Dearest readers, I'm extremely sorry about the wait that I have put you through for this story. I had the worst writer's block and just now finally came up with something to say. Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy.

"Try to eat a little more, love." Jasper ordered softly, as I tried to push my mostly uneaten plate of spaghetti away

I ate a quarter of the pasta I was given and that was enough to fill my small stomach; but instead of arguing I picked up the fork and tried for my distracting antic. I pushed the food around my plate taking a bit or two as I talked, "So… it's been eleven years since I last saw you. What have you been up to?"

"Preparing for you, my pet" he smirked "Nothing all too fascinating, but I was happy to do it."

I chuckled before turning to him and saying, "You know, you have a little brown spot on your nose."

Jasper glared at me playfully before asking, "Are you calling me a brownnoser?"

I shrugged, biting back my giggle "I just call it as I see it."

He shook his head and replied, "Alright smartass, what did you do for eleven years?"

I bit my lip and looked at my plate, pushing the food around more, "Nothing."

He rolled his eyes and laughed, "You really think I'm going to believe that that bubbly little five- year- old I hung with, did absolutely nothing crazy or exciting or unbelievably great?"

"I seriously haven't done anything with my life." I answered honestly.

He stared at me before saying "Somehow I find that hard to believe. The Isabella I knew did everything. Last time I checked, she was in gymnastics, skating, dancing, and always getting in trouble for talking in class. That little girl was everywhere at once and wanted to do more. That girl…"

"Is dead!" I said, slamming my fork against the plate loudly.

"Bella, what are you…" he started but I cut him off.

"That little girl you met five years ago is dead! She was finished the second she realized her so called mate left her. She did all those things too make her major proud to have her and yet he still left and she didn't even know why." I ranted.

He stood then and that's when I realized during my little rant I stood up, but seeing him stand just got me more riled up and I took a step back, "I cried for five years. Five years! Waiting and hoping that someday you'd come back to me. When I realized you weren't coming back a month after you left, I quit everything. I quit gymnastics, skating, dancing. I quit life in general. And apparently, no one wants to be friends with a girl that doesn't talk as much as she used to. Which was fine, because I didn't have the energy to keep a conversation going anyway, let alone a friendship."

"Bella, come here." Jasper said, holding his hand out to me, for me to take.

But I stubbornly shook my head, "No."

"Excuse me?" The major was out and he dared me to say it again with his fierce glare.

I glared back at him but took a step forward and placed my hand in his. He pulled me around the corner of the table, sat down and sat me in his lap. He pulled me close to his chest and said in my ear, "That, little girl, is a word I will never tolerate. Say it again and you'll be over my knee in a second."

Hmm so someone doesn't like being told no. Psh, join the club buddy.

"And as for me leaving, well young one, sometimes we have to do things that we don't want to do. I had you and your family to protect and the Volturi wanted me back in their ranks to help train some new vampires they had. If I didn't go, they'd have come to me and seen you. If they saw you, they'd take you and use you as a weapon against me. Not that I have to explain anything I do, but what I did was to protect you. I never really left though." He said softly.

"What do you mean?" I sniffed, just realizing I was crying.

"I called every night to see how you were. You're parents told me about everything you did, but they never understood why you did it. We all just thought you got bored with your extra curricular activities. I knew you missed me, because I felt it too. I hurt just as much as you did, but I had to keep a front up or else everything would be for nothing" He answered.

"So you did this, just so a couple of old, power- hungry vampires wouldn't kill my family?" I asked.

"Yes," he answered, nodding his head sharply once.

I stood up, placed my hands on my hips, cocked my head to the side and said, "And how did that work out for you?"

He stood in a blur and grabbed my arm, "What are you implying?"

I tried to snatch my arm away, but he held on tighter to my arm. I knew there would most likely be a quite impressive bruise sporting there later, but at the moment I could care less about the pain. My neck snapped up, and my eyes glared defiantly into his, "What do you think I'm implying? After all this time of trying to keep me a secret, look where we are now? My parents are dead and the Volturi know I'm alive. In fact, they left me a lovely note saying they are coming for me. They left the fire burning, you know. The pyre that held my parents captive as they burned before my eyes."

