Waiting For My Real Life To Begin
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 17
Charles grumbled to himself as he made his way to answer the impatient knock at the door. He just wasn't in the mood to deal with rude people, but he would, for his employer's sake.
Admittedly, he was never usually like this but at the moment, the whole household was tense with worry for their young mistress. She wasn't doing well since Mr. Whitlock had left them three days past, and they were all frightened for her physical health, but also for that of her mind as she hadn't uttered a word since that fateful night.
Miss Bennett had even tried to get a response from her, with no success. She and a maid had bathed and dressed the young mistress in night-clothes and tucked her back into bed. They'd tried to get her to take some broth or tea and Mrs. Whitlock had simply stared straight ahead as if she wasn't even there. He sighed as he came to the door and the insistent knock. Perhaps their young mistress was gone. Only time would tell.
He opened the door to a decidedly angry looking elder Mrs. Whitlock who barreled past him, her two contrite looking daughters following. "Where is my daughter-in-law? I must see her at once!"
Charles closed the door and inclined his head to the woman. "I am sorry madame, but Mrs. Whitlock is not receiving at this time. I will be sure to inform her of your visit."
The woman drew herself up. "You misunderstand me sir. This is not a request. I will see her, now."
He held his ground, politely. "I am sorry madame, but she is indisposed and will not be receiving visitors." He opened the door, gesturing with one hand toward the outside and waited.
The woman now looked livid, but instead of leaving as he had hoped, she turned and marched up the grand stair case and straight to his mistresses bedroom, her daughters following silently.
He closed the door, his carefully concealed frustration building as he went to summon Miss Bennett. He figured, based on the disposition of the elder Mrs. Whitlock, that their young mistress would be needing the comfort of a friend very soon and Miss Bennett had shown herself to be that over the past few days, for which he was very grateful. The young mistress had quickly endeared herself to him and he would see to her welfare the best he could.
Emily hurried to Bella's room after hearing of the insistent visitor, slipping in silently to observe. She was glad she did.
The elder Mrs. Whitlock loomed over the bed, her words cutting, venomous. "My son is gone because of you, now what did you do?! Speak! Say something! He was never supposed to join this conflict and now that's what he's probably done! He's gone off somewhere, and I know it's because of you! You're the only one who could have made him leave! Now, what did you do?! What happened? Tell me!"
Emily watched as Bella remained silent, staring blankly up at the ceiling as she had been doing since her husband left, but now there were tears wetting her hair and pillow. She couldn't stand by and watch this abuse continue.
"Pardon me Ma'am, but young Mrs. Whitlock is in no condition for your visit. Perhaps another day, when she's feeling better, would be prudent?"
The woman turned to her. "And just who are you?"
Emily smiled tightly, struggling to maintain civility. "I am Mrs. Whitlock's friend and I'm staying with her for the time being."
"Does my son know of your presence here in his home?"
Emily inclined her head. "Yes Ma'am, he does indeed."
Jasper's mother glanced between Emily and Bella. "Fine, I can see that my daughter-in-law is indisposed. I will return at a later date to continue this discussion." She turned fully to face Bella. "But let me part with this; if my son, my only son, joins this conflict, I will hold you responsible. I know, without doubt, that you did something to cause this, and I will find out what that was."
Bella didn't even twitch, but her tears continued to flow.
The elder woman left, her two very sad looking daughters following silently.
Emily went into the washroom and returned to the bedside with a basin of warm water and a soft face cloth which she wet in the water, wrung out and used to bathe the tears from Bella's face.
"You know Miss Bella, you can't continue like this. You're stronger than this, girl, I can feel it. I know you have it in you to pull through this. You just have to realize it. But I have to be honest with you; if you don't find that strength within you soon, your little one will pay the price. You will lose him. Now, do you want that? Or do you want that baby to live? It's entirely up to you. You're the only one who can save that little life inside you."
She sat back and placed the cloth in the basin, surprise filling her when she heard Bella's raspy whisper. "My Dad. I need my Dad."
She leaned forward, smoothing Bella's hair back with a sad smile. "We'll get him for you sugar. He'll be here in no time."
She moved across the room to the writing desk and wrote out a quick missive to Damon. "I'll be right back doll."
She hurried down the stairs calling for Charles who met her at the bottom of the staircase. "Yes Miss Bennett?"
She handed him the note. "This is for Mrs. Whitlock's father. She's requesting his presence."
He smiled hopefully with a nod. "I'll deliver this myself."
She smiled shyly. "Thank you Charles. I'm going to go sit with her until he arrives."
He nodded. "I'm glad she has you Miss Bennett. She needs all the care she can get right now."
She placed her hand on the stair rail. "She surely does Charles, and I'm sure that she'll get that from all of us."
She ascended the stairs and he stared after her for a moment, admiration in his eyes as he watched her go, murmuring to himself as he left the house. "What a woman."
