A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to update! Life has been really busy! Just saw Breaking Dawn today, and I cried my eyes out and I really needed to write this (if you've seen the new movie, you understand why.) So please enjoy!
No sooner had he thrown the door open that I was already half way down the stairs, him right on my heels. I was surprised to see that the front door was open, but I quickly realized that Alice had seen this coming and didn't want any barriers in my way. Even though I could have opened a door in no time at all, I didn't want to stop running. It was so exhilarating. I ran out the door, through the front yard, and into the woods beyond, Jasper hot on my heels.
We were practically flying through the woods, the full moon giving every tree and every bush a white glow. I could see everything: every leaf on every bush, a moth blending in on a distant tree trunk, a spider web fluttering slightly in the soft breeze of the night…And the sounds of nature: the chirping of crickets, the hooting of an animal, and the soft running footsteps of my mate.
"Since I'm a newborn, am I faster than you?" I taunted, since he was two steps behind me.
"Darlin', no newborn is a match for the Major," he growled playfully, and quickly quickened his speed, flashing a smile as he passed me.
"Oh hell no." I pushed my legs harder and increased my speed, no longer focusing on the forest but on the golden-haired angel in front of me.
He was weaving between the trees, trying to throw me, but I quickly caught up to him, and I tackled him to the forest floor, my arms wrapped around his waist as we tumbled together in the leaves and brush.
"Caught you," I said, lying on top of Jasper and smirking at him.
"Indeed, you did," he chuckled, brushing a few leaves out of my hair. His eyes were bright from our run, practically glowing gold in the darkness.
"I feel bad; I've been holding you back all this time," I said.
He shook his head. "When you love someone as much as I love you, you don't notice the world moving slower."
"I did hear, you, you know. When I was changing." I looked into his eyes, brushing his hair out of his face. "You were the only thing that I had to hold onto in the pain."
In a moment he had changed position, so that we were both sitting up, my legs loosely straddling his hips, our faces just centimeters apart. "I love you so much, Gwendolyn. I was so scared I was going to lose you."
"I would never let that happen." I cradled his face in my hands. "I could never leave you. I love you, Jazz. Forever."
He kissed me, barely waiting for me to finish my thought. I thought that nothing could be better than kissing Jasper when I was human, but I was wrong; nothing was better than kissing him then, when I was a vampire, too.
His kisses were slow, like he was getting used to the feel of my new skin, and I reveled in the amazing sensations; every touch, every emotion was amplified. His lips were soft and warm against mine, his hands gently pulling me closer to him. I wrapped my arms around his neck as our kisses deepened, and he let down his guard and let his emotions overwhelm me, causing me to gasp at the intensity of his love and desire for me. Me. My eyes burned with tears that I would never shed.
"You are perfect, Gwendolyn. You have always been absolutely perfect."
"Jasper…" Both of our emotions combined were too much for my newborn self to handle, and he quickly understood and pulled his back.
"You always feel that way about me?" I asked.
"Every moment," he said seriously. He looked at me intently. "Why are you doubtful?"
"Well, I just wasn't sure if when I was turned, you would still want me. I'm different now."
"Oh, Gwen." He shook his head. "How could you think that?"
"I'm not soft like I was. I'm not warm either, and I don't have a heartbeat, and I can't blush anymore-"
"Ssshhh." He caressed my bottom lip with his thumb. "None of those things matter. And anyway, I can still feel it when you're embarrassed or flustered." He pressed his lips to my neck, causing my desire to spike. "Like now."
"And I'm not breakable," I said with a smile.
He smirked. "Darlin', you better watch yourself…"
I quickly flipped us so that I was once again on top of him, but now I had other intentions in mind. "What if I want to be bad?"
Jasper's eyes narrowed and he flipped us so that he was now on top of me. "Then I will help in any way that I can, little lady," he said, his accent becoming more prominent.
"I love you," I breathed before grabbing his shirt collar and pulling his head down to kiss him.
"I love you, too," he whispered against my lips before our emotions finally consumed us.
