Jasper came to a halt so fast I collided with him.

My palms on his back I pushed away to look up at his face. Complete and utter horror had begun to slither down his features, so much so that the dark circles around his eyes seemed to deepen and his pale skin became a sickly yellow.

"Jazzy?" I murmured, becoming fearful myself. I gripped his elbow in a trembling fist shaking the limp limb hesitantly.

The waitress ahead of us paused and pivoted on the heel of her well-worn pumps and shot us both questionable glances. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and forced a smile at her. "Sorry." I gave Jasper a push and he did indeed fall into step again, his strides choppy and robotic, like a machine in need of oil.

The restaurant was quite nice – for Forks standards anyways. I'll admit that I've never really been to any of the "up town" restaurants around town. After my first trip to Paris when I was sixteen no other so called "classy" restaurants existed in this small town. I had had a taste of true fine dining and there was no way in hell I was stepping off my pedestal.

But this was an exception.

It was a cute little place, lit up by elegant imported lamps and fragrant candles. The tables and chairs were all well polished – but equally well used – wood, and the booths were made up of fine mauve cushions. The atmosphere was very laid-back, despite the evident effort that was put into making it appear so high class.

Jasper slid in front of me as we walked, like a human shield. I was confused up until the waitress brought us to the intimate booth in the far corner and left us with our menus. Jasper, Jackson and I remained standing, as did the couple across the glossy rectangular table between us.

The woman was quite tall, with tendrils of auburn hair brought over her left shoulder in wondrous waves. Her eyes were an odd blue, a washed kind of silvery blue that seemed to reflect all the light in the room. By the structure of her prominent cheekbones, the faint dimple in her chin and the way she gave me a strange, completely crooked smile I knew at once she was Jasper's mother.

The man beside her however...

"You gonna sit, boy?"

The voice, rough and wicked made me wince and jerk back behind Jasper. Jackson's hand clamped onto my wrist in a fierce fist, his stubby fingernails digging into the soft flesh.

He was a round man, but not necessarily fat. His body looked warn and tired, his hands were like Jasper's in the sense that they were coarse and large, as if they could uproot great oaks bare. However, that was the only part of him that was even remotely similar to Jasper. The man across the table had heavy shoulders and an equally heavy, square-like head situated upon them.

His features were harsh looking, with full lips that may have been handsome in another era, and wide deep-set eyes that seemed black like two pits of coal. They had anger churning deep within them, a bitter and ruthless kind of rage. His nose was somewhat crooked and reminded me of Daisy Reid. His wiry hair was oiled back but thinning and grey around his temples.

He looked like the farmers seen in those obnoxiously stereotypical paintings.

Rather than responding Jasper inclined across the table and kissed his rigid Mother on the cheek. "First, I'd like to introduce you to Alice and Jackson Cullen." Jasper's long arm snaked back and around me, drawing both Jackson and I towards him protectively.

Jasper's mother flashed me a wide white smile and rounded the table to yank all three of us into a tight squeeze. "Oh," She smirked. "You say that like you don't blather on 'bout them all day."

Jasper's face reddened when he drew away from her embrace, his eyes narrowly falling onto my face as he struggled not to smile. I rolled my eyes at him. Jackson quietly pulled his chair out and climbed onto the stocky wood with a sigh. Jasper helped me remove my coat before he dragged my chair out from under the table tucking it smoothly into place once I sat. After drawing over another chair he sat wordlessly beside me.

Jasper's mother and the man sat on the booth side of the table. His mother beaming jubilantly, the man scowling between Jackson and I.

"I'm Emma, and this is my husband John." Jasper's mother had the same lilting Southern accent that made my heart race. However, my ears began to ring as I processed her words.

John? He didn't look anything like Jasper how could he be–

Then it all came rushing back to me: Jasper's mother had run off with Emerald Hale, Rosalie's father. I had known Rose almost all my life and I am absolutely certain she has both a mother and father.

Of course, when I thought about it, Rose always was dropping painfully sarcastic lines about her parents taking marriage counselling. If Rosalie's father was still with her biological mother, I suppose it makes sense for Jasper's mother to remain with her husband as well.

Though it didn't seem fair, two people in love should be allowed to be in love, no matter what!

