I second that Emotion

by Omnifarious777

Jasper was turned into a vampire during the civil war. He developed in a bloody world of consumption, power, rage, and thirst. In this new life he brought his own gift to read and manipulate emotions. His creator used him for his abilities but after over a century of feeling all that he did it was time to leave and so he did. Now he's alone, but not for long.(A unique Jasper story)

11. GOOD as Hell

DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight not me. I'm just playing around with the characters we all love. :-)

WOW. I've gotten so much response lately and I thank you all for the support. All the followers, favorites, and reviews really make my day. I've enjoyed everyone of my reviews and followers from my first one within just hours of posting my story (Thank-you 'Girl who writes') to my latest review (Thank-you 'PrescottDane'). Sadly not everyone reviewing is a full member so I'm not able to respond to your reviews. I respond to every single one I can so please become a full member so that I can thank you personally for the support. FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE ME AS WELL. :-)

PLEASE READ: Authors Notes (What to expect this chapter):

This chapter will start a little heavy but will get light and fun fast. ENJOY

****Jasper reassures Alice (I'm not the best at writing sappy stuff but will do the best I can.)

****Peter and Charlotte dishing on Jasper's dirt. ;-)

****Jasper gets protective and seriously annoyed

EMOTIONS -Jasper is reading

EMOTIONS -Jasper is giving off

**- Marks words that are thought (Targeted to Edward to know alone)

Chapter#11: GOOD as Hell

JPOV

PREVIOUSLY IN CHAPTER#10

"Well aren't you a pretty little thing." Charlotte reached her hand forward and Alice reached to take it. I stepped forward slightly as she did, keeping myself close to her. I still hadn't dropped physical contact. I smiled at Charlotte kindly when her eyes met mine. Peter held his hand out next and I tensed slightly at his appraising look.

"Well, well. What big gold eyes you have." We all chuckled at his goldilocks reference. "They are beautiful though." He winked at her and without meaning to I let lose a very low but very obvious growl. Peter's eyes flashed to me then to Alice then back to me.

SHIT

AND NOW...

A wide grin spread on Peter's face but I kept my posture normal, not wanting to make things worse. In general I wasn't a territorial man. I was fairly laid back and didn't feel the need to 'mark my territory', as it were. That changed when I developed my feelings for Alice though. In the century I was with Maria, even at the highest point of our relationship, I had never felt the need to mark her as mine. Don't get me wrong, I didn't like it when males appraised her appreciatively, but it didn't envoke a need to shield her from them. With Alice, any male, even a claimed male, just looking at her pissed me off. I saw Alice look up at me out of the corner of my eye. CURIOSITY, WORRY, EXCITEMENT, INTRIGUE. I fought the urge to look at her, touch her, or comfort her. I didn't need any further evidence of our relationship. I looked to Charlotte and she was smiling widely, to match her mates grin.

"Have you been...tamed, Whitlock?" His implications were quite clear but I kept my face stone cold as I starred him down. He shook his head like he was coming out of quite the daze. He looked to Alice before giving her a small head bow. "You must be quite the woman, Alice."

"Treat the lady with respect, Peter." I didn't miss his smirk as his eyes continuously flashed between Alice and myself. I looked down at Alice now, unable to curb my concern for her. Her eyes were wide as she looked between us all. She shifted herself slightly away from me and I felt my body cringe at the distance, since it inadvertently put her a small step closer to Peter.

I tried to shake off this irrational jealousy. Yes, there was no denying that I was in fact jealous and possessive of her. She rubbed my arm softly and repeatedly for in a very familiar and casual way that I secretly loved. "It's okay Jasper, I didn't take offense." My eyes went to them and both their eyes were trained on Alice's hand touching me. I was instantly regretful of how obvious I've been for most of my life involving my discomfort of physical touch. There was nothing intimate about her touch, at least to an outsider, but it stood out to them like a neon sign, because I was allowing it.

I nodded with a clenched jaw, keeping my eyes on my former coven. FOCUS, TERRITORIALITY. I gave a concentrated insight into my feelings to the two while avoiding Alice with the projection. They would know that this wasn't humorous to me. Peter had always said I was never more serious or terrifying than when I was focused. Right now all I could think about was keeping Alice safe and that meant keeping our bond to ourselves.

"Tell me all about yourselves." Alice's smile was back and I couldn't help but soften at it. She grabbed my hand easily and led us to the small couch, while gesturing for them to sit anywhere. I sat down immediately and she sat next to me, at a respectable distance. I didn't know if her distance was because she wanted it, if she thought I did, or if she didn't want scrutiny. I fought the urge to pull her closer to me so that we could touch, even innocently. I just craved her and wanted her close.

"I'm sure the General has given you most of the details." Peter smiled kindly from the chair I normally sat in, Charlotte was on his lap. HESITANCE. Clearly I'd gotten my point across to Peter. I would feel triumphant except I knew it wouldn't last. He would find a way to bring the subject up again. If nothing else Charlotte was likely to just blurt it out to keep things interesting.

