"So then we just leave?" I sigh, moving closer to Jasper who looks like he's killing himself slowly on the inside. He probably is.
"We cannot put her in danger any longer." Edward snarls in my direction, but even that does not phase Jasper.
I glower at him, quickly situating myself between Rose and Jasper in the corner of our large couch.
"Edward, please." Esme gives him a look, begging him to see a different side.
"She could have died, Esme, he could have killer her."
"Don't blame him, he's still new to this lifestyle." Alice jumps to Jasper's defense "He continues to get better. He is your brother, don't try to make him feel worse."
I hold my breath as Edward's glare turns back to Jasper. I beg him, plead in my head for him to not say a word of what he's read to the rest of our family. When he ignores me, and opens his mouth darkly, I squeeze my eyes shut, apologizing over and over to him in my head, and then I do what I have to do to protect my mate, myself, and my family.
I will Edward to keep his mouth shut, never to utter a word of what Jasper did to anyone. His grimace tells me it's working, and I simply look away from him relieved that my gift has done it's job to protect Jasper selfishly and selflessly.
"This fighting will do us no good. Edward is right, we have gotten far too comfortable here, we leave tomorrow." Carlisle nods, rising to his feet with a somber look on his face. He had been silent most of the argument, letting us each have our frustrations out, but at his words, the bickering stops.
I mull over the words of our adopted father, knowing that with his wisdom, he is leading us in the right direction.
Rosalie and I make eye contact, and I can tell she is unsettled by the decision. Standing as I do, she places her hand in mine, and I frown at the sadness that radiates off her. I don't have to be an empath to tell that she is hurting deeply.
"So, this is it then. New city, new house, new humans, same us."
"Oh, it won't be so bad." I offer her a smile, leaning my head onto her shoulder.
"I wish we looked alike." She finally murmurs.
"I wish so too, but sadly I think I look more like the incredible hulk over there than I do you." I laugh gently, knowing that she'd rather be twins with me than Jaz.
"Yeah, I guess you do." She frowns deeply, but a smile creeps onto her face "either way, we're sister-in-law's."
"McCarty or Hale, you've got me either way." I laugh again.
"At least you make this bearable. Before it was just Alice, and you know how that usually goes. You're a good balance, between the both of us. It's like we're two different people, without a connection, and you build the bridge between us."
"I love you Rosie." I grin sweetly at my elder adoptive sister.
"I love you too Lina." She squeezes my hand tightly, gazing down at me lovingly.
I pause, pulling away from her and turning to my mate on the couch who hasn't said a single word since our family meeting adjourned.
"And I love you too Mr. Whitlock." I walk to Jasper, taking his cheek into my hand, cupping it gently.
He still looks like he's killed Bella too, and I frown.
"How could you love a monster?" I can easily tell he's distraught.
"You are no monster, you lost control for a moment in time, but you let us take you outside. I didn't even have to use my gift on you."
"You weren't in my head?" his head snaps up and fiercely dark eyes meet my own.
"Of course not, sweetheart." I sigh, perching gracefully in his lap. I place my hand over his chest, "You have a good soul, Jasper Whitlock."
"And you have the most beautiful one I've ever seen, darling." A trace of a smile hints across his face, and he presses his forehead to mine.
"Damn, I love you." I lean forward, feverishly crashing my lips to his.
He meets me with just as much passion, his hand trailing up my sides until they reach my cheeks.
"I never imagined something this beautiful would be mine for all the seconds of this life." He mumbles into my lips, and I pull away, eyeing him mischievously.
"I can think of a few things to pass that time." I whisper, giggling as I jump off his lap and grab his hand.
"Aw, jesus, look out. Jasper and Calina are about to go at it again." Emmett calls from the kitchen.
If my cheeks could burn red, they would be like a wildfire now. Jasper chuckles, cupping my cheeks and running over the tops of my cheekbones lightly before pulling me in for a kiss that leaves my head spinning.
"I never thought I would be capable of loving anyone like I love you." Jasper grins, holding me close to him for a second before leading me up the stairs towards our shared room.
. . .
"Jasper." I whisper, breaking him out of his spell. He's been staring at the closet while I've been reading for about an hour now.
I'm not sure I want to know exactly where he is in his mind, but wherever it is, it must be unpleasant, because he grimaces slowly every few minutes.
He blinks a few times, turning to look at me with a gentle eyes.
"Where are you, hm?" I trace up his bare chest, scooting to be impossibly closer to my handsome mate.
"It isn't important." He dismisses me, trying to distract me.
My hands find a scar on his side, and I shudder. The thought of my gentle mate fighting in countless wars, and being created simply as a weapon hurts my entire being. I ache to have been there for him, to help him escape, and to be free of the 'major' inside of him.
"I wish I could take them, take it all away for you." I press a chaste kiss to the scar my fingers found just moments ago.
"I would never allow it." He sighs, his arm tightening around me "They would have made me kill you eventually, and that thought pains me."
"I would have taken you and made you run with me, like Peter and Charlotte." I assure him.
"I'm glad I met you now. You would have despised me then, sweetheart." His hand reaches out to stroke my hair.
I ignore him, and find another scar, pressing my lips to it, as cheesily as I can.
"I love you for who you were, and who you've become because of it. Never doubt that."
I put my book down, looking around at the boxes Jasper hastily packed for us just minutes after we came upstairs.
I'm silent for a moment, pondering my words in my mind as I think about the family who has surrounded me since I returned.
The endless journey beats on, and so must I.
