A/N: Thanks for luckyj525 for pre-reading and being generally awesome.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer, as always, owns everything Twilight. Mat Kearney owns "All I Need." Go listen to it on my profile page.
"The tears are coming down, they're mixing with the rain,
I know I love you, if that's all we can take…"
Jasper was hardly aware of the drive back to DC. He parked his car outside of James's office and went inside, feeling numb. He brushed past the few guys milling around just outside the office door and burst in.
James looked up and smiled when Jasper walked in. "Welcome back, Jasper," James said. "That was fast."
"What the hell did you tell her?" Jasper demanded.
James leaned towards Jasper. "Did you think I wouldn't find out you were fucking my wife, Jasper?" James asked. "Did you really think you could steal my life from me?"
"Your life?" Jasper shouted. "You don't even care about Alice or your daughters," Jasper said. "You have no idea what you have."
"You lied to her," Jasper said, his anger growing. "You made her hate me."
"Jasper," James said with a sigh. "I simply told Alice that I was concerned about your motives. She drew her own conclusions from that."
"Her own conclusions?" Jasper spat. "Her own conclusions based on whatever bullshit you showed her!" Jasper yelled.
James laughed. "Oh right," he said with a shrug. "That part was easy." James tossed a folder at Jasper and the falsified documents spilled out around Jasper's feet, along with the pictures of him and Maria. Pictures from nearly a year ago.
"It didn't take much convincing on my part," James said. "I think Alice has always known you couldn't be trusted. That you're nothing more than a fuck up."
Jasper kicked the pictures and papers away from him. He couldn't really blame Alice for so easily believing James's lies. James was right; he was nothing more than a fuck up. But still, it hurt Jasper more than he thought possible to think of Alice in pain over his actions.
"You've never cared about her, have you?" Jasper asked. "She was always just some silly little pawn in your game. You have no fucking clue how amazing she is."
"You're fired, Jasper," James said evenly. "You can leave now."
Jasper turned away from the desk and started to leave the office but then he turned back, grabbing James's shirt and pulling him up from his chair and punching him hard across the nose. "You son of a bitch," Jasper sputtered, shaking his hand as he released James.
James looked surprised for only a moment. "Get out," he said, wiping at his face as Felix hurried over.
Jasper didn't move and James nodded at Felix. Felix grabbed Jasper's arm roughly and yanked him from the office. Jasper could do nothing but let Felix pull him out to the hallway where he pushed him towards the elevator.
With one last glare in Felix's direction, Jasper left the office building for the last time. For a long time, Jasper drove aimlessly around the city, feeling more lost than he ever had before. He called Alice on his cell phone but she didn't answer. Finally, he ended up back at his apartment. He climbed the stairs and let himself inside the small, cold space. Jasper grabbed a bottle of whiskey from his cupboard, one of the only things actually in there, and collapsed in his bed, drinking until he passed out.
Jasper wasn't even sure where he was when a loud pounding woke him up. He sat up with a start, thinking maybe it had all been a bad dream and he was still with Alice but of course he wasn't. He was lying, still fully clothed, on the bed in his apartment in DC, alone. The pounding continued and Jasper realized it was someone knocking on his door.
Jasper stumbled out of bed and hurried to the door, flinging it open with the vain hope it was Alice.
The man that stood in front of Jasper was not Alice though. He looked Jasper up and down and shook his head. "You look like shit," he said.
"Laurent," Jasper said, rubbing his forehead. "What the fuck do you want?"
Laurent sighed. "He's going to do something," Laurent said. "I don't know what but if I was you I wouldn't let Alice and those girls stay in that house tonight."
Jasper straightened and looked at Laurent carefully. "What do you mean?" he asked, struggling to comprehend what Laurent was telling him despite the throbbing pain in his head.
"He knows Alice has something on him," Laurent said. "When he sold you out, he told Alice to give him everything she had but she must not have listened because he's worried she's going to ruin him. And you know James, he won't let anything destroy his image."
