After Time [Twilight Fan Fiction]

32. Tender

32. Tender

Canada

January 2011

The Major

My eyes settle on Peter who rests on the couch. Jasper is almost inconsolable in the back of my mind. Shielding him from the pain of almost losing one of our mates was the least I could do. Shielding him from pain is all I've ever done. Though in this moment, holding Robyn close and touching Peter's hands, my tough exterior threatens to break. I need to stand, push against the crushing feeling almost overwhelming me.

Peter needs me to be strong right now. Not just him either, but Robyn too. She leans her weight on me, knowing that I can take the reins for us both. I don't want to let them down this time. I can suddenly hear the vampire downstairs shifting to alertness. His extremities trying to reconnect. Tearing him apart didn't kill him, but if he manages to reconnect, it's not going to be easy tearing him apart again. Though the anger welling in my gut tells me it could be a lush reward. I feel nothing but anger at my helplessness, and it could help me feel better. Taking my anger out on someone that deserves it.

Robyn couldn't have known what the use of her power would have done to Peter. Neither of us knew it could affect us to this extent. The use of visions is new to Peter and his body is having a strange time accepting it. Maybe with more blood in his system it will create a new portion for him. Without Alice in the world, visions were out of the question. The possibility of Peter's visions being more accurate than Alice could give us a huge advantage. Though knowing the effect of her gift makes Jasper worry even more. If we thought she could be in danger before, this makes it even more likely. Forget me or Peter's gifts if the Volturi get ahold of Robyn their gifts could be heightened.

Even I know about Jane, who can make human or vampire feel intense pain. Yet her power is limited to one at a time. I can already imagine the head of the Volturi using Robyn to make Jane's power stronger, affecting more than one person at a time. The thought of the Volturi getting close to her, using her for their bidding lights a fire in my mind. For once, Jasper, myself, and his demon agree on a central thing, over our dead body.

They won't get ahold of her. Not while we're still living.

Robyn won't move from Peter's side now. I'm beginning to feel more of his emotions. They're light compared to how they usually are. I haven't mentioned it to Robyn yet, but for a moment, his emotions were muted. It was worse than when she slept, her emotions shifting based on her dreams. Even though Peter was connected, no visible signs of trauma, for a moment, we thought Peter might have been gone from us. One of the reasons Jasper didn't fight me and with Robyn's guidance let me control the situation.

"When do you think they'll be back?" Robyn asks.

My thoughts are centered on the vampire in the basement. Garrett made sure he was locked up tight. He even put his head back together, but removed his arms and legs at the knees. When he comes to, he'll be in pain, but I know with my gift he'll sing like a canary.

"I'm sure it won't take much longer. Garrett is even showering right now. I'm sure he'll be back here soon." The only people that ever get my tenderness are my mates. Lifting my hand from Peter's, I brush her hair aside, kissing her forehead. I feel the spike of love from her, which warms Jasper in the back of my mind. Though, something else lingers, something she's trying to hide from me. An undercurrent of lust. Something I'll definitely need to investigate later. At least at a time when Peter's life isn't on the line.

"I feel like this is all my fault," she suddenly whispers, burying her face into my chest. "If I hadn't used my gift so much this wouldn't have happened. We wouldn't be at risk of losing him."