So I want to start off by saying that I'm sorry. I know it's been awhile. The last three years have been a whirlwind. From divorce to moving states and changing jobs, I just didn't have the will to continue to write during that time. But after rereading the story and reading the reviews again, I finally found the will to start again. I had to change some things in the way the chapters are going to get over some writer's block, so Garrett won't appear in this chapter but will later down the line of New Moon. I hope you enjoy this chapter and I don't own anything you recognize.
Blair sat at the Cullens' house in Jasper's room, relaxing and reflecting on all that had followed her high school graduation. They had gone to Germany, taking advantage of the gift that Jasper had bought her. Unfortunately, Garrett had already left to join the hunt for Victoria, having received call from another nomad he knew that was possibly closing in on her by the time they got there.
Still, he gave them permission to use his cabin, which had been more luxurious than she had expected. She had a feeling that all vampires seemed to enjoy the comfort that came with decades or centuries of collecting money. Not that she could blame them.
Peter and Charlotte had come too, and it had been an amazing time. With the exception of the night Peter convinced her to play Monopoly with him again. They'd gotten into a spat when she'd bought Park Avenue and placed several hotels on it. She swore then and there he would never convince her to play with him again.
Jasper, of course, found it amusing as hell and did nothing to calm his squabbling mate and best friend who acted like siblings despite their centuries old age difference.
It had been just what they all needed, because as soon as they arrived back in the states, Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte had left to join the hunt for Victoria. She remembered that day so freshly that her heart ached.
"I'll be back in time for your sister's birthday, Swan. I promise." Jasper murmured into her hair, as Blair buried her face into his chest.
"Please, be careful. Come back to me," Blair whispered, feeling even more vulnerable than when she'd told him she loved him.
"Always." He kissed her hair before letting her turn to Peter and Charlotte.
"Stay out of trouble while we're gone, B," Peter said as he pulled her into a long hug.
"Don't I always." The look Peter gave her at her reply made her giggle. Charlotte pulled her into a hug.
"We'll be in some places that don't have cell service, but we'll check in when we can. We probably won't be back with Jasper, but we'll see you soon," Charlotte reassured her. Blair nodded, trying to be understanding as her stomach clenched at the thought.
Jasper nodded to Peter and Charlotte, and Blair knew it was time for them to go. He grasped her hand, a seeming promise as he squeezed gently, before she felt his hand slip from hers and they disappeared in front of her eyes.
It had been a long two months. She heard from Jasper more than Peter and Charlotte, having only received one phone call from them in the two months since they'd been gone. Jasper called once a week.
Blair didn't take offense to it, though she missed her friends terribly. Jasper had said they were tracking Victoria through the more isolated regions, while Jasper was often near cities. Apparently her scent was everywhere and Blair wondered again if her gift of escaping had anything to do with it.
It had been a difficult two months, and she tried to fill the time by spending time with Rosalie and Emmett, getting close with the two of them as she had with Peter and Charlotte. Rosalie, she learned, had a wickedly dark sense of humor that was complemented by her husband's infinitely laid-back and goofy nature and she found herself cherishing the time she spent with them.
She would also read the massive amounts of books that were in Jasper's room. She wasn't going to lie, some of them bored her to tears, but she felt closer to him when she read them.
All in all, the time apart hadn't been completely unbearable as she found ways t cope, but she still couldn't wait for them to be back.
Blair smiled to herself as she reminisced further about their time in Germany, finally getting an answer as to why her and Jasper's intimate relationship hadn't progressed further.
They were sitting outside, enjoying the uniquely beautiful landscape that Garrett's property had to offer. Peter and Charlotte had headed to the next major town to feed. Peter had complained about how his eyes were turning into that "ugly yellow color" until Charlotte had gotten sick of his bitching and they'd headed to get "some real food".
Jasper and her were sharing a room. Blair had hoped that with Peter and Charlotte gone for a couple of days that it would give them a chance to…well, to get more intimate. They'd started off well the night before. Hands roaming and bodies grinding against each other as they kissed until Blair was close to begging Jasper to keep going. But, he'd stopped and she could have screamed in frustration. Now the question was really weighing on her mind as to why.
As they lay in the grass, looking at the scenery around them, Blair had finally had enough of the uncertainty and flipped her body over his, straddling his hips.
He gazed up at her, slightly surprised, but that dark smirk made his way to his lips as he drank her in.
"And what is on your mind right now, Swan." Blair bit her lip, nervous at the question she needed to ask, wondering how insecure she was about to sound.
"I need to ask you something." Jasper sensed her apprehension and raised an eyebrow for her to go on. "Why…" She sighed in frustration before pushing out the words.
"Why do you always stop us before we get more…intimate?" She felt like a fucking idiot. But she hadn't just wanted to blurt out, "Why won't you fuck me?" That was crude even for her.
Jasper stilled under her. His face clearing in understanding. Blair knew he's been able to feel her rising sexual frustration, so she wondered why he hadn't addressed it.
He flipped them over before she could blink, gazing down at her with an adoring look. She returned it with a curious one of her own.
