-MAISIE-

We were all used to Jett's eccentric growth and development. By Carlisle's measure, Jett was roughly the size of a six-month-old despite chronologically being just shy of four months. Definitely not the accelerated growth of his mother, but still an advancement thanks to his vampire lineage.

Gunner and Leah, however… well, they had not seen Jett in a handful of months, and for a baby like Jett, those handful of months meant a lot. I could practically see the gears turning in his head, comparing Jett to memories of Ava.

"He's, uh, grown a lot," Gunner commented, watching Jett crawl across the floor to the stuffed elephant toy Jasper had put down for him.

"Yeah, he got good at crawling really fast but he's still working on sitting up by himself." As if to prove my point, when Jett reached his toy, he pushed himself up to a sitting position. Just a moment later, he lilted to the side. I reached him just in time to cushion his fall with my hand so he wouldn't hit his head on our hardwood floors. Jett only laughed, rolling onto his back so he could hold the elephant aloft and terrorize the poor pachyderm with kicks. "He tries to talk all the time, but you've heard that. How was Christmas?"

"Weird." Gunner was up early with me, but Leah had decided to sleep in. Jasper was finalizing our South America trip details in the kitchen. We had decided to use my spring break for it. Volturi just after the New Year, Nahuel in late March. "Ava is squarely on your side, by the way. She keeps advocating for Mom to let it go. In her words, 'it's like when we adopted Honeybun and Pepper, but Maisie picked a baby'."

God bless Ava.

"What about Dad?" On the floor, Jett hugged the elephant to him before rolling over and squishing the toy under his weight. Laughing, he lifted his head and sought me out to see if I was just as pleased. I gave him a smile before turning back to my brother.

"Definitely on your side, too, but he doesn't want to upset Mom. Um, I didn't tell them we were coming here."

I scooped Jett off the floor. He had wandered too close to the coffee table for my liking. "Rebellious. I like it. Could you hold him a second? I'm gonna go get him some clothes and pack his diaper bag."

The vast majority of the Cullen family—everyone save for Rose and Esme—were going hunting. I was taking Gunner and Leah snowshoeing, which was a real thing once the Alaska snow accumulated enough, and it would be too cold for Jett, I thought. Never mind that he always ran a little warmer than the typical human temperature. I didn't want to take the chance. Besides, Rose and Esme practically jumped at the prospect of babysitting. So, it came to pass that Jett needed to get ready to spend his day at Edward and Jasmine's place with his aunt and grandmother.

I tossed a fuzzy sweatshirt, sweatpants, and socks at Gunner as I walked through the living room. Surely he remembered how to dress a baby, and Jett was pretty good at laying still while you got it done. On my way through the kitchen, I stopped to kiss Jasper. "Got it all squared away?"

His hand lingered on my hip. "Flights and hotel all booked. Are you…?" He trailed off the question, eyes darting to Gunner. Our living room bled into the kitchen in an open floor plan. Silently, Jasper inclined his head toward the bottle in my hand.

"No, I'm leaving that one here. They have a key; one of them can run over to get that bottle for his supper." 'That' bottle being the one filled with human blood, which Jett drank each night before bed.

"Good thinking." Before Gunner and Leah had even gotten to Alaska, the sneak that is Jasper Whitlock Hale had bought a mini fridge to store all the blood Carlisle supplied us with in our bedroom. For 'convenience', he had told me. Uh-huh. I made four bottles, just in case, and capped them tight before sliding them into a pocket of the diaper bag.

"I'll just let Esme know where it is. Are you coming with me to drop him off?" He took the diaper bag from me, slinging it over his shoulder. Gunner had Jett dressed when I got back to the living room, sitting up in his lap and watching Gunner play a game on his phone. "Hey, everything's even on the right way."

Gunner scoffed. "If I can dress myself, I can dress a tiny boy. Go have fun, Jett-pack."

I glared at Gunner's smiling face. He lifted Jett up for me to take from him. "I'm telling Emmett that one."

"Listen, I can't blame you for his highly un-nickname-able name, but I can exploit it. I'm gonna go wake Leah up."

Wrapping Jett up in his blanket, I nodded to Gunner and let him know I would be back in a bit. It was actively snowing, big, wet flakes, so we took my car next door instead of walking Jett through the weather. He babbled to us from the backseat the entire short drive. "He's gonna start talking before we even know it."

"He's smart. Did you pack books for him?" Besides Bluey, having a story read to him was crucial for Jett's bedtime routine.

"Yeah, they're in there. I feel weird leaving him." I had developed a habit of twisting my engagement ring around my finger when I was nervous. I sat in the passenger seat, twisting it right now. Jasper reached for me, taking my hand and lifting it to press a kiss to the back.

