need to get you some supplies.” 

Bella nodded. “No problem.” 

Charlotte left the room, and Bella turned her attention to Jasper, who was sitting at the breakfast bar, watching her carefully. 

“It looks like a nice day out, is there any private land around the property?” she asked, smiling when he nodded. 

She drank her coffee quickly and then washed the cup, before she gestured to Jasper. “Come on then, honey, let’s go for a walk.” 

He led her out of the backdoor, and she fell into step beside him. She could see his hand twitching between them, but she held back the sigh. He seemed to have a problem with the fact that he needed physical contact. She took his hand in her own, lacing their fingers together. 

They walked in silence until they were a fair way away from the house, and Bella pulled him to a stop, sitting down on the grass with her back leant against a large rock to prop her up. 

“What’s going on, Jazz?” she asked, when he sat down beside her. 

He was stroking his fingers lightly over her hand. “What did Peter tell you?” 

“Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?” she replied. 

She wanted him to voice his issues on his own, if only because then she might be able to try and help him sort through them. 

“Alice left me.” 

“And that caused you to give up?” she asked, her tone soft and non-judgemental. 

“I guess,” he murmured. “I just…. I was with her for so long, you know? I don’t really know who I am without her. It’s… what’s the point?” 

Bella nodded. “I understand that feeling. Not so much the length of time you were together, obviously, but I know what it’s like to not know who you are on your own.” 

“And… what I did to you. That was… unforgivable. I don’t know how you can even stand to be near me. I’m… I’m disgusting.” 

“Jasper, what happened to me was never your fault, and I never blamed you for it. I’m clumsy, and I cut myself. Shit happens. I was fine until Edward threw me into a table full of glass. Besides… I have my own theories about what happened that night, and trust me, none of that was your fault.” 

She shook her head. “You have to let the guilt go. You were following your instincts. You do remember that you’re a vampire, right? As much as the Cullens try to fit in, I’m sure they’ve all got some kind of human-complex. I don’t… Jasper, you have nothing to feel guilty about, certainly not in regards to me.” 

He was silent for a few minutes, and she let her eyes drift shut. She was happy to give him time to process what she’d said. The warm air around her felt nice on her bare arms, and Jasper’s fingers tracing nonsensical patterns on her hand was very relaxing. 

“Alice told me that you blamed me,” he said, eventually. “She said that you’d asked that the family leave you alone, that you were too scared to be around us all anymore. She… she blamed me for her losing her best friend.” 

Bella snorted. “Nobody ever told you the truth about what happened after my birthday if that’s what she said. Edward took me for a walk in the woods alone, he broke my heart—cruelly told me that I wasn’t worth his time and effort—and then he left me there alone. None of the others ever came to say goodbye. So… I don’t know which ‘best friend’ Alice was talking about, but it certainly wasn’t me.” 

“Bella… I had no idea. I’m sorry.” 

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Jasper, that’s what I’m saying. Nobody made the decision for me to get a papercut that night, so Alice should have seen it. Why was there a table full of glasses when nobody but me could actually drink? It was a set up, I realised that a long time ago. I just… I guess I didn’t know that I was the only one being thrown away.” 

She looked at him, meeting his eyes with her own. 

“You did nothing wrong, Jasper. Do I know why Alice left you after so long? I’m sorry, but the only person who can answer that question is her. What I do know is that it’s her loss. She’ll look back on what she did to you, and she’ll regret it. You are worth so much more than her. Don’t let her win.” 

He nodded, swallowing hard. 

“Thank you, Bella. For… for everything. For coming here when you had every reason to tell the supernatural world to fuck off. For proving to me that I didn’t… that I’m not the monster she said I am. For just… thank you.” 

Bella nodded, smiling. “Of course.” 

“I… you’re not going to leave now, right? I mean… you can. I won’t try and force you to stay or anything. I don’t want you to feel like you need to stay to keep me upright. I can… I’ll manage. I’d… I’d like to get to know you more though. I was never allowed too near you before.” 

She frowned. “What do you mean?” 

“Well… with my control issues… they didn’t want me to get too close, you know? Didn’t want to take the chance that I would hurt you.” 

She shook her head, rolling her eyes. 

“Jasper, we just shared a bed, you didn’t hurt me. Last night, when I first touched you, you weren’t exactly yourself, but you didn’t hurt me. You’re holding my hand, you’re not hurting me. I don’t think you need to worry so much about your control.” 

“You know, your faith in me is astounding. It’s like… I remember vaguely from my human life, my mother would wrap a big blanket around me every night in the winter. It’s like that. Like you’re warming me up, even though that’s physically impossible.” 

She smiled. “Let go of my hand for a minute.” 

He did so, though he didn’t look particularly happy about it. She moved so that her back was to him, and then shuffled herself backwards so that she was sitting between his legs, her back against his chest. Taking his hands in hers, she wrapped them around herself. She reached up with one hand and tugged his head down gently so that it was nuzzling against her neck. 

“I know that you won’t hurt me. I trust you completely and implicitly. Fuck ‘em, Jasper. They don’t deserve you.” 

After a few minutes, he relaxed into their new position, and his hands started tracing patterns on her stomach over her t-shirt while he inhaled her scent. 

“I don’t deserve you,” he murmured. “But for as long as you’ll allow me in your life, I’ll keep you anyway.” 

She smiled. “I’ve already told you, Jasper. I won’t abandon you. I’ll make you believe that if it’s the last thing I do.” 

… 

They sat in the grass for hours, mostly in comfortable silence, but Bella was content with that. She only stirred from her position when she heard footsteps coming in their direction. 

Tilting her head back slightly, so it was leaning on Jasper’s shoulder, she smiled at Peter and Charlotte, who both gracefully fell down to sit in front of them, Charlotte sprawling herself over Peter’s lap. 

“Did you want to go shopping then, Bella? You haven’t eaten yet,” Charlotte asked. 

