Of course, things could never for once be easy for Jasper - if they were then goddamn, his name ain't Jasper Whitlock anymore - and he really thought it was Gods way of kicking his ass. And boy did He have a way of kicking it.

The moment he walked through that door he wanted to turn around and walk right back out. Not because he was ashamed but because the entire family stood there - minus the very much human Bella, who'd they left in Forks. Of course, that was his fault, like everything else -

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!"

That ear-piercing screech came from Edward, ever since they left Forks, he'd been nothing but a little bitch. Not that he wasn't one before, he was just more open about it now.

Of course, he knew what he did; he did it didn't he?

"Jasper, son, Alice and Edward saw what happened and the red eyes confirm it. Don't feel guilty, these things happen, we'll just take it slow, and soon your eyes will be back to normal." Carlisle looked at him with pity and something else. Ah, that's what it was, a mix of sympathy AND compassion.

Carlisle, the family's 'father' the ever compassionate and understanding one. Not once in his over three-hundred-years had he tasted human blood upon his lips, and really Jasper had to tip his hat to that.

But what amused him was -

"I told you! I told you he was a danger to those around him! He can't control himself. The proof is what happened at Bella's birthday party! And this just confirms it. He's a monster." Edward spat.

Him a monster? Has he looked in the mirror lately?

Edward growled "I know what I am Jasper. That's why I left Bella! She deserves better."

Jasper raised a brow, no Edward, you ran away after an accident that I had no control over.

"Exactly! No control! You could have killed her!"

But I didn't.

"You almost did!"

Jasper sighed, he wasn't going to argue with an idiot who couldn't understand reason. He was an empath, he felt emotions, and that night he felt the bloodlust of six - five he should say. Carlisle once told him he wasn't affected by human blood nor did the smell bother him - vampires, including dear ol' Eddie boy here.

Combined with his own, it was a major senses overload, not that anyone understood. Not even his own wife.

"Jasper."

He turned and looked at said wife, she stood next to the expensive - imported from Paris - loveseat. She looked at him with a mixture of pity, disbelief, and anger.

"Why?"

Jasper looked at her, really looked at her, and he found that he didn't like what he saw. He'd been with this woman for fifty-five years. He was sure when he first saw her in that diner back in 1948 that she was an angel, his saving grace, something to soothe his hurt and damaged soul. But now all he saw was a woman who didn't even understand her husband, who put her 'family' before the man she supposedly loved. A woman he still loved - a term used loosely again - but saw that she was no good for him.

And so, he said nothing.

She stared at him, and he stared right back, until -

"Do you regret it?"

He was silent for a moment, knowing that whatever he said would either make-or-break it all. He could tell her, yes, and then everything would be fine. He'd go back to eating squirrels and play the part of a loving husband, son, and brother who can't control his lust for blood.

Or

He could give it all up, go back to Peter and Charlotte, back to feeding off humans. Back to feeling alive, back to being what he is and not what he's pretending to be.

So, did he regret what he had done? The more he thought about it, the more it became clear to him and with that, he made his choice.

"No."

Silence rang throughout the room, not a single word was uttered, nor an unnecessary human breath was taken. Feelings of disbelief, anger, sadness, betrayal, and hurt were felt throughout the room.

Esme, bless her poor soul was the first to speak "W-What? Jasper, what do you mean no?"

He turned his eyes to her as she stood next to Carlisle, he looked at them both, his face expressionless "Exactly how it sounds Esme, I don't regret it."

"So what you're saying is; that it wasn't an accident?"

His eyes flickered to Rose, he didn't need to see her face to know that she was feeling betrayed and angry. Over the years they had become close while pretending to be the infamous Hale twins. Their bond was that of siblings, very close siblings and he felt guilty for hurting her. But he couldn't lie to her; after all these years he couldn't lie to someone who was so much like a sister to him in everything but blood.

So he shook his head "No, it wasn't an accident, I knew what I was doing. I chose, willingly chose to kill."

Gasps went around the room, a faint "Jasper" from Esme escaped.

But that's not what held his attention, a massive wave of betrayal and an overwhelming surge of anger came from Alice and faster than the human eye could blink she was before him. Her fists clenched at her side and her face twisted in an ugly scowl that was most unbecoming of her.

"How could you? After all these years, I found you, helped you change your diet, brought you to a family who's done nothing but love and cherish you, and this is how you repay them? This is how you repay me!? I LOVED YOU WHEN YOU DIDN'T EVEN LOVE YOURSELF! You were drowning in self-pity and guilt. I helped shape you into the man you are today!" She screamed.

She slapped him, hard, his head flew to the side as he closed his eyes and said nothing.

"Is that what you want to go back too? Being that...that MONSTER?" She hit his chest and pushed him back.

Jasper stumbled before righting himself and looking at her, "I'm warnin' ya Alice, don't test me" his southern accent coming out a little. He could feel his own anger rising and took a deep unnecessary breath to calm himself. The beast within rattled at his cage, begging and snarling to be let out. To teach the little bitch a lesson.

Not heeding his warning she continued "Fuck you!" Another collective gasp went around the room. Dear little Alice swore, and she never swears.

"Do you even remember how you were before? Huh? DO YOU? Because I remember." She pushed him again "If you're so hell-bent on becoming a monster" she spat out the word "then go ahead, go back to fucking and feeding off humans!"

