Another Fate
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 10
Jay held back an eye roll as he was hauled from the cab by a two handed grip on his jacket. He relaxed his body, not making any effort to resist as he was marched over and slammed face first on the hood of Charlie Swan’s police cruiser.
“What’d I do, officer?” he questioned through a smirk as Charlie began to frisk him.
“You know damn good and well what you did, you no good little bastard.”
“Charlie!” Bella yelled. “He didn’t do anything! Let him go!”
Charlie ignored her and kept frisking, drawing a grunt from Jay as he went in a little deep in the crotch. “Easy there, Chief,” Jay drawled. “I mean, I like you and all, but you’re a little old for me.”
A hand gripped the back of his neck and shoved, pinning his cheek to the warm metal of the hood as the livid Chief hissed in his ear, “You shut your smart mouth, you little prick, before I shut it for you.”
“Charlie!” Bella yelled again, coming closer to the cruiser, while eyeing the gawking neighbors.
“Get back Bells,” Charlie snapped. “Don’t interfere,” he ordered before going back to frisking Jay. “You have any drugs or weapons on you?” he asked while plucking Jay’s cigs and lighter from his jacket pocket.
Jay’s amused gaze locked with Bella’s worried one and he winked. “Well, I did Chief, but I stashed ‘em all in your daughter’s truck.”
Bella’s mouth fell open then snapped shut as her eyes narrowed while Charlie cuffed Jay’s hands behind his back and hauled him up and to the back of the cruiser. “You think Daddy’s money’s gonna save you this time, you little shit, you better think again,” he ground out while shoving Jay in the back seat and slamming the door.
He walked to the front and radioed in to the station for another car before striding over to Bella with his hand out. “Keys,” he demanded.
“Ch—Dad, he’s messing with you. I was with him the whole time, and I can tell you he didn’t hide anything in there. And before that, the truck was locked…”
Charlie thrust out his hand again. “Keys, Isabella, now.”
She huffed, dropped her keys in his hand and crossed her arms as he went to her truck, opening both doors and the hood just as another cruiser pulled up.
That officer got out carrying a tool bag, and together, they proceeded to begin removing the seat from the cab as Bella stood aside, gaping. “Oh my god,” she muttered before looking over at Jay who was laughing.
When his grinning face turned to her, she narrowed her eyes and muttered, “You’re a dead man.” His dimpled grin only grew and she shook her head, mumbling, “Welcome to Forks, Bella.”
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
“Edward, son, please calm down and take a seat, then explain what’s going on,” Carlisle said as he patted Esme’s hand. He’d just arrived home from the hospital after being called home by Alice due to some situation that’d happened at the school. To his supreme shock, whatever it was hadn’t involved his newest son, Jasper. Or, at least he hoped it hadn’t as he still hadn’t heard all the details.
Reluctantly, Edward took a seat next to Alice on the sofa across from them. They were the only two kids home as they’d left school early, something Carlisle was thankful for as dealing with Edward was proving to be enough a challenge at the moment.
“I’m sorry, Carlisle,” his first son said while running a hand through his mussed hair. “I’m just,” he hesitated, searching for words, “just at a loss to adequately explain what’s going on.”
Carlisle’s brows rose and he exchanged a concerned glance with Esme before looking back at his son. “The beginning is always a good place.”
Edward pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded. “Of course,” he muttered before meeting his Sire’s gaze. “This morning, Alice shared with me that she was pretty sure the new girl, Bella Swan, is my mate.”
Carlisle’s brows shot up while Esme gasped, a bright smile blooming on her face as she squeezed her mate’s hand. “Oh Edward! Oh, honey, I’m so happy for you! What’s she like? I bet she’s a lovely girl!”
Edward looked pained and Carlisle frowned as he put things together. “Bella Swan,” the patriarch mused, “the Chief of Police’s daughter?”
“The very same,” Edward muttered, somewhat miserably. “And she’s beautiful, Esme.”
Esme’s smile turned a bit sad at his tone. “Oh honey, don’t be so down. If she’s your mate, then it’s meant to be. It’ll all work out in the end.”
Edward locked his gaze with her’s. “She’s human. How can I possibly…?”
“It’s meant to be,” Alice finally piped up. “The visions of her as one of us became crystal clear after she saw you in the cafeteria, Edward. I told you this, showed you this…”
He turned and looked at her. “And I told you I won’t do that to her. I can’t damn her, Alice. I won’t do it.”
“Edward…honey…” Esme murmured sadly, closing her mouth when Carlisle sighed.
“I get the feeling there’s more to the story, son, am I right? I can’t imagine you called me home just for this.”
Edward ran a hand over his hair and nodded. “Yes, unfortunately, there’s much more.” He met his Sire’s eyes. “I…I almost lost control and drained her in biology class. Her blood, Carlisle…I’ve never been so close to losing it in my life.” He dropped his head in his hands and scrubbed before looking back up, his eyes filled with self-recrimination. “It was all I could think about. I considered doing it right there in the classroom, damn the consequences.”
“What stopped you?” the patriarch asked, truly intrigued, despite his deep concern.
“Outside sheer will?”
Carlisle nodded.
Edward shook his head, chuckling ruefully. “She’d been drenched in Jasper’s scent, so I searched out his thoughts and he was thinking of her, but it wasn’t just that. He was also remembering a kill he’d made and that girl,” he shook his head while staring into the distance, “she looked just like Bella, and when I saw…” his eyes closed for a beat, “when I saw the girl, her eyes blank in death, her body limp in his arms, this indescribable pain shot through my chest.” He rubbed at the ghost of it before meeting Carlisle’s eyes once again. “When I saw that…felt that…I knew I couldn’t possibly hurt her. It would kill me to see her die, so I resisted.”
He smiled ruefully. “So, Jasper’s past helped in that respect I guess, because it gave me the resolve to not only resist, but to stay around to protect her. I won’t let him do to Bella what he did to that other girl, Carlisle. I’ll do whatever I have to, to see that he doesn’t,” he warned.
Alice huffed. “I told you, he was only messing with you. He has no intention of hurting Bella.”
Carlisle’s eyes narrowed the slightest bit as he keyed on part of what Edward had just said. “How did she come to be drenched in Jasper’s scent?”
Alice growled before biting it back. “Because he met her earlier in calculus and pulled the same shit he always pulls with pretty girls.”
“Alice, please honey,” Esme said, and she nodded.
“Sorry, it’s just…he makes me so angry.”
Carlisle gave her a rueful smirk. “Has it not occurred to you that’s exactly why he does it, Alice?”
She sniffed and shrugged. “I can’t help the way I feel.”
He focused back on his son. “Well then, your reaction to her blood is a concern considering you have to attend school with her and share a class. Have you thought about how you’re going to handle being so close to her?”
