Hello lovely readers! Sorry for the late update. I've been trying to keep up with a lot of homework while also working nonstop!

Congrats to those who guessed correctly on what Riley took from Bella's room in the last chapter. Yes, it was the blouse that Eve lent Bella a few chapters ago, and I'll let you guys imagine what's going to transpire in the future.

If you don't mind, please go check out my newest story, The Darkness Knows My Name! It's a romance/supernatural fanfic about the Volturi, which I'm sure excited to be writing!

Chapter 28

Jasper watched Eve with an unreadable expression on his face.

Hie eyes following her moves as she tossed the last of the wood onto the rocky shore of the lake. He honed his gift in on her emotions and was relieved to find that there wasn't an overwhelming sadness following her as it once had. Though it was still there, it had shrunk down into a sliver of darkness that usually weighed down on her shoulders.

A lamentable expression on her beautiful face that he couldn't help but find amusing as he helped clean up the remains of their dock that Victoria's attack had destroyed.

Truth be told, he wasn't too thrilled at the prospect of returning to the place where he'd thought he lost the love of his life, but since it was Eve's idea, how could get possibly deny her this?

The love of his life...

Jasper smiled as he repeated the words. He wondered when he'd finally stopped fighting it-

A gust of wind made Eve shiver while pushing Jasper's hair around his face as he closed his eyes.

Pulling her green jacket closer around her, Eve looked out towards the gloomy sky that hovered over the still waters. Jasper felt her excitement as she heard his footsteps approaching, his boots crunching the gravel underneath him before he wrapped his arms around her waist. The second he pressed her back against his chest, Jasper let out a sigh of satisfaction as he kissed the nape of her neck.

Eve shivered once more, but this time it was not due to the cold afternoon air.

"It's a shame nothing was left to salvage," she murmured as he stared at their intertwined hands. His cold touch never seemed to bother her, and he smiled wider when he realized she always accepted his touch, yearned for it as much as he did.

"Maybe someday we can rebuild it," Jasper sighed before placing a chaste kiss on the nape of her neck before spinning her around to face him, making her laugh softly, "Come on, let's go."

"Where are we going?" Eve asked as he pulled her along the trail back towards the house, tugging her close to his side until he draped his arm over her shoulders.

"I told you, it's a surprise." Jasper grinned as he felt an inkling of nerves and excitement all into one, and he knew she would definitely like the gift he had for her.

They walked into the garage rather than going back into the house. Eve smiled at him curiously as she stood in the doorway while Jasper walked past a few of his family's cars. When he swung around and disappeared behind Emmett's Jeep, Eve stepped into the garage and peered her head around the corner of the Jeep to see him pulling off the tarp on one of his bikes.

"W-we're riding on your bike?" She quipped nervously.

As he turned to face her with a grin on his face, Jasper reached for one of the two helmets that had been laid out on the counter to their right and gently tossed it towards her, "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

"You'll drive slow?" Eve recalled all the horror stories she had of Edward driving at incredibly ridiculous speeds on the road with his Volvo, and it sparked an inkling of wariness to imagine Jasper doing so on a motorcycle.

Jasper chuckled as he leaned against the seat and pulled her into his arms, her grip keeping the helmet close to her stomach. Jasper placed a tentative kiss on her cheek, and she nearly melted into his arms.

"I promise I'll drive at the speed limit."

Eve quirked a brow, "That doesn't sound like a yes, Jasper."

"But?" He pressed his forehead against hers, causing her finally break into a smile.

"But, I trust you, so I guess I'll go."

"Great, hop on."

Eve swung her leg over the seat and immediately wrapped her arms around his waist before Jasper could utter the word. With another amused chuckle, Jasper placed his hand over her arms reassuringly as he turned on the ignition, "Hold on tight."

The roar of the motorcycle drowned out his laugh as he heard her murmur, "Believe me, I have no intention of letting go."

As promised, Jasper drove the speed limit, although Eve constantly checked to make sure. They drove down winding roads surrounded by trees and nature beyond the eyes can see. Eve's own eyes stared in wonder at the flashing colors of the green leaves and the sun shining through between the trees. Much like the last time she was carried by Jasper up the mountain the last time they went out, Eve's body felt light - as if she were flying and nothing could stop her.

Nothing and no one could touch her and the knowledge of that? It made her smile, made her want to scream at the top of her lungs that she's free. It made her want to cry tears of joy too...

