HEY! Caught this little mind worm and haven't been able to think about anything else tbh. Present time is 2018, other than that it's canon in terms of the Cullens, who they are, when they joined and were changed, as well as their history. They currently live in New York. . Obvi it's Bella and Jasper, bear with me. I really like this concept. I hope you like it!

The Cullen family was not known to specifically celebrate birthdays, though every once in a while, the family would exchange gifts; on Christmas, or New Years, sometimes even on St. Patrick's day, if they were feeling particularly giddy. But birthdays, that was another story.

So, when Jasper walked into his and Alice's room on his proclaimed birthday he was surprised to see a small pile of gifts for him. He raised his eyebrows but opened them none-the-less. They were from Carlisle and Esme, according to their tags, and they were all dense and very clearly books.

The first one he opened was another copy of his favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the rest were assorted genres. The last one he opened was brand new Civil war book. Esme had written a note that said "Saw this and thought of you. It was released four days ago, love, Esme." He immediately began reading.

Halfway through, he was dumbfounded. He didn't hear the rest of his family get home, as he was sitting stock still on the bed staring at the pages of the book. Edward entered to see him stroke down the page and back up again, his mind blank. He waited ten minutes for Jasper to notice him before he cleared his throat.

"Jasper, what's up?"

"Edward, hey. Look at this." Jasper was at Edwards side thrusting the book into his hands. On first glance, it looked like any old civil war picture. There were more than you would think, but they were all of the same vein. This was saw a group of soldiers, in confederate dress, standing around, holding their guns in position and posing for the camera.

"What's special?" Edward asked, "It looks the same as any other civil war soldier picture."

"Top row, seventh from the last." Jasper said to him. Edward's eyes scanned the picture, and he was shocked.

"That's-That's you!" Edward exclaimed, drawing the attention of the rest of the family. Only Rosalie made her way to the room, everyone else decided to listen in. "That's you!" He was shocked. He past the book to Rosalie, who gasped before reading the caption aloud for everyone.

"1862: A group of confederate soldiers waiting for lunch. This picture was taken three times before they were able to draw a usable copy. Names are not included or known." She read, "Jasper! This is amazing! I've never seen a picture of you as a human before! This is phenomenal. Esme!" Rosalie took the book and made her way downstairs, Edward and Jasper following her. Alice sat down beside Jasper, and rubbed the back of his hand, smiling brightly at him.

Jasper could feel the shock radiating from the six other bodies in the room, and he softly said, "Turn the page and read the caption."

Rosalie did so. "'The same day as figure 13, the group of soldiers jovially share a drink, celebrating the assumed betrothal of their fellow to an unnamed female, face not shown. Both pictures were found in an archive.' Holy shit."

"What is it?" Emmett asked, grabbing the book from her hands. "Holy shit! It's a picture of Jasper!" The pictured was passed around. It showed Jasper smiling at the camera, his arm around a girl whose face was hidden into his arm, her hand extended as if asking for the camera to turn away. The couple was surrounded by the soldiers, all smiling and enjoying a drink.

Alice was looking at the picture, her heart contracting softly, though she knew it was ridiculous. Jasper was a human after all, of course he would have had pas relationships. She never expected to see it, though. And she never expected him to be engaged to a woman. She did her best to hide her insecurities, remembering that Jasper is, after all, her husband and soul mate.

"That is just fascinating. Do you remember anything of this girl, this day, Jasper?" Carlisle asked, scanning through the pages quickly.

"I can't remember anything from this day. I don't remember these people or this girl. I'm all blank. This is the strangest thing to have happened to me."

Carlisle stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Well, this is interesting. Perhaps we should do more research?"

"I don't know. It would be interesting to know more about my human life, but it's so distant to me, it would be like learning about a stranger. I just remember glimpses of the pasture at home, joining the army, vacating the women and children in Galveston, and then the pain of my change. Nothing else, really." Though, as Jasper searched his brain for memories, the pasture at his home gave him a deep, comforting pleasure; memories of the feelings of home, the soft grass under his feet, riding a horse side by side someone else, glimpses of brown. "I've never had any thought about it. Alice, did you see anything about this book?"

"No, I didn't even see Esme purchase it. Though I wasn't looking." She responded.

"Well son, I hope you enjoy the book." Carlisle said, clapping Jasper on the back before retreating to his office. The rest of the family murmured about before making their way out of the room as well.

"Alice, honey, I'm going to go on a hunt. I'll be fine alone." Jasper said, giving her a kiss in the forehead and a glorious smile. "I'll see you later, love."

"Bye, Jasper!" She smiled.

