A/N: Sorry about the delay, was re-watching Twilight and two One-Shots spawned out of nowhere XD Plus, I'm working on chapter 21 which is quite the tricky one to write ;-; Anyways, here you go
Forks. -
-You sure you wanna wait here?- Alice questions, Jasper was much better after a week, and he had wanted to leave the hotel and return to the beach.
His wounds were still there, 80% healed at most, but he was good enough to ease Alice into letting him go back to the beach.
She had bought him a jacket, jacket that has been marinating in her closet with several cotton balls soaked in her perfume in the pockets, he was still wearing the cargo pants and Emmett's "Prehistoric Cowboy" hoodie, a most terrible mix when one considered he was wearing cowboy boots and the muzzle.
That damn muzzle that he was still refusing to get rid of. But she had to be patient, let him make his own choices on his own accord, he would get rid of it when he was ready. He takes it off with her, that's big enough, baby steps.
Still.
Her mentioning the jacket had gotten him walking her back to the house, or at least as close as he was willing to get, not close enough to have to interact with the Cullens, but still close enough to be able to see the house.
The fact that he had done so alone was new, he had never walked her home nor went anywhere near the Cullens, this was the first time he was so close to them all since he left the Volturi.
When Carlisle had cured him didn't count, he hadn't been in his right mind at the time.
-'m sure.- He assures her.
-Alright then, wait here, I'll be quick.- Alice tells, she didn't felt 100% comfortable with leaving him here on his own, God knows what could happen were someone to come across him, Emmett could scare him, same as Carlisle, Edward and Rosalie… she didn't want to know what neither of those would do.
Esme and Bella would be less likely to scare him.
And Renesmee.
She gave Jasper one last look before leaving.
Meanwhile, Jasper stared at Alice's retreating form, watched her until she disappeared into the house, he kept himself alert, hands clasped tightly behind his back, he found the glass walls rather stupid, inconvenient, reckless.
Broadcasting their every move to the outsiders, of course not all walls were made out of glass, but the point still stood, he could see the coven leader working on some papers while talking on the phone.
Could see the giant; Emmett, the shield; Bella and Renesmee playing the exact same videogame that had never failed to get Alec screaming at the screen and crushing the controller, why had the kid kept playing said game even though he couldn't understand how was it played regardless of how many times he read the instructions, watched tutorials or Livestreams was beyond him.
They made it seem so easy, Alec would definitely have a fit.
He wondered how was Alec doing, the kid despite all hadn't been bad, videogames had been a great coping mechanism, something for him to chanel his anger at, same as sparring with him.
Jasper didn't felt much comfortable around the kid for prolonged amount of times and with nothing to distract his mind, but he did like the kid, he was quiet, honest and he went straight to the point, even if sometimes he did it through metaphors, riddles and God knows what else.
Such a complicated kid, but what was there to be expected from someone that was so obsessed over puzzles? Alec was such an odd one, people saw him as this untouchable little king from the Volturi.
But what no one saw was the kid who had thousands of books about astrology and archeology in his bedroom, obsessed with space, dinosaurs and videogames. He had an amazing talent to solve puzzles and riddles, make his own.
He was also quite the good strategist, he was close to beating Jasper at chess, close, but never quite successful, Jasper took pride on his strategic mind.
No one could beat him at chess.
The sudden sound of footsteps alongside the burst of hostility made his thoughts come to an abrupt stop, hairs standing on end, and he turned around in time to see the fierce blonde emerging from among the trees alongside the mind reader.
The blonde woman glared at him with the might of a thousand suns, her hatred and hostility slicing across his skin like razorblades on fire, he couldn't help but flinch at it, definitely not expecting such strong negative emotions, he never thought one person alone could wield such emotional strength.
And she kept glaring at him even as she walked past him, not a single word uttered, and still, he was able to catch the warning loud and clear, the promise of death.
He refused to let her bother him, thus, he glared right back at her with the same intensity, scratching her emotions with uneasiness, pulling her hidden anxiety forward.
He was rather pleased when her shoulders drew back and fear flashed in her gaze for the quickest of moments.