"I'm sorry. I don't always know how to go about having a mate. I sometimes forget that Peter and Charlotte didn't tell you everything when it comes to our world," He said softly. She remained quiet waiting for him to continue, "When a mating bond is completed, there are certain…side effects. Afterwards, the mated pair has a desire to remain…close for a while in all capacities."
Blair lifted an eyebrow. Was he saying that they'd be…"bonding" for a while. Jasper smirked as if guessing her thoughts.
"I don't want to leave you to chase after Victoria, but I can't leave your safety strictly up to someone else, no matter how trusted they are. If we were to complete the bond, and I left too soon after, it would feel like being ripped in two. I can't be distracted as I look for her. And I could never cause you that kind of pain," He finished. She understood then.
"So it's not because…you aren't ready to be connected to me in that way." Blair hadn't realized how insecure she'd felt about it until the words left her mouth. Jasper frowned, hating that he hadn't spoken to her about it before now, hating that she felt any of the slightest insecurity about his feelings for her.
Blair's breath caught as he leaned down, skimming his nose along her collarbone and up her neck, breathing in her scent. His hips ground against her, letting her feel every inch of his impressive length against her core.
"Should I tell you how many times I've thought about taking you, no matter who was watching? How I've stroked by cock to the thought of you in every shower I've taken since we met. I've wanted to complete the bond with you since before I realized there was a bond to complete, Blair." He only called her Blair when he was speaking or more serious matters, but she didn't catch it as her breaths came in short pants as he continued to grind against her.
"You are torturing me on purpose," She groaned. Jasper chuckled darkly into her neck before taking a deep breath of her soothing scent and pulling back.
"When Victoria is taking care of, I plan on showing you just how much I want you, Swan." Blair saw his eyes burn with the promise as he pulled back, rubbing his thumb against her cheek. She leaned into his hand and grinned.
"Can't wait."
Jasper eyed her for a moment, before reaching into his pocket.
"I have something for you." Blair sat up, taking in his serious tone and nodded for him to go on.
"During my time in the civil war, they didn't have dog tags as they do today, though soldiers found ways to make sure they were identified." He swallowed hard, before pulling out a bit of circular metal attached to the end of a chain.
"This was the only thing I had on me when I was changed, and fortunately, Maria let me keep it for some reason. I assume it was made by my parents to make sure, if something happened, that people would know who I was." He placed the rough metal into her palm for her to look at.
'Jasper T. Whitlock Born 1844' was crudely carved into the metal. It was worn down but obviously well taken care of.
"T?" She inquired.
"I guess it's my middle initial, but I've never looked into what it was. Like I've told you before, I don't remember much of my human life before the war," He paused, before closing her hand around the metal. "I want you to have it. To take care of it while I'm gone. It's the only thing I have left of my human life. It means more to me than all of my other possessions combined. Take it as a promise that I'll come back to you."
Blair swallowed hard as she took in the trust and love that shone in his eyes. She knew in that moment that she'd protect it with her life. He took it from her hand and slipped it over her head. It felt cold and smooth against her skin, reminding her of him. He smiled down at her before pulling her into a searing kiss that seemed to express all the love and trust he'd sent her in her gaze.
Blair pulled herself out of the memory as the door to Jasper's room opened. Rosalie and Alice walked in, smiling at her.
Rosalie approached and pulled the book she had been reading from her lap.
"The Art of War. Still going through Jasper's collection, I see." Blair snorted.
"Trying to. Some of the books are incredibly hard to get through but…they make me feel closer to him." Rosalie nodded understandingly. Alice pranced to the seat across from her and sat down with more grace than a ballerina.
"He said he'd be back before Bella's birthday right?" Rosalie inquired. Blair nodded. Surprisingly, Bella had made more of an effort to hang out with Blair without Edward since the whole James situation and Blair found that she was actually enjoying her sister's company.
"Speaking of Bella's birthday…I have plans," Alice chimed in excitedly. Blair groaned.
"I've told you before, Alice. Bella hates parties. She won't enjoy herself no matter how much effort you put into it." Blair saw Rosalie's lip curl slightly over her lips at her response but surprisingly kept any disparaging remarks about Bella to herself.
"Nonsense. It's her 18th birthday. She has to have a party." Blair sighed, knowing there was no use arguing with the pixie once she'd made up her mind. She could only hope that Bella made an effort to enjoy herself.
"Whatever you say. Feel free to go all out for my birthday though." Alice grinned at her.
"Oh, I plan to."
XXXX
Jasper hadn't given her an exact day as to when he would return, probably because he didn't know himself. His only promise was that he'd be back before Bella's birthday.
He'd apparently come close to catching Victoria a handful of times, close enough to scrape his grip upon her skin, before she'd disappear again. His voice was began to show his rising frustration. The red-head's madness became even more apparent when several nomads had destroyed several newborns with her scent.
Peter had a theory that she was creating new vampires to throw them off, keeping them busy as they continued to hunt her down. It was working too.
Blair tried to make sure that she kept her worry at bay, knowing it would drive her crazy if she didn't. She had to have faith that her vampire family knew what they were doing and would keep themselves safe.
