PROLOGUE

I clutched tightly onto the leather case and Singer holder as I stepped down the small set of steps which led from the dark carriage, a real rarity in this part of Idris . Coming back to the cottage after nearly half a years absence was especially difficult.

Valentine had sent me away after Jonathan saved me. He said I needed time to grieve after my Mother's death. But my time in solace had been emotionally and physically draining. The Manor felt to suck the life out of me and only brought painful reminders of the now absent other Jonathan whose existence had ceased to exist following my last visit.

I never questioned where he had gone, but the Manor was desolate now, empty from any signs he had even existed.

I felt returning to the Valley that I was no longer a child now, and instead I had formed into a woman during my absence from the cottage.

Valentine a few strides in front of me, was looking over to me expectantly. I tensed under his scrutiny feeling suddenly cautious of my return. I was Motherless, pennyless and completely under his will.

The wind was sharp and full of Autumn as it struck the dip of the valley were the small cottage sat. It was as beautiful as I remembered.

Tears stung my eyes at the memory of my Mother greeting me after my trips and I blinked them away unable to think of her in this moment of happiness.

"Millie, I trust your journey was pleasant?" Valentine asked carefully as I set the luggage down the hem of my skirts brushing in the dirt.

I nodded, my eyes homing in on the approaching figure, the captivating blonde sheen of hair which was tussled, unkept.

My mouth felt dry as Jonathan drew close enough to share a dark stare with, which had my eyes fixing on my leather shoes unable to meet his challenge.

Valentine jerked his head back catching the back of Jonathan's disappearing figure with his sharp eyes, which then fell back onto my flushed face.

"He has missed you, I think" Valentine decided carefully. "Or as close to it as he can get" he added with a smirk.

"Jonathan just seems angry" I corrected straightening up and looking after him, he was taller again. His growth spurts were getting ridiculous.

Valentine waved his hand dismissively as Jonathan stalked towards the woodland.

"You should unpack. There is much to discuss Millicent" he said more sternly this time and gesturing towards my cases.

I looked from Valentine to Jonathan.

I drew the red shawl closer around my neck and I paced forwards abandoning Valentine and my possessions as I tried to close the distance Jonathan had started to put between us.

Valentine's shouts of protests still stung my ears as I followed him on the rocky terrain which would lead us into deep woodland. No one followed Jonathan, especially not when he was like this.

That is no one but me.

Jonathan was my only real companion for miles and I'd often be left charged in his care for periods. Despite my Mother's and Valentine's wishes of otherwise I had grown fond of Jonathan.

The terrain underfoot was rapidly changing and I panted out of breath as the dust bellow my feet turned to rocky stones as we climbed out of the Valley.

I stumbled slightly catching myself before I could fall and righting my footing. The shoes were coated with brown dust and I unbuckled them, finding myself to scrambled better without the hinderance.

I hummed untunefully as I kept him in my sights stumbling in my stockings on the rocky terrain. I clutched at the pair of black leather heels in my right hand, my left pinning down my skirts as the wind threatened to mar my dignity.

Jonathan had a fierce temper, one which Valentine was cautious would taint my innocence.

I felt the stones cutting through my stockings and frowned at the thought of trying to repair them. Clothing was a luxury in this small place, and Valentine only ever really sought to show the expense when I was sent to the Manor. Which was the precise reason why I was chasing after Jonathan.

Jonathan was always riled by my visits to the Manor, but my most recent seemed to have been the most disruptive.

He saw it as a betrayal whenever I was sent there.

His hair was growing long past his ears and the platinum sheen seemed more prominent. My fingers twitched desperate to comb through them and I cringed at my teenage hormones. Jonathan's legs were long and powerful and he took the terrain easily his clothes light and aiding him. In comparison I was unprepared, I lacked the power in my shorter body and the dress and all it's layers hitched and caught whenever I moved quickly.

Jonathan could easily have left me in his wake but I noticed the occasional pause as he allowed me enough time to catch up. He wanted this.

My chest heaved and I felt the sudden urge to loosen the corset certain I might pass out any minute if I didn't.

But still Jonathan climbed, nearly at the Forest edge now.

I looked up trying to determine where he was tracking to when I lost my footing. A stone loosened under foot and I stumbled falling and scrapping along the jagged path until a cold hand clasped around my wrist.

My mind was burning and I gasped uncertainly as I heard the rocks tripping back down the valley. It was a steep descent.

Blood trickled down my left arm from the burning graze and I dwelled for a moment on the overwhelming feelings that were beginning to build. The cusp of a panic attack ready to reap chaos.

I looked up to Jonathan as he sat clinging to me his body unwavering as his eyes flickered with wildness.

"Enough" I hissed. "Do you hear me, that is enough" I repeated as my breathing hitched.

A small grin stretched across his face and I allowed him to pull me up into his lap. He was broader now, stronger with more well defined muscles. His body was cold and I involuntary shivered against him, despite the comfort he brought to me. As if sensing this Jonathan planted his hands on my hips, settling against the velvet he pushed me upright.

