Forks. -

Alec made his reappearance around five days later, no longer wearing his Volturi attire but a dark button up shirt, jeans and sneakers, and looking like a regular kid in all the sense of the word if one ignored the red eyes.

He didn't step into the house, he just stood at the porch and regarded Carlisle with a neutral look.

-I have weighed the pros and the cons, but I have decided that the price for the pros is too high. So, the answer is no, I refuse to feed off animals.- And Alec had also grown to realize that living under the same roof as Jasper might not be such a good idea.

Their relationship was twisted, their friendship was an odd thing, and while he would like to see how it would be like to coexist with him in a less hostile environment he also knew that at the end, regardless of their twisted friendship.

Living with Jasper would just bring this one restlessness in the long run, if Jasper had nothing to occupy his mind with and they were alone he would grow anxious, touching him when they weren't sparing would lead to hostile responses, and Alec knew, that regardless of it all.

Jasper deep down couldn't stand to look at him, because all Alec reminded him was of the torture he went through, apologies through gifts couldn't erase what he had done, nothing could ever make up for what he had taken from him.

Because Alec knew, whether he acknowledged it or not, he was in part responsible for the self-destructive behavior Jasper had, he was in part responsible for his illness.

Living together wouldn't turn out well for neither of them, their relationship was twisted, living together and acting like nothing happened would just twist it even more, even if he didn't want to, he needed to put distance between them and not see him again for a while.

But… he also dreaded the idea of being alone, he dreaded the idea of having no one, had it been worth it to leave the Volturi if at the end he would end up all alone?

He hated being alone, it made him think of the past, and he hated thinking about the past.

-You can go with Peter and Charlotte, their lifestyle is quiet, and they feed off humans.- Alice suddenly said, Peter and Charlotte were the only ones she could think of that would take Alec.

The Egyptian and the Romanian coven hated the Volturi, the Amazons' lifestyle didn't quite fit with what Alec was used to, and the others… well, people generally just didn't like or trust the Volturi.

But Peter didn't necessarily hate the Volturi, neither did Charlotte, plus, despite their quiet lifestyle and their lack of interest in technology Alice knew Charlotte was obsessed with gory videogames, and Peter did had a thing for dinosaurs.

So she guessed that if there was anyone who Alec could somewhat fit with, that would certainly be those two.

-You expect me to live with two war criminals?- Alec questions, narrowing his gaze at the woman.

He knew who Peter and Charlotte were, those had been Jasper's friends when he was in María's coven, southern vampires, fugitives from the vampire wars.

Criminals!

-Theoretically speakin', your track record ain't so clean.- Jasper felt the need to remind, not bothering to look up from where he was testing the Triple-Chess with Emmett and Bella.

What was this kid even going on about? Jasper could very much feel his interest over the offer.

Peter and Charlotte… Alec would definitely fit there, Peter took bullshit from no one and he was an expert on dealing with people who were terrible at making their true feelings known and instead decided to be a pain in the ass about it.

Jasper would know, he had been that pain in the ass.

Still…

He wasn't sure what to think about Alice's offer, that would just mean Peter would seize the chance to come see him much sooner.

Mostly because he would finally get hold of Jasper's current location, which he hadn't disclosed to him before, just so he wouldn't try to get involved with the Volturi.

The last thing he had wanted was for him to put his life in danger over Jasper's own bad life choices.

-That's beyond the point.- Alec snaps, Jasper rolls his eyes.

At times he wondered if this is what it had felt for Peter to deal with him, God was it exhausting.

Still, on the bright side? Alec wouldn't live here, good, he liked the kid, sort of, and he knew that what he did he did because he had to, it was just how it was, follow the rules.

But Jasper could never be quite relaxed with Alec around, he brought bad memories and he made him tense on reflex, his voice alone was enough to make his whole insides reel, expecting numbness, darkness, the void.

It wasn't his fault, but Jasper couldn't just act like it hadn't happened.

He just couldn't.

Because Alec was the reason he couldn't stand absolute darkness and quiet, he was the reason Jasper had such a hard time acknowledging reality at times.