"He'll be in good hands," he reminded me. "Having Jett mostly to herself for a whole day should sate Rose some, too."

"Might give her a bit of a wakeup call, anyway."

I loved Rose. I did. But while Rose's greatest wish for so long has been to have a baby herself, it was becoming increasingly obvious her expectations of babies was skewed. Aside from being upset Jett didn't want to be held at Christmas, she was likewise put off by the fact that he had a napping schedule and wasn't available for her anytime she wanted to see him. I wondered how she would react to having to change his diaper today, and I was a little sad I wouldn't be around to see it.

Jett wasn't talking yet, but there was no doubt in my mind that he understood us when we spoke to him. Or just around him, in general, because I was pretty sure 'nosy' was going to be a personality trait for him. Jasper preferred to call him 'curious'. When I passed him off to Esme, I told Jett, "Be a good boy, okay?"

He smiled back at me, reaching out from Esme's arms to pat my hair and plant a sloppy kiss on my cheek. Jasper got the same treatment before Jett turned his full attention on Esme. "He'll be the best boy. We're going to have fun today, aren't we, Jett?"

Rosalie blurred down the stairs, coming to a shockingly graceful stop in front of the couch where I had set Jett's diaper bag. She flicked through the contents, scrutinizing them as she went. "Where's his blood?"

"In his body." Rose rolled her eyes at my joke before planting her hands on her hips, waiting. "It's in the mini fridge in our bedroom. I didn't want to freak Gunner and Leah out."

With a toss of her hair, Rose snapped, "They know what he is."

"Rosalie," Esme chastised softly. "Knowing and seeing are two very different things."

"If they're going to be around him, they shouldn't be so sensitive."

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. "I'll make that choice, but thanks for the input. Just go grab it from the house after we leave in a bit."

The look on Rose's face made it obvious she didn't like any of what I had said, but I didn't much care. She was soon enamored with Jett as usual, letting him take hold of her finger and bending down to meet his eye when she spoke to him.

Jasper was right, Jett was in good hands with Esme and Rose, but my heart still gave a squeeze at leaving him. I probably would have lingered in the doorway moping had Jasper not walked me back to my car. "Go over the routine again before you go hunting, por favor."

"Por supuesto, mi amor." Unlike Jett, Jasper kissed me full on the mouth. It was a slow and gentle kiss, ending with him tipping his forehead against mine. "Try not to be too adventurous without me."

"Leah will be there," I reminded him. "Besides, I'm a bona fide member of the paranormal now, too."

"Given how much trouble you stirred up as a full human, Maisie, that's hardly comforting," he teased. With his family so close, Jasper was in a buoyantly good mood. I loved it. Taking hold of his jacket when he tried to pull away, I kissed him again before letting him retreat back into Edward and Jasmine's house. Back at home, Gunner had succeeded in waking Leah up. I found them eating bowls of cereal together in the kitchen.

"Explain snowshoeing to me, because Gunner's description of 'hiking but cold' isn't cutting it for me."

"He's not wrong, unfortunately," I told Leah, taking another bowl from the cabinet for my own cereal. "It basically is hiking… but cold. Also, with the snowshoes themselves. You would sink right into the banks without them. There's poles, too, like you're skiing. They help you keep your balance so you don't biff it down a slope."

With each of them occupying the barstools, I elected to sit on the counter itself so I could be close to them. Good brother that he is, Gunner held my cereal for me while I hoisted myself up. "The cool part is that you see a lot of animals out even though it's winter. We went for one of my classes. That was our final 'test', just snowshoeing and documenting what animals we were able to find out there."

Leah took another bite of her cereal contemplating what I had told her. "Why did we have to bring sunglasses, though?"

"I assumed y'all didn't want to go snow blind. The sun should be out soon. Alice said it wasn't gonna snow past around eleven." We had learned to work around the blind spot that Jett left in Alice's visions. So far, she was most accurate with the weather. That was general enough that there was no way Jett could factor into it, so long as she made sure not to think of him while looking into the future. "Oh, and dress in layers, Gun. It gets stupid cold. I know you have your own personal space heater in Leah, but still. I don't think Carlisle would be very happy if his vacation involved amputating your toes."

Gunner made a face at me, but he would be thankful later on. After everyone had eaten, I packed my school backpack full of snacks and extra gloves… just in case. Jasper had already loaded all the snowshoes and poles in my trunk for us. Very handy to have around, that one. I drove us out to one of the nature trails, easing my car onto the side of the road. Alaska was so thinly populated that finding good trails was cake.

