AN- Sorry for the wait, but I had a terrible week and lost all motivation to write, My chemistry teacher doesn't seem to realise that because of a problem with my back I can't quite to things the way other people do, and thinks its appropriate to humiliate and shout at me just because I walked past him to put down my bag since it was too heavy and hurting me. Then continued to shout even after I told him why. Apparently I'm the one with the 'disgusting attitude'

Sorry, rant over, just had to get that off my chest.

Hope you enjoy the next chapter.

Disclaimer- I do not own twilight.

Alice's POV.

"Y'know," Charlotte said quietly, as Peter and Jasper disappeared from sight "If you want him to come back you just have to ask."

"I'm okay." I told her.

"What's up hon?" she asked. "You been on edge since we got here" she took my hands gently, urging me to look at her.

"I'm not so used to new people anymore, that's all" I stammered

"We're not gonna hurt you, you know that right?" I sighed I was just making things worse for myself, I didn't want her to think I didn't trust them.

"I know you won't hurt me" I sighed, things were a lot easier before.

"Before what?" Charlotte asked. I'd said that out loud?

"Nothing, it doesn't matter" She looked at me, not believing a word, I didn't blame her.

"talk to me" she pleaded "If not for me then for Jasper, your a lovely girl Alice but I know for a fact Jasper won't be able to cope with you like this." she sighed "it beginning to take a toll already, I can see it."

"Do you think I don't know that?" I accused. "I know it's hurting him, that he be better off somewhere else, without me, but i cant bear not knowing where he is, not knowing if he's safe" I looked over into the trees where he'd disappeared.

"He's safe with Peter" Charlotte reasoned but it did nothing to calm me down.

"That what I told myself, just seconds before to both took off and left him to face Maria's punishment" I snapped. Charlotte took a step back, then another, until she stood a fair distance away from me. "Charlotte, I'm sorry" I said once I realised what I'd said.

"You saw what she did to him." She whispered, looking down at the floor.

"He hasn't told you?" I murmured, she shook her head.

"He hasn't even told Peter, but we've seen the scars, the ones on his wrists and elbows. She ripped him apart didn't she?"

"I don't want to talk about it." I whimpered. "Please."

"Your wrong" she said after a while, and moved to sit back beside me "He wouldn't be better off without you."

Jasper's POV

"So... Mates, huh?" I groaned this was gonna be a long walk, Peter was smirking beside me. "Y'know, I never thought the day would come."

I shook my head "It's not like that." I carried on walking unsure exactly where we were going

"Oh sorry" he said "I wasn't aware that you go all gooey eyed over every gal now"

I scowled at him "I do not go 'gooey eyed' over Alice"

"Do to" he smirked.

"Do not"

"Do to"

"Grow up, will you!" I snapped, probably a bit more forcefully than I should have. Peter remained quiet after that, it wasn't until we were sat on the bank of some river we'd found that he spoke again.

"it's understandable that you don't want to start a relationship with Alice, after what Maria did to you..."

"Don't bring her up" I growled, screwing my eyes shut. I could feel Peter's gaze on me.

"Your getting flashbacks again, aren't you?" He asked. As much as I'd tried I hadn't been able to hide my flashbacks from Peter after I left the south. He'd needed to snap me out of them numerous times before I lost control and slaughtered a whole town in my haze. He'd gained more than a few bites in doing so, like I'd said before, I was dangerous.

As I leant to control my gift, I leant to control my emotions as well, and in turn my thoughts. Emotions such as anger and rage all connected to old memories, flashbacks of her. If I could control the emotions I was fine.

My reluctance to speak gave Peter his answer. "Is it Alice that triggers them?" He asked.

In a way, yes it was, but I refused to blame Alice, it's not like she meant to do it. "It's not her fault." I told him.

"I'm not saying it is, we both know who's fault it is." He muttered 'Maria' my mind chanted.

