I'm at home. I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Love you.

Bella sighed in relief when her sister finally texted her back. She rubbed her face with her hands while Edward rubbed her back. It was lunch. Edward, Bella, Rosalie and Emmett were all sitting at their usual table.

"Edward, do you know what happened?" Rosalie asked.

"Jasper's mind was a million miles a minute. From what I could pick up, he knew her. He met her a long time ago."

"How long ago?" Emmett asked.

Edward was quiet for just a moment. "From his human years."

"Wow, I knew she was older than most, but..." Bella muttered.

Edward turns to his mate. "You knew she was over one hundred years old?"

"Well, I didn't know she was that old, but yes," Bella shrugged.

"She's human. How is she still alive?" Rosalie wondered.

"She's cursed. That's what she calls it. When she turned 24, she stopped aging," Bella informed.

Edward's phone dinged. He checked it swiftly and his brows furrowed.

Family meeting. Now. Bring Bella.

-Alice

"Let's go. Alice wants a family meeting," Edward called.

They successfully sneaked away from the cafeteria and to their cars.

🔸️

🔹️

Marrisa was wandering about the house. She hoped Charlie wouldn't notice the destruction that she couldn't hide. She raked her hand through her long hair, sighing. She figured the vampires would be giving Bella the third degree. She didn't mind if Bella told them her secret, she knew they would find out sooner or later.

Upstairs, Marrisa was walking down the hall, when she tripped over a loose floorboard.

"Shit," she groaned, cradling her elbow.

She saw a small glimmer from inside the darkness. Something was hidden underneath... she pried open the panel as much as she could. A small, tin box was what she pulled out. A plain silver with a piece of paper taped to the lid. 'Memories'.

Hesitantly, she opened it. She was surprised when she found old pictures of her and Jasper. That's right, she had hidden this when Charlie and Reneè first took her in. She flipped through the pictures, tearing up when pictures of Melody started to show.

She wiped her tears and organized the pictures back. She was going to have to tell Jasper.

🔸️

🔹️

Bella and all the vampires sat together in the Cullen home, listening to the story of Marrisa and Jasper.

"Alice isn't your mate?" Edward was shocked.

"No, Marrisa is. I just didn't remember anything about her until I saw her again," Jasper said.

"Bella, Charlie is going to ask questions when you and Marrisa get back home. When she got home, she..." Alice trailed off.

"Disintegrated the house?" Bella grinned.

Alice giggled. "More or less. She's also going to be coming over soon."

"What?" Jasper demanded.

"She has something important to tell us, especially you, Jasper. I just can't see what. I just texted her our address and how to get here." Alice announced.

"I can't wait to meet her," Esme smiled.

"She's gorgeous," Rosalie said quietly.

Everyone looked at her. Rosalie looked around. "For a human."

Chuckles filled the room. Esme started to cook lunch for Bella and Marrisa. Bella was grateful, Esme's cooking was a billion times better than cafeteria food.

Soon after, the unmistakable sound of Bella's truck brought everyone's attention foward. Carlisle and Esme greeted Marrisa at the door. She had dressed for the occasion, cleaning up quite nicely. Her long, brown hair brushed out and braided in a single braid over her shoulder. She wore a bright, red blouse with a light, black jacket. Black, skinny jeans with black heeled, ankle boots.

Rosalie was right.

"It's so lovely to meet you, Marrisa," Esme smiled warmly.

"Welcome. Please, come in," Carlisle smiled.

Marrisa whispered her thanks, clutching the tin box to her stomach and stepped in. She walked hesitantly to the living room with Bella and the rest of the vampires. Bella ran up to Marrisa, giving her a hug.

"Hey, Bells," Marrisa grinned.

"I'm so sorry, Marrisa. I told them. I-"

"It's okay, really. I knew they had to find sooner or later," Marrisa soothed.

Bella smiled in relief.

Marrisa's eyes landed on Jasper. He walked up to her slowly. He could feel her emotions going haywire. He gently cupped her face in his hand. In that moment, everything felt right. The warmth of her skin, the beating of her heart. A slight sparkle on her hand caught his attention. He picked up her left hand, her wedding ring adorned on her ring finger.

