A/N: I love theladyingrey42, so I wrote her a little somethin', somethin'. And she's nice enough to share it with y'all. Thanks to ahizelm for keeping me sane and Miss_Becky_Louise for keeping Edward's accent. If you don't know the song for this chapter, it's poignant and worth a listen.

This chapter is being posted early because I also love Yogagal and her love for good music and my boys. Nuff said.

The Setting: Port Arthur, Prison colony
The Music: What Would Happen, Meredith Brooks

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EPOV

I wake when I hear Jasper's feet hit the floor with a small thump. Bella and Tanya left the day before, so it is just us in the room. I roll over and stretch, watching Jasper rummage through his backpack before grabbing some clothes and walking out the door.

I take a deep breath and sit up slowly. This is it. Our last day together. I release the breath slowly, settling my nerves, wondering if I can do what I'm planning. Will I be strong enough?

Stretching again, I stand and get dressed, slowly repacking my bag and somewhat waiting for Jasper to return. He opens the door a few minutes later, freshly showered and wearing jeans and a tight short-sleeved white t-shirt. He breezes past me to start packing and his scent envelops me, smelling like soap and...him. I don't think I have ever noticed another man's scent before unless it was some smoker trying to kiss me, but it has never been a pleasant thing.

I sigh again and Jasper turns.

"What's up, Edward? Dreading today? Worried about the surprise?" He chuckles at me and returns to packing.

In truth, I had forgotten about his deal with me. I hope it doesn't involve climbing another mountain, as I'd rather be able to talk to him today without feeling completely winded. Although, if we go swimming again, it wouldn't be too bad.

He looks back at me over his shoulder expectantly and I realize I hadn't answered him yet.

"Um, no. I'm not worried about that. I'm curious about the surprise, just sort of sad to be leaving Bicheno. I like this little town."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," he agrees, looking around our little room appraisingly. "There's so much to do and see and it's all so close. And I always love being near to the ocean."

"I just like the warm and the sun. I'm missing nothing but grey skies and dreariness back home. This is lovely," I continue, hoping we can keep up our friendly banter today. I want to learn as much as I can about him, to store him away for later. This last, hopefully perfect, day.

"It's warm back home, too. And sunny. Just different." He shoves a jumper on the top of his backpack, cinches it closed and stands straight. "Well, that's it for me. Are you ready?"

I close my backpack as well and throw it over my shoulder before nodding. "Yes, sir. Lead the way."

"My pleasure," he quips, grabbing his bag and guitar before leaving the room and heading outside to the car. We load our things into the boot and he rounds the left side of the car. I try to hold back my laughter as he continues back to the right side.

"Damn English cars and driving on the wrong fucking side of the road," he mutters under his breath.

"I can hear you, you know," I say through my chuckles.

"Yeah, I know. Get in," he mutters, climbing into the driver's side.

I join him in the car, still smiling at his cursing until he glares at me. Then I just laugh again.

"For that, I'm not telling you where we're going. I was planning on giving you some clues to help you figure it out. Now, you're just along for the ride." He grins devilishly at me and I repress the sudden urge to grab his face and wipe the smirk off of it. With my tongue.

What is with me today? We had been doing well as friends, learning about each other, talking about everything. And today, I'm just thinking with my dick.

I shake my head minutely, trying to get my head back to the present. He must think I have some sort of tic with how often I do that.

"Doesn't matter where you take me today, Jasper. I'm sure it'll be brilliant. I'm all yours."

"Well, hold on. Here we go."

He backs slowly out of the lot and begins the return drive towards Hobart. He begins telling tales from his childhood, and we one-up each other with childhood scar stories. The drive is relaxed and, as I've found is typical with Jasper, is filled with laughter and easy banter. We talk briefly about his return trip and his plans with his mother, but we don't really touch on his leaving or that this is his last full day here.

After an hour, Jasper starts to peer at the road signs as they approach and turns off the highway at a sign that says "Tasman Peninsula." I look at him curiously and he just stares at the road ahead.

"You teased me, so you just have to wait now. No clues," he states firmly, but I see the corners of his mouth twitching, trying to resist his smile.

"Oh, you've made perfectly clear the results of my actions, sir. There's just somewhat down here that I wanted to see, so I'm being a bit hopeful."

