Hello

So we're back with another chapter. It's not so late this time, but it is a day late and I'm sorry for that. I've been terribly busy, though I know that's no excuse.

See you down the bottom. Again, Jasper's thoughts steer off from chapter 5 of Reason to be Sane towards the end of this chapter… and you guys said it was similar *laughs*

Go… read…

Sometime later, when the sun had begun to set and the sky had become a range of organs, purples and pinks, I finally spoke again.

"When do you want to leave?"

Alice's breath hitched and I closed my eyes at the force of her emotions.

I could sense sadness, mostly… but also excitement.

"I don't know," she said thoughtfully. "But we need to leave soon… maybe in a couple of days?"

She pulled away from me and looked up at me.

She was so beautiful in this moment, so relaxed and I couldn't help my reaction.

I smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her.

It was short, but lingering and I could feel the after effects that it had on her as I whispered against her lips.

"I don't mind, love."

As soon as the endearment had left my mouth, Alice's emotions sky-rocketed; love, giddiness and happiness… all those good emotions that were just so her… hit me with an amazing force.

She smiled at me and the feelings she felt as she looked at me nearly brought me to my knees.

"Alice," I whispered, grasping her face passionately, roughly.

I brushed my lips against hers, resisting the urge to smash them against hers and kiss her giddiness out of her.

I was completely and utterly surprised, however, when she kissed me exactly the way I'd tried to avoid.

It took all my strength to resist taking her then, and I settled for my hand on her petit bottom.

Who knew that such a kiss would turn into a game?

Five minutes later, I was chasing her through the vigorous, thick woods and trees.

She, of course, knew every move I wanted to make.

However, she still couldn't best me.

I won… which in turn caused her to ignore me… for the few minutes that she could manage to do so.

The next couple of days were spent as so: we talked, we laughed and we played.

It was a sort of… coping mechanism.

It was soothing and enjoyable as we prepared ourselves for our future; an unknown, risky adventure.

And though I wasn't looking forward to having to acquaint myself with other vampires again after so many years of distrust… I would do it for Alice.

That didn't mean that I didn't want this as much as she did.

Of course I did.

I was just… nervous about the steps we'd have to take in order to get into the mindset that we needed to be in to succeed in drinking from animals.

Alice had already mastered it of course, but I hadn't.

And I was filled with apprehension because of that.

What if I made a fool of myself?

What if I drunk from a human?

It could well happen, in fact, I was sure that it would happen.

Alas, I had no answers and it scared me.

I was used to being on guard… but now, in joining with a family, I would have to release that tension, that fear of losing Alice if I was off guard...

And one thing was for sure… I'd have to make sure that Maria didn't find me.

So, just a little foreshadowing about what's to come. This was actually a pretty easy chapter to write… I'm just sorry I hadn't gotten it up before now.

On other news, the voting stopped yesterday for The Top Ten Completed Fics of July and my drabble How to Save a Life got second place! Thanks to all who reviewed, though I know most of you don't actually read this story…

Please review

See you next week!

bexie25