The sun was just beginning to rise when Jasper and I finally found our self-control and got dressed, although our clothes were partially ripped and torn.
"Jazz, you destroyed my bra," I laughed as I picked up the mangled piece of underwear. "I can't go back braless!"
"Well I did stop myself from ripping your sweater," he pointed out, obviously pleased with himself. "I would have appreciated it if you had shown my shirt the same respect." He held the shreds in his hands; it couldn't even be called a shirt anymore.
"Oops." I shrugged, but I knew Jasper wouldn't want his scars on display for everyone to see. But then the sun found its way through the tree branches, and it hit him, his face and chest sparkling in the light. I was speechless from how beautiful he looked; I could see a thousand rainbows radiating from his skin. "You're beautiful."
He smiled, and he held out his hand. "Come here. Let's see what you look like."
A wave of excitement came over me and I walked over and took his hand, joining him in the light. I gasped as I saw my skin react the same way his did.
"You're the beautiful one," he whispered, his eyes trying to memorize the way I looked in that moment. "You're breathtaking, Gwen."
I ducked my head and smiled; those were the same words he had said when he finally saw all of me the night before. I felt like I should blush, but it never came. He kissed my forehead, and said, "Darlin', if you don't cover up, we're never going back home."
I laughed, feeling the same way as I traced his scars dazzling in the sun. "Do you think she left us some clothes around here?"
"She's always on top of things," he sighed and went over to a nearby tree that had a hollow in the trunk. "And what do you know?" He turned around and he was holding two stacks of clothes in his hands.
We dressed quickly, each of us not trusting our self-control to hold out much longer.
"Oh my god, Gwen," Jasper said suddenly, his shock causing me to go on the alert.
"What's wrong?"
"You haven't fed yet."
We stared at each other for a few seconds, and I said, "I didn't even notice it last night."
"Well, you were otherwise occupied," he said, his tone lighter but still serious. "You need to feed."
I nodded, and the burn in my throat became more acute.
He stepped closer to me. "I'm going to teach you how to hunt now. Close your eyes."
I did as he said, and inhaled deeply, trying to pick up the scent of any blood. I frowned when I couldn't find a trace.
"It's okay; we may be too far away to smell anything. Try listening now."
So I did, and I could hear the distant breathing of what I assumed was a deer somewhere in the woods.
"Good," Jazz said as I told him my discovery. "Now follow the sound."
I took off, running in the direction of where the animal was eating, and I found a small herd of deer, all grazing lazily.
"Ambush is your key," Jasper breathed in my ear as I crouched by a tree. "Keep low, and stay downwind from them."
I nodded, the burn in my throat now so painful that I couldn't speak. I was so close to quenching my thirst.
I stalked the deer, stepping carefully so I didn't crack any twigs or rustle any leaves, and then I stopped as I was just feet away from the herd. I readied myself, and then I pounced. The deer scattered in all directions, but I caught one, and sunk my teeth into its neck. The blood flowed easily down my throat, and within moments I had drained it. I looked up to see that Jasper had breakfast also.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Good," I admitted.
He smiled. "Do you want more?"
I shook my head. "The burn is gone now."
His brow furrowed, and I thought I had done something wrong.
"Don't worry, Gwen. You're fine. It's just- no newborn should say something like that."
"I'm supposed to be a blood-crazed monster?"
"Well, Bella had more to drink on her first hunt than you, and she's very controlled."
"Why do you think I'm so…not thirsty?" I asked.
"I couldn't answer that," he chuckled. "Maybe it has something to do with your magic."
"My magic!" I gasped. "Do you think-?"
"Darlin', if anything, you should be even more powerful than before," Jasper said.
I picked up a branch beside us and focused on it, and it immediately burst into flames, stronger and hotter than I would have been able to produce before. Both of us jumped, and the branch fell to the ground, the fire disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
"Well, good to know I can do that," I said, a little shaken by the power I had just felt.
"Yeah." Jasper seemed a little spooked, too, but he just took my hand and said, "Let's go back home."
A/N: Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers! And Happy Thursday to all of my non-American readers! Please review! And see Breaking Dawn!