DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR ANY OF

S. MEYER'S CHARACTERS… UNFORTUNATELY.

I JUST PLAY WITH THEM.

Blood In The Snow Chapter 27

Previously:

After the gifts are opened and the resulting mess cleared away, we all gather in my study to place the call to Edward. I put the call on speaker so we can all talk to him. Unfortunately we get a recording saying that due to the weather all phone service in the area is down. Everyone is disappointed, but we know that that sometimes happens. We'll try again in a day or two.

EPOV

Christmas Day this year was the most perfect Christmas I've ever had. No fanfare, no excessive shopping, no 'over the top' meals… just a warm fire, gentle snowfall and my Jasper snuggled close to me. I can't ask for anything more.

Lightly, I run my fingers through his soft, blond hair. He lets out a sound almost like a purr, and snuggles even closer. I love to watch him sleep… so innocent… at peace… and he makes some of the most wonderful sounds. I can't help it... I love him with my entire being. I have to be the luckiest man on earth… my Jasper loves me, too.

As the sun sinks and the outside lights begin to glow, I sit and gaze into the fire, content. If only we never had to leave here, life would be perfect. But I know it won't last. Jasper could never be happy as long as the men who destroyed his family are still out there… free. Well, I will do whatever I can to help him and keep him safe.

At first, I was surprised my family hadn't called to wish me a Merry Christmas, so I decided to call them. That's when I discovered that apparently the cell phone towers were out, due to the weather. Ah well, we'd talk in a few days.

The next few days pass quietly… I start on my fourth and final book in my vampire series and Jasper has started to chronicle his experiences with the Volturi family. Who knows, maybe once this is all over, he can submit it to my publisher and get his own book out there. At the very least, I think getting it all down has helped him work through all the feelings he's kept pent up inside. It should also come in handy if he has to testify against them.

The sudden ringing of my cell phone startles me. I nearly knock it across the room, grabbing for it.

"Hello?"

"Edward. Merry Christmas… couple days late." My dad sounded chipper.

"Hey, Dad. Merry Christmas. How's everyone?"

"Doing just fine. Missed you, but everyone knows about the snow…"

"Yeah… it's pretty deep this year and still snowing. Might break a record this year." I chuckle. "You have big plans for New Years?"

"No. Your mother and I are going to stay home and celebrate the New Year quietly. I think Emmett, Rose and Alice are all going out together to one of those huge parties."

"That sounds like them." I laugh. "I think you and mom have the right idea. So… anything interesting going on?" For a minute I think the call got dropped… all I could hear was dead silence. "Dad? Are you there?"

"Yes, I'm here. Just trying to get my thoughts together."

"What's going on, Dad?" I am getting worried.

"Is Jasper around?"

"Yeah. Want me to call him up here?"

"Yes, then put the phone on speaker. You both need to hear this."

"Hang on." I laid the phone on the desk as I went to the door and hollered down stairs. "Jasper! Can you come up here? My dad needs to talk to us."

"Yeah. Be right there." He shouts back up at me and I can hear him running up the stairs.

Settling back in my chair, behind my desk, I can't help but laugh as Jasper comes skidding around the corner, out of breath. I motion for him to sit. "Okay, dad. He's here. What's up?"

"I had an interesting conversation Christmas Eve with Det. Charlie Swan."

Jasper jerked up in his chair. "Swan? What did he want?"

"He was digging for information on your location. He also knew about you, Edward."

"What? How does he know about me? Does he know where we are? He can't. Jasper didn't even tell Black where we are…" I pulled at my hair.

"Dr. Cullen… did he say how he knew I was still alive and with Edward?" Jasper was managing to hold it together, but I could see that it was a struggle.

"Take it easy, boys. Let me get through all this and then I'll answer any questions. Okay?"

"Okay, dad."

"Yes, Sir."

"Okay… late last week we had an officer brought in with a gunshot wound to his leg. Swan apparently is his superior officer, so he was here to visit him. I came in to check on him since I'd been the one who did his surgery. After I left, Swan came and found me at the nurse's station and asked to speak to me privately. I thought he wanted to talk about his man, but he wanted to know if I had a son named Edward Cullen."

My breath caught in my throat and I had to force myself to remain quiet. Dad paused for a minute and then continued.

"Of course I told him I did. He wanted to know where you are, but I wouldn't tell him without some answers from him. Then he wanted to know if you'd rescued an injured man a couple of months ago."

