EPOV

I woke up alone, but I wasn't too pissed at him. Jasper was like a dog with a bone in the mornings. He was probably already dressed and in search of breakfast. Last night had been amazing. I could understand why he would need the food.

I got up and headed for the shower. I had class today, work, and I had to meet the wedding planner Heidi had gotten. Jasper said he trusted me but I still demanded he be there. He wasn't about to leave me alone with some overzealous woman and flower arrangements. He was reluctant until I threatened to withhold all forms of sex until after the wedding. He changed his tune then.

The shower was great, but my stomach was grumbling and whatever was going on in the kitchen pulled me out of the bedroom as soon as I made the bed and got dressed.

I raced toward the kitchen. But Mercy crying on Jasper's shoulder put all thoughts of food momentarily out of my head.

"What happened?" I asked as I walked over to them. She ran out of Jasper's arms and slammed into me, wrapping her arms around me. Jasper looked both sad and furious. He turned away from me and I swore there were tears in his eyes.

"I told him not to bother," she said into my chest. I pulled back to look at her while she shook with tears.

"Mercy…"

"No," she met my eyes and said. "You understand. You and Tanya are lucky. I'm not. You both need to move on. This is all you can do. Nothing more. I thought about it last night and I realized, I don't have the heart to put you guys in any more danger. At least, if I end this now, I can keep Mikey from growing so suspicious he wants to act. I don't want him coming after you two. I wouldn't forgive myself."

"You need help!" Jasper said gruffly. "He's using you! You're a great girl. You can't…"

"I know!" Mercy shouted back. "Don't you think I want this? I would rather know guys who care about me and my well being instead of hurting me!" She cried a little and then continued, "I just…I want to protect you two. I know Mikey. He won't let me go."

Jasper walked away, grumbling about finding a way.

I had to think fast.

"You have to keep Jasper away," Mercy pleaded with me. "I wouldn't be able live with myself if Mikey stole him from you."

"I understand," I said to her. I was trying to be understanding but I was as pissed as Jasper was. This was unfair. I felt this connection with Mercy. I knew I was supposed to help her. I know Jasper will risk everything to help me assist her if I asked him and judging by the way he was acting, he might go ahead and do it on his own. He was very stubborn.

But there was truth in Mercy's words. Mikey wasn't going her go so easily. This would have to be done carefully if I wanted to get her out. And I did.

Breakfast was a delicious but solemn event. Mercy had cooked for us. She tried to sound upbeat, but it wasn't working. When we all left for the garage together, she and I hugged for a long while before I watched her and Jasper get in the Mercedes and drive off. I got in the Envogue and got on the phone with Embry. I asked him to watch out for Jasper, he was coming down there to drop someone off. Embry wanted to know more. I told him I'd call back.

Maybe he could help me. Scratch that, I knew he could.

I drove into the parking lot of NYU and killed the engine. Oliver was standing right in front of the car, waiting with a smile on his face. Today wasn't a good day for his crap. I thought I had made myself clear the last time we spoke. I was involved with someone. Someone I loved very much. I wasn't interested in anybody else.

I got out, grabbed my bag, and pushed my glasses up my nose. I locked the car and walked off. He jogged up to me. "Good Morning, Edward." He tried to slip his hand in mine and I flashed him off.

"What part of 'I'm in a relationship' don't you understand?"

"All part of it if I didn't think he was using you."

I stopped to look at him long and hard. "Why do you think he's using me? Did someone do that to you? Were you involved with him?" I was giving him enough to use against me but it would all be lies. I asked Jasper about Oliver. He didn't even know him until I pointed him out to him.

"I have never been in a relationship like that. You're the expert here, not me," he said rudely.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes at him. "Professor Whitlock and I are together. We're in a committed relationship and I have no interest in anyone outside of that."

He stepped closer and I backed away. "Are you sure I can't change your mind?" He gave me the once over. "I'm sure we could think of something."

"Not in a million years," I grimaced and walked off.

I couldn't believe how much of an asshole this guy turned out to be. I spotted my co-workers and friends and bristly walked over to them. They wanted to know what was wrong. I told them about Oliver bothering me, leaving Mercy out of it. They said to tell Jasper about it. I promised to.

Classes were back-to-back. I had assignments to complete which I decided to start tomorrow. I wanted everything done before summer break. Jasper and I were planning to be married as soon as possible. If we did it during summer, we could go on our honeymoon. Somewhere remote where I could enjoy uninterrupted time with my husband. I had to smile at the thought, I couldn't believe, that I was thinking about a honeymoon much less marrying the guy of my dreams. I, Edward Masen, was happy and in love.

I was heading to Psych class when I spotted Jasper across the quad and jogged over to him. His mood was sour but his face lightened when he saw it was me approaching him.

"What's wrong, darlin'?" he asked. I thought about telling him about Oliver, but decided to do so later on.

"Nothing," I said quietly, taking his hand in mine. "Remember lunch with your mom and the wedding planner, please?"