"They thought it would bother you more than it did." I chuckled darkly, "If only they knew it didn't bother you in any way, as long as you got what you wanted in the end, right? That you got me, the picture perfect, silent, little wife that would never defy you. You know, the sad part is I can't even fight you. I'm weak and human. And this stupid bond is too difficult to deal with if I left. So I'm a prisoner to my own body and to you."

His eyes hardened, but I continued to insert my foot into my mouth. If I'm going to be in trouble with this, then might as well hash it all out, "So, don't think that I'll never question you. You left me once, you could easily do it again. And as for my dealing with your departure, I survived it once. It was fucking fantastic as you can see. Lost a huge part of myself, but I'll gladly do it again than be with someone who could care two shits about my feelings and me. So as for your almighty, I'm more powerful than thou, you can shove it up your ass and call it a day, major."

I blink and I'm over his lap. Surprise, surprise. I hold my breath waiting for the first blow, but it never came, "If you think for one second that I'm happy to have my two dearest friends and my mate's creators dead, then you, my dear, are delusional."

SWAT! A pain explodes on my bottom, and I gasp in a breath but never let it out even after the second and third swat landed.

"And as for that note, I sure hope you kept it because I intend to look it over and seek revenge on whoever did this (SWAT). It was sick (Swat) and wrong (Swat) and unjustified to make you watch your parents burn alive (Swat Swat SWAT)." His smacks rained on my bottom igniting a fire that I think I'll never be accustomed to.

I felt my underwear come down and Major Hard- ass rested his hand on my burning bottom, "Now tell me, Isabella Marie Cullen, why you are in this position?"

"Because you are desperately in need of control and can't keep your hands to your self. Didn't your kindergarten teacher ever teach you that hitting fucking hurts?" I spat.

SMACK SMACK SMACK.

"Try again, Isabella." He said patiently.

"I take that as a no. Neglectful teachers these days." I continued my sarcasm. I know I should stop, but I'm hurting right now. My heart was shattered and it was all his fault. I had no idea that he knew the Volturi were behind this until now. It was his fault my parents were dead, somehow.

I know it's irrational, childish thinking; but, I didn't know who else to blame. It's easier to deal with everything, if you have a face to put it on. Jasper just fit the bill since he knew more than any one else.

Right now I was egging him on, because I needed this. I needed proof he was here and he'd keep me safe. And I was going to drag it out until all my pain was gone. Jasper must have realized what I was doing, because he just shut up and continued to rain smack onto my rear.

After a couple minutes, his spanks slowed and stopped. I sobbed uncontrollably, as he lifted me to his chest and held me, "Bella, I love you. I know I left you once, but I swear it will not happen again. I'm here. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir" I said raggedly, as I clutched his shirt.

"Good," he said pulling away to stare into my eyes. "Now tell me why I punished you?"

I sobbed some more and gathered ragged breathes as I answered, "I was being disrespectful, sir."

"Yes. Blatantly so. And it will not be tolerated, little one. Another thing that won't be tolerated is my mate becoming a 'silent, little wife,' who can't defend herself."

I stared at him shocked, but he continued, "Bella, I love you. And I never want to change you. I only wish to give you a happy life and take care of you to the best of my abilities, but I'll never tolerate being treated like a doormat. Do you understand?"

I nod, "Yes sir."

"Good. Now go to your room and get some rest. I'll be up later." He orders.

He set me on my feet and pats my bottom, to motivate me to move. I walked to my room slowly and thought about everything that just happened. Sure I got spanked and it hurt like hell. But in the end I got something better. I got assurance he'd stay. I said those hurtful things to him tonight to test him, to see if I could anger him enough that he'd leave. He passed. Does this mean I trust him fully? No.

But it makes me feel a whole lot better. A great deal better. And I couldn't stop the smile from crossing my face, for his promise to care for me and seek revenge for my family.

I climbed into bed, rolled onto my stomach and fell asleep instantly, only waking up once to cold, protective arms wrapping around me.