It's Jalice Week 2020 and the challenge for Day 3 is "canon gapfiller," so this is the perfect time to write a one-shot that several of you have requested...

1974: Jenks

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Just outside of Indianapolis

Jasper POV

"You do realize that the whole point is to intimidate him," I reminded Alice, looking at her in the mirror. "Not impress him. I'm supposed to look mysterious. Scary. Malevolent."

"You'th oogh mythteriouth aiight," Alice mumbled around the collection of pin needles hanging out of her mouth. "Now hogth thtill."

"I look like a mild-mannered banker. Next one."

"Ogth FITHE!"

She peeled the banker alias off my shoulders, careful not to dislodge her alterations. My "study" now sported a tailor's triple dressing mirror, complete with fluorescent lighting overhead. What with Alice's diminutive size there was a depression in the floor for the lucky victim to step into, at least, and not a stage. Rosalie and Esme were only too happy to oblige, but Alice's ventures into niche fashion were ever-expanding and she had finally crossed the Rubicon into men's formalwear. It was doubtful whether she would ever manage her own boutique, but that didn't stop her from enlisting Edward, Emmett, Carlisle, and me on a regular basis for model duty. Her inspirations occasionally made their debuts in a half-dozen store windows scattered around the continent. It hurt her pride that so far, the only business owners willing to showcase her designs were the sort that her venture capital also happened to be holding up, but fame was fame. We were all just lucky we were impervious to pin needles.

Alice plucked the pins out of her mouth. Mumbling incoherently around them was an important part of the role, but they did have a tendency to start dissolving after a while. "You'll like this one," she said, producing a dark gray trench coat.

"Now that's more like it." I tried it on and peered at my three selves with satisfaction. "Hat?"

"Good grief, no. We're going for silent, edgy gangster, not Dick Tracy. Hmm... maybe these?" She darted into our bedroom closet and returned with a pair of aviator mirror sunglasses. I slipped them on.

"Oh, I like that," Alice decided. She leaned forward and planted her chin on my shoulder and wrapped her arms around my waist; we were the same height for the moment. She studied me in the mirror, twisting a little smile while I tried out a few homicidal expressions for her entertainment. "I like that a lot," she whispered in my ear. She did; I could feel it. Her eyes glazed over for a moment as she visited the future.

"Poor human," she said lightly. "You'll have him blubbering like a kid the moment he sees you. He'll never know what hit him."

"Neither will you," I promised, and yanked her down beside me before she had a chance to see it coming.

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"I don't like this," Edward said for what had to be the fifth time.

"This was your idea," Alice said, scrambling to keep up with us as we strode through the dark streets. "Besides, he's a criminal himself, and a little blackmail never hurt anyone. So no last-minute scruples, if you please."

"You act like I'm going to drink those kids' blood for breakfast," I grumbled, glancing over at Edward's scandalized grimace. I would have preferred not to involve him at all, but I was determined to minimize—or catch—every possible risk associated with the unprecedented step we were about to take tonight. This first meeting required all three of our gifts.

"Remind me which one of us has done that before?"

"Shut up, Edward," Alice hissed. "And hurry up. He'll be getting on the elevator in less than seven minutes."

Our target tonight was Jim Jenks, more commonly known as Bill Smythe, estate tax attorney. The Smythe alias was a front-room cover for the felonies he and his staff committed for their clients on a regular basis. Jenks was a dealer in white-collar fraud, an expert in managing identities for those who were rich enough to afford him. He had access to every kind of special paper, every gold seal, every criminal record, every file folder in every government office. And starting tonight, if this went according to plan, we would become his newest clients.

It had been Edward's idea, all right, and it was a good one. Being a Cullen was a happy ending I had never known to hope for, but it came with its share of downsides. One of the biggest was the unending work it took to manage our paper trail. It was getting increasingly difficult to keep up with all the identities and projects we had accumulated through the years, to say nothing of Alice's ventures into Wall Street. Tax season was a nightmare, and when we had moved here four years ago Carlisle hadn't even been able to start work for a couple of months, it had been so bad. It was his own fault; he insisted on carrying the load for all of us. We each had our own pile of paperwork and to-do list to manage, but his was getting so long it was ridiculous, and he insisted on being the one to do all the break-ins to alter records and steal whatever letterhead or seals were on the agenda. It got harder every year to keep up, what with all the special materials and printers and typefaces and background checks. It really had gotten to be too much, even for him. One of these days he was going to get himself arrested or give himself the first ulcer in the vampire world, whichever came first.