Edward glanced at Alice before nodding. “Alice thought of something and she swears it’ll work.”
“Oh?” The patriarch looked at his daughter with a raised brow and she nodded.
“Yes. I’m going to sneak into her room and take some clothes she’s worn, maybe her pillow. The idea is to desensitize him to her scent as much as possible.”
Carlisle nodded. “That could work very well.” He looked at Edward “How do you feel…” he trailed as his phone vibrated and held up a finger as he took it out and answered. “Carlisle Cullen… Yes Chief Swan, what can I do for you?” He sighed and glanced at Esme. “I understand…yes…no, really, I understand completely, Chief. I’ll be there as soon as possible and thank you for calling me.”
He looked at Esme. “You heard?”
“Yes,” she said with a frown as she leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Go get our boy. I can’t stand the thought of him in there longer than he has to be.”
Carlisle arched a brow. “I should leave him there for a good week or two this time. Perhaps then he would think twice about ending up there in the first place,” he said as he rose and headed for the garage. “I’ll be back as soon as I can and we’ll continue this conversation.”
He left the room, stopping by the coat closet to don a jacket before heading to his car in the garage.
Pressing the button to unlock and start it, he slid in behind the wheel and backed out, tapping his fingers on the top of the wheel as he thought about the changes five years of therapy and living with them had wrought in his newest son.
There hadn’t been an overwhelming amount, but there had been a few; like his rebelliousness, for instance. He seemed to strive to make acting out an art form rather than a sporadic thing as most teens did. Of course, Jasper was no traditional teen, but he still had enough youth in him to pull it off, if he so wished, and obviously, in this he did.
Carlisle kept hoping Jasper would work it out of his system and settle, but it seemed as though things were slowly escalating instead, and he wasn’t sure how to help the young one settle.
He sighed and accelerated when the light turned green. He’d just have to keep meeting with Jasper and hope all the talking did some good after a while. But after today’s stunt, he was despairing that would ever happen.
And now, the boy was firmly on the Chief’s radar.
This wasn't Jasper’s first run in with Chief Swan either. The year before, he’d been arrested for loitering after the school called the police. He’d been hanging around the football bleachers with a group of kids to smoke. When the Chief had arrived, Jasper had been the only one who refused to leave and had spent a good three hours in the Forks PD lockup for his troubles. There had been other instances, but nothing that culminated in a holding cell, until today.
He slowed and stopped for a red light, rubbing his brow as he waited. Over the time Jasper had been with them, there had been curious things that had occurred in and around their family; the most prominent being the disappearance of his friend Eleazar.
The vampire had been summoned by the Volturi—for what, only Eleazar and the Volturi knew—but had vanished once he’d arrived in Italy. They’d eventually found his burned out rental car, but that was all they’d found, and, according to Carmen, the Volturi denied having ever seen him. It was a tragic mystery, and they feared him dead.
Adding that in with all the unanswerable questions surrounding Jasper, had made for a tense few years in the Cullen household.
Still, on Esme’s insistence, they’d done their best to cover their tracks, making sure to keep to themselves where the vampire world was concerned.
She’d meant what she’d said about protecting Jasper and had been vehement about it, even going so far as to refuse visits with any nomad friends they had normally welcomed in years past. They hadn’t even invited the Denalis to visit, only speaking to them by phone twice in the past five years.
Finally pulling into the Forks PD parking lot, he steered into a space and cut the engine, mentally preparing himself for what he’d be dealing with inside. One never knew with Jasper anymore.
With a sigh, he popped the door open and got out, smoothly closing the door of the car with a click before trotting up the cement stair set and into the cluttered front office.
There, he was greeted by a young officer he recalled from earlier visits. “Hey, Dr. Cullen,” the young man said, looking sheepish. “I’ll, uh, let the Chief know you’re here.” He picked up the phone and made the call, placing it back on the cradle moments later with a cringe. “He said he’ll be right out to speak with you.”
“Thank you, Officer Blain.”
The young man nodded before glancing over his shoulder. “Just to warn you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him quite as pissed as when he brought your kid in.”
Carlisle’s brows inched up. “Fantastic,” he said as Blain nodded.
Somewhere in the back office, a door opened and slammed shut with a bang and moments later a red-faced Charlie Swan stalked into the reception area, his brown eyes already boring a hole in Carlisle’s forehead. “Dr. Cullen,” he snapped.
Carlisle stifled any outward reaction at such a terse greeting from the normally calm and affable Chief. Instead he gave a courteous nod, keeping his tone casual as he greeted, “Chief Swan.”
That seemed to break the tentative hold Charlie had on his temper and he pointed a finger at Carlisle’s chest. “You better keep that kid away from my daughter, you hear? Far away, because if I catch the little punk anywhere near her again, he’s not gonna get by with a slap on the wrist,” the man seethed.
Carlisle groaned mentally while maintaining a neutral expression. “May I ask what prompted this, Chief?”
Charlie reddened to an alarming degree and the Doctor began listening closely to his heart, just in case. It was pumping hard and a bit fast, but seemed all right for the moment. “What he… Yeah! I’ll tell you what he did.” He leaned closer. “I caught the little shit mauling my daughter in her truck after school today. His hands were all over her, Cullen! All over her! And his face was in her neck, so let me tell you, he’s damn lucky I like and respect you, otherwise he’d be nursing some hurts, you hear? She’s my little girl. I just got her back and I won’t stand for some little teenaged punk putting his anything on her anywhere!”
“I understand, Chief. I have two daughters, so I understand completely and will speak to Jasper.”
Charlie’s brows shot up and his mustache twitched. “Speak to him?! Speak?! If you ask me, that punk deserves no less than a sturdy boot right in the ass on a semi-regular basis!” He looked off while shaking his head, grumbling, “Speak to him…” Then he looked back, his eyes narrowed to slits. “He’s your kid, do whatever, but keep him the hell away from my daughter. I won’t warn either of you again.”
Carlisle nodded again. “Duly noted, Chief, and for what it’s worth, you have my sincere apologies for my nephew’s behavior. I’ll speak to him and it won’t happen again.”
“It damn well better not,” Charlie grumbled while fishing an access card from his pocket. “I’ll go get your kid. Feel free to have a seat.”
He stalked off down a nearby hallway and Carlisle exchanged a look with the Officer at the desk before taking a seat in one of the many plastic chairs lined up against the wall. He kept an ear open though and soon enough, heard a cell door slam open and Charlie’s gruff voice, “Cullen! On your feet. Let’s go.”
“What…I don’t get to enjoy your hospitality for a few more hours, Chief?” Carlisle sighed as he heard his son goad the livid lawman. He could tell his son was smirking. The boy always had that particular tone when he smirked, and Carlisle cringed mentally, praying Jasper would simply shut his mouth and go along quietly. Of course, such a prayer was in vain…
“If I had my druthers, your punk ass would be rotting in here for a good long while. Unfortunately, your Uncle cares for you, so shut your damn mouth and let’s go.”
