A/N: As always, thank you to everyone that reviewed. I replied to most of you, but I am sure I missed one or two and I am really sorry if I did! I love everyone's reviews and you all have terrific opinions. I know I promised a lot of you that this would be out a few days ago, but well, I ended up getting inspired to write a future chapter since it would not leave my head. Also, this chapter kind of took on a life of its own while writing. I was going to write this one way and then the below happened. :)
Jasper took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, almost as if he actually needed the air. He watched as Bella was about to step into the house, her body pausing for a brief moment before passing the threshold. She turned quickly in his direction, an unspoken question on her lips, asking if he was going to follow her in.
The shake of his head no that he gave was so minor, that a human would have certainly missed it. She simply nodded in understanding and walked inside, shutting the door gently behind her.
Jasper stared at the entrance for a minute before turning away from the house, unsure exactly what it was that he was still doing outside or where it was that he was going. All he knew is that he needed to think, to clear his head.
Walking down the driveway, he noticed that the keys were still inside hanging in the ignition of Peter's truck. On impulse, he slid in the driver's side. Peter would forgive him for borrowing his vehicle. After all, it wasn't as if Peter had never stolen Jasper's car on an occasion or two without asking. He turned the key, listening to the truck roar to life, feeling the gentle vibration of the engine underneath his hands on the steering wheel, letting it provide a small kind of comfort.
His thoughts had been unsettled as of late, and he was hoping that a night of speeding down the highway on a full tank of gas might do the trick. He reached the main road, pushing the engine to one hundred and thirty, watching the landscape pass by.
What bothered him most was that he wasn't exactly positive why he was unsettled. He gripped the wheel tightly as he thought that last thought. No, that wasn't right. He knew that he was trying to lie to himself. The truth was something shifted the night that Bella and he had their hunt.
What it was that changed, now that was what was bothering him. Jasper had always thought even as a human that Bella had been beautiful. It wasn't just her physical beauty that was alluring to him as an empath; it was the inner beauty that she exuded. The love and concern she radiated for the family was lovely to feel and while he stayed back more than the others due to his control issues, he grew to care about her as much as the rest of the family did, save Edward.
Then when everything happened, he felt an overwhelming need to protect her. Bella was his sister and she was now one of his only friends, and he was her only friend in the world. They grew close, and Jasper found that she understood him in so many ways that even Alice had failed to. They shared a bond and a common goal, to get back their family and mates. Bella had truly become his best friend.
But when they hunted… At first, it had been fun and games, Bella shocking him with some of her actions. They both felt carefree, their happy emotions feeding off of the others, raising them to a height of euphoria that neither had felt in a long time.
It wasn't until he had taught her how to hunt properly that evening that everything began to change. Something in the way he looked at Bella shifted. It was true that she was beautiful on the hunt- graceful, smart, and deadly. But it was more than that. Jasper had suddenly found himself wanting to claim her, finally seeing her as more than just the human Bella he had known in Forks. He saw he for what she was, his equal. He did not know how to explain it- Jasper had not been attracted to anyone since he met Alice.
It was disturbing for Jasper. Alice was it for him. His forever. And yet, since that night, he found himself subconsciously sneaking sideways glances at Bella, staying close to her whenever possible. It was maddening when he caught himself doing it.
He was loyal to Alice.
But yet… there was something about Bella that was special and he couldn't deny that either.
He knew where he needed to go. Turning the truck around, he headed in the direction of Minnesota.
Jasper perched up high on a pine tree in their backyard, the last remnants of the daylight leaving the sky. He made sure to stay behind the house in the woods, far enough away so they would not be able to trace his scent. The last thing Jasper wanted was for them to know he was here, watching them.
The Cullen house was a flurry of activity as always. Practically every room in the house was lit, most, if not all of them were probably home.
The first of his family he noticed was Rose and Emmett. They were in their corner bedroom, fighting about something. Jasper could not make out the words being said, but from the looks of it, Rose was livid at Emmett. Rosie was busy throwing a bookend in her husband's direction, and Jasper was sure that she was spewing expletives left and right. Emmett, being Emmett, narrowly avoided the object, apologizing for whatever it was he did, most likely not really understanding where her anger was coming from. Jasper knew it would only be a few minutes before Rosalie forgave him. Jasper secretly believed that she really loved the makeup sex.