The man she currently had her arms wrapped around was safer than anyone she's ever met. His touch was not unwanted, and every time Jasper would kiss her knuckles, sending his own emotions down the bond to tell her he understood, Eve hugged him tighter.

It wasn't long before the forest faded away into the endless, blue sea.

The air left Eve's lungs as she tipped the visor of her helmet up to gape at the waves down below the road, and as she realized Jasper was taking her further down to the sands and rocky shore of the beach, her heart gave a squeeze.

Tears welled in her eyes as she stared up at Jasper, who was smiling the entire time as he pulled into the parking lot next to a sign that read "Ruby Beach: Olympic National Park."

"You can let go now, you know? We're here." Jasper teased as he shut the ignition off and waited for her to unwrap her arms from around his waist.

Blushing, Eve scooted off the seat far enough for Jasper to get off his bike. Pulling his helmet off, she watched as his blonde curls fell out in soft waves around his face. His golden gaze met hers, and he bent down to pull her helmet off, seeing as she hadn't moved at all since they arrived at the beach.

"You alright, darlin'?"

Eve's gaze flickered as she looked around, noticing there was only one other car in the parking lot, "You...this is my surprise?"

"I figured a change of scenery would be good for you. Given that the lake may not be the safest place to wander around right now. Do you want to do something else?"

She didn't hesitate to shake her head quickly, "No! I...I love it. I can't remember the last time I've been to the beach..."

Jasper slowly helped Eve off the bike, holding her close as he led her towards the beach, where the soft crashing of the waves reached her ears, and the smell of salt in the air tickled her nose.

"Then let's go make some new memories."

Shaking away the balm of emotions that stung her eyes, Eve tightened her grip on his hand and followed Jasper. The two walked together down the path until they made it onto the thick, wet sands of Ruby Beach, and it wasn't long before they both took their shoes off and walked towards the water. Jasper didn't stop her from walking further, but he did pull the hood of his jacket up over his head even though it wasn't raining. With clear skies and the sun warming her skin, Eve wanted to ask if it was alright for them to be out like this when she heard it.

A small family of four walked around the beach. A man and woman held hands as they followed leisurely after their two children, who chased each other around back and forth. Their laughs made Eve smile in contentment as she watched them from afar, walking in the other direction with Jasper, who kept his head down slightly as he murmured into her ear, "They're leaving soon, don't worry."

Eve nodded, knowing that he had to hide his face before the sun would appear again, and at that moment, she realized what he was risking by bringing her to the beach during the day like this. If humans saw what happened to him when the sunlight hit Jasper's skin...she could only imagine how they would react.

Looking over her shoulder, Eve's hazel eyes found the small family who strolled on the beach, completely oblivious to the supernatural being a few feet away from them.

Maybe it was the little boy and girl who pushed and pulled at each other, or maybe it was the man and woman who chastised them playfully when the girl fell onto the sand, but Eve suddenly felt...melancholic.

Jasper felt everything she did, of course, so it was no surprise when he draped his arm around her shoulders and led her to sit on one of the bigger logs of trees that lay on the beach. He didn't speak for a long moment, nor did she, but his warm gaze met hers as he tilted her head up before kissing her lips gently. Eve felt the urge the cry again as she kissed him back, her hand pulling his hood so that she could get him closer. The family's laughter fading away in the distance as the stirring lake in her mind began to settle once more.

They sat on the log for a few minutes until eventually, the family disappeared up the trail.

The only people on the beach left now were Eve and Jasper.

Eve took in a shallow breath as they broke away from the kiss and as she opened her eyes, only to find Jasper looking at her with the same intensity he always did - Eve felt her cheeks warm once again.

"Stop that," she breathed, running a hand through her short hair that had somehow managed to grow a bit longer since Rosalie cut it last.

"Stop what?"

"Looking at me like that...it only makes me want to kiss you again."

Repeating what he'd said the night they both practically confessed their love for one another, Jasper shook his head as he tried to fight off a grin.

"You think you're funny, don't you?"

Eve stood up and shrugged as she started walking towards the water, "Emmett seems to think so."

A low, teasing growl made her start. Turning around, she stared at him with wide eyes as Jasper began walking after her, the amusement never leaving his now dark eyes, "Oh really?"

Eve took a step back, preparing herself to run even though she knows its a useless attempt.

"Did you just...growl at me?" She asked incredulously as she took another step back, "For your information, Carlisle and Edward think so too..."