"Okay, follow me. It feels really dumb until you get used to walking with these things." Gunner waddled like a duck with tape stuck to its feet but Leah caught on fairly quickly. We kept pace with Gunner while he adjusted. "So, how's living in sin? Has Mom been on your case to get married? She was real insistent on it until I actually got engaged."

"We might as well adopt Derrick like y'all are Jett if we get married," Gunner joked. To my surprise, Leah nodded.

"I don't think he would survive on his own. It would be cruel not to take him with us. We're going to move to Seattle fulltime." Now that gave me pause, my snowshoes sinking slightly into the powder beneath me.

"Holy shit, Gunner, are you trying to take my problem child crown from me?"

"Is it heavy?" He shot back. "We haven't told Mom and Dad yet, but Sue knows."

"Seattle's expensive, you know." I was at a loss of anything else to say. Sue knows. This choice had to be rooted in Leah leaving the pack, then, and for that I felt guilty.

"Which is why I'll be sorting mail at the campus post office and Derrick will be swiping cards at the cafeteria next semester," Gunner explained.

"And I'll be taking all the extra shifts I can at the coffee shop," Leah added. "So we can pool all our money together for a deposit and rent when we find something."

"What about for the summer, though?" I asked. "My campus job gets cut over the summer."

"I get to keep mine, at least, but it's only twenty hours a week. I'm gonna try to pick up something else for the summer, too. Derrick's already scoping out for summer, since his won't carry over."

A lot of thought had already gone into this. I was glad Derrick was part of the plan—they would need that third income, for sure.

"So, uh, when are you gonna tell Mom and Dad?"

"When you announce a wedding date." His eyes were hidden behind the dark tint of his sunglasses, but Gunner's smile told me exactly how funny and genius he thought the idea was. I laughed despite myself, using my pole to poke him gently.

"Have I ever told you that you're my favorite brother?"

"I never had competition until Edward and Emmett showed up, but I appreciate the sentiment."

We spent our day snowshoeing along a winding trail. Gunner got brave halfway through the afternoon and we ventured up and down some small slopes. He only fell once, surprisingly. Even with my vampire-venom-enhanced abilities and Leah's werewolf status, all three of us were exhausted when we fell back into the car.

"My legs hurt. Why is everything so much more work in Alaska?" Gunner asked. Leah leaned across the passenger seat, so she could rest her head on his shoulder.

"Are there any restaurants close? I'm starving." The normalcy of the question threw me for a second. Aside from the Chinese takeout I had at Thanksgiving, when was the last time I had been to a restaurant? Not since the summer, surely. Certainly before the trial with the Volturi. I hardly ate anymore, only when there was something I wanted.

As much as it surprised me, Leah's question also made me smile. "Yeah, I know a place around here."

It was more a diner than a restaurant, if you want to get technical. We took a booth and ate cheese fries and drank milkshakes despite having spent the whole winter day outside. Gunner and Leah were holding hands beneath the table, which I thought was adorable. Seeing them gave me a small pang of missing Jasper, but I knew he needed the time with his own siblings, too.

Back at home, Gunner and Leah slipped upstairs together. Even Leah had been worn out by our hiking, and, honestly, a nap sounded good to me, too. It was only around three in the afternoon; Rose and Esme were expecting to keep Jett for the entire day, anyway.

I peeled off my layers of clothing and pulled a sweatshirt of Jasper's out of the closet, tugging it over my head. Cuddling into the blankets, I set an alarm on my phone for two hours from now. It took a long time for me to fall asleep, though. I felt… wrong without Jett at home. Not quite complete. I tossed and turned and stared at his empty bassinette in the corner until finally slipping into sleep.

My alarm proved to be useless. I slept right through it, not waking until a swath of light fell across my face. Jasper had opened the door, not quite shutting it fast enough to keep from waking me. In the dim light of our bedroom, I watched him gently lay Jett down in his own bed. Then Jasper came to me, sitting on the edge of the bed and stroking my hair.

"I'm sorry, mi amor." He whispered, so as not to disturb Jett. "I didn't mean to wake you."

I reached for him, finding his shirt damp under my fingers. "Jett gave you a bath, huh?"

"He's exceptionally skilled at it." Pushing myself up from the mattress, a quick peek out the window showed me it was full dark outside. Not surprising for Alaska in the winter, but the stiffness in my joints clued me in that I had been sleeping—hard—for some time. But if Jett was in bed, it had to be around seven at night.

"And I'm exceptionally skilled at sleeping through vacations." At least on Isle Esme I had the excuse of venom poisoning at the time. I didn't have the same luxury now.

