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aliceismypixie · 7 months

Note

Please can you so a jasper x reader where the cullens and Bella all think that the reader or oc isn't good enough for jasper so jasper and the oc or reader elope and the cullens meet them again you can make the rest up.....

Can you please tag me if possible if you end up writing this weird story idea thats keeping me up at night

Thank you

Let's run away together

Pairing - Jasper x human!reader

Pronoun - She/her

Warning - No proof read, meantion of blood bag (vampire stuff yk yk), light swearing, Jasper gets mad but no Major

Words count - Too lazy to count y'all will have to do with it

Set - After Eclipse to after Breaking Dawn

Main Masterlist - Characters Masterlist

"Let's run away together."

These were the words Jasper told you a few years ago. You met each other at school, you were sixteen, almost seventeen, and he was supposed to be eighteen. You arrived in the middle of the semester of senior year. Due to you amazing intellect, you were a year advanced and you found yourself in the same english literature class as him.

"Alright class, we have a new student joining us for the rest of the year." Mrs. Danvers told and you entered the class.

The sound of your heels click-clacked on the ground as you entered in the class, a low waisted blue jean along with a black off shoulder with pale pink furr at the top. Your hand bag in your right hand was made of pale pink furr to match your top and your school hand bag was around your left shoulder. You had a golden necklace with a heart locket, a bunch of golden bracelet around both wrists and very rosy cheek. Overall you guessed ut, you looked like the perfect mean, fake and plastic girl.

"Hi, I'm Y/n L/n/n I moved here from New York and I'm sixteen, almost seventeen." Your voice was sweet like honey and suddenly every boys of the class were drooling.

"Thank you miss. Y/n/n you can sit beside Longbottom." The teacher told and a red head boy quickly rose his hand to the annoyance of the rest of the class. The girls because you were competition, and the boys they were jealous.

As you reached your sit, you saw your new sitmate move the chair for you and you widened your eyes a little before letting out a soft giggle. At this sound every boys of the class awwed while the girls huffed as you sat down.

From the back of the class, Jasper heard his brother, Edward, scoff before rolling his eyes and the blond empath looked at you once again. He didn't knew why but he couldn't feel anything from you. He was curious, because he couldn't feel anything from you but you weren't numb either. It was as if you were feeling something but you weren't. Then Jasper realize that in fact you were feeling something, he was the one not feeling anything anymore. From the moment you stepped inside of the classroom, everyone else's emotions disappeared and only your calm state stayed. At the end of the class, Jasper wanted to greet you, only to be blocked by a bunch of boy running to carry your bag or propose you a bunch of snack and you disappeared between the hue of students.

The next time Jasper saw you it was at lunch. At first he didn't notice you, but when Bella's akwardness toward Mike and Carter's love sick feeling for Alice suddenly disappear, Jasper couldn't help but look up. And there you were, surrounded by a bunch of guys as they were holding your bag, trail of food or handing you some homeworks to copy.

"Please not the new girl." Jessica groaned and everyone at the table looked toward you.

"I had a class with her this morning. I heard that her father was the CEO of a car company that was moving here. She is so spoiled, in class she almost crying because Jane took her notebook and wouldn't give it back when she asked." Jessica started her daily gossip and Edward rolled his eyes.

"She can't fool just anyone with that smile." The mind reader huffed as you passed beside their table.

"Hey Y/n !" Mike grinned like a lost puppy and you looked up from your pink cell phone toward the sound.

"Oh hey, Micheal right ? In spanish ?" You tilted your head and Jasper suddenly felt like his dead heart skipped a bit.

"It's Mike actually... but it's fine ! Wanna sit with us ?" The boy grinned and you looked around the table.

Then there was a silence as you glanced at everyone, noticing their rather annoyed or uneasy expression on their face before that your e/c eyes met his golden eyes. It was as if the world stopped, you held your breath in aww as you looked at his golden lock and his sharp jawline. He had a pale skin, very pale, like three other people at the table but his looked the best of them all. His golden orbs were shining due to the light of the cantine and you couldn't help but want to press your pink glossed lips over his.

"Y/n ?" Mike called and you snapped out of your trance, looking back at him with an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry. But I don't think I'll sit here." You walked away and the group could here the boys bombarding you with invitation to lunch as you went to the back of the cantine.

"Shoot ! Man ! It's your weird hair that scared her !" Eric teased and the two boys started to bicker.

"She doesn't seem that bad...?" Angela hesitated and Carter passed his arm around Alice's shoulders who looked tense.

"I don't think we should be friend her." The petite vampire expressed and Jasper frowned.

"Why ?" He asked and Alice shared a glance at Edward before looking back at her untouched trail of food.

"Just because."

After this day Jasper would see you everywhere, in the corridor, the parking lot, in class, he even saw you in the forest a few time, by a lake that flowed close to the town. Yet even with Alice and Edward's warning he couldn't help but want to see you. Whenever you were around, he would feel at peace. So he started to chance his path at school, passing by your locker so you would be near by, waiting until you start to head inside to head in english, parking his car near yours every morning. He wanted to be beside you as much as possible but still respect your boundaries.

"Alright class ! Today we'll start a few group project about the book rode in class. You will be paired up by two and work on a presentation of one of the book we studied in class." Mrs. Danvers announced and you looked up from your pink fluffy notebook.

"Before anyone ask. I am making the group and I want no complaining." The teacher told and everyone groaned in annoyance.

"I said no complaining ! Alright now let's form the group." The brunette teacher announced and started to name a few people of the class.

You weren't expecting anything. You would go along with anyone. You just hoped that you wouldn't be paired with Edward Cullen or Jasper Hale, even if he was handsome, because strangely enough, their entire family and himself hated you for some reasons.

"Tonny and Mark." Mrs. Danvers told and Tonny, your sitmate, groaned.

"Sad we could have been together !" He told you and you sent him a half sad smile.

"That's unfortunate." You replied and he slouched on his chair.

"Y/n and Jasper." The teacher announced and you felt your blood run cold.

Turning around toward the said blond, you ignored the whine of the boys and your eyes locked with his for the second time since you moved here. You couldn't read him. You didn't knew if he felt happy or horrified that he was paired up with you. Yet you knew that it was definitly not going to well between the two of you. He hated you for whatever reason and your father hated boys in general.

At the end of the class, you went to your locker, followed by your usual among of boys and put your english stuff in your locker before seeing Jasper approching you from afar. You quickly told the four boys around you to go and fixed your high poney tail before that the godlike blond stops before you.

"Hey." Jasper greeted you and you sent him a shy smile with a tiny wave.

"Hey, Jasper right ?" You asked. It was a habit of yours, always checking if you had their name correctluy first.

"Right, and you're Y/n right ?" He asked back even if he knew it.

"Right, that's me." You let out a shy, uneasy laugh and the boy smiled softly.

"So for the english project, are we doing it at your house or mine ?" Jasper asked and you frowned slightly.

"Cloud we do it at yours ? My father isn't really happy when I bring someone home, especially when it's a boy you know." You looked and away and Jasper nodded.

"Right okay. So this afternoon at mine ?" He clarified and you nodded quickly.

"Yes ! This afternoon, at yours !" You confirmed with an excited shime in your eyes and Jasper chuckled.

You were cute. He could feel how excited you were. He didn't knew if it was because you wanted to work of if it was because you would get to see his house, or even if it was because you wanted to spend some time with him, but he hoped it was the later, because he couldn't wait to spend some time with you.

So for the rest of the afternoon he waited patiebtly for the end of class to arrive and once he finished his biology class, he quickly made his way to the parking lot, seeing you already waiting by your car.

"Hey !" You greeted and he smiled a little.

"Hey, ready to go ?" Jasper asked and you nodded closing your cell phone before putting it in your hand bag.

Luckily, today your father was the one to drop you off at school which mean you didn't need ton follow Jasper in your car but could simply ride with him to his house. On the way there, the two of you had a short discussion. You discovered that he had two more sibling as a plus of Edward, Carter and Alice and that they liked to go hiking on sun days. You learned that the loved to have game nights when everyone was at home and you couldn't help but smile at the way he was talking about his family with such a big smile on his face.

"What about you ? Anything to share ?" Jasper offered and you thought, your eyes drifting to the scenery around you.

"Well, my mother dies when I was seven, since then I live with my father. In contrary of what people could think, he's a very present father even if he's busy with work. Sometimes, when he comes home, we have a few dinner together and we always share a few joke. He loves to bake so whenever we can' we're baking together ! We also paint a lot together, whivh you saw me a bunch of time by the river painting the scenery." You grinned and Jasper's eyes widened.

"How do you know that I see you ?" The golden eyes boy questioned and you giggled.

"You're not very well hidden by the trees you know ?" You teased and if he could, Jasper would have blush in embarrassement.

"It's okay, you can join me next time Jaz." You giggled before realizing how you called him.

"I mean-"

"It's alright. You can call me that." Jasper cut your apologize and you mirrored his smile.

"Alright." You looked back at the road as a soft music was playing from the radio.

You couldn't wait to know him more.

Then you and Jasper got closer. At first it was only a few shy 'hi' or tiny waves but after two weeks on working on your project together, Jasper would pick you up everyday, and bring you home everyday. At first your father didn't like it, but he came around eventually. After three weeks of hanging out together, Jasper told you that he was a vampire. He knew it was dangerous but when you squealed and told him how cool this was, the empath couldn't help but love you even more.

"You can't be serious ?" Edward glared and Jasper huffed.

"Yes I am, I don't see why Bella could have dinner with us but Y/n can't." The empath replied angrily.

"Come on, you should have told us sooner, Esme didn't cook enough for two ! And Alice already told you to not hang out with that girl ! She is dangerous !" The golden brunette scolded.

"We all know that Bella never eat everything Esme made and no Y/n is not ! No one of you even tried to befriend her ! And what did you even see to be so reculant into meeting her ?" Jasper glared toward his sister.

"Jasper don't talk to your sister like that !" Esme stepped in and the blond rolled his eyes.

He had enough. Everytime you would come to his house for the english project, his family would say rude comment regarding you. From the way you dress for Alice to your weak looking body from Emmett to your parfum from Rosalie, they were always criticizing you somehow and each time Jasper could feel how it upset you or made you sad. He had enough of it.

"What did Alice see for you all to be so rude with Y/n !? Even you are Esme when we know that you are the sweetest woman on walking on Earth !" Jasper pointed out and the rest of the family stayed silent. Even Bella was there and she looked incredibly uncomfortable.

Then Emmett moved to open the door, revealing your figure about to knock at the door. He boy shoot you a tiny glare and you sent him an uneasy smile with a hint of fear.

"How long have you been standing there ?" The bearlike vampire asked and you shifted nervously under his gaze.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to overheard anything but then I heard shouting and I didn't want to knock in the middle of an argument. I can leave if you-"

"Yes."

"No." Jasper glared at Rosalie, who rolled her eyes, before sitting and joining you at the entrance.

Looking at you, Jasper frowned a little as he notived how you weren't wearing your usual tight shirt with dentel and a vest but you had a fletter sleeve white t-shirt instead, your usual low waisted jean was replaced by a high waisted jean with large leg, your heels were replaced by a pair of sneakers and your usual high pony tail was down, letting your hair cover your neck as much as possible, blocking the slight ordor of the different fragrance you used tonight. Jasper noticed how you tried your best to hide the freckles on your face with some make as one time Bella made abad comment about them. He noticed how you changed your entire look just to please his family's taste and he hated it. He loved how you would always ask him to tie your hair for you, or how he would count your freckles when he was bored.

"You look different." He acknowledged and you smiled brightly, but he could see it was fake.

"Yeah ! I didn't want to wear my usual style today ! Trying something new you know. Do you like it ?" You asked hopefully and Jasper frowned slightly as he heard Edward's snicker in the living room.

"It's... unusual for sure ?" The blond vampire replied as he moved out of the way, inviting you in.

"I must say, this smells really good Mrs. Cullen." You tried to compliment as everyone sat around the dinning table.

"Surely it smells better than you." Rosalie muttered, but made it loud enough as you could hear it from your sit and your smile fell a little while Jasper glared.

During the dinner the mood was tense. You knew it was because of you and Jasper could feel your guilty from across the room as you slowly ate your food.

"So Y/n ?" You immediately rose your head and looked toward Carter curiously.

"Jasper told us your mother was dead when you were younger. It must have hurt." The bruney male pointed out and you let out an uneasy laugh while looking away.

"Yeah it was." You muttered.

"How did she die ?" Bella asked blantly and you held your breath a little, image of your mother's death replaying in your head.

"She hum... she died in a car accident." You tried your best to not stutter and Jasper looked at you with worry, all he wanted was to comfort you.

"How old were you again ?" Edward smirked slightly, keeping the topic on.

"I was seven." You lowered your head and they hummed.

"That's young, how can you be so okay with it ?" Alice asked and Jasper glared at his siblings.

"Guys, stop." He growled lowly.

"No no, we want to know how did she cope with it all." Rosalie gave you a sickening sweet smile and you felt your stomach fell inside of you.

"I... Well I guess it was with time. And I was young, I didn't knew my mom very well-"

"So you didn't felt a tiny bit sad ?"

"What ? Oh no I felt devastated-"

"Were you in the car accident too ?"

"Yeah I was-"

"But you're fine ? Don't you think it's a little unfair for your mother ?"

"Guys. Stop. That."

"I think-"

"Don't you wish it was you ?"

"You don't even have a scar."

"I fould feel guilty if I were you."

"That's kind of unsensitive if you don't."

"I'm sorry. My father want me home." You stood up quickly without even looking up, afraid to show them you tears stained face.

Quickly walking out of the three story mansion, you didn't see the grins on the Cullen kids' faces and Jasper's worried and alarmed expression as you stepped in your car;

"Y/n/n I'm so sorry, I didn't-"

"It's okay Jaz. I don't even know why I showed up when I knew that your family hated me." You wiped away a tear as Jasper stood by the window of your car.

"No no, none of this is your fault don't feel guilty please I should have known they were going to be like that. None of this is your fault they were just a bunch of asshole please don't cry darling." Jasper put one of his cold hand against your cheek and you grabbed his hand in yours leaning in his familiar touch.

"I'm sorry Jaz... For not being good enough for you or your family... I'm sorry I couldn't reach their expectation." You started your car and Jasper moved away with sad eyes.

"Please don't leave me darling." He whispered and you looked down at your lap before sending him a sad look.

"I'll see you later Jaz." You drove away and Jasper watched your car disappear between the trees of the forest, his hand slowly clenching into fist.

He was mad. He didn't understand why was his family so rude with you. They all accepted Bella when she forced herself on the family why could they not accept you even after how hard you tried to reach their standart, how hard you tried to understand their life style and always covering for them whenever a teacher would ask here they are when they hunt. Jasper hated how his family blantly hated you for no reasons at all when all you did was making him happier than he ever was.

"Why would you do that ?" Jasper whispered not even turning around to face his family.

"Jasper you have to understand-"

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT !?" It was the first time Jasper rose his voice and his eyes were dark, almost black.

"Jasper don't-"

"Please don't. You two did nothing while they are harassing Y/n questiong that clearly made her uncomfotable what is wrong with you all !? I was finally at peace !! I was finally truly happy, not because someone else felt happy but because I felt genuinly happy for once in my immortal life and you had to ruin it !? You had to be rude, you have to make her feel worthless !?" Jasper growled and his siblings and Bella frowned slightly.

"Why do you care so much anyways ?" Emmett crossed his arms on his chest.

"BECAUSE I LOVE HER !!" The empath reveale and everyone stood there in disbelief.

"I love her so much it fucking hurt to see her and feel her so demaged by the one who are supposed to support me forever. I don't understand why you would accept Bella when she pratically forced herself on our famil but can't accept the strongest and kindest girl walking on Earth. Why do you all hate Y/n so much ?" Jasper asked deseperatly but only got the silence as an answer causing him to scoff at his family before starting walk away.

"You all are unbelievable."

That night, Jasper showed up at your window to see you curved into a ball, soft whimper and sniffs audible from under your cover.

"Oh darling..." The words slipped from his lips and you looked out of your cover with glossy eyes, only killing his dead heart even more.

"I'm so sorry darling... I love you so much I'm so sorry..." Jasper whispered as he slided beside you and you immediately vurled inside of his arms, seeking for the warmth only he could give you even with a cold skin.

The both of you stayed in that position, for a while, him slowly caressing your hair and you sniffing from time to time as you listened to the silence inside his chest, calming your nerves. After a while, Jasper looked down at your figure debating if he should do his next move or not. But you needed to get away from them. Both of you.

"Let's run away together" His voice was calm and you looked up at him with red eyes from crying.

"But your family-"

"Won't do anything. I don't think I can trust them for a while after tonight." Jasper cut you and you frowned.

"Is it because of m-"

"Darling, nothing is your fault. We're going to pack your bag and tell you're dad what happened. He will understand." The vampire told you and you hesitated before nodding.

"But what about your family ?" You questioned silently.

"This is their fault. They will have to assume the result of their actions."

So here you were six years later, barely twenty-three years old, cooking in the kitchen waiting for your husband to come back from his day at work. Yeah Jasper was working. He was actually working in the library near the town you decided to settle in. You worked too, you were a teacher for pre-schooler. Then you heard the bell ring at the door and your dog, Fanny, barked loudly causing you to frown.

"Fanny ! Don't growl !" You scolded as youi wiped your hand on your appron before opening the door.

There stood a girl, she looked like she was eleven or something, and she held a box of cookies in her hands with a smile. To be honest she kind you reminded you of someone but you didn't knew who.

"Hey, can I help you dearie ?" Your soft adult side came out and Fanny ran at your feet.

"Hello ! My name is Renesmee and I'm here on behalf of my family ! My four siblings, our two parents and I moved a couple of miles away and we wanted to invite you and your family for dinner. These are for you." The girl grinned while handind you the box of cookie and you sent her an apologetic smile.

"I'm so sorry, I'm already making dinner. Come on in thought." You invited and the golden brunette smile while stepping inside of the house after you.

The little looked around in aww as the vintage style was all around the house. On the wall there was a few painting, along with some pictures of your dog, yourself and Jasper all around and the smell of fresh bread greeted Renesmee as she sat down.

"It's very pretty here." She complimented and you smiled.

"Thank you, my husband and I settled here a few years back ourselves. You could invite your family for dinner thought. I always love to meet new people." You replied and Renesmee nodded gently.

"Come by in thirty minutes, everything should be ready by then." You added and the girl nodded before walking out of your house, escorted by Fanny who got a few scratches behind the ears as a reward before that the little waved see you later.

So now, thirty minutes later, you were placing seven more plates around your dinner table that you extanded. You texted Jasper to tell him about the unexpected guests so he could prepare and you smiled as the bell rang and Fanny ran to the door.

"Ay you big girl, out of the way." You shooed her away before opening the door, a bright smile plastered on your face as you saw seven people by your door. They all looked oddly familiar but you and your amazing memory couldn't remember from where you knew them.

"Hi, hello ! You must be our new neighbor. I'm Y/n L/n/n-Hale, please come on in." You moved out of the way, missing the glance the family shared between themselves before stepping walked in the dinning room and they all sat around the dinning table while you grabbed some hot plat with a kitchen glove.

"You're house is lovely." A wavy brunette woman complimented and you grinned, she looked around twenty-six to twenty-eight years old.