"Really?" he questions, arching a brow at me. "Let's hope you get lucky, then."

Lucky, indeed. My mind, which hasn't been fighting against images of Jasper and I together, suddenly loses the battle and I'm flooded with images from my dreams, from our day at the beach. Of us. Together.

"Edward?" I look up to see Jasper gazing at me with concern. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I squeak out. Gah! I'm such a fucking girl. "It's nothing. I'm...just thinking."

"Oh, okay," he says, but he doesn't look convinced and the light teasing mood is suddenly dampened. I turn away and watch out the window as the rolling hills and dotted with sheep zoom past.

After a couple minutes, Jasper softly says, "Do you mind if I put on some music?"

"No, of course not," I respond, startled out of my reverie.

A woman's sultry voice sings over a backbeat and a simple guitar riff and I'm startled by the lyrics. What would happen, indeed.

I look over at him, his blonde curls waving in the breeze from the open window, wondering if he could possibly understand my feelings more than he's letting on. I'm watching so intently that I don't miss it when his eyes light up. He turns and smiles at me, his broad, blinding smile.

"We're here!" he exclaims, almost bouncing in his seat like a three-year old.

"We're where?" I ask, looking around the parking lot for a clue.

"Port Arthur prison colony," he says, just as a sign comes into view saying the same. "Well, the ruins of it at least."

We park the car near the entrance and he hops out excitedly. I follow soon after and he's practically bouncing on his toes. As soon as I round the car, he heads off toward the entrance.

"Come on, slowpoke!" he calls over his shoulder, walking quickly into the welcome center.

We buy day passes and book trips to see the Isle of the Dead where a majority of the burials were performed over the life of the colony. We start with the museum in the main building, learning about the different prisoners here and their daily lives, before heading out to see the grounds. Following Jasper, I watch as his eyes light up at almost every display and he quickly explains how the prison colonies here were different than those in America. I hadn't even known there were prison colonies in the US, but it doesn't surprise me. England wanted to get rid of their criminals and needed people to colonize the new lands. It's a simple two birds, one stone kind of deal.

After we tour many of the buildings on the grounds, including the old prisoner-built stone church, the haunted post office, the opulent governor's house and the Separate prison, we stop for lunch. The Separate prison really left an impression on me and we talk about what it must have been like then, to lose your identity and your communication with anyone. It's really no surprise the asylum is directly next door.

After lunch, we head to the docks and take the small cruise to the Isle of the Dead. Here we have a guided tour of the island and the inhabitants. Jasper listens with rapt attention to the stories behind the deaths of many of the men, and I watch him. It's amazing to see him in his element, history brought to life. It seems like I'm witnessing some basic, elemental part of his soul, seeing him for who he is implicitly. I wish I could show him the passion of my soul, share this part of myself with him. But that dream involves him visiting England, and with his studies and his life in the States, I know that is a far-fetched dream.

The day is amazing but passes quickly and, before I know it, we're exiting through the gift shop and walking back to the car.

"So, how'd you like the surprise?" he questions once we're settled in the car.

"It was brilliant, just as I hoped! It was on my must-see list, so I'm glad we went there today." I hesitate a moment before adding sincerely, "Especially because I had you as a guide."

He blushes and ducks his head slightly. "Well, I'm glad you liked it." He clears his throat and pulls the maps from the back seat. "Should we drive back to Hobart then? Would you have dinner with me tonight?"

"Definitely. I'd love to. That sounds wonderful," I respond eagerly and I watch his mouth twitch with a suppressed smile. I mentally berate myself for acting like a total spaz before he responds.

"Well, alright then. I'll take that as a yes." He turns around to back the car out of the parking lot and I can see his lips form a wide smile.

"It's just... well. It's your last night and all... we should do something special," I say, trying to justify my eagerness, though I think I'm just making things worse. Luckily, Jasper doesn't seem to notice or takes pity on me. Either way, he agrees and mentions a vegetarian restaurant that we could go to. I try to be less enthusiastic in my assent this time and we start the drive back.

I watch him while he drives, his right arm out the window letting it catch the wind occasionally. I'm going to miss these carefree days, the ease of our conversations, our playing around and sharing music. I sigh and pull my eyes from his beautiful face, looking out my window.

Who am I kidding? I'm going to miss him.
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