Carlisle heard the slight jangle of a chain, the noise a pair of cuffs make when handled, just before he caught a low growl—too low for human ears, but he caught it easily. “Take your hands off me, human,” Jasper spat, his tone now one Carlisle had never heard before. His gaze locked on the hallway just as Jasper walked through, hands cuffed behind his back, but his bearing… His bearing was…regal… haughty…royal…
The thought caught Carlisle off guard, but the more he studied this Jasper—his back perfectly straight, shoulders square, chin up and red eyes as cold and unforgiving as any proud Volturi Elite—the more it just…fit.
‘Good god, why did I never notice this side of him, in all this time?’
“Shut your mouth, punk,” Charlie growled with a shove to Jasper’s back. The shove barely moved him as Jasper turned his head, somehow managing to look down at the livid lawman with those cold, red eyes.
“You are beneath me in every way,” Jasper said, his tone as cold as his stare. “Never forget that.”
Charlie’s face went a darker shade of red as he unlocked the cuffs. Then he walked around and got in Jasper’s face. “Stay the fuck away from my daughter,” the man seethed. Jasper smirked but his eyes…his eyes were icy red as they pierced the hapless lawman, causing Carlisle’s worry to spike. “If you don’t, I’ll make sure you wish you had,” Charlie finished.
Jasper leaned into the man’s space, causing the Chief to lean back, though he was too pissed off to notice. The smirk on Jasper’s face grew at the unconscious show of submission on the human’s part. “If I want to see Bella, I’ll see her and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”
“Jasper…” Carlisle warned but both livid males ignored him.
Charlie’s hand went to his sidearm. “Try something, kid. Do it. Please, I’m beggin’ you.”
Jasper grinned wickedly. “No need to grovel, Chief,” he drawled. “I’m game if you are.”
Carlisle shot up. “All right, that’s quite enough, son. Let’s go.”
Charlie eyed the Doctor. “Remember what I said.”
Carlisle took hold of Jasper’s arm, urging him toward the door. “I will Chief, and again, my apologies for Jasper’s behavior.”
They walked out the door and Jasper shrugged off his hold, going directly to the passenger side to wait for the doors to unlock. Carlisle hit the button and they both got in. “What was that? Jasper, the secrecy… Why did you blatantly call him a human?” he demanded as the engine purred to life.
Jasper shrugged. “He is a human and beneath me. I merely spoke the truth.”
Carlisle’s jaw tightened as his patience thinned. “He’s the Chief of Police and the father of the girl you were accosting. I think he has every right to be angry.”
Jasper smirked and arched a brow. “Accosting? I was hardly accosting her, Carlisle, and she was enjoying it. I didn’t do a thing she didn’t want, I assure you. Besides, I was just playing.”
Carlisle sighed as he rolled to a red light. “You can’t play with people like that, Jasper.”
“Sure I can. Humans fall into two categories: they are either food or toys, and since Edward seems to have an interest in the girl, she falls into the toy category, because I’m nice like that.”
Carlisle shot him a frown. “Speaking of Edward, he mentioned the girl was covered in your scent.”
Jasper shrugged. “I met her first.”
“She’s his mate.”
“Is she? Well, welcome to the family, Candy Girl,” he muttered, as he kicked back in the plush leather seat while propping his feet on the pristine leather dash.
Carlisle reached over and knocked his feet down, getting an eye roll for his efforts. “I got a call from the school this morning. Seems you already have an in school suspension and a detention?”
Jasper shrugged. “Yeah, so what?”
He sighed and made a right at the intersection heading out of town. “Jasper, you keep up behavior like this, you could eventually attract the attention of the Volturi.”
To Carlisle’s shock, the young one smirked. “I am not afraid of them, Carlisle, not in the slightest.”
“Yes, well,” Carlisle said with a deep frown marring his brow, “the attention of the Volturi is the last thing I want or need, so tone down your behavior, please.”
Jasper arched a brow. “I haven’t even drained anyone yet and you’re asking me to tone it down?” He grinned and rested his head back while staring out the windshield. “The fun’s just gettin’ started, Pops.”
“Jasper, the treaty…” Carlisle growled warningly.
Jasper grinned and looked over. “Don’t get your panties in a wad. I was just kidding.”
Carlisle shook his head and gripped the wheel. Not many were able to try his patience, but this kid…
“Hey! You think Mom’ll have dinner ready when I get there? I’m starved.”
Carlisle mock glared, trying his best not to smirk. “You know, that boot in the ass thing isn’t looking too bad.”
“Try it,” Jasper drawled as he lolled his head over to look at Carlisle, “and I’ll tell Mom on you.”
“Evil little shit,” Carlisle muttered as Jasper grinned. “You know Edward is quite upset,” he said, trying to bring the conversation back to a more serious tone.
“What for this time?”
“Well, our conversation was cut a bit short because I had to come get you out of lockup, but from what I gathered before I left, Bella is Edward’s mate, but he also has an irresistible draw to her blood.”
Jasper pursed his lips and shrugged a shoulder. “She is pretty damn sweet…”
Carlisle glanced at him. “Did you have the same problem? Is that why you were with her?”
Jasper snickered while casting an amused look at the Cullen Patriarch. “You’re kidding, right? If I had wanted to drain the girl, I would’a done it. Yeah, she’s sweet, but nothing really outta the ordinary for a fine virgin piece of…”
“Okay, son, I get it,” Carlisle said, cutting him short. “It’s just that Edward said you were thinking of her, along with a previous…meal that looked remarkably like Bella.”
Jasper laughed, his smile wide when he looked at Carlisle. “So, he caught that, did he? I had hoped…”
Carlisle rubbed his brow before draping his hand back over the wheel. “Jasper, if you would only stop teasing your brother…”
“No can do, Pops. Way too much fun to be had.”
Carlisle frowned. “This is his mate we’re discussing, son. A very serious matter to any vampire…” He saw pain flash through Jasper’s eyes just as a wave of the emotion washed through the car and could’ve kicked himself. “Son, I’m sorry…”
Jasper raised a hand while staring out the window. “No. Drop it, please.”
They fell into silence as he turned onto their long driveway, and didn’t speak again until Carlisle had pulled the car into the garage. “Try not to fight with Edward, son, please? You’ll only upset Esme.”
He looked over. “Then tell him to stay outta my head. He might not like what he sees. And I won’t provoke him, not tonight anyway, but if he attacks me, I won’t lie down and take it.”
“Fair enough,” the Cullen Patriarch said with a nod. They got out of the car and entered the house through the kitchen where Esme seemed to be waiting. “Oh Jasper, sweetheart,” she said, cupping his cheek while tucking a curl behind his ear, “are you all right?”
