"Jasper!" I tore through the woods, wincing as the limbs scratched at my face and hoping that none of them would break my skin. I'd hurt Edward's brother enough tonight. "Emmett! Jasper!" Running almost blindly, I stopped in the middle of a small clearing, surrounded by trees, and turned in a circle. "Emmett!" I had to find Jasper, even if I had no idea which direction he'd gone…or how far away he was. Turning in the direction that I hoped was away from the house, I started to sprint again, wincing as my foot caught on a root and I barely managed to catch myself. "Jasper!' I screamed his name, stumbling and catching my shoulder on a tree. "Alice!" Surely she would see me coming…would let me try to apologize. I couldn't believe I'd been so stupid! A paper cut! In a house full of vampires…did I subconsciously want to die?

I shook my head. Of course not. It had been an honest mistake, but an unforgivable one. Edward had told me that it burned…how it was physically painful to smell my blood. It was bad enough that Jasper had to spend time around me…he was pretty nice about it, all things considering. But to spill blood in front of him. 'Ugh. Idiot.' I thought angrily, wiping at a tear that escaped as I kept running, my breathing becoming more labored.

I'd immediately stuck my finger in my mouth, wincing at the terrible taste of rust and salt, hoping desperately that I wouldn't throw up. But it had been too late…Jasper had lunged, his eyes no longer holding the friendliness they usually showed me, his lips curled around his teeth. Edward had shouted something, and suddenly I had been flying backwards. Only a quick save by Carlisle had kept me from crashing against the table. Of course he'd probably left a bruise, but otherwise I was fine. It was Jasper I was worried about. Emmett had caught him around the waist, pinning his arms to his side and carefully avoiding his teeth that, for the first time since I'd met him, looked scary. Alice's face had been tortured as she watched Emmett drag him out under Carlisle's orders, her eyes darting between her mate, caught in the restraining embrace of her brother, and me, standing under her father's arm.

"Are you alright?" Carlisle had immediately asked, placing both hands on my shoulders as he looked into my eyes, maybe checking for signs that I was going into shock. Wincing, I had straightened up and looked him in the eye, realizing that my back and arm were probably going to be sore from where he'd caught me, his arm shooting out and wrapping around my back and gripping my elbow, brining me to an abrupt halt before I could crash into the table. His eyes were sad and I knew he'd caught my expression. "I'm sorry…I was trying not to hurt you."

"No…I'm fine…just sore. It would have been a lot worse if you hadn't caught me…thank you." He had smiled, his eyes warm as he nodded, then worried as he had looked back up at Edward who was still as a statue, his back to me. Esme had looked between us, her eyes as worried as Carlisle's, and I had realized that both Alice and Rosalie had left. "Is Jasper okay?" My soft words had the three remaining occupants of the room staring at me in shock. "I didn't mean to…"

"What?" Edward's voice had been quiet as he interrupted me.

"It was a stupid mistake…I should have been more careful. I'm so sorry." I looked between Esme and Carlisle but it had been Edward who responded.

"You shouldn't be the one apologizing!" He had snarled, and I had shrank back at the fury in his voice, my back pressing once again into Carlisle's arm. "It was Jasper who…"

"Edward!" Carlisle's voice had been colored with disapproval and Edward had glared at him.

"What! It was his fault! He's been with us for years, and we still can't trust him!"

I had stepped forward, my eyes narrowed as I glared at the furious vampire, all my fear gone. "It wasn't his fault!" I had snapped, and Edward had turned his glare to me. "I shouldn't have been so careless."

"He could have killed you!" He had roared, stepping closer, and I winced at the volume.

"Edward! You know he…" Esme's scolding had been lost as I shouted back.

"But he didn't! It was an accident, and I'm fine! Don't be angry at him for something that wasn't his fault!"

"How was it not his fault!? We were all here! No one else reacted like that!"

For a second I had been at a loss, frustrated at my lack of understanding. Why had Jasper reacted that way…why only Jasper? "He feels other people's emotions." I had said softly. "Would that make his thirst stronger?" There had been a soft gasp behind me and Esme looked over at Carlisle' her eyes questioning. He seemed to be thinking about it, but Edward was shaking his head.

"It doesn't matter." He said coldly. "I'm taking you home." He had reached for my arm then but I'd jerked away, eyeing him just as coldly.

"Oh no you're not. Not until I talk to Jasper."

"What! You're not going near him!" Fury had clouded my brain and I'd jerked away again when he reached for me.

"You are not my father and you are certainly not the boss of me. I'll talk to whoever I like." His hand had closed around my arm like a steel band and I'd swallowed hard, suddenly aware that he could crush my bones to dust if he wanted…all without putting forth any real effort. Too angry to see the fear in my eyes, he had started to pull me towards the door.

"Edward, let her go. Now!" Esme and Carlisle had blocked his path, and Carlisle had grabbed Edward's wrist. Edward had started to argue but Carlisle had been firm. "Edward, you are scaring her. You're going to hurt her. Let go." Like a switch was thrown, Edward had turned to look at my arm with wide eyes, jerking his hand back as if I'd burned him. Still too angry to deal with him, I'd turned on my heels and ran out the door.

Now I was in the middle of the woods, screaming for Jasper or Emmett or Alice…anyone really. At this point, I'd have been glad to see Edward. The sun was completely gone and I was pretty well lost. "Oh come on! I know one of you can hear me."

Suddenly I was remembering Edward's warning…about other vampires that may be in the woods. Of course, no one had mentioned any visitors. Alice would be the one to know. 'But what about Victoria? What if she wanted to get revenge for Emmett and Jasper killing her friend? Or Laurent? He seemed nice enough, but what if he comes by and he's thirsty? Oh God why did I come out here alone?' Suddenly my voice had taken on a desperate quality. "Jasper! Emmett! Please! Where a—" I tried to scream around the hand that was suddenly covering my mouth, but it was useless, as was thrashing and kicking, and I knew by the icy skin and the super strength that I was dealing with a vampire.