She reached up and rubbed the metal circle hanging around her neck and let it soothe her as she got ready for bed. She'd gotten so used to Jasper's presence that nighttime was always the hardest. But tomorrow was Bella's birthday, so it would be just a few hours max before she saw him again.
Blair hugged her pillow to her body, gripped her necklace, and drifted off to sleep.
XXX
Jasper ran straight from his family's home to Blair's almost immediately after greeting his family, informing them of his return, and updating them on the hunt for Victoria. He'd almost skipped it entirely and gone straight to Blair's, but knew that his family had been worried.
Blair's bedroom window was dark, unsurprisingly since it was almost 2 in the morning. He climbed the tree with ease and slid open her window.
His breath hitched as he finally gazed down at his mate. She was deep asleep, and her hand gripped the necklace he's given her. It had been too long, too long since he'd seen her beautiful face and felt her skin against hers, her lips against his.
Jasper knew that Blair wouldn't appreciate him staring at her in her sleep for a long time, so he knelt beside her bed and began to stroke her hair.
Her eyes began to flutter as the movement woke her. Blair opened her eyes blearily and gazed up at him. A moment passed before the sleepy look cleared and her face lit up with a bright and relieved smile.
"Whitlock," She whispered.
"Hey, Swan. I've missed you." Jasper murmured, before he buried his face in her neck and took a deep breath of her soothing scent. He felt her shudder and she wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him fiercely.
"You're back," She breathed.
"I promised you, didn't I, Darlin'?" He asked, raising a mocking eyebrow as if offended at her doubt. Blair rolled her eyes and chuckled.
"With everything that you've said has been happening, I didn't know if something was going to come up." Jasper's expression turned serious and understanding. Victoria was creating more newborns everyday. He'd spent most of his time destroying them than being able to follow her trail.
The newborns she'd created had no training, no guidance, and had been left to their own devices. They'd had to be put down before causing any more damage than they already had in their short existence as a vampire.
It made Jasper's hatred for the red-head grow every day. His thoughts had often been transported to the similarities of what he did in Maria's army to what he was being forced to do now.
He felt a hand on his cheek and he looked down at his mate.
"Hey, let's not talk about it tonight. I believe that we have some time to make up for." Her voice turned husky and just like that his thoughts cleared and he focused solely on the woman that gazed at him with desire and adoration.
"Yes, ma'am," He growled, grinning wickedly before lowering his mouth to hers.
XXXX
Blair woke up surrounded by the familiar feeling of warmth from her blanket and the chill that accompanied being cuddled up to a vampire. She'd only fallen asleep an hour before, but felt wide awake. Blair felt slightly sappy at the relief she felt that Jasper was still here.
She felt him chuckle and his hand reached up to pat down her no doubt crazy hair. She grinned into his chest.
"Sleep well, love?" His chest vibrated at his words.
"Not really. Someone woke me up at 2 in the morning like some horny teenager," She smarted back.
"Oh, I'm the one acting like a horny teenager, am I? I seem to remember you pawing at me first." Blair managed to look up at him in mock outrage.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm an innocent in this. I could be a nun if I chose to." Jasper snorted incredulously as Blair struggled to keep a straight face.
"I think you're mouth alone would keep you from joining the church." She grinned devilishly at him before hopping up to get dressed.
"How long can you stay before you have to go back out?" Blair tried to keep her tone even, but couldn't look at him at the question.
"I can manage a week, but her sanity is almost nonexistent now. She's not even trying to hide what she's doing. It won't be long before the Volturi hear about it and get involved," Jasper replied, his voice betraying his frustration.
"Is that a bad thing?" Blair was generally curious. Wouldn't the Volturi, who's main purpose was keeping vampires' identity from the human world, be quick in ending the problem.
"Normally, I'd say yes. With her talent of escaping, their tracker Dimitri would be an invaluable asset."
"A tracker like James?"
"Better. I've never met another vampire as talented of a tracker as him. He would have been a more formidable opponent than that pathetic excuse for a vampire," Jasper replied, a slight snarl in his tone at the mention of James.
"That sounds a lot like respect in your voice. I don't hear that often," She commented as she brushed out her hair.
"I have a healthy respect for a talented vampire who can hold his own. I'd say he's the most talented fighter they have if the rumors are to be believed," He replied simply.
"Then what's the problem? Why not inform them of what's going on?" Jasper's expression turned frustrated again.
"It's a risk. You and Bella are human. While they would probably accept that there are plans in the works to change you after all the preparations are made, Bella is a different matter. Edward is still refusing that Bella become a vampire and Aro will be able to read that from him. It's just safer if they stay away for the time being." Blair could tell that he was holding his tongue at what he called, "Edward's childish naivety". Blair kept her mouth shut. Bella was making an effort to spend time with her, so Blair was making an attempt to keep her mouth shut about her sister's mate. Honestly, she wasn't very good at it, but it was the effort that mattered, right?
"Are Peter and Charlotte ok? They called me two weeks ago, but I know they're in the more rural areas," Blair asked, changing the subject.
