A/N: Thank you for all your lovely reviews. I wasn't expecting anyone to read my little story. And here you all are reading and commenting and adding me to your favs. It brightens my day. :)

This one's a little shorter than the others and is, as the chapter title suggests, just a lot of fluff and stuff.

Enjoy!

– Bella's POV –

I'm so proud of him! How could I be anything but accepting of all Jasper's been through and the life he's been forced to endure? He seemed so surprised that I wasn't disgusted by his story, the fact that he's killed people, or his scars.

"My silly Cowboy," I sighed, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "I don't believe you're nearly as broken as you're trying to make me believe. You survived hell. That's what's important. I don't believe many men in this world could survive all you've been through and still come out the other side a good, compassionate man."

"I'm broken, my Belle." He said softly.

I pulled him closer to me, wrapping my arms around him as tight as I could manage. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe that's what everyone around you wants you to believe?"

He shifted and pulled back, so he was looking at me. "What do you mean?"

I sighed. "Honey, you're a warrior. A soldier. And you've, quite literally, been through hell. You were forced into two very different wars. One as a human, where you were exposed to death, and carnage, and took your first life before you'd even turned twenty. Then you were turned into a vampire and thrust into an entirely different war, one more savage and brutal than anything you'd ever seen. You had to adapt. You had to learn to survive. Kill or be killed."

"If you weren't suffering from some form of post-traumatic stress, it would be a miracle," I told him. "You may be a vampire, but who's to say what's normal and what's not in veterans of the Southern Wars?"

"From what you've told me, it sounds like escaping that life is rare. So rare that there are only three known vampires to have ever survived and left. You. Peter. And Charlotte. And what did the Cullens do? They had you convinced Peter and Charlotte were going to make you worse!"

"At that point," I nodded, "yes, I'll believe you were broken. You were exhausted. You couldn't feed without feeling the pain of your victim's death. You were deeply depressed. You had trouble controlling your gift and your own emotions. You left Peter and Charlotte to wander on your own because you felt detached from them; you couldn't find your place in their new life. You were feeling worthless. Defeated. The guilt and shame were eating you alive. You were on edge all the time, waiting for the next attack to come, the next battle. Did you know what you described to me are symptoms of post-traumatic stress?"

He shook his head. "I'm a vampire, Darlin'. We don't get sick."

"No, baby. All that means is you're immune to physical illnesses like the common cold, the flu, and diseases. Mentally, you are suspectable, maybe even more so than a human. And you, my beautiful soldier, lived under the same roof as a doctor who's practiced all forms of medicine for at least the last two hundred years. I find it very suspicious that he never recognized the symptoms you've just shared with me."

"I . . ." Jasper frowned and shook his head. "How do you know all this?"

"My dad went through something similar when he first joined the police force. I'll let him explain it when he's ready, but he was forced into mandatory therapy and it was determined he had PTSD." I told him. "Vicky still goes to therapy. She was diagnosed with PTSD after everything she'd endured with James. Even Laurent has been to talk about his experiences with James."

"It's not that uncommon in vampires. With everything you go through in your lives, some vampires can't handle it." I shrugged. "Now the secret's out, more and more vampires are finding their way into Carmen's office," I told him.

"Carmen?" He frowned. "Carmen from Denali?"

I nodded. "She's been studying medicine her whole life. She helped Eleazar after he left the Volturi. And, when they met, she helped the sisters come to terms with the death of their mother. She's got a client list as long as my arm."

"You think I suffer from post-traumatic stress?"

"Well, I'm not a doctor, so I can't say for sure, but you do display some of the same signs and symptoms as Vicky did when she found us." I leaned into him. "If you feel it would benefit you to talk to a professional, there's no harm in it."

