The Inauspicious Beginnings Of A Prince
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 09
Alice Cullen was in her element.
Who, in their right mind, could resist shopping in Italy after all?
The designers, the leather, the shoes!
She sighed as she roamed the boutiques with the Denali sisters.
Who was she kidding?
She was trying her best to avoid, not only the thick tension surrounding her family at the present, but her mind reader brother.
If he got a clue of one of her more recent visions, all would be lost. He would say something about them and the outcome was not good. Not good at all.
Things would go to hell in a hurry and she couldn't let that happen. She would keep her visions and the whopper of a secret to herself and let things play out. It was the only way that the outcome was good for all involved….eventually.
She frowned when she thought about the challenges in store for all of them.
If Carlisle thought Jasper was challenging as an eight year old, he hasn't seen anything yet.
The boy was unlike anyone she had ever met as far as complexity went.
He wasn't all bad, nor was he all good and she supposed that was true of everyone.
But when he decided to be bad?
She literally shuddered at the potential.
And her heart ached for Carlisle.
He meant well. He really did.
But the conflict between he and Jasper was going to go down in family history and she wasn't looking forward to any of it.
~o0o~
Jasper found his parents in their private sitting room connected to their quarters. They welcomed him in warmly.
They always did.
Athenadora hugged him as soon as he made his way through the door and he soaked in all the love and concern that was radiating from her, choosing to stay wrapped in her arms for much longer than he had in years.
He remembered her warm hugs from when he was a child and closed his eyes, wishing that he could feel that same level of security now as he had then, but he knew that those days were past and let go of the embrace, standing straight and facing his father.
Caius watched his son carefully, seeing something close to longing and regret in his face and knew that he had made a profound decision.
He held himself steady, not speaking, letting his son come to terms with what he came to say and how to say it.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Father, Mother, I've decided to join the Cullen's in their new nome for this next year.
I know that this might come as a shock to you but you must understand that I have very good reasons for doing so. Reasons that, while I wish fervently to share them with you, I can't because they are not solely mine to share. I feel that I would be betraying one very close to me to do so. Rest assured, I will tell you someday, but I just can't right now."
Caius nodded as Athenadora sat back down next to him, leaning into his side as he grasped her hand.
"We understand my son. What is important is that you know how much we love you and we will anticipate your speedy return to us every day that you're gone.
We trust you Jasper. We always have and that will never change.
If you feel that this is something you must do, then we will support you.
I have always said that your interaction with your biological parents was entirely up to you and I won't go back on my word or try to influence you to stay, no matter how much I may want to for my own selfish reasons."
Father and son smirked at each other and Athenadora marveled at the similarities between them.
They had truly bonded over the years and she was, once again, warmed by Jasper's presence in their lives.
She rose along with her husband and they embraced their son just as they used to when he was much smaller.
"You will write and call?"
Jasper backed away to see them both.
"Of course I will. I will miss you both just as much you know and this isn't forever. I will be back. This is my home and you are my parents. That will never change."
~o0o~
Carlisle was just rising from his seat to go seek out his son again when there was a knock at the door.
Answering, he was shocked yet again this day, to see Jasper there.
"May I come in?"
Carlisle noted the polite words, but also the cold, not quite snide tone of voice, and sighed inwardly.
Moving aside, he gestured toward the sitting room.
"Of course. Please do. I've been meaning to speak with you, but your guards would not let me pass."
Jasper smirked at him on his way into the room.
"That's generally their job."
Carlisle clenched his jaw at that but held his silence.
Jasper strolled over to the arm chair and sprawled into it, glancing at a tense Esme as he did so.
Tipping his head in a slight nod, he greeted her. "Esme."
She gave him a small but warm smile.
"Jasper. It's a surprise to see you here in our rooms, but a very welcome one. What brings you to us?"
He didn't mince words. He didn't see the point.
"I have decided to join you in Forks, was it? Just for the year. Then I shall return home to Italy."
Jasper noted their reactions.
Carlisle's brow was furrowed in thought and Esme's eyes had lit up with happiness.
"Oh Jasper, honey, that's so wonderful! I had fervently hoped that you'd join us someday, but I never dared to dream that you'd finally agree!"
Carlisle now had a calculating, slightly suspicious look on his face and Jasper smirked at him.
"What is it Daddy? Not happy with my decision?"
Carlisle locked gazes with him.
"That's not it at all Jasper and I think you know that. I'm just wondering what caused the sudden change of heart? It's very unexpected, especially in light of your sentiments expressed to Rosalie earlier today."
