53; what you feel for those you love

Just to clarify: Arden's growth was concerning.

His mentality aged faster than his body, but only by a little. As routine settled, as the newborn haze turned into the rhythm of normality for Bella- much like it had for Elias- it was hard for all of them to not notice how unusual his growth was.

By two months into his life, he looked six months. Words haven't been spoken through his mouth or his gift of sharing, but there was a clear understanding when he wanted to know something. He repeated the memory, forcing his emotions through the link, trying to show what he wanted without words. It was incredibly smart, if anything.

Like right now, as he was saddled on Rosalie's left hip whilst Esme tried spoon feeding Arden a grotesque green mush of baby food- that people his age were supposed to eat- he was scrunching his face up in distaste as well as showing it through the link to Rosalie.

Elias was laughing.

"Don't laugh or she'll fling the food at you," Emmett warns, through experience, a safe distance from the attempt of feeding.

"Perhaps he only likes Bella feeding him," Esme murmurs, not at all sour about the guess. She tries spooning the food into Arden's mouth, who goes as far as flinging his head back to escape.

Rosalie huffs through a smile, "come on Arden, Grandpa says it's good for you."

Arden pauses, palm stretching on Rosalie's bare wrist as he asks something. Rosalie says after a moment, "Grandpa Carlisle, not Grandpa Charlie."

"I don't understand how that is good for him, it stinks," Elias denies, nose wrinkling. The food is fresh, he knows, but it leaves a bitter smell in the air.

Esme sends him a pointed look that Elias reads as, not helping.

"What? It does," he shrugs through a grin, but moves around the kitchen island to sit next to Emmett, aware of that spoon and its ability to be flung.

"It might be best to hold off until your mom is back from hunting, she can try," Esme decides, which makes a giggle come from Arden's mouth- Elias likes to think it's out of satisfaction of not having to eat the food.

Before Elias can comment, he's aware of Jasper walking in their direction. He turns to track him as he enters the kitchen, passing up a bottle of animal blood towards Rosalie and then taking residence behind Elias. He wraps his arms around the newborn's waist, nose settling in the curls at the nape of his neck, distracting himself from the scent of blood with the smoke that emits from his skin.

"You alright there bro?" Emmett checks, flexing a little as if he's ready to intervene any advance Jasper will make if he attacks.

It wouldn't be the first time, Elias remembers with a wince, the memory of Bella's birthday so long ago yet so ingrained into him. Even if it was one of the many things he tried to purposely forget.

"We got it," Elias assures, hands clamping over Jaspers wrists, just as Jasper clings tightly to Elias. Both of them locked and ready to stop each other, though the odds are in Eli's favour now. He doesn't struggle like he should as a newborn- a fact he doesn't parade around.

Rosalie, ever so protective of her nephew, regards them for a moment, thinking, before deciding that yes, it will be fine. The bottle is then given to a waiting Arden, who's been squirming in her arms the moment he also smelt the fresh tempting scent of blood.

"What time did Alice say she'll be back?" Jasper asks, aware like all of them of her tiny yet massive missing presence. She and Nate left long before Bella and Edward did for their hunt.

"Night time is the only vague idea she had. You know how she gets carried away with shopping," Emmett tells.

He nods as an answer, all eyes still on Arden. As he feeds, a more prominent flush comes to his pale cheeks, making him look like any other mortal baby. Well, other than the immortal beauty he has.

Let's hope it's immortal, that horrible voice in his head taunts, ever present but louder whenever he hasn't fed reverently. Like now. As always, he tells it to fuck off.

"And what time are the wolves back?" Elias carries on. He hadn't had chance to ask them, he and Jasper had gone for a ride on their bikes in the morning, when the sun was covered by thick clouds. When they got back it was last one o'clock and raining buckets: by then they'd all left with the explanation that there was a bonfire happening.

How they expected to keep a fire lit through the rain is another mystery.

"Never hopefully," Rosalie sniffs, only half as venomous as she used to be. Esme still gave her a scathing look in warning.

"Hey, Jace is quite funny," Emmett defends, "he agreed with you that you're Arden's favourite aunt."

"He regretted it the moment Alice snarled at him," she counters.

Esme simply sighs, looking a moment away from rubbing her temples. "All my children are animals," she swears.

"We're tamed animals," Jasper points out, sounding positive about the fact.

That doesn't help. Elias laughs under his breath, which spurs on Arden to laugh between mouthfuls of his bottle. Such a cutie.

