– Forks, Washington –

"You can't ignore me forever, Niklaus!"

"Watch me!" Klaus stomped away, heading back toward the house.

Silently, Kol and Peter followed.

"I watched you," Jasper continued. "For over eight centuries, Dad and I watched you…"

Klaus paused, then shook his head and continued walking through the forest.

"Our dad, Nikkie. Not that bastard, Mikael. Ansel found me on the other side and told me about the affair with Esther. He taught me about our heritage, the pack, and our family. And together, we watched over you. We never left you…"

Klaus whirled around. "STOP! Just stop. Stop following me. Stop talking as if we are family. We aren't! Henrik died. You are not him. Resurrection is not possible. I have no interest in listening to your lies. Now, kindly piss off. I want to get back to my mate!"

"Our mate," Kol corrected.

Klaus huffed. "Fine. Our mate!"

Kol smirked and nodded. "That's right. Yours. Mine. And Henriks."

Klaus' eyes flashed gold. "He," he jabbed his finger toward Jasper, "is not going anywhere near Isabella!"

"You can't keep me from her. She is just as much my mate as she is yours and Kols," Jasper said patiently. "And if you don't believe in resurrection, what exactly are you going to tell her when she wakes up with memories of our past life together?"

"She can resurrect," Klaus growled. "You cannot! You are an imposter attempting to get close to my Isabella!"

"Our Isabella," Kol corrected again, smirking.

Klaus turned toward his brother, but Kol turned to Jasper before he could say anything. "Would you prefer to go by Jasper or Henrik?"

"Either is fine. I was Henrik for eight centuries. I've only been Jasper for—"

"One hundred and sixty-four years," Peter growled from behind them. "I can't believe you never told me you're their brother!"

Jasper sighed. "How was I supposed to tell you? I didn't even know until ten minutes ago!"

Peter huffed.

"And if you've forgotten," Jasper growled, "you and I haven't been close the last century and a half. Every time we meet, all you want to do is kill Ali!"

Kol leaned toward Jasper. "He doesn't know?"

Jasper looked over at his older brother and sighed in realization. "Ali told you…"

Kol nodded. "Bella's Nan, Marie, told her we're Bella's mates…"

Jasper nodded. "She likely felt it was safe to tell you the truth."

"The truth?" Peter questioned. "What truth? What don't I know?"

Jasper ignored Peter. "No, I haven't told him. I don't trust him enough to tell him. The last time we spoke was in the early nineteen hundreds and then he wanted to kill Ali because he saw her as an abomination. He's lucky I didn't tear him apart like the last bastard who called her an abomination."

Kol nodded. "She's a siphon-vampire, right? That's why her hands glowed red when she touched Nik?"

Jasper nodded. "In her past life, Belle was a witch from the Gemini coven. Does she have her magic back yet?"

Kol was about to answer when Klaus spun around. "KOL! I expected better from you. You are playing right into his hands! He is the enemy. You do not give the enemy information on our mate!"

Kol sighed. "He's our brother, Nik. Why can't you see that?"

"Our brother died over a thousand years ago. As a human! How would he have gone to The Other Side—a place where only those who are supernatural go—when he was HUMAN?"

Kol looked at Jasper.

"The Fates," Jasper answered. "When I died, I was an untriggered wolf. The Fates stepped in and placed me on The Other Side to wait for the day that our mate was born. In 1845, I was reborn as Jasper Henry Michael Whitlock. A year later, our mate, Isabelle Mary Hildegard, was born. We met in 1860 in Houston, Texas, and we were married two years later."

Klaus stared at Jasper for a moment, then shook his head. "LIES! I won't hear any more of this…"

"Fine," Jasper sighed. "Storm off in a fit of stubbornness, but you won't get rid of me. Isabella is my wife and soulmate. I will not lose her again. You may have suffered in your lives, brothers, but believe me, you have no idea the kind of pain that comes with losing your soulmate. I have lived with it for a hundred and forty-five years. I refuse to be separated from her again!

"You will stay away from her!"

"No, Nikkie, I won't…"

Snarling, Klaus' hand shot out as he grasped Jasper's throat and pinned him to the nearest tree. "DO NOT CALL ME THAT!"

Jasper smirked. "There's that temper you've been trying to keep in check since you met our little Darlin'. I wouldn't worry so much, brother. Our mate has a fire in her that would impress even you, Nikkie."

"STOP!" Klaus roared. "Just stop! You are not him!"

"Yes, big brother," he said gently, "I am."

