- Forks. -

Alice could have never expected Jasper to fall asleep, but he does, she doesn't wake him, doesn't move, not even as it starts to grow dark, she just laid there, cherishing the moment of being able to cuddle with him.

She keeps scratching his back, taking in a deep breath and grinning, he smells like the ocean, but he also smells like wood, damp earth, like the forest.

She knew she should warn someone at home of her not going back tonight, I mean, she was old enough to do whatever she wanted, but she never not went back home without notice, but she wouldn't leave Jasper either, she wasn't gonna end this moment that might never happen again.

Still.

She bit her tongue as she stopped scratching his back, begging for him to not wake up.

He didn't.

But he did tighten the hug around her, bringing her even closer if that was possible, it lasted nothing but a fleeting moment before he was relaxing again.

She waited a moment, and when he didn't do anything else, she let out a breath of relief.

Alice pulled her phone out, pulling back from his chest just enough to see the screen, she sent Esme a text, she wouldn't go back home tonight, she would like to spend the night watching the stars.

It wouldn't be the first time she didn't went back home, she liked to watch the stars, walk along the beach or just wander around the forest. It helped her clear her head and also distance herself from those who did had their mates with them.

She never let herself be sad nor jealous over other people having their mates with them, Jasper was alive and she knew where he was, she just hated she had been so stupid and waited for him to choose to leave, she should have tried harder to get to him.

Because maybe, just maybe, none of this would have happened, she should have gone looking for him when she first realized the Volturi were poisoning him with vervain, how could she claim to love him when she had let others hurt him?

When she had let him suffer for so long?

But not anymore, she wouldn't fail him again, this time around, she would do anything to keep him safe, she would die fighting the Volturi if she had to, but over her dead body would she ever allow anyone to hurt him.

Never again.

~

Jasper woke up to the feeling of fingers carding through his hair, to legs entangled with his, and to a body pressing against his, and to such obliterating warmness God, he can hear the waves crashing ashore, the seagulls cawing, and the distant echo of a boat's motor.

It takes him more than he is willing to admit to process and remember the why is there a body pressing against his, why there is no pain.

Alice.

He pulls back from the hug, just enough to look at her, she smiles at him, her eyes twinkling with immeasurable happiness.

-Morning.- She greets, he wants to apologize for having kept her here all night, but she's oozing such obliterating happiness and giddiness he can't find his voice.

-Mornin'.- Is all he manages to get out, something about seeing her face first thing in the morning after waking up sends a thrill in him, of knowing she let him hold her for the whole night, that he slept holding her , her words from the day before come back to him.

And he's suddenly filled with so many emotions, he doesn't know why, doesn't know when, but he finds himself pinning her down, her surprise tickles his skin, and he leans down, he doesn't kiss her, he can't bring himself to do that just yet.

But he does give her the closest thing to it.

An Eskimo kiss.

And he doesn't stop there, he dares to kiss her as much as she had kissed him the day before, he peppers her face with kisses, but unlike hers, he does take liberties, because he kisses her eyelids, the tip of her nose, her chin.

For the first time in his life his lips are against another vampire's neck and he isn't feeling the urge nor obligation to rip it out, his kisses linger longer on her neck, her throat, a little part of him testing just how far she's willing to go, to see how true are her words about trusting him.

But there's no fear, no wariness, no alarm, no doubt, nothing over having her neck at his mercy.

Instead.

All he can feel is trust, such obliterating trust, calm, happiness, giddiness, hints of curiosity, and there's something else he can't quite make out, it's not until he kisses one particular spot on her neck and she grabs his shoulders abruptly to stop him that he realizes what is that something else.

Lust.

Oh.

He pulls back from her without a word, sitting back and letting her get her bearings back together, he's enough of a gentleman to not look at her, letting her take a breath.

The idea that he could bring such emotion in her was… interesting.

He decided to not think much about that, both because it wasn't the right thing to do and also to give her some dignity. He was the one who didn't stop to think what he might provoke by kissing her like that.

And he was quite sure that had he been in his right mind when she kissed him yesterday he might have reacted the same way, he did feel dangerous sensations when she had laid her head on his lap.

Still.

Focus.

He shouldn't be thinking about such stupid things.

-We should go hunting now.- Alice's voice caught his attention and he looked up at her, she was standing now and acting like nothing ever happened.

-Alright.

~

-Jasper?

-Yes?

-Can I ask something?

-Sure.

-... Whenever you feel like hurting yourself… could you try to do something that makes you happy instead?- Alice's question got Jasper's pencil freezing on the spot, after hunting she had gone back to the house to get Jasper some sunglasses to hide his eyes with and leave the books and blanket.