He finally located Damon as he was leaving the restaurant with what looked to be business associates. He caught Damon's eye and waited as he excused himself. "Charles, I'm surprised to see you here. Is everything all right?"
Charles glanced around at all of the people milling about a gave a slight shake of his head. "I have a missive for you sir. I thought you'd like to get it right away."
He handed it over and Damon read it quickly. "Let me make my apologies and I'll accompany you to my daughter's home Charles."
"Yes sir Mr. Salvatore. I'll wait here for you."
Once Damon had excused himself, they began walking to Bella's house. "How bad is my daughter Charles?"
"Well sir, she hasn't moved from her bed or spoken in the three days that Mr. Whitlock has been gone. She hasn't taken any nourishment either. We've tried and she just doesn't respond sir, not even to refuse."
Damon cursed lowly, determination filling him. He hadn't gone through all of this shit just to lose his daughter anyway. There was just no way in hell he was going to stand by and watch that happen. He didn't know how yet, but he was going to fix this, come hell or high water.
He entered the room quietly, catching Emily's eye who rose and quickly left.
He moved forward and studied his daughter for a moment, her appearance bringing to mind the first time he'd ever seen her. She looked half dead and he knew what he had to do.
Pulling back the heavy covers, he scooped her from the bed and sat with her clutched closely to him in an armchair. "Che cosa è successo a mia figlia preziosa? Dimmi." ("What happened my precious daughter? Tell me.")
Her voice was hoarse from disuse when she spoke. "Se n'è andato papà. Mi ha lasciato . Lui mi odia adesso ed è colpa mia. Io lo morsi a segnare lui papà. Non riuscivo a smettere e ora lui è terrorizzato di me." ("He's gone Dad. He left me. He hates me now and it's my fault. I bit him to mark him Dad. I couldn't stop it and now he's terrified of me.")
She began to sob against him and he ran his fingers through her hair as he kissed the top of her head, holding her tightly. "Riparerò questa bambina. Te lo prometto. Anche se ho a calci il culo tutta la strada fino qui, voglio risolvere questo problema. Egli vi ama bambina. Ha solo bisogno di un forte richiamo." ("I will fix this baby girl. I promise you. Even if I have to kick his ass all the way back here, I will fix this. He loves you baby girl. He just needs a strong reminder.")
He left Bella's house on a mission. He was out to find his errant son-in-law so he headed to the Whitlock mansion hoping against hope that he hadn't been posted yet and he would find him there.
At least now his daughter was in a better condition than when he'd first arrived. He'd given her some of his blood and tucked her back into bed with instructions for the servants to get some soup into her when he left. She had agreed to try to eat something and so he'd felt comfortable leaving her for a time.
Arriving at their door, he pulled the bell cord and waited. The door opened and he smirked at who was standing before him. Just who he wished to see.
Jasper's eyes widened for a second before narrowing in anger. "I have nothing to say to you."
Damon stepped in, taking a firm hold on Jasper's upper arm. "Well that's good because I have plenty to say to you, so you can just keep your mouth shut and listen. Now, where shall we have this discussion Lieutenant Whitlock, hm? I'm assuming you would like privacy, so choose wisely."
Jasper jerked his arm away. "My father's study. This way."
They walked in and Damon sat as Jasper turned and locked the door. He turned to Damon and gestured with a hand. "Talk. My time is limited."
Damon eyed the kid for a moment. "Sit down boy. This will take as long as it takes and I don't fancy staring up at you the whole time."
Jasper's jaw clenched as he took a seat and Damon could smell the barest hint of fear from him. In a way he considered that a good thing. At this point, he'd take every advantage he could get. He didn't want to have to resort to compulsion but that option wasn't off the table as far as the health and welfare of his daughter was concerned. He had to admit though that such an option would be a very last resort as it was no way to forge lasting relationships. Just the memories of such things left him with a bitter taste in his mouth.
"You have broken your vows to my daughter and also your word to me. You looked me in the eye and swore that you would not leave her and join this conflict and now here you are Lieutenant, all ready to deploy."
Jasper remained quiet and he continued. "I'm not here to spare your feelings or mince words. You claimed manhood the minute you asked for my daughter's hand and I acknowledged such when I consented. So, I ask you now, where is the man that married my daughter? Where is the man that has fathered a child with her?"
He watched with satisfaction as the color drained from the kid's face. "What did you just say?"
Damon didn't even smirk. "Don't be obtuse. It's doesn't suit you and I know I didn't mumble or stutter. You heard me, plainly."
Jasper turned his head away with a frown for a moment and then looked back. "Just what will this child be anyway? Will it be some blood sucking monster?"
Damon's eyes hardened into azure ice. "Be very careful with what you say in anger and naiveté Lieutenant. I'm a very patient being but you are insinuating that my daughter, your wife, is less than the beautiful woman and mother of your child that she is, and I won't tolerate it."
