Chapter Forty
Jasper
Peter was a problem, but then I knew he would be. While he hated and despised the Volturi and the Cullens in equal measure his sense of loyalty to me meant he wanted to be there at my shoulder in any dangerous endeavour.
It would only have made matters worse to point out that I would have Darius close by so I just told him that this mission called for diplomacy. Something for which he had absolutely no talent.
"We'll be fine. The Volturi isn't going to start a war over one child. Especially one they know hardly anything about and will never know very much about. Carlisle is Aro's friend, he'll smooth any ruffled feathers and we'll be back soon. Anyhow, I want you and Charlotte to finish getting the house ready. It's time Megan had a forever home, Bella too."
He swore and stomped about but finally agreed, provided I kept in touch.
"Anything doesn't feel right you call me Major. Right away."
"Peter, if there was anything to worry about your radar would already be going crazy and you haven't felt a thing, have you?"
He shook his head begrudgingly.
"I guess so but don't rely on the fucking computer nerd to watch your back."
"You know I always watch my own back when you aren't there and I have Bella with me. I'm not headed into a war zone."
He shrugged and stalked off muttering to himself. There would be some feathers here to be smoothed later, but for now, I left him in Charlotte's care. She was the only one who could corral him when he got the bit between his teeth, and I had others to concern myself with.
We flew up to Boston this time which was a great thrill for Megan who had never been on a plane and who spent the flight staring out the window and talking incessantly. Bella finally got her to sit down and watch a cartoon much to the relief of the other passengers, although most seemed amused rather than annoyed by her excitement. I guess most of us were so used to flying that it had become mundane and boring. Sometimes when I watched Megan or bathed in her childlike wonder at the most ordinary of things I wished I could remember back far enough to recapture some of my own sense of innocence.
Carlisle and Esme met us at the airport after Darius slipped off to rent a car and find a good vantage point to watch activities at the house while remaining unobserved. We didn't tell them that Darius was with us and with the scent of Peter and Charlotte strong on our clothing they found themselves submerged in strange vampire scents.
Megan held onto Bella's hand as we introduced her to her grandparents but her shyness was soon replaced by curiosity and being Megan she wasn't backwards in questioning them about everything that had concerned her.
"I know you thought that I might hurt mommy or be something strange when I was born but see, I'm not. I'm just a little girl."
Esme and Carlisle exchanged a tense glance.
"Yes. We were wrong Megan and we are sorry. We've already apologized to Bella. We were prejudiced by the things we had heard."
Megan nodded sagely, "But I'm special. Daddy said there aren't many like me and they're all different."
"That's true. We'd like to get to know you and be a part of your family. Do you think you can forgive us and allow us a second chance?"
Megan didn't take long to decide, just as I knew she would and she smiled.
"Daddy told me that when people make mistakes we have to give them a second chance, that's only fair."
Esme sighed with relief and crouched down to Megan's level.
"Your daddy is a very wise man Megan, and we are very lucky to have you. As you have decided to be friends I should tell you that we have remodelled a room especially for you to use while you're here. I hope you like it, we weren't sure what you liked so maybe when we get home you should take a look, then if there's anything you don't like, then we can make a few changes. Do you like pink?"
Megan nodded, "It's my favorite color along with purple."
"Oh good. And what about unicorns and fairies?"
Megan screwed up her nose, "Not fairies, but I like animals. I have a painting of daddy's horse in my room at Uncle Peter's and he bought me a pony to ride."
"I see. Well, I'm afraid we don't have any horses or ponies but unicorns are almost the same, aren't they?"
"Sure, they just have a golden horn which is magic. I know a story about a magical unicorn."
"You must tell me the story sometime. So, let's get home so you can tell us what you think."
Megan nodded and climbed into the back of the car with Bella and myself looking around curiously as Carlisle drove out of Boston to their house in the outskirts. It was modern like the house in Forks although this one had smaller grounds and no forest bordering it, just a large orchard.
