A/N: This little story is entirely dedicated to theladyingrey42. This chapter would not be possible without the beta genius of ahizelm and the help with my "Brit-speak" from Miss_Becky_Louise. Thank you ladies for helping me with this! If you've never seen Wineglass Bay in Freycinet Park, stop everything and google it right now. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

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The Setting: Freycinet National Park (Wineglass Bay), Tasmania
The Music: Angel, Sarah McLachlan

Term: Jumper = fleece or sweatshirt

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EPOV

Once again I'm awoken by a soft, warm hand on my shoulder and a husky voice calling my name. I open my eyes to Jasper's lean form bending over me in the dim light filtering through the blinds.

"The girls are still sleeping," he says quietly while looking over his shoulder at their bunks. "They got in pretty late."

"They did? I didn't even hear them come in." I rub my eyes and stifle a yawn with my hand.

He chuckles lightly and pats my shoulder. "You were out like a light, dude. I don't think anything would've woken you. Anyway, I wanted to get an early start if you don't mind."

"Not at all. We can leave whenever you're ready."

"This is a pretty steep hike over the pass, but I was planning on taking a dip in the bay after. I have a small backpack to bring some things if you need. I'm going to pack us a lunch. Meet you out in the common area?"

He backs up a little and I notice he's already dressed in light hiking trousers and a zip-up jumper over a dark t-shirt.

"Yeah, be out in a sec."

I quickly throw on a pair of khakis and a thin button down, throwing a pair of swim trunks on the bed to take with me. I run to the washroom and clean up a bit, deciding to hold off on showering until our return. We eat our breakfast hastily, wolfing down large mouthfuls of cold cereal before packing our lunch and grabbing a few things for the trip. He stuffs a pair of trunks and a map in the backpack and my trunks on top with our lunch and some water.

"Looks like we're all set." His eyes twinkle as he looks up at me. "Let's rock this popsicle stand."

I grab my camera bag, glad at the opportunity to use it and hoping to get a few choice shots of the unsuspecting Jasper.

The park is not that far and, before the sun is much above the horizon, we're pulling into the parking lot at the end of the twisting road. The trail for the Wineglass Bay Lookout leaves from this lot and heads almost straight up the mountain to the lookout, then down to the beach and finally looping back around to Hazards Beach. We decide to complete the loop and hope Hazards Beach will be fairly empty as most people stop at Wineglass Bay.

The hike up the mountain is fairly steep, but steps are carved into the rock, making the trip much easier. There are benches along the way with a few weary visitors making use of the resting place. Jasper and I talk about our plans for school and I learn that he will be starting his graduate work in War Studies at Cornell when he returns to the US. He deferred for the fall semester as the professor he wanted to work with was on sabbatical.

"Yeah, he's a really great guy. Studied in Europe actually, but he always had a fascination with the American wars so came to the States."

"Do you have a preference?"

"Nah, not really. Many of the European civil wars are very interesting - all the politics behind them. But, I'm also intrigued by the American Civil War." He turns to look at me before chuckling and adding, "Peter always says I'm a Confederate at heart."

I'm surprised at the casual mention of this bloke, Peter. Is he someone important? I decide I can't keep not knowing what's going on in his life.

"Peter? A friend?"

He rubs his wrist where I know that silver and turquoise band rests. "No, not exactly. Peter's...uh... Peter's my boyfriend."

"Really?" I can't decide how I should react - happy he bats for the same team or sad that he's already taken. He looks nervously at me and I realize he doesn't know how comfortable I am with that revelation. "My last boyfriend and I split about two months ago after almost two years together," I confess. "He didn't want to have a long distance relationship and he was moving back to Cambridge."

"That's horrible. You'd think two years would mean more."

"Yeah. You would think," I mumble, not entirely comfortable with discussing Alistair. I honestly thought he might have been the one, but one internship opportunity and he was just gone. No trying, no conversation. Just gone.

By the time we reach the top, we are both huffing and puffing, speechless from lack of oxygen and the amazing view. Below us, the bay is seemingly cut from the mountains as they almost meet at the mouth. The sand is glistening in the morning sun, the white expanse and blue waves calling to us.

"This is amazing up here," Jasper pants. "Makes me wish I climbed more mountains."

"This view is just splendid," I say between breaths. "Absolutely brilliant."

"You said it, man."

We both lean against the railing, basking in the morning rays of sunshine and enjoying the view. I climb a few of the nearby rocks, snapping pictures and even capturing a few of Jasper. Gazing over the bay, he looks so sad, so lost, and I wonder about what his life has been like to make him feel that way.

He turns to me and smiles and all his sadness melts away.

"Ready, dude? That beach is calling my name."

I laugh and he looks at me curiously. "I was just thinking the same thing," I explain.

We arrive at the beach in record time, half running down the mountain. Jasper laughs when we reach the sand, hopping on one foot as he removes his shoes.

"Come on, Edward. Race ya!"

He runs across the sand shoes in hand, his blonde waves dancing in the breeze, his laughter ringing across the waves. I remove my shoes as quickly as possible and run after him. He suddenly drops to the sand and opens his small pack, removing our swim trunks, handing mine to me.

