A/N: Chapter 24!

I made a tiny mistake (which I corrected) in the previous AN. I initially said there were two Cullens making an appearance, when actually there were three. We'll see which of you were right! Hope you like hearing from Jasper again. He's taking the next chapter, too.

A big hug to my readers, you're all wonderful, and thank you to idealskeptic.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Chapter Twenty-Four:Family

Jasper POV

Nerves were not something I felt often. There were very few things that could make me nervous, but talking to my family wasn't one of them. At least, it never used to be. Here I was, pacing back and forth with a phone in my hand. There was no escaping the fact I needed help. I wasn't a particularly proud man when it came to asking for it, not from them, in any case. This was different. I hadn't spoken to any of them in nearly two and a half years.

The thought wasn't strong enough alone to make me change my mind; one look at Angela would set me straight, anyhow. It simply made things harder. Of course, that was where the nerves kicked in. Not only that, I had to decide which one I was going to call.

Edward was out of the question. The last thing either of us needed was another mind reader, and the state I'd last seen him in left a lot to be desired. There was no way of knowing if Bella survived. If the worst had happened, for my sake, I didn't want to feel what he was feeling…and for Angela's sake, a grieving man was no use to anyone. I knew that more than anyone did.

Rosalie, too, wasn't an option. While I knew she would help, it was her initial questions that put me off. She never did like to wait, so she wouldn't let me go until I told her everything.

That left Carlisle, Esme and Emmett.

My first choice was always going to be Carlisle. As the head of the family and the one with the most knowledge and experience with a vegetarian newborn, he was the logical choice. I knew he wouldn't ask many questions, understanding that I wouldn't know how to answer them right away. I also knew that, if I asked him to, he would fly to Italy to help.

I wanted to call him, and I knew I should have done so already. There was only one thing holding me back. Esme. If Carlisle were leaving, especially to go somewhere they could find me, she would want to come. The fact I would have to face her, knowing she knew I had planned to die without giving her a proper goodbye was too much to bear.

She wouldn't blame me, or demand to know why, it simply wasn't in her nature, but it would upset her in ways even I couldn't describe. I felt guilty enough as it was. I needed to stay strong, and more guilt would only make me weaker.

That meant my only other option was Emmett.

Strangely, I didn't feel as nervous now I knew whom I was supposed to call. I could trust Emmett with this, and was certain he wouldn't judge me for it. Out of everyone, he was the person to bet on to accept things as what they were and nothing more.

Even so, I paced for another ten minutes before I eventually dialled his number.

"Hello."

I thought I'd prepared myself to hear his voice, yet it still took a few seconds to find my voice. It struck me that Emmett had been the last person I talked to before leaving.

"Emmett." All I got was silence. "Emmett?"

"Jasper?"

My eyes closed with relief. I couldn't deny it was good to hear a familiar voice. "Yeah, Em, it's me."

"Why are you calling me?" he asked after a long pause. His approach was jilted, as though he was uncertain of what else to ask. There was no accusation to his voice, just pure curiosity. I knew exactly how I wanted to answer him; I simply couldn't do it right away. Of all the questions I'd expected, that hadn't been one of them.

I opened my eyes to look at Angela; it helped me focus. "Are you alone?" I asked in lieu of the real response.

"Completely," he replied. I caught a hint of surprise. "Rosalie is out hunting with Carlisle and Esme, and Edward went home with Renesmee."

Angela's head shot up at the mention of the unfamiliar name. I stared back and asked the question I was certain was on both our minds.

"Where's Bella?"

His silence was enough.

In all this time, I'd imagined that either Edward had lost everything, or gained everything…I suppose I never thought about it enough to visualise what would happen if the former had come true. I wouldn't have wished that upon anyone.

"There was nothing they could do. The venom couldn't spread quickly enough." His voice shook, and then silence came again. I watched Angela look away. "Renesmee is like nothing I've ever seen. Do you want me to tell you about her?"

Did I?

"No," I replied bluntly, wanting to continue with not yet as a way of justifying myself. The words wouldn't come. I just didn't want to know. "It's good you're alone."