Realistically though, with the reputation the Hale's had built over the years, it was only logical that their family remain whole even if it was entirely broken.

I couldn't imagine trying to survive with the guilt Jasper's biological parents must have endured all these years.

Jasper's hand fell on my thigh underneath the table, his fingers closing down firmly on my skin, as if they were trying to suck the energy right from my body.

"You know, when you told me you were going to Rose's engagement do I thought you'd be shooting right back home afterwards." Emma smiled warmly at Jasper though her eyes were shifting slowly from Jackie to me. "Now that I'm seeing her, I can see why you wanted to rest here a spell."

The comfortable atmosphere Emma had created lasted only a few seconds longer before a suffocating smog spewed in. John cleared his throat. His dark eyes locked onto Jasper.

"Just like you isn't it, boy? Running off, jus' avoiding your problems–" John was interrupted when a waitress bounced over, her wide smile glimmering under the soft lighting, the long ponytail behind her head swinging jubilantly.

She dropped her hazel eyes on Jasper and, if possible, her smile got even bigger. I swallowed a bit of a growl that sprung up in my throat.

"You ready to order? Can I get you some drinks to start?" She turned fully towards Jasper, batting long eyelashes.

Only his shoulders seemed to jerk in her direction. He blinked up at her once, robotically facing me before he nodded at me.

"Um," I murmured, feeling everyone's eyes land simultaneously on me. "We'll just have a water, please, and a chocolate milk." Jackson made a low whooping sound at the mention of chocolate. The waitress's eyes narrowed a little vehemently at me before I flashed a toothy grin. She seemed momentarily awestruck when she realized just who I was.

"Coffee would be nice, dear, if you'd be so kind." Emma's voice reminded me of milk and honey, it was so soft, so gentle.

Once the waitress had pranced off again, Emma knit her fingers together and lowered her head onto the laced digits, her long hair sweeping further down her shoulder. "Well now, how old are you?" She poised the question at Jackson who had previously been sneaking glances around the restaurant.

A blush stained his cheeks when he realized someone had spoken to him. Jackson lifted his hand and pushed his hair out of his face and smiled my smile. "I'm five, but really five-and-a-half, my birthday is coming soon."

I grinned, raising my arm to comb my fingers through his silky hair. "Four months does not mean you get to add a 'half' onto that." My tone was bantering and he pivoted on his chair to make a face at me.

For a second, I swear I had a little glimpse of the future when he made that expression: Jackson as a teenager, his shaggy hair more disarrayed, more rebellious, his green eyes larger, his face abandoned by most of his baby fat. "Mom!" He hissed, "You're embarrassing me!"

"It's closer than your birthday!" Jack shot back, a large smirk on his face as if he truly believed he had backed me into a corner.

I dramatically tossed my hair out of my eyes and hoisted my chin up. "I don't know what you're talking about – I stopped aging at seventeen." Jackson giggled and swatted my hand away from his hair.

When Emma chuckled I was reminded that we were in public and that Jasper's mother had seen that whole display.

Then John snorted and Jasper's fingers dug into my thigh a little deeper and the moment was simultaneously crushed. I slid my hand down my side, curling my fingers around his.

"So Miss Cullen, what is it that you do?" John asked tersely. It seemed strange that he would ask me such a thing, if Jasper really had been talking to his family about us. Then again, I suppose John really wasn't part of his family at all.

"I'm a designer." I spouted confidently, I loved telling people about my work. His glare seemed to intensify when I mentioned this however, which immediately irritated me. I realized in that second that this man could not be pleased.

"Artist, really," Jasper murmured. His tone had softened notably, that rich lilt in his voice made my heart beat quicken. "You should see her sketch books."

Emma pursed her lips at me and winked, "Sounds glamorous." She said thoughtfully. "You travel then?"

Jackson scoffed a little at her question, "Travels too much." He snapped grumpily. It had been over a year since my last trip, and I had only gone to Rio for two weeks – yielding to Rosalie's demands for a getaway.

I nodded slowly despite myself.

Emma sighed, "Sure sounds nice. This was the first time I've been on a plane since–" She cut herself off abruptly, clearing her throat and taking a deep breath. "It's been a while." Emma amended. I pretended not to notice how both Jasper and John grimaced.

