A/N: Happy New Year! Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! If I didn't respond to your review, I'm immensely sorry. For some reason FF wouldn't let me respond to most of them; it kept saying the link was out of date… even though it was only an hour old. I'm not technologically savvy enough to figure out what's wrong. Hopefully that won't happen this time. But I loved reading every single one of them! I'm so happy that you are all as excited about this fic as I am.

I did have one reviewer ask if Jasper's POV would ever be told, and while in the planning stages, this was strictly going to be from Edward's POV, I think that hearing from Jasper will be necessary. Only he'll be able to show what the camp looks like, interactions with fellow vampires, etc. So yes, eventually Jasper will get his moment in the spotlight. I'm not exactly sure when that'll be, or how often, but it'll happen.

This chapter is a bit shorter than the last one, but this seemed like the best place to end it. Thanks again for reading!

Disclaimer: The Twilight Series and all recognisable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended. Only this rather lame plot is mine.

Chapter Two: Resistance

The next night, Edward was an hour early and spent the entire time pacing back and forth. He was planning. Well, maybe 'planning' was too tame a word. 'Strategising' was probably more appropriate.

After talking with Jasper, Edward realised how difficult it really would be to get close to him. But that didn't matter. Edward was firm in his resolve to get Jasper to open up to him. Even though Edward had a sneaking suspicion that Jasper would test Edward's patience and possibly drive him to insanity. But he was definitely worth it.

Edward heard Jasper coming towards him, and he froze in anticipation. Jasper eyed him warily and made sure to keep a large distance between them. Edward took an impulsive step forward, but at Jasper's growl of warning, he quickly stepped back.

"I'm here, what do you want now?"

"To talk," Edward said. Wasn't that obvious?

"Stop saying that! I don't know what is up with you. Maybe you've been alone too long and you think I can make you feel better. But I'm sick of this."

"I'm not lonely," Edward insisted, even though he knew it was a lie. "I honestly only want to know you. There's something about you…" Edward purposely left the thought hang, hoping that Jasper would form his own conclusions about what that 'something' was.

"Yes you are, I can tell."

"Well, fine, I'm a little lonely. But not enough that I'm desperate. I just…"

He's telling the truth, Jasper thought. Edward listened, and for once in his life, he didn't feel bad about listening on another person's private thoughts. What was once a hindrance was now the only way he could stay a step ahead of Jasper. And he feels honest. I don't understand his interest, but he's genuinely interested.

Edward kept a straight face while he waited for Jasper to sort through his thoughts. Jasper didn't trust him at all, but there was an ever-growing part of him that was willing to risk possibly taking to a crazy person, as long as he had someone to talk to. He had a lonely life, just like Edward; one filled with hiding who he really was from the rest of the world, and his hard exterior was a necessary protection for him.

"Well what do you want to know?" Jasper asked, breaking through Edward's thoughts.

Edward smiled brilliantly. "What did you do today?"

"You want to know about my day?" Jasper clarified, sceptically.

"Yes."

"Well, let's see. I ran patrols, trained some newborns, ripped the head off one who refused to listen to me, ate, trained some more, fought with a rival clan, and then came here. How was your day?"

Edward could sense from the sarcasm that Jasper wasn't really interested in his day, which had mostly revolved around worried thoughts of their meeting and trying to keep himself occupied with sightseeing until it was time to head to the forest. Somehow that didn't seem like something Jasper would want to hear.

"Are you okay?" He asked. Jasper turned his head to look at Edward in the eyes.

"What?"

"You said you fought today. Are you okay?"

Jasper snorted and ran a hand through his blond curls. "Of course I'm okay. I wouldn't have made it this far if I couldn't hold my own against a few vampires."

"I wasn't doubting that you couldn't," Edward said, unwilling to let Jasper believe he thought less of him. "I just thought it would be nice to ask. I don't think people ever ask you if you're okay."

Jasper's eyes never left Edward's as he slowly sorted through Edward's words in his head. He didn't let any of this show, though, and his conclusions were muddled, so Edward couldn't tell what he really thought of it.

"So… did you spend all day here?" Jasper asked.

"No!" Edward exclaimed. He wasn't exactly sure why he cared so much about Jasper thinking he had spent the entire day there, pathetically waiting and hoping he would show up – even though he had done that, technically he hadn't done it there, so he didn't feel the need to bring it up. But for some reason, it was vastly important to him that Jasper didn't think he was… pathetic.

Jasper raised an eyebrow and clearly thought in his mind that he didn't believe him, but he let it drop. "So then what did you do?"