"They're chasing a newborn who was smart enough to head to the depths of the Rocky Mountains and feed off the animals there. He's been proving quite hard to catch. Peter is thinking about giving him a reprieve since he seems to be adapting faster than other newborns. They still have to catch him before making that decision though." Jasper replied carefully. She took in a deep breath, attempting to push out all her worry as she released the air. Jasper came up behind her, pausing her actions with her hair and he laid his chin on her head.
"They're going to be fine. Peter is in more danger of Charlotte killing him for bitching about continuing to have to eat animals than he is about the newborns." Blair giggled, knowing that her vampires would have to feed on animals as criminals were in short supply in the depths of the rocky mountains. Peter had complained during the phone call that Jasper should be the one to investigate the mountains because he regularly, "ate the innocent animals that were minding their own business."
"Let me get dressed so I can get some coffee." Jasper nodded, pecked her on the lips, and sauntered out with a suggestive wink.
When Blair made it downstairs, Bella was still in the shower, but Jasper sat at the kitchen table with Edward as they spoke in fast low tones. A cup of hot coffee was placed in front of Jasper, which was obviously not for him. She grinned at him, plopped herself on his lap, and took a sip of the amazing elixir. Jasper wrapped his arms around her and she nodded a 'good morning' to Edward.
They all heard the shower cut off and Blair sent a smirk towards Edward, "You know she's going to give you so much grief about the party."
"She already has. I don't understand her aversion to them." Blair shrugged in reply. Jasper noted that their conversation was slightly strained but both parties were attempting to remain civil.
"It's an attention thing. She's never liked it. My mom stopped throwing her parties by age five and we usually just spent the day at the library or whatever else she wanted to do that day."
"And for your birthday?" Jasper asked playfully? "I know you don't mind the attention." Blair narrowed her eyes.
"If it's the right kind of attention," She countered, nipping at his chin slightly. She heard him take in a breath before letting it out, sending her a heated warning glare.
"You two are worse than Emmett and Rosalie," Edward grumbled lowly. Blair was about to open her mouth to deliver a cutting remark about his virginal status before interrupted by Bella's approach down the stairs.
"Happy Birthday, Bella," Blair greeted. Bella shot her a sour look that had Blair grinning, "Did Dad give you his gift this morning? Mom demanded they coordinate."
Bella sighed. "Yeah. It was a nice gift." She continued to make her breakfast and get ready for school. Blair had always skipped school on her birthday, a tradition neither her mother or father really raised much fuss about, but Bella never had.
They made their way to the door to leave. "See you later, Bella," Blair called.
"Bye, Blair. Bye, Jasper," Bella called in a grumpy tone.
"Bye, Bella. Happy…"Bella cut him a look. "Never mind," Jasper stopped his birthday wish short as Edward and Bella disappeared out the door.
"She definitely doesn't seem happy today," He commented into his mate's hair as she drank her coffee. Blair sighed.
"I think it's the aging thing. She's officially physically older than Edward today and I think it's getting to her." Her reply quiet and contemplative.
"Only by a year. Esme is 3 years older than Carlisle. Are you bothered by the fact that you'll be physically older than me when you're changed?"
Blair cocked her head to the side and pondered. "No, I like the age we've chosen to change me. But I might feel differently if I knew you were against changing me or if you had no intention of changing me."
Jasper nodded his head in understanding. He knew that Edward's plan of keeping Bella human wouldn't last. He said that he'd follow her in death after she'd lived a normal human life. Edward didn't want to accept that there was no such thing as a normal human life for the mate of a vampire, and that when Bella's mortality became more evident, panic would set in.
If the Volturi stayed out of it for it to last that long, that is.
"Have you been using your trust fund?" Jasper asked. Blair's face pinched.
"Yes," She said sullenly. Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte had set up a fund so that she wouldn't have to work. She'd pitched a major fit, not wanting them to support her. Peter had finally guilted her into accepting when he told her she could spend more time with her family instead of working a low-paying job.
Blair had finally agreed on the stipulation that she pay them back when she earned her own money after turning and that they set up trusts for Charlie and Renee for when…she wasn't around anymore. The three had easily agreed.
Charlie, of course, was suspicious that Blair always had money but didn't have a job. He seemed to know where it came from and wisely didn't ask.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Jasper asked.
"Can we just relax, just you and me? Make out a little…a lot. Whatever." She replied casually as she took another sip of coffee. Jasper swept her up into his arms and headed towards the living room. She somehow managed not to spill her coffee.9
"Your wish is my command, Darlin'. We were on season 5 of Golden Girls, weren't we?"
XXXX
Blair was tucked under Jasper's arm as they chatted with Rosalie and Emmett. Alice zoomed around, placing streamers in just the right places to make the Cullen house look festive yet tasteful. Esme had concocted an absolutely delicious looking 3-tier cake that Blair couldn't wait to dig into.
"So we're going shopping this weekend," Rosalie determined. Blair raised an eyebrow.
"Need I remind you that you promised me as many shopping trips as I wanted over the next year to earn my forgiveness?" Rosalie countered with a vicious smirk. Blair winced.