"Shh, Bella. Easy." I was simultaneously calmed and relieved, and I turned in surprise. Before I could speak again, Jasper was backing away from me, his eyes cautious as he took in my appearance. "I apologize…I didn't mean to scare you, but you were going to attract attention." His voice was detached and formal in a way I'd never heard him, and I realized he must be angry with me.

"Oh, Jasper! I'm so sorry!" I cried, stepping forward, and he took another step back.

"It's okay, Bella…you don't have to apologize over that…you didn't know." He seemed confused and I narrowed my eyes as I processed his response.

"What? Oh, no! Not about yelling…though I am sorry about that. I'm sorry…about earlier. It was so stupid of me! I…"

"Wait, what?" He leaned a little closer to me, and though I could barely see him in the dark, I stepped closer to his silhouette.

"The stupid paper cut! I know how dumb I was…I can't believe I was so careless. I'm so sorry." He was silent for a long moment, then a hand moved through the dark and hesitantly touched my arm.

"Bella…why are you apologizing?"

"Um…I just told you." Irritation colored my words and, to my surprise, he chuckled.

"You're not afraid. His voice was soft and almost awed, but also confused, and I tilted my head.

"What? No...why would I be?" Surely he didn't think I feared him...

"Well…I tried to... to hurt you. No.." He sighed as though frustrated with himself. "Bella, had it not been for Emmett, I might have killed you." He spoke slowly as though I was a small child, but his tone was hesitant...almost frightened.

"It wasn't your fault." Some of my irritation at Edward began to bleed through. "It's not like you can help it…I should have been more careful." Sighing softly, Jasper rested his hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently.

"Bella, you don't have to apologize."

"But I hurt you." My voice was impossibly small and I looked down at the ground, knowing he could see the sadness in my eyes even in the dark. Gently he cupped my chin and brought my face up.

"What do you mean?" He asked softly.

"Edward said that it hurt…when you were thirsty and you smelled blood. I didn't mean to hurt you." My voice broke and I bit my lip, looking down at the ground once again.

"Oh Bella." He mumbled, chuckling weakly. Pulling gently, he pulled me closer and I threw my arms around him, swallowing hard. It would be stupid to cry, I told myself. Just because Edward was mad at me and everyone was fighting because of me…but Jasper was excellent at bringing out suppressed emotions and I sobbed. "What's wrong, darlin?" He asked quietly, his voice gentle as he rubbed my back. Suddenly I wanted to tell him everything, something I didn't question.

"Edward was so mad." I sobbed. "And he told me I couldn't see you and he was yelling and he grabbed my arm…I was scared of him! And he's mad at you and Carlisle and Esme and everyone's upset and it's my fault!" My hot tears soaked into his shirt and he rubbed my back, and I felt completely safe talking to him. "And I didn't even want the stupid party but I was having a good time, and then I ruined it! I don't want to loose my family, Jasper! Not over being so stupid!"

"Shh, Bella. Why do you think you'd loose us?" Jasper asked, his voice oddly compelling, and I had to answer.

"When I was in the hospital, Edward said that he was making my life dangerous." I mumbled, resting my forehead against his shoulder. "I thought…he was acting like he was going to leave."

"We're not going to leave you. Emmett and I will beat some sense into Edward, don't worry. And if that doesn't help, we'll talk to Carlisle." Jasper assured me, squeezing me one last time, then pulling away, his hands on my shoulders. An icy thumb brushed the tears under my eyes and suddenly the calm and security ebbed, leaving me irritated once again, if still comforted.

"Jasper! That's not fair!" He chuckled, rubbing my hair.

"Sorry." His voice wasn't repentant in the least as he stepped back a little. "You ready to go back. You look terrible." He seemed amused and I rolled my eyes.

"Excuse me. Some of us don't have skin like a freakin rock." I mumbled, rubbing at a scrape on my arm. He laughed loudly, shaking his head, and Alice appeared, her soft laugh joining in. I realized that she must have wanted Jasper and I to talk, and wondered if she'd heard everything.

"Hey Bella. You okay?"

"Yea…just scraped up. Where's Emmett?"

"Hey Bella!" Edward's giant brother suddenly seemed to materialize in front of me, and I screamed, my feet tangling together as I tried to back away, and I fell, landing hard on my butt. Emmett roared a laugh, his head thrown back, and Jasper chuckled, his deep tenor joining Emmett's. Sighing in irritation, I smiled ruefully at Alice who reached down and helped me up, wrapping an arm around my waist, leading me toward where I assumed her house was.

"Come on Bella, let's get you home."

"Home?" Emmett and Jasper, who'd finally stopped laughing at me and were following, paused behind us. Emmett cocked his head. "She still has presents to unwrap and she hasn't even tried the cake!" Alice sighed softly, turning so that we faced her brothers.

"You'll have to talk to Edward." She warned them. "He wants to take her home."

"Well screw him!" Emmett snapped, turning to me. "Bella, do you want to finish your party?" Blushing, I stared at the ground. "C'mon, Bella! You only opened one of your gifts! You're going to love Carlisle and Esme's! And wait 'till you see Alice's!" Alice reached out to punch him, but he stepped back, avoiding her easily. "What! I didn't say what it was!"

"Is it okay?" I asked softly, looking at Alice. Suddenly I didn't want to leave my surrogate family…not when Edward was angry and I was afraid he would leave me.

She softened, putting her arm back around me in the dark. "It's your party. Of course it's okay." Turning us back around, she led me toward the house.