A/N: So I realized that we haven't heard from Ms. Rosalie in a while, so I decided to let her have her say. She's one of my favorites. And also remember, this story isn't over until it's over.

Rosalie POV

Sometimes I hate people. Not all people, but at least 80% of them. Sometimes even more then that. I've only been on this earth for 19 years, but I have a list of people that I hate that's over a page long. I've never let anyone see it, not even the therapist my parents dragged me to for three years, but it's there. To make my list, you have to be special. Ordinary jerks and assholes need not apply. No, to be on my hate list, you have to be so terrible that you should be removed from this earth, and suffer when you go.

Even though the list was hidden upstairs in my bedroom, and I was still in the living room, I could run down the names from memory. Royce King. Vernon and Lillian Hale. Dale and Samantha McCarty. James Hunter. Martin Summers, the lawyer who had gotten young Mr. James off with a stay in a cushy mental institution, until he could be 'cured of his compulsions'. Like raping a little girl was anything but a choice. They had released a monster after just two years, while Alice suffered a decade later. Kim Waters, the social worker who came and took the little kids away after Mom was diagnosed with MS, closing us as a foster home. I could still remember little Josh hanging on to me, sobbing as he was ripped away from the only stable home he had ever known. One more bond broken, one more bruise on his tiny soul. I hoped he was ok now, but something inside of me doubted it. Every time I heard of a parent abusing or neglecting a child I added them. I'm still not sure what I plan to do with the list when I'm finished, but just writing down the names is soothing.

But now there's a name rises above all the others. Most of them, I can at least try to understand, even if I could never forgive them. Yes, I get that my parents were addicts, and maybe they weren't capable of choosing me over their needles. Same for Emmett's. It doesn't change what they did to us, though. And, ok, the lawyer and the social worker were just doing their jobs. But so were the Nazis, and everyone thinks that it's ok to blame them.

The person I hate the most right now, though, she doesn't have any excuse for what she did, except that she's cruel. Maria Teresa. The reason I'm sitting in a dark living room, listening to my brother breath and praying that he doesn't suddenly quit, or start seizing again.

Actually, all three of us were sitting here watching. If Jasper had been awake, he would have hated it. But he wasn't. He wasn't even really asleep. He was unconscious, neither alive or dead but somewhere in between. I couldn't wake him up now, even if I tried. He hadn't moved when Emmett lifted him on to the couch, and he didn't so much as twitch when I stripped his clothes off and put his favorite pair of pajamas on him. Normally I would have left well enough alone, but seizures are extremely taxing on the body, and he was drenched in sweat.. I don't like touching men myself, but I wasn't about to let Alice do it, and Emmett felt weird about taking another mans clothes off, so I had to.

I reached out for what felt like the millionth time, resting the back of my hand against his forehead. It was cool, just like I had known it would be, but I had to try something. Alice was giving me that look that was half hopeful and half reproachful, like she thought I would know exactly how to handle this.

I didn't. Mentally, I reran everything I had done so far, just to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. Did I make sure he hadn't banged his head on anything during the seizure itself? Yes. Had I gotten him on his side afterwards, so he didn't choke on his own vomit? Done. I had monitored his breathing, soothed him when he woke up groggy and semi-conscious, and kept both Alice and Emmett from freaking out. I had done everything that I was supposed to.

So why did I feel so useless? It was even worse after Mom finally called back. No, she didn't need to come home. How big of an idiot did she think that I was? I could handle Jasper as well as she could and he loved me just as much. So I told her to have her date with Dad and hung up the phone.

"How much longer before he wakes up? This time it was Emmett asking too many questions.

Deep breaths, Rosalie, don't snap at him. As much as I wanted to scream that he had been right in the room when Mom gave us all the big talk about epilepsy, and everything that came along with it. So he should have remembered this as well as I did. But he clearly didn't, so I spoke as calmly as I could. "Probably not until tomorrow. He needs to sleep it off right now."

"Well, how do we know he's not in a coma or something?" I knew that Emmett loves Jasper and was only trying to make sure he was alright, but I saw Alice's eyes shoot wide open at the word 'coma'.

I smacked him. "He's not in a coma! He was awake for a little bit after the seizure, but you weren't home then. He's breathing fine, it was only one small seizure, and he's gong to be alright in the morning." I left out the fact that I had sneakily pinched the webbing between his finger and thumb until he flinched. So, yes, I was sure he wasn't in a coma.

