Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. I'm just playing with the characters. Original plot and characters, however, are mine. Jasper as the God of War and Peter just knowing shit belong to Idreamofeddy.

Author's Note: I just want to thank everyone for the response to the last chapter. It really is good to be back!

And now, on to the good stuff...

oOo

Wednesday, December 30th, 2080

PPOV

It was going on three days since Savannah had shown up here and Charlotte and I were no closer to figuring out why than we'd been on the first one. The woman was locked up tighter than Fort Knox, keeping whatever her motives were for randomly popping up in our lives again close to the vest and not giving away the slightest clue. It was frustrating as fuck, but Charlotte and I weren't giving up. We were still watching her vigilantly and we would beat her. The simple truth of the matter was that we were just better than she was, and far more determined too. That didn't make our lack of progress any less disconcerting.

This fake mating bond was so much worse than the one she'd forged between Jasper and Maria, and minus the torture she'd inflicted on him during that one, he seemed ten times more mind-fucked. Some of those ways were the same as they had been with the first bond but there were others that were entirely new, ones Charlotte and I were not prepared for, even if we outwardly appeared to be. We did have to keep setting an example, especially after Charlotte had failed so thoroughly those first couple of days. Despite that certain aspects were unfamiliar, they weren't so out of left field that we couldn't juggle them. It was just a matter of adjusting and trying to figure out how to twist either his issues themselves or the consequences of them to our advantage. It was still too early and Savannah was still shut up too tight for that strategy to have yielded any fruit either. That was why Charlotte and I had decided to try a different approach.

This approach was a lot more direct, maybe too direct, but as the days passed, it was becoming more and more clear that Jasper was teetering on the edge of losing it to the God of War. Patience was a valid strategy but neither of us wanted to drag this whole shitstorm out any longer than it had to be.

I entered Jasper's study without knocking, trying to impassively observe the way that he and Savannah were curled around each as they read but was unable to keep my lips from twisting with disdain. It lingered only for a moment before I recaptured a semblance of stoicism, schooling not just my face but my emotions as a whole; being in Jasper's life the way I was meant I had to have just as much, if not more, control over what I felt than he did if I didn't want to make his gift more difficult for him or potentially trigger one of his episodes, be it as Jasper, the Major or the God of War. That wasn't the only reason I had for hiding just how strongly I really felt about everything that was going on; if I came across as too hostile, Jasper would never let me leave the house with Savannah, and I needed to get her alone.

"What do you want, Peter?"

His request for my motive was more telling than he'd meant for it to be, conveying just how much this situation was wearing on him. A person's eyes shouldn't be able to hold so much emotion—weariness, distrust, restlessness, agitation, hopelessness, love, devotion, disgust, madness—and yet contain such an emptiness as his did. He was hollow, the spark in him dimmed to the point of near extinguishment, at least at the moment. It broke my heart to see how weak his will to fight was right now, how that void made him so malleable to Savannah's will. Two days ago, when the initial disorientation of the fake mating bond cleared up some and he'd returned to her after our meeting with the wolves, Jasper had projected strongly, extraordinarily so. He hadn't projected that powerfully in decades as a matter of fact, which in and of itself, scared the shit out of me even if it wasn't at all unforeseen. I had lived with him long enough and knew him well enough to tell it was the kind of projection that he was neither aware of nor had any control over and what he'd projected did not bode well for him or any of us.

The devotion I saw in his eyes currently had been brought to life for the rest of us then, the depth of it rocking me to my core, but even more jarring was the confusion and panic that followed when he snapped out of it. Getting that glimpse into Jasper's state of mind was more than a little disheartening, and it had me more worried than I could rightly admit to.

I needed to fix this. I had to fix this.

"I'm lookin' to borrow Miss Savannah," I replied smoothly. "It's about time she and I have a little chat."

The scowl that overtook my sire's face was cold and menacing but it didn't faze me. When he opened his mouth to refuse my request, I headed him off, prepared with a rebuttal. "It's my right as your best friend, the person who knows you best, just flat out knows shit and really is the best part of you as a person to demand an audience with the woman who claims to love you without you present. Don't be a dick and deny me this."