Alice laughed her wind-chime laugh while waving off his words "I want to hear it from you." She sat with her legs under herself and her hands intertwined on her lap. The whole thing made her look even smaller than she was and I was really fighting the urge to hold her now. I loved how small and soft she was all the time... perfect and innocent. She was so beautiful in her vulnerability but despite that beauty, I also hated it. I wanted her safe and that meant I needed to be beside her to protect her. She looked to me and smiled sweetly with her sparkling eyes trained intently on me. "Jasper is such a quiet type. I imagine the two of you have some great stories about our favorite empath."

I looked at her through narrowed eyes though I had to fight a smile. She saw my expression and responded by simply sticking her tongue out at me before smiling hugely and diverting her attention away to them. I rolled my eyes and looked to the other two as well

Charlotte was fighting laughing at me but her eyes were warm. HAPPINESS. It was directed at me and it was easy to see that she was happy for me. I looked at Peter next and all I could really make out from him was SHOCK. His emotions, his eyes, his posture it all screamed surprise. I wasn't acting that different was I? I took in that my posture was more relaxed than usual, though I was still hesitant of the space between Alice and me. I was smiling, it was small but there, and to be honest I was simply happier than I usually was. Peter was noticing all of this.

"Well I can give you all the dirt." Charlotte winked at Alice then me before training her attention to Alice alone. "However we already know all about Jasper. I want to hear about you." She waved her hands in a grand gesture towards Alice. "The petite little golden-eyed baby vampire. What's your story? What makes you so very special?" Charlotte's words were kind and genuine.

Alice laughed at the well meaning title and I smiled wider at the sound before taking a more reserved expression. "Well I don't know how special I am but I can tell you about myself." I looked at Alice in surprise. How did she not know how special she was?

"Trust me, little one. You are quite special." Peter spoke now as his eyes were trained on me, though I tried to ignore him. "I've never seen the general taken with someone so quickly... or at all for that matter." He smiled kindly as his gaze shifted to her. She averted her eyes down but I saw a small smile.

I leaned over and gently lifted her chin until she looked at me. "Are you alright darlin?" I knew they were watching but I couldn't bring myself to care enough to avoid touching her. I wanted to know she was okay and wasn't uncomfortable. She nodded and I dropped my hand before resuming my prior position like nothing had happened.

"Wow!" Charlotte's eyes were wide as she starred at me, blinking a few times. She laughed and was shaking her head as she watched Alice in amazement. She was acting like she'd seen the ninth world wonder. "Trust me, you are very special. Jasper barely lets people look at him, let alone touch him and he definitely doesn't initiate anything... physical." She was being her normal playful and flirtatious self but her words rang true and I didn't know how Alice would take them.

"Do you not like it when I touch you?" Alice's eyes were wide and deeply sad as she whispered her question. MORTIFIED, SAD, REJECTED. I was going to kill Charlotte. I shot an enraged look at Charlotte while pushing my feelings of ANGER and ANNOYANCE, and simultaneously growling at her. Peter shifted so that he was leaning forward, Charlotte still on his lap, but his eyes trained on me.

I ignored them both and turned to Alice. She had her hands in her lap and wasn't looking at any of us. I couldn't have her upset by Charlotte's words, I just couldn't. I grabbed her hand "Come." Before she could respond I had led us out of the room, to the kitchen, at vampire speed. Technically they would still be able to hear us but I knew they would tune us out to be respectful, just as I would tune them out. I sat at the counter and placed her in my lap her legs hanging off my left side. She still wasn't looking at me. "Darlin, look at me." She sighed then looked up from her hands. Her eyes were so sad and I wanted to hit both of them... hard. I couldn't stand seeing her like this. I cradled her face in my left hand as my right held the back of her head firmly.

"You don't have to touch me..." I cut her off quickly by kissing her. I had brought her to me firmly with the grasp I had on her with my right hand while my left trailed down to her shoulder and her arm, resting on her wrist. I brought it up to wrap around my neck, like she normally did on her own. WANT, PEACE, AFFECTION, DESIRE, LUST, CARE. I let her know exactly what I felt when we touched. Clearly we had put off having a conversation about us for to long if she was already doubting me. Vampires feel quickly for those we care for... very quickly, but just as deeply as a human with a lifelong bond. I was no different than the rest of my kind in this. Alice meant a lot to me and always would, she needed to know that.

She kissed me back softly though my kisses couldn't be characterized as anything but demanding. I hated seeing her eyes so sad, her mouth in any form but a smile. I hated it and I couldn't allow it. I knew I was a private man, but that didn't mean I didn't crave her. It didn't mean that I didn't want to constantly touch her, hold her, kiss her, be with her. It just meant that I wasn't used to all of this. I was flawed and this was one of my many flaws, I was guarded. I pulled back to look at her and she smiled softly while sniffling slightly. SAD, HAPPY, CONFUSED. I kept my eyes trained on hers, not willing to let her look away.

