A/N: This is the last chapter until late December. And special thanks to Melody who helped me with the plot for this chapter! I owe you!
"Jasper," I sighed in my sleep. "Jasper."
We were running through the woods together, laughing. All at once, Jasper tackled me and I quickly flipped us over so I was lying on his chest.
"I love you," I told him, looking into his golden eyes.
"I love you, too." He wrapped his arms around me, keeping me against him.
Through the branches of the trees, the sun shone. Our skin sparkled, and I marveled at his beauty, as he did mine. I leaned in to kiss him, but he suddenly stood up, taking a protective crouch in front of me.
"Run, Gwendolyn," he commanded, his eyes searching the woods around us.
"No. I won't leave you," I told him, my voice wavering with fear.
"Gwen, don't worry about me." He turned to look at me, his eyes dark with anger. "I'm trying to protect you."
"Jas-" I was cut off by a loud howling noise.
Jasper growled deep in his chest as nine wolves emerged from the woods around us. My instincts were screaming at me to run, but I refused to leave Jasper, my love, to this horrid fate.
"I did no wrong," Jasper said through clenched teeth.
"Actually, you did, leech."
I gasped as I heard the familiar voice. It couldn't be…
"The treaty specifically says that a vampire may not bite a human." Jacob walked out of the trees, walking past the large black wolf that was Sam.
"But I chose this life!" I cried.
I flinched as he turned his hard stare to me. "It doesn't matter. He still broke the treaty. And for that, he must die."
The wolves growled in unison, stalking closer to Jasper and I.
"I'm sorry, Gwendolyn," Jacob said, and quickly phased into his wolf form.
Jake raised a paw and struck out at Jasper.
"NO! NO! JASPER!" I screamed.
I writhed in my bed, trapped in my terror. "JASPER! NO! PLEASE, NO!"
"Gwendolyn? Gwendolyn, wake up! Gwendolyn!"
Upon hearing my name, I quickly sat up and hit something hard. Cool arms wrapped around me.
"Gwen? What's wrong? Why were you screaming?"
As my mind identified the owner of the voice, I burst out sobbing.
"Shh, darlin', it's okay. I'm here. It's okay." Jasper's voice was the sweetest sound I had ever heard.
"God, Jasper, I thought- I thought-" My sobs overwhelmed me, and I wrapped my arms around him to make sure he was really here.
"It's okay. Calm down. It was just a nightmare," he comforted, his hands rubbing soothing circles on my back.
After a few minutes, my crying quieted, and Jasper shifted me so that he could look at my face.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
I nodded, knowing he would be able to see it in the dark.
"Okay." He wiped the tears on my cheeks away with his hand. "Do you want to tell me what the dream was about?"
"Sure," I whispered, my throat still tight from crying. I swallowed several times, trying to get the lump to go away.
"You were screaming my name. I've never felt that much terror come from someone before," he said quietly.
"It was awful," I said, my voice sounding a little stronger.
"Are you sure you want to talk about it?" he asked.
"Yes." I told him about my dream, making sure I didn't get lost in the horror of it.
"Oh, my god, Gwendolyn. I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault. It's no one's fault." I sniffled. "I'm just glad you're okay, and that you're here…" Something dawned on me. "Why are you here?"
"Uh…" Jasper laughed nervously. "Alice told me you ran away, and I was worried, so I followed you."
"Followed me?" I asked slowly. "Like, when I was driving here from Forks?"
"I know it's creepers, but I was worried about you." He was begging me to understand.
"Were you watching me today? Like when I was in the kitchen, and in the garden?"
"Slightly. Kind of. Sort of. Okay, I was. But I just wanted to make sure you didn't need me. I was keeping tabs on your emotions, and I found out that you were pretty content. But if your emotions took a negative turn, then I would come in and save you."
"Like now?" I asked.
"Like now," he agreed. "Are you upset at me?"
"Read my emotions. Do I feel upset to you?"
"No. You feel relieved."
"Because I am. Because if you weren't here, I would probably still be screaming and crying. You kept me sane." I smiled.
"I'm glad I could be of service," Jasper said. "It's late. You should go back to sleep."
"Will you stay with me?" I asked.
"Of course I will," he replied.
I laid back down, and Jasper covered me with my quilt. He laid beside me, and I cuddled into the curve of his body.
"Good night, Gwendolyn," Jasper whispered, stroking my hair with his hand.
"Good night, Jazz," I sighed, breathing in his sweet scent.
Sleep quickly overtook me.
***
I was awakened the next morning by the glorious sound of Jasper laughing softly.
"What's happening?" I asked as I propped myself up on my elbow to look at him. The sight I saw before me caused me to laugh, too.
There was Tasha, standing on Jasper's chest, inspecting his face closely. Not only were her green eyes narrowed to slits, but she kept sniffing him.
"Tasha, you naughty girl," I said as I scooped her up in my arms. "Leave poor Jasper alone."
"I'm sorry I woke you," Jasper said as he sat up. "But her whiskers were a bit ticklish."
"That's okay. Whenever this fur ball is involved, there's no one to blame but her." I kissed the top of Tasha's head.
"She's a sweet cat. Animals usually stay away from my kind." A hint of sadness crept into his voice.
"Well, Tasha is no ordinary cat. I can't even be sure that she is a cat," I chuckled.
"Is your nightmare still bothering you? Your emotions feel…conflicted."
I sighed. "That dream last night…It wasn't the first one I had."
"Tell me, Gwen. I want to know." His eyes were pleading.