He chuckled. “Vampire, remember? Pretty tough for a human to hurt and all that.”
“Well, you look and seem fine,” she said with relief as her hands ran down his arms, her gaze flitting over him to look for damage.
He exchanged an amused look with Carlisle. “I am fine. You really think a lowly human could hurt me?”
She sighed. “I guess not. I just hate to think of you locked up like that.”
He smirked. “Does that mean I can just break out next time?”
She frowned and grasped his chin while looking into his eyes. “No, that means you don’t do anything to get locked up from now on.”
“I didn’t do anything to get locked up this time! Not my fault the man’s over sensitive where his daughter’s concerned.”
“Jasper…” she said on a sigh before looking at him with a rueful smirk. “The police Chief’s daughter this time? Really?”
He grinned. “I like a challenge?”
She patted his cheek. “Go wash up. I’ll have your blood ready when you’re finished.”
He headed out of the kitchen and toward the stairs but stopped short when Edward grabbed his arm. “We need to talk,” he said, dropping his arm and striding into the living room. Jasper stifled an eye roll and followed, noting the presence of Alice, Rosalie and Emmett just as Carlisle entered behind him. “Keep it civil, all of you,” the patriarch ordered before seating himself in an arm chair.
Edward frowned but nodded as Jasper took another chair. “Fine,” Edward said while taking up a spot by the fireplace.
Carlisle looked at Jasper with a raised brow. “I will if he will,” he agreed as he stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankles. He looked at his ‘brother’ and smirked. “Well? Shoot.”
“I want you to stay away from Bella.”
This time, he did roll his eyes. “I get that she may be your mate and all, but if she decides she wants to hang around me, I’m not gonna push her away.”
Edward scowled. “Why not? You don’t even like humans. They’re either food or toys to you, so why can’t you simply stay away from this one?”
“I’d like to hear the answer to that myself,” Rose muttered while studying her nails.
Jasper shrugged. “I find her amusing. If that changes, I’ll cut her loose.” He felt Edward’s anger spike and smiled.
“She’s my mate! I don’t want you toying with her feelings, not to mention the risk you pose to her life. What guarantee do I have you won’t ‘slip’ and drain her?”
“Well, golly, I guess you don’t have one, do you? But I would say with the amount of bloodlust you’re pumping out from just her residual scent on me, you’re more of a risk to her than I am, lover-boy.”
Edward growled and ran a hand through his hair. “I know,” he muttered.
Alice rolled her eyes. “Don’t start this again, Edward. I told you my plan will work.”
“Plan?” Rosalie asked with a scowl. “What plan? And why? The girl’s human! Why are we even discussing this? We should all stay the hell away from her.” She sat forward, scowling at everyone in the room. “We involve a human in our lives, we’re risking everything! And I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m not willing to risk my existence on what could be nothing but a teen crush.”
Alice rolled her eyes. “As usual, you’re overreacting. She’s Edward’s mate, Rose. The visions are clear.”
“Oh yeah?” she growled, her eyes narrowed on the seer, “kinda like your visions of Jasper?”
Alice’s eyes narrowed to slits. “That was low, Rose,” she said as Jasper quietly snickered.
“Enough,” Carlisle interjected. “Alice, explain this plan if you would, please.”
With one last glare at Rose who merely smirked, Alice sat back with a nod. “The plan is to take a few items from Bella’s room so that Edward can desensitize himself to her scent over the next couple of days. When he returns to school, he’ll be fine. I mean, it’ll still be painful for him, but he won’t have to fight to keep from draining her.”
“You’re certain, Alice?” Carlisle asked and she nodded.
“I am.”
Rose rolled her eyes. “Thus saith the Lord…”
Emmett snickered. “Right?”
“Go take a look at your portfolio and then talk some shit,” Alice said with a sneer as she crossed her arms. “I think my gift has been proven quite thoroughly through the years, thank you very much.”
“And it has, Alice, but Rose is also correct. We have to be cautious. There’s much we’re potentially risking by Edward courting a human. If the Volturi got wind of it…”
They all glanced at each other, with the exception of Jasper who stared at his boots, a small smile curving his lips. Esme approached him then with a large thermal mug. “Here sweetheart. I thought to wait until this talk was over, but I don’t want it getting cold on you.”
“Thanks Esme,” he said, taking the mug and sipping the contents.
“Must be nice to be catered to,” Emmett teased and Jasper grinned.
“Don’t be jealous, Em. I’m sure she’ll change your nappy later if you ask nicely.”
Emmett flipped him off and he chuckled and went back to sipping his dinner as Esme sighed, perching herself on the arm of Carlisle’s chair. He wrapped an arm around her and rubbed his brow. “Why did we want kids again?” he asked through a sigh.
She chuckled and patted his arm. “We love them, honey. In times like this, just try to remember, we love them.”
“Right,” he said before looking up at his family. “When do you plan to take these items from Bella’s home?”
“Wait a minute!” Rose said, sitting forward to frown at Carlisle. “That’s it? That’s all the talking we’re gonna do about this? You acknowledge the threat this could be and then just decide to go ahead with it? Because I’m not okay with that!”
“What’s to discuss, Rose?!” Alice snapped. “She’s Edward’s mate! You can’t keep him from his mate! It’d be beyond cruel!”
Jasper scoffed and muttered, “Oh, that’s rich, you fucking…”
“Jasper!” Esme said, cutting his comment short. “Please, honey…”
His head rolled back and he waved a hand as his eyes closed. “Fine. Please continue to spew, oh great psycho seer bitc—“
“Jasper…” Carlisle cut in, his tone low in warning.
Jasper scowled and rose from his seat. “I’m gonna go shower. Have fun wading through the bullshit.” He stalked from the room and Carlisle rubbed his eyes before waving a hand.
“Where were we?”
Emmett piped up, “Well, Alice was saying how cruel Rose was and then Jasper called Alice a fu—“
“Emmett!” Carlisle snapped. “I think we all got that part.” He glared at his muscle bound son who shot him a sheepish grin. “Now, back to the main discussion, and keep it clean.”
“I think you’re all losing sight of the fact that ultimately, this should be my decision,” Edward murmured into the ensuing silence. He looked around at all of them. “She and I don’t even know each other, so any further discussion of the mate thing should be put off until we at least have friendship between us.”
“Agreed,” Carlisle said, “so then, Alice will get some items from her room sometime today. You’ll desensitize yourself to her scent and then go back to school. From there, we’ll see how things go, and revisit this topic later. Is this all something we can agree on?” He gaze touched on each one as they nodded, Rose being the last. With a huff and a tossed hand, she finally nodded.
“Fine. But when it turns to shit, I’m not planning on burning for it.”