"If you don't feel comfortable talking to Carmen, there's always Peter or Charlotte," I suggested. "To an extent, they've been through the same things you have. Or there's my dad and Vicky. They're both wonderful to talk to but also very different. Dad will give you the push you need to get yourself in gear whereas Vicky's more likely to give you a hug and cookie." I smiled. "Or, there's always the other option; you could talk to me."

His eyes widened slightly. "Y-you'd be okay with that? If I talked to you . . ."

I leaned into him and kissed his cheek. "I'm not her, baby," I promised him. "I will never judge you. I will never demean you. I will never make you feel less than the wonderful, kind, loving, protective man you are. I am your mate. I'm right here; for better or worse. I am not going anywhere."

His arms tightened as he tried to pull me closer to him. I couldn't get much closer, but I did shift so that my torso was pressed flush against his chest as his head buried in my shoulder.

"I've got you, my love," I whispered, brushing my fingers through his soft hair.

Seeing him break down and be vulnerable with me felt so unreal. I've always thought of him as this powerful, strong, unyielding force. That nothing could shake him. As it turns out, he's just like a regular person. I don't, for one moment, think he's broken. I believe he's been made to think that. He doesn't see how strong and wonderful he is; that's all down to his previous experiences with two manipulative, vicious women. In time, he'll come to see himself the way I see him. I'll make sure of that.

I don't think I've ever hated two people more than I hate the bitch who sired him and the malicious little runt who thought she was powerful enough to break a man like my Major.

And the Cullens! Well, they're just a whole other kettle of fish, aren't they?

After everything Jasper told me tonight, there was no way any of them will ever go near my girls or my mate again. What gives them the right to judge my Jasper?

I want . . . no, I need to . . .

I cringed as my little nudger kicked my abdomen, right where her daddy was gently rubbing my belly.

He lifted his head from my shoulder. "It's all right, little angel," he whispered, "we didn't forget about ya."

I relaxed into his embrace, enjoying the welcome relief he was supplying. "Whatever you're doing, don't stop," I said, resting my head on his shoulder.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Darlin'." He purred. "Seems our little one is a night owl."

"Mm." I nodded. "I haven't slept peacefully in weeks. When I'm awake, she's quiet and peaceful. But as soon as I lay down to try and sleep, she decides it's time to play."

"I've missed so much." He sighed.

"Not really." I shrugged. "In the grand scheme of things, you haven't missed nearly as much as you could have. Our girls are immortal. You have many, many lifetimes to make up for the twenty-five months you missed."

"Thirty-four, if you include your pregnancy."

I smiled. "The only part I regret," I admitted, "is not having the memory of how we conceived them. Instead, I was in a stale, white hospital room, wearing one of those unpleasant gowns, with a doctor between my legs armed with a tube and syringe."

A low growl rumbled through his throat as his arms tightened.

There were some regrets. But, like I said, in the grand scheme of things, considering the years we had to look forward to, the last four years are just the tiniest blip on the radar.

"There will be many more happy memories to be made in the future," I assured him. "And, one day, when we're ready, we can do it again, the old-fashioned way."

He grinned. "Really? You'd want to do it again?"

"I've always dreamed of having a little boy," I told him. I could already picture him. A tiny Jasper with big blue eyes and blonde curls. "Jasper Henry Swan-Whitlock." I smiled. "Our little man."

The smile that graced his face could have lit the entire town of Forks. "Oh, Belle. I'd love that." He breathed, leaning into me to press his forehead against mine. "You make me so happy, Darlin'. I didn't think it was possible to be this happy."

I smiled. "Just wait until this one comes," I whispered. "You don't know happiness until the doctor puts your child into your arms for the first time."

"I can't wait to meet her." His hand moved across my bloated belly. "What's her name?" He wondered.

I hadn't settled on a name yet, but I did have an idea. "Why don't you name her?" I suggested. "I named the twins and our future son."

"Y-You'd let me name her?" He asked, his eyes going wide as he stared down at my belly.

"She's our daughter, Major." I reminded him. "I think we can both trust you'll give her a wonderful, beautiful name."