She had brought him to the library, he had found Emmett's Triple-Chess instructions in one of the comic books, and he had wanted some paper to write down several advices on the how some of those rules didn't make sense nor fit well with a game that was meant to be strategic.

She knew he was making it for his own entertainment, that he wouldn't actually want Emmett to see it in fear of retaliation.

Which was stupid, Emmett would kill to have someone to help him perfection his "most prized creation".

He had looked so focused, he was wearing his gloves and a medical mask she had gotten him in the store after the muzzle kept attracting too much attention.

She wasn't sure if she should touch this issue, and she wouldn't, not yet, but she at least wanted to give him another option, a way to somehow help him cope, not by hurting himself, but by doing something else.

He didn't look up at her, didn't even acknowledge her words before he returned to writing down on the paper.

-You should stop watchin' me all the time, I would very much like it if you weren't to see some things.- He said after a moment, and it took Alice a moment to realize he didn't mean it in the "Stop spying on me" manner but more like "Don't watch the monster".

Still.

She felt like she needed to make a clarification, she wasn't watching him 24/7, at least not now that he wasn't in Volterra and she didn't had to wonder whether he was still alive or not.

-I don't watch you all the time, just when I'm leaving the house so I know where you are, and if you are alright. I do admit I watched you all the time when you were in Italy, I was a bit… paranoid I guess. But I don't do it anymore, I swear, against popular belief I do know how to give people their privacy.

He didn't answer to her.

But she did feel his foot touch hers under the table, warmth tickling her skin, gratefulness, he kept scribbling down in silence, his handwriting was… interesting, it looked almost as old and sophisticated as Carlisle's, and at the same time so different.

Carlisle's handwriting was quick and with somewhat leaning letters, it reminded her of those movies where an aristocrat wrote on a parchment with quills and a candlelight.

While Jasper's was more slow and open, it reminded her of an aristocrat too, but one who would write in fine paper with one of those sophisticated ink pens with the sharp point Alice's never managed to figure out how to use.

He was right handed, she noticed, and he made an irritated little frown whenever he read something he found preposterous on Emmett's rules.

-He's smart, but he should stop focusin' so much on protectin' the Kings and Queens and more on how to make a functional chessboard for three people.

-He's been working on it for over two decades now, but he isn't been able to get it right enough to test it without it turning into a mess.- Alice said, she can still remember when Emmett tried to get Rosalie and Edward to test the Tiple-Chess.

It had ended up with Rosalie and Edward in a screaming match and a broken table.

-He should use other chess pieces for the third person, markin' it still makes it hard to keep track of. And givin' each person a color makes it easier to focus and think out the moves without mistakin' your piece with the third party's.

-That's what I've been telling him, but he keeps saying it makes it all the more fun.

-How it can be fun if those that are playin' are way more frustrated 'cause they can't tell their pieces apart from each other's than actually enjoyin' any of it?

Alice shrugged.

Jasper rolled his eyes, but he kept writing down, tweaking some things and adding some others, of course on his own paper, he wasn't stupid, he wasn't about to outright criticize someone he didn't knew.

Much less a vampire.

A vampire who had the size of a giant that could snap him like a twig if he underestimated him.

Alice did mention once that Emmett was the strongest of them all, stronger than a regular vampire, he didn't felt like testing how strong that could mean.

He didn't want to pick fights nor offend the Cullens, it might upset Alice, he was in their territory too, better lay low, and he didn't want six vampires after him either, nor risk the wolves' wrath. He wasn't fit for fighting right now.

The reminder of that fact got him glancing at his hand which was resting on the table, the sight of it shaking made disgust spark in his gut, fingers curling into fists to diminish the tremors, Alice's hand came to rest on top of his, almost as if reading his thoughts.

He tried to relax at that, she didn't care, she didn't care, that was easier said than done, he still had trouble believing her to not mind how messed up he was, that she wouldn't leave him once she realized how deep ran his problems.

That he might be too broken for even her to fix.

He could feel the itch beneath his skin, the occasional stab on his stomach, the nausea, the heat, at times it felt harder to ignore, and this wasn't even the worst, that it would get worse, and he dreaded that more than anything he's ever dreaded before.

Still.

For the time being, he just wanted to cherish this peaceful moment, of having Alice leaning her head on his shoulder, her arm interlocked with his as her hand held his.

Coming into town had been a risk he had been willing to take, he didn't mind the forest nor the beach, but he was well aware that Alice liked feeling human, so, he put up the excuse of wanting to come to the library, she's spent enough time in his element.

It was fair he spent some in hers.