"Do you really expect me to fall for such a pathetic trick? You are not him. I don't know how you learned about him, but you are not him!"

"I used to watch you, you know," Jasper said. "For centuries, I followed you as you traveled the globe. I know how much you suffered. I watched as you all ran from Mikael. As you loved and lost. I saw the destruction you all caused and the lives you took because you couldn't fight the bloodlust. I was there each time your anger got the better of you and I watched as you daggered our siblings … and when you undaggered them…"

"But I was there for the good times, too," Jasper smiled. "I was at your side when you climbed the Himalayas and saw the fascination and envy in your eyes when that hummingbird flew right up to you. I was with you when you tended to your horses. And when you met Marcel, I watched every moment you spent with him. I watched—"

"Stop."

"I watched you paint and lose yourself in your artwork. I watched you—"

"STOP!" Klaus growled, squeezing Jasper's throat tighter. "I SAID STOP! It means nothing! Lies all of it. If you were watching, then you saw … you saw…"

"The bloodshed … death … carnage," Jasper provided. "Yes, I saw all of that, too. I watched as you slaughtered entire villages during the full moon and felt your pain just as strongly as you did. I saw you devour countless innocent humans and lose control of your temper. I saw how being cursed truly pained you. I was there for all of it … every moment, Nikkie."

Jasper looked over at Kol. "I was with all of you. Every moment, of every day, for centuries…"

Klaus turned to Kol. "Don't tell me you believe him."

"I do," Kol nodded. "Look at him, Nik! He has your eyes! And … he looks like Henrik! How can you not see that?" Kol placed his hand on Klaus' arm. "I believe him, brother. As impossible as it is to believe, The Fates brought Henrik back to us…"

Klaus let go of Jasper and moved away from him. "I can't believe you'd be taken in by these blatant lies!"

"Why would he lie?" Kol asked. "What does he have to gain? If he knew anything about us, he'd know we'd kill him in an instant if we discovered he was deceiving us."

"How about we make this easier?" Jasper suggested, stepping forward. "You don't believe me. Fine. Look for yourself. See everything The Fates just unlocked."

Kol looked shocked. "You're willing to allow us into your mind?"

Jasper shrugged. "I have nothing to hide."

He closed the gap between him and his brothers, took their hands, and placed them on his temples.

Kol allowed himself to be plunged into Jasper's mind. Klaus, though, was still unsure.

"Look," Jasper urged him.

Klaus shook his head and tried to pull away from Jasper, but Jasper was just as strong as Klaus. "I will not be manipulated!"

"Nobody is manipulating you," Jasper said gently, placing his hand against Nik's on his temple. "Look for yourself and see that my death was never your fault. I never left you, Nikkie. I was always with you…"

Klaus attempted to step back, but Jasper followed. When it became clear he wasn't going to take the step, Jasper took it for him, pulling Klaus into his mind so he could see everything that had just been unlocked by The Fates.

୨୧

"Come on, Henrik, our brothers are fighting again!

୨୧

"MOTHER!"

"Is that Niklaus?" Rebekah asked. "Something's wrong!"

"MOTHER!" Klaus screamed, carrying the body of his little brother.

"Henrik!" Rebekah cried, racing out of the house.

"MOTHER!" Klaus called.

Esther followed behind her daughter. "Henrik?" She cried. "No. No! What happened?"

"The wolves! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!"

୨୧

"IT WAS YOUR FAULT!" Esther screamed. "You killed my baby!"

Klaus staggered away from his mother. He knew she was right. It was his fault. His baby brother was dead because of him. He would never forgive himself.

୨୧

"Hello there, little wolf!"

Thirteen-year-old Henrik spun around to face a man he'd never seen. "W-who are you?"

"My name is Ansel."

୨୧

"HENRIK!" Esther shouted. "You cannot run from me in here! This is The Other Side! A witch's domain!"

୨୧

"W-Why are you doing this…" Henrik whispered as his mother stood over him, staring down at him.

He didn't understand this. Why would his mother want to hurt him? Didn't she love him anymore?

Esther smirked at the fear in his eyes. "You will be my greatest asset, boy! One day, I will find a way out and you will help me right the wrongs I have committed!"

Henrik shook his head. "You want me to…"

Esther nodded. "Your brothers and sister are abominations of nature. They must be stopped and you're going to help me with that."

"Never!" Henrik shook his head. "Free me, Mother, and I'll help my brothers and sister kill you!"

୨୧

"I'm your father, Henrik," Ansel admitted. "You and Niklaus are my sons. You are my blood!"