Sometimes, without him being able to stop it, the world would slip out of his grasp and it all would become nothing but things he couldn't quite reach nor interact with, like watching the world through someone else's eyes.

And that…

It terrified him to no end.

But again, it wasn't Alec's fault, he had done what he had to do.

Jasper didn't blame him nor did he hate him for it, it was what it was.

But he didn't felt like living with him either if he could choose.

~

When Peter first went back to the South and learnt about the Volturi having annihilated María's army except for the woman herself, he had thought Jasper dead.

At first, he had been in denial, had looked for him all over Texas, and just all over the entirety of the United States.

But he never found him, he had still refused to believe him to be dead, because how? How could his brother die? Peter had hated himself for taking so long to reach out, had blamed himself, Jasper always protected him from María, he was the reason he even survived past his newborn year.

And Peter had failed him.

It had taken him over a decade to even acknowledge the fact that he might never see him again.

And then Alice turned up.

That little woman who claimed to have a gift to see the future, she had told him that Jasper wasn't dead, that he had joined the Volturi, the Volturi, Peter had wanted to kill something over such preposterous thought.

Had wanted to think the woman to be deceiving him, for what purpose? He had no idea.

But something about her… her honesty was genuine.

It had taken him a while to realize what was it with her and Jasper, what did she gain from caring about someone she didn't even know and viceversa.

Turns out, she had held more than just "sympathy" for Jasper, her eyes had said it all, why or how, Peter had no idea, but he had had the feeling that he had met Jasper's other half.

He held no proof, but he held no doubts either.

He had been tempted to look for Jasper, but he had held himself back, what was the point of reaching out for him when he had chose to go and join the Volturi?

Surely, he would have learnt that the world wasn't as María had made it out to be, and he had still chosen to be part of it.

Peter didn't blame him nor did he judge him.

But he had no longer wanted to be part of that world, and so he didn't look for him.

He did keep track of Alice, just to be sure she was safe, because he had had the feeling that if Jasper met her, he would never have to go back to the life he so much thought he belonged in.

And so he had felt the need to be sure she was alright.

Plus, Charlotte had gotten attached to her in the short period Alice had spent with them, Peter didn't want her to lose the only friend she's ever made.

Still.

Getting that phone call from Jasper hadn't been how he had pictured their first interaction after decades of not knowing anything about each other going.

But he hadn't hesitated to agree to help, Peter would never question his requests, if he needed help, he would give it to him regardless of what it was, even if it was madness what he requested, that's how much he still trusted him.

And yet, this last request he found it a bit too… not smart.

He wanted him to take in a Volturi, one of the twins, Alec, the one with the ability to erase people's senses.

Peter had no idea what to do with that, he was trying to keep an open mind here, he wanted to believe Jasper hadn't gone completely mad in Volterra.

~

Charlotte hadn't liked Jasper much, I mean, he had been The Major, same man who had made her wish more than once she was dead, he had been merciless, harsh and just downright brutal with the training.

And alright, said training had kept her alive for as long as he had been deemed useful, but the point stood, she hadn't liked him.

Hadn't liked even less the idea of Peter wanting to go back for him, had hated the sole idea of him thinking wise to go back there and expect The Major to not kill him.

Or worse, María.

But she had also understood that Peter would never not help Jasper.

Whether she liked it or not he was his brother, not biological, but still brothers, so she hadn't stopped him.

Finding out The Major might have died… she hadn't been sure what to think of that, but it had broke her to see Peter so devastated.

Even part of her had felt like that was impossible, the idea of The Major being killed was as surreal as it was foreign, odd, impossible, just not right, he couldn't die, she had seen him survive death thousands of times, God, he survived María, what else in the world could be worse enough to kill him?

It hadn't made sense.

And then Alice appeared, claiming Jasper to be alive and that he had joined the Volturi of all things possible.

Charlotte had thought it fitting, for him to end up with the Volturi, a monster joining the demons.

But then she had seen it, the way Alice spoke about him, the way her eyes would get whenever she spoke about him.