"Oh," He breathed. "Wow. Umm . . . that's . . . uh, I don't know . . . C-Can I have some time to think about it?"

I smiled. "Take as long as you need, handsome." Snuggling back into him, I rested my head on his shoulder. My eyes were starting to get heavy, but I had no desire to leave the warmth of his embrace anytime soon.

– XOXO –

The next morning was both better and worse. Better because I woke up beside my mate, with our daughters snuggled up between us. For the first time in months, I felt well rested and I knew that was down to Jasper. It was worse because the girls were so scared after last night's attempted kidnapping, they refused to be separated from me and their daddy for even a moment.

To make life a little more stressful, my back was killing me. That's not unusual during pregnancy, especially this late in the game, but this wasn't just an ordinary backache. This was a pre-labor ache. I knew it well.

Sometime in the next day or two, little nudger will make her way into the world.

Perfect timing, right?

I didn't tell Jasper or mention it to anyone else. Not yet. There was no need to worry him when his mind is focused on last night's break-in. Though Lottie kept looking at me with that knowing look in her eyes. So, I'm guessing my three-year-old had some idea of what was happening.

The girls insisted on another Christmas outfit and, though she looked adorable, I wasn't thrilled by Lottie's choice. It was all white. White skirt. White long-sleeved shirt with the words 'Tis The Season To Sparkle' printed in red. Red and white striped tights. And, of course, red bows.

White. All white.

As beautiful as she was, white just doesn't stay white and I'm not sure what I was thinking buying it for her.

Jas went in a similar direction, though her skirt was gold and sparkly. Her white long-sleeve shirt said 'Sparkle All The Way' in red writing. She had a big red bow in her hair, matching the red bow on her skirt. And a pair of knee-length white socks, also with matching bows.

Adorable. Wonderful. Beautiful. But white.

Oh well. Worse comes to worst, they'll have to do a mid-day outfit change. I'm sure my little fashionistas won't mind.

How did I, Bella Swan, who couldn't care less about fashion and clothes, end up with twins who're so . . . girly. They're only three. Imagine what they'll be like at fifteen!

I threw on a pair of black leggings, and a red t-shirt that said 'Santa's Got Nothing On This Belly'. I added a pair of thick socks to keep my feet warm, threw my hair up in a ponytail, and I was done.

Once we were all dressed, Jasper was eager to run a perimeter check. It took him a good fifteen minutes, and the promise of French toast, before he could sneak away from the girls. Even then, Vic had to keep them occupied at the kitchen table while I cooked because they refused to be in another room by themselves.

My girls were normally pretty resilient, but having three strange men try to break into your bedroom while you're sound asleep would terrify anyone. It sure as hell terrified me!

Dad, needing to do something, took a quick run up to the Denali home to check in on the boys and tell Tanya and Eleazar what happened. Hopefully, they'll agree to keep the boys with them until all of this blows over.

The Denali Coven are great friends to us, so I didn't anticipate any problems from them.

"Momma?" Jas said softly at my feet. "Are you shielding me and Lottie?"

I swept down and lifted her into my arms, holding her tightly against me. It was a little more difficult to hold them now I'm so big. I had to readjust her, sitting her snuggly against my hip. "Yes, baby, I am."

"I don't feel it." She frowned, stretching out her arm as if she'd be able to feel my shield.

I strengthened it for her, pressing it tight against her like a calming security blanket and she let out a sigh when she could feel the safety of my shield wrapped around her.

"Sometimes, when you can't feel Mommy's shield, it doesn't mean I'm not protecting you and Lottie. It just means that my shield is so strong and it fits so snuggly tight against your body, that nobody else will ever know it's there."

"Not even me?"

"Sometimes." I smiled. "But my shield is always protecting you, my love."

"Is it's invisimable?"

"Invisible," I said softly.

"Uh-huh." She nodded. "Dat's what I said."