Jasper simply stared at him and Damon leaned forward. "All right. You want to talk about blood sucking monsters Lieutenant? Sit back and brace yourself, because I am about to tell you of your future. The future that you had. The future that my daughter changed by coming back to this time to find you."
Jasper opened his mouth to speak and Damon held up a hand, stopping him. "No, you had your chance to speak. Now you will listen, but before you do, you will open your mind, and suspend your ignorant disbelief because every word I am about to speak is the unadulterated truth."
"In your previous future, you never met my daughter. You joined the Confederate Army just before turning seventeen. You rose quickly through the ranks and made it to the rank of Major. During a mission to evacuate women and children from Galveston, you were changed into a different kind of vampire; ones that we know as cold ones, due to the very cold temperature of their bodies.
They, for the most part, are vicious and aggressive. They do not have fangs and kill their prey every time they feed. You would spend the next century under the command of your maker whose name was Maria, commanding her vampire army in what was known as the southern vampire wars. Your group would fight other groups for feeding territory; the areas with the most population to kill and kill you did Major. You were notorious in the vampire world, for not only the amount of humans you killed but the amount of vampires. You were covered in the bite marks of other vampires. I know. I met you as a vampire."
Jasper remained silent, but it looked to be a shocked silence, so Damon continued.
"Can you just imagine the numbers of people you killed over a century Jasper? Even if it was just one person every two days or so… and I know that's a conservative estimate for the lifestyle that you lived during that century. So who's a blood sucking monster? Certainly not my daughter or her unborn child."
Jasper looked ashamed as he met his eyes and he continued.
"You did eventually escape that life as, from what I was told, it was too hard on you emotionally after a while. You see, you were a gifted empath. You could sense and manipulate the emotions of others, human and vampire alike, so you would feel the terror of your victims. You eventually found a family of cold ones that stuck strictly to an animal blood diet. You were with them for about sixty years.
It was during your time living in the state of Washington that you met my daughter when she began dating your coven 'brother'. She cut herself during a party and you lost control. They thought you were out to kill her, and so the decision was made that your whole family would leave the area, leaving her behind. Your family had no idea that Bella was half vampire, and unbeknownst to her, she had sensed her mate in you. That's the very reason you lost control. You sensed your mate in her when you smelled her blood and tried to get to her to bite and change her.
When all of you left, she went into a state of mourning; that of a vampire who's lost their mate. She might have survived it if she hadn't been half human, but she began dying from the grief. Her mother brought her to me in Virginia as a last resort. I had to give her my blood to keep her from dying but that was only a temporary fix. She needed her mate. Together, we figured out who her mate had really been and it was you, but there was no way I was going to have my daughter mated to a cold one.
We were friends of sorts with a witch and she performed a spell that sent us back in time so that she could meet you and save you from your fate as a cold one. Now, here we are, and because of your rash reaction, you are once again facing that same fate, for you are once again an officer in the Confederacy and on your way to war."
He sat back in his chair and waited on the kid to process all he'd just told him. He knew there would be questions and he didn't have to wait long.
"How do I know that you're telling me the truth? That this isn't just some elaborate ruse?"
Damon smirked. "Really kid? You just listened to that entire fantastical story and you think I made it up? Who makes up a story like that and toward what purpose? If I wanted to try to hoodwink you, wouldn't it make more sense to go with something remotely believable?"
Jasper looked away, deep in thought and Damon sighed. "I have a picture with me that I found in a small box that Bella brought along with her." He sighed when the kid looked confused and switched to the term of the time period they were in. "It's something like a Daguerreotype…"
Jasper nodded.
"Anyhow, it's the only proof that I have really, aside from telling you that a good portion of this city will burn down on March 10th…" Jasper looked up sharply and Damon held up a hand. "Not the portion we live in. I made sure of that. Your parents are safe here too. But as I was saying toward proof, the south will ultimately lose this war, with Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendering on April 9, 1865, but you really won't be around for that if you're not careful as you'll be changed into a cold one in 1863. To your family, you will simply go missing. But we know better now, don't we?"
Jasper shook his head slowly, trying to process all he'd heard. He looked back up. "This Daguerreotype? You have it with you?"
Damon nodded. "I do." He reached into an inside breast pocket and pulled the picture out, handing it over to Jasper and sitting back to wait.
He watched as several subtle emotions flitted across the kid's features as he stared at the picture, with shock being the predominant one. It was a picture of all the Cullen's and Bella, all posing and smiling.
He saw Jasper frown. "This man with his arm around Bella, he was courting her?"
Damon smirked. "Yes. It's called dating by then but yes, it's essentially a liberal form of courting."
Jasper looked up. "It seems so. He's being awfully forward with her in this Daguerreotype."
Damon's smirk stayed. "So what of it? You left her, remember?"
Jasper glanced up sharply. "She's still my wife!"