"I went sightseeing."

"And what did you see?"

"Historic sites. I went to the place of the Palmito Ranch Battlefield from the Civil War. There wasn't much there, but after reading about the civil war, I wanted to visit the site of the last land engagement of the war."

Jasper's face closed off and his mind began buzzing with images. "Oh, well that was an interesting place to visit."

"Yes, well, like I said, there isn't really anything there so I didn't spend much time there. But I couldn't come all this way and not see it. So afterwards, I went to Point Isabel to see the lighthouse."

Jasper hummed, distractedly, and Edward could 'hear' him debating something in his head, but again, he wasn't able to understand Jasper's flow of thoughts. Finally, Jasper looked up and after a moment's hesitation, he spoke, "I was there, you know."

"Where?" Edward asked, confused.

"The battle at Palmito Hill," Jasper softly said. "Johnston had already surrendered, but the Union troops attacked us, though none of us knew why, and we retaliated. I had made it all the way to the end of the war; I was so close to going home, but then…"

"Were you turned? Captured?"

Jasper's face closed off. "I don't want to talk about it right now."

"All right," Edward hesitantly agreed, knowing he needed to back off so he wouldn't scare Jasper away. He was thrilled that Jasper had shared something about him – regardless of how small a detail it was – and he wasn't going to press his luck. "So, are you from Texas?"

"Obviously," Jasper drawled, the Southern twang shooting straight to Edward's groin.

"Do you have family still?"

"Somewhere, I'm sure," Jasper shrugged, trying to act like he didn't care. "But I don't know them."

"I know what you mean," Edward said, trying to connect with Jasper somehow. "I didn't have siblings, but I had cousins. I bet there's family out there, but I never think about them. I was just curious if you knew of anyone because you still live in the same state."

"Distant relatives from my old life aren't really one of my priorities."

"I understand."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence where Jasper tried to figure Edward out and Edward let him. Jasper, though, wasn't able to get very far. War, hurt, and distrust was all he could remember from this life, and the memories of happier times from his old life had all been drowned out by the last several years when he was in the Civil war. It was all he knew, so he couldn't see where Edward was coming from. He was waiting for the ball to drop and nothing in his past would let him see that it wouldn't happen. Not with Edward.

"My family now is my pseudo-father, the man that turned me," Edward said. Jasper listened intently, the part of him yearning for comfort and stability hanging on Edward's every word. "His name is Carlisle and he turned me when I was sick and dying. His wife's name is Esme, and they're both… wonderful. But I was by myself. It's lonely being surrounded by relationships so filled with love when you don't have anyone. I was tired of pretending to be happy, pretending to be human, and pretending to be anyone else but myself. So I told them I was leaving for a little bit. They were sad, but I think Carlisle understood. Esme was less understanding, but she knew it was important for me to do this."

Jasper was silent, but Edward could hear the longing brushing the edges of his mind. "Who turned you?" He asked quietly, hoping it would make Jasper open up a little.

"Maria."

"The woman you work for now?"

"Yes."

"I think I saw her with you. She's the one with the black hair, correct?"

"That'd be her."

"And the brunette?"

"That'd be Maria's… assistant. She's not really a soldier, but she acts like she can command all of us. Vicious bitch, she is."

"If she's not a soldier, then why is she there?"

Jasper smirked, "She serves other purposes for Maria."

Edward furrowed his brow, not understanding what Jasper was trying to imply. Then Jasper's mind vividly and graphically stated what should have been obvious, had he not been so naïve, and Edward blanched. If he had been human, he would have blushed, but thankfully his vampirism saved him that embarrassment. "Oh," he simply said, staring intently at the dirt to distract himself.

But a very amused and genuine laugh distracted him from his embarrassment, and Edward's head shot up to watch one of the most wonderful things he had ever witnessed: Jasper laughing. Really laughing.

"You should have seen your face," Jasper exclaimed, laughing even harder as he drew up a picture of Edward's confused expression. "You had no idea what I was talking about!"

"Shut up," Edward mumbled.

"I can't!" Jasper continued to laugh. Edward fleetingly wished they could be human for only a moment so Jasper would have to stop laughing, if only to breathe. "It was too funny! I mean, I knew you were naïve, but really?"

"I'm not naïve," Edward defended, choosing to ignore the fact that moments ago he had thought that same thing.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of. Sometimes I wish I was more naïve about the world."

"No you don't," Edward said. He tried not to pout. It's wouldn't do to have Jasper think he was a baby – it was bad enough that he now thought Edward had the sexual knowledge of a baby.