Bella shrugged. “Whenever you’re ready, I guess. I’m not that hungry.” 

“We’ll wait until dusk then,” Peter said, with a small smile. “We can all go and terrorise Walmart.” 

Bella laughed. “We’ll be hunting tonight,” Peter added, watching Bella carefully for a reaction that she didn’t give. “So you’ll have to entertain yourselves for a few hours.” 

Jasper stiffened slightly behind Bella, and she turned her head to look at him. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“What if I hurt you?” 

“Stop it,” Bella replied, softly. “You won’t hurt me, Jasper.” 

“You have too much confidence in me.” 

She shook her head. “No, I don’t. I actually have just enough confidence in you. So just… shhh. Okay?” 

Charlotte laughed. “You tell him, Bella.” 

Jasper’s arms tightened around Bella a little, and she squeezed his hand. Her cell phone rang, and she sighed. 

“Lean back a minute,” she murmured, leaning with him to pull her cell from her pocket. When she saw who it was, she snorted. “Sorry, I have to take this.” 

“Do you want some privacy?” Jasper offered. 

“No, you’re fine. It won’t take long.” 

Pressing the accept call button, Bella lifted the cell to her ear. 

“I thought I told you that I would call you when I knew how long I’d be away?” she asked, amused. 

“I’m just checking in. The bar seems ridiculously quiet with you, and the regulars are annoyed that you won’t be doing your slot tonight.” 

“I know. I’m sorry, Will.” 

“So…” he prompted. “Do you know when you’ll be home?” 

“Not yet. Probably not for a bit, honestly, but when I know for sure, you’ll know. Give my shifts to Johnny for the time being, he could probably use the money for the new baby, right?” 

“Will do, sweetcheeks,” Will replied. 

Bella felt Jasper tense slightly. 

“I’ll call you in the next few days with a more concrete idea of what’s going on, okay?” 

“Sure. I hope everything’s going okay where you are. If you need to talk, you know where I am.” 

“Thanks, Will. My love to the wifey, and give the sproglet a cuddle for me,” she replied, fondly. 

Jasper relaxed again, and she barely stopped herself from laughing. 

“Debbie sends her love,” Will said, after passing on the message to his wife. “Later, gorgeous.” 

Ending the call, Bella tossed her phone onto the grass beside her. “Sorry about that, it was my boss. It’s the first time I’ve ever had time off, so he’s a bit worried, is all.” 

Charlotte nodded. “I guess it’s understandable. I did kind of steal you away with no warning.” 

Bella laughed. “You did. Still,” she added, glancing at Jasper. “It was worth it.” 

The four of them sat on the grass, talking about nothing important, until the sun started to set. Jasper hadn’t participated much in the conversation, but every time he did, Bella saw the same, satisfied gleam in Peter’s eyes. 

“Come on then, cowboy. Let’s go and get some sustenance for the human,” Bella said, standing up and waiting for Jasper to join her. 

He stood up, taking her hand back in his immediately. “I was thinking of staying here, actually. 

“That’s tough then, isn’t it,” Bella replied, airily, falling into step behind Peter and Charlotte, who were ambling along as a human pace in front of them. 

“Bella… what if I—” 

“You won’t,” she interrupted, certainty colouring her tone. “You’ll be fine. You can even push the cart if you really, really want.” 

He chuckled, and she felt a flash of victory at the sound. 

“How about we let Peter push the cart, and you hold my hand. I feel calmer when you’re close to me,” he admitted, quietly. 

“Sure,” she agreed, with a small shrug. “You can give me a piggy back ride around Walmart. It’ll be an experience.” 

“How did you get a piggy back ride from me holding your hand?” he asked, and when she looked up at him, she could see the amusement on his face. 

She shrugged. “Are you trying to tell me it doesn’t sound like fun? Besides, it’s not like I weigh all that much to you, is it?” 

He laughed. “If you want a piggy back ride, then a piggy back ride you shall have.” 

“It’s more like a horsie ride, though, what with you being a cowboy and all. Gives a new meaning to ‘save a horse, ride a cowboy’, doesn’t it?” she said, sniggering. 

She could hear Peter and Charlotte laughing in front of them. 

Jasper shook his head lightly. 

“You’ve changed since Forks,” he said, after a moment passed. “From the little time I spent with you, you always seemed so… reserved, and shy.” 

She wrinkled her nose. “I was what I thought that Edward wanted me to be, I think. That, and I’ve grown up a lot since then. I won’t change now to accommodate someone else like I did back then.” 

“If anybody expects you to change, they aren’t worth your time.” 

She smiled at him, squeezing his hand. “Thanks, Jazz.” 

…

The trip to Walmart was certainly an experience. It took a while for Jasper to settle into it, but when he did, they had fun. Peter almost knocked a whole stack of tins over with the shopping cart, though Bella was sure that it was on purpose, and Jasper, true to his word, carried Bella on his back the whole time. 

The looks they received made it even funnier, and by the time they got back in the car, Bella’s sides were hurting from laughing so much. 

Jasper was helping Bella put her shopping away when Peter and Charlotte joined them in the kitchen. Making herself a sandwich, she listened to them chatter happily. 

“We’re going to go and find our own sustenance then,” Peter said, with a cheerful grin. “Unless… Jazz, we can wait, if you’re not comfortable.” 

“Jasper, do you need to hunt?” Bella asked. 

He shook his head. Puzzled. 

“Then we’ll be fine. Have fun, guys.” 

She waved Peter and Charlotte off, and with one last look at Jasper, Peter nodded. 

“We’ll be back by morning.” 

“Go and pick a couple of movies out, Jazz. I’ll get myself sorted and come and join you soon, okay?” 

Jasper nodded, but he didn’t leave the kitchen. He was watching her carefully. 

“What’s wrong?” she asked, setting her sandwich down on the breakfast bar. 

