That night I found it hard to get to sleep, i was used to the cool, solid, presence of Edward in the bed as I fell asleep. each night he slipped away when I was deeply sleeping but he was always with me for the first part of the night. Without him there I tossed fitfully the bed too soft and the space too warm.

the next morning I went downstairs to find Jasper cooking in the kitchen

"I didn't know you could cook" I said startled

"Esme taught me."

"Why" I blurted without thinking.

He paused

"I don't really know." He said after a minute "After you moved in I just found that I really wanted to learn"

He smiled almost sheepishly at me. I smiled back.

I slid onto a stool at the counter. It was only when Jasper brushed past me heading to the fridge that I realised that of the ten stools available I I had picked the one closest to the cooker and furthest from the door.

Breakfast was a delight of a fry up. Crisp bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushroom, and egg all fried to perfection. Jasper sat with me while I ate.

Jasper's pov.

After I served Bella's breakfast I had planned to pop up to my office and deal with some papers that needed my attention, however I found myself sliding into a stool near hers, half way through he food she looked up at me curiously and I realised that I had been staring at her. It was strange. In all the business of our normal family life I had never noticed quite how compelling Bella was, there was something about her that almost imperceptibly drew me in.

"Do we have a plan for today" she asked interrupting my thoughts.

"Not really, I've got some paperwork to do with some of our investments that really needs my attention. I was considering seeing to that"

Bella's pov

"Oh" I said. Surprising myself by feeling disappointed "in that case I might have a look round Carlisle's library and find a book to read I've just finished my last one"

"That sounds like a good idea to me" he replied. Then gesturing to my plate he asked "Are you done?"

"Yes" I replied and he picked up my plate taking it to the sink

"Do you want some help with the washing up" I asked "I could dry"

"Alright then" he grinned impishly making me suspicious "catch" his hand shot out like lightning and a dish towel flew across the room to me I reached for it and missed by several inches. Jasper chucked. I turned and picked it up off the counter behind me then made my way yo the sink glaring at him.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist" he did look genuinely penitent so I forgave him graciously

"It's alright," I smiled "just don't do it again"

"Promise" he said solemnly

We spend a pleasant ten minutes on the small amount of washing up then headed upstairs side by side. He left me at the door of Carlisle's office and head d to his own.

Carlisle's library coated the walls of his office, inside I scanned the shelves. He had so many amazing books here that it was hard to choose. The room was arranged by genre then by title and I was debating wether to go for a classic or something more modern. In the end I decided on Heidi. It was A book that I'd never read before but one that Jasper had mentioned as one of his favourites the evening before. I settled in my favourite chair under the window and opened the book. It was a good book and I was quickly hooked but I couldn't help feeling strangely uncomfortable and I found it hard to focus.

Jasper's pov.

In my office I tried to concentrate on the paperwork but it was oddly difficult, I felt uncomfortable and distracted. In the end I stood and decided to have a quick walk around the house to clear my head. I soon found myself outside Carlisle's office and I poked my head round the door. At the same moment that I poked my head in Bella looked up from her book as if she had heard my approach even though I knew I had been silent.

"Hey" I said

"Hey" she replied smiling luminously.

"Are you alright? There's a sofa in my office you could sit on if you want some company?"

Bella jumped up instantly

"Alright then" she grinned "lead on"

I headed back to my office with Bella at my side and we spend the rest of the day engaged in reading and paperwork. The strange discomfort no longer preset.

Bella's pov

I surprised myself at how eager I was to join jasper. I put it down to being unused to being alone. At first Joining a large family had been a bit of a culture shock. But I had soon become accustomed to it. In the several weeks that I had been living in The big white house I had never been by myself There was always somebody around to talk with or play a game with. Or even just sit in companionable silence with each doing our own thing. Even while eating somebody had hung out in the kitchen keeping me company.

That evening Jasper Cooked for me again. Mushroom ravioli which reminded me of the evening I had discovered for sure what the Cullens were. As I ate I thought back over what had passed since that evening and pondered how different my life could have been if not for that evening.

Jasper was sitting across from me again and he must have sensed the melancholy turn that my mood had taken

"What's eating you sweetheart"

"Huh" I said looking up "Oh I was just thinking about how different my life would have been if I had never discovered the secrets about your family"

"Our family" He corrected quickly and seemingly unconsciously then he thought for a moment

"You would have been a lot safer if you had never been pulled into this world" he mused.

"Perhaps" I allowed "But safer isn't necessarily better. I would have been unhappy"

"You think so?" he asked "but if you had never discovered our secret you wouldn't know what you had missed, don't you think you would have been happy remaining In the human world if you had never known about ours?"