Henrik stared back at the man he barely knew. "Blood means nothing. If we were so important to you, why did you never come for us? Why did you allow Mikael to hurt Nikkie?"

"Esther forbade me from seeing you. So, I waited, knowing that one day, you and Klaus would trigger your curses and you would need your real father."

"Did you know?" Henrik asked. "Did you know how Mikael treated Nikkie?"

"I … Your mother…"

"Did she use magic to keep you away?" Henrik asked, interrupting. "Or did she just tell you to stay away? Did she threaten you? Were you worried about Mikael?"

Henrik shook his head. "No. You knew what Mikael was doing, and you chose not to intervene until we became wolves. Well, look how that turned out for you. You and I are dead. Klaus is a vampire. And thanks to Esther, he'll never be a wolf. Good job, Father."

୨୧

"ESTHER!" Ansel yelled as he ran through The Other Side.

Henrik's screams pierced the air, forcing Ansel to run faster.

"ESTHER!" Ansel roared as he broke through the trees.

He didn't make it in time.

Esther was chanting a spell he didn't recognize. A circle of witches surrounded his son, their hands linked as Esther drew power from them.

Whatever she was doing, it felt wrong. Henrik screamed and begged her to stop. Still, Esther continued.

Unable to stand by and watch—as he had done when they'd been alive—Ansel darted forward and snapped Esther's neck. She dropped to the forest floor, along with every witch circling Henrik.

Once they were down, Ansel scooped up his son and took off into the forest. He would never allow his son to be hurt by that evil bitch again.

୨୧

Henrik screamed as Esther used her magic to slice through his flesh.

"You will obey me, son! I am your mother!"

୨୧

"Momma," Jasper sighed, tugging on his tie, "must I attend tonight's festivities? I'd rather spend my night in the barn with the horses."

Beatrice Whitlock smiled as she straightened her son's tie. "You might meet a nice girl…"

"I've met all the females in town. Twice. None of them interest me."

"You are the only Whitlock son not courting…"

"Marriage isn't everything. Besides, I've seen the girls my brothers are courting. I would rather spend my time with my horses."

Beatrice smiled.

"I wish to fall in love," he admitted. "To find passion in my future bride. I don't just want a wife, I want…"

"Love," Beatrice finished.

୨୧

"Ma'am…"

She was the most beautiful angel he'd ever seen. When she turned toward him, her big brown eyes met his and he knew nothing would ever be the same again. His heart beat a little faster. His palms were sweaty with anticipation.

"Would you honor me with a dance?"

A pink blush graced her cheeks. "I would love to," she said, placing her small hand in his.

She allowed him to lead her toward the dance floor. His arm wrapped around her tiny waist and he pulled her into him.

"I'm afraid I may not be very good…"

୨୧

"I'm a witch, Jasper," Belle said softly, not meeting his eyes.

He wasn't sure what to say. Never had he encountered anyone claiming to be such a thing. He didn't even know magic existed until she spoke those words.

"Nora and I ran from our coven. The Gemini. When Gemini twins turn twenty-two, we have a tradition called The Merge. It determines who will lead our coven. Only one survives."

Jasper frowned. "And you and Nora…"

"When we turn twenty-two, our coven expected us to merge. One of us would essentially kill the other and absorb their power. The surviving twin would then lead the coven until the next set of twins was born and turned twenty-two."

"And you ran to protect each other?"

"Sort of," she nodded. "Nora is what's known as a siphoner. She was born without magic of her own. She absorbs magic from other things. Dark objects. Vampires. Other witches. I made her a necklace so that she'd always have access to magic. When she runs out, I recharge her necklace."

"What would've happened if you'd merged?"

"It would never have come to that," she shook her head. "Our coven sees siphoners as abominations. They wanted to kill Nora to prevent The Merge."

"So you ran…"

"Yes." She nodded. "Along the way, we met Katherine, and she introduced us to Malcolm, Oscar, Beau, and Valerie. They were once siphoners like Nora, but Katherine turned them into vampires and somehow, they became hybrids."

"But you…"

"I'm a regular witch," she finished.

୨୧

"Jasper," Belle took his hand in hers, "I'd like you to meet my sister, Nora. Our cousin Charlotte. And our friend Katherine Pierce."

Jasper tipped his head. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is ours, Mr. Whitlock," Katherine smiled.

୨୧

"Why are you asking me?"

