"Come on, you must be exhausted." Emma encouraged, watching me stand awkwardly in the entrance. Her bright, motherly smile never seemed to fade off her face.

And while Alistair's mom looked like a warm embrace that I was certainly in need of I knew I would see many people that I would've preferred to avoid. I didn't need to see Jasper to know that he was lurking around. A massive SUV with a car seat and a young boy running around gave that away. And I had no doubt that wherever Emma went Brad went with her. Alistair spoke about their relationship like it was one of the most outstanding miracles, though it was impressively clear Brad had different ideas about me. I knew that neither of them particularly enjoyed my company and that made me deeply pensive.

But as of right now I didn't have any other choices. I was without a car and I knew that it would be beyond rude to stand awkwardly in the door way until a taxi came to pick me up. Plus, I had no real idea how the world was going to receive me. I didn't know how much the public knew about my case or what had happened to my company. And the only people who could help me fill in those gaps were here. So I slowly emerged into the house, anxious beyond belief.

"How was your flight?" Emma asked as I followed her into the massive and clean kitchen.

The space was so large it almost seemed industrial, but had a sense of coziness as well.

"Well, thank you." I replied tightly.

"It is quite a grueling trip, especially on a public plane." She continued, "Do you have any allergies?"

"No." the question struck me as odd, but it was not the weirdest thing that had happened to me in the past three months.

While Emma began whirling around the kitchen like a culinary tornado I started to survey the area I had walked into. The kitchen was open to a stunning sitting area that was filled with trinkets from around the world. There was a thick mop of dark hair popping above the back of the couch in the living room. Judging by the young child squealing around him and the dark colour of the hair I assumed it was Jasper. Brad was nowhere to be found, but I knew that he was close by.

"Here, airplane food is the worst." Emma said, pulling my attention back to her.

She pushed a plate towards me and for a moment I marveled at the massive sandwich on the ceramic. It was nothing short of a masterpiece and my previously silent stomach now growled loudly at the sight.

"It's not the food." Jasper's low voice sliced through the soft atmosphere, making my shoulders hunch up as I brought my sandwich to my lips. There was soft rustling as he stood, "Your taste buds essentially go numb on a plane. The cabin pressure and the dry air really mess with your sense of taste. I would say it has the same impact as having a cold."

"Yes, yes, we know." Emma said, pretending to be annoyed but her eyes were glittering with happiness.

I smiled in an effort to cover up how uncomfortable I was and the fact that I hadn't known Jasper's random fact. It was clear that I was surrounded by people who were far more educated than I could ever be and that only made me more anxious to be here. As silence fell I tore into the delicious sandwich and it was gone within a matter of minutes.

"You should go and lie down. I think a nap is what you need." Emma murmured.

"Thank you, but-"

"You look jittery, how about a walk to get you through some of those nerves? It must be hard to be back home and I know that Dallas could use some time outside to work through all of the extra sugar someone has been giving him." Jasper suggested, giving his mother a very pointed glance.

"Vitamin D would be good for anyone this time of year." Emma agreed, "We have extra jackets and mittens if you'd like."

Though I very deeply wanted to say no I felt like I couldn't. I didn't want to make it obvious that Jasper and I weren't the best of friends and I didn't want to reject her kindness either. I just nodded mutely. Emma gave me a very warm puffer jacket that was a little too short and a little too large around my waist. I gave out a little laugh when she handed me matching mittens and warm toque with a massive pom-pom on the top. I was sure I looked absolutely ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as was Dallas, the round puff ball of layers who laughed and squealed excitedly.

"You only have runners?" Dallas said, looking at my shoe choice.

"Yeah."

"Fair enough, we won't go far, it's probably pretty cold for someone who just spent a couple months in Europe."

"You kids enjoy." Emma called out, sounding very much like a stereotypical mom.

It almost made my heart ache.

We set off without any further exchanges. For a while I thought we would brave the cold in silence. Dallas was darting around, picking up snow and dumping it just as fast. He seemed pretty smart and quite inquisitive for his age, but it was hard to take him seriously when he looked so much like a cotton ball and was giggling so much. He became a great source of entertainment and I was so focused on watching the young boy that I didn't notice a chunk of ice under my feet.