He was familiar with this environment, libraries were quiet, no one would approach as long as you weren't being inappropriate nor disruptive. And the scent of books, old rugs and wood helped somewhat shield the reek of human.

She didn't said a word as he scribbled down, there wasn't boredom in her emotions either, just calm, happiness.

And still.

When he was done he crumpled the paper, he wanted to throw it out, Alice took it for him and asked him to go pick a book to read, something less serious and more to pass the time.

Thus.

He did as told.

He found one with an interesting name.

The Darkest Minds.

-Oh, I like that one.- Alice's sudden voice from behind almost made him jump. Hadn't she left to throw that paper? That was quick.

-What's it about?- He asks instead, she grins at him.

-It's about children who start developing powers; telekinesis, electrokinesis, super intelligence, mind control and breathing fire, it's rather intense, but it also has nice moments. Come on, I think you're gonna like it quite a bit.- Alice states, she pulls him with her to sit down on one of the huge bean bags.

-I don't think I like this chair.- Jasper mumbles as he sinks down, not much, but enough to make him feel like he would struggle to get up if he were to have to stand up quick.

It's not a pleasant feeling.

But it's somewhat bearable when Alice ends up pressing against his side as she also sinks on the bean bag.

-Me neither, I feel like it's gonna swallow me and I'm gonna end up in some other dimension, I didn't remember them being this sinkable.- Alice protests, she knew vampires were seriously heavy, but this was ridiculous!

She felt an arm around her waist, halting her movements and sinking situation.

-You can put your leg on mine, you know, to not sink.- Jasper said, refusing to look at her.

Alice smirked, and while she felt amused over his flustering she also found it endearing, she could tell he wasn't comfortable with being put at such disadvantaging situation where he might not be able to get up as quick if something were to happen.

So him letting her put another strain on his movements… it's a huge deal, means he at least trusts her enough to let her be the one to warn if something might happen.

She does bring her leg up over his, it's an interesting position to sit in a bean bag she must admit. She takes advantage of his arm around her waist to lay down, her head resting on his shoulder, her arm drapped over his torso.

-Are you comfortable?- There's an edge of amusement in his voice.

-Can't be in a better place. You're a comfortable pillow.- She conceded, her lips twitching when she heard him snort.

-Good to know.

Jasper brought the book to rest on his stomach, Alice holding the other end open since he had one hand out of commission.

He took in a deep breath before starting to read out loud, keeping his voice low enough for humans to not be able to catch it.

He had never felt more at ease.

To think this all came from taking down a deer out of pure curiosity.

~

Esme had come to the library for a new book for Renesmee, that's when she came across quite the peculiar thing, she was gonna turn for the other corridor when she caught sight of a familiar face on the first floor.

Alice .

She was on one of the giant bean bags, but she wasn't alone, she was… well, Esme had no idea who she was with considering he was wearing sunglasses and a medical mask, he was even wearing the hood of the jacket he was wearing, and gloves, no inch of skin visible, and still, she could get an idea on who it was.

The mysterious "boyfriend".

Both of them were all snuggled up on the bean bag, several books scattered over his lap and side, Alice had her head resting on his shoulder and she looked more at ease than Esme's ever seen her, there's a happiness in her gaze, a light that's just much more stronger and intense than ever.

And it makes her chest feel full, to see her daughter so happy.

She can't see the young man's face, but the fact alone that he's kicking his free leg in the air in the universal language of "I'm at peace with the world right now don't bother me" is enough to let her know he might be just as happy.

He seems rather tall, tall enough to make Alice look too small beside him, and Esme has the feeling he might be close to Emmett's height, though he is much more leaner.

What does catch Esme's attention is the fact that he is wearing Emmett's old jacket, the black and red one that when one zips it up looks like a cheap Dracula costume.

And she wonders if the missing box with the clothes to donate hadn't gone missing but that Alice gave them to him, was he a nomad? But even then, why give him used clothes? Clothes that didn't even fit him? Alice was the kind of person who wouldn't hesitate to drown people in new clothes if given the chance.

One would think she would get him new clothes if he needed them, not that Esme minded him wearing those clothes, there was a reason those had been meant to be donated, to be given to people who needed them.

But even if she thinks that she has the feeling something isn't quite right about this picture.

Esme is not an eavesdropper, but she still finds herself focusing for a moment of what's going on between the two.

-Why would an angel and a demon like each other? Doesn't make any sense. - Esme heard him speak, his voice was soft with a slight southern drawl in there, but what got to her was how awfully young he sounded.

Alice pats his stomach with an exasperated look.

-Keep reading, stop hyperfixating on them being an angel and a demon. There's literally like a hundred things more interesting about the story to focus on.