"You and Isabelle are family," Jasper smiled as he and Nora walked through the Whitlock gardens. "She adores you, and I know you feel the same. It is only right that I ask your permission for her hand in marriage. I do not wish to come between you—"

"I know how much my sister loves you, Jasper," Nora interrupted. "I've never seen her look at anyone the way she looks at you. Of course, you have my blessing." She turned to look up at him, her eyes narrowing as her fingers glowed red. "But if you ever hurt her, I'll bury you so deep in the earth, not even the worms will find your rotting corps."

୨୧

"What if she says no?"

Charlotte rolled her pretty blue eyes. "She won't say no, Jay. My cousin is crazy about you!"

She watched him fidget as he adjusted his shirt sleeve again.

"Are you nervous because of what she is…"

He looked up at her, his eyes wide. "No. Never." He shook his head. "Magic is part of who she is, and I love every part of her."

"If the Gemini finds us..."

"Then I'll either fight at her side or run with her," he assured the redhead. "She's my everything. I won't let anything or anyone hurt her."

Charlotte smiled, satisfied with his answer. "Good." She darted over and fixed his cuff for him. "She loves you too, Jay."

୨୧

"I love you, my beautiful wife," Jasper whispered as he and Belle slowly danced. "Always and forever."

୨୧

Isabelle's laughter filled the quiet street. "It's snowing!" She marveled.

With a bright smile on his face, Jasper pulled his wife into him. "It's the most wonderful time of the year, my Belle!"

"Can we have a tree?" She asked. "Last week, I was invited to the Banks Estate for tea with Mrs. Banks. They had seven Christmas trees!"

Jasper laughed. "We can have as many as you want, Darlin'."

"Our home is not big enough for seven trees! Where will we sit?"

Jasper pulled her closer and pressed a kiss to her lips. "We don't need to sit," he whispered in her ear, "all we need is a bed where I can make love to you…"

She laughed and swatted his chest. "Jasper!"

He pulled her back to him, pressing her body flush against his, and claimed her lips. Her arms wrapped around him, holding him closer to her.

"Take me home, Cowboy," she whispered as he nuzzled her throat.

୨୧

"Promise," Isabella insisted, holding onto her husband as if her life depended on it. "Promise me you'll come home…"

"I promise you, my Belle. I will never leave you."

She shook her head. "You don't know the things I've seen. The death. The bloodshed."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Your visions have been wrong before, Darlin'."

"And if I'm right?" She countered stubbornly.

He smiled. "There is no force on this earth great enough to keep me from you, my Belle. You are my heart. My soul. No matter how much time passes, my love for you will never fade…"

Again, she shook her head. "It's too soon. It's not fair. We've only just found one another…"

Gently, he pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest. "I know, my love. I know. We have tonight, my Belle," he whispered in her ear. "Let me remind you how much I love you…"

With a smile, she tilted her head up and moaned as his lips met hers in a heated, passionate kiss.

୨୧

"I want to go back!" Jasper snarled. "I need to go back to her!"

"It isn't safe," Peter spoke calmly. "Think about this rationally, Jasper. What if you lose control and kill her? You're still new. You don't have the control—"

Another snarl ripped through Jasper's chest. "Do not speak to me as if I'm a child, Peter! I am a grown man! My wife is waiting for my return…"

"And when you do not return from the war, she will bury you, like all the other wives waiting for their husbands to return."

In a fit of absolute rage, Jasper drew back his arm and punched his brother. Peter staggered back. His nose was broken.

"I didn't ask for this!" Jasper roared.

"You were dying!" Peter growled as blood poured from his nose. "What should I have done?"

"Let me!" Jasper hissed. "You should have let me die. I would rather be dead than live with this pain in my chest for all eternity!"

"It will fade, brother. In time, you will forget."

Jasper glared at his brother. "No, brother," he spat. "I will never forget my Belle!"

୨୧

"Leave me alone, Peter."

"I can't do that, brother. You're new. You shouldn't be on your own. It's not safe."

Jasper scoffed. "It took you two years to find me. I think I can manage on my own, thanks."

"You're still upset, I see…"

Jasper whirled around to face Peter. "And how should I feel?" He asked. "You killed me! Took me away from my wife. My home. Our family. Our mother has already lost one son and now her youngest has gone missing in action. I don't know why you did this to me, Peter, but I know it was not for me."

"You were dying!"

"Funny thing about vampires; we have healing blood! Did that just slip your mind?" Jasper asked. "You could have given me your blood, healed my injuries, compelled me to forget you, and gone on your way. Instead, you choose to snap my neck and curse me to a fate worse than death!"

