All original characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. The changes in their personalities and plot are mine. This story contains abusive and references to domestic violence situations, as well as sexually explicit material. It also contains adult language and themes. If this is not your thing, get lost. Not for children under 18.

A/N: thanks for reading and reviewing

This chapter is a bit of a transition from Jasper's conversation with his father to his initial reunion with his lifelong friend. In this chapter, I wanted to introduce the bond between Kevin and Jasper's and their priceless friendship in a different way. I wanted to lighten up off of the domestic violence a little: You might agree with Jasper in this one…LOL.

Warning: This story is intended for an adult MA audience only. Contains crude language, adult content, adult related themes, sexual relationship between two men: SLASH. If this is not for you, please don't read. If you are under 18 stop reading now!

Getting out of my domestic violence relationship with James was going to be the hardest thing I ever had to do. I'd come to learn this. I had suffered so much hurt by his hands that I couldn't even remember what it felt like to love him. At one time, I did love him with all the intensity a first love could muster. Truthfully, a very, very small part of me will always have the feelings of a first love towards him, but there was nothing left for him anymore. I was no longer in love with him, and found it hard to even care for him after the abuse he'd subjected me to.

With much revocation, I felt angry that he was my first love. I hated myself for giving him my virginity. That was a part of me that I only wanted to share with the man I would spend my entire life with. It was intended for the man who would love and protect and honor me. I never intended to share that with a narcissistic, abusive maniac. I felt duped, used, and most of all stupid for falling for him and his lying games.

There were so many factors to consider; so many questions in my head. Where was I going to go or how was I going to get James out? How would I make sure he couldn't hurt me once I left him? These were all valid questions in which I had no answers. I knew I could always stay with my family, but at what risks or costs? My family would fight to the end to protect me, but could they really? James was quite the manipulator and very sneaky. He had means to do just about any vile thing that he wanted to do…or at least that was what he wanted me to believe.

I felt so terrified. I was terrified of change and having no stability. Even though life with James was putrid hell, I had a roof over my head, clothes, and food. I was afraid of stepping out on my own. I was still relatively young and naïve, if I were honest with myself. I was not strong like my father and Uncle Mike or even Uncle Reggie. Hell, Rose was even braver than I was. In spite of this, if I didn't get out soon, I would be dead or he would be. I had to start finalizing my plans to leave.

The biggest and scariest step would be telling someone what was going on. I had a support system in place of people I trusted and who loved me. My Dad was spot on. He knew James was abusing me and if I let him have his way, he would do serious damage to the man. I still had a sinking feeling that he just might make good on his promise to sift him like wheat with or without my permission. Yes, he was that pissed. He wanted to feed James' ass to him for hurting his only son…his prince. This made me smile. He'd always called me his prince, and I knew that I had a special place in his heart that could never be filled by anyone else. Mom, Rosie, and I were the most important people in his life, and he would lay down his life in a minute for either of us.

It was very hard to think about leaving on my own, but I knew that if I relied on my support system, I could do it. The problem was getting up enough nerve to put them in harm's way. I knew that if I had an emergency, they would always be there for me, but I always became so overwhelmed by guilt and embarrassment to even ask them to do this for me. I had been such a fool for not listening to them. My life in shambles, there was no way I could put them in the middle of my mess.

I had a little bit of money save up, and I could give Mom whatever money I received in those gifts to put in an account for me. James would not know about it and it would be available for me whenever I got ready. In the past, every chance I had gotten, I put a little bit of money away. Not that it was hard for me to do this. James never allowed me to go anywhere to spend money. He didn't give me much cash, and since he checked all of the receipts, I never kept change. Most of the time I paid with a debit or credit card, and did not get cash back. On the rare occasions when he would give me cash, I saved it. From the moment the abuse began I knew I would eventually need a net to fall back on whenever I left, because I knew James would never leave. I had always tried to bury the idea of returning to Seattle with my family, so I knew I would need to buy food, pay some bills/rent, and maybe even need money for transportation. Since my name wasn't on our mortgage, I wouldn't have to worry about being stuck with that drama or my credit being jacked up, which in turn wouldn't be a problem with me getting a new place.