There was an awkward pause where I waited for him to do exactly what I needed him to – move on. When he did, I got the impression he'd known I wouldn't all along. "So what did you need?"

"Your help," I told him simply and resumed pacing. This was where questions became unavoidable. "I need money, but I can't access an account right now, so I will need you to bring it to me. I need some of my clothes, too."

We rattled off some numbers, but I focused more on the sound of relief in his voice. He was eager to help me, happy that I'd gone to him and not one of the others. He was eager to help when he didn't know what it was he was getting himself into.

"There's something else," I said, glancing again at Angela who offered an encouraging smile. "I need your help with something…but I can't have you all coming. It's going to take time."

"You know Rose won't let me come alone, especially when you're involved," he countered. "I can persuade the others to stay, but not her."

"I know." And I did. The truth was that Rosalie had experience with newborns, too – she helped Emmett through his phase. Her help would be valuable.

"So, are you going to tell me what the hell it is you're doing?"

I ran my hand over my face. This particular question was inevitable, I just couldn't tell him, not yet. To answer him now would mean to tell him about Angela, and doing that would lead to a hundred more questions. That wasn't going to happen.

"I will," I began, already feeling guilty for leaving him in the dark so much. "But not yet; it's not the right time. I'm sorry. There are letters that explain everything. I left one in Illinois, the other in Seattle. You'll find them in the safe in Carlisle's garage."

There was a long pause, and then, "Are you sending me on a wild goose chase?"

"Please, Emmett," I said quietly. I wasn't being fair to him, and after what I was asking him to do, he deserved more than just answers. "I need you to trust me." …because I can't find the words to explain this over the phone.

"You know I do." Emmett sighed deeply with what I was certain was defeat. "Do I at least get to know where you are? I can wait for answers, but I'm gonna have to tell them something."

He was right; so far, I'd given him nothing substantial enough to share. I had no choice but to tell him, regardless of whether he made the connection to the Volturi or not.

"I'm in Italy."

The initial pause was expected. He needed time to let the news sink in, but even then Emmett still didn't respond. His silence felt so loud to me, and I closed my eyes tight as the seconds ticked by. It was plain to see that he'd made the connection. Of course he had. Of course he knew. Every vampire knew there was only one reason you went to Italy.

I tried to think of something to say to break the silence…and then I didn't have to.

"Look, Jasper…the others are going to be back soon," he said, his voice distant and only half there. "I need to work out what to say to them."

"Sure," I managed to get out. My stomach felt like a ball of steel had been rammed against it. There was a pause where neither of us said a word, and I knew that if I didn't speak, the call would end and he would be gone.

I couldn't, though; I couldn't leave it like that. "Emmett, I'm sorry for putting this on you again."

He let out a quiet sigh, laughing, maybe, under his breath. "You're my brother; it's my job to look out for you."

A few seconds later, he was gone, and I was left with an empty line. I slipped the phone into my pocket and started pacing for a third time. It would take them at least two days to travel to Seattle and Illinois, with another two to get to Italy. That gave us four days to ourselves.

I had been far longer without hunting in the past, but Angela needed to start as soon as possible. The fact it was night was only a small part of why we couldn't start right away. We wouldn't get anywhere trawling through the forest in the pitch black, even with our heightened senses. I needed daylight so I could keep an eye on her at all times.

That was it. That was all I knew.

I'd never hunted with a newborn before, never trusting them enough to let my guard down. Any hunt I'd set up had been upon a group of unsuspecting humans. Yet again I was reminded that I didn't know what I was doing.

When I noticed Angela was watching me, I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind; I would worry about what I was going to do once dawn broke. For now, there was something I had to do. I had to burn the bloodied shirt. It had been over four days since I last fed, and the smell of blood affected me more than I cared to admit. If there was one thing Felix had been right about, it was that I wouldn't be any help to Angela if I were thirsty myself.

Angela didn't question me as I prepared a small fire the way Maria had taught me. I kept the flames low and burnt them long enough to make sure the fire would destroy the shirt entirely. After a while, Angela joined me, breaking me away from the dark memory of when I was last in front of a fire, watching the items burn.