"Look, Jasper, we're not friends, I know that," Laurent continued as Jasper's mind began to race. "But I'm sick of James and his games and well, they're kids. I won't be involved in something that's going to hurt some little kids."
"Hurt them?" Jasper said, looking up sharply at that word. "What's he going to do? He's going to hurt them?"
"I told you, I don't know," Laurent said impatiently. "Just, warn them or something. You figure it out."
Jasper nodded. "I have to go up there," he muttered. He looked wildly around the apartment, trying to find his keys. "I won't let him hurt them."
"Jasper," Laurent said, grabbing his arm. "You reek of whiskey. Take a shower and sober up before you go running off to save anyone. You can't drive right now anyway. You've got some time, whatever he's got planned isn't happening until tonight. If you go now, he'll know."
"Right, you're right," Jasper said, taking a deep breath and trying to think clearly about what he needed to do. "Thanks Laurent," he added.
Laurent nodded and left. Jasper quickly showered and drank glass after glass of water, already feeling sobered up from Laurent's rather cryptic warning, before he got into his car and started the familiar drive to Alice and the girls.
It was late when Jasper got to the house and the moon shone brightly as Jasper walked towards the porch. The house was locked of course but Jasper knew where the spare key was and he let himself inside. Jasper walked quietly upstairs and into Alice's bedroom.
Alice was asleep, curled up in a ball, hugging a pillow tightly to her body. For a moment, Jasper watched her sleep; hating himself for all the pain he had caused her.
"Alice," Jasper said softly, running his hand across Alice's cheek. "Alice, wake up."
Alice stirred under his touch and her eyes fluttered open. They narrowed when she saw Jasper and she jerked away from him. "What the hell are you doing here, Jasper?" Alice said angrily.
"Alice, listen, you can't stay here tonight," Jasper said. "You have to leave."
"I'm going to call the police," Alice said, pulling the sheets around her. "You can't just break into people's houses."
"Alice," Jasper said, his voice rising in urgency. "You have to listen to me, okay? I know you're angry with me and you hate me and you have every right to. Because I did lie about what I was doing here but I lied about nothing else."
"Look at me, Alice," Jasper said and she reluctantly met his gaze. "Everything else that happened this summer, everything else I ever said to you was completely true. I love you, Alice," Jasper said. "And you can't stay here tonight because I won't let him hurt you and I will drag you out of here if I have to."
Alice sighed. "What are you talking about Jasper?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Everything that James showed you the other day wasn't true," Jasper said. "He made up all of those documents. If I was really working for someone else, why would I write detailed plans in emails, Alice?" Jasper asked. "And you know as well as I do that Mike Newton couldn't pull off some big scheme to blackmail James."
"And the pictures he showed you are from a year ago," Jasper explained. "From when I was actually with Maria."
Alice said nothing so Jasper continued. "Did you give him the files you have?" Jasper asked.
Alice seemed wary for a moment and then she shook her head. "No, they're still here," she said.
"He knows you have them," Jasper explained. "And he wanted me to get them for him and stop you from ruining him. That's why James sent me here at the beginning of the summer. I should have told you that's what he wanted but I didn't. I'm still trying to figure out why I didn't tell you."
"But now, I have no idea what he's going to do but he's got something planned and you can't stay here," Jasper continued frantically. "You can't," he repeated. "You have to trust me Alice."
With each moment that Alice remained silent, Jasper felt his fear grow. He could see her struggling to decide what to do and she eyed him carefully. Just when he was ready to grab Alice and throw her over his shoulder, she nodded.
Jasper breathed a deep sigh of relief. "Okay, I'm going to get Lucy and you get Norah," Jasper said. "Grab only what you and the girls will need. And bring those documents with, okay?"
Alice nodded again and Jasper hurried to Lucy's room. He gently shook the little girl's shoulder to wake her up. Sammy was curled up next to her in the bed and Lucy frowned slightly. "Mommy?" she muttered.