"You still have it," Jasper said in surprise.

"Always," Marrisa smiled.

She sighed. "I have something to show all of you."

She stepped around Jasper and sat on the couch. Everyone stepped closer, curious about what was inside the box. She opened it and took the top half of the pictures out, handing it to Jasper. The first picture was the first picture Jasper and Marrisa ever took together.

Jasper stared wide eyed at the picture. He looked different back then. His eyes were brown, unfortunately you couldn't tell in the picture, and his hair was shorter. Marrisa carefully put the lid back on. Jasper noticed that there were more pictures, but didn't say anything.

The pictures were passed around, everyone gushing and smiling over them. Emmett made fun of one of the pictures were Jasper looked awkward. The women squealed over the wedding pictures. As everyone was looking at the pictures and having conversation, Marrisa stared at the box. She dreaded looking at the pictures again. Jasper felt her dread and sadness.

"What's the matter?" Jasper asked Marrisa.

Reluctantly, she handed the box to Jasper and looked down. Jasper looked to her and then around the room, confused. He opened the box, revealing the last half of the pictures. The first one he saw was of Marrisa, her pose was cradling her baby bump. She had been pregnant.

Jasper looked at Marrisa, his eyes begging for answers.

"I found out about three months after you left," she informed quietly.

Jasper flipped through the pictures, handing off some to his family. He came across a picture of a child, maybe around three years old. She looked just like him, blonde hair, she had her mother's eyes. Jasper's eyes filled with tears, he had a daughter.

"The universe thought it was funny. All that hard work, nine months of carrying her and 36 hours of labor, only for her to come out looking exactly like you," Marrisa half chuckled, half sobbed.

Jasper choked out a chuckle.

"Her name was Melody Andie Whitlock," Marrisa whispered.

Rosalie looked at the picture of Melody fondly. They fussed over how cute she was. As everyone was talking, Bella noticed that Marrisa looked extremely sad.

"Where is she?" Bella asked Marrisa.

Marrisa blinked away the tears as best as she could, but it didn't work. Her face crumpled in pain and Bella rushed to her, wrapping her in a hug. The pain and sadness nearly knocked Jasper over. Marrisa pulled away slightly, holding onto Bella's hands.

"She was only three. She was killed," Marrisa croaked and sniffed.

Esme and Rosalie gasped. Jasper growled quietly. Bella squeezed her hands.

"I don't know why she killed my baby. She broke into our house, she made me watch!" Marrisa sobbed. Bella gasped in horror.

Jasper snatched Marrisa up then. He pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face into her hair. He was crying with her. His daughter, his baby...

"A woman did this?" Carlisle asked when Marrisa had calmed down.

"Yes," she nodded. "At the time, I didn't know vampires existed. Looking back on it now, she was a vampire. Red eyes and all."

"What did she look like?" Rosalie demanded. Rose was ready to hunt the bitch down.

"She was mexican. She had long, dark brown hair..."

Alice's eyes glazed over, Edward watching the scene play in her mind. Jasper was about to lose his temper.

"She said that her name was Maria," Marrisa finished.

Edward grabbed Bella while Alice grabbed Marrisa and they pulled them to the farthest wall. Jasper sat there frozen. Alice silently thanked the Lord that he decided not to throw Esme's couch through the window.

"Leave us," Jasper whispered hoarsely.

Everyone left with haste. Once Jasper and Marrisa were alone, Jasper stood and made his way over to Marrisa. He crumpled in front of her, falling to his knees and catching himself with his hands. Marrisa fell to her knees with him, grabbing his face.

"I'm so sorry, I'm sorry," he sobbed.

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. "We had no idea this would happen. It's not your fault!"

Jasper slid his arms around her waist, sobbing. They cried together. Marrisa started to plant kisses on his cheeks, neck, and forehead. Jasper reciprocated, kissing her face gently.

They sat there on the floor for hours, sobbing and apologizing to each other.