"Hey," Emmett calls, sitting up with excitement, "what about if Arden eats a little human food, he can get another bottle?"

"We've succumbed to negotiations with a baby," Jasper whispers in Elias' ear, "We're doomed."

"Hey, Arden, you hear that? What do you think?" Rosalie asks, bouncing him, listening as he talks through his gift. Arden doesn't look pleased.

"No, no, the food is nutritional and helps you grow," she answers, listening again as he shows her something. "Why?"

Arden nods a little.

"Because you're part vampire and part human, so you can have both. You need to get used to both."

He reaches to her again, asking- what Elias assumes is another, why? From the downfallen expression on Rose's face.

"Oh no, we're stuck on the why loop," Jasper grins, almost sadistically. It went on for hours last time, it was amusing at first.

"I mean, he's got a point," Elias thinks, lips pursing, "if he's getting all the nutritional needs from blood, doesn't human feeding fall into a category of liking the taste, more than needing it? We just need to find something appealing."

There's a lot of blank stares coming his way. "How did you work that out?" Rose asks.

Elias rolls his eyes, "a guess and some knowledge of raising babies," he waves off, escaping from his mates hold and walking around the kitchen with vampire speed. When he peers into the fridge, it's fully loaded with food- a perk from having wolves over so often. Esme and Carlise quite liked the alone time of food shopping together, as if they were regular humans. They always came back laughing and lax.

Using his nose, he pulls out the most natural scenting of foods that might be nice to eat for a kid. It's mostly fresh fruit and some milk, but it'll do. When he turns back around, he's aware that they're all staring at him but he gets to work mushing some of the bigger fruit into a paste. Arden gurgles as he does so, as if he also scents the appealing food now- not like that weird baby formula.

"Here," Rose calls, handing Arden to Elias as he becomes too wiggly to handle. Elias slots him comfortably in one of his arms, using his other hand to continue his work of mixing fruit.

Arden watches and when Elias gets out a spoon for him to try, he eyes it for a moment. When he reaches for Elias, he passes his memory of seconds prior, the view of food and the almost... fear of it coming closer to him.

"You don't have to like it," Elias assures in the softest of voices, "but you do have to try it, for me. Just once and if it's yucky, we'll stop. We won't care if you don't like it, as long as you try it."

Still apprehensive, it takes Arden a moment to contemplate- though after a moment he opens his mouth and leans to taste the food. Elias meets him half way, gives him half of the contents and waits. Arden chews it, tastes it, his face scrunching in different expressions before he decides he likes it and swallows.

Soft shouts of excitement go through the room. Elias grins down at his nephew, aware to make it nice and not the sharp one he usually sports, "that's my boy!"

After that, it's a repeat process of different fruit. Strawberries are a no, must be something with the seeds and texture; Arden spits it out onto Eli's shirt immediately. Jasper gets a good laugh out of that.

"How did you know?" Esme asks once Elias has passed Arden back over to Rose, trying- failing- to clean his shirt with a wet cloth. She's happy, but there's confusion etched into the traces of her pout.

"About the food?" He checks, upon a nod, he carries on. "I had the same trouble with Easton, it was a trial and error run when he was a toddler. A very, very long one. I was so scared the neighbours were going to ring the cops when he kept crying."

God, he remembers the hours he spent at a dining table trying to make that kid eat anything. He had a particular aversion to textures that weren't absolutely smooth. Like melted icecream. It brings a nostalgic smile, even if it was hard back then.

"Where were your parents?" Esme asks, caught onto the fact it was I alone he mentioned, to the aged worry of it in his eyes as he remembers.

There's so much concern in her eyes. Elias looks away, his mouth glued shut. He knows it wasn't normal, he knows it shouldn't have happened, but he doesn't want to speak of it. He can't speak negative of his adoptive human parents, even now. Probably not ever.

"You raised Easton like a son," Rosalie realises, through his reaction; this one and from the first time he held Arden.

They're all just looking at him; sympathy and shock and concern.

It's a struggle to not snap at them to fuck off, if he's honest. He has to remind himself that language like that in front of a kid is not appropriate.

"I did," he swallows thickly, going to leave it at that when he catches Jaspers eyes. Jasper, who knows the most about the situation but has never, ever been able to get the full story out of Elias. Who's never asked outright because it sent Elias completely silent.

But now, the mere mention of it looks like it might crush Eli to the floor and Jasper can't have that- he can't have his mate burying parts of himself in this immortal life; he knows how deviating the results are when you finally face them down the road.