"You're cheeky."

"You love it, though."

"There's something else I love a little more, I'm afraid." Jasper quirked an eyebrow as his gaze fell to her lips once more, explaining rather blatantly what he meant.

A shiver ran down her spine as anticipation spiked, but Eve took off towards the shore before she could fall into his trap.

"You're going to have to work for that!"

Jasper and Eve's laughs filled the peaceful silence of the beach as he chased after her. Eve tried to dodge his hands as her bare feet splashed into the water, not caring one bit that the hem of her jeans was getting wet as she ran. The sun had finally started to shine down on them fully, and in the second that she took to look at Jasper's dazzling face shimmering with what she could only describe as stardust, Jasper pounced.

Letting out a cry of surprise, Eve fell backward onto the soft sand and giggled as Jasper caught himself in time before he could fall on top of her. Resting his forearm above her head, he let out a huff, "Definitely trying to be the death of me."

Eve smiled tenderly at Jasper before she cupped his cheek and admired the way his face seemed to glow under the sun, the small scars on his jaw and neck.

"And you...you're beautiful," she murmured, and her smile grew wider as she noticed the surprise that registered on his face at the compliment. In a way, she wondered if Jasper had been human, maybe he'd be blushing right now.

"Silly girl," he wrapped his arms around her in a gentle embrace as he sat back on the sand, letting her straddle his lap as he did. "What am I going to do with you?"

Playing with the strands of his honey-blonde hair, Eve scrunched up her face in mock contemplation, "Hmm, let me think."

Rolling his eyes, Jasper murmured as he placed a kiss on her neck, "I have all the time in the world." Feeling the gentle caress of his lips as they traveled up and down her neck, Eve stared at the sea and cloudy skies ahead in silent bliss. It was in moments like these when she's reminded that it's because of Jasper and his family that she's able to be here now - seeing and feeling things she never knew she could.

"Thank you..." she whispered into his ear.

Feeling the shake in her voice, Jasper leaned back to look at her, "For what?"

"For everything. For protecting me in a way that no one else can. Keeping me...grounded when I'm so lost in my nightmares that I don't think I could have ever escaped them on my own. For saving me..." Jasper closed his eyes as he felt her gratitude and sadness all melded into one. "But most of all... thank you for giving me a chance to live again, Jasper."

Eve couldn't stop herself from shedding a tear as his own shining orbs met hers with venom lining his eyes now. Jasper cupped her face in his hands, "I'll always save you, Eve. Until you ask me not to, I'll always save you."

She knew what he meant by that. Jasper hadn't forgotten her words long ago when she told him she didn't want to be changed into a vampire like him, and he knew why that was. Because as much as he'll tell her, it's not true - Eve is scared she'll become a monster. Violent and cruel like her father and Robert had been. The girl had gone through enough darkness in her life that it must have been branded into her soul at this point. Eve did not doubt that. And if she ever did become a vampire, Eve wanted to know for sure that she wouldn't become a bloodthirsty, cold-hearted monster.

The Cullens weren't either of those things but-

Eve wasn't like the Cullens. Not really. Both Jasper and Edward felt and saw into the girl enough to know that she wasn't ready to be changed or even considered it, but they never treated her like an outsider, and for that, she was glad.

"Kiss me."

As the suns, yellow rays cut between them as they inched closer and closer to one another. As Jasper's lips touched hers softly, she could still feel the warmth of the sun against his skin for a fraction of a second before the cold returned.

She moaned into his mouth as Jasper slipped his tongue past her lips, greedily taking and giving at the same time. His hips rolled up to grind against the soft center of her, making her release a breathy gasp as pressure built up in her stomach the same way it had the night he'd made her come. Feeling the cool, solid strength of his chest against hers seeming to awaken the need she felt to be closer to him all over again. It was impossible to sate the desire she felt bubbling up within her every time Jasper held her. It was as endless as the sea around them.

A single kiss wasn't enough anymore. His gentle caresses were craved day and night, so much so that Eve wondered if there was something wrong with her. It wouldn't be until they explored every inch of each other that she would be satisfied.

But even she seemed to know that it would never end.

He slowly laid back down onto the sand, never breaking the kiss as Eve ran her fingers through his hair with care - as if he could break with a single touch and not the other way around.

If Jasper was completely sincere, Eve had no idea just how easily she could break him. The thought of losing her pained him greatly, in more ways than he could express. Deepening the kiss, Jasper filled the bond with all the love and need he felt for her right now, and when she broke away to take in shallow breaths, she lifted her gaze to meet his.

