Forks. -

Alice closes the door behind her, she had taken advantage of the fact that Jasper was still sleeping to take a shower, vampires didn't exactly need to shower, but she liked doing so, it made her feel more human.

Plus, there was something oddly pleasing about taking a shower when the sun hadn't even rose.

Jasper was still sleeping, though now he was laying on his stomach, he looked positively endearing, she still couldn't believe she had cuddled with him all night, that had been one of the best rests she's ever gotten.

Vampires didn't need to rest, she knew this, but the point still stood.

She came to sit beside him, her fingers reaching out to card through his hair, brushing it away from his face, such innocent face… no furrowed brow, no hyperaware eyes, just calm, absolute and complete calm, she could do nothing but marvel at his peaceful expression.

He looked nice like this, and she found herself, not for the first time, marveling at how fair looking he was, even for vampire standards he was quite handsome, absurdly so.

And with that innocent look on his face, she wished he would look like that more, for him to be more relaxed when he was awake, but she knew that that would never be possible, Jasper's life had conditioned him to be hyperaware at all moments.

It broke her heart whenever she thought of the horrors he had to live through, but he was strong, so strong, he survived many things, and now, if they managed to survive the Volturi, he might have a chance at a new beginning, a peaceful life, one where he wouldn't have to be afraid or fight to survive.

A happy life.

She leaned down, pressing a soft kiss on his temple, kiss lingering there, it didn't matter what life brought, she would never leave him alone, he would never have to suffer alone, never again.

The sudden hand on her arm caught her attention and she pulled back, just enough to meet sleepy red eyes, she couldn't help but chuckle at the adorable sight.

-You have a cute bedhead.- He frowned at her, and still half asleep as he was he brought his arms around her, pulling her into a hug and prompting her to topple over him with a chuckle.

His chest was a comfortable spot to rest her head on, she had to admit that.

They laid like that for a while longer before she began feeling his fingers carding through her hair, such comforting feeling, she felt like goo, a pile of goo of absolute comfort and happiness, were she human she would be on the fifth cloud, having the greatest sleep in her life.

But she wasn't.

So all she could feel was absolute happiness, fuzziness, warmth, it felt like Heaven and she wished this would never end.

But all wonderful things must come to an end, she almost growled when she heard the knock at the door, breaking her bubble of all that was warm and comfortable in the world.

She was tempted to ignore it, but she could feel Jasper had grown tense beneath her, his hand coming to a halt.

She glared at the closed door.

-What?- She didn't meant for her voice to come out as harsh as it did, but to be fair, she was comfortable here, she rarely got Jasper to be this affectionated, mostly because he was worried about what would be crossing a line and what wouldn't.

Which made literally no sense because they were just cuddling, and she has told him over a thousand times that if he does do something she doesn't like she will voice it, but he's too much of a gentleman to even entertain the idea of possibly putting her in any situation where she might have to voice her discomfort.

-Can we talk?

Ah.

Edward.

Alice narrowed her eyes, she didn't even need to use her gift to know what he wanted to talk about.

She was so tempted to ignore him, but she knew she couldn't, thus, with a most irritated sigh she forced herself to leave her comfortable spot on top of Jasper.

Jasper who was quick to sit up, he was regarding the door with the same narrowed look one would expect on someone's who's seriously expecting it to attack him.

-Wait downstairs.- She told Edward, kneeling on the bed and fixing the mess that had become Jasper's hair, his hair was soft and easy to style, so she was done with it fairly quickly.

-I should leave.- Jasper mutters, looking up at Alice, he can feel the waves of displeasure, now from Alice, she seems like she wants to protest before thinking better of it, her hands leaving his hair in order to rest on his face.

And he will never get tired of how gentle her touch is, he leans into her touch, his hands coming up to rest on top of hers.

-I will see you later then?- She questions, her thumbs stroking his cheeks.

-You should spend the day with your family, you've been spendin' way too much time with me lately, I don't think it's fair for 'em.- Jasper said, meeting her eyes as he did, Alice frowned.

-But-

-You spent an entire week with me, or well, lookin' after me, you deserve to relax.- Jasper cut off, he didn't want to make others think he was keeping her all to himself nor that he was being a selfish prick who didn't let her do anything.