Jasper adopted a purposefully innocent and confused look, coupled with slightly widened eyes before glancing over at Esme.
"Am I not welcomed to join you now?"
"Oh Jasper, honey no! That's not what he meant at all sweetie!"
She looked over at her husband then and was shocked to see his eyes narrowed and locked on their son as Jasper still gazed at her in innocent confusion mixed with what looked to be hurt.
She bristled instantly.
"Is it Carlisle? Our son is very welcomed to join us?"
Her tone was like an ice bath and Carlisle was taken aback by it.
He directed his full attention to her and saw that her gaze was just as cold.
"Yes, of course Esme. Jasper, you are very welcome to join us as I have always said for the past nine years. My feelings haven't changed on the subject, and I'm happy that you've finally decided to accept our invitation. I was simply wondering what caused the sudden change."
Esme, now looking somewhat appeased, reached over and patted Jasper's hand.
"It doesn't really matter honey. What does matter is that you'll be with us at last."
Jasper smiled at her.
"Thank you Esme. I'd thought there for a moment that you had changed your minds."
He laughed sheepishly.
"Never Sweetie. Having you there has been my greatest wish for these last many years and I won't let anything ruin that. You're my son. My baby boy that I never got to know and I just want that chance with you honey."
He dropped his head and nodded with a shy smile.
She leaned over and hugged him and he once again locked eyes with Carlisle, a triumphant smirk firmly in place.
~o0o~
Dropping his most recent kill, the boy spun around and took off after his dinner's companion.
His brother always said that if they couldn't find lone hunters or hikers to kill, that they had to kill all the others that had seen them too, otherwise they would tell someone about the boys in the woods and then there would be lots of people searching for them.
So, he had always listened to his brother because his brother had always been right about these people.
He had said they wouldn't understand them because they were different and those people, whose blood they drank, didn't like anything that was different from them.
He remembered with fear the time one of them had shot his brother and how he had to take care of him until he got better.
It had been his fault that his brother got shot.
He had been drinking from one hunter and hadn't noticed the other one sneaking up on him.
His brother had showed up just in time to cover his body with his own, taking a shot to his back.
He'd been so scared that he'd lose him, he was so sick. But he got better.
His brother had been the smart one, first teaching himself how to read and write and then teaching him. His brother taught him all he knew while he taught his brother how to be gentle and loving and how to laugh.
He had always loved to make his brother laugh.
His attention was brought back from his thoughts as he spotted the companion of his dinner running up ahead.
Putting on a little speed, he circled around in front of him and caught him in the blink of an eye, sinking his fangs into his neck, eyes still open, surveying his surroundings while he drank.
He used to like to close his eyes while drinking. It seemed to make the blood taste even better.
But his brother would always get mad at him for it, saying to always keep all senses open so that they wouldn't get caught.
They always took turns watching when they hunted or scavenged a camp too.
He was on watch the day his brother got caught.
He still wasn't sure how he had missed those strange people surrounding his brother, but he had until it was too late.
His heart clenched with pain at that thought and tears came to his eyes as he dropped down to the ground with his second kill.
He stared at the ground as everything blurred, and he wished with everything in him that he could see his brother again.
~o0o~
Bella sighed as she packed up the last of her things, taping the boxes closed. They would be shipped out the next day so that they'd be there in her room at Charlie's when she arrived in five days.
She wanted to get there before school began so that she could get settled in before having to worry with classes and homework. And she certainly didn't want to start school after everyone else.
It was always bad enough being the new kid, but to start after the first day made things even worse. At least that had been her experience in the past.
She had plenty of that experience too since her mother rarely stayed in the same place for long.
Consequently, she hadn't made any long term friends, ever.
Many acquaintances, but not real friends. Certainly no one that she kept in touch with.
And forget about boyfriends. She was never around long enough for that either, and she just wasn't the type to do the short term thing.
For her, she knew it was going to be an "all or nothing" situation and she just hadn't met anyone that made her want the "all" situation.
Grass green eyes and blond hair flitted through her mind then as she scooted the last box over to the corner and she sighed shaking her head at the strange longing that shot through her momentarily.
Leave it to her to pick the one strange guy that she could never have.
"Get it together Bella." She mumbled to herself as she kicked the last box, gasping when she realized too late that it was full of books.
Sitting on her bed, rubbing her sore toes, she found herself being relieved at the thought that this would be her last school change until she made her way to college and a life of her own.