…

Jasper was used to hunting alone. It was the best way to clear his thoughts. Though he loved his family and his wife, there were never more private moments than that of him hunting alone. Giving in to his instinct, without the fear of becoming territorial or feeling the emotions of others, without Edward poking around in his head.

The October air was fresh and clean as Jasper ran deep into the woods of New York State, aiming for Canada, his preferred hunting grounds. On his way, he came across a cougar, draining it instantly before moving on. His speed was unparalleled. He often slowed down, because of his wife who was slower, and because of Edwards ego. But if he wanted to, he could often beat Edward in a race. He picked his battles though.

The rhythmic thumping of his feet on the ground was a sort of hypnosis for him. He zoned out, running, ignoring most of the creatures in the forest, his thoughts wandering. He pushed himself, wanting to feel the strain of his lungs, hoping for something to prove his existence beyond a never changing entity. It was rare for a vampire to push themselves so hard they began to feel a strain, as they had no need for breathing. Sometimes, jasper would breath purposely when running, just to feel human again. Today, as he pushed himself harder than he ever had before, he felt like he was running the bases, sliding into home before being struck in the back by the baseball.

Jasper stopped short, trying to pull the memory back from the depths of his never forgetting brain. What the hell? He thought. He had never experienced a memory from his human life that vividly. He searched and searched, yearning for the feel of it again. He pulled upon the smell of the baseball that sat in his room, the smell of the air, anything to pull the memory back. He sat down on the forest floor and closed his eyes, practicing the breathing exercises that Carlisle had taught him back in his early days of animal drinking.

It was three hours before he made any progress, and when he did, when the memory of the smell of a baseball was enough to trigger something, he let out a howl of triumph, startling a murder of crows into flight.

"Come on!" He willed himself back.

"Come on!" A deep and distorted voice rang out. Jasper, a very human Jasper, stood up and brushed his hands on his pants, before ruffling the hair on his head. He stepped up to the plate, practiced his swing twice, and when the ball was pitched, he hit it off into the distance. He sprinted as fast as he could, pushing himself to make it to home base. He ignored the cheering of his team, the boos of the opposers. His feet hit the ground in a rhythmic thump, the smell of the fresh Texas air whipping the hair into his face. He went to slide into home, and just as the his foot was inching toward the base, he was struck in the back by the worn rubber ball.

"Ow! Hey!" He yelped, standing up and turning around in anger.

"You're out!" The umpire said, gesturing at Jasper to make his way back to the bench.

"I was safe! You're not even suppose to throw the ball that hard!" Jasper whined. He can't have been more than twelve years old. He rubbed his back, whining out in pain when he hit the welt that was forming there. "Who even got me out?" Jasper asked the umpire.

"She did." The umpire said, gesturing to the outfield behind Jasper, pointing at a girl. Her features were faint. All that could be made out was the long, brown hair that was blowing in the wind. She raised her hand, waved, and then laughed.

"What? Can't handle a little hit to the back, Whitlock?" A smooth, young female voice said.

Jasper narrowed his eyes. "You better watch out, Swan, or I'll be lookin' to give ya a blinker or two!" Jasper said, raising his fist in a threatening manner.

"Oh stop. You'll make me blush." The girl said. She was young, probably ten or eleven years, but she was taller than the rest of the girls on the teams.

"Aye, stop ya fightin', the both of ya! Whitlock, back to the bench. Swan, hold ya tongue and get back to the field! Go!"

"Yes, ump!" the two said, following the orders.

"Nooning hour is over!" the umpire said, fanning himself with his hat and wiping the sweat off his brow. Everyone! In!" The school children all rushed to the crate to put their sport supplies in before lining up at the door of the school house. Jasper was standing next to a boy who was taller than him, but shared the same sandy hair and wore similar clothing. The taller boy shoved Jasper, causing him to stumble into the girls in front of him.

"Pardon, ladies. Travis, Cut it out!" Jasper said, throwing a quick punch into the other boys stomach, causing him to groan out in pain.

"You're so violent, Whitlock."

"Are you talkin' to me or to him, Swan." Jasper said, turning to face the girl.

"The both of you, really, but you particularly Jas." The girl, Swan, said.

"Says you, look at my back!" Jasper said, whipping around in anger and yanking his shirt out of his trousers to lift it to his back. "And don't call me Jas!"

A low whistle came from Travis. "Who did that to ya, Jasper?"

"Elle did! She's a demon! A right, evil, downright demon!"

The girl, Elle, laughed before securing her features into an obedient face and turning around. "Whitlock! What are you doin with your garments about?" The stern-faced woman demanded, smacking Jasper about the head.

"Ow! Sorry, Miss Millie."

"He was showing me the welt he got from Swan." Travis said.