"I love it when you touch me darlin." I caressed her arms, both of which were wrapped around my neck now. I leaned forward and gave her a small kiss before resting my forehead to hers. "I love to touch you." I stroked her face before trailing my hand down the middle of her chest before wrapping my arm around her waist tightly. She starred at me intensely. "I love being with you. Please don't doubt that." She nodded but I made sure she couldn't lean her face away from me.

"But they said..." I cut her off again with another kiss though this one was soft. I wasn't angry anymore or possessive. I just wanted to comfort her.

"I don't like being touched by others... that is very true... but they aren't you." I leaned back as I watched this small perfect woman on my lap. "I have felt something for you the moment I felt your emotions, the moment I heard your curious and sweet voice. I knew you were special and the moment I saw you I didn't want to look away... Then you saw me and waved so happily before you hugged me." I shook my head at the memory of her reaction to me. I smiled as EMBARRASSMENT radiated off her and she tried to look away, which of course I didn't allow. "The rest of your family was hesitant and afraid of me..." She looked like she wanted to argue with my statement but I continued before she could. "...but you, you smiled so bright, you waved eagerly, and then you hugged me like we were already close friends." I stroked her face lovingly as I starred into her eyes. "I was in awe of you in that moment and from that exact moment... I think I was lost to you."

Her eyes widened at my confession and she hugged me while tucking her face into my neck as I shifted my arms to stroke her hair before rubbing her back. WORRY, FOCUS, FEAR.I picked up the emotions coming close to the house. "Someone's coming darlin." I really didn't want to surrender our moment but there were a lot of people around who weren't part of it and I meant what I'd told Emmett when I said what was mine and Alice's was just 'ours'. Alice sat up straight and her eyes glazed over.

"Edward." She smiled at me while hopping off hesitantly from my lap. I smiled back gently as we both excited the kitchen and returned to the living room. Peter and Charlotte were in the same position as before. Charlotte waved kindly at us and I knew she held no grudge towards me. It wasn't really Charlotte's way, one of her many good traits. I stepped up to them and Charlotte got off Peter's lap in time to stand just as I reached them.

"I apologize for my rudeness, LocaChar." I used the nickname I'd given her in her first year. She was part Spanish and quite literally was a crazy newborn. Her energy level was exhausting and as her becoming a vampire was my idea she was my responsibility to control. I'd said it once in exasperation and she loved it so much I continued calling her it. She hugged me happily while whispering how sorry she was if her words had upset Alice.

Truthfully it was more my fault than hers. I was empathic, I knew feelings needed to be faced. I shouldn't have put off telling Alice that she was special to me. My actions with her may have made that fact obvious but that didn't mean that she wouldn't need to hear the words.

Peter rolled his eyes as he stood and put one arm around her shoulder while shaking my hand. He forgave me easily, especially given that I'd used the name Charlotte loved. He hated the name but that was only because she forbade him ever using it. She always told him only I was allowed to call her that and he was very resentful of that fact, which I think only encouraged her to keep the rule more fiercely. She loved toying with him, making him jealous, ordering him around, and being ordered around by him. Like I said, she was 'LocaChar'.

"Edward's almost here. He wasn't sure where their scents were coming from I think. He was circling the grounds." I nodded while stepping next to Alice who stood close to the couch we had sat in earlier. Peter and Charlotte remained standing across from us in each-others embrace. I glanced at Alice, who was watching the front door. I noticed yet again we were a small distance apart, enough to not touch, and it felt unnatural. I reached for her waist and held her close to my side. She smiled at me just as the door opened.

…...

As he entered from the front door Edward took one look in the room before he flashed in front of Alice and pulled her to his chest in a protective hug. His eyes continuously flashed to Charlotte and Peter, but to my surprise, not me. I guess I wasn't included, in his mind, as a potential threat to his little sister. She either didn't notice his posture or didn't care. She smiled as bright as always as she hugged him back. "You just saw me, you weirdo." She laughed but he didn't return it. He didn't seem to even hear her as he pulled back to appraise her whole body, probably looking for any injuries. CONCERN, ELATION, EAGERNESS. The last emotion was a little surprising. I guess he shared his sisters curiosity of my friends.

"Peter, Charlotte, this is Edward. He's second in command here." I spoke calmly as Edward released Alice who I put my arm back around protectively. I almost shook my head at how this girl could get every vampire to rally in her defense, even one such as myself. Edward shook hands with both of them and smiled politely.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both. Jasper has spoken quite highly of you." Edward retreated slightly to stand on the other side of Alice. His eyes flashed between her and them. I relaxed my arm as I could see his concern for his sister and didn't want to come between them. Alice hugged her brother immediately and he held her back while keeping a friendly expression towards my friends. RELIEF, CALM. I saw Peter look strangely between Alice, Edward and myself. I knew the concept of a family was as odd to him as it was to me, so he was probably viewing Edward as a threat to me. Truthfully his physical behaviors towards her made me very uncomfortable but they've been siblings literally as long as she could remember. It was not my wish to come between them for petty jealousy.