Jasper's eyes flashed dangerously, going black as midnight and narrowing to glittering slits at my words. "No."

"Now, now, Major," I placated. His scowl deepened at the condescending implication of my tone, but he didn't interrupt. "I'd just like to point out, in case you're unaware, that you're in the middle of one of your pod person phases, as you would call it if you were in your right mind. Right now up is down and left is right, your ass could actually be your face for all you know, and Savannah's got your balls gripped so tight you'd do anything she tells you to without a second thought."

Jasper remained silent, his expression still stormy as he waited for me to continue.

"Now that you know which end is which, I hope, and can actually pull your head out of your ass, you should remember that I'm not fuckin' stupid. I know what'll happen if I hurt her—" I jabbed my finger impertinently at Savannah— "and considering I'll be leavin' Charlotte behind with you, it's an especially dumb idea because I know what you'll do to her. Not only that, if I kill Savannah you will also kill me, and you'll be stuck dealin' with this shit on your own. As capable as you are, this is one thing you can't do without me. I refuse to do anything that'll result in that. All I wanna do is talk to her. Read my emotions. You know I'm tellin' the truth, and besides, when have I ever lied to you."

Before he could answer or object again, Savannah spoke up. "Jasper, it's fine."

He gritted his teeth but acquiesced, which made me grit mine even though this was what I wanted.

oOo

We were fifteen miles from the house. I didn't dare take her any farther than that; the more distance I put between us and home, the more Jasper would be able to feel it through the fake bond and the more antsy he would get. I would do my best to keep him as sane as possible, and I wouldn't put the others in the line of fire.

I stared at Savannah for several minutes, back propped against a tree and arms folded across my chest. It made her uncomfortable which was the point, but to her credit, she didn't squirm under my scrutiny.

I could be the most patient man in the world if the situation called for it, but since Charlotte and I had decided patience was irrelevant in this instance, I was eager to show the woman before me just how impatient I could be.

"What are you doin' here?"

She eyed me evenly, almost defiantly. That was new. "I have my reasons."

"Which are?" I prompted, voice indulgent. Indirectness may not be our strategy anymore, but it wasn't quite time to tear into Savannah yet. That didn't mean my tolerance was sincere. If she continued with this evasion bullshit, she would find out exactly how insincere it was sooner rather than later, and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It would sure as hell be satisfying...for me.

"When I reveal them," she responded in a tone that was coldly diplomatic, "it won't be to you."

My lips pulled back over my teeth in a vicious sneer. "Oh, honey," I purred with menace. "I may not be the first person you tell which, by the way, is still up for debate, but I assure you, you damn well will be sharin' 'em with me." Her lips parted to say something but I didn't give her the chance. I didn't care what she had to say. "You see, you may not have made the initial mess, but you added to it, and Charlotte and I've been tryin' for one hundred and twelve years to clean that shit up. The problem is most of that mess is shit that just won't scrub clean. That's why you're gonna tell me because you've got shit to answer for, and you had better hope, for your sake, that those reasons of yours are fuckin' golden."

Savannah flinched, but then anger flickered briefly in her eyes. It was the most emotion I'd seen her express since she'd gotten here, though I knew it was a different story entirely when she and Jasper were alone. "Don't pretend like whether or not my reasons are good will make any difference," she said, voice wintry. "And really, why do you and your mate feel the need to remind me of things I don't need to be reminded of? It's not as if I can forget them, and I certainly can't change them."

"Because there should never be a day, never an hour, never a fuckin' second, when you get a reprieve from the memories of what you did or the guilt of it, if you even feel any," I shouted at her. "Not when he doesn't."

"I am sorry for that!" she shouted back. "You have no idea how sorry I am! I never wanted this!"

The grisly laugh that bubbled up my throat and burst forth was sardonic and disbelieving. It nearly choked me, but once I started, I couldn't stop. It doubled me over with its ferocity, drawing my arms from across my chest to hold my sides as I shook with it, gasping with my utterly humorless mirth.

