Astrid moved on instinct. Her right arm came and pushed against the inside of Maria's lifted leg, easily propelling her backwards. The matriarch of the army fell to the ground, dust flying slowly around her, and it was poetic in a sense. It was the beginning of the end.

Astrid was in flight or fight mode. She was fighting for her life; she had so much to live for now, no way in hell was Maria going to rip her head off. The redhead bolted to slam a foot over Maria's chest, holding her down, holding her life in her hands. She could rip her head off now- it could all be fucking over. She could see her and Major running to California, maybe even across the wide oceans. Fuck, the whole world was in her hands and Astrid could taste it all on her tongue.

Maria was snarling through her teeth, venom coating her lips and sparkling in the sunlight. She looked like a fallen angel, her black tresses fanned around her perfect face, her red dress vibrant in the dirt. The last woman her father offered help, the only woman who touched her mother in the worst way possible. This monster was the cause of everything and Astrid was standing on it all.

She could finally give retribution. How tantalizing.

The threatening growls were the first to break through. Her dark eyes lifted to see the entire camp circled around them, shifting and bent to launch. Major had his hands out, his lips were moving but Astrid couldn't hear. It appeared that the army didn't hear him either. The sun began to set as did Maria's chance of dying.

She couldn't fight the army. She couldn't have Major fight the army.

Astrid's foot slacked on Maria's chest. Maria used that to her advantage and grabbed Astrid's ankle, spinning till it twisted off. Astrid screeched in pain and back handed Maria, but before she could someone else intervened. Major slammed Maria face first into the ground, grabbing her hands so they were behind her back. Newborns shrieked at the sudden change, a few feet sounding like they were coming closer. Astrid crouched and grabbed her torn foot, wincing as she reattached it.

"You have no respect for the people who do your bidding," Major snarled. Maria spit hair and dirt out of her mouth. "She looked and she found nothing. You're going to rip her head off for that? You're loosing it, Maria."

"Get off! Now!" She hissed, shaking until he stood right. Maria stood as well, looking between Major and the squatted Astrid. "You're pathetic, Major. All of you are nothing more than my creations, you hold no meaning to this world. You like her pussy? You can keep her around," Maria moved so that she stood over Astrid, scowling. "But your time is over. You hold nothing of importance to our cause anymore."

Maria spat on the floor and shot a kick at Astrid that Major easily blocked. He glowered after her retreating form and waited until she entered the farm house before he bent to help Astrid stand. She wrapped an arm over his shoulder, wobbling as she followed him to the woods. The newborns separated in silence, eyes dark and unreadable as the two disappeared.

Major wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up bridal style. She blinked in shock, "I can walk, Major."

"I know. Let me help you," Major's lips were straight in annoyance. "I knew you could handle her. I knew you would end her. But then, when you had her, your emotions went from pure fury to acceptance. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking of what you told me. Of Benito and the others coming for you if she died."

Major shook his head, "You shouldn't have been thinking about me. She was going to rip your head off and give you the true death. She would've burned you."

"But you protected me," Astrid snorted, thinking of when Major had saved her from Benito's men. "You always do. Why? Surviving Maria would be easier without someone else to worry about."

Major reached the rock he had run to when his arms had been hurt. He sat her down and kneeled before her, grabbing her wounded leg. He lifted her skirts to her waist, exposing her scarred legs. He ran his hands down her legs before landing on the ankle, rubbing his thumb over the fusing skin. He lifted his thumb and licked it before rubbing his own venom over the rip. There was a sting as his venom mixed with hers before the tear began to heal faster. Venom always was helpful.

He kept his hands on her ankle when he spoke, eyes down, "When you were reborn you were the most annoying shit in the entire world. You constantly attacked me, you acted like an animal if anyone tried to speak with you. But, when we trained, you were another person. You loved to fight, you matched me at my level. As you grew you became one my confidants, someone I would look for when I had to do something for Maria. Peter, he hated it. For ten years he was the one I would ask and suddenly it was you."

"That's why me and Peter didn't get along," Astrid giggled, wiggling her toes when he still hadn't released her. He tugged on them and met her smile with his own. "We just wanted you all to ourselves."

"Astrid," Major leaned closer, spreading her legs so that he was between them. To keep her balance she grabbed his shoulders, squeezing when their noses touched. "We've been dancing around each other for years. I know how you feel about me, fuck I can feel it," His right hand travelled up her thigh. She licked her lips. "You feel how I feel about you."

Her lashes fluttered shut when an intense feeling of lust and care flowed through her. His lips trailed her cheek, just over the scar he had given her. Her fingers clenched at his shirt, nervous over his words. They never spoke like this before.

"Major, I-"

He pulled back. He looked heavenly in the sun, his golden curls more bouncy today than they had been in a while. His lip pulled back in disdain, "What's my name?"

"You're my Major," She grabbed his cheek, running her thumb under his tired eyes. "I have a hard time coming to terms with you being someone else. But you've changed just as much as I have, Jasper."

He moved like a viper. His lips encases hers, dominant and knowing exactly what he wanted. Astrid moaned in his hold, letting him push her back onto the boulder. He straddled her, his hands holding either side of her face so she couldn't pull away.

"The thought of loosing you, of anyone taking you from me, is not one I want to meet again," He bit her bottom lip, drawing venom. His hands returned to her skirts to tear them in half. "You're mine, do you understand?"

"Yes, Jasper," She whined, arching her back as he took her bodice. She laid bare for him, her eyes never leaving his. "Always."

"Fuck." Jasper snarled, kicking his own pants off.

It was better than she imagined. He held her to his chest, swallowing any sound she made when he entered her. Jasper moved so that she was in his lap, moving at her own pace, and tugging at her red hair. His lips moved from her throat to her mouth, never leaving her for a second.

Their spot was full of floating emotions. Worry, content, lust. It was there, ever present, but she was lost in his touch. Astrid was lost in the happy haze, almost feeling like she was back under Corin's power.

"Mine, mine, mine," Jasper repeated in mantra. His hands landed on her lower back. "Fuck this place, fuck them all. We'll get out of here, we'll fucking live on the beach in that God forsaken California if you want."

"I want a dog," She panted, pushing his hair back. "I want a dog and a house, I want it to be normal for a while."

He bit at her shoulder, "You can have all the fucking dogs in the world."

"No more fighting?"

"We'll be fucking nuns."

"No more Major?"

He kissed her, "Never for you."

Astrid's head fell back, lost in pleasure and peace.

Astrid moved quickly through the woods. The moon shone bright that night, the moths flying abundantly. She heard the twinkling river to her right and turned the opposite way, running for ten minutes before coming to a stand still. She looked around her before blowing a low whistle and waiting once more.

"Astrid!" Charlotte flew out of the trees, blonde hair shining in the night. The youngling hugged Astrid tight, burying her nose in Astrid's neck. "How is he?"

"He's beaten but fine. It should be over soon, Maria has her eyes on someone else now," Astrid dodged around the subject, smiling when Charlotte pulled away. "Maria wants the Major to kill Bethany and Tanner tomorrow, that will be our chance."

"Do you think it'll work?"

"Of course."

Charlotte nodded, "Thank you for all that you're doing. You can come with us, can't you?" She grabbed Astrid's hands, searching her eyes for something. "If you can get Peter and me out of here, can't you come too?"

"Not yet, I have a few more things to finish up. By this time next year I'll be joining you, free of all this," She jokingly punched Charlotte's shoulder. "You better be prepared for when I come to visit."

Charlotte's smile wasn't as big as before, "You better visit us, sugar. Don't die after we leave."

Astrid didn't think death could touch her now.