I let out a soft yelp, my body failing backwards when my feet lost traction. I was certain I was going to fall flat on my back as my balance completely abandoned me.

But Jasper's hand closed firmly around my arm, keeping me upright.

"Thanks." I mumbled, pulling my arm away.

"It's slippery out here." He stated, jutting his elbow outward, towards me.

I carefully looped my arm through his, knowing that there was a good chance I would slip and fall if I didn't. But the tiny kind gesture didn't make me forget all the things he did and the harsh words he said. He didn't seem like the type to forgive and forget either.

"Cute kid." I said warmly.

The only way I could find out what he wanted was through playing his game. But I wasn't stupid enough to push Jasper. I knew that he could be very dangerous if he wanted to be and I didn't have Alistair to protect me this time.

"Thanks, I imagine Alistair told you everything already." He responded dryly.

"He did."

"Of course."

"It sounded awful and I am sorry that you had to live through it. But I know that you didn't bring me out here to talk about Dallas and sulk over all the things that did and didn't happen. I know that I'm not your favorite person which means you would never want to share any of those deep, dark secrets with me. You brought me out here for something else."

"You think I'm a lot more complicated than I am." Jasper said with a tight smile. "I was just trying to save you from my mother."

"I think she's the last person in that house that I need saving from." I protested.

"That's because you don't know how much of a mom she can be." His smile came a little easier now, "And even though it seems really backwards my dad is the softer one."

"No way."

"Oh yeah. She was meant for this life. You'd never look at her and know it which goes to her advantage. She's tougher than anyone I know, survived eighteen days in the desert by herself with nothing but a box cutter and a camping mug. She's the last person in the world I would want to cross. My dad looks like he is a terrifying human being but eighty percent of his power comes from intimidation. When you come down to it he's just a big teddy bear."

"And where do you fit in?" I questioned softly.

There was a long pause. Jasper's eyes followed little Dallas as he jumped into a snowbank, laughing loudly. Though the scene in front of him was touching and playful a deep frown remained on his features.

"I don't know."

We progressed back to the house after Dallas managed to wiggle his way out of the waist deep snowbank. I was thankful because the chill was starting to seep through the puffy jacket and I no longer trusted my footwear. After awkwardly shuffling across more ice patches while still clinging to Jasper we returned to the house safely.

Once we were in the house and removed all the extra layers I was greeted with chia tea and a very excitable woman who asked me thousands of questions about myself, some of which I couldn't even answer. I just sipped and watched her, wondering if she was asking me as Alistair's mother or if she was asking me as an agent. It was impossible to tell and I could very quickly understand what Jasper meant. The broad grins and pleasantly plump figure could cover up ill intentions easily.

"Mom, she's tired, stop grilling her." Jasper chided with a grin.

"You're right, you're right." She babbled, giving me an apologetic look. "Take her down to Alistair's room. I put fresh sheets on the bed this morning."

Jasper did as he was told, guiding me out of the kitchen and into the basement. It became very clear that the basement was where the boys resided before they had moved out. Poorly furnished with a massive TV and impressive gaming system and posters of sports stars. The things that many men considered the fundamentals, but women scoffed at.

"Here you go." Jasper said, gesturing to a small bedroom.

It was wonderfully clean which didn't surprise me and seeing all the ribbons and trophies on the shelves from events didn't shock me either. Alistair had always been a very closed off person, his room would not gush any secrets. It was plain, giving away very little, but it also held a certain atmosphere that reflected accomplishment.

"It's a little weird that it's all over, isn't it?" Jasper asked, bringing my attention back to him.

Though I had progressed deeper into the room he was silently leaning against the door frame, looking bothered.

"Yes, it is." It was like he had read my troubled mind.

There was a heavy silence. Neither of us said anything. I just watched him, knowing there was something brewing below the surface.

"You wouldn't lie to him, would you? You wouldn't send him into a trap or let him get hurt, right?"

"No, Jasper, I wouldn't."

He straightened, those brown eyes so sharp, but so afraid.

"I'm trusting you."

And for some reason I deeply wished he wasn't.