In the tangible silence that curled between us, I slouched in my chair. My eyes flickered between John and Jasper. There was a divide between them I was certain nothing on this planet could breach. It was like smoke, whatever it was, swishing about between them and slurping away relentlessly at the oxygen in the room.

As I inhaled my chest felt tight, a thick and hard lump began to ball up within my throat. I couldn't see it – for a moment I wondered if it was simply my imagination – but something was definitely stirring in the air between them.

I bit my lip, gripping Jasper's fingers a little tighter. It was there too, in his hand, as if this devastating mist of hatred was emitting from his pores. Jasper glanced at me from the corner of his eyes, a swift flash of sapphire eyes that just as quickly darted away. His expression did not change, but the glimmer in his eyes beneath the restaurant lights reminded me of a child who had been caught deliberately doing something wrong.

Jasper released my leg gradually, then my hand as well. "Pardon my discourtesy. I'll be right back." He rose stiffly, pushing his chair back into place before striding off towards the exit.

I returned my hand to my lap, breathing the way I was taught in yoga so that Emma and John would not realize how thirsty for air I was. As Jasper left, so did the awful weight on my chest. I took a sip of my water in an attempt to satiate the tremendous burning sensation at the back of my throat. Though even as I swallowed, the flame grew, the thirst became stronger.

"I'm going too!" Jackson announced, skittering off his chair before I could nab him. My heart launched straight into my throat as I struggled to stand, peering anxiously over my shoulder. Jackson bounded through the restaurant, clumsily chasing after Jasper.

"Typical." John muttered, slapping his palm on the tabletop.

Emma gave his shoulder a swat. "That'll be all John!" She hissed, her face flushed with embarrassment.

I sighed, "I'm so happy to finally meet you." I was being honest. Ever since Jasper had told me about all that had happened – with Rose, with that god-awful Maria, and with his father, I had wanted to meet his family.

Talking helped me ignore the pain, I could relax and breathe.

"Jasper's sensitive," Emma murmured, she sounded nostalgic. "Some atmospheres are just too hard on him." She explained, confirming all my prior suspicions. Maybe Jazzy really did have superpowers after all.

"I wanted to thank you Miss Cullen." She said with a sudden determination, stretching her hand across the table in askance for my own. Without hesitation I tangled my hand with hers and grinned confusedly. Emma laughed. "After everything...he deserves this. I guess I mean: thank you, for loving my son."

"Tolerating is what ya mean." John spat, his frown deepening as his eyebrows began to press together, ugly furrowed lines sunk on his forehead. "You put on a show, I'll give ya that much – but there's a boy that only a mother can love." John jabbed his index finger at Jasper's chair. "Just one screw up after the next, since he was born!"

He didn't shout, and that seemed even more terrifying to me. Unconsciously I clutched onto Emma's fingers. How could someone say that – how could someone say that about Jasper?

I thought there couldn't be anyone other than Daisy Reid I wanted to tear apart. However, this disgusting man...

Emma opened her mouth to say something, she looked about ready to scream at him when the waitress returned with our drinks. One second she was clenching her fist, her face beat red, her eyes blazing – the next she was smiling serenely, stroking the back of my hand with her thumb and thanking the waitress.

It was like the flick of a switch!

John jerked back in his chair the minute the waitress was out of sight, he bellowed unintelligible words at Emma before he stomped off. I stared after him, utterly bewildered by what had occurred.

Emma dragged her hand away from mine, cupping her face in her hands. "We're not like this!" She choked, "I promise you we're not."

I sat back in my chair, watching her and praying Jasper would come back as soon as possible.

Fifteen minutes later I had downed my entire glass of water, the prefect squares of ice beginning to melt into one another. "I really do." I whispered to Emma once she had lifted her head. Her eyes were bloodshot, her skin had become pale and had shrunk against her bones. "Jasper is the only person I could ever imagine being with."

"Alice, my princess!"

I started in my chair. There was only one person in this world who ever called me that.

"Emerald?" Emma and I said in synchronization, both turning to gawk at the man.

Rosalie's father was a towering man. He had always seemed like a giant to me, though looking now I realized he was the same height as Jasper. With hair like spun gold, elegant little twists swept back in a windblown matter, the streaks of grey around his temples blended flawlessly.