"My my, another gentleman. Some girls have all the luck." Charlotte smirked up at Peter who rolled his eyes and playfully squeezed her tight, making her squeak slightly.

"You would get bored with me if I was a gentleman, Char, and you know it."

"Okay, what did we just walk in on." I looked up to see Emmett and Rosalie in the doorway Edward hadn't closed in his efforts to get to Alice quickly. They stepped in, followed by Carlisle and Esme. My eyes went to Peter and Charlotte as they took in this large coven. They knew there was 6 members but it was still daunting to actually see. Very few covens were more than 2 or 3. Peter stiffened slightly at the size of the family, or perhaps at Emmett alone who was by far one of the largest men I'd ever seen. Peter stepped back slightly with Charlotte as the whole family met in the living room.

Alice left Edward's arms and went to Carlisle quickly. He caught her just as she jumped up to him. My eyes went to Peter who looked at me in confusion. Yes, I know, my girl is very friendly with the men in her life. It's not like he was in any position to judge. Charlotte was far worse. At least in Alice's case they were all her brothers and her father. "Dad, I missed you." He kissed her on the top of her head as she plopped to the ground from his arms loudly due to her shoes. Next she hugged Esme warmly.

As soon as she released Esme, Emmett grabbed her playfully but roughly. I tensed noticeably as he cradled her tiny body in his arms and proceeded to mess up her hair rigorously. "Did you miss me Tinkerbelle?"

"God no. It so much quieter without you here to give me a headache." She laughed at his mock hurt expression.

"You wound me baby sister." He put her down and she hugged Rosalie who to my surprise hugged her back kindly. I saw Rosalie stiffen then glare at me. ANGER, DISGUST. Ah, so she smelled me on Alice. I shrugged while smiling at her in the politest way possible. Alice stepped back to me and I hugged her to my side while keeping my eyes on everyone in the room. It was strange to be around so many of my kind. The last time this happened was with the newborns a couple decades to go. This was a group of fully controlled vampires though, with the exception of Rose of course.

"Everyone. This is Peter and Charlotte. Peter... Charlotte, meet the Cullen's. You've already met Alice ad Edward. This is Emmett, Rosalie, Carlisle, and Esme." I gestured to each briefly as they each shook hands with them though Peter didn't allow Charlotte to touch the males, particularly Emmett. Rose of course, who stood back in distaste, didn't shake hands with either of them.

MISCHIEF, HUMOR. I looked at Charlotte as she watched Rose with a calculating expression. My eyes went to Edward, who seemed to have picked up on the same thing as me. His eyes were trained on Charlotte.

"Rosalie, what a pretty name." Charlotte smiled sweetly at Rose and I had absolutely no clue as to what she was up to. Rose looked at her and gave a stiff nod. Charlotte walked closer to Rose who had stood away from everyone else to avoid contact with them. Rose watched Charlotte's movements but didn't stop her, though she did take a few steps back. "You're so pretty too, so it fits you well." Charlotte's words couldn't of sounded kinder though her emotions were purely CALCULATION, HUMOR, ANNOYANCE.Peter didn't seem to like whatever Charlotte was doing but didn't stop her. He knew his mate was up to something and his instincts probably screamed he wouldn't like it.

"So you're Emmett." Charlotte's steps, that had seemingly been towards Rose, took her right next to Emmett, who she gave her undivided attention now. I rolled my eyes internally while simultaneously smirking. I knew what she was up to. Jealousy and territoriality were Charlotte's favorite toys and Rose was full of both. Emmett smiled kindly while looking down at Charlotte, so much smaller than him. She held out her hand and he took it without hesitation. "You're a pretty big guy." She smiled kindly, eyes full of humor. He laughed at her obvious observation. He was playing right into Charlotte's plan to piss off Rose, but I certainly wasn't going to stop it. I looked at Edward and he was smiling while averting his eyes. "I've heard big guys are the sweetest teddy bears and the best at cuddling." he shrugged his shoulders. "Are you a teddy bear Emmett?" She looked so innocent as she asked.

"He's a big softy, under all the annoying stuff." Alice unwittingly helped Charlotte and I saw Rosalie stiffen at Charlotte's focus on her mate.

"Hmmm." Charlotte gave Emmett's arm a quick but obvious rub. His eyes went to the movement then to her, who continued to smile back innocently. The poor poor ignorant man was really going to pay later. I actually felt bad for him but then again, I didn't sympathize enough to stop it. "I've also heard other things about big guys."

