Here is the next chapter! I've created a different back story leading up to Maria for Jasper than in the books. I hope you like it! Enjoy & thanks for reading!

Chapter 11: Aaron

"Okay," Bella said, pulling her legs up underneath her as she got comfortable on the ground at their spot by the creek, having decided it would be more private than a house full of people with supernaturally good hearing. "I'm ready. Go."

Jasper sighed, giving her a sideways glance. "You're sure you wanna do this?"

"No stalling!" she said, kicking his leg. He grabbed her foot and lay it in his lap. She stretched her other leg out too and crossed her ankles over his thighs. "I'll get you started. I was born in..."

Jasper ran his hand along her jean-clad legs. "I was born in 1844 in Houston, Texas. My parents were Lucille and Elias Whitlock. I had a little brother named Aaron who was two years younger'n me."

He sighed, closing his eyes as he tried to keep his emotions in check. Short and simple. He just wanted to get it over with so they could move on.

"Elias had a small farm and big plans with no business sense," he continued, staring at her feet. "He bought everythin' on credit. Mama couldn't have anymore kids after Aaron an' me and with the farm not movin' as fast as he wanted it to, Elias packed up and hit the road one night. I've never been able to find a single trace of him, even after all these years. We kept the farm goin' with enough to get by on, Aaron, Mama, an' me..." he stopped, memories long forgotten floating through his head like an old movie reel. He closed his eyes briefly, a beautiful woman with strawberry blonde hair laying in bed, her pale hand grasping his.

Opening his eyes again, he saw Bella's warm hand in his own. He looked over to see tears rolling down her cheeks. "Dammit," he growled, moving to wipe away her tears, keeping her face cupped in his hands. "I'm so sorry, darlin'. I didn't mean for you to feel it..."

She shook her head. "No, it's okay. It's not your fault."

He leaned his forehead against hers before placing a kiss there. "I knew this wasn't a good idea."

Bella was quiet for a moment, trying to form the right words. He could feel her anxiety, but waited for her to speak first. "Jasper, have... Have you ever talked about all this to anyone?"

He shook his head. "Alice knows bits and pieces, but..."

"Keep going."

"What?" he frowned.

"You can't keep this all bottled up inside. It can't be healthy, not even for vampires. So, keep going," she urged. "Just get it all out at once, it'll be easier."

He smirked, though it lacked the usual spark of amusement. "And you know so much about this, how?"

She shrugged. "My mom made me go to therapy for about a year back in Phoenix after she and Phil got married. She thought it would help me adjust."

"Did it?"

Bella nodded slowly. "A little, I think. She and Charlie divorced when I was so young, it wasn't nearly the trauma-inducing event she thinks it was. It was more when she married Phil, and it went from being just two of us to three of us. It was actually after talking to the therapist that I decided to come here. So, in a way, talking it out brought me to you."

He scoffed. "And you still think it's a good idea?"

She feigned offense. "Hey! I only have good ideas."

He smirked and she readjusted their position until they were both laying on their backs with her head on his chest. "It's okay," she said, lacing her fingers between his. "Just keep going. It's easier if you don't stop till the end."

He draped his arm over his eyes, running his fingers through his hair. "Okay," he sighed, clearing his throat before he continued. "There was a, um... a cholera outbreak and we all got it. Mama an' Aaron worse'n me. Aaron pulled through. Mama died. She told me to look after Aaron. She made me promise to keep him safe and I... Oh fuck, this is harder than I thought," he chuckled, the sound hollow in Bella's ears. She squeezed his hand tightly in hers. He took a deep breath before he continued, "I was 17 when the war broke out. I wanted to fight more than anything. If I had it to do over again, I woulda gone North to join the Union. But I was so eager to get off the farm and do something different with my life. I was so young... so stupid, for so many reasons. I somehow convinced Aaron to go with me. I'm still not sure how, but I got them to take us both, even though we were underage. We always had each other's backs. But then... We got separated in the heat of battle. When I finally caught sight of him... I saw his horse get shot out from under him. He jumped back up onto his feet an' drew his sword... He was shot in the chest," he drew in a shaking breath, absently rubbing his hand over his chest. "I felt his pain like was my own. It knocked the breath outta me. I jumped down off my horse an' ran over to him, cursin' myself for lettin' this happen; for lettin' my mother down."

Tears streamed down Bella's cheeks, but she stayed quiet. She was sure he had no idea he was projecting his emotions, but she didn't mind crying the tears he couldn't shed.

"When I finally got to him," he continued, "he just smiled at me, like he'd forgiven me for not being there to save him. I was always there... He died in my arms and I was alone in the world. I..." he broke off in a choked sob, shaking his head, "God, it was over a hundred years ago. How can it still hurt this much?"

She rolled over and wrapped her arms around his chest, "I don't think that kind of pain ever goes away."

Closing his eyes, he wrapped both arms around her and focused on her heartbeat, strong and steady. "Never leave."

"Never."

There was more, of course. He hadn't even gotten to the part about being turned or discovering he was an empath. There was so much more to tell her, but he couldn't bring himself to continue. He was too raw. Bella, it seemed, could sense that and lay there quietly with him, providing a solid presence that he hadn't felt in a long time.