I chewed for a moment giving proper thought to Jasper's words before answering.

"I suppose I would have been happy enough. But I think I would most likely have always felt like something was missing. I belong in this world. I don't know how I know it but I do."

Jasper looked at me for a long moment and I wondered what he was seeing.

"Your right" he said eventually "you do belong with us"

I returned to eating, quietly contemplating why Jasper's statement seemed to mean so very much to me.

After dinner we played chess, Edward had begun teaching me the week before and jasper continued with the lessons, he was a patient teacher and by the end of the evening I had actually managed to beat him at a match much to both our surprises.

That night I had another restless night. Even more so than the night before. So much so that jasper actually mentioned it the next morning.

We were sitting at. Breakfast. Today it was porridge. Jasper had made it with sultanas in and a generous helping of golden syrup on the top.

He waited till I was half way done before speaking.

"Were you Alright last night? I heard you moving around a lot"

"I couldn't settle" I admitted "I had a hard time falling asleep. And when I did I kept waking back up"

"I'm sorry to hear that. Do you have any idea what the problem was"

"Yeah. I'm used to having Edward there, even when I was at Charlie's he used to sneak in and lay with me till I fell asleep, I find that the bed feels wrong without him there"

"Oh I see" he said, a curious overtone colouring his voice, he went back to the newspaper he had been reading and I went back to eating.

Jasper's pov

I sat reading my newspaper unable to shake the feeling of unease that had come over me when Bella had mentioned missing Edward. It occurred to me that it was the first time Edward had been mentioned by name since the family had left but that didn't explain my reaction.

After breakfast Bella helped with the washing up again then went to shower. I cleaned the kitchen Then I ran a hoover over the downstairs of the house, Esme did this every few days so I felt I ought to keep up the routine even with her away. When Bella came down I had a proposition to put to her

"Bella. Did you have anything in mind that you wanted to do today?" I began

"Not really no, why?" she replied

"Well I was wondering if you would like to visit my garden with me"

"Your garden?"

"Yes. I have something of a fascination with plants and I found a secluded part of the forest just below the mountains where I have cultivated something of a garden, I go out there every few days both to tend to it and to spend time there, I was hoping you might like to come with me"

Bella's pov

The garden sounded like a good place to spend a day but I wondered if Jasper had considered transport.

"Erm. How deep in the Forrest is it? I assume you normally run but how would I get there?"

"Oh well, I was thinking that I could carry you" he said almost hesitantly "its to far for you to hike and no vehicle could cross the terrain but if you'd rather not we don't have to go"

"Oh, I don't mind you carrying me" I said quickly "I'd love to see your garden"

Jasper grinned broadly and I couldn't help but smile in return.

"Excellent. I'll pack a picnic and we can make a day of it" he headed for the kitchen "by the way. You look lovely today" he said over his shoulder as he went. I blushed Scarlett.

Jasper placed the picnic bag by the back door and held my cardigan out to me

"I know it's not cold today but there will be a wind chill effect while we run"

I slipped my arms into the cardigan a curious feeling being brought on by the show of concern.

Jasper crouched slightly so that I could reach his neck to hold on. I put my arms around his neck and as he straightened I wrapped my legs round his waist. He picked up the small bag and darted out of the back door. Picking up speed as he crossed the back lawn he leapt over the river and streaked into the Forrest. I had expected it to feel strange and awkward riding on Jasper's Back. However Just as the couple of other times I had touched him over the last few days it felt comfortable and oddly familiar. I watched the Forrest streaking past at astonishing speed and felt the familiar rush of adrenaline at travelling this way, however today it was tinged with a headiness I hadn't felt before.

Jasper pov

I'd never carried anyone before but rather than feeling strange having Bella on my back it felt as if I had done this a million times. We streaked through the Forrest feeling to me more like one being than two.

After about half an hour I slowed and came to a stop. Bella slipped off my back and I automatically reached a hand back to steady her, she laced her fingers with mine, taking a place at my side.

"Where are we?"

"At the base of mount rainier" my garden is this way"

I lead Bella the last few feet through the trees and we emerged into a vampire made clearing.

At one end of the clearing I had set up metal dishes on tall poles. They reflected what light shone through the clouds between them, magnifying it and spreading it down to the ground. The temperature at that end was several degrees hotter than everywhere else and tall tropical plants grew, the other three quarters of the garden was divided into sections, with wooden walkways running between.

Beside me Bella was awestruck. I silently thrilled at her reaction.

"Will you give me a tour" she whispered

Bella pov

"Of course" Jasper replied. A note of smugness in his voice. I realised that of course he had felt my awestruck reaction.

