Chapter III

"Brann's a good kid- You should be proud."

"I am." Alice said softly without making eye contact.

Emmett put a hand on her shoulder. Alice cringed and he pulled his hand away.

"I'd like to tell you something."

"What is it, Emmett?"

"Remember when you and Jasper first joined us?" Emmett questioned and when she nodded he went on. "Well, you would always try to beat me at arm wrestling. Day after day you would always try-"

"And you would always win."

"Not always." Emmett responded. "One day you won."

"True."

"You know I let you win." He responded.

"I figured it."

"But do you know why I did it?" Emmett queried, when Alice gave no response he went on. "I did it because of how much you fought to beat me- no matter how many times I beat you. No matter what invective things our beloved Rosalie threw your way."

She was response less once more.

"And you reacted the same way you did now." Emmett replied. "I couldn't take it anymore, one day. I couldn't stand it – beating you. So I let you win." He informed. "You know why?"

Alice said nothing, but at least this time she looked at him.

"Because that's what brother's do." he put an arm around her and this time she didn't cringe. A brief smile touched her face.

The voice that had taunted her was silent if only for a minute.

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"Uncle Brann." Nessie called.

"Yes, Nessie." Brann returned responding to the name that Nessie had taken to calling him, despite the fact that it was incorrect. He figured it was better not to attempt to correct her.

"Zoya and Milo taught me an alphabet song." Nessie responded.

"They did…did they?" He looked to Zoya and Milo.

"Da (Да)." They mouthed in unison the yes.

"Okay, what is it?"

"You have to guess."

"Then could you sing it?"

The ten year old nodded. "Ah (А), Beh (Б), Veh (В), Geh (Г), Deh (Д), Yeh (Е), Yo (Ё), Zheh (Ж), Zeh (З), E (И), Ekratkah (Й), Kah (К), El (Л), Em (М), En (Н), Oh (О), Peh (П), Err (Р), Es (С), Teh (Т), OO (У), Ef (Ф), Khah (Х), Tseh (Ц), Cheh (Ч), Sheh (Ш), Shceh (Щ), Tryvokizna (Ъ), Eigh (Ы), Mykizna (Ь), Ea (Э), Yu (Ю), Ya (Я)."

"It's the Russian Alphabet."

"All thrity-three letters."

"Да, хорошии работа, мало один. (Yes, good job, little one)" Brann replied.

"Thank you, Uncle Brann."

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Jasper had been standing at the window watching them, when Rosalie approached him.

"What do you want, Rosalie?"

"You despise her don't you?"

"Nessie?" Jasper queried without turning to look at her.

"No of course not. I was talking about Alice."

"Rosalie, why would I hate her?"

"She was involved with someone-"Jasper cut her off.

"I was involved with Maria willingly, why would I hate someone who was involved unwillingly." He responded. "That would be like asking Emmett, if he hates you."

"That's different?"

"How so?"

"I don't have a ki-"

"Shut up, Rosalie! You know she didn't want Brann.'

"Well then, I know what your feelings towards Brann are."

"You know very well what I mean, Hale, and it has nothing to do with Brann or his sister." Jasper replied. "Only a monster."

"Define monster." Rosalie had not been expecting a response.

"Something all of us are, save for a rare few."

Rosalie stared out the same window as he was only from a distance.

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It was night and Jasper was alone outside, sitting on the porch steps. Flicking pebbles across the ground with his fingers. The majority of which went several feet.

This was where Brann found him.

Jasper didn't say anything as Rowbin sat down on the step next to him.

"The inability to understand when someone wants to be left alone must be genetic." Jasper said below his breath.

"I'll leave if you want to be alone." Brann responded preparing to leave.

"No, you can stay…" He said calmly. "I don't mind." Then he added softly. "You're not so bad."

"Neither are you."

"Really." Was his, terse, emotionless response.

"Of course not, you're not as bad as you think you are."

"How so?"

"You see yourself as a monster-." Brann responded meaning every word he said. "But you're not a monster. I've seen monsters and none of them are you."

Jasper shook his head.

"But, you're really not." Brann objected. "You do all you possibly can to be good. A real monster wouldn't do that."

"It's not enough."

"Maybe it is."

"It's not." Jasper answered. "She deserves better."

Brann was silent for several moments before responding sadly. "When will you realize that you are better?"

When Hale gave no reply, Brann continued. "You are a thousand times better than my father ever was."

There was no reply from Jasper once more.

"He didn't treat her human- he didn't treat her like a person." His tone was sober. "He treated her like a doll- an object- something he could do whatever cruel twisted things he wanted to."

Brann Rowbin watched as Jasper balled and un-balled his right hand. Making and unmaking a fist over and over again.

Until he finally broke the silence by asking. "What kind of things."

"Abuse." Was Brann's somber answer.

"I'd ask what kind." Jasper said ruefully. "But, I know that you weren't created in verbal abuse."

Brann nodded, he would be a fool to believe that.