"I think you mean, exceptionally skilled at keeping yourself going far longer than necessary." He bent further to kiss my forehead. "Gunner and Leah took your car to get dinner."

"Lay with me a while," I told him. "But not in your wet clothes."

Chuckling softly, Jasper obliged me, chucking his bath-water-damp clothing until he was down to his boxers. After he climbed into bed with me, I curled myself around him, fingers idly tracing the topography of the scars across his chest as we lay in the dark together. I could remember the last time either of us had been this relaxed. Jasper was totally languid beneath me. He rand his fingers through my hair, his breath tickling the top of my head. "Was Bluey good tonight?"

I earned myself another quiet chuckle. "She made a friend while camping, but he only spoke French. They still played together every day, until his family left the campsite. There was a time jump at the end and it showed Bluey and her friend older and reunited."

"So, it was a good one, huh?" My hand had wandered in its travels to his neck, where the scars lay thickest of all. I tipped my head back and kissed him softly there. "It's nice having family around, isn't it?"

He sighed, in a contented way, his ease and soft happiness washing over me in agreement. "About that… do you think Leah would be up for company tomorrow? Only Eddy knew about their coming. Em wants to see Gunner."

"I'll ask her to make sure, but I don't think she would mind. She would probably be more comfortable if we were outside, though, so the smell wouldn't be overwhelming to her." I felt Jasper nod, his chin bumping into the top of my head.

"She is very much outnumbered. Ali's already checked the weather for tomorrow, since she's using it to practice. Overcast, not quite so cold, no snowing. Think we could take Jett out?"

He tended to be warmer than a human, and both Leah and I would be there. Leah was a literal furnace; if Jett got cold, a few minutes in her arms would warm him right up. "I bet he'll be okay. I'll dress him in layers. He does have a pair of knitted wool mittens, probably more expensive than I'll ever want to know, curtesy of Alice. How was he over there? Since I slept through picking him up."

"He was just fine, mi amor. Rose and Esme spoiled him all within one day. I'm not sure what all his day entailed, but they must have worn him out. He fell asleep halfway through Bluey."

"Oh, he was exhausted-exhausted. Poor baby." I looked over my shoulder toward the bassinette. I could just see Jett's head, and his little butt, sticking over the top. Jett still slept on his stomach, but he had developed a habit of tucking his legs beneath him as well so that he looked like a little stinkbug.

"I think he'll live." Jasper tilted my face back toward him, kissing me softly on the mouth. He stayed with me until I fell asleep again, the two of us talking quietly so as not to wake Jett. Not that I thought even a nuclear blast would have woken the kid; in the morning, I was up before him, and he was laying in exactly the same position he had been the night before.

I pulled him carefully from his bed, all sleep-warm, and he immediately reached for me. One of his small arms was thrown around my neck, clinging to me, the other lax at his side while his head nestled into the curve of my shoulder. I rubbed his back, murmuring softly to him.

"Hey, Jetty. It's time to start waking up." He gave a small noise of exasperation, pulling himself tighter around me. I shook my head at his dramatics and slipped out of the bedroom. From the hallway, I could hear Jasper, Leah, and Gunner talking in the kitchen. What time is it? I wondered. Usually, I always got up before Gunner. With Jett's room free, though, I headed for there to start piecing together a warm outfit for him.

Jett was really clinging to sleep, still dozing as I changed his diaper and then his clothes. He raised a tiny fist to rub at his eye, the other cracking open. "Well, good morning to you."

He smiled sleepily at me, stretching his whole body with his arms reaching up and legs going stiff. A happy gurgle escaped his lips as he started to kick his legs. He was trying to tell me about his day, I thought, as he began to babble and coo. "Oh, really? All that happened?"

Jett kept babbling, punctuating his story with his hands. Once he was dressed, I gathered him up again to take him downstairs with me. "Look, the winners of the lazy contest are up."

Leah had been cooking. The smells of eggs, bacon, potatoes, peppers, and onions met me full-force as I walked into the kitchen.

"How nice of our resident narcoleptics to get up," Gunner commented. I threw a look at my brother before turning to Jasper and kiss him. He took Jett from me, settling the baby into his arms and offering him a bottle for his own breakfast.

"We were getting our beauty sleep," I told Gunner, taking a plate of food from Leah. Again, I was the odd man out when it came to the stools at the breakfast bar, so I ate my food while standing next to Jasper and Jett. "Did we miss some vast revelations this morning, or what?"

"Only housing recommendations from Jasper for moving to Seattle fulltime." Leah said, Gunner nodding along, mouth full of food. "He was telling us about a really good apartment complex he knows about there."