So much had changed since then.

"You didn't tell him about me," she said. It wasn't a question, but it wasn't exactly a statement, either.

I shook my head. "I couldn't. Not over the phone."

Human Angela wouldn't have bought that short remark for a second, and the vagueness I could feel from her now said she wasn't so sure she should believe me. It was those small, familiar hints that reassured me she was still in there and always would be.

"Am I mentioned in the letters?"

My response was to nod; no words this time. The letters held everything. What I had planned, why Angela was involved and why I couldn't keep going without Alice. I'd written my apologies and things I'd wanted to say, just not having the words. It was easier to write it down when I thought I'd never see them again. Now they had to read them.

I'd avoided their heartache by not going ahead with my initial plan, but now I had to put them through it anyway and show them how close they were to losing yet another family member.

"Don't feel guilty," she said gently and turned me so I had no choice but to look at her. "Whatever you wrote in those letters, it's not going to happen anymore, and they'll know that."

"I know, but they'll still feel it." I felt the crease between my brow and the frown on my face. I was desperate for some kind of respite. "You know the worst part is I would rather they read the letters in all their detail than wait for me to explain in person. I can't find the words, and I can't feel what they'd feel when I do, Angela. I can't see their expressions. It's the main reason I didn't tell him. I'd hear it in his voice. How can I not feel guilt for that?"

She reached up, tracing a line across my cheek. "Because you know you'd feel even worse if you lied to them."

I closed my eyes and leaned into her touch. When it came down to it, I knew she was telling the truth. In the end, the secret would eat away at me until it came out. Secrets always had a way of doing that eventually.

Though it was a hundred times harder, I couldn't deny that my only option was to tell the truth.

Around six fifteen, the sky began to lighten. It was still too early for any human to be outside, and visibility was far better. It was a perfect time for us to hunt, and I wanted to start right away. Angela was nervous, though. During the night, she had asked what our next move was going to be again. After telling her we would hunt at first light, the nerves started to grow.

At first, she put on a brave face and asked me what we would be hunting, and whether there was anything she needed to know. I told her everything I could think of; reassuring her that it would come naturally once she started. I didn't mention that it already had.

There was nothing more I could do for her, and she soon let her nerves get the better of her, to the point she was almost hysterical. It was a common trait; one I'd seen her exhibit a few times now. The trick was to let her calm down in her own time with only a small push, if needed, from my ability.

Now, though, she seemed pretty much in control - as much as pacing the same path I had the day before could allow.

"It's time for us to head out," I told her. She paused and looked at me. Her eyes were wide with anxiety, and her hands were shaking, but she nodded, anyway. We were ready to go.

"Can you hold my arm, please? So I don't break away from you."

I could understand her request and knew why she wanted me to do so. When you gave yourself over to the hunt, one wrong scent would send you running towards the wrong find of source. It was probably for the best at this early stage, but I wasn't going to hold her as if she was my prisoner.

She was surprised when my hand found hers. It was a pleasant feeling that helped smooth off her fraying nerves, so much so she was the one to make the first move. Our hunting ground was limited, so we didn't go far at all. I had a general idea where to go to find what I was looking for, and soon enough we came across as small herd asleep on the ground.

"What are they?" she asked as she stared at the thick, ridged horns that curved back from the top of their head.

"I believe they're called Ibexes. They are a form of wild goat," I added when she seemed equally as baffled by them.

Her next question was far more hesitant. "Do I kill it first?"

"It's probably best," I replied honestly. Not only was it more humane, and make it easier for Angela, it would also lessen the chances of others waking up and making a run for it. She let out a long calming breath.

"It's a good thing I wasn't an animal rights activist, huh?"

Angela flashed a quick smile then went for the nearest Ibex. I caught the words neck and quickly muttered under her breath, but was unable to form the sentence around it before she'd snatched up the sleeping form and broke its neck. I watched in awe as she started feeding a second later. With barely a hint of hesitation and only the natural level of discomfort, I knew there and then that she could do this.

One day, she was going to be better at it than I was.