"I think you're being a bit dramatic, brother…"

"You tore me away from my wife!" Jasper roared.

"In time, you'll forget…"

"I will never forget her!" Jasper snarled. "But answer me this, brother, why can't I get back to her? I've tried. A million times I've tried to go back to her and…" he shook his head, "I can't get close to Houston. Something always blocks my path!"

Peter shook his head. "I—I don't know," he answered quickly. "She's a witch. Maybe she did a spell…"

Jasper glared at Peter, sensing the lie in his emotions. "What did you do, Peter?"

"Nothing," Peter stated. "I didn't do anything. I'm sorry you're upset you can't get back to Houston, but it's for the best. Your wife is human. Eventually, she'll die and you'll forget all about her. In time, you'll see I saved you…"

"Let's hope you're right, Peter," Jasper stated, his voice void of all emotions. "But until that day comes, I want nothing to do with you…"

୨୧

Jasper raced through the night. The words of the old witch echoing in his mind.

"You have a daughter, vampire. She's in grave danger. You must return to your hometown if you wish to save her from the fiery fate that awaits."

୨୧

"She's dying!" Beatrice wailed. "Son, she's dying!"

He raced over and lifted Alice into his arms. Her legs and hands were burnt. Her clothes were torn. There were bruises and scratches all over her.

"My angel…"

He tore his eyes from his daughter to look over at his mother.

"You came back," she whispered.

"I'm not an angel, momma…"

Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Angel. Vampire. You're still my boy."

୨୧

"You have forty-eight hours, Major," Maria warned. "If you have not returned to camp by then, everyone in that house will die. You are my greatest asset. I will not lose you now!"

୨୧

"I have to go, momma. If I don't," he sighed and shook his head. "I will not allow you or Alice to be harmed. I have no choice. Maria is dangerous. If she finds out about Alice and what she's capable of…"

Beatrice nodded. "I understand, son. But one day…"

Jasper nodded his head. "One day I'll kill her."

୨୧

"Me or her, brother!" Peter yelled. "Choose."

୨୧

"Daddy! Daddy! You come home!"

"Hello, Princess!" Jasper smiled happily as she jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. "Did you miss me?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded, placing kisses on his cheeks. "I knew you was comin'. I told Meemaw, and she made pie."

Jasper laughed. "Did you see anything else?"

She nodded. "I saw the bad lady and she won't hurt Daddy ever, ever, ever again."

Jasper paused on his way up the porch steps as a sense of fear gripped him. He never wanted her to see such things. "Did you see what happened to the bad lady?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded. "I told Meemaw, and she said it was okay because that was a bad, bad, evil lady. But I shouldn't copy Daddy. If any bad people come, I have to let Meemaw and Aunt Betsy take care of it."

୨୧

"That is the worst plan I've ever heard!"

"Let me make sure I understand, son," Beatrice frowned. "Your plan to make sure Alice is safe is to have a witch glamour both of you to look like cold ones and join this Cullen coven Alice has been seeing?"

Jasper nodded. "That about sums it up."

"But why?" Betsy demanded. "They're cold ones!"

Jasper sighed. "My enemies are everywhere. If they attack … I won't risk either of you being hurt. And," he ran a hand through his hair, "Alice has been having visions of this coven for months now. She's got it into her head that we need to be with them. She keeps telling me the only way we'll find our happiness is with this coven. I don't like the idea of trusting cold ones any more than you do, but she's having these visions for a reason. We can't ignore that. And, honestly … it doesn't sound that bad. It might be nice to disappear and live in peace after everything we've all been through…"

"Fine," Betsy huffed. "Don't ignore her visions. But I'm coming with you."

"No."

"Me, too," Beatrice smiled. "We're a family."

"No," Jasper repeated. He turned to look at Betsy. "You put your life on hold for me and Alice. I will be eternally grateful for what you've done for us … for my daughter. Now it's time for you to find your own happiness. Live your life. I know how much you want to travel the world and go to school. I want you to do that." He turned to his mother. "I want that for you too, momma. You became a vampire to live your life and now it's time to do that. I love you both and I am so incredibly thankful that you were here for Alice when I couldn't be. Now, let me do this for you. Go and live your lives. Explore the world. Have adventures."

"But—"

"We're still a family," Jasper said, sensing his mother's sadness. "We'll write and visit. But you can't deny this is what you both want. I can feel it. I don't want either of you to have any regrets in this life."

୨୧

When the memories began to fade, Kol and Klaus pulled away from Jasper.