Doing all of that research paid off. It was only after I started searching for a solution, did I realize I needed to do all of these things. Some of the research had suggested that whenever I left to try to secure a place as soon as I could. I was very apprehensive about shelters or anything like that, and my family would be quite pissed if I chose a shelter over them. It didn't matter though. I had to protect them. Hell, for all I knew James might try to hurt them even if I was not there with them. I was just so confused and just didn't know what to do. I made a mental note to talk to Kate about this because I wouldn't want to just show up on somebody's doorstep.

Some of my research also gave me the idea of obtaining a restraining order. This would also be something I would need to discuss with Kate, because I didn't know how to get one or if there was even a cost to file one. My Dad was a lawyer and I was sure he could tell me what to do, but that would come with a beat down for James and jail time for him. Truthfully, as much as I abhorred our museum of a house, James was the one causing the problems so rightfully he should be the one to leave, not me. He should be the one restrained from coming near me in our home. On the other hand, even if he did, staying there would remind me of too many bad memories and I would be a tortured soul living there.

The minute I heard Kevin's voice, I was elated but at the same time extremely embarrassed and shy to be seen like this by him. Not that it would have mattered to him. Kevin and I were one. We were bonded in the throngs of friendship in such a way that I could have ran in there naked and sat on his lap and he would have laughed it off, carried me upstairs, and dumped me in my closet while telling me to put some clothes on all of my junk. Yeah, we had it like that. That was the kind of relationship we had.

Until James we had always been open and honest with each other about everything. We had no secrets. As children we had shared everything down to the bath water we use. Yes, it was gross, thinking about it now, but it was nothing for us to take baths together when we were little. We'd always shared our toys, food, games, everything and we never fought. We always had each other's back and we took care of each other.

I hid most of James from Kevin before we got married because he was so vehemently opposed to me marrying him. Kevin had only briefly met him once because I was so blinded by love and ignorance at the time and I didn't want to hear any of his persuasion to leave my "dream man." I wanted Kevin, my best friend, to support my decision, not hate me for it. Truthfully, he didn't hate me for it. I knew this now. He loved me enough to see the error in what I was doing. He was trying to protect me as he always had and I wouldn't let him.

He was very upset with me that I didn't tell him I was getting married and that he wasn't even invited to the wedding. I had not spoken with him much after the wedding because James kept me on lock down. I had started to feel that I would never get a chance to talk everything out with him again. Luckily, I'd set up a secret email account and would communicate with him by email whenever I went to town or to the public library. I couldn't do it from home because James would know and whip me with his belt for talking to my friends. While I never came out and told him about the abuse, I simply told him that James was a "little" uncomfortable with me talking to other guys.

I guess I should have been afraid of how Kevin was going to react when he found about James. He was going to be hot with me for not telling him about the abuse. Believe me, I wanted to tell him all of it, but I loved him too much to get him involved. I couldn't take the risk of James harming him in any way. I just couldn't do that to my friend…my brother.

My Dad turned and headed towards the inside of the house. "Dad, I think I'm going to take the outside stairs to your room and go up to my room and grab a shower. I noticed the door open up there. Can you tell Kevin that I will be down shortly?"

He nodded his understanding. I looked and felt a mess. He knew I didn't want Kevin, who I hadn't seen in over two years, to see me like this.

"Sure, son. I'll let him know." His smile didn't reach his eyes. He was still hurting for me. I smiled back and dashed up the wooden stair case to their bedroom. Once inside I made my way quickly to the hall linen closet, grabbed a towel and washcloth, and headed to my old room. I heard Kevin asking for me again and my father telling him that I was taking a shower and would be down in a minute. He grumbled at that and I had to laugh. He was as excited to see me as I was him.

I started the shower and went to get some clothes out of my suitcase along with some toiletries. Satisfied with my choice, I undressed quickly and went into the bathroom. The shower felt great and I turned the water as hot as I could stand it. I needed to relax. I felt dirty and sticky from the day, and after that big dinner I needed to wind down a little.