But for her credit, she kept glaring at him.
The mind reader on the other hand regarded him with mistrust and dislike.
-You should leave her alone if you know what's best.- The mind reader's words made an uncomfortable feeling curl at the pit of his stomach.
Leave Alice? He had thought about it more than once if he was being honest, he was a fugitive after all, were Aro to know about him and Alice he wouldn't hesitate to use it to get to him.
Or worse.
Use him to get to her.
But it was easier said than done, he didn't want to abandon her, he wasn't going to turn his back to her, he would keep on seeing her until Alice herself said she didn't want to see him anymore.
Thus.
He ignored the mind reader.
Who did he think he was anyways? Alice said Edward was like a brother to her, and as an once upon a time brother himself he understood the feeling of wanting to protect your sister.
Didn't mean it was in his right to decide what was good for her and what wasn't, he was no one to take that from her. Alice was old and smart enough to decide for herself what she wanted, no one had the right to choose for her, if she wanted to keep on seeing him he would keep on showing up.
He meant her no harm whatsoever nor was he doing anything inappropriate.
-Stop glaring at him, he's done nothing to you.- Alice's chastising whisper caught his attention and he turned in time to see her swatting the mind reader's arm with the back of her hand as she walked past him.
He still glared at Jasper from behind Alice, and so did the blonde woman.
Alice ignored them in order to go back to him, coming to stand before him.
-Here, let me.- She said, motioning for him to let her put the jacket on him, it was a bit oversize, but he didn't complain, he isn't worn clothes that fit him nor even decent since he left Volterra, though the ones he had used in Volterra had been… too much.
Like a gothic vampire, he heard several human teenagers whisper behind his back whenever he went out wearing said clothes.
Alice tugged at the jacket as she fixed it, brushing invisible specks of dust, he didn't complain, the action oddly enough gave him a fuzzy feeling, she was always so caring, he found it endearing, he never had anyone care like that about him.
She then took one of his hands into her own, he's yet to put his gloves back on, had them in his pocket.
She rubbed his knuckles with her thumb, and part of him wished they were alone so he could take the muzzle off and kiss her hand, those hands that were so gentle, but since they aren't, he goes for the other way.
He uses his free hand to brush her cheek with the back of his hand before bringing his hand back and showing her a wildflower he picked up before while she wasn't watching.
He had been hiding it under his sleeve, magic tricks weren't easy to make around a woman who knew when everything would happen, but he still always managed to be impulsive enough to surprise her, at least half of the time.
She grinned at it before taking it.
-You seriously need to teach me that.- Alice says, she will never get tired of his little magic tricks, she knew how to make some magic tricks thanks to him, but he didn't knew that, and she's never managed to master the ones where she has to hide something under her clothes, it always got stuck when she had to pull it out.
-You plannin' on givin' me flowers now?- His question is tainted with a playful edge that definitely catches her off guard, Alice smirks.
-I don't see you complaining about the flower crowns.- Had Alice been human her heart would have skipped a beat as she saw the smile in his eyes, he rarely smiled, so even now, seeing him smile was still capable of making her chest feel all fuzzy.
-Touché.- He brushes her cheek with the back of his hand one more time before squeezing her hand.- I need to leave now.- He tells her, Alice makes a face at it but still nods, releasing his hand.
-Alright then, do be careful.
-Always.
And with one last look Jasper disappears into the forest.
~
Rosalie and Edward have no shame over admitting to have lingered back, walking as slow as possible and throwing looks at Alice and the Volturi's fugitive who really shouldn't be there.
And there's something about the interaction between the two that doesn't quite feel fake, the light touches, the flower, the looks…
Rosalie's never felt the need to peel her gaze away from anyone as she was at that moment, something about the atmosphere around them felt intense, almost mystical, the way he looked at Alice… it didn't matter how hard Rosalie tried, she couldn't see any deception.
All she could see was raw and honest love, so intense, how could someone develop such strong feelings towards someone they haven't known for that long?