They'd seen everything. From the moment of his death in the tenth century, to the moment The Fates unlocked his memories. Nothing was hidden from them. They experienced his time on The Other Side with Esther and Ansel. They watched as their mother hunted him and tortured him, though her reasons were unclear. Henrik didn't even know why she was hellbent on causing him so much pain and misery. Once Henrik let him in, Ansel helped him run. He faced Esther's wrath on more than one occasion so his son could get away. Neither of them understood Esther's hatred.

Klaus and Kol saw Henrik's rebirth, and how he became Jasper Whitlock. They saw his human life in Houston and how he grew up surrounded by brothers and a family who truly loved him. Beatrice Whitlock seemed like a wonderful mother and Kol found himself wishing he could know her. It might've been nice to have a mother who loved him…

The brothers watched as Jasper fell in love with Isabelle and then mourned her when Peter turned him into a vampire. He tried—again and again—to get back to his Belle, but an invisible barrier continued to stop him. Someone had put a barrier spell around the town where Isabelle lived, making it impossible for Jasper to get back to her. Kol hoped—for his sake—Peter hadn't hired a witch to ensure Jasper couldn't return to Isabelle.

They watched as their baby brother's heart broke when he found his daughter on the pyre.

Horrified, they witnessed every moment of his time in the South. The torture … bloodshed … pain … misery … despair. They witnessed every battle and all the deaths at his hands. They watched him tear apart villages and bathe in the blood of his victims. He was just as violent, just as brutal, just as savage and monstrous as his siblings.

He even showed them his time with the Cullen family. They got to know a little more about the bastard who broke their mate's heart. It seemed Jasper didn't like Edward any more than Kol and Klaus.

"You…" Klaus blinked as he processed everything he'd just seen. "You knew Katherine…"

That wasn't what Jasper had been expecting. "Uh, yeah," he nodded. "You know Katherine?"

"We knew her as Katerina Petrova," Kol answered. "She's a Petrova doppelgänger who was supposed to be the key to breaking Nik's curse. But when she found out about it, she ran and turned herself into a vampire."

Realization filled his eyes. "That's right. I remember watching that idiot Trevor help her escape…"

Nik growled. "And his companion…"

"Rose-Marie aided him because she was loyal to him," Jasper explained. "She planned and tried to return Katerina to you, but she had to wait until nightfall. By then Katerina had killed herself and dammed them all…"

"Do you know where Katerina is now?" Nik asked.

Jasper shook his head. "Last time I saw her was in 1863, before I went to war."

"Do you think Isabella knows—"

Nik didn't get the chance to finish his sentence as the four vampires heard an explosion echo through the forest.

"What the bloody hell?"

The sound came from the direction of the Swan home. The three Mikaelson brothers took off at vampire speed toward their mate.

"WHERE. IS. HE!?" Isabella screamed.

A pulse of magic rippled through the air, shattering every window in the house, and then billowed out further, shattering every window in the neighborhood.

"Fuck. She's a bit more powerful than she used to be," Jasper murmured.

Kol smirked. "Just a bit!"

The house was a mess. The living room sustained most of the damage, except for the windows throughout. Alice was sitting on the sofa, which was the only piece of furniture undamaged. There was a tiny blonde sausage dog curled up on her lap. Two older women sat on either side of the little hybrid. All three were unharmed by the blast. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for everyone else in the room. An armchair was on fire. Charlie's recliner was blown to bits. The blast ripped the television from the wall and crushed it. There was a large hole in the far wall where someone had been thrown right through it.

It looked like a bomb had gone off.

Nik reached Bella first. "Who are you looking for, love?" His eyes darted over her body, checking for injuries. There were none.

"Jasper's right here, Angel," Kol smiled, stepping aside to reveal Jasper's presence.

Her eyes shifted to Jasper and, for a moment, softened. Her small shoulders sagged, and she took a deep breath.

"Took ya long enough, Cowboy…"

Jasper smirked. "My apologies, ma'am. I had some slight memory loss…"

She smiled. "Yeah. Tell me about it…"

He was about to speak when Peter entered the home. "What the fuckin' hell happened here?" His eyes landed on Bella, who was finally awake. "Oh! Hey Bella! You're up. Have a good spirit journey?"

"It was very enlightening," she smiled sweetly. "In fact, I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Isabella Swan. Formerly known as Isabelle Whitlock. Jasper's wife. Mother to Mary-Alice Jasmine Whitlock. The child you're so hellbent on killing. The one you called an ABOMINATION!"

