So sorry this chapter took so long.

I wanted to thank everyone who has stayed with me so far.

It means a lot, this being my first fic and all.

I'm going to try to post a chapter a week now.

I'm getting busier because of school and work and just RL in general, so...

Thanks so much again and hope you stay with me!

Fool


"I have wonderful news!" No one looked up. After the incident between Emmett and Jasper the day before, no one had really talked much. Jasper's mood killed the conversation all too quickly. Alice kept telling him not to worry, it wasn't his fault. He was only acting to protect her. But every time she tried to cheer him up, it just reminded Jasper that everyone else could feel his sour mood too. It made for a very awkward living situation. To add to the discomfort, every time Emmett passed him, Jasper could feel a wave of hatred blasting in his direction. Dirty looks and muttered curses were all he ever got. He golden haired vampire withdrew even further from the Cullen family, much to his mate's dislike.

Carlisle frowned at the lack of interest in his exciting new discovery. "C'mon now…" he said feebly in an attempt to liven everyone up. Jasper looked over and, in a sad attempt to redeem his unforgivable behavior, said, "What is your news Carlisle?" In his peripheral vision, he could see Alice and Edward smiling knowingly at each other. Carlisle beamed. "I've gotten in touch with an old friend of mine. She lives with her clan in Alaska-"Alaska!" Alice cried as she popped out of her seat and flung herself into Carlisle's arms. "This is what I saw, Carlisle!" she squeaked in delight. "Ask them if we can stay with them!" Jasper smiled apologetically for her actions. "Stay with another clan?" Edward questioned, making his way across the room to join the others. "How can we just give up this life here?"

"No need to fret, Edward," the eldest vampire said with a chuckle, ruffling Alice's hair affectionately. "They lead a life like ours. That is to say, the prefer penguins over humans." Edward's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"They don't…hunt humans?"

Jasper's throat burned as soon as the words left the boy's mouth.

"Certainly not," Carlisle answered pleasantly.

"When do we leave?" Alice peeped excitedly.

They were packing already. To some, it might seem strange that they leave on such sudden occasions. Just get up and go. But to someone who's spent their entire life on the road it's just business as usual. Accept now he had something to actually pack.

Alice flitted in and out of the room, retrieving and delivering various articles of clothing to and from Rosalie's room and Edward's room. Of course, if they were going to live in the freezing wilderness, they would have to go in style. Alice made sure of that. She had even dressed Jasper nicely, putting him in a dark, knitted turtle-neck, his nice slacks, and a pair of black leather boots. Jasper knew it was necessary to dress this way when meeting the new clan. His outer appearance wasn't exactly pleasant to the eye. He stood in their bedroom now, observing himself in the mirror – something he often tried to avoid doing. Alice had told him he looked very handsome in that sweater. He had to disagree. Jasper had never found himself attractive at all. He raised his eyebrows, highlighting a particularly nasty scar just above his left eye, and sighed.

"What're you doin', Jazz?" Alice chimed as she entered the room again, carrying a large pile of clothes that look suspiciously like Edward's.

"Nothing," he said quietly as he moved forward and took the clothes from her.

"These are new. I got them for you." Jasper smiled at her and plopped them down into his suitcase without even glancing at them.

Alice tilted her head to the side, a confused frown lingering on her perfect features. "They'll love you, Jazz," she said quietly. "Don't worry. I know they'll love you." She placed a hand on his chest, stood on her tip toes, and kissed him sweetly on the lips. Jasper shivered happily. "Not go take these shirts to Edward's room for me," she chirped, shoving his arms full of clothing. He turned silently and walked out the door.

Alice was a wonder to him. She saved his life every day. If it weren't for her, he'd probably have gone insane by now. His mind drifted away with thoughts of his mate, but he was interrupted when something hit his shoulder with a bang! He winced in pain as it collided with his wound from the fight.

"Watch it, fface."

Jasper looked up to see Emmett glaring down on him. He glared back and pushed past the younger vampire, continuing his original route.

"What?" Emmett was saying behind him. "You got nothin' to say to me?" Jasper stopped and turned to face him once again. "Actually," he said, his southern drawl a bit more pronounced than usual, "I do have a question for you if you're willing to answer it." Emmett blinked. He was confused. "Ok, partner, lay it on me," he said in a southern accent of his own, a stupid looking grin positioning itself on his face. Jasper remained perfectly still, refraining any emotion, still holding thr pile of clothes perfectly in hand. "What would you do if I growled at Rosalie?"

Emmett remained silent for a few seconds before growling, "I'd rip your sorry head off." To his surprise, Jasper smiled. "I didn't rip your head off when you growled at my Alice now, did I?" Emmett didn't respond. He only stared at the blonde haired boy in frustration and wonder. "I simply tried to get you away from her. You were the one who fought back. And even then I made sure to avoid using my teeth." He shrugged his shoulder where the pain from Emmett's venom was still present.

More silence from Emmett. "If I looked so threatening necxt to Rosalie wouldn't you have done the same thing?" Still no answer. "I've tried to apologize before, but I'll do it again: I'm sorry I attacked you. It was a misjudgment. My fear for Alice got in the way of my rightful thinking. I didn't mean to harm you. I am sorry." By the time he had finished, the entire rest of the Cullen clan had all poked their heads out of their rooms to watch. Emmett continued to stand in silence. He didn't know what to say. Behind him, Jasper could hear Edward chuckle as he, no doubt, listened in on Emmett's thoughts.

"I think you two are stupid," Rosalie declared, breaking the silence that Jasper was making sure was getting more and more awkward every second. "Emy, he said he was sorry. He didn't even do anything wrong in the first place. Just say 'okay' and it'll be over with." She turned on her heel and walked back into her room. Not a second had passed and the rest of them followed suit and the two were alone in the hall once again. Jasper felt a wave of defeat hit him and he knew immediately that Emmett could defy him no longer.

"I'm sorry, man," he said quietly. "I guess I just thought it was stupid, you know? I wasn't even doing anything to her." Jasper smiled.

"I understand," he said just as gently. "Like I said before, I have an irrational worry for her. I'll work on it though. I know I can trust everyone here, I'm just not too…used to the idea yet."

"And newborns aren't really your cup of tea either," Emmett added, grinning deviously.

"Precisely."

"We cool then?"

"Of course."

The smiled genuinely at each other for a moment before Emmett added, "You need a cowboy hat to go with those boots?"