Chapter Thirty Five

Jasper

Adam was having the time of his life, he was a real water baby and we spent our days swimming, fishing, and canoeing. Personally, I'd never seen the appeal of boats but I was happy to make the effort for my son, just to see him smile after everything that had happened. Peter joined us the after spending a few fruitless days hunting for Jade. She had just disappeared and I wondered if she was waiting for an opportunity to carry out Caius plans but until we could find her we had no way of knowing.

I think playing with Adam helped him unwind too especially when they decided to have a water fight which culminated in Peter falling into the water screaming that he was drowning and flailing around until Adam begged me to save him. As I pulled his ass out of the water I hissed in his ear,

"Next time I leave you to drown"

Then he and Adam decided it would be fun to have a tug of war between the canoes and Adam chose to sit in Peter's while Rose, who'd arrived with fresh supplies for Adam offered to referee.

"I felt like the odd man out at home, with Carlisle in Rome and Emmett and Kerri are wrapped up with the baby so I decided to come visit my favorite nephew."

He giggled,

"I'm your only nephew Nana Rose."

Adam had decided that as Rose was going to marry Grandpa she had to be his Nana now and she didn't seem to mind. In fact, I think she felt it gave her extra privileges with him.

I tried and could probably have won, but I enjoyed Adam's gleeful shout when he and Peter dragged my canoe over the line.

While he ate his sandwiches telling Rose, between mouthfuls, what he'd been doing, Peter and I talked about Bella's trip.

"She'll be fine Major, stop worrying, you're driving me fucking mad with all this. Just enjoy the time with Adam, that's what it's all about."

I knew he was right but I couldn't help it, being away from Bella made my chest ache, I missed her so much.

Peter

I couldn't imagine vampires getting ulcers but the Major was trying really hard and his worrying was driving me absolutely nuts. I had great faith in Bella's persuasive abilities and there was fuck all we could do about it in any case. Adam was enjoying himself and having his dad's full attention gave him a chance to really bond. He had been a bit reserved after what Mae had told him about The Major but after a few hours he'd forgotten all about it and he and his dad were rolling around play fighting. We played hide and seek too although I never quite got the hang of that one, why would you bother to try and hide from someone who could hear you and feel your emotions in order to pinpoint you? Still, Adam was giggling so it must be fun for him. I have to hold my hands up and admit I'd never imagined the Major with a kid in tow, but he was a natural.

Jasper

Adam and I had finally gotten over the awkwardness and when Rose had gone back home he and I built a bonfire and Peter showed him how to toast marshmallows in the flames. They looked like burnt wood to me but Adam enjoyed them and he even got Peter to try one. The resulting choking act had Adam in stitches, my friend was a natural around kids but then in many ways, he was still one himself.

Adam and I had erected a pup tent for him and he had a night light and sleeping bag but he insisted on dragging it out by the fire so he could sleep beside me and as he snored quietly Peter and I sat and reminisced, then tried guessing what Caius might try next.

Peter started talking about our shared past while I sat cross-legged thinking of all the times I'd sat like this while I was Maria's Major out on a mission. I hated to remember those times now, not because I was ashamed of what I'd done because it was all I knew at the time but because I was tired of fighting constantly for every damn thing, all I wanted was some peace with my beautiful wife and perfect little boy.

Adam

I know Daddy and Uncle Peter thought I was asleep but really I wanted to sleep with the grown-ups so I pretended to snore like Peter did when he pretended to be asleep so I could listen to the things they were talking about. It was fun to listen to Uncle Peter talk about the old days when they had bonfires and sat around talking about missions they had but then it got scary. He started talking about villages they'd burned and people they'd killed including a woman that caused all the trouble with the bad man called Caius. How someone called Maria would take daddy to her room at night. I decided I didn't want to hear anymore but I couldn't go to sleep and if I moved to cover my ears daddy and Uncle Peter would know I'd been listening and I'd get in trouble then.

Jasper

I only realized Adam was awake when he stopped snoring and his heartbeat increased rapidly but by then it was too late, he'd heard so much and I had no idea what to do.

"Peter shut it now"

He looked up and saw my eyes move to Adam.

"Fuck! I'm so sorry Major I thought he was asleep."

I motioned for him to leave while I tried to sort this mess out and once we were alone I touched Adam on the shoulder.