“Can I… will you…” 

Walking over to him, Bella wrapped her arms around him and drew him into a hug. He clutched her to him, and she felt him let out a sigh of relief. 

“We’re going to have to talk about this at some point, you know?” she murmured, stroking a hand through his hair. 

“I know,” he said, nodding his head against her shoulder. “But not tonight.” 

Agreeing, she kissed his cheek. “Go on, honey. Set it up in your room, and I’ll be in when I’ve eaten and showered.” 

He nodded, and after only a few seconds of hesitation, he left the room. She heard the shower start a minute later, and she smiled. If he could get back into some sort of a routine, and they could figure out the physical contact thing, he wouldn’t need her for much longer. 

Refusing to analyse why that thought left her feeling somewhat empty, Bella ate her sandwich and then climbed the stairs to the guest room to grab her things. 

… 

They were laying on the bed, Bella curled up against his chest, watching Die Hard, when she lifted her head to look at Jasper. 

“Can I ask you something without you getting upset?” she said, quietly. 

When he nodded, she smiled. 

“It’s nothing bad. I guess I was just wondering why you were still sticking to the Cullens’ diet?” 

He frowned slightly. “Would you prefer that I drank from humans?” 

“It wouldn’t bother me, really. It’s your natural diet after all, and I’m sure that you could find bad people to drink from. There are plenty of them around.” 

Shrugging, he returned to stroking her hair. “I guess that I just thought I should. Alice… I was already feeling like a monster, you know? I didn’t want to add even more credence to her words.” 

Bella settled back down. “I think that you should do whatever you want to do, Jasper. If you want to stick to the animal diet, then by all means you should, but… don’t do it for their sake.” 

He wrapped his arms around her. “You’re amazing, you know that? After everything we put you through, you still came when a red-eyed vampire turned up asking you for help, and you’ve been nothing but accepting and fearless since you’ve been here.” 

“I don’t have anything to fear, Jasper. Peter and Charlotte already drink from humans, they aren’t phased by me, and I’ve never been scared of you. You won’t hurt me.” 

“How do you know? You seem so certain of it.” 

She pressed her lips to his chest where his heart once beat the same rhythm as her own. “Because we might not have spent a lot of time together, but I know you.” 

Falling silent, Bella turned her attention back to the screen. She didn’t know how she could make him believe in himself the way that she believed in him. She could only hope that with time, he’d start seeing himself the way she did, the way that Peter and Charlotte did. 

One thing was for certain though. 

If she ever ran into Edward or Alice Cullen again, she was going to find a way to get a lighter on them. 

… 

The following day found the four occupants of the house sitting in the living room. Bella leant into Jasper’s side, and he seemed relaxed as he played with the ends of her hair. 

“Peter, Charlotte told me that you have a gift. That you just ‘know shit’. What exactly is it that you know about Jasper and I?” 

Peter shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I… ah…” 

“You might as well tell them,” Charlotte said, from where she sat on his lap. “Jasper seems to be realising what’s happening already, and Bella deserves to know.” 

Peter nodded. “You’re Jasper’s mate.” 

Bella stared at him for a full minute. She felt Jasper stiffen beside her, but she couldn’t say anything to comfort him, she was too frozen. Mate? Jasper? What?

“I’m sorry, what?” 

“You’re Jasper’s mate. The last few years have been proof of that.” 

“Keep going,” Bella requested, flatly. 

“I don’t know what you already know about mates, so if I’m repeating anything that you already know, forgive me. When we find our mates, it’s instinctive for the most part. When our mates are still human, it gets a little muddier. 

“Jasper was keeping his… inner vampire, I suppose, on such a tight leash while he was with the Cullens that he didn’t make the connection that he should have. When he tried to bite you, it was the first time that the demon had been let loose around you, but before he could say anything, or even truly acknowledge what was happening, he was pulled away from you, and Alice laid into him with a vengeance.”

Peter shook his head. 

“The last few years, particularly the listlessness, have been because he was parted from you, believing that you hated him. Don’t forget, Alice made him believe that you were scared of him, that you never wanted to see him again. 

“Sure, if you hadn’t been his mate, he’d have felt bad about what happened, and he would probably have been depressed for a while about the bitch leaving him the way she did, but he wouldn’t have completely shut down the way he did.” 

Charlotte smiled comfortingly at Bella. 

“I know that it’s a lot to take in, sugar. Further proof, though, if you need it, is the way that Jazz always needs to be touching you. I’ve noticed, and I’m sure you have too, that he always seems to be antsy when he’s away from you, or when he can’t reach you. That’s another part of the mating bond. It’s trying to repair itself.” 

Feeling somewhat overwhelmed, Bella stood up. 

“I need some air,” she whispered, turning to walk out of the door. When she heard Jasper’s stifled whimper, she stopped and turned back to him. 

Squatting in front of him, she took his hand in her own. 

“I’m not leaving you,” she asserted. “It’s just a shit load of information, and I need a moment to process it. I’ll stay in view of the house, and if it makes you feel better, you can come outside so that you can still clearly see me, okay? I just need a bit of space to… sort my brain out. It’s a little crowded.” 

Jasper nodded, and she pressed a kiss to his knuckles. 

“I’m not leaving you,” she reiterated, before she dropped his hand and walked out of the door. 

She felt terrible for making him worry, but the information overload was just too much to deal with when he was sitting right beside her. She walked a little away from the house, making sure that if Jasper came to the door, he would be able to see her, and sat down on a small rock cluster she found. 

Jasper’s mate… fucking hell.

It made sense, in a stupid sort of way, she supposed. It explained what was wrong with him when she’d arrived and relatively quick recovery, and it also explained his incessant need to be touching her, but the idea of it still seemed… strange. 

During her recovery of Edward leaving her, she’d accepted that she wasn’t his mate like he’d claimed, because she knew that, from the information Carlisle had given her, he wouldn’t have been able to stay away from her like he did. 