"Darlin," is all he says, but it is a question. It's the first time he's ever asked, despite always wanting to know.

Elias exhales having, Every built in defence in his body deflating, they're useless now he knows it's something Jasper wants.

"They were the best parents they could be," is how he starts it, defensive to the bone. He can't look at them as he speaks, not about this, so he turns around and gathers the dishes he's used and places them in the sink. As he speaks, he fills it up with hot water.

"When Easton was born, after we moved to California, everything was great. He was such a easy baby, never cried or got sick. I loved being around him, especially as I didn't have the memories of the house fire chasing after me anymore. I felt like a brand new person, with this brand new brother that made me want to be the best person I could be. I'm sure my parents felt the same way, and they were amazing in many ways...But transitioning from a small town to a populated, expensive tourist attraction has its downfalls. My parents had a toddler and a business to run that wasn't pulling its weight and even at that age I understood a lot more than I let on."

He stops the taps, starting to mechanically clean the dishes with the utmost care. "You can imagine, with bills overdue and food to put on the table, that the hours they worked were long and hard. We never went without anything we needed, I'll give them that... but after a while, hiring a babysitter for the two of us was a low point on the list we did need. I didn't mind doing it all, of course. He's my brother."

They all look at Arden, the love brimming in each person's eyes. Of course they know the feeling. But they were adults, grown vampires that could put aside their needs to look after a baby. Not a child like Elias had been back then.

"So you watched after him all the time? What about school?" Emmett asks, brows furrowed.

"We worked around it. If I knew that they both had to work that morning and I was at school, I'd say I felt ill so I could stay home. They never knew I was lying," He states simply, because to him it was- he had a role to do, just as his parents had. He filled it.

There's a hitch in Esme's voice as she murmurs, "...Elias."

"They moved because of me," Elias interrupts her, his voice still detached from emotion. "We would have been fine in Forks, but I couldn't handle staying in the town. So we moved."

Without warning, She comes over and wraps her arms over Elias very tightly, as if he'd pull away, or maybe not understand the complete need of the hug. It wasn't entirely for him.

"A child should have the chance to be a child," she says, not a direct insult to his human parents, as she knows he wouldn't like that. But a spoken correction of his childhood nonetheless.

Elias thinks of Arden. Or Easton. He imagines them in his position, biological parents that neglect them, a house fire to escape from. Trading one bad home for another home that gives love in conditional amounts, that care but can't do everything a parent should. Hell, he thinks of Bella, who's role was very similar to his- a caretaker in her own family, despite being a child herself. Though her Easton was Rene.

"They tried their best."

It's an excuse. A getaway. Esme hugs him harder. Elias savours the moment, ignoring the origin of it- sometimes things are so ingrained in you, permanent to who you are that you never really step back and inspect them.

How many more things would he carry, not understanding their importance?

Oh well, he does have forever to sort them out.

"If you think I'm fucked up," he swallows, shaking off the seriousness of the situation, "just wait till Jace gets back. He's got some serious daddy issues he needs to talk about."

Across the room, Jasper has to bite his lip to stop the laughter coming out. His mate is evil.

•••

Later on in the same day, Jasper catches him alone for the briefest of moments as Elias goes for a shower- baby food is a terrible smell to have linger. It's as he's stepping out of the stream of water, a black towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets still lingering on his skin, hair scrunched in tighter curls as they're soaking, when Jasper steps into the bathroom.

Elias hears him coming, his senses never dull from filtering for danger. He still waits until the door clicks until he turns around to look at the blond.

His gaze can only be described as starved as he looks at Eli, he wants to ravish the newborn.

Eli's stomach tightens, his hands come to the towel, unsure if he wants to drop it or hold it up. "Love," he warns.

Jasper hums, aware he's being called on, but takes a step closer. Elias feels like an animal being crowded into a corner, a threat looming over his head- he loves it. "Goldilocks," he says, though there's a acceptance of want colouring it.

Not even a blink. Only more steps. Elias is very aware of the supernatural hearing his family have. So is Jasper, since he reaches one hand out to the dial and turns the shower back on so whatever he's about to do is drowned out by rushing water.

He kisses Elias first, fast enough to push Elias against the sink- Jasper's mouth harsh and demanding and Elias yields under him. There's tongue parting his lips, tasting his tongue, a hand smoothing over Eli's throat; slippery from the water, but it's easily fixed by more than necessary force, fingers digging into each side of the muscle. Elias makes a sound, or goes to, but it's gone with the cut of air in his throat.

