"Can you hear my thoughts, little one?" Jasper wondered.

It wasn't the first time she'd answered a thought or replied to something he hadn't said.

Pete's eyes widened as he looked down at the tiny girl in his brother's arms.

"Uh-huh," she nodded. "I can hear all the thoughts. All the time. But Daddy is teaching me how to block them. Mommy says I shouldn't show my magic to people because they'd be afraid and then they wouldn't play with me."

Well. That's certainly new.

These days, it was exceedingly rare for anyone—no matter how powerful—to breech his shield without causing themselves unbearable pain. And yet, here she was, this tiny four-year-old capable of hearing his every thought.

Edward—a vampire over a century old—can't get through Jasper's protective shield. Aro, a much more powerful telepath than Edward, refuses to touch Jasper and read his mind unless it's essential. Even then, Aro has always been hesitant because of the pain Jasper's shield causes. He's met others, too. Telepathy is a common gift among vampires and witches. None of them have been able to get inside his head since he learned to use his gift to shield himself.

And yet, this tiny, beautiful four-year-old girl can access his mind.

How?

Why is she so different?

Better question, is it the mate bond, having already manifested, or is she just that powerful?

"Does the bad lady know about magic?" Peter wondered.

She stared at him for a minute and then leaned closer to whisper. "I think they all do."

"All?" Jasper worried. "There was more than one bad lady?"

"No," she shook her head. "Three bad ladies and a bad man. One of the bad ladies was magic. When she got real mad, she started to shake and then she turned into a humongous wolf as big as a horse!"

"Sounds like a shapeshifter…" Pete mused.

"Uh-huh," Bella nodded. "That's what Daddy said."

"Did your Daddy make the bad lady go away?" Jasper asked.

"Uh-huh. I don't know what he did, but the bad lady was very angry about it. She said lots of bad words…"

"What about the other bad ladies and the bad man, Poppet?" Peter asked. "Were they shapeshifters, too?"

"Nope," she shook her head. "They were vampires."

"Do you know what their names were?"

"Daddy called the wolf-lady Tala."

A low growl rumbled through Jasper.

Tala. Spirit Wolf turned supernatural assassin. She was once a member of the Quileute Tribe. The only daughter of Taha Aki, the first shapeshifter of their tribe. From what Jasper knows, Tala was the only one of Taha Aki's children to shift. And when she did, the pack shunned her. She's never forgiven them and hasn't returned to Washington State since. She's been on the Volturi's radar, and Jaspers, almost as long. He had a run-in with her while he was still with Maria.

"What the fu—"

Jasper growled. "Language."

Peter sighed. "Do you know any sane females? Tala is a fu—" he sighed, "—she's nuttier than a fricken fruit cake! What would she want with Bella? Wait a minute…"

His next words were louder, so Isabella could hear him. "Who were the other bad people, Poppet?"

Bella shifted in Jasper's arms, curling deeper into his chest. "I dunno the man's name. He was really scary. He was with a lady with bright red hair, like a fire engine!"

"Was there another bad lady?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded. "She was really scary, too."

"What was her name, Poppet?"

At their feet, Atticus growled, baring his sharp teeth. Jasper could feel his own growl beginning to vibrate through his chest as Isabella's fear soared.

"Maria."

Jasper froze. Everything in him went cold as he looked back at his mate. Images of Maria flowed through his mind as he imagined what she could want with Isabella.

"Uh-huh. That's her," she nodded, touching his temple. "The bad man came when Mommy and I went to Florida to see Mini Mouse. I was playing with Atticus at the park when he found me. He put something stinky over my mouth and nose and I must've fallen asleep because when I woke up, I didn't know where I was."

"Chloroform," Pete wondered. "Did he put you in a car, Poppet?"

"Uh-huh. In the trunk. I didn't like it in there. It was dark and scary. I didn't know where we was goin', but it was far away from Mommy and Daddy and I knew they'd be worried. I tried to tell him, but he wouldn't listen. He said Mommy and Daddy didn't want me anymore."

Big tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

"What happened next, Darlin'?" Jasper asked, holding onto her a little tighter.

"When he took me out of the trunk, I tried to run away, but he was too fast. That's when I met Maria. She said I was special and would help her and her family change the world."

Jasper looked at Peter and then back at Bella. "Did she tell you anything else?"

