Epilogue

Carlisle POV

Jasper relapsed twice.

The first time was when we decided to press charges against Jim and Maria.

It was a long process but eventually we had to show up for trial.

And seeing his abuser, his rapist again was too much for Jasper. He kept quiet during the trial only answering questions when asked.

His face was completely emotionless as was his voice. He refused to look at Jim but when the man was called to speak their eyes met.

I watched in horror as Jasper's eyes widened and his breath quickened. I wanted to go up there and punch Jim for breaking my son like that but of course I couldn't do that.

Jim was charged guilty for rape, abuse and neglect and sentenced to 12 years in prison. We all sighed collectively relieved that he couldn't hurt anyone anymore. Jasper however just stared ahead, an empty look in his eyes.

After the trial Jasper said he needed some time for himself and that we should go ahead without us. He would be home for dinner.

He wasn't.

Jasper didn't come home that night but the next morning, when I got up he was curled up in the corner of the couch.

"Jasper?", I asked cautiously and he slowly raised his head. He had been crying that much was obvious but the worst thing was the unfocused and glassy look in his eyes.

"Oh, Jasper...", I whispered and sat down next to him. I pulled him closer and he collapsed against me.

"I'm so sorry!", he slurred. "I didn't- I couldn't think! I- I had-"

"Shh! It's going to be alright.", I comforted while rubbing circles on his back. I could feel the silent sobs he made and hugged him even closer.

"I'm sorry!", he cried between sobs until he fell asleep.

We of course helped him through withdrawal again. And this time he didn't change his mind once. He was just frustrated and angry at himself for, and I quote "being this fucking stupid."

The second one came half a year later. And personally didn't count it as a relapse because it wasn't Jasper's fault. He on the other hand did.

He had started working in one of the wood factories in Forks while he was working on finishing high school in the evenings. One day there was an accident with one of the saws and Jasper nearly lost a few fingers. He fell unconscious in the ambulance and when he woke up in the hospital he was already drugged.

I had been sitting next to his bed for 2 hours waiting for him to wake up. I knew how he would most certainly react once he realized what had happened and I wanted to be there for him.

I was frustrated to say the least. He had been doing so well and now he had to start over again. Just because my own staff hadn't read his file before giving him something for the pain.

For the second time!

When he opened his eyes he stared at the ceiling for a few seconds and then his eyes widened in panic. He sat up and when he spotted me next to him he panicked even more.

"Carlisle, I-", he started but I interrupted.

"I know you didn't take anything. I'm sorry. I wasn't fast enough to stop them.", I said and saw him relax slightly. We were silent for a few minutes.

"I have a strange feeling of deja vu.", Jasper mumbled eventually and I chuckled quietly.

"Just don't run away again.", I joked darkly and he laughed.

"Yeah well, that didn't work out too good for me the last time, did it?", he laughed. We were silent again until he spoke again.

"You know what really pisses me of?", he asked all the humor gone from his voice. "That I now have to be sick for a week again."

"You're not alone, though.", I said reassuringly. "And what alternative is there?"

"None. That's the point. I'm just so sick of constantly failing.", he sighed and stared back up at the ceiling.

"You didn't fail. Failing would be giving up. And you're not giving up, are you?", I asked him trying not to sound worried. He snorted.

"Of course not! I'm just tired."

He fell asleep again soon after that. He had to stay at the hospital for another day and then went back home with us to once again detox.

And that was the last time he relapsed. He stayed sober after that.

Edward and Bella married 2 months after the trial. And soon they surprised us with a new family member. Renesme was a healthy little girl. They moved into the small house in the woods on out property they had been renovating.

Rosalie and Emmett got married in secret in Las Vegas during spring break and didn't tell us for 5 months. Of course we all were happy for them but especially Alice was hurt that she didn't get to be a bridesmaid again.

We celebrated anyway. Just a small celebration with family but Rosalie did invite Peter and Charlotte.

The two of them where doing pretty good as well. Peter was currently finishing an internship at CPS. He said he wanted to prevent other children being treated like Jasper and he were.

Charlotte made it into a great college after getting her high school diploma and was studying hard to make it into med school.

Alice's fashion line was successful and she traveled a lot to promote it. But most days she was in Forks. She worked tirelessly on new pieces for her collection but her free time she spent with Jasper.

They were a couple again even though Alice argued that they had technically never broken up in the first place. And Jasper just smiled when she said that clearly disagreeing but not telling her that. They had rented a small house not to far away from Esme and me.

Jasper still had issues of course. But he went to therapy regularly, he was working and he stayed sober.

Alice made him happy and Jasper made her happy. And that was what mattered the most in the end.

Even though all my children had all left the house they were never far away.

And at least once a month, for dinner, they came home.

The End