Being here made him quite aware of the fact that Alice's been way too much with him, which he didn't mind, but it made him feel like he was hogging her all to himself.

This bedroom looked so nice, and yet, she's grown the habit to spend the night with him, at the beach, then at the hotel, didn't she miss her room? I mean, vampires didn't sleep, but surely she had things to do, hobbies.

-I'm perfectly relaxed, with you.- Alice refuted, where the hell had his wish for her to take time off come from? What time off even? He wasn't a child nor was he her responsibility for her to need to take a time off.

She took care of him because she loved him and because he needed her, not because she had to, she did it because she had wanted . Much like she knew he would be there for her if she was the one who needed him.

-I know, but haven't you been more focused on me than on yourself? Didn't you say you liked shoppin'? I can't do that with you, not in that huge place you said you liked, it won't end well.- Jasper's seen enough movies to know that there were huge places to shop anything at, malls Alice had called them.

She said she loved those places.

Those places with thousands of humans.

He wouldn't be able to survive in such large crowd, all those humans, all those heartbeats, all those scents, and God, don't even get him started on the emotions.

If he didn't turn that place into a slaughterhouse those emotions would surely make him collapse.

-You want me to go shopping?- Alice asked, not sure what even was going through his mind, she could somewhat see his point, she has been spending most of her time with him.

Which she guessed wasn't much fair to the Cullens, but she's known them for decades, couldn't she spend some time with Jasper now that she had him? She wanted to spend as much time as possible with him, she didn't want to leave him out of her sight.

Because what if the Volturi found him and she wasn't there to help him?

-Yes, your favorite hobby you said before? You should try it, I won't go anywhere, and 'm pretty sure I can very much protect myself, there's no need for you to worry.

Alice still stared at him with a narrowed look, she didn't want to leave him alone, but he was giving her such a look she couldn't help but give in.

-Alright.

He smiled at her, those little dimples making him twice as endearing, she leaned forward, pressing their lips into a kiss, she would never get tired of kissing him.

-Be careful.- She told as she pulled back from the kiss.- And stay away from the East side of the forest.- She warned, remembering one of her latest visions, there would be hikers on that side of the forest.

Jasper for his side nodded.

-Will do.- He assured, giving her one last peck before climbing off the bed, he could use the door, but he didn't felt like running into anyone, thus, he opened the window and climbed out, giving Alice one last look before leaving.

Alice for her side watched Jasper leave, she wanted to go with him, but she said she would spend the day here, and she really should, she's been ignoring too much.

Thus, with anothr sigh, she left the bed, mentally preparing herself for whatever Edward was about to say.

She left her room, found Edward in the living room sporting his best disapproving face, how many times would they have this conversation? How many times would she ask him to give Jasper a chance? The benefit of the doubt at least?

-I don't like him.- Were the first words he spoke to her, as if that somehow explained it all and fixed whatever the hell he thought wrong.

Alice frowned.

-Well, then it's a good thing I'm the one dating him and not you, right?- She told as a statement of fact, she heard Emmett's snort from the kitchen.- He isn't even done anything to you.

-He doesn't need to, he's already done a lot, or did you forget about Bree? Or the how he almost killed you?

Alice sighed, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose.

-Edward, we have talked about this over a dozen times, he did what he'd to to survive, even if he didn't kill Bree someone else from the Volturi would've done it.- Alice told as a statement of fact.

Because it was true, Bree was put in the Volturi's target list, and with no skill or gift backing her up she had been useless in the Volturi's eyes.

Something to be rid of.

Jasper, Jane, Alec, Felix, any of them would have had to kill her, thankfully, she got the one who made her death quick and painless.

-The almost killing me thing was a misunderstanding between him and me, one I must remind, for the hundredth time, was dealt with. So, you have no business meddling on it.

-You are my sister, it's my job to meddle if you are putting your life at risk!- Edward snapped, why couldn't Alice see he was just trying to protect her? He got it, she liked this guy, but that didn't mean she had to put herself in danger for him.

She claimed them to be soulmates, but that was impossible, Alice was one of the kindest and purest people he's ever known.