Damon crossed his arms over his chest, his icy blue eyes pinning his son-in-law where he sat. "Then act like her husband and I might believe you."
Jasper glanced down at the picture again and nodded. "You're right, and while I'm still having a time believing all you've told me, I am ashamed of the way I treated her and my actions after leaving."
Damon nodded. "She is convinced you hate her and her heart is broken over it. She is in the same state she was when her mother brought her to me when all this began. She's essentially dying of grief. I have given her my blood, but again, it's only a temporary solution. She will die without you, and now she will take your son with her."
Jasper's jaw clenched, his tone tortured when he answered. "I must leave. I have no choice now. I'll be arrested for desertion if I don't report to duty and we'd be separated anyway."
"Yes, and she'll be fine as long as she knows you still love her. It's the seemingly permanent separations that she cannot handle. If you leave without making things right between you, she will most likely die no matter what I tell her."
Jasper glanced up at the grandfather clock across the room and rubbed his forehead with his fingers. "We should be on our way then. I have to report in an hour. I had this day to make my goodbyes."
Damon stared. "You were really going to leave without a word to her…" Jasper looked away and Damon continued.
"I'm not sure what to think about that…" He leaned forward, gaining Jasper's attention. "…but know this, if something drastic happens to my daughter because of you, you won't have to worry about Maria getting to you because I'll end you, without a second thought. I gave her over into your care and don't think for a moment that I did that lightly."
He saw some fire enter the kid's gaze. "Mr. Salvatore I have made mistakes where my wife is concerned, first and foremost being not staying three nights past to work things out, but I'm sure even you can admit that the shock of what happened and the way in which things were revealed justified my actions to an extent. I deserved an explanation prior to having fangs sink into my neck, so do not act as though I am the only culpable party in this whole mess! I'll also thank you not to threaten me. If I make things right with my wife it will be because I love her and for no other reason. I'll not be strong-armed into anything."
He rose from his seat. "I have to get going now if I'm going to have any time with her."
Damon got up. "I'll leave with you. I won't go in to see Bella with you, but I will check in on her later tonight."
They walked out together and Jasper inclined his head. "That will set my mind at ease. I appreciate that she won't be alone through my absence especially in her condition."
"Yes well, I'm sure the presence of her husband would have been best for her, but it's a little late for that, now isn't it?"
A muscle twitched in Jasper's jaw and he stared straight ahead. "I will not make apologies. There is enough blame to go around in this situation and none of it will change things whether it's carried by one or placed where it belongs, now will it?"
He looked over at Damon who inclined his head. "No indeed. It won't change a thing unfortunately."
Jasper walked into his house and Charles did a double-take at the crisp officers uniform he wore before recovering. "Mr. Whitlock, it's good to see you back sir. Mrs. Whitlock is in her room if you are wanting to speak to her."
He walked to the stairs and began his ascent. "Thank you Charles. Please see that we remain undisturbed."
Charles inclined his head. "Yes sir Mr. Whitlock."
He entered their bedroom and saw her curled up on her side, facing away from the door. "Emily, really, I told you that I just can't eat any more."
"Isabella?"
She stiffened visibly, her voice trembling when she spoke. "Why are you here Jasper?"
He moved across the room and sat on the bed behind her, his hand moving to glide gently through her hair as he spoke. "I came to tell you that I love you Bella and that I'm sorry for the way I reacted three nights ago… I also came to say… goodbye."
She turned toward him sharply and her breath caught, tears springing into her eyes when she saw the uniform he wore.
The tears ran freely now, her words a cry of despair. "Oh god, Jasper, no!" She began to rock as she covered her face with both hands, sobs leaving her. "No, no, no, this can't happen… this just can't happen… no…"
He pulled her onto his lap, holding her closely. "This is not the end for us Bella. I'll come back to you, my beautiful wife I promise you."
She sobbed and clutched to him. "You don't know Jasper, you just don't know what will happen."
He gently lifted her face with his fingers under her chin, staring into her tear filled eyes. "I spoke with your father Bella, and he told me everything. It was too late to prevent my joining the army, but I know what to watch for. I'll be careful wife, and I'll make it back to you and our child, I promise you. Will you wait for me Bella?"
She reached up, cupping his cheek. "I traveled back decades of time for you Jasper. I love you more than life itself. Of course I'll wait." She choked on emotion, the tears still flowing as her chin quivered. "Just come back to me… come back to me."
A tear traced down his cheek as he nodded. "I promise Bella. I love you."
He leaned his head down and kissed her, tasting her sweetness mingled with the salt of her sorrow, knowing that it would be a long time before he would get to kiss her again and his heart ached with the thought.
He broke the kiss and she sobbed as he whispered against her lips. "I have to go my love. I have to go now."
He placed her back on the bed, gave her one last lingering kiss, turned and left the room, the sounds of her cries piercing him through as he closed the door.
