I could feel Bella's emotions from clear across the house. Edward, Emmett and Rosalie had gone hunting and Bella was staying with us for the night, for the first time since Edward returned after he'd left Bella. I decided it best to keep my distance from her after what had happened at her birthday. Actually, Edward had decided what was best and to him that was for me to completely stay away from her and that command broke me more than I thought it would.

I loved Bella, she was family and I would never intentionally harm her. Edward didn't understand that my thirst was the worst when he was around. The way her blood called to him. That day when she'd gotten that stupid paper cut I was not only feeling my own thirst, but everyone else's in the room.

Bella's screams infused through the house for the third time and I couldn't bear to keep my distance anymore and ran to mine and Alice's room where Bella had fallen asleep. Forget Edward, I would deal with him later for making Bella feel so scared.

She was thrashing around on the bed, sweat gluing her chocolate hair to her face. I could see frighten tears running down her flushed checks.

Fear. Anger. Terror. Sadness. Worry. Anxiety. Dread. Bella was shooting out arrows of these emotions and they hit me as if I was the bull's eye. Carlisle, Alice and Esme were all trying to calm Bella, with futile results. I sent typhoon's of calm to her from the doorway as I briefly saw her relax before her cries resumed.

Carlisle must have seen it too because he glance over at me, "Jasper, do that again."

I sent waves of tranquility over to Bella; again it worked only for a moment. She was too frightened for my power to work from across the room.

"Alice, hand her to me," I said, walking over to the human cautiously.

My Alice nodded, "You can help, Jazz. I've seen it. Don't be afraid."

She passed Bella to me; it was the first that I'd ever touched her other than briefly on the shoulder. Pulling her onto my lap, I wrapped my arms around her snuggly, taking care not to hold her too tight.

I was drowning her in serenity, "It's okay, Bella. You're safe, I've got you. We're all here. Carlisle, Esme, Alice. We're all here. No one's going to leave you again."

Her eyes were open now, she had finally woken up and I was suddenly worried that she would register that it was me holding her and would get even more frightened. But when her eyes meet mine she calmed even more. I ran my fingers over her checks as more salty drops continued to escape from her eyes.

"He left me once," she muttered with a sob, "What if he does it again?"She was asking the question all of us had been thinking since they'd returned from Italy.

I took her face gently in my hands, "Listen to me, Darlin'. What my brother did was the stupidest thing anyone could do to someone they say they love. And I hope you can forgive us for leaving with him, we thought we were doing the right thing and we were terribly wrong. I promise you this, Bella: No matter what my brother does, if he ever is dumb enough to leave you again I swear you will not be left alone. You are my sister and I will not let this happen to you again. I will not leave you."

What she did next surprised me completely; wrapping her arms around my middle she kissed my cheek before snuggling against my chest.

"Let's go," Alice said to Carlisle and Esme, "Bella's big brother has everything under control."

When they were gone, I placed my lips on her forehead. Draping the blankets around her I laid with her on my bed. Tonight, I would stay with her, my little sister. She needed me to provide the safety and comfort for her to sleep soundly.

With her head on my chest I whispered to her, "I love you Bella and I will never leave you again."