"Thank you, my husband and I designed it a few years back, he should probably be home soo-" Your reply was cut short when Jasper bargged inside of the house with a serious yet worried expression.

"Darling are you alright !? I've smell a couples of vampires around the house and-" Jasper cut himself when he noticed who was sitting around your dinner table while you froze in confusion.

"Jasper ?" The father of the family asked and you forwned slightly before that it cklicked inside of your head.

"Shit !" You swore under your breath as you finally recognized the people in your dinning room.

"What are you all doing here ?" Jasper growled slowly making his way to you.

"Jasper we weren't-"

"Why are you here ?" Jasper glared and you moved around the table to join his side.

"Jaz, honey, calm down alright ? They were not going to do anything." You bit the inside of your cheek as your husband leaned into your touch.

"If he is my uncle Jasper then are you the problematic mean girl ?" Renesmee asked and you turned to her in confusion.

"I'm sorry ?" You replied.

"Y/n was anything but problematic." The ex-soldier stepped in and Edward glared at him.

"She made you run away from us ! We're literally your family !" The golden brunet replied and you looked down, it was the same thing all over again.

"If you all weren't that awful with her I would have never proposed her to run away with me. You all were blantly rude and totally ignored her discomfort, you made her question her whole being from her personality to her way of dressing, I had to spent years, YEARS, to help her regain her confidence again do you know how helpless I felt ? Listening to the love of my life criyng herself to sleep without being able to make her feel better because it would have just creat her some fake happiness ? Do you know how I felt when no one of you even tried to befriend her while alml of you sacrified your life plenty of times for Bella while she was just human ?! You disregarded my feelings and thought only because you were selfish enough to think that I only belonged with you. You made me run away from you." Jasper revealed with venom as his eyes darkened and the room fell silent.

"Jasper we're so sorry..." Alice's voice was small as she took a step foward and you felt Jasper hold tighten around your waist.

"The day Y/n arrived at school I- I saw you both together. And you were happy. But the rest of us weren't. And then I saw you both running away and I thought- I thought that Y/n somehow turned you against us. I saw us fighting over her I thought- I thought that she would break us apart somehow and..." Alice trailed off and you frowned slightly at the realization.

"You didn't want to lose your best friend and brother..." You finished silently and everyone turned to you.

"I know how that feels." You chuckled bitterly before moving away from Jasper's hold.

"Jasper was the first person you ever considerated family, you both spent years together before finding the rest of your family. Even I could see the close bond between you two. Between you all." You smiled softly, disappearing in the kitchen before coming back with a letter.

"I understand why you did what you did. You could have probably be less harsh sure, but I understand. And I forgive you. Not because I know that Jasper would never forgive you if I don't but because I genuinly forgive you all." You put the letter on the table and everyone awwed at your kindness.

"We got your letter Rosalie. At first I didn't believe that you would be the first one apologizing, after all you were probably the scariest, but your words really had an effect on me." You told and the blond godess smiled.

She sent you this letter over four years ago, you didn't knew how the letter actually got delivered at your house but when you received this letter, you and Jasper just had marry and it was probably one of the best wedding gift ever.

After that everyone was now in the living room, catching up with each other. Jasper was still a little bit tense, his family understood why, but you didn't pay attention to it and continued to smile, offering them a cup of blood you had in your fridge in case Jasper had an emergency. You learned about Bella's pregnancy and the whole half-human, half-vampire baby war while the Cullens learned how Jasper made a lot of improvement being around humans.

"We're very sorry for the way we treated you before Y/n." Esme apologized one last time and you shrugged it off.

"Please forget it, the past is the past and we have plenty of years ahead of us." You joked and they all smiled.

"Are you planning on being turned by the way ?" Bella asked you and shook your head causing a few of them to rose their eyes.

"I'm waiting until I'm atleast 25 years old. I want to enjoy my youth as much as possible without passing like a weird girl being married to a twenty year old librarian. But until then I'm just fine while being human." You announced and the rest of the Cullen nodded in understanding while you poured Renesmee some apple juice in a tea cup.

"I still can't believe we thought you were bad..." Emmett muttered and they all shared an awkward laugh while you brusted in a fit of giggle.

"It's okay really. And it got me some times alone with Jaz for a while." You replied and your lover passed his arms around your waist, resting her chin on your shoulder.

Then a loud gasp was heard.

"ENGAGED OR MARRIED ALREADY ?" Alice rushed to your side, grabbing yours and Jasper's hand quickly and the rest of the family widened their eyes.

"Engaged. Y/n forced me to wait until all of us will get along again. She wanted my family to attend the wedding as much as hers." Jasper kissed you cheek and you chuckled leaning into his touch.

"Bless that girl, I hope you didn't expected to have you wedding without me." Alice playfully glared and everyone laughed.

If someone would have told you five years ago that you were getting along with Jasper's family you would have give them a big sad smile with an 'I wish' for answer. Now you couldn't wait for the awaiting future with your new family.

Taglist - @thisismyblogname5678

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asumofwords · 8 months

Text

The Sublet - Roommate!AU

Warnings: She/her pronouns, slow burn, angst. Tags will be added as the fic goes along.

Pairings: Modern!Aemond x Reader

Summary: Living with Helaena Targaryen was one of the best decisions you had ever made. Meeting at university, the two of you became thick as thieves and quickly best friends, moving into a flat together. But what will happen when Helaena has to leave, and her quiet, brooding, brother moves in?

Notes: Hello angels! Sorry for the late update for this one, got lost in the sauce of writing the Til Death Do Us Part oneshot. Haha anyway, here is the new chapter, I hope you enjoy! <3

Chapter 7: Hard truths

It was the tension that was the most unbearable part of it all. The feeling of words that had been left unspoken, apologies not voiced aloud, grievances that were left to fester in the quiet of the apartment after that fateful night.

When you went to work the next day, your eyes had been puffy from crying, and Jasper had asked you on multiple occasions what was wrong. You had told him it was your allergies, dust in the office irritating your eyes, but you could tell by just the way he had looked at you that he didn’t believe you.

You felt entirely defeated by it all.

Exhausted by it.

Tiptoeing in your own home, walking on eggshells, hiding in your room, not making a peep to avoid the cold glares of Aemond. And he had done much the same, staying out late, or going straight to his room when he got home.

And by the time the time the weekend had rolled in, you had had enough of sulking and decided to reply to Cregan’s invitation with a very enthusiastic yes.

Cregan told you that the boys would all be there, even Jacaerys and Lucerys, who were yet to head to the Keep to be with their family, the weekend being a final hurrah before the storm that waited for them back in their old home.

When you woke that morning, excited that the weekend was finally here and that you had something to look forward to in the evening, you decided you were going to do a quick clean of the apartment, chucking on some noise cancelling headphones and making your way to the kitchen.

You made swift work of it, and before long, you were washing your hair and getting ready for the night. Cregan had texted you excitedly saying the boys were keen to see you, and had asked if you wanted to go to his first.

You threw on an outfit that was short and sleek, hugging your curves perfectly and revealing ample cleavage. Paired with a bit of a smokey eye and your hair in a style you favoured, you looked at yourself in the mirror and smirked.

You looked hot.

Really hot.

When you came out of your room, Aemond was on the couch, watching as you ordered your Uber to take you straight to Cregan’s. You didn’t spare him a single glance, but you knew he was looking at you. You could feel the heat of his gaze roaming over your body.

Leaving without a goodbye, you hopped straight into your Uber and headed to Cregan’s, greeted by the hulking figure at the door, with loud chattering behind him and music playing.

“Look at you.” Cregan smirked as you gave him a little spin.

“Look at me.” You winked, jumping into his arms for a massive hug, the large man picking you off the ground with a shift of his back as you squealed, before placing you back down.

“The boys are keen to see you.”

You smiled, following him down the hall to the lounge room where Cregan’s friends all sat on various couches and chairs.

Two familiar faces came into view, Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon.

Both brown haired boys gazes fell on you, wide smiles spreading on their cheeks. Jacaerys jumped up with a cry of your name before rushing towards you, pulling you into a soft hug, followed by his younger brother Lucerys, who had grown a foot since the last time you saw him. Lost were his cherubic cheeks, and in their place, cheekbones that sat high on his face like his mother.

“It's been so long!” You whined, looking at Luc who now stood taller than you, “Fuck you’ve grown. What are they feeding you on Dragonstone?”

Lucerys blushed, looking away before a smirk pulled at his lips, “Not enough. You haven’t grown a bit.”

“I stopped growing a long time ago, you ass.” You chuckled.

You didn’t get to see Jacaerys and Lucerys often, having met them a few times through Cregan, and the others through Helaena. At one point you had classes with the older brother, and he had always been nothing but kind and respectful towards you.

Despite not seeing them as often as you wished, you still considered them good friends.

Scanning the rest of the room, you spotted the one and only Kermit Tully, seated beside his brother Elmo Tully. After Daeron's confession to you on the phone the other day, you couldn’t even look at Kermit without having burning questions. You put them in the back of your mind to ask later.

Cerwyn, Cregan’s best friend who was as large and as broad as Stark was, stood by the window smoking a joint, giving you a small wave and a smile from across the room.

“Where are we going first?” You asked, being handed your favourite drink from Cregan as he wrapped an arm around your shoulders.

“We should go to the Red Kraken.” Jace suggested, sitting back down in his seat to sip on his beer.

Cerwyn chuckled, “You keen to see Dalton again?” He asked you, eyebrow raised.

Dalton Greyjoy, owner of the Red Kraken, was a man a few years older than Cregan. The last time you had went to his venue with the Stark, he had suggested the three of you go back to his when he clocked off. It was brazen and daring, but you couldn’t deny the man was attractive. He had dark hair and dark brown eyes that were almost black.

Dalton stood taller than Cregan, if you could believe it, and was often found at one of the local boxing rings for fun.

“I mean, I wouldn’t say I didn’t want to see him again.” You cheeked, Jacaerys chuckling on the couch as he explained the situation to a very confused Luc, the younger boys cheeks going a bright red.

“Hey!” Cregan chastised you, pinching your side.

“What? He’s handsome and ruggish. A bit more dark and mysterious than you are.”

“No mystery with that one.” Kermit piped up from his seat, taking a cheeky sip of his drink, eyes watching you over the rim of the can, “If you want to see his cock, just ask.”

“Kermy!”

“What?”

Cregan burst into laughter beside you and all followed.

You all finished your drinks and found your way into the city, heading straight for the Red Kraken.

It was a dingy bar, more male populated than not, but it had a fun feel to it.

Grungy and dirty, it had mismatching couches and tables, and a great smoking area out the back. On Fridays they had sport trivia nights which Cregan had once taken you to.

You lost.

You all sat down and drank and laughed, and you felt the tension from the week slough off your back like snow in spring.

It was good to be with friends like them, and you had only wished that the girls were there to join you all.

The night flew by, and your sides were in stitches from laughing so much. Dalton had come over to speak to you all at one point whilst the bar was slow, and you had felt his gaze lower to your breasts on more than one occasion. When he left, you had whispered into Cregan's ear about taking him up on his offer, which had earnt you a scandalised look.

It wasn't a no though.

“If you don’t want Dalton, I’d be happy to replace him.” Cerwyn smirked.

Cregan declared that he owed the entire table a round for that comment, and Cerwyn had done as ordered without apology or regret, a teasing 'anything for you, love' flowing from his lips.

As the night moved on, you all decided to move to the next venue, and it was your good idea to take them all to the bar that Sara had taken you to. All were in favour, and so you made your way down to the silk lanes, Lucerys’ bright brown eyes eyeing the doors of the strip clubs excitedly.

“Is that it?” Elmo sighed, looking at the busted wall and green door entrance.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Jacaerys stepped into the venue immediately, security guard nodding at him as he entered, not bothering to check his ID. Your brows furrowed as you looked up at Cregan, who just shrugged down at you.

As you walked down the stairs to enter the bar you caught up to Jace, who looked like he was at home.

“Have you been here before?” You asked, walking inside, seeing the bar staff nod at him, big grins on their cheeks.

“Daemon owns the joint with my mum.” Jacaerys told you, and you stilled.

This was Daemon and Rhaenyra’s bar.

“What? I didn’t even know that.” You whispered in a hushed tone, still loud enough to be heard over the music.

“Pretty low key, just another investment. They said they’ll hand it over to me eventually.”

“What the fuck?! Jace, that’s amazing!” You grinned, hugging him aggressively around his neck as you stood at the bar, waiting to be served.

Cregan moved behind you, hand winding around your waist as he whispered into your ear.

“Don’t freak out.”

You let go of Jace and turned to look back at him, “What? Wh-“

There, at the end of the bar, sat a familiar head of silver hair.

And his eye was on you.

You snapped your head away, uttering a quick ‘fuck’ beneath your breath.

Lucerys, following your eye line shifted uncomfortably, “Jace, Aemond’s here.” He whispered to his older brother, who turned to face his uncle, giving him a curt smile and nod before looking back to staff in front of him.

“He’s fine. Leave him be.”

It was awkward.

This was supposed to be your new place to get away from him, and now Aemond was here? And what was worse, you were here with people you knew he didn’t get along with. And the glare he directed towards you was apparent.

Cregan led you to go sit down at a booth at the encouragement of Jace who said the drinks were on him for the rest for the night, though in reality you knew it was more like on his parents, but you didn’t argue. Free drinks are free drinks, and you needed one now more than ever.

“Are you okay?” Cregan spoke lowly, hand holding yours on the table.

You swallowed, “I’m okay. It's just awkward.”

“He still giving you shit?”

“It's a long story, and one I’ll tell you later.”

Cregan pressed a kiss to the side of your head, your eyes immediately lifting to see Aemond watching you. The other boys came to join you at the booth, Cerwyn sliding in next to you, with Luc and the Tully brothers opposite. Jacaerys made his way over to his uncle, polite smile on his lips.

You watched as Jace and Aemond shared what looked to be a somewhat tense and awkward conversation, though completely civil. Aemond seemed to tolerate his nephew barely just, and Jacaerys had slapped a friendly hand on his uncles shoulder as he made his way back to you, earning the brown haired man a frown from a head of silver.

“I think we should leave.” Luc whispered, shoulders hunched as he curled in on himself.

Jace slid in next to him, “Don’t let him intimidate you.” He put a gentle hand on Luc’s shoulder, similar to how he had with Aemond, and you got the impression that Jacaerys being the eldest, was used to being the mediator, “Let's have a drink, enjoy each others company and have a good night.”

The staff brought over your drinks, sitting them in front of you, and you clinked all your glasses together messily in a toast, feeling Cregan whisper into your ear as you took a sip.

“Relax your shoulders." You did as you were told, not having realised how tense you were, "Don’t let him ruin your night. I’m here, the boys are here, and if at any point you want to leave, we will leave. Okay?”

You nodded.

No way in Hell were you letting him sour your mood again.

You all stayed at the bar, round after round of drinks being dumped on your table without any of you having to get up or order. You were messy and loud, but above all, happy.

You felt Aemond’s gaze on you for almost the entirety of the night, and caught his eye on multiple occasions, tension crackling in the air between you. But after your third cocktail, the heat of the drinks overpowered the heat of his gaze.

Eventually, Aemond stood from where he sat at the bar, your eyes immediately finding him and watching as he left, walking past your booth as he let his eye stray on Cregan’s hand that was wrapped over your shoulder. He continued on his path, nose held high as he disappeared up the steps.

Lucerys sighed, obviously having felt some sort of tension the entire time, “What the fuck was that?”

You groaned, burying your face into your hands.

“Aren’t you living with him?” Kermit asked, and all eyes immediately landed on you.

“What?” Jacaerys’ eyes went wide, “Since when do you live with my uncle? What happened to Helaena?”

“Hel is at the Keep, and Aemond needed a place to stay, so he’s in her room.”

“Gods help you.” Elmo falsely prayed, lifting his drink up in a mock toast.

Cerwyn and Cregan shared a look over the top of your head, and then with Jacaerys, sharing some sort of unspoken conversation. The only people confused at the table, were you, Luc and the Tully brothers.

“What?”

Cregan shrugged.

You felt that there was something unsaid, but you opted to leave it, sparking up a conversation with Kermit, asking pointedly about his love life, but not mentioning Daeron. The red headed man narrowed his eyes at you, wide smile pulling on his lips, before he started to go into great detail about someone he had fucked recently, with a full and lengthy description of their cock.

The two of you the only people at the table knowing who it was.

The night continued for a while, but you couldn’t help but feel the lingering guilt and upset that Aemond had triggered inside of you. Cregan, sensing the shift in your mood, decided to call it a night, and offered to take you home.

You said farewell to all the boys, and made them swear to do this more often, giving Lucerys a particularly tight hug, feeling the tension in the youngest boys shoulders.

When you and Cregan got back to the apartment, the lights were off, and the flat was bathed in darkness. You stumbled into the apartment giggling, shushing the tall man behind you who clunked loudly on the floor with each step.

“Shhh!” You hushed him, laughter bubbling up your throat.

“Come on, bunny.” Cregan laughed quietly, steering you straight to the kitchen, filling up a glass of water for you to drink.

You scrunched your nose at him, knowing you were drunk, but not wanting to sober up yet.

“Drink it all, Y/n. You need to sober up.”

“You need t-to sober up.” You quipped back, jumping up on the cabinets, your shoes hitting the doors loudly by accident.

“Shhh!” You hushed your own feet, grabbing the water and drinking it slowly, keeping your eyes on Cregan the entire time, who watched you in entertained exacerbation.

You placed the empty glass of water beside you, which Cregan filled to the top again.

“Cregaaan.” You purred, the Northerner lifting a brow at you, “Can you roll me a cigarette, please.” You pouted at him, trying to give him your best doe eyes.

Cregan shook his head, grabbing your small handbag to pull out your cigarettes, rolling you one neatly as he moved to open the window. You shimmied closer to the ledge, putting the cigarette to your lips as you lit it.

Blowing a ring of smoke out the window, you offered Cregan a drag, who took the smoke from your hands delicately.

“I can't believe Cerwyn offered to join us.” You guffawed, cheeks heating in both embarrassment and excitement.

Cregan blew the smoke out the window, handing the cigarette back to you, “I can. Cerwyn thinks you’re cute. Plus he knows all about our little agreement.” You giggled loudly, inhaling the sharp smoke into your lungs, “Why? Are you thinking about saying yes?”

You blushed, crossing your legs tightly, heat settling in your core, “I dunno. Cerwyn is cute.”

“He is.”

Your mouth dropped open, “Cregan Stark. Tell me more right now.”

Cregan took the smoke from your fingers bringing it to his lips as he smirked down at you, “I mean, I haven’t not thought about it. He's my best mate and I live with him. I've heard what goes on behind his closed doors. Besides, you beneath both of us, begging, sq-“

“Can you two be fucking quiet?”

Both of your heads snapped to a disgruntled Aemond Targaryen, who stood in the lounge room, hands by his sides in fists. He was in those grey sweatpants again, hanging low on his hips with no shirt on, hair on his head tangled and messed.

“I’m s-“ You began.

“-It’s three in the fucking morning. Have some respect.”

You stiffened, feeling anger begin to bloom in your chest, you opened your mouth to argue, to snap back at him, but Cregan stepped in front of you, blocking you from the other mans view.