And she had felt like the world had gone mad for a serious moment, because how could anyone at all look like that while thinking about The Major? Who in their ever loving sanity would love him? He wasn't particularly hard on the eye, but he was a psychopath.

Who would be crazy enough to fall for him?

Alice apparently.

Charlotte had no idea what she saw in him, but she guessed that if he was her so called soulmate then that meant there had to be something good about him for the world to match him with Alice.

Alice was one of the happiest people she's ever met, there was an innocence to her that Charlotte had envied at some point, her gaze wasn't haunted with the horrors of fighting to survive in an all too vicious world, her skin was perfect instead of marred with scars and she didn't tense nor flinch with ease.

A soul that hasn't been stained by cruelty, pain nor fear.

Charlotte had envied her, but she had also grown to like her because of this, that purity in her eyes, it had made her want to befriend her, to keep her close, to protect her from the horrors of the world.

Knowing she was with such… tame vampires had somewhat put her at ease, she would never have to fight for food, for respect, to stay alive at all.

She would never know the fear of being held down and not be able to break free, the pain of venom searing into her skin, the desperation over not being able to quench her thirst…

Part of her didn't quite felt at ease over the idea of The Major being with Alice, he was… nothing she could ever deserve, he was a cold brute who knew nothing but to hurt and kill.

But again, if the world made them a match she wanted to believe there was a reason for it

There had to be.

~

Jasper made a point of waiting at the beach, he didn't want to be there when Peter and Charlotte arrived.

He didn't think he would be able to face him, he was a coward, he knew, but Peter… he was his brother, he had trusted him with his life, but most of it all?

He had told Peter the truth, he had told him how much he hated killing newborns, fighting, how exhausted he had been about it all…

And then he went and joined the Volturi, the Volturi who were so much more worse than María ever was..

Wasn't he suppose to escape at the slightest sign of freedom? Why join a much more worse coven? Because that's all what he would ever be good for.

He sighed, staring down at the seashells' bracelet, he still had doubts regarding the idea of living with the Cullens, he loved Alice, and he would go wherever she went.

But the Cullens… was it right for him to join them? So far, in these past five days he had managed to gather enough to know where they stood regarding his potential residence in their home.

Carlisle seemed hesitant, but for whatever reason he was also determined, to what? Give him a chance? Watch him? Expose him? He had no idea, but it put him on edge at times, it felt like the man was expecting something of him, whether good or bad he had no idea. He had no idea what the man wanted from him at all.

And then there was Esme, that woman… she unnerved Jasper quite a bit, because he had been able to feel several oddities in her emotions, like affection, for him. Why would she feel such a thing for someone she barely knew?

But she seemed quite adamant about it, and he didn't even know how to deal with it, much less when it filled him with mixed feelings. She would look at him with such overwhelming warmth, a kind of warmth he isn't felt since he was human.

It unsettled him.

But it also made his chest tighten.

He would be reading all huddled in the furthest corner of Alice's closet and there would she be, knocking at the bedroom's door and asking if he needed anything, if he was alright.

And he couldn't for the life of him decipher what did she got from worrying so much about him.

There was Emmett too, that man… Jasper had absolutely no idea what to expect from him, the guy had seemed absolutely and completely overjoyed by the sole action of just meeting him, had grabbed him and showed him his "pride and joy".

The Triple-Chess, had even requested his aid on making it better.

Jasper's never met someone as easygoing as Emmett Cullen, he was good at videogames, though Jasper liked to think that that was because he still had trouble getting a hang of the kind of console Emmett had, it was nothing like the one Alec had had at Volterra.

And while Emmett had explained to him how to use it he still got mixed the buttons, but he was getting there.

There was also Bella, she didn't seem to particularly mind his presence, in fact, much like Emmett she had seemed genuinely happy to just see him there, she was always trying to get a conversation out of him, not that he minded much considering she generally asked about his time as a soldier in the civil war.

Apparently, Emmett and Bella were quite the "nerds" (as Alice had called them) about the Civil War, it made him wonder how would they react if they were to know he still had the uniform, and the sword, and the guns.