Her soulmate couldn't be that psychopath! That just wasn't possible. She was just confused, infatuated with him because he was her first vision, didn't mean he had to be her soulmate.

-How many times will I have to tell you he's not dangerous?

-He's taken thousands of lives, and he still kills people.

-You killed dozens of people, bad as they were, they were still people, humans. You knew perfectly well that there was a choice, but you still chose to play vigilante.- Alice knew that was a low blow, that using that phase of Edward against him wasn't fair.

Because he did save lots of people in the long run by eradicating so many evils.

But she needed to make a point.

-He killed to survive and protect himself because he thought that's how it was, that vampires were meant to fight and kill to survive and protect themselves. If people feared him they would leave him alone.

Plus, he had also been doing so to help María, which wasn't the point right now.

-He still kills people, yes, to feed , same as the Egyptian coven, the Amazons, the Romanian coven and literally every single vampire out there aside from us and the Denali, but I didn't see you shooting daggers at any red eyed vampire before, so why the need to hate him specifically when he's done nothing to you?

Silence.

-He just wants to be left alone and have some peace for once in his life. Why do you refuse so much on giving him a chance? Because of his past? Isn't that a bit unfair? He deserves a second chance, everyone does, you know that better than anyone.

More silence.

-I'm not asking you to like him, I'm just asking you to give him the benefit of the doubt. Please?

Edward glared at the window, arms crossed over his chest and jaw set tight, he hated this, he hated this guy who appeared out of nowhere to mess everything up.

But Alice did have a point, he's done nothing to Edward nor any of them, and if he wanted to pull up a trick he would have done so long ago, but how was he suppose to just be okay with this?

He wanted to let Alice be happy, she deserved it.

But not with that guy, who assured him he wouldn't hurt her? The Major was a monster, a demon of the worst kind.

And Alice spoke about him as if he were some kind of harmless thing.

He couldn't understand what she saw in that guy, why him? Edward would have been more willing to accept it if it had been one of the wolves, or even a human! Anything but the friggin Major!

But she was so infatuated with that guy, no, it didn't matter how he looked at it nor how much he tried to say otherwise, there was more than just infatuation in her eyes, whenever she spoke about him, when she came back from seeing him, now , she seriously loved that creepy psycho .

God, that was so not good.

And she was begging him to accept him, him, and Edward felt like he was being the bad guy here when that's seriously not what he wanted, he didn't want to hurt her, that was the complete opposite of what he wanted, he was trying to protect her, just like he did with the whole family.

Because he loved them dearly, yes, even Rosalie regardless of her bitchy attitude, though he would rather die than say that out loud, point was, the idea of any harm coming to them was not a pleasing one.

And this guy, he was The friggin Major, he was extremely dangerous, an empath who could manipulate people's emotions, much more older and experienced than Edward himself.

Edward hated him because if he didn't, he would be terrified beyond reason over the fact that he wouldn't stand a chance against that guy if things were to go bad.

He couldn't protect his family, and that was an extremely terrifying thought.

The sudden hand on his arm caught his attention, Alice was giving him such a weird look.

-You trust me, right?- Alice questioned, her voice soft as she spoke. Edward frowned.

-What kind of question is that? Of course I do.

-Then trust me when I tell you that he means you nor anyone in this house any harm, he would never hurt anyone on purpose. He did horrible things in the past, yes, but that doesn't define who he is. He's good, and he's always trying his best to be better.

-Alice-

-He knows how to play every single string instrument there is, and the piano, though that latter might need some help, point is, didn't you say once it would be nice to have someone else in the family who would actually like music enough to play an instrument with?

Edward scowled, though he did had to admit that that was a tempting thought, much better than having to stand Emmett's Maracas or kazoo.

Or Rosalie's deafening drums.

But he was dangerous.

But Alice… he couldn't bear the idea of making her sad.

- Fine .

~

Jasper laid on his favorite boulder under the sea, watching the sunlight's distorted reflection and dulled brightness past the water, multicolored fish swimming above, algae floating, nothing but currents and crackling sand filling his senses. Sea life was so quiet compared to the turmoil outside.