“No problem, man. We'll be quieter.” Cregan’s voice was deep, stern, clipped, and left no room for argument. Though it was polite, it was rough, like the cold in the North, biting and sharp. A true Northerner through and through.

Cregan was silently hitting back without even doing it.

Aemond’s lips pursed into a hard line, turning on his heel to stomp back to his room, the door slamming shut behind him.

Cregan spun around to look at you, eyebrows lifted as he whistled lowly, pulling the smoke up to his lips to take a long drag.

“What the fuck?” You hissed quietly, “What is his problem?”

Cregan sighed, “It is 3am, bunny. I’m sure he just wants to sleep. It would have been a weird night for him.”

You frowned, annoyed that Cregan was acting so cool about Aemond’s outburst, “Why aren’t you angry?” You snatched the smoke from him, taking a final drag before you put it out on the brickwork outside.

"I'm not not angry."

You huffed in annoyance.

Cregan stepped forward, unhooking your legs to stand between them as his large hands skated up the outside of your thighs. He bent his head to look at you, your eyes refusing to meet his.

“Y/n." Cregan coaxed you softly.

You slowly turned your head to look at him, staring into his icy grey eyes.

“Do you like him?”

“What? No!” Immediately feeling defensive.

Cregan hushed you, shaking his head kindly, “It’s okay if you do. You’re not in trouble.”

You blanched, not sure of how to speak, words getting caught in the back of your throat.

Cregan stroked your cheek softly, soft smile on his lips, “Hey, this is casual, remember? Regardless of if we fuck or not, you’re still my friend, and I care about you and want you to be happy.”

Your heart pulled painfully, lips dropping down into a frown.

Cregan’s chest rumbled with a quiet laugh, “Don’t look at me like that.”

“You’re so sweet, Creg. What the fuck.”

Both hands rubbed warmly up and down your thighs in comfort, “You’re fluffing me up now.”

You shook your head, “I don’t understand. Why don’t I like you instead?”

Cregan gave you a sad smile and kissed the tip of your nose, “I used to ask myself the same question. But now I see it. We just don’t gel like that." He shrugged, and your chest pulled, "And honestly? I'm glad, because at the end of the day, no matter what happens between us, I know I'll still be able to call you mine in some way or another. Whether that be as my friend or my lover.”

You felt tears begin to build in your eyes, the betrayal of the prickling in the corners, causing your stomach turn, “I don’t get it. Why do I feel this way? He’s been nothing but horrible to me.”

“You’ve fucked him haven’t you?”

“No.” You said quietly.

His eyes roamed your face, knowing you far too well, “You've done something else.” Cregan guessed, watching the way your face fell further.

His back suddenly straightened, “Did he hurt you?”

“No! No, Gods no. Nothing like that.”

The Stark relaxed slightly, but you could still tell he was on guard.

“Does Helaena know?”

You looked away, fingers pulling at the threads of material on your thigh, “No. I’m scared. She’s my best friend, Cregan, and I feel like I’ve totally broken her trust and gone behind her back. She has so much going on right now, I just don’t know how I’m even supposed to broach that conversation. Like what do I do? ‘Hey Hel, your brother ate my pussy like a starved man and then immediately treated me like shit after.’”

“What did he do?”

You shook your head, “It doesn’t matter. He’s been nothing but a dick to me. It's not going to happen again.” You looked down into your lap, wringing your hands together as the feeling of being used washed over you again.

“If I know you, and I think I do, I can tell that it will happen again just by looking at you both.”

You scoffed, looking up at him in irritation.

“No, listen. There's clearly something going on between you two. Anyone with two eyes could see that. Maybe that's why he's not.”

“There's nothing-“

“-Cerwyn picked up on it immediately. Even Jace could see it.”

Oh.

Cregan's thumbs smoothed the skin of your thighs, the warmth of his body soaking into yours, “So what happened? Start from the beginning.”

And so you did, you started from the beginning, telling Cregan about the day he moved in, to your first kiss in the kitchen, all the way to the other night and how he had left you and was horrible right after a scene.

You watched as Cregan’s brows had become drawn at certain points in justifiable anger, the man always having been very protective over you, and at other times he gave you a scathing look, telling you that you had gone too far as well.

“So yeah, we haven’t spoken since, and I don’t think I want to. I just can’t see how he can be so cold to me when I've been nothing but kind to him.”

Cregan leant against the window, rolling the both of you another cigarette, trapping the smoke in his lips as he bent down to take off your shoes off as you began to swing your legs in agitation.

“He's a douchebag for sure," Cregan agreed, standing to his full height again, "And I really don’t see what you see in him.”

“See?? I think it's all hormonal or something. I don’t know. Ugh. But when he is nice, he is so lovely. And when he smiles it's this-”

You stopped yourself.

Oh gods.

You were deeper than you thought.

Why did you have a crush on this man???

Cregan smirked at you and you swatted him roughly, taking the smoke from between his lips to light it, taking a long and hard drag, feeling the smoke swirl down your throat thickly.

“I don’t know much about the man,” Cregan began, “But from what Jace and Luc have told me, I know he’s been through a lot. He didn’t get an easy run as a kid-“

“-It's not an excuse to be a dick.”

“-No its not an excuse, but it is an explanation. I know his dad wasn’t really there, and his mum was real tough on him. It didn’t help that everyone sided with Luc after the accident.“

“The accident? What do you mean?”

Cregan took a steady breath, taking the cigarette from you to take a sharp inhale, speaking as he exhaled, “Luc took his eye.”

“What?!” Your heart fell.

Cregan held up his hands, “No, not like that. It was an accident. Lucerys has never forgiven himself for it, hangs over the poor kids head like a storm. Aemond was ten, and Luc would have only been like five or six? They were both kids, and they were play fighting with wooden swords, some knights and dragon game they used to all play, but Lucerys had swung too high and too fast for Aemond to block it.”

Your stomach turned, and a chill ran through you, “Oh my gods.”

Cregan looked down sadly, shifting on his feet, “Yeah, its rough. Fucking horrible what happened, and then Alicent wanted to sue Lucerys for grievous bodily harm.”

“What the fuck? But he was just a kid? They were both kids! It was an accident!”

“I know right? Alicent started a fight right in front of Aemond at the hospital with Rhaenyra, got physical, everyone started screaming at each other when they all should have been comforting the poor kid who lost his damn eye. The family has been a mess ever since.”

It all made sense now.

The tension.

The disdain.

The law firm.

All of it.

Cregan handed you the smoke and also held the second glass of water to you, waiting for you to drink half of it, “I’m not telling you this to excuse his behaviour or make you pity him. I'm just trying to give you some perspective as to why he is the way he is. He’s had it rough, and from the sound of it, he doesn’t know how to open up or feel safe. The people that were supposed to protect him failed him, and I think that it really did change the way he is.”

You felt guilt.

Guilt for not knowing. Guilt for now knowing. Guilt for not being more understanding. But at the same time, you were not really at fault.

How were you to know?

“Fuck. I feel terrible.” You sighed.

“Don’t be. He was an ass to you. No excuses there.”

“I guess. I did rub his ex in his face.”

Cregan sucked in a hiss, “Poor form.”

You buried your face in your hands, “I know. But he just left me, straight after giving me one of the best orgasms of my life. It was horrible, Creg.”

“Best orgasm?” Cregan joked, and you sighed.

“Shut up. It was horrible. I've never felt so used before. It reminded me so much of Jason, I think it really triggered me. I cried myself to sleep after.”

Cregan stepped back between your legs, pulling you into a tight bear hug, in away that he always did, tucking your head beneath his chin and cradling you to his chest. You instantly felt safe, reassured, and loved.

And it was always how you felt around him.

“You’ll get through this, bunn.”

Thanks so much for reading along with me, if you wish to be added to the tag list please let me know :) Likes and reblogs are greatly appreciated ! Enjoy <3

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mermaidgirl30 · 2 months

Text

✨Love Amidst The Blue Part 1: Discovering the Siren✨

Series Masterlist

A/N: Welcome to my little mermaid au world featuring sailor! Joel 💙 I hope you enjoy this story I put together, and please tell me what you think! Comments and reblogs always appreciated and thank you to @mountainsandmayhem for reading over this and giving me suggestions! 🥰

Summary: Joel sets out on the Tyrrhenian Sea with his crew in search for hidden treasure. What he doesn’t know is that he’ll meet a beautiful mermaid that will turn his world upside down. Will he win her over or will he introduce a long ago foe to the mermaids of the hidden underwater city of Capri?

Pairing: sailor! Joel x mermaid fem! reader

Word Count: 9.1k

Rating: Explicit (18+ Only MDNI)

Tags: Longing, feelings, eventual smut, Joel discovers a mermaid, mermaids try to drown Joel, slight angst

Dividers by @firefly-graphics and @saradika-graphics

The crystal blue water of the Tyrrhenian Sea is calm, the wind gently blowing the sails of the Deep Blue Oasis as it rocks back and forth slowly. That was the name of Joel’s boat, one of his most prized possessions. A gateway to the unknown where he could clear his mind and get lost on the aqua ocean tides that have called to him for as long as he could remember.

A call to the side of him that loves history , ancient things, and to the treasure hunter in himself. He spent countless days out on the tides of the sea, always looking for hidden treasures that may be hiding under the deep blue water. His scattered map was marked with red inked circles and x’s of areas where there was said to be lost treasures down below. He swore to his father he’d find them one day and make him proud.

Joel’s father was a wealthy businessman, always focused on the clients in Italy and making a fortune of his own. Joel didn’t want to follow in his footsteps. He wanted to be out on the sea, out where the ocean breeze could ruffle through his curly locks and carry him into the unknown. He always loved the water and the salty sea air, always wanted to become a sailor to travel the world. His father never approved of it, though. He said it was a waste of time and money, until that dark day that he passed away. His last dying breath was him telling Joel to buy a big boat and sail. Make me proud, son. Follow your dream. Those words still haunt him to this day, the few words he begged his father to say his entire life. So on his thirtieth birthday, that’s exactly what he did.

Five years later Joel had his own boat, his own crew, his own freedom to do as he pleased. His crew wasn’t the most trustful men, but they earned his trust little by little. He befriended some filthy pirates on one of his sea explorations a couple of years ago. At first they threatened him, but he was smart and talked them out of stealing from him and taking over his boat. He offered them so much money that they couldn’t refuse. They agreed to work for him and show him parts of the sea that he’d never been to. Sure, they had their flaws and their bad habits, but he couldn’t do this without them. So he decided to give them a chance.

Joel unfolds his large map of the area and lays it out flat on the side of the railings, studying the area like he knows exactly where he’s headed to. He rolls up his white cotton sleeves and traces lines of the faded map, mapping out this specific area with the tip of his finger.

“Captain Miller, the boys think it’s in this area,” Jasper voices over the blowing breeze, making Joel stop to look up from his marked map.

“What is?” he asks with a raised brow.

“The hidden underwater city of Capri,” Jasper says with excitement in his flushed swampy eyes. His linens are tattered, his blonde hair outgrown and unkempt, his crooked smile waning up at Joel as mischief plays in his scattered mind.

“I thought that was just a folktale? The underwater city. People have searched for years and found nothing. What makes you so sure this place is here?” Joel asks with narrowed dark eyes, waiting for an honest answer from his so-called pirate friend.

“Mermaids, cap’n. They’re here in this area,” Jasper says with the gleam of his eye, sure of himself as much as he’s sure of how to sail this boat.

“Mermaids…” Joel questions, flicking his eyes out to the blue tides as the water gently laps at the large rocks in the water. “I’ve never seen a mermaid, Jas. Only seen them in some old books in my study. As far as I’m concerned, they aren’t here.”

Joel starts to turn around, but Jasper catches his arm. “I swear on my life, mate. They're as real as you and me. Seen one with my own eyes. Not long ago either. Beautiful creatures they are, their siren songs able to hypnotize anyone who dares to look them in the eyes. Saw one drown one of my men before. Grabbed him by the arm and pulled him under with her song. He was never seen again,” he says with sad eyes, looking out into the bright horizon as seagulls and pelicans flock the sunny sky.

Joel ticks his jaw and looks out amongst the miles and miles of open ocean, only seeing the lapping waves as they hit the bottom of the boat. “Jasper, I’m gonna have to see one with my own eyes to believe it. Maybe it was sun poison that made you see things.”

“It wasn’t sun poison, Joel! If you won’t believe me, then I pray one day you do see one. Am I one to lie?” he asks with a heated stare and a hand on his grimy hip.

Joel knits his brows together and stares for a minute at the pirate that swears on his life he’s seen a mermaid. While Jasper doesn’t usually lie to Joel, he’s still a pirate. Still willing to lie and cheat his way around the system. But he’s also the most trustful of his crew, so he’s torn. Maybe it wasn’t a mermaid he saw, but maybe another sea creature. Yes. That’s what it must’ve been. Something else.

Joel puts a hand on Jasper’s shoulder and nods his head. “Sure, Jas. But let’s keep our eyes out for this.” Joel puts his index finger on the red x that’s marked right around the sea cave that sits a few hundred feet from the boat. Supposedly there was a ship wreck that happened years ago, and men have tried and failed to discover what great treasures were lost to the sea that day. Those who go in, never come out. Joel would find out, though. One way or another he’d discover the secret of what happened so many years ago.

“Go on and have the men anchor the boat. Wanna stay here overnight and see if we can find anything.”

Jasper nods his head and huffs out a breath. “Yes, cap’n. Right away.” He turns and yells at the men to hoist the anchor and get ready to search the area.

Joel folds the map back up and places it in the pocket of his tan trousers. He sighs and looks out at the massive sea cave, watching the waves churn calmly against the rough rocks.

Mermaids. There couldn’t be any. He would’ve seen one before, would’ve remembered if he did. He lets his thoughts go back to the task at hand and clears his mind. No time to think of maybe’s and false folklore. It was time to find some treasure.

The water is crystal clear today, sunlight beaming through the long seaweed that sits tangled in the ocean. You swim your way past a pod of dolphins, waving hello to the newborn calves as they whistle out their greetings. You dive down hundreds of feet and hum your favorite lullaby. The one your mom used to sing you every night before you fell asleep in the comfy bed of a massive clam shell.

A school of colorful fish swim past you, and you smile up at them as you propel yourself faster to get to your favorite discrete area of the bay. You call it the moonlight sea cave because at night you can see the moon shine all the way through the entire cave system, even under the water. It’s beautiful, a place where you can go to think and relax.

You always have to sneak off to this area. Your sisters would never approve, and you shudder thinking how your father would react. How many times has he told you to never go up to the surface again? How many times had your sisters dragged you back home over the years? You couldn’t keep track, didn’t want to think about it.

After that awful day that happened so many years ago, you weren’t supposed to want to go back up to the surface. You weren’t supposed to look for treasure that humans always dropped off their boats, but you still did. And you definitely weren’t supposed to be this close to shore, but you were still quite a ways out. Your father would kill you if he found you swimming around these parts, but you chose to ignore his wishes like you always did.

You swim up to the surface and lift your face into the sunlight, breathing the fresh salty air as you inhale the warm breeze. You push your long hair over your shoulder and take a few strides through the water, floating in the waves as the salt water dries on your shoulders.

When you look up, you freeze as your blood runs cold. A boat, there’s a boat. It’s big, towering over the water as a crew of men work on casting nets and walk along the deck. You duck down in fear and hide behind a rock, hoping that they haven't seen you. You slowly peek your head around the corner and stop in your tracks when you see him. The most beautiful man you’ve ever laid your eyes on.

He’s tall, broad shouldered, and has the most beautiful smile you’ve ever seen. His hair is dark, tousled curls blowing in the wind as a few strands fall near his eyes. Brown, warm flecks coat his eyes. Eyes you could get lost in, eyes that you’d now dream about for days on end. And his arms. They’re strong, built, powerhouses that could take down a large man. The top buttons on his white cotton shirt are open, exposing tanned skin that must bathe in the sunlight on a regular basis.

You’re supposed to hate humans. You don’t trust them, you don’t think you could ever trust them again. But him… he looks like a walking dreamboat, a sailor you’d like to get to know. He doesn’t look like all the other ones, no. He looks kind, caring, maybe even dare you say trusting. But he’s a human, and you’re a mermaid. This can’t happen, this can’t ever happen.

Scar bumps your hip with his large fin as he makes a circle around you, warning you that you could be seen. “It’s okay, Scar. They can’t see me, I don’t think. It’s alright.”

He bumps you again with his snout and looks at you with his big black eyes, his dorsal fin coming just above the surface. He tells you to be careful, tells you he doesn’t want anything bad to happen to you. You only smile and brush your hand against his sandpaper like skin.

“I’m alright. Promise. Go on, I’ll be fine. Just gonna stay here for a few minutes,” you confirm. He huffs out a sigh and dives back down into the deep depths of the water, but he stays close. He always stays close. Who knew that a great white shark would be one of your best friends in the sea? They usually don’t want anything to do with mermaids, but you saved him that awful day that was full of bloodshed and death. And ever since then he never left your side. You were grateful for him. He was the best protector you ever had.

You stay there against the rock and lean your elbows up on it, continuing to watch the handsome man look over what looks like an old map of some sort. You lap your tail up and down in the water and lean your cheek against the rock, daydreaming of meeting the man with dark eyes.

He was going to get you in trouble, but you didn’t care. You’d risk your life just to get a chance to stare into the maps of his golden brown eyes.

Joel clings to the side of the boat as he digs his nails into the warm, polished wood. He turns his head to watch his crew stay busy on the deck as they bustle around and drag their worn out shoes against the floorboards. He sighs and takes another look at his intricate map, tracing his finger over every crevice of the parchment until he gets frustrated and throws his head up to look out on the bright horizon.

As soon as he looks up, he stops cold as he spots the gleam of a sparkling tail in the near distance. It’s not just a tail, there’s a girl leaning up against a rock that’s staring right back at him. He rubs his eyes to make sure it’s not the sun playing tricks on his mind, but she still appears there in the same spot just staring blankly at him. He sees a young woman who’s beautiful, dreamlike, something he only thought was a fantasy. He sees you, a mermaid…

Mermaids aren’t real, mermaids can’t be real. But how does he explain what he clearly sees now? You are very much real.

His ears ring with white noise, the sounds of his crew scrubbing along the deck nearly nonexistent now. It’s just you and him, staring at each other as if you’re the only two people out on the calm waters. It’s just the gentle breeze kissing his tanned skin and the distant noise of waves lapping against the rock that you so subtly lean against, eyes locking with each other as if the world crashes on its side to bring the two of you together.

He grabs his golden telescope, looking through the lense as you come into view just inches from his vision. The sight of you nearly knocks the breath out of him, his eyes widen as he takes in the beauty that sits before him. He thinks you’re the most beautiful creature he’s ever laid eyes on, thinks you’re absolutely divine, a treasure that should be well cared for.

His eyes trail down your lush curves, taking in the dusty coral colored seashells that cover your breasts, scanning every inch of your shimmering tail that’s soft pink as it flicks back and forth against the water. It’s almost sparkling like diamonds, maybe even soft to the touch. He wonders what you feel like, what you sound like. He bets your voice is like an angel’s, captivating and melodic like nothing he’s ever heard on earth. He wonders what your hands feel like, how they’d feel entwined in his own.

