A/N: This one was written in 2007. And as a note: Jaden is actually based off of my friend -Jaden, lol. As she went through different phases on guys she liked, I changed the men in the story accordingly. Which in turn led me to give her the nickname of Black Widow later on in the story, you'll see why. Anything in brackets/italics is 'mind speak', let's see... And anything that seems completely random; sorry. I write off the cuff. *shrug* Enjoy!

CHAPTER 1

"Is it just me or has Jeff turned into a major asshole lately?"

Mark looked up from the table he was repairing, glancing at what Isis was staring at. He frowned when he seen Jeff apparently yelling at Jaden. "Yeah, he's turning into an asshole. What the hell is going on with them these days?"

Isis shrugged. "Maybe he's got cabin fever."

Mark sighed, returning to the table. They had been at Jaden's log cabin in Montana for about two years now, hiding from the world and living off the local wildlife, which there was plenty of. They ventured into town whenever they felt like it, the normal six hour journey not bothering them, if their jeeps broke down, they could run and be either home or safe in the town in a matter of minutes.

Isis frowned. "I wish I knew what was wrong with Jeff… I don't like him hollering at her all the time."

**********

Jaden stared at her lover, crimson tears welling in her eyes. "Jeff, please, just stop." She pleaded, her heart breaking with each word he shot at her. "Just stop."

Jeff glared at her, clenching and unclenching his fists. "I hate you." He spat quietly before walking off.

Jaden watched him go, crumpling to the ground.

"C'mon darlin', get up." Isis whispered, wrapping her arms around her friend.

Jaden let Isis help her get to her feet. "Jeff…" She sobbed.

**********

Jeff stalked angrily through the woods, every now and then a string of curses escaping him.

After the excitement with Glenn and Shannon ended, Jeff found he had a lot more time to think about things. Things like Matt… God how he missed his brother! Then other things began to run through his mind. He could never have a family, never hold a baby on his knee. He'd never be able to walk about in the warm sunlight again, never have any human friends unless he wanted to watch them die.

Jeff hated what he was… and he hated Jaden for loving him. If she didn't love him, he might've been able to end his miserable existence, but instead felt obligated to her now, no longer reciprocating the feeling.

**********

"So… what are we doin'?" Isis asked curiously, staring up at her mate.

Mark smiled down at her, lovingly squeezing her hand. [I thought it might do Jaden and

Jeff some good to get away from the cabin.]

[Good idea.] She smiled back.

Jeff glanced at Jaden, shrugging her away when she tried to touch him. "Don't."

Jaden recoiled as if he had struck her.

Jeff rolled his eyes and took her hand. "Happy?"

Jaden lowered her head, not wanting him to see the crimson tears in her eyes.

"Don't start blubbering." He cautioned, bending down so only she could hear him.

Jaden nodded.

"We're going to go look at those stalls." Mark gestured to some booths that were set up.

"You two behave yourselves now."

Jeff smiled painfully. "We will."

"I love all night festivals." Isis laughed as she and Mark walked away.

"Come on." Jeff muttered, dragging Jaden into a nearby shop, anxious to be away from Isis and Mark's knowing eyes.

Jaden gasped when she accidentally walked into someone's chest. "I'm so sorry!" She said quickly, not noticing she was no longer holding Jeff's hand. In fact the only thing she was noticing at the moment was this person's delicious aroma and the scent of cologne.

"Don't worry about it."

Jaden looked up into a pair of amused, blue eyes and had to bite her lip to keep from gasping.

"I'm John."

"Jaden." She smiled when he took her hand, completely unaware she had extended it.

"Pleasure to meet you." John said softly, raising her hand to his mouth and kissing it.

Jaden could only keep on smiling, suddenly breathless.

Then she was brought back to reality.

"What the hell are you doing?" Jeff demanded, stomping up to the pair. "Jaden, have you forgotten who in the hell you're here with?"

Jaden snatched her hand back, staring guiltily at her boyfriend. "I…"

Jeff draped a possessive arm over her shoulders, staring icily at John. "I'm Jeff, Jaden's boyfriend." He put stress on that last word.

John nodded coolly, not too keen on the way Jeff had spoke to Jaden. "Jaden, nice meeting you, maybe I'll see you around." He flashed a strained smile at her before walking out of the shop.

Jaden hesitantly looked up, shrinking back when she seen Jeff's eyes had tinted red with fury.

**********

John froze when he heard glass shatter behind him and spun around to see Jaden laying in the snow not more than two feet away. "Jaden?" He hurried over to help her, amazed to find her perfectly all right.

Jaden quickly got to her feet, brushing glass out of her hair. "I'm fine."

"What happened? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it's nothing." She stared where the window used to be, breathing a sigh of relief when she didn't see Jeff. "I've got to find my friends…"

"Well let me help you," John said firmly, taking her arm. "Something tells me you didn't trip and fall through that window."

Jaden didn't reply.

**********

[Who's that with Jaden?]

Isis glanced up from the book she had been browsing to find Jaden and a rather attractive man approaching them. [I don't know.]

They walked up to the pair, politely puzzled expressions on both their faces.

"Isis, Mark," Jaden began weakly. "This is John."

"Hello." John greeted calmly. "You must be Jaden's friends."

"Yes, we are… where's Jeff?" Isis asked softly, knowing something must've happened.

"Jeff um, he took off." Jaden explained lamely.

Mark arched a red eyebrow. "Took off?" His voice was grave sounding.

"More like he shoved her through a window." John supplied.

Isis' eyes widened. "He did what?" She roared, lowering her tone when she seen John wince and cover his ears. "Sorry, I have a big mouth." She apologized quickly.

"Nothing to worry about." He replied good-naturedly.

Jaden sighed dramatically, shooting John a dirty look. "We got into a fight and he pushed me through a window."

"Where is he now?" Mark demanded angrily.

"I don't know, he took off."

Isis placed a hand on Mark's forearm. [Calm down, she's upset and if you upset her more, I'm gonna clock you one.]

Mark inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. "Let's just go home." He said after a moment.

Jaden nodded miserably.

John let go of her arm, appearing somewhat reluctant. "What if her boyfriend comes back?"

Mark turned steely green eyes on the younger man. "Then he'll have to deal with me."

John repressed a shiver at how evil this man's baritone voice sounded.

**********

[Where is she at?]

Mark smiled amusedly at Isis. "Outside hunting, you can talk."

Isis swatted him gently upside the head. "Shaddup, I just didn't want…" She shook her head, peering down at the table. "Hmmm…"

"What?" Mark stared at her.

"This corner needs sanded down more. You trying to stake us to death?"

Mark glanced at the corner and frowned. "It's not…" He trailed off when he seen her smirking. "You're such a wench."

Isis smiled playfully. "I know."

**********