How it started

The truth

Jasper's Pov

The door slams shut, Soffia is gone. Disappeared into the woods. My eyes move to Alice she stands there frozen, tears in her own eyes as she's staring at the door I can tell she hoping our girl will turn back and not go. She doesn't though, I can slightly hear her running further "Babe she's okay, she just needs a moment" I say putting my hand on her lower back.

"She's hurt, upset and angry. She just needs time to get it through her head" I say, "Jasper last time she went out alone she didn't come back we can't just leave her especially not in this state" she snarls, I slowly send her a wave of calmness as she relaxes slightly. "Let's give her a minute and then go after her okay? we don't want to push her right now" I say sternly.

Tears roll down her cheeks as she nods and leans her head against me. "Edward, why do you constantly make her feel bad for being herself?" I snarl my eyes darken as I turn toward the man that's shrinking under my gaze along with his wife's. "She should be the adult she is and help us protect Bella and Renesmee" he says softly. "no you see she's been protecting them, she loves them because they are her family" I say.

"She is protecting them still when she is little that is her way to cope and if she wants to be little she can be little, she is strong and brave no matter if she is feeling big or little" I say my voice harsh as he shrinks more "Jaspers right Edward. One more time and you won't have me or Renesmee by your side protecting you for hurting someone in our family" Bella says, the disappoint clear in her voice as she walks over to Rosalie.

Rosalie has Renesmee tucked in her arm, as she naps peacefully not knowing any of the chaos happening. "I'm sorry Jasper, I'm sorry Alice" Edward says, I roll my eyes as I walk closer to him "It's not us you have to apologize to, when Soffia gets back you will talk to her just you two and you will apologize" I say as he nods.

"I shouldn't have let it get this far, i'm sorry I should've stopped being a jerk and let Soffia be herself" he says, I nod but the anger still in my eyes "You hurt her Edward not just once, your words have always been cruel to her and she thinks you hate her" Alice says.

"I don't hate her" Edward mutters, after a moment of silence, his voice is lower now "I just... I just thought her being little was a way to get attention" he says his hand on the back of his neck, Mine and Alice eyes snap towards him. Alice eyes are filled with heartbreak, anger and sadness. "You thought what? she was just pretending! why would she pretend after everything?" her voice trembles.

I rub her back, as Edward looks nervous "I didn't want to believe it at first," he says, rubbing a hand over his face like he's ashamed of the words. "But... I've seen it now. When she broke down tonight, I—I saw her thoughts. The panic, the fear. How hard she beens trying not to be small so she doesn't get in the way. She truly believes she's a burden." he says. My heart breaks, my bubbles she so innocent for this world.

Her breaking like this, her thinking like this breaks my heart, she's not a burden not ever. "It's because of me she feels like that" he says, the guilt clear in his eyes, "You've chipped away at her for a long time," I say coldly. "Every jab, every eye-roll, every time you called her childish or dramatic, it built that belief. She thinks she's only loved if she hides half of who she is." I mutter,

"I know." Edward's voice cracks. "I've spent so long trying to keep things controlled, logical, clean. And then here comes Soffia full of color, softness, emotion... and I didn't understand it. I didn't know how to handle it, so I judged her for it. Because I was jealous." he admits, Bella steps forward, folding her arms. "Jealous?" she echoes.

He nods. "She has what I don't. She lets people see her. Really see her. Even when it's messy. I've spent decades hiding behind this perfect image and she just... she is. And you all love her more for it." he says, "We love her because she's real," Alice says quietly. Edward's jaw clenches. "I know. And I'm sorry. I should've stopped being a jerk and let her be herself. I should've protected her instead of picking her apart." he says.