"Uh-huh. She told me Mommy and Daddy didn't love me but that was okay cuz her Daddy would love me forever. She said I was his mate and would be with him forever and ever and make him very happy. But I had to do as I was told and be a good girl. Then she put me in the bedroom and locked the door. There was lots of toys for me to play with, and new crayons, and a big girl bed like Mommy and Daddy's, but I didn't like it there…"

Atticus gave a loud bark.

She nodded. "Uh-huh. They were scary, and I wanted to go home to Mommy and Atticus. I tried to tell them, but Maria said I had to stay or her Daddy would be upset and then he would hurt me…"

Another growl came from Jasper.

"Did you meet Maria's Daddy, Poppet?"

She shook her head. "Nope. Maria was showing me the garden and all the pretty flowers when Mommy and Daddy found me. I was so excited to see them! I ran toward Mommy but when I tried to get to her, the bad man grabbed me before Daddy could!"

"He was a real mean man. I didn't like him. Mommy was scared and crying. Daddy tried to attack him, but the lady with the red hair threw him into the trees and he banged his head on a rock and didn't get up again. Mommy was really scared and Atticus was barking. When he attacked, the bad man kicked Atticus into the street and then…" She trailed off, frowning.

"And then?" Jasper asked.

"I dunno. Mommy said I used my magic on him." She frowned. "But I dunno what I did or how I did it. It didn't feel good. The bad man was screaming and the lady with the red hair was trying to attack us, but she couldn't get close to me. I dunno why. When the bad man collapsed and dropped me, Mommy grabbed me and we ran to Daddy to make sure he was okay."

"What happened to Maria?"

"I dunno," she shrugged. "She ran away, I think."

Jasper breathed a sigh of relief. As far as he could tell, Maria, realizing she was outnumbered, ran. He could understand why Maria would want Bella. She's always wanted someone with the type of power Bella had. Who she was working for and with, however, was a mystery. For as long as he's known her, Maria has never left her territory in Mexico. Her sire died centuries ago, and after the death of her sisters—at her own hand—she didn't allow anyone close to her. So, who was this 'Daddy' she spoke of?

This seemed like the perfect place to change the topic to something lighter. So, Jasper asked. "Are you looking forward to Christmas?"

Her big eyes lit up. "Uh-huh! I love Christmas! Mommy promised I could get a kitty all of my own! Queenie from next door had her kittens last week and her Mommy said, when they get big and strong, I could keep one!"

Her excitement was off the charts, and Jasper soaked it up.

"That's awesome, little one. What are you going to name your new kitten?"

She frowned for a moment, thinking about her answer. "Maxwell Gene Swan."

"Gene?" Peter cocked an eyebrow in question.

"Uh-huh." She nodded. "For Gene Kelly and Gene Wilder."

"Friends of yours?"

She giggled. "No silly. They're actors. Gene Kelly is in Singing in the Rain and Gene Wilder is Willy!"

The two vampires looked at each other, unsure what the heck she was talking about. Peter could barely hold in his laughter.

"Uh," Jasper cleared his throat, "would you care to explain, Darlin'?"

"Willy," she repeated, exasperated with them. "Willy Wonka. He has Oompa Loompas!"

"What the hell is an Oompa Loompa?" Peter asked, eyes wide.

"More importantly, how do you kill one?" Jasper asked, a growl in his voice.

Bella frowned. "They come from Loompaland! And you don't kill them. They make the chocolate in Willy's factory. They love cocoa beans; that's their favourite food. Willy saved them from the Whangdoodles, the Hornswogglers, and the Snozzwangers because they were trying to eat the Oompa Loompas!"

The two vampires looked at each other, then back at the small child, who was frowning at them. "Don't you watch movies and read books?" She asked, looking a little put out.

"Oh!" Peter laughed. "It's a movie."

"And a book," she added. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. He wrote lots of good stories. Mommy's been reading them to me at bedtime." She looked over at Jasper. "You should read them, too. They're very good."

Jasper smiled. "Which one is your favourite, Darlin'?"

"Matilda," she answered right away. "Because she's magic like me!"

By the time they reached the edge of Central Park, snow was covering the roads. Jasper figured it was almost time for Bella's lunch. He could hear her little belly grumbling as her energy began to wane.

Before he could worry too much, her head shot up, and she pointed to a beautiful brunette woman frantically searching the playground.