Well, that solves the noise problem better than the shower.

Jaspers retracts his tongue, teeth taking place on Eli's bottom lip and tugging. Through a brief pause he reminds, "tap me."

Elias would rather chew off his own fucking hand than stop this now. But he can't say that, so instead he pushes his hips into Jaspers and reclaims the blonds mouth. It's all the encouragement needed for him, he throws himself into pleasuring Elias. Tongue practically massaging his, one hand caressing up his muscled chest, collecting drops of water- the other remains on his throat. It's only as his hand trails south that Elias really stiffens, mind blanking. He tugs the towel free.

Then Jasper drops to his knees.

Elias has to place one hand over his mouth to muffle the swear that wants to come out. Jasper looks up, honey eyes trapping Elias- he can't move. The scarred man is terrifying to look at on his knees, even as he's admiring Elias' form and trailing his hands up his thighs. Terrifying yes- but amazingly so. Like seeing a god in physical form.

Or perhaps it's the devil?

Elias loves him, loves it- the position, the fact Elias is the one that should feel in charge as he's higher up but Jaspers smouldering look alone makes him still and wait and listen.

Jasper's expression softens at the sight of him, praising: he leans in and takes Elias in his mouth at once.

This time a noise manages to escape, a wrung out sound of pleasure and surprise. He tightens his lips, trying to remain still and let Jasper do as he wants to him.

He does; eyes upwards to Eli's face, he moves his head, his mouth, his tongue- devotion in a action, prayer without words. Eli's gripping his hair without thought, bucking into his warm mouth- he fucking loves that warmth.

Jasper looks pleased about that too, it transcends into the actions, the motions on Eli's body. It takes a short amount of time before Elias comes undone in his mouth- as the blond swallows and smiles up at him, one side of his mouth higher than the other.

Definitely the devil.

Jasper stands up, straightening his own shirt out, bulge visible in his jeans. Quite simply, tenderly, he pressed a kiss to Eli's parted lips. It's almost innocent.

It wrecks the newborn- Eli's knees give out, or rather he allows them to. He slides against the cabinet until he's sat on the floor, looking up at a standing Jasper. The trade of positions makes Eli's mind spin, too.

"You planned that," he accuses, voice wrung out and slow.

Jasper nods, smug.

Eli's lips twitch. "Why?"

That smugness increases. When he speaks, he dusts his hand over Eli's forehead, smoothing back his hair. It's causal and kind but makes Eli's stomach tighten again with heat. "A thank you for speaking of things you would rather bury."

Elias blinks, mouth opening without thought- or perhaps there's no thoughts left now. "If this is the reward system I have, ask me fucking anything, I'll bare my soul."

Jaspers grin goes sharp, criminal, tempting- Elias feels himself starting to stiffen again. "How do you use your power?" He coaxes, velvet and dark.

It's a struggle to breathe properly. "For a question that big, we're going to have to move out of this bathroom."

Jasper allows the answer to remain in the air for one second before offering his hand. "Let's go."

As if Elias would ever deny such a request.

It takes only seconds to get dressed- a useless thing in his mind since they're about to be taken off him- before both he and Jasper are escaping from the balcony and into the woods. The rain has stopped despite the scent heavy in the air. There's a space that's far away from home, a patch of woods below a hill and covered with thick trees and ferns that no sunlight can stream in- it's got past markings of their... endeavours. Upturned soil, cracked trees.

Eli's stomach tightens again when they get to it.

The moment they're pausing, Jasper is acting. Turning around, he places one hand at the nape of Eli's neck, the other on his hip; handling him until the newborn is looking up in the correct position.

"How?" He breathes out, lips ghosting across Eli's; holding back for information, tempting him to give it up.

Elias has had enough of fighting recently.

"It's a scale," he gasps, head tilted back, throat bared. Jasper moves there at the invitation, slight soft kisses trailing along.

"One side is mental. It protects me from everyone's gifts, keeps me so far hidden in smoke no one can find me, they can glimpse at me sometimes, because smoke has no solid form, but they can't find me."

"Good," Jasper nods, grinning into his skin- teeth comes next. Tugging and threatening to sink in- Elias has to grip onto Jasper's shoulders.