"Aw, sweet independence." She murmured.
Alice Cullen was in her element.
Who, in their right mind, could resist shopping in Italy after all?
The designers, the leather, the shoes!
She sighed as she roamed the boutiques with the Denali sisters.
Who was she kidding?
She was trying her best to avoid, not only the thick tension surrounding her family at the present, but her mind reader brother.
If he got a clue of one of her more recent visions, all would be lost. He would say something about them and the outcome was not good. Not good at all.
Things would go to hell in a hurry and she couldn't let that happen. She would keep her visions and the whopper of a secret to herself and let things play out. It was the only way that the outcome was good for all involved….eventually.
She frowned when she thought about the challenges in store for all of them.
If Carlisle thought Jasper was challenging as an eight year old, he hasn't seen anything yet.
The boy was unlike anyone she had ever met as far as complexity went.
He wasn't all bad, nor was he all good and she supposed that was true of everyone.
But when he decided to be bad?
She literally shuddered at the potential.
And her heart ached for Carlisle.
He meant well. He really did.
But the conflict between he and Jasper was going to go down in family history and she wasn't looking forward to any of it.
~o0o~
Jasper found his parents in their private sitting room connected to their quarters. They welcomed him in warmly.
They always did.
Athenadora hugged him as soon as he made his way through the door and he soaked in all the love and concern that was radiating from her, choosing to stay wrapped in her arms for much longer than he had in years.
He remembered her warm hugs from when he was a child and closed his eyes, wishing that he could feel that same level of security now as he had then, but he knew that those days were past and let go of the embrace, standing straight and facing his father.
Caius watched his son carefully, seeing something close to longing and regret in his face and knew that he had made a profound decision.
He held himself steady, not speaking, letting his son come to terms with what he came to say and how to say it.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Father, Mother, I've decided to join the Cullen's in their new nome for this next year.
I know that this might come as a shock to you but you must understand that I have very good reasons for doing so. Reasons that, while I wish fervently to share them with you, I can't because they are not solely mine to share. I feel that I would be betraying one very close to me to do so. Rest assured, I will tell you someday, but I just can't right now."
Caius nodded as Athenadora sat back down next to him, leaning into his side as he grasped her hand.
"We understand my son. What is important is that you know how much we love you and we will anticipate your speedy return to us every day that you're gone.
We trust you Jasper. We always have and that will never change.
If you feel that this is something you must do, then we will support you.
I have always said that your interaction with your biological parents was entirely up to you and I won't go back on my word or try to influence you to stay, no matter how much I may want to for my own selfish reasons."
Father and son smirked at each other and Athenadora marveled at the similarities between them.
They had truly bonded over the years and she was, once again, warmed by Jasper's presence in their lives.
She rose along with her husband and they embraced their son just as they used to when he was much smaller.
"You will write and call?"
Jasper backed away to see them both.
"Of course I will. I will miss you both just as much you know and this isn't forever. I will be back. This is my home and you are my parents. That will never change."
~o0o~
Carlisle was just rising from his seat to go seek out his son again when there was a knock at the door.
Answering, he was shocked yet again this day, to see Jasper there.
"May I come in?"
Carlisle noted the polite words, but also the cold, not quite snide tone of voice, and sighed inwardly.
Moving aside, he gestured toward the sitting room.
"Of course. Please do. I've been meaning to speak with you, but your guards would not let me pass."
Jasper smirked at him on his way into the room.
"That's generally their job."
Carlisle clenched his jaw at that but held his silence.
Jasper strolled over to the arm chair and sprawled into it, glancing at a tense Esme as he did so.
Tipping his head in a slight nod, he greeted her. "Esme."
She gave him a small but warm smile.
"Jasper. It's a surprise to see you here in our rooms, but a very welcome one. What brings you to us?"
He didn't mince words. He didn't see the point.
"I have decided to join you in Forks, was it? Just for the year. Then I shall return home to Italy."
Jasper noted their reactions.
Carlisle's brow was furrowed in thought and Esme's eyes had lit up with happiness.
"Oh Jasper, honey, that's so wonderful! I had fervently hoped that you'd join us someday, but I never dared to dream that you'd finally agree!"
Carlisle now had a calculating, slightly suspicious look on his face and Jasper smirked at him.
"What is it Daddy? Not happy with my decision?"
Carlisle locked gazes with him.
"That's not it at all Jasper and I think you know that. I'm just wondering what caused the sudden change of heart? It's very unexpected, especially in light of your sentiments expressed to Rosalie earlier today."