She had something I lacked during my own switch to animal blood. She had determination. My first catch had also been a herbivore. I later found out that carnivores tasted a little better, but it was still one of the worst things I'd ever tasted. After one bite, I'd pulled back in disgust. If Alice hadn't been watching, I would have spat it out on the floor.

"You'll get used to the taste, eventually," had been Alice's encouragement.

I did, in the end. Growing to like it, however, was a completely different ballpark. I was prepared to give the same encouragement to Angela, but I soon realised I didn't need to. Once she drained the first, she moved onto the next, repeating the action until she'd finished her third. When she straightened and turned to me expectantly, I felt nothing short of pride.

I moved closer and used my sleeve to wipe away the blood on her lips. She watched me closely, speaking only when I finished.

"Your eyes are black. Didn't you want any?"

I shook my head, when the truth was I should have hunted yesterday. "I wanted this hunt to be about you. How was it?"

"It was…different." A crease formed across her brow. "My eyes are red, aren't they? Will they stay like that…because I…"

Angela's voice petered out. I answered quickly before her thoughts could wander. "No. It'll take time, but they will turn gold eventually."

"If I drink more, will the red go quicker?" she asked and half turned to do so. I caught her before she could reach them.

"It doesn't work like that," I said gently so not to upset her. "But it's a good method to adopt. I think you've had enough for one night, though. We can always come back tomorrow if you'd like."

She glanced at the sleeping animals longingly. I knew she wanted to have more now to test her theory, but over feeding wouldn't help her cause. I didn't want to remind her, but only the day before she'd drained the blood dry from four humans.

I was about to prompt her when she surprised me once again. "Shall we go, then?" she said, and held out her hand.

"You're going to wear a hole in the ground if you keep that up," Angela muttered from her position watching my nervous pacing. It was a habit I'd picked up a long time ago. She was as nervous as I was, though handling it better than I happened to be.

Emmett had called to tell us he and Rosalie had landed in Rome and were making their way north. The last thing I'd wanted was for them to pass closely to Volterra, but once they heard our bags were still kept in the car in Prato D'Era, we agreed it was practical to bring it with them. Their arrival wasn't for another few hours, though, which meant my nerves were for something else entirely.

During that same phone call, Emmett also told me they had read the letters in full. He didn't go into it much, nor did I expect or particularly want him to, however he did admit they'd called home and told them everything. It was for the best, ultimately, even though it meant, by default, that I had to call them too. I knew exactly what they would be feeling, and I couldn't leave them without a word. If it were me, I would have wanted to hear their voice.

This time, there was no questioning whom I had to call; there was only one person it could be. Esme. It was making the call that was my dilemma.

"Call them," Angela said, once again breaking me from my nervous ticks. At present, I was moving the phone from one hand to the other. "They'll be more relieved to hear your voice than whatever it is you're worrying about." She waited a second, and then asked, "Do you trust me?"

"Irrefutably."

She smiled at that. "Then call them."

I absorbed the confidence she was projecting and dialled the number before I could doubt myself again. It rang only once before she answered. From the tone of her voice, I couldn't be sure she knew it was me. A few seconds later, she still didn't know. Hello didn't seem appropriate, and anything else I thought of seemed even less fitting. In the end, I settled in, "It's me," and waited for her reaction. In credit to her, she hid her surprise well.

"Jasper…" There was a falter. Did she not know what to say, either? "I wasn't sure you would call."

I closed my eyes. I didn't need to be in front of her to know what she was feeling; I got my answer loud and clear through the phone.

"I'm sorry…"

"Oh, hush," she said in a whisper. "You don't need to apologise to me."

Incredulity escaped with a sigh. Was no one going to let me apologise? "Don't I?"

"You had your reasons, Jasper, we know that," she continued. "You can't expect me to accept an apology for that."

"Then let me apologise for what I put you through," I countered with a strain to my voice. I wanted nothing more than her forgiveness, but not so wholly without an acknowledgement first. I wanted something to prove she recognised why I was saying it, and her pause was enough to verify I was right. She may have denied my apology for going to Volterra to die, but she could not deny my absence before, and the truth now wasn't causing her heartache.