I smiled. "Yes, when Mommy is protecting you and Lottie, my shield is invisible. You might not know it's there, but it always is."

"Even when I'm sleeping?"

"Even then." I nodded.

"What about when I go to da park with Nana?"

"Even then," I promised her. "My shield will stretch far and wide, where ever you go, it will go with you."

"Oktay." She said, seeming satisfied with my answers. "Will da bad men come back?" She whispered, curling into me a little more. "I don't want dem to take me away from Mommy and Daddy."

"I don't know if they'll come back," I told her. I wouldn't lie to her. "But, if they do, you know what you do?"

She shook her head. "What do I do?"

"You make as much noise as you can," I told her. "Scream and scream and then, just like you did last night, you run and hide with your sister. Can you do that for me?"

"Uh huh," She nodded. "Dat's what we did."

"That's right, and what happened?"

"Da bad men ran away when Daddy came!"

"That's right, they did. Because you called for me and Daddy and screamed so loud it frightened the bad men and they ran away!"

"Day might come back . . ." She worried.

"They might." I agreed. "But your Daddy, Papa, Nana, and I are going to do everything we can to make sure nobody ever takes you and your sister from us," I promised. "And later, Uncle Peter and Aunt Charlotte are coming to help protect you, too."

Her eyes went wide. "Who dat?"

"Uncle Peter is your daddy's brother and Charlotte is his wife."

"Oh. Do I like dem?" She looked at me.

I smiled. "We haven't met them yet, but I'm sure we'll love them."

"Oktay." She nodded and then dropped her head onto my shoulder as I continued making French Toast onehanded.

I wasn't going to lie to my girls. The Cullens might come. They might try again. And the girls needed to know how to handle that just long enough for Jasper to get to them.

I doubt they'll try again. They've lost the element of surprise thanks to the girl's reaction. I guess they thought they could sneak in, grab the girls, and leave without waking them. Fat chance of that happening. Lottie is, I swear, the lightest sleeper on the planet. Just the slightest noise and she's awake. If her gift kicked in and she sensed something, even in her sleep, she would have reacted.

Now we're alert. Jasper, dad, and Vic are patrolling the area. If the Cullens step foot on our territory again, they'll know.

But I'm not going to put it past them. If they were desperate enough to break into my home and take the girls, with three vampires in the house, they'll try again.

I'm lucky they didn't attempt to steal the girls when they were born. Taking them from the hospital would've been so much easier, not to mention smarter, than trying now. Back then, it never would have occurred to me to blame the Cullen Coven.

Well, that's a thought. Why not strike sooner? Why wait until now?

On the table, my cell phone buzzed. Setting down the spatula, I picked up my phone and looked at the screen. It was a text message from an unknown number.

Those squirrel munchers ain't playin' with a full deck, Lil Bit. Be seein' ya in about an hour! Tell The Major we say howdy!

I'm going to assume it's Peter. But how the hell did he get my number? If that's his gift, he's far more powerful than I first thought.

By the time the French Toast was ready, Jasper was back. As soon as he walked through the door, I felt the tension fall away. Not just from me, but the girls seemed to relax as well.

With a lopsided grin, he sauntered into the kitchen and pulled me, Jas, and bump into him. Without a word, his hand went to the back of my neck and for the first time, his lips met mine.

Damn, that man can kiss.

It was like no kiss I'd ever had. Full of passion and need and heat. He was possessive and dominant, but gentler than I ever expected. His tongue caressed mine as his hand slid down my back, coming to rest on my lower back.

I didn't want it to ever end.

Hell, I was happy for it not to! But, little Jas on my hip giggled when her daddy began purring. "Daddy's like a kitty cat." She said, amused.

He broke our kiss to press a soft kiss to her little nose as he purred happily, making Jas laugh.

"I've been wantin' to do that for years." He sighed, brushing his lips across mine one last time as he took Jas into his arms.