How was she suppose to declare deception upon the bastard when he looked like at that moment he wouldn't hesitate to do whatever Alice requested of him? Like he wouldn't even think it twice before taking a bullet for her? Such colossal devotion…
She hated how she found herself feeling a flicker of easiness set in, she didn't trust him, he was definitely not worth trusting, he was gonna end up hurting Alice, he had fucking tried to kill her!
But those stupid eyes.
She hated that damn fraud, he was faking, no one could ever possibly fall so head over heels for someone they barely knew.
Meanwhile, Edward had to agree with Rosalie's thoughts, the looks shared between the two were intense, yes, but there was just no way for him to have developed such strong feelings towards Alice so quickly.
It just wasn't possible.
~
Jasper's sitting on the branch of a tree, back leaning against the trunk, the breeze was cold tonight, fog thick beneath him, there was a full moon tonight, bright and beautiful, stars twinkling across the dark blue mantle.
He could hear the nocturnal life, but not even that was enough to make him forget about the unfathomable itch, like ants crawling beneath his skin, hands shaking, he tried to feed earlier, but he ended up throwing it back up.
And it wasn't because of it being animal blood, he just… he wasn't feeling great, which put a dent on his mood, his day had been great.
Until the damn world started to grow too much, noises too loud, touches too piercing, colors too bright, every single thing became increasingly annoying, because he wanted something, but he couldn't have it.
And that did nothing but make his anger explode.
He hadn't wanted to hurt Alice, and so he had made her leave much earlier than she would usually leave, the last thing he wanted was to take his discomfort on her, he had been told in the past that he had quite the temper whenever he was sick.
Such a stupid thing, he wasn't even sick, if it weren't for the damn Volturi… he gritted his teeth, fingers digging into his forearms, he wanted to tear the skin off, pain always chased away the meaningless discomforts.
But he promised Alice he wouldn't hurt himself, but God, it was impossible, he didn't even notice when did he pierce skin, but the stench of venom flooded the air, the bitter taste from where he had split his bottom lip, the scar that never quite healed as the others for he kept biting.
"Whenever you feel like hurting yourself… could you try to do something that makes you happy instead?"
Alice's words came back to him, something that made him happy? He didn't have anything, all the things that made him happy involved-
Ah.
He knew what to do.
~
Alice was working on something that has become one of her favorite designs this past month, something she was making for Jasper for when… well, when all of it was done, she wanted to make him nice clothes, she could buy them, but it was much more fun to make them herself, she had gotten his measurements by hugging him a lot.
Yeah, some of the hugs might have come off a bit weird, but he hadn't complained, he had just regarded her with either curiosity or amusement.
She even had the perfect colors for him, blue and black, he liked blue and black fit nicely with his golden curls and red eyes.
Plus.
She's asked him enough about fashion to get an idea on what kind of modern clothes he would like to wear.
The sudden whispering knock at the window caught her attention, like a bird pecking on the glass, and as she looked up she was met with quite the unexpected sight.
Jasper.
Perched on the sill of her window with an agility only a vampire could wield.
Staring at her like a lost puppy.
She's quick to shut her sketchbook and scramble off the bed, quickly approaching the window.
-What are you doing here?- She whispers, biting back her excitement so as to not alert anyone of her unexpected visitor.
Though even if she asks that she still opens the window for him, and he doesn't waste a second to throw his arms around her shoulders. She hugs him back on reflex.
-May I come in?- He questions softly, and that's when she notices the slight reek of venom.
Ah.
Still, she says nothing.
-Of course.- She tells gently, he leaves the window sill in order to climb into the room, never letting her go.
-Did something happen?- She asks, while she won't push him to talk she also wants to know what's wrong, he asked her to leave earlier, he hadn't seemed to be feeling well, and now he was here? Smelling like that? He isn't done that in over two weeks. What happened?
-I just felt like seein' you.- He muttered, burying his face into the crook of her neck. Alice frowned as she hugged him tightly, why did it feel like something was off?
She led him to sit on the bed, eventually getting him to lay down with her, still hugging him, carding her fingers through his hair. They stayed like that for a while.