My eyes flashed to Rose as she charged. Not at vampire speed but still quite fast. I actually heard Peter sigh at the same time I noticed Charlotte's smirk. She dodged Rose by hoping over the couch next to Emmett before super-speeding back to Peter who draped his arms over her shoulders, clasping his hands together at her chest. They both stood casually and the rest of the Cullen's looked to each-other in confusion. You could actually see them wondering if that had all actually happened or not. Charlotte was very fast when she ran and the fact that she now stood so calmly with her mate was confusing them.

Rosalie was fuming but Emmett held her tightly, or maybe restrained would be a more accurate term. "I've heard that they are very fun. You seem like a very, very fun guy, Emmett." we all knew she was using fun as a metaphor as she winked at Emmett and I swear I saw steam shoot from Rosalie's ears. I rubbed my temples at her behavior. There was never a dull moment with LocaChar around, she would never allow such a thing.

…...

Thankfully a fight between the two didn't break out, at least not yet, though the day was young. We all settled in the living room and made conversation. The Cullen's relayed their stories though not as intimately as they had with me, and many details were skipped over. Peter and Charlotte spoke of what it was like in the army. Their own perceptions being quite different from mine since they were much younger and weren't in charge. I was most interested when they talked of what it was like there now. Edward asked them if it was hard to return there and they both shrugged while explaining that it had been a big part of their lives, good and bad, so they wanted to see it for themselves.

"What good came from your time there?" Esme was polite as she asked.

"Well I got my mate and my brother there so..." Peter trailed off while looking at Charlotte lovingly before smiling at me and I gave him a head nod in return.

"And I got my boy toy here.." Charlotte, now perched in Peter's lap gestured with her thumb at him before she smiled in a starstruck way at me. "...and the number one man in my life." I rolled my eyes. The Cullen's looked confused but thankfully let it drop.

"So tell us about your ability." Emmett was of course eager to hear about Peter's abilities that gave him an edge in a fight.

"Not much to tell. I can simply look at someone and see what is physically wrong with them. To be honest it's very difficult to describe."

"Well, what's wrong with all of us?" Of course he would ask that.

Peter glanced at each of them briefly before his eyes landed on Emmett. Edward stiffened. "I can tell that your diets make you physically weaker. You all appear thirsty to me though I know you each hunted recently." They all looked at one another clearly impressed.

"Okay, that's boring. What else do you see? Something specific to each of us. Peter nodded before his eyes went to each of them. I could see each shift uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Edward's weakness is that he's defensive in a fight, reactive. He waits on his opponents move before making one of his own. Yours, Emmett, is the opposite. You charge in quickly without patience. Carlisle and Esme seem to share a weakness. Both of you are physically passive, probably unwilling to make a kill shot if it presented itself. Rosalie's weakness is aggression. Her bodies responses are emotional and therefore predictable. Alice's physical weakness is her inexperience. Her body screams her lack of knowledge. My eyes watched them as they weighed Peter's assessment. "I can read much more subtle and temporary weaknesses in an actual fight to utilize for my own benefit. It helps a lot."

"What's Jasper's weakness?" I rolled my eyes at Emmett. Peter laughed.

"If I knew that I would actually be able to beat him in a fight for once. Hell if he had one at all maybe someone could beat him at least one time." I narrowed my eyes as all their eyes went to me. Peter looked from all of them to me. "You didn't tell them?"

"Tell us what?" Alice and Rose spoke at once though with different tones. Rose was full of accusation while Alice was curious and a little hurt. I rubbed her arm quickly, we were both sitting on the couch next to Charlotte and Peter.

"Nothing. Peter has an overactive imagination." He scoffed and crossed his arms defensively.

"Really?" Edward looked from Peter to me and I knew he'd read Peter's, shall I say, insights into me and my abilities.

I rolled my eyes. "Peter is under the mistaken impression that I have more than one special ability."

"No I am well aware that you DO have more than one ability, three in fact."

"Three?" IMPRESSED, JEALOUS, RESENTFUL, AWE. I shook my head at Emmett's internal struggle of idolizing me or hating me.

"Yep, three. They all compliment each-other perfectly." Charlotte chimed in and I shot her a look that said 'seriously, you're going to agree with him?' she shrugged at my silent disbelief but smirked.

"Tell us." Carlisle spoke and seemed more intrigued than Emmett.

"Nothing to tell. Empathy is my only supernatural gift." I was firm in this belief.

"Yeah sure, I believe you. Anything you say General." Peter rolled his eyes before leaning forward intensely watching the family. His posture showed no sign of listening to me, he was readying his opinions for them all to hear. "So Jasper has never, and I do mean absolutely never lost a fight. Big or small, no matter how many he's been up against. He N-E-V-E-R loses. He accented his words carefully and I sighed.

"What about in training, play fighting, wrestling..." Emmett trailed off and Peter shook his head to each example.