So Edward Masen's untimely death had, actually, come at the perfect time. When we had first moved here at the turn of the decade, Edward decided it was time to kill off his human persona and start over with a younger Masen ready to live out his life on paper. He traveled to Chicago and landed himself right in the graveyard, staring at his own tombstone and working himself up into a real mid-life crisis. If our kind did that sort of thing.

"Seriously?" Edward muttered under his breath beside me.

Anyway, it got him thinking about his human father, who had been a lawyer. He figured it was high time he followed in the old man's footsteps, so he transferred to law school at Notre Dame then and there. He'd had a sizeable commute each day, but it had been worth it. His other goal in attending law school had been to learn more about identity fraud in general—to learn some tips and techniques that would help us keep up and maybe take some of the strain off Carlisle. At best, he hoped to find a few specialized machines that would help us reproduce the documents we needed. He researched old cases and slipped into courthouses to telepathically spy on current cases that had anything to do with it. His "studies" led him to the realization that everyday counterfeiters were one class of criminals and men like Jenks were another class altogether. He had even taken a few discreet trips to investigate the industry and sniff out the possibilities.

I had been surprised to learn that he had never told Carlisle about these trips or about much of his "research" at all. Alice saw the whole thing, naturally. When we asked Edward about it, he said he would prefer to keep Carlisle unaware of the darker underside of the profession he was learning about; apparently, there was a high body count and Edward thought it would be best if Carlisle thought this whole thing still had to do with counterfeit machinery. I wholeheartedly agreed. And it wasn't just that; I could feel the protective nature of Edward's ambitious plan. This wasn't just about making all our lives easier; this was about helping Carlisle keep his hands clean. I wholeheartedly agreed with that, too. Carlisle had such a gentle, generous spirit; he already felt uneasy with the legal compromises and minor thefts he had to conduct in order to keep our human charade running, especially when his actions had the potential to get people in trouble. There was no way he'd be comfortable with the sort of operations this was clearly going to involve.

So Alice and I had added our unique efforts to Edward's search, and that had led us to Jim Jenks. Truth be told, I was still a little uneasy with the prospect of involving humans in our affairs. But if we played our cards right, the risk would stay contained within a very small sphere... easily neutralized. We were barely able to get everything we needed as it was, and now that computers were starting to play a role in recordkeeping, it was going to keep getting more complicated. As much as I hated to take on the risk, we needed human involvement if we were going to keep playing human in the coming decades. It was decided that I would be the point person going forward; this was only going to work if we could regularly put the fear of God in our new associate, and that was right up my alley. And... it was a relief, to finally be in charge of something like this. To feel like I was actually doing something truly productive, something to protect my family besides trying my best not to kill our classmates.

"That's his office," Edward said, nodding up at the building ahead. "Third floor, second window to the left. That one." He had already made one late-night visit here to rifle through Jenks's files, and another to his home to gather even more valuable information.

I nodded. "I know where it is."

I looked and felt around to check, putting on the sunglasses when I was sure we were alone. Then I jumped right up and landed silently on the fire escape.

"What are you doing?" Edward called out in a whisper from down below. "I'm coming in with you!"

"No, you're staying down here with me," Alice informed him. "He'll be able to hear us from inside if he needs us."

I left them arguing down on the street and climbed the rickety staircase at human speed. A car was coming down the main drag from only two blocks away. I didn't think I'd be too visible with the gray trench coat and the gray brick wall, but I hadn't thought to wear a cap. When I reached the third floor I stepped off the railing and crunched my fingernails into the brick, climbing the rest of the way spider-style along the side of the building.

The human was sitting at his desk, hard at work. His office was big and posh, lots of dark woods and golds and big, feathery plants. I gripped the window sill, glancing back at the approaching car.

"I was going to go in the normal way," Edward hissed from three stories below me. "You know, like a human? That window won't be—"

I slid the window open the second the man's back was turned; it let me in without a sound. Edward wasn't the only one who'd already made a late-night visit here. I'd done a little prep work of my own, starting with the window frame and its chains. Human wasn't exactly what I wanted for this first meeting. I didn't plan on breaking the Law—much—but I didn't want this guy to have a good night's sleep after meeting me, either.