The words come out rushed, wanting to hurry this along. "The other is physical. It's fire, burning, sparks on my skin, it's a call and response when my emotions are high or I feel threatened. I can control it when I take the reins."

Jaspers mouth doesn't move, but his hands do; slowly brushing along skin, letting goosebumps raise up as he finds the edges of Eli's clothing. He's taking the dark haired boy's shirt off when he speaks again.

"When I'm not wanting to use any of my power, they level out each other. My skin is warm but not burning, you can't use gifts to hurt me but you'll be able to catch glimpses of me without meaning to. When I want to use one side of my gift-" the words are gone as Jasper moves to his jeans, palm flush to his groan, moving and feeling the source of his desire.

Despite all this, it is Jasper who's able to finish the explanation- finally able to understand now. "The other is left empty, open to attack."

A broken whispered 'yes' is coming from Eli's mouth. The source of it is from the conversation and the way Jasper finally, finally touches him skin to skin.

"So you can control it?" Jasper asks, watching him go lax under his touch. He pairs the talking with a forceful bite to the mark already on his shoulder.

Elias hums. Jasper tugs with more force, emitting a gasp, "yes, yes I can."

"Good," he nods.

Then he's pushing Elias to the floor, pinning the vampire by his wrists. Elias looks up with wide black eyes and can't breathe with what he finds in Jaspers face.

Obsession. Adoration. A soldier capable of wiping out armies. A killer without conscience. A manipulator.

There is a part of Elias that wants to get up and run. A space below the throat and the middle of the rib cage that thrums with energy and the command to go. It is not fear, not at all. It's thrilling, because Jasper looks down at him with predatory eyes alight: yes, yes he wants to run. Not to leave, but to be chased. Because Jasper truly would not let him get far and that- that is all he's ever wanted. For someone to see all of him and decide to never let him go.

Perhaps Elias is more than a little fucked up, but god damn does it match nicely to the ruin that is Jasper Hale.

So he stretches out a smile, sharp and feral.

Jasper loses the last ounce of restraint and kisses him, rushed and too full of feeling to be careful. Elias loves that, too.

There's more nails on skin than soft caresses as they dress each other, there's hisses and wrung out moans as Jasper settles heavy on Elias, pushing into his body without preparation. Through the lust of bodies hitting bodies, mouth on mouth, Jasper doesn't catch the way that Elias lifts his hands from his shoulders and pulls them up, over his own head.

Once he does, Jasper pauses, still buried deep inside his lover's body. He goes to speak, to ask if he's ok, brows furrowing in concern- Eli's fingers twitch. A flame erupts.

Jasper doesn't need to ask how Elias feels, for the first time he can experience it. Routed in his soul, wrapped like the skin over his bones, it is overwhelming to be engulfed- this is what it means to burn- every emotion is not half formed. If he feels something, he is scarred by it, if he shares it- he lets overs know. Like loving them- he's always known Elias does anything for people he loves. He knows loving Elias has always felt like standing in the sunlight for Jasper- but being the source of the love, being the person feeling it- he is the sun. Trapped in a body, scared to let go in case he marks people; one slip and the people around can be hurt. From his intense emotions, from his gift.

"This is what I feel for you," Elias hitches out, focusing on Jasper entirely.

A fire that will engulf the world. That would let continents fall to ashes, that would haze the innocent, the guilty, everyone, if anything happened to Jasper. But at the same time, it is the warmth that comes from years of being cold. It is a light burning in the dead of night, embers leading you from lost and to safety. It's the blush in his cheeks and the warmth in his heart.

It is the feeling of being the reason to burn and the reason he can stop. He can relax, grow cold, go dark- someone will come back to give him the spark he seeks, they always will; Jasper.

Jasper, who has tears forming in his black eyes; who collapses on top of Elias' body, still in him, and finds himself falling off the edge of pleasure- who is blinded by the feel of all the emotion and fire that he cannot sense past it.

He is loved. Entirely, unrelenting, immensely.

Elias allows one hand to remain burning, the other comes down- cool to the touch- on Jasper's face, thumb circling cheek. Jasper doesn't seem to see, or feel it, lost in it all. Elias allows him the time to come back to life, caressing his face, calling his name in the same tender of his touch, "my love."

Just like following the glow of fire in the dark, Jasper finds his way back. One moment it's as if he's sleeping, the next his gaze moves to Eli's eyes, his face, like it's the first time he's ever seen it.

Amusement dances, threatening to make Eli laugh- Jasper can feel it. "You with me?"

