Hellooo! Chapter 3! I have planned out this story and know exactly what I'm going to write about! It's very exciting! This one is very emotional, but it has to be done. :) I'm glad you liked my last chapter... yes I think I should change this to M rated xD haha but I hope you enjoy this chapter!

lurvv JadeeXbooks xD :) x) :D xx

Stark

I watched her sleep soundlessly in my arms the next morning. Her dark hair spread across the pillow and my chest. I could have sat watching her forever. But unfortunately we had things to do. Well… maybe just for today we could sleep in. Have a lazy day. I mean, we didn't have nothing that important to do. I smiled to myself as I recalled what happened last night. It was a-maz-ing. Zoey was amazing. And she was all mine. Goddess only knows why I am the one to have her, because it's no secret that I don't deserve her.

And last night she said that she didn't deserve me! That moment I knew she was perfect. So beautiful inside and out.

I looked at the clock on our drawers. It was 10:00am. She'll be waking up any second then. Today we'll just relax I told myself.

Yeah right. A day of peace around here was as rare as winning the lottery.

As if on queue, the door burst open. Stark saw someone he was not expecting.

"What the fuck!" Shouted Heath Luck, staring at Zoey in my arms.

"Heath shut up!" I growled as quietly as I could while attempting my 'menacing' look. I didn't want to wake Zoey.

Heath's eyes shinned with hatred as they turned on me. "What are you doing here?" He asked angrily.

"What do you think I'm doing here you moron?" I snarled in hushed tones. "A better question, maybe more simpler for you; what are YOU doing here?"

Heath's eyes narrowed. "I'm here to see Zoey. Wake her." He said.

I frowned. "No. Not unless it's important."

Heath closed his eyes and balled his hands into fists. "It is important. Take my word on it." He looked like he was restraining himself from throwing himself at me.

Not that I wouldn't win in a fight. If we had a fight, I'd annihilate him and he knew it. If we had a fight, Zoey would kill me. And she was very capable of that.

"No." I said plainly. "She's tired, she had a late, tiresome night with me." I laughed.

Heath didn't.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" He snarled charging towards us. I couldn't get out of bed, I wasn't dressed.

Luckily Zoey woke up and jumped at the noise. She sat upright, the covers falling to show her chest clad in only a thin, tight vest top.

Heath gasped and smiled. I glared at him and quickly pulled the covers up for her. "Eyes off Luck." I growled.

He laughed and said, "It ain't nothing I haven't seen before… Or touched."

Zoey gasped in horror.

This time it was me who said "I'll fucking kill you!"

Zoey grasped my arm and said, "Don't Stark." I looked at her and felt instantly calmed. We'll I tried to be for her sake. I'm sure she wouldn't like it if I broke heaths jaw. It would get blood on the carpet.

"Heath! What the hell are you doing here! Get out! I'm not dressed!" She held the sheets closer to her chest covering herself.

He grinned. "As I said before… It's nothing I haven't-"

He couldn't finish his words. Faster than lightning I travelled, so nobody could see, I pulled on boxers and jeans. I slammed him against the wall with my hands around his neck.

"Say it again. I dare you." I snarled. I knew my eyes were shinning bright red with rage.

Heath spluttered, trying to breath. "Stark!" Zoey called, but I barely heard. My rage filled my senses. The monster I worked so hard to control let loose.

I felt a small soft hand on my arm which brought my attention. I looked down at Zoey.

"Stark, please stop." She begged.

I released him immediately. He fell to the floor coughing with a deep breath. Zoey knelt down with him rolling him onto his back.

"Heath! Heath are you ok?" She asked frantically.

He smiled at her, "I am now." His eyes fell to her thinly clad chest.

I growled.

Zoey didn't seem to notice where Heath was looking. "Stark, behave." She chastised me.

Heath grinned up at me. My eyes flared the dangerous red.

"What do you want Heath." Zoey asked in a tight voice.

He looked at her and his expression changed to grim in a flash.

"I'm sorry z. It's your Gran." He said and stroked her cheek.

I stood very still, instantly sobering up from my rage. I saw Zoey's back tense.

"Oh goddess what's happened." She whispered.

Looking at Heath I said, "Is she okay?"

He glared at me. "No dipshit she's in hospital. She had a heart attack."