Humans had to be the most unobservant animals on the planet. I must have stood there by the window for a full minute before he noticed me. It gave me time to tighten his nerves before we even got started. He shivered and glanced around the enormous space, startling badly when he finally saw me.

"Hello, James."

"Who the hell—!"

He jumped again when I began to stalk towards him. I took my time, letting him fumble in his top drawer for the revolver I had found there two nights ago. He swept it up to aim between my eyes and pulled the trigger. He swallowed noisily when nothing happened.

I tilted my head slowly, letting the light from his lamp travel across the mirror of my sunglasses. "I'm a new client," I said by way of introduction. "When you and I meet, we're going to bypass the customary procedures. That includes the secretary you take to the Ritz on Tuesdays." I reached over his whale of a desk and let the bullets slide out of my hand, clinking one by one onto the polished wood. I felt the shift when he realized that the bullets were from his own gun. I took hold of his fear and soured it further. He began to hyperventilate. Seeing his own panic in my glasses was having a strange effect on him. The room began to stink of sweat and urine and a sense of impending doom. It helped with the thirst... a little.

"You've got his attention," Edward said from outside.

"He's going to pass out," Alice added. "Get him sitting down."

"Have a seat," I told Jenks. "You'll be more comfortable." I gestured toward his chair. He sat.

I sat down on the very edge of the chair opposite his desk, holding myself tall. The chair was low, designed to intimidate the customer. Not this time.

"I—I'm not accepting new clients at this time, unfortunately," Jenks began. He tugged at his shirt collar, gasping for air.

"Except for me."

"This is highly irreg—"

"James," I said softly, jacking up his fear even higher, "we can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way."

"He's going for the bullets," Alice said in a rush.

I swept the bullets off the desk in one quick motion and they thudded into the far wall. Jenks swallowed when he saw how deep the bullets had buried themselves in the broken sheetrock, and swallowed again when he looked back down and realized the revolver had somehow been broken in two. His shaking hand reached for a pen and paper. "W-what kind of services will you be needing, Mr. ...?"

I removed the sunglasses slowly, adding an extra jolt of panic to his natural response when he saw my pitch-black eyes. I had taken an extra risk, coming here this thirsty, but first impressions were important. I would have preferred red, but that would have raised too many questions at home.

Edward snorted outside.

"Jasper," I said. "The last name will vary over the years, so we'll stick with that."

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. ... Jasper," Jenks said faintly, staring back into my eyes. "The services?"

"I'll need a packet of identity documents every few years. Birth certificates, marriage license, license to practice medicine, driver's licenses, passports. A decorative diploma to go with the medical license. Adoption papers. College and high school transcripts. I'll need records changed or erased at a variety of institutions each time, including the IRS. Our needs will evolve as technology continues to evolve. There are seven of us in my... family."

Jenks suddenly felt relieved. "I conduct accounts with several branches of the Family," he said. "I can direct you to—"

"Not that family," I interrupted. "We're another kind of family entirely. There are seven of us, as I said, and we relocate every four years or so. Sometimes sooner. I'll come by myself each time to place the order and again to pick it up. Half up front, half on delivery."

Jenks was about to say something until I pulled out the first packet and laid it on the desk. He ran a fingertip over the edges of the crisp bills, and whatever number he came up with sent his heart racing even faster.

"My first order," I said, setting another envelope on the desk beside the cash envelope. "I'll be back in two weeks to pick it up. Give or take a day."

He read through the list of demands and instructions slowly, then looked up in surprise. "You aren't going to provide me with pictures?"

"I'll be finishing the documents myself. If I'm satisfied that they're good enough." I leaned forward, resting my folded hands on his desk. He leaned away. "This will be a very... long-term association," I told him. "It's better for all of us if you don't have a complete set of information. But I'm still putting a great deal of trust in you, James, and you'll have to guarantee the discretion of anyone you enlist to get the job done. I can't overstate the sensitivity of the information you're holding in your hands right now."

"I'll guard it with my life," Jenks promised quickly.

I could feel Edward's guilt all the way from up here, and I hadn't even said it yet. I shook my head. "Your life? Not good enough. You'll be guarding it with Molly and Jason's lives."

