A/N: I don't own Twilight or BtVS; they are the property of Stephanie Meyers and Joss Whedon respectively. I just like to ponder what would happen if the two worlds collided.

Chapter 23: Beyond the Wooden Divide

Jasper gripped the edge of the sink, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration wash over him. He couldn't believe he was hiding in the bathroom like some vulnerable human. The realization that he now had bodily needs, including the pressing urge to relieve himself, was unsettling. Listening to the muffled voices of the others drifting in from the kitchen and living room, Jasper couldn't bring himself to join them. What if they laughed at him? What if they saw him differently now, no longer the stoic vampire but just another creature with basic needs?

"Jasper?" Willow's voice broke through his thoughts, gentle and coaxing. "Are you okay in there?"

He hesitated, unsure how to respond. He could feel Willow's genuine concern radiating from her, but he also sensed the underlying emotions of the others. "I'm fine," Jasper finally replied, his voice strained. "Just... needing a moment."

He could almost feel Willow's sympathy through the door, her desire to help him overcome this new challenge. "You don't have to hide, Jasper," she reassured him. "They won't tease you. They understand."

But Jasper couldn't shake the apprehension gnawing at him. He couldn't ignore the emotions swirling around him – the faint amusement from Xander, the subtle impatience from Giles, and the lingering curiosity from Spike.

"I... I don't think they'll understand," Jasper murmured, his voice barely audible even to himself. "I'm not like them. I'm not... human. But I'm also not really a vampire either."

Willow's response was gentle but understanding. "I get it, Jasper," she said softly. "I've gone through my own identity crises, and I know it's not easy. You've only been here for two days, but we want you to feel welcomed. It might take time, but we're here for you, human needs, and all. No one's going to judge you for it."

Inside, Jasper moved away from the sink to lean against the door, the coolness of the wood a stark contrast to the warmth of the kitchen. His thoughts swirling with the turmoil that felt all too human. The ribbing from Spike, though meant in jest, struck a chord, reminding him of his early days with the Cullens, particularly Edward's relentless 'teasing' that bordered on torment.

Outside, Willow's soft knock on the door broke the silence, her voice carrying a blend of concern and warmth. "Jasper?" she asked.

"Ugh…. Willow," came Jasper's muffled response, though his voice was thick with emotion, frustration seeping through each word. "Just... adjusting." But even as he said it, Jasper knew the word was a vast understatement of the turmoil he felt inside.

Willow, undeterred by the door between them, pressed on gently, her words a soothing presence. "Truly, you don't have to hide. We all have our quirks here." she reminded him.

At her gentle words, something within Jasper began to crack, the floodgates holding back years of pent-up emotions and memories inching open. "It's not just Spike," he admitted, his voice trembling as he spoke. The admission felt like a weight off his shoulders, yet the vulnerability of it terrified him. "It's... difficult, trying to fit in. I've been through this before, with the Cullens. Edward, in particular, never let me forget my... failures."

"Edward?" Willow's inquiry was soft but curious, an invitation for Jasper to share only what he felt comfortable with.

As Jasper recounted his strained relationship with Edward, silent tears trailed down his cheeks, a testament to the pain and isolation he'd endured. Frustration surged as the tears fell so easily, unlike the unfallen tears he'd long since been accustomed to. "Damn these tears," he muttered, wiping at his eyes in anger.

"Edward was... complex," Jasper continued, his voice breaking. "After I lost control once, his reaction was... unforgiving. He made me feel irredeemable, less than human. If that was even possible." His voice was a whisper of pain, the memory vivid and sharp. "He could be cruel in his righteousness, twisting the knife in ways that made you wish for the simplicity of physical wounds. His words made you feel... less than human, less than anything."

Outside the bathroom door, Willow settled onto the floor, her back against the cool wood, instinctively knowing Jasper needed both the assurance of her presence and the space to breathe. After a moment of silence, she heard Jasper's faint shuffle as he mirrored her position on the other side of the door, a thin barrier between them that somehow made their conversation more intimate.

Willow's heart ached at his words, but she knew she had to be careful. "Jasper, we've only known you a short time, but I can see you're struggling. It's going to take time for all of us to adjust, but you're not alone in this," she offered softly, cautious not to overwhelm him with promises but wanting to assure him of their cautious support.