There may have been a prank that had gone awry before Peter had left. They'd had every intention of dropping a balloon with a sticky concoction of random harmless substances with quite a bit of red food coloring in it onto Emmett's head. The timing had been slightly off and instead, the balloon had landed directly on Rosalie, who was following closely behind him.
Peter had abandoned her with the evidence, like the coward he was, and left Blair with a laughing Emmett and a very pissed Rosalie.
The red coloring had spattered in the blonde's hair and apparently had taken days to get out. Blair wasn't a snitch, so she hadn't mentioned that it was all Peter's idea. Rosalie seemed to know though, and Peter had found himself covered in grease oil and feathers only hours later.
"That's fair," Blair replied and Rosalie smiled triumphantly. Emmett was obviously thinking about the prank, if the grin on his face was anything to go by, before it shriveled away at his wife's narrowed gaze. His expression turned to one of innocence that looked out of place on his face.
"You know I wasn't stupid enough to have any part in that prank, babe," Emmett defended automatically.
"I'm sure you'll do something eventually," Rosalie replied simply. Emmett didn't bother to defend himself.
Blair glanced up at the serene look on Jasper's face and smiled. He seemed to be enjoying his time away from the battle, time with his family, and his family obviously enjoyed his presence.
A hush went over the family and Blair knew that Bella and Edward had arrived. When they walked in, she watched her sister coach her shocked and very uncomfortable expression to one of gratefulness.
"Wow. Thank you. This looks amazing." Bella's voice wobbled as she tried to control her anxiety. Bella was greeted by each member of the family and birthday wishes were given.
"Presents first!" Alice announced. Carlisle and Esme had sweetly given two tickets to visit Renee in Jacksonville. Rosalie and Emmett gifted the younger girl a radio for her truck. Blair almost laughed at the awkward expression on the blonde beauty's face as she tried to be nice to Bella. Blair appreciated the effort.
Jasper and Blair, themselves, had gone in together and gotten Bella a gift card for the local body shop to get her truck worked on.
"Ours next," Alice said exuberantly, "Edward and I made it together," She continued excitedly. Bella glanced at Edward and took the gift.
Blair had always known that your life could change in a moment. She'd experienced some examples herself, but never could she have guessed that the next few moments would change everything so drastically.
As Bella began to unwrap the present, the corner edge sliced quickly and efficiently through her finger. Blood welled at the end and she felt Jasper stiffen beside her. His body went ramrod straight and in that moment everything changed.
XXX
The smell of blood hit Jasper like a freight train. He knew his irises had filled with an inky blackness that mirrored his thoughts.
Mistakenly, he hadn't fed in two weeks, determined to get back to Blair quicker, and by the hunger that had slammed into him from all angles, he could surmise that several of his family hadn't fed in a while either.
It was all consuming. Hunger and Thirst everywhere, drowning out his thoughts, drowning out his reasoning. It came from all sides, and as Edward's thirst for his singer tangled itself into his emotions, he felt his control slip.
He didn't remember leaping forward towards Bella and only slightly felt the hands that grasped around him as he snarled. The hands were of vampire strength and struggled to keep him at bay.
His mind seemed to register a crash followed by a more copious smell of blood making its way through the haze, and then silence followed by a whisper.
"Jasper." It was only his name spoken so softly that he almost didn't catch it in his insanity, but the voice stopped him in his tracks. His vision focused as his eyes sought out the voice.
Blair, his mate, stood to the side, away from him to avoid getting hurt. Her expression was pleading. She was begging him to pull it together…for her.
Jasper knew in that moment that he had to get out of the room. He stopped struggling and Emmett and Carlisle, who had been holding him, lead him out of the house.
He took off running as soon as the air cleared his senses and heard Alice right on his heels.
XXXX
Blair stood motionlessly as she took in the mess that had been created. Edward, in his infinite wisdom, had slung Bella into a stack of plates when Jasper had lunged. It resulted in an even worse injury to Bella's arm.
Carlisle had come back in from leading Jasper out and led her younger sister away to stitch her up. Blair held her breath as she remained in the same spot, waiting for Jasper to come back in. Emmett came in, followed by Rosalie. She waited a few more moments until she figured out that Alice and Jasper weren't coming back in.
"He'll be back. He just needs to cool off," Rosalie said soothingly as she ran a hand through Blair's hair. The girl hadn't taken her eyes off the door since Jasper had disappeared through it.
"Let us take you home," The blonde murmured, "He'll probably meet you at your house after a while." Blair nodded mutely.
"I have to check on Bella first." She finally took her eyes off the door and headed towards where her sister and Carlisle had disappeared to.
Carlisle was in the process of stitching up Bella's arm.
"Are you ok, Bells." Bella nodded in reply, wincing slightly as Carlisle continued to stitch her up.
"It's not that bad."
"Rosalie and Emmett are going to take me home. I'll wait for you," Blair said quietly. Bella shook her head.
"Edward will take me home. I have to talk to him. Go ahead." Blair nodded mutely in reply and headed towards the door. "Blair, tell Jasper I don't blame him at all." This produced a small smile from the older girl. Bella had her faults, but she was the most forgiving person she knew.