Jay held back an eye roll as he was hauled from the cab by a two handed grip on his jacket. He relaxed his body, not making any effort to resist as he was marched over and slammed face first on the hood of Charlie Swan’s police cruiser.
“What’d I do, officer?” he questioned through a smirk as Charlie began to frisk him.
“You know damn good and well what you did, you no good little bastard.”
“Charlie!” Bella yelled. “He didn’t do anything! Let him go!”
Charlie ignored her and kept frisking, drawing a grunt from Jay as he went in a little deep in the crotch. “Easy there, Chief,” Jay drawled. “I mean, I like you and all, but you’re a little old for me.”
A hand gripped the back of his neck and shoved, pinning his cheek to the warm metal of the hood as the livid Chief hissed in his ear, “You shut your smart mouth, you little prick, before I shut it for you.”
“Charlie!” Bella yelled again, coming closer to the cruiser, while eyeing the gawking neighbors.
“Get back Bells,” Charlie snapped. “Don’t interfere,” he ordered before going back to frisking Jay. “You have any drugs or weapons on you?” he asked while plucking Jay’s cigs and lighter from his jacket pocket.
Jay’s amused gaze locked with Bella’s worried one and he winked. “Well, I did Chief, but I stashed ‘em all in your daughter’s truck.”
Bella’s mouth fell open then snapped shut as her eyes narrowed while Charlie cuffed Jay’s hands behind his back and hauled him up and to the back of the cruiser. “You think Daddy’s money’s gonna save you this time, you little shit, you better think again,” he ground out while shoving Jay in the back seat and slamming the door.
He walked to the front and radioed in to the station for another car before striding over to Bella with his hand out. “Keys,” he demanded.
“Ch—Dad, he’s messing with you. I was with him the whole time, and I can tell you he didn’t hide anything in there. And before that, the truck was locked…”
Charlie thrust out his hand again. “Keys, Isabella, now.”
She huffed, dropped her keys in his hand and crossed her arms as he went to her truck, opening both doors and the hood just as another cruiser pulled up.
That officer got out carrying a tool bag, and together, they proceeded to begin removing the seat from the cab as Bella stood aside, gaping. “Oh my god,” she muttered before looking over at Jay who was laughing.
When his grinning face turned to her, she narrowed her eyes and muttered, “You’re a dead man.” His dimpled grin only grew and she shook her head, mumbling, “Welcome to Forks, Bella.”
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
“Edward, son, please calm down and take a seat, then explain what’s going on,” Carlisle said as he patted Esme’s hand. He’d just arrived home from the hospital after being called home by Alice due to some situation that’d happened at the school. To his supreme shock, whatever it was hadn’t involved his newest son, Jasper. Or, at least he hoped it hadn’t as he still hadn’t heard all the details.
Reluctantly, Edward took a seat next to Alice on the sofa across from them. They were the only two kids home as they’d left school early, something Carlisle was thankful for as dealing with Edward was proving to be enough a challenge at the moment.
“I’m sorry, Carlisle,” his first son said while running a hand through his mussed hair. “I’m just,” he hesitated, searching for words, “just at a loss to adequately explain what’s going on.”
Carlisle’s brows rose and he exchanged a concerned glance with Esme before looking back at his son. “The beginning is always a good place.”
Edward pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded. “Of course,” he muttered before meeting his Sire’s gaze. “This morning, Alice shared with me that she was pretty sure the new girl, Bella Swan, is my mate.”
Carlisle’s brows shot up while Esme gasped, a bright smile blooming on her face as she squeezed her mate’s hand. “Oh Edward! Oh, honey, I’m so happy for you! What’s she like? I bet she’s a lovely girl!”
Edward looked pained and Carlisle frowned as he put things together. “Bella Swan,” the patriarch mused, “the Chief of Police’s daughter?”
“The very same,” Edward muttered, somewhat miserably. “And she’s beautiful, Esme.”
Esme’s smile turned a bit sad at his tone. “Oh honey, don’t be so down. If she’s your mate, then it’s meant to be. It’ll all work out in the end.”
Edward locked his gaze with her’s. “She’s human. How can I possibly…?”
“It’s meant to be,” Alice finally piped up. “The visions of her as one of us became crystal clear after she saw you in the cafeteria, Edward. I told you this, showed you this…”
He turned and looked at her. “And I told you I won’t do that to her. I can’t damn her, Alice. I won’t do it.”
“Edward…honey…” Esme murmured sadly, closing her mouth when Carlisle sighed.
“I get the feeling there’s more to the story, son, am I right? I can’t imagine you called me home just for this.”
Edward ran a hand over his hair and nodded. “Yes, unfortunately, there’s much more.” He met his Sire’s eyes. “I…I almost lost control and drained her in biology class. Her blood, Carlisle…I’ve never been so close to losing it in my life.” He dropped his head in his hands and scrubbed before looking back up, his eyes filled with self-recrimination. “It was all I could think about. I considered doing it right there in the classroom, damn the consequences.”
“What stopped you?” the patriarch asked, truly intrigued, despite his deep concern.
“Outside sheer will?”
Carlisle nodded.
Edward shook his head, chuckling ruefully. “She’d been drenched in Jasper’s scent, so I searched out his thoughts and he was thinking of her, but it wasn’t just that. He was also remembering a kill he’d made and that girl,” he shook his head while staring into the distance, “she looked just like Bella, and when I saw…” his eyes closed for a beat, “when I saw the girl, her eyes blank in death, her body limp in his arms, this indescribable pain shot through my chest.” He rubbed at the ghost of it before meeting Carlisle’s eyes once again. “When I saw that…felt that…I knew I couldn’t possibly hurt her. It would kill me to see her die, so I resisted.”
He smiled ruefully. “So, Jasper’s past helped in that respect I guess, because it gave me the resolve to not only resist, but to stay around to protect her. I won’t let him do to Bella what he did to that other girl, Carlisle. I’ll do whatever I have to, to see that he doesn’t,” he warned.
Alice huffed. “I told you, he was only messing with you. He has no intention of hurting Bella.”
Carlisle’s eyes narrowed the slightest bit as he keyed on part of what Edward had just said. “How did she come to be drenched in Jasper’s scent?”
Alice growled before biting it back. “Because he met her earlier in calculus and pulled the same shit he always pulls with pretty girls.”
“Alice, please honey,” Esme said, and she nodded.
“Sorry, it’s just…he makes me so angry.”
Carlisle gave her a rueful smirk. “Has it not occurred to you that’s exactly why he does it, Alice?”
She sniffed and shrugged. “I can’t help the way I feel.”
He focused back on his son. “Well then, your reaction to her blood is a concern considering you have to attend school with her and share a class. Have you thought about how you’re going to handle being so close to her?”