Just hugging each other in complete silence, she pressed a kiss on the top of his head, she had no idea what was happening, but she did knew something and that was that he had seeked her comfort, thus, she kept quiet, just stroking his hair and holding him.
She could feel him shaking, the tight grip on her waist, even his skin felt warm.
Ah.
She knew what had led to him asking to be alone earlier, and now for him to be here.
Carlisle had said so, it would get worse, she reached for the back of his head, unclipping the muzzle, when he didn't react to it she took the liberty to remove it, he only pulled away from her enough to let her take the muzzle before burying his face back into the crook of her neck.
She could feel the warm breathing, could smell the venom, one good thing she guessed was that it didn't smell like much, meant he hadn't torn the skin open nor done something terrible to his arms. That was good.
Thus, she allowed herself to cherish this moment, comforting him to the best of her capabilities and keeping quiet. She knew the others knew he was here, no one was deaf nor lacking sense of smell.
Jasper was a master at stealth, and he spoke in low enough whispers to not be overhead.
But her whisper at the sight of him hadn't been much quiet, and he did smell different than her, he smelt like the ocean, the forest, and there was also the sting on the clothes that belonged to someone else, he was still wearing the jacket she gave him so he smelt a lot like her too, but different.
Vampires did have a distinctive scent that let others know whether the one approaching was a male or a female.
Still.
Back to the point at hand, the Cullens knew, and she was just glad Emmett hadn't tried to knock the door down and grab Jasper, God knows he was as desperated to meet Jasper as Alice had been to meet Bella.
She wondered if this is how it had felt for Edward, at least he hadn't had Alice reciting memes to him, Emmett loved asking to meet Jasper through the worst memes and vines possible.
Though she wasn't gonna lie, it was hilarious.
She did want Jasper to meet Emmett too, she knew they would get along just fine, but Jasper wasn't ready, she didn't want to push him into an uncomfortable situation.
Still.
Emmett aside, she could almost feel Rosalie's and Edward's displeasure over Jasper's presence, if Alice who was no empath could feel the bad vibes she was pretty sure it had to be worse for Jasper.
But he wasn't reacting to it, so either he didn't care or he was still too upset to focus on anything else.
She focused in all the love and affection she felt for him, hugging him closer, refusing to let others harm him through his gift, even more so when he was already upset.
Carlisle, Esme and Bella would be less hostile, she knew this, Carlisle would be wary, but he wouldn't be hostile, Esme would just be happy that Alice was happy, and Bella would be just like Esme.
Renesmee… well, she didn't count, she was a child who saw no harm in people until she saw otherwise, and she already saw Jasper as her uncle regardless of Edward's protests against it.
Edward would have to just get over it, same as Rosalie, she wasn't gonna leave Jasper just because they didn't like him, they were very wrong if they thought she would.
She loved them and she understood it was them being worried about her, but there was literally nothing to be worried about, Jasper was nice, they would know it once they decided to stop focusing on the bad.
She sighed and closed her eyes, she didn't knew for how long they stayed like that, but at some point she felt his muscles starting to relax.
-I should leave now.- Jasper's sudden whisper caught her attention, he pulled back to meet her gaze, he looked incredibly and adorably sleepy.
-Why don't you sleep here tonight?- The suggestion is out before she can stop it, but she could care less.
-No, it wouldn't be right.- He rejects, but he doesn't attempt to get up.
-Why? We've slept together before, or well, you slept, I don't sleep, but the point stands.
-That was different.- Jasper refutes, of course he wants to stay, but he is quite aware of the why he can't, he can feel the emotional signatures in the house, way too many, coming here had been way too careless and stupid.
-How so?- Alice's question catches his attention and he isn't sure on how to answer her, how is he suppose to give her an answer without the reason hearing?
-A man's not suppose to be in a woman's room, nor in her bed, much less at night. It's not proper.- He goes with instead, which is also true, not that he's followed on that rule much, he's slept with Alice before.
-So that's the difference? The room? You do realize how stupid that sounds, right?- Alice asks, and Jasper is aware of the veracity in her words, he can feel her doubt, her suspicion, amusement, disbelief.