I didn't want to push him. If he didn't feel like it, I would go alone.

He smiled and leaned in for a kiss I was happy to give. "I'll see you there."

Psych was eventful. Oliver sat beside me in class and I was too pissed off at him to deal with any more of his bullshit today. He sat a little too close for comfort and tried to touch my upper thigh. I slapped his hand away and told him some very colorful things.

"That professor is just using you," he hissed at me.

"Go fuck yourself!" I shouted, shocking the entire class and stormed out.

I would apologize to my professor tomorrow.

Tanya called me on my way to meet with Heidi and the wedding planner. She urgently wanted to talk about something. I told her what I was doing and she said she'd meet me there. Jasper had said he would be there too and I trusted him.

I called Embry while in traffic because I needed help. Mercy was on my mind.

"Hey, Eddie boy," Embry said in his usual relaxed tone. "Saw to it your boy got out here safe this morning like you asked."

"Yeah. Thanks. He's not supposed to come back but I doubt he'll listen to me."

"Want me to make him?" Embry's way of making Jasper listen wasn't something I was looking for.

"No!" I said quickly. "I want…." How could I tell him?

"Easy, Eddie. Your boy is way ahead of you. He wanted to know about Mikey. I told him I'd look into it, and if it's possible, we'll see if we can buy her from him," Embry said. I sighed in relief. Jasper and I were on the same page. If Mikey wanted money, I would pay. I knew I couldn't do that every time I wanted something to work for me, but for Mercy, it was the only option I had. "I doubt it though," Embry continued, making my heart sink. "She's young, pretty and a good money maker. The motherfucker covets her, Eddie. If he sees someone paying too much attention, despite the money he's making, he'll fuck with the person. And I'm sure you don't want his ass coming into the perfect world up there in uptown and fucking it up?"

"No," I whispered into the phone. Jasper life and reputation worried me. He took a huge risk with me. My true identity and the truth behind my father's motive of getting rid of me has helped move the spotlight off the fact that The Whitlock's heir went cruising for love in the red light district so he could stumble across me. What would do it again do to his reputation this time around?"

"I know you'd get what I mean," Embry said with a chuckle. "Not that it's going to stop your boy."

"No." I laughed. Jasper was as stubborn as me. "It won't stop us. So give me something. I want Mercy. What can we do?"

"Well, if Mikey thinks any of that shit, he'll…"

"He'll get rid of her," I finished for him.

"Yeah. We gotta take it easy. Do it carefully. I know. She's a cute kid. A little smart ass."

"Yeah."

"Yeah, that's how I felt when I met Tanya," he said. "She reminded me of my little sister."

"I know, Embry."

"Alright, man. I'll let you know."

"Thanks." We hung up with me hoping things ended in our favor.

Tanya reminded Embry of his little sister. Her fire was similar to the one raging in his little sister whom he loved very much. The same sister he lost to cancer a year before Tanya came into his life.

Speaking of Tanya, she was calling me again. "What's up, babe?"

"I really need to see you," she said in a rush.

"We covered that. I told you where I was heading, but couldn't it wait until afterward?"

"No!" She said quickly. "I need to talk to someone or I'm going to rip somebody else's head off."

"Alright." What was going on with T? "I'll see you there."

"Yeah."

I got to the restaurant and handed over the car to the valet. I walked in, getting a sexy smile from the hostess. I smirked back, being the tease I was sometimes. Not because I wasn't interested didn't mean I couldn't make her day. She led me to the Heidi and our wedding planner's table. They both got up to greet me and then we sat down to lunch and discussing the wedding with Joanne, our wedding visionary. She was pleasant. I liked her. She wasn't overly sweet. She had just the right amount of sense of humor and humility. She was a strikingly beautiful woman. Tall, with shoulder length black hair, lovely caramel skin tone, making me ask her if she was of Spanish descent. She enthusiastically said yes. Her curvy figure kept the men at other tables eyes glued on ours.

Heidi loved that we were getting along. I was grateful for the distraction. Too much had happened today. Still, my mind was pondering how to keep Jasper from interfering. I'll talk to him about what Embry had planned when we were alone.

Joanne wanted to begin discussing a theme and I begged her to wait for Jasper. During our wait, I took the opportunity to poke fun at my future mother-in-law's choice in eatery. I told her I would have been comfortable at McDonald's and she looked like she was about to pop a vein. Joanne had a good laugh at her expense.

When Jasper walked in, time stopped. He looked dashing as he waltzed over to our table. His ruggedly handsome features kept almost every eye glued on him as he stopped in front of me and leaned down to kiss my lips, much to the jealousy of the group of girls seated across from us.

"Sorry I'm late," he whispered when he pulled away.

"You're right on time." I smiled and took his hand as he sat down.

Joanne introduced herself to Jasper and I breathed a sigh of relief when he looked okay with her. He was comfortable. That was good. Maybe talking about our wedding would put him in a good place so we could discuss what to do about Mercy later.