He had buried the weapons while in the South, knowing he didn't need them but also not wanting to get rid of them. And the uniform… in Volterra he had been unable to get rid of it, a reminder of who he had been, thus, he had also buried it, somewhere in Venice.

The jacket wasn't there though, that one María had kept.

Still, back to the point at hand.

Bella much like Emmett didn't seem particularly against it, same as Esme and probably Carlisle.

But Rosalie and Edward…

Those two Jasper couldn't understand, one moment Rosalie will be fine and the next she would be glaring at him because he so much as crossed her on the hallway, Alice said to give her time, that that's just how she was, that she would eventually warm up.

But honestly? She made him nervous, Rosalie's glares at times reminded him a bit too much of María, mainly the glares she gave to him when he came back from feeding off of humans, he went to other states for this, and still, somehow, she didn't seem to like him for it.

It wasn't as if he could just quit human blood, he still had mixed feelings regarding that idea, animal blood didn't quite appeal to him like human blood did, he tried to balance it out, but animal blood at times made him too nauseous to deal with.

Alice said that Carlisle had told her it might be because of how weak he is right now, he is ill, and because he is ill his body isn't particularly ready to handle too much animal blood.

Thus, for the time being he was stuck drinking human blood and sulking in a corner for hours afterwards.

And then there was Edward, he looked at him as if he were expecting Jasper to rip someone apart for the sole action of speaking to him, and he also refused to let him anywhere near Renesmee, and if he did, there would he be, watching.

And if not him the wolf, Jacob, that one made Jasper nervous, and nauseous, the wolf would stare at him as if he were picturing over a hundred ways to tear him apart.

He hated it.

It made him want to break the wolf's jaw, just to show him how not so weak he was.

He sighed, dropping his head back and staring up at the swirling clouds above, the sudden sound of footsteps caught his attention, and not long after he caught the familiar scent, the emotional signature…

Peter.

He straightened up, throwing his attention back at the horizon, if he didn't look at him it might be easier to deal with.

Wrong.

It wasn't, he could hear as Peter neared the place he was at, could feel him getting closer and closer, and then he was there.

His emotions were a jumbled mess between relief, anger and something akind to guilt.

He heard him approach, and soon enough Peter was coming to sit beside him on the sand. Silence reigned between them for a moment, and then.

-'m sorry.

Of all things possible that wasn't quite was Jasper had expected Peter to say, why was he apologizing? He had done nothing wrong.

But the guilt in his emotions…

-What for? 'm the one who chose to do what I did, no one made me.

-I know, but if I'd gone sooner-

-Don't focus on the "if", those don't matter. I learnt life wasn't as terrible as María made it out to be, and I still chose to stay, I just thought the Volturi wouldn't be as terrible and… I thought it was for the best.

-How the hell could it be for the best to join those psychos?- Peter snapped, because he seriously wanted to know what had Jasper been thinking when he thought smart to join the Volturi, the friggin Volturi!

Jasper for his side sighed, looking down at his scarred hand, a hand he's used dozens of times to kill others, whether innocents or not.

He still did.

-'m from the 1800's, I'd no one and nothin' waitin' for me outside of that life, all my family was long dead, everyone who knew me was terrified of me and… I thought you'd forgotten 'bout me, gone on with your life, didn't blame you, I was happy for you.

It had hurt like hell, but he had been happy, had been glad that the man he had grown to see as a brother had escaped that rotten life and made a life with someone who loved him and cared about him.

He had almost been jealous of it.

-But all I've ever done is hurt others, that's all I've ever been good for, going with the Volturi sounded like the logical thing to do at the time, you must have noticed it these past years, right?- He finally turned to look at Peter.- We don't fit in this peaceful world, we expect the worst from people and can't bring ourselves to trust even the most harmless of people.

Peter avoided his eyes at that, he had to admit Jasper did had a point there, being hyperaware could at times be a most terrible nuisance, neither him or Charlotte could particularly attempt to make friends either because every vampire they encountered either attacked or escaped, terrified of their scars.

And it was such a strange concept altogether, to be able to just… exist… with no fights for food nor having to watch your back 24/7.