Savannah stood there gaping at me as I lost myself in the insanity of it. After a while—I didn't know exactly how long—her eyes narrowed, and she rushed me, hand shooting forward to strike. As hard as I was laughing, I wasn't able to intercept the slap, or maybe I just didn't care enough to, but she wasn't strong enough for it to hurt. I laughed harder.

"Stop it!" she shrieked. "Stop laughing at me!"

When she went to hit me again, I caught her hand before it could connect with my face, my laughter abruptly dying. "Try that again and you'll regret it."

"You promised Jasper you wouldn't hurt me," she reminded me hotly, still caught up in her rage.

"I didn't promise I wouldn't threaten you," I countered with a smug, feral smile.

"I think we both know they're empty," she said, arrogant despite that her chest was still heaving from her shitfit.

"For now." And she knew I was right. They were empty, but the moment her fake bond to Jasper broke, if he decided not to kill her himself, I would and I would laugh as I did it.

Savannah futilely pulled at my grip on her wrist which got her nowhere, but she didn't give up. The next time she tried, I let her wrench free and watched her stumble, allowing her to put two feet of space between us. Lord knows I didn't want to be up close and personal with the bitch for longer than I had to. The distance seemed to calm her some, but her face was still contorted with emotion, just not the emotion I'd assumed. I'd thought it was rage, but it was…anguish? That couldn't be right.

"Don't laugh at me," she muttered bitterly.

"Gotta get my kicks somewhere, sugar," I came back at her easily, smirking.

"Get them somewhere else," she snapped.

"Why?" I taunted. "You shit all over anything good our lives had in 'em three days ago, so as far as I'm concerned, you're fair game."

She let out an indulgent-sounding laugh before sighing in defeat. "I suppose that's true."

I snorted. "There's no supposin' about it."

"Look, I know you hate me," Savannah stated plainly, "but answer me this."

I had no interest in giving her answers, in giving her anything, but what she wanted to know could be just as telling as her answers to the questions I had for her, and I was in this for the long haul. I gave her a gesture of assent, albeit a derisive one.

"What is so wrong with wanting to live?" Her voice and eyes showed a kind of desperation as she asked it, a need so intense it might have bowled me over if it had been anyone else doing the asking.

"Nothing," I responded, blunt.

"Then why?" she beseeched. "Why can't you understand?"

"Because you loved him!" I bellowed, the words bursting forth like a detonated bomb. "Because you still love him, but that didn't matter. You didn't let it matter."

"It did matter!" Savannah cried. "It does matter."

A scornful, skeptical noise rumbled in the back of my throat and set her already delicate psyche alight.

"It mattered to me," she declared firmly, heartbroken, her eyes filling with venom tears. I watched, apathetic, as one spilled down her cheek. "It didn't matter to her. I didn't have a choice. She didn't give me a choice."

No, Savannah's feelings for Jasper certainly hadn't mattered to Maria. She thought they were hilarious actually, but I didn't give a fuck about that. This wasn't about Maria.

I couldn't contain the icy smirk that overtook my lips but it quickly morphed into another sneer. "You had a choice," I argued, tone biting. "You just didn't like what it was."

She took in a shuddering breath, a second and final tear sliding over her skin before she brushed it harshly from her face. Her eyes narrowed and hardened in a way I'd never seen before—this was not the Savannah I'd known for just shy of four decades in the Southern Vampire Wars. That Savannah had been docile and subservient, fearful and pliable with not a hint of steel to her. I wasn't sure I could say the same about the woman that stood before me now. "And what about your choice, Peter?"

"Excuse me?" My voice was low and deadly, my own eyes unyielding and exuding the promise of pain.

Some part of me thought she might smile or laugh. Isn't that what evil bitches did in situations like this? But she didn't. Her eyes filled with venom again as well as an emotion I was quite familiar with…bitterness. "You've loved him from the beginning just like I have, and you were there with him before I was—"

Suddenly I knew exactly where she was going with this, and I wanted to scream at her to Shut up! But I couldn't. Savannah was smarter than I'd given her credit for but my gut told me this wasn't her being calculating. I'd hit a nerve and she was lashing out, but planned or not, I couldn't take any bait she threw out. I couldn't afford to lash out too, and I was just plain better than that.