Yes, I had done everything that I should have. There was nothing left to do but stare at Jasper and secretly hope that Mom and Dad would come home soon. Even though my heart still has trouble trusting them, my brain does know that they'll take care of us and that they do have our best interests at heart. Dad will know what to do for Jasper, and he'll be better at soothing Alice's fears.

I tried to get everyone cheered up a bit. "How about we watch a movie down here? It's not going to bother Jasper, and we can all help keep an eye on him." This way I could also intercept Edward at the door and make sure he put on a happy face for Alice.

I made some popcorn and let the two of them bicker over what movie to watch. Even from the kitchen, I could tell that Alice's heart wasn't in it, and that Emmett was doing his best to keep things going. I tuned them out as I made drinks, in favor of trying to hear something, anything, from Jasper. There was nothing, but I couldn't help but keep listening. I wouldn't put it past Jasper to suddenly sit up and start chattering away, just to be contrary.

Emmett had picked the Bourne Identity, which was one of the rare movies that we could all agree on. I made sure I sat in front of the couch, just so I could monitor Jasper's breathing. It was quiet and steady, just like he was asleep. When I touched his hand, it was warm, and his fingers curled loosely around mine. I squeezed back, because there was always the possibility that, on some level at least, he knew I was there.

I love Jasper. Not the same way I love Emmett, but almost like I would love a kid if I were able to have one. I can't, by the way, but that's a secret that only Mom, Dad, and I know. We don't know if it's because of what Royce did to me, or if it's something else, but my chances of having a baby, really the only thing in this world that I want, are 1 in 10,000 or less.

And he loves me back. He likes Mom and Dad, and I think he trusts them, too, but they're more then a little threatening to him. If he needs something, he comes to me first. Edward sucks up to our parents, and Alice is a Daddy's girl in the extreme. Emmett loves Esme. It's kind of nice to have someone who looks up to and needs me for a change.

Speaking of our parents, they arrived about halfway through the second Bourne movie, which was good. It meant that they had done both dinner and the movie instead of coming home. Which also meant that they trusted me to be in charge and take care of Jasper.

Alice jumped up and rushed to Mom, babbling away about everything that had happened tonight. I stood as well, and got out of Dad's way as he checked Jasper's pulse and breathing, then looked at his eyes. I didn't miss the gentle shoulder pat before he straightened up. "Rose, can you tell me what happened?"

Before I could say anything, Alice jumped over. "He-"

Dad gently cut her off. "Babe, let Rose tell me, ok? I'll get your version in just a minute."

See, when he does things like that, it makes me like him more. I don't know that I'll ever be able to love him like Edward and Alice do, and I know that he knows it, but he doesn't treat me any different or like a second class citizen. Briefly, I ran down everything that had happened, and what I had done. "And now here we are. He hasn't move since, but he's breathing really well, and he looks alright."

He nodded. "Rosalie, you were a superstar tonight. You did everything you should have and I'm sure that Jasper will be grateful as well."

I smiled at him, appreciating the praise. "What do we do now?"

"We wait. There's nothing that I can do that you haven't already done. He'll be awake in the morning, I promise."

I didn't believe him. Not because I didn't think that Jasper would make a full recovery, because I do. But Dad of all people should know better then to promise anyone anything, especially when you're dealing with a medical problem. Though I didn't want to dwell on in, Jasper could die during or after a seizure. He could collapse and hit his head on something, he could choke during, there was even something known as 'sudden epilepsy death' where his heart could just give out. To promise that Jasper would be just fine felt like a lie.

"Ok." I wanted to stay with Jasper all night, but Dad was shooing us off to bed. "But I thought I could stay with him, just in case."

"That's very generous, Rose, and I'm sure that Jasper would appreciate it, but you need to get some rest. Your father with stay with him." Mom rubbed my shoulder. "I can't emphasize enough how well you did tonight. You're a wonderful caretaker and sister, Rosalie."

Even though I know that I bring a lot of it on myself because of my behavior, I do sometimes feel like all that Mom and Dad do is yell at and get irritated with me. To have them both tell me that I had done well with Jasper in just a few minutes was unusual and wonderful. "Thank you."

I leaned over and gave Jasper a quick kiss on the cheek. "See you in the morning."

Even after I went upstairs, I couldn't settle down. I was still sitting there, reading a book when Mom knocked on the doorway. "Can I come in?"