"I say it again, he has NEVER lost a fight." I stood up from the couch, feeling horribly uncomfortable at the amount of FOCUS, CURIOSITY, EXCITEMENT, AWE and many other emotions all radiating from them all. I'd had this debate with Peter many times throughout the years, with neither of us conceding to the others views. I felt their eyes on me as I took the position I'd had the first time I was in this house, leaned up against the wall by the door. And like before I avoided looking at Alice. I didn't know how she would look back at me. I didn't know how much of Peter's story might provide more insight into my past. I didn't want Alice to know it all. I didn't want her pity, I didn't want her sad, I didn't want her angry... I just wanted... her. I wanted what we were without all of this, my past, my regrets, my burdens, I wanted it to be just us.

"His perfect zero loss record goes into his second ability. Jasper has a super strategic mind." I glanced at Emmett and saw him roll his eyes. Clearly he found the idea preposterous. I looked back to Peter who was watching me with a smirk. I kept my face neutral. "I know that probably sounds ridiculous but let me explain it. His opponents have been all over the place in capabilities; older, stronger, faster, super-powered. Not to mention him being outnumbered. Yet he always has a plan." I scoffed loudly.

"Well, how would YOU explain it?" Peter kept his smirk in place as he asked with a tone full of condescension.

"Skill and training." Seemed more than reasonable to me.

"Oh please, even I know that's ridiculous." Charlotte giggled from Peter's lap. She was always skeptical of Peter's theory about me but she also believed I was more skilled than I realized.

"Let's look at the facts..." He held his hands as he ticked off the reasons on his fingers.

-"No losses in the blood-rage of your first year."

-"Not a single loss in over a century of raising, training, and executing hundreds of newborns."

-"No losses in the bloodiest human war this country has ever seen, while still a fragile human."

"What?" I shook my head at Emmett's question.

"I never lost a fight as a human either." I explained quickly keeping my eyes on Peter. "And in correction to your history reference. World War 2 had more war losses than the Civil war. The Civil war lost more than twice its military losses to disease, giving it the highest total lost lives."

Peter ignored me entirely as he continued like I was mute. Like I said, we'd had this debate many times. "And you can't argue you had the training and experience then, at only 17 years old." CONFIDENCE, PRIDE, ARROGANCE. I didn't respond, so Peter continued.

"His super-strategy, it gives him insight. He can see, hear, talk, and derive a solution to any problem. He sees how to move against multiple foes, how to anticipate a faster opponent, how to use a larger foes strength against them. He uses his vault of experience to always have a plan B. It's quite cool." Peter laughed at the end. I felt rather than saw everyone looking at me as my eyes were trained out the window.

"How exactly does strategy help against super-powered foes?" To my surprise it was Esme that asked this. "All the planning in the world could only prepare you so much against someone who can do... who knows what?"

Peter gave an evil triumphant smile at me but I continued looking out the window. "That ties into his last ability. Super adaptation." This was the ability I truly believed was all in Peter's head. Sure I'd been through many things in my life but I wouldn't say I had adapted so much as dealt with it. It certainly wasn't easy or preferred, I just did what I needed to do.

My eyes went to the family all of which were engrossed in Peter's theory's. TRIUMPH, JOY, HUMOR, EAGER. Peter had many things flowing through him while the whole family just seemed eager to hear more. "As you are all well aware, vampires are creatures of habit. We are essentially frozen at the state of mind we were in when turned. We're stuck with only the process of finding a mate truly able to change us." Peters eyes were on me and I saw them flicker in Alice's direction. RAGE, FEAR. He was crossing a line and he knew it. No one has the right to assume or even ponder such a thing about another.

Peter quickly nodded his head in my direction in apology. I didn't respond in any way other than abating the emotions I was hurling at him. "Jasper is the exception to that rule. Not only can he make changes, he has made huge ones in his lifetime. He's done it without a mate, without his sire's request... He just changes when it's required. The first was when he was a newborn. Despite the blood-lust that should have been all he focused on he adjusted to being Maria's number one immediately and took up the responsibility of the newborns right away, training, controlling, and leading them even though he was still one himself." They all looked at me and I honestly didn't have a response. I did lead them my first year but I had to. Maria had killed her former two companions and leaned on me for help. Again I didn't do it because I wanted to but because I needed to.

"Then his next big change. He lived in a savage newborn army for over a century yet quick as a flash he goes to a small coven of three. How many could do such a thing? Even humans can't adjust like that." Peter had adjusted to the lifestyle as well but unlike me he'd had a mate to consider for his life change. "Then after being in a coven for ten years, he shifts to being completely alone for another decade... Again, what vampire could make such changes?" No one responded though they did look to each-other a bit.

"Now look at him." Peter smiled as he waved at me, still pressed against the wall with my arms crossed. "Fully comfortable living in one place, despite never having stayed in one spot for longer than a few months before now, with a group of vampires that don't feed from humans. From newborns blood-lust to pure pacifists." Peter shook his head at the idea. CONFUSION, EXCITEMENT, DOUBT, CURIOSITY. Everyone was weighing his opinions while I was hoping the topic of diet didn't escalate further. I didn't know how Peter and Charlotte would take the news of my own dietary changes. Carlisle's eyes went to me and I met his stare. I gathered he was curious of whether or not they knew of my decision to abstain from human blood.