"You could have taken Jasper away from Maria before he turned me, but you didn't," she stated with conviction, accusing. "Did you even try?"

Her gaze remained unfaltering and relentless as it stayed locked on mine, and I could see it. She wanted me to crack like she had, but I would not give her what she wanted even if what I wanted more than anything in that moment was to rip her throat out, rub my venom in the wound and revel in her agonized howls. Purposely or not, the bitch hit where it hurt. All I could do was stand there stone-faced with gritted teeth, clenched fists and crossed arms.

"And then I did come along. Maria discovered what I could do with my gift, and when she started to use me to torture him, what did you do? Nothing," she spat spitefully. "For nearly four decades you didn't lift a finger, Peter. You stood idly by, and for what? Because your gift told you to? Because you just know shit? That's bullshit! And then you and Charlotte abandoned him! You left him alone with me! With Maria—"

In that moment, I had never hated anyone more in my life, and I no longer gave a shit about rising to her bait. I could not stay quiet any longer.

"You shut your fuckin' mouth!" I roared, livid, now stuck halfway between past and present.

The images and soundtrack of our gory past paraded through my head like a movie, the footage perfectly crisp and as gruesome as it had been the first time around: the rush and gush of scalding blood and cool venom, the gurgling of it as scores of humans and vampires alike died, the screams of fear, of agony—humans, vampires, mine, Charlotte's, Jasper's, oh God, Jasper's—the screech of vampire flesh being ripped apart and the sweet stink of venom billowing into the sky as they burned... Jasper wasn't the only one who struggled with all that shit.

"You knew he would suffer," she persisted despite my even more virulent tone and the shift of my body into a more menacing stance—lifting up onto the balls of my feet, lowering my center of gravity, bending my knees in preparation to launch myself at her but clearly just barely restraining myself from doing so. She had to have noticed but it didn't stop her from continuing to tear into me. "You knew he wouldn't be able to lie to her about lettin' the two of you go! You knew the second you turned tail and ran like a damn coward what the consequences would be for him, and whatever you've imagined, trust me, the reality was worse, but you did it anyway! At least I stayed with him! I couldn't help him the way he needed it, but I stayed! You think I can't read between the lines? You think I don't know what you mean when you say I didn't like the choice I had? You think that because I loved him I should have sacrificed myself for him, that I should have died for him, and maybe that's true, but what about you? You didn't fight for him! You didn't die for him, you didn't even try—"

"You shut your fuckin' mouth!" I repeated, snarling. I catapulted forward and pinned her to the boulder just next to us, my hand around her neck and chest heaving so hard it hurt. I did not squeeze or put any pressure against her throat even though my instincts and fury were demanding that I do precisely that, just aware enough to remain cognizant of the promise I'd made to Jasper and what would happen both to him, Charlotte and me if I broke it.

"Everything, every. single. fuckin'. thing I have ever done has been for him!" I shouted, venom spittle spattering Savannah's face as I screamed at her. We were nose to nose and I knew my eyes were totally black and wild with rage. She stood stock still but wasn't nearly as afraid as she should have been. "You think I didn't fight for him? All I did was fight for him! All I have ever done is fight for him! He knew how much I hated the way Maria treated him, how much it pissed me off, but he told me to leave it alone. My gift told me to leave it alone, but I ignored both of them. The first and only time I ever raised my hand in his defense we both paid the price for it, but his was infinitely higher than mine. The only reason I'm still fuckin' standing here is because he took a bullet for me that day by convincing Maria that he needed me on the battlefield. Do you know how much she made him suffer for that? He didn't need a second-in-command, let alone some green newborn he made out of a dumb shit kid! He has saved my life more times than one damn life has any business being saved! You think I wouldn't die for him? There is nothing I won't do for him. I would die for him now and I sure as hell would have died for him then, and if I took Maria out with me I would have gone out smiling. Do you know why I didn't?"

She tried to respond but I cut her off. I was done listening to her.

