1878

"Are you blind?"

"You can't tell me that it doesn't look good."

"It doesn't. It really doesn't. How about we do this-"

"No!"

Peter blocked Jasper from touching his garland he had laid precisely on the tree that Astrid and Charlotte had dragged in the day previous. It had been greeted with sneers and scoffs from the men, who had chosen to watch as Charlotte fixed the tree skirt and Astrid pruned the branches. They hadn't shown any excitement on the idea of having a real Christmas but that had changed over night, Peter having snuck to town to get popcorn to string.

Now Jasper had pinecones and was trying to lay them on the branches, fighting Peter about if it would look good or not. Charlotte sat on the couch, laughing and enjoying the bickering, while Astrid grabbed the box of tinsel that she'd stolen. The boys immediately dug into the box, pushing each other to decorate how they wanted.

"Didn't you two say that Christmas was below you?" Astrid teased Jasper when he returned to grab more.

He leaned over the box, giving her a kiss, "Peter is below me and I'll be damned if he decorates better."

Charlotte helped Peter take down Jasper's pinecones. Astrid stole all of the string so that Peter couldn't make more garland. It was a great first Christmas.

1881

They were in London. The streets were busy, new accents, new blood. Astrid had dinner on the table for Jasper every night, a sly smile and lean body poised over their food. Jasper loved it, went wild when she brought food home for them. He liked to fuck her over their bodies, the blood coating them both and making his skin extra delicious to lick at.

They were always fucking or feeding between walking the streets of London. They went where the wind blew them, no place in mind, just the two of them, together. Happy and alive.

Felix found them in London, the first time. They had been at a bar, Astrid leading the way as they followed a drunk couple to their home. Just another night for them, but suddenly a person was standing between her and the humans, and Jasper was dragging her back.

"Hello there, friends," Felix grinned, taking his hood off. "I see you've enjoyed your stay in London."

"Just getting dinner, nothing else." Jasper said casually.

"And still you two? For a moment I thought you were going to stay in Georgia with the others."

They stiffened. So Felix had been watching them all along. But how? Her gift was still up, it should keep anyone from finding them. Unless the Volturi had a gift that could get past her physical ability.

They left London that night.

1900

Astrid stared at the waves crashing against the shore, the sun making the water look like it had dozens of shiny treasures hidden beneath the bank. A few humans had came out to enjoy the end of summer heat in their bathing suits and tanned skin. For a while she watched a mother lay out on the sand, her children racing to meet the water, their little legs kicking up sand.

"Who has you jealous?" Jasper chuckled, appearing behind Astrid and giving the back of her neck a kiss.

She stared out, "I never thought about children. If I wanted them or not. I haven't thought of them in a while but.." The mother had tried to lay down but the kids were beckoning her attention, standing at the bank and shouting how cool it looked.

"We would damage our children."

Astrid hummed, "I don't know, I think we'd do good. I'd want a boy, with your hair and my mom's eyes. We'd name him Stefan, after my brother."

"My sister's name was Laurel."

"Laurel and Stefan Whitlock." Astrid stared at the children. They had black hair, looked nothing like Astrid, but she could pretend for a moment that she watching their children play in the waves, waiting for diner to be finished before bed.

Jasper brushed her cheek, "As much as I would like for my son to look like me, I'm positive they'd all have your hair."

Astrid laughed. He pulled her back to him, wrapping his arms around her waist and sitting on the couch. It was the only thing they'd brought into the house, the perfect view to watch through the wall to floor windows. The sun was high in the sky, Jasper's sparkle gone now. She ran her fingers over his scarred arm.

"Did you talk to Peter?" She asked gently, not wanting to scare him.

"About what?"

"About what you're feeling."

A hush fell for a long while. Jasper stared stoic out of the window, "It's fine."

She knew it wasn't. She knew that something was beginning to eat away at him, taking that smile she loved from her. She grabbed his hand, bringing it to her lips to press a gentle kiss to his scarred knuckles.

"I love you."

She felt it when Jasper said, "I love you more."

1915

It was the New Year.

Astrid was in a throng of humans, glittering, sweaty bodies sliding in and out of her hands. Chokers were a new style, a necklace that was perfect for Astrid to lift and sink her teeth under. The woman's body fell pliant against Astrid, and she held her up by the waist, still rocking their bodies to the rhythm of the loud music. Someone's hands that weren't her mates were on her thighs, feeling the exposed skin of the short ruffled dress she'd chosen to wear. She held the woman up and turned to look at this new one, a male in a nice suit. She grabbed his neck, smiling, the room to dark for him to see the blood on her lips. Or maybe he thought it was lipstick. Either way, he had no objection being pulled closer until her teeth dug into him.

