Summary: 'I stared at him. I knew how much of a big deal this was to Jasper – to everyone. The fact was that this was a test. A test to see if he could manage not to kill me.' Jasper throws himself in at the deep end.

A/N: Just thought I'd clarify, this is not a romance fic like all the others are. This is a fairly serious friendship fic. Ships are still EdwardxBella, AlicexJasper and all that, though you can pretend that it's BellaxJasper if you want. DISCLAIMER; not mine. Post-Eclipse, pre-Breaking Dawn. Just after they got rid of Victoria. I hope you like it!

Learning To Swim

All was quiet in the Cullen household. I probably should have gone home – Alice had only kidnapped me for two days while we all fought Victoria's army of newborn vampires, and I had disappeared for three days. Charlie would be worrying. Yet, in the tranquil relief that swelled through my boyfriend's living room, I felt completely at peace and couldn't bring myself to leave.

Carlisle and Esme were discussing something in the kitchen. They were mostly speaking too quickly to be understood, though I occasionally picked out the word 'werewolf' and I guessed that they were still marvelling at the strange momentary vampire-werewolf truce that had been held out over the weekend, as both species of friendly Forks monsters battled side by side despite their differences.

Emmett was watching the television, and Rosalie had disappeared into the garage to tinker with one of her many expensive cars; I was curled up on the sofa with Edward beside me, close, but not in such proximity as to make me cold with his marble skin.

Jasper and Alice stood in the far corner of the living room, also talking as Carlisle and Esme, but their expressions were more concerned. I couldn't understood what could possibly have them so anxious, and, though trying to be subtle about it, I tried to hear what they were saying. Mostly, I couldn't hear, but I caught a few things.

"…not sure…"

"Please. I want to… just… let me try…"

"I'm not stopping… I'm worried, that's… what if…"

"Surely… trust your own visions?"

"…decisions, Jasper… if you change… you could… her, or even…"

Next to me, Edward glanced across at me, seeming to notice that I was eavesdropping. I gave him a curious glance, nodding at Alice and Jasper. Edward couldn't immediately tell me what was going on – I guessed that he had been blocking out what they were saying for their own privacy. He looked at them, clearly letting their minds enter his own, and then his face abruptly hardened.

"Jasper," he said sharply, and he was standing in the blink of an eye.

The blonde vampire looked over at him, flinching at the aura of disapproval radiating from Edward that even I could feel. I wondered what was happening.

Edward's eyes flickered to Alice, and then he said irritably, "That's based on decisions, remember? If he changes his mind, yes, you'll foresee it – but not quickly enough for us to be able to do anything about it, and he-"

"Give him some credit, Edward!" Alice snapped in reply. "He's been doing very well. He just wants to see if he can do it."

"And what if he can't?" Edward ground out from between his teeth.

I was getting extremely annoyed at their use of thought-speech. I was in the centre of the argument – and I was the cause of it, I was sure of that much – and yet I didn't have the slightest clue what was happening.

Esme came back into the room, looked concerned at the angry voices ringing inside the living room. "Edward? Alice? Jasper?" she asked, looking in confusion at each perfect pale face, twisted in annoyance, anger or shame.

"What's going on?" I dared to ask, encouraged by Esme's appearance into the conversation. Needless to say, I was ignored.

"It's insanity," Edward growled. "We just spent a whole weekend trying to protect her from vampires who want to kill her, and now-"

A vicious snarl ripped harshly from deep within Alice's chest, and she bent low forwards, her glaring ochre eyes fixed on Edward. The terrifyingly brutal noise seemed all wrong coming from tiny, delicate Alice, and I stood, hugging myself. "You guys?"

"Bella," Jasper began cautiously, but he was interrupted by a furious snarl from Edward that drowned out any hope of him continuing what he had been saying.

The noise had brought Carlisle and Emmett into the living room, and Rosalie had even returned from the garage, oil smeared on her pale fingers. All were frowning at the sudden commotion.

Carlisle put a hand on Edward's shoulder to calm him down, not speaking aloud but evidently talking to the oldest of his adopted sons through thoughts.

"Jasper's being ridiculous," Edward said shortly, as though this explained everything.

"For God's sake," Jasper snapped, finally stepping in to speak up for himself. "It's nice to see that everyone trusts me, at least." He levelled a cold gaze at Edward in particular. "I won't hurt her."

"Would anyone like to tell me what's happening?" I asked brightly, determined not to be ignored.

All eyes swerved to stare at me, just to make me feel nice and uncomfortable, as if I wasn't already more than rather alarmed by the uncomprehendable chaos that was swirling around me.

Jasper took a step towards me, and I was fully aware of everyone watching us. He began quietly, choosing to ignore the faint growling coming from Edward's general direction. "Bella," he started again. "As you know, last year, on your birthday, I accidentally tried to… kill you." Jasper shifted, sounding slightly discomfited by this blunt way of explaining his attack, blinded by his lust for my blood. "You already know that I haven't been living by these 'vegetarian' ways for as long as everyone else, and have probably worked out that I have the most difficulty with our diet. It's… it's as though I'm learning to swim, you see. On your birthday, I was thrown in at the deep end, with you cutting your finger and exposing your blood in front of me. However, I've been trying very hard for quite some time, and – though Edward may disapprove, I want to try to swim again, so to speak."