As soon as he said it Zoey stood, turning to face me as she did. Her face was pale white.

Her bottom lip quivered and she bit down on it until it turned white. Tears came to her eyes and fell down her cheeks. She started to shake.

"I-I-" She tried to speak but chocked up. She reached out her trembling hands to me and swayed.

I was in action immediately. I took her hands and pulled her gently towards me, enveloping her in a hug.

She loved her Gran extremely, I knew. If anything happened to her now Zoey would be destroyed. She sobbed quietly into my shoulder, I rubbed her back soothingly and closed my eyes, letting out a deep breath.

I kissed her forehead softly and murmured, "Zoey it's ok. It's okay."

She gripped onto me tightly before releasing me and walking over to the bed and sitting down solemnly.

I glared at Heath, knowing that it wasn't his fault but not caring.

He stood up and left the room muttering, "I'll let you get dressed." Quietly.

When the door shut I stood still for a moment without saying a word. Just listening to Zoey's heart broken, quiet sobs.

I swear my heart ripped in two.

"Zoey- I-" I didn't know what to say. Should I say comforting words that might not me true? Should I say her Gran will be okay when I knew she might not?

I decided not to speak at all. I dressed fully while Zoey just sat there crying, looking at her hands that were in her lap.

I picked up Zoey's jeans and a top for her and a bra. Walking over to wear she sat I put my fingers under her chin to lift her head up to face mine gently. She let me, and just watched my face as I pulled her vest top over her head.

I slid on her bra, clasping the back for her, then slid on her top. I pulled off her shorts and slid her jeans on for her. She was stood now so I could pull them up and sat back down so I could put her some socks on.

When I did I rooted around until I found her converse, and put them on her feet. I tied the laces and paused, still crouching on the floor before I looked up at her.

She was stood up staring at me in wonder, her features so soft with tenderness. Without taking my eyes from hers I stood up. So close her body was pressed against mine Our lips inches away from each other.

I closed the short gap and gave her a lingering light kiss. Even though our lips didn't move, we held it for about five seconds before pulling away slightly and resting our foreheads on each others.

"Ok," I whispered. "I love you."

She smiled a small smile.

There will always be some light in all this darkness.

"I love you too." She replied softly.

Heath was waiting outside the door for us. We walked to my car in silence.

The hospital was blindingly white and pale blue. The lights were un-naturally bright. Brighter than necessary. Especially at this time of night. To the humans it would be about 11:00pm. To us it was 11:00am. Dark outside.

I asked the nurse behind the desk where to go and she instructed me visiting hours were over. I'd growled and said, 'Do you think we give a shit? Where is she?' Zoey had calmed me down.

Zoey calmed me down. The nurse looked very pale and told us where to go. We hadn't covered our marks up so it was clear we were vampires.

I held Zoey's hand as we looked the room her Gran was in. We had lots of stares as we'd walked here though the hospital. Lots of gaping. Lots of scared looks. Some teenage boys drooling over Zoey. Some men also drooling over Zoey. Jeez she attracted attention.

One girl had stepped in our path and had the nerve to ask for my number. Zoey had growled a string of curses that was very unlike herself at her and left her very pale.

We found her Gran's room. Inside was a very frail looking old lady lying on a crisp white bed. She smiled when she saw us.

"I stayed awake, I knew you'd come, worried as usual about me." She said with a smile.

Zoey covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh Gran! Are you ok?" She walked over and grasped her hand tightly.

"I'm fine Zoey bird." She reassured her. But to me it looked like a lie.

It did to Zoey too. "You're lying to me. Oh goddess Gran tell me you'll be okay! In fact I'm going right this second to see a nurse." She told her and stormed out the room to find one.

I stayed where I was. "James." Grandma Redbird said.

I stepped forward next to her bed, she took my hand in both of hers. "James I won't lie to you. I think my time to leave this world has come." She told me softly.

I choked.

"James promise me something. When I do leave, look after my Zoeybird. Take good care of her. She's very special you know." She told me.

I nodded. "I know that." I replied gently.

Her eyes shinned as she looked directly into mine. She was strong, just like her grand-daughter. She wasn't afraid to die.

"James, I had wished to see Zoey get married. To see her children grow. I still can. But you just won't know I'm there. Know that I will be." She sighed. "You're perfect for her you know. I know you'll be good to her. And will be a great father like she'll be a great mother. Unlike her own."