Astrid had no choice but to leave the dance floor to toss the girl and boy in the dumpster on the side of the club. The moon was high, the night in full swing, music pounding from every building in New Orleans. Yet, while every one else had their partner for the night, celebrating the new year, Astrid was alone in the alley.

Jasper had been fine until she got ready to leave. Then he said he was going to stay, and it wasn't unusual since lately he's been tapping out of going hunting with her. She'd thought tonight would be different since it was New Years and there was a reason to celebrate, but he'd let her down, shaking his head and leaving the house before she'd looked away from the mirror.

It had been like that for a while. He would be there in the morning, the snarky man she'd fallen in love with, but he didn't mean it. Like he was on autopilot. She rarely felt his gift anymore and if she did, it was when he slipped up and she felt agonizing self hatred. She'd spent years trying to badger him about it but it always ended up with a fight, one that left them scowling and standing feet away. It had only made things worse.

She wish she could just understand what was happening. Peter said they hadn't talked in months, that Jasper sent him to voicemail straight away. She knew better than to bring it up with Jasper at that point, expecting his snide remarks about being watched by someone else.

Jasper was in the bed room of the house they'd stolen, the dead bodies buried next to the tulips out back. The bed was perfectly made, having not once been used in the three weeks they'd been there. He didn't hear her walking up the stairs, his emotions soaking the house in grief and horror, as if reliving a painful memory. She stood in the door way before clearing her throat.

The emotions snapped off instantly, the house silent and empty as before, leaving Astrid with only her loneliness and desperation. Jasper his head to glance at her, not making a move closer.

"How was the party?"

"Fine, nothing insane. A human touched me," She said, sitting at the edge of the bed and beginning to roll the tights off. He kept his back to her. "Ran his hands over my thighs, kissed me."

"I'm sure you felt good about it."

"Oh yes," She placed the choker on the vanity, watching him through the mirror as she took her red curls out of their tight bobby pins. Her hair was too long for this eras style but she refused to cut it any shorter, knowing it wouldn't grow back. "He tasted like honey, felt warm against my hands."

His fingers flexed from behind his back, "Did you fuck him?"

"Considered it but thought it'd be too much of a mess to clean up. You know I don't like it dirty." She hummed, finally sitting and wiping her make up. The red lip stick had stained with the blood, the white napkin turning a blotchy red.

"No, you don't." He agreed, still looking out the window.

Astrid's jaw clenched, meeting her reflection. She looked good, with a white pearl dress that had tassels and hung enticingly off of her hips. Her breasts were out, a new norm for the humans, and one that she loved to participate in. She loved it all, New Orleans, traveling, the parties, but Jasper was not the man he was when they began this. She swallowed, turning to face him.

"Jasper-"

"Did you think telling me about the human trying to fuck you would make me do something?" He asked rudely, cutting her off. She sat back, allowing him his moment. "Make me upset?"

"Anything's better than this shell of a man," She scoffed, folding her arms. Still talking to his back. "You don't give a shit what I do, do you? Or anyone, for that matter?"

"I give a fuck when you try playing with me," Jasper snarled. "You think I want to hear how someone put their hands on you?"

"Then let me tell you all about the human in San Francisco that I let bend me over the couch last month-"

Jasper slammed the back of her head into the vanity mirror, the shards breaking and falling to their feet. He held her by the neck, snarling, eyes dark. Astrid's fingers clawed at his but he was too angry, his gift coming back to her like an old friend, but instead of comfort she felt horror.

"Shut the fuck up, Astrid, or I'll-"

Astrid moved. Her hands pushed him back by the chest and he stumbled back, his legs hitting the bed. She sprung at him, clawing at his face, tearing his clothes, and he slammed her to the ground. The house shook, a frame fell off the wall, and Jasper was once more on top of her, his hands on her throat.

"You'll what?" She choked out. "Stop loving me?"

His eyes softened, letting go of her throat, but keeping her pressed down, "I still love you, Astrid."

"But you don't, not in the same way."

"Yes, in the same fucking way, why can't you just listen?"

