I want to thank all of you for all the awesome feedback you've given me! Whenever I get a review I get really happy. I've been feeling really down these recent two-three years, and it's been getting worse recently - I've gone so far as apologizing to people I've done wrong when I was younger and even asking one of my old classmate why I'm so dislikable LOL. Kinda feels like I'm slowly losing it! But your reviews and feedback always put a smile on my face, so thanks to all of you! And I know, TMI on my personal life :P. Anyway, I giveth to you the fourth (fifth really) chapter! And I hope you like it! And don't worry, even though I'm in a funk I'll try my best with completing this story.

If I've gotten anything wrong, be it spelling or being historically or culturally correct it's all on me.

Chapter 4

Edward lay beside Jacob in one of the Asi, it was dark but he could make out the contours of the other mans body where he lay. It had been a very eventful day to say the least, and he had learned so much. He thought back to his old teacher who had looked down on these people with a sneer. His description of them was so wrong and the word savage was far off. These people were more civilised than his own kind.

Jacob had shown him around and introduced him to different people, his brothers on the sideline watching with careful eyes. He had asked him about the tattoos a lot of them wore and had learnt that it showed which tribe they belonged to. And then he had been taught about the tribes that lived in the area. Jacob, seeing the curiosity in Edward's eyes, had brought him to the man performing the tattoos. They had caught him in the middle of doing one and the young Englishman had only been able to watch for a short moment.

'That… looked too painful…'

"We take bones or stone, make them sharp and we carve the skin. Then we fill the wound with soot or dye." He pointed to his brother then to an older man. "We have wolf paws on us, because the wolf is our spirit animal."

He had tried listening, but the image of carved skin filled with soot made it hard to focus on anything really.

Luckily for Edward the women seemed to like him, although he had no clue what they said, they gave him warm smiles and talked to him. And the children seemed to be crazy about him and would attach themselves to his arms, legs and back. They reminded him of Alice. It seemed that no matter what colour skin a child would always be a child.

"They like your skin, they say it is prettier than Christopher's. And they say your eyes are like the sky, they like them very much." Jacob had told him with an amused smile. "Christopher's eyes were the colour of bark. None of us has ever seen eyes so bright."

This of course made blush bright red.

'Damn my English skin!'

The old men were at least friendlier than his brothers, even though they kept some distance.

He had been about to ask him if Christopher had done something more than trying to convert them to make everyone so careful of him when they stumbled upon a shocking scene. Two young men stood by a tree, KISSING. Edward stood rooted to the spot, while Jacob laughed and whistled to them, interrupting them. One of them looked up at Jacob with a playful smile and stuck out his tongue. He shooed at Jacob and then returned to his previous task.

Jacob had to gently tug at Edward's arm to get him out of his trance. He was about to ask the younger boy about what he had witnessed, but the bronze skinned boy beat him to it.

"I am guessing that sight surprised you, yes?"

Jacob didn't look at him and he didn't get the chance to answer before he continued.

"You notice that everyone are very careful around you, yes?" Edward nodded "My brothers did not just dislike that Christopher tried to make us believe in his God. Christopher was a nice and kind man, yes. But his God was a cruel God. He discover that in our tribe, some men love other men and some women love other women. He went mad and tried to "fix" them. Saying this made his God angry. Also, he did not like the tattoos."

Jacob turned and looked at him.

"We kick him out."

"So this is alright with you?"

Jacob smiled at him and patted his shoulder.

"Of course it is Edward! We do not decide who we love or what we lust after. There is nothing evil with love or lust, it is what makes us alive. As my mother use to say, the heart is blind."

"Why don't you have a tattoo?"

"I will get it when I turn eighteen."

To be honest, just spending a couple of hours here made him question his own beliefs.

The rest of the day was spent playing with the kids and listening to the elders. His father and sister would like it here. His father had never been an prejudice person, something Edward highly admired, and his sister got along with everyone.

Jacob turned to him.

"Why are you not sleeping Edward?"

It felt strange talking to someone, not able to see their expression or body language.

"Sorry Jacob, just thinking."

"It is all right my friend, what troubles your mind?"

"Nothing really… how will your father decide if you can guide me?"

"He and our spirit guider will talk with the spirits to see if you are not a threat, and what the future will look like with me involved with you."

"Will he tell you?"

"No, only the spirit guide is allowed to know what the future brings. And he is not allowed to do anything to change, no matter what. He can only give my father a yes or a no."

"Why is that?"

"We must all accept our destiny."

"Doesn't that scare you Jacob?"

"Not at all. You should not let fear control you, instead live life with no regret. Go for what your heart wants sometimes."

Edward didn't answer, he took in everything Jacob was saying. For a someone two years younger than him he was brighter than anyone he'd ever met before, and his way of thinking was so refreshingly new.

'God, I'm falling too hard too fast..'

Jacob had become silent, his breathing steady and deep.

"Jacob?" He asked silently. But was answered with silence.

His hand searched in the dark for the young man and came in contact with silky smooth hair. It felt nicer than it looked, which was saying something. Smooth skin ran under his fingertips as he reached Jacob's face. His thumb caressed his bottom lip, he could feel his breath.

'This might be the only chance I'll ever get…'

Edward slowly got up and leaned on his arm over the other boy. His heart was racing, beating like a hammer against his chest. He lowered his head slowly, and lips met lips. It was a shock to his system, like he had been struck by lightning. And for some reason, it was the most amazing feeling he had ever experienced.

Jacob stirred and the special moment was ruined, replaced with dread of being found out. Edward quickly returned to his previous position beside the other boy, trying to control his breathing. But it seemed that the other man hadn't been awoken by his bold move. He let out a sigh of relief and tried to go to sleep, the stolen kiss still lingering on his mind.

A/N: This chapter was very fun to do, and I think it was a very cute as well. Stay tuned! Lots of love to all of you!