"Mommy!" Bella called. "Mommy!"

The woman spun around; a look of sheer relief filled her blue eyes. When she caught sight of the two men with her daughter, her relief quickly turned to cold fear and terror.

"Isabella!" She called, racing towards the group. Her emotions bounced off Jasper. Worry. Fear. Relief. Anger. Unease. Joy. Happiness.

Before the woman could get too close, another woman appeared at her side. She was tiny. In her late fifties or sixties. With white-blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

Her emotions were strangely calm. Serene almost. But there was a fierce edge to them. She was protective, incredibly so.

Her hand shot out, grasping the brunette's arm, stopping her from approaching the two men as she tugged her closer.

"Mom?"

"They're vampires, Renee," she said, her voice calm, but there was a protective edge to it.

The brunette, Renee, looked back at the two men. Her dark eyes were wide in alarm. Understanding flashed through her. "Oh. No. No. Please. Please, don't hurt my baby. Please." Tears welled up in her eyes. "Please. She's just a little girl. Please…"

The pain she felt was horrendous. It made Jasper's heart ache.

"Mommy…" Bella called again, looking back at Jasper expectantly.

He lowered himself into a crouch and set Isabella on her feet. "Be careful, Darlin'."

As soon as she was on her feet, she ran to her mother, dragging Atticus along with her. The cat scrambled out of Peter's arms and chased after Bella and Atticus.

The two women were stunned. Jasper felt their surprise when he willingly let Isabella go back to them.

Bella leaped into her mother's open arms and she pulled the small child into her tight embrace.

"Momma! I can't find Teddy!"

"Oh, my little Ladybug," Renee sighed, "you mustn't go running after dragons. You could have been hurt."

Bella shook her head. "Teddy wouldn't hurt me, Mommy. Daddy said he's a good dragon. And Daddy is never wrong."

"I know he's a good dragon, Ladybug. But we talked about this, remember? You can't run off by yourself. You scared me."

As soon as the child registered the words her mother spoke, Jasper felt her panic and fear skyrocket. Tears welled up in her big, dark eyes and her little lip trembled. "I'm sorry, Mommy. Don't be scared." She launched herself into her mother's waiting arms.

"Shh. It's all right, my little love." The woman breathed, gripping her daughter tightly. "You're safe. That's all that matters."

The love Jasper felt coming from her mother was pure and enormous. This little girl meant the world to her. Their bond ran deeper than he could've ever imagined.

The woman looked back at the two vampires, her appreciation and happiness swirling through her. "Thank you." She smiled. "Thank you so much for bringing her back to me."

Jasper nodded his head. "You're welcome, Ma'am."

Slowly, cautiously, the female stood to her full height, her eyes locked on Jasper's.

Beside her, the second female was tense.

Before any of them could say or do anything, the air shimmered around them. Something vibrated through Jasper and, as quickly as it started, the air settled. Nothing seemed altered, except the humans no longer noticed their presence. As they walked past, they didn't even look at the small group. In fact, from what he could tell, it seemed the humans were looking right through them.

"What the fu—"

"Language," Jasper growled, turning his attention to the woman who stood just behind Bella's mother. "You're a witch as well…"

"Oh, fu—" Peter shook his head and sighed. "—fudge me…" He corrected.

The older woman smiled. "It runs in the family…"

Her eyes shifted back to her granddaughter. Jasper's eyes followed her gaze. Bella stood beside Atticus. It looked like she was having a conversation with the nearby bushes.

Odd little thing. Perhaps she's found her dragon friends.

"Thank you for returning my granddaughter, vampire," the witch said, her voice steel hard. "Not many of your kind would go to the trouble…"

Jasper smiled, his eyes lingering on Bella. "She's special…"

The woman nodded, a knowing look in her eyes. "You've mated with her…"

As the information registered in her mind, Renee stiffened. "No." She shook her head. "No. She's just a little girl. I won't let you take her from me!"

The older woman shifted closer to her daughter, her eyes shifted between the two vampires. She didn't speak. But she didn't need to. It was clear to Jasper she'd protect Bella with her life.

He held up his hands in surrender. He wouldn't submit, but there was no need to fight, either. "We wouldn't dream of taking her from you, Ma'am," he told Renee. "For now, her place is with you and your family."