"You're not the same, Jasper! You walk around with a cloud of depression hanging over you, Peter's been trying to call for months and you won't pick up, and I know you haven't eaten in weeks," She grabbed his hollowed cheeks, begging him to listen. "You've changed, I barely recognize you anymore."

"Astrid-"

"You don't call me doll anymore. You don't touch me. You don't hunt with me. If it's not me then what is it? Just talk to me!"

Jasper grabbed her cheeks, pulling her close, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Please, just talk to me."

His head bowed against her chest, his hands finding rest on her arms. She grabbed his shoulders, hoping that her silence would be enough for him to tell her what has been destroying him for years.

"I can't do it," He whispered. "I can't feed from humans anymore. I-I feel their pain, it's worse than when I killed the newborns. Astrid, I don't know what I'm going to do."

"We'll figure it out. Like we always do."

1919

"So, this is it, huh?" Peter clapped his hands, standing on the patio of the house. He leaned on the oak railing, looking over the edge to where Astrid was standing, hands on her hips and scowling.

"It would make sense if you went through the front door like normal people do." Astrid berated him, folding her arms and refusing to budge until he jumped back down.

The front door opened, Jasper walking out. He glanced briefly at Peter before wrapping his arm over her shoulder, smiling pleasantly up at the brunette.

"It's good, isn't it?"

Peter shrugged, landing in front of them, "I could've built better."

"Wait until you see the inside," Astrid gushed, leading them to the front door. "He really did good."

"Who would've thought you'd become a builder in retirement." Peter whistled, taking in the open living room with couches and a fireplace. They had built a kitchen - just in case they had guests over, of course - but had filled it with blood bags instead of food. The upstairs was a loft with a balcony, the very one that Peter had tried entering through.

"Just let me know if you want me to builds yours," Jasper clapped Peter on the back. "Some people can't grasp the simplicity of it."

"Fuck off, just wait. Next month you'l be visiting our new place in Pennsylvania and it'll be much bigger than this." Peter scoffed.

There was a gleam in Jasper's eye, one that said the construction wasn't quite over around the house. And just when Astrid had been ready to take a nice relaxing bath with him tonight.

"Pennsylvania? I thought you guys were staying in Georgia."

"Yeah, that was until Charlotte read Dracula by Bram Stoker. Now we have to be typical vampires living out there. And what happened to California? You made a house in Oregon of all places."

"Forest, animals." Astrid stated, shrugging.

"Ah yes, the new vegetarians! How's that going, man, eating bunnies and shit?"

"They're nasty as fuck but once you're fighting a bear, it's all worth it," Jasper was casual, smirking at Astrid. "We have some blood bags we mix in every now and then to curb the edge."

Paul's eyes narrowed, "Bear wrestling?"

"Yeah, wanna do it?"

"Fuck yes."

They disappeared once more through the front door. Astrid grinned, shaking her head and closing the door before heading to their bed. The loft had a tall ceiling with a circular window at the top so they could watch the sky at night. It was her favorite place to be, laying in the white duvet and listening to Jasper beat away with the hammer or cutting wood. He'd been so invested in making this house it had helped him get back with himself, in a way. It was good that he had spent time in nature, just himself and a silent Astrid who hadn't fed off a human in just as long as himself.

It was a self quarantine, the past couple of years, finding land that they liked and building a house. They hadn't been to civilization in who knew how long, and once the house had been finished, Peter had shown up announced for the first time. They hadn't spoken since Astrid had told them about Jasper's gift turning against him and had said that they needed time to themselves without other vampires.

It seemed that Peter's gift had told him that it was time to meet his old friend again.

A shiver ran down her, an old sensation that she hadn't felt in years. Someone was near the house, and it wasn't the two people she already knew about. But then realization clicked, it had been four years since she'd seen Felix.

No surprise the fool would know where they ended up.

Astrid opened the door as Felix and two other cloaked figures appeared in the yard. She stiffened, momentarily debating on if she should leave the porch or not. For the past thirty years it had always been only Felix, why now bring others?

"Astrid, you look beautiful as always. " Felix crooned.

She looked at the figures, instantly recognizing their smells, "You brought Demetri and Corin."

"This is a special check up. Is your mate around?"

She titled her head, "He's upstairs."

"Does he not want to see me? I thought we were friends," Felix pouted but swatted his hand, as if a fly had flown too close to him. "No matter, he can listen from up there. Master Aro has requested that you come to Italy to hep with a problem."

