So I know I said this would be a oneshot, but at 5am I got the inspiration for another chapter, and I know a lot of you really liked this one, so here you go!

I knock softly on Jasper's door, and it opens as soon as I finish, which makes me think he was waiting on the other side of the door the whole time. "Hi Jasper," I greet cheerfully.

"Hello Esme. Did you need something?"

I smile. "Actually, I was wondering if you'd like to take that walk now."

"Oh," he replies, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Um…Sure. Just us?"

I shrug. "If that's okay with you. I thought it might be nice to spend some time together."

He smiles a little shyly and nods. "Okay. Let's go." I nod, walking beside him into the woods and towards the meadow he likes. He keeps a slow pace, keeping quiet, but it's a comfortable silence. "You know," he says after a while, "I was kind of surprised when you asked me to take a walk with you."

"Why's that?" I ask. "We talked about it yesterday, didn't we?"

He nods slowly. "Yes Ma'am. But I kind of thought you were just trying to make me feel better. I didn't expect you to actually want to spend time with me."

I reach out and gently take his hand, and for once he doesn't pull away from me. "Jasper, I always love spending time with you."

He smiles. "I'm glad. I wasn't sure, after yesterday…I know it was a lot to deal with."

I shake my head as we enter the meadow, sitting down in a sunny patch. "Jasper, you're never something I have to deal with. Yesterday changes nothing about how I feel about you."

He nods, then hesitates. "Um…Esme…How do you feel, exactly?" he asks.

I look up at him and see the uncertainty in his eyes. "Jasper, you're my son," I assure him. "I love you. I've always loved you. You know that."

"I guess," he replies. "Kind of. But…it's been a long time since someone has…felt about me the way you do. It's…unfamiliar." He pauses for a moment. "You know, I…I feel the same way. I mean, I…I love you too," he murmurs. "I'm just bad at expressing it."

I chuckle, and he looks up, surprised. "It's alright, Jasper. I always know it, even when you don't say it. And you don't have to be so nervous."

He smiles a little. "Right. I guess I was sort of expecting you to be mad at me after what I told you yesterday."

"Jasper, why on earth would I be mad at you?"

He shrugs. "I do consider you a second mother. And I thought things would change once I told you what I did to my first mother. I was really scared. I didn't want to lose you. I like being your son."

I sigh softly, hugging him gently. "Jasper, you will never lose me as a mother, no matter what you tell me. I promise." He nods, relieved. "Will you tell me about her?" I ask after a moment.

"My mother?" he asks. I nod, and he thinks about it for a moment. "I don't remember much, but I think she was a lot time you," he says. "Very kind. She was always there for us. She would do anything for us." He pauses. "Esme, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, Jasper."

He hesitates. "How do you do it?" he asks finally.

I raise an eyebrow at him. "Do what?"

He shrugs. "Care about all these strangers. I know you care about us. Even me. I just don't understand why."

"Well, I always knew I was destined to be a mother," I start. "Even from the time I was very little, that's all I wanted. And I was, for a brief moment, but not in the best of situations. I'm sure you've heard that story. Anyway, when I became a vampire, and I was finally where I was supposed to be, I was a little sad, because I thought I couldn't have what I'd always dreamed of. But then there was Edward, and I realized after a while that he looked up to me, and he missed his own mother very much. As old as he was, he still needed someone to guide him sometimes. So I became his second mother. And then Rose came along, and, as difficult as she found things, our human lives had been very similar, and I think she was comforted in some way by that. And I think it was at that point that I realized it wasn't just about me being a mother, it was about our family. Edward and Rosalie weren't just playing brother and sister, they became brother and sister. And then Rose found Emmett, and you know how he is."

Jasper laughs. "Yeah, I can see where he would need a mother."

I nod. "And then you and Alice came. By that point, I'd already been established as the matriarch of the family, and I think that's something Alice wanted after being alone for so long, so she accepted it right away. I think you were probably the hardest."

"What do you mean?" he asks.

I shrug. "Well, coming from Maria's coven, it had been a long time since someone cared for you the way I did. It was strange for you. I knew that. And besides, you didn't trust us for a long time. So I tried not to push. But I always hoped, right from the beginning, that you would come to see me that way too." I smile. "You are not an easy person to win affection from, Jasper."