"Everywhere I turn Peter, she's there. She's tainted everything." I said though gritted teeth. I could feel the built up tension in my shoulders, my fists clenched tightly by my sides. I felt Peter lean against my side in an attempt to calm me down but I pulled away from him and pushed him towards the river "Get cleaned up" I told him.

Alice's POV

Charlotte and I chatted idly, about unimportant things mostly. I was surprised to find I actually enjoyed it. She really had needed some girl time. I listened intently to her as she described her travels with Peter, naturally I found it fascinating. She traced her stories back and I was glad to hear Jasper's name make an appearance

It was nice to hear stories about him especially ones I'd missed.

She shuffled closer "so, is he a good kisser?"

"What?!" I stuttered "No, no it's not like that. Jasper and I, we're just..." I trailed off, I still didn't know what we were.

"Mates" she finished.

"You and Peter are mates, but it was over a year before he kissed you" she stared at me dumbfounded, it wasn't a surprise I always got this kind of reaction when I revealed something I shouldn't know.

"Wow, your like some kind of secret agent" I smiled slightly at the comparison, but it wasn't long before her original question returned

"Jasper doesn't see me that way" I mumbled, looking down at the dirt.

Charlotte scoffed "of course he does!" She laughed lightly "Jasper absolutely adores you, he loves you Alice" she said said seriously.

I froze, Jasper couldn't love me, could he? "No he doesn't" I denied "He just feels sorry for me" I told her. "I can feel his emotions even when he isn't trying to project them."

Charlotte sighed "Jasper has a very limited understandin' of his own emotions, which is surprisin' considerin' the nature of his gift. He loves Peter and I, we know that because back when he had less control over his gift we could feel it. The thing is, he doesn't know that he loves us."

"he spent so long with that evil witch, that he doesn't know what it feels like to love someone and most of all he doesn't know how to express it. He probably doesn't realise how much we love him, he spent decades surrounded by anger, hate and fear that love is new to him, but in all the years I've known him, I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you"

I shifted uncomfortably where I sat and she smirked at me "Ok I'll stop" she laughed "but just you wait." She winked.

Jaspers POV

"Alice is just as plagued by her as I am" I told Peter "I want to help her, the same way you helped me. Just by listenin' to her, but I can't. Not when her memories are the same ones that I can't even tell you." I admitted, my fingers traced the deep grooves in my wrists.

Peter's gaze followed "The night we left" he realised almost instantly.

I nodded "She thought Maria had killed me" I said "she's spent decades mournin' over me and traumatised by that one memory"

I could feel the guilt flowing from Peter and realised that he must be blaming himself "Was it really that bad" he asked.

I put a hand on his shoulder in comfort, "Don't blame yourself, It was worth it the second Maria stopped lookin' for you, I realised that you were safe, that she couldn't hurt you anymore."

"Your goin' soft Major" he accused with a smirk, then looked down at the hand on his shoulder and scowled. "and actin' more and more human by the second" he said.

I scowled at myself "I guess the Cullen's behaviour can rub off on you" Peter shrugged my hand off his shoulder and moved closer so that he could rest his chin on my shoulder. I mused at how strange the Cullen's would find such a gesture but dismissed it quickly and rubbed my head against Peter's.

Just because I lived with them now didn't mean I had to stop being a vampire. I'd spent much longer as a vampire than a human, I didn't see why I had to give up my animalistic side. This felt much more natural.

"What are they like?" Peter asked "The Cullen's." He clarified.

I pondered for a second. "Strange" I said finally "They see things differently to how we do" I told him. "Humans are equals in their eyes. Four of them are around our age, Edward, Bella, Rosalie and Emmett. Edward can read minds" I said

"I bet that's annoying" Peter cut in.

I scoffed "You have no idea. From what I've heard, he recently found a mate in Bella who was changed just under a year ago now" I calculated.

"A newborn?!" I felt the worry begin to flow from him so I rubbed my head against his again.