He still couldn't quite grasp it, that there was no danger…

So yes, he understood what Jasper meant, in a logical aspect, the Volturi would be a good choice for a Southern vampire, the killing and the near military environment…

But that was so messed up too, he shouldn't have had to choose, Peter shouldn't have hesitated so much, but at least he was out now, even if late, he had more scars than he remembered and something about his gaze felt much more raw too.

But he also looked somewhat… better.

Less tense, less haunted, less… empty.

And he wondered if Alice had to do with it… Alice…

-Are you happy here?- Peter found himself asking, he wasn't sure how long Jasper's been in this place nor with the Cullens, but he was able to gather enough to know he was staying at their house.

And that some of them didn't seem particularly happy about it.

-They're nice, a bit weird, but nice.- Jasper conceded, because it was true, while the Cullens made him nervous and he couldn't for the life of him understand what drove them, he had to admit that regardless of it all they were nice, nicer than the Volturi ever were.

-That's not what I asked.- Peter stated, he worried, even if Jasper was with Alice he still worried, he had no idea what might have been done to him in Volterra, but he knew enough from what María had done to him to not trust people easily, much less when it came to people around Jasper.

Even more so Carlisle Cullen, hadn't he been friends with Aro in the past? He needed to be sure Jasper would be safe here, if he even felt comfortable here or if he was just going along for Alice's sake.

-... I don't know, all I know is that it's nice that no one is tryin' to kill each other all the time nor tear each other apart by the smallest of things. I'm not particularly happy, but I'm not particularly unhappy either, I just… don't know 'em, so I guess I feel neutral about it, but I do know Alice, as long as she's here I'll be happy.

Peter nodded, he knew for personal experience how despite not feeling quite natural, it also feel incredibly amazing the lack of constant violence, not having to watch your back 24/7.

That feeling alone was breathtaking.

Also, hearing that last one quelled some of his initial worries regarding Alice, he had thought that she might have been too much to handle for Jasper, or that she might have backed down from her feelings for Jasper, after all, knowing someone through visions had to be much more different than meeting them in person.

And Jasper wasn't particularly an easy person, but Peter was happy to see him happy.

Something else that irked at him though…

-What about Carlisle? How is he?- Peter questioned, wanting to know how was the coven leader, he might be good to Alice, after all, she was a harmless little thing.

But Jasper wasn't harmless.

Peter knew enough to know that Jasper's appearance alone was enough to intimidate even the biggest of vampires, the coven leader might feel threatened with having someone with his skills there.

Vampires could become quite animalistic when it came to covens, for all Peter knew the man might attempt to break Jasper through a beating, humiliate him infront of the others and force him to submit to him through God knows what methods.

María's favorite had been to let the most recent newborns tear apart those who needed to be taught a lesson, all the while she would make another few watch and learn.

Charlotte had been subjected to that punishment because of her sharp tongue, same as Jasper, same as Peter himself.

It had been one of the worst things he's ever been through.

And still, Jasper had been the one to go through it the most, reason he had so many scars.

The idea of another coven leader putting him through such carnage didn't settle well with him.

-Carlisle's… weird. He's nice, too nice sometimes, understandin', patient… But I don't know, I don't trust him, he seems quite good at controllin' the mind reader and Emmett, he has nothin' whatsoever to him that can point to a reason regardin' their odd obedience.

-You think he uses somethin' else to keep 'em in line?

-Maybe, Alice says he doesn't use violence, but I can't really be sure, I mean, how then, if not through violence, can he control 'em?- Peter had no idea what to answer, because he didn't knew these Cullens, but Jasper was right too, if life had taught him something that was that coven leaders were brutal, vile and unpredictable.

But he's never heard Alice complain, and she hadn't looked much different from the last time he saw her, if all, she had seemed happier.

Still…

He turned to look at Jasper, grabbing his shoulders firmly to catch his absolute attention.

-Listen, if he ever does show the slightest sign of aggression towards you or Alice, leave, understand?- Peter said, voice sharp as he spoke.