Knowing the intricate details of the Cullens' amassed wealth—which included property holdings that past down 'generations'—I was instantly suspicious. Did Jasper know about this apartment or did he own it? I flicked my eyes up at Jasper, but he was the picture of innocence leaning against the counter with Jett cradled in his arms.

I was already mentally planning an interrogation for later. Jasper must have known that, because he chose that moment to smile disarmingly at me. "Stop that," I mouthed at him, glaring. He shrugged in response, still casual, which only made me more suspicious.

"We gotta go get y'all some rental skates," I said, turning back to Gunner and Leah. "There's a huge lake, like, twenty minutes away."

"Does this activity require layers, too?" Gunner asked, mouth setting in a grimace.

"Not as many if you intend on playing hockey." I turned back to Jasper. "Emmett understands how to play with humans, right? I have full faith in Edward."

"He'll play nice," Jasper promised. "The lake is public, technically. I doubt he wants a scolding from Esme if he forgets himself and acts like a vampire."

"See, you're golden. Just play hockey and you can get rid of about two of the layers you wore yesterday." Gunner was happy enough with that. Around the Cullens, at least, he was comfortable palling around with vampires. If Leah had any reservations about the day planned, she kept them to herself. Leaving Jett with Jasper, I took Gunner and Leah to one of the many outdoor equipment rental places that dotted Anchorage. Skates in hand, we stopped next at a convenience store to get snacks for the three of us.

"So, this apartment complex Jasper told y'all about it… is it nice?"

"Two-bedroom and affordable, which we haven't been able to find on our own so far. Derrick's not exactly thrilled with the idea of living in a closet. Which is understandable, I guess." Gunner was already eating a piece of beef jerky despite the breakfast scramble Leah had made us. I shook my head at him. Given Jasper's diet, I had forgotten how much boys could eat.

"And it's not in a sketchy part of town," Leah threw in. "We've found some rent houses we could probably swing, but all in places that make me feel like Gunner and Derrick will end up murdered."

"Hey, now," Gunner protested, but I laughed. In the rearview mirror, I watched Leah shrug, nonchalant.

Back at home, I let Jasper take the driver's seat and moved to the back with Leah and Jett. He put on a show for us during the car ride, singing something that sounded, to me, suspiciously like the Bluey theme song. His performance was complete with arm flailing and leg kicking. At the end of each rendition, Jett waited patiently for Leah and I to clap, and we obliged him every time.

Our afternoon at the lake was cathartic, at least for me. Esme split her time on the banks between minding Jett and keeping score as games of hockey played out on the ice. True to Jasper's words, Emmett played like a very strong, very skilled human, but not the vampire powerhouse that he was. Good thing, too; there was a group of guys ice fishing on the far side of the lake. Alice eventually tired of hockey, drawing me and Rosalie away from the game—Jasmine and Leah couldn't be lured from the competition—to teach us ice skating moves.

Each day of Gunner and Leah's vacation were spent in this way, my blended in so many ways family coming together in ways that should have been impossible considering all the factors at play. And each day was another fortification for me, building me up and strengthening me for the next visit to the Volturi.

I wanted Aro to see this. That Jett was happy and thriving, that Jasper and I were still going strong, that Leah and Gunner were part of my family despite it all.

Shortly after a quiet New Year's in Alaska, Jasper, Jett, and I found ourselves back in Italy. Specifically, back at Hotel Molino D'Era. This time, we were allowed to travel there ourselves without a chaperone. Caterina still greeted us at the front desk, though, smiling brightly as if we were old friends.

"Bentornato!" She all but shouted, eyes lighting up. "We have been so excited to have your family as guests again. I trust you remember the way to your room?"

Our room. Meaning, the one that we stayed in the first time. Before I could say anything, Jasper turned on his charm and smiled politely at her. "Yes, ma'am, thank you." He placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me forward. I couldn't decide if Jett remembered this place or not; he wiggled in my arms, head swiveling to look all around him. The plane ride had been great fun for him, but I wasn't surprised there. Already, Jett was a pro traveler.

"If I have to walk through the catacombs again, I'm going to scream," I threatened after we were in the familiar hotel room. Jasper dropped our bags, immediately going to the windows to draw the curtains. We had arrived just before dawn, and the day was promising to be a sunny one despite the winter season.

"Even if that is their intent, I won't allow it. We'll use the street entrance after sundown."

I set Jett down, letting him explore the space. He was off in a second, making a beeline for the coffee table. For whatever reason, he thought it was a great game to crawl underneath furniture. Crossing my arms, I watched his exploration while chewing on my lip. Spending time with Gunner had given me a lot of confidence, which I knew was Jasper's intent, but now that I was physically in Italy? My stomach was starting to tie itself in knots.