"I know you're sorry, Jasper, and I accept that, but you are reaching out to your family, and right now, that is all that matters." She sighed. "Now that's the end of it. No more talk of apologising."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Angela smile. It wasn't an I-told-you-so smile, just one of relief. Maybe she hadn't known after all. Either way, I was glad she convinced me.

"Emmett said that Angela Weber was involved," Esme said a moment later. She was more cautious now because she didn't know what happened to Angela – nor did Emmett or Rosalie. All they knew was I'd taken her to Volterra, and for a human, the outlook wasn't good. "Is she with you now?"

The question was the most innocent way of asking if she was still alive. I faced Angela. Her smile was gone and she was watching me for my response. I hadn't told Emmett because he hadn't asked. It was quite possible he was leaving the question to answer itself when we were face to face.

"They changed her," I said weakly. "Aro betrayed us and went against his word that she wouldn't be harmed."

"The vile, repulsive…" Esme trailed off, finishing, maybe, under her breath. She didn't often react the way she did, so I knew it would only last a few seconds before she regained control. I was right. "How is she? Is she okay?"

I thought of how best to answer. Was she okay? She was, now. It was still early days, and I knew how hard things could get.

Angela was the one to answer for me. "I'm okay, Mrs Cullen. Thank you. I have Jasper looking after me."

I couldn't help but smile, and when Esme replied, I got the feeling she was smiling too. "Well that's one good thing, I suppose – and please, call me Esme."

After a pause, she added, "I was thinking, though – even if the worst had happened, heaven forbid, someone would have had to box up your things. I was wondering if you would like me to do it for you."

I looked at Angela for her answer, seeing as I had been momentarily pushed out of the conversation. Given everything that happened I'd totally neglected the fact Angela's apartment would need clearing out. It would be years before she could be ready to do it herself, and we simply didn't have the time or luxury to wait that long.

"Are you sure? I would hate to be a burden-"

"You mustn't worry about that," Esme politely interrupted. "Illinois is maybe a seven hour drive, which in vampire house isn't very much. Besides, it'll give me and Carlisle the excuse to get away for a few days, though if you prefer, I can make sure Carlisle sticks to non-personal items."

"I don't mind," Angela told her. I very nearly interjected that Carlisle would uphold the utmost professionalism; regardless of what he was going through. "I'm just grateful for you both going out of your way to help me."

"It's the least I can do." There was a brief spell where no one said a word. The speed in which Esme continued indicated what I'd assumed – that she knew Angela was the reason I was alive, and this was her way of thanking her. "The change is hard to get used to. The thought of something familiar might make things a little easier.

"We will keep them safe for you until you both come-" She faltered over the word I knew she wanted to say. Home. "-For when you need them again."

There was the undeniable sadness in her voice that I couldn't ignore. I may have been reaching out to my family, but that didn't confirm I would come home again. The look on Angela's face told me she made the connection, as well. We hadn't talked about our future, not officially, at least. All I knew was that we weren't parting ways.

I wanted Esme to know I had every intention of returning, but I wanted to see Angela's reaction as I said it. I wanted to see if she agreed. In the right circumstance, we would have discussed it together. But we couldn't. We only had this moment.

I held out my hand to her, hardly surprised when she rushed forward to take it. I didn't let me gaze stray from hers as I spoke.

"As soon as it is safely possible, we are coming back. Maison." My eyes questioned Angela's, silently asking if that was what she wanted. With the squeeze of my hand and her widening smile, I knew that it was.

Now, I wanted Esme to have no doubt in her mind. She needed to know exactly what she meant to me. I chose my words carefully.

"Tu es ma mère et tu le sera toujours."

"Comme tu seras toujours mon fils," she murmured, her voice thick with happiness and a pride that made me glad to have said it. "Thank you, Jasper," she added a moment later, and I knew that if it were at all possible, she would have been crying.

"It's the least I can do."

"I'm sorry I put you on the spot like that," I said to Angela a little while after Esme and I had said our goodbyes. "I wanted her to know that I would come home, and leave no doubt of that, but I should have talked to you first."

