Jasper feels like he's been hit by a bus as it all comes flooding back. He remembers it all.
The first time he was her sat in that car, looking so lost.
When he first met his Lilo.
When Seth snapped...
Facing her crazy ex, and winning.
Welcoming their beautiful Effie.
Marrying her with everyone they loved surrounding them.
His mind still floods with images of them as he takes off running, hating being so human. Now he remembers who he was, what he was, he isn't best pleased to be so human in a moment that requires him not to be.
"LEAVE MY WIFE ALONE!" He yells.
He just hears the chilling laugh Kehlani gives; in his view he sees her, running right into the road. Only, she trips. And the headlights of a car illuminate her like a target.
It seems like forever, but he grabs her, pulling her with him as he tumbles to the ground; his arms are wrapped tightly around her as she screams, and he just tightens them.
He braces for the impact of the car but it never comes. Ever so slowly he looks up, a barricade of people in front of them. Their family.
"It's the end of the road, Kehlani." Aro says.
She growls, laughing. "Oh you think so, great leader?"
Caius chuckles as he and the guard surround her on the other side. "Oh yeah, we think so."
Jasper looks away and cups Nala's cheek. "Baby?"
She looks up at him, tired, breathless and tearful. "You... Jazzy?"
"It's me." He says gently nodding.
Nala crashes her lips to his, holding him close. "You're warm, youre so warm." She cries.
He holds her close and rubs her back. "I am. We both are, we're both the same baby." He smiles gently. Being human is worth it if he has her, and his girls.
She runs her fingers over his cheek gently, feeling the stubble of his slight beard and the soft skin beneath. She closes her eyes and takes a shaky breath. "You're real." She whispers, looking at him.
Jasper smiles, his brown eyes looking deep into hers. He chuckles a little and feels her cheek as she did his; she's so warm. "Yes, love. I think we established that."
She laughs small and leans into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as he hugs her back just as tight. "Oh gosh, we have to tell the girls." She whispers with realisation.
Jasper's heart picks up pace, he definitely isn't used to that feeling. "I bet they're so grown up..."
Nala smiles. "We have one stroppy 14 year old and a quiet, cheeky 9 year old."
Jasper smiles. "Well let's get you checked out, then we can face them."
"I'm fi- oh. Oops." She looks at her scraped palms, slowly standing and noticing her knees are just as scraped.
Carlisle is beside her moments later. "Let me see."
Jasper watches. "It's weird... I can't smell it anymore." He says.
Carlisle smiles, beyond relieved to see how healthy his son is, how alive he is. "Yeah, I cant imagine that. And you're okay?"
Jasper nods. "I'm fine, scouts honour."
Carlisle nods and takes her to the car; evidently the one that was heading right to Nala. Jasper reunites with his family momentarily before excusing himself, not wanting to be away from Nala anytime soon. He sits by her the whole time.
A few of the nurses recognise her, taking her to a private room. Carlisle treats her, with permission from the hospital, as Jasper stand close by. "You really didn't remember anything?" Carlisle asks, glancing over St him.
Jasper shakes his head. "Nothing. I felt like I knew Nala, but I didn't know where. Kehlani... She told me I'd had some accident and that was all. The rest she kept from me, saying she didn't want to traumatise me."
Nala looks down sadly. "Maybe if I'd tried harder you'd have come back sooner..."
"Or she'd have killed you." Jasper says, mere moments after Carlisle says the same thing.
Nala smiles small. "I guess."
"Knock knock." Esme says, coming in. She instantly hugs Jasper as Aro follows. "I missed you."
Aro looks st Carlisle. "Everything's fine here?" He nods. "Good... Seth is bringing the girls."
"No, not here." Nala shakes her head. "I don't want to do this here."
"Okay okay." Aro nods as Jasper watches a bit confused - since when were they friends with the enemy? "The park - they like it there at night."
"Only coz you fit in." Nala laughs small. "The park is perfect."
He nods and he leaves with Esme, Carlisle finishing up. He gives the keys to his car to Jasper and leaves too, letting him and Nala walk alone. "So... What did I miss between you and Aro? I don't have competition do I?"