Jasper gasped. He looked like he might pass out, so I got up and pulled him into my arms, stroking his back. Bringing him back around the desk with me, I pulled him down on to my lap, holding him close.

"I told him that he'd better start explaining why he wanted this information. Apparently Jacob Black came to see him. He told Swan that you're alive, Jasper. He also told him that he had discovered a 'mole' in his office."

"What?" I nearly jumped out of the chair. Jasper buried his face in my chest, his body beginning to shake.

"Take it easy, boys. Listen to all of it."

"Okay, dad." I nuzzled close to Jasper's ear and whispered to him. "It's gonna be okay, love. It's gonna be okay" His shaking lessens, but doesn't stop.

"Swan says that Black has already caught the mole in his office and taken care of him, but the Volturi family knows that you're alive. BUT… they do not know where you are or who you are with. He flew to Seattle to see Swan because he thinks Swan has a mole, too. That's how Swan's man wound up in the hospital, catching the guy in the act of handing over the info."

"So, they got them, then."

"Well, they got one of them. Swan didn't say that there was just one. I think I might have insulted the man, though. He kept pushing me to tell him where you boys are and I refused… finally I asked him how was I to know he wasn't the mole."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that. Jasper was getting things under control… the shaking was nearly stopped and he raised his head, softly kissing my jaw. I grinned down at him.

"I have to give the man credit, he took it well. He suggested that Jasper call Black. They want to know where you are so they can protect you."

"Well, they didn't do a very good job the first time, did they?" Jasper spat out.

"No, son, they didn't. One thing you boys need to remember… anyone who wants to find out what properties this family owns, need only to go down to City Hall and pull the records."

"You're right, Dad. I didn't think about that." We sat in silence for a minute. "Jasper, I think maybe you should call Black. See what he has to say, at least."

Jasper nods. "Yeah, maybe I should. Jacob would never sell me out."

"Jasper?"

"Yes sir?"

"As far as anyone knows right now, you could be anywhere. Swan said he put out three different false locations for you in the hopes that they could find the mole or moles depending on how the Volturi reacted. Call Black… find out what he knows and what he thinks you should do. Do NOT tell him where you boys are. Call me after you've talked to him. Maybe I can help you boys decided the safest way to proceed."

"Okay, Dr. Cullen. I think you have the right idea. I'll try to get Jacob today and we'll call you as soon as we find out anything."

"Jasper… call me Carlisle. I feel like you're my son, too."

I could see tears welling up in Jasper's eyes at my dad's request.

"Thank you, Carlisle. I appreciate it." He got up off my lap and indicated that he was leaving the room.

I took the phone off speaker. "Dad…I think Jasper has dealt with about as much as he can for right now. I'm gonna let him calm down and get things straight in his mind before I suggest he call Black."

"Edward… he's special to you, isn't he."

"Yeah… I love him. He's it for me."

"I'm happy for you, son. I assume he feels the same."

"He does." I can't stop the huge grin spreading across my face.

"I can hear it in both your voices. Go take care of your man. Call me after you speak to Black."

"Okay. Thanks, dad. Talk to you later on tonight or first thing in the morning. Love you."

"Love you, too. You boys be very careful."

The phone went silent as we both disconnected. I sit there for a few minutes, just staring at my computer screen… not really seeing the words on the screen. Sounds like things are about to change. I'm scared for Jasper. I can't lose him. I bury my face in my hands, fighting the tears. I have to be strong for him… he needs me. Oh… god… I can't lose him. Not when I've just found him. Not ever!

I don't know how long I was sitting there… a few minutes, hours… I felt strong arms wrap around me and soft kisses being peppered in my hair.

"Aww… love. It's gonna be all right. I love you. We can deal with this." Jasper whispers in my ear, holding me close.

I turn in his arms, wrapping mine around him, letting him pull me out of the chair and close against his body. We stand and hold each other for a long time, quietly murmuring words of love and support to each other.

Finally, Jasper raises his eyes to mine. "We should go ahead and try to call Jacob. We need to know exactly what the Volturi know and don't know. Then we can decide what to do… if anything."

"You're right. We do need to know."

Hand in hand we move downstairs, he grabs his phone and we settle on the couch. He looks at me, one eyebrow raised. I nod and he flips the phone open and after blocking his number, dials Jacob's number. Putting the phone on speaker, we listen to it ring. Then, Jacob picks up.

"Hello."

AN: And so it begins….

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