I always teased Rosalie about how her father should have been a model – the face this man had could almost rival Carlisle regardless of their nine year age difference. He had a strong jaw, chiselled perfectly like stone, his sensual smirk of a smile parted his bow-like, scarlet lips. A sporty pair of black sunglasses sat perfectly on the bridge of his nose, hiding his large azure eyes.

His body was constructed like an athlete, even at the age of fifty-six. I always imagined Emerald Hale could do anything someone my age could – and two times better.

Emerald donned a grey suit, a white blouse worn beneath and a cerulean tie fastened right to his throat. The broad expanses of his chest and shoulders were well accentuated by the garment, he looked almost too fabulous for the restaurant.

He extended his hand to me, with a smile I accepted his grasp and rolled my eyes when he leaned downward to kiss my fingers. "You look exquisite, as always." Emerald murmured, waltzing around the table to occupy John's seat and sweep his fingers across Emma's cheeks, erasing her tears. "I'm terribly sorry I'm late, darling. Jasper caught me in a rather taxing meeting, not to mention the traffic was disastrous."

Jasper sat beside me again, his posture not so unlike how it had been. He seemed able to breathe now, a smile spread crookedly on his face. Jackson chattered his teeth when he sat on my other side, he looked at me riddled with genuine concern. "I think it might snow again, it was cold outside."

"We'll have to get your winter coat back out then, sweetie." I sighed, secretly hoping that the weather was getting worse, Jasper's plane couldn't take off in a snow storm. Even still, the thought of snow made my nose wrinkle, not to mention that these shoes were not exactly equipped for a chill.

Listlessly I lifted my hand to my throat, the sensation was gone. It was hard to believe such a terrible ache could be soothed so simply. I peered up at Jasper. "Feeling better?" I asked, elbowing him in the ribs. His hand shot out at me, grasping my forearm just below the joint of my elbow.

Jasper tilted his head at me so that the wispy curls of his hair fell over the side of his face. "You noticed that, did you?" He said teasingly, releasing my arm gently.

"You know," Began Emerald Hale, removing his sunglasses to fold them neatly on the table. He swung his arm behind Emma's chair, leisurely resting it along the edge behind her shoulders. Jasper's mother blushed. "When Cassandra told me she had seen you two together at Rosalie's engagement party, I was somewhat shocked."

Cassandra. The name made me grimace.

I respected Rosalie's mother, she is a very accomplished woman – though that does not mean I like her.

She is a terribly wicked person. I knew that from the moment I met her. Back in high school, none of us were ever even supposed to mention Mrs. Hale in Rosalie's presence.

The first – and last – time I spent a week at one of Rose's summer houses, was the first time I ever witnessed any form of violence that was not choreographed on television.

Cassandra Hale had specific tastes and imposed them upon her daughter, even to this day. That particular weekend I had whispered to Rosalie that I was going to be an artist one day.

I had been lying on my stomach on Rose's bedroom floor, painting her toenails while watching movies. It was in that instant that a series of events unfolded, and now, even remembering that afternoon I wish I had said nothing. If only I had been able to see the future and known what my confession would have lead to.

Coincidentally, Cassandra had entered the bedroom carrying a tray of snacks for us just as I said it. She chuckled at my divulgence as she rest the tray on Rosalie's desk. I had ignored the insulting laughter despite myself, though Rose did not.

"I want to be an editor." Rosalie had responded in her condescending way, even then in grade nine she had the air of a queen about her. "I want to be an editor for my own magazine."

In a split second it seemed, Cassandra had crossed the room and seized Rosalie by the arm. It was the first time I had ever seen fear in Rose's eyes and it terrified me.

Before I knew it, she had been hauled into the hallway by her wrists. Cassandra had closed the door – or so she believed – and began shaking her daughter in the hallway like a ragdoll. I watched from the crack in the door as she hissed at Rosalie in a whispered shout. Rose made no attempt to cry out or fight back the whole time she was being throttled by her mother. Her blue eyes remained squelched shut, as if that could stop the tears.

No, I do not like Cassandra Hale.

