Lifelines - Jasper Hale

Three - May 1949

Four years had passed since Joan had joined the rest of the Cullen family. Things had changed during that time. The war was over with the Allied forces winning. Adolf Hitler was dead. Her last name had changed to Cullen as Carlisle and Esme adopted her. They had moved for it was strange for people to see the pilot living with the doctor who had 'saved' her and his family.

Their new house was located in the middle of the woods. It was a strange area where there was not much around them. Rather the family was allowed to bond and spend time working on their individual hobbies. 

The two girls had bonded over their love for mechanics. Sure working on cars was nothing like the planes Joan had been able to work with 4 years beforehand but it was familiar. When nothing else was going right she was able to escape to their workshop and spend her time in there with nobody going to disturb her. 

At first meeting Edward had been unusual. The whole 'I can read your thoughts' thing took a lot for her to adjust to. For her thoughts had always been a safe place for her to essentially complain about the people around her. And now they were no longer guarded or safe. Especially as they were generally filled with comments of which would not always be what is thought of a young lady thinking. Yet once they had moved past this the two were able to stand one another. They had not turned out to be mates like Carlisle first thought as he believed the two both shared the same morals which would make them compatible. But deep down, Joan was more than happy that she was not bound to Edward as he for sure irritated her to no end. 

Part of her thanked Carlisle for what he had done to her. She was able to experience more of the world and see Hitler receive what he deserved in some sort of twisted manner. Yet parts of her also hated what had happened to her. Joan had wanted to settle down, marry and start a family of her own. Yet all of this was no longer possible for her as she was now dead. Perhaps that was an overstatement as yes she could get married if she ever found her mate. Yet they were not as easy to find as some of the other Vampires made out with some people waiting thousands of years to find theirs. It looked as though it would be a long and slightly lonely life with the way things were going.

Yet she could never hate Carlisle. He had become a second father figure in her life. He had willingly taken her under his arm and treated her as if she was his own. He had talked her through and supported her during what could be seen as one of the most difficult moments in her life ever. His support seemed never-ending as he was always there when she needed him. 

Esme had also become very important to Joan in the last four years. Without her own mother by her side, it seemed as though the other woman was a fresh breeze of air she could rely on when she needed it the most. 

It had been another typical day in the lives of the vampire coven. Edward was mooching in his bedroom forever repeating and repenting on how he was cursed with this life, Esme was doing whatever she did, Carlisle had gone to the local hospital to work, Rosalie was out hunting and Joan sat in the workshop staring over the original car created by Thomas Ford. 

Yet nothing in their life seemed to go right when they had entered a routine. Rosalie's voice could be heard almost screaming from the main house. It caused Joan to jump at first dropping the spanner she had in her hand at the time. She then sped to the house to see a scene of carnage. The smell of blood was high yet she carried on. Her self-control was very limited yet she was determined to help the girl she fondly called her sister. 

Rosalie clutched onto the bloody mangled body of a man who could be twenty at most. He had been mauled and looked as though he was on the brink of death. Joan stayed in the door frame knowing that if she approached any further that she would no longer be able to control herself and would ultimately end the life of the man her sister held onto. She watched as the decision was made to change the man as he was Rosalie's mate. Though she could stay no longer and left the room after sending an apologetic look to her sister.

It must have been two or so hours later when Rosalie appeared in the doorframe of her bedroom. Joan let the elder girl, who was both older in appearance and actual age, in. They sat on her bed without either one saying anything. Though words were not needed as Joan took Rosalie into her arms as the elder girl dry sobbed. It was in moments like these when both girls wished they had the capability to cry. And that's how they spent the night. Clutched to one another just as real blood-related siblings would do. 

Once again the three necessary days passed as Rosalie would allow no one else into the room of which her mate lay in a state of transition. And when he awoke neither left the room for a day as they caught up on what Joan supposed was missed time, missed opportunities. Therefore, when he left the room she was shocked. The dude was massive. He looked like he could crush her without even thinking. That terrified Joan. Until she realised he was harmless and was much like a giant teddybear. 

For she had to get along with the gentle giant as he was now not only family but the partner of who she considered not only her best friend but her sister.