"If I'm such a strategist..." I finally spoke and all eyes went to me. "... and I'm so good at adjusting to any situation how do you explain this..." I rolled up my sleeves to showcase some of my countless scars." All eyes went to the marks before going to Peter who didn't even flinch.

"I never said you were untouchable, general. I just said you were unstoppable."

…...

"How does this all tie into fighting someone with their own super-power?" Emmett was intrigued and I got a bad feeling about where this was leading.

Peter laughed hard. "Jasper's empathy used to be so much different than it is now. He used to only be able to read emotions, but being around so many newborns caused him to actually EVOLVE. His power itself adjusted to be able to manipulate moods. I've also seen him do some incredibly amazing things with his active gift of empathy as well, thanks to his passive gift of adaptation."

I saw Emmett's eyes rest on me for a moment and I starred back intently. I still had a bad feeling about where this conversation was going. "I really don't think that's a great idea Emmett." Everyone's eyes went to Edward who had spoke in a scolding tone to his younger brother. EXHILARATION, INTRIGUE, MISCHIEVOUSNESS.

My eyes went to Charlotte as her eyes met Peter and they seemed to carry on a silent conversation. Peter nodded as Charlotte got off his lap and he got up to stand next to her, his arm across her shoulders casually... to casually. They were up to something. "How would you feel about a small test, General?" He didn't wait for me to respond. "We have the perfect opportunity to test my theory." His eyes went to Edward who's jaw clenched before looking at me.

"NO." I spoke firmly.

"Awww, come on. It will be fun." Charlotte pouted at my complete dismissal of their ludicrous idea.

"NO." I spoke in the same final tone, starring them down.

"No, what?" the whole family spoke together but I kept my eyes on the two trouble makers with absolutely no respect.

"I will not attack a member of the Cullen's to curb your curiosity." My words were harsh. Every family member but Edward flinched.

"So dramatic." Charlotte waved her hand dismissively at me while watching the Cullen's. "Not attack, spar. It could be a lot of fun. Can you imagine? Empath versus telepath? Who will win?"

"That is absolutely ridiculous." I saw Esme go to Edward and immediately he tucked her into his side. "I will not harm a member of this family that has shown me nothing but kindness."

"Ahhh, so you admit you think you would win? Most would say the ability to read minds trumps the ability to read emotions. What gives you the advantage? Something other than empathy... something MORE maybe?"

"Irrelevant as I will not be fighting him." FIRM, ANGRY, DETERMINED. They would know I was set on this.

"Well you said he was the best fighter of this coven. The best fighter in a coven of 6 must mean he's skilled. Who says he would get hurt?"

I was about to object when Emmett chimed in. "WHAT! I'm the best fighter here." I held the bridge of my nose with my hand as I contemplated if it was possible for vampires to get headaches. My friends had been here less than a couple hours and have already started trouble. Wolves, Alice and I, The Cullen's... My thoughts trailed off as I contemplated what to say.

"What I said was that he was second in command of this coven. I have no idea who is the best fighter as I've never seen them fight." I knew immediately that I'd said the wrong thing. Peter's misspoken words were meant to rile up Emmett, causing me to try to calm down the situation, basically now inviting everyone to organize a match against one another to see who was the strongest. I didn't have to be psychic to know Peter and Charlotte would try to get me to fight the winner, who most likely would be Edward, getting Peter exactly what he wanted.

…...

The Cullen's started a debate on whether or not to fight each-other. Almost everyone was against the idea. Emmett stood alone in his endeavor to get the title of best soldier though Alice expressed her own curiosity of such a thing. At the family's refusal Charlotte saw an opening. She offered to wrestle Emmett whenever he wanted. The gullible fool actually agreed not noticing the seductive tone of her voice. Peter rolled his eyes while Rosalie actually stepped in front of Emmett and starred Charlotte down. An easy task since Rose was much taller than her. Charlotte shrugged while blowing a kiss to Emmett while ignoring Peter who rolled his eyes. After that things with the Cullen's actually calmed down a bit, without my influence which was a big surprise as I was still waiting for Charlotte and Rose to attempt a fight to the death. Something told me Charlotte was working her way up to something big.

Peter and Charlotte playfully argued about his lack of jealousy and eventually Peter ignored her attempts to convince him that if he didn't get jealous it meant he took her for granted. Peter and Emmett started talking about fighting one another and I tried to step in to stop that line of thinking before it started. Adrenaline was a big thing for vampires and if all of us were around a fight, we would all start tensing for a fight as well. It was natural and I didn't want to deal with it.

I had sat back down while trying to convince Peter for the countless time that I had no other special ability that he needed to 'test'. "This whole thing is ridiculous I have no special powers outside my empathy."