I felt emotion cover me in a tidal wave. My throat felt tight. Zoey never talked about her parents. But I knew what they were like.

"Yes ma'am. I promise I will." I told her gentlemanly. My mother was from the south, she had always taught me my manners as a man towards a woman.

She nodded like I'd confirmed something in her head. She released my hand and lay back down. "So James, I can see why Zoey loves you so much. Besides being handsome, your manners are great." She chuckled and I smiled.

Zoey came back in then and saw us talking. Her worried face changed to a smile.

She walked over to me and I welcomed her into my arms with a smile while we talked to her gran.

About ten minutes later the door opened and in strode an annoyingly proud, stern faced man with a woman who looked like an older version of Zoey, but definitely not as beautiful.

Zoey turned to see who had entered and froze. "Mother." Was all she said in a stoic voice.

Zoey's mother looked at the man worriedly, then quickly she turned her nose up at Zoey. "You're here." Was all she said.

"Yes. I am." Zoey replied icily.

I wrapped my arms around her protectively, sensing her sudden futile anger. The man id the same to her mother. "Get out of my sight devil's spawn!" He growled to us.

I raised my eyebrows in disbelief but Zoey seemed to be expecting this. "Oh grow up you tool!" She snarled at him with a roll of her eyes.

His face twisted like he was sucking a lemon. "How dare you!" He huffed. "God will have his revenge on your kind!" He shouted at her and took a step towards her, arm outstretched, pointing.

It was a step too close.

I pushed Zoey behind me and snarled at him. A fierce protective sound, like a tiger warning an enemy.

He paled but bravely stood his ground. "And who are you? Why are your marks red? Presumable closer to the devil than it over there!"

He had that right.

I took a slow menacing step towards him. "You better change your attitude old man or I'll be sending you to meet that god of yours." I told him, eyes trained on his like a predator, hunting my prey.

He turned even more pale under his mask of feigned bravery, but still said, "you must be Zoey's latest boyfriend." He laughed. "Good luck trying to keep her." That was a hint that Zoey was a whore. "If you do manage it, be warned your children will have horns."

I growled and punched him in the face. He flew back with a cry and landed on his ass. Blood spurted up into the air from his nose. Zoey's mum let out a yelp and knelt down next to him, fluttering around him like she was extremely panicked.

Grandma Redbird let out a whoop, clapped her hands once and started laughing fits. I turned to them to see Zoey grinning with her hands over her mouth. I smirked at them.

"You- you vile creature of the night! Linda! We're leaving!" He choked out through his hands that held his nose which was bleeding everywhere.

He stood and stormed out not waiting for her reply. For a moment she just stood there before she turned to face her daughter.

"I hope you're pleased with yourself." She said quietly with a glare.

"But mum! He started it! Why do you always side with him?" Zoey asked desperately.

Her mother looked tired when she replied. "He's my husband."

"But I'm your daughter!" She cried.

"I think it's best you leave Linda." Grandma Redbird replied, all past humor lost.

Linda's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry." She said quietly before leaving.

Zoey stared daggers at the door with wet eyes. "I hate her." She growled outspokenly.

Grandma Redbird snorted. "I don't blame you one bit Zoeybird."

I decided to brake my silence. "I think he's a-"

"Stark!" Zoey chastised with a smirk. "Language."

I chuckled along with her grandmother.

What a way to meet the in-laws.

Her gran sighed and looked at me meaningfully, then at the door. I could take a hint. I smiled and said, "I'll go get us some drinks."

When I was outside I walked through the quiet halls, following the signs to the cafeteria. Once I found it I realized it was empty, besides the blonde girl behind the counter who was probably there for vampires this late at night.

I ran my hands through my hair as I walked towards her. "What can I get for you?" She asked, seemingly unaffected by my vampirism.

"Two Dr. Peppers please." I told her. I loved Dr. Pepper. She walked over to the clear mini fridge while I got out my change, then fiddled with a peeling sticker on the back of the till.

I felt something press into my back a little, it was sharp.

"Don't move." Said a deep gravelly voice from behind me. "If you do, I'll stake you."

I hope you liked it :) cliff hanger... I know but I couldn't resist! xD

lurrvvv Jade xx