I woke to find Jasper asleep by my side.
"Having a nice time, lovebirds?" Emmett said with sarcasm thick in his voice.

"Yes, we were," I replied, "Are you jealous?"

"No," Emmett replied instantly, clearing his throat.
"I don't get what your problem is," I frowned, "He's part of my life now."

"You're my little sister, Alice," Emmett sighed, "You've been hurt. You need family."

"I'm your seventeen year old sister. I have a boyfriend that looks after me too," I stated, "Can I sleep again now?"

"Alright, alright," Emmett chuckled, "You're still a baby to me. But you're so like mom now."

I sniffled at the thought of her, and Emmett went to hug me close. He kissed my forehead tenderly.

"Sweet dreams," he whispered, smiling a little and leaving us alone.

My recurring nightmare seemed to never cease. Jasper shook me desperately, trying to rescue me from the dream. I opened my eyes wide, sobbing and clinging to him in relief that it was over. Jasper held me close to him and stroked my hair soothingly.

"It's okay. You're safe, I'm here," he soothed, the same thing he'd say every time he woke me from my nightmare. He hushed me softly, stroking my cheek with the back of his fingers. Emmett ran into the room.

"Is she alright?" he demanded.

"Another nightmare," Jasper nodded, and I nodded with him, letting out a whimper.

"I want Mommy back," I mumbled. Jasper held me close, rocking me gently. Emmett sat beside us, his hand on my shoulder.

"We're all here for you," he murmured.

Emmett had to get back to work, and so Jasper took me to his house for a few nights, until Edward was able to take me in.

Jasper still had to go to school with Rosalie, and their mother worked, but she was able to look after me while she was home.

"Alice, sweetie?" Mrs Whitlock came into Jasper's room, just before she went to drive Jasper and Rosalie to school and herself to work, "Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"

I nodded, "I'll be fine, thank you," I said shyly.

"Okay, honey," she smiled softly, "Well, I'll only be three hours, then I'll be home and keep you company."

I didn't want to sleep, in case I had the nightmare again with no one to comfort me. I sat in Jasper's bed, looking around at everything. I'd been in his room so many times, but I still hadn't noticed everything. Several framed photos of me and him, or just me were dotted around his room, at least five of them on his desk. One frame was standing on a large book. I was about to get it from the desk, but my leg twinged in pain. I winced, but then realised I needed two hands to retrieve the book. I aborted my mission, and decided to ask Jasper to show me later.

My phone vibrated on the bedside table. I reached my good hand, but let out a whimper of pain as my body crushed my broken arm. Shifting my weight, I managed to get hold of my phone with my bad arm. Jasper had texted me.

Are you okay? Mom said she can come home if you need company. I love you.

I slowly typed out my reply.

I'm pretty lonely, My leg hurts. I miss you. Tell yo

"Ow," I muttered as my broken arm failed me. My cell phone slipped from my weak fingers, landing heavily on my left cheekbone.

Tell your Mom I don't mind if she comes home.

Within less than half an hour, Mrs Whitlock came home. She instantly came up to my room.

"Hey, little sweetie," she cooed lovingly, "How are you feeling?"

"Bad," I choked out, starting to cry at her affection. Mrs Whitlock hugged me close.

"Aww, there there now, darlin'," she clucked soothingly, "I know it's hard. We're all here to look after you."

"I feel like I've lost both my parents," I sobbed, "My Dad won't talk to me, unless it's to tell me to go away, and Mommy..."

"Your Daddy will come around, Alice, I promise," she whispered, "I know how much he loves you, and he loves you so, so much. Me and him have been friends for a long time, and he called me the day you were born."

"What did he say?" I asked in a tiny voice, looking up at her in curiosity.

"He was in tears, bless him," Mrs Whitlock smiled at the memory, "He was saying "I have a daughter! A little girl! She's the double of her mother, the double. She's so beautiful, and so tiny.""

I sniffled, wiping my eyes and trying to hide the smile that had begun to grow on my face.

"Your Mommy's death will never break that bond, sweetie. He just needs time to get over it. He's hurting, like you, but he wants to be alone instead of having people to look after him."

"I said something really," I wailed as I realised, "When he said for me to leave him alone, I said that he wished I was dead instead of Mom."

Mrs Whitlock sighed, "He knows you don't mean it. I know he does. He adores you so much. I came to visit you in hospital, and I got there just as your Mom was taken for an emergency blood transfusion after losing a lot of blood during your birth. Your Dad was holding you the whole time she was gone, not wanting you to be alone. He talked to you, promising you were the most precious thing he had. He promised to always protect you."

I sniffled and nodded, "I miss him so much."

"I know, honey. We just need to give him some time," Mrs Whitlock smiled softly. She sat me on her knee, gently stroking my hair ad soothing me as I cried. I sighed slowly, sniffling and clinging to her tightly.

"Would you like something to eat?" she whispered. I shook my head.

"No, thank you," I replied politely, resting my head on her shoulder.

"I what might cheer you up," she smiled, going downstairs and returning with a book. It was a photo album, similar to the one Jasper had on his desk.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Jasper will kill me for this," she laughed, showing me a picture of a little boy with honey blond curls.

"Awww!" I squealed, instantly cheering up, "He's so cute!"

Mrs Whitlock smiled, turning to the first page.

"Little angel, he was," she sighed happily, "He barely woke in the night. Which is more that could be said for Rosalie!"

There was a photo of Rosalie and Jasper, both just a day old, asleep in their cribs at the hospital. I couldn't help but smile.

Jasper walked into the room a few hours later, just as his mom showed me a photo of him in the bathtub, aged three.

"Mom!" he gasped in horror, and I giggled at his reaction.

"You're so cute, Jazzy!" I grinned, reaching my arms to him like a clingy toddler. Jasper smiled and lifted me into his arms, before kissing me softly. Mrs Whitlock squeezed my hand gently, and then left us on our own.