Alice had gone shopping as he had suggested, because again, he didn't want to hog her all to himself, she's spent an entire week with him, he felt like she should spend time doing something fun and going out with her sisters or doing whatever she wanted as long as she got to do something she liked with other people aside from him.

He was bored now, but it was a small price to pay, suddenly, he felt a mildly familiar emotional signature, and it took him a moment to recognize it.

Ah.

Renesmee.

But what was she even doing here? Alone? No. Scratch that. She wasn't alone, if he focused he could feel another one not much far, unlike her hope and giddiness that one was filled with irritation, mistrust and wariness.

For a moment he was quite tempted to ignore it, Renesmee had the habit to come find him, sometimes to talk to him and other times to get him to help her build Legos. One time she even got it in her to teach him an odd game that consisted of hitting each other's hands and her singing a silly song in the process. She had also taught him how to use that weird little videogame console. A DS she had called it.

She was a strange child who seemed to wield no fear whatsoever towards him.

And then he heard it.

-I know you are here, aunt Alice said you would be!

Her muffled shout made him frown, her emotions flaring up with stubbornness and something else he couldn't quite decipher but that made him feel a bit of guilt swell up.

Thus.

He left his spot on the boulder in order to swim up to ashore, algae clinging to him as he did, her amusement and giggles at the sight of him didn't waste time to make themselves felt/heard.

-You look like Medusa.- She told, covering her mouth as if attempting to hide her smile.

-Ain't she the one with the snakes?- Jasper questioned as he rid himself of the algae, feeling quite amused himself at the odd comparison.

-Algae can be seen as water snakes for some people.- Renesmee told as a statement of fact, remembering Quil's screech at the beach when algae had gotten hold of his leg and he kept screaming as if a giant snake was the one around his leg before realizing it was just algae.

-Fair point.- Jasper conceded, glancing at the spot right where he could feel the other emotional signature, he's felt it before, vague, like a ghost he can't quite read, only when Renesmee came to him.

Now it was much more clear, strong, and he could very much see it.

One of the wolves.

Right.

One of the wolves had imprinted on the girl, which had saved her from getting killed by the pack, and now he went around acting like her bodyguard, Jasper honestly hoped that was it, because for what he's heard about imprinting…

This was a child, a child that looked like she was 12 but was a few months old, a child, a child with no experience in life whatsoever, Jasper might not know anything about the Cullens.

But he was hoping that no one would allow the wolf to develop some kind of romantic relationship with the girl, that would be practically him grooming her! He saw her when she was a baby, he's by her side as she grows, how could the wolf possibly develop romantic feelings for her? That would be sick.

So far from what he had heard from Renesmee she saw "Jake" as an older brother who she could have fun with and who covered her wrongdoings from her parents, Jasper's spent enough time around her to admit he might have grown a bit attached to her.

He might not be a Cullen, might have no right to mingle in their family, but God forbid it, if that wolf ever developed any trace of romantic feelings for her, Jasper himself would tear him apart, limb by limb.

And he could care less if that got him the Cullen's hatred or the wolves' . He refused to allow such disgusting thing to happen, he had had a little sister as a human, he would have killed whoever tried something like that with her.

He glared at the wolf, reaching out to twist his emotions into pure and absolute terror, holding himself straight and chin held high, letting the weight of the warning and promise for a most agonizing death drap over him. Watching with glee as this one flinched and his ears flattened.

It lasted nothing but a fleeting moment before his attention fell back on a curious Renesmee.

-Why have you come here?- He asked, ignoring the wolf's confusion, blazing rage as realization hit, spontaneous hatred. It burnt at his skin with an uncomfortable itch.

But he's never been one to mind those reactions, he was no longer a newborn who crumbled under a little bit of blazing anger, hasn't been so in decades.

-I heard you were hurt, are you feeling better? Look, I even brought you a gift.- Renesmee said, pulling out the seashells' bracelet she had made for him, she had spent hours looking for the best seashells at La Push to make him a "get well" gift. Everyone liked hiding things from her.

But Renesmee had her ways of knowing things, and when she found out he was hurt she had wanted nothing more but to see him, she liked him, even if her dad and aunt Rose hated him, Renesmee liked him a lot, and they would also like him if they just took the time to know him.