"I'm with you," he croaks, meaning it.

Bliss. Arousal. Fascination. Jasper's eyes close again. "You're very possessive," he whispers, shocked by it- he hadn't known it ran that deep.

"No more than you," Elias points out, kissing each shut eyelid.

"For once, I can say yes, yes we feel the same," he inhales the newborns scent. "You're mine, I am yours," he promises, the words should feel like a brand, a shackle- they did once, when Maria uttered them like a threat. Now they're freeing. He has to be no one but himself and Elias loves it, him.

"I'm glad you realised that," Eli tuts happily. Sentimental.

Jasper, his mind climbing from the pits it fell into, starts to move. Rising up off Eli's chest and onto his elbows, inching further into Eli's body accidentally- they both gasp. Eli's reaction is sent straight to Jasper- he can feel it, the fireworks exploding alongside the other emotions.

This time Elias doesn't have to say anything, he simply lies down and wants- Jasper can feel it.

They both hadn't know physical love could get better, but as they're fucking, Jasper now doesn't have to guess what brings the most pleasure for Elias. He doesn't have to listen to moans and gasps and gauge what means what- there is action and the reacting emotion. There's roughness and teeth sinking into skin and Elias' voice going quiet as it's his turn to be pushed over the edge. It's ok, Jasper is so overwhelmed again that he gets lost in it all. When he comes back out, the bite has healed and scarred over- Elias feels a twisted, prideful satisfaction in that too, to be marked by Jasper.

In return, Jasper floods their connection with his own emotions.

It is an endless cycle.

•••

"Why did you decide to show me now?" Jasper asks once they've realised that pleasure can't come before business. It is raining again, the moon has hung heavy and is falling again, bringing a whole new day. Both boys are soaked as they sit embraced, Eli's head on Jasper's shoulder.

"Because when I spoke of my childhood you looked as if you never truly understood the mistreatment I endured as a human. At least, not to the parts you witnessed yourself," Elias speaks evenly, not trying to emit emotion in his voice, he doesn't need to. His hand still burns, a safe distance away from his mate. Jasper can read him and listen at the same time.

"Every bit of my life, every scar, scream or sleepless night. It was terrible but it led me to you. You'll always have the misunderstanding that I'll regret leaving my human life, but I don't. I won't. You can feel it yourself now."

And how Elias means it...Jasper sighs out in a relief he didn't know he wanted.

"The love is worth it," he recognises for him, holding Elias tighter. "Thank you."

A rotten humour tints the link. "Don't thank me you weirdo."

"I understood your mistreatment," Jasper corrects, "it just surprised me how you didn't grasp how things affected you. Even if you could guess it wasn't entirely good, you refused to see it as bad as it was. I didn't want that to be a pattern. I didn't want you to look back one day and think of turning in the same regard."

"I know how bad it was," Elias murmurs, fighting past the walls that want to come up. There's a reason he hadn't said any of this, "I just didn't like thinking about it, in my mind, it was all worth it. That is not the same as it is with you, with being a vampire. I thought it out, I am always thinking of my choice and how I get to see you every day. I'm glad for it."

And Jasper knows that, the words usually bring reassurance, but now the emotions bring proof. He can relax now.

Elias watches his mate slouch and smiles to himself. Perhaps they're both idiots who can't let go of each other, worrying that they'd done something wrong, if in the attempt of love, they'd left behind a trail of disappointment and destruction.

Well, like all of their problems, they have forever to fix them.

•••

They walk hand in hand back to the Cullen house. They're soaking, so instead of the front door, they opt to jump up to the balcony of their room and shower and change there. The house is bustling with noise, Alice and Bella are waiting expectantly in their room as they exit.

"We're in trouble," Elias says in a sing song voice, pushing Jasper forward to take the brunt of it all.

He gives Elias a filthy glare.

"The next time you disappear, give warning. Esme is in tatters, thinking she made you speak of memories left better forgotten and you'd run off in an emotional breakdown," Alice scolds, which oh, yeah, is a big reality check.

"Fuck," Elias hisses, threading his fingers through his hair. He could see how it looked like that. "I'm sorry, we were..."

He eyes Jasper, not sure how to politely put it. It's a good job Alice holds up her hand with a scowl, "I have an idea. Just apologise to Esme, and you," she points to Jasper, scanning him, "you were supposed to help me decorate."

"I apologise," Jasper bids like it's a tragedy, the mocking bastard. Elias bites his lip to not laugh.