The woman turned to face Travis, raised her hand, and he flinched away, a bright, mischievous smile on his face the whole time. "Tuck your shirt in, child. In we go. Go go!" The woman ushered the children inside, all of them taking their seats. Jasper, being one of the oldest children, sat in the second to last row, with Travis behind him. The girl, Elle, was seated directly two rows in front of him. She turned and gave him a bright smile, before pulling her slate and chalk out of her knapsack. Jasper slammed his school book in his desk in aggravation.

"Elle Swan, what is the date?"

"May sixteenth, ma'am." She responded.

"Year?"

"1856!" the girl said again.

"Correct, thank you. Now, everyone please open your text books, and begin reading where you left off before noon. I don't want to hear a single peep."

Travis leaned in to whisper to Jasper as soon as the teacher turned her back. "Ya know, you really need to stop talking to Elle."

"What do you mean?" The teacher turned to give Jasper a glare, to which he responded with a sheepish smile, bowing his head to his slate.

"You know what I mean, Jas." Travis said.

"No I don't." Jasper responded.

"You know that my ma and pa have a deal with the Swans. Ol' Charles really wants Elle to be part of the Whitlock clan."

"Travis, you are dreaming. There is no way that Sheriff Swan would ever let his southern bell marry your ugly face. You look like a chamber pot. Just because your daddy has money."

"Jasper!" The teacher turned, and struck his desk with her hand. "Be quiet."

"Sorry, Miss Millie." Travis snickers.

"Shut up, Travis." Jasper whispers, continuing to ignore the boy behind him.

…

The school day ended and the children were filing out, with the oldest being able to leave last. "Jasper!" Elle's voice rang out. Jasper turned around to face the girl.

"What do you want, Swan?"

"I wanted to apologize for hitting you so hard with the ball this morning. Before my older brother left for New York he taught me how to throw. My father still does."

"I don't need your petty apology, little girl." Jasper scowls.

Elles' face turned sour, before she stuck her tongue out at him and turned to run away. "You need to learn how to whisper!" She called over her shoulder, her skirt blowing in the wind as she caught up to her friends to walk back to her house.

"You have a mean pitch!" He called back, to which she responded with a loud laugh and a "Bye Jas!"

"A lady should never laugh in such a way." Travis said, his voice annoyed.

"A lady?" Jasper challenged. "We're only kids, Trav."

"Got to start training 'em young. The Sheriff really doesn't know how to raise a proper daughter."

"Travis, the sheriff can raise his daughter however he pleases. You know that he's old. He was 40 years old before his wife even had a daughter. All he had were sons, and he's getting on in years. I think Elle is a fine person."

Travis raised his brow, "You seem pretty defensive of her."

"I don't like Swan, but that is for personal reasons. I think she's obnoxious, not improper. And I quite like the Sheriff."

"Watch yourself, Jas."

"Don't call me Jas." Jasper scowled.

…

Jasper opened his eyes. He stared at the tree in front of him for a good ten minutes before he stood up and check the watch on his wrist. He had been sitting in the forest for six hours, which surprised him. His mind was reeling, he didn't know how to process what he had just experienced. He had never experienced a memory from his human life so vividly, so intensely. His phone pinged with a text from Rose inquiring to his whereabouts. He told her he'd be back shortly, and began to run back to the house.

"Welcome back Jasper." Esme said from her perch on the couch. She closed the book on her lap before looking at him. "Did you have a good hunt?"

"It was fine." He responded.

"Damn, Jas, those are some pretty intense feelings ya got there." Emmett said while patting jasper on the back.

"Don't call me Jas!" Jasper said, grabbing Emmetts finger and pulling them back.

"Ow ow ow! Okay, I'm sorry!" Emmett said. "Mercy!" Jasper let go, and flipped Emmett off.

"He is right, those are some pretty interesting emotions." Esme said. "What happened?"

Jasper tried to reel in the emotions he was feeling before beginning his story. Every had gathered in the family room, Alice giving him a kiss to the cheek.

"Her name was Elle." Jasper began.

"You remember her?" Carlisle said, perking up in interest.

"Not really, but when I was hunting, I was hit with the most intense memory from my human life. I've never experienced anything like that before. It was only one memory, but it was so clear, like I was there, and there was a girl, named Elle. I just know that has to be her. I don't know anything else though."

He didn't want to give out any more details about his memory, for some reason it felt like it would be an invasion of his privacy, of the memories privacy. "I did have a cousin named Travis." He added, "he seemed like an asshole."

"Yeah, well if he was related to you." Emmett trailed off at the look from Alice, but Jasper just laughed it off.

"Suppose you're right, buddy." Jasper said, punching Emmett on the arm, causing the unsuspecting vampire to stumble.