"It's huge."
Esme smiled, "Don't worry, you'll soon find your way around. Would you like a snack? Then we'll see your room."
Megan glanced at Bella who nodded and the two went off together, Megan taking Esme's hand after a slight hesitation and I felt the joy bursting in Esme's body as the two disappeared. Then Bella turned to our host.
"I hope you haven't spent the earth on Megan, she's got quite enough as it is."
Carlisle lifted an eyebrow in astonishment.
"My dear Bella, you have given us the greatest gift of all, a granddaughter. Did you imagine for a moment that Esme wasn't going to spoil her?"
Bella rolled her eyes but shrugged.
"I guess I never really thought about it. I'm just glad that things are right between us all again."
"Oh, so are we, so are we."
Carlisle ushered us into his study,
"Come in. Esme thought we could talk more freely without Megan listening in."
"Thank you, Carlisle."
"You know you've made Esme's life complete, giving her a granddaughter. We both know you could easily have shut the door on us and we are grateful that you didn't."
Bella shook her head, "Consider the matter closed. Have you told the others?"
He laughed, "About ten minutes after you left us. Esme was on the phone like her life depended on it. Rose wanted to fly straight back but we persuaded her to give it a few weeks. I'm not sure how long I can hold them off though. Emmett's as excited as his wife to see Megan. They desperately want to apologize to you too, Bella."
"It's not necessary, it's all water under the bridge Carlisle, please tell them that."
"I will, but for now I guess we should concentrate on Aro. He called me yesterday to confirm he'll be with us tomorrow afternoon and to tell me that he would only be bringing one person with him so as not to appear overwhelming to Megan or yourselves."
"It seems he is bending over backwards to accommodate us."
Carlisle turned to me.
"Please don't sound so sceptical, Jasper. I told you before, Aro isn't an unreasonable man. He was much more forceful and demanding centuries ago but he's mellowed. At that time he needed to be both forceful and ruthless to hold the vampire world together and keep it safe. I dread to think what might have happened if the Romanians had remained in control. I think our kind would have been hunted to extinction like the children of the moon."
"You have a certain admiration for Aro Volturi don't you, Carlisle?"
"Yes, because despite everything he was forced to do in the past he has retained some humanity and culture. Many a weaker man would have become a mindless power-hungry savage."
"So, you don't think we have anything to fear from the Volturi?"
"No. I think Aro merely wants to put his own mind at rest that Megan is nothing like an Immortal child and it's easy to see that nothing could be further from the truth. You've done a wonderful job of bringing her up Jasper, I'm just sorry that it was necessary."
He glanced at Bella's finger and smiled, "What an unusual ring. Can I take it that a wedding is in the offing? Please tell me that Alice isn't involved this time. I don't think I could bear to see you look so hunted a second time. You know she and Garrett tied the knot in Las Vegas a week ago?"
Bella stared at him and I have to admit I thought I must have misheard,
"Sorry? Alice married? In Vegas?"
He laughed at my stunned expression.
"I know. We were astounded too, but it seems she wanted something different. How different we still have to discover, all she would say was that it wasn't in an Elvis wedding chapel."
"Wow! I guess she got the divorce papers then?"
"I don't think she cared. After all, who is going to accuse her of bigamy?"
"Maybe Garrett thinks he can get out of it later. Good luck with that."
Carlisle grinned at me.
"You both look very different these days, better. Happier."
"Thanks. Did Esme tell Alice about Megan?"
"Yes, but she waited until they arrived on Isle Esme for their honeymoon and made sure the supply boat wouldn't be back for a month and the speedboat is on the mainland for servicing and minor repairs. That should give you some breathing space."
When Megan and Esme returned I could see that the new bedroom had been a hit. Megan ran to us beaming.
