Well, here we are at chapter 3. As usual, I don't own Twilight, etc. Hope you like.

Bella POV

I was speechless.

"But, how is that possible?" I asked, once I finally found my voice. "I didn't think Vampires could have kids."

"I'm not her biological father, of course, but I'm as good as." Jasper explained, walking with Alice to sit on the love seat.

I continued to focus my attention on Jasper as I took the seat on the couch previously occupied by Alice. I had a feeling a story was coming up and quite frankly, my legs just couldn't take anymore surprises today.

"It was awhile ago, after I left Maria, but before I found Alice..." Jasper started, but was interrupted by a quick elbow to the side by Alice. He swatted at her playfully in return. "Sorry, before Alice found me."

Alice giggled, kissing Jasper on the cheek. "Better."

"Anyway, during that time period, I was pretty much a typical nomadic vampire. I was traveling from Texas at the time, heading to the northern states. I was hoping to fine something...anything. I hated my nature, since my empathy made feeding off of humans unpleasant, but I had yet to discover our current lifestyle. I didn't even realize it was possible to feed on animals. I had been watching a small farm the day before. It was secluded and had only a few farm hands working on it. I figured I'd feed on one of the workers, then be on my way, since staging a death on a farm is very easy. I had returned that evening to take my fill and move on, when I found that the farm looked to be burning. I small mob of people had attacked the farm for some reason. To this day, I have no idea why. The anger and fear coming from the mob was like hitting a brick wall to me."

At this point, Jasper paused and lowered his gaze, as if clearly feeling the emotions of that day. And I suppose he did feel them clearly, having the super vamp mind and all. I felt sorry for Jasper. Being an empath had to be a difficult gift to have for a vampire. I had always guessed it might have been one of the reasons he had a harder time controlling himself than the rest of the family. Having to deal with his own bloodlust as well as every other vampire in the area would probably send anyone off the deep end. Not to mention feeding off a person while being able to feel their fear had to be tough.

Jasper continued.

"I wasn't going to stick around. Whatever the reasons for the mob to burn down the farm and kill the farmers, I didn't want to be that close to the fires, so I made a wide circle around the area. I was about to run off, when I felt it. It was a horrible sick fear coming from the field next to the burning house. The fear wasn't mixed with anger, like the feelings of the mob, though. It was fear mixed with sadness and uncertainly. I'm not sure why I went to investigate, but I made my way to the source of the feeling. Fortunately, it was getting late in the evening and darkness had taken the area, so I was able to slip in close without being noticed. When I found the source, I discovered a tiny white tiger cub."

"What was a tiger doing in a field in Texas?" I questioned, confused.

"I was thinking the same thing. The emotions coming off the animal weren't that of an animal, but felt very human. I can't pick up the feelings of animals." replied Jasper. "The little creature was fearful of me as I approached, but I sent out a wave of calm and reassurance and it allowed me to get near. Once I reached the animal, it changed from a tiger, to a female child. She couldn't have been more than 4 or 5 years old."

I gasped.

"It turned out she was a shapeshifter. A weretiger, I guess. She must have been a part of the family living on the farm. I felt sorry of the infant, but was unsure what to do. I couldn't just leave her there to die, but I was afraid I might hurt her or feed off of her. It took me a few moments to realize she didn't smell like food to me. She was alive of course. Blood pumping, air breathing, the whole nine yards, but she held no feeding attraction to me. I ended up taking the girl with me. I raised her the best I could. I had been around children in my human life, so I had some idea of what I was doing. I called her Kira, after an old friend I had when I was still human, since she wouldn't tell me her name. Later on, she told me her name was Corrabella, but she liked Kira more, so we stuck with it. Kira is also empathic. She can't manipulate emotions, like I can, but she can feel them. It helped my depression to have someone with me who could feel what I was feeling. We traveled around the country for ten years, just the two of us, until Alice found me. Shortly after that, as you know, we found the Cullens."

"Wow." I know, lame response, but what could I say. "Why doesn't she live with the family? You never speak of her."

Esme approached me, sitting lightly on the arm of the couch closest to my side. "Kira does live with us on occasion, but it can be difficult being the only living person among a family of vampires, as I'm sure you can relate to." Esme explained. "We try and visit her as often as we can when she's not with us."

I could see her point. Sometimes it was difficult being the only person around who actually slept, or ate normal food. It kinda makes you feel more like a pet at times.

"She's a great kid." Emmett piped it, throwing his arms up around the back of the couch.

"You mean a great kid to tease." Rosalie corrected, shooting Emmett a look. "You torment her when she's around."

"Yes, but she likes it." Emmett shrugged. "Besides, she always gets me back. The kid loves her uncle Em."

Rosalie could only shake her head.

I didn't know what to think. Another Cullen. A living Cullen. I found myself eager to meet her. I looked back over at Jasper, but something was wrong. He seemed torn.

"You don't really want her to come in for this, do you?" I asked him.

"We need the help and I know she can take care of herself. I taught her to fight when she was very young, and it's not like she's some underage kid. She's over 100 years old. But she is still my daughter. What kind of a father would I be if I didn't worry about her safety. After all, I did just call her out to fight newborns."

"Not good." Edward interrupted out of the blue, looking in the general direction of the kitchen.

I know, I know, not much of a cliffhanger, considering we already know what happens next, but hey, I haven't written it yet. Maybe I'll throw a curve.