"Sure." I set the book down and looked at her.

She sat on the edge of my bed. "I just wanted to make sure that you were alright. I know it must have been frightening for you to see that."

It was nice that she came in to see me. I was the oldest and an adult, so I was sometimes forgotten when there were still Edward and Alice and even Emmett who needed them more. Again, this was my own fault. I had spent so much time trying to convince them that I didn't need them as parents, that they tended to believe it. Most of the time, it was fine, but sometimes I could use a little extra attention, too. "I'm ok. I mean, I knew that this could happen, but…." I trailed off and shook my head, not sure of what I was trying to say.

"You never think it will actually happen to you?"

"Yeah." That was the truth. "I guess no one ever does, though."

I didn't just mean Jasper, either. Never in my life did I think that I would be one of 'those girls' who had been molested by an adult. I wouldn't be adopted. I would never accept parents other then my own, Lillian and Vernon. But it had all happened to me. At least I had made it out of my childhood without any permanent physical damage. "Jasper is going to recover, though. Not just from this seizure, but from all of it. He's tougher then you think he is."

Mom smiled. "Oh, I have no doubts that your brother is as tough as they make them. What I doubt is that he knows it."

Sometimes Mom has no idea what's going on, and sometimes she's so on the ball that it's kind of scary. This was exactly what he and I had discussed during the camping trip. "He'll figure it out." I tried to sound more hopeful then I felt.

She nodded, but didn't look that hopeful either. "Are you sure that you're ok?" When I nodded, she patted my shoulder. "There's another reason I came to see you. It's going to be Jasper's birthday in a few days, and I thought you might have a few ideas about what he might like for a party. He's been pretty closed mouthed with me."

Jasper was closed mouthed with everyone. He had preferences and interests, but you had to be an avid Jasper-watcher to determine what they were. "Something small, but make sure that you invite Peter and Charlotte as well. Don't make it too young, but I kind of think he would appreciate some balloons or something. He's never had a party before."

"So a kids party, but one that doesn't look like a kids party?" Mom looked confused.

As soon as she said it, I realized that it was wrong. "Actually, no. Maybe we should go full out and give him a blow out kids party. Balloons, party hats, piñata, character plates. Everyone deserves to remember at least one really wonderful blow out party. I mean, he's a little old for it, but I don't think that we're going to get another chance with Jasper."

She reached out for me, and, for once, I let her take my hand. "Rosalie, does Jasper confide it you?"

That put me in an awkward position. Yes, Jasper did confide in me, probably more so then in any other family member. But saying so would not only betray his trust, but hurt Mom's feelings. So I shrugged and tried to downplay it. "He tells me some things."

That was an understatement. For example, I know where that enormous burn scar on Jasper's arm came from. I know that Maria had a skeevy boyfriend named Riley who had his eyes set on touching my brother. I know that both Jasper and the smaller children in the house had access to pornography. He was never sexually abused, at least not that he's admitted to me, but he was definitely exposed to hard core things at far too young an age. I know that he used to sleep up against the furnace in the basement at night to keep warm, and that the humming noise it made has become a comfort sound for him. I know that he laughs if you tickle his collarbone, and I know that he can walk across the garage floor on his hands if you coax him hard enough. I know that he loves this family in his own special way, but he's not ready to be a permanent part of it. I know that we're going to lose him.

I thought that Mom would want to know what sort of things Jasper had told me, but she didn't ask. She just squeezed my hand again. "I'm glad that he has someone to confide in. I know this hasn't been an easy placement on any of us, and Jasper desperately needs a friend."

The fact that she didn't demand to know what Jasper had told me surprised me. Emmett had asked. Alice had asked. Even Dad had asked, though he tried to be a little sneakier about it. Please, like I wasn't the queen of manipulation. I love the man, but Dad has nothing that I haven't already thought of my age 15. But Jasper deserved his secrets, the same way anyone else does and Mom seemed to respect that. She stood up. "I love you, Sweetie, good night."

I snuggled down under the covers. "I'll think up some ideas for Jasper's birthday, ok? I think it's going to be a lot of fun."

Usually it takes me a long time to fall asleep, but I was so exhausted that I was out within minutes. I slept until nearly 11, and probably would have slept longer if the man of the hour hadn't decided to make an appearance. I woke to my name being repeated softly over and over. "Rosalie? Rosalie? Rosalie? Rosalie?"