Her eyes shifted to her daughter and then back to Jasper, relieved, but still cautious. "You'd be willing to leave her?"

"For now," he stated. "This is where she belongs. Our world isn't safe for one so young and innocent. My enemies are vast and should they find out about her, they will not hesitate to attack. I won't be able to protect her while she's so little. My enemies could hurt or scare her, and I couldn't bear it if…"

He shook those thoughts away.

"Isabella is safer with you and your family," Jasper told them. "She's just a little girl. She deserves to be a child." He smiled, looking back at her as she giggled at something the bush had said. "To be free and innocent. Without my influence."

Jasper had no intention or desire to remain by Bella's side as she grew up. She needed this time to learn and explore the world without his presence looming over her. When she was ready, Jasper believed they'd find their way back to each other. No matter how long that takes.

"But," Peter added, "we've been told she's gained some unwanted attention … two women named Tala and Maria…"

Renee sighed. "She told you about that…"

Jasper nodded. "I've had dealings with both women in the past. I'll do what I can to ensure they never bother you again."

In the back of his head, The Major huffed. A very formal way of sayin' we're gonna rip the bitches apart for causing our mate and her family so much stress and fear…

"If you run into any more trouble, please call." Peter handed the older woman his business card. "We can help…"

"And keep our distance," Jasper assured them. "Now I know about her, and our bond, her safety is my priority. If you need help, call. I won't interfere in her life…"

"But we will ensure Isabella's and your family's safety," Peter finished.

Renee looked back at her daughter. She smiled lovingly. The anger and fear she'd felt ebbed, being replaced with hope, relief, and happiness. "Thank you," she nodded her head.

She took Isabella's little hand in hers, gently pulling her away from the bush where she was giggling happily. "C'mon, Ladybug. It's time for us to go. Are you hungry?"

"Uh-huh," Bella nodded. "Is Nan coming, too?" She asked, looking up at the woman standing beside her.

The witch smiled happily and swept down so that she was crouched in front of the little girl. She held her arms out and Bella jumped into them, hugging her grandmother. "I would be honored to have lunch with you, my little moon," the witch said.

"Is Daddy coming, too?"

"No, baby. Daddy's still away on business."

Bella frowned. Then a moment later, a bright smile appeared on her face. "That's okay. We can help Mommy cook dinner…" she leaned closer to her grandmother and whispered, "…she's not very good at it."

"I heard that," Renee grumbled.

The witch laughed happily. "Okay, little moon. How about I teach you how to make Christmas cookies?"

Her dark eyes lit up. "Okay! Can we leave them out for Santa?"

"Sure, we can," Nan agreed.

"And the reindeer will need carrots and some water cuz they might be thirsty after all that flying around," she insisted. She looked back at her mother then. "What are we having for lunch, Mommy?"

Leaving her wasn't easy. But Jasper knew he had to do it. It wasn't time for them to be together. She was far too young. But he would do everything in his power to ensure her safety. He might not be with her right now, but he could hunt down Maria and anyone else who wished to harm his mate.

Jasper heard a little gasp come from Bella. "Not yet, Mommy!" She whispered. She whirled around and ran back toward the two vampires, launching herself into Jasper's arms.

Her small arms wrapped around him, clinging tightly to his jacket as she brought her little face closer to his. Her breath smelled sweet, and he didn't doubt for a second that she'd been sneaking candy. She threw her arms around his neck and rested her chin on his shoulder.

"Merry Christmas, Jazzy," she breathed. "Merry Christmas, Petey."

"Merry Christmas, Poppet." Peter smiled happily.

"Merry Christmas, little one," Jasper breathed, holding her against his chest for a moment longer as he took in one last gulp of her scent. "Be safe."

The two vampires watched her return to her mother's arms, take hold of Nan's offered hand, and disappear into the busy Manhattan streets, with Atticus and Nova following.

"Merry Christmas, Major."

Jasper smiled. Only Peter could give him such an amazing gift.

The gift of hope.

"Thank you, Pete. Merry Christmas, brother."

AN: Soak up all the cuteness while you can. This will be the last time Jasper and Bella see one another for a long time. Well, a long time to them. It's just a few chapters for us.

I want to get to the good stuff pretty quick, so there will be several time jumps coming up. I hope it won't be too jarring. If you have questions, feel free to ask!

Let me know what you thought about this chapter in the comments. I love hearing from you! xoxo