You should swim away, dive back underneath the blue water, but you can’t move. You can’t look away from the handsome stranger. You want to know his name, want to ask him all about what land life is like, want to know if his voice is as soft as his tousled curls look, want to see him again and again…

“Cap’n, whatcha lookin’ at?” Jasper asks as he comes up to Joel and nearly sends him over the edge of the boat. Joel drops the telescope from his unsteady hand, and it lands in a heap on the wooden deck. He scrambles to pick it up, and when he stands up and looks back out at the rock he sees that you’re gone.

He huffs out a sigh and shakes his head slowly. “It was nothing, Jas. Just thought I saw something. Was only a dolphin, nothing else,” he says with a hint of sadness on his tongue, wishing you were still on the rock so he could look into your entrancing eyes.

“Too bad it wasn’t a mermaid. Could’ve made you a true believer,” Jasper laughs as he hits Joel on the back of the shoulder with more force than he meant to.

“Yeah, too bad…” Joel says quietly as he stares at the vacant rock, doing nothing for his peace of mind as he wishes you were still there.

When he turns away from the rock, he sets his eyes back on the folded out map and grabs it up, heading toward the rest of his crew as they send down row boats to go inspect the area.

Joel makes a promise to himself then. Tonight he’ll go out late at night and look for you, hoping you’ll hear his thoughts that he wants to see you again. He will see you again. That’s a promise he will surely keep.

Later that night, Joel tosses and turns in his cabin quarters underneath the boat. He can’t sleep, can’t think as he tosses and turns back and forth in his bed. He thinks of you, the way your tail shimmered in the glow of the sun, how your eyes called to him from the deck of the boat. He needs to see you again. He needs to talk to you.

He crawls out of the bed and throws on his leather boots, lacing them up as he climbs up the stairs and enters into the glow of the full moon as the stars sparkle in the sky. He tiptoes around drunken pirates that are passed out cold on the deck, snoring and limbs scattered about as he passes them carefully to not wake them.

He paces the upper deck, sliding his hands along the edge, searching and searching for any sign of moment in the water. He only sees the faint laps of water against the boat, sees nothing out of the ordinary. He starts to doubt himself, maybe he saw nothing. Maybe it really was the sun playing tricks on his brain. It wouldn’t be the first time.

He sighs and starts to turn around, until he hears a soft melody carrying through the water. He turns around sharply and latches onto the wooden edge of the boat, eyes searching as he hears the sing-song voice start to come closer. It’s angelic, harmonious, nothing that he’d ever heard before. It sends him into a trance-like state, needing to find the owner of the beautiful song.

You wade through the water, flipping your tail as you hide behind the large rocks, singing the song of your people as you let your voice blow through the breeze, hoping he can hear you, hoping he’ll come.

Please, come. Come out to the sea, let me see your beautiful face.

You let your voice carry over the water, humming out melodic notes as you flip through the water. He has to come. He has to hear your voice, has to listen to you call him with your siren song. Come on, handsome sailor. Come find me.

You peek your head out from behind the rock and see him standing there on the deck, staring at you as his eyes go wide. You smile triumphantly as you duck back under the water, tempting him to come chase you.

Come get me, come get me. Find me under the water.

Joel wastes no time and lowers a wooden row boat to the water, climbing down a ladder as he jumps carefully onto the small boat as it rocks underneath his weight. He rows it out slowly to the middle of the water, searching his eyes every which way to find you.

“Where are you? Come out,” he whispers into the crisp night air.

He hears a splash to the left of him and throws his head in that direction. He sees small bubbles that form over the water, but there’s no sign of you. He sighs and pulls his eyes toward the rock and then he sees you.

He audibly gasps as you splash your tail and hide back behind the shelter of the big foundation in the water, nerves pulling in you as you’re so close to the human. The human with dark eyes and beautiful face. A human you want to meet.

He crawls to the edge of the little boat and places his hands on the edge, calling out to you in a deep voice that sends goosebumps down your arms. “Hey, come out. It’s alright, I won’t hurt you. Please, don’t hide,” he says, calmly holding out an arm as if he wants you to take it.

You peek your head out from behind the rock carefully and see him leaning against the boat, a little too close to the water. He doesn’t know what dangers lurk beneath him, what things would reach out and drag him under the water.

You shouldn’t go, shouldn’t talk to a human. Humans are bad, humans are cold, cruel, vial. They killed so many of your kind, tortured your friends of the sea. But him… Well, he looks kind. He looks… safe. Safe? Could humans be safe? No. Could they…

This was stupid and reckless. You start to turn back into the shadows until he calls out to you again. “Wait, please. Don’t go. Stay,” he pleads, his eyes searching yours with some kind of intensity and longing that you’ve never seen before. It frightens you more than the horrors humans have caused in your life.

Stay. The word wracks your brain over and over as it pulls at your insides.

Stay. He asked you to stay. You decide then that that’s exactly what you’ll do. You’ll stay. You’ll stay for him. You might regret it later, but for now this is what you wanted. What you needed to do.

You start to swim slowly over to him, diving under the water and breaching just inches from his wooden boat. You come up for air, realizing just how close you are to his face now. He’s so beautiful, the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen in your life.

His skin is tan, the sun bronzing him as he seems to spend days on end on the water. His shoulders are broad, so strong as your eyes trail down his thick arms, ropes of taut veins spread wide over his lower arms. His hands look strong, big, calloused from working on a boat. You bet they feel nice, would like to feel them pressed up against your face or maybe have them entwined with your fingers.

His dark, tousled curls kiss his forehead as stray curls fall over his skin. You have to stop yourself from reaching out your hand to push them back into place. You think it must feel so soft, so smooth…

And his eyes. God, his eyes. They’re deep brown, flecks of golden warmth sprawled across the crevices of his irises. They’re beautiful, deep, intricate as they study you carefully.

He digs his hands into the side of the boat and leans so far forward you’re afraid it may tip over. You make sure that it doesn’t because these waters are dangerous to humans, dangerous to men such as himself.

He looks at you with wide eyes, his lips parting as he takes in your features. He’s so close that he can make out details he couldn’t see up on the boat through the telescope. Like your eyes. He’d never seen such beautiful eyes such as yours. They glisten like the stars, almost as deep as the ocean itself, captivating and breathtaking.

He takes in your long hair that sits over your shoulders as you nervously run your hands through the damp strands. And then there’s your tail. That glittering, magnificent tail that almost looks too intricate to be real. He focuses on each shiny scale, watching the way the colors go from a deep pink to a lighter flamingo shade of coral. He wants so badly to reach his hand out to touch it, see how it feels underneath the weight of his calloused fingers.

Just one touch, that’s all he needs. One touch to make this dream a harsh reality as a mermaid sits right in front of him, right in his grasp.

You see the way he stares all transfixed and in a trancelike spell. You might be insane, but the first words fall from your lips without a hint of hesitation there. “Do you want to touch it?” you ask shyly, pulling back a lock of hair behind your ear as you position your tail so it’s sitting out of the water, just inches from his waiting hand.

“What?” he asks surprised, eyes wider than the full moon in the clear night sky.

“My tail. Do you want to touch it?” you ask again with more courage this time, flicking your tail above the water as you entice him to go on.

“Oh-uh… yes,” he whispers out as he slowly but steadily reaches his arm out, ever so carefully extending his fingers as they brush over the side of your tail.

He gasps as his fingers come in contact with the shiny scales, like the breath has been knocked clear out of him. It’s nothing like he imagined it’d be. It’s softer than he thought possible, smooth as he glides his fingers underneath the cold water.

You almost stop breathing as you feel his fingers explore the magnificent scales on your long tail, almost sigh at the contact of his skin. No one had ever touched you quite like this, even if it was just the brush of fingertips. It feels… good. And you want more, need more.

He pulls his hand back out of the water, and you almost whine as you lose the contact of his fingers. You’d let him touch you again, let him marvel your tail all night if he wanted to. It was silly really, how attracted you were to him when you only just met him. He was just that beautiful, that mesmerizing. And for a moment you think he is the siren, not you.

“You’re a… you’re a…” he stutters, voice hoarse as he continues to stare at you with a starstruck gaze. He’d never seen a mermaid before, that much is certain.

“A mermaid?” you finish for him, almost giggling at his gaping stare.

“Yes,” he says in disbelief, nodding his head up and down. “I didn’t know you, mermaids existed,” he says with a look that says everything you need to know. He’s harmless, not here to hurt you.

“Well, we’re very much real. We’re just discrete, careful. We don’t really come up to the surface, not anymore,” you say quietly, shaking away the memories of distant screams and bloodshed that once was long ago. The memories are too painful to relive, so you lock them out of your mind and try to forget every day that you exist in a world that did that to your kind.

He doesn’t ask about the distant sadness in your eyes, you just smile and clear your eyes as you continue to gaze up at him curiously.

“What’s your name?” he asks slowly, eyes never leaving yours as you let your name slip past your tongue. You drop it carefully, giving him information that seems too personal, but you’re in too deep now. You want to know about him, and he clearly wants to know about you. So you’ll let him in, even if that’s a bad idea. A very bad idea.

He repeats your name slowly, going over every syllable so carefully as it rolls off his lips effortlessly. It sounds beautiful the way he says it. You could lean against the edge of the boat and lay your head against your arm as you look up and hear him repeat your name over and over again. Almost like a lullaby as it could put you to sleep with how deep and mesmerizing his smooth voice sounds.

“My name’s Joel. Joel Miller,” he says with deep brown eyes looking down into yours.

You repeat the name over and over in your mind. Joel, Joel, Joel. It pulls at you, calls you as you hook your fingers around the edge of the small boat and feel his hand brush up against yours. You gasp and pull your hand back, feeling an electrical shock run through your entire arm at the connection of skin on skin with him. You’d never felt that before, that kind of connection with anyone. This was new, this was scary, this was dangerous.

He notices the panic in your eyes and puts his hands up calmly. “Hey, hey. It’s okay, darlin’. I’m not gonna hurt you. See?” he asks as he surrenders his hands, letting you know he means no harm.

Darlin’. The name sends warmth through your stomach as you mull over his words. I’m not gonna hurt you. You let those words be a promise as you cautiously put your hands back on the edge of the boat. He brings his hands back down, just enough where if you shift your fingers they’d brush up against his. But for now you stay like this, just enough to still feel that electricity deep in your body.

“Darling, what’s that?” you ask with a raised brow, not having heard the word before.

“You’ve never heard the word darlin’ before?” he asks as he knits his thick brows together, pulling at the seams of your heart.

You shake your head no as droplets of water trickle down your back. “No, guess I haven’t,” you say with an even breath.

“It’s just a term of endearment where I’m from. A nickname, you can say,” he answers, his hand moving just enough for him to brush the outer edge of your pinky finger. You suck in a breath and try not to get too flustered at the action.

“Oh, I see,” you say quietly. “Darlin’, I like that…”

You ponder over the name and ask something else in return. “Do you have any other nicknames you use?” you ask, biting your lip at the question as you wait patiently.

He twitches his jaw and looks you over carefully before he responds. “I mean, there’s a lot I could use, I suppose. Darlin’ just comes naturally to me, but you…” His soft brown eyes flick over yours slowly before he speaks again. “Sirena, yeah. I like that,” he smiles to himself as your lips curl up slowly.

“Sirena, hmmmm,” you hum to yourself. “I like that, but what does it mean?”

“It comes from a Greek word. It means siren or enchantress, which you are. You are quite enchanting,” he says with a gleam in his eyes, his words in a trancelike state as he stares into your eyes.

You gulp at the meaning, eyes fixed on his intently. He called you enchanting, he thinks you’re enchanting. It shouldn’t make you feel so much closer to him, it’s only a nickname, a silly name. But it does. It does.

When you don’t speak, he asks another question. “What’s it like out there? Under the water? To be able to breathe and see things I couldn’t quite imagine myself?” His brown eyes sink into yours, shifting his weight slightly as the wooden boat creaks underneath him.

“It’s the most amazing thing you could imagine,” you say enchanted, your tail grazing above the water as you spin up a small current underneath you. “Unearthly, exquisite. There’s truly nothing like being able to connect with nature, to be able to see the wonders of fathoms below that no human has seen before. It’s freeing, beautiful, amazing, but…”

Your voice cuts off at the last part, thinking about all the things you wish you knew about the real world outside the waters of your home. Something you always wanted to know ever since you could remember. A taste for knowledge of the outside world, the human world.

“But what?” he asks quietly, almost putting his hand on top of yours before you shy away and move your fingers out of his reach.

“I just… I just wonder what the human world is like sometimes. I shouldn’t. I know I shouldn’t. But I just have that deep fascination with things I don’t quite understand. I crave to know the history of the land, want to know what it’s like to touch actual sand out of the water. Want to know how a…. oh, what’s the word?” you wrack your brain for what seems like minutes until you think of the word you once saw on a picture in a book. “How a fire burns,” you say proudly after remembering the strange words.

“Maybe I can teach you a thing or two about the human world. If you teach me about the underwater world.”

You mull over the words, think of what you could be risking. You could expose too much, you could open up a can of worms that you couldn’t close. You could risk everything. But for him maybe it was worth the risk. You could trust him, right?

As if he can read your mind, he places a hand gently on top of yours and you gasp at the contact. His touch is so careful, so soft atop yours. You think you like it, a lot. “You can trust me, darlin’. I swear on my life, I won’t hurt you. Do you trust me?”

Do you trust me? The words ring through your head as you question the words yourself. Trust was a big deal, trust meant you were putting your own life on the line. But as you look into his soft brown eyes and see the genuine smile curled on his plush lips, you can’t help but lose yourself as you automatically nod and respond, “I trust you.”

His face is so close to yours, so close that if he leaned down just a little he could brush his lips against yours. It’s as if he can hear the wild beating of your heart as it beats like a pod of dolphins traveling as fast as lightning through the water. Your eyes gaze into his, begging him to sink his lips down to yours.

He reaches his hand out and traces the edge of your jawline slowly, intimately. You gasp at the feel of him, as his calloused fingers trail gently over your skin. It feels warm, safe, so very right like his hand was made to touch you, to know you. He sees you. He sees you.

Just when he’s about to lean down and give you what you desire, the boat suddenly flips over and Joel goes crashing into the water.

“Joel!” you scream as you dive down to retrieve him, but he’s not there where he should be. Where is he? You call his name again, search below the dark depths below, twist your way through the seaweed and look frantically around until you see what exactly happened.

Your eyes go wide, a scream escaping your mouth as you find two of your sisters holding him down below the water trying to drown him. He fights their grip, trying to hold his breath as he looks terrified of what’s happening. Your sisters just smile vindictively to each other as their aquamarine and deep purple tails flick against the water and draw their sharp nails into his arms.

“Stop!” you beg as you swim desperately up to them and try to grab his arms out of their reach. They back up just enough so you can’t quite grab him.

Cleo stands her grown and flashes her white incisors your way as her blue tail fans out behind her. “He’s a human! A man, for crying out loud! All men should die for what they did to us,” she spits out, a snarl deep on her flawless face as your other sister Marissa agrees with her.

“He’s different. Joel is different!” you plead, reaching your hand out again.

“Joel. You know him by name? Can you believe that, Cleo? He has a name. How thoughtful of our sister to learn such information of this beast,” she laughs sadistically as she yanks him under again.

You watch his eyes start to close, watch his breath gasp for air as he slowly fades from the light. You grow desperate, hasty as you swim with all your might to grab his arms out of your sisters’ grip.

“Please, he’s kind! Don’t do this. Don’t take this one!” you beg as tears start to pour from your eyes, landing against your cheeks as they float off into the unsteady waters.

Your sisters drop their hands, eyes wide at how desperate you’re acting over a human. But he’s not just a human, he’s different. This one is different.

They both watch you take his body against yours as you wrap your arms behind the backs of his arms and start to hoist him to the surface. They stop you before you breach atop the water, grabbing your slippery fin as they stop you from swimming any further.

“You better be careful, sister. You don’t know what danger you’re putting us in. Interacting with a man? You’re foolish, selfish. How do you think father will handle this?” Cleo asks with narrowed eyes that could kill a man with how sharp she’s staring.

“Don’t you dare tell him, Cleo. Just… let me go. Please,” you beg as you try to squirm out of her hold. “He’s going to die if you don’t!” you scream, eyes wide as his head slumps against your shoulder weightless, almost like he’s already dead. Panic consumes you at the mere thought of it.

“Go on, then,” she says with a snarky look. “I won’t tell him… yet. But be warned. If he does anything to sway my judgement and I mean anything, I’ll have no choice but to tell him,” she warns as Marissa spits in your direction.

Cleo finally releases your fin as you swim frantically up, up, up until you break the seal and breathe fresh air again. Joel doesn’t stir, doesn’t even seem to be breathing as his head still rests lazily against the crook of your neck.

You look around desperately for anything you can lay him on, needing to stir him awake somehow. You need to get him someplace dry.

“Joel, just hold on. You’ll be alright. Please, just hang on,” you cry out as you circle around frantically looking for anything you can use.

That’s when you see it, a large flat rock that lays above the water in the middle of the sea cave you always find yourself in. You push yourself forward in the water, making sure to keep his head above the stirring waves. You turn on your back and hold his body above yours as you propel your strong tail in the water, trying with all your might to get there faster.

He’s going to die and it’s all your fault. Why were you being so reckless? The words taunt your mind like your sisters’ glaring warnings. You can’t think about them now, the only thing you care about is getting Joel to wake up. He needs to breathe, he needs to wake up.

You drag his body up on the smooth rock and lay him flat on his back. He has no sign of breathing anywhere, his chest is still as dawn like the sun slowly rising in the horizon.

You try to shake his shoulders, try to rub at his sternum forcefully as if that’ll wake him up. Nothing happens. You try again, calling his name and shaking him, screaming for him to wake up. But again there’s no movement, no breath coming from his mouth.

You crash down on top of him and wrap your arms around his neck, letting a tear drop from your melancholy eyes as it falls against his still chest. You whimper out a pathetic sound that sounds like you’re choking on your own words. “Come back to me, Joel. Come back,” you plead, face still pressed against his hollow chest as you let another tear fall in his presence.

You feel cold, hard pressed, wounded as if someone just took a sharp stake to your chest. You shouldn’t feel like this, shouldn’t let yourself feel so much for a human who you barely know. But he was going to show you his world, was going to teach you everything you wanted to know, and you were going to show him your world. But that’s no more. He’s gone. He’s gone.

You let the falling tears dry up on his cotton white shirt where the buttons lay half opened to expose tanned skin, can feel just how broad and strong he is underneath your weight. And you wish he’d wake up, wish he’d open his soft brown eyes so you could sink into them, sing him a melody while he grazed his fingers gently against your face. You want it so bad, want him so bad. But it could never be now. Not anymore.

You let your hand fall to his chest and wrap your fingers around his damp white shirt. You start to hum out your favorite lullaby, a way to soothe you over against the hurt you feel in your chest now as it aches and twists like a knife in your gut. Singing has always been a way to make you feel braver, a way to drown out the sorrows of dark days. Your mother always said you had the most beautiful voice she’d ever heard, but she was also gone now. Gone on that awful, dark day where blood filled the waters of your home. Gone.

You push the thoughts away, continue singing your song as if this will make the situation better. You close your eyes and drown out the lapping waves with your voice, making sure it echoes off every corner in the open cave.

Just as you’re about to push yourself off him, you feel movement underneath you. Just a faint lurch beneath you until he’s turning on his side and coughing up water out of his lungs rapidly, spilling it all over the glossy rock as he tries to catch his breath from all the choking and coughing his body expels.