I rolled over and looked at him. "Jasper, Jasper, Jasper. What's up?"

He took my reply as an invitation and sat down on the edge of my bed. "Hi."

Once he was actually in the room, Jasper lost whatever courage had driven him in here to find me in the first place. I sat up. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore. My stomach was sick this morning, but it's better now." He still looked pale and his hands had a tremble that told me he felt worse then he was claiming. "Thank you for taking such good care of me last night. I know it wasn't easy for you."

I gently slugged his arm. "It's what friends do. No, it's what sisters do."

He smiled. "Yeah. You're my sister, Rose. I've never had a big sister before, just little ones."

The thought of us being siblings clearly pleased him, which pleased me, too. "What's up, bro?"

His face closed off. "I need your help."

My stomach tightened, and I knew that this wasn't going to be good. "Anything."

"I need you to drive me somewhere today." He was studying me worriedly, his hair falling into his eyes.

Somehow, I didn't think a ride was all he was asking me for. "Where are we going?"

"Just for a ride. Everyone is staring at me like they expect my head to turn all the way around or something." His head tilted slightly, and I knew that he was lying. Maybe not about being stared at and wanting to get out of the house, but he certainly wasn't telling me the entire truth.

"Sure. Do you have a time in mind?" I was much more likely to get the truth out of Jasper if I could get him alone.

"Whenever is good for you." He gave me a shy smile and stood up. "Thank you, Rose."

No matter how long we kept him, Jasper still thought that he was going to be turned down for the simplest requests. "How about you and I go to lunch together? I haven't eaten anything today and I'm guessing you haven't either if you weren't feeling well this morning.."

Now he was giving me a real smile. "Ok, that would be great."

"Good, now leave so I can get dressed. We'll go in 45 minutes." That should give me enough time to get ready, as well as soothe my nerves. There was nothing, other then a gut feeling, to suggest that this was anything other the what Jasper claimed it was, but I knew.

Since he's a boy and had undoubtedly showered before I even woke up, Jasper was ready and waiting by the door. I called to our parents that we were leaving and led him out the door.

Jasper was quiet in the car, tapping nervously on his knee. Pushing him serves absolutely zero purpose, so I let it go. Even if I could force him to communicate, he would stress out and start mixing up and losing his words until he was impossible to understand. Poor guy.

The silence lasted until we were actually sitting at the lunch table. I kept my voice light. "So, was there somewhere else you wanted to go while we were out? Maybe the bookstore or Walmart?"

He took a deep breath and pushed a French fry to the side. "No. I want you to take me to look at some apartments." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper that had been crumpled and smoothed over several times. "I made a note of ones that I think I can afford and that are close to bus lines and stuff."

It was one thing to know in my heart that we were losing Jasper, and another thing entirely to hear him say it so bluntly. I wanted to beg him to stay, but my first instinct would be the worst possible thing to do. Jasper was trusting me over anyone else with this information, and I had to respect him. "Of course. Let me see what you've got."

Every single apartment listed was in Port Angeles. "There wasn't anything closer to home?" I could have kicked myself as soon as I said it. If Jasper considered our house home, he wouldn't be leaving in the first place.

"No. There's no bus in Forks, so I'd be stuck with only jobs I can walk to. It's going to be hard enough to find a job even with being able to take the bus." He squirmed uncomfortably. "I wish I could be closer."

I tried to perk him up. "Well, you won't be driving, but the rest of us can. We'll visit."

His attempt at a smile was almost painful in it's sadness. "Really? You'll still come visit me?"

"Of course. I love you, whether you live with us or not. The entire family will still love you."

He looked surprised. "You don't think that Carlisle and Esme will be mad at me?"

"No. They'll be disappointed, but only because they wanted to be able to have you longer. You know that you're welcome to stay, right?"

That got me an uncomfortable nod. "I know. It's just….I can't. I need to be somewhere because I want to be, not because someone else wants me to be. Does that make sense?"

It did. Jasper has never had any control over his life, except for those few years he was with his biological mother. He was sent to homes that didn't choose, forced to follow rules that he didn't understand, make to fit into the lives of some people he had never met before. Then, just as he was settled in, he was told to go somewhere else.

To us, Jasper was the miracle that we hadn't even realized we were looking for. The kid that came long after Social Services had told us that there would be no more. To Jasper? The Cullen family was just another stop on a road that had already been too long and twisted.