I blinked, not really understanding.

"I would need your willing consent, of course," Jasper continued, raising his voice slightly over Edward's loudening growls, "but…" he swallowed. "You are already one of the Cullen family, and I know that I have never truly welcomed you – I was wondering if you would permit me to hug you."

I stared at him. In any other context, this would have been hilarious. Except that I knew how much of a big deal this was to Jasper – to everyone. The fact was that this was a test.

A test to see if he could manage not to kill me.

Shifting awkwardly from side to side, I glanced at Edward. He was staring at me, clearly willing me to turn Jasper's request down. "Er…" I wasn't really sure. I trusted the rest of the Cullen family (I was beginning to trust Rosalie), so why not Jasper?

Extra details hit me.

Edward's eyes flickered to Alice, and then he said irritably, "That's based on decisions, remember? If he changes his mind, yes, you'll foresee it – but not quickly enough for us to be able to do anything about it, and he-"

I paled, understanding. If Jasper couldn't do it – if he decided that he wasn't strong enough to resist my blood – then this time, he would be too close to me for any of the other Cullens to do anything about it. They wouldn't get there in time to stop him from killing me.

"…Okay," I said, disregarding the soar in volume of Edward's growling. "Yeah. Sure, Jasper."

Edward stormed a few steps forward and grabbed my shoulders. "What are you doing?" he said furiously.

"Hugging your brother," I said, plastering a smile across my face that I hoped he couldn't tell was fake. "Everyone has to learn to swim, Edward."

"Get him an inflatable ring," said Edward angrily, clearly meaning to change my mind, but this only made Emmett burst out laughing, and I giggled with him. Even Esme was smirking. Only Jasper and Edward still had straight faces.

I sighed, my smile slipping from my face, and I reached one hand up to curl around the side of his face, my thumb gently stroking his icy cheekbone. "Edward," I said softly. "Trust Jasper. Trust me. Alice saw that-"

"Alice's visions are subjective." My bronze-haired angel's expression did not warm. "Jasper could change his mind at any second, and we wouldn't be able to stop him."

"He's stronger than you're willing to recognise," Alice said quietly. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Jasper had disappeared. I hadn't seen him leave. "Give him a chance."

A pained expression crossed Edward's face, and he swallowed hard. "…Fine."

I tried to breathe. After all, if he did try to kill me, he would bite me – thus poisoning me with vampire venom. The others would get him away from me before he could drain my body of blood and stop my heart, and instead I would become a vampire, which I was going to do soon anyway. It wasn't so bad.

Alice danced gracefully to the back door to fetch Jasper, leaving silence in her wake. I guessed that the blonde vampire had gone outside to get some fresh air before attempting to come close to me. Carlisle held Esme's hand; Rosalie and Emmett watched, their eyes curious and slightly sceptical, which didn't help to mount my bravery. Edward was watching me with a wary expression, every inch of his body language showing that he didn't like this at all, and that he was ready to throw himself forwards to save me at any moment – or perhaps he was restraining himself from grabbing me and running away.

As Jasper re-entered the house, Alice following behind him, fear rushed through me, and Edward running away with me didn't seem like quite such a bad idea.

"Relax," Jasper said quietly, approaching me, and everyone watching with tense eyes as he stepped closer – and another step closer – and another – and then he was directly in front of me. He wasn't breathing, and his shoulders were tight with concentration, his jaw rigid, gold eyes burning with thirst.

He told me to relax, but I couldn't. He wasn't sending out waves of calm to relax me – all of his focus was on not killing me, which, right now, I was probably more grateful for. Still, I felt guilty for making it harder by having my fright pump my heart harder, and therefore making it more difficult for him.

One more step.

I lifted my gaze to his face, hoping that maybe my eyes looking into his would remind him that I was a person – not just dinner.

Very slowly – it was excruciatingly slow, even for a human, and I couldn't imagine how carefully he was moving for his own speed preference – Jasper took one more step, and held his arms out. Then, caution making his fingers tremble, his ice forehead wrinkling in deliberation, those granite arms folded around my shoulders (he was a lot taller than I was), barely even touching me, for all his care.

Less than a second passed, yet it was lifetime; Jasper moved away quickly, dropping his arms and stepping several steps backwards until he was behind Emmett and Rosalie, who formed a wall between him and I. Once such a wall was created, I heard Jasper take an unsteady breath.

Alice flew to Jasper's side, slipping around Emmett's broad side, and then vanished out of sight behind him and Rosalie. The tension broken, Carlisle moved to congratulate Jasper, and Esme came in my direction, an angel's smile upon her lips. Edward took my hand, holding it tight, and I leaned back against his chest. I didn't realise that I too had been holding my breath with Jasper until I let the breath go, and I grinned.

Jasper, who was emerging from behind Emmett now and looking less shaken than he had when he had let me go, gave me a faint smile in return. "Hey, Bella," he said. "I can swim."

xxx