It never occurred to me just how long a cross country drive was because I had never made it by myself until now. Dear Lord, it takes forever to get from New York to Washington state. I did make a couple of pit stops though. The first in bumfuck Pennsylvania for an emergency cash pick-up since I didn't have access to my accounts yet, and the other in South Dakota at one of my other properties to get some clothes and a meal, but other than that, it was a nonstop drive. I wasn't sure how long Jasper and his clan hung out in the same place before they left, but it had only been a couple of years since they migrated to northern Washington, so I was positive they were still there.

I been to Carlisle's den he had out there a long time ago, when Jasper first started hanging around with the pixy, so I knew where I was going, and it took me four fucking days to get there. I know vampires in general like to live in the middle of nowhere, but damn. Talk about a one horse town. Stopping at the rundown looking inn, I got myself a room, took a shower, changed my closed, and headed right back out of the tiny ass town.

As I turned into the drive, something told me not to pull all the way up to the house, so I pulled over just inside the tree line, cut the engine, grabbed my hat, and climbed out of my truck.

Settling my hat on my head, I made way up to the massive glass house, but I didn't make it more than halfway to the door before Jasper and another member of the small coven came crashing through one of the front windows. Jerking to a stop, I watched what was probably a mock-fight, but Jasper seemed to be out for blood... venom. Whatever.

Crossing my arms, I watched with a grin on my face for a full minute before I called out to him. "So glad ya gave up the life of a soldier, Major." He pinned down what he now called his 'brother' and his head snapped my direction, his eyes wide, and I grinned wider as I crossed my arms. "Domestication suits ya."

He looked back at whichever other member of the coven he had been fighting with and growled hard before shoving him by the front of his shirt into the gravel drive. Jumping off him, he then turned and started my direction. "Peter. What the hell are you doing here?"

I shrugged. "Was in the neighborhood. On ya six, Major."

Without so much as a pause, he hiked his leg up behind him, catching the stupid bastard that thought to attack from behind in the face, and sent him flying back into the trees on the other side of the drive. Glaring behind him, he muttered 'asshole', and finished closing the distance between us as several others came running out of the house. He shook his head and held out a hand when he was close enough to do so.

I took it and flashed my famous shit-eating grin. "Bad time?"

He snorted and let go of my hand, crossing his arms and turning to the scene behind us. "Timing has never been your strong suit, Pete." He then looked back at me. "Seriously, though. What are you doing here?"

Putting on a face of mock hurt, I clutched my chest. "Ouch, Major. I didn't know I needed a reason ta visit my maker."

He made a face. "You don't, but a heads up might have been a good idea. You have no idea what you kick started by just showing up."

My face flattened. "Major, ya know better than that. There ain't nothin' I don't know, but I ain't all that interested in it. Also, I woulda given ya one had ya not changed your number, Asshole. I could be someplace else and not bearin' witness to ya nonsense with a text message. You ain't shy 'bout sendin' 'em any other time."

His nose wrinkled and his eyes squinted slightly. "Right. I did do that. Well, come on in. They can figure out how to put Edward back together on their own." It was then he looked around, confusion taking over his face and scent. "Where's Charlotte?"

I growled low in my throat, and he blinked. "We ain't gonna talk 'bout her. I need a favor."

His eyes said it literally pained him to swallow his questions, but he did, and I followed him the rest of the way into the house and up the stairs. His little pixy glared at me the moment I walked in and didn't stop until I was out of her line of sight. She truly hated when I was around because her visions didn't include me, so they malfunctioned when I was in the area. She leaned way too heavy on a talent and I found it fucking hysterical. My 'gift' was truly special. I didn't have a scent, and I can't be sensed. As far as supernaturals go, I just don't exist. Made disappearing very, very easy.

Jasper opened a door on the second floor and closed it behind me when I was inside. Giving it a look over, it was pretty easy to figure out this was his little domaine. I doubt Alice used the Confederate Flag in her room designs.

He took a seat on an overstuffed chair and I remained standing. After so long in a car, I couldn't sit if I wanted to. He crossed an ankle on his knee and laced his fingers together over his stomach. "What's the favor?"

Leaning back against the desk behind me, I crossed my arms. "That offer ta use ya surname still on the table?"

His head jerked back. "Sure, if you need it. Don't you have enough names, though?"

I clicked my tongue, looking at the painted flag on the wall. "Char got caught." I saw his eyes go wide from the corner of mine and I shook my head. "Not like that. She fine, or she was when I left. If we bein' honest though, I kinda hope she ain't no more."

He looked at me for a moment before a lightbulb seemed to go off in his head. "YOU caught her." I nodded and he frowned. "That... sucks, Pete." I shrugged and he sighed. "What do you need?"

Considering the question for a moment, I let out a breath through my nose. "The number ta ya guy and a loan. I ain't got that much cash on me."

He sat there for a long minute before he nodded slowly, his eyes crinkled in the corners. "I can do that. It'll take about a week to get it, though. You have that kind of time?"

I snorted. "I ain't got the choice, Major."