He was nice and kind, and great at building Legos and telling stories, she's gotten him to tell her lots about his time as a soldier, and he was also seriously good at videogames, she's borrowed Emmett's DS several times to lend it to him so she could play with him.

She had to teach him how it worked but once he got the hang of it he was unstoppable, uncle Emmett would like him a lot, same as Jasper would like uncle Emmett a lot.

It was the reason she was doing this in the first place.

Grandpa was at work, her aunts and mother were out shopping, and dad was serving as their tribute escort.

Which meant there was no one at the house but uncle Emmett and grandma.

Renesmee knows enough about Jasper at this point to know he doesn't want to meet the Cullens because he's scared of them, which Renesmee finds a bit odd because there's nothing to be afraid of, but aunt Alice said he isn't had an easy life, that he had his reasons.

But uncle Emmett and Jasper should meet, she just knew they would like each other, and grandmother wasn't bad, she was kind. He would be fine.

-'m fine… You didn't need to give me anythin'.- Jasper said, taking the bracelet anyways and putting it on.

-I know, but I wanted to.- Renesmee said before reaching out to hold her hand out.- Would you like to play with me? Uncle Emmett's got a new console and he wants to show it off. I promise he won't be bad.

Jasper tensed at Renesmee's words, what? Did she want him to go with her to the house? Were the giant was apparently waiting at? No, he couldn't go, that wouldn't end well, but she was giving him such a pleading look, so full of hope and dreams and just way too many emotions.

But he couldn't agree, he just couldn't.

-'m sorry, but I can't. I know you mean well, and I know you believe it's a good thing, but it's not, I shouldn't be going to your house, it's dangerous for everyone involved. But you can still come here whenever you want, I don't mind, I'm just… not ready for that kind of situation, I don't do well with strangers.

-But how are they suppose to stop being strangers if you won't give them a chance? Uncle Emmett is real nice, dad says he's an idiotic goof because he likes wrestling, and videogames.

Which didn't mean a thing, Renesmee has found herself berating her father several times for not being nice to others, her mother found it amusing that the daughter had to correct the father. Renesmee was just glad she got her dad to be nicer.

-He's actually really smart, he tells funny jokes and he's always mindful with his pranks, and he's seriously good at chess too, oh, and he's also got a huge collection of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon cards, it's so big he's even got his own walk in closet to keep them in there, he taught me how to play!

Renesmee's excitement and determination was deafening as she kept listing obvious reasons for Jasper to agree to meet Emmett, he found her determination amusing, he wouldn't lie, this Emmett guy did sound interesting, Jasper's been wanting to meet him since he found out about the Triple-Chess.

And now hearing about these Poke-Yougi-whatever cards… he's never heard of such a thing, he took pride on his knowledge about cards, he knew every single game and every single trick regarding cards, so why has he never heard of these cards?

He could label it as a similar thing to that of people collecting Baseball cards, he saw that trend a long time ago, but Renesmee said that he had taught her how to play it, it was a game, he remembers when Esmeralda and Jade taught him how to play that curious game of Go Fish, such colorful cards with such weird drawings.

Still.

As much as he wanted to meet this Emmett he also knew that that wouldn't end well, he didn't felt comfortable with the idea of going anywhere near the Cullens, Alice said they knew about him, that they were willing to turn a blind eye to him being the one the Volturi were looking for.

But how was he suppose to face them when he killed that little newborn infront of them? The girl all of them spared and had been practically begging to keep as their own?

How was he suppose to face that? It was bad enough the coven leader had fixed his wounds. It still bothered him that the man hadn't tried to kill him when he was so vulnerable, to avenge the little newborn, to give him away to the Volturi to protect his coven, just kill him for being The Major.

No one in their right mind would ever waste the chance to kill The Major if given the opportunity.

But Carlisle Cullen did.

And Jasper had no idea of the why.

-'m sorry, but I can't, he sounds… nice, but I can't.- Jasper told at last, crouching before her to meet her gaze when she dropped her gaze, sadness wafting across the air.- Why are you sad?- He asks, his voice soft, her sadness is bitter, it makes his stomach twist.