Though I knew it was coming, I wanted to talk about anything but the visit with the Volturi. "Hey, that apartment complex you were telling Leah and Gunner about… you wouldn't happen to own it, would you?"

"I'm honestly shocked it took you so long to ask." He peeked up at me through his lashes, straightening from where he crouched to check the contents of the mini fridge in the room. There was a bottle of rosé in his hand. I felt my brows draw together in confusion. Jasper skewered the cork with a wine opener. "I do own it, actually. Jenks manages it for me, collects cumulative rent payments every month from the landlord."

I watched him pour a glass before crossing the room and offering it to me. "It's, like, six in the morning," I told him, but took the glass by the stem anyway. He waved my concerns over drinking alcohol so early in the morning away.

"You're old enough here," he reminded me. "And you need something to help relax you."

"Um, you can do that for me," I reminded him. The wine was cold and tart on my tongue when I took a sip. Across the room, Jett had stopped his exploratory journey to swipe and laugh at the heavy curtains covering the window. "Also, what are you gonna do? Kick someone out to give Gunner, Leah, and Derrick an apartment?"

"Hardly, mi amor. I always keep an apartment empty—the best one—should someone in the family need it." Tilting my head back to look at him, I took in the amused sparkle in his golden eyes. He swirled a finger around the rim of my glass. "As for this… why not take advantage of the hospitality being shown to us? We are not the ones paying for this room and it's amenities."

I took another sip, contemplating his sentiment. I supposed Jasper did have a point. "Alright," I relented. "But I can't exactly get wine drunk all day and then show up on the Volturi's doorstep."

Jasper chuckled, crossing the room to scoop Jett from his playing. "Don't worry, only one of us is both old enough and able to get drunk. I'll cut you off." He fell onto the bed with Jett, rolling him around on the plush bedding. I perched on the corner, so as not to spill my wine.

"Define 'the best'. What kind of apartment are you giving my brother?"

"I'm not giving it to him," Jasper countered. "We can take the rent money they pay and put it away for Jett."

I rolled my eyes. "As if he needs a college fund when your side of the family is swimming in money."

Catching hold of Jett, Jasper rolled onto his back and lifted the giggling baby up into the air. "It's spacious. Wood floors throughout. There's a balcony, full kitchen, a breakfast nook. Ironic, isn't it? As if we ever eat there. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms, good closet space, living room. They won't find better, mi amor."

He wasn't wrong, I was sure. I didn't know Seattle that well. "It's in a safe neighborhood?"

"Yes, in terms of humans and vampires alike. It's also gated. Their apartment is on the top level, but there's a private staircase down to the communal courtyard in the center."

Sighing, I knew there was no winning on this one. I couldn't deny that it would be perfect for them. "Okay, you win."

"Good," Jasper's head lolled to the side so he could smile at me. "They've already got an appointment for a showing later this week."

True to his word, we walked through the massive wooden doors of the ancient Volturi castle at dusk. Entering into the public space of the preserved castle rather than the servant's quarters was jarring. Mainly because the back wall, clear as day and proudly displayed, was a massive painting of Aro, Marcus, and Caius in red cloaks.

"Are you serious?" I said aloud before I could stop myself, hoisting Jett so he sat more comfortably on my hip. The vampires who had opened the doors for us—I neither recognized them from the last time nor asked their names—took a moment to glare at me. Jasper squeezed my hand, leading me forward.

"Aro has a flair for the dramatic," he reminded me. "Not to mention that Caius has a reputation as a saint in this city."

We bypassed the reception desk, where a human woman sat. I didn't recognize her, either. I wondered at the fate of the last human who had worked for the Voluri, the woman I had seen during our last visit, but I knew there were only two outcomes. She was either now a vampire herself or dead. To my surprise, there was an elevator tucked away in a side hallway. There was no hesitation in Jasper's hand as he punched in a floor number.

I had to admit, I sagged a little with relief that this meeting wouldn't take place in the throne room. Rather, we emerged on an upper floor with thick carpeting. My boots sunk into it as soon as I stepped foot from the elevator. Jasper took us down a long hallway before stopping at an ornately carved wooden door.

"Ready?" He asked, voice all breath.

"As I'll ever be."

Nodding, Jasper raised a closed fist to knock. He didn't need to, though. The door swung open, revealing the diminutive figure of Jane. Her doe-like, red eyes regarded us for a moment, head tipping to the sides.

