Heeeyyy guys... I know it's been awhile and I apologize... It's just been hard to write lately because, for one, I had a death in the family that hurt, like, A LOT... And two, I've kinda had writer's block but it's all good now... Thanks to KittieKat121 and staringatthesky for all your help and support through all this!:):)

I think TC&HA may almost be finished guys... There's still a few chapters left with some things to finish up before then though... AND, of course, THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL...:):) I just have to finish TC&HA first, of course... I think in the end that it'll be like 16-18 or so chapters, 20 at the most... Is that too short?! What do you guys think?!

***Through Paradise***14

Making love to my wife was like nothing I'd ever experienced. Most people, even now, don't say "making love" when coupling, but it was hard to refer to Alice and I as to anything that I'd ever done with Maria.

It wasn't often that I used my gift, even more rare when we coupled. We did have our wild, reckless nights, I'll admit... And, let me tell you, my gift made it all the more sexy and pleasurable for both of us.

Many times on our way back to Philly, we'd have to make a "pit stop" that turned into a little more than just a hunt...

Along our way, I smiled at her glee as my eyes turned the color of pure gold, finally a mirror image of hers. The bright glow of my new eyes startled me at first, my "vegetarian" diet only somewhat satisfying my animalistic instincts. Lust still burned through my body, my wife satiating it in ways the blood never could.

When we finally made it back, Sally came rushing out to greet us with a grin and tears. It was good to be home!

"It's about time you bring her back around here, young man," she playfully clucked her tongue with a smirk and pulled us into her arms. Playfully rolling my eyes, I held the door as the two most important women in my life, at that time, chatted eagerly and breezed into our cafe.

It was still hard to imagine that only a few months had passed since I'd met my Alice in that very diner. Almost harder to imagine still were the changes I'd made simply because I'd met my soul mate and fallen in love; my new and current diet was proof enough of that.

My wife's airy giggle filled my ears and brought me back to the present. "I haven't gotten much sleep if that's what you mean..." I held her hips and pulled her into my lap with a smirk, teeth teasing against her skin. Huskily chuckling as Sally blushed with a giggle, I caught her chin as she ducked away from me. "I told you not to hide from me, darlin'..."

"Jasper Whitlock, you better behave, young man! You are in the public eye, ya know..."

Sweet ol' Sally had no idea just how much trouble I could be...

With my soul mate forever by my side, I didn't realize just how quickly time passed... Weeks blurred into months and months bled into a new year.

~000~

The year was 1950, marking 2 years that Alice and I had been together. We were as happy as could be and as in love as the day we'd met. I couldn't ask for anything more. Hell, I didn't WANT anything else!

We'd followed her visions at a distance for some time and found ourselves in Mississippi, one of the many places the Cullen's called home. It was a freezing day in December when it happened.

Snuggled under the covers with my wife, I did what needed to be done to make sure my Alice stayed extra warm and cozy... If you get my drift...

Giggling, she wound her sexy little self around me and peppered my face with kisses, moving along my skin teasingly. Her dark, lusty eyes met mine through fluttering eyelashes as she froze in mute hesitation at my belly button. With a gentle smile, I twined my fingers into her hair and pulled her into my arms. "Not if you don't want to, Alice..."

"I want to, Jasper! God knows how much pleasure you give me, I wanna do the same for you."

"You do, Alice... Anytime you put that tight little body of yours right up against mine, or flutter your lashes, or use that "bedroom voice" that you know drives me absolutely insane...

Hell, just looking at me like you are now, fluttering your lashes with your big, golden eyes and seeming so innocent and naive about the bedroom, is making me horny as hell, darlin'."

I lowered my head with a low growl and found her lips, tangling our tongues together, as she went limp in my arms. Pulling away, I stared down at her as her eyes fluttered open, distant and glassy as a vision pulled her under.

Over time I'd learned that when she was in this state, so close to me yet so far away, there was nothing I could do but hold her tight and wait it out. I didn't have to wait too long this time...

"Alice, what'd you see, darlin'?" In less than a second, her body was racking with sobs as I held her, desperately clutching her to me. What had she seen to make her react like this?!

"Death."

~000~

The bitter, unforgiving weather was frosty as we stood holding each other tight outside the frozen shut iron gates. Beyond the falling darkness, our heightened senses saw each and every headstone marking each and every body. Her visions had led us here, to this cemetery.

"What'd you see, Alice?" My voice was soft, pleading almost, as she squeezed me tighter with a shiver. Taking her chin, I forced her eyes to meet mine.

"Alice, you can tell me anything, darlin'. Anything and everything... I'm here to stay! Nothing will change the fact that I am yours and you are mine. Now tell me, what'd you see?"

"My gravestone."

Confused, I took her hand and gently pulled her into my arms, my eyes searching her face. "What?! Alice, you're right here... What do you mean, darlin'?!"

She sniffed, eyes red and tear-stained, before speaking in halting tones. "I don't remember much of my human life... Most of it's just a blank space in time... I really just remember the darkness and loneliness, and wishing for you... When I woke up, I was all alone in a cell at an asylum... I don't know why I was there or what had happened... I just knew that whatever my future held, no matter my forgotten past, I was meant to find you and we were meant to be together forever and always.

Since you came along, I've been getting these "flashbacks," and today I saw my gravestone... Jasper, for whatever reason, my parents said I was dead; the date of my supposed death is the exact one that I was admitted into the asylum..."