"Eve, you're everything to me."

Her heart skipped a beat, and even though she knew he could hear it pounding against her chest, she grabbed his hand and pressed his palm there so that he could feel it. Feel her.

"You're everything to me."

Although this should be a joyous, loving realization on both their part - Eve couldn't help but feel saddened with the knowledge that someday...this would all be over in the blink of an eye. Because that's what mortality amounts to in Jasper's world.

"Shh," he wiped away, another tear that she hadn't realized rolled down her cheek. Kissing her lips once more as he soothed her with his words, "it's okay. You're with me."

"I know..." she wrapped her arms around him.

As much as she wanted to keep it buried beneath the surface of her obsidian walls, using her mask to keep it hidden away, Eve knew the truth.

She was in love with Jasper, and a part of her also knew that she always would be.

No use in fighting it now.

Shutting off the engine soon after they rolled into the garage, Jasper helped Eve slide off the seat once more and held her hand as they walked up the stairs. The comfortable silence between them was fully dosed by the love and care they shared.

It wasn't until they walked into the house that he felt it.

The concern and anger that radiated off Edward, who was now sitting beside Bella. The girl was paler than usual as she worried her bottom lip, glancing between Edward and Alice, who appeared to be lost in thought as her eyes glassed over.

She's having a vision.

"Edward," his brother turned his attention over to Jasper and stood up to meet him. "What's going on?"

Eve's hand squeezed his before she made her way over to Bella. Edward gave his little sister a small smile that didn't quite reach his black eyes; his stiff posture seemed to weigh down on the empath with the worry that only seemed to grow.

"Someone was in Bella's home. I could smell him."

"A vampire?" Emmett and Rosalie walked into the living room, both with grave looks on their faces as Edward nodded.

"I couldn't track him and with Bella-"

"I'll go. If his scent is strong enough, I should be able to track the intruder," Jasper offered before glancing towards Eve, who was listening to Bella's whispered words intently.

Carlisle walked in then with Esme close beside him, "Jasper, if it comes down to a fight..."

"I'm going with him," Emmett chimed, bouncing on his feet with excitement for a challenge as he grinned. "If it does come down to a fight, this intruder won't stand a chance against the two of us."

Jasper sensed Eve's concern before he noticed the way she tensed at the mention of a fight. He sent her a wave of reassurance which barely seemed to ease her worries, "It'll be okay. I'll be back soon."

Emmett ruffled Eve's hair playfully, trying his best to distract her and succeeding when she scowled at him, "I promise to keep an eye on him."

Bella placed her hand over Eve's as her friend nodded and tried her best to smile at them, "Be careful."

Leaving Eve was more difficult than he could have anticipated, but Jasper put his desire and need to be with her aside for a moment as he focused on the lingering scent left behind by the nomad in Bella's room. Charlie Swan was fast asleep in his bedroom, but he and Emmett were careful to keep quiet as they identified various scents. One of them being Eve's, which threw him off for a moment as the sweet scent of lilacs distracted him. Eve hadn't left the house at all since they took her in, so how is it possible that her scent would be in Bella's room...

Emmett and Jasper followed the scent south, but after running for a few miles deep into the woods, they lost the scent as the treaty line and wolves' scents obscured their senses.

"Damn, I lost it. You picking up anything?" Emmett asked as they came to a stop by the edge of the river.

With a growl of frustration, Jasper shook his head as he paced, deep in thought.

"Something's not right about this."

"You think it's Victoria?"

"I don't know, I didn't catch her scent back at Bella's house, but whoever this is...it doesn't add up."

It doesn't make any sense why they would leave Bella's father alive or her for that matter unless this was planned. And the fact that Eve's faint scent was in Bella's room...only seemed to aid in his apprehension.

He could only hope that she wouldn't be dragged into this part of their world. The savage, deadly part that scared him with the knowledge that Eve could be in danger once again.

"Let's get back to the house and tell the others."

Thanks for reading x

Oof, we're nearing the end of Part II! I want to say there are about five chapters left until we reach Part III.

I know many of you don't want me to end the story so soon, and please be assured that I have no intention of ending this story until the end of Part III...possibly lol. Eve still has a long way to go with the Cullens!

Please leave a review to let me know what you think! Follow and Favorite if you don't mind!

The next update will be on 4/11