Charles grumbled to himself as he made his way to answer the impatient knock at the door. He just wasn't in the mood to deal with rude people, but he would, for his employer's sake.
Admittedly, he was never usually like this but at the moment, the whole household was tense with worry for their young mistress. She wasn't doing well since Mr. Whitlock had left them three days past, and they were all frightened for her physical health, but also for that of her mind as she hadn't uttered a word since that fateful night.
Miss Bennett had even tried to get a response from her, with no success. She and a maid had bathed and dressed the young mistress in night-clothes and tucked her back into bed. They'd tried to get her to take some broth or tea and Mrs. Whitlock had simply stared straight ahead as if she wasn't even there. He sighed as he came to the door and the insistent knock. Perhaps their young mistress was gone. Only time would tell.
He opened the door to a decidedly angry looking elder Mrs. Whitlock who barreled past him, her two contrite looking daughters following. "Where is my daughter-in-law? I must see her at once!"
Charles closed the door and inclined his head to the woman. "I am sorry madame, but Mrs. Whitlock is not receiving at this time. I will be sure to inform her of your visit."
The woman drew herself up. "You misunderstand me sir. This is not a request. I will see her, now."
He held his ground, politely. "I am sorry madame, but she is indisposed and will not be receiving visitors." He opened the door, gesturing with one hand toward the outside and waited.
The woman now looked livid, but instead of leaving as he had hoped, she turned and marched up the grand stair case and straight to his mistresses bedroom, her daughters following silently.
He closed the door, his carefully concealed frustration building as he went to summon Miss Bennett. He figured, based on the disposition of the elder Mrs. Whitlock, that their young mistress would be needing the comfort of a friend very soon and Miss Bennett had shown herself to be that over the past few days, for which he was very grateful. The young mistress had quickly endeared herself to him and he would see to her welfare the best he could.
Emily hurried to Bella's room after hearing of the insistent visitor, slipping in silently to observe. She was glad she did.
The elder Mrs. Whitlock loomed over the bed, her words cutting, venomous. "My son is gone because of you, now what did you do?! Speak! Say something! He was never supposed to join this conflict and now that's what he's probably done! He's gone off somewhere, and I know it's because of you! You're the only one who could have made him leave! Now, what did you do?! What happened? Tell me!"
Emily watched as Bella remained silent, staring blankly up at the ceiling as she had been doing since her husband left, but now there were tears wetting her hair and pillow. She couldn't stand by and watch this abuse continue.
"Pardon me Ma'am, but young Mrs. Whitlock is in no condition for your visit. Perhaps another day, when she's feeling better, would be prudent?"
The woman turned to her. "And just who are you?"
Emily smiled tightly, struggling to maintain civility. "I am Mrs. Whitlock's friend and I'm staying with her for the time being."
"Does my son know of your presence here in his home?"
Emily inclined her head. "Yes Ma'am, he does indeed."
Jasper's mother glanced between Emily and Bella. "Fine, I can see that my daughter-in-law is indisposed. I will return at a later date to continue this discussion." She turned fully to face Bella. "But let me part with this; if my son, my only son, joins this conflict, I will hold you responsible. I know, without doubt, that you did something to cause this, and I will find out what that was."
Bella didn't even twitch, but her tears continued to flow.
The elder woman left, her two very sad looking daughters following silently.
Emily went into the washroom and returned to the bedside with a basin of warm water and a soft face cloth which she wet in the water, wrung out and used to bathe the tears from Bella's face.
"You know Miss Bella, you can't continue like this. You're stronger than this, girl, I can feel it. I know you have it in you to pull through this. You just have to realize it. But I have to be honest with you; if you don't find that strength within you soon, your little one will pay the price. You will lose him. Now, do you want that? Or do you want that baby to live? It's entirely up to you. You're the only one who can save that little life inside you."
She sat back and placed the cloth in the basin, surprise filling her when she heard Bella's raspy whisper. "My Dad. I need my Dad."
She leaned forward, smoothing Bella's hair back with a sad smile. "We'll get him for you sugar. He'll be here in no time."
She moved across the room to the writing desk and wrote out a quick missive to Damon. "I'll be right back doll."
She hurried down the stairs calling for Charles who met her at the bottom of the staircase. "Yes Miss Bennett?"
She handed him the note. "This is for Mrs. Whitlock's father. She's requesting his presence."
He smiled hopefully with a nod. "I'll deliver this myself."
She smiled shyly. "Thank you Charles. I'm going to go sit with her until he arrives."
He nodded. "I'm glad she has you Miss Bennett. She needs all the care she can get right now."
She placed her hand on the stair rail. "She surely does Charles, and I'm sure that she'll get that from all of us."
She ascended the stairs and he stared after her for a moment, admiration in his eyes as he watched her go, murmuring to himself as he left the house. "What a woman."
