Nettie had always been the nice one out of the sisters. She would smile and hold a hand out to help those who were on the ground. It was a kind gesture considering that Lucy would cackle and stomp on someone's stomach while they were down.

Nettie wasn't nice during Astrid's fourth battle.

It was against a lower rank coven ran by Walter. He was trying to become a big man in the war, was trying to upstage Benito. He had taken down a couple of Benito's little raids but when he had attacked one of Maria's, it was now in their hands to react. Nettie had gathered a troop, full of a rage driven Astrid and Major.

He stood at the front of the ranks, hands behind his back, curls pushed back. Nettie paced behind him, her dress being left for men's trousers and a top. Astrid had been gifted new clothes the other night, a nice silk top and pant bottoms, not matching at all, but in her life that didn't matter. She stood in the center of the flank, nervous, anxious, scared.

Walter walked out of the trees with fifteen newborns behind him. They snarled and hissed, snapping teeth. Nettie stopped and stared at them. The Major rolled his shoulders.

It was a silent go.

The newborns ran at each other. Astrid darted past her fellows and grabbed the first newborn she saw, twining an arm around it's neck as she ran past. It fell and Astrid turned back, stomping on the head. She was kicked in the back and fell to her knees. Hands wrapped around her neck and pulled - she felt herself disconnecting - but she slammed her hands back and clenched the kneecaps. The person howled in pain and fell to her level. They rolled on the ground, tearing at each other's skin, before Astrid wrapped her legs around their waist and grabbed their neck, digging her teeth into their neck and ripping. The head rolled and she got to her knees, snarling at the next vampire to cross her path.

"Hey."

Astrid blinked rapidly and looked up.

Jasper stood over her, eyebrow raised in question. She looked past his legs to see newborns fighting. Oh yes, she had been watching over training.

"Sorry. I got lost in my thoughts," She smiled grimly. "Aren't you supposed to be fighting them?"

"You're supposed to be watching me. Can't exactly perform well when I feel you so distracted." He said blandly.

Astrid frowned and looked at Maria's window. Jasper chuckled and felt comfort run down her spine, soothing her nerves. She was worried to push Maria's buttons, especially when it came to Jasper. Their creator may have an idea to what was going on between them but that was nothing compared to actually seeing it.

"I understand. Why don't you go hunting?" He suggested, drawing her gaze back to him.

"I don't want to go alone. I'll wait." Astrid decided, crossing her legs in a position that signaled she wasn't going to move.

Jasper turned without another word and jumped into the fighting. He grabbed a newborn by the back of the shirt and flipped him to his stomach, planting his boot on their back. The other newborn swiped at Jasper and easily dodged, grabbing their swinging arm and holding it in his armpit. He punched the conjunction between their shoulder and neck and the newborn immediately fell limp.

He dropped the beaten and stepped off the other one, looking over his army. They met his gaze silently.

"Take a break." Jasper instructed.

The newborns exhaled and quickly grouped up, either for a fuck or a feast. Jasper turned back to her and she stood expectantly, waiting for him to walk past before she followed. She glanced at the house one last time to see the curtain fall shut.

There was a small garden in Galveston that was secluded from the town. It was surrounded in rose bushes and hanging willow trees, shady and romantic. Astrid stopped at the path leading to the garden, looking at Jasper.

"A garden?"

"I'm tired of breaking into houses, aren't you?" His lips quirked upwards. "I wanted a walk outdoors."

"We live outdoors, Jasper," She dead panned, not amused. "Let's go somewhere else."

"And what do you suggest? An old lady who's about to die?" He snapped, stepping forward so that she had to peer up his nose to get a look in his eye. "We're killers, Astrid, we live off the hunt. I understand you still have respect for life but do not hold yourself back. Do not hold me back."

She scoffed, "Oh, I'm sure I could't hold you back if I tried," She looked at the walkway once more before turning back to Jasper. "Gardens hold children."

He cupped her cheeks, "We will not kill a child."

Astrid scrutinized him before nodding. He gave her a searing kiss, holding her still so he could bite at her lips. She couldn't help but laugh at it and he released his hold on her, entwining their hands. The walkway was in red rock and short, leading to a small circle of grass. There were three couples already there; one at the center with a blanket having a lovely picnic, one walking hand in hand as they smelled the roses, and the other kissing against a tree, their bodies rutting against each other.

Jasper glanced at her and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. She wasn't afraid to kill, that would be hilarious, but she was afraid to kill a child, a mother, sister. That was what stopped her when she looked at young humans, she saw their whole lives ahead of them like her's had been. But she was a killer, there was no doubt, and she did love a good massacre every now and then.