-But it's an angel and a demon , there's nothin' whatsoever in common between 'em. - Esme bites back a smile at his insistent voice filled with nothing but confusion and disbelief.

-Jazz, stop reciting what was literally said a page ago.- Jazz? So that was his name?

-But-

-And for the record, it was the angel who said it, so, stop with the hidden messages because it's not working.

-I don't know what you're talkin' 'bout.

-Uh-huh, and I measure seven feet in height.

-Bet you would like that.

-What was that?

-Nothin'.

Esme had absolutely no idea what they were bickering about, but she found herself smiling as she tuned their voices out and kept on walking.

She had no idea what the future held in store for those two, but if there was one thing she was sure of it was that the bond between them was as real as it could get, if she ever had worries and doubts over Alice's "mysterious boyfriend" because of the scar on her neck they were all gone now.

Alice had said so herself, the scar was product of a misunderstanding that had gotten him to panic, he hadn't meant to hurt her, she had dealt with it, both of them seemed fine. Esme hadn't liked the idea of her daughter seeing a man who had hurt her.

She had even entertained the idea of seeking him out, because no one hurt her daughter, but Alice had been quite adamant that it had been an accident, a misunderstanding, he had been afraid because she had made a comment regarding things she shouldn't know about him, he got frightened, thought she had been spying on him and attacked.

He hadn't meant harm, he had just been protecting himself of what he thought to be dangerous.

Now Esme could be at peace, because there was no doubt that whatever he felt for Alice, it was certainly real, he meant her no harm.

She could be at complete ease now.

And she knew that while Edward and Rosalie might not like it, there was nothing to be done about this, Alice was safe, and she was old enough and smart enough to make her own choices, if he was the one she was choosing then Esme had no troubles.

Because she might not know him, but that little moment between him and Alice…

He might not be as bad as he was made out to be.

And who knew? Soon, there might be a new member in their family.

The final piece to complete the family.

~

Italy, Volterra. -

-The hell are you doing here?- Were Demetri's first words as he stepped into Jor's room and caught sight of Alec holding a trashbag in one hand and a comic book in the other.

-What does it look like, genius? I'm getting rid of unimportant stuff.- Alec tells, giving Demetri a look as if he were speaking to an idiot.

-Aro said to not touch the room until I got the scent of something.- Demetri reminds him with a hard look as he approaches the boy.

-Yeah, but that's on clothes, not on a friggin' magazine or toy, unless you want to sniff clay? You are more than welcome to.- Alec snaps, shoving a clay figurine of a dinosaur on Demetri's face, the tracker snatched his wrist with a warning growl, twisting it hard enough to get him to drop the dinosaur.

-You think you are funny?- Demetri snarled, shoving him against the desk, still gripping his wrist in a painful twist, Alec grimaced at the uncomfortable situation, he hated people touching him, even more so people bigger than him.

It brought back nauseating memories, of screams, fire and shouts.

Yet, before he could retaliate another voice was making itself known.

-Demetri.- Jane's voice sliced through the air like an axe of absolute ice slamming upon it. And the second the tracker looked at her the second he was releasing Alec, dropping on the ground and groaning in pain as his hands clutched his head.

He still forced himself to look up, glaring at Jane.

-You little-

-Do not touch my brother Demetri.- Jane cut off, her voice hard as steel, promising more than just pain if he were to ignore her one and only warning, her eyes iced. She then glanced at Alec.- You aren't suppose to be here Alec, why are you here? He's not here anymore, you have no reason whatsoever in being here.- Jane told him as a statement of fact.

She honestly couldn't understand what was it with Alec's stupid fixation with Jor, they were nothing, he was just the only guy in Volterra who happened to find any entertainment on those stupid videogames Alec was so obsessed with.

Jane was comprehensive, she let Alec spend a few hours with the games and Jor because it was something she just couldn't bring herself to do, she hated the TV, videogames, it was all too unnerving for her, plus, what was the point of killing people in a game when you could easily do so for real?

Still.

She made sure to never let Alec spend much time around Jor, she didn't trust him, much less when he had a fractured mind and his other side was so unpredictable, she didn't want her brother anywhere near him.

It was her job to protect him, but she wasn't about to keep him from doing what he liked, she wasn't his boss, he was entitled to spend his time however he wanted with whoever he wanted.

Even if that meant interacting with that hateful jerk of Jor, Jane hated him, because he could withstand her gift, or at least as long as Alec's gift wasn't involved, but the point still stood, he could take her gift, and that…

She hated it, she hated people who couldn't be hurt by her gift, because it reminded her of an all awful time where she had been rendered powerless by all of those damned human trash, it made her think of pain, fire, ropes digging into her skin, Alec's screams, the mob's shouts, moth-

Focus.