Hearing her, Jasper felt the weight of his isolation begin to lift, if only slightly. "It's hard, Willow. Hard to shake the fear of being... abandoned, for being a monster. It's hard to believe in... belonging, after everything. Being here, it's different, unsettling even, but... not unwelcome."

Willow nodded, though he couldn't see her. "It's okay to feel that way, Jasper. Just know we're willing to give you a chance."

Jasper closed his eyes, allowing her words to sink in. For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope, fragile but real. "Thank you, Willow," he whispered, the tears still falling, but now with a mix of sorrow and relief.

"Jasper?" Willow's voice came softly through the door. "Are you ready to come out? Xander's made some toast and jam for you. Thought you might be hungry."

Despite his earlier assertion, Jasper couldn't ignore the rumbling of his stomach in response to the tantalizing aroma that filled the small room. He hesitated, uncertain of whether he should give in to this unfamiliar craving.

"Thank you, Willow," he replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But I'm not hungry."

There was a brief pause, and then Willow spoke again, her tone gentle but firm. "Jasper, I can hear your stomach rumbling," she said. "You may not remember much about eating as a human, but your body hasn't forgotten."

Jasper felt a flush of embarrassment at being caught out, his cheeks warming despite the coolness of the bathroom. He hadn't realized that his hunger was so apparent, even to someone who couldn't read emotions like Willow.

Swallowing his pride, Jasper pushed himself to his feet and opened the door, met once again by Willow's kind and understanding gaze.

"Come on, Jasper," she said, offering him the plate of toast and jam with a warm smile. "I promise it'll make you feel better."

With a mixture of reluctance and gratitude, Jasper accepted the plate, the familiar scent of warm toast and sweet jam stirring something deep within him.

"Thank you, Willow," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I appreciate it."

Settling into his spot on the couch, Jasper found himself savouring the sweet taste of the jam, and the world around him seemed to fade away. The living room, those present, all faded into the background as he lost himself in the simple pleasure of eating. His eyes fluttered with delight, his lashes casting delicate shadows against his cheeks. It was a small, almost unconscious gesture, born of the sheer pleasure he found in the simple act of eating.

Spike, observing Jasper's unusual behaviour with a mixture of amusement and bemusement, couldn't resist making a snide remark. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? The strange vampire enjoying his brekkie like a lovesick schoolgirl," he quipped, a smirk playing on his lips.

Jasper, momentarily taken aback by Spike's comment, glanced up from his toast with a raised eyebrow. "I may be strange by your standards, but at least I'm enjoying myself," he retorted, a playful glint in his eyes. Continuing to polish off the toast and jam, a low, contented purr escaped his lips, a sound so unexpected that it caught everyone off guard.

Giles, who had been quietly observing from his desk, arched an eyebrow in surprise, momentarily taken aback by the peculiar sound. Willow, sitting beside Jasper, couldn't help but giggle at the unexpected noise, finding it endearing in its strangeness.

Spike, leaning against the breakfast bar with a mug of blood in hand, raised an incredulous eyebrow at the sight of Jasper purring. "Well, I'll be damned. Never thought I'd see the day when a vampire purrs like a bloody cat," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Buffy, who had just entered the living room, paused in her tracks at the sound, her expression a mixture of confusion and curiosity. "What's going on?" she asked.

Willow, still giggling, gestured toward Jasper with a grin. "It's Jasper. He's... purring," she explained, her amusement evident in her voice.

Buffy's confusion deepened as she looked at Jasper, who was now blushing slightly at the attention. "Purring? Vampires purr now?" she asked, her disbelief clear.

Jasper, feeling self-conscious under Buffy's scrutiny, cleared his throat awkwardly, the purring subsiding as he composed himself. "Uh, sorry. It's just... the toast was really good," he mumbled, feeling a flush of embarrassment creeping up his cheeks.

Despite the unusualness of the situation, the group couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the vampire purring like a contented kitten.

Giles, intrigued by the unusual behaviour, adjusted his glasses and turned his attention to Jasper. "Is purring a common occurrence among vampires, Jasper?" he inquired, his tone one of genuine curiosity.