Astrid moved first. She grabbed the couple smelling the roses, breaking the man's knees so he fell in screams. She grabbed the female and dug into her neck, moaning at the taste of hot blood dripping down her throat. The man grabbed at her ankles, his nails feeling like a fly repeatedly hitting her, before he screamed and she heard his body being yanked from her.

She finished the girl by the time Jasper had snapped the kissing couple's necks. The picnic goers gasped and ran for the walkway. Astrid, blood drizzling down her chin, and grabbed the man by the throat. She held him up, letting him kick. Jasper grabbed the girl from behind, yanking her head back by the hair. They made eye contact before digging into their neck's.

Astrid dropped the body just in time to be swooped into Jasper's arms. Her hands were covered in blood, it smeared on his cheeks and neck where she clung to him. He held her by the ass, kissing her, and carrying her to the bloodied picnic blanket. He laid her down, kneeled between her legs, and shoved the dead woman's arm out of their way.

"What were you thinking about earlier?" Jasper asked, slowly taking apart her dress.

She stretched her arms over her head, wrapping her legs around his waist. She closed her eyes, "I was thinking of the battle with Walter and Nettie."

She felt his lips on her neck, faint touches, "What about it?"

"It was the first time you saved me. Do you remember?"

Jasper pulled her skirts off, leaving her in only her bodice. He placed his hands on her inner thighs, rubbing circles.

"You were fighting four. I saw you across the field. Nettie had been next to you, you were fine, and then I looked up and she was letting you take them so she could retreat. The bitch was never a good fighter," Astrid opened her eyes. He was already looking down at her, a stray hair falling over his nose. "They grabbed your arms, your legs, I never felt so angry. I didn't understand it, I thought it was over Nettie being useless, but all along it was you. I couldn't stand to see you in pain."

Astrid wrapped a hand around the back of Jasper's neck, yanking him down for a kiss. Their tongues twisted, swallowing each other, and he entered her. There was something intoxicating about being under the sun, blood on their skin, the smell of them and the roses. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, her own pleasure being increased by Jasper's gift.

"Jasper," She panted, biting at his chin. He held her tight at the hips, his eyes down. "Promise me we won't die."

"We will never die. We're immortals, doll, you're stuck with me for the rest of your days." Jasper snarled, holding her neck. His fingers dug into her skin but it was comforting, a reminder that he was with her.

Astrid could only ask so many times until she began to believe it.

They washed in a nearby creek, Astrid using the time to be carefree. She jumped on Jasper's shoulders, dragged him under the water, and even splashed him. He had taken retribution by throwing her ten feet away. It was, dare she say it, fun.

Astrid took a dress from the couple by the tree, a light yellow that flattered her hair. Jasper stood at the walkway, wearing tight trousers and an white shirt that he didn't button all the way. He gave her a grin as she walked to him.

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

She fell into his side, "You tell me."

"Mm, that's no fun." He murmured, giving her a peck on the lips.

Astrid sighed, the question burning her tongue. Jasper pulled back and rolled his eyes, "What?"

"When do you plan to have this war?"

It's been a week since Peter and Charlotte escaped. One week since the Volturi found Astrid. She was on nerve. She felt like a whole shit ton of crap was going to fall on them at any second, and they were in this sex crazed mindset. She wanted to be prepared.

"Soon."

"When is soon?"

He was getting annoyed, "When I decide."

"Why are you waiting so long? You know where Santiago and Benito are, why won't you just let them tear Maria so we can leave?" Astrid pushed, ignoring the way he stepped back and clenched his jaw. "Do you want to leave, Jasper?"

"Yes, I do want to leave. I want to fucking burn Maria at the stake. I want to tear apart all of Texas for what the fuck it's done to me," He snapped. "But I will not ruin this because I am impatient. When the time is right, and I will fucking know when it is, is when it'll happen. Fucking soon."

Astrid sighed, "I understand-"

"I don't think you do. You're nothing in all this, doll, you're just a man in the masses. But me? I'm Maria's second hand man. I've been here since the beginning, I've destroyed her enemies, her sisters, I've watched this come to life. Everyone has seen me," He pulled her close. "I will not risk having problems in the future. This will all be finished the day I decide it."

"Okay."

Jasper rolled his eyes once more, "You're not happy with me."

"No, I'm not. I think you're nervous and afraid to be done with this life. I think you'll miss it," She pulled on one of his curls. "But we will create something new."

"What did you have in mind?"

Astrid hummed and pulled him back to the center of the garden. She grabbed his hand, entwined their fingers, and placed his other on her waist. They began to sway in the silence.