-Brady says everyone needs friends, someone they can have fun with, do dumb things together… people who don't have friends feel sad when they are lonely and realize they don't have anyone to share their interests with.

Ah.

So that was the reason for her insistence on him having to meet Emmett.

She felt sad for him.

Such a weird concept, aside from Alice he's had no one so far who's ever felt sad for him.

-I've friends.- He found himself assuring her.- I've Alice… and you.- He conceded the last daring to rest his hand on her shoulder, he wasn't good with physical contact, but he also knew children needed the physical comfort, she could be smart and more mature than normal children.

But she was still a child.

He wasn't quite prepared for her surprise as she met his gaze, eyes wide as a smile broke over.

-I'm your friend?- She questioned excitedly, Jasper bit back a smile at how completely lit up her face had become, God, she seriously reminded him of his baby sister.

-Yeah… I guess.- She grinned even more at his affirmative, this before her smile dropped and she frowned.

-But it's not enough, aunt Alice is your girlfriend, and she doesn't like videogames that much, and I'm a child, you are a boy, and old, you need a friend that's also a boy, and old.

-I don't see the reason for it.- Jasper stated, he tried to not put mind to the fact that she had called Alice his girlfriend, that was… not something he had thought about, it was a nice title, but neither of them has put name to their relationship.

She loved him, and he loved her, but neither has put label to their odd relationship, nor has he said that he loved her. He did want to tell her, but he feared that if he did the dream would come crumbling down.

It terrified him the idea of breaking the beautiful thing between them.

He wasn't ready to say that out loud just yet.

-So you can do stupid things together, that's what Leah says, boys do stupid things together that they find funny because it's how boys are.

Jasper frowned, why did he have the feeling he was just called stupid by a few months old child?

-I don't do stupid things.- He felt the need to defend himself, Renesmee gave him a look, raising her eyebrow.

-You're 18.- She said that as if it was reason enough for her words.

-I'm not 18, I'm 19. No, I'm over a century.

-It's still the same, grandma says people's brain mature completely by the age of 24, means your brain isn't fully mature.

-Neither is yours.

-Mine will mature for I will keep growing. You won't grow.

Christ, did this child woke up and chose violence? Why was he even arguing about age with a child that defied all logic in nature when it came to growing? She was months old, looking like a tween, acting between an adult and a child.

-Point is, boys do stupid things.

-So do girls.- He refuted, remembering quite well that time his older sister thought wise to do tricks on a horse, blindfolded, ended up with several bruises, a broken arm and a cracked skull.

Didn't stop her from going horse riding next day.

-Statistically speaking boys are more prompt to do stupid things. Aunt Alice doesn't do stupid things and neither do I, uncle Emmett does.- Renesmee told as a statement of fact, aunt Rose and Leah said so, that men would become idiots when in groups, something about one braincell.

Her mom did stupid things sometimes, yeah, but he couldn't meet mom yet, not when dad would definitely be mean about it, dad didn't like Jasper, Renesmee did wonders at hiding from him her interactions with Jasper.

And she had Jake wrapped around her little finger enough to get him to not tell her parents about her little escapades.

She knew her mother wouldn't mind, but she didn't want to tell her anyways, it felt fun to have a secret, to get to sneak out to visit Jasper, only Jake and aunt Alice knew.

So it wasn't a terrible thing, he was technically family already, there was nothing wrong with spending time with your family.

Meanwhile, Jasper frowned, this girl seriously had an interesting way of trying to get her way, he had to give her that, why did she want him to meet Emmett so much?

Because she felt bad for him? That he was lonely without any friends? But he did have friends, sort of…

Peter… at times he wanted to call him, Alice said she had Charlotte's phone number, and she had told him that if he decided on calling Peter he could use her phone…

But he couldn't bring himself to, he was too ashamed, ashamed of what he became, of having thought Peter had forgotten about him after claiming he was like a brother to him.

But most of all?

He was terrified.

Terrified to be met with a man who might not want anything to do with him anymore for joining the Volturi, for never contacting him.

For what Alice told him Peter and Charlotte had acquired a somewhat permanent residence in Spain, had a farm of their own.