What a day this had been. I sighed heavily and leaned my head on the shower wall and willed the hot water to wash away the grime left behind by James' physical, verbal, and mental assault. He had beaten me, slapped me around, forced me to perform oral sex on him, belittled me, embarrassed me, and then slapped me around some more. Tears mingled with the water as I replayed the events of the day in mind. I sobbed silently for myself. I deserved better than that. I had never done anything to deserve that type of treatment. He'd just about destroyed my confidence in human beings and had taken everything I could possibly dream of having.

I could no longer hear my family downstairs. I was loss in my own self-pity. I wanted- no needed help. I thought about calling Kate but I didn't have time right now because Kevin was waiting for me downstairs along with his parents. Besides, that conversation would probably take some time, and I didn't want to feel rushed. I just needed help, and I had no one to turn to other than her. She was the only one who wouldn't be caught in the middle of my mess.

I showered thoroughly for a few more minutes and turned the water off. Feeling somewhat refreshed, I pulled the curtain back so I could step out.

"HOLY FUCK!" I shouted as my heart almost pounded out of my chest. I saw the tale of something dart behind the toilet. I jumped backwards in the shower and pulled the curtain next to me. I peeped around the side and tried to get a glimpse of whatever it was behind there. To my surprise it was some sort of snake.

How in the hell did that this thing get in here? What the fuck? Oh God! Dad left that back door open and it must have crawled in here looking for water or something. Why it felt the need to stop in here is beyond me?

I didn't do snakes at all. No way! I had always been terrified of them, poisonous or not. When we were children, we used to occasionally see them when we played outside. Kevin was always the brave one, the one who would grab them and run. Not me, no way, no how…there was nothing about them that interested me, and I certainly wasn't charmed. I was accustomed to seeing them outside, but not in my bathroom! I did the only thing I could best. I called for my Dad.

"DA-AAAD! DA-AAAD!" I shouted to the top of my lungs. Call me a wuss, a punk, a sissy, what the hell ever, but there was no way in hell I was getting out of this shower until he came and I got that thing out of here. "KEVIN! DA-AAAD!" I shouted again. "DA-AAD!"

Within seconds I heard several sets of feet charging up the steps to my room. I heard my Dad shaking my bedroom door.

Oh fuck! I locked the door! Shit!

"Jasper, what's wrong?" My Dad shouted through the door as he pounded on it. "Jasper open the door! It's locked!"

"I can't, Dad! I'm in the shower!" I yelled backed. This was going to be good and embarrassing. My clothes and the towel were in my room on the bed. I had to pass by that big ass snake to get there. There was no way in hell I was going to do that.

"Jazz, what's wrong?" I heard Kevin's voice, Michael's, Dad's, Mom's, Felicia's, Rosie's, everybody but James'. Was he even concerned? Was he even with the rest of them?

"KEVIN!" I screamed when the snake coiled and moved. "OH SHIT! DA-AAD!" I swear it moved closer to the tub. "OH SHIT! SHIT! FUCK…DAD! KEVIN!"

"Jasper, are you hurt son? What's wrong?" My Dad yelled through the door. "Jasper, why can't you open the door?" His voice was shaky and he jiggled the door knob again. "Jasper, I swear I'm going to kick this damn door in! What's going on in there?"

"Dad, I'm not hurt." I yelled back. "There's a snake in here."

"A SNAKE!" They all shouted in unison. "What the hell?"

"Is it poisonous, son?" He asked.

"I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T CARE!" I screamed. The snake moved again. "DA-AAD! Dad this thing is moving!"

I heard the women say they were out of there, and the men could handle this. Like myself, they were afraid of snakes and wasn't about to go near one.

"Oh, God this is some bull! DAD GET IN HERE NOW!" I yelled again as that thing lined itself against the tub.

"Jasper, I'm coming son. Just give me a minute to get the key out of my room." He called back.

The snake was now spread the entire length of the bathroom. It was brown and black and big as hell. It slithered towards me.

"DAD! WHO THE HELL EVER…HURRY UP! KEVIN!" I knew Kevin would come get it. I was sure James would find a way to yell at me for not calling him to help me, but he could go to hell right now. I wasn't even trying to care about him.

