Vampire Kisses fanfiction
REMEMBERING GRACE
Alexander Sterling/OC: Grace Jasper


Epilogue.
"If you love somebody, let them go. If they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were."

Alexander's dark eyes opened to the top of his coffin lid. He yawned and pushed it open, sitting up to stretch his arms. He blinked numerously and slowly gazed at his surroundings. The dark, hidden room in his attic bedroom was empty as always, except for his coffin and small nightstand which held a blown-out candle and a small painted portrait of a spunky, smiling mortal girl.

Alexander lifted a hand to his head. What a dream. He never expected to relive all of those memories in one night's sleep. It was as if his mind were on a movie reel, flashing him highlights of his life in Romania. He sighed. Romania … he sure did miss Romania, and … Grace.

Slowly getting out of his coffin, he stumbled to the door that led to his main bedroom. The moonlight poured in from his window, providing his light — not that he needed it. He dressed for the night, pulling out a pair of dark skinny jeans and black Slipknot jacket, and his combat boots. Tonight he would be meeting Raven for another date out underneath the gazebo.

He passed by Sebastian's guestroom, who was still snoring up a storm in his coffin. He made his way downstairs where Jameson greeted him, offering to make him his breakfast shake.

"Thanks, Jameson," said Alexander when he was handed the tall goblet.

He walked into the parlor, sitting on one of the dusty Victorian sofas, drinking and recollecting what he had dreamt. He could not believe how happy he had been around Grace. He thought his pride and joy was surely Raven, but until that strange moment last night when he looked down at Raven's face, Grace had returned to his life.

Then he felt an insufferable amount of guilt. He had just left Romania without even telling Grace that he was leaving. He wondered how she must have dealt with it. And then there were those promises he had made, how he could never forget her and how he had said he would always love her. Such empty promises they were now, but he supposed they were not so empty when he had made them. He was in love, and he never wanted to let go of the first girl to have stolen his heart.

Alexander was sad for Grace. Had anybody told her what had happened? Had Jagger run into her again? Had he done anything to her? Was she still living in Romania? Did she ever fall in love again, like he had? Did she ever see Pax again?

He set his glass on the coffee table in front of him and tilted his head back, sighing. What he would do to see her again.

Suddenly, he stood from the sofa, abandoning his goblet, and headed for the basement. He had remembered.

The basement was dark, dusty, and crowded. He passed towers of boxes that created mazes, the only light being what came from the small window near the ceiling where Raven had come through to first venture the Mansion. He smiled at the thought. She had confessed it to him when they were first dating, and she was quite embarrassed when she had told him.

Finally he came upon dusty stacks of canvases; Alexander's painting from Romania. He browsed through them, trying to find that one particular portrait he had saved.

Smiling chestnut eyes peeked out from behind a canvas and he rescued the painting from the stack. It was sealed in a black frame, holding special qualities he found in it rather than the rest. He set it down on the ground in front of the stacks and gazed it over.

There was Grace, her face serene and happy, her body frozen in a dance. Her right wrist sported the amethyst bat bracelet he had bought for her — earning him a kiss on the cheek — and he wondered whether she wore it as much as she used to. And then he spotted himself, staring at her with admiration in the background, a small sitting figure against the trees. From her bluish-black hair to her fair skin, he felt as if she were really there with him. He could feel her presence hug him, whisper in his ear, breath on the back of his neck. He stood there for many long minutes, basking in her phantom presence. Raven was gone; replacing her was Grace.

The doorbell from above awoke him from his daydreams and he waited for Jameson to answer. He had forgotten about his date with Raven already. Grace did tend to make him forget about a lot of things.

He made his way out of the basement, leaving Grace's portrait. She was part of his past, not his present. He had to stop thinking about her. If he did not, things would go wrong between him and Raven, and he could not stand to lose her. He had already lost one love and he did not want to lose another.

He closed the door behind him, only to be met with Jameson's gaunt stature. He could see Sebastian sulking down the stairs, rubbing his eyes out and yawning widely. His chest was bare, but he was dressed in his pajama bottoms.

"Who rang the doorbell? It woke me up," groaned Sebastian as he made his way towards the butler and his best friend.

"Master Alexander, you have visitors," informed Jameson.

"I know, I know. I'll meet Raven in just a bit," said Alexander.

"You misheard me, Master Alexander," said Jameson. "I said you had visitors, not a visitor."

Alexander's eyebrows knit together and he and Sebastian exchanged puzzled looks.

"Did Raven come with somebody?" asked Sebastian.

"You will soon find out," said the butler solemnly and he walked away.

"Okay. That was odd, even for Jameson," said Sebastian with an arched eyebrow. Alexander nodded and he and Sebastian curiously wandered over to the front doors. He opened it and, to his surprise, met with Jagger on his doorstep.

"Hey, man!" exclaimed Sebastian, losing all ounce of curiosity. Jagger grinned at his new friends, but Alexander could not help but be the least bit suspicious.

"Hey, Sebastian. Alexander." Jagger nodded his direction.

"What are you doing here?" blurted Alexander. Jagger's grin did not falter.

"I just thought I'd come and stop by," he said nonchalantly.

"Is Luna with you?" asked Sebastian, a little too eagerly. Jagger chuckled.

"No, I'm afraid not. But I have brought a lady friend with me. I'm sure you wouldn't mind letting us in for a bit. I wanted to discuss some of our plans for the future club here," he said, speaking the last bit to Sebastian.

"Lady friend?" Sebastian's eyebrows rose with interest. "Is she hot?"

"I think you'll find her quite as attractive as I know she is," said Jagger mischievously and he motioned his hand behind him. Out from the side of the Mansion, to Alexander and Sebastian's surprise, was dainty and beautiful Grace Jasper.

"Alexander, it's been a while, hasn't it?" she said softly, charming him with her chestnut eyes like she used to once upon a time.