“Joel?!” you ask alarmed, your hand shooting up to his face as you caress the soft, patchy scruff against his jawline carefully.

He lays on his back again and slowly opens his eyes, placing his hand over yours as he calls your name softly, his words still laced with salt water that still burns the back of his throat, but he answers anyway. And your name out of his mouth sounds like the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard.

“You’re alive?” you ask quietly, eyes wide as you stare down at him with your mouth parted open slightly.

“Thanks to you, I am,” he says with a nod up at you, his hand still lingering on top of yours as his calloused fingers send sparks down your arm. It’s electric, shocking as it blinds you with need.

You gulp but don’t say anything else, too afraid to ruin the moment. “Your voice,” he says nodding to you again, “I’ve never heard a voice quite as beautiful as yours. I thought I was in heaven for a second there, thought you were an angel.”

Beautiful? An angel? Oh.

“An angel? Not quite,” you giggle, dropping your hand from his face to rest on his broad chest.

He lifts his arm up slowly and hooks a piece of damp hair behind your ear, trailing his calloused fingers along your cheek as he stares at you with wide brown eyes. Eyes that make your insides turn to putty.

“You are an angel,” he nods, his lips curling up into a soft smile that could knock you back into the water.

He thinks you’re an angel…

“Oh,” is all you can say.

He looks at you like no one else has, looks at you like you’re the only girl in the world. He sees you for what you are, a siren, and yet he doesn’t run. He doesn’t run. He stays.

His lips look so soft, so plush that you think you’d like to feel them pressed up against yours. His eyes flick back and forth between your wanting eyes and your parted mouth, and you think he wants the same thing.

You start to drift toward him, closer and closer until you’re almost there, almost touching his lips. He reaches to cup the back of your head, steering you down, down until you’re barely a breath away from him.

Suddenly there’s a large splash in the water, and you jump apart from him as he sits up on his elbows and gazes out into the dark blue rippling water. He sees a large fin and goes ghost white as he takes in the long body of the great white shark that lurks around the area. His eyes go wide as he sinks against the cave wall behind him as if to hide from the creature of the deep.

“It’s alright,” you say calmly as you reach your arm under the shadow of the water and call the shark over to you. Joel’s chest rises and falls unsteadily as his eyes remain locked on the terrifying features of Scar.

“Your hand, get your hand out of the water,” Joel urges as he tries to pull you back, but you wave him off.

“Joel, it’s alright. He’s my friend.”

Scar circles back around and brushes his body up against your hand as you pet his back and let him disappear back under the water.

“You’re friends with a shark?” he asks surprised, eyes still peeled on the shadow that looms around the area.

“Mhm. I saved his life many years ago, and he’s never left my side since then. Kinda ironic how people misinterpret them. Sharks may look scary to the human eye, but they’re really peaceful creatures. If you just took a few minutes to really see them, you’d see they’re just trying to live peacefully in their home. They just want to survive like any of us do.”

Joel looks at you as if really hearing you for the first time. The way you talk about the ocean, about the creatures of the deep makes him feel things he’s never even thought of before. He thinks you’re beautiful, breathtaking, and so kind. So very kind…

“You’re really something out of a fairytale, aren’t you?” he asks with wonder in his voice, his brown eyes sinking into yours as he focuses on the warm smile you give him as you blush crimson.

“I guess you could say that, sailor?” you giggle out. “That’s what you are, right?”

“Yes,” he nods as he looks over at his boat that sits idle over the calm tides.

“Is that your boat?” you ask as your eyes wander over to the large vessel that sits in the water under sparkling stars. You flick your eyes over the sides, noticing the large blue flags that fly gently in the cool breeze and notice the words Deep Blue Oasis written in cursive letters that hang down the side.

“Yep, that’s my beauty. Been sailin’ on her for a few years now. Probably one of my favorite things ever. To be able to sail across the waters and explore areas I’ve never been to before. It’s all very… exciting.”

You watch the way his eyes light up the way he talks about the sea, watch the way his smile curls over his lips as he talks about his love for sailing. You think it’s hypnotizing, beautiful. You think he is beautiful.

“What are you doing around this part? Looking for something?” you ask as your eyebrows rise up, intrigued why he was staying around these parts.

“There was a ship that went down many years ago here. There’s all sorts of tales and rumors that some great treasure was lost here with the ship. And I want to find it,” he states excitedly.

A shipwreck many years ago? You think you know which one he’s talking about, like maybe it was that same night that all the bloodshed went down. The night you lost your mother to those bloodsucking humans…

He notices your eyes shift from lit up to cold irises, feels the dread that seems to take over your body for the moment. But then he’s cupping your chin and lifting your eyes up to his warm brown eyes, and you feel like you’ve made it safely back home.

“You alright, darlin’? You went away for a minute there,” he asks as his concerned eyes gaze into yours. You nod your head and let him continue to keep his hand on your skin. You’ll let him keep it there for as long as he wants.

You smile up at him and nod in response. “I’m okay, was just thinking about something,” you say with a daze to your tone, somber eyes coming back down to earth.

“Was there something specific you were looking for?” you ask as his fingers continue to trace down your skin. It feels like complete magic that holds you under a spell.

“Not really. You see, I kinda have a fascination with history. You should see my study. I have hundreds of books and ancient artifacts that I’ve found in the sea. You’d love it,” he says with a crooked smile splayed against his face. It makes a dimple form deep in his cheek, and it nearly takes your breath away.

His study sounds a lot like the secret cave you have deep underwater that’s full of human treasures that you’d collected over the years from lost ships and things thrown overboard from wasteful humans. It’s a little sanctuary for you, a place you can go to clear your mind and wonder just what it’d be like to walk on land. What it’d be like to have your own pair of legs. But you love the sea so much, you don’t think you’d ever want to leave. But for him, you might just follow him anywhere.

You sigh as you lean into his touch, wishing you could see just what he’s talking about. “I wish I could see it,” you say quietly, eyes trailing back to his doe eyes as he speaks again.

“Maybe someday you will.” And it sounds like a promise, like he will show you one day. But how? You have a tail, you can’t walk. Your home is in the ocean, not on land. But if you could find a way to do both then you would. There had to be a way.

“Maybe,” you say dreamlike as you dream of warm sand on your feet, walking hand in hand with him on the beach. A distant wish you so wanted to be true. But it wasn’t, and you had to deal with that.

You stay there another moment letting his calloused fingers run along your jawline as you watch his eyes settle in on your face. Before you get lost for too long, you pull out of his reach and sink back into the cool water.

“I guess I should get you back to your boat,” you say sadly, eyes averting from his as to not dwell on the beautiful flecks of mixed browns that you want to get lost in again and again until you can’t see anything but them anymore.

“Yeah, guess so,” he says quietly, a voice that screams for you to stay, but you can’t. He doesn’t belong here.

“Wait here,” you say before you take off to retrieve his small wooden boat that’ll take him safely back to dry ground.

As you wade through the water you get a sick sense that this can only end badly, but it was too late. You were already in too deep, and you already wanted to see him again. This was bad, so bad.

You turn over the toppled boat and throw the rows back inside, pulling it along as you drag it back to him safely. You place it against the rock he sits on and watch him climb in, situating himself as he takes the rows in his hands. Before he heads back to his large boat, he stops and stares at you.

“Can I see you again?” he asks quietly as the cool breeze blows a tousled curl against his forehead. Without thinking you reach up and push it back into place, feeling just how soft his hair really feels. He lets you, and it feels as soft as velvety moss.

You drop your hand back down and before you can, he grabs your wrist and stares deeply into your eyes, eliciting a gasp out of your mouth as his fingers dig into your soft flesh. You let him keep you there until you give him a clear answer.

You think of your options, think of what you might be risking if you see him again. Would your sisters try to drown him again, would he try to steal you away from the sea, would your father find out that you were meddling in human affairs? All of the questions were valid and unknown, but you couldn’t bring yourself to say no. You wanted to see him again, needed to.

“Yes. Tomorrow night,” you say without any hesitation.

He nods his head and smiles down at you as he gently lets his fingers fall from your skin as your hand splashes back down underneath the water.

“Tomorrow it is then. See you later, Sirena.” The nickname falls off his tongue like a sweet melody that fills your ears. Sirena, enchantress, siren.

You watch him row back to his boat, watching the way his biceps bulge every time he pulls back on the rows. He looks a little like your own Prince Charming. A sailor that had captured your heart, and you weren’t willing to take it back. It was his now, as long as he wanted it.

He looks back at you before climbing up the steep ladder. He smiles gently your way and nods before turning back to the ladder and climbing up, disappearing from your view as he makes his way below the deck.

You sigh and rest your elbow against the glossy rock he was just sitting on minutes ago, daydreaming about those dreamy brown eyes and his smile that knocks the breath out of your chest.

Scar circles back around and comes up beside you, nudging you with his large snout as you gently pet the top of his head. “I know, Scar. I know. I’m in so much trouble.”

You sink back underneath the water and follow him back home, back to the kingdom of Capri where you belong. But you keep your mind locked on those sweet, syrupy eyes that you so desperately want to see again.

Joel was going to be your undoing.

Tags: (Let me know if you don’t want to be tagged) @janaispunk @amyispxnk @princesatracionera @vividispunk @keylimebeag @pedroswife69 @littlevenicebitch69 @poeticbarnes @tuquoquebrute @awkwardprovocateur @ayamenimthiriel @everythingiwanttoread @burntheedges @hc-geralt-23 @joelmillersblog @joelalorian @vivian-pascal @untamedheart81 @laurrrra @dugiioh @blueseastorm @pedrostories @morallyinept @vvitchesh3x @frannyzooey

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lets-try-some-writing · 4 months

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Just read what you wrote about autobots reacting to rain, and now I'm wondering what would happen if they saw the kids jump into a pool full of chemicals (chlorine and whatever else they use to maintain a pool).

Basically, on a hot summer day the kids were complaining about the heat, so agent fowler got a pool for them to cool down in. The bots saw what the people assembling the pool put in the pool, and they freak out when the kids jump in with no hesitation.

Ooooooooooooooooh boy.

━━━━━━ ⊙ ❖ ⊙ ━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⊙ ❖ ⊙

The bots do not like rain. On Cybertron, the stuff was acidic and capable of killing a mech through prolonged exposure. Even on Earth, they still aren't fond of it. Big bodies of water have received the same treatment. Not a spark likes them. Bumblebee may appreciate the rain and running in it off and on, but not a single Autobot enjoys any large body of water. Its wet, gets everywhere, and most notably, could hide any number of threats that they cannot see. Not to mention their very code demands they remain away from anything that even resembles and acid pool. Optimus is especially wary due to his time growing up in the wilds.

These fears were largely not an issue due to the bone dry nature of Jasper. But one hot summer day, the children decided it would be a grand idea to swim. The team knew in theory what the concept was. They had seen enough videos and were largely alright with the children swimming in purified water. If Ratchet could run scans and have them come back with nothing but majority H2O, the team could be content. As such when Agent Fowler finally caved in and got the children a pool for the base as well as all the necessary cleaning tools, the children were thrilled.

They constructed the pool in the training room just to make sure they didn't mess with any of Ratchet's stuff and promptly began filling it up. Bulkhead and Bumblebee were roped into getting buckets to help fill it up faster while the rest of the team hovered nearby to watch. Once the pool was ready, Miko threw in the filter and got the pool cleaning systems running before scurrying away with the others to get her suit on. The team didn't know what she had done but remained passive for a long moment until Ratchet got suspicious. He dipped a chemical tester into the pool water and scowled at it as he waited for the results. By the time he read them, the children had already canon balled into the water and begun laughing.

But of course that joy was short-lived as Ratchet all but screamed and demanded the team get the children out NOW. The medic hurried to try and do something but skidded on the water on the ground and promptly lost his balance. Upon reading the results of Ratchet's scan for themselves, the rest of the team lost their minds.

Smokescreen who had not wanted anything to do with the pool backed away screaming as the children splashed him. He scrubbed down his armor in terror and flew toward the washracks. Ultra Magnus, Wheeljack, and Bulkhead were too large to get near to the children and all three were similarly terrified of the "Contaminated' liquid. Bumblebee and Arcee were the only ones small enough to take one for the team and put a pede into the pool and carefully scoop up the children. They shrieked as the liquid seeped into their seams and both dropped to the ground as soon as the children were handed to Optimus. The Prime for his part mentally prepared himself to have mangled servos for the remainder of his functioning as he rushed to the nearest pure water source and sprayed down the children with the hose.

The children were not pleased at all to say the least. However as they watched the team huddle around staring at them and their own frames in horror, their anger faded quickly. They instead felt guilty as Smokescreen began wailing about how he was too young to end up like a mech called Kup. The entire team was lamenting their fates as Ratchet checked them all, the medic having already come to terms with the possible mutilation of his back if the "contaminated" liquid was as bad as he initially thought. Miko fussed over her Wreckers, Jack went to Arcee and tried to comfort her as she looked at her leg sadly, and Rafael did his best to explain.

It was only after the team had quite a while to realize that they were not about to be mutilated for life that they looked over the children and came to the conclusion that, like rain, the water wasn't going to kill them.

Rafael: "What your scans picked up were just some cleaning chemicals. Chlorine and a few other things."

Ratchet: "Those are dangerous aren't they?"

Rafael: "Well they can be in large quantities and some people's skin don't handle it well, but it won't kill a person unless they eat it or something."

Smokescreen: "So... we aren't about to die?"

Jack: "Well I think you would be dead already if that were the case."

Yet another instance of the team nearly losing their minds over a simple thing. The Wreckers almost passed out from relief and while Optimus will never admit it, he was genuinely terrified of losing his servos. Bumblebee and Arcee looked at each other with completely deadpan expressions, both murmuring about how they "should have expected this". Ratchet merely grumbled and shakily stopped planning how to tell June and Fowler that the children died from being turned into sludge under his supervision. At the same time Smokescreen had to hastily wipe his face to try and act as though he weren't two seconds from a breakdown.

The team never spoke of the incident again and collectively acted as though nothing happened whenever the children brought it up. It was agitating to the children, but they got back at the team once they were allowed back into the pool again. There was always a bot there to watch them just in case they started melting or something, and whoever the poor bot on duty was, they got splashed. Most flinched or stepped away, but Smokescreen always. screamed.

The children find it hilarious to this day.

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bless-my-demons · 11 months

Text

Redamancy: Chapter Two

Jasper Hale x Reader

Series Summary: What happens when your soulmate is a vampire that struggles to maintain a diet of trying not to kill you? Common sense says run for the hills, nothing is worth your life - but my heart is whispering why not, what’s there to lose?

Warnings: None

Notes: So sorry it took me more than a week to post, life kind of imploded and knocked me off the schedule I had planned. This chapter is honestly just filler so it can get to the good stuff… I plan to take this story all the way to Breaking Dawn at the very least. Thank you for all the love on the previous chapter!! Enjoy!

Word Count: 1695

Series Masterlist

• January 24th, 2005 • Forks High School •

Reader

Thankfully the first half of the day went rather uneventful, although I am disappointed I haven’t had a class with the handsome Jasper Hale yet. I did however, make friends with his adopted siblings Alice and Emmett Cullen. Both of which are gorgeous in their own right, but nowhere near as attractive as their blonde brother.

In English I sat in the unoccupied seat next to Alice Cullen, gratefully so. She seems like just the kind of friend a new girl needs in order to survive high school. I transferred to this place at such a horrible time in the year - almost at the end of my 11th grade. But after just a few minutes of knowing her, Alice caught me up on everything I missed. Turns out I’ve pretty much read everything they had covered this year and then some, fingers crossed that it continues to be a trend in most of my classes.

I learned that the boy walking with Jasper Hale this morning when I so rudely almost killed him with the door to the front office, is his adopted brother Emmett Cullen. A hulking mass of muscle, but a complete teddy bear, he kept me entertained for most of Trig. I can already tell that sitting in front of him was probably a bad move on my part for my academic career, but the guy is an absolute comedian.

Parting ways with Emmett after Math, I made my way to my locker. Digging the wrinkled combination paper out of my pocket, I was studying the numbers right when I bumped into a thin scrap of a girl with brown hair and an orange backpack. Immediately cursing myself I dropped to the ground to gather her notes before they could be stepped on by the stampede of people rushing to the cafeteria for lunch.

“Oh my god I’m so sorry! I-I just wasn’t paying attention, I was looking at my stupid locker combination and-“ I scrambled for excuses, word vomit spilling from my lips.

“Oh um, it’s okay! I’m not the most graceful person, so no worries.” An awkward pause, “Hey, you’re the new girl right?” She asked.

“Unfortunately.” I replied, looking up with a sad smile. I stuck out my hand to shake, “I’m Y/n Y/l/n, you are?”

“Bella Swan, former new girl I guess.” She responded as she lightly shook my hand. “You can sit with me during lunch if you want, maybe us gracefully-challenged should stick together.”

“Oh absolutely.” I chuckled a little, “I’ll grab my lunch from my locker and find you in there.”

“Cool, see you then.” She replied with a half-wave as she continued down the hallway to the cafeteria.

Jasper

One of the convenient things about being a vampire is that we really don’t necessarily need to breathe. In public places packed with humans, I can just hold my breath, but the challenge comes in making it still seem like I’m breathing.

Lost in my thoughts while Emmett and Rosalie drone on about plans after school, I spot the new girl - Y/n enter the cafeteria. I sit up straighter in my seat and observe her shamelessly as she walks unknowingly in my direction, switching paths as she spots the object of Edward’s latest desire: Isabella Swan. I spare a glance to my stoic adopted brother and see him rising from his seat, probably headed in the same direction as Y/n.

Walking up to the pair, I could tell his eyes were only on Isabella. Both girls stared up at him in awe, their emotions giving away that they were surprised to see him seeking them, or rather a certain one of them, out.

“Isabella-“ Edward started but was interrupted by Y/n.

“I’ll… go find us a seat.” Bella didn’t even spare her a glance as Y/n rushed away.

“Bro, you’re staring a little hard there, something catch your eye?” Emmett said, leaning over Rosalie to nudge my ribs. I turn to him and discreetly flash a crude gesture, causing him to chuckle. I love my brother, he just thrives on getting a rise out of me any chance he gets.

Alice smacks my shoulder, “You two behave, she’s shy and I’ll be upset if your rowdiness scares her off.” My adopted sister huffs in slight frustration at our antics.

“As if we need another human in our business.” Rosalie grumbles from her spot between myself and her mate. Crossing her arms, she stares daggers at the back of Edward’s head from where he’s talking to Bella Swan.

“Oh hush, I want more friends outside of you guys, plus Y/n is relatively safe. Cheer up Rose, I’ve already seen you get along with her rather nicely!” Alice fires back at Rose.

“I haven’t even met her yet-“ Rosalie leans forward to argue.

“But you will and you’ll love her, end of story.” Alice says matter-of-factly.

Rose leans back in her seat, huffing as Emmett pats her thigh. She swipes his hand away, not happy that he finds it amusing that she’ll have to deal with another one of her brother’s fixations on a human girl. It’s always so easy to read Rosalie’s emotions, she wears them so boldly and almost prefers to torture me with their intensity sometimes, as if to get her point across even more than her biting words.

I let out a sigh at their exchange concerning Y/n, she’s been here for half a day and already a hot topic for even us.