To know Peter had gotten the freedom and happiness he had wanted so much… it filled him with happiness, and a somewhat melancholic feeling.

He was free.

And Jasper could have been so, if he hadn't been so stupid so as to agree to join the Volturi.

-Just give me time, yes? I promise I'll meet him, but not now, not yet, I'm… not ready for it. Can you understand that?- He questioned, she frowned for a moment, staring at his eyes, this before nodding.

-... I do understand... I'm sorry, that was a mean thing to say, you aren't stupid, nor is uncle Emmett.

-For the record everyone does stupid things, kids, teenagers, adults, elders, boys, girls, vampires, humans, shapeshifters. It's just how life is.- Jasper told as a statement of fact. Renesmee gave him a doubtful look.

-I find that hard to believe. Adults don't do stupid things.

Jasper scoffed at her words.

-Trust me, the only people who don't do stupid things are stuck up people, they're so worried about being perceived as perfect that they forget to have fun.

-Like dad.

Jasper couldn't help it, the unexpected words alongside her realization and how she hit her little fist on her palm as if realizing something obvious caught him too off guard.

He couldn't keep in the terrible snort and snicker, as Alice would say, this kid just roasted her father and she didn't even realize it.

-Yeah, like your dad.- Jasper conceded, fighting back to regain his composure, he shouldn't laugh, he didn't even know the mind reader, but Edward was stuck up, Alice said so herself, and the how she spoke about him…

He did give Jasper the vibe of a stuck up person, one with way too many insecurities and way too many perfectionist traits. Not a good mix in a thousand years.

But he guessed that came with being an eternal 17 year old.

-Alright then… if not videogames… wanna help me catch crabs?- Renesmee requested, she didn't want to leave, she wanted to spend some time with him.

-Crabs?

-I wanna take pictures of them so I can use them for color references later, I don't like the pictures on the internet, one never knows which ones have been tampered with. Never trust the internet, that's what grandpa Charlie says.- Renesmee told as a statement of fact.

Jasper frowned, but he still nodded, he's heard several people say that before, never trust the internet, it made him wonder the why, Alice used it to find movies for them, he couldn't see anything wrong with it.

Even in the movies it seemed rather helpful, at times he wanted to use it, to ask Alice if he could borrow her phone, but he never dared to, it was her phone, he shouldn't ask to use it for it could be inconvenient.

But it really killed him with curiosity, there were computers at the library, but he had no idea how to use them and he didn't trust himself to remain calm if he were to have to stand a human being too close to him as they explained to him how that thing worked.

He could ask Alice, she would be delighted to explain it to him, he knew this, but he felt like an idiot whenever he had to ask her something.

It was quite embarrassing to not know things he should know, but he's never been too big on technology, all he knew about technology was how to use a Nintendo console, play old videogames and use a DS, that last one because Renesmee taught him.

At that last thought a sudden idea came to him, he looked at the girl, he wondered…

-I'll help you catch crabs, would you help me with somethin' afterwards then?- His question got him a curious look.

-Help? With what?

-... How to use a computer.

-You don't know– Renesmee cut herself off, no, she shouldn't voice it out loud, aunt Alice said it wasn't nice to voice things out loud that might embarrass others.- Alright! It's a deal.- She said instead, holding her pinkie out, he stared at her for a moment, seemingly clueless.

Prehistoric Cowboy.

That's how uncle Emmett called him.

She grabbed his wrist and hooked their pinkies together.

-You hook pinkies to make promises, if the promise is broken the person who broke it will have to swallow a thousand needles.- Renesmee explained, shaking their hands.

-I know what a pinkie promise is. Wasn't it a hundred needles though?- Jasper asked, the pinkie promise had caught him completely off guard, it's been ages since he's been subjected to such childish way of sealing a deal.

Renesmee's expression grew serious at his question, leaving no room for argument as she spoke.

-No, a thousand.

She sure had her priorities set straight.

-Come on, let's go for the crabs.- She said, grabbing his hand and pulling him along with her.

Jasper let her lead the way.


A/N: Another filler chapter, I know, but wonderful things are finally coming in the next chapter XD