Sucking in a breath of frigid air, I held her tight against me with a low growl. Her emotions were so thick I could taste them on my tongue; she felt unwanted and unloved. Not as long as I was here! I hated when she felt like this, anything other than her perky self... Happiness was practically her trademark!

"Don't pay attention to any of them, Alice! They're just pathetic humans, what do they know?! You're strong and beautiful and all mine and all I will ever need."

She nodded limply, her face sinking further against my hand as I lovingly stroked her cheek. "I wanna see it..."

Nodding, I softly kissed her forehead with a sigh. This was something she'd want to do alone. Smiling, I ran my thumb over her face once more and watched as she nimbly vaulted the gates, her feet light and soundless against the snowy ground.

If there was anything my Alice was, she was strong and independent. I'm not saying she didn't need me from time to time, though...

~Alice~

The cold bit at my skin, clawing through my turtleneck blouse and jeans. Shivering as I left his side, I walked across the snowy ground to the all-too familiar headstone. This was me- my headstone, my supposed death. What had I done to deserve this?!

Falling to the ground with a sob, I gingerly brushed away the frozen dirt. My fingers stiffly ran over the cold, cement inscription, my whole name staring me in the face. Mary Alice Brandon.

My name. I had a name! Mary Alice Brandon! I guess I'd be Mary Alice Whitlock now... I think I like Alice... Just unique, beautiful Alice Whitlock!

"You are Alice Whitlock. Mary Alice Brandon is dead. She is dead. YOU are dead."

Whimpering, I lay in the snow with my head pillowed on the headstone. Closing my eyes with a heavy sigh, I held my tongue in the air and caught snowflakes as they fell to the earth around me. Muffling a sob as he lay beside me, I buried my face in his chest. "I missed you, Jasper. I'm sorry... You shouldn't have to see me like this..."

"Alice, I'm your husband. I love you and YOU shouldn't expect me NOT to see you like this! I want to hold you and comfort you and just be with you when you're like this, darlin'. I'M sorry I left you alone... Are you ok?!"

Nodding limply, I clutched him tighter as he fluidly stood with me bridal style in his arms and a small smile flitted across his face. "It's freezing, darlin'... Let's go back to the hotel and get some rest..."

"Kiss me, Jasper. Remind me that I'm not Mary Alice Brandon. Tell me I'm your Alice Whitlock forever and always..."

Gazing down at me, he ran a finger over my face and cupped my cheek. "You ARE mine, Alice! Forever and always!"

Crushing our lips together, he backed into a tree and was soon pinned beneath the weight of my desire and love. Slipping to the ground, I kissed him long and hard before leading him to my headstone. Pulling him above me, I smiled coyly and fluttered my eyelashes. "NOW tell me how much you love me."

In the fluttering snow on the freezing ground beside the head stone of the ghost of the girl I once was, that's exactly what my husband did.

~000~

When the sun broke through the clouds, the day found us still entwined together and exhausted after our all-nighter. Smiling in pure bliss at my husband, I twined our fingers and stood, snapping the buttons of his long sleeve shirt around myself. "You're on your own now, cowboy."

Smirking, he zipped himself in to his pants and pulled me into his arms with a wink. "I am, am I?! You mean, my wife's gonna leave me out here in the snow all by myself while she wears nothing but my shirt around a bunch of other guys?! I think not."

Giggling, I nodded limply as his lips caressed the Mark he'd given me last night. Shuddering against him, I fisted his hair in my fingers and drew his lips to mine. "Yeah, Jazz, I think I might..."

Pulling away, he teasingly nipped at my earlobe with a smirk. "Oh really?! Because I might just keep you locked in our room all day long in our bed if you do... Try me... I dare ya."

Winking, I swung my hips as I turned my back on him and left for the hotel. "Double dog."

Then, he tossed me like a rag doll over his shoulder. Smirking, he strode across the street in the direction of the hotel as I sighed in exasperation against him. My husband was impossible!

"Jasp- OH! Mrs. Whitlock! What a surprise!" Releasing a low growl, I slid to the ground beside him and twined our fingers, my eyes fiery as I glared icily at the Mississippi version of Diana.

Standing between them, I ran my fingers over his bare chest soothingly. First off, he was mine and I'm a jealous person when it comes to him. Secondly, we hadn't hunted in awhile.

"It'd be nice if you'd keep your eyes off my husband, thanks so much, Sarah." Smirking, I took his belt loops and hauled him away to our room. Mine!

"Jealous much, Miss Alice?!" God, I loved his accent! Hell, I loved HIM! Nodding, a small smile split my face as his fingers grazed over my body and tugged the shirt over my head. We did indeed stay in bed all day long...!

~000~

His eyes burned black and lustful in the darkness, a reminder that I'd promised him a hunting trip once we managed to untwine ourselves from each other.

"You ready, darlin'?" Kissing the top of my head, he twined our fingers and we walked out into the night. My throat burned, the blood of my soon-to-be prey singing to me lustfully. I needed this.

Not even waiting for Jasper, I ran through the darkness, the trees and overall scenery blurring by. There was a herd of ten deer in the distance, simply waiting for me to make my move. And boy, did I enjoy it!

Five minutes and my favorite blouse tearing later, I watched in mute satisfaction as my husband walked leisurely from the woods with a guilty smile. "Not one of my cleaner escapes, I must say."

Smirking, I fluidly stood from the tree trunk I'd been perched on and made my way across to him. "Not that I mind..."

It wasn't long after as we lay twined together on the forest floor that I had a startling vision.

"Sally! Jazz, she's sick... We need to go to Philly!"