"You're all I have left," she replied, confident in her admittance. "If this past month has been anything of an indication, then I would follow you anywhere."

Be it intentional or otherwise, she let me feel the reason behind why she would do so. Her love was refreshing, and strong enough to wash away any worries I had towards what she saw for our future. This time, when I leaned in to kiss her, there was no uncertainty. Just her.

She was breathless again when we parted; smiling possibly the widest smile I'd seen in the last four days together.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Though I didn't quite know what she was thanking me for, I said, "You're welcome."

"So," she began, rejoining our hands and leading me back to the fallen log. "Am I allowed to know what you said to Esme? It was French, right?"

I nodded. "I told her she was my mother and always would be. She told me I was her son. I said it in French because she was the one who taught me that particular language. It brought us closer together, back when I was new to the family."

"You seem very close to her," she mused as she took in my distant expression. "I'm guessing you all see her as the mother figure?"

"She falls into the role automatically. I suppose it's in her nature." I answered as honestly as I could without openly saying it was mainly because she had been a mother herself shortly before she was turned. It wasn't my story to tell. "We don't often call her that, though. Only Emmett does it on more of a regular basis because he knows how much she likes it."

"I can see why it means so much to her, coming from you," she said, and smiled. The silence that followed was filled by that of my cell phone. I'd received a message.

We've parked in the village you mentioned. There are vampire scents all over this place. See you in five minutes.

I waited for Angela to read the message before pocketing the phone. She remained utterly silent as I stood up and looked around. It was late evening, and people in the nearby villages would undoubtedly be in for the night, which meant as soon as they were free of the streets, they would be able to run at vampire speed.

Five minutes was an overestimate.

I looked over my shoulder for Angela, beckoning her to stand beside me. She shook her head almost immediately.

"I'll stay here," she said almost inaudible, and looked behind me cautiously. She was nervous about meeting them, Rosalie more than Emmett. I'd tried to placate her when she first told me two days ago, but there was nothing more I could do now.

They were here.

I faced front just as Rosalie stepped into our clearing, hair swept back from the run. Emmett was a step behind her.

For a moment, they stared at me. They looked exactly as I remembered, but how different was I? I tried to think of something to say, but similarly to when I talked to Esme, nothing seemed adequate enough for our reunion.

Rosalie was the first to move; she stepped closer, her face a complete mask and her emotions even more undecipherable. Emmett watched her, too; clearly unsure of what she would do as I was. It was a few seconds later that her mask slipped and allowed me to see what she was feeling. It was relief. Pure and unadulterated relief.

When she pulled me into a fierce hug, the relief was Emmett's. I met his gaze over her shoulder. He merely shrugged in response. Whatever reaction he'd expected from her, it wasn't this. I didn't care to find out otherwise.

"Never, ever do anything like this again," she said firmly as she let me go. Her eyes were hard, but there was another Rosalie behind the front she put on. The protective sibling I knew all too well. It was the part that made her who she was.

I was saved from giving her a verbal response by the sudden spike in anxiety coming from behind me. One look at Emmett gave me any explanation I needed.

"Well, that answers some of my questions," he said, his eyebrows arched in surprise. When he turned back to me, I prepared myself to answer the rest.

A/N: So which Bella fan is going to kill me for killing her off? Up until two weeks ago, she was very much alive…it was actually seeing that some of you thought Jasper would call Bella for help that set me off *whistles innocently* Of course, not passing the blame here. The underlying angst that storyline would cause is all me…what can I say? I like stirring things up.

I've written a drabble outtake from Esme's POV. If you would like to read it, let me know and I'll send it out in review replies with the teasers. For those who don't, it will go up on my blog later this week. I'm also partway through writing a much longer outtake from Emmett's POV. If I finish writing it before the next update, it will be posted then.

Maison = home.

Tu es ma mère et tu le sera toujours = You are my mother and you always will be.

Comme tu seras toujours mon fils = As you will always be my son.

Thank you to Lil-Ruty for all the French translations.