"Not at all." She laughs small. "He's become a sort of... Acquaintance? Maybe even a friend." She shrugs. She kisses his cheek as he opens the car door for her.
He goes to the drivers seat and takes a moment to get used to the car, something he wouldn't have when he was a vampire. "And from the sounds of it, our girls like him?"
Nala smiles. "Gosh, Effie is obsessed. She loves learning just as much as Lilo does, though Lilo likes to hide her brains because it isn't 'cool'."
Jasper chuckles. "Well, that sounds about right for a teenager."
She smiles and watches him. "How weird is all of this..?"
"So weird. I don't wanna go above 70, I don't know if I can drive as well as I used to. I dont like how my heart reacts to things, now I remember how things used to be. Its a lot, my senses were everything. I suppose the one thing I haven't entirely lost is my gift, but even that's nothing like it used to be."
Nala rubs his leg gently. "I'll help as much as I can... That's if you still want to-to be with me."
Jasper scowls. "Did you lose your brain or something? Of course I want to be with you, I was made for you and you me."
"Cringe." She laughs gently and he smiles, nodding. He follows her directions and they both climb out. "Go sit on the swings, I need to tell them delicately."
He nods and takes a deep breath. He kisses her and walks of slowly, his nerves growing. Nala looks up as Seth parks up, the girls getting out.
Nala smiles. "Hey kiddos."
"What's going on?" Lilo asks, hugging her jacket more.
"I need to tell you something." Nala says as she goes over to them, leaning on the hood of seths car. She wraps an arm around both of them. "So... Remember how I said daddy was gone? He was... He was taken from us and he couldn't come back?"
Lilo nods small. "Yeah... The bad person..."
Nala nods. "Yeah... Well, some stuff happened and... And he's back. He wants to see you."
Lilo tears. "You said he wouldn't be bsck, ever. You said.."
"I know I did, I know. You don't have to, Seth can take you home if you want." She says gently. She's so glad Jasper can't hear them like he used to be able to, he'd be broken at that thought.
Nala looks at Effie as she looks at her shoes. "I... I don't know him, ma. I just know the man from the photos, and the videos and the stories."
"I know but he is no different to those." She assures.
Both girls are quiet. "I'm gonna go to him. Take a moment, and if you really don't want to then it's okay. You are old enough to make that decision." She kisses both their heads and smiles small, slowly walking off.
Jasper looks up from the swing he's sat on, his eyes showing his heartbreak at no sign of the girls. Nala shakes her head. "Don't jump to conclusions, give them a moment. I know my girls."
He sighs and Nala sits on the swing beside him holding his hand. They sit in silence, just swinging slowly in the dim lit park. It's got to be 3 maybe 4 am by now.
The squeak of the gate makes Jasper instantly look up and he stands swiftly. He tears. "Look at you both." He whispers.
Lilo looks at him, freezing a few feet away. His hairs darker, he's got facial hair and he's aged. He looks so different... But he's her dad. Her daddy came home. She bursts into tears and runs to him, Jasper catching her in a tight hug as he holds her.
Nala smiles encouragingly at Effie as she hesitates, running at him too. Jasper catches her as he did Lilo, holding his girls close. He's home.
-
"No, dad NO!" Lilo shrieks as he turns the hose on her instead of the car.
"What? I didn't do anything." He says.
She glares and runs at him, grabbing the hose and fighting him for it. "I wanted to wear this later!" she sulks as Jasper laughs.
Nala smiles from the kitchen window as she watches. "I bet you can't wait to get out there too, buddy." She whispers to her tummy.
Things are perfect, better than ever. She knows it's been hard for Jasper to adjust, but things feel right. When it came to going back to normal, nothing was easier. They see the rest of the family but a human life is what they all need. Knowing they'll die together, they'll die close together hopefully, is the most comforting thought to Nala. They'll grow old and their children will grow old and so on. No pressure to change.
She got her major back, and she'll never let him go again.
❀❀Fin❀❀