He finally located Damon as he was leaving the restaurant with what looked to be business associates. He caught Damon's eye and waited as he excused himself. "Charles, I'm surprised to see you here. Is everything all right?"
Charles glanced around at all of the people milling about a gave a slight shake of his head. "I have a missive for you sir. I thought you'd like to get it right away."
He handed it over and Damon read it quickly. "Let me make my apologies and I'll accompany you to my daughter's home Charles."
"Yes sir Mr. Salvatore. I'll wait here for you."
Once Damon had excused himself, they began walking to Bella's house. "How bad is my daughter Charles?"
"Well sir, she hasn't moved from her bed or spoken in the three days that Mr. Whitlock has been gone. She hasn't taken any nourishment either. We've tried and she just doesn't respond sir, not even to refuse."
Damon cursed lowly, determination filling him. He hadn't gone through all of this shit just to lose his daughter anyway. There was just no way in hell he was going to stand by and watch that happen. He didn't know how yet, but he was going to fix this, come hell or high water.
He entered the room quietly, catching Emily's eye who rose and quickly left.
He moved forward and studied his daughter for a moment, her appearance bringing to mind the first time he'd ever seen her. She looked half dead and he knew what he had to do.
Pulling back the heavy covers, he scooped her from the bed and sat with her clutched closely to him in an armchair. "Che cosa è successo a mia figlia preziosa? Dimmi." ("What happened my precious daughter? Tell me.")
Her voice was hoarse from disuse when she spoke. "Se n'è andato papà. Mi ha lasciato . Lui mi odia adesso ed è colpa mia. Io lo morsi a segnare lui papà. Non riuscivo a smettere e ora lui è terrorizzato di me." ("He's gone Dad. He left me. He hates me now and it's my fault. I bit him to mark him Dad. I couldn't stop it and now he's terrified of me.")
She began to sob against him and he ran his fingers through her hair as he kissed the top of her head, holding her tightly. "Riparerò questa bambina. Te lo prometto. Anche se ho a calci il culo tutta la strada fino qui, voglio risolvere questo problema. Egli vi ama bambina. Ha solo bisogno di un forte richiamo." ("I will fix this baby girl. I promise you. Even if I have to kick his ass all the way back here, I will fix this. He loves you baby girl. He just needs a strong reminder.")
He left Bella's house on a mission. He was out to find his errant son-in-law so he headed to the Whitlock mansion hoping against hope that he hadn't been posted yet and he would find him there.
At least now his daughter was in a better condition than when he'd first arrived. He'd given her some of his blood and tucked her back into bed with instructions for the servants to get some soup into her when he left. She had agreed to try to eat something and so he'd felt comfortable leaving her for a time.
Arriving at their door, he pulled the bell cord and waited. The door opened and he smirked at who was standing before him. Just who he wished to see.
Jasper's eyes widened for a second before narrowing in anger. "I have nothing to say to you."
Damon stepped in, taking a firm hold on Jasper's upper arm. "Well that's good because I have plenty to say to you, so you can just keep your mouth shut and listen. Now, where shall we have this discussion Lieutenant Whitlock, hm? I'm assuming you would like privacy, so choose wisely."
Jasper jerked his arm away. "My father's study. This way."
They walked in and Damon sat as Jasper turned and locked the door. He turned to Damon and gestured with a hand. "Talk. My time is limited."
Damon eyed the kid for a moment. "Sit down boy. This will take as long as it takes and I don't fancy staring up at you the whole time."
Jasper's jaw clenched as he took a seat and Damon could smell the barest hint of fear from him. In a way he considered that a good thing. At this point, he'd take every advantage he could get. He didn't want to have to resort to compulsion but that option wasn't off the table as far as the health and welfare of his daughter was concerned. He had to admit though that such an option would be a very last resort as it was no way to forge lasting relationships. Just the memories of such things left him with a bitter taste in his mouth.
"You have broken your vows to my daughter and also your word to me. You looked me in the eye and swore that you would not leave her and join this conflict and now here you are Lieutenant, all ready to deploy."
Jasper remained quiet and he continued. "I'm not here to spare your feelings or mince words. You claimed manhood the minute you asked for my daughter's hand and I acknowledged such when I consented. So, I ask you now, where is the man that married my daughter? Where is the man that has fathered a child with her?"
He watched with satisfaction as the color drained from the kid's face. "What did you just say?"
Damon didn't even smirk. "Don't be obtuse. It's doesn't suit you and I know I didn't mumble or stutter. You heard me, plainly."
Jasper turned his head away with a frown for a moment and then looked back. "Just what will this child be anyway? Will it be some blood sucking monster?"
Damon's eyes hardened into azure ice. "Be very careful with what you say in anger and naiveté Lieutenant. I'm a very patient being but you are insinuating that my daughter, your wife, is less than the beautiful woman and mother of your child that she is, and I won't tolerate it."