Jasper narrowed his eyes, he didn't need Peter to tell him, of course he would leave were he to see any aggression, even more so if it was directed at Alice, he would rather die than let her go through what he had, she would never feel that helplessness, the pain, the fear, the betrayal, none of that she would ever know, not as long as he lived.

She was the happiest and purest person he's ever met in this rotten world, she didnt deserve to learn what it meant to be terrified of the same person who was meant to guide and protect you, the helplessness of being unable to fight back…

She would never know what that felt like.

Ever.

-I know what I've got to do, have these years made you forget what I can do? If he tries anythin' he'll wish for somethin' sweeter than pain.- Jasper told as a statement, voice growing cold at the last statement, because he isn't just spent his time hoping to not cross a line.

He's also watched them for their weak points, what made them tick, who were the ones capable of getting under their skin and who were the ones capable of eliciting certain emotions in them.

And so far, he had their weak points all spread out, even the coven leader's.

He knew how to break him in the worst possible manner if the man ever dared to touch a single hair on Alice.

Peter shouldn't be much worried about it, Jasper's never been one to not seek for the best target to strike were a situation to go dire regarding a person.

Everyone had a weakness.

Peter for his side didn't miss Jasper's gaze, he knew that look, and with that look he found himself relaxing, of course he had nothing to be worried about, he knew Jasper could protect himself, but still, he couldn't help it, all he wanted was for Jasper to be safe and happy.

Still.

-Would you seriously do it though? Would you do what you had to do? Even if Alice were to beg you not to? They are her family after all.- Peter felt the need to point out, because one thing was claim to be able to do something.

And another one completely different was actually doing it.

Plus, Jasper was forgetting that while to him these were strangers, to Alice, they were her family, people she had grown close with, and if they had any hidden secrets, she might either side with them or see nothing wrong with it out of naivety.

-... Yes.

-Even if she hates you?- Peter pushed, needing him to realize the severity of what this might entail.

-I would rather have her hatin' me and safe than hurt and ignorant.- Even if Jasper said that no, he didn't want Alice to hate him, he didn't want her to see him as a monster, he just hoped she was right, he wanted to cling to hope and trust she was right about these Cullens.

Because honestly? A little part of him was desperated for this whole thing to be real, for him to be able to live a quiet life where he didn't have to fight or watch his back. Because he was exhausted God, so exhausted of fighting.

He wanted the Cullens to be as good as Alice made them out to be.

-What about their weird diet? You gonna take on it too?- Peter asked after a moment.

-... I don't know, tastes like dog shit compared to human blood.- Jasper conceded, he didn't felt like telling Peter about the vervain would be much of a good idea, he might even refuse to take Alec if he did.

Plus, it wasn't as if he could help much even if he were to tell him.

He felt better when he heard Peter chuckle, his emotions growing less jumbled as he threw an arm around his shoulders, and Jasper was glad that his time at Volterra hadn't shattered his mind enough for him to feel like even Peter's touch was dangerous.

It was nice.

To have one unchanging trait.

It made him feel lighter.

Like he hadn't been completely broken.

~

Peter was proud at how well he did at managing to find himself alone with Carlisle, he had found the man at what looked like some kind of studio. Still, once he was he didn't hesitate to go up to him and slam his hands down on the desk, giving him a piercing glare and making a point to appear as hostile as he could.

He wasn't stupid, he had seen the Cullens' wariness towards him and Charlotte, the sneak glances, the stares upon their scars, the nervousness. He wasn't blind.

-I just wanna say, if ever find out you've hurt any of them, I'll make you wish for somethin' sweeter than death. I'm not gonna let anyone else hurt him, not again. I couldn't kill that bitch, and I've no way of overpowerin' the Volturi, but I can certainly kill you.

His voice was liked frozen steel and his glare like a dozen knives, Carlisle had to admit that right now, the young man before him was possibly one of the most intimidating people he's ever met.

And he wasn't even threatening him, no.

It was a promise.

And those eyes… he liked those eyes.

There was an overwhelming sense of loyalty in them, unlike anything Carlisle's ever seen.

And despite it all he couldn't help but wonder what had Jasper done to gain such loyalty.