"I'm right here, Jazz. Your Dad is unlocking the door now. We'll be in a sec!" Kevin's reassuring voice was not at all calming to me. My severe phobia of snakes had already kicked into overdrive and I was about to lose it in that bathroom. I was secretly glad I had never allowed James to know this about me. That mean jackass would have possibly tried to torture me with one just to spite me.

Within minutes the door of my room flew open and in walked every male in the house, including James, Miles, and Patrick. Of course the boys wanted to see it, but their father made them stay on my bed just in case it was poisonous. I was still behind the curtain, stark naked when the four adult men entered the bathroom. Thank God it wasn't too tiny or all of them wouldn't have been able to fit in there. When they saw me wet and naked behind that shower curtain and that snake on the floor, they all burst into laughter, even James, although I was sure he was laughing because he thought I was a punk. The others just thought it was plain funny.

"Oh that's just nice guys. Real nice. There is a snake in here, only God knows how and why, and you're standing there laughing at me?" I shivered. "I don't like snakes. Ugghhh!" I shivered again.

Kevin walked fearlessly up to the snake to examine it; I'm sure he made sure it was harmless first. He was pretty smart, and he knew a lot about wildlife. For some reason, that had always been a hobby of sorts for him. The snake was moving around and I instinctively inched back against the shower wall. I moved back further when it tried to run from him and darted behind the toilet again.

"Just get it out of here, now, please!" I shouted, looking over at my husband who looked at me with sheer embarrassment and disgust. He was embarrassed that his husband was punking out and acting like a wimp a snake. Screw him!

"Jasper, it's just a garter snake. They like water and it probably came in here from an open door or something." Kevin said picking it up. He was not afraid at all. "It's harmless, Jazzy. It won't hurt, you. See?" Though he found my situation humorous, he didn't move closer because he'd always known of my fear. He would not have found humor in purposely putting that snake near me. This was the same way he took care of me when we were kids. That's why I loved him. He understood me.

"OH MY GOD! Kevin!" My eyes bulged and they laughed again. Kevin put it in a pillow case that my father had retrieve from the linen closet. Once the snake was securely inside, Kevin handed it to his father. They looked at me standing there trembling and wet, and died laughing. They were holding their sides and gasping for breath.

"I'm glad that I'm able to amuse you guys." I pouted. "Ha ha ha ha."

They laughed harder and I had to admit that even though Kevin's laughter was just as annoying as the rest, he looked the picture of great health and vitality. He was exactly the way I remembered him, only a little more muscular and leaner. He was the exact opposite of me. Most of all he was happy. He stepped closer to the shower and I guess I should have been embarrassed by him seeing me semi-naked but I wasn't. He was just Kevin and he'd seen as much of me as I had.

"This is freaking priceless, little bro." He laughed, reaching to tousle my wet hair. The laughter simmered from the men behind him. James was eyeing him intently now. I could sense that he was not comfortable with another man who was not my biologically related to me being this close while I was wet and naked.

Pervert!

"You were in quite a predicament, Jazzy?" Kevin teased. "Don't worry; I will always be here to protect you." I heard James snort almost under his breath. I rolled my eyes.

"Just shut up, Kevin." I bumped his shoulder. Kevin laughed again and that beautiful smile of his brought back so many memories. This time I laughed with him a little. "It's good to see you."

He stood there with his arms folded across his chest. "It's great to see you. This was worth coming home to. You always have been very afraid of snakes and anything that moves actually." He teased. "Still scary as ever, I see."

"I am not. I just don't like snakes." I defended myself, laughing with him. James' had stopped laughing and was glaring again. He made it silently and painfully obvious to me that he did not like Kevin.

No surprise there! He doesn't like anyone who loves me!

"And for the record, I'm only younger than you by thirty minutes." I interjected. Our fathers watched us while they were talking about some randomness and I was starting to get cold.

"Thirty-two to be exact." He winked at me proudly. "I will always be the oldest."

"Whatever. Will you please hand me my towel so I can get out of here?" I asked. I heard the women yelling from downstairs to see if the snake had been caught. My father yelled back and told her they had it under control.