Peter’s explanation of why Jasper didn’t make the connection until after the clusterfuck of her birthday party made sense as well, as much as it pained her to admit it. 

That Jasper was feeling the pain he’d been in because of her made her heart ache for him. She didn’t want him to be in pain. Actually, there was nothing in life that she wanted more than his happiness, which again, supported the theory. 

As she calmed herself down, she ran a hand over her face and then up through her hair. This was a disaster waiting to happen. 

She’d promised herself that she would never get involved with the supernatural again, and now, that was all shot to hell. Would Jasper insist on her remaining human, as Edward had? 

Of course, that just brought a whole new set of questions to mind. 

What if he didn’t want her to remain human? Was she still willing to become a vampire? At one time, it was the thing she wanted most, but now… she wasn’t sure if it was the right thing for her anymore. 

Even as the thought passed through her mind, she knew she would change if he asked her too. She would do anything he wanted. She already loved him, she realised, as stupid as it sounded. The bond… she could feel it, and she knew that she would never want anyone else. 

“Mind if I join you?” Peter asked, startling her from her thoughts. 

She shook her head, patting the rock beside her. “Come and sit. How is he?” 

“A wreck,” Peter replied, honestly. “He thinks that you’re about to run screaming.” 

Bella sighed. “He’s still broken, isn’t he?” 

“It was never going to be a quick fix, sugar.” 

Nodding, Bella looked up at the house. “I won’t be able to go home, will I?” 

“You can do whatever you want to do, Bella. I didn’t tell you to trap you here. Hell, if it’s what you wanted, we’d all move with you.” 

She shook her head. “I’m not saying that I wouldn’t be happy here. The house is lovely, Montana is lovely… I guess I’ll just miss my job. I was happy to find something that I was good at, you know? Something that I did for myself.” 

“You could always bar-tend in Montana, darlin’. There are plenty of bars.” 

Bella laughed. “I wasn’t talking about that, sorry. I forget that you haven’t known me very long. I’m sure you heard Will talking to me when I was on the phone, yesterday? When he mentioned that I ‘missed my slot’. I sing. It’s something that I really love.” 

Peter was quiet for a moment. 

“You’ll have to sing for us some time, darlin’. I’m sure it’s wonderful.” 

She blushed, ducking her head. 

“Do you want to tell me what the real problem is?” he asked, after a moment. 

She sighed. “Can’t get nothing past you, can I?” 

“Never,” he agreed, grinning. 

“I don’t want him to… be stuck with me, because of a fate thing, you know? It’s like… predestined bullshit annoys me. Because I want him to be able to choose. If he hates me—and yes, I realise that he doesn’t, but my point stands—then why should he lose his shit just because I’m not around? If he’s going to love me, then I’d want him to choose to love me, not his mate. Am I making any sort of sense?” 

“You’re making perfect sense, sugar, but it’s not something that you need to worry about. Our mates are simply the people who are the most perfectly matched to us. There was never any chance of Jasper hating you, because you were, in simple terms, made for him, and he for you,” Peter told her. “And honestly? I think that he could do a hell of a lot worse, Bella. You don’t see yourself clearly.” 

“Thanks, Peter.” 

“Of course, darlin’. You just come in whenever you’re ready. We’ll keep him sane until you do, alright?” 

She nodded and watched him flit back to the house. 

She thought about what Peter had said, and couldn’t find anything in his words that she didn’t agree with. Well, except the last, but that was another story. Jasper really was perfectly imperfect, broken as he was, and she wouldn’t want him any other way. 

Knowing that she didn’t want to be anywhere he wasn’t, and that along with that decision, the others just fell into place, she pulled out her cell phone. 

… 

She walked back into the house a little over an hour later to find the three vampires sitting in the living room. She was sure that her eyes were a little red—crying with Will on the phone would do that to her—but she smiled at Jasper. 

“Hey, you,” she murmured, sitting down beside him. 

“Are you okay?” he asked, and she could practically feel the concern radiating from him. 

She nodded. “I’m good. Feel like a road trip?” 

Peter grinned at her, and she smiled back, nodding once at him. 

“Where are we going?” 

“Seattle. I’m going to need more of my stuff,” she replied. “And Will is insisting that I work one more night at the bar.” 

“One more night…” Jasper repeated, disbelief etched in each word. “You… you want to stay here? With me?” 

Bella chuckled. “Well, actually, I want to stay here with Charlotte,” she said, tapping her finger on his nose lightly. “You’re just an added bonus.” 

His smile widened as he swept her into his arms and held her close against his chest. 

“Thank you,” he whispered, kissing her hair. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” 

She settled in his lap. “You have nothing to thank me for. I want to be here.” 

“We’re probably going to need to hunt again, if we’re going on a road trip,” Charlotte said, happily. 

“You will too, Jazz,” Bella said, meeting his eyes. 

He nodded. “I know. I will.” 

“If we can drive up tomorrow, I’ll pack up overnight or on Friday morning, and we can leave as soon as I’m done at the bar on Friday night.” 

“You don’t want to run up to Forks and see your father?” Jasper asked. 

Bella’s insides clenched painfully as memories she always tried to keep boxed away threatened to overwhelm her. She could hear Jasper talking to her, but she couldn’t reply. 

“Bella? Bella, baby, speak to me. Come on, darlin’, calm down,” Jasper whispered, and she could feel him pushing calm into her as fast as he could. 

When she could catch a breath, she collapsed against his chest, tears running down her cheeks. 

“Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked, pleading with her to tell him. 

“Charlie’s dead. Victoria,” she choked out. 

Peter and Charlotte watched on with concern as Bella sobbed onto Jasper’s chest while he tried to calm her down. He was struggling with his own anger at the same time, and that was making it a little bit more difficult than it normally would. 

