A/N: Because I was bored this afternoon, and felt bad for my chapter fuck up; I decided to write out another chapter for you all. Enjoy it. :D
x~o~x

Guarded

Chapter 5

The first week Alice and Jasper spent at the Cullen house was... different. Alice had fallen right in the family, quickly making good friends with most of them. Carlisle was fascinated with her gift, while she and Esme would exchange ideas for decorating the house (as, they had found out, it was built only a few days before their arrival.) Edward had already seemed to pick Alice as his favorite sister, and they would often have their own secret, mental conversations with each other thanks to Edward's telepathic gift. Emmett enjoyed her bubbly little personality that fit in well with his joking loving one.

Jasper, however, did not go over as well with the family as Alice did. It wasn't that they didn't like eachother; no, not all. The family was extremely friendly and easily loving; there were hardly any forms of hostility between them. There was just so many happy emotions around him, true bonds of love. He wasn't used to such emotions; after having been in charge of training and disposing of newborns, and after feeling the painful effect of vampire venom on a human for nearly a century. It had been so long since he had been around any form of love and affection; it was almost strange to him.

Although, through Alice, he did regain some sense of what it used to be like. However, her bubbliness combined with Carlisle's undying compassion; Esme's motherly instinct; Emmett's uncanny ability to find a laugh out of everything; and Edward's understanding had Jasper way out of his comfort zone. He just felt awkward.

Both their relationships with Rosalie, however, hadn't progressed. She tried to avoid both of them whenever she could; often hiding in her room or going on daily hunting trips. When they did see her, she'd completely ignore them, and act as if they didn't exist.

When he saw her, or even passed her room while she'd be reading a book or something; he'd still feel her negativity. Depression, confusion, longing, and fear. It seemed she was more hostile to him than Alice.

Jasper so desperately wanted to help her… It killed him that he didn't know why she was so sad.

It killed him that she wanted nothing to do with him.

"It's not that," Edward reassured him, a comforting look in his eyes. "She doesn't hate you, really. She's just… You're gift took her off guard. It took her a good decade to get used to mine."

It seems like there's more to it than that…

Edward pursed his lips for a moment. "You're right. There is a bit more to it. Like Carlisle said, she's not a fan of change."

Jasper looked at him with apologetic eyes. Is she… Is she afraid of me? He was scared to know the answer.

"No, no!" Edward said quickly. "Well. Kind of. She didn't have the best human life around…" He winced, unsure of what all to tell Jasper. He shook his head. "It's not my place to say. You'll have to have her tell you; but don't ask her straight on. Wait for her to warm up to you a bit."

If she ever does, you mean. Jasper thought grimly. It was the same speech everyone else had given him.

Edward put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She will. Just give her some time." He gave Jasper a small smile, and started his way back to his room.

Jasper stared at his feet again. What was Edward talking about when he said she didn't have the best human life? And he really, really wanted to believe Edward and Alice and everyone else when they told him not to worry about things.

"She doesn't hate you," They'd say. Then why did she act like it?

"She needs time to adjust to things," They'd tell him. How long?

"She only acts this way because of her past," They'd claim. Why?

"Trust me, " Was how they'd end it. How can when everything seems so hopeless?

x~o~x

"You're sure about this Alice? About them?" Edward questioned her later that night. They were out in the surrounding woods of the Cullen house, away from everyone else in the house who might hear them.

She rolled her eyes at him. "They will, Edward. Stop worrying so much!"

Edward sighed. "I just… I don't know… They just seem so.. Opposite." He shook his head. "As Esme puts it, Jasper's a polite southern gentleman. And Rosalie… Well, she's a bitch."

"Edward, have you ever seen her when she's actually happy?" Alice said, matter of factly.

He didn't answer.

"See?" She said, a smug smile across her pixie features.

A moment of silence passed as the two walked back to their house.

"Alice… It's only been a week, and he's already getting restless. And Rosalie—she's scared to talk to him. How long will this go on?" Edward whispered.

"I don't think it'll be too long now. I'm sure Jasper will figure out some way to talk to her."

"I sure hope so." He sighed again.

Good luck Jasper. Edward thought to himself; even though he knew Jasper wouldn't be able to hear him.

x~o~x

A/N: Sooo. I decided to do a little bit more to Alice's and Edward's point of view of to Jasper's current situation. I haven't figured out a partner for everyone else yet. I'm leaning towards Edward/Alice, but I want to somehow add Bella and Renesmee into the mix without having to resort to Emmett/Bella, or Emmett/Alice. I'd appreciate some input from readers on who you think should go with who. I'm not putting any limits on this, so have fun with it. Slash, wolves, unexpected people from other covens-whatever.
So. Yeah. A review would be nice.