She went to hit him again but he stopped her before she could, he could understand her anger, her betrayal. He could even understand why she was doing what she's doing. But one thing he could not stand for was her blatant disrespect.

"Enough."

That one word was growled out darkly, enough to make everyone in the room freeze. And for a brief moment, Jasper looked like he did almost eighty-five years ago when he was still Major Whitlock, the right-hand man of Maria.

His red eyes blazed, looking like a cool, controlled roaring fire, his fingers tightened around Alice's wrist. Crushing it and making her wince.

The Major was in control now.

"Now listen 'ere lil lady, hit me again and I'll make sure ya regret it. I'm thinkin' a few missin' fingers and limbs might teach ya a lesson. And if not..." eyes narrowed in on her as he pulling her face to his while gripping her chin tightly with his other hand "I'll rip ta pretty lil head of yours right off ya shoulders." He chuckled.

Jasper pushed her away from him, making her fly back. Edward rushed to catch her and glared at Jasper.

"She's your wife! How dare you treat her like that!" He hissed at Jasper holding a shaking Alice in his arms.

Emmett, as the muscles of the family, took a step forward eyeing Jasper in case he decided to attack.

Jasper chuckled again, the sound dark and threatening, "She knew not ta test me, I warn'd 'er."

"Jasper. Enough, I won't have you disrespecting my family in my home like that." Carlisle spoke up firmly, but a deep sadness was held within his eyes.

Jasper eyed the man before closing his eyes briefly and letting out a deep growl. He pushed the beast back into his cage, who was still snarling in anger.

"My apologies Carlisle." He sighed.

Carlisle gave him a brief nod before letting out his own sigh, "Jasper..."

And of course, Jasper knew exactly what was coming, just like how he knew this was hard for Carlisle to say.

"I have no intention of staying Carlisle, I'll get my things and leave."

Esme started dry sobbing onto her husband's shoulders, the pain of losing one of her children too much for her.

Emmett frowned, "You serious about leaving? Aw c'mon Jaz, you; you can't just leave! Whose ass am I gonna kick man with my fantastic strength?!"

Jasper chuckled lightly "You ain't never kicked my ass."

"I have too! Don't lie!" Emmett pouted, but there was a twinkle in his eye.

Jasper just grinned.

"I'll miss you too Em."

Emmett let out a sigh, "I know you will, let's face it, who wouldn't miss this sexy body?" He smirked gesturing to himself.

A slap resounded throughout the room "Ow! Jesus woman! What was that for?" Emmett rubbed his head looking at his wife. Rosalie just rolled her eyes and hissed out "For being such an idiot."

Emmett pouted at her and then pointed his finger at Jasper grinning, "You best keep in touch man, no falling off the radar just cause you're snacking on humans now."

Another slap rang throughout the room making Jasper grin widen.

"Alright, no promises though." His eyes twinkled in amusement.

Jasper eyed his once called family and then with his vampire speed, turned and ran up to the room he now once shared with his wife. There wasn't much he wanted to take with him, he grabbed the necessary clothing; grimacing and mentally told himself to go shopping soon. Grabbing a couple of his favorite war books and packing up his guitar, something he found he enjoyed playing about forty years ago. He turned to leave before pausing briefly before turning again to open up his dresser drawer, pushing aside his socks he grabbed the small brown envelope that laid beneath them.

It was old, what was once white now turning yellow as it aged with time. Jasper shoved it into his bag and turned away from the dresser.

With one last look at the room, he closed the door and raced back down. Upon entering the room, he saw that Esme and Alice were sitting on their overly ridiculously priced sofa, the former trying to comfort the latter.

"I'll have Jenks' send you the divorce papers soon. Please don't make this harder than it has to be Alice."

Of course, she said nothing, only cried harder within the arms of her 'mother'.

Carlisle cleared his throat, a very humanly but one-hundred percent Carlisle gesture, "Are you sure this is what you want Jasper?"

At Jaspers nod, he continued, "Very well, I was hoping I could change your mind, but I can see that would be futile." He walked forward and laid a hand upon his shoulder "If you ever decide, or can't take the human diet anymore, you're always welcome back home."

Jasper looked at the man in front of him, he looked so tired and worn out - an amazing feat as vampires didn't get tired - the toll of leaving his human daughter, and now his son leaving and divorcing his wife all while switch diets was apparently getting to him.

Jasper; he wasn't an unnecessary cruel man - he could be if he wanted to - so in order to ease the man's pain he nodded and agreed, sending out calm and reassurance with the slightest hint of love to him.

With a faint smile, Carlisle stepped back, and with one last look around the room he once called home, he left.

And as he ran out that door and away from the Cullen's family, Jasper felt a huge burden being lifted from his shoulders. He felt like he did all those years ago before meeting Alice, before forcing himself to a diet of squirrels and chipmunks before pretending he was a human and doing the same old boring routine of high school. Of being Jasper Hale - Cullen.

No more pretending, no more shitty diet and being starving, no more 'parents' breathing down his neck (figuratively of course), no more 'siblings' and their unnecessary problems. No more hyperactive controlling pixie wife and being told what to do or what to wear, no more looks of pity because he couldn't 'control' his bloodlust around Eddie boy's human plaything.

Just no more.

And God did he love it.

After fifty-five years, he was finally him.

He was just, Jasper Whitlock.