"What kind of problem does he need me for?" She scoffed. "I'm retired."

"He wants you to come out of retirement. See it as your way of giving him gratitude for not killing you in 1878."

They stared, both head strong. Demetri shifted, eager no doubt to get his hands on Astrid again. Corin had not moved, a tense statue behind Felix's smiling face.

"You're not asking, are you?" Astrid realized.

"Your mate isn't upstairs, is he?" Felix rebutted.

No. Jasper was not upstairs and Astrid was going to have to fight these three off once more. She crouched, pulling her teeth back, and in the back of her head she was sad to see all of Jasper's hard work be broken in a day.

"Now, now, none of that! We're all adults here, we can talk this out. I understand that I came here, telling you to leave, but I know that no vampire would simply agree to that," Felix laughed, looking at Corin and Demetri for back up. They stared straight ahead. "Say your good byes to him, get your affairs in order. I don't expect that you'll be coming back once you meet Master Aro," Felix sighed, taking in the house. "You have two years. That's all Master Aro is willing to wait before you become necessary."

Astrid didn't ask what would happen if she said no. It was pretty fucking clear that the Volturi were coming to reap on their lives. Thirty fucking years was all they got. Thirty years she'd spent trying to find her way in this new life, wasted on partying and killing when she'd could've been here with Jasper from the beginning.

So much time waisted.

"Hey, doll," Jasper bounced out of the trees much later, his pant leg torn. "I got a big ass brown bear."

"I found a lion so who really wins?" Peter even had the carcass in his hands, proudly showing it off. "Can't wait to show Char, she's gonna love it in the bedroom."

"I'm not so sure about that," Astrid laughed, Jasper's arms around her waist and chin rested on her shoulder. "How long are you staying for?"

"Just this. Char will murder me if I hang too long without her. I'll bring her out next week, yeah?"

"Sounds good. Thanks for coming."

Peter saluted before running off with his mountain lion. Astrid could only imagine what Charlotte would say when she saw the blood covered animal on her dresser. But her thoughts were drawn away from Pennsylvania and to Jasper's hands lowering on her thighs, tugging at the edge of her red dress.

He kissed at her neck, brushing her hair away from her neck so he could lick it, "You look beautiful."

The words were meant to be soothing but all Astrid could think about was Felix saying them. She grabbed his hands, pulling them off to turn around.

"What would happen if we told Felix to fuck off? If we fought back?"

Jasper chuckled, "What? You want to fight the Volturi? We can't do that, doll, not with how we are. We still don't know how they're tracking us."

"Yeah."

"Did he come by? Did he say something?" Jasper's grip tightened.

"He did, I was just wondering. It's been years, you'd think they'd stop by now."

"Ah but that's the good in it all," Jasper was lifting her dress up, his eyes on her exposed body. "We're too dangerous for them to leave alone, doll. We're monsters, remember. They're scared we'll take it all from them."

"Would you?" He picked her up, placing her on the railing of the porch so that he could spread her legs.

Jasper hummed, lost in her breasts, "Would I what?"

"Take it all from them?"

"No," He laughed, breaking from her to look at her. "Would you?"

"If they made me, I would." She admitted.

Jasper kissed her cheek, "Good thing they're not making us do anything."

1921

Astrid laid in the center of the bed, her back arched as Jasper buried his mouth into her. Her hands stretched out, moans escaping her lips, his hands feeling hot against her bum. He pulled her closer, practically had her bent in half to eat her, and her fingers dug into his forearm's, repeating his name in a mantra until she came, her head tossed back and eyes rolling into the back of her head.

"Fucking delicious," Jasper growled, kissing up her abdomen to her breasts. "The best thing I've ever tasted."

"God, I can keep you down there forever," She giggled, thinking back onto one day where she had sat on Jasper's face for hours, lost in his gift and his tongue. "Come here."

"Cuddles? Already?" Jasper joked, falling to her side, making her bounce in the bed. She giggled and rolled onto his chest, her leg crossed over his and one hand rested lightly on his neck. "Thought you'd want me to fuck you into the bed."

"You can still do that," She purred. "I just wanted a minute with you."

"You always have my minutes," A kiss. "My seconds," A kiss. "My eternity."

The words sobered her up. For Jasper had eternity but Astrid had the end of the night, knowing that this was the day two years on the mark Felix arrived. She only had hours.