I told him the one I had had the night before. I could sense some jealousy from him when I talked about being married to Jacob, but he kept quiet. His eyes were thoughtful when I finished.
"So you will be a vampire? I will turn you?" Jasper asked.
"Those dreams were pretty definitive. Not a whole lot of room for conjecture."
"But what about the two wolves at the end? The one was Jacob, but did you recognize the other?"
"No. But they were fighting. I don't want Jake to get hurt!"
"Nothing could hurt him. He's strong," Jasper reassured me.
"Okay." I wasn't entirely convinced, and he could tell. "It doesn't matter right now. What does matter is breakfast."
Jasper smiled a dazzling smile. "May I cook breakfast for you?"
"Sure," I replied, a bit breathlessly.
"Okay. I'll try not to burn down the kitchen," he joked as he walked out of the room.
I turned back to Tasha. "Keep an eye on him. Make sure he's true to his word."
Tasha jumped down from bed and ran after Jasper, who was laughing.
Before I went downstairs, I showered and threw on some clothes. The scent of pancakes wafted through the house. My mouth watered as I walked downstairs into the kitchen.
"I hope these are okay. I've never tried my hand at cooking before." He smiled sheepishly.
I sat down at the table where a plate of them were waiting. I quickly poured some syrup on them and started to quickly devour them.
"These are divine, Jazz!" I said, a bit in shock. "Where did you learn to make these?"
"Edward isn't the only one who watches Food Network," Jasper said, pleased with my reaction.
"And thank god for that!" I had never eaten better-tasting pancakes before, so it was no surprise that they were all gone in a matter of minutes.
"Wow. I've never seen a human eat so much in such a short amount of time," Jasper teased.
"Holy hell, Jasper. That was amazing." I got up and put my dishes in the sink. "A great breakfast to begin a busy day."
"What are you planning to do today?" Jasper asked.
"I need to have a scrying session."
"I beg your pardon?"
I laughed at his confusion. "It means I have to sit in front of an obsidian ball, hoping images will flash through my mind."
Jasper looked thoughtful. "Can it work with everyone?"
"Only if your mind is open to it," I said as I walked out to the study.
Jasper was quickly by my side. "Can it work with vampires?"
I stopped. I had no idea if this sort of thing would work for the undead.
Jasper waited patiently for my answer.
"You really want to try?" I asked.
He nodded. "It has caught my interest."
"All right. Let's see what happens." I led him into the study, and instructed him to sit in front of the orb.
"All you really have to do is stare at it. Just be sure your mind is clear."
"All right, darlin'." His golden eyes looked into the black depths of the orb. Suddenly his eyes grew wider, and they turned from topaz to black.
"Jasper?" I said, worried. I reached out and touched his hand, which was resting on the table. Images flashed into my mind.
A young girl with pale green eyes was sitting by a window. Raindrops were pouring down the glass pane, and the sound of thunder shook the house. An older woman knelt by her, taking her delicate hands in hers.
"Gwendolyn," Grandmother Issa said. "I'm so sorry, but your parent have been in an accident."
"Are they okay?" the young girl asked.
"Baby…They've died."
The tears had already started rolling down her face. She had known her parents were dead from the moment they drove off the bridge, two hours before.
"Come here," Isadora said, and held the girl to her. "You'll stay with me now. That's what your parents wanted."
"It's what I want," the girl sobbed. "Promise me you'll never leave me."
"Never," Grandmother Issa said. "Not until you're old enough to be on your own."
"That's not good enough! I never want you to die!" the girl sobbed.
"Shh, my beautiful girl. I still have many years left in me."
As quickly as the vision came, it was gone. I was in shock that I saw what Jasper had seen, and that he had seen that particular memory.
"How old were you?" Jasper asked, his eyes returning to their golden color.
"Twelve."
"I'm so sorry, Gwen. To lose your parents at such a young age-"
"I don't want to talk about it!" I snapped, and I immediately felt bad. "Oh god, I'm sorry, Jasper."
"It's okay. There are things from your past that you want to forget. I understand that." He unconsciously rubbed the scar above his eyebrow. His eyes wandered to where my hand was still on his.
"Oh!" A blush covered my face as I went to remove my hand.
"No, it's fine," Jasper said quickly, and took my hand in his. "It's fine."
"Jasper," I said quietly. "I'm really glad I met you."
"So am I. You're exactly what my heart has been searching for. Gwendolyn, I love you." His golden eyes shone with his love.
"I love you, too, Jasper. Forever."
We stayed like this for a moment, reveling in the feeling of our love. But I had to have my own moment with the orb.
"I need to see if I can find the missing piece to the puzzle," I said finally, breaking the silence.
"If you don't mind, I think I'll sit this one out." Jasper moved out of the chair. "Once is enough."
I laughed. "Was your mind blown?"
"Definitely," he chuckled.
I folded my hands in my lap, and stared at the ball. Images quickly came to my mind.
I saw Jacob leaning against a tree. He looked south, to where I lived, and then he would look to a house that was on the reservation. He sighed deeply; he was having an internal battle. Then I was in a room with a girl. She was looking out her window to where Jacob was. Her hand was on the glass, like she was trying to reach him. The love and heartache swirling around her was almost tangible. I realized I had seen this girl before…
With a jolt, I was broken out of my trance.
"What did you see, Gwen?" Jasper asked, kneeling beside me.
"I know who Jacob loves, and she loves him, too."
"Who is it?"
I took a deep breath. "Leah Clearwater."
A/N: Was that predictable? Tell me what you think! Review! :)