Alice narrows her eyes, "Warning. All I ask is warning. I have enough to watch for without wondering where two of my brothers have ran off to."

"Oh we never run far," Elias brushes off, stepping to her- and when she doesn't snarl- wraps an arm around her shoulder, as well as Bella's- who's been watching this with an amused expression. "What did we miss?"

"Arden's been asking for you. Thank you for getting him to try human food, Carlisle is ecstatic," Bella tells, leaning into his side, doing her own run down with her eyes for any harm. She finds only joy. "He's starting to slow with growth. It's a good sign."

"I told you," Elias tuts with the conviction he feels, "he's part vampire, he'll be with us forever, Bella. If you need more proof than that, you know Jasper and I are ready to leave in the drop of a hat."

"No," Bella bids straight away, huddling to his side as if he'll run. "I need you with me, if Carlisle's predictions change, that's when we search for more information on hybrids. For now, we stay as a family."

"I'm glad," Jasper nods, honey eyes light. "It's how we should be."

Elias makes eye contact, both men to the brim with happiness.

"You two are worse than Emmett and Rosalie," Alice huffs, ducking gracefully under Eli's arm and out of the room. Bella laughs at the glare on both Eli and Jasper's faces.

"Nice," she tuts, patting his shoulder, following Alice's exit. "Come downstairs, Arden wants his favourite uncle."

Jasper looks expectantly at Elias, the same moment Elias does to him. "She means me," Elias tells.

"Sure," Jasper says slowly.

"Get fucked Goldilocks," the dark haired boy hisses jokingly.

Jasper rises his eyebrows as if to say, you already did that.

Elias is glad he can't blush anymore. "I'm leaving," he mutters.

•••

Like always, there are moments of peace as life goes on. In this instance, as days and hope is built regarding Arden's immortality, peace feels different than it used to half a year ago.

Bella, Edward and Arden leave every night, home to their cottage, trying to set a routine for Arden. In that time, it should feel quieter, less people. A baby's voice gone, none of Edwards gentle fingers playing the piano- but no, it only changes. At night Jake and Jace are snoring, always finding rest in a different room of the house. Most of the time it's Eli and Jasper's room, since his scent is the most pleasant. Leah and Seth are home at night, the former by choice and the latter because he needs to learn routine too. Esme loves cooking, now that she has recipients for it; she's always watching channels and reading books, testing new recipes for the wolves and now for Arden. Rose and Emmett are much like Jasper and Elias, disappearing for alone time or found with the rest of the family. Carlisle works the night shift, but when he's not, he's found alongside everyone; though his attention drifts to research for Arden, much like Jasper does.

In the meantime, Alice drags Elias and Nathaniel into a new project; the whole redesign of Edwards old room. She rips out the bookshelves, orders them to paint and pick out a theme for the room. It's a relief that it only takes a week for the project to be done, since Elias is close to strangling the small girl; there's only so much bossing about he can handle.

One morning, after Charlie has visited and gone, meaning it's safe for Elias to come back, Alice gives Bella and Elias a huge excited look. It's them, their wolves, Edward and Arden home, all of them spread in the living room in various positions and activities.

"It's ready?" Bella says in surprise. Alice nods, clapping.

"Shouldn't we wait for Esme?" Elias checks. "She did most of the design, it was also her idea."

"She didn't want anyone to feel overwhelmed, it's why she's ordered everyone out," Alice denies, up on her feet.

"What's happening," Jake asks, pausing the tv. He looks to Bella, then Elias, who give him secretive looks back. "What have you schemed up now?"

"Does it involve food? I'm starved," Jace, half asleep with his head on Bella's knee asks.

"You can eat after," Edward answers, rocking Arden, holding him so he can watch them all. He smiles a little, "Arden is feeling impatient, he wants to see."

"He's not the only one," Alice tuts, ushering the wolves, "come on, up, up, you can eat and sleep after."

"So demanding," Jace yawns, going too slow- Elias, instead of letting Alice nag at him- pulls him up by the wrist. He yelps, almost slipping before Bella catches him by the shoulder, which sends a fit of laughter around the room.

"I'm going to grab the both of you," Alice warns a second before she does it, tiny palm on the backs of each wolf, steering them towards the stairs.

"Hey, hey, I was joking about the food, don't kick me out," Jace whines, going willingly all the way. He sends a look over his shoulder, "tell her Bells."

"You're not being kicked out," Bella assures, following after them as they go up the stairs.