"I know you're awake son and I need to talk to you about what you heard."

He sat up wide-eyed holding the sleeping bag close round him and looked across the fire to where Peter had sat and when he spoke his voice trembled,

"Where's Uncle Peter?"

"He went for a walk so you and I can talk on our own".

He moved away from my side and turned to look at me,

"Is it true what Uncle Peter said?"

I nodded,

"Yes, Adam but you weren't supposed to hear it like that. I told you I was a bad man a long time ago, I'm not that man any longer."

"But you killed people Daddy."

What a mess!

"Yes Adam I did, when I was changed by Maria remember I told you?"

"That's the lady Uncle Peter said you went to bed with?"

"Yes Adam, but it was a long time ago before Mummy and I met. Maria was a very bad lady and she taught me to do really bad things and because I didn't have someone like Mummy or Grandpa to tell me they were wrong I did them. Then I got very unhappy and very scared and I ran away with Uncle Peter and Auntie Charlotte. I found Grandpa and his family and they showed me how to be a good person. Can you understand that Adam? That daddy was bad but now he's good"

My son looked at me as if I were a monster and I died a little inside as he continued to question me.

"Have you killed anybody since you met Mummy?"

"Yes, to save mummy I did,"

"Would you kill anybody I know?"

I stretched out my hand to him,

"Only if they threatened you or Mummy and I'd never hurt either of you".

I thought he was going to run away when he hesitated, wriggled out of the sleeping bag, and stood up but then he took a step forward and ran into my arms.

"I'm scared daddy, when is mommy coming back?"

"Mummy will be back soon and if not I'll go get her."

He clung to my neck struggling to speak through sobs that racked his little frame,

"No daddy, if you go I'll lose both of you and you can't leave me alone"

Despite all he'd heard about me, my son still clung to me, still loved me and trusted me to keep him safe.

"Don't worry Adam, I won't leave you and Mummy will be back soon I promise you."

I took Adam back to the house the next morning and Peter looking sheepish came over to speak to us. He apologized to Adam and tried to make light of what he'd said but I told him Adam and I had a long talk and it was all sorted out. When Emmett came out Adam rushed over to tell him about our adventures, Kerri was keeping a low profile around me which was just as well, I'd invited them back but I didn't have to like her being here so close to my son after what she'd done. Peter took the opportunity to apologize again in private but it was too late, the damage had been done but I knew it hadn't been done on purpose so I told him to forget it. I just wanted Bella back, I wanted her back and I wanted to get away from this place. I needed to escape from my past and that meant escaping from Peter and Charlotte too. My family was the most important thing in my life and I wouldn't jeopardize it again for anything.

That evening Peter and Emmett built a bonfire supervised by Adam and we all had to try the roasted marshmallows, something of an ordeal but he enjoyed the looks of disgust everyone vied with each other to make the silliest. Adam being final arbiter proclaimed Rose the winner but I think he was biased, she'd promised to take him on a bike ride the next day. She knew that I needed time on my own, I was crazy with worry now, I'd expected to hear from Bella before this and I just knew something was wrong.

Carlisle

Waiting for Bella's return was the most agonizing thing I'd ever done. I knew she was safe from the Volturi gifts but she was still in danger. If Aro decided to back Caius then there was nothing more any of us could do, he wouldn't stop until Jasper and his family were dead and the rest of us along with them, to stop any revenge attack. I hadn't rung home because I had nothing constructive to tell Jasper but then he rang me.

Without Bella he was a wreck, she was his mate and to be separated from your mate was the most painful thing one of our kind could experience. I had done what I could to pass the time, visited a few museums and bookstores and now I just wanted to get home to Rose who was also suffering in my absence although she hid it as best she could behind funny stories of Adam's camping trip and the roasted marshmallow he had forced her to taste.

"I promise when I get back you will have that wedding my love."

"As long as you and Bella come home safe I don't care Carlisle. I love you and I miss you like crazy."

"I miss you too sweetheart. By the way, how are things between Jasper and Kerri?"

"Tense, but she keeps out of his way. I hope he'll forgive her eventually, at least he allowed them back here where we can protect Katee."

I wasn't as sure as Rose, Jasper wasn't the forgiving type when it came to danger to his family but strange things had happened recently so there was always hope.