Peter's eyes widened in shock. "Daughter?" He looked over at Jasper. "Daughter? So, not your mate, then?" His eyes shifted back to Bella. "And sh-she's your … your daughter?"

The sweet smile never faded from her lips. "Yes. And Jasper is my husband. My soulmate. And you! YOU TOOK HIM FROM ME!"

"I-I-I healed him!" Peter was creeping away from Bella, fear in his eyes. "I saved his life."

"And I suppose it never crossed your mind to give him your blood and then send him home to his wife and daughter!?"

"He was too far gone by that point. If I didn't turn him, he would've died! Permanently."

"Hardly," Jasper huffed. "I was shot in the shoulder. I wasn't on death's door."

Peter hissed. "You're not helping!"

"Sorry, Pete." Jasper moved to stand beside his Belle. "I'm on her side."

Bella looked between Jasper and Peter. "Does he know what else you did?"

Peter's eyes widened.

Jasper tensed. "What else did you do, Peter?"

Peter growled softly and then sighed. "I-I knew you'd married a witch. I knew she was a member of the Gemini coven. I was trying to protect you from her!"

Snarling, Jasper flew across the room and pinned Peter to the far wall. His hand wrapped around Peter's throat. "WHAT DID YOU DO!?" He roared.

Kol leaned closer to Klaus. "His temper rivals yours, Nikkie."

Klaus growled. "Stop calling me that!"

Kol grinned. "Never."

"TELL ME!" Jasper roared.

When it didn't seem like Peter was going to provide answers, Bella sighed. "He had a witch cloak you so that when you went missing in action, I wouldn't be able to find you. The spell was powerful. Too powerful for Isabelle to break without help…"

Peter was shaking his head. "I did it for you, Jasper! You married a Gemini witch! I knew she was on the run and how her coven felt about vampires. If you got caught up in that, you'd get yourself killed! I couldn't bear the thought of that. I was only trying to protect you! I figured if she found out what you'd become, she'd either reject you or kill you! I just wanted you to be safe, little brother!"

Jasper released Peter and stepped away from him. "I can understand you thought what you were doing was right before I woke up in transition. I can even understand why you had me cloaked. But in the months that followed, I told you all about my Belle. I told you how much I love her. I told you she was a witch and knew of vampires and you still kept me from her!" He shook his head. "Not just her. You kept me away from my daughter! My CHILD!" He roared. "I could have been there. I could've saved my wife when she sacrificed her life to save Alice. I could've protected them…"

Bella's eyes shifted between Jasper and Peter. Something was niggling at her. The back of her skull itched. She looked back at Jasper. Something wasn't right. "What else did you do, Peter?"

"Nothing!"

Jasper turned to face his mate. "Belle?"

She frowned. "There's something else…" She moved closer to him and brushed her fingers gently against his temples.

"What do you see, dear?" Marie asked.

"I can see the cloaking spell. It's very light gray and shrouded around him. Actually," she chuckled softly, "it sort of reminds me of Harry Potter's invisibility cloak…"

Alice gasped. "I like Harry Potter, too, momma!"

Bella looked over at the small girl and smiled softly.

"What else do you see, Bambi?"

She looked back at Jasper, letting her eyes relax as she looked him over. "There's darkness clouding his mind. It's not black magic, but it shouldn't be there…"

Jasper and Bella turned to Peter.

Peter sighed, defeated. "A small memory spell," he admitted. "The witch who did it said it wouldn't change your bond or the love you had for your wife, but it would make you more…"

Jasper growled. "More what?"

Peter sighed and closed his eyes, already knowing it would be bad. "Suggestible."

The roar that reverberated through Jasper was followed by an explosion that threw Peter out of the house and into the backyard.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Bella snarled. She turned away from her mates and went after Peter, her hands glowing a deep purple. She could feel her magic surge within her, humming in anticipation.

"YOU TOOK HIM FROM ME!" she screamed.

Peter could feel the magic rolling off Bella as she stalked toward him like a fierce, pissed-off lioness. The air was becoming uncomfortably hot. Sweat dripped from his temples.

Overcome with rage, Bella lashed out, pinning Peter on the grass where he'd landed. She swept her hand across the air and, with the motion, a deep gash ripped open his chest.

"YOU CLOAKED HIM SO I COULDN'T FIND HIM!"

With another wave of her arm, more deep gashes opened on his chest.

"And then you fucked with his mind so that he couldn't come home to me! All because you TOLD HIM TO!"

Peter healed with relative ease, which only seemed to piss Bella off more. With a scream that pierced the quiet air, she telekinetically cut through his chest and back.