"Mommy, I've got a pink Ipad and TV in my room and lots of books in a white bookcase. I can sit on the window seat and read. My window looks out on the garden and nanna and grandpa have a swing out there especially for me. Come look. Can I show mommy?"
Esme laughed, "Go ahead, sweetheart."
Bella found herself dragged from the room while I shot Esme a questioning glance.
"Jasper, don't. I'm having the time of my life and no one is going to spoil it for me. Megan is a wonderful little girl and you made sure she wouldn't hold a grudge so we owe you our gratitude."
"I was thinking of Megan. She had no one except me and one day Bella. It seemed a shame to turn her against the family she should have and I knew once you saw her you would fall in love with her. I was as prejudiced as the rest of you, I just got to make amends that much sooner."
I was given the grand tour a little later and had to admit it was every little girl's dream bedroom but not over the top and frilly as it could easily have been. The books especially were a good selection of children's storybooks and slightly older reference books plus a few antique editions from Carlisle's own private collection. A first edition Winnie the Pooh and a full set of encyclopedias. They were merely acknowledging how special a child Megan really was.
In one corner stood the only reminder of her biological father. An electric organ complete with musical scores. Seeing my gaze Carlisle's smile became a shadow of its former glory.
"I hoped you and Bella wouldn't mind. I thought that Megan might have inherited Edward's love of music and it has a self-playing program. If not, well, it doesn't matter."
He hesitated then added, " I can remove it if you prefer."
I shook my head, "No, leave it. A love of music isn't a problem. Let's hope that's all she inherited from her biological father."
He didn't argue the point, he had given up on Edward before his son's death and as far as I was concerned the matter of Megan's real father was now closed.
After Megan finished her dinner, we went for a walk to the nearby park and I was amused to see Carlisle not only pushing Megan on the swing to her yells of "Higher, Grandpa, higher." He even had a go himself with Megan pushing him manfully.
Esme stood watching an amused smile warming her expression.
"This has taken years off Carlisle. I was so worried about him before we got your call. I was afraid I was going to lose him and Carlisle has always been our rock."
Bella grinned, "Well, he's going into his second childhood now, look."
Esme rolled her eyes, laughing to watch Carlisle fly along the zip wire with Megan perched on his back like a little monkey whooping with delight.
By bedtime, Megan was so wound up that I had to use my gift to nudge her to sleep after two bedtime stories failed.
It was only the next morning that she remembered she was about to meet the ruler of the Volturi, but she seemed more interested than concerned unlike Bella who was so wound up that I was forced to use my gift once more, just enough to take the edge off.
Megan and Bella went outside with Esme to clear the snow from the drive with the snowblower which had become yet another exciting if extremely expensive toy while Carlisle and I talked about what had happened to Edward and I was relieved to discover that he backed what we had done completely.
"You gave him more of a chance than he probably deserved. Thank you for that. And for saving Megan, I can't think of someone I would have trusted with her more and I know Bella feels the same."
"We all owe Bella after the way we treated her. Maybe we should have trusted her more. I learned one lesson from all this, fear of the unknown and prejudice are both dangerous and destructive."
He nodded but didn't say any more about it.
"Would you like me to stay for your meeting? Esme has arranged a business meeting in town and I know you won't be alone. Is Peter Whitlock close at hand?"
"No. We listened to you and decided we didn't need any backup."
He looked a little surprised, but as he hasn't mentioned Darius I wasn't going to bring our friend into the conversation.
"Well, it won't be long now, Is Megan ready for this meeting? I'm sure she'll charm Aro like everyone else she meets."
"So long as he leaves without her or causing any problems that suits us just fine. I warn you though, there is no way he is putting any kind of restrictions on our daughter or us."
Carlisle nodded, "He said he wasn't bringing any of the Volturi guards with him. That tells me he has no intention of starting anything, Jasper. Have a little faith."
I regarded him stoically, "I lost my faith in people a very long time ago but we'll see. Let's just say we're ready for any eventuality."