"Lucy, it's me," Jasper whispered.
Lucy opened her eyes and smiled when she saw Jasper. "Jasper, you're back," she said.
"Yes and we have to go," Jasper said. "Can you carry Sammy?"
"Where are we going?" Lucy said, yawning as she pulled Sammy towards her.
"I don't know yet," Jasper muttered. "We have to leave quickly though so you need to pack just a few things, okay?"
Lucy nodded and Jasper found her backpack in her closet and handed it to her. They put a few items of clothing in the backpack and a doll Lucy insisted she needed and then Jasper scooped her and Sammy back into his arms and walked to the hallway.
Alice and Norah were standing there and Norah looked up, her eyes narrowing when she saw Jasper. "What's he doing here?" Norah asked, turning to her mother.
"Norah, please," Alice said, her voice sounding defeated. "Where are we going?" Alice asked, looking up at Jasper.
"I don't know yet," Jasper said again. "We have to get out of here though," he said, watching as Alice slipped into Lucy's room and pulled the files from Lucy's window seat, tucking them safely into her bag.
"I'm not going anywhere with him," Norah said, crossing her arms defiantly.
Alice sighed and Jasper looked carefully at the little girl. Then he handed Lucy to Alice and scooped Norah up. "You can hate me for this later but right now, we need to go," Jasper told her, hurrying out to his car with Norah struggling against him.
They loaded Lucy and Norah in the backseat with Sammy, Norah glaring and fighting the whole way and Jasper tossed their things in the trunk before driving away from the house quickly.
"We're going to Seattle," Jasper said as they pulled out of town.
"Seattle?" Alice asked. "Jasper," she said shaking her head.
"We don't have any other options, Alice," Jasper said. "We can't fly out of DC though, we'll go to Raleigh," he mumbled, more to himself than anyone else as they got on the interstate and Jasper headed in the direction of North Carolina.
"Jasper, why don't you tell me what the hell is going on here?" Alice asked sharply.
Jasper glanced in the rearview mirror where Lucy and Norah were watching them closely, Lucy with wide, frightened eyes and Norah with an angry expression, the little puppy curled up between them fast asleep.
"I don't know, okay?" Jasper said. "I just know he's pissed and I don't know what he's going to do but I wouldn't put anything past him," Jasper said.
Alice crossed her arms and looked out the window as the dark road raced by. "Is someone going to hurt us Jasper?" Lucy asked softly.
Jasper glanced in the mirror again. "No one is going to hurt you Lucy, I promise," Jasper said and Lucy nodded.
Norah muttered something under her breath and leaned her forehead against the window, sighing softly.
Jasper drove quickly and it was early morning when they reached the airport. He parked his car, knowing they wouldn't be back for it and picked Lucy up from the backseat.
Norah held Alice's hand as they walked into the airport and Jasper bought tickets for the next flight to Seattle. They bought a small kennel for Sammy and Lucy cried when they had to part with the dog, even as Jasper promised her Sammy would be waiting for them in Seattle.
Jasper, Alice and the girls settled into the uncomfortable chairs at the gate to wait for the plane. Lucy was sitting with Jasper and she glanced up to the TV that was placed above their seats.
"Mama, that's our house," Lucy said suddenly, pointing to the TV.
"What?" Alice asked, looking up sharply. The sound was off but they could see what was clearly the lake house in flames on the screen. "Oh god," Alice muttered.
"What's going on?" Norah asked, looking over at Jasper.
Jasper had an angry expression on his face and he handed Lucy to Alice. "Don't move," he said, standing up and walking towards a quiet corner with his cell phone.
Jasper dialed the number for home, a number he hadn't called in so long and waited, praying that his uncle would be up already even though it was early.
After a few rings, the familiar gentle voice of Carlisle Cullen said, "Hello?"
