Finding Hope

Chapter 1

A.N.- Thank you to those who have read or reviewed the prologue.

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Jasper sat against the headboard of the bed in the hotel room Pete had gotten for him. There was only one bed in there since both his brother and Charlotte had their own room. He was glad for the privacy he had now that he was alone. Well almost completely alone as there was a little toddler sleeping against his chest. The baby's soft breaths and steady heartbeat were the only sounds in the room.

The southern vampire held Hadrian close to him even though he figured he wasn't all that comfortable to lie against. His body felt like stone however the child didn't seem to notice. In fact when he tried to put him on the bed to sleep the little one put up a fuss wanting to be held and Jasper didn't have the heart to make him. It also helped that the bond between them was so fresh that he needed to be close to Hadrian while it settled. He had only heard of a mate bond between vampires or sometimes between a vampire and a human. In the latter case the human didn't feel the bond as strongly as the vampire did but they did feel it in a lesser way. Never have he heard of a parental bond since vampires couldn't have children.

He pushed a black curl out of Hadrian's face as he thought about what this would mean for him. There was no way he could give up the child because he became his biological father or that's what it seemed like the baby did. Jasper shook his head so he wouldn't become distracted with the mysteries surrounding the toddler. He also shared some vampire traits so he wasn't completely human or whatever he was before. The blonde didn't know what exactly the baby got from him, but his eyes and scent gave away to the vampiric traits he inherited. His scent was the perfect mix of vampire and human so it made his blood easy to ignore. He sighed tightening his hold just a fraction when the child shifted in his sleep.

There was no doubt in his mind that he would be keeping Hadrian with him. Jasper was already attached to him and the bond would hurt both of them if they were kept apart. So his decision was already made the moment he first laid eyes on those shining verdant ones. He was family now and the Major only had two others he counted as family. Possessiveness was something he felt for both Peter and Char and now the little one in his arms. Not only was Hadrian family through the bond but he was biologically his. His son and wasn't thinking of having a son a weird thought. He accepted a long time ago that he would never have any family related to him by blood.

He left his human family to go to join the war only to be a part of even more lethal one with Maria. For the longest time he had been alone. When Pete was turned he found a kindred spirit with his brother. When people look at them together they tend to think they were actually brothers since they looked so similar. Peter had almost the same shade of honey blonde hair as Jasper's except Pete wore his much shorter than the Major. Their facial features were a little different but people still confused them as brothers which was fine with Jasper since he did have a brotherly relationship with him. He didn't get close to Charlotte until after a couple years after Peter saved him from the vampire wars. Jasper could admit that it was mostly his fault, but Char did fear him greatly when they first met. In that time he was little more than a monster. He didn't know what peace was until Pete forced him to become a man and stop being a mindless killing machine.

As Jasper got lost in his memories he barely noticed when the dark black clouds brightened to a medium gray as time passed. It effectively hid the sun just as Peter said it would. There was a small tap against the door that a human wouldn't have been able to hear, but Jasper heard it perfectly as if they had actually knocked. He placed Hadrian on the bed and adjusted the red blanket around him. Jasper rose from the bed and walked over to the door pulling it open.

"Hey Jasper, I brought a couple things for the little one." Char whispered quietly mindful of the sleeping toddler as she pushed her way past Jasper. In her hand was a bag filled with what looked like many pieces of folded cloth. Pete walked in with a few books tucked under one arm. Jasper saw that the one on top was all about child care.

The sound of the door shutting must've woke up Hadrian because he whimpered softly and tried his best to sit up on his own. Charlotte laughed as she scooped him up in her arms only to wrinkle her nose when they all heard the child going potty in his diaper.

"Okay Papa it's time for you to learn how to change him." She told him.

Jasper scrunched his nose up at the reality of taking care of a child who was in his care but decided he better get used to this.

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Later on in the day they all sat in a little diner with Hadrian sitting in a high chair next to their table. He was trying to eat the pasta on his plate with the little eating utensil the waitress had given them. Jasper, Charlotte, and Peter had all ordered a coffee so it wouldn't look weird for them not to be eating.

"Har'y yum, yum." The toddler said happily munching on a noodle.

While they had been getting ready to leave the hotel Harry had started talking. It was a pleasant surprised since before that they hadn't heard his voice. They had also learned he was called Harry by his baby talking instead of by his full name Hadrian.

"I don't know it looks kind of gross, kid." Peter said looking on disgustingly on the food that was smeared all over the baby's chubby cheeks.

"No! Har'y yum!"

"Ah don't listen to him sugar," Charlotte said cuffing Peter's ear. "He's just a grouchy old man."

"Old man? Who are ya calling old, woman? If I'm old than J must be ancient."

Jasper shook his head at their antics as he wiped off all the mess on Harry's face. He swore he got more on him than in him. "We still haven't decided what we're goin' do." He brought their conversation back to what they had been talking about.

"I say we go back to the little ol' house I got when I first left the wars. We'd have to clean it out some." Pete said his pale finger tracing the lip of the coffee mug.

"Yeah that the one back in Montana?" The southern vampire asked.

"Of course! It's got four rooms so it'd be enough for all of us." Peter drawled.

"I think it'd be best we stay there too." Charlotte put in. "It ain't good for the little one to be moving around so much."

"It's settled, then." Jasper said. "How are we goin' get there?"

"Well how 'bout Char and I run there so we can set up the house and make it livable. You can take the human way of traveling. I don't think Harry here would appreciate running the whole way. Might make 'em throw up on ya." Pete said shooting a grin at his brother.

The blonde vampire rolled his eyes. "I've got enough money to get us there."

"Good Char and I will leave tonight."

"Har'y want down." The little toddler pulled their attention back to him when he startled to wiggle in his seat. Jasper smiled as he cleaned up the fidgeting baby. He couldn't help but give his thanks to whoever made it possible for him to have Harry in his life.

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A.N.- Reviews are motivating and appreciated!