"Your guests have arrived, Master." Jane spoke in a regular tone. No need to call out when your master had exceptional hearing.

"It's nice to see you, as always, Jane." Her plump lips quirked into an almost smile, expression cynical, as if she did not believe Jasper's sentiment. Stepping to the side to allow us entry, she offered no greeting or welcome of her own.

I recognized this place. It was the massive study Aro had shepherded us into after the trial. We found the three leaders of the Volturi in much the same condition we had seen them last time. All wearing understated, dark suits that probably cost more than any suit had the right to. Marcus, staring despondently into the fire roaring in a hearth. Caius, staring angrily out the window. Aro, sitting at the massive wooden desk that dominated one corner of the room.

Had they even moved since we had last been here? Surely they must have, for when Aro's eyes flickered up to meet mine, they were the same dull red as last time. His face crinkled into a joyous smile as he pushed himself to his feet. "Ah, our new little family! How pleased we are to have you with us again."

I made myself smile, though I was unable to form any kind of reply. Instead, I hugged Jett tighter to me when Aro moved around the desk to further greet us each with a cold, papery hand on our shoulders. "Come sit. We have much to discuss. Come closer, my brothers. Jane, darling, go fetch Sulpicia and Athenodora. It will cheer them to see the child doing so well in Jasper and young Maisie's care."

At Aro's command, Caius and Marcus drifted closer to us. Jasper pulled out one of the plush chairs before the desk for me. I focused settling Jett into my lap, avoiding the gaze of the Volturi leaders. Once seated, Aro made a waving motion, drawing forward a young man with dark hair. He wore a light gray cloak—which Jasper had told me were reserved for the lowest-ranking members—yet here he was in this intimate setting.

Jasper tensed beside me. This vampire was no stranger, then.

"Sir?"

"Felix, go down cellar and see if Heidi has returned, would you?" This gray-cloaked Felix gave a curt nod before slipping through a hidden door I never would have noticed in the paneling had I not seen it used. I glanced at Jasper, but he gave me an almost imperceptible shake of the head. If I wanted an explanation, I would have to wait for them. There was little time for me to wonder at Felix's place amongst the Volturi. Jane had returned, Sulpicia and Athenodora in tow, as well as two women I had not yet seen.

The strange women hung back near the door, though Jane pranced forward to receive her praise from Aro, the wives following on her heels. Just as they had been the last time I saw them, Sulpicia and Athenodora were dripping with enough jewels to make any royal weep.

"Oh, the babe!" They enthused in unison, rushing toward me in a mass of jewels and expensive fabric. On reflex, I tightened my hold on Jett. To my surprise, though, he leaned forward in my hold, letting loose a giggle of surprise.

He remembered Sulpicia and Athenodora. Edward had told me as much, but, as Esme had said—knowing and seeing were two different things. When Sulpicia held her ringed hands out for him, I found myself letting her lift Jett from my lap. Athenodora hovered at her elbow, clapping her hands together with excitement. "Might we take him back to the tower with us? It was his first home, you know."

I very nearly said yes. I would have, were it not for Jasper reaching over and taking my hand. That gesture shattered the false trust I had in Sulpicia. Gone was the trust, replaced with the rush of suspicion Jasper himself must have been feeling. "No!" I said, a little too loud, shaking my head all the while.

Beside me, Jasper glared at the taller of the strange women. "Do not do that to her again, Chelsea." He said it firmly but not aggressively, though his tone hinted he was on the edge of it.

"Now, now," Aro said. "Apologies, Maisie. Chelsea's power is rather insidious. It goes undetected for those unfamiliar with it. Sulpicia, my love, why don't you and Athenodora join us in here instead?"

This was clearly not what either Sulpicia nor Athenodora wanted, yet they both smiled radiantly and moved to sit beside the fire Marcus had left unoccupied. They sat with their backs to the flames, effectively shielding Jett from any danger. When they discovered Jett could crawl, both women effused praises for him. I watched the three of them before turning my attention back to Aro. Jasper did the same, after throwing another look over his shoulder at this Chelsea.

He did not let go of my hand again.

Aro gave us another smile, now bookended by the scowling Caius and blank-faced Marcus. "Don't fret; we will begin soon. Ah, Felix! Returned with refreshment, I see."

Felix had returned, balancing a serving tray crowded with dark, ornately carved goblets. He made quick work of serving first Aro, followed by Caius and Marcus, before gently setting a cup before Jasper and lastly me. One quick peek into the goblet confirmed my suspicions. It was filled to the brim with blood. Jasper squeezed my hand to get my attention before inclining his head toward the cup. Drink.