"Mommy?" Jackson's voice penetrated my thoughts and I shook free of the memory too gaze down at him. He lifted his small hand to touch my face, Jackson's fingers traced the curve of my cheek. When he withdrew his hand again, I saw the shine of the tears that he had wiped away.

I cleared my throat. "Sorry!" I gushed, fanning my face as I forced a laugh. "My imagination took off with me."

Both Emma and Jasper looked severely sceptical by my explanation, though neither said anything.

Emerald Hale snorted, "Perhaps you should walk with your drawing books?" He mused with a wide grin that reminded me of his daughter. "Then you could record those fantastic thoughts of yours." I nodded numbly in agreement, grasping my glass to take a sip of melted ice.

Jasper's eyes were hard to ignore, I paid him no heed however, holding my glass tightly as I gulped. I could feel him staring me down, probing for answers I refused to voice aloud.

"That hair does suit you beautifully, Alice." Emerald continued, blowing away the tension between Jasper and I. I settled my glass on the table before me in case I needed to quickly snatch it up again. Gazing up at Jasper's Father I grinned, dragging my fingers through my chaotic locks.

Jasper cocked an eyebrow at me, flickering his eyes towards Emerald quizzically. Jackson cleared his throat and elaborated, "Mommy used to have really, really long hair." In truth, Jackie had never seen me with long hair outside of the photographs Esme insisted upon keeping.

The teeny hairs on the nape of my neck stood up completely on end when Jasper lifted his slender, calloused fingers and swept them across the back of my neck. My face was instantaneously on fire while he grinned harmlessly and twisted my short hair around his fingers.

"You don't say." Jasper said lowly. There was a definite provocative undertone to his voice.

After years of practice – and Emmett's constant attempts to embarrass me – I was able to maintain most of my poise. Regardless, I could see the fidgeting smile on Emma's lips. She peered innocently across the restaurant in order to hide it.

"What happened?" Jasper mused, tugging gently on my tresses. I pulled away from his fingers and pretended I needed to adjust my dress. His smirk widened, a mischievous glint dashed across Jasper's eyes while I evaded him.

Emerald Hale snickered at the memory, rubbing at his chin as he eyed me thoughtfully. "They didn't tell you?" Jasper shook his head in response. A familiar look of nostalgia crossed Emerald's face, I often recognized it on Charlie whenever I visited him. Bella's father could go on for hours about the silly things she had done as a child.

"Well," Emerald started, his voice somewhat shaken with laughter. "Alice and Rosalie utterly despised each other in school. Back then your hair must have been at least to the small of your back, no?" It was a rhetorical question so I quietly nodded, prompting Emerald to continue. "I believe Rose knotted a clump of bubble gum in Alice's hair so deep, my poor Princess had no other choice but to cut it all off."

Jasper smugly snorted to secret his laughter, though I proceeded to punch his shoulder regardless. Jackson's expression dropped, "Aunty Rose did that?" He was incredulous, gawking at me beneath his thick hair.

I sighed slowly, "It wasn't really that terrible." I shrugged my shoulders indifferently, though I couldn't keep from grinning at the recollection. "I did retaliate though: I told Edward." Jackson started to giggle at my idea of revenge. "In the end the three of us were subjected to three weeks detention – that's how she and I became friends. Rosalie drove Edward absolutely insane."

Jasper snorted, "He's not the only one." Emma shot him a dagger-like look and he murmured a quiet apology. Emerald winked at him with a wily expression.

"I think you're pretty anyway," Jackson stated as he stretched his arm out to caress my cheek. I smiled, turning my head to the side to kiss his chubby little palm.

Emerald exhaled softly, "To think Carlisle and I were going to have them engaged." Emerald's face became very pale, his eyes widening as if he had just witnessed an enormous explosion. I blurted a laugh inelegantly, holding my palm over my lips.

Esme had told me that once as well. Carlisle was just very old fashioned, though his intentions were always pure-hearted. That however, would have been a complete nightmare: Edward and Rosalie have never gotten along – locking them in matrimony would be no different than imprisoning two rabid dogs in a pit fight.

"We are lucky that Emmett is a fast runner." I murmured and Emerald chuckled. When Jasper gave me a questioning glance I smirked. "We went camping together before they dated, when Rose still thought Emmett was a dork." I explained quietly, swallowing my desire to snicker.

