Reunited

I left Garrett and Alice and headed back across the US. I wanted to be home with my mate. Vampirism was hard to get used to. I moved faster than I ever imagined possible, my mind was oddly clear, and I could just feel my strength. I wasn't sure how I felt about my new life. I didn't mind being a human, but I knew I must change one day to be with Bella forever, but Garrett had taken that choice out of my hands. I guess it didn't matter. Missing school wasn't a bad thing. I only had two issues; Charlie and Seth.

I didn't know how these things worked, but I was certain the Cullens wouldn't allow me to be with my father anymore, the risk was too great. He was a human, my food source, though I was still undecided on what I wanted my diet to be. I was waiting to ask Bella's opinion. Seth on the other hand was a wolf, or a potential wolf. I didn't want to end my friendship with him, I liked him, but maybe I didn't have a choice. There were too many unknowns. I just needed to get home.

As I passed by Texas I wondered whether I should stop and check up on Maria. It would be so easy for me to confront her now. I was no longer weak; she wouldn't be able to best me, to manipulate me. I would finally come out on top. I decided it was not worth it. I was angry and I didn't want to be blinded by it and do something I would regret. I would just leave it be, but when I had calmed down I would check on her and make sure she couldn't scar any other young boys like she did me.

I was surprised Bella hadn't tracked me down yet. We were mates, so surely she could feel the same pull in the chest as me, yet she was nowhere to be seen. There were so many factors that could have kept her away, but I hoped she'd disregarded them. Maybe she knew I was okay, just like I knew she was. Either way I could feel her in Washington and I was heading straight for her.

I entered Forks and went straight for the Cullen house, straight for Bella. The house was empty except for her. I stopped in the living room and I saw her huddled in the corner. She might have been okay physically, but mentally she was far from it. I stood my ground and pushed my love out towards her. She whimpered and buried her head further into her knees.

"Bella," I said, clear as day and her head shot up.

She looked so heartbroken. I wished I could feel how she was feeling, but she had a tight lock on her emotions.

"Bella," I repeated and she began muttering.

"It's not real. He's not real. He died, Garrett told me. He doesn't remember me, I'm not his. He's not mine."

I couldn't stand Bella acting like this so I disregarded my instincts to stay away and closed the gap between us. I sunk to my knees and wrapped my arms around her.

"I'm here, Bella, I'm here," I said, opening up my feelings so she could feel everything. "I didn't die, I'm just a vampire. I never forgot you, never. You're the first thing I remembered. I would never forget you, you're the most important vampire in my life. You're my mate. I'm yours from now until forever. Please come back to me, Bella. I'm not going to leave you. I'm not like the others. I've only ever loved you, no one else. We're mates. Please."

Bella slowly started untangling herself. I pulled back and she stared at me.

"You're really mine?" she asked.

"Yes, Bella, only yours."

"What did you lose?" she asked me. "Everybody loses something. I thought you had lost me."

I remembered Garrett saying the same thing. I wasn't sure what I had lost. I thought about how I was when I was human and how I was now. Everything was intensified except one thing and I wasn't sure how I felt about it.

"What is it?" Bella asked, picking up on my sadness.

"I used to be constantly thinking and planning, always trying to stay ahead of the game, and now, there's nothing. I had some when I saved Alice, but I think that's because it was fresh in my mind, an unfinished mission. Now there's nothing. It's oddly freeing, but scary. I liked being on top of everything, but now I can only think of you."

"Do you miss it?" she asked me. "Do you regret becoming a vampire?"

"No regrets," I answered honestly. "I'm not sure if I miss it, it's too early to tell. As long as I have you, Bella, I feel as though I'll be okay."

"How was the change?" she asked and I liked that she was acting more like her normal self. "How was the burn?"

"Excruciating."

"Did Garrett hurt you?" she asked.

"No, he just drained me and then the burn began. He let me scream when we were isolated. He told me to remember you and my life, but mostly you. He didn't want me to forget you."

"He cares for me."

"I know."

"I care for him too. What happened with him and Alice, are they okay?" she asked.

"Yes, everything went fine. James is dead and Alice is… well, Alice, the true Alice. Her and Garrett line up perfectly now. She was hiding her true self, but James brought it out of her. They'll be fine now, I'm sure of it."

"I killed Victoria and Laurent," Bella said. "After you were taken from me I knew they had to pay for your death."

"Good," I said.

I liked that we didn't have to worry about any repercussions from James' death. It looked like the only causality was me, but that didn't count. Having the decision taken out of my hands was a good thing. I was now a vampire and I could stay with Bella forever.