The second his children's names left my lips, Jenks's face flushed beet red, shoving the scent of his blood in my face threefold. I nearly killed him right there. But he was smart enough to vomit at just the right moment, turning his face away to aim for the little trash can beside his desk. It saved his life.

I sat stock-still, waiting until he was finished. "And Peggy's life," I added. "And Uncle Jem's. There are a few more. Should I go on?"

He shook his head vigorously. He couldn't even look me in the eyes anymore. "No! That won't be necessary. None of that will be necessary."

"I'm glad to hear it. Family is the most important thing. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes."

Well, Edward? Is that enough or does he need more?

"We're good," Edward said. "He's planning to use as few of his... employees as possible, and he'll do any work involving the actual names himself." Pause. "He's quite the calligrapher, it looks like."

I stood, and Jenks jumped to his feet like I'd pulled a string. I offered him my hand. He reluctantly shook it, paling again when he felt my corpse-cold grip. I used the moment to drain his fear down to almost nothing, replacing it with a sense of utter hopelessness.

"Two weeks, then," I said, sliding my sunglasses back into place.

He drew a quavering breath. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jasper. I look forward to working with... you," he finished miserably.

I smiled. "So do I, James. Very much so."

When he turned to vomit again, I slipped back out the window.

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"Oh, that feels good."

I was stretched out in the middle of our bed with my eyes closed, comfortably full of bear blood. Alice was curled up against me with her head on my shoulder. Her fingers teased the ends of my hair, catching gently in the tangles I had gotten during the hunt. She coaxed the tangles out one by one, so slowly I could barely feel it. Our love for each other wove together in tangles of its own, intermingled so closely that it was a warm blanket covering us both. My gift couldn't tell where my heart ended and hers began.

The sun rose and set again. The others came and went, and nothing changed except that now Alice's fingers grazed across my chest, drawing slow little circles and loops on my skin.

"You'll open your eyes sooner or later," she murmured into my hair.

"No, I really don't think I will."

The sun rose again. Alice's drowsy love began to fray with worry. Finally I felt her prop herself up on her elbow.

"Jazz."

"Mm." I kept my eyes shut.

"Jazz, what's wrong?"

I blew out a sigh, finally opening my eyes to stare at the ceiling. Alice's pouting face moved to block my view. "I'm losing my edge," I said. "Do you know how hard it was for me to emotionally torture that guy? He did most of the work for me."

Alice studied me for a minute. "Hard as in difficult, or hard as in uncomfortable?"

"...Both? It just felt... wrong. Off, somehow."

Alice's head tilted down so her cheek rested on my chest. Her fingers made their way up to the crook of my neck and my jawline, where the scars were the thickest. She traced them one by one. It took me a minute to realize she was tracing them in chronological order, paging through the years one jagged scar at a time. I lay still until she ran out of pages, then I sat us both up a little, still holding her close.

"It's been so long since I had to do that," I said thoughtfully. "It doesn't feel like... me, anymore."

"It was never you," Alice said hotly. "Not then, not ever." This was one point she was never willing to budge on, and I loved her for it. Even if, on some days, I couldn't agree.

"You know what I mean. I just don't seem to have it in me anymore. It really took some effort to call up that kind of fear... and the hopelessness especially." I smiled to myself, realizing I had just answered my own question. "I've nearly forgotten what that felt like, to live without hope."

Alice twisted in my arms to look up at me upside down. "Only 'nearly'?"

"Give me a century or two." I smiled and touched her hair, tweaking the haphazard spikes at the end. My fingers slid down the slope of her throat to feel its reassuring smoothness. Her beginning was still a mystery—and I had my own private suspicions about what that beginning might have involved—but at least she had no scars. Not a single one.

"Oh, you're nearly there," she said breezily. "I don't think you're scary at all."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is that a fact?"

She shrieked even before I started tickling her, but she hadn't a chance of getting away. We eventually collapsed back into the tangled covers, breathless like newlywed humans, staring at each other. The sun set again.

"Edward can take over," Alice said. "with the human. You don't have to do this."

"I won't need to hurt him like that again. Besides, we're leaving Edward with the toughest job: explaining this to Carlisle without explaining anything."

"Yes, thanks so much," Edward said from downstairs. "I especially liked the part where you changed our last name without telling anyone."

"I don't want to start with 'Cullen,'" I called back. "Carlisle will just have to deal with it."

Edward growled under his breath, trilling a petulant flourish on the lower piano keys.