When he first saw them earlier, he had been hesitant, because as stated before, southern vampires were known to be hostile and downright aggressive, with all those scars… but he had tried to not judge a book by its cover.

Jasper so far had been quite calm, he barely spoke as it was, and Alice had assured them over a dozen times that neither Peter nor Charlotte were dangerous.

Carlisle had to remember that regardless of it all, these two were quite similar to Jasper, all they did, they did it to survive and because they knew no better.

Because all María ever told them was that fighting was how they stayed alive in this world, that that's all there was to being a vampire.

-I understand your concern, but I promise you there's nothing for you to worry about, I would never hurt them.

Peter scoffed, pinning him down with an even fierce glare, hatred, anger and resentment so intense Carlisle could almost feel it, and he wondered what had happened to him for him to be able to wield such intense negativity, but even if he did, he knew.

Southern vampires who lived through the wars didn't had a good life.

-As if, all coven leaders want the same bullshit, little slaves to do whatever the leaders pleases, you can dress it all you want, but you're no better than the rest.

Carlisle felt his stomach twist at Peter's words, such darkness in his gaze, such anger, such hatred, was this what all the vampires from the South thought? Or was it just María's creations? Did Jasper think like this too?

Would explain the skittish behavior and hostile looks whenever he tried to talk to him.

Well, he had another thing coming.

-You are right, but I'm not a coven leader nor is this a coven. We are a family and I respect every single one of them, they are not slaves nor are they beneath me, they are free to do whatever they please as long as they don't attract unwanted attention to themselves same as they are free to leave if they wish. All I care about is to keep them safe and happy.

Carlisle said honestly, because it was true, this was no coven, it would never be, he's never liked the idea of having people submitting to him, it was an odd thing to think about, he respected everyone in his family, to him, they were all equals, they made choices through votes, and they spoke things out if there were any misunderstandings or problems.

It was what families did.

Talk things out, and love and care about each other.

Peter didn't answer, he was giving Carlisle a strange look, he wasn't glaring anymore, so Carlisle tried to not be worried.

And then.

-You actually mean that.- He sounded so genuinely surprised Carlisle felt his chest constrict, Peter was looking at him as if Carlisle was some sort of weird phenomenon, all hostility gone.

-I do.

-... You want him, right? Not because of Alice, or because he might be a good defense in case of danger, but because you're genuinely curious to see if he can become one of you.- Peter asked, he didn't care if the question came out childish or whatever, he needed to be sure Jasper wouldn't be used as a weapon nor subjected to negative emotions.

He needed to be sure this man was being honest about his reason to let Jasper here.

-I do want him, I believe that being here will do him good and that it might be a start on getting him to heal what he's lost. Doesn't matter how difficult he turns out to be, I won't give up on him.- Because Carlisle's watched Jasper enough to be able to tell that despite all, he could have a new beginning.

He could live a normal life, it would take time, but it wasn't impossible, he knew this for the simple fact that he had connected with Alice.

If he could connect with people like that there was still hope for him to be able to regain some semblance of normalcy.

Peter for his side stared at Carlisle.

This man…

How could a coven leader be so good? Was that even allowed? Possible? Natural? A coven leader shouldn't be this… this.

But he could see it, there was deception in his face, he was telling the truth, and there was something about that look that made his shoulders relax, a weight he didn't knew had been sitting on his chest lifting over.

This man was no threat.

He wasn't sure how was that even possible, but this man meant no danger.

Still.

-I'll come for him and Alice if somethin' goes wrong.

-I know.

Despite all Carlisle couldn't help but feel respect and calm bloom in his chest over Peter, to know that despite his own fears he had still gone and faced Carlisle, all because he feared for the safety of his friend, Alice's.

Now he could see what Alice had meant.

Peter's loyalty was truly outstanding, and his bond to Jasper truly unique.


END NOTES: I seriously felt like this chapter was a rollercoaster of regrets, for me that is, thing didn't turn out as great as I hoped, so, apologies if it wasn't quite what you expected, but I honestly had no idea how to write Peter and Charlotte in this fic, and I didn't know how to flesh out the whole "Alec will now live with Peter and Charlotte" thing.