We began a slow walk round the sections of the garden. Jasper told me the name of Each section and described the plants in each as well as his methods of gardening. Most of it made little sense to me but hearing him talk was fascinating, he was so passionate about his hobby. There was a large evergreen section, several flower gardens each devoted to a different part of the world or a specific group of subspecies. Then there were; Sections for unusual plants, sections for rare plants, and even a wildlife garden with a pond in the center, we reached the end of the organised sections and he turned to me

"What do you think?"

"It's incredible, do you look after this all on your own?"

"Not completely, The others help here and there when they want to, But it's mostly me. all the flowers in the house come from here. Different varieties at different times of the year depending on what is in season.

"It's incredible" I smiled

Jasper looked at his watch "I think it's time for lunch" I looked at my own watch, it was already two o clock. He lead the way back to the wildlife garden, next to the pond was a patch of grass just the right size to sit on and watch the pond. Or indeed just the right size to picnic on

"Now why do I get the impression this turf is here deliberately"

Jasper chucked and laid out a blanket, I sat down and he sat close beside me. He opened the bag and pulled out a plate, on the plate he laid out a sandwich, salad, and crisps. Then another plate came out and on it he arranged a selection of cakes, that was followed by a bowl of fruit salad and a glass of juice, he arranged the plates and bowl in front of me and handed me the glass.

"This looks incredible Jasper" he smiled at me as I tucked in.

We spent a pleasant hour sat by the pond enjoying the day, the food, and the company.

After lunch we made our way back towards the wilder section of the garden. A low deep brown fence denoted the decide between the two sections.

"Now this section is a little different" he said "as you can see the plants aren't in beds in here but arranged to seem more like a jungle, shall we"

He opened a gate and held it for me to go first, as I passed into the "jungle" I felt the temperature increase by several degrees, Jasper noticed my surprise.

"It's the metal dishes up there," he explained pointing up "they magnify the effect of the sun creating a hot house environment without the glass enclosure, a little invention that Esme and I came up with."

We spent the rest of the day exploring Jasper's jungle, staying until Dusk was falling before heading back towards the house and dinner.

We were sitting at dinner

"I was wondering" Jasper said slowly

I looked up from my plate

"Yes"

"Well, I was planning to play a video game this evening, and I was wondering if you would like to watch for a while"

I was surprised, most people I knew liked privacy when playing game consoles however I was curiously pleased that Jasper wanted my company.

"Oh, erm, yes that would be lovely thank you,"

Jasper smiled a wide smile at me.

"Are you done" he asked

"Yes thank you "

He took my plate to the sink and washed up quickly refusing my help this time then lead the way out of the kitchen.

"My play station is in my room" he said heading up the stairs, I followed. He stopped part way down the first floor hallway and turned.

"This is my room" he said pointing to a mahogany door "but why don't you go have a shower and put your pjs on so that your ready for bed, it's fairly late after all."

"Good idea" I smiled and hurried towards the next staircase. I was oddly eager to get back but I didn't ponder that fact much as I rushed through my evening routine arriving back at Jasper's door less than half an hour later.

"Come in" he called before I could knock, I opened the door and stopped in the doorway. In the center of the room was a large bed, the frame was of dark mahogany like the door and it has a woven quilt laying over the surface. Jasper was sat on one side at the head of the bed, a wireless controller and set of headphones next to him, he had a book in his hand which he had clearly looked up from moments before.

"What's wrong" Jasper asked looking at me

"You have a bed"

"Yes"

"Please don't tell me that Edward didn't made you all get beds when I moved in"

Jasper laughed realising the reason behind the irritation he had felt coming from me when I saw the bed.

"No, nothing like that. In fact Edward was the only one of us who didn't have a bed, until you arrived that is

"Why did you all have beds if you don't sleep?" I asked confused.

Jasper just looked at me incredulously until the penny dropped

"Oh, right" I said blushing Scarlett.

Jasper made no further comment but simply indicated for me to get comfortable, I climbed up to the head of the bed and settled down next to him. Jasper put down his book and picked up the controller, he pressed a switch on the wall beside his shoulder and the main light went out leaving just a dim glow from small lights positioned round the edge of the ceiling, the game came up on the screen, some sort of fantasy adventure and I quickly found my self fascinated watching Jasper play, without realising it consciously I found myself drifting closer to jasper until my head was resting on his marble arm and finally the television screen gave way to dreams.

Jasper pov

I smiled gently when I realised that Bella had gone to sleep. I carefully rearranged her so that she was leaning on my chest and my arm was wrapping round her back tucking a thick quilt round her with the other hand. Then I picked up the headphones and turned them on, rerouting the sound from the speakers to the headphones, and began playing a new game while Bella slept soundly, no trace of the restlessness of the previous two nights.