"I love you."
"Don't - we can't."
"Please tell me you love me too."
"We both agreed this wouldn't be serious. That nobody would ever find out. Come on, Ash. This was all very nice but, we should go before someone sees us."

_
Rejection is the worst. Ask almost anyone and they will visibly cringe as they recall a time they were rejected by someone they loved, or someone they thought they loved. Asher Jameson was no different, unfortunately. The memories of Jasper Whitlock haunted his every thought for years. He longed to feel skin against skin, lips against lips, to feel his breath on his neck - but he also longed for the laughs, the smiles, and even the conversations under the starlight.

Just the two of them, laying on a blanket - with only Jasper's major hat in between them. Pointing to stars, naming constellations. Asher would have his hands placed on his stomach, Jasper would have his behind his head. At some point, they would end up kissing. Asher really wasn't sure how it all started, but it just felt right. That was how Asher finally came to terms with his sexuality, because of his feelings for Jasper. Although, since Jasper was seeing Maria, it was a secret romance. They had both agreed to keep it casual but, Asher figured the feelings would eventually become so overwhelming that they couldn't ignore it anymore. Although, that only happened for him.

Jasper left him. He wasn't sure where he went, or why. Just that one morning after he admitted he was in love with him - Jasper was gone. He was utterly heartbroken, but he tried his hardest to remain strong and stay with his coven. That didn't last, either. Living his daily routine without Jasper was really difficult, because he was the only thing he could think about, since they usually did it all together. Asher left and settled in New York for a few years, then Ohio, then London. Alone.

That is, until he met Lucy, an Icelandic Vampire.

He left behind that life, and took her as his mate. He forgot about being a gay man. He forgot about Jasper Whitlock. It took hundreds of years - but he finally did it. She was lovely, so beautiful and so kind. She introduced him to 'Vegetarianism' and made him a better man - and a better vampire. Unfortunately, they could not settle properly and have a baby, and Lucy never wanted to get married, but it did kill them that they could not bring a baby into the world.

"I really wish we could have mini Asher's running around" she would say, emitting a small giggle.
"Me too," Asher would sigh, "I wish it were possible."
"No worries. At least we have each other - forever."
"Forever."
It felt nice, knowing that there was someone out there who would never leave him. Who wouldn't fail him like Jasper. Who kissed him and loved him always. Even if he was unsure of whether he loved her, too. Nevertheless, moving on was the only thing that made him better. Before then, he was a broken mess.

So now, it was time to up and move again.

Lucy had her sights set on somewhere more secluded - so she decided on Forks, Washington, a small town with a small population. It seemed perfect, but it would only work for a little while. If the population was really as small as Lucy had said, they would catch on in a few years that they didn't age. Still, it was a change of scenery from their home in Brooklyn, New York.
"Are you sure this is the place you want to spend the next few years?" Asher asked with a raised brow, watching Lucy put away their degree parchments that had been placed on their living room wall.

Asher had three degrees over the years - English literature from New York University, Mathematics from Oxford and Engineering from University of Oslo, where they had spent five years together. Lucy had two, Philosophy from New York University and Humanities from Oslo.
"Oh, yes!" she nodded, "I need a change from the city life, you know? You do, too."
He approached her and started to help her put some stuff into boxes.
"You're right," he said, examining a photo of them from 1949.
"We were cute, even then" she giggled.
"Always will be" he winked.
"True" she giggled, pecking his lips from across the boxes.

He smiled warmly, following her upstairs to their attic where they were going to get more stuff for the moving van which would be there in two hours time.
Lucy started rooting around for things they wanted to bring with them, while Asher just looked over some of the things they decided they didn't want to bring the day they started to pack, just in case they missed something important.
"Do you want this, babe?" she asked. Asher spun around, eyes widening at the sight of the object in his partner's hands. He hadn't seen that in years, he wasn't even sure he had it anymore.

Jasper's hat.

"Yes. Of course" he said coldly. Lucy observed it.
"Are you sure? It's very old looking."
"I said yes."
"Okay, gee" she said, rolling her eyes and shoving it into a box angrily, "I don't know what your deal is with that hat, but you need to let it go eventually."
"Hm."

"Ash?"
"Yeah?
"What is the deal with it? It seems to invoke some sort of anger in you. It might not be healthy to keep it."
'Anger?' he thought, 'sure, but more so heartache.'
"It's just an important part of my past that I don't want to forget about, okay?"
"Okay, sweetie."
"I'm really sorry" he said, approaching her and pressing a kiss to her temple, brushing her golden blonde hair out of the way, "I love you so much."
"I love you too," she replied, "now, help me with these boxes, yeah?"

Asher picked up one of the boxes, and they sped up and down the stairs, leaving the boxes at the front door and lining the hallway of their house.
"Perfect" Lucy smiled, clapping her hands together, "we did it just in time."
She could smell the male at the door a mile away. On queue, the doorbell rang and the mover guy was standing there, a bored look on his face.
"Ready?" he questioned.
"Ready" they both smiled, holding hands.

So, it was a new start for them. Little did they know - it could potentially be their end, too.