A/N: I just re-read the previous chapter and I apologize for experimenting with THE CLIFF-HANGER. I won't be doing that again. It's just too cruel.

And annoying. (Heck, I knew what was coming up next and I was annoyed!)

Alice turned her head aside as Carlisle examined the wound.

It wasn't a superficial love bite and Jasper's venom was keeping it from healing.

Why would he mark her like that?

Edward shot Jasper an angry look when he heard Carlisle's assessment.

"She's not some piece of property! Do you think branding her makes her—"

Alice slapped Edward.

Have We All Gone Mad?

She wasn't angry with him. She knew he thought he was defending her and she felt wretched for hitting him,

but she had to cut him off before the words left his mouth:

'You of all people should know how degrading it is to have someone put her mark on you.'

Alice buried her face against Edward's chest. I'm sorry… but look at him…I couldn't allow you to say it…

no matter how angry you think are.

They all stared at her with varying degrees of shock or disbelief on their faces. Everyone except for Edward

because he'd heard her thoughts and he took the time to really look at the condition Jasper was in.

The man was practically sagging in Emmett's arms. His eyes were both wild and weary.

He turned Alice's words in his mind--no matter how angry you think you are.

And then he understood.

Alice turned away from Edward and stepped toward Jasper with her arms open.

Emmett released his hold, and Jasper fell into her, his weight bringing both of them to their knees.

Jasper spoke softly into her ear and Alice nodded.

She looked at the rest of the family. "Will you all please leave?"

Rosalie started to say something but Edward cut her off with a stern look and a shake of his head.

"Of course, Alice," Carlisle said, motioning the rest of the family toward the front door.

Rosalie stomped down the front steps. "Why should we all have to leave?

You were the one brawling with him! Emmett wouldn't have bothered to intercede on your behalf

if it hadn't looked as if Jasper was going to tear you apart."

Edward ignored her and said, "Carlisle, we can't loiter out here. We're too close."

Too close for what?

Before Carlisle had a chance to ask his question out loud, Edward was answering him.

"I think Jasper's gone into some sort of emotional over-load."

… how angry you think you are…you think you are…you think…

"Is that what Alice told you?"

Edward frowned. "Alice didn't really say, but I think we may have been affected by some of what Jasper was feeling."

About himself. Edward didn't speak that last part.

He was trying to respect Jasper's private thoughts as much as he could while explaining the situation to Carlisle.

Is that why we found Esme beating Jasper… the two of you fighting…

Edward nodded.

"Alice I can still feel them, can we please go?"

Alice stood, bringing Jasper with her. She took him by the hand and they ran up the mountain, with her leading them,

until Jasper slowed and stopped running. He dropped to his knees and rolled onto his back.

Alice stretched her small body on top of his and sent him all her love.

They remained silent and motionless until sunrise.

"I don't deserve to have you," Jasper mumbled.

"Don't say that." She felt his doubt snaking out toward her.

"All I do is take. Your love. Your happiness."

Now she felt his anxiety. "That's not true, and you know it."

"How do you know I'm not telling you the truth right now?" Confusion.

"Because I feel your love. Especially when you watch me, when you look at me when you think I'm not paying attention,

when you think I won't notice you watching me. You always feel apprehension, confusion, doubt… but those emotions always dissipate.

But your love? It doesn't. And the intensity of it sets my soul on fire

and the feeling floods into my heart until I'm sure it's going to burst to over-filling."

Alice smiled at the feelings of overwhelming joy radiating off him.

She lifted her head from his chest and looked down at him. "That's all you."

His eyes met hers briefly. "Yes."

God help him, he did love this woman… more than he ever thought possible.

Alice giggled. "Why are you embarrassed?" She twirled her finger around a lock of his hair.

How could he tell this amazing little woman that it had taken him fifty-plus years to realize

that he still had love within himself to give? He couldn't and he wouldn't.

The truth might wound her. So he said, "I made a mess of things," by way of explanation.

He'd fed Esme his own feelings of hatred for himself until she'd had no choice but to strike out at him.

But Edward? That had been unexpected. Without a doubt, Edward had felt his rage, but those feelings had been

directed at Edward, not at himself, and should not have caused Edward to punch him. So what had?

And what made Edward presume that he had the right to interrupt a private act between Alice and himself?

Alice stepped into the house and approached Esme, hugging her.

"Jasper wants to speak with you alone, if that's all right with you."

Esme nodded. "Of course, it is."

Esme walked outside and followed Jasper's scent into the forest.

She waited patiently until he appeared from behind a tree.

"Esme, I…" Jasper shoved his hands in his pockets. He what?

Esme took a step forward but forced herself to stop. She didn't want to frighten Jasper away.

"I'm so sorry for hitting you. I don't know what came over me. I don't know why I was so angry."

"You have nothing to apologize for. That was me… all me."

Esme frowned. "What do you mean?"

Jasper exhaled and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. "I was angry at myself…

for hurting you, for disappointing you. I wanted to feel your anger—you had every right.

So I projected my own anger onto you in order to force you to be angry with me."

He looked her in the eye, "But it wasn't enough."

"How can you say that? I attacked you!"

Jasper looked at the ground.

"Only after I amplified your anger, mingled it with my own, and sent it back at you."

"Why would you ever want me to strike you?"

"Because… I deserve your wrath."

Emse shook her head. "Nobody deserves to be treated like that."

Jasper let out a short, bitter laugh. He'd killed her youngest sister!

She should be shouting at him, shunning him, telling him he was no longer a part of their family, forcing him to leave their house, their home.

How different his life had become.

And he was still adjusting to it.

How many more decades was it going to take?

When would he be able to successfully scrub the filth of his life before Alice and the Cullens from his conscience?

Would it take another century of existence? More?

Emse approached him slowly. She reached out and placed her hand on his upper arm, rubbing it.

"Why don't you loathe me?" All he he felt was love tinged with slight sadness and regret.

"That was a long time ago. You didn't know any better."

He wanted to tell Esme that she was wrong. Yes, it had happened a long time ago and he hadn't known about the 'vegetarian' lifestyle back then,

but Peter had warned him repeatedly that he wasn't strong enough to abstain from draining the girl in order to effect the change.

Had it been his wounded pride?

Or the feeling of absolute loneliness in the presence of Peter and Charlotte's love

and devotion for each other that had driven him to a desperate act and disaster?

Jasper allowed Esme to pull him into an embrace. "Our family wouldn't be complete without you and Alice."

A/N: Okay, I'm going to attempt to wrap this up in the next chapter so it doesn't go on and on ad nauseum...

BTW If anyone is interested in writing the story of what happened between Amy and Jasper plz feel free to take a crack at it! And send me a msg so I can read it!