DisclaimER: I don't own anything you recognise, that's Stephenie Meyer's thing.

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Somewhere over these three weeks, just being together, working together… somewhere over these three weeks, we had fallen in love.

-x-

Her fingertips never let go of my wrist, unwilling to let go of me as she climbed under the bedcovers, half-dressed, feeling self-conscious. I wasn't willing to make her pull away either, although underneath my fingertips I could feel her pulse, beating healthily under my skin. It made me want to scream and cry, because every time I moved, I would feel that pulse just a little bit harder underneath my fingers.

She closed her eyes as she let herself drift off, snuggling up to me unconsciously. I had ordered her room service while she was in the shower, and she seemed to enjoy dinner, but watched me not-eating as she shovelled down the food, and she still smelled like the strawberry sauce I had insisted on putting on the ice-cream she had.

While she was asleep, I took her fingers and gently pried them away from my arm, rose from the mattress and sat on the floor, watching her. There was pristine innocence all over her face, her eyes closed, fluttering slightly as she dreamed - I hoped of me, but there was no way of telling. I was actively trying to close off my emotions for her. I didn't want to amplify my feelings for her, and she didn't like me screwing with her mind. I would fight it for her.

I shuddered as she started shaking in her sleep; she threw herself over onto her side, curled up into a ball and started speaking, loud, terrified.

"Please… no! Leave him alone-" She span around in her sleep and whimpered again. "No! No more…" another moment of silence, another whimper, "Please… Just stop…"

I could feel her fear, it was pounding through her and straight through me, and for once, I wished I could read her mind to see her nightmares. To try and stop her nightmares. I was up on my feet at once, now trying to calm her down with everything I had in me. My fingers flew through her hair, whispering calming words to her directly into her ear. She whimpered softly again and I swept her into my arms, holding her through the duvet, knowing she needed a warm hug, a set of arms that would love her humanly. Not some freaky-shit love like mine. I touched my lips to the top of her head and she stirred awkwardly in my arms. In my panic to help her, I had forgotten any and all thirst for her blood. My sheer terror and the desire to help her were changing me.

"Jasper?" She murmured, her voice barely audible, her hand flying up to touch my face, to make sure she was really lying in my arms.

"I'm here." I murmured, stroking her arm with my fingertips. She whimpered again and buried herself against my chest, wrapping her arms around me and holding her breath. "It's OK…"

"I-…" I knew I didn't need to hear what had scared her so much, but I wanted to, to feel the pain she was feeling on a level I hadn't felt for a long time. Worry was an emotion I had long since blocked out, an emotion that didn't bother me any longer, because as vampires, we worried very little about anything. But now… I desperately wanted to worry about her.

So I sat and listened to how her dream had affected her, the deepest fear that had surfaced in me - what I would do to her as I watched her sleep, had been projected to her, she felt the desire, the heightened emotions and the pain I was feeling as I watched her. And she felt the thirst.

"Jasper… how do you live with it?" She whispered, leaning back against the pillows.

"I have to." She turned onto her side, curled up and looked at me, her eyes shining bright because of the tears she wouldn't let fall. "But I guess it gets easier."

"Easier?!" She yelped. "How on earth could it get easier?" I considered it.

"It's like… well, it's like smoking. You've done it for years, and then you want to quit." She nodded and smiled, but I could feel the uncertainty in her emotions. "You've never smoked. So you don't know what it's like." She nodded.

"Yeah, kinda." Another pause. "But I see what you mean. It's hard to start off with and then you get used to it… the addiction wanes and in the end…" I felt myself nodding and she went to take my hand. I shook my head and stood up from the bed. "Where are you going?"

"I want to go out for a bit." I paused, "Clear my head."

"B-but…" She looked at me and frowned, "You said you didn't want to leave me on my own."

I stared at her as I realised she was right. I couldn't leave her on her own, I couldn't leave her here without protection of some kind, because if Alice or Edward found out she was still there, I know she wouldn't stand a chance. I looked at her for a long minute and realised either way, I was risking her personal safety. I was risking her life by staying, and I was risking it by leaving to clear my head. I had to make a decision, and the longer I left it, the longer it stayed up in the air, I would be able to outfox Alice. As long as I didn't make up my mind until I was where I needed to be, I would be able to keep her safe. Alice wouldn't see her future, the future without me, and I wouldn't be anywhere near enough to hurt her.

I got up and stepped forward, kissed her forehead and smiled.

"I'll be back." I murmured, still trying to make up my mind. The door closed behind me and I shut my eyes, took a long walk down the stairs, and out into the night.

Alice's POV

I sat outside the window, watching her sleep, watching him watch her sleep. Seeing what was going to happen only seconds before it did. I cringed inwardly as I saw her screaming, no Jasper by her side, but then, as she took a deep breath an started to shake, I saw him by her side, holding her tight, the vision flashing across my eyes, then, as I blinked, seeing it for real.

I nearly screamed, but held my breath as I watched him get up, kiss her forehead, and leave through the room door. I closed my eyes and saw two different scenarios - he left and I went in to see her, or he came back and I got caught. Either way, I was going to go and speak to her.

I gave it a minute and a half, long enough for Jasper to get out of the building, and slid the window open.

Graye gave a start as she heard the window snap shut behind me; I cringed slightly and waited for her to look at me. She jumped to her feet, clad in only her underwear as she tried to protect herself from me. There wasn't a lot of protection around, though, so she ended up with her schoolbag and a kettle. She whimpered as I took a step towards her, she took a step back in reply. Her voice was weak and she looked pathetic.

Undecided, I looked into the future, tried to see what I should do. If I stepped forward once more, it appeared she would lay dead in this room, Jasper crying over her body. If I took a step back, she would leave unscathed. I took a deep breath and stepped away, taking a seat where my husband had sat only minutes before.

Then I realised he wouldn't be my husband for much longer. If she stayed alive, if she stayed here, I wouldn't get my Jazzy back. Which was what I wanted… no. It was what I needed, more than anything. A sacrifice I couldn't make.

"Please…" She murmured, "Don't hurt me Alice…" My heart went out to her, it really did. But I couldn't leave her be. I crossed the room and gripped her shoulders, her hair flew everywhere, spreading her scent all around. She squeaked as I released her, threw her against the wall, choking on the beautiful cinnamon scent emanating from her, sensing her pulse quickening, her heartbeat thundering in my ears.

What the hell was I doing? Getting Jasper back. But… if he was happy- He was happy with me! And now he's happy with her… I grabbed her by the throat, overturning my compassionate impulses almost immediately. I could scare her. That would work. I could frighten her… or I could simply drink her dry, leave her here for Jasper to find… and await the consequences.

Jasper's POV

I pushed the door open less than twenty minutes later, my fear of hurting her gone. I had been to the nearest open store, bought her clothes that were stylish, quite cheap and would fit - fitting with the excuse that she had gone shopping with Bella perfectly. Something was wrong as I stepped into the room, but I couldn't place it.

I saw her lying still on the bed, cold, in her underwear still, her skin pale in the early morning light, her lips slightly parted. She looked as though she wasn't breathing either. The pile of bags fell to the floor as the world caved in around me. I could smell a vampire in here. Alice. She had come in while I was away and done God knows what to Graye…

I ran to her side, not daring to touch her, unwilling to hurt her more. I nearly screamed as I noticed the note resting on the pillow beside Graye's head, scrawled in Alice's handwriting. It made me feel sick to read it, but I couldn't take my eyes off it.

Next Time, Jasper.

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