Jasper simply stared at him and Damon leaned forward. "All right. You want to talk about blood sucking monsters Lieutenant? Sit back and brace yourself, because I am about to tell you of your future. The future that you had. The future that my daughter changed by coming back to this time to find you."
Jasper opened his mouth to speak and Damon held up a hand, stopping him. "No, you had your chance to speak. Now you will listen, but before you do, you will open your mind, and suspend your ignorant disbelief because every word I am about to speak is the unadulterated truth."
"In your previous future, you never met my daughter. You joined the Confederate Army just before turning seventeen. You rose quickly through the ranks and made it to the rank of Major. During a mission to evacuate women and children from Galveston, you were changed into a different kind of vampire; ones that we know as cold ones, due to the very cold temperature of their bodies.
They, for the most part, are vicious and aggressive. They do not have fangs and kill their prey every time they feed. You would spend the next century under the command of your maker whose name was Maria, commanding her vampire army in what was known as the southern vampire wars. Your group would fight other groups for feeding territory; the areas with the most population to kill and kill you did Major. You were notorious in the vampire world, for not only the amount of humans you killed but the amount of vampires. You were covered in the bite marks of other vampires. I know. I met you as a vampire."
Jasper remained silent, but it looked to be a shocked silence, so Damon continued.
"Can you just imagine the numbers of people you killed over a century Jasper? Even if it was just one person every two days or so… and I know that's a conservative estimate for the lifestyle that you lived during that century. So who's a blood sucking monster? Certainly not my daughter or her unborn child."
Jasper looked ashamed as he met his eyes and he continued.
"You did eventually escape that life as, from what I was told, it was too hard on you emotionally after a while. You see, you were a gifted empath. You could sense and manipulate the emotions of others, human and vampire alike, so you would feel the terror of your victims. You eventually found a family of cold ones that stuck strictly to an animal blood diet. You were with them for about sixty years.
It was during your time living in the state of Washington that you met my daughter when she began dating your coven 'brother'. She cut herself during a party and you lost control. They thought you were out to kill her, and so the decision was made that your whole family would leave the area, leaving her behind. Your family had no idea that Bella was half vampire, and unbeknownst to her, she had sensed her mate in you. That's the very reason you lost control. You sensed your mate in her when you smelled her blood and tried to get to her to bite and change her.
When all of you left, she went into a state of mourning; that of a vampire who's lost their mate. She might have survived it if she hadn't been half human, but she began dying from the grief. Her mother brought her to me in Virginia as a last resort. I had to give her my blood to keep her from dying but that was only a temporary fix. She needed her mate. Together, we figured out who her mate had really been and it was you, but there was no way I was going to have my daughter mated to a cold one.
We were friends of sorts with a witch and she performed a spell that sent us back in time so that she could meet you and save you from your fate as a cold one. Now, here we are, and because of your rash reaction, you are once again facing that same fate, for you are once again an officer in the Confederacy and on your way to war."
He sat back in his chair and waited on the kid to process all he'd just told him. He knew there would be questions and he didn't have to wait long.
"How do I know that you're telling me the truth? That this isn't just some elaborate ruse?"
Damon smirked. "Really kid? You just listened to that entire fantastical story and you think I made it up? Who makes up a story like that and toward what purpose? If I wanted to try to hoodwink you, wouldn't it make more sense to go with something remotely believable?"
Jasper looked away, deep in thought and Damon sighed. "I have a picture with me that I found in a small box that Bella brought along with her." He sighed when the kid looked confused and switched to the term of the time period they were in. "It's something like a Daguerreotype…"
Jasper nodded.
"Anyhow, it's the only proof that I have really, aside from telling you that a good portion of this city will burn down on March 10th…" Jasper looked up sharply and Damon held up a hand. "Not the portion we live in. I made sure of that. Your parents are safe here too. But as I was saying toward proof, the south will ultimately lose this war, with Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendering on April 9, 1865, but you really won't be around for that if you're not careful as you'll be changed into a cold one in 1863. To your family, you will simply go missing. But we know better now, don't we?"
Jasper shook his head slowly, trying to process all he'd heard. He looked back up. "This Daguerreotype? You have it with you?"
Damon nodded. "I do." He reached into an inside breast pocket and pulled the picture out, handing it over to Jasper and sitting back to wait.
He watched as several subtle emotions flitted across the kid's features as he stared at the picture, with shock being the predominant one. It was a picture of all the Cullen's and Bella, all posing and smiling.
He saw Jasper frown. "This man with his arm around Bella, he was courting her?"
Damon smirked. "Yes. It's called dating by then but yes, it's essentially a liberal form of courting."
Jasper looked up. "It seems so. He's being awfully forward with her in this Daguerreotype."
Damon's smirk stayed. "So what of it? You left her, remember?"
Jasper glanced up sharply. "She's still my wife!"