"My reaction exactly" I reassured "Bella has incredible restraint and control, I've never seen anything like it, She's a mental shield, can block mental abilities from others."

"Hang on, so you have a psychic, a telepath, a shield, and now an empath all in one coven."

I shook my head. "They insist they're not a coven, they're a family."

"Still" he said "that's a strong group of vampires. Wait, is there any more?" He asked.

"Talented, not really" I told him "Emmett has a large build, I expect he'd be stronger than either of us, but he's the joker by the looks of it. He speaks before he thinks, I expect his fighting technique would be very much the same"

Peter nodded "Rosalie is his mate, appears to be strict and straight to the point" I paused Rosalie was difficult to explain "She doesn't like change, doesn't trust me at all. I respect that, but I don't understand it, I've done nothing to gain that trust, true, but neither have I given her reason to distrust me."

We were silent for a second as I tried to figure it out "What about the leader?" He asked finally. We both tensed at the thought of a coven leader, neither of us had a particularly good experience with them.

"Doctor Carlisle Cullen." I told him quietly.

"Doctor?" He questioned

"He works in the hospital, human patients, I still don't know how he does it"

"You sure he doesn't feed from them?" Peter questioned.

"No, everyday he comes back smelling of humans but his eyes are still golden-yellow" I told him.

"Is he... Good to you?" He asked hesitantly.

"He's been fine so far" I nodded "He doesn't even lead so to speak. He just kind of... watches over them all."

"And they all just follow him?" Peter scowled.

"Sure seems that way."

Peter shook his head "doesn't sound right" he looked up at me "you'll be careful, won't you?" He asked

I rolled my eyes. "What did you tell Alice earlier? 'the Major is more than capable of lookin' after himself.'" I imitated him.

He looked down at the scars on my wrists "I thought that too" I pulled the cuffs of my shirt down. "Are there any more in this coven" he asked.

"Two" I answered "Esme, Carlisle's mate. I don't think I've ever met someone so calm, it's like she doesn't have a care in the world, she seems to mother the younger ones, something left over from her human years I believe."

I was hesitant to mention Renesmee and I wasn't quite sure why, she was hard to explain. "You remember about nine months ago, the Volturi left Italy." I said.

"For the immortal child, yes." This is why I worried.

I shook my head "shes not an immortal child."

Peter frowned "she? Jasper what..."

"Renesmee is Alice's niece" I said quickly "She's Bella and Edward's daughter. Half vampire, half human.

Peter laughed bitterly. "This just gets better and better. Your tellin' me your 'new coven' is on the receivin' end of the Volturi's wrath. Jasper they stood against them. The Volturi are never gonna let them rest."

"Renesmee's growing more by the day, there's nothing for them to be convicted for." I reassured.

"I don't like it" He spat.

"You don't have to" I told him. I kept my voice even, I didn't want another argument.

"What's keepin' you there?" He complained. I looked down hoping not to give my answer away. "Stupid question" Peter muttered, then sighed. "you really like her don't you."

"Peter." I complained.

"Hey, I know what it's like" he sniggered "they have us wrapped around their little fingers, catering to their every whim."

I scoffed "Thats just you, I didn't go runnin' of into the unknown for a gal I hardly knew." He rolled his eyes at me.

"No, you've just joined a coven you hardly know and changed your diet for her." He accused "besides, I wouldn't have it any other way, where would we be now if I hadn't run after Charlotte?" He asked.

Neither of us answered, because that, was truly something I didn't want to think about.

Alice's POV

"He didn't" Charlotte laughed. "Jasper wouldn't do that"

I nodded "he did, admittedly he didn't intend to" I told her "but a little bit of lust goes a long way" I giggled "The whole newborn army followed him for weeks in a lust-filled haze" I laughed "Provided me with weeks of entertainment, I don't think I ever left my apartment."

"I can't believe Peter never told me" she sniggered.