Edward glanced at Alice before nodding. “Alice thought of something and she swears it’ll work.”
“Oh?” The patriarch looked at his daughter with a raised brow and she nodded.
“Yes. I’m going to sneak into her room and take some clothes she’s worn, maybe her pillow. The idea is to desensitize him to her scent as much as possible.”
Carlisle nodded. “That could work very well.” He looked at Edward “How do you feel…” he trailed as his phone vibrated and held up a finger as he took it out and answered. “Carlisle Cullen… Yes Chief Swan, what can I do for you?” He sighed and glanced at Esme. “I understand…yes…no, really, I understand completely, Chief. I’ll be there as soon as possible and thank you for calling me.”
He looked at Esme. “You heard?”
“Yes,” she said with a frown as she leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Go get our boy. I can’t stand the thought of him in there longer than he has to be.”
Carlisle arched a brow. “I should leave him there for a good week or two this time. Perhaps then he would think twice about ending up there in the first place,” he said as he rose and headed for the garage. “I’ll be back as soon as I can and we’ll continue this conversation.”
He left the room, stopping by the coat closet to don a jacket before heading to his car in the garage.
Pressing the button to unlock and start it, he slid in behind the wheel and backed out, tapping his fingers on the top of the wheel as he thought about the changes five years of therapy and living with them had wrought in his newest son.
There hadn’t been an overwhelming amount, but there had been a few; like his rebelliousness, for instance. He seemed to strive to make acting out an art form rather than a sporadic thing as most teens did. Of course, Jasper was no traditional teen, but he still had enough youth in him to pull it off, if he so wished, and obviously, in this he did.
Carlisle kept hoping Jasper would work it out of his system and settle, but it seemed as though things were slowly escalating instead, and he wasn’t sure how to help the young one settle.
He sighed and accelerated when the light turned green. He’d just have to keep meeting with Jasper and hope all the talking did some good after a while. But after today’s stunt, he was despairing that would ever happen.
And now, the boy was firmly on the Chief’s radar.
This wasn't Jasper’s first run in with Chief Swan either. The year before, he’d been arrested for loitering after the school called the police. He’d been hanging around the football bleachers with a group of kids to smoke. When the Chief had arrived, Jasper had been the only one who refused to leave and had spent a good three hours in the Forks PD lockup for his troubles. There had been other instances, but nothing that culminated in a holding cell, until today.
He slowed and stopped for a red light, rubbing his brow as he waited. Over the time Jasper had been with them, there had been curious things that had occurred in and around their family; the most prominent being the disappearance of his friend Eleazar.
The vampire had been summoned by the Volturi—for what, only Eleazar and the Volturi knew—but had vanished once he’d arrived in Italy. They’d eventually found his burned out rental car, but that was all they’d found, and, according to Carmen, the Volturi denied having ever seen him. It was a tragic mystery, and they feared him dead.
Adding that in with all the unanswerable questions surrounding Jasper, had made for a tense few years in the Cullen household.
Still, on Esme’s insistence, they’d done their best to cover their tracks, making sure to keep to themselves where the vampire world was concerned.
She’d meant what she’d said about protecting Jasper and had been vehement about it, even going so far as to refuse visits with any nomad friends they had normally welcomed in years past. They hadn’t even invited the Denalis to visit, only speaking to them by phone twice in the past five years.
Finally pulling into the Forks PD parking lot, he steered into a space and cut the engine, mentally preparing himself for what he’d be dealing with inside. One never knew with Jasper anymore.
With a sigh, he popped the door open and got out, smoothly closing the door of the car with a click before trotting up the cement stair set and into the cluttered front office.
There, he was greeted by a young officer he recalled from earlier visits. “Hey, Dr. Cullen,” the young man said, looking sheepish. “I’ll, uh, let the Chief know you’re here.” He picked up the phone and made the call, placing it back on the cradle moments later with a cringe. “He said he’ll be right out to speak with you.”
“Thank you, Officer Blain.”
The young man nodded before glancing over his shoulder. “Just to warn you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him quite as pissed as when he brought your kid in.”
Carlisle’s brows inched up. “Fantastic,” he said as Blain nodded.
Somewhere in the back office, a door opened and slammed shut with a bang and moments later a red-faced Charlie Swan stalked into the reception area, his brown eyes already boring a hole in Carlisle’s forehead. “Dr. Cullen,” he snapped.
Carlisle stifled any outward reaction at such a terse greeting from the normally calm and affable Chief. Instead he gave a courteous nod, keeping his tone casual as he greeted, “Chief Swan.”
That seemed to break the tentative hold Charlie had on his temper and he pointed a finger at Carlisle’s chest. “You better keep that kid away from my daughter, you hear? Far away, because if I catch the little punk anywhere near her again, he’s not gonna get by with a slap on the wrist,” the man seethed.
Carlisle groaned mentally while maintaining a neutral expression. “May I ask what prompted this, Chief?”
Charlie reddened to an alarming degree and the Doctor began listening closely to his heart, just in case. It was pumping hard and a bit fast, but seemed all right for the moment. “What he… Yeah! I’ll tell you what he did.” He leaned closer. “I caught the little shit mauling my daughter in her truck after school today. His hands were all over her, Cullen! All over her! And his face was in her neck, so let me tell you, he’s damn lucky I like and respect you, otherwise he’d be nursing some hurts, you hear? She’s my little girl. I just got her back and I won’t stand for some little teenaged punk putting his anything on her anywhere!”
“I understand, Chief. I have two daughters, so I understand completely and will speak to Jasper.”
Charlie’s brows shot up and his mustache twitched. “Speak to him?! Speak?! If you ask me, that punk deserves no less than a sturdy boot right in the ass on a semi-regular basis!” He looked off while shaking his head, grumbling, “Speak to him…” Then he looked back, his eyes narrowed to slits. “He’s your kid, do whatever, but keep him the hell away from my daughter. I won’t warn either of you again.”
Carlisle nodded again. “Duly noted, Chief, and for what it’s worth, you have my sincere apologies for my nephew’s behavior. I’ll speak to him and it won’t happen again.”
“It damn well better not,” Charlie grumbled while fishing an access card from his pocket. “I’ll go get your kid. Feel free to have a seat.”
He stalked off down a nearby hallway and Carlisle exchanged a look with the Officer at the desk before taking a seat in one of the many plastic chairs lined up against the wall. He kept an ear open though and soon enough, heard a cell door slam open and Charlie’s gruff voice, “Cullen! On your feet. Let’s go.”
“What…I don’t get to enjoy your hospitality for a few more hours, Chief?” Carlisle sighed as he heard his son goad the livid lawman. He could tell his son was smirking. The boy always had that particular tone when he smirked, and Carlisle cringed mentally, praying Jasper would simply shut his mouth and go along quietly. Of course, such a prayer was in vain…
“If I had my druthers, your punk ass would be rotting in here for a good long while. Unfortunately, your Uncle cares for you, so shut your damn mouth and let’s go.”