"Carlisle," Jasper said. "It's me. Jasper."
"Jasper," Carlisle said, his voice sounding surprised. "How are you son?" he asked.
"I'm okay," Jasper said. "Listen, can you please turn on the news or something?"
"Um, sure," Carlisle said and Jasper heard him moving around and then the soft murmur of the TV came on in the background.
"I need you to find the story about Senator Brandon's summer home," Jasper said. 'Tell me what they're saying."
"Senator Brandon?" Carlisle asked. "The senator you work for?"
"Yes," Jasper answered. "What does it say?" he said anxiously.
"Um, there was a fire at his summer home early this morning," Carlisle said. "The entire house was destroyed before the fire department even got there. Senator Brandon was in DC at the time but they're saying his wife and children were staying at the house," Carlisle reported. "They don't know for sure if they were there last night. How awful," Carlisle muttered.
"What are they saying caused it?" Jasper asked.
"Um, it sounds like they're still investigating but they think a gas leak," Carlisle said. "Jasper, weren't you staying there for part of the summer?" Carlisle asked. "Are you okay? What's going on?"
Jasper sighed. "I'm fine," he said. "And so are Alice and the girls," Jasper said. "They're with me." Jasper paused for a moment and when Carlisle said nothing, Jasper continued. "We're on our way to Seattle," Jasper said. "We'll be there this afternoon."
"All of you?" Carlisle asked.
"Yes," Jasper said. "I'll explain everything when we get there, I promise," Jasper said. "I just, I don't know where else to go."
"Well of course you should come home," Carlisle said. "We'll be there to pick you up, just tell me when."
Jasper rattled off the flight information for Carlisle, saying a quick prayer that he had ended up with such an understanding father figure, and they said goodbye and Jasper hung up the phone, hurrying back to Alice and the girls.
Alice looked up at him with tired eyes. "You knew," she said softly, looking over at the TV screen briefly.
"I didn't know what," Jasper said, sinking into a chair. "Laurent tipped me off."
Alice looked suddenly drained as the realization of what could have happened, of what was meant to happen the night before hit her. She looked up at Jasper with tear filled eyes. "Jasper, I," she started.
Jasper shook his head. "It's okay," he said softly. "It's going to be okay." Alice nodded and wiped at her eyes as Jasper reached for her hand.
Jasper stood up as they called their flight for boarding and picked Lucy up. They followed behind Alice and Norah as they boarded the plane. Lucy gripped his hand and whispered, "Can I sit with you Jasper?"
Jasper nodded and he helped Lucy into the seat next to the window before sinking into the aisle seat. Alice and Norah sat across the aisle from them and Jasper glanced down at Lucy who curled up on the seat and leaned against him, instantly asleep.
Jasper gently ran his hand through her hair and bent down to kiss her forehead before glancing over at Alice, who was staring at him. Norah had curled up next to her and had fallen asleep as well and Jasper was sure he had never seen Alice look so exhausted.
Japer reached for her hand across the aisle and took it briefly, squeezing it gently in his once again. "It's okay, you can sleep," Jasper said softly.
Alice nodded and for a moment her hand remained still in his and then she squeezed back, ever so slightly before pulling away and leaning back in her seat, falling quickly asleep.
Jasper was running, desperately trying to get to Alice who only seemed to get further and further away from him even though Jasper kept running faster and faster. He could hear Alice calling his name and Lucy and Norah crying and Jasper knew he had to save them.
Suddenly James was there, standing in his path and every way Jasper turned to dodge him, James seemed to anticipate and he stopped Jasper every time, keeping him from Alice and the girls. "You can't save them," James hissed. "You'll fail at this too."
As the pilot announced they were preparing for landing, Jasper was jolted awake by a gentle touch on his shoulder and his whispered name.
He opened his eyes, glancing around wildly until he saw Alice staring at him from across the aisle. "You were dreaming," Alice said softly as Jasper took a shaky breath.