As if called, Peter dropped from the trees,

"Never told you what, Hon?" He kissed her lips gently. I shook my head at her.

"Nothing" she said innocently, then pulled away from him "Peter your all wet" she complained pushing him back.

"You told me to wash up" he held up his hands and shook his head, successfully distracted "I'm all clean, smell" Peter pulled her head down towards his neck. Charlotte squealed in protest and nipped his neck with her teeth.

I giggled at their antics "What's so funny?" i turned to find Jasper stood behind me, he must have come on foot rather than through the trees like Peter had. He was smiling at me, probably a result of my temporary good mood.

"Nothing." I repeated in the same tone Charlotte had used. But looking at him was bringing on another round of giggles that I had to smother as well as the memory that had triggered them. I looked over to Peter and Charlotte who were now wrestling on the ground "Have they always been this way?" I asked, trying to distract myself

Jasper chuckled. "For as long as I've known them" I could feel him send out a wave of drowsiness and watched Peter's movements slow enough for Charlotte to get the upper hand.

"No fair" Peter called from under Charlotte's grip.

"your terrible to him" I giggled. Again he watched me strangely

"I know" he smirked finally.

Jasper's POV

"We should probably get going." I told Alice as she finished plaiting Charlotte's hair. After Peter had finally admitted defeat Alice had offered to get the leaves and dirt out of Charlotte's hair. She seemed to be enjoying herself, she'd been happy since we got back, which led my to wonder about what they'd been talking about.

I didn't want to disturb her but I'd promised Carlisle I'd get her back.

"Must we?" She asked looking up at me from her place on the floor

"Afraid so" I said and offered her my hand to pull her up "I promised Carlisle that we'd only be gone a couple of days and we've still got to travel back." She took my hand and I pulled her to her feet.

"Carlisle won't mind" she reassured, but I shook my head.

"I don't think he was too happy about us leaving" Alice's brow furrowed

"what do you mean"

"I asked if it was okay if we left and he was disappointed, it's understandable not many coven leaders would be happy with two members leaving, it makes the coven vulnerable." I told her.

She shook her head "that doesn't sound like Carlisle" her curiosity spiked "what exactly did you say to him?" She asked. I thought back to what I'd said just before I'd felt the disappointment.

"If that's ok with you, Sir." I couldn't see anything wrong with that, Alice however, rolled her eyes

"A little advice" she said "Try calling him Carlisle. I can grantee it will make his day" she said. I frowned, why on earth would he be so happy at me calling him Carlisle, that couldn't be it. "Come on then." she sighed.

Charlotte jumped up and hugged me "I don't know what you did, but thank you" I whispered, too low for Alice to hear. Charlotte squeezed me a bit tighter.

"look after her" she smiled and pulled away. We both watched Peter and Alice's strange exchange as they hovered around each other awkwardly before Alice finally gave Peter a friendly smile and scooted off back to Charlotte.

Peter came over to me "Guess I'll see you soon?" he said hesitantly, did he really think he wouldn't see me again?

"Course you will, you can visit us next time" I smirked, Peter grimaced "they're really not that bad." I told him

"Just look after yourself" he said, then awkwardly walked forward to give me a one armed hug "I'm not stupid enough to think I'll see you half as often as I used to" he said "i'm gonna miss you."

"Now, who's goin' soft." I griped, but my heart wasn't in it. He was right.

Alice trotted back over to me. "See ya, little one." Peter smirked, hiding his earlier sadness, Alice just smiled sweetly at him. Charlotte walked over to him and tucked herself in his arms. We waved one last time before turning and bolting into the woods.

AN- That's it for another chapter, I'm not sure when the next update will be, I have some German coursework to finish and memorise so it might be a while, plus I just got my first job ready for the holidays and will be working every Sunday, so that's one less day to use for writing. Anyway. I hope you enjoyed it

Please Review! -It will help brighten my miserable week.

-B x