"Where are you going Jonathan, I've just gotten back and already your running away. I just want to see you" I gushed offering him my hand but he ignored it, pushing himself up and turning away from me.

"Jonathan look at me" I pleaded reaching towards him with my cut palm as he began to walk into the woodland.

I stretched out my bruised limbs urgent to catch up with him.

"Jonathan. Dammit Jonathan you will stop and talk to me!" I cried which halted him, his body suddenly still.

"My dear Millicent is that a temper I hear? Perhaps you really are a woman now" he mocked turn with a devilish grin. His eyes climbed down my body, seeming to take in every curve, every knew aspect as he relearned my shape.

I'd not inherited my Mother's natural slimness, instead I was all curves and lines which the velvet dress fell across emphasising just how much of a woman I now was.

"No. Sorry, I'm just tiered" I apologised brushing back the hair which had fallen into my face from it's clips.

"I don't have time for this idle talk Millicent" he scoffed turning away from me and climbing further into the woodland.

"Jonathan wait. I'm sorry, I am so sorry!" I cried after him but he continued to walk away from me. "I didn't want to leave Jonathan. I was alone. I was so, so lonely. You cant even comprehended how much I've been looking forward to seeing you" I gushed to my only friend, catching up with him as he slowed enough.

Jonathan smirked further at my apology, finding something of it an amusement.

"I've missed you Jonathan, can you at least sit and talk with me, please" I begged catching at his shirt sleeve I dropped it as I looked at the cuff. "I feel betrayed. You've a new dresser" I accused looking over the crisp white cotton.

My Mother had been a terrible seamstress, but Valentine was insistent one of the staff new of the art. So I educated myself, hours a day I would spend homing in my skill until I perfected the talent now in my teens and proudly dressed us all.

Jonathan for a moment looked sheepish before recovering himself.

"You're not the only one who has grown, Millicent" he teased his eyes wide.

"Well they've measured you wrong" I scoffed, remembering how my pieces would fit like a second skin.

"You don't like it?" He asked looking down and I shook my head.

He smiled for a second before grabbing either side of the shirt and ripping it open. I gasped as he shrugged it of dropping it to the floor.

"Problem solved" he laughed darkly with a smirk and I looked at the disregarded fabric in distaste.

"What a waste of good Egyptian cotton" I fumed looking at his shirt which sat on the blanket of leaves.

Jonathan's thick laugh filled the air as he mocked me.

"This isn't funny Jonathan. You're going to freeze!" I protested in annoyance.

"Well if it gets to that point we can rip each others clothes of and snuggle for warmth" he teased smirking at the crimson blush it produced.

I ducked down picking up the torn fabric between my numb fingers which were turning blue from the cold.

"Why we're you running away Jonathan?" I asked my voice firmer than I had planned and it made him smirk further.

"I wanted to talk to you" he shrugged stepping towards me and tugging the fabric from my hands letting it flutter to the ground. "Alone" he added as an after thought.

"So you dragged me halfway up the Valley!"I accused and he shook his head in protest.

"You followed me!" He corrected his voice rising to meet my own.

"I was tricked" I defended.

"You never came to visit me" I added into the lapsed silence toeing the ground.

"Excuse me?" Jonathan spat his voice rough.

"You never came to see me Jonathan. I wrote you letters. I asked Valentine to get you to come to see me but you never did" I complained feeling the hurt the statement drew out.

"Bullshit" Jonathan snarled jerking forwards to force his hands into my chest.

I sobbed as I fell back hoping for a trunk to break my fall, but instead I hit the ground my body crunching the bed of leafs under me as my dress puffed out. I raised a weak hand to my head checking for any sign of blood but it was forced above my head with my other arm by Jonathan.

His body pressed me into the ground as he straddled me, digging his fingers into my wrists as he held me in place.

"Bull-fucking-shit" he hissed leaning forwards to glare into my eyes with his own much darker ones. I could easily be swallowed my the black obis of them.

"Get of me Jonathan" I sobbed wriggling underneath him. "Please Jonathan your hurting me" I whined and he released my arms his fingers trailing down my arms lightly.

"You chose to leave Millicent. On the Angel I swear if you lie to me again …" he began as I rubbed my wrists.

"I am not lying Jonathan!" I corrected. "Valentine sent me away to grieve. He sent me away after what you did the last time Jonathan. He sent me away to punish you" I whispered softly looking up at the older boy in wonder.

"Your lying" he accused again his eyes growing darker with the clouds of anger.

"I am not lying Jonathan Morgenstern. Don't you dare speak such words!" I screamed now my eyes stinging with hot tears. "I would never leave you, I could never leave you" I cried.

Jonathan's eyes widened and for the first time in my life, he was truly lost for words.

Then he kissed me.


Authors Note:

Hello, thank you for taking the time to read the first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it, and I would love to hear any thouths you may have. I'm uncertain if this is a theme anyone in interested in, but I always had a soft spot for Jonathan/Sebastian!

I have two other Fanficitions, both of which are Twilight. The first is called Doing it the Blonde Way which is complete, and the second is Hair Pin Curve which is in progress.