His eyes then turned to the middle hallway, where Jasper could see Carlisle about to enter his study, with a thick book in hand. Carlisle looked deep in concentration. He wondered if this Carlisle was investigating what was occurring as well, not resting until an answer was found. Jasper hoped so, for his and Bella's sake.
He smiled as he spied Esme in the living room, painting a picture. She looked content, and Jasper always knew that she was a true artist at heart. The painting was technically perfect, but the colors she was using were bold and powerful, it was very daring, much different then what he was used to seeing her paint. She paused, cocking her head while walking around the painting, trying to get a better perspective on her work.
His eyes then noticed a light on the third floor turn on. Edward and Bella's room. He moved to the very top of the tree he was perched in, all to obtain a better view. Edward walked in casually, moving to over to his beloved stereo system, searching for a CD, before popping it in. He paused, obviously pleased with his choice, before walking over to his desk. Edward was busy staring at some piece of paper, when she walked in.
She was beautiful. Her black hair was perfect like always, her clothes the latest fashion, her gait light as air. Jasper's throat constricted as he saw her flit over to Edward, her arms wrapping around his waist, like she had done so many times before with Jasper. She leaned in, whispering something in Edward's ear, a smile slowly gracing his lips as he listened to whatever it was she told him.
Edward reached down, his lips meeting hers gently and it took everything in his power not to race in there and rip his throat and every other piece of him apart. His brother deepened the kiss and Jasper watched in horror as she wrapped her legs around him and he carried her to the bed, already beginning to remove her clothing.
Jasper heard the tree crumbling underneath his grasp, and he violently forced himself to turn away, the obviousness of what was coming next too much for him. He jumped down from the tree, running from the sight of the house to Peter's truck, leaning against it, holding his hands in his head, shaking viciously. He was grateful that he had parked in a sparsely populated area because he couldn't help but unleash his grief, crippling anyone who would have even been close to his proximity.
Jasper couldn't hold it in anymore. He was jealous, he was furious, but mostly, he was devastated at what he witnessed. Sobs ripped from his chest, and he fell to the ground, his body limp, retching, trying to discharge something that was not there to begin with. This reaction had been building for some time.
The aggravation of day after day not seeing Alice, knowing that she was most likely fucking his brother, only to have it confirmed in person. To see the bedroom eyes that Alice had always reserved for him used on Edward, to know that she was whispering the same seductive words she would say to him when she wanted to make love. Worst of all, he was sure it was not their fault and they were not to blame for their infidelity.
Then there was the fact that they could not catch a break with what happened. They were failing Edward and Alice, failing their family. He had been trying to suppress his frustrations around everyone, but as of late, they had been mounting and he had even reverted back to working on the house for some relief. Add to that the further guilt of these blossoming feelings for another vampire, that someone else being Edwards wife. It was all too fucked up for Jasper to handle and it was finally coming out.
It was stupid and foolish to come here. More so, he was sure that Bella was worried about him. He had been gone more than forty-four hours at this point. The two of them had not been away from each other more than five hours since this all began and he missed her more than he wanted to admit. He guiltily looked down at his phone, cursing his own selfishness, turning it on. Eight new messages.
Taking a deep breath, Jasper stood up, re-centering himself. He had needed the mini-breakdown and now that he was able to see a little more perspective, he was ready to go back. He had someone back there who needed him as much as he needed her.
He fished Peter's keys out of his pocket and stiffened. He could smell her before he could see her. A small dark figure walked out of the woods, her short black spiky hair, the petite outline, unmistakable. Alice.
Her emotions swirled around her like a hurricane, and he was surprised to see that her feelings were almost as complex as Bella's. Anger, curiosity, pity, and protectiveness all radiated from his pixie; who did not take her eyes off him and he took a cautious step towards her.
The cool edge to her voice did not surprise Jasper. "Why did you come here? We told you not to come back."