"I will."
XXXX
Three days. That's how long it had been since she'd seen or heard from Jasper. Alice had shown up the next day to let her know that Jasper was just taking a little time to accept his guilt of the situation, guilt from what he tried to do to Bella and guilt that his control had even slipped at all.
Blair had tried to be a supportive girlfriend, but it would be a lie that she began to get angry as more time had passed.
Did he think that she would blame him? That Bella would blame him. Her younger sister had made it clear that she didn't hold any ill will at all, especially after Blair had explained that Jasper had to deal with hunger from the other vampires in the home.
Blair didn't blame Jasper, and it hurt that he thought she might. She just wanted to talk to him, especially because Edward had been giving her looks filled with something akin to pity.
On the third day, just before Bella was due home, she decided to take a shower to clear her thoughts. She tried to suppress her worry as the hot water pounded down on her. He would come back. He had to. He wouldn't abandon her.
Blair turned the shower off and quickly put on some sweatpants and a t-shirt, before rushing back to her room to get her phone. She could only hope she had a missed call.
Blair was shocked to find Edward standing in her room, holding a handful of her stuff.
"What the fuck are you doing in here?" Edward glanced at her, no trace of guilt on his face. He didn't seem worried that he'd been caught, "You may be able to get away with sneaking into Bella's room like a creep, but I thought you'd know better than to sneak into mine," She snarled. Edwards's lips curled over his teeth before clearing suddenly to an emotionless mask.
"I came here at Jasper's request," He replied, his voice steady and monotone. Blair forgot about him being in her room briefly.
"Is he ok? Is he back?" Her questions were hurried and demanding. She paused when the look of pity reappeared in Edward's face.
"He's not coming back, Blair." The girl froze, a look of confusion setting in.
"What do you mean he's not coming back? He wouldn't leave to hunt Victoria without saying goodbye," She said stubbornly. Edward continued to gaze at her with almost sympathy. He wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. Blair knew Jasper. He wouldn't do that, not to her of all people.
"He's not coming back at all, Blair. Not ever." The air seemed to still at his words. Blair felt panic set in as his words filtered into her brain. She pushed it away. He was lying.
"You're lying. He wouldn't do that."
"Where is he then, Blair? Why isn't he here?" Edward asked softly. Blair grasped onto her truth. Jasper wouldn't leave her. He promised. He loved her. She knew he did.
"He…he just needs some time to hunt and to get over the ridiculous guilt he feels. That's all." Blair sounded as if she was trying to convince herself as much as she was him.
"Then how would I know to get this back?" Edward held up the necklace Jasper had given her. She only took it off when she showered and had left it on her dresser. She almost lunged at him. Instead, she held out her hand.
"Give it back. Jasper gave that to me. You have no right to touch it," She snarled.
Edward's voice lost the soft edge it had carried since the conversation started, and a cruelty filtered into his tone.
"Are you really so pathetic that you'd try to make him come get it himself? Make him see you when he's already made it clear to everyone but you that he couldn't care less if he ever saw you again." His words made her stop. He sounded so serious. So mocking, like he was enjoying the pain his words would bring if she believed him.
"You know, I've always felt sorry for you. Peter and Charlotte have brought people around for him to play with, but he'd never pretended to be their mate like he did with you." Peter and Charlotte's name caused pain to rocket to her toes. The air seemed thick around her, closing in at his words.
"What…what are you talking about?" She stuttered out, clinging to her loyalty with her friends and mate for dear life.
"Why hasn't he completed the bond, Blair? Hmm? Because then you'd know that there was no mating bond between you. Just like there is no bond between Bella and I. You're just another pawn to play with. He enjoys the feelings you give off, the love you give off. Makes him feel closer to his humanity."
"Peter…" Edward stopped her defense.
"Peter found the perfect play thing in you, Blair. A girl they happened upon in the middle of a vampire attack who just happened to have connections to the town their sire resided in. You practically landed in their lap. All they had to do was earn your loyalty and wait until you were old enough to believe that you were Jasper's mate…and you fell for it…Hook. Line. And Sinker." Her breath came in short spurts but he ignored it and continued on.
"Poor, B" His tone turned mocking. You thought you were so special. You thought they loved you. They let you into their world, told you their secrets and you felt accepted. Lording the secrets over your sister like the obnoxious, crude, little know-it-all child you really are. You've always been jealous of your sister. Of her class. Of all the things you lacked. You finally had something over her, finally had people who belonged to you and you alone."
"Why are you saying these things?" Blair gripped her stomach as it rolled, praying she didn't throw up at his words.
"Because I finally can. Jasper didn't specify how I should end it for him. Only that I end it," Edward stated in a matter of fact tone. Blair shook her head in denial and Edward sighed deeply as if her turmoil was starting to inconvenience him.
"Are you really going to be that girl, Blair? The girl that can't accept she's been played. It really isn't your fault. You're human. So easy to manipulate. Jasper has been manipulating your emotions since the beginning. Peter and Charlotte wound you up like a toy and let you loose. A mindless doll that did exactly what they wanted you to."