Jasper nodded and shook his head, trying to clear the dream away. Norah and Lucy were both still asleep and Jasper straightened his chair, trying not to look at Alice.
"Jasper," Alice said softly, forcing him to meet her gaze. "You don't get to blame yourself for this too," Alice said.
Jasper shivered slightly, surprised that she knew him so well. He didn't know how to answer her but he was saved from having to say anything by Lucy's small voice.
"Are we there?" Lucy mumbled, opening her eyes and rubbing them tiredly.
"Almost," Jasper told her as the plane hit the ground. Alice woke Norah up and Jasper carried Lucy off the plane.
"Do we get to see Sammy now?" Lucy asked, hugging Jasper tightly around the neck.
"Yes," Jasper said. "We'll go get him right now." They had no other luggage so they picked up the small kennel with Sammy inside, who whined eagerly when he saw Lucy.
"I think he missed me, Jasper," Lucy said, smiling up at Jasper.
"I'm sure he did," Jasper replied, taking the little girl's hand and leading them across the airport.
Jasper scanned the arrivals area, looking for his aunt and uncle and feeling suddenly nervous about seeing them again after so much time away. "Jasper!" someone called and Jasper turned to see Esme and Carlisle hurrying towards him.
Esme hugged him tightly and then pulled back to look him over once. "Jasper," she said again, as if she wasn't really sure it was him and then she hugged him again. "I'm so glad you're home," she whispered against his shirt, finally pulling back and wiping at her eyes.
"Jasper," Carlisle said, nodding and hugging Jasper as well. "It's good to see you son," he said, offering Jasper a smile.
"You too," he said softly. "Both of you," he added looking over at Esme.
Jasper glanced behind him at where Alice, Lucy, and Norah waited and he smiled. "Esme, Carlisle, this is Alice," he said, pulling Alice forward. "And these are her daughters, Norah and Lucy."
Esme smiled her kind smile and hugged Alice. "It's so nice to meet you dear," she said.
"And you two well, you're possibly the sweetest girls I've ever seen," Esme said, bending down to smile at Lucy and Norah.
Both girls smiled back shyly and Lucy moved closer to Jasper, leaning against him a little. "Oh please," Jasper said. "We know you're not shy," he teased and Lucy giggled.
"Who's this?" Carlisle asked, bending down to peer into the kennel that still held Sammy.
"That's Sammy," Lucy said excitedly. "He's my puppy. Jasper gave him to me for my birthday," Lucy beamed.
"He did?" Carlisle said, glancing up at Jasper. "Well he looks like a good puppy," Carlisle said and Lucy nodded, grinning.
"Come on, let's get you home," Esme said, ushering them towards the door. "You must be exhausted."
Carlisle reached for the small bag Alice was carrying and she smiled gratefully. Carlisle picked up the kennel in his other hand and Lucy reached for Jasper. Jasper picked her up and she wrapped her tiny body around him, clinging to his neck tightly. Jasper didn't miss the look that passed between Carlisle and Esme and he knew they'd be grilling him for details once they got home.
They piled into Carlisle's car and drove the route home quickly and quietly. Esme led them into the house and turned around as Carlisle let Sammy out of the kennel, the puppy instantly running towards Lucy.
"I'm sure you could all use hot showers and warm beds," Esme said. "We'll get you all settled in upstairs."
"Thank-you," Alice said. "For everything."
Esme waved her off and Sammy began barking. "Lucy, honey, I think he needs to go outside," Alice suggested.
Lucy nodded and Carlisle reached for her hand. "I'll show you where the backyard is," he said. "We can take him out there."
Lucy looked at Carlisle somewhat cautiously and then slipped her hand into his, following him through the house and towards the back door.
Esme led Alice, Norah, and Jasper upstairs and Jasper watched as Alice's eyes took in his childhood home, sweeping past the pictures of him, Rosalie, and Edward as children that lined the wall.