Pushing the anger away to deal with at another time, Jasper concentrated on making Bella feel better, and a few minutes later, her tears were drying up, and her breathing settled back into a regular pattern. He rubbed soothing circles on her back until she pulled away. 

“Can you tell us what happened, darlin’?” Jasper asked, gently. “We’ll need to dispose of Victoria at the earliest possible opportunity, of course.” 

Bella saw Peter grin sadistically. 

“It’s not necessary. Victoria is dead. The wolves from the Reservation got her just after she… just after Charlie. It’s… I don’t want to think about it anymore, Jazz. It hurts.” 

“Okay, darlin’. As long as she’s been taken care of.” 

She lay against him, closing her eyes as she tried to sort out her emotions. Today had been both a wonderful and terrible day, and she was honestly just ready for it to be over. 

“Come on, baby,” Jasper murmured, cradling her in his arms. “I’ll take you up to bed. You’re tired and we’ll be getting on the road early in the morning.” 

“You need to hunt,” she murmured. 

“I will, I promise.” 

“Jazz, what are you planning to hunt? We’re going to have to go in shifts. I don’t like the thought of leaving Bella alone in the house,” Charlotte asked. 

Bella tilted her head to look at Jasper, waiting for his reply. She was curious as to what decision he’d come to. 

“I don’t know,” he replied, settling back on the sofa for a moment. 

“What do you want to hunt, Jasper? Honestly?” Bella asked. 

“What do you want me to hunt?” he asked, stroking her cheek. 

“I want you to hunt whatever you want to hunt, Jazz. Either way, I won’t think any less of you. Do what’s right for you.” 

He was silent for a few minutes, and she could see the inner battle in his eyes. 

“Tell me what your objections to animal blood are,” Bella said, quietly. 

“Apart from the taste, you mean? It always leaves me wanting. The burn is never wholly satisfied by animal blood. I have to hunt more often, and as much as the thrill of the hunt is better with animals, it can get boring having to chase your dinner through a fuckin’ forest,” Jasper replied, raising a hand to run it through his hair. 

“And your objections to human blood?” 

“I can feel their fear when I kill them, and the guilt is… too much to deal with,” he admitted, sighing heavily. “And… I suppose it’s been so long that I’ve kind of been conditioned to feel guilt at the mere thought of biting a human.” 

“You’re an empath,” Bella said, raising her eyebrow. 

“That’s what I’m saying, darlin’. I have to feel the fear and pain of whoever I choose to drink from.” 

“So… why don’t you make them feel good while you’re feeding? I know that you can do it, you calm me down even when I’m freaking out, so I’m sure that you could induce happiness if you felt the need,” Bella replied, frowning. 

Surely this was obvious? 

The look on Jasper’s face told her that it wasn’t obvious, and when Charlotte and Peter started laughing, she looked between them. 

“I can’t believe we never looked at it that way,” Peter gasped out, through his chuckles. 

Jasper’s arms tightened around Bella slightly. 

“You just keep on finding ways to save me, don’t you, sweetheart,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. 

She sighed. “It’s not about saving you, Jasper. It’s about accepting you for who you are.” 

He stood up, Bella held firmly in his arms. She waved to Peter and Charlotte over Jasper’s shoulder, before she nuzzled her face into his neck. He carried her up the stairs to his bedroom, placing her carefully on the bed. 

He lay down beside her, propping his head up on his hand so that he was looking down at her. 

“Are you sure you wouldn’t mind me hunting humans? I swear, Bella, if you don’t like it, I’ll hunt animals for the rest of my existence.” 

“Settle down, honey,” she murmured. “I don’t mind what you hunt. Not kids though. Kids, I draw the line at.” 

He nodded. “I would never hurt a child, no matter the scent. I tend to stick to the dregs of society, the same as Peter and Charlotte.” 

Bella nodded, shielding a yawn with the back of her hand. “Stay until I fall asleep?” 

He smiled. “Of course. Do you want me to grab you some pyjamas from your bag?” 

“It’s alright, I have to go sort myself out in the bathroom anyway. I’ll be back.” 

She climbed off the bed and wandered through to the guest room, grabbing her pyjamas and then walked into the bathroom. She was tired, and the next few days were undoubtedly going to be emotional, she knew. As much as it hadn’t yet been said, she would be saying goodbye to her life in Seattle for good. 

Jasper… Well, it was clear that neither one of them would be happy if she decided to part ways with him, and she didn’t want to anyway. The problem with living with three vampires was that she couldn’t remain human indefinitely. 

That brought about a whole new set of issues that she really didn’t want to think about just yet. 

Returning to the bedroom, she smiled when she saw Jasper was lying on his back on the bed, his arms under his head as he reclined, completely relaxed. He pulled the covers back for her, and she slid into the bed, settling herself against his body. 

“I missed you,” he told her, stroking her hair. 

“I was only gone for ten minutes,” she replied, with a chuckle. 

“I mean before. After… I missed you. I wanted to come back so many times, but after Alice told me that you were scared of me, I didn’t want to frighten you by just turning up out of the blue.” 

“We can’t change the past, Jazz. I’ve gotta tell you though, I really hope that we run into the pixie bitch sometime in the future. I’ll introduce her ass to my favourite zippo.” 

He laughed, holding her close. She snuggled into him, and within minutes, drifted off into a comfortable sleep. 

… 

Bella had never been happier to get out of a car. Peter and Charlotte had commandeered the front of the car, and along with it, the music selections. Bella loved the two of them, she thought they were great, but if she had to listen to the same crap all the way back to Montana, she was going to find a way to maim a vampire while she was still human. 

“Come on, sugar, it wasn’t that bad,” Peter complained, following her into her apartment. 

“It really was,” she replied, flatly. “Make yourselves at home, I’m going for a shower,” she added, waving them into the living room. 

Jasper looked around the room with interest, picking up each little detail as another thing to store away about Bella. He was looking for anything that he could do to make her feel more at home in Montana. 