He doesn't answer.
-Stay with me tonight. please?- Alice requests, she doesn't want him to leave, not when he is clearly in no condition to be alone right now.
He stares at her for a moment longer before throwing a look at the door and then back at her, a silent question on his face.
-Don't mind them.- She assures, at the end of the day, who cared what they thought about her relationship with Jasper? She didn't need anyone's permission to love him, she wasn't s child.
She did wish they would like him, nothing would make her happier, but she knew that that would take a lot of time, and a lot of interactions, those of which might not happen anytime soon.
Mostly because Jasper didn't want to face any of the Cullens, Alice didn't mind, he would do so when he was ready.
Meanwhile, Jasper frowns, he wants to decline Alice's request, he can feel the distaste in the air, displeasure over his presence, anger, irritation, hatred…
It makes his stomach twist and that's just two of them.
There's also wariness, mistrust and doubt from another one, curiosity and giddiness, amusement and wonder, endearment and calm… so many.
But he's tired, and he came here because Alice was the one thing that made him feel better.
She was giving him such a pleading look it was hard to turn her request down.
Thus.
He sighed in defeat.
-Alright.
Her bright smile is worth the headache those negative emotions in the house will definitely bring later.
~
Edward was not pleased with the fact that Alice had seriously thought it was a good idea to let that guy into the house.
One thing was helping her by not telling the Volturi, but another one completely different was letting him into the house.
He didn't want him here, he was dangerous, he shouldn't even be anywhere near Alice, he had tried to kill her for God's sake, and he fed off humans! He shouldn't be allowed into the house. At. All.
-Stop that.- Bella's sudden voice caught his attention and he turned to look at her, her head was resting on his lap, she had been reading a book, and now she was giving him a knowing somewhat exasperated look.
He regarded her with confusion.
-Stop what?
-You're clenching your jaw, you do that when you're angry, pretty sure we both know the why of that anger, but she's doing nothing wrong nor is she some child. Stop acting like she's hanging around some Mafia boss, he's harmless.
-He is not. He is The Major, an ex-Volturi, and he tried to kill her, he is not harmless.
Bella rolled her eyes at Edward's paranoia, he was being irrational, The Major's history was that, history, Alice said he wasn't that person anymore, and Bella trusted Alice's judgement, she wasn't as naive as people thought, if she said he wasn't dangerous then he wasn't.
And what if he was an ex-Volturi? Why did Edward had to fixate so much on that?
Carlisle and Eleazar were literally ex-Volturi too.
And his attempt against Alice's life was long explained, it was a misunderstanding and Alice had dealt with it. Jasper's done nothing to Edward and he still was adamant on hating him and speaking ill of him.
Bella couldn't for the life of her understand what was his problem, she also knew about Renesmee's little escapades to meet with him at the beach, her daughter thought Bella didn't knew, but Bella knew, she just let her think she didn't because it was amusing to see her come up with excuses.
She hadn't told Edward because she knew he would flip out and make drama out of it, their daughter was perfectly safe, there was nothing to worry about.
Still.
Back to the point at hand, why did Edward insist so much on hating the guy Alice chose to be happy with? Jasper was a good guy, she didn't knew him, but she didn't need to, Alice had been incredibly happy ever since she met him, there was a light in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
So why did Edward, he who claimed to love and care about his sister so much, not be happy for her? Why was that so hard?
Bella couldn't understand.
~
Emmett was vibrating with repressed excitement, because he was here, down the hall, behind one door.
And he's never felt as eager to bring a door down as now, but he didn't.
He just sat in his room and tried to distract himself, Alice would not be happy if he so much as dared to knock on her door, he just knew it, as if she didn't got to spend every single hour of every single day with him.
And it wasn't as if they were doing anything, the deadly silence said it all, which he was secretly glad for, Emmett couldn't stomach the idea of his baby sister, sweet Alice, crossing that line, that was not something he wanted to know about and much less hear.
Not now, not ever.