"Don't act like you know me," Jasper snapped. Edward could only blink at the sudden change in mood.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to… I was… teasing, I guess."

"Well, stop. Your pathetic meetings aren't making you an expert on me. I won't allow you to 'figure me out'. My life is something you'll never understand, and the longer you play this little game the more disappointed you'll be. I'm not a tourist destination for you," Jasper sneered.

That was it for Edward. He had tried being nice and he had tried being understanding, but it seemed like the only thing Jasper understood was force and control. Well Edward had a temper too, and if Jasper needed to see it to believe Edward was serious, than he would.

Edward stood up quickly and put on his fiercest glare. "You're right, I don't know you. But you don't know me. And you may say that I'm presuming to understand you, but you're doing the exact same thing. At least I'm trying to get to know you. You aren't even trying. You think that because I've led a different life, I can't understand what you may be thinking? You think that makes me inferior to you? Or dumb?

"Well I think this makes you an asshole. You can't tell me not to do something, when you're doing the exact same thing. So how about, instead of getting defensive whenever we start to talk about something you don't want to talk about, how about you ask me nicely if we can talk about something else? I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. I just want to know you."

Jasper stood, and in a moment he was right in Edward's face. "How dare you talk to me like that?"

"What? Can't handle a challenge?"

"Fuck you, rich boy."

"Mature."

"Who do you think you are?"

"I'm pretty sure I'm Edward Cullen née Masen."

Jasper growled and went to grab Edward around the throat, but this time Edward was prepared. He ducked Jasper's hand and instead wrapped his hand around Jasper's throat, swung them around, and threw Jasper against the tree. He didn't have Jasper's honed strength, but the shock of his actions worked in his favour. He pressed himself against Jasper, mimicking their first confrontation, and subtly took in the scent of Jasper before he went back to the task at hand.

"Now you listen to me," Edward said, his face inches away from Jasper's, "I will not allow you to push me around and continue to put me down. I don't have to be here. I want to be here, but I don't have to. I'm here for you. But you can't treat me like shit."

"Then maybe you shouldn't ask stupid questions."

"Maybe you shouldn't be such a cowardly asshole."

"I'm not a coward," Jasper yelled. He struggled against Edward's hand, but Edward put all his force into keeping Jasper put.

"You're acting pretty cowardly to me. Attacking me when I'm just trying to be nice? Getting short with me for no reason? I'm just trying to listen to you, and you're treating me like a bug beneath your feet. How about we both talk like adults."

"I hate you."

Edward ignored the spark of pain that shot through him at his mate's harsh words and managed to roll his eyes. "You don't even know me. You can't hate someone you don't know."

"I know you well enough."

"You know that mature thing I mentioned? You aren't proving me wrong."

"Fuck you."

"Is that all you can say?"

"What do you want? Really? Because I don't believe your bullshit about just wanting to talk."

"That's not my problem. If you don't want to believe me, then fine. But it's the truth. And I won't let you push me away, just because you're a coward."

"Stop calling me that!"

"No, because that's what you are. Are you brave? Yes, I'm assuming so. You'd have to be to do what you do. But you're still a coward. You don't answer me with anything other than mocking. You're attacking me just because I'm asking you things you don't want to think about. I make you uncomfortable. You can tease me all you want, but when I leave here today, I leave to freedom. When you leave, you go back to a place of horror where you have no life of your own, no one who cares about you, and no way out. But I'm trying to give you what I have. I'm trying to give you me," Edward said, suddenly pleading as all his anger seemed to wither from his body. "I'm trying to give you all those things. And because you don't know how to handle it you're pushing me away."

"I never asked you –"

"I know, you didn't. But I'm offering. And you're being stubborn and afraid. I understand that this is new for you. I'm trying to be patient and understanding. But you have to stop pushing me away. I won't hurt you. I'm not like everyone else."

Jasper roared in anger, and threw Edward off him. Edward flew through the air and smashed against a boulder, shattering it into little pieces. This time – despite knowing he had pressed Jasper farther than he should have, for their second meeting – Edward couldn't hide the hurt. He straightened himself out and levelled his gaze at Jasper.

"I'm going to go now. I won't stay here and have you attack me when I'm just trying to help. I'm not a lap dog." Without another word, Edward turned his back on Jasper and took a step into the forest.

"Wait," Jasper yelled, and Edward heard a flash of confused panic shoot through Jasper's mind. "You aren't going to ask for another meeting?"