Jackson gasped, "I remember that story! He got chased by a bear and fell into Aunty Rose's tent, right?" Jackson's eyes were wide with excitement, as if he had been waiting for this conversation to arise the whole evening. "Then they had to spend the whole day together until the bear left."

I shook my head, "Not the whole day, baby."

Rosalie always says it felt as if she had been trapped in there with Emmett forever. Really, it was a mere twenty minutes before the bear wandered off again. It's funny how little time it takes to fall in love. For months after that accident Emmett was hell-bent on marrying Rosalie – 'dating is just a filler Alice, I don't need it!' he had said, glaring at me when I refused to hook them up.

"To think," Emma spoke up suddenly, her eyes somewhat glossy when they swept from Jasper to me. "If you hadn't enlisted we could have moved here Jasper, you two would have gone to school together." Emma's words were harmless though Jasper's expression became rock hard as if she had said something to truly offend him. I swallowed the lump rising in my throat, pretending that I'd been distracted by something across the restaurant.

Emerald grunted disapprovingly. "No. Rosalie would have lost her mind." He said flatly. Emerald smiled sadistically suddenly. "Not to mention Jazz was quite the philanderer back in the day, suppose those chivalry lessons didn't exactly stick after puberty." Jasper's face shot at least four varying shades of solid crimson. His gleaming eyes widened while his Father smirked and pulled his long fingers through his delicate locks. Emma scoffed and swatted Jasper's father on the shoulder.

Once again Emerald soothed the tension, though at the cost of Jasper's composure. I reached up and pinched his reddened cheek and giggled. "Oh, you don't say?" I purred deviously while Jasper drew away from my fingers and frowned at me as if to say "don't encourage him," I smirked victoriously at this sudden nervous look in his eyes. "There has to be stories, no?" I cocked an eyebrow at Emerald whose expression had become smug.

Jasper stammered, "H-h-high school isn't that important." His voice faltered significantly with embarrassment and he shook his head at his Father pleadingly. "That was a long, long time ago."

"Hey, maybe for you!" I scowled, "I'm not that old!" Jackson laughed at our bickering. The abrupt flash that shot across Jasper's eyes made me feel as though I had just aided him in gaining ground over me.

He swung an arm behind my chair, easily pulling it against his own with a conniving grin. With that same hand he violently ravaged my hair with his fingers. "Indeed, sometimes I forget how young you are in some ways." Jasper admitted, "Especially since you're half my height, it's just difficult to see you as an adult. Not that sleeping 'till two in the afternoon and eating ice cream for breakfast helps your case at all."

My jaw dropped. No way did he go there! I balled my hand into a fist and waved it in the small gap between us. The way I see it, I'm actually the right height and everyone else is just abnormally tall.

Jackson snickered. "And that one time you couldn't go on the rollercoaster because you were too small." Jasper laughed outright and Jackson hid behind his hands when I turned and gawked at him. His big green eyes peeped from between his small fingers, a toothy smile emerging as he ducked away from me. Jasper had my own son turning against me? What kind of backwards, nonsensical world is this?

"It was one time and you weren't even supposed to know about it!" I growled, struggling to keep a blazing heat from rising to my face. I stopped going to amusement parks after that trip, Emmett and Edward giggle – literally giggle like school girls – whenever someone brings it up. Besides, I got on the ride after I explained in thorough detail exactly who the rollercoaster instructor was dealing with.

I liked to see Jasper this way, it was a drastic difference now that Emerald was here. Evidently, whatever friction laid between him and Rosalie did not tarnish his relationship with their father. It seemed strange however, seeing Emerald Hale in a not-exactly-exquisite restaurant in the middle of Forks. The times I saw Rosalie's father was always brief, though he is not cruel like Cassandra, he rarely ever has free time. He wasn't even at Rosalie's graduation ceremonies. This must have been very important to Jasper if Emerald had even bothered to stop by.

We sat for hours, Jackson and I shared a plate of French fries and chicken-fingers despite the fact that this was supposed to be an extravagant evening. I wasn't hungry at all, too absorbed in the way Jasper interacted with his parents – real parents – it wasn't at all how Rosalie made it seem. As much as she disapproved of Emerald and Emma's union, they were far from the dysfunctional family of my imagination.