Still, back to the point at hand, Jasper was a skittish one, he gathered that much, but Emmett still wished he could meet him, he wanted to do so many things with him, he had the feeling he would be a thousand times more fun than Edward.
Emmett at times had a hard time processing the fact that Edward who was stuck at his 17 for the rest of his life was so stuck up, his partner in crime had at times been Alice, but Alice wasn't the partner in crime.
She didn't like much getting her clothes dirty, nor videogames, and she was prompt to actually think of the consequences of their actions, she sometimes cared about said consequences, and sometimes she didn't.
But her well behavior weighed heavier than her carefree side.
When Bella came around he had someone to match his love for wrestling, but she had a daughter, responsibilities.
There was also Renesmee who loved videogames, but not as much as him. He had some of the wolves to play videogames with, but it wasn't the same, he wanted a brother.
So he had his bets and hopes on Jasper.
So far Emmett knew he was smart, knew how to play chess, and he might be great at wrestling.
Meanwhile, Rosalie was glaring at her toenails as she painted them.
She didn't like the idea of that guy being here, he was dangerous, what if he hurt Renesmee? What if the Volturi showed up? What if he hurt someone?
But even if she thought that she couldn't help but also frown over what she had heard from him.
Because yes, Rosalie wasn't ashamed to admit she had eavesdropped, blame it on her wanting to be cautious, who the hell knows why did he turn up at Alice's room and with what intentions.
Though Rosalie knew (or at least she hoped) Alice wasn't the kind of naive one to fall for pretty words and sleep with a guy she met not even five months ago.
Still.
She hadn't been quite prepared to hear his reason regarding his desire to leave, but again, the guy was from the 1800's, why did it surprise her?
She didn't even think those kind of guys were even a real thing, that was literally something only seen in movies.
So weird for someone with his kind of background, wasn't he The Major? How could a man who's killed thousands be so… that?
She couldn't understand, what the hell was his game?
~
Carlisle… isn't sure on how to feel, on one side he's happy, he's truly happy for Alice, or he wants to be, but he is still not sure about this whole situation.
He doesn't feel comfortable with the danger lurking behind the shadows regarding this relationship between Alice and Jasper.
Jasper.
That's such a normal name for someone that's become quite the legend among vampires, he still had a hard time believing that The Major was with Alice, that that teenager he tended the wounds of was him.
Same vampire that brought so much terror and destruction in the South, was nothing but a teenager barely stepping into adulthood.
And Carlisle had no idea what to do, he wants to protect his family, but he can't, because the one thing that's putting them in danger is also part of the family.
Alice's chosen Jasper, and he knows for a statement of fact that she won't let him go, means he's also become part of the family, he must be protected, because Carlisle didn't want to lose his daughter.
But he's also doing so because as he said before, everyone deserved a second chance, and if this young man was serious about starting anew, who was he to not support him? Plus, Alice was infatuated with him, Carlisle's never seen her this happy, there was a spark in her eyes…
He didn't want to be the one to extinguish it, he wanted her to be happy, that's all he wanted for his children, for them to find happiness.
And if Jasper was the one who made her happy, then so be it.
Meanwhile, Esme could do nothing but smile as she went through her scrapbook, because after decades, her family is finally complete, truly complete.
She knows most of the house is still not quite sure of Alice's choice, but Esme's never been one to question things, much less her children's happiness.
Much like she had been delighted with Bella, she was now delighted with Jasper, who cared about the what and who when happiness was involved? Her children could very much bring home someone with fins and she wouldn't bat an eye.
She would always approve of whoever her children thought was good for them. As long as they were happy and loved their partner that was good enough for her.
Having seen Jasper and Alice at the library that day alongside the how he's been affecting Alice so far…
Esme is just glad her daughter's found that someone who makes her eyes sparkle and fills her with all kinds of warm feelings.
Her family failed to see that this wasn't about them, it didn't matter if they didn't like him nor trusted him, Alice was the one who had to like him and trust him, no one else, she didn't need anyone's permission to love him, she was old enough to make her own choices.
Esme trusted her daughter wholeheartedly, and so she would always support her.
Always.