His blood dripped onto the grass, staining it red as he cried out.

Bella hadn't realized how much anger she'd been holding onto. As Peter screamed, Bella screamed. A wave of magic burst from her fingertips, sending Peter flying across the lawn. Another scream pierced the air as she tore through his flesh. She heard his bones breaking as he began to cough and sputter. He was covered in gashes, cuts, and bruises. His left arm hung limp at his side. There was a fracture along his skull. His blood pooled around him, staining the grass red.

"HOW DARE YOU!" She screamed, unleashing another wave. "Do you have any idea what it feels like to lose your soulmate?"

"Y-Yes…" Peter breathed. He wasn't even trying to fight back. He knew he deserved it.

She paused in her attack, her eyes narrowed. "Then why?" She demanded. "Why cause him that pain?"

Peter shifted so that he was sitting on the grass. He could barely keep himself upright, but his body was healing. Slowly.

"Because," he coughed. He could taste blood. She'd done some internal damage, too.

"ANSWER ME!"

"Because I was afraid," he admitted. "I was afraid of being alone."

Now that it was safe, Jasper joined Bella as Klaus and Kol lingered in the doorway.

"My soulmate … my Charlotte … was killed a few weeks before I found Jasper…" He looked up at Bella. "That's why I hate Damon and Stefan. They're the reason she's dead. When I found Jasper on the battlefield…" he coughed again, spitting up more blood. "I just wanted to protect him. It never crossed my mind that his human wife would be his soulmate. I just thought she was a witch from that awful coven…"

"How do you know about the Gemini coven?"

"My mate was part of the Gemini coven. She ran from them because she was different…"

"She was a siphoner," Bella whispered. "What was her name?"

"Charlotte," he smiled softly. "Charlotte Hildegard. She was my mate … and I lost her. So yes, Bella, I know what it feels like. I just didn't know my baby brother felt the same pain when I kept him from you. I'm so sorry, Jasper. I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I'm so sorry…"

"Charlotte Hildegard?" Bella question.

Peter nodded.

"Auburn hair?" Bella asked. "Big blue eyes? About my height? British accent?"

Peter nodded. "You knew her?"

"Charlotte Hildegard was my cousin. A few years older. Katherine found her before Nora and I fled England." Bella explained. "When we lived in Texas, Jasper and I became very close with her. Did Charlotte become a vampire, Peter?"

He nodded. "I turned her myself."

"So then," Bella's eyes narrowed, "you already knew about siphon-vampire hybrids when you called my daughter an abomination…"

Peter sighed and bowed his head. "The moment I said that word, I regretted it. But in my defense, I truly believed she was using and manipulating my brother. I know the kind of man he is. He's honorable, a real Southern gentleman. If he believed a lady needed help, he wouldn't hesitate. I figured either she was using him as a bodyguard against the Gemini coven—in which case he'd likely get himself killed—or she was working with Maria. It never crossed my mind that she could be his child."

Bella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The absolute, uncontrollable rage she'd felt was slowly dissipating. From what she could tell, Peter hadn't lied to her. Jasper would've said something if he sensed Peter was lying. She could understand and empathize with Peter for acting the way he had. She knew what it felt like to lose someone you love. But just because she understood, didn't mean she was ready to forgive.

Jasper was a grown man when Peter turned him. Peter had no right to use magic to keep him from his family or manipulate his mind. Life could've been so much different had Jasper come home to her. There was no guarantee it would be better. They'd never know now.

"I get it," she said finally. "You were mourning for your mate, scared and lonely. And then you found your baby brother and thought you'd never be alone again."

Peter nodded.

"I get it," she repeated. "But you took away his choice and manipulated his mind. My daughter was almost burnt at the stake because you kept him from his family. I know you were doing what you thought was best for him, but that wasn't your decision to make."

"Bella—" Peter whispered, his voice tinged with regret and sadness.

"Tomorrow night is the full moon," she continued without pause. "You can stay in the house, but you will stay away from me and you will not go anywhere near my daughter. And so help me, if anything ever happens to her because of you, I'll kill you myself."

Without another word, Bella turned on her heels and went back into the house.

"Momma! Momma!" Alice smiled brightly. "I'm so happy you're home!"

Bella smiled and sat down beside Alice, who immediately curled into her mother's side, laying her head on Bella's shoulder.

"I am, too," Bella whispered. She kissed the top of Alice's head and wrapped her arms around the small girl, wondering what life would throw at them next.