"Speaking of Cassandra," Emerald murmured, his arm rested comfortably around Emma's shoulders, his free hand fiddling with his designer sunglasses. He pursed plump red lips thoughtfully before continuing, as if he might change his mind. He had been telling us about the shoes he had bought her in Venice, and though Jackson and Jasper effectively tuned him out by gearing up their own conversation, I had actually been listening.

"You should know, Jasper, Maria has been in Forks." Emerald sighed at the end of his confession, as if the mere mention of her had drained him. I stifled my urge to growl, darting my eyes away to glower at the flirty waitress that had served us.

From the corner of my eye I saw Emma squeeze Emerald's hand reproachfully. "It's not necessary to bring that up here." Emerald frowned deeply, withdrawing his hand from hers to press back the locks of his golden mane.

Jasper's breath hitched audibly, when I risked a peek over at him I noticed how his eyes momentarily flickered down towards Jackson. "I know she's here. I've known for some time. We've..." He ground his teeth together irately. "We've run into each other."

Emerald hummed to himself rather than responding, his eyes pensively rolling towards me. I tried not to be noticeably annoyed by the topic change. The last thing I wanted to discuss before Jasper's last day was his witch of an ex-girlfriend. The fact that she was here, in Forks, near us set me on edge.

I'm generally not a violent person, honestly, that's just not the way Esme and Carlisle raised us. But the fact that Jasper had bumped into her and he hadn't told me, almost made me sick to my stomach with outrage.

Jackson picked absently at his fries. His big eyes moved slowly around the table as if he were sitting just below the billowing smog of tension, completely unfazed by the dark cloud.

Jasper moved a reluctant hand to my thigh, his thumb stroking circles into my dress. I wanted to pull away, but the small voice in the back of my head reminding me that he would soon be gone held me in place.

"Cassandra called her just after the engagement party. I didn't think anything of it until I found out you had been staying with Alice." Emerald spoke softly, as if Jasper might flutter away like a butterfly at the utterance of a wrong word.

Jasper looked sickly, like he had a few months ago when he had lain in my lap all night. He had told me he wasn't feeling well, but I was starting to wonder otherwise. If he had a run in with Maria perhaps it had been that weekend and that was the true reason behind it all.

A thick, heavy knot settled in my stomach like a giant bowling ball. I winced under the pressure of the coil, carefully pulling my leg out from under Jasper's palm and delicately turning a fraction away. I could feel his eyes boring into me and struggled to stay silent.

I wanted to know what went on between them. Had she said something to him? Had she hurt him? Jasper is no child, and I shouldn't treat him as such, but I love him – can I really be wrong to worry about this?

"I haven't seen her since." Jasper said sternly, more to me than to his father. I exhaled slowly, reaching across the table to collect my water. I sipped quietly at the melting ice cubes, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone. "She made her mark though." He confessed in a whisper, gradually ceasing his steadfast stare.

Part of me was frustrated that I had no idea who this Maria woman was. I wanted to confront her, to put her in her place. She might have been part of his life somewhere in the past, but what she did to Jasper was completely unacceptable. Maria needed to know she couldn't hurt him anymore – not while Jasper was with me.

If Jasper can protect Jackie and me from Tristan, the least I could do was return the favour. But where could I start? There were certainly countless Maria's in Forks, and although I could utilize my connection with the police department, I wanted to hunt her down myself.

God Alice, you sound like an animal! I thought to myself, blushing a little at the realization. I didn't just desire to challenge Maria, I wanted to sink my teeth into her!

"I'm sure she's gone." Emma spoke hopefully to appease the burning hatred that had permeated the air. "There really isn't much to do around here." She laughed faintly, smiling an optimistic grin that flashed her pearly teeth.

Jasper clenched his jaw, the click of his teeth made me flinch in my chair. "Yes." He agreed. "She doesn't waste excess time when the job's already finished." His voice was bitter, hostile.

"Well, I just wanted to make sure you knew." Emerald sighed, "I'm sorry I couldn't warn you sooner."

Jasper shook off the comment with a nod, his blond tresses bouncing resiliently around his handsome features. I continued to lap at my ice cubes, suckling enduringly at my water.