I’ve been in a trance pretty much since lunch, the two classes following it were uneventful allowing my thoughts to fill with day-dreams of the new girl.

Her hair, the way her oversized sweater hangs from her shoulders, her intoxicating scent…

The bell ending sixth period startles me from my reverie. This girl almost put a me-sized-dent in the door to the front office this morning and here I am obsessing over minuscule details after only seeing her twice.

I gather my notes and writing utensils before filing out of the door behind my fellow classmates. I slow my walk to the next class in hopes that I might catch a glimpse of her before the end of the day. I don’t even know her emotional signature yet like I do my adopted siblings, a handy ability I’ve managed to teach myself to find them in busy situations.

My search for Y/n comes up short, the hallways are mostly empty by the time the warning bell rings for the final instruction of the day. With a small huff I enter my seventh period class keeping my eyes on the floor as I make my way to my assigned seat.

“Glad you could make it in the nick of time, Mister Hale.” Mr. Ellis states rather loudly in an accusatory tone, raising an eyebrow as I sit and the final tardy bell rings.

An almost imperceptible gasp to my right keeps me from replying, I clamp my mouth shut and force myself not to meet the gaze I could feel boring into my back as flames begin to lick down my throat.

Wonderful, not only was I late enough to garner the attention of everyone in the room, but Y/n Y/l/n is in my history class and I can’t breathe for the next forty-four minutes.

• January 24th, 2005 • Home •

Reader

“How was school sweetheart?” My mother yells from the kitchen as I push open our front door, I swear that woman wastes no time when digging for information.

“Jeez, let me get in the door first!” I yell back with a light-hearted chuckle, setting my backpack on the ground by the couch just inside the living room.

“Sorry, I’m just excited to see how everything went.” Her voice is much closer this time and I turn to see her walking down the connecting hallway wiping her hands on a dish towel.

I flop onto my back on the couch as she leans over the back, folding her arms under her chest with an expectant look on her face ready for my response.

“Well, I don’t think it’ll be hard to catch up in-“ but my mom interrupts me excitedly.

“No, no, no! I need the good stuff! Did you make any friends? See any cute guys?” I could burst out laughing at the look on her face and the fact that she’s more concerned about my social life than my academics on the first day of school in a new town.

“Mom!” I drag the word out in exasperation as I smush a decorative pillow to my face to hide the slight heat in my cheeks.

“There’s a cute boy! I knew it!” She practically yells in victory, “tell me everything, baby girl!”

I pull the pillow down enough to reveal my eyes to her, “I almost killed him with a door.” I mumble in a rather sad tone.

“Oh dear God.” She immediately becomes serious, rounding the couch to push my legs off, forcing me upright so she can sit next to me, “it can’t be that bad!”

“I wasn’t looking while I pushed open the door to the front office and he barely caught it in time before it hit him square in the face!” I blurt out in a rush and drop the pillow to cover my face with my hands. “Definitely not the way to start off on the right foot.”

“Oh honey,” she tries to sooth me, guiding my hands away from my face and into her hold, “look at it this way - you’ve captured his attention in a way that’ll be memorable. Sure it isn’t without embarrassment, but now you’ve made a first impression he’ll never forget!”

“Yeah and I’ll probably never hear the end of it.” I mumble as I bury my face in her shoulder, sighing deeply. I hesitate, “We do have one class together.”

The gasp my mother lets out immediately sends me into a fit of giggles, forgetting all about my early morning embarrassment.

#jasper hale x reader #twilight #jasper hale #jasper whitlock #jasper whitlock hale #twilight fanfiction #redamancy series #bless-my-demons #female reader insert #jasper hale fanfiction

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zapreportsblog · 7 months

Note

Like an underweight reader that’s just self conscious and she moves to Forks, and as soon as she walks into class Edward can hear all of her self-doubt thoughts and like it’s an overwhelming amount.

❝perfectly imperfect❞

✭ pairing : Edward Cullen x reader

✭ fandom : twilight

✭ summary : (y/n) is the new girl in Forks Highschool, she is extremely self conscious when it comes to her appearance and Edward Cullen - a boy she happens to be sitting next to on the first day of school notices just how self conscious she seems to be, but maybe it has to do with the face he can hear her thoughts

✭ authors note : I am in no way shape or fork making fun of skinny individuals when I write this story, I am not weight shaming or skinny shaming. All topics in this story cover real issues that individuals across the world face nor am I making light of the situation, but what I am in fact doing is bringing a concerning topic to light and writing on it

✭ twilight masterlist

(Y/N) had always been the new girl. It seemed like every few years, her life took her to a different place, a different town. And now, she found herself in the small, rainy town of Forks. She had moved there with her family, seeking a fresh start after yet another series of changes.

Her first day at Forks High School was both exciting and nerve-wracking. She was determined to make a good impression, but her own insecurities lingered in the back of her mind. As she walked through the halls, she couldn't help but feel out of place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces.

"Stay confident, (Y/N)," she whispered to herself.

Despite her internal pep talk, those nagging thoughts persisted. She felt too skinny, her clothes hung on her slender frame, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to lose weight. It was a constant battle against her own self-doubt.

Her first real challenge came in science class. She found herself paired with a strikingly handsome boy with unruly bronze hair and piercing eyes—Edward Cullen. As they settled into their seats, (Y/N)'s mind raced with unkind thoughts about herself, thoughts she would never dare say aloud.

“I'm too fat," she thought. "I should eat less. I need to look better in this dress. Why can't I be like the other girls?"

Unbeknownst to her, Edward had a secret. He had the ability to hear the thoughts of those around him, and her self-deprecating thoughts echoed loudly in his mind. He frowned, concerned by the harshness of her internal dialogue.

Before (Y/N) could dwell further on her negative thoughts, Edward leaned in and spoke softly, "You know, you look really nice in that dress."

Her thoughts came to a screeching halt, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. It was as if he had plucked her innermost thoughts from her mind. "Uh, thank you," she stammered, caught off guard by his compliment.

Edward smiled warmly, trying to put her at ease.

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, and for the first time that day, she felt a glimmer of self-acceptance. Maybe Forks wouldn't be so bad after all. As she exchanged a shy smile with Edward, she couldn't help but wonder if this small town held the promise of acceptance and maybe even a bit of happiness. (Y/N) decided to skip lunch that day, as she often did. Her nagging thoughts about her appearance still lingered, convincing her that skipping meals was the path to perfection.

She watched her classmates chatting and enjoying their lunches, while she sat alone at an empty table, lost in her own thoughts.

Just as she was about to convince herself that she wasn't hungry, a sudden voice interrupted her reverie. "Hey there, mind if we join you?" It was Alice Cullen, the petite and energetic classmate of hers, known for her vibrant personality and impeccable fashion sense.

(Y/N) blinked in surprise but quickly managed a polite smile. "Oh, not at all. Please, have a seat."

Alice and her adoptive siblings, Edward and Jasper, settled in, their lunch trays laden with an assortment of delicious-smelling food. (Y/N) couldn't help but feel a pang of hunger at the sight and scent of it all, but she held firm to her belief that she needed to be skinny.

Alice, ever perceptive, noticed that (Y/N) had nothing on her tray. "Not hungry?" she asked, her golden eyes filled with curiosity.

(Y/N) hesitated for a moment before replying, "I ate a big breakfast, so I'm good."

Edward, who had been quietly observing the conversation, spoke up, his tone gentle. "Are you sure? You didn't grab much for lunch. Here, have half of my Caesar chicken wrap." He pushed the plate toward her, offering a generous slice.

(Y/N) hesitated again, torn between her desire to fit in and her fear of consuming too many calories. She politely declined, saying, "No, thank you. I'm really not hungry."

Edward persisted, a playful glint in his eyes. "Come on. It's just a little taste. I insist, especially since I didn't see you grab much for lunch."

Alice chimed in with a grin, "Lunch is the most important meal of the day, after all."

Edward rolled his eyes playfully. "That's breakfast dope.”

(Y/N) couldn't help but giggle at their playful bickering. Their warmth and kindness were breaking through the walls she had built around herself. Maybe, just maybe, she could allow herself to enjoy a meal without feeling guilty. She took the offered half of the chicken wrap, her heart feeling a little lighter as she joined the Cullen family for lunch.

A few weeks had passed since (Y/N) first met the Cullen siblings, and while their presence had begun to chip away at the walls she had built around herself, old habits die hard. She still found herself skipping meals occasionally, even as Edward and his siblings extended their kindness by sharing their lunches with her.

One fateful day, as (Y/N) grappled with her inner demons at home, she succumbed to the overwhelming weight of her thoughts. The familiar feelings of self-doubt and self-loathing washed over her, and in a moment of despair, she resorted to self-harm. It was a cry for help, a physical manifestation of the pain she had carried for so long.

The episode landed her in the hospital, where she lay in a sterile, unfamiliar room. The hours passed in a blur until Edward appeared at her bedside, his expression filled with concern rather than judgment.

He gently took her hand and asked, "Why, (Y/N)? Why did you do this to yourself?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to find the words. "Ever since I was a child, my parents... they were always obsessed with my weight. I was a bit overweight when I hit the triple digits before I even turned ten. And I came close to 215 when I was thirteen. They forced me to work out, try every diet under the sun, and the starvation... it just became a part of my daily routine."

Edward's heart ached as he listened to her painful confession. He knew that her experiences had left deep scars, both physically and emotionally. "What you're doing to yourself isn't healthy, (Y/N)," he said softly. "You deserve better than this."

(Y/N) broke down into tears, the weight of her years of suffering finally overwhelming her. Edward didn't hesitate; he pulled her into a comforting embrace, offering her a safe haven in his arms.

"It's going to get better," he whispered soothingly. "You don't have to go through this alone anymore. You have me now."

Her sobs began to subside, and she looked up at Edward with watery eyes. His unwavering support and understanding were like a lifeline in the darkness she had been trapped in for so long.

"How?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Because," Edward replied, his golden eyes filled with sincerity, "we'll face this together. You're not alone, (Y/N). We'll heal your heart and body, one step at a time."

#x reader #x reader one shot #x reader oneshot #twilight imagine #twilight imagines #twilight x reader #twilight masterlist #twilight edward #twilight #twilight x you #twilight x y/n #edward cullen imagine #edward cullen imagines #edward cullen x you #edward cullen x y/n #edward cullen #edward cullen x reader

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emmie-tt · 1 year

Text

Eternity

Jasper Hale x Wife!reader (AVENGERS CROSSOVER)

Description: you were married with a beautiful son before he went “missing” and after he ran away from Maria she went after you only for her to send you to hydra after seeing potential. When you return from Hydra you find out what she did to Jasper and kill her. Flash forward to now you get a call that Carlisle needs help protecting his family from the volturi and you see someone you thought you never would…

Mc's gifts/powers

Mind reading: the power to sense and hear others thoughts

Telekinesis: the ability to influence and move objects without touching them

Mind manipulation: the ability to change what others are thinking

Telepathy: The ability to receive and transmit information with your mind

Energy Absorption: The ability to take and use anothers power/gift

WARNINGS: none...

MAIN MASTERLIST

JASPER AND MC'S SON'S NAME WAS JAMES

JASPER AND READER GOT MARRIED AT 14 AND HAD JAMES AT 15

MARIA KI!!ED JAMES AFTER SHE TOOK MC (JAMES WAS 5)

CARLISLE DIDN'T KNOW JASPER AND MC USE TO BE/STILL ARE MARRIED

ALICE HAS A MATE NAMED THOMAS, HER AS JASPER ARE BEST FRIENDS

MC CAN SLEEP BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO

Y/N POV

A small sigh leaves my lips as my door bell rings again, with a small groan I get up and walk to my door opening it. As soon as the door is opened all the way I make eye contact with an old friend causing my eyebrows to furrow.

"carlisle? why are you- sorry that's rude, is everything okay?"

A small chuckle leaves his lip as he shrugs "i need some help, can we have a chat?"

I nod and open the move out of the way allowing him to enter my home, I lead him into my living room where he takes a seat on my couch. I sit on the chair across from him as worry slowly overtakes my mind "carlisle? what is it? what's going on?"

He looks at me and asks "you know Edward right?" earning a nod from me "well...he recently got married, to a human..."

My eyes widen "what? why- wait why am i needed?"

He sighs and continues "she wound up pregnant on the honey moon and had the baby a few days ago, we turned her shortly after the birth but the volturi have caught wind of the child and are coming after her."

My heart sinks "and your planning on fighting them?"

He shakes his head no "not if we don't have to...you see- they think she is a immortal child but she has already grown. she looks to be around 10 now, she's actually only a few weeks old...were hoping we can prove to them that she isn't a threat to our kind without a fight but we need witnesses and just in case people who are willing to fight for her..."

I nod and take a deep breath while letting my gaze drift to the fireplace in my living room, on the mantle of it rests a bunch of old pictures...I slowly zone out on the picture of my son and my husband playing...

-FLASHBACK-

I look up when I hear laughing, a smile forms on my face as I see Jasper chasing James. I set the dish down and wipe my hands off on my dress skirt before making my way outside.

As i'm about to walk out the door I grab our camera and continue out. I snap a few pictures of my boys as they play around with each other. I set them on the rail of our porch and admire them, as I get lost in my thoughts I feel arms wrap around me causing me to jump

I look up and see Jasper looking back at me with a smile "well hello their darlin' "

I smile and turn around in his arms "hi cowboy" I say earning a chuckle from Jasper, he kisses my forehead then my nose and finally my lips before I hear a small southern accent yell out "mama!" I look down as his small arms wrap around my skirt

I smile and lean down picking him up as he cuddles close to me, I turn back around admiring the view as I lean back against my husband wondering how I got so lucky

-FLASHBACK OVER-

I snap out of the memory and wipe my eyes quickly when I hear Carlisle say my name again. I look up at him "i'll help..."

He smiles softly and gets up walking over to me and gently hugging me "my family thanks you...i'll wait for you to get a bag packed okay?"

I nod hugging back for a moment before getting up and heading up to my room and grabbing a bag, as I throw things into the bag and go through my closet my eyes land on an old photo album.

With shaky hands I grab it and walk back over to my bed and sit down. As I open the album tears immediately spring in my eyes as I see my old wedding photos, I continue going through the album when Carlisle comes into the room "everything okay?"

My head snaps up and I nod as he walks over and sits next to me, his eyes land on a 15 year old version of me holding a newborn baby, he looks back at me "is that..?"

I take a deep breath and nod before closing the book and placing it in my bag "my son...james.."

He watches me with pity in his eyes as I zip my bag and sling it over my shoulder, we both make our way downstairs and out to his car. As I get situated Carlisle glances over at me before staring forward again and starting the car, his mind was stuck on the picture of the baby, he looked so familiar but he just couldn't put his finger on why...

-TIME SKIP A FEW HOURS-

After a long dreamless nap I feel myself being shaken awake, I open my eyes and look over at Carlisle "were here"

I nod and stretch slightly before glancing around, i'm amazed at the beautiful house and all of the greenery, when I go to tell Carlisle my thoughts five people make their way out of the house

I sigh and get out of the car, Carlisle gets my bag out of the back seat as the child along with Edward and i'm guessing his wife approach me. I smile at Edward who smiles back

My eyes land on the child who is staring at me obviously confused, I slowly kneel down in front of her and smile "well hello there...i'm y/n what's your name sweetheart?"

She smiles back while giggling softly "i'm renesme...your accent is very pretty"

I smile and giggle softly as well "thank you" she makes eye contact with me and cups my face softly causing me to flinch slightly before allowing her to do whatever it is

My eyes widen slightly before allowing them to flutter close as I watch her memories. After a minute I open my eyes and look at her with amazement "you, young lady have an extraordinary gift..."

She smiles and looks back at her parents who are also smiling, she looks back at me with a confused look again "what are you?"

I giggle and stand up "i'm a hybrid...vampire and super soldier"

Her eyes widen and she looks back at her parents again, Edward nods and chuckles softly at her look of surprise, the door opens again and I look up to see a short dark haired girl who is smiling and makes her way down to us. "hi! i'm alice!"

I smile softly at her and make a noise of surprise when she pulls me into a hug "oh- hi! i'm y/n"

A giggle leaves her lips as she pulls back "i know, i can see the future. we are gonna get along well"

I nod and smile as she grabs my hand and leads me into the house...the house that is full of vampires...my nerves spike as I glance around making eye contact with random red eyes before my eyes land on a pair of wide yellow eyes

-FLASHBACK A FEW HOURS-

JASPERS POV

As I sit on the couch watching as Renesme introduces herself and shows her memories to all the vampires who are arriving, I hear a small gasp and my eyes snap over to Alice who is frozen. Me and Thomas make our way over to her with concern

She snaps out of it and looks at me as a large smile graces her face "your wife...she's alive..."

I stare at her confused "what?"

She continues smiling "she's alive and- and she is gonna be here soon to help. your gonna get your wife back jasper..."

Before I could say anything she walks away leaving me confused

-FLASHBACK OVER-

Y/N POV

As I take in his face and slowly realize who i'm staring at Alice smiles squeezes my hand and whispers "go...go see your husband"

I don't say anything and nod before slowly weaving my way through the crowd towards the person I thought I would never see again, the man i've loved since 1858

I stop in front of him and look up at him as tears slowly make their way down my cheeks "my jasper..."

All the sudden my feet leave the ground and i'm being pressed against his cold body. My arms wrap around his neck as my legs wrap around his waist

The feeling of being in my husbands arms after so long brings the most amount of comfort i've felt in a long time...a comfort that I can only hope is permanent...

TAGLIST

@cherrybb-ily @rayliz793 @min-jianhyung @bunnymysteriously @angelgirl45367 @lovelybeardedsuit @mortallybitchybird @titaniatube @angelsincident @golgi-aparato @jovialwolfsoul @caityrayeraye @mkaybaby4 @iara-ximena17 @bluecrazedandbeautiful

I'm sorry it took so long to get this out!! I'm happy with how this turned out, feedback and ideas for other parts are always welcome!!

#jasper hale #jasper hale x wife!reader #jasper hale imagine #twilight #twilight x reader #twilight saga #the twilight saga #vampire!reader #super soilder!reader #hybrid!reader #jakesl-t #neytirisl-t

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archivehub · 8 months

Text

Here's my version of Steven and Connie's future family, commissioned from @screwpinecaprice!

More information about the kiddos is below the cut. You can also read my fanfictions involving them here!

Grace (11 y/o) is the oldest, and thus most mature, kiddo. She heavily resembles Stevonnie, though it isn’t a perfect match by any means. She's closest with the Crystal Gems, liking how cool and adventurous they are. Because of their influence, she eventually pressures her mom into (reluctantly) teaching her how to sword fight.

Lisa (10 y/o) is the middle child. She's extremely mischievous and can be quite rude sometimes, though she still has a pretty strong moral compass, albeit one that doesn't exactly line up perfectly with her father's. Because of this, she often clashes with her parents, and she even becomes best friends with Jasper. Don't worry, though: she eventually realizes her different ideology doesn't make her parents love her any less.

Gregory (9 y/o) is Priya's twin, and also a musical prodigy who heavily takes after his father and grandpa. He's extremely sweet and just wants to make everyone happy, even if that can be very difficult sometimes. At times, he can get lost in the music™ and neglect his schoolwork, friends, sisters, and parents. This especially becomes an issue in his teen years once he hits it big as a rock star and starts traveling around the world.