He chuckles. "No, I guess not. But you still managed it. Faster than I would have expected, too. I always had a bit of a soft spot for you, even when I was wild."

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

He shrugs. "You were the first person who wanted me here. You defended me to the others."

"When?" I ask, puzzled.

"At that meeting you guys had, about whether or not you wanted us to stay." He smiles sheepishly. "I guess I was a little paranoid, so I tried to listen. Everyone wanted Alice, which I'd expected. But Edward was afraid of me. Carlisle wanted me to stay, but mostly because he wanted Alice to stay. You were the first one who actually wanted me, separately. At least, I always thought so."

I nod. "I never knew you heard that. But I did want you. Edward thought I was crazy. He'd never seen anyone like you before, and I think you kind of threw him off for a bit. Emmett was curious about you. He thought you'd make a good fighting partner. And I think that worried Rosalie. But I always wanted you."

"Why?" he asks. "It goes against all logic to have wanted me, especially then. I was dangerous. I could have hurt your family, or exposed them to everyone."

I shrug. "Maybe. But you needed us, maybe more than anyone has ever needed a family. I could see that. You were so lost for so long. I knew we could help you. Plus, I liked you. Even coming from where you did, you were so hopeful. Enough to follow a girl you'd just met who says she can see the future right into a coven you didn't know, just on the hope that it was where you'd fit in. I liked that about you."

Jasper chuckles softly. "You know, sometimes I think it's you who has the gift instead of me."

I smile. "I'm just observant, that's all."

"You know," he admits, "I always thought you'd get fed up with my lack of control and ask me to leave. I mean, I know you wouldn't, but every time I slipped up I was sure it would happen."

I shake my head. "You had a lot to learn. But you were willing to try. That's what's important to us."

He nods. "I know that now." He sighs, lying down in the grass. "I like spending time with you alone," he says after a while.

I join him in the grass. "Why?"

He smiles. "Well, aside from the good company, it's more peace than I usually get. When I'm alone, I still have my own emotions to deal with. But with you, I can focus on yours. They're comforting."

"Well I'm glad I can help. Hey Jasper? What did you want to be when you grew up?"

He chuckles. "A cowboy. What about you?"

"A teacher."

He nods. "You'd be good at that. Why didn't you ever become one?"

I shrug. "Well, I was for a while, as a human. But after, we moved around so much, I always thought I'd get too attached. Plus, for a long time I didn't trust myself. I didn't want to hurt anyone. So I fell in love with architecture instead."

"I don't think you could hurt anyone," he says.

"Maybe not, but it was always a risk I was too afraid to take."

He nods thoughtfully. "I can understand that. I was terrified the first time you trusted me around humans."

I chuckle. "I know. You looked terrified. But you had to do it sooner or later. And we knew you could do it."

"Hey Esme?" he says. I turn to look at him, and he smiles. "Thank you. You always did believe in me, even if no one else did."

"Of course I did," I tell him. "You're my son. Ready to head back?" He nods reluctantly, sitting up. "Don't worry," I assure him. "We can do this again whenever you want." We walk slowly back towards the house, chatting idly until Jasper suddenly stops, frowning. "Jasper? What's wrong?" He crouches in front of me, growling as I catch the scent of a wolf. Sure enough, a big sandy wolf breaks through the trees. "Jasper, it's okay. It's Seth." He hesitates, but straightens up as Seth sits in front of him, his tail wagging. I chuckle, reaching out to pet him. "Hi Seth."

The wolf pants happily as he nuzzles my hand for a moment before turning and disappearing through the trees again. "Sorry," Jasper says sheepishly.

"It's alright, honey. I appreciate it. By the way, happy birthday."

He raises an eyebrow at me. "What?"

"Well, it is your birthday, isn't it?"

He nods slowly. "Yeah, but how did you…?"

I smile. "I did some research. Don't worry, I didn't tell Alice. I figured you wouldn't want a party."

He sighs, relieved. "Thank you."

"Of course," I chuckle. "Come on, let's get you home before Alice sends out a search party."

So there you go, the (maybe) actual final chapter, unless I get more random inspiration. Please remember to review if you liked it! Who knows, maybe one of your reviews will inspire me :)

Love,

TheSongSmith