Esme nodded towards a room right in front of the staircase. "This was Rose's room," she explained. "Norah, we can put you and your sister in here if you want."
Norah nodded and set her bag down as Jasper dropped Lucy's next to it. "And Alice dear, Edward's old room is just right here," she said, pushing open a door. "It's all yours."
"Thank-you," Alice said again, setting her bag down inside the door.
"Jasper, you can find your room, can't you?" Esme said with a smile and Jasper nodded, setting his own small bag down in his childhood room. He tried not to look around it too much, instead walking hurriedly back to the hallway.
"Are you hungry?" Esme asked. "I can get you all something to eat if you'd like?"
"Oh, you don't have to go out of your way," Alice said shaking her head.
Jasper grinned. "Alice, Esme loves to feed people," he said. "She'll be more put out if you don't let her."
Alice laughed softly and Esme smiled. "He's right you know," she said. "Come downstairs," she said, leading them to the kitchen where Carlisle and Lucy appeared with Sammy moments later.
Lucy was laughing over something Carlisle had said and she grinned at Jasper when they walked into the kitchen. "Perfect timing," Esme said. "We were just about to eat something."
"Why am I not surprised?" Carlisle asked with a grin as Esme playfully hit his shoulder.
Esme soon had more food than they could ever eat warmed up and she refused Alice's offers of help, telling her to go sit and relax. Esme kept up a steady stream of meaningless conversation for which Jasper was grateful because it meant they could, for the moment, ignore the pressing questions that had to be answered.
By the time they finished eating, Lucy was nearly asleep at the table. "Poor thing," Esme said, reaching out to stroke her hair. "We should let you get some sleep."
Lucy shook her head. "I'm not tired," she mumbled, rubbing at her eyes.
"Sure you're not," Jasper said, picking her up. "Come on."
Lucy glanced down at Sammy who was curled up on the floor. "Wait, Jasper," she said, pointing to the puppy.
"Lucy, he's fine here," Alice said, standing up with Norah. "I'm sure Esme doesn't want a dog in her bed."
Lucy's eyes looked sad but she nodded. "Oh, the puppy can sleep with her," Esme said. "It's not a problem."
"You don't have to do that," Alice said.
"Between Jasper and Edward, I stopped caring a long time ago what happened around the house," Esme said.
"Thank-you," Lucy said, calling to Sammy who followed them upstairs.
Jasper let Alice put Norah and Lucy to bed and went to his own room, laying down on the bed and closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, Alice was standing in the doorway.
"Aren't you going to sleep?" Jasper asked softly.
"I don't think I can," Alice answered.
"Yeah," Jasper agreed. "I suppose I should go down and face all their questions," he said, rubbing his hand over his face.
Alice nodded and walked towards him, lying down on the bed next to Jasper. They lay there, not touching for a long moment until Alice turned towards him, her small body curling against his, and began to cry. Jasper put his arms around her and his heart broke a little when she tensed slightly under his touch but then she relaxed against him, sobbing into his shirt.
Jasper held her tightly against him, stroking her back gently and kissing her hair. He held her until he felt her shaking stop, until her tears slowed. She tilted her face towards him and wiped at her eyes. "Can I sleep here?" she asked softly.
Jasper nodded and he pulled back the blankets, settling Alice in his bed, holding her until her breathing evened out and she fell asleep. For a few minutes, Jasper watched her sleeping, tracing the familiar lines of the face he loved. He wondered vaguely how they had ended up here and if he'd ever be able to make things right again. He pressed a gentle kiss to Alice's forehead and then slid silently from the bed.
A/N: If you aren't reading Tags by luckyj525, why not? Go do it. Also, one of my favorite J/A fics of all time, Leather or Lace by MDealsWithIt wrapped up last week so you should all go read that as well. MDealsWithIt also started a posting a new story, The Nation's First Daughter and it's a fabulous little fic. :)