"Because he needed me alive! I had one fuckin' job, Savannah, just one—stay alive so I could have Jasper's back. I knew that one day, I would be the one to get him out, that I would be the one to end at least part of his suffering! Not you. Me. If I had died, he would still be there, with you, with her. You think I sat on my hands for thirty-eight fuckin' years and watched that for shits and giggles? That I liked it? I did it because I had to. You think I could force him, him, to do something he didn't want, that it was as easy as throwing him over my shoulder and whisking him off to his happily-ever-after? You naive, foolish little girl."

At this, she dug her fingernails into my hand and clawed with all her might, the rest of her thrashing and struggling mightily. It didn't make one damn bit of difference.

"There was no getting him out of that hellhole before he was damn well good and ready to see Maria for the sadistic, abusive bitch that she is, for him to come out of that spell she put him under—that you helped her put him under! In order for that to happen, he had to trust me… so yes, I bided my time. Yes, I watched him suffer, but I also put in the work it took for him to see that I was his friend and that I actually gave a shit about him, so that he trusted that more than he trusted her! You think I don't feel so fuckin' guilty that I had to wait and see him endlessly hurt sometimes that I wish I was the one who'd suffered that way instead of my best friend? That sometimes I hate myself for having to wait for so long that I wish I'd died? Because I do! I have one fuckin' job, Savannah, just one..."

In that moment, Savannah looked so crestfallen and filled with remorse that if I let her speak she probably would have taken it all back. She would have apologized profusely, maybe even dropped to her knees and clutched me around mine as she did it. I knew for sure then that all of it was just a result of everything I'd said and done, but just because she might have taken it back didn't mean she didn't believe every word she'd said was true. I didn't care either way.

"You and I are the same. We both had choices we didn't like, but you wanna know what makes me different? You took the easy way out and made the choice that was best for you while I made the one that was more difficult but ultimately best for him. You could have chosen different," I spat with contempt, sneering. She opened her mouth to say God only knows what in her defense, but I wouldn't allow it. "You want to know the really sad thing? You never realized that you weren't alone. You had me. At any point, you could have come to me, and I would have put our differences aside as long as you were willing to do whatever it took to save him. We could have worked together. You wouldn't have had to be terrified because I would have been there for you, I would have had your back, and we could have saved him from her," I told her reluctantly. I shook my head, heavy with disgust and disbelief. "We could have been a family, Savannah—you, me, Jasper and Charlotte. You never would have had Jasper the way you wanted, but you could have had a family."

Savannah's eyes widened in shock, as though none of this had never occurred to her. Could I have gone to her? Yes, but it wouldn't have mattered. Her fear and survival were her most powerful motivations, and Maria had played on that knowledge ruthlessly. No matter what I might have said or done to try to convince her, Savannah had been too embroiled in her fear to crawl out from underneath Maria's thumb, and coming to me had to be something she wanted badly enough without any outside influence.

"I know you loved him, that you still do, and that it was real, as shit of a person as you are, but you didn't love him enough," I uttered quietly but poignantly. "You didn't love him enough to try, and that's what he deserves. He deserves better than you."

"I know that," she agreed just as quietly. "I've always known that, and I always wished I was brave enough to do what needed to be done to save him. I just…wasn't."

As shocking as it was, I actually believed her. I still didn't care.

"Most people are doomed to repeat their past mistakes," I stated. Then my voice morphed into a growl, "God help you if you're here because Maria sent you."

Savannah's face lost its softness and sincerity in an instant, her eyes flashing with rage and what looked like affront. "If I was here doing Maria's bidding, I'd already be dead a thousand times over," was her own cryptic response, voice gone cold with her words. I didn't know if that was because of me or Maria. Defiance threaded through the ice in her gaze as she demanded, "Are we done?"

I smirked. "Not by a long shot," I assured her, pushing against her throat enough to make her cough before releasing her. "Now get the fuck out of my sight before I do somethin' I've never done before and break a promise to Jasper by rippin' you apart. After a century and a half plus, that's not a pattern I'm real keen on breakin'."

She was all too happy to flee.

oOo

A/N: So... who hates Savannah like ten times more than you did before this chapter?