Xander, ever the skeptic, had this to add, "So, is purring like your version of charming humans in, while hissing is more of a 'stay away' signal?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Jasper considered the question for a moment before shaking his head. "Not exactly," Jasper shifted uncomfortably in his seat, not entirely sure how to respond to Xander's inquiry. His cheeks tinged with a slight blush; he cleared his throat before Giles intervened.

"Gentlemen, perhaps we're delving a bit too deeply into matters of vampire behaviour," Giles interjected, his tone diplomatic yet firm. Sensing Jasper's unease, he redirected the conversation with a subtle glance in his direction.

Jasper, grateful for the intervention, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's more of a... intimate thing," he admitted, his voice trailing off slightly as he struggled to articulate his thoughts.

"Intimate, eh? So, who's the lucky vampire on the receiving end of your purrs, Jasper?" Spike asked, unable to continuing teasing, a sly grin playing on his lips.

Jasper's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, how is it even possible to be blushing he errantly thought as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat once more, at a loss for words. Willow shot Spike a disapproving glance.

Spike's smirk widened as he leaned back in the stool, clearly relishing the discomfort he was causing. "Ah, so it's like an alley cat in heat, then? Can't resist a bit of a purr when they're feeling frisky," he quipped, his tone laced with amusement.

Willow, who had been quietly observing the conversation, furrowed her brow at Spike's comment. "Um, I think it's more complicated than that," she interjected, her voice gentle yet firm. "Purring in vampires could be a subconscious reaction to something pleasurable or comforting," she suggested, her tone thoughtful as she glanced at Jasper.

Jasper's eyes narrowed as he turned his gaze towards Spike, his lips curling slightly in a silent warning. With a low, menacing hiss, he made his displeasure known, the sound reverberating in the room. Spike's discomfort from his chip going haywire evident.

"You'd think Spike would learn his lesson by now, poking the new vampire and all," Xander remarked, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm. "But hey, some vamps never learn. Like poking a bear, isn't it, Spike? You just end up hurting yourself more."

Spike shot Xander a withering glare, his expression a mix of irritation and amusement. "Oi, watch it, Harris. I don't need advice from a glorified carpenter," he retorted, crossing his arms over his chest defensively.

Giles, sensing the tension escalating once again, intervened before things could escalate further. "Gentlemen, please," he interjected, his voice tinged with a note of exasperation. "Let's focus on maintaining a civil discourse, shall we?" he suggested, shooting a pointed look at both Xander and Spike, who begrudgingly relented, albeit with visible reluctance.

"Maybe we should start a toast buffet just for Jasper," Buffy quipped, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I wouldn't mind hearing that purring sound again."

Jasper, though still slightly embarrassed by the attention, couldn't help but crack a small smile at Buffy's remark. "I suppose I could be persuaded to indulge in a bit more toast," he conceded, his tone lightening as he glanced around at the others.

Giles, ever the voice of reason, nodded in agreement. "A splendid idea, Buffy. Let's keep our guest well-fed and content," he remarked, gesturing towards the kitchen where the toaster awaited its next batch of bread.

Amidst the lively chatter and laughter, Jasper's thoughts swirled with a nagging sensation, one that tugged at his consciousness like a persistent whisper. It was a feeling he couldn't ignore, a reminder of his unique dietary needs in this human-dominated world.

"Um, excuse me," Jasper interjected, his voice cutting through the jovial atmosphere, drawing the attention of the group. "I believe there's something I need to address."

All eyes turned to him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Jasper hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing.

"I just wanted to remind everyone," he began, his tone measured, "unlike the tea Giles has with his breakfast, I... well, I need a little more iron to go along with my meal."

His words hung in the air, prompting a thoughtful pause as the significance of his statement sank in. Willow furrowed her brow in understanding, while Giles nodded in acknowledgment, his expression thoughtful.

Spike, ever the provocateur, couldn't resist chiming in with a sardonic grin. "Ah, the vampire's special diet," he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Can't forget about that, can we?"

Jasper offered a wry smile in response, accustomed to Spike's penchant for jesting about his vampiric nature. "Indeed," he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Just thought I'd... refresh everyone's memory."