“I’m driving back, and Bella is sitting up front with me,” he told Peter quietly. “She really was getting irritated by your annoying music choices.” 

Peter laughed, but easily nodded his head in agreement. “Fair enough, Jazz.” 

“Should we start packing for her,” Charlotte asked, gesturing at the bookcase, which was stacked. 

“We don’t know what she wants to take with us,” Jasper pointed out. 

“Everything,” Peter said, rolling his eyes. “It’s not like she’ll be leaving us, is it?” 

“I don’t want to take her options away,” Jasper argued. 

Sighing, Peter flopped onto the couch dramatically. 

“You’re as bad as each other, I swear,” he grumbled. 

The three of them sat in a comfortable silence while they waited for Bella, who came out fifteen minutes later. 

“Feeling better, darlin’?” Jasper asked, grabbing her hand as she passed him and tugging her onto his knee. 

She smiled. “Much, thank you. Are you going to help me start packing, cowboy?” 

“We were waiting for you to tell us where to start. I didn’t know how much you wanted to fetch with you. Peter suggested everything, but I don’t want you to feel like we’re forcing you.” 

“Is there room in Montana for all of my shit?” Bella asked, arching her eyebrow. 

“Sure there is, sugar. Since y’all are sharing Jazz’s room, you can change the guest room into your room for your books and whatever else you’ve got,” Peter said, easily, standing up. 

“Char and I will get a start on your books and music.” 

Bella nodded, pushing herself up from Jasper’s lap. “I’ll go and start packing up the bedroom then.” 

Jasper followed her into her bedroom, smiling when he saw how neat it was. He pulled out the three suitcases she gestured to from beneath her bed and opened them all, laying them out on top of the bed. As Bella emptied her drawers, Jasper emptied her wardrobe. 

He raised his eyebrow when she asked him to leave her leather trousers and jacket out, but did as asked. 

“They’re for tomorrow,” she told him, when he sent a wave of curiosity at her. 

“Oh?” 

She nodded, smiling mischievously at him. “You’ll see.” 

He grinned, but continued working. He liked Bella being playful. 

In just three hours, Bella’s apartment was completely packed up, and Peter and Charlotte had loaded most of it into the back of the jeep. 

Bella was sprawled out on Jasper’s chest, fast asleep, in the living room, while the vampires watched a movie on the tv. Jasper was looking forward to the following day. 

Mostly because he wanted to know why Bella would be wearing leather, but he also couldn’t wait to get home. 

He’d stuck to the animal diet the night before, simply because he was still undecided, and he didn’t want to tempt fate in case he decided he wanted to stick with animals. If he allowed himself a taste of human blood before he was completely sure, it would make the transition that much more difficult. 

The night passed by slowly, but when Bella stirred the following morning, all three vampires smiled at her. 

“Morning, Sleeping Beauty,” Peter teased, when Bella stretched herself out luxuriously. 

“I slept all night?” she asked, her voice still a little rough with sleep. 

“You did,” Jasper confirmed, squeezing her hip gently where his hand had laid for the last few hours. 

“You make a very comfortable pillow, cowboy,” she said, with a small smile, tilting her head to press a kiss to his cheek. “Let me go and get ready, and we’ll go out for the day, hmm? I don’t have to be at the bar until six.” 

“Sure. I’ll make you some coffee.” 

Her smile widened as she clambered off him and went to the bathroom. 

Fifteen minutes later, Bella left her bedroom wearing jeans and a t-shirt and took the cup of coffee from Jasper’s hand. 

“So, what do you want to do today?” he asked, his hand resting on the small of her back. 

She shrugged. “I’m not fussy, whatever y’all want to do is fine with me.” 

“Waterfront park and the Space Needle?” Charlotte asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet hopefully. 

Bella laughed and nodded. “Let me get my jacket, and I’m ready.” 

… 

They returned to Bella’s apartment at quarter past five. They’d all enjoyed their day out, though none more so than Charlotte, who apparently had a huge love of playing tourist. Bella decided that she would have to remember that in the future. She was sure that they could have a lot of fun together exploring the world when she’d been changed and was safe to be out in public. 

“I’ll just get changed, and we’ll have to go,” Bella murmured apologetically against Jasper’s chest when he drew her in for a hug. “You wanna travel with me?” 

“I thought we were all going in the jeep so that we could leave straight from the bar?” 

“We’re leaving straight from the bar, honey,” Bella confirmed. “I just thought you might enjoy travelling with me the way that I usually do, is all.” 

“Whatever you want is fine, baby,” he whispered, his breath fanning across the skin of her neck before he pressed a kiss there. 

He released her, and she walked off into the bedroom, closing the door behind her. 

“Have you two spoken about the mating bond yet?” Peter asked, raising his eyebrow. 

Jasper shook his head. “I don’t want to overwhelm her.” 

“You’ve gotta talk to her about it, Jazz. She deserves to know.” 

“I’m not going to force her into a relationship, Peter,” Jasper snapped, then sighed. “Sorry. I… it’s progressing naturally already. I’m gaining strength by the second, and I feel much better already. There’s no major rush, Pete.” 

Peter conceded with a nod. “Just keep it in mind, brother I don’t ever want to see you go back to the way you were before.” 

“I understand why you’re worried, but I can also feel your confidence in Bella. She’s special, Pete.” 

“Oh, I know that,” Peter agreed. “I feel… very protective of her. It’s odd, but I won’t try and deny the familial pull I feel towards her.” 

“I feel the same,” Charlotte agreed. “I don’t know what I’d do if she was hurt, and I can feel a sisterly bond building between us, even after the short time I’ve known her.” 

Jasper nodded. “Bella is bonding us all even closer than we were before. We’ll be a real family.” 

Peter grinned. “So you’re finally accepting that the clusterfuck that the Cullens’ have going on isn’t a true family?” 