"For starters we will get our own house and our own bed and shower. I want to be fucked in the shower, on the bed, in the kitchen. I want every spot in that house to smell like us. Then, we'll go and see Peter. I know you miss him, I see you always looking for him before you check yourself. Maybe we'll stay with them for a while. Maybe we'll travel the world. But, after that, I want my dog."

Jasper laughed, deep and raspy, "You and that damned dog."

"Me, you, and the damned dog. Please Jasper," She grabbed his chin. "Please stick with this. We are leaving."

"Yes, doll, I promise."

Astrid ducked the fist flying at her face. She grabbed their arm and used it to slam them to the ground, pushing her foot into their armpit until she felt the arm dislocate. She looked up to see the other duo's still fighting. She pushed her hair back and looked at the farm house, shocked to see the front door open and Maria walk out.

"Maria!" A few newborns called, still in awe of her.

She held out her hands, "The time has come. We will march to Houston, we will find Benito, and we will finish this."

There were roars across the yard. Astrid looked over the cheering heads, staring at the side of Jasper's face. He stood stone faced, arms crossed. She returned to look at Maria. Her eyes were already locked on Astrid.

"We leave at night fall. Astrid, Major, with me." Maria walked back into the house.

Astrid followed Maria to the sitting room, standing at the edge of the sofa. Jasper walked in after, closing the door behind him. They stood in silence until Maria turned to look at them, her eyes red.

She moved so fast, her hands wrapping around Astrid's neck and shoving her to the ground. She gasped, her hands moving to fight back, but Maria grabbed them in one hand and squeezed. They broke and she cried out, stopping when Maria put pressure on her neck. Maria stood behind her, her arm holding Astrid's neck, her other clutching her hair. Jasper growled deep in his chest, taking a threatening step forward.

Maria tutted, "Not so good at secrets, are you Major? I see the way you look at each other, the way you only hunt with each other and come back in new clothes. You haven't been visiting my bed, my Major, it makes me feel ignored. I don't like it," She yanked at Astrid's hair until her head fell back. "You are mine. When we go into this battle you fight for me. Astrid is a big girl, hmm? She can handle herself."

Jasper had a look of murder, "Let her go, Maria."

"This is only the beginning, monster. If you so much as leave my side during the battle, I will make sure that she dies. Either from my side or his," Maria's teeth grazed Astrid's neck. She whimpered, worried. She refused to believe this was it- there were so many times she came close to death and escaped, this had to be another one. "Or should I kill her now and get it over with?"

"You'd kill yourself along with her." Jasper threatened, his voice low. His eyes were slowly turning black, the monster making an appearance.

Maria and Jasper had a stare down, Astrid between them. It felt like years before Maria released her hold on Astrid. She flew forward, wrapping her arms around his waist and standing behind him. She hated being weak, she hated that her hands were crushed. She wished she could be the one threatening Maria's life. Jasper moved so that he covered all of Astrid from Maria.

"You're my pet, don't you forget. A pet's loyalty is always to it's master." Maria sneered, standing wide legged across from him.

Jasper stepped back, pushing Astrid out of the sitting room. When they were in the hallway he wrapped his arm over her shoulders and led her out of the house and towards the trees. She stared at her hands as they walked to their rock, shocked to see that Maria had actually gotten a wound on Astrid.

"You weren't expecting it." Jasper muttered, watching as she sat on the rock. She held her hands out for him to begin setting in place so they could heal.

Astrid scoffed, "I actually was. I just haven't been in my head lately."

Jasper said nothing until he finished with her hands, "None of us have been. When was the last time we fought? A year ago, and you and I were on the sidelines. We've gotten comfortable."

"That's not good."

"No, it's not," He sat beside her and clasped his hands in his lap, sighing. He looked tired all the sudden. "I'm not going to risk Maria turning on you. You already have the fucking Volturi after you, the last thing we need is the trainees to get their hands around you. I will be by Maria during the battle."

Astrid leaned her head on his shoulder, "And what about Santiago?"

"I'm going to send a clueless patrol to where they're located. Santiago's men will kill them, follow the scent back, and it will lead them to us fighting with Benito." Jasper laid it out for her.

"The only ones we can't plan for are the Volturi," She grumbled, her eyebrows furrowing. "If they show up, they're mine."

Jasper nodded, "It's a plan. A shitty one, one that I didn't want, but it'll do."

Astrid couldn't help but laugh, "It's war, Jasper. You can plan all you want but it always goes to shit."

He looked her in the eyes, "Don't let it go to shit, eh doll?"