Six months later

"Charlie, I can't do that."

"Well, I don't care you have to."

"But what if he says no, I can't handle that reaction."

"He'll say yes, I'm sure of it, but if he doesn't I'll be here for you, always."

"Okay, I'll do it."

"Is it happening today?" Bella asked me. I turned from the house I used to live in with my father and looked at her. She was a hundred yards away from me in the forest.

"Yes, finally," I answered.

I turned back to the house and looked in through the window. It had been a tough six months since I was changed. Carlisle wouldn't allow me to be with Charlie so I had two options; I could either tell him I was dead or that I ran away. I struggled with my choice, both were not ideal, but I decided on running away as I still had one game plan left from my human life and if it worked out I would be able to be in Charlie's life again.

"Peter, you have to do it," Charlie said. My eyes were glued to my father and best friend.

A month after I was changed, Peter showed up looking for me. His parents were killed in a car accident and he was finally free. No longer did he have to pretend to be straight. He dumped his girlfriend Charlotte and headed to the only person who had accepted him fully, me, but I was no longer there.

I watched them from day one. Charlie took him in without hesitation. I think Peter reminded Charlie of me, and after a couple of months Charlie made it permanent and started the process of adopting him. I found it hilarious when Peter argued for the surname of Whitlock and not Swan. Charlie gave in, he couldn't deny Peter anything. I was glad Peter could fill the void I left behind, it was good for everyone involved.

"Come on, Jasper," Bella said impatiently, "we can grab a snack on the way."

I smiled and headed to her. I had chosen animal blood for many reasons, the main one being Bella. It's all she's ever had and I figured if she could live on it then so could I.

I joined Bella's side and kissed her. I loved her so much, perhaps too much. I was so lucky to find her. Living with the Cullens had been an easy transition. I still admired Carlisle, but Edward grew to love it. We all knew I wouldn't act on it. Carlisle was just a good looking man. Emmett had grown to accept me, but I think Rose played a big role in that. And Garrett and Alice balanced each other. Alice was no longer shy and Garrett was no longer controlled by his beast. He told us it disappeared and that Alice was enough for him now. He even stopped drinking human blood. I keep researching PTSD and helped him as often as I could. He never said anything, but I could tell he appreciated it.

I grabbed a quick snack with my mate and then we enjoyed each other's bodies. It was only a quick romp because I didn't want to miss the event that would start the process of me being able to be back in not only Charlie's life, but Peter's as well.

We headed for the reservation and I started getting nervous. I had started this plan when I was human, but I didn't get much time to make sure it would happen, but I hoped I had done enough. Bella reached out and grabbed my hand, offering me her support. We stopped at the treaty line and waited.

Charlie and Peter arrived on the reservation and my nervousness increased. This was it.

"I don't want to do it," Peter said, not getting out of Charlie's cruiser.

"I don't care what you want," Charlie said, "just go and do it already." Peter didn't move. "If you don't do it I'm grounding you. No Xbox, no TV, no phone, no trips to the reservation."

"That's not fair," Peter said.

He got out of the car. Charlie stayed and watched, just like us.

Peter grudgingly walked up to the house and knocked on the door. This was it.

I almost ripped Bella's hand off when the person answered the door. I could feel Peter's fear, so I sent him some confidence, but it may have been too little too late. Peter took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

"Will you, umm, go out on a date with me?" he asked and I closed my eyes, praying that they would accept.

"Are you serious?" they asked. I opened my eyes and Peter nodded his head yes. "Of course," Seth answered and I breathed a sigh of relief. Seth said yes.

"I told you it would happen," Bella said to me and I could feel just how happy she was for me.

It was still early days, but if Peter and Seth grew close like I knew they would, then in time Seth would become a wolf and Peter would know, then Charlie, and then I could finally re-enter their lives because there were no laws that said wolves couldn't know we existed, and Charlie would be associated with the wolves. It would all work out perfectly. It just had to. I missed my dad too much.

"It'll work out," Bella said, "and if it doesn't we'll find another way. You saved me so I'll do this for you, whatever it takes."

I smiled at her and brought her in for another kiss. My life was perfect and soon it would be complete.

The End

A/N: Be sure to check out my other Bella/Jasper full length fics: Light Within the Darkness (2011) - Let's Get Ethical (2014) - Irredeemable Killers (2014) - Bringer of Darkness (2015) - Whitlock's Swan (2018) - Online Predator (2019)

And my Carlisle/Bella/Garrett fic: The Chief's Daughter (2018)