Charlotte walked over to me without a word and flopped in my lap seductively. My eyes went to her in annoyance. I knew exactly what she was doing. She had done this before, many times in fact. She was trying to get a rise out of Peter by flirting with his best friend. Sadly it had worked well for her in the past and she loved to get him jealous."I don't know, daddy. You've always been special to me." She batted her eyes while wrapping her arms around my neck.

I quickly grabbed both her wrists and held them in my hand at her lap, forcefully while giving her a very angry expression. "Don't call me that, Charlotte."

"It's the truth. After all you made me the woman I am." She batted her eyes and every family member gasped in shock, clearly taking her words exactly as she wanted them to.

"She means I created her." I starred each of them down but still avoided Alice. I would not be having this conversation, so I needed to clarify quickly. "I made Charlotte in my attempts to keep her from getting killed by the newborns." Again the family looked surprised but nodded. I avoided Alice completely at this point as I had most of this conversation. I didn't want to see her upset and I'd put Charlotte in her place soon enough.

Since I still had her hands clutched to prevent her doing anything she cuddled into my side. "Don't push me LocaChar." I tilted my head away from her in annoyance.

"How are you going to stop me? You would never hurt a woman. You're to much of a southern gentleman."

"I can stop you."

"Than do it, daddy dearest."

"If you were my daughter I would be quite disappointed with you right now." I hated how public this conversation was and I could feel the sheer disbelief coming from the Cullen's right now. "Now, would you kindly remove yourself from my lap." She wasn't wrong that I was gentlemanly by nature and she took advantage of it where she could.

"It's okay. Peter doesn't get jealous." She shot an annoyed look at him but I kept my eyes on her, worried about how far she would take this.

"Everyone gets jealous. I say that as an empath, a vampire, and a man." I knew her need to make him jealous was due to an insecurity of hers so I tried to help though I really just wanted her off me. I'd always had a soft spot for Charlotte and put up with more than I probably should as a result.

"Do you get jealous?" CURIOSITY. She was actually curious. I thought about it and I honestly hadn't been jealous of much in a long time. That was until I met Alice.

"If I have reason to be."

"Jealousy is rarely rational."

"Says the woman sitting in another mans lap." I gave her a pointed look and suddenly I really did feel like her father.

"I'm just affectionate." Her voice was laced in innocence and I narrowed my eyes. "It's okay to be affectionate with the men in your life." Her eyes flashed towards Alice quickly and I let a very low growl lose. I wasn't sure if anyone else could here it but Charlotte certainly could.

"Count to ten before you act." Charlotte smirked at my words.

"Where's the fun in that?"

MALICE, ANNOYANCE, FOCUS. I bore my eyes into her so she could feel everything radiating from me. She shuttered slightly. "I was talking to myself." She shuttered but didn't leave my lap.

"Uh-oh, Daddy's mad." She smiled and kissed my cheek.

"That's quite enough, Char." Peter cut off my retort when he quite literally yanked Charlotte off my lap, just a micro second before I did something I would most likely regret. I saw Peters eyes were pitch black, where they had been vivid red moments earlier. PISSED, LIVID, LUSTFUL, DOMINATIVE, CONTROLLING, POSSESIVE, DETERMINED. Quick as a flash Peter hauled Charlotte out of the house forcefully without a word. The front door slammed and a hush fell over the room.

I cleared my throat not wanting to remain in the sheer amount of awkwardness I felt radiating in the room at the moment. "In case you were wondering why I left my old coven..." I gestured with my hand towards the door. "... that is one of the reasons, being part of their... games." With that the mood shifted and Emmett started laughing, hard. I watched him as he literally fell to the ground trying to control himself and failing miserably. JOY, HUMOR, LIGHT-HEARTEDNESS.

"I like her! I bet she had a lot of fun with a guy like you around." A few more chuckles broke out in the room and the amount of humor at my expense was undeniable.

God I miss the awkward...

END NOTES:

***** Very fast chapter update after the last one. Don't get used to it fans. I do have other things to do in my life. Lol. I actually had this chapter almost done almost immediatlly after the last one but I kept rewriting the part with Jasper and Charlotte. Not knowing exactly how far she would go or how much Jasper would allow.

***** Ha. What does everyone think of Charlotte? She's fun but trouble. Her and Peter enjoy pushing Jasper. And they aren't done yet... ;-)

***** What does everyone think of my take on Jasper's abilities?

Chapter (SONG) Title: "GOOD as Hell" by Paul Rey- Perfect Song. The Chorus of the song is "For the first time in years I feel good as Hell." Perfect feelings for the chapter. Despite how annoyed Jasper is by his old friends in this chapter he's happy in his own way. He's belonging in a family unit. Everyone pushing each-others buttons. Everyone debating and laughing at one-another. Plus he has a bit more clarity on his feelings with Alice as she knows she means a lot to him.

REVIEW, Follow, Favorite. It gives me writing fuel. :-)