This was about him, not me, so I nodded. "I do get it. I just wish that things could be different."

"I know." He stood up. "Can you do me another big favor? I know that it isn't really a fair thing to ask."

I should have known better then to agree to anything without finding out exactly what it was, but I was eager to let him know that at least one person was totally on his side. "Sure."

"Please don't tell Carlisle and Esme. I don't want them to know." His blue eyes pleaded with me.

Ouch. "I think that they're going to notice when you turn up missing one morning."

"Don't worry, I won't just disappear." The way he avoided my eyes told me that he had planned on doing just that.

"If you promise not to do that, I promise not to tell them." I knew that if he promised me, he wouldn't go back on his word.

"I promise." The words were said with a gravity befitting the situation. "I won't just disappear."

Once Jasper makes up his mind about something, it's next to impossible to get him to change it. So I put on my happiest face and focused on finding him the best possible apartment. He needed something that was close to a bus line, close to a hospital, and, above all, safe.

Unfortunately, those things aren't easy to find on a limited budget. If Jasper couldn't live with us, then there was no way he would be able to live with a roommate. And let me tell you something. I am not leaving my baby brother in some of those rat traps. Small is fine. Shit, Jasper would probably prefer small, so he could keep an eye on all corners at once, but nonfunctioning locks, drug dealing neighbors, and walls so thin we actually heard one set of neighbors having sex were deal breakers.

It took most of the day, but we finally found two apartments that met all of our requirements. I liked the ranch style one, but Jasper preferred to be on the second floor, so we went with that. Then we had to find the landlords, fill out paper work, and arrange a move in day. I ended up having to cosign for him, because he was still technically under the age of 18. The landlord wanted a parent to sign, which led to a rather awkward discussion of the fact that there was no parent, just Jasper. He finally let it slide, but I got the impression that Jasper was going to be watched very closely. Which might not be a bad thing. He needs more of almost everything then the average 18 year old, even if he's the only one who can't see it.

Back at the car, Jasper shocked me by wrapping his arms around me and tucking his head into the juncture of my shoulder and neck. "Thank you, Rose. You're the only one I can trust to do this."

I got where he was coming from with that. Mom and Dad mean well, and they would have taken him to look at apartments if he had asked them, but they would have wanted to know why, and what they could do to change things so they could keep him at home where he belonged. Emmett would have taken him, but he also would have blabbed, because Emmett can't keep a secret to save his life. Alice wouldn't have been able to do it without crying, and Edward wouldn't do anything to upset her. "You know that I would do anything for you."

It was a quiet ride back, but that isn't anything out of the ordinary for Jasper. I turned on the radio and we sang along for a few songs. Looking at him in the passenger seat, I was struck by the difference between him now and when he had first arrived just a few month ago. That Jasper had been too thin and pale, almost grey. He was like a shadow more then a person.

Now it's different. He's put on weight, and gotten tan from all the time he spends outside with his brothers. He talks a lot, and even argues when the mood strikes him. He's nearly at grade level with schoolwork, which is impressive, considering everything he's been through. He can bond normally with people, even if he does still prefer to be left alone. All in all, he's made up a lot of ground in a very short time.

But I don't know that it's enough. He's much closer to an average 18 year old then he has been, but even an average 18 year old would have trouble moving out and supporting themselves while still in high school Or was he planning on dropping out and working full time? His social security payments would help, as would the money that Mom and Dad were putting aside for him, but those things wouldn't last forever if he didn't have enough money coming in. "Jasper?"

"Him?" He looked over curiously.

"You do plan on staying in school, right? Because you need to at least graduate high school, even if you don't do college right away."

"I don't want to quit school. I love school and the apartment isn't too far away to walk." Again, he didn't quite meet my eyes.

Didn't want to quit school wasn't the same thing as wouldn't quit school. Jasper might love it, but if it came down to eating and having a roof over his head versus going to class, we both knew what he would choose. His basic needs will trump everything.

"You know you can always call me if you need a ride, right? I'll drop everything for you."

He smiled at me, one of the few totally natural and full smiles I had seen from him. "You'll be such a great Mom one day."

"No I won't. I can't be a mother because of what Royce did to me." The doctors had already told me that having children would be a million to one chance, even with medical interventions.

He blinked. "Be a Mom like Esme, then. There's lots of ways to be a Mom if you really want to. I just thought that you're already good at it."