Aside from the night Irina died, I had never noticed the smell of blood. Bella's was the first, and I had assumed it was because of her naturally tempting scent. The blood served to me was fresh; I knew, before tasting, as the metal of the goblet was warm on my skin when I picked it up to take a drink. As soon as the blood hit my tongue, however, the difference between fresh and old blood was immediate and jarring.

If ambrosia was real, it was that goblet of blood. The taste was thick, sultry, primal… it made sense why Jasper, after drinking fresh human blood for decades, had such a hard time. I wanted to drain the cup but somehow scraped together the willpower to refrain from doing so.

"Heidi's been fishing, as we like to call it." Caius was very obviously amused with my reaction to the blood. Woodenly, I set the goblet back down on the desk before me. "Her latest catch is quite delectable, wouldn't you agree?"

His taunting reminder was all I needed to remember that this blood came from somebody's murder.

"Yes," Aro validated Caius when I refused. "Such a shame that our dear Jasper chooses to refrain. Fret not; I'm sure you can smell that your own blood is sourced in the 'vegan' way that Carlisle prefers. Fortunately for Maisie, she requires the traditional diet, and gets to partake in this delicacy Heidi has brought in for us. Don't be shy, young Maisie!"

Aro was insistent, gesturing for me to take another drink. Steeling myself, I knew I could not refuse. I took another pull, trying to ignore the evocative taste. Apparently satisfied, Aro smiled once more before holding his hand out, palm up. "Ladies first."

Gritting my teeth, I placed my palm flush with his paper skin. The tugging sensation of Aro's power was no less jarring the second time. He flicked through my memories and thoughts at lightning speed, stopping abruptly on the night of the trial. Aro made me watch all of him with it again. With my other hand still laced with Jasper's, his fingers got the brunt of my struggle to not show any weakness.

From there, Aro cherry-picked his way through watching Jett's growth and development through my memories. He paid special attention to each of Jett's milestones and any and all conversations I had with Carlisle or Edward concerning Jett. When he seemed satisfied, he pulled his hand from mine and gave a curt nod, turning his hand toward Jasper. "And now your turn."

Jasper's turn took longer, but I wasn't surprised by that. He spent more time with Jett, since he took care of him alone while I was in class and at work. The entire time, Jasper's face remained passive. He was more skilled at dealing with Aro's gift. While Aro's search dragged on, I peeked over my shoulder.

Athenodora had plucked a length of strung jewels from her hair, waving it in front of Jett's face where he sat in Sulpicia's lap. He did his best to catch hold of the strand, giggling every time Athenodora moved it just out of his reach.

His research completed, Aro rocked back in his chair. "Hmm. Interesting."

"What is, brother?" Marcus asked in his doldrum of a voice.

Before answering, Aro waved his hand at me to take another drink. Jasper wasn't being urged this way, which was annoying. Still, I could not refuse. He waited for me to take two more drinks, leaving me with roughly half a glass left, before answering Marcus.

"The child grows at only a slightly accelerated rate, and most of the development has been cognitive rather than physical. Very different from what we learned from Joham and his daughters. Jett has been growing steadily, but humans are prone to growth spurts… is that correct, Maisie? Yes? I am curious how his vampiric side will affect such an occurrence."

A moment passed where each of the Volturi leaders seemed to consider such an eventuality. Caius cut his eyes, slightly brighter now thanks to his sipping on his own goblet, to where Jett played with his wife. "Should he become uncontrollable…"

"He won't," Jasper spoke in the clipped tone he used when he wasn't breathing. I hadn't considered how this much human blood must be affecting him. Without Aro's prompting this time, I drank the remaining half of my goblet so that at least some of it was gone. "We will make sure of it."

"Yes, I am sure you intend to," Caius continued, "but should you fail, and he is uncontrollable, I think the child should fall under the laws of the immortal children."

I stiffened at that. The 'laws of the immortal children' was, in actuality, a death sentence. Jasper squeezed my hand again; a warning, this time, rather than reassurance. An uncomfortable silence fell over all of us, broken after several beats by Marcus. "I agree."

"Brothers! We have some time yet before this would be a consideration. There are more pressing matters. Now, Maisie, we have been curious—and I admit I might have missed it in my exploration—but we must know: what are your plans for your 'death'?"

A/N: I hope this chapter doesn't end too abruptly/in a weird spot! I had to cut this down before it was monstrous.

Shout out to silentmayhem for the inspiration for Gunner and Leah's new living arrangement, courtesy of a certain Southern gentleman, vampire, almost-brother-in-law. When I read that review, it was just too good of an idea not to give life to!

We'll finish up with the Volturi next chapter! See y'all then!