*Looks down with shame* Oh you guys. YOU GUYS. This is... this is almost an entire chapter of exposition.

I'm so sorry.

I own nothing. That's all Stephanie.

*Walks away to eat chocolate and be embarrassed*

Jasper had not seen Emmett since he left the Cullen compound in Alaska three years ago. It seemed like the blink of an eye to his vampire mind.

Things... had not gone well after the ill advised eighteenth birthday party. Alice had been bitter and disgusted with him for seemingly taking her favorite human doll away from her. As such she'd become even more coddling and fretful with him. Never letting him go to town, no more school (thank God above for that) and trailed him on every single one of his hunts. Eventually nothing he did was right. Nothing he did was good enough. He'd dirty and tear the designer clothes she picked out for him, whether on hunts or training with Emmett and she'd throw a fit. It wasn't as though they couldn't buy endless amounts of the stuff.

Edward had eventually separated from the family, heading down through the States and into South America. Which left him with Alice's undivided attention. It was exhausting to say the least.

The only saving grace was that no one but Alice and Edward had been upset with him. Everyone seemed to understand that it wasn't just Jasper, but the bloodlust of them all, especially Edward that had thrown him over the edge. Though he was man enough to admit that living the vegetarian lifestyle had made him vulnerable. Weak to her divine scent.

It no longer mattered though.

Eventually Alice had had a single brief vision of Bella getting a head wound tended to in the Forks ED and had lost it. Had lost it at him. Had lost it on the phone to Edward. But stubborn little Eddy had made her swear she'd stay away from Forks and the Swans. And she had. But she had thrown every ounce of frustration and hatred at him. And it was too much. Too much darkness. Too much like the war. Too much like Maria.

So he had packed what little he had that was really his. No slacks and Armani shirts. Just jeans and boots. Books. Flannel button downs. And then he'd hightailed it back down to Texas, for the first time in almost three decades. He and Alice had visited his other family, his original family, once. And it had not gone well.

Alice had been uncomfortable with the red eyed Peter and Charlotte. And they had been bitter and unhappy with her. It had quickly gotten to be exhausting for Jasper and they had returned to the Cullens.

He had found himself excited to see his first real friends though. Even with the slight amount of I told you so's and general ball busting. He could feel that they meant well and were thrilled to have him home.

He had quickly fallen back into their original diet, of only draining the worst of the worst. When he knew he was taking a rapist and pedophile out of the world, their fear became more sweet than unpleasant. It left him feeling stronger and more in control than he ever had, as well. Human blood still called to him, but it was easy to ignore when he was able to stay sated so easily.

All in all he was rather pleased with his current situation. And while there was still a mix of heartache and regret when he thought of Alice, he knew it would not have been fair for himself if he had staid. He had eternity and he refused to spend it being miserable ever again.

When he had gotten the call from Emmett asking if he'd like to bring Peter and have a boys weekend somewhere he'd been somewhat surprised. While he was still on perfectly good terms with Emmett and Rose, he hadn't expected them to ever risk Alice's wrath and reach out to him.

He'd readily accepted though, and even convinced Peter to tag along. Promising that Emmett was two tons of fun and mayhem and that he wouldn't judge Peter and Charlotte's lifestyle the way Alice had.

They had decided to meet roughly half way in Chicago, since the Cullens were still residing in Alaska. He and Peter had fed and then found a good bar to meet Emmett at. They'd all gotten beers to hold and all three were currently propped against the bar, people watching and joking about current styles and mannerisms. Which was how he currently found himself in a state of shock.

Peter, to his left, had let out a low whistle and an emphatic 'goddamn', which caused him to glance at Peter, and then the door.

Low and behold, his gaze settled upon an older, much less dressed, and much more confident Isabella Swan. As she swayed into the bar on the arm of a female friend, dressed only in a tiny burgundy dress with black lace across the thighs, and sky high heels, at least half the male eyes in the room were on her, as well as a number of female.

He felt Emmett's instinctual surprised inhale beside him, followed by a low, "is that who I think it is, Jazz?".

"I believe so." He responded quietly.

"What? Wha'did I miss?! Do ya'll know her?" Peter asked, right before her scent hit them, and Peter's eyes went black