We eventually were forced to part ways when the restaurant began to close down. Jackson drowsily clung to my side as we said our goodbyes. The way the conversation had ended made leaving somewhat a relief, even if I didn't want Emma and Emerald to go.

Emma kissed Jasper on his cheeks multiple times before Emerald finally peeled her away from him. Her hands clasped before her, she leaned down to kiss my forehead before she smiled and slipped away.

"I wish you well, my Princess." Emerald smiled as he departed, blowing me a kiss as he put on his sunglasses. He looked far too glamorous as he and Emma were welcomed into the stretched confines of his limousine. I waved and laughed, though both felt significantly phonier than I would have liked.

I hesitantly ducked into the Mercedes, wishing there was a way I could avoid being alone with Jasper for the ride home. Jackson sleepily sprawled across the backseat, his fingers tapping lethargically on his cast as he stared at the ceiling of the car.

Jasper was speechless, his eyes firmly locked on the road ahead. I was certain he was aware of how he could choke the very oxygen out of a space simply with his will power; yet he proceeded to exert his force without regard.

When we finally arrived at my apartment building, I hurried to get out of the car. I knew by the blackness of the glare he shot me that I had not concealed my impatience well.

Jackson garbled to me about the number of chicken fingers he ate when we reached our floor. I carried him to his room and laughed breathily when he told me he never wanted to eat chicken again. He undressed without much thought, pulling the dress clothes away from his body and pulling on his camouflage flannel pyjamas. I watched with a faint smile as he collapsed atop the sheets, he writhed beneath his duvet like a worm when I tried to tuck him in. Pico curled into Jackson's side with a high pitched yawn, his little brown-and-black head buried into the bedding.

I dreaded going into the bedroom, I almost snuck down to the living room to sleep on the couch. Don't be a coward, I thought to myself decisively, striding into my room and gently closing my door behind me.

Jasper didn't have the right to be angry with me, in fact, his anger was completely unjustified. My rage however, was completely vindicated – I deserved more than anyone to know about his impromptu meeting with Maria.

"You should have told me." I immediately went for his throat with my opening line. Jasper sat on the foot of my bed, his uniform unbuttoned, his tie hanging limply around his neck. He fisted the sheets and stared fixatedly down at the carpet while I spoke. "Why don't you tell me anything? You can trust me Jasper. What if she had come here? What if I'd been the one she met up with?"

His expression blanked for a moment, Jasper peered up at me and shook his head. "She...she did meet you, Alice, she told me." Jasper appeared genuinely concerned, his hands releasing the sheets to clutch at his hair. "But you didn't see her. This is terrible. How can I...I can't leave you unprotected, I–"

I interrupted his frantic babbling with my hands, resting my palms smoothly on the crisp material of his uniform. "I'm not afraid of Maria." I declared with confidence, and it was the truth – in fact I wanted to meet her. I hope she's seen me, as creepy as that is, I hope she knew exactly who I was and how to find me again.

We had a lot to catch up on, Maria and I.

"You should be." Jasper whispered, his gorgeous blue eyes wide with genuine fear. "You should be." He repeated on a shaky exhale, "I'm afraid of her, Alice. I can't lose you, not because of her."

I made a face. So that's why he kept it a secret.

"Nothing's going to take me from you, Jazzy." I promised, lowering myself into his lap. "I was scared that she hurt you, that she said something to you."

Jasper stiffly wrapped his arms around me, his breaths low and heavy as he rested his chin atop my head. "Maria knows me, Alice, she knows what I really am. I'd never let her do anything to you, but I never want you to see that side of me either."

I coiled my arms around his shoulders tightly. My face tucked into the crook of Jasper's neck, I inhaled deeply and sighed. "Jasper you know I don't care about any of that," I tried not to let the frustration seep into my words. "It doesn't matter, I only want you, every side of you."

After all this time, after everything we've been through, he still thinks of himself as a monster? As Jasper held me closer I frowned to myself. Jasper is so far from being any kind of bad, and still he was the only one who couldn't see that.

Then again, after living with John, and then worse, Maria...could I really blame him?

Sitting there, like that Jasper and I fell asleep in perhaps one of the most uncomfortable positions of all time. Somehow though, it made perfect sense to wake up and face our last day together in pain.