Jasper adopted a purposefully innocent and confused look, coupled with slightly widened eyes before glancing over at Esme.
"Am I not welcomed to join you now?"
"Oh Jasper, honey no! That's not what he meant at all sweetie!"
She looked over at her husband then and was shocked to see his eyes narrowed and locked on their son as Jasper still gazed at her in innocent confusion mixed with what looked to be hurt.
She bristled instantly.
"Is it Carlisle? Our son is very welcomed to join us?"
Her tone was like an ice bath and Carlisle was taken aback by it.
He directed his full attention to her and saw that her gaze was just as cold.
"Yes, of course Esme. Jasper, you are very welcome to join us as I have always said for the past nine years. My feelings haven't changed on the subject, and I'm happy that you've finally decided to accept our invitation. I was simply wondering what caused the sudden change."
Esme, now looking somewhat appeased, reached over and patted Jasper's hand.
"It doesn't really matter honey. What does matter is that you'll be with us at last."
Jasper smiled at her.
"Thank you Esme. I'd thought there for a moment that you had changed your minds."
He laughed sheepishly.
"Never Sweetie. Having you there has been my greatest wish for these last many years and I won't let anything ruin that. You're my son. My baby boy that I never got to know and I just want that chance with you honey."
He dropped his head and nodded with a shy smile.
She leaned over and hugged him and he once again locked eyes with Carlisle, a triumphant smirk firmly in place.
~o0o~
Dropping his most recent kill, the boy spun around and took off after his dinner's companion.
His brother always said that if they couldn't find lone hunters or hikers to kill, that they had to kill all the others that had seen them too, otherwise they would tell someone about the boys in the woods and then there would be lots of people searching for them.
So, he had always listened to his brother because his brother had always been right about these people.
He had said they wouldn't understand them because they were different and those people, whose blood they drank, didn't like anything that was different from them.
He remembered with fear the time one of them had shot his brother and how he had to take care of him until he got better.
It had been his fault that his brother got shot.
He had been drinking from one hunter and hadn't noticed the other one sneaking up on him.
His brother had showed up just in time to cover his body with his own, taking a shot to his back.
He'd been so scared that he'd lose him, he was so sick. But he got better.
His brother had been the smart one, first teaching himself how to read and write and then teaching him. His brother taught him all he knew while he taught his brother how to be gentle and loving and how to laugh.
He had always loved to make his brother laugh.
His attention was brought back from his thoughts as he spotted the companion of his dinner running up ahead.
Putting on a little speed, he circled around in front of him and caught him in the blink of an eye, sinking his fangs into his neck, eyes still open, surveying his surroundings while he drank.
He used to like to close his eyes while drinking. It seemed to make the blood taste even better.
But his brother would always get mad at him for it, saying to always keep all senses open so that they wouldn't get caught.
They always took turns watching when they hunted or scavenged a camp too.
He was on watch the day his brother got caught.
He still wasn't sure how he had missed those strange people surrounding his brother, but he had until it was too late.
His heart clenched with pain at that thought and tears came to his eyes as he dropped down to the ground with his second kill.
He stared at the ground as everything blurred, and he wished with everything in him that he could see his brother again.
~o0o~
Bella sighed as she packed up the last of her things, taping the boxes closed. They would be shipped out the next day so that they'd be there in her room at Charlie's when she arrived in five days.
She wanted to get there before school began so that she could get settled in before having to worry with classes and homework. And she certainly didn't want to start school after everyone else.
It was always bad enough being the new kid, but to start after the first day made things even worse. At least that had been her experience in the past.
She had plenty of that experience too since her mother rarely stayed in the same place for long.
Consequently, she hadn't made any long term friends, ever.
Many acquaintances, but not real friends. Certainly no one that she kept in touch with.
And forget about boyfriends. She was never around long enough for that either, and she just wasn't the type to do the short term thing.
For her, she knew it was going to be an "all or nothing" situation and she just hadn't met anyone that made her want the "all" situation.
Grass green eyes and blond hair flitted through her mind then as she scooted the last box over to the corner and she sighed shaking her head at the strange longing that shot through her momentarily.
Leave it to her to pick the one strange guy that she could never have.
"Get it together Bella." She mumbled to herself as she kicked the last box, gasping when she realized too late that it was full of books.
Sitting on her bed, rubbing her sore toes, she found herself being relieved at the thought that this would be her last school change until she made her way to college and a life of her own.
"Aw, sweet independence." She murmured.
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.