Priya (9 y/o) is Gregory's twin, and she really likes building stuff out of random junk she finds around town and in the woods. She's amazed by technology, and she really wants to be the next great inventor. Naturally, this leads her to be good friends with Peridot, who teaches her about the inner workings of gem tech. Priya also meets a boy at school who's just as much of a nerd as her, and he teaches her a ton about human tech.

Priya's passion eventually disappears, however. As for why, you'll have to go to my AO3 to find out ;)

#steven universe #connverse #connie maheswaran #fanfiction #steven universe fanfiction #su #steven quartz universe #connverse kid #connverse kids #steven x connie #connie x steven #stevonnie #steven universe future

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fangirl-writes · 2 years

Text

Wolfie

Jasper Whitlock/Hale x Fem!Werewolf!Reader

Request:

hiiii! idk if you’re still writing about jasper, but i was wondering if maybe you could do like where jasper is dating a wolf, like from jacobs family, and they are fighting the newborns and jasper nervous for her, and like after the fight the volturi comes and the reader stays with jasper and like clings too him, but she’s still like in wolf form? i don’t know if that makes sense but i’ve been trying to find a story like that but i can’t sadly and i rlly like ur stories so i was hoping you’d write it:) if not it’s totally fine, i totally understand if you cant!

much love xxx<3

Warning(s): Canon-level violence and related mentions of blood, broken bones, etc.

Notes: My first twilight imagine! Yay! This is way too long but I hope you like it. I had to rewatch Eclipse to write this. Honestly, the movies are pretty good all things considered.

Summary: Wolves and Vampires are meant to be mortal enemies. But, occasionally, there are times they work well together. Fighting newborn vampires is one of those times. Of course, you and Jasper never liked the whole rivalry in the first place.

You met Jasper in the woods.

The only place you could go to be what you truly were. Do what you truly loved. And that was running.

Whether it was in wolf-form or not, you would run through the trees and feel the wind whipping at your face. It was freeing, you felt connected to your roots and to the wolf inside you.

You usually ran alone, since no one could ever keep up with you. Not even Jacob. Hell, Jacob’s motorcycle couldn’t keep up with you.

Your dad, Billy, said it was a special spiritual connection you had, being able to run so fast without shifting into wolf form.

A running partner would be nice though, someone to talk to while running instead of just filtering between your thoughts and Sam’s, and Jared’s, and Paul’s until you got far enough away for radio silence.

You thought about asking Sam a couple of times, but he was such a stick in the mud you knew he’d kill your vibe if he even agreed to go. And Paul and Jared got on your nerves so you didn’t even let your mind go there.

It was kind of lonely sometimes.

But not today.

You weren’t sure if it was werewolf instincts or basic human intuition, but you could tell someone (or something) was following you.

If it was Jacob or any of the other boys, you could recognize their scent a mile away, but there was nothing. You couldn’t smell anything (wasn’t close enough) and there was nothing to see or hear, but it was definitely there.

The scent of fresh blood nearby made it seem like it was a predator. Perhaps a mountain lion or a real wolf, which didn’t worry you as much as the alternative. If push came to shove, you could take one of those things.

Something flashed through the trees overhead and you gasped, feet digging into the dirt as you skidded to a stop.

Your heart was pounding as you glared at the forest around you. Something was there. You could smell it.

“Where are you?” You said, softly, more to yourself than to the creature stalking you.

You heard leaves rustle and followed the sound, turning in circles and getting increasingly more worried as the thing circled you. “Show yourself, coward!”

God, you wished you could get that telepathic link back and call for help. You supposed you could shift and howl if things got really desperate. But that sounded humiliating, especially if this thing was a vampire.

A large sense of calm suddenly washed over you, the weight of worry lifting from your shoulders and you sighed almost involuntarily.

A man walked out from behind a tree.

“Sorry,” he said. “I had to get close enough to calm you down. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

He was blond and lean and he smelled like rotten candy. His skin was riddled with scars, spaced thickly together on his neck and jaw. Others lined his arms in a faded white that told stories. He had been in more fights than you could imagine, and he'd never lost.

His eyes were strikingly gold, but there was a darkness behind them.

You had the feeling you’d do anything for him. If he asked you to kill yourself you would without hesitation.

And oh- oh no.

Panic began to build again and the handsome stranger strengthened his gaze on you, your emotions shifting back to calm. But there was something else, too.

That desperate, longing feeling…the strong desire had vanished too.

“Wh-what did you do to me?”

The man’s face softened. “I just calmed you down. That’s my ability; I can control emotions.”

“A-ability? What are you-“

You felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over you as the realization set in. It made sense: the speed, the smell, the golden eyes.

Your imprint was a vampire.

“I’m Jasper,” He said. “I know your scared. This is not a normal thing… at all, but Alice- uh, a girl in my family, she can see the future. And she saw us, together.”

It was all too much at once. You felt like you were drowning. You couldn’t get over the simple fact that a vampire was your imprint.

The creature that caused your transformation- your extremely painful and terrifying transformation- was your soulmate. The perfect match for you.

God, your ancestors must be rolling in their graves.

“I-I’m sorry…this is just so strange. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it…” you said.

“That’s alright.” He- Jasper replied. “Can I come closer?”

He was stood about ten feet away from you, a respectable distance, which you were thankful for.

You took a moment to consider before replying. He was a vampire, he could kill you without a second thought, but he was also your imprint. He’d come so close to Quilete land just to find you and he’d been nothing but kind since he revealed himself.

“Okay… yeah, yeah, you can come closer.”

He smiled, relieved, and closed the distance between you.

As he neared, you realized how tall he was. But instead of threatening, it was charming.

And his scars, you realized with horror, were bite marks.

Jasper chuckled. “I didn’t think the wet dog smell would go away, but I was prepared to make sacrifices.”

You smiled, feeling more at ease (whether that was yourself or his powers, you didn’t know, but would come to learn the difference). “And you don’t smell like rotten candy anymore.”

That made him laugh. “I didn’t know we had such an aroma.”

That desire was starting to creep back in. You wanted to know everything about him, wanted to be near him all the time, wanted to smell the sweetness of him. It was a pleasant feeling and wasn’t unwelcome any longer. You guessed that’s why most shifters felt happiest by their imprintee.

He reached up a hand and caressed your cheek.

“Your hands are cold,” you said.

“I’m sorry.” He replied, retracting his hand.

“No, no,” you grabbed it gently and placed it back on your cheek. “I like it.”

If vampires could blush you were sure he would’ve.

You kept one hand over his and used the other to feel up his arm and over his chest, trying to commit every curve to memory.

“And you’re so warm,” he whispered, placing his other hand on your waist and pulling you ever so closer.

“I guess we’re a good match then,” you replied, just as softly. It felt strange to be so intimate with someone you’d just met. But nothing had ever felt so right.

“Can I kiss you?” He asked.

You hummed. “Yes, please,”

His lips were cold, like the rest of his skin, but they were soft and gentle, easing into the kiss. Your stomach fluttered and you shivered as he ran his hands up your arms before curling around your back.

Your fingers knotted in his hair, pulling him closer, wanting more.

That desire inside strengthened, but you supposed that was just the way it felt to kiss your soulmate. And, god, did it feel good. The same hands that could end your life in a single motion were holding you tenderly.

You finally pulled away to catch your breath (Jasper could’ve stayed right there kissing you forever) and pressed your forehead against his.

“By the way,” you said. “My name is Y/N.”

It was the scandal of the century when you left the pack to be with a vampire.

Your dad didn’t like it, but he supported your choice. And, unlike your brother, he still talked to you when you visited.

Jacob practically disowned you. He hated vampires and it only got worse when Bella Swan fell in love with Edward.

Jacob felt like the Cullens were taking away everyone he loved and they were going to turn them into cold, heartless bloodsuckers.

Which was preposterous at best. All the Cullens were very aware of themselves and what it means to be a vampire. Most of them didn’t have a choice in the matter, being what they are. And despite them not beating, they still had hearts.

Hearts that welcomed you and loved you the moment you stepped through their door.

Well, Rosalie needed some convincing and Edward was less than thrilled, but the others were great!

Of course, it was an adjustment having an alive person in the house and not wanting to rip their throat out. You just made sure to avoid bleeding at any cost, as if that wasn’t something you already did.

Alice immediately accepted you as her sister and you thanked her for leading Jasper to you, which she insisted wasn’t necessary.

And Bella, the girl you once babysat over summer, was surprised to see you when she visited with Edward the first time.

“Y/N?” She said when you came into the room with Jasper.

The two of you had just been out hunting/running and you smiled wide when you saw her. “Bella!”

You guys hugged.

“Wha- why are you here? Jacob said you weren’t around anymore.”

“Um. I’m not, sort of.” You replied. “Let’s talk in the other room shall we?”

“What’s going on, are you a vampire, too?” Bella asked.

“I can’t believe you know that already, but no, I’m not a vampire. I’m...something else. I can’t tell you what I am, you know too much already. I’m with Jasper though. He’s, uh...he’s like my soulmate.”

“Soulmate?” Bella said. “Vampires have those?”

“I guess?”

Of course, Bella was the start of SO many more problems. James, Victoria, and Laurent, Bella’s papercut, the Cullens leaving town (and leaving you and Bella behind), Bella finding out about the pack, and the Volturi finding out about Bella and you.

But those events had brought an understanding between you and the boys.

Which brings you to where you were now, celebrating Bella’s graduation.

“Quil, Embry, Jake!” You threw yourself into each of their arms, hugging them. “So glad you guys came!”

Jasper was standing nearby, not one to leave your side very long, and Jacob shot him a sour look.

“Hey, Y/N!” Embry replied, ever the optimist. “You need to come visit again soon. Sam sucks as a wrestling referee.”

You laughed. “Give me a call next time and I’ll be there.”

“Will do.”

“Seth misses you, too,” Quil said. “Won’t shut up about how you made life with Leah more bearable.”

“Oh, you guys should leave her alone.” You chastised. “She’s just as sour as Sam, anyway,”

The boys shrugged and grinned. Neither conforming nor denying your words.

You glanced over to the stairway to see Bella and Jasper talking to Alice. Alice looked frightened. And that was never good.

“They’ll be here in four days,” Alice said, once the present Cullens and the four shifters gathered in a side room.

“This could turn into a bloodbath,” Carlisle said.

You exchanged a look with Jasper.

“Who’s behind it?” Edward asked.

“I didn’t see anyone I recognized.” Alice said. “Maybe one.”

“I know his face,” Edward said, reading Alice’s thoughts. “He’s local. Riley Biers...he didn’t start this.”

“Whoever did is staying out of the action.”

“Must be playing with the blind spots in your vision,” Carlisle said.

“Either way,” Jasper spoke up. “The army’s coming and there aren’t enough of us to protect the town.”

“Hold on,” Jacob said. “What damn army?”

“Newborns.” Carlisle explained. “Our kind.”

“What?” Jacob turned on you. “Did you know about this?”

You shrugged and smiled sheepishly. Yeah, you did.

“What are they after?” Embry asked.

“They were passing around Bella’s scent,” Alice said. “A red blouse.”

“They’re after Bella?” Jacob said. “What the hell does this mean?”

“It means an ugly fight,” Carlisle said. “With lives lost.”

Jacob looked to Quil and Embry, a decision being made between them.

“Alright,” He said. “We’re in.”

“No,”

“Bella-”

“You’ll get yourselves killed, no way.”

You sighed, resisting the urge to roll your eyes.

“I wasn’t asking for permission,” Jacob said, lowly.

“Edward,” Bella pleaded, looking towards her boyfriend to back her up.

He gave her no such rewards, looking between the boys and Bella before saying, “It means more protection for you.”

“No, I won’t let you do this, Jake,”

“He can take care of himself, Bella,” You said, glaring at her.

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Then what was it?”

“Look, just because you decided to abandon them-”

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you!”

“Enough!” Carlisle interrupted. “Jacob. Do you think Sam would agree to...an understanding?”

Jacob’s jaw tightened and he got that brooding look in his eye. “As long as we get to kill some vampires.”

Asshole.

“Jasper?”

You looked to your boyfriend who had been sitting quietly next to you for the better part of the conversation.

“They’ll give us the numbers,” he said. “Newborns won’t even know they exist. It’ll give us an edge.”

“We’ll need to coordinate.”

“Carlisle, they’re gonna get hurt.” Bella protested.

You bit down on your tongue and Jasper sent a wave of calm over you.

“We’ll all need some training,” Carlisle replied. “Fighting newborns requires knowledge that Jasper has. You’re welcome to join us.”

Jacob nodded. “Alright. Name the time and place.”

“Jake. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“Bella, this is what we do.” Jacob replied, icily. “You should be happy. Look at us. Working together.”

He looked over at you. “And you are the one that wanted us to get along, right?”

“Asshole.” You said, a bit of a smile tugging at your lips

“Bitch.” He replied, smirking.

After that you returned to the Cullen house. Not much was said as you and Jasper lounged on the couch, reading. You could tell he was thinking about the approaching fight and his past battles because he never turned a page.

When Edward returned from dropping off Bella, you could tell by the way he stalked into the room that he was looking for an argument.

“Must you always provoke her?” He asked.

You looked up from your book. “What, did the princess complain about me the whole way home?”

The disgusted look on Edward’s face only grew at your reply. “What’s your problem with her? I thought you and her were friends.”

You snapped your book shut. “Look. She may have you and my brother wrapped around her little finger, but not me. Someone has to be the bearer of bad news that the world doesn’t revolve around Bella Swan.”

“She’s in danger, Y/N. The least you could do is try to be civil.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know that she was the only life that mattered here-”

“Stop.” Jasper said, sternly. The snapping of his book closed filling the room and shutting the two of you up. “Edward’s right. If you can’t keep this little rivalry you have-”

“Rivalry?” You were standing now, absolutely aghast at his accusation.

“Y/N-” He began, reaching out for you, eyes trained on you.

“Don’t.” You spat. “Don’t play with my emotions right now. Don’t you dare.”

He had the decency to look guilty about it.

You stormed out of the room, making sure to knock into Edward’s shoulder as you headed for the balcony.

The anger was bubbling up. If you didn’t leave now you’d shift in the house and destroy something or hurt someone. And it helped that you couldn’t stand being in the same room as those two right now.

You climbed onto the railing and dove off, shifting halfway down and landing on all fours. You took off running into the woods, making sure to howl to really twist the knife in Jasper’s gut.

Rivalry? You thought. Rivalry?! Who does he think he is? We don’t have a rivalry. It’s not like were competing for a spot on team Cullen. Bella’s just like that annoying younger sister who gets everything she wants, leaving you to the sidelines. To rot like second best-

You skidded to a stop.

Oh, shit. Am I jealous of her? No. No way. Not jealous, just...

The anger began to dissipate into confusion and hurt.

It made sense all of the sudden. You were jealous of Bella.

You’d tried for years to get the tribe and the Cullens to get along. They made you choose. To pick between family and love. But then Bella came along and was able to live in both worlds. She didn’t have to pick.

It helped that she was pretty ignorant to it all for a while. You knew too much, more than she did. You knew the tribe’s history, to the connection to vampires. You knew all of the Cullen’s darkest secrets and dreaded pasts. You were fully immersed in a way she never could be.

And it wasn’t that you wanted any evil vampires to try to kill you, but it would be nice to not have to face the consequences for the choices Bella makes. For her to undo all the progress you’d made just by existing.

It would be easier if you were a vampire instead of a shifter. You can’t say you hadn’t thought about asking Jasper to...well, he’d never agree to it anyway. And who knows what it would do to you.

You shifted back, realizing where you were. Stopped dead in the same spot you’d met him. In that little clearing between the trees.

The leaves rustled in the wind and you shivered. Your clothes had ripped off with your transformation, leaving you cold and alone.

But you couldn’t go back. Not yet. You were still mad, even though the anger was gone. His words hurt. You weren’t ready to see him yet.

So, you shifted back into a wolf and curled up against a tree. A nice sleep in the woods might help you clear your head.

You sensed Jasper before you saw him. Your eyes opened as you caught that familiar sweet scent that only he carried.

You sat up, having turned back into a human sometime through the night, and rubbed your eyes. “I know you’re there. You can come out.”

He slunk out from the trees. He was carrying a fresh pair of clothes for you and had a blanket slung over his shoulder. You could’ve kissed him.

He handed them to you gently, allowing you to reach out and take them from him.

He kept his distance as you dressed, about ten feet away.

Once dressed, you tossed the blanket over your shoulders and smiled tiredly at him. “Now doesn’t this look familiar?”

Jasper chuckled. “Can I come closer?”

You nodded, beckoning him forward. “Come on,”

He sat next to you, wrapping an arm around your shoulders and you rested your head on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry for what I said. That wasn’t what I meant and I should’ve thought about my words before I spoke.”

You shook your head. “No, you were right. I’m carrying this distain for Bella and I need to let it go. It’s not making anyone happy and if her and Edward are going to be together, I’m gonna have to get used to it.”

Jasper hummed, kissing your temple. “She could never replace you, you know?”

“Yeah...thank you.”

“We’re supposed to go meet with the wolves for training in a few hours. Do you want to go back to the house for breakfast beforehand?” He asked.

You furrowed your eyebrows. “But you guys don’t eat?”

“I...may have bought a bunch of your favorite breakfast foods. To make up for my mistake.” He said, a little sheepishly.

You laughed. “Never change, Jasper Whitlock.”

“Is that a yes?”

“That’s a yes.”

You both stood, holding hands.

“Do you think...” You bit your lip. “Can I invite Bella over? I can’t eat all of that breakfast by myself.”

Jasper smiled. “That’s my girl.”

Emmett flew through the air, hitting the ground with a crash that would’ve killed any human. But he got up with a ferocity in his eyes and said, “again.”

Edward pulled up in his silver jeep carrying you and Bella in it and parked half-hazardly in between two trees.

You got out from the backseat and immediately went to Jasper’s side.

“Wouldn’t even let us eat breakfast alone,” You whispered. “I think he thinks I’m gonna eat her or something.”

Jasper bit back a laugh and turned with the rest of the family as the Uley back emerged from the trees. All ferocious and upset looking.

“They don’t trust us enough to be in their human forms,” Edward explained.

“They came, that’s what matters,” Carlisle replied. “Will you translate?”

Edward nodded.

Carlisle and Jasper approached the pack, standing before Sam, Jared, and Paul. You hung back by Bella and Alice. Last thing that bridge needed was a loose board.

“Welcome,” He began. “Jasper has experience with newborns. He’ll teach us how to defeat them.”

“They wanna know how the newborns are different from us.”

“They’re a great deal stronger than us,” Carlisle explained. “Because their own human blood lingers in their tissues. Our kind is never more physically powerful than in our first several months in this life.”

With no further questions from Sam, Carlisle turns the speech over to Jasper, who swaggers to the center of the group’s gaze like he was made for it.

“Carlisle’s right,” He said. “That’s why they are created. A newborn army doesn’t need thousands like a human army. And no human army could stand against them.”

A growl from Sam.

“Now, the two most important things to remember are first, never let them get their arms around you - they will crush you instantly - and second...never go for the obvious kill.”

You smirked.

“They’ll be expecting that. And you. Will lose.”

Jasper turned to his side of the group. “Emmet.”

Now things were going to get interesting.

