Hey all. This is a Bella and Peter story I've had tucked away for a while. This chapter was beta'd by Alexandra Belle.

First a couple points to my readers, since I've been MIA for a while...

In regards to Luna Rising… I'm trying, I swear it's cursed, every time I get back to writing it something happens to derail things, the story isn't abandoned though. I love Alpha's Mate and Luna Rising and for me the story isn't finished, I can't even write another Sam x Bella fic.

I've had several requests for a sequel to Fated to Broken Love as well and I've toyed with a few ideas but that story was a Bella x Paul and for me their story is finished. I have a little future glimpse one off I thought of posting but it doesn't feel right for me so I am still toying with the idea of a possible sequel.

I've also had a request for a Jacob x Bella and I do have an idea floating in my head so hopefully that will be up soon. For now I'm going through all my half finished archives or ideas I was toying with over the writing hiatus I've recently taken so a few new things should be up over the next few weeks.

Thanks to all my loyal readers back with me and to any new ones, I hope this doesn't disappoint, I'm not convinced it's up to the standards of some of my better stories but I like it enough to post it so I hope you all enjoy...

When I had tripped, I curled into a ball, unable to move, my muscles locked in shock. He was gone. Edward had left me. Cold arms wrapped around me and my heart nearly burst out of my chest as I turned around. Could it be?

"I'm so sorry Bella." Alice lifted me off the ground and into her lap with ease, holding me against her petite frame. I sobbed into her neck, the loss of Edward tearing at my heart, "Why?"

She rubbed my back gently, "He's an idiot. He didn't mean any of the things he said Bella and I'll never forgive him for saying them, for hurting you like this."

"Why Alice?"

"He thinks he's too dangerous, that we all are but… oh honey, let's get you home and warm." I didn't know I was shivering against her too-cold body until she lifted me and carried me through the woods.

Charlie wasn't home yet. Thankfully, he'd never have to know I'd been lost in the woods, he wouldn't have to worry. I cursed when I thought about it; he would have been out of his mind if I had just disappeared on him.

Settled on the couch with hot chocolate and blankets, Alice explained Edward's decision, his reasoning and his plea with the family.

"So why are you still here?" I asked her, wiping at the tears that still lingered on my cheeks.

"I saw that he decided to hurt you so that you'd let him go. That idiot. I couldn't just abandon you Bella, we're best friends and best friends don't do that."

I leaned over and hugged her thankful that I still had her. Alice stayed with me all night, rubbing my back and humming gently to help me drift into sleep.

Alice ended up staying with me all week. She was the one to explain to Charlie about the breakup and the family moving. I wasn't sure exactly what she told Charlie to convince him as to why she was the only one left, but it had something to do with finishing school here and already being eighteen. Whatever it was, Charlie bought it and offered her to stay with us or me with her as often as we wanted.

When the next Sunday rolled around Alice went home, she explained to Charlie that Jasper was taking classes at the college in Port Angeles so she wasn't entirely alone at home. I knew she missed him but I was sorry to see her go and made her promise at least a hundred times that she wouldn't just up and leave. She picked me up to go to school in the morning and I breathed a sigh of relief.

It was almost a full week before she dragged Jasper over. It was after school on Thursday and I'd gone out with Angela as Alice insisted I ask her to the diner, it turned out she had a huge fight with Ben and since she was such a good friend to me, I was glad I was there for her. When I got home, I made dinner, Charlie ate and then ran off back to the station; he was working the late shift. Alice showed up ten minutes later, Jasper in tow. I let them in and he stood behind her, avoiding looking at me.

"Jasper?" I questioned hesitantly.

"I'm sorry Bella." He finally looked at me and the pain in his eyes was heart wrenching. Slowly, I walked forward but his bright gold eyes just watched me, not darkening at all as I moved towards his body and hugged his granite frame. After a second, his arms came around me, hugging me very gently back as I let my arms tighten around him and my mind flood with all my Jasper related thoughts and feelings, from the days in the hotel where he was keeping me sane and calm, telling me I was worth it, to all the times he gave me a boost of calm or confidence. We didn't get to spend much time together and I knew there was a pretty big part of him that wanted my blood, but he was my friend and I cared about him, not just as Alice's husband but as the man who had so often over this last year, brought me peace and confidence.

When I pulled away he smiled at me and sent me a wave of gratitude and affection.

I grinned at him, "No more apologizing for being a vampire, okay? I know what you are and that you kinda want to eat me but I trust you Jasper and I think you and Ali are worth the risk, ok?"

He gave me a crooked smile, "Ok, just try not to bleed too much around me and we should be good."

I held up two fingers as I'd seen scouts do, "Scouts' honor, I will try my best not to bleed on you, near you or around you."

He chuckled and Alice pulled us both further into the house with a wide grin, "Don't worry, I don't see him killing you, in fact, we are all going to be the best of friends!"

I laughed and Jasper chuckled as we let her, okay, he let her (because no way could I stop her) drag us into the living room.

After that day we spent a lot of time together and I finally got to know Jasper Hale. He was sarcastically funny with a dry wit. As the months passed we fell into a routine, Alice and I went to school together, I would study with Angela after school sometimes but mostly I'd spend the afternoons with Jasper and Alice, they'd hunt or do couple things while I slept. Before I knew it, graduation had come. Jasper sat with my dad as they both cheered for Alice and I as we walked across the stage. I went to dinner for a private father daughter celebration and then met up with Alice and Jasper at the Cullen house.

By November, it had stopped being painful to be there. I missed Edward, I missed all the Cullens, but while I was hurt that they had left without a goodbye, I was also a little angry at Edward for leaving me the way he did. I could only imagine what would have happened if Alice and Jazz had disappeared from my life too. Not only because they were the best friends I ever had, but also because Victoria had come after me for revenge.

Jasper had taken care of her though and after he saved me, killing yet another sadistic being on my behalf, he told me his story. I loved and respected him all the more for what he'd overcome. Watching him and Alice together, knowing their stories, I came to see the love Edward and I had wasn't real. Well, it was real, but not the right kind of love. It was a selfish love that was not meant to last forever. I tried to be everything Edward wanted me to be, to live up to what I and he saw as perfection. Looking back, I could only see his flaws and all the ways we didn't fit together, not the way Alice and Jazz did, so seamlessly and perfectly, so different from each other yet relaxed and happy in just being themselves, imperfections and all.

*** Please review!***

And the formal disclaimer, for this chapter and all following...

I don't own Twilight or any of its characters or story lines, this is written for my own (and your) enjoyment, I do not make money on it.