"I couldn't. There's no way I could love kids as my own, and then see them leave and go back to the same or worse as where they started out." I had considered fostering and adoption on and off ever since I was 15 and got the official news that I wouldn't be having children of my own, but there was so much heartbreak involved, that I wasn't sure that I could do it.

Jasper turned back to the window, looking out aimlessly. I hate it when he does that, because most of the time tiny changes in his facial expressions are the only way to even guess what's going on in that head of his. God knew, he wasn't going to just come out and tell you without being pushed.

So a little nudge it was. "Jasper? What are you thinking about?"

One eyes flickered in my direction. "Do you think I'm going somewhere worse then were I started out?"

I hadn't meant him at all, but I could see where he would get that impression. "Honey, I don't think that there are that many places worse then where you started out."

"But you wish I would stay.." His flat tone didn't make it a question.

I hadn't been willing to bring it up myself, but since he had done it first…."Yes, I do wish you would stay."

"Why?" His voice was genuinely curious, as if he couldn't imagine why anyone would actually want him around.

"Because I love you. Because you make the house fun. Because you're the only one who can carry on a halfway decent conversation about car engines. Because I don't like my other brother. There are a ton of reasons, and not everyone has to move out at 18. I didn't, Emmett didn't. Alice may or may not. Edward will probably go straight to college, but still come home and live during the summers."

He looked over at me, and I don't know that I've ever seen anything as sad as his eyes looked right then. "But that's normal for families. You're all Carlisle and Esme's real kids. I'm not."

He could be. Even if an official adoption never went through (and there was no reason it couldn't. Jasper had no legal parents, and if no family has stepped up in the past 13 years for him, I'm guessing that they aren't coming now), he was still part of the family. A piece of paper and a change of last name isn't going to make it any more true. "Carlisle and Esme would adopt you. Then you would be their real child."

"No." There was no hesitation in his voice. "That can't happen."

The strength of his refusal surprised me. Jasper is usually so into not making waves in the family that it's rare to hear him express an opinion with any force at all. "Why not?"

"First of all, nobody asked me to be adopted. Second, if I was adopted by the Cullen's, I would legally be Alice's brother. I can't be her husband and her brother both."

That comment told me two very important things. Number one, Jasper saw a long term future with Alice. The fact that he saw any long term future for himself at all was a huge step forward from when we got him, and this was just the icing on the cake. My little Jasper was head over heels in love, and it was with someone who felt the same way about him. Is there anything better in this world?

The second part of what he had said was equally interesting, at least in my eyes. The only way he would know that he couldn't legally marry Alice if the Cullen's adopted him was if he had researched it. Which meant that, even if it was in a very small way, he had considered Mom and Dad adopting him. Whether that consideration was what had frightened him into this drastic move or not, it was on his mind. As much as he wanted to fight it, Jasper had somehow bonded to us.

His point made, he turned back to the window. I stretched out to run my fingers through his hair. "I still love you like a sister would."

"Love you, too." He smiled a bit when he said it.

"What do you want for your birthday? And don't say something practical. Pick something that you've always wanted, even if you would never admit it. A toy? There must be something you've always wanted."

He shrugged. "I don't know. There's lots of stuff that I've wanted and didn't get, but…."

"But?" I wanted to do something for Jasper, to give him a tiny bit of his childhood back. "Come on. You can tell me."

"Ok. You know how when you go to the grocery store or something, and they have that section right up front with flowers and balloons and shit?" I nodded and he continued on. "Have you ever seen the huge balloons with a stuffed animal or something inside? I always wanted to get one of those. It a really stupid thing to want, but…I don't know. I used to wish that Maria would get one for me. It would be a stupid thing to want now, though."

Maybe so, but I was already planning to get him one. Whatever Jasper wanted, Jasper would get. "Just one more thing, and I promise I'll let this one go."

"Ok." I had his full attention back.

"You know that you can always come home, right? No matter how long it's been, or what you've done. There will always be a place for you in the Cullen house." I had to make sure he knew that we would never reject him.

"I'll keep that in mind." There was no real emotion in his voice, which was actually a good thing. Jasper has iron control of his emotions. When he lets you see them immediately, it's a guarantee that he's being fake.

But at least he knows he has a soft place to land. Seeing that this is Jasper we're talking about, I'm sure that he'll have to bounce off of some pretty hard walls on the way down before he learns his lesson, but I think he'll come back in the end.

Hopefully there wouldn't be too much damage before he made it back.