Eclipsed Secrets // Jasper Hale

Things That Stay In The Dark

The Cullen house was quiet when Althea returned.

Not silent — it never truly was. There was always the faint settling of wood, the whisper of pages turning from Carlisle's study, the occasional low laugh from Emmett somewhere upstairs. But tonight, the quiet felt different. Softer. Watchful.

Althea stepped inside with rain still clinging to the ends of her hair. She slipped off her jacket slowly, trying to move as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't left the house with too many thoughts pressing against her ribs.

Rosalie looked up first from the couch.

"You disappeared."

Althea hung her jacket over the chair. "I went for a walk."

"For three hours?"

Emmett's voice came from the kitchen. "That's not a walk. That's a dramatic character moment."

Althea glanced toward him. "You would know."

He grinned, appearing in the doorway with a bottle of soda he absolutely did not need. "Exactly. I respect the craft." Rosalie rolled her eyes, but Althea caught the tiny curve of her mouth before she looked away.

Carlisle stepped out of his study then, calm as always, though his eyes softened when they landed on her.

"You're alright?"

Althea nodded. "I'm fine."

It came out too quickly. Carlisle didn't call her out on it. That was one of the things she appreciated about him. He noticed everything and still gave people the dignity of pretending they were fine when they needed to.

Esme appeared beside him, her expression warm but careful. "Do you want to sit with us?"

Althea hesitated. She wanted to say no. Wanted to disappear upstairs, or back outside, or somewhere darker where no one would look too closely.

But then Jasper came down the stairs.

He paused when he saw her, one hand resting on the banister. His gaze moved over her quietly, not demanding an answer, not forcing calm into the room. Just there.

That made it harder to run.

So Althea sighed softly and moved toward the living room. "Only if Emmett doesn't ask questions."

Emmett lifted both hands. "I would never."

Rosalie snorted. "You asked three before she even sat down."

"I was warming up."

Althea lowered herself onto the couch near Rosalie, and Jasper took the space beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world. Not too close for anyone to comment. Close enough that his knee brushed hers.

Alice, curled in the armchair with a sketchbook in her lap, watched them with a knowing smile.

Althea pointed at her. "Don't."

Alice blinked innocently. "I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking loudly."

"That's Edward's line."

"Still applies."

Emmett leaned against the fireplace. "See? This is why I love having her here. She fights back."

Rosalie looked at Althea with faint approval. "Finally, someone useful."

"Wow," Emmett said, placing a hand over his chest. "Betrayal from my own wife."

"You'll survive."

"Barely."

For a little while, it almost felt normal.