The family remained in the sitting room, though it was obvious that Carlisle was anxious to talk to Jasper about the memory. Jasper made his way into the small library and study, pulling out his journals from his early days as a vampire, hoping to find something that hinted to the girl within the pages. When those efforts proved futile, he turned to the internet.

…

The next few weeks followed the Jasper through their covens' repetitive days. Hunt, attend high school, go home, bicker amongst themselves, hunt, and then start all over with school again. The days dragged, eternity felt like it, and though Jasper was content with the people in his life, he was sure bored of the constant stream of endless days that were the same.

Today was different though, and he couldn't figure out why. He chalked it up to the rare sunshine that was streaming through the high school windows (hopefully it would go away before class was out), perhaps the fact that the stinky teenager called Alan that sat in his history class was gone, or maybe it was because they were discussing a topic that piqued his interest.

They history class had made its way through the entirely inaccurate history book throughout the year, and today they were discussing their final topics. The teacher had put the different subjects on the board, and the students were expected to inform the class as to why they chose the topic they had.

"And next, we has Jasper. Jasper chose to present on Texas during the 1800's, Jasper why don't you come up?"

The class watched in interest for a moment, acknowledging that Jasper wasn't listening. The teacher prompted again, but the request was deaf on his years, the voices and quick flashes of memories flashing before his eyes.

"Texas days are interesting because the days seem to drag." A young Elle was saying to Travis and Jaspers' grandmother, Edith.

"Yes dear. They do, when it gets this hot, don't they?"

"Good thing I have Jas to keep me company, since Travis is away." Elle smiled at the old woman who smiled back.

"He doesn't like being called Jas."

…

"The news is spreading so fast!" someone said.

"What news?" Jasper asked the unknown boy.

"Well, the news that the Sherriff is well again, o'course!" The boy said.

"Oh that's wonderful!" Jasper said. Houston was so much more secure with a competent Sherriff like Charles Swan.

…

Elle stood by the door of her home and thanked everyone for coming. It was her eleventh birthday, and being the daughter of such a prominent man usually called for a grand celebration put on by her mother Rene. The home was a beautiful home, with handmade appliances, a grand staircase, and a wonderful room where guests gathered frequently. The decorations were a mix of Italian and French, due to the families immigrant status. Charles Swan was a first-generation Italian-American man, his mother and father speaking very limited English. Rene was the same, though her parents were from France.

"Such a beautiful young woman." Jasper's mother, a beautiful, tall blonde woman was saying. Her husband Roger was standing beside her, a hand proudly on his sons back.

"She is, is she not?" Rene's mother said, her French accent heavy, "We are so pleased with how things have worked out between your brother's son."

"As are we." His mother said again. "Though, her and Jasper are becoming quite close."

"Harriet, that's enough." Roger tried to say, only to be hushed by the women.

…

"Jasper, I've found the most intriguing book! It was written just a year after I was born. I spend so much time in town reading in the Library."

"What's it called?" Jasper asked, flipping through his own copy of Sense and Sensability.

"Wuthering Heights!" the girl brightly said.

…

The Whitlock family was gathered amongst the Swans yet again, celebrating Elle's twelfth birthday.

On a brown package the words "Many returns on the day of your twelve orbit around the sun." The girl reached for that package next. She opened it, her mouth dropping open. In her hands was a brand new copy of Wuthering Heights. Books were not affordable for most families, and to receive one in these times was of the highest honor.

"Who gave me this?" she asked, her voice wavering. Jasper lowered himself in the seat. He wasn't expecting her to open it in front of her family and his own. He just hoped she didn't read the inscription in the inside cover.

"Jasper did." Roger said, sending him a bright smile. "Saved two months' worth of his wages for it, the right ass."

Jasper sent her a smile, to which she responded her own.

"Jasper?" The teacher called for a third time. Though Jasper's mind had traveled back hundreds of years, and spanned two, he had only been gone from thought for less than a minute.

"Sorry, Miss Willow. I was thinking about the hiking trip my brothers and I have planned for this evening."

"Well, if you don't mind, please come explain your topic to the class." She said kindly.

Jasper stood at the head of the classroom and began to speak. "Originally, before the Cullen's adopted me, I was from Texas. I grew up on a farm, raised cattle, rode horses, sheered sheep. I wasn't there for long, but I was there long enough to remember the ways. As I've grown, I've been more open to hearing criticisms of my home, and because of this I've decided to write my final and present on the racism that was present during the civil war."

"Interesting topic choice, young man. Most especially in these trying times. You may be seated." His teacher said.

The emotions in the classroom were an interesting assortment of intrigue, anger, and happiness, and he knew it was because of the hot topic he had chosen. He just didn't care. He lived it, watched it happen, fought for the wrong side, and the least he could do was teach others the ways and explain how young men fell into those ideals.