"You aren't going to be killed," Edward says. Elias can imagine him rolling his eyes.

"That was a silent worry, not a thought you can read out loud," Jake huffs, smiling guilt free.

"As if we'd kill you inside, that's way too much mess," Elias hums.

"What the fu-" Jace goes to shout, Alice hushes him, eyeing where Arden sits in his fathers arms. Jace swallows down the swear, "my bad."

"So what is happening then?" Jake asks, looking solely at Bella and Elias, who share look, speaking without words for a moment. It's Elias who nods, giving her the go to explain.

"We know things in La Push aren't great. You can and do go home, but it's not the same and we know that it's because of us-" she holds a hand up, stopping both of the shapeshifters from speaking or denying the truth, "-and until your old pack, or your mom can wrap their head around the whole idea, Esme thought it would be nice for you to have somewhere you can call your own."

It takes a moment for the words to sink in. It's Jake who catches up the quickest, his russet skin going a shade darker in a blush, "you... you want us to stay?"

"You're family now," Edward replies before anyone else can, aware from every person in this family, or most anyway, of their stance on both wolves. "We can never repay the debt of your actions, but Esme is sure she can start to show our appreciation."

Alice pushes open the door, waving for them both to go through, her grin dazzling but apprehensive. She's always aware she can get things wrong, especially this time, when she can't read the future for their reactions.

Jace and Jake step into the room, looking around silently. It's Edward's old room, painted in shades of brown and green, like the forest in both La Push and Forks. Photo frames of human Elias, Bella, Jace and Jake are on the walls, the background is of the Black garage. The floor is thickly carpeted, hiding the noise of footsteps and matching the decor. There's two beds on either wall, made with thin quilts and lots of pillows, for comfort and for their high temperature.

"The closet is stocked with clothes, so you don't have to lug your things around from La Push. Don't worry, Bella said I wasn't to experiment with your style, she and Elias chose all of the items," Alice says disappointedly.

"The room is as sound proof as it can be for creatures of our status. Esme stocked the bathroom, too," Edward tells. Elias isn't sure if it's a silent question from one of their minds or just in general.

Bella leans forward eagerly, trying to see what their reaction is. Both boys' faces are blank, shocked. She sends a panicked look to Elias, who in return is in the same process as her, unsure. She speaks clearly but a little hesitant, "it's ok if you don't like it, or want it. We know you might feel uncomfortable, but we all couldn't have nowhere to be your own. You can always go home, but you know, whilst you're here it's a home from home."

"You're rambling," Elias notes.

She sends him a flat look. "Thank you, Elle."

"Welcome."

"So?" Alice asks, her excitement depleting as both boys say nothing. "Do you like it?"

"It's..." Jace manages to stutter, blinking harshly- it takes Elias a moment to realise he's upset, his eyes watering. The dark haired boy goes to step forward, to tug him out of the house, give him an out to not look disrespectful in front of people if he hates it, when Jace turns to Alice and envelopes her in a hug.

Alice makes a noise of surprise but allows it. Elias is yet again reminded of how amazing his wolf friend is.

"We love it," Jace swears, pulling back, almost jittering. A grin has taken place on his face, "how are you all like this? Just taking people in, adopting them, like Is it something Carlisle teaches or what? Kindness in bounds..." he trails off, looking around.

"We're not the kind ones, Jace," Bella corrects, coming over to him, carefully hugging him too. "You gave up so much to protect us, this is nothing."

"It's amazing," Jake whispers, finally having broken his silence. With a shout, he jumps for one of the beds, landing on his back, messing up the pillows. He places both hands behind his head, grinning at everyone. "I'm not ever leaving. Tell Rosalie she better get used to wolf hair."

"I'll tell her," Edward says with pride, then leans down to allow his son to transmit a thought through his gift, "Arden is... pleased. He keeps showing us all together, I think he means he likes that we stay together?" He pauses, reading his reaction, " Yes, that's what he means."

"Of course he does," Bella boasts, bounding over to him, placing with his little fingers, "someone as unique as Arden should have an equally unique family."

Elias looks around and can only seem to think very simply, yeah, this is a family.

Another chapter! I like it and dislike it in equal amounts, I don't want to repeat everything that happens in breaking dawn you know, we all know it. So I'm focusing on other parts.

Also, Arden's power works different, it's thoughts, memories emotions he can share, as well as I'm making him age slower. He deserves it.

Don't be a silent reader!