(Tbh just go watch the scene on YouTube for this, not much changes besides the Alice and Jasper stuff and there’s a bit extra at the end.)

“Don’t hold back.”

“Not in my nature,” Emmet replied, grinning.

You nudged Bella and she looked at you. You lifted your fingers and counted off three, two, one-

Emmett surged forward, plowing into Jasper's middle like a football player. Jasper, expecting this, planted his feet and dug them into the dirt as he was pushed backward.

Emmet threw him over his shoulder, sending Jasper spiraling into the air and landing messily on the forest floor, but never falling. He sprang up and sprinted right back into the fight.

Emmett swung, Jasper ducked and caught his arm, sending him onto the forest floor.

Jasper smirked. “Never lose focus.”

You hoped the pack couldn’t smell the desire radiating off of you.

Edward and Carlisle squared up to demonstrate next, Jasper looking on as a coach.

Carlisle gave a curt nod and the fight began. Carlisle slid, Edward jumped over. Boom, back up and running. They caught each other by the neck, forcing each of them to make steps backward.

You glanced at Jasper, who was expressionless, silently observing. You heard Sam growl from nearby.

Edward went spiraling as Carlisle threw him over his shoulder. You felt Bella tense next to you.

Carlisle threw a punch, Edward ducked, Carlisle went for another and Edward caught him by the chest, sending him to the ground.

Edward straightened up cockily.

“And one more thing,” Jasper said.

Carlisle grabbed Edward by the leg, reversing their positions.

“Never turn your back on your enemy.”

Sam seemed slightly impressed, if his expression changing from a snarl to indifference was any sign.

Jasper beckoned Rosalie forward with two fingers. She sauntered up like she’d rather be doing anything else, which was probably true.

Punch. Punch. Jasper ducked each time, her jabs missing him. He caught her arm, she spiraled and landed gracefully in a bent position.

Poser, you thought with a grin.

Alice was next. And you never underestimate Alice.

Jasper was on the offense this time and Alice moved out of striking range every time like it was the easiest thing in the world, cartwheeling out of his reach.

Jasper advanced again, throwing punches that didn’t (and wouldn’t) connect. Then, Alice disappeared. Jasper, used to knowing people’s next moves, was confused.

You glanced up, just in time to see Alice drop from the tree behind Jasper and send him to the ground.

"Y/N. You’re up.” Jasper said as Alice walked back towards Bella.

You nodded, quickly taking off into the trees to shift.

You came back in your wolf form. A brown wolf, similar to Jacob, but a little darker. Jasper almost lost himself admiring you, but it was hard to ignore when a giant wolf was running at you.

He caught your form, his hands almost making it around you before you rolled and pushed him with your back feet. Jasper grunted, falling onto his butt and watching as you summersaulted in the air and landed on all fours above him.

Jasper was slightly turned on, but only smirked at you sexily. You rolled your eyes and got off him, to which he responded by jumping on your back.

You felt his weight and immediately leapt up, sending him back to the ground.

He stood up as you rushed back into the trees to turn back.

“Sometimes you won’t be able to get the newborn off of you so easily,” Jasper said to the pack. “Like we said, they’re strong.”

“But that’s what you guys are there for right?” You said, clutching on to Jasper’s arm. You were dressed down now, in a simple tank top and leggings.

“Correct,” Jasper said softly, tilting his head and smiling.

He hardened as he turned back to the wolves. “We will do our best to keep each of you safe, just as you will do for us. And if in doubt. Go for the head.”

That about wrapped it up for the day, so the wolves left and the Cullens regrouped to go home.

Jasper and Bella were talking so you went to Edward, who was watching the interaction intensely.

“You know, she’s not gonna die if you take your eyes off of her for a second.” You said, nudging him.

He looked at you. “Thank you. For trying.”

You shrugged. “I needed to get my head out of my ass. Now it’s her turn.”

Edward frowned, but didn’t comment further.

You pricked up suddenly, feeling Jasper’s emotions changing from pride to guilt and sadness. You immediately knew what he was talking about, so you walked over, Alice not far away.

“I thought what Maria and I had was love,” He said. “But I was her puppet, she pulled the strings. I didn’t know there was another way...until I found Alice. Well, she seen me coming, of course.”

“Kept me waiting long enough,” Alice joked, walking up to him and leaning on his shoulder.

Jasper chuckled sadly, tears in his eyes. “My apologies, ma’am.”

You smiled softly.

“I don’t know what I’d’ve become without her. She brought me to Y/N. And she, well,” he looked over at you, his golden eyes meeting your (e/c) ones. “She taught me what real love was.”

Bella smiled.

Jasper walked over to you, taking your hand and kissing you as he’d wanted to all morning.

When you pulled away, he was serious.

“You don’t think less of me for my past, do you? I know I’ve done some pretty awful things, but I don’t think I could-”

“Hey,” You interrupted, touching his face. Your warm hand calming him down. “I could never think less of you. I love you. And the past is in the past. You never have to be that person again. We’re good, okay?”

He smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

You raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, darlin’“

“That’s better.”

You met Jacob in the clearing where the fight would be. Edward, Bella, Jasper, and you coming from one side and a shirtless Jacob from the other.

You resisted the urge to roll your eyes. “You own a shirt?”

“You’re not fighting?” Jacob asked, ignoring you and directing his words at Edward. “What, you pull a muscle or something?”

“He’s doing it for me, okay?” Bella defended.

“Whatever,” Jacob drawled back.

Now you rolled your eyes. Oh, the never-ending love triangle at it again.

“Just tell me the plan.”

“This field will give us an advantage in battle,” Jasper explained. “We need to lure them here with Bella’s scent. And it needs to end here.”

“Edward and I are going on a campsite,” Bella said. “Even if he carries me, they’ll still pick up on our scent.”

“Your stench, however, is revolting.” Edward snapped.

You frowned but didn’t comment.

“Dude, you really don’t want to start comparing stinks,” Jacob retorted.

“What he means is,” Bella interjected. “That your scent will mask mine if you carry me.”

Jacob gave a curt nod. “Done.”

“This is not a good idea,” Edward said.

“It’ll work,” Jasper replied. “They won’t want to get anywhere near his...odor.”

“Rude,” You said, jokingly.

“Your odor, however, is delightful.” He said to you.

“Aw, thanks.”

“Okay, stop,” Jacob said, pulling a face. “Let’s try it.”

Bella walked over and Jacob picked her up.

“Ode of wolf, coming up,” He said.

Edward grimaced.

“Run.”

Doing as he was told (for once), Jacob took off into the woods.

After a few minutes, Jasper took off into the woods, too. Tracking for any signs of Bella’s scent.

“Soooo,” You started. Being left alone with Edward was not your version of fun, but your nose wouldn’t be of any service. Different species senses and all that.

“Don’t start,” Edward replied.

“Wasn’t gonna,” You said with a shrug. “But you really should calm down. Your worry is almost as potent as Jake’s odor.”

“Could you step back? Your odor is really starting to bother me, makes my eyes water.”

“Oh, is that how it’s gonna be?” You asked with a challenging grin.

Edward cracked a smile.

“Alright, mind-reader, you don’t wanna smell all the scents I can conjure up.”

“All I picked up was wolf stench,” Jasper said, coming back out of the woods. “No Bella.”

“Good work, Major Whitlock,” You teased, he bumped you with his hip.

Edward still seemed uneasy, despite your lighthearted conversation.

“This will work,” Jasper reassured.

“Great.” Edward replied, shortly.

Great indeed.

When the day finally came, you were nervous.

Not that you doubted the Cullen’s or the pack’s abilities to win the fight. It was just that things always seemed to go wrong even with the best laid plans. You had this terrible pit in your stomach.

You almost forgot about it, waking up in Jasper’s arms was business as usual and he did nothing to make it seem like he was nervous.

“Good morning,” Jasper whispered.

“Morning,” You replied, groggily.

Jasper didn’t sleep, of course, but he didn’t mind holding you while you did. He even closed his eyes, just to relax and focus and think. Sometimes you wondered if that was the closest thing to sleeping he got.

You stretched out of his grip and sat up, remembering what day it was. “When are they coming?”

“Soon.”

“Right. Soon.” You stood up and headed for the bathroom to prepare yourself for the fight. That was when the worry started to creep in.

Jasper noticed, of course he did.

“Hey,” he said when you walked back out of the bathroom. “This’ll work.”

You nodded, taking a deep breath. “I know, I know. I always worry about this stuff.”

“Would you like me to...?”

You shook your head. “No, not yet. I’ve gotta work through this or it might come back with a vengeance later when you’re preoccupied. And we don’t need that.”

He nodded in understanding.

You chuckled as he walked up to you, playing with your fingers. “You can tell we’re opposing monsters, the way we dress.”

Jasper, forever cold, was dressed in dark jeans, a dark t-shirt, and a button up underneath a heavier jacket. You, forever warm, were dressed in a pair of yoga shorts and a loose t-shirt.

He pressed his forehead against yours, eyes closing. You closed your eyes in return, taking the moment to breath him in and accept the moment of peace before the battle.

He kissed you softly.

“Have you got everything?” He asked.

You threw your bag over your shoulder. “Yeah, I think so. Just my spare clothes.”

“Good. It’s time to go.”

When you got to the clearing, you could smell Bella’s blood everywhere. On the trees, in the grass, on the rocks. Oh yeah, this would work.

“The storm really hit here,” You said.

“Well, hopefully we can use that to our advantage,” Jasper replied before turning to you. “Are you ready for this?”

“Well, I don’t take pleasure in killing innocents, but I’ll do it to protect my family.” You replied.

“We appreciate everything you’ve done for us, Y/N,” Carlisle said.

You smiled softly. “Thanks. I have to go.”

“Be safe,” Jasper replied, kissing your forehead. “I’ll see you on the battlefield.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.” You said, mock saluting before running off into the trees to find the pack.

“She’ll be fine, Jasper,” Alice said.

He nodded. “I know she will be.”

When you reached the pack you noticed a significant absence of your brother. “Where’s Jake?”

“On his way.” Sam replied, bluntly.

“Yeah, he wanted to help protect precious Bella overnight,” Embry joked.

You nodded. “Course he did.”

“It’s time,” Sam said.

All of you shifted in unison, hearing the sounds of the newborns ripping through the trees.

The entire newborn army blitzed out of the woods and into the field. There’s a frenzy in their eyes. Their thirst rabid at the scent of Bella’s blood. But it ends there and they are met with the Cullens, ready and willing to defend.

The two sides meet in a flurry of shouts.

Jasper claims the first kill, knocking one of the newborn’s heads clean off his shoulders with a single punch.

The newborns have the numbers, but are inexperienced and sloppy. They swing and miss and the Cullen’s gain the upper hand almost easily, but they can’t account for them all.

That is when the wolves come in.

Sam’s large, black wolf jumps over the threshold first, taking the first wolf kill for himself. He is followed closely by you and the rest of the pack.

It’s unexpected, and the newborns are brought down easily by the shifters.

You’ve blacked out at this point, allowing the wolf to take over your actions so you won’t be burdened with the guilt and memory of killing these people. These kids.

It’s too easy to rip into them. Their skin cracking like glass and ripping like paper.

Jacob rips through the trees and attacks immediately. You wish he could hear your thoughts so you could tell him he was an idiot and to be careful.

In your distracted state, one of the newborns managed to get you to the ground. You flailed and rolled, trying to get him off of you.

Jasper ran through three newborns to get to you, a fury in his eyes. He wouldn’t lose you. Not like this. Not ever.

He rips through the newborn’s head like it’s made of water.

You make eye contact with him, a silent thanks, and the battle continues.

It almost isn’t fair how easily your side takes them down. No training, no preparation. Almost like they were...a distraction.

You looked around, trying to spot Victoria’s red hair in the crowd or the trees. She was gone. She was going for Edward and Bella.

You howled, hoping they or Seth would hear you and be prepared.

Then, it was like a door opened up in your mind. Seth’s thoughts came streaming in like someone was adjusting the tuneage on a radio, distorted at first then became clearer and clearer.

Thanks, Y/N. It’s over.

You sighed, thankful.

“Y/N,”

You startled, looking over to see Jasper approaching you. You shifted back.

“It’s over,” You said. “Victoria’s dead.”

“It’s not over,” Jasper replied, looking over his shoulder at Alice, standing before the burning pile.

She had that dead look in her eyes that she got whenever she got a vision.

“Alice, what is it?” You asked, pulling Jasper’s coat over your body.

“The Volturi,” She said. “They’re coming.”

You and Jasper exchanged a look.

“How long?”

Bella and Edward appeared from the trees, finally approaching the group.

“Fifteen minutes. Maybe ten?”

“The pack needs to leave. The Volturi won’t honor our truce with the werewolves.” Carlisle said.

“I’m not going anywhere,” You growled.

“I didn’t ask you to,” Carlisle clarified. “But you need to tell the pack to leave.”

You nodded, turning towards where Leah stood, watching over. Jake came out of the trees to join her and see what was happening.

A stray newborn emerged as well.

That pit in your stomach grew bigger, you opened your mouth to shout, only to be cut off by Leah growling and heading straight for the newborn.

“Leah don’t!” You and Edward shouted together.

The newborn got his arms around her and you panicked, ripping off Jasper’s coat and shifting as Jacob ran over to help her.

He caught him by the neck, ripping him off of Leah’s back.

The two wrestled and you checked on Leah, she was fine and you ran for Jacob.

But it was too late. You heard the cracking of his bones just as you managed to get there, snatching the newborn off Jacob’s back.

Sam and Paul joined you in ripping him apart.

This one you took pleasure in.

Jacob shifted back, his body responding to the pain.

“Jacob!” Bella cried, running over to him.

Edward and Carlisle beat her there, tending to him to find out what was wrong.

“The bones on the right half of his body are shattered,” Carlisle explained.

You and the pack came running out from the trees, all now at least partially dressed.

“Jacob, you idiot, I had it!”

“Leah,” Sam scolded, joining you and the others knelt at Jacob’s side.

“I need to set the bones before his accelerated healing sets in,” Carlisle said. “It’s already starting.”

“We need to get him out of here,” Edward said. “We’re not gonna win a fight with the Volturi.”

“We’ll take him back to Billy’s,” Sam said.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Carlisle replied.

“Hang in there, Jake,” Bella said.

“You’ll be okay, Jacob,” You said, squeezing the half of his body that’s not shattered.

You watched anxiously as the pack carried Jacob away, that pit in your stomach the biggest its ever been.

A wave of calm settled itself over you and you knew it was Jasper when he touched your shoulder. “He’ll be alright,”

You nodded, “I know.”

You didn’t.

“They’re coming!” Alice shouted.

Jasper’s wave of calm wasn’t helping. Your worry and sadness shifted into anger at Alice’s words. You shifted.

The Volturi appeared out of the forest in the haze of fog that had settled after the storm. Their eyes the same startling red you remembered from meeting them the first time.

Jasper stood in front of your wolf form, clinging to you, ready to fight if needed.

Edward did the same to Bella.

The Cullens were eerily quiet.

Their hoods came down and you resisted the urge to growl. The Volturi had sent their lackies, the youngest (or rather the youngest looking) of their cult to approach you.

“Impressive,” Jane said. “I’ve never seen a coven escape an assault of this magnitude intact.”

“We were lucky,” Carlisle replied, diplomatically.

“I doubt that,” Jane replied, red eyes flickering over to you.

You glared, resisting the urge to growl.

“It appears we missed an entertaining fight,” Alec said.

“Yes,” Jane’s voice is slippery and she speaks with a snake-like demeanor. “It’s not often we are rendered unnecessary.”

“If you would’ve arrived a half hour ago you would’ve fulfilled your purpose,” Edward said.

Jane’s eyes are locked on him. “Pity...you missed one.”

Bree, the young newborn that had been hiding behind the group, moves, startled and nervous.

This time, you do growl.

Jasper waves a hand to subdue you and walks over to her side.

“We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender,” Carlisle explained.

“That wasn’t yours to offer,” Jane said, a sick smirk on her lips. “Why did you come?”

The question is directed at the girl, who’s standing terrified next to Jasper.

Then, she screams, body reacting to the overwhelming pain Jane’s stare inflicts.

You flinch. You remember the pain.

“Who created you?”

She screamed again, rolling on the ground in agony.

“You don’t need to do that, she’ll tell you anything you want to know,” Esme said.

“I know.” Jane replied.

It makes you sick to your stomach, knowing that she takes pleasure in inflicting that much pain.

“I-I don’t know,” Bree chokes out. “Riley wouldn’t tell us...he said our thoughts weren’t safe.”

“Her name is Victoria,” Edward said. “Perhaps you knew her.”

Jane’s eyes change emotions. Perhaps they did know.

“Edward,” Carlisle interrupted. “If the Volturi had knowledge of Victoria, they would’ve stopped her.”

They all know his words carry no truth.

“Isn’t that right, Jane?”

Jasper’s gaze tightens on Jane. She’s looking back with nothing to reveal.

“Of course.” There’s a pause and then, “Felix.”

He moves forward-

“She didn’t know what she was doing,” Esme said.

Jane’s arm flies out to stop Felix.

“We’ll take responsibility for her.”

Esme’s heart was too kind. The heart of a mother knowing too much tragedy.

“Give her a chance.” And Carlisle was known for his second chances. His desperate need to protect the innocent.

“The Volturi don’t give second chances. Keep that in mind.” Jane said. “Caius will be interested to know that she’s still human. And that you still keep the...dog around.”

You growled again.

“The date is set,” Bella said. The wedding.

“Take care of that, Felix.” Jane said, removing her arm and allowing him forward. “I’d like to go home.”

There’s nothing any of you can do to stop him as Felix walks between Carlisle and Esme, both mourning the girl already.

The Cullens watch in horror, but you can only focus on Jane’s sadistic smile, as Felix takes care of the problem.

And then it’s over.

The Volturi leave with threats made and notes taken. The rest of you are left with new demons to hide away; an ever growing collection. And you and Bella are racing to Billy’s for Jacob.

You join her in her truck, too overwhelmed with emotions to run. You needed another person to be there with you.

He’s screaming when you arrive.

“Dad,” You said, running to Billy’s side. “Is he-”

His screams persisted and you tear up. Bella stands frozen.

“That’s been going on for a while,” Quil explained.

“Docs are breaking his bones,”

“Why did he have to but in I could’ve taken that-”

“Give it a rest, Leah,” Paul snapped.

The door opened and Carlisle and Sam stepped out, looking somber.

“The worst is over. He’ll be alright,” Carlisle said. “I gave him some morphine but his body temperature will burn it off soon. I’ll come back to set up a drip.”

You sighed thankfully, standing up to hug Carlisle, which he accepted.

“Thank you,” Billy said.

The two of them shake hands, an unsaid understanding crossing between them. Somehow, that makes you feel better.

Bella, it seems, didn’t feel the same.

“He’s asking for you,” Carlisle said, nodding to her.

She seemed hesitant at first, all the eyes watching her, but went in anyway.

“God, dad, I tried, but I couldn’t get there fast enough-”

“Hey,” Billy interrupts, patting your hand. “Don’t do that. He’s alright.”

You nodded, tears forming in your eyes again. “I knew he would be.”

You felt a cold hand on your back and turned to see Jasper.

“Is he alright?”

“Yeah, thanks Jas,” you said, standing up and hugging him tightly.