I grinned like a schoolgirl and patted his shoulder. "Don't wait so long next time, Major."

"Yes, ma'am." A little growl came from him as he kissed my cheek when I passed him to go back to the stove.

Jasper took Jas to the table while I plated up the French Toast. As soon as he took his place at the table, Lottie abandoned her coloring and crawled into his lap, too.

From the smile on his face, I could tell he was happy to have his girls close. He didn't even bat an eyelash when Jas spilled maple syrup down his shirt, and Lottie force-fed him strips of bacon.

"Well, would ya look at that!" A deep, southern voice came from the door. "I never thought I'd see the day!"

The girls gasped and I looked up as a tall, blonde male, who looked remarkably similar to my mate, stepped into the kitchen.

His hair was shorter than Jasper's but the same honey-blonde shade. His eyes were narrowed, almond-shaped, and deep red. He was probably a few inches shorter than Jasper but his shoulders were just as broad.

The petite blonde that followed him in was stunning. Her wavey blonde hair trailed down to her waist. Her eyes were big, expressive, and the same shade as her mates. She had a bright, happy smile on her exquisite face.

Peter and Charlotte. They were exactly as Jasper had described them to me.

"It's all right, girls," Jasper assured them as he glared at Peter. "This is yer Uncle Pete. He's a big ol' softy. He'd never hurt his favourite nieces."

"Like a teddy bear?" Lottie's eyes lit up.

"That's right, Princess. Uncle Pete is a big ol' soft teddy bear." Jasper smirked.

"Hey now!" Peter huffed. "Don't tell them that, Major! I have a reputation to uphold!" He grumbled. "I am not a big ol' teddy bear. I'm a big, mean vampire." He let out a low growl and bared his sharp teeth at my girls.

Surprising me, my girls jumped off their daddy's lap and launched themselves at Peter, insisting he was their big teddy bear.

With a wide grin, he pulled his arms from behind him and produced two stuffies, an avocado wearing a winter hat for Jas and a cute little monkey for Lottie.

"Momma! Look it a cado!" Jas squealed.

"Avocado." I corrected.

"Uh-huh." She nodded, showing me.

"Look, Daddy! Uncle Petey got me a monkey!" Lottie ran over to show Jasper her new monkey.

"Wow, look at that!" Jasper grinned happily.

"What do you say to Uncle Petey and Aunt Char?" I asked, doing the mom bit.

Both girls threw themselves at Peter, thanking him for their gifts. He crouched down and brought them into his arms, hugging them.

Oh yeah. They'd have him wrapped around their pinkies by lunch. I could already see him playing dress up with them and having tea parties in the garden.

"Who dis?" Jas asked, pulling on Peter's jacket as she looked up at Charlotte who was smiling happily at the twins and her mate.

Charlotte dropped down to their level. "I'm your Aunt Char, sweet pie. And ya'll are just the sweetest little ladies I've ever seen!"

Again, surprising me—my shy, reserved little Jasmine—threw herself at Charlotte and hugged her. I never would have expected that from her.

"Sank you for my cado, Aunt Char," Jas said softly, cuddling into her new favourite vampire.

"Oh, Major," Charlotte whispered, her eyes welling up with tears, "they're beautiful."

Jasper wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer to him. "They're perfect." He whispered, pressing a soft kiss to my temple as his hand went to my belly, "all of them."

At that moment, I felt a little kick and another twinge. This time, I was sure Jasper felt it. But, surprising me again, he didn't panic. He simply held my hand and began rubbing soothing circles into my belly.

Giving birth was going to be so different this time around. I won't have to do it alone. As much as I love dad and Vic, there's only so much comforting they could do when all I wanted was my Jasper.

"I'm here, Darlin'." He whispered, brushing his lips across my jaw.

I leaned into him, sighing happily. In such a short amount of time, life had completely changed. And, you know, I couldn't be happier.