Loving The Major - Jasper Hale

Camping

Surprisingly the next day, when Adeline, Jasper, Bella, Edward, and Jacob would be heading up to the campsite, Jared showed up and volunteered to carry Adeline. They had been planning on just letting her go with Jasper, as they did not actually think Victoria would be after her, but Jasper eventually agreed when Jared and Jacob pointed out that it was better safe than sorry. It was a little awkward at first, her not knowing him well and having no idea why he was doing this or how to start a conversation, but surprisingly, he was the one to speak up.

"I wanted to apologize to you."

"For what?" From what Adeline could remember he had nothing to apologize for.

"For judging you before I knew you. I hated you on sight because you were with a leech. I shouldn't have done that and I wanted to apologize for it. Especially when I can see that they really do do their best to look after you."

"That's because we're a family; we look after each other" she smiled up at him.

"Yeah, I guess you are. But I still don't like them."

"And I'm not asking you to. Although I am glad you have taken the time to get to know me for me. I must say you wolves were also nothing like what I would have thought."

He looked down at her then and quirked a brow, "what exactly were you expecting?"

"Well, my father, he was a vampire and old one at that, and he used to tell me stories of the 'Children of the Moon'. Werewolves who could only shift on the full moon and when they did, they lost all sense of themselves, attacking anyone and everything. I guess I just assumed that you guys would be like that too I suppose." He snorted at this, he knew exactly what she was talking about, there were a few legends in their tribe about similar creatures.

"Yeah, I guess were all puppies in comparison" he joked and they both laughed.

After that the mood was a lot lighter. They talked about their pasts, him growing up surrounded by his tribe with the other boys and her about what it was like back when she was born. He teased her good naturedly for being so old, asking if that was why she was so proper and concerned with manners.

She of course defended herself, claiming that she was simply raised to have manners, apparently unlike some wild animals she could mention. By the time they reached the campsite, where Jasper and Edward were already waiting, the two were on their way to being fast friends.

Jared set her down as they came out of the trees and Jasper was there to pull her into his arms almost immediately. Jared looked on before taking a breath and holding out his hand, which shocked both of them. Jasper reached out to take it and they shook once.

"Thanks ... for the training. We're grateful for it" Jared muttered before turning around and heading back into the trees, shedding his clothes as he did.

"What was that about Darlin'?"

"I'm not sure. But I think we just witnessed history" she teased, happy the two groups appeared to be getting along better. It would certainly make things easier on both sides if that were the case.

They turned and headed towards the two tents Jasper and Edward had pitched just as Jacob came out of the woods with Bella. They sat for a while outside with the others, but eventually the tension from the love triangle became too much and they retreated into their own tent. The storm hit not too long after, although Adeline used her powers to create a cocoon of warm air around her just like she did everyday when they lived in Alaska, so it didn't really bother her.

Instead, she snuggled up to Jasper, the two of them holding the other as close as they could, dreading the morning where they would have to let the other go. To take their minds off it, they spent the night quietly talking, mostly about their past and all the good memories they had, both before Maria and after. They laughed and joked, allowing their worries over the battle to fade away for a few short hours. Eventually drifting off into a comfortable silence, just enjoying each others presence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Adeline was standing outside, enjoying the morning air by herself. Jasper would be leaving soon, but he wanted to take one last check around the campsite before he left, just to be sure that the girls' scents would not lead Victoria to them. Bella emerged from her tent and made her way over to Adeline.

"Can I ask you a question?" Adeline sighed at her peace being disturbed but nodded.

"Do Jasper's scars bother you?"

Adeline looked over at her then, she supposed she should be shocked at her rudeness, but at this point Adeline just expected this behaviour from her. However, that did not mean she had to like it. "And what business is it of yours?"

"Well ... I just mean that he has a lot and vampires are supposed to be perfect, so I just wondered if it bothered you that he wasn't?"

Adeline felt her temper flare at this. Howdare she insult Jasper in such a way, especially since she now knew where theycame from and what Jasper had been through to get those scars. 

"No. It doesn't bother me. I love every single one of his scars" she said in a frigid voice.

"But why?" Honestly, Bella didn't understand it. The point of dating a vampire was to be dating someone perfect. Which Jasper certainly wasn't. Not with all those ugly scars.

"Because when you live a life like the one Jasper did, it is easy to surrender who you are, to give up your humanity and become a monster. At every turn, someone will be there to try and strip away all that is good from you. Every scar Jasper has, shows a time when someone tried to do just that. But you know what? He didn't give in, he didn't throw away his humanity, he held onto it. He escaped from that life, but more than that, he escaped a good man. He is kind and caring and absolutely amazing. Which is why I love his scars, because every single one shows a time where someone tried to turn him into a monster and he was strong enough to not let it. He walked through hell for years and came out of it a man, when so many others turned into monsters and I will not let you, Isabella Swan, or anyone else devalue that!" Wanting to get away from the girl, she stormed off towards the trees, leaving Bella with a shocked look on her face.

"Is that really what you think of them?" a voice asked from behind her. Jasper came up behind her, putting his arms around her.

She blushed, "you heard that?"

"Kind of hard not to Darlin', you were getting pretty loud by the end."

She leaned back against him with a sigh, "I always told you I loved your scars. Did you not believe me?"

"I did believe you; I just never knew you thought of them that way." He turned her around and pulled her close, bending down to rest his head on top of hers. He was always so grateful to have her in his life, she always made him feel better, even without trying or meaning to. 

He hadn't realized just how much Bella's obvious disgust over his scars had bothered him. He had thought he had made peace with his past, but when he had overheard Bella ask Adeline about the scars, he had automatically reach down to cover them, shame welling up. But that feeling was immediately destroyed by a few simple words from his mate. Words she hadn't even realized he had heard and that made it all the better; knowing just how genuine they were, that they weren't said in an empty attempt to offer comfort. Not that she ever really did that anyways. She always tried to be truthful in her reassurances.

Finally, he pulled away from her and looked down at her, cupping her face in his hands. "I have to go now Darlin' but I swear to you I will come back to you."

"You better Mio Tesoro or mark my words you willregret it" She attempted to tease, even though they both could feel her worry.He smiled sadly down at her, upset that there was nothing he could do toreassure her. Instead he simply leaned down to capture her lips with his in asweet kiss, and then he was gone and she was left standing there alone.