A brow slowly slid up his forehead and a grin pulled at his lips. "You locked Charlotte out of the accounts by using my name, and yourself by extension, didn't you?" When I didn't say anything, he chuckled. "Nice. Alright, give me your shit, I'll make a call, and we'll get you set up. Are you staying here while you're in the area?"

I considered saying yes when there was a crash from the floor below us, but I shook my head. "Naw. I got a room at that ridiculous excuse of a inn in town." Then I chuckled. "Unlike your ass, I don't play so well with others no more."

He looked totally and completely offended as he pointed toward the door. "That little fucker started it. Not my fault he ain't capable a finishin' it."

Ah, now there was my Major. Jasper always fell back on his accent when he gets pissed off. I just grinned at him. "Yeah, I bet he did. What happen? He take ya juicebox?"

His face went flat, as did his voice. "Oh, fuck you, Captain."

I winked at him, and he groaned. "I'm 'ight for now. Thanks for the offer, though."

His arm snapped up and he pointed at the door. "Get out. I'll stop by your room for the information later. I have to get ready for school."

My lips pursed and my head slowly tilted to the side. "Beg ya pardon? School?"

He grunted and shook his head as he stood up. "Don't ask. I'll see you later."

I nodded slowly as I took stood the rest of the way up. "Yeah, 'ight."

We separated at the steps and he stopped me before I was halfway down. "Oh, and one more thing." I turned to look up at him, and he leaned his forearms on the railing. "You can't feed here." I cocked a brow and he continued. "There are some pups down by the cliffs that Carlisle made a deal with a while back. If you get hungry, you'll need to head to Port Angeles, which is like... 60 miles from here. Or, you can suck it up and munch some fur."

My hand clamped over my mouth as I audibly gagged at the thought. Waving my other hand, I shook my head. "Port Angeles'll be just fine. I ate not so long ago, so I'm 'ight for now."

He smirked at me and lifted a shoulder. "Suit yourself. You know, it's not so bad once you get used to it."

My lip curled. "Yeah, it is. Y'all g'on and keep on with whatcha doin'. Just don't e'spect me ta join ya at dinner time."

I saw his eyes flicker off to the side quickly before he looked back at me. "You don't feel guilty over it?"

Crossing my arms, I cocked a brow. "Why the fuck would I? Listen, Jazz. You wanna eat Bambi, you go'n and eat Bambi. I ain't gonna say shit about it. I don't eat Bambi. I won't eat Bambi. I eat the hunter. You can also go'n and sit on ya high horse and give me shit all you want, but I ain't the one goin' against what we was made ta do. Just consider this, though. I'm from a time when food was scarce. Had you not made me, I woulda gladly picked ta be a vampire meal over starvin' cause there weren't enough food. Ya got a good idea. Just don't over do it, or you gonna lose that moral high ground real quick when your huntin' leaves them humans with no food a their own. At that point, my teeth an' full belly equates ta bein' a mercy kill."

There was something in his eyes, but he just nodded, tapped his palm against the side of the railing, and stood to his full height. "Alright. I'll see you this afternoon, Peter."

With a single finger, I tipped the brim of my hat, turned, and continued my way down the stairs; where I was again under the meager weight of Alice's glare. I just grinned at her. "Pixy. How the hell are ya?"

Her glare did not lessen. "I can honestly say I've been better. How long do you plan to hang around this time?"

With a chuckle, I crossed my arms. "I dunno. It's a right nice area. Might stay a while." Her face pinched into pure rage, but I just turned away from her, and again tipped my hat, but this time to the lady of the house. "Mrs. Cullen." I gave her an actual smile because I don't know her well enough to have an opinion on her just yet. "You have a lovely home, Ma'am."

She beamed. "Why thank you, Young Man. Though the boys like to remodel it more than necessary, I do my best."

I just kept the smile in place. "My Belle of a mama would die all over if she saw this place. She also had a hoard a rowdy boys, and she learned a nice crack on the back a the head was a pretty good equalizer since we was all twice her size and didn't listen for shit ta her tellin' us ta knock it off."

From above my head, I heard Jasper growl before his voice floated down to our ears. "Shut it, Captain!"

I glanced to the ceiling with a shit-eating grin. "Just givin' the little lady a few pointers on how ta handle rambunctious little scamps."

He appeared at the top of the steps with his pissed off face. "Peter, I swear to God."

Ginning right at him, I chuckled. "Ya really shouldn't do that, Major. It ain't nice."

Mrs. Cullen looked between us, and her curiosity seemed to get out of her control. "How do you two know each other?" I looked at her, and she slightly lifted a shoulder. "Jasper doesn't really talk about himself that much. We didn't know he knew anyone when he and Alice found us."

Slowly, I turned and looked at Jasper, and he looked terrified. "Awe, Daddy. Are you ashamed a me?" He just dropped his face into his palm, and I turned back to Mrs. Cullen. "Jasper my sire." She looked a little too interested, and I bowed out as gracefully as I was capable. "We don't talk 'bout it, and trust me, Ma'am, ya don't wanna know." Walking backwards toward the door, I glanced back at Jasper. "See ya later, Major."

He gave me the finger and I left. There had to be something to occupy my time until, and I cannot believe I am actually saying this, Jasper gets out of school.