Disclaimer – I do not own Twilight. All recognizable plot and characters belong to the talented Stephanie Meyer.
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More months passed and at my six-month vampire birthday, Jasper decided I was well enough past my newborn stage to travel. He brought up the Cullen's and at that point, I felt ready to face my other family. They were still scattered but agreed to meeting us at one of their homes, this one in New Hampshire. The house was a little outside the small town of Stark and the house was as beautiful as both the other homes I had seen of theirs. It was larger than the other two and I supposed Esme had bought it with the larger family in mind. As I looked at it though I hoped Edward wasn't there. Now that I was here I didn't think I was ready to see him. I wasn't sure I was ready to see any of them.
"We can leave whenever you want Darlin." Jasper came up beside me taking my hand in his, it gave me comfort even without the use of his gift. I leaned a little into him, breathing in the gunpowder, leather and apples scent. Char and Pete came up on our other side and instantly I felt more confident. I had my family. I had Jasper.
We walked up the porch and just before we knocked Alice opened the door. She was ginning at us.
"I'm surprised you were not already waiting when we parked." Jasper laughed as they hugged.
"I saw Bella would need a minute." She told him with a smile before turning to me. "You look stunning. I almost peed myself with excitement when I saw Jazz do it."
I laughed, "Vampires don't pee Alice."
She grinned, "So you know how happy I was then." We hugged tightly. I had missed her. How had I not realized how much I missed her?
She exchanged hellos with Pete and Char before leading us inside, her hand still clutching to mine.
"Bella!" Emmett shouted running over to pull me into a bear hug.
"Emmett." I laughed again and squeezed him as hard as I could.
"Damn Bells, watch that super strength." He laughed spinning me around. "Unbreakable sister." He began to sing. "She's unbreakable! Tougher than granite, stronger than the hulk, faster than a cheetah or a sport car, sparklier than a disco ball, yeah, she's unbreakable, unbreakable now!"
I was laughing uncontrollably as he spun me around the living room.
"Put her down Emmett." Rosalie snapped at him, her smile was as wide as his though, "Welcome to the club sis." She hugged me warmly, "Nothing left to lose, everything to gain, I promise you'll be happier in this life." She whispered in my ear.
I hugged her back, hoping she was right. I didn't regret the decision, not for a second but I still didn't want to be alone for eternity. I would always have my family, both the Cullen and Whitlock ones but I wanted more. Was it selfish of me to want a mate too? I had already had such great love, was my love story meant to be a tragedy? Would I walk eternity while my soul mate already rested in heaven? Would Jasper find a mate and leave me? Was it terrible that I would rather neither of us found a mate and we stayed together? No, I wanted him to be happy. I couldn't wish away his true mate just because I loved him and wanted to keep him for myself.
Esme stepped forward next and pulled me into her arms. "Welcome home baby." When we stepped apart venom coated both our eyes.
Carlisle was the last to step forward and I flowed readily into his open arms. Carlisle and I had been close. He had stitched me up so many times, his quiet wisdom, his warmth and acceptance, his care had always been there for me. He'd recommended books and talked to me about them or history for hours, answering all my questions patiently, telling me stories, giving me advice. "Dad." I hugged him. I missed Charlie, I had loved Charlie and no one could ever take his place but Carlisle filled that role in my life even when he wasn't around, in a way Charlie never had. I always sought out Carlisle's advice, even when he wasn't around, I tried to imagine what he would say, do or think. I hoped he wasn't disappointed in my diet choice.
"Bella." He hugged me back, "Welcome home."
I stepped back and looked in his eyes. I need him now, his council, but first I needed an answer, I was finally ready to ask for. "Why did you leave me?"
He looked surprised and the pain in his eyes projected his feeling to me as fully as Jasper's gift could. "I had to respect your wishes Bella. As much as I wanted otherwise, a much as we all did, if our leaving was what you needed, we loved you enough to do that, to give you your life."
"My wishes? I asked in surprised.
"Edward told us you wanted a clean break." Esme told me sadly, "You didn't want to see us again."
I turned to her with venom in my eyes and rage boiling through my veins. "He told you I wanted you to leave?" I hissed.
"Bella." Jaspers calm flowed into me; his gift and his presence calming me as he laid a hand gently on my back.
I turned to him, "Did you know?"
He nodded, "I guessed after you returned he might have lied but had no proof until you told me in Montana. I'm sorry Bella. I will rip him apart if you wish it." I knew looking in his eyes he would. I knew he wasn't projecting but I knew that anger was coursing through him, just like I always just knew something was bothering him.
"He took you all away." I let the anguish fill me, "He broke my heart and then stole my family." I sobbed as he pulled me into his comforting embrace, "Why? How could he do that?"
"I don't know." He whispered, "I suppose he thought he was protecting you."
"Protecting me!" The fury flowed through me, burning away the pain. "From what? Laurent? Victoria? Getting hurt? I was nearly institutionalized for catatonia after you left, the depression nearly killed me! If not for Jake it would have! Laurent nearly killed me! Victoria's bitch boy killed Charlie! She killed Paul! Collin died to! Then what! I got my normal life? Luc is dead! My baby is dead! I never even got to hold her! I had to suffer alone because he stole my family! He stole everything I ever loved!" I broke down sobbing while Jasper held me. His eyes were black and I could feel the hate, anger and pain rolling through him.
I felt Carlisle's hand on my back. "Bella." His voice was broken. "I would never have left, never have considered leaving if I knew." He sighed, "I did not even consider the possibility he could do such a thing. I'm sorry. So very sorry." I heard sobbing around me and turned from Jasper into Carlisle's arms.
"It's not your fault." I told him.
"It's mine."
I spun on Jasper, "Never! It was never your fault!"
He looked at me, his eyes sad and loving, "It was Bella. I knew you were special. I knew how beautiful and good you were. I could feel how pure your emotions were. I should have known you'd never want them to leave. I knew in Phoenix you were worth it. Worth becoming a demon again for. I should have done that. I should have given in to my instincts and hunted down Laurent and Victoria myself. I swore to protect you and I failed you. You lost everything because of me, because I lost control that day, because I ran away instead of finding Victoria and killing her because I was afraid of my own emotions, afraid of why you were so fucking special. It was all my fault. I made him leave you, I didn't protect you, I should have known you'd never want them to leave."
"I never wanted any of you to leave and it was never your fault. I told you Jazz, it was him, he was looking for a way to leave since James. You were his excuse. He stole this family from me. My father, Paul, Collin, it's his fault they are dead. His fault I was alone so long. You told me I was worth it, he gave up, he made feel unworthy." I met his eyes and something in me clicked, it was always Jasper, "You always took care of me, made me feel calm, confident, beautiful, loved. I wouldn't give up having loved just because I lost them. I don't want to change the past Jazz, no matter how much it hurts, but you gave me peace from it. You gave me a family, love, eternity." I stepped towards him, running my hand over his jaw line. "You showed me the way home." Jasper wouldn't find a mate. He already had. I was his mate. I wanted to live forever because even with those waiting for me, I couldn't imagine ever finding peace without him, not even in death. He was my peace, he was my home, it was hard and painful but I had finally made it down the long road home, to my mate, to my Jasper.
"I will never fail you again."
"You never have, you never could." He wrapped his arms around me and I leaned into his solid chest.
"Mates." Alice whispered.
We turned to her and I nodded, before turning back to Jasper, "I love you."
"I love you." He smiled at me, the emotion flowing out of him and into me said it better than words ever could.