Was I That Gullible

Bend or Break, Little Darlin'?

A/N: sometimes, a man's got to do, what a man's got to do! Handy when you have 2 sides to your persona! xx Alexis

Jasper was trying to keep a tight rein on his alter ego, that man had a temper like no other. He wanted to explain, calmly and quietly what had happened. He was hoping Bella would listen to his plea's and give him time to rectify all of his many mistakes. Jesus this felt like they were right back to square one again. He worried she'd hate him for this latest cock-up, after all, she had done for him already.

His body was being pulled to London, he knew Alistair had a place there and Bella's business had an office. So he'll check them out after he'd found himself a place to use. He wasn't going to force himself on her, not after his recent behaviour. The 'Major' rattled at the back of his mind, he thought he was wrong, that he should be more forceful in his approach.

Never having had to consider, what his partner wanted was playing against him. With Maria, it was her way or die! With Alice, it was easier just to comply, she would whine constantly otherwise. But for the first time, he was expected to make the decisions, and well that hadn't worked so good yet. He just never assumed they would steer him wrong, not about something this important, it hurt, really hurt.

But now was not the time to worry about that, he needed to find his mate, he actually just plain needed her. So he rented a small place on the outskirts of London, he knew Bella hated flashy and overt shows of wealth. Then he set about locating her, finding Alistair first, at their office. I looks could kill, well thank god he was already dead.

"What in Fuck's name were you playing at buster? I had to fly over from Charlie's to help her!" he ranted at Jasper and then with an exasperated growl punched Jasper in the face, hard!

"That was your one free pass Alistair, I know I fucked up, her change threw me, nobody was expectin' it! So I was givin' her space and time to adjust, I know I should have talked to her, I took bad advice okay!" Jasper grunted out, his jaw hurting, damn Alistair could pack a punch.

"I'm totally stupid when it comes to women, I know that! God damn it, she's the only one that showed me any kind of regard and I threw it in her face! I bloody defended Charlotte against her, don't you think I don't realise how bad that looked and then I just walked away!" Jasper huffed, rubbing the back of his neck,

"Well, well, well! If it isn't Major dickhead! If Bella wasn't your mate I'd set you alight here and now!" came a voice from behind them,

"Yeah well if she wasn't I'd let you, Garrett!" Jasper grumbled and once more got a sock in the jaw,

"God damn, will you two stop! Next person that throws a punch, I'm hittin' back!" he growled,

"Does that include me? Because right now I want to kick your ass!" Bella said angrily from behind Garrett,

"No darlin', I'd never hurt you" he started to say, as Bella broke in,

"Too late asshole! You already did!" Shit, he was back to being asshole in her eyes again,

"So you don't think, I'm good enough to fight the 'Major'? But it was okay for her! Talk about double standards" Bella sneered at him and the 'Major' once more rattled his cage,

"I didn't say that this has nothin' to do with Charlotte!" he said and Bella blew a fuse,

"Nothing to do with her, this has everything to do with her, asshole! You're supposed to be my mate, but you dance to her tune. Christ almighty you even wear her mark, but where's mine? She made sure that never happened didn't she?" Bella yelled at him,

He couldn't believe it, this was so much worse than he thought. Charlotte wouldn't have done that would she? Fuck, he didn't know, but Bella believed it and that was all that mattered.