"Stop. Shut up," She rasped. Edward frowned at her.
"I take no pleasure from this, Blair. Believe me. I thought my attitude towards you would warn you off, but you were just too stubborn…too stupid and prideful…too in love with the very people who didn't actually give a damn about you." Silence followed his speech. Blair felt a roaring in her ears. It couldn't be true…but where was he? Were Peter and Charlotte really in areas with no cell service or were they just fading away from he life.
She couldn't think with him here. Edward needed to leave. Now.
"Get out." Edward cocked his head in question.
"You finally believe me. Good."
Blair ground her teeth so hard that her teeth ached. "Get the fuck out!" Edward shook his head.
"So crude." He turned towards the window, "One more thing," He turned back to her. "Make sure Bella doesn't do anything stupid. We both know how she is." With those last words, he was gone.
Blair stood in silence. Edward's words continued to replay over and over, beating into her head and filtering into her blood. It couldn't be true. It wasn't. He was lying. He had to be.
She scrambled towards her phone laying next to the bedside table. Peter would set it straight. He may not answer but he would call her back when he heard the urgency in her voice. He would. Blair quickly pulled up Peter's contact and hit call.
It didn't ring.
"The number you dialed is no longer in service. Please hang up and try again."
With those words, Blair felt her heart crack. She could hear it like someone had stepped on a stick in the middle of an empty forest. She felt the sharp crack as the automated voice's words repeated in her head and she sank to her knees.
Maybe if she'd been more aware, she would have noticed that her phone hadn't been on the bed where she left it. Maybe. But she didn't.
XXXX
Despite the recent evidence to contrary, Jasper normally had excellent control. Or he had when he'd been feeding on humans. It seemed like the hunger was more sated and came around less frequently before he changed to animals.
It was a catch 22. Human blood sated his thirst but came with the emotions from those he killed that ate away with him. Feeding on animals solved the emotions problem but his control became more frail.
He spent 3 days following the incident hunting. He was wracked with guilt. He felt disgust at himself for losing control, guilt at almost attacking his pseudo brother's mate, and guilt that that mate was his mate's sister.
He would have killed Edward if their positions had been reversed. He would have made sure Edward never threatened his mate's life again. Now that he found himself in the reversed position, he didn't know how to feel.
Still, 3 days was long enough. He needed to talk to Blair, who was no doubt pissed at him by this point. He needed to apologize to Edward and Bella for what had almost happened.
Jasper didn't think Blair would hold what happened against him. She knew that hunger was a feeling his gift allowed him to feel. She had been privy to this world for a while and had accepted it without judgement. Jasper winced at the lashing he knew his mate would give him for staying away so long.
He would take it. He deserved it, but he had to come to move past the shame he felt when his thoughts had cleared.
He first had to apologize to Edward before heading to Blair. The apology on the tip of his tongue tasted like ash in his mouth. Apologizing wasn't something he was particularly good at nor something he did often.
His pace slowed as he neared the house and his senses went on high alert. It was quiet. Too quiet for 6 other vampires to be there. He could hear Edward, but there were no sounds of anyone else.
He approached slowly and cautiously. When he opened the door, he spotted Edward sitting on the couch, his head in his hands. All the furniture had sheets on it. There were no signs of anyone's things. It was all just gone.
"What the hell is going on?" This couldn't be because of what happened. He was hardly the only one who had lost control since they'd been made.
Edward looked up, his face full of sorrow.
"Jasper, I'm sorry." Jasper's eyes narrowed in confusion.
"I'm supposed to be staying that to you."
"I don't blame you, brother. I never did. No one dos" Jasper nodded in relief and thanks before taking in the house again.
"Where is everyone?" Edward stood then.
"They left. They're waiting for us in Alaska." Jasper's confusion grew. Why would they leave? Why would they think he'd leave. His mate was here.
Jasper's eyes were drawn to something glinting in Edward's hand. Edward noticed his gaze and lifted his hand, palm open. Jasper's ID tags.
"Where the hell did you get that? Where's Blair? Is she ok?" Panic began to set in at the possibility that something had happened to her in his absence. He would feel it. He would know if it had.
"Blair and Bella…asked us to leave. To leave them alone." Jasper's eyes narrowed, Edward's words not making any sense.
"Bullshit," He snarled. Blair wouldn't. He turned towards the door to race over to see her, before Edward appeared before him. A piece of paper was clasped in his hand. He handed it over and Jasper ripped it from him.
Jasper,
I thought this life was one I wanted. But I've come to realize that hearing about something and seeing it with my own eyes is something completely different. I thought I could accept what you are. I thought I could accept your past, but the attack on Bella just made me realize that it'll always be who you are. My sister and I aren't safe with you and your family. I have to think of Bella first, and I can't do that if you lose control at every drop of blood. You were right not to complete the bond. We can just break apart and it'll be as if we were never together. Keep Peter and Charlotte away. I can't handle seeing them. You owe me that much. I'm sorry things had to end this way, but I never want to see you again. Please respect this.