"Daddy, let us see the snake!" The boys charged into the bathroom so they could take a peek. Michael opened the bag so they could look. "Oh! Cool!" They exclaimed in excitement. "Can we go outside and play with it."

They all looked at me knowingly and laughed again. "Jasper, even the babies aren't afraid of the snake." Michael laughed and winked too. "You sure you don't want to make a new friend before the boys and I go set him free?"

I shook my head. "Um…Uncle Michael…no thanks. I'm good. Go on now. Take that thing out of here." He laughed again and the boys followed him out of the bathroom.

Kevin returned to the bathroom with my towel and held it in his hand. I reached for it but he pulled it back. Dad thought his little antics were funny, but my husband didn't.

"Maybe I will keep this. Go ahead Jazzy, step on out." My brother challenged me with a devilish grin on his face. "I dare you."

"No." They laughed again. "You're getting a kick out of this aren't you?" I asked. They nodded and continued their laughing. I looked quickly at James who stood leaning against the vanity with his legs and arms crossed. He was rolling his tongue again and was obviously thinking this was inappropriate. Dad and Kevin ignored him.

"It's not like we all haven't see you naked before, little bro." He folded and unfolded the towel. "Come on let us see your other snake?" My dad fell out laughing again. He slapped his knees and Kevin roared with him.

"Kevin, give me that freaking towel! I'm not playing! Give it to me! I swear when I get out of here I'm going to kick your ass!" He handed me the towel and I quickly snatched it from his hand before he decided to tease me some more.

"Coming from the guy who's afraid of a teeny, itty-bitty snake." His eyes were dancing. He looked so much like his father, but I could see a striking resemblance to his mother as well. I loved my friend, even though he was brutally teasing me. I was used to this though. We had always joked around with each other, at times quite roughly, and always liberally enjoyed the humor in our relationship.

I wrapped the towel around my waist and pulled the curtain back. I was praying to God I didn't have any bruises anywhere on my body from that whipping James had given me in the car, or from the fight outside or from the floor slamming incident. If Dad and Kevin saw that, James would have been begging to trade places with that snake to go join the rest of his manipulative, slithering friends. He seemed nervous too as I stepped out of the shower. He was probably thinking the same thing I was about the bruises.

I was now standing directly in front of Kevin. "Hey." I said, grinning sheepishly. I was so thrilled to be here with him. I was even more thrilled to know that it wasn't going to be long until I would find a way to see him more often.

"Hi." He greeted me back. That was how we always greeted each other. We hugged and my father was beaming. He and Michael had successful fostered a brotherly-friendship between the two of us that almost mirrored and rivaled the closeness that they shared in their friendship. James was seething again, but made no move to leave. He wanted to see where this was going.

We pulled back from each other. "I'm so glad you're home." Kevin hugged my wet body tightly again and I clung to him almost for dear life. I rested my forehead on his strong shoulder and wrapped my damp arms around his body. I knew this was going to earn me several blows from James, but I didn't care. Kevin had been my bestie since the day we were born. He meant the world to me, and I loved him with my life.

"It's good to be here." I said as he released me. My father was wise to stay in the bathroom. He knew James was jealous and there was no way he was going to leave us in his hands. "I've missed you so much."

Kevin smiled. "Ditto. We have so much catching up to do. There is something fierce I need to talk to you about."

I smiled and nodded. "Some girl?"

He laughed. "Oh, man, you have no idea. Get dressed so we can talk. I'm going to dive into Aunt Lizzie's monkey bread. I'll wait for you downstairs."

He turned to leave and I remembered that I hadn't introduced him to my unloving husband. As if on cue, James gave me that "you're-dead-if-you-don't-acknowledge-me" look. He and Kevin had met very briefly before we got married, but had not seen each other since. I'd purposely avoided giving James much information about him and in turn he'd pretty much barred me from any contact with my BFF.

"That sounds great." I gently tugged at the hem of his shirt and he turned to face me. I don't know why I cared, but I decided to save my ass a few bruises and presented him to James. "Um, Kev, you remember my husband James. You guys haven't seen each other since we got married."