Carlisle heard the slight jangle of a chain, the noise a pair of cuffs make when handled, just before he caught a low growl—too low for human ears, but he caught it easily. “Take your hands off me, human,” Jasper spat, his tone now one Carlisle had never heard before. His gaze locked on the hallway just as Jasper walked through, hands cuffed behind his back, but his bearing… His bearing was…regal… haughty…royal…
The thought caught Carlisle off guard, but the more he studied this Jasper—his back perfectly straight, shoulders square, chin up and red eyes as cold and unforgiving as any proud Volturi Elite—the more it just…fit.
‘Good god, why did I never notice this side of him, in all this time?’
“Shut your mouth, punk,” Charlie growled with a shove to Jasper’s back. The shove barely moved him as Jasper turned his head, somehow managing to look down at the livid lawman with those cold, red eyes.
“You are beneath me in every way,” Jasper said, his tone as cold as his stare. “Never forget that.”
Charlie’s face went a darker shade of red as he unlocked the cuffs. Then he walked around and got in Jasper’s face. “Stay the fuck away from my daughter,” the man seethed. Jasper smirked but his eyes…his eyes were icy red as they pierced the hapless lawman, causing Carlisle’s worry to spike. “If you don’t, I’ll make sure you wish you had,” Charlie finished.
Jasper leaned into the man’s space, causing the Chief to lean back, though he was too pissed off to notice. The smirk on Jasper’s face grew at the unconscious show of submission on the human’s part. “If I want to see Bella, I’ll see her and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”
“Jasper…” Carlisle warned but both livid males ignored him.
Charlie’s hand went to his sidearm. “Try something, kid. Do it. Please, I’m beggin’ you.”
Jasper grinned wickedly. “No need to grovel, Chief,” he drawled. “I’m game if you are.”
Carlisle shot up. “All right, that’s quite enough, son. Let’s go.”
Charlie eyed the Doctor. “Remember what I said.”
Carlisle took hold of Jasper’s arm, urging him toward the door. “I will Chief, and again, my apologies for Jasper’s behavior.”
They walked out the door and Jasper shrugged off his hold, going directly to the passenger side to wait for the doors to unlock. Carlisle hit the button and they both got in. “What was that? Jasper, the secrecy… Why did you blatantly call him a human?” he demanded as the engine purred to life.
Jasper shrugged. “He is a human and beneath me. I merely spoke the truth.”
Carlisle’s jaw tightened as his patience thinned. “He’s the Chief of Police and the father of the girl you were accosting. I think he has every right to be angry.”
Jasper smirked and arched a brow. “Accosting? I was hardly accosting her, Carlisle, and she was enjoying it. I didn’t do a thing she didn’t want, I assure you. Besides, I was just playing.”
Carlisle sighed as he rolled to a red light. “You can’t play with people like that, Jasper.”
“Sure I can. Humans fall into two categories: they are either food or toys, and since Edward seems to have an interest in the girl, she falls into the toy category, because I’m nice like that.”
Carlisle shot him a frown. “Speaking of Edward, he mentioned the girl was covered in your scent.”
Jasper shrugged. “I met her first.”
“She’s his mate.”
“Is she? Well, welcome to the family, Candy Girl,” he muttered, as he kicked back in the plush leather seat while propping his feet on the pristine leather dash.
Carlisle reached over and knocked his feet down, getting an eye roll for his efforts. “I got a call from the school this morning. Seems you already have an in school suspension and a detention?”
Jasper shrugged. “Yeah, so what?”
He sighed and made a right at the intersection heading out of town. “Jasper, you keep up behavior like this, you could eventually attract the attention of the Volturi.”
To Carlisle’s shock, the young one smirked. “I am not afraid of them, Carlisle, not in the slightest.”
“Yes, well,” Carlisle said with a deep frown marring his brow, “the attention of the Volturi is the last thing I want or need, so tone down your behavior, please.”
Jasper arched a brow. “I haven’t even drained anyone yet and you’re asking me to tone it down?” He grinned and rested his head back while staring out the windshield. “The fun’s just gettin’ started, Pops.”
“Jasper, the treaty…” Carlisle growled warningly.
Jasper grinned and looked over. “Don’t get your panties in a wad. I was just kidding.”
Carlisle shook his head and gripped the wheel. Not many were able to try his patience, but this kid…
“Hey! You think Mom’ll have dinner ready when I get there? I’m starved.”
Carlisle mock glared, trying his best not to smirk. “You know, that boot in the ass thing isn’t looking too bad.”
“Try it,” Jasper drawled as he lolled his head over to look at Carlisle, “and I’ll tell Mom on you.”
“Evil little shit,” Carlisle muttered as Jasper grinned. “You know Edward is quite upset,” he said, trying to bring the conversation back to a more serious tone.
“What for this time?”
“Well, our conversation was cut a bit short because I had to come get you out of lockup, but from what I gathered before I left, Bella is Edward’s mate, but he also has an irresistible draw to her blood.”
Jasper pursed his lips and shrugged a shoulder. “She is pretty damn sweet…”
Carlisle glanced at him. “Did you have the same problem? Is that why you were with her?”
Jasper snickered while casting an amused look at the Cullen Patriarch. “You’re kidding, right? If I had wanted to drain the girl, I would’a done it. Yeah, she’s sweet, but nothing really outta the ordinary for a fine virgin piece of…”
“Okay, son, I get it,” Carlisle said, cutting him short. “It’s just that Edward said you were thinking of her, along with a previous…meal that looked remarkably like Bella.”
Jasper laughed, his smile wide when he looked at Carlisle. “So, he caught that, did he? I had hoped…”
Carlisle rubbed his brow before draping his hand back over the wheel. “Jasper, if you would only stop teasing your brother…”
“No can do, Pops. Way too much fun to be had.”
Carlisle frowned. “This is his mate we’re discussing, son. A very serious matter to any vampire…” He saw pain flash through Jasper’s eyes just as a wave of the emotion washed through the car and could’ve kicked himself. “Son, I’m sorry…”
Jasper raised a hand while staring out the window. “No. Drop it, please.”
They fell into silence as he turned onto their long driveway, and didn’t speak again until Carlisle had pulled the car into the garage. “Try not to fight with Edward, son, please? You’ll only upset Esme.”
He looked over. “Then tell him to stay outta my head. He might not like what he sees. And I won’t provoke him, not tonight anyway, but if he attacks me, I won’t lie down and take it.”
“Fair enough,” the Cullen Patriarch said with a nod. They got out of the car and entered the house through the kitchen where Esme seemed to be waiting. “Oh Jasper, sweetheart,” she said, cupping his cheek while tucking a curl behind his ear, “are you all right?”