Jasper decided the honest approach was best. "I couldn't stay away. I had to see how you were doing."
Despite what he had witness only a couple of hours before, she was still a sight for sore eyes. Alice cocked her head slightly, appraising him. She stated flatly, "She is not here."
"Bella? No, she is not."
"Where is she?"
"Back where we are staying. I came here on a whim."
Alice nodded slightly, her emotions filled with relief. She obviously still found Bella a threat to her. "Good. I just wanted to make sure I could trust my vision."
"You had a vision of this?"
"Of you come and spying on us, yes. I had to do everything in my power to hide that one from Edward."
"Why did you hide it?"
Alice did not answer, instead moving to a question of her own. "What are you trying to do to my family?"
"I am trying to save it. We are going to prove to you that this is not your real life. I am your husband and Bella is Edward's wife. The both of you are not mated."
"I beg to differ. But you know you have already told us this."
"It's the truth. What are you doing here Alice?"
"In my vision, I saw that I could nip this in the bud."
Jasper looked at her curiously. "How so?"
The pity that Jasper could feel from Alice was sincere. "Carlisle immediately began investigating as soon as you and Bella began to leave. He has checked every resource he has and has come up with the same response every time. You and Bella were never a part of this family."
If Carlisle has been researching this with his resources and has not been able to crack this, what chance did Jasper have? "He may not have been able to find proof yet, but it does not mean it doesn't exist."
She walked up to him, making a move to touch his arm but then thought better of it. "Look, for what it is worth, I think that you and Bella really do believe you are a part of this family. And I am sorry that you need to go through this pain. But I hope that you both find what it is that you are looking for. It's just not with us, and never will be."
"I won't give up, Alice."
Alice lips thinned, her voice business-like. "If you do not give up, and you approach any member of this family ever again, I promise that we will send the full force of the Volturi at you. I don't know about it your 'world', but in this one, Aro is a very good friend of Carlisle's and owes him a few favors. You and Bella would not survive to see the next sunset. I may pity you, but do not mistake that for caring if you live or not. Is that clear?"
Jasper knew that there was no room for disagreement. "Crystal."
"Good. Now, I will be keeping an eye, so to speak, on the lookout for the both of you, so don't decide to come here on a whim again. I will see it in a vision like this time and I will not be so considerate and hide it from my husband."
Before the last words had an opportunity to finish stinging, her petite figure turned and retreated back into the darkness. Jasper stared at the darkness for a few minutes, trying to process all that had just happened, when phone vibrated, indicating a text.
Where the fuck is my truck Jasper? It better be in one piece.
Jasper knew that this was Peter's way of checking to see that he was alright. Peter in reality couldn't give two shits less about the vehicle. He had always viewed cars as a way to get from here to the there, nothing more.
Jasper texted back. I'm on my way home. The truck is fine.
He flew back home in the truck, blaring music over the radio, trying to not let all that had occurred overwhelm him. As he pulled into the driveway, he saw Charlotte and Peter open the front door, an expectant look on their faces.
Jasper moved quickly out of the truck, passing by Charlotte and Peter without a word. He saw the question on both their faces as they took in what Jasper was sure was his horrid appearance.
Jasper searched quickly for Bella, finding her by the stairs, the worry in her face evident. He ran over to her, looking at her, knowing that nothing he could say would apologize enough for leaving her without a word, especially after consoling her in the woods for whatever transpired with Charlotte.
Bella shook her head as if reading his mind. "No apologies. We both have to deal with this in our own way. I understand that. Just let me know where you are going next time, so I don't worry so much, okay?"
With that, she hugged him, letting him feel the relief and understanding she felt. Jasper wrapped his arms around Bella, letting her comfort him the only way that anyone could in that moment. Jasper pulled away from her. "We need to talk."
He needed to talk to her and tell her where he went, why he went, and what happened in Minnesota.
He needed to talk and tell her how he messed up.
He needed to tell her that he thought he just ruined their last chance to reunite with their family.
A/N: So, bet you were not expecting to see him fly off the Cullen's this chapter, huh? What do you think about Jasper's hasty actions and how Alice reacted? Thanks everyone!