"What do you want do with your eternity?" She whispered, tracing his nose.

"Well this," His fingers tickled her and she curled closer. "Maybe go to school. They have colleges now, you know. Maybe get a job so I have money. Maybe look up our families, see if there's anyone related to us out there."

She smiled, "I had a cousin on my mom's side. She was only three back then."

"My sister was married, she had to have children."

"Yeah. Let's do that. We'll find our family and we'll go to school and we'll try to act human."

Jasper brushed her shoulder, "And I think I have a good enough control to consider the idea of getting a dog soon. If it likes us, that is. Who knows how they act around vampires."

She sat up, smiling, "Really?"

"Yeah." His hair looked like a halo around him on the white pillow, his amber eyes focused on her. No longer the red, scruffy Major she knew but a man who wanted a life.

"I know you didn't want this, that you still would be fighting if you could," She clasped his cheek. "But thank you. This has been the best life a vampire could wish for."

"You know, I don't think I would be. If you had left me, if Peter had left, I think I would've came with you." He admitted.

She smiled, "Because they're our friends."

"Yeah. Friends," He laughed. "Peter is like a brother I never wanted, I have to admit."

"That annoying ass."

"And don't thank me for this second life, this is all you. All I ever needed was you, doll."

She bent, grabbing his chin and giving him a brute kiss. His hands tangled in her hair, pulling her flush against him, nipping at her bottom lip. Astrid had to leave soon, she knew, but she could spare another moment with him before Felix called on her.

Because Jasper wanted to grow and prosper, over the fighting, finally at peace with himself for all that he had done. She would be asking too much for him to run away from the Volturi with her. He was right, there was no way beating them by themselves, but she wouldn't curse Jasper to this next chapter of her life. She would do what the Volturi wanted if it meant they left the others alone.

They had made it all the way here, there was no reason for Jasper to stop. He had school and family to look over, a chance at a real life without fighting.

"I love you." Astrid whispered.

"I love you more."

1950

Astrid leaned against the brick wall, her hood pulled to cover her hair as she watched a tour of humans be led into the throne room. They were taking pictures, chatting, dressed in bright colors. They looked so happy, unaware that once the doors closed, the monsters would come out to play.

"There you are," Felix appeared on the other side of the pillar, cloak on insinuating that he had just returned from a trip. He preferred to take off the Volturi garnishes once he was allowed to. "I wanted to tell you before I told Aro."

"What's so important? Did Demetri die?" Astrid perked, hopeful.

"No, actually," He looked away before gaining the courage to stare into Astrid's red eyes. "I'm sorry. It wasn't fair, how Aro got you here."

"You're starting to worry me."

"There's a coven that Aro makes me watch, the Cullen's. They have a mind reader, someone Aro wants watched, and it's always been the five of them. But, two more joined."

"Okay?" Her first thoughts were Peter and Charlotte, the only ones who would consider joining a coven that large.

"A girl who has visions, Alice, and her mate, Jasper, who can control emotions. Eleazar himself saw."

Astrid's insides ran cold. She swallowed and looked at the doors, Heidi chatting casually to a worried grandmother about the temperature was beginning to close them. This was what she had chosen, a life away from Jasper, it was only time before he had found someone.

"What does she look like?" Astrid couldn't help herself. She had to know what Jasper was doing, who he found that could replace Astrid. She prayed the girl was sweet, kind, understanding. That she would know if he was silent that it was okay, that he liked his head scratched, all of those little things that Astrid knew.

"Younger than you, short black hair. Complete opposite, really, she was talking a mile a minute when we were following them."

A talker. He would like that. Someone to distract him.

"Did he look happy?"

"Yeah, he did."

"Good," Astrid pushed off the wall, heading to the doors. Screams had erupted, Heidi no doubt leading the feast. "As long as he's happy."

That was all that mattered. That Jasper found his happy ending. He didn't have to know how Aro had brought her to the castle, used her to cover his scent to kill his own sister. He didn't need to know that it was her life or living in the castle were her only two options now.

Jasper was happy. That was all that mattered.

Sorry to anyone who read the first chapter I posted!

It was another ending, I had no idea how to end it off, but I always knew that Astrid would end up with the Volturi.

Thank you so much for reading and liking the idea! I hope my fight scenes weren't drawn out and Jasper's character was perfect!

Maybe one day Astrid and Jasper will find themselves back together. I like to think so.