"I don't know about you, but I am down-right sweaty after that. Let's go for a quick dip and then we can have lunch," he suggests.

I agree and we both change as inconspicuously as possible. I finish first and take off my shirt before running into the waves. The water isn't as cold as I expected and I dive in after a few steps. When my head breaks the surface, a great splash of water breaks over my head and I hear a whoop behind me from Jasper. I turn to retaliate but get another face full of water and I have to clear my eyes before going after him.

"You'll pay for-" I'm cut off as he splashes me yet again. I growl and dive after him but he leaps away. We roughhouse and laugh and splash in the waves, each trying to dunk the other. I grab him from behind, trying to drag him under the water and I feel a shiver travel down his body. I let go suddenly and he turns to face me, crouching in the waves and keeping his torso under the water.

"Jasper, if you're cold we can go lay on the beach and dry off a bit."

"Huh?" He looks at me quizzically and then his eyes widen with understanding. "Uh, yeah, I guess we should get out."

He follows me back to the beach and we flop into the sand. He reaches into his pack and produces a bottle of water, which I take gratefully. He turns to move the pack and the sunlight glistens off the taught muscles of his back and side. And broad white lines crisscrossing on his tanned skin.

"Jasper! What the hell are those?" Trying and failing to keep the horror out of my voice.

"Ahh. You noticed, did you? I was wondering when that would happen," he says, sounding defeated.

"What-" I pause, swallowing and try again. "What happened?"

"My dad and his belt happened. Many times over."

"Holy Christ," I swear, unable to tear my eyes away from the dozens of scars that cover his torso and arms.

"It's just a little reminder of him every day. Fucking bastard." He sighs deeply and runs his fingers through his hair before continuing. "My mother is a brave, strong woman, but it took years to escape from him. But, eventually, we did."

"Jesus, Jasper. I... I just couldn't even imagine having lived through that." I can feel the emotions threatening to choke me, sadness and anger warring inside of me.

Jasper laughs it off. "Twelve years of therapy and counseling and I'm okay now. Not perfect, never whole, but okay."

I take a minute to process the information, stunned by what he's revealed. I'm angry at his father and sad for the boy, but right now what I feel is somewhat like pride. Pride for this man before me that had to endure such pain as a child and still has the strength to move on, to be his own person and to share his pain with others.

"What ever happened to him?"

"My dad?" I nod briefly, worried about the answer as his brows furrow. "Yeah, well. Fucker got himself killed in a bar brawl a few years back. Good fucking riddance." He buries his fingers into the sand, forming tight fists before lifting and releasing the clumps. The pain and anger burned across his face is heartbreaking.

I want to hold him, I want to kiss him and tell him that everything will be alright. I know now that his scars run much deeper than his skin and I'm in awe that he is willing to share these stories with me.

Suddenly, he flops back onto the sand, his arms stretching above him. "Enough of this! This is a beautiful day on a beautiful beach with b...," he pauses and glances up at me before smirking. "I mean, very nice company."

"No, no Jasper. I'm fairly certain you were going to call me beautiful, which, I might add, is completely accurate." I lay on the sand next to him and he playfully shoves my shoulder. Gazing up through the palm trees, I try to pretend that the heat radiating through my body is only from the sun and sand, that there's no tension pulling on me from the man to my right.

I'm amazed how much more comfortable we are with each other now that we know we both bat for the same team. Yes, he's told me about Peter, but I don't think he would deny the instant connection between us. I feel like I've known him my whole life, that this easy camaraderie is just inevitable, natural. Being with him would be as simple as breathing.

Soon enough, it's time for us to continue our hike and we stuff our trousers into the pack. We have a short stint across the isthmus and then a longer hike along the coastline. We make good time across the flatland between the beaches and decide to eat our sandwiches on the go, eager to see the Hazards beach.

Jasper opted not to put his shirt back on, wanting to get some sun as he put it. Behind him on the trail, I can just see some black ink peeking from the top of the pack and wonder why I hadn't noticed it earlier. It looks like some sort of script and I promise myself to ask him about it later.

We cross Hazards beach and follow the rocky coastline back to the parking lot. Along the way, we see a few wallabies in the forest and two lizards sunning themselves on the rocks. We talk about lighter things, although Jasper mentions Peter several more times. He and Peter met at a support group for people from abusive homes. I can see that Peter is a big part of his life and that they have a strong connection. I haven't met the bloke, but I envy Peter that.

It may be selfish of me, but I want to be there for Jasper, too. We can be friends. I would rather have some part of him in my life than nothing at all. I resolve that I won't jeopardize my friendship with him because of my need to touch him. I can control myself for a few more days.

Arriving back at the car, Jasper puts his shirt on for the drive back, covering his tempting skin and causing me to sigh in relief. Or is it regret? When he settles in the seat, he gives me one of his winning crooked smiles.

"Ready?"

I smile in return, remembering him asking me this same question yesterday. Hoping I can pull this off, I respond the same way. "As I'll ever be."

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