Blair
Jasper felt his dead heart spasm with every cruel word.
"This doesn't make any sense. This isn't Blair." His voice held a stubborn edge.
"She did," Edward said solemnly, "She shoved the necklace in my hand and the letter before stating that Bella and her never wanted to see either of us again. I talked to Bella. She said the same thing." Jasper could feel no deception in his emotions, only overwhelming sorrow.
Jasper felt his heart shatter. Never had he felt pain like this in his existance. Had his slip cost him the most important person in his life?
"They're our mates," Jasper said.
"I know. As much as it hurts, we have to respect this. We have to do this for them." Jasper didn't answer, didn't speak again when they eventually took off running for Alaska. He kept Blair's letter clenched in his hand, unable to let it go.
Maybe if he had looked closer, he would have noticed the slight difference in hand writing from Blair's. Maybe. But he didn't.
XXXX
Blair didn't know how long she had been sitting with her back to the bed. She knew it had gotten dark since she'd began sitting here, but couldn't bring herself to care.
Her emotions had been a hurricane, with pain so bad she was choking on it. It quieted eventually and a numbness had begun to edge its way in. She grasped onto it, pulling it until it encased her chest. Blair needed not to feel anything. She couldn't deal with this.
She'd lost everything. She was the fool Edward had said she was, the fool she always swore she'd never be. So, she held onto the numbness until it was all that existed.
There was a knock at her door. Blair didn't look up.
"Blair, have you seen Bella? She left some sort of note about going for a walk with Edward in the woods. She should've been back by now," Her father asked through the door. It was obvious he was trying to keep the worry out of his voice but wasn't quite succeeding.
This seemed to snap Blair out of her stupor. It only made sense that Edward had broken up with Bella. He wouldn't be so cruel as to do it in the woods and then leave her there, would he? Her heart clenched painfully as she remembered his callous words.
It took effort, as the numbness that had encased her feeling had spread to her legs, but she managed to stand up and open the door.
"Call your police buddies. I think Edward broke up with her. We have to find her now." Charlie swore and pulled out his phone, immediately calling it in.
Blair pulled out her own cell phone and dialed Paul's number. She could only hope that he would answer this time. The phone rang twice before he picked up.
"Blair?" He sounded confused at her call. She hadn't tried to call him since her graduation. Blair swallowed hard at the sound of his voice.
"I think my sister is lost in the woods. Can you get Sam and come over please to help look. No one knows the woods like you and Sam." The implication in her voice was clear. Silence met her question.
"We'll be there in 15."
It hadn't taken them long to find Bella. Sam and Paul had walked out of the woods, the former carrying Bella in his arms. The temperatures had dropped and Bella was lucky she didn't catch hypothermia, but Sam most likely kept her warm with his intense body heat.
While the EMT's checked Bella over, Paul came to stand beside her.
"Thank you." Paul just nodded before taking off towards Sam's direction.
The EMT's cleared Bella, not that she said much besides murmuring Edward's name. Charlie took over, taking his daughter from the gurney and then disappearing inside.
Blair stayed outside as their yard cleared of emergency personnel and their nosy neighbors went back inside. Her phone had no missed calls. There had been no rush of vampires to check on them. Jasper was actually gone.
It was about 2 in the morning when Charlie came back out. She'd managed to con a pack of cigarettes off of an EMT, and was currently smoking one.
She'd tried smoking at 15, before she'd met Peter and Charlotte, until her father had caught her and gave her such a talking to that she never had desire to try to again.
But tonight…tonight it seemed like a good idea. Her dad didn't say anything. He just sat on the bench beside her. He just picked up the pack, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it with the lighter that she had beside her.
Still Blair didn't say anything. Charlie had quit smoking when her mother had gotten pregnant, but she couldn't blame him anymore than she could blame herself.
"Jasper left, didn't he?" Blair held in her flinch as she took another drag.
"It doesn't matter. I think Bella is going to take this really badly."
"I think you're right. But that doesn't mean your feelings don't matter, Blair." Charlie took another drag and looked at her.
"It was just a high school romance, Dad. You know I've never been a fan of those." Her words were spoke simply, but Charlie knew that Blair would just shut down if he pushed harder.
"I'm always here for you, Blair. Always." She smiled sadly in reply.
"I know, Dad." She stood then. "I'm going to head to the reservation for a little while. I just…need to get away." Charlie normally would have protested, but considering everything she had been through in the last 24 hours, he gave her a pass and nodded without giving her a fight.
XXXX
Paul was awake when a knock came from his door. It had been a long ass night. He wondered if the talk was true, and that the bloodsuckers had left. What did that mean for Blair.
His answer was at the door. Blair stood in the same clothes from earlier. Her eyes were slightly wet from tears he knew she'd never let fall. It made him angry that someone had hurt her.
"Please don't say I told you so." He didn't. He just held the door open a little wider for her.
So…that's it. Don't hate me for this chapter. I hope it was worth the wait and that you enjoyed the emotional roller-coaster that was this chapter. I hope to update within the next two week. Please review if you can