Damon crossed his arms over his chest, his icy blue eyes pinning his son-in-law where he sat. "Then act like her husband and I might believe you."
Jasper glanced down at the picture again and nodded. "You're right, and while I'm still having a time believing all you've told me, I am ashamed of the way I treated her and my actions after leaving."
Damon nodded. "She is convinced you hate her and her heart is broken over it. She is in the same state she was when her mother brought her to me when all this began. She's essentially dying of grief. I have given her my blood, but again, it's only a temporary solution. She will die without you, and now she will take your son with her."
Jasper's jaw clenched, his tone tortured when he answered. "I must leave. I have no choice now. I'll be arrested for desertion if I don't report to duty and we'd be separated anyway."
"Yes, and she'll be fine as long as she knows you still love her. It's the seemingly permanent separations that she cannot handle. If you leave without making things right between you, she will most likely die no matter what I tell her."
Jasper glanced up at the grandfather clock across the room and rubbed his forehead with his fingers. "We should be on our way then. I have to report in an hour. I had this day to make my goodbyes."
Damon stared. "You were really going to leave without a word to her…" Jasper looked away and Damon continued.
"I'm not sure what to think about that…" He leaned forward, gaining Jasper's attention. "…but know this, if something drastic happens to my daughter because of you, you won't have to worry about Maria getting to you because I'll end you, without a second thought. I gave her over into your care and don't think for a moment that I did that lightly."
He saw some fire enter the kid's gaze. "Mr. Salvatore I have made mistakes where my wife is concerned, first and foremost being not staying three nights past to work things out, but I'm sure even you can admit that the shock of what happened and the way in which things were revealed justified my actions to an extent. I deserved an explanation prior to having fangs sink into my neck, so do not act as though I am the only culpable party in this whole mess! I'll also thank you not to threaten me. If I make things right with my wife it will be because I love her and for no other reason. I'll not be strong-armed into anything."
He rose from his seat. "I have to get going now if I'm going to have any time with her."
Damon got up. "I'll leave with you. I won't go in to see Bella with you, but I will check in on her later tonight."
They walked out together and Jasper inclined his head. "That will set my mind at ease. I appreciate that she won't be alone through my absence especially in her condition."
"Yes well, I'm sure the presence of her husband would have been best for her, but it's a little late for that, now isn't it?"
A muscle twitched in Jasper's jaw and he stared straight ahead. "I will not make apologies. There is enough blame to go around in this situation and none of it will change things whether it's carried by one or placed where it belongs, now will it?"
He looked over at Damon who inclined his head. "No indeed. It won't change a thing unfortunately."
Jasper walked into his house and Charles did a double-take at the crisp officers uniform he wore before recovering. "Mr. Whitlock, it's good to see you back sir. Mrs. Whitlock is in her room if you are wanting to speak to her."
He walked to the stairs and began his ascent. "Thank you Charles. Please see that we remain undisturbed."
Charles inclined his head. "Yes sir Mr. Whitlock."
He entered their bedroom and saw her curled up on her side, facing away from the door. "Emily, really, I told you that I just can't eat any more."
"Isabella?"
She stiffened visibly, her voice trembling when she spoke. "Why are you here Jasper?"
He moved across the room and sat on the bed behind her, his hand moving to glide gently through her hair as he spoke. "I came to tell you that I love you Bella and that I'm sorry for the way I reacted three nights ago… I also came to say… goodbye."
She turned toward him sharply and her breath caught, tears springing into her eyes when she saw the uniform he wore.
The tears ran freely now, her words a cry of despair. "Oh god, Jasper, no!" She began to rock as she covered her face with both hands, sobs leaving her. "No, no, no, this can't happen… this just can't happen… no…"
He pulled her onto his lap, holding her closely. "This is not the end for us Bella. I'll come back to you, my beautiful wife I promise you."
She sobbed and clutched to him. "You don't know Jasper, you just don't know what will happen."
He gently lifted her face with his fingers under her chin, staring into her tear filled eyes. "I spoke with your father Bella, and he told me everything. It was too late to prevent my joining the army, but I know what to watch for. I'll be careful wife, and I'll make it back to you and our child, I promise you. Will you wait for me Bella?"
She reached up, cupping his cheek. "I traveled back decades of time for you Jasper. I love you more than life itself. Of course I'll wait." She choked on emotion, the tears still flowing as her chin quivered. "Just come back to me… come back to me."
A tear traced down his cheek as he nodded. "I promise Bella. I love you."
He leaned his head down and kissed her, tasting her sweetness mingled with the salt of her sorrow, knowing that it would be a long time before he would get to kiss her again and his heart ached with the thought.
He broke the kiss and she sobbed as he whispered against her lips. "I have to go my love. I have to go now."
He placed her back on the bed, gave her one last lingering kiss, turned and left the room, the sounds of her cries piercing him through as he closed the door.
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.