Jasper shrugged. “They feel like they’re a family, for the most part. Edward is more of a loner than the others, and Alice… I think that Alice uses their bonds against them to get her own way. She’s selfish, not sadistic.” 

“After the state I found you in, I beg to differ,” Bella said, as she walked out of her bedroom. 

Jasper’s jaw dropped. 

Bella was wearing the leather trousers she’d asked him to leave out for her the night before, and they clung to her like a second skin. She was wearing black, flat boots, a white tank top, and her leather jacket that fit her in all of the right places. 

Light make up made her eyes pop, and her hair was tumbling around her shoulders and down her back in loose curls. 

“Pick your jaw up off the floor, Jazz. You’ll catch flies,” she added, walking past him, patting his arm. He reached out with one hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, twisting her into his arms. 

“You look fucking stunning, darlin’,” he told her, his gold eyes darkening slightly with lust. 

She blushed, and he growled, burying his face against her neck to stop himself from kissing her. He’d already promised himself that he would allow her to initiate their first kiss, but she was testing his self control in the most delicious of ways. 

She stepped away from him, carefully keeping her hand on his chest. 

“You remember the way to the bar?” she asked Charlotte, who nodded, smirking. 

“We’ll meet you there, then,” Bella said, leading them out of the apartment. 

She locked it up for the last time and then walked down to the garages, opening her own. 

“You ride a Ducati?” Jasper gasped out, walking in front of her to get a better look at the bike. 

She grinned, stroking the seat reverently, before she pulled out her helmet. 

“There’s a helmet for you in the back-box,” she told Jasper, as she put on her own. 

“I don’t need a helmet, baby,” he murmured, his eyes still on the bike. 

“You  wanna ride with me, you’ll wear a helmet,” she told him, and he looked up at her. 

He could feel her determination, so he did as she told him and pulled the spare helmet from the box, putting it on and fastening it quickly. 

“I’m so jealous right now,” Peter groaned, when Bella straddled the bike and Jasper climbed on the back. “Char, we gotta be getting us one of those.” 

“Hold on, baby,” Bella said, turning her key and starting the engine. She kicked off, pulling her feet up as she moved out of the garage and passed by Peter and Charlotte. As soon as she hit the road, she opened it up, speeding up the street. 

Jasper was in heaven. 

His arms were wrapped around Bella’s waist, he could feel the find in his face through the open visor, and he could feel Bella’s euphoria wrapping around him so strongly, it almost felt like it was his own. The ride ended far too quickly for both of them, and as Bella pulled into the parking lot, Jasper could feel sadness edging her emotions. 

He hopped off the back of the bike, taking his helmet off as he did and stashed it back into the box. Bella followed, putting her own helmet into the seat box. 

“That was the best ride I’ve ever had,” Jasper told her, pulling her into his arms. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you, sweetheart?” 

“My bike is my baby,” Bella told him, grinning softly. “It’s the only thing that I ever really got for me, you know?” 

“Hmm. You look sexy as all hell in those leathers, as well,” Jasper replied, pressing soft kisses to her jawline. 

“Jazz?” 

“Hmm?” 

“Why… why haven’t you kissed me yet?” 

He smiled against her cheek. “I wanted you to initiate the first kiss, is all,” he told her. “Trust me, it’s been ridiculously difficult stopping myself from kissing you properly.” 

Bella stepped back from him slightly, beaming at him. “Okay.” 

He could feel the same playfulness from the night before coming off her in waves, and he knew that she was going to tease him. He groaned internally, but returned her smile. Torturous though it might be, he was sure that he was going to enjoy every single second of it. 

Peter pulled in a few seconds later, jumping out of the jeep with Charlotte following him. 

“Enjoy the ride, Jazz?” Peter asked, a dirty grin on his face. 

Bella giggled when Jasper nodded, smiling sheepishly. She took Jasper’s hand in her own and pulled him towards the bar. It was already full when they walked through the doors, though Bella led them to a table close to the stage that had a Reserved sign on it. 

“Here, sit,” Bella said, gesturing to the table. “I’ll be back. Do y’all want anything to drink?” 

“Whiskey, darlin’, please,” Jasper told her, kissing her hand before he released her. 

She grinned and nodded, turning around and flitting expertly through the clusters of punters, smiling and waving to those she knew. 

“Oi, oi!” she called, ducking under the bar, laughing when Will saw her and almost dropped the pint he was pouring. 

“Bella! Hey, babycakes!” 

“Want a hand?” she asked, nodding at the crowds. 

“Save me!” he begged, and she laughed again. 

Twenty minutes later, she’d helped him clear the backlog of customers, and she poured four whiskeys. 

She nodded at the book on the back of the bar. “Start a tab for my table, Will.” 

He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart, your table is on me tonight.” 

“Why so busy anyway?” she asked. “It’s not normally so full so early, even on the weekends.” 

“A little birdie might have let it slip that you’re on tonight for the last time,” Will replied with a shrug, smiling a little sheepishly at her. 

“That little birdie wouldn’t happen to be called Will, would it?” 

“Might be…” 

“And you didn’t think to get extra bar staff in because…?” 

“Smart ass. Johnny is on his way. The baby has colic,” Will replied, flicking water at her. 

Nodding, she put the glasses on a tray and waltzed back out onto the floor. 

“Sorry it took so long, the bar staff is late,” Bella said, putting the tray onto the table. 

“That’s alright, darlin’. You’re working tonight anyway, aren’t you?” 

“Sort of. Not behind the bar, though,” she replied. 

“I can feel your nerves, baby, what’s wrong?” 

She smiled, squeezing Jasper’s hand. “Nothing is wrong, I promise. I’m okay.” 

Before Jasper could reply, Will hopped up onto the stage and turned the microphone on. Bella groaned, dropping her head to the table and banging it three times. 