We were in the middle of talking 'theme'. Jasper and I were skimming through portfolio photos on Joanne's tablet when I heard the glory that was Tanya enter the restaurant.

We could hear her voice from all the way over at our table in the middle of the restaurant. "Look, you have until the count of ten to get either, Heidi Whitlock, Jasper Whitlock or Edward Masen to verify that they know me before you end up in the hospital in a large amount of pain," she told the hostess.

"Tanya! We're over here!" I got up and said before there was a blood bath. Tanya looked like she was on a rampage. She stomped over to our table. She muttered a greeting to Heidi, who greeted her back a little too brightly. She was obviously still a little afraid of Tanya.

Tanya was nice to the wedding planner. She kissed Jasper on top of his head and then she looked at me.

"What's wrong?" Something was up. She looked ready to scream or cry. If Jake did something, I was going to kick his ass.

"I'm gonna kill Jake," she said.

Jasper got her a seat and told her to sit down. "What happened?" I asked.

Tanya looked like she didn't want to say it. She was mumbling and stuttering about dates and getting it wrong. "T, spit it out!"

"I'm pregnant!"

Jasper was doubling over in laughter as I opened the door to let us into the loft. "I couldn't believe it! Jake was so scared!"

Jake had come running from work when we called. He met us at Tanya's apartment. Since I wasn't living there anymore, it was officially her place.

Jake had run out of a meeting when I told him it was an emergency.

It turned out to be. When the dust settled, he ended up with a bloody nose after Tanya jumped him, as soon as he arrived, for getting her pregnant. It took both Jasper and I to keep her off of him while he apologized. After Tanya was calm enough, Jasper and I spoke to her. We wanted her to see how good this news was. We were getting married. She and Jake were engaged and they were having a baby. Tanya still needed to process things. I knew what the problem was and we addressed it right away.

Tanya never saw herself as a mom. She thought herself as unworthy of being anybody's mom. She feared she wouldn't be able to protect her child from the harsh reality out there in the world, so she refused to try.

Jasper made her see otherwise. He reminded her of how strong she was. How wonderful she was. How lucky this child will be to call her mom. I told her about all the times she helped me. About how I would have given up on life long before meeting Jasper, if it hadn't been for her.

I think we got through to her.

"Let's talk about something else before you end up in the hospital from laughing too hard," I teased, rolling my eyes at him, crawling on his hands and knees into the loft.

He laid down on the floor on his back. I slammed the door shut behind me and climbed on top of him. He pulled me down into a searing kiss.

When we parted, I wanted things that should wait until dinner because I was starving. I told Jasper as much.

We got up and headed to the kitchen.

Jasper and I relaxed for the rest of the evening. I had already called Emmett and promised to work a full day tomorrow since I didn't make it in today. I had no school tomorrow and being away from Oliver would do me some good. If he said one more thing to me, I was going to kick his teeth in. I wasn't interested in cheating on Jasper.

"I like the theme for our wedding," Jasper said as he prepared the salad.

"Me too." I smiled. Our theme would be red and white. 'Purity and Love' I liked to call it. Jasper was my light. And he viewed me as his heart. Our wedding would be taking place at the Whitlock's mansion in the Hamptons in two weeks time. Getting the necessary paperwork together wasn't a problem for Heidi. She could cut through any red tape.

Jasper and I made dinner together, stealing a few kisses that grew too heated while we worked. We had a nice chat over our meal. I talked about my conversation with Embry and what we thought would be the right move. Jasper reluctantly agreed it was for the best to let Embry do things his way.

"We've got to have a little faith, right?" He smiled as he loaded the dishwasher.

"Yeah, I guess we do."

We retired to the living room for a movie after cleaning up the kitchen. It watched us. We spent the time making out. It felt so good to be in his arms. The world melted away whenever Jasper's lips brushed over mine.

He pulled away, his eyes alit with desire. "Let's go."

I let him lead me to the bathroom where he stripped me and then himself. We climbed into the shower together where he showered my body with kisses as he washed me. And I did the same for him. I took him into my mouth and loved him until he came for me, shouting his love.

When we curled up in bed together, we continued to talk. We talked about Mercy. We talked about Tanya and how great and equally funny she was going to be as a mom. I could only imagine how the birth was going to go. The doctor would probably be admitted in the same hospital when Tanya was through with him or her. Jasper asked about Oliver and if he was still bothering me. I told him what happened today in the parking lot and in class.

"I'll talk to your professor about your outburst in class," he said. "What do want me to do about Oliver?"

"Jasper," I whined. "I don't want anyone thinking that…"

"I'll talk to your professor," he said with finality. "Now how do you want me to address the issue with Oliver?" He was ready to defend me.

"If I can't handle it. I'll let you know."

He kissed me on the forehead and I felt safe. "Good. You do that. Sleep well, darlin'."

"I love you," I whispered, happy to be in his arms and nowhere else.

"I love you too."

Anything that came our way, we would handle it together.