Kevin gave me a look that clearly said, Yeah, you're right. We haven't seen each other since you got married, and why is that? Why is it that I haven't seen my brother in two years and why can't I call or come see you, and why when you do call me it's always from a pay phone, and why are we only communicating through email and why did we have to get your address from Uncle Reggie. What the hell is that about?

The look also said, "And don't stand there and look at me like that. I know what's been going on because our folks talk and don't for a second think that I'm cool with that jacked-up mother fucker. I'm about one second from bitch slapping his ass, but since this important to you, I will be play nice…for now!

As the loving and protective big brother would do, he extended his hand politely to James. My father just stood with his arms crossed and didn't even try to hide his disgust at the mention of James' name, or at the fact that I even bothered to introduce him to another member of our private circle. James smiled and politely shook his hand just as he had with Uncle Reggie earlier at the ice cream parlor.

Kevin turned to me. "Well, hurry up and cover up your junk so we can hang out."

I nodded and smiled. "I'll be down in a few minutes."

As he left, my father read the look on my face that said, "Please don't leave me alone in here with James right after this fiasco." As much as it pained him, he gave me a little nod and turned to James.

"James why don't we go down stairs and see what Michael and the boys did with that snake?" When James hesitated, he patted him on the shoulder. "Give it a rest, and let's go get a beer."

James looked at me. He reluctantly agreed. "Sure."

He walked out of the bathroom and my father whispered, "Son of bit-"

"I love you Dad." I mouthed.

He pointed at me. "I wish he would have-"

"Thank you, Dad." I mouthed again. He nodded and left to follow James who was already downstairs.

I quickly finished in the bathroom and headed to my room where I hurriedly threw on my jeans and a t-shirt. I went back in the bathroom and styled my hair and within minutes I was headed back downstairs to bond with my only real friend. I knew James would be watching us like a hawk, so I wasn't sure how much we would get to talk about. I could only hope that an opportunity would open up for us to steal away for a few moments to catch up. James would beat me for it, that was certain, but I had to find a way to tell finally tell Kevin everything and what I was planning to do. I would have to make him swear to keep his cool in order for me to do it. That was a far-stretched prayer, but right now all I had was hope that my friend would listen and protect me. I turned the handle of the door and walked out into the hall. I heard my mother asking if I was alright up here, and my sister still spewing over the snake.

Well, here goes nothing!

A/N: I know some of you are like, "I know you didn't…" LOL. I know, I know. Jasper has a phobia and I wanted to show that Kevin is still loving and protective of him while at the same time still his best friend in every way. They love each other like brothers and I know that Kevin meant what he said when he told him he would always protect him. I also wanted to show some of Jasper's thoughts about his domestic violence relationship with James as he progresses further with his decision to leave. He seems to be getting a good handle on it and has finally made the decision to tell someone he can trust.

The idea of the snake originally started as James standing there when he got out of the shower. The snake is a metaphor for Jasper's deepest fear. That snake is like James. It represents something that Jasper fears greatly and he has to learn to trust other people to save him from it so to speak. Even though Jasper is a grown man, he has pretty much become a victim of his own fears and willingness to embrace this toxic relationship. Unlike the snake, James is poisonous to him and Kevin is there to help Jasper decide what to do, and to help get the "snake" out. James is an ass wipe and he's already jealous of Jasper's relationship with Kevin. Such a jerk.

Kevin understands Jasper's needs and this can be seen in how he reacted to Jasper's phobia. I'm not sure if you all are aware of how phobias work, but they represent a very irrational fear that is capable of completely immobilizing a person. This is exactly what James has done up to this point. He has rendered Jasper helpless in his own mind, and therefore Jasper feels he is incapable of being free to live as the man he desires to be.

Okay, so a little humor in this chapter…Jasper and Kevin talk…can't wait to see what happens in this next chapter before the party on Saturday. I have so many plans for Edward and Jasper but before they can embark on a real relationship, Jasper has to deal with these presenting fears in his current marriage.

JP scores another point for protecting his son!

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