-I know, I was just getting his stuff, he won't use it anymore anyways.- Alec for his side felt his stomach twist with a disgusting feeling as he spoke the lie. No one knew he was the one who had given Jasper most of these things.

And he would rather like for that to stay that way.

But he was also taking them because he didn't want them to be thrown out, he gave them to him, and he knows each one of them is a reminder of all the times he tortured him.

But no one but Jasper has the right to choose whether he throws them out or not.

Plus, there's also two things he knows Jasper wouldn't like getting thrown, the chain with the horseshoe and the turtle keychain.

Jane gives him a narrowed look, but she doesn't comment on it, he knows she might or might not know where did some of these came from.

But if she does, she does not comment on it.

-You got them. Let's get out of here.- She tells him, he gives her a short nod before leaving the room, not sparing Demetri a single look, he's the one who stepped out of line when he decided to touch him.

So.

What happens to him has nothing to do with Alec.

Jane gives Demetri one last glare before walking off too.

Demetri glowers at the spot where both brats had been at and bites back the urge to hunt both down, Aro won't be pleased if he touches a single hair on either of the brats.

Aro held those two on such high regard the brats thought themselves the big shit, that they could do whatever they pleased whenever they pleased.

But Demetri sucked up to no one.

Much less to two brats.

He would find Jor and when he did he was gonna make sure to rip apart whoever the hell gave him the stupid idea of thinking he could run off.

He made a deal with them the moment he agreed to join, deals were meant to be followed through, that's how things worked.

He had no right to run because he was "tired". He should have thought it better when he said yes.

Demetri would make him remember that yes.

Because if there was one thing he had always been great at, it was at getting things done.

~

Forks. -

-What's this?- Emmett questioned as Alice gave him a folded paper so crumpled up he wonrered where did she even got it from.

-Open it.- Alice's words sparked his interest, and he was quick to open it.

He was met with such sophisticated handwriting it looked as if it had been pulled from a movie.

But what he found written in it…

-You did this?- Even if Emmett asks that he knows Alice's handwriting and this is certainly not it.

-No, he did, he found the game's rules in one of the comics, he wanted to throw it out after writing them but I thought you would like it.

-I knew those books were for him!- Rosalie's accusing voice came from downstairs, Alice made a point to ignore her.

-These are… good, pretty good actually.- Emmett conceded as he read them over, the guy was quite smart if he could come up with these kind of things.- You sure there's no chance for me to meet him? I'll be nice, scout's honor.- Emmett said, raising his hand in the air for a salute for more emphasis.

-I don't think that's a good idea… not yet at least.- Alice told, Jasper wouldn't react well to having to face Emmett right now when he felt so vulnerable and like he wouldn't be able to protect himself well.

Of course she knew Emmett didn't mean him harm, but Jasper didn't knew Emmett, no matter the amount of assurances he wouldn't just trust Emmett because she said so.

Plus.

There was also the growing signs of withdrawal. And his injuries.

Speaking of which, she wished she could ask Carlisle about that, she didn't know how bad those were, but if after a week Jasper still winced and grimaced in pain it couldn't be good.

Which didn't make sense, he had healed before, slow, but never this slow. She worried something else might be going on.

But she couldn't ask Carlisle, if Aro got hold of one of their minds he would know about Jasper.

Reason she hadn't told them not even his name. She knows the Volturi are looking for him, aiming to get a scent, a clue of where he might have gone or with whom he had been.

Emmett for his side frowned, but he still nodded.

He did wish to meet this guy, for more than one reason, but he also knew he couldn't, the dude apparently had more important things to do, and Alice said he didn't like people much.

He still wondered how he was though, to have Alice so smitten, Was he serious? As much of a pain in the ass as Alice?

Did he like comic books? That's how he had found the rules, right? Did he like chess? Videogames? Did he even know what videogames were? Some nomads could be quite averse to technology, what kind of personality did he have? Was he old school? A goody two shoes prude like Edward? Or was he more outgoing?

It killed him to know what kind of person could deal with someone like Alice, Emmett loved his sister, but dear God, she was always all over the place, it could be emotionally exhausting for anyone.

A/N: I don't know what the hell Jasper said about chess, I don't know nor understand anything about chess, several people throughout my life have tried explaining it to me but my brain just refuses to grasp the slightest sliver of how any of it works

But Jasper likes chess, I don't know at this point if it's a canon fact or if it's something I picked from the hundreds of fics I have read about him, but he likes chess, so, sorry if that shit didn't make sense XD