“Good evening, ladies and gents!” Will called, pausing until there was quiet. “As many of you know, our little Bella is moving onto greener pastures, or, well, something like that, anyway. But, before she goes and forgets how awesome we all are, she’d got to give us a parting gift. 

“You all know who she is, and you all know how fantastic she is, so I need say no more. Please, welcome to the stage, our Bella!” 

Blushing at the cheers, Bella stood up and hopped up onto the stage, rolling her eyes at Will. 

“You had to make a bloody show of it, didn’t you,” she said under her breath, making him chuckle. “Gimme the mic, you git. Who is doing my music tonight?” 

“Johnny just got here, he’s on the bar, so I’m gonna do it for you tonight,” Will replied, laughing again when she grumbled. 

Putting the microphone back on its stand, Bella looked out at the crowd before she winked at Jasper, who was watching her with wide eyes. 

“Since Will has made such a spectacle, I clearly don’t need to say anything else, so I’ll just get on with it. This first song is the first one I ever sang in public. I hope you enjoy it.” 

As the first bars of the music sounded, Bella’s nerves melted away—as they always did—and she lost herself to the lyrics. 

Jasper watched on in awe as his Bella sang her heart and soul out on the stage. 

“She’s got a beautiful voice,” he heard Charlotte murmur to Peter, who agreed quietly. 

Jasper thought that they were both wrong. Bella’s voice was so much more than just beautiful. She was stunning, indescribably so, shining brightly in the packed bar, with all eyes on her. 

“Time for my last song of the night, guys,” Bella said into the microphone, turning to smile at Will. Groans could be heard around the bar, and she chuckled. “This last song is special. Partially because I’ve never sang it in front of anyone, and partially because I’ve finally got someone to sing it too.” 

As the song started playing, Bella met Jasper’s eyes, smiling gently at him before she began to sing. He listened to every word of the song as she sang about him being her baby love, and his long dead heart threatened to beat once more in his chest. 

The screams and cheers for Bella when she finished the song meant little to Jasper, who stood up and walked over to the stage. He lifted the waiting Bella from the stage, lowering her down into his arms. 

“You are incredible,” he whispered. 

“And I am yours,” she replied, quietly, her hand against his cheek. She guided his face down to her own and captured his lips with hers. 

The world around them ceased to exist as they kissed. Jasper’s arms held Bella close to him, one hand on her back, the other in her hair. Bella clutched at Jasper’s shirt with one hand, her other still resting on his cheek. When they parted for Bella to catch her breath, Jasper gently rested his forehead against hers. 

“Mine,” he murmured, reverently. “Do you mean it?” 

“Always.” 

They released each other then, and Bella accepted hugs and compliments from Peter and Charlotte, and then from some of the regulars, who she could almost class as friends. 

Finally, the four of them were able to sit down at the table together in peace. 

Will fetched over a fresh round of drinks, greeting Jasper, Peter and Charlotte like old friends. As the bar emptied slowly, and Bella began yawning, Jasper noted the time. 

“Are you ready to go, darlin’?” 

She nodded, pulling her jacket on. Looking over at the bar, she whistled. 

“Will!” 

“What?” 

“We’re going. Are you going to show me some love, or what?” 

He ducked under the bar and swept her up in his arms, holding her tightly for a few moments. 

“You don’t forget us, alright? Anything you need, anytime you need it, you know where we are, you hear me?” 

She smiled. “I hear you. I’ll miss you, Will.” 

“Not as much as I’ll miss you, little B.” 

She kissed his cheek and squeezed his hand, before she turned away, nodding at Jasper. The four of them walked to the door, before Bella paused once more. Turning back to the bar, she whistled again. 

“Oi!” 

“Oi, oi!” Will replied, making her laugh. 

She pulled her keys from her pocket, kissed the key to her bike, then threw them over to him. He caught them, looking confused. 

“My baby is in the lot. You look after her, you hear? Treat her well!” 

“You’re giving me your Ducati?” he asked, a shocked look on his face. 

Bella smiled warmly, saluting Will. “Don’t make me regret it. I love you.” 

… 

Bella sat in the front passenger seat, Jasper holding her hand in his as they cruised down the highway. They were almost back in Montana, and Bella had slept for the majority of the drive. 

“I am so ready to be home,” Charlotte said, breaking the silence. 

Bella shifted in her seat, turning so that she could look over her shoulder. 

“You’re going to have to show me around Montana properly,” she said, a small smile on her face. “It’ll be nice to explore a little.” 

“Sure thing, B,” Charlotte agreed with a smile. “It’d be my pleasure.” 

“I reckon we’re ready for a little vacation, actually,” Peter said, amusement colouring his tone. “Think you’d fancy exploring Vegas, B?” 

“Um…” Bella looked at Jasper, who grinned. 

“Vegas is like a vampire’s playground,” he explained. “More things are open at night than during the day, and even the humans tend to spend more of the daytime in their hotels, sleeping off the night before.” 

“Ahh. Sure, I guess?” 

“Give it a few weeks, Pete, let Bella settle into Montana properly first,” Jasper said, squeezing her hand gently. 

“Sure,” Peter agreed. “By then, Bella will be more than fed up with your boring ass and so ready to party with us, anyway.” 

Bella snorted, shaking her head. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for your idea of a party, Peter.” 

“You wound me, B!” 

“Now I know that you’re full of shit,” she replied, laughing. 

He grinned, then shrugged. “Overkill that, wasn’t it? Ah well, you can’t win ‘em all.” 

As they approached the house, Bella leant against Jasper’s shoulder and smiled to herself. She’d never have pictured her life going in this direction, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. 

She’d learn her way around Montana, find out exactly what kind of debauchery Peter enjoyed in Vegas, and at some point, she would be changed. There would be fights and laughter, and blood and hunting, and, well, she couldn’t deny that she was looking forward to the sex. 

Through it all, there would be family. 

Through it all, there would be Jasper. 

Bella was quite happy with that.