"Not right now," Edward said, and he took another step into the forest. "But," he said, smiling smugly, even though Jasper couldn't see it. "I'm staying at the Ladybird Motel. When you're ready to stop acting like a jerk, you can find me."

"What makes you think I'll come find you? I keep telling you I don't care."

Edward turned and smirked, tapping his head, "You can keep saying that. But you know, and I know, that it's not true. So when you're ready to admit it to yourself, find me."

He left Jasper there in the forest; desperately praying to anything that would listen that Jasper would eventually show up.

Three days. It had been three days since he had seen Jasper and they had their… disagreement, was what Edward was choosing to call it, rather than a fight. Every time there was a movement around him, Edward's head would shoot up and he would look around him desperately, hoping it was Jasper. But every time he would end up hanging his head in disappointment.

He almost regretted his decision to stay away from him. Especially when he thought that Jasper would never come. Edward wasn't sure what he would do if Jasper never came back. A large and ever growing part of him seriously considered forgetting what he said and just peaking to see what Jasper was up to – just to make sure he was okay. But the rational side – and what he was beginning to think of as his manipulative side – told him that Jasper had to come to the decision on his own and understand that Edward was serious about what he said.

He only hoped that Jasper would be able to connect his promise about staying away with his promise of being there for him, and understand that he kept his word, no matter what it was.

It was running him ragged, though. His thoughts were constantly occupied with worry for Jasper's wellbeing. In a moment of desperation, Edward had even written a letter to Carlisle asking for advice. He hadn't sent it, but just writing to Carlisle and imagining what he would say seemed to clarify things in his mind. He knew he was doing the right thing.

Jasper was scared, and Edward could only push him so far before he would bolt. He just had to be patient, but he refused to let Jasper beat him down. Jasper could bully and terrorise everyone else in his life, but Edward wouldn't allow that for him.

With a sigh, Edward looked around his small room. The motel was plain and rundown, but he didn't spend much time there, except at night. He opened his book and was just about to begin reading when a heavy knock rattled the door.

Knowing that only Jasper knew he was staying here, Edward leapt off the bed and threw open the door. Excitement coursed through his body, but the moment he laid eyes on Jasper his world stopped.

Jasper leaned against the doorframe, holding his side and sliding slowly to the ground. His clothes were torn to shreds, his shirt barely hanging on him. Through the tear, Edward could see angry scratch marks and teeth bites covering his body. If vampires could bleed, Jasper would have been covered in blood and possibly even dead.

Snapping into action, Edward put his arm around Jasper's waist and hauled him into the bedroom. He placed Jasper on the bed and removed his clothing, throwing them to the side of the room. He looked over Jasper and was relieved to see that nothing was missing from him. He was beaten and wounded and it would take some time to heal, but at least there wasn't flesh missing. Even vampires couldn't heal what had been bitten or torn off.

"Jasper," Edward whispered. "Jasper, can you hear me?" Jasper's closed eyes fluttered open and he weakly nodded. "You're going to be fine, but you'll be in pain for a while. I'm going to wash them out, so hopefully they'll heal faster."

He got up and was halfway to the bathroom when he heard Jasper's quiet, "Thank you." He returned to the bed with a wet towel and went straight for the most offensive wound, which Jasper was covering protectively. He howled in pain as soon as the towel met the wound.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Edward continued to whisper, as the pain grew.

"Fuck, it hurts," Jasper spat out through clenched teeth.

"I know it does, but this'll help it heal," Edward said. He hoped he wasn't lying. He had never had to mend vampire wounds before, and he didn't know exactly what he was supposed to do. But washing them seemed like a reasonable way to ensure speedy healing.

"Please just make it stop," Jasper whispered, his voice hoarse with pain and vulnerability. For the first time, Edward felt like he was seeing Jasper as he truly was. A scared, hurt, and broken man who had spent far too much time having to look out for himself in a world where people harmed him and turned against him. Edward didn't know if Jasper was referring to the pain or his entire situation, but he was resolved to help both.

"I will," Edward said, each word spoken like a solemn promise, "I'll make it stop."

Exhaustion, pain, and stress soon made Jasper's mind shut down, and he stared into the room as if in a daze. Edward continued to clean the wounds, paying special attention to the bite marks, hoping that he would lessen the scaring at least a little bit.

His thoughts were racing as he went over the events of the evening in his head. What had happened? Where had he been? But, most importantly, why had Jasper come here? Why had he found Edward?

When he was finally done, he pulled the blankets of the bed over Jasper and sat down next to him to wait for him to wake up and answer all of his questions.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!