He chuckled. “Vampire, remember? Pretty tough for a human to hurt and all that.”
“Well, you look and seem fine,” she said with relief as her hands ran down his arms, her gaze flitting over him to look for damage.
He exchanged an amused look with Carlisle. “I am fine. You really think a lowly human could hurt me?”
She sighed. “I guess not. I just hate to think of you locked up like that.”
He smirked. “Does that mean I can just break out next time?”
She frowned and grasped his chin while looking into his eyes. “No, that means you don’t do anything to get locked up from now on.”
“I didn’t do anything to get locked up this time! Not my fault the man’s over sensitive where his daughter’s concerned.”
“Jasper…” she said on a sigh before looking at him with a rueful smirk. “The police Chief’s daughter this time? Really?”
He grinned. “I like a challenge?”
She patted his cheek. “Go wash up. I’ll have your blood ready when you’re finished.”
He headed out of the kitchen and toward the stairs but stopped short when Edward grabbed his arm. “We need to talk,” he said, dropping his arm and striding into the living room. Jasper stifled an eye roll and followed, noting the presence of Alice, Rosalie and Emmett just as Carlisle entered behind him. “Keep it civil, all of you,” the patriarch ordered before seating himself in an arm chair.
Edward frowned but nodded as Jasper took another chair. “Fine,” Edward said while taking up a spot by the fireplace.
Carlisle looked at Jasper with a raised brow. “I will if he will,” he agreed as he stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankles. He looked at his ‘brother’ and smirked. “Well? Shoot.”
“I want you to stay away from Bella.”
This time, he did roll his eyes. “I get that she may be your mate and all, but if she decides she wants to hang around me, I’m not gonna push her away.”
Edward scowled. “Why not? You don’t even like humans. They’re either food or toys to you, so why can’t you simply stay away from this one?”
“I’d like to hear the answer to that myself,” Rose muttered while studying her nails.
Jasper shrugged. “I find her amusing. If that changes, I’ll cut her loose.” He felt Edward’s anger spike and smiled.
“She’s my mate! I don’t want you toying with her feelings, not to mention the risk you pose to her life. What guarantee do I have you won’t ‘slip’ and drain her?”
“Well, golly, I guess you don’t have one, do you? But I would say with the amount of bloodlust you’re pumping out from just her residual scent on me, you’re more of a risk to her than I am, lover-boy.”
Edward growled and ran a hand through his hair. “I know,” he muttered.
Alice rolled her eyes. “Don’t start this again, Edward. I told you my plan will work.”
“Plan?” Rosalie asked with a scowl. “What plan? And why? The girl’s human! Why are we even discussing this? We should all stay the hell away from her.” She sat forward, scowling at everyone in the room. “We involve a human in our lives, we’re risking everything! And I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m not willing to risk my existence on what could be nothing but a teen crush.”
Alice rolled her eyes. “As usual, you’re overreacting. She’s Edward’s mate, Rose. The visions are clear.”
“Oh yeah?” she growled, her eyes narrowed on the seer, “kinda like your visions of Jasper?”
Alice’s eyes narrowed to slits. “That was low, Rose,” she said as Jasper quietly snickered.
“Enough,” Carlisle interjected. “Alice, explain this plan if you would, please.”
With one last glare at Rose who merely smirked, Alice sat back with a nod. “The plan is to take a few items from Bella’s room so that Edward can desensitize himself to her scent over the next couple of days. When he returns to school, he’ll be fine. I mean, it’ll still be painful for him, but he won’t have to fight to keep from draining her.”
“You’re certain, Alice?” Carlisle asked and she nodded.
“I am.”
Rose rolled her eyes. “Thus saith the Lord…”
Emmett snickered. “Right?”
“Go take a look at your portfolio and then talk some shit,” Alice said with a sneer as she crossed her arms. “I think my gift has been proven quite thoroughly through the years, thank you very much.”
“And it has, Alice, but Rose is also correct. We have to be cautious. There’s much we’re potentially risking by Edward courting a human. If the Volturi got wind of it…”
They all glanced at each other, with the exception of Jasper who stared at his boots, a small smile curving his lips. Esme approached him then with a large thermal mug. “Here sweetheart. I thought to wait until this talk was over, but I don’t want it getting cold on you.”
“Thanks Esme,” he said, taking the mug and sipping the contents.
“Must be nice to be catered to,” Emmett teased and Jasper grinned.
“Don’t be jealous, Em. I’m sure she’ll change your nappy later if you ask nicely.”
Emmett flipped him off and he chuckled and went back to sipping his dinner as Esme sighed, perching herself on the arm of Carlisle’s chair. He wrapped an arm around her and rubbed his brow. “Why did we want kids again?” he asked through a sigh.
She chuckled and patted his arm. “We love them, honey. In times like this, just try to remember, we love them.”
“Right,” he said before looking up at his family. “When do you plan to take these items from Bella’s home?”
“Wait a minute!” Rose said, sitting forward to frown at Carlisle. “That’s it? That’s all the talking we’re gonna do about this? You acknowledge the threat this could be and then just decide to go ahead with it? Because I’m not okay with that!”
“What’s to discuss, Rose?!” Alice snapped. “She’s Edward’s mate! You can’t keep him from his mate! It’d be beyond cruel!”
Jasper scoffed and muttered, “Oh, that’s rich, you fucking…”
“Jasper!” Esme said, cutting his comment short. “Please, honey…”
His head rolled back and he waved a hand as his eyes closed. “Fine. Please continue to spew, oh great psycho seer bitc—“
“Jasper…” Carlisle cut in, his tone low in warning.
Jasper scowled and rose from his seat. “I’m gonna go shower. Have fun wading through the bullshit.” He stalked from the room and Carlisle rubbed his eyes before waving a hand.
“Where were we?”
Emmett piped up, “Well, Alice was saying how cruel Rose was and then Jasper called Alice a fu—“
“Emmett!” Carlisle snapped. “I think we all got that part.” He glared at his muscle bound son who shot him a sheepish grin. “Now, back to the main discussion, and keep it clean.”
“I think you’re all losing sight of the fact that ultimately, this should be my decision,” Edward murmured into the ensuing silence. He looked around at all of them. “She and I don’t even know each other, so any further discussion of the mate thing should be put off until we at least have friendship between us.”
“Agreed,” Carlisle said, “so then, Alice will get some items from her room sometime today. You’ll desensitize yourself to her scent and then go back to school. From there, we’ll see how things go, and revisit this topic later. Is this all something we can agree on?” He gaze touched on each one as